iStock/Thinkstock(JURONG WEST, Singapore) -- Taking hours to set up IKEA furniture or fearing losing all the screws and fixtures could be a thing of the past, sometime in the near future. Scientists at the Nanyang Technological Universitys School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering in Singapore said they have created a robot designed to do the job -- and it's already built an IKEA chair. In just over eight minutes, the robot set up IKEAs Stefan chair, the research team at NTU said in a statement. For a robot, putting together an IKEA chair with such precision is more complex than it looks, Pham said in the statement. The job of assembly, which may come naturally to humans, has to be broken down into different steps, such as identifying where the different chair parts are, the force required to grip the parts, and making sure the robotic arms move without colliding into each other. Through considerable engineering effort, we developed algorithms that will enable the robot to take the necessary steps to assemble the chair on its own. The robot includes a 3D camera and two robotic arms with fingers, or grippers, that give it the ability to pick up and put down objects, according to Assistant Professor Pham Quang Cuong and his team. Sensors on the robot can precisely and consistently detect holes on the chair, allowing for tight insertions, according to the release. Looking into the future, the team said it hopes to take the successful technology of the chair-building robot to other industries, including automotive and aircraft manufacturing. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Copyright 1995 - . All rights reserved. The content (including but not limited to text, photo, multimedia information, etc) published in this site belongs to China Daily Information Co (CDIC). Without written authorization from CDIC, such content shall not be republished or used in any form. Note: Browsers with 1024*768 or higher resolution are suggested for this site. 0108263 License for publishing multimedia online Registration Number: 130349 Registration Number: 130349 Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease affects millions of people in the United States. The main method of diagnosis is the pulmonary function tests (PFTs), in which a patient breathes into a machine that measures pulmonary parameters. The disadvantage, however, is that pulmonary function tests take an average of a patients lung without being able to detect specific areas of lung function and compare them over time. 4Dx is hoping to improve that. Using principles of air flow dynamics and applying them to data from a simple X-ray, the companys algorithms can calculate the amount of air that each area of the lung is receiving. This generates a moving, color-coded visual of a patients breathing lung. The unique thing about this visual, says founder and CEO Andreas Fouras, is that it gives much more information than a traditional pulmonary function test. Physicians can easily see exactly which areas of the lungs are poorly ventilated, whether certain areas are over-compensating for poor function in other areas, and compare specific areas of lung function over time. Plus, says Fouras, the visual is an incredibly easy way for patients to understand their disease. The technology works by using data from X-rays. The patient breathes 3-5 breaths in front of an X-ray machine, at various angles, and that data is run through an algorithm that converts the moving changes seen in the X-ray to air flow in the lungs. We look at how the lung moves from each of the few angles, explains Fouras, and then we piece that together not to form a three-dimensional picture of the lung, but to form a three-dimensional picture of how the lung movesor a 4D picture. People think of X-rays as a method of directly identifying structures, says Fouras, but theres actually a lot more information there. The idea began when Fouras was pursuing his PhD at Monash University in Australia, where he helped develop imaging technology for analyzing air flow dynamics in wind tunnels. At the same time, he happened to talk with various physicians and got the idea to apply the same technology to lung imaging. Encouraged by the enthusiastic initial reactions of physicians, he began working towards developing a technology specifically for the lungs. The research led to many grants and published research papers. My academic career went ballistic, he quips, as he went from new PhD to tenured professor in six years. But to successfully commercialize the technology, he had to go all in. He sold his house, moved his family to Los Angeles, and borrowed money to invest in his fledgling company. Since its official founding in 2012, 4Dx has grown to a team of thirty people. The company is currently awaiting FDA approval, which will be decided sometime this year. In the meantime, the company is reaching out to hospitals and working with physicians to do investigational studies. The vast majority of people weve spoken to have come on board, says Fouras, a promising sign reminiscent of the enthusiasm his research generated when he was a student and professor in Australia. The technology doesnt have to be limited to the lungs, either. Once you have a solid platform that has a good performance, the opportunity to spread it out across other applications is really significant, says Fouras. I dont want it to be limited by my imagination. The algorithms could be tailored for better visualizing the heart and other organs the company even has a patent on using the technology for in vitro fertilization. But the thing that encourages me the most is the response I get when I talk to doctors, says Fouras. I see the look in their eyes, and they say something like where have you been my whole career? I cant wait to use this. And so above all of the excitement for the technology and its future, he says, Thats really the most exciting thing for me. Learn more at www.4dx.com Researchers at University of California, Los Angeles and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention studied whether certain search terms that are used on Google and topics covered on Twitter can point to a outbreak of a contagious disease. They focused on syphilis and found that by monitoring the incidence of certain terms, such as STD and find sex, they were able to identify hotspots that were eventually noticed by the CDC. The research relied on machine learning algorithms that can crunch through a lot of data and spot correlations within it. If put into practical use, simple monitoring of publicly available search term trends may help to spot outbreaks before most people even start calling their doctors. They even tried this on real data and showed that their model predicted spyhilis counts in every state within a 90% accuracy over an almost 3 year period. Study in journal Preventive Medicine: Using social media as a tool to predict syphilis Via: UCLA by Wendy Davis @wendyndavis, April 18, 2018 Prager University will ask an appellate court to revive a lawsuit accusing YouTube of discriminating against conservative clips. The company, which offers video clips, disclosed its plans in papers filed this week with U.S. District Court Judge Lucy Koh in the Northern District of California. She recently dismissed Prager's lawsuit, ruling that Google has the right to decide how to treat content on its platform. Koh gave Prager up to 30 days to rework its complaint and bring it again, but the online company says it wants to instead appeal the dismissal order to the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals. The legal battle dates to last year, when Prager alleged that Google wrongly applied its "restricted mode" filter to the school's videos, effectively making them unavailable to some students and library patrons. advertisement advertisement Prager also alleged that Google "demonetized" some conservative videos, like a clip that posed the question "Pakistan: Can Sharia and Freedom Coexist?" Prager argued that its First Amendment right to freedom of speech was being violated by Google. Koh rejected Prager's contention. She said in her ruling that Google and YouTube are private companies and therefore don't need to follow the same rules as the government, which generally isn't allowed to censor speech. Judges have ruled in other cases that companies like Google and Facebook are free to decide how to treat content on their platforms. Last year, the 9th Circuit Court of Appeals refused to revive a lawsuit against Facebook by the group Sikhs for Justice. That organization alleged that its content was blocked by Facebook in India. In another example, a federal judge in Florida recently sided with Google in a lawsuit brought by search engine optimization company e-ventures Worldwide, which claimed its sites were wrongly removed from search results. The judge ruled in that case that Google has a free speech right to decide which search results to display. by Sara Guaglione , April 19, 2018 A majority of The New Republic editorial staff has unionized with the NewsGuild of New York. The New Republic staff requested voluntary recognition of the NewsGuild of New York, which represents nearly 3,000 people in the media industry in the New York City area (including employees at The New York Times, Thomson Reuters, The Nation and The Daily Beast). The staff's collective bargaining representative presented a letter to TNR management Monday morning, according to a statement from the NewsGuild. TNR employees hope to make improvements in pay, benefits, job security, and diversity, while fostering an environment within the magazine that enables collaboration and transparency, the statement reads. advertisement advertisement The New Republicresponded to the news by announcing yesterday its plans to work with its employees and [and a New York communications union] NewsGuild New York to advance a unionization process initiated by members of its editorial staff. Management would recognize the union on a voluntary basis if it agreed to a larger bargaining unit: All New Republic staff members, not just editorial. That includes publishing, marketing, sales, administrative, print and maintenance teams. Our perspective is, a union can play a vital role here, stated J.J. Gould, TNRs editor and president, and Rachel Rosenfelt, publisher and vice-president. We want to ensure the best possible conditions for an effective collective-action process, so were eager to recognize the union with only the stipulation that it should be open to everyone on staff, not just to editorial. There are always uncertainties and complications to any process like this, but were excited to make it work together. Employees at the Los Angeles Times, Chicago Tribune and Mic.com have also moved to unionize. by Dave Morgan , Featured Contributor, April 19, 2018 Are big media companies ready for another big wave of disruption? Theyd better be. The direct-brand revolution is starting, and it might not be pretty for large incumbent players in the media industry. I spent this past Tuesday morning participating in the Interactive Advertising Bureaus introductory event on The Direct Brand Economy, focused on fast-emerging disruptor brands like Quip, Casper and Hubble Contacts. We were lucky to have many of these brands founders and heads of growth in attendance, which meant the chance to learn how these digitally born companies see everything from data and dashboards to traditional advertising and podcasts to partnerships with brick-and-mortar retailers. To say the least, it was a fascinating morning. My biggest takeaway was that direct brands present both enormous opportunities and even bigger challenges for the media industry. Here are a couple of reasons why: Direct brands like advertising. Direct brands sell directly to consumers, so they use a lot of advertising. Anyone who rides New York City subways or listens to podcasts experiences this trend firsthand. Capsule, Casper, and Oscar are all over the subway. Mack Weldon and Quip are all over podcasts. Hubble is nailing it in social. advertisement advertisement Direct brands represent a brand-new segment with theoretically unlimited ad budgets since the more products these companies sell, the more ads they want to buy. This is a big opportunity for media sellers. When it comes to advertising, direct brands want their cake, and they want to eat it too. Digital is where their founders cut their teeth. They buy lots of search and social, and most hope to graduate to television advertising at some point. But they want TV to work just like search and social: They expect performance pricing, daily reporting, analytic dashboards, granular targeting, low campaign entry points, the ability to optimize across lots of ad creatives and a positive ROI from each and every channel. This is a real challenge for TV companies. Direct brands will kill many legacy advertiser brands. How many ads are Sears, JC Penney, Montgomery Wards and Borders buying these days? Exactly. Dollar Shave Club and Harrys dont have to beat Gillette in market share to teach tens of millions of men to buy razors online and stop shopping for them at Walgreens, Walmart and CVS. Its the same for chewy.com and The Farmer's Dog versus Petco, teaching people to buy pet food and supplies online. This means that media companies had better build relationships with these new brands, since some of their long-standing advertisers are likely to go away over time. Most of these direct brands manage their search and social in-house. While they are outsourcing podcast media and out-of-home, most expect to in-house their TV ad buying when theyre ready. This could be trouble for TV companies. Inviting these brands and their agencies to your upfront presentation once a year wont be enough even if you had room enough in the theater for the thousands of these brands that have emerged just so far this year. Selling to them means going on the road which might only mean taking the L train to Brooklyn if you want their business. Trying to do business on the phone wont cut it. All this will be tough for a lot of legacy media sellers. What do you think? New research suggests that certain blood pressure drugs may increase the risk of pancreatic cancer in postmenopausal women. Share on Pinterest A certain class of blood pressure drugs may double the risk of pancreatic cancer, a new study suggests. Zhensheng Wang, a postdoctoral researcher at the Dan L. Duncan Comprehensive Cancer Center at Baylor College of Medicine in Houston, TX, along with his colleagues, set out to examine the effects of a class of drugs called calcium channel blockers (CCBs) on the risk of pancreatic cancer. CCBs are used to stop calcium from entering the hearts muscle cells, which, in turn, relaxes the blood vessels. This relaxation makes them useful drugs for the treatment of hypertension. Previous studies, the authors of the new research explain, have shown that antihypertensive medication increases levels of a receptor called soluble receptor for advanced glycation end-product (sRAGE). sRAGE receptors help control the bodys immune response and inflammation; Wang and team point out that earlier research found that sRAGE reduces inflammation and lowers the risk of pancreatic cancer. Blood pressure drugs, on the other hand, raise sRAGE levels, so the authors started out with the hypothesis that, on the contrary, antihypertensive medication would lower the risk of pancreatic cancer. But the results of the study surprised the researchers. The findings were presented at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting, which took place in Chicago, IL. CCBs may double pancreatic cancer risk Wang and colleagues examined the data on 145,551 postmenopausal women aged between 50 and 79 who were registered in the Womens Health Initiative (WHI) a large, long-term study spanning more than 20 years. In addition to CCBs, three other types of blood pressure drugs were included in the analysis: beta-blockers, diuretics, and angiotensin-converting enzyme inhibitors. The researchers looked at women who were enrolled in the WHI study between 1993 and 1998, and they followed them until 2014. During this period, 841 cases of pancreatic cancer were recorded. Wang and colleagues measured the sRAGE serum levels of 489 of these women, and those of 977 women who did not develop the condition. The researchers used statistical models to examine the link between the four types of blood pressure medication and pancreatic cancer risk. The analysis revealed that women who had ever taken short-acting CCBs were 66 percent more likely to develop pancreatic cancer; women who had taken CCBs for 3 or more years were more than twice as likely to have pancreatic cancer than women who had taken other blood pressure drugs. Additionally, women who had used short-acting CCBs had considerably lower sRAGE levels than those who took other blood pressure drugs. None of the other blood pressure drugs were linked with an increased risk of pancreatic cancer. What explains the link? This was just an observational study, but the researchers have a few clues regarding the potential mechanisms that may explain the findings. [T]he blockage of the calcium channel caused by [the] use of CCBs may potentially reduce sRAGE release, Wang explains, and thus further decrease the levels of anti-inflammatory sRAGE. This is important as chronic inflammation is a well-recognized risk factor for pancreatic as well as many other cancers, he adds. Also, as Wang explains, hypertension, [] is one of the components of metabolic syndrome, and metabolic syndrome is a possible risk factor for pancreatic cancer. These links may explain why [p]ancreatic cancer typically occurs in elderly individuals who also have chronic comorbid medical conditions, such as hypertension, Wang suggests. LOS ANGELES April 19, 2018 USA USA Canada's Canada's Canada October 2016 Canada's Weedon, Quebec Australia's New South Wales Terry Booth Canada's Edmonton Exeter, Ontario Weedon, Quebec Laval, Quebec Australia Colombia Weedon $10,000,000 Rob Gietl Quebec New South Wales, Australia Weedon, Quebec Canada Canada Quebec Quebec's Quebec Quebec's Canada Weedon Canada Canada Alberta Canada Canada Edmonton, Alberta Canada's Leamington Canada Canada Canada's Australia Markham, Canada Canada Brampton, Canada USA /PRNewswire/ --News Group -largest retail pharmacy chain,continues to lend possibly the most important voice of credibility to the emerging legal cannabis market-so far, having signed supplier deals with three oflargest cannabis growers, and leaving the door open for more to come.With over 1,250 stores across, the chain owned by(TSX: L) (OTC: LBLCF) is a national retail heavyweight. So whensigned its latest supply deal with cannabis giant(TSX: ACB) (OTC: ACBFF), it marked the fourth supplier deal the retailer has inked, and the third with a Canadian major.Two of the other companies that have already inked agreements with the retailer were(TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), and(TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF), late last year. The retail vote of confidence for the emerging cannabis sector started early-Parent companyapplied infor a license to dispense medical marijuana.Other pharmacies such asandhave already signed deals with other cannabis suppliers; However it's the intensity of the spotlight thatcasts that lends to speculation of which company will be the next to garner the retailer's favorable access to mainstream consumers. One potential new cannabis supplier forcould be up-and-comer(CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF), which is in line to havelargest cannabis greenhouse facility in, and is partnered onlargest inHow many suppliers thatwill carry is still yet to be determined. Should an(CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF) or another outfit join the ranks of(TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF),(TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF), and now(TSX: ACB) (OTC:ACBFF), it would be yet another significant stamp of approval given by a leading retailer in the leadup to legalization.The addition ofto theportfolio was another signal that bigger is better to the retailer. Primary to the deal is the expectation that's products will be sold online, according to the press release."Theandbrands are trusted to deliver high-quality products and excellent customer service," said, CEO of. "Partnering withlargest pharmacy retailer, is yet another validation of the scale and maturity of our company, and of the demand for's medical cannabis. With its massive facility located adjacent to theInternational Airport,is one of the largest producers in the country operating today.Not to be outdone, fellowsupplier,recently announced the purchase of 164-acre property in, which includes 1 million square feet of existing greenhouse. The property adds 105,000 kilograms of cannabis production capacity annually to's balance sheet.However, it's the upcoming 1.5 million square feet of growing space planned byinthat stands to be the largest project in the country once completed. Once coupled with the company's primary facility in, and with its international ventures in, andshould have a line of suitors that could very well includein the coming months.In the lead-up to construction on its massive 1.5 million square-foot facility atreceived a boost of confidence and cash from a recentfinancing that will move the company closer to its goals in 2018."All of us atare very excited about the future of our company," said, CEO ofin the accompanying press release. "This excitement extends to our family and friends who have participated in this non-brokered financing. We have many major milestones to achieve this year that will shapefor years to come. Continued global expansion and leveraging the relationships we have built, will ensure thatand its shareholders have a bright future."The net proceeds are intended to be used towards general working capital and corporate purposes as the company pursues development on its twoproduction projects, and its partnered 1.2 million square foot production facility dubbed the Northern Rivers Project inAt theproject,currently owns 75% (which goes up to 90% upon completion), and is set to help the municipality become the official cannabis capital of. While there are other mega-greenhouse projects in other provinces in, MYM's decision to house their operations inwas very strategic- From an economic perspective, it can't be ignored how cheapcosts are.labor costs on average 34% less than in the US, and 16% less than in G7 countries. Electricity is 36% cheaper than in the US, and 49% lower, on average, than in the G7 countries.taxes on investment are the lowest in, and more importantly lower than the average of the US, G7 countries, and the OECD countries. The province offers an investment tax credit that covers up to 24% of the cost of newly purchased manufacturing and processing equipment, and reimburses sales tax on capital goods.Once MYM'slocation is opened, there's a possibility that it can providewith a quantity-, and location-based cost advantage that could benefit them to the point of making a deal with a retail giant such as. With cash in hand, and a steady momentum, it could be a good year for(TSX: ACB) (OTC:ACBFF)Aurora Cannabis boasts the second highest square footage approved for cannabis production in. Together with its subsidiaries, Aurora produces and distributes medical marijuana products in. The company's products consist of dried cannabis and cannabis oil.Aurora is the only cannabis producer located in the province of, giving the company a cost advantage through its free use of fresh mountain-fed water used on site, and housed under the lowest corporate tax rates and power rates in. Capitalizing on numerous farm credit programs provided by the province, Aurora has positioned itself as arguably the lowest cost-per-gram licensed producer in. Aurora became a licensed producer in 2015, and is based in(TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF)Aphria is one oflowest cost licensed cannabis producers, specializing in the production, suppy, and sale of medical cannabis. The company offers sativa, indica, and hybrid medical marijuana products, as well as cannabis oils. It also provides support services in the form of medical consultations, group therapies, and rehabilitation to veteran and first responders. The company sells its products through its online store or phones, as well as engages in the wholesale shipping of medical marijuana plant cuttings and dried buds to other licensed producers. Aphria Inc. is headquartered in(TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF)MedReleaf produces and sells cannabis-based pharmaceutical products in. It offers dried cannabis, cannabis oils, and cannabis oil capsules; and various accessories, including grinders, vaporizers, and lockable containers. MedReleaf wasfirst and only ISO 9001 and ICH-GMP certified producer of medical cannabis. It recently announced a joint venture with an Australian partner for cultivation and production of medical cannabis in. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in(TSX: L) (OTC: LBLCF)Loblaw is a food and pharmacy company, which provides grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, credit card, insurance brokerage, gift card, and telecommunication services in. It operates through three segments: Retail, Financial Services, and Choice Properties. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food and associate-owned drug stores, including instore pharmacies, other health and beauty products, apparel, and other general merchandise. Loblaw Companies Limited was founded in 1919 and is headquartered inFor a more in-depth look into MYM Nutraceuticals you can view the in-depth report at American News Group: http://americannewsgroup.com/2017/12/06/meet-the-biggest-money-making-industry-of-2017-and-beyond/ http://usanewsgroup.com info@usanewsgroup.com Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: This piece is an advertorial and has been paid for. This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this Report should be construed as individualized investment advice. 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You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements. Media Contact Information: FN Media Group, LLC e-mail: editor@financialnewsmedia.com U.S. Phone: +1(954)345-0611 SOURCE USA News Group OCALA, Fla. April 18, 2018 Mike Schultz Carrollwood, Florida Dade City, Florida Lake Placid, Florida Sebring, Florida North Pinellas, Florida Tampa, Florida Wauchula, Florida Jim O'Loughlin Marion County Ocala, Florida Carrollwood, Florida Dade City, Florida Lake Placid, Florida Sebring, Florida North Pinellas, Florida Tampa, Florida Wauchula, Florida Ocala Marion County /PRNewswire-PRWeb/ -- Adventist Health System, the parent company of Florida Hospital, announced today it has signed an agreement for the lease of 421-bed Munroe Regional Medical Center and its related outpatient locations and the purchase of certain assets. The transaction is expected to close during the third quarter, and once official, the facility will join the West Florida Division as the second largest hospital in the division and the third largest in Adventist Health System."We are excited to bring our unique brand of whole-person, faith-based care to this community," said, president and CEO, West Florida Division of Adventist Health System. "Munroe Regional Medical Center has a long history in this community and is a valuable asset to the region. We look forward to building on that and giving patients greater access to the Florida Hospital network of care."The Florida Hospital network includes 27 hospitals, 10 of which are in the West Florida Division and includes Florida HospitalHospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, Florida HospitalHospital Heartland Medical CenterHospital Heartland Medical CenterHospitalHospitalHospitalHospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills.Work to complete the transaction will take place over the next few months, allowing time for Adventist Health System and subsidiaries of Community Health Systems to plan for the future of the hospital and to ensure a smooth transition."Florida Hospital is a respected health care provider and becoming a part of their organization creates an exciting opportunity for the hospital to become part of a large regional network," said, chief executive officer for Munroe Regional Medical Center. "Working together, we can continue the hospital's commitment to care for thecommunity, including the indigent and uninsured population, and to provide our patients with access to quality health care services."The transaction includes Munroe Regional Medical Center located at 1500 SW 1st Avenue,, 34471, as well as a free-standing emergency department and other outpatient locations.The transaction is subject to customary regulatory approvals. Until the transaction is complete, current ownership will remain in place. Financial terms have not been disclosed.About Florida Hospital, West Florida Division of Adventist Health System The West Florida Division of Adventist Health System is currently comprised of nine acute-care hospitals including Florida HospitalHospitalHospital Heartland Medical CenterHospital Heartland Medical CenterHospitalHospitalHospitalHospital Wesley Chapel and Florida Hospital Zephyrhills, as well as two freestanding offsite Emergency Rooms including Florida Hospital Central Pasco ER and Florida Hospital Palm Harbor ER. Additionally, it has one post-acute care facility, Florida Hospital at Connerton Long Term Acute Care, over 45 multi-specialty Florida Hospital Physician Group practices, 15 Florida Hospital Express Care at Walgreens clinics and 6 Florida Hospital Centra Care Urgent Care Centers.About Adventist Health System With a sacred mission of Extending the Healing Ministry of Christ, Adventist Health System (AHS) is a connected system of care for every stage of life and health. More than 80,000 skilled and compassionate caregivers in physician practices, hospitals, outpatient clinics, skilled nursing facilities, home health agencies and hospice centers provide individualized, wholistic care. A Christian mission, shared vision, common values, focus on whole-person health and commitment to making communities healthier unify the system's 46 hospital campuses and hundreds of care sites in diverse markets throughout nine states.About Munroe Regional Medical Center Munroe Regional Medical Center (MRMC) is a Joint Commission accredited 421-bed acute care hospital servingand the surrounding area. MRMC offers 24/7 Emergency Care, Diagnostic Testing, Inpatient and Outpatient Surgery, Women's Services including Labor and Delivery, a Level II NICU, Bariatric Weight Loss Surgery and Inpatient and Outpatient Therapy. Munroe Regional Medical Center also features a certified Chest Pain Center with specific accreditations for atrial fibrillation and heart failure.SOURCE Florida Hospital West Florida Division Hindus have commended City of Gosnells in Western Australia for reportedly promoting yoga.Gosnells Mayor Glenn Dewhurst recently joined children at the Citys Leisure World for a Junior Yoga session, saying it was important for people of all ages to find ways to manage stress and yoga was a great option, particularly for kids, according to a Media Release of the City.Yoga is designed to build physical strength and flexibility, improve concentration and confidence and create mental awareness and a positive self-image, release points out.City is offering separate weekly Kids Yoga sessions for children aged six to nine years and for children aged 10 to 14 years. Junior Gym Yoga classes offered by the City claim to be designed to aid kids by teaching them how to move their bodies in a healthy way, assist in managing stress through breathing exercises, creating awareness, meditation and concentration as well as increasing their confidence and positive self-image.Chair Yoga sessions for seniors are also offered. Yoga has been shown to increase strength and balance and helps reduce the risk of falls, announcement notes. City also provides sponsorship for community programs such as a yoga program for seniors.Meanwhile, Hindu statesman Rajan Zed, in a statement in Nevada today, called Gosnells reported yoga promotion a step in the positive direction. Zed urged all Australian cities to provide adequate yoga facilities and opportunities for their residents so that they could explore various benefits yoga offered.Yoga, referred as a living fossil, was a mental and physical discipline, for everybody to share and benefit from, whose traces went back to around 2,000 BCE to Indus Valley civilization, Zed, who is President of Universal Society of Hinduism, noted.Rajan Zed further said that yoga, although introduced and nourished by Hinduism, was a world heritage and liberation powerhouse to be utilized by all. According to Patanjali who codified it in Yoga Sutra, yoga was a methodical effort to attain perfection, through the control of the different elements of human nature, physical and psychical.According to US National Institutes of Health, yoga may help one to feel more relaxed, be more flexible, improve posture, breathe deeply, and get rid of stress. According to a 2016 Yoga in America Study, about 37 million Americans (which included many celebrities) now practice yoga; and yoga is strongly correlated with having a positive self image. Yoga was the repository of something basic in the human soul and psyche, Zed added.City of Gosnells, a Perth suburb; has dog exercise areas, ghost walks, Ellis Brook Valley (showcasing over 500 species of wildflowers); and was reportedly listed among the worst suburbs for break-ins. Ian Cowie is CEO of Gosnells, which has been a gazetted local government area since 1907. Advertisement Common symptoms include abdominal pain or blood in the urine. In children, it can cause stunted growth and learning difficulties. Infection acquired in childhood can cause bladder cancer and liver damage, or impact on reproductive health, in adults.Until now, pre-school children have not been routinely tested for nor treated for the condition, as the health impact of childhood infection has not been well understood.In the first long-term study of the disease in this age group, researchers at the University of Edinburgh and collaborators in Zimbabwe monitored 1500 children aged from six months to five years old over the course of a year.Their research showed that children could contract an infection within their first year of life, and develop symptoms within three months. The study also highlighted for the first time that infected children are at risk of malnutrition and stunted growth. Treatment of the infection with the drug Praziquantel was shown to reverse symptoms.The study, funded by Wellcome and Thrasher Research Fund, was published in the BMJ Global Health.Professor Francisca Mutapi of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who led the study, said: "We now know there is no such thing as snail fever without symptoms, and young children can get infected by snail fever very early in their lives."Derick Osakunor, of the University of Edinburgh's School of Biological Sciences, who took part in the project, said: "Our findings show that young children can develop clinical disease quickly, but existing diagnosis methods and treatments are effective in under-fives, which is welcome news for managing cases of infection in young children."Source: Eurekalert Akshay Kumar is undoubtedly one of the most versatile and hardworking actors in Bollywood. From doing cheesy romantic movies where he is fighting for his love to taking up socially relevant and hard-hitting movies, Akshay Kumar has done it all. Akshay is one of those few actors who took the risk of doing movies like 'Jolly LLB 2', 'Toilet: Ek Prem Katha' and 'Padman' and turned them into the biggest blockbusters, while creating awareness among people about social issues like menstrual hygiene and open defecation. This time around, Akshay has taken up another challenging movie, 'Kesari', which focuses on the Battle of Saragarhi. We are already impressed with his look of Havildar Ishar Singh. Twitter Now, we just got another reason to respect him even more for his dedication towards his movies that he refused to leave despite suffering injuries. Reportedly, Akshay is currently shooting in Wai in Satara district, and while performing an intense action sequence, he injured his ribs. Akshay was advised to take rest and despite several suggestions to go back to Mumbai, he decided to stay back in Wai, although there was a chopper on standby. Stunt coordinator Lawrence Woodward, who has choreographed action scenes for movies like 'Mad Max: Fury Road', is training Akshay in sword fighting and hand-to-hand combat. Even at the age of 50, Akshay is performing his own stunts and refused to go back after getting injured. If this doesn't make you respect his dedication towards his movies, we wonder what will! Twitter Since, the actors make these action scenes look like child's play, we never realize how hard they work for it and how much they have to go through while performing the stunts. Last year, 55-year-old actor Tom Cruise also got badly injured while shooting for 'Mission: Impossible Fallout'. 'Kesari' is a period film based on the Saragarhi battle of 1897, fought between 21 Sikh soldiers of the British Indian Army and nearly 10,000 Afghan Orakzai tribesmen. 'Kesari', which will hit the theatres in 2019, is directed by Anurag Singh and also stars Parineeti Chopra. Thank you for subscribing! By signing up to this free newsletter you agree to receive occasional emails from us informing you about our products and services. You can opt out of these emails at any time. Imports from China were down sharply in comparison with the first quarter of 2017, although this decline - which first became apparent in the second quarter of last year - has now stabilized, the port authority said.Exports from China to Europe have fallen as a result of a number of trade defence measures, including: definitive anti-dumping measures on hot-rolled coil set in April 2017, along with definitive anti-dumping tariffs imposed on cold-rolled coil in 2016 and on hot-dipped galvanized coil imports in 2018.And Steel imports from India have gradually declined since peaking in the first half of 2017.In the meantime, steel imports to Europe from Turkey and Russia have seen a sharp rise, according to the port authority.Total HRC imports into the EU increased by 11.12% year on year to 1.34 million in January-February this year, according to data released by the European steel association Eurofer.But while import offers of flat steel products into Northern Europe - where Antwerp is the leading port for steel - have been limited by the trade actions, the Southern European market continues to rely on imports, sources told Metal Bulletin.Metal Bulletins weekly price assessment for HRC imported into Northern Europe was 530-540 ($656-668) per tonne cfr main ports on April 18 . No offers of imported material were reported in the region this week, and the assessment represented workable prices reported by market sources.HRC imports from Turkey to the whole of Europe jumped by 39.06% year-on-year to 413,000 tonnes in the first two months 2018, according to Eurofer, and imports from Russia increased nearly ten-fold to 303,000 tonnes in January-February 2018, compared with just 13,000 tonnes in the first two months of 2017.Exports of steel products from Antwerp grew by 19.7% year-on-year in the first quarter.In comparison with the fairly weak first quarter of 2017 there has now been a strong revival in steel exports to the United States, with the month of March doing particularly well, the port authority said. There has clearly been an anticipatory effect in response to the American threat of import tariffs on various products including steel.European nations, along with a small number of other countries, have been temporarily exempted from the Section 232 import tariffs until May 1 this year. A top Australian brand was heard to have been traded around $197-198 per tonne cfr China during the day.There are at least 16 cargoes of premium hard coking coal being offered in the seaborne spot market, according to various sources. We missed out on the chance to buy a cargo of premium mid-vol materials because another buyer outbid us by $0.50 per tonne, but we want to take our time now... HURON COUNTY Even dogs can be discriminated against and legislation that recently passed the state Senate wants to put a stop to it. Senate Bill 741, sponsored by Sen. Dave Robertson, a Grand Blanc Charter Township Republican, would prohibit local bans on specific dog breeds. If it becomes law, it would forbid local units of government from enacting or enforcing an ordinance, policy, resolution or rule that regulates dogs based upon their breed or perceived breed. HARTFORD Early voting will not occur in Connecticut before 2021, if ever, the House of Representatives determined Thursday. Only a simple majority of representatives approved of asking voters on the ballot whether Connecticut residents should be allowed to vote before election day. Many Republicans voiced concerns that creating more voting days would be expensive for town. Meanwhile, Democrats said the provision would allow more people to access the polls. Some 81 representatives voted in favor with 65 against and four people not voting. Republicans Rep. Livvy Floren, R-Greenwich, Rep. Devin Carney, R-Old Lyme, and Jesse MacLachlan, R-Westbrook, crossed party lines to vote with Democrats to support early voting. The simple majority means major hurdles are ahead before the state constitution could be amended to permit early voting. If the Senate also approves putting the early voting question on the ballot, the General Assembly will have to take up the matter again - and approve it again - next year. Then, in 2020 the following question would go on the ballot: "Shall the Constitution of the State be amended to allow the General Assembly to provide opportunities for early voting in person during the fourteen days prior to the day of an election?" If voters say yes, the General Assembly in 2021 would then pass legislation dictating how many days - at least two, but not more than five - during the two week window on which voters could cast ballots early. It puts reforming our election laws in the hands of our lawmakers, said Rep. Daniel Fox, D-Stamford, chair of the Government Administration and Elections Committee, who championed the bill. He explained that early voting would allow people who work long hours or more than one job or are ill have several options for when they could go to the polls. Rep. Laura Devlin, R-Fairfield, argued that Connecticut had 77 percent voter turnout in 2016 so she did not see evidence that people are struggling to vote. She and many other Republicans worried that opening the polls several times for presidential and other elections would be too pricey for Connecticut towns to staff and operate the voting booths. Republicans pitched multiple other ideas to combat voter fraud that they said were more important than expanding voting. Rep. Laura Devlin, R-Fairfield, suggested instead of early voting, absentee ballots should be audited to ensure they are not improperly cast. Its the easiest way to commit voter fraud, said Rep. Jason Perillo, R-Shelton. Absentee ballots are ripe for it and in fact we hear about it every year. Devlins proposal failed, as did an amendment from Perillo that would require Connecticut residents to present a valid photo ID in order to vote with the same justification: fighting fraud. Both were struck down with 78 Democrats against and only 68 Republicans in favor, with four not voting. Multiple independent and academic studies have found voter fraud to be on the scale of one in a million or less. A 2012 study from Arizona State University exhaustively pulled records from every state for all alleged election fraud and found the overall election fraud rate to be infinitesimal. Since 2000 there are 31 total documented cases of voter fraud over $1 billion ballots were cast in this time, said Rep. Roland Lemar, D-New Haven. You are literally 75 more likely to be hit by lightning than to see a case of voter fraud in Connecticut. emunson@hearstmediact.com; Twitter: @emiliemunson The state Board of Examiners for Nursing has suspended the license of Jeannette Czaja, a licensed practical nurse from the Higganum section of Haddam, saying she posed a danger to the public. Czaja has been fired from three nursing homes, Touchpoints at Manchester, The Hearth at Tuxis Pond in Madison and Wadsworth Glen Health Care Center in Middletown, due to medication errors or the suspected theft of controlled substances, DPH records show. In 2016, she failed to document the administration of medication to patients at Wadsworth Glen, the statement of charges against her said. In 2017, while working at The Hearth, she failed to properly document the waste of a patients methadone, the statement said. Later in 2017, at Touchpoints, she failed to appropriately document medication and provided a Tylenol to a patient instead of Percocet. The board also revoked the RN license of Lori Riley of Sharon, saying she has not complied with the terms of a 2017 probation. Her license was placed on probation for two years because, state records show, she took a painkiller meant for a patient and replaced it with Tylenol while working for All About You Homecare in Torrington. The nursing board also found that in 2014, Riley abused Percocet, Oxycodone and Vicodin, records show. Also, a former head nurse at York Correctional Institution has been reprimanded by the state Board of Examiners for Nursing for failing to properly care for an inmate who suffered a serious brain injury while in the prison medical unit in 2014. In the Niantic prison case, the board Wednesday also placed the registered nurse license of Mary Howe of Griswold on probation for three years and barred her from working in a clinical care setting for the first two years of the probation, a consent order she signed with the board said. Howe was also ordered to take courses in ethics, delegation of nursing duties, professional nursing standards, documentation and "empathy and compassion in nursing," the order said. In signing the order, Howe did not contest the allegations against her but admitted no wrongdoing. In May 2017, a UConn Health spokesman said Howe no longer worked for the UConn Health unit that provided medical care in the prison. In 2014, the inmate complained of chest pain, weakness and difficulty walking. She struggled to reach the medical unit without timely nursing assistance and fell out of a wheelchair one or more times, striking her head, the consent order said. The order said that Howe failed to intervene when the inmate complained of chest pain and a head injury, failed to initiate an emergency code, failed to ensure the patients safety and failed to monitor the patients opioid withdrawal symptoms. News reports have identified the former inmate as Amy Rolon, then 36, who was being held before trial on misdemeanor charges of sixth-degree larceny and failure to appear in court. She suffered a traumatic brain injury at York and filed a $7.5 million medical-neglect claim against the state Department of Correction in 2016, the Hartford Courant reported. The charges were later dismissed and she has been treated in a long-term care facility, the Courant reported. A conservator for Rolon settled the case for $780,000 in 2017, Hartford Superior Court records show. The board also disciplined five more nurses Wednesday, including suspending for a year the RN license of an East Hartford nurse who was convicted of striking two pedestrians in Hartford and leaving the scene of the accident while driving drunk in 2015. The board also placed the license of the RN, Tonya Verdejo, on probation for four years, a consent order she signed said. In 2016, Verdejo was sentenced to two years in prison, the Hartford Courant reported. She pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and evading responsibility, the consent order said. One of the women Verdejo struck had a broken leg while the other suffered two broken legs and a traumatic brain injury and required a year of rehabilitation, the Courant reported. While in prison, Verdejo completed a substance abuse program and has had several negative urine tests since her release in November, DPH records show. Wednesday, the board fined an RN from East Windsor $7,500 for inappropriately performing medical services at the spa she owns in West Hartford. The board also imposed the fine on Nilce Conti for inappropriately tattooing clients at the Nelson Salon & Spa from 2014 to 2016, state Department of Public Health (DPH) records show. Conti inappropriately administered injections of Botox and Restylane, a facial filler, and permitted an unlicensed person to administer both types of injections at the spa, a consent order she agreed to said. The board ordered Conti to cease and desist the unlicensed practice of medicine, placed her license on probation for six months and ordered her to take a course in the scope of practice of an RN. Conti chose not to contest the allegations but admitted no wrongdoing in the consent order. The board imposed a four-year probation on Nicole Miller, an LPN from West Hartford, that requires her to undergo random drug and alcohol tests and bars her from having access to narcotics for one year, records show. Miller chose not to contest allegations that in 2016 and 2017, she abused alcohol and/or opiates to excess, a consent order she signed with the board said. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ). The Air Force Thunderbirds have resumed flight training following the death of fellow pilot Maj. Stephen "Cajun" Del Bagno, the team's commander said Wednesday. "Today, the Thunderbirds will resume practice flights over the Nevada Test and Training Range," Lt. Col. Kevin Walsh, Thunderbirds Commander and lead pilot, said in a statement. "While our hearts are still heavy with the loss of our wingman Cajun, we know he'd want us back in the air and preparing to recruit, retain and inspire once more." Walsh said the team, part of the 57th Wing, Nellis Air Force Base, Nevada, is still weighing whether it will cancel more shows in the next few weeks. Related content: Walsh on April 9 said the squadron would not perform at the Lakeland, Florida "Sun-N-Fun Fly-In & Expo" or the "Wings over Columbus" show at Columbus Air Force Base, Mississippi. "Further cancellations are still possible," he said on Wednesday. "For now, we ask for your patience as we resume training operations and support the safety investigation. When we do resume our show season, we'll do so with the full faith and confidence of senior Air Force leadership that we are safe and ready to perform.". Del Bagno was the F-16 slot pilot flying the No. 4 jet for the Thunderbirds, according to the team's website. Before joining the team, Del Bagno was an F-35A Joint Strike Fighter evaluator pilot and chief of standardization and evaluation with the 58th Fighter Squadron at Eglin Air Force Base, Florida. On Sunday, a public funeral was held at at Saugus High School, his alma mater, in Santa Clarita, California. During the funeral, Del Bagno received full military honors, including a 21-gun salute, the playing of Taps and a flyover from F-35s and F-16 Fighting Falcons, the Thunderbirds said in a release. The team on April 11 commemorated Del Bagno's legacy with their own memorial service at the base. The Valencia, California, native had more than 3,500 flying hours in over 30 different aircraft, with 1,400 hours as an Air Force pilot, his official biography said. He was in his first season with the demonstration team. Del Bagno was participating in a routine training flight at the Nevada Test and Training Range April 4 when the crash occurred at approximately 10:30 a.m. local time. The cause of the accident remains under investigation. Walsh again on Wednesday thanked fans and servicemembers for their support and kind messages from all across globe. "I'd like to again thank all our friends and fans for the unbelievable amount of love and support you've provided to Cajun's family and this squadron," he said. "You have helped us through some incredibly difficult days and aided us in our first steps on the long road to recovery. Hard days lie ahead, but we press on a little stronger thanks to you." -- Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214. U.S. Army officials in Korea announced late last night that an Eighth Army memo warning soldiers about potentially "bad Anthrax" vaccinations given on a large scale is "completely without merit." The announcement follows an explosion of activity on social media after an April 10 memo from the 2nd Battalion, 1st Air Defense Artillery Regiment, in Korea began circulating on Facebook. The memo was intended to advise soldiers who possibly received bad Anthrax vaccinations from Fort Campbell, Kentucky, and Fort Drum, New York, from 2001 to 2007 for Operation Enduring Freedom and Operation Iraqi Freedom that they may qualify for Veterans Affairs benefits. "The purpose of this tasking informs soldiers who received bad Anthrax batches from Ft. Campbell and Ft. Drum from 2001-2007 for OEF/OIF IOT notify possible 100 percent VA disabilities due to bad Anthrax batches," the memo states. Military.com and other media organizations reached out to the Army on Monday to verify the memo. Eighth Army officials in Korea sent out a statement at 9:33 p.m. Wednesday. "Second Battalion, 35th Air Defense Artillery Brigade recently published an internal memorandum with the intent of informing soldiers of the potential health risks associated with the anthrax vaccine based on information they believed was correct," Christina Wright, a spokeswoman for Eighth Army said in an email statement. "Defense Health Agency representatives have verified the information is false and completely without merit. Once the brigade discovered the error, the correct information was published to their soldiers." The Eighth Army's release also stated that the "potential side effects of vaccines, including anthrax, are generally mild and temporary. While the risk of serious harm is extremely small, there is a remote chance of a vaccine causing serious injury or death." The author of the post -- Dee Mkparu, a logistics specialist in U.S. Army Europe -- said that it was not clear if the memo was authentic but thought it was important to make the information public. "This information was gathered from other veterans through Facebook; the validity of this data has not been fully vetted but I felt it was more important to share this as a possibility that to let it go unknown," Mkparu said. Mkparu updated his post with 17 potentially bad batch numbers of Anthrax vaccine allegedly found at more than a dozen military installations across the United States as well as Kuwait and South Korea. "Please get with your VA representative and look into it. Even if it turns out to be false perhaps the Anthrax concerns from so [many] people will bring the issue into the light." Francisco Urena, the secretary of the Massachusetts Department of Veterans' Services, was quick to call the memo "a fake" in a recent Tweet, advising service members not to share their personal information. "There is a fake memo circulating social media about a bad batch of anthrax vaccination for VA Compensation," Urena tweeted. "This is a scam. Do not share your personal information. This is not how VA Claims are filed." VA disability benefits are granted for health conditions incurred in or caused by military service, according to the Eighth Army statement. "The level of disability is based on how a service-connected condition impacts daily life," according to the statement. "In those rare cases, VA disability or death benefits may be granted." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. For the first time in five years, all three components of the Air Force achieved both their recruiting goals and end strength... The F-22 Raptor did have a role in the Syria strike after all, and the extended range version of the Joint-Air-to-Surface Standoff Missile-Extended Range wasn't used, according to new statements from U.S. Air Forces Central Command. The stealth fighter was providing overwatch for U.S. and partner troops on the ground while the U.S., U.K. and France were launching strikes on chemical weapons facilities in western Syria, officials said. Meanwhile, the JASSMs used in the April 14 strikes "were, in fact, not JASSM Extended Range (JASSM-ER) munitions, [but] rather, the munitions used were JASSM-A, or the standard, non-extended range versions of the munition," AFCENT spokesman Capt. Mark Graff said Thursday. The use of 19 JASSMs still marked the first operational use of any variant of the missile, Graff said. AFCENT officials said that they wanted to correct the record after Military.com asked the command earlier this week about the F-22 missing out completely on the high-profile operation. Lt. Col Damien Pickart, also an AFCENT spokesman, originally told Military.com on Monday the Air Force's premier fifth-generation fighter was not flying alongside a pair of B-1B Lancer bombers that dropped missiles on the Syrian targets, nor was it in the area. Related content: Graff told Military.com on Thursday that, "U.S. Air Force F-22 Raptors played an integral role in protecting ground forces during and after the multinational strikes against Syrian chemical weapons production facilities on the morning of April 14." Graff did not say how many F-22s were airborne, nor in what regions in Syria they conducted the overwatch mission. "Thanks to its unique fifth-generation capabilities, the F-22 was the only airframe suited to operate inside the Syrian integrated air defense systems, offering an option with which to neutralize [Integrated Air Defense System] threats to our forces and installations in the region, and provide protective air support for U.S., coalition and partners on the ground in Syria," Graff said. It is unclear why the Pentagon or AFCENT officials did not initially disclose the F-22's role when speaking in detail about the strike during a briefing on Saturday. It is also unclear why officials touted the Lockheed Martin-made JASSM-ER. When asked directly by the New York Times during a briefing at the Pentagon on Saturday, whether the JASSM used was Lockheed's latest version, Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the Joint Staff Director, confirmed its first deployment. "So we did employ the JASSM-ER," McKenzie replied. --Oriana Pawlyk can be reached at oriana.pawlyk@military.com. Follow her on Twitter at @oriana0214. France and Britain have called on the U.S. to join with them in pivoting off the missile strikes in Syria to form a long-term strategy aimed at a cease fire and a political settlement to the seven-year-old civil war. In line with their push for a diplomatic solution, the two NATO allies have also urged the U.S. not to pull out of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) to rein in Iran's nuclear programs. President Donald Trump has repeatedly threatened to withdraw the U.S. from the JCPOA when it comes up for renewal next month, despite the potential for blowback from the Iranian-backed Hezbollah militias in Syria. In their remarks since the stand-off weapons strike against Syria last Friday, both French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May have echoed Defense Secretary Jim Mattis in stating the need for a new allied strategy. The strikes were aimed solely at the Syrian regime of President Bashar al-Assad and underlined that now was "the time for all civilized nations to urgently unite in ending the Syrian civil war by supporting the United Nations-backed Geneva peace process," Mattis said shortly after Trump announced the attacks. At the Pentagon press briefing with Mattis, Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford noted the presence of the French and British military attaches in Washington, Brig. Gen. Jean-Pierre Montague and Attached Air Vice Marshal Gavin Parker. At the same time in London, May said "I also want to be clear that this military action to deter the use of chemical weapons does not stand alone. We must remain committed to resolving the conflict at large. The best hope for the Syrian people remains a political solution." In Paris, Macron and his Defense and Foreign Ministers made similar statements, and Macron asserted that he had changed Trump's mind about withdrawing from Syria in several of their phone conversations leading up to the attacks. The White House later pushed back against the French president's take on the talks with Trump, but Macron said in a TV interview that "Ten days ago, President Trump wanted the United States of America to withdraw from Syria. We convinced him to remain." Macron referred to Trump's statements in Tweets and in remarks to reporters that he wanted a withdrawal of the estimated 2,000 U.S. troops in Syria "very soon." The subject of U.S. withdrawal will be a main topic when Macron begins a state visit to the U.S. next Tuesday. In agreeing to join with the U.S. in the Syria strikes, May faced opposition in parliament, and Macron in the French National Assembly, for failing to obtain legislative approval before authorizing the action. Trump heard similar arguments from Democrats in Congress, who have called for a revision of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force (AUMF) which sanctioned the war on terrorism after the 9/11 attacks. Republicans and Democrats have also called for the U.S. to develop a long-term strategy for Syria in line with what the British and French are suggesting. In a statement, Sen. John McCain, R-Arizona, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee, praised the decision to launch the strikes against suspected chemical weapons sites but added that "to succeed in the long run, we need a comprehensive strategy for Syria and the entire region." Both Macron and May said their militaries suffered no losses or mishaps in the precision strikes last Friday night that hit three suspected Syrian chemical weapons sites with a total of 105 missiles that all found their targets within two minutes. A First in Combat For France, it was the first time that the Missile de Croisiere Naval (MdCN) ship-launched cruise missile had been used in combat. The French frigate Languedoc In the eastern Mediterranean fired three of the MdCN cruise missiles naval cruise missiles. Four British Tornado GR4 fighters, escorted by Typhoon fighters, flew out of the Royal Air Force base in Akrotiri, Cyprus to fire a total of eight Storm Shadow land attack missiles. The Storm Shadow missiles were first used by the British in the 2003 invasion of Iraq. French Gen. Francois Lecointre said during a media a briefing that the French Air Force deployed five Rafale fighters, supported by four Mirage 2000 fighters, two airborne warning and control systems (AWACs) aircraft, and six in-flight refueling jets. Lecointre said the Rafales and Mirages flew from French air bases but declined to say where they were. He said the pilots flew for 10 hours and the aircraft were refueled five times in flight. Lecointre, chief of the Defense Staff, said the Rafales fired a total of nine SCALP cruise missiles, the French version of the Storm Shadow. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said the strikes could set the stage for a long-term political settlement, if Russia agrees to back negotiations. "We now have to hope that Russia will understand that, after the military response against Syria's arsenal, we need to join forces to promote a political process in Syria enabling an end to the crisis," said Le Drian, who is close to Mattis. "France is ready to help achieve that," Le Drian told the Journal du Dimanche, "except that what is blocking the process today is Bashar al-Assad himself. It is up to Russia to put pressure on him." At the United Nations Security Council Tuesday, Russian Amb. Vasily Nebenzya said the missile strikes had greatly diminished the prospects for peace talks. "Before airstrikes, we noted the readiness of the Syrian government to participate in the Geneva negotiations," Nebenzya said. "Now, these efforts have been set back considerably." Republicans and Democrats also emerged from a closed briefing with Mattis and Dunford Wednesday with little confidence that the Trump administration would seek to develop a long-term strategy for Syria. Sen. Lindsey Graham, R-South Carolina, said the administration appeared willing to "to give Syria to Assad, Russia, and Iran." "I think Assad, after this strike, believes we're all tweet and no action," he said, according to a CNN report. Sen Chris Coons, D-Delaware, said "The only thing worse than a bad plan on Syria is no plan on Syria, and the president and his administration have failed to deliver a coherent plan on the path forward." -- Richard Sisk can be reached at Richard.Sisk@Military.com. Army modernization officials on Wednesday had to explain to Congress why the new, ultra-light combat vehicles the service plans to field to airborne units are so expensive. Lt. Gen. John M. Murray and Lt. Gen. Paul Ostrowski testified before the House Armed Services Committee's tactical air and land forces subcommittee about the ground force modernization budget request for fiscal 2019. Rep. Salud Carbajal, D-California, wanted the Army to explain why the Army is paying more than $270,000 each for its new Ground Mobility Vehicles, "which are fairly-small, unarmored, jeep-like trucks." In mid-September 2015, Army officials at the Maneuver Conference at Fort Benning, Georgia stressed that Army light infantry units need a transportable, ultra-light combat vehicle that can they can take into a forced-entry operation. In the proposed fiscal 2019 budget, the Army is requesting $47 million to procure 133 Ground Mobility Vehicles at unit cost of $271,000 each, which is twice the cost what a typical Humvee," Carbajal said. The Army's fiscal 2018 budget included a request for 100 GMVs for $260,000 each, he said. Carbajal said he was concerned that the Army is buying 300 GMVs -- enough to equip five airborne infantry brigade combat teams -- through a "sole-source contract" with a plan for a competition in the future to buy more. "Gen. Murray, do you think the cost per vehicle of more than $270,000 each is warranted?" Carbajal said. "I ask because there appear to be several commercially-available vehicles on the market for much less. And the Army already has large numbers of unarmored Humvees that meet most of the requirements for this vehicle. "Simply put, are we going to spend more than we should?" Murray, the deputy chief of staff for Army G-8, disagreed with Carbajal's characterization of the Army's procurement of the GMV as a sole-source contract that was awarded without competition. The Army is purchasing the GMV through an existing Special Operations Command contract, Murray said. "SOCOM was buying this vehicle; it had headspace in their contract," Murray said. "This contract was competed prior to us buying off this contract." Murray said the Army was able to take advantage of the development and an "open competition" that SOCOM had already completed on the vehicle. "The primary consideration for this vehicle when the decision was made to go with the SOCOM contract was speed, for, as you stated, five airborne IBCTs," Murray said. The full and open competition, which has funding in fiscal 2019 to complete, is to equip 30 IBCTs with the GMV. "Is the $270,000 high? It's higher than some of the options on the market, but this was the fastest way to get this requirement to the field because the contract; the competition was done, the [engineering, manufacturing and development] phase was done, the down-select was done," Murray said. "A lot of the things that take up those years to get to what it is you are going to buy was done by SOCOM before we opted to buy off that contract." Carbajal then asked if the Army had written proof to back up Murray's answer. "Gen. Ostrowski, is there detailed records about the decision-making process that led to what was articulated by Gen. Murray?" Cabajal asked. Ostrowski confirmed that the Army had documented the process to include how it had modified that SOCOM contract to reduce the cost of the vehicle. "We didn't need all the components that SOCOM had on that vehicle, all the bells and whistles, because again what we needed was the capability to move in the period darkness from a drop zone to a landing strip at a speed that was faster than the boot, and so hence the five airborne brigades to start with," Ostrowski said. "The key thing here, sir, is that the competitive piece to this is going to be where industry is going to have the opportunity to really get after," Ostrowski added. "Right now, we are going to have vehicles in the field in 2018 going off the SOCOM contract. Otherwise, we would not have had vehicles in the field until 2020." -- Matthew Cox can be reached at matthew.cox@military.com. Military members and veterans can get up to four free months of Apple Music through the Apple Music military discount -- but... A self-claimed data geek and apparently a Tesla fan moved by the disclosure by companys CEO Elon Musk that he sleeps at the floor of his factory to ramp up Tesla Model 3's production, has started a GoFundMe campaign. The objective of the crowdfunding campaign by Ben Sullins, titled Buy Elon Musk a Couch, is to raise money so that a couch could be bought and delivered to Musks office. Musk talking to a CBS reporter last week revealed that due to the narrow size of the couch in his office, he sleeps on the floor. Elon Musk is transforming our world to run on sustainable energy and use sustainable forms of transportation. Lately, he's been sleeping at the Fremont factory in an effort to improve Model 3 production, writes Sullins on the GoFundMe page. As a community, we cannot let this stand. Let's band together to buy Elon a new couch to sleep on! he added. As of writing this story, the campaign had raised over $6,500 from over 500 people in two days. This is more than six times the target of $1,000 set by Sullins. Sullins said that he would be closing the campaign on Friday as it has raised far more than is necessary. Sullins has a five-point plan to deliver the couch to Tesla Motors. He writes: Contact him via Twitter If he replies with "yes" I'll reach out to Tesla directly We collectively vote on which couch to order, will set up a poll for the same I'll order the couch and ship to them If allowed I'll fly up there to hand deliver and film the experience In case, Tesla or Musk do not reply, the raised money will be donated to a charity. Eveready Industries | Battery manufacturing facility at Kolkata partially operational. (Image: Wikimedia) live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Fair trade regulator CCI today imposed a total fine of Rs 215 crore on Eveready, Indo National, industry grouping AIDCM and their officials for cartelisation in pricing of zinc carbon dry cell batteries. Invoking leniency provisions, the Competition Commission reduced the quantum of penalties on Eveready, Indo National as well as their officials. The fine has been completely waived off in the case of Panasonic Energy India, which was also involved in anti-competitive practices. In a 39-page order, the watchdog has penalised Eveready and Indo National, which owns the brand 'Nippo' and Association of Indian Dry Cell Manufacturers (AIDCM) to the tune of nearly Rs 215 crore. The amount includes fines on officials of the two companies as well as that of the industry grouping. "From the evidence collected in the case, CCI found that the three battery manufacturers, facilitated by AIDCM, had indulged in anti-competitive conduct of price coordination, limiting production/ supply as well as market allocation," an official release said. The fines imposed on Eveready and Indo National have been reduced by 30 per cent and 20 per cent, respectively, under the leniency provisions. Eveready Industries India has to pay a fine of Rs 171.55 crore while the penalty on its officials is Rs 53.41 lakh. In the case of Indo National, the fine is Rs 42.26 crore on the company and Rs 29.57 lakh on the officials. The regulator has imposed a penalty of Rs 1.85 lakh on AIDCM and Rs 16.09 lakh on its officials. The matter was taken up suo-moto by the Competition Commission of India (CCI). It was also observed that the anti-competitive conduct of the entities was continuing from 2008 to 2016, as per the release. However, Section 3 of the Competition Act pertaining to . The Prime Ministers Office met the Economics Affairs Secretary, Subhash Chandra Garg on April 18 for a review of the investigation into the NSEL scam, a source told Moneycontrol. Garg currently heads the Special Team of Secretaries (STS), overseeing the investigations in the NSEL case. The PMO had a meeting with the DEA Secretary on Wednesday; it had sought a lot of information prior to the meeting, including data on the defaulters business structure and their operations, the source said. Nearly 13,000 investors lost close to Rs 5,600 crore in the NSEL fiasco. Only 6 percent were repaid in nearly 57 months since the scam was unearthed in July 2013. The timelines are particularly important in the current context with multiple scam investigations going on simultaneously, banking being the latest in the list. One of the investors said, "Investors are getting increasingly impatient as they have high expectations from the Modi government. Investors who lost money in the NSEL scam had met Narendra Modi, then Chief Minister of Gujarat, in 2013. Since many of the defaulters were from the state of Gujarat, they hoped Modi would be able to further their cause. The largest defaulter, NK Proteins was promoted by one Nilesh Patel who not only belonged to the powerful Patidar community but was also the son in law of then NSEL Chairman Shri Shankarlal Guru, a Congress politician from North Gujarat. These investors have been sending close to 500 twitter messages to the PM every day, some even reminding him of his promises as the CM of Gujarat. It seems the messages, which would total nearly a 100,000 by now, have finally caught the attention of the PMO. The aggrieved investors also recently met the Chief Minister of Maharashtra, Devendra Fadnavis on this issue. The Economic Offences Wing of the Maharashtra Police Department has taken a series of steps in the last week or so, including attaching more bank accounts of 63 Moons Technologies, the parent company of NSEL. While these decisions have been challenged by the company in the Bombay High Court and the matter is sub judice, investors are hoping the Court will help them get their money back. The authority appointed by the Maharashtra state under the Maharashtra Protection Of Interest Of Depositors (MPID) Act, tasked with liquidation of properties attached in the NSEL scam, is expected to auction a few properties shortly with the assistance of HDFC Realty. "What no one has answered is where did lacs of tons of commodities vanish, and if the exchange did not have proper custody of goods which were adequately insured, how did they advance Rs 5,600 crore to a bunch of dodgy borrowers," an NSEL investor told Moneycontrol. A lady with a small investment in NSEL said, "We are fervently hoping that the government will follow up on the recovery process with the required energy . The recent actions have raised our hopes. All the investigative agencies such as the CBI, Enforcement Directorate and Serious Fraud Investigation office are involved In the NSEL investigation. SFIO may submit its final investigation report by the end of May. Fortis Healthcare | In the September quarter, Rakesh Junjhunwala held a 2.65 percent holding in the stock, and FIIs have increased its stake to 41.04 percent from 40.98 percent in the June quarter. In FY21 so far the stock price has risen 0 percent to Rs 125.70 as on October 26. Fortis Healthcare Board, which met on Thursday, decided to appoint an expert advisory committee to evaluate "binding" offers. The advisory committee to be chaired by Deepak Kapoor, former Chairman and CEO of PwC India, is tasked to make a final recommendation to the board on the most eligible takeover offers by April 26. "In exercise of its fiduciary duties, the Board has decided to evaluate the binding offers and has appointed an advisory committee and also directed Standard Chartered Bank (SCB) to assist the committee," Fortis said in a statement to stock exchanges. "In order to evaluate the binding offers, the advisory committee will, after due evaluation and post taking into account the independent view of Standard Chartered Bank, make a final recommendation to the Board by April 26, 2018," the statement added. Fortis also said it has appointed Rohit Bhasin as director of the company with immediate effect Fortis Board has received binding offers from Manipal/TPG consortium and Munjal and Burman family offices and has also received non-binding expression of interests from IHH Healthcare and Fosun Health Holdings. The Company has been facing hurdles that have precipitated and have caused uncertainty and ambiguity amongst all stakeholders," Fortis Board said in a statement. "We firmly believe that it would be the responsibility of the Board to direct and guide the Company in a manner that brings conformity and certainty to the ongoing process," the Board statement added. Several investor have voiced concern over whether the existing Board consisting members close to erstwhile promoters Singh brothers will be in a position to make a decision of such importance. On Wednesday East Bridge and National Westminster Bank As Trustee Of The Jupiter India Fund that together hold 12.04 percent stake in the Fortis have issued special notice to the Fortis Board to remove all the directors. Fortis said it's evaluating the special notice. Proxy advisory firm IiAS has been suggesting a special committee to assist the Board in assessing the bid without waiting for changes to the board - that could take time. To evaluate bids, shareholders need more credence at the board-level: all four members of the current board have been associated with either the Fortis group, Religare group, or Ranbaxy for long tenures in the past, IiAS report said. IiAS said it believes the current board can get additional support in assessing the three bids and coming to a decision among the complex sets of pulls and pressures, without necessarily waiting for board expansion. "As an alternate to expanding the board, the company must appoint a special committee to the board, that will advise the board on the sale. This committee should be tasked with evaluating the bids and structures, narrow in on the most suitable buyer and negotiate the final contours and terms with the chosen buyer," it added. LocalBitcoins | This peer-to-peer exchange allows people from different countries to exchange their local currencies to bitcoins. Users post advertisements on the exchange stating their exchange rate and preferred payment method for buying or selling bitcoins. By replying to these advertisements, a trade is opened and escrow protection is automatically activated. Escrow protects both buyer and seller, by keeping the bitcoins safe until the payment is done and the seller releases bitcoins to the buyer. Bitcoins are placed in LocalBitcoins web wallet from where one can pay for their bitcoin purchases directly. However, investors need to be aware of scams as they are dealing directly with other people unlike other stock-like exchanges or centralized bitcoin trading sites. A suspect behind the theft of 600 computers used for mining cryptocurrencies in Iceland broke out of prison and fled the country, reportedly on the same plane which was flying Icelands Prime Minister to Sweden for a meeting with Narendra Modi. Sindri Thor Stefansson escaped through a window of a low-security prison in rural southern Iceland and reportedly boarded the flight to Sweden from the airport which is situated 95 km from the prison, reported The Guardian. According to police, he used a passport issued under a different name to flee the country. However, he was identified from a surveillance video of the airport. Police said they were certain that he had an accomplice. Incidentally, Stefansson was not reported missing from his prison till he had left the country. In custody since February, he was recently moved to the low-security jail where inmates have access to phones and internet. An international warrant in his name has been issued but Swedish police have not made any arrest as of now. Stefansson was one of the 11 accused in what was dubbed in media as big bitcoin heist. In a theft which is widely regarded as Icelands biggest cryptocurrency mining equipment worth Rs 157 crore (200 million Kronur). Iceland, which has a population of 340,000 is one of the most peaceful nations and has a very low crime rate. A sociology professor at the University of Iceland, Helgi Gunnlaugsson said that though it was unusual that a high profile prisoner was kept at a low-security jail, the organised prison break was baffling. Prison breaks in Iceland usually mean someone just fled to get drunk, he said. The underworlds are tiny and it is extremely difficult to hide, let alone flee the country. Iceland due to its cold climate and abundance of natural resources has become a favoured nation for cryptocurrency miners. The low cost of electricity and heat management means miners generate high margin. After the theft, in a rare move, owners of cryptocurrency equipment offered $60,000 reward to anyone who could lead the detectives to the stolen computers. The Board of Fortis Healthcare, India's second largest healthcare provider will be meeting today to decide on the four takeover offers it received. Fortis has four offers on the table let's see each one of those offers in detail and what shareholders are expecting. Manipal-TPG consortium offer Ranjan Pai-led Manipal Hospitals backed by US private equity investor TPG has submitted a revised bid that valued Fortis at Rs 155 per share, a 21 percent higher than the earlier bid that was scorned by investors. As per the offer plan put forward by Manipal-TPG plan Fortis will de-merge its hospital business into Manipal Hospitals and create a combined hospital business that will be a publicly traded company listed on stock exchanges. Fortis shareholders will get 50 percent stake in the combined entity. The combined entity will then make a right's issue of up to Rs 4000 crore to buy out hospital assets held by Singapore listed RHT. Manipal also offered to separately buyout 30.9 percent stake in SRL from existing private equity investors by paying Rs 1,113.4 crore. Manipal-TPG is the only bidder that has done complete due diligence on Fortis Healthcare so far. Munjal-Burmans offer Simplest of offers - offer jointly from Sunil Munjal of Hero and Burmans of Dabur to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly into the company. Under the new bid, Rs 500 crore will be infused through preferential allotment of equity shares and the balance Rs 1,000 crore through preferential issue of warrants. The preferential allotment of warrants will be done at Rs 161.60 a share whereas preferential allotment of equity shares for Rs 500 crore will be done at a price of Rs 156 a share. IHH Healthcare offer The offer from Kuala Lumpur-based IHH Healthcare-backed by Malaysian sovereign fund Khazanah lacks details - it values Fortis Healthcare at Rs 160 per share. IHH told Malaysian stock exchange that Fortis declined to engage with it citing its binding agreement with Manipal-TPG consortium, though Fortis refuted IHH statement saying it's Board is going to consider IHH bid as well. IHH officially remains secretive about its plans but dropped hints that it's not averse to an hostile takeover of the healthcare provider. IHH has agreed to infuse up to Rs 4,000 crore through preferential allotment of equity shares. Fosun offer The Chinese conglomerate known to be active on international M&A circuit - has emerged as the dark horse in Fortis race. Fosun offers to inject Rs 100 crore within the next 45 days. The Rs 100-crore worth fund infusion will be on the condition that Fortis agrees to a one-month period of exclusivity for Fosun to undertake due diligence and negotiate a proposal to acquire stake in the company. Post exclusivity period Fosun will consider a primary infusion of up to USD 350 million (approximately Rs 2,300 crore) at a price of Rs 156 per share that shall not enable Fosun to hold 25 percent or more securities of Fortis What are shareholders saying? Fortis shareholders have finally seemed to have hit a sweet spot with the onslaught of the bidding war. However, Moneycontrol found out that none of the bids have failed to enthuse shareholders. One leading shareholder lamented that the price offered by the three interested parties was way below its expectations and unlikely to be accepted in the current form. He said the valuation should be closer to Rs 200 a share, to make them come on board. Late Wednesday, East Bridge Capital and National Westminster Bank Plc as Trustee of The Jupiter India Fund issued special notice to the healthcare provider seeking removal of all the directors on the Board. The two investors for this purpose - called for an extra-ordinary general meeting (EGM) of Fortis Healthcare shareholders. East Bridge and National Westminster Bank As Trustee Of The Jupiter India Fund together hold 12.04 percent stake in the Fortis. The two investors have proposed three names for independent directors on the Fortis Board - Suvalaxmi Chakraborty, Chief Executive Officer (India) at State Bank of Mauritius, Ravi Rajagopal, Finance Director, Diageo and Indrajit Banerjee, management consultant The latest move by the investors comes a day before the scheduled Fortis Board meeting that's expected to decide on the four offers it has received for takeover of the company. Fortis said it's evaluating the special notice. "The company is evaluating the same and the same shall be placed before the Board of Directors in due course," the company said in a statement to stock exchanges. Fortis has now four directors on its Board Brian Tempest, Harpal Singh, Sabina Vaisoha and Tejinder Singh Shergill. Vaisoha and Shergill were recently appointed as additional directors - those appointments need to be ratified by the shareholders. Shares of Fortis rose 1.63 percent and were trading at Rs 146.95 on BSE at 9.44 am, the benchmark Sensex gained 0.27 percent to 34,425.18 points. Former Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah Ramakrishna Upadhya Hundreds of party workers toil for years together and when the elections come, they stand in queue and hope to be rewarded with poll tickets. But, many a time, major political parties open a backdoor for the kith and kin of VIPs, who walk away with a clutch of the prized tickets. The Karnataka assembly elections, due to be held on May 12, are no different, as there are no less than 40 to 50 blood relations contesting elections from different parties and at least half of them are likely to be elected because of their star status". Where reconciliation was not possible, there are fights among brothers and cousins contesting on different party tickets, but the most interesting aspect of the election this time is at least six father-son/daughter duo trying to enter the assembly at the same time. Chief minister Siddaramaiah, who vacated Varuna constituency for his son Yatheendra, has shifted to neighbouring Chamundeshwari, while home minister Ramalinga Reddy, representing BTM layout, has managed a ticket for his daughter, Soumya Reddy, from Jayanagar for the first time. Law minister TB Jayachandra, who represents Sira, will have his son Santosh Jayachandra making a political debut from Chikkanayakanahalli. Congress veteran Shamanur Shivashankarappa (Dharwad South) and his son SS Mallikarjun (Dharwad North) will be seeking re-election, along with M Krishnappa (Vijayanagar) and his son Priya Krishna (Govindarajanagar). Incidentally, Priya Krishna, who is into real estate business along with his father, had declared assets worth Rs 910 crore in 2013 and it will be interesting to see where his wealth stands now. Complete coverage of Karnataka assembly elections 2018 In the BJP, the decision of state president BS Yeddyurappa to contest from Shikaripura which is currently represented by his son BY Raghavendra without a constituency, and he may shift to Ranebennur. BSYs another son, BY Vijayendra has already begun campaigning in Varuna against Yatheendra in the hope of getting a party ticket. In a first for the BJP, the husband-wife duo of Shashikala Jolle and Annasaheb Jolle has been offered tickets from Nippani and Chikkodi-Sadalga, two neighbouring seats. BJPs desperation to somehow defeat Congress in Karnataka is evident from the fact that party president Amit Shah, having declared that the controversial mining baron Janardhana Reddy would be kept at arms length, has done a U-turn, and Reddys supporters have been accommodated in a big way. Reddys brother Somasekhara Reddy is being fielded from Ballari city, and elder brother Karnakarana Reddy (though not in good terms with Janardhana Reddy right now) may get Harapanahalli ticket. Reddys close confidant and an influential leader among Nayaka community, B Srimulu, will contest from Molakalmuru, Srimulus uncle Sanna Fakeerappa from Ballari rural and his nephew Suresh Babu from Kampli. Janardhana Reddy, who is allegedly worth more than Rs 30,000 crore and is facing several CBI cases, has been barred by the Supreme Court from entering Ballari till the cases are decided. He has currently taken a 10-bedroom house at Hangal village close to Ballari border to work for all his associates. Podcast: BJP vs Congress: Here's how politics is unfolding in Karnataka Another powerful political family from Belagavi district is that of Jarkhiholi brothers. While Satish Jarkhiholi and Ramesh Jarkhiholi are in Congress and in a complicated rivalry one replaced the other in the Siddaramaiah cabinet the third brother, Balachandra Jarkhiholi, is a BJP MLA. There are two more brothers waiting in the wings to enter politics. In the Congress camp, Byrathi Basavaraj, who helped Siddaramaiah become chief minister in 2013, will contest again from KR Puram, while his brother Byrathi Suresh has been given a ticket from Hebbal, both in Bengaluru city. Sagara in Shimogga district, which late chief minister S Bangarappa used to win without visiting the constituency even once during election time, will see a classical battle between his two sons Madhu Bangarappa representing Congress and Kumar Bangarappa from the BJP. Last time, it was Madhu who had emerged victorious. Congress stalwart Mallikarjun Kharges son Prinank Kharge is seeking re-election from Chitapur in Kalburgi district, while veteran Congressman G Made Gowdas grandson Madhu Madegowda will be trying his luck from Maddur, the home town of former chief minister SM Krishna, who is currently with the BJP. KH Muniyappa, 7-time Congress MP, has succeeded in getting a ticket for his daughter Roopa Shashidar from Kolar Gold Fields, where Congress has never won in four decades. Seasoned campaigner V Srinivasa Prasad, who rebelled against Siddaramaiah and joined the BJP in 2016, has managed to get a ticket for his son-in-law Harshavardhan from Nanjangud. Also read: Contrary to survey results, political bookies sway in favour of BJP It is not that all VIPs or their kin were lucky. Among those who failed to get tickets for their sons were HC Mahadevappa, a minister close to Siddaramaiah, for Sunil Bose, former deputy chairman of Rajya Sabha Rahman Khan for Mansoor Ali Khan, former chief minister Veerappa Moily for Harsha Moily and former governor Margaret Alva for her son Nivedita Alva. In sharp contrast, the JD(S), despite pressure from several family members, has managed to limit the seat distribution to HD Kumaraswamy (Ramanagara), HD Revanna (Holenarasipura), HC Balakrishna (Shravanabelagola) and MR Rangappa (Chamaraja). In the final analysis however, whatever families may eagerly propose, the people have the ultimate option to dispose. The author is a senior journalist based in Bengaluru. The Telecom Commissions meeting on May 1, its first since the Budget session of the Parliament closed on April 6, has as many as ten items on the agenda, according to a source familiar with the development. These include net neutrality, in-flight connectivity, administrative allocation of spectrum bands E and V, ease of doing business, cloud services, machine to machine communication and regulatory framework for internet telephony. Telecom Commission, headed by the secretary of the department of telecommunications, is the apex decision-making body of the DoT. Not all decisions of the Telecom Commission have to be approved by the Union Cabinet. The Commission usually sets up panels to consider recommendations made by the telecom regulator or even otherwise and then decides whether to give approvals or not to a given panels suggestions. Net neutrality is a sensitive issue world over and not just in India. The Commission will be taking up the suggestions already made by the Telecom Regulatory Authority of India that favoured not allowing Internet service providers to cut deals with content companies that would have otherwise enabled preferential treatment to a content company by providing its content at a faster speed compared to a rivals. In-flight connectivity for using data and voice services is a lucrative market being eyed both by telecom as well as airline companies. All stakeholders -- including ministry of civil aviation, home ministry, external affairs ministry, air safety regulator -- have given their approvals to allow in-flight connectivity. Issues of safety, jurisdiction and licensing have so far delayed the process. Companies like Lufthansa, Emirates, Etihad Airways and Qatar Airways already offer these services on their flights. Allocation of spectrum bands E and V is something the telecom companies are looking forward to. These bands enable transmission of data at very high speeds of 1000 megabit per second. These bands are useful for short distance tower-to-tower data transmission and some industry say these frequencies could be used for 5G services as well once the rest of the ecosystem is ready. There is a possibility of these bands be allotted to existing telecom companies as administrative spectrum and not through an auction. Such an allocation of these bands will save the companies the cost of laying the expensive optic fibre, a tedious process that involves seeking permission from the local authorities. The Commission will also discuss setting up a regulatory framework for Internet telephony, a service that already has the nod of the regulator. If the DoT accepts TRAI recommendations, Internet calls will be possible to any instrument, be it landline or mobile without the users needing to download any app. Thus, entities like Whatsapp and Skype will also come under the licensing policy and be made to sign interconnect agreements with telecom service providers. It will also be possible to use an app to call on any mobile or landline, doing away with the need for the other user also to have the same app on her mobile. It must be noted that once true Internet telephony comes to India, only the calling party will need a data connection while it will not be mandatory for the receiver to have a data connection. The receiving consumer will simply benefit from an interconnection pact between her own service provider and that of the calling party. The Commission will also deliberate on the concept of machine-to-machine communication an emerging area where one device communicates with another, lets say your mobile telling your washing machine to shut down or the server of your electricity supplier recording the reading of your meter from a distance. As per DoTs earlier decision, all such machines will have a 13-digit number. UP to write to Centre seeking death penalty for rapists after Unnao rape Will walk out if meeting with Kim doesn't go well: Trump GST Consumer Welfare Fund can be given as grant to Centre, states: CBIC Pakistan expected to file counter rejoinder by July 17 to ICJ on Kulbhushan Jadhav case EU gave asylum to more than half a million refugees in 2017: stats office Britain's Queen Elizabeth backs her son Charles to take on Commonwealth role Diaz-Canel is Cuba's new president as Castro steps aside BJP leader who resigned as J&K minister, took out a candle march demanding CBI inquiry in Kathua Case April 19, 2018 / 09:43 PM IST Angela Merkel signals willingness to compromise on EU reform German Chancellor Angela Merkel signalled her willingness to find compromises with France when it comes to reforming the European Union, as she hosted French President Emmanuel Macron for talks today in Berlin. Macron has outlined ambitious plans for greater economic integration across the bloc, but these have met resistance in some member countries, including among conservatives in Merkel's party. Merkel, who was recently confirmed for a fourth term at the helm of Europe's biggest economy, said that at the very least she is willing to talk. "There are of course always different starting points when it comes to the opinions of Germany and France," she told reporters at a joint news conference with Macron. "We need open debates and in the end we need the ability to compromise." While Germany and France agree on the need to better protect the EU's external borders and forge a common asylum policy, it's unclear how much backing Macron can expect from Germany for his plans to reform the bloc's financial structure. (PTI) April 19, 2018 / 09:20 PM IST Truth catches up with people like Amit Shah: Rahul Gandhi Congress president Rahul Gandhi today hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah after the Supreme Court verdict on Judge BH Loya's death, saying truth has a way of catching up with people like him. The ruling party had accused Gandhi of being the "invisible hand" behind the petitions in the apex court seeking an independent probe into the judge's death. "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him," he said on Twitter. The Supreme Court today dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of judge Loya, who was handling the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in which Shah was once an accused and was later discharged. Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. (PTI) April 19, 2018 / 09:17 PM IST In sports news, IPL side Kings XI Punjab are taking on Sunrisers Hyderabad in Mohali. Chris Gayle has completed his half-century and with 4 overs to go in the first inning, he is about to shift gears. Catch the LIVE updates here and follow the full scorecard here. April 19, 2018 / 09:06 PM IST PM Modi holds bilateral talks with several world leaders on CHOGM sidelines Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a series of bilateral meetings including discussions with Seychelles President Danny Faure and his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here. "Friend in an extended neighbourhood! PM @narendramodi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. Cementing close friendship with Mauritius, Prime Minister Modi met his Mauritius counterpart Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties, Kumar said. Modi also interacted with President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, Gaston Browne. Sheikh Hasina is set for an interaction with Modi, their first meeting since the Bangladeshi Prime Minister's visit to New Delhi last year. (PTI) April 19, 2018 / 09:00 PM IST AAP leaders writes to Jaitley, demands special status for Punjab AAP leader and MLA Kanwar Sandhu said today he has written to Finance Minister Arun Jaitley seeking special status for Punjab and its inclusion in the list of special category states (SCS). Sandhu has also written to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh in this regard, demanding that he call an all-party meeting on the issue. He said it was unfortunate that Punjab's case was never pursued vigorously since its bifurcation in 1966. "If terms of reference of the 15th Finance Commission are not revised, Punjab would be hit harder in terms of devolution of funds from the Centre as compared to states such as Karnataka and Kerala, which are making a similar demand," he said. Sandhu said it was important these issues were raised forcefully as Punjab was facing a severe financial and economic crisis. (PTI) April 19, 2018 / 08:30 PM IST April 19, 2018 / 08:05 PM IST April 19, 2018 / 07:02 PM IST Diaz-Canel is Cuba's new president as Castro steps aside Miguel Diaz-Canel was formally named Cuba's new president on Thursday, succeeding Raul Castro, state media said -- a historic handover ending six decades of rule by the Castro brothers. The 57-year-old Diaz-Canel, who was the only candidate for the presidency, was elected to a five-year term with 603 out of 604 possible votes in the National Assembly, the official Cubadebate website said. (PTI) April 19, 2018 / 06:50 PM IST Airtel likely to offer free subscription of Netflix on TV app Telecom major Bharti Airtel is in advance talks with video streaming giant Netflix to offer free access to the latter's content to Airtel TV App users. "Netflix and Airtel are in advanced discussions for an exclusive tie-up to offer Netflix content to Airtel mobile customers. Several rounds of discussions have been completed between the two companies and the deal could be announced in the coming weeks," sources privy to the deal told PTI. When contacted, an Airtel spokesperson declined to comment. (PTI) April 19, 2018 / 05:55 PM IST There are 13 internal staircases and three quiet zones inside the buildings, in case employees want to walk away from the world of Flipkart and seek their alone time. As many as 45 per cent of multinationals plan to increase their corporate real estate portfolios in Asia Pacific in the next two years and their priorities for portfolio expansion are markets such as China, India and Singapore. In India, these companies are focusing on expanding in Bengaluru and other smaller cities, according to CBRE Asia Pacific Occupier Survey 2018. China and India are the main priority for office portfolio expansion, followed by Singapore, which remains the preferred base for growth in Southeast Asia. Shanghai is the top destination in China, followed by tier II cities. The survey noted weaker interest in Beijing and Guangzhou. Similarly, in India, multinationals are focusing on expanding in Bengaluru and smaller cities across the country, but have limited growth plans in the Delhi NCR and Mumbai, it says. Although Shanghai has a large volume of new office supply, strong expansionary demand is expected to limit downward pressure on rents. In contrast, large scale pre-commitments to space in new projects in core areas of Bengaluru is tightening space availability. The market wide supply shortage in Singapore could also pose a challenge for occupiers seeking space. The demand-supply mismatch also exists in China tier I cities, New Delhi and smaller Indian markets, all of which are facing considerable oversupply, it says. As per the results, 45 per cent of respondents plan to expand, while 28 per cent anticipate a reduction, although a large portion of the latter figure likely includes companies planning to grow by improving space utilization. Rapid technological innovation, evolving workplace concepts, and shifting employee expectations are becoming the new normal for regional commercial real estate, with these trends likely to spur ongoing office market growth for the next 24 months, says the survey. Indoor air quality ranks high on companies workplace agenda The survey also notes occupiers growing belief that landlords should play a more proactive and collaborative role in helping create and manage the workplace. Biometric authentication (15%) and air purification technology (28%) are two features occupiers expect landlords to provide. With air pollution a critical issue in many cities across the region, indoor air quality ranks high on companies workplace agenda. Although not many occupiers expect landlords to provide solutions for mobile apps and sensors, a number of more progressive landlords have already taken the initiative to provide such services. Around 84 per cent of landlords in Asia Pacific expect to see the emergence of smart buildings, which will provide a solid foundation for occupiers to implement new technological initiatives, the survey says. The 3rd annual CBRE Asia Pacific Occupier Survey polled 50 corporate real estate executives from multinationals and large Asian corporates from October to December 2017. All respondents oversee their respective organisations regional and/or global real estate portfolio. Most respondents held positions with companies headquartered in North America (36%), with the remainder evenly split between Europe (32%) and Asia Pacific (32%). Major sectors included technology, media and telecommunications (TMT) (30%), banking and finance (22%) and petroleum, oil and gas (10%). Flexible space providers were also included for the first time. Rajesh Pandit, Head, GWS and Asset Services, CBRE India says, With each year, India further establishes itself as one of the worlds most attractive markets for expanding occupiers. The strategies of multinationals to occupy more office space in Bangalore and emerging cities are testament to this fact. A perfect fusion of solid portfolio expansion, an accelerating workplace evolution and a surge in digital enablement tools is delivering a generational mind-set shift in how occupiers view real estate, says Phil Rowland, CEO of Global Workplace Solutions, CBRE Asia Pacific. Landlords are becoming more invested in the new office market paradigm across Asia Pacific. They are structuring flexible lease terms to include flexible space providers as tenants, and further considering the specific needs and potential users of space at the project planning stage, says Manish Kashyap, Managing Director, Head of Advisory & Transaction Services, CBRE Asia Pacific. Built-to-suit office spaces a new trend Other trends that will drive decision-making across Asia Pacific over the coming 24 months include, leasing space in existing buildings is the preferred means for companies to increase their footprint. Firms are also pursing built-to-suit opportunities and pre-committing to new buildings. Flexible office solutions are increasingly popular, with 33 per cent of occupiers planning to increase their use of co-working space. The adoption of Activity-based Working (ABW) will increase to 78 per cent over the next two years. Workplace settings and policies will see greater refinement. Collaboration remains the key driver of workplace strategy but an increasing number of companies are placing a stronger focus on achieving the by-products of collaboration, such as innovation and creativity. Companies are also implementing space utilization analytics for more refined space planning. There is increased focus on Me space for individual tasks to balance out collaboration spaces. By Samuel Ssebuliba. The ministry of health is still skeptical about the new salary structures for the health workers In the proposed 2018/19 salary structures, the consultants or specialists in the health sector have been allocated Shs4.6m from Shs3.4m. While appearing before the health committee of parliament yesterday, the state minister for health Sarah Opendi said despite such an increment, the salary still remains small compared to what health workers in countries like Kenya, Tanzania and Rwanda earn. Meanwhile Opendi justified the need to implement governments proposal to bring in health experts from Cuba to bridge the gap of consultants especially in upcountry referral hospitals. However, members including the committee chairman Michael Bukenya dismissed this move. DDA Housing Scheme Rahul Nahar Indias housing challenge has rapidly risen up the political agenda, with those in power finally acknowledging the importance of addressing Indias affordable housing crisis. The governments flagship campaign to provide housing to all its citizens by 2022 is noble - but what is needed to make this happen? The reality is that India is on the verge of large-scale demographic change, and delivering on this promise is no easy task. With more than 10 million people migrating to cities and towns each year, Indias urban population is expected to reach an unprecedented 810 million by 2050. To house this population by 2022, 110 million houses will likely be required that is estimated to cost approximately USD 2 trillion. The scale of the challenge is daunting, and the government has quickly got to work announcing a swathe of reforms in the housing sector. Demonetisation, RERA and GST have all been introduced to increase transparency and accountability, and reassure homeowners that they can trust real estate developers. At the same time, PMAY has significantly reduced the costs of buying a house and expanded the possibilities of homeownership to a greater number of individuals and families. While these demand-side initiatives are welcome, the government needs to help the real estate sector build on an unprecedented scale if it is serious about achieving housing for all. Indeed, the strength of the real estate sector should not be underestimated - it is the second largest employment generator nationwide and contributes about six percent towards GDP. There was some positive news in the Union Budget, though. The affordable housing fund freed up much-needed finance for developers to build affordable homes at scale. Similarly, the finance ministers commitments to invest in transport infrastructure may open up less connected areas of our cities, easing pressure on overcrowded - and overpriced - city centre building plots. These changes alone will not be enough to house Indias rapidly urbanising population and the government needs to accelerate and advance its efforts to increase housing demand. This will require working more closely with those in the industry to clear up bottlenecks that continue to stifle growth. One way in which the government can stimulate supply is through tackling the issue of land acquisition. This issue remains a major challenge for developers, as the shortage of buildable land across Indian cities has steadily pushed up land prices. In the long-term, transport infrastructure is key, but other initiatives are also needed in the interim. Easing building density restrictions would be one way to ease pressure immediately, allowing housing to be built in locations where they are most desperately needed. Incentives that would have had an immediate impact were also missed in the Union Budget. For example, a tax exemption for Indian investors in Real Estate Investment Trusts (REITs) would have encouraged investment - going some way to acquiring the USD 2 trillion needed to meet the demand. The budget also fell short of granting the real estate sector the industry status - a move which would have enabled developers to obtain funds at reduced rates of interest. The commitment to have housing for all by 2022 is ambitious, but not impossible. What is certain is that the government cant do it alone. Public-private sector collaboration is vital to realising the nations dream of complete homeownership. The author is founder, Xrbia Developers The Centre today told the Supreme Court that the special task force (STF), which would be set up to oversee the enforcement of laws to deal with unauthorised constructions and encroachments in Delhi, would also look into the safety aspects of buildings which have been built legally. The government told a bench of Justices Madan B Lokur and Deepak Gupta that the STF would examine the safety aspects, like fire fighting, in buildings like schools, hospitals, theatres and restaurants to see whether they complied with the norms. Additional Solicitor General A N S Nadkarni (ASG), appearing for the Centre, told the bench that they have added one representative from the office of Delhi's Lieutenant Governor in the task force, which would be chaired by the vice-chairman of the Delhi Development Authority (DDA). "Even if there is a legal building, the task force will look into the safety aspects like fire and others," he told the bench. However, the apex court asked Nadkarni as to what has been done with regard to the issue of depletion of ground water in Delhi. The ASG told the bench they were taking steps in this regard. The bench, while listing the matter for further hearing on April 24, asked the member secretary of the Central Ground Water Board (CGWB) to remain present before it on the next date to assist it. The ASG told the bench that proper security arrangements would be put in place for the court-appointed monitoring committee so that they would carry out the sealing drive in Delhi as per the apex court's mandate. He said three senior officials of Delhi Police have been asked to coordinate with the committee and chalk out further modalities in this regard. He also handed over to the court a revised note regarding the ongoing sealing drive. The bench said it would hear this issue on April 24. The apex court had earlier taken umbrage to the lack of police protection to the monitoring committee for carrying out sealing drive and had termed it a "very serious thing". The issue had cropped up after the committee had raised the matter related to police protection when it was scheduled to visit Amar Colony in south Delhi for carrying out their work. The Centre had last week apprised the court that it has proposed to set up a STF to oversee the enforcement and implementation of laws to deal with unauthorised construction and encroachment in Delhi after consulting all stakeholders. The STF, to be chaired by the vice-chairman of DDA, would also comprise of commissioners of the three municipal corporation of Delhi (MCDs), chairperson of the New Delhi Municipal Council (NDMC) and the CEO of Delhi Jal Board (DJB). The other members of STF would be commissioner or secretary of transport, secretary of urban development and secretary of revenue department of the Delhi government, special commissioner (law and order), special commissioner (traffic) of Delhi Police, chief fire officer of Delhi and commissioner (planning) of the DDA. The ASG had said that STF would identify encroachments on government land, suggest the course of action to Centre with regard to unauthorised colonies in Delhi and oversee effective and proper enforcement of applicable laws by local bodies particularly about violation and unauthorised constructions. The top court had earlier ordered restoration of its 2006 monitoring committee to identify and seal such offending structures. The monitoring committee, comprising K J Rao, former advisor to the Election Commissioner, Bhure Lal, chairman of Environment Pollution (Prevention and Control) Authority, and Major General (Retd) Som Jhingan, was set up on March 24, 2006, by the court. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More Here are stocks that are in news today: Results today: TCS, IndusInd Bank, Mahindra CIE, Reliance Power, Cyient Mindtree Q4 QoQ - Net profit up 28.8 percent at Rs 182.2 crore, revenue up 6.3 percent at Rs 1,464 crore ACC Q1CY18 YoY - Consolidated revenue up 14.2 percent at Rs 3,624.6 crore; profit up 18.6 percent at Rs 250.4 crore DLF: The company has sought to allay concerns about slow pace of monetization of land assets, Bloomberg reported. Bharat Dynamics signed licensing agreement with Defence Research Development Organisation (DROO) for ASTRA MK-1 Weapon System Sun Pharma: One of the owned company's subsidiary increased stake in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd via purchase of 4.93 percenet stake; current holding increased to 95.67 percent. Mark Builders: SEBI has banned the firm and its directors from market ABG Shipyard: Fresh bids are invited for the company under insolvency law. Trigyn Techno: Company received technology support staffing contract by Baltimore county public schools for 5 years Sadbhav Infrastructure: Investment committee meeting on April 23 to approve NCD of Rs 170 crore Ashok Leyland: The company has drawn up Rs 1,000 crore plan for 2018-19. Magma Fincorp - ICRA upgraded credit rating to AA-/stable for bonds and bank facilities; raises Rs 500 crore through QIP route, per share price is Rs 155 Container Corp: Company to consider stock split on April 30 Ambuja Cement/ACC - Board of Directors approved limiting the period of the master supply agreement with ACC for 3 years Jain Irrigation: Board approves plan to raise Rs 260 crore loan from World Bank arm Kirloskar Oil Engine - Blackstone emerges as front runner to buy the Company: ET Tata Steel may acquire 75 percent in Bhushan Steel: Media Report Amtek Auto - Subsidiary gets two binding bids by Liberty, Deccan Value: Media Report Infosys clarified that company has not received any alleged anonymous whistleblower complaint Mastek declared dividend of Rs 4 per equity share of Rs 5 each Jubilant Foodworks clarified on allegations about some products of Dominos Pizza via video that co assure that they use real cheese in their products Wockhardt board meeting on May 4 to approve raising of fund via non-convertible debentures (NCD) Infibeam: Company receives online marketplace contract from NSDC. ICICI Bank chairman meets MF heads over succession plan, if Chanda Kochhar quits: BS IFCI invites bids for sale of stake in NSE ABG Shipyard - Fresh bids invited for the company Lemon Tree Hotels signs 3 management contracts for hotel in Uttarakhand As announced earlier Great Eastern Shipping takes delivery of very large gas carrier of about 81,617cbm Dynamatic Technologies: Company signs MoU with Frances Daher Aerospace NMDC: Company cuts prices of lump ore and fines by Rs 100 each to Rs 2,900 per tonne and Rs 2,560 per tonne with effect from April 18 17:54 Cash crunch: SBI Research pegs shortfall at Rs 70,000 crore Even as government and Reserve Bank have asserted that there is no currency shortage, SBI Research today pegged the cash shortfall in the system at a whopping Rs 70,000 crore, which is a third of the monthly withdrawals at ATMs. In a note that comes a day after reports of currency shortages made national headlines, it depended on nominal economic growth, currency with the public and the rise in digital transactions to arrive at the shortfall estimate. A 9.8 percent nominal GDP growth would have taken the currency available with the public to Rs 19.4 trillion by March 2018, as against the actual availability of Rs 17.5 trillion, it said, stressing that the gap of Rs 1.9 trillion is not the shortfall. (PTI) 15:41 Corruption has only multiplied since demonetisation, says Priyanka Chaturvedi Congress' All India Congress Committtee convenor Priyanka Chaturvedi on Wednesday said that corruption has only multiplied since demonetisation. Chaturvedi stated that the BJPs cash reserves have increased by over 80 percent. "Where has this money come from? Who benefited from demonetisation?" she questioned. "The plan behind demonetisation was to take India towards a digital economy. But there is more cash in the system after demonetisation. What was the achievement of demonetisation? The people of the country have been cheated," Chaturvedi said. The Congress convenor added that over 13 states are facing a cash crunch, Rs 7 lakh crores have gone out of supply and the govt has deprived people of the money they need during the wedding and sowing season. 14:56 There is no such crisis, says Axis Bank on cash crunch When asked about its ATMs, private sector Axis Bank said it has enough cash, which is "better than the industry average and there is no such crisis". "Even if there are cases of ATMs running out of money it is because people from other banks are coming to withdraw money," a Axis Bank official told PTI. The Reserve Bank had said last evening that there was no shortage of currency even as it has ramped up printing of notes at all its four presses. The finance ministry too had said printing of Rs 500 notes was being increased five-fold. 14:54 Cash situation at ATMs improving, says SBI India's largest lender SBI said today that cash availability at its ATMs has increased in the past 24 hours following reports of currency shortages and ATMs running dry from different parts of the country. Several other lenders, including PNB, Canara Bank and Axis Bank claimed that cash shortage at ATMs was limited to select pockets. Unusual spurt in demand for currency led to many ATMs and banks running out of cash in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, poll-bound Karnataka and some other states even as the government and the RBI assured the public that there was no currency shortage. "Availability of cash in SBI ATM has improved in the last 24 hours. Efforts are being made on a continuous basis to improve the cash availability further in a few geographies. Overall issue of less cash should come to normalcy within soonest possible time, " said Neeraj Vyas, DMD (Chief Operating Officer), SBI. In a statement by SBI, he further said that the bank is constantly monitoring the situation and making immense efforts to ensure the supply of currency in abundance at all our ATMs. A SBI spokesperson said that in general, the normalcy rates at the bank's ATMs remains at 92 per cent. "It had dropped to around 85 per cent yesterday. But the situation has improved today." 14:22 Is govt planning to discontinue Rs 2000 notes, asks TMC MP Trinamool Congress leader Dinesh Trivedi today asked the government to come out with the "real reasons" behind the cash crunch across the country, including whether there are plans to discontinue the Rs 2,000 denomination notes. "I feel that the real reason for the cash crunch is because the government has perhaps decided to discontinue the Rs 2,000 denomination currency notes," Trivedi, who is a member of the Parliamentary Standing Committee on Finance, said here. Demanding an immediate statement from the government on "the truth behind the cash crunch", he told PTI that "the people have a right to know and you cannot hoodwink them in a democracy." Asking whether the printing of the Rs 2,000 notes has been stopped, the Lok Sabha member said "the government should not hide facts from the people" and added that he has himself not been getting this high value currency note from the banks over the past few months. Referring to the demonetisation exercise in 2016, Trivedi said the Rs 2,000 denomination notes were brought in then to match the quantum of money that had gone out of circulation due to the scrapping of the old Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 currencies. Several opposition parties had yesterday questioned the cash crunch, with Trinamool Congress chief and West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee asking whether there was a financial emergency in the country. In a tweet, she had said "Seeing reports of ATMs running out of cash in several States. Big notes missing. Reminder of #DeMonetisation days. Is there a Financial Emergency going on in the country? #CashCrunch #CashlessATMs." 14:11 Amid cash crunch, Ahmedabad police tweets to pay challan online Amid cash crunch, Ahmedabad police has put out a tweet asking traffic offenders to pay their challan online and not make excuses of cash shortage when caught by the traffic police. "Get a good excuse next time! Now you can pay your e-challan online. Visit the website and enter your Vehicle Registration Number to fetch details and Pay Challan. Official Website - https://payahmedabadechallan.org," Ahmedabad police tweeted. 13:4 76.24% ATMs are functional, says govt Over 76.24 percent ATMs are functional so far and the government expects 80 percent of them to be functional by tomorrow, reports ET Now. The government has assessed the possible reasons behind the high demand, a government official told the channel. The official added that the sudden cash crunch may be partly due to higher procurement under MSP by the government and subsidy payments. 13:38 Cash Crunch likely due to higher food grain procurement under MSP A government official says that the sudden cash crunch is likely due to higher food grain procurement under MSP, reports CNBC TV18. "RBI has over Rs 2 lakh crore worth of smaller denominated currency notes," the official added. 13:23 Cash shortage neither sudden nor temporary, says Telangana minister KT Rama Rao Telangana minister KT Rama Rao on Tuesday said in a tweet that the ongoing cash crunch situation is neither sudden nor temporay. "Sir, with due respect the cash shortage in Banks & ATMs is neither sudden nor temporary. Ive been hearing complaints for over 3 months repeatedly in Hyderabad," Rao tweeted. Rao asked the RBI and Finance Ministry team to dig deeper and not brush away an issue that is eroding peoples confidence in banking system. 13:14 Nearly 80% ATMs will function within 24 hours Govt has started video conferencing with PSBs on cash situation. It assured that nearly 80 percent of the ATMs will start functioning within a day, reports CNBC TV18. 13:08 Govt halts printing of Rs 2000 notes Department of Economic Affairs secretary Subhas Garg said that Rs 2000 note is not being printed for the past few days. He, however, added that this does not affect the overall supply of Rs 2,000 notes. The government suspects Rs 2,000 notes were being hoarded and it plans to increase five-fold the printing of Rs 500 notes. 11:46 "Another week with bad headlines for the BJP with Cash Crunch, after Kathua and Unnao which was after SC/ST Act. Bad times for the BJP. Bura Waqt. All those fundamentalists, pray harder you guys," Chetan Bhagat tweets. 10:44 Sufficient cash in the system, says SBI Chairman SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar in an interview to CNBC-TV18 backed Jaitley's statement, saying that there is enough currency in circulation. "Currency in circulation is at Rs 18.29 lakh crore. There is sufficient cash in the system,"Kumar said. The Centre and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have stepped in to tackle the shortage of cash in several states. "The government has formed state-wise committee and RBI also formed committee to transfer currency from one state to other. It will be done in 3 days," state MoS Finance Shiv Shukla said. 10:30 ATMs across the country go dry, govt steps in to allay fears Unusual spurt in currency demand in states like Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Andhra Pradesh as well as poll-bound Karnataka led to dry ATMs in several parts of the country, sending the government scrambling to make contingency plans to cover the deficit. The government said it suspects that Rs 2,000 notes were being hoarded and plans to increase 5-fold the printing of Rs 500 notes. Within a month, it said, Rs 70,000-75,000 crore will be printed. The Reserve Bank said the printing of currency has been ramped up in all the four note presses, and the shortage in some pockets is due to logistical issues. ATMs of both public and private sector lenders in several cities were either not operating or showed no cash signs, a situation that officials insisted was not alarming and did not warrant panic. Cities and towns across Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Gujarat, Maharashtra, Bihar, Rajasthan and Uttar Pradesh were impacted by the cash crunch. Some ATMs downed shutters with 'No cash' and 'Out of service' signs, prompting the government to move currency from surplus regions. Some ATMs in national capital Delhi too went dry. Political leaders from Rahul Gandhi of Congress to TMC's Mamata Banerjee trained guns on the government saying ATMs running dry was a reminder of demonetisation days. While Finance Minister Arun Jaitley assured hassled customers that the government will fix the problem quickly, officials attributed the cash crunch to crop procurement and hoarding of high denomination currency ahead of elections in Karnataka. Such crisis was however not witnessed in any of the previous procurement seasons. 10:24 P Chidambaram slams govt for cash crunch; says supply 'arbitrarily reduced' Senior Congress leader P Chidambaram on Tuesday slammed the government for the cash crunch in some parts of the country, saying cash supply had been "arbitrarily reduced". In a series of tweets, Chidambaram said as a rule, cash supply must grow at the same rate as the economy is growing and the government was obliged to provide as much cash as people need at any given time. "A government is obliged to provide as much cash as the people need at any given time. Government or RBI cannot arbitrarily control the supply of cash. If RBI has injected sufficient cash, it is obliged to tell the people why there is a cash shortage," he said. Chidambaram alleged the cash shortage may be because cash supply had been "arbitrarily reduced". Currency shortage was reported from several parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and poll-bound Karnataka, among other states. Several ATMs in the national capital also saw long queues and soon ran out of cash. 10:19 Cash crunch issue will be sorted in 2-3 days: Dinabandhu Mohapatra Dinabandhu Mohapatra TV18 Bank Of India CEOrequested people to not panic assuring that there is adequate cash in the system and the cash crunch issue will be sorted in 2-3 days in an interview to CNBC "Cash situation is under control and banks have adequate cash. The government has asked to waive cash handling charges levied by banks," Mohapatra added. 10:07 ATM cash crunch to be resolved in 5-7 days: Rajiv Kumar Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar said that the ATM cash crunch in various parts of the country would be normalised in five to seven days. According to the Ministry of Finance's statement, the country has seen an unusual spurt in currency demand in the past three months. The statement added that this unusual spurt in demand was seen more in some parts of the country -- Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, and Bihar. 10:04 Cash crisis tells how PM Modi's demonetisation disaster is still wreaking havoc: Sitaram Yechury CPI (M) leader Sitaram Yechury said, "ATMs were empty in November 2016. ATMs are empty now. And the only party flush with cash is the BJP: People suffer." Referring to the government's demonetisation decision in November 2016, when the government had announced withdrawal of the then Rs 500/1000 notes and subsequently introduced new Rs 2,000 notes, Yechury said the country is still paying the price of "a sudden midnight Firman (order) of demonetisation". In a series of tweets, he said the demonetisation did not kill terrorism and it did not kill corruption or fake currency either. "But it has certainly killed the Indian economy. The cash crisis tells us how Modi's demonetisation disaster is still wreaking havoc," he added. 10:00 In Kolkata, West Bengal Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee said the cash crunch was a reminder of the demonetisation days. "Seeing reports of ATMs running out of cash in several states. Big notes missing. Reminder of Demonetisation days. Is there a Financial Emergency going on in the country?" she said in a tweet. 09:59 Cash shortage due to logistical issues, says RBI The Reserve Bank of India said that the shortage may be felt in some pockets largely due to logistical issues of replenishing ATMs frequently and the recalibration of ATMs being still underway. "RBI is closely monitoring both these aspects, the bank regulator said. However, as a matter of precaution, RBI is taking steps to move currency to areas which are witnessing unusually large cash withdrawals, the banking regulator added. An estimated 10-12 percent of the total ATMs are facing cash crunch. The government estimates the situation will normalise in the next week. RBI and government have formed committees in states to ensure adequate stock of currency. The supply of Rs 500 and Rs 200 notes will be stepped up in the next few days, officials said. 09:52 Opposition says 'terror of note ban' has returned as 'financial emergency' Opposition parties on Tuesday slammed the government over cash crunch in ATMs and banks in several parts of the country, saying the "terror of note ban" has returned to haunt the people and dubbed the situation as a "financial emergency". On the back foot, the government attributed the cash shortage to an unusual spurt in demand in last three months, and Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said the "temporary shortage" in certain states is being "tackled quickly" and that there is "more than adequate" currency in circulation. Currency shortage was reported from several parts of Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Madhya Pradesh, Chhattisgarh, Bihar and poll-bound Karnataka, among other states. Several ATMs in the national capital also saw long queues and soon ran out of cash. In his Lok Sabha constituency Amethi, Congress President Rahul Gandhi said the "terror of note-ban" has again gripped the country and accused Prime Minister Narendra Modi of destroying the banking system with his demonetisation decision. The Congress chief also took to Twitter to attack Modi, alleging he "snatched" the Rs 500 and Rs 1000 currency notes from the pocket of every Indian and "gave" it to Nirav Modi, but was neither speaking a word about it nor facing Parliament. Nirav Modi, an accused in the alleged Rs 12,700-crore scam at state-run Punjab National Bank, has been absconding. 09:50 More than adequate currency in circulation, says FM Arun Jaitley Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on Tuesday said that there is more than adequate currency in circulation and with the banks after acknowledging that there have been reports of cash crunch in may states. The FM stated that the ministry has reviewed the currency situation and the shortage is caused due to sudden and unusual increase in some areas, which is being tackled quickly. There has been unusual spurt in currency demand in the country in last three months. In the current month, in the first 13 days itself, the currency supply increased by Rs45,000 crore. This unusual spurt in demand is seen more in some parts of the country like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh and Bihar, the Finance Ministry said in a statement. The Ministry added that both the government and Reserve Bank of India have taken all steps to meet this unusual demand. 09:44 Jammu and Kashmir Bank says restores cash supply in Kashmir valley Jammu and Kashmir Bank on Tuesday said it has restored sufficient cash supply in the valley with the timely support of Reserve Bank of India (RBI). "Amid a scenario wherein most of the states in India are facing cash crunch and chain of ATMs stand cash starved, J&K Bank with the timely support of Jammu Regional Office of Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has restored sufficient cash supply in the Kashmir valley," a spokesman of the bank said in a statement. Acting on the disruptions reported in the functioning of ATMs due to cash starvation, J&K Bank requested the RBI to mitigate the sufferings of the people by providing sufficient cash in the valley. Several ATMs across the valley had gone dry after deficient cash supplies hit the currency chests here few days ago. The cash situation had further deteriorated following three consecutive holidays last weekend. 09:37 "BJP and their friends have stolen the country's money, that's why there is no money in the ATMs,... Modi ji has destroyed the banking system of this country," Congress chief Rahul Gandhi said. 09:27 Removal of AAP advisers a tactic to divert attention from cash crunch, rapes: Raghav Chadha AAP leader Raghav Chadha said today that his removal as an adviser to the Delhi government, along with eight others, was a tactic to divert the people's attention from the incidents of rape and the cash crunch in ATMs and banks in some parts of the country. "Impressive diversionary tactics by the MHA (Ministry of Home Affairs), at the behest of BJP. To divert attention from spate of rapes, cash crunch, etc., an opportune time to rake up non-issues with AAP like retrospective sacking for a post I held for 45 days in 2016 for a paltry sum of Rs 2.50," Chadha tweeted. Chadha, who is a chartered accountant, was appointed as an adviser to Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia from January 16 to March 31 2016 to "use his talent" in preparation of the budget. A former treasurer of the AAP, Chadha is a known to be close to both Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal and Sisodia. According to an order issued by the General Administration Department of the Delhi government, the MHA had written in its letter that the posts of advisers are not in the list of posts approved for the ministers and the chief minister of Delhi. Appointment of nine advisers was accordingly cancelled. Among the eight other advisers whose appointment has been cancelled are Amardeep Tiwari (media advisor to law minister), Arunodya Prakash (media advisor to deputy chief minister), and Atishi Marlena (media advisor to deputy chief minister). Good morning reader, this blog will keep you posted on developments around the ongoing cash crunch across the country. shashi tharoor Congress MP and former Union Minister Shashi Tharoor today accused the ruling BJP of "wounding" India's soul by "unleashing forces of intolerance, hatred and bigotry". Such a climate did not prevail in the past, he said during an interaction organised here by the All India Professionals Congress (APIC), of which he is the chairman. Referring to the barbaric rape-and-murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, Tharoor said it was inexcusable to defend the perpetrators of the ghastly crime which has caused a national outrage. "This is done in the name of religion. No one is saying the BJP or the government run by the party is directly responsible for this. But, it has unleashed forces of intolerance, hatred and bigotry. "If they had mismanaged the economy, at least they should have protected the social fabric. But, they have wounded India's soul," the parliamentarian-author said. Tharoor lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, accusing it of indulging more in marketing and PR exercise rather than doing actual work on the ground. "Even in case of foreign policy, the government wanted to take political credit without doing anything. "Such things may work in domestic politics but not in the foreign policy arena," said the former UN diplomat, referring to the 2016 surgical strikes across the LoC and last year's Doklam standoff with China. Tharoor rejected suggestions that the Congress was engaging in "soft Hindutva" as reflected in party chief Rahul Gandhi's temple visits during election campaigns. "It is not soft Hindutva, but an attempt to neutralise the BJP's argument that they alone represent Hindus," said the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram. Hindutva is a political ideology of the BJP which has nothing to do with religion, he said. "Sadly, this ideology is growing in the last four years and people are getting attracted to the language and rhetoric of its proponents." Tharoor said the need of the hour is to strengthen democracy as there had been a "sustained attack" on the media, judiciary and bureaucracy. Speaking of the Congress, which bagged its lowest ever seat tally in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and also faced election defeat in some states, he said the party would rebuild itself. "We are a party with conscience. We want to see businesses grow." Asked about the party's internal elections and primaries to select candidates, Tharoor said Congress workers feel such polls encourage factionalism. "They say they would abide by selections of the party central leadership." Congress leader Milind Deora, who was also present at the interaction, admitted the party had failed to communicate with people. "We are correcting mistakes of the past. Our narrative will be clear and lucid. But, the BJP is more of PR and less of action. "The 2G scam was a case study in our failure to communicate that the (Congress-led UPA) government had not auctioned spectrum because it wanted to increase tele-density in rural areas," said the former Union Minister of State for Information Technology and Communications. He said the demonetisation exercise was carried out by the Modi government without any consultations. "This shows the centralised approach of this government which was not the case with the UPA," said the former Lok Sabha MP. live bse live nse live Volume Todays L/H More The promoters and directors of Diamond Power Infrastructure Ltd (DPIL) were arrested today by the CBI in connection with an alleged over Rs 2,654-crore bank loan fraud case. The three promoter-directors of the Vadodara-based firm -- S N Bhatnagar and his sons Amit and Sumit -- were arrested by the CBI with help from the Gujarat Police after they were traced to Rajathan, officials said in Ahmedabad. The agency, in an FIR, said that DPIL, which makes electric cables and equipment, is promoted by Suresh Bhatnagar and his two sons, who are also its directors. "The CBI located the accused late in the evening yesterday in Udaipur (Rajasthan) with the assistance of the Gujarat Police and arrested them today morning," the central agency said in a release uploaded on its website. The loan issued to the company was declared a non-performing asset in 2016-17, it said. "It is alleged that the DPIL, through its management, (had) fraudulently availed credit facilities from a consortium of 11 banks (both public and private) since 2008, leaving behind an outstanding debit of Rs 2,654.40 crore as of June 29, 2016," the agency said. A non-bailable warrant was issued against them on the agency's request, CBI spokesperson Abhishek Dayal said in New Delhi. The investigating agency had received input about the whereabouts of the Bhatnagars following which teams were sent to arrest them. Later in the day, the accused were produced before a special CBI judge in Ahmedabad. The company and its directors managed to get term loans and credit facilities despite being on the Reserve Bank's defaulters list and the Export Credit Guarantee Corporation's caution list at the time of the initial sanction of credit limits by the consortium, the CBI alleged. When the consortium was formed in 2008, Axis Bank was the lead bank for the term loan and Bank of India was the lead bank for cash credit limits. It is alleged that the firm, with active connivance of officials from various banks, managed to get enhanced credit facilities. According to the CBI, the company had allegedly submitted false stock statements to the lead bank by treating receivables more than 180 days (non-current asset) as less than 180 days (current asset) to get more drawing power in their cash credit accounts. Earlier in the day, the Gujarat Anti-Terrorist Squad said the trio were held from a hotel in Udaipur last night. "The CBI had sought our help in nabbing the Bhatnagar trio. Based on a tip-off that they were hiding in a hotel, a joint team of the Gujarat ATS and the CBI conducted a raid in Udaipur in Rajasthan last night and held them," said a senior ATS official. They were brought to Ahmedabad this morning, he added. The centre is pushing schools to collect bank and salary details of students for compiling a national school database under the Samagra Shiksha Abhiyan. However, the move has not gone down well with parents and teachers, according to an Economic Times report. Teachers are worried about the load this will add to their already busy schedule, as they are working on new admissions and report cards. On the other hand, parents are not sure about the need for such details to be given to the government, especially considering the data leaks that have occurred in the recent past. A circular in the regard was issued on April 12 to officials in the education sector by the Maharashtra Prathamik Shikshan Parishad that directed schools to furnish data related to students and enter the same in the student database management information system (SDMIS), for those studying in classes pre-primary to class 12. The details needed to filled are Aadhaar number, religion, caste, mother tongue, parents details, students bank account number and IFSC code. Students in higher secondary classes who have opted for vocational courses have to provide details about their job profile, employment status and salary offered as well. A school principal, on the condition of anonymity, told Mumbai Mirror, It is the first time the government is asking for so much information. I am surprised, it is too personal. I dont know why they want the details. The reason for the creation of such a database was to provide benefits to students through Direct Benefit Transfer (DBT), a system in place for a direct transfer of subsidies, like funds for books, uniforms or scholarships, a BMC education officer Mahesh Palkar said. Parents and schools are not clear about the point of this entire exercise. The government should have taken the information already available in SARAL, the Maharashtra governments student portal. What is the point of asking for salary details? Schools are neck deep in assignment and admission work, Shankar Pawar, the principal of a school in Chembur, said. Parents are not convinced why this personal information would be needed for the transfer of subsidies. Many have also approached schools with privacy concerns. School education secretary Nand Kumar, who issued this circular, said that Sarva Shiksha Abhiyan officials, and not teachers, will feed the data into the system. It is a requirement of the government of India, he added. As the proverbial Indian summer sets in and taps dry up across large swathes of the country, India faces an acute shortage of safe and sustainable water, specifically groundwater, a crisis that will exacerbate with factors like indiscriminate use and climate change, warn experts. The issue of water sustainability for the years to come centres around critical water sources such as reservoirs and groundwater. Last week, the World Resources Institute (WRI), basing its findings on a new early warning satellite system, warned that shrinking reservoirs in India could result in water taps going completely dry in the country. Experts also point to research establishing the criticality of groundwater for India's agriculture dependent people. "Almost 70-80 per cent of the population of South Asia (including India) is dependent on groundwater for drinking and agricultural irrigation," said leading IIT Kharagpur hydrogeologist Abhijit Mukherjee. The northern and eastern parts lose groundwater at rates of 8 and 5 cubic km each year, respectively, he added. According to a 2012 World Bank report, India is the largest user of groundwater in the world. It uses an estimated 230 cubic km of groundwater per year - over a quarter of the global total. India's huge groundwater-dependent population, uncertain climate-reliant recharge processes and indiscriminate land use changes with urbanization are among the many factors that have rendered the Indian groundwater scenario to become a global paradigm for water scarcity, for both quantity and quality, Mukherjee told PTI. He also blamed trans-boundary upstream water sources and archaic irrigation methods for the water shortage. India has already started facing acute safe and sustainable water shortage, specifically that of groundwater. If proper measures are not taken on an immediate basis, this would exponentially increase, Mukherjee, who is from the Department of Geology & Geophysics School of Environmental Science and Engineering, added. The indiscriminate use of rivers and other surface-water bodies in many areas for disposal of sewage and industrial waste has rendered them non-potable, Mukherjee said. Ganga water, in his view, is the worst of the lot with heavy pollutant load of contaminants like heavy metals sourced from industrial discharge, sewage and open-defecation waste, as well as pesticides and other organic pollutants from agricultural activities. A L Ramanathan from the School of Environmental Sciences, Jawaharlal Nehru University (JNU) in New Delhi, agreed with him. Water shortage is a very serious issue facing India and its ramifications will be felt in the coming years, he said, citing excess water pumping, non implementation of restriction-rules, and unlawful drilling of wells among other factors for the situation. The situation can be reversed, the experts said. The crisis can be tackled by restoring and enhancing groundwater recharge areas, stopping polluted water from recharging groundwater, rainwater and roof top harvesting and the restoration of ponds, lakes and other river systems, Ramanathan said. "Water is a national wealth and should come under Central government and not be a state matter," he said. Mukherjee, who is editor and a primary author of a new book, "Groundwater of South Asia, which presents recent findings from the South Asian region, noted that the government is contemplating several measures, many of them short to medium term remedies. However, for more detailed planning, scientifically-prudent, adaptive groundwater management strategies are immediately required to secure, sustain and rejuvenate the accessible, residual, unpolluted groundwater through times of changing socio-economic needs, he said. Recent studies, he added, do show scenarios of replenishment, potentially caused by policy interventions. "Thus, proper, pervasive groundwater governance may optimistically lead to possibilities of transforming the country from a 'groundwater-deficient' to 'groundwater sufficient' nation, and providing sustainable water availability for about one-fifth of the global population, in not-so-far future, Mukherjee said. South Asia, comprising India, Afghanistan, Bangladesh, Bhutan, Myanmar, Nepal, Pakistan and Sri Lanka, is the most populous and densely populated region of the world. It occupies about four per cent of the world's land area but supports nearly 25 per cent of the global population. Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu shakes hands with his Indian counterpart Narendra Modi during a photo opportunity ahead of their meeting at Hyderabad House in New Delhi on Monday. (Reuters) The Indo-Israel relationship has reached new heights in the last few years and the reciprocal visit of prime ministers of both the countries has been a contributing factor, the country's envoy today said. Ambassador of Israel to India, Daniel Carmon said this during an event here to mark Israel's 70th Independence Day. Union Minister R K Singh was the chief guest on the occasion and ambassadors of several countries, senior diplomats and other dignitaries also attended the event. "As a nation and as an individual, Israel has grown and we want to continue to move in that direction, meeting global and local challenges," Carmon said. "We want to continue to move towards a safe, secure, free and vibrant society living side by side with our neighbours," he said. Emphasising on ties of Israel and India, Carmon said the visit of Prime minister Narendra Modi to Israel and Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to India have "contributed to elevating of relationship between the two countries". "In the last few years, ties between the two countries have reached new heights," he said. Later speaking on the sidelines of the event, Carmon said many other factors have also contributed to it. "In agriculture, defense, water, education and other sectors, we continue to cooperate. The cooperation in these sectors has given a new meaning to our strategic partnership," he said. The Supreme Court today dismissed petitions demanding an independent probe into the death of Special CBI Judge Brijmohan Harikishan Loya asserting that the death was due to natural causes. The verdict was pronounced by a three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Deepak Misra and comprising of Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice AM Khanwilkar. The bench observed that the petition was an attempt to "scandalise the judiciary" by petitioners who alleged that Judge Loya had died in mysterious circumstances. The apex court also stated that the demand for an independent probe into the death of Judge Loya was a "veiled attempt to launch a frontal attack on the independence of judiciary". The SC also said that the conduct by the petitioners warrants a criminal contempt and that the court had decided to spare them that action. The controversy around the death of Judge Loya after a publication did a story investigating the circumstances of his death. Loya was visiting Nagpur to attend the wedding of his colleagues daughter when he died of a cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014. Before his demise, Judge Loya was hearing the high profile case of the fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Sheikh. Opposition parties led by the Congress had alleged foul play and had met President Ram Nath Kovind to seek an independent probe into the death of the Special CBI Judge. In fact, Rahul Gandhi had the judge had died under suspicious circumstances and as a country it is owed to them that a fresh investigation be done effectively and properly. India Pakistan Pakistan today rejected as "false and baseless" Prime Minister Narendra Modi's remarks on the 'surgical strikes' across the Line of Control in 2016 , saying "repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth." Speaking at the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme in London yesterday, Modi had said India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people. "I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 AM but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," Modi had said. Reacting to Prime Minister Modi's remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said today India's claims about the "surgical strike were false and baseless". "Repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth," the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Dawn. In response to Modi's comments on Pakistan exporting terrorism, Faisal claimed that it was the other way around and accused India of backing terrorists in Pakistan. "Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism," he alleged. Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism. India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in May last year against the verdict. The ICJ halted his execution on India's appeal pending the final verdict by it. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhav's sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India. India main opposition Congress Party Vice President Rahul Gandhi speaks during the 'Kisan Akrosh Rally ' at Banswara in Rajasthan on 19th July,2017.(Photo by Vishal Bhatnagar/NurPhoto via Getty Images) Congress president Rahul Gandhi met NCP chief Sharad Pawar and discussed the political situation in the country and possibilities of getting all opposition parties together on one platform to defeat the BJP in 2019 polls. According to sources, the meeting between Gandhi and Pawar last night lasted around 1.5 hours at Pawar's residence, during which the political situation in each state, including Karnataka, was discussed. Sources said the two were seeking to bring all parties on one platform to unitedly take on the BJP in 2019 and in poll-bound Karnataka. The two leaders had met earlier too to discuss the political situation. Ashok Leyland has lined up a series of investments for the year ahead that will be used to develop new vehicles and enhance technology. The Chennai headquartered automobile giant recently started construction of a new plant in Andhra Pradesh where it will manufacture buses and trucks. Managing Director Vinod Dasari revealed the companies plans in an interview with Moneycontrol. Read on for edited excerpts. Q. How much capital are you investing this year? A. We are investing around Rs 1,000 crore. There are lots of capabilities we are building across, such as BS-VI, debottlenecking of plants, electric vehicle development and development of modular vehicle. Q. What vehicles are scheduled to be launched by Ashok Leyland this year? A. This year you will see many new trucks. The highlight will be a 41 tonne truck, which will have the worlds first patented lift technology. It will be ready by the second half of the year. Q. Can you elaborate on the electric bus order you bagged? A. We focused only on Ahmedabad. There were other state transport undertakings (STUs), but we went only after one. We did not want to pursue every STU. These are trial orders, we would want to focus on one customer at a time. Q. Has the model for procurement of electric buses changed? A. We have focused on pay-per-kilometer basis, where buses will be owned by Ashok Leyland, but run by a private operator. Q. Chinese manufacturers have won many contracts for supplying electric buses. How has this impacted you? A. Indian manufacturers are strong enough to compete with any company in the world. One problem we face is that all the buses that STUs are buying are under the FAME scheme. That means that 65 percent of the cost of the bus is subsidised using tax payers' money. And then some other country subsidises the price of its vehicles to beat prices of an Indian manufacturer. Why is the Indian government providing subsidy under the FAME scheme? Is it to teach Indian manufacturers how to do it? If somebody comes and dislocates the process then it does not serve the purpose. What will the government of India learn from it if lets say, every contract is won by a Chinese company? Q. How much growth are you expecting this year? A. We are expecting at least double digit growth this year in revenues. Q. In defence business you clocked Rs 800 crore last year. Your vision is to achieve Rs 5000 crore cumulatively over the next 5 years. Which segments will you target? A. We will focus only on mobility. All types of mobility, not just troops movement, but movement of equipment like guns, radar and ammunition. Q. Will you look at tie-ups if need be for your defence business? Yes, we will. But the technology needs to be indigenised. The LSV vehicle we have today is actually a licensed vehicle from Lockheed Martin, but 98 percent of it has been indigenized. It's based on our engine and our gearbox and is currently under trial. Students preparing to give their NEET exams, which is scheduled for May 6 this year, have to follow a new dress code issued by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), according to a report in The Times of India. Students will have to wear light-coloured, half sleeves dress, not having big buttons, brooch/badge, flower etc. with salwar/ trouser, and slippers, sandals with low heels and not the shoes, to the exam centre. Those who wish to wear their customary dress will have to be present at the examination centre an hour prior to the exam. In addition to the dress code, students will not be allowed to carry communication devices to the exam centres. The board said that no arrangement would be made at the centres for keeping any items belonging to the candidates. Other restricted items include geometry/pencil box, handbags, belt, cap, ornaments, watch and any other metallic item. Last year, CBSE faced a lot of criticism when students were asked to remove their head scarves before entering the exam centres. Other details to keep in mind for NEET exam NEET exam date: May 6, 2018 Time: 10 am to 1 pm For hall tickets click here: http://cbse.nic.in Download admit card, affix passport size photograph and fill in the details Any incorrect information on the admit card can lead to its cancellation Carry admit card to the exam centre CBSE NEET result date: June 5, 2018 Indian-Americans, including women and children, raising slogans like "Hate Murder, hate Crime: No more. No More" held peaceful protests in front of the Indian Embassy against the gang rape and murder of young girls in Kathua and Unnao, demanding swift justice. They displayed banners and posters seeking justice for the minor girl who was gang-raped by six men and then murdered in Jammu & Kashmir's Kathua. They were also protesting the rape of a teenage girl in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao. The young girl has alleged that a lawmaker had raped her last summer. Scores of Indian-Americans, including women and children, turned up for a peaceful protest at the Gandhi Statue in front of Indian Embassy in Washington to express their "outrage and disgust" over the gang-rape and murder of the young girls in Kathua and Unnao. "As the father of the minor girl has demanded, the case should be moved out from the Jammu High Court as there is not a conducive environment for a fair trial," said Syed Ashraf on behalf of Alliance for Justice and Accountability, which organised the protest outside the Indian mission here. The protestors raised slogans "Hate Murder, hate Crime: No more. No More." "India should strengthen laws for rape against minors, and against women. They should also strengthen laws against hate crime," Ashraf said noting that the response from the prime minister was little too late. "Silence does not help, when nation is on fire and people are traumatised," he said. In a memorandum submitted to the Indian Ambassador, the Indian American Muslim Council urged that the Indian Government should do much more in protecting innocent children and minority girls from the fangs of caste based or communal politics. In a separate statement, the Federation of Indian American Christian Organisations (FIACONA) condemned the horrific rape and murder of a child. "The details of rape and sexual assault cases being reported in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir which saw the 7-year-old Muslim girl brutally raped and killed, and Unnao, Uttar Pradesh where the victim was a teenager preyed upon by a state legislator, are shocking," Hindu American Foundation said in a statement. "Rape flies in the face of Hindu values, and thus compels us to offer condolences and compassion to victims and their families, and simultaneously work to ensure that the law and law enforcement work impartially and efficiently to deliver justice," it said. "The barbarity and the bestiality involved in the killing of this little girl show the depraved and criminal mindsets of those who perpetrated such heinous acts. The ghastly way this girl was raped and murdered has indeed shaken the nation to its core and terrorised the people of conscience across the world," said Indian Overseas Congress in a statement. Donald Trump President Donald Trump has said he does not want the US to rejoin the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- a trade pact he withdrew the US from days after assuming presidency -- but would reconsider his stance if offered a deal that is good for America. Trump's was responding to recent media reports that he has asked the US Trade Representative to review the possibilities of rejoining TPP. "The media has not covered the TPP correctly," Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse, on behalf of the United States, I would do it," he said. TPP is an ambitious trade agreement involving 12 countries. Trump said he still preferred bilateral ties over multilateral trade agreement like TPP. "I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers. I much would prefer a bilateral deal, a deal directly with Japan. We already have a deal with six of the 11 nations in the TPP. So we already have trade deals, and the others we can make very easily. They're all calling wanting to make a deal. But we think that's much better for us," he said. "So, unless they offer us a deal that we cannot refuse, I would not go back into TPP. We'll see what happens. In the meantime, were negotiating," Trump said. The US president said his administration was looking to have "a very good deal" with Japan. "What I really prefer is negotiating a one-on-one deal with Japan. That's where we are right now.. We will hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, have a very good deal for Japan and good for the United States," Trump said. The US has a massive trade deficit with Japan -- anywhere from USD 69 billion to USD 100 billion a year. "That's massive by any standpoint..if we can come to an arrangement on a new deal between the United States and Japan, that would certainly be something we would discuss -- aluminium tariffs and steel tariffs. I would look forward to being able to, at some point in the future, take them off," Trump said. Welcome back to your Extreme Small-Cap Profits email course. Were now on Day 5 of 12. If you missed the email I sent you yesterday, it was all about limiting your risk. The worst thing for your investment track record is large losses. For example, a 10% loss means you need a 20% rise to get back to your original amount. A 50% loss means you need 100% just to break even. Its almost impossible to never lose money during your time in the market. But its clearly in your best interest to have as few losers as possible. To limit losses you could use stop-loss orders. These orders sell a stock when they drop to a certain price, i.e. 50% below your purchase price. You might also only invest what youre willing to lose. Today, were going to see where small-cap gems are hiding. So if you want the potential to find more 10-baggerskeep reading. Hunting grounds In 2017, it was almost too easy to make money. The tide came in, as they say, and lifted all boats (stocks, property, commodities and cryptocurrencies). But what happens when the tide goes back out? Will your investment be able to stand up against bearish views? Its important you make good investments now. That way, when investors become extremely bearish, your positions wont be beached on the sand. So where will you find potentially profitable small-caps regardless if investors are bullish or bearish in 2018? Its a bit of a trick question. You can potentially find profitable small-caps all over the market. Theyre not specific to a sector or industry. Small-caps ready to double, triple and quadruple can be found in the resource, tech, finance and a whole bunch of other sectors. But when trying to grab a 10-bagger, it helps to look in growing markets. How to look for exploding stocks One example of a growth market is Chinas thirst for baby formula. Chinese parents, like all others, are extremely concerned with what they feed their children. They only want the best. To China, the best quality usually means international brands, specifically, Aussie brands. Chinese consumers are driving future earnings for companies like a2 Milk Company Ltd [ASX:A2M] and Bellamys Australia Ltd [ASX:BAL]. But these stocks have already had massive runs. Its unlikely theyll run up more than 1,000% in a short space of time. Yet if we look in the market infant formula and baby food we might be able to find a lesser known business ready to make its market. Had you dug though this growth market, you would have stumbled across Wattle Health Australia Ltd [ASX:WHA]. Wattle Health manufactures diary and wellness products. A lot of their products focus on baby food and formula. As you can imagine, investors are extremely eager to see how Wattle Health performs in China. The company is still very young. They listed on the ASX last year in March. But already theyve got products to sell and are growing revenues rapidly. Over the past few months, Wattle Health has been developing a distribution network across China and Australia. Their network is 500 outlets strong. In addition, Wattle Health has also created an e-commerce store to get as much product into China as possible. Will Wattle Health follow in the footsteps of a2 Milk? Investors seem to think so. Last year the stock ran up more than 1,200% in less than 12 months. Source: Google Finance [Click to enlarge] Wattle Health now has a market cap of $175 million, with the potential to climb even higher, thanks to the market theyre in. In the most recent quarter, Wattle Health grew sales by more than 895%. Sales in China were increasing on a monthly basis. Whats more, the company raised more money to aggressively grow in the immediate future. I suspect the gains for Wattle Health wont stop just yet. The same could be said about Panorama Synergy Ltd [ASX:PSY]. The company helps to develop miniature sensors for multiple purposes. For example, last year Panorama was asked to develop an unmanned bomb detecting drone. Such a drone needed light-weight spectroscopy and imagining capabilities. Theyve also have the potential to develop sensors for agricultural, automation and connectivity purposes. The company has potential to exponentially grow revenues from here. Investors showed their support for the small-cap by bidding it up 100% before the first month of 2018 ended. Source: Google Finance [Click to enlarge] Thats right. This small-cap doubled in days. You wont find stocks like Wattle Health and Panorama every day. But if you dig around in growing markets, you could potentially find a whole bunch of extremely profitable small-caps. Application, Potential, Growth Lets recap. Youre looking for small-caps with the potential to grow earnings. How do you know earnings will grow? Well, maybe its as simple as looking at the industry. In Wattle Healths case, continued growth is likely to come from Chinas massively growing consumer market. For Panorama, growth could come from multiple industries in need of light-weight sensors. Basically what youre looking for is application. Does this small-cap have a product or service, which could see sales sky rocket as the company gains traction? If yes, then you may have found yourself a great investment. If no, then keep looking. The beauty about investing is you dont have to make every bet that comes your way, nor should you. You should only invest in what you believe will be a sure winner. And by the end, hopefully youll have a whole bunch of them. Thats it for Day 5. In Day 6 were going to dig deeper into the business side of investing. You probably already know theres a business behind every stock. And its usually the health of that business that determines whether you should buy or move on. Thats all coming up tomorrow. Stay tuned. Cheers, Harje Ronngard, Editor, Money Morning Ivanhoe is intending to double its industrial portfolio to more than $4 billion by the end of the year, Palladitcheff said. The Montreal-based company is already in talks to partner with Blackstone Group LP in a $2.48-billion cash deal to take Vancouver-based Pure Industrial Real Estate Trust private, a spokesman for Ivanhoe confirmed. Read more: Torontos commercial activity heats up TREB Warehouses are soaring in value amid a global shift to e-commerce and the need for logistics centers in the Amazon.com Inc. age. Canadas industrial vacancy rate dropped to 3.9% at the end of last year, the lowest since 2001, according to Cushman & Wakefield. Prior to this, Ivanhoe has invested in Australias Logos Property Group to develop industrial premises in countries such as China and India, while exploring new opportunities in Indonesia and Malaysia. We are following the tenants everywhere, Palladitcheff said. We didnt have in our plans at the time of the transaction to go to India for example, but as soon as we saw that it made sense for the tenant to do that we have been agile enough to adapt to that. Without the build-to-rent sector, it is likely that weeds would still be growing on a number of the sites concerned, Molior analysts stated in the report, as quoted by Bloomberg. Perhaps in the easier times, when most of these projects were conceived, a better margin was envisaged. But at this point in time, the priority is presumably to make a sustainable living and keep projects moving through the pipeline. Read more: GTAs luxury segment to enjoy more move-up activity this year report Of the 66,000 properties under construction in London, 44% remain unsold, down from 46% at the end of 2017, according to the Molior report. Based on current sales rates, it will take 1.1 years to clear the excess supply, down from 1.4 years at the end of last year, the report added. While the sales figures are encouraging, however, Londons housing market is not out of the doldrums yet and values are set to fall further. Excess starts have built up over a number of years and there remain plenty of developments with relatively stagnant sales positions that will eventually have to be sold, Molior said. This will often involve some form of price concession and may uncover a few instances where initial development appraisals were overly optimistic. Would you like to receive breaking news notifications from The Post and Courier? Sign up to receive news and updates from this site directly to your desktop. Breaking News Columbia Breaking News Greenville Breaking News Myrtle Beach Breaking News Aiken Breaking News N Augusta Breaking News Click on the bell icon to manage your notifications at any time. Success! Please click the 'Allow' button in the 'Show Notifcations' alert in your browser if one is available. Thank you for signing up! Please enable notifications in your browser and reload the page. OPEC and Russia will meet in Saudi Arabia this week after all but banishing a global oil glut. While looming political crises threaten to tighten supplies further, the group seems determined to keep its cuts in place. Almost 16 months of output curbs by the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and its partners have seen crude rally to a three-year high near $70 a barrel. That's replenishing their coffers after the worst oil slump in a generation, encouraging the producers to extend their intervention even as Venezuela's petro-economy implodes and Donald Trump threatens Iran with sanctions. "Would they declare victory now and stop? No way," said Mike Wittner, head of oil market research at Societe Generale SA. "They're happy to see inventories continue to go down, to see prices of $70 or $80. In the end, it's about revenues. The question is at what point do they become uncomfortable with higher prices?" While analysts warn that price gains could backfire on OPEC by spurring rival U.S. supplies or crimping demand, ministers gathering in Jeddah on April 20 will focus on ways of prolonging their cooperation. That could include new inventory targets that extend the cuts, and laying the foundations for an alliance that will last for years. Any recommendations this week would have to be ratified at the group's full meeting in June. OPEC and Russia, for decades competitors in the oil market, forged an alliance in late 2016 to combat the surplus unleashed by a boom in American shale production. Though it's taken longer than expected, the strategy is paying off. With inventories subsiding to normal levels, the International Energy Agency says OPEC and its partners can declare " Mission Accomplished." Cashing In Saudi Arabia, OPEC's biggest member, says the curbs should continue at least until their scheduled expiry at the end of the year, and possibly into 2019. Energy Minister Khalid Al-Falih contends this is necessary to ensure markets have properly rebalanced, and that prices are high enough to encourage the global oil industry invests in future supplies. Brent crude advanced 1.7 percent to $72.78 a barrel in London and West Texas Intermediate climbed 2 percent to $67.83 a barrel in New York at 9:16 a.m. local time. Last week, futures jumped to the highest levels since 2014. There are other incentives for sticking with the strategy: the IEA estimates that in the first quarter, OPEC nations earned almost $400 million a day more than a year ago because of stronger oil prices. Russia's budget gained about 1.2 trillion rubles ($19.5 billion) last year, according to its Energy Ministry. "They are willingly over-tightening this market," said Jan Stuart, an oil economist at consultant Cornerstone Macro LLC in New York. "It's not self-defeating if what you are looking for is a little extra money. If the idea is to get a ton of money in the door now, then they're probably doing the right thing." Petro Politics Saudi Arabia is said to seek a price increase to $80 a barrel, according to people familiar with the matter, to cover weighty domestic spending needs and attract investors to a partial sale of its state oil company, Saudi Aramco. Although Russia, less dependent on oil revenues, usually sounds more cautious about pushing on, Energy Minister Alexander Novak said he supports prolonging cooperation. Russian oil companies such as Lukoil PJSC have softened initial objections to the deal, which impedes their expansion plans, as the financial rewards become clear. The accord also serves political objectives for Russia, cementing President Vladimir Putin's role as a power-broker in the Middle East, where his government maintains ties with the antagonistic regimes in Saudi Arabia and Iran, and supports Syria's President Bashar Al-Assad against a rebellion backed by western powers. "Politics plays its role of course," said Andrey Polischuk, an energy analyst at Raiffeisen Centrobank in Moscow. "Russia needs to maintain good relations with its Mideast allies, and now even more than last year." Double Impact Regardless of the benefits, continuing to restrain output may be an odd policy for OPEC when accidental supply losses inside the cartel are mounting and other threats of disruption loom. The group's output reduction is now 60 percent bigger than the planned cut of 1.2 million barrels a day as Venezuela's deepening recession hits its oil infrastructure. Meanwhile, President Trump has vowed to abandon an agreement with Iran on the country's nuclear activity, and potentially reimpose sanctions on the nation's oil trade. If the Latin American country continues to deteriorate and Trump delivers on his Iranian threats, OPEC's unplanned losses could effectively double the impact of its intended production cut. Rather than filling the gap, though, the producers are maintaining strict discipline. They're even trying to attract additional nations to participate in the cuts, United Arab Emirates Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in an interview with Bloomberg television in Berlin on Wednesday. "We need to focus on finishing the job," Al Mazrouei said. Indefinitely Maybe As oil inventories get closer to the five-year average level -- OPEC's stated goal -- Saudi Arabia has said a new target is necessary to filter out the distortion of excessively high stockpiles seen in recent years. The group is considering alternative gauges, such as using a seven-year average. "All of the various suggestions that have been floated would give OPEC a rationale to continue cutting," said Societe Generale's Wittner. In Jeddah, the producers will also work on turning the temporary alliance of the past year into a long-term partnership. Russia's Novak said he'd like cooperation to last "indefinitely." Energy ministers from Saudi Arabia, Russia, the U.A.E., Oman, Algeria, Kuwait, Venezuela, Iraq and Brunei, as well as the chairman of Libya's state energy producer and representatives from Azerbaijan and Kazakhstan will attend the meeting, according to a person with knowledge of the matter. "The current production targets are not forever, but a more structured framework than we've ever seen before is something they're working on quite seriously," said Wittner. "The agreement is never going to end." Houstons Ares Management LP and ARM Energy Holdings LLC are moving forward in their plans to develop Salt Creek Midstream LLC in the Delaware Basin. Salt Creek was formed last year as a joint venture between the two companies as a full service midstream provider offering gas and crude gathering services, compression, cryogenic processing and treating services. A greenfield development project, Salt Creek spans Culberson, Pecos, Reeves, Ward and Winkler counties in Texas and Lea and Eddy counties in New Mexico. ARM Midstream, a subsidiary of ARM Energy, will operate the project. Salt Creek Midstream is currently a pure play Permian midstream company, Michael Christopher, chief financial officer with ARM Energy, told the Reporter-Telegram by email. The first phase of the project is expected to be commissioned this month and Christopher told the Reporter-Telegram Salt Creek should have 260 million cubic feet per day of processing capacity well before the end of the year. The system will primarily be comprised of multiple cryogenic processing facilities as well as crude and natural gas gathering pipelines, compression and treating facilities. Commitments for over 250,000 dedicated acres from multiple producers active in the Delaware Basin have been secured. The current acreage dedications indicate the strength of various levers, one of which is takeaway, but certainly multi-stream capability as well as downstream connectivity and intelligence, stated Christopher. Salt Creek officials expect the strength of the Delaware will provide decades of high-return drilling inventory, which drill drive future growth for the company. Given the billions of dollars being directed towards midstream infrastructure, Christopher was asked if its easier for midstream companies to get financial backing compared to upstream exploration and production companies. The answer is nuanced, he replied. Exploration and production companies with great acreage in the Delaware, SCOOP/Stack or Denver-Julesburg may find it reasonably painless to secure financing. ARM Salt Creeks operator and one of its owners has a track record of midstream success. That track record made financial backing less challenging to secure. That, plus Ares own experience in the Basin and ARMs relationship with ARES, made the financing equation simpler to solve. For all the benefits the shale boom has provided, shale reservoirs remain what Scott Tinker calls enigmatic. Tinker, director of the University of Texas at Austins Bureau of Economic Geology, discussed what he calls shales paradox with members of the Midland chapter, Society of Independent Professional Earth Scientists. Shale resources are large, yet recovery has been small. Shale producers make money, they lose money. Shale production impacts local economies but benefits the global economy. Shale products impact the local environment but benefits the global environment. The narrative these days is about good energy and bad energy. Shale has been painted as bad energy, Tinker said. But on average, its good energy, in terms of the economy, peoples livelihoods. It has literally changed the energy landscape. The United States has added 5 million barrels of crude production a day since the shale revolution began, bringing it to a record 10 million barrels a day. The Permian Basin alone is now producing about 3 million barrels a day. Moving from the phenomenal shale resources the country contains to reserves requires the right technologies, the right infrastructure, the right political climate, the right regulatory climate, the right economic framework, Tinker said. And there are phenomenal shale resources around the globe that can be developed with a similar proper framework, he said. He said U.S. energy consumption has been essentially flat for over two decades, while carbon dioxide emissions fell 20 percent from 2005 to 2015. For all that, there remains the call for more renewable energy. Proponents even note that the cost of renewables has fallen dramatically, he said. Thats true, in a sense, if you look at cost per unit, Tinker said. But all forms of renewable energy have additional costs that add up, he said, listing those costs as including power lines, batteries and backup generators. Renewables have an environmental impact, he said, starting with the need to mine and process the metals and elements needed, not to mention the chemicals involved. Wind turbines alone require a lot of metals, including copper and wire. Then theres the manufacturing needed to generate wind turbines, solar panels and batteries. And the land required to host wind or solar farms, the transmission lines needed to transmit the electricity generated by those farms to homes and businesses. Then theres the disposal of that equipment when it wears out. Yes, he said, shale production has an impact on the local environment but were getting better at cleaning it up. And increased natural gas use globally to generate electricity is resulting in lower CO2 and nitrogen oxide emissions and a cleaner atmosphere. Shale producers are seeing their cash flow catch up with that of their peers who arent focused on shale, he said. They have also helped create jobs and economic growth in their communities. A healthy economy lifts people from poverty and allows for investment in the environment, and the energy industry has played a significant role in generating healthy economies, Tinker said. Our job is to get out there and educate people about our industry and be proud of what we do, he said. While Midland oil companies are generating tens of thousands of jobs across all aspects of the energy business, its also generating green jobs. We find a strong correlation with the cities with a lot of oil and gas and mining jobs per capita, and also green jobs, Andrew Flowers, economist with the job search site Indeed.com, said in a phone interview. A study he authored in advance of Earth Day today -- found that Midland ranks fourth nationwide in the number of green job postings and second nationwide in the number of people seeking green jobs, second only to Bismarck, North Dakota. That tells me Midland will need these workers, he said, especially as oil companies continue to drill more wells and produce more crude and natural gas. The top green job is an environmental specialist, followed by environmental health and safety officer, environmental technician and water treatment specialist. Flowers said these positions can help Permian Basin oil and gas companies abide by environmental regulations and conduct research and development to help operators continue exploration and production activities in an environmentally responsible manner. And in areas with intense hydraulic fracturing activity, environmental specialists and water treatment specialists will be needed to ensure fracturing is done according to regulations and in an environmentally responsible manner, he said. Oil and gas and the environment will go hand in hand, he said. Flowers said his findings broaden the definition of a green job. If you think of a green job, characteristically its in a verdant place like Colorado, where people work for a nonprofit protecting the environment. Those are green jobs. But the sheer number of jobs where the task is to protect the environment is in industries that are working with natural resources, he said Companies that extract and develop those resources are often required to have environmental personnel in place, he said. And they often hire environmental specialists to ensure they extract the resources without liability. A number of these green jobs require college degrees, he said, but there are also technical jobs such as solar installer, that require some training, perhaps certification or an associate degree. Flowers said his findings should serve as a guide for community colleges looking at ways to improve their workforce training offerings or course offerings. Solar installer, for example, has been steadily creeping up the list of top green jobs, Flowers said. The U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics reports the median salary for environmental specialists is about $69,000 per year and the number of green jobs is expected to grow by 11 percent between 2016 and 2026, faster than non-green jobs. There is great interest in green jobs among the young professionals entering the workforce, he said. Thats why companies like ExxonMobil have been branding themselves as more than an oil and gas company but one that has scientists and engineers working on green projects. For the study, Flowers and his fellow researchers looked at job postings with key words such as sustainable, biomass or biofuel, environment, green, ecology, among others and came up with 30 titles we feel confident are tasked with protecting the environment. Its the best method we have to determine what constitutes green jobs. Energy executive James Jim Hackett is the second Texas oilman mentioned as a possible successor to University of Texas System Chancellor William McRaven, who is slated to retire next month, sources confirm to the Houston Chronicle. The sources stress that no official discussion or action has been taken on Hackett. Last month, former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, the former ExxonMobil CEO, was mentioned as a possible candidate. The UT System hired Russell Reynolds Associates to assist the search committee. Hackett, 63, who served as chairman of energy heavyweight Anadarko Petroleum Corp. from 2006 to 2013, has been a partner and co-head of the Houston office of Riverstone Holdings LLC, a private equity firm, since June 2013, according to a Bloomberg profile. He now works as executive chairman of Houston-based Alta Mesa Resources Inc. "I am very engaged in, and happy with, my work at Alta Mesa Resources and Kingfisher Midstream," Hackett wrote in an email to the Chronicle. "I would not put much value in rumors." He did not comment on if he had been approached or whether he would be interested in the position. A 1975 graduate of the University of Illinois, who earned an MBA from Harvard Business School, Hackett has served in executive positions at Devon Energy Corp., Seagull Energy Corp., Duke Energy Corp. and PanEnergy Corp. after holding engineering positions at Chevron USA, Amerada Hess Corp., and Citation Oil and Gas Corp. In addition to holding executive positions with National Petroleum Council, Domestic Petroleum Council of the American Petroleum Institute and the Society of Petroleum Engineers, he also has served as board chairman of Baylor College of Medicine and was a director of the Federal Reserve Bank of Dallas. In a statement, the UT System said the search is guided by input from top officials, members of the public and groups representing faculty, students and staff. "It is not uncommon for individuals outside of the search process to comment on the process itself and provide names of presumed candidates," spokeswoman Randa Safady said. "However, nobody beyond the chancellor search committee has direct knowledge of candidates under consideration, and therefore any information offered by others is nothing more than speculative." McRavens tenure at UT saw some tensions with state leaders, including Gov. Greg Abbott, after the system purchased land to create a new campus in Houston. He attributed his decision to resign to his health. Regents have said they hope to replace him this year, before the next legislative session begins in January 2019. The system's board next meets on April 30 and May 1 in Houston. "Since nobody beyond the search committee has direct knowledge about where the process stands or who the candidates may be, I'm not able to offer any additional information about timing," Safady wrote in an email. Mike Ward, the Houston Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, covers Texas politics and the governor's office and the executive branch, along with criminal justice and ethics issues. Follow him on Twitter @ChronicleMike and send him story tips at Mike.Ward@chron.com. A Canadian woman who tried to smuggle millions of dollars worth of cocaine into Australia has been convicted and sentenced to eight years behind bars. Melina Roberge, 24, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to smuggling 95 kilos (209 pounds) of the drug into the Sydney Harbour in 2016, following an exotic weeks-long cruise that she and an accomplice documented on social media. Roberge and her accomplice, Isabelle Lagace, had turned their Instagram accounts into travel diaries in the summer of 2016, posting glamorous photos and boasting about their intercontinental adventures on the MS Sea Princess, a cruise ship that docked in 17 ports in 11 countries before it finally stopped in Australia. They captured their first photo bomb, in New York's Times Square, and their first Irish coffee in Cobh, a seaport town in Ireland. They showed off their tans on a Bermuda beach, where one of them wrote in a caption: "Gone to a place very peaceful - leave a message after the tone." They rode recreational vehicles over the desert sand. They got tribal tattoos. They made new friends. Then, they were arrested. Roberge - who became known as "Cocaine Babe" in headlines - will serve at least four years and nine months, without eligibility for parole; she will eventually be deported to her home country, the AP reported. More for you Social media shows luxurious journey 3 Canadians took before arrest for alleged cocaine smuggling "She was seduced by lifestyle and the opportunity to post glamorous Instagram photos from around the world," Judge Kate Traill said in New South Wales state District Court, according to The Associated Press. "She wanted to be the envy of others. I doubt she is now." Roberge's Instagram account disappeared following her arrest. But before the drug bust, she had written: "Traveling is one thing. But traveling with an open mind, ready to taste everything, see everything, learn everything and get yourself out of your comfort zone . . . is probably the best therapy and lesson ever. I used to be afraid to get out of my little town and now I feel like I don't want to see that little town anymore cause it's beautiful out there and it's sooo worth it." Upon arrival in Australia, border agents searched the ship, discovering 35 kilograms in the women's cabin and 60 kilograms a cabin belonging to Andre Tamin, a wealthy Canadian man in his mid-60s whom Roberge described as her "sugar daddy," according to the AP. The three were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, authorities said. Late last year, Lagace, 29, was sentenced to 7 years in prison. Tamin is scheduled to be sentenced in October, according to the AP. The two women were packing so much cocaine in their suitcases that, the Australian Border Force said, they "did not have much room for clean underwear or spare toothbrushes." Roberge told the court that she was an escort and met Tamin on the job in 2015. She said he invited her to go on a drug-smuggling trip to Morocco the next year. She realized, she told the court, that she had put everything on the line for some selfies "in exotic locations and post them on Instagram to receive 'likes' and attention." --- Video Embed Code Video: Melina Roberge, 24, was sentenced to eight years in prison on April 18 after pleading guilty to smuggling 209 pounds of cocaine into Australia in the summer of 2016.(Elyse Samuels/The Washington Post) Embed code: The Hurst Police Department is continuing its investigation following a home explosion on Saturday, April 7, after a vehicle reportedly crashed into it. According to a release from the department's Sgt. Lonnie Brazzel, officers were dispatched to the residence at 433 Myrtle Drive following a call from the homeowner that a vehicle crashed into their house and one of the residents was trapped in a bedroom. NEW YORK (AP) Starbucks, moving swiftly to confront a racially charged uproar over the arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia, plans to close more than 8,000 U.S. stores for several hours next month to conduct racial-bias training for nearly 175,000 workers. The announcement Tuesday comes after the arrests sparked protests and calls for a boycott on social media. A video shows police talking with two black men seated at a table. After a few minutes, officers handcuff the men and lead them outside as other customers say they weren't doing anything wrong. Philadelphia-area media said the two were waiting for a friend. Philadelphia police released a recording of the call from the Starbucks employee that led to the arrests. In the recording, a woman is heard saying, "Hi, I have two gentlemen in my cafe that are refusing to make a purchase or leave." She gives the address of the Starbucks store, and the entire call lasts less than 30 seconds. In the communications between police and dispatch that were also released, someone refers to "a group of males inside causing a disturbance," and additional officers are sent. Starbucks, which was once ridiculed for urging its employees to write "Race Together" on coffee cups to start a national conversation on race relations, has found itself through the looking glass: under fire for its treatment of black people. The company reacted from a high level: Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson called the arrests "reprehensible" and said he wanted to apologize to the two men face-to-face. The company and a lawyer for the two men said they did meet, and Johnson delivered the apology. Starbucks also said the employee who called police no longer works at the store, but declined to give details. Johnson also promised to revamp store management training to include "unconscious-bias" education. Starbucks said its U.S. company-owned stores and corporate offices will be closed on the afternoon of May 29 for the training, which will eventually be incorporated into the instruction process for all newly hired employees. The episode highlights the risks large corporations run when they tie their brands so closely to social messaging. In 2015, then-CEO Howard Schultz shrugged off the "Race Together" fiasco as a well-intentioned mistake and pressed on with his public efforts to engage in the debate over race in America. Johnson was scrambling to keep the Philadelphia incident from shattering the message Schultz was going for: Starbucks is a corporation that stands for something beyond profit. "The more your brand is trying to connect emotionally to people, the more hurt people feel when these kinds of things happen," said Jacinta Gauda, the head of the Gauda Group, a New York strategic communications firm affiliated with the Grayling network. "They are breaking a promise. That's what makes it hurt deeper." Beyond racial relations, Starbucks has staked much of its brand on its dual promise of providing good customer service and treating its employees well, said John Gordon, a restaurant industry analyst with Pacific Management Consulting Group. But in a multinational company with more than 28,000 stores worldwide, there has "to be a situation every day where some human being handles things wrong," Gordon said. "Even with a huge operations manual that lays out what to say and what to do, you can't cover everything." Gordon called the decision to hold the May 29 training sessions "the most practical way to get word out to all employees, the same way at one time." Starbucks has set its own high bar. Last month, the company claimed it had achieved 100 percent pay equity across gender and race for all its U.S. employees and committed to doing the same for its overseas operations, an initiative publicly backed by equality activist Billie Jean King. The company also touts the diversity of its workforce, saying minorities comprise more than 40 percent of its employees in the U.S. In 2016, Starbucks promised to invest in 15 "underserved" communities across the country, trying to counter an image of a company catering to a mostly white clientele. One of those stores opened in Ferguson, Missouri, the scene of 2014 protests following the police shooting of Michael Brown, one of several such killings that moved Schultz to launch the Race Together campaign. Gauda, who has developed workplace inclusion strategies for corporate clients, called the bias training initiative "the right thing to do." "It's a tremendous statement that they are making," she said. "I think that the fact that they are making the whole company go through this is a recognition of how important this training is." Starbucks said the curriculum for the training would be developed with input from several experts, including Bryan Stevenson, founder and executive director of the Equal Justice Initiative, Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund and former U.S. Attorney General Eric Holder. The company said the educational materials would eventually be shared with its licensed stores. In addition to the company-owned stores, Starbucks had as of January about 5,700 licensed stores in the United States, such as the ones inside Target and Barnes & Noble stores. Gauda and other corporate communications experts said they were impressed with Johnson's hands-on approach to the crisis. "I definitely applaud that. Most people won't jump on the bomb," said M.J. McCallum, vice president and creative director of Muse Communications, an advertising and communications agency with an African-American focus. "As far as the company's initiative to rectify this situation by closing all stores for racial bias education training, it's a positive start," McCallum said. "It may also inspire other companies to do the same." "But the question is, how can Starbucks have this program and not have it be viewed as "Training people on how to deal with black people?" He said the training should be aimed broadly to "make sure that you are respectful to everyone's culture. First, just be good people." The Midland Chamber of Commerces State of Education luncheon on Wednesday was sort of an introduction of Midland ISD Superintendent Orlando Riddick to the business community. Inside the Horseshoe Pavilion that was transformed into an advertisement for what the district is today and will be tomorrow, Riddick gave a glimpse of where the district is headed and how the business community can get on board. The keynote centered around transformation and what it should mean to Midland moving forward. We have a community that is in a tremendous evolution and an educational system that is evolving as well, said Mark Palmer, executive director of the Abell-Hanger Foundation, afterward. I am pleased with the direction I am seeing the district headed. Abell-Hanger Foundation was part of an initiative led by foundations and oil industry leaders that a few years ago wanted to become more involved in education. Their partnership at the time included donations to help district employees with rent assistance or to make teacher signing bonuses a possibility. They also became involved in helping communicate to the public the state of the district. Their data showed MISD went on a 10-year slide toward the bottom of the rankings of the 200 largest districts in the state. Change became a requirement with many in the initiative, and Riddicks presentation Wednesday demonstrated that the desired change is possible. Riddick talked Wednesday about moving at hyper speed to meet the needs of a school district with too many low-performing classroom seats and too few options for students. "Two years ago, it was hard to see forward to a place where (such collaboration) would be welcomed. It is very exciting." --Susan Spratlen, vice president of Permian Affairs for Pioneer Natural Resources He has been such a collaborator, said Susan Spratlen, vice president of Permian Affairs for Pioneer Natural Resources and chair of the Midland Chamber of Commerce board. Two years ago, it was hard to see forward to a place where (such collaboration) would be welcomed. It is very exciting. The crowd heard details of potential partnerships with organizations and companies that could change MISDs in-class product. Whole school and individual programs could become the rule, not the exception. Riddick specifically mentioned Legacy Traditional Schools and the decision made by the board to continue talks with the Arizona company to create an in-district charter opportunity, possibly by the 2019-2020 academic year. The kindergarten through eighth-grade model would use Saxon Math and Spalding Language Arts as part of the curriculum, and Midland would be Legacys first Texas campus. Riddick mentioned other examples, such as the Young Womens Preparatory Network and its STEM-based sisterhood that promotes the core values of college readiness, responsible leadership and wellness life skills for girls in grades six through 12. The MISD Honor Program will provide a kindergarten through 12th-grade school with a vision of a three-tiered model encouraging students to become active, compassionate and lifelong learners, and to understand that diversity of opinions leads to a stronger depth of knowledge. He also mentioned individual programs such as Code to the Future, which is a computer science immersion program for kindergartners through eighth-graders. On Tuesday, MISD trustees approved the transition of Sam Houston Elementary -- which repeatedly failed to reach state standards and was considered improvement required -- to become the districts next choice school. The new Sam Houston Collegiate Preparatory Elementary will use a college preparatory learning environment with college-going atmosphere, increased expectations and a collaborative environment between parents, teachers, the community and students. AVID (Advancement via Individual Determination) strategies incorporate inquiry-based learning, a student-centric instruction based on organization, study skills communication and self-advocacy. AVID becomes a way of life for students and staff, according to the school districts transformation overview. Today, the community learned about Superintendent Riddicks intense passion for education and his expectations for achievement, improvement and success, Scharbauer Foundation Executive Director Grant Billingsley wrote in an email about the event. Kudos to the board of trustees, the superintendent, and MISD staff for outlining a really ambitious plan for transforming the district. Passionate was a term Spratlen used to described Riddick. She said after the luncheon that the superintendent and other potential partners see an opportunity with the community that is primed for change. Palmer also mentioned the change taking place and urged Midlanders to remember there will be a cost associated with change, not only a financial cost but some of the things we have become accustomed to in terms of the way we operate are going to have to change. Palmer said the promise is there for Riddick to become a great leader but that ultimately the communitys culture must change for the type of whole-scale change needed in an area such as education. This has to be something that must be pervasive in our culture and in Midlands culture -- the whole attitude that embraces transformation and the desire to be propelled toward excellence, he said. As the world mourns President George H.W. Bush, we look at why and how the family ended up in Texas so long ago. The history of the Bush family in Texas, a state so intertwined with their shared legacy and pedigree to this very day, dates back to World War II. The pair met at a Christmas dance in 1941 back east in Greenwich, Connecticut when the future 41st president was 17 and Barbara was just 16. It was just days after Pearl Harbor the country's entrance into the second world war. The pair instantly clicked and became pen pals. By June 1943 Mr. Bush became the youngest pilot to receive his wings down at Naval Air Station Corpus Christi at just 19 years old. This would have been the Bush's first official taste of Texas. After earning his wings he went off to war, earning a Distinguished Flying Cross and three Air Medals while completing 58 combat missions. Later, in January 1945, Bush would marry his sweetheart Barbara Pierce. Their marriage would last 73 years until she died this week at the age of 92. After being discharged honorably from military service in September 1945, Bush completed his interrupted education at Yale University in 1948. A LOVE STORY: George and Barbara Bush, a 'storybook' 73-year marriage It was after graduating from Yale that the couple moved to West Texas and Midland, with George hoping to make it in the oil field supply business. Oil, of course, could be a life-changer for a young smart man willing to put in the time, money and effort into the industry. Bush talked to family friend Neil Mallon about this next step after college. "What you need to do is head out to Texas and those oil fields," Mallon told the young entrepreneur. "That's the place for ambitious young people these days." Mallon hired Bush as a trainee at Dresser Industries where it was reported that he only earned $300 a month. For Bush, who already came from a wealthy family, it wasn't about the money but about the career experience. "There's not much salary, but if you want to learn the oil business, it's a start," Mallon told Bush, who was by then the father of a bouncing boy named George Walker Bush, future 43rd president. FAVORITES: How Barbara and George H.W. Bush became royalty in Houston From there the Yale graduate would start his own company, the Bush-Overbey Oil Development Company, which was later merged with another one to become Zapata Petroleum. Bush would become president of the Zapata Off-Shore Company, an offshoot of Zapata proper. Bush would bring that company and his young, growing family eastward to Houston in 1958 to be closer to the Houston Ship Channel. Soon, like many businessmen, Bush's interests turned to politics and he became chairman of the Harris County Republican Party in 1963. A failed bid for the U.S. Senate in 1964 would see Democratic Sen. Ralph Yarborough and his campaign paint Bush as a carpetbagger from up North. The defeat didn't deter Bush from politics though. He was later elected to the U.S. House of Representatives in 1966 and his lengthy, decades-long political career had begun. Craig Hlavaty is a reporter for Chron.com and HoustonChronicle.com. A San Antonio pediatrician testified Tuesday that two children who in 2016 were bound and tied like animals, were beaten, each struck well over 100 times, and the injuries and complications put the siblings at risk of death. Deandre Dorch, 38, is on trial, accused of two counts of injury to a child-serious bodily injury by omission. He was charged after a 4-year-old boy and his 3-year-old sister were found restrained by dog chains and leashes in the backyard of the home he shared with his girlfriend, Porucha Phillips, 36. Their six children also lived at the home in the 8100 block of Chipping in the Camelot II subdivision on the Northeast Side. The couple told deputies they were watching the two siblings for their friend, Cheryl Reed, 32, whom they knew from California, where they lived before coming to San Antonio. Reed told deputies that she had left her children in Phillips care. Defense attorney Edward Bravenec said his client is not guilty because, as the breadwinner of the family, he worked as a bartender at night and slept most of the day. Prosecutors allege Dorch knew the children were being beaten by Phillips and Reed, and did nothing to stop it. Dr. James L. Lukefahr, director of the Center for Miracles at The Childrens Hospital of San Antonio and an expert in child abuse, told the jury there was clear evidence that they were being repeatedly and intentionally injured. As prosecutor Karl Alexander displayed photographs taken from the night in April 2016 when the children were hospitalized, Lukefahr walked the jury through eacspecific injuries he documented on each child. He examined the children the day after they were found and continued checking them for six months. Lukefahr said each child had extensive bruising in looped shapes on their faces, arms, legs, front and back torsos. In addition, the boy had hair missing, likely from being pulled out; and the girl had dependent edema swelling in her legs and feet from being restrained in a way that she could neither sit nor stand. The swelling was pretty dramatic behind the knees, shins and calves, Lukefahr said. It was very significant April 29, (2016), it had improved by May 13 but was still there, but was gone in October. Lukefahr said radiologists did numerous examinations and took several X-rays of one of the girls arms, which initially was believed to have been broken in two places, but the arm was not fractured. The doctor said the children also had hypothermia, from being left outside for what Lukefahr believed was a bare minimum 18 to 24 hours, most likely longer. Also Tuesday, the jury heard from Alex Garcia, chief meteorologist for FOX 29, who testified that San Antonio was under a severe thunderstorm warning or watch the week of April 25-29, and that parts of the Alamo City had received rain each day and at some points hail more than 2 inches in diameter. Tuesday morning, the jury saw and heard Dorchs reaction after an investigator told him a child was tied like an animal in his backyard so tightly, her arm broke in two places. Thats (expletive) up, Dorch told Bexar County Sheriffs Sgt. Shawn Tobleman in a two-hour videotaped interview conducted as a follow-up about a week after the children were found. I dont know about that, Dorch said. At the beginning of the interview, he is talkative and tells the detectives that he is an active dad who bathes his children, cooks a breakfast of oatmeal or cereal, and makes sure they have ample space to play in the house. He told detectives he had bathed the children before he went to work the day authorities were called to the house. As the interview progressed about the tied-up children, Dorch appeared to evade or ignore the questions and repeatedly asked how he could make sure his family was able to get his six children, who were taken along with the two sibling who belonged to Reed, from Child Protectives Services. When Tobleman told him about the siblings being tied up and injured, Dorch responded: All that stuff, I dont know. I dont watch the news. If I got caught up in it, I couldnt stay focused with my kids. Dorch is the first of three adults to go to trial in the case. In October, Phillips pleaded guilty to two counts of injury to a child-serious bodily injury and was sentenced to 50 years in prison on each count. The sentences will run concurrently. Reed is in jail, awaiting trial. The case is being heard in Felony Impact Court, with visiting Judge Laura Parker presiding. Dorch faces 99 years to life in prison, and if convicted, has elected to be sentenced by the judge. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863 The death of former first lady Barbara Bush in her Texas home Tuesday brought about many memories for former Illinois School for the Deaf Principal Sue Brosmith of when she visited the schools campus. Bush visited the state school on Oct. 25, 1988, to talk about illiteracy with some of the schools high school seniors. Before that though, she stopped by the schools sibling sign language class taught by Brosmith. While she wasnt the first lady at the time of the speech as George Bush held the vice president spot, Brosmith said there was so much excitement around campus in preparation for her arrival. She was so fun and funny, Brosmith said. Brosmith said her students taught her how to spell Mrs. Bush as well as several other words. We told her we were going to teacher her how to sign Mrs. Bush and she said Im good with Barbara, Brosmith said. I told that wed practiced Mrs. Bush and she bust out laughing and said well, then thats what well do. Along with telling the Secret Service agents no several times when they told her it was time to leave, Brosmith said she also joked with the kids and made sure they laughed with her. Bush died Tuesday at the age of 92 in her Houston, Texas, home, just two days after family spokesman Jim McGrath told people that she declined further medical treatments and wanted to focus on comfort care at home after being in the hospital for treatment of congestive heart failure and chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. Former President George W. Bush said in a statement that his mother touched many lives. Barbara Bush was a fabulous first lady and a woman unlike any other who brought levity, love, and literacy to millions, he said in the statement. To us, she was so much more. Mom kept us on our toes and kept us laughing until the end. Im a lucky man that Barbara Bush was my mother. Our family will miss her dearly, and we thank you all for your prayers and good wishes. After meeting with the class, she spoke with students at the high school about the importance of literacy and about programs her husband would push for if he was elected president. When Brosmith heard of her death, she said the memories of her visit to ISD. It just flooded me, Brosmith said. She was such a wonderful person, and we were so blessed to have had the chance to meet her. Samantha McDaniel-Ogletree can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1233, or on Twitter @JCNews_samantha. PITTSFIELD Three people were injured two having to be flown to a Springfield hospital in a three-vehicle crash on U.S. 54 north of Pittsfield. According to Illinois State Police, a car being driven by Roger L. Daniels, 40, of Manchester collided with the rear of vehicle being drive by Richard W. Teaney, 73, of Pittsfield about 2:30 p.m. Wednesday near 273rd Lane. Sinohydro deal has turned out to ... Stolen Wells Cargo Trailer, license plate number 4KJ1127 View Photos Galt, CA On its Facebook page, Future Farmers of America (FFA) officials are asking that the public be on the lookout for white Wells Cargo Trailer with license plate number 4KJ1127, that was stolen from its center in Galt Tuesday night. Executive Director Matt Patton relays, Someone at 3 oclock in the morning pulled into our parking lot, broke the lock on the trailer, loaded the trailer and drove away with it. Besides the cost of the trailer Patton estimates that more than $130,000 worth of gear and awards for the groups 90th Annual California FFA Convention being held in Anaheim this weekend was nabbed. In addition, Disney theme park tickets totaling $800,000. Patton relays, All the materials for that conference and all the registration paper work, merchandise for the store, audio visual equipment, computer tablets, in addition to 8,000 tickets to Disneys Californias Adventure Land was in the cargo trailer ready to be picked up and driven to southern California. Patton stresses that no personal student information was inside the trailer. He adds that Disney is canceling the tickets and issuing new ones while all the vendors are doing rush orders to print new material for the conference. Police gave this description of the truck, seen in the image box picture along with the trailer, as possibly a dark color Ford Ranger extended cab pickup. Anyone spotting the truck or trailer or who may have details of the theft are asked to contact the Galt Police Department at (209) 366-7000. Vowing that the convention will still go on this weekend, Patton pleads, We just really want the contents and the trailer itself back as soon as possible, noting that it is the states 89,000 FFA student members who are the victims of this crime. 3 1 of 3 Neoma Williams/Herald Correspondent Show More Show Less 2 of 3 Neoma Williams/Herald Correspondent Show More Show Less 3 of 3 HART -- "Just being thought of" is very important to a child, said David Knox of Hart. Knox, retired Hart school teacher, has volunteered with Child Protective Services for eight years. The state agency investigates reports of abuse and neglect of children, provides services to children and families in their own homes, places children in foster care, provides services to help youth in foster care successfully transition to adulthood and helps children get adopted. A Berkeley teacher who brought a deactivated bazooka into his classroom last week was placed on paid administrative leave, officials said. Alex Angell, who teaches AP history and world history at Berkeley High School, was placed on leave on April 11 pending an investigation into the incident, said Charles Burress, a spokesman for Berkeley Unified School District. Burress said the district could not comment further, citing confidentiality concerns as the issue is a personnel matter. Were conducting an investigation and were waiting before we make any statements on facts of the case, Burress said. ALSO UC Berkeley students elect a squirrel to the ASUC Senate A video was posted to social media showing Angell holding the bazooka over his shoulder while explaining how it was used roughly 70 years ago, according to Berkeleyside, which first reported the incident. The weapon was apparently not armed. The district did not say how it became aware of the incident. A former student in Angells history class told Berkeleyside that last weeks incident was not the first time the teacher brought the bazooka to class. Another student said that Angell had numerous historical artifacts in his classroom, including a backpack from WWII and a medieval shield. Angell could not be reached for comment. Since he was placed on administrative leave, a substitute teacher has filled in for his classes, Burress said. Annie Ma is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15 San Antonio cloud service company Rackspace Hosting Inc. has added two people to its executive team. Laura Sue DAnnunzio has been appointed chief people officer, heading the companys human resources operation. She will oversee hiring and employee management and development. She will report to Rackspace CEO Joe Eazor. Jay Ferro, with more than 25 years of experience overseeing technology strategy and operations as a chief information officer and chief technology officer, was named Rackspaces chief customer officer and senior vice president. He will report to Jeff Cotten, Rackspaces president and chief revenue officer. DAnnunzio has 28 years of HR and strategy consulting experience. Prior to joining Rackspace, she was an adviser to CEOs on strategy and human resources issues, according to a statement from the company. She has worked at Grant Thornton, Bain & Co., Booz & Co. and A.T. Kearney, where she advised such General Motors and other companies. Ferro will be responsible for ensuring Rackspace customers get the full value of its suite of solutions, the company said in the statement. Prior to joining Rackspace, he worked at TransPerfect Inc. where he was responsible for IT and product development for the privately held language services provider. He also has worked at ExamWorks, Earthlink, now known as Windstream, and the American Cancer Society. pdanner@express-news.net Robert Caro has been thinking a lot about the 1960s. The Pulitzer Prize winning historian shared some observations recently and some insights into his famously thorough research during a 45-minute address at the New-York Historical Society. Caro has been immersed in the decade as he writes the fifth, and presumed last, of his Lyndon Johnson books. The 82-year-old historian has been working on the Johnson books for more than 40 years and joked about the long process one which does not yet have a closing date. He cited a quote from Winston Churchill, who once said that he was working on the fifth of a planned 4-volume history. Caro could top that: He is trying to wrap up the fifth of a planned 3-volume set, with the conclusion centering on Johnsons presidency, the decade he profoundly affected and in turn so profoundly affected him. Its a lot to get in one book, Caro, known for works that run 500 pages or longer, said to laughter. The 60s, he said, began with optimism and ended in disillusion. Caro said the change could be captured in two songs: the hopeful civil rights anthem We Shall Overcome and Pete Seegers damning anti-war song Waist Deep in the Big Muddy. He offered a capsule history of We Shall Overcome, from its roots in black churches dating back at least to the early 1800s, to its emergence in the civil rights movement. He then took the audience, many of them old enough to remember the era themselves, into the presidential limousine as Johnson rode from the White House to Capitol Hill and gave his famous civil rights speech from March 1965, when he ended by declaring, And we shall overcome. Caro first noted that civil rights protesters had been standing outside the White House, within earshot of the executive mansion, singing We Shall Overcome. As the car passed through the gates, the protesters approached it, as if to tell Johnson to his face, Well win this without you. Johnson was riding in the back with three aides: Richard Goodwin, Jack Valenti and Horace Busby. Caro acknowledged pressing the three men, to the point of angering them, for details. What did you see? he kept asking. And what, if anything, did Johnson say during the ride? They rode in silence, the aides recalled. Busby knew him (Johnson) and knew his expressions, Caro explained. So I said to Busby, Did he hear it? And Busby said, He heard it. Waist Deep has been covered by various artists, and referred to in songs by Bruce Springsteen and John Fogerty. But Caro worries that the song, and the time it evokes, is being lost. Everybody remembers and sings We Shall Overcome but the other song, Waist Deep, is pretty well completely forgotten, as I have found is becoming too true of the Vietnam War as a whole he said. Vietnam may be something we want to forget. But its not the job of the historian to help in forgetting, in my opinion. Its the job of the historian to help in remembering. F rom being called Bubba in the schoolyard to Mr. Speaker in the U.S. House of Representatives, Jim Wright rose from humble beginnings on the Texas prairie to skillfully using the electorate to place himself two heartbeats away from the White House with all its pomp and power. After a meteoric rise to the pinnacles of political power as the 48th speaker of the House, it all came crashing down on Wright when an ethics scandal forced him to become the first speaker in our nations history to resign in 1989. Speaker Jim Wright: Power, Scandal and the Birth of Modern Politics, by J. Brooks Flippen, is a vivid and compelling portrait of a grass-roots politician who ascended into the hallowed halls of our nations capital and made his mark on practically every major public policy issue in the late 20th century. Flippen, a professor of history at Southeastern Oklahoma State University, and the author of books on Presidents Jimmy Carter and Richard Nixon, drew on his unprecedented access to Wright before the legislators death in 2015 to capture the intricateness of a polished politician who never lost his ability to connect with the common man. Wright, a Democrat representing Texass 12th District in Fort Worth, served in the House from the Eisenhower administration to the presidency of George H.W. Bush, including 12 years as majority leader and speaker. He played a key role in the Great Society, and his legacy includes an array of laws that still stand today. Coming of age in the Kennedy-Johnson presidential years, Wright became an expert at bipartisan politics and was able to build consensus on both sides of the aisle. Beginning with his appointment to the Public Works Committee, which oversaw publicly funded projects, Wright became a legislative master and worked to win over his elected colleagues of both parties by advocating compromise while keeping a fractured Democratic party together. Wright had a leading role in the construction of the interstate highway system. He was also instrumental in getting the Dallas/Fort Worth International Airport approved and constructed, maintained a keen interest in Latin America, and helped spark negotiations that led to the famous Camp David Accords involving Egyptian President Anwar Sadat and Israeli Prime Minister Menachem Begin. More Information Speaker Jim Wright: Power, Scandal, and the Birth of Modern Politics By J. Brooks Flippen University of Texas Press, $35 See More Collapse The book gives us a robust, in-depth look into the speakers life and legislative career on a grand scale, grounded in a compelling narrative supported by extensive interviews and access to Wrights personal diaries. It is a superb study of a man who shaped the political culture of Congress during his three decades on the Hill, only to see it all slip away on charges of corruption and violations of House rules by the Ethics Committee. Over his 34-year career as a Texas Democratic congressman, Wright made so many impassioned speeches on the House floor that his colleagues regarded him as one of the institutions great, if not final, orators. It was a distinction that would be reinforced when, for almost an hour, Wright announced his resignation to a full House Chamber that even had the spectators gallery packed for the occasion. Speaker Jim Wright is a riveting account of a Texas legend written in lively, vigorous prose that students of political history in or out of the Lone Star State will want to have on their bookshelves. Its an honest portrait of an authentic American politician who committed errors of judgment and damaged the Democratic Party he loved so much. Vincent Bosquez is a retired Marine Corps captain and coordinator of Veterans Affairs at Palo Alto College . UPDATE: Thursday 1 p.m. Police officials said two teenage brothers reported missing on Tuesday have been located. The boys were found unharmed in Norwalk and have returned to their family, authorities said. ORIGINAL STORY BRIDGEPORT Two teenage brothers from the city are missing and police are asking for the publics help to find them. Daniel Cardenas, 14, and Gabriel Cardenas, 13, were last seen around 8:15 a.m. Tuesday. They left their house and didnt get on the bus this morning, police said. They attend Blackham School. The 14-year-old was last seen wearing a black sweater and khaki pants. Hes about 5 feet 2 inches tall. The 13-year-old was last seen wearing a dark sweater and khaki pants. Hes about 5 feet 4 inches tall. Police said their mother thinks they might be in the area of Madison Avenue. Classmates said the two brothers were last seen walking on Robin Street toward Park Avenue. If anyone sees them, call Bridgeport police at 203-581-5100. In a Snapchat posted by Daniel Cardenas, he asked if anyone wanted to say goodbye before I leave. When someone replied to his Snapchat message asking what he meant, he replied Im moving to California. Despite this, police think the brothers might still be in the Bridgeport area. In the boys bedroom, police found a backpack filled with snacks and bottled water that was left on a bed in the room. Police said they were unsure how much money they had on them. Anyone with information can contact Bridgeport police at 203-581-5100. Niskayuna As inconceivable as it might seem, the Holocaust is fading from memory. Forty-one percent of Americans and 66 percent of millennials have no idea what Auschwitz was, according to new poll numbers. Many severely underestimate how many Jews were killed during the Holocaust, and more than half of Americans don't know that Adolf Hitler came to power democratically. Maybe you can guess why I'm bringing this up. The numbers illustrate the importance of Michael Lozman's proposed, and controversial, Holocaust memorial for Niskayuna, which is awaiting Town Board approval. The poll, released last week to coincide with Holocaust Remembrance Day, was commissioned by the Conference on Jewish Material Claims against Germany, which rightly described the results as worrisome and alarming. Normally, I'm a little wary of poll results released by interest groups because they almost always confirm the interest group's reason for existing. But I withhold skepticism in this case. After all, the Holocaust poll is hardly the first to illustrate American ignorance on historic and civic matters. More Information Contact columnist Chris Churchill at 518-454-5442 or email cchurchill@timesunion.com See More Collapse In one poll, for example, only 21 percent of respondents, in a multiple choice question, identified James Madison as the father of the Constitution. In that same pol, 10 percent of college graduates identified Judge Judy as a member of the Supreme Court. A different poll found that just 40 percent of Americans can identify the three branches of government. In another, more than a third did not know the century in which the American Revolution took place. Even with that context, the Holocaust survey results are uniquely disturbing. The Holocaust, obviously, is a leading example of human barbarity, and it didn't happen all that long ago. "There remain troubling gaps in Holocaust awareness while survivors are still with us," said Greg Schneider of the claims conference. "Imagine when there are no longer survivors here to tell their stories." It would be easy to blame the ignorance on floundering schools, but teachers can only do so much to combat entrenched indifference and willful ignorance. In an age when troves of information are available to anyone with a smartphone, it's inexcusable that many people can't be bothered to learn about the Holocaust. And so one of the attributes of the $1.4 million memorial planned for Troy-Schenectady Road in Niskayuna is that it would make it more difficult to ignore the Holocaust. It might pique curiosity or open eyes. That's the hope anyway. "There's a lot of hate floating around in our country," said Lozman, an orthodontist who lives in Menands. "We need to teach about what that hate can do." For years, Lozman has led students from Siena College, a Catholic school, on trips to restore abandoned Jewish cemeteries in Europe. So there's a nice symmetry to Lozman's memorial being planned for land that is adjacent to Most Holy Redeemer Cemetery and was donated by the Roman Catholic Diocese of Albany. The memorial, as proposed, would include railroad tracks positioned in the shape of the Star of David, a box car similar to those that carried Jews to concentration camps and a wall intended to represent a gas chamber. At a public hearing on the plan this month, proponents repeatedly stressed that the memorial would be about remembering what we can't allow ourselves to forget. A remarkable number of those speakers, Niskayuna residents, had direct connections to the Holocaust, illustrating why the town is an appropriate location. Work remains to be done. In a conversation this week, Neil Golub, executive board chairman of Price Chopper supermarkets' parent company, said Lozman is now partnering with Jewish community leaders to hammer out details about how the memorial would look, function and be sustained. But those poll numbers remain the best argument for why the memorial must happen. When 70 percent of respondents say fewer people seem to care about the Holocaust, and when 58 percent believe it could happen again, there's a glaring need for reminders. Forget the possibility, by the way, that town officials will block the plan, despite protestations from some neighbors who cite traffic and other concerns. No town official, in Niskayuna or anywhere else, is going to risk the national scorn and the reputational black eye that would come with voting down a memorial to the Holocaust nor should they. So the real task ahead isn't about overcoming the fight over the site. It's about ensuring the Holocaust memorial is a quality landmark of which the region can be proud. It's about making a memorial that helps us remember. cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill cchurchill@timesunion.com 518-454-5442 @chris_churchill Connecticut Water Service, Inc., will continue with its merger with San Jose Water Group, despite a proposal from Eversource Energy earlier this month. Connecticut Water, headquartered in Clinton, said Thursday in a news release, it received Eversources non-binding, unsolicited proposal and the companys board of directors unanimously decided to decline it. Eversource announced Thursday that it sent a proposal to Connecticut Water to acquire its outstanding shares for $63.50 per share in cash. Shareholders would also have the option to receive the equivalent shares in Eversource in lieu of a monetary payment. We believe that our proposal represents a unique opportunity to deliver significant and immediate value to Connecticut Waters shareholders, customers, employees and local communities, said Jim Judge, Eversource chairman, president and chief executive officer. Connecticut Waters board of directors reviewed Eversources proposal and unanimously decided it is not a superior proposal or reasonably likely to lead to a superior proposal as defined by Connecticut Waters merger agreement with SJW Group, the news release said. After declining Eversources proposal, Connecticut Water will continue its agreement with San Jose Water Group. In an announcement on March 15, Connecticut Water and San Jose Water Group announced that the board of directors for each unanimously approved an agreement to combine through a merger of equals. Connecticut Water shareholders will received 1.1375 shares of SJW Group common stock for each share of Connecticut Water common stock they own, the equivalent of $63.70 per share, the news release said. We also believe our merger with SJW Group provides important benefits for customers, employees and communities that would be hard to replicate in a combination involving contiguous and overlapping territories, as was contemplated in the unsolicited Eversource acquisition proposal, said Carol Wallace, chairman of Connecticut Waters board of directors. The merger between Connecticut Water and the San Jose Water Group is expected to close by the end of 2018. After a four-month search, the University of Texas at San Antonio has hired Kimberly Andrews Espy, a "translational clinical neuroscientist," to serve as second in command at the 30,000-student institution. Espy, the senior vice president for research at the University of Arizona, is expected to play a leading role in the reimagining of the UTSA Downtown Campus, the reaccreditation processes and implementation of a new budget model. "Being a young university, you have the opportunity to in some ways learn from older institutions, learn the lessons of what can go well and what you want to keep, but also do things somewhat differently in a less constrained environment," Espy said in an interview Wednesday. She said UTSA should serve as an "economic, social anchor" for San Antonio. With a bachelor's degree in psychology from Rice University and a master's and doctorate in psychology and clinical neuropsychology from the University of Houston, Espy has studied early childhood development and authored dozens of journal articles. She will replace Mauli Agrawal, the interim provost, in June. Espy listed UTSA's graduation rate as a point of concern (it's currently 22 percent for four years) and growing the Downtown Campus an urgent focus. "It does shape my thinking," she said of her academic specialty. "I certainly look at the process of a student as progressively developing skills over time, and that one of the roles that institutions play is helping to support that development." Espy was lauded for leading efforts that earned the University of Arizona, which has more than 44,000 students, a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution from the U.S. Education Department. There, she implemented a hiring program, created faculty support programs and restructured funding for new student internship opportunities. She also has worked at Southern Illinois University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Oregon. Silvia Foster-Frau is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. She can be reached at sfosterfrau@express-news.net or on Twitter @SilviaElenaFF 1 Plane inspections: U.S. airline regulators have ordered inspections on engine fan blades like the one that snapped off a Southwest Airlines plane, leading to the death of a woman who was partially blown out a window. The Federal Aviation Administrations announcement late Wednesday comes nearly a year after the engines manufacturer recommended the additional inspections, and a month after European regulators ordered their airlines to do the work. 2 Police apology: Philadelphias police commissioner apologized to two black men who were arrested at a Starbucks in the city while waiting for a business meeting. Commissioner Richard Ross, who is black, apologized to Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson on Thursday after he previously staunchly defended police for their handling of the incident. The men have met with the CEO of Starbucks and are pushing for meaningful change so what happened to them does not happen to anyone else. The annual Bay Area Book Festival takes place in the heart of Berkeley, a city perhaps best known as the home of the flagship campus of the University of California. The festival and UC Berkeley share missions to make knowledge accessible, to engage people intellectually and creatively, to serve locally while reaching globally, and to foster community indeed, as with Cals motto, to let there be light. Because of these commonalities, in 2018 the festival significantly expanded its partnership with UC Berkeley, working especially closely with Berkeley Arts + Design, ASUC/Student Union, BAMPFA and UC Berkeleys office of Government and Community Relations. The festival moved its date from June (as in previous years) to April, allowing students, academics and teachers who would otherwise be scattered across the world on summer break to attend for the first time. Berkeley Arts + Design has been at the helm of the partnership, sponsoring six author programs (see sidebar) and helping the festival connect with campus departments. Whats more, Arts + Design closes out its semester-long BAMPFA Mondays on April 30 with a special program featuring festival speakers (see bampfa.org). Several UC Berkeley departments, including Arts + Design, ASUC, and Cals official Student Store, have underwritten 1,000 wristbands for students, allowing general admission to the festivals indoor sessions free of charge. Students can pick up their wristbands at the outdoor Cal Pavilion hosted by the ASUC/Student Union. This lounge-like setting is open to the public to browse Cal-related books, hear student authors, and get a commemorative tote bag (see sidebar). Students have been involved in planning the festival this year in hands-on ways. Through a course co-taught with the Department of Rhetoric, the festival created intensive internships in volunteer management, marketing, ticketing, and community engagement. Finally, BAMPFA has partnered with the Bay Area Book Festival since the events second year, co-hosting a five-day film series around the festival weekend. This years series, entitled Auteur, Author, includes renowned films that celebrate, adapt, or creatively reinterpret the written word and its practitioners. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ notes, The Bay Area Book Festival has become one of Californias leading literary events, bringing tens of thousands of readers and a diverse set of writers to Berkeley for an annual celebration of the power of the written word. While our campus has supported the festival since it began, were excited to strengthen ties to this event, whose mission of promoting literary expression and creating forums for discussing topical issues is very much in line with our own. Festival Sessions Sponsored by UC Berkeley Arts + Design Saturday, April 28 10 to 11:15 a.m. Resisting Hate with Free Speech: Nadine Strossen interviewed by Erwin Chemerinsky (Freight & Salvage) 11:45 a.m. to 1 p.m. Wrestling with the Devil: Ngugi wa Thiongo in Conversation: Ngugi wa Thiongo interviewed by Namwali Serpell (Freight & Salvage) 1:30 to 2:45 p.m. Viet Thanh Nguyen on Art and Politics: Viet Thanh Nguyen interviewed by Karen Tei Yamashita (Freight & Salvage) Sunday, April 29 10 to 11:15 a.m. How Stories Make the World: Anthony Marra, Ismail Muhammad, Joyce Carol Oates, and Scott Saul, moderated by Joe DiPrisco (Veterans Memorial Building Auditorium) 11:45 a.m. to 12:15 p.m. Standing at the Edge: Finding Freedom Where Fear and Courage Meet: Joan Halifax interviewed by Dacher Keltner (Freight & Salvage) 2:30 to 3:15 p.m. Smart Activism: History and Hope: L.A. Kauffman and Rebecca Solnit (San Francisco Chronicle Stage in the Park) Other Sessions Involving UC Berkeley Faculty and Alums Saturday, April 28 3:15 to 4:30 p.m. The Imperative for Truth: Academy Award-Winning Documentarian Errol Morris in Conversation with Edward Frenkel: Errol Morris interviewed by Edward Frenkel (Veterans Memorial Building, Auditorium) 2:30 to 3:45 p.m. Income Inequality: A World Gone Mad, Mean and Immoral: Steven Clifford, Jeff Clements, Robert Reich (San Francisco Chronicle Stage in the Park) 7:30 to 9 p.m. The Common Good with Robert Reich (Saturday Night Keynote): Robert Reich (Freight & Salvage) Cal Pavilion A pop-up lounge where visitors can browse and enjoy! Student authors Cozy reading and browsing Books written by Cal faculty and about Cal itself Cal-branded merchandise Goodies, tote bags, surprise giveaways After the Trump administration proposed eliminating the National Sea Grant College Program U.S. Sen. Chris Murphy, D-Conn, is leading a bipartisan group of senators calling for the program to be funded at least at current levels. "As senators from some of the states with Sea Grant programs, we see firsthand how this federal investment is leveraged locally to bring immense returns to coastal communities, fishermen, universities, and students," Murphy and U.S. Sen. Richard Blumenthal, D-Conn, wrote in a letter to the Appropriations Subcommittee on Commerce, Justice, Science, and Related Agencies. FAIRFIELD In Italy and Spain, the McDonalds restaurants are cleaner and nicer than they are in Fairfield County. Their ordering technology is more advanced orders can be placed at some locations using an automated kiosk. Then the food which is of better quality than in the United States is brought directly to the table. Such was the collective review from two groups of Fairfield Warde High School students who recently returned from weeklong trips over April break to Italy and Spain, respectively. The McDonalds was fantastic, junior Ethan Nischan, 17, said on Tuesday, a few days after returning to the U.S. Nischan was one of 30 Warde art, Latin and Italian students to complete a tour of Italy from Sorrento, down the Amalfi Coast, to Pompeii and ultimately to Rome that blended the three disciplines. I designed this trip not only around the three curricular areas (Latin, Italian and art) but also to give students a wide-lens view of history through art ancient to modern, said Warde Latin teacher Amy Scatenato, who organized the third annual trip. Scatenato was joined by art teacher Julianne Warfield, Latin teacher Julia Fedoryk and Italian teacher Sabrina Klein, who chaperoned the 19 Latin students and 11 art and Italian students on trips to landmarks like Vatican City, the Colosseum, the Capitoline Museum and the Roman Forum. It was a nightmare to take the subway, Klein said, due to the number of students, which doubled from the previous year. Though the Italian group was the largest, it was not the only one traveling to Europe over April break. A second troop of 10 students six from Warde and four from Fairfield Ludlowe High School spent their break staying with host families in Talavera de la Reina, a city in central Spain just a little larger than Fairfield, and seeing sights in Madrid. Theyre really experiencing the culture firsthand, said Eileen Frankel, district world language coordinator for third through 12th grades and organizer of the trip to Spain for the past eight years. When you get to stay at a familys home, you get to see what the lifestyle is really like. For five nights, the students live with a host family with a child of similar age. The Fairfield teens followed their hosts to school for two days, and on the weekends explored the city. I got to hang out with the girl O was staying with, said senior Emily Healy, 17. Friday and Saturday night I got to hang out with her friends. It was very much like a Saturday night with my own friends, other than that we stayed out hours later. Healy and fellow Warde senior Shimul Banik, 17, were surprised at how centralized and walkable the city was. They also noted several difference between Spanish and American schools. Cellphones, for example, are not tolerated in Spain, even between classes, and teachers mostly lecture during lessons. There entire teaching method is different, Healy said. After Talavera, the students took a day trip in Segovia and then rounded the trip out in Madrid, which Healy and Banik said they enjoyed, but not as much as living with the host families. Frankel and Warde Spanish teacher Andrea Hagenbach guessed the trip to Spain which before this year included only Ludlowe students attracted fewer participants because many parents and students are apprehensive about the host family component. They liked living with the families. I think they were a little hesitant at first, but that ended up being their favorite part, Hagenbach said. On Friday, 12 Spanish students from Talavera will arrive in Fairfield for a week and stay with the students they recently hosted, and then travel to New York City and Washington, D.C. Healy and Banik said they have been making plans with their newly made friends, who want to see the beach (Talavera is landlocked) and downtown Fairfield. Its a once-in-a-lifetime experience seeing how their teenage lives are compared to ours, Banik said. justin.papp@scni.com; @justinjpapp1; 203-842-2586 Former New York mayor Rudolph Giuliani, a combative former prosecutor and longtime ally of President Donald Trump, told The Washington Post on Thursday that he has joined the president's legal team dealing with the ongoing special counsel probe. "I'm doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller," Giuliani said in an interview. Trump counsel Jay Sekulow said Thursday in a statement that Giuliani is joining the team along with two former federal prosecutors, Jane Serene Raskin and Marty Raskin, a couple who jointly run a Florida-based law firm. "Rudy is great," Trump said in the statement issued by Sekulow. "He has been my friend for a long time and wants to get this matter quickly resolved for the good of the country." Giuliani, who joins a legal team that has struggled to recruit new members, said he has been speaking with Trump for weeks about joining the group of legal advisers. He said he would work alongside Trump's current attorneys, Sekulow and Ty Cobb, who are focusing on the federal investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. He also said he will soon take a leave from his law firm, Greenberg Traurig. Giuliani is a former U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York, which is the office currently overseeing an investigation of Trump's personal attorney, Michael Cohen. Giuliani said he formalized his decision in recent days, including over dinner last week at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. Giuliani and Trump spoke on Thursday about legal strategy moving forward, along with Sekulow, whom Giuliani described as a "good friend." He added that he and Cobb spoke on Wednesday. Giuliani declined to say whether Trump has made a final decision on whether to sit for an interview with Mueller and his investigators. Trump has been mulling for weeks whether to do so, veering between wanting to meet with Mueller to moving away from the idea, especially after the home, offices and hotel room of his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, were raided this month. "It's too early for me to say that," Giuliani said of whether a Mueller interview is unlikely to happen. Giuliani also declined to discuss whether Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has been under fire from conservatives and oversees the Russia probe, could be fired by the president in the coming weeks. "I'm not involved in anything about those issues. My advice on Mueller has been this: He should be allowed to do his job. He's entitled to do his job." The Daily Beast reported earlier Thursday that Giuliani was in talks with Trump about joining the legal team. Giuliani said he would spend a "great deal of time" in Washington working with Trump, but would continue to live in New York. Trump had considered Giuliani for attorney general and has said in recent weeks he needs a New York-based attorney. Many leading white-collar lawyers, such Theodore Olson, have declined Trump's entreaties. Trump is known to be a difficult client who does not listen to his attorneys' advice, according to lawyers who are familiar with his conduct. - - - The Washington Post's Carol D. Leonnig contributed to this report. House Republicans, already rattled by a special-election loss in Pennsylvania, are enlisting President Trump and other GOP leaders to help turn back a stronger-than-expected Democratic challenge in next week's special election in a strongly Republican Arizona district. Republican Debbie Lesko, a former state senator, faces Democrat Hiral Tipirneni, a physician and health-care advocate, in the April 24 contest to replace former congressman Trent Franks, who resigned last year after he reportedly offered to pay a female staff member $5 million if she would carry his child. Starting earlier this month, Republican voters in the western Phoenix suburbs have received robo-calls in which Trump warns that "illegal immigrants will pour right over your border" if Democrats win the House. "Nancy Pelosi wants to send a liberal Democrat to Congress to represent you," Trump says in the call. "We can't have that." House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) planned to travel to the congressional district on Thursday to help Lesko. House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) raised money for the Republican nominee in the District on Wednesday. The involvement of the president and GOP leadership underscores that no race is a surefire win for the party in an unforgiving midterm year, even one in a district where Trump prevailed by double digits in 2016 and Franks cruised to reelection. In a March special election, in a Pennsylvania district Trump won by double digits, Democrat Conor Lamb narrowly prevailed, unnerving a GOP fearful its House majority is in jeopardy in November's midterm elections. Republican groups have spent more than $500,000 to boost Lesko, efforts they say have helped her build a strong lead in absentee voting. According to state election officials, more than 128,000 ballots have been returned. Forty-nine percent of voters have been registered Republicans; 28 percent have been Democrats. "When you look at the number of Republicans who've requested absentee ballots, I don't know how you conclude that this is a race," said Corry Bliss, the executive director of the Congressional Leadership Fund. "We're spending $100,000 on digital and phones to ensure the highest possible number of Republicans return those ballots." At a closed-door meeting of House Republicans on Tuesday, the chair of the National Republican Congressional Committee gave lawmakers an upbeat assessment of the race, according to two people present. Rep. Steve Stivers (R-Ohio) played down polls that showed a dead heat and said internal party numbers had Lesko ahead by high single digits or double digits, according to one of the attendees who spoke on the condition of anonymity to talk freely about the presentation. Both attendees said Stivers emphasized that the early voting patterns were encouraging for Republicans in a race where the majority of ballots - perhaps as many as 80 percent - will be cast before the day of the election. Republican turnout, Stivers said, is running ahead of 2016, when Franks won by 37 percentage points and Trump won by 21 points. However, both Republican and Democratic operatives agree the race has tightened. Tipirneni's own polling has found her running stronger with Republicans and independents than Hillary Clinton did in 2016, keeping the race competitive. Like Lamb's, Tipirneni's campaign has focused largely on health care and benefits. According to election officials, the average age of voters who have returned ballots is 68 years old. "Most of those voters live on Social Security and Medicare, and they love it," said Rep. Ruben Gallego (D-Ariz.). "I know Debbie, I served with Debbie - her agenda that she had in the State House is not selling that well right now. With a wave year, it's entirely possible that we do close the gap and Hiral wins." In debates, which wrapped up before the start of early voting, Lesko targeted Tipirneni for not supporting a wall on the U.S.-Mexico border and for opposing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Tipirneni pivoted to health care, warning that Republicans were making coverage less affordable - a message many Democrats expect to use in the midterms. "Debbie clearly has no health-care plan and seems to be okay with the things the administration has done to destabilize insurance markets even further, shooting premiums up," Tipirneni said in an interview. "We all know that Speaker Ryan is proposing deep cuts in Social Security, Medicare and Medicaid to pay for the deficit that was created by the tax cuts." Democrats, who have not matched Republican investments in the race, are also watching closely to see how voters respond to Tipirneni's health-care pitch. While stopping short of the universal Medicare pitch favored by the party's left, Tipirneni advocated a plan that would allow anyone, of any age, to buy into Medicare, while letting Medicaid recipients opt for private insurance. In debates, Lesko blurred the distinctions, accusing Tipirneni of favoring a "$32 trillion" health-care plan - the cost often cited for the health-care plan proposed by Sen. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.) during the 2016 campaign. "Hiral Tipirneni will be the first of many avowed single-payer supporters who lose this year because their progressive ideology fails to connect with people outside of the Democratic activist wing," said NRCC spokesman Jesse Hunt. Pomfret School POMFRET Joshua Stielau of Middletown, Class of 2020 at Pomfret School, was named to the winter 2017-18 high honors list. To achieve this distinction, he earned a grade-point average of at least 3.670 and received no grade lower than a B. University of New Haven WEST HAVEN The following students received degrees from the University of New Haven in December at the Toyota Presents Oakdale Theatre in Wallingford. Essex: Joshua Peters, Bachelor of Science, College of Arts and Sciences, Marine Biology Middlefield: Ryan Cassidy, Bachelor of Arts, College of Arts and Sciences, Global Studies Middletown: Garett Otfinoski, Master of Science, Henry C. Lee College of Criminal Justice and Forensic Sciences, National Security U.S. Air Force SAN ANTONIO, Texas U.S. Air Force Airmen Jack N. Holveck and and Sky Biney, and National Guard Airman 1st Class Kevin A. Novoa recently graduated from basic military training at Joint Base San Antonio-Lackland. The airmen completed an intensive, eight-week program that included training in military discipline and studies, Air Force core values, physical fitness, and basic warfare principles and skills. Airmen who complete basic training also earn four credits toward an associate in applied science degree through the Community College of the Air Force. Holveck is the son of Beth and Shane Holveck of Clinton and 2017 graduate of Morgan High School, Clinton. Biney is the son of Golda and Fred Biney of Middletown and 2017 graduate of Vinal Tech HIgh School, Middletown. Novoa is the son of Elizabeth and Hector Novoa of Cromwell and 2018 graduate of Cromwell High School. Trinity College HARTFORD Samantha S. Houle of Middletown was awarded faculty honors for the fall 2017 semester at Trinity College, which are awarded to students with a semester GPA of at least 3.667 on four graded courses, with no individual grade below B-, and no incomplete grades. St. Vincent College LATROBE, Pennsylvania New members, including Sofia N. Sicignano, a psychology major from Clinton, were inducted into St. Vincent Colleges chapter of Alpha Lambda Delta, an international honor society for first-year students with outstanding academic achievement. Students must maintain a grade point average of 3.5 or higher during their first year of study to be considered for membership in the organization. WASHINGTON - Two of President Donald Trump's top legislative allies met with Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein this week to press him for more documents about the conduct of law enforcement officials involved in the Russia probe and the investigation into Hillary Clinton's email server, according to three people who were not authorized to speak publicly about the discussion. Rosenstein's meeting at his office Monday with Reps. Mark Meadows, R-N.C., and Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, came days after Meadows, an influential Trump confidant, warned Rosenstein that he could soon face impeachment proceedings or an effort to hold him in contempt of Congress if he did not satisfy GOP demands for documents. Trump and Meadows spoke at some point after the meeting, the three people said, but they declined to share details of the exchange. The visit by Meadows and Jordan - leading members of the conservative House Freedom Caucus - is the latest sign of the rising tensions between Trump's inner circle and the Justice Department. Rosenstein, a veteran prosecutor, is confronting a torrent of criticism from Republicans and an uncertain future that puts special counsel Robert Mueller III's Russia probe at risk. In recent days, Trump has seethed over the FBI's raid last week of the home, office and hotel room of his personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, which Rosenstein approved. He has also taken note of conservative commentators who have called for Rosenstein to be fired, according to two administration officials who were not authorized to speak publicly. And Trump encouraged Rosenstein to work with lawmakers on their document requests in a White House meeting April 12, the officials said. "They've been saying I'm going to get rid of them for the last three months, four months, five months, and they're still here," Trump said at a news conference Wednesday when asked about Mueller and Rosenstein. Meadows, in a brief interview Wednesday, acknowledged that he met with Rosenstein earlier in the week. "We keep getting promises that Congress will get the documents it has requested, but there has been little action that has supported those promises," Meadows said. He called the meeting the culmination of the "dissatisfaction I've expressed on a number of occasions with varying degrees of passion." A Justice Department spokesman declined to comment. Meadows and other Republicans close to Trump, such as House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., have long clashed with Rosenstein over documents related to the origin of the Russia investigation. Last week, in a move widely seen as an attempt to calm that rancor, the Justice Department gave Nunes access to a redacted document detailing the beginning of the probe - a day after Nunes suggested that he may try to impeach high-ranking FBI or Justice Department officials over their failure to produce what he wanted. A Justice official said last week that the department had provided Nunes, ranking Democratic member Adam Schiff, Calif., and all committee members access to the document with redactions "narrowly tailored to protect the name of a foreign country and the name of a foreign agent." Before that release, Trump sent a barrage of tweets accusing the Justice Department of "slow walking" document production and asked what the FBI and Justice officials "have to hide" on multiple fronts. But the anger inside Trump's orbit goes far beyond concerns about Mueller's Russia probe and related documents and includes the Clinton investigation and memos from former FBI director James Comey about his interactions with Trump. GOP officials said Wednesday that more subpoenas related to Comey documents could be in the offing. Earlier this year, a federal judge in Washington refused to order the public disclosure of Comey's memos in response to a Freedom of Information Act lawsuit by media organizations. The Justice Department has said the release would interfere with Mueller's investigation. Many critics of Trump say congressional Republicans are, fundamentally, attempting to build a case against Rosenstein in the hopes of closing the Mueller investigation - using the battle over documents to paper over their core aim of ending a probe that has become a political and legal burden for the president. Meadows contested that suggestion in the interview Wednesday. "We're looking at all DOJ and FBI decision-making as it relates to the lead-up to the 2016 election," Meadows said. "I've sent multiple requests to the deputy attorney general, and he knows that my motivations are all about doing the proper oversight, doing my job for my constituents." In a 2000 letter to Congress, Assistant Attorney General Robert Raben noted that "Congress has a clearly legitimate interest in how the department enforces statutes." But, he said, "the department's long-standing policy is to decline to provide congressional committees with access to open law enforcement files." Still, lawmakers over the past year have been given access to law enforcement records that include the classified surveillance warrant application and subsequent renewals targeting former Trump campaign adviser Carter Page. It is unclear whether the Page investigation is ongoing. The Justice Department's handling of the Clinton email investigation also remains a Republican target. On Wednesday, several House Republicans sent a letter to the Justice Department demanding criminal referrals for a number of prominent figures, including the former secretary of state and Comey. The GOP chairman of the House Judiciary Committee last month subpoenaed the Justice Department for records collected by its inspector general in his probe of how the FBI handled its investigation of Clinton's private email server. The subpoena from Rep. Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., also covered documents related to an FBI internal report that recommended the firing of the bureau's deputy director, Andrew McCabe. Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired McCabe last month, citing in part the inspector general's findings that McCabe "lacked candor - including under oath - on multiple occasions." McCabe has alleged that the move was an attempt to slander him and undermine Muller's probe. Meadows and Jordan have made their pursuit of documents related to these various probes a rallying cry and legislative cause, often showcasing their loyalty to Trump in the process. Speaking Monday on CNN, Jordan said he has never heard Trump lie. "He's always been square with me," he said. "That's for darn sure." At the Capitol last week, Meadows told reporters that he was ready to draft articles of impeachment for Rosenstein or push to hold the Justice official in contempt of Congress - and said congressional Republicans were willing to mount an aggressive campaign on Trump's behalf. "Contempt of Congress is really at the doorstep of Rod Rosenstein more than anybody else," Meadows said. He called contempt "the first step," to be followed by "other tools" if the Justice Department did not produce the documents requested. "It is certainly on the path to impeachment," Meadows added. Congressional Republican leaders, meanwhile, have shown limited interest in taking legislative steps to protect Mueller's investigation. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., said on Tuesday that Trump will not fire Mueller and that he would not hold a vote on a bipartisan measure proposed last week to protect him. The Senate Judiciary Committee, chaired by Sen. Charles Grassley, R-Iowa, has pledged to hold a vote on the bill this month. "We'll not be having this on the floor of the Senate," McConnell told Fox News. - - - The Washington Post's Sari Horwitz, Matt Zapotosky and Karoun Demirjian contributed to this report. With Paraguay's economy booming, this Sunday's elections are less about policies and more about the candidates and their party machines. In terms of growth, this landlocked country -- roughly the size of California -- is one of the few bright spots in Latin America in recent years. Barring an upset, Mario Abdo Benitez, a 46-year old former senator whose father was the secretary of long-serving dictator Alfredo Stroessner, looks set to retain the presidency for the conservative Colorado party. Recent polls put him well ahead of Efrain Alegre, a former minister backed by the Alianza Ganar, an unlikely alliance of right-wingers and leftists. The winner will inherit a $30 billion economy that's expected to chalk up its sixth straight year of growth, with the central bank forecasting a 4.5 percent expansion this year. Since its debut on global debt markets in 2013, Paraguay has sold almost $3.5 billion in bonds, with an average yield of 4.97 percent, compared with the emerging market average of 5.82 percent. Its impressive growth rates, however, have done little to budge its high levels of poverty, with just over a quarter of the country's 6.9 million people living below the poverty line. Policy-wise, there's little to choose between the two presidential candidates. Both have pledged to fight endemic corruption by overhauling an opaque judicial system, while spending more on education and healthcare. Both also say they can pay for it by doing a better job of collecting the country's low taxes. While Abdo Benitez has said he will borrow to boost social spending, Alegre says there's no need to take on debt when new tobacco taxes could raise as much as $800 million. Speaking on the fringes of the IMF meeting in Washington, Paraguay's Central Bank president Carlos Valdovinos said that investors need not fret about the result. "From an economic view, there is no change, at least on macro fundamentals," he said. History suggests that the Colorado candidate is tough to beat with the party having won all but one presidential election since the return to democracy in 1993. A recent poll by First Analisis y Estudios gave Abdo Benitez a 26 percentage point lead. Alegre, meanwhile, draws support from the conservative Authentic Radical Liberal Party and the left-wing Frente Guasu coalition of Fernando Lugo, the former priest-turned-president who was impeached in 2012. He's since won election to the Senate, and remains an influential player. Also up for grabs Sunday are Paraguay's 17 governorships and all seats in the senate and lower house. Polls suggest significant gains for the Alianza Ganar, but not an outright majority in a Congress where party loyalty is fluid and lawmakers frequently vote across party lines. That will likely force the next president to cut deals with the host of smaller parties that will win seats under Paraguay's system of proportional representation. In spite of an impressive average growth rate of 6 percent between 2013 to 2017, there are some concerns over the country's institutional stability. Only Venezuela outranks Paraguay as the most corrupt nation in South America, according to Transparency International's latest corruption perception index. The U.N.'s Office on Drugs and Crime states that that the country is also one of the world's leading suppliers of marijuana. In northern Paraguay, a self-proclaimed Marxist revolutionary group, the Ejercito del Pueblo Paraguayo, or EPP, has terrorized ranchers and farmers with impunity for years. Brazilian criminal gangs also operate in the border region. In March last year, in a rare moment of civil unrest in Paraguay, the Congress building was torched in protest at a clumsy and ultimately unsuccessful attempt by allies of current President Horacio Cartes and Lugo to pass a deeply unpopular presidential re-election bill. The next president faces the challenge of providing jobs, education and housing to the estimated 500,000 people, 75 percent of them millennials, that will swell the populations of the country's largest cities in the next five years, said Daniel Correa, a former deputy finance minister and senior economic adviser to Abdo Benitez. Roughly half of the population is 24 years old or younger. Paraguay "needs democratic leadership that can meet the demands of these millennials. That demographic bonus could be an asset or turn into a liability," Correa warned. --- Bloomberg's David Biller contributed. Nearly a dozen communities in Southern California are supporting the Trump administrations challenge to California laws that limit police cooperation with federal immigration officers. But the Orange County town of Los Alamitos has become the first to vote to disregard state law and aid in deportations. On Wednesday, the American Civil Liberties Union and the National Day Labor Organizing Network sued Los Alamitos, saying the citys action this week violated the state Constitution and endangered schoolchildren and other residents. The City Council cannot appoint itself judge and jury and decide what state laws it will and will not follow, said Sameer Ahmed, a lawyer with the ACLU Foundation of Southern California. The suit in Orange County Superior Court will test a local governments authority to disobey state laws it considers a violation of the U.S. Constitution. Charter cities like Los Alamitos are allowed to regulate municipal affairs, like local elections and classifications of city employees, but must follow California law on issues of statewide concern, as the courts define them. The state laws restricting cooperation with the U.S. on immigration are being tested in a federal court in Sacramento, where Attorney General Jeff Sessions filed a lawsuit last month claiming three new statutes interfered illegally with federal immigration authority. Supervisors in San Diego and Orange counties and at least nine cities in Orange County are filing arguments in support of the lawsuit. One of the state laws bars employers from allowing immigration agents into private workplaces without a judicial warrant. Another law authorizes the state attorney general to inspect detention centers that have contracted with the government to hold immigrants awaiting deportation hearings. The third and broadest law, SB54, restricts local authority to notify federal agents of an immigrants impending release from local custody and forbids police participation in immigration enforcement. Council members in Los Alamitos voted 4-1 Monday to declare that the city of 11,000 has no duty to comply with SB54 because it violates federal law and the U.S. Constitution. City officials hung out a welcome sign for immigration officers, the suit said. It quoted Mayor Troy Edgar, who voted for the measure and then signed it into law, as telling fellow council members that he had met with the director of U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement in the area and told him, Come to Los Al, put your center here. The vote effectively authorized local police to arrest, detain and transfer immigrants to federal agents at their request, and also allowed public schools to assist in immigration enforcement, the suit said. Immigrant children in Los Alamitos are now at heightened risk of deportation, the suit said. With deportations increasing under the Trump administration, it said, schools around the state are reporting increased absenteeism and high levels of fear and trauma among students from immigrant and mixed-status families. If the state law is not enforced, the suit said, members of immigrant communities in Los Alamitos and its surrounding areas will be afraid to use essential services like hospitals and schools, and will be reluctant to report domestic abuse and other crimes to the police endangering the safety of all residents. City officials declined to comment. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko Lawyers for President Donald Trump's longtime attorney Michael Cohen have withdrawn defamation lawsuits against BuzzFeed and the political research firm Fusion GPS related to a dossier that included claims Cohen helped organize Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election. The lawsuits, withdrawn late Wednesday, would have required Cohen to submit to an evidence discovery process, forcing him to produce documentation and sworn testimony about his activities before the closely contested election. Among other things, the dossier alleged that Cohen had traveled to Prague and met with Russian operatives. Cohen has repeatedly denied the allegation, including in a text message Thursday morning. The assertion came from research conducted by former British spy Christopher Steele, who was working for Fusion GPS. Cohen filed a pair of lawsuits in January, one in federal court and one in state court in New York, claiming he could prove that the allegation was false and had harmed his reputation. BuzzFeed was the first to publish the dossier. In a statement, Cohen's lawyer said he continues to deny the allegations but had to concentrate on other legal matters after FBI raids last week on his office, home and hotel room. On Friday, the Justice Department said Cohen has been "under criminal investigation" over his business dealings. "The decision to voluntarily discontinue these cases was a difficult one," Cohen's attorney David Schwartz said. "We believe the defendants defamed my client, and vindicating Mr. Cohen's rights was - and still remains - important. But given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits." Earlier this month, FBI agents raided Cohen's Manhattan office, home and hotel room as part of the investigation, seizing records about Cohen's clients and personal finances. Among the records taken were those related to a 2016 payment Cohen made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump. In a statement, Fusion GPS said the firm was not surprised by Cohen's decision to withdraw what it called a "meritless complaint." Pursuing it, the firm said, would require Cohen to "face a discovery process that would have forced him to defend his reputation and address the allegations of the Steele dossier under penalty of perjury." BuzzFeed said in a statement that the withdrawal of the lawsuits suggests that "Donald Trump's personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time." BuzzFeed also defended its publication of the dossier, saying it was "an important part of the government's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. Its interest to the public is, and always have been, obvious." The dossier had been circulating for some time among news outlets before the 2016 election. But its full content - including salacious and unverified claims involving Trump's past activities in Moscow - were not made public until January 2017, when BuzzFeed published it. A year later, Cohen filed a federal lawsuit against Fusion GPS and a separate lawsuit in a New York State Court against BuzzFeed. In both cases, Cohen said that the report contained "false and defamatory" claims that caused "harm to his personal and professional reputation, current business interests and the impairment of business opportunities." Trump did not respond Thursday to shouted questions from reporters about Cohen after a stop at the military's Joint Interagency Task Force South in Key West, Fla., where he received a briefing on illegal trafficking. Tom Hamburger and Spencer S. Hsu contributed to this report. Hundreds of students at schools across San Antonio are expected to walk out of class Friday morning as part of a nationally organized protest of gun violence. The walkouts will add to demonstrations held by students across the country in the wake of the mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida., which sparked widespread student activism calling for greater safety and gun control measures. Only a couple of schools in the San Antonio area have seen such protests since the Feb. 14 massacre. Most Texas schools were on spring break on March 14, when students in other states commemorated its one-month anniversary. Friday will mark the first nationally coordinated effort that falls on a school day here. The April 20 National School Walkout date was selected to commemorate the anniversary of the 1999 mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado. While school districts in San Antonio have varied in their approaches to addressing student protests, all seem to have avoided a decision to respond with hard line disciplinary measures like suspension. Two weeks before the March walkouts, San Antonio Independent School District said students planning protests or other events related to school safety were working with principals to hold peaceful assemblies on campus grounds. Any student leaving campus would receive an unexcused absence. We respect and support the right of our students to advocate for causes that are important to them, said Leslie Price, SAISD spokeswoman, in a prepared statement. That policy will remain in place Friday, Price said. Some schools are planning moments of silence or indoor assemblies, while students at other schools will rally on campus lawns. Northside and North East ISDs, Bexar Countys two largest school districts, have said they will assign unexcused absences to students who walk out of class. Aubrey Chancellor, spokeswoman for NEISD, said the district is trying to keep consequences to a minimum for students who decide to participate in a demonstration during school hours. If they want to go, we are not stopping them, she said. We are just trying to make sure they stay safe, whichever choice they decide. Barry Perez, spokesman for Northside, said the district plans to discourage students from leaving class and to redirect them to other activities. Classrooms have had discussions regarding the walkout and other political issues that arose from the Florida shooting, including some students who wrote letters to elected representatives, he said. Were not going to obviously physically stop any child from participating in a walkout if they so choose to do that, Perez said. What we have done and tried to do proactively is to provide students an opportunity so they can participate in structured, safe discussions and other activities in the classroom, to help persuade them to do those structured things as opposed to a walkout. Perez added that the district will not tolerate students protesting loudly in hallways or disrupting classes in any way. In March, about a dozen students left class at Brandeis High School for more than an hour to protest gun violence and call for gun control reform. The students were not disciplined for the demonstration. Also last month, a crowd of about 100 students at Canyon High School in New Braunfels held their own rally outside the school to call for more stringent gun laws. Lauren Caruba is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | lcaruba@express-news.net | @LaurenCaruba James Coles defined his life through dedication to family and country. He enlisted in the Army at a young age, seeking the opportunities it promised. It was either work for the railroad or go into the military, his wife, Lela Ruth Coles, said about her husbands early life in Pennsylvania. Underage at 17, Coles needed a relatives signature to enlist. His dad couldnt write, Lela Coles said. He could only make a mark, an X, so his uncle took him. Coles rose up the ranks over the next 20 years. In his retirement, it was rare to see him without his veterans ball cap displaying what he had earned: a master paratrooper hat pin, the stripes of a sergeant first class and a miniature drill sergeant instructor pin. Two medals that he didnt display, Coles treasured quietly. The Purple Heart and the Bronze Star meant the most to him, his wife said. He was injured in Korea by shrapnel; he didnt talk a lot about what happened. More Information James Coles Born: Jan. 24, 1931, Suffolk, Va. Died: April 5, 2018, San Antonio Preceded by: Parents McKinley Coles and Cally Copeland Coles; sisters Vessie May Coles and Mary Jean Stewart Survived by: Wife Lela Ruth Coles; daughters Cathie Williams and Mildred Denise Thompson; sons Gregory Coles and daughter-in-law Le'Dale, and James Coles Jr.; two granddaughters; four great-grandchildren Services: Visitation 10:30 a.m. April 30, F.E. Lewis Memorial Chapel, 811 S. W.W. White Road. Funeral follows at 11:30 a.m., with 1:15 p.m. burial at Fort Sam Houston National Cemetery See More Collapse Toward the end of his life, Coles suffered from various ailments. He lasted a long time, his wife said. Coles died at home April 5. He was 87. Married and divorced previously, Coles met Lela Ruth McPherson in 1959 while stationed at Fort Bragg, North Carolina. We met on a Sunday at the V-Point Grill, a colored restaurant in downtown Fayetteville, his wife said. She was standing at the lunch counter talking to a waitress when Coles made his move and introduced himself. We were a good fit from the beginning, Lela Coles said. We really loved each other. Their 57-year marriage started in 1961. During those years, they raised a son and daughter together. Coles family wanted for nothing. I remember getting a new bicycle or skates every year. Mom would say, She already has one, but he would buy them anyway, daughter Cathie Williams recalled of her childhood. During those years, the family moved numerous times to places such as Fort Lewis in Washington state and Schofield Barracks in Oahu, Hawaii. When Coles retired in 1968, the family moved to San Antonio, where he worked various jobs until 1972, when he started driving for UPS. Reaching age 55, Coles retired for good, his wife said. The couple hitched up their Holiday Rambler travel trailer and spent time touring the U.S. We were shoulder to shoulder always, Lela Coles said. I couldnt top the love we had for each other. A man was arrested and a juvenile detained for allegedly distributing a sexually explicit video without consent, according to Laredo police. On Tuesday, Jesus Alberto de Leon Jr., 22, was arrested and a 16-year-old girl detained. They are accused of distributing a video showing de Leon and his ex-girlfriend having sex. Each was charged with publish, threat to publish intimate, visual material. READ MORE: Laredo teens arrested for allegedly sharing explicit video Police recently arrested three teens in connection with the case: Alyssa Nicole Ollervides, 17, Abdalys Medellin, 19, and Daniela Vasquez, 18. They face the same charge as De Leon and the juvenile. Ollervides was also charged with distributing or displaying harmful material to a minor because she sent the sex video to the 16-year-old, police said. De Leon, Medellin, Ollervides and Vasquez are out on bond from the Webb County Jail, according to custody records. The juvenile was turned over to authorities at the Webb County Youth Village. A woman reported on Feb. 27 that several acquaintances had a video showing her engaging in a sexual act with her ex-boyfriend, whom she identified as de Leon. An arrest affidavit states they distributed the video to several people without her consent. She also told police the video was sent to her parents through social media. READ ALSO: Laredo man allegedly recorded teen taking a shower She had consented to the video recording of her and her ex-boyfriend having sexual intercourse but never gave consent to the video being shared, according to the criminal complaint. Police said they learned that de Leon had sent the video to Ollervides. She then sent it to the juvenile, according to LPD. The juvenile then sent it to Vasquez, police said. In addition, Ollervides sent the video to her friend, Medellin, and instructed her to send it to the female complainant's mother via social media, the complaint states. SAN ANTONIO - A man is dead after police say he was shot by his own mother Wednesday night on the North Side. San Antonio Police Department Sgt. Barry Smith said the man, 31, was fatally shot at about 9:15 p.m. in the 7000 block of Valley Trails. Middle school students at Great Hearts Monte Vista in San Antonio were asked to weigh the "positive" and "negative" aspects of slavery for an assignment. Great Hearts Monte Vista, a local charter school, confirmed an 8th-grade American History class was assigned a worksheet titled "The Life of Slaves: A Balanced View." The assignment was posted on social media Wednesday by a parent who asked to remain anonymous at this time. The post was shared with other parents at the school and has garnered growing concern from members of the community, including U.S. Rep. Joaquin Castro, who asked the parent to send him a copy of the assignment. RELATED: The 25 San Antonio-area schools with the highest graduation rates Great Hearts Texas Superintendent Aaron Kindel addressed the issue in a statement on Thursday. He said the assignment was only used at the school's Monte Vista North campus and it "was very inappropriate and entirely inconsistent" with the school's "philosophy and culture." "To be clear, there is no debate about slavery. It is immoral and a crime against humanity," Kindel wrote in the statement. "It was a clear mistake and we sincerely apologize for the insensitive nature of this offense." Kindel said the teacher was placed on leave while "all the facts" surrounding the issue were assessed. The textbook for the course, "Prentice Hall Classics: A History of the United States," was removed from use and will be audited. "If we deem this textbook imprudent, we will permanently remove it and replace it with a history book that accurately reflects our values," Kindel's statement reads. In addition, headmasters and teachers will meet with student who were assigned the worksheet to explain the "mistake" and "engage them in lessons that are more thoughtful about this period." "We fully intend to make sure something like this does not happen again and will keep parents posted as we address this issue further," the statement said. Pearson, the company that published the textbook, responded to the issue. "The worksheet in question was not created by, endorsed, or encouraged in any way by Pearson," Director of Media Relations Scott Overland told mySA.com in an email. "We do not support this point of view and strongly condemn the implication that there was any positive aspect to slavery." Madalyn Mendoza is a digital reporter for mySA.com. Read more of her stories here.| mmendoza@mysa.com | Twitter: @MaddySkye A Bexar County Sheriff's Office deputy turned himself in Thursday after he was indicted on an assault charge, according to a news release from the agency. Jose Raul Paez was charged by a grand jury on one count of assault for an off-duty incident that occurred in February 2017, officials said. Five men are facing criminal charges after assaulting a pizza delivery driver and making off with the pie and a bag of money, according to San Marcos police. On April 7, the delivery driver went to an apartment complex in the 1600 block of Aquarena Springs Drive to deliver an order, according to the news release. The residents in the apartment on the order told the driver they didn't order pizza, so the driver called the number on the order. That person directed him to a different apartment, police said. RELATED: Suspected gang member with San Antonio ties added to Texas Most Wanted list As the employee was walking he was approached by two men who acted as if they were paying for the pizza, according to the release. As the delivery driver was taking the pizza out of his carrier, he was struck in the back of the head with a large metal water bottle, officials said. Both men took off with his pizza and his money, police said. Detectives learned that two suspects were helped out by three lookouts. Surveillance video showed the suspects fleeing to a nearby Motel 6. Officers identified one of the suspects as Da Lavon Lamar Scruggs, 21, who reportedly admitted to the robbery and arrested on April 13. Police later arrested Andrew Douglas Jones Jr., 21, Deshaun Adriel Moorer, 20, Daniel Cornelius Hagans, 20, and Sean Austin Garrett, 18. All five are charged with aggravated robbery. Click through the slideshow to see the mugshots. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA A suspected killer wanted in Corpus Christi who has been on the run for more than a month was captured in San Antonio, according to the Corpus Christi Caller-Times. Ismael Castillo, 31, was arrested Wednesday according to the report. A fugitive from Austin with San Antonio ties and an extensive criminal history was recently added to the Texas 10 Most Wanted list. Paulo Sandalio Guillen, 31, is wanted for a parole violation and being a felon in possession of a firearm, according to the Texas Department of Public Safety. His criminal record includes convictions for aggravated assault, burglary of a habitation and prohibited weapons. Authorities say Guillen should be considered armed and dangerous. Though his last address is Austin, the suspected Tango Blast gang member also has ties in San Antonio and Houston. RELATED: SAPD: Man arrested for breaking into home of woman who accused him of sexual assault Any information leading to his arrest would earn the tipster up to $7,500. Another fugitive on the Top 10 list is a San Antonio man. Raul Ambrosio Jimenez Jr., a suspected Texas Syndicate gang member, is wanted for sexual assault of a child and human trafficking charges, according to the list. His criminal history dates back to 1987, with convictions for manufacture and delivery of a controlled susbtance, vehicle theft, resisting a police officer, burglary and prostitution. He is also thought to be armed and dangerous. Tips leading to his arrest could earn a $10,000 reward. Information can be submitted anonymously by calling 1-800-252-8477 or texting the letters "DPS" followed by the tip to 274637. Click through the slideshow to see the Texas 10 Most Wanted list. Fares Sabawi covers crime in San Antonio and Bexar County for mySA.com. Read more of his stories here. | fsabawi@mysa.com | Twitter: @FaresInSA Call it the battle of the unofficial Alamo app. The keepers of the historic shrine have taken up legal arms against the makers of Experience Real History: Alamo Edition, a new augmented reality app that transports users to the Alamo compound as it appeared in 1836. Alamo CEO Douglass McDonald said that not only is the app not endorsed by the Alamo or the Texas General Land Office, which oversees the San Antonio landmark, it also is an unauthorized commercial product that conducts commercial activities while on the Alamo grounds. We are going to pursue all available options to stop them said McDonald, who noted that the General Land Office has referred the matter to its intellectual property counsel, Austin-based law firm Pirkey Barber. RELATED: Alamo Plaza street closures to be debated this spring But Alamo Reality, the San Antonio company behind the app, defends its creation. CEO Lane Traylor said the company doesnt need a license to share the history of the Alamo because its the peoples story and that the apps content can be viewed in classrooms, living rooms and just about anywhere else as well as at the Alamo. Alamo Reality launched the app Tuesday on Alamo Plaza after almost a year in development. The app is billed as a historically accurate story of the siege of the Alamo in 1836, and it features photoreal 3D technology and audio stories, along with biographies of William Travis, Santa Anna and other historic Alamo figures. The app is free to download but has premium content that can be accessed for $4.99. The app is available for iOS, with an Android version slated for mid- to late-May. Traylor noted that the apps augmented reality scenes can be accessed on or off the Alamo property. Only four of the apps 14 scenes are free. Seeing the rest requires the $4.99 upgrade. McDonald noted that Alamo Reality does not have a licensing agreement with the Alamo for the app and did not offer the apps historical content to the Alamo to review for accuracy. The people who know the Alamo the best are the Ph.D. historians who work there every day, McDonald said. Were not saying the history (in the app) is wrong. We asked to review it, and they declined. And theyre giving historical context on the Alamo property that we cant verify. Traylor said Alamo Reality tried to reach a licensing agreement with the Alamo and is not violating any trademarks. From the very beginning of this venture, we wanted the Alamo to be involved, and had been pursuing that, Traylor said. Up until very recently, about maybe two months ago, we had a nice meeting with both the General Land Office general counsel and Doug McDonald. And the outcome of that meeting was we provided them with a very generous offer to work with them. And it came down to they refused that offer. Traylor would not divulge the details of the offer but said it involved giving the Alamo revenue for every Alamo Edition app download. McDonald said that revenue would have been $1 per download for an estimated $5,000 to $6,000 a year. McDonald also said Alamo Reality wanted signs installed throughout the Alamo property to encourage people to download the app and wanted Alamo Reality merchandise sold in the Alamo store. I have done licensing agreements with prior museums Ive been a part of, McDonald said. This was a bad business deal and not in the best interests of the Alamo. McDonald stressed that the Alamo and General Land Office take seriously the protection of the registered trademark of the Alamo. In a 2015 case, a federal judge ruled that the state of Texas, which owns the Alamo, also owns the image of the shrine and has grounds to challenge business uses that are likely to cause confusion. A court order restricted two beer makers, including Alamo Beer of San Antonio, from using images that the General Land Office said infringed the trademark. Under a settlement, Alamo Beer paid an undisclosed fee to become the first commercial recipient of an official license to use the Alamo mark. Attorney Ted Lee, founding partner of the intellectual property firm Gunn, Lee & Cave in San Antonio, represented Alamo Beer. He said the General Land Office would be taking an overaggressive approach against Alamo Reality in guarding its rights to the Alamo and that similar monuments such as the Statue of Liberty are used all the time in advertising and marketing goods. Its questionable whether or not the General Land Office can assert rights as broad as theyre asserting against the app maker, Lee said. If I was betting on the winner, I would bet on the maker of the app if he can afford the lawsuit. As for the apps historical accuracy, Traylor said Alamo Reality used historians who have also worked with the Alamo. For the app, Alamo Reality tapped noted Texas historian Stephen L. Hardin and historical illustrator Gary Zaboly, along with Alamo historian Richard Curilla. Alamo Reality also worked with James Boddie, who previously worked with the Alamo to design an interactive digital battlefield feature on its main website, thealamo.org, which gives online visitors a side-by-side look at the Alamo as it appeared in 1836 and how it looks today. And Zaboly presented his Alamo illustrations at the shrine under its auspices as recently as last month. The Alamo currently does not have an official app, but McDonald said a future app is part of the interpretative planning process. In addition to its online digital battlefield feature, the Alamo offers audio tour wands that can be rented for 45 minutes of Alamo history with sound effects, music and interviews, available in English, Spanish, French, German and Japanese for $7 per person and $5 for military. Wands vs. apps: Its an Alamo battle for the 21st century. Rene A. Guzman is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | rguzman@express-news.net | @reneguz House Speaker Joe Straus on Thursday endorsed Steve Allison in the runoff for the Republican nomination in his north Bexar County district. Straus, who announced in October he was not seeking re-election, called Allison the one candidate in this race who has proved himself ready to serve in the Texas House. Allison faces Matt Beebe, Straus two-time primary opponent, in a May 22 runoff. Steve is a man of strong character and sound judgment, and I have no doubt that he will be an effective voice for our community, Straus said in a statement. Allison, a business attorney who recently served on the VIA board, has also served as president of the Alamo Heights School Board. He said he was proud to draw Straus support. This area has supported Joe strongly, and he has supported us strongly. Joe did an excellent job and his work has benefited our area greatly, Allison said in a statement. Beebe finished first in the six-way March 6 primary, drawing 29.6 percent to Allisons 26.3. Beebe drew 37.1 and 38.8 percent of the vote against Straus during unsuccessful primary challenges in 2012 and 2014, respectively. Beebe said he had not been counting on Straus support and, mentioning his March 6 first-place finish, predicted a win in May. Whether its his views on the 2nd Amendment, his unwillingness to enable parents to have meaningful options for their childrens education, or his refusal to pledge support for the Republican caucus choice for House speaker, voters are increasingly realizing Steve Allison is out of touch with their values, Beebe said in a statement. Unlike Allison, Beebe supports the so-called bathroom bill, which Straus opposed in the last legislative session. Attorney Marc Whyte, who finished fifth with 12.3 percent, also has endorsed Allison. Whyte and Allison generally received their strongest support in the same areas of the district, particularly around Alamo Heights, Terrell Hills and Olmos Park. The district covers those three cities on the southern end and stretches north almost to the JW Marriott San Antonio Hill Country Resort & Spa. Straus has represented District 121 since 2005 and was elected speaker of the Texas House in 2009. Allison or Beebe will face Democratic nominee Celina D. Montoya in November. Jasper Scherer is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of his stories here. | jscherer@express-news.net | @jaspscherer STAMFORD The owner of a Southington fire suppression company, who paid bribes to an employee of Stamfords largest developer in exchange for contracts, pleaded guilty in federal court to a single count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Michael Uszakiewicz, 52, of Prospect, the owner of K&M Fire Protection, waived his right to be indicted and made his guilty plea in New Haven federal court on Wednesday. Uszakiewicz and other contractors paid former Building and Land Technology employee Javed Choudhry up to $500,000 in bribes in return for millions in kickback contracts for ongoing construction projects in Stamford between 2011 and 2014, according to a press release from John Durham, United States Attorney for the District of Connecticut. BLT released a statement saying, Since we were first made aware of this matter last year, BLT has fully cooperated with the authorities on the investigation and will continue to do so as needed regarding this prior employee's criminal actions. As always, we at BLT hold ourselves to the highest professional standards and support pursuing any unethical acts to the fullest extent possible, As part of the guilty plea, Uszakiewicz agreed to forfeit $1.1 million, which was seized from his bank accounts. Uszakiewicz was released Wednesday after posting a $100,000 court appearance bond. The wire fraud charged carries a maximum 20-year sentence and Uszakiewicz is scheduled for sentencing in Hartford federal court on July 9. On May 16, 2017, Choudhry, of Glastonbury, pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud and one count of filing a false tax return. On January 22, 2018, Kevin Dunn, the president of Delmar Electrical Contractors in Watertown, admitted that he also paid bribes to Choudhry and pleaded guilty to one count of conspiracy to commit wire fraud. Both await sentencing. jnickerson @stamfordadvocate.com 1 Royal wedding security: British officials say armed and undercover police officers will patrol train stations with routes leading to Windsor when Prince Harry marries Meghan Markle on May 19. British Transport Police said Thursday there will be a visible deployment of officers along with canine units and specialists trained to detect dangerous behavior. There will also be specialist teams ready to deal quickly with reports of unattended items being found in stations or on the railways. Officials expect more than 100,000 people to travel to Windsor to try to see the royal couple. Extra trains will be added. 2 Indonesia quake: A shallow earthquake in central Indonesia killed three people and damaged more than 300 homes, disaster officials said Thursday as they declared a two-week emergency for the affected areas. Indonesias Meteorology and Geophysics Agency said the magnitude-4.4 quake that occurred Wednesday at a depth of 2.4 miles was centered about 32 miles north of Kebumen, a densely populated district of Central Java province. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes and volcanic eruptions due to its location along the Pacific Ring of Fire. - Bukola Saraki has condemned the attack on the Senate by hoodlums - The Senate president said those responsible will be dealt with - He commended his colleagues for standing their ground Senate president, Bukola Saraki has reacted to the attack on the Senate by suspected hoodlums describing it as an attack on the countrys democracy. Saraki spoke from Washington where he is attending the Spring Meeting of the World Bank/International Monetary Fund on Wednesday, April 18. READ ALSO: Hoodlums disrupt Nigerian Senate, escape with mace He commended the deputy Senate president, Ike Ekweremadu and other members of the Red Chamber for their swift reaction in defence of democracy and the rule of law with their decision to defy those who machinated the attack on the Red Chambers. He said those responsible will be brought to justice and vowed that they will continue to defend their constitutional mandate. The Senate president also commended the leadership and members of the House of Representatives in demonstrating their solidarity with the red chamber and thereby sending a strong signal that enemies of democracy and those who want to undermine the legislature will be resisted by all parliamentarians. Saraki said: "I have just been informed that some hoodlums invaded the Senate chambers, forcefully taken away the mace and assaulted some of our Sergeant-at-arms on chamber duties. I am delighted that the Senate stood up to them by disregarding their unreasonable and shameful action and went on with the day's proceedings as slated in the Order Paper. "My commendation goes to my deputy, Senator Ike Ekweremadu, other members of the leadership, my colleagues, the leadership and members of the House of Representatives for standing in defence of democracy, parliamentary sanctity and constitutionalism. "With the way the Senate has defied those seeking to undermine it, we have sent out a strong signal that we are always ready to defend our constitutional mandate and nothing will deter us from this. "I associate myself with the comments of the Deputy Senate President that we are ready to get to the roots of this assault on democracy and ensure that those who are responsible, no matter how remote, will be brought to justice." Legit.ng had reported that protesters stormed the Senate chamber on Wednesday, April 18, and stole the mace. The protesters are supporters of a suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app They left the National Assembly with the mace in a black SUV. The mace is the symbol of authority of the parliament. A security personnel at the entrance of the National Assembly, said he was told by the protesters they were officers with the senator. EXCLUSIVE: Be patient with President Buhari, Femi Adesina tells Nigerians - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - The call by some lawmakers for the sack of Nigeria's service chiefs has been criticised by some civil society organisations - The organisations claim politicians are benefiting form the security crisis ravaging the country - According to them, there is a clear case of conspiracy against the Nigerian state by persons who are the greatest beneficiary of the system Some civil society organisations have condemned the recent call by lawmakers of the Nigerian Senate to sack all the service chief in Nigeria. The organisations - 22 of them under the aegis of Coalition for Good Governance and Change Initiative (CGGCI) - accused some politicians in the country of benefiting from the insecurity in Nigeria. Speaking at a press conference in Abuja on Wednesday, April 18, the convener of CGGCI, Emmanuel Ogenyi, said these politicians worsen the insecurity in Nigeria by giving cover to some criminals. Ogenyi said there is a clear case of conspiracy against the Nigerian state by some beneficiary of the ongoing crimes across the country. READ ALSO: Mace theft: Names of arrested 5 suspects emerge He said: "This is a clear case of conspiracy against the Nigerian state by persons who are the greatest beneficiary of the system." "The military had concluded on decisively dealing with these security threats before the elections so that no one would use them as excuse to postpone or scuttle the polls as was the case in the past. "This is commendable and proof that the military is desirous of defending and protecting our democracy at any cost." He added that the group has gathered the military's position in defending the country's security has greatly unsettled the beneficiaries of the security breaches and threats in Nigeria. READ ALSO: Breaking: APC finally releases timetable for National Convention, Congresses (see dates) "It is an attempt at appearing to be patriotic that culminated in the motion by Senator Suleiman Asonya Adokwe supported by Senator Solomon Olamilekan, Senator Philip Gyunka, Senator Dino Melaye and Senator Emmanuel Bwacha. "These elements called for change of security chiefs under the pretext that they are concerned about the safety of Nigerians. The CSOs said there is a clear case of conspiracy against the Nigerian state by some persons. Photo credit: Chris Oko "To the best of our knowledge, this call for change of security chiefs is nothing but another political game for the 2019 General Elections, in which the only winners are the politicians. "They therefore have the incentive to divert attention from practical solutions to the security situation in the country. "This is why they conveniently omitted to acknowledge that the militias and terrorists that are driving these crises were armed, coordinated and financed by members of the political class and how these killings are masterminded by those who have refused to empower the youths in line with electoral promises," Ogenyi added. READ ALSO: Mrs Saraki calls for improved education and opportunities for girls, young women He said the National Assembly as an institution should wake up to the reality and enormity of the duty they owe Nigeria. He noted that rather than asking for a change in military leadership the National Assembly must first provide the necessary political support for addressing Nigeria's security challenges. "Had the legislature demonstrated an equal zeal as opposed to actively supporting terrorists, these crises would have been history by now. "We challenge the federal lawmakers to deliver resolutions that will tackle foreign nations that are sponsoring terrorism in Nigeria, like Iran. This must be in addition to calling out countries that midwifed the instability that has poured fighters and weapons into Nigeria from Libya and other North African states. "National Assembly members have the burden of calling themselves and other politicians to order and arrive at an accord not to introduce more firearms into the country as Nigerians go to poll. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! "They will also have to introduce mechanism for mopping up the weapons they had given out in the past while discretely tipping security agencies to the criminal killer squads they set up as private militias," he concluded. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported how some senators had called on the presidency to sack all the service chiefs in Nigeria. Senator Solomon Olamilekan Adeola, the senator representing Lagos west said President Muhammadu Buhari needs new ideas from fresh minds to end frequent killings in the Nigeria. He said this in response to an instance cited by Senator Suleiman Asonya Adokwe, representing Nasarawa south constituency, Do churches need armed security guards? On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - The crisis of confidence between the Nigerian Army and government officials in Taraba state have continued unabated - One man who has been very vocal about the military's activities is the chairman of Takum local government, Shiba Tikari - He has been invited him for an interview by the Director Military Intillegence The Director Military Intelligence has invited the chairman Takum local government area, Taraba state, Shiba Tikari for an interview. According to a statement sent to Legit.ng by the director army public relations, Brigadier-General Texas Chukwu, the interview is slated for Friday, April 20. The interview is in connection with the security concerns where 3 suspects were arrested in Takum. The suspects are currently being investigated by the DMI, the statement said. READ ALSO: Breaking: Protesters storm Nigerian Senate, steal mace Tikari recently faulted a statement by the army that two suspects, Danjuma America and Danasabe Gasama who were arrested in Takum were perpetrators of crises in the Takum and Ussa council areas of the state. He accused the military of harassing people in troubled areas, said instead of going after their attackers, troops had been withdrawn from various checkpoints in the local government. We have told them the routes the attackers are using to attack us, but rather than go to these areas and arrest the armed Fulani militia attacking us, they have been busy harassing our people. As we speak, the Commanding Officer of the 93 Battalion Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari, has withdrawn all soldiers at various checkpoints in Takum LGA, he told journalists. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, in line with the on going military exercise Ayem Akpatuma in Taraba state, five suspects were recently declared wanted by the army. The suspects were declared wanted for their alleged roles in the killings in Takum local government area in particular and Taraba state in general. TY Danjuma, Nigerian army and the herdsmen crisis | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit.ng - An alarm was raised in Osun state on Wednesday, April 18, that hoodlums tried to force their way into one of the banks in the state - This caused confusion in Ilesa, Ijebu Jesa and adjoining towns as banks in these towns hurriedly closed for business - A bank customer said that some hoodlums were prevented from entering the affected bank by security agents There was confusion in Ilesa, Ijebu Jesa and adjoining towns in Osun state on Wednesday, April 18, as banks in these towns received information that hoodlums were trying to force their way into one of the commercial banks in the state, forcing them to hurriedly close for business. Many bank customers who were trying to use the Automated Teller Machine fled upon receiving the report, while banks shut their gates and prevented people from going in, Punch reports. Legit.ng notes that a worker at one of the banks stated that the hoodlums were prevented from entering the affected bank by security agents. READ ALSO: Alleged N18.08bn fraud: EFCC to investigate Kwankwaso, Wamakko The bank worker, who craved anonymity, said: We saw some people running and panicking this morning. We were told that some hoodlums were making an attempt to rob a bank. That caused serious panic and we hurriedly closed and asked our customers to also run. I heard two gunshots. But I later learnt that the shots were fired by policemen who were responding to the crisis. The area was tense because of the recent attack on some banks in Offa. Nobody wants to die; that was why we left work earlier today. I am speaking to you now from my house. The commissioner of police in Osun state, Fimiha Adeoye, however, said that the alarm was a false alarm. He said: There was no robbery attack anywhere in Osun state. Somebody just raised a false alarm to cause panic; there is no problem anywhere at all. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the Nigerian police on Friday, Apri 13, revealed the identities of 12 suspects who were arrested for alleged connection to brutal robbery in Offa, Kwara state. The bandits had stormed the community on April 5, killing 17 people and raiding five banks in the process. Eight police officers at Owode Division, Offa, were also killed in the attack, and the robbers made away with police arms and ammunition. The police arrested seven suspects within the first two days of the attack, and made more arrests on later dates. Offa bank robbery: Why some residents were shot by armed robbers - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit What fight against insecurity is govt winning? Afenifere, PANDEF knock Buhari over Independence Day speech There was anger across the country on Friday, October 1, as groups and individuals reacted to the Independence Day broadcast of President Muhammadu Buhari. - Governor Obaseki of Edo state has urged the federal and state governments to endeavour to provide quality healthcare services for Nigerians - Obaseki remarked that the trend of Nigerians travelling abroad for medical care is no longer fashionable - He said that his administration has started the construction of 20 technology-driven Primary Healthcare Centres, (PHCs) throughout the state and will conclude the project before the end of April, 2018 The Edo state governor, Godwin Obaseki has said that it is no longer fashionable for Nigerians to continue to travel abroad for medical care. The governor stated that at all levels the government should provide access to quality and affordable healthcare services for citizens of the country. Governor Obaseki revealed that in keeping with healthcare plans previously made, his administration has started the construction of 20 technology-driven Primary Healthcare Centres, (PHCs) throughout the state before the end of April, 2018, the Vanguard reports. READ ALSO: 2019: PDP considering changing name, holds emergency meeting Speaking when he received board members of Lily Hospital, Warri and Benin centres, led by the acting chairman, Ovadje Oviemo, on a courtesy visit to the governor at Government House, Benin City, Obaseki remarked: It is no longer fashionable for Nigerians to continue to travel abroad for medical treatment. "Therefore, it is important for government to provide access to quality and affordable healthcare services for the people in the country. As a government, our strategy is to use the state Health Insurance Scheme to provide access to quality and affordable healthcare for Edo people. "We are working with healthcare providers and consultants to re-think the state healthcare system to complement other economic development initiatives. PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News Anywhere 24/7. Spend less on the Internet! This month, the state government will roll out the first 20 primary healthcare centres. The plan is to ensure equitable distribution of healthcare centres across the state in the next 20 to 30 months. With this, we will be certain that at least one primary healthcare centre is sited in each ward across the state. We intend to construct between 200 to 250 PHCs in the state. Meanwhile, Legit.ng reported that Obaseki had sacked the commissioner for environment and sustainability, Reginald Okun and retired the general manager, of the state waste management board, Aiyamenkue Akonofua. Legit.ng gathered that their sack was announced in a statement signed by secretary to the state government, Osarodion Ogie, and made available to newsmen in Benin on Wednesday, April 4. N1,500 for health of Nigerians - On Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Nigeria - ECOWAS has scheduled a meeting to address the herdsmen and farmers clashes on April 26 - The conference would focus particularly on the protocol on the movement of trans-humans which was signed in 1978 but is yet to be implemented - It would also attract participants from the Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Morocco and Mauritania The 15-member countries of the ECOWAS would converge in Abuja on April 26 to begin deliberation on the violent clashes between farmers and herders across the sub-region, NAN reports. The meeting which would be opened by President Muhammadu Buhari was designed to finding permanent solutions to the persistent farmers-herders clashes in Nigeria and beyond. READ ALSO: Mace theft: Ex senator points out difference between Okadigbo, Omo-Agege incidents The minister of interior, retired Gen Abdulrahman Dambazau, said after the Federal Executive Council (FEC) meeting in Abuja that the conference was initially planned for last February. This is why, for instance, we initiated the conference that is to come up between April 26 and 29 under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services. The conference would focus particularly on the protocol on the movement of trans-humans which was signed in 1978 but yet to be implemented. I had meetings with the president, ECOWAS Commission, the one that left, and we agreed to have this conference sometime last month. But because they were leaving and a new set of management was coming in, it was shifted to toward the end of this month. So, the whole idea is to look at this issue of movements across borders. So, this month, on April 26, God willing, we are going to have this conference and Mr President has graciously agreed to open the conference, he said He said the conference, which would also attract participants from the Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Morocco and Mauritania would explore the relationship between the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and trans-border criminal activities. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the federal government stated that as a solution to the incessant clashes between herdsmen and farmers across several states, which has led to the death of numerous individuals, it would focus on establishing cattle ranches. The disclosure was made by the minister of interior, Lt Gen Abdulrahman Danbazau (Retd), at the stakeholders dialogue on the eradication of herders-farmers conflict in Nigeria which took place in Abuja on Wednesday, April 18. The minister also stated that another measure put in place by the government to tackle the issue is the establishment of Agro Rangers. Nigerian herdsmen vs Nigerian farmers - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit - A retired Chief Superintendent of Police, David Agholor has reportedly shot himself dead - The incident happened at his residence on Sharaton Estate, Olaogun, in the Ijoko area of Ogun state - The police public relations officer in Ogun state Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the incident A chief superintendent of police David Agholor has reportedly shot himself dead at his residence on Sharaton Estate, Olaogun, in the Ijoko area of Ogun state. Punch reports that Agholor, who was the officer-in-charge of the Special Anti-Robbery Squad, Enugu state police command shot himself in the head. He was said to have gone to the back of one of the buildings and shot himself in the head. The ex-cop died on the spot. Sources close to the deceased family said the reason for his action has been discovered. READ ALSO: Nigerian police recovers mace after hoodlums abandon it under flyover It was learnt Agholor had called his eldest daughter last Thursday, April 12, and handed over the keys to his two houses to her. One of the sources also said that the deceaseds family members had noticed that he was behaving strangely a day to the incident. The source said Agholor insisted that nothing was wrong with him when he was questioned. He added that there was shock in the neighbourhood the following day when news broke that he had killed himself. The source said: ''He started behaving unusually on Wednesday evening. When they asked him what was wrong with him, he said he was okay. When he woke up on Thursday, he went to his wifes bedroom to greet her. ''Afterwards, he had a bath and dressed up. He looked corporate. They asked him where he was going to, but he did not talk. He called his first daughter and handed over the keys to his houses to her. He has two houses on a plot of land. He and his family members lived in one of the houses. ''The other is an uncompleted building, but it has been roofed. He went to the back of the uncompleted building and the next thing the family heard was a gunshot. He shot himself in the head.'' Another source said Agholor had received some strange telephone calls two days before the incident, adding that the killing had thrown the family into grief. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app He said: ''He was a retired police officer and a former OC SARS, Enugu state police command. I learnt that he had received some strange calls before that Wednesday when his behaviour changed. It was very pathetic. ''He was living fine with his family and did not show any sign of depression all these while. Why he killed himself is still a mystery to everyone. His family members are mourning. It is a sad incident they will not want to share with outsiders. It was reported at the Agbado police station.'' The police public relations officer in Ogun state Abimbola Oyeyemi, confirmed the killing himself. He said the corpse of the retired officer had been deposited in a morgue, adding that investigations had commenced to determine the circumstances that led to the incident. He said:''His daughter reported at the station that he shot himself in the head while he was in the living room. ''The scene of the incident was visited and photographed by policemen. It is a case of killing and the command is investigating to know what made him to take that decision. He was a former OC SARS in Enugu.'' Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that a video showing a violent scene between officers of the SARS and some Nigerian men on social media. According to the Facebook user, Winney Eric, the one of the officers shot a man on his leg after an argument broke out between the officers and the men. In the video, it could be seen that the men and the officers were in a heated argument before the violence started. Are Nigerian Policemen the worst in the world? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Nigeria - Nigerian entrepreneur who founded N1 billion technology company sits with Forbes - The man who was interviewed by Forbes shared stories about his education and why he decided to build his company - It was gathered that the company was established in 2010 - His technology is used by over 50 government secondary schools with more than 65,000 active student users A Nigerian genius identified as Temitope Ogunsemo who founded a N1 billion technology company known as Krystal Digital has been interviewed by Forbes. Ogunsemo talked about his projects and how he keeps Kyrstal Digital going. The 33-year-old tech mogul's company is an educational technology company that specializes in the creation and the development of customised service oriented software applications for educational institutions in Nigeria. Krystal Digital has a flagship service known as MySkool Portal. The flagship service is a web-based application designed for proper storage and documentation of school data. Forbes interviews 33-year-old Nigerian entrepreneur who founded N1 billion company Photo source: BizAfricaDaily READ ALSO: Meet the 23-yr-old model who prefers to spend on the needy than herself During the interview, Ogunsemo stated that the company is focused on strenthening the appilication of information and communication technology in the education sector. The young man also described how Krystal Digital continues to make profit. Ogunsemo who recently invested $1 million building technology across schools in Nigeria talked about his partnership with Microsoft. He plans to partner with Microsoft to teach Nigerian students Microsoft professional courses. The tech mogul who is an alumnus of Kings College attended a prestigious University of Ibadan. Krystal Digital which was founded in 2010, is being used by over 50 government secondary schools with more than 65,000 active student users Read interview below: Whats your educational and professional background? "I am an alumnus of Kings College, Lagos. I attended the prestigious University of Ibadan and also went ahead to obtain a Master of Science degree in Information Management Systems from the University of Salford, UK. In 2010, I answered my lifelong call of entrepreneurship when I and a group of consultants founded Krystal Digital. Today, Krystal Digital is one of the leading IT Companies in Nigeria." What is Krystal Digital? What would be an elevator pitch for someone who does not know about your company and your services? "Krystal Digital is a fast growing ICT company which specializes in the development and deployment of customized and service oriented software applications as well as IT training. The Company is focused on strengthening the application of ICT in the Education sector, especially the Basic and Secondary Education Sub-sector." Krystal Digital is popular for its MySkool Portal, your flagship School Information Management System for secondary schools in Nigeria. What was the opportunity? "The idea that would spawn Krystal Digital was initiated when I attempted to secure my academic transcript. It was a difficult and frustrating experience. It was then I saw potential to develop a School Information Management System that would not only improve the storage/preservation and retrieval of academic records but would also position these schools to harness the benefits of digitization." How many schools in Nigeria today are utilizing your MySkool portal? Give us a profile of your clients? "Our products and services currently span across 48% of the Federal Government Colleges in Nigeria. The MySkool Portal Platform runs in fifty Federal Government Colleges across the federation. Most of the Directors at Krystal Digital are products of Unity colleges and we were availed high-quality education and orientation. This played an important role in grooming us into what we are today. Unfortunately, some of these virtues are fast disappearing and it became imperative for us to ensure that technology became an intrinsic part in the education management system in Federal Unity colleges. This is probably one of the reasons why our focus at the moment is on Federal Government Colleges." Walk us through Krystal Digitals business model. How do you make money to keep the lights on, and where do revenues stand today? "Our aspiration is to drive growth in the Education sector by building a leading sub-Saharan IT organization. In delivering quality services we have modeled the structure of our business to ensure it is aligned with the needs of our clients and how they would rather be served. Our business model has three inputs: Our people, Our operations and Innovation. Our intellectual capital is critical to provide innovative solutions. We rely on the ability of our people to innovate and collaborate with each other and our customers to develop value-adding solutions. We are also committed to conducting our business transparently and ethically by managing our business process towards ensuring a positive impact on the society. The organization no longer relies on the Myskool Portal solution as its main source of revenue as Krystal seeks to augment its financial structure by championing the Krystal/Microsoft Imagine Academy. Notwithstanding we have achieved strong revenue growth in what continues to be a complex business environment. We have annual revenues of more than one billion naira - roughly three million dollars." How has Krystal Digital managed to grow so rapidly? Were you bootstrapped or did you raise outside funding at any point in time? "Organic growth is the term for growing internally and Krystal Digital has embraced this strategy over its existence. Our unparalleled reach affords us low-cost competitive advantage to partner for growth with clients in our various locations. We grew our solutions organically from zero into one of the most profitable IT education solutions in Nigeria. Innovation is ingrained in our collective DNA we learned to innovate in order to survive. Surviving also bred an ability to focus, a focus which translates into capital efficiency because we are self- aware enough to stay within our bounds. Money isn't spent on hair- brain ideas, dumped down the drain or spent ad-hoc or random opportunities. We keep Innovating internally at a fraction of the cost, while cherry-picking strategic investments which tightly complement our core business." PAY ATTENTION: Get the Latest Nigerian News on Legit.ng News App You have recently invested up to $1 million building digital IT academies across various secondary schools across Nigeria, and youre working in partnership with Microsoft to teach Nigerian students Microsoft Professional Program courses. Tell me about this. The world is a Global village is a saying that could almost be taken literally today, but it is becoming a daily reality in Nigeria and across the Sub-Saharan region. With the increase in mobile devices and cheap high-speed internet which serve as platforms for many socio- economic technologies, the new educational technologies are yet to revolutionize most of our schools. This has led to a growing divide in access to the vast opportunities that abound in this sector. To achieve the transformation we desire in our education sector, it is our responsibility to ensure that we invest in technologies that are effective in improving learning outcomes. We believe that accelerating the adoption of technologies in the classrooms will empower teachers to improve education outcomes, help bridge the digital divide and, most importantly, provide students with the education they need to transition into jobs in the knowledge economy. We have deployed a tripartite strategy to successfully implement this program in various partner institutions; Training, Infrastructure deployment and Mentorship. Our partnership with Microsoft Imagine Academy would provide us with quality education training resources on Microsoft technologies to help Institutions, faculty and staff (Educators) and its enrolled students obtain the skills needed to reach their academic and career potential. It would also prepare students and educators to earn Microsoft certification credentials. We have already commenced our IT training programme in Twenty-four (24) Unity Schools. In these schools, we have provided the infrastructure that will allow for increased individualization of learning; students have access to technology tools that adjust to their attention span and provide immediate feedback for literacy enhancement, which is currently not fully implemented in the Nigerian School system. How do you see your solutions evolving in the next five to 10 years? "In the kinetic enterprise, the only thing constant is change. We are constantly rethinking how we envision and deliver our solutions. We are very much in touch with the pace of innovation globally and where we are not leading new ideas and disruptions, we would be certain to be in touch with the trail. Ultimately, it would be about reaching more Nigerian students and improving on the technology, platforms and our peoples capacity and expertise." How is Krystal Digital making a difference in education, and what do you believe is the state of education in Nigeria these days? "I answered this earlier when I mentioned our interventions across the country. We also have projects catering to the academic and technological needs of Nigerian students. As for the state of education in Nigeria, it is there for all to see but we are not in the business of talking about problems, we are in the business of providing solutions!" What are your views about the growth of Education Technology industry, and what is technologys role in education? "It's clear that technology will play a central role in nearly all aspects of our lives. Research by the World Economic Forum estimates that 65% of children entering primary school will find themselves in occupations that today do not exist. By 2020 it's estimated there will be 1.5 million new digitized jobs across the globe. At the same time, 90% of organizations currently have an IT skills shortage, while 75% of educators and students feel there is a gap in their ability to meet the skills needs of the IT workforce. To prepare the talent needed for the digital economy, education must adapt as fast as the demand for IT skills is growing and evolving." What unique challenges have an Edu-tech company like yours encountered in doing business in Nigeria? "We have been confronted with significant obstacles which have impeded our development. The ICT Infrastructure deficit is a major constraint. This reduces our productivity by 40%. Poor perception of ICT basically because of the lack of education generally in Nigeria about the potential of technology and also due to the lack of solid implementations of technology. The cost of running a technology company in Nigeria is too high which greatly reduces the probability of us releasing any technological hits. Embracing technology in Nigeria, would mean embracing transparency. There are a lot of people excited to flip the system on its head, hence if you show up with a software that promotes efficiency in certain institutions, you might be met with blank stares. Despite many obstacles to success, we would continue to strive to close the digital gap in education." Whats the next five years looking like for Krystal Digital? "The opportunities ahead for Krystal Digital is vast but to seize it we must focus clearly, move decisively and continue to transform. With no plans of slowing down, we will bolster the economy through job creation, existing and new investments in education technology. With our partnership with Microsoft, we will expand our Krystal/ Microsoft Imagine Academy initiatives that is designed to improve digital literacy among students. We believe deeply in the power of the Nigerian ingenuity and we will focus our investments in areas where we can have a direct impact on job creation and job preparedness. We have a deep sense of responsibility to give back to our country and the people who help make our success possible." Whats your personal leadership philosophy? I believe in leadership by example, by positive reinforcement and by action. The single most important asset of Krystal Digital is its people. As a leader it is my job to know the staff, support their professional development, take an interest in them as individuals and recognize their achievements. I also encourage creativity, freedom of action and innovation as long as these efforts are consistent with the mission, values and goals of the organization. There is never a moment in which I am not learning. I am comfortable with living in a state of continually becoming. I promote learning and make it integral to the organizations DNA. Lastly, the most important job of leadership is to develop leadership. I try to make every individual feel proud of what they do, understand how their job contributes to the overall development of the Organization and feel that in some way they too can provide leadership. How I make over 100k monthly - graduate shoemaker - on Legit.ng TV Source: Legit - Visiting Ghanaian lawmakers were left watching in amazement as hoodlums invaded the National Assembly and stole the Senates mace - Following the incident, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila tendered an apology to the visitors; explaining that it was not a normal occurrence at the legislature - Other lawmakers further condemned the invasion; even describing it as a terrorist attack Ghanaian lawmakers were on a visit to the National Assembly when the upper legislative chamber was invaded by hoodlums who stole the mace, Punch reports. The Ghanaians reportedly watched on in amazement and confusion as their Nigerian counterparts scampered to safety. READ ALSO: FG responds to alleged Shiite invasion of Abuja Legit.ng gathers that the visitors sat in the gallery and observed as the invasion was debated by lawmakers. Feeling embarrassed by the incident, Hon Femi Gbajabiamila went on to tender an apology to the Ghanaians, on behalf of the National Assembly. He stated: It is unfortunate that we have visitors from Ghana, who are on a parliamentary visit to Nigeria. We apologise because this is not usually how our legislature operates." Hon Gabriel Onyenwife, a member of the House from Anambra state, supported the motion, calling the invaders terrorists. He said: The National Assembly is under a terrorist attack; that is the appropriate description. If the legislature is no more, what is the fate of democracy? Today, it is the mace; it could have been a senator or a member that the terrorists came to attack. The security personnel in the National Assembly must explain the role they played in this saga. On his part, Prof Mojeed Alabi, an Osun lawmaker, described the invasion as a failed coup which should be treated with the appropriate penalty for coups. In his words: There is punishment for a coup, a failed coup. The punishment for this invasion should be the same punishment for coup plotters. The attack was further condemned by more members of the House. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, Legit.ng previously reported that the abduction of the mace at the Senate chamber on Wednesday, April 18, was described by some Civil Society Organisations (CSOs) as a humiliation of Nigerias democracy. The groups referred to the incident as a challenge to the authority of the National Assembly, in separate interviews with newsmen. The chairman of the Partners for Electoral Reform, Ezenwa Nwagwu, stated that the act must have been orchestrated by people who were not comfortable with the leadership of the legislative arm of government. He further said the episode shows a lack of cohesion in the National Assembly. What is the problem with Nigeria? - on Legit.ng Street Gist: Source: Legit - Following the invasion of the National Assembly and the stealing of the Senates mace, senators are holding a closed door session - The red chamber was cleared by the sergeant-at-arms, on the orders of the chief whip - The closed session comes after the mace was recovered by men of the FCT Police Command The Senate carried out a closed session on Thursday, April 19, following the invasion of the chambers and theft of the mace on Wednesday, April 18, Daily Trust reports. The lawmakers began the days proceedings with an executive session that began at 11:07am; and the chief whip, Olusola Adeyeye (APC-Osun) subsequently announced that they would proceed on the closed session. READ ALSO: Mace theft: Gbajabiamila tenders apology to visiting Ghanaian lawmakers Legit.ng gathers that Adeyeye requested that the red chamber be cleared by the sergeant-at-arms, so the session could proceed. The meeting comes as the stolen mace was recovered by the Nigerian Police Force, Federal Capital Territory (FCT) Command. It is still ongoing. PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app Recall that Legit.ng previously reported that the joint session of the National Assembly ordered the inspector general of police, Ibrahim Idris, to ensure the return of the Senate's mace within twenty-four hours. Hoodlums, on Wednesday, April 18, stormed the Senate chamber and stole the mace. The alleged thugs were supporters of a suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege. It was rumoured that Senator Ovie Omo-Agege representing Delta central had led the thugs to the Senate as a protest against his suspension. The thugs left the National Assembly with the mace in a black SUV. The mace is the symbol of authority in the parliament. Meanwhile, the mace has been recovered by the police in Abuja. The police commended the people of Abuja for their confidence in them in reporting when they spotted the mace under a flyover. Should the Nigerian senate be scrapped? - on Legit.ng Street Gist: Source: Legit.ng The Court of Appeal sitting in Ado Ekiti has allowed the appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission against the judgment of Justice Taiwo. O Taiwo of Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti division, News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Recalled that upon the judgment of the lower court, the governor withdrew the sum of N5m and transferred the sum of N75m to his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome SAN. READ ALSO: Nigerian police recovers mace after hoodlums abandon it under flyover The lead judge to the three-man appeal court panel, Honourable Justice J.SIkeyegha directed the freezing of the account of Fayose forthwith. Meanwhile, Legit.ng had reported that minister of solid mineral development Kayode Fayemi declared that Fayose and his jokes will soon end in jail. Fayemi responded to the issues raised against him by Fayose saying that the governor is cooking up a white paper that he can shop around with a view to getting him banned from public office. He said: ''I am always unequivocal in my view about him as a misfit and a rabble-rouser who has not learnt anything from his previous travails after being thrown out of office in 2006.'' ''So, how do I respond to something I regard as illegal and unconstitutional by a governor who I have the least regard for? What Ayo Fayose set up was a kangaroo panel with a clear mandate to work to a predetermined answer. ' 'Try and remember the genesis of the panel. His rubber stamp House of Assembly passed a resolution that he should probe Fayemi over alleged stealing of N852 million from SUBEB and for giving President Buhari N1.5 billion of Ekiti money.'' 2019 Presidency: Fayose versus Buhari, who will you vote for? - on Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Service Womens Action Network (SWAN) is the voice of women in the military and a member-driven community network advocating for the individual and collective needs of service women past, present and future. When it was founded SWAN was founded in 2007 Priority of SWAN SWAN is guided by the priorities of its members, who included thousands of women and men, service members and civilians alike. It is also committed to seeing that all service women receive the opportunities, protections, benefits and respect they deserve. Its goal is to ensure all service women have access to the information, tools and support they need to reach their personal and professional goals during and following their years of service. READ ALSO: How to make money from blogging in Nigeria SWAN is committed to seeing that all service women receive the opportunities, protections, benefits and respect they deserve. Credit: Service women.org SWAN mission The mission of SWAN is to support, connect and advocate for service women past, present and future. Legacy of SWAN SWAN has played a major role in shaping the outcome of many important issues effecting women in the service including opening all military jobs to service women, holding offenders accountable in the military justice system, eliminating barriers to disability claims for those who have experienced military trauma, and expanding access to services for a broad range of reproductive healthcare services. What they do SWANs which is committed to advancing the interests of service women past, present and future is focused on three key areas which are unify, support and impact. Individually these areas represent specific efforts and activities that deliver real and immediate value to our members; collectively they are a demonstration of our full mission in action. SWAN is a unique community which enables service women to connect and unite with their peers and create opportunities to improve their lives together. The community offers valuable programs that enable their members to get involved and work side-by-side to positively influence the issues that are important to them. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 new app The community also provides the forum exclusively for service women, connecting them in ways never before possible and creating meaningful and powerful relationships that improves their lives. Emmanuella and Mark Angel: Uncle, Imagine That All Men Have Disappeared - On Legit.ng TV: Source: Legit Benue state has been a centre of crises and killings since the beginning of the year. From one local government to the other, the state has witnessed several killings and destruction of properties resulting from clashes between suspected herdsmen and local farmers. Many people have attributed the violent farmers-herders clashes in the state to the anti-open grazing law enacted by the state governor. However, Governor Ortom insisted the ranching law is not responsible for the spate of violence and killings. He said even before he made the law, there had been several attacks which had claimed lives. READ ALSO: Red Alert: Benue government raises alarm over planned attack on state by armed men According to the governor, the crisis claimed nearly 2,000 lives before the making of the law last year, adding that the attacks have continued across the country where there is no grazing law in place. He reiterated Benue state government will not be distracted by the views of those who are against the implementation of the law. But, what is it about the anti-open grazing law that is generating such controversy, Legit.ng highlights major facts about the law. Introduction 1. The law is officially known and cited as Open Grazing Prohibition and Ranches Establishment Law 2. The law came into force on November, 1, 2017 Objectives 1. Prevent the destruction of crop farms, community ponds, settlements and property by open rearing and grazing of livestock; 2. Prevent clashes between nomadic livestock herders and crop farmers 3. Prevent environment from degradation and pollution caused by open rearing and overgrazing of livestock; 4. Optimize the use of land resources in the face of the overstretched land and increasing population; 5. Prevent, control, and manage the spread of diseases as well as ease the implementation of policies that enhance the production of high quality and healthy livestock for local and international markets; 6. Create a conducive environment for large-scale crop production Administration of the law 1. The Livestock Department of the states Ministry of Agriculture and Natural Resources is vested with the power to administer, regulate, and control livestock in the state. 2. The department is charged with the responsibility of issuing permits to set up ranches to Benue citizens, residents, and other livestock farmers. Ranch establishment and administration guide 1. A prospective rancher is to get ranch permit from the government 2. He or she will secure the land to use for the ranching, through a lease, and afterward, sends a written application for ranching permit to the ministry 3. The ministry, after considering various factors such as environmental suitability, will either approve or reject the ranch permit request 4. Ranch owners are expected to pay an annual ranch renewal permit fee. 5. The ranch permit may be revoked without payment of compensation to the rancher if there is a breach of security, the interest of peace, breach of any term or condition of the leasehold or overriding public interest 6. Benue citizens are not permitted to sell leased lands to ranchers for the purpose of ranching, residence and other related purposes 7. Every ranch must have a fence Basic provisions of the law 1. If any livestock strays into any other persons land other than a ranch and causes destruction to agricultural crops and/or contaminates any source of water supply, the owner or manager of such livestock will be liable to pay damages or compensation to the owner or community 2. The law prohibits movement of livestock on foot from one destination to another in the state. Movement of livestock can only be done by wagon, truck, pick-up wagon 3. Anybody that violates the above shall pay N500,000 or one-year imprisonment or both as First Offender. Second Offender will pay N1million naira or three years imprisonment or both 4. Livestock owners or managers must not possess firearms licensed or unlicensed on the ranch or outside the ranch 5. All ranch operators must engage the services of security guards for the protection of their ranches Cattle Rustling 1. Any person that rustles cattle or other animals from ranch shall be liable on conviction for a term of not less than three years or N100,000 per animal or both 2. If a castle rustler causes injuries or maims anybody while carrying out the activity, he shall be liable on conviction for a term of five years or N500,000 per animal or both 3. If the rustler causes death, he shall be guilty of an offence of culpable h*omicide punishable under the provision of the penal code. 4. A person convicted of cattle rustling may also pay compensation to the victims as the court may direct PAY ATTENTION: Install our latest app for Android, read best news on Nigerias #1 news app 5. Any livestock found grazing, wandering, or herding in a place not designated as ranch shall be impounded by the ministry 6. Any impounded cattle not claimed within seven days will be sold on auction to the public and the proceeds deposited to the governments purse Enforcement The law establishes a Special Livestock Open Grazing Prohibition Task Force which shall enforce the provisions, regulations, and guidelines of the law. Herdsmen attacks: Benue's Attorney-General explains anti-grazing law | Legit.ng TV Source: Legit Our mini-fundraiser for Water Cooler is on! As of this hour, 116 donors our goal is 275 have already invested to support Water Cooler, which provides both economic and political coverage, to help us all keep our footing in todays torrent of propaganda and sheer bullsh*t. Independent funding is key to having an independent editorial point of view. Please join us and participate via Lamberts Water Cooler Tip Jar, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, or even the US mail. To give more, click on the arrow heads to the right of the amount. Thanks to all! Yves here. Readers should take note of the larger significance of this story. Even though the US has become a more and more destructive hegemon in the post 9/11 era (and we werent all that considerate before) and Trump is widely credited with reducing Americas standing even furtherChina is so heavy handed and belligerent that it is managing to make the US look like the less ugly ally. And remember, this is despite the US having deposed an Australian prime minister, Gough Whitlam. By David Llewellyn-Smith, founding publisher and former editor-in-chief of The Diplomat magazine, now the Asia Pacifics leading geo-politics website. Cross posted from MacroBusiness he natural tensions between the Australian democracy and Chinese autocracy are back today. Via The Australian: Chinas ambassador to Australia has warned that the relationship between the two countries has been marred by systematic, irresponsible and negative remarks about China, and trading ties could be damaged if the situation is not repaired. In a frank interview with The Australian at the Chinese embassy in Canberra, Cheng Jingye said Australia needed to do more to increase mutual trust in its ties with China. If there is a growing lack of mutual trust, in the long run it may have some undesirable impact (on trade relations with China), Mr Cheng said. While the ambassador did not single out any area of trade that could be affected, he said there were already concerns that some Chinese students in Australia had been subjected to irresponsible and malicious allegations and security and safety incidents. Mr Cheng rejected suggestions that China was interfering in the political processes in Australia and said last years campaign against former Labor senator Sam Dastayari over his dealings with Chinese businesspeople in Australia had been unfortunately manipulated as a pretext to smear Chinas image. Mr Cheng said Australians needed to decide whether they saw China as an opportunity or a threat. Some Australians, a minority, always see China through coloured lenses totally dark glasses, he said. If you have a deep-rooted prejudice against somebody or some thing, you may find everything in a twisted manner and you cannot come to a rational judgment. What should we do, Mr Ambassador. Round up the dissidents for re-education? We dont need to choose sides on China. We should simply see it for what it is: both an opportunity and a threat. As should everybody else. Via Reuters: Beijings international trade representatives have held multiple meetings with their counterparts in leading European economies as China seeks support in its trade brawl with the US, according to Reuters. US President Donald Trump is threatening $150 billion in tariffs on Chinese imports. Beijing officials met ambassadors from France, Germany, the United Kingdom, Spain and Italy last Thursday and Friday to propose a firewall against Trumps protectionism, the news agency reports, citing various sources. The message was that we have to stand together against US protectionism in favor of free trade, a European diplomat told Reuters. China is showing confidence, but internally they appear quite concerned. They have apparently underestimated Trumps resolve on trade, the diplomat said, adding that Beijing is nervous that many of Chinas trading partners could side with the US. Europe should back Trump. China is cheating and in doing so giving rise to such things aswellDonald Trump. Australias own path of Chinese hedging should entail a four point response. First, our economy must seek balance. To achieve that we will need a raft of new policies that aim to improve Australian competitiveness and get us out from under the commodity dependence. This is necessary anyway as China slows and changes and wants less dirt. We must reform energy, banking, and real estate to lower the currency, boost productivity and move from urbanisation growth drivers to tradables. Second, we must engage strategically and diplomatically across our entire region. ASEAN is a natural partner to hedge Chinese influence. The Quadrilateral is also useful in bringing together allies. The US alliance must be constantly tended and revitalised. The Pacific must be treated as the good friend and partner that it is with significant aid and bilateral economic exchange, not the usual afterthought. Third, Australian politics and society must be prepared and shielded to contain excessive Chinese Communist Party influence. This can easily be achieved via bans on foreign (or all) donations to political parties and the introduction of a federal ICAC. Society, too, is easy enough to protect if we have the will. There is no need, nor desire, for discrimination. We simply cut the permanent migration intake in half. It needs to be done anyway to take pressure off the east coast crush-loading. We should eschew both the cultural chauvinists of the Coalition and the Asianising influences within Labor. We are a multicultural democracy with liberal Anglophone roots. Lets accept and protect it. Its time to manage the China relationship on the front foot. Our mini-fundraiser for Water Cooler is on! As of this hour, 105 donors our goal is 275 have already invested to support Water Cooler, which provides both economic and political coverage, to help us all keep our footing in todays torrent of propaganda and sheer bullsh*t. Independent funding is key to having an independent editorial point of view. Please join us and participate via Lamberts Water Cooler Tip Jar, which shows how to give via check, credit card, debit card, PayPal, or even the US mail. To give more, click on the arrow heads to the right of the amount. Thanks to all! By Roy Poses, MD, Clinical Associate Professor of Medicine at Brown University, and the President of FIRM the Foundation for Integrity and Responsibility in Medicine. Originally published at Health Care Renewal We continue to see a remarkable stream of people transiting the revolving doorfrom high-level positions in health care corporations to high-level positions in health care policy or regulation for the Trump administration. Lately, though, these transitions have not been without missteps. The most recent cases we have found, in the order of their public appearance, appear below. John Bardis, Who Went from MedAssets to Assistant Secretary of Health and Human Services for Administration, Resigned Under Fire We first discussed the appointment of Mr Bardis in May, 2017, here. We noted then that most recently Mr Bardis was the CEO of a health care financial firm and thus was responsible for that companys financial fortunes. While he has previous experience running other health care related companies, he seemed to have no direct experience in health care or public health, per his official biography. On March 22, 2018, Politico reported John Bardis, a top HHS official who signed off on ex-Secretary Tom Prices charter jet flights, is resigning effective April 6, the agency confirmed Thursday. The health care entrepreneur and longtime friend of Prices from Georgia served as HHS assistant secretary of administration since March 2017 and was responsible for departmental operations. He also helped oversee the ReImagine HHS project, an initiative to overhaul the agency and cut costs. Bardis office has been the focus of a probe about whether Prices use of charter-jet flights for routine domestic travel which cost more than $400,000 complied with federal regulations. The HHS inspector generals office, which is conducting the probe, told POLITICO that the final report is expected later this spring. Note that the resignation under fire of Dr Tom Price, Trumps first Secretary of the Department of Health and Human Services (DHHS) after accusations of conflicts of interest and abuse of his office was a signal example of major issues affecting the leadership of health care and public health agencies in the Trump administration. We had written about some of Dr Prices less well publicized conflicts of interests and questionable conduct before we was appointed Secretary of DHHS, here, and here. Now a good buddy of Prices, who also had a severe conflict of interest, has come a cropper. Daniel Best from Corporate Vice President of Industry Relations at CVS Health, and from Pfizer Before Then, to Senior Adviser to the Secretary of DHHS for Drug Pricing Reform This transition was described in some detail in FierceHealthCare on March 29, 2018: Daniel M. Best, the former corporate vice president of industry relations for CVS Healths Medicare Part D business, will serve as senior adviser to the secretary for drug pricing reform. Given, The Trump administration has outlined a number of policy changes it believes can drive down drug prices, and the president predicted during his State of the Union address that drug costs will come down substantially. But skeptics argue that some of those changeslike making generic drugs free for Medicare patients, or moving expensive drug coverage out of Part D planswould merely shift the cost and raise premiums. Best, who will help oversee some of those efforts, worked at Pfizer for 12 years prior to his time at CVS. HHS highlighted his expertise in the pharmaceutical industry generally, and his familiarity with Medicare Part D specifically, as critical to the task of trying to reduce prescription drug costs. However, this appointment rapidly generated some public political push-back because of its revolving door nature. As reported by Vox on April 9, 2018, Rep. Keith Ellison (D-MN), one of the top progressives in the House and deputy chair of the Democratic National Committee, sent a letter Monday to HHS Secretary Alex Azar inquiring about the appointment of Daniel Best to oversee drug pricing reform. Best most recently worked at CVS CareMark before starting at HHS last week. He also worked at Pfizer for four years in the early 2000s. Given Mr. Bests career working for the pharmaceutical and pharmacy industry, the decision to hire him poses significant potential for conflicts of interest, placing him in a position to make decisions that may pit the income of his former employers against the interests of patientsin reducing prescription drug prices, Ellison said in the letter, shared exclusively with Vox. Ellison flaggedpast drug price hikes at Pfizerand a lawsuit filed against CVS CareMark by HIV patients over access to drugs. In general, pharmacy benefits managers are under the microscope of both parties these days for their role as mysterious administrators with great power over drug transactions. The Congress member includes a string of questions about who was involved in hiring Best, whether outside groups (particularly pharmaceutical lobbying groups) were consulted, and how Best will prevent any potential conflicts of interest from getting in the way of his job description. So this case of the revolving door has not gone without (negative) notice, although whether that will be sufficient to change anything remains to be seen. Note that public biographical information on Mr Best seems to be scanty, but there is nothing to indicate that he has training, experience, or expertise in biomedical science, health care, or public health. Adam Boehler from CEO of Landmark Health, Previously Founder of Avalon Healthcare Solutions and Trellis Rx, and Operating Partner of Private Equity Company Francisco Partners, to Director of Center for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) Innovation Center (CMMI) As reported, again by FierceHealthCare, this time on April 6, 2018, Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar has named a successful healthcare entrepreneur to lead the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services Innovation Center. Adam Boehler, the founder and former CEO of Landmark Health, will join the department next week as the deputy administrator and director of the center. Landmark is a medical group that uses a technology platform to deliver medical services to complex and chronically ill patients at home. The article also documented that: He is also the founder of Avalon Healthcare Solutions, a company which provides lab benefit management services, and Trellis Rx, a company that partners with health systems to fund, build and operate specialty pharmacies. Boehler was formerly an operating partner at Francisco Partners, a global private equity firm focused on healthcare technology and services investing. According to Bloomberg, Mr Boehler has extensive background in the financial sector: Mr. Adam Boehler serves as Executive Chairman at Avalon Health Management LLC and Avalon Health Services, LLC. Mr. Boehler served as Principal at Accretive, LLC. He served as Vice President of Business Development at MedeAnalytics, Inc. since July 2005. Mr. Boehler joined MedeAnalytics, Inc. in February 2005 and was responsible for all hospital sales, product marketing, and business development. He also drove several major product solutions from concept to customer sale and established MedeFinances international business in London. Prior to joining MedeAnalytics, Inc. (formerly MedeFinance), Mr. Boehler was an Associate at Battery Ventures. While at Battery, he focused on investments in software and emerging technologies. Previously, Mr. Boehler was an investment banker at Wasserstein Perella in their media, telecommunications, and technology group, where he worked on merger and acquisition transactions with leading companies such as News Corp., Imax, and SpectraSite Holdings. In addition, he spent time as a public finance consultant for the Financial and Fiscal Commission in South Africa, where Mr. Boehler focused on provincial revenue issues His educational background was: Mr. Boehler graduated magna cum laude from the Wharton School at the University of Pennsylvania. So he also seems to have no training, experience, or expertise in biomedical science, health care, or public health. Dr Kenneth William Staley from Consultant for McKinsey to Coordinator of US Government Activities to Combat Malaria The information made public about this appointment was extremely sparse, e.g., see this brief item from the Kaiser Family Foundation on April 10, 2018, in its entirety: President Donald J. Trump Announces Intent to Appoint Personnel to Key Administration Posts On Monday, President Trump announced his intent to appoint several individuals to key positions in the administration, including Kenneth William Staley,a consultant at McKinsey, to the position of Coordinator of U.S. Government Activities to Combat Malaria Globally (4/9). At least he actually is Dr Staley, according to the US Department of State website. Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for Counterproliferation in the Department of States Bureau of International Security and Nonproliferation. His portfolio includes preventing the smuggling of weapons of mass destruction (WMD), international threat reduction, nuclear nonproliferation policies, tracking, controlling, and securing dangerous chemical and biological material, multilateral arms control, nonproliferation, WMD terrorism, disarmament issues, and responsible use of chemical and biological sciences. Previously, Dr. Staley served as Director for Biodefense Policy at the White House Homeland Security Council, where he coordinated implementation of the National Strategy for Pandemic Influenza and the development of policies related to biodefense and the medical consequences of weapons of mass destruction. So he does have a substantial clinical and public health background relevant to his appointment. Summary We have long chronicled cases in which people leave government leadership positions having to do with medical science, health, health care and public health and soon wind up working for corporations regulated or affected by the policies of these government agencies. These were examples of the outgoing revolving door. Such transitions raise worries that people in government might behave in ways that increase their attractiveness for such jobs when they leave. However, in the Trump regime, we have seen a new a even more pernicious species of the revolving door, transitions from leadership positions in or lobbying/ advocacy positions for health care corporations directly into positions in government agencies that regulate or whose policies influence those selfsame corporations. So, as I have said before, e.g., one month ago, The revolving door is a species of conflict of interest. Worse, some experts have suggested that the revolving door is in fact corruption. As we noted here, the experts from the distinguished European anti-corruption group U4 wrote, The literature makes clear that the revolving door process is a source of valuable political connections for private firms. But it generates corruption risks and has strong distortionary effects on the economy, especially when this power is concentrated within a few firms. The ongoing parade of people transiting the revolving door from industry to the Trump administration once again suggests how the revolving door may enable certain of those with private vested interests to have excess influence, way beyond that of ordinary citizens, on how the government works, and that the country is still increasingly being run by a cozy group of insiders with ties to both government and industry. This has been termed crony capitalism. The latest cohort of revolving door transits suggests that regulatory captureis likely to become much worse in the near future. Remember to ask: cui bono? Who benefits? The net results are that big health care corporations increasingly control the governmental regulatory and policy apparatus. This will doubtless first benefit the top leadership and owners/ stockholders (when applicable) of these organizations, who are sometimes the same people, due to detriment of patients and the publics health, the pocketbooks of tax-payers, and the values and ideals of health care professionals. The continuing egregiousness of the revolving door in health care shows how health care leadership can play mutually beneficial games, regardless of the their effects on patients and the publics health. Once again, true health care reform would cut the ties between government and corporate leaders and their cronies that have lead to government of, for and by corporate executives rather than the people at large. Tipperary Sinn Fein Councillor David Doran has expressed huge disappointment after party HQ ruled that there can be no male candidates for the Selection Convention in Tipperary. The longest serving SF public representative in the county will not be on the ticket for the Selection Convention in the Horse and Jockey hotel on Friday next, despite having been put forward by the local Robert Emmet cumann in Thurles. "I was very honored to be put forward by the Robert Emmet Cumann in Thurles to go to Convention but the party head quarters in their wisdom have decided to only accept nominations from female candidates which I believe is undemocratic, ill informed and discriminatory which only they can explain. I personally believe that the gender intervention policy is an insult to women and the imposition of any male or female candidate based on their gender alone would be totally wrong and unjustifiable. In my opinion, everyone who is a party member and wishes to put their case to their party colleagues at an open convention, should at the very least be afforded that opportunity to do so. I want to publicly thank my family, my friends and all my loyal supporters who have been encouraging me to let my name go forward and all the people who have elected me in three successive council elections something that I am very appreciative of," Cllr Doran said. The Tipperary County Council member has confirmed that he will contest the local elections in 2019 for the Templemore Thurles Municipal District as a Sinn Fein candidate stating: "I joined the Sinn Fein party in my teens and I am as committed as ever to our party core principals and beliefs and honored every day to represent the good people of the Thurles/ Templemore District and the surrounding parishes at Tipperary County Council. And, while I may not be allowed put my name forward for this General Election convention, I will certainly be keeping my eye towards our next convention and its my full intention to go before the people, if God spares me, at the local elections next year where I will be respectfully requesting votes and support. My heartfelt thanks to the Thurles Sinn Fein Cumann who deemed me good enough to be their General Election candidate and to all who support me in my political life and otherwise day in day out," Cllr Doran said. NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg thanked the Netherlands for its many contributions to the security of the Alliance during a visit to The Hague on Thursday (19 April 2018). The Secretary General had talks with the Prime Minister of the Netherlands, Mark Rutte, in preparation for the NATO Summit in July. Mr. Stoltenberg also had discussions with the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Stef Blok, the Minister of Defence, Ank Bijleveld, and other parliamentarians. At a joint press point with Prime Minister Rutte, the Secretary General praised the contributions made by the Netherlands to NATOs battlegroup in Lithuania and to the Alliances rapid reaction Spearhead Force. He also welcomed the continued Dutch support to NATOs training mission in Afghanistan. The Secretary General welcomed that the Netherlands is investing in high-end capabilities such as F-35 aircraft, as well as new warships and submarines. At the same time, Mr Stoltenberg stressed that it is necessary to invest more in defence. During his visit, the Secretary General addressed a town hall meeting at Leiden University College The Hague on Adapting NATO to a changing world. (Natural News) Consumers have been voting with their wallets in recent years, shying away from toxin-laced conventional produce and shelling out for organic varieties instead. Some observers might have initially dismissed this as a trend that would eventually fade, but its clear that a desire for good health and environmental friendliness is not going out of fashion any time soon, and more and more farmers are stepping up to meet this demand. In fact, one 40,000-acre Canadian farm is currently in the process of becoming entirely organic, and it will take the honor of being the countrys biggest organic farm once it makes the full transition. The farm is big enough to make 2.2 million bushels of wheat every year. Owner Travis Heide says he plans to also start producing organic lentils, hemp, oats and peas. Right now, the farm is only half organic, but the full transition is expected to be completed within two years. Its an ambitious project when you consider the fact that Heide only started farming on a full-time basis four years ago. However, he grew up working on his parents Saskatchewan farm with his four brothers. He earned a business degree and worked as a commodity trader before starting up his own grain trading company. When his father asked him and his brothers to take over the family farm when he retired, they declined. However, his interest in agriculture never waned, and he moved to Africa and helped to start up a farm in South Sudan. After returning home, he eventually decided to buy a Canadian farm of his own. When he found out the land he bought had not been poisoned by pesticides and other chemicals in the past, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to create an organic farm. In addition to the growing consumer demand for organic produce, he believes that growing organically is a lot more economical in the long run than conventional growing. Eventually, hes considering adding cattle to his operations to help get phosphorus to the soil. He believes it could take as many as 40,000 head of cattle to keep the soil fertile across his 40,000 acres. Paving the way for future organic farmers Heide says he is hoping to show others that the idea that organic crops cant be mass produced is merely a myth. Theres a whole bunch of status quos these days: you cant start a farm from scratch nowadays, you cant do a large organic farm because theres too much tillage[But] if we can create opportunity for other people, create employment thats what were excited about, he commented. Hopefully, his success will inspire others to follow suit. He has said that he would like to see some of his employees eventually start their own organic farms in other parts of the country. Organics popularity continues to grow Organic sector sales skyrocketed from $3.7 billion to more than $43 billion between 1997 and 2015, making organic one of the fast-growing sectors within the food industry. Some of the biggest retailers in the U.S., like Costco, say they simply cannot obtain enough organic food to meet their customers demands. Thankfully, more and more farmers are taking note and getting on board. Last year, 15 percent of American produce sales were organic, and this number is only expected to grow as more farms switch over. Transitioning to organic is a lengthy and complicated process for farmers, but its one that could pay off in spades over the long term for consumers and farmers alike. Read Organics.news for more coverage of organic food production. Sources for this article include: WakingTimes.com Producer.com EcoWatch.com PRNewswire.com (Natural News) At present fired FBI Director James Comey is basking in the klieg lights on various American Pravda media sets around the country hawking his bitchy new book in which there are no new explosive details about his brief time in President Donald J. Trumps administration. Breathless Leftists and Democrats are hoping that Comey, during one of his appearances, will finally utter that bombshell that will spell the end of the Trump nightmare that sees The Donald and the America First, swamp-draining revolution he spawned run out of D.C. with the lesson being that no one else should ever dare try to take on The Deep State Establishment. Well, I hate to disappoint Americans who are waiting for that utterance, but its not coming. In fact, its far more likely that Comey along with several Obama-era officials will face legal action for their nefarious attempt to keep Trump out of D.C. (and the White House) in the first place. As reported by The Daily Caller, a group of Republican lawmakers who still care about the rule of law and want to see justice delivered to the American people have written a letter to FBI Director Christopher Wray and Attorney General Jeff Sessions asking both to open criminal investigations into Comey, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton, FBI officials Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, and recently-fired FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe for their roles in 1) lying about intelligence in order to spy on the 2016 Trump campaign; and 2) intentionally botching the probe into Clintons criminal mishandling of classified data via an unsecured private server. (Related: GOP launches Lyin Comey website ahead of his book tour: Wont let disgraced former FBI director rehabilitate his image.) The letter, which was posted online by Rep. Ron DeSantis, R-Fla., requests that Wray and Sessions use their respective authority to investigate potential violation(s) of federal statutes. In addition to DeSantis, Reps. Dave Brat of Virginia, Paul Gosar of Arizona, Claudia Tenney of New York, and several others signed the letter. Those in positions of high authority should be treated the same as every other American and because of that the members want to be sure that any potential violations of law be vetted appropriately, the group of lawmakers wrote. In doing so, we are especially mindful of the dissimilar degree of zealousness that has marked the investigations into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, respectively, they added. As The Daily Caller noted further: The group argues that Comey mishandled the Clinton email investigation, an investigation they believe to be motivated by a political agenda. FBI released documents in October 2017 show that Comey started drafting a letter regarding the email probe months before the former FBI director began conducting key interviews. The letter recommended that charges not be brought against Clinton. Comey, we have since learned, believed that Clinton was going to wipe the floor with Trump and that she was going to be a shoo-in to be his new boss. His wife and daughters thought so, too, he has said. Didnt happen. But what did happen was that he and the others mentioned in the letter were part of a Deep State plot to deny Trump the White House at any cost, and should he win against all odds, to deny him any peace and to ensure that his presidency was undermined daily with investigations, wild allegations, and doubts. From Comeys leaking of a memo to trigger special counsel Robert Muellers investigation, to Lynchs threat of reprisal against an FBI informant who came forward with damning information about the Uranium One scandal to Clintons paying for the Russia dossier, Republicans are seeking answers, and they are the only ones who are. Will Sessions and Wray step up to restore some of their agencys respect and trust? See more content like this at JamesComey.news. J.D. Heyes is editor of The National Sentinel and a senior writer for Natural News and News Target. Sources include: DailyCaller.com NewsTarget.com (Natural News) What do you think farms of the future will look like? Will they use soil in the same way that its used now? Could they be operated completely by robots, with no humans ever stepping foot on them at all? Whatever they end up looking, they had better be capable of meeting the demands of the worlds future population. Because as big as it is now, its going to get even bigger. Now a group of experts may have found a possible solution to this scenario. In one Arkansas farm, these experts are able to grow corn, soybeans, and rice with the use of high-tech farming methods that cant be seen anywhere else. This farm is said to be aiming for the title of the most scientifically advanced farm in the world. As such, it uses things like drones for hyperspectral imaging, machines for genetic sequencing, and even supercomputers for machine learning. So far, they have made great progress on their project, and have even shared detailed findings in a new report. Based on online reports, a group of scientists at the Department of Energys Berkeley National Laboratory (Berkeley Lab) has teamed up with University of Arkansas and Glennoe Farms in order to work on this project. Through it, they hope to revolutionize agriculture and create new methods of farming that are more sustainable and would benefit farms as well as the environment. If they are successful, the scientists believe they will be able to reduce the need for standard chemical fertilizers which are used to increase crop yield, and even enhance the soils carbon uptake. This kind of outcome could ultimately improve the long-term viability of the farm lands, while also increasing crop yields at the exact same time. But even though this farm is relying mostly on a combination of high-tech machinery, its said that the key to the whole operation still lies in a familiar element of all successful farms: Microbes in the soil. Indeed, this farm of the future is still rooted in long-time farming practices and the ones in charge are only trying to get the best out of it. (Related: New Jersey indoor farm can grow plants all year long while using 95 percent less water than outdoor farms, with no pesticides at all.) According to Ben Brown, a scientist who is involved in the project, microbes are instrumental in the success of their project. Microbes are a critical component of soil health and productivity. By understanding how microbes work and modifying the environments where they function, we can eventually engineer microbial communities to enhance soil productivity, he said. Whats more Berkeley Labs research is showing that healthy soils are more resilient to system shocks such as climate change, drought, and insects. Current farming methods, which involve the use of harmful pesticides and chemical herbicides, are also part of the reason why soil nutrients and microbes are not up to their usual levels. There used to be a natural, self-sustaining system in place that required very little technology, but thats no longer the case. Each technological component of the farm project plays an important role in its success. The drones are said to be equipped with hyperspectral sensors which allow them to see more information than the naked human eye. Certain measurement devices are also used to map soil electrical properties in 3D, which is said to be related to soil microbial activities. Finally, machine learning is used to tie all of the data points together and get the best results possible with the variables available. According to Haruko Wainwright, the projects co-lead, their methods are intended to deliver results that can be useful in the real world. The team science approach pioneered at Berkeley Lab is being put to use to integrate all the information within the machine learning context, she said. Our ultimate goal is to provide actionable intelligence to the farming community. For now, they will continue working on the project with the hope that theyll be able to show its full results in the next year. Follow the latest news on todays newest farming practices in Harvest.news. Sources include: NewsCenter.LBL.gov ScienceDaily.com (Natural News) Elephants arent known for eating burned wood then breathing out smoke. Yet thats exactly what conservation scientists at Indias Nagarahole National Park came across while checking out hidden camera traps. In the 57-second video, a female Asian elephant can be seen scooping up chunks of ashen wood with her trunk and stuffing them into her mouth. Every time she does so, the elephant exhales plumes of smoke. Interestingly, there were no signs of ashen wood being spat back out, indicating that the animal was swallowing them. Vinay Kumar, assistant director of the Wildlife Conservation Societys (WCS) India program, explained that he and his team came across the animal while inspecting cameras intended to capture footage of tigers and their prey. She was standing in a burnt patch in the forest, itself a result of forest fire control work. In India, the Forest Department burns fire lines to create fire breaks that can help control forest fires. And this effort leaves behind wood charcoal on the forest floor, said Kumar. As for what the elephant was doing with charcoal, elephant biologist Dr. Varun Goswami believes that the actions may be curative in nature. I believe the elephant may have been trying to ingest wood charcoal, he explained, then noted, Charcoal has toxin-binding properties that may provide medicinal value. (Related: Discover Four New Ways to Use CharcoalAnd They Dont Include Barbecuing.) Animals utilizing charcoal to remedy their ills isnt entirely new. In 1997, a team of researchers discovered that Zanzibar red colobus monkeys were wont to stuffing themselves with charcoal. Charcoal, which is mostly made up of carbon, offers little to no nutritional value. Instead, the monkeys were most likely consuming charcoal for its ability to bind with the toxic phenols found in the leaves of Indian almond and mango trees. Though charcoal absorbs phenols, it has no effect on the protein in the leaves. Moreover, this isnt the first instance of elephants using nature to their advantage. Ecologist Dr. Holly T. Dublin witnessed a heavily pregnant female elephant at Kenyas Tsavo Park deviate from her daily feeding routine. The elephant walked for miles without stopping to eat until she found a small tree related to the borage plant. According to Dublin, the animal devoured the tree until it was little more than a stump. After four days, the elephant gave birth. Later investigations revealed that the leaves and bark of this tree are known for inducing uterine contractions. So much so that Kenyan women often drink a tea made from its leaves to either encourage labor or abortion. How exactly the elephants in Nagarahole National Park and Tsavo Park came to possess such medicinal knowledge is a mystery. It might be instinct, or it might be knowledge passed down from one generation of elephants to the next. Thats how Namibian desert elephants are able to thrive in the harsh conditions of Africas Namib desert. Nothing in their DNA has pointed to them being genetically different from other elephants across the continent, meaning that their uncanny survival skills are the products of shared knowledge learning. Maybe thats what prompted the smoke-breathing elephant to eat chunks of charcoal. Visit Environ.news for more news stories about wildlife all over the world. Sources include: LiveScience.com AskNature.org BiosphereOnline.com (Natural News) The mining industry is lobbying the Supreme Court to end the moratorium on mining uranium near the Grand Canyon. If they succeed, they could freely pillage a national landmark that provides potable water for millions of Americans, according to an article by the Environmental Working Group (EWG). Before the moratorium was established in 2012, there were close to 3,500 mining claims near the ancient canyon. This dwindled to less than 900 active claims at the time of this writing. Five years later, a new federal policy to enhance domestic sources of energy such as nuclear power, which uses uranium fuel has given the mining industry the opening it needs to renew old claims on the Grand Canyons natural resources. One of the industrys most recent moves was petitioning the Supreme Court to reverse a 2017 ruling by the Ninth Circuit Court of Appeals. The lower court previously upheld the moratorium, which was set to last until 2032. If the two pro-mining lobby groups get their way, more than a million acres of wilderness surrounding the Grand Canyon will be opened up to destructive uranium mining. (Related: 170 million Americans may have toxic levels of radium in their tap water.) Environmental groups warn against lifting moratorium on uranium mining If the Supreme Court decides in favor of the uranium industry, it could permanently scar a sacred landscape that is the jewel in the crown of Americas natural heritage, and threaten the drinking water of 40 million Americans from Los Angeles to Las Vegas, warned Ken Cook, the president of the EWG. According to Cook, ending the mining moratorium would deplete natural resources and endanger public health. The 1872 Mining Law effectively leaves public lands managers no choice but to permit proposed mines on sensitive lands like those near the Grand Canyon, unless they are specifically protected, said Alan Septoff, a spokesperson for environmental awareness group Earthworks. Septoff cautioned that the mining industry was responsible for contaminating 40 percent of the headwaters of Western watersheds with toxic pollution. He further pointed out that the same industry foisted the $50-billion bill for cleaning up its abandoned uranium mines on American taxpayers in the environmental equivalent of a dine-and-dash. The 2012 moratorium forbade any new uranium mining claims at the northern and southern rims of the Grand Canyon for a maximum of 20 years. Furthermore, it called for a thorough assessment of environmental risks associated with mining, especially its potential ill effects on local sources of drinking water. The number of active claims nosedived as mining companies cancelled their claims in the now-scrutinized area. The Grand Canyon Trust estimated that there are 831 active uranium mining claims in the Canyons withdrawal area. More than 90 percent of those claims belong to British and Canadian companies. If the Supreme Court agrees with the arguments of the uranium mining lobby, that number could quickly return to its pre-ban height in the ensuing Arizona uranium rush. Mining activities always endanger local water supplies The western U.S. host large deposits of valuable metals like uranium. This mineral wealth attracts mining companies, whose water-intensive activities have a long record of endangering local sources of drinking water in the West. One of these water sources is the mighty Colorado River. Coursing through seven U.S. states and two Mexican states, the Colorado provides vast amounts of hydroelectric power and drinking water to 40 million Americans, such as the Havasupai tribe of the Grand Canyon area. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) believes there are more than 500 abandoned uranium mines scattered throughout Arizona and other western states. Federal and state agencies are working to clean up these contaminated areas. For more on water pollution and other environmental threats, visit CleanWater.news. Sources include: EWG.org EPA.gov (Natural News) China has already thought of a couple of ways of applying their unique Social Credit System in order to punish deserving citizens. According to online reports, the country plans to ban certain individuals from boarding airplanes and trains if they are among those who are deemed unworthy based on the Social Credit System. People who have taken these transportation systems before and subsequently committed any crimes or transgressions will be banned from using them again for up to a year. This is based on statements put forth through the official website of Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, which also stated that anyone who has committed certain acts, such as spreading false information about terrorism, causing trouble on flights, using expired tickets, and smoking on trains will be among those who are put on the restricted lists. The statements were said to be dated March 2 but werent issued until March 16. In case you werent aware, the Social Credit System is Chinas unique new method of ranking its citizens based on a number of different factors. Primarily, it is based on online activity and online behavior, for which the government gathers the necessary data about the citizens through the multitude of mobile apps and online services that they use. China is big on censorship and dogfooding as it were using their very own products instead of those created by competitors or third parties so a lot of its citizens are using local alternatives to the likes of Facebook, Google, and Yahoo. Even seemingly normal mainstream websites get censored by the Great Firewall of China, and local alternatives are used by the citizens instead. (Related: Communist China now bribing U.S. universities to censor certain types of speech, promote communist ideals.) China now has less than a month to prepare until the new directive comes into effect on May 1. According to online reports, this move is in line with a bigger plan headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping himself, in which the country will construct a social credit system that is based on the principle of once untrustworthy, always restricted, as noted by eight different ministries, including the Supreme Peoples Court and Chinas aviation regulator. And although it sounds like a rather grim state of affairs, it appears that many Chinese citizens actually dont mind it at all. In fact, many have seemed to welcome the Social Credit System and are happy to be subjected to it. And as for the plan to punish certain individuals based on their personal scores in the system, there are reports that such methods could have been implemented years ago. It is said that using social credit scores as the basis of domestic transport restrictions could have been done already in the past, especially since there was already a restricted list for domestic flights being used. In fact, in early 2017, it is said that a total of 6.15 million Chinese citizens were banned from taking flights due to so-called social misdeeds. Despite the usefulness of such a system when it comes to banning certain individuals from using certain forms of public transportation, it appears that it can quite easily be abused if control of it ever falls into the wrong hands. And whos to say it hasnt already? One can only hope that this isnt just a huge disaster waiting to happen. Find out more about ongoing censorship scandals in Censorship.news. Sources include: Reuters.com Independent.co.uk (Natural News) With the governments renewed push to generate more of the countrys energy through renewable energy sources, the Trump administration is now reportedly considering a review of the old Desert Renewable Energy Plan (DRECP), which was first finalized back in September 2016. It is said that a lot of work has already gone into it with more than 16,000 comments being considered for its implementation, along with tons of research and more than eight years of stakeholder input only for it to be shelved. Now the government is considering reopening it and possibly amending it before finally putting it to use. Based on online reports, the DRECP is a great choice for a renewable energy plan as it strikes a good balance between generating large amounts of electricity and protecting lands that are important for a number of different things such as wildlife and recreation. With the DRECP, almost 400,000 acres of good land could be identified as appropriate for renewable energy zones. That would be more than enough to serve up Californias own renewable energy goals. With that said, it looks like the government wants to make some changes to the plan, even though it has already been closed and is only waiting to be implemented in order to start delivering benefits. There is some opposition to this idea, mainly due to the fact that doing so would require the use of taxpayer money for funds. But officials from the U.S. Bureau of Land Management (BLM) insist that its a necessary step for the plan to be implemented. (Related: US government loans money to build worlds largest solar power plant.) According to Katharine MacGregor, the Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary for Land and Minerals at BLM, its part of a much bigger plan that involves the industry as a whole. We need to reduce burdens on all domestic energy development, including solar, wind and other renewables, she said. This process will help us find ways to make more federal land available for renewable energy projects as well as wireless broadband infrastructure. In an official press release, the BLM said that renewable energy associations and local governments expressed concerns that the DRECP didnt designate enough public lands for future renewable energy development. At the same time, the Riverside County Board of Supervisors and the Blythe Council also said that the DRECP would make projects too costly to build, put undue pressure on private lands, and inhibit economic growth and job creation due to certain regulatory burdens that come along with it. As such, they recommend a more efficient, streamline and balanced approach that would make things better for everyone involved. However, there are some who question the basis of these claims. In a report from EcoWatch.com, it is said that the plan is already solid to begin with, and that Interior Secretary Ryan Zinkes comments that, 500 miles of solar cells is not compatible with the habitat, couldnt be farther from the truth. In fact, the DRECP would allow the development of solar projects on just a small part of the 10 million acres of federal land thats covered in the plan, according to the report. The focus now should simply be on a proper and thorough implementation instead of reopening it and making amendments that would only cost the taxpayers money. Ultimately, any and all efforts to correct the current plan might end up undoing all of the work that has already been put into it, wasting time, money, and resources that were combined to come up with something that only needs to get started to benefit the public. Read more about the governments efforts to add renewable energy sources in Power.news. Sources include: EcoWatch.com BLM.gov Bay Area students on Thursday are headed to the California capital to address one of the most pressing topics on the forefront of many Americans' minds: gun control. The collection of roughly 300 students call themselves "Bay Area Student Activists," or BASTA for short, which translates to the word "enough" in Spanish. They plan to ask lawmakers to back four bills in support of tighter gun control. Those four bills include raising the age of buying a long gun to 21, making confiscated weapon data public, waiving the fee for people seeking gun violence restraining orders and adding a bill that puts a lifetime ban on weapons possession for anyone convicted of domestic violence. One of those Bay Area students involved in the effort said she's motivated to fight for change in the wake of action taken by Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School students following the Feb. 14 school shooting that left 17 people dead at their South Florida campus. "I think they've inspired every single student in the United States," Kira Galbraitch said. "They've shown that they're not just going to stand down and let this happen again because it happens way too frequently. Many people say we are the generations of mass shootings. I have never lived in a world where there hasn't been a mass shooting." The students are making the trip to the state capital one day before a national student walkout to mark the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School massacre. The Bay Area students are expected to arrive in Sacramento around 10:30 a.m. Californias Division of Occupational Safety and Health has opened an investigation into Tesla after a report came out detailing a pattern of workplace hazards at the companys factory in Fremont, Bloomberg reported. According to Bloomberg, an OSHA spokesperson said the agency takes seriously reports of workplace hazards and allegations of employers underreporting recordable work-related injuries and illnesses and currently has an open inspection at Tesla. Reveal.org published a report this week in which it carried out its own investigations as well as talked to Teslas former safety experts about the electric automobile companys failure to report some of its more serious injuries. Another thing the Reveal investigation found missing from the companys factory workspace is the color yellow traditionally use as a mark of caution in hazardous situations. The reason: Tesla CEO Elon Musk is not a fan of the hue. As Tesla races to produce the Model 3 to keep up with production promises, some are questioning whether it is prioritizing speed over caution. The report also called out Tesla for not accurately tracking injuries or undercounting injuries to make their record look better than it actually is. Tesla dismissed Reveals report by calling it an extremist organization that was running a disinformation campaign against the company. In our view, what they portray as investigative journalism is in fact an ideologically motivated attack by an extremist organization working directly with union supporters to create a calculated disinformation campaign against Tesla, Tesla said in a blog post. "Our goal is to be the safest factory on Earth. Last year, despite going through extreme challenges building an entirely new Model 3 production system, we nonetheless reduced our injury rate by 25%. Through a lot of hard work, our injury rate which we diligently track, record, and update is half what it was in the final years GM and Toyota owned and ran the same Fremont factory before it closed and Tesla took it over. An overseas cyber group posing as a Dallas-based online gaming company is taking credit for the Bay Area and nationwide school threat scare earlier this week, according to a report. Apophis Squad reportedly hijacked the domain of Zonix gaming company and used its email address to send emails threatening violence at schools across the country, including some in the Bay Area. Law enforcement officials initially said the hoax was part of an online contest, but the East Bay Times reports that a person on behalf of Apophis Squad said the group pulled off the stunt because they "got nothing better to do." All of the schools in Emery Unified School District in Emeryville closed for the day Monday as a result of the incident. It may be more than a year before a Northern California prosecutor decides if two police officers broke the law when they fatally shot a black man who was later found to be unarmed, she said Wednesday. Sacramento County District Attorney Anne Marie Schubert said her office doesn't yet have the Sacramento police report into last month's death of 22-year-old Stephon Clark. She also does not have the official autopsy or toxicology report, though a renowned pathologist hired by Clark's family found that he was shot seven times from behind. The officers were investigating reports that a man was breaking car windows and a neighbor's glass door when they pursued Clark into his grandparents' backyard after he refused to stop and show his hands. They say he turned and advanced toward them when they opened fire. They later found only a cellphone. The shooting has led to weeks of protests and near daily calls for Schubert to make a decision as she runs for re-election. She asked for patience amid what she said is understandable community anger and predicted reforms may result from what she called the "tragedy" of Clark's death and the national outcry over police shootings of young black men. The state's attorney general also is investigating. Decisions typically take six months to more than a year, and some nearly two years, she said at a news conference. And that's after her office receives an autopsy report that can take six- to eight months, and a police report that can often take three- to four months, she said. "It may be frustrating, and I understand that," she said, adding later: "Protesters are not going to stop us from following that process." California's use of force standard makes it rare for officers to be charged after a shooting and rarer still for them to be convicted. If prosecutors or jurors believe that officers reasonably feared for their safety, they are permitted to use deadly force. Schubert said she welcomes peaceful protests. But she said frequent demonstrations outside her office have become intimidating to employees, witnesses and crime victims attempting to enter the building. Tanya Faison, a leader for Black Lives Matter-Sacramento, which has organized the protests, could not immediately be reached for comment. Schubert also defended accepting $13,000 in campaign contributions from two local law enforcement unions days after Clark was killed. She said the state attorney general's office previously said that accepting contributions during such an investigation is not a conflict of interest. San Francisco Mayor Mark Farrell and San Francisco Police Chief Bill Scott on Thursday announced a new campaign to curb car break-ins in the city. SFPD has boosted efforts in collecting fingerprints from crime scenes. And now, the agency along with the city has introduced Park Smart, which raises awareness about how to park safely in city streets. One of the main things police emphasize is to not to leave any valuables in the car when youre not there. "A crime prevented is a much better than a crime solved. Avoid becoming an easy target by not leaving your valuables in unattended vehicles. 'If you love it, don't leave it.'" Hidden cameras revealed a rare view of an epidemic as car break-ins hit a record high of nearly 30,000 in San Francisco, the NBC Bay Area invetsigative unit found. The SF Chronicle reported that car break-ins fell 17 percent from January through March, compared with the same period last year, per police data. An NBC Bay Area hidden-camera investigation provided a rare glimpse into a rising surge of criminal activity across San Francisco that continues to prey on the city's most famed landmarks and popular tourist destinations. San Francisco's nearly 30,000 car break-ins last year shattered previous crime records and illustrate an organized and elaborate crime operation that law enforcement calls an "epidemic." "You have to have a garage [in San Francisco] to keep your car parked outside," said San Francisco resident and break-in victim Hamza Mabrouk. Alamo Square, the famed home of San Franciscos Painted Ladies, is ground zero. "I swear man, once a month my car was broken into it," said Susie Wren who has lived in Alamo Square Park for 26 years. "And I finally just got rid of it!" Car Break-Ins Reported to San Francisco Police 2014: 22,029 2015: 26,040 2016: 24,624 2017: 28,984 (source: San Francisco District Attorney's Office) Of the nearly 30,000 car break-ins in San Francisco last year, the police department made arrests in just 1.7 percent of cases, totalling 790 arrests, according to data provided by the police department and district attorneys office. Of those taken into custody, most were never sentenced to jail time. Union City police said Thursday morning that they've located a 12-year-old girl reported missing Wednesday after she failed to return home from school. Camila Rodriguez, of Union City, had last been seen leaving for school with another girl Wednesday morning, police said. That's also where she was eventually found, after a concerned member of the community called police. Police say she's since been reunited with her family. Officers believe she was voluntarily missing, and does not appear to have been abducted. Philadelphia police are investigating the suspicious death of the father of former Trump administration national security adviser H.R. McMaster. Herbert McMaster died Friday at the Cathedral Village home on the 600 block of Cathedral Road in the Roxborough section of Philadelphia. He was 84. Law enforcement sources told NBC10 McMaster's death is being investigated as suspicious due to allegations of neglect and dereliction of duty. According to the sources, McMaster fell and hit his head and was placed in a recliner but was not treated or monitored. He later died from blunt impact to the head and his death was ruled accidental by the medical examiner. Investigators are looking into whether workers at the home falsified paperwork and gave the McMaster family misleading information, according to sources. Philadelphia police, the attorney general's office, district attorney's office and the Health Department are all investigating. In a statement released Thursday, Cathedral Village said the safety and well-being of their residents are "top priority." "After immediately notifying the family and appropriate authorities of the residents death, we began our own internal investigation, which is ongoing," the statement read in part. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator Scott Pruitt and Indiana Governor Eric Holcomb toured a clean-up site in Whiting, Indiana Thursday, but the meeting was largely kept under wraps. Pruitt, who faces a new investigation into his personal travel, did not take questions from the press, or even publicize his visit. The meeting was so secretive that only a video from environmental activist Thomas Frank captured Pruitt and Holcomb touring the site. We just happened to find him and his people in the alleyway, Frank said. There are several Superfund sites in the Whiting and East Chicago area, and new testing began two years ago near Federated Metals to see if there was any contamination at the site. Pruitt didnt provide any updates on the cleanup effort, and some EPA employees arent happy with the way the visit was handled. Scott Pruitt refuses to meet with EPA employees like me, who took their oath very seriously, environmental scientist Felicia Chase said. Other employees say that Pruitt also visited the agencys Chicago office, holding meetings with state directors. He arrived at the meeting by underground tunnel, and reportedly did not meet with regional employees of the agency. He has not taken the time to meet with all of the staff to tell us about his policies and what hes doing, EPA union leader Michael Mikulka said. Even with all of the efforts to keep his visit a secret, the extra security in the air and in the building left some employees and environmentalists upset that the administrator didnt take the time to meet with the public. I think there were missed opportunities to actually meet with the community, Frank said. On his visit to Chicago a year ago, Pruitt took in a Cubs game, but its unclear whether he was at Wrigley Field Thursday. Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach violated a court order that required his office to inform certain people that they were eligible to cast a ballot while a lawsuit challenging a state law requiring proof of U.S. citizenship worked its way through the courts, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson found Kobach, a conservative Republican running for Kansas governor, in contempt of court. She did not fine Kobach but ordered him to pay court costs, including attorney fees for the American Civil Liberties Union, which sought the contempt ruling. Moriah Day, a spokeswoman for Kobach's campaign for governor, said the secretary of state's office would appeal the decision and would have no other comment. The ACLU sought the contempt ruling after Kobach refused to update the state's election guide or ensure that county officials sent postcards to residents who registered at driver licensing offices without providing citizenship documents. The postcards contain basic voting information such as a voter's polling place. "The judge found that Kris Kobach disobeyed the court's orders by failing to provide registered voters with consistent information, that he willfully failed to ensure that county elections officials were properly trained, and that he has a 'history of noncompliance and disrespect for the court's decisions,'" Dale Ho, director of the ACLU's Voting Rights Project, said in a statement Wednesday. "Secretary Kobach likes to talk about the rule of law. Talk is cheap, and his actions speak louder than his words." Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU's chapter in Kansas, said Robinson's ruling clearly lays out that Kobach "has shown disregard for the court's orders." "That is consistent with his approach to the entire issue where he has shown disregard for federal law, disregard for the truth about citizen participation in Kansas, and disregard for the values that we share as Americans, values that say we should work to increase citizen participation in elections rather than reduce it," Kubic said. Kobach argued during a hearing in March that he was not in contempt in part because a preliminary injunction Robinson issued in May 2016 and a later written order did not explicitly require sending the postcards and revisions to the state's election guide. The injunction found that Kansas cannot require voters to produce proof of U.S. citizenship, such as a birth certificate or U.S. passport, when they register at licensing offices. Robinson reacted angrily to that assertion during the hearing, saying her ruling made it clear that voters covered by her injunction were not to be treated differently from other registered voters. She also said Kobach had assured her in telephone hearings that he had instructed his office to order county election officials to mail the postcards to all voters covered by her order. She continued her criticism in Wednesday's ruling, saying Kobach at first argued he had complied with the order and then later tried to blame his staff and county election officials if the order was not carried out. "The Court is troubled by (Kobach's) failure to take responsibility for violating this Court's orders, and for failing to ensure compliance over an issue that he explicitly represented to the court had been accomplished," Robinson wrote. Kobach had insisted at the hearing that his office tried to comply with the judge's orders. Two days after the March hearing concluded, Kobach filed a court motion that said election director Brian Caskey had sent the email to county election officials to comply with the court's "suggestion" that the directive to county election officials should be in writing. Robinson said that effort was "too little, too late" to avoid the contempt citation. The new written instructions tell county officials that voters who registered at motor vehicle offices without providing citizenship documentation should be sent two notices, including the standard postcard informing voters of their polling place and district assignments. The ACLU argued Kobach had previously refused to give such notices to voters who had not provided citizenship documentation. The notices include vital information on the voting precinct, party affiliation, polling location and the voter's districts for various offices. The organization also wanted Kobach to correct erroneous and misleading information in the state's official election manual to make clear that, for now, those voters are exempt from the state's proof-of-citizenship requirements. Rather than correcting information in the online election manual, Kobach removed it from the secretary of state's website. The contempt hearing came after seven days of testimony in the ACLU's challenge of the state's voter registration law. Robinson has not yet filed a ruling in the larger lawsuit over the state's voter identification law. Kobach was held in contempt of court last year for misleading the court about the contents of documents he was photographed taking into a November meeting with then President-elect Donald Trump. The court fined Kobach $1,000 and ordered him to testify about the documents. Earlier in the case, contempt proceedings against him that had been scheduled before the 2016 election were halted after Kobach agreed to allow thousands of voters to cast traditional ballots, rather than force them to use provisional ones. Associated Press writer Roxana Hegeman contributed to this report. Three Hartford women face kidnapping and assault charges after cell phone video surfaced of what police call a brutal attack on Rowe Avenue last August. According to court documents, the cell phone was found during a search and seizure warrant for an unrelated ATF investigation. The video was passed to Hartford police in March 2018. Paperwork says that the video showed three women attacking another woman. The victim was "being dragged by her hair several times, punched and kicked repeatedly in the face, her cloths [sic] ripped off her body, and she is left lying naked in the middle of the road." Police say onlookers cheered and encouraged the suspects while recording the attack. Hartford Police reportedly identified one of the suspects as 30-year-old Ada Marrero of Hartford, who was known "from a separate unrelated investigation, in which Marrero was arrested for a firearm." Authorities say they also recognized the victim and that they were able to locate the victim through her probation officer. Paperwork reveals that when investigators reached out to the victim, she confirmed that "she was assaulted, robbed, and abducted on August 13, 2017" and named two suspects in the attack which included Marrero and 33-year-old Waleska Bones. The victim says that the three suspects approached her while she was on James Street and "assaulted, robbed, and forced her to 103 Rowe Avenue. She reported all three females would not let her go unless she got money to pay [Marrero]. She had her eyes swollen shut, bruising all over her body, and clumps of hair missing from her head." The victim told police she did not tell anyone about the incident because she feared for her safety. Court documents say the victim correctly pointed out the two suspects she named in a lineup of photographs. Investigators say they interviewed Bones and that the suspect admitted to taking the victim's clothes off and participating in the assault. Police say they tracked down the third suspect, 38-year-old Jacqueline Davila. Marrero, Bones, and Davila were arrested and charged with second-degree kidnapping, second-degree assault and cruelty to persons. Investigators believe the crime was drug-related. The three women were each issued a $250,000 bond. The $1 million set aside for towns to test homes for crumbling foundations is the target of a political furor in Washington, D.C. and in Hartford. The backlash started when Congressman Joe Courtney, who represents Eastern Connecticut where the issue is most prominent, wrote a letter questioning the sweep of $750,000 meant for municipalities to use for testing homes. The money was part of a larger grant from the federal government. He wrote to the Evonne Klein, Connecticuts Housing commissioner, given the urgency of and deep community interest in this issue, a decision of this magnitude should have prompted diligent and proactive communication with legislators, municipalities, and other key stakeholders. Municipalities were tasked with applying for the funds. In the end, only Coventry filed an application on behalf of the town and seven other small towns. The application was successful, leading to $250,000 being provided by the state. The rest of the money was reallocated within the Department of Housing, something both Democrats and Republicans in the Connecticut General Assembly said was an acceptable outcome. What happens is if the state doesnt encumber that, the feds take a look at that and say, well, it looks like you didnt need that so it looks like youre going to lose $750,000 in perpetuity and that is money that is spent across the communities in ways that they need, said Rep. Jeff Currey, (D East Hartford), who has worked on the crumbling foundations issue. Republican Kurt Vail said in a statement, Its important for our towns to realize that they are still eligible to apply for grant money in the future. The reallocation of money earmarked for those affected by crumbling foundations highlights the fact that all stakeholders must work closely together in order to provide viable solutions to homeowners. Klein defended the moving of the funds, citing the lack of interest, and said, "This program has a longstanding track record of supporting low and moderate-income families. To that end, it would have been irresponsible for us to keep the funding set-aside any longer when municipal leaders have demonstrated very little interest in the crumbling foundations testing program and it would have jeopardized our future federal funds. Lawmakers said they hope to come up with a way in the future to have the funds available for a longer period of time. South Windsor Republican Tom Delnicki also weighed in. The money didnt really go away. It wasnt swept away purposely. Its still in the states control and conceptually we could address it again," he said. The town of New Canaan is considering installing cameras at a park to catch dog owners who don't clean up after their pets relieve themselves. New Canaan Parks and Recreation Chairwoman Sally Campbell told Hearst Media Connecticut the plan to install cameras was just one part of an effort to address the park's dog excrement problem. She said police are also stepping up patrols near parks. Parks Commissioner Francesca Segalas said some cameras would be placed in the parking lot to record license plates, while others would be hidden along trails so police could match pet owners with their vehicles and issue a fine. Not everyone is on board. Some said they were uneasy about being watched while on a trail, while others wonder how long the video would be kept. Connecticut employers could soon be barred from asking prospective employees how much they earned in a previous job. By a wide bipartisan margin of 142 to 4, the House approved the bill, sending it to the Connecticut Senate. Employers could ask for what amounts to background information surrounding a job candidate's previous compensation but asking for specific amounts would be illegal. Rep. Robyn Porter, (D - New Haven), who sponsored the bill, said the overall picture of someone's previous earnings is not off-limits. Different companies have different compensation benefits," Porter said. "They could ask about the elements, about the structure, but not the value. "This bill is not just about women and paying women equally. Its about leveling the playing field for children, raising families out of poverty, its multi-pronged, she added. The debate over pay equity bogged down last year after some Democrats attempted to paint Republicans as being against any form of pay equity. When it later came to light that some Democratic caucus female staffers were paid less than their male counterparts. In 2018, the debate started in a bipartisan way with a working group of Democrats and Republicans who examined the best path forward toward coming up with policies aimed at addressing the pay gap between men and women. It's estimated that women in Connecticut could earn about $500,000 less over their lifetime as a result of the pay gap. Rep. Derek Slap, (D - West Hartford), said of banning the pay history question, I think there is an element to this about us competing and we dont want to be known as the state where women can be low-balled. Connecticut's largest business group, the Connecticut Business and Industry Association also backed the legislation, providing a boost to its chances of passage. The group's spokesperson, Meaghan McDonald wrote, "While this is a significant change to the hiring process in Connecticut, employers understand the need to address this issue and are willing to do their part. This bill will make pay equity more attainable, while minimally impacting the ability of Connecticut companies to compete." Republicans described the bill as a proper step forward. I dont believe this to be a partisan issue. I believe this to be a fairness issue, said Rep. Themis Klarides, the top GOP member in the chamber. Update: Tyler Jacob was found safe an unharmed in another state on Wednesday, April 25, according to Groton Police The Groton Town Police Department is searching for a missing sailor. Police said 24-year-old Jacob E. Tyler, a U.S. Navy sailor, was last seen Tuesday morning when he left his Groton home. He has not been seen since. Tyler was riding his blue 2014 Honda CBR motorcycle with Connecticut plate 00KSVK. He is 5-foot-11, weighs approximately 220 pounds, is blond and has blue eyes. It is unknown what he was wearing when he went missing. Anyone with information on his whereabouts should call the Groton Town Police Department at 860-441-6712. Editor's Note: Police originally identified the sailor as Tyler E. Jacob, but said Thursday morning that his name is Jacob E. Tyler. A project described as the largest cannabis cultivation facility in North America was proposed in New Mexico Thursday. Ultra Health announced the acquisition of farmland while unveiling a three-dimensional rendering of what the facility will look like via social media. The property spans nearly one-third of a square mile in Otero County. It will include 20 acres of indoor cultivation, 80 acres of outdoor cannabis fields and another 100 acres of outdoor hemp fields. Ultra Health president and CEO Duke Rodriguez said the company is preparing for a future in which New Mexico stands to benefit from an expanded medical marijuana market and legalized recreational use. The company says the grow facility is expected to employ about 100 people. Legalization is shaping up to be among the campaign issues in the gubernatorial race. Democratic gubernatorial candidate Jeff Apodaca is calling for the expansion of New Mexico's medical marijuana program and for the legalization of recreational use. Apodaca released his plan Thursday, saying New Mexico is losing out on jobs and tax revenues that could be generated by the industry. New Mexico's medical program has grown exponentially and now has more than 50,000 patients. Record sales were also reported in 2017. At a recent forum, Republican Congressman and gubernatorial candidate Steve Pearce expressed reservations about legalization. Among the other Democratic candidates, U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham says she would support a measure that includes adequate health and enforcement measures to prevent underage use and workplace problems. State Sen. Joseph Cervantes has sponsored unsuccessful legislation to decriminalize possession of small quantities of pot but has said the state isn't ready yet to legalize. A groundbreaking new insurance policy is being taken out on coral reefs near the beaches in the Cancun area not to protect boats or divers but the reefs themselves. Through parametric insurance, a new kind of risk management tool, money collected from a tax paid by local hotels will pay for reef repairs along a 60-km (about 37 miles) stretch of the Mexican coastline right after a major hurricane blows through, preserving a vibrant ecosystem that happens to be an effective bulwark for a valuable tourist spot that's susceptible to beach erosion. The arrangement is believed to be the first of its kind, and its creators think it could serve as a model for preserving all kinds of habitats around the world when they're at their most vulnerable. "Reefs are literally the first line of defense when a storm hits the coastline," said Mark Way, director of global coastal risk and resilience at the American nonprofit The Nature Conservancy. He said that the program would help make the case that "financial systems and services" can be an important tool in conserving and preserving the planet's natural defenses. The Mesoamerican Reef stretches hundreds of miles from this part of Mexico, the southeast tip that juts into the Caribbean Sea, down to Honduras, forming the second largest barrier reef in the world. It supports a rich variety of wildlife, but it also absorbs much of the strength of ocean waves that can erode the area's popular beaches. But when hurricanes hit, they can rip away parts of the reefs, killing or damaging coral and leaving the beaches exposed to the elements. So The Nature Conservancy, the local tourism industry and the Mexican state of Quintana Roo created the state's Coastal Zone Management Trust, unveiled last month at a major international summit hosted in the area. The trust will collect tax money from hotels to pay both for regular maintenance of the coral reef and the innovative parametric insurance policy. When a major hurricane hits the area and windspeed reaches a certain threshold (how fast is still being worked out), the insurance policy will kick in, paying for the trust to clean up debris in the critical first few days and nurture and replant broken coral for months and years after that. The financial arrangement has buy-in from the local tourism industry after members came to realize the risks they were facing and that they could do something about it, said Fernando Secaira, Nature Conservancy coastal risk and resilience strategy lead for the region. "Almost everyone knows that the reef exists but many didn't know about the reef being degraded," Secaira said. How much tax revenue the trust will collect and how much the insurance will pay out are still being worked out, he said. The plan is to have the the trust up and running by the upcoming hurricane season. Insuring the reefs with parametric insurance likely wouldn't have been an option more than a dozen years ago. It's an increasingly popular tool mainly used, so far, by governments anticipating natural disasters like hurricanes and earthquakes, according to Eduardo Cavallo, who researches the economics of natural disasters at the Inter-American Development Bank in Washington. The bank is funded by dozens of governments and gives out development loans across Latin America and the Caribbean. Parametric insurance for natural catastrophes was first used by Mexico's government in 2006, according to Cavallo. He said the Coastal Zone Management Trust's use of parametric insurance for coral reefs is a far more specific application than he's seen before. Under a traditional indemnity insurance plan, assessors arrive after a disaster to evaluate how much damage was done and how much money to pay, Cavallo said. The process can take months and there can be disputes over how much money the policy should pay out. With a parametric insurance plan, a pre-set payment is triggered automatically, so it can come within days. It's usually more expensive than traditional insurance and requires extensive modeling from the insurer to get right, but for governments that want to respond to a disaster immediately, it's become a good option to supplement traditional insurance and foreign aid, Cavallo said. In Latin America and the Caribbean, "there's more and more countries considering this type of insurance and more and more availability," he said. There's been little controversy so far, Cavallo said, but he noted that "it's a market that's in its infancy." The quick payout is also critical for coral reefs after a storm, according to The Nature Conservancy. Coral is "a living organism and as it's rolling around on the seabed, it's getting damaged," Way said. When big storms do hit, they can damage massive parts of reefs. Three hurricanes that hit nearby Belize between 2000 and 2002 destroyed 75 percent of its coral reefs, according to a study cited in a United Nations report from 2004. Of course, coral reefs today are always under threat of bleaching, a potentially deadly phenomenon brought on by warming oceans. They're also being hurt by other human activities, like polluting and overfishing. The Coastal Zone Management Trust isn't meant to stop coral bleaching directly, and The Nature Conservancy has other initiatives aimed at reef restoration, but Way and Secaira noted that the effects of global warming do make coral more fragile and therefore more vulnerable to the damaging waves churned up in intense hurricanes. Through the trust, they believe they'll make the reefs more resilient. "When it comes to the actual structure of the reef, the biggest risk is hurricane damage," Way said. The initiative, announced March 8 at The Economist World Ocean Summit in Cancun-Playa del Carmen, came with some fanfare, according to Michelle Bender, ocean rights manager for the Earth Law Center who was at the conference. The insurance plan seemed innovative to Bender at first she hasn't seen anything like it, either but she started identifying some problems with it. She called it a "Band-Aid" for coral reefs that won't treat the bleaching that's chronically ailing them. She also took issue with the way the approach values nature for its human applications, rather its own inherent value. "We need to move past our traditional economic models that have the economy as our highest tier [in which] nature serves people and people serve the economy," she said. The Earth Law Center is set to launch its own initiative on Earth Day, a new legal framework that would establish rights for the ocean. It's part of a growing movement for giving rights to nature, she said, noting that a Colombian court ruled this month that the Amazon rainforest has rights. But others see the economic incentives-based approach as an effective way of getting governments to take conservation seriously. Michele Lemay, a coastal management specialist also at the Inter-American Development Bank, said she was "pretty excited" about the trust fund. It's the kind of approach she said gets the attention of top government officials who can change policy on a wide scale. "This is just one specific example where you can go to a minister of finance and you can show we can link a financial product with the conservation of some coastal ecosystems that have value to the private sector," Lemay said. "For a group of decision makers, that's what gets their attention." Twenty years ago, she said, those ministers, around the Caribbean at least, wouldn't have given an extra thought to such efforts. But she's seen a shift in the last several years that recognizes reefs and other coastal habitats as "the first line of defense against climate change," making governments and institutions much more interested in green infrastructure. She joked that this project has "the perfect storm" of backers in a major charity like The Nature Conservancy, a focused local government and willing private sector, so it's not guaranteed to work in other cases. But if it does work in Mexico, it will have "a huge demonstration effect," she added. The Nature Conservancy is already thinking about how to scale the effort around the world, and there's plenty of opportunities, starting with coral reefs. They protect or provide economic benefits to as many as 200 million people on Earth, according to a 2014 Stanford study that also found that restoring reef structures in the tropics is cheaper than building artificial breakwaters. Mangrove forests, salt marshes and seagrass beds, among other parts of the ecosystem, could also get their own parametric insurance policies. Pollution is another parameter that might trigger payouts. "We need to reduce vulnerabilities as much as we can" as risks increase with the onset of climate change, Way said. His colleague, Seceira, suggested parametric insurance could help countries begin to factor their natural wealth into their national accounting, the same way they do highways and hospitals. "We can approach nature as an asset that you can insure because it's so valuable," Seceira said. "It's changing the mindset of many people." Dallas City Council Members complained that Atmos Energy natural gas line replacement plans unveiled Wednesday are too slow. A company briefing to the City Council Wednesday included new promises for better communication and faster pipe replacement since a February 23 explosion that killed 12 year old Linda Rogers. It brought new public attention to old pipes. A little girl died and thats when Atmos kicked it into gear, City Councilman Omar Narvaez said at the briefing. Company executives said safety has always been their highest priority. Weve learned a lot of lessons from this and we will be communicating much more frequently with the city and with all of our customers, said Atmos Director of Public Affairs Jennifer Altieri. The briefing included at list of the 40 largest replacement projects scheduled in Dallas this year and an interactive map to show the locations. Atmos said it also posted new records on its website. A complete line replacement for 2,500 homes in the neighborhood surrounding the deadly explosion was part of a fourfold increase in capital investment since 2005, Atmos CEO Mike Haefner said. I can assure you our system is safe today and with the investments weve made, it is safer than it has ever been, Haefner said. Dallas Mayor Mike Rawlings said he would prefer to have an independent review of Atmos safety. We need to tell our citizens were safe. I need somebody else looking to say thats the truth, Rawlings said. The Texas Railroad Commission regulates gas utilities and Rawlings said the city has limited authority over Atmos. Atmos executives said the explosion and a rash of leaks in distribution system for that Northwest Dallas neighborhood were the result of unique soil conditions and exceptional rainfall that could not have been predicted. It was operating as expected up until that point in time, Haefner said. It was very concerning to us as it is to everyone because were seeing damage to our pipelines and leak occurrence that weve never seen before. City Councilman Scott Griggs said other underground systems in Northwest Dallas should also have suffered catastrophic failure at the same time in February if those unique conditions suddenly attacked gas lines. Why are the only underground conduits affected, yours? Why arent underground water conduits affected, sewers, pools, sprinkler systems, Griggs asked. Griggs said some of the companys oldest cast iron pipes could still be in the ground for years to come in the replacement plan announced Wednesday. We need them replaced much sooner than 2023. I want to see these old pipes replaced in Oak cliff, other parts of the aging city, in the next year, he said. The company suggests more than doubling the 40 or so contract crews it has working in the Mid-Tex Division now. Executives said they would investigate the request to replace even more pipes but finding additional qualified contractors may be difficult. Customers could also be forced to pay the cost. Councilman Phil Kingston said Atmos rates have increased 36% over the past 5 years. Its very odd to have a situation in which a regulated utility is cranking at 36% increase in rates over the last 5 years and the answer is we simply could not have done better, Kingston said. Haefner said Atmos will discontinue estimated billing for winter months in the future after bills spiked this winter with higher than expected usage. We tried winter estimation. It did not work. Certainly didnt work as we had hoped and we are changing course, Haefner said. Atmos has 1.3 million customers and 31,000 miles of pipeline in the Mid-Tex Division which includes Dallas and more than 500 other communities. Atmos has more than 1,700 Mid-Tex employees including 771 in Dallas. California has reached an agreement with the federal government that the state's National Guard troops will deploy to the border to focus on fighting transnational gangs as well as drug and gun smugglers, Gov. Jerry Brown said. The announcement Wednesday came after a week of uncertainty in which President Donald Trump bashed the governor's insistence that troops avoid immigration-related work. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote on Twitter that final details were still being worked out "but we are looking forward to the support." Brown said he secured federal funding for terms similar to those outlined in last week's proposed contract: The Guard cannot handle custody duties for anyone accused of immigration violations, build border barriers or have anything to do with immigration enforcement. Federal officials refused to sign the proposal because they said it was outside established protocol for the Guard. Brown's office said Wednesday that the previous contract was unnecessary after he secured federal funding for his goals. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said the exact cost has not been determined. Some troops may be deployed this month and are expected to stay until at least Sept. 30, Brown said. Members of the contingent will be assigned to all parts of the state, not just the border. Brown elicited rare and effusive praise from Trump last week when he pledged 400 troops, which helped put the president above the lower end of his threshold of marshaling 2,000 to 4,000 troops for his border mission. Trump changed his tone Thursday and said Brown will send troops "to do nothing." "The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not word!" the president tweeted. Federal officials said Monday that Brown refused to commit California Guard troops to some initial jobs that were similar to assignments for National Guard troops from the three other Mexico border states Arizona, New Mexico and Texas all governed by Republicans. Trump bashed Brown's position two days in a row, even as the governor said a deal was near. "There's been a little bit of back and forth, as you always get with bureaucrats but I think we can find common understanding here," Brown said Tuesday in Washington. He added: "There's enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do and we're willing to do it." Nielsen, appearing alongside Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to thank him for contributing 440 troops, said Wednesday there were 1,000 troops deployed for the border mission and that number is growing. She said they were performing aerial surveillance and vehicle repairs. What to Know California is home to an estimated 2.3 million immigrants without legal authorization Under SB54, police cannot ask people about their immigration status or participate in federal immigration enforcement actions Jail officials may transfer inmates to federal immigration authorities only if they have been convicted of certain crimes The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted to join the Department of Justices lawsuit against the state of California over laws that limit police collaboration with immigration enforcement agents. The California Values Act or Senate Bill 54 took effect January 1 and sets limits on how much local police can help federal immigration authorities. The measure was dubbed a sanctuary state bill because it sought to expand so-called sanctuary city policies that have long been in place in some of California's biggest cities, including Los Angeles and San Francisco. The San Diego County Board of Supervisors voted 3 to 1 in favor of joining the lawsuit with yes votes from Supervisors Dianne Jacob, Kristin Gaspar, and Bill Horn. The board released the following statement Tuesday afternoon: The United States of America v. The State of California, a case alleging that a state law that limits cooperation with federal immigration officials is preempted by federal law, by a vote of 3-1, with Supervisors Jacob, Gaspar, and Horn voting Aye and Supervisor Cox voting Nay and Supervisor Roberts absent, authorize County Counsel to file an amicus brief supporting the position of the United States at the first available opportunity, which is likely to be on appeal. Supervisor Greg Cox voted against filing the brief. He released a written statement saying he believes the problem lies in Washington, D.C. "We need leaders in both parties to finally come up with comprehensive immigration reform," Cox said. He added he felt joining the lawsuit was unnecessary. "The Boards vote is a largely symbolic move that will create fear and divisiveness in our region, waste taxpayer funds and create distrust of law enforcement and local government within many communities," Cox said. Those that are representing us in Sacramento do not represent the people, said Jacob when she briefed the media on today's vote. Our state legislature is out of touch. Gaspar said the board received more than 800 pieces of correspondence supporting the decision however she admitted the board did not cross-reference to make sure the emails were from residents of San Diego County. Both Gaspar and Jacob repeatedly said the decision was based on maintaining public safety and keeping criminals out of the region. Ron Roberts, who had said he was opposed to joining the suit, was absent from the meeting. The ACLU of San Diego and Imperial Counties responded to the board's vote, calling it "troubling" and ignorant. Our Board of Supervisors decision to align with the Trump lawsuit against the State of California is troubling for many reasons: It disregards our shared values and common destiny as Californians; it ignores the recommendations of law enforcement experts, including Sheriff Bill Gore and former San Diego Police Chief David Bejarano...," the statement read in part. The ACLU also said the DOJ's lawsuit was without merit and "seeks to undermine our states constitutionally-protected authority to allocate limited state resources to priorities that ensure the safety and well-being of all California residents and communities." The statement ended with a call for the board to rescind its decision and instead "stand with San Diego County and stand with California." A statement from the San Diego County Sheriff's Department was also released Tuesday, saying the department would continue to comply with the California Values Act. "The Sheriff's Department has and will continue to comply with the Trust, Truth and California Values Acts. My deputies work hard to make our communities safe and we want to ensure all of our residents feel comfortable reporting crimes or coming forward as witnesses to criminal acts. Law enforcement at all levels in the San Diego region has a strong culture of cooperation. The Sheriff's Department will continue to comply with state law and will closely follow the federal lawsuit against the State of California where this level of cooperation will ultimately be determined." The San Diego Organizing Project called the decision harmful. "Our faith community will work tirelessly to elect true representatives who understand that we are better and stronger together, said board member Gloria Morales-Palos. "Today's action was the very definition of leadership," U.S. Rep. Duncan Hunter (R) 50th District said. Senator Toni Atkins (D-San Diego) said she was "disappointed" in the board's decision and said the state's bills were designed to protect public safety. Im disappointed in the Board majority for taking this misguided action. These bills were carefully crafted to be legal and constitutional, and to protect public safety. SB 54 does not shield violent and dangerous criminals from deportation, and it does not prevent federal immigration authorities from doing their job. Weve worked hard to bring our undocumented immigrant communities out of the shadows and into society because research shows it makes our state safer and more prosperous for all. I firmly believe California is on the right side of history and I stand by our commitment to these laws. The Orange County Board of Supervisors voted last month to join the lawsuit, while the Huntington Beach City Council voted recently to file its own suit. Officials with the city of Escondido voted 4-1 on April 4 in support of the Trump administration's lawsuit against California's "sanctuary state" status. Earlier Tuesday, dozens of people signed up to speak to the supervisors before the scheduled vote took place in closed session. Check back for updates on this developing story. Burbank Mayor Will Rogers, who continued his work for the city despite battling liver cancer, died on Thursday at age 60. Rogers was elected to the City Council in 2015 and chosen mayor in May 2017. He announced in September 2017 that he was battling stage four liver cancer, but he continued serving on the council and appearing at public events until as recently as a week before his passing. An actor and writer, Rogers appeared in a commercial when he was 15 years old, but he maintained a "backup career" as a journalist and writer. The Wisconsin native moved to the Los Angeles area in 1979, and by 1990, he was writing regular columns that appeared in the Times Community Newspapers, earning him prizes from the Los Angeles Press Club and California Newspaper Publishers Association. He is survived by his wife, Nancie; daughter, Sarah; and son, Stephen. Los Angeles County Supervisor Kathryn Barger reacted to his death, saying Rogers "will be deeply missed." President Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, is facing so much opposition from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favorable recommendation. On Wednesday, the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, became the latest to announce his opposition, raising concern that Pompeo failed, in their private conversation, to disclose his recent trip to North Korea to meet with President Kim Jong Un. News of Pompeo's visit ricocheted on Capitol Hill after it was made public late Tuesday, but if it was intended to shore up support among wavering senators, it appeared to have the opposite effect among Democrats. Another key member of the panel, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., also announced Wednesday he would vote no. "I don't expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit," Menendez said in a talk at a Washington policy think tank. Menendez echoed concerns lodged by other Democratic senators that Pompeo did little during his public hearing to roll back his comments against Muslims and gay marriage, and failed to outline a clear foreign policy strategy. "His own personal record is deeply troubling," Menendez said. "Past statements indicate he has a preference for military action before exhausting diplomacy. Furthermore, he was unable to satisfactorily explain or express contrition for some of the more egregious statements he made as a member of Congress about Muslims, or defend his positions denying women and LGBTQ individuals' fundamental human rights." Pompeo is still expected to have enough votes in the full Senate to replace Rex Tillerson, who was fired by Trump. But as support peels away, his confirmation may come down to a handful of senators. The backlash ahead of the committee's vote is a rare rebuke for such a high-profile Cabinet pick. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire on Tuesday announced her opposition, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., recently said he would vote no. Both supported Pompeo as CIA director last year. Shaheen said Pompeo's previous roles "are fundamentally different from that of secretary of state, who represents American values around the world." Rarely has the Senate panel failed to back a nominee, and some said not since President George W. Bush nominated John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has the committee declined to recommend a White House pick. Republicans have a narrow Senate majority, which gives them a single-vote advantage on the panel. But with stiff opposition from Democrats and at least one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the committee may have few other options when it convenes as soon as next week. "We'll see," said the committee's chairman, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. Under Senate rules, if the nominee does not have support in the committee, the panel could report to the full Senate unfavorably, which would send a strong rebuke to the White House, or simply report without a recommendation. It also could take no action. Senators submitted more than 100 questions for the nominee after his initial hearing, and many are waiting for those responses. Trump initially tapped Pompeo as CIA director, one of his first Cabinet nominees in 2017, and they became close allies. But some Democrats have faced resistance for their earlier votes in support of Pompeo, and Pompeo is having a tougher path as the nominee for secretary of state over his hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities, having suggested that Muslims should denounce extremism and gay people should not be able to marry. During his confirmation hearing last week, Pompeo told senators it's unlikely he'd resign if Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Of the more than a dozen Democrats who supported Pompeo's nomination as CIA director in 2017, at least four, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, now oppose his nomination for State. "The Secretary of State is a very different role than CIA director, and it's not the kind of position you learn on the job," Feinstein said in a statement Tuesday. "I sense a certain disdain for diplomacy in Mike Pompeo that I believe disqualifies him from being our next senior diplomat." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who also backed Pompeo earlier, declined to say Tuesday how he would vote. The Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was in Imperial County Wednesday touring border fence construction in Calexico. After Nielsen was briefed on the progress of the construction of replacement fencing in the border zone, she met with employees of her agency. A 30-foot high wall consisting of metal posts will replace an area of the existing fence that covers approximately 2.25 miles, according to the U.S. Customs and Border Protection. The existing fence in that area was built in the 1990s and had been breached "several hundred times during the last two years," CBP officials said. The area for the construction is west of the Calexico Port of Entry beyond a nearby outlet mall shopping center. Construction should be completed by October 2018. Nielsen called the construction of the replacement fence as one of the highest priorities to improve border security in the region. We will work with the National Guard until we can look each other in the eyes and say we have operational control of the border, Nielsen said. We need additional funding. We need the wall system. CBP officials said the El Centro Sector of the U.S. Border Patrol is responsible for apprehending 18,633 undocumented immigrants in 2017. [[480168213,C]] Nielsen was in San Diego in March when President Donald Trump visited the prototypes for a proposed new border wall that were constructed in Otay Mesa, south of San Diego. What to Know The two deputies were fatally shot as they sat down in a Chinese restaurant. The shooter's name was identified late Thursday as 58-year-old John Hubert Highnote of Bell. President Donald Trump and Florida Sen. Marco Rubio responded to the shooting. Investigators in Florida say they may never know why a man - a recluse from a rural farm community who rarely ventured into town - killed two sheriff's deputies while they sat in a Chinese restaurant. John Hubert Highnote, 58, of Bell casually walked into the restaurant, went up to the Gilchrest County deputies and fired at them. He then went into his car and killed himself. "It's inexplicable," State Attorney Bill Cervone said. "People will want to know why, and we may never have an answer for them." Highnote came from a small town just up the road from the Ace China restaurant in Trenton, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Gainesville. He lived alone in a small, brick house off a dirt road shaded under a canopy of trees. A neighbor who has lived across the street for five years said that Highnote never once introduced himself, and he was rarely seen in town. The only time she ever saw him was when he would drive his truck into the garage. "I'd see him pull in, shut the garage and go in. No lights on or nothing," said the neighbor, who spoke on condition of anonymity because she did not want to be involved in the investigation. She characterized him as a recluse. Gilchrest County Sheriff Bobby Schultz blamed the deaths of Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 30, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey, 25, on hatred toward law enforcement. "What do you expect happens when you demonize law enforcement to the extent it's been demonized? Every type of hate, every type of put-down you can think of," Schultz said at a news conference. "The only thing these men were guilty of is wanting to protect you and me. They just wanted to get something to eat, and they just wanted to do their job," he said. President Donald Trump called the slain deputies "HEROES" in a tweet sharing his condolences with their friends, families and colleagues. Highnote bought his house in Bell in 2010, property records show. He'd had one traffic ticket in Gilchrist County over the past eight years, according to the county clerk of court. Prior to moving to Bell, records show that Highnote lived in St. Petersburg where he had more run-ins with law enforcement over previous decades. He was arrested for felony carrying a concealed firearm in 1978, a charge later dropped after he successfully completed a pre-trial intervention, Pinellas County court records show. Hightnote was also arrested for misdemeanor criminal mischief in 1994, for which he also did a pre-trial diversion program and the charges were dropped. The records had no further information about the mischief for which he was arrested. He was also cited for consuming alcohol in public in 1977, and had 11 traffic tickets for speeding and other infractions over the years. Schultz said state law enforcement officials are investigating, and an investigator from the Florida Department of Law Enforcement was at Highnote's house on Friday. "Sgt. Ramirez and Deputy Lindsey were the best of the best," Schultz said. "They were men of integrity, men of loyalty. They were God-fearing, and they loved what they did, and we are very proud of them." Schultz said he rushed to the scene, and then had the difficult task of calling the families of Ramirez, who is survived by his wife and two young children, and Lindsey, who joined the sheriff's office in 2013. Jamie Mauldin, a waitress at Akins Bar-B-Q about a mile from Highnote's house in Bell said the town is devastated by the loss of the two deputies. She wore a freshly made T-shirt that said "Gilchrist Strong." The proceeds of the shirts will go to the deputies' families. "Ramirez was the sweetest ever. He loved his family. Loved his job," she said. "Always had a smile." What to Know Despite a handover of power, there is not much optimism in the Cuban-American community for positive change. A symbolic vigil will be held on Thursday in front of the Versailles Restaurant. Raul Castro will remain as one of the most powerful people in Cuba as he will continue to lead the Communist Party. Miguel Diaz-Canel has been the presumptive next president of Cuba since 2013, when Raul Castro named the laconic former provincial official to the important post of first vice president and lauded him as "neither a novice nor an improviser," high praise in a system dedicated to continuity over all. Castro said nothing about how a young civilian from outside his family could lead the socialist nation that he and his older brother Fidel created from scratch and ruled with total control for nearly 60 years. Exiles in Miami said Diaz-Canel would be a figurehead for continued Castro dominance. Cubans on the island speculated about a weak president sharing power with the head of the communist party, or maybe a newly created post of prime minister. No one who knew was talking. And no one who was talking knew. The first clues to the mystery of Cuba's future power structure were revealed early Thursday when Raul Castro handed the presidency to Diaz-Canel, who took office when the 604-member National Assembly said 603 of its members had approved the 57-year-old as the sole official candidate for the top government position. With Castro watching from the audience, Diaz-Canel made clear that for the moment he would defer to the man who founded Cuba's communist system along with his brother. Diaz-Canel said he would retain Castro's Cabinet through at least July, when the National Assembly meets again. "I confirm to this assembly that Raul Castro, as first secretary of the Communist Party, will lead the decisions about the future of the country," Diaz-Canel said. "Cuba needs him, providing ideas and proposals for the revolutionary cause, orienting and alerting us about any error or deficiency, teaching us, and always ready to confront imperialism." Perhaps more importantly, Castro's 90-minute valedictory speech offered his first clear plan for a president whom Castro seemed to envision as the heir to near-total control of the country's political system, which in turn dominates virtually every aspect of life in Cuba. Castro said he foresees the white-haired electronics engineer serving two five-year terms as leader of the Cuban government, and taking the helm of the Communist Party, the country's ultimate authority, also for two five-year terms, when Castro leaves the powerful position in 2021. "From that point on, I will be just another soldier defending this revolution," Castro said. The 86-year-old general broke frequently from his prepared remarks to joke and banter with officials on the dais in the National Assembly, saying he looked forward to having more time to travel the country. State media struck a similar valedictory tone. The evening newscast played black-and-white footage of Castro as a young revolutionary, with the soundtrack of "The Last Mambi" a song that bids farewell to Castro as a public figure and was written by Raul Torres, a singer who composed a similar homage to Fidel Castro after the revolutionary leader's death in 2016. The plan laid out by Raul Castro on Thursday would leave Diaz-Canel as the dominant figure in Cuban politics until 2031. "The same thing we're doing with him, he'll have to do with his successor," Castro said. "When his 10 years of service as president of the Council of State and Council of Ministers are over, he'll have three years as first secretary in order to facilitate the transition. This will help us avoid mistakes by his successor, until (Diaz-Canel) retires to take care of the grandchildren he will have then, if he doesn't have them already, or his great-grandchildren." Diaz-Canel pledged that his priority would be preserving Cuba's communist system while gradually reforming the economy and making the government more responsive to the people. "There's no space here for a transition that ignores or destroys the legacy of so many years of struggle," Diaz-Canel said. Diaz-Canel said he would work to implement a long-term plan laid out by the National Assembly and Communist Party that would continue allowing the limited growth of private enterprises like restaurants and taxis, while leaving the economy's most important sectors such as energy, mining, telecommunications, medical services and rum- and cigar-production in the hands of the state. "The people have given this assembly the mandate to provide continuity to the Cuban Revolution during a crucial, historic moment that will be defined by all that we achieve in the advance of the modernization of our social and economic model," Diaz-Canel said. Cubans said they expected their new president to deliver improvements to the island's economy, which remains stagnant and dominated by inefficient, unproductive state-run enterprises that are unable to provide salaries high enough to cover basic needs. The average monthly pay for state workers is roughly $30 a month. "I hope that Diaz-Canel brings prosperity," said Richard Perez, a souvenir salesman in Old Havana. "I want to see changes, above all economic changes allowing people to have their own businesses, without the state in charge of so many things." But in Miami, Cuban-Americans said they didn't expect much from Diaz-Canel. "It's a cosmetic change," said Wilfredo Allen, a 66-year-old lawyer who left Cuba two years after the Castros' 1959 revolution. "The reality is that Raul Castro is still controlling the Communist Party. We are very far from having a democratic Cuba." After formally taking over from his older brother Fidel in 2008, Raul Castro launched a series of reforms that led to a rapid expansion of Cuba's private sector and burgeoning use of cellphones and the internet. Cuba today has a vibrant real estate market and one of the world's fastest-growing airports. Tourism numbers have more than doubled since Castro and President Barack Obama re-established diplomatic relations in 2015, making Cuba a destination for nearly 5 million visitors a year, despite a plunge in relations under the Trump administration. Castro's moves to open the economy even further have largely been frozen or reversed as soon as they began to generate conspicuous displays of wealth by the new entrepreneurial class in a country officially dedicated to equality among its citizens. Foreign investment remains anemic and the island's infrastructure is falling deeper into disrepair. The election of President Donald Trump dashed dreams of detente with the U.S., and after two decades of getting Venezuelan subsidies totaling more than $6 billion a year, Cuba's patron has collapsed economically, with no replacement in the wings. Castro's inability or unwillingness to fix Cuba's structural problems with deep and wide-ranging reforms has many wondering how a successor without Castro's founding-father credentials will manage the country over the next five or 10 years. "I want the country to advance," said Susel Calzado, a 61-year-old economics professor. "We already have a plan laid out." At the U.S. State Department, spokeswoman Heather Nauert expressed disappointment at the handover, saying Cuban citizens "had no real power to affect the outcome" of what she called the "undemocratic transition." Vice President Mike Pence tweeted at Castro that the U.S. won't rest until Cuba "has free & fair elections, political prisoners are released & the people of Cuba are finally free!" Diaz-Canel first gained prominence in Villa Clara province as the top Communist Party official, a post equivalent to governor. People there describe him as a hard-working, modest-living technocrat dedicated to improving public services. He became higher education minister in 2009 before moving into the vice presidency. In a video of a Communist Party meeting that inexplicably leaked to the public last year, Diaz-Canel expressed a series of orthodox positions that included somberly pledging to shutter some independent media and labeling some European embassies as outposts of foreign subversion. But he has also defended academics and bloggers who became targets of hard-liners, leading some to describe him a potential advocate for greater openness in a system intolerant of virtually any criticism or dissent. International observers and Cubans alike will be scrutinizing every move he makes in coming days and weeks. The Democracy Movement group will hold a vigil on Thursday in "memory of the victims fallen due to the dictatorship of the Castro family and in protest of the fake succession of Raul Castro in Cuba." The vigil will take place in front of the Versailles Restaurant, a Cuban-American cornerstone in Little Havana at 7 p.m. Associated Press writer Ben Fox contributed to this report. What to Know Diaz-Canel was the countrys first Vice President and a long-time protege of Raul Castro, the leader of the communist nation since 2008. The presidential result is essentially clear since Cubas national assembly approves all executive branch proposals by at least 95 percent. Raul Castro will still be the most powerful person in Cuba for the time being as he will continue to be the leader of the Communist Party. In his last speech to the National Assembly as president of Cuba, Raul Castro took sharp aim at the United States. On December 17th of 2014, together with then President Barack Obama, we began a process of finding solutions and cooperation between both nations, although the idea of undermining the Cuban revolution never ceased. Now, there has been a deliberate regression -- reaching its peak with the insulting memo of June 2017 given by President Trump and backed by extreme right-wing Florida lawmakers," Castro said in his speech. He also blasted the expulsion of Cuban personnel in Washington and the removal of U.S. diplomats from Cuba. Regarding Cubas human rights record, he said: We dont need lessons from the United States. We can fix our own problems. Castro also made reference to President Trumps proposed wall, calling U.S. policy towards immigrants racist. He said Cuba maintains its solidarity with Syria. As for Russia, Castro said that Cuba will never be ungrateful or forget that Russia was there for the country during its most difficult period. Castro spoke Thursday after Miguel Diaz-Canel was named the new president of Cuba the first person not named Castro to hold that title since 1959. Diaz-Canel was the countrys first vice president and a long-time protege of Raul Castro, the leader of the communist nation since 2008, when he took over from the longtime leader, his brother Fidel. The 57-year-old was hand-picked in an effort to ensure the continuation of one of the globes last surviving communist states. The presidential result was essentially clear since Cubas national assembly approves all executive branch proposals by margins of 95 percent or higher. 603 of the assembly's 604 members voted for Diaz-Canel, with the new president being the only person not to cast a vote. Diaz-Canel is known to Cubans in the central province of Villa Clara as a modest-living, hard-working member of the party that has been in control for generations. He is an electrical engineer who previously served as the minister of education. Theyve put in a nondescript civilian who doesnt belong to the military, which is very important, and doesnt have any control over any of the businesses, said Jim Cason, a former U.S. diplomat to Cuba. Hes an apparatchik so I think its a succession. Raul Castro will still be the most powerful person in Cuba for the time being as he will continue to be the leader of the Communist Party on the island. You can look at it as a generational transition, but its not a real transition to something new and different in Cuba, Cason said. Some of the issues Diaz-Canel will face include a stagnant economy at home, with growing disenchantment on the island with slow market reforms Castro introduced in 2011. The country is also receiving fewer dollars from American tourists, as President Donald Trump has reinforced some restrictions eased under the administration of former President Barack Obama. What to Know Police Chief Rick Maglione told reporters that officers initially used "less lethal methods" when the suspect refused to leave his vehicle. The chief says the suspect fired at officers and an officer fired back, killing him. No one else was injured. A homicide suspect was killed in an officer-involved shooting after he fired at officers in Fort Lauderdale Wednesday night, officials said. Fort Lauderdale Police said Dytadious Mobley was pronounced dead at the scene in the 900 block of West Sunrise Boulevard. Police Chief Rick Maglione told reporters that officers initially used "less lethal methods" when the suspect refused to leave his vehicle outside a shopping plaza just after 6 p.m. The chief says the suspect fired at officers and an officer fired back, killing him. No one else was injured. Officials said two firearms were recovered from inside Mobley's car. The officers who confronted the suspect work in a multi-agency task force, and police spokeswoman Casey Liening says it's not yet clear which agency's officer opened fire. The Florida Department of Law Enforcement will investigate. "We owe it to the police officers, to this community, and to the family of the decedent to do a thorough and objective investigation," Maglione said. According to police, Mobley was wanted in the Jan. 16 shooting of 55-year-old Bernice Jefferson in Fort Lauderdale. Jefferson was shot and killed in front of her daughter and five grandchildren. Police said Mobley fathered three of Jefferson's grandchildren. "He really was a good person, this whole situation [doesn't] define his character," uncle John Mobley said. "Its a sad situation overall but thats his life and theres nothing I can do." A former Miami Beach Commission candidate who was accused of exposing himself to a sitting commissioner officially had his name cleared by the Miami-Dade State Attorney's Office Thursday. The case against Rafael Velasquez involved allegations of inappropriate sexual behavior last October, as well as a phone conversation that was secretly taped by investigators. Last fall, while running for Miami Beach City Commission, sitting commissioner Kristen Rosen-Gonzalez accused Velasquez of exposing himself, and urging her to touch him while the two were sitting in a car. But on Thursday, Velasquez learned he was cleared of wrongdoing by the state attorney's office. "More importantly, at this stage of my life, is that this nightmare has come to an end, that I can actually walk down the street with my head up high," Velasquez said. As part of the investigation, police secretly recorded a conversation between then candidate Velasquez and political consultant Pedro Diaz, with Velasquez urging Diaz to tell police he was set up. In the memo closing out the investigation, a prosecutor wrote: "There was no physical evidence to prove the offense occurred; there were no other witnesses who could testify that the incident occurred; and the subject did not admit to the alleged misconduct." In her statement to the Miami Herald, Commissioner Rosen-Gonzalez wrote in part, "When his repeated inappropriate behavior towards other women was also exposed and his commission opponent was elected, I thought the public trust was protected and advised the state attorney that I did not wish to press charges...Justice has been done." Velasquez said he hasn't ruled out a future run for office and said he was happy this chapter is behind him. A New Jersey branch of LA Fitness is under fire after a guest and member accused gym employees of calling the police on them in what they felt was a case of racial profiling. Now-viral videos posted to Facebook from the Secaucus location of the gym chain showed several police officers in the lobby after Tshyrad Oates and his friend, a member of the club, went to the location Monday for a workout. The exchange -- just a days after the arrests of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks prompted the coffee giant to shut down all stores for racial bias training -- has sparked growing outrage on social media. Oates said in the post he was working out with a four-day guest pass and had signed in with his friend. They worked out for about half an hour before they were approached by an employee who said they had to pay or leave, even though they said they both had already signed in. Oates said he had used a guest pass, and his friend said he had signed in and his gym tag was in his locker. "He felt racially profiled and embarrassed by the harassment of this La Fitness employee in front of other members at the gym," Oates wrote. Oates said two officers responded after the interaction and questioned them on why they were at the gym without memberships. That's when Oates' friend, who said he had been a member for at least eight years, was scanned his ID again. "What's that say on the screen," Oates' friend asks the employee in one of the videos, who doesn't respond and walks away. In a subsequent video, Oates' friend says "We're the only two black people in here. Been having problems with this gym for months." Oates said after the exchange he was told he was banned from the gym and his friend's membership was terminated. They were both then asked to leave. NBC 4 New York has reached out to LA Fitness seeking comment, but the gym chain said in a statement to NJ.com it apologized to Oates' friend and made it clear that his membership was still valid. It also told the outlet it was "exploring potential training content and opportunities to better train our staff." "Regrettably, our staff unnecessarily escalated the situation and called the police rather than work through it," the gym said in a statement. An employee at the Secaucus gym who answered the phone later told NJ.com that a manager and two others had been fired following the incident. But it was unclear if the man was privy to the decision or authorized to speak to the press on the gym's behalf. Secaucus Police Chief Kevin Flaherty said officers were called in for an "issue about whether they were members or abusing guest passes." "I think the officers did a good job," he said. "Our main goal is to keep the peace." In the two days since the video, the Secaucus location's Facebook and Yelp pages have been flooded with one-star reviews from users across the country. Philadelphia's police commissioner and mayor apologized on Thursday to two black men who were arrested at a Starbucks in Center City last week. Commissioner Richard Ross, who is black, previously staunchly defended police for their handling of the incident. Ross says that he made the situation worse and "failed miserably" in the messaging around the arrests. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were sitting in the Rittenhouse Square store for a few minutes last Thursday when they were approached by police. A few minutes later, they were arrested. Video of the arrests sparked nationwide outrage. Ross says that the issue of race is not lost on him and he shouldn't be the person making things worse. "I am flawed like many other folks but that is still no excuse," Ross said. He also apologized for not knowing Starbucks policy and said he was unaware that you don't have to buy something to sit in the coffee shop. "I just think that as we work to make this city safer and better we do have to acknowledge that there are still things that we need to work on," Ross said. "It starts at the top and that starts with me. Messaging is important and I failed miserably in this regard." Later Thursday, Democratic Mayor Jim Kenney joined Ross in apologizing to the men. "I want to acknowledge their pain and the pain of so many others, and commit our city to healing it together over the coming days, weeks and months," the mayor's statement read in part. Kenney, who is white, commended Ross for his "ability to reflect on this very difficult week, and to articulate his changed perspective." Ross said the arresting officer is mortified and was put into an unfortunate circumstance. He says the officers and men didn't see eye-to-eye during the about 10-minute exchange. He says the police department did not have a policy for dealing for similar situations, but does now. He says it will be released soon. "The current realities of race relations and bias in 2018 warrant ongoing re-evaluations by each and every one of us," Kenney's statement said. The Massachusetts Department of Higher Education is set to meet with officials at Mount Ida College Thursday over the school's recent decision to close. The meeting comes a day after students at the Newton college learned that top administrators received large pay raises while the school's debt was increasing by the millions. According to the most recent tax forms available from the college, President Barry Brown's salary rose by nearly 25 percent in 2015. Last week, the state Senate ordered an oversight hearing into the planned purchase of the 74-acre campus by the University of Massachusetts. Senators said they were irked they weren't given any advance notice of the purchase. Senators also questioned the wisdom of the purchase, suggesting the money would be better spent fixing the university system's campuses and holding down tuition. UMass-Amherst has said it will use the Mount Ida campus for "career preparation programs" in science and technology fields. Students at Mount Ida would be offered automatic admission to the UMass-Dartmouth campus. The changes, expected to take place this fall, have upset current students and those who had planned to attend. "It upsets me, I have no idea where my money that I have paid towards my four years here, where has it gone," said one student Wednesday. The meeting between the Department of Higher Education and Mount Ida is expected to take place in Boston at 9 a.m. In Maine, the 2019 election could include a question of life and death. A citizens group has launched a petition drive to get a "death with dignity" law on the statewide ballot. If they gather more than 60,000 valid signatures, Maine voters could decide if terminally ill patients should have access to life-ending medication. "I really think this is a compassionate thing," said Cayla Miller. Her mother, Eva Thompson, died from cancer four months ago. Thompson had previously lobbied lawmakers to pass a death with dignity bill, and she wanted a less-painful way to die. "She knew what cancer would do at the end, and how painful that would be," said Miller. "She was scared of the pain, and scared of being helpless. She thought it was important that everyone have a choice." Miller was among the first to sign a petition for the referendum question Thursday. The Wiscasset-based group "Maine Death With Dignity" is organizing the petition drive. Maine lawmakers have attempted to pass similar death with dignity laws, but fell a few votes short. Sen. Geoff Gratwick said there were some ethical and religious objections to the bill, but felt confident Maine voters would endorse the idea. This latest proposal would require patients to submit multiple requests to doctors for life-ending medication. They can only receive it if they have been diagnosed as terminally ill, with less than six months left to live. Maine Death With Dignity Chair Valerie Lovelace said patients would have to go through a waiting period to get the medication, and they would receive counseling. There are several other "safe guards" in the bill, modeled after a similar law in Oregon. There are some objections in the hospice and palliative care community. Physician James Van Kirk, a palliative care doctor, said the state should be focused on increasing access to comfort care, especially in areas where there isn't any. "In our state, there are vast areas where no palliative or hospice care is available to the population," said Dr. Van Kirk. He worries passing a law to authorize physician-assisted suicide would give people in those rural communities only that option for end-of-life care. Christian shop hosts Dereham's new community fridge Christian shop hosts Dereham's new community fridge This week a new community fridge was installed at Green Pastures Christian bookshop on Dereham High Street as part of a growing initiative in Breckland to tackle food waste. Praise from judges at The London Book Fair FORMER West Berkshire resident Lucy Pearson won The Book Blogger prize at The London Book Fair last week after travelling from Sydney, Australia, to attend the ceremony. Although she now lives overseas, her family still live in Midgham. Her blog, The Literary Edit, features various reviews for different books she has read and bookstores she has visited around the world as well as a journal detailing her travels and life as an expat. Representatives of the fair praised her work, saying: The judges really loved the wonderful aesthetic of this blog. It inscribes the book into day-to-day life. Her professionalism shone through with her fresh enthusiastic approach, that seeps through to all her other channels. The London Book Fair took place last week at London Olympia. It awarded those who contribute to the book industry through social media, on mediums such as YouTube, Instagram and blogging. After winning her award, Miss Pearson was interviewed by Mariella Frostrop for BBC Radio 4. The Glenholme School, a special needs boarding and day school in Washington, responded to the 2014 Flint, Mich., water crisis with aid through its Fund a Fresh Future for Flint. Nearly four years later, as the crisis continues quietly away from the nightly news, it is no less critical. Glenholme honors its promise to maintain support for Flint and its families for as long as it takes. During the school year, all liquids including soups, soda and water, sold in The Commons the on-site, student-operated vocational cafe have a fundraising surcharge for the benefit of the Flint families affected by the water crises. Four times per year since 2014, the school has sent funds to the Foundation for Flint, which is synonymous with FlintKids.org. The most recent donation was made in January of 2018. In response to the schools recent donation in December, the Foundation for Flint staff member wrote a personal note to the school. She wrote: As an employee of the Foundation, Id like to thank The Glenholme School for their support! As the parent of a child who was exposed to lead in his drinking water, please accept my personal gratitude for your continued kindness. Collectively, the donated funds from Glenholme for FlintKids.org have surpassed $2,400 and the school aims to continue the endeavor until the restoration of a healthy water supply to the Flint community is complete. Seniors in Danbury-area towns are urging officials to consider how potential tax hikes next year would affect them, arguing that current tax relief policies for seniors are not enough to help those living on a fixed income. The tax burden on seniors was brought up during recent budget hearings in at least four towns Ridgefield, Brookfield, New Milford and Redding. Seniors in some towns asked officials to keep tax increases down to lessen their impact on the elderly, but many in Ridgefield and Redding specifically asked for help with their tax bills. In Ridgefield, a group of about 65 seniors calling themselves the OWLS, or the Older Wiser Lively Set, proposed three changes in the towns tax relief plan to give elderly taxpayers more help. OWLS President John Fisher said the changes would bring the tax benefits more in line with the cost of living in town. Social Security hasnt gone up very much in a long time, so what we in the senior community are faced with is an ever-increasing cost of living, Fisher said. Our incomes are not at all keeping up with that. Over time, the gap becomes greater. Under state statute, towns can set up their own tax relief plans for elderly and disabled residents, who are also eligible to apply for state relief programs. Ridgefields program gives qualifying seniors a $1,048 tax benefit per household and offers up to 100 percent deferral of taxes for those making $55,000 or less. The OWLS plan would raise the per-household benefit to $1,200, freeze taxes for those over 75 and raise the maximum for deferral to $65,000. First Selectman Rudy Marconi said the town is reviewing how much the changes would cost, but the proposal came too late to be made part of next years budget, which will head to voters in May. He added that most town officials believe next years budget is too tight to implement the ideas immediately. More Information Elderly Tax Relief Programs* Danbury: $44,100 single and $51,600 married income maximum; benefit $450 single and $600 married New Fairfield: $36,000 income maximum; deferral program for up to 50 percent of taxes New Milford: $35,200 single and married $42,900 income maximum calculated including only half of social security; benefit $960 the first year, recalculated following years based on mill rate, income and other benefits Redding: No income requirement; benefit calculated annually based on mill rate Ridgefield: No income requirement; $1,048 benefit per household; deferral program for household income less than $55,000 *For residents 65 and older, with restrictions on amount of time lived in town; numbers based on most recent data See More Collapse Officials will explore whether any of the changes are possible for the 2019-20 budget, he said. There wasnt enough time to run those numbers this year, Marconi said. (But)the Board of Finance suggested the Board of Selectmen take into consideration a review of the current senior tax credit program and see if we can figure it out. The tax relief program is also under review in Bethel, where officials created an Elderly Tax Abatement Commission in 2016 to review the benefits. The town now reduces qualifying residents tax bills by 10 to 75 percent based on income levels. Tax Collector Ann Scacco said the commission has not yet decided whether to change Bethels plan. She added that a more recent concern has become a lack of funding for the state program. This years state budget eliminated the requirement that the state reimburse towns for seniors who participate in Connecticuts elderly relief program. Scacco said this could affect what Bethel is able to offer, since it will now have to pick up the state cost in addition to its own plan. Seniors across the area were quick to recognize the role state finances have played in increasing the tax burden. Jeff McBreairty, a senior in New Milford, said the town struggled to craft next years budget because it will receive at least $3 million less in state funding. The proposed town and school budget will increase spending by just $702,000 over this year and will use $1.1 million of the towns undesignated fund to keep taxes down. But because of the lack of state funding, the tax rate will still go up 3.87 percent. Thats 3.87 percent I dont have, McBreairty said. Its going to get to the point where I wont be able to live in this town anymore, and thats a shame. Ive been living here for 54 years. McBreairty said he receives disability and veterans benefits, but still struggles to pay his taxes. He might look into advocating for more senior benefits should taxes continue to go up, McBreairty said. Another senior, Carmine Rositano, of Brookfield, said he isnt too hopeful that elderly tax relief plans will be improved at either the town or state level because both are dealing with strained finances. Rositano said he himself doesnt qualify for the towns tax relief program, but thinks it doesnt do much for those that do. He instead has pressed town officials to decrease spending so seniors arent forced to move. Should the 2018-19 proposal to raise taxes by 5.64 percent be approved, he said, taxes in Brookfield will have gone up 13 percent over the last three years. Social Security has increased by only 2.5 percent in the same time period, Rositano said. He added that he will need to dip into his savings to pay his taxes next year, as he did this year, should the 5.64 percent increase be approved. It is rather difficult for the senior citizens to keep funding Brookfield at the pace that it is going, Rositano said. A lot of the increase has to do with reduced funding (from the state). The state is in a fiscal bind, the towns are in a fiscal bind, and theyre passing it all on to their citizens. Using computer models and laboratory rats, Johns Hopkins researchers have demonstrated that "direct electrical current" can be delivered to nerves preferentially, blocking pain signals while leaving other sensations undisturbed. The researchers say the experiments advance the search for improved implantable devices able to treat chronic pain that is due to peripheral nerve injury or disease. "We have developed a potential new concept for neural implants that works differently than conventional electrical stimulators," says Gene Fridman, Ph.D., M.S., assistant professor of otolaryngology-;head and neck surgery and biomedical engineering at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. "We believe we are the first to investigate the idea of using this concept for implantable medical devices that use direct electrical current, long thought to be unsafe." Implantable spinal cord stimulators and peripheral nerve stimulators designed to interrupt nerve pain impulses were developed more than 30 years ago, but the devices work by interacting with sensory nerve cells, leading to numbness, tingling and other side effects. In a report on the new findings, published online April 11 in Science Advances, the researchers say direct electrical current devices would allow for more precise, preferential targeting of the appropriate pain-transmitting nerve cells, making them more effective for pain suppression and reducing the side effects of conventional devices. Traditionally, direct current -; or single-direction streaming electrical signaling -; has been considered unsafe for medical devices that deliver electrical stimulation in the body. The continual flow of electrical current results in chemical reactions at the site of the electrodes delivering the signal, causing gas bubbles, corrosion and toxic byproducts to form. All modern implantable electrical stimulation devices use alternating current pulses instead, in which the electrical current switches back and forth very quickly in a circuit between positive and negative voltage. Such rapid pulses allow the devices to interact with the nervous system but don't create the toxic chemical reactions. In 2013, Fridman and his team reported on successful efforts to develop an ionic direct current system, which converts the "safe" pulses like those delivered in the conventional stimulator into direct ionic current that may potentially be applied to the body safely. To find out if the modified system of direct ionic current could be safely used to preferentially target and silence pain-transmitting neurons, Fridman teamed up with pain researcher Yun Guan, M.D., Ph.D., an associate professor of anesthesiology, critical care medicine and neurological surgery at the Johns Hopkins University School of Medicine. When nerve cells receive a signal of pain or other sensation, the signal opens sodium channels and floods the cell with positively charged sodium ions, which positively charge the neurons until the electrochemistry changes enough to inactivate the channels and close them. This change in electrical charge of the neuron is what propagates and sends the signal to the spinal cord and then to the brain to register as a sensation, such as pain or pressure. Each nerve in mammalian arms and legs contains multiple sensory neurons (nerve cells) transmitting pain and other sensations such as touch or feeling to the spinal cord. Fridman and Guan realized that the pain and "feeling" sensory neurons each contained different kinds of sodium channels and that it may be possible to block one kind of channel and not the others to prevent patients from feeling pain but not other sensations. Fridman and Guan's team first devised a computer model to try to predict what happens when researchers use direct current to block the pain signals or inhibit other sensory neurons. In the model they sent negatively charged direct current to the nerves to weaken their activity. The model showed that the sodium channels 1.6 in the feeling sensory neurons were blocked with 670 microamperes, but the pain neuron's sodium channels 1.7 were blocked at only 290 microamperes. For comparison, holding a 9-volt battery to the tongue delivers approximately 2,000 microamperes, causing a small shock. This suggested to the researchers that it was theoretically possible to preferentially target one type of neuron over another, since the channels could be blocked at different levels of current. Next, working with anesthetized rats, they sent direct ionic current into the sciatic nerve in the legs and, using neural recording electrodes, recorded whether this current inhibited the activity of individual or groups of neurons at the spinal cord. In a series of experiments, they increased the current in two-minute increments from 0.1 to 0.2, 0.4 and 0.8 milliamperes. The current at 0.8 milliamperes completely blocked the response of the pain-transmitting neurons. Although signals from the feeling sensory neurons were reduced by 20 percent, they were still active and sending sensation signals to the spinal cord. After the current was stopped, the signal from the pain-transmitting neurons remained blocked for another two minutes, whereas the signal from the feeling sensory neurons quickly came back. "Using direct current, we can inhibit the pain-transmitting neurons at much lower amplitudes than the feeling sensory neurons, allowing us to be preferential in how we target the nerve," says Guan. "We also found that because the pain neurons take longer to come back on line, we may be able to conserve energy and not have to deliver this electrical current constantly to keep them blocked." Being able to deliver this current periodically rather than constantly would mean longer use of the neural implant before needing to recharge the battery, says Guan. Guan cautions that more studies will be needed to verify safety and measure the strength and duration of pain relief before direct ionic current devices could be used for people. Spending on cancer drugs in the United States has nearly doubled in the past five years and continues to grow, imposing substantial financial burden on patients with cancer. One of the biggest drivers of this growth is targeted cancer drugs small molecules, monoclonal antibodies, and other therapies for cancer that target specific genomic aberrations. Now, a group led by the Abramson Cancer Center of the University of Pennsylvania has proposed three solutions to maximize the clinical benefit and affordability of targeted cancer drugs. The recommendations were published online today in the Journal of the American Medical Association. Lead author, Justin E. Bekelman, MD, an associate professor of Radiation Oncology and member of Penn's Abramson Cancer Center, will also discuss the recommendations today in a major symposium at the American Association for Cancer Research Annual Meeting in Chicago (Session SY04). To consider potential solutions, the University of Pennsylvania convened the Gant Consortium, a multidisciplinary group of experts and stakeholders from cancer medicine, patient advocacy, insurance and pharmaceutical companies, and health care economics, policy, law, and regulation, co-chaired by Bekelman. On the basis of these discussions, the authors propose three principal solutions: The United States Food and Drug Administration (FDA) should develop guidance that defines minimum clinically meaningful effect sizes required for approval of targeted cancer drugs. The Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services (CMS) should conduct a demonstration project in which Medicare negotiates prices for targeted cancer drugs and employs formulary tools to prioritize highly effective drugs while protecting access to therapy for every cancer indication. Practice guidelines should prioritize targeted cancer drugs and treatment regimens by clinical benefit and price. "The remarkable national commitment to cancer research, and the promise, expense, and projected growth of targeted cancer drugs call for solutions to promote drugs that yield meaningful clinical benefits while reducing overall price growth and out-of-pocket spending for patients." Bekelman said. Spending on cancer drugs in the U.S. jumped from $26 billion in 2012 to more than $45 billion in 2016, and 60 percent of that growth is the result of spending on targeted cancer drugs. According to at least one estimate, cancer drugs will account for one-quarter of the late-stage pharmaceutical research and development pipeline in the U.S. by 2021, and 87 percent of these products will be targeted agents. The authors point to two specific drugs as examples. The first is imatinib, a tyrosine kinase inhibitor used to treat chronic myeloid leukemia (CML). It's highly effective and has relatively low toxicity compared to previous CML therapies. The 10-year overall survival rate for CML patients taking the drug is 84 percent, and the introduction of the drug in 2001 more than halved the mortality rate of CML cases in the U.S. In 2015, Medicare's estimated monthly price for the drug was $9,299. For contrast, the co-authors also consider neratinib, another tyrosine kinase inhibitor for patients with early-stage breast cancer. The drug was approved by the FDA after improving invasive disease-free survival by 2 percent (from 92 percent to 94 percent) after two years of follow up, but without published survival data. The estimated monthly price of the drug is $10,500. "Imatinib shows the promise of targeted therapy, whereas neratinib exemplifies the concern that marginally effective treatments are putting a strain on U.S. health care spending," said senior author Steven Joffe, MD, MPH, the Emanuel and Robert Hart Professor of Medical Ethics and Health Policy and co-Chair of the Gant Consortium. "Distorted pricing of marginally effective cancer drugs could crowd out the capacity of the US health system to pay for highly effective cancer drugs that yield meaningful clinical benefits or for other therapies of public health importance." Regular FDA approval for drugs is based on demonstration of clinical benefit, defined as longer life, better quality of life, or an established surrogate for one of the two. Accelerated FDA approval for drugs is based on results reasonably likely to predict clinical benefit. "The FDA has not specified what characterizes meaningful clinical benefit for regulatory approval," Bekelman said. "This ambiguity is problematic in cases where new targeted cancer drugs show statistically significant but clinically questionable improvements. Thoughtful guidance on what defines minimum clinical benefit for drug approval would help manufacturers design appropriate trials and help patients and their doctors make decisions about cancer therapies." Researchers also pointed to the need for Medicare to be able to negotiate for targeted cancer drugs, something that's not currently allowed. As of now, Medicare pays for cancer drugs under the Part B and D benefits. In Part B, hospitals and physicians buy the drug, and then bill Medicare at 6 percent above the average sales prices. Under Part D, insurance companies or pharmacy benefit managers typically manage pricing negotiations. "As the largest purchaser of cancer drugs in the U.S., Medicare should pilot a program where it has the tools to negotiate directly with drug makers on price," Joffe said. "This can be achieved while still giving patients access to cancer drugs for every available indication." Finally, the authors call for evidence-based practice guidelines to give physicians and patients a better ability to consider the prices of targeted cancer drugs alongside their benefits and harms when selecting treatments. Although organizations that produce practice guidelines have taken steps to incorporate costs, they should go further. "Guidelines should rank order cancer regimens and targeted cancer drugs by effectiveness and price and promote greater price transparency," Bekelman said. Source: http://www.uphs.upenn.edu/ Researchers at The University of Texas at San Antonio (UTSA) are taking diabetes education to church. Through the Building a Healthy Temple (BHT) program, they're working with Hispanics who have type 2 diabetes to help them manage the disease and develop a healthier lifestyle. Dr. Meizi He, a UTSA kinesiology professor, Leah Carrillo, program coordinator of the BHT program, and their research team are working with partners from the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District and from faith communities to offer the Building a Healthy Temple Diabetes Self-Management Support (BHT DSMS) program in Bexar County churches. Their work is funded by the American Diabetes Association. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), more than 1 in 3 U.S. adults have prediabetes and 40% adults are expected to develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetimes. Hispanic people are at greater risk than non-Hispanics. More than 50% of Hispanic adults are expected to develop type 2 diabetes in their lifetime. A recent survey showed that the prevalence of diabetes is 6.2% in whites and 13.0% in Mexican Americans. "The Hispanic population experiences high rates of type 2 diabetes as well as severe complications such as amputation, kidney failure and blindness. Ongoing diabetes self-management is necessary to prevent these complications," said He, who was trained as a medical doctor in China before joining the UTSA faculty. The 14-week program integrates spirituality and health education strategies to investigate the impact of a spiritual support system on diabetes self-management outcomes. He said about 360 participants will take part in the study through 2019. Participants are placed in either a routine diabetes self-management group or a spiritually integrated diabetes self-management group. Both groups attend the evidence-based Diabetes Self-Management Program created by Self-Management Resource Center formerly known as the Stanford Patient Education Research Center at Stanford University and other resources related to diabetes at their respective churches. "Building a Healthy Temple has great potential to improve health outcomes and quality of life among underserved Hispanics with type 2 diabetes," said Carrillo. According to data by the San Antonio Metropolitan Health District, 14.2 percent of Bexar County adults have been diagnosed with diabetes (type 1 or 2), which is higher than both the Texas and national average. Experts project that the number of Americans with diabetes will double or triple by 2050 if current trends continue. The Building a Healthy Temple program offers training to faith leaders to provide resources and information to congregants about diabetes, healthy eating, exercise, controlling diabetes symptoms, goal setting and weight management. "Congregants know these faith leaders, trust them and feel comfortable around them to learn life-saving health tips," said He. "It's a good setting to discuss a serious topic because people find strength in the support they receive from their faith-based community." Faith leaders will be able to discuss and explain different techniques to deal with symptoms of diabetes, fatigue, pain, hyper/hypoglycemia, stress and emotional problems such as depression, anger, fear and frustration. In the current program, six churches are involved from the city's south, west and east sides. He said the researchers are recruiting more churches to get involved in the program, with the goal of including 18 churches overall. This program is part of a cluster of faith-based health promotion programs that make up UTSA's Building a Healthy Temple (BHT) initiative. The mission of BHT is to create healthier communities by addressing obesity and obesity-related health issues. The program strives to prevent obesity, cancer, and diabetes as well as manage chronic diseases in faith-based communities through the integration of spiritual and physical health promotion. Many European countries lack a comprehensive policy to eliminate viral hepatitis as a major public health threat, according to a patient group-based survey implemented in 25 countries. The Hep-CORE study was coordinated by ISGlobal - an institution supported by the "la Caixa" Foundation - and led by the European Liver Patient's Association. In 2016, viral hepatitis caused more deaths than HIV, malaria or tuberculosis. In the European Region, 18 and 15 million people live with chronic HBV and HCV infection, respectively. Due to widespread HBV vaccination, HBV infection is seen more in older Europeans or migrants from countries with high HBV prevalence. Regarding HCV - for which there is no vaccine -transmission is now mainly due to unsafe drug injection practices. New, highly effective direct-acting antiviral drugs have made HCV much easier and safer to cure, but they are costly and their availability remains a concern. The World Health Organization (WHO) has called for the elimination of viral hepatitis as a major public health threat by 2030. But to reach this target, governments around the world must first consider whether they have the necessary policies and programmes in place. A research team based at ISGlobal and the University of Copenhagen performed two rounds of surveys (in 2016 and 2017) with patient groups in 25 European countries, in order to assess policies and programmes that support elimination efforts. Overall, the results indicate that many European countries have shortcomings across a wide range of elements, including national coordination, public awareness, disease surveillance, and treatment. In 2017, 72% of the countries were reported to have national HBV strategies and only half (52%) had national HCV strategies. Comparing 2016 and 2017, progress in government collaboration with civil society, disease registers, and access to direct-acting drugs for HCV was observed. According to lead author Jeffrey Lazarus, who presented the study at the International Liver Congress 2018: "the patient-led Hep-CORE study offers a unique perspective on the readiness of these countries to undertake comprehensive viral hepatitis elimination efforts". The authors recommend that viral hepatitis monitoring should incorporate civil society perspectives, as has been done with global HIV monitoring. The finger prick from a thorn generates an immediate sensory response. In that instant, neurons at the injury site fire an electrical signal along a nerve fiber to the central nervous system. Our brain notes to avoid further encounters with thorns and the painful insult subsides. But some health conditions cause pain that is chronic, debilitating, and often confounding. The pain may originate in organs deep inside the body and may affect their function. A long course of medicine to treat the discomfort could have undesirable side effects, including drug dependency. Interstitial cystitis/bladder pain syndrome is a condition that affects millions in the United States alone. Those affected experience abdominal discomfort that increases as their bladder fills, which in turn causes excessive urinary urgency and frequency. Within the past decade, neuroscientists studying this syndrome and other neurologic conditions have turned to a biological technique called optogenetics, which uses gene therapy and light to turn neurons on and off, and potentially to turn chronic pain signals off. To achieve an optogenetic effect, researchers can induce expression of light-sensitive proteins, called opsins, in neurons that sense pain. Opsins can be derived from algae or other organisms, but also are part of the eye's machinery that senses light. Because they can be tuned to specific wavelengths of light, they have a promising role to play in treating a variety of conditions that involve excitable cells that produce electrochemically charged impulses, such as neurons and muscle fibers. In pain-sensing neurons, opsins can be used to activate or deactivate pain signals coming from the peripheral nervous system. In a study published in the Nov. 22, 2017, issue of Scientific Reports, researchers with funding from the National Institute of Biomedical Imaging and Bioengineering (NIBIB) reported the first use of optogenetics to reduce bladder pain. Their results in mice offer hope for much needed human therapy. "This study represents a complex new technology with enormous potential to understand how the peripheral nervous system interacts with the bladder, leading to new therapies to manage bladder function and pain," said Michael Wolfson, Ph.D., Director of the NIBIB program in implantable and assistive medical devices. In their study, teams from Washington University School of Medicine in St. Louis and the University of Illinois at Urbana-Champaign performed tests with mice bred with light-sensitive opsin proteins expressed in pain-sensing neurons. They also implanted some mice with small, flexible, light-emitting diode (LED) devices that are wirelessly controlled. By flipping the on-switch of the LED, they activated the opsin, which silenced the neuronal signal, resulting in pain relief for the animals. In a previous study, they showed that the approach could control pain in the extremities of mice; in the present study, the researchers tested whether a similar optogenetic system could be used to control neurons deep inside the body, with mice affected by bladder pain. Co-senior author Robert W. Gereau IV, PhD, is the Dr. Seymour and Rose T. Brown Professor of Anesthesiology and director of the Washington University Pain Center. His team studies the cellular and molecular mechanisms of chronic pain and collaborates with clinicians whose patients are affected by the disorder. "Urologists are used to dealing with problems that originate in the bladder, and one prevailing hypotheses is that this problem is largely a dysfunction of the nervous system," he said. "This optogenetic approach could be a drug-free way to do a local nerve block coming from the bladder." Co-senior author John A. Rogers, PhD, professor of materials science and engineering at the University of Illinois, designed the implanted LED devices used in the study. His team builds miniaturized, wirelessly powered implantable devices that are flexible and stretchable, so they do not impede the animals' movement. They previously had developed devices implanted in the cranium of mice that interfaced directly with the laboratory animals' brains. "We were able to develop fully implantable devices for wireless control and delivery of light to targeted, soft-tissue regions of the animals, which was the bladder in this case," Rogers said. "These systems are unique in their ultrathin, flexible designs; their battery-free operation; and their use of microscale light emitting diodes, thereby enabling stable operation in the animal, without any measurable adverse effects over many months." The researchers performed a set of tests using mice whose genome had been modified to express an opsin that is responsive to green light. They designed an experiment to use these wireless LED devices to activate the opsin, leading to silencing of the pain-sensing neuron, but only in the selected area of the bladder. The researchers performed three tests in mice. In the first, they recorded electronic signals of abdominal-muscle response during a procedure to fill the bladder. Both normal mice and mice bred with the light-sensitive opsin gene were included in the test. When LED light from a fiber-optic cable illuminated the bladder, the electronic signal measurements showed that genetically modified mice received pain relief during light exposure. The researchers next performed a test to measure referred pain, in which the pain is felt at a location different from the original site of the stimulus. In this case, the pain from the bladder is felt in the abdomen wall. "Patients that have bladder pain syndrome are hypersensitive to pressure on the abdomen," Gereau said. "You can measure hypersensitivity quantitively using mechanical pressure on the abdomen." In this test, animals with the opsin protein received total reversal of referred pain. They designed a further test to determine whether mice with bladder pain would respond to pain relief from the activation of a wireless LED implant. The researchers placed mice in a v-shaped maze, where the animals could move freely from one end to the other, while a camera recorded their movements. Mice without bladder pain-;whether they were bred with a light-sensitive opsin or not-;predictably preferred to huddle either distant corner of the maze, with no preference for the side of the maze where the LED was turned on. "Mice like to hide in the corners of these things," Gereau explained. The team observed much different results for another set of mice experiencing bladder pain. Those without a light-sensitive opsin protein found a random corner to huddle. But those with the light-sensitive opsin protein and an implanted LED preferred the end of the maze at which researchers wirelessly activated the LED. "The mice are in this maze for 20 minutes and they vote with their feet where they want to be," Gereau said. "To my knowledge, it is the first time any of us in the pain field have been able to convincingly demonstrate that an animal has ongoing pain that we are able to relieve on a moment-by-moment basis." For the approach to eventually be applied to human chronic pain, significant challenges in gene therapy would need to be overcome, but the hardware could be ready very soon. "We use implantable stimulators already-;we have spinal cord stimulators, peripheral nerve stimulators, and deep-brain stimulators-;all these things are used to treat neurologic conditions," Gereau said. "We're trying to come up with safe, non-addictive ways to treat pain." He envisions that patients could use a smart-phone app to adjust activation of implanted LEDs to regulate their chronic pain. As others in the bladder pain research community have learned about the innovative device development by the team, there has been interest in using their wireless LED implant technology. As many as 60 other research teams have begun using the devices in animal experiments. "These devices are easy to implant, and they can operate robustly and reliably in nearly any region of the animal," Rogers said. "The cost structure is such that they can be viewed as a single-use, disposable platforms that last essentially forever while in the animal. We have a few that are still operating in certain mice that we implanted nearly two years ago, and we haven't seen any problems." Ecolab Inc. has launched its Life Sciences cleanroom program in North America. Developed specifically for pharmaceutical manufacturing, Ecolab's cleanroom program provides comprehensive cleaning and disinfection for both sterile and non-sterile applications, and includes the company's Klercide chemistry line and SteriShield Delivery System. Ecolab's offering is designed to ensure the highest level of patient and worker safety, while improving compliance and operational efficiency. "Ecolab Life Sciences is a market leader in Europe for cleanroom cleaning and disinfection solutions, and partners with many of the world's top pharmaceutical manufacturing companies," said Beth Simermeyer, Ecolab executive vice president for Life Sciences. "We are excited to expand our proven cleanroom solutions to help North American pharmaceutical manufacturers improve cleanroom operations." The Klercide product line of cleanroom alcohol, biocide and detergent chemistries complements Ecolab's existing clean-in-place (CIP) and clean-out-of-place (COP) program, which is branded under the COSA name and already available in both North America and Europe. Ecolab's patented, ready-to-use SteriShield Delivery System, a closed and validated trigger spray system that ensures content integrity throughout use, is available across the Klercide product range. Other product formats for the cleanroom environment include concentrates and mop and pouch wipes. Beyond chemistry, Ecolab Life Sciences also addresses pharmaceutical manufacturers' specific needs with its Total Plant Solutions offering, which, in addition to cleaning and disinfection programs, also includes cleaning and disinfection validation support, technical lab support, regulatory and scientific insights, site surveys and customer training. Ecolab is investing in a new manufacturing facility in Greensboro, N.C., to support the launch of the North American cleanroom portfolio. "Our industry expertise, solutions and integrated business model helps ensure that we provide consistency across customers' pharmaceutical operations in North America and other sites around the globe to drive improvements in safety, compliance, and operational efficiency," added Simermeyer. High Park Farms, an affiliate of High Park Company ("High Park"), announced today that it has received a federal license from Health Canada to cultivate cannabis under the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR). The High Park Farms facility, which is anticipated to represent an investment of up to $30 million, features 13 acres of greenhouse on 100 acres of property in Enniskillen, Ontario. "This license is a major milestone for High Park as we work to prepare for the anticipated launch of the world's largest federally legal cannabis market later this year," said Adine Carter, Chief Marketing Officer of High Park. High Park Farms will begin cultivating cannabis plants in its greenhouse next week and anticipates its first harvest in June. In accordance with the Cannabis Act introduced in Canadian parliament in April 2017, High Park Farms anticipates that its ACMPR cultivation license will provide the company the ability to supply the adult-use cannabis market in Canada once the legislation is adopted. High Park launched earlier this month to produce and distribute a broad-based portfolio of cannabis brands and products for the Canadian market in anticipation of adult-use legalization. Based in Toronto and led by a team with deep experience in cannabis and global consumer brands, High Park has secured the exclusive rights to produce and distribute a broad-based portfolio of adult-use cannabis brands and products in Canada, subject to applicable laws and regulations. In addition, High Park has developed new brands and products for the Canadian market. Pending federal legalization of cannabis for adult-use and corresponding provincial legislation, High Park anticipates fulfilling adult-use supply agreements in Quebec, Manitoba, and Yukon. High Park plans to secure additional supply agreements with crown corporations and private entities in other provinces in the coming months. On the second floor of an infectious-disease research facility in this African capital, Dr. Joseph Kamgno, the country's leading expert on parasitic roundworms, stood at his desk staring down at the black hard-shelled case that had just arrived from a bioengineering lab at the University of California-Berkeley. The case contained what appeared to be three ordinary iPhones. But the California researchers believed these phones could do something extraordinary help quell river blindness, the second-leading cause of preventable blindness in the world. There is already an effective treatment, a medication that can kill the baby worms that cause the blindness. And when nearly everyone in a community takes the drug every year for a decade or so, it can eliminate the disease from the area. But treating communities widely for river blindness is a risky proposition: The treatment can cause coma or death in a small segment of the population that harbors a different parasite another worm known as Loa loa. That's why large swaths of Sub-Saharan Africa have been denied treatment for nearly two decades because the cure for river blindness for certain people can prove far worse than the disease. And that's where Silicon Valley technology comes in. The Berkeley researchers figured out that they could quickly determine who has the Loa loa worm using a smartphone, customized to work like a microscope. They could then skip the medication for those people and give it to everyone else. Kamgno, who received the latest version of the phones in 2016, dubbed the mobile microscopes "revolutionary." Parasite expert Dr. Joseph Kamgno examines a new version of a cellphone-based microscope in his research facility in Yaounde, Cameroon. The device, created at the University of California-Berkeley, will help health workers treat communities affected by river blindness. (Brian Rinker for KHN) The gadgets, called LoaScopes, are part of a broader effort to harness technology and innovation in the U.S., including California's Silicon Valley, to fight age-old diseases in the developing world. Over the years, major California universities UC-Berkeley, UC-Davis, UCLA have built cellphone microscopes geared to look at other bloodborne diseases in Africa and Asia, such as malaria and tuberculosis. UC-San Francisco researchers are using satellite images on Google Earth Engine to construct real-time maps of breeding conditions for malaria that can help predict infection rates in rural villages. Drones are being used to deliver medical supplies to remote villages in Rwanda, and digital "ledgers" built with blockchain software could be used to track vaccinations in newborns, said Zvika Krieger, technology and policy expert at the World Economic Forum Center for the Fourth Industrial Revolution. To accomplish their missions, nongovernmental and civil society organizations "are flocking to Silicon Valley, he said. Mobile Microscopes And Wiggly Worms The LoaScope was created in UC-Berkeley's Fletcher Lab, named after Daniel Fletcher, a wild-haired scientist who discovered 10 years ago the potential of cellphones as microscopes. Basically, the camera on the phone is positioned over a magnifying lens to capture a sample on a slide. Software can then analyze whatever is on the slide and transmit it to the cloud. Standard light microscopes aren't really mobile, and require electricity and a trained lab tech to operate. The mobile microscope is cheap, compact and can be used by anyone familiar with mobile phones, which are increasingly common around the world, even in remote villages. Researchers test the latest version of the LoaScope in a village in Cameroon. (Brian Rinker for KHN) Students, researchers and health workers learn to use the LoaScope, a cellphone microscope that can detect dangerous levels of a parasite called Loa loa. These nematodes can complicate treatment for river blindness. (Brian Rinker for KHN) The discovery spun off into a private business called CellScope, while Fletcher's academic lab continued to research smartphones as microscopes for the university. Several years ago, Fletcher and his team had never heard of river blindness and knew very little about neglected tropical diseases in general. The team eventually became part of a mobile phone revolution in the developing world, in which public health researchers were ratcheting up efforts to use these pocket computers to address health problems. The Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation have bankrolled the LoaScope project since its inception in 2011, spending more than $5 million to date. River blindness, or onchocerciasis, is a nasty disease that has burdened Africa for as long as anyone can remember. The disease is spread by black flies, which drop off and pick up worms as they suck people's blood. The symptoms terrible itching, rotting skin and, after decades of infection, blindness are caused by early stage worm larvae that flood the body after adult worms mate. The river blindness medication, ivermectin, kills these baby worms effectively. But when a person harboring tens of thousands of Loa loa worms in each drop of blood takes ivermectin, all the baby worms die off in a sort of mass extinction, causing potentially lethal brain swelling. Two family members in a village in Cameroon are partially blind due to onchocerciasis, or river blindness. (Brian Rinker for KHN) Upsides And Downsides The small lab in Berkeley got involved with this complicated worm conundrum through a parasitic disease expert at the National Institutes of Health. Dr. Thomas Nutman was tasked with finding a technology that could help solve the Loa loa problem. At first, he considered a project at UCLA in which a cellphone picture could be taken in the field, uploaded to the cloud and then analyzed by someone sitting at a computer in California. It sounded good in theory, but because thousands of people had to be tested before treatment, Nutman needed answers on the spot. Recalling work by Fletcher and his team, Nutman hopped on a plane to the Bay Area to meet them. Fletcher and scientist Mike D'Ambrosio knew they had the technology to see the worms but figuring out how to see and count them in just a couple of minutes "seemed daunting." "That's where we had the idea to use the motion of the worm as a way to see it," D'Ambrosio said. Early stage Loa loa larvae thrash around in the blood more vigorously than other worms. So D'Ambrosio and his colleagues created an algorithm to identify Loa loa based on its motion. The LoaScope is an iPhone that attaches to a plastic box made by a 3-D printer. A blood sample on a plastic tube is inserted into the black box, which contains optics and hardware. Press a button on the screen of the iPhone and it takes a video of the blood sample and runs the algorithm. But relying on bioengineers in the tech-savvy San Francisco Bay Area to create a solution comes with downsides familiar to anyone who works there: shutdowns and updates. Months before the latest device was scheduled to ship out, the company the scientists used to sync all their data gathered from the LoaScope to the cloud shut down, forcing a rewrite of the related software code. Then the hardware company that made an essential microcontroller board quit production. "That is the cost we pay for trying to build something out of consumer-based electronics and using cloud software that is always changing," said D'Ambrosio, who became the lead research scientist for the LoaScope project. Kamgno, Cameroon's leading expert on parasitic worms, talks on the phone in his research facility in the capital, Yaounde. (Brian Rinker for KHN) Kamgno stands on the banks of the Sanaga River in Cameroon, breeding grounds for the black flies linked to river blindness. (Brian Rinker for KHN) On the other hand, he added, "the benefit is enormous. We're able to build these integrated devices that do amazing things" at low cost. Another problem the scientists had was figuring out who would pay for the devices. "The business side of it is very unclear," Fletcher said. "Part of the problem is that there isn't a market for neglected tropical diseases." The Gates Foundation doesn't typically pay to implement projects on a global scale. However, the foundation is negotiating a deal for a company to manufacture 10,000 LoaScopes, Nutman said. Back in Cameroon, Kamgno's research findings, published in the New England Journal of Medicine in November, showed that the LoaScope allowed wide treatment with ivermectin, and produced no adverse reactions in formerly "off-limits" communities. Kamgno's research team is now training local health workers to use the LoaScope, and other countries soon may follow. "We were surprised and happy to see that after only two days of training, the local people were able to do the treatment in their own community," said Kamgno. "Almost all the young people have cellphones, and they can understand the LoaScope so quickly." SC Johnson today released its 26th annual Sustainability Report, The Science Inside, which shares publicly the criteria inside the company's Greenlist ingredient selection program. The Greenlist program helps the company continually improve its products by choosing ingredients to better protect human health and the environment. People can now see, in detail, the care that goes into choosing each of the ingredients that are used in SC Johnson products. SC Johnson's Sustainability Report also publishes the company's progress on its longstanding commitments to transparency, the environment and improving lives for families around the world. "We know consumers today are more interested than ever in the products they bring into their homes," said Fisk Johnson, Chairman and CEO of SC Johnson. "What matters most is the trust consumers place in our company and that they count on our products to be effective and safe. We believe it's our responsibility to give people the facts so they can make informed choices, and we hope other companies will join us." SC Johnson has long been an industry leader and trendsetter in transparency. Today's announcement of the detailed scientific criteria inside the Greenlist program builds upon the company's commitment to tell the whole story about the ingredients it uses and the rigorous science that informs those choices. Unveiling the Greenlist Program Criteria SC Johnson's Greenlist program has guided the company's product development for nearly two decades. Every ingredient in every SC Johnson product goes through the rigorous Greenlist program, which is centered around a peer-reviewed, four-step evaluation of its potential impact on human health and the environment. The Greenlist program looks at both hazard and risk to select the ingredients the company uses, and at what concentration, if at all. It's grounded in best-in-class data collection, and driven by the company's commitment to continually improve its products. As part of the Greenlist program, SC Johnson maintains a list of ingredients that are not allowed in its products. This list is termed the "Not Allowable" list. It includes over 200 unique raw materials in roughly 90 material categories, and over 2,400 fragrance materials. These materials all meet legal and regulatory requirements and are often used by other companies in the industry. But they simply do not meet SC Johnson standards. Championing Ingredient Transparency The company began its industry-leading ingredient transparency program in 2009 by launching WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com and has been setting industry standards ever since. As a company that works to ensure families have the information they need to make the best product choices, SC Johnson continued to make large strides in its global transparency program this past year. In May 2017, SC Johnson broke new ground by announcing its plans to disclose 368 skin allergens that may be present in its products. The list of allergens was published on WhatsInsideSCJohnson.com and the site now lists allergens on a product-specific basis. This move goes beyond regulations in the European Union and also in the United States, where there are no rules requiring allergen transparency. Last fall, SC Johnson expanded its ingredient transparency program to Asia Pacific. The program now serves more than 5 billion consumers, providing access to a comprehensive list of ingredients for more than 5,300 products sold in 52 countries. Continued Environmental Leadership Over the past year, SC Johnson continued to make strong progress to reduce its environmental footprint. The company reached zero manufacturing waste to landfill status at more than 65 percent of its manufacturing facilities. This puts the company ahead of schedule in meeting its goal to send zero manufacturing waste to landfill from its factories by 2021. SC Johnson also has set an aggressive goal of further reducing its greenhouse gas emissions 15 percent by 2020 from the base set in 2015. This could result in a reduction of more than 15,000 metric tons of emissions over five years. The company has already exceeded that target, and was honored with a Climate Leadership Award for Excellence in Greenhouse Gas Management (GHG) Goal Setting by the Center for Climate and Energy Solutions (C2ES) and The Climate Registry (TCR). Since 2000, SC Johnson has realized a 55 percent reduction in greenhouse gases, indexed to production. For the past 13 years, SC Johnson has used renewable energy sources around the world to power its facilities. Globally, 35 percent of the company's energy use in fiscal year 2016/17 came from renewable sources. In May 2017, the company announced its manufacturing site in Bay City, Michigan, which manufactures Ziploc brand storage bags, became its third company-owned site to run on 100 percent wind energy for electricity. Improving Lives for Families around the World Since 1937, SC Johnson has given 5 percent of all pretax profits to charities. The company's annual Sustainability Report summarizes its efforts over the past year to make a real difference in people's lives through advocacy, educational resources, products and grants. As experts sort through questions around recent chemical attacks in Syria, future answers to quickly testing and treating those who may have been exposed to chlorine gas may lie in chlorinated lipids, says a Saint Louis University professor. After chemical weapons attacks, doctors must quickly try to determine which chemical agent was used so that appropriate countermeasures can be employed to try to save lives and limit damage to those exposed. Between 2002 and 2006, David Ford, Ph.D., professor of biochemistry and molecular biology at Saint Louis University, made a discovery of a family of lipids that had not previously been identified in humans. "My lab discovered chlorinated lipids," Ford said. "They are made in the body under conditions where there is inflammation, such as sepsis. They are made as a result of white blood cells executing chlorination reactions to kill bacteria. These lipids are also the best biomarkers of chlorine gas exposure that are available." Chlorine gas exposure initially causes severe lung injury, followed by hypotension and multiple organ failure. "The production of these chlorinated lipids has been compared to various stages of fire," Ford said. "A small amount of inflammation in a healthy person is like striking a match with a small increase in the production of these lipids. Sepsis is 20 to 50-fold greater than that, like a bonfire. And exposure to chlorine gas is like a bomb has gone off in the body, causing over 1000-fold more chlorinated lipid compared to no exposure." Over the past five years, Ford's work has been funded in part through the CounterACT network, a collaborative effort of the National Institutes of Health and the U.S. Department of Defense, which has awarded multiple grants via a collaboration with Sadis Matalon, Ph.D., and Rakesh Patel, Ph.D., at the University of Alabama at Birmingham (UAB). This research examines how halogen gases like chlorine damage the lungs and other organs with the aim of developing countermeasures that could be given after exposure to save lives and limit the devastating damage to the body caused by chlorine gas. Among other findings, Ford and his collaborators learned that they could discover exposure to chlorine gas by detecting the presence of reaction products of chlorine. In a 2016 paper, Ford reported that chlorinated lipids remain high even 24 hours after exposure, long after other biomarkers have returned to normal levels. Testing for chlorinated lipids currently requires a mass spectrometer, which isn't conducive to quick testing in the field. As research continues, Ford hopes to develop a point-of-care test that would allow doctors to test for chlorinated lipids on site. Researchers also hope their work leads to the development of countermeasures that can be taken to save lives in following chlorine gas attacks as well as accidental chlorine exposure. At just 18 years old, Megan Gagliardi was told she might die from a rare genetic heart condition. Now, thanks in part to UAB Medicine's Comprehensive Transplant Institute (CTI), she is celebrating her recent engagement and an important six-year anniversary -; all as the University of Alabama at Birmingham celebrates 50 years of transplant success. Gagliardi and her family moved from Memphis, Tennessee, to Birmingham in 2010 during her senior year of high school. She says it was difficult to move to a school where she knew no one, and when she started experiencing health issues, she ignored them because she was focused on making it through the school year. "I noticed I wasn't feeling like myself," Gagliardi said. "I would go to bed at night, and it just felt like there was a pressure in my chest. I had this constant cough that never went away; but it was the end of the school year, so I just tried to push through. After graduation, I told my mom how ill I felt. My mom decided she wanted to take me to the hospital, so they ran a whole bunch of scans, test and panels. They noticed there was a ton of fluid in my chest." Gagliardi says UAB Medicine's Emergency Medicine care team wasn't sure what was causing the fluid buildup, so they gave her a diuretic. "The next morning, I woke up 15 pounds lighter," she said. "I had lost 15 pounds of fluid during the night. They did another scan, and that's when I was diagnosed with dilated cardiomyopathy." Dilated cardiomyopathy is a disease of the muscle of the heart that results in an enlarged heart with thin walls and a large pumping chamber. Dilated cardiomyopathy has many potential causes, including heart attacks, heart valve disease, high blood pressure, infections and drugs toxic to the heart. The news came as a surprise since she hadn't had heart issues prior to the diagnosis. But Gagliardi says she felt she was in good hands once she was put under the care of Salpy Pamboukian, M.D., Jose Tallaj, M.D., and James Kirklin, M.D., at UAB Medicine's Heart and Vascular Clinic. "I was 18 years old, and getting that kind of news was a big shock," she said. "I wasn't really sure what to think. That day when I was at the hospital, they told me I would eventually need a heart transplant or I wouldn't make it. Again, to get that news at 18, that's just something that throws you into shock, and you worry. But I knew, being at UAB Medicine, I would have great doctors to take care of me." A Special Birthday Present Gagliardi immediately was placed on the heart transplant waiting list, joining more than 3,900 others in the United States. She says she didn't let the diagnosis keep her from living her life. "I was diagnosed in June, and that August I decided to start college," she said. "I didn't really tell anyone that I had an issue. I didn't want anyone to look at me as the sick girl or the girl that had a heart issue, so I kind of kept that secret for a while. Eventually, I told my closest friends that I had heart issues. I told them I couldn't keep up or always take the stairs or do the same activities. That was tough." Gagliardi says the support she received from her transplant coordinators helped her overcome those social challenges. Then, the night before her 19th birthday, she received a call that would change her life forever. "I received my heart transplant on my 19th birthday," Gagliardi said. "It's the best birthday present I'll ever get. By the time I received the transplant, I just remember feeling so grateful. The night we went in for the transplant, my whole family was around me and praying. I remember everyone around me crying, and at the same time, I was thinking, 'I'm so excited to be on the other side of this and to finally have my health back.'" Gagliardi's transplant was a success, and her doctors expect that her heart will last 15-25 years before she may need another transplant. She says she is thankful to have a physical reminder of the transplant to reflect on each day. "When I look in the mirror, my chest scar represents to me my battle scar," she said. "It shows to everyone what I've been through and what I've achieved. I remember, after the transplant, people would give me advice like 'You can put oil on that' or 'You can use a scar cream and fade it away.' I didn't want to do that. I love my scar, and I love showing people what I've been through. It's a huge part of me." A Brighter Future Gagliardi hopes to help others going through the transplant process. "What I would love to do in the future is become a motivational speaker," she said. "I've gone around to a couple of different events, and I've shared my story and testimony with others. I would love to stand as an inspiration to those going through a similar situation." It's now been six years since her transplant, and Gagliardi says she celebrates that anniversary every year. Soon, she'll be celebrating a different kind of anniversary -; Gagliardi got engaged in September 2017. She says it was her care at UAB Medicine that is giving her this chance at a brighter future, and she couldn't be more grateful. "I would say to my doctors and nurses that cared for me, thank you for all that you do," Gagliardi said. "I'm so thankful for the love you give and show your patients. You are the reason I'm here today. Thanks to UAB Medicine's Comprehensive Transplant Institute, I can really say that my future is exciting." New Delhi: A 12-year-old boy from Surat, Gujarat, has decided to quit the luxuries of material life and become a monk. Bhavya Sachwani, son of a diamond merchant, is all set to receive Diksha and join the order of Jain monks in Surat on Thursday. The ceremony is expected to be attended by almost 5,000 monks and there will be over 7,000 visitors. Asserting that seeking Diksha was his own decision, Bhavya stated that he wanted to take the path of truth shown by God and leave behind the sins of comfortable, family life. #Surat: Family celebrates as 12-year-old Bhavya Shah will become a Jain monk at a ceremony tomorrow, says, Im happy to take the path of truth shown by God. His father, a diamond merchant, says, Our family is extremely happy, my daughter also did the same at the age of 12. pic.twitter.com/4G80CAWeRL ANI (@ANI) April 18, 2018 Diksha refers to the ceremonial initiation into the Jain order by accepting to renounce not only material comforts, but also emotional attachments to family and loved ones. His family though is no stranger to their children becoming hermits. According to reports, the boys older sister also took Diksha and renounced her family when she turned 12, ANI reported. Bhavyas parents are proud of him for making the decision and believe that when the time comes, they too will take the same path as their children. This is not the first time a young boy from Gujarat has wanted to renounce material life in order to practice being a monk. In 2017, 17-year-old Varshil Shah from Ahmedabad made news when he declared his intention of becoming a Jain monk after scoring 99.9 % percentile marks in his Class 12 examinations. (This article was first published on April 19, 2018) Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here Time and again our ministers have come under the scanner for their bizarre theories on ancient India. For instance, did you know Brahmagupta-II discovered "law of gravity" before Sir Isaac Newton did? Or that Darwin's Theory of Evolution of Humans was scientifically wrong? Latest to join the club is Tripura Chief Minister Biplab Deb who recently said that the Internet is nothing new to India and that it existed even in the days of Mahabharata. Speaking at a public event in Agartala, Deb said that the blind king Dhritarashtra would get regular updates about the battles of Kurukshetra through Sanjay, who was also nowhere near the battlefield like him and this was possible only through technology and satellite communication. File photo of Tripura CM Biplab Kumar Deb. (PTI/File photo) Of course, Internet went berserk over CM's comment and Twitter users imagined Internet in the Mahabharata era. If internet existed during the time of Mahabharata, then why did the Pandavas play a game of dice and not Texas Hold 'em Poker? Sapan Verma (@sapanv) April 18, 2018 The Internet existed during the Mahabharata. The biggest issue happened when Yudhistra refused to make Duryodhana group admin in the family WhatsApp group. Now it can be told. Naomi Datta (@nowme_datta) April 18, 2018 Discussion over slow speed of the Internet pic.twitter.com/XrKtsPiRIR Amit Kumar (@born2rulz) April 18, 2018 More technology in Mahabharata: 1. Arjun met Draupadi on a Facebook page called 'Fish Eye vs Arrow Jokes'. 2. The thorn-bed Bhishma Pitamaha slept on was funded on Kickstarter. 3. Men disrobing Draupadi to punish her for laughing publicly was Twitter. Aisi Taisi Democracy (@AisiTaisiDemo) April 18, 2018 Sri Krishna showcasing the "fidget spinner" he bought from Flipkart's Big Billion Days Sale! #InternetMahabharata pic.twitter.com/07PbijfCwN Rofl Republic (@i_theindian) April 18, 2018 This one is one of the most advanced shape shifting weaponry system... Very rare footage prooves the existence of video cameras as well :D pic.twitter.com/wik5E6c1aT Amit Kumar (@born2rulz) April 18, 2018 The Mahabharata was originally told in a tweet thread. It was Vyasa who put the whole thing on Storify, with the help of Ganesha because, well, we've all been there with helping grandpa with the internet. #InternetMahabharata #Mahabharata Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 18, 2018 When your friend's 4G runs out so you give him your hotspot password #InternetMahabharata pic.twitter.com/0SxJcyZQxG Arre (@ArreTweets) April 18, 2018 BJP minister was not wrong when he said that internet was there since Mahabharata, there was wifi too, what bigger proof do you want? #InternetMahabharata pic.twitter.com/YfkTWcAM43 Daniyal (@8dabr) April 18, 2018 Pandavas checking thier twitter notifications. Yudhishthira is angry with the low 4G range in Indraprasta.#InternetMahabharata pic.twitter.com/0it8FnOTPO Advaid (@Advaidism) April 18, 2018 Facebook notification: Draupadi is feeling loved with 5 others#InternetMahabharata The Bad Doctor (@DOCTORATLARGE) April 18, 2018 Abhimanyu: Twitter is a chakravyuah. You know how to get in. You don't know how to get out. #InternetMahabharata Songbird (@oxymoronic_me) April 18, 2018 I only wish that they'd had the internet in the times of the Ramayana. Then Hanuman could've saved a lot of trouble carrying that whole mountain by just searching "sanjivani herb" on google images. #InternetMahabharata #Mahabharata Audrey Truschke (@AudreyTruschke) April 18, 2018 In closing, we'd like to quote Breaking Bad's Jesse Pinkman. Yeah science, b*tch! Islamabad: An Indian Sikh woman, who went to Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival, has sought extension of her visa after marrying a man in Lahore and embracing Islam, media reports said today. Kiran Bala, daughter of Manohar Lal from Punjabs Hoshiarpur district, wrote to the Pakistan Foreign Office that her visa should be extended as she married one Mohammad Azam, resident of Lahore, during a ceremony held at Jamia Naeemia seminary in Lahore on April 16, The Express Tribune reported. She also changed her name to Amna Bibi which she used to sign the letter addressed to the foreign ministry, the report said. Now in the given circumstances, the undersigned could not return back to India and the undersigned have received life threats of assassination, therefore, the undersigned intends to extend her visa," she wrote in the letter, published by the local media. The Indian High Commission has not said anything about the letter. She arrived in Pakistan on April 12 with other Sikh pilgrims to attend the festival in Gurdwara Panja Sahib located in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad. Her visa will expire on April 21. The ongoing Baisakhi festival is the fresh subject of controversy between Pakistan and India. It has already created bitterness after India accused Pakistan of using it to incite Indian pilgrims on the issue of Khalistan, which was rejected by Islamabad. (This article was first published on April 19, 2020) Read all the Latest News, Breaking News and Coronavirus News here Kolkata: The West Bengal unit of the BJP is planning to rope in Hindutva preacher Swami Aseemanand for campaigning for the upcoming Panchayat polls and later to work for strengthening the party base in the state following his acquittal in the Mecca Masjid blast case earlier this week. "I have personally known Swami Aseemanand for a long time. I have spoken to him earlier and told him that the situation in Bengal is bad and we need him to work here. He has agreed," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh told Indian Express. Ghosh said that now that Aseemanand has been acquitted, he will work with the party in the state. "He will speak during the campaign period of panchayat polls. We are yet to work out the details," he added. A special anti-terror court on Monday had acquitted the 66-year-old self-proclaimed monk and four others in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove "even a single allegation" against them. Aseemanand's younger brother, Sushanta Sarkar, is presently the secretary of the BJP's Hooghly unit. Sarkar said he would be happy if his brother returned to the state for work. "Our entire family is dedicated towards the Sangh Parivar. If my brother comes to Bengal and wants to work here, we will be very happy," Sarkar said. Another state BJP leader said although Aseemanand is an apolitical person, the saffron party would welcome him if he is willing to come to Bengal and work here, especially among the tribals. Born as Naba Kumar Sarkar at Kamaarpukar in West Bengal's Hooghly district, Aseemanand completed his graduation in science in 1971. The self-proclaimed monk is known for his fiery speech and anti-minority stance. He became involved with right-wing groups from school, going on to work full time with the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in Purulia and Bankura districts in the state. It was at the Ashram that Naba Kumar Sarkar was christened Swami Aseemanand in 1981. Jammu: The rape and murder of an 8-year-old girl in Jammu & Kashmirs Kathua has shocked the nation and sparked outrage but one woman has won praise for her determined effort to nail the accused. DSP Shwetambari Sharma, the sole woman on the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probing the Kathua rape-murder case, spoke to News18 about the difficulties she faced while investigating this case. You cracked this case and the accused are now behind bars. But since then, you have been targeted. How does that affect you? It is really quite shameful that something like this (rape) happens in 21st century India. The Prime Ministers slogan is Beti Bachao but when an educated woman fights to get justice for a Kanjak (young girl) who was raped and killed, she is insulted and targeted. But my resolve is strong and I have faith in the judiciary. How hard was it to crack this case? When such a case is cracked, its not just because of one person. Our DGP SP Vaid played a key role and trusted the SIT, which worked under the guidance of our IG. We had a team of 6 and it was supervised by an SSP. The SIT in charge, Naved Peerzada, is from the Valley and is known for his credibility. The entire Jammu crime branch worked day and night to solve this case. We were attacked when we were collecting evidence and the Kathua SSP was asked to file an FIR. We filed the first chargesheet in this case in 72 days and we faced problems every day. As an officer, it hurt me to see the tricolor being waved to defend alleged rapists. People were discouraged from speaking to us. But we made sure we allayed peoples fears and told them that the innocent would not be bothered. How airtight is the case? Our preliminary charge sheet is ready and the supplementary one is left. Our case is solid because it is based not just on testimony but is corroborated by scientific evidence. You have had to face sexism in these last few days. Is that something you faced even while the investigation was on? Did you face any difficulties as a woman during this case? I never felt out of place among other police officers. I was never made to feel different by my seniors and colleagues. Sometimes, I would have to work late nights. Apart from being a police officer, I am also a mother and a wife. I was not able to give enough time to my child, who was writing exams during this time. I was not able to spend as much time with my husband as I would have liked. Questions were also raised on your experience. I was from the 2012 batch. Shortly after my graduation, I served in the Valley in Anantnag. I dealt with extremists and analysed them. I have been a police officer for six years. But I dont want to talk much about that. Our focus should remain on getting justice for the 8-year-old girl who was raped and murdered. Some people made a religious issue out of this case. How does that make you feel? I am a Dogra woman. In Dogri, we have a saying Betiyan saanjhi hoti hain (all daughters belong to everyone). Daughters belong to every religion. So I dont care what that little girls faith was. Lets become human first and be Hindus and Muslims later. Mumbai: A woman Congress worker has complained to the party's city unit that she was allegedly molested by male colleagues on Sunday during a candle march held here to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. She complained to the party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam, who promised to take action against those found guilty. The protest march was organised by the party at Juhu. Talking to PTI, Nirupam said the woman, who is a district-level party worker, sent a text message to him about the alleged incident. In her message, the woman said, "The workers of Youth Congress and NSUI (party's students' wing) stooped to such low level that they touched, pushed and shoved women workers in an inappropriate manner, making us feel unsafe among our very own party's male colleagues. "Sadly, some male workers did this to us only to get ahead in the march so that their faces were captured by the media. I want to know if women workers will be safe in similar events held in future?" her text message said. Nirupam said, "This incident is very unfortunate and I condemn it. I told the woman that he would take action if she identifies the persons involved. I told her that if she wished, he would help her file police cases against the accused. But she told me there was too much crowd, so it won't be possible for her to identify them." He said the woman enthusiastically participates in all dharnas and morchas organised by the city unit. "She does not participate alone, but brings along with her over a dozen women members. I have apologised to her for the agony she had to suffer on Sunday. Male workers often rush ahead in any morchas, so that their faces can be seen on television cameras," he said. The Congress leader said he will issue the dos and don'ts to be followed during the protest marches or morcha when women are also participating in large numbers. "If the instructions are not followed, action would be taken," he said. Lucknow: Hours after an encounter by Uttar Pradesh police, the suspected criminal claimed that he was taken into custody from Lucknows Mahanagar area and later left in Barabanki district before being shot at. This is the second such incident in Barabanki. In February, an apprehended criminal claimed that he was taken into custody two days before the encounter. Barabanki police took me along with them on Wednesday evening and said that they want to interrogate me, following which I would be allowed to go. However, they covered my face and took me to Dariyabad town around 3 am before shooting me in the leg, accused Akash Yadav told News18. I kept asking them for the reason which made them shoot at me, but they did not reply me. Around 5 am, I was taken to a hospital for first-aid and treatment. Right now, no serious cases are on me, barring a few cases related to my scuffle at the University, he added. Meanwhile, the Barabanki police has a different story to narrate. Refuting the claims made by Yadav, Barabanki ASP Shashikant Tiwari told News18, An encounter took place early Thursday morning in which three bike-borne criminals were shot at. Initially, they were asked to stop but when they failed to follow the order and opened fire at the police officers, our team had to shoot in retaliation. One of the criminals was shot in leg, while the other two managed to escape. Also, illegal arms and ammunition were recovered from them. On being asked if it was a fake or staged encounter, Tiwari said, The encounter is not fake at all. If the family of the accused is staging a protest, then there might be some other reason behind it. After the incident came to light, scores of leaders visited Yadav at the trauma centre, including senior Congress MP PL Punia. Samajwadi Party spokesperson Sunil Singh Sajan said, CM Yogi had warned criminals of initiating strict action against them, but instead crime has risen in the state. This is just government propaganda to hide their failure to control crime. Law and order situation has gone out of hand and now police is engaging in fake encounters just to boast the figures. The encounters by Uttar Pradesh police continue to irk intelligentsia even as the data by the state police claims that 1142 police encounters took place in UP between March 20, 2017 and January 31, 2018. Anshu Pushpakar, who was shot at in February in Barabanki said, I was arrested, along with another person, by the crime branch officers two days before the encounter. When I arrived at the police station, there were three others already in custody. A night before the encounter, we were given food at 10 pm. At 1.30 am, we were taken to a bridge. There, another person and I were shot. In October last year, the case of Sumit Gurjar had created an uproar in the state. The National Human Rights Commission (NHRC) had also sent a notice to the government over the encounter. The family members of gangster Sumit Gurjar (25), who was shot dead by police in Sector Chi 4, Greater Noida, had held protests and claimed that the encounter was staged. Gurjar's relatives were accompanied by at least 100 villagers from his home district, Baghpat, to Noida. If the mounting number of encounters is not checked, it could lead to a repeat of the 1991 Pilibhit fake encounter case. In 2016, a special CBI court found 47 police officers guilty of killing 12 people who were travelling back from a pilgrimage. The police, reacting to a speculative story about militants travelling on the route, stopped their bus and took the group to different spots. All 12 were later found dead. Panchkula: A special CBI court has convicted nine people for sexually abusing and torturing women and children at the infamous Apna Ghar shelter home in Rohtak. The court reserved the quantum of punishment for April 24. The abuses at the shelter home came to light when a team of National Commission for Protection of Child Right (NCPCR) rescued nearly 120 people, including children and women, after a surprise check in May, 2012. Mounisha, who runs Don Bosco Ashyalan, was the first to rescue the girls following an alert by a child helpline in New Delhi. Consequently, the NCPCR on May 9, 2012, conducted a raid and rescued 103 inmates. The woman who ran the NGO, Jaswanti Devi, her daughter Sushma alias Simmi, son-in-law Jai Bhagwan, brother Jaswant Singh, driver Satish and his sister Sheela were tried for rape, immoral trafficking, grievous hurt, molestation, forced abortion and treating children with cruelty. The counsellor working with the shelter home was charged with causing forced miscarriages, unlawful labour, meting out cruelty to children and criminal intimidation. The court found her guilty on all counts. Another accused, Roshni, took away a newborn from an inmate and created a forged birth certificate. The others who colluded with Jaswanti and Ram Prakash Saini were also convicted for making inmates work in the house. Among the officers, Angrez Kaur Hooda, then Child Development Project Officer, Rohtak, who was responsible for regularly inspecting the shelter home was acquitted by the court due to lack of proof". Three inmates had escaped the shelter home on May 7, 2012, and reached Delhi to blow the lid off the crime, which then led to NCPCR intervention and arrest of 10 people There were 35 victims among the witnesses, five were allegedly raped and the others subjected to molestation and beatings. It was also alleged that when an inmate was not willing to part with her child, she was not only beaten up, but scissors were inserted into her private parts. After this case, the NCPCR, in a bid to avoid a repeat, advocated for the setting up of a State Commissions for Protection of Child Rights across the country. Patna: Senior BJP leader and former finance minister Yashwant Sinha on Thursday said he would lead a meeting of non BJP parties, including the Congress, to discuss alternative political platform on April 21 in Patna. The meeting has been called under the banner of Rashtra Manch, floated by him and another rebel BJP MP Shatrughan Sinha, will discuss present political scenario and the future course of action. Talking to News 18, Sinha said all non-BJP parties would attend the meeting including Congress. Lalu Yadav's son and leader of RJD Tejashwi Yadav has also agreed to participate. Present political scenario is dangerous as country is facing never seen hatred in society and people who voted for Narendra Modi are disappointed," he said. He stressed the need for a grand alliance against the failure of the government but denied any such big announcement would be made on April 21. However, he said, the process of building consensus among non BJP parties was on. On the cash crunch issue, Sinha targeted finance minister Arun Jaitely accusing him of gross financial mismanagement. "All clarifications made by the minister and the government are false. Currency printing is directly related with GDP growth but the government completely failed to explain on this account. Sudden shortage due to excess withdrawal theory is wrong," he said. The resignation of metropolitan sessions judge K Ravinder Reddy, who quit after pronouncing the judgement in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, was rejected on Thursday. The judge was asked to take up his charge immediately. The judge had also applied for 15 days leave, which was also cancelled. Ravinder Reddy is also in-charge of the special NIA court at Nampally. He had submitted his resignation on April 16, soon after acquitting Swami Aseemanand and four others in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case. The decision of the judge came as a huge surprise for everyone. The judge has cited personal reason for resignation and said it had nothing to do with judgment. AIMIM president Asaduddin Owaisi tweeted to say that he was surprised by the decision. "Judge who gave acquittal to all accused in Mecca Masjid Blast RESIGNS very intriguing and I am surprised with the Lordship decision," he said New Delhi: In an exclusive interview to News18, the prosecution lawyer in the Mecca Masjid case has revealed that he was associated with BJPs youth wing ABVP in the past but said the association had nothing to do with his profession. N Harinath said that he had come in contact with ABVP during his second year in law college. I joined because a lot of my friends were associated with the unit. But I would like to say that that association has never influenced my work and neither do I work for the BJP, he said. Question marks have been raised over his appointment as the special public prosecutor in the case after the special NIA court acquitted the five accused. Apart from his links with ABVP, there have been reports that Harinath had little experience in criminal law and lacked the knowledge of murder trial required in terror cases like the Mecca Masjid blast case. Harinath rubbished the charges. He said that he has been standing counsel since 2000 and from 2004-2009, he was working in the High Court as a government law official. It was in 2011 during UPA government that he was made the standing counsel. Four years later, he was given permission to appear for the NIA. The allegation that I was made the standing counsel only during the NDA government is absolutely false, he added. He also revealed that the Mecca Masjid case had weakened during the year 2010 under the UPA government when the CBI was in charge of the probe. Aseemanand was first arrested by CBI in 2010 but was granted conditional bail in 2017 in the case. He was earlier acquitted in Ajmer Dargah blast case, and has also got bail in Samjhauta Express blast case of 2014. When the CBI filed Aseemananands confessional statement on December 18, 2010, in front of the magistrate in Delhi, the latter noted that the statement was made when Aseemanand was in custody. This note by the magistrate weakened the confession, Harinath said. The lawyer further said that the probe was handed over to the NIA in 2012, which filed the supplementary charge sheet in 2013 during the UPA government tenure. The whole case was resting on Aseemanands confession but he narrated a different version in court. The chargesheet stated that Aseemanand had allegedly told two people, Maqbool and Kaleem, that he was saddened by the death of innocents and that he should not have been a conspirator in the blasts. The lawyer added that the investigating agency, however, could not provide proper evidence to prove that conversation. The judgment is based on evidence and statements made by witnesses. In the case of Mecca Masjid, most witnesses turned hostile and what NIA had in the name of evidence was Aseemanands confessional statement, which had already weakened in 2010. The case was fought with the highest level of transparency and honesty but without proper evidence, the prosecution cant do anything, Harinath said. He added that questions on the case were being raised to taint his reputation and that he will file defamation suits against media organizations that are trying to tarnish his image. London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had a series of bilateral meetings including discussions with Seychelles President Danny Faure and his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here. "Friend in an extended neighbourhood! PM @narendramodi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assumes significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises. Cementing close friendship with Mauritius, Prime Minister Modi met his Mauritius counterpart Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties, Kumar said. The "pull-aside meetings" with world leaders included an interaction with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Rick Houenipwela. Modi also interacted with President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, Gaston Browne. Sheikh Hasina is set for an interaction with Modi, their first meeting since the Bangladeshi Prime Minister's visit to New Delhi last year. Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with Modi include Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness. Additionally, Modi is likely to interact with Dr Keith C. Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. "The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues," a senior official said. Officials had earlier indicated that no meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The bilateral talks took place as the formal heads of government meeting got underway in London on Thursday, following a formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to address the second plenary meeting of the heads of government during the closed-door executive session of CHOGM. At the launch of the CHOGM executive session at Lancaster House open to the media, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The great strength of the Commonwealth is that all our members have equal status, an equal voice, and an equal right to make that voice heard. So, as we tackle these challenges, I want to hear from everyone, and everyone will have chance to speak. "We face many challenges in the world today. But the Commonwealth is a unique organisation and, at this summit, we have an opportunity to deliver lasting change that benefits all of our 2.4 billion people." Later on Thursday, the 91-year-old monarch will host a dinner for all 53 heads of government at the palace. "I had not been able to visit the last summit and this time, it was an honour that Prince Charles came personally to India last year to invite me for it. The Queen herself wrote a personal letter to me, a matter of great pride for India," Modi had said during his 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' diaspora event in London last evening. An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. The Indian government has said that this symbolises the country's wider efforts to step up its role across global forums. The executive session of the summit on Thursday will be followed by a retreat at Windsor Castle tomorrow, when the leaders get together in an informal setting without any pre-set agenda or being accompanied by their close aides. The summit concludes tomorrow when leaders will issue their communique and a leaders' statement after their retreat. CHOGM takes place every two years in different Commonwealth countries, with the next host country also to be announced at the end of this summit. Following the retreat, Modi will head back to India after a brief stopover in Berlin, Germany for his meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. 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09 (4) Jan 08 (3) Jan 07 (5) Jan 06 (5) Jan 05 (6) Jan 04 (5) Jan 03 (3) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (3) Dec 31 (3) Dec 30 (3) Dec 29 (3) Dec 28 (4) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (5) Dec 25 (6) Dec 24 (7) Dec 23 (7) Dec 22 (4) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (6) Dec 19 (10) Dec 18 (9) Dec 17 (10) Dec 16 (8) Dec 15 (4) Dec 14 (6) Dec 13 (10) Dec 12 (6) Dec 11 (5) Dec 10 (6) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (8) Dec 07 (5) Dec 06 (6) Dec 05 (6) Dec 04 (7) Dec 03 (7) Dec 02 (6) Dec 01 (9) Nov 30 (5) Nov 29 (9) Nov 28 (7) Nov 27 (6) Nov 26 (7) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (4) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (7) Nov 21 (7) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (8) Nov 18 (12) Nov 17 (8) Nov 16 (6) Nov 15 (4) Nov 14 (11) Nov 13 (11) Nov 12 (9) Nov 11 (6) Nov 10 (9) Nov 09 (9) Nov 08 (7) Nov 07 (7) Nov 06 (8) Nov 05 (8) Nov 04 (6) Nov 03 (5) Nov 02 (7) Nov 01 (5) Oct 31 (7) Oct 30 (6) Oct 29 (7) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (7) Oct 26 (4) Oct 25 (7) Oct 24 (4) Oct 23 (7) Oct 22 (7) Oct 21 (6) Oct 20 (8) Oct 19 (7) Oct 18 (6) Oct 17 (6) Oct 16 (8) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (6) Oct 13 (7) Oct 12 (5) Oct 11 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(4) Apr 12 (5) Apr 11 (10) Apr 10 (6) Apr 09 (6) Apr 08 (10) Apr 07 (6) Apr 06 (6) Apr 05 (5) Apr 04 (4) Apr 03 (5) Apr 02 (5) Apr 01 (6) Mar 31 (5) Mar 30 (9) Mar 29 (8) Mar 28 (8) Mar 27 (7) Mar 26 (9) Mar 25 (11) Mar 24 (10) Mar 23 (6) Mar 22 (8) Mar 21 (3) Mar 20 (6) Mar 19 (2) Mar 18 (9) Mar 17 (7) Mar 16 (6) Mar 15 (10) Mar 14 (6) Mar 13 (6) Mar 12 (10) Mar 11 (7) Mar 10 (8) Mar 09 (6) Mar 08 (5) Mar 07 (6) Mar 06 (7) Mar 05 (6) Mar 04 (10) Mar 03 (2) Mar 02 (8) Mar 01 (9) Feb 29 (11) Feb 28 (8) Feb 27 (6) Feb 26 (8) Feb 25 (8) Feb 24 (9) Feb 23 (12) Feb 22 (10) Feb 21 (11) Feb 20 (6) Feb 19 (5) Feb 18 (9) Feb 17 (9) Feb 16 (10) Feb 15 (8) Feb 14 (9) Feb 13 (8) Feb 12 (9) Feb 11 (7) Feb 10 (7) Feb 09 (7) Feb 08 (9) Feb 07 (7) Feb 06 (10) Feb 05 (10) Feb 04 (6) Feb 03 (8) Feb 02 (7) Feb 01 (6) Jan 31 (10) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (6) Jan 28 (9) Jan 27 (7) Jan 26 (8) Jan 25 (8) Jan 24 (7) Jan 23 (6) Jan 22 (8) Jan 21 (6) Jan 20 (10) Jan 19 (8) Jan 18 (6) Jan 17 (7) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) 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Jul 16 (5) Jul 15 (5) Jul 14 (4) Jul 13 (5) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (7) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (3) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (4) Jul 06 (4) Jul 05 (6) Jul 04 (4) Jul 03 (10) Jul 02 (4) Jul 01 (2) Jun 30 (3) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (3) Jun 26 (6) Jun 25 (3) Jun 24 (3) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (5) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (3) Jun 16 (4) Jun 15 (3) Jun 14 (4) Jun 13 (3) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (2) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (3) Jun 07 (4) Jun 06 (3) Jun 05 (1) Jun 04 (3) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (2) May 31 (2) May 30 (3) May 29 (3) May 28 (5) May 27 (1) May 26 (1) May 25 (2) May 24 (2) May 23 (1) May 22 (2) May 21 (2) May 20 (3) May 19 (3) May 18 (2) May 17 (2) May 16 (2) May 15 (3) May 14 (2) May 13 (2) May 12 (2) May 11 (3) May 10 (3) May 09 (2) May 08 (3) May 07 (2) May 06 (2) May 05 (2) May 04 (2) May 03 (3) May 02 (2) May 01 (2) Apr 30 (1) Apr 29 (2) Apr 28 (3) Apr 27 (2) Apr 26 (2) Apr 25 (2) Apr 24 (2) Apr 23 (3) Apr 22 (4) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (3) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (2) Apr 17 (2) Apr 16 (2) Apr 15 (2) Apr 14 (2) Apr 13 (2) Apr 12 (2) Apr 11 (3) Apr 10 (3) Apr 09 (2) Apr 08 (2) Apr 07 (2) Apr 06 (2) Apr 05 (3) Apr 04 (2) Apr 03 (2) Apr 02 (2) Apr 01 (2) Mar 31 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 29 (2) Mar 28 (2) Mar 27 (2) Mar 26 (3) Mar 25 (3) Mar 24 (2) Mar 23 (2) Mar 22 (1) Mar 21 (1) Mar 20 (2) Mar 19 (2) Mar 18 (2) Mar 17 (2) Mar 16 (4) Mar 15 (2) Mar 14 (2) Mar 13 (2) Mar 12 (2) Mar 11 (3) Mar 10 (3) Mar 09 (3) Mar 08 (2) Mar 07 (1) Mar 06 (2) Mar 05 (3) Mar 04 (3) Mar 03 (8) Mar 02 (2) Mar 01 (1) Feb 28 (2) Feb 27 (4) Feb 26 (1) Feb 25 (1) Feb 24 (2) Feb 23 (2) Feb 22 (4) Feb 21 (2) Feb 20 (2) Feb 19 (2) Feb 18 (2) Feb 17 (2) Feb 16 (2) Feb 15 (1) Feb 14 (1) Feb 13 (1) Feb 12 (2) Feb 11 (1) Feb 10 (2) Feb 09 (1) Feb 08 (1) Feb 07 (1) Feb 06 (1) Feb 05 (5) Feb 03 (1) Feb 02 (1) Feb 01 (1) Jan 31 (4) Jan 30 (4) Jan 29 (4) Jan 28 (2) Jan 27 (5) Jan 26 (5) Jan 25 (5) Jan 24 (3) Jan 23 (4) Jan 22 (4) Jan 21 (3) Jan 20 (3) Jan 19 (4) Jan 18 (3) Jan 17 (2) Jan 16 (4) Jan 15 (3) Jan 14 (5) Jan 13 (5) Jan 12 (5) Jan 11 (4) Jan 10 (3) Jan 09 (5) Jan 08 (5) Jan 07 (4) Jan 06 (3) Jan 05 (4) Jan 04 (4) Jan 03 (6) Jan 02 (3) Jan 01 (4) Dec 31 (4) Dec 30 (4) Dec 29 (5) Dec 28 (5) Dec 27 (4) Dec 26 (4) Dec 25 (4) Dec 24 (1) Dec 23 (4) Dec 22 (3) Dec 21 (5) Dec 20 (5) Dec 19 (4) Dec 18 (4) Dec 17 (5) Dec 16 (4) Dec 15 (6) Dec 14 (4) Dec 13 (4) Dec 12 (5) Dec 11 (5) Dec 10 (4) Dec 09 (5) Dec 08 (4) Dec 07 (4) Dec 06 (5) Dec 05 (4) Dec 04 (4) Dec 03 (4) Dec 02 (3) Dec 01 (3) Nov 30 (4) Nov 29 (4) Nov 28 (5) Nov 27 (4) Nov 26 (4) Nov 25 (3) Nov 24 (5) Nov 23 (4) Nov 22 (4) Nov 21 (4) Nov 20 (4) Nov 19 (5) Nov 18 (4) Nov 17 (4) Nov 16 (3) Nov 15 (5) Nov 14 (3) Nov 13 (4) Nov 12 (4) Nov 11 (4) Nov 10 (3) Nov 09 (3) Nov 08 (3) Nov 07 (4) Nov 06 (4) Nov 05 (4) Nov 04 (3) Nov 03 (2) Nov 02 (3) Nov 01 (4) Oct 31 (3) Oct 30 (4) Oct 29 (3) Oct 28 (4) Oct 27 (3) Oct 26 (3) Oct 25 (3) Oct 24 (3) Oct 23 (3) Oct 22 (3) Oct 21 (3) Oct 20 (3) Oct 19 (3) Oct 18 (3) Oct 17 (3) Oct 16 (4) Oct 15 (5) Oct 14 (3) Oct 13 (6) Oct 12 (4) Oct 11 (4) Oct 10 (3) Oct 09 (3) Oct 08 (3) Oct 07 (3) Oct 06 (3) Oct 05 (4) Oct 04 (3) Oct 03 (3) Oct 02 (3) Oct 01 (3) Sep 30 (3) Sep 29 (3) Sep 28 (3) Sep 27 (3) Sep 26 (5) Sep 25 (5) Sep 24 (4) Sep 23 (5) Sep 22 (4) Sep 21 (4) Sep 20 (5) Sep 19 (4) Sep 18 (5) Sep 17 (5) Sep 16 (4) Sep 15 (5) Sep 14 (4) Sep 13 (3) Sep 12 (6) Sep 11 (6) Sep 10 (4) Sep 09 (4) Sep 08 (3) Sep 07 (3) Sep 06 (3) Sep 05 (4) Sep 04 (4) Sep 03 (3) Sep 02 (3) Sep 01 (4) Aug 31 (3) Aug 30 (3) Aug 29 (4) Aug 28 (3) Aug 27 (4) Aug 26 (3) Aug 25 (4) Aug 24 (4) Aug 23 (3) Aug 22 (3) Aug 21 (3) Aug 20 (5) Aug 19 (4) Aug 18 (3) Aug 17 (3) Aug 16 (3) Aug 15 (5) Aug 14 (3) Aug 13 (3) Aug 12 (4) Aug 11 (3) Aug 10 (3) Aug 09 (4) Aug 08 (2) Aug 07 (2) Aug 06 (2) Aug 05 (2) Aug 04 (2) Aug 03 (3) Aug 02 (4) Aug 01 (3) Jul 31 (2) Jul 30 (5) Jul 29 (3) Jul 28 (3) Jul 27 (3) Jul 26 (3) Jul 25 (6) Jul 24 (3) Jul 23 (4) Jul 22 (4) Jul 21 (4) Jul 20 (4) Jul 19 (4) Jul 18 (4) Jul 17 (4) Jul 16 (4) Jul 15 (5) Jul 14 (3) Jul 13 (4) Jul 12 (4) Jul 11 (5) Jul 10 (5) Jul 09 (2) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (3) Jul 06 (2) Jul 05 (2) Jul 04 (3) Jul 03 (4) Jul 02 (5) Jul 01 (3) Jun 30 (2) Jun 29 (3) Jun 28 (4) Jun 27 (4) Jun 26 (5) Jun 25 (4) Jun 24 (5) Jun 23 (3) Jun 22 (4) Jun 21 (2) Jun 20 (4) Jun 19 (3) Jun 18 (3) Jun 17 (1) Jun 16 (5) Jun 15 (5) Jun 14 (2) Jun 13 (5) Jun 12 (4) Jun 11 (3) Jun 10 (2) Jun 09 (2) Jun 08 (2) Jun 07 (2) Jun 06 (2) Jun 05 (2) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (2) Jun 02 (4) Jun 01 (3) May 31 (4) May 30 (5) May 29 (3) May 28 (3) May 27 (3) May 26 (4) May 25 (4) May 24 (2) May 23 (4) May 22 (4) May 21 (5) May 20 (6) May 19 (4) May 18 (3) May 17 (4) May 16 (5) May 15 (6) May 14 (4) May 13 (9) May 12 (4) May 11 (5) May 10 (5) May 09 (4) May 08 (3) May 07 (5) May 06 (3) May 05 (4) May 04 (5) May 03 (1) May 02 (5) May 01 (7) Apr 30 (4) Apr 29 (5) Apr 28 (4) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (4) Apr 25 (4) Apr 24 (4) Apr 23 (4) Apr 22 (3) Apr 21 (4) Apr 20 (4) Apr 19 (3) Apr 18 (4) Apr 17 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Jul 13 (3) Jul 10 (1) Jul 08 (2) Jul 07 (1) Jul 06 (1) Jul 03 (1) Jul 01 (1) Jun 28 (1) Jun 24 (2) Jun 20 (1) Jun 19 (1) Jun 18 (1) Jun 15 (1) Jun 14 (2) Jun 11 (1) Jun 09 (3) Jun 08 (1) Jun 07 (1) Jun 06 (1) Jun 04 (2) Jun 03 (1) Jun 02 (2) Jun 01 (1) May 31 (3) May 30 (1) May 29 (1) May 28 (2) May 26 (1) May 25 (1) May 18 (1) May 17 (1) May 15 (1) May 09 (1) May 07 (2) May 02 (1) May 01 (1) Apr 30 (1) Apr 27 (1) Apr 26 (2) Apr 23 (1) Apr 22 (1) Apr 19 (1) Apr 18 (1) Apr 12 (1) Apr 11 (1) Apr 09 (1) Apr 07 (1) Apr 05 (1) Apr 01 (1) Mar 30 (1) Mar 27 (1) Mar 25 (1) Mar 22 (2) Mar 19 (1) Mar 18 (1) Mar 16 (1) Mar 15 (2) Mar 13 (1) Mar 12 (1) Mar 11 (1) Mar 10 (1) New Delhi: Judge BH Loya died of natural causes, ruled the Supreme Court on Thursday as it also held that the petitions demanding a further investigation into the death were "veiled attempts at front attack on the independence of the judiciary. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra dismissed a clutch of petitions, seeking a probe into circumstances leading to death of Loya in 2014 when the judge was hearing the high profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter killing case from Gujarat. The judgment, authored by Justice DY Chandrachud, came down heavily on the petitioners and the submissions made by their lawyers during the course of the hearing. The bench, also comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar, described the plea as a "serious attempt to scandalise the judiciary" and impeach the credibility of the judges, right from the subordinate judiciary up to the Supreme Court. The court maintained that the two judicial officers who travelled to Nagpur with Loya for a wedding and stayed with him in a guest house had given "consistent and truthful" accounts of what really happened and there is no reason why they should be disbelieved. It added that "this will be in larger public interest to uphold the independence of judiciary by trusting their statements. The bench reproached the insinuations made by senior lawyers Dushyant Dave and Indira Jaising, and advocate Prashant Bhushan against the members of the judiciary. "These are attempts to cast aspersions on judges... serious attempts to scandalise the court and administration of justice," said the court. It asserted that the case in hand is an example where personal gains and political scores are sought to be settled under guise of filing PILs. The bench added that judicial process will be reduced to charade if the courts were to be burdened with such cases with extraneous reasons. It further criticised the petitioners for seeking recusal of Justices Khanwilkar and Chandrachud because they were also from Maharashtra and could have known the fellow judicial officers whose credibility were being questioned. "Higher principles guide us," said the court, adding the judges did not have to recuse for reasons like this. The bench said that the conduct amounted to criminal contempt of the court but the proceedings were not being initiated only because the petitioners should not feel they had an unequal battle with the law. It made it clear that the matter relating to Loya's death shall be put to rest now and that no other court in the country shall entertain any further plea in this regard. Mumbai: Yet another prosecution witness in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case turned hostile on Wednesday, taking the number of such witnesses to 50 so far. Two witnesses, Manjusha Apte and Salim Khan, were examined by the CBI before special judge SJ Sharma in connection with the alleged fake encounters of Shaikh and his aide Tulsi Prajapati, who were killed in 2005 and 2006, respectively. According to the CBI, Apte and her in-laws were travelling in the same bus from Hyderabad to Sangli, in which, Shaikh and his wife Kausar Bi were their co-travellers before they were allegedly picked up by a police team in November 2005. While admitting before the court that she was travelling in that bus, Apte said she didn't see anything as she was sleeping. Later, special public prosecutor BP Raju declared her hostile. Earlier, her father-in-law and her husband had turned hostile. Another witness Salim Khan said he had represented Prajapati in a murder case as his lawyer. Prajapati, an aide of Shaikh, was killed in an alleged staged encounter in December 2006. Khan, who practises in Udaipur in Rajasthan, told the court that Prajapati used to tell him about the threat to his life from the police. Till now, the CBI has examined 73 witnesses in the Sohrabuddin Shaikh alleged fake encounter case. A court in Mumbai had last October framed charges against 22 people, including police officers for murder, abduction and destruction of evidence in connection with the alleged fake encounter of Shaikh near Gandhinagar in Gujarat on November 26, 2005. Shaikh, an alleged gangster with terror links, and his wife Kausar Bi were allegedly abducted by the Gujarat Police's Anti-Terrorism Squad from Hyderabad on their way to Sangli in Maharashtra in November 2005. According to the prosecution, Shaikh was killed in a staged encounter. Kausar Bi, who disappeared, was also allegedly killed later. Prajapati was allegedly killed by police at Chapri village in Gujarat's Banaskantha district in December 2006. New Delhi: A 40-year-old man was stabbed to death allegedly by three youths as one of them suspected that the victim was in an illicit relationship with his mother, police said on Wednesday. The man, Raju alias Mamraj, was stabbed 22 times with a dagger allegedly by Aman (20), Ashish (21) and Sahil (19), who have been arrested, they said. The incident was reported from southwest Delhi's Dwarka. On April 17, the police were informed that a man was lying with fatal stab injuries near the Peer Baba Majar. He was rushed to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Hari Nagar where he was declared brought dead. Raju's family members suspected the role of Aman as he was suspicious about the victim having an illicit relationship with his mother, police said. On April 16, Raju had gone to Aman's house where they had quarrel. The accused had warned Raju against coming to his house, they said. During investigation, the mobile phone of Aman was put on surveillance and it was found that he was changing his location constantly. On the basis of technical surveillance, houses of Aman's relatives in Azadpur and Deenpur and other possible hideouts were searched, but he could not be arrested. Police said a trap was also laid at Aman's house and subsequently, he was nabbed while he was coming to his house, the police said. During interrogation, Aman revealed that he had killed Raju along with his associates Ashish and Sahil, who were later arrested. Aman revealed that he suspected that Raju was "over friendly" with his mother, said Shibesh Singh, Deputy Comissioner of Police (Dwarka). He also said that he had told Raju several times not to come to his house, but the deceased still visited his house regularly, the officer said. He made a plan with his friends to kill Raju and on April 17 stabbed him 22 times with a dagger, the DCP said. London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India's foreign policy is done with level eyes and that New Delhi has emerged as the key voice for the Third World on the global platform. "Neither do we look at countries with raised eyes nor with lowered eyes," Modi said in response to a question at "Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath", an interaction with the Indian diaspora here organised by the Europe India Forum. Around 2,000 people of Indian origin attended the event at the Central Hall Westminster where Prasoon Joshi, Indian lyricist, screenwriter, poet and marketer, acted as the moderator. Explaining India's foreign policy initiatives, Modi said he went to Palestine in February this year with confidence. The visit came after Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu's visit to India in January this year. Modi visited Israel in July last year in what was the first ever prime ministerial visit from India to the West Asian nation. "Why did not any Indian Prime Minister go to Israel in 70 years?" Modi asked as Israel marked its 70th Independence Day on Wednesday. Modi's standalone half-day visit to Ramallah signified New Delhi's dehyphenation of Israel and Palestine. "I went to Saudi Arabia as also I went to Iran," Modi said. He visited oil-rich Saudi Arabia in April 2016 and then the Gulf kingdom's rival Iran the very next month. Modi also referred to comments he heard about how he, a former state Chief Minister, could not handle India's foreign policy. He referred to Operation Raahat in 2015 during which India rescued over 5,000 Indian nationals and citizens from 41 other countries from war-hit Yemen. Closer home, the Prime Minister spoke of how New Delhi has played its role in the Rohingya refugee crisis by sending aid to Bangladesh. Hundreds of thousands of Rohingya fled from Myanmar's Rakhine State in the wake of a security crackdown there in August last year. "India is today the spokesperson for the third world countries," Modi said. "For this, we are working with the G20 countries." Modi arrived here on Tuesday from Sweden on the second leg of his three-nation tour of Europe which will also see him going to Germany. Modi will attend this year's Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here on April 19-20, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister since 2009 to attend the biannual event of the grouping of 53 former British colonies. Earlier on Wednesday, Modi and British Prime Minister Theresa May held a bilateral meeting during which they discussed ways of reinvigorating the Commonwealth in an increasing multipolar world. The Prime Minister Minister, at the diaspora event, said that Britain's Prince Charles came to India to personally invite him for this year's CHOGM. Queen Elizabeth II also personally wrote a letter to him in this regard, Modi said. New Delhi: Late on Monday night, the Indian Navy sent out a cheeky yet powerful message to its counterpart in China. Taking to its official Twitter handle, the Indian Navy told the Chinese that India was watching the Indian Ocean Region (IOR). This was perhaps the first time that the Indian Navy had openly commented on the presence of the Chinese fleet in the IOR. Sources in the Navy said that while the tweet was not planned as such, the top hierarchy was kept in the loop throughout. When asked why the Indian Navy suddenly thought of responding, an official said, This is our backyard. We have been here constantly monitoring the region and have had 24*7 presence since 2008. The 29th Fleet from the Chinese Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) had left Chinas Zoushan on April 4 for Gulf of Aden and areas off Somali reportedly to escort civilian ships. Indian Navy has previously said that it monitors everything that happens in the IOR but has never said something to this order. Since 2008, India has had constant presence in the region to fight piracy. The Navy has deployed 69 ships in the Gulf of Aden and escorted 3816 ships. Of this, 3407 were foreign ships. We want security and growth for all in the region and have been protecting ships in this region from piracy. Well protect the Chinese too from piracy but they should stick to what they say theyre here for-warding of pirates, News18 was told. Using #HappyHunting in its cheeky tweet, it ensured that the Chinese got the message to avoid any misadventures. They said theyve entered the IOR because of anti-piracy efforts right? Just wanted to remind them that thats what theyre here for, sources at the Navy added. Indias SAGAR v/s Chinese Debt Trap The economies of India and China depend on the sea routes to an extent of 90% as products like fuel, energy among other things are traded via the waters. As of today, almost 80% of Indias crude oil demand is met via import from the Indian Ocean. India is also the fourth largest importer of liquefied natural gas, with about 45% of it coming via sea lanes. Indias Security and Growth for All In The Region (SAGAR) has focused on capacity and capability development of smaller navies in the region. Many in the Navy also feel that Indias approach of providing training as compared to the Chinese idea of loans via its Belt and Road Initiative is finding increasing favour among many countries in IOR. India focuses on mission-based deployment and deploys mission-ready ships and aircraft in important positions and choke points. China has inhibitions on other Navies entering the South China Sea and it is well known. However, we respect Freedom of Navigation in International Waters and follow the UNCLOS 100%. But what are they doing so far away from their region in the IOR? This is our backyard that India is mandated to protect it, the source said. We know the Chinese are building ports in various areas here. They never entered the IOR from Maldives because they saw our ships. Well continue to protect the region, no matter what. Weve eyes in the sky and also on land and water, News18 was told. And indeed, other than water presence, as part of its biggest combat exercise in three decades, the Indian Air Force (IAF) is carrying out massive drills involving its front line fighter jets to test its capability to dominate the entire extended area of the Indian Ocean region. China's territorial ambitions in the South China Sea already worry world powers. And the Asian giants move into the Indian Ocean has only escalated it. China extended its military presence by opening a naval base in the eastern African nation of Djibouti last year. Beijing is also building up on its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative, which includes many countries in Asia and Africa. It has built a port in Pakistan's Gwadar, taken a lease on Sri Lanka's Hambantota and also made several investment in Maldives. PowerBuilder History, Powersoft History Written by Patrick Lannigan - Winter 2004 Powersoft grew out of a company called Computer Solutions Inc (CSI), which was founded in 1974. In the beginning, CSI, like many software companies, providing consulting services. In CSI's case, they focused on small to medium sized manufacturers. As a result of their experience in this field, they decided to build their own software package called GrowthPower. It was released in 1981. It was an MRP II system with a suite of integrated financial products which ran (exclusively) on the HP3000 platform. There was, at one time, over 1,000 customers for GrowthPower. Mitchell Kertzman, the CEO of GrowthPower, started to solicit feedback from his customers on their future needs. The answer came back loud and clear. They wanted a graphical interface (remember that by this time, in the early 90s, Windows was catching on like wildfire and made the old "character" interfaces look inferior). So, CSI started looking around for tools and technology to build their next generation application. They didn't like what they saw. The only tools at the time that could provide a graphical interface required programmers to use the C language. As luck would have it, Dave Litwack, former VP of R&D for Cullinet, had just left Cullinet after they got bought by Computer Associates and was circulating a business plan within the venture capital community in the Boston area seeking funding to build an easy to use client/server graphical tool that would communicate with the most popular relational databases like Oracle and Sybase. Dave Litwack had difficulty finding somebody to fund him, but then ran into Mitchell Kertzman. PowerBuilder was born a year or so after their first date. Powersoft's PowerBuilder 1.0 David Litwack headed up the R&D effort for PowerBuilder and Version 1.0 went into beta (with a codename of "Headstart") in August of 1990. Some of the firms who participated in the beta program were American Airlines, Microsoft, 3M, Fidelity Investments, Coca-Cola, and many others. PowerBuilder Version 1.0 went into official release in July of 1991. In just six months, Powersoft sold $5.2 million worth of product. Version 2.0 was released less than one year later and sales (in 1992) climbed to $22.1 Million. Profitability was also achieved in the first quarter of 1992. Powersoft Goes Public Powersoft went public on February 3, 1993. Shares surged from $20 to $38 a share on the day. Shares were volatile for the next weeks and months but then enjoyed a steady climb as Powersoft continued to pump out record results (1993 revenue was 57m, and 1994 revenue was 133 m). Then, when investors and executives alike were basking in the sunlight of infallibility, some gentlmen callers came knocking. There was an offer made. It was an offer like no other offers. The groom asking for Powersoft's hand in marriage was Sybase and the billion dollar dowry offer was very seductive. So a wedding/merger was arranged on February 13, 1995. I hope they took pictures during the wedding ceremony and honeymoon because the "paper valuation" (the deal was done with Sybase stockworth $904m) didn't last long. The bad news arrived in the form of fabricated (Sybase) sales results. Sybase stock took a tumble, along with the fortune of many Powersoft executives like Mitchell Kertzman and David Litwack. Despite the troubles at Sybase, Powersoft's PowerBuilder technology still enjoyed a dominant role in new client server development, until 1996. That's when the Web went wild. That's also when Visual Basic grew up and Borland's Delphi product was launched. On top of these troubles, users were experiencing problems building enterprise applications with PowerBuilder (it wasn't a fault of PowerBuilder per se, but rather it was a problem with client/server applications overall). Budgets were suddenly diverted to Web projects. Visual Basic and Delphi users started to outnumber Powersoft programmers. Talk of PowerBuilder faded slowly, and never quite regained its former glory. The PowerBuilder groupies still hung on, but the glory days were gone forever. Get the Wikipedia details about Powersoft and PowerBuilder Here. Powersoft PowerBuilder Advertisements Link to LARGE Powersoft Advertisement (Everything You Asked For.) (Opens in a New Window.) (Below) Two images scanned from a two-page advertisement on PowerBuilder Desktop. This advertisement was a defensive play against the growing strength of Visual Basic and MS-Access. If I remember correctly, PowerBuilder desktop sold for US$249. PowerBuilder sales were growing so rapidly that if a developer had PowerBuilder experience, they could demand higher rates. Powersoft was keenly aware of this factand there were other advertisements (not included here) that featured "PowerBuilder Developers Wanted." (Unfortunately I couldn't put my hands on one of those advertisements.) Lucknow: The BJP seems to be making inroads in the Gandhi bastion of Raebareli with former Congress MLC from the region joining its party later this week. Dinesh Singh, who is considered close to the Gandhi family, will join BJP along with thousands of his supporters on April 21 in the presence of BJP president Amit Shah. CM Yogi Adityanath, along with other senior leaders, is also expected to attend the event, which aims to corner Congress in its own bastion. Sonia Gandhi represents Raebareli constituency in the parliament. Dinesh Singh was issued a show-cause notice by the party for indulging in anti-party activities. Singh quit the party recently alleging that local leader were not allowed to grow in the party and were not given credit for their work. The BJP with no big name of its own in Raebaerli, will now be equipped with a powerful political name of Dinesh Singh ahead of 2019 polls. Dinesh Singh, it is said, was handpicked by Priyanka Gandhi Vadra. BJP president is on a mission to dismantle the Gandhi bastion in Raebareli and he will be addressing a huge rally on April 21 in an attempt to swing the mood of the voters in BJPs favour ahead of 2019 Lok Sabha Elections. Shah will also hold meetings with party workers to review the BJP's preparedness ahead the polls. Though the BJP swept Uttar Pradesh in the 2014 general elections, it lost both Raebareli and Amethi to the Congress. Union Information and Broadcasting Minister Smriti Irani has been making regular trips to Amethi, the parliamentary constituency of Congress president Rahul Gandhi, even after losing in the last elections. Irani wants to encash the anti-incumbency in Amethi and has been engaging herself in various development programmes for the people of Amethi. The Congress has a task on its hands as the BJP is busy making inroads into its prized constituencies. New Delhi/Jaipur/Bhopal: Having suffered reverses in recent bypolls, the BJP moved to rejig its organisations in two states where assembly elections are due later this year, as it appointed a new party president I Madhya Pradesh on Wednesday and appeared set to bring in a new chief in Rajasthan. BJP president Amit Shah appointed Rakesh Singh, the party's chief whip in the Lok Sabha, as the head of its Madhya Pradesh unit, replacing Nandkumar Singh Chauhan, who had been at the helm since August 2014. A party statement said that Rajasthan party chief Ashok Parmani and K Hari Babu, who recently resigned as Andhra Pradesh BJP chief, besides Chauhan have been made members of its national executive. Parmani on Wednesday resigned as chief of party's Rajasthan unit. Sources said new heads of the party in Rajasthan and Andhra Pradesh will be announced soon. "I have worked for strengthening the party as its worker. I will continue to work in accordance with the responsibilities given to me as a disciplined party worker," Parnami, who had been appointed as Rajasthan BJP chief in February 2014 and is an MLA from Jaipur's Adarsh Nagar constituency, said. Asked if his resignation was a fallout of the BJP's defeat in the recent Lok Sabha bypolls in Alwar and Ajmer, Parnami said, "Any defeat or victory is a collective responsibility and individuals are not responsible." Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was in contention for the post of the party president in Madhya Pradesh, will be its campaign committee chief, sources said. Rakesh Singh (55), a three-term MP representing Jabalpur in the Lok Sabha, is seen as a dynamic leader with vast organizational experience and the party hopes that he will be able to use its strong organisation in the state to ward off damage due to any perceived anti-incumbency in the state. According to sources in Bhopal, Singh's name was finalised at the BJP's state core group meeting in the state capital last night. The meeting was also attended by Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP organisational secretary Ram Lal. Elections to the 230-member Madhya Pradesh Assembly will be held by the end of the year. The BJP is in power in the state for 15 years and Chief Minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan has led it to convincing victories in the 2008 and 2013 assembly polls. However, the party's loss in a string of bypolls coupled with agitations by farmers and then Dalits has given the opposition Congress hope that it can breach the saffron fortress this time. The BJP is believed to be facing a much stronger challenge in Rajasthan, underlined recently in its loss in the two Lok Sabha bypolls. Party sources said a revamp of the organisation is likely in the state. Rajasthan too will go to the polls later this year. In Andhra Pradesh, the party has been left without an ally and hopes to strengthen its organisation under a new president. It has claimed that the decision of the Telugu Desam Party to break ties with it has given the party an opportunity to broaden its base and appeal. New Delhi: As the Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Judge BH Loya died of natural causes and the petitions seeking further investigation were attacks on the judiciary, the judgment soon turned into a political slugfest with both opposition Congress and ruling BJP pulling each other up over the intent of petitions. While the Congress called it a sad day and raised questions over the Supreme Court verdict rejecting a batch of pleas seeking probe into the alleged mysterious death of Loya; BJP leaders on the other hand alleged that these PILs were nothing but propaganda against the ruling party. Congress President Rahul Gandhi wrote in a tweet, "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him." BJP leaders Meenakshi Lekhi and Aman Sinha on Thursday said the PILs on the death of special CBI judge BH Loya was a kind of "blackmail and propaganda machinery" aimed at maligning the people in power and the Congress leadership should apologise to BJP President Amit Shah. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh hailed the SC verdict and said that the judiciary cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta. He came down heavily on "several attempts" to target the BJP and its top leaders through "fake" cases. "It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of fake facts'. These attempts have failed miserably once again," Singh said on Twitter. A three-judge bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra dismissed a clutch of petitions, seeking a probe into circumstances leading to death of Loya in 2014 when the judge was hearing the high profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter killing case from Gujarat. Attacking the BJP for accusing Congress president Rahul Gandhi as being the invisible hand behind the petitions seeking the probe, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the allegations as a malicious attempt that showed the ruling party's jitteriness. It is a sad day in India's history. The suspicious circumstances in which Loya died was a matter of deep concern for those who have faith in the judiciary. The copy of the entire judgment is not yet available. But there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary, Surjewala told reporters here. Surjewala raised 10 questions relating to the case as he criticised the verdict and noted that issue of criminality can be decided only through a probe, contending that no investigation was done into the death of Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi, too, said that the apex court's verdict dismissing the pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death will raise more questions and leave many of them unanswered unless logical reasons were found in it. Earlier in the day, Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath welcomed the Supreme Court's verdict and wrote in a tweet, "Rahul does not want that any person other than someone from the Gandhi family should run the country. The Congress stands exposed." Referring to a Congress press conferences and a Rahul Gandhi-led delegation to the President for a probe into Judge Loya's death, the chief minister said the apex court verdict on the issue has exposed the "ugly face" of the Congress. Several other BJP leaders and senior ministers, including Prakash Javadekar, addressed the issue and welcomed the verdict. Not just political parties, former Attorney General Mukul Rohatgi said the pleas seeking probe into the death of judge Loya were filed with vested interests and the purpose was to attack the functioning of the government. Lucknow: With no other candidates in the fray, BSPs Bhim Rao Ambedkar along with 12 others, were elected unopposed to the UP Legislative Council on Thursday, which was the last day to take back the nominations. With no extra candidates fielded for the Upper House, all 13 candidates were elected to Legislative Council unopposed. The Samajwadi Party had sent Naresh Uttam Patel on its ticket to the Legislative Council while for the second berth, they supported BSP candidate Bhim Rao Ambedkar. The move was seen as a goodwill gesture from SP after the BSP candidate lost the Rajya Sabha elections last month even after being supported by both SP and Congress. The gesture is also being seen as an attempt by Akhilesh Yadav to cement SPs growing ties with the BSP and forge an alliance in order to defeat BJP in the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. Meanwhile, the ruling BJP has sent 10 of its candidates to the Legislative Council, including Dr Mahendra Singh, Mohsin Raza, Dr Sarojini Agarwal, Bukkal Nawab, Yashwant Singh, Jaiveer Singh, Vidhyasagar Sonkar, Vijay Bahadur Pathak, Ashok Kataria and Ashok Dhawan, while one seat was left for its ally Apna Dal (S) on which its national president Ashish Singh Patel was elected as an MLC. With two Muslims in the Legislative Council Mohsin Raza and Bukkal Nawab the list is once again being dominated by the Thakurs over the Brahmins. CM Yogi Adityanath belongs to the Thakur community. Yogi Adityanath congratulated the newly elected members of the council and tweeted, I hope that all the newly elected members of the Legislative Council will work towards strengthening the democracy while discharging their duty in sync with the Indian Constitution, and they will contribute towards the development of the state. Bengaluru: As BJP and JDS stand with open arms and welcoming eyes, the crestfallen ticket aspirants of Congress no longer have a reason to remain disappointed. Its a party-hoppers galore for defectors in Karnataka with less than a month left for polling. Those who are aspiring for a ticket still have chances as the BJP is yet to announce candidates in 70 seats and JDS in 98. While the saffron party is waiting for good candidates to join them, JDS is already gleaming after inducting 11 unhappy souls. Dreams of several MLAs, who were eyeing their seats for the second time, came crashing down after Congress announced its candidates last week. This led to disgruntled leaders hopping to other major parties. BJP CM-face B S Yeddyurappa, in fact, went ahead and announced one of them, G V Balaram, as saffron partys candidate from Pavagada, triggering protests within the party. Party workers from both parties vandalised their respective offices across the state. While supporters of disgruntled Congress workers set tyres afire on highway, unhappy with the inductions, BJP workers damaged chairs and furniture at their offices. However, remaining unfazed by voices of resentment within the party, Yeddyurappa said, Our third list of candidates will come out in a day or two, but then we will still keep about 20-22 seats pending we are waiting for good candidates from other parties to join us, anyone bringing with him the winnability factor is welcome. With just five seats remaining where Congress is yet to announce candidates, the discontent ticket aspirants have no option but to try their chances in the opposition parties, especially after BSYs welcome gesture. Also, caste, which plays a major part in certain Assembly segments, would be an important factor. A candidate who is rich enough to be able to fund his campaigns without looking to the party for anything for his segment other than brand name that would be a big bonus, of course. The Janata Dal Secular -- the important third cog in the wheel of Karnataka politics which hopes to be a king-maker if there is a hung Assembly -- announced that they, too, had bagged about eleven unhappy leaders from the BJP and Congress. Ramachandrappa, his son Jagadish and daughter-in-law Amulya joined JDS. Amulya is a popular Kannada actor and will now be one of the star campaigners for the party Among them is Hemachandra Sagar, former BJP candidate and head of a huge group of education institutions, the Dayananda Sagar Group; and Prasanna Kumar, a former MLA of the Congress from the SC-reserved seat of Pulakeshinagar in Bengaluru. Former BJP candidate Hemachandra Sagar joined JDS Kumar was denied a ticket, purely because the JDS MLA from the same area had joined the Congress last month and had been considered for his greater mass appeal. The JDS, too, is short of candidates for important segments in Bengaluru city and with these candidates, the party said it is now hopeful of winning at least 12 to 15 Assembly seats in Bengaluru city (of the 28 Assembly segments that are there). There are some candidates -- like Beluru Gopalakrishna -- who are so sure of their popularity that they plan to contest as Independents after being denied tickets from their party. If they win, being an independent can pay rich dividends in a hung Assembly, as was seen in 2008 when the BJP was six short of the halfway mark in the Assembly -- and six independents, who supported the party, all became ministers! Filing of nominations began April 17, but there were hardly any candidates filing their papers on day 1 as Tuesday is not being considered too auspicious by many. The last day to file nominations is another Tuesday April 24 and if there are defections that happen till then of course, these candidates would have to file their papers on that day, regardless of how auspicious it is! Posted Thursday, April 19, 2018 11:03 am When biologists single out keystone species that whole ecosystems depend on, theyre never sharks, bears, lions or other PBS glory hogs. Ecologists warn of the dire things that would happen if all the trees, or the insects, or the bacteria, in the world disappeared. If there is a keystone organism alive in jazz right now, its surely bassist/composer Ron Carter. If Carter and his multifarious works vanished, life might go on. But would it be worth living? Carter, 83, is arguably the most illustrious and influential in a long line of guest artists to do a residency with the MSU Jazz Studies program, and hes still searching for something new, from intimate duo and trio dates to a big band gig in New Yorks Blue Note last weekend. Every night, when I go to work, Im looking for the second floor, Carter said in a phone interview before the Blue Note gig, a tribute to pianist/composer Michel Legrand. Ive been on the first floor for a long time and I want to get off! On many of the great recordings in jazz history, from Miles Davis Seven Steps to Heaven to McCoy Tyners Extensions, Carter quietly controls the chemistry like a blacksmith, bending the music to his will as it curls, white hot, out of the creative furnace. I look for a set of notes, where they are on the bass can I make the band go this way, make them better? Carter said. Its beyond finding the right notes, MSU Jazz Studies director Rodney Whitaker said. He is the bass player that will immediately make your band sound like a band. If hes not on the bandstand, its a different record, a different gig. Saxophonist Joe Henderson called Carter Big Brother because of his apparent mind-reading ability, according to Whitaker. Wherever you think youre going to go musically, he goes there before you go, or hell lead you to where you want to go, Whitaker said. Carter is aware of his authority in a group and isnt shy about using it. Thats part of what the Creators given me, man, Carter said. I have to find the right set of notes, the right integrity, the right demeanor, the reputation of helping dates go where they can go and that might be somewhere else, other than where they were intended to go, to be musically successful. I do that kind of stuff and I have a great time. Carter also deploys a dry sense of humor. To ask him the secret of his vitality is to court a brisk slap. I have hair, and a not all gray beard. I think theres still milk on my bib so Im OK. Asked whether music is the best thing human beings do, he hesitated. Im not old enough, man, he said. Six years from now I can figure out the answer. A great handshake or a serious hug theres no music in that but the feeling is great. After years of trying, Whitaker exploited a rare opening in Carters busy schedule of recordings, playing gigs and teaching. Carters residency caps a week-long Jazz Spectacular that also includes a swing dance Wednesday night, a concert with student octets and percussionist Carlos Valdez Thursday, and the day-long Essentially Ellington high school band competition Saturday. Whitaker, mentor to hundreds of musicians, is elated to finally get one of his own mentors in the house. He was my hero on a lot of levels, being from the same home town, Whitaker said. Carter grew up in Ferndale and, like Whitaker, went to Cass Tech High School in Detroit. Whitaker met Carter for the first time at MSU in 1985, when Whitaker was a 17 and a prospective student, taking auditions, and Carter was doing duets with guitarist Jim Hall. There are things I do in my playing that I forgot I took from him, Whitaker said with a laugh. The records he did with Miles are etched in all of our memories, but hes beyond that. For five ground-breaking years, Carter anchored trumpeter Miles Davis second quintet, one of the greatest groups ever, with Herbie Hancock, Wayne Shorter and Tony Williams. Carter has played on 2,221 recordings as of September 2015, according to Guinness Records. Joe Henderson, Roberta Flack, the records he did on Blue Note theres so much, Whitaker said. Hes the most recorded bassist in history. Carter has seen jazz go through a lot of changes, from bebop to post-bop, funk, fusion and flings with hip hop and non-Western music. His own foray into hip hop, on A Tribe Called Quests Low End Theory, brought his bedrock bass roll to an appreciative younger audience. Through all the phases of jazz, Carter said, two things always happen. Theres always someone who wants to play better than the next guy, he said. And theres always someone who thinks theyve found a new way to play music. Those two things, he said, trigger changes in music. Whether its Miles, Charlie Parker, Louis Armstrong, Ornette Coleman, Trane theres certain people who are determined to do it, Carter said. And its not an ego thing, man. They just have that drive to get to the second floor. After a long career of playing in intimate formats such as quintets, quartets, trios and some exquisite duets, most notably with Jim Hall and saxman Houston Person, Carter has taken up the expanded palette of a big band but he doesnt call it that. I tell these guys, Youre part of a 16-piece quartet. Enjoy the ride, Carter said with a laugh. Another jazz legend, pianist/composer Michel Legrand, was set to play the Blue Note gig last weekend with Carter, but Legrand fell ill at the last minute and Carter had to scramble. The arrangements were built around Legrands piano playing and had to be reworked. Carter took it all in stride. I call it a live get well card, Carter said. People will feel its truly a tribute and a reminder of Michel Legrands importance on the music competition scene. This week, Carter is bringing arrangements to MSU for the students to tackle. Yes, Mr. Whitakers already paid for them thats the rumor, anyway, he joked. MSU Jazz Spectacular Swing Dance with Jazz Orchestras 7:30 p.m. Wed., April 18, MSU Demonstration Hall $8-10 Jazz Octets With Carlos Valdez, percussion 7:30 p.m. Thurs., April 19, Fairchild Theatre MSU Auditorium $8-10 Finale Concert Ron Carter, bass 8 p.m. Sat., April 21, Fairchild Theatre MSU Auditorium $15-25 Bengaluru: BJP MLA Sanjay Patil stirred a controversy on Thursday by saying that the electoral contest in Karnataka was "not about roads and drinking water but Hindu and Muslim religions". Sanjay Patil, Belagavi (Rural) MLA, is seen making the purported remarks in a video shot in his constituency amid loud cheers by a crowd of his supporters. It was not immediately known when the video, which went viral on Thursday, was shot. "...This election is not about road, drainage or drinking water. This election is about Hindu and Muslim religions," he told the crowd. "Keeping a hand on my chest I say loudly, this is Bharat, this is the country of Hindus, and this is the country where (Lord) Ram was born. We are prepared to do anything to construct Ram Mandir in Ayodhya," Patil can be heard saying in the footage. Patil also told the crowd, which lapped up every word he said, that the Congress favoured constructing a mosque in Ayodhya instead of a Ram temple. "Let Laxmi Hebbalkar speak about constructing Ram mandir, you all vote for her, but she can't say it, as she is among those who will construct a masjid, Babri masjid," he said, insisting the May 12 polls were "very important." Hebbalkar, the Karnataka Mahila Congress chief, is pitted against Patil from Belagavi (Rural) constituency. "(Those) Who want to construct Babri Masjid... who want to celebrate Tipu Sultan's jayanti...let them vote for Congress," he said. "If you want Shivaji Maharaj, if you want Sambhaji Maharaj, if you want those who offer pooja at Lakshmi temple, you will have to vote for BJP," he added. Belagavi (Belgaum) on Karnataka-Maharashtra border is a communally sensitive area with significant presence of Muslims and Marathi speaking Hindus. Cong spokesperson Madhu Yaksh Goud said Patils statement showed the BJPs desperation. Making such a statement violates the Constitution. We will take it up with the election commission. This won't work in Karnataka. The people won't allow destabilising forces like this, she said. Bhopal: While the BJPs decision to change its Madhya Pradesh unit chief has come as setback for Chief Minister Shivraj Chouhan, he still managed to get some leverage by stalling the party high commands choice for the post. Though MP Rakesh Singh had emerged as consensus candidate to take over as MP BJP chief, party sources claim he was not the first choice for the post. He replaced Nandkumar Singh Chauhan who, sources said, was a close confidante of Shivraj. Moves to curtail Shivrajs influence in the party comes after the BJP lost the bypolls in Mungaoli and Kolaras even after Shivraj led the campaign from the front, with sources claiming that the party wants to pin the blame for the defeat on him. Given his proximity with the party high command especially with the party chief Amit Shah, Parliamentary affairs minister Narottam Mishra was said to be the obvious option to replace Nandkumar. Though other names including state home minister Bhupendra Singh, GAD minister Lal Singh Arya and party general secretary VD Sharma were in the fray, Mishra was considered to be the frontrunner. At the partys core committee meeting in Bhopal on Tuesday evening, Mishras name was considered certain. However, sources said, Shivraj sensed that the odds were being stacked against him and announced a cabinet meeting late at night, indicating he could do something drastic if his choice was not agreed upon. Soon after, Bhupendra and party organizational general secretary Ram Lal called on Shivraj and upon their return briefed the party that the CM was not ready to accept Mishras name, sources said. The party high command was briefed of the developments and, after some negotiations, Rakesh Singhs name was agreed upon. Nandkumars ouster is still a blow to the Chief Minister as he let him handle the party according to his wish without much interference, sources claimed. Hinting at changes, former CM Babulal Gaur on Wednesday said from now on, the BJP affairs in MP wont be a one man show. Rakesh, who comes with vast organisational experience, is not known to be a vocal politician. He, however, always maintained cordial relations with party seniors. He is also considered a close aide of senior leader Prahlad Patel who holds much sway in New Delhi. He also has a good relationship with Union minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who has been appointed head of election management committee. Besides, Rakesh is a close relative of Bhupendra, a close aide of Shivraj. Given the junior stature of the state head, seniors like Patel, Tomar and Faggan Singh Kulaste are expected to have much say in party affairs from now on, sources said. Though the party high command did not manage to impose its choice on MP unit but by appointing Tomar as head of election management committee, it has made sure the state government works under close supervision of party organization, sources said. Though Tomar was close to CM Shivraj in the past, of late, he has switched loyalties by increasing proximity with the party high command, they added. Mishra, Kulaste and Arya, who represent tribal and Dalit community, along with Patel have also been accommodated in the committee. Mishra and Patel are known Shivraj detractors. Amazon has persuaded more than 100 million shoppers to subscribe to its Prime service that offers free two-day shipping and other perks that help bind people to the company and its ever-expanding empire. CEO Jeff Bezos quantified the size of Amazon's Prime membership for the first time Wednesday in his annual letter to the Seattle company's shareholders. Before Bezos' revelation, analysts had been left to guess how many people had been willing to pay $99 per year for the Prime service, which Amazon launched 13 years ago as a way to foster customer loyalty. Also Read: [In Pics] OnePlus 6 Camera Samples Revealed by OnePlus CEO; Company Hints at Water Resistant Make The scope of Prime's success stunned even the most optimistic of analysts, such as GBH Insights' Daniel Ives. He had previously estimated Amazon had 92 million Prime subscribers. "It's a mind-boggling number that serves as a key barometer to how big Amazon's kingdom has become," Ives said. Costco has been selling annual memberships to get bargains on goods stocked in its warehouses for decades, and already been outdone by Amazon's Prime service. Costco has 50.4 million memberships that allow 92 million cardholders to shop in its warehouse and website. Amazon still isn't the king of digital subscriptions, though. Netflix has 125 million worldwide subscribers who, on average, pay about $120 annually to watch its video-streaming service, based on numbers the company released with its quarterly earnings earlier this week. Although providing free two-day shipping to Prime orders obviously drives up Amazon's costs, the service so far has proven to be worth the expense. Ives estimates that Prime members typically spend twice as much at Amazon than non-Prime members. Also Read: Google Promises to Take Action on Apps That Violates Their Policies The service also helps spur sales of Amazon's internet-connect speaker with its digital assistant, Alexa. The device makes it easier to shop online and gives the company a toehold in homes. Amazon also is leveraging Prime to spur more sales at Whole Foods, the brick-and-mortar supermarket chain that it acquired last year, by offering two-hour delivery of groceries to the service's subscribers. Prime serves as a "competitive moat" that makes it more difficult for other retailers, online and offline, to get people to shop at their stores instead of Amazon, Ives said. "It has become a golden ticket for Amazon," he said. All those factors have helped make give Amazon a market value about $740 billion. Only Apple, at about $900 billion, and Google's corporate parent, at about $745 billion, are currently worth more. President Donald Trump has recently attacked Amazon as an economic scourge, deriding the company as a tax dodger and an abusive customer of the U.S. Postal Service. That has raised worries the Trump administration might take action that could crimp Amazon's growth, but the growing popularity of the Prime service could make that a politically unpopular move. Also Watch: Xolo Era 3X Review: Ease-of-Use is The Biggest USP The French government is building its own encrypted messenger service to ease fears that foreign entities could spy on private conversations between top officials, the digital ministry said on Monday. None of the world's major encrypted messaging apps, including Facebook's WhatsApp and Telegram - a favourite of President Emmanuel Macron - are based in France, raising the risk of data breaches at servers outside the country. About 20 officials and top civil servants are testing the new app which a state-employed developer has designed, a ministry spokewoman said, with the aim that its use will become mandatory for the whole government by the summer. Also Read: Facebook Wearable Device Helps 'Feel' Words on Your Arm "We need to find a way to have an encrypted messaging service that is not encrypted by the United States or Russia," the spokeswoman said. "You start thinking about the potential breaches that could happen, as we saw with Facebook, so we should take the lead." The U.S. social network, which bought WhatsApp in 2014, has drawn heavy criticism since it acknowledged that information about many millions of users wrongly ended up in the hands of political consultancy Cambridge Analytica. The French government's encrypted app has been developed on the basis of free-to-use code found on the Internet and could be eventually made available to all citizens, the spokeswoman said. She declined to give the names of either the codes or the messaging service. FOND OF TELEGRAM Macron's inner circle - now government advisers or ministers - have grown fond of the Telegram app, which they used to plot his rise to power and his presidential election campaign last year. Macron, an economy minister in the previous Socialist administration, wanted at the time to use an encrypted messaging service that even his rivals in the last government could not crack, a close adviser to Macron told Reuters. Since then, most of his lawmakers have joined the app and the president himself can often be seen online on Telegram, sometimes in the early hours of the morning. Also Read: Chandrayaan-2 to Cost Rs 800 Crore: ISRO Chairman But privacy concerns started growing earlier this year, and security tools from French security firm Thales installed on officials' work smartphones prevented the use of either WhatsApp or Telegram. Telegram was set up by a Russian entrepreneur who has come into conflict with the authorities. Russia's state telecommunications regulator said on Monday it had begun blocking access to Telegram after the company refused to comply with an order to give state security access to its users' secret messages. Both WhatsApp and Telegram promote themselves as ultra-secure because all their data is encrypted from start to finish. WhatsApp relies on open industry standards created by the developers behind Signal, a rival messaging app, while Telegram relies on its own, home-grown encryption techniques. Also Watch: Tech and Auto Show | EP36 | Ford Freestyle, Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 & More Lenovo owned smartphone maker Motorola is expected to launch new series of its devices at an event in Sao Paulo, Brazil. Aimed at the mid-range, the upcoming series will consist of three smartphones Moto G6, Moto G6 Play, and Moto G6 Plus going by leaks and rumours. There have been multiple leaks of the three devices over the past few months, which have shown most of the details, such as the Moto G6 price, specifications and more. As per the report, the Moto G6 Play will be priced at $199 (roughly Rs. 13,000), while the Moto G6 will be available at $249 (roughly Rs. 16,000). Also Read: Facebook Wearable Device Helps 'Feel' Words on Your Arm In terms of specifications, the Moto G6 Plus will get its power through a Snapdragon 660 processor and is expected to come in two RAM/storage versions3GB RAM/ 32GB storage and 4GB RAM/ 64GB internal storage. Also Read: Chandrayaan-2 to Cost Rs 800 Crore: ISRO Chairman Both the variants will come with a microSD card slot and has a 5.7-inch Full HD+ display. There is a dual-lens camera module (12MP+5MP) at the back along with a 16MP selfie camera and is backed by a 3,000 mAh battery. On the other hand, the bigger Moto G6 Plus will have a 5.93-inch Full HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18:9. It is expected to be powered by a Qualcomm Snapdragon 630 chipset. Also, there will be a 6GB RAM version as well and a bigger 3,200mAh battery. The rest of the specifications are similar to the Moto G6. Also Read: Google Promises to Take Action on Apps That Violates Their Policies Motorola will also launch another phone called the Moto G6 Play in the 2018 lineup of Moto G series. It is likely to feature a standard camera setup with a 13-megapixel rear camera and an 8-megapixel front camera with a dedicated front flash. The device will focus on providing better battery life with a 4,000mAh battery. The smartphone will offer a 5.7-inch HD+ display with an aspect ratio of 18:9 and is expected to be powered by a Snapdragon 427 processor. Also Watch: Tech and Auto Show | EP36 | Ford Freestyle, Yamaha YZF-R15 V3.0 & More In a telephone call with the Emir of Kuwait in January, U.S. President Donald Trump pressed the Gulf monarch to move forward on a $10 billion fighter jet deal that had been stalled for more than a year. Trump was acting on behalf of Boeing Co, America's second-largest defence contractor, which had become frustrated that a long-delayed sale critical to its military aircraft division was going nowhere, several people familiar with the matter said. With this Oval Office intervention, the details of which have not been previously reported, Trump did something unusual for a U.S. president he personally helped to close a major arms deal. In private phone calls and public appearances with world leaders, Trump has gone further than any of his predecessors to act as a salesman for the U.S. defence industry, analysts said. Trump's personal role underscores his determination to make the United States, already dominant in the global weapons trade, an even bigger arms merchant to the world, U.S. officials say, despite concerns from human rights and arms control advocates. Those efforts will be bolstered by the full weight of the U.S. government when Trump's administration rolls out a new "Buy American" initiative this week aimed at allowing more countries to buy more and even bigger weapons. It will loosen U.S. export rules on equipment ranging from fighter jets and drones to warships and artillery, the officials said. Reuters has learned that the initiative - which industry sources said will be announced on Thursday - will provide guidelines that could allow more countries to be granted faster deal approvals, possibly trimming back to months what has often taken years to finalise. The strategy will call for members of Trump's cabinet to sometimes act as "closers" to help seal major arms deals, according to people familiar with the matter. More top government officials will also be sent to promote U.S. weapons at international air shows and arms bazaars. Shares of major U.S. defence contractors added to gains after the news and Raytheon hit an all-time high. Human rights and arms control advocates warn that the proliferation of a broader range of advanced weaponry to more foreign governments could increase the risk of arms being diverted into the wrong hands and fuelling violence in regions such as the Middle East and South Asia. The Trump administration stresses that the main aims are to help American defence firms compete better against increasingly aggressive Russian and Chinese manufacturers and give greater weight than before to economic benefits of arms sales to create more jobs at home. One Trump aide, speaking on condition of anonymity, said the new initiative is also intended to ease human rights restrictions that have sometimes led to an effective "veto" over certain arms deals. "This policy seeks to mobilize the full resources of the United States government behind arms transfers that are in the U.S. national and economic security interest," a White House official said, responding to a request for comment on the story. "We recognise that arms transfers may have important human rights consequences," the official said. "Nothing in this policy changes existing legal or regulatory requirements in this regard." One of the main architects of the new policy has been economist Peter Navarro, a China trade sceptic ascendant in Trump's inner circle. His effort to boost arms exports has drawn little resistance within the White House, officials said. 'WHOLE OF GOVERNMENT' The initiative has been in the works for months and some of its expected components have already been reported. But with the rollout nearing, more than a dozen industry sources and current and former U.S. officials have provided Reuters with the most complete picture yet of Trump's policy, though they caution that last-minute changes are still possible. The policy will call for a "whole of government" approach from the president and his cabinet on down to military attaches and diplomats to help drum up billions of dollars more in arms business overseas, U.S. officials said. It will also call for cutting red tape to secure faster deal approval on a broader range of weaponry for NATO members, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners as well as treaty allies such as Japan and South Korea, among others, they said. Many details will remain classified. Companies that stand to benefit most include Boeing and the other top U.S. defence contractors, Lockheed Martin Corp , Raytheon Co, General Dynamics Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp. All of their shares have surged by double-digit percentages, led by the doubling of Boeing's stock price, since Trump took office in January 2017. Trump's aides also want more senior officials to attend major international arms shows, including cabinet members such as Defense Secretary Jim Mattis and Commerce Secretary Wilbur Ross, to promote U.S.-made weapons the way countries such as France and Israel pitch their companies" wares. "If you go to the Paris air show, you see the French foreign minister standing in front of the Airbus pavilion," one U.S. official said. "We're getting outplayed so we have to change our culture." In addition to the broad arms export initiative, Trump is expected to sign a separate document easing exports of military drones, an item high on foreign governments' shopping lists, officials said. U.S. foreign military sales totalled $42 billion last year, according to the U.S. Defense Security Cooperation Agency. Experts say exports from Russia, the largest U.S. competitor, are typically half those of the United States. The Aerospace Industries Association trade group said it had first lobbied Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign on the need for "bolstering U.S. manufacturing" and encouraging allies to take more responsibility for their own security. SALESMAN-IN-CHIEF While many presidents have helped promote the U.S. defence industry, none is known to have done so as unabashedly as Trump, a former real estate developer who seems sometimes at his most comfortable when he is promoting U.S. goods. Trump regularly discusses specific arms sales with foreign leaders in meetings and on the phone, according to White House statements. And on a trip to Japan last November, he publicly urged Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to buy more American weapons. More recently, at an Oval Office meeting with Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman last month, Trump held up posters with pictures of U.S. jets, ships and helicopters and other armaments sold to Saudi Arabia. "We make the best military product in the world," he boasted to reporters as the prince sat smiling beside him. Other presidents, including Richard Nixon, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush stressed the need to strengthen the defence industrial base, but they did it more subtly, said William Hartung, director of the arms and security project at the Center for International Policy, a non-partisan think tank. "Nobodys been as blatant about it as Trump," he added. "Nobody has yelled it from the rooftops." Former President Barack Obama would sometimes talk to allied leaders about weapons systems that he felt suited their security needs, but aides said he preferred to keep weapons salesmanship at arm's length. The Trump administration's plan to overhaul the Conventional Arms Transfer policy, the framework for evaluating foreign sales, goes well beyond Obama's relaxation of rules in 2014 that enabled U.S. arms contractors to sell more overseas than ever before. Obama drew a clear line, however, requiring each sale to meet strict human rights standards though he was criticized at times for allowing some controversial sales. Trump has already gone ahead with several deals that Obama blocked, including the sale of $7 billion in precision-guided munitions to Saudi Arabia despite human rights groups' concerns they have contributed to civilian deaths in the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen's civil war. ANATOMY OF A TRUMP-ERA DEAL How Boeing's Kuwait deal got on Trump's agenda for the Jan. 17 call with Kuwait's Emir Sheikh Sabah Al-Ahmad Al-Jaber al-Sabah illustrates how seriously the administration is taking the arms export push. The State Department granted approval in November 2016, in the final months of the Obama administration, for Kuwait to buy 40 F/A-18 Super Hornet strike fighters. But Kuwait, a U.S. Gulf ally, appeared to drag out negotiations, U.S. officials and industry sources said, and the purchase was still not finalised by the time the emir visited Trump at the White House last September. Trump told reporters at the time that, at the Kuwaiti leader's request, he had intervened and won State Department authorization for the deal a false claim since that approval had already been granted nearly a year earlier. Months later, Boeing's request for a presidential nudge to Kuwait was channelled to National Security Council aides, who included it among Trump's "talking points" for the January phone call, two people close to the matter said. This time, Trump did make a difference. Just days later, Kuwaiti state media reported the deal was done. The Kuwaiti government did not respond to requests for comment. A Boeing spokesman declined comment. Washington: The leader of the US Senate Judiciary Committee said on Thursday the committee would vote on a bill to protect Robert Mueller, the special counsel appointed to investigate Russian meddling in the 2016 US election, despite objections by the chamber's Republican leadership. Senator Chuck Grassley, the Judiciary Committee's Republican chairman, said he was keeping his word to the bill's backers that the panel would take up the measure if they reached a bipartisan compromise, which they had. The committee will consider the legislation next week. US Senate Republican Leader Mitch McConnell had told Fox News on Tuesday that he would not allow a vote on the measure in the full Senate. "Obviously the views of the majority leader are important to consider, but they do not govern what happens here in the Judiciary Committee," Grassley said at a committee meeting. The legislation was co-authored by Republican Senators Thom Tillis and Lindsey Graham and Democrats Chris Coons and Cory Booker. The bill would make it harder for President Donald Trump to fire Mueller, or for any president to fire any special counsel, by allowing Mueller to seek a judicial review if he were to be dismissed. Smoke is seen on the Myanmar border as Rohingya refugees walk on the shore after crossing the Bangladesh-Myanmar border by boat through the Bay of Bengal, in Shah Porir Dwip, Bangladesh. (Image: Reuters) Jennifer Riordan, who was sitting in the window seat, was flying home from a business trip. She was blown out of the explosion and later died. Family, friends and community leaders are mourning her death. (Image: AP) GamesRadar+ is supported by its audience. When you purchase through links on our site, we may earn an affiliate commission. Learn more Big Bro: California bill would require ALL businesses to submit employee salary details to state as way to ensure equal pay Marxist Democrats running the state of California are continuing to do everything they can to drive businesses away in their quest to create the perfect utopia. Pandering to illegal aliens, strangling residents with high taxes, driving more people out of the housing market, and creating social welfare magnets for the homeless isnt enough. Now lawmakers are considering legislation that would force private companies to hand over salary data on all employees even if, presumably, employees didnt want their privacy violated in such a way to ensure that women are getting paid the same as men. That ol gender wage gap argument again. As reported by CBS Sacramento: From the Womans March to the Me Too movement, there has been a growing awareness of a gender pay gap in the workforce. Senate Bill 1284 would require all California companies with 100 or more employees to submit a pay data report that includes the number of workers, their race and sex, and the total earnings of each employee. Its an enormous problem, said state Sen. Hannah-Beth Jackson, who introduced the bill before a Judiciary Committee. Women are in the workforce primarily because they need to be and its important that women are paid equally, she continued. Opponents of the legislation and they are lining up include the California Manufacturers & Technology Association and Chamber of Commerce, both of which call the bill a jobs killer. You think? Our concern is that the information in 1284 wont actually get the data they are looking for. Its not an apples-to-apples comparison, said Laura Curtis with the California Chamber of Commerce who spoke before the committee, CBS Sacramento reported. We are concerned about the increased liability, the potential of individuals would be able to sue, added Nicole Rice with the California Manufacturers & Technology Association. It doesnt really matter what Curtis and Rice think or any employer in the state with 100 or more employees, for that matter. The Judiciary Committee has already voted the bill out to the full Senate by a tally of 5-1. (Related: Google has abandoned tech innovation to focus on social justice internal wars and feuds, targeting non-compliant employees for termination.) There are so many things wrong with this bill its hard to know where to start. But lets begin with some of the most obvious issues. Equal pay for equal work has never, in the modern era, been dependent on gender. Its against federal labor laws to discriminate against employees for a whole range of reasons, gender being one of them. Also, equal work should not automatically equate to equal pay. There are many core issues and differences to consider when calculating pay experience, education, work history, time with the company, etc. Plus, some better-paying jobs like those in construction, transportation, and other areas are just easier for men to do. And theres this: Some professions just attract more men than women. This bill is designed to collect data so we can understand why that pay gap continues to be as great as it is, Jackson said. Right. Thats as believable as Jackson saying the Golden Gate Bridge is for sale. According to PragerU, there is no gender wage gap. As Christina Hoff Sommers, resident scholar at the American Enterprise Institute points out, the comparisons used by the Left to make this claim are erroneous. Besides, she notes, if it were really true that, all things being equal that women really did earn 77 cents for every dollar a man earns, she asks, Why dont companies just hire women? It would save them a fortune in salary, their biggest expense. Jacksons bill isnt designed to merely provide a benevolent state government data so pointy-headed academics can understand wage gaps. Its designed to eventually force companies to pay female employees more, whether they deserve higher pay or not, so theyll continue voting for them. Watch: See more stories on the bizarre cultism of the Left at LeftCult.com. J.D. Heyes is also editor-in-chief of The National Sentinel. Sources include: CBSSacramento.com NaturalNews.com Japan to legalize organ transplant farms of animals to be raised and slaughtered for human transplant organs The world is changing so swiftly that things that might have seemed like science fiction just a decade or two ago are now becoming the norm. For some time now, scientists around the world have been working on developing animal-human hybrids or chimeras for the mass production of human organs to be used in transplant operations. The ethical issues involved are obviously immense, but researchers justify their work by noting that around 20 people die each day while waiting for a transplant. Until recently, this work has been largely theoretical, with strict regulations in place that experimental pregnancies have to be terminated before reaching full term. Back in 2016, MIT Technology Review found that at least three U.S. teams were actively working on this type of research, with the establishment of around 20 successful pregnancies in the preceding year. (Related: Scientists have grown a pig-human hybrid creature in a lab.) Japanese researchers have also been at the forefront of chimera research, and WND recently reported that a government-commissioned panel in that country has approved further experiments to take these freak pregnancies to full-term. (Related: U.S. researchers now growing human organs inside animals to be sacrificed for transplants; genetically altered chimeras an assault on Mother Nature.) WND reported: Under the auspices of the Education, Culture, Sports, Science and Technology Ministry, the panel produced a report on research involving the development of human organs in the bodies of pigs and other animals. In the report, the panel concluded it would allow researchers to implant an animal embryo (a fertilized egg) containing human cells into an animals womb and have the animal give birth. There are several possible methods that may be employed by the scientists, including injecting human stem cells into a pig or sheep embryo, and then placing that embryo in the animals womb to develop until birth. The review panel made their controversial decision because they believe that the potential benefits of such research outweigh the risks. They also hope that it will ultimately result in new disease treatments, a better understanding of the root causes of certain diseases, and perhaps most importantly those precious organs needed for transplant. Harvest farms of animals raised in cages, just to be slaughtered for the benefit of humans Though this might all sound like a simple and brilliant solution that could save countless lives, when one starts digging, the issues become a lot murkier. For one thing, there are many who believe that human lives are no more important than animal lives, and that the creation of animals which have no hope of survival, bred purely to fill a human need, is unethical and morally unacceptable. Then there are concerns about the development of possible Frankenstein animal/human hybrids that look like animals but have human cognitive abilities. In fact, according to WND, the Japanese review panel has mandated that no creature be produced that is ambiguous enough to blur the line between humans and other animals. The crossbreeding of animals born as a result of the method is also forbidden, as is fertilization using human germ cells. They have also called for oversight by ethics committees, research institutions and universities, to ensure that these rules are adhered to. Of course, once that ethical line is crossed, there is no real guarantee that some twisted genius wont create a freakish animal/human hybrid in his basement and unleash it on the world. (Related: Discover what else theyre up to at Scientific.news.) Sources include: WND.com TechnologyReview.com UNOS.org Connecticut lost jobs in March for the first time in five months as stormy weather may have hurt key employment sectors, according to a report released Thursday by the states Department of Labor. The state lost 2,000 jobs in March, but the unemployment rate decreased one-tenth of a point to 4.5 percent as the number of unemployed residents fell by 527 from February. Connecticut has gained 7,800 since March 2017. Marchs decline of 2,000 jobs was the first down month the state has seen since last October, said Andy Condon, director of the Office of Research. The largest declines were in retail, trade and accommodations and food services, both of which may have been adversely affected by the noreasters last month. Pete Gioia, an economist with the Connecticut Business and Industry Association, said the unemployment rate dropped for absolutely the wrong reasons as people stopped looking for work. The labor force is smaller and thats a systemic problem here in Connecticut, he said, adding that fewer workers means fewer tax returns. This is a problem that is intertwined with a lot of other problems. One of the best ways to tackle some of these problems is to get more tax returns. Don Klepper-Smith, chief economist and director of research at DataCore Partners, wrote in a newsletter to clients Thursday that the March employment numbers were in line with expectations based on current economic fundamentals. He called the previous four months of gains as a nice reprieve of sorts from what has characteristically been a very weak and lackluster economic landscape. Klepper-Smith said the 0.5 percent year-over-year job increase is well below the 1.1 percent average increase seen over the last 50 years. Were continuing to move sideways without any significant upside momentum, he wrote. The job estimates are based on a business payroll survey administered by the U.S. Bureau of Labor Statistics. Februarys announced job gain of 2,800 was unchanged after revision. The trade, transportation and utilities supersector, which includes retail, led the March losses as it shed 1,500 jobs. Leisure and hospitality lost 1,300 jobs. Professional and business services led all industries with 700 new jobs. Construction and mining, as well as education and health services, gained 500 positions each. Financial activities, an important supersector in Fairfield County, remained unchanged in March. The state has now gained 80.4 percent of the jobs lost during the recession and needs to add 23,300 positions for a full recovery. The private sector, however, has recovered 101.3 percent of the jobs lost to the recession, according to the state DOL. Hartford led all labor market areas with a gain of 600 jobs in March. Danbury gained 200 positions. The other four labor market areas lost jobs, with New Haven seeing the largest decline of 1,700 positions. The Bridgeport-Stamford-Norwalk labor market area lost 300 jobs. Average hourly earnings were up slightly to $31.76. Mark S. LeClair, professor of economics at Fairfield University, said Connecticuts employment numbers mirrored the disappointing national numbers released earlier this month. Its very possible the weather had something to do with this. Who wants to go out in this? he said. Leisure services declined and thats the type of business that is sensitive to weather. If we see a reversal next month, we can blame it on the snow. LeClair has been with Fairfield University for nearly 30 years and has seen Connecticuts economy decline over the years compared to the national average. Connecticut has always outperformed the nation and thats not happening anymore, he said, citing high taxes and few business growth strategies coming out of Hartford. We are in a permanent budget crisis and I dont know how they get out of it. The writer may be reached at cbosak@hearstmediact.com; 203-731-3338 Contributed photo /Cate Bourke The Marie Louise Trichet Art Gallery at Wisdom House Retreat and Conference Center will open an exhibit Requiem for Being: An Installation by East Hartford artist Cate Bourke on Saturday, April 21 from 3:30 pm -5:30 pm. Taking bee colony collapse disorder as a point of departure, this ceramic art installation will be a meditation on otherness, ambivalence and disconnectedness, the artist said in a release. The state Medical Examining Board on Tuesday disciplined three doctors, including fining an Ansonia doctor $5,000 for prescribing excessive doses of opioids without documenting the need for the drugs. The board also permanently restricted Dr. Joel Zaretsky from prescribing controlled substances for more than 15 days, except in acute cases. It placed his license on probation for 18 months. During the probation, he must hire a doctor to randomly review his patient medical records and he must take courses in diagnosing and managing back pain, erectile dysfunction and Type 2 diabetes, according to a consent order Zaretsky agreed to. In signing the order, Zaretsky chose not to contest the allegations but admitted no wrongdoing. Besides prescribing the opioids to excess in 2016, Zaretsky continued to prescribe opioids to a patient who he knew was enrolled in a methadone addiction treatment program, the consent order said. State records show he also deviated from the standard of care in assessing and managing back pain, Type 2 diabetes and erectile dysfunction in patients. The board also fined a Newtown psychiatrist $15,000 for submitting false insurance claims. In 2016, the doctor, Naimetulla Syed, paid $422,641 to resolve allegations that he submitted false claims to Medicare and Medicaid between 2009 and 2013, state and federal officials said in a news release at the time. An investigation revealed that he used a code for psychotherapy sessions lasting 45 to 50 minutes when in most cases, he only saw the patients for five to 30 minutes, the release said. The medical board also placed Syeds medical license on probation for a year in connection with the false claims. Syed, who also has an office in Glastonbury, must complete courses in medical documentation. In 2013, Syed had been fined $5,000 by the board for similar allegations that he billed insurance in 2010 for patient visits that never occurred, state records show. In addition, the board revoked the Connecticut license of Dr. Mohan Kaza of Bloomfield Hills, Mich., who, records show, was convicted of operating a motor vehicle while intoxicated in 2014 in Michigan. The board also found that in 2014, Kaza failed to report that felony conviction when renewing his Connecticut license, the boards memorandum of decision said. Kaza also used alcohol to excess in 2013 and 2016 in Michigan, which it found affects his practice as a physician, the memo said. Kaza was also disciplined by Michigan officials. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ). Posted Thursday, April 19, 2018 11:03 am Michigan State Universitys College of Music is hosting its brand-new Song Cycles Conference this weekend. The conference is titled 20th and 21st Century Song Cycles for Voice and Piano, and will explore 15 complex compositions. Scholars and performers will come together to explore these 15 pieces. The three day conference will consist of five sessions hosted by two MSU associate professors of music theory, Gordon Sly and Michael Callahan. The conference is designed to bring together both professional musicologists and theorists, as well as performers. Its an extremely unusual conference, said Sly. The presentation cycle includes a 30-minute lecture on a piece, immediately followed by a performance of that same composition. After the performance, the audience can participate in a 15-minute follow-up disucssion. According to Sly, Song Cycles is one of a kind. He said it blends the academic nature of a collegiate conference with the energy of a live music concert. The idea for the conference emerged in a conversation we had about 18 months ago. We were talking about music genres that are so closely associated with an earlier century that we tend to overlook their contribution to the 20th century, Sly said, What we really decided was that so few people wouldve heard of most of them that it would be wonderful if we can put a conference together with scholarly presentations and have the pieces performed live. Sly and Callahan put out a call for proposals and the response was overwhelming. "Weve got many, many people who are interested in giving presentations at the conference, Sly said. We had many more proposals than we accepted, we were only able to take 15 song cycles. The presentations are being delivered by music professors from around the country. Sly said since the presenters are aware that the audience will not be limited to scholars and musicians, but will include people who simply interested into music, the presentations will be accessible to a broad audience. Presenters and performers are coming from all over the place Sly said. Weve got a music theorist from McGill University in Montreal coming and weve got performers from all around the United States. Sly said its possible to host future conferences like this one as well. It seems there is enough interest to do another one of these and maybe we will in a couple of years, Sly said. We want to see if we can make this one the best we can. April 20-22, 2.pm. Cook Recital Hall 333 W. Circle Dr., East Lansing www.music.msu.edu/song-cyclesconference NEW MILFORD Days before Ezra Woods died the first town resident killed in World War I he sent three letters home to his mother. In the letters, which were dated April 8 and 14, 1918, and were later printed in the local paper, Woods describes a break in the rain and says the French countryside was showing signs of spring with greener grass and blooming trees. He thanks her for news from home, promises to write more and assures her that he is well. None of the New Milford boys have been injured, but you wouldnt recognize us, wrote Woods, then in his early 20s. We have gained weight. Woods was killed in combat on April 21. On Saturday, exactly one century later, he will be honored by the Ezra Woods American Legion Post at Center Cemetery. Though Woods has a gravestone in New Milford, he is interred in France. Im sure by the time his mother received (the letters), he had already passed away, said Jeffrey McBreairty, the post commander. When New Milford started an American Legion post in 1921, the veterans decided to name it after the towns first military death during the Great War. Hes very much honored, McBreairty said of the posts namesake. Saturdays event will mark the first time Woods will receive military honors in New Milford. The ceremony starts at 11 a.m. and will include a gun salute, a flag-folding, playing of Taps and a proclamation from the mayor. The folded flag and bullet shells will be placed at the post below a photo of Woods. Woods was born in 1897. A farmer, he enlisted in the 102nd Connecticut National Guard in late 1917 as a private. That guard unit combined with others from New England to create the 26th Infantry, nicknamed the Yankee Division, which went to France in early 1918, according to a short biography kept with the New Milford Historical Society. They were used to relieve forward units when they first got there, McBreairty said. In April 1918, the unit was stationed in Remieres Woods, near Seicheprey, France. Around 3 a.m. on April 20, the Germans attacked, leaving the 102nd to bear the brunt of the attack and giving the Connecticut soldiers their first taste of battle. The American forces, aided by the French, were able to regain control of the village, but not without heavy casualties. The 24 hours of fighting left 81 dead in the Yankee Division, 40 of whom were from Connecticut; 401 were wounded and 187 taken prisoner, according to the New England Historical Society. The Battle of Seicheprey is the only battleground in France marked with a monument paid for by the state of Connecticut, according to the New England Historical Society. The fighting was fierce, McBreairty said. Eighty percent of the 102nd was lost during that. At first Woods was listed as missing, but that status was changed to killed in action a few days later, McBreairty said. In a letter to his brother on April 15, 1918, Woods writes, If you could have been with us and seen some of the things weve seen, it would make your blood run cold. More than 18 million people died during World War I, including about 117,000 U.S. service members. kkoerting@newstimes.com; 203-731-3345 NEWTOWN - The father of a boy slain in the Sandy Hook massacre appeared on NBCs Megyn Kelly Today on Thursday with a message for extremist radio host Alex Jones, who has said the mass shooting was a hoax. Its not right, and it needs to stop, said Neil Heslin, appearing on the program with his attorney. To say that Sandy Hook was a hoax and it never happened is an outright lie - its a total disrespect to myself, my son, and the individuals who lost their lives that day. Heslins appearance comes three days after he and the parents of another boy who died in the 2012 massacre of 26 students and educators filed separate defamation lawsuits against Jones and his web-based InfoWars program. Jones, who did not respond to a request for comment left with his Houston-based production company, posted a video where he appeared to contradict his earlier statements that the worst crime in Connecticut history was staged, synthetic, manufactured, and completely fake with actors. I have been telling the parents for years that I believe their children died, and quite frankly they know that, Jones said on Tuesday, adding that the parents lawsuits would be thrown out because they have no merit. The media continues to misrepresent what I have said, Jones said. Kelly, who was criticized by Sandy Hook families last year when she gave Jones a prime-time interview on Fathers Day, told viewers during Thursdays show that Jones had disparaged and harassed Sandy Hook parents for years. Because nothing is sacrosanct to Alex Jones, he and his team renewed their attacks on Heslin and others last summer, Kelly said. According to Heslins lawsuit, Jones said on his program that Heslin was lying about the circumstances of his sons tragic death for a nefarious and criminal purpose when Heslin appeared on Kellys show last summer, In the second lawsuit, Jones is accused of saying on his program that Veronica De La Rosa, the mother of slain student Noah Pozner, was an actor in a faked interview with CNNs Anderson Cooper used to cover up the truth about Sandy Hook, the mothers lawsuit reads. Kelly noted on her show Thursday that defamation is very hard to prove because the First Amendment is so strong and cherished in our county. If you can prove it just was an opinion, and you werent stating it as a matter of fact, it can be a defense, Kelly said. Heslins attorney responded that the Sandy Hook parents have a strong case. When it comes to private individuals, you cant just lie about them - you cannot just spread lies that hurt their lives, said Houston-based attorney Mark Bankston. Sure, defamation is sometimes hard to prove against media outlets because most media outlets have some semblance of journalistic integrity, he said. This is textbook defamation. He made unequivocal false statements about both of our clients. rryser@newstimes.com 203-731-3342 "We know you value the hundreds of thousands of jobs that depend on B.C.'s natural beauty and livability. The Trans Mountain pipeline is too risky to be built here." VANCOUVER, April 19, 2018 /CNW/ - More than 450 businesses employing thousands of Canadians today sent an open letter to B.C. Premier John Horgan, asking the Province to stand strong in its opposition to Kinder Morgan's proposed Trans Mountain pipeline, pointing out that the beleaguered pipeline project is bad for business. Signatories include tech founders, tourism operators, investors, restaurateurs and small business owners of all stripes. "Saying 'no' to the Trans Mountain pipeline not only protects the hundreds of thousands of jobs in British Columbia that depend on a clean, protected environment, saying 'no' is a crucial signal to companies, industries and investors that we want to build the future in areas like clean energy and technology," says Tim Bray, tech entrepreneur and founder of OpenText, Canada's largest software company. "Saying 'no' to Kinder Morgan is saying 'yes' to British Columbia's real future." Business leaders write in the letter that the technology, tourism, construction, film and television industries each create more jobs than oil, gas, and mining combined. They also make up the fastest-growing sectors of B.C.'s economy. The signatories add that the Vancouver brand was valued at $31 billion, according to a 2015 study done for the City of Vancouver, and this brand has helped to attract much-needed talent and investment to the province. "One Kinder Morgan tanker spill and what happens to our supernatural coast, the salmon, the bears, the whales, to the reasons millions of people come to B.C. from around the world every year?" asks tourism operator and former Olympic athlete Rob Safrata, Director of West Coast Sightseeing Ltd. A healthy marine environment is a benefit to many B.C. industries, with several depending on it. Studies show that a single major oil spill could cost the provincial economy $1.2 billion and devastate our coastal industries for decades. In contrast, the Trans Mountain pipeline project will add only 50 permanent jobs in BC, and contribute a maximum of one percent to municipal tax revenues. "The risk is simply too great for such a small economic benefit," says Sonia Strobel, Managing Director of Skipper Otto's Community Supported Fishery. The signatories write that they stand in solidarity with the Coast Salish First Nations and other Indigenous communities that are opposed to the pipeline and envision a future for Canada that moves away from a dependence on fossil fuels. Michelle Nahanee, a member of the Squamish Nation, Creative Director of Nahanee Creative Inc., and a signatory to the letter says; "Countless business leaders have worked tirelessly to build a thriving and diverse economy that is now directly threatened by this unnecessary project. First Nations must be participants in a future of shared prosperity; we've been excluded for far too long." The letter concludes by stating that the inevitable transition to a clean economy has already begun, and that Kinder Morgan's project is out of step with the future prosperity of Canada. The full text of the letter, and a list of early signatories can be read online here. SOURCE Business Leaders of BC For further information: Media Contact: Allison Murray, Communications Consultant, T 604-442-1846, E [email protected] When former First Lady Barbara Bush died Tuesday, people spoke of the 92-year-olds legacy and her impact on the culture, both positive and negative. For the most part, it was the sort of talk that circulates any time a well-known person is lost. But there was something different about this conversation. Much of the talk about Bush wasnt about the way she lived it was about the way she died. On Sunday, the Bush family announced its matriarch was in failing health and no longer pursuing medical treatments intended to cure her illness. Her familys decision to make that information public was hailed by many in the medical community as a potential game changer when it comes to how Americans talk about death and dying. The fact that it was Barbara Bush doing it was particularly relevant, said Dr. Terri Fried, a professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine. She was well-known for being outspoken about things that were important to her. I think the intention (of announcing her decision on medical care) was to put this into the public conversation. The Bush family released Barbaras decision the day before National Healthcare Decisions Day, which was Monday. The day is intended as an occasion to educate people about the importance of discussions on advanced care planning. I think that is extraordinary, to set (the announcement) at this time and in this way, said Dr. Donna Coletti, medical director of palliative care services at Greenwich Hospital. It says This is a conversation that needs to be elevated. Comfort vs. cure Many in the health community have pleaded for people to have early discussions with their families about the kind of medical care they want, should they become seriously ill. These conversations can include how long the loved one wants to receive medical care intended to cure an illness, as opposed to care that keeps the person comfortable. Fried stressed that choosing comfort doesnt mean care stops altogether, but that the focus shifts. The decision to pursue comfort care (usually) comes at a point where the benefits of intervention typically no longer outweigh the problems or burdens, she said. For instance, sources said Bush suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. COPD affects lungs and breathing, and Fried said late-stage care for the illness could have included putting Bush on a respirator. However, that would mean she couldnt speak with her family. Thus, Fried said, its reasonable that there would be a certain point in Bushs care when she wouldnt want to use such a device. The Catholic church has also come out in support of palliative care, while being careful to distinguish it from assisted suicide. Catholic Health Association of the United States has published the guide Caring for People at the End of Life, which talks about these decisions. The guide states that the church has no hard-and-fast rule regarding specific medical procedures but rather urges prudent decisions regarding the benefits and burdens of medical treatments for the patient. Talking too late Experts recommend that conversations about end-of-life care happen when a person is healthy enough to make his or her wishes known, but thats often not the case, Fried said. We know these discussions tend to happen so late that the person is sick enough that they arent able to participate, she said. This is problematic for the patients and their families, said Dr. Kristin Edwards, medical director of palliative care at Bridgeport Hospital. Often the conflicts we see are with people who never had that discussion in advance, Edwards said. Its very stressful to make that decision on someone elses behalf. Patients wishes cant be respected if they arent expressed to family members or others authorized to make heath care decisions. For instance, roughly 70 percent of people say they want to die at home and 70 percent end up dying in health facilities, according to The Conversation Project, a Boston-based program dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Conversation Project Director Kate DeBartolo joined the chorus in hoping the public airing of Bushs end-of-life choices leads to more conversations on this topic. We do hope that this will be an example to other families to let their loved ones decide what they want as they approach the end of their lives, she said by email. Elizabeth Beaudin, senior director of population health for the Connecticut Hospital Association, echoed DeBartolos thoughts. About a year ago, the CHA launched the Care Decisions Connecticut initiative, a statewide collaboration to empower patients to make their own end-of-life care decisions. Although we are saddened by the death of Mrs. Bush, we are grateful that she and her family chose to make public her decision to seek comfort care in the last days of her life, Beaudin said in an email. When famous people elect to share their healthcare decisions with the public, it can help fuel public discussion and awareness about these important issues. NEW HAVENThe American Red Cross and New Haven Fire Department want residents to sound their fire alarms, or at least make sure theyre working. Mayor Toni Harp, New Haven Fire Chief John Alston and members of the Red Cross announced Thursday that April 28 is a day for fire safety. Its when firefighters and Red Cross volunteers will canvass the city to inspect existing smoke detectors and conduct fire safety inspections as part of the Sound the Alarm initiative. The initiative is a series of home fire safety and smoke alarm installation events that take place across the country. Next weekend in New Haven, firefighters and volunteers will be installing free smoke alarms, replacing batteries in existing alarms and providing fire prevention and safety education all in an effort to reduce the number of deaths and injuries caused by home fires. The best and most effective way to to fight a house fire, is to prevent it in the first place, Harp said. Im very excited about this life saving initiative in our city. Residents are asked to make an appointment on soundthealarm.org/connecticut for April 28 to get their home checked. They can also call the Red Cross at 877-287-3327. So far, 200 appointments have already been made, but the Red Cross and fire department are looking to install up to 1,000, Alston said. Were going into our most vulnerable parts of the city where our most incidents are, he said. The smoke detectors will be good for up to 10 years since they have lithium batteries. I cannot tell you the number of times Ive gone into a home where the smoke detectors were there, but the batteries where not in place, rendering them completely ineffective, he said. This is a program thats aiming to save lives, and sometimes its as simple as having a working smoke detector in your home, said Mario Bruno, CEO of the American Red Cross Connecticut and Rhode Island Region. You may be surprised, like the chief said, how many times we go into a home where the smoke detector may be there, but the batteries are no longer working, the batteries have been removed for a toy, or the smoke detector is so old it has expired and the sensor doesnt work anymore. The Red Cross has installed one million smoke detectors in the past two years and are hoping to install 2.1 million in the next five years. Another goal is to reduce the deaths by fire by about 25 percent, Bruno said. This is a great opportunity for residents to get free smoke detectors installed in their homes by the Red Cross and our partners in the community, Bruno said. In Connecticut, the Red Cross has replaced 965 smoke alarm batteries, installed more than 12,423 smoke alarms and conducted 725 in-home visits, according to redcross.org. Every day, seven people die in home fires, most in homes that lack working smoke alarms, according to the Sound the Alarm website. Children and the elderly disproportionately lose their lives mdignan@hearstmediact.com Meet Colleen Kelly Alexander and its hard not to admire her strength, both mental and physical. Alexander, who lives in Madison, nearly was killed in October 2011when a delivery truck ran a stop sign, hit her as she was riding home on her bicycle and crushed her beneath its wheels. Her abdomen was split open, her femoral artery was torn and her pelvis was smashed in half. Her life was saved by doctors at Yale New Haven Hospital. She remained in a coma, on a respirator, for 5 weeks, and during that time had 15 surgeries and was resuscitated many times. Since then, the number of surgeries Alexander has gone through has more than doubled. Alexander spent several months rehabilitating at Gaylord Specialty Healthcare hospital in Wallingford. Since leaving the hospital, she has become a motivational speaker and now an author, sharing her thoughts on the mental and spiritual strength that helped her recover from the traumatic accident and allowed her to forgive the man who had been driving the truck. Her book, Gratitude in Motion, chronicles her entire journey. Alexander already has appeared on television, with appearances on Good Morning America and Dr. Oz. And Thursday night, the latest stop in a yearlong book tour stops at Gaylord for a lecture and book signing. As strange as it may seem, the trauma that I experienced has give me an opportunity to be an advocate for good, for change, Alexander said during an interview last week at the hospital. This is our life, our journey: I believe we are put here on this Earth to bring about change, to bring down barriers of mental health, race and religion. Alexander was greeted warmly by Gaylord staffers and volunteers when she returned to the hospital to be interviewed. Among those who shared hugs and tears was Donna Trigilia, an advanced practice registered nurse and the hospitals wound care coordinator, whose job it was to keep Alexanders wounds from getting infected. Ive never met someone so strong, Triglia said. Among the things Alexander learned during her recovery were patience and the importance of being good to yourself. Patience is tough, she said. Its important for people to know that even at their worst possible moments, they have value as individuals. You dont have to hold it together all of the time. Although the accident will always be a part of her past, Alexander wants people who read her book and hear her lectures to understand that having been run over does not define her as a person. Its not just about the trauma, she said. Its about the life after the trauma, the friends and everyone who has helped me get to the point where I am in my life. I am all about the we, because what we can do a group, together, is amazing. Once the book tour is complete, Alexander said she and her husband, Sean, hope to start a group advocating for bicycle and motorist safety. The couple moved to Connecticut because Alexander had landed her dream job at PeaceJam working to connect Nobel Peace Prize winners with young students and schools. Among the Nobel Peace laureates she worked with: Betty Williams, Jody Williams and Archbishop Desmond Tutu. It was a year into their marriage and the couple was beginning to think about starting a family. The accident changed everything. Alexander lost her job at PeaceJam because of the amount of work she missed during her recovery. And the accident made it impossible for Alexander and her husband to have children. And health problems related to the accident crop up periodically, she said. I can wake up in the morning and feel fine, and be running a high temperature by noon and have to go to the emergency room, Alexander said. Because of the health issues, the Alexanders elected not to try to adopt children. Still, Alexander said she remains optimistic. The most difficult period after the trauma was going from feeling hopeless to feeling hopeful, Alexander said. I continue to be hopeful. luther.turmelle@ hearstmediact.com Have writer's block? Hopefully this resource will help librarians identify publishing and presentation opportunities in library & information science, as well as other related fields. I will include calls for papers, presentations, participation, reviewers, and other relevant notices that I find on the web. If you find anything to be posted, please drop me a note. thanks -- Corey Seeman, University of Michigan(cseeman@umich.edu) Viewed of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. Managing Editor Having lived and worked in Indy on and off since 1977, and currently living in Carmel, I've seen the city change a great deal. I love covering the arts in all its forms, and the places where the arts and broader cultural issues intersect. The 68-year-old war on the Korean Peninsula may finally have an end in sight. South Korea confirmed that it had been in talks with the North and the U.S. about negotiating a peace treaty to replace the 1953 armistice that halted, but did not formally end, the Korean War. President Trumps decision to secretly send Mike Pompeo, the C.I.A. director, to the North to lay the groundwork for a meeting between Mr. Trump and Kim Jong-un, the Norths leader, reflects the central role that spies rather than diplomats played in brokering an opening. Mr. Trump said he would walk out of the meeting if it was not heading toward success. No sitting U.S. president has ever met or, apparently, even spoken on the phone with a North Korean leader. (Heres a look at previous diplomatic efforts.) LOS ANGELES Rupert Murdoch sold most of 21st Century Fox to Disney in December for $52.4 billion, spurning a proposal from Comcast that was 16 percent higher on a per-share basis, in part because Comcast refused to offer protections in the event of regulatory rejection. Although Comcasts interest in 21st Century Fox was previously known, details of Comcasts proposal and Foxs reasoning for rebuffing it were disclosed for the first time on Wednesday as part of a 456-page filing with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The paperwork, required under securities law, also disclosed that senior Fox executives, including Mr. Murdoch and his two sons, James and Lachlan, are eligible for tens of millions of dollars in golden parachute payments. Disneys all-stock deal with 21st Century Fox, announced on Dec. 14, valued Mr. Murdochs company at $29.54 a share. Among other assets, Disney bought the 20th Century Fox studio, Hulu, the FX cable network, and stakes in two overseas television-service providers, Sky of Britain and Star of India. Disney did not buy Fox News or the Fox broadcast network. Comcast, identified in the filing as Party B, made an all-stock proposal worth $34.41 per share in November. The filing portrays Mr. Murdoch and the Fox board as taking Comcasts interest seriously until Comcast repeatedly refused to agree to a breakup fee in case Department of Justice regulators rejected the deal. Disney, perhaps showing more confidence in its chances with regulators, had offered a $2.5 billion fee. When a Southwest Airlines plane was inspected on Sunday, no problems with the aircraft or its engines were uncovered. Two days later, an engine on the plane broke apart shortly after takeoff from La Guardia Airport, killing a woman sitting in a window seat near the blast. The fatal accident is focusing renewed scrutiny on the engine inspection process. Investigators say a routine visual inspection might not have been sufficient to uncover problems in the engine. Two years ago, the manufacturer of the engine said the flaws suspected in the Southwest accident could be detected only with more thorough, ultrasound inspections. The plane, a Boeing 737-700, and its engine are mainstays in the sky. Southwests fleet, more than 700 planes, is made up entirely of 737 models. They have a stellar safety record, as do the engines, which are made by CFM International, a joint venture between General Electric and Frances Safran. This is the first passenger fatality in the 51-year history of the airline, which flew about 3,500 flights a day last year. Federal prosecutors and lawyers for President Trumps personal attorney, Michael D. Cohen, have each proposed to a judge the names of possible candidates to serve as a special master to assist in the review of materials seized last week by the F.B.I. from Mr. Cohen. Mr. Cohens lawyers had asked the judge, Kimba M. Wood of Federal District Court in Manhattan, to appoint a special master to help review the materials to determine whether any might be protected by attorney-client privilege. The government had opposed using a special master and said a so-called taint team of prosecutors not involved in the investigation could more efficiently carry out the screening process. The debate over the special master arose after F.B.I. agents raided Mr. Cohens properties last week and seized 10 boxes of documents and as many as a dozen electronic devices. Eight years ago, late one afternoon, Richard J. Moylan, the president of Green-Wood Cemetery, was watching the local news and caught Anthony Weiner, then a congressman, calling for a controversial statue, Civic Virtue, to be removed from the front of a courthouse in Queens and sold on Craigslist. Referencing Classical allegory, the sculpture depicts virtuous good government in the form of a muscular 11-foot-tall man crushing writhing, feminized aquatic creatures meant to represent all that is inimical to it. Women had complained about the statue for decades, but Mr. Moylan, outraged at the thought that it might simply be destroyed, gave it a home at Green-Wood, the cemetery that spreads over 478 acres of western Brooklyn, where a plaque now explains its history. This week he took in another exiled sculpture, the bronze rendering of J. Marion Sims, which stood at the edge of Central Park on Fifth Avenue at 103rd Street for more than a century. On Tuesday, the statue was removed a day after an arts commission assembled by Mayor Bill de Blasio unanimously determined, that Sims, a doctor who performed experimental gynecological surgeries on slave women at his home in Alabama, should not be lionized, despite the medical achievements that provided the occasion for the statues creation. As it was being dismantled, a small crowd gathered and cheered. Commenters celebrated the citys decision as if officials had sent the statue to be destroyed, or otherwise shielded from public view, rather than merely relocated. A monument to recognize a serial torturer of enslaved black women has no place in our city & today action is being taken to finally remove it, Letitia James, the citys public advocate, wrote on Twitter, a statement seemingly blind to the reality that the statue was moving from one highly trafficked quarter of the urban landscape to another. Syracuse University suspended an engineering fraternity on Wednesday after footage surfaced of members speaking and acting in ways that are extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist and hostile to people with disabilities, the universitys chancellor said. The video which The Daily Orange, Syracuses independent student newspaper, obtained and published after the university declined to release it, citing its continuing investigation includes a pledge to always have hatred in my heart for African-Americans, Hispanics and Jews, all of whom are referred to with slurs. One member of the fraternity, Theta Tau, tells Jews to get in the shower, an allusion to the Nazis gas chambers. The video, about six minutes long, also shows members of the fraternity laughing while pretending to masturbate each other and perform oral sex. The video was posted to a secret Facebook group called Tau of Theta Tau. Asked how administrators had become aware of it, a spokeswoman for Syracuse said it had been sent to university officials. There is absolutely no place at Syracuse University for behavior or language that degrades any individual or groups race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability or religious beliefs, the universitys chancellor, Kent Syverud, wrote in an email to students and faculty on Wednesday morning. Upon confirming Theta Taus involvement, the universitys Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities immediately suspended the fraternity, effectively halting all activities. Despite being a single parent, Daley often stayed late at the Capitol to work through legislative night sessions, initially by herself. It was just after the Spanish-American War, and things were certainly humming, she told Drew Pearson and Robert Allen in 1936 for their syndicated column Washington Merry-Go-Round. That hum quickly grew to a din, composed of calls not only between legislators, but also from constituents who increasingly had their own phones for articulating complaints, comments and requests. By 1905, Daley was supervising four other operators, all of them women; by 1909, there were 10, with men taking over during the less-busy night hours. The operators duties included keeping careful accounts of calls for billing purposes, and in 1913, Daley provided crisp and exacting testimony during an investigation of influence-peddling accusations against Rep. James Thomas McDermott, Democrat of Illinois, that resulted in his censure. By 1929, Daley and the now-18 operators who reported to her were working out of more established quarters on the fifth floor of the Cannon Office Building, handling around 30,000 calls a day over 100 main lines and 1,000 stations. A year later, the introduction of the dial telephone provoked an uproar among senators. (Could not be more awkward than it is, grumbled one, Clarence Dill, Democrat of Washington State.) They passed a resolution opposing it and got phones that allowed for the option of warmer, more interactive manual service, with a womans hands connecting the calls. By the time she retired in 1945, Daley was supervising a corps of 50 loyal hello girls, as they had come to be known, or pluggers, as they were also called, and attending to 535 members of Congress with a switchboard 60 times the size of the one she had first encountered. This army of women were the ones who made the connections, Lupton, the curator, said. When neo-Nazi and alt-right demonstrators attacked counterprotesters in Charlottesville, Va., last August, killing one and injuring several others, many Americans responded with surprise that white supremacists were suddenly in their midst. But white-power activism is not new, nor has it been part of an underground history. We knew. And we forgot. Twenty-three years ago, on April 19, 1995, a Ryder rental truck filled with fertilizer exploded in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City. The bombing killed 168 people, including 19 children the largest deliberate mass casualty event on American soil between Pearl Harbor and the Sept. 11 attacks. And yet, in these 23 years, the bombing remains misunderstood as an example of lone wolf terrorism. People repeat the words of the bomber Timothy McVeigh, an avowed white-power advocate who before his execution pointed out how scary it was that one man could wreak this kind of hell. But in fact, the bombing was the outgrowth of decades of activism by the white-power movement, a coalition of Ku Klux Klan, neo-Nazis, skinheads and militias, which aimed to organize a guerrilla war on the federal government and its other enemies. Young Katy can summon a huge band at the tip of her fingers: mandolin, piano, strings, horns they all join in, one after the other, and make a catchy racket. And yet there are only two musicians by her side, deftly triggering loops and samples. That is one of the many beauties of We Live by the Sea: It creates an expansive world out of seemingly little. Devised by the London-based company Patch of Blue, this small gem of a play introduces us to an unconventional, loving family consisting of two teenage sisters and (maybe) a dog in a beach town. At just 18, Hannah (Alexandra Simonet) has had to drop out of school to look after 15-year-old Katy (Alexandra Brain), who is on the autism spectrum. We learn their mother decamped after learning of the diagnosis, and dad died a year earlier. Now its just the girls and Katys imaginary emotional-support best friend, Paul Williams (Lizzie Grace), a Jack Russell slash St. Bernard. Katy and Paul Williams are such an indivisible unit, they say we instead of I and communicate in their own language. The show (a hit at the Edinburgh Festival Fringe and now at 59E59 Theaters after a weeklong run at SoHo Playhouse in 2016) toggles between two perspectives. Sometimes we see the world through Katy, and sometimes we get an outsider look at the sisters via their new neighbor, Ryan (Tom Coliandris), a gentle 18-year-old who just moved from London. As with all of the key background details, the reason is organically revealed over the course of the show. What difference does the type of soil make? My understanding is that most, if not all, of the skyscrapers in San Francisco are supported by piers/piles that are drilled through the soft soil and anchored into the bedrock 300 feet below street level. T Roll, San Francisco Soft soils amplify ground shaking, which is one reason to build on rock. Parts of downtown San Francisco, especially the South of Market area, used to be part of the Bay. The sand and clay used to fill that area comes with the risk of liquefaction, in which the ground becomes quicksand after an earthquake. Some skyscrapers, like Salesforce Tower, are built in areas of soft soils but with construction piles extending to the bedrock deep beneath the surface. This strengthens the building, but the area around it could still suffer significant damage from liquefaction and shaking. Could there be a domino effect? Could an earthquake trigger a domino-type situation with one toppling skyscraper knocking into others? Margaux, California Here is Ron Hamburger, one of the countrys leading structural engineers: Very few of them should fall down, he said of skyscrapers. We would expect that most of these buildings 60 or 70 percent would be repairable. Californias building codes call for a 90 percent chance that a structure avoid total collapse. But many engineers and earthquake experts add a crucial caveat. Our newest high-rises are designed with computer models that have never been tested by a very large earthquake. And with each major earthquake we learn more about the violent ground motions that accompany them. Could Mr. Kim borrow a plane? Perhaps, but not without a significant dent to his well-established hubris. Could the meeting be held close enough for him to take a train, as he did last month in a secretive visit to China? In theory, though viable options are few. Could Mr. Trump instead travel to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital, thus nullifying the issue? He is almost certainly unwilling to stomach the appearance of showing deference to Mr. Kim. Its really hard if you only have a 2,000-mile radius, said David H. Rank, who previously served as the acting United States ambassador to China. Locations in the United States and Europe were in the running, a senior administration official said on Wednesday, though the situation was fluid. Here are some options being discussed: Europe In theory, a neutral location like Sweden or Switzerland would be ideal. Both maintain diplomatic relations with the United States and North Korea and have signaled a willingness to facilitate the meeting. Those locales have been the sites of some of the most significant diplomatic achievements in history Geneva hosted the 1985 meeting between President Ronald Reagan and the Soviet leader Mikhail S. Gorbachev. It could provide the dramatic backdrop that both leaders appear to crave. But to get there, one needs a plane. Hes not going to fly commercial, Ms. Terry said of Mr. Kim. American Territory With the expected range of Mr. Kims planes, a trip to Hawaii or Guam, the closest United States territory to North Korea, would almost certainly require a refueling stop or a borrowed plane. Korea experts call that an indignity that Mr. Kim would not accept. Our guide to stand-up, improv and variety shows happening this weekend and in the week ahead. #ADULTING at the Bell House (April 23, 8 p.m.). Billed as the puberty you opt into, this regular comedy series, hosted by Michelle Buteau and Jordan Carlos, focuses on the thing millennials fear most (besides getting locked out of their Instagram accounts): doing grown-up stuff. This time, Ms. Buteau and Mr. Carlos welcome Leslie Jones, of Saturday Night Live and Twitter fame; Ashley Nicole Black, a writer and correspondent for Full Frontal With Samantha Bee; and others. 718-643-6510, thebellhouseny.com MARY NIGHT at the Peoples Improv Theater Loft (April 21, 6 p.m.). This biweekly show invites New Yorks LGBTQ improv performers from all experience levels for a comedy jam with the M.C. Peter Valenti and his all-queer troupe, Just a Phase. They host other all-queer improv teams at this event, but solo improvisers can also partake by joining the group on its Facebook page. Those teamless participants are then added to a mash-up team that Mr. Valenti assembles ahead of time. That way, anyone from greenhorn newbies to seasoned veterans can join in on the unscripted fun. 212-244-1722, thepit-nyc.com Small and round, Cyrano looks like a portable speaker. But instead of musical playlists, it emits odors in timed combinations medleys, to borrow company-speak with titles like Surfside and Einstein. I had never thought much about smelling Einstein before encountering Cyrano in the latest show at the Cooper Hewitt, Smithsonian Design Museum. Its called The Senses: Design Beyond Vision. The exhibition features other adventures in First World consumerism. Theres hand-painted, scratch-and-sniff wallpaper (think Warhols patterned cows but with cherries cherry-scented, naturally), as well as a device that projects ultrasonic sound waves to simulate the touch and feel of virtual objects. I felt what I think were meant to be champagne bubbles. Sure, bring the kids. They will bliss out stroking a wavy, fur-lined installation that makes music as you rub it. A set of 14 gold belt plaques. A Jizhou stoneware vase. The police have not put a price on the haul, saying that the items vary in monetary value but that their cultural significance is priceless. Image A carving of jade mandarin ducks with lotus flowers was among the items stolen. Credit... Museum of East Asian Art The police said the thieves fled in a dark sport utility vehicle. Officers have seized a white Ford van that was stolen and left at the scene. The police have appealed to the public for information to solve the crime, and are scouring CCTV footage for clues. Detective Sgt. Matthew Reed said in a statement, Due to the items stolen and the speed of the burglary, we suspect this to be a targeted attack with the artifacts possibly stolen to order. Nicole Chiang, the museums curator, said in a statement: We are deeply shocked and saddened by the burglary as we are preparing for our 25th anniversary celebrations. Not only do the stolen objects have significant historical and cultural value, they also hold irreplaceable emotional value for our founder. The museum was founded by Brian McElney, a former lawyer who lived in Hong Kong for many years, and whose own collection of East Asian art formed the initial basis of its holdings. KAZOOM FEST at Harlem School of the Arts (April 20, 7 p.m.; April 21, 3 p.m.). The interactive digital stories published by KaZoom Kids Books have heroes and heroines unlike those in most childrens works: Theyre black and Latino. Now the Harlem School of the Arts is bringing three of these tales to the stage in a theater festival starring its students and some of their parents. The productions are adaptations of Taking the E Train and Everybody Loves Cake, stories about a Latino family by Lapacazo Sandoval, and Alyssa Marissa and Her Magical Hair, by Angela Williams, which follows an African-American second grader as she learns to love her unruly curls. Both authors will discuss their fiction before the shows. 212-926-4100, hsanyc.org NEXT GENERATION NOW at the PEN World Voices Festival in Manhattan and the Bronx (April 21 at various times). For centuries, young people have been agents of change, and PEN America, the literary organization promoting freedom of expression, is actively encouraging them. This year, its PEN World Voices Festival, whose theme is Resist and Reimagine, is featuring Next Generation Now, a new series of more than a dozen programs aimed at aspiring writers and political advocates from preschool through high school. Little Activists: A Workshop and a Mini-March, at 3:30 p.m. at Town Stages, invites children in the second and third grades and younger to meet Leila Sales, author of The Little Book of Little Activists, and some of the children she has written about. Family Affair: Color Me Abstract, from 1 to 4:30 p.m. at the Bronx Museum of the Arts, offers art-making and writing workshops for ages 4 through 12 led by the authors Tony Medina and Liza Jessie Peterson. These events are free with R.S.V.P.; some of the others require tickets. A full schedule is on the website. 646-981-0689, worldvoices.pen.org THE NUMBER ON GREAT-GRANDPAS ARM at the Museum of Jewish Heritage A Living Memorial to the Holocaust (through April 29). How do you explain the Holocaust to children? The short film The Number on Great-Grandpas Arm offers a simple answer: Let a child do it. Presented by HBO and the museum, the documentary captures the tender relationship between Elliott Saiontz, 10, and his 90-year-old great-grandfather, Jack Feldman, a survivor of Auschwitz. Elliott provides much of the narration in the 19-minute movie, which juxtaposes archival photographs and film clips with Mr. Feldmans soft-spoken recollections and the hand-painted animation of Jeff Scher, which, though haunting, is less grim than historical footage. Produced and directed by Amy Schatz, the film is at the heart of this museum installation. Visitors can see the documentary on a continuous loop alongside hundreds of its images, including 24 of Mr. Schers original watercolors. Although Mr. Feldman suffered greatly first sent to a labor camp at 14, he never saw his parents again he seems happy to be alive, surrounded by the love of the generations that the Nazis tried so hard to erase. 646-437-4202, mjhnyc.org THE PUPPET MASTER: THE COMPLETE JIRI TRNKA at the Walter Reade Theater (April 20-25 at various times). Puppet is a word that can conjure pure silliness and slapstick, but the work of the Czech filmmaker Jiri Trnka (pronounced YIR-zhee TURN-kah), a pioneer in puppet animation, is sophisticated, elegant, intricately beautiful and occasionally dark. This touring series from the Film Society of Lincoln Center, which has billed it as the first complete United States retrospective of the career of Trnka (1912-69), has fairy-tale films that children in elementary school may enjoy, as well as political allegories that teenagers can appreciate. Some of the family-friendly titles are The Emperors Nightingale (1948), a dialogue-free version of a Hans Christian Andersen story; Bayaya (1950), a medieval adventure with English subtitles; and Tales and Collaborations, a program of shorts whose subjects include circuses and toys. And dont miss A Midsummer Nights Dream (1959), a 72-minute Shakespeare adaptation narrated by the actor Richard Burton. 212-875-5601, filmlinc.org Olivia Pope drinks her last glass of red on the finale of Scandal. And some extremely bad bakers compete on Nailed It! Whats on TV SCANDAL 10 p.m. on ABC. We are going to handle the end the way we like to handle the important things in our Scandal family: all together, white hats on, Gladiators running full speed over a cliff, Shonda Rhimes told The Hollywood Reporter last year. After seven seasons, the Washington soap opera will arrive at its last twist, as the Gladiators make a sacrifice to take down Cyrus and Jake. Afterward, Ms. Rhimes and the rest of the cast head to JIMMY KIMMEL LIVE! at 11:35 p.m. to reflect on the shows legacy. MEET THE FOCKERS (2004) 8 p.m. on E! or streaming on Netflix. The drama surrounding Michael D. Cohen has produced parodies and punch lines, but perhaps none as unlikely as: I have nipples. Can you milk me, Mr. Cohen? That line, said by Robert De Niro (playing Robert Mueller) to Ben Stiller (Mr. Cohen) on Saturday Night Live last week, was a homage to their lengthy history together as antagonists in the Fockers film trilogy. The second movie in the series, Meet the Fockers, received mixed reviews but became a box-office smash and the highest-grossing film of Mr. De Niros career; it depicts a disastrous meeting of in-laws, with Dustin Hoffman and Barbra Streisand in the cast. 1. U.S. regulators are expected to fine Wells Fargo $1 billion for a range of alleged misdeeds, in the biggest bank penalty of the Trump era. The company is accused of forcing customers to buy auto insurance policies that they didnt need and of improperly charging mortgage customers, according to people briefed on the action. Above, its headquarters in San Francisco. The penalty is likely to be announced Friday. Just how much G.E. has invested in its digital initiatives is uncertain, but it has been several billion dollars. In an article last year in the Harvard Business Review, Mr. Immelt wrote that in 2016 we put about $4 billion into developing analytics software and machine learning capabilities. G.E.s digital effort dates to 2011, when Mr. Immelt recruited William Ruh, an executive at Cisco Systems. Later that year, the company set up a center in San Ramon, Calif., east of San Francisco. At the time, Mr. Ruh announced big plans to hire as many as 400 software engineers to write code for the industrial internet. The San Ramon work force swelled sharply to 1,400 in the summer of 2016, and to a peak of 2,000 last summer before coming down to about 1,800, after a round of cuts earlier this year. During the buildup, G.E. recruited veteran software managers who had worked at leading tech companies, including Google, Microsoft and Apple. With the cuts at GE Digital and its narrowed focus, some of them have departed. In its early days, the San Ramon center concentrated on writing data analysis and modeling software for applications like predicting when a gas turbine or jet engine would need maintenance, before the machine failed. In 2013, G.E. called that software Predix. The product plan later broadened to include a cloud-based software platform for handling all kinds of sensor and machine data, and secure communications from the factory floor to data centers. G.E. even built its own data centers. Instead, Frenchette has gone off the rails, charting a completely different course. The wine director, Jorge Riera, has put together a list that is entirely, uncompromisingly, focused on natural wines, a controversial genre in which the grapes are farmed organically at the least, and the wine produced with minimal artifice or manipulation. Many of the 300 bottles or so on the list may indeed be distinctive and excellent, but they are also relentlessly obscure, with characteristics that some people may find surprising, and occasionally even appalling. Rather than lard the list with expensive wines, as so many high-end restaurants do, Frenchette has devoted much of its lineup to the extremely reasonable $50- to $85-a-bottle range. That is still a lot to pay for wine, perhaps, but well below the Manhattan destination-restaurant norm, in which the wine list is often used as a cash cow to subsidize other parts of the operation. In short, its a challenging list that may annoy some people who want recognizable names, yet is also brilliant. Mr. Riera, the wine director who came to Frenchette from Contra and Wildair, has built a list full of wonderful discoveries, great values and the sort of direct, unmediated experiences that characterize natural wines at their best. Almost all the wines are low in alcohol as well, 13 percent or less, and they go very well with the cuisine. But Mr. Riera will have a lot of explaining to do, introducing producers and regions that will largely be unknown to people, no matter how well versed they may be in Burgundy, Barolo or Napa Valley. So much of the story of food in the past decade is the story of covetousness. We cast longing glances at our neighbors tables and dream of the flavors of other childhoods. The humblest dish becomes a feverishly hunted object of desire, often to the bemusement of those who have eaten it their entire lives, in their homes and on the streets, without thought or fuss. Consider the crowd huddled outside the exceedingly tiny East Village storefront of Ho Foods, which since opening in January has listed a single entree on its menu: Taiwanese beef noodle soup. For some of those waiting, the soup lucid and almost delicate in flavor is simply, profoundly a taste of home. For the rest, its a ticket to elsewhere perhaps too great a burden of expectation for an everyday dish meant to nourish, not set off fireworks. Have you ever experienced or witnessed a moment of racial discrimination or bias? If so, what was that like for you? In Starbucks Arrests, Outrageous to Some, Are Everyday Life for Others, Elizabeth Dias, John Eligon and Richard A. Oppel Jr. write: The video of the police arresting two black men in a Starbucks, viewed more than 10 million times online, quickly prompted a full-blown crisis: accusations of racism, protests both in and around the cafe, and a corporate apology on Good Morning America. But to some black Philadelphia residents who venture into Rittenhouse Square, the neighborhood where it happened, the treatment depicted in the video was a frustrating reality of everyday life. Christian Hayden, 30, recalled a security guard searching his bags as he left a nearby Barnes & Noble. The guard found his copy of Ta-Nehisi Coatess memoir The Beautiful Struggle, and would not let him leave until the staff had checked the shelves to make sure no copy had been stolen. Trevor Johnson, 27, a bike courier, recalled being arrested in the square four years ago after an officer asked him to turn off his music and he got up to walk away. And earlier this year, Michele Bradshaw, 49, said she left a Nordstrom Rack not far from the Starbucks after she noticed a security guard following her through the aisles of clothing. In fact, statistics show that Rittenhouse Square, with its hotels, boutique museums and upscale shops, has the highest racial disparity in the city when it comes to police pedestrian stops. Although black people account for just 3 percent of the residents in that police subdistrict, they made up two-thirds of the people stopped by the police in the first half of 2017, according to figures collected by the American Civil Liberties Union. It is clear that African-Americans are not welcomed in that part of the neighborhood, period, said Jordan A. Harris, a representative in the state house and chairman of the states legislative black caucus. On Tuesday, Starbucks, whose chief executive, Kevin Johnson, has apologized for the incident, said it would close more than 8,000 of its stores on May 29 to conduct anti-racial bias training for nearly 175,000 employees. Students: Read the entire article, then tell us: What is your opinion on the way this incident was handled by the Starbucks employees, police and customers? Was the response appropriate or should it have been dealt with differently? How so? Now that you know more about the history and the current atmosphere of Rittenhouse Square, do you think this particular situation included racial bias? Why or why not? What evidence do you have to support your opinion? What other information might you need to make a fair assessment? What do you think of Starbuckss decision to close its stores for a day to offer employees anti-bias training? Do you think all companies should require some sort of training like this? What about schools and other public institutions? Why or why not? What do these anecdotes tell you about what its like to be an African American resident in this area of Philadelphia and perhaps in other parts of the country? What does reading them make you think and feel and why? Exterior shots of Metropolitan Museum of Art Harold Koda interview There is the perennial debate about whether or not fashion can ever be art. LOWER THIRD Harold Koda Curator in Charge, The Costume Institute The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shots in Museum Great Hall Harold Koda (V.O) It has in some instances to do with intention. But just because its clothes, doesnt mean it cant be art. Shots of tour group gathering. Tour Guide The name of this tour is Fashion and Art Harold Koda (V.O) Fashion is laden with cultural, social, aesthetic ideaseverything that we subject the criteria of art to. Tour Guide What we do is look at the objects of artmasterpieces and highlights of our collectionfrom a very interesting viewpoint: what are the people wearing in the object of art? And more than that: what does it mean? This is something almost no one talks about, but sometimes its 60 to 70 percent of the object of art anyway. So I hope you will see fashion is not trivial. Thomas Campbell interview When I started off as a curator, art was considered to be painting, architecture, and sculpture. Anything outside of that was decorative arts, and, quite frankly, looked down oncostume and fashion being one example of that. LOWER THIRD Thomas Campbell Director, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Shots of tour stopped at Greek sculpture Tour Guide Our first object dates from Ancient Greece. The basic garment was made by one long length of linen. The flax had to be picked, it had to be spun, it had to be woven by hand, and in war the soldiers who were victorious would kill the men and capture the women as slaves to do the spinning and the weaving. So the fabric represents a great deal. Andrew Bolton interview Fashion is still considered more in the female domain than something like painting, and I think thats the reason why some people are quick to dismiss fashion as art. LOWER THIRD Andrew Bolton Curator, The Costume Institute The Metropolitan Museum of Art Tour moving on to new gallery Tour Guide So we will move on to another culture altogether, another civilization altogether. Thomas Campbell (V.O) Its our role as a center of art and culture to give fashion and costume respect and attention. Shots of Anna Wintour Costume Center Anna Wintour interview Fashion should be recognized for how it defines a time, how it can be controversial, how it can be revolutionary. LOWER THIRD Anna Wintour Trustee, The Metropolitan Museum of Art Editor in Chief, Vogue Shots of Tour Guide in medieval gallery Tour Guide So right now we are in Burgundy in France. These are courtiers in a rose garden. This is one of the earliest examples we have of cut and tailored clothing. With the growth of big, powerful courts, people began to want to outdo each other in a fashion sense. You are looking at the red carpet of the 1450s and 60s. Cross Dissolve to Met Gala red carpet Harold Koda (V.O) Fashion seems frivolous and trivial to the 19th century attitudes about fine art. Theres a kind of puritanical tradition, and we hate the notion that there might be commerce associated with anything, because somehow that makes it less pure. But as the definitions of art have become more elasticpost-Dada, post-Warholwere no longer bound by the 19th century categories of art. Anna Wintour interview In the world that we work in, you need the mixture of art and commerce. They need to exist hand in hand. Harold Koda (V.O) High fashion paired with celebrity becomes something bigger than both. Tour group looking at Madame X by John Singer Sargent Tour Guide Alright, were going to finish the tour with John Singer Sargent. This is Madame X. People wanted the artists of the day to advance themselves, and the artists of the day wanted the famous people in order to advance their career. Shots of red carpet Baz Luhrmann interview The art of what someone wears is as important and as revealing an artifact as a particular portrait painted at a particular time. LOWER THIRD Baz Luhrmann Film Director Creative Consultant for the Met Gala Tour Group at John Singer Sargent portrait Tour Guide What we dont see and what we dont know about this white duck skirt is what its saying about society. When people were in the industrial world, and they were in factories all day long, it suddenly became a status symbol to have a suntan. So this shows a complete switch in values. Andrew Bolton interview Fashion can be used to tell stories about gender, race, and identity, and challenge us to rethink what is beautiful and challenge our prejudices and our expecations. Shots of red carpet Andre Leon Talley interview Everyone aspires to go higher in life, to be better than they are, and these moments in a museum give you moments of betterment. Escapism, yes, but this could be inspiring. This could inspire someone. LOWER THIRD Andre Leon Talley Contributing Editor, Vogue Baz Luhrmann interview This is the achievement of having no delineation between what is high and low culture, what is right and wrong history. CREDITS Card 1 Directed by Andrew Rossi Edited by Andrew Coffman Card 2 Producers Fabiola Beracasa Beckman Skot Bright Music by Ian Hultquist Sofia Hultquist Card 3 Cinematography Andrew Rossi Bryan Sarkinen Alec Jarnagan, SOC Jonathan Furmanski Andrew Coffman Card 4 Assistant Camera Johnny Sousa Russell Denniston Additional Production Sound Dave LaVenture Colorist Will Cox Andrew Coffman Card 5 Met Tour Guide Kitty Benton Though Ms. Mbabazi grew up in Kampala, she said she could relate to Aidahs rural life: She was 10 when her own father, an engineer and farmer, moved her and her six brothers to a small village in central Uganda. It was a culture shock. At first, we were the fancy kids from a different planet, Ms. Mbabazi said. It took three years before the novelty surrounding her siblings wore off and they became just children in the village, with the same chores and routines as the others. In Kampala, as a young child, you live with your parents and you generally dont have a lot of work to do because the water is in the tap and you use gas or charcoal in the stove, she said. You dont have to walk long distances to fetch firewood or collect water. In Kampala, there is a level of independence you dont get in the village. She went to boarding school at 13, and a short time later her family returned to Kampala. Ms. Mbabazi studied journalism in college for a year and a half, paying her way by working full time as a cashier at a gas station. In 2012, she saw a group photo exhibit that affected her deeply. Ms. Mbabazi says that was the moment she realized she wanted to pursue photography . The veteran Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi has terrific talent for staging and shooting. His story instincts, however, are more run of the mill. Beyond the Clouds, which he wrote with Mehran Kashani, is a tale of a bad kid who rediscovers his good side, and it relies on dynamics that are commonplace if not outright cliched. Set and shot in Mumbai, the movie follows Amir, who is a drug runner. He and his friend are burned by bosses who think Amir (Ishaan Khattar) has gotten too bigheaded. (His offense: asking to be paid.) Running from cops, he finds his sister Tara (Malavika Mohanan) at a bazaar. Although theyre estranged, she takes him in, and her boss, Akshi (Goutam Ghose), hides the drugs Amir was carrying. Akshi tells Tara hell return the goods for a price at which point he tries to rape her. Hitting him with a brick to defend herself, Tara winds up in prison, where she, like all criminal suspects in this system, can be held without bail until a trial. While trying to exonerate his sister, Amir somewhat inadvertently winds up forming a bond with Akshis mother and daughters. Lars von Trier, the Danish film director who was declared persona non grata by the Cannes Film Festival in 2011 for his remarks about Hitler, will make a Cannes comeback this year: His movie The House That Jack Built will be presented out of the official competition. Announcing the news on Thursday, the festival organizers also said that Terry Gilliams The Man Who Killed Don Quixote a comic fantasy 18 years in the making that has been caught up in a legal dispute will close this years festival as another out-of-competition title. The festival runs from May 8-19; officials did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the decision to include Mr. von Trier. Mr. von Triers movie plots 12 years in the life of a serial killer, and stars Matt Dillon, Riley Keough and Uma Thurman. Cannes has decided to favor the talented artist that he is over the obvious provocateur that he also is, Jacques Mandelbaum, a film critic for the French daily Le Monde, said in an interview, adding that artists often express political opinions that are somewhat radical or unacceptable. Lou Andreas-Salome, the Audacity to Be Free is a thoroughly researched biopic that tells the story of the 19th-century writer Lou Andreas-Salome, a nonconformist whose unusual life might have been better served by less familiar filmmaking. Beginning with Andreas-Salomes youthful renunciation of eroticism and following her through the affairs that would change her mind and make her famous, the movie fights to establish this controversial figure as an integral part of intellectual life in her time. As Andreas-Salome grows from a youthful iconoclast to become the first female psychoanalyst in Europe, she is played by four actresses, each portraying her at a different age. Following her retirement, Andreas-Salome (Nicole Heesters) dictates the trials of her youth to Ernst Pfeiffer (Matthias Lier), the executor of her will and protector of her legacy. William Friedkin invented a new kind of car chase in The French Connection, but at the start of his new documentary, The Devil and Father Amorth, he puts his reputation for realism under assault. At the time I made The Exorcist, the director confesses, I had never seen an exorcism. Heavens, no! But he knew how to go about getting an exorcist. Father Gabriele Amorth, the authority on such matters for the diocese of Rome, whom Mr. Friedkin wrote about for Vanity Fair (and who died later in 2016), agreed to let him film an exorcism without a crew. Actually, its a do-over exorcism, of a woman called Cristina in the film. Father Amorth has exorcised Cristina eight times without success, Mr. Friedkin explains. This will be her night. Well, he hopes. In 2014, Denzel Washington took over Edward Woodwards 80s TV role as the retired spy turned revenge specialist Robert McCall for a big-screen version of The Equalizer. The film earned $192 million worldwide. Now hes back in The Equalizer 2, which has just released its first trailer, and stop us if youve heard this one before this time, its personal. After his friend and fellow former operative (Melissa Leo) is murdered by C.I.A.-trained assassins, McCall vows, Im going to kill each and every one of them, and the only disappointment is that I only get to do it once. Cut to scenes of guns blazing and bones snapping. Nice rally you have there. Itd be a shame if anything happened to it. Gov. Andrew M. Cuomos aides and campaign staff made a round of phone calls to elected officials, asking them to not attend a rally on Thursday in support of community groups that have endorsed his opponent, Cynthia Nixon, according to eight New York City Council members who received such calls or messages and two others briefed on the effort. The rally was held to protest what organizers described as Mr. Cuomos pressure tactics: They said the governor made a push for labor unions to stop funding those same community groups. Mr. Cuomo has denied using any such pressure tactics, even as his aides pressed various Council members to boycott the rally. The organizers of the rally included three groups Citizen Action, New York Communities for Change and Make the Road Action that have ties to the Working Families Party and endorsed Ms. Nixon. Mr. Lipton said that although the departure of the governors labor allies had cost his party millions in funding, both now and in the future, the W.F.P. still had ample power to promote Ms. Nixons message through volunteering, canvassing, phone banking and social media. The party had already been using such methods in recent efforts to expel former members of the Independent Democratic Conference, a recently dissolved group of Democrats who cooperated with Republicans, from the State Senate. We just had a dress rehearsal for this, said Mr. Lipton, noting 120,000 anti-I.D.C. phone calls and a half-million anti-I.D.C. text messages sent this winter. And we think this is going to be much bigger. There are early indications that the alliance with the W.F.P., and a range of community groups whose funding were also threatened by Mr. Cuomos labor allies, may offer Ms. Nixon a bevy of surrogates with which to attack the governor. On Wednesday, for example, Ms. Nixons campaign distributed a statement from Make the Road Action, a progressive community-action group that focuses on immigrant issues. The statement accused Mr. Cuomo of a recent pattern of falsehoods and exaggerations about his life story, citing the governors suggestion that he was the son of poor immigrants his father, Mario M. Cuomo, was a lawyer and three-term governor and the fact that he was a middle-class guy, something belied by his $173,000 salary, hefty investment portfolio and a lucrative book deal for his memoir. On Thursday, the Nixon campaign debuted an email attack on Mr. Cuomos credibility, calling out his lie of the day. Theres a reason Andrew Cuomo and Cynthia Nixon both fought so hard for the endorsement of the Working Families Party, Rebecca Katz, an adviser for Ms. Nixons campaign, said. Their ballot line sends a clear signal to voters about which candidate is the most committed progressive. She stared down the iconic Charging Bull of Wall Street and now she could make it move. The statue known as Fearless Girl will soon be moved from its spot at the southern tip of Broadway to a spot facing the New York Stock Exchange, Mayor Bill de Blasio announced on Thursday. And if the city has its way, the bull will eventually go with her. Though visitors had posed with the bull for years, larger crowds had gathered since the Fearless Girl statue, commissioned by State Street Global Advisors, a Boston-based financial firm, was placed in front of the bull at the narrow corner atop Bowling Green in Lower Manhattan last March. So after deciding to allow the sculpture placed temporarily at the spot to remain for a year, city officials came to the conclusion that the number of pedestrians spilling into the streets created a safety hazard. Also, after the deadly attack with a truck last year in Lower Manhattan, officials said they worried that crowds around the two statues could present a tempting target for a terrorist behind the wheel. The new location by the stock exchange is an area that is already heavily restricted to traffic, where huge numbers of pedestrians but few cars pass through. This is a dream, said the artist Manal Deeb, whose mixed-media works incorporating photographs, oil paint and Arabic calligraphy hang in the gallery. Her work was also exhibited at the United Nations Visitors Center in New York in 20122013. Born in Ramallah, Ms. Deeb moved to America as a teenager in 1986. Speaking by telephone from her studio in Fairfax, Va., she said the new Palestinian museum will provide her and other Palestinian artists with an outlet where there was none before. As Palestinians, we all have the same core search for identity, and this is a way for us to all come together and save that identity, she said. Mr. Saleh said that the museums agenda is neither political or religious, but few of the artists on display have avoided the historic and ongoing conflicts between Palestinians and the State of Israel. The impacts of war on women and children are a theme of Ms. Deebs art, as well as that of 47-year-old Rana Bishara, born in 1971 in the Upper Galilee village of Tarshiha where she still lives part time. Her paintings in the museum feature abstracts that explore memories of childhood growing up amid political demonstrations, contrasted with the beauty of the natural world. To this end, much of her work features actual pieces of cactus, a symbol of razed villages where nothing remains but the prickly vegetation. For me, cactus means to be patient, said Ms. Bishara, speaking by telephone during a recent visit to Savannah, Ga., where she earned an M.F.A. at the Savannah College of Art in 2003. One of my famous works has pieces of pickled cactus, packed tightly in a jar, which depicts Palestinians who are living in Israel under the pressure of laws that treat us like second-class citizens or worse, Ms. Bishara said. Smith is the first child of the new immigration who might be president of the United States, Walter Lippmann predicted in 1927. He won the Democratic nomination in 1928 and campaigned as The Happy Warrior. But he was soundly defeated, doomed as a Catholic from New York who regarded Prohibition as an intemperate anti-immigrant indignity. Herbert Hoover, who could justifiably campaign as a progressive Republican, pigeonholed Smith as an advocate of state socialism (the same epithet that a spiteful Smith would hurl at Roosevelt in 1936). Smith was embittered by the ignominious loss of his home state in 1928 and the underwhelming margin in his own city. H. L. Mencken lamented that Smith had been ruined by associating with rich men. Senator Joseph T. Robinson, Democrat of Arkansas, concluded flat out that the brown derby has been discarded for the high hat. Still, Smiths Shakespearean fall produced an enduring legacy. After his defeat in 1928, Mencken advised: The future of the Democracy lies in following the furrow plowed by Al. Roosevelt would do just that. Constance Baker Motleys first encounter with Jim Crow was traveling by train from New Haven through New York to attend Fisk University, the historically black college, in Nashville. In Cincinnati, she had to disembark and switch to a segregated passenger car. In contrast, the Port Authority and M.T.A. charge tolls on their bridges, but independently set the amounts based on their financial needs. Youre buying more than the bridge when you pay that toll, said Robert E. Paaswell, a civil engineering professor at the City College of New York. In theory, tolls are supposed to go away when a bridge is paid for, but that rarely happens. The costs are skewed because in addition to maintenance, they are used by different agencies for different purposes. Tolls from the four Port Authority-run bridges the Bayonne, Goethals, Outerbridge Crossing and George Washington and the Lincoln and Holland tunnels are used not only to support those crossings but also public transit services, including the Port Authority bus terminal and the PATH train system. Ron Marsico, a spokesman for the authority, said that it consolidates the revenues from all its operations to meet the capital investment and operating needs of its facilities. The last toll increase was in 2011, and less than 15 percent of drivers those without E-ZPass currently pay the full $15 cash toll, he said. The M.T.A. operates seven bridges, including the Verrazano, which was the longest suspension bridge in the world when it opened in 1964 with a toll of just 50 cents. Today, it is one of the citys busiest links with, on average, 196,000 vehicle crossings per day on weekdays, of which Staten Island residents account for about 75,000 crossings per day, according to M.T.A. data. M.T.A. officials said that the $17 toll is higher than its other bridges because it is priced to cover the return trip. A federal law pushed through by then U.S. Representative Guy V. Molinari, a Republican from Staten Island, converted two-way toll collections to one-way in 1986 to reduce commuting times and air pollution on the Staten Island end of the bridge. Similarly, in 1970, the Port Authority decided on one-way tolls on traffic going into New York City to reduce congestion and emissions. The M.T.A.s other major bridge crossings including the Bronx-Whitestone, Throgs Neck and Robert F. Kennedy (formerly the Triborough) all charge a top toll of $8.50 each way, for a total of $17 round-trip. The Verrazano toll has long riled local residents on both sides of the bridge, many of whom subscribe to an enduring urban myth repeatedly debunked that the bridge was supposed to be free once it was all paid for. Instead, the toll has steadily crept upward, most recently by $1 last year. Its not because the bridge is getting more expensive, said Samuel I. Schwartz, a transportation consultant who has proposed reducing such tolls as part of a congestion pricing plan. Its because we need more and more money to pay for the subways and trains coming into Manhattan. Beatrix Hamburg, who after breaking racial barriers at two major colleges became an important researcher in child development and psychology, working on subjects like school violence and peer counseling for students, died on April 15 in Washington. She was 94. Her son-in-law, Peter Brown, said the cause was Alzheimers disease. Dr. Hamburg was the first self-identifying black woman to graduate from Vassar College, in 1944, and in 1948 she became the first black woman to graduate from the Yale Medical School. Her lengthy professional resume included professorships at Stanfords School of Medicine, Harvard Medical School and the Mount Sinai School of Medicine in New York. Along with her husband, David Hamburg, she was a DeWitt Wallace Distinguished Scholar at Weill Cornell Medical College, also in New York. Dr. Hamburgs research focused on young people and the importance of examining their needs and psychological development in the modern age. This was particularly evident in Learning to Live Together: Preventing Hatred and Violence in Child and Adolescent Development, a 2004 book written with her husband. The nations largest cities and metropolitan areas home to a majority of Democratic voters are at the forefront of the partys most vexing racial, ethnic and class conflicts. Last week, in an essay for CityLab, Richard Florida, a professor of urban planning at the University of Toronto, described how housing costs are driving the growing division between upwardly and downwardly mobile populations within Democratic ranks: The rise in housing inequality brings us face to face with a central paradox of todays increasingly urbanized form of capitalism. The clustering of talent, industry, investment, and other economic assets in small parts of cities and metropolitan areas is at once the main engine of economic growth and the biggest driver of inequality. The ability to buy and own housing, much more than income or any other source of wealth, is a significant factor in the growing divides between the economys winners and losers. Allies on Election Day, the two wings of the Democratic Party are growing further estranged in other aspects of their lives, driven apart by the movement of advantaged and disadvantaged populations within and between cities. These demographic patterns exacerbate intraparty tensions. Florida, writing with Benjamin Schneider of CityLab, expands on this point: While the advantaged members of the knowledge, professional, and creative class have enough money left over even after paying the cost of housing in these cities, its the less-well-paid members of the service and working classes who get the short end of the stick, with not nearly enough left over to afford the basic necessities of life. They are either pushed to the periphery of these places or pushed out altogether. The competition for housing between rich and poor has become a critically important and divisive issue in urban America. The state of housing affordability in the expensive coastal metros is driving a wedge between two factions of the American left, Issi Romem, a fellow at the Terner Center for Housing Innovation at the University of California, Berkeley, wrote in an email to me. Yet President Trump and his administration have threatened to pull out of this compact. Americas withdrawal would put the agreement at high risk; it might also prompt the Iranians to leave the pact, starting a nuclear race in the region. It would drive a wedge in the trans-Atlantic partnership and drive Europe into a kind of forced marriage with the Russians and Chinese to save at least part of the deal. Of course, we are not blind to the discord and disarray resulting from Irans actions and attitude in the region. We strongly condemn its contribution to the war in Syria and its backing of the murderous government of President Bashar al-Assad, as well as Irans support, by varying degrees, of nonstate actors like Hezbollah in Lebanon and the Houthis in Yemen. However, by taking the threat that Iran would develop a nuclear weapon off the table, the pact has effectively limited that countrys means to carry out its destabilizing activities. Those are the reasons that France, Germany and Britain, which form the E3 group, continue to support the agreement and are calling on President Trump to make good on the commitment we took, together with the United States, on July 14, 2015, in Vienna. Now we, members of parliaments in the E3, have decided to raise our voices to tell the United States Congress that we stand by our trans-Atlantic commitments and to warn of the disastrous consequences of an American withdrawal from the Vienna agreement. To that end, we have written a letter being published Thursday and Friday by leading newspapers in France, Germany and Britain calling on the members of Congress to bring their full backing to the nuclear deal and prevent their government from pulling out of this major diplomatic achievement. The letter has been signed by more than 500 members of Frances National Assembly, Germanys Bundestag and Britains House of Commons. The signatories as of Thursday afternoon 362 French, 70 British and 75 German represent the entire political spectrum of our home countries. They may disagree on internal policies and on other international issues, but they agree on one thing: The compact is a major achievement of our collective security, in the Middle East and beyond. Despite the imposition of unprecedented sanctions against Russia by the Trump administration and Congress over the past year, President Vladimir Putin only seems more intent on causing grievous harm to international peace and stability. Alongside increased financial sanctions against Mr. Putin and his cronies, there is another arrow in the American quiver that would add diplomatic pressure against Russia: The State Department should consider adding the country to its list of state sponsors of terrorism, alongside its close allies Iran and Syria. The moral case for such a designation is sound. Russia has invaded its neighbors Georgia and Ukraine, it supports the murderous regime of Bashar al-Assad and our enemies in Afghanistan, and it is engaged in active information warfare against Western democracies, including meddling in the 2016 United States elections. This week, the Organization for Prevention of Chemical Weapons announced that the Kremlin had crossed yet another previously unimaginable line, when it confirmed findings by the British government that a Russian military-grade nerve agent, which British authorities identified as Novichok, was used to poison a former Russian intelligence agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter in the English city of Salisbury. The attack also resulted in the hospitalization of British law enforcement officials who responded to the scene, as well as bystanders. Years before Hillary Clinton accepted the Democratic nomination for president in a suffragette-inspired white pantsuit, Olivia Pope had been running Washington in her tailored armor. And I, like millions of American women, have been a proud member of her Gladiator Nation since Scandal premiered on ABC in 2012. The show, which ends Thursday night after seven seasons, made history. Shonda Rhimes, its creator, became one of the most successful black women in television history, joining Oprah Winfrey and Diahann Carroll as the third black woman in the Television Hall of Fame. Ms. Rhimes came to own Thursday nights on ABC: Greys Anatomy at 8 p.m., followed by Scandal at 9. Then, beginning in 2014, How to Get Away With Murder at 10. When Scandal premiered, Kerry Washingtons Olivia Pope was the first African-American female lead in a network drama in almost 40 years the first in my lifetime. (Teresa Graves was the first ever as an undercover cop in Get Christie Love!, which debuted in 1974.) But Scandal wasnt groundbreaking only for Ms. Rhimes. Today, popular shows with black women in prominent roles are increasingly common: Tracee Ellis Ross in Blackish, Gabrielle Union in Being Mary Jane, Taraji P. Henson in Empire, Issa Rae in Insecure. Olivia Pope was the trailblazer. To be sure, defense contracts are hardly new in Silicon Valley, and Googles recent moves might be seen as heralding Silicon Valleys return to its natural home in defense contracting. But that would be to misunderstand both Silicon Valley history and todays technology. The internet and much of digital computing did indeed emerge from decades of United States defense contracts, beginning as long ago as World War I. Yet the Pentagon itself sloughed off the internet not knowing quite what to do with it, and rightly judging it to be insecure to the National Science Foundation. When the internet became a commercial concern, the National Science Foundation off-loaded it to the Department of Commerce. Government might have given birth to the internet, but it sure didnt raise it. The emergence of a civilian, entrepreneurial tech culture in the 1970s owed as much intellectually, if not (at first) financially, to the antiwar movement and the 1960s counterculture hardly friends of the military-industrial complex. Out of this the dominant, highly creative ethos of geek antiauthoritarianism grew. It is hard to believe that closer ties with the military would perpetuate this culture of innovation. The technology involved in projects like Azure Government Secret and Project Maven is also very different from the data-sharing projects of the 1960s. Those older technologies would not have been created in the absence of government funding. Todays projects, in contrast, are all basically A.I. plays. Very little of this is defense-specific, but all of it is useful for defense and espionage. Unlike, say, weapons development, A.I. research is inherently dual-use. United States tech giants would be pursuing it with or without government contracts. Silicon Valley does not need the Pentagon to initiate these endeavors. It would be crucial for such an effort to focus on the right issues, such as long-term abilities and the institutional culture, rather than on technical matters. For example, United States diplomacy has been more reactive than proactive for far too long. How do we fix that? The Foreign Services culture relies too heavily on improvisation and not enough on strategic thinking. William J. Burns, a former deputy secretary of state, once told me that career diplomats perversely pride ourselves on our ability to adapt quickly to different circumstances, and we are not particularly systematic about how we go about doing that. Another problem is the stupefying amount of administration that diplomats overseas have to contend with, instead of practicing diplomacy; many have taken to calling it e-hell. It gets in the way of the very reason they live in foreign countries to understand and analyze developments in those countries and engage with their societies to better inform United States policies. What about the staffing gaps overseas every summer, when officers start new assignments at embassies and consulates weeks or even months after their predecessors have left? Even in the age of instant communication, this leads to a lack of continuity and a need for almost every new officer to reinvent the wheel. As for those outside government, internationally focused think tanks could play a role in producing research on trends and innovation in diplomatic practice. They have largely ignored that, saying their job is to study foreign policy, not what some call the machinery that carries it out. The main reason for that is funding its much easier to find donors willing to finance policy research, which they hope will influence official government decisions. However, given the damage being done to the machinery, getting the process right will be as important as the policy substance on the other side of the dark age. Academia can help as well. The Trump administrations policies and actions have significantly diminished the attractiveness of diplomacy as a career for young Americans. As a result, the number of those taking the Foreign Service exam has decreased by nearly half since Mr. Trumps election, and compared with pre-2017 figures, fewer than a third of new officers are being accepted into the Foreign Service. So its vital to keep alive the young generations interest in and pursuit of diplomacy as a career. But its difficult to find colleges and universities in the United States (and globally, for that matter) that teach diplomacy. Not international relations, but diplomatic practice. Even schools whose names include the words diplomacy or foreign service offer no more than a couple of diplomacy-related courses, one of which is usually in diplomatic history. To that end, my school, the Washington International Diplomatic Academy, which trains diplomats and other international affairs professionals from around the world, is holding a practical training program for students this summer for the first time. They will learn what is increasingly becoming a lost art, as well as specific skills, from some of the best diplomats in recent years, including recent State Department refugees. Still, Id rather see dozens of universities offer multiyear degree programs. The longer the United States fails to exercise its diplomatic muscle, the worse its atrophy will get. Future Foreign Service leaders could emerge from its current ranks or among Americans still in college. Naturally, they will aspire to become ambassadors and assistant secretaries. But once at the top, despite the huge political demands of those jobs, they should find time to take care of their colleagues in the service. Dark age or renaissance, no one else will. We are the products of evolution, and not just evolution that occurred billions of years ago. As scientists peer deeper into our genes, they are discovering instances of human evolution in just the past few thousand years. People in Tibet and Ethiopian highlands have adapted to living at high altitudes, for example. Cattle-herding people in East Africa and northern Europe have gained a mutation that helps them digest milk as adults. On Thursday in the journal Cell, a team of researchers reported a new kind of adaptation not to air or to food, but to the ocean. A group of sea-dwelling people in Southeast Asia have evolved into better divers. The Bajau, as these people are known, number in the hundreds of thousands, scattered in communities in Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines. They have traditionally lived on houseboats; in recent times, theyve also built houses on stilts in coastal waters. Mr. Bridenstine takes over an agency in transition. While President Obama talked of sending astronauts to Mars in a couple of decades, the Trump administration has instead focused on a nearer, quicker goal: to return to the moon. The administration has also proposed getting NASA out of the business of running the International Space Station and instead spur commercial alternatives that do not yet exist. Critics have questioned whether the agencys new administrator is up to the task. Mr. Bridenstine, a former Navy pilot who is now in his third term in the House of Representatives, has become immersed in space issues. In 2016, he sponsored a bill called the American Space Renaissance Act, which proposed broad, ambitious goals for the nations space program, including directing NASA to devise a 20-year plan. Although it did not reach a vote, some of the ideas were incorporated into other legislation. But Democratic senators, led by Bill Nelson of Florida, opposed Mr. Bridenstine for several reasons. For one, they said Mr. Bridenstine was too political he would be the first elected official to serve as NASA administrator. During the confirmation hearings in November, Mr. Nelson read back Mr. Bridenstines disparaging remarks about other politicians, even other Republicans. I think whats not right for NASA, Mr. Nelson said during a speech on the Senate floor on Wednesday, is an administrator who is politically divisive and who is not prepared to be the last in line to make that fateful decision on go or no go for launch. Mr. Bridenstine also has no experience running a large government bureaucracy. The expectation was that someone with that type of background would be tapped to be NASAs deputy administrator to handle more of the day-to-day management. However, the Trump administration has yet to nominate anyone for that position. Cleo Wade loves you. She really does. I dont need to know you to love you, Ms. Wade said on a recent Thursday afternoon, in her spacious one-bedroom apartment overlooking Tompkins Square Park in the East Village of Manhattan. Dressed casually in a striped La Ligne sweater, she was seated on her living room floor before a wall covered with biodegradable botanical wallpaper, as lavender-scented incense burned and Donny Hathaway played softly in the background. Its the type of place where one would imagine Ms. Wade dreams up her fortune-cookie-size poetic self-affirmations like: Self-love: it costs nothing and you gain everything Be yourself. I love you like that. Those motivational mantras have been splattered across Times Square and her popular Instagram feed, which counts Nicole Richie and the activist DeRay Mckesson as fans. The words have also been used in advertisements for Guccis Chime for Change campaign, stenciled on Nike AF1 sneakers and inscribed on dishes for Fishs Eddy. An auditing firm responsible for monitoring Facebook for federal regulators told them last year that the company had sufficient privacy protections in place, even after the social media giant lost control of a huge trove of user data that was improperly obtained by the political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica. The assertion, by PwC, came in a report submitted to the Federal Trade Commission in early 2017. The report, a redacted copy of which is available on the commissions website, is one of several periodic reviews of Facebooks compliance with a 2011 federal consent decree, which required Facebook to take wide-ranging steps to prevent the abuse of users information and to inform them how it was being shared with other companies. The accounting firm, formerly known as PricewaterhouseCoopers, effectively gave Facebook a clean bill of health. Facebooks privacy controls were operating with sufficient effectiveness to provide reasonable assurance to protect the privacy of users, said the assessment, which stretched from February 2015 to February 2017. But during that period, Facebook was aware that a researcher based in Britain, Aleksandr Kogan, had provided Cambridge Analytica with private Facebook data from millions of users. Cambridge, which later worked for the Trump campaign, used the information to build psychological profiles of American voters before the 2016 election. Some details of Mr. Kogans work though not the full scope of the data he had obtained were revealed in an article in The Guardian in late 2015. SAN FRANCISCO Venture capitalists and entrepreneurs have been lobbying federal regulators to protect at least some virtual currencies from being categorized as securities, a designation that would carry significantly more oversight. The venture capital firm Andreessen Horowitz helped assemble a group of investors and lawyers that met with the Securities and Exchange Commission in late March. They also proposed a safe harbor for some virtual currencies, according to a copy of the proposal reviewed by The New York Times and three people briefed on the effort who agreed to speak on the condition of anonymity because the proceedings were confidential. Regulators have indicated in private meetings that they are considering whether virtual currencies including Ether, the second most widely used digital token should be categorized as a security, according to three people who have been in the meetings. That designation could cause a significant drop in the value of Ether. Its a come to the lord moment, said Richard Levin, a lawyer at the firm Polsinelli who works with companies in the space. We are seeing a watershed moment in which many firms in the digital asset community who may have been ignorant of the law or poorly informed are now coming to terms with the fact that they are subject to regulators. Infinitely elastic in its casting, this stripped-back, ultraslick production has since become the longest-running American musical in Broadway history; its 1997 London iteration bounced from one West End theater to the next before calling it quits in 2012. That closing, it turns out, was temporary: Here Chicago is again, this time at the Phoenix Theater and with a newfound celebrity draw in the Oscar-winner Cuba Gooding Jr. (He and his fellow principals are contracted through June 30, with subsequent casting to be announced.) A relative theatrical neophyte with only one Broadway credit, Mr. Gooding might seem tailor-made for the assignment as the smooth-talking, press-savvy lawyer Billy Flynn. After all, he recently played O.J. Simpson in a TV mini-series whose depiction of the media circus that can be made out of the American justice system is directly prefigured by this musicals portrait of two murderous chorus girls, Roxie Hart and Velma Kelly, in 1920s Chicago. In fact, Mr. Gooding is the least satisfying aspect of a reboot that otherwise finds Walter Bobbies decades-old production in shape, with every swiveled hip calibrated to within an inch of the finely drilled ensembles lives. Playing the Windy Citys leading criminal lawyer in a tabloid-happy era seemingly not that different from our own, Mr. Gooding isnt called upon to dance much, and he just about survives the vocal demands of John Kander and Fred Ebbs score. More than once, you hold your breath to see if the gravelly-voiced performer will hit, and hold, the necessary note. There are no such doubts when it comes to Mr. Goodings colleagues, many of whom have appeared in the show before and, in the case of Ruthie Henshall, in varying roles, as well. Londons original Roxie, Ms. Henshall later played Velma and has now graduated to the smaller, if choice, part of the prison warden Mama Morton, who partners with Velma on the song Class, a paean to a bygone age when manners remember them? were seen to matter. Of the two leading ladies, Chicago veterans both, the Belgian performer Sarah Soetaert makes for an unusually hard-edged Roxie, the Kewpie-doll killer who believes in murder as an art. You dont feel, as you do with the most memorable interpreters of this part, the tremulous self-discovery that overtakes Roxie as she joins Velma when showbiz gives them a second chance. Velma, Josefina Gabrielle, is a onetime Roxie who brings to her current assignment an age-defying physicality, doing a cartwheel and the splits in quick succession. Entirely at home in the shape-shifting demands of Ann Reinkings choreography, famously patterned after Bob Fosses original moves, Ms. Gabrielle transmits the razzle dazzle that is the title of one of the scores best songs. And if anyone thinks the piece itself has dated, try this query on for size: Are you going to believe what you see or what I tell you? asks Roxies woebegone victim, a cue straight from todays fake news playbook. At a time when even the president of the United States owes a debt to reality TV, the intersection of life and showbiz celebrated by Chicago nowadays seems all too real. Its good to have the show back. South of the Welcome to Fabulous Las Vegas sign and the slot-obsessed zombies of the Sin City Strip, theres a shopping mall that counts Whole Foods among its tenants. If youre going to make the drive up the Great Basin Highway in hopes of finding Basin and Range National Monument the whereabouts of which many locals seem utterly unfamiliar with youre going to want to stock up on food and water here, because you probably will (and probably should) get lost along the way. I steered my rented Nissan sedan onto northbound Interstate 15 on a mild day in November, eventually arriving at the juncture for the Great Basin Highway, which is signaled by a massive solar farm, its panels resembling a lake of tar. Past the red-rock canyons, craggy cactuses, stacks of boulders, and Lilliputian forests that populate the landscape, youll hit something resembling civilization in the tiny town of Alamo, which hosts a few motels, a cafe, a high school, a gas station-supermarket hybrid and not much else. Have you ever just shown up at an airport without a clear travel plan? If your lifestyle allows for that sort of a lack of planning, but youd rather ease into such a spontaneous adventure, there are several phone apps that can make unplanned travel feel less risky and more affordable. While travelers have long been able to set up airfare alerts using Google Flights, Skyscanner, Kayak and a host of other web-based tools, the following apps go a step further in helping budget-conscious people who want to go somewhere but dont know (or care) where. Hopper Within the Hopper app there is a feature once referred to as Flex Watch but now integrated into the Hopper apps main functionality which, as the original name suggests, aims to help those with flexible travel dates or destinations as well as spontaneous travelers. You have the option to search for airfare of a specific destination, or you can tap on the box that asks Flexible? From there, simply choose your time frame (either anytime or any range up to 10 months in advance) and a length range (somewhere between a weekend and two weeks). You then set your home city; your destination can be either a specific city or Anywhere. The police in a small inland California city are facing criticism after they opened fire on a car in a Walmart parking lot this month, killing the black man who had been driving and injuring one of his three passengers. Video of the shooting in Barstow, recorded by a pedestrian and later posted by a racial justice activist, appears to show officers with the Barstow Police Department firing more than a dozen rounds. A lawyer for the family of the man who was killed, Diante Yarber, 26, estimated that the police had fired about 30 rounds. The shooting, on April 5, has ignited protests in Barstow, about halfway between Los Angeles and Las Vegas, among residents seeking answers from the police, according to The Daily Press of Victorville. The video, posted on Facebook by the activist Shaun King, has been viewed more than 200,000 times. The Yarber familys lawyer, S. Lee Merritt, said he planned to sue the City of Barstow and its Police Department by the end of the week. If you do not know if the lettuce is romaine, do not eat it and throw it away, the C.D.C. said in a statement. The Wednesday report shows that the outbreak has expanded in recent days. On Friday, the C.D.C. had reported only 35 illnesses in 11 states. The people infected in the outbreak range in age from 10 to 85. Seventy percent of them are female. At least 31 people were hospitalized and five had developed kidney failure, according to the agency. No one has died yet. The first illness linked to the outbreak began on March 13 and the last was recorded as starting on April 6, but there may be more to come. Any infections that began after March 29 may have yet to be counted because it typically takes two to three weeks for an illness to be reported. The agency was first alerted to the outbreak by health officials in New Jersey, who had noticed an increase in E. coli cases in the state, said Dr. Laura Gieraltowski, an epidemiologist at the C.D.C. After some discussion, it became clear that many of those infected had eaten chopped romaine lettuce at restaurants before getting sick. The criminal investigation will ultimately determine some facts, but there will never be a reason for what he did, the sheriff wrote on Facebook Friday afternoon. Sheriff Schultz identified the victims as Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 29, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey, 25. Sergeant Ramirez, who joined the department in 2016, was married with two young children, and Deputy Lindsey was unmarried but had a girlfriend. I made contact with the families, and as youd expect, you can never be prepared for something like this, Sheriff Schultz said. But make no mistake, theyre proud of their families. They understood when their loved ones pinned on the badge and they strapped on the gun that this was a possibility. Trenton, the seat of rural Gilchrist County, is a small town of around 2,000 residents, but the killing of the deputies drew the attention and condolences of national officials. Sheriff Schultz said his departments small size, with just 27 deputies, made their deaths especially painful. The senseless act committed by this coward has shaken each of us, but we will endure, the sheriff wrote on Facebook on Friday morning. Every marriage is tested at times, some more literally than others. The marriages of immigrants to American citizens must stand up to the scrutiny of the United States government, which is always on the lookout for people gaming the system for a green card. When did you meet? Does your spouse have a tattoo? What movies did you watch when you started dating? (One tip: Dont say Green Card.) Couples must prove that their relationships are real by providing proof they live together or photographs of their time together. Still, officials and immigration lawyers caution that answering all of the questions correctly doesnt necessarily result in a green card. And lately, the bar has been a lot higher for immigrants in the country illegally. Here is a sampling of questions gathered from immigration lawyers that you can test with your partner. (In the real world, officers can separate applicants to make sure theyre not gaming the system.) The questions will get more difficult as we go on. How did you meet? How soon after you met did you start dating? When did you meet each others families? How did you decide on getting married? Where did you buy the ring? What was the wedding like and who attended? What did you do afterward? Where did you eat? The goal is to tell the immigration officer your love story. [Would you pass the green card marriage interview? Take the test.] After the wedding, all the things they could not do while he lacked legal status became obvious: Not being able to go on their honeymoon, because he could not fly. Not being able to get a joint credit card. Not being able to get car insurance. He got caught because he was trying to do the right thing, Ms. de Oliveira said of her husbands arrest on Jan. 9. It was like a setup. It took a month for her husband to be released. Because she did not know what else to say when their son asked, Ms. de Oliveira told him that his father was working out of town. Like many of the immigrants detained this way, Mr. de Oliveira, a house painter, had no criminal history. To the Trump administration, the other thing they had in common was more germane: a legal but, until now, unenforced obligation to leave the country that had stuck to them for years, even as they pieced together lives and families in the United States. In the later years of the Obama administration, the government mostly left people without criminal records alone, focusing instead on immigrants who had only recently arrived or had been convicted of serious crimes. But the Trump administration emphasizes that everyone living here illegally is fair game for deportation, a policy that has bumped up immigration arrests by more than 40 percent since the beginning of 2017. Those who were ordered out of the country years ago are especially easy marks for an agency with limited resources for enforcement especially if they walk straight into an immigration office. ICE agents who once allowed many unauthorized immigrants to stay in the country as long as they checked in regularly have, over the past year, begun arresting many of those same immigrants at their once-routine ICE appointments. Unlike people who have had no prior contact with the immigration system, those who have already received orders of deportation have few, if any, protections against swift deportation. High school students across the United States are planning to walk out of classes all day on Friday as part of the National School Walkout, a protest against what participants see as political inaction in the face of mass shootings and gun violence. The event, which grew out of a petition on Change.org, comprises more than 2,000 walkouts nationwide, with at least one planned in every U.S. state and the District of Columbia. With thousands of students expected to participate, heres what you can expect from Fridays walkout. When is the walkout? The National School Walkout is being staged on April 20, a date intended to mark the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School in 1999. At the time, the Columbine shooting, in which 13 people were killed, was the deadliest school shooting on record. Mailes arrival was the product of several months of behind-the-scenes negotiation in the hidebound Senate, whose rules until Wednesday barred children from coming onto the Senate floor. A few months after Ms. Duckworth announced she was pregnant, she asked Senator Amy Klobuchar of Minnesota, the senior Democrat on the Senate Rules Committee, to help her engineer a rule change, necessary because senators are required to vote in person. So it was that on Wednesday, senators voted unanimously that, henceforth, both male and female senators will be permitted to bring infants up to age one into the chamber. In an institution where a fair number of members are in their 80s, this was a monumental change, hardly as simple as it might seem. First, Ms. Klobuchar said, there were the discussions over whether the Senate floor would turn into some kind of nursery. But what if there are 10 babies on the floor of the Senate? Senator Orrin G. Hatch, 84, Republican of Utah, asked, according to The Associated Press. Replied Ms. Klobuchar: That would be wonderful and a delight. Then came the concerns about whether there would be diaper changes. Or breast-feeding. (Ms. Duckworth, Ms. Klobuchar said, has no intention of doing either while on the Senate floor.) One top Senate Republican acknowledged privately that there may be little else the party would do. Any move toward impeachment seems out of the question in the Republican-controlled Congress. Conservatives in the House are instead demanding an end to the Mueller inquiry. While the Senate could censure the president, it is doubtful Republicans would take that action before midterm elections in which they will be relying on Trump supporters to help them hold the Senate. It has been done only once before, in the case of Andrew Jackson (coincidentally a Trump favorite), and was later reversed. Another Republican suggested that the Senate could refuse to consider Justice Department nominees unless the president agreed to the naming of a new counsel, a reaction Democrats would consider woefully insufficient. Democrats fear they might not learn the Republican reaction until after the president takes his own action. Why not head off a constitutional crisis at the pass, rather than waiting until its too late? Senator Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, said Thursday in calling for approval of the special counsel legislation. Why even flirt with the prospect of a president challenging the very nature of our system of government? Democrats are just as concerned that Mr. Trump and House Republicans are building a separate case for firing Rod J. Rosenstein, the deputy attorney general, who is overseeing the investigation as a result of the decision by Attorney General Jeff Sessions to recuse himself. They fear that a move against Mr. Rosenstein would not grab as much attention as dismissing Mr. Mueller and that Mr. Rosensteins successor could then constrain the inquiry. Pressed again Wednesday evening at a news conference about whether he intended to fire either of them, Mr. Trump repeated his denunciation of the idea of collusion between Russia and his campaign as a hoax and called for the inquiry to be wrapped up. As far as the two gentlemen you told me about, theyve been saying Im going to get rid of them for the last three months, four months, five months, he said. And theyre still here. WASHINGTON A day after President Trump promised to slash the red tape involved in weapons sales, the administration announced on Thursday a new policy that could vastly expand sales of armed drones, a contentious emblem of the shift toward remotely controlled warfare. That change, in addition to a newly released update to the policy governing which nations are allowed to buy sophisticated American-made weapons, is intended to accelerate arms sales, a key priority of Mr. Trump. The president seemed to foreshadow the new policies on Wednesday night, when he said at a news conference with Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan that after allies order weapons from the United States, we will get it taken care of, and they will get their equipment rapidly. It would be, in some cases, years before orders would take place because of bureaucracy with Department of Defense, State Department, Mr. Trump said. We are short-circuiting that. Its now going to be a matter of days. If theyre our allies, we are going to help them get this very important, great military equipment. To business groups, manufacturers and veterans of the bank, Mr. Trump appears to be undermining his own trade aspirations by leaving Ex-Im in the lurch. Im not sure hes really being well served, said Fred P. Hochberg, the most recent chairman of the bank, who departed in 2017. If you want to be able to reduce trade deficits and you want to be able to export more, particularly capital goods, thats what an Export-Import Bank does. In recent years, the bank has been barely functional. According to its most recent annual report, Ex-Im authorized just $3.4 billion of mostly short-term export credit in 2017. That is down from the $20 billion that it authorized in 2014, the last year that the bank was fully operational. The report points out that China provided $34 billion in medium- and long-term financing for its exports in 2016, underscoring the competitive disadvantage that the United States faces. The banks crippling has been costly for both companies and their workers, including Boeing, which Mr. Trump has hailed as an emblem of American innovation. In the last two years, two deals involving the sale of its commercial satellites have been canceled and one was significantly delayed given the lack of a quorum at Ex-Im. The stalling of these deals alone has cost the company hundreds of millions of dollars. Restoring the Export-Import Bank to full strength is the single best thing Washington can do right now to build on the economic momentum of tax reform, shrink our trade deficits and level the playing field so American workers can win, said Tim Keating, Boeings executive vice president for government operations. In 2015, General Electric said that it would stop manufacturing certain gas engines in Waukesha, Wis., and that it would instead build a $265 million plant in Canada, which was offering financial support through its version of Ex-Im, known as Export Development Canada. G.E. attributed the move to the lack of United States export financing, saying in a statement that the company will secure access to Canadian Export Finance to fill the gap from the lapse of the U.S. Export-Import Bank. Two black men whose arrests at a Starbucks in Philadelphia led to protests and plans for bias training at thousands of the chains locations spoke about the ordeal for the first time on Thursday, saying they were not told by the police why they were being escorted out. The men, Donte Robinson and Rashon Nelson, both 23, went to a downtown Starbucks on April 12 for a business meeting involving real estate that they had been working on for months, they said during an interview with ABCs Good Morning America. Mr. Nelson asked to use the restroom and was told by the manager that they were only for paying customers. He joined Mr. Robinson at a table to wait for the person they planned to meet. The manager approached, asked them if they wanted to order drinks. They declined. According to 911 records, approximately two minutes after the men entered the store, the police were called. The levelheaded response of Tammie Jo Shults, the captain of a Southwest Airlines flight that suffered a deadly midair engine explosion on Tuesday, reminded some of the so-called Miracle on the Hudson in 2009, when an engine failure forced a plane flying over New York City to make an emergency landing in the Hudson River. One of the people who felt a twinge of recognition was Chesley B. Sullenberger III, the pilot who executed that water landing off Midtown Manhattan after a dual engine failure brought his plane plummeting toward the earth. Certainly there are some similarities, Captain Sullenberger, whose story was made into a 2016 film, Sully, said in an interview on Wednesday. He said he was impressed that Captain Shults and her crew seem to have done a really good job and remained calm, communicated well, had good teamwork. Image Capt. Tammie Jo Shults pictured last year. She was one of the first female fighter pilots in the Navy three decades ago. Credit... Kevin Garber/MidAmerica Nazarene University, via Associated Press Both Captain Sullenberger, 67, and Captain Shults, 56, are former fighter pilots with many years in commercial aviation. And both were given just moments to respond to an unexpected midair crisis that put more than a hundred lives on the line. LONDON South Africas new president, Cyril Ramaphosa, who had traveled to London this week to assure global investors of his determination to tackle corruption in his country and restore faith in its public institutions, cut short his trip on Thursday to deal with unrest at home a vivid indication of the challenges he faces. The protests in the North West Province, in which demonstrators seeking better jobs and housing, and improved roads and hospitals, clashed with the police, were the biggest in the two months since Mr. Ramaphosa took office. His predecessor, Jacob Zuma, was tarnished by scandal and deeply unpopular during much of his nearly nine-year tenure, and he was eventually forced out in a struggle within the leadership of the African National Congress, the party that has governed South Africa since the end of apartheid in 1994. In a statement announcing his return from London to Pretoria, one of South Africas capitals, Mr. Ramaphosas office said he had called for calm and adherence to the rule of law in the province, and urged demonstrators to express their grievances through peaceful means and engagement rather than violence and anarchy. For over a half century, Cuba and the Castros have gone hand in hand. Often clad in green military fatigues, Fidel ruled the island nation as a dictator, squashing dissent and confronting a superpower just 90 miles away in America. Now, in a historic power shift, a new face is assuming power in Cuba. His name is Miguel Diaz-Canel and hes been lurking in the background, standing shoulder to shoulder with Fidel and his brother Raul, and yet all the while, he was slowly moving up the ranks, becoming the countrys vice president in 2013. Its the first time a non-Castro will be president in more than 40 years. He takes over from Raul, who succeeded his older brother in 2008. Its also the first time that someone who wasnt part of the revolution takes the reins. Raul Castro had put in place rules that limit a president to two five-year terms. And hes lived up to that. But Castro is not exactly disappearing. He will continue to head the Communist Party, arguably the most powerful political post in Cuba. So this is a slow changing of the guard. But it signals a huge shift in how Cuba will operate, politically and economically. Unlike the Castros, who established their legitimacy through the communist revolution, Diaz-Canel will have to cement his role by delivering on some much-needed reforms, including fixing the islands two-currency system. As it stands, theres both a national currency and another one pegged to the U.S. dollar, effectively barring parts of the population from purchasing certain basic goods and from actively participating in the larger economy. Diaz-Canel also needs to cultivate more opportunities for the countrys restive youth. I hope that the line that Raul Castro established a few years ago can be steadily improving and more businesses, more licenses, thats what I hope. Diaz-Canel is likely to maintain Cubas ties with Russia and China as relations with the U.S. continue to sour. He has also said that he plans to expand access to the internet. But on the question of human rights, like censorship, Cubas tight grip is likely to take longer to loosen. So just how did Diaz-Canel emerge in a country whose rulers have had an iron grip on power? He grew up 170 miles east of Havana, in Santa Clara, where he worked as an engineering professor and a local Communist Party leader. From there, he went on to become the youngest-ever member, at 43 years old, of the Politburo, the most powerful body within the Communist Party. He was appointed minister of higher education in 2009 and was handpicked to be vice president in 2013. Experts say he rose by keeping a low profile and toeing the countrys line. And with Raul keeping close watch over his rule, any change will likely come slow. This is a fairly typical instance of the public security authorities intervening in a civil dispute; its an overreach of power, Wang Yong, a professor of commercial law at the China University of Political Science and Law in Beijing, said in an interview. The number of cases of Chinese companies mobilizing the police against critics or commercial rivals has shrunk in recent years, he said. But in this Hongmao Medical Tonic case, the role of the public security authorities in local protectionism has again come to the fore, Professor Wang said. The fundamental problem is that for a long time in Chinese law, the boundary between civil and criminal cases has been blurred. Dr. Tan never expected such a ruckus after he published his essay criticizing Hongmao in December. He initially shared his views on a blog, which he said only a few fellow doctors read. He then spread it on WeChat, a popular Chinese social media service, where it was viewed more than 2,000 times, according to the police. But the title of Dr. Tans article was eye-catching: Chinas miracle liquor, Hongmao Medical Tonic, a poison from heaven. Dr. Tan argued that the supposed curative effects of the 67 ingredients said to be used in the alcohol-based elixir were unclear at best, and could be dangerous for people with high blood pressure or diabetes. Hongmao had brushed aside these medical concerns, and its plethora of ads on Chinese television have exaggerated its powers, Dr. Tan wrote. Citing traditional Chinese medical theories, it claimed to relieve ailments like painful joints, frail kidneys, and weakness and anemia in women by combining 67 ingredients from plants and animals. His essay had little initial impact. But in January, when Dr. Tan entered an elevator to his apartment, two men jumped in and showed police badges. They revealed that they were officers, sent from Inner Mongolia to detain and question him. Later, they took Dr. Tan to Liangcheng County by train and a long car ride. Updated May 9. One was sentenced to 10 years of hard labor in 2016 for an espionage conviction. Two others are scholars one studies accounting, the other agriculture who taught at a prestigious science and technology university before they were arrested in 2017 on suspicion of hostile acts. All three are Korean-American men who were held in North Korea until Wednesday, when they were released during a visit by Secretary of State Mike Pompeo to Pyongyang, the North Korean capital. The three former detainees share a common surname, Kim, but they are not related. Their release removes a point of tension as President Trump and the North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, prepare for their summit meeting, the first face-to-face encounter by the top leaders of the two nations. Previous Americans jailed in North Korea have been treated brutally. One of them, Otto F. Warmbier, died in June 2017 after being released from 17 months of captivity. His parents said he had been tortured, and a coroner found that he had suffered extensive brain damage. North Korea has dropped its demand that American troops be removed from South Korea as a condition for giving up its nuclear weapons, South Koreas president said Thursday in presenting the idea to the United States. President Moon Jae-in portrayed the proposal as a concession on the eve of talks involving the two Koreas and the United States. The North has long demanded that the 28,500 American troops be withdrawn, citing their presence as a pretext to justify its pursuit of nuclear weapons. But in Washington, the Trump administration privately dismissed the idea that it was a capitulation by the North because an American withdrawal from the South was never on the table. Mike Pompeo, the C.I.A. director whom President Trump secretly sent to Pyongyang two weeks ago to meet Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader, did not ask him to take such a step, senior officials said. The move could increase pressure on the United States to support negotiations between North and South Korea on a peace treaty that would end the Korean War. While Mr. Trump gave those talks his blessing this week, officials said his ultimate goal is to force North Korea to relinquish its nuclear program. A peace treaty, they said, should be signed only after the North has given up its weapons. SYDNEY, Australia An underwater heat wave that damaged huge sections of Australias Great Barrier Reef two years ago spurred a die-off of coral so severe that scientists say the natural wonder will never look the same again. Scientists said nearly one-third of the reefs coral were killed when ocean temperatures spiked in 2016, a result of global warming, according to a study published Wednesday in the journal Nature. The damage to the reef, one of the worlds largest living structures, has also radically altered the mix of its coral species, scientists said. The reef is changing faster than anyone thought it would, said Terry P. Hughes, the lead author of the study and the director of a government-funded center for coral reef studies at James Cook University in Queensland. This is John Krasinski, the director and one of the actors in A Quiet Place. What youre watching now is at the very beginning of the movie. This is our hero family walking home from a now established as an abandoned town. And this sort of sets up a lot of the rules of the movie, one of which youre seeing right here, which is the idea of perspective and sound. [light footsteps] When were close up on something, you can really hear it. And then when you go to a wider shot, you cant hear that exact same sound, which is one of the things we really loved doing throughout the whole movie. We shot this film in Upstate New York. The idea was to be in a very rural area in sort of a post-apocalyptic time to feel isolation. And so being in the middle of nowhere helps this family feel like theyre in the middle of nowhere. And it adds tension, I think, to the fact that they have nowhere to turn or nobody around them to help them. Sound design in this is huge. Its totally a main character that is right along here with the family. So Millie, one of the actresses, is a deaf actress. And were about to do one of my favorite things in the movie, which is play with her perspective. We wanted the sound of the movie to reflect her own actual experience. So you can hear sound when youre walking with Emily and I, like this, and with Noah. [light footsteps] And then right here, you cut to Millie, and we pull sound out. So were in the envelope, we called it the envelope being in her head, she can hear very little thanks to a hearing aid that she has. But she cant hear much of anything. And so we play with that throughout the entire movie. So she cant tell that theres a sound being made behind her right now. And so this is her perspective seeing me run, seeing me look scared, but she doesnt know why. And then she realizes right here. And when she realizes is that her little brother just made the first big sound of the movie. And you can see that that sound has horrible consequences. [music] BRUSSELS Last September, the enthusiastic new French president, Emmanuel Macron, laid out big plans for the European Union, intended to give fresh spark and purpose to a bloc preoccupied with migration, populism and Britains exit, and to breathe new life into Franco-German leadership. Then, as so often with the 28-nation bloc, reality and national interests got in the way. Last falls German election badly weakened Chancellor Angela Merkel, who needed six months to assemble a governing coalition, one that is even more wary about overhauls to the eurozone. Last months Italian election gave the upper hand to populist, Euroskeptic parties that want to abandon pension changes and expand Italys worrisome national debt, adding to German jitters. So after all the hoopla, Mr. Macrons proposed overhaul has been gutted. If not as dead as a dormouse, as the German weekly Der Spiegel opined before his visit to Berlin on Thursday, his European initiatives have been heavily watered down, like the small glass of red wine French parents give to children. ROME Andres Cardenas sat in the back of the auditorium, opened his folder and took careful notes as a Catholic cardinal with decades of experience casting demons out of possessed bodies gave a master class on how to yell at the devil, rid Muslims of black magic and purge Satan on your cellphone. Father Cardenas, a Colombian priest, wrote vigorously as the 89-year-old instructor, Ernest Simoni, explained that although exorcisms what he called a spiritual scientific instrument can be practiced on Muslims, they stayed Muslims after. Cardinal Simoni, who is Albanian, also said that fasting sometimes helped the possessed, but that often you had to play hardball with Beelzebub by saying things like shut up, Satan. After jotting it all down, Father Cardenas, 36, explained he had come to Rome to learn about exorcisms because it is a gift he wanted to share with his parishioners back in El Espinal. He was one of 300 Roman Catholics mostly clerics but also lay men and women furnished with authorization letters from their bishops to attend the 13th annual, weeklong Exorcism and Prayer of Liberation course that organizers hoped would recruit and train armies of potential exorcists to confront spreading demonic forces. AMERICAN FRONT, FRANCE, April 18 Presentation of the Croix de Guerre to Lieutenants Alan F. Winslow and Douglas Campbell was made to-day by the French. The formality took place in the presence of several French and American officers and caused embarrassment to the Americans who, on Sunday last, brought down two German aeroplanes in the nick of time. The French officers complimented the youthful aviators and said that it was noted by the French that the distinguishing medal went to a man from each of the two American universities known to everyone in Europe Yale and Harvard. Winslow is from Yale and Campbell from Harvard. When the correspondent asked the aviators if they had a message which they would like to send to the home folk through the HERALD, they said: Nothing in particular. We suppose our own folk will hear of it, wont they? Thats all thats necessary. The correspondent assured them that without doubt all the American folk had heard of it already. Lieutenant Winslow, when asked if he had been excited by the experience, said: No. But I am a little afraid to wake up in the morning, for fear that its all a dream. The New York Herald, European Edition, April 19, 1918 But he added that the decision was unlikely to topple the deal between Turkey and the European Union. The decision on Wednesday, which is not retroactive, will not apply to the more than 15,000 refugees already being held in detention centers for months or even years while their asylum applications are reviewed. Greece and Turkey have a long history of tensions over territory and sovereignty, which could aggravate the situation. The tension does not help the management of the refugee and migration issue, the migration minister, Dimitris Vitsas, said on Tuesday. On the contrary, it creates problems, so it is in our interest and that of Turkey to reduce the tension and the rhetoric. With spring weather improving in Europe, the number of refugees trying to reach European shores has begun to rise again, and dozens arrive each day. That is significantly less, however, than the thousands who crossed the Aegean each day at the peak of the refugee crisis in early 2016. The 28 countries in the European Union granted asylum to 538,000 people in 2017, almost 25 percent less than in 2016, according to Eurostat, the statistics arm of the organization. Syrians, Afghans and Iraqis made up 64 percent of those granted protection. More than 60 percent of those granted asylum had applied in Germany, with the next largest numbers of successful applications in France, Italy and Austria. Greece accepted 12,015 applications for asylum last year, Eurostat said. PARIS He has been called the man with three faces. Jerome Hamon of France has earned the title because of pioneering operations that have made him the first person to get not just one, but two full face transplants. Both surgeries were performed by Dr. Laurent Lantieri of the Georges-Pompidou European Hospital in Paris. Mr. Hamon was said to be recovering in the hospital from the second operation, which he underwent in January. Mr. Hamon, a French bookseller, has neurofibromatosis, a genetic disease that can lead to facial deformities. In June 2010, Dr. Lantieri removed Mr. Hamons entire face, including his eyelids and lachrymal system. Using material from a 65-year-old donor, the surgeon replaced the booksellers face with a full-face skin graft. The operation was a success. The only features of Mr. Hamon that were preserved were his blue eyes. CAIRO As an ailing Libyan commander lies in a Paris hospital, his condition a carefully guarded secret, speculation about his fate has created a power vacuum in eastern Libya, stoking fears of a violent succession feud that could plunge Libya into turmoil again. Since the news broke 10 days ago that the commander, Gen. Khalifa Hifter, had been airlifted to France from Jordan for emergency treatment, Libyas rumor mill has gone into overdrive amid news reports that the general, a 75-year-old strongman who controls most of eastern Libya, was seriously ill, incapacitated or even dead. General Hifters aides denied the reports, insisting that he had been hospitalized for a routine checkup, and they promised that he would soon be back in Benghazi, his eastern stronghold where he nurtured ambitions of national power. But an explosion in the city on Wednesday suggested that tensions there could soon overtake the bedridden general. As the American military planned the strikes, the White House and the Pentagon weighed several different Syrian installations and bases that might be targeted. When it came time to attack, most of the operation was executed and overseen by the American naval base in Bahrain, where the Fifth Fleet is based, and the air command center at Al Udeid Air Base in Qatar. There, dozens of American and allied planners huddled in front of banks of computers, maps and giant video screens to manage the flow of aircraft and missiles participating from the United States, Britain and France. The number of warplanes involved also created some diplomatic sensitivity with other countries in the Middle East. One senior American officer involved in the strike planning said Saudi Arabia and Jordan were put in the delicate position of allowing American-led fighters and bombers to use sovereign air space so long as it was not publicly advertised. With those countries permission, the United States flew B-1 bombers from Qatar along with one electronic warfare jet and refueling aircraft, Pentagon officials said. The bombers likely launched cruise missiles from Jordanian territory. The missiles, carrying 1,000-pound warheads, are capable of hitting narrow targets from hundreds of miles away; officials later said they were not aware of any civilian casualties caused by the missiles. A variety of cruise missiles were used in the strikes to distance allied ships, aircraft and one American submarine from a potential counterattack. Though some of the fighter jets may have been within range of some of the enemys more advanced surface-to-air missiles upgraded in the past three years by the Russian military their pilots, if shot down, would have been able to parachute into largely friendly territory or waters heavily patrolled by friendly vessels. The military intelligence report indicated that the Barzeh research and development center in Damascus was destroyed, according to the analyst. Most of the missiles were aimed at the Barzeh facility, where the Western allies believed the Assad government was rebuilding its chemical weapons program. It has been closely monitored since the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons found precursors for nerve agents there in 2014. Offaly TD Carol Nolan is calling for the introduction of Mobile Medical Units in rural areas to mitigate the impact of fixed location service closures. Commenting in response to the recent closure of Midoc services in Edenderry and Birr, Deputy Nolan stated that it is incumbent on elected representatives to adopt innovative approaches to the provision of health care services in rural areas as the challenges facing service providers are not going to resolve themselves. The recent closure of the Midoc services follows many other similar rationalisations across rural Ireland. Where traditional models of service delivery may no longer be sustainable to meet the demands of changing demographics or modern lifestyles; the failure to provide an alternative service model in these localities is entirely unacceptable." "There are many global examples of innovation in the provision of quality medical services in remote locations from Flying Doctors in Australia to Mobile Medical Units in Canada. There are many solutions which the Government could consider to mitigate the impact of medical service rationalisation in rural communities and most certainly, mobile medical units should be part of that response," she explained. "We have seen recent examples of HSE mobile Screening Units being deployed to Refugee Centres; charity funded mobile Breast Checks navigating the country, and a well-established national mobile Blood Transfusion service. Equipping and deploying high spec medical units is an entirely viable proposal, she added. Commenting today from Leinster House Deputy Nolan stressed that defending the retention of existing fixed location services is her primary priority, however in locations where services have been irretrievably withdrawn she will be advocating for replenishment through mobile services. I will be pressing Minister Harris on this proposal over the coming weeks and am certain such a proposal will garner widespread support from other rural TDs across the country, Deputy Nolan concluded. 7th Pay Commission: Crucial update, govt has not withdrawn discussions on pay hike India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The good news is that there has been no formal proposal by the Government of India on the withdrawal of discussions regarding the 7th Pay Commission. The proposal is still being worked on and some announcement regarding this is round the corner. Union Finance Minister, Arun Jaitley who was away due to poor health is back at work now and wants to revive the discussions, a top source told OneIndia. Jaitley had promised that the issue would be looked into and he would not go back on his word, the source also said. Currently, the government is battling the cash crunch which has been widely reported. This is a crucial issue that would need to be dealt with on priority. On the other hand, preparations are underway to revive discussions regarding the pay hike for CG employees, the source also said. When the discussions resume, there would be a decision taken on Jaitley's promise following which the CG employees who get salaries from pay matrix level 1 to 5 would be benefited. With regard to the cash shortage which is delaying the discussions, the source said that it was a temporary problem. It would not take too long before the issue is sorted out. In other developments, the teachers and non-teaching employees of Kendriya Vidyalaya Sangathan held a big protest outside the KVS headquarters in Delhi through which they sought to highlight their plight. They are demanding that 7th Pay Commission recommendations must also be implemented for them. They came in big numbers from across various states to stage the protest, which was on Monday. When the discussions regarding the 7th Pay Commission comes up, apart from the hike in basic minimum pay, the government is also expected to discuss raising the retirement age. The Madhya Pradesh government had recently decided to increase the retirement age from 60 to 62. The Centre is apparently impressed with the proposal and hopes to put in place a similar system for CG employees as well. Battle Shivamogga: For Eshwarappa to win, why Yeddyurappa holds the key India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Shivamogga formerly known as Shimoga is a district to watch out for. There are several big-wigs contesting from the 8 constituencies including Byandoor contesting and it promises to be an exciting fight. All eyes would be on these constituencies since it also houses Shikharipura, which is B S Yeddyurappa's constituency. In this context, it would be interesting to look at the Shivamogga constituency from where K S Eswharappa of the BJP would be contesting. After much deliberation, he was handed a ticket by the BJP, much to the disliking of Rudregowda, a Yeddyurappa loyalist. In the 2013 elections, Eswharappa had finished third while Rudregowda came second on a KJP ticket. The constituency was however won by Prasannakumar of the Congress. The final tally was- Prasannakumar, 39,355, Rudregowda, 39,077 and Eshwarapa, 33,462. It is clear that the margin was thin between the first and second place. Eshwarappa who ended up in third place in 2013 could also blame it on the BJP-KJP split and the negative campaign that reportedly Yeddyurappa undertook. It is an open secret that there is no great bonhomie between Yeddyurappa and Eshwarappa. Interestingly poised battle: This year the battle is interestingly poised. In terms of votes, the Brahmins and Lingayats hold the key. Back in 2013, the Brahmins had completely backed Prasanna Kumar of the Congress. This year around too they are likely to back him. At a recent meeting, the Brahmins had said that they should back a candidate from their own community. In poll bound Karnataka, bookies bet on Rs 800 crore as odds are stacked in BJP's favour The next factor is the Lingayat votes. This seems to be divided as the candidate from the JD(S), Niranjan Kumar is a Lingayat. Looking at these combinations, it appears as though Eswharappa is on a weak footing for now. Eshwarappa would be hoping for the 2008 magic where the Brahmins and Lingayats voted in large numbers for the BJP. That he would know was due to the Yeddyurappa factor. The other issue that would daunt Eshwarappa is Rudregowda. A Yeddyurappa loyalist, he had quit the BJP and joined the KJP in 2013. Yeddyurappa was hoping that he could get Rudregowda a ticket, but the party leadership decided against it. His followers are upset that he was denied a ticket and also cite the 2013 election result in which he lost by hardly around 300 votes. Yeddyurappa would hold the key: The Yeddyurappa factor holds the key in Shivamogga. If there is one leader who can overcome all the troubles for the BJP, it is Yeddyurappa. An appeal by him could get the Lingayat and Brahmin votes in favour of the BJP. Further, he is the one who can control the Rudregowda factor. If Rudregowda's supporters decided not to work for the party, then Eshwarappa is staring at trouble. However political analysts say that this year it would be a close fight. They, however, add that for Eshwarappa to emerge victoriously, Yeddyurappa would have to play a strong role. Further, Eshwarappa would also benefit slightly from the fact that the party is united this time. What will be the outcome in this prestigious constituency? One would have to wait till May 15. Karnataka Assembly Election dates Date of notification April 17 Last date to file nominations April 24 Last date to withdraw nominations April 27 Date of polling May 12 Date of counting May 15 Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 3 Vote(s) - 3.67 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 3 4 5 ... 11 Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back Too Late - Damage Done lop guest User ID: kaput 04-19-2018 06:23 PM Post: #1 Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back Advertisement Posted by EU Times on Apr 6th, 2018 The new government of Zimbabwe has offered white farmers inside and outside the country a 99-year lease on their properties confiscated during the 2000-2002 anti-white attacks in an effort to restart the agricultural sector, which it now admits has collapsed after the farms were turned over to blacks. ... Thousands of white farmers were forced off the land during the invasions, and several were murdered by the black mobs, motivated by an anti-white bloodlust. Agricultural production dropped dramatically and the nation once regarded as the bread basket of Africa struggled to feed itself, the New Zimbawe continued, adding that the farm invasions have continued over the last 18 years and [new president] Mnangagwa was part of the government which allowed the seizures to continue. Now farmers who lost everything are being asked to take the latest announcement in good faith, the report added. According to Zimbabwes Daily News, at most there are some 300 white farmers left in Zimbabwe, down from over 5,000 before the anti-white attacks. Honestly thanks for the offer but NO THANKS! After thousands of white farmers slaughtered in Zimbabwe throughout the years, you would be a dumb-ass mule to return to this shithole. Why would a white farmer go and work the land of Zimbabwe? To feed the blacks? Let them feed themselves, after all arent we all equal and sheeet? The blacks are now like We didndu nuffin man, come back man and feed us man, we Nickelback Fan nuffin man, Mugabe did, itz his fault man! Mnangagwa aint got no fault man! http://www.eutimes.net/2018/04/zimbabwe-...-disaster/ The purge of the white farmers of Rhodesia took place during the 70s. This was the result, hungry blacks:Posted by EU Times on Apr 6th, 2018The new government of Zimbabwe has offered white farmers inside and outside the country a 99-year lease on their properties confiscated during the 2000-2002 anti-white attacks in an effort to restart the agricultural sector, which it now admits has collapsed after the farms were turned over to blacks....Thousands of white farmers were forced off the land during the invasions, and several were murdered by the black mobs, motivated by an anti-white bloodlust.Agricultural production dropped dramatically and the nation once regarded as the bread basket of Africa struggled to feed itself, the New Zimbawe continued, adding that the farm invasions have continued over the last 18 years and [new president] Mnangagwa was part of the government which allowed the seizures to continue.Now farmers who lost everything are being asked to take the latest announcement in good faith, the report added.According to Zimbabwes Daily News, at most there are some 300 white farmers left in Zimbabwe, down from over 5,000 before the anti-white attacks.Honestly thanks for the offer but NO THANKS! After thousands of white farmers slaughtered in Zimbabwe throughout the years, you would be a dumb-ass mule to return to this shithole. Why would a white farmer go and work the land of Zimbabwe? To feed the blacks? Let them feed themselves, after all arent we all equal and sheeet? The blacks are now like We didndu nuffin man, come back man and feed us man, we Nickelback Fan nuffin man, Mugabe did, itz his fault man! Mnangagwa aint got no fault man! LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:38 PM Post: #2 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back If we paid African countries for the goods, natural resources, gold and other precious metals, with fair market prices. They perhaps could have build up developed cities with enough schools and universities so they could run their own countries and economy, then you couldn't be so arrogant while having the brain and senses of a peanut. But, we didn't, we took over their leaders and governments and made the laws in their countries, and our corporations got all the wealth and moved it abroad. And any resistance of them was met with bullets, death and locking up. But I understand you wanna ignore that, and act like we whites are smarter. While we actually are just better organized brutal criminals and thieves. Damrod lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:49 PM Post: #3 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back I'd pass on that. The next regime might let the mobs kill you and take the land back once you get it productive again. Famous old saying..."F*ck me once, shame on you. F*ck me twice, shame on me". You don't get a second chance to screw smart people over. Besides, we're all equal...Let them work it out for themselves. or not Damrod lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:51 PM Post: #4 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:38 PM) If we paid African countries for the goods, natural resources, gold and other precious metals, with fair market prices. They perhaps could have build up developed cities with enough schools and universities so they could run their own countries and economy, then you couldn't be so arrogant while having the brain and senses of a peanut. But, we didn't, we took over their leaders and governments and made the laws in their countries, and our corporations got all the wealth and moved it abroad. And any resistance of them was met with bullets, death and locking up. But I understand you wanna ignore that, and act like we whites are smarter. While we actually are just better organized brutal criminals and thieves. So how long have you been a nice person? So how long have you been a nice person? loNeNLI lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:53 PM Post: #5 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back Too Late - Damage Done Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:23 PM) The purge of the white farmers of Rhodesia took place during the 70s. This was the result, hungry blacks: Posted by EU Times on Apr 6th, 2018 The new government of Zimbabwe has offered white farmers inside and outside the country a 99-year lease on their properties confiscated during the 2000-2002 anti-white attacks in an effort to restart the agricultural sector, which it now admits has collapsed after the farms were turned over to blacks. ... Thousands of white farmers were forced off the land during the invasions, and several were murdered by the black mobs, motivated by an anti-white bloodlust. Agricultural production dropped dramatically and the nation once regarded as the bread basket of Africa struggled to feed itself, the New Zimbawe continued, adding that the farm invasions have continued over the last 18 years and [new president] Mnangagwa was part of the government which allowed the seizures to continue. Now farmers who lost everything are being asked to take the latest announcement in good faith, the report added. According to Zimbabwes Daily News, at most there are some 300 white farmers left in Zimbabwe, down from over 5,000 before the anti-white attacks. Honestly thanks for the offer but NO THANKS! After thousands of white farmers slaughtered in Zimbabwe throughout the years, you would be a dumb-ass mule to return to this shithole. Why would a white farmer go and work the land of Zimbabwe? To feed the blacks? Let them feed themselves, after all arent we all equal and sheeet? The blacks are now like We didndu nuffin man, come back man and feed us man, we Nickelback Fan nuffin man, Mugabe did, itz his fault man! Mnangagwa aint got no fault man! http://www.eutimes.net/2018/04/zimbabwe-...-disaster/ trump's wall around africa. only solution. trump's wall around africa.only solution. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:54 PM Post: #6 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back For them it is totally understandable they want to rid themselves of the history and results of being invaded, colonized and sold off. I wish them wisdom and peace and hope they not let themselves be hoodwinked by people who will exploit their anger for destructive and destabilizing reasons. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:28 PM Post: #7 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:54 PM) For them it is totally understandable they want to rid themselves of the history and results of being invaded, colonized and sold off. I wish them wisdom and peace and hope they not let themselves be hoodwinked by people who will exploit their anger for destructive and destabilizing reasons. Murdering white farmers with machetes wasn't the best solution to their problem. The blacks didn't know how to farm, so ate the seeds of their crops leaving nothing to sow for the following season, thus creating a food shortage that left their bellies growling. Let the present government hire professional farmers to teach the blacks how to farm. The whites aren't going to return. Can't say that I blame them. After nearly 50 years, the farm houses are probably run-down shacks, and the farming implements rusted out. It was Britain that colonized them, and it was Britain that returned that country, then prosperous Rhodesia, over to the blacks. Murdering white farmers with machetes wasn't the best solution to their problem. The blacks didn't know how to farm, so ate the seeds of their crops leaving nothing to sow for the following season, thus creating a food shortage that left their bellies growling.Let the present government hire professional farmers to teach the blacks how to farm. The whites aren't going to return. Can't say that I blame them. After nearly 50 years, the farm houses are probably run-down shacks, and the farming implements rusted out.It was Britain that colonized them, and it was Britain that returned that country, then prosperous Rhodesia, over to the blacks. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:30 PM Post: #8 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back Fukem. Let them go back to their mud huts and cannibalism. They earned it. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:38 PM Post: #9 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back China will send farmers. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:45 PM Post: #10 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 07:38 PM) China will send farmers. They will also bring their own work force. They will also bring their own work force. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:53 PM Post: #11 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back Now THAT's FUNNY!!! daersoulkeeper Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:58 PM Posts: 2,962 Post: #12 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back 99 year lease lol what a bunch of assholes. Stay starving, eat a nothing and die LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:59 PM Post: #13 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 07:45 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 07:38 PM) China will send farmers. They will also bring their own work force. Yes, because many of the locals don't want to work.. they'll have no choice. China is moving on Africa and doing it fast. Food security and new markets for Chinese goods, etc.. Yes, because many of the locals don't want to work.. they'll have no choice. China is moving on Africa and doing it fast. Food security and new markets for Chinese goods, etc.. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 08:12 PM Post: #14 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 08:16 PM Post: #15 RE: Zimbabwe Wants Their White Farmers Back LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:38 PM) If we paid African countries for the goods, natural resources, gold and other precious metals, with fair market prices. They perhaps could have build up developed cities with enough schools and universities so they could run their own countries and economy, then you couldn't be so arrogant while having the brain and senses of a peanut. But, we didn't, we took over their leaders and governments and made the laws in their countries, and our corporations got all the wealth and moved it abroad. And any resistance of them was met with bullets, death and locking up. But I understand you wanna ignore that, and act like we whites are smarter. While we actually are just better organized brutal criminals and thieves. Strip any population of it's natural leaders, then only educate them enough to serve you and see how well they do when left to try to run an entire system, having had no experience of doing so for generations. A system that is alien to their own culture. The States has been dumbing down their own population for only a few decades, most now can hardly tie their own shoe laces and submit to government approved sexual assault without resistance, while justifying the state,s right to murder them for the least transgresstion. Do you really think that's any different? Strip any population of it's natural leaders, then only educate them enough to serve you and see how well they do when left to try to run an entire system, having had no experience of doing so for generations. A system that is alien to their own culture.The States has been dumbing down their own population for only a few decades, most now can hardly tie their own shoe laces and submit to government approved sexual assault without resistance, while justifying the state,s right to murder them for the least transgresstion. Do you really think that's any different? Advertisement Bhima Koregaon violence: Accused Milind Ekbote gets bail India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Milind Ekbote, a prime accused in Bhima Koregaon violence, has been granted bail on a bond of Rs. 25,000 on Thursday by Pune Sessions court in Maharashtra. District government pleader submitted additional sessions judge S M Menjoge that there was enough evidence against Ekbote and that he indulged in activities prejudicial to social peace and harmony against the government. The prosecution opposed the bail plea of Milind Ekbote. Earlier, the Bombay High Court had rejected anticipatory Ekbote's bail application in February. He had approached the High Court for anticipatory bail after Pune Sessions court had rejected his plea in March. The police had filed 58 cases against 162 people during a statewide shutdown in January following clashes in Bhima-Koregaon. Ekbote, who heads a trust called the Samast Hindu Aghadi, had been booked by the Pune Police in three separate FIRs for inciting violence under the Indian Penal Code, and sections of the Scheduled Castes and the Scheduled Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. he was arrested for his at Shivajinagar in Pune. Dalit leaders and workers at the village alleged that Hindutva activists Milind Ekbote and Sambhaji Bhide had instigated the violence. Key contests to watch out for in seventh and final phase of LS polls 2019 Ravi Kishan vows to develop Gorakhpur as one of the best cities in north India BRD Hospital tragedy: Accused Dr Kafeel Khan admitted to hospital India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Dr Kafeel Khan, who is an accused in the BRD Hospital infants death case in Gorakhpur, has been brought to the district hospital for treatment on Thursday. His wife had earlier said that Khan was not receiving adequate treatment in jail. Khan is in jail for the last seven months. Kafeel Khan reiterated, "I am being framed by the administration. A doctor is being falsely accused." Khan was admitted to the hospital after his wife told media that her husband's health was deteriorating in jail. She said, "Doctors have said that the case must be referred to Lucknow, but it the jail administration is not executing the orders. I fear for my husband's life.' Police have charged Khan, a former doctor at Gorakhpur's Baba Raghubar Das Medical College Hospital, with an attempt to murder over the death of 30 children in August but dropped the corruption charges for lack of evidence. In December last year, Khan's mother, Nuzhat Parveen had met Uttar Pradesh CM Yogi Adityanath during a Janta Darbar held in Gorakhpur and demanded justice for her son. Nuzhat Parveen told Yogi Adityanath that her family was going through a difficult time and that the CM must help them. Amit Shah credits Modi for UN move on Azhar, Cong 'disappointed' at no mention of Pulwama Rahul Gandhi has not said a word': Surjewala on 'collusion with BJP' remark Congress says verdict in judge Loya's death is 'sad day in the history of India' India oi-Madhuri Senior leader and media incharge of the Congress Randeep Singh Surjewala on Thursday said that the judgment into the death of special CBI judge BH Loya has left many questions unanswered. Earlier in the day, the Supreme Court ruled that judge Loya's death was due to a natural cause, and went on to dismiss petitions seeking a probe. However, Surjewala contended that the death was not a natural one. Surjewala said,''It's a sad day in the history of India. The issue of criminality or the lack thereof can only be decided through investigation. Judge Loya's death case was raised by 4 senior most judges of SC in a press conference. Congress is committed to peoples demand to a fair investigation in the case.'' ''The issue of criminality can be determined through investigation. Without investigation one cannot decide whether the death was natural or unnatural,'' Surjewala further said. Loya, who allegedly died of cardiac arrest on 1 December, 2014, had reportedly shared a hotel room with two judges when he was attending the wedding of a colleague's daughter in Nagpur. He also said that two of Loya's colleagues, who were informed about the pressure he was facing in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh 'fake encounter' case, also died under suspicious circumstances. Meanwhile, Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said,''This was a case in the interest of Congress, not in the interest of the nation. This was not a case activated by public interest but driven to promote Cong interest. This was an attack on the judiciary.'' ''Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as political battle against our party President Amit Shah. I urge Rahul Gandhi not to fight political battles through corridors of Court,'' Union Minister RS Prasad said. ''An attempt to malign senior leaders of the party has failed, its clear that the judiciary cannot be made a field for political battles,'' Home Minister Rajnath Singh also said on Judge Loya's verdict. Cop shoots self with service revolver in Delhi India oi-Vikas By Vikas An Assistant Sub Inspector (ASI) of the Delhi Police shot himself with his service revolver in the national capital today (April 19). The exact reason as to why he resorted to taking this extreme step in not known yet. A probe has been launched into the matter. Earlier this week, the body of a constable was found in the police quarters at the Sadar police station, Ludhiana (Punjab). He seemed to have shot himself in the chest from his official AK-47 weapon. On March 19, a 54-year-old assistant sub-inspector, posted in a police control room unit, shot himself in the head inside the van in Civil Lines, Delhi. It was later reported that he was suffering from depression. In January, a former soldier, Sanjeev Kumar, a resident of Rasulpur village, Hoshiarpur, allegedly committed suicide by shooting himself with his private licenced revolver. He was recruited by the Punjab Police. No probe into judge Loyas death: 'Dont settle political scores in court', says SC India oi-Vicky Nanjappa The Supreme Court has rejected a petition that sought for a SIT probe into the death of the judge, B H Loya. The court while rejecting the petition that sought for a probe by the Special Investigation Team said that there was an attempt by the petitioners to malign the judiciary. The case had seen highly charged arguments with allegations and counter allegations being made. The highest decibel argument was however advanced by counsel Dushyant Dave who had argued in favour of a SIT probe while calling the death of the judge suspicious in nature. The order was passed by a Bench headed by the Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra which said that there was already a probe conducted and the death was due to natural causes. In this context a separate probe will not be necessary the court also said. Who is Justice Loya? All you need to know about this case The court said that the PIL had no truth in it and was an attempt to malign the judiciary. The court said that the judge had died a natural death and there was not a shred of doubt about it. The court which almost ordered contempt against the petitioners however observed that the judicial process should not be governed by fear of contempt. The judicial process is based on the moral authority of courts. The court said that petitioners' advocates Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and Prashant Bhushan launched a frontal attack on the judiciary by telling SC to disbelieve three judicial officers who accompanied Loya to Nagpur, stayed with him at a guest house and said Loya died of a heart attack. The court also said that during the arguments the counsel for to maintain institutional civility towards the judges of the SC and made wild allegations. It would have been ideal to initiate contempt proceedings against the petitioners in such a case where a political rivalry is brought to the court to malign the judiciary. PILs were meant to provide succour to the downtrodden and voiceless, but now have become an industry to settle business and political rivalry, the court also observed. The court also said that the allegations against judges were a "vituperative assault on the judiciary." SC junks plea to probe judge Loya's death: The 14 top observations The court also observed that these days an avalanche of PILs are being filed to settle business and political scores and the judiciary is unnecessarily made to spend precious time looking into such PILs which leads to delay in giving justice in other cases. The court further said that the PIL was a misuse of both judicial process and time. There is absolutely no merit in the allegations that Loya's death was suspicious. The statements of the judicial officers who accompany him are clear and satisfactory. The background: The Maharashtra government had argued in the court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged. Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them. Did you know, 41.34 per cent voters say cash, liquor, gifts are important factors for polling? Govt, RBI admit cash crunch: Know reasons behind drying up of ATMs from a data cruncher India oi-Oneindia Staff By Oneindia Staff New Delhi, April 19: On Tuesday, media reports stated that the country has been hit hard by an "unusual" cash crunch as ATMs failed to dispense money in various cities and towns. The cash crunch continued on Wednesday too despite the government's assurances that the situation is "improving". However, there is little clarity about the reasons behind ATMs drying up leading to various speculations. On Tuesday, Union finance minister Arun Jaitley said there was "more than adequate" currency in circulation and the temporary shortage in certain states was being "tackled quickly". "Overall, there is more than the adequate currency in circulation and also available with banks. The temporary shortage caused by the 'sudden and unusual increase' (in demand) in some areas is being tackled quickly," he assured. The finance minister's assurance did not help much as fear of living without cash in the coming days badly haunted people. In the entire situation, the most troubling part for everyone was that the government did not give any specific reason for the sudden drying up of ATMs. On Wednesday, a Twitter thread by data cruncher from Kerala, James Wilson, highlighted various reasons behind the cash crunch. "As Government and RBI now endorsed that there is a #CashCrunch, many theories are floating in the air about the reasons for the same. @scroll_in published 15 theories about why we are facing a cash crunch now. So let me float my own theory and examine some of the theories too!" tweeted Wilson. As Government and RBI now endorsed that there is a #CashCrunch, many theories are floating in the air about the reasons for the same. @scroll_in published 15 theories about why we are facing a cash crunch now. So let me float my own theory and examine some of the theories too! James Wilson (@jamewils) April 18, 2018 "One of the theories is that there is an unprecedented spur in withdrawal of the money from the banks. Also people refuse to deposit money in the banks. Many factors are attributed for this theory; starting from the scary FDRI bill to Chota Modi Scams to Minimum balance looting," Wilson wrote. One of the theory is that there is an unprecedented spur in withdrawal of the money from the banks. Also people refuse to deposit money in the banks. Many factors are attributed for this theory; starting from the scary FDRI bill to Chota Modi Scams to Minimum balance looting.. James Wilson (@jamewils) April 18, 2018 Then he examined whether there was an unprecedented withdrawal from the banks in the last couple of months. However, Wilson did not find any such rise in withdrawal based on the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) data. First examine, whether there is an unprecedented withdrawal from the banks for the last couple of months? Let's see RBI data on withdrawal of currency through ATMs,, we have published data up to Feb 2018. Do you see any spur here? I am not seeing anything abnormal here! pic.twitter.com/qXIn2tehb1 James Wilson (@jamewils) April 18, 2018 Wilson in his tweet also examined currency in circulation versus nominal GDP data--the most important factor, which governs how much currency is needed in the system. Now look at the Currency in Circulation Vs Nominal GDP data, which is one of the most important factor, which governs how much currency is needed in the system. This is available in page 219, Annual Report 2016-17. We can see that except 2016-17, average CIC-GDP ratio is 11.9% pic.twitter.com/7BZ1hbVJxs James Wilson (@jamewils) April 18, 2018 He also shared a conspiracy theory behind the cash crunch. And I have a conspiracy theory too share with you. Why the Government now ready to print currency after being obdurate for quite long time. RBI Annual Report for 2017-18, which will come in next September show only 10.8% CIC-GDP ratio. James Wilson (@jamewils) April 18, 2018 To understand the reasons behind cash crunch, go through the entire Twitter thread well. It is not only full of facts and figures but is written in a simple and lucid manner for a layman. Humbled to see nation united for Kathua rape victim's justice: Mehbooba India pti-PTI Jammu, Apr 19: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti has praised the people of Jammu for upholding harmony and amity despite provocations and for standing up to demand justice for the eight-year-old girl brutally raped and killed in Kathua district. Speaking at a civic reception hosted for President Ram Nath Kovind last night, Mufti said the people of Jammu have always stood up for tolerant values and brotherhood for the past 30 years, and defeated the "nefarious" designs of miscreants. President Kovind is on his maiden two-day visit to Jammu. Yesterday, he addressed the 6th convocation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, when he condemned the rape and killing of the girl in Kathua as "heinous" and "shameful". The case has triggered nationwide outrage because of its brutality. People have protested on streets across India, including in Jammu, demanding justice for the girl from a nomadic community. The girl had disappeared from a place near her house in Kathua on January 10. A week later, her body was found in the woods in the same area. She was allegedly held captive in a village temple for a week, during which she was sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death. Referring to the disturbing case, Mufti said she was humbled to see every section of society, including students, women and children, standing up to demand justice for the girl. "They stood up for justice, irrespective of religious affiliations, for the girl whom they said was their own daughter. I salute them for this and for defeating the nefarious designs of vested elements," the chief minister said. "Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident shameful and sought punishment to the guilty," she said. She said her government is duty-bound to provide justice. Mufti also praised the people of Jammu for accepting and sharing their resources and other facilities with the people leaving Kashmir, referring to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley during the peak of militancy. "It's a rare example of amity which hardly finds any parallels in contemporary world," she added. Mufti thanked President Kovind for visiting the state. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh expressed gratitude to the president for accepting the state's invitation. He said people will benefit and learn from interacting with him. PTI Ola pilot project: Now, you can rent a cycle in IIT Kanpur campus via its app IIT-Kanpur dalit student commits suicide at hostel room, friends say he was in 'stress' India oi-Madhuri A third-year PhD student of Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself from the fan in his hostel room on Wednesday. The incident came to light after the students who noticed his room had been locked for so long time and when they knocked there was no response. Students later informed the authorities and broke the doors and found Singh's body hanging from the fan. The deceased has been identified as Bhim Singh, who was studying in the third year of PhD programme in the mechanical engineering department. However, a note has been found which is in the possession of the forensic team found and the reason behind the suicide is not known yet. Singh's friends told police that he was under severe stress, the SSP said, and added that the reason behind the extreme step is yet to be ascertained as the victim had left no suicide note behind." Singh has completed his B.Tech from NIT in Warangal and had joined the mechanical engineering department of IIT-Kanpur in 2015. Username: Password: or Register Thread Rating: 1 Vote(s) - 1 Average 1 2 3 4 5 Page: 1 2 The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America LoP Guest lop guest User ID: kaput 04-19-2018 06:42 PM Post: #1 The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Advertisement The big white elephant in the room.... Yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of the state of Israel. No nation has posed as much danger to the survival of the United States as Israel. I love history. Lessons learned by past generations can help us to navigate through today's tangled maze - if we are willing to pay attention to history's lessons. History repeats itself, so we benefit from studying previous events to avoid making the same mistakes again. The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over AmericaThe big white elephant in the room....Yesterday marked the 70th anniversary of the state of Israel. No nation has posed as much danger to the survival of the United States as Israel.I love history. Lessons learned by past generations can help us to navigate through today's tangled maze - if we are willing to pay attention to history's lessons. History repeats itself, so we benefit from studying previous events to avoid making the same mistakes again. LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:44 PM Post: #2 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Count down until this thread is locked and deleted. 5... 4... 3.. 2.. 1 LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:49 PM Post: #3 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America The big white elephant in the room is actually that you cannot blame jews for the wars the US starts. The US wants to be the biggest and beat Russia, or China, or any other nation with global ambitions. Gottfried Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:52 PM Posts: 920 Post: #4 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:49 PM) The big white elephant in the room is actually that you cannot blame jews for the wars the US starts. The US wants to be the biggest and beat Russia, or China, or any other nation with global ambitions. how old are you? how old are you? Luvapottamus Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:52 PM Posts: 32,054 Post: #5 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Before WWII the US eastern establishment was pro-hitler. Afterwards it was natural for zionists to fear and distrust United States elites. So they co-opted our government(to the best of their ability) out of self-preservation motives. I am opposed to zionist influence on our government, and the Isreali espionage activities in this country. But I support their right to survival, self government, and I don't hate them for TRYING. I UNDERSTAND. I don't trust them either(our politicians). The root of the problem is the trustworthiness of US politicians generally.Before WWII the US eastern establishment was pro-hitler.Afterwards it was natural for zionists to fear and distrust United States elites.So they co-opted our government(to the best of their ability) out of self-preservation motives.I am opposed to zionist influence on our government, and the Isreali espionage activities in this country.But I support their right to survival, self government, and I don't hate them for TRYING.I UNDERSTAND.I don't trust them either(our politicians). Nothing I write is unlicensed medical or legal advice. Do your own research, and challenge me if something I write seems wrong. That makes the discussion better. Seek licensed professionals for professional advice. Be choosy. Vet them too. Ask them questions when they seem full of sh*t. (This post was last modified: 04-19-2018 06:53 PM by Luvapottamus .) LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:55 PM Post: #6 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Habbada Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:52 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:49 PM) The big white elephant in the room is actually that you cannot blame jews for the wars the US starts. The US wants to be the biggest and beat Russia, or China, or any other nation with global ambitions. how old are you? Old enough to know that Americans who blame jews never blame Americans. And that has never resulted in fixing things. Old enough to know that Americans who blame jews never blame Americans.And that has never resulted in fixing things. Gottfried Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:56 PM Posts: 920 Post: #7 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Habbada Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:52 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:49 PM) The big white elephant in the room is actually that you cannot blame jews for the wars the US starts. The US wants to be the biggest and beat Russia, or China, or any other nation with global ambitions. how old are you? you sound exactly US Senator, Tammy Duckworth you sound exactly US Senator, Tammy Duckworth Tommy Pastrami Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 06:57 PM Posts: 3,346 Post: #8 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:55 PM) Habbada Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:52 PM) how old are you? Old enough to know that Americans who blame jews never blame Americans. And that has never resulted in fixing things. Great, let's blame Americans for being controlled by Israel instead. Now we're getting somewhere. Now tell me who I have to vote for. Great, let's blame Americans for being controlled by Israel instead. Now we're getting somewhere. Now tell me who I have to vote for. "The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. He who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false." ~Thomas Jefferson (This post was last modified: 04-19-2018 06:57 PM by Tommy Pastrami .) Flic Vange Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:02 PM Posts: 1,777 Post: #9 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Voltaire: I detest your views but I would give my life to protect your rights to express them. https://globalcrypto.exchange/i/R0NYMTYxMDUyMDY0OQ== Bitcoin-bc1qq9r87uasrxv59hz92zy9t47r96aezdfuqnujfx Bitcoin-bc1qq9r87uasrxv59hz92zy9t47r96aezdfuqnujfx LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:02 PM Post: #10 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Tommy Pastrami Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:57 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:55 PM) Old enough to know that Americans who blame jews never blame Americans. And that has never resulted in fixing things. Great, let's blame Americans for being controlled by Israel instead. Now we're getting somewhere. Now tell me who I have to vote for. We whites have a long recent history of wanna build empires and take over other peoples lands. Did Europe colonize the globe cos Jews advised them to do it? In your theory we whites really are very dumb and we constantly throughout history let others tell us what to do. At least if what we do is brutal and warring. If we did something cool and good, you ofcourse do not involve jews. There is a huge lobby in the US. But we whites ourselves really have the mindset of conquest and thinking we know it better, ourselves just as well. We have our own little superiority issues just as well. We can look down on others as well as jews can. We whites have a long recent history of wanna build empires and take over other peoples lands.Did Europe colonize the globe cos Jews advised them to do it?In your theory we whites really are very dumb and we constantly throughout history let others tell us what to do. At least if what we do is brutal and warring.If we did something cool and good, you ofcourse do not involve jews.There is a huge lobby in the US. But we whites ourselves really have the mindset of conquest and thinking we know it better, ourselves just as well. We have our own little superiority issues just as well. We can look down on others as well as jews can. Luvapottamus Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:04 PM Posts: 32,054 Post: #11 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America They're the ones who carved up the middle east and other places as their colonial rule waned. And drew borders that incite conflict. TWO Pakistans! That's gonna work out well.... Don't forget the French and the British.They're the ones who carved up the middle east and other places as their colonial rule waned.And drew borders that incite conflict.TWO Pakistans!That's gonna work out well.... Nothing I write is unlicensed medical or legal advice. Do your own research, and challenge me if something I write seems wrong. That makes the discussion better. Seek licensed professionals for professional advice. Be choosy. Vet them too. Ask them questions when they seem full of sh*t. (This post was last modified: 04-19-2018 07:04 PM by Luvapottamus .) Luvapottamus Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:06 PM Posts: 32,054 Post: #12 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Why border lines drawn with a ruler in WW1 still rock the Middle East http://www.bbc.com/news/world-middle-east-25299553 Divide and incite perpetual conflict...then make USA conquor. Divide and incite perpetual conflict...then make USA conquor. Nothing I write is unlicensed medical or legal advice. Do your own research, and challenge me if something I write seems wrong. That makes the discussion better. Seek licensed professionals for professional advice. Be choosy. Vet them too. Ask them questions when they seem full of sh*t. Luvapottamus Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:07 PM Posts: 32,054 Post: #13 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/Balfour_Declaration So despise Isrealis all you want, the Brits are who partitioned it. On that train of thought, who was it who partitioned Palestine?So despise Isrealis all you want, the Brits are who partitioned it. Nothing I write is unlicensed medical or legal advice. Do your own research, and challenge me if something I write seems wrong. That makes the discussion better. Seek licensed professionals for professional advice. Be choosy. Vet them too. Ask them questions when they seem full of sh*t. Tommy Pastrami Registered User User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:09 PM Posts: 3,346 Post: #14 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 07:02 PM) Tommy Pastrami Wrote: (04-19-2018 06:57 PM) Great, let's blame Americans for being controlled by Israel instead. Now we're getting somewhere. Now tell me who I have to vote for. We whites have a long recent history of wanna build empires and take over other peoples lands. Did Europe colonize the globe cos Jews advised them to do it? In your theory we whites really are very dumb and we constantly throughout history let others tell us what to do. At least if what we do is brutal and warring. If we did something cool and good, you ofcourse do not involve jews. There is a huge lobby in the US. But we whites ourselves really have the mindset of conquest and thinking we know it better, ourselves just as well. We have our own little superiority issues just as well. We can look down on others as well as jews can. I don't blame jews. I blame the power structure in Israel. Politicians who don't support Israel are not politicians for long. Find me one. I don't blame jews. I blame the power structure in Israel.Politicians who don't support Israel are not politicians for long. Find me one. "The man who never looks into a newspaper is better informed than he who reads them, inasmuch as he who knows nothing is nearer to truth than he whose mind is filled with falsehoods and errors. He who reads nothing will still learn the great facts, and the details are all false." ~Thomas Jefferson LoP Guest lop guest User ID: 1337 04-19-2018 07:14 PM Post: #15 RE: The Dire Threat of Israeli Zionist Control Over America Tommy Pastrami Wrote: (04-19-2018 07:09 PM) LoP Guest Wrote: (04-19-2018 07:02 PM) We whites have a long recent history of wanna build empires and take over other peoples lands. Did Europe colonize the globe cos Jews advised them to do it? In your theory we whites really are very dumb and we constantly throughout history let others tell us what to do. At least if what we do is brutal and warring. If we did something cool and good, you ofcourse do not involve jews. There is a huge lobby in the US. But we whites ourselves really have the mindset of conquest and thinking we know it better, ourselves just as well. We have our own little superiority issues just as well. We can look down on others as well as jews can. I don't blame jews. I blame the power structure in Israel. Politicians who don't support Israel are not politicians for long. Find me one. Maybe that is cos we actually created Israel and not jews themselves, since we found out oil was useful and would be a necessary resource for our civilisations. And Israel is our forward base in the oil rich area of the world. Maybe that is cos we actually created Israel and not jews themselves, since we found out oil was useful and would be a necessary resource for our civilisations. And Israel is our forward base in the oil rich area of the world. Advertisement Karnataka elections: Welcome to ISRO Colony slum, Bengalurus black spot, where everything is wrong India oi-Maitreyee Bengaluru, April 19: If you are under the impression that real Bengaluru thrives in malls and pubs, then look beyond. Do try to visit ISRO Colony slum, right in the heart of India's IT hub, in Cambridge Layout. A 30-minute walk through the narrow, smelly lanes of the slum is enough to tell that the authorities are far more discriminatory towards the poor and marginalised than the well-heeled residents could ever imagine. In the name of human habitation, the slum is nothing more than a ghetto, which would put David Boyle's Oscar-winning celluloid version of Mumbai's poverty, Slumdog Millionaire, to shame. Rickety, blank-eyed elderly sitting outside their homes, pot-bellied children running helter-skelter and women sweeping their bedrooms which are only decorated with a few damaged aluminium utensils are the most haunting images one could carry back with them after witnessing the inhuman living conditions of the slum dwellers. The slum welcomes its visitors with a blue-painted board which says "ISRO Colony" in bold letters. For a second one might be tricked to think that the settlement of the poor has some connection with the country's prestigious space agency, the Indian Space Research Organisation, which is also abbreviated as ISRO. On the contrary, instead of stars and moon, India is hoping to colonise in the future with the help of the ISRO, Bengaluru's own ISRO Colony is infected with flies and mosquitos. Thanks to the huge drain that flows right at the entrance of the colony, along with a constant nauseating smell hovering in the air, mosquitoes and flies have ensured that dengue and diarrhoea remain constant companions among the inmates. The slum, with a population of around 4,000 people residing in tin-roofed one-room houses, is a part of the high-profile Shantinagar Assembly constituency which also houses some of the most expensive commercial and residential buildings in the city. Out of the 224 Assembly constituencies in Karnataka, Bengaluru has a total of 28 of them. The voting for the Karnataka Assembly elections will take place on May 12. The counting of votes will take place on May 15. The crumbling cemented houses--around 450 of them--in ISRO Colony have only six public toilets to be shared by hundreds of inmates. The women of the slum told OneIndia that the biggest problem that they face every day is because of dirty and overflowing toilets last cleaned more than a year ago. "We all use six toilets. They are very dirty. Women here have all developed infections," Leena, a middle-aged woman who works as a housekeeper told, matter of factly. Her neighbour, Chandra, who runs a small shop in the slum, said that they don't get regular water supply. "Look at my village (ISRO Colony). Can anyone stay here? But we are poor and we have to stay here no matter what," Chandra lamented while selling a packet of chips to a boy. Mostly inhabited by Tamil and Telugu-speaking people, who are all Dalits, residents of the slum said that politicians come to them only during the elections. At least 15 people told OneIndia that money and liquor are offered to them for votes. When asked do they take money, all candidly confessed that they do from all parties. Abdul Aziz, a scrap dealer who has been staying in the slum for the last 40 years with his wife, said that he has asked people in his locality not to take money from politicians. "Nobody listens to me, perhaps I am too old," said 60-year-old Aziz standing at the entrance of his house. Aziz and one more family are the only two households belonging to the Muslim community in the slum. Being a "minority", Aziz said he never faced any problem. "We all stay here like one big family. We have no problems with caste, language or religion. We need water, clean toilets and proper houses," said 24-year-old Supriya, who works as a domestic help. Supriya lamented that most of the grown-up men in the slum are addicted to alcohol or ganja. "They don't work. Only the women here work and earn money," Supriya flashed a smile which does not conceal the problems faced by the women population in the locality. It is the because of women like Supriya in the slum that children are going to schools. "I work and two of my small children are going to school. My husband is an alcoholic too. All I hope is that they get good education and jobs and leave this place," said Kajol, another woman in the slum who works as a domestic help. Abdul Khadar, an activist who runs an NGO JK Women's Welfare Trust, said that some slums, like AK Colony just two kilometres away from ISRO Colony, are in better conditions. "ISRO Colony slum is one of the worst in Bengaluru," said Khadar. According to the Karnataka Slum Development Board, the city has at least 600 slums. More than 1.4 million people live in Bengaluru slums. "They are definitely a huge vote bank for political parties, but it is poverty that rules the slum dwellers," said Khadar, summing up about life and living in a Bengaluru slum. Kerala: Three policemen arrested in connection with 'custodial death' of Sreejith India oi-Madhuri Three policemen were arrested by Special Investigation Team (SIT) over custodial torture and death of Sreejith in Varapuzha. The arrest comes 8 days after Sreejith succumbed to custodial injuries. Jithin Raj, Santosh Kumar and Sumesh, who took the youth, Sreejith, into custody from his house at Devaswompadam in Varapuzha on the night of April 6, were charged with murder after the investigation officers found them to have assaulted the youth while taking him into custody on the basis of a "false information". Sreejith, 26, a resident of Devaswompadam, Varapuzha, was picked up from his residence around 11 pm on Friday by three plainclothes policemen. Around 4 am on Sunday, he was brought to the emergency department of Aster Medcity on referral from Ernakulam Medical College in a critical condition. On arrival, he complained of abdominal pain, vomiting and inability to pass urine. Varapuzha police had registered a case against 14 persons and arrested 10 in connection with the death of a 55-year-old man, who was found hanging in his house after a gang attacked his house on April 6. The family of Sreejith have been demanding a probe by an independent investigative agency like the CBI as they stated that they had no faith in the Kerala Police. Hyderabad rape case: The rapist will be caught and killed in encounter, Telangana minister NIA special court judge Ravinder Reddy's resignation rejected? India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar The resignation of NIA special court judge Ravinder Reddy, who delivered the verdict in Mecca Masjid blast case, has been rejected by High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. According to news agency ANI, Judge Ravinder Reddy has been asked to attend to his duties immediately. Judge Ravinder Reddy resigned from his position citing personal reasons. Reddy went on leave after resigning from his post hours after pronouncing the judgment. All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen president Asaduddin Owaisi was termed the judge's resignation 'intriguing'. The special anti-terror court on Monday acquitted Hindutva preacher Swami Aseemanand and four others in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove "even a single allegation" against them. An inquiry by the Registrar (Vigilance) of the High Court of Judicature at Hyderabad, against Judge Ravinder Reddy, is underway based on a complaint filed by a litigant who wanted "a thorough inquiry to be conducted to know the corrupt practices" of the judge. Opposition parties likely to meet today to discuss current political situation India pti-PTI Opposition parties are likely to meet on Friday in Parliament to discuss the current political situation. The leaders of opposition parties will meet in Leader of Opposition Ghulam Nabi Azad's chamber in Parliament and are likely to discuss the issue of the Supreme Court verdict rejecting multiple pleas for an independent probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya, sources said. The issue of moving an impeachment motion against Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra is also likely to be discussed tomorrow, in the wake of the Loya case judgement. The Opposition has been working on bringing various parties on board for a larger consensus on bringing the impeachment motion against the CJI. While the Left parties, the NCP and the Congress are on board for moving the impeachment motion, some parties that have already signed the petition have backed out. During the meeting convened by Azad, the sources say, the opposition parties will also discuss the idea of having a broader consensus on how to defeat the BJP in the upcoming assembly and Lok Sabha elections. PTI Over 80 percent of the ATMs in the country have cash: Finance Ministry India oi-Chennabasaveshwar By Chennabasaveshwar Minister of State (MoS) for Finance Shiv Pratap Shukla on Thursday refuted the reports of cash crunch, saying more than 80 percent of the ATMs in the country have cash. News agency ANI quoting Finance Ministry sources reported that close to 86 per cent ATMs are functional and dispensing cash. Over 90 per cent of ATMs are dispensing cash in Punjab, Haryana, J&K, Maharashtra, North East, Odisha, Tamil Nadu. Govt is planning to supply additional Rs 1000 Crore to Bihar. Sixty-six per cent of ATMs are functional in Bihar. 77 per cent ATMs are dispensing cash in Telengana, 70 per cent ATMs are dispensing cash in Andhra Pradesh. Rs 51,000 Crore of cash supply to Hyderabad is the highest among all RBI offices during Apr 2017-Feb 2018, Finance Ministry Sources told ANI. SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said, ""It is not a uniform cash crunch problem. It is there in geographies like Telangana and Bihar. We are hoping that the problem will be resolved by tomorrow because cash is in transition and it is reaching these states by today evening." For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 19, 2018, 18:11 [IST] Would have preferred OPS as CM had he not stepped down: Sasikala in new viral audio tape Pannerselvam-led delegation meets Finance Commission, submits memorandum India oi-Vikas By Vikas A 40-member delegation led by Tamil Nadu Deputy CM and Finance Minister O Pannerselvam met 15th Finance Commission on Thursday. The delegation submitted a memorandum to the Commission and put forward their view points regarding the Terms of Reference (TOR) of the Commission. NK Singh, the Chairman of 15th Finance Commission, assured the delegation that the fiscal needs of each state will be individually assessed and their special characteristics will be kept in view. Commission's visit to Tamil Nadu was finalized for end of September, said reports. On April 10, a crucial meeting of the ministers of the southern states was held in Kerala's capital Thiruvananthapuram to discuss the concerns and views on the Terms of Reference (ToR) of the 15th Finance Commission. The meeting was organised by Kerala Finance Minister Thomas Isaac in Thiruvananthapuram after the southern states opposed the latest terms of reference (ToR), which they claim will cut their share in revenues while benefiting the Centre with a bigger slice of the pie. Kerala finance minister T.M. Thomas Isaac said the changes in the ToR of the 15th Finance Commission, that would adversely affect the southern states, has not become a debate in the country. The ToR has recommended using the 2011 census to calculate population for allocation of union tax revenue in place of 1971 census, which was used by previous finance commissions. This would adversely affect the southern states, he said. There was uncertainty over the incentives to be given to states, he said. There were several issues that have to be discussed at the national level. The meeting would be the first step towards that, he said. Union Finance Minister Arun Jaitley on April 10 said 'FCs use appropriate criteria to assess true needs of the states'. "FCs use appropriate criteria to assess true needs of States. Population proxies very well for the needs of the people in a quantitative sense. Another criterion, the Income Distance, which captures very well relative poverty of people in the States, is used to assess qualitative needs. These two parameters allocate more resources to the populous and poorer States, which need additional funds for providing education, health and other services to the people, which own resources of these poorer States may otherwise not allow," Jaitley had written in a Facebook post to address the concerns raised by the Southern states. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 19, 2018, 18:01 [IST] The battle of the brothers in Soraba: Which Bangarappa will the voter choose? India oi-Vicky Nanjappa Over the years the Soraba constituency in Shivamogga has always provided for an interesting fight. Once the stronghold of former Karnataka chief minister, S Bangarappa, the battle then on has been fought between his two sons, Madhu and Kumar and also their relative Hartalu Halappa. This time the fight is between Madhu Bangarappa and Kumar Bangarappa. However, Halappa is not in the fray from Soraba this time and it would make an interesting fight between the two sons of the late former chief minister. Back in 2008, it was Halappa who had the last laugh and defeated both the brothers. In 2013. Madhu contesting on a JD(S) ticket beat Halappa who had then joined the KJP. Kumar Bangarappa who contested on a Congress ticket ended up third. However this is not the first time that the brothers are in a face-off. In 2004 Kumar was with the Congress and beat his brother who contested on a BJP ticket by 12,000 votes. On the ground the mood appears to be favouring Madhu. He has put in a lot of work and the fact that the panchayats are controlled by the JD(S) has only added to his strength. He has opened the doors for us not just ahead of the elections, but for all five years since 2013, say the voters of this constituency. There is a big change in him and he is following in father's footsteps they also say. Madhu has embarked on a door to door campaign and this seems to be missing in the case of his brother Kumar. The brothers are opponents on the battle field, but since the 2008 elections they have avoided hurling barbs at each other. In 2008 both the brothers were unable to make a mark as the voter had indicated a sense of disgust with the family politics. In 2008, Madhu had fought like his father on a Samajwadi Party ticket. Kumar Bangarappa who had quit the Congress re-joined the party and contested that election. This year the biggest complaint about Kumar who is contesting on a BJP ticket is his accessibility. Many voters complain that he has not been seen and is hardly available. This could go against him. The voters say that in Madhu they see as a serious politicians looking to take over his father's legacy. Some feel that the BJP had not made a wise move by shifting Halappa out of his year and fielding Kumar. In 2008 Halappa won on a BJP ticket as he benefited from the split in the Idiga which is dominant in this community. This time around it appears as though the Idigas are backing Madhu. The charm of Bangarappa senior: The D M Nanjundappa committee report on regional imbalance had once termed this constituency as the most backward. Bangarappa was a popular leader no doubt, but in the past 15 years he has changed the party several times. The voters had then blamed the family legacy for the state of affairs. However since 2013, there has been a visible effort by Madhu, the voters feel. While there were complaints galore, the people of Soraba still looked up to Bangarappa senior. He was a loved leader and the fact that he became the Chief Minister of the state only added to his strength. It is the Idiga community that swears by the Bangarappas. While speaking fondly about the senior Bangarappa they say that he was simple and he had a knack of connecting with the masses. The caste factor: Like any other constituency in Karnataka, the caste factor plays a crucial role in Soaraba. The 60,000-strong Idiga community forms the biggest vote bank, followed by over 45,000 Lingayats, 40,000 voters from Scheduled Caste / Scheduled Tribes, 18,000 Madivalas and 15,000 Muslims. In the 2004 elections, Kumar had capitalised on the Idiga votes and beaten his brother Madhu. All elections since have banked heavily on the votes from this community. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 19, 2018, 16:52 [IST] The master of serial blasts and Batla House accused Ariz Khan now in NIA net India oi-Vicky Nanjappa A team of the National Investigation Agency has unearthed key details on the functioning of the Indian Mujahideen following the arrest of Ariz Khan. It was learnt that the IM had conspired to commit acts of terror in a bid to de-stabilise the country. They had planned on targeting various important and prominent places such as Delhi by carrying out serial blasts. The NIA had filed a case in this regard in 2012 against the members of the Indian Mujahideen for waging war against the country. The NIA further learnt that the blasts were carried with the support of homegrown terror modules as well as support from Pakistan. Khan alias Junaid aged 32 had played a key role in the conspiracy. He was involved in almost all major blasts that ripped the country between 2005 and 2008. The NIA says that Junaid was involved in the serial blasts at Delhi (2005), Varanasi (2006), Uttar Pradesh (2007), Jaipur (2008) and Delhi again in 2008. He was charged by the NIA on September 2014. Further, the NIA has also learnt that he was part of the Batla House encounter. He was present with four others and had managed to give the police the slip on September 19, 2008. Following the incident, he along with his accomplice, Shahzad had visited their relatives. They moved from Delhi to UP and from there to Rajasthan and later Maharashtra. After being denied help, they slipped into Nepal. In Nepal, Khan alias Junaid obtained a passport and citizenship under the name of Salman Khan. He then began teaching at a school along with another mastermind Abdul Subhan. He stayed in Nepal till 2014 until he came in contact with IM co-founder, Riyaz Bhatkal. He then moved to Saudi Arabia and was tasked with raising money for the revival of the outfit. He then returned to India and got in touch with the members of the group. He was attempting to revive the outfit with the help of Subhan who was arrested recently. However, when he was scheduled to meet a contact in Uttar Pradesh, he was nabbed. He has been remanded in NIA custody until the 24th of April. What did Modi say about opposition's criticism and his silence on allegations India oi-Vikas By Vikas Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke his heart out during the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' event at Central Hall in Westminster, London, on Wednesday evening. Modi spoke on myriad subjects during the interactive session, which lasted for around three hours. It was unlike any other diaspora events which have become a hallmark of PM Modi everytime he travels abroad. The event in London was an interactive one and the PM took questions from the audience during the session which was anchored by renowned lyricist Prasoon Joshi. From Kathua rape to surgical strikes, the Prime Minister spoke with flair and clarity, and it all seemed to be coming from his heart. He touched upon history, spoke on the need to embrace the latest technology and recounted the achievements of his government in many areas in the last 4 years. Although he did not name the Congress, his references would clearly leave the grand old party irked. He said history was not portrayed in a correct manner after the independence, adding that "only one family was not responsible for the independence". These remarks would definitely leave the Congress fuming. When asked about criticism and scathing attacks by the opposition, PM Modi said that criticism is like a "gold mine" which is needed in a democracy. "Criticism is the essence of democracy. A healthy criticism is good for democracy. I am grateful to those criticising me, it is a gold mine. It gives me a chance to introspect," he said. The Prime Minister tried to explain the difference between a healthy criticism and needless allegations. "A criticism is good when it is done after a thorough research. Allegations for the sake for criticism are not good for the country. A good criticism needs solid research work, it has to be backed by data. Just talking in the air is not criticism," he added. ['A rape is a rape, don't politicise such issues': Modi speaks on Kathua, Unnao cases in London] Modi then said that many a times opposition points fingers at his silence and accuse him of not reacting to certain important happenings. He said he does not speak to silence others. He said if the opposition accuses him of something, then he takes note of it and does what needs to be done. Modi said he believes in listening and acts based on it, adding, "Why should I speak to silence others." Collapse of Kabul will go down as one of the greatest defeats in American history: Donald Trump Will dump talks with Kim if I decide they wont be successful: Trump International oi-Shubham By Shubham Who on this planet understands US President Donald Trump? Difficult to say. The maverick chief executive of the world's only superpower, who accepted an offer on the spot in March to hold a face-to-face meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, now says he would abandon plans for the unprecedented summit if he decided that it would not be successful or even "respectfully" walk out of the room if he thought it was no being productive. Trump said this while addressing a news conference jointly with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, April 18, following the duo's summit in Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "If I don't think it's a meeting that's going to be fruitful, we won't go. If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting," Reuters quoted Trump as saying. Trump, however, didn't define what would make the summit a successful one. He also did not say whether he would raise the issue of three Americans held captive in North Korea ahead of the high-profile meeting in either May end or early June. USA's Central Intelligence Agency chief Mike Pompeo, who made a confidential visit to North Korea about a fortnight ago as the highest-ranking US official to do so since former secretary of state Madeleine Albright in 2000, reportedly spoke with Pyongyang officials over the captives' issue. Trump also expressed optimism at the press conference saying his administration was "fighting diligently" to get the three American citizens back. Japan, too, is having a similar issue with North Korea as many of its citizens were allegedly abducted by North Korea and Trump assured Abe during the meeting that he also wanted the families of the affected Japanese citizens to reunite at the earliest. Deliberations were also on over finalising the venue of the Trump-Kim talks and they ranged from the Korean Peninsula to any Southeast Asian country to even European states like Sweden or Switzerland. However, if Trump backtracks on the talks with North Korea after all the build-up to the summit, then it would not just embarrass his administration but also undermine his own credibility as the president of the most powerful nation on the earth. The prospects of a Trump-Kim meeting have also led to a series of diplomatic engagements taking place between North Korea and China and North Korea and South Korea and the IUUS and Japan. A sudden withdrawal now could see the situation in the Korean Peninsula crawling back to instability and pose threat to the regional peace and security. As Modi visits UK, Guardian post calls India republic of fear International oi-Shubham By Shubham Prime Minister Narendra Modi's latest visit to the UK has not been as swift as his foreign trips generally are. Protesters have thronged the roads of London in the wake of the rising crimes against women, including two violent rapes in Kathua in Jammu & Kashmir and Unnao in Uttar Pradesh. The protesters assembled with placards reading "Modi go home" and "we stand against Modi's agenda of hate and greed" outside Downing Street and British parliament as Modi arrived to meet his British counterpart Theresa May. The twin rape cases have particularly rocked India owing to religious and political connotations attached to them. In this backdrop, UK's renowned Guardian newspaper came up with a piece on the issue headlined 'India is a 'republic of fear'. The UK must keep the pressure on Modi'. The article said it would be incorrect to see the twin rape incidents as simply a part of violence against the women that have been "endemic in India". About the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, the post cited the charge sheet to say that it was planned and executed to terrorise the Muslim Bakarwal community to which she belonged to drive it out of the region. "The attempt to lodge the charge sheet against the accused at a local court was followed by violent protests in their defence by a pro-Modi Hindu rightwing outfit, the Hindu Ekta Manch. Two BJP ministers attended the protests and urged the crowd to obstruct the prosecution of the accused," the Guardian piece said. The post also spoke over the Unnao case, saying a BJP member of UP legislative assembly was arrested on charges of raping a 16-year-old girl. It said when the family of the rape victim protested, her father was brutally beaten up by the accused MLA's supporters and he died in custody after getting arrested. "In the face of mass protests, Modi finally broke his silence over these events. He condemned the "incidents" and promised justice to "daughters" - although refusing to use the word "rape" - but has failed to recognise the culpability of his own supporters. The reason is clear: as feminist lawyer, Vrinda Grover points out, "the Hindutva hate brigade is the BJP's core constituency". It is Hindutva, the ideology of the BJP and of the family of rightwing Hindu organisations it belongs to, which is today attempting to profoundly transform India into a monolithic Hindu nation from which minorities and dissidents are forcibly excluded." It further said: "The preachers of Hindutva, who are feted not punished, are responsible for an epidemic of brutal mob-lynchings of Muslims. Sometimes they are justified on the pretext that the victims have consumed beef or slaughtered cows. Sometimes simply being a Muslim is enough to incite violence. 15-year old Junaid, for example, was beaten to death on a train when out for Eid shopping. Afrazul Khan, a migrant worker, was killed with an axe and his body burned while a 14-year-old filmed the horrific scene." The article did not spare Vinayak Damodar Savarkar, the Hindutva icon, either. It said: "In the context of rape, for example, he writes that the rape of Muslim women is justifiable and what not to do so when the occasion permits are not virtuous or chivalrous, but cowardly." Pakistan uses fake Islam is in danger narrative as main theme of its terror indoctrination RAW asked me to heckle Nawaz Sharif in 2015: Prominent Baloch activist International oi-Shubham By Shubham A noted Baloch activist has said that he heckled former Pakistani prime minister Nawaz Sharif during a latter's speech in October 2015 in Washington at behest of Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) - India's intelligence agency. Almer Mustikhan, a senior journalist from Balochistan who has worked in a number of countries and currently based in Washington, recently released three video statements wherein he claimed to have been "let down" by RAW officials operating from the Indian Embassy in the US capital. Mustikhan also identified one of those operatives as Nagesh Bhushan who he said worked on the RAW's Balochistan desk. Mustikhan is the founder of the American Friends of Balochistan (AFB) group and he posted three online statements on Facebook on Tuesday, April 19, after a Maryland court rejected an appeal to gag him, Pakistan's Dawn reported. On October 22, 2015, Mustikhan heckled Sharif while the latter was delivering a speech at the US Institute for Peace before he was whisked away by the security officials. The man said RAW had asked him to heckle Sharif and embarrass him by raising the Balochistan issue during the event. In a series of videos, Mustikhan said he was "promised huge help by those who were interested in then heckling of Sharif. None of those promises were ever fulfilled." Mustikhan also led a protest against Pakistan outside the UN General Assembly around the same time when Sharif addressed the body's General Debate for an organisation called "Free Balochistan Campaign USA" and accused Sharif of violating human rights in the Balochistan province and supporting former terror mastermind Osama Bin Laden. Mustikhan said India was supporting terrorism in Pakistan and this support started after the Kargil war of 1999 and that's why the current insurgency had continued for 12 years, the Dawn report said. For Breaking News and Instant Updates Allow Notifications Story first published: Thursday, April 19, 2018, 17:23 [IST] Abe fails to convince Trump on trade but gets assurance on North Korea International oi-Shubham By Shubham It was an opportunity for Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to tame the rage of disapproval against him back home over various issues but to his disappointment, the premier failed to agree on a deal with American President Donald Trump that would exempt Tokyo from fresh US steel and aluminium tariffs as per his wishes, AP reported. The two leaders instead declared that they reached a consensus over a new "free, fair and reciprocal" trade agreement after the two days of talks that ended on Wednesday, April 18. The summit took place on April 17 & 18 at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida where Trump said in a joint press conference that if the two countries could reach a consensus on a fresh deal, they would certainly discuss on that issue. On the question of granting an exemption, Trump said the prevalent trade deficit between the US and Japan was "too high" to make that call. As per the US Department of Commerce, the trade deficit was to the tune of $56.1 billion in 2017, the AP report added. The Japanese side was understandably displeased since most of the US's big allies like Canada, the European Union, Australia and Mexico were granted exemptions on Trump's protectionist measures. Tokyo had also expressed its reservation over a bilateral trade deal with the US saying it was in favour of Washington rejoining the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), the Barack Obama era deal which the US quit soon after Trump became the president last year for it was allegedly doing less favour to America's interests. Trump recently indicated an intent to rejoin it after facing pressure from his Republican Party which was worried over the impact of his protectionist policies that triggered a trade war, especially with China, but during the summit with Abe, Trump again reiterated his original stand of not joining the TPP. Trump assures Abe on North Korea Abe, however, got an assurance from Trump on the question of North Korea. Japan was uncomfortable with Trump's proposed meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in May end or early June but Trump assured him that he and Abe were on the same page when it came to the North Korean leader. Trump also told Abe that he wanted to see the families of the Japanese citizens abducted by Pyongyang reunite at the earliest. Pyongyang and Tokyo also have differences over the number of people abducted. While the former said it was 13, Tokyo said it was 17. North Korea is of the opinion that while five citizens were already returned to Japan, eight died while four never entered its territory, the AP report added. The issue has remained a top priority of the Abe government. Washington was also working hard to secure the release of three of its citizens held captive by North Korea. Trump, who was extremely upset over the death of an American student Otto Warmbier in North Korea last year, expressed optimism over the release of the Americans. Trump confirms CIA chief's meeting with Kim Jong-un, says it went 'very smoothly' International oi-Vikas By Vikas US President Donald Trump took to Twitter and confirmed that CIA director Mike Pompeo met North Korea's supreme leader Kim Jong-un 'last week'. Earlier, reports had emerged that Pompeo secretly travelled to Pyongyang around April 1 and held a meeting with Kim Jong-un. "Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!," tweeted Trump on April 18. Pompeo's meeting with Kim marks the first such high-level interaction between the two countries since the year 2000 when then secretary of state Madeleine Albright travelled to meet late Kim Jong-il, the current North Korea leader's father. President Donald Trump had earlier said the US was in direct talks with North Korea "at a very high level" ahead of his planned summit with Kim Jong-un. The two countries were looking at five potential venues for the summit, "but it is not in the United States", Trump told reporters at Mar-a-Lago where he was hosting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "We've also started talking to North Korea directly. We have had direct talks at very high levels -- extremely high levels -- with North Korea," Trump had said before a restricted bilateral meeting with Abe. "I really believe there's a lot of goodwill. A lot of good things are happening. We'll see what happens. As I always say, we'll see what happens. Because ultimately, it's the end result that counts, not the fact that we're thinking about having a meeting or having a meeting," he added. The CIA has also been working with its North Korean counterpart, Reconnaissance Intelligence Bureau. Pompeo has also been in touch with the director of South Korea's National Intelligence Service, Suh Hoon, who, according to an official cited by The New York Times, brokered Kim's invitation to Trump. OneIndia News with PTI inputs BieryGolick, an alumnus of UCs journalism program, also spent a day with a couple whove lost two adult children to drug-related deaths and whose remaining child is in jail for a drug-related crime. All newspapers do stories on drug abuse, said BieryGolick, but "this project had the impact it did because it hadnt been done before, and reporters and editors were looking for a new approach to tell it in a way that had greater impact. Phil Didion, A&S 14, had only been on the job for a week when the project launched. The UC journalism alumnus took video footage of lab technicians testing for drugs at a Northern Kentucky crime lab, combed through police body cam footage and listened to heart-rending 911 calls. Youd hear these kids freaking out: My dad said he wasnt feeling well. I cant tell if hes breathing anymore, Didion said of some of the 911 calls he monitored. It weighs on you. Being a journalist and hearing and seeing these things, it gets you a little bit sometimes, but you have to put on a tough face and keep going. A co-op on steroids Jeff Blevins, an associate professor and head of UCs Department of Journalism, isnt surprised to see so many Bearcat connections among The Enquirers team. Several Enquirer staff members teach courses at the university and UC journalism students regularly intern at the digital news media organization, where they often have opportunities to participate in high-profile work that builds resumes and boosts careers. Its essentially a co-op on steroids, said Blevins, of UCs relationship with The Enquirer. Theres just such interplay. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. James Hunter, OEN writes, The Russians Didn't Respond. One has to ask, why the Russians didn't respond. In a Risk Hedge interview, Dr. Theodore Karasik says that Russian air-defense systems are generations ahead of US missile technology. Suggesting that they don't have to worry about responding. 1. The April 2017 attack where the United States launched 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles at the Shayrat Airbase was a way for the Russians, by standing down, to send a signal to the Syrian army to forgo the use of barrel bombs since that might lead to western speculation that the Syrians are redeveloping chemical weapons... hmmm. Quite a few missiles missed their mark. 2. In the recent attack--Why didn't the Russians respond? There is speculation that the Russians established red-line criteria for US, UK and France to adhere to in their "retaliatory" attack, in order to avoid a Russian military response thereby allowing the attack to go forward and provide cover for the Russians to review the performance their "older" air-defense systems in use by the Syrians against an attack of contemporary American missile-hardware technology. Donald and the rest save face until another day of reckoning. The Russians? Field tests of air-defense hardware? The former question implies a certain level of confidence by the Russian Ministry of Defense that a response would not be necessary since the US would be unable to do any serious damage; besides as we have learned the way was already cleared. After the recent suspected Israeli attack on Homs, it appears that the Russians may accept the Israeli challenge to have its way by continuing to carry out attacks on Syria with impunity by upgrading the Syrian air defense with the S-300. So in the event of a Syrian air-defense upgrade, the Russians will see whether the Israelis can do any better than the US and its partners by striking targets in Syria. Buried in the story is a suggestion that the Russians have the capability to access US drone software and redirect its targeting. The Iranian military also claim to have taken an American drone out of the skies and reverse-engineered it. Turkey will have access to even greater capabilities once they receive the most advanced Russian air-defense system, specifically the S-400, unless of course the Russians have something more advanced than this... of course they do. Who is Erdogan going to stab in the back next? The Iranians have said again that they are going to wipe Israel off the map or something to that effect. Israel says it will essentially do whatever it wants to do irrespective of any country's sovereignty. And the Russians are setting up in field military-hardware trials via Israeli and US coalition attacks. The Iraqi government condemns the western attack. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Unz Review Israel continues to wag the dog for Middle Eastern wars Israel Flag Hand (Image by pixabay.com) Details DMCA In March 2003, Pat Buchanan wrote a groundbreaking article entitled "Whose War?" in opposition to the Bush Administration fueled growing hysteria over Saddam Hussein's alleged weapons of mass destruction which was producing demands for an armed intervention to disarm him. Buchanan rightly identified a number of prominent Jewish officials and journalists closely tied to the Israel Lobby as the principal driving force behind the rush to go to war. Buchanan is still a powerful voice arguing against the war fever in its 2018 manifestation, which is all too similar to the hysteria prevailing in 2003. But if he were writing his article today, even though those demanding war are pretty much the same people with the same names including Podhoretz, Krauthammer, Kristol, Kagan, Brooks and Boot, he would have to broaden his purview to ask "Whose Wars?" as it is no longer a simple case of going after one third-world autocrat and overthrowing him, we are now instead being urged to attack Syria, Iran and even nuclear superpower Russia due to Moscow's support of Damascus and its friendship with Tehran. Lest there be any confusion, the same country keeps surfacing as a central player in the lead-up to America's regime-change wars, which now have included an illegal attack on Syria, the second such intervention in the past year. That nation is Israel. Israel's fingerprints are all over American interventionism, reflecting Jewish power in the United States and the presence of a plethora of well-funded Israel-centric lobbies, think tanks and media outlets. Just last week, the only persistent voice in the mainstream media who, prior to Trump's cruise missile attack, asked why on earth the United States should be contemplating a major power confrontation that could end life on this planet as we know it over Syria, where Washington has no vital interests, was Tucker Carlson of Fox News. His memorable monologue blasting the "talk show generals" who have "no idea of what is really happening" skewered the pretexts for war being bandied about in spite of the lack of any actual threat directed against the United States or a vital national interest is a model for what the Fourth Estate should be doing but isn't. Carlson later followed up with an interview of Senator Roger Wicker of Mississippi. He asked what might be an American national interest that would mandate military involvement in Syria. Wicker hardly hesitated before responding, "If you care about Israel, you have to be interested in what's going on in Syria." Israel indeed. And Israel is not at all shy about what it wants to happen, namely a war in Syria targeting both Damascus and Tehran, leading to a much bigger war with the Iranians. Fought by Uncle Sam, to be sure, as Jewish lives are far too precious to waste. Tel Aviv has long been feeding the propaganda line relating to why war with Syria and Iran are desirable. Gilad Erdan, who is Netanyahu's deputy in Likud and serves as Public Security Minister, addressed the latest alleged use of chemical weapons in Douma, saying "The shocking attack shows the incredible international hypocrisy of the international community focusing on Israel confronting the terrorist organization Hamas that is sending civilians to our [border] fence, when dozens are being killed in Syria every day. It shows the need for strengthening the presence of Americans and other international forces, because without them the genocide we are seeing will only intensify." Construction Minister Yoav Galant, a former IDF major-general and a security figure close to Netanyahu, also called for military action against the Syrian leader. "Assad is the angel of death, and the world would be better without him." The compassion for Syrian civilians, being expressed both in Washington and in Tel Aviv, is, of course, a joke. Donald Trump and John Bolton couldn't care less about Syrian babies and if Trump were genuinely concerned about civilian deaths due to war crimes by governments the first country he would attack would be Israel. Erdan and Galant, meanwhile, serve in a government that has recently shot and killed or injured 2,000 unarmed demonstrators in Gaza, in some cases involving snipers having fun by shooting boys running away and cheering when they were successful, so their hypocrisy is evident. Israel has also been busy at creating a pretext for using Syria as a stepping stone to Iran itself. The Associated Press is reporting comments by Yossi Cohen, head of Mossad, who claims to be "100 percent certain" that Iran remains committed to developing a nuclear bomb, which is the old "weapons of mass destruction" ploy used to jumpstart the Iraq War. Israel's bombing attack on Syria that took place one day after the reports of the alleged chemical weapon incident, deliberately targeted Iranians, killing seven at a military base near Damascus. Iran has promised to respond, guaranteeing that the conflict will expand and draw in both regional and foreign players, definitely including the United States. More recently, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu congratulated the U.S., the U.K, and France for bombing Syria, an operation that was coordinated in advance with Israel by National Security Advisor John Bolton. Netanyahu went on to assert that Syrian president Bashar al-Assad must understand that "his provision of a forward base for Iran and its proxies endangers Syria," an analysis of the situation which is, of course, self-serving bullshit. Unfortunately, Israel has a receptive quasi-American audience in the team that Donald Trump has pulled together under his son in law Jared Kushner to deal with the Middle East. Ambassador to Israel David Friedman, who is supposed to represent U.S. interests, has become adept at repeating Israeli Foreign Ministry talking points as if they were American policy, while Chief Negotiator Jason Greenblatt has warned demonstrating Gazans to avoid provoking Israel while also failing to advise the Israeli Army that shooting unarmed protesters just might be considered unacceptable. Kushner-Friedman-Greenblatt is an Israeli dream team in place, backed up by a subservient Congress that reflexively does whatever Israel wishes. One wonders why Congressmen and the media are not screaming about the slaughter in Gaza and pondering how and why the United States has surrendered its sovereignty to a tiny client state in the Middle East, but never fear, Jewish power backed by lots of money is firmly in control of any entity that might challenge bad Israeli behavior. On top of Friedman, Greenblatt and Kushner, one might also add National Security Adviser John Bolton, U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo. And Trump himself? Who knows what he actually thinks if he bothers to think at all. He has just announced that it is "mission accomplished" in Syria, suggesting that he is delusional as well as ignorant. Media coverage of Syria, apart from Carlson, scrupulously avoids the issue that the United States is in Syria completely illegally and has been cynically supporting terrorist groups in spite of its pledge that it is in the country to get rid of such vermin. It is a measure of how divorced from actual U.S. security America's Syria policy has become that the White House has not hesitated to launch a second illegal cruise missile barrage against a government that hasn't attacked the U.S. and doesn't threaten Americans. Bombing the Syrian government hasn't made the U.S. or any other country more secure, and it will likely weaken President Bashar al-Assad just enough to prolong Syria's civil war and add to the suffering of the civilian population. It is a perfect example of a military intervention that is being done for political reasons with no connection to any discernible interests or overall strategy. Next Page 1 | 2 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Congress Switchboard: 202-224-3121 "Just as The Tipping Point provides an explanation for big changes, Rob Kall offers a unified explanation for the magic behind the success of the biggest tech companies, the Arab Spring, Occupy and the social media revolution An important, big picture, visionary approach weaving together technology, economics, evolution, science and personal relationships -- even happiness -- to describe a wave of change as significant as the invention of the printing press that is well under way -- a wave that could rescue the planet from the top-down system that afflicts the planet." Thom Hartmann, host of nationally syndicated radio show, The Thom Hartmann Program, since 2003 and a nightly television show, The Big Picture, since 2008 Quicklink Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their quicklinks after publishing them. To see if the quicklink was renamed or re-published, please click here. Progressive Content Not Found Sometimes, authors delete their progressive content after publishing. To see if the progressive content was renamed or re-published, please click here. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. From Jonathan Cook Website See original here Saffuriya was levelled in the Nakba and replaced by a Jewish moshav. But its memory burns bright for many forced to flee during Israel's creation The only Palestinian home still standing in Tzipori is a bed and breakfast called 'Zippori Village' (MEE/Jonathan Cook) (Image by Photo by Jonathan Cook) Details DMCA The Israeli farming community of Tzipori is littered with clues -- at least, for those prepared to look -- to a way of life extinguished seven decades ago. Close by sheep pens and behind a mass of prickly-pear cactuses are to be found crumbling tombs and stones tracing out graves. On the other side of the valley, the floor of a pine forest is strewn with rubble, all that is now left of hundreds of homes that were razed. And at the entrance to Tzipori is an old stone wall surrounding a small spring, where plentiful water gushes forth after winter rains. These are the remains of Saffuriya, a Palestinian village that existed for hundreds of years close to the city of Nazareth in the Lower Galilee -- until its destruction in 1948. Saffuriya was one of more than 500 Palestinian villages levelled by the Israeli army in events known in Arabic as the Nakba, or Catastrophe. Some 750,000 Palestinians were forced into exile, dispossessed of their homeland, as a self-professed Jewish state was built over the ruins. This week, in accordance with the Hebrew calendar, Israel officially celebrates the 70th anniversary of the state's founding -- nearly a month before Palestinians commemorate the Nakba on 15 May. But a significant section of Israel's population will be in sombre mood on 19 April. It will not be their independence day. One in five citizens of Israel is Palestinian, descendants of those who managed to avoid expulsion from the new state of Israel in 1948 as it was established on 78 percent of historic Palestine. Today, they number some 1.7 million. Most discussions about Palestinian refugees focus on the millions in camps across the Middle East -- in Lebanon, Syria, Jordan and in the Israeli-occupied territories of the West Bank and Gaza. Usually overlooked are the several hundred thousand Palestinians still living in Israel who were internally displaced by the Nakba. Significant numbers of Saffuriya's population evaded Israeli soldiers in 1948 and hid in Nazareth and other locations spared the expulsion operations, noted Ilan Pappe, an Israeli historian and author of The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine, a study of the Nakba. Next Page 1 | 2 | 3 | 4 | 5 | 6 | 7 (Note: You can view every article as one long page if you sign up as an Advocate Member, or higher). Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Last year, the Republicans in Congress sold snake oil to the American people. They introduced a tax bill that made the same promise we've been hearing for 30 years: "Cut taxes for billionaires and giant corporations, and those savings will trickle down into the paychecks of their employees." Just because you say something over and over again, doesn't make it true. We couldn't stop the Republicans from jamming their reckless bill through Congress. But thanks to enormous public pressure from people like you, some companies did give their employees a raise or bonus. (Yay!) But most giant corporations did exactly what we expected: they used the enormous tax breaks to buy back their companies' stock -- raising their stock prices and lining the pockets of their CEOs and wealthy investors. The numbers prove it: Since the tax bill passed, corporations have announced more than $250 billion in stock buybacks. Would you like to know how many people have read this article? Or how reputable the author is? Simply sign up for a Advocate premium membership and you'll automatically see this data on every article. Plus a lot more, too. Support Trump Effort on North Korea April 11, 2018 First, Jae-in is elected peace president of South Korea. Second, President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un bluster war. Third, at the Winter Olympics, teams from North and South stand side by side. Next, North Korea extends invitation to Trump to come to North Korea and talk peace. Trump accepts. Recently, South Korea and U.S.A. agreed to a bilateral trade deal, a sign of solidarity. Kim goes to China to get ducks in a row. Something is happening in Korea. Trump and Kim are expected to meet face to face to do what diplomats are not able to do, end the tensions that threaten WWIII. Jesus approves enemies talking to arrive at a Grand Korean Peace. Are we looking at a 2018 Nobel Prize for Peace here? Intelligence is favorable: Sources indicate Kim will denuclearize with a defense treaty signed by Russia, China, South Korea and Japan ratified by the United Nations, passed by our Congress and signed by our president. Will all parties sign; will U.N. approve; will the Congress make that treaty law? Of all parties concerned, I am most concerned about "we the people" demanding our Congress do so. Will we? We must praise Trump for his boldness of vision, wish him great success, and let him know that in the matter of ending Korean War, "we got your back." It's the patriotic thing to do. A grand Korean peace 2018 - setting the path right for our children. Global Pulp and Paper Machinery Market Forecast 2018-2025 Valmet, Leizhan China, GEIN-Machinery, Kugler-Womako Pulp and Paper Machinery Market https://bit.ly/2Hxnme9 https://www.globeinforesearch.com/report/global-pulp-paper-machinery-market-4274 According to a new Market research report by Globeinfo Research, there is an intense competition among the major leading players operating in the global Pulp and Paper Machinery market, including Bosch Rexroth AG, ANDRITZ Group, Samarth Paper Machines, Kugler-Womako, Metso Corporation, Voith Paper Holding, Valmet, GEIN-Machinery, Somas Instrument, Hardayal Engineering Works, Leizhan China, Hyogo Pulp Industries and Cutes Corporation. It analyses the important factors of the Pulp and Paper Machinery market based on present industry situations, Pulp and Paper Machinery market demands, business strategies utilized by Pulp and Paper Machinery market players and the future prospects from various angles in detail. This report analyzes the potential of Pulp and Paper Machinery market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Pulp and Paper Machinery Market 2018 report includes Pulp and Paper Machinery market Revenue, market Share, Pulp and Paper Machinery industry volume, market Trends, Pulp and Paper Machinery Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Pulp and Paper Machinery Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Pulp and Paper Machinery Market : By Application Small and Medium-Sized Paper Plant, Large Paper Plant, OthersPulp and Paper Machinery Market : By Type Continuous Digesters, Pulp Washers, Refiners, Black Liquor Recovery Boiler (BRLB), Bleaching Towers, Fourdrinier Machine, Chip Piles, Conveyors.Firstly, the report covers the top Pulp and Paper Machinery manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Pulp and Paper Machinery report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Pulp and Paper Machinery industry, Pulp and Paper Machinery industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Pulp and Paper Machinery Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Pulp and Paper Machinery research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Pulp and Paper Machinery market revenue worldwide.Finally, Pulp and Paper Machinery market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About US:GlobeInfoResearch.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@globeinforesearch.com Organic Pesticides Market Reach $279,195 Million By 2023 https://www.researchbeam.com/organic-pesticides-market/request-sample https://www.researchbeam.com/organic-pesticides-market/enquire-about-report https://www.researchbeam.com/organic-pesticides-market/purchase-enquiry The global organic pesticides market size was $99,200 million in 2016 and is expected to reach $279,195 million by 2023, registering a CAGR of 14.9% during the forecast period. Pesticides are defined as mixtures of substances that are deployed to control, prevent, destroy, repel, and attract any biological organism classified as a pest. Organic pesticides are pesticides that are added during cultivation of organic food. These pesticides are produced in accordance with the Organic Act (USDA). Moreover, the USDA has allowed the usage of certain synthetic pesticides, such as sulfur, oil sprays, and copper-based fungicides, on organic food production. In addition, according to the National Organic Program Standards, these pesticides do not pose any harm/risk to humans.For More Info, Get Sample :The global organic pesticides market is driven by growth in demand for food and organic food, ongoing greater utilization of pesticides, due to significant advancements in pest management procedures and technology, and favorable governmental policies. Furthermore, reduction of farmers land and adoption of genetically modified crops create demand for synthetic organics in the market. However, the presence of multiple end users leading to difficulty in managing inventory & distribution costs, and growth in sale of spurious pesticides hamper the market growth.The report segments the global organic pesticides market based on product, crop type, mode of application, and application. Based on product, the market is classified natural and synthetic. Based on crop type, the global market is bifurcated into permanent and arable. Based on mode of application, the market is divided into seed treatment, on farm, and after harvest. Based on region, it is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The prominent players in the global organic pesticides industry have strategically focused on product launches as their key strategy to gain significant share in the market.The key players profiled in the report are Mark Organics Bayer Cropscience Sikko Industries Ltd. PARRY AMERICA Monsanto Arysta LifeScience Andermatt Biocontrol Ag DuPont Dow AgroSciences Certis USA LLCKEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS This report provides an extensive analysis of the current trends and emerging estimations in the global organic pesticides market. In-depth analysis of the industry is conducted through market estimations of key segments for the period 2017 to 2023. Competitive intelligence of leading manufacturers and distributors of organic pesticides helps understand the competitive scenario across geographies. Comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrain the growth of the global organic pesticides market is provided in the report. Extensive analysis of the industry is conducted by following key product positioning and monitoring the top competitors within the market framework. The key players are profiled along with their strategies to determine the competitive outlook of the market.KEY MARKET SEGMENTSEnquire About Report :By Product Natural SyntheticBy Crop Type Permanent ArableBy Mode of Application Seed Treatment On Farm After HarvestBy Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe UK Germany France Spain Italy Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China Japan India South Korea Australia Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA Brazil Argentina UAE Rest of LAMEAAlso Request For Discount :Other players in the value chain, include Swaroop Agrochemical Industries Sikko Industries Limited BioNature Mark Organics Ortect Organics Sushil CorporationTable Of Content CHAPTER 1 INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2 EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3 MARKET OVERVIEW CHAPTER 4 ORGANIC PESTICIDES MARKET, BY TYPE CHAPTER 5 ORGANIC PESTICIDES MARKET, BY CROP TYPE CHAPTER 6 ORGANIC PESTICIDES MARKET, BY MODE OF APPLICATION CHAPTER 7 ORGANIC PESTICIDES MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 8. COMPANY PROFILESAbout UsWe have a large database of quality and precise market research reports that will be very beneficial for your organization. Reports that we sell our authentic in nature and from reputed publishers, hence it can definitely help you with your growth opportunities. Research Beam will always make sure to bring most ethical and high quality reports. We value your relationship with us and look forward for a long term relation.Contact UsGlobal Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United States+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com Sorghum and Sorghum Seeds Market Growing $10,591 Million By 2023 https://www.researchbeam.com/sorghum-and-sorghum-seeds-market/request-sample https://www.researchbeam.com/sorghum-and-sorghum-seeds-market/enquire-about-report https://www.researchbeam.com/sorghum-and-sorghum-seeds-market/purchase-enquiry The global sorghum and sorghum seeds market was valued at $8,279 million in 2016, and is projected to reach $10,591 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 3.6% from 2017 to 2023. Sorghum is an ancient grain originated in Africa and is now grown in different regions across the globe such as South America, China, India, and the U.S. Sorghum grows using less water and other natural resources and is often referred to as the camel of crops. Sorghum is naturally gluten free and is safe for the consumers suffering from celiac disease or gluten intolerance. Sorghum plantation is on a rapid increase since the crop gains importance as a versatile plant that can tolerate different soil toxicities, drought, and a wide range of temperatures and altitudes.For More Info, Get Sample :Increase in demand for flex fuel vehicles that need biofuel and rise in adoption of forage and sweet sorghum especially for cattle and livestock feed are anticipated to boost the market growth. Moreover, rapid urbanization, increase in commercialization of biofuel as well as rise in expenditure capability of the middle class population group especially in the densely populated emerging economies such as China and India are some other key aspects that drive the growth of the global sorghum and sorghum seeds market. Moreover, on account of its cost effectiveness and gluten free nature, sorghum finds extensive applications in ethanol production. Thus, rapid growth of the global alcoholic beverages industry is anticipated to drive the global sorghum and sorghum seeds market during the forecast period. However, increase in competition from alternatives coupled with changes in consumer preferences hamper the market growth.The global sorghum and sorghum seeds market is segmented based on type, application, and geography. On the basis of type, the market is categorized into grain sorghum, forage sorghum, biomass sorghum, and sweet sorghum. On the basis of application, it is divided into human feed, biofuel & ethanol, and livestock feed. By geography, the market is analyzed across North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and LAMEA.The major players operating in the global market focus on key market strategies such as mergers, acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships. They also focus on strengthening their market reach to maintain their goodwill in the ever competitive market.Some of the key players in the global market include: National Sweet Sorghum Producers & Processors Assn National Sorghum Producers Sorghum Forum Of South Africa Shri Lal Mahal Group Richardson Seeds Mabele Fuels Advanta Seeds US DuPont Archer Daniels Midland Ingredion.KEY BENEFITS FOR STAKEHOLDERS This report provides a quantitative analysis of the current trends, estimations, and dynamics from 2016 to 2023 to assist in identifying the prevailing market opportunities. Major countries in each region are mapped according to the individual market revenue. The region-wise and country-wise sorghum market conditions are comprehensively analyzed. This study evaluates the competitive landscape and the value chain analysis to understand the competitive environment across geographies. The report provides extensive qualitative insights on the significant segments and regions exhibiting favorable market growth.Enquire About Report :KEY MARKET SEGMENTSBy Type Grain Sorghum Forage Sorghum Biomass Sorghum Sweet SorghumBy Application Human Feed Biofuel and Ethanol Livestock FeedBy Region North America U.S. Canada Mexico Europe Germany Spain UK Italy France Rest of Europe Asia-Pacific China India Japan Australia Korea Rest of Asia-Pacific LAMEA Brazil KSA South Africa Rest of LAMEAThe other players in the value chain (profiles not included in the report) include: Associated British Foods General Mills Sai Agro Exim SEMO Milling Chromatin Inc. Bunge Limited Cargill Incorporated Dow AgroSciences LLC Blue River Hybrids Taj Agro International Ltd. La Crosse Seed LLC Hancock Farm and Seed Company Pacific Seeds Allied Seed LLC Dyna-Gro SeedAlso Request For Discount :Table Of Content CHAPTER 1. INTRODUCTION CHAPTER 2. EXECUTIVE SUMMARY CHAPTER 3. MARKET OVERVIEW CHAPTER 4. GLOBAL SORGHUM AND SORGHUM SEEDS MARKET, BY TYPE CHAPTER 5. GLOBAL SORGHUM AND SORGHUM SEEDS MARKET, BY APPLICATION CHAPTER 6. GLOBAL SORGHUM AND SORGHUM SEEDS MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHY CHAPTER 6. GLOBAL SORGHUM AND SORGHUM SEEDS MARKET, BY GEOGRAPHYAbout UsWe have a large database of quality and precise market research reports that will be very beneficial for your organization. Reports that we sell our authentic in nature and from reputed publishers, hence it can definitely help you with your growth opportunities. Research Beam will always make sure to bring most ethical and high quality reports. We value your relationship with us and look forward for a long term relation.Contact UsGlobal Head Quarters5933 NE Win Sivers Drive,#205, Portland, OR 97220United States+1 (800) 910-6452help@researchbeam.com Animation VFX & Game Market by Product (Animation, VFX, Game), Industry (Anime, Manga, The Pokemon, Toonzanimation) and Global Forecasts to 2025 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011470379/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-animation-vfx-and-game-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025 http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011470379/buy/3300 "Global Animation VFX & Game Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025" Report published by ReportsWeb, covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this marketThis report studies the global Animation, VFX & Game market, analyzes and researches the Animation, VFX & Game development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeAnimeMangaThe PokemonToonzanimation...Request a Sample atMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoAnimationVFXGameMarket segment by Application, Animation, VFX & Game can be split intoUltra-High-Definition TVsTabletsSmartphonesBrowse Complete Report atKey Point from Table of Contents:1 Industry Overview of Animation VFX & Game2 Global Animation VFX & Game Competition Analysis by Players3 Company-Top Players) Profiles4 Global Animation VFX & Game Market Size by Application-2013-2018)5 United States Animation VFX & Game Development Status and Outlook6 EU Animation VFX & Game Development Status and Outlook7 Japan Animation VFX & Game Development Status and Outlook8 China Animation VFX & Game Development Status and Outlook9 India Animation VFX & Game Development Status and Outlook10 Southeast Asia Animation VFX & Game Development Status and Outlook11 Market Forecast by Regions and Application-2018-2025)12 Animation VFX & Game Market Dynamics13 Market Effect Factors Analysis14 Research Finding/ConclusionPurchase Complete Report atReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Payment Gateways Market by Industry (2Checkout, First Data, SecurePay, PayU, MOLPay, Paymill, GMO, Alipay), Product (Online Mode Offline Mode) and Global Forecasts to 2025 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011308050/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-payment-gateways-market-forecast-to-2022 A payment gateway is an e-commerce application that authorizes payments for e-businesses, online retailers, bricks and clicks, or traditional brick and mortar businesses. It transmits Transaction information to Acquiring Banks and responses from Issuing Banks (such as whether a transaction is approved or declined). In other words, the transaction flows through the payment gateway, to the payments ecosystem, and should it be approved, will eventually make its way into the merchant account.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Payment Gateways in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a Sample on Payment Gateways Market atMarket Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversPayPalStripeAmazon PaymentsAuthorize.netWorldPayAdyenCCBill2CheckoutFirst DataSecurePayPayUMOLPayPaymillGMOAlipayTenpayPing++Market Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversOnline ModeOffline ModeMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoRetailCatering IndustryMedicine & CosmeticsOtherView Report Details atMajor Chapters from RD:1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles2.1 PayPal2.1.1 Business Overview2.1.2 Payment Gateways Type and Applications2.1.2.1 Type 12.1.2.2 Type 22.1.3 PayPal Payment Gateways Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.2 Stripe2.2.1 Business Overview2.2.2 Payment Gateways Type and Applications2.2.2.1 Type 12.2.2.2 Type 22.2.3 Stripe Payment Gateways Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)2.3 Amazon Payments2.3.1 Business Overview2.3.2 Payment Gateways Type and Applications2.3.2.1 Type 12.3.2.2 Type 22.3.3 Amazon Payments Payment Gateways Sales, Price, Revenue, Gross Margin and Market Share (2016-2017)3 Global Payment Gateways Market Competition, by Manufacturer4 Global Payment Gateways Market Analysis by Regions5 North America Payment Gateways by Countries6 Europe Payment Gateways by Countries7 Asia-Pacific Payment Gateways by Countries8 South America Payment Gateways by Countries9 Middle East and Africa Payment Gateways by Countries10 Global Payment Gateways Market Segment by Type11 Global Payment Gateways Market Segment by Application12 Payment Gateways Market Forecast (2017-2022)13 Sales Channel, Distributors, Traders and Dealers14 Research Findings and ConclusionReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid 2018 Global Industry Key Players - PVS Chemicals Inc , Chemtrade Logistics Inc , Kanto Chemical , SEASTAR CHEMICALS Inc. Market Analysis And Forecast To 2023 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3107930-world-ultra-pure-sulfuric-acid-market-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3107930-world-ultra-pure-sulfuric-acid-market-research-report World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid MarketExecutive SummaryUltra-Pure Sulfuric Acid market research report provides the newest industry data and industry future trends, allowing you to identify the products and end users driving Revenue growth and profitability.The industry report lists the leading competitors and provides the insights strategic industry Analysis of the key factors influencing the market.The report includes the forecasts, Analysis and discussion of important industry trends, market size, market share estimates and profiles of the leading industry Players.Request a Sample Report @The Players mentioned in our reportPVS Chemicals IncChemtrade Logistics IncKanto ChemicalSEASTAR CHEMICALS Inc.Avantor Performance MaterialsKMG Chemicals Inc.Global Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market: Product Segment AnalysisPPT (parts per trillion)PPB (parts per billion)Global Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market: Application Segment AnalysisSemiconductorsPharmaceuticalsGlobal Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market: Regional Segment AnalysisUSAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSouth East AsiaTable of Content-Key Points CoveredChapter 1 About the Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Industry1.1 Industry Definition1.1.1 Types of Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid industry1.1.1.1 PPT (parts per trillion)1.1.1.2 PPB (parts per billion)1.2 Main Market Activities1.3 Similar Industries1.4 Industry at a GlanceChapter 2 World Market Competition Landscape2.1 Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Markets by Regions2.1.1 USAMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2012-2017Market Revenue (M USD) by Applications, Through 2022Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.2 EuropeMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2012-2017Market Revenue (M USD) by Applications, Through 2022Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.3 ChinaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2012-2017Market Revenue (M USD) by Applications, Through 2022Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.4 IndiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2012-2017Market Revenue (M USD) by Applications, Through 2022Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.5 JapanMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2012-2017Market Revenue (M USD) by Applications, Through 2022Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.1.6 South East AsiaMarket Revenue (M USD) and Growth Rate 2012-2017Market Revenue (M USD) by Applications, Through 2022Major Players Revenue (M USD) in 20172.2 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market by TypesPPT (parts per trillion)PPB (parts per billion)2.3 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market by ApplicationsSemiconductorsPharmaceuticals2.4 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market Analysis2.4.1 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market Revenue and Growth Rate 2012-20172.4.2 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market Consumption and Growth rate 2012-20172.4.3 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market Price Analysis 2012-2017Chapter 3 World Ultra-Pure Sulfuric Acid Market share3.1 Major Production Market share by Players3.2 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share by Players3.3 Major Production Market share by Regions in 2017, Through 20223.4 Major Revenue (M USD) Market share By Regions in 2017, Through 2022Chapter 4 Supply Chain Analysis4.1 Industry Supply chain Analysis4.2 Raw material Market Analysis4.2.1 Raw material Prices Analysis 2012-20174.2.2 Raw material Supply Market Analysis4.2 Manufacturing Equipment Suppliers Analysis4.3 Production Process Analysis4.4 Production Cost Structure Benchmarks4.5 End users Market AnalysisContinued.Complete Report Details @Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Wise Guy Research Consultants Pvt LtdOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Loan Origination Software Market by Industry (D+H Corp, Lending QB, Black Knight, ISGN Corp, Pegasystems), Product (On-demand (Cloud), On-premise) and Regions - Global Forecasts to 2023 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011376229/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/global-loan-origination-software-market-2017-forecast-to-2022 Loan Origination Software manages lending tasks including origination, underwriting, closing and documentation for contract servicers, title companies, credit unions, government agencies and private lenders.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the Loan Origination Software in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Request a Sample on Loan Origination Software Market atMarket Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversEllie MaeCalyx SoftwareFICSFiservByte SoftwarePCLender, LLCMortgage Builder SoftwareMortgage Cadence (Accenture)WiproTavant TechD+H CorpLending QBBlack KnightISGN CorpPegasystemsJuris TechnologiesSPARKAxcess Consulting GroupTurnkey LenderVSCMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America (Brazil, Argentina, Columbia etc.)Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversOn-demand (Cloud)On-premiseMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoBanksCredit UnionsMortgage Lenders & BrokersOthersView Report Details atMajor Chapters from RD:There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global Loan Origination Software market.Chapter 1, to describe Loan Origination Software Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of Loan Origination Software, with sales, revenue, and price of Loan Origination Software, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of Loan Origination Software, for each region, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 12, Loan Origination Software market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2017 to 2022;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe Loan Origination Software sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data sourceReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township,Amanora Chambers, East Block,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Spire briefs Anderson Junior College students on Halal product market trends Spire, Briefing, Leon Perera, Anderson Junior College, Students, Halal product, Market trends, Entrepreneur, Growth, Opportunities http://bit.ly/2HcbS0g Spire Research and Consulting was honored to be invited as a speaker at Anderson Junior College in Singapore. Spires CEO Leon Perera spoke on entrepreneurial opportunities in the global Halal product market, a subject where Spire has published research articles and has been quoted in global media outlets.Leon Perera, Chief Executive Officer of the Spire Research and Consulting, was privileged to give a talk to students organized by the Anderson Junior Colleges Malay Language, Literary and Debating Society on 24 March 2017.Perera shared his insights on the size, growth and outlook for the global Halal products market, with a focus on entrepreneurial opportunities for Singapore-based firms.Furthermore, he discussed certification methods used in different countries while also touching on opportunities in non-food Halal categories like skincare and logistics.Finally, he shared his experiences and expertise on entrepreneurship followed by an interactive question and answer session.For more information, please visit our newsroom section here:Spire Research and Consulting was established in 2000 to address a gap in the research and consulting industry in global emerging markets. Unlike most agencies that focus on traditional consumer research, our founders saw a profound need for holistic research projects.Unit 501-502, DLF City Court,DLF Phase III, Sector 24, Gurugram 122002, IndiaTelephone: (91) 124 421 6144Fax: (91) 124 422 1934E-mail: india.info@spireresearch.com Nuclear Imaging is Fastest Growing Modality in Medical Imaging Market | Arizton https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/medical-imaging-market https://www.arizton.com/news/press-release/medical-imaging-market-size https://www.arizton.com/news/press-release/apac-medical-imaging-market-worth-15-billion-2023 https://www.arizton.com/market-reports/medical-imaging-market According to the latest industry analysis by Arizton, the global medical imaging market size is expected to reach $46.65 billion by 2023, growing at an impressive CAGR of 5.47% 20172023. The market research report provides in-depth market and segmental analysis of the global medical imaging market by product, distribution channel, material, and geography.Read the full report on Medical Imaging Market Global Outlook and Forecast 2018-2023Nuclear imaging is a non-invasive procedure except for intravenous injections with minimally painful. Nuclear medicine is a specialized branch of medical imaging that uses minute amounts of radioactive materials, radiopharmaceuticals, or radiotracers to diagnose/determine disease severity and treat a wide spectrum of diseases, including cancers, heart diseases, gastrointestinal and endocrinal and neurological disorders.Nuclear imaging works through capture and detection of radioactive emissions from the injected radiotracer through specialized imaging devices that produce pictures and detailed molecular information. Nuclear imaging techniques are also widely used as a therapeutic modality in combination with other radioactive materials (radioactive iodine (I-131)), especially for treatment of cancers.List of advantages boosting the growth of the nuclear imaging market are:Non-invasive process (except for intravenous radioisotope injection)High potential for early disease diagnosis.It produces accurate clinically beneficial information at the molecular level.High accuracy rate and improved efficacy if combined with CT or MRI.Nuclear Imaging Market DynamicsThe increase in the geriatric population, the growth of global chronic patient pool, especially of cancer patients, increase access to healthcare services, and improvement in healthcare infrastructure are some of the factors attributing to the growth of the nuclear imaging market. This medical imaging process is highly indicative of the disease or the condition and cannot be reproduced using other imaging procedures. Moreover, it also holds the capability to detect the presence of disease at its earliest stages thereby, propelling the growth of the market. The emergence of new PET/MRI systems, especially for soft tissue imaging, hypoxia imaging for cancer screening and diagnosis, and the emergence of innovative radiotracers are increasing the diagnostic efficiency of nuclear imaging techniques in the global market. Favorable reimbursement policies and stringent patient care regulations in the healthcare industry will augment the growth of the global market.The nuclear imaging market is projected to reach values of more than $3 billion by 2023, growing at a CAGR of approximately 8% during 2018-2023.Nuclear Imaging Product TypeIn terms of products, nuclear imaging equipment can be broadly classified into Single Photon Emission Computed Tomography (SPECT) and Positron Emission Tomography (PET). The key difference between SPECT and PET imaging is the half-life of the isotope that each radiopharmaceutical tracer uses.SPECT Equipment: In 2017, the SPECT nuclear devices segment contributed more than 60% to the nuclear medical imaging equipment market. The introduction of multiple new innovative SPECT devices with advanced software and widened applications will enable the leading vendors to gain a larger market share. New radiotracers have improved the functionality of SPECT devices and widened its scope of clinical applications, thereby driving growth. SPECT systems have a wide range of applications in areas of cardiovascular, oncology, general imaging or radiology, and neurology. Rising prevalence of these chronic diseases and improving diagnostic and treatment rates of diseases, especially cancers will boost the demand for SPECT nuclear equipment during the forecast period.PET Equipment: PET equipment is the fastest growing segment of the nuclear imaging market. The emergence of advanced technologies and the advent of fusion imaging with PET/CT and PET/MRI have significantly increased its scope in areas such as cardiology and neurology. Major and emerging vendors launched multiple new PET systems in recent years are fueling the growth of the market. A next-generation positron biotracer being is launched to address the unmet clinical demand for identifying vulnerable plaques that can cause a stroke or a heart attack. Increasing incidence of cancer and rise in screening, diagnostic, and treatment rates will augment the growth of the PET market over the next few years.The top vendors in the medical imaging market are Toshiba Medical, GE Healthcare, Siemens Healthineers, Koninklijke Philips, and Fujifilm.Read: Key Drivers of the Medical Imaging MarketRead:Leading Segments in the Medical Imaging MarketOrder a report now:About Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceArizton Advisory and Intelligence is an innovation and quality-driven firm, which offers cutting-edge research solutions to clients across the world. We excel in providing comprehensive market intelligence reports and advisory and consulting services.Arizton has gained a paramount standpoint in the market research arena as it offers top of the line solutions to clients to assess market landscape and to finalize foolproof business strategies. We are committed to provide inclusive market research reports and consulting services to clients from diversified industries including Consumer Goods & Retail Technology, Automotive and Mobility, Smart Tech, Healthcare and Lifesciences, Industrial Machinery, Chemicals and Materials, IT and Media, Logistics and PackagingArizton comprises a team of exuberant and well-experienced analysts who have mastered in generating incisive reports. Our specialist analysts possess exemplary skills in market research. We train our team in advanced research practices, techniques, and ethics to outperform in fabricating impregnable research reports.Arizton Advisory & IntelligenceChicago, Illinois, 60605Mail: enquiry@arizton.comCall: +1-312-465-7864 Testicular Cancer Treatment Market Analysis, Segments, Growth and Value Chain 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-4209 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-4209 www.futuremarketinsights.com Office based surgery includes any surgical procedure carried out by a licensed physician/surgeon in his/her office. Office based surgeries have become possible only due to technological advancements. Earlier, all the surgical procedures used to be carried out in hospital out-patient settings only or ambulatory surgical centre setting with full-flagged equipment set up.Testicular Cancer treatment Market: Drivers and RestraintsThe key contributor to the growth of global Testicular Cancer treatment market is rising incidences of Testicular Cancers globally. The United States and European countries have witnessed increased caseload of office based surgerys over last 30 years that has created a demand for the treatment of the disease which in turn has pushed the market growth rate up. However, there are factors such as limited number of treatment options, very high cost of branded drugs, expensiveness, inefficient reimbursement policies, less availability of generic drugs and monopoly of few players, which have impeded the growth of the market.Testicular Cancer treatment Market: SegmentationGlobal Testicular Cancer treatment Market has been segmented on the basis of types of therapies, based on the treatments according to stages, based on route of administration, distribution channels and region.Request to Sample Report -Based on types of therapies, the global Testicular Cancer treatment Market is segmented into:Radiation TherapyChemotherapy / High-dose ChemotherapyAntibioticsOrganoplatinum CompoundsDNA topoisomerase II InhibitorsAntimetabolitesAlkylating AgentsMicrotubule InhibitorsSurgeryStem Cell TransplantationBased on the treatments according to stages, the global Testicular Cancer treatment Market is segmented into:Stage 0 Germ Cell TumorsSurgeryRadiation TherapyStage I Germ Cell TumorsStage I seminomasRadiation TherapyChemotherapyStage IS seminomasRadiation TherapyStage I non-seminomasSurgeryChemotherapyStage IS non-seminomaChemotherapyStage II Germ Cell TumorsStage IIA seminomasSurgeryRadiation TherapyChemotherapyStage IIB seminomasSurgeryChemotherapyStage IIC seminomasSurgeryChemotherapyStage III Germ Cell TumorsSurgeryChemotherapyBased on the route of administration, the global Testicular Cancer treatment Market is segmented into:InjectableOralBased on the distribution channels, the global Testicular Cancer treatment Market is segmented into:Retail PharmaciesHospital PharmaciesSpecialty Cancer ClinicsCancer Research InstitutesTesticular Cancer treatment Market: OverviewGlobal Testicular Cancer treatment market is highly consolidated with the presence of a few players. Major multi-national players are restricted to the North America and European countries. According to the database of the National Cancer Institutes Surveillance, Epidemiology, and End Results, incidence of office based surgery have been increasing per year by 1.1 percent globally, from 5.7 cases per 100,000 to 6.8/100,000 over 1992-2009. The incidence rate grew regularly among all racial/ethnic groups except Asian/Pacific who reported a decline in the incidence rate over 1992-2003 and then a rise over 2003-2009 averaging a 0.77 percent increase per year. White men have witnessed the highest incidence rate. The rate of office based surgery have rose from 7.5/100,000 to 8.4/100,000 over 1992-2003 and 8.6/100,000 over 2003-2009 among white men, accounting for rise of 1.2 percent per year.Request Report TOC @Testicular Cancer treatment Market: Region-wise OutlookGeographically, Testicular Cancer treatment Market is segmented into regions viz. North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia-Pacific excluding Japan, Japan, Middle East and Africa. Currently, the US is leading the global office based surgery marketfollowed by European countries owing to the rising incidence rate, high prevalence of the disease, research and development to discover novel treatment alternatives, favourable reimbursement policies etc. The market in Asia Pacific region is expected to grow at a steady ratebecause of comparatively les incidence and prevalence of the disease. However, lack of treatment options as compared to developed options would restrict the market growth in the developing nations. According to the World Health Organization, around 90% people in low and middle income countries pay out of their pocket for medicines owing to lack of united health insurance and insufficient publicly subsidized healthcare services, another factor impacting the growth of the market.Testicular Cancer treatment Market: Key PlayersFew of major players in the global Testicular Cancer treatment Market include Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, Pfizer Inc., Kyowa Hakko Kirin Co. Ltd., Accord Healthcare Limited, Sandoz International GmbH, Orphan Europe, Baxter, Merck & Co., Inc.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite : Global Real and Compound Chocolate Market Research Report 2025 Real and Compound Chocolate https://www.bharatbook.com/request-sample/1000514 https://www.bharatbook.com/food-market-research-reports-1000514/global-real-compound-chocolate.html www.bharatbook.com Bharat Book Bureau Provides the Trending Market Research Report on Global Real and Compound Chocolate Market Opportunity Analysis And Industry Forecast 2023 under Food & Beverages category. The report provides information on industry overview, market size, latest developments, industry trends, Key players, Global presence, and their future prospects.Real Chocolate contains cocoa butter and cocoa liquor extracted from cocoa or cacao beans. Cocoa butter is an expensive ingredient, so it requires an additional procedure known as tempering, to prevent blooming or discoloration of chocolate. On the other hand, compound chocolate contains cocoa butter replacer in higher percentage along with other chocolate ingredients. In the preparation of compound chocolates, the cocoa powder is used as a substitute for cocoa liquor. Cocoa butter replacers (fat) are manufactured from vegetable oils, as vegetable oils are already processed fat molecules which are uniform in nature and hence does not require tempering.Globally, real chocolate is processed and packaged primarily for direct consumers and artisans. Whereas compound chocolate is mainly processed and packaged for industrial use, bakeries, confectioneries, and others. Strategic new product developments followed by creative packaging are driving the growth of real chocolates globally. Moreover, there have been improvements in technology starting from the harvesting of cocoa/cacao bean to chocolate bar processing which is adding fuel to the growth of the market. Additionally, high focus on marketing the products by key players has a great opportunity for the real and compound chocolate market in the future.Request a free sample copy of Real and Compound Chocolate Market Report @For compound chocolate, it is growing rapidly owing to the lower cost alternative. Ingredients such as coconut oil, palm oil, soybean oil, rapeseed oil, and cottonseed oil are regarded less expensive compared to cocoa butter. Moreover, substances such as vegetable oil are commonly used in place of cocoa butter for compound chocolate production. As a result, a lot of time and cost is saved by chocolate manufacturers in processing compound chocolates which is one of the factors driving the growth of the market. Additionally, Omega-3 fatty acids enriched chocolate spreads using soybean and coconut oils, have shown a potential for the growth of compound chocolates as the consumers tend to eat healthy food.Regional AnalysisThe global real and compound chocolate market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the rest of the world. The European region is anticipated to account for the maximum market share in the global real chocolate market throughout the forecast period of 20172023. The segment is projected to reach to 2,173.4 kilo tons by the end of 2023. Moreover, the Asia Pacific region is likely to witness a high growth rate of 3.49% in the real and compound chocolate market during the forecast period.SegmentsOn the basis of type, it is segmented into real chocolate; further sub-segmented into dark, milk, white, compound chocolate; further sub-segmented into dark, milk, white, and others. Based on application, it is segmented into bakery, confectionery, desserts, syrups, seasoning, spreads, and others.Key PlayersThe leading market players in the global real and compound chocolate market primarily are Mars Inc. (U.S.), Mondelez International, Inc. (U.S.), The Hershey Co. (U.S.), Barry Callebaut AG (Switzerland), Nestle S.A. (Switzerland), Blommer Chocolate Company (U.S.), Foleys Candies Ltd. (Canada), Guittard Chocolate Company, PURATOS Group NV (Belgium), Ferrero SPA (Italy), Alpezzi Chocolate (Mexico), Ghirardelli Chocolate Company (U.S.), Valrhona Inc. (France), Republica del cacao (South America), TCHO (U.S.), Puratos Group NV (Belgium), Barry Callebaut AG (Switzerland), Meiji Co., Ltd. (Japan), Lindt & Sprungli SpA (Italy), Fujian Yake Food Co., Ltd. (China), Aalst Chocolate Pte. Ltd. (Singapore), and Beryl's Chocolate & Confectionery Sdn. Bhd.(Malaysia).Target Audience- Food and beverages manufacturers- Chocolate manufacturers- Raw material suppliers- End-users (food & beverages industry)- Retailers and wholesalers- E-commerce companies- Traders, importers, and exportersKey Findings- The global real and compound chocolate market is projected to reach USD 136.99 billion by 2023 at a growth rate of 2.11% and 2.81%, respectively- The application of real and compound chocolate in seasonings is witnessed to be the fastest growing segment over the forecast period.Regional and Country Analysis of the Real & Compound Chocolate Market, Development & Demand Forecast to 2023As per the MRFR analysis, the global real and compound chocolate market is poised to reach 5,022.8 kilo tons and 4,017-kilotons, respectively, by 2023.Country-Level AnalysisNorth America- U.S.- Canada- MexicoEurope- Germany- U.K.- France- Italy- Rest of EuropeAsia Pacific- China- India- Japan- Australia & New Zealand- Rest of Asia PacificRest of the World- Middle East- Latin America- AfricaBrowse our full report with Table of Contents :About Bharat Book Bureau:Bharat Book Bureau is the leading market research information provider for market research reports, company profiles, industry study, country reports, business reports, newsletters and online databases. Bharat Book Bureau provides over a million reports from more than 400 publishers around the globe. We cover sectors starting from Aeronautics to Zoology.Contact us at:Bharat Book BureauTel: +91 22 27810772 / 27810773Email: poonam@bharatbook.comWebsite:Follow us on : Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Google Plus Vertical Lift Module Market Research Report by Key Players (Hanel Storage, Kardex, AutoCrib, SencorpWhite) Analysis to 2025 Vertical Lift Module http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/vertical-lift-module-vlm-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000380 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000380 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/ Automotive user segment expected to continue its dominance. Currently, almost 18% of the VLM used by automotive end-user sector. VLM are used to store or retrieve automotive parts from the storage places. They store and retrieve a variety of totes, trays and parts. They efficiently handle small, medium, and large parts that include mufflers and pipes, gaskets and wiper blades etc. Furthermore, the modular nature of the storage system allows for easy scalability of the storage spaces. As and when needed, modules can be added or reduced depending upon the needs of the user. Such as system helps an operator to use the available space to the maximum for storage and thus achieve cost savings.Browse Complete Report with TOC:Major Vertical Lift Module (VLM) market initiatives were observed in the North American and European region as both of these regions are highly developed. Also, APAC region with developing economies such as China and India and other South Asian countries are demanding for better storage and retrieval systems due to their increasing e-commerce, logistics, and manufacturing sector. For this, companies are partnering with each other to enhance their sales and distribution network. The VLM market is facing intense competition and it is constantly increasing. Emergence of competitors globally and pricing pressures has created a pressure on the companies operating in the market to develop differentiate and innovative products along with cost-reduction. Thus, several companies are acquiring VLM business of other companies to expand their product-portfolio.Request a Sample copy of Report:The overall Vertical Lift Module (VLM) market size has been derived using both primary and secondary source. The research process begins with an exhaustive secondary research using internal and external sources to obtain qualitative and quantitative information related to the market. Also, primary interview were conducted with industry participants and commentators in order to validate data and analysis. The participants who typically take part in such a process include industry expert such as VPs, business development managers, market intelligence managers and national sales managers, and external consultant such as valuation experts, research analysts and key opinion leaders specializing in the Vertical Lift Module (VLM) market.Inquire for Discount on this Report:About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.Contact Us:The Insight partners,Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comWebsite: Military Augmented Reality Market Research Report by Key Players (BAE Systems, Applied Research, Google LLC, Six15) Analysis to 2025 Military Augmented Reality (Dismounted Soldier Application) Market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/military-augmented-reality-market http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000801 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/discount/TIPTE100000801 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/ Augmented Reality application in military is rapidly spreading in all three areas- ground, naval as well as military aircrafts, with rising demand of complex battlefields technology in order to enhance safety and effectiveness of war militants. Forward-looking soldier programs have been under research and development for years, experiencing various alterations over that time frame, with theories often utilizing augmented reality technologies delivered through different HMD devices. Initially, technologies such as night vision and navigation were the most essential technologies, however, significant increase in demand for enhanced situational awareness and rising need for hands free navigation in battlefield, thereby driving AR adoption in military. The AR market in military is further flourish in future due to the rising investments in augmented reality for combat operations.Browse Complete Report with TOC:In our study, we have segmented the military augmented reality market for dismounted soldiers application by components, product types and functions. The various components of military augmented reality includes lens, display, cameras, sensors, memory & processors/controllers and others. On basis of product types, the market for military augmented reality is segmented as helmet mounted display (HMD), heads-up display (HUD), smart glasses, and goggles. The functions of military augmented reality considered in the research study includes night vision, situational awareness, navigation and asset management. Geographically, the market for military augmented reality is categorized into five strategic regions namely; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM)The military augmented reality systems market for dismounted soldiers application is estimated to grow at a CAGR of 17.4% during the forecast period from 2018 to 2025. The market for military augmented reality for dismounted soldiers application is estimated to reach US$ 1,795.5 Mn by 2025. The global military augmented reality market is experiencing a steady growth in the current scenario and is anticipated to rise in the coming years. The market for military augmented reality consists of well-established players across the globe, which invests huge amounts in order to deliver the most advanced technology to the military departments. Some of the major software companies is strengthening augmented reality market grip in military application. The augmented reality is expected to replace various tools and devices currently used by the forces, resulting in reduction in weight of equipment mounted on soldiers. The new technology facilitates the soldiers by mapping their location and identifying friend or foe location. Hence, the increased demand for situational awareness, is a prominent driving factor bolstering the growth of augmented reality among the defense forces in a combat operationRequest a Sample copy of Report:North America in military augmented reality market is the most dominating region across the globe. North America includes countries namely; the United States, Canada and Mexico. The region shared the largest market share in 2017 and is anticipated to surge over the forecast period to generate a significant market share by the end of 2025. The region is also anticipated to exhibit maximum growth rate during the forecast period from 2018 to 2025. The dominance over the market and the prime growth rate is attributed to the significant investments from the United States Department of Defense, in order to innovate and develop robust situational awareness systems for the dismounted troops on the battlefield. In addition, Canada and Mexico are the prime customers of advanced technologies of the United States, which procures enhanced system to modernize and strengthen their armed forces, air forces and naval forces. This factor is also acting as a catalyzing factor for the military augmented reality in the North American region during the forecast period. Moreover, technological giants such as Honeywell International Inc., Google LLC are investing huge amounts and time in innovation, designing, developing, and testing of battlefield augmented reality. Furthermore, various other players such as Six15 Technologies, Applied Research Associates Inc., and Osterhout Design Group also engaging themselves in manufacturing of technologically enriched augmented reality for the military troops on the battlefield in order to enhance their situational awareness and to offer the opportunity to navigate hands-free.The major players operating in the field of military augmented reality includes BAE Systems, Applied Research Associates Inc., Google LLC, Osterhout Design Group and Six15 Technologies. In addition, various other companies are researching on different technologies to improve the navigation capabilities of soldiers deployed on the battlefield along with increasing their surrounding awareness.Inquire for Discount on this Report:About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive and Defense.Contact Us:The Insight partners,Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email: sales@theinsightpartners.comWebsite: Compressed Natural Gas Market Headed for Growth and Global Expansion by 2022 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/88855 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/discount/88855 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com Worldwide Market Reports added Latest Research Report titled Global Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Market Professional Survey Report 2017 to its Large Report database.This report studies Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) in Global market, especially in North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan and India, with production, revenue, consumption, import and export in these regions, from 2012 to 2016, and forecast to 2022.** The Values marked with XX is confidential data. To know more about CAGR figures fill in your information so that our business development executive can get in touch with you.Request Sample Copy of the Business Report @This report focuses on top manufacturers in global market, with production, price, revenue and market share for each manufacturer, coveringIndraprastha Gas Limited (IGL), National Iranian Gas Company, Mahanagar gas Limited (MNGL), J-W Power Company, OAO GasProm, Trillium CNG, GNVert, ANGI Energy Systems, NeoGas, China Natural Gas.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoAssociated Gas, Non-Associated Gas, Unconventional Methods.By Application, the market can be split intoLight Duty Vehicles, Medium/Heavy Duty Buses, Medium/Heavy Duty Trucks, Others.By Regions, this report covers (we can add the regions/countries as you want)North America, China, Europe, Southeast Asia, Japan, India.Get discount on this report :Table of Contents :Global Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Market Professional Survey Report 20171 Industry Overview of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)2 Manufacturing Cost Structure Analysis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)3 Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)4 Global Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Overall Market Overview5 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Regional Market Analysis6 Global 2012-2017E Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Segment Market Analysis (by Type)7 Global 2012-2017E Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Segment Market Analysis (by Application)8 Major Manufacturers Analysis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)9 Development Trend of Analysis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Market10 Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Marketing Type Analysis11 Consumers Analysis of Compressed Natural Gas (CNG)12 Conclusion of the Global Compressed Natural Gas (CNG) Market Professional Survey Report 2017** If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.ABOUT WMR :Worldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.CONTACT US:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.comWebsite: Heart Transplant Market Segmentation and Major Key Players Analysis 2023 Heart Transplant Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1836 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1836 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1836 The Global Heart Transplant Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 11.2% during the forecast period of 2017-2023.Heart transplantation has emerged as a possible therapeutic strategy for some sufferers with quit-stage heart sickness by means of offering them prolonged survival and improved quality of lifestyles. The heart specialist might also refer the affected person to a coronary heart transplant center if, the patient fitness is critical and other treatments aren't capable of enhance things or control affected person signs. In a coronary heart transplant, a surgical procedure is executed to remove a person's diseased coronary heart and update it with a wholesome coronary heart from a deceased donor. By and large, it's far completed on patients who have quit-degree coronary heart failure.Coronary artery disorder is the one of the principal motive which damages the coronary heart muscle that consequences in coronary heart failure. There are numerous illnesses which lead to coronary heart failures along with cough-particularly at night time, poor exercising tolerance, and shortness of breath, fatigue, and fluid retention.Get a Sample Copy of This Report @Consistent with the registry of the global society for heart and lung transplantation, approximately 500-six hundred pediatric heart transplantation processes are completed globally every 12 months, which represents round 12% of the full range of coronary heart transplants accomplished. And in 2014, a total quantity of youngsters heart transplants execute globally turned into 586. In children, the most often triggered of heart failure is happened because of a congenital coronary heart defect or a cardiomyopathy.Global Heart Transplant Market: Competitive AnalysisGlobal heart transplant market is a continuously developing market, and there are number of device manufacturers who are involved in the manufacturing and development of the Ventricular access devices and also the total artificial heart. Some of these companies include SynCardia Systems, LLC, HeartWare International Inc., Apaxis Medical, Inc., Calon Cardio, Optum Inc., Thoratec Corporation, CardiacAssist Inc., CARMAT, TransMedics, Inc., ABIOMED, Jarvik Heart and others.Regional Analysis:The Americas dominate the global heart transplant market owing to well-developed technology, high health care spending, increasing government support for research & development, and increasing patient with coronary artery disease, heart valve disease, and cardiomyopathy. Furthermore, increased R&D activities and the concentration of major companies have fuelled the growth of the market in this region. According to the International Society for Heart and Lung Transplantation in 2016, total heart transplants in the U.S. were performed in patients up to 17 years of age is 444.Europe holds the second position in the global heart transplantation market owing to the government support for research & development and availability of funds for research. This is expected to continue driving the European market over the forecasted period. For instance, countries like Germany and France are increasing investment in the healthcare domain.Get Attractive Discount on This Report @Asia Pacific is the fastest growing health transplantation market owing to the presence of rapidly developing healthcare technology and high healthcare expenditure. Moreover, lower treatment cost as compared to developed countries attract global patients to the countries like India and China market. Furthermore, increasing demand for quality devices in the healthcare is projected to lead to the use of advanced equipment, which, in turn, is likely to increase the growth of the heart transplantation market in the region.On the other hand, the Middle East and Africa account for the least market owing to poor political conditions in Africa and limited availability of funds and medical facilities. The Middle East holds the major share of the Middle East & Africa region due to the presence of well-developed countries like Kuwait, Qatar, Oman, and South Arabia.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:February 2017 - The University of Pittsburgh Medical Center and Microsoft announced their partnership launching an initiative to build three specialty hospitals with a digital focus. UPMC declared the investment of USD 2 billion to add three tech-based hospitals to its healthcare system in Pittsburgh, including the UPMC Heart and Transplant Hospital, UPMC Hillman Cancer Hospital and UPMC Vision and Rehabilitation Hospital. Microsoft will act as creative force for developing the digital hospitals in this collaboration providing developers and leveraging its digital tools.March 2017 - Research Team at the University of Minnesota, announced that they have discovered a groundbreaking process to successfully re-warm large-scale animal heart valves and blood vessels preserved at very low temperatures. The discovery is a major step forward in saving millions of human lives by increasing the availability of organs and tissues for transplantation through the establishment of tissue and organ banks.November 2017 - Doctors at the Cleveland Clinic revealed the new understanding of cholesterol after a number of trials that have recently shown a 20 percent reduction in the risk of cardiovascular death, heart attack, and stroke in patients who took statins combined with a new class of cholesterol-lowering drugs (PCSK9 inhibitors) to reach ultra-low LDL levels. This means now, doctors will have the tools and the research to take the fight to LDL cholesterol. With over 400,000 coronary disease deaths and 102 million Americans living with high cholesterol levels, these new strategies hold the promise to turn the tide in 2018.Inquire about This Report @About US:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact:Market Research Future+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Process Management System Market Size & Share by Application, Type and Region - Global Forecast to 2025 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1378467 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1378467/process-management-system-global-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1378467 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ MarketResearchReports.Biz announces addition of new report "Process Management System Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its database.The objectives of this study are as follows:To define, describe, and forecast the "Process Management System" market by type, application, component, delivery model, end user, and regionTo provide detailed information regarding major factors influencing market growth (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges)To analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall marketTo analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leadersTo forecast the market size of market segments with respect to the four key regions: North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW)To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their product portfolios, market positions, and core competenciesGet Sample Copy of this report @Process Management System Market OverviewIn the growing corporate world process management systems are in high demand. A proper process management is critical to any company because it ensures sustained functioning and regular flow of revenue. Any business is run by a set of activities collaborated together. A process management system ensures the adequate flow and efficiency of those activities. Manufacturing business generally require strictly controlled systems, customer services on the other hand focus on unstructured process. A process Management System has two key focus areas: process management and the IT automation of existing workflows. IT solutions that make it easy to convert human workflows into a more software-managed workflow, are marketed more but its the process management system that supports the automation efforts that is probably more important. Process management systems are classifies by performance improvement and sustainability. A process management system should be able to provide value to customers, variation reduction in process execution, error reduction, increasing value of workforce, provide information for better functioning of the company and provide structure for workflow automation. A process management system is used for integration, connection, and service-oriented architecture (SOA) process management.Process Management System Market- DynamicsThe process management system market is driven by the growing demand companies for better cost control, improved risk management and better risk management. Process management system market is booming because its believed that better revenue and outcomes can be generated by the automation process. Also standardisation of process and product specification increases productivity. Increasing demand for workforce mobility is also driving the process management system market.The adoption mobile process management system has been trending in the market lately. These offer real-time access to process management procedures from the remote locations. Enterprises are extending their existing processes to mobile workforces with the aim to encourage productivity, enhance business responsiveness, and improve processing times.View Full Report @Process Management System Market- SegmentationThe global process management system market is segmented by function/service type and deployment type.The global process management system market is segmented by function/service type as:Accounting and FinanceManufacturingHuman ResourceSupply Chain ManagementOperation and SupportProcess ImprovementAutomationMonitoring and OptimizationOthersThe global process management system market is segmented by deployment type as:On-premiseCloudProcess Management System Market- Regional OutlookGeographically, the Global Process Management System market is designed for seven regions namely, North-America, Western Europe, Asia Pacific except Japan (APEJ), Eastern Europe, Latin America, the Middle East & Africa and Japan. North America will command the Global Process Management System market. Companies in the region are concentrating on upgrading consumer loyalty, which actuates the need to enhance business forms and thus, drives this current market's development. North America will be the leader of the market, owing to the consistent overhauls in plans of action and the need to mechanize the whole business process in corporate associations. Europe will significantly contribute the market while APEJ is expected exhibit high CAGR. The Overall outlook for Global Process Management System market is highly positive.Process Management System Market: Key PlayersSome of the key players in process management system market areOpenTextAppianOracleIBMPegasystemsAdobe SystemsSoftware AGBoschNewgen SoftwareTIBCO SoftwareIntellectProcess Management System Market: Competitive AnalysisKey manufacturers of process management system are focusing in product development including enabling wider industrial applications with the help of their R&D department. The presence of large number of process management system providers and local vendors increase the competition, to break through this competition the vendors are providing hybrid cloud solutions. Some are also offering collaborating products to enable customer interaction and better visibility and control over the entire application. Pegasystems is a key vendor in this market space. The global market is likely to witness further more field mount temperature transmitters developments along with growing demand, triggering the market growth during the forecast period.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.Request For Enquiry @The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Steering Column Market Size(Volume & Value), Growth and Development Trends 2017-2025 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1378469 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1378469/steering-column-global-industry-market-research-reports https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/enquiry/1378469 http://www.marketresearchreports.biz/ MarketResearchReports.Biz announces addition of new report "Steering Column Market- Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its database.The objectives of this study are as follows:To define, describe, and forecast the "Steering Column" market by type, application, component, delivery model, end user, and regionTo provide detailed information regarding major factors influencing market growth (drivers, restraints, opportunities, and industry-specific challenges)To analyze micromarkets with respect to individual growth trends, prospects, and contributions to the overall marketTo analyze opportunities in the market for stakeholders and provide details of the competitive landscape for market leadersTo forecast the market size of market segments with respect to the four key regions: North America, Europe, Asia, and the Rest of the World (RoW)To strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their product portfolios, market positions, and core competenciesGet Sample Copy of this report @Steering Column Market: OverviewThe Column is a device intended primarily for connecting the steering wheel to the steering mechanism or transferring the driver's input torque from the steering wheel. It controls the vehicle's steering as well as acts as a host of other functions. The ignition switch, turn signals, and windshield wipers are all typically found in this column. A gear selector and cruise control are also found in this part of the vehicle. The majority of the steering column assembly is located underneath the vehicle's dash in the driver's compartment and protrudes into the engine compartment on the opposite side. The column is linked to the steering components of the vehicle's chassis by a series of universal joints and solid steel tubing. The steering column consists of a collapsible housing containing a collapsible, rotating shaft. The steering column is connected to the input shaft of the steering gear by a flexible joint. This allows the alignment and reduces the transmission of road shocks back to the driver. Some of the steering columns have an intermediate shaft, which runs at about an oblique angle, from the column to the steering gear. Some manufacturers fit sensors and control units to the steering column, that provide information to steering control modules as part of an electric assisted or 4-wheel steering system.Steering Column Market: DynamicsHigh demand for automotive is the key driving factor for the global steering column market since an automotive can't be manufactured without a steering column. Technological advancement has led to the development of more efficient steering column systems. These improve the overall driving experience and ensure greater safety than before. Due to multi functionality and increased safety, their demand amongst users has significantly increased. Demand for high mileage is also a driving factor for the global steering column market.The collapsible steering column is the latest trend in the market these days. In the case of an accident the steering column collapse to the automotive floor preventing the driver from getting hurt front the front of the vehicle.View Full Report @Steering Column Market: SegmentationThe global Steering Column Market is segmented by Vehicle Type, Sales channel, Pivot Alignment, Steering System and Column Type.By vehicle type, the global Steering Column market is segmented as Passenger carsEconomy carMicro carHatchbackSedanLuxury carSports carSUVMini VanCommercial vehiclesLight commercial vehiclesHeavy commercial vehiclesBy sales channel, the global Steering Column market is segmented as OEMAftermarketBy pivot alignment, the global Steering Column market is segmented as Lower pivot Tilt and Telescopic Steering ColumnLower pivot Tilt Steering Column.Upper Pivot Tilt & Telescope Steering Column, Lower pivot TiltLower Pivot Steering ColumnBy Steering System, the global Steering Column market is segmented as Manual Worm & Roller Steering SystemPower Steering SystemManual Recirculating Ball & Nut Steering SystemManual Rack And Pinion Steering SystemBy Column Type, the global Steering Column market is segmented as-Adjustable Steering ColumnsPower Adjustable Steering ColumnsTilt-Adjustable Steering ColumnsNon-Adjustable Steering ColumnsPower One touch AdjustabilityTouch Control Electronic Transmission Shifter Steering ColumnEnergy Absorbing Steering ColumnsSteering Column Market: Regional OutlookBased on geography, the Global steering column Market has been categorized into seven key regions including North America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, Latin America, and the Middle East & Africa. APEJ has grown into the largest market for steering columns in terms of CAGR owing to high demand for automotive in countries like India and China closely followed by North America and Europe. Passenger vehicles hold the largest market share presently. Market share for commercial vehicles is expected to show steady growth over the forecast period. Steady growth is expected in the Middle East over the forecast period. Asia Pacific is expected to continue leading the steering column market, both in demand and supply. The global steering column market growth is positive during the forecast period.Request For Enquiry @Steering Column Market: Key playersSome of the key players in the global steering Column market are Hangzhou Feiyue Automobile Parts Co., Ltd., Technymon Srl India, ATP AUTO TRUCK PARTS YEDEK PARCA SAN VE TIC. LTD. STI., Anhui Finetech Machinery Co., Ltd., Ningbo CIE Corporation, Oyster Europe Limited, Qi Automotive Ltd, Hyundai Glovis, BNL (UK) Limited, Hubei Tri-Ring Motor Steering Gear Co., Ltd., MSGroup, Nakanishi Metal Works Co LtdThe report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout usMarketResearchReports.biz is the most comprehensive collection of market research reports. MarketResearchReports.Biz services are specially designed to save time and money for our clients. We are a one stop solution for all your research needs, our main offerings are syndicated research reports, custom research, subscription access and consulting services. We serve all sizes and types of companies spanning across various industries.Contact usMr. NachiketState Tower90 Sate Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074Website:E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Global Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market 2018-2025 Drivers, Industry Capacity, Revenue and Growth Rate Forecast Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market https://bit.ly/2EYlNRi http://www.qymarketstudy.com/report/global-electrical-system-cryotherapy-chamber-market-1981 A market study "Global Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market" examines the performance of the Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market 2018 report includes Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber market Revenue, market Share, Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber industry volume, market Trends, Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market 2018 :1. Cryo Manufacturing2. Impact Cryotherapy3. USCryotherapy4. Zimmer...Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market : By ApplicationHospitalsTherapeutic CentreElectrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market : By TypeSingle-chamber systemTwo-chamber systemThree-chamber systemOthersFirstly, the report covers the top Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber industry, Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber market revenue worldwide.Finally, Electrical System Cryotherapy Chamber market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us:QYMarketStudy.com is a single destination for all the industry, company and country reports. We have a leading market intelligence team which accredits and provides the reports of some of the top publishers in the field of the technology industry.Contact Us:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@qymarketstudy.com Payment Gateways Consumption: Market by Top Manufacturers with Production-Amazon Payments, CCBill, PayPal, Stripe, AsiaPay/PayDollar, eWAY AU, e-Path and Others Qy Research Groups https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/69257 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/send-an-enquiry/69257 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/check-discount/69257 Worldwide Payment Gateways Consumption Market Analysis to 2023 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Payment Gateways Consumption industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Payment Gateways Consumption market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Payment Gateways Consumption market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Payment Gateways Consumption players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Payment Gateways Consumption Market Players: Amazon Payments CCBill PayPal Stripe AsiaPay/PayDollar MercadoPago eWAY AU NAB Transact e-Path Merchant Warrior SecurePay Moip PagSeguro Beanstream Moneris Payson GoCardless SecureTrading BitCoin SmsCoinRequest a Sample Report atThe report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Payment Gateways Consumption market based on product and application. It also provides market size and forecast till 2023 for overall Payment Gateways Consumption market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM), which is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend and provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions.Inquire before Buying atAlso, key Payment Gateways Consumption market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years.Reason to Buy- Highlights key business priorities in order to assist companies to realign their business strategies.- The key findings and recommendations highlight crucial progressive industry trends in the Payment Gateways Consumption market, thereby allowing players to develop effective long term strategies.- Develop/modify business expansion plans by using substantial growth offering developed and emerging markets.- Scrutinize in-depth global market trends and outlook coupled with the factors driving the market, as well as those hindering it.- Enhance the decision-making process by understanding the strategies that underpin commercial interest with respect to products, segmentation and industry verticals.Inquire for Discount atContact Us:Call: +1-888-236-2744Email: sales@qyresearchgroups.comQY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Room B1510, Shiji Kemao Building,No.66 Zhongguancun East Road,Haidian District, Beijing,100190, China. Stun Gun Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/666 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/666 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Number of criminal and rape incidents, in most economies is among the primary concern of the government agencies. Some of the major economies that include Australia, U.S., New Zealand, Norway and France are among the developed economies that have the highest reported incidents per 100,000 citizens. According to the Nations Master crime and rape rate statistics, these countries had over 15 rapes per 100,000 inhabitants. Moreover, usage of lethal weapons is substantially discouraged for the personal protection and are significantly difficult to afford. Requirement of preparedness in case of threat to personal safety are expected to drive the overall industry growth through the next few years. Moreover, functionality of some of the products that feature usability in adverse weather conditions, when pepper sprays or other self-defense tactics prove inefficient, are expected to propel the adoption rates.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Irregular possibilities of civil unrest and requirement to maintain the law and order without critical damage to the civilians will present considerable growth prospectsFrance, Argentina, Myanmar, Mexico, Bangladesh, and India are among the most civil unrest prone regions, owing to substantial number of news headlines associated with the civil riots. Moreover, some riots in these countries past have witnessed requirements of military interventions to ensure the peace. Recurring surfacing of such incidences are expected to be the most prominent stun gun market growth driver over the forecast period. Additionally these find significant applications for probes against convicts who are under the influence of alcohol and drugs, which reduces their sensitivity to pain.Advent of CEWs that can monitor heart rates rhythms with featuring over 99.75% human life safety are gaining significant tractionIn August 2016, Wake Forest Baptist Medical Center researchers successfully developed stun guns that was capable of recording the subject individuals heart rhythm and rates and capability to avoid serious injuries and fatalities. Increasing incidences of the serious incidents owing to pre-medical conditions, when using these devices are doing the rounds in media. Moreover, these serious injuries and deaths often included other risk factors, including drug use. These developments will ensure the human life safety and drive the stun gun market.Law enforcement agencies are anticipated to continue the industry dominance through the forecast periodMajor factors driving the segment growth are the increasing adoption of stun guns by special police forces and law enforcement agencies in major countries such as the US, Australia, and Canada. Moreover, increased awareness in the developing and underdeveloped economies about the benefits of these devices will drive the overall product demands through the forecast period.U.S. accounted for the major global stun gun market share in 2016High utilization of these devices in both the civil and law enforcement agencies was the primary growth contributor in the region. However, the country has witnessed significant increase in the malpractices of these equipment in domestic violence and fatal incidences due to inappropriate usage on pregnant women and child abuse will drive present considerable growth challenges to the industry growthIndustry is characterized by presence of large number industry participants offering extensive range of products and devices. Some of the key players in the stun gun market include Euro Security Products, MARCH, Nova Security, Shyh Sing Enterprise, TASER International, and Jiun An Technology.Request for Table of Content of this Report @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Projected to Witness Vigorous Expansion at a CAGR of ~9.5% with Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Medtronic by 2023 Medical Devices Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2801 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/2801 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/2801 The medical device industry witnessed one of the fastest growth propelled by innovation and rapid uptake of technologies. The Medical Devices Market has also resulted in the successful fusion of information technology and healthcare. A medical device is any instrument, appliance including any software, biologic or non-biologic material, to be used for the diagnostic or therapeutic use for management of diseases and disorders.Try Sample Report Here @Technology and product development remain the main pillars for the growing market for medical devices. The market involves two segments one high-tech devices with extreme sophistication and another is the low tech improved devices. The high tech segment such as diagnostic imaging devices is witnessing higher rates of growth. The low tech segment is also growing at a good rate but has witnessed growth in developing regions as the market for these in developed regions is stagnant. The other market driving factors are rising public healthcare expenditure in Saudi Arabia, development of large hospitals such as King Faisal hospital in Riyadh, demand for noninvasive therapy etc.The future developments will include cloud integration, connected healthcare devices and growing demand for personalized medical wearable devices. Healthcare mobile applications will also lead the market.Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Key PlayersThe major participants of this market are: Johnson & Johnson, General Electric, Medtronic, Koninklijke Philips Electronics NV., Baxter Internationa, Fresenius Medical Care AG & Co., Cardinal Health, Al-Salehiya Medical Estableshment, Saudi Pharmaceutical Industries & Medical Appliances Corporation (SPIMACO), Al Amin Medical Instruments Company (AMICO), Al Faisaliah Medical Systems (FMS), Siemens Ltd and others.Study Objectives Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market To provide detail analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 6 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Saudi Arabia medical devices market To provide insights about factors affecting the market growth To analyze the market based on various factors- price analysis, supply chain analysis, porters five force analysis etc. To provide historical and forecast revenue of the market segments and sub-segments for Saudi Arabia Medical Devices marketGet Discount on Report @Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market - Regional AnalysisThe healthcare sector of Saudi Arabia is divided between private and state. The public healthcare expenditure accounts for approximately 75% of total health expenditure in 2014. Local manufacturing represents a poor outlook which is limited to consumables and ordinary articles. The government has established some of the best hospitals in the region such as King Faisal specialist hospital and research center, Riyadh military hospital, Saudi Arabias National Guard health affairs hospital etc. Saudi Arabia is extremely dependent on imports for medical devices and imports account for approximately 92% of total market for medical devices. U.S. medical device suppliers dominate the scenario with European vendors in the second position. Among the regions of Saudi Arabia Riyadh tops the healthcare expenditure list followed by Tabuk, Makkah and Madina.Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market - SegmentationSaudi Arabia medical devices market has been segmented on the basis of product type which comprises monitoring devices, diagnostic devices, diagnostic molecular devices, drug delivery devices, surgical devices, bio implants and stimulation devices, automation and robotics and others. On the basis of therapeutic application; market is segmented into general surgery, diagnostic imaging, respiratory, orthopedics, cardiovascular, dental, neurology, ophthalmology, ear-nose-throat (ENT), nephrology and urology, and others. On the basis of end users; market is segmented hospitals, ambulatory, home and others.Some of Major Table of Content for Saudi Arabia Medical Devices Market Research Report - Forecast to 20231 Introduction1.1 Definition1.2 Scope of Study1.3 Research Objective1.4 Assumptions & Limitations1.5 Market Structure:2 Research Methodology2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary Research3 Market Dynamics3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Challenges3.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4 Market Factor Analysis.ContinuedTo Know More Enquire @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Aircraft Thrust Reverser Market Trends 2018 & Forecasts to 2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2311 https://www.gminsights.com/securecheckout/paymenta/2311?gmpaycod=sugmp https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/aircraft-thrust-reverser-market http://speednews.com/Article/115731 Cascade is estimated to continue its dominance over the forecast study frame. The demand can be credited to growing installation in advanced new generation airplanes. Bucket aircraft thrust reverser is likely to exhibit growth at over 4% from 2017 to 2024. Shifting trends towards replacing the conventional air fleet with advanced aircraft will boost the product demand.Global aircraft thrust reverser market is anticipated to exceed USD 2.2 billion over the forecast timeframe. Increasing demand of products offering superior safety to the airplane during aborted takeoff and landing will drive industry growth. Implementation of aircraft thrust reverser provides supplementary force particularly on wet, icy and slippery runways. Growing demand for commercial airplane can be credited to increasing air passengers, infrastructure development and price affordability.Request for a sample of this research report @Proliferating GDP is key factor supporting the air passenger growth. Shifting trends towards expansion of service-oriented business model, liberalization along with air travel are the factors supporting the aircraft thrust reverser market from 2017 to 2024. Manufacturers and airliners are focusing on enhancing the functional safety of the aircrafts. Demand for shorter landing distance offering less down time along with consistent safety checks will positively drive the product demand.Complexity in product design coupled with high manufacturing and installation cost may challenge the business growth. Industry players are developing advanced process to reduce the production cost and cycle time for composite manufacturing with adoption of automated process. Industry participants are developing extended supply chain agreement and sole supplier with the aerospace manufacturers.In 2016, aircraft thrust reverser demand from large widebody airplane accounted around USD 40 million. The revenue generation can be attributed to expanding demand for airliner particularly from mature regions. Aircraft thrust reverser demand from single aisle plane will witness robust growth over 4.5% over the study timeframe. Positive outlook of commercial air plane particularly from developing economies owing to proliferating investment in aviation sector will boost the industry growth.Hand layup accounted for over 50% volume share of aircraft thrust reverser market in 2016. Advancement of the process contributing mass production, enhanced manufacturing method and ease in fiber processing are the major factors boosting the business demand. AFT/ATP will exhibit over 4.5% CAGR up to 2024. Shifting trend towards advanced production process along with automation offering reduced processing time is attributed to product growth.Buy This Latest Research Report @Electric aircraft thrust reverser market is likely to exhibit gains at 5.5% over the forecast timeframe. The product offers reduced weight owing to eliminating implementation of corrosive heavy fluids. Industry players are developing electric thrust reverser for airplane fleet. In 2016, hydraulics accounted for major share of aircraft thrust reverser market. The dominance can be credited to simplified installation and functioning of the system.In 2016, North America aircraft thrust reverser market led by the U.S. contributed over 55% of the business share. The dominance can be credited to notable deliveries from the manufactures coupled with superior demand for single aisle airplanes in the region. The U.S. exports for airplanes and spacecraft accounted over USD 130 billion in 2015. Europe led by France, UK and Germany will witness significant growth in the exports over the forecast timeframe. Germany, UK and France collectively contributed around USD 115 billion in 2015. Stringent airline safety regulations in the region will positively drive the product penetration. Obligatory implementation, narrow and widebody airplane will support the aircraft thrust reverser market share.Asia Pacific led by Japan, India and China will witness robust growth up to 2024. This can be attributed to high demand for single aisle & widebody, proliferating passenger traffic, and regional deliveries. Growing population coupled with affordable air tariffs are the prime factors supporting the industry growth. Developing GDP, affordability, industry consolidation and stable economic performance will positively drive the aircraft thrust reverser market from 2017 to 2024.Triumph Group, GKN Aerospace, Safran S.A., Nordam and UTC Aerospace Systems are among notable participants. Industry players are developing products sufficing the weight standards along with rigidity sufficing the aviation standards. Sharing risk with the air plane producers are the prime strategy implemented by the players in the aircraft thrust reverser market.Chapter 4. Aircraft Thrust Reverser Market, By Product4.1. Global aircraft thrust reverser market share by product, 2016 & 20244.2. Cascade4.2.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20244.2.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20244.3. Pivot door4.3.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20244.3.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20244.4. Bucket4.4.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20244.4.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-2024Chapter 5. Aircraft Thrust Reverser Market, By Aircraft5.1. Global aircraft thrust reverser market share by aircraft, 2016 & 20245.2. Large Widebody5.2.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20245.2.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20245.3. Medium Widebody5.3.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20245.3.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20245.4. Small Widebody5.4.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20245.4.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20245.5. Single Aisle5.5.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20245.5.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-20245.6. Regional Jets5.6.1. Market estimates and forecast, 2013-20245.6.2. Market estimates and forecast, by region, 2013-2024Browse Full TOC @Related Report:Browse key industry insights spread across 450 pages with 655 market data tables & 26 figures & charts from the report, Aircraft Communication System Market Size By Product (SATCOM, HF, VHF, UHF, Data Link Communication), By Component (Antenna, Transponder, Receiver, Transmitter, Transceiver, Display & Processor), By Aircraft (Commercial Aircraft, Military Aircraft, Helicopters, Spacecraft), By Distribution Channel (OEM, Aftermarket) Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Russia, Poland, Netherlands, Sweden, China, Japan, India, South Korea, Australia, Singapore, Brazil, Mexico, Argentina, Peru, Chile, Colombia, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia, Israel, Egypt, Turkey, Iran, Algeria, UAE, Syria, South Africa), Growth Potential, Price Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.4 North Main StreetSelbyville Bauxite Cement Market 2018 Industry Growth, Share, Trends, Demand, Analysis and Forecast to 2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3132052-2018-global-bauxite-cement-industry-depth-research-report https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3132052-2018-global-bauxite-cement-industry-depth-research-report The report provides a comprehensive analysis of the Bauxite Cement industry market by types, applications, players and regions. This report also displays the 2013-2023 production, Consumption, revenue, Gross margin, Cost, Gross, market share, CAGR, and Market influencing factors of the Bauxite Cement industry in USA, EU, China, India, Japan and other regionsMarket Analysis by Players: This report includes following top vendors in terms of company basic information, product category, sales (volume), revenue (Million USD), price and gross margin (%).KerneosAlmatisCalucemAgc CeramicsCimsaRwcCiments MolinsHansonOrient AbrasivesGorkaZhengzhou DengfengZhengzhou YuxiangHuayan IndXinxing CementJiaxiang IndYangquan TianlongZhengzhou GaofengZhengzhou LvduKede Waterproof MaterialZhengzhou JinghuaJiangsu ZhongyiFengrun Metallurgy MaterialRequest a Sample Report @Market Analysis by Regions: Each geographical region is analyzed as Sales, Market Share (%) by Types & Applications, Production, Consumption, Imports & Exports Analysis, and Consumption Forecast.USAEuropeJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaSouth AmericaSouth AfricaOthersMarket Analysis by Types: Each type is studied as Sales, Market Share (%), Revenue (Million USD), Price, Gross Margin and more similar information.CA-50CA-70CA-80OtherMarket Analysis by Applications: Each application is studied as Sales and Market Share (%), Revenue (Million USD), Price, Gross Margin and more similar information.Construction (Road & Bridge)Industrial KilnSewage TreatmentOtherTable of Content1 Bauxite Cement Market Overview1.1 Product Overview of Bauxite Cement1.2 Classification of Bauxite Cement1.2.1 Type 11.2.2 Type 21.2.3 Type 31.2.4 Type 41.3 Applications of Bauxite Cement1.3.1 Application 11.3.2 Application 21.3.3 Application 31.3.4 Application 41.4 Global Bauxite Cement Market Regional Analysis1.4.1 USA Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.2 Europe Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.3 Japan Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.4 China Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.5 India Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.6 Southeast Asia Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.7 South America Market Present Situation Analysis1.4.8 South Africa Market Present Situation Analysis1.5 Bauxite Cement Industry Development Factors Analysis1.5.1 Bauxite Cement Industry Development Opportunities Analysis1.5.2 Bauxite Cement Industry Development Challenges Analysis1.6 Bauxite Cement Consumer Behavior Analysis2 Global Bauxite Cement Competitions by Players2.1 Global Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Players2.2 Global Bauxite Cement Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Players (2017-2018)2.3 Global Bauxite Cement Price (USD/Unit) by Players (2017-2018)2.4 Global Bauxite Cement Gross Margin by Players (2017-2018)3 Global Bauxite Cement Competitions by Types3.1 Global Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Types3.2 Global Bauxite Cement Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Type (2013-2018)3.3 Global Bauxite Cement Price (USD/Unit) by Type (2013-2018)3.4 Global Bauxite Cement Gross Margin by Type (2013-2018)3.5 USA Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.6 China Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.7 Europe Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.8 Japan Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.9 India Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.10 Southeast Asia Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.11 South America Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type3.12 South Africa Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Type4 Global Bauxite Cement Competitions by Applications4.1 Global Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.2 Global Bauxite Cement Revenue (Million USD) and Share by Applications (2013-2018)4.3 Global Bauxite Cement Price (USD/Unit) by Applications (2013-2018)4.4 Global Bauxite Cement Gross Margin by Applications (2013-2018)4.5 USA Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.6 China Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.7 Europe Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.8 Japan Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.9 India Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.10 Southeast Asia Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.11 South America Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications4.12 South Africa Bauxite Cement Sales (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Applications5 Global Bauxite Cement Production Market Analysis by Regions5.1 Global Bauxite Cement Production (Unit) and Market Share (%) by Regions5.1.1 USA Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.2 Europe Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.3 China Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.4 Japan Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.5 India Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.6 Southeast Asia Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.7 South America Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.1.8 South Africa Bauxite Cement Market Production Present Situation Analysis5.2 Global Bauxite Cement Production Value (Million USD) and Share by Region (2013-2018)5.3 Global Bauxite Cement Price (USD/Unit) by Region (2013-2018)5.4 Global Bauxite Cement Gross Margin by Region (2013-2018)6 Global Bauxite Cement Sales Market Analysis by Region6.1 USA Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.2 Europe Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.3 China Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.4 Japan Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.5 India Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.6 Southeast Asia Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.7 South America Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation Analysis6.8 South Africa Bauxite Cement Market Consumption Present Situation AnalysisContinuedAccess Complete Report @Contact Us:Norah TrentPartner Relations & Marketing ManagerSales@Wiseguyreports.ComPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US)Ph: +44 208 133 9349 (UK)ABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.ADDRES:WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India GLOBAL CHAMPAGNE INDUSTRY ANALYSIS, SIZE, SHARE, GROWTH, TRENDS AND FORECAST 2018 2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1615769-global-champagne-market-report-2016-edition https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1615769-global-champagne-market-report-2016-edition www.linkedin.com/company/4828928 https://twitter.com/WiseGuyReports https://www.facebook.com/Wiseguyreports-1009007869213183/?fref=ts Like perfumes or haute couture, champagne is one of the products that best embodies the luxury spirit. Champagne, a variant of sparkling wine, is associated with premium and luxury attributes. Champagne wines are produced by natural yeast fermentation in the bottle, in accordance with strict criteria laid down in the champagne regulatory framework covering every aspect of winemaking. Champagne types are classified as vintage, non-vintage, blanc-des-blancs, rose champagne, and demi-sec.GET SAMPLE REPORT @The UK remains the largest export market of champagne. France despite being the ancient champagne producer saw a decline in the shipments. Emerging economies are changing the face of the champagne market. Increasing consumption trends in major countries, innovative branding, and increasing off-trade distribution channels are the factors supporting growth of the market. Asia pacific is the fastest growing region for premium spirits consumption both in terms of volume and value.The report offers an in-depth analysis of the global champagne market segmented into global wine market, global champagne market and regional champagne market. The key factors driving the growth in the champagne market are increasing surface area of vineyard worldwide, improving economic conditions, growth of the luxury wine market, increased number of HNWI, and rise of champagne consumption in some parts of Europe. However, there are a number of factors which are hindering the growth of the champagne market like high import duty, decreased grape production and increased use of fake champagnes in the name of big brands.Competition in this market is rather concentrated with a few champagne houses dominating the market, through brand diversification. LVMH is leading the global champagne market in terms of both, revenue and volume. Other top champagne houses that have been covered in the report include Lanson-BCC, Vranken-Pommery Monopole, and Laurent Perrier.Table of Content: Key Points1. Introduction1.1 Champagne Types1.2 The Champagne Appellation1.3 Production Methods1.3.1 Traditional Method1.3.2 Charmat Method1.3.3 Transfer Method1.3.4 Injection Method1.4 Grape Varieties Used in the Production1.5 Production Process1.6 Champagne Producers2. Global Wine Market2.1 Global Wine Production2.2 Global Wine Production by Region2.3 Global Wine Consumption2.4 Global Wine Consumption by Region2.5 Global Wine Exports by Volume & Value2.6 Global Wine Exports Value by Types3. Global Champagne Market3.1 Global Champagne Market by Value3.2 Global Champagne Shipments Volume3.3 Global Champagne Shipment by Types3.4 Global Champagne Shipment by Top Countries4. Regional Champagne Market4.1 Europe4.1.1 France Champagne Shipment by Volume & Value4.1.2 The UK Champagne Shipment by Volume & Value4.1.3 Germany Champagne Shipment by Volume & Value4.2 The U.S.4.2.1 The US Champagne Shipment Volume & Value4.3 Japan4.3.1 Japan Champagne Shipment by Volume & Value5. Market Dynamics5.1 Industry Trends and Developments5.1.1 Increasing Consumption Trend in Major Countries5.1.2 Innovative Branding to Target Younger Generation5.1.3 Top Producers Shifting Attention to the US and Asia5.1.4 Demand from Emerging Markets5.1.5 Increasing Off-trade Distribution Channels5.1.6 Rise of Champagne Consumption in Europe5.2 Growth Drivers5.2.1 Rising Worldwide Surface Area of Vineyards5.2.2 Improving Economic Conditions5.2.3 Rising High Net worth Individuals5.2.4 Growth in Luxury Wine Market5.2.5 Rise in Online Sales5.3 Challenges and Issues5.3.1 Impact of Global Economic Conditions5.3.2 Fall in Global Grape Production5.3.3 Counterfeiting of Luxury Goods6. Competitive Landscape6.1 Top Champagne Houses by Revenue6.2 Revenue Growth Comparison6.3 Shipment Ownership by Volume7. Company ProfilesContinuedACCESS REPORT @Get in touch:LinkedIn:Twitter:Facebook:Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISE GUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Long-Term-Rental pushing up Italian True Fleet Market against a Total Market tumble www.dataforce.de Frankfurt am Main -- The Italian car markets growth streak has perhaps been left a little paralysed from the recent elections. Following a minor dip in February, March Total Market registrations were down by 5.1% leaving registrations just shy of 229,000 units. This drop in registrations is once again from the Private Market which in its 4th month of negative growth contracted by 12.7%. However, the True Fleet Market is holding its head up well against this trend, upping its volume by 6.1%. Italian companies, alongside a growing number of private customers are keen to sign LTR (Long-Term-Rental) contracts, thus turning this channel into the growth driver for the True Fleet Market and a stabilising factor for the overall car market.Brand performanceThe top 10 list of OEMs saw lots of movement with only three brands retaining their positions. No surprises for the top spot. Fiat, while not fully participating in the LTR boom, they remain comfortably in the lead. The second position was claimed by BMW with the premium brand not only growing their fleet registrations by remarkable 47.3% but also climbing up the ranking by four positions. Primarily, it was the 1 Series helping the Bavarians to gain ground but with substantial contributions also stemming from the 2 Series Active Tourer, the X1 and the 5 Series.VW on ranked 3rd and Mercedes just behind them were the other top 10 OEMs to retain their location on the ladder, both of them with growth rates exceeding the channels average. Ford secured the fifth position, despite the challenge of repeating the high registrations from March 2017 which mostly came from the Fiesta. Speaking of repetitions, Audi on number six was just six registrations away from duplicating their result from one year ago.Following the Ingolstadt-based manufacturer, Jeeps results were all but constant. With the all-new Compass positioning itself as the brands new top-selling model, it vaulted the off road specialists registrations to a shiny 87.0% rise. Peugeot took the 8th spot before the next FCA brand, Alfa Romeo, achieved the remarkable growth of 68.5% earning the 9th position. Renault completed the top ten and while moving down the ranking, a double-digit rise points out the French were playing their hand well.LTR vehicle segment performanceWhile LTR were the undisputed growth champion in True Fleets we found some noteworthy contrasts in terms of market segments. Mini car LTR registrations rose by remarkable 26.7% with a notable decline in other fleet sub channels. The same is true for the Higher Middle Class, with a +14.1% in LTR and a -7.6% in the rest of the fleet market. Then again, Small cars appear to have taken the opposite direction with a 10.3% drop in LTR contrasting with an 8.8% increase in the other parts of the fleet market. Finally, the overall climb for SUVs was so steep through both the LTR and fleet other channel that when compared to Compact Cars and the Middle Class (which both lost ground in the sub-channels) we concluded that their former buyers now probably behind an SUVs steering wheel.(513 words; 3,072 characters)Publication by indication of source (DATAFORCE) and author (as listed below) onlyDATAFORCE Focus on FleetsDataforce is the leading provider of fleet market data and automotive intelligence solutions in Europe. In addition, the company also provides detailed information on sales opportunities for the automotive industry, together with a wide portfolio of information based on primary market research and consulting services. The company is based in Frankfurt, Germany.Benjamin KibiesDataforce Verlagsgesellschaft fur Business Informationen mbHHamburger Allee 1460486 Frankfurt am MainGermanyPhone: +49 69 95930-232Fax: +49 69 95930-333Email: Benjamin.kibies@dataforce.de Global Home Medical Equipment Market Research and Analysis 2018-2022 https://www.omrglobal.com/industry-reports/home-medical-equipment-market/ https://www.linkedin.com/company/7928317/ https://www.omrglobal.com/reports-category/medical-devices/ Global Home Medical Equipment Market, Size, Share, Intelligence, Company Profiles, Trends, Strategy, Analysis, Forecast 2015-2022GLOBAL HOME MEDICAL EQUIPMENT MARKET INSIGHTSThe Home Medical Equipment market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 8% from 2017-2022, owing to rising geriatric population and technological advancements in the healthcare sector. Increasing healthcare costs and rising incidences of chronic diseases are also stimulating the market. Furthermore, need for affordable healthcare treatment options is also expected to boost market growth during the forecasted period. However, lack of homecare workers and limited insurance coverage are some of the inhibiting factors in this market.For Reports Sample Home Medical Equipment Market Available at:Geographical InsightsWith rapidly aging population, North America leads the market due to the popularity of homecare patient settings and technological advancements in healthcare infrastructures. Furthermore, rising healthcare investments and government initiatives are fuelling the growth of home medical equipment in this region. However, APAC is expected to be the fastest growing market owing to increasing healthcare expenditures, rising disposable incomes, and increasing patient awareness.Competitive InsightsThe key players in the global home medical equipment market include B. Braun Melsungen AG, Abbott Laboratories, Sunrise Medical Inc., Medtronic Inc., Air Liquide, Arcadia resources, Inc., Bayer healthcare AG, Arkray Inc., Apria healthcare group, Philips healthcare, Graham-Field health products Inc., CareFusion Corporation, GE Healthcare, Roche Diagnostics, Omron Healthcare, Johnson & Johnson and so on.Market segmentationThe market is segmented on the basis of products, services, and software. The market segmentation on the basis of products includes patient monitoring, testing, and screening equipment, therapeutic equipment, and mobility assisting equipment. On the basis of services, the market is segregated into nursing care, rehabilitation therapy, respiratory therapy, pregnancy care, unskilled care services and hospice and palliative care services. Segmentation on the basis of software includes clinical management systems, agency software, and hospice solutions. The market is segmented on the basis of geography which includes North America, Europe, APAC, and RoW.OMR REPORT COVERSComprehensive research methodology of Global home medical equipmentExtensive analysis of macro and micro factors influencing the market guided by key recommendations.Analysis of regional regulations and other government policies impacting the Global home medical equipmentInsights about market determinants which are stimulating the Global home medical equipmentDetailed and extensive market segments with regional distribution of forecasted revenuesExtensive profiles and recent developments of market playersFor More Update Follow LinkedIn:For Related Reports Medical Devices Industry:At OMR we provide you in-depth analysis of the medical device market which includes analysis of government regulation such as tax, export-import policies and environment laws by top geographies. We give a detailed analysis of each segment along with market driver, restraints and opportunities. OMR provides key company analysis which comprise of various strategies, product portfolio and in-depth analysis of product development and pipeline in medical device market. We provide detailed analysis of medical device market which includes market estimation and market segments. Our numbers are confirmed through extensive primary research. OMRs Medical Device Market reports will provide you a great decision making tool.CORPORATE OFFICE:Orion Market Research Pvt Ltd116, Shagun ArcadeVijay Nagar SquareIndore, Madhya Pradesh India- 452010Email: info@omrglobal.com, support@omrglobal.comIndia: +91-780-304-0404, +91-917-982-8694 Construction Dumper Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/667 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/667 http://www.coherentchronicle.com According to Coherent Market Insights, global construction market is expected to witness growth at over 3% CAGR over the forecast period, owing to high infrastructural developments taking place across the major economies, specifically that includes Middle East countries and emerging economies in Asia Pacific such as India, Malaysia and Indonesia. Moreover, proliferating smart city projects, government initiatives regarding provision of residence to the middle and lower economic class population, and the requirement to enhance transport facilities to boost the trade avenues of the country are projected to present strong growth prospects for construction dumper market over the forecast period.For instance, a white paper released by Government Technology under the name, Evolution of Smart Cities and Connected Communities, co-sponsored by the United Parcel Service (UPS) and the Consumer Technology Association, have reported development of around 600 smart city projects in India and around 285 similar projects in China. Interest subsidies for first time home buyers in India, government initiatives to help build new residences on brownfield lands in UK are few of the instances supporting the development of residential sector. This are few of the many factors that will fuel the infrastructure demands which will in turn drive the construction dumper market.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Development of regulations to restrict the greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions are expected to drive the innovation in the heavy load vehiclesEU and U.S. among few other regions are taking substantial leaps to reduce the emission of pollutants and their impacts on the environment, in conjunction with the increased fuel economies. For instance, Environmental protection Agency (EPA) and National Highway Traffic Safety Administration (NHTSA) in U.S have introduced the requirement of reduction in emissions over the next few for heavy vehicles manufacturers. Similarly, European Council (EC) has set certain fuel economy related expectations to be met in the coming years. Such initiatives are expected to propel the innovation and developments in the construction dumper market through the forecast period.Construction dumper accounts for the largest number of accidents in the infrastructure segmentsSeveral causes of dumper accident includes overturning, collisions at the blind spots, and incompetence of the drivers among few others. According to our research, around 35% of the overall accounted incidents in the infrastructure segment reported, were related these heavy load vehicles. Requirement to reduce the accidents is expected to be the prominent challenge for the industry participants. Moreover, high total cost of ownership (TCO) is expected to remain the primary challenge for the new equipment sales. Thus, rental segment is expected to present considerable growth prospects for the industry participants, which will lead to significant decline in the new product sales.Industry is highly consolidated owing to the presence of international players providing extensive portfolio for infrastructural development. However, industry is expected to remain moderately competitive owing to presence of regional dealers and contractors intervening the businesses in some regions. Key players in the construction dumper market include Caterpillar, Komatsu, J.C. Bamford Excavators, Ashok Leyland, AB Volvo, BEML, Asia Motor Works, CNH Industrial America, Deere & Company, Hitachi Construction Machinery, Kenworth, KAMAZ Motors, Mercedes-Benz, New Holland, Liebherr Group, and Navistar.Request for Table of Content of this Report @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : LED Lighting Horticulture Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/668 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/668 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Industry is largely characterized by the presence of conventional alternatives such as fluorescent and high pressure sodium (HPS) products. These products are featured with high power consumption, these in turn lead to heavy electricity bills and lower profit margins for commercial applications. However, horticulturists are increasingly encouraging the use of LED lighting for applications owing to the related power savings, optimum plant light outputs and considerably longer lifecycles up to 5X the conventional products. These factors are expected to provide major traction to the LED Lighting Horticulture market during the next few years.Moreover, rather than increasingly focusing on the commercial sales of the products, major industry participants that include Philips Lighting and Osram Sylvania are increasingly focusing on awareness through investing in trial projects. For instance, Philips has already made significant investments in Europe, Americas and Asia Pacific for several such projects to gain higher consumer inclinations. Moreover, offering products with 3 to 5 years warranty is expected to garner higher consumer inclinations over the long run.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Low light intensity is the major drawback that will restrain the growth of LED lighting horticulture marketConventional alternatives that includes specifically includes HPS are associated with additional costs owing to their short lifecycles, requirement to alter the lights almost every year and high labor costs. However, these are expected to remain in the industry for long owing to their high intensity and low light degradation that is 1% every thousand hours of utilization. However, long term warranties of the LED counterparts only ensures only 70% of the initial lumen output over its lifecycle. This is expected to remain as the major restraining factor for the industry over the forecast period. Moreover, low overall initial outputs also require the plants to be located in the close proximity. This in turn can lead to blocking of the naturally available sunlight, which may lead to 24 hours requirement of these lights. This may hamper the overall yield up to 30% which is not ideal for growers who want to maintain the annual yield which may in turn lead to decreased consumer inclinations.These factors are anticipated to be most likely be dealt with the utilization of increased intensity with certain product developments over the next few years. Moreover, aforementioned benefits outweigh these drawbacks and LED lighting horticulture market is expected to gain highest traction over the coming years.U.S. is expected to remain the most lucrative regional business segment owing to the unfavorable climatic conditions for conventional agriculture methodologyU.S has legalized the cultivation of marijuana in locations away from public spaces, along with certain other countries in the Americas. In conjunction with this demands for high nutrition foods, will drive the requirement for vegetable and fruits over the next few years. Owing to unfavorable weather conditions, requirements to meet these demands, construction of commercial greenhouses and LED lighting equipment will drive the market growth through the forecast period.Chief industry participants in the LED lighting horticulture market include Fluence Bioengineering, Cree, Illumitex, Kessil Lighting, Heliospectra, Hubbell Lighting, LumiGrow, Lemnis Oreon, Osram Sylvania and Smart Grow Technologies. Industry is expected to be characterized by the next generation product launches to garner higher consumer inclinations. For instance, in January 2014, Philips Lighting launched LED toplighting range for commercial applications, which was featured with relatively higher efficiency than the other available LED modules.Request for Table of Content of this Report @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : Eggs & Egg Products Market by Industry (Barry Farms, Cal-Maine Foods, Global Eggs Corporation, Hy-Line International, Keggfarms), Types (Frozen Egg Powder and Dried Egg Powder), and Region - Trends and Global Forecast to 2025 ReportsWeb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011873407/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/Global-Eggs-and-Egg-Products-Market-Research-Report-2018 http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011873407/buy/2900 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011873407/buying ReportsWeb.com has announced the addition of the Global Eggs & Egg Products Market Research Report 2018 The report classifies the global Eggs & Egg Products Market in a precise manner to offer detailed insights about the aspects responsible for augmenting as well as restraining market growth.The Eggs & Egg Products Market Report is a specialized and in-depth study of the Eggs & Egg Products industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Eggs & Egg Products market with detailed market segmentation by services, industry vertical and geography. The global Eggs & Egg Products market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global Eggs & Egg Products market based on services and industry vertical.The major manufacturers covered in this reportBarry FarmsCal-Maine FoodsGlobal Eggs CorporationHy-Line InternationalKeggfarms Pvt. Ltd.Land O'LakesMichael FoodsNingbo Jiangbei Dexi FoodsNoble Foods LtdRose Acre FarmsGet Sample atGeographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD) , market share and growth rate of Eggs & Egg Products in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast) , coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoFrozen Egg PowderDried Egg PowderOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingFood ApplicationNon Food ApplicationsBrowse Complete Report @Table of ContentGlobal Eggs & Egg Products Market Research Report 20181 Eggs & Egg Products Market Overview2 Global Eggs & Egg Products Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Eggs & Egg Products Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Eggs & Egg Products Supply (Production) , Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Eggs & Egg Products Production, Revenue (Value) , Price Trend by Type6 Global Eggs & Egg Products Market Analysis by Application7 Global Eggs & Egg Products Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis7.1 Barry Farms7.1.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.1.2 Eggs & Egg Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.1.2.1 Product A7.1.2.2 Product B7.1.3 Barry Farms Eggs & Egg Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.1.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.2 Cal-Maine Foods7.2.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.2.2 Eggs & Egg Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.2.2.1 Product A7.2.2.2 Product B7.2.3 Cal-Maine Foods Eggs & Egg Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.2.4 Main Business/Business Overview7.3 Global Eggs Corporation7.3.1 Company Basic Information, Manufacturing Base, Sales Area and Its Competitors7.3.2 Eggs & Egg Products Product Category, Application and Specification7.3.2.1 Product A7.3.2.2 Product B7.3.3 Global Eggs Corporation Eggs & Egg Products Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)7.3.4 Main Business/Business Overview8 Eggs & Egg Products Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Eggs & Egg Products Market Forecast (2018-2025)Place a DIRECT Purchase order for complete report @Else place an Inquire before Purchase Eggs & Egg Products Market @(Note: If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.)ReportsWeb.com is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers. We provide best in class customer service and our customer support team is always available to help you on your research queries.Contact Info:Name: Sameer JoshiOrganization: ReportsWebEmail: sales@reportsweb.comPhone: +1-646-491-9876 Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market is Projected to Register at a Healthy CAGR of 4.1% by 2027 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/pharmaceutical-glass-packaging-market/toc https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/3778 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/3778 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/3778 A new report published by Persistence Market Research titled Pharmaceutical Glass Packaging Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 2016 and Forecast 2017 2027, states that the emphasis on chemical and delamination resistant packaging is rising as pharmaceutical manufacturers are eyeing high delamination resistance packaging in their products to extend the shelf life.Request for Table of Contents @Moreover, the latest pharmaceutical drugs need a considerably high barrier protection from oxygen and water vapor which is easily achieved by type I borosilicate glass packaging. Understanding the pharmaceutical manufacturers needs and offering products accordingly with specified characteristics and sustaining a proper value chain in order to decrease the price of the final product are the key concerns of market players.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Offering innovative products and variants is an intensifying trend among manufacturers in the global pharmaceutical glass packaging market. More focus is being directed towards the manufacturing of products that are associated with the convenience of manufacturers and consumers in order to leverage opportunities arising from the proliferating demand for pharmaceutical products. The global market for pharmaceutical glass packaging is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 4.1% in the course of the forecast period 2017 to 2027.A latest trend that is being witnessed in the global pharmaceutical glass packaging market is the adoption of optimized Siliconization and UV Curing techniques during the manufacturing process of syringes. Moreover, pharmaceutical companies prefer tungsten free or low tungsten glass syringes for their products to avoid any contamination. During Siliconization control, it is ensured that the silicon is distributed equally inside the container. Companies are innovating existing safety devices to promise zero needle stick injuries. The conventional devices require manual activation by the user to trigger the needle shield.However, the latest technological advancements have led to the introduction of pre-filled syringes integrated devices that are passively activated and are available in a ready-to-use preassembled format. Furthermore, the demand for ready-to-use containers has increased extensively over the last couple years which is further creating room for changes in the existing product portfolio backed by high innovation. Some of the primary needs of the pharmaceutical industry are increasing quality, reducing TCO, enhancing flexibility, and reducing the time to market.Request Report Multiple Chapter @Biologic drug formulations are becoming the primary focus for treatment of many diseases from cell and gene therapies to immunotherapeutics. New formulations are being discovered every day for several treatments. This has led to incompatibility of the existing traditional packaging formats and the need for innovation has arisen in the pharmaceutical glass packaging market.More and more biologics drugs require ready-to-use packaging solutions and market demand for the same is fulfilled by prefilled syringes. Prefilled syringes ensure the accuracy of the doses with ready-to-use compatibility. The demand for such type of packaging products is increasing at a very fast pace in developed as well as emerging economies.Injectable is expected to lead the global market for pharmaceutical glass packaging by the end of the forecast period owing to its high penetration in the coming years. The other applications for pharmaceutical glass packaging include oral, nasal, and others such as topical among others. Region-wise, the market has been segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa.Get full report now @Manufacturers are focusing on innovating in terms of product design and features such as introduction of glass prefilled syringes and high usage of Type I borosilicate glass for the manufacturing of containers. The pharmaceutical glass packaging market is dominated by some of the global manufacturers such as Nipro Corporation, Gerresheimer AG, Schott AG, and Stevanato Group. All of these companies together account for almost 30%-40% of the overall market.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.com Global Bifold Doors Market 2017- Trends, Market Share, Industry Size, Growth, Opportunities and Forecast to 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/3864 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/bifold-doors-market-3864 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/3864 Market research future published a raw research report on Global Bifold Doors Market that contains the information from 2014 to 2023. Global Bifold Doors market is expected to grow with the CAGR of approximately 5% from 2017 to 2023.Ask Sample for this Report @Bifold doors provide economic benefits as well as aesthetic value to the construction. This essentially drives the market for such doors across all application industry. The demand for bifold doors depend highly on the residential construction industry. The reason is attributed to the increasing disposable income as well as aesthetic values. Furthermore the manufacturers offers exhaustive rage of product line along with introducing various technology, automation and materials to the manufacturing of bifold doors. This is expected to further fuel the growth of the market in coming time.The report has analyzed the market based on the two segments: material and application in the regions of North America, Europe, APAC and rest of the world. On the basis of material it includes wood, PVC, aluminum, and others. PVC is expected to show highest growth during the forecast period due to cost-effectiveness of the material. Moreover on the basis of application it is segmented as residential and non-residential, where residential is leading the market with largest market size. The scope of the market has widened over many years owing to the flourishing construction markets of Asia pacific. The global bifold doors market is expected to witness around 5% growth during the forecast period.Access Report Details @Asia pacific will be the largest marketAsia pacific region is expected to dominate the market with its largest and fastest growing market size for Bifold Doors. The region is marked with increasing disposable incomes and population which fuels the demand for Bifold Doors. Moreover the supportive policies and regulations to develop real-estate sector and attract foreign investments in the same is expected to augment the demand for such doors in the countries of China, India, Indonesia and others.Ask for your specific company profile and country level customization on reports. Andersen Corporation JELD-WEN Inc. Pella Corporation Ply Gem Industries Inc. AG Millworks Associated Windows & Conservatories ATIS Group AWM Building Maintenance Ltd. Cascade Windows Inc. Brennan Enterprises Inc.This research report has provides the insights, on various levels of analyses such industry analysis, market share analysis leading market players and their profiles. This report also helps in studying the target segments by providing views on emerging & high-growth segments and market conclusion. Together the market data comprise and discuss with the basic assessments on the competitive scenarios & strategies, of the global bifold doors market, including the high-growth regions, countries and their political, economic and technological environments. Furthermore the project report also provides the views over the historical market values as well as, pricing and cost analysis of the same.If Interested Please Ask for Discount @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) Market trends research and projections for 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/670 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/670 http://www.coherentchronicle.com Homogeneous Charge Compression Ignition (HCCI) refers to the engine ignition which is the combination of Spark Ignition (Otto-Engine or SI-Engine) and Compression Ignition (Diesel Engine). The process utilizes homogeneous fuel-air mixtures similar to the SI-engine and uses high compression ratio for mixture to auto-ignite similar to the diesel engine. This lean homogeneous mixture reduces particulate emissions and helps auto-ignition, reducing the overall emission of NOx to about 90-98%. The engine is featured to offer an increased fuel efficiency of over 15-30%, compared to the SI engines.Ask for detailed Sample of this Research Report @Owing to its compatibility with alternative fuels that specifically include gasoline and diesel, is encouraging more automakers to invest in the technology. Moreover, industry participants are increasingly focusing on integrating fuels with high octane and cetane number to enhance the reliability and durability of the engines. In conjunction with the increasing versatility and compatibility, the popularity of these engines will increase during the projected period. Some of the major initiatives by the automotive industry participants are mentioned below:In 2011, BMW introduced its new B-family engines featuring three-, four- and six-cylinder diesel and petrol which commercialized in 2014. These were designed to accommodate next generation technology that included HCCI and hybridization.U.S. DoE and BoschBosch announced its leading participation in Advanced Combustion Controls - Enabling Systems and Solutions (ACCESS) that was US$ 12 Mn project funded by U.S. Department of Energy (DoE). The project involved exploration of HCCI as a part of the project to develop advanced light duty petrol engine.DaimlerMercedes-Benz showcased F700 sedan, featuring fuel saving technology such as VVC, ISAG, and mild hybridization. The technology showcase emphasized on an estimated fuel saving of up to 47.5% in comparison to its S350 model. Moreover, the company spokesperson was reported to state the company was making significant efforts in three to six modular inline engines with variable compression ratio and HCCI technologiesDelphiAs of the news statement made by Delphi in May 2016, the company is making significant efforts in the development of Gasoline Direct Compression Injection engine on similar concepts. Utilizing the tight charge stratification and low temperature combustion, the prototypes four-cylinder engine registered 13-18% fuel economy gain. The company is planning to commercialize the technology by the mid-2020s.General Motors, Honda, Hyundai, Mazda, Volkswagen are few of the other major vendors that have also made significant progress and are likely to introduce the models featuring this technology. This increased participation of the OEMs and the vendors have led to increased emphasis on the exploration of the technology. These initiatives will present significant growth prospects for the future growth through the forecast period.Request for Table of Content of this Report @About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit our news Website : Future Growth of Blood Glucose Meters Market | Estimated to Grow high CAGR |Top Key Players Omron, Nipro Diagnostics,Inc, Abbott Diabetes Care, CERAGEM Medisys, EmsiG, Medisana, Roche, Beurer| Forecast till 2025 Blood Glucose Meters Market https://www.businessindustryreports.com/sample-request/56876 https://www.businessindustryreports.com/buy-now/56876/single https://www.businessindustryreports.com/enquiry/56876 BusinessIndustryReports.com has new research report on the global Blood Glucose Meters Market. The global Blood Glucose Meters Market is growing continuously and expected to grow healthy CAGR by Forecast year 2025The global blood glucose monitoring (BGM) devices market is anticipated to grow at a moderate rate and will post a CAGR of close to 12% during the forecast period. One of the growth drivers for the global BGM device market is the availability of reimbursement options for glucose meters. Generally, it has been noted that glucose meter devices must be replaced within six to eight months and are very expensive. As a result, most people prefer selecting health insurance plans that cover almost 80% of the total expenditure on healthcare devices. Such schemes also cover the cost of diabetes testing supplies, blood glucose test strips, and blood glucose meters. For instance, Medicare, the federal health insurance program in the US, covers approximately 80% of the cost of BGM devices for people with diabetes. Extensive research carried out by the analysts has also shown that the American Association of Diabetes Educators has released a reimbursement procedure for primary care practice, which states that the costs of medical services that are incurred by diabetic patients can be reimbursed through Medicare. Due to the availability of such reimbursement facilities, the sales of BGM devices has increased.Premium Sample Report Available atThis report studies the global Blood Glucose Meters market status and forecast, categorizes the global Blood Glucose Meters market size (value & volume) by key players, type, application, and region. This report focuses on the top players in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America, and Middle East & Africa.The major manufacturers covered in this reportOmronNipro Diagnostics,IncAbbott Diabetes CareCERAGEM MedisysEmsiGMedisanaRocheBeurerChang Gung Medical TechnologyDexcomGeographically, this report studies the top producers and consumers, focuses on product capacity, production, value, consumption, market share and growth opportunity in these key regions, covering - North America, Europe, China, Japan, Other Regions.The regional scope of the study is as follows: - North America, United States, Canada, Mexico, Asia-Pacific, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Indonesia, Singapore, Rest of Asia-Pacific, Europe, Germany, France, UK, Italy, Spain, Russia, Rest of Europe, Central & South America, Brazil, Argentina, Rest of South America, Middle East & Africa, Saudi Arabia, Turkey, Rest of Middle East & Africa.On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoElectrode Type Blood Glucose MeterPhotoelectric Blood Glucose MeterOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingHome CareHospitals The study objectives of this report are:To analyze and study the global Blood Glucose Meters capacity, production, value, consumption, status (2013-2017) and forecast (2018-2025);Focuses on the key Blood Glucose Meters manufacturers, to study the capacity, production, value, market share and development plans in future.Focuses on the global key manufacturers, to define, describe and analyze the market competition landscape, SWOT analysis.To define, describe and forecast the market by type, application and region.To analyze the global and key regions market potential and advantage, opportunity and challenge, restraints and risks.To identify significant trends and factors driving or inhibiting the market growth.To analyze the opportunities in the market for stakeholders by identifying the high growth segments.To strategically analyze each submarket with respect to individual growth trend and their contribution to the marketTo analyze competitive developments such as expansions, agreements, new product launches, and acquisitions in the marketTo strategically profile the key players and comprehensively analyze their growth strategies.Key StakeholdersBlood Glucose Meters ManufacturersBlood Glucose Meters Distributors/Traders/WholesalersBlood Glucose Meters Subcomponent ManufacturersIndustry AssociationDownstream VendorsComplete report on Global Blood Glucose Meters Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025 is spread across 106 pages and provides exclusive vital statistics, data, information, trends and landscape details in this niche sector. Get Direct Copy of this Research Report @Major Table of Content1 Global Blood Glucose Meters Market Research Report 20182 Global Blood Glucose Meters Market Competition by Manufacturers3 Global Blood Glucose Meters Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global Blood Glucose Meters Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global Blood Glucose Meters Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type6 Global Blood Glucose Meters Market Analysis by Application7 Global Blood Glucose Meters Manufacturers Profiles/Analysis8 Blood Glucose Meters Manufacturing Cost Analysis9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream Buyers10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/Traders11 Market Effect Factors Analysis12 Global Blood Glucose Meters Market Forecast (2018-2025 )13 Research Findings and Conclusion14 AppendixKey questions answered in the report:What will the market growth rate of Blood Glucose Meters market in 2025 ?What are the key factors driving the global Blood Glucose Meters market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis of top manufacturers of Blood Glucose Meters market?Who are the distributors, traders and dealers of Blood Glucose Meters market?Who are the key manufacturers in Blood Glucose Meters market space?What are the Blood Glucose Meters market opportunities and threats faced by the vendors in the global Blood Glucose Meters market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by types and applications of Blood Glucose Meters market?What are sales, revenue, and price analysis by regions of Blood Glucose Meters market?What are the market opportunities, market risk and market overview of the Blood Glucose Meters market?More Inquire atAbout usBusinessIndustryReports.com is digital database of comprehensive market reports for global industries. As a market research company, we take pride in equipping our clients with insights and data that holds the power to truly make a difference to their business. Our mission is singular and well-defined - we want to help our clients envisage their business environment so that they are able to make informed, strategic and therefore successful decisions for themselves.Media ContactBusiness Market ReportsPune Indiasales@businessindustryreports.com+19376349940 Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Estimate and Forecast, 2018 https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1717620&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-chemical-management-services-cms-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1717620&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com https://studyanalyst.blogspot.in Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.The report on the global Chemical Management Services (CMS) market is an in-depth analysis taking a critical look at various factors and key trends shaping the markets trajectory during the forecast period of 20182025. The growth of the market is driven by various regional and global developments, influenced by changing regulations and governmental policies. The study strives to offer comprehensive assessment of these factors and evaluates their impact on the business landscape of the global Chemical Management Services (CMS) market.This report focuses on the global top players, coveredHaas TCMPPG IndustriesKMG ChemicalsHenkelChemicoMaysBPQuaker ChemicalEWIE CoIntertekChemceptCiDRAAviallTo Download Free Sample Report With TOC:The report is prepared by gleaning over vast volumes of historic data assessed through reliable primary sources and a wide spectrum of secondary sources. Using SWOT analysis and Porters Five Forces Analysis, the study tries to evaluate the level of competition. Complementing with several industry-wide quantitative tools and enabled by qualitative methods, the study makes estimations and projections of key segments in the global Chemical Management Services (CMS) market. This helps various market participants get a clearer picture of the markets growth. The study also highlights the views of various opinion leaders and major policy makers in various countries, in a bid to paint a holistic picture of the overall outlook of the global Chemical Management Services (CMS) market.Table of ContentsGlobal Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size, Status and Forecast 20251 Industry Overview of Chemical Management Services (CMS)1.1 Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Overview1.1.1 Chemical Management Services (CMS) Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.2.1 United StatesComplete table of content is available at:2 Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 Haas TCM3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.1.4 Chemical Management Services (CMS) Revenue (Million USD) (2013-2018)3.2 PPG Industries3.2.1 Company ProfileEnquiry For Discount Visit @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2013-2018)Table Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Revenue (Million USD) Comparison by Regions (2013-2018)Figure Global Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)Figure United States Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure Europe Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure China Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure Japan Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure Southeast Asia Chemical Management Services (CMS) Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.comBlog: Global Underwater Boat Light Market 2018-2025 AAA WORLD-WIDE, Daeyang Electric, Den Haan Rotterdam Underwater Boat Light Market Analysis 2018 https://goo.gl/YW9kbm http://www.9dimenresearchstore.com/report/global-underwater-boat-light-market-3568 A market study "Global Underwater Boat Light Market" examines the performance of the Underwater Boat Light market 2018. 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LightPartner Lichtsysteme14. Lumitec Lighting15. Marinco16. MarinetechUnderwater Boat Light Market : By ApplicationShipsBoatsHazardous AreasUnderwater Boat Light Market : By TypeLEDHalogenFirstly, the report covers the top Underwater Boat Light manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Underwater Boat Light report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Underwater Boat Light industry, Underwater Boat Light industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Underwater Boat Light Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Underwater Boat Light research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Underwater Boat Light market revenue worldwide.Finally, Underwater Boat Light market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us9Dimen Research Store is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@9dimenresearchstore.comWeb: 9dimenresearchstore.com Display Packaging Market Strategic Alliances, Mergers Acquisitions, New Product Developments, Research and Developments https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4881 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/display-packaging-market-4881 Market Research Future published a half cooked research report on Global Display Packaging Market. The major drivers for the global display packaging market are the regulations and stringent government legislations, which force manufacturers to choose display packaging options over the conventional packaging.Global Display Packaging Market, By Type (Cellulose Fibers, Corrugated Pallets, Corrugated Paper Board Sheeting, Others, by end use (Retail and Pharmacy) and Region - Forecast 2017-2023.Market Highlights:Packaging industry witnessed technology adoption, at large, in terms of equipment, and packaging methods, and the demand for primary packaging is stagnant. MRFR analysts conclude that display packaging market will grow at a CAGR of 7.02% during the forecast period. The global display packaging market continues to grow due to the exciting trends such as the surge of personalized packaging, increasing awareness to sustainability issues, demographic and economic drivers. Prestigious luxury brands look for new packaging techniques and innovations to make their products stand out in extremely competitive shelf spaces. The packaging sales in the emerging markets are expected to continue to show strong growth, as both increased consumer consumption and demand for luxury goods, drive the need for sophisticated packaging. Display Packaging is mostly used to package highly expensive and sophisticated products. Packaging impacts the brand image of a company to a great extent. Display packaging also improves brand recall, to increase the revenue generated by the manufacturers and retailers. Display packaging market is expected to reach a CAGR of ~7.02% during the forecast period.Packaging plays a significant role in the buying decision process as well as it adds high value. Besides making the products incredibly appealing, display packaging prevents contamination of products and protects premium items from damages. It reduces package pilferage and increases consumer engagement. The global display packaging market can be segmented on the basis of regions as Asia Pacific, Europe, North America, and the Middle East and Africa (MEA). Asia Pacific is expected to witness fast growth during the forecast period on account of growing consumer spending in Japan and China. In Middle East and Africa, moderate growth can be expected due to expansion in the area, by global luxury product manufacturers.Get Report Sample@Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 45 market data tables and 35 figures spread over 110 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on The Global Display packaging Report -Forecast to 2022.Key PlayersThe prominent players in the display packaging market include DS Smith Plc. (U.K.), International Paper (U.S.), Mondi Plc., Smurfit Kappa Group Plc. (Dublin), Sonoco Products Company (U.S.), Deufol SE (Germany), C&B Display Packaging Inc. (Canada), Grant Austin Display Packaging (South Australia), Excel Displays & Packaging (U.S.), Glama Pak (Australia).Market Research Future Analysis:Market Research Future analysis shows that the global market of display packaging market is estimated to grow with a CAGR of 7.02% by the end of year 2023.The display packaging industry has the ability to be a part of the solution since it offers packaging in different sizes; innovations that help extend the shelf life of the product, and keeps it safe. The global market for display packaging witnessed fast growth in last few years. The value share of display packaging in developed economies, such as North America, Europe and Australia, is higher than other regions, and is expected to maintain their dominance over the forecast period. The Asia Pacific market is expected to witness maximum growth in the global display packaging market. Moreover, increase in consumer income has led to growth in demand for good-quality packaged food. Also, the rise in population in many countries, has led to an increase in food & beverage consumption, which ultimately increases the demand for display packaging products. Mostly, consumers view premium packaging as the basic indication of a high-quality product. Thus, vendors use expensive technologies, colors, and packaging techniques to develop premium packages, which is expected to boost the market growth.Browse Full Report@Product Analysis Product matrix which gives a detailed comparison of the market for different recycled product typesAdditional Information Regulatory Landscape Pricing Analysis Macroeconomic IndicatorsGeographic Analysis Geographical analysis across 15 countriesCompany Information Profiling of 10 key market players In-depth analysis including SWOT analysis, and strategy information of related to report title Competitive landscape including emerging trends adopted by major companiesAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Point of Care Technology Market is Expected to Grow at an Approximate CAGR of 9.5% | Top International Players - Abbott, Johnson & Johnson Services, Siemens AG till 2023 Point of Care Technology Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1164 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1164 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1164 Point of care technology is termed as a time when clinicians deliver healthcare products and services to patients. Point of care technology includes diagnostics, devices for documentation, and others. Point of care documentation devices smooth the workflow, reduces errors in a clinical tasks including diagnostics, medication prescribing, and medication administration, which will indirectly boost the growth of the market. Moreover, increasing prevalence of the diseases and rising research and development facilities. Furthermore, rising healthcare expenditure, and increasing awareness among the people regarding the point of care diagnostics products, are some of the factors that are expected to fuel the market growth. On the other hand, higher cost of the point of care technology is may affect the growth of the market negatively during the forecasted period. Moreover, development in the diagnosis of patients with chronic diseases, for instance, diabetes, and growing medical technology are likely to increase the growth of the market. In point of care technology, it provides ease of diagnosis where the patient is seen at home.Try Sample Report Here @The point of care testing devices in the healthcare focuses on quality rather than test volume, which is expected to boost the growth of the market over the review period. Complexity of documentation in the point of care technology may hinder the growth of the market during the forecasted period. The global point of care technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 9.5% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Point of Care Technology Market - Major PlayersSome of the key players in the global market are Abbott (U.S.), Johnson & Johnson Services, Inc.(U.S.), Techno MedicaCo., Ltd. (Japan), F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd (Switzerland), Siemens AG (Germany), Alere Inc. (U.S.), Instrumentation Laboratory (U.S.), PTS Diagnostics (U.S.), Nova Biomedical (U.S.), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (U.S.) BD (U.S.), Quidel Corporation (U.S), Meridian Bioscience, Inc. (U.S).Point of Care Technology Market - Regional AnalysisThe global point of care technology market consists of four regions: the Americas, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Middle East & Africa.The Americas accounts for a significant share of the global point of care technology market as a result of the presence of huge & increasing patient population base and the largest producer and consumer of medical devices. Similarly, the demand for medical devices in Europe is expected to increase growth of the market positively. Europe holds the second position in the global market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Asia Pacific may experience the growth owing to the presence of abundant opportunities for medical device manufacturers. For instance, healthcare services revenue is increasing rapidly, especially, in India and China, which is predicated to result in a large number of new hospital construction projects.Get Discount on Report @Whereas, the Middle East & Africa holds the least share in the global point of care technology market on account of poor economic condition and less development in healthcare infrastructure.Point of Care Technology Market - SegmentationThe global point of care technology is segmented by type of products, and end users. On the basis of type of product, it is segmented into glucose testing, cardiac markers, HbA1c testing, and coagulation, and others. On the basis of end users, it is segmented into clinics, hospital, home care, ambulatory care, and others.Some of Major Table of Contents for Point of Care Technology Market Research Report - Global forecast till 20231 Report Prologue2 Market Introduction2.1 Introduction2.2 Scope of Study2.3 Research Objective2.4 Assumptions & Limitations2.4.1 Assumptions2.4.2 Limitations3 Research Methodology3.1 Research Process3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research4 Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restraints5 Market Factor Analysis.ContinuedTo Know More Enquire @About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: salesteam@marketresearchfuture.com Global Offshore Wind Energy Industry : Insights, Development, Research and Forecast 2018-2021 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1064492 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-offshore-wind-energy-market-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-offshore-wind-energy-market-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketinfo247.wordpress.com/ Albany, NY, 19th April : Recent research and the current scenario as well as future market potential of "Global Offshore Wind Energy Market - Analysis By Region, By Country: Opportunities and Forecast (2016-2021) - By Region (North America, Europe, APAC, ROW); By Country (US, Canada, Germany, U.K., Sweden, Netherland, Belgium, Denmark,, China, Japan, South Korea, Brazil)" globally.A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of Global Offshore Wind Energy Market on the basis of By Region (Europe, Asia pacific), By Country (U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Sweden , U.K., Netherland, Germany, China, Japan, Brazil and South Korea).Get PDF for more Professional and Technical insights @Over the recent years, the global offshore wind energy industry has been growing rapidly as the global total installed capacity has been witnessing rapid growth. Globally, the growth in the offshore wind energy market is driven by increasing demand of clean energy, larger coastal regions, abundant resource of energy and low cost from the other technology like nuclear plant and coal plants.According to Azoth Analytics research report, Global Offshore Wind Energy Market Analysis By Region, By Country: Opportunities and Forecast (2016-2021) By Region (Europe, Asia Pacific, North America); By Country (U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Sweden , U.K., Netherland, Germany, China, Japan, Brazil, South Korea), global market is projected to display a robust growth represented by a CAGR of 25.47% during 2016 2021, chiefly driven by increasing demand of clean energy, governments regulatory frameworks and advancements in new technologies.Among the regions, North America is predicted to advance at the highest rate, mainly driven by government subsidies, financial support from European banks and wind energy associations. Among the countries, Germany in Europe and South Korea in Asia are predicted to advance at the highest rate driven by higher investments by native companies and government subsidies.The report titled, Global Offshore Wind Energy Market Analysis By Region, By Country: Opportunities and Forecast (2016-2021) By Region (Europe, Asia Pacific, North America); By Country (U.S., Belgium, Denmark, Sweden , U.K., Netherland, Germany, China, Japan, Brazil, South Korea), has covered and analysed the potential of Global Offshore Wind energy Market and provides statistics and information on market size, shares and growth factors. The report intends to provide cutting-edge market intelligence and help decision makers take sound investment evaluation. Besides, the report also identifies and analyses the emerging trends along with major drivers, challenges and opportunities in the global food service equipment market. Additionally, the report also highlights market entry strategies for various companies across the globe.View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Scope of the ReportGlobal Market (Actual Period: 2011-2015, Forecast Period: 2016-2021)Offshore Wind Energy MarketRegional Markets Europe, Asia-Pacific (Actual Period: 2011-2015, Forecast Period: 2016-2021)Offshore wind Energy MarketCountry Analysis U.S., UK, Germany, Denmark, Netherland, Sweden, Belgium ,Japan, China, Brazil, South Korea (Actual Period: 2011-2015, Forecast Period: 2016-2021)Offshore wind Energy MarketBrowse Report @Other Report HighlightsMarket Dynamics Trends, Drivers, ChallengesPolicy and RegulationCompany Analysis Siemens, Vestas, Vattenfall, General Electric, Suzlon, Vestas, Dong Energy, Samsung Heavy Industries, Nordex, ABB Group, SenvionResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,90 State Street, Albany NY, United States - 12207Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on : PVDC Market Is Anticipated to Growing With A High CAGR due To Rising Demand In Various Applications Till 2023 PVDC Market Analysis https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/143549 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/discount/143549 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/market-insights/global-north-america-europe-and-asia-pacific-south-america-middle-east-and-africa-pvdc-market-2018-forecast-to-2023 Worldwide Market Reports added Latest Research Report titled "Global PVDC Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Product Type and Application, Forecast to 2023" to its Large Report database.Polyvinylidene Chloride (Abbreviation: PVDC) is a homopolymer of vinylidene chloride. It is a remarkable barrier against water, oxygen and aromas. It has a superior chemical resistance to alkalies and acids, is insoluble in oil and organic solvents, has very low moisture regain and is impervious to mold, bacteria, and insects. But it is soluble in polar solvents.Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the PVDC in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Ask For Sample Copy of Research Report with Table Of Content:Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversSK (Dow), Kureha, Solvay, Asahi Kasei, Juhua Group, Nantong SKT, Keguan PolymerMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (United States, Canada and Mexico), Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy), Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia), South America (Brazil, Argentina, Colombia etc.), Middle East and Africa (Saudi Arabia, UAE, Egypt, Nigeria and South Africa)Market Segment by Type, coversPVDC Resins, PVDC LatexMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoFood Packaging and Wrap, Pharmaceuticals Packaging, Unit Packaging for Hygiene and Cosmetic Products, Sterilized Medical Packaging, OthersGet Best Discount on Report:There are 15 Chapters to deeply display the global PVDC market:Chapter 1, to describe PVDC Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of PVDC, with sales, revenue, and price of PVDC, in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of PVDC, for each region, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 5, 6, 7, 8 and 9, to analyze the market by countries, by type, by application and by manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 10 and 11, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2013 to 2018;Chapter 12, PVDC market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2018 to 2023;Chapter 13, 14 and 15, to describe PVDC sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Check the Trending Report of Global PVDC Market:About WMRWorldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.com Global Industrial Refractory Materials Market 2018-2025 RHI AG, VESUVIUS, Magnesita, KROSAKI Industrial Refractory Materials Market 2018 https://goo.gl/M7mvFt http://www.9dimenresearchstore.com/report/global-industrial-refractory-materials-market-3602 A market study "Global Industrial Refractory Materials Market" examines the performance of the Industrial Refractory Materials market 2018. It encloses an in-depth Research of the Industrial Refractory Materials market state and the competitive landscape globally. This report analyzes the potential of Industrial Refractory Materials market in the present and the future prospects from various angles in detail.The Global Industrial Refractory Materials Market 2018 report includes Industrial Refractory Materials market Revenue, market Share, Industrial Refractory Materials industry volume, market Trends, Industrial Refractory Materials Growth aspects. A wide range of applications, Utilization ratio, Supply and demand analysis are also consist in the report. It shows manufacturing capacity, Industrial Refractory Materials Price during the Forecast period from 2018 to 2022.To Get Sample Report Click Here:Manufacturers Analysis and Top Sellers of Global Industrial Refractory Materials Market 2018 :1. RHI AG2. VESUVIUS3. Magnesita4. KROSAKI5. SHINAGAWA6. Imerys7. HWI8. MORGAN CRUCIBLE9. SAINT-GOBAIN10. Minteq11. Resco12. Qinghua13. Puyang Refractory14. Sinosteel15. Lier16. Jinlong17. SujiaIndustrial Refractory Materials Market : By ApplicationIron & SteelCement/LimeNonferrous MetalsGlassCeramicsIndustrial Refractory Materials Market : By TypeShaped Industrial Refractory MaterialsUnshaped Industrial Refractory MaterialsFirstly, the report covers the top Industrial Refractory Materials manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Industrial Refractory Materials report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Industrial Refractory Materials industry, Industrial Refractory Materials industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. Industrial Refractory Materials Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Industrial Refractory Materials research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Industrial Refractory Materials market revenue worldwide.Finally, Industrial Refractory Materials market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us9Dimen Research Store is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@9dimenresearchstore.comWeb: 9dimenresearchstore.com Global Drip Coffee Makers Market 2018 - Bonavita, Philips, Technivorm, Melitta Global Drip Coffee Makers Market https://goo.gl/Xq49ih https://goo.gl/WQiZ7F www.apexmarketreports.com Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the Drip Coffee Makers Market across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of Drip Coffee Makers Market from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global PP Pipe industry, and estimates the future trend of Drip Coffee Makers on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares Drip Coffee Makers performance both in terms of volume and revenue.The market research report explores the Drip Coffee Makers Market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of Drip Coffee Makers Market. The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Drip Coffee Makers Market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Drip Coffee Makers. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Drip Coffee Makers Market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportElectroluxConair CorporationBonavitaPhilipsTechnivormMelittaNACCOJardenDelonghiBoschBUNNBlack & DeckerKrupsIllyMorphy RichardsThe competitive landscape of the global market for Drip Coffee Makers is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Drip Coffee Makers Markets production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Drip Coffee Makers Market globally.Inquire Before Buying @The Global Drip Coffee Makers Market 2018 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Drip Coffee Makers production volume, data pertaining to demand and Drip Coffee Makers supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Drip Coffee Makers along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Drip Coffee Makers across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite - Cyber Security Market to Reach a Valuation of US$ 53 Bn by 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/cyber-security-market.asp https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/15901 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/15901 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/cyber-security-market/toc http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Ongoing technological evolution has increased the emergence of new pathways for accessing restricted data from the World Wide Web. Information stored on online platforms, databases and websites continues to be at the risk of malicious breach from hackers and unethical cyber professionals. Steadfast proliferation of information technologies across multiple business verticals has created a vast network of IT-enabled companies and enterprises. Since these companies continue to use information technologies actively, the need for adopting appropriate security measures has escalated. Cyber security has emerged as the key aspect companies must consider prior to the implementation of IT-based business models.Persistence Market Researchs latest report on the global cyber security market reveals that in the upcoming years, the adoption of cyber security will gain steadfast momentum against the backdrop of rising attacks of hackers and an overall upsurge in the global cybercrime levels. Key findings from the report estimate that the global cyber security market will be worth over US$ 200 Bn by the end of 2025. The report also projects that during the forecast period, 2017-2025, the global cyber security market will expand robustly at a CAGR of 12.0%.Report overview @Key Players in the Global Cyber Security LandscapeCompanies that have built the very systems used for IT operations have been putting considerable efforts towards the development of cyber security solutions. Leading manufacturers of computing systems such as Microsoft Corporation and International Business Machines Corporation have been recognized as key developers of cyber security in the global market. Intel Corp. a leading manufacturer of computer peripherals, chips and operating systems has also stepped up its contribution in the global cyber security market. The study has profiled prominent developers of cyber security software as well as cyber security service providers, which include Trend Micro, Sophos, Check Point Software Technologies, Secureworks, Symantec Corp., and Verizon Communication Inc.Growing Focus on Improving the Features of Cyber Security SoftwareFor developing in-depth forecast on the market, the study has analyzed the global cyber security market on the basis of components, technology, industrial vertical and region. Rising penetration of attack vectors such as ransomware, botnets and autonomous vehicles has propelled the adoption of end-point cyber security technologies. Moreover, threats such as identity theft and data manipulation are stimulating the need for implementing unified threat management technologies against cyberwarfare.Request to Sample of Report @In the recent past, several companies in industrial verticals such as banking, healthcare, process manufacturing and telecommunication have faced tangential issues involving threat to data sovereignty, data path tracing from digital trails and an unethical leveraging of technology talents. In the view of such developments, the demand for robust cyber security software continues to gain traction. The study projects that by the end of 2025, cyber security software sold across the world will bring in revenues worth over US$ 50 Bn in the global market. Nevertheless, the demand for services will spearhead the global cyber security market, procuring the largest piece of the revenue pie throughout the forecast period.Cyber Security: Technology Challenges & Regional OpportunitiesCloud computing networks can be observed as a veiled threat for the effectiveness of cyber security solutions. While increasing uptake for cloud computing boosts the need for adopting cyber security software, these networks create a vast maze of gateways for security breach. End-point security services are unable to trace the source of attacks or loopholes for hacking in the vast cloud networks. With the passing years, more companies are anticipated to switch to edge computing, providing a temporary respite for cyber security solution providers.Get Full Report now @Countries such as the US and Europe have recorded highest job openings in cyber security over the past few years. The study anticipates that sales of cyber security software in North America will witness robust expansion at a CAGR of 9.4% over the forecast period. Technological advancements in manufacturing operations will fuel the presence of the Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) region in the global cyber security market. Increasing use of data encryption among enterprises based in Western European countries will also create lucrative grounds for the adoption of cyber security in the years to come.Download and View Report TOC, Figures and Tables @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Automotive Natural Gas Vehicle Market Revenue, Opportunity, Segment and Key Size 2015-2025 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-530 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-530 www.futuremarketinsights.com An automotive natural gas vehicle uses compressed natural gas (CNG) or liquefied natural gas (LNG) as an alternative to the diesel or petrol. A natural gas is widely used in lift trucks, buses, light and heavy duty trucks, motorcycles, cars, vans and locomotives.A natural gas provides an economical and environmental friendly option over diesel or petrol. Currently, the penetration of automotive natural gas vehicle is less globally, but due to its operational advantages, in future the penetration is expected to increase globally.Around the world, the governments have issued stringent regulations regarding the emissions and fuel efficiency. The global fossil fuel price has seen an increasing trend over the past 5-10 years. Due to these reasons, there is a growing demand for cheap and environmental friendly fuel alternative. Original equipment manufacturers of vehicles are promoting their products by showcasing the fuel efficiency and emission free features. This factor is fueling the demand for automotive natural gas vehicle market.Automotive Natural Gas Vehicle Market: Overview,Key Trends, Opportunities, Dynamics,Segmentation and Key playersHigh upfront purchase cost, low awareness in many countries are some of the factors which are inhibiting the growth of automotive natural gas vehicle market.Currently, the automotive natural gas vehicle market is still in the nascent state, thought the market experienced growth in sales in last 3-4 years.The global automotive natural gas vehicle market by volume is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 5-7% during the forecast period (2015-2025), due to stringent government emission regulations and growing demand for fuel efficient vehicles.The global automotive natural gas vehicle market can be segmented by fuel type, by vehicle type and by regions-Based on Fuel Type, the global automotive natural gas vehicle market is segmented as:Compressed Natural Gas,Liquefied Natural Gas;Based on Vehicle Type, the global automotive natural gas vehicle market is segmented as:Passenger,Commercial:A sample of this report is available upon request @The global automotive natural gas vehicle market is expected to register a single-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global automotive energy recovery market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa.In terms of market revenue, Asia Pacific automotive energy recovery market is projected to register a significant CAGR during the forecast period. Stable economic growth, growing automotive production, stringent government emission norms, changing consumer preferences, are some of the factors which are fueling the growth of automotive natural gas vehicle market in Asia Pacific. The significant demand for natural gas is from commercial vehicle segment in Asia Pacific. India, China and Iran are forecast to register a significant growth in the Asia Pacific automotive natural gas vehicle market, as these countries have significant network of gas infrastructure and CNG fueling network.Request For Table Of Content @In Europe, countries like Russia and Ukraine have a high demand for natural gas in trucks and buses. The Europe automotive natural gas vehicle market revenue is currently dominated by commercial vehicles. The government policies, subsidies, increasing fossil fuel prices, stringent environmental regulations are fueling the demand for automotive natural gas vehicle in Western and Eastern Europe.In North America and Latin America, compressed natural gas is seeing the high demand. Currently, U.S.A. is dominating the North America automotive natural gas market by value, on the other hand, Columbia is dominating the Latin America automotive natural gas market by value.Some of the key market participants in global natural gas vehicle market are Ford Motor Company, Fiat Chrysler Automobiles, General Motors, Honda Motor Company, Volkswagen, Hyundai Motor Group, etc.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Fluid Management Devices Market Companies Align Growth Strategies, Emerging Companies Biomerics, C. R. Bard, Cardinal Health, DeRoyal Industries, Ecolab, Gambro, KARL STORZ, KAWASUMI LABORATORIES and Others Reportsweb http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001758600/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW0001758600/buying Publishers market research report predicts that the global fluid management devices market will post a CAGR of above 6% during the forecast period. Advancements in the healthcare infrastructure is one of the primary drivers for market growth. Rising investments by governments and manufacturing companies have enhanced the quality of the healthcare services and a global rise in the number of hospitals, and the other medical facilities are observed. Moreover, factors like easy access to funds through domestic and private investments, capital markets, nongovernment funds, external borrowing and aid, foreign direct investment, and private equity investment, have led to the constant rise of private hospitals and the services provided by them. Medicines backed up by government policies and programs, public/social insurance offered to the older adult and below the poverty line population and the availability of technologically enhanced equipment attracts more people to health care providers. This rise in healthcare service providers will consequently rise the demand for fluid management devices globally.One of the latest trends that will gain traction in the global fluid management devices market is the rising demand for single-use devices. Due to the risks of cross-contamination leading to hospital-acquired infections or nosocomial infections, medical personnel across the globe are switching to single-use devices over the conventional reusable ones. Several vendors in the Americas and European regions are concentrating on the development of single-use devices as the market has increased penetration rates due to stringent regulatory and government initiatives for the betterment of healthcare facilities. Moreover, these products offer maintenance costs and lessen the duration of the sterilization process.Sample Copy is Available @Competitive landscape and key vendorsThe global fluid management devices market is highly competitive with the presence of Tier-1, Tier-2, and Tier-3 companies. The market competition will grow with the new product launches, and technological advancements and the vendors offer a wide range of standalone, integrated fluid management devices, single-use and reusable consumables with various features. The key players in the market compete based on cost, availability, and brand and the growth of the players depends on market conditions, government support, and medical industry development.Key vendors in the market are:CONMEDFresenius Medical CareOlympusSmiths MedicalStrykerOther prominent vendors include Allen Medical Systems, Allied Healthcare, Andocor, AngioDynamics, Argon Medical Devices, B. Braun, Baxter, Bemis Manufacturing Company, Biomerics, C. R. Bard, Cardinal Health, DeRoyal Industries, Ecolab, Gambro, KARL STORZ, KAWASUMI LABORATORIES, Medical Components, Medtronic, Merit Medical Systems, Navilyst Medical, Nikkiso, Nipro Medical Corporation, NxStage Medical, Precision Medical, Skyline Medical, Smiths Group , LivaNova, Teleflex, Terumo Medical Corporation, and Zimmer Biomet.For Inquire before Buying @Contact Us:Phone: +1-646-491-9876Email Id: sales@reportsweb.comAbout Us:ReportsWeb is a one stop shop of market research reports and solutions to various companies across the globe. We help our clients in their decision support system by helping them choose most relevant and cost effective research reports and solutions from various publishers.505, 6th floor, Amanora Township, Amanora Chambers, East Block, Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Business Workflow Automation & Optimization Market Plying for Significant Growth by 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/19543 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/19543 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Business Workflow Automation & Optimization market is growing at a steady growth rate due to increasing demand for streamlining business processes and workflows. This process helps in automating the paper based workflows and reducing the time consuming documentation. These business workflow automation & optimization solutions are easy to implement and transparent process. These business workflow automation & optimization solution helps in setting standards and helps in tracking performance of employees and business works.With the development of technologies, Business Workflow Automation & Optimization solutions have been increasingly used by businesses for reducing time that has been wasted in paperwork. These business workflow automation & optimization solutions further helps in increasing productivity, improving efficiency and processes which helps in increasing the quality of overall business works. In business workflow automation & optimization process business documents are processed and integrated with the systems and creates document processing portal/dashboard to enable process monitoring. It is expected that in coming 5 to 10 years business will adopt Business Workflow Automation & Optimization process and fully automate their workflows.Request for Table of Contents @Business Workflow Automation & Optimization Market: Drivers and ChallengesThe major factor driving the adoption of Business Workflow Automation & Optimization is the increasing demand for digitalizing the business documents and processes. Moreover, these Business Workflow Automation & Optimization solutions help employees to reduce their repetitive manual task and improve their productivity of working on other important task. These Business Workflow Automation & Optimization solutions are also been implemented in the businesses to move their business towards digitalization by reducing paper work and storing documents in a digital format.The key challenge for Business Workflow Automation & Optimization processes are long term process in which businesses has to digitalize and automates their all processes which is time taking. This restricts the implementation of Business Workflow Automation & Optimization solutions. Also, these process needs proper training of employees and staff to work and understand the automation processes which creates difficulty for business to train employees.Business Workflow Automation & Optimization Market: SegmentationBusiness Workflow Automation & Optimization solutions can be deployed on premises and on cloud depending on business capability and need.Business Workflow Automation & Optimization can also be segmented on the basis of its industry sector which are implementing these Business Workflow Automation & Optimization process such as healthcare, manufacturing, retail & consumer goods, education and others.Competition DashboardRecent DevelopmentIn April 2015, Xerox, a software provider has launched its new services and tools that improve the way retailers, financial institutions, healthcare systems and other large enterprises deal with documents. Moreover, Xerox introduces several workflow automation solutions built on its partnership with Hyland, creator of OnBase, automate processes critical to business functions such as loan application process.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Key PlayersIn Business Workflow Automation & Optimization market there are many players some of them are SAP SE, Xerox, IBM Corporation, Flexera Software, Digital Vision EA, The Reva Solutions and others.ABOUT US:Persistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.CONTACT:Persistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market Outlook, Top 10 Industry Players Comprehensive Analysis, Revenue and Demand till 2024 ICP Monitoring Market https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/703 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/703 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/703 Global Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market Expected to Reach at a Healthy CAGR till 2024. Intracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is used in treating patients suffering from severe brain injury. In this process a sensor device is been used and placed inside the head to measure the pressure inside the skull and send it to a recording device.Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market growth influencerThe major growth drivers of Intracranial pressure monitoring market is increasing Global incidence and prevalence of neurological disorders, rising awareness about neurodegenerative diseases, technological advancements in brain monitoring devices and growing incidence of traumatic brain injuries.The shortage of trained professionals, high cost of complex brain monitoring devices, unfavorable reimbursement policies and concerns regarding the accuracy of diagnostic devices are the major restraints of ICP market.Ask Here For PDF Sample Copy of Report:Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market major playersNatus Medical Inc. (U.S.), Nihon Kohden Corporation (Japan) Philips Healthcare, (Netherlands), GE Healthcare (U.K.), Siemens Healthcare (Germany), Compumedics Ltd. (Australia), Electrical Geodesics Incorporated (U.S.), Medtronic Inc. (Ireland), CAS Medical Systems, Inc. (U.S.), Advanced Brain Monitoring (U.S.).Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market SegmentationICP monitoring market segmentation can be done by method, market, Instrument, applications and End-users.ICP monitoring market by Method: Invasive and Non- invasive, by Market: external ventricular drain, fiber optic monitor, strain gauge transducer and air-pouch device market, by Instrument: Devices and accessories, by Applications: Traumatic Brain Injury, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Meningitis, and Subarachnoid Hemorrhage and by End-users: Trauma centers, hospitals, clinics and diagnostic laboratories.Intracranial Pressure (ICP) Monitoring Market Regional AnalysisThe regional analysis comprises of North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East and rest of the world.North AmericaNorth America dominates the ICP monitoring market due to large number of traumatic brain injury cases. Also, the growing number of Traumatic Brain Injury (TBI) cases and need for continuous ICP monitoring of the patients suffering from TBI are the factors driving the intracranial pressure monitoring devices market in the U.S. Additionally, Increasing Awareness About Neurodegenerative Diseases and Rising Government Initiatives are also propelling the market towards growth.North America market is broadly classified into product and applications. Based on product the market is segmented into Extra Ventricular Drainage (EVD) and ICP Monitors whereas based on applications market is segmented into Traumatic Brain Injury, Intracerebral Hemorrhage, Meningitis and Others.AsiaAsian countries is showing highest growth rate in the upcoming years. The growing neurological complications and government initiatives for raising the awareness in people towards the neurological complications and its treatment is driving the ICP Monitoring market. Japan, China, and India are relied upon to be among the highest developing markets for the intracranial pressure devices because of different ventures and research offices.Get Prime Discount On This Premium Report:Intracranial pressure monitoring (ICP) market ApplicationIntracranial pressure (ICP) monitoring is mainly used in hospitals for patients suffering from brain injury, meningitis and intracerebral hemorrhage. There are multiple ICP products that have been used in hospitals such as Surgical Instruments, IAP-Monitoring, Hydrocephalus, CSF drainage and many more.The microtransducers and ventriculostomy is included invasive method whereas tympanic membrane displacement, transcranial Doppler, CT scan/ MRI, optic nerve sheath diameter, and fundoscopy is included in noninvasive methodsFew Chapters From Table of ContentChapter 1 INTRODUCTION1.1 Definition1.2 Scope Of Study1.2.1 Research ObjectiveChapter 2 RESEARCH METHODOLOGY2.1 Research Process2.2 Primary Research2.3 Secondary ResearchChapter 3 MARKET DYNAMICS3.1 Drivers3.2 Restraints3.3 Opportunities3.4 Macroeconomic IndicatorsChapter 4 MARKET FACTOR ANALYSIS4.1 Porters Five Forces Model4.2 Bargaining Power Of Suppliers4.3 Bargaining Power Of Buyers4.4 Threat Of New Entrants4.5 Threat Of Substitutes4.6 Intensity Of RivalryChapter 5 INTRACRANIAL PRESSURE MONITOR DEVICE MARKET, BY TECHNIQUESTOC Continued.Any Query? Enquire Here:About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Statistical Report, Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for Global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Contact Us:Market Research Future Office No. 528,Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar, Pune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Digital Scent Technology Market 2018 Global Leaders: Smiths Detection, Scent Sciences, Alpha MOS SA, Electronics Sensor Technology, ScentSational Technologies, Scentcom, Vapor Communications https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5529 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/digital-scent-technology-market-5529 Market Research Future published a research report on Digital Scent Technology Market Research Report- Forecast till 2023 Market Analysis, Scope, Stake, Progress, Trends and Forecast to 2023.Market ScenarioAfter enhancements in the virtual reality experience, the digital sense technology is targeting the nose. Digital scent technology makes use of hardware devices in order to sense and generate different types of smells. Products like e-nose and scent synthesizer are used to sense, receive or transmit smell through a digital medium.Smiths Detection Inc., Scent Sciences Corporation, ams AG, Alpha MOS SA, Electronics Sensor Technology, and ScentSational Technologies LLC are a few major players in the global Digital Scent Technology Market. A lot of companies are investing in the digital scent technology market. Also, application of e-nose in the security and military sectors is another factor that will help in driving the growth of digital scent market. Rising adoption of smart devices is another major factor driving the growth of digital scent technology market. Also, growing demand for quality assessmnets with the help of e-nose and scent synthesizers is set to drive the growth of the digital scent technology market.The product segment in the digital scent technology market comprises of mobile phone, smelling screen, music and video game, explosives detector, quality control product, medical diagnostic product, and others. The quality control product sub-segment of the global digital scent technology market is expected to grow at a significant rate during the forecast period. This is owing to the increasing demand for e-nose based quality assessment techniques for raw material which help in saving the wastage of food and also help in improving its quality. Also, the growing trend of adoption of digital devices such as smartphones is one major factor driving the growth of digital scent technology market.Get Sample of Report @The North American region holds the largest share of the market across the globe followed by Europe, and Asia Pacific region. The U.S. and Canada are dominating the North America market due to rising technological enhancements and growing adoption of artificial intelligence in the region. Moreover, the region has a well-established infrastructure, which allows faster implementation of advanced technologies. Additionally, the growing adoption of smart grid deployment is another major factor driving the growth of digital scent technology market in the region.The global digital scent technology market is expected to grow at a CAGR of approximately 30% during the forecast period 2017-2023.Digital Scent Technology Market SegmentationThe global digital scent technology market is segmented on the basis of product, hardware, and end user. However, the hardware segment is classified into e-nose and scent synthesizer. The e-nose segment comprises of optical fiber sensor, piezoelectric sensor, polymer sensor and mosfet sensor. Whereas, the scent synthesizer comprises of cartridge. Increasing demand for implementation of digital scent technology across different industry verticals is driving the growth of digital scent technology market. This is owing to the efficiency being offered by e-nose that helps in providing quality assessment techniques.Market Research AnalysisNorth America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas the Europe market is poised to grow at the highest rate during the forecast period. North America region is witnessing rapid growth owing to the advancements in technology and rise in applications of e-nose in the security and military sectors in this region. The U.S. holds the majority of market share both in terms of revenue as well as owing to the increased demand for digital scent technology.Key Players:Some of the prominent players in the global digital scent technology market are Smiths Detection Inc. (U.S.), Scent Sciences Corporation (U.S.), ams AG (Austria), Alpha MOS SA (France), Electronics Sensor Technology (U.S.), ScentSational Technologies LLC (U.S.), Scentcom Ltd. (Israel), AIRSENSE Analytics GmbH (Germany), Vapor Communications (U.S.), and The eNose Company (the Netherlands).Get Complete Report @Intended Audience Technology Investors Research/Consultancy firms Consulting service providers Technology Providers System integrators Clinical Diagnostic CentersAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industry, MRFR often plans & conducts meet with the industry experts and industrial visits for its research analyst members.Media Contact:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Expansion of Embedded Security For Internet Of Things Market Poised to Reflect a CAGR of 14.6% for 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2410 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2410 www.futuremarketinsights.com Rising number of devices which are being associated through IoT network is considered as a vital factor propelling demand for embedded security for IoT. Additionally, increasing strength of cyber-attacks on IoT devices as well as on networks combined with the introduction of revised industry guidelines to utilize embedded hardware solutions are noticed as major driving factors of embedded systems for IoT. The embedded security for IoT is forecasted to move towards delivering security to hyper-connected technologies. A recent report on embedded security for Internet of Things developed by Future Market Insights (FMI) offers such critical things in it.The report reveals, the global embedded security for internet of things held US$ 2,525 Mn in 2016 and is projected to secure almost US$ 11,125 Mn by the end of 2027. The market is anticipated to exhibit high double-digit CAGR throughout the forecast period (2017-2027), in terms of revenues. The market in APEJ (Asia Pacific excluding Japan) is anticipated to reflect comparatively higher expansion throughout the forecast period, in terms of value.Request For Report Sample@Dynamics of MarketThe controller chip segment is projected to procure more than four-fifth share of the market, in terms of revenues, exhibiting staggering double-digit CAGR throughout the assessment period. In terms of revenues, the segment is projected to retain its dominance throughout the forecast period. Moreover, the segment is estimated to generate incremental dollar opportunity of over US$ 6,800 Mn during 2017-2027.The use of embedded security for IoT in connected cars is projected to expand at significant growth rate during the assessment period. Embedded security systems for IoT worth nearly US$ 687 Mn were used in connected cars in the year 2016.Automotive industry, by vertical type is anticipated to retain its dominance in the market throughout the forecast period, securing almost one-third revenue share by the end of 2027.Regional SegmentationMoreover, the North America is anticipated to remain most lucrative regions for embedded security for Internet of Things market throughout the assessment period. The market in this region has secured nearly US$ 773 Mn in the year 2016 and secured nearly one-third revenue share of the market. In terms of revenue, the North America region is anticipated to retain its dominance over the assessment period. Rising utilization of IoT devices has led to increased security concerns, thereby numerous government regulatory bodies in US region have allotted security guidelines for IoT solution providers throughout various verticals. During this period, the market for embedded security for Internet of Things in Western Europe region is anticipated to reach nearly US$ 1,677 Mn by the end of 2027, procuring staggering CGAR throughout the assessment period. Further, number of government authorities in different countries are ensuring that device manufacturers execute better security programs in order to secure cyber-attack on IoT networks and devices.Competitive LandscapeBlackberry, a Canadian telecom service provider introduced an IoT platform based on cloud technology with device management features allowing data collection from range of networks and devices. This platform allows business partners, application developers and others to combine various aspects of IoT solutions comprising security. Primarily, the platform was directed towards shipping and automotive sector and in foreseeable period it is likely to be extended to other sectors such as healthcare and energy.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Several key market players, operating in the market are profiled in the report include, ARM Holdings Plc. (SoftBank Corp), Trend Micro Incorporated, Intel Corporation, NXP Semiconductors N.V., Gemalto N.V., Palo Alto Networks Inc., Check Point Software Technologies Ltd., Synopsys, Inc., Infineon Technologies AG, Inside Secure, and Cisco System Inc. The report reveal that these market players are likely to contribute more in the growth of the global market for embedded security for Internet of things.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Global Point of Sale System Market by Type, Component, Product, Deployment, Service, Application and Segment Forecasts to 2022 http://www.qyreports.com/request-sample/?report-id=61289 http://www.qyreports.com/enquiry-before-buying/?report-id=61289 http://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount/?report-id=61289 www.qyreports.com Global Point Of Sale System Market Professional Survey Report 2017-2022 Purchase This Report by calling QYReports.com at +91-9764607607.The point of sale (POS) or point of purchase (POP) is the time and place where a retail transaction is completed. At the point of sale, the merchant calculates the amount owed by the customer, indicates that amount, may prepare an invoice for the customer (which may be a cash register printout), and indicates the options for the customer to make payment.This research report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Point Of Sale System Market based on enterprise size, services, solution, end-use industry, and geography. The report also provides an analysis of the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the Point Of Sale System market. It discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of the global market. It provides market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue.Point Of Sale System Market Estimated to Grow at a CAGR of +10% During Forecast PeriodThe report covers all the major trends and technologies playing a major role in the market growth over the forecast period. The competition in the global market for Point Of Sale System will likely heat up in the next couple of years on the back of entry of a substantial number of solution providers. This statistical surveying report presents an all-inclusive assessment of the worldwide market for Point Of Sale System, taking several market verticals, such as the production capacity, product pricing, the dynamics of demand and supply, sales volume, revenue, and the growth rate of this market into consideration.Download PDF Sample Copy:Company Profiled: The Key Players operating in the Point Of Sale System Market includes Epson, HP, Intuit, Samsung, Honeywell, PayPal, Aldelo, Alexandria Computers, BankServ, Bixolon, Clover, Dascom, Elo Touch, Wells Fargo, GoVenture, Informatics, NCH Software, QuickBooks, Star Micronics, Topaz Systems, VeriFone, Wasp Barcode.The report provides competitive landscape of the Point Of Sale System market, thereby listing out all the major players according to their geographic presence, market attractiveness and recent key developments. The competitive landscape section of the report gives an overview about the market share of several key players for the year 2017. Moreover, key takeaways section provided at the end of competitive landscape section would help the operating companies to make the best move in the market.These market estimates have been analyzed by taking into account the impact of different political, social, economic, technological, and legal factors along with the current market dynamics affecting the market growth. Factors including market position, offerings and R&D focus are attributed to company's capabilities. This section also identifies and includes various recent developments carried out by the leading players.For More Information:The regional analysis of the Global Market splits the global market into key regions that include both continents as well as specific countries that are currently shining in terms of either demand, volume or overall growth. Users of the report can focus on these regions if they are looking to expand their business borders.The stages of development of Point Of Sale System market with respect to many geographic regions have also been presented thoroughly. This information which is provided helps the emerging players gain up-to-date information which can help them take perfect business decisions. In similar way, many other segments and sub segments are mentioned in this market helping in conveying impeccable data to the users.To Get Reasonable Discount:Table of ContentsGlobal Point Of Sale System Market Research Report 2017Chapter 1 Point Of Sale System Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Global Market ForecastAbout QYReports:We at, QYReports , a leading market research report publisher accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers include prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.com MALACAnANG on Thursday said President Rodrigo Duterte will no longer issue an executive order to stop the practice of endo or contractual hiring that deprives workers of job security, and will leave it to Congress to enact a law instead. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said the position of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello III was to leave it to Congress to enact or amend the labor law, saying the President followed the decision of the Labor chief. The Alliance of Labor Unions-Trade Union Congress of the Philippines (ALU-TUCP) slammed the Labor Department and the Palace for passing the issue on to Congress, and said this was inconsistent with the Presidents promise to stop the rampant abuse of short-term contract work. This statement and position is just the Secretary Bello, attorney Roque and the Department of Trade and Industry speaking, not the President. This is not the President speaking himself. Bello and Roque are just pre-empting the Presidents desire to sign labor-drafted EO, ALU-TUCP spokesman Alan Tanjusay said. In a press briefing at the Department of Labor and Employment, Bello announced that President Duterte will no longer sign an executive order (EO) on contractualization and he will instead certify a pending bill in Senate on the security of tenure as a priority bill. He said the Office of the Executive Secretary had studied three drafts of the EO. Bello said the Senate bill will address unlawful contractualization if there is an effective and honest-to-goodness implementation. For his part, Roque said the President had complied with his election promiseto do away with 5-5-5 endo, in which employers hire a worker for five months then fires him on the fifth month to avoid regularizing his employment.Now the DOLE has beefed up the number of its labor inspectors from 200 to 500 and thats why they have effectively cracked down on those resorting to prohibited endo, Roque said. Lets see what kind of legislation Congress will finally approve, noting that the matter is now pending in the Senate alone, because the House already passed its version, Roque said. But the labor group urged the President to sign the EO anyway. The signing of the EO is the concrete manifestation of meeting his promise to end Endo and serve as policy guidance to the fate and direction of Security of Tenure bill now pending in Congress. We all know that business is over-represented in Congress but with President Duterte signing the EO, it will send a signal to congressmen and senators to fast-track the passage of Security of Tenure Bill, Tanjusay said. Tanjusay said the workers one wish for Labor Day is that the President signs the EO drafted by the labor groups. Bello, on the other hand, said workers should watch Dutertes Labor Day speech for a possible dramatic issuance. Global Physical Intellectual Property Market: Segmentation and Opportunities, Top Manufacturers, Trends, Challenges and Forecast to 2022 http://www.qyreports.com/request-sample/?report-id=62335 http://www.qyreports.com/enquiry-before-buying/?report-id=62335 http://www.qyreports.com/ask-for-discount/?report-id=62335 www.qyreports.com Global Physical Intellectual Property Market Professional Survey Report 2017-2022 Purchase This Report by calling QYReports.com.Intellectual Property (IP) is a term for any intangible asset -- something proprietary that doesn't exist as a physical object but has value. Examples of intellectual property include designs, concepts, software, inventions, trade secrets, formulas and brand names, as well as works of art.This research report provides an in-depth analysis of the global Physical Intellectual Property Market based on enterprise size, services, solution, end-use industry, and geography. The report also provides an analysis of the factors that drive and restrain the growth of the Physical Intellectual Property market. It discusses the prevailing market trends, prospective growth opportunities, and major strategies increasing the popularity of the global market. It provides market estimates and forecasts for all the segments in terms of revenue.The report covers all the major trends and technologies playing a major role in the market growth over the forecast period. The competition in the global market for Physical Intellectual Property will likely heat up in the next couple of years on the back of entry of a substantial number of solution providers. This statistical surveying report presents an all-inclusive assessment of the worldwide market for Physical Intellectual Property, taking several market verticals, such as the production capacity, product pricing, the dynamics of demand and supply, sales volume, revenue, and the growth rate of this market into consideration.Download PDF Sample Copy:Company Profiled: The Key Players operating in the Physical Intellectual Property Market includes ARM, Cadence Design Systems, CEVA, Rambus, Synopsys, Imagination Technologies, Lattice Semiconductor.The report provides competitive landscape of the Physical Intellectual Property market, thereby listing out all the major players according to their geographic presence, market attractiveness and recent key developments. The competitive landscape section of the report gives an overview about the market share of several key players for the year 2017. Moreover, key takeaways section provided at the end of competitive landscape section would help the operating companies to make the best move in the market.These market estimates have been analyzed by taking into account the impact of different political, social, economic, technological, and legal factors along with the current market dynamics affecting the market growth. Factors including market position, offerings and R&D focus are attributed to company's capabilities. This section also identifies and includes various recent developments carried out by the leading players.For More Information:The regional analysis of the Global Market splits the global market into key regions that include both continents as well as specific countries that are currently shining in terms of either demand, volume or overall growth. Users of the report can focus on these regions if they are looking to expand their business borders.The stages of development of Physical Intellectual Property market with respect to many geographic regions have also been presented thoroughly. This information which is provided helps the emerging players gain up-to-date information which can help them take perfect business decisions. In similar way, many other segments and sub segments are mentioned in this market helping in conveying impeccable data to the users.To Get Reasonable Discount:Table of ContentsGlobal Physical Intellectual Property Market Research Report 2017Chapter 1 Physical Intellectual Property Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisChapter 12 Global Market ForecastAbout QYReports:We at, QYReports , a leading market research report publisher accommodate more than 4,000 celebrated clients worldwide putting them at advantage in todays competitive world with our understanding of research. Our list of customers include prestigious Chinese companies, multinational companies, SME's and private equity firms whom we have helped grow and sustain with our fact-based research. Our business study covers a market size of over 30 industries offering unfailing insights into analysis to reimagine your business. We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones John(Sales Manager)+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.com Global Stepped Automatic Transmission Market 2018-2025 Continental, Bosch, Delphi Automotive Stepped Automatic Transmission Market Growth 2018 https://goo.gl/f6mb1b http://www.9dimenresearchstore.com/report/global-stepped-automatic-transmission-market-3628 A market study "Global Stepped Automatic Transmission Market" examines the performance of the Stepped Automatic Transmission market 2018. 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Allison Transmission10. Wabco11. DENSO CORPORATIONStepped Automatic Transmission Market : By ApplicationPassenger VehicleCommercial VehicleStepped Automatic Transmission Market : By TypeOEMAftermarketFirstly, the report covers the top Stepped Automatic Transmission manufacturing industry players from regions like United States, EU, Japan, and China. It also characterizes the market based on geological regions.Further, the Stepped Automatic Transmission report gives information on the company profile, market share and contact details along with value chain analysis of Stepped Automatic Transmission industry, Stepped Automatic Transmission industry rules and policies, circumstances driving the growth of the market and compulsion blocking the growth. 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Shaft Aluminum Market development scope and various business strategies are also mentioned in this report.Browse Full Report Here:The Shaft Aluminum research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Shaft Aluminum market revenue worldwide.Finally, Shaft Aluminum market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage.About Us9Dimen Research Store is a leading market intelligence team which making extensive reports that cover all the necessary details about the market assessments such as major technological improvement in the industry.Contact US:5001 Spring Valley Rd #400,Dallas,TX 75244, USAContact No. +1-214-661-1669Email: sales@9dimenresearchstore.comWeb: 9dimenresearchstore.com Cluster Packaging Market Significant Profits Estimated to be Generated by 2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2699 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-2699 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Packaging industry has significantly grown in the past few years primarily driven by growth in the FMCG sector. Moreover, food products, health supplements, and electronic components are some of the industries that have seen improvements regarding demand over the last few years and are more easily available due to an efficient packaging solution. Cluster packaging is suitable to carry products in bulk at a time and is also very handy for consumers. Demand for cluster packs is expected to be driven by increasing adoption of packaging technology across developing geographies across the globe.Request For Sample @Cluster Packaging Market- Market Segmentation:The global cluster packaging market can be segmented on the basis of material type, product type, packaging style, number of tier type, end-use and by region. On the basis of material type cluster packaging market can be segmented into paper & paperboard, plastic, and others. Further paper & paperboard can be categorized into corrugated paper, Kraft paper, poly coated paper, folding box board and others. On the basis of product type cluster packaging market can be segmented into bottles & jars, cans, containers, boxes, cups, and others. On the basis of packaging style cluster packaging market can be segmented into neck-through style, over the top style, handle based style, cluster sleeve style, cluster side style and others. On the basis of number of tiers, cluster packaging market can be segmented into single tier cluster packaging and multiple tier cluster packaging. On the basis of end use cluster packaging market can be segmented into food, beverages, pharmaceuticals & healthcare, personal care and cosmetics industry, industrial goods and others. On the basis of region, cluster packaging market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and the Middle East & Africa.Cluster Packaging Market - Market Dynamics:Growth in demand for cluster packaging is expected to grow steadily for several reasons. One of them is increasing demand for flexible packaging which is driving the growth of the cluster packaging market. Another important factor contributing towards the growth of cluster packaging market are, expanded use of bulk products, higher value packaging that offer better performance and are more cost effective than smaller packaging with shorter term service capability. In addition the reusability feature of the pack is also contributing to the growth of cluster packaging market. Growing awareness of environmental issues is also a growth strategy that key players of cluster packaging market are adopting. Many regulatory bodies such as the European Food Safety Authority and U.S. FDA have implemented various regulations for the use of safe and eco-friendly products, mostly in the food industry. Also, the high initial cost of cluster packaging material is considered as another restraining factor towards the growth of cluster packaging market.Cluster Packaging Market- Regional Outlook:Geographically, the cluster packaging market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC) and the Middle East & Africa (MEA). The growth of global Cluster packaging market is expected to witness a healthy CAGR over the forecast period of 2016-2024. Moreover, Asia-Pacific is expected to witness a high growth in the cluster packaging market due to the rising consumption of food and beverage products. Further North America is expected to witness an above average growth due to the higher adoption of cluster packaging in beer and wine industries.Request For TOC @Cluster Packaging Market- Major Players:Some of the key players of the global cluster packaging market are Westrock, Wipak, Mondi Group, PET Power, Smurfit Kappa Group PLC, Gerresheimer AG, and Klockner Pentaplast GmbH & Co. KG., Graham Packaging, Berry Plastic Group Inc., Alpha Packaging, Constar International, Dunmore, Yantai City Fushan District Long Tai Plastic Co., Linyi City Qingwen Plastic Products Factory, Laizhou Meiao Industry And Trade Co., Ltd., Yixing City Xingfei Bulk Bag Co., Ltd., Shanghai Wellzone Packaging Co., Limited.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature.FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Sodium Sulfide Market to Witness Significant Value and Volume Growth Between 2016 and 2024 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/sample/sample/1293595 https://www.marketresearchreports.biz/reports/1293595/global-study-on-sodium-sulfide-market-research-reports/toc Sodium sulfide finds application across a number of industries particularly in leather processing, and paper & pulp processing. In the report Sodium Sulfide Market: Global Industry Analysis and Forecast, 2016 - 2024, Persistence Market Research has taken an in-depth look at the global sodium sulfide market. All-important metrics such as CAGR, Y-o-Y growth projections, and incremental and absolute dollar opportunity have been exploited for the purpose of studying the global sodium sulfide market. An estimate of the direction the global sodium sulfide market is anticipated to take in the eight year study period from 2016-2024 has been provided.Research MethodologyThe research methodology employed by Persistence Market Research to prepare the global sodium sulfide market report is second to none in the industry. PMR analysts first profile the market extensively through both primary and secondary research to understand the overall market size, key players, top-selling products and other associations. A discussion guide is formulated after through interaction with a number of industry specialists and experts. After all the required data has been gathered, it is validated using the triangulation method wherein primary and secondary research is combined with PMR expert analysis to deliver the final data. This data is then scrutinized using advanced, proprietary tools to deliver both quantitative and qualitative insights into the global sodium sulfide market.Get the sample copy of this report @Report DescriptionThe global sodium sulfide market has been divided into five different geographic regions for the purpose of this study. For each region, a country-specific Basis Point Share Analysis and Y-o-Y growth projections has been provided. The regional sodium sulfide market size on the basis of Volume, Product Type and Application follows these key metrics. To understand the region with the most exciting future prospects, readers would do well to refer to this section of the sodium sulfide market report in detail.After understanding the regional composition of the global sodium sulfide market, one may wish to know about the major players currently dominating the global sodium sulfide market. That is the primary objective of the competition dashboard that profiles a few of the industry heavyweights. A brief company description, some of the products offered, a SWOT analysis as well as key financials including revenue, operating margin, gross margin, net margin, and asset turnover have been highlighted in an easy-to-understand format in this section of the sodium sulfide market report.The market analysis section of the global sodium sulfide market is primarily concerned with the regional production and consumption outlook, a comparison of the two, the price projections per region, the market size, Y-o-Y growth and absolute dollar opportunity. It also studies the value chain of sodium sulfide market manufacturers, distributors and end users. A supply-demand analysis in terms of production capacity, major importers and exporters, and the supply-demand scenario completes this important section. Market dynamics are absolutely essential to understand any market and this could not be truer than for the global sodium sulfide market. Drivers from both the supply and demand side, restraints, opportunities, regional market attractiveness and the relevance and impact of certain forecast factors can be gleaned from this informative section.Request for complete report TOC @An important section of the sodium sulfide market report is the executive summary that is simultaneously concise and comprehensive. The executive summary touches upon global sales revenue at the beginning as well as the end of the forecast period, the CAGR rate, the segment accounting for the largest market value share and the segment predicted to grow at the highest rate. A few of the drivers, challenges and trends have been mentioned and a snapshot of the global sodium sulfide market in graphical format is provided. The summary also provides PMR expert opinion in terms of the product type and region to be targeted and differentiating strategies to be adopted to achieve the best results in the global sodium sulfide market. The section that logically follows the executive summary is an introduction to the global sodium sulfide market. This section comprises key market definitions, taxonomy and a broad overview of the global sodium sulfide market.Market SegmentationBy Product TypeRegular GradeHigh Purity GradeBy ApplicationLeather ProcessingPulp & PaperChemical ProcessingWater TreatmentOre ProcessingOthers (Food Preservative etc.)By RegionNorth AmericaLatin AmericaEuropeAsia PacificMiddle East & AfricaCompany ProfilesSolvay s.a.Longfu GroupNafine Chemical Industry Group Co., LtdInner Mongolia Lichuan Chemical Co., LtdXintai Wanhe Chemical Co.LtdChina Nafine group international co ltdTessenderlo GroupSichuan Shenhong Chemical Industry Co., Ltd.Shenzhou Jiaxin Chemical Co., LtdChangsha Vahenry Chemical Co., LtdOthersMRRbiz supports your business intelligence needs with over 700,000 market research reports, company profiles, data books, and regional market data sheets in its repository. Our document database is updated by the hour, which means that you always have access to fresh data spanning over 300 industries and their sub-segments.State Tower90 State Street, Suite 700Albany, NY 12207United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948(USA-Canada)Tel: +1-518-621-2074E: sales@marketresearchreports.biz Oil and Gas Separator Market Will Grow At A CAGR Of 3.39% During The Period 2017-2021; ALFA LAVAL, TechnipFMC, Frames, Halliburton Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1293330 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-oil-and-gas-separator-market-2017-2021-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-oil-and-gas-separator-market-2017-2021-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Oil and Gas Separator Market 2017-2021" to its huge collection of research reports.About Oil and Gas SeparatorOil and gas separators are pressure vessels used for separating the water, oil, and gas constituents of an incoming well stream during the initial stages of petroleum extraction. Based on the vessel configuration, the oil and gas separators are divided into horizontal, vertical, and spherical separators. The 19th century has witnessed the dominance of fossil fuels as the primary source of energy. Among all fossil fuels, crude oil and natural gas are the commodities that have been controlling almost all the aspects of the energy business.Technavios analysts forecast the global oil and gas separator market to grow at a CAGR of 3.39% during the period 2017-2021.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Covered in this reportThe report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the global oil and gas separator market for 2017-2021. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources.The market is divided into the following segments based on geography:AmericasAPACEMEATechnavio's report, Global Oil and Gas Separator Market 2017-2021, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market.Key vendorsALFA LAVALTechnipFMCFramesHalliburtonSchlumbergerOther prominent vendorsACS ManufacturingAMACSCECO EnvironmentaleProcess TechnologiesExterranGrand Prix EngineeringHAT InternationalHydrasepView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Kirk Process SolutionsKubco Decanter ServicesMetano ImpiantiHBPOil Water Separator TechnologiesSepco ProcessSOPAN O&MSulzer (previously ASCOM)Zeta-pdmMarket driverRefining heavy crude obtained from unconventional oil reservesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket challengeUncertainties associated with low crude oil and natural gas commodity pricesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportMarket trendOngoing R&D activitiesFor a full, detailed list, view our reportBrowse Report @Key questions answered in this reportWhat will the market size be in 2021 and what will the growth rate be?What are the key market trends?What is driving this market?What are the challenges to market growth?Who are the key vendors in this market space?About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @ How Deep Learning Market is Exploring Growth Deep Learning Market https://www.htfmarketreport.com/sample-report/1098306-global-deep-learning-software-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/reports/1098306-global-deep-learning-software-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/enquiry-before-buy/1098306-global-deep-learning-software-market-1 https://www.htfmarketreport.com/buy-now?format=1&report=1098306 HTF MI published a new industry research that focuses on Deep Learning Software market and delivers in-depth market analysis and future prospects of Global Deep Learning Software market. The study covers significant data which makes the research document a handy resource for managers, analysts, industry experts and other key people get ready-to-access and self-analyzed study along with graphs and tables to help understand market trends, drivers and market challenges. The study is segmented by Application/ end users [Large Enterprise & SMB], products type [Cloud based & On premise] and various important geographies like United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia].Get Access to sample pages @The research covers the current market size of the Global Deep Learning Software market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers. The in-depth information by segments of Deep Learning Software market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies, CAPEX cycle and the changing structure of the Global Deep Learning Software Market.The study provides company profiling, product picture and specifications, sales, market share and contact information of key manufacturers of Global Deep Learning Software Market, some of them listed here are Artelnics, Bright Computing, BAIR, Intel, Cognex, IBM, Keras, Microsoft, VLFeat, NIVIDA, PaddlePaddle, Torch, SignalBox & Wolfram. The market is growing at a very rapid pace and with rise in technological innovation, competition and M&A activities in the industry many local and regional vendors are offering specific application products for varied end-users. The new manufacturer entrants in the market are finding it hard to compete with the international vendors based on quality, reliability, and innovations in technology.Global Deep Learning Software (Thousands Units) and Revenue (Million USD) Market Split by Product Type such as Cloud based & On premise. Further the research study is segmented by Application such as Large Enterprise & SMB with historical and projected market share and compounded annual growth rate.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), and market share and growth rate of Deep Learning Software in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2017 to 2022.Read Detailed Index of full Research Study at @Following would be the Chapters to display the Global Deep Learning Software market.Chapter 1, to describe Definition, Specifications and Classification of Deep Learning Software, Applications of Deep Learning Software, Market Segment by Regions;Chapter 2, to analyze the Manufacturing Cost Structure, Raw Material and Suppliers, Manufacturing Process, Industry Chain Structure;Chapter 3, to display the Technical Data and Manufacturing Plants Analysis of Deep Learning Software, Capacity and Commercial Production Date, Manufacturing Plants Distribution, R&D Status and Technology Source, Raw Materials Sources Analysis;Chapter 4, to show the Overall Market Analysis, Capacity Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Analysis (Company Segment), Sales Price Analysis (Company Segment);Chapter 5 and 6, to show the Regional Market Analysis that includes United States, EU, Japan, China, India & Southeast Asia, Deep Learning Software Segment Market Analysis (by Type);Chapter 7 and 8, to analyze the Deep Learning Software Segment Market Analysis (by Application) Major Manufacturers Analysis of Deep Learning Software;Chapter 9, Market Trend Analysis, Regional Market Trend, Market Trend by Product Type [Cloud based & On premise], Market Trend by Application [Large Enterprise & SMB];Chapter 10, Regional Marketing Type Analysis, International Trade Type Analysis, Supply Chain Analysis;Chapter 11, to analyze the Consumers Analysis of Global Deep Learning Software;Chapter 12,13, 14 and 15, to describe Deep Learning Software sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, Research Findings and Conclusion, appendix and data source.Enquire for customization in Report @What this Research Study Offers:Global Deep Learning Software Market share assessments for the regional and country level segmentsMarket share analysis of the top industry playersStrategic recommendations for the new entrantsMarket forecasts for a minimum of 5 years of all the mentioned segments, sub segments and the regional marketsMarket Trends (Drivers, Constraints, Opportunities, Threats, Challenges, Investment Opportunities, and recommendations)Strategic recommendations in key business segments based on the market estimationsCompetitive landscaping mapping the key common trendsCompany profiling with detailed strategies, financials, and recent developmentsSupply chain trends mapping the latest technological advancementsBuy this research report @Reasons for Buying this ReportThis report provides pin-point analysis for changing competitive dynamicsIt provides a forward looking perspective on different factors driving or restraining market growthIt provides a six-year forecast assessed on the basis of how the market is predicted to growIt helps in understanding the key product segments and their futureIt provides pin point analysis of changing competition dynamics and keeps you ahead of competitorsIt helps in making informed business decisions by having complete insights of market and by making in-depth analysis of market segmentsThanks for reading this article; you can also get individual chapter wise section or region wise report version like North America, Europe or Asia.HTF Market Report is a wholly owned brand of HTF market Intelligence Consulting Private Limited. HTF Market Report global research and market intelligence consulting organization is uniquely positioned to not only identify growth opportunities but to also empower and inspire you to create visionary growth strategies for futures, enabled by our extraordinary depth and breadth of thought leadership, research, tools, events and experience that assist you for making goals into a reality. Our understanding of the interplay between industry convergence, Mega Trends, technologies and market trends provides our clients with new business models and expansion opportunities. We are focused on identifying the Accurate Forecast in every industry we cover so our clients can reap the benefits of being early market entrants and can accomplish their Goals & Objectives.Contact us :HTF Market Intelligence Consulting Private LimitedUnit No. 429, Parsonage Road Edison, NJNew Jersey USA 08837sales@htfmarketreport.com+1 (206) 317 1218 Research of Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market Overview, Cost Structure Analysis, Growth Opportunities and Forecast to 2021 Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1026592 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-online-food-delivery-and-takeaway-market-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-online-food-delivery-and-takeaway-market-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market - Analysis By Order Type, By Region, By Country: Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021) - By Order Type (Delivery, Takeaway); By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and MEA); By Country (U.S., Canada, U.K., Italy, Spain, France, Netherland, China, Japan, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E and South Africa)" to its huge collection of research reports.A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of global online food delivery and takeaway market on the basis of Order Type (Delivery and Takeaway); By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and MEA) and By Country (U.S., Canada, U.K., Italy, Spain, France, Netherland, China, Japan, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E and South Africa).To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Food Delivery and Takeaway Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 15.25% during 2016 2021. The strong growth in Global Food Delivery and Takeaway market is driven by Convenience that these online food ordering platforms provide in food ordering, access to variety of food at one virtual marketplace and option to pay online. Apart from that, the increasing hectic work schedule, congested metropolitan cities, easy access to internet and increasing smartphone penetration has been impelling growth in the Online food ordering and takeaway market.The orders placed for delivery hold the major percentage share in the total food delivery and takeaway market, and is projected to grow at a faster growth in the future owing to the rise in busy work schedules in the metropolitan cities. The online food ordering is expected to rise in the forecasted period as it easy to use and avoid any ambiguity in food order placement. Among the regions, North America is predicted to advance at the highest rate, mainly driven by the presence of large and well organized food service sector and continuous innovation in the food ordering and delivery segment, Economic growth and high urbanization rate with higher disposable income.According to Azoth Analytics research report, Global Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market Analysis By Order Type, By Region, By Country: Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021), Global Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 15.25% during 2016 - 2021. Global Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market have been segmented on basis of Order Type (Delivery and Takeaway); By Region (North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, South America and MEA) and By Country (U.S., Canada, U.K., Italy, Spain, France, Netherland, China, Japan, India, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, U.A.E and South Africa).View Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Scope of the ReportThe report provides coverage by Order Type, By Region and By Country:By Order TypeDeliveryTakeawayBy RegionNorth AmericaEuropeAsia-PacificSouth AmericaMEABy CountryUSCanadaU.KItalySpainFranceNetherlandsChinaJapanIndiaAustraliaBrowse Report @Table of Content1. Research Methodology2. Executive Summary3. Strategic Recommendations3.1 Escalate the focus on the Asia Pacific Region3.2 Focus on Demographics and Consumer Behaviour4. Global Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market: An Overview4.1 Industry Overview4.1.1 Business Model-Aggregators4.1.2 Business Model New Entrants/New Delivery4.1.3 Business Model- Restaurant Chains4.2 Global Online Food Delivery and Takeaway Market: Growth and Forecast4.2.1. Market Size, By Value (2011-2015)4.2.2. Market Size, By Value (2016-2021)About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @ Calcium Gluconate Market to Reflect Impressive Expansion During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1275 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1275 www.futuremarketinsights.com Calcium gluconate is a mineral supplement which is prepared by the neutralization of gluconic acid with lime or calcium carbonate. It is listed as one of the essential medicines on WHOs list of essential medicine. Calcium gluconate is used to treat conditions arising from calcium deficiencies such as hypocalcaemia tetany, hypocalcemia related to hyperparathyroidism and hypocalcaemia due to rapid growth or pregnancy. Apart from being an active ingredient in medicines, calcium gluconate finds its application in various food products as a nutrient supplement. It is a used as a source of calcium, in a variety of food & beverage products, such as; milk, soft drinks, juices, bottled waters, dairy products, soy products, baked goods, and confectionery.Calcium Gluconate Market: Drivers & RestraintsGlobal calcium gluconate market is expected to grow owing to increasing demand from end-use industries such as pharmaceuticaland food & beverages. Sunrise industries like the nutraceutical industry has also largely impacted the global calcium gluconate market, as it finds itself as major ingredient in multiple calcium based health supplements. Increase in the demand for health supplements from the health conscious consumers has largely driven this market globally. More than 75% of Americans are calcium deficient, and more than one in 10 Americans either has, or is at risk of developing, osteoporosis or other bone diseases. This fact is also acting as a driver for the global calcium gluconate market in that region. The segment is anticipated to witness above average growth on account of increasing use of health supplements in developed countries for over the last few years and trend is likely to continue over the forecast period.Request For Report Sample@Excessive intake of calcium gluconate may lead to various side effects such as nausea, constipationand stomachupset. Rapid intravenous injections of calcium gluconate may cause hypercalcaemia, which can result in vasodilation, cardiac arrhythmias, decreased blood pressure, and bradycardia. This has proven to be a major restraint for this market.Calcium Gluconate Market:SegmentationThe global calcium gluconate market can be broadly segmented on the basis of end use, application, and form available. On the basis of end use, the market can be further segmented into; bulking agent, emulsifier, and thickening agent. On the basis of application, the global calcium gluconate market can be bifurcated into pharmaceuticals, food & beverages, and nutraceuticals. Commercially, calcium gluconate is available in three major form, i.e. gum, liquid, and powder.Calcium Gluconate Market:Region Wise OutlookGeographically, the calcium gluconatemarket is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Japan.Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness high growth on account of increasing demand from end-use industries. In addition, increased government spending on infrastructure development is likely fuel market growth over the next six years.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Calcium Gluconate Market: Key PlayersSome of the major global key players in this segments are; Aaron Industries, Inc. American Biorganics, Inc, AKZO Nobel Chemicals Inc, Alfa Aesar, Coyne Chemical , Glucona America, Inc, PMP Fermentation Products, Inc, Noah Technologies Corporation, Westco Chemicals Inc, Mallinckrodt Inc., Spectrum Bulk Chemicals. These companies are developing market strategies such as mergers and acquisitions, Joint Venture, New product development and Expansion to increase their market share in Global Functional Beverages Market. Apart from these big firms, there are multiple new entrants in the market.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Posted Thursday, April 19, 2018 10:15 am The Fordland R-3 School District recently announced the hiring of Tamith Ritter as middle school and high school principal. Her experience as a building principal with the Lutie and Gainesville School Districts made her a great choice for the students of the Fordland School District, according to a news release. Ritter will start her contract Aug. 1. Ritter is an alumnus of Fair Grove High School. Upon graduation, she attended Missouri State University in Springfield, majoring in Agriculture Education. She completed her Master of Education Administration degree from Southwest Baptist University in 2004, and earned her Specialist Degree in Educational Leadership from William Woods University in 2007. Ritter has served in a variety of roles during her 19 years in education. She began her career as an agriculture teacher, FFA advisor and then a biology teacher for the Pleasant Hope School District until moving into administration in 2008. Ritter has spent 10 years in building leadership roles with the last six years of service being at Gainesville R-V and as a 7-12 grade building principal. Ritter has been married to her husband Chuck for 22 years. Together, they have two sons, Thomas and Drew. Thomas is a junior attending Fontbonne University in St. Louis while Drew is a freshman at Roosevelt University in Chicago, Ill. I am very excited to for the opportunity to support the growth and success of students and faculty at Fordland Middle and High Schools, said Ritter in the news release. I look forward to serving the Fordland School District to provide the best possible education to its students. Black Pepper Market to Incur Meteoric Growth During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1274 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1274 www.futuremarketinsights.com Black Pepper is a pungent hot-tasting powder spice prepared from dried and ground peppercorns, used to flavor food. It is also known as king of spices because it contains rich anti-oxidants and other nutrients. The high demand for pepper presents an attractive market opportunity for new vendors to enter the market. In the present market scenario, it is estimated that the new crop of black pepper accounts for nearly 30% to 35% of the market. The high demand is expected to increase the price of black pepper, thereby increasing the profit margin of the vendors in this market.Apart from this, black pepper powder is also used to make medicines. It often used to cure stomach upset, bronchitis, and cancer. It is sometimes applied directly to the skin for treating nerve pain(neuralgia) and a skin disease called scabies. Black peppers are also used typically as a counterirritant for pain.Request For Report Sample@Black Pepper Market: Drivers & RestraintsThe black pepper market is directly influenced by the growing processed food industry. The rise in consumption of bakery products, confectionery products, and ready-to-eat and ried food in the developed economies is driving the market for the spice. The recent trend of using natural flavor enhancer has also catalyzed the growth of the global market. In the year 2013-15, the global pepper consumption is estimated at around 400,000 tons and has been increasing steadily. Increasing demand from Far East countries, which have started using more pepper in cooking, has been quite significant in driving the global black pepper market. Growth in the cosmetics industry is also directly influencing the pepper market. Due to the antioxidant and antibacterial properties of black pepper, it is often included in skin care products.As stated earlier, that the market is experiencing a major year on year increase in demand for black pepper. But unfortunately, this demand is not backed by adequate supply, which has proved to be a major restraint in this market. This is majorly due to the intensive crop losses in various parts of the world, especially in India & Brazil. Sudden climatic changes and untimely rainfall has significantly led to the fall in the yield of black pepper.Black PepperMarket: SegmentationThe global black pepper market can be broadly segmented on the basis of; type, end use and application. On the basis of type, the market can be further segmented into organic and inorganic. Based on end use, the market can be segmented into bakery and confectionery products, frozen products, soups, sauces & dressing, beverages, meat & poultry products, snacks and convenience food, and others. Based of application, the black pepper market can be segmented into food & beverages, health care and personal care & cosmetics.Black PepperMarket: Region Wise OutlookGeographically, the global black peppermarket is segmented into seven regions which are ; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA) and Japan.Vietnam, followed by Brazil, India & Indonesia are the leading producer of black pepper in the year 2014 globally.India saw a fall in its average production in the same year. The leverage of large scale production and productivity helps Vietnam growers to offer world's lowest price tags.In terms of export, Vietnam leads the market globally. U.S. market continues to be the largest importer of black pepper from Vietnam. While most markets like India, Saudi Arabia, Pakistan, Netherlands, Spain have seen an increase in their imports, except Germany. German market recorded a drop in imports from Vietnam. Thus, with a market share of approximately 50% per cent in the global market, Vietnam has been able dominate the market.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Black PepperMarket: Key PlayersSome of the major companies operating in global black peppermarket are Baria Pepper, British Pepper and Spice, Catch, Everest Spices, McCormick, MDH, Agri food Pacific, Akar Indo, Brazil Trade Business, DM AGRO, Gupta Trading, Pacific Production, PT AF, Silk Road Spices, The Spice House, Vietnam Spice Company, Visimex, and Webb James, Olam International Limited.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Signal Generator Market to Reflect Robust Expansion During 2016 - 2026 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-1495 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-1495 www.futuremarketinsights.com In a broad way, signaling means anything that serves to, indicate, command or to direct somebody with the help of light, an act, and gesture or in some other way, simple examples of signaling are clap & whistle. Signaling is mainly used to control communication process, in telecommunication applications, signaling finds wide applications concerning the establishment and control of a telecommunication circuit and also to manage communication network. Signals are referred as any quantity showing variation in time or space (as in image) is termed as a signal that helps to provide information regarding status of some physical system and the electronic system that generates repeating or non-repeating electronic signal in the range of frequencies between audio and microwave are termed as signal generator.Global Signal Generator Market: DynamicsThe key trend for the growth of global signal generator market is increasing demand from modern communication system. The factors responsible for the growth of global signal generator market are increasing demand for signal generator in the market across various countries in developing regions around the world, also the hike in demand of arbitrary function generator in various application is driving the growth of global signal generator market, one of the important driver contributes in the growth of signal device market is rapid adoption of signal generator in application such as aerospace and defense. On the other hand high import duty and taxes on the raw material used in manufacturing of signal generator and also the presence of large number of players in signal generator industry across the globe creates extensive competition and results in price war among the key players that is also responsible for hindering the growth of global signal generator market.Request For Report Sample@Global Signal Generator Market: SegmentationSegmentation of global signal generator market is done on the basis of product types, area of application, vertical & geography. On the basis of product type, global signal generator market is segmented into general purpose signal generator and special purpose signal generator. Further these segments is sub segmented into their respective sub-segments as general purpose signal generator is segmented into function generator, arbitrary waveform generator and RF & microwave signal generator and special purpose signal generator is sub-segmented into Pitch generators and audio generators and video signal generators. On the basis of technology it is being used, global signal generator market is segmented into 2G, 3G and 4G technology of communication.By application types, global signal generator market is segmented into higher end design and test application, in manufacturing application, in troubleshooting and repairing applicationsGeographically, global signal generator market is segmented into seven regions as; North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Japan, Asia Pacific Excluding Japan (APEJ), and Middle East and Africa (MEA). North America and Asia Pacific is projected to be the dominant market for signal generator across the globe and Asia Pacific region is expected to grow with spectacular CAGR during a forecast period.Request For Report Table of Content (TOC):Global Signal Generator Market: Key PlayersThe key players of global Signal Generator market are National Instruments Corporation, Tektronix Inc. Keysight Technologies Inc., Teledyne Technologies Incorporated, Rohde & Schwarz GmbH & Co Kg, Leader Electronics Corp & othersABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Smart Government : 2018 Market Major Participants - Amazon Web Services, Inc., Capgemini SE Smart Government https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1381807 https://www.researchmoz.us/smart-government-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html#table-of-content www.researchmoz.us Press Release - 19 April 2018Global Research and Development News --. .Report Description-' 'Smart government is an extension of e-government which applies information, communication, and operational technologies to all operational areas across multiple domains, process areas, and jurisdictions to generate sustainable public value. The smart government market is characterized by the presence of numerous well-established and highly competitive market entities/players.These players adopt various strategies like expansion, acquisition, partnership, collaboration, and technology to gain competitive advantage and defend their market share. The market is also characterized by growth in R&D activities in recent times. The global smart government market is expected to showcase impressive growth in the coming years.. . Get Sample Report' 'There are many factors driving the global smart government market. Growth in demand for digital mediums and smart technologies is attributed to technological advancements leading to increased investments in smart government technology which is expected to be a major driver of the market. High acceptance rate of cloud computing even from countries that have regular concerns about data privacy and security is also expected to boost the markets growth. Moreover, growth in the data generated from multiple sources which can be processed for digital transformation is also expected to propel the market. However, issues about data privacy and data theft are expected to be a major restraint in the growth of the global smart government market. The market is also expected to be hindered by the threat from hackers and data breaches.The global smart government market can be segmented on the basis of solution, service, deployment, and geography. On the basis of solution, the market can be segmented into security, analytics, government resource planning system, remote monitoring, open data platform, network management and others. Amongst these solutions, remote monitoring solutions are anticipated to grow at a substantial rate during the forecast period. This is primarily due to the solutions impressive ability to track and monitor the health of the deployed assets. Other advantages provided by remote monitoring solutions such as improved capacity and utilization, safety assurance, operational visibility and analysis, proactive solutions for asset failure situations, and reduced asset downtime are also expected to drive the segment. Another reason for the growth of the segment is the declining cost of sensors which in turn is making deployment of such solutions feasible and economical.On the basis of service, the market can be divided into professional services and managed services.Professional services segment is expected to hold prominent share during the forecast period owing to the increased deployment of smart solutions that need technological consulting, and continuous support & maintenance. On the basis of deployment, the market can be segmented into cloud and on-premise.On the basis of geography, the market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East & Africa, and South America. North America is expected to hold a major share of the total market owing to prominent developments in the smart government market resulting from the technical advancements and increasing use of mobiles and tablets in that region. Europe, driven by countries like U.K., Germany, and France, is expected to follow North America in terms of market share. Across Europe, the presence of advanced infrastructure is expected to ensure higher penetration of mobile devices which ultimately helps in driving the smart government market in the region. Middle East & Africa and South America are expected to hold a smaller share of the market, mainly driven by countries such as Saudi Arabia and Brazil respectively.Major players in the global smart government market are Amazon Web Services, Inc., Capgemini SE, Cisco Systems, Inc., Entrust Datacard Corporation, Huawei Technologies Co., Ltd., IBM Corporation, Imex Systems Inc., Nokia Corporation, Oracle Corporation, and Symantec Corporation. Other prominent players include ABB Ltd., Avaya Inc., Hughes Identification Devices (HID) Global Corporation, OpenGov, Inc., Socrata, Inc. and UTI Grup Ltd.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications. The study is a source of reliable data on:Market segments and sub-segmentsMarket trends and dynamicsSupply and demandMarket sizeCurrent trends/opportunities/challengesCompetitive landscapeTechnological breakthroughsValue chain and stakeholder analysis The regional analysis covers:North America (U.S. and Canada)Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period. Highlights of the report:A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent marketImportant changes in market dynamicsMarket segmentation up to the second or third levelHistorical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volumeReporting and evaluation of recent industry developmentsMarket shares and strategies of key playersEmerging niche segments and regional marketsAn objective assessment of the trajectory of the marketRecommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the market. . More Clear Details get Table of Contents' 'ResearchMoz is the worlds fastest growing collection of market research reports worldwide. Our database is composed of current market studies from over 100 featured publishers worldwide. Our market research databases integrate statistics with analysis from global, regional, country and company perspectives. ResearchMozs service portfolio also includes value-added services such as market research customization, competitive landscaping, and in-depth surveys, delivered by a team of experienced Research Coordinators.Researchmoz Global Pvt. Ltd.90 State Street,Albany, NY 12207,United States,Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free),Tel: +1-518-621-2074 Major Progress of Smart Pet Feeder Market in Global Industry: Opportunities, Growth Rate, Development Trend and Feasibility Studies 2025 Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1641802 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-smart-pet-feeder-market-research-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-smart-pet-feeder-market-research-report-2018-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Smart Pet Feeder Market Research Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Smart Pet Feeder market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report is segmented into several key Regions, with production, consumption, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of Smart Pet Feeder in these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringNorth AmericaEuropeChinaJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Smart Pet Feeder market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingJempetPetnetRadio Systems (PetSafe)Feed and GoCleverPetPOPPYRolliTronNibblesPetwantPeTreaTRELENTY (LUSMO)Pets at HomeOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoStainless SteelEdible ABSCeramicsOn the basis of the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, consumption (sales), market share and growth rate for each application, includingHouseholdCommercialView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal Smart Pet Feeder Market Research Report 20181 Smart Pet Feeder Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Smart Pet Feeder1.2 Smart Pet Feeder Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global Smart Pet Feeder Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Smart Pet Feeder Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Stainless Steel1.2.4 Edible ABS1.2.5 Ceramics1.3 Global Smart Pet Feeder Segment by Application2 Global Smart Pet Feeder Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global Smart Pet Feeder Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global Smart Pet Feeder Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Smart Pet Feeder Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Smart Pet Feeder Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.3 Global Smart Pet Feeder Average Price by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.4 Manufacturers Smart Pet Feeder Manufacturing Base Distribution, Sales Area and Product Type2.5 Smart Pet Feeder Market Competitive Situation and TrendsBrowse Report @3 Global Smart Pet Feeder Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)3.1 Global Smart Pet Feeder Capacity and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.2 Global Smart Pet Feeder Production and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.3 Global Smart Pet Feeder Revenue (Value) and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)3.4 Global Smart Pet Feeder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)3.5 North America Smart Pet Feeder Capacity, Production, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin (2013-2018)4 Global Smart Pet Feeder Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)4.1 Global Smart Pet Feeder Consumption by Region (2013-2018)4.2 North America Smart Pet Feeder Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.3 Europe Smart Pet Feeder Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.4 China Smart Pet Feeder Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)4.5 Japan Smart Pet Feeder Production, Consumption, Export, Import (2013-2018)About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @ Mobile M2M Module Sales Market in Global Industry : by key players, Competitors, Revenue, Demand and Application Forecast to 2025 Market Research Report https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1642304 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-mobile-m2m-module-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/global-mobile-m2m-module-sales-market-report-2018-report.html http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketreserch1.blogspot.com Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Mobile M2M Module Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Mobile M2M Module market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Mobile M2M Module for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Mobile M2M Module market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Mobile M2M Module sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingNimebelinkGemaltoHuawei TechnologySierra WirelessTelit Wireless SolutionsAeris CommunicationsAT&TEncore NetworksEricssonM2M DataMesh SystemsMulti-Tech SystemsNovatel WirelessOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split into3G4GLTEOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingCell PhoneCommunicationOther Digital DevicesView Complete TOC with tables & Figures @Table of ContentsGlobal Mobile M2M Module Sales Market Report 20181 Mobile M2M Module Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Mobile M2M Module1.2 Classification of Mobile M2M Module by Product Category1.2.1 Global Mobile M2M Module Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Mobile M2M Module Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 3G1.2.4 4G1.2.5 LTE1.3 Global Mobile M2M Module Market by Application/End Users2 Global Mobile M2M Module Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Mobile M2M Module Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Mobile M2M Module Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Mobile M2M Module Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Mobile M2M Module (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Mobile M2M Module Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Mobile M2M Module Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Mobile M2M Module (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Mobile M2M Module Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)Browse Report @3 United States Mobile M2M Module (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Mobile M2M Module Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Mobile M2M Module Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Mobile M2M Module Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Mobile M2M Module Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Mobile M2M Module Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Mobile M2M Module Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Mobile M2M Module Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Mobile M2M Module (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Mobile M2M Module Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Mobile M2M Module Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Mobile M2M Module Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Mobile M2M Module Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Mobile M2M Module Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact :ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @ Stem Cells 2017 Key Players Aldagen Inc., Biotime Inc., Cytori Therapeutics Inc., Epistem Ltd., and Gamida Cell Ltd Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Stem Cells https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3080306-the-global-market-for-stem-cells https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3080306-the-global-market-for-stem-cells Stem CellsOverviewThis report discusses the implications of stem cell research and commercial trends in the context of the current size and growth of the pharmaceutical market, both in global terms and analyzed by the most important national markets.The important technologies supporting stem cells are reviewed, and the nature and structure of the stem cell industry is discussed, with profiles of the leading companies, including recent merger and acquisition (M&A) activity. Five-year sales forecasts are provided for the national markets and the major therapeutic categories of the products involved..Click here for sample report @Major PlayersAldagen Inc.Biotime Inc.Cytori Therapeutics Inc.Epistem Ltd.Gamida Cell Ltd.Juventas Therapeutics Inc.Mesoblast Ltd.NeurogenerationOcataStem Cells Major OutlookProducts based on stem cells do not yet form an established market, but unlike some other potential applications of bioscience, stem cell technology has already produced many significant products in important therapeutic areas. The potential scope of the stem cell market is now becoming clear, and it is appropriate to review the technology, see its current practical applications, evaluate the participating companies and look to its futureStem Cells - Competitive AnalysisKey players are making innovative developments in Stem Cells. The same will help in improving the market performance. Heavy investments are made by major players in the R&D sectorScopeSave time carrying out entry-level research by identifying the size, growth, major segments, and leading players in the emerging five Stem Cells market- Use the Five Forces analysis to determine the competitive intensity and therefore attractiveness of the emerging five Stem Cells market- Leading company profiles reveal details of key Stem Cells market players emerging five operations and financial performance- Add weight to presentations and pitches by understanding the future growth prospects of the emerging five Stem Cells market with five year forecasts- Compares data from Brazil, China, India, Mexico and South Africa, alongside individual chapters on each country.ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Chief of Staff of Libyas so-called Libya National Army (LNA) has escaped an assassination attempt which targeted his motorcade in the city of Benghazi Wednesday. The failed attempt took place at the entrance of the countrys second city. A roadside bomb exploded after Abdelrazik Al-Nadori and his bodyguards passed through Si Khalifa checkpoint in the east of the city. The blast slain one civilian and injured another one, the LNA told AFP but local media, Libya Express, citing witnesses notes that two of Al-Nadoris bodyguards were injured. The incident took place as the east-based armys top commander Khalifa Haftar is in Paris for medical treatment after he suffered last week a heart attack that caused a cerebral bleed that put him into a coma. The LNA attempted to suppress news regarding the illness of Khalifa Hafter and the seriousness of his condition. Rumors of his death even emerged last week but French foreign minister Hubert Le Drian debunked the rumors. The top French diplomat reportedly told a close French cabinet meeting that Haftar was responding well to treatment and that he is in good conditions. Hafters illness has led to much speculation about the seriousness of his illness and his ability to return to his position with full powers and influence. There has also been speculation about his possible replacement with his sons and Nazhuri being among the possible candidates. The LNA controls vast chunk of the Libyan territory including the eastern part of the oil-rich North African country. Ablation Technology Market - Key Trends Prophesy 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1772 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1772 https://www.tmrresearch.com/ablation-technology-market Ablation Technology Market: SnapshotAblation alludes to minimally invasive techniques which involve the surgical extraction of body tissues. Ablation systems are increasing quick prevalence over the globe by virtue of the way that they are utilized as a part of minimally invasive removal methods. Lower danger of harm to tissues, bring down danger of contamination, speedy recuperation and cost viability of removal are a portion of the significant drivers of this market. Minimally invasive therapeutic methodology pick up priority over invasive strategies inferable from the actualities that the previous incorporates moderately bring down post procedural dangers, shorter recuperation time and clinic remains. A surge in the request of minimally invasive techniques by virtue of the previously mentioned qualities will drive the development of ablation technology market.Ablation treatments can be utilized for the treatment of different infections over a few therapeutic spaces, for example, ophthalmology, tumor, gynecology, and cardiovascular. Being a negligibly obtrusive methodology, it is less difficult than regular surgical operations, prompting shorter recuperation time. What's more, it makes next to no harm the encompassing tissues. Despite the fact that it brings down the symptoms, it has a few disservices also. For example, extensive and massive tissues, for example, bone and neck knobs, can't be treated with ablation. Moreover, the accessibility of ablation treatment in remote areas is very confined.Global Ablation Technology Market: OverviewThe term ablation refers to the surgical removal of harmful substances, abnormal growths such as tumors, and organs from the body. Ablation can be carried out via various methods such as cryoablation, laser or light, radiofrequency, microwave, ultrasound, hydrothermal, and electrical ablation technology. By application, the major segments of the global ablation technology market can be cardiovascular disease, urology, cancer, pain management, ophthalmology, cosmetic surgery, and gynecology.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Ablation Technology Market: Key TrendsThe development of more innovative and effective ablation products is likely to influence the growth of the market for ablation technology. The growing number of ablation procedures, together with the greater espousal of minimally invasive procedures because of their being less painful, is ensuring that the market displays consistent growth over the next few years. Consequently, as the frequency of cardiac arrests and cancer increases worldwide, the demand for ablation technology will witness an upsurge. On the other hand, bruising at catheter insertion site and soreness in the chest after catheter ablation, and other side effects of various methods might slacken the growth of the market. However, as numerous companies are coming up with ablation devices featuring cutting-edge technologies, the negative impact of these restraints can be cancelled out.Global Ablation Technology Market: Market PotentialA key trend in the global ablation technology market is the introduction of innovative products by several firms and their approval by regulatory bodies. In March 2017, AngioDynamics, a leading U.S.-based provider of medical devices, announced that it received the CE Mark certification for its new product, the Solero Microwave Tissue Ablation (MTA) System. Although this new product is not intended for cardiac use, it is likely to play a crucial role in the ablation of soft tissue at the time of laparoscopic, open, and percutaneous procedures. Another example of product approvals is the FDA approval of a new sensor-enabled ablation catheter, FlexAbility, developed by Abbott.Request TOC of the Report @Another significant development during the same month is the launch of CUSA Clarity ultrasonic tissue ablation platform by Integra Lifesciences Holdings Corporation. This new product offers high precision, power, and comfort to surgeons, patients, and staff, maximizing performance. Longer and tougher procedures such as fibrous tissue removal will be made easier by the use of this device, which features an intuitive touchscreen, ergonomic handpiece, and tough tissue tip.Global Ablation Technology Market: Regional OutlookWith the U.S at the fore, the ablation technology market in North America is slated for substantial growth. According to the findings of American Heart Association, nearly 350,000 people suffer from out-of-hospital cardiac arrests every year in the U.S. Of these, more than 90% patients die as cardiopulmonary resuscitation (CPR) is not performed immediately. As a result, the demand for ablation technology will rise substantially.Asia Pacific is waiting in the wings to claim the foremost position in the global market for ablation technology, as the robust growth in healthcare industry, massive patient base, and extensive manufacturing and development of ablation technology products in countries such as India and China trigger growth.Global Ablation Technology Market: Competitive AnalysisA number of market players are investing in mergers and acquisitions, collaborations, and partnerships in order to expand their presence on a global scale. For instance, BioSig Technologies, Inc. a prominent medical device manufacturer, entered a strategic partnership with Mayo Clinic and Mayo Clinic Ventures in March 2017. One of the major objectives of BioSig Technologies is to develop better ablation technologies for the treatment of deadly atrial fibrillation, arrhythmias, and ventricular tachycardia.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Some of the major companies operating in the global market for ablation technology are Biosense Webster, Inc., Olympus Corporation, VytronUS, CONMED Corporation, Smith & Nephew plc, Osypka AG, Medtronic plc, St. Jude Medical, Inc., AtriCure, Inc., Boston Scientific Corporation, Endosense SA, and St. Jude Medical, Inc.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Immunoassay Analyzers Market 2018 Top 10 Key Players Ortho Clinical Diagnostics, bioMerieux Private Limited, Thermo Fisher Scientific, till Forecast 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1200 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/check-discount/1200 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/1200 Immunoassay Analyzers Market Research Report by Instruments (Immunofluorescence, Chemiluminescence, ELISA, and Radioimmunoassay), Application (Infectious Diseases, Autoimmune Diseases, and AIDS), and End Users (Hospitals) - Global Forecast till 2023. The global immunoassay analyzers market is growing at a healthy CAGR of 15.6% during the forecast period of 2017-2023.KEY PLAYERS FOR IMMUNOASSAY ANALYZERS MARKETF. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd. (Switzerland), Siemens Ltd. (Germany), Abbott (US), Beckman Coulter, Inc. (US), Ortho Clinical Diagnostics (US), bioMerieux Private Limited (France), Biokit S.A (Spain), The Binding Site Group Ltd. (UK), Immunodiagnostic Systems (UK), Merck KGaA (US), Olympus Corporation (Japan), Nova Century Scientific, Inc. (US), Thermo Fisher Scientific (US), DiaSorin S.p.A. (Italy) and Randox Laboratories Ltd. (UK).Get Sample Report @SEGMENTATION FOR IMMUNOASSAY ANALYZERS MARKETThe global immunoassay analyzer market is segmented on the basis of instruments, applications, and end users.On the basis of instruments, the market is classified into immunofluorescence, chemiluminescence, ELISA, enzyme linked fluorescent system, multiplexed assay system, radioimmunoassay and others.On the basis of application, the market is segmented into infectious diseases, autoimmune diseases, AIDS, endocrinology, drug monitoring, cardiology, oncology, allergy testing and others.On the basis of end users, the market is categorized into hospitals, diagnostic laboratories, research institutes, and others.REGIONAL ANALYSIS FOR IMMUNOASSAY ANALYZERS MARKETAmerica dominates the global immunoassay analyzer market owing to large patient population and strong government support. Increasing diabetic population has also contributed in the growth of the market. According to the WHO, in 2016, 9.6% of total America population were suffering from diabetes. In addition to this, changing lifestyle and increasing healthcare expenditure have boosted the growth of the market in America. Government and many companies are conducting many seminar in order to create awareness among the people which is created a room for the market growth.Europe commands the second largest immunoassay analyzer market, which is followed by Asia Pacific. Presence of huge patient pool, and increasing government support will drive the market in Europe. Asia Pacific is the fastest growing region for the market due to the presence of a rapidly developing economies, and increasing need for the better treatment. China and India are the major contributor for the market.On the other hand, the Middle East & Africa has the least share in the global immunoassay analyzer market due to presence of poor economy especially in Africa region. Middle East holds the major share in the Middle East & Africa immunoassay analyzer market owing to well-developed healthcare sector and huge healthcare expenditure.Get Discount @MAJOR TABLE OF CONTENT FOR IMMUNOASSAY ANALYZERS MARKETChapter 1. Report PrologueChapter 2. Market Introduction2.1 Definition2.2 Scope of the Study2.2.1 Research Objective2.2.2 Assumptions2.2.3 LimitationsChapter 3. Research Methodology3.1 Introduction3.2 Primary Research3.3 Secondary Research3.4 Market Size EstimationChapter 4. Market Dynamics4.1 Drivers4.2 Restrains4.3 Opportunities4.4 Challenges4.5 Macroeconomic Indicators4.6 Technology Trends & AssessmentChapter 5. Market Factor Analysis5.1 Porters Five Forces Analysis5.1.1 Bargaining Power of Suppliers5.1.2 Bargaining Power of Buyers5.1.3 Threat of New Entrants5.1.4 Threat of Substitutes5.1.5 Intensity of Rivalry5.2 Value Chain Analysis5.3 Investment Feasibility Analysis5.4 Pricing AnalysisLIST OF TABLESTable 1 Immunoassay Analyzer Industry Synopsis, 2017 2023Table 2 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market Estimates and Forecast, 2017 2023, (USD Million)Table 3 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market by Region, 2017 2023, (USD Million)Table 4 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market by Instruments, 2017 2023, (USD Million)Table 5 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market by Application, 2017 2023, (USD Million)Table 6 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market by End Users, 2017 2023, (USD Million)LIST OF FIGURESFigure 1 Research ProcessFigure 2 Segmentation for Global Immunoassay Analyzer MarketFigure 3 Segmentation Market Dynamics for Global Immunoassay Analyzer MarketFigure 4 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market Share, By Instrument 2016Figure 5 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market Share, By Application 2016Figure 6 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market Share, By End Users, 2016Figure 7 Global Immunoassay Analyzer Market Share, By Region, 2016TOC Continued .Asked to expertise @About Us:Market Research Future (MRFR), enable customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Contact Us:Market Research Future, Office No. 528,Amanora Chambers Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar, Pune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Drugs for Infertility 2017 Key Players Bayer, Merck, Sanofi, and Ferring Holding Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Drugs for Infertility https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3080308-drugs-for-infertility-global-markets-to-2022 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3080308-drugs-for-infertility-global-markets-to-2022 Drugs for InfertilityOverviewThe global drugs for infertility market is registering growth due to growing infertile population and rising awareness about infertility treatments in both developed and developing countries. At the same time, economic growth in emerging countries, increasing prevalence of obesity and new methods of drug development are also driving the drugs for infertility market.The market for drugs for infertility reached a value of nearly REDACTED in 2017 and is expected to grow at a compound annual growth rate (CAGR) of REDACTED to nearly REDACTED by 2022.Click here for sample report @Major PlayersBayer,Merck,Sanofi,Ferring Holding,Abbott LaboratoriesDrugs for Infertility Major OutlookNorth America is the largest market for drugs for infertility, accounting for REDACTED of the global market. It was followed by Asia-Pacific and Africa. Going forward, Eastern Europe is expected to witness the fastest growth in the drugs for infertility market, estimated at grow at a CAGR of REDACTED, followed by South America, which is expected to grow at a CAGR of REDACTED.The USA is the largest market in terms of value in the drugs for infertility market. Brazil and China are forecasted to have the fastest growth, growing at a CAGR of REDACTED and REDACTED, respectively.Drugs for Infertility - Competitive AnalysisKey players are making innovative developments in Drugs for Infertility. The same will help in improving the market performance. Heavy investments are made by major players in the R&D sectorScopeThe highest growth is projected to come from Gonadotropins, which is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of REDACTED. Major factors included increasing demand for fertility treatments, especially in Asia-Pacific andSouth America, changing government regulations related to operation of chorionic gonadotropin and increasing investments on product differentiations..ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India In-Memory Database Market Size, Historical Analysis, Emerging Technologies, Global Trends and Industry Set For Rapid Growth with 19% of CAGR by Forecast 2023 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/4882 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/in-memory-database-market-4882 In-Memory Database Market: By Data Type (Relational, NoSQL, NewSQL), By Processing Type (Online Analytical Processing (OLAP), Online Transaction Processing (OLTP)), Application (Transaction, Reporting, Analytics, Others) Global Forecast till 2023Market Highlights:The global in-memory database market is projected to witness a rapid growth during the forecast periodowing to the high growth opportunities in emerging economies and rising adoption of in-memory database storage system by private and government organizations. Moreover, increasing demand for in-memory database across various industry verticals such BFSI, government and defense, healthcare and life sciences, retail and consumer goods, and others. Furthermore, the numerous advantage of database such as fast data-retrieval speeds that attracts enterprises facing issues with large size database transactions and management.Request a Sample Report @The global in-memory database market by geography is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. As compared to other regions, the in-memory database market in North America is expected to witness a significant growth and hold the largest market share during the forecast period. The U.S and Canada are anticipated to drive the growth of the North American in-memory database market owing to the presence of large number of established key players such as Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.) in this region. Owing to presence of major market players, technical expertise, and growing demand for in-memory database system for quick storage and fast transfer of files. Increasing need for innovations and advancements in the technology are other major factors responsible for the growth of the in-memory database market.In the global in-memory database market, Asia Pacific region is anticipated to witness a relatively faster adoption at the highest CAGR during the forecast period as compared to other regions owing to the ability to provide outsourcing service in real-time intelligence with advanced predictive analytics on different applications is aiding the market.The global in-memory database market is projected to reach USD 7 billion at a CAGR of over 19% by the end of the forecast period 2017-2023.Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 30 market data tables and figures spread over 100 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on In-Memory Database Market Research Report-Forecast to 2023.In-Memory Database Market Segmentation:The global in-memory database market is segmented on the basis of by data type, processing type, application, deployment mode, organization size, and vertical. By the data type, the market is segmented into relational, NoSQL, and NewSQL. By the processing type, the market is segmented into online analytical processing (OLAP), and online transaction processing (OLTP).By the application, it is segmented into transaction, reporting, analytics, and others. And by the deployment mode, the market is segmented into on-premise, on-demand, and on-cloud. By organization size segment, the market is bifurcated into small & medium enterprises and large enterprises. By end-user segment, the market is bifurcated into such BFSI, government and defense, healthcare and life sciences, retail and consumer goods, and othersMajor Key Players:Some of the prominent players in the global In-memory database market: Microsoft Corporation (U.S.), IBM Corporation (U.S.), Oracle Corporation (U.S.), SAP SE (Germany), Teradata Corporation (U.S), Amazon Web Services (U.S.), Tableau software (U.S.), Kognitio Ltd. (U.K.), VoltDB (U.S.), Datastax (U.S.), ENEA (Sweden), McObject LLC (U.S.), Altibase Corporation (U.S.) and others.Market Research Analysis:North America is estimated to account for the largest share of the market, whereas Asia Pacific market is projected to grow at the fastest rate during the forecast period. The North American market is witnessing rapid growth due to technological advancements and increasing demand for in-memory database system for quick storage and fast transfer of files. The U.S. holds the majority of the market share both in terms of revenue as well as adoption of mobile applications.Access Report Details @Intended Audience: Technology Investors Research/Consultancy firms Technology Solution Providers IT Service Providers Cloud Service Providers Business Analytics Software ProvidersAbout Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Flatback Tapes Market Expected to Witness a CAGR of 5.8% through 2017-2027 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-2789 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gb-2789 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/ Future Market Insights (FMI) has published a new report on flatback tapes. The report has been titled Flatback Tapes Market: Global Industry Analysis 2012 2016 and Opportunity Assessment 2017 2027. The report states that faltback tapes have very limited applications as these tapes are mostly used in sectors such as automotive, paper industry, electronics, and packaging. Flatback tapes have smooth paper backing (which is not creped). Creped tapes are a different form of tapes altogether and they have a larger application base as compared to flatback tapes.Rubber, acrylic, silicon are commonly used as adhesives. The thickness of the tape varies from 2.5 Mil to 15 Mil. These tapes possess high basis weight, so they can withstand high loads. These tapes are hand tear-able, which makes the manufacturing process simpler and convenient. These tapes have large thickness compared to crepe tapes, but very little elongation, from 2% to 4% mostly. Flatback tapes are commonly used in splicing, packaging and masking applications. Manufacturers are trying to innovate flatback tapes so that they can increase its application base. For instance, in April 2016, the 3M Company introduced a hand tear masking tape under the brand name Scotch Blue PLATINUM for painting applications and better performance. Along this line, in July 2016, Intertape Polymer Group Inc. launched ultra-thin washi paper backed moisture resistant masking tape under the brand name FineLine for achieving better performance while painting.Request For Sample @The other companies operating in the market are Shurtape Technologies LLC, tesa SE Group, Nitto Denko Corp, Scapa Group plc. and Pro Tapes & Specialties, Inc., among several others. According to the report, the global flatback tapes market is expected to witness a CAGR of 5.8% from 2017 to 2027. The market was worth US$ 858.1 Mn in 2017 and is expected to touch a valuation of US$ 1,505.1 Mn by the end of 2027.Returning Confidence of Consumers in Retail to Boost Global Market GrowthRegional optimism is rising in North America and Western Europe; is decreasing in regions such as Latin America and the Middle East & Africa; and holds steady in Asia Pacific. India, Brazil, and China represent the highest consumer confidence. The revival of consumer confidence is aiding in the growth of the automotive, FMCG, electronics, and other industries, where flatback tapes are used for the purpose of splicing, sealing, tabbing and masking applications. The flatback tapes market is moderately correlated with these end use industries as it follows the dynamics of these industries. Countries in Asia Pacific such as India, Indonesia, Philippines, China, Thailand and Honk Kong represent the highest consumer confidence due to high annual GDP growth rates and improving lifestyles of the people. Some countries in MEA such as UAE and Saudi Arabia also represent considerable consumer confidence in their markets.Flatback tapes are made from paper material, which is biodegradable and highly recyclable. The rising intolerance towards plastic is favouring the demand for flatback tapes. Substitute products for flatback tapes are largely made of plastic, which are expected to create landfill issues. Thereby, implementation of regulations pertaining to environment friendliness, plastic usage and waste dumping in manufacturing industries and other businesses is influencing consumers to choose paper backed tapes such as flatback tapes.Request For TOC @Thickness to Turn out to be a Hindering Factor in the Global Flatback Tapes MarketFlatback tapes have high basis weight compared to crepe paper tapes. This results in higher strength, thickness and low elongation. However, the thickness makes it unfit for majority of applications like carton sealing where the application area includes sharp edges or flexible surfaces. Due to the high strength and low elongation, flatback tapes are easily tear-able by hand. Tear strength is the main area of concern in flatback tapes resulting in a slowdown in the markets growth.ABOUT US:Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature.FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.CONTACT:Future Market Insights616 Corporate Way, Suite 2-9018,Valley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Electronic Document Management System Market Growth Opportunities, Challenges 2017-2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2265 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/electronic-document-management-system-market https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/electronic-document-management-system-market https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/news The rising demand for cloud storage and growing volume of data are anticipated to drive the Asia Pacific electronic document management system market. Favorable government regulations coupled with the increasing penetration of SaaS-based solutions further contribute to the regional market demand. The presence of a large number of industry players and the rising adoption of such solutions across the BFSI and medical sectors are driving the North America and Europe industry growth.Electronic Document Management System Market is expected to grow at over 15% CAGR to reach over USD 6 billion by 2024. Increasing penetration of Software as a Service (SaaS) based solutions coupled with the rising adoption of cloud computing is anticipated to drive the electronic document management system market over the forecast timeline. These solutions are increasingly utilized by enterprises to simplify various business operations and effectively manage their documentation requirements. The emerging trends of BYOD and the incorporation of document management solutions with smartphones are fueling the technology growth across various organizations.Request for a sample of this research report @Government regulations and initiatives associated with the information storage protocols are predicted to offer lucrative growth opportunities to the electronic document management system market. These solutions allow accessing, indexing, retrieving, and archiving of documents. Benefits of using such solutions include record management, information protection & destruction as well as recovery services.The deployment activities are on the rise across various industry verticals such as medical, government, BFSI, education, and commercial. The electronic document management system market is currently witnessing a significant growth in the medical sector owing to the regulatory needs and penetration of health-based ERP systems.Factors such as high cost associated with the deployment and maintenance of on-premise solutions coupled with the cybersecurity threats might hinder the electronic document management system market. In addition, incorporation issues with the already existing applications are the other factors restraining the industry demand.Software solution providers in the electronic document management system market provide desktop-based, network-based as well as cloud-based solutions for the efficient management of business documentation needs. These providers are realizing the requirement for customized process and content management.Moreover, the partnership between the service providers and software developers is increasing the scope for new possibilities for integrating new functionalities in the document management solutions. The service providers offer a range of service, which includes installation, integration, consulting, and training services for streamlining the business workflow.The on-premise deployment in the electronic document management system market is predicted to witness a significant growth over the forecast timespan. The growth can be accredited to the rising utilization of these solutions for operations that include an enormous number of documents with a large file. Moreover, cloud-based solutions are an ideal fit for users with inadequate workforce and a large number of customers, who use remote solutions. Increasing implementation of cloud-based solutions can be attributed to the low cost of subscription followed by the easy storage and information accessibility.Browse key industry insights spread across 300 pages with 475 market data tables & 31 figures & charts from the report, Electronic Document Management System Market Size By Solution (Software, Service [Installation & Integration, Consulting, Training]), By Deployment Model (On-Premise, Cloud-Based), By Application (Government [Aerospace & Defense, Oil, Gas & Utilities, Transportation], Medical [Patient Admission, Billing, Imaging, Record Management], Corporate [SMB, Enterprises], BFSI [Banking, Financial Services, Insurance], Legal, Education), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Canada, UK, Germany, France, Russia, China, India, Japan, South Korea, Australia, Brazil, Mexico, Saudi Arabia, UAE, South Africa), Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:The electronic document management system market is witnessing growth in the government sector as these solutions eliminate the paper-based documentation techniques and efficiently manage workflow operations. Furthermore, the utilization of these solutions allows the government to improvise efficiency and maintain transparency across all the departments. With the volume of papers growing enormously, the deployment of electronic documents is expected to help organizations achieve a huge saving in terms of costs.Companies operating in the electronic document management system market include Google, Inc., Adobe Systems, Inc., DropBox, CGI Group, Inc., Alfresco One Software, eFileCabinet, MasterControl, Ideagen PLC, DocSTAR, Zoho Corp., and Oracle Corporation. The industry players are heavily investing in R&D to develop new and advanced technological solutions, which can be easily incorporated into the existing IT platforms.Table of Content (TOC-)Chapter 3. Electronic Document Management System Industry Insights3.1. Industry segmentation3.2. Industry landscape, 2013 - 20243.3. Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1. Software / cloud service providers3.3.2. Collaborators3.3.3. Service providers3.3.4. Value added resellers3.3.5. End-user market3.4. Technology landscape3.4.1. Social technology3.4.2. Mobile device integration3.4.3. Client portals3.5. Regulatory landscape3.5.1. North America3.5.2. Europe3.5.3. Asia Pacific3.5.4. Latin America3.5.5. MEA3.6. Industry impact forces3.6.1. Growth drivers3.6.1.1. Stringent regulatory framework in the U.S.3.6.1.2. Emerging demand for cloud services in the UK3.6.1.3. Demand from government institutions in Russia3.6.1.4. Penetration of SaaS-based solutions in China and Japan3.6.1.5. Digitization in India3.6.2. Industry pitfalls and challenges3.6.2.1. Data security concerns3.6.2.2. High cost of implementation3.7. Growth potential analysis3.7.1. Business model3.8. Porters analysis3.8.1. Threat of new entrants3.8.2. Buyers power3.8.3. Threat of substitutes3.8.4. Threat of suppliers3.8.5. Industry rivalry3.9. Competitive landscape, 20163.9.1. Key vendors overview3.9.2. Market share of pure EDM software providers, 20163.9.3. Strategy dashboard3.10. PESTEL analysisBrowse Full Toc of This Report @About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Internet of Things Market Size, Historical Analysis, Emerging Technologies, Global Trends and Industry Set for Rapid Growth with 19.75% of CAGR by Forecast 2022 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1176 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/internet-of-things-market-1176 Global IoT Market, By Software (Data Management, Network Management), By Hardware(Sensors, camera), By Services (Manage Services, Professional Services), By Organization Type (Small & Medium Scale Business, Large Scale Business) - Forecast 2022Internet of Things Global Market:IoT or Internet of things can be explained as a network which helps to connect multiple smart devices enabled with software and network connectivity and exchange information between each other and with the server. Today, IoT is a billion-dollar market and is growing continuously. There are various drivers which is supporting the market growth. Industrialization, concept of smart cities, automation, smart manufacturing, smart communication and several others are key part of the IoT which helps the market to grow.Request a Sample Report @IOT helps the companies to achieve the maximum efficiency which they have been working, helps the countries to maximize their communication system and provide seamless experience by offering advance and latest technologies. Concepts of smart homes where an individual can control the smart appliance from any place on earth with a smartphone is only can be achieved through help of IoT where all the appliances have smart sensor deployed in it and are connected with the information grid.A study shows that by the end of year 2020, there will be more than 30 billion devices connected with the information grid and the market size will be double the size of pc, smartphone and connected cars and wearables market.Key Players:Amazon Web Services (U.S), AT & T Inc. (U.S), Cisco System Inc. (U.S), Google Inc. (U.S), Oracle Corporation (U.S), , Dell Inc. (U.S), Microsoft Corporation (U.S), Hitachi Data Systems (U.S.), Huawei Technologies Co. Ltd. (China) - International Business Machines Corporation (IBM) (U.S) among others are some of the prominent players profiled in MRFR Analysis and are at the forefront of competition in the global Internet of Things market. Wide range of benefits and growing application areas such as IT & Telecom, Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, Connected Logistics and among the others are some of the major driving factor of IoT market.Industry News:December, 2017, United Microelectronics Corporation, a leading global semiconductor foundry, today announced the availability of the companys 40nm process platform that incorporates Silicon Storage Technologys (SST) embedded SuperFlash non-volatile memory. The newly available 40nm SST process features a >20% reduction in eFlash cell size and 20-30% macro area over UMCs mass production 55nm SST technology. Toshiba Electronic Devices & Storage Corporation has started studying technical feasibility of UMCs 40nm SST for their microcontroller (MCU) ICs. More than 20 customers and products are in various stages of 55nm SST eFlash production at UMC, including those for SIM card, banking, automotive, IOT, MCU and other applications.December, 2017, Sequans Communications S.A. announced that its Monarch LTE Cat M1/NB1 Platform has completed AT&Ts ADAPT chipset validation program and is now ready to support module certifications. Monarch is the worlds first LTE-M chip built from the ground up to comply with the 3GPP Release13/14 standard. Monarch is a single chip solution comprising baseband, RF, power amplifiers, and memory, and is optimized in both hardware and software for the design of IoT devices.December, 2017, Amazon Web Services, Inc. (AWS), an Amazon.com company, announced the launch of the AWS EU (Paris) Region. With this launch, AWS now provides 49 Availability Zones across 18 technology infrastructure regions globally with another 12 Availability Zones and four regions in Bahrain, Hong Kong SAR, Sweden, and a second AWS GovCloud Region in the US expected to come online by early 2019. The AWS EU (Paris) Region is AWSs fourth in Europe, joining existing regions in Germany, Ireland, and the UK. Tens of thousands of French customers already use AWS in other regions, and starting today, developers, startups, and enterprises, as well as government, education, and non-profit organizations, can leverage AWS to run applications and store data in France.Internet of Things Global Market - SegmentationSegmentation by Software: Data Management, Remote Monitoring, Network Management, Security solutions among othersSegmentation by Hardware: Sensors, Camera. Network Devices, Security Solution among othersSegmentation by Services: Manage Services, Professional ServicesSegmentation by Platform: Application Management Platform, Connectivity platform and Device Management PlatformSegmentation by Organization Size: Small & Medium scale business, Large Scale BusinessSegmentation by Industries: IT & Telecom, Retail, Healthcare, Manufacturing, Automotive, Connected Logistics and among the others.Access Report Details @Internet of Things Global Market - Regional Analysis:Internet of things market is growing with very huge CAGR from the last few years. The market is being dominated by North America due to the rich presence of technology companies in the region and increasing awareness about the benefits offered by IoT in the day to day activity. The region is also one of the early adopters of IoT thus, uses any new products and services offered by the key companies. Europe stands as second largest market due to the growing market of the automotive and BFSI industry.The region is also witnessing rapid proliferation of technology in healthcare sector which is also driving the market. Presence of developed countries such as Germany, France, Italy, Netherlands and U.K. are also major factor driving the market of IoT in Europe region. Whereas Asia-Pacific region has emerged as one of the fastest growing market. Development of Asian countries with respect to technology and high demand for the new products from China, Japan, South Korea and India is also expected to play major role in the growth of IoT market. Also, rich manufacturing industry in Asian region and need of efficient manufacturing process is also one of the major factor driving the market growth.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions.Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone: +91 841 198 5042Mail: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Fuel Cell Market: Advanced Technologies & Growth Opportunities Worldwide by 2017-2024 https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/621 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/fuel-cell-market https://www.gminsights.com/toc/detail/fuel-cell-market https://www.gminsights.com http://algosonline.com/news UK fuel cell market is set to witness growth owing to growing investment toward development of hydrogen infrastructure along with favourable government regulations to reduce carbon emissions. Growing demand for development and deployment of the renewable energy technologies will further complement the business landscape. The Government of UK announced to inaugurate 1,150 hydrogen refuelling station by 2030.Fuel Cell Market is set to exceed USD 6 billion by 2024.Government measures to promote the development of sustainable technologies coupled with escalating demand for FCEVs will drive the industry growth. Growing spending by government organizations and private institutions including Credit Suisse, DOE and DAG Ventures toward innovation and technological advancement will further complement the industry landscape. In 2015, Credit Suisse invested USD 130 million for development of SOFC technology in the U.S.Request for a sample of this research report @Increasing demand for space heating across residential and commercial sector along with growing investment toward development of hydrogen refuelling station will stimulate the fuel cell market. Growing installation of portable charging sources on account of increasing recreation activities will positively impact the business outlook. In 2017, government of UK funded over USD 30 million to promote the development of hydrogen infrastructure and vehicle.Japan fuel cell market is predicted to exceed 70 MW by 2024. Increasing government expenditure toward development of hydrogen infrastructure coupled with extensive research and development projects will fuel the business growth. Rising energy security concern coupled with favourable measures to promote the adoption of renewable energy technologies will further complement the industry outlook.Fuel cell market from transport segment is set to witness growth owing to its ongoing deployment in commercial vehicles, UAVs and e- bikes. Increasing cell demand from two & three wheelers, trams, small boats, FCEVs, light vehicles, ferries, goods handling vehicles and forklift trucks will further complement the business growth. In 2016, the FCV sales growth increase from 400 units in 2015 to 5000 units.SOFC fuel cell market share is predicted to witness growth owing to growing demand for fuel cell across large and small stationary power generation systems. Ability to possess over 60% efficiency and operate at high temperate ranges from 8000C to 1,0000C over other alternates make its adoption preferable over other alternates. Cost effectiveness, low emissions, stability, fuel flexibility and high efficiency are some of key parameters which will impede the fuel cell market.Browse key industry insights spread across 309 pages with 470 market data tables & 30 figures & charts from the report, Fuel Cell Market Size By Product (PEMFC, DMFC, SOFC), By Application (Stationary, Portable, Transport), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S, Canada, Mexico, Germany, UK, France, Italy, Spain, Austria Japan, South Korea, China, India, Philippines, Vietnam, Brazil, Peru, Ecuador, Nigeria, Kenya, UAE, South Africa, Saudi Arabia), Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Major participants across fuel cell market includes Hydrogenics Corporation, Horizon, FuelCell Energy, Toshiba, UTC Power, Panasonic, Ceres Power, Plug Power, AFC Energy, Doosan, SFC, Arcola, Bloom Energy and Ballard. The industry has witnessed several M&A to expand its regional presence.Table of Content (TOC-)Chapter 3 Fuel Cell Industry Insights3.1 Industry segmentation3.2 Industry landscape, 2013 2024 (USD Million) (MW)3.3 Industry ecosystem analysis3.3.1 Vendor matrix3.4 Innovation & sustainability3.5 Regulatory landscape3.5.1 U.S.3.5.1.1 Fuel Cell and Hydrogen Energy Association (FCHEA)3.5.1.1.1 Safety, Codes & Standards3.5.1.2 CSA Fuel Cell Standards3.5.1.3 SAE Fuel Cell Vehicle Safety Committee (automotive) enabling standards3.5.1.4 NFPA 2: Hydrogen Technologies Code3.5.1.5 Overview of Regulations, Codes, and Standards Related to Hydrogen Infrastructure Safety3.5.2 Europe3.5.2.1 Investments: Government and Collaborative Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Funding3.5.3 Japan3.5.3.1 Investments: Government and Collaborative Hydrogen and Fuel Cell Funding3.5.3.2 Government Targets3.5.4 South Korea3.5.4.1 Government Targets3.6 Orders and installations, 20153.6.1 Bloom energy3.6.2 Doosan fuel cell3.6.3 FuelCell Energy and FuelCell Energy Solutions, GmbH3.7 Industry impact forces3.7.1 Growth drivers3.7.1.1 Government positive outlook and incentives3.7.1.2 Environment-friendly and a better alternative than existing options3.7.1.3 More efficient than batteries3.7.2 Industry pitfalls & challenges3.7.2.1 Lack of infrastructure3.8 Growth potential analysis3.9 Announced Hydrogen Stations Plans, Upgrades, 20153.10 Commercially available hydrogen generation systems, 20153.11 Hydrogen energy storage projects, 20153.12 Porters Analysis3.13 Competitive landscape, 20163.13.1 Strategy dashboard3.13.1.1 Hydrogenics Corporation3.13.1.2 Ballard3.13.1.3 FuelCell Energy3.13.1.4 SFC Energy3.13.2 Merger and acquisition landscape3.14 PESTEL AnalysisBrowse Full Toc of This Report @About Global Market Insights:Global Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb:Blog: Antithrombotic/Anticoagulant Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=170654 https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=170654 http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG https://marketsizeinfo.blogspot.in/ Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Antithrombotic/Anticoagulant Drugs Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Antithrombotic is a drug that helps prevent the formation of thrombus or clot. Antithrombotic and anticoagulant agents are drugs used to reduce the formation of blood clots by reducing the bodys capability to form a blood clot. These drugs act by preventing the production of vitamin K in the liver. Antiplatelet, anticoagulant, and thrombolytic agents are different types of antithrombotic agents that act through different clotting processes. Arterial and venous thrombosis, the two types of thrombosis, can be treated with antithrombotic drugs.The three key causes of thrombosis are hypercoagulability, abnormal flow of blood, and injury caused to endothelial cells of the blood vessel wall. These causes result from genetic conditions, inactivity, smoking, blood vessel damage, pregnancy, and obesity. Currently, thrombosis and associated disorders including myocardial infarction, stroke, and pulmonary embolism are primarily treated with off-patent anticoagulant drugs viz. warfarin and heparin. The other form of antithrombotic drugs i.e. aspirin is also off-patent. With a few patented effective cures available in the market, pharmaceutical companies have ample opportunities to innovate new products. The new drugs could be profitable for them, as the burgeoning world population would ensure steady increase in the demand for such life-saving drugs. The global antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period, owing to factors such as high availability of these drugs and chronic conditions associated with thrombosis that require long-term drug administration.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market has been segmented by drug class, application, route of administration, and end-user. Based on drug class, the global antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market has been segmented into coumarins & indandiones, factor Xa inhibitors, heparins, and thrombin inhibitors. Based on application, the market can be segmented into atrial fibrillation, deep vein thrombosis, artificial heart valve, pulmonary embolism, prevention of blood clots (for example, genetic clotting disorders, stroke, and trauma), and heart attack. All over the world, more than 10 million deaths are caused by arterial thrombotic events every year. Rising prevalence of cardiovascular diseases and accidental injuries is a key factor expected to boost the antithrombotic/anticoagulant market during the forecast period.Based on route of administration, the global antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market has been segmented into oral route and parenteral route. The parenteral route segment is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period, owing to rapid onset of action shown by parenteral drugs. By end-user, the market has been segmented into hospitals, specialty clinics, and ambulatory surgical centers. Among these, the hospitals segment accounted for a major market share in 2016, while the specialty clinics segment is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The global market for antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs is also driven by some other factors such as lack of specific substitutes for antithrombotic and anticoagulant drugs, rising geriatric population, rising prevalence of thrombosis, and recent developments in the pharmaceutical industry.Geographically, the global antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market has been segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. North America is expected to hold a high share of the global antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market during the forecast period, owing to development of new drugs and increasing prevalence of cardiovascular and blood-related diseases in the region. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to register high CAGR during the forecast period owing to presence of high population based countries such as India and China in the region. Both producers and sellers of antithrombotic and anticoagulant drugs will see growth in the region. Most of the times, these drugs are readily available in the market. However, not a single drug is sufficiently effective in tackling the disease and is without any side-effects. As a result, search for newer and better versions of antithrombotic and anticoagulant drugs without side-effects is being carried out by different players.Make an Enquiry of this report @Key players operating in the global antithrombotic/anticoagulant drugs market are Bayer AG, Novartis AG, GlaxoSmithKline plc, Bristol Myers Squibb Company, Sanofi, Boehringer Ingelheim GmbH, Genentech, Inc., AstraZeneca plc, Eli Lilly & Company, and Pfizer, Inc.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.For More Information Kindly Contact:ResearchMozMr. Nachiket Ghumare,Tel: +1-518-621-2074USA-Canada Toll Free: 866-997-4948Email: sales@researchmoz.usFollow us on LinkedIn @Follow me on @ United Arab Emirates (UAE) has charged Iran for providing the Shia Houthi rebels drones set to cause mayhem to Yemeni forces after one drone stuffed with bomb and allegedly manufactured by Iran was intercepted. The unmanned aircraft according to UAE armed forces Qassef-1 was targeting Yemeni forces backed by the Saudi-led coalition. Saudi Arabia, the UAE, and several Arab and Muslim countries entered Yemen in 2015 to prop up the internationally recognized government of President Mansour Hadi wrestling with Shia rebels who benefit from Irans backing. Monday a group of experts of the Saudi-led coalition pointed out that the interception was the third as two drones were shot down last week. The Arab Coalition, led by Saudi Arabia, continues to counter these Iranian capabilities, which pose a direct threat not only to the Yemeni forces and people, but also threaten the Red Sea Cost shipping lanes movement, along with civilian infrastructure, a statement by experts relayed by UAE state-run news agency WAM noted. Saudi air defense forces destroyed one of the guided craft, which was targeting facilities of the kingdoms oil giant Aramco. The rebels have also launched several missiles into Saudi Arabia on the claims they were in response to the coalitions raids on their positions. The rebels leader Abdul Malik al-Houthi on Friday pointed out the Shia group is right to develop its military capabilities and will continue to do so until the coalitions aggression comes to an end. As long as the aggression continues, our military capabilities will grow and develop, he said in a speech on the group-linked Al Masirah TV. Global Two Wheeler Tyres Market 2018 - Ceat, MRF, Metzeler, Pirelli, Speedways, TVS Global Two Wheeler Tyres Market https://goo.gl/qTbHBB https://goo.gl/N4w7Ex www.apexmarketreports.com Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the Two Wheeler Tyres Market across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of Two Wheeler Tyres Market from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global PP Pipe industry, and estimates the future trend of Two Wheeler Tyres on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares Two Wheeler Tyres performance both in terms of volume and revenue.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportBridgestoneDunlopContinentalCeatMRFMichelinMetzelerPirelliSpeedwaysTVSHeidenauJK TyreThe market research report explores the Two Wheeler Tyres Market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of Two Wheeler Tyres Market. The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Two Wheeler Tyres Market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Two Wheeler Tyres. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Two Wheeler Tyres Market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.The competitive landscape of the global market for Two Wheeler Tyres is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Two Wheeler Tyres Markets production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Two Wheeler Tyres Market globally.Inquire Before Buying @The Global Two Wheeler Tyres Market 2018 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Two Wheeler Tyres production volume, data pertaining to demand and Two Wheeler Tyres supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Two Wheeler Tyres along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Two Wheeler Tyres across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite - Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Growth, Challenges, Standardization, Competitive Industry Share, Case Studies and Key Players The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000423 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000423 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/digital-out-of-home-market-2025 Worldwide Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market with detailed market segmentation by product/application and geography. The global Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.Request a Sample Report atDigital Out-Of-Home (OOH) is dynamic for all of media that is distributed across location-based networks at venues that includes, bus stands, transits, cafes, restaurants, multiplexes, health clubs, colleges, gas stations, retail convenience stores and public spaces.The report aims to provide an overview of Global Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market along with detailed segmentation of market by type, end users, and five major geographical regions. Global Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market is expected to witness moderate growth during the forecast period due to rising digitalization globally.The objectives of this report are as follows:- To provide overview of the global Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market- To analyze and forecast the global Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market on the basis of type and end-user- To provide market size and forecast till 2025 for overall Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and South America (SAM), which are later sub-segmented across respective major countries- To evaluate market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend- To provide exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions- To profiles key Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) players influencing the market along with their SWOT analysis and market strategiesSome of the important players in Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) market are Clear Channel Outdoor, Lamar Advertising Company, JCDecaux, Outfront Media, Fairway Outdoor Advertising, Adspace Network, Inc., Bell Media, Ayuda Media Systems, Signagelive and Real Digital Media.Inquire before Buying at1 Introduction2 Key Takeaways3 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Landscape4 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Key Industry Dynamics5 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Analysis- Global6 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Types7 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 End - Users8 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market Revenue and Forecasts to 2025 Geographical Analysis9 Industry Landscape10 Competitive Landscape11 Digital OOH (Out-of-Home) Market, Key Company Profiles11.1 Clear Channel Outdoor11.1.1 Key Facts11.1.2 Business Description11.1.3 Products and services11.1.4 Financial Overview11.1.5 SWOT Analysis11.1.6 Key Developments11.2 Lamar Advertising11.2.1 Key Facts11.2.2 Business Description11.2.3 Products and services11.2.4 Financial Overview11.2.5 SWOT Analysis11.2.6 Key Developments11.3 JCDecaux11.3.1 Key Facts11.3.2 Business Description11.3.3 Products and services11.3.4 Financial Overview11.3.5 SWOT Analysis11.3.6 Key Developments11.4 Outfront Media11.4.1 Key Facts11.4.2 Business Description11.4.3 Products and services11.4.4 Financial Overview11.4.5 SWOT Analysis11.4.6 Key Developments11.5 Fairway Outdoor Advertising11.5.1 Key Facts11.5.2 Business Description11.5.3 Products and services11.5.4 Financial Overview11.5.5 SWOT Analysis11.5.6 Key Developments11.6 Adspace Network, Inc.11.6.1 Key Facts11.6.2 Business Description11.6.3 Products and services11.6.4 Financial Overview11.6.5 SWOT Analysis11.6.6 Key Developments11.7 Bell Media11.7.1 Key Facts11.7.2 Business Description11.7.3 Products and services11.7.4 Financial Overview11.7.5 SWOT Analysis11.7.6 Key Developments11.8 Ayuda Media Systems11.8.1 Key Facts11.8.2 Business Description11.8.3 Products and services11.8.4 Financial Overview11.8.5 SWOT Analysis11.8.6 Key Developments11.9 Signagelive11.9.1 Key Facts11.9.2 Business Description11.9.3 Products and services11.9.4 Financial Overview11.9.5 SWOT Analysis11.9.6 Key Developments11.10 Real Digital Media11.10.1 Key Facts11.10.2 Business Description11.10.3 Products and services11.10.4 Financial Overview11.10.5 SWOT Analysis11.10.6 Key Developments12 AppendixBrowse Complete Report with TOC:About Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:533, 5th Floor,Amanora Chambers, East Block, Amanora Township,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Smart Metering Systems Market Dominated by AMI Technology Registering 19 Billion by 2024 https://www.marketstudyreport.com/request-a-sample/467582/?utm_source=hatena=CC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/securecheckout/paymenta/467582?msfpaycode=sumsf/?utm_source=hatena=CC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/check-for-discount/467582/?utm_source=hatena=CC https://www.marketstudyreport.com/reports/smart-gas-metering-systems-market/?utm_source=hatenaRR=CC MarketStudyReport.com Adds New "Smart Metering Systems Market" research report providing information and data By Product, By Application, Industry Analysis, Regional Outlook, Growth Potential, Trends, Competitive Market Share & Forecast spreading across 250 Pages with table and figures in it.Smart Metering Systems Market size will exceed over USD 38 billion by 2024; per a new research report published on Market Study Report.Increasing need for accurate billing and consumption pattern mapping coupled with rising prices of resources including water, electricity and gas will drive the global smart metering systems market size by 2024. Scarcity of available resources has laid emphasis on reducing wastage and controlling emission levels.Get sample Copy of this Report:Stringent regulations towards energy management coupled with measures towards effective resource utilization will propel demand. The Energy Independence Act (EISA) of 2007 mandates the modernization of the U.S. electric grids, installation of smart electric systems in every household and grants government funding for grid development projects.Smart metering systems market size for 2015 from residential applications was over USD 5 billion and is set to witness strong growth owing to its reasonable pricing and increasing awareness among customers. Commercial applications in terms of volume are predicted to surpass 250 million units over the forecast timeframe due to rising prices of available energy resources.Smart metering systems market share for 2015 from water is set to grow over 10% on account of stringent regulations for controlling Non-Revenue Water (NRW). Electric applications were valued over USD 4 billion in 2015 and is predicted to witness handsome growth owing to stringent government regulation to curb electricity theft.AMI is set to exceed USD 19 billion by 2024. Adoption of AMI are low subject to its high acquisition and installation costs. AMR is predicted to grow over 13% over the forecast timeline owing to its wide adoption and mature technology.The 2015 U.S. smart metering systems market size was valued over USD 5 billion and is set to witness high gain on account of strict norms towards energy management and accurate billing. Growing measures towards energy conservation and efficiency will further boost the industry growth.For Europe, UK smart metering systems market share is predicted to grow over 16% by 2024. Government of United Kingdom initiated the National Smart Meter Roll Out programme which aims at installing smart systems in every home in England, Scotland and Wales by 2020. Recommendation 2012/148/EU mandates increasing adoption of these products coupled with large-scale roll out in regions with positive cost benefit results.Purchase this premium reportat:China smart metering systems market size is forecast to exceed USD 9 billion by 2024. The State Grid Corporation of China has aimed to install more than 380 million smart systems by 2020 in line with the government plan.For MEA, Lebanon could grow over 9% during the forecast period. In 2014, Electricite Du Liban (EDL) announced a plan to roll out more than 1 million of these products as part of a USD 200 million programme to overhaul the existing technology and provide accurate billing service.Mexico smart metering systems market share in terms of volume is set to exceed 6 million units by 2024. In 2016, state-owned Comision Federal de Electricidad (CFE) awarded a contract for a roll out of 96,000 advanced meters in the region, positively influencing the business outlook.Key industry participants include Landis+GYR, Siemens AG, Itron, Circutor, Schneider Electric, Osaki Electric, Iskraemeco, Icsa and others.Smart metering systems market research report includes in-depth coverage of the industry with estimates &forecast in terms of volume (Million Units) and revenue in USD Billion from 2013 to 2024, for the following segments:Global Smart Metering Systems Market, By Application Residential Commercial UtilityGlobal Smart Metering Systems Market, By Product Smart electricity meters Smart water meters Smart gas metersGlobal Smart Metering Systems Market, By Technology AMI AMRThe above information is provided on a regional and country basis for the following North America: U.S., Canada, Europe: Germany, Italy, France, UK, Sweden, Portugal Asia Pacific: China, India, South Korea, Japan, Australia Middle East & Africa: Saudi Arabia, South Africa, UAE, Lebanon, Egypt Latin America: Mexico, Brazil, Uruguay, ArgentinaGet a discount on this research report at:Related Report:Smart Gas Metering Systems Market Size By Application, By Technology, Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook, Application Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017-2024Smart Gas Metering Systems Market is set to exceed USD 9 Billion by 2024. Stringent government initiatives toward energy conservation coupled with obligatory nationwide rollout programmes pertaining to ecological sustainability will boost the smart gas metering systems market. Continual need for billing precision coupled with enhanced customer experience will further stimulate the industry growth. The Smart Metering Implementation Programme (SMIP) started by the UK government aims at replacing 53 million smart meters by the year 2020 in over 30 million residential establishments. The implementation programme aims at efficient energy utilization and rearrangement of the energy supply system.Read more on this research at:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study Report4 North Main Street,Selbyville, Delaware 19975,USA.Phone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 1-866-764-2150Email: sales@marketstudyreport.com Global Encapsulated Flavours Market 2018 -Symrise AG, Nexira SAS, AVEKA Group, Naturex S.A. Global Encapsulated Flavours Market https://goo.gl/XfNa1X https://goo.gl/3NeXiR www.apexmarketreports.com www.apexmarketreports.com Apex Market Reports, recently published a detailed market research study focused on the Encapsulated Flavours Market across the global, regional and country level. The report provides 360 analysis of Encapsulated Flavours Market from view of manufacturers, regions, product types and end industries. The research report analyses and provides the historical data along with current performance of the global PP Pipe industry, and estimates the future trend of Encapsulated Flavours on the basis of this detailed study. The study shares Encapsulated Flavours performance both in terms of volume and revenue.The market research report explores the Encapsulated Flavours Market across the globe along with major regions and countries. The research report provides a detailed study on each and every aspect of Encapsulated Flavours Market. The research report studies the entire value chain from raw material to end user industries. The report also shares import/export statistics along with production and consumption for all major regions and countries. Moreover, the research study classifies the Encapsulated Flavours Market based on major product types, application and end users industries of Encapsulated Flavours. Besides, the report also covers geographical segmentation for Encapsulated Flavours Market. The report further provides production, capacity, price per region, gross margin, production cost, for all major regions and countries listed in report.Get Free Sample Copy of Report Here:Top Manufacturers Analysis of This ReportArcher Daniels Midland CompanyCargillSymrise AGNexira SASAVEKA GroupNaturex S.A.Ingredion IncorporatedInternational Flavours & Fragrances, IncCarmi Flavor & Fragrance Co., IncBUCHI Labortechnik AGSynthite Industries Ltd.Fona InternationalSensient Technologies CorporationFrieslandCampina Kievit GmbHLycoRed LimitedThe competitive landscape of the global market for Encapsulated Flavours is determined by assessing the major industry participants, production capacity, production capacity utilization rate, Encapsulated Flavours Markets production chain, pricing by each manufacturer and the revenue generated by each manufacturer in the Encapsulated Flavours Market globally.Inquire Before Buying @The Global Encapsulated Flavours Market 2018 is further analyzed on the basis of product pricing, Encapsulated Flavours production volume, data pertaining to demand and Encapsulated Flavours supply, and the revenue garnered by the product. The report provides upstream and downstream analysis covering major raw material used in manufacturing of Encapsulated Flavours along with detailed manufacturing sources. The report also shares list of major raw material manufacturers along with their manufacturing locations. Detailed raw material price trend analysis along with manufacturing cost analysis is also incorporated into the report. Various methodical tools such as investment returns, feasibility, SWOT analysis and market attractiveness analysis has been implemented in the research study to present a comprehensive, detailed study of the industry for Encapsulated Flavours across the world.About UsApex Market Reports offers elevating market research globally. We have collection of various syndicated reports of different categories. Apex Market Reports provides you to best services, weather youre searching for new trends in market or competitive scenario in emerging market.Customers can buys different reports across various categories such as Chemical and Material, Biotechnology, Healthcare, Food and beverages, Automobile and various sectors. Our Website offers safe and secure online ordering experience, convenient payment options.Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite -Contact UsFrank ValadezCorporate Sales Specialist155 North Wacker Drive, Suite 4250Chicago, IL 60606Phone: +17739042683Email id - sales@apexmarketreports.comWebsite - Cloud Natural Language Processing Market Trends Research And Projections For 2017-2024 Global Market Insights https://www.gminsights.com/request-sample/detail/2202 https://www.gminsights.com/industry-analysis/cloud-natural-language-processing-nlp-market https://www.gminsights.com "Cloud NLP Market is estimated to reach USD 6.1 billion by the year 2024. The growth of the market is driven by the increasing use of NLP technology across several industries such as BFSI, IT & telecommunication, media & advertisement and healthcare. For instance, BFSI sector is utilizing NLP technology for text mining, solving queries, machine translation applications for cross boarder payments, and foreign exchange. Similarly, hospitals, diagnostic and daycare centers are also widely adopting these solutions for managing notes and documents, analyzing transcriptions, and reduce human error. Besides, they also assist in reducing medication errors and manages Health Information Management systems for large hospitals.The increase in investment in the AI technology is also significantly impacting the growth of the market. As AI technology is maturing, organizations are shifting more towards the technology along with the traditional analytics platforms. The advance feature and benefits offered by the technology is attracting more investments and fueling the adoption among organizations, for instance, in 2017 there has been more than 300% increase in investment in AI. The growing investment in the technology is attributed to the wide applications of the technology along with advanced analytics, machine learning and cognitive surface into the complex systems. The rapid adoption of smart devices, growth in digital data, and investment by technology providers is also fostering the growth of the market.Request for a sample of this research report @The global cloud NLP market is revolving around the revenues of some of the major players such as Google, Microsoft, IBM, Facebook, Amazon and Apple. However, some start-ups and regional players such as Klevu, Fort Scale, Inbenta are contributing towards the market. The market in quite competitive and companies are using M&A has their strategy to gain competitive edge and acquire talent and expertise. For instance, since 2012, Google has acquired more than 25 AI based companies to enhance their capabilities and expand product portfolio. Similarly, Apple has also acquired 8 AI based start-ups in the past five years. These indicates the intensity of the competitive rivalry among market players, driving the growth of the market.North America holds majority of the global cloud NLP market, as it is one of the early adopters of the technology. One of the primary factor that is backing the growth of the market in the region is investment in machine learning, analytics, and deep learning and presence of large number of players in the market including Google, IBM, Microsoft and start-ups such as Interactions LLC and Lexalytics. Furthermore, increasing adoption of the cloud services in the region is also estimated to back the growth of the market.The global cloud NLP market revolves around the market of some multinational players. However, some regional players are also contributing towards the growth of the market. Major vendors of the cloud NLP market are Google, IBM, Microsoft, Facebook, Apple, AWS, HPE, Nuance Communication, SAP SE, SAS, Baidu Inc., Netbase Solutions, Dolbey Systems, Lexalytics, Fuji Xerox, and Verint systems.Browse key industry insights spread across 230 pages with 348 market data tables & 42 figures & charts from the report, Cloud Natural Language Processing (NLP) Market Size By Product (Rule Based, Statistical, Hybrid), By Deployment Model (Public, Private, Hybrid), By Technology (Recognition, Analytics, Operational), By Application (Information Extraction, Machine Translation, Processing & Visualization, Question Answering), By End-use (BFSI, IT & Telecommunication, Defense, Government Organization, Retail & E-Commerce, Healthcare, Energy & Utility), Industry Analysis Report, Regional Outlook (U.S., Europe, UK, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, Australia, China, India, Japan, Brazil, Mexico, UAE, Israel), Growth Potential, Competitive Market Share & Forecast, 2017 - 2024 in detail along with the table of contents:Glimpse of Table of Content (ToC)Chapter 3. Cloud NLP Industry Insights3.1. Introduction3.2. Industry segmentation3.3. Industry landscape, 2013-20243.4. Industry ecosystem analysis3.5. Cloud natural language processing architecture analysis3.6. Cloud natural language processing features3.7. Technology & innovation landscape3.8. Regulatory landscape3.9. Industry impact forces3.9.1. Growth drivers3.9.1.1. Increasing investment in AI in North America3.9.1.2. Rising demand to improve customer experience3.9.1.3. Growing digital data3.9.1.4. Rapid adoption of smart devices3.9.2. Industry pitfalls & challenges3.9.2.1. Requirement for effective predictive technology3.9.2.2. Low adoption trends3.10. Growth potential analysis3.11. Porter's analysis3.12. PESTEL analysisAbout Global Market InsightsGlobal Market Insights, Inc., headquartered in Delaware, U.S., is a global market research and consulting service provider; offering syndicated and custom research reports along with growth consulting services. Our business intelligence and industry research reports offer clients with penetrative insights and actionable market data specially designed and presented to aid strategic decision making. These exhaustive reports are designed via a proprietary research methodology and are available for key industries such as chemicals, advanced materials, technology, renewable energy and biotechnology.Contact Us:Arun HegdeCorporate Sales, USAGlobal Market Insights, Inc.Phone: 1-302-846-7766Toll Free: 1-888-689-0688Email: sales@gminsights.comWeb: Industrial Wood Pellet Market: Global Size, Demand, Trends and Forecasts 2018-2022 http://orbisresearch.com/contact/purchase/2121156 http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/request-sample/2121156 http://orbisresearch.com/contacts/enquiry-before-buying/2121156 http://orbisresearch.com/reports/index/global-industrial-wood-pellet-market-size-trends-and-forecasts-2018-2022 http://orbisnewsrelease.com https://www.linkedin.com/company/orbis-research https://twitter.com/orbisresearch The study of Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market: Size, Trends and Forecasts (2018-2022) provides the market size information, In-Depth Analysis along with Competitive Insights and Segmentation.Scope of the Report:The report titled Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market: Size, Trends & Forecasts (2018-2022), provides an in-depth analysis of the industrial wood pellet market with sizing and growth. The analysis includes industrial wood pellet market in terms of demand and market share by region. It also includes an overview of wood pellet market by demand and market share by segments.Place a purchase order of this report @The report also covers a brief regional analysis of the UK, Europe, South Korea, Japan and ROW with their actual and forecasted market size in terms of demand. The UK has the largest stake in the global demand for industrial wood pellets which is projected to grow over the forecasted period also.Moreover, the report also assesses the key opportunities in the market and outlines the factors that are and will be driving the growth of the industry. Growth of the overall global industrial wood pellet market has also been forecasted for the years 2018-2022, taking into consideration the previous growth patterns, the growth drivers and the current and future trends.Enviva Partners, Graanul Invest Group, Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc., and Drax Group (Drax Biomass) are some of the prominent players operating in the global industrial wood pellet market whose company profiling has been done in the report which covers business overview, financial overview and business strategies adopted by the respective companies.Company Coverage: Enviva Partners Graanul Invest Group Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc. Drax Group (Drax Biomass)Request a sample of this report @Region/Country Coverage The UK Europe South Korea Japan ROWExecutive Summary:The continuous depletion of renewable sources such as coal, crude oil etc. arise the demand for a substitute source of energy. Biomass is one of the few renewable sources of energy which support the other intermittent renewable energy alternatives. Wood pellet is one such example of biomass fuel. Such fuel is clean-burning, renewable and cost-efficient as compared to other renewable sources of energy. Raw materials used in the production of wood pellets are sawdust, shaving and chips which are then compacted into tiny pellets. On the basis of use, wood pellets are categorized into two segments namely commercial/residential and industrial wood pellets.Industrial wood pellets are mainly used in power plants for generation of heat and electricity. They can also be used in combined power and heating plants and even on smaller heating plants. Pellets can be used at the whole power plants or on 1-2 boilers only in big power station. Power plants which run on wood pellets need them all over the year.The global industrial wood pellet market has shown tremendous growth over the past few years and projections are made that the market would grow at a rapid pace over the forecasted period i.e. 2018 to 2022. Rising fossil fuel prices, growing environmental concern, supporting government policies, low cost of production, technological advancements are some of the key factors that would positively influence the market in the coming years. However, the market is restrained by some challenges such as inability to fulfill certification criteria and gradual reduction in sawmill residue.Make an enquiry of this report @Table of Content:1. Executive Summary2. Introduction2.1 Overview of Wood Pellets2.1.1 Characteristics of Wood Pellet Fuel2.1.2 Advantages of Wood Pellets2.1.3 Types of Wood Pellets2.2 Overview of Industrial Wood Pellet2.2.1 Industrial Wood Pellet Production Process3. Global Market Analysis3.1 Global Wood Pellet Market Analysis3.1.1 Global Wood Pellet Market by Demand3.1.2 Global Wood Pellet Market by Segments (Commercial/Residential Wood Pellet and Industrial Wood Pellet)3.2 Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market Analysis3.2.1 Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market by Demand3.2.2 Global Industrial Wood Pellet Market by Region (UK, Europe (exc. UK), South Korea, Japan, ROW)4. Regional Analysis4.1 UK Industrial Wood Pellet Market Analysis4.1.1 UK Industrial Wood Pellet Market by Demand4.2 Europe Industrial Wood Pellet Market Analysis4.2.1 Europe Industrial Wood Pellet Market by Demand4.3 Japan Industrial Wood Pellet Market Analysis4.3.1 Japan Industrial Wood Pellet Market by Demand4.4 South Korea Industrial Wood Pellet Market Analysis4.4.1 South Korea Industrial Wood Pellet Market by Demand4.5 ROW Industrial Wood Pellet Market Analysis4.5.1 ROW Industrial Wood Pellet Market by DemandBrowse the complete report @5. Market Dynamics5.1 Growth Drivers5.1.1 Supportive Framework and Policies5.1.2 Favorable Economics5.1.3 Low Cost of Production5.1.4 Higher Demand in Electricity Generation5.1.5 Rising Prices of Fossil Fuels5.2 Challenges5.2.1 Inability to Fulfill Certification Criteria5.2.2 Gradual Reduction in Sawmill Residue5.2.3 Negative Health Impacts and Climate Change5.3 Market Trends5.3.1 Technological Advancements5.3.2 Adapting Logistics and Transportation Infrastructures5.3.3 Consolidation of Fragmented Market6. Competitive Landscape6.1 Global Industrial Wood Pellet Capacity by Players7. Company Profiles7.1 Enviva Partners7.1.1 Business Overview7.1.2 Financial Overview7.1.3 Business Strategy7.2 Graanul Invest Group7.2.1 Business Overview7.2.2 Financial Overview7.1.3 Business Strategy7.3 Pinnacle Renewable Holdings Inc.7.3.1 Business Overview7.3.2 Financial Overview7.3.3 Business Strategy7.4 Drax Group (Drax Biomass)7.4.1 Business Overview7.4.2 Financial Overview7.4.3 Business StrategyContact sales@orbisresearch.com for more information.About Us:Orbis Research (orbisresearch.com) is a single point aid for all your market research requirements. We have vast database of reports from the leading publishers and authors across the globe. We specialize in delivering customized reports as per the requirements of our clients. We have complete information about our publishers and hence are sure about the accuracy of the industries and verticals of their specialization. This helps our clients to map their needs and we produce the perfect required market research study for our clients.Contact Us:Hector CostelloSenior Manager Client Engagements4144N Central Expressway,Suite 600, Dallas,Texas - 75204, U.S.A.Phone No.: +1 (214) 884-6817; +912064101019For More PRs:Follow Us on LinkedIn:Follow us on Twitter: Automated Manual Transmission Market 2025 Latest Research Global Analysis and Forecasts by Components (Dry Clutch, Gearbox and Controller); and Vehicle Class (Passenger vehicle, LCV, HCV) The Insight Partners http://www.theinsightpartners.com/sample/TIPTE100000604 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/inquiry/TIPTE100000604 http://www.theinsightpartners.com/reports/automated-manual-transmission-market Automated Manual Transmission have a strong engine braking and it is easy to control infinite numbers of gearing, which in turns saves the fuel consumed by the vehicle. This transmission has several components such as hydraulic system, computer control, input shaft, transmission pump etc. The major driver that influence the growth of Automated Manual Transmission are the growing demand for fuel efficient transmission.One of the factor that is fueling the growth of Automated manual transmission is the growing demand for comfort level, vehicle performance and driver experience in terms of shifting gears & better acceleration. The limited use of automatic transmission and rising cost associated with automatic transmission can act as the major restraining factors in the market. Adoption of Automated manual transmission in commercial vehicles will further boost the market in the coming years.FREE | Request Sample is Available atThe Global Automated Manual Transmission Market Analysis to 2025 is a specialized and in-depth study of the automated manual transmission industry with a focus on the global market trend. The report aims to provide an overview of global automated manual transmission market with detailed market segmentation by components, vehicle class and geography. The global automated manual transmission market is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period. The report provides key statistics on the market status of the leading market players and offers key trends and opportunities in the market.The report provides a detailed overview of the industry including both qualitative and quantitative information. It provides overview and forecast of the global automated manual transmission market based on components and vehicle class. It also provides market size and forecast till 2025 for overall automated manual transmission market with respect to five major regions, namely; North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA) and South America (SAM). The market by each region is later sub-segmented by respective countries and segments. The report covers analysis and forecast of 15 counties globally along with current trend and opportunities prevailing in the region.Inquire before Buying atBesides this, the report analyzes factors affecting market from both demand and supply side and further evaluates market dynamics effecting the market during the forecast period i.e., drivers, restraints, opportunities, and future trend. The report also provides exhaustive PEST analysis for all five regions namely; North America, Europe, APAC, MEA and South America after evaluating political, economic, social and technological factors effecting the market in these regions.Also, key automated manual transmission market players influencing the market are profiled in the study along with their SWOT analysis and market strategies. The report also focuses on leading industry players with information such as company profiles, products and services offered, financial information of last 3 years, key development in past five years. Some of the key players influencing the market are Continental AG, ZF Friedrichshafen AG, Magna International Inc, Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd., Eaton Corporation PLC., Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG, BorgWarner Inc., Jatco Ltd., Allison Transmission Inc. and GKN PLC.Automated Manual Transmission Market Key Players1. Continental AG2. ZF Friedrichshafen AG3. Magna International Inc.4. Aisin Seiki Co., Ltd.5. Eaton Corporation PLC6. Schaeffler Technologies AG & Co. KG7. BorgWarner Inc.8. Jatco Ltd.9. Allison Transmission Inc.10. GKN PLCComplete Report is Available atAbout Us:The Insight Partners is a one stop industry research provider of actionable intelligence. We help our clients in getting solutions to their research requirements through our syndicated and consulting research services. We are a specialist in Technology, Media, and Telecommunication industries.Contact Us:533, 5th Floor,Amanora Chambers, East Block, Amanora Township,Kharadi Road, Hadapsar, Pune-411028 Ivorian head of state Alassane Ouattara on Tuesday agreed with opposition leader and former president, Henri Konan Bedie (HKB), to form a coalition of six political parties ahead of the 2020 presidential election. According to a communique released after the two leaders meeting, the President of Cote dIvoire and the President of the PDCI-RDA have adopted the principle of a political agreement for the creation of a coalition called Rassemblement des houphouetistes pour la democratie et la paix (RHDP). The six parties to form the coalition gave themselves between 12 and 18 months to finalize the setting up of this new coalition, the communique said, adding that Bedie may soon sign the unified party manifesto. In 2015, Henri Konan Bedies endorsement of incumbent Alassane Ouattara has led to a landslide victory. With Ouattaras popularity bolstered by the remarkable post-war recovery and Gbagbos Ivorian Popular Front (FPI) party deeply divided, the new coalition could put the outcome of 2020s vote beyond doubt. Bedie who led the West African nation between 1993 and 1999, stoked a debate over Ivoirite the rights of true born Ivoirians over immigrants. Ouattara, a Northerner, was repeatedly barred from seeking the presidency because of what opponents said was his foreign origins. He finally won an election in 2010, although his victory sparked a second brief war that killed more than 3,000 people. The article of Ivoirite was removed from the countrys recent constitution. The constitution voted in 2017 also removes an age limit of 75 for presidential candidates. Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market - Industry Overview 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1691 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1691 https://www.tmrresearch.com/environmental-health-safety-market Global Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: SnapshotConcerns regarding the rising levels of pollution and looming threat of global warming have escalated in the recent past and a number of countries, developed or developing, have come together to reduce these concerns. One of the primary reason of environmental damage is the poor compliance of regulatory by various companies, and governments are now bringing in stricter regulations, which in turn is encouraging companies to implement advanced processes of environmental health and safety (EHS) software and services, providing a thrust to the market for the same.The demand in the global environmental health and safety market is expected to increment at a strong CAGR during the forecast period of 2017 to 2025, owing to a number of factors such as government initiatives to protect the environment, incremented investment by end users, and reduced cost of environmental compliance software, which is leading to its adoption across small and medium businesses. On the other hand, there is still a vast population base that is unaware of the availability of the EHS software and are still depending on traditional methods. This factor is obstructing the market from attaining its true potential.Request Sample Copy of the Report @The competitive landscape of the global environmental health and safety market is highly dependent on product innovation, as there is strong need for products that can work efficiently and can be installed in different business setups of diverse companies. The EHS market is primarily used by industries pertaining to energy and mining, chemical and petrochemical, construction, manufacturing, telecom and IT, and healthcare. While a number of companies are also focused on strategic mergers and acquisitions in order to expand their geographical presence, satisfaction of the stakeholders, preservation of their brands, and development of solutions are also at the forefront for the key companies to maintain their strong hold.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: OverviewA variety of chemicals have become unavoidable in our everyday lives. From computers, to medicines, cosmetic creams to paints and coatings. The chemical industry is one of the worlds largest industries, with products manufactured in the range of billions of tonnes every year. The industry and countries with established chemical industries therefore have a huge responsibility to ensure the safe usage and production of chemicals so that the associated activities do not pose harm to the human resources working in close proximity and the environment.Environment health and safety (EHS) tools allow companies to keep track of and properly manage activities that related to the production or usage of chemicals, especially the ones that are known to pose harm to health of living organisms and the environment, such as mercury or CFCs. Companies operating in sectors such as power production, mining, and construction also frequently use EHS tools to ensure that production and operation sites to adhere to environmental norms and regulations concerning occupational and environmental health and safety.Request TOC of the Report @Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Trends and OpportunitiesThe increasingly stringent health, safety, and environment laws, regulations, guidelines, and processes instigated in the past few years across leading chemical producing countries is the key factor driving the increased implementation of EHS tools across the industrial sector. Companies diligently adhering to environment- and resource-friendly manufacturing practices are increasingly investing in the deployment of effective EHS tools.In developing economies such as India, China, South Africa, and the UAE, the thriving industrial sector is encouraging the increased adoption of EHS tools. However, certain factors, such as the high costs involved in auditing complex production sites and the highly expensive services and solutions required to comply with EHS regulations are expected to hinder the overall rate of adoption of EHS tools to a certain extent.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Market PotentialChina is one of the largest producers of a number of chemicals and has immense scope for the implementation of EHS tools across companies involved in the production of a number of high-risk chemicals. Recent incidences of leakage of hazardous chemicals (the series of explosions on the Port of Tianjin in August 2015), leading to the death of hundreds of people and serious injuries to many more, have highlighted the pressing need for effective management of chemical production and storage sites. Post this incidence, the government has been paying more attention to the strict implementation of EHS rules and regulations.Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Regional OverviewThe EHS market holds immense promise of growth in Asia Pacific owing to the established chemical industry and burgeoning construction and energy and mining sectors. The rate of implementation, however, is presently low in the region owing to high costs and is expected to increase in the future years owing to initiation of stringent EHS regulations in countries such as India, China, and Japan.The high costs of EHS tools largely restrict their overall adoption to developed economies across regions such as North America and Europe. North America presently accounts for the dominant share in the global implementation EHS software and services. The region is also expected to retain dominance owing to the stringent EHS regulations and policies and steady pace of development of the chemical and energy industries.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Environmental Health and Safety (EHS) Market: Competitive LandscapeThe market for EHS tools and services features a large number of companies, pointing towards a largely fragmented vendor landscape. The market features some of the worlds leading software development companies and several non-profit consulting organizations. Some of the leading vendors in the market are 3E Company, International Finance Corporation, IHS Inc., UL LLC, SAP SE, Medgate Inc., and Enablon North America Corporation.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement (TMVR) 2017 Key Players Medtronic plc, Abbott Laboratories, Edwards, and LivaNova Plc. Market Analysis and Forecast to 2022 Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement (TMVR) https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3080302-global-transcatheter-mitral-valve-repair-replacement-tmvr-market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3080302-global-transcatheter-mitral-valve-repair-replacement-tmvr-market Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement (TMVR)OverviewA human heart has four valves: Mitral valve, Tricuspid valve, Aortic valve and Pulmonary valve. Mitral valve is located on the left side of the heart and has two flaps which create a passage for oxygenated blood to travel from the left atrium to left ventricle. Mitral valve is attached by chordae tendinae to the papillary muscles which prevent the leaflets from prolapsing during ventricular contraction.When the mitral valve does not close properly, then this condition is called Mitral Regurgitation. Mitral Regurgitation (MR) is a valve disorder where blood leaks backward through the mitral valve with heart contractions and reduces the amount of blood pumped through the body, which over time can lead to heart dysfunction and heart failure. Mitral Regurgitation can be of two types: Functional Mitral Regurgitation (FMR) and Degenerative Mitral Regurgitation (DMR).Click here for sample report @Major PlayersMedtronic plc,Abbott Laboratories,EdwardsLivaNova Plc.Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement (TMVR) Major OutlookEurope is a major contributor to the global TMVR market supported by increased ageing and obese population, better accessibility and favorable reimbursement policies for TMVR. The U.S. is also expecting a high growth rate in TMVR market due to rising development of TMVR devices and incidences of heart diseases.Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement (TMVR) - Competitive AnalysisKey players are making innovative developments in Transcatheter Mitral Valve Repair & Replacement (TMVR). The same will help in improving the market performance. Heavy investments are made by major players in the R&D sectorScopeThe global TMVR market is expected to grow in future due to increasing ageing population, obese population, rising healthcare expenditure and economic growth. Key trends of this market include leading causes of death in the U.S., factors affecting the development of TMVR devices, prevalence of mitral regurgitation by age group in the U.S. and growing adoption of minimally invasive therapies. However, there are some factors which can hinder the market growth including associated high risks and tough regulatory problems..ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Blood Plasma Global Market 2017: Key Players-Grifols, Baxter International Inc, CSL Limited and Octapharma AG http://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/1615792-global-blood-plasma-market-report-2016-edition https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/1615792-global-blood-plasma-market-report-2016-edition Blood Plasma MarketSummaryThe raw material for blood plasma industry is the liquid that is a component of blood called blood plasma. Blood plasma makes up approximately 55% of the total blood volume. Blood plasma is pale yellow in color and consists of water, proteins and salt. Those proteins are used to produce medicinal products for treatment of a variety of life-threatening diseases, illnesses and conditions. These plasma-derived medications are the standard course of treatment for thousands of people, in more than 100 countries across the globe, who need the treatment to improve their health and lead productive lives.The chief components of the global blood plasma market are immunoglobulin, albumin, factor VIII and Alpha-1 proteinase inhibitor (A1PI) or alpha-1 antitrypsin (AAT). These components are proteins and antibodies that are extracted from the fractionated blood plasma and used for the treatment of various indications.Click here for sample report @Report HighlightsThe key factors which are anticipated to drive this market include rising healthcare expenditure, growing demand for polyvalent immunoglobulin and increasing market for albumin in the Asia-pacific. Some of the noteworthy progresses of this industry include the new potential for raising AATD diagnosis and introduction of extended half-life products for hemophilia. However, the growth of respective industry is challenged by the high cost of production that discourages new entrants, shrinking market for plasma-derived factor VIII, high industry regulation in the emerging market and increasing threat of substitutes.Table of Contents1.1 Components of Blood Plasma1.1.1 Proteins1.1.2 Amino Acids1.1.3 Electrolytes1.1.4 Nutrients1.1.5 Gases1.1.6 Nitrogenous Waste1.2 Functions of Blood Plasma1.2.1 Carry Nutrients1.2.2 Maintain Equilibrium of Electrolytes1.2.3 Sustain Blood Volume1.2.4 Safeguard the Body1.2.5 Removal of Waste1.3 Collection and Extraction of Plasma1.3.1 Plasma Collection1.3.2 Plasma Extraction1.3.3 Plasma Fractionation Yield1.3.4 Plasma UsageGlobal Market Analysis2.1 Global Blood Plasma Market2.1.1 Global Blood Plasma Market Revenue2.1.2 Global Blood Plasma Market by Category2.1.3 Global Blood Derivative Drugs Market by Region Value2.1.4 Global Blood Derivative Drugs Market by Patient Count.ContinuedFor Detailed Reading Please visit @Wise Guy Reports understand how essential statistical surveying information is for your organization or association. Therefore, we have associated with the top publishers and research firms all specialized in specific domains, ensuring you will receive the most reliable and up to date research data available. We also provide COTS (Commercial off the Shelf) business sector reports as custom exploration agreeing your particular needs.WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, India Healthcare IT Market - Acknowledging New Entrants 2017 - 2025 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=1496 https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=1496 https://www.tmrresearch.com/healthcare-it-market Global Healthcare IT Market: SnapshotThe global healthcare IT market is brimming with opportunities as health information technology has revolutionized patient care and healthcare services across the world. Healthcare IT provides secured sharing of patient information for healthcare providers to better manage patient care. Healthcare IT uses electronic health records (EHRs) in place of paper medical records to maintain patient health information.Healthcare IT is an umbrella term that comprises an array of technologies to store, share, and analyze health information. It involves the design, development, implementation, and maintenance of information systems for the healthcare industry. Apart from improved medical care and lower costs, these systems that are automated and interoperable also optimize reimbursement for ambulatory and inpatient healthcare providers.Owing to its several advantages, more and more healthcare providers are employing health IT for improved patient outcomes. In addition, Health IT enables two-way communication. Patients can use health IT to communicate with their doctor, care giver to share information about health and act as per instructions to improve the quality of life. Health IT enables patient to be a part of the team that is in charge of their health.The electronic health record (EHR) is the principal component of the health IT infrastructure. It allows doctors to track health information easily and enables them to access patient information out of their office. Apart from this, other vital components of the health IT infrastructure are personal health record and health information exchange. The inception of HITECH Act in 2009 has greatly influenced the implementation of EHR.Request Sample Copy of the Report @Global Healthcare IT Market: OverviewHealthcare IT solutions are being increasingly acknowledged for their ability to provide better data management, reduce medical errors, and cut down the healthcare costs. The advent of the cloud technology has further facilitated the exchange of data and real-time communication. Owing to their benefits, several governments worldwide are showing green lights to regulatory acts focusing on the adoption of advanced healthcare IT solutions. Thus, the global healthcare IT market is expected to tread along a phenomenal growth track with the rising awareness regarding their benefits.The common modes of delivery of these solutions are cloud-premises, on-premises, and web-premises. The components used in healthcare IT are software, services, and hardware. There is a massive demand for software solutions such as hospital information systems, ambulatory care management systems, electronic health and medical record systems, and patient management systems from clinics and hospitals to deliver better patient care.The research report is compiled using data from various paid and unpaid sources such as journals, presentations, and white papers. It presents an in-depth analysis of all the important parameters of the global healthcare IT market, including its dynamics, vendor landscape, and region-wise outlook.Global Healthcare IT Market: Drivers and RestraintsGlobally, governments are allocating large funds for the advancement of healthcare infrastructure. They, along with several private organizations, are emphasizing on improving the quality of care and clinical outcomes. This, in turn, is promoting the adoption of healthcare IT solutions worldwide. Moreover, the soaring need for managing regulatory compliance is working in favor of the global healthcare IT market.Request TOC of the Report @Despite the cost-effectiveness, the high installation and maintenance costs of these solutions are hampering the growth of the market. Furthermore, the uneven regulatory environment in developed and developing countries is hindering the growth of the market. The dearth of skilled IT professionals in the healthcare sector is also keeping the market from realizing its utmost potential.Global Healthcare IT Market: Geographical SegmentationThe key regions studied in the report are Asia Pacific, North America, Europe, and Rest of the World. The domicile of a large number of IT giants along with the high adoption of smart technologies across healthcare infrastructure is making North America a prominent destination for key players in the global market. Strict legislative and accreditation requirements regarding healthcare coupled with stringent regulatory requirements regarding patient safety are propelling the growth of the region.Asia Pacific is expected to rise at a tremendous CAGR during the review period. The growth of the region can be attributed to the rising consumer spending on healthcare, expanding medical tourism sector, and increasing government initiatives to create eHealth platforms. The growing adoption of healthcare IT solutions and increasing number of private hospitals in rural areas in countries such as India, China, and Taiwan are contributing to the growth of the region. Healthcare setups in the region are vigorously moving towards digitization to streamline workflow systems and ensure patient safety and care.Read Comprehensive Overview of Report @Global Healthcare IT Market: Competitive LandscapeWith the immense growth prospects of the global healthcare IT market, a large number of new players are anticipated to venture into this market. Their participation and the presence of many established players is rendering the market highly competitive. Key players in the market are investing sizeable amounts in research and development of innovative products and services to consolidate their presence in the market. Several players are also focusing towards customization to cater to the specific needs of customers.Some of the prominent global participants in the healthcare IT market are Athenahealth Inc., Epic Systems, GE Healthcare, McKesson Corporation, Philips, Siemens Healthcare, NextGen Healthcare Information System LLC, Allscripts, Cerner Corporation, Hewlett-Packard, Carestream Health Inc., and Medical Information Technology Inc.About TMR ResearchTMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in todays supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends.Our savvy custom-built reports span a gamut of industries such as pharmaceuticals, chemicals and metals, food and beverages, and technology and media, among others. With actionable insights uncovered through in-depth research of the market, we try to bring about game-changing success for our clients.Contact:TMR Research,3739 Balboa St # 1097,San Francisco, CA 94121United StatesTel: +1-415-520-1050Email: sales@tmrresearch.com Global Automated Fare Collection Market key Insights Based on Product Type, End-use and Regional Demand Till 2024 MRRSE https://www.mrrse.com/sample/1400 https://www.mrrse.com/automated-fare-collection-market In order to study the various trends and patterns prevailing in the overall market for Automated Fare Collection, Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has included a new report titled Automated Fare Collection Market to its wide online database. This research assessment offers a clear insight about the influential factors that are expected to transform the global market in the near future. Readers can access the regional as well as segment-wise analysis for acquiring precise information about the global market structure.To Request a Free Sample Report or View Summary of Report Visit @Lose to only 11% of the global automated fare collection market was taken up by regional players in 2014, indicating a highly consolidated market. The top three players NXP Semiconductors, Atos, and Omron Corporation collectively held a share of 56% in revenue in 2014. As stated by Transparency Market Research in a new report, all top automated fare collection services and technologies providers are constantly on the cutting edge of automated fare collection technologies through continuous innovation and system development. These innovations allow the vendors to tackle the rapid increase in demand while providing safe and secure transaction methods.Other key strategies adopted by the automated fare collection vendors include a significant scale of acquisitions and mergers to maintain and grow market value. At the same time, the players also invest heavily in improvement techniques of their own products. This includes investing in advanced bug tracking, real-time data solutions, and integrated operations.Transport Networks Improve, Add Greater Scope for Automated Fare CollectionAll parts of the world, whether developing or developed, hold transport at a high priority when it comes to development and expansion, states a TMR analyst. The latest development trend in transport is the implementation of smart transport systems, which can sync perfectly with the new automated fare collection systems available in the market.The use of automated fare collection in smart transport is expected to improve the overall flow of traffic and help government and other agencies cut down on operation costs.Additionally, the implementation of automated fare collection systems directly in the existing transport systems can also help substantially in reducing road congestion, which is a key cause of high fuel consumption and carbon emissions.Organization and Integration Challenges Hinder Automated Fare Collection Vendor GrowthThe implementation of automated fare collection systems involves the installation of multiple hardware and software in a transportation system. It brings out a key challenge faced by all players: the complex nature of an automated fare collection system and its integration. The various components in an automated fare collection system may make it exceedingly difficult to integrate them with a current organization, especially when it comes to switching between automatic and manual fare collection.North America Leads Automated Fare Collection Revenue GenerationThe global automated fare collection market is expected to accrue a revenue of US$10.87 bn by the end of 2021. The revenue is speculated to be progressing at a CAGR of 11.4% within a forecast period from 2015 to 2021.Smart card technology has contributed significantly to the revenue growth. This segment is expected to reach US$4.69 bn by 2021.North America will be the leading region for most automated fare collection releases and development. This region is expected to generate US$3.87 bn in the automated fare collection market by 2021. Europe automated fare collection follows closely with an expected revenue of US$3.44 bn in 2021.The report provides strategic analysis of the automated fare collection market and the growth forecast for the period 2015-2021. The report covers competitive analysis of various market segments based on the automated fare collection technology types, automated fare collection components and automated fare collection industrial application.The market share of various key industry players operating in the automated fare collection market along with their company overview, market presence (by segment and geography), financial overview, business strategies and recent developments are also included in the report. The key players operating in the automated fare collection market are Advanced Card Systems Ltd., Atos, Cubic Transportation Systems, Fare Logistics, GMV, LG, NXP Semiconductors, Omron Corporation, and Samsung SDS.Complete Report is now available at @The Automated fare collection market has been segmented as follows:Automated Fare Collection Market: By Technology TypeSmart cardsMagnetic stripsNFCOCRAutomated Fare Collection Market: By ComponentSoftwareHardwareAutomated Fare Collection Market: By Industrial ApplicationBusTollCar rentalTraine-paymentothersAbout Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE)Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com Marine Coatings Market to Gain a Stronghold by 2022 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10178 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10178 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Marine coatings are the protective coatings applied on the surface of the ships, cruises, vessels, yachts and other offshore structures (oil rigs, bridges) exposed to the sea water and corrosive conditions. The marine coatings are applied on the above mentioned surfaces to protect against corrosion, fouling and slimes thus increasing the durability and life of the marine vessels and offshore structures.The need for dry-docking of vessels subsequently, new ship building activities and the growth in offshore drilling is propelling the growth of global marine coatings market. The shipping trade is also growing globally, which is one positive factor for the growth of global marine coatings market. The demand for VOC free and environment friendly marine coatings among the customers are gaining popularity, hence new trends are being employed by marine coatings manufacture to achieve this specifications of consumers and to comply with government norms. The global marine coatings market is expected to project a healthy CAGR over the period of forecast.Request Report for TOC @The global marine coatings market is expected to show a healthy growth, and the key driving factors responsible for the growth of marine coatings market are, the growth in the world trade, awareness among the consumers about hull protection, fuel efficiency of the vessel and the expansion of oil and gas sector in the off shore regions, new ship building facilities and the dry-docking activities tends to drive the market for marine coatings globally.The popularity of yacht and cruise ships among the people for leisure time is also contributing to the growth of marine coatings market. Somehow, the regulatory norms applied by the government for the use of VOCs based marine coatings might pose as a restraint for the growth of global marine coatings market. To overcome the environmental restrains new technologies are being adopted by the manufacturers like more water based and less VOCs content in the marine coatings which are trending in the global marine coatings market among the consumers. Faster drying marine coatings are also finding its popularity in the market.On the basis of chemical base, the global marine coatings market is divided into:Epoxy based coatingsPolyurethane based coatingsWater based & low VOCs based coatingsOn the basis of product type, global marine coatings market is divided into:Anti-FoulingAnti-CorrosiveSlime releaseFoul releasingOthers (barrier coatings, cargo tank coatings)On the basis of application, global marine coatings market is divided into:ShipsShipyardsOffshore civil structuresYachtsContainer vesselsOthers (cruise liners)The global marine coatings market has been divided into seven key geographical regions which includes North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, APEJ, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. The North American market for marine coatings is showing a slow-moving growth because of the small size of the marine industry in the region. The market for marine coatings in the Europe region is just above North American market in terms of market growth but with a slower rate.The APEJ marine coatings market is currently dominating in the global marine market and will pose a healthy growth rate over the forecast period. In the APEJ region, the consumption of marine coatings has shown an incredible growth with China on the top of the list in terms of consumption in the APEJ region and globally which is mainly because of the growth in new ship building activities, maintenance and dry-docking activities in the region. South Korea marine coatings market is trailing behind China. Japan marine coatings market is in the third position in terms of market share.Request to Sample Report @There has been an increase in the number of ship owners in Singapore which is expected to propel the market for marine coatings in the APEJ region. The Indian market is also expected to emerge as a strong contender in the marine coatings market in the forecast period. Overall, the global marine coatings market is foreseen to register a healthy single digit CAGR.Some of the major players identified in the global marine coatings market include Akzo Nobel N.V, PPG Industries, Inc., The Sherwin-Williams Company, Axalta Coating Systems, LLC, BASF, KANSAI PAINT CO.,Ltd, Nippon Paint Marine Coatings Co. Ltd, PPG Asian Paints Private Limited, Jotun, Hempel Foundation, Mascoat, Comex, KCC corporation, Chugoku Marine Paints, Ltd, National Paints Factories Co. LtdAbout UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Cloudbased Drug Discovery Platform Market to Exceed US$ 4,323.5 Mn in 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/11020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/11020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/11020 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/cloudbased-drug-discovery-platform-market/toc https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/cloud-based-drug-discovery-platform-market-to-reach-us-43235-million-by-2025---persistence-market-research-656341793.html http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com A new report by Persistence Market Research presents interesting facets of the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market and provides value forecasts for an eight year period from 2017 to 2025. The report titled Cloud-based Drug Discovery Platform Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012 2016) and Forecast (20172025) is a comprehensive take on the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market and highlights the different factors anticipated to impact market revenue growth during the said period. According to Persistence Market Research estimations, the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market is projected to be valued at US$ 1,601.1 Mn by the end of 2017 and is expected to reach a market valuation of US$ 4,323.5 Mn by the end of the forecast period in 2025, witnessing a CAGR of 13.2% in terms of value during the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @Global Cloud-based Drug Discovery Platform Market: DynamicsRevenue drivers : Increasing adoption of cloud-based platforms in the healthcare industry to enhance research efficiency. Traction in the adoption of machine learning and artificial intelligence for drug discovery. Regional healthcare companies adopting cloud-based technologies for collaboration with international healthcare market players.Growth challenges : Concerns regarding infrastructure compatibility issues. Issues pertaining to interoperability of applications with devicesRequest Report Multiple Chapter @Market trends : Upsurge in the implementation of cloud-based platforms in the healthcare sector across the North America region. Rising adoption of cloud-based mobile applications for collaborative drug discoveryGlobal Cloud-based Drug Discovery Platform Market: Forecast by End UserThe global cloud-based drug discovery platform market is segmented on the basis of end user into Pharmaceutical Vendors, Biotech Vendors, Contract Research Organizations, and Others. Pharmaceutical Vendors is expected to be the largest segment in terms of revenue, with a CAGR of 13.4%. Biotech Vendors is the second largest segment in terms of value, estimated to reach a market valuation of US$ 1,247.8 Mn by the end of 2025.Get full report now @Global Cloud-based Drug Discovery Platform Market: Forecast by RegionPersistence Market Research tracks the performance of the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market across the key regions of North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and MEA. In terms of value, North America is projected to be the most attractive market in the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market during the forecast period. The North America regional market for cloud-based drug discovery platforms is estimated to hold more than 35% value share by the end of the forecast period in 2025. However, the market in APAC is expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the forecast period. In terms of value, the APAC cloud-based drug discovery platform market is expected to expand at a CAGR of 16.7% during the forecast period.Request for Table of Contents @Global Cloud-based Drug Discovery Platform Market: Key PlayersSome of the top companies operating in the global cloud-based drug discovery platform market are profiled in the report. Key market players include IBM Corporation, Accenture PLC, Tata Consultancy Services Limited, SAS Institute Inc., BioXcel Corporation, Cloud Pharmaceuticals Inc., WuXi AppTec (Sanghai) Co. Ltd., Dassault System, Acelot, Inc.For more information @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Govt Launches New Program to Support Young Entrepreneurs By Tea Mariamidze The government of Georgia is launching a new program Young Entrepreneur is aimed at supporting and helping Georgians aged 18-40 to develop their rural business of start-ups.The program envisages providing grants for projects, proposed by the young entrepreneurs to help them realize agricultural products.The state program fund -10 million GEL will finance start-ups of young entrepreneurs individually as well as cooperatives by 40%, if the project is agricultural. The project cost should be minimum 10,000 Gel and maximum 60,000 GEL in value. The rest 60% will have to be financed by beneficiaries, who can take bank loans with preferable conditions.In case the proposed project or start-up is non-agricultural, the state will provide only 20% financing and the rest has to be covered by the beneficiary.Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili attended the presentation of the program and provided the audience with detailed information.He stated that the project is for people with new ideas, especially from the regions, adding it is very important to ensure that the center of economic development is in the regions of the country.The engagement of the youth in building our country is extremely important. Georgia needs bold ideas, daring decisions, and your age is the best age for it. We need unconventional ideas, and we welcome the creation of different platforms enabling you to organize and deliver opinions to the authorities, to ensure your involvement in governance, which is extremely important to us, he stated.Kvirikashvili thanked the Minister of Environment Protection and Agriculture of Georgia, the Government of Denmark and the International Fund for Agricultural Development (IFAD) for assistance.The program Young Entrepreneur is implemented within the framework of the state-led United Agricultural Project implemented with the support of the IFAD.The United Agricultural Project is intended for long-term development and competitive agriculture sector, in order to produce high-quality products in line with international standards. Molecular Sieves Market Current Trend Analysis by 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10184 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10184 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Molecular sieves are the material with small pores of uniform size. Diameter of molecular sieves measured in angstrom or nanometers (nm). Molecular sieves can be micro porous (2nm), macro porous (50< nm) and mesoporous (2 nm- 50 nm). Molecular Sieves are crystalline alumino- silicates known as Zeolites. Molecular sieves crystals characterized by three-dimensional pore systems along with same crystals identified together.The basic Molecular sieves types A and X are commercially used absorbents. Molecular sieves are used as absorbents for fluids (gas and liquids). Molecular sieve absorbents have ability to separate fluids on the basis of molecular size and polarity. In case of hydrocarbon parafines, straight molecules fit into pores and get adsorbed. The branched molecules cant fit into pores and pass through sieve bed. Molecular sieves play important role in unit processes such as dehydration, purification and unit operations like drying, adsorption. Catalysis is application field of molecular sieves. Molecular sieves are used in petroleum catalytic cracking.Request Report for TOC @Environmentally friendly behavior of molecular sieves across their lifecycle has promoted them as a substitute for hazardous chemicals throughout various industrial application, so the demand for molecular sieves will be increasing during forecast period. Regulatory stringent laws for waste water treatment chemicals will drive molecular sieves market. Government agencies through the world are making strict regulations for municipal as well as industrial effluents over environmental issues such as dead areas in water body and ground water toxicity.Molecular Sieves smoothly trap nuclear ions from effluent. Due to these factors nuclear industry is anticipated to boost Molecular sieves market. Additionally, molecular sieves are used in detergents. So detergent industry is expected to drive molecular sieves market especially in developing countries. Molecular Sieves are used as substitute for phosphate and these phosphates are banned in developed countries. Government agencies and awareness among the people supported the demand for Molecular Sieves. It is also used as catalysts in petroleum and petrochemical industries. Aluminum Chloride and Phosphochloric Acid were used as catalyst in these industries. But Aluminum Chloride and Phosphochloric Acid are not easily disposable. So Molecular sieves are being substituted traditional catalysts in petroleum and petrochemical Industries. Therefore, huge demand is expected for molecular sieves from these industries.Molecular Sieves Market Segmentation on the basis of typeType 3AType 4AType 5AType 13XType YPentacilMordeniteMolecular Sieves Market Segmentation on the basis of applicationCatalystAdsorbentDesiccantsMolecular Sieves Market Segmentation on the basis of end-userManufacturing IndustryChemical/ Petrochemical IndustryDetergent IndustryHydrogen Gas ProductionPetroleum IndustryNatural Gas ProcessingWaste Water treatment/ Effluent TreatmentSystem Protection DevicesRefrigerantPneumatic ToolsTruck and Rail road air break driersChemical StorageIndustrial GasesThe global Molecular sieves market has been divided into seven key geographical regions which includes, North America, Latin America, Western Europe, Eastern Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. Asia Pacific will be the major market for Molecular Sieves market. Increasing demand in surfactants and major role of molecular sieves in nuclear industries to remove nuclear waste will boost the molecular sieves in Asia Pacific region. China, India will be major consumers of molecular sieves.Request to Sample of Report @Demand in these region dominated by consumption in surfactant industry. Asia Pacific is followed by North America and Eastern Europe. Developing countries in these region will dominate the molecular sieves market due to increasing consumption of molecular sieves in detergents Industry. Middle East and Africa will be emerging market for molecular sieves. Demand in this region is dominated by Petrochemical and Petroleum Industries. There will be increasing demand for molecular sieves in Latin America and Western Europe.Some of the key players identified in the Molecular Sieves market are Arkema, BASF SE, Honeywell International Inc., Tosoh Corporation, Bear River Zeolite Company, Blue Pacific Mineral Limited, ZEOX Corp, W.R. Grace and Company, Clariant Corp, Zeolyst International Inc., Tricat Inc.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Automotive alternator Market to Strengthen Its Position in Global Market at 5.5% CAGR Forecast to 2022 Automotive Alternator Market 2018 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/1973 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-alternator-market-1973 Automotive Alternator Market 2018Automotive Alternator Market Share, Size, Trends, And Business Opportunity Analysis Report 2018 include historic data, with forecast data to 2022. Automotive Alternator Market report is helpful for future strategy development, and to know about Market Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, And Global market size, share, Growth, Trends, key players forecast to 2022Global Automotive Alternator Market Information by Type (Single Phase and Three Phase), by Technology (Belt-driven alternator and), by Vehicle Type (Passenger and Commercial) and by Region - Forecast to 2022Market ScenarioAutomotive alternator is a generator which generates power to the electrical component of the vehicle. The increasing usage of electrical power in the cars and the rise in electrical and electronics device in the vehicles is expected to surge the market for automotive alternator. Moreover, increasing global demand for vehicles has a significant contribution in the growth of automotive alternator market. Asia-Pacific is estimated to have the largest market for automotive industry due to government initiated FDI for international automotive players, favorable economic conditions, and presence of major automotive manufacturing industries which in turn is expected to drive the demand in the automotive alternator market. The global automotive alternator market is expected to show a growth at CAGR of about 5.5% from 2016 to 2022.Get Sample Report of Automotive Alternator Market @Key PlayersThe key players of Global Automotive alternator Market report include- Valeo, Denso, Bosch, Remy, ISKRA, Mando, Mitsubishi, Hitachi Automotive, Magneti Marelli, Motorcar Parts of America, Hella KGaA Hueck & Co., and Lucas Electrical.Market HighlightsThe increasing usage of electrical power in the cars and the rise in electrical and electronics device in the vehicles is expected to surge the market for automotive alternator. Moreover, increasing global demand for vehicles has a significant contribution in the growth of automotive alternator market. Asia-Pacific is estimated to have the largest market for automotive industry due to government initiated FDI for international automotive players, favorable economic conditions, and presence of major automotive manufacturing industries which in turn is expected to drive the demand in the automotive alternator market. The global automotive alternator market is expected to show a growth at CAGR of about 5.5% from 2016 to 2022.Asia-Pacific is the major regions for the automotive alternator market. Asia-Pacific is expected to be fastest growing market for the automotive alternator. Emerging economies like China, India, and South Korea are expected to drive the market due to government initiative in FDIs for international automotive players, increasing individuals disposable income & purchasing power is expected to drive the market for automotive alternator. It is followed by European region due to presence of biggest automotive players in the region.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:October, 2017 - Remy Power Products announces it has added a new line of starter and alternator part numbers for 2002 to 2016 Sprinter van applications. Remy starters and alternators for Sprinter vans are made for the aftermarket with the same precision as the original equipment. Designed to fit perfectly and perform flawlessly, they are as good, or better, than the parts they replace.Oct, 2015- DENSO Products and Services Americas, Inc., a division of leading global automotive supplier DENSO Corp., is now shipping PowerEdge, its new series of high-amp alternators developed for medium- and heavy-duty commercial trucks. Compact and fuel-efficient, PowerEdge alternators have a durability rating of more than 400,000 miles.June, 2015 - Bosch Group plans to realign Starter Motors and Generators division. The division develops and manufactures starters and alternators for passenger cars and commercial vehicles which help reduce fuel consumption, for example as part of the start-stop system. It employs around 6,500 associates at 13 manufacturing sites and multiple sales locations worldwide.March, 2015- Mitsubishi Electric Corporation announced it will invest approximately 33 million USD, in its subsidiary Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Inc. to expand and newly construct facilities for the increased production of high-efficiency alternators. The move is the latest step in an ongoing expansion of Mitsubishi Electric Automotive America, Inc. North American market.June 2004- Valeo starter-alternator won automotive engineers award. The trophy was presented to the company's research and development team at the annual reception of the SIA, the French Society of Automotive Engineers, in Paris.Automotive Alternator Market SegmentationThe Automotive Alternator Market can be segmented in to three key dynamics for the convenience of the report and enhanced understanding;Segmentation by Type - Single Phase and Three PhaseSegmentation by Vehicle type - Passenger and CommercialSegmentation by Regions: North America, Europe, APAC and Rest of the World.The report for Global Automotive alternator Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Get Complete Report Details of Automotive Alternator Market @.ContinuedAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have the prime objective to provide optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies depending on products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments enables our clients to know more consequently do more, which gives them answer for their each and every important question. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industryCONTACT US:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com Battery Material Market Predicted Analysis by 2024 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10801 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10801 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Battery is an electric cell that generates electricity from chemical reaction. Battery materials provide characteristic according to its application and manufacturing requirements in end products. The demand for battery materials are high owning to its increasing industrial application and expected to grow at a considerable rate in near future.The total market is segmented by types, application, and geography. The major types for battery material include anode, cathode, electrolyte and separators. The applications segment include following verticals such as notebooks/laptops, mobile phones, household devices, defense and security, automotive, power tools and others.Request Report for TOC @The geography segment covers the four main regions the include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Rest of the World. Asia pacific is the fastest growing region followed by North America and Europe. Japan is a major global hub for battery materials in Asia pacific and major market players are headquartered in Tokyo, Japan.Government efforts to decrease the fuel consumption without any change in driving habits have resulted the demand of electric hybrid vehicles. In developing countries, increasing industrialization, growing demand of laptops and mobile phones and automotive industry would act as a driver for this market. However, increasing raw material prices such as cobalt, magnesium lead and lithium are the challenges for this market. The manufacturer can offer good opportunity in global market by improving efficiency and quality in terms of storage and energy.Request to Sample of Report @Battery material market is expected to show the double digit growth in CAGR by 2019. The growing demand in industries such as consumer electronics and automotive would increase overall battery material consumption. The electric vehicle are expected to act as a revenue generator for this market globally.The major key players for this market include Celgard, Hitachi Chemicals, Umicore, GS Yuasa Corp., Coda Energy, Panasonic Corporation, Envia System Inc., Duracell International Inc., GP Batteries international Ltd., Ford Motor Company and Toda Kogyo among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Key water utility experts gather next week in London for Smart Water Systems event smart water http://www.smart-water-systems.com/openpr http://www.smart-water-systems.com/openpr With the event now just few days away, this is the final chance to secure attendance at the SMi's 7th annual Smart Water Systems conference (25 - 26 April, London, UK).The two-day event is the ideal platform to hear exclusive updates on advanced technological solutions and raise stakeholder awareness to address the latest smart water management issues and data-driven solutions.2 days full of strategic content | Key water utility experts under 1 roof | 50 + Organisations attending | An unmissable interactive workshopIn the programme Gather first hand insight into the challenges facing water utilities due to changing regulations Learn the hidden value of information that can be extracted from smart systems Discover the cutting-edge technologies and pilot projects Find out the best solutions for customer-related issues through consumer engagement analysis and behavioural mapping Develop an improved water economySpeakers include Jeremy Heath, Sutton & East Surrey Water David Black, Ofwat Andrew Tucker, Thames Water Ben Earl, Southern Water Peter Yolles, WaterSmart Software Ben Evans, Dwr Cymru Welsh Water Bob Stear, Severn Trent Steve Kaye, Anglian Water Kevin Murray, Irish Water Steven de Schrijver, Water-Link Adrian Campos Gibert, Acciona AguaWorkshop - Hands on training through an exclusive pre-conference workshop (24th April) hosted by Artesia ConsultingData driven approach to managing water networks Explore the options for using data analytics and visualisation Discuss the maze of potential communication systems Learn the algorithms that are currently being used Discuss your needs and challenges in moving to smarter networksFull programme and registration form atContactsT: +44 (0)20 7827 6000E: ldurneva@smi-online.co.ukSTAY CONNECTEDLinkedIn - Follow SMi GroupTwitter @UtilitiesSMi #SmartWaterSystems-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------Smart Water Systems Conference | 25 - 26 April 2018 | London, UK-------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------------About SMi Group: Established since 1993, the SMi Group is a global event-production company that specializes in Business-to-Business Conferences, Workshops, Masterclasses and online Communities. We create and deliver events in the Defence, Security, Energy, Utilities, Finance and Pharmaceutical industries. We pride ourselves on having access to the worlds most forward thinking opinion leaders and visionaries, allowing us to bring our communities together to Learn, Engage, Share and Network.1 Westminster Bridge Road Global Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes Market 2018 : Sumitomo Metal Mining (SMM), Panasonic, BASF, Umicore, NEI Corporation, LG. Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes Market https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3132759-lithium-ion-battery-cathodes-market-shares-strategies-and https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3132759-lithium-ion-battery-cathodes-market-shares-strategies-and Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes Market:WiseGuyReports.com adds Lithium Ion Battery Cathodes Market 2018 Global Analysis, Growth, Trends and Opportunities Research Report Forecasting to 2024reports to its database.Executive SummaryWorldwide markets are poised to achieve continuing growth as the advantages brought by using new materials are used to decrease the cost of producing lithium ion batteries. The customization achieved by reducing the quantity of cobalt proportionally inside the cathode is a significant market growth driver.Lithium-ion Batteries at $100/kWh Make EVs Cheaper Than Traditional Gas-Powered Vehicles. As the new cathode technologies are applied to lithium ion batteries, the cost of lithium ion batteries will continue to decrease. Lithium-ion batteries aim to cost $100/kWh, a cost that makes EVs cheaper than traditional gas-powered vehicles. Companies are targeting between $80/kWh and $100/kWh. Realistically companies will likely approach $100/kWh.NMC lithium battery cathode materials are used for electric vehicles. As the cathode markets develop toward NMC, it is clear the LFP favored by Chinese manufacturers, not suitable for electric vehicles will lose market share. Current NMC ternary lithium-ion batteries from South Korean and Japanese makers typically employ a ratio of 60% nickel to 20% manganese, and 20% cobalt (6:2:2), but as that ratio moves to 8:1:1 in 2018 and beyond, the cathode is a key element in achieve vast cost efficiencies.On the basis of product, the market is primarily split intoCobaltManganeseNickel Cobalt Manganese (NMC)Lithium Iron Phosphate (LFP)Worldwide Lithium Ion Battery cathodes have many applications. On the basis on the end users/application, this report coversElectric VehiclesDrones, UAV, UUVPower ToolsSmart Phone EquipmentConsumer Electronics ProductsOtherRequest Sample Report @Worldwide Lithium Ion Battery cathode market at $5.1 billion market in 2017, is expected to reach $58.8 billion by 2024.Companies ProfiledMarket LeadersSumitomo Metal Mining (SMM)PanasonicBASFUmicoreNEI CorporationLGArgonne National LabsEaspringMitsubishi ChemicalReshineLong Power SystemsTargrayToda KogyoFujitsuPuleadJFE ChemicalSamsungHitachi ChemicalKey TopicsCathodeCobaltLithium Ion BatteryEVElectric VehicleElectric VehiclesDronesUAVUUVPower ToolsSmart Phone EquipmentConsumer ElectronicsManganesemNickel Cobalt Manganesem (NMC)NMC 811NMC 632Lithium Iron PhospNMC 632hate (LFP ManganeseNickel Cobalt Aluminium (NMA)Table of ContentsLithium Ion Battery Cathode Executive Summary 17Lithium-ion Batteries at $100/kWh Make EVs Cheaper Than Traditional Gas-Powered Vehicles 171. Lithium Ion Battery Cathode: Market Description and Market Dynamics 191.1 Li-ion Battery Sub-Types 191.1.1 Nickel Manganese Cobalt 191.1.2 Nickel Cobalt Aluminum 201.2 Lithium-ion Battery Basics 211.2.1 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Description 221.2.2 Cathode Chemistry and Metal Proportions 261.2.3 Intercalated Lithium Compound 281.3 Cathode Typically 31% of Cost of Small Lithium Ion Battery 292. Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Market Shares and Forecasts 312.1 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Market Driving Forces 312.2 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Market Shares 342.2.1 SMM Monthly Production Structure 392.2.2 Umicore 402.2.3 Umicore Dedicated to NMC and Cobalt 402.2.4 Samsung 412.2.5 Panasonic 422.2.6 Easpring Material Technology Chinese NCM 622 Capacity of 2,800 tons 432.3 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Market Forecasts 442.3.1 Battery Materials Market 462.4 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Segments 492.5 Battery Materials Market Worth $11.3 Billion By 2018 532.6 Electric Vehicle Market 542.6.1 Automotive 562.6.2 Cobalt 562.7 Lithium Ion Batteries 602.7.1 Lithium Markets 612.7.2 Cathode Active Materials 632.7.3 EV Makers and their Suppliers 632.8 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode and Cobalt Pricing 662.8.1 Lithium Nickel Manganese Cobalt Oxide Linimncoo2 Powder for Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Materials-Gn-Nmc 662.8.2 Linicomno2 (NCM) Powder for High Capacity Li-ion Battery Cathode, (Ni: Co: Mn=1: 1: 1) , Lib-Lncm111 672.8.3 LiFePO4 Cathode Material CAS 15365-14-7 672.9 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Regional Market Segments 712.9.1 Europe 742.9.2 China Cathode Market Participation 753. Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Product Description 793.1 Lithium Battery NMC Cathodes 793.2 Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Market Segment Analysis 803.2.1 Cost Of Lithium-Ion Battery Cathodes Continues To Decrease 803.2.2 Cathode Segments, NMC 532, NMC 622, NMC 811, Market Segments 813.2.3 Cathode Market Growth, Tonnes 843.2.4 Cathode Market Growth, Tonnes, Worldwide, 2013 2017 863.2.5 NMC 883.2.6 NMC and NCA 883.2.7 LFP 883.2.8 80 Percent Nickel, 10 Percent Cobalt And 10 Percent Manganese NMC 811 883.2.9 Cathode Unit Analysis in Tonnes 2012 893.2.10 Ternary Cathode Materials (NCA/NCM) 903.3 Category : LiNiMnCo (NMC) Batteries 903.4 NMC 811 Battery Production 954. Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Research and Technology 974.1 Available Battery Choices: 974.2 Lithium Cobalt Oxide(LiCoO2) 1054.3 NMC 1065. Lithium Ion Battery Cathode Company Profiles 107ContinuousFor further information on this report, visit Contact Us:Norah Trentsales@wiseguyreports.comPh: +1-646-845-9349 (US); +44 208 133 9349 (UK)About Us:Wise Guy Reports Is Part Of The Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. And Offers Premium Progressive Statistical Surveying, Market Research Reports, Analysis & Forecast Data For Industries And Governments Around The Globe. Wise Guy Reports Features An Exhaustive List Of Market Research Reports From Hundreds Of Publishers Worldwide. We Boast A Database Spanning Virtually Every Market Category And An Even More Comprehensive Collection Of Market Research Reports Under These Categories And Sub-Categories.Addres:WISEGUY RESEARCH CONSULTANTS PVT LTDOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersPune - 411028Maharashtra, IndiaPhone :+91 841 198 5042 Global Wine Cabinets Market: Trends, Price, Revenue, Share, Growth and Forecast Until 2026 https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=S&rep_id=406 https://www.factmr.com/report/406/wine-cabinets-market https://www.factmr.com/connectus/sample?flag=D&rep_id=406 https://www.factmr.com/ The global market discussion on wine cabinets industry can be found in the latest study by Fact.MR, which has been freshly added to its massive collection of research database. The report is titled Wine Cabinets Market Forecast, Trend Analysis & Competition Tracking Global Review 2017 to 2026, which works to enlighten the readers about the major factors prompting the growth of the concerned market. Apart from that, the research majorly focuses on wine cabinets markets competitive outlook by profiling major players functioning across the globe. As the report moves ahead, information regarding the prominent trends as well as opportunities in the key geographical segments have also been elaborated, thus enabling companies to be able to make region-specific strategies for gaining competitive lead. Some of the prime regions emphasized in the study include key regions.Request for Sample Report-According to a recently compiled report of Fact.MR, the global wine cabinets market is projected to reflect 5.5% CAGR through the forecast period (2017-2026), in terms of value. Over 7,000 units of wine cabinets are estimated to be sold across the globe by 2026-end.With increasing consumer interest to entertain their guests, and wider variety of wine gaining traction among the alcohol-consuming population globally, it is no surprise that wine cabinets are witnessing a surge in demand over the past few years. Consumers across the globe are eyeing wine cabinets as a must-have, desirable fixture, considering both premium as well as standard kitchens. Combination cabinets have become a major success story in the market, with consumers willing to pay more for combination products that provide multi-storage and temperature facilities. More and more fine wine lovers are becoming eager in showing off their most-prized wine bottles by commissioning luxurious wine cabinets and wall displays.Alleviated promotion of health benefits associated with moderate consumption of red wine, such as lower risk of cancer, stroke and heart disease has been rapidly driving its sales among health-conscious consumers globally. This has partly bolstered the social status of red wine and is considered to be more sophisticated than rose or white wines, which in turn has influenced demand for wine cabinets. Vendors in the global wine cabinets market are competing on the basis of pricing, and product differentiation. Owing to intense competition, these vendors have begun engaging in M&A activities for ensuring smooth raw material supply and increasing their market presence.4 Key Takeaways from Fact.MRs Report on Wine Cabinets Market for Forecast Period 2017-20261. Based on price range, mid-range wine cabinets will continue to be preferred in the market. However, revenues from sales of economy wine cabinets will increase at the highest CAGR through 2026. In contrast, revenues from premium wine cabinets will record the lowest CAGR through 2026.2. Free-standing wine cabinets are anticipated to remain sought-after among products in the global wine cabinets market. Volume sales of free-standing wine cabinets are expected to surpass 4,000 Mn units by 2026-end. This number is estimated to remain relatively higher than those from all the other product segments combined.3. North America is expected to remain the most remunerative market for wine cabinets, both in terms of value as well as volume. However, demand for wine cabinets in North America is expected to witness a significant decline over the forecast period.4. Revenues as well as volume sales of wine cabinets in Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ) are projected to register the fastest expansion through 2026. Europe will also remain a lucrative market for wine cabinets, with revenues poised to account for over one-fourth market share by 2026-end.North America to Remain Largest Market for Wine CabinetsNorth American consumers are shifting toward high-quality, premium wines, underpinned by growing intelligence on products that is fuelled by in-store tastings, international media, and wine clubs. With growing wine consumption demand for wine cabinets will also witness a rise in the region. North America will continue to be the largest market for wine cabinets, in terms of value and volume, followed by Asia-Pacific excluding Japan (APEJ). However, the market in APEJ will register the fastest expansion through 2026.Free standing wine cabinets are gaining immense traction among consumers globally, and they are willing to pay premium for these cabinets owing to their advanced offerings related to temperature and storage. Free standing wine cabinets will therefore remain dominant among products in the market, with revenues forecast to account for approximately three-fifth share of the market by 2026-end. Alongside price, space has become a key consideration during the selection of wine cabinets, wherein integrated under counter and built-in wine cabinets are increasingly being preferred. These two products will also account for major revenue shares of the market during the forecast period.Browse Full Report with TOC-Table of Content:1. Global Economic Outlook2. Global Wine Cabinet Market Executive Summary3. Global Wine Cabinet Market Overview3.1. Introduction3.1.1. Global Wine Cabinet Market Taxonomy3.1.2. Global Wine Cabinet Market Definition3.2. Global Wine Cabinet Market Size (US$ Mn) and Forecast, 2012-20263.2.1. Global Wine Cabinet Market Y-o-Y Growth3.3. Global Wine Cabinet Market Dynamics3.4. Supply Chain3.5. Cost Structure3.6. Regulatory Framework3.7. PESTLE Analysis3.8. Porters Five Force Analysis3.9. Key Participants Market Presence (Intensity Map) By Region4. Global Wine Cabinet Market Analysis and Forecast 2012-20264.1. Global Wine Cabinet Market Size and Forecast By Product Type, 2012-20264.1.1. Free Standing Market Size and Forecast, 2012-20264.1.1.1. Revenue (US$ Mn) and Volume Comparison, By Region4.1.1.2. Market Share Comparison, By Region4.1.1.3. Y-o-Y growth Comparison, By RegionContinued.Check Discount on This Report-About Fact.MRFact.MR is a fast-growing market research firm that offers the most comprehensive suite of syndicated and customized Retail & Consumer Goods market research reports. We believe transformative intelligence can educate and inspire businesses to make smarter decisions. We know the limitations of the one-size-fits-all approach; thats why we publish multi-industry global, regional, and country-specific research reports.Contact UsFact.MRSuite 988427 Upper Pembroke Street,Dublin 2, IrelandTelephone: +353-1-6111-593Email: sales@factmr.com/Web: Comprehensive Report on Social Intelligence Market by Future Market Insights 2017 2027 Social Intelligence https://www.researchnreports.com/request_sample.php?id=166340 https://www.researchnreports.com/enquiry_before_buying.php?id=166340 https://www.researchnreports.com/ask_for_discount.php?id=166340 Enterprises have been leveraging business intelligence to optimize their business decision making process. Business intelligence has been affected by the growing use of social media, where enterprises are utilizing information retrieved from social media and correlating it with the existing consumer data. Whenever a query regarding a business decision needs to be addressed, the business intelligence team builds a data warehouse, with rows and columns of data. This rigid structure cant be modified once created, and in order to add new insights a new structure needs to be built. This is a time consuming process and limits agility in business environment. Social intelligence tools work with an objective to reduce the drawbacks faced by the traditional business intelligence tools.As leading companies take efforts to maintain their dominance in the global Social Intelligence market, the right way to do so is by adopting new technologies and strategies. The report highlights major technological developments and changing trends adopted by key companies over a period of time. Key companies operating in the global Social Intelligence market are profiled by considering factors such as capacity production, products/services, applications, cost, gross, and revenue.Get Sample Copy of this report:Top Key Vendors:Brandwatch, IBM Corporation, Synthesio, 4c , Frrole , Salesforce.Com , Sysomos Inc, Talkwalker , ARBA Holdings, Germin8Business intelligence is used to analyse data to help organizations understand its weaknesses and identify opportunities and threats. The time taken to arrive at an insight can be reduced with the help of rapid insights provided using big data and other social intelligence tools. Moreover, as social business intelligence tools work with unstructured data, the limitations of traditional structured data warehouse are also eliminated. Along with these factors, the reduced costs involved and low technical and analytical skills are other factors driving the growth of the social business intelligence market. Enterprises offering social intelligence services are shifting to cloud to offer improved services to its clients. Major hindering factors for social intelligence market are security and privacy issues arising from cloud based offerings.The report has been assembled using primary and auxiliary research methodologies. The data has been gathered from reliable sources, for example, interviews with market pioneers, diaries, distributions, conferences, and white papers. The report investigates the historical data alongside the present advancements in the market to provide map a reasonable trajectory of the Global Social Intelligence Market for the coming few years.To get more information, Ask for Sample PDF illustration with TOC, Tables, Figures and Charts @Table Of Content:Chapter 1 Social Intelligence Market OverviewChapter 2 Global Economic Impact on IndustryChapter 3 Global Market Competition by ManufacturersChapter 4 Global Production, Revenue (Value) by RegionChapter 5 Global Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by RegionsChapter 6 Global Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by TypeChapter 7 Global Market Analysis by ApplicationChapter 8 Manufacturing Cost AnalysisChapter 9 Industrial Chain, Sourcing Strategy and Downstream BuyersChapter 10 Marketing Strategy Analysis, Distributors/TradersChapter 11 Market Effect Factors AnalysisEarly buyers will receive up to 40% Discount on this reportAbout Research N Reports:Research N Reports is a new age market research firm where we focus on providing information that can be effectively applied. Today being a consumer driven market, companies require information to deal with the complex and dynamic world of choices. Where relying on a sound board firm for your decisions becomes crucial. Research N Reports specializes in industry analysis, market forecasts and as a result getting quality reports covering all verticals, whether be it gaining perspective on current market conditions or being ahead in the cut throat global competition. Since we excel at business research to help businesses grow, we also offer consulting as an extended arm to our services which only helps us gain more insight into current trends and problems. Consequently we keep evolving as an all-rounder provider of viable information under one roof.Contact us:Mr. Sunny DenisContact No. +1-888-631-6977sales@researchnreports.com(ResearchnReports) Potassium Sulphate Market boosting the growth: Market dynamics and trends, efficiencies Forecast 2025 Potassium Sulphate Market https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/320 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/320 Prevalent Scenario in Potassium Sulphate MarketGrowing consumption of potassium sulphate as a feedstock for procuring macronutrients, ingredients, activator and nutrient salt across various industries is fueling growth of the potassium sulphate market. The potassium sulphate products offered by the manufacturers are in line with current trend of applications of the products such as in specialty fertilizers, lubricants for wire drawing, production of insulin, and extraction of precious metals such as biobleaching.Potassium sulphate is incorporated into wide range of pharmaceuticals, cosmetics, and food applications. These are in turn governed by various regulatory bodies, especially in U.S. and Europe, to human health safety. Potassium sulphate is used as an ingredient in food industry in accordance to the level specified by FDA in section 184.1 (b) (1) and the maximum percentage of potassium sulphate used in non-alcoholic beverages is 0.015 which is defined by FDA in section 170.3 (n) (3).Safety of the products is a major concern as potassium sulphate used as ingredient in manufacturing the pharmaceutical, cosmetic and food products can have adverse allergic reactions. As the pharmaceutical & personal care, food industry is expanding, there increasing number studies carried on safety of these products and are regulated by related authorities which has become a tasks for the manufacturers to keep updated and aware of the ingredient used in these products. The companies are therefore manufacturing grades of potassium sulphate products which can be used for specific applications. For instance, American Elements (U.S.) manufactures technical grade, food grade, agriculture grade, pharmaceutical grade of potassium sulphate products.Potassium sulphate, commonly known as sulphate of potash (SOP), is a water soluble white crystalline salt that finds wide application in the pharmaceuticals industry. In the food industry, potassium sulphate is used as a source of macronutrients potassium and sulphate. Increasing use of potassium sulphate in the food industry as flavoring agent and as an adjuvant has resulted in rampant growth of the potassium sulphate market in the recent past. Potassium sulphate used in food industry is manufactured in accordance with the Food Chemicals Codex regulation implemented by the Food and Drug Administration (FDA). Potassium sulphate is commonly used in the agriculture industry as a fertilizer for sensitive crops such as flowers, fruits & vegetables, tobacco, turf & ornamentals, among others. Use of potassium sulphate as a fertilizer results in improved quality of agricultural produce, enhanced nutritional value of fruits & vegetables, and is a nitrogen-free source of potassium, as growers find it difficult to match the nitrogen input required for the growth of crops. The increased demand for food has resulted in burgeoning growth of the agricultural industry, which in turn fuels demand for fertilizers to provide quality of agricultural products. Asia-Pacific is the largest consumer of potassium sulphate for agricultural application.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Potassium sulphate is manufactured by extraction of potassium and sulphate ions from natural ores or brines by evaporation or chemical methods. The common methods used for extraction of potassium sulphate are salt lake brine processing, sulphate salts reaction and Mannheim process. Potassium salt derived by the process of salt lake brine processing is cheap as compared to other methods. The average manufacturing cost of potassium sulphate by salt lakes brine processing is approximately US$ 200/ ton, the average cost of production by sulphate salts reaction is US$ 300/ton and the average cost of production by Mannheim process is US$ 400 to 550/ton. Potassium sulphate manufactured by Mannheim process holds for approximately 50% to 60% of the global supply of potassium sulphate, potassium sulphate manufactured by sulphate salts reaction holds a share of 25% to 30% and salt lake brine processing holds a share of 15% to 20% of the global supply of potassium sulphate. Companies such as Great Salt Minerals Corporation (U.S.), SDIC Xinjiang Luobupo Potash (China) use salt lake brine processing method, K+S Kali Gmbh (Germany), Rusal (Russia) utilize sulphate salts reaction process and Tessenderlo Group (Belgium) use Mannheim process to manufacture potassium sulphate.Fragmented MarketThe Global potassium sulphate market is highly fragmented due to the participation of many established and emerging players in the industry. Major players involved in the market include K+G Kali Gmbh (Germany), Tessenderlo Group (Belgium), Great Salt Minerals Corporation (U.S.), SDIC Xinjiang Luobupo Potash (China), SQM (Chile), Yara International (Norway), Rusal (Russia), Compass Minerals (U.S.), Guotou Xinjiang LuoBuPo Potassium Salt (China), Sesoda (Taiwan)Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Global Potassium Sulphate Market TaxonomyThe global potassium sulphate market is classified on the basis of the following segments:Process:Mannheim Process,Sulphate Salts Reaction,Brine Processing,OthersApplication:Agriculture,Industrial,Pharmaceutical,Cosmetics,Food,OthersAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Experts about Possible Influence of Syrian Conflict on Georgia By Vladimer Napetvaridze Since 2011 Syrian conflict has been of international significance. The process that began 7 years ago, with the demonstration of a local population, grew into a wide scale of international warfare activities. The Syrian government's key supporters are Russia and Iran, while the US, Turkey and Saudi Arabia back the rebels. The UK, France and other western countries have also provided varying levels of support.On April 14, armed forces from the UK, the US and France have fired missiles to destroy what they say are chemical weapons factories in Syria. Its the biggest military attack against Syria's President Bashar al-Assad's government by western powers in Syria's civil war. Donald Trump said, "the purpose of our actions tonight is to establish a strong deterrent against the production, spread, and use of chemical weapons." UK Prime Minister Theresa May said that the Syrian regime had demonstrated a "persistent pattern of behavior" when it came to the use of chemical weapons, and that it "must be stopped".The Syrian conflict has become a polygon of the confrontation between Russia and the US. Therefore, the development of the Syrian conflict may reflect on other issues of relations between the two countries. According to some assumptions, USs strict policy against the Syrian government may be responded by Russia with the increased pressure on pro-western countries.In his interview with the news agency Interpressnews, an expert in the military-political issues - Amiran Salukvadze said that the events in Syria won't have any impact on Georgia and the Caucasus yet: " At this stage Russia has no reason to act in other directions. However, it is not guaranteed that Russia will not intensify its action in other regions, be it Georgia or Ukraine, but they will not do this immediately, because it will not be perceived as an adequate reaction. Any action of Russia has always been preceded by an information war to justify its future behavior. In 2008, before the August war, most of the Russian channels were spreading the wave of fake news," Salukvadze said.An expert at Foundation for Strategic and International Studies Kakha Gogolashvili stated that in case of the most dramatic scenarios in Syria and the confrontation between the Western states and Russia, Russia may act against partner countries of western states, especially the countries with weak self-defense: "Georgia has weak defense capability. Georgia might be what Russia will act against," said Gogolashvili in his interview with Interpressnews.The foreign policy of the state also influences the internal processes of the country and an image of its leader. For Russian, Syrian conflict is a challenge to protect its own political interests, and every strike on the Syrian government supported by the Russian Federation is an attack on Russian political interests. Functional Printing Market Gain Impetus due to the Growing Demand over 2024 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/10927 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/10927 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The functional printing market is a research study which covers printing technologies in addition with functional inks employed for printing electronics. Multiple technologies used in the market include screen, inkjet, gravure, flexo and others. Various applications of functional printing include sensors, displays, lighting, batteries, photovoltaic, medical and RFID.Request Report for TOC @Demand for new low cost electronic products lead to the demand of functional printing globally. This is made possible with the introduction and development of new printing technologies and materials. Traditional printing techniques such as flexography, inkjet, gravure and screen have been developed and modified which made them capable of printing on a wide range of substrates with the use of functional inks.At present, the screen printing technique has highest share in functional printing market owing to its higher reliability. Screen printing is primarily used in the making of sensors and RFID antennas. In addition, functional printing market enjoys huge opportunity and is being used to manufacture RFID chips, sensors and OLED displays and so on.Multiple substrates such as graphene are being developed for printed products. These materials are responsible for production of reliable and robust electronics. New ink such as graphene and other substrates are enabling the companies to adopt printed electronics technology with the use of functional printing. In addition, rising demand for displays, biosensors and RFID tags is driving the functional printing market. The current printing technologies are not specially planned for the purpose of functional printing. Although, now companies are bringing up new printing technologies especially designed for printing electronics.Request to Sample of Report @The major players in functional printing market include Avery Dennison Corporation, Blue Spark Technologies, E Ink Holdings Inc., Kovio Inc., Nano Solar Inc., Novaled AG, Palo Alto Research Center Incorporated, Toyo Ink SC Holdings Co Ltd, Vorbeck Materials, Xaar PLC., Xennia, BASF SE, DuraTech Industries Inc., Eastman Kodak Company, ISORG, Mark Andy Inc., Optomec Inc., Toppan Forms Co. Ltd and Trident Industrial Inkjet among others.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Childcare Software Market Size, Status & Forecast 2025 : SofterWare, Ladder Software, Procare Software, Hi Mama QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1657985&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-childcare-software-market-size-status-and-forecast-2025.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1657985&type=D Qyresearchreports include new market research report "Global Childcare Software Market Size, Status and Forecast 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.The Global market for Childcare Software has been thoroughly studied with every available detail in the said study with increased focus on various important factors such as restraints, market opportunities, and growth drivers. Each of the elements that pertain to the shaping of the market dynamics that has been analyzed and studied in detail by the research analysts, so as to offer the best and most evaluative and exhaustive study to the buyers of the report. The overview or the executive summary that has been provided in the market intelligence study has been designed in such a way so as to give a quick overview of the market for receiving information on the go. This could assist readers with hands-on data needed to make quick decisions anytime during their journey of growth in the market.The study of market segmentations that has been offered with the publication that explores some of the most significant categories of the world Childcare Software market is deemed significant for the growth of industry participants. All of the segments that have been studied elaborately in the said publication have been deeply evaluated with assistance from best of the research techniques. The analysts have dissected each of the segments and have shed light on vital factors that influence the growth of the various segments. Using this key information, market players could rightly shape their business plans in favor of the betterment of their growth in the Global market. Segments that have been analyzed in the publication could be related to product, end use, application, and geography.Get Free Report Sample and Customization:This report studies the global Childcare Software market, analyzes and researches the Childcare Software development status and forecast in United States, EU, Japan, China, India and Southeast Asia. This report focuses on the top players in global market, likeSofterWareLadder SoftwareProcare SoftwareHi MamaJackrabbit TechnologiesLedger SoftwareKindertalesPersonalized SoftwareMarket segment by Regions/Countries, this report coversUnited StatesEUJapanChinaIndiaSoutheast AsiaMarket segment by Type, the product can be split intoCloud BasedInstalled-PCInstalled-MobileMarket segment by Application, Childcare Software can be split intoNursery SchoolFamilyOthersA group of experienced analysts who have prepared the said report delves deep into the various factors that hinder or fuel the world market for Childcare Software. It also discovers and mentions the important trends that are emerging in the said market. Cashing in on all of these market data and statistics that have been garnered so far, it has come up with the best course of action for all the stake holders of the market.If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.To Browse a Complete Report with TOC Visit @Table of Contents1 Industry Overview of Childcare Software1.1 Childcare Software Market Overview1.1.1 Childcare Software Product Scope1.1.2 Market Status and Outlook1.2 Global Childcare Software Market Size and Analysis by Regions (2013-2018)1.3 Childcare Software Market by Type1.4 Childcare Software Market by End Users/Application2 Global Childcare Software Competition Analysis by Players2.1 Childcare Software Market Size (Value) by Players (2013-2018)2.2 Competitive Status and Trend2.2.1 Market Concentration Rate2.2.2 Product/Service Differences2.2.3 New Entrants2.2.4 The Technology Trends in Future3 Company (Top Players) Profiles3.1 SofterWare3.1.1 Company Profile3.1.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.1.3 Products, Services and Solutions3.2 Ladder Software3.2.1 Company Profile3.2.2 Main Business/Business Overview3.2.3 Products, Services and SolutionsGet discount copy @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Global Childcare Software Market Size (Million USD) Status and Outlook (2013-2018)Table Global Childcare Software Revenue (Million USD) Comparison by Regions (2013-2018)Figure Global Childcare Software Market Share by Regions (2013-2018)Figure United States Childcare Software Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure EU Childcare Software Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure Japan Childcare Software Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure China Childcare Software Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)Figure India Childcare Software Market Size (Million USD) and Growth Rate by Regions (2013-2018)About Us:QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.Contact Us:1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Reinforcement Material Market boosting the growth: Market dynamics and trends, efficiencies Forecast 2025 Reinforcement Material https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/310 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/310 Asia Pacific is one of the major contributors to the global reinforcement material market. Rapidly flourishing urbanization and modern infrastructure coupled with increasing investments in high end for products for defense sector in emerging economies such as India and China has boosted the growth of reinforcement material in the region. According to IBEF, the Indian construction industry is associated with many foreign investors such as Hines (USA), Emaar Properties (UAE), Veolia (France), Alstom (France), Aqualyng AS (Norway), Ascendas (Singapore), Tishman Speyer (USA), The Trump Organization (USA), Hydro-Comp Enterprises (Cyprus), GIZ (Germany). This will give rise to new opportunities for the manufacturers in the reinforcement material market. India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF) is a Trust established by the Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Department of Commerce in collaboration with the Government of India with the purpose of promoting and creating international awareness of goods manufactured in India.High initial price is one of the restraining factors for the reinforcement material market globally. Product innovation and increasing global reach are some of the strategies adopted by the top players in the reinforcement material industry. Research is being made on developing conductive reinforcements in plastics. Some of the companies operating in the global reinforcement material market are Teijin Limited, Toray Industries, Inc., Cytec Industries Inc., Honeywell International, Inc., Bast Fiber LLC, AgroFiber SAS, NFC Fibers GmBh, E. I. du Pont de Nemours and Company, 3B-The Fiberglass Company, Owens Corning, BASF SE, Jushi Group Co., Ltd., Mitsubishi Rayon Co. Ltd., Hyosung Corporation, and NJR Steel Holdings (PTY) Ltd.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Sheet structures of reinforced materials are used as heat shields, insulation shields for spark plug leads, and turbocharger hoses. Reinforcement materials are used in tires for trucks and cars, owing to properties such as superb abrasion, puncture and tear resistance resulting in long life. Military applications of reinforcement include a lightweight armor solution for protection against ballistic attacks. Continuous reinforcements are used in non-prestressed reinforced concrete for improving the load-carrying capability of the structure by providing high tensile strength and discontinuous reinforcements are added to improve the toughness needed to alter crack paths and cracking mechanisms.In automotive application, glass reinforced plastics are widely used in bumpers, dashboards, body panels and intake manifolds. Brakes are manufactured from particulate composite consisting of carbon or ceramics particulates. Various plastic components are used in consumer products such as appliances, computer housings, toys, electrical products, cell phone casings, helmets, and office furniture. Natural fiber composites consisting of thermoplastic and thermoset matrices are used for door panels, seat backs, headliners, package trays, dashboards, and interior parts. Carbon fibers are made from organic precursors, including PAN (polyacrylonitrile), rayon, and pitches and offer highest stiffness, and strength among all the reinforcement materials.Reinforcement Material Market TaxonomyOn the basis of material, the global market is segmented into:Carbon fiber,Glass fiber,Natural fiber,Aramid fiber,Steel rebarOn the basis of end use industry, the global market is segmented into:Automotive,Aerospace,Consumer goods,Construction,TraAccess Table of Content (TOC) of the report :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com BPO Business Analytics Market by Manufacturers, Regions, Type and Application, Forecast to 2021 BPO Business Analytics Market https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/request-sample/185578 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com/report/global-bpo-business-analytics-market-by-manufacturers-regions-type-and-application-forecast-to-2021 https://www.qyresearchgroups.com Decision makers worldwide are under tremendous pressure to optimize their business operations, acquire new customers, and increase their market share, thereby driving long-term profitability. Business analytics is used for strategic decision making, enabling organizations to understand their customers, optimize operational cost, and improve business efficiency and competitiveness. The demand for regulatory compliance and transparency is high across sectors such as BFSI and healthcare. Enterprises in these sectors need to comply with regulatory norms such as Basel III and Solvency II. Business analytics outsourcing helps enterprises addresses such compliance requirements by increasing their transparency.The adoption of systems such as ERP, CRM, SCM, and SFA by enterprises and the industrial Internet revolution have led to the generation of large volumes of data. Moreover, with the increased adoption of big data, the use of business analytics has also surged with a greater need to understand data. Data analytics tools and technologies help derive powerful insights and make efficient use of big data. This helps organizations make strategic decisions based on actionable insights for their business activities.Get Sample Copy of this Report @Scope of the Report:This report focuses on the BPO Business Analytics in Global market, especially in North America, Europe and Asia-Pacific, South America, Middle East and Africa. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application.Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report coversAccentureCognizantGenpactIBMTCSHPTech MahindraCapgeminiWiproEXLNTT DATA(Dell)WNS GlobalMinacsInfosysMu SigmaAegisMarket Segment by Regions, regional analysis coversNorth America (USA, Canada and Mexico)Europe (Germany, France, UK, Russia and Italy)Asia-Pacific (China, Japan, Korea, India and Southeast Asia)South America, Middle East and AfricaMarket Segment by Type, coversHRProcurementF&ACustomer CareLogisticsSales & MarketingTrainingProduct EngineeringMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided intoBFSIManufacturingHealthcareRetailTelecomOthersBrowse full report with Table of Content @There are 13 Chapters to deeply display the global BPO Business Analytics market.Chapter 1, to describe BPO Business Analytics Introduction, product scope, market overview, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the top manufacturers of BPO Business Analytics, with sales, revenue, and price of BPO Business Analytics, in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2015 and 2016;Chapter 4, to show the global market by regions, with sales, revenue and market share of BPO Business Analytics, for each region, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 5, 6, 7 and 8, to analyze the key regions, with sales, revenue and market share by key countries in these regions;Chapter 9 and 10, to show the market by type and application, with sales market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2011 to 2016;Chapter 11, BPO Business Analytics market forecast, by regions, type and application, with sales and revenue, from 2016 to 2021;Chapter 12 and 13, to describe BPO Business Analytics sales channel, distributors, traders, dealers, appendix and data source.About Us:QY Research Groups is a company that simplifies how analysts and decision makers get industry data for their business. Our unique colossal technology has been developed to offer refined search capabilities designed to exploit the long tail of free market research whilst eliminating irrelevant results. QY Research Groups is the collection of market intelligence products and services on the Web. We offer reports and update our collection daily to provide you with instant online access to the world's most complete and current database of expert insights on global industries, companies, products, and trends.Contact us:Email- sales@qyresearchgroups.comWeb- Selling on Walmart gets easy as CedCommerce announces the enhancement of its Magento walmart integration Enhanced Walmart Integration for E-Commerce entrepreneurs. Adding another feather in its cap, CedCommerce recently announced the booming business mantra for its clients by enhancing the Walmart Integration for E-Commerce entrepreneurs.To provide an uninterrupted integration of the Magento products on Walmart for convenient selling on Walmart CedCommerce has redesigned some of the core functionalities of the Walmart Marketplace Integration Extension rendered by it. With this major update, CedCommerce has emerged as one of the major flag-bearers amongst the E-Commerce solutions providers in the Asiatic region.Opening the doors for E-Commerce store owners to manage their products and store with utmost convenience from scratch from getting registered with Walmart, selling on Walmart, to shipping of the products CedCommerce brings the revolution with the elevated Walmart Integration features.Embarking on our journey with a vision to make sellers comfortable in selling on leading marketplaces, we are pleased to get the results that we had desired at the beginning. It is our determination for our clients that resulted in getting our clientele augmented, said Abhishek Jaiswal, Co-Founder of CedCommerce.com. He further added, Today, we have 1000+ clients worldwide with a GMV of approximately US$ 0.5 Million.But we believe that it is only a milestone in our journey and with our will to help sellers around the globe, we hope to set many other benchmarks in the time to come.-Enhancements that caught the eyes-1. System Configuration: The comprehensive configuration of Walmart Integration gives the store owners complete control over the integration and familiarize them with the complete process by making it easy and answering the basic question How to sell on Walmart Marketplace?2. Profile Based Product Upload: While selling on Walmart, now users may upload the products in accordance with the profile they've made for the similar type of products to be uploaded.3. Order Bifurcation: User with this integration can now add an order prefix for orders placed for their products, adding to their convenience.4. Auto Acknowledgment: To notify the store owners about every order placed for their product on Walmart, the advanced Walmart Integration by CedCommerce has been designed accordingly so that the owners always stays updated with the product orders placed.5. Inventory and Price Synchronization: Updating the price and inventory of products on Walmart in accordance with the same on own ECommerce store gets as easy as it was never before with the enhanced Walmart Integration.6. Validation Before Product Upload: To negate the probabilities of any inaccuracy while uploading the product, the newest Walmart Integration validates the product uploading it and then only authorizes its uploading.7. Bulk Upload: As many products as the store owner wants to upload on Walmart can be uploaded with the most undemanding approach with this coming-of-age integration by CedCommerce.8. Compatibility: Providing the scalable compatibility to every E-Commerce entrepreneur who wants it, the integration can be leveraged using the following frameworks Magento( Magento 1.7, 1.8, 1.9 ) and Magento 2 (2.1.x, 2.2.x).9. MEQP Qualified: The Magento Code Quality Standard has been followed while creating this extension.10. Tested: To get entrepreneurs ahead of the curve, CedCommerce has undergone a process of testing this integration with Magento marketplace and consummated in its success.-Availability and Price-Walmart Integration by CedCommerce is available with all speed as soon as the new users want to opt for it to start selling on Walmart. As for the users who want to migrate from Magento 1 to Magento 2, CedCommerce easily migrates their store to the same with a discounted price that goes up to 50%.For Magento 1, the Walmart Integration is available for a lifetime at the price of US$ 249.00 and it's compatible with Magento 1.7, 1.8, and 1.9.For Magento 2, the Walmart Integration is available for a lifetime at the price of US$ 249.00 and it's compatible with Magento 2.1.x, and 2.2.x.-About CedCommerce-CedCommerce is amongst world's leading E-Commerce web development agencies which help sellers in integrating their products on leading E-Commerce platforms across the globe. It is a proud Official Channel Integration Partner of Walmart, Sears, Best Buy Canada, Newegg, Bonanza, Fruugo, and many other leading marketplaces.With services from CedCommerce, merchants may easily get their products listed on leading E-Commerce websites with frameworks such as Magento, Woocommerce, Shopify, and Wordpress.-Resources to know further-Magento Marketplace for Walmart Magento 1 IntegrationMagento Marketplace for Walmart Magento 2 IntegrationCedCommerce Walmart IntegrationWalmart Marketplace IntegrationCedCommerce is amongst world's leading E-Commerce web development agencies which help sellers in integrating their products on leading E-Commerce platforms across the globe. It is a proud Official Channel Integration Partner of Walmart, Sears, Best Buy Canada, Newegg, Bonanza, Fruugo, and many other leading marketplaces.With services from CedCommerce, merchants may easily get their products listed on leading E-Commerce websites with frameworks such as Magento, Woocommerce, Shopify, and Wordpress.CedCommerce Inc, 1812 N Columbia Blvd, Suite C15-653026, Portland, Oregon, 97217, USA Pipe Coatings Market Market share forecast to witness considerable growth from 2017 to 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/448 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/448 The North American region is a dominant region in the global pipe coatings market. Increased production of oil from the Permian and Delaware Basins has increased the demand for new pipelines and expansion of current ones to the Gulf Coast Refineries. In addition, pipelines construction, being more cost effective than trucking, allows companies to cut losses. Additionally, the pipe coating industry is expected to be positively impacted by to the recently installed, US$ 86 billion worth pipelines in Alaska and British Columbia (Canada), by increasing the demand for pipe coatings for corrosion prevention. The Asia-Pacific region is estimated to be the fastest-growing region in global pipe coatings market, with fastest growing markets in India, China, and Indonesia. The demand for chemical products have boosted the chemical industry. Increased FDI in emerging economies such as India is projected to augment market growth. Rapid urbanization experienced in emerging economies has led to the boom of the real estate market for both residential and commercial purposes, has resulted in the rampant pipeline infrastructure for sewage and potable water. In Europe, the declining gas production in the British and Dutch fields of Europe has increased the demand from Russia, resulting in the spur of pipeline projects. For instance, Nord Stream 2 project from Russia to Germany through the Baltic Sea and the Turkish Stream project from Russia to Europe via Turkey. Latin America has seen the announcement of pipeline projects in Brazil, Argentina, Ecuador, and Mexico. Though environmental concerns persist due to close proximity of many pipelines to ecologically sensitive Amazon forests and coral reefs, which result in outcry from the public and environmental lobby, is the major restraint for growth of the pipe coatings in Latin America.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Pipe coatings are protective coatings applied to the interiors and exteriors of pipelines, in order to prevent corrosion. The pipe coatings market is divided into two segments namely, external and internal coatings. The external corrosion usually occurs in the form of oxide formation due to exposure to air and water, while internal corrosion is the result of chemically active materials present in the pipeline stream reacting with the pipe material.Pipe coating has been observed to be the most reliable method for corrosion prevention, as it offers increased wear resistance, flow enhancement, and reduced effect of abrasion. Other corrosion prevention methods such as impressed current cathodic protection, sacrificial anode, and inhibitors are not very effective and hence used in conjunction with pipe coatings. The coatings are decided based on parameters such as operating environment (water, air, and soil), operating temperatures and pressures, state and chemical properties of the fluid, viscosity, and flammability.Choice of external and internal coatings are determined on the basis of the environment and type of fluid flowing through the pipeline. The interiors coatings are applied on the interiors of pipes carrying corrosive fluids containing sulfur, sand or other reactive elements, while external coatings are most significant in locations where water, soil, and air pose as major external problems. The coatings applied are of two types, namely, powder and liquid coatings. Powder coatings offer better durability and offer environmental benefits due to the absence of any solvents or VOCs in the coatings. The coatings use also differ in material, for instance, new products such as thermoplastic polymers offer better performance and life in comparison to their metallic and concrete counterparts.The oil & gas industry and chemical processing industry are the largest end-user segments of the pipe coatings market. The cost effectiveness of pipelines has led to the development of both, upstream and downstream industries. Pipelines used in oil & gas industry are both, onshore and offshore. Furthermore, they transport crude oil, natural gas, refined product lines, water and CO2 (injection) to various countries. Instability of the oil prices and concerns regarding the effect on marine and land ecosystems remain major restraints to growth of the market. Moreover, the pipe coatings market in water transportation pipelines is also the key end-use industry in the pipe coatings market. The pipe coatings are largely applied in sewage and potable water pipelines.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report :Some major players in the pipe coatings market are The Dow Chemical Company, Covestro AG, Celanese Corporation, Bayou Companies, Wasco Energy Group of Companies, Bredero Shaw, and E.I. Du Pont Nemours and Co.Pipe Coatings Market TaxonomyOn basis of pipe surface, the global pipe coatings market is segmented into:External,InternalOn basis of form, the global pipe coatings market is segmented into, Liquid Coating,Powder CoatingOn basis of product type, the global pipe coatings market is segmented into,Metallic Coating:Galvanization (Zinc),Electroplating (Chromium),Cadmium Plating,Others,Concrete CoatingFusion Bonded Epoxy Powder CoatingThermoplastic Polymer Coating:Polyethylene,Polypropylene,Polyurethane Coating,TEFLON,OthersOthers (coal tar enamel, asphalt)On basis of End Use IndustryIndustrial:Oil and Gas Industry,Mining,Agriculture,Chemical Processing,OthersDrainage and SewagePotable WaterOthersAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Automotive Engine Market 2018-2022 Global Key Players: Cummins Inc., Fiat S.PA., Volkswagen Group, Ford Motor Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, AB Volvo, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company and Scania AB Automotive Engine Market 2018 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2166 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/automotive-engine-market-2166 Automotive Engine Market 2018Automotive Engine Market Share, Size, Trends, And Business Opportunity Analysis Report 2018 include historic data, with forecast data to 2022. Automotive Engine Market report is helpful for future strategy development, and to know about Market Drivers, Restraints, Opportunities, And Global market size, share, Growth, Trends, key players forecast to 2022Global Automotive Engine Market by placement (In-Line Engine and V-Type Engine), Vehicle type (Passenger, LCV, HCV), by Fuel (Gasoline, Diesel and Others) and by Region (North America, South America, Asia-Pacific, Europe, Africa and Middle East).Market Synopsis of Global Automotive EngineAutomotive Engine is one of the most integral parts in any vehicle. It enables the vehicle to function efficiently and run smoothly without any trouble. Overall performance, Vehicle emission and efficiency of every vehicle depends on the condition of automotive engine.With the advent of recent technological developments, the automotive engine market is expected to grow substantially. Owing to the Factors such as rigid fuel economy regulatory norms and growing demand for technologically advanced powered engines for the better performance of vehicles. Furthermore, rising disposable income can also be attributed to the growth of the automotive engine market which will ensure to spend more on high-end cars and commercial vehicles by consumers.Recently the automobile giant Audi, has developed a TFSI 4-cylinder engine which the company claims to be the most efficient 2-litre gasoline engine on par. Such technological developments will certainly boost the market growth which will pave the way for better fuel-efficient vehicles.Get Sample Report of Automotive Engine Market @Key PlayersCummins Inc., Fiat S.PA., Volkswagen Group, Ford Motor Company, Mitsubishi Heavy Industries, AB Volvo, General Motors, Honda, Hyundai Motor Company and Scania AB are some of the leading players operating in this market.Industry/ Innovation/ Related News:Jan 2018- Ford Motor Co significantly increased its planned investments in electric vehicles to USD 11 billion by 2022 and have 40 hybrid and fully electric vehicles. The company shifted capital investment away from sedans and internal combustion engines to develop more trucks and electric and hybrid cars.Sep 2017- The Volkswagen Group launched the most comprehensive electrification initiative in the automotive industry with Roadmap E. There will be at least one electrified version of each of the 300 or so Group models across all brands and markets. The latest Euro 6 diesel engines deliver above-average performance in the new WLTP cycle under real-world conditions. All new gasoline engines will be equipped with a particulate filter across the board.Aug 2017- Sweden's Volvo Cars agreed to make some engines available for Geely-branded vehicles. The car will be equipped with a new 1.5-liter turbo charged gasoline engine which Volvo has been developing for smaller cars.Feb 2010- Fiat S.p.A. is taking engine downsizing to a new level with the introduction of its new 900cc, two-cylinder TwinAir unit. Automakers are removing cylinders and lowering the displacement of their engines to meet tougher CO2 emissions rules that take effect in Europe in 2012. The TwinAir engine is a key part of Fiat brand's aim to remain Europe's leader when it comes to fleet CO2 emissions in Europe.Regional Analysis of Global Automotive Engine MarketAPAC is the leading market and estimated to grow at the forecasted period and it accounts for the largest share of the global automotive engine market. With rapid expansion in the automotive industry of the developing nations in the APAC region such as china, India and japan, the OEMs have been focusing on developing technologically advanced powered engines to gain high torque and performance. It is followed by Europe and North America due to the presence of long established original equipment manufacturers which provide strong base for the robust development and growth of automotive engine market in the regionThe report for Global Automotive Engine Market of Market Research Future comprises of extensive primary research along with the detailed analysis of qualitative as well as quantitative aspects by various industry experts, key opinion leaders to gain the deeper insight of the market and industry performance. The report gives the clear picture of current market scenario which includes historical and projected market size in terms of value and volume, technological advancement, macro economical and governing factors in the market. The report provides details information and strategies of the top key players in the industry. The report also gives a broad study of the different market segments and regions.Browse Full Report on Automotive Engine Market @.ContinuedAbout Us:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR) and Market Research & Consulting Services.MRFR team have the prime objective to provide optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies depending on products, services, technologies, applications, end users, and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments enables our clients to know more consequently do more, which gives them answer for their each and every important question. In order to stay updated with technology and work process of the industryCONTACT US:Market Research FutureOffice No. 528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, Hadapsar,Pune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312sales@marketresearchfuture.com Medical Aid: The Online Solution for All Your Health Care Options https://www.medicalaid.co.za Medical Aid is the right platform to find the most suitable medical scheme, which fits your budget and healthcare requirements. It is the leading online platform for accessing crucial information and guidance required for procuring medical schemes and health covers. The technologically advanced platform offers scope to input your requirements and benefit needs, based on which you can select your healthcare scheme or health cover. This platform offers you the relevant and important information required for informed decision making. Medical Aid makes it easy to make an informed decision from the comforts of your home or even your mobile device.The different medical schemes offered are established brands that provide effective health cover for you and your family. It is the most efficient platform that assists by catering to all your specific needs and requirements.Products Offered By Medical Aid:Keyhealth Medical Scheme:Keyhealth Medical Scheme is among the most popular medical schemes in South Africa. This scheme is administered by PPS Healthcare and it values transparency wanting their members to realise the real value of money. They also offer smart health care options for their customers. This medical aid covers five main packages to achieve their motto simple but effective.Discovery Health:This is the largest open medical scheme in South Africa that offers coverage to its 2.7 million beneficiaries. They aim to deliver better health options for its members and their current market share is above 50%. They offer 23 options including private hospital cover, suitable for all of their members. Their wellness programme leads their members to live a healthy life.FedHealth:Established in 1936, FedHealth has become a preferred health partner to thousands of people and their families. They have a wide range of options catering to the basic needs and requirements of their customers. FedHealth is administered by Medscheme and they aim to fulfil all the basic health needs of their customers.Medihelp:This is one of South Africas topmost medical schemes that have more than 110 years of experience in the Healthcare industry. Covering more than 200,000 lives, it offers 10 options providing basic health care for its members. The options provided by them range from stand-alone hospital plans to more comprehensive plans providing chronic care to its members.For further information please contactAbout:Medical Aid is one of the leading online platforms that provides access to the top medical schemes in South Africa. This platform is the most effective and easiest medium that offers the best medical plan for you, catering to your basic health needs and requirements.9 Queen Street, Durbanville, Cape Town7550, South Africa, Western CapeTel: 021 975 2266 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Market 2018 | Sonos, Bose, Amazon, Samsung, Sony, Denon, Edifier, JBL, YAMAHA and Others WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1642732 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-wifi-wireless-speakers-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global WiFi Wireless Speakers market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of WiFi Wireless Speakers for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global WiFi Wireless Speakers market competition by top manufacturers/players, with WiFi Wireless Speakers sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingSonosBoseAmazonSamsungSonyDenonEdifierJBLYAMAHATerratecPioneerOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPortableStationaryOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingHome ApplicationCommercialAutomotiveOthersTable of ContentsGlobal WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Market Report 20181 WiFi Wireless Speakers Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of WiFi Wireless Speakers1.2 Classification of WiFi Wireless Speakers by Product Category1.2.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Portable1.2.4 Stationary1.3 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Home Application1.3.3 Commercial1.3.4 Automotive1.3.5 Others1.4 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Market by Region1.4.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia WiFi Wireless Speakers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India WiFi Wireless Speakers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of WiFi Wireless Speakers (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan WiFi Wireless Speakers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Furfural market: Precise Analysis on Business Overview, Product Scope And Ongoing Market Development 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/321 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/321 Furfural is an organic compound derived from plant materials such as corncobs, oat, wheat bran, rice husk, bagasse, and saw dust. It is usually produced from agricultural wastes rich in pentosans that are hydroysed to produce furfural and its byproducts. Furfural is a colorless oil that readily dissolves in various organic solvents and is slightly soluble in water. It exhibits chemically similar properties as that of other aldehydes and aromatic compounds. It can be readily hydrogenated to tetrahydrofurans derivatives, which when are heated with acids results into solidified polymer or thermosetting polymer. Hence, it is commercially considered as a renewable, non-petroleum based chemical feedstock. Due to these properties, it is widely used in application industries such as petroleum, agriculture, paints & coatings, and pharmaceuticals. Increasing environmental concerns of fossil resources has led to rise in production of renewable alternatives as suitable biomass-based platform chemicals. The U.S. Department of Energy has also selected furfural as one of the top 30 platform chemicals derived from biomass. Furfural production was pioneered in 1921 by the Quaker Oats Company using oat hulls, corncobs, and bagasse. In 2014, around 300 to 700 kilotons of furfural was produced worldwide, of which China contributed a major share. Significant improvements in the production methods of furfural and its increasing incorporation in a wide range of applications have resulted into furfural emerging as a widely used biomass-based chemical.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Prevalent Scenario in Furfural MarketIncreasing inclination of the populace towards renewable energy to replace fossil resources is a major factor driving growth of the furfural market. Due to its key attributes of thermosetting properties, physical strength, and corrosion resistance, furfural has emerged as an immediate alternative to furan-based chemicals. Also, it is derived from abundantly available biomass, which makes it a highly preferred biomass-based chemical. Furfural is mainly used to produce furfuryl alcohol, which is widely used in manufacturing polymers, textiles, and construction materials. The raw materials for furfural production are the agricultural wastes which are widely available in the Asia-Pacific region, especially in China, India, Indonesia, and Malaysia. The abundant availability of raw materials and low cost labor available in these countries is another factor driving the furfural market in Asia Pacific. Hence, it is also widely used in production of agricultural formulations such as herbicides, pesticides, fungicides, and other synthetic chemical compounds. The rising trend of incorporation of natural or bio-based chemicals into pharmaceutical industry has led the manufacturers to invest in technologies to broaden the furfural application into pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. However, inefficient technology resulting in low yields and complex production process of furfural restrains the growth of the market. However, increasing government initiatives for use of bio-chemicals into different applications create opportunities for the furfural manufacturers to invest into research and development of the furfural products and their applications. For instance, the government of Alberta has taken initiatives to link the consumer facing brands with biochemicals and conventional petrochemical industries, which has resulted in increase in investments in the biochemical sector in Alberta. Various research studies are being conducted for low costs production of furfural, though they are not commercially operational processes. Moreover, changing prices of raw materials pose threat to the growth of the market. Asia-Pacific region dominates the furfural market due to abundantly availability of raw materials and rapidly growing infrastructure industry. Europe records for fastest growth rate due to increasing incorporation of bio-based chemicals in petroleum refineries and pharmaceutical industries in the region.Fragmented MarketThe global furfural market is highly fragmented due to the presence of many established and local players across the world. Major players involved in the market include Hongye Holding Group Corporation Ltd., Arcoy Biorefinery Pvt. Ltd., Corporation, Ltd., Central Romana, KRBL Ltd., Illovo Sugar Ltd., Lenzing AG, Penn A Kem LLC, Tanin Sevnica d.d., Linzi Organic Chemicals Inc. Ltd., Tieling North Furfural (Group) Co., Ltd., Silvateam S.p.A., and Xingtai Chunlei Furfuryl Alcohol Co., Ltd.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report :Global Furfural TaxonomyThe global furfural market is classified on the basis of the following segments:By application:Furfural alcohol,Solvents,OthersBy raw materials:Corn cob,Rice husk,Bagasse,OthersBy end-use industry:Petroleum,Agriculture,Paints & coatings,Pharmaceutical,OthersAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Automotive Interior Leather Market forecast 2023 with Supply, Trends, Cost Structure, SWOT Analysis & Key Companies Profile - BASF SE, Borgers AG, Alphaline Auto, Scottish Leather Group Limited, Eagle Ottawa LLC https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/sample_request/997 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com/reports/enquiry/997 https://www.infiniumglobalresearch.com The report on global automotive interior leather market is an in depth analysis of the segments and sub-segments in the automotive interior leather market. The report provides analysis for the global as well as regional markets over the period of 2015 to 2023. According to report the global automotive interior leather market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.8% over the forecast period of 2017 - 2023.Get Sample Copy of this Report:Segments CoveredThe report on global automotive interior leather market covers segments such as material, application, design, and vehicle type. The material segments include genuine leather, fabrics, artificial PVC leather, artificial PU leather, thermoplastic polymers, and synthetic leathers. On the basis of application the global automotive interior leather market is categorized into dashboard, upholstery, seat belt, airbag, and floor & trunk carpet. Furthermore, on the basis of design the automotive interior leather market is segmented as embroidery, antiquing quilting, conventional punched and other designs. On the basis of vehicle type the automotive interior leather market is segmented as commercial vehicles, and passenger vehicles.Geographic CoverageThe report provides regional analysis covering geographies such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, and Rest of the World. In this section the key trends and market size for each geography is provided over the period of 2015 2023.The countries covered in the North America region include the U.S., Canada, and Mexico; while Asia-Pacific includes China, Japan, India, South Korea, Malaysia, and among others. Moreover, Germany, U.K., France, Spain, and Rest of Europe are included in the European region. The U.S. drives the growth in the North America region as it is the largest market in the region. The Asia-pacific region offers a substantial potential for the market growth owing to rapid growth in markets such as India and China. The APAC region is projected to experience a growth at a CAGR of x.x% over the period of 2017 - 2023.Companies Profiled:The report provides profiles of the companies in the global automotive interior leather market such as, BASF SE, Borgers AG, Alphaline Auto, Scottish Leather Group Limited, Eagle Ottawa LLC, Bader GmbH & Co. KG, Leather Resource of America Inc., GST AutoLeather Inc., D.K Leather Corporation, and TrimTechnik.For More Enquiry on This Report:Report Highlights:The report provides deep insights on demand forecasts, market trends and micro and macro indicators. In addition, this report provides insights on the factors that are driving and restraining the global automotive interior leather market. Moreover, IGR-Growth Matrix analysis given in the report brings an insight on the investment areas that existing or new market players can consider. The report provides insights into the market using analytical tools such as Porters five forces analysis and DRO analysis of automotive interior leather market.Moreover, the study highlights current market trends and provides forecast from 2017 to 2023. We also have highlighted future trends in the automotive interior leather market that will impact the demand during the forecast period. Moreover, the competitive analysis given in each regional market brings an insight on the market share of the leading players. Additionally, the analysis highlights rise and fall in the market shares of the key players in the market. This report will help manufacturers, suppliers and distributors of the automotive interior leather market to understand the present and future trends in this market and formulate their strategies accordingly.About UsInfinium Global Research and Consulting Solutions is started with a single motto of being business partner of first choice. We at Infinium work on the strengths of our clients to ensure we help them consolidate their market position. We firmly believe in the fact that if you are able to develop newer opportunities then you find there is no dearth of opportunities for you. With our strategic research approaches and deep dive in the market segments, we try to find out new opportunities that our clients can encash with their existing resources. Our experts with over 100 years of cumulative experience in research offer the best in the industry services to our clients to ensure that they achieve their business goals.Contact UsInfinium Global Research,Toll Free:U.S. + Canada: 1-800-638-0796,Website :Email: sales@infiniumglobalresearch.com Market Insights: Global Organic Fertilizers Sales Market 2018 | Potash, ScottsMiracle-Gro, BioStar Organics, Talborne Organics, Bodisen Biotech Organic Fertilizers Sales Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1642366 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-organic-fertilizers-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Organic Fertilizers Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global Organic Fertilizers market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of Organic Fertilizers for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Organic Fertilizers market competition by top manufacturers/players, with Organic Fertilizers sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingPotashScottsMiracle-GroSustane Natural FertilizersBioStar OrganicsTalborne OrganicsMycsa AgBodisen BiotechItalpollina SpAProtan AGPriya ChemicalsBiomaxOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoPeat BasedManure BasedOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingCereals & GrainsOilseeds & PulsesFruits & VegetablesTable of ContentsGlobal Organic Fertilizers Sales Market Report 20181 Organic Fertilizers Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of Organic Fertilizers1.2 Classification of Organic Fertilizers by Product Category1.2.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global Organic Fertilizers Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Peat Based1.2.4 Manure Based1.3 Global Organic Fertilizers Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Cereals & Grains1.3.3 Oilseeds & Pulses1.3.4 Fruits & Vegetables1.4 Global Organic Fertilizers Market by Region1.4.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States Organic Fertilizers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China Organic Fertilizers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe Organic Fertilizers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan Organic Fertilizers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia Organic Fertilizers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India Organic Fertilizers Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of Organic Fertilizers (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global Organic Fertilizers Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global Organic Fertilizers (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global Organic Fertilizers (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global Organic Fertilizers Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global Organic Fertilizers (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States Organic Fertilizers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States Organic Fertilizers Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States Organic Fertilizers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States Organic Fertilizers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China Organic Fertilizers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China Organic Fertilizers Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China Organic Fertilizers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China Organic Fertilizers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe Organic Fertilizers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe Organic Fertilizers Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe Organic Fertilizers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe Organic Fertilizers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan Organic Fertilizers (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan Organic Fertilizers Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan Organic Fertilizers Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan Organic Fertilizers Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan Organic Fertilizers Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan Organic Fertilizers Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Aerogels for Personal Care Market Growing at Steady CAGR to 2022 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/sample/142984 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/discount/142984 https://www.worldwidemarketreports.com/ Worldwide Market Reports added Latest Research Report titled Gift Cards Market Revenue Growth Predicted by 2022Aerogel is a synthetic porous ultralight material derived from a gel, in which the liquid component of the gel has been replaced with a gas. The result is a solid with extremely low density[2] and low thermal conductivity. Nicknames include frozen smoke, solid smoke, solid air, solid cloud, blue smoke owing to its translucent nature and the way light scatters in the material. It feels like fragile expanded polystyrene to the touch. Aerogels can be made from a variety of chemical compoundsScope of the Report:This report focuses on the Aerogels for Personal Care in Asia-Pacific market, especially in China, Japan, Korea, Taiwan, Southeast Asia, India and Australia. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, countries/Regions, type and application.Request Sample of Copy of the Business Report:Market Segment by Manufacturers, this report covers : Cabot ,ENERSENS ,Jios Aerogel Corporation ,Dow CorningMarket Segment by Countries, covering : China ,Japan ,Korea ,Taiwan ,Southeast Asia ,India ,AustraliaMarket Segment by Type, covers : Particle Size 1-20 m ,Particle Size >20 mMarket Segment by Applications, can be divided into : Beauty Care ,Skin Care ,OthersThere are 19 Chapters to deeply display the Asia-Pacific Aerogels for Personal Care market.Chapter 1, to describe Aerogels for Personal Care Introduction, product type and application, market overview, market analysis by countries, market opportunities, market risk, market driving force;Chapter 2, to analyze the manufacturers of Aerogels for Personal Care, with profile, main business, news, sales, price, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 3, to display the competitive situation among the top manufacturers, with sales, revenue and market share in 2016 and 2017;Chapter 4, to show the Asia-Pacific market by countries, covering China, Japan, Korea, Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India and Australia, with sales, price, revenue and market share of Aerogels for Personal Care, for each country, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 5 and 6, to show the market by type and application, with sales, price, revenue, market share and growth rate by type, application, from 2012 to 2017;Chapter 7, 8, 9, 10, 11, 12 and 13 to analyze the key countries by manufacturers, Type and Application,covering China,Japan,Korea,Southeast Asia, Taiwan, India and Australia,with sales,revenue and market share by manufacturers,types and application;Chapter 14, Aerogels for Personal Care market forecast, by countries, type and application, with sales, price, revenue and growth rate forecast, from 2017 to 2022;Request For Discount:Important Points From TOC Covered In Report:1 Market Overview2 Manufacturers Profiles3 Asia-Pacific Aerogels for Personal Care Market Competition, by Manufacturer4 Asia-Pacific Aerogels for Personal Care Market Analysis by Countries/Regions5 Asia-Pacific Market Segmentation Aerogels for Personal Care by Type6 Asia-Pacific Market Segmentation Aerogels for Personal Care by Application7 China Aerogels for Personal Care Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers8 Japan Aerogels for Personal Care Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers9 Korea Aerogels for Personal Care Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers10 Taiwan Aerogels for Personal Care Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and Manufacturers11 Southeast Asia Aerogels for Personal Care Sales, Revenue, by Type, Application and ManufacturersList of Tables and FiguresContinue** If you have any special requirements, please let us know and we will offer you the report as you want.** The Values marked with XX is confidential data. To know more about CAGR figures fill in your information so that our business development executive can get in touch with you.About WMRWorldwide Market Reports is your one-stop repository of detailed and in-depth market research reports compiled by an extensive list of publishers from across the globe. We offer reports across virtually all domains and an exhaustive list of sub-domains under the sun. The in-depth market analysis by some of the most vastly experienced analysts provide our diverse range of clients from across all industries with vital decision making insights to plan and align their market strategies in line with current market trends. Worldwide Market Researchs well-researched inputs that encompass domains ranging from IT to healthcare enable our prized clients to capitalize upon key growth opportunities and shield against credible threats prevalent in the market in the current scenario and those expected in the near future.Contact Us:Mr. ShahWorldwide Market Reports1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154,U.STel: +1 415 871 0703Email: sales@worldwidemarketreports.comWebsite : Biological Crop Protection (Bio-Pesticide) Market (2016-2021) : Global Industry Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts Biological Crop Protection (Bio-Pesticide) Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=895851 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-biological-crop-protection-bio-pesticide-market-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global Biological Crop Protection (Bio-Pesticide) Market-By Type, By Application, By End User, By Region, By Country: Opportunities & Forecasts (2016-2021)- By Type (Biofungicide, Bioinsecticide and Bioherbicide), By Mode of Application (Dry Formulation and Wet Formulation), By End User (Fruit and Vegetables, Cereals and Pulses; and Other Crops), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC and ROW), By Country (US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, China, India, Brazil and South Africa)" to its huge collection of research reports.A comprehensive research report created through extensive primary research (inputs from industry experts, companies, stakeholders) and secondary research, the report aims to present the analysis of global biological crop protection market on the basis of By Type (Biofungicide, Bioinsecticide and Bioherbicide), By Mode of Application (Dry Formulation and Wet Formulation), By End User (Fruit and Vegetables, Cereals and Pulses and Other Crops), By Region (North America, Europe, APAC and ROW), By Country (US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, China, India, Brazil and South Africa).To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global Biological Crop Protection Market is forecasted to grow at a CAGR of 11.33% during 2016 2021. The strong growth in biopesticide or biological crop protection market is driven by the surging demand for less toxic or organic food with new emerging markets in developing regions. Rise in agricultural productivity as well as increase in demand for chemical free crop protection solution are the major factors affecting the growth of biological crop protection solution.Although, biofungicides holds the major percentage share in the total market and is projected to display a faster growth in the future. Among the regions, North America holds the largest market share mainly due to growing regulations. However, APAC is expected to grow at a faster pace during forecasted period.According to Azoth Analytics research report, Global Biological Crop Protection Market (By Type, By Mode of Application, By End User, By Region, By Country): Trends, Opportunities and Forecasts (2016-2021), Global Biological Crop Protection Market is projected to exhibit a CAGR of over ~11.33% during 2016 - 2021. Global biological crop protection market has been segmented on the basis Type (Biofungicides, Bioinsecticide and Bioherbicide), Mode of Application (Dry Formulation and Wet Formulation), End User (Fruit and Vegetables, Cereals and Pulses; and Other Crops), Region (North America, Europe, APAC and ROW), Country (US, Canada, UK, Germany, France, China, India, Brazil and South Africa).Scope of the ReportThe report provides coverage by Type, Mode of Application and End User:By TypeBiofungicideBioinsecticideBioherbicideBy Mode of ApplicationDry FormulationWet FormulationBy End UserFruit and VegetablesCereals and PulsesOther CropsBy RegionEuropeNorth AmericaAPACROWBy CountryUSCanadaFranceUKGermanyChinaIndiaBrazilSouth AfricaTable of Contents1. Research Methodology2. Executive Summary3. Strategic Recommendations3.1 Long term growth in the Asia Pacific Region3.2 Impetus by regulatory authorities to improve soil health and conserve environment3.3 Bio insecticide growing at a high pace4. Global Biological Crop Protection Market: An Overview4.1 Product Overview4.2 Global Biological Crop Protection Market: Growth and Forecast4.2.1 Market Size, By Value (2011-2015)4.2.2 Market Size, By Value (2016-2021)Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @5. Global Biological Crop Protection Market: By Type (Biofungicides, Bioinsecticides, Bioherbicides)5.1 Global Biological Crop Protection Market: By Type : Breakdown5.1.1 By Value, % (2015)5.1.2 By Value, % ( Forecast 2021F)5.2 Global Biofungicides Market: By Value5.2.1 Market Size By Value (2011-2015)5.2.2 Market Size By Value (2016-2021)5.3 Global Bioinsecticides Market: By Value5.3.1 Market Size By Value (2011-2015)5.3.2 Market Size By Value (2016-2021)5.4 Global Bioherbicides Market: By Value5.4.1 Market Size By Value (2011-2015)5.4.2 Market Size By Value (2016-2021)6. Global Biological Crop Protection Market: By Mode of Application (Dry Formulation and Wet Formulation)6.1 Global Biological Crop Protection Market: By Mode of Application: Breakdown6.1.1 By Value, % (2015)6.1.2 By Value, % (2021F)6.2 Global Biological Crop Protection Market, By Mode of Application: By Value6.2.1 Market Size By Value (2011-2021F)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Regenerated Fibers Industry Analysis 2017 2025 : Global Industry Attractiveness, Competitive Landscape and Forecasts Regenerated Fibers Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1381841 https://www.researchmoz.us/regenerated-fibers-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1381841 https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Regenerated Fibers Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.Regenerated fiber is produced by dissolving the plant fiber cellulose in chemicals and retransforming it into fiber by using the viscose method. It is also known as regenerated cellulose fiber, as it comprises cellulose such as hemp and cotton.Regenerated Fibers Market: Drivers and RestraintsRegenerated fiber is mostly used in the automotive industry for designing automobile interiors. The automotive industry, especially in North America and Europe, continues to expand. The industry has proven to show strength in spite of challenging economic factors. This factor is anticipated to drive the regenerated fibers market during the forecast period. Regenerated fibers, however, face tough competition from synthetic fibers. Synthetic fibers are available abundantly and at a relatively low cost.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Regenerated Fibers Market: Segmentation, by TypeThe regenerated fibers market can be segmented in terms of type as:- Rayon- Acetate- Cellulose- LyocellRayon is made from polymers occurring naturally and hence, it is not considered a synthetic fiber but a man-made, regenerated cellulose fiber. Rayon is a manufactured fiber, in which cellulose acetate is the fiber-forming substance. Acetate is a derivative of cellulose and it is manufactured by reacting purified cellulose obtained from wood pulp with acetic anhydride and acetic acid in the presence of sulfuric acid. Rayon is also called artificial silk due to its shiny appearance that resembles silk. It is characterized majorly by unique gloss, smooth texture, and desorption and superior staining properties. Regenerated fibers are widely used, as it does not melt with heat to become soft.Regenerated Fibers Market: Segmentation, by ApplicationThe regenerated fibers market can be segmented in terms of application as:- Needle-punched Fabrics- Geotextiles- Automotive- Wadding- Water & Oil FiltrationNeedle-punched non-woven fabrics are mostly used in winter cloth, quilt, car fabrics, sleeping bags, etc. Regenerated fibers offer strength to needle-punched fabrics. Also, regenerated fibers are less expensive compared to polypropylene or virgin polyester needle-punched fabrics. Needle-punched fibers are manufactured in several dope-dyed shades, for meeting carmakers expectations in terms of fabric colors. Fabrics made from regenerated polyester staple fibers are used in nearly all cars worldwide. The reason for the preferred usage is their cost-effectiveness. These fibers also offer longer life to the product. Regenerated fibers are also used in the wadding industry as a blend with a chemical bond or BICO low-melt fiber. Additionally, filtration non-woven fabrics made from regenerated fibers are used for filtration of water, air, and oil. Filtration fabrics produced from regenerated fibers are inexpensive and hygienic to use.Regenerated Fibers Market: Region-wise OutlookBased on geography, the global regenerated fibers market can be categorized into five segments viz. North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America holds the maximum market share, followed by Asia Pacific. The market in Asia Pacific is expected to witness high growth during the forecast period, due to growing automotive industry in the region. Asahi Kasei Fibers is planning to construct a new production facility in Nobeoka, Miyazaki (Japan) for its Bemliese-brand cellulose non-woven fabrics.Browse Detail Report @Regenerated Fibers Market: Key Market PlayersSome of the key players operating in the global regenerated fibers market are:- ECONYL- US Fibers- Polyfiber Industries- Martex FiberThe report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:- Market segments and sub-segments- Market trends and dynamics- Supply and demand- Market size- Current trends/opportunities/challenges- Competitive landscape- Technological breakthroughs- Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:- North America (U.S. and Canada)- Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)- Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)- Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)- Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)- Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.Make an Enquiry of this report @A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market- Important changes in market dynamics- Market segmentation up to the second or third level- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments- Market shares and strategies of key players- Emerging niche segments and regional markets- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Washable Shoes and Clogs Market to Undertake Strapping Growth During https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/14029 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/toc/14029 http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Washable shoes & clogs Market OverviewA clog is a type of footwear that is either partially or completely made of wood. While they are used as traditional wear in countries as far apart as the Netherlands, Sweden and Japan, they are seen quite frequently in the medical sphere nowadays as they are ideal for busy healthcare professionals. Both doctors and nurses need to attend to patients that require them to be on their feet round the clock.Their jobs involve either walking around incessantly or standing for hours at a time in an extremely hygiene focused environment. They need shoes which are comfortable, easy to clean, and practical. To cater to their demands, the washable shoes & clogs market has grown exponentially over the past few years. These shoes can be used by both men and women, and provide protection and comfort in an equal measure. They are indispensable for millions of doctors, nurses and medical support staff worldwide.Request to View Sample of Research Report @Washable shoes & clogs, as the name suggests, can be easily washed to disinfect them and they are available in a wide variety of sizes and colours to suit every need and want. Nursing can be an immensely demanding job. It is imperative that nurses should be as comfortable as possible to ensure that they are able to perform their duties effectively and efficiently. A quality pair of Washable shoes or clogs will guarantee comfort, which is why it is recommended for every nurse. A large number of them complain of feet or back pain every year. Most of these cases can be squarely blamed on wearing uncomfortable or inappropriate shoes.Washable shoes & clogs Market driversAn ageing population in developed countries is anticipated to be the primary washable shoes & clogs market driver. According to the Institute of Medicine (IOM), at least 116 million American adults, i.e. more than a third of the entire population, suffer from chronic pain. They outnumber those afflicted by diabetes, heart disease and cancer combined. There is a very strong likelihood that they will visit hospitals or other medical institutions to get some kind of pain relief administered.They may even wish to be treated from the comfort and privacy of their own homes. Thus, there will be a large requirement for doctors and nurses, who will indirectly demand washable shoes & clogs. These shoes are far more lightweight than running or walking shoes, making it easier to serve patients for almost the entire day. They also make a massive difference in how medical staff feel at the end of the day.Request for Table of Contents @In addition to this, they are protected from water or any other liquid spill due to the material they are made from. They have grips that allow the foot to remain stable even when walking across slippery hospital tiles. Their sole is made to decrease the stress around the spinal cord and knees since many nurses complain of these medical ailments. Most of these shoes do not have laces and are simply meant to be slipped on, saving a great deal of time in any emergency.Washable shoes & clogs Market Key Market PlayersSome of the Washable shoes & clogs Market Key Market Players are Dansko, Skechers, Alegria, Crocs, Klogs, Timberland, Nurse Mates, KEEN, Merrell, Calzuro, and Birki.The research report presents a comprehensive assessment of the market and contains thoughtful insights, facts, historical data, and statistically supported and industry-validated market data. It also contains projections using a suitable set of assumptions and methodologies. The research report provides analysis and information according to market segments such as geographies, types and applications.About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance. To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,Telephone - +1-646-568-7751USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Copper Nanoparticles Market 2017 Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2025 Copper Nanoparticles Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1400464 https://www.researchmoz.us/copper-nanoparticles-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2017-2025-report.html https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1400464 https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Copper Nanoparticles Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends and Forecast 2017 - 2025" to its huge collection of research reports.A nanoparticle is a particle having a size less than or equal to 100 nanometers. The impact of nanotechnology, has been rising rapidly, on human life through its application in industries such as electronics, pharmaceuticals, food, cosmetics, space, and environmental science. Nanoparticles are employed in applications ranging from conventional uses such as coloring agent to modern-day biomedical applications.Nanoparticles of different elements or compounds can be produced using either natural processes or chemical synthesis. There are different synthesis methods for nanoparticles such as chemical reaction, sol-gel method, co-precipitation method, and solid-state reaction. In the recent years, a new technique called green synthesis method has been developed. Its advantages include low cost, simple preparation technique, eco-friendly, and less use of toxic materials. Green synthesis method utilizes plant extracts as reducing agents for the synthesis of nanoparticles.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @The copper nanoparticles can be synthesized in the powdered form as well as in suspension of oil, ethanol, and acetone, among others. Characterization of synthesized nanoparticles is carried out through different methods such as scanning electron microscopy (SEM), transmission electron microscopy (TEM), high-resolution SEM, and X-Ray diffraction.The primary cause of innovation in the field of nanotechnology is its increasing utilization in the medical industry. Copper has applications in electrical, catalytic, optical, biomedical, and antimicrobial applications, due to which it is one of the most commonly used materials. Copper metal ions and its compounds have been employed in medical applications for a long time.Properties of copper nanoparticles are different from copper bulk metal. Additionally, properties of copper nanoparticles can be easily altered by varying their sizes, shapes, and chemical environment. Therefore, they are used in different applications than where copper metal is used. Copper nanoparticles are constantly tested for new and emerging applications.Copper nanoparticles are majorly used as antimicrobial agents. Copper is toxic to microorganisms such as bacteria and fungi; however, it does not cause harm to animal cells. This property is also observed in copper nanoparticles. Studies using green synthesis method, where different plants are being used for the synthesis of copper nanoparticles, are being conducted.Antimicrobial property of copper nanoparticles is utilized by adding them to plastics, textiles, and coatings. These nanoparticles are also used in electromagnetic (EMI) shielding and in the preparation of high strength alloys. They are used as sintering additives & capacitor materials, superficial conductive coating processing of metal & non-ferrous metal, catalyst for chemical reactions, and highly thermal conductive materials.Browse Detail Report @Many printed electronics, displays, and conductive thin films use conductive inks and pastes containing noble metals that are very expensive. Copper nanomaterials can act as a substitute for these noble metals.Based on region, the global copper nanoparticles market can be segmented into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East & Africa. The market is expected to witness robust expansion in most of the developed economies around the globe. In terms of market share, North America is leading the global copper nanoparticles market. This trend is likely to continue in the near future. Abundance of raw materials is one of the factor contributing to the dominant share of the market in North America. Initiatives by the U.S. Government to support research & innovation activities are also contributing for the market expansion in the region.In terms of growth potential, the market in Asia Pacific is anticipated to lead the market in the next few years. Expansion of this region can be attributed to the presence of major market players, private and public collaborations and investments, and increasing research & development projects.Key players in the copper nanoparticles market include TEKNA, Strem Chemicals Inc., Nano Technology Inc., IoLiTec Ionic Liquids Technologies GmbH, Meliorum Technologies Inc., QuantumSphere Inc., and EPRUI Nanoparticles & Microspheres Co. Ltd.The report offers a comprehensive evaluation of the market. It does so via in-depth qualitative insights, historical data, and verifiable projections about market size. The projections featured in the report have been derived using proven research methodologies and assumptions. By doing so, the research report serves as a repository of analysis and information for every facet of the market, including but not limited to: Regional markets, technology, types, and applications.The study is a source of reliable data on:- Market segments and sub-segments- Market trends and dynamics- Supply and demand- Market size- Current trends/opportunities/challenges- Competitive landscape- Technological breakthroughs- Value chain and stakeholder analysisThe regional analysis covers:- North America (U.S. and Canada)- Latin America (Mexico, Brazil, Peru, Chile, and others)- Western Europe (Germany, U.K., France, Spain, Italy, Nordic countries, Belgium, Netherlands, and Luxembourg)- Eastern Europe (Poland and Russia)- Asia Pacific (China, India, Japan, ASEAN, Australia, and New Zealand)- Middle East and Africa (GCC, Southern Africa, and North Africa)The report has been compiled through extensive primary research (through interviews, surveys, and observations of seasoned analysts) and secondary research (which entails reputable paid sources, trade journals, and industry body databases). The report also features a complete qualitative and quantitative assessment by analyzing data gathered from industry analysts and market participants across key points in the industrys value chain.Make an Enquiry of this report @A separate analysis of prevailing trends in the parent market, macro- and micro-economic indicators, and regulations and mandates is included under the purview of the study. By doing so, the report projects the attractiveness of each major segment over the forecast period.Highlights of the report:- A complete backdrop analysis, which includes an assessment of the parent market- Important changes in market dynamics- Market segmentation up to the second or third level- Historical, current, and projected size of the market from the standpoint of both value and volume- Reporting and evaluation of recent industry developments- Market shares and strategies of key players- Emerging niche segments and regional markets- An objective assessment of the trajectory of the market- Recommendations to companies for strengthening their foothold in the marketAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Turmeric Oleoresin Market Revenue Growth Predicted by 2017-2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/338 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/338 Region-wise, the global turmeric oleoresin market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Middle East, and Africa. Asia Pacific is expected to retain its dominance in the global market throughout the forecast period, owing to the growing markets for turmeric oleoresin in countries such as India, China, and Brazil. India currently accounts for over 65% share of the total oleoresin and spice oils production globally. However, recent trends show a shifting focus towards other major oleoresin and spice producing countries such as China, Indonesia, Vietnam, Cambodia, Sri Lanka and Myanmar. This is mainly due to availability of raw material at lower price tags, low manufacturing costs and favourable taxation scenario in these regions.Some of the key players identified in the global turmeric oleoresin industry are Ungerer & Company, Vidya Herbs Pvt. Ltd., Nikita Extracts, Kancor Ingredients Ltd., Universal Oleoresins, Ozone Naturals, Naturite Agro Products Ltd., Synthite Industries, Ltd. Asian Oleoresin Company and Indo-World etc. These players are expected to focus on enhancing their product portfolio with a view to expanding their business and gain a competitive advantage in the global turmeric oleoresin market.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.To know the latest trends and insightTurmeric oleoresin is obtained by the extraction of roots of Curcuma longa Linn, processed with volatile solvents such as methanol, ethanol, and isopropanol, etc. It is typically a spice oleoresin that mainly constitutes of 15% to 20% of curcumin, obtained from the ground rhizomes of turmeric. Turmeric oleoresin is available in yellow to dark red-brown paste, lumps, powder or liquid form. It finds significant application in the food industry as a flavoring agent. Owing to its soluble characteristics, turmeric oleoresin finds high usage as a food additive in various cuisines across the globe. Countries such as India, China and Brazil are the major manufacturing hubs for turmeric oleoresin and thus, are the market leaders. CMI predicts the global turmeric oleoresin market to grow at a healthy growth rate owing to shifting consumer preference towards use of natural oleoresins.A key driver propelling growth of the global turmeric oleoresin market is the usage of oleoresin in margarine and dry mixes. Turmeric oleoresin available in dry powder form allows for easy mixing as compared to conventional oleoresins and thus, finds increasing application in instant mix food products such as soups, beverages, and ready meal. Owing to the ability of turmeric oleoresin to enhance the stability and facilitate the application in food products is also expected to drive growth of the global market. Furthermore, turmeric oleoresin is expected to witness an escalating demand in the future due to its longer shelf-life and acts as an economical substitute for ground spices. With advancements in easy storage and transportation facilities the market of turmeric oleoresin is set to grow significantly in the future. Furthermore, global market is expected to witness a healthy growth rate during the forecast period owing to improving government taxation schemes and incentives across the world. For instance, countries such as Indonesia, Myanmar and Vietnam are offering Export Processing Zones (EPZ) space to manufacturers and a 5 -10 year tax holiday to attract the companies operating in the global turmeric oleoresin market.Turmeric oleoresin finds wide application as a natural colorant in a variety of food and beverage products such as salad dressings, pickles, beverages, cereals, bakery products, and dairy products. Among all the end-use industries, the food & beverages segment is expected to occupy the major share of the global turmeric oleoresin market both in terms of value and volume in the near future. Consumption of turmeric oleoresin in the pharmaceuticals industry is forecast to witness highest growth rate over the forecast period, owing to its increasing use in preparation of drugs that are used in treatment of cancer, back pain, and other health problems. Turmeric oleoresin is also highly preferred in the personal care & cosmetics industry in applications such as lotions, creams, and dyes.Turmeric Oleoresin Market TaxonomyBy FormOn the basis of form, the global market is classified as:Powder,Paste,Oil,LumpsBy End-use IndustryOn the basis of application, the global market is classified as:Pharmaceuticals ,Personal Care & Cosmetics,Food & BeveragesAccess Table of Content (TOC) of the report:About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Global Sodium Sulfite Market key Insights Based On Product Type, End-use and Regional Demand Till 2024 https://www.mrrse.com/sample/20 https://www.mrrse.com/sodium-sulfite-market Market Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) has been serving as an active source to cater intelligent research report to enlighten both readers and investors. This research study titled Sodium Sulfite MarketTo Request a Sample Report or View Summary of Report with TOC visit @Sodium sulfite is an inorganic salt of sodium and sulfurous acid. It is a white crystalline solid soluble in water and most solvents. It is manufactured commercially through a reaction between a solution of sodium bicarbonate and sulfur dioxide. Sodium sulfite is also produced as a by-product of resorcinol manufacturing process. Sodium sulfite is toxic inorganic chemical due to its sulfur content and may cause irritation and/or burns to skin and eyes even fatal allergic reactions if inhaled. The chemical is considered hazardous because it releases toxic and irritating sulfur dioxide gas if burnt.Sodium sulfite is primarily used in the paper and pulp industry as the basic ingredient in acid sulfite and semi-chemical pulping. It is used in industrial and municipal waste water treatment because of strict regulations requiring dechlorination of the waste water treatment process. It is also used as an oxygen scavenger in boilers for water treatment, flooding oil wells and drilling mud from oil wells to avoid fires. Sodium sulfite is also used as a preservative in foods and beverages including wine. The sodium fluoride market is driven by its demand in water treatment applications, oxygen scavenging applications and paper and pulp applications. However, rising awareness about the harmful effects of sulfur dioxide gas and hazardous nature of the chemical might hamper the market growth over the forecast period. Shale oil revolution is expected to bring prospective opportunities for future market growth of sodium sulfite as an oxygen scavenger during drilling activities.Sodium sulfite is a widely used chemical due to its reactivity and versatile applications. It is extensively used as a preservative in controlled amount as it is poison to the bacteria, fungi and other microorganisms that might cause staling of foods and beverages. In the oil and mining industry it is extensively used as a agent for extraction and drilling of crude oil. In water treatment applications sodium sulfite is commonly used as an agent for dechlorination of industrial and municipal waste water in compliance with the stringent regulations laid down by regulatory bodies worldwide. The water treatment chemicals industry is witnessing a rapid rise in demand due to regulatory pressure for better treatment of industrial as well as municipal waste water released into the water bodies. Growing awareness among the general public and the protests against the harmful effects, of industrial and municipal waste water contaminated with human wastes, on the environment has lead to strict regulations governing the release of treated wastewater. This in turn, has supported the growth of waste water treatment chemicals including sodium sulfite.In terms of geography, Asia Pacific is the largest consumer of sodium sulfite in paper and pulp industry. Major industrial economies including China, India, Japan and South Korea are the major consumers of sodium sulfite for application in waste water treatment, paper and pulp and chemical industry. Two of the most populated countries, China and India are situated in Asia. Both these countries are growing rapidly and witnessing rising disposable income and purchase power parity of the general population. North America is another major consumer for sodium sulfite especially in the oil well drilling and waste water treatment applications. In Rest of the World, Brazil, Argentina, Venezuela and South Africa contribute to major demand for the market. Europe is expected to witness comparatively slower growth than other regions owing to stringent regulations against hazardous chemicals.Complete Report is now available at @Some of the market players include Merck Millipore, Solvay, Calabrian, Indspec Chemical, Olympic Chemical, Orica Watercare and Southern Ionics, among many others.About MRRSEMarket Research Reports Search Engine (MRRSE) is an industry-leading database of Market Research Reports. MRRSE is driven by a stellar team of research experts and advisors trained to offer objective advice. Our sophisticated search algorithm returns results based on the report title, geographical region, publisher, or other keywords.MRRSE partners exclusively with leading global publishers to provide clients single-point access to top-of-the-line market research. MRRSEs repository is updated every day to keep its clients ahead of the next new trend in market research, be it competitive intelligence, product or service trends or strategic consulting.Contact UsState Tower90, State StreetSuite 700Albany, NY - 12207United States Telephone: +1-518-730-0559Email: sales@mrrse.com Healthcare Cloud Computing Market to Exceed US$ 7791.4 Mn in 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/19390 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/19390 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/19390 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/healthcare-cloud-computing-market-102017/toc https://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/healthcare-cloud-computing-market-to-reach-us-77914-million-by-2025---persistence-market-research-654465623.html http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com The research report on healthcare cloud computing market includes current market scenario analysis as well as a revised forecast for a period of eight years. According to a recent market report published by Persistence Market Research titled, Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Global Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Forecast (2017-2025)the global healthcare cloud computing market is anticipated to be valued at US$ 7791.4 Mn in 2025, and is expected to register a CAGR of 18.9% from 2017 to 2025. Increasing demand for better healthcare facilities and Rising investments by healthcare IT players are major factors driving growth of the global healthcare cloud computing market. Cloud refers to a prototype in which data is permanently stored on servers and accessed by clients with the help of different information systems such as computers, sensors, laptops, and others. Cloud computing refers to a process which involves delivering hosted services to clients.Get full report now @Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Segmentation & ForecastGlobal healthcare cloud computing market is categorized on the basis of application, deployment model, by components, by service model and region. On the basis of application, the market is segmented as CIS and NCIS. The CIS segment is anticipated to register a CAGR of 20.3% during the forecast period. The component segment is segmented into software, hardware, and services. On the basis of deployment model, the market is segmented as public cloud, private cloud, and hybrid cloud. Private cloud segment accounted for highest market share and was valued at US$ 2,504 Mn in 2016.Request Report Multiple Chapter @The service model segment is segmented as SaaS, Paas, and IaaS. The SaaS segment is poised to be highly lucrative in the coming years. This segment is estimated to reach a value of about US$ 25.4 Bn by 2025 end and is the fastest growing segment to register an exponential CAGR of 19.7% throughout the period of assessment, 2017-2025. The PaaS segment is the smallest segment with a low estimate of US$ 360.3 Mn in 2017 and is expected to reach US$ 1.2 Bn by 2025 end. By component, the software segment is projected to grow at a higher rate to register value CAGR of 19.2% throughout the period of forecast and is the largest segment in terms of value share. It is estimated to reach a valuation of more than US$ 21 Bn by the end of 2025.Request to Sample of Report @Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Regional ForecastThis report also covers drivers, restraints and trends driving each segment and offers analysis and insights regarding the potential of healthcare cloud computing market in regions including North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Middle East and Africa. Among these regions, North America accounted for the largest market share in 2016. Moreover, North America region is also expected to register a healthy CAGR of 19.6% during the forecast period.Request for Table of Contents @Global Healthcare Cloud Computing Market: Key PlayersKey competitors in healthcare cloud computing market are: Agfa-Gevaert N.V., Athena Health Inc., Care Cloud Corporation CareStream Health Inc., Dell Inc., IBM Corporation, Oracle Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, and GE Healthcare.For more information @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Global Food Preservatives Market Headed for Growth and Global Expansion by 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/356 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/356 The Global Food Preservatives Market was valued at US$ 2.23 billion in 2016, according to a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Food preservatives are substances added or sprayed onto food to restrict the growth of fungi, bacteria, and other harmful microorganisms. Increasing demand for convenience and packaged food is driving growth of the global food preservatives market. Natural food preservatives are the most preferred preservative and the segment is expected to gain further traction over the forecast period, according to the stats provided by Coherent Market Insights. Oil and salt are the primary natural food preservatives used to preserve food. For instance, salt is used to trap the water content in the food and is applied to store dried vegetables and fruits. Moreover, citric juices are also used as antioxidants and helps in fermentation of various foods. Increasing population, growing urbanization and increasing number of women in the workforce is increasing demand for processed and ready-to-eat food products, in turn driving growth of the global food preservatives market.Request customization of the report:Rampant economic growth in Asia Pacific is expected to create a highly conducive environment for growth of the food preservative market. For instance, according to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)a Trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, Government of Indiathe Indian food processing industry accounts for 32% of the total food market in the country and contributes around 14% towards the countrys GDP. Furthermore, increasing investment by various players and supportive government initiatives would further favor growth of the food preservatives market in one of the largest economies in Asia Pacific. Also, ITC Limited plans to set up a premier food processing unit in Medak, Telangana with an investment of US$ 117.4 million. Furthermore, the Government of India, in December 13, 2014, established the Mega International Food Park at Dabwala Kalan, Punjab, which is directed towards strengthening the food sector in the country.Key takeaways of the market:Asia-Pacific is projected to be the third-largest region in global Food Preservatives market. It accounted for around 27.6% of overall Food Preservatives market revenue in 2016. The market in this region is expected to be primarily driven by rampant growth of economy and rapid urbanization in China, India, and ASEAN countries. The growing demand for convenience food is expected to be the key drivers for the growth of Food Preservatives in the Asia-Pacific region.The market in Latin America is expected to register highest growth rate over the forecast period. Rise in discretionary income along with increasing disposable income is expected to create lucrative growth opportunities for the players in this region.Meat, poultry and sea food industry is one of the key industries for the use of food preservatives. Rapid urbanization and increasing working population in Asia-Pacific and Europe is expected to enhance the growth of Food Preservatives in the forecast period. Moreover, growing food industry and Foreign Direct Investment in Asia Pacific is expected to double the demand for food preservatives. For instance, according to the Department of Industrial Policies and Promotion (DIPP), the food processing sector in India has received around US$ 7.47 billion worth of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) during the period April 2000-December 2016.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Univar Inc., Hawkins Watts Limited, Cargill Inc., DSM N.V., AkzoNobel N.V., Tate & Lyle PLC, Brenntag AG, Galactic, Danisco A/S, Kemin Industries Inc., among others are few of the key players in global food preservatives market.Companies are also investing in expansions, mergers & acquisitions, and joint ventures in the market. For instance, Mr. Tomasz Lukaszuk, the Ambassador of the Republic of Poland had also highlighted the keen interest shown by Polish companies looking for opportunities in India to expand collaboration and invest food processing.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Global Scar Treatment Market to Exceed US$ 473.8 Mn in 2025 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/checkout/19357 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/multiple-chapter/19357 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/19357 https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/market-research/global-scar-treatment-market-102017/toc https://globenewswire.com/news-release/2017/10/27/1159322/0/en/Scar-Treatment-Market-To-Reach-US-13-Billion-by-2025-Persistence-Market-Research.html http://www.persistencemarketresearch.com Persistence Market Research (PMR) delivers key insights and presents a revised forecast of the global scar treatment market for an eight year period from 2017 to 2025 in the report titled Scar Treatment Market: Global Industry Analysis 20122016 and Forecast 20172025. The revision in the market size and forecasts have been carried out taking into account the impact of various macroeconomic indicators and other industry-based demand-driving factors, as well as the recent developments of key market participants. The global scar treatment market is projected to expand at a healthy CAGR of 3.9 % in terms of value during the forecast period, revised from the previous CAGR of 3.8%, due to factors regarding which PMR offers useful insights in detail in this report.Key Market DynamicsThe prime drivers for the market include availability of attractive reimbursement facilities in developed markets and rising incidences of atrophic scars (primarily acne) in developing markets, primarily due to rapidly changing food habits and lifestyles. Furthermore, growing adoption of combination therapeutics is another factor expected to drive demand for various combinations of scar treatment product and treatments over the forecast period. Currently, there are no formalized guidelines for treatment of scars. All treatments are done on a best-effort basis, guided mostly through word-of-mouth by expert clinicians and surgeons. However, efforts are underway to formalize treatment guidelines at least for common scars. In this regard, under the U.K. governments cosmetic intervention guidelines, patient and patient parties need access to independent and evidence-based information to form their decisions. Many of these scar treatment and aesthetic beautification procedures are considered similar to consumer goods by both the purchaser and provider. A change in this perspective could help boost manufacturers and service providers potential revenue base.Get full report now @Barriers to the market include fragmented documented clinical evidences for popular topical products such as onion extract gels (containing silicone). This hampers the product uptake by the educated section of the patient base in both developed and developing countries. Other barriers include psychological issues such as fear of side-effects and consideration of scar treatment as a non-necessary expenditure item in the overall consumption basket. Even some of the well-known regulatory agencies do not accept scar treatments as medically necessary as they mostly are not life-changing in nature.Request Report Multiple Chapter @Market Segmentation & ForecastIn the report, the global scar treatment market is analyzed based on product-type, scar type, end-user (distribution channel), and region. Based on product type, the overall market has been segmented into topical products, laser products, surface treatment products, and injectable products. The topical product segment is further segmented into creams, gels, oils, and silicone gel sheets. The laser segment has been sub-segmented into CO2, excimer, and pulse-dyed lasers. Based on scar type, the market has been sub-segmented into atrophic scars, hypertrophic scars and keloids, contractures, and stretch marks. The distribution channels or end-users in the market include hospitals, private clinics, pharmacies and retail drug stores, and e-commerce. The market has been analyzed in terms of value. In the overall market, topical products and atrophic scars are the prime segments driving revenue growth currently. Accordingly, the topical product type segment is expected to reach a value of US$ 473.8 Mn by the end of 2025, registering a moderate CAGR over the forecast period.Request to Sample of Report @Regional ForecastBased on region, the market has been divided into North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the MEA. Developed pharmaceutical markets such as the U.S. and EU are expected to emerge as the main markets for scar treatment products over the forecast period, while markets in Brazil and Central Asia are expected to witness growing adoption of laser treatments due to booming medical tourism and aesthetic corrective procedures in these regions. Increasing involvement of patients in treatment formulation processes is an important attribute being adopted by reputed physicians as it could lead to a marked improvement in adherence levels of prescribed treatments and increase treatment effectiveness. This report assesses the market trends, by product, scar type, end user and region, to offer analytical insights about the potential emerging demand for particular scar treatments in specific regions. North America is estimated to dominate the scar treatment market over the forecast period, accounting for maximum revenue share of the overall market by the end of 2015. Markets in Latin America and APAC region are estimated to expand at the most significant CAGR over the forecast period.Request for Table of Contents @Vendor LandscapeKey companies covered in this report include Smith & Nephew PLC, Merz Inc., Enaltus LLC, Occulus Innovative Sciences Inc., CCA Industries Inc., Cynosure Inc, Avita Medical Limited, Lumenis, Syneron Medical Ltd., Nutramarks Inc., Molnlycke Health Care, Pacific World Corporation, Valeant Pharmaceuticals International Inc. and Shanghai Fosun Pharmaceuticals Ltd. (AC. Alma Lasers). These companies are primarily focused on enhancing their product portfolio through research and development and on the introduction of innovative and cost-effective advanced manufacturing procedures in order to gain higher market share and to strengthen their respective positions in the global market.For more information @About UsPersistence Market Research (PMR) is a third-platform research firm. Our research model is a unique collaboration of data analytics and market research methodology to help businesses achieve optimal performance.To support companies in overcoming complex business challenges, we follow a multi-disciplinary approach. At PMR, we unite various data streams from multi-dimensional sources. By deploying real-time data collection, big data, and customer experience analytics, we deliver business intelligence for organizations of all sizes.Contact UsPersistence Market Research305 Broadway7th Floor, New York City,NY 10007, United States,USA Canada Toll Free: 800-961-0353Email: sales@persistencemarketresearch.comWeb: Growth Opportunities of Global LAN Network Adapters Sales Market 2018 | Tripp Lite, TP-Link, Cisco, D-Link, Netgear, Buffalo Nfiniti LAN Network Adapters Sales Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1636214 https://www.researchmoz.us/global-lan-network-adapters-sales-market-report-2018-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Global LAN Network Adapters Sales Market Report 2018" to its huge collection of research reports.In this report, the global LAN Network Adapters market is valued at USD XX million in 2017 and is expected to reach USD XX million by the end of 2025, growing at a CAGR of XX% between 2017 and 2025.Geographically, this report split global into several key Regions, with sales (K Units), revenue (Million USD), market share and growth rate of LAN Network Adapters for these regions, from 2013 to 2025 (forecast), coveringUnited StatesChinaEuropeJapanSoutheast AsiaIndiaTo Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Global LAN Network Adapters market competition by top manufacturers/players, with LAN Network Adapters sales volume, Price (USD/Unit), revenue (Million USD) and market share for each manufacturer/player; the top players includingTripp LiteTP-LinkCiscoD-LinkNetgearBuffalo NfinitiZonetHawking TechnologyZyXELNetdynIOGEAREdimaxTRENDnetOn the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoDesktop NICPC CardUSB AdapterOtherOn the basis on the end users/applications, this report focuses on the status and outlook for major applications/end users, sales volume, market share and growth rate for each application, includingHouseholdCommercial UsePublic ServicesOtherTable of ContentsGlobal LAN Network Adapters Sales Market Report 20181 LAN Network Adapters Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of LAN Network Adapters1.2 Classification of LAN Network Adapters by Product Category1.2.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Market Size (Sales) Comparison by Type (2013-2025)1.2.2 Global LAN Network Adapters Market Size (Sales) Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 Desktop NIC1.2.4 PC Card1.2.5 USB Adapter1.2.6 Other1.3 Global LAN Network Adapters Market by Application/End Users1.3.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Sales (Volume) and Market Share Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Household1.3.3 Commercial Use1.3.4 Public Services1.3.5 Other1.4 Global LAN Network Adapters Market by Region1.4.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Market Size (Value) Comparison by Region (2013-2025)1.4.2 United States LAN Network Adapters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.3 China LAN Network Adapters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.4 Europe LAN Network Adapters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.5 Japan LAN Network Adapters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.6 Southeast Asia LAN Network Adapters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.4.7 India LAN Network Adapters Status and Prospect (2013-2025)1.5 Global Market Size (Value and Volume) of LAN Network Adapters (2013-2025)1.5.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2025)1.5.2 Global LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2025)2 Global LAN Network Adapters Competition by Players/Suppliers, Type and Application2.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Market Competition by Players/Suppliers2.1.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Sales and Market Share of Key Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Share by Players/Suppliers (2013-2018)2.2 Global LAN Network Adapters (Volume and Value) by Type2.2.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Sales and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.2.2 Global LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)2.3 Global LAN Network Adapters (Volume and Value) by Region2.3.1 Global LAN Network Adapters Sales and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.3.2 Global LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Market Share by Region (2013-2018)2.4 Global LAN Network Adapters (Volume) by ApplicationGet Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @3 United States LAN Network Adapters (Volume, Value and Sales Price)3.1 United States LAN Network Adapters Sales and Value (2013-2018)3.1.1 United States LAN Network Adapters Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.2 United States LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)3.1.3 United States LAN Network Adapters Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)3.2 United States LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)3.3 United States LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)3.4 United States LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)4 China LAN Network Adapters (Volume, Value and Sales Price)4.1 China LAN Network Adapters Sales and Value (2013-2018)4.1.1 China LAN Network Adapters Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.2 China LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)4.1.3 China LAN Network Adapters Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)4.2 China LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)4.3 China LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)4.4 China LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)5 Europe LAN Network Adapters (Volume, Value and Sales Price)5.1 Europe LAN Network Adapters Sales and Value (2013-2018)5.1.1 Europe LAN Network Adapters Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.2 Europe LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)5.1.3 Europe LAN Network Adapters Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)5.2 Europe LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)5.3 Europe LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Europe LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)6 Japan LAN Network Adapters (Volume, Value and Sales Price)6.1 Japan LAN Network Adapters Sales and Value (2013-2018)6.1.1 Japan LAN Network Adapters Sales and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.2 Japan LAN Network Adapters Revenue and Growth Rate (2013-2018)6.1.3 Japan LAN Network Adapters Sales Price Trend (2013-2018)6.2 Japan LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Players (2013-2018)6.3 Japan LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)6.4 Japan LAN Network Adapters Sales Volume and Market Share by Application (2013-2018)Continue...About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Food Sorting Machines Market Forecasted to Grow at Steady Pace During 2015 2025 http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-843 https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-843 www.futuremarketinsights.com Automation is becoming more of a requirement than an option in the food processing industry. The rigorous quality and cost controls required in the food industry is making it more critical. Production of high grade food requires capable and efficient inspection and sorting systems, in the operations and production line. The food is sorted by color, size, shape, specific gravity prior to inspection and other criteria depending upon the raw material and application.Global interest is increasing towards the quality of food consumed along with the stringent legislations on product quality and operating procedures. In the food industry, the product specification is extremely important, and is one of those area where new developments are crossing the boundaries. The food industry is under immense pressure of meeting the demands of growing world population.The global population is becoming urbanized and there is heavy industrialization seen in the emerging economies. This leads to an upward trend towards convenience foods that are healthy, nutritious and easy to prepare. Food security is an emerging challenge for policy makers and companies in the food supply chain. Over the period food production will be under threat from climate change, competing land uses, erosion and diminishing supplies of clean water. One of the solutions to this dilemma is increased efficiency and waste reduction in the food supply chain. Food sorting machines offer increase in efficiency by selectively filtering out the undesired materials from the main food.The main purpose is separation of foreign seeds and bodies, such as unhealthy or spotted grains. The insertion of optical sorter into strategic positions of the milling process facilitates and optimizes the whole cleaning process. Worldwide the optical sorters are being used in the food industry. Its highly adopted in the processing of harvested foods such as fruits, potatoes, vegetables and nuts where it achieves non-destructive,100% inspection on full production volume. Since manual sorting is subjective and inconsistent, its not preferred. Optical sorting helps to improve the product quality, increase yields, maximize throughput while reducing labor costs. Since few years the trend is of integration of the traditional mechanical cleaning process with optical sorting machines.Request For Report Sample:Growing population, rising urbanization, growing technological awareness, industrialization of emerging economies and increasing per capita income are some of the key factors driving the growth of the food sorting machines market. Environmental Protection Agency regulations on disposal of food waste, changing consumption patterns and smaller households are few of the probable factors restraining the growth of the food sorting machines market. Food Sorting Machines Market Segmentation Based on product type: Channel Sorters, Freefall Sorters, Belt Sorters, ADR Systems; Based on technology: Laser, Camera, LED, X-rayThough food sorting machines is a new technology for emerging economies like India, but in the developed economies like North America and Europe the same technology is in use for years. With growing global population and increasing pressure on food industry to meet the customer demands, the acceptance of food sorting machines is gaining popularity. The global food sorting machines market is expected to expand at a promising CAGR during the forecast period (2015-2025).Request For Table Of Content @The global food sorting machines market is expected to register a double-digit CAGR for the forecast period. Depending on geographic regions, global food sorting machines market is segmented into seven key regions: North America, South America, Eastern Europe, Western Europe, Asia Pacific, Japan, and Middle East & Africa. As of 2015, North America dominated the global food sorting machines market in terms of market revenue followed by Europe. Asia Pacific & Japan are projected to expand at a substantial growth and will contribute to the global food sorting machines market value exhibiting a robust CAGR during the forecast period, 2015-2025. Some of the key market participants in global food sorting machines market are Tomra Systems ASA, Sesotec GmbH, Buhler AG, Key Technology, BarcoVision, Satake USA Inc.Future Market Insights (FMI) is a leading market intelligence and consulting firm. We deliver syndicated research reports, custom research reports and consulting services, which are personalized in nature. FMI delivers a complete packaged solution, which combines current market intelligence, statistical anecdotes, technology inputs, valuable growth insights, an aerial view of the competitive framework, and future market trends.Future Market InsightsValley Cottage, NY 10989,United StatesT: +1-347-918-3531F: +1-845-579-5705Email: sales@futuremarketinsights.comWebsite: Project Insight - Global Port Construction Projects | Now Available at Researchmoz.us Port Construction Projects https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1711026 https://www.researchmoz.us/project-insight-global-port-construction-projects-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Project Insight - Global Port Construction Projects" to its huge collection of research reports.With the World Trade Organization (WTO) reporting an upsurge of 11% in exports in 2017, many countries are improving or creating new port facilities. However, the potentially detrimental impact on trade of the 25% tariff on steel and 10% on aluminium imports recently announced by the Trump administration may see investment in port facilities decline.This report looks at the influencing factors in more detail, and takes a global and regional view of the port construction projects, including analysis of the ten countries with the highest value of port projects.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @SummaryTimetrics Construction Intelligence Center (CIC) is currently tracking port construction projects globally with a total value of US$461.1 billion; of this, US$160.1 billion is in the planning stage. Asia-Pacific accounts for the highest value with US$183.2 billion, followed by the Middle East and Africa with projects valuing US$122.6 billion. The Americas follow with projects with a value of US$97.2 billion, and Europe has projects valued at US$58.1 billion. Globally, India heads up port project investment with US$41.1 billion, followed by Malaysia with projects valuing US$28.1 billion. The largest projects currently in the pipeline are the US$22.8 billion Carey Island Port Klang Extension in Malaysia, followed by the US$20.0 billion Payra Seaport Development in Bangladesh.ScopeThis report provides detailed analysis, information and insights based on 594 global port construction projects (as tracked by CIC) split by region and value. Country profiles are provided for the top 10 countries including India, Malaysia and the US.Reasons To BuyGain insight into the development of the port construction sector.Assess all major projects by value, start date, scope and stage of development globally, for the regions and top 10 countries to support business development activities.Plan campaigns by country based on specific project opportunities and align resources to the most attractive markets.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @Key HighlightsThe total pipeline of projects is valued at US$461.1 billion with US$49.1 billion being spent in 2018 and US$92.7 billion in 2019.The highest value of projects are at the execution stage, with US$169.0 billion, followed by projects at the planning stage with US$160.1 billion.India leads the global project pipeline, with projects valued at US$41.1 billion, followed by Malaysia with US$28.1 billion.Public investment is responsible for the funding of the highest proportion of projects, with 38%, with joint public/private funding at 33% and the remaining 29% of projects financed by private funding.Assuming all projects tracked go ahead as planned, annual spending would reach US$92.7 billion in 2019.About ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Global Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market Is Forecast To Exhibit A CAGR Of 6.2% Between 2016 And 2024 Will Reach To US$120.7 Bn Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=S&repid=1109479 https://www.researchmoz.us/biopharmaceutical-logistics-market-global-industry-analysis-size-share-growth-trends-and-forecast-2016-2024-report.html/toc https://www.researchmoz.us/enquiry.php?type=E&repid=1109479 https://www.researchmoz.us/ http://bit.ly/1TBmnVG Researchmoz added Most up-to-date research on "Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast 2016 - 2024" to its huge collection of research reports.Logistics is an essential segment of supply chain management. Logistics allows the pharmaceutical companies to establish consistency as well as efficiency through the international supply chain market. The pharmaceutical sector opts logistics for a complete management of acquiring, storing and moving the resources to the end users as per their needs. Logistics provides a continuous supply of bio pharmaceutical products like vaccines, anti-bodies, somatic cells and other biomolecules from sellers and traders in different places. It also allows the transport of pharmaceutical drugs which do not require cold chain control.To Get Sample Copy of Report visit @Nowadays, the pharmaceutical companies have even started to outsource the logistics domain of the company to the third parties. Logistics market is gaining popularity due to fast track execution and better communication, even this market is in constant process to reduce packaging costs. The market has also witnessed rapid growth due to mergers and acquisitions by the existing players. The market for biopharmaceutical logistics shall be driven by factors such as logistics providers having local contacts and know-how, innovation in packaging and increased manufacture and use of biologic drugs.Global Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market: Scope of the ReportThis report on the global biopharmaceutical logistics market analyzes the current and future prospects of the market. The report comprises an elaborate executive summary, including a market snapshot that provides overall information of various segments and sub-segments. The research is a combination of primary and secondary research. Detailed qualitative analysis of factors responsible for driving and restraining market growth and opportunities has been provided in the market overview section. Market revenue in terms of US$ Bn for the period between 2014 and 2024 along with the compound annual growth rate (CAGR %) from 2016 to 2024 are provided for all the segments, considering 2015 as the base year. Market volume data (tonnage) for the period 2014 to 2024 has been provided for the mode of transportation segment at regional and country level.Market related factors such as technological developments, service innovations, expansion of infrastructural facilities such as warehousing networks by major players and historical year-on-year growth have been taken into consideration while estimating the market size. Growth rates for each segment within the global biopharmaceutical logistics market have been determined after a thorough analysis of past trends, demographics, future trends, technological developments, and regulatory requirements. These factors would help the market players to take strategic decisions in order to strengthen their positions and expand their share in the global market.Global Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market: SegmentationBased on type, the global biopharmaceutical logistics market has been segmented into cold chain logistics and non-cold chain logistics. Although the overall pharmaceutical market has more products requiring non-cold chain based logistics transport, the market for cold chain is witnessing a higher growth rate owing to the rise in manufacture and transport of biologic drugs and those drugs which require temperature controlled shipping.Get Complete TOC With Tables and Figures @The principal modes of transportation for biopharmaceutical logistics include air shipping, sea shipping, road shipping and rail shipping. New regulations in the U.S., the European Union, and elsewhere, has radically lengthened the list of drugs requiring temperature-controlled handling. Specifically, new rules for handling products that fall into the controlled ambient (15 to 25 degrees C) category has upsurged the demand for temperature controlled handling. This has led to many pharmaceutical companies resorting to air shipping for such critical products. However, concerns over cost containment has led to the trend of increased preference for transporting pharmaceuticals by sea and road, wherever possible.Geographically, the global Biopharmaceutical Logistics market has been segmented into five regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. The regions have been further segmented by major countries. Considerable growth in biopharma logistics is expected in the emerging countries in Asia compared to North America and Europe.Companies Mentioned in the ReportThe report also profiles major players in the Biopharmaceutical Logistics market based on various attributes such as company overview, financial overview, SWOT analysis, key business strategies, product portfolio, and recent developments. Key companies profiled in the report include FedEx Corporation, Ceva Logistics LLC, Amerisource Bergen Corporation, Panalpina Group, Kuehne + Nagel International AG, XPO Logistics, Inc., United Parcel Service, Inc., Deutsche Post DHL Group, DB Schenker and C.H. Robinson Worldwide, Inc.The global biopharmaceutical logistics market has been segmented as follows:Global Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market, by Type- Cold Chain Logistics- Non-cold Chain LogisticsGlobal Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market, by Mode of Transportation- Air Shipping- Sea Shipping- Road Shipping- Rail ShippingGlobal Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market, by Service- Transportation- WarehousingMake an Enquiry of this report @Global Biopharmaceutical Logistics Market, by Geography- North America- U.S.- Canada- Asia Pacific- China- Japan- Korea- Singapore- Taiwan- India- Australia- Rest of APAC- Europe- U.K.- Germany- France- Spain- Italy- Rest of Europe- Latin America- Brazil- Mexico- Rest of Latin America- Middle East & Africa- UAE- South Africa- Rest of Middle East & AfricaAbout ResearchMozResearchMoz is the one stop online destination to find and buy market research reports & Industry Analysis. We fulfill all your research needs spanning across industry verticals with our huge collection of market research reports. We provide our services to all sizes of organizations and across all industry verticals and markets. Our Research Coordinators have in-depth knowledge of reports as well as publishers and will assist you in making an informed decision by giving you unbiased and deep insights on which reports will satisfy your needs at the best price.ResearchMozState Tower,90 State Street,Suite 700,Albany NY - 12207United StatesEmail: sales@researchmoz.usWebsite @Tel: 866-997-4948 (Us-Canada Toll Free)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Follow us on LinkedIn @ Gold Nanoparticles Market: Causes for Increasing Demand; Analysis with QYResearchReports https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1641864&type=S http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global Gold Nanoparticles Market Research Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.Global Gold Nanoparticles market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBBI SolutionsCline ScientificCytodiagnosticsGoldsolMeliorum TechnologiesnanoComposixTANAKA HOLDINGSInnova BiosciencesMetalorNanoHybridsNanoRodsDownload Free exclusive Sample of this report:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoQYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Butyl Rubber Market Size & Trends during Forecast Period 2018 to 2023 Butyl Rubber https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/2757 https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/reports/butyl-rubber-market-2757 Butyl rubber has found in various applications such as additives, sealant for rubber roof repair, tubeless tire liners, medicine bottles, mechanical good, automotive tubes, medical stoppers, ball bladders, adhesives, sealants, vibration mounts, electrical fluids, lubricants, and others. Increasing in The demand of tires and tubes and other products in automotive industries will increase the butyl rubber market.Get sample copy atMoreover, the increase in demand for materials such as sealants, medical stoppers, in pharmaceutical industry will also boost the butyl rubber market.Butyl rubber, also known as isobutylene-isoprene rubber, which is a synthetic rubber formed by copolymerizing isobutylene with lesser volumes of isoprene. Butyl rubber is basically valued for its impermeability to gases, chemical inertness and impermeability to gases.Top 10 Key Players:Key players of the global butyl rubber market are: Exxon Mobil Corporation (US), Lanxess AG (Germany), Reliance Industries Limited (India), JSR Corporation (Japan), Yanhua Petrochemical Company (China), Cenway Polymer Co., Ltd (China), Panjin Heyun Industrial Group Co., Ltd. (China), PJSC Nizhnekamskneftekhim (Russia), and others.Intended Audience: Butyl Rubber manufacturers Traders and distributors of Butyl Rubber Production Process industries Potential investors Raw material suppliers Nationalized laboratorySegmentation:The global butyl rubber market is majorly segmented on the basis of types, application, end users and region. Based on types butyl rubber the market is segmented into regular butyl rubber, chlorinated butyl rubber, brominated butyl rubber. Based on application of butyl rubber the market is segmented into adhesives, sealant for rubber roof repair, tubeless tire liners, medicine bottles, mechanical goods, and others. Based on end user butyl rubber the market is segmented into automotive industry, pharmaceutical industry, consumer products, rubber industries, construction industries, and others and based on region market is segmented into North America, Europe, APAC, Latin America, Middle East & Africa.Browse complete report atStudy Objectives of Butyl Rubber Market: To provide detailed analysis of the market structure along with forecast for the next 7 years of the various segments and sub-segments of the Global Butyl Rubber Market To understand the supply and demand dynamics including supply and consumption concentration mapping To provide region level market analysis and future outlook for North America, Europe, Asia, and Rest of the World (ROW) and their countries To provide competitor positioning of the market To provide company profiling of major players in the market along with their production and capacity To provide regional trade analysis To evaluate historical market trends, patents and technologies, and current government regulatory requirements that are relevant to the market.Regional Analysis:Asia Pacific is the largest market of butyl rubber due to rapid growth of automotive and construction industries in China region followed by Japan, Australia and India. North America is expected to drive the market on account of increasing demand in various applications applications including packaging and sealing.Increasing demand in medical products such as medical stoppers, curing bladders, sealing medicine vials and bottles, and others from developed economies is expected to open new avenues for the market.Europe has been expected to experience moderate growth owing to developed consumer Industry. Latin America is expected to witness an increasing demand on account of rapid development of tire and rubber industry.About Market Research Future:At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services.Market Research FutureOffice No. 524/528, Amanora ChambersMagarpatta Road, HadapsarPune - 411028Maharashtra, India+1 646 845 9312Email: sales@marketresearchfuture.com Chlorine Market share forecast to witness considerable growth from 2017 to 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/277 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/277 Prevalent Scenario in Chlorine MarketThe market for chlorine expands with the Increasing demands of plastics, automobile, construction and the flourishing chemical industry, makes Asia-Pacific an appealing market and also marks it as the fastest growing market for chlorine around the world. China is the largest consumer for chlorine commodities. Above 80% of chlorine produced around the world is used as a solvent in pharmaceuticals industry. According to a report by Cision PR Newswire, Due to increase in requirement of EDC/PVC, the chlorine market is predicted to observe a CAGR of 4.9% between 2014 and 2019 , and is expected to produce a global market value of $33,362 million by 2019. According to a report by the World Chlorine Council (WCC), about 60 metric tons of chlorine is produced annually.Cost-effectiveness whereas the increasing regulations are the two major features that are increasing competition amid producers and observing a rise in strategic associations. Increasing scarcity of water and its cost across many regions around the world have followed into increasing requirement for water curing industry. Chlorine and chlorine dioxide are considerably used in pulp & paper industry as bleaching agents in the paper making process.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Though, the risk of transporting and handling chlorine due its greatly combustive nature is a barrier for global chlorine market. Rising environmental concerns such as reduction of the ozone layer from many pronounced end uses for chlorine have restraint the demand for the product. It also emits great amount of mercury and also consumes major amount of electricity. Thus manufacturing process leads to various environmental regulations, which in turn hinder the growth of global chlorine market. Manufacturers of chlorine are finding alternative technologies for its production, taking into consideration of the agreements imposed by the international authorities as well as the government. The manufacturers are focusing on developing technology of producing chlorine by membrane-based technology, reducing the influence on environment.Fragmented MarketThe global chlorine market is highly fragmented due to the presence of many established and local players across the world. Major players involved in the market include Occidental Petroleum Corporation (U.S.), The Dow Chemical Company (U.S.), Tata Chemicals Limited (India), BASF SE (Germany), Hanwha Chemical Corporation (Korea), Ineos Group Ltd. (U.K.), Tosoh Corporation (Japan), PPG Industries (U.S.), Formosa Plastics Corporation (Taiwan), Olin Corporation (U.S.) and others.Access Table of Content (TOC) of the report:Global Chlorine Market TaxonomyThe global chlorine market is classified on the basis of the following segments:By product type:Ethylene dichloride (EDC)/Polyvinyl chloride (PVC),Organic chemicals,Inorganic chemicals,Chlorinated intermediaries,C1/C2 aromatics,Isocyanates,Polypropylene,OthersBy end-use industry:Water treatment,Pharmaceutical,Chemical,Paper & Pulp,Plastic,Pesticides,Others,By production process:,Mercury cell process,Membrane cell process,Diaphragm process,OthersAbout Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr.ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email:sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Automotive Mudguards Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/621 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/621 www.coherentchronicle.com Automotive mudguards, also known as fenders, are parts of automobiles that frames the wheel and prevent the sand, rocks, mud, liquids or any other forms of dust from getting sprayed into by the wheels of the vehicle in the air or on vehicles and pedestrians. These are standard fixtures that can also be customized based on the consumer requirement in aftermarket and attached externally. Commonly used materials include steel, aluminum, ABS plastics, PE and carbon fibers.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Increasing demands for automobiles, specifically green mobility will provide considerable growth opportunity for the automotive mudguards marketIncreasing consumer concerns regarding global warming, increasing investments in advancement of electric & hybrid vehicles and advanced engines to reduce emissions, regulatory amendments such as EPA in U.S. and European emission standards in EU are expected to drive the demands for better fuel efficiency vehicles. Various peripheral components of the vehicle influence the fuel efficiency of the vehicle. These factors inadvertently are projected to majorly contribute to the automotive mudguards market growth over the forecast period.China and countries in Western Europe are increasingly encouraging the electric and hybrid vehicle purchases to regulate the fuel emissions and optimize their environmental impacts through government incentive plans, tax exemptions and dedicated parking spaces among the few other initiatives to encourage ownerships of these vehicles. In conjunction with the high growth market for these vehicles, increasing sales figures of other conventional vehicles is expected to provide potential growth prospects over the next few years. According to Organisation Internationale des Constructeurs dAutomobiles (OICA), international sales of vehicles witnessed an increase of around 4.65%, accounting for a Y-o-Y increase of over 93 million units in 2016.Utilization of natural fibers in the manufacturing is expected to drive the demand growthIncreased usage of natural fibers in the manufacturing processes is a major trend gaining traction in the industry. These natural fiber polymer composites are environment-friendly, lightweight, and bio-degradable. Moreover, according to our research, incorporation of natural fibers can reduce over 25% of the vehicle weights in comparison to other glass reinforced fibers. These enhanced features are expected to provide large growth potential to the automotive mudguards market.Passenger cars are expected to dominate the industry segment demands over the forecast periodPassenger car segment dominated the overall automotive mudguards market share in 2016, and is expected to continue its dominance over the next few years. Its growth can be attributed to large inclination of consumers towards owning cars, proliferation of commercial usage of automobiles such as car sharing and cab aggregators, and the pre-existing large consumer base across the globe. Moreover, large presence of aftermarket players that offer custom-made solutions to enhance the vehicle aesthetics and performance, will also continue to contribute to the industry growth.Asia Pacific will continue its dominance in the automotive mudguards marketAsia Pacific held the largest industry share in 2016 and is expected to continue its dominance, primarily owing to the presence of the worlds largest automobile market, China and the fastest growing automotive market in India. Growing employment opportunities have led to substantial per capita income and the affording capability of the population in the region. Moreover, increased spending on road infrastructure and manufacturing activities in the region will drive the growth of commercial and passenger vehicle demands. This will provide the required boost to the industry growth. Increased inclination of consumers towards high-end automobile solutions and decreasing price of gasoline will present considerable opportunities in the developed economies, such as U.S., Canada, UK, Germany and France.Industry presence is characterized by established presence of major players with moderate competition among them. Chief players in the automotive mudguard market include MrMudguard, Rhino Manufacturing, FeatherWing, KN Rubber, Jonesco, KWIK PFYT mud flaps, FIEM Industries, and Sant Manufacturers.Request For Table of Content of this Research Report :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: Consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and Oman 18-04-2018 On April 18, 2018 Minsk hosted the fifth round of political consultations between the Ministries of Foreign Affairs of Belarus and Oman. The Belarusian Side was headed by the Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs, Andrei Dapkiunas, the Omani delegation was led by acting Undersecretary for Foreign Affairs on diplomatic matters, Mohammed Al-Hassan. Background Information: The bilateral consultations between Belarus and Oman at the level of Deputy Foreign Ministers have been held since 2008. Today they have become the main effective mechanism of the Belarusian-Omani inter-state dialogue. During the consultations, the sides discussed topical issues on the bilateral agenda, current state and prospects for development of Belarus-Oman political dialogue at high and the highest level, as well as bilateral cooperation in the areas of education, science and culture, prospects for expansion of the legal framework. Special attention was paid to the development of trade relations, investment cooperation, exchange of visits of business delegations. The sides noted the importance of wider and more aggressive marketing of Belarusian trade, technological and investment opportunities in Oman, and also discussed possible steps in this direction. The parties agreed to discuss those and other issues in details during the first meeting of the Joint Intergovernmental Committee which the sides agreed in principle to set up at the consultations. The parties also discussed prospects for further mutual liberalization of the visa regime up to complete abolition of visas for holders of ordinary passports. Background Information: Today Oman is one of the states whose citizens have the right to a visa-free entry to Belarus for a five-day stay in the country. In addition, the heads of Belarusian and Omani delegations exchanged views on the current development of the situation in the Middle East, North Africa and Europe as well as discussed the interaction of two nations within the UN. On the same day the heads of delegations took part in the opening ceremony of the Omani Center for Arabic Language and Culture at the Belarusian State University. print version Global Ebook Readers Market Outlook 2025: PocketBook, Kobo(Rakuten), Bookeen, Ectaco, Ematic https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1625263&type=S https://www.qyresearchreports.com/report/global-e-book-device-market-research-report-2018.htm/toc https://www.qyresearchreports.com/sample/sample.php?rep_id=1625263&type=D http://www.qyresearchreports.com Qyresearchreports include new market research report Global E-book Device Market Research Report 2018 to its huge collection of research reports.Global E-book Device market competition by top manufacturers, with production, price, revenue (value) and market share for each manufacturer; the top players includingBarnes&NoblePocketBookKobo(Rakuten)BookeenEctacoEmaticDistriRead(ICARUS)AluratekTolinoHanvonDownload Free exclusive Sample of this report:On the basis of product, this report displays the production, revenue, price, market share and growth rate of each type, primarily split intoE-ink eReaderTFT-LCD eReaderThe report on the global market for E-book Device brings to the fore the drivers and limitations as well that are molding its growth path. It segments the market based of parameters such as product, technology, end users, and application. It slices and dices each segment to understand which one holds out maximum promise. Similarly, it also glances at the regional markets to offer important information on it.Table of ContentsGlobal E-book Device Market Research Report 20181 E-book Device Market Overview1.1 Product Overview and Scope of E-book Device1.2 E-book Device Segment by Type (Product Category)1.2.1 Global E-book Device Production and CAGR (%) Comparison by Type (Product Category)(2013-2025)1.2.2 Global E-book Device Production Market Share by Type (Product Category) in 20171.2.3 E-ink eReader1.2.4 TFT-LCD eReader1.3 Global E-book Device Segment by Application1.3.1 E-book Device Consumption (Sales) Comparison by Application (2013-2025)1.3.2 Ages 13-171.3.3 Ages 18-241.3.4 Ages 25-341.3.5 Ages 35-441.3.6 Ages 45-541.3.7 Ages 55+2 Global E-book Device Market Competition by Manufacturers2.1 Global E-book Device Capacity, Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.1 Global E-book Device Capacity and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.1.2 Global E-book Device Production and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)2.2 Global E-book Device Revenue and Share by Manufacturers (2013-2018)3 Global E-book Device Capacity, Production, Revenue (Value) by Region (2013-2018)4 Global E-book Device Supply (Production), Consumption, Export, Import by Region (2013-2018)5 Global E-book Device Production, Revenue (Value), Price Trend by Type5.1 Global E-book Device Production and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.2 Global E-book Device Revenue and Market Share by Type (2013-2018)5.3 Global E-book Device Price by Type (2013-2018)5.4 Global E-book Device Production Growth by Type (2013-2018)Read Complete Table of Content @List of Tables and FiguresFigure Picture of E-book DeviceFigure Global E-book Device Production (K Units) and CAGR (%) Comparison by Types (Product Category) (2013-2025)Figure Global E-book Device Production Market Share by Types (Product Category) in 2017Figure Product Picture of E-ink eReaderTable Major Manufacturers of E-ink eReaderFigure Product Picture of TFT-LCD eReaderTable Major Manufacturers of TFT-LCD eReaderFigure Global E-book Device Consumption (K Units) by Applications (2013-2025)Get discount copy @QYResearchReports.com delivers the latest strategic market intelligence to build a successful business footprint in China. Our syndicated and customized research reports provide companies with vital background information of the market and in-depth analysis on the Chinese trade and investment framework, which directly affects their business operations. Reports from QYResearchReports.com feature valuable recommendations on how to navigate in the extremely unpredictable yet highly attractive Chinese market.1820 AvenueM Suite #1047Brooklyn, NY 11230United StatesToll Free: 866-997-4948 (USA-CANADA)Tel: +1-518-621-2074Web:Email: sales@qyresearchreports.com Cab Aggregators Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/622 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/622 www.coherentchronicle.com Cab aggregators market comprises various participants that connect the customers and car drivers, using different forms of communication technology. Proliferation of smartphones and low cost internet connectivity across the globe has led to considerable growth for mobile application-based business models. Cab aggregators are among the prominent businesses that have garnered large profit margins in the recent past.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Proliferation of cab aggregators has significantly impacted unorganized transport service providers and the automotive industryConsumers inclination towards owning an automotive is primarily to gain access to transportation. Increasing consumer satisfaction through these service offerings has led to significant negative impacts on automotive sales and local taxi service providers. Owing to these impacts, automotive companies are forced to consider sales strategies in accordance to cab aggregators presence. Chief automotive industry participants are focusing on collaborations to enhance their sales. For instance, in the recent past, in India, Ola has collaborated with Maruti, Hyundai, Nissan, and Tata to enable better loan facilities, repayment choices, and financial benefits for drivers who opt to purchase cars through its channels.Increasing demand for commuting means for business and leisure activities is expected to drive market growthIncreasing urbanization across all major economies, rampant economic development especially in the highly promising markets of India and China, and increased investments in the development of road infrastructure is expected to present strong growth prospects for the cab aggregator market participants. Other emerging economies such as India, Indonesia, Thailand, the Philippines, and Malaysia are expected to present significant growth potential over the forecast period.Increasing requirements for daily commuting favored by inconsistency of public transport means in emerging countries will present as a growth prospect over the forecast period. Industry participants are increasingly innovating offerings such as providing competitive service costs, availing premium and luxury cars at the consumers doorstep, and proving services at the required time. Increasing focus of key players in the market to further enhance user experience by providing low-cost traveling options in these price-sensitive countries is expected to propel growth the cab aggregators market. However, in the recent past, significant issues regarding surge in prices and impolite driver behavior of the cabs have significantly impacted these businesses. For instance, Competition Commission of India (CCI) had reported a probe of the countrys leading cab aggregator services, Uber and Ola over surge pricing, according to the Business Standard report in 2017.Asia Pacific is expected to witness highest growth rates over the forecast periodMarket in countries such as China, Indonesia, India, and Malaysia is expected to witness significant growth over the forecast period. Consumers in these countries are inclined towards mobile solutions, which is still in its nascent stage. Moreover, companies are increasingly focusing on capitalizing opportunities through considerable investments and enhancing their offerings in these regions. For instance, in May 2017, Ola announced plans to invest US$ 2 billion in India to ply one million e-vehicles on the Ola platform by 2020. In May 2017, Uber announced plans to enhance its offerings by enabling offline booking options through SMS, WhatsApp and calls; and enhance consumer safety by providing car safety related information.Global cab aggregators industry is consolidated with the presence of few major participants such as Uber, Lyft, Hailo, Ola, Grab Taxi, Didi Dache, Gett, LeCab, Cabify, and Bitaksi. Owing to low initial investments and large growth opportunity, large number of new entrants are expected to enter the market. New industry participants include Cabby, TenZillionCabs, HiCabs, DropTaxi and Baxi Taxi. These are expected to present considerable challenge to major players and create a competitive atmosphere in the market over the forecast period.Request For Table of Content of this Research Report :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: Disaster Recovery as a Service (DRaaS) Market - Global Industry Insights, Trends, Outlook, and Opportunity Analysis, 20172025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/624 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/624 www.coherentchronicle.com Disaster Recovery as a service (DRaaS) market refers to replication or hosting of virtual or physical servers to a third party business location, which either includes backup appliances or cloud, for enabling data and information recovery in case of any natural or manmade calamity. Significant number of advantages over the conventional disaster recovery, such as elimination of downtime, reduction in IT costs and resources is expected to present major traction to the industry growth.Request For Sample Copy of this Research Report :Requirement to fix first and run later is eliminated owing to adoption DRaaS, is expected to prominent factor propelling the market growthMitigation and preparedness in emergence of a calamity is of significant importance, as corporate data is considered as high value asset in this data driven world. According to our research findings, digital information accounts for over 50% of the companys total business value exceeding the software and IT infrastructure costs. Loss of consumer information, company and brand reputation, additional data recovery and other IT costs, and long business downtimes are among the major factors that can negatively impact the business propagation. Capacity of DRaaS to overcome these drawbacks is anticipated to be the major factor that will contribute to the disaster recovery as a service market growth. Moreover, owing to the cloud operations, these offerings provide smooth functioning of businesses through virtualization of the whole infrastructure. This enables the concept of run first and fix later capability for business functioning, which will continue to be the major growth factor over the forecast period.Advancements to enable full data recovery in least time requirements is expected to provide considerable boost to the industry growthAccording to Coherent Market Insights research findings, hardware failures, software or upgrade installation, power loss or interruption, and accidental data deletion are among the major reasons leading to loss of data. Ability of the solutions to provide 100% recovery in matter of hours in such circumstances is expected to boost the adoption over the forecast period. Moreover, other attributes of these DRaaS include application recovery, ability to run IT systems through cloud, high resilience and security, and adherence to Sarbanes-Oxley Act (SOX), Health Insurance Portability and Accountability Act (HIPAA), and Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS) regulations have led to increased end use participants inclinations towards these solutions. Owing to increasing adoption, it is anticipated that these disaster recovery as a service market segment will evolve as part of the sustainable platform over the forecast years.Growing security concerns and compliance requirements are expected to present major growth challenge to the industry participantsIncreasing threats from malwares and data hacking incidences are expected to consistently challenge the overall IT infrastructure developments through the forecast period. Industry participants are increasingly required to meet the distinct regional regulatory requirements and international standards such as BCI standards, HITECH, PCI, and SOC2 among many others. Moreover, flow of data across international borders have to meet with several compliance obligations and restrictions. This is expected to present major growth challenge over the forecast period.U.S. held the largest disaster recovery as a service market share in 2016, is expected to continue its dominance over the next few years owing to high adoptions and presence of reliable and chief industry participants in the region. Owing to considerable business demands in Asia Pacific, that specifically include countries as China, India, Japan and Singapore, the region is expected to witness growth over 30% CAGR during the forecast period.Chief industry participants include Acronis International, Amazon Web Services, Cisco Systems, Microsoft Corporation, IBM Corporation, Sungard Availability Services, VMWare, Hewlett Packard Enterprise, iland Internet Solutions, and NTT Communications Corporation, among few others. Collaboration and business expansion is expected to be the part of major strategic initiatives adopted by the industry participants. For instance, in June 2017, iland introduced secure cloud services from a new location in Amsterdam to enhance its offerings for end users.Request For Table of Content of this Research Report :About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.comVisit Our New Website: Natural Fragrance Ingredients Market predicts rise in demand by 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1399 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-discount/1399 Natural Fragrance Ingredients Market OutlookNorth America holds the dominant position in the global natural fragrances market. The U.S. is the growth engine for the market in the region, owing to the rising application of natural fragrance ingredients in products such as soaps and detergents, and cosmetics and toiletries among others. According to the data provided by US Department of Commerce in 2015, the natural and organic skin-care products are largely gaining market acceptance in United States. Furthermore, the rising cases of skin allergies, is also expected to propel the demand for natural fragrance ingredients in the cosmetic and personal care products. For instance, according to the Center for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), allergic diseases showed high prominence in the U.S. and in 2014, 11.6% children aged below 18 years suffered from skin allergies. The rising prevalence of skin diseases in the region is expected to increase the adoption of natural fragrance ingredients in cosmetics and toiletries, which in turn, is expected to boost growth of the natural fragrance ingredients market in the region.Sample Copy of This Report@Asia Pacific is expected to witness fastest growth during the forecast period, owing to the steadily growing cosmetics and personal care industry in the region. Japan is one of the largest markets for personal care products in the world. According to the International Trade Administration (ITA), the cosmetics sector in Japan was valued at US$ 13,208 in 2015 and per capita expenditure on personal care and cosmetic products was US$ 174 in 2014. Furthermore, according to the Consumer Education and Research Center (CERC), synthetic fragrance ingredients used in detergents are responsible for allergies and irritation to lungs. Prolonged exposure of these detergents to the skin is associated with excessive drying and dotting of the keratin layer, resulting in sensitization with increased susceptibility to dermatitis. Rising awareness regarding such negative health impacts associated with the use of synthetic fragrances in turn, is increasing the demand for natural fragrances in detergents thereby supporting growth of the market.Natural fragrance ingredients are obtained from natural sources such as fruits, flowers, grass, and spices, which find wide application in hair oils, essential oils, perfumes, deodorants, soap, and detergents. Rising awareness regarding the adverse effects of synthetic chemicals such as acetaldehyde, benzophenone, butylatedhydroxyanisole (BHA), butylated hydroxytoluene (BHT), and benzyl salicylate, is increasing the demand for natural fragrance ingredients. For instance, butylated hydroxytoluene is responsible for irritation to the eye and skin. Natural fragrance ingredients are also associated with a wide range of medicinal properties. Flowers such as jasmine, rose, lavender, moonflower, chamomile, rosemary, and lily, widely used in essential oil, are associated with various medicinal properties such as anti-inflammatory, antiseptic, and treatment of skin disorders, insomnia, and muscle spasms among others. Additionally, the usage of natural fragrance ingredients as air fresheners eliminates the risks of respiratory problems due to their non-toxic nature. Natural fragrances when used in detergents also help reduce skin irritation. These prove to be major factors contributing to increased demand for natural fragrance ingredients over its synthetic counterparts. This in turn, is expected to increase growth of the natural fragrance ingredients market during the forecast period.Among applications, the soaps and detergents segment is estimated to hold a dominant position in the natural fragrance ingredients market in 2017, due to rising awareness regarding the adverse impacts of synthetic chemicals used in these products. Chemicals present in detergent and soaps enter the human body, either through the lungs or through the skin further causing skin problems such as skin infections and allergies.The natural fragrance ingredients market is marked by some intense competition from the major players operating in this market. Product development, mergers and acquisitions, joint venture and partnerships are some of the key strategies adopted by these players in order to ensure long-term sustenance in this market. In 2015, Symrise A.G. acquired Pinova Holdings Inc., to expand its scent and care segment. Pinova Holdings Inc. is a leading supplier of natural ingredients, which are used in the production of fragrances, perfumes, and oral care products.To Get Discount on this Report@Key players operating in the global natural fragrance ingredients market include Givaudan S.A, Symrise A.G, International Flavors & Fragrances Inc., Takasago International Corporation, Mane S.A, Sensient Technologies Corporation, Fermenich International S.A., and BASF S.E.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Compartment Pressure Measurement Devices Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023 Compartment Pressure Measurement Devices Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-compartment-pressure-measurement-devices-market/#ulp-njYIhocMn4o6wrda https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-compartment-pressure-measurement-devices-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-compartment-pressure-measurement-devices-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/global-compartment-pressure-measurement-devices-market/ Global Compartment Pressure Measurement Devices Market: By Product Type (Equipment and Disposables), By Application (Intra-Abdominal Pressure and Intra-Compartment Pressure), End Users (Hospitals, Clinics, Ambulatory Surgical Centers, and Trauma Centers), and Geography Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012-2016 and Forecast 2017-2023Compartment Pressure Measurement Devices Market Report Description:Compartment pressure measurement devices market report gives a comprehensive outlook on compartment pressure measurement devices across the globe with special emphasis on key regions such as North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa (MEA). The report on the compartment pressure measurement devices market gives historical, current, and future market sizes (US$ Mn) on the basis of product type, application, end users, and geographic regions. This report studies compartment pressure measurement devices market dynamics elaborately to identify the current trends & drivers, future opportunities and possible challenges to the key stakeholders operating in the market. In addition, compartment pressure measurement devices market report includes new product introduction, company share analysis, and competition analysis with vividly illustrated the competition dashboard to assess the market competition. Moreover, PBI analyzed Compartment pressure measurement devices market to better equip clients with possible investment opportunities across the regions (Regional Investment Hot-Spots) and market unmet needs (Product Opportunities). Key stakeholders of the compartment pressure measurement devices market report include suppliers, manufacturers, marketers, policymakers engaged in manufacturing and supply of compartment pressure measurement devices market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Compartment Pressure Measurement Devices Market:The compartment pressure measurement devices market estimated to be valued US$ 48.0 Mn in 2017 and poised to grow at CAGR 18.2%. Market for compartment pressure measurement devices projected to reach US$ 131.2 Mn by 2023 due to rise in prevalence of Intra-Abdominal Hypertension (IAH) and Intra-Compartment Pressure (ICP) in critical care units across different healthcare set-upsIncreasing prevalence of IAH and ICP across the healthcare set-upsThe rise in prevalence of IAP and ICP in different healthcare set-ups like Intensive Care Units (ICUs) and trauma centres across the world expected to fuel the compartment pressure measurement devices market over the forecast period. Moreover, increase in ICU admissions coupled with rising in road accidents, which necessities the compartment pressure measure expected to fuel the market revenue growth in near term. In additions, untoward incidents associated with these compartment pressures such as end-organ failures or amputations prompting the healthcare professions to adopt the compartment pressure monitoring devices in regular healthcare practice to monitor the compartment pressure.To view TOC of this report is available upon request @Technological advances in compartment pressure measurement devicesTechnological advances like the development of digital compartment pressure measure devices expected to fuel the market revenue growth over the forecast period. Availability of digital pressure measurement devices further helps to avert the risk of non-availability of surgeons or non-availability of consumables for pressure measurement. These digital devices help healthcare professionals record the compartment pressure in no time and helps in avoiding further complications. For Instance, in 2016, Centurion Medical Products launched compass digital pressure transducers for measuring and monitoring pleural as well as intra-abdominal pressures (IAP).Developed markets account for significant market revenue share in compartment pressure measurement devices marketDeveloped markets such as North America and Europe expected to hold the larger market revenue share in a global compartment pressure measurement devices market over the forecast period owing to increase in adoption of compartment pressure measurement devices across the healthcare set-ups. Regions such as Asia Pacific and Latin America expected to register moderate growth rate owing lack of awareness regarding pressure measurement devices among healthcare professionalsNeed more information about this report @Competition AssessmentKey players profiled in the compartment pressure measurement devices market include: Biometrix Ltd. (The Netherlands) R. Bard, Inc. (U.S) Centurion Medical Products (U.S) ConvaTec Group PLC (U.K) Holtech Medical (Denmark ) STRYKER CORPORATION (U.S)Market players are focusing on launching innovative products like digital pressure monitoring devices and to acquire market share in compartment pressure measurement devices market. Moreover, market is consolidated in nature with few players offering limited number of products in the marketGet Full Summery @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553 Herbal Beauty Products Market predicts rise in demand by 2025 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1402 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1402 The products, which possess the desirable physiological properties such as smoothing appearance, healing and conditioning properties are referred as herbal beauty products. Herbal beauty products are formulated using plant extracts, plant roots, and leaves and are free of chemicals. Demand for herbal beauty products is increasing due to its low or no side effects and this is expected to fuel growth of the herbal beauty products market. Furthermore, increasing expenditure on beauty and personal care products is also expected to boost growth of the market. According to United States of America, Department of Commerce, the per capita spending on cosmetics products in Japan was valued at US$ 223, US$ 171 in France, and US$ 139 in the U.S. in 2014.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report @Skin care segment is expected to account for the highest revenue share over the forecast period, due to increasing consumer preference towards maintaining esthetic appeal. Additionally, increasing skin related problems such as acne and eczema owing to use of synthetic beauty products propels growth of the market. According to Centers for Disease Control and Prevention (CDC), eczema and skin problems in U.S. was 7.2% in 2012 and was increased up to 11.6% in 2014.Asia Pacific is the dominant region in the global herbal beauty products market and was valued at US$ 32.56 Bn in 2016. Increasing awareness related to herbal beauty products and growing inclination of population towards maintaining aesthetic are expected to be factors driving growth of the beauty herbal beauty products market in this region. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF)a trust established by the Department of Commerce, Ministry of Commerce and Industry, India the herbal cosmetic industry is expected to grow at a CAGR of 12% in India during the forecast period. Government of India established a board, Indian System of Medicine and Homeopathy, to encourage production of herbal products in the country.Europe is expected to show a significant growth in global herbal beauty products market. The increasing trend of using natural and organic cosmetics for anti-aging, hair care, and others, in Europe is driving growth of the herbal beauty market in this region. According to the Centre for the Promotion of Imports, Europe accounted for nearly 35% of global organic cosmetics market in 2016. Also, stringent regulations by government bodies on cosmetic ingredients is also another factor fueling the market growth. For instance, according to European Union, cosmetic ingredients are regulated under The Cosmetic Regulation, 76/768/EEC, with an objective to provide safe cosmetic products for human use.The herbal beauty products market was valued at US$ 91.99 billion in 2016 and is expected to expand at a CAGR of 4.71% in terms of revenue, over the forecast period (2017 2025).North America market accounted for revenue share of 22.05% in the global herbal beauty products market in 2016. Government regulatory bodies in the region have implemented stringent regulation on restricting use of harmful chemicals in cosmetic products. For instance, United States, Food and Drug Administration (FDA) under regulation 21 Code of Federal Regulations (CFR) 701.3, 21, CFR 721 and others are subjected to a strict approval of color additives in cosmetics.Request For Customization@Key market players are focusing on mergers & acquisitions and new product launches, to cater to growing demand of consumers for herbal beauty products. For instance, in August 2015, InnoVision Healthcare Ltd. launched a wide range of beauty care products such as neem and aloe vera face wash, to cater to increasing demand for herbal beauty products.Major Players in Global Herbal Beauty Products Market:Some of the key players operating in the global herbal beauty products market are Weleda AG, Bio Veda Action Research Co., Arbonne International, LLC, Vasa Global Cosmetics, Klienz Herbal Pvt. Ltd., The Himalaya Drug Company, Shahnaz Ayurveda Pvt. Ltd, Lotus Herbals Limited, and Hemas Holdings PLC.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact UsMr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Online Clothing Market to Reap Excessive Revenues by 2018 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1446 https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ongoing-insight/toc/1446 Online Clothing Rental Market Outlook:North America dominated the online clothing rental market in 2017, followed by Europe and both are expected to retain market dominance over the forecast period. The U.S, Canada, Germany, France, and Italy are the major economies contributing to the growth of online clothing rental market. Traditions such as celebration of Halloween and parties, and events that require a specific outfit for one time usage are some of the key factors driving the demand for online clothing rental in these economies. Companies operating in this industry are engaged in extensive marketing and promotional activities to attain an edge over its competitors. For instance, in October 2017, Rent the Runway announced a low price membership called RTR Update, where the buyers get to rent four pieces of clothing from the company for a month. At the end of every month, subscribers can select four new items after returning their older clothes. The subscription costs around US$ 89 for a month and includes services such as shipping, dry cleaning, and insurance.Ask for detailed Sample of the Research Report@*The Sample consists of Table of Content, Research framework of the actual report & research methodology adopted for it.Asia Pacific is the fastest growing market region for online clothing rental and is expected to exhibit the same trend during the forecast period. India, China, and Japan are the major economies of this region fueling growth of the online clothing rental market. The online clothing rental market in these economies is majorly driven by the influence of the western culture, the concept of renting clothes for a single occasion at a nominal price, rather than buying the same at a high price. Furthermore, rising purchasing power of the consumers residing in these economies is another key factor that is luring several start-up companies to establish a presence in these economies. A number of startups are offering online clothing rental services in Asia Pacific with added benefits in order to enhance customer experience. For instance, Stage3, a startup found in 2016 and based in India, operates on a rental model that offers designer clothes and accessories for men and women with added benefits such as free home trial service and personalized styling assistance in order to offer the best experience to their customersOnline clothing rental is a service by which someone can rent clothing for a specific period of time or buy a clothing. This service is mainly suitable for individuals who do not want to buy expensive clothing for a one-time event. Online clothing rental service proves to be a perfect solution for events such as theme parties, films, weddings, and photo shoots, where people prefer renting clothes rather than buying in order to avoid high costs of the required clothing.Rising e-commerce platform due to the increasing demand for high speed internet services is one of the key factors fueling the growth of global online clothing rental market. India alone witnessed over 500 million internet users in the last quarter of 2015. According to India Brand Equity Foundation (IBEF), the market for e-commerce in India was estimated at US$ 13 billion in 2015 and the same is set to increase to US$ 188 billion by the end of 2025, projecting a growth of around 30% during the forecast period. Apparels were ranked second in terms of market share in the e-commerce industry.Furthermore, increasing growth of e-commerce industry and the rapid penetration of smartphone industry in India are major factors driving growth of the global online clothing rental market. Several players operating in this industry, especially in the apparel segment have launched their own apps to provide consumers with convenient shopping. Online clothing rental companies provide lucrative services such as recommendation of services with respect to choosing the required outfit and availability of the required size along with free delivery, which are gaining increased attraction of the consumers.However, low penetration of such companies in the emerging economies and low societal acceptance of the idea of renting clothes among the consumers in the emerging economies is highly restraining the growth of the market.Western wear clothing style segment accounted for the major market share in the online clothing rental market in 2016 and is expected to retain market dominance over the forecast period. Popularity of western wear apparels is observed to be high among the consumers. Furthermore, consumer acceptance of online clothing rental services is higher in the Western economies, which is another key factor increasing the demand for western wear clothing.To get detailed table of content (ToC)@Key players in the Online Clothing Rental Market:Some of the major players in the online clothing rental market include Lending Luxury, Rent the Runway Le Tote, Flyrobe, Bag Borrow Steal, Glam Corner Pty Ltd., Secoo Holdings Limited, Rent the Runway, Dress & Go, and Gwynnie Bee among others.About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@coherentmarketinsights.com Ambassador of Belarus O.Paferov meets the Vice-President for Planning of Venezuela 14-04-2018 On April 12, 2018 the Ambassador Extraordinary and Plenipotentiary of the Republic of Belarus to the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela, Oleg Paferov, met with the Vice-President for Planning of Venezuela, Co-Chair of Belarus-Venezuela Joint Commission for Trade and Economic Cooperation, Ricardo Menendez. During the meeting, the sides discussed issues of bilateral industrial cooperation, implementation of joint projects, as well as implementation of agreements on shipments of Venezuelan products to the Republic of Belarus on the terms of counter supplies. print version Halal Cosmetics Market: Global Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023 Halal Cosmetics Market https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/halal-cosmetics-market/#ulp-4H8Z4LpNMLEuOnnx https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/halal-cosmetics-market/#ulp-c654SbFYO64MsOhu https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/halal-cosmetics-market/#ulp-14mlyhjMGhVjZqa3 https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com/market-reports/halal-cosmetics-market/ https://www.precisionbusinessinsights.com Global Halal Cosmetics Market: By Type (Personal Care, Makeup, Fragrances), By Application (Hair, Skin, Body, Face, Lips, Eyes), By Usage ( Men, Women, Unisex), By Distribution Channel (Supermarkets, Hypermarkets, Drugstores, Online Stores) and Geography Halal Cosmetics Market Estimation, Dynamics, Regional Share, Trends, Competitor Analysis 2012 to 2016 and Forecast 2017 to 2023Market Dynamics: Halal Cosmetics MarketHalal means permissible and lawful. Halal industry is expected to create new avenues for the market players due to increased awareness in the Muslim community. With increasing Muslim population across the globe, halal become one of the most vital factor in population. Rising inclination towards halal cosmetics is expected to drive the market. The cosmetics manufactured without using pork, dog or alcoholic ingredients expected to create huge demand by population. Furthermore, inclination towards organic and ecofriendly, healthy cosmetics, increase in investments on R&D activities, increase in usage of cosmetics by Muslim population propels the market growth for halal cosmetics. However, lack of awareness, low adoption rate, stringent regulatory framework enables hamper the growth of halal cosmetics market.A sample of this report is available upon request @Market Scope: Halal Cosmetics MarketHalal Cosmetics market is segmented on the basis of Type, Usage, Application, and Distribution channel and Geographical regionsBased on the Type, Halal Cosmetics market is segmented into the following Personal Care Makeup FragrancesBased on the Application, This market is segmented into the following Hair Skin Lips Body Face EyesBased on the Usage, This market is segmented into the following Men Women UnisexBased on the Distribution Channel, Halal Cosmetics market is segmented into the following Supermarkets Hypermarkets Drugstores Online storesTo view TOC of this report is available upon request @Regional Analysis: Halal Cosmetics MarketHalal Cosmetics market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and the Middle East and Africa. Middle East and Africa is expected to dominate the halal cosmetics market over the forecast period due to increased R&D investments in halal cosmetics, rising awareness among the people, increased demand for natural cosmetics. Europe halal cosmetics market is anticipated to show significant growth owing to ban on animal testing for beauty care products in 2009, which has led to the usage of natural organic ingredients in cosmetics and beauty care products. North America is expected show steady growth rate owing to increase in beauty consciousness and inclination towards usage of organic and natural products. Amara, was the first North American company to offer completely halal cosmetics which were certified by Islamic Food and Nutrition Council of America. Asia Pacific, Latin America expected to offer lucrative opportunities over the forecast period owing to presence of high Muslim population.Need more information about this report @Competition Assessment: Halal Cosmetics MarketKey players profiled in the global halal cosmetics market include Amara Cosmetics (U.S.) Saaf Skin Care (UK) Clara International (Malaysia) INIKA (Australia) Talent Cosmetic Co., Ltd. (Korea) MMA Bio Lab Sdn Bhd (Malaysia) The Halal Cosmetics Company (UK) Prolab Cosmetics (Brazil) Martha Tilaar Group (Indonesia) IBA Halal Care (India)Notable Market Developments: Halal Cosmetics Market In 2015, Depilex Beauty Clinic and Beauty Parlor launched new range of Halal Makeup Products in Pakistan.Get access to full summary @About Precision Business InsightsPrecision Business Insights is one of the leading market research and business consulting firm, which follow a holistic approach to solve needs of the clients. We adopt and implement proven research methodologies to achieve better results. We help our clients by providing actionable insights and strategies to make better decisions. We provide consulting, syndicated and customised market research services based on our client needs.Contact to Precision Business Insights,Kemp House,152 160 City Road,London EC1V 2NXEmail: sales@precisionbusinessinsights.comToll Free (US): +1-866-598-1553Website @ Distributed Control System (DCS) Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players ABB, Yokogawa, Honewell, Emerson, SIEMENS, Foxboro, HollySys Distributed Control System (DCS) Industry https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/3113576-distributed-control-system-dcs-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/3113576-distributed-control-system-dcs-global-market-status-and-trend-report-2013-2023 WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Distributed Control System (DCS) Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players ABB, Yokogawa, Honewell, Emerson, SIEMENS, Foxboro, HollySys.Description:Distributed Control System (DCS)-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Distributed Control System (DCS) industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information.Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Distributed Control System (DCS) 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Distributed Control System (DCS) worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Distributed Control System (DCS) marketMarket status and development trend of Distributed Control System (DCS) by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Distributed Control System (DCS), and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesGet a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThe report segments the global Distributed Control System (DCS) market as:Global Distributed Control System (DCS) Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Distributed Control System (DCS) Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):Small SizeMedium SizeLarge SizeGlobal Distributed Control System (DCS) Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Power Generation IndustryOil and Gas IndustryChemical IndustryOthersGlobal Distributed Control System (DCS) Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Distributed Control System (DCS) Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):ABBYokogawaHonewellEmersonSIEMENSFoxboroHITACHIIHollySysSupconSciyonGuodianShanghai AutomationComplete Report Details @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsChapter 1 Overview of Distributed Control System (DCS)1.1 Definition of Distributed Control System (DCS) in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Distributed Control System (DCS)1.2.1 Small Size1.2.2 Medium Size1.2.3 Large Size1.3 Downstream Application of Distributed Control System (DCS)1.3.1 Power Generation Industry1.3.2 Oil and Gas Industry1.3.3 Chemical Industry1.3.4 Others1.4 Development History of Distributed Control System (DCS)1.5 Market Status and Trend of Distributed Control System (DCS) 2013-20231.5.1 Global Distributed Control System (DCS) Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Distributed Control System (DCS) Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Distributed Control System (DCS) 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Types3.2 Production Value of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Distributed Control System (DCS) by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Distributed Control System (DCS)5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Distributed Control System (DCS) Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Distributed Control System (DCS) Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Distributed Control System (DCS) by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Distributed Control System (DCS) Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Distributed Control System (DCS) Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Distributed Control System (DCS) Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 ABB7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Distributed Control System (DCS) Product7.1.3 Distributed Control System (DCS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of ABB7.2 Yokogawa7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Distributed Control System (DCS) Product7.2.3 Distributed Control System (DCS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Yokogawa7.3 Honewell7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Distributed Control System (DCS) Product7.3.3 Distributed Control System (DCS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Honewell7.4 Emerson7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Distributed Control System (DCS) Product7.4.3 Distributed Control System (DCS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Emerson7.5 SIEMENS7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Distributed Control System (DCS) Product7.5.3 Distributed Control System (DCS) Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of SIEMENSContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Choose Your Telebehavioral / Telemental Health Certificate - Save up to $516! https://telehealth.org/spring https://telehealth.org/individual http://telehealth.org/start-up/), http://telehealth.org/courses http://telehealth.org/staffing/ http://providerpanel.com/ http://telehealth.org/contact http://telehealth.org/ces-cmes/ 19 April 2018, San Diego, CA - Ready to join the many licensed professionals already delivering legal and ethical services online? 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We specialize in forecasts needed for investing in a new project, to revolutionize your business, to become more customer centric and improve the quality of output.Contact:QYReportsJones JohnSales Manager+91-9764607607sales@qyreports.com Energy Storage for Microgrids Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players NGK Group, ABB, Imergy, SolarCity, SAMSUNG SDI, OutBack Energy Storage for Microgrids Market 2018 https://www.wiseguyreports.com/sample-request/2676179-energy-storage-battery-for-microgrids-global-market-status-and-trend-report WiseGuyReports.Com Publish a New Market Research Report On Energy Storage for Microgrids Market 2018 Global Analysis By Key Players NGK Group, ABB, Imergy, SolarCity, SAMSUNG SDI, OutBack.Description:Energy Storage battery for Microgrids-Global Market Status and Trend Report 2013-2023 offers a comprehensive analysis on Energy Storage battery for Microgrids industry, standing on the readers perspective, delivering detailed market data and penetrating insights. 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Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)UTILITY SolutionUPS SolutionBase Transceiver Stations SolutionResidential and Commercial SolutionGlobal Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):NGK GroupABBAEGImergySolarCitySAMSUNG SDIZENNECOutBackSaftThe AES CorporationEOSS&C Electric CompanyAbsolute Renewable Energy (UK) LtdPrincetonGEComplete Report Details @ https://www.wiseguyreports.com/reports/2676179-energy-storage-battery-for-microgrids-global-market-status-and-trend-reportTable Of Contents Major Key PointsChapter 1 Overview of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids1.1 Definition of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids1.2.1 Lithium ion battery1.2.2 All-vanadium flow battery1.2.3 Zinc-bromine flow battery1.2.4 Other types1.3 Downstream Application of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids1.3.1 UTILITY Solution1.3.2 UPS Solution1.3.3 Base Transceiver Stations Solution1.3.4 Residential and Commercial Solution1.4 Development History of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids1.5 Market Status and Trend of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids 2013-20231.5.1 Global Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Types3.2 Production Value of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 NGK Group7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Product7.1.3 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of NGK Group7.2 ABB7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Product7.2.3 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of ABB7.3 AEG7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Product7.3.3 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of AEG7.4 Imergy7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Product7.4.3 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Imergy7.5 SolarCity7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Product7.5.3 Energy Storage battery for Microgrids Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of SolarCityContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus V.Makei meets the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of Moldova 19-04-2018 On April 19, 2018 in Chisinau, the Minister of Foreign Affairs of the Republic of Belarus, Vladimir Makei, met with the Minister of Foreign Affairs and European Integration of the Republic of Moldova, Tudor Ulianovschi. 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No matter the client is industry insider, potential entrant or investor, the report will provides useful data and information.Key questions answered by this report include:Worldwide and Regional Market Size of Ballast Water Management Systems 2013-2017, and development forecast 2018-2023Main manufacturers/suppliers of Ballast Water Management Systems worldwide, with company and product introduction, position in the Ballast Water Management Systems marketMarket status and development trend of Ballast Water Management Systems by types and applicationsCost and profit status of Ballast Water Management Systems, and marketing statusMarket growth drivers and challengesGet a Sample Report @For more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comThe report segments the global Ballast Water Management Systems market as:Global Ballast Water Management Systems Market: Regional Segment Analysis (Regional Production Volume, Consumption Volume, Revenue and Growth Rate 2013-2023):North AmericaEuropeChinaJapanRest APACLatin AmericaGlobal Ballast Water Management Systems Market: Type Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume, Average Price, Revenue, Market Share and Trend 2013-2023):Ballast Capacity:5000 m3Global Ballast Water Management Systems Market: Application Segment Analysis (Consumption Volume and Market Share 2013-2023; Downstream Customers and Market Analysis)Modify ShipNew Build ShipGlobal Ballast Water Management Systems Market: Manufacturers Segment Analysis (Company and Product introduction, Ballast Water Management Systems Sales Volume, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin):Alfa Laval (Sweden)Panasia (Korea)OceanSaver (Norway)Qingdao Sunrui (China)JFE Engineering (Japan)NK (Japan)Qingdao Headway Technology (China)Optimarin (Norway)Hyde Marine (US)Veolia Water Technologies (Saudi Arabia)TechcrossSiemens (Germany)Ecochlor (US)Industrie De Nora (Singapore)MMC Green Technology (Norway)Wartsila (Finland)NEI Treatment Systems (US)Mitsubishi Heavy Industries (Japan)Desmi (Denmark)Trojan Marinex (Canada)Complete Report Details @Table Of Contents Major Key PointsChapter 1 Overview of Ballast Water Management Systems1.1 Definition of Ballast Water Management Systems in This Report1.2 Commercial Types of Ballast Water Management Systems1.2.1 Ballast Capacity:5000 m31.3 Downstream Application of Ballast Water Management Systems1.3.1 Modify Ship1.3.2 New Build Ship1.4 Development History of Ballast Water Management Systems1.5 Market Status and Trend of Ballast Water Management Systems 2013-20231.5.1 Global Ballast Water Management Systems Market Status and Trend 2013-20231.5.2 Regional Ballast Water Management Systems Market Status and Trend 2013-2023Chapter 2 Global Market Status and Forecast by Regions2.1 Market Development of Ballast Water Management Systems 2013-20172.2 Production Market of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions2.2.1 Production Volume of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions2.2.2 Production Value of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions2.3 Demand Market of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions2.4 Production and Demand Status of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions2.4.1 Production and Demand Status of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions 2013-20172.4.2 Import and Export Status of Ballast Water Management Systems by Regions 2013-2017Chapter 3 Global Market Status and Forecast by Types3.1 Production Volume of Ballast Water Management Systems by Types3.2 Production Value of Ballast Water Management Systems by Types3.3 Market Forecast of Ballast Water Management Systems by TypesChapter 4 Global Market Status and Forecast by Downstream Industry4.1 Demand Volume of Ballast Water Management Systems by Downstream Industry4.2 Market Forecast of Ballast Water Management Systems by Downstream IndustryChapter 5 Market Driving Factor Analysis of Ballast Water Management Systems5.1 Global Economy Situation and Trend Overview5.2 Ballast Water Management Systems Downstream Industry Situation and Trend OverviewChapter 6 Ballast Water Management Systems Market Competition Status by Major Manufacturers6.1 Production Volume of Ballast Water Management Systems by Major Manufacturers6.2 Production Value of Ballast Water Management Systems by Major Manufacturers6.3 Basic Information of Ballast Water Management Systems by Major Manufacturers6.3.1 Headquarters Location and Established Time of Ballast Water Management Systems Major Manufacturer6.3.2 Employees and Revenue Level of Ballast Water Management Systems Major Manufacturer6.4 Market Competition News and Trend6.4.1 Merger, Consolidation or Acquisition News6.4.2 Investment or Disinvestment News6.4.3 New Product Development and LaunchChapter 7 Ballast Water Management Systems Major Manufacturers Introduction and Market Data7.1 Alfa Laval (Sweden)7.1.1 Company profile7.1.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.1.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Alfa Laval (Sweden)7.2 Panasia (Korea)7.2.1 Company profile7.2.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.2.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Panasia (Korea)7.3 OceanSaver (Norway)7.3.1 Company profile7.3.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.3.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of OceanSaver (Norway)7.4 Qingdao Sunrui (China)7.4.1 Company profile7.4.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.4.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Qingdao Sunrui (China)7.5 JFE Engineering (Japan)7.5.1 Company profile7.5.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.5.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of JFE Engineering (Japan)7.6 NK (Japan)7.6.1 Company profile7.6.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.6.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of NK (Japan)7.7 Qingdao Headway Technology (China)7.7.1 Company profile7.7.2 Representative Ballast Water Management Systems Product7.7.3 Ballast Water Management Systems Sales, Revenue, Price and Gross Margin of Qingdao Headway Technology (China)ContinueFor more information or any query mail at sales@wiseguyreports.comABOUT US:Wise Guy Reports is part of the Wise Guy Consultants Pvt. Ltd. and offers premium progressive statistical surveying, market research reports, analysis & forecast data for industries and governments around the globe. Wise Guy Reports features an exhaustive list of market research reports from hundreds of publishers worldwide. We boast a database spanning virtually every market category and an even more comprehensive collection of market research reports under these categories and sub-categories.Office No.528,Amanora Chambers,Magarpatta Road,Hadapsar,Pune-411028. Parkinson's Disease-Pipeline Review, H2 2017 http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011336543/sample http://www.reportsweb.com/inquiry&RW00011336543/buying http://www.reportsweb.com/buy&RW00011336543/buy/2500 Publisher's latest Pharmaceutical and Healthcare disease pipeline guide Parkinson's Disease-Pipeline Review, H2 2017, provides an overview of the Parkinson's Disease (Central Nervous System) pipeline landscape.Parkinson's disease is a neurodegenerative disorder characterized by movement dysfunctions. It causes involuntary shaking, stiffness and impaired locomotory functions. Age, genetic factors, head trauma, environmental factors, hormonal changes, etc are predisposing factors for Parkinson's disease. Parkinson's disease results in abnormal functioning or death of neurons. The neurons are responsible for the synthesis of neurotransmitter dopamine which is further responsible for the transmission of signals. 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The report provides key statistics on the current state of the industry and other analytical data to understand the market.More Reports:Marketstudyreport.com allows you to manage and control all corporate research purchases to consolidate billing and vendor management. You can eliminate duplicate purchases and customize your content and license management.Market Study ReportThe Green Suite #4594,Dover, DE 19901United StatesPhone: 1-302-273-0910US Toll Free: 18667642150Email:sales@marketstudyreport.comWebsite:News:/category/newsreleases/More Report at: Goose Creek, SC (29445) Today Rain showers early with overcast skies later in the day. High 81F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 50%.. Tonight Partly cloudy in the evening with more clouds for later at night. Low near 65F. Winds light and variable. Groups of people flying the Confederate flag from their vehicles outside of Bay City Western High School is causing a stir among students. About 10 people were flying the Confederate flag outside of the high school on Tuesday, and about 20 more showed off the flag on Wednesday. Another group of students showed up Wednesday to counterprotest the students' actions, which they said includes using racial slurs. The student who started the flag flying, Cameron Myers, said a student ripped his Confederate flag off his truck on April 12. The Western senior said his group of friends will keep flying the flags until "things change." "We're not out here to be racist or anything," Myers said. "I want to see punishment, I want to see justice for this. If we would have touched her car, we would have been suspended immediately." A Western junior, Alexis Jolly, said the use of racial slurs is why they are protesting the students' actions. It is less about the actual display of the Confederate flag. "We don't have a problem with the American flag and we don't have a problem with the Confederate flag, but how they are uttering racism behind the flag," Jolly said. "It's not really the flag that's the problem, it's them." Jolly said her friend who is African-American and also attends Western was accused of ripping down Myers' flag, and went home from school after her car got keyed. Jolly also said she witnessed a vehicle intentionally swerve at a counterprotester waiving a rainbow flag. Bay City Public Schools Superintendent Stephen Bigelow said a "fairly expansive" investigation is taking place to find out what happened and make sure the students flying the Confederate flag have no racial motives. Bigelow said he did not know if Myers' complaint of his rebel flag being ripped had been addressed. "What I want to make sure is the students on school property are not being harassed," Bigelow said. Bigelow said he has not seen Confederate flags at the school before and said there have been no other recent complaints of racial slurs being used at the school. "They're only doing this because they know they can get away with it," said Kameron Brozewski, a Bay City Western junior. "I think they're doing it in spite, to get a rise out of people." Jolly agreed that the group flying the flags does not understand the meaning behind the rebel flag. "They say it's not about race, but when they're saying these racist slurs it really seems like it is," Jolly said. The school has reached out to multiple organizations and is considering adding additional context about the flag's racial implications in school curriculum or as an auxiliary component. Myers said a northern confederate group contacted him about facilitating a rally on Friday. "Every day there will be more people," Myers said. Brozewski said he and the rest of the counterprotesters will continue speaking out against the flag-bearing students. "People come to school to learn," Brozewski said. "People don't feel safe, to come to school and see that." Bay City Central High School students were also among the counterprotesters, and said the lack of diversity at Western makes it easier for students to get away with being racist. "They're doing it to get a rise out of the few black people that actually do go to our school," Jolly said. The majority of the students flying flags are not Western students, Bigelow said. "That is not school property and unfortunately we're very limited in how we can monitor it," Bigelow said of Green Street adjacent to the school. "The involvement of our students is fairly minimal." In terms of student safety, Bigelow said the school is fortunate to have a resource officer already in place at the school. "We're trying to protect everybody here and turn these into learning experiences," Bigelow said. Delta College recognized the outstanding achievements of its faculty and staff, as well as celebrated years of service, at recent a dinner in their honor. The following individuals were honored: Bergstein Award for Teaching Excellence: Cynthia Drake, professor of biology (Midland), and Lori Ziolkowski, assistant professor of management (Bay City). Sponsored by the Bergstein Family of Midland since 1965, this award recognizes commitment to teaching excellence and is the highest honor a faculty member can receive at Delta College. Recipients are chosen by a vote of Delta College students and faculty. Delta College Chapter of American Association of University Professors Governance Award: Elizabeth Ullrich, associate professor of political science (Holly) Delta College Chapter of American Association of University Professors Service Award: Sheryl Jensen, office professional in shared governance and academic services (Saginaw) Ormond E. Barstow and Ludo K. Frevel Award for Scholarly Achievement: Jacob Vanhouten, professor of biology (Midland) Rollin M. Gerstacker Award for Innovative Use of Technology in Teaching: Daisy McQuiston, associate professor of nursing (Saginaw) Don Laughner Award for Creative Change and the Innovation of the Year Award (from the League for Innovation in the Community College): Crystal McMorris, associate professor of English (Bay City) Lynn Heatley Award for Distinguished Service by an Adjunct Faculty Member: James Cherry, Mathematics (Midland) and Elizabeth (Betsy) Christensen, English (Midland) Executive Committee for Administrative/Professional Staff Willie E. Thompson Outstanding Administrative/Professional Service Award: Tom Caylor, coordinator of foundation communications and annual campaigns (Bay City) Executive Committee for Administrative/Professional Staff Team Excellence Award: Delta College Library Reference/Instruction Staff: Michele Pratt, manager of library programs and services (Bentley); Anne Elias, government documents and reference librarian (Saginaw); Colleen Kothbauer, reference librarian (Midland); Martha Stuit, reference librarian (Bay City); and Carol Whittaker, reference librarian (Midland) Faculty Executive Committee Award for Support Staff Distinguished Service: Marge Swiercz-Clark, administrative office professional in the science and mathematics division (Bay City) Support Staff Excellence Award: Cecilia Lusk, administrative office professional in the articulation office (St. Charles) The following employees were honored for their years of service: 40 Years Diane Collier 30 Years Timothy Cross Charissa Urbano 25 Years Angela Edwards-Sinclair Beth Zieman 20 Years Johnny Aguilar Stuart Barbier Sheilanthi Chandran Chris Curtis Marshall Fulmer Kara Jimenez Terri Klaczkiewicz David Legg Terry Oleary Roseann Ondrajka Karen Randolph Scott Schultz Matthew Sullivan David Urbaniak 15 Years Sharon Bernthal Thomas Boudrot Tara Cunningham Laura Dull Michael Faleski Tari Hackborn Beth Heyart MaryJo Miller Mary Roberson Randall Rummel Gregory Teter 10 Years Cindy Ballor Kristine Burch Betheen Glady-Teschendorf Kristopher Howery Joseph Lewis Jason Lijewski Tammy McInerney James Miller Maggie Moffett Jennifer Niester-Mika Lisa O'Laughlin Shelly Raube Donovan Traverse Jay Trombley Eric Wiesenauer Lori Ziolkowski Gladwin City Council members and residents are still on edge when discussing the pros and cons of hiring the Michigan Municipal League (MML) to help find a new city administrator. On April 2, the council rejected, by a 4-4 vote, an amendment to hire the MML to help find a replacement for City Administrator Bob Moffit, who has announced his July 5 retirement. The tie vote was the first in nearly 20 years, noted Gladwin Mayor Pro-Tem John Caffrey. Caffrey said he was new to the council and Earl Schuster was mayor when the council tied on a rezoning of land vote nearly 20 years ago. With a tie vote being a failed vote, Gladwin Mayor Dee Jungman said it is not clear if the council can or cant bring the MML issue back for a vote. Caffrey, who supports hiring the MML, said the issue isnt dead. He expects it to be discussed again at a May 7, meeting, but said it could be later. There apparently were two letters submitted by residents one supporting each side of the issue. But only a letter by former mayor Tom Winarski was included in the meeting packet for council members. Winarskis letter supported paying the MML. He wrote that the MML is a good choice for finding a city manager, noting it can ask questions of applicants that city officials cannot ask, and they help take away the tasks time consumption for city officials. Winarski wrote: I have been involved in hiring three city managers and believe me, there is more to reading a resume than you think. Its a matter of being able to read between the lines on what is there; but also knowing what should be there and isnt." Resident and business owner Diane Anderson said she also wrote a letter to the council, which she later gave a copy to the Daily News. I am sincerely hoping that you, the city council, will use the intelligence that God so graciously gave you, when you consider Moffits replacement, she wrote. I assumed that when someone ran for a position on the council their objective would be to save the city expenditures." Jungman said she was disappointed that council members did not see a copy of Anderson's letter. I just felt the letter should be included along with Winarskis, Jungman said. Jungman said Monday that she shared the letter first with Moffit and then expected it to go before the council. Winarski was mayor when the city hired Moffit. The council did not consult the MML, thus it did its own search. Andersons letter shoots down the MML and is critical of Moffit. Moffit reportedly asked that Andersons letter be reviewed by Gladwin City Attorney Doug Jacobson. Several city officials later told the Daily News that the letter was destroyed after review. Jacobson could not be reached for comment. Residents attending Mondays meeting also were divided. Resident and business owner Christy Gutierrez attended the meeting, and stated that she is against hiring the MML. She told the council they are able and capable of hiring Moffits replacement. Gutierrez said there are many items the council could use that money for, such as infrastructure and helping overburdened law enforcement. But resident Dan Svetcos encouraged the MML hiring, citing that the city has the money and should use the best possible people to find a new city manager. Councilwoman Sarah Kile thanked residents for responding to the council and the ones that entrusted them to find a new city manager. (Paul and Mae Kuhn moved from Michigan to North Dakota in 1907 to a "claim" of 160 acres and ended up with a 1,000-acre spread. Carol Kuhn Busick's story continues.) Carol was born when her mom was 44 years old and on the advice of her doctor, she traveled back to stay with her mom and dad Elizabeth and Robert Hatt in Morrice, Mich., so she would be near a doctor and hospital. Carol was born Jan. 9, 1925 and Mae carried her daughter in a basket on the train ride back to North Dakota. As the Kuhn children grew up, the boys boarded in the town of Williston to attend high school. The girls were sent back to live with their grandparents, Robert and Elizabeth Hatt, and attend high school in Morrice. "I never went back to North Dakota to live except for vacations after I entered high school," Carol said. Between the 11th and 12th grades, Carol got a job working for Christian's Department Store in Owosso. One requirement was that the store clerks had to wear stockings at work. The first week Carol ruined two pair and decided she couldn't afford such an expense. She bought some tan make-up and an eyebrow pencil and her mom learned to draw a straight line down the back of Carol's legs making it look like she was wearing stockings. No one ever discovered the ruse. The department store had a restaurant and the cook's name was Minnie. Going by the kitchen one day, Carol saw Minnie pick up a live lobster and throw it into a pot of boiling water. Just then a small puppy came walking down the corridor and Carol, terrified that Minnie would throw him into a pot of boiling water, picked the puppy up and threw him down the hall. The puppy landed at the feet of Mr. Christian, the store owner. Carol tearfully told him why she had thrown the puppy down the hall. The night Carol graduated from high school, her boyfriend Wendel Fultz gave her a diamond ring. Later that summer, Carol got a job in Flint working in the Buick factory. She became friends with a co-worker who had a little daughter and she also had a cousin named Russ Busick whom she wrote to frequently. He was in the Army. It was World War II. The co-worker asked Carol to add a P.S. to her letter telling Russ how beautiful her little girl was. Carol complied and Russ began writing to Carol. Carol was having a good time earning and spending money, mostly on clothes and furniture for her future home with Wendel Fultz. One day, Wendel suggested that Carol use some of her money to buy a cow so they could start a herd. The cow could be raised with his dad's herd until they had their own place. Carol said, "I thought about that for about half a minute." The engagement ended. Russ and Carol continued corresponding with Russ in the service and in June of 1944 they were married when he was on leave. The first year of married life found them in Petersburg, Virginia, while Russ finished out his service commitment. When the year was over, they moved back to Detroit, where Russ became a member of the Detroit Police force. Four sons were born to Russ and Carol in Detroit. Larry was their first-born followed by Randy, Mark and Craig. When Craig was in the first grade at school, Carol got a job working in the Detroit education system. Life was going smoothly and Russ and Carol decided to invest in 80 acres of land in Gladwin County and build a cabin. Every summer saw the Busick family heading back to North Dakota to spend time with Carol's family. Carol remembers vividly the vacation when she found a huge petrified tree stump while riding in the Missouri Breaks. Russ stayed back at the ranch to help Paul while Carol borrowed a horse from her sister Claressa and went riding. The Missouri Breaks is an area that runs for miles and miles along the Missouri River. "You could get lost out there and the best thing to do was let the horse take the lead," Carol said. "They always knew their way back home." Finding the huge petrified tree stump was a treasure and Carol decided to take a piece back to the ranch with her. Having nothing to wrap the piece of stump up with to put on the back of the saddle, she took off her blue jeans and used them. Riding back to the ranch she was so excited that when she saw Russ and her dad in the distance, Carol dug her heels into the horse's side and the horse took off running wildly across the prairie. Carol held on for what seemed hours before the horse tired herself out and rode back to the ranch at a steady gait. Seeing her, Russ exclaimed, "What in hell are you doing riding with no clothes on?" Russ decided to retire from the Detroit Police force and applied for a job with the State of Michigan. They moved to a country home near Midland. Their sons grew up, graduated from school and married. Their first son, Larry, was killed in the Vietnam War. He was 21 years old. Their grief was unbearable. When they retired, they bought a fifth wheel and traveled to every state in the United States. They traveled to Canada and Mexico. They traveled to Africa. To countries they had wanted to visit. Their last trip was to Copper Canyon in Mexico in the summer of 1999. Russ was having back trouble by then but he insisted on the trip. When Christmas came, Russ was in the hospital and he passed away on Feb. 18, 2000. An artist and a writer, Carol summed up her life like this: "My life was like our tree taken down by strong winds. There I was running barefoot on the prairie with my dog. Helping my dad plant trees. Reading letters from a young man that later became my husband. Our marriage. The rings of the tree told of our return to Michigan. My husband taking a job with the Detroit Police Force. The birth of our first son Larry. The rings turned and twisted with the birth of three more sons Randy, Mark and Craig. These were bright and beautiful years. Our lives full. The tree rings wide and bright. Seeing our sons grow into young men. The rings darkened to almost black. A year of unbelievable despair and sorrow. The loss of our son Larry in the Vietnam war. The rings gradually lightened. Our move to Midland. New jobs. A new house. Sons graduated. The rings brightened and widened as the years passed. Then our home seemed strangely quiet. The rings grew wider and brighter as we thought about retirement. Our first grandchildren. ...The last few rings at the outer edge were bright and hopeful. We are in our later years. No longer will I be able to sit under that tree. But I am thankful for the time we shared. And when I am no longer here, my spirit will be in the murmur of soft breezes that play among the branches of the tree that God has allowed me to share." @alextdaugherty Rep. Carlos Curbelo is headed to Key West with President Donald Trump tomorrow, but don't expect the duo to applaud the sunset at Mallory Square. The president will visit Naval Air Station Key West for a few hours on Thursday to receive a briefing from the Joint Interagency Task Force South, and Curbelo said Wednesday he'll join Trump on Air Force One for the quick visit. "Ill go ahead and break the news that I will be traveling with the President tomorrow, and will be arriving with him, and will be out at JIATF, and I am very grateful that he is taking the time to visit such a valuable asset for law enforcement, for our military, for our partners from other nations from the region," Curbelo said to U.S. 1 Radio News. "And I think for the Florida Keys it is wonderful that a president is visiting, taking the time to learn about a facility that is not only so critical for our national security, but obviously employs a lot of people in the Florida Keys." Curbelo doesn't have much of a relationship with Trump. He was the first Republican lawmaker to suggest Trump could be impeached and declined to vote for him in 2016. Since Trump assumed office Curbelo criticized some of his policy decisions like withdrawing from the Paris Climate Accord and recently called on EPA secretary Scott Pruitt to resign amid mounting ethics issues. Trump was in Hialeah on Monday to tout the tax bill, a law Curbelo helped draft, but Curbelo wasn't there. He was traveling home from the Summit of the Americas in Peru. Curbelo is in the midst of a contentious reelection campaign against Democrat Debbie Mucarsel-Powell in a Democratic-leaning district, and appearing with Trump in public could be fodder for his opponent. The event on Thursday is an official White House event and not a campaign stop, though Trump riffed about his 2016 victory in Florida on Monday. UPDATE (4/19): Here's what Curbelo talked about with Trump, per his office. I also appreciated the opportunity to travel with the President and his team," Curbelo said in a statement. "I was able to stress to him the importance of finding a compromise on immigration that protects young immigrants brought to our country as children and also strengthens border security. We discussed FEMA's role in hurricane recovery, Cuba, Venezuela, Colombia, and as we were arriving at our destination I shared with the President that sea level rise is increasingly a concern in the Keys and throughout South Florida." A 30-year-old Gladwin man has been arraigned on charges in connection with a meth lab discovered last week in Sage Township. David Arthur Prenger was charged after Gladwin County sheriffs deputies assisted a Michigan Department of Corrections agent with a probation check at a home in that township last Thursday. While at the home, authorities located evidence of methamphetamine production. To the editor: Over the past few months we have witnessed our students rise up to stand for racial justice and school safety. As a mom and former high school student, my heart is with our youth as they learn to identify and utilize their unique strengths and voices to bring awareness and positive change. With both of the demonstrations, Women of Michigan Action Network (WOMAN) was asked by the student leaders to stand near and support them. While WOMAN heeded the request because we do support the students, WOMAN's role was solely supportive. These courageous, driven students initiated and maintained all planning and leadership of the events. The notion that our children are our future is as true now as it's ever been, and our youth deserve our caring attention. Their lives are impacted by injustice and school shootings, and they need to be heard on the issues that concern them. We need to set aside any judgments we have so that we can truly hear the messages they are bringing for us all to benefit from. AMY PHOENIX Midland To the editor: The weekend of March 16, Midland Community Family Ministries hosted Dr. Greg and Erin Smalley for a "Weekend with the Smalleys." The two-evening conference focused on topics that are very relevant for today: (Friday) Parenting in Blended Families how to build a strong family foundation by forgiving past hurts, having an open heart, and creating new family traditions in a blended family context; and (Saturday) Secrets for Lifelong Romance recognizing the value your mate brings to the marriage and learning to nourish, cherish, and, dream together with your spouse. More than 400 people were in attendance, which is evidence of the value and importance of marriage and strong families in our community. We are grateful for the overwhelming support received from the community and would like to thank the many churches and people involved in putting together a magnificent event. The organizations that provided financial, advocacy, promotion and/or volunteer support are Assumption of the Blessed Virgin Mary Catholic Church, Christian Celebration Center, Coleman Wesleyan Church, Eagle Ridge Church of God, First Baptist Church Midland, First United Methodist Church, Floyd Church of God, Messiah Lutheran Church, Midland Evangelical Free Church, Midland Free Methodist Church, Midland Nazarene Church, Ministries of Hope, New Life Vineyard Church, Saginaw First Assembly of God, St. John's Lutheran, Sunrise Baptist Church and Trinity Lutheran Church. Without their investment, "Weekend with the Smalleys" would not have been possible. Special thanks to Midland Nazarene for graciously offering its facilities. We would also like to thank the Hampton Inn of Midland for its hospitality in hosting our speakers, as well as Domino's Pizza and Boulevard Lounge for their contributions. The collective experience, creativity and hard work of our many volunteers is essential to hosting practical and biblical programs in pursuit of our mission of making marriages and families alive and strong in our Mid-Michigan community. Check out our website for details on our next conference scheduled for March 2019. DIANE BROWN WILHELM MCFM Steering Team Legislation to name Gaylord VA clinic after Andrews moves to Senate @alextdaugherty Rep. Darren Soto, D-Orlando, is wading into the crowded Democratic primary to replace outgoing Miami Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen, endorsing State Rep. David Richardson. Soto is the first sitting member of Congress to make an endorsement into the race. He's also the first Puerto Rican member of Congress from Florida and a member of the Congressional Progressive Caucus. "David Richardson is a fighter for the progressive cause. During his years as a State Legislator he fought for social rights and civil liberties for DACA recipients, LGBTQ Americans, and incarcerated Floridians," Soto said in a statement. "His campaign for Congress has continued this trend with his support for Medicare-for-All, his calls for immediate aid to Puerto Rico, and his demands for gun reform nationwide. As such, I am proud to endorse his campaign for Congress, and look forward to serving with a progressive voice like David's in Washington, D.C." The Democratic primary also includes includes former Health and Human Services Secretary Donna Shalala, Miami Beach commissioner Kristen Rosen Gonzalez, former Knight Foundation director Matt Haggman and former judge Mary Barzee Flores. Shalala and Richardson have over $1 million to spend on the race after the latest fundraising quarter, though both have loaned money from themselves to their campaigns. Soto and Richardson served together in the Florida Legislature. "Im deeply honored to receive the support of Congressman Darren Soto," Richardson said in a statement. "Darren since his days as a State Legislature has become a national leader on progressive issues and has fought tirelessly for the people of Florida. Im happy to have his support as we approach the Democratic primary election on August 28th." National Democrats groups have largely stayed out of the primary for Ros-Lehtinen's seat and whoever wins the primary will be favored to flip the seat in November, though the Democratic Party lacks a Hispanic candidate in a majority-Hispanic district after state Sen. Jose Javier Rodriguez dropped out of the race last week. This is not the first time Russia has threatened to block the export to the United States of Russian engines for booster rockets. In May 2014, Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin, who was overseeing the space industry, said that Russia might suspend supplying the U.S. with RD-180 rocket engines in response to U.S. sanctions if they were going to be used for non-civilian purposes. However, Russia ultimately didnt suspend [export of the rocket engines], and another Atlas V launch vehicle fitted with precisely that Russian engine was used to launch two military satellites into orbit on April 15. This story began over 20 years ago. In July 1997, an American corporation, Lockheed Martin, signed an agreement with the Russian rocket engine manufacturer NPO Energomash to buy 101 RD-180 rocket engines for an overall amount of about $1 billion. They were supposed to be used in American launch vehicles to put satellites into orbit. We selected the RD-180 not only for its reliability and effectiveness but for the low price and short production times, said the then-director of the aerospace unit of Lockheed Martin. Their use in the launch vehicles that the company manufactured, according to the same director, made it possible to reduce the total number of engines in the rockets from nine to two. Russian engines are at least 10% more effective than their American analogs, a director of the Pratt & Whitney Corporation had said a year earlier. That company also participated in the agreement. The first launch of an American Atlas III booster rocket using Russias RD-180 engine (there were six such launched before production of the rocket was phased out) took place in May 2000, and the currently used Atlas V debuted in August 2002. Since then, Atlas Vs have been launched 77 times, and all of the launches have been successful. NPO Energomash says that it supplied in total over 80 RD-180 commercial engines (as of May 15, 2016) to the United States. In the last 11 years, United Launch Alliance (ULA), a joint venture of Lockheed Martin and Boeing that merged their aerospace departments in 2006, has been the main buyer of the engines. According to the original plan, Pratt & Whitney was supposed to move production of the engines to the United States by 2008. However, the deadline was moved to 2012 at some point, and two main arguments dominated: localization of production would require an additional roughly $1 billion, and secondly, setting up local production would take no less than five years. As a result, a decision was made to continue importing the RD-180 from Russia. However, in December 2014 the U.S. Congress put in place a ban on purchases of Russian engines for military and observation satellites as part of the sanctions against Russia for its annexation of Crimea and intervention in eastern Ukraine. The ban didnt cover contracts that had already been negotiated and were set to expire by 2019. A year later, in December 2015, the ban was essentially lifted and, just a few days later, ULA announced plans to buy 20 more Russian engines. Factograph had already given detailed accounts about domestic American research and development of own engines for launch vehicles, but one of the main questions remains the timing of the start of their actual operation. In particular, tests by ULA of its own new engine are expected to be completed no earlier than 2019, while tests of the new Vulcan launch vehicle will only be completed by 2022-2023.Therefore, as the Wall Street Journal noted last September, the United States may continue to buy the RD-180 from Russia through the middle of the next decade. But RD-180 is not the only product made by Russias NPO Energomash that the United States purchases. In December 2014, an American aerospace company, Orbital ATK, signed an agreement that not only included the purchase of 20 RD-181 engines, but also options for another two purchases , each one of them for another 20 engines. In total the project is worth an estimated $1 billion. Orbital ATK is using these engines on its Antares rockets, which are used to deliver supplies to the International Space Station (ISS). According to NPO Energomash, deliveries of RD-181 engines to the United States started in June 2015. A cost of a rocket engine is proprietary information but expert estimates do not differ greatly on this issue. According to one estimate, an RD-180 engine is worth $11-15 million; others say its about $10 million. But if NPO Energomash sold the United States nine RD-180 engines in 2014-2015, then those sales could total $100 million annually. That matches the estimates of some American experts. If these exports to the United States stop, it will create financial difficulties for NPO Energomash. Just the RD-180 sales alone accounted for half of its total revenues in 2015. The research director of the Russian Institute of Space Policy, Ivan Moiseyev, said four years ago: It is foolish to end exports of the rocket engine to the United States. It is clear that Americans wont suffer from it a lot and wont stop launching military satellites because of it. And we will have to end RD-180 production because nobody will need those engines anymore. However, the Russian Ambassador to China said in August 2016 that Moscow was negotiating with Beijing about selling rocket engines to China. NPO Energomash confirmed to the Financial Times this past January that the negotiations with China were continuing. The technology behind the RD-180 goes back to 40-year-old designs. However, Chad Ohlandt, a senior engineer at the RAND Corporation, told the Financial Times that it is three times more powerful than the YF-100, Chinas most modern engine. Rick Fischer, an expert in rocket technology in International Assessment and Strategy Center in Washington D.C., told the newspaper: Russia cant deny understanding that China is planning to obviously push them aside in this market. Three months ago, Russian Security Council Secretary Nikolay Patrushev said that Russia would continue to supply RD-180 engines to the United States despite the new U.S. sanctions. We behave correctly towards other states and fulfill those agreements we agreed to. I dont think we need to stop deliveries of those engines. I think that we will continue them. And Deputy Prime Minister Dmitry Rogozin said earlier that although NPO Energomash has solid contracts through 2020, there is a high probability that the RD-180 and RD-181 rocket engines can be supplied to the United States after that as well. Stopping the deliveries of these engines to the United States will seriously cut NPO Energomashs profits. Russian Institute of Space Policy research director of Moiseyev warned last fall that the company was already not very busy that business could get really slow. He again warned that any sanctions in the space industry will hurt Russia badly while the United States wont feel them at all. Adapted from the RFE/VOA Russian language fact check, Factograph.info: https://www.factograph.info/a/29173062.html For many, Alexis Taylors, gravity-defying voice is always going to be synonymous with British electro band Hot Chip. However, his extra-curricular activities are fast catching up with his output with the alternative, electropop maestros. With three solo albums under his belt (four if you count 2017s reworking of Piano, cunningly entitled, Listen With(out) Piano) as well as the techno stylings of Fainting by Numbers and the improv band About Group, there doesnt seem to many avenues left for him to explore. Nevertheless, On Beautiful Thing, Taylor has found the one thing that he hasnt tried before; using a producer. And not just any producer. With the help of Tim Goldsworthy, of DFA and LCD Soundsystem fame, Taylor further distances himself from the Hot Chip sound (as if there is such a thing), making room for a co-pilot to navigate him to new sonic destinations. Overall, the new approach works admirably. There is a pervading sense that both parties have turned on the taps and let their creative mojos flows energized by the freedom of experimentation with no outside pressures or expectations. Musically, the pair skew and scuff each others ideas as they weave in rattling beats, manic acid-house, and M.O.R balladry, with each song anchored by Taylors unmistakably unhurried, ruminative voice. The scratchy opening of Dreaming Another Life soon gives way to the rhythmic pulse of a rudimentary beat and warped squalls of guitar noise. Taylors plaintive voice is unmistakable, as it punctures the murky atmospheric backing. Before long the mood swells with the intensity of a gospel song as Taylor and Goldsworthy weave in electro-folk, sax and rolling synths to see it home. Each disparate musical idea integrating seamlessly into the mix. The contemplative mood is quickly shattered by the jittering house of dancefloor stormer Beautiful Thing. In actuality, a touching love song, the song is decked out with popping synths, splurges of white noise and sliced vocal samples. Like an acid house proton it whirs and shakes, getting the blood pumping like a lost 90s dance classic. The more mellow, Deep Cut, gracefully glides on a simple, echoing beat and Taylors heartfelt piano playing. A glorious R&B, electro-ballad, it highlights the range of Taylors vocals as he pleads dont get caught up in ideals. Roll on Blank Tapes adds flurries of echoing drums and rolling synths juxtaposed with gentle piano chords and Taylors measured, calming voice. Like much of the album its heart lies in the 1980s as Taylor nostalgically looks back at some of the criticism aimed at music and popular culture during that era with lines such as Home taping is killing music/ Dont you know / Skateboarding was never a crime / Dont you know? Before concluding with the line, drum machines have got no soul. Suspicious of Me quickly sweeps the listener up into a jazz-funk groove featuring gloriously spasmodic live drums. The piano ballad, A Hit Song would have, unsurprisingly, fitted perfectly on his Piano album. Taylor sounds particularly vulnerable as he wistfully opens the song with the lines I need a hit song / Straight to your heart song / Maybe Im headstrong / But I need to prove. Unexpectedly lost, he sounds as if he has slammed into the creative buffers with the desperate attempts at making a connection through his music becoming its own inspiration. The piano-led glam stomp of Oh Baby shimmies and struts like Paul McCartney fronting Big Star. Its a frothy, upbeat track. The kind of song that would have dominated AM radio in the 1970s. Theres Nothing to Hide is the perfect flipside as bluesy wah-wah guitar and sweeping electronics flow like the rise and fall of the ocean. I Feel You sounds like a lost Beatles ballad with Taylor sounding more like McCartney than ever. Closer Out of Time sounds fittingly like a song played over the credits of an 80s movie. Heavily influenced by Prince, Taylor sounds as confused as he ever has. His voice sounding uncharacteristically adrift, shorn of the more experimental elements that dominate the first half of the record. Beautiful Thing is Taylors most rounded and intriguing solo work to date. The various aspects of Taylors musical personality are covered but with a new found confidence and desire to take chances. The risk that Taylor has taken by allowing Goldsworthy to frame his vocals with bold, electronic experiments is an inspired one. A path you would hope that he will investigate further on future releases whatever they may be. You may think you know what youre in for from the opening chants of brand new track Ihawu by South African septet Bantu Continua Uhuru Consciousness. Strong vocal harmonies fill a space punctuated by steady percussion, stripped-down rhythm and melody to soothe the troubled soul. Listen longer, though, and youll hear the track build as B.C.U.C. goes deeper into indigenous spiritual traditions. The drums grow faster, the lyrics more insistent. A louder voice enters the mix, joined by woodwinds and syncopated beats to twist in the empty spaces left by the groundwork. As these elements spin together, they gradually grow ecstatic, anchored only by a late-entering bass before hitting one final frenzy at the end of the piece. Ihawu is a traditional shield used in battle, notes the band. It is about asking your ancestors, the group notes that these ancestors represent a higher power for strength to protect yourself, strength to face the challenges of life and push through them. The spiritual aspect of Ihawu is almost palpable in the near-heartbeats running through the song and in the calls throughout, sent both skyward and earthward, speaking to a connection between realms. Combining psychedelic rock, funk, and sometimes even hip-hop, B.C.U.C.s release of Ihawu comes ahead of new album Emakhosini, due out 20 April on Buda Musique. Its aim is to illustrate realities of modern-day Africa, some harsh and some, like Ihawu, more inspiring. The contemporary edge is clear here, in the clean contours of the music, but so is the way B.C.U.C. intends to honor metaphysical traditions and beliefs. Regardless of your own interpretation, listen after listen of Ihawu will have you discovering new sonic moments and markers every time, and B.C.U.C. will have you aching for some more soul-healing funk rock. Charleston, SC (29403) Today Cloudy with rain, occasionally heavy in the morning. Remaining cloudy in the afternoon. High 81F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 60%. Rainfall around a half an inch.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. @joeflech Recently-elected Miami Mayor Francis Suarez has long wanted to see his position turned into the city's chief administrator. He's launched an ballot petition effort to convince voters to change the city charter so he could run the city's day-to-day operations, as opposed to a mayor-appointed city manager. But right on cue, recently-returned Commissioner Joe Carollo has issued his sharpest criticism yet of the young mayor. He compared Suarez's effort to Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro's consolidation of power through a pro-government assembly he created last year that effectively supersedes the opposition-led congress. Carollo's barbs in a Miami Herald interview Tuesday underscored what onlookers expect from the relationship between the longtime Miami politician and the new mayor friction. "You look at what Maduro did with the Constituyente," Carollo said. "This is the Miami version." Suarez believes the change will bring more transparency, efficiency and accountability to a municipal government with a reputation for dysfunction. He tried twice before to get a strong mayor question on the ballot through the commission, both times finding little support on the dais. Now he's going to the ballot petition route. Read more. Miami University and the University of Dayton will use a new $400,000 grant from the Ohio Third Frontier Commission to create a technology validation and startup fund. The grant includes $200,000 in matching funds from the two universities. The award is part of a $2.1 million state program designed to help move new technologies from Ohio businesses and universities out of the lab and into the marketplace. The Miami University/University of Dayton Technology Validation and Start-up Fund is unique in that it involves a partnership between a private and a public institution in two JobsOhio regional marketsREDI Cincinnati and the Dayton Development Coalition. Some of the best new ideas and inventions are coming out of Ohios colleges and universities, said David Goodman, director of the Ohio Development Services Agency and chair of the Ohio Third Frontier Commission. We are helping to advance these technologies and get them to market where they can make a difference. In February, Miami University streamlined its intellectual property management by entering into a shared services agreement with the University of Dayton that allows Miami to leverage the University of Daytons resources. This new funding from the Ohio Third Frontier commission enhances this partnership by expanding the universities reach into tech validation and startups. In addition to each universitys respective intellectual property portfolios, Miami and Dayton will also mine the patent portfolio of the Air Force Research Laboratory. Miami University, through a separate agreement, has access to this portfolio through the Miami UniversityAir Force Research Laboratory Technology Commercialization Accelerator. Successful technology validation and startup funding will result in increased commercialization, as well as licenses to existing Ohio companies. The target for expected new deals is two to four startups at Miami and the University of Dayton. The goal is to generate at least one to two new licenses to existing young Ohio companies. Both schools launched new campuswide initiatives to increase entrepreneurship and to deepen their connections with their respective entrepreneurial ecosystems. Each university is nationally-ranked in entrepreneurship programs and will include their entrepreneurship students interacting with tech validation and startup funding projects. In her last event of its kind after 12 years as president of Planned Parenthood, Cecile Richards told a crowd of her Southern supporters that the organization's opening of a clinic that offers abortions in Charleston for the first time is "monumental." It is important to guarantee access to reproductive health care, Richards said, otherwise it "doesn't mean anything to have a right on paper." Richards came to Charleston on Wednesday afternoon to celebrate the ribbon-cutting of Planned Parenthood's new clinic with its donors, national leadership and facility staff. Commuters on Ashley River Road may have noticed the sign outside the baby blue building change from "Charleston Women's Medical Center" to "Planned Parenthood." Though the exterior of the building and the sign-waving protesters outside remain familiar, the clinic is almost unrecognizable inside, staff said. The building underwent major renovations in recent months to house Planned Parenthood's expanded clinic. The office has been accepting patients since the beginning of the year. Richards painted the opening as a sign of the organization's growth in the South, and said investing in Southern states has been one of Planned Parenthood's most important advancements in the past decade. "We're sending a message to politicians all across this state that we are unstoppable," she said. "This health center is proof that we're not just fighting back, we're pushing forward." Planned Parenthood stated in its most recent annual report that it provided services to 2.4 million men and women across the country. It administered 321,384 abortions in 2016, according to that report. In the past year, Planned Parenthood has faced national and state-level threats to its funding. In South Carolina, legislators most recently attempted to pass a "personhood" bill, which would have defined a person as a fertilized human egg. The Post and Courier reported the proposal has almost no chance of passing this year, but could be considered next year. On the federal level, an attempt to remove Planned Parenthood's funding failed last year. Republicans hoped to wrap a provision making the organization ineligible for those monies into proposed repeals of the Affordable Care Act. A Congressional Budget Office report predicted the move would result in thousands more births and fewer available women's health services to under-served communities. Gov. Henry McMaster issued an executive order in August ending public funding to health care providers that have affiliations with abortion clinics. "Every time an organization like Planned Parenthood gains any sort of foothold in one of our communities, its a problem," a spokesman for his office said Wednesday. "Thats why Gov. McMaster has fought to make sure no taxpayer money will ever again go to an abortion provider or any organization that affiliates with one." Federal law does not allow for public money to go toward abortions, except in cases of rape, incest or when the mother's life is in danger. Planned Parenthood's state funding takes the form of reimbursements through Medicaid. Rep. James Smith, D-Charleston and a candidate for the governor's office, attended the event as a supporter of Planned Parenthood. He said McMaster sent the executive order out "in order to use people's fears or prejudices to generate support for himself." He vowed to veto any personhood legislation if he becomes governor. The state's Medicaid agency's payments for Planned Parenthood's services have increased, according to the Department of Health and Human Services. They reimbursed for $72,867 in the 2016 fiscal year and $82,124 last year. Planned Parenthood has expanded what it offers in Charleston and across the country. Vasectomies will soon be available in Charleston. Richards pointed to transgender hormone therapy as one of its newest and most popular services. In an interview with The Post and Courier, Richards was confident about where she is leaving the organization. She said while she is worried about actions from state legislatures and the Supreme Court vacancy, support for Planned Parenthood has never been better. She cited a recent Fox News poll that found 58 percent of Americans support Planned Parenthood, while 49 percent have a positive view of the National Rifle Association. I dont think the politics of this president or this Congress reflect where the American people are, she said. The Kaiser Family Foundation reported last year three-quarters of Americans support continued federal funding for Planned Parenthood's services. Richards acknowledged the politics of the moment are enormously unsettled, but said she thinks that has little to do with reproductive rights. Holly Gatling, executive director of South Carolina Citizens for Life, accused Planned Parenthood of using abortion as a fundraising tactic, calling the group the "big box store of the abortion industry." Gatling's group was incorporated in 1974 and is an affiliate of the National Right to Life Committee. "Under the direction of Cecile Richards, Planned Parenthood began closing small, superfluous clinics that did not offer abortion, the income-producing product, and requiring all its affiliates to kill unborn children," Gatling said. "That is exactly what is happening in Charleston with Planned Parenthood's Abortion Empire." While legislators continue to push for laws limiting abortion and removing funding from the group, the crowd Wednesday afternoon was assured Planned Parenthood is pumping the gas pedal on expanding its presence in the state. PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 14:11:01 Paris, April 19, 2018 - Atos, a leader in digital transformation, today announces that it has been identified as a 'Leader' by global research and advisory firm NelsonHall in its latest Vendor Evaluation & Assessment Tool (NEAT) for Big Data & Analytics Services. According to the report, Atos has a comprehensive offering (including consulting and system integration services, platforms, reference architectures, and a well-developed set of industry solutions). The report cites Atos' strengths, including scale, CEO-sponsored strategic initiatives across all Atos' units, and a high level of investment in its portfolio of offerings and IP. The NelsonHall NEAT vendor evaluation study assesses 12 of the most significant service providers that deliver Big Data & Analytics services against their 'ability to deliver immediate benefit' and their 'ability to meet future requirements'. Atos was positioned as a Leader in both capacities for three categories: Operational Improvement Focus, New Business Model Focus and Overall. Commenting on the research, Dominique Raviart, IT Services Practice Director at NelsonHall, said: "Within IT services, the share of spending related to mature offerings will decrease which means vendors are now challenged to grow expertise in high growth offerings such as big data and analytics. With Atos Codex, Atos has invested in new technologies, addresses challenges such as fragmentation of software tools, and has created a large number of industry use cases. Atos is also investing in Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning to bring further automation in analytics, and NelsonHall views this investment as very positive." Elaborating on Atos' role as a leader in Big Data & Analytics, Sean Narayanan, Executive Vice President for Business Platforms & Solutions at Atos said: "We are proud to be recognized as a global Leader in Big Data & Analytics Services by NelsonHall. This ranking further validates our expertise and commitment to deliver data-driven business transformation to our customers as part of our Digital Transformation Factory strategy." Atos Codex is the Atos brand for business driven analytics, Internet of Things and cognitive solutions consisting of methodology, design labs, an open industrial platform factory as well as high-performance data analytics that provide a complete set of products and skills to design, build and run digital business platforms. To read the full NelsonHall report, please go to: http://go.atos.net/nelson-hall-big-data-and-analytics ### About Atos Atos is a global leader in digital transformation with approximately 100,000 employees in 73 countries and annual revenue of around 13 billion. European number one in Big Data, Cybersecurity, High Performance Computing and Digital Workplace, the Group provides Cloud services, Infrastructure & Data Management, Business & Platform solutions, as well as transactional services through Worldline, the European leader in the payment industry. With its cutting-edge technologies, digital expertise and industry knowledge, Atos supports the digital transformation of its clients across various business sectors: Defense, Financial Services, Health, Manufacturing, Media, Energy & Utilities, Public sector, Retail, Telecommunications and Transportation. The Group is the Worldwide Information Technology Partner for the Olympic & Paralympic Games and operates under the brands Atos, Atos Consulting, Atos Worldgrid, Bull, Canopy, Unify and Worldline. Atos SE (Societas Europaea) is listed on the CAC40 Paris stock index. Press contacts: Laura Fau - laura.fau@atos.net - +33 6 73 64 04 18 - @laurajanefau Lucie Duchateau - lucie.duchateau@atos.net - +33 7 62 85 35 10 - @Lucie_Duchateau This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: ATOS via Globenewswire PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 23:00:45 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Barksdale Capital Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Barksdale Capital Corp. (TSX Venture:BRO). has issued a press release with the following headline:Barksdale Completes Option over Four Metals Property, Santa Cruz County, Arizona; Grants Stock OptionTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Barksdale Capital Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Barksdale Capital Corp.Source: Barksdale Capital Corp. (TSX Venture: BRO)Date: April 19, 2018Time: 5:00 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Barksdale Capital Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 15:17:01 Consent Management Solution Empowers Marketers to Build Consumer Trust BlueConic Introduces Consent Management for GDPR BlueConic Boston, US Stephanie Hadley, 617-650-8147 stephanie.hadley@blueconic.com or Nijmegen, NL Floran Felan, +31 24 205 1000 floran@blueconic.com BlueConic, the worlds leading customer data platform (CDP), today announced availability of its GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) Consent Management solution. In addition to capturing individual rights requests associated with GDPR, the new solution enables marketers to request consumer consent for each intended marketing purpose, persistently store individual consent status in person-level profiles, and honor individual consent across their martech ecosystem by seamlessly integrating related data across systems. The new regulation presents an opportunity for marketers to build consumer trust in their brands, explains Cory Munchbach, senior vice president of Strategy at BlueConic. GDPR forces marketers to think carefully about the value of each piece of customer data that they collect. How will the data be used? Why would a customer provide this data? Those marketers that put customer perspective first will not only be successful in achieving GDPR compliance, but also in gaining loyalty from customers. BlueConic is the customer data platform for marketers that want flexibility and control over the consent management process to ensure it keeps up with their rapidly changing needs and audience-based tactics. From proactively asking consumers for consent, to monitoring the rates of consent given, and ensuring consent is synchronized across platforms, BlueConic puts marketers in control. Core capabilities within BlueConics customer data platform make GDPR consent management possible. Those capabilities include persistent person-level profiles that store individual-based consent along with other audience attributes, and the ability to manage known and anonymous audience data across all systems. Those capabilities include persistent person-level profiles that store individual-based consent along with other audience attributes, and the ability to manage known and anonymous audience data across all systems. BlueConic Helps Brands Make Connections Across Systems - Many marketers are intimidated by the idea of managing consent across the myriad of customer touchpoints and dozens of martech and adtech databases within their ecosystem. But BlueConics solution allows marketers to acquire consent within one platform and push it out to the other platforms. BlueConic has been the leader in enabling customer data compliance ever since the Cookie Law first hit the EU, says Martijn van Berkum, CTO & co-founder of BlueConic. With half of our customers based outside of the U.S, we are focused on delivering customer data solutions that empower marketers to adhere to global policies. Thats why weve gone above and beyond other customer data platforms by offering an end-to-end solution for GDPR compliance individual rights request management and consent management in one integrated solution. About BlueConic BlueConic, the worlds leading customer data platform (CDP), liberates marketers first-party data from all the disparate systems in which it currently exists, and makes it available wherever and whenever it is required by the marketer. More than 200 consumer and B2B brands, including Hearst Newspapers, Moen, T-Mobile, ING, Americas Test Kitchen, and American Kennel Club, leverage BlueConic to automate their first-party data collection across sources, unify it into robust, person-level profiles, and activate it in BlueConic or external marketing platforms to improve customer-centric engagement. Founded in 2010, the company is headquartered in Boston, with offices in Europe. Follow us on Twitter @BlueConic and Like us on Facebook. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005 PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-20 00:28:17 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for BTU Metals Corp.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - BTU Metals Corp. (TSX Venture:BTU). has issued a press release with the following headline:BTU Announces FinancingTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on BTU Metals Corp., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/BTU Metals Corp.Source: BTU Metals Corp. (TSX Venture: BTU)Date: April 19, 2018Time: 6:27 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of BTU Metals Corp. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 21:19:14 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Condor Resources Inc.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Condor Resources Inc. (TSX Venture:CN). has issued a press release with the following headline:Condor Resources Inc.: Recent Results at Hui[[115]]ac Punta Confirm High Grade Silver MineralizationTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Condor Resources Inc., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Condor Resources Inc.Source: Condor Resources Inc. (TSX Venture: CN, OTC Bulletin Board: CNRIF, FWB: KD4, WKN: A0JMY1, ISIN: CA20676U1049)Date: April 19, 2018Time: 3:18 PM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Condor Resources Inc. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 15:00:47 FSCwire / Press ReleaseThe following press release was disseminated by FSCwire for Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---Cranbrook, British Columbia (FSCWire) - Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX Venture:EPL). has issued a press release with the following headline:Eagle Plains Acquires High-Grade B.C. Graphite PropertyTo view this press release on the FSCwire website, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:If you would prefer, you can also view this press release as a PDF file, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser:For more information on Eagle Plains Resources Ltd., or to see additional press releases issued by this company, please either click on the link below, or copy and paste the link into your browser: http://www.fscwire.com/public-company/Eagle Plains Resources Ltd.Source: Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. (TSX Venture: EPL, OTC Bulletin Board: EGPLF, WKN: 588696, ISIN: CA2699062022)Date: April 19, 2018Time: 9:00 AM EDT--- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- --- ---The story mentioned above was issued on behalf of Eagle Plains Resources Ltd. and disseminated through FSCwire.About FSCwireFSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.), is a global newswire dissemination, SEDAR, SEDI, and EDGAR / XBRL service provider.FSCwire is a full service global newswire dissemination company and is fully approved by all exchanges in Canada and the U.S. Press releases can be distributed for all sizes of public, private or not for profit companies and any other organization requiring news distribution. In addition to individual companies; public relations, communications and investor relations firms trust FSCwire to distribute press releases for their respective clients.In addition to newswire dissemination FSCwire also offers EDGAR, XBRL, SEDAR, SEDI, and additional services for publicly traded companies. For more information, please go to our website: http://www.fscwire.com Maximum News Dissemination by FSCwire. http://www.fscwire.com Copyright 2018 - FSCwire (a division of Filing Services Canada Inc.) PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 13:50:03 Flowsion A/S Wins Horizon 2020 SME Instrument Grant for Automatic Glucose Control in Intensive Care Medicine Flowsion Hans J. Pedersen +45 4017 3150 Email: info@flowsion.dk Website: www.flowsion.dk Flowsion, the Denmark-based developer of continuous blood glucose systems for intensive care medicine, has won a prestigious European Commission Horizon 2020 SME Instrument award. The grant was awarded to assist in the development of an innovative automatic blood glucose control system, Glucostat, developed by Flowsion. Glucostat is expected to reduce mortality, morbidity, length of stay and treatment costs dramatically for intensive care patients compared to existing technologies. Its a welcome validation of our innovative, patented technology and a confirmation that we are addressing a really significant problem with a globally-relevant market opportunity, said Hans Jorgen Pedersen, CEO of Flowsion. Flowsion has already performed clinical studies with the system so we now that Glucostat will fulfil the demands of the intensive care units. With 5-8 % success rate the European Innovation Council SME Instrument awards are exceptionally competitive, and only 3018 companies across Europe were awarded a grant until now. This kind of technology is really crucial for intensive care medicine, where patients lifes are threatened every day. Glucose control has proven to be very difficult to perform for the intensive care units in hospitals world wide, and now getting a system that automatically helps performing blood glucose control will increase survival rate and lower treatment costs at the same time said Hans Jorgen Pedersen. Weve carefully studied several technologies and designed a solution that is really elegant and simple to use, but that also delivers an enormous value for patients, doctors, nurses and hospitals. The SME Instrument programme is designed to assist internationally-oriented SMEs in implementing high-risk and high-potential innovation ideas. It aims at supporting projects with a European dimension that lead to major changes in how business is done. About Flowsion Flowsion is a European medical device company focusing exclusively on the needs of intensive care unit patients. Flowsion will launch new projects later on with other continuous measurement and control technologies for the ICU patients. More information can be found at: http://flowsion.dk View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005 PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 20:09:01 Golar LNG Limited ("Golar") announces today that it has entered into a Preliminary Agreement and exchanged Heads of Terms ("HoT") for a Charter Agreement with BP Mauritania Investments Ltd and BP Senegal Investments Ltd, (together "BP") in their capacity as block operators. The HoT represents a commitment between the Parties to translate the key commercial terms into a full agreement and proceed with Front End Engineering Design (FEED) on the provision of an FLNG vessel to support the development of Phase 1A of the Greater Tortue / Ahmeyin field, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal. The Preliminary Agreement creates obligations on Golar to progress FEED work and be ready for a vessel conversion from July 1, 2018 onwards; which would be contingent on Project FID, expected end 2018. The vessel conversion would take place at Keppel Shipyard Ltd ("Keppel") building on Keppel's delivery of the FLNG Hilli Episeyo, utilizing Black and Veatch Corporation's PRICO technology. The Preliminary Agreement also includes an option, but not an obligation, for BP on a second FLNG vessel. In the event that FID is not taken customary termination fees apply. Golar CEO Iain Ross commented "This agreement with BP underscores the value that Golar's unique FLNG proposition brings to monetizing gas reserves to LNG at competitive prices. The FLNG contract shows solid long-term economics on an unleveraged basis. We are looking forward to building on the successful conversion of the Hilli Episeyo for Greater Tortue / Ahmeyin." FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future events and Golar's operations, performance and financial condition. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "project", "will be", "will continue", "will likely result", "plan", "intend" or words or phrases of similar meanings. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Golar's control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those factors listed from time to time in the reports and other documents Golar files with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Golar to predict all of these factors. Further, Golar cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Golar does not intend to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Golar's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Hamilton, Bermuda 19 April, 2018 Enquiries: Golar Management Limited: + 44 207 063 7900 Stuart Buchanan This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Golar LNG via Globenewswire PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-20 00:20:02 VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PayByPhone, the global leader in mobile parking payments, today announced that it will appoint Andreas Gruber as president and Chief Executive Officer effective June 1st, 2018. Francis Dupuis, the former President and CEO, will take over a position in Germany with parent company Volkswagen Financial Services AG. To provide additional impetus to the PayByPhone board, two new board positions have been created and as a result Maggie Clay (CFO) and Catherine Scott (Legal Counsel) will be appointed effective June 1st, 2018. During his time at PayByPhone, Francis led the business through significant growth and organizational change and leaves the company well positioned for continued success. "We would like to thank Francis for his strong leadership and look forward to building on his experience within Volkswagen Financial Services," Gerd Kunne, Vice-President of mobility unit at Volkswagen Financial Services, said. Francis is excited about working in the parent company, but is also grateful for his time at PayByPhone: "Working for the PayByPhone team has been an amazing experience; I will be cheering the team on from Germany!" Andreas, a former board member of PayByPhone, will take the reins of a company poised for global expansion. "With close to 20 years of international experience in the OEM business and with an extensive background in Strategy and Business Development, Andreas is the ideal candidate to continue to lead PayByPhone into a successful future," Lars Henner Santelmann, CEO of parent company Volkswagen Financial Services AG, said. Andreas Gruber is looking forward to the new challenge: "I have been deeply involved in the Parking business in recent years through my board appointments at PayByPhone and Sunhill technologies. Parking is today one of the key pain points for drivers around the world. I very much look forward to working with the team at PayByPhone and to delivering great products that will make the world of mobility an easier place for our customers." ABOUT PAYBYPHONE PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payments companies in the world, processing more than $400 million in payments annually. Through the company's mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. Contact: Name: Megan Smit Designation: Marketing Director, PayByPhone Global Email: msmit@paybyphone.com Mobile: (+1) 650 - 451 - 2489 This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: PayByPhone via Globenewswire Continuous product launches is supporting growth of the market as consumers get benefits from variety of options and low switching costs Point of Care Diagnostics Market PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 15:34:18 Press Information Coherent Market Insights 1001 4th Ave, #3200 Seattle, WA 98154 Mr. Shah CEO 2067016702 email https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/ # 784 Words 1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154CEO2067016702 The global point of care diagnostics market by Technology (Lateral Flow, Agglutination Assays, Flow-Through, Solid Phase, and Biosensors), By Application (Cardio Metabolic Testing, Infectious Disease Testing, Nephrology Testing, Drugs of Abuse (DoA) Testing, Blood Glucose Testing, Pregnancy Testing, Cancer Biomarker Testing, and Others), By End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Home-Care Settings, and Others), and Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and Africa) was valued at US$ 18,219.4 million in 2016 and is projected to exhibit a CAGR of 9.2% over the forecast period (2017 2025), as highlighted in a new report published by Coherent Market Insights. Point of care diagnostics offer advantages such as rapid diagnosis, increased access to innovative diagnostic tests even in remote areas, time and cost saving, and wide variety of diseases can be tested, and diagnosed under minimum amount of time.Request Sample Copy Of This Report: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-sample/1515 Increasing prevalence of chronic diseases such as cancer, diabetes, and cardiovascular conditions is expected to positively impact growth of point of care diagnostic market due to increasing demand form patients for rapid diagnosis and treatment. For instance, according to the World Health Organization (WHO), cancer was responsible for 8.8 million deaths in 2015, worldwide. Manufacturers are engaged in product innovation to minimize time require to perform test and costs associated with it along with improving medical outcomes. For instance, France based NG Biotech, and Australia based Atomo Diagnostics developed first fully integrated blood-based rapid test for detection of hCG levels in pregnancy in 2016. F. Hoffmann-La Roche AG launched point-of-care (POC) troponin test with improved accuracy at low concentrations to help diagnose heart attack patients at high mortality risk in 2015. Moreover, the company launched CoaguChek Pro II system to determine coagulation status of patients at all points of care in 2015. Alere, Inc. launched first-ever rapid diagnostic test, Malaria Ag P.f, for detection of asymptomatic malaria infection in May 2017.Browse 40 Market Data Tables and 44 Figures spread through 148 Pages and in-depth TOC on Point of Care Diagnostics Market by Technology (Lateral Flow, Agglutination Assays, Flow-Through, Solid Phase, and Biosensors), By Application (Cardio Metabolic Testing, Infectious Disease Testing, Nephrology Testing, Drugs of Abuse (DoA) Testing, Blood Glucose Testing, Pregnancy Testing, Cancer Biomarker Testing, and Others), By End User (Hospitals, Diagnostic Laboratories, Home-Care Settings, and Others), and Region (North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific, the Middle East, and, Africa) - Global Forecast to 2025Trinity Biotech plc. received CE marking for Uni-Gold H. pylori Antigen point-of-care test in 2014. The Uni-Gold H. pylori Antigen is a 15 min rapid test, used for diagnosis of Helicobacter pylori (H. pylori) infection and to monitor the effectiveness of treatment. Alere launched Alere iCup Rx Drug Screen through urine test for detecting commonly misused and abused prescription drugs in 2017. The test is a rapid urine test, which detects five of the commonly misused prescription drugs such as benzodiazepines, and buprenorphine. Moreover, Alere, Inc. along with its partner company GenPrime, Inc., launched point of care testing device, the xReader for work-place drug testing in 2016. In 2016, LifeScan, Inc. a Johnson & Johnson company launched new OneTouch Verio Flex blood glucose monitoring system with ColorSure technology, which is a simple, accurate and easy-to-use meter. It offers blood sugar test results for people with diabetes.Ask for customization: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/insight/request-customization/1515 Key Takeaways of the Point of Care Diagnostics Market:The global point of care diagnostics market is expected to exhibit a CAGR of 2% over the forecast period (2017 2025), owing to product launches by the key players such as Alere, Inc., and rising demand for rapid diagnostic testsStrong competition in the market has led to increasing focus on continuous development, as manufacturers strive to stay competitive in the market. This is expected to aid in market growth over the forecast periodBlood glucose testing segment is projected to hold dominate position over the forecast period, owing to applications in self-monitoring of blood glucose and is expected to generate maximum revenue over the forecast periodMajor players operating in the point of care diagnostics market include Danaher Corporation, Abbott Laboratories, Acon Laboratories, Inc., Hoffman-La Roche Ltd., Becton, Dickinson, and Company, Johnson & Johnson, Trinity Biotech Plc., and Siemens HealthineersTo know the latest trends and insights prevalent in the Point of Care Diagnostics Market, click the link below: https://www.coherentmarketinsights.com/market-insight/point-of-care-diagnostics-market-1515 About Coherent Market Insights:Coherent Market Insights is a prominent market research and consulting firm offering action-ready syndicated research reports, custom market analysis, consulting services, and competitive analysis through various recommendations related to emerging market trends, technologies, and potential absolute dollar opportunity.Contact Us:Mr. ShahCoherent Market Insights1001 4th Ave,#3200Seattle, WA 98154Tel: +1-206-701-6702Email: sales@ coherentmarketinsights.com Visit our news Website: http://www.coherentchronicle.com PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 08:21:01 SC Lowy Acquires Remaining Stake in Choeun Savings Bank SC Lowy Brad Smolar, 852 3405 1300 brad@smolar.com SC Lowy, an international banking and finance group specialised in fixed income, has acquired the remaining stake in Choeun Savings Bank in South Korea from Yuil PE, a private equity fund specialised in corporate restructuring buyout deals. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006 Choeun management and employees at head office in Seoul (Photo: Business Wire) The acquisition increases SC Lowys ownership of Choeun Savings Bank to 99.8% and represents a successful exit for Yuil, which initially co-invested alongside SC Lowy in October 2013. The investment for the remaining stake reaffirms our commitment to Korea, fully integrating the bank into our overall global strategy, said Soo Cheon Lee, chief investment officer of SC Lowy. We plan to continue to replicate our success in Asia across other markets with a focus on Europe, consolidating into a wider strategy with banking platforms to lead our core business in Asia and Europe. Since the original acquisition of Choeun Savings Bank in 2013, SC Lowy and Yuil have also completed the purchase of Golden Bridge Savings Bank and helped the business: expand its balance sheet to US$300m from US$100m; create a 15% return on equity from a loss-making position; and increase headcount to 57 employees from 20. During this process, SC Lowy has gained a good understanding of the Korean savings bank market and Yuil has achieved a significant investment gain and an enhanced track record. The acquisition of Yuils stake will strengthen SC Lowys position in Korea and is in line with its strategy of building a strong local presence with a long term commitment wherever it does business. After the successful transformation of Choeun Savings Bank, SC Lowy and Yuil will continue to work together on other deals in Korea and rest of Asia. About SC Lowy SC Lowy is an international banking and finance group specialised in fixed income. Private and employee controlled, the firm uses its balance sheet to facilitate primary issuance, secondary trading and investments focused on corporate bonds, loans, trade claims and special situations. Sector coverage includes energy, infrastructure, manufacturing, telecom & media, metals & mining, retail, financials, shipping and real estate for corporations based in Australia, Asia, Europe, the Middle East and the Americas. Headquartered in Hong Kong, the group was established in 2009 and currently has over 100 employees located across the worlds major financial centres. In addition to its traditional banking clients, SC Lowy has built a global institutional client network of over 800 international and regional banks, asset managers, hedge funds, private equity and pension funds, family offices and corporations. About Yuil PE Yuil PE is a private equity corporate restructuring buyout firm specialised in the financial and manufacturing sectors which includes machinery, metals, plants and the defense industry. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006 SC Lowy Acquires Remaining Stake in Choeun Savings Bank PR-Inside.com: 2018-04-19 14:05:01 SYDNEY, Australia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SpeeDx's ResistancePlus MG Positive Control kit has now been listed with the US Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for sale in the United States through the company's recently incorporated US entity, SpeeDx Inc. The announcement coincides with the FDA registration of the Australian parent company - SpeeDx Pty Ltd - as a Medical Device Manufacturing Establishment, and clinical trials remain on-track for the ResistancePlus MG assay.* The ResistancePlus MG Positive Control kit contains synthetic DNA to simulate Mycoplasma genitalium, as well as five mutations known to confer resistance to macrolide antibiotics. Macrolide-resistant M. genitalium is a challenging sexually transmitted infection (STI), and global management guidelines are currently being adapted to deal with the rise in resistance. "This is an important product in our portfolio," said Elisa Mokany, Chief Technology Officer for SpeeDx. "M. genitalium is very difficult to culture, and positive material for quality control can be hard to come by." SpeeDx's ResistancePlus MG assay is the first commercially available diagnostic test that simultaneously detects M. genitalium and genetic markers for antimicrobial resistance, and has been widely adopted across Europe, Australia and New Zealand since gaining CE marking in 2016. "We have a strong focus on tackling the global antimicrobial resistance problem," said Colin Denver, CEO of SpeeDx. "STIs are set to become the first incurable bacterial infections, and our ResistancePlus line of diagnostic tests empowers clinicians to make informed treatment decisions." About Mycoplasma genitalium M. genitalium can cause symptoms such as urethritis, cervicitis, endometritis and pelvic inflammatory disease. In recent studies, it has been found to have a higher prevalence than gonorrhoea. Like gonorrhoea, M. genitalium is evolving into a so-called STI superbug that is becoming resistant to many antibiotic treatments, leading to exceedingly difficult-to-treat infections and threatening global public health. Macrolide antibiotics, specifically azithromycin, are the first-line treatments for the rapidly growing problem of M. genitalium STIs, but resistance to these antibiotics has increased by up to 60 percent in several countries. This development led guidelines on M. genitalium infections in Europe and Australia recommending the molecular detection of M. genitalium be complemented with an assay capable of detecting macrolide resistance-associated mutations. About SpeeDx Founded in 2009, SpeeDx is an Australian-based private company with offices in London and the US, and distributors across Europe. SpeeDx specializes in molecular diagnostic solutions that go beyond simple detection to offer comprehensive information for improved patient management. Innovative real-time polymerase chain reaction (qPCR) technology has driven market-leading multiplex detection and priming strategies. Product portfolios focus on multiplex diagnostics for sexually transmitted infection (STI), antibiotic resistance markers, and respiratory disease. Currently, SpeeDx markets the only CE-marked and TGA approved commercial molecular test for the STI M. genitalium(ResistancePlus MG*) that combines detection of the disease with detection of markers for antibiotic resistance. For more information about SpeeDx please see: http://plexpcr.com * Not available in the US Contacts for SpeeDx: Madeline O'Donoghue madelineo@speedx.com.au +61 2 8212 8512 (ext 008) This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: SpeeDx Pty Ltd via Globenewswire ADVERTISEMENT Nestle Nigeria on Wednesday said it has added a new breakfast cereal to its lineup of products. The company, a food and beverage company, announced the launch on Wednesday at a breakfast meeting with the media. The new breakfast cereal, the company said in a statement sent to PREMIUM TIMES, is called Golden Morn Puffs. Speaking at the launch of the product, Aboubacar Coulibaly, Dairy Category Manager at Nestle, said 94 per cent of the grains and cereals used in the production of the cereal were sourced locally. Mr Coulibaly said Golden Morn Puffs is primarily targeted at school-aged children who could suffer impaired physical and cognitive development resulting from deficiency in key vitamins and minerals. He said, Golden Morn Puffs is made from maize, millet, oats and soya, and is fortified with grainsmart, a unique combination of vitamins and iron, he said. Food fortification is a strategy that Nestle has adopted to help address the burden of micro-nutrient deficiency. With 50 per cent of our portfolio already fortified with micronutrients, the introduction of Golden Morn Puffs breakfast cereal today is another step towards the fulfilment of our commitment to provide healthier, delicious food choices for all age groups, a journey we have been on for the past 57 years in Nigeria. We are very happy to announce to you today that the work we have been doing with local farmers for the past seven years on capacity building and grain quality improvement is yielding results. ADVERTISEMENT Radical South African opposition leader, Julius Malema, lashed out at bloody racists on Twitter Thursday, after an Afrikaner rights group said it would be prosecuting him for corruption. Bring it on bloody racists, you dont scare me at all. Im born ready! No white man will decide my destiny, the poor masses of our people will, Mr Malema tweeted after the group, Afriforum, held a news conference announcing the move against him. Gerry Nel, the prosecutor in the Oscar Pistorius murder case, will be heading Afriforums case, which relates to a lucrative tender awarded by a provincial department of transport to an engineering company Mr Malema as involved in. It is alleged the engineering company paid Mr Malema kickbacks in return for the spitfire politicians influence in their getting the tender in northern Limpopo province. The scandal first came to light several years ago but no prosecution has yet taken place. Mr Malema has always denied any wrong doing. Afriforum said it was bringing the abandoned case back because someone like Malema, who claims to represent the poor people and then plunders the state coffers to enrich himself must be exposed for who and what he really is. Malema was once the leader of the ruling African National Congresss influential youth league, but became disillusioned with the pace of change in South Africa under the party. He was expelled from the ANC and formed his own party, the Economic Freedom Fighters, which supports the return of white-owned land without compensation to blacks. He has become an influential player in local politics, known for his incendiary comments, and has a significant following. (dpa/NAN) ADVERTISEMENT South Sudanese authorities confirmed Thursday the shutdown of BBC relay stations in the country for failing to pay more than three years of broadcasting debts. James Chilim, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) Managing Director, told Xinhua in Juba that BBC was shut down for non-compliance to pay arrears in spite of a reminder in January. BBC has been using South Sudan broadcasting corporation premises for the last three years and three months without paying renting fees, Mr Chilim said Thursday. BBC relay stations, Arabic and English, in Juba and Wau have been off air for about two weeks now. Mr Chilim revealed to Xinhua that BBC had an agreement with the ex-minister of information and broadcasting cooperation, Barnaba Benjamin but the agreement was later concealed after establishment of corporation. SSBC gave them a verbal warning in March, 2018 and they ignored it. SSBC gave them several notices in writing through all communications channels but they ignored, he said. He said since January he had sent several emails to BBC management but failed to get a response, saying it was a breach of contract. However, BBC said it regretted SSBCs decision to stop broadcasting its news services to an audience of more than 400,000 in South Sudan, saying it is working to resolve the issue. In March, South Sudans media regulator suspended UN aided Radio Miraya FM citing failure to comply with the countrys media regulatory policies to register and obtain operating license. Media fraternity operating in the country have gradually come under warning and tight control from the regulator since it was established in 2016. In 2017, 20 foreign journalists were barred by the media authority from entering and reporting in the country. (Xinhua/NAN) ADVERTISEMENT The Senate has resolved to summon the Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, and the Director-General of the State Security Services (SSS), Lawal Daura, to brief the lawmakers on their investigation of the mace theft witnessed at the chamber on Wednesday. The mace was stolen from the Senate chamber by some hoodlums believed to be working for a senator, Ovie Omo-Agege on Wednesday. PREMIUM TIMES reported the complicity of security agencies in the theft. At about 11:50 a.m., a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Habila Joshak, handed over the mace to the clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori, after it was said to have been found under a bridge in Abuja. After over one hour of closed-door session on Thursday, the presiding officer, Ike Ekweremadu, confirmed the retrieval of the mace. This hallowed chamber supported by the House of Representatives demanded that the Inspector-General of Police recover and return the stolen mace to the Senate within 24 hours. Concerned colleagues and Nigerians who wanted to find out if the mace has been found have inundated me with calls and messages since last night. Let me therefore formally confirm to you that the mace has been recovered and returned by the police as demanded by this hallowed chamber. Mr Ekweremadu announced the intention of the Senate to invite Mr Idris and Mr Daura next week to brief them on whatever they have found out in their investigation of the matter. He added that the lawmakers have resolved that appropriate sanctions be meted out to all security personnel and individuals fingered in the invasion. Nevertheless, we believe there should be consequences for bad behaviour. We swore to uphold the laws of Nigeria and the principles of rule of law. It still beats the imagination of Nigerians and the civilised world that the attackers passed through several security checks and barriers of the National Assembly and gained access into this chamber and also escaped with the mace into the thin air despite the well-known fortified surroundings of this parliament. Therefore, we ruled that it will be a detour to the state of nature when life was lawless and brutish if what happened yesterday was allowed to go unpunished or to be swept under the carpet. It will never happen. Well get to the root of this matter. We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police and DG SSS to ensure that all those who plotted, aided, abetted and executed this dastardly affront on our democracy and belittled Nigeria before the international community must be brought to book to serve as deterrence to others. We will be inviting them next week to brief us. Mr Ekweremadu used the opportunity to again advocate for a decentralised police system which he said would have prevented the attack. He said, This incident has also brought to the fore the case many have always made for the decentralised police system. Ordinarily, a big institution like the National Assembly should have its own police apart from the sergeant-at-arms. However, the security of this parliament is fully outside the control of the National Assembly. Instructively, the same gangsterism that was witnessed here yesterday has been recorded in various state houses of assemblies. I want to assure Nigerians that we will never waver in the responsibilities they have elected us to shoulder. We will all stand together to defend this institution of the parliament and our democracy. We will never fear to legislate and we will never legislate out of fear. ADVERTISEMENT A High Court of the Federal Capital Territory has restrained the Nigeria Police, the State Security Service (SSS) and the Attorney General of the Federation from arresting or threatening a senator, Ovie Omo-Agege. The senator was briefly detained by the police on Wednesday after he was arrested at the premises of the National Assembly. Mr. Omo-Agege was suspended from the Senate on April 12 over his allegations that a bill for reordering of election sequence was targeted at President Muhammadu Buhari. The senator later apologised to his colleagues after the Senate had directed its Ethics & Privileges Committee to investigate the matter. The committee eventually recommended Mr Omo-Ageges suspension. However, on Wednesday, the suspended Senator resurfaced at the National Assembly. The Senate spokesman, Abdullahi Sabi, later accused Mr. Omo-Agege of leading the unknown persons who broke into the Senates session and carted away its mace. But in a statement Wednesday evening, the senator denied the allegation. He said he was at the National Assembly to resume sittings based on legal advice and his understanding of the current position of the law. The police later announced recovery of the mace, but said investigation was ongoing. However, Mr Omo-Ageges lawyers approached the court on Thursday seeking an interim injunction against further arrest or detention of the senator. The team of lawyers led by Aliyu Umar, a Senior Avocate of Nigeria, asked for courts protection for the embattled senator pending determination of a fundamental human rights case brought against the respondents. Court restrains Police, SSS from arresting Omo-Agege The judge, Ishaq Bello, granted the four-point prayers of the senators lawyers and adjourned the matter to May 6. Court restrains Police, SSS from arresting Omo-Agege Court restrains Police, SSS from arresting Omo-Agege The case is also reassigned to Court 30 for hearing. After more than 100 deaths and almost 400 confirmed infections, Nigeria in April recorded a sharp decline in the spread of Lassa fever. According to the Nigeria Centre for Disease Control (NCDC), the lowest number of cases in a single week since the beginning of the outbreak was recorded this month. Only five new confirmed cases of Lassa fever were reported in the week that ended on the 15th of April 2018, the NCDC said in its situation report released Thursday. The report stated that it is also the eighth week of continuous decline in new confirmed cases, showing that the efforts to control the outbreak are bearing fruit. This years epidemic is Nigerias largest on record, with confirmed cases in January and February alone exceeding the total number reported in the whole of 2017. The rate at which the disease was spreading became worrisome to the government, health workers and citizens, prompting a joint effort from the World Health Organisation, Nigerias Ministry of Health and the NCDC to stem the tide. The Minister of Health, Isaac Adewole, expressed delight at the report of the decline but warned that the epidemic is far from contained. I am happy with the reduction in the number of cases, thanks to the efforts that we have all devoted to this. However, now is not a time to rest on our oars. We will continue to intensify efforts to prevent, detect and respond to Lassa fever and ensure that Nigeria plays a leading role in the global efforts to tackle this disease, the minister was quoted as saying in the report. Prof. Isaac Adewole. Minister of Health The NCDC also warned in the report signed by its Chief Executive Officer, Chikwe Ihekweazu, that despite the reduction in cases, the period of highest risk of Lassa fever has not passed. It also reiterated that prevention of the fever is everyones responsibility. Prevention relies primarily on promoting good community hygiene to discourage rodents from entering homes. Other effective measures include storing grains and other foodstuff in rodent-proof containers, proper disposal of garbage far from the home, and maintaining clean households. All foods must be cooked thoroughly, and family members should always be careful to avoid contact with blood and body fluids while caring for sick persons. When symptoms similar to Malaria are noticed, visit the nearest health facility and insist on a rapid diagnostic test from the healthcare workers. The health body also urged health workers to continue maintaining a high index of suspicion for Lassa fever when handling patients, irrespective of their health status. Lassa fever should be considered in patients with fever, headache and malaise, in whom malaria has been ruled out with a rapid diagnostic test (RDT), especially when patients are not getting better. Health workers should adhere to standard precautions including wearing protective apparels when handling suspected Lassa fever patients, the report noted. The first Lassa fever case this year was confirmed in Ebonyi State when four people including three health workers died from the infection. Health workers are most times secondary victims who get infected while treating patients with the disease. Between 2005 and 2018, the infection claimed over 40 health workers in Ebonyi according to the state chapter of the Nigerian Medical Association (NMA). The illness was first discovered in Nigeria when two missionary nurses succumbed to the virus in 1969. Its name is derived from the village of Lassa in Borno State where it was first documented. The disease is endemic to a number of West African countries. There are estimated 100,000 to 300,000 cases of Lassa fever per year and approximately 5,000 deaths due to the disease. ADVERTISEMENT A former Vice President of Nigeria, Atiku Abubakar; a federal lawmaker, Ben Murray-Bruce (PDP, Bayelsa East); and former presidential aide, Reno Omokri, have reacted to President Muhammadu Buharis recent statement on Nigerian youth. The politicians took to their official twitter pages to condemn Mr Buharis statement, describing it as a lie and an act borne out of joblessness. The president on Wednesday criticised the attitude of some Nigerian youth, saying they were only hustling to get on the gravy train. More than 60 per cent of the population is below 30, a lot of them havent been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free, Mr Buhari was quoted as saying by The Cable during a panel appearance with world leaders at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London. The presidents comment adds to an earlier one he made criticising Nigerian youth. During a February 2016 interview with UK Telegraph, Mr Buhari said some Nigerians in the UK, mostly youth, are disposed to criminality and should not be granted asylum there. He was fiercely criticised for the comment, with many saying it failed to convey the reality of Nigerian youths exploits. In his reaction, Mr Murray-Bruce indirectly accused Mr Buhari of being the lazy one. Whoever says Nigerian youths are lazy should just buy a mirror and he or she will see the real definition of laziness! I have over 1000 Nigerian youths in my employ and not one of them is lazy, he tweeted. Mr Abubakar, a presidential aspirant, in his tweet swore never to call Nigerian youth lazy, adding that they are hardworking. Our youth are charting new frontiers; creating a huge tech industry on their own! Their entrepreneurial spirit, work ethic, and creative abilities are things of pride and should be applauded, encouraged and nurtured. I will never refer to Nigerias youth as people who sit and do nothing. They are hardworking. I should know, I have thousands of youths working for me all over the country who have been the backbone to our success, he said. On his part, Mr Omokri said the president was only describing himself as he sits at Ask Rock and does nothing. He is describing himself. He sits and does nothing at Aso Rock. He gets free housing at the Presidential Villa. He spends 103 days in London and we pay for it! Joblessness makes him talk anyhow!, he said. Other Nigerians have also reacted to the presidents mail with most criticising the president. Below are some reactions from Nigerians: If your governor and the senator from your constituency creates job to employ another one thousand people, and same is replicated all over, how many would be unemployed? Stop reasoning like a daft! Jude the Great (@GreaterPraize) April 19, 2018 I agree with president Buhari for the first time We are actually very lazy for allowing all these old cargos our job opportunity to lead? #2023 can't pass us by We thereby zone presidency to a youth? If you agree RT let's know if we are ready? Let's do this Great White Shark (@lagosfinest) April 18, 2018 ADVERTISEMENT PMB calling Nigerian youths lazy,2019 we will find out who is lazy between Nigerian youths and d President, my fellow youths get ur PVC ready. Abdulkarim (@Abdulka65545834) April 18, 2018 Even in your area some Niger Delta youths have refused to work. Then take a trip to Lagos and see youths who are chasing buses up and down collecting money from driver in the name of area boys, what of the omonile. Mr Uba (@maziubadire) April 18, 2018 5000 of us who are acclaimed winners of d 2017 rebranded YouWiN now called YouWiN connect are yet to b receive funds for our brilliant individual business' plans n u say youth are lazy?#fund5000YouWiNconnectwinners@MBuhari @HMKemiAdeosun @2017YouWiNconet @atiku @bukolasaraki Ruese Phil Precious (@RueseP) April 19, 2018 https://twitter.com/Heyweezey/status/986865321343639552 https://twitter.com/Thayodafidi/status/986873516711645184 thank you for your concernI STILL WONT VOTE FOR YOU SHA A-LY (@ali_biu335) April 19, 2018 Well that depends on the youths surrounding him. Go to Anambra and Abia, the human energy can power electric bulb Undiluted Water (@Surplux) April 19, 2018 https://twitter.com/olagladstone/status/986727789503172608 ADVERTISEMENT Gunmen on Wednesday killed four construction workers at Angwan-Rogo village in Jebu-Miango area of Bassa, Plateau State, the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) reports. Sources from the village told NAN that the workers were fetching sand for an ongoing construction work when the gunmen attacked them. Confirming the attack, Terna Tyopev, spokesman of the Police Command in Plateau, told NAN that the attack took place around 11 a.m. Yes, we received information of an attack on Angwan Rogo village; we can confirm that four persons were killed by the gunmen. We can also confirm that the men were labourers excavating sand for their construction work when they were attacked, he said. Mr Tyopev, who claimed that the attackers were herdsmen, identified the deceased as Adam Sunday, 38, Jatau Akus, 39, Chonu Awarhai, 39, and Marcus Mali, 22. He said the command had mobilised more personnel to beef up security in the affected area, adding that the corpses had been deposited at the Plateau Specialist Hospital, Jos. The police officer said that investigation had commenced into the incident, and vowed to arrest those responsible. He advised Plateau residents to report any suspicious movement to the security agencies. (NAN) ADVERTISEMENT Nigerias main opposition party, PDP, is holding an emergency meeting of its National Executive Committee. The meeting is being held at its secretariat in Abuja. The meeting is expected to discuss the problems within the party and the major happenings in the country. Details later Vice President Yemi Osinbajo has said the age of running for public office in Nigeria should not be a major issue in election to public office as much as competence and preparation of the individual. Mr Osinbajo stated this on Thursday in Abuja when the Not Too Young To Run movement paid a courtesy visit to State House to press for presidential assent to the age reduction bill. According to the vice president, it is not the age of political office holders that matters but their capacity to provide quality leadership for the country. Mr Osinbajo, however, said young Nigerians should be allowed to run for elective public positions as they have demonstrated capacity and competence in technology, education and other sectors of the economy. He said the President Muhammadu Buhari administration remained committed to supporting young Nigerians in different areas, including politics. The vice president urged young Nigerians to develop their capacities and skills in different areas so as to contribute to leadership, governance, national development and the economy. I think that whatever age a person chooses to run for office shouldnt matter at all; that for me is a fundamental principle, it really doesnt matter, even if youre much younger or older in age, the more important issue, my worry always is so much the preparedness of young people, the preparedness of anyone, young or old. Practically in any field, you are required to show competence. And in our developing economy, there is need for us to set the bar much higher, not in terms of age, but in terms of competence. We need to set the bar because we are a developing economy, because we dont have the time to waste on mediocrity. Mr Osinbajo further urged the group and young Nigerians to lend voice to the administrations campaign against corruption and for national development, saying they have the required education and capacities for public service. He lamented that Nigeria is the only country where public resource is taken with impunity, saying corruption shakes the economy of the country and must be tackled. The convener of the movement, Samson Itodo, said presidential assent to the Not Too Young to Run Bill will give young people opportunity to contribute their quota to the development of the country. VP Yemi Osinbajo, in a meeting with members of the Not too Young To Run Mr Itodo said democracy loses its vitality if the word inclusion is taken out of it, noting that inter-generational dialogue and values are key to the process of democracy We are not clamouring for the elders to leave the political sphere for young people. There is need to enhance the political process. Nigeria has inspired a global campaign across the world for youth participation in politics. These youth have the capacity, integrity and competence to hold offices which is why they should be included in the political process, he said. VP Yemi Osinbajo, in a meeting with members of the Not too Young To Run Meanwhile the sponsor of the bill, Tony Nwulu, representing Oshodi Isolo federal constituency at the House of Representatives, said beyond passing the bill, aspirants must belong to a political process and start a political process. Power is not given, it is taken. The vice president got to his position through the vote of the youth who voted for him and believe him, he said. Are young people ready? Young people are leading in agencies across the nation, we are bridging the education gap through technology, if young people are leading in agencies, why should we say they are not ready for political process, Bella Ndubuisi, a member of the movement said. VP with members of the delegates of the Not Too Young To Run According to her, a lot of young people have expressed intention for running in the 2019 elections. She askthe president to assent to the bill to enhance their chances. The National Assembly recently transmitted the Age Reduction Bill and 11 others to President Buhari for assent. ADVERTISEMENT This was sequel to a motion titled, Passage of Constitution (fourth) Alteration Bills, 2018, sponsored by the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekwerwmadu, and 49 other senators. VP with members of the delegates of the Not Too Young To Run The Not Too Young To Run bill was passed by the National Assembly in July 2017 and seeks to reduce the age for running for elective offices in Nigeria. The theft of the Senate mace by suspected thugs on Wednesday makes it the second time the upper legislative chamber of Nigerias National Assembly would lose its symbol of authority temporarily in controversial circumstances since the restoration of democracy in Nigeria in 1999. The thugs invaded the chamber and made away with the mace shortly after suspended senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, entered the chamber. Mr Omo-Agege, representing Delta Central Senatorial District, was suspended last week for alleging that his colleagues were against President Muhammadu Buharis re-election plans. He has since denied any role in the scandal, while the police early on Thursday said the mace had been found. Wednesdays incident was not the first time the Senate would temporarily lose its mace. The Senate temporarily lost its mace in 2000 when Chuba Okadigbo was its president. Mr Okadigbo, now deceased, presided over the Senate between November 1999 and August 2000 when he was replaced with Pius Anyim from Ebonyi South. Although, the mace could be said to have been desecrated on both occasions, the trigger and the manners of execution were remarkably different. While Wednesdays incident was outright theft of the mace after the chamber was invaded by thugs, that of 2000 resulted from a crisis that engulfed the Senate for weeks. Mr Okadigbo, who represented Anambra North Senatorial District on the platform of the Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), was alleged to have been involved in contract scandal during which senators opposed to him sought his removal from office. At the height of the crisis, the senate president in a bid to avoid his ouster, adjourned the Senate and took the mace away from the National Assembly to an unknown location. He was reported to have taken the mace to Ogbunike where he hid it for weeks. A former senator, Joseph Waku, explains the difference between the two incidents. Joseph Waku was the senator representing Benue North West District between 1999 and 2003. [Photo credit: Hope for Nigeria] In that case (2000), there was no breakage. We took it, it was not stolen. It was during our vacation. We were on vacation, he said. It was during Objs (President Olusegun Obasanjo) time and it was during a crisis. There was a plan to remove Okadigbo and we got wind of it and adjourned and took the mace. But the then Deputy Senate President, Haruna Abubakar, attempted to reconvene the Senate. They went and arranged for a fake mace but we intercepted it. Haruna wanted to preside as acting senate president. Mr Waku would not disclose where Mr Okadigbo took the mace to, preferring to do so in a book he is working on. He however said the late senate president did not take the mace away from Abuja to his village, Ogbunike, in Anambra State as claimed by opponents, saying we knew the mace had not crossed Nyanya (a satellite town in the federal capital territory). ADVERTISEMENT The former senator who represented Benue North Senatorial District likened Wednesdays invasion of the Senate to an attempted coup. He said the perpetrators should be brought to justice. He said, It is not just our democracy but also our security. The person behind this should be brought to book. That (National Assembly) is an institution. It is an attempted coup. He should be tried for treason. The mace is the symbol of authority of the National Assembly and the senate president is the chairman of the National Assembly. So it is an attempted coup and should be treated as such. ADVERTISEMENT The mace, which was stolen from the Senate on Wednesday, has been returned. The mace was stolen from the Senate chamber by some hoodlums believed to be working for a senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, on Wednesday. The Senate in reaction to the theft gave security agencies 24 hours to find the stolen mace. The police in the early hours of Thursday claimed the mace was found under a bridge in Abuja. Hours after this announcement, the police brought the mace to the National Assembly. At about 11:50 a.m., a Deputy Inspector-General of Police, Habila Joshak, handed over the mace to the clerk of the National Assembly, Mohammed Sani-Omolori. The Senate is yet to comment on the return as the lawmakers are currently in a closed-door session. ADVERTISEMENT The Presidency has spoken out on the controversy over remarks by President Muhammadu Buhari at a forum in London on Wednesday in which he criticised the attitude of some Nigerian youth. The remarks have drawn reactions from a cross section of Nigerians some of whom expressed disappointment or outrage. Reacting to the controversy through a statement by Mr Buharis spokesperson, Femi Adesina, the presidency insisted the remarks had been twisted by manipulators and mischief makers. Below is the statement by Mr Adesina: PRESIDENT BUHARI COULDNT HAVE DERIDED ALL NIGERIAN YOUTHS At the Commonwealth Business Forum in London on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, President Muhammadu Buhari gave a keynote address on Making Business Easier Between Commonwealth Countries. The presentation was followed by a discussion, and question and answer session. Responding to a question, President Buhari had cause to talk about some Nigerian youths, and he said: We have a very young population; our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. More than 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free. Typical of their stock in trade, manipulators and twisters of statements of Mr President, who lie in wait to make mischief, interpreted the comment to mean that President Buhari had taken all Nigerian youths to the cleaners. But elementary English recognizes a wide gulf between a lot of and the word all. How can a lot of them, suddenly transmogrify to mean all of them? Mischievous and unconscionable! There is no way President Buhari, father of the Nigerian nation in every sense of the word, who equally has biological children of his own in the youths age bracket, pass a vote of no confidence on all youths. It can only exist in the imagination of those who play what the President has described as irresponsible politics with everything. President Buhari has always applauded and celebrated Nigerian youths who excel in different areas of endeavour, from sports, to academia, and other realms. And he will continue to do so, because he values the youths, and knows that they are the fulcrum on which the future of the country rests. Indeed, every country has its share of idle population, and it is the bounden duty of government at all levels, to create an enabling environment for them to actualize their potentials. That is what President Buhari is committed to doing. The focal areas of the administration; securing the country, reviving the economy, and fighting corruption, are actually intended to give youths a future and a hope. This much was emphasized in an April 5, 2018 comment by President Buhari, while receiving Letter of Credence from the Head of Delegation of the European Union to Nigeria, when he said: Our insistence on probity is to encourage people to be accountable, and accept honesty as a lifestyle so as to secure the future of our youths. The President also said more than 60 percent of Nigerians fall into the age category of youths and deserve to inherit a stable and prosperous country that they can be proud of, adding that the government will work assiduously to prevent waste and the depletion of resources by corrupt Nigerians. It is futile for mischief makers to lie in wait, and take a minor part of the words of the President, and turn it into negative commentary, peradventure they could diminish the profile of the President. Nigerians across all walks of life know who is serving them faithfully and truly, and they will always reciprocate such fidelity as occasions demand. Femi Adesina Special Adviser to the President (Media and Publicity) April 19, 2018 ADVERTISEMENT Civil society groups are leading residents of Rivers in a protest walk in Port Harcourt against air pollution in the state. The protest, which is ongoing, had the people marching to the gate of the Government House, Port Harcourt, the Rivers State House of Assembly, and the office of the Department of Petroleum Resources (DPR) in the city. For more than a year now, Port Harcourt residents have been raising concern over the continuous emission of toxic soot into the environment by unknown persons or companies. It is time to take action against the soot, one of the protesting groups, We The People, bared its mind on Twitter, a few hours before the protest. Join us to call global attention to the poisoning of millions of Port Harcourt residents. We are taking the protection of our health and environment into our own hands! No human being should have to live with this level of pollution. Nobody should breathe this soot. But the people of Port Harcourt have no choice. Day in day out, they live in, they breathe, drink and get poisoned by the soot. It is unjust, it is a death sentence, the group said on Twitter. The protesters sang as they marched on. They symbolically covered their noses with masks to indicate what life has become in the city. The inscriptions on a banner read Rivers people deserve the right to clean and healthy environment and Kick out soot now. Sami Abel, a senior programme officer with one of the protesting groups, Stakeholder Democracy Network, told PREMIUM TIMES what he considers as the cause of the pollution. We know that artisanal refining is a problem, but the bigger problem is how the security agencies dispose off the seized products. Instead of them to look for better ways of disposing them, they just set them ablaze and the whole place goes up in smoke, Mr Abel said while appealing to the federal government and the Rivers State Government to rise up to the challenge of finding a solution to the problem. Meanwhile, the Governor of Rivers, Nyesom Wike, has accused the federal government and its agencies of being responsible for the air pollution in the state. The Ffderal government wants to eliminate a greater percentage of the state (population), Mr Wike said on Wednesday in Port Harcourt while addressing a visiting delegation from the United Nations. Kid at stop the soot campaign in Rivers The Rivers State Government does not own companies that refine crude. We have made representations to the federal government and her agencies on the issue of soot, to no avail. We have called on the security agencies to find more refined ways of destroying the illegal refineries. We have informed the National Council of Environment, the military and all federal regulatory agencies, but they are not interested in intervening, the governor said. FILE: Campaign walk against air polution in Rivers Mr Wike, who accused the federal government of organising people to protest in the state, threatened to sue the federal government. Stop the soot protest walk in Port Harcourt, Rivers State The federal government is using the soot as a political strategy, not knowing that it will fail woefully, he said. ADVERTISEMENT A former Speaker of the Ekiti State House of Assembly, Femi Bamisile, has said that although it is within the democratic rights of the Minister of Mines and Steel Development, Kayode Fayemi, to join the governorship race in the state, he (Fayemi) should not have done so as a statesman. Mr Bamisile, who is also vying for the ticket of the All Progressives Congress(APC) said the former governor was moving away from a position of certainty to an uncertain ground. The politician, who was fielding questions from journalists in Ado Ekiti on Thursday, noted that the ticket of the APC should have been zoned to the southern senatorial district of the state, having never produced a governor. For me, he (Fayemi) is exercising his constitutional right anyway. Yes, people are saying that he should not have entered the race as a statesman, but the truth is, he has to probe his conscience to do what he did. But if I were in his shoes, I wont have left certainty for uncertainty, Mr Bamisile said. For me I am going to this race to earn respect for myself. I am not really bothered about anybody contesting with me because I know it is not going to be a one horse race. I wont be the only one contesting this election. I have not really bothered about the character of the persons contesting with me. I am focusing on the delegates. If you dont forget, I have been in the race for about three and half years. I have been campaigning from house to house sensitising and galvanising support for the party. He appealed to delegates to shun financial inducements and vote the candidate who would be widely accepted by the people. I have always been an open-minded person when it comes to the issue of zoning. Even when I know that there is no constitutional backing for it but people from the South have been marginalised since the creation of our state. But as it is now, the issue has gone beyond zoning. We dont have control over that, I wont lie to you, he said. We can only appeal to the conscience of the delegates. If the delegates now want to sell their conscience for money, at the expense of winning the general election, they should know that the biggest spender may not be the best candidate. What we should look at now is how to dislodge the monster that we have as governor. Fayose as much as we hate him, is grounded in Ekiti State politics. So, we need someone who is acceptable, who knows the nooks and crannies of the state to actually take over the leadership of the party. Mr Fayemi, while declaring his intention to run for the ticket last week, said he had an unfinished business as governor of Ekiti State. He is among the about 37 persons who are vying for the APC ticket. He had also expressed concerns that other aspirants were not comfortable with his ambition, fearing this might hinder their chances of emerging the candidate of the party. On October 1, 1960, the Union Jack flag of the British Empire was lowered and replaced by a green and... VIDEO: What North-West governors are doing to improve Human Capital Development in their respective states El-Rufai Videos VIDEO: We have identified financiers of terrorism in Nigeria Malami Videos I Agree Our website uses cookies. By continuing to use this website you are giving consent to cookies being used. Visit our Privacy and Cookie Policy ADVERTISEMENT The Ekiti State Government on Thursday distributed job starter tools worth N7 million to 66 youth in the state under its Youth Empowerment and Social Support Operation, (YESSO). Presenting the tools to the beneficiaries, the Deputy Governor, Kolapo Olusola, reiterated commitment of the government to employment creation for youth, as the focus was to alleviate poverty among the less-privileged. Mr Olusola, represented by the state Commissioner for Budget and Economic Planning, Gbenga Olajide, stressed that selection of the beneficiaries of the World Bank Assisted programme was devoid of political or religious bias. He said those that benefited under the current phase were from Ado Ekiti Local Government, while other selected youths from Gbonyin, Oye, Ido/Osi and Ekiti West Local Government Areas would also benefit from the next phase of the programme. The deputy governor urged the beneficiaries to justify the huge investment on them by using the tools judiciously. He expressed confidence that the programme would serve as a good take-off point to creating source of livelihood with the beneficiaries becoming employers of labour, leading economic growth and development of the society. He urged officials of YESSO to monitor the usage of the tools to ensure that they are appropriately utilised. In his remarks, the Director General, National Directorate of Employment (NDE), Nasiru Ladan, commended Ekiti government for being the first out of the seven states participating in the Skill for Job programme to purchase starter packs for the graduates. According to him, 66 out of 70 youth trained in Ekiti were prepared to establish their businesses stressing that the programme was in the overall interest of the state. The tools distributed include; Small and medium size generators, welding machines, drilling machines, industrial sewing machines, deep freezers and gas cookers. Others are; high speed double presser machine, cutting machine, milling machine, tool boxes, laptop computers, soap and stove wick making machine, pumping machine and manual block moulders. The youths were selected from the single register generated by YESSO, with support of the World Bank and trained by the National Directorate of Employment (NDE) at various skills acquisition centres in various vocations. Some of the vocations include; hair dressing, make-up, welding material fabrication, phone/video coverage, computer operator, confectionery, alumnium fabrication, fashion designing, electrical installation, bricklaying services and animal husbandry, among others. (NAN) For the New World Order, a world government is just the beginning. Once in place they can engage their plan to exterminate 80% of the world's population, while enabling the "elites" to live forever with the aid of advanced technology. For the first time, crusading filmmaker ALEX JONES reveals their secret plan for humanity's extermination: Operation ENDGAME. Jones chronicles the history of the global elite's bloody rise to power and reveals how they have funded dictators and financed the bloodiest warscreating order out of chaos to pave the way for the first true world empire. Watch as Jones and his team track the elusive Bilderberg Group to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. to Ottawa and Istanbul to document their secret summits, allowing you to witness global kingpins setting the world's agenda and instigating World War III. Learn about the formation of the North America transportation control grid, which will end U.S. sovereignty forever. Discover how the practitioners of the pseudo-science eugenics have taken control of governments worldwide as a means to carry out depopulation. View the progress of the coming collapse of the United States and the formation of the North American Union. Never before has a documentary assembled all the pieces of the globalists' dark agenda. Endgame's compelling look at past atrocities committed by those attempting to steer the future delivers information that the controlling media has meticulously censored for over 60 years. It fully reveals the elite's program to dominate the earth and carry out the wicked plan in all of human history. Endgame is not conspiracy theory, it is documented fact in the elite's own words. Thiel College Director of Bands Andrew Erb presented his research, "The Effects of Socioeconomics on School Instrumental Ensemble Participation," at the recent Pennsylvania Music Educators Association. Thiel College Director of Bands Andrew Erb Contact Thiel College ***@thiel.edu Thiel College End -- Thiel College Director of Bands and Professor of Music Andrew Erb presented his research, "The Effects of Socioeconomics on School Instrumental Ensemble Participation,"to attending band directors at the recent Pennsylvania Music Educators Association, District 5 Jr. High Band Festival, held at Cardinal Wuerl North Catholic High School, in Cranberry, Pennsylvania."The National Association of Music Education, formerly the Music Educators National Conference, is the national organization to which the vast majority of music teachers belong," Erb said. "The National Association promotes music education for all students. Unfortunately, researchers have shown that certain populations, including those from low socioeconomic homes, are terribly under-represented in instrumental ensembles. This study was an attempt to uncover some of the potential reasons behind this phenomenon."PMEA approved the presentation for Act 48 creditcontinuing education credits that public-school teachers are required to earn to maintain teaching certificates. Erb's research explored socioeconomic factors that influenced students' decisions or ability to persist in instrumental ensembles. Erb recently conducted this study in a western Pennsylvania school district whose student population included more than 50 percent economically-disadvantaged students.Thiel College ( https://www.thiel.edu/ ) is a private liberal arts institution founded in the Lutheran tradition. Located in Greenville, Pa., the College offers 60 majors and minors, 25 varsity sports, and an 11:1 student-faculty ratio to more than 900 students. A dedicated faculty paired with dynamic research and internship opportunities produce numerous graduate school and job placements. Coeducational from its beginnings, the College celebrated its 150th anniversary in 2016 and remains committed to combining tradition with innovation. Registration is now open for the free six-week program, which helps caregivers learn how to care for others without neglecting themselves. Class size is limited, so advance registration is required for the six-week workshop. Family caregivers are more susceptible to illness than others (stock photo) Contact Area Agency on Aging ***@aaaswfl.org Area Agency on Aging End -- The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida (AAASWFL) will offer a free six-week program, "Powerful Tools for Caregivers" at its North Fort Myers headquarters. The six-week workshop starts May 22 and continues through June 26. The class is designed to help family caregivers take care of themselves while also caring for a friend or relative.Class size is limited and advance registration is required. Workshops will be presented on six consecutive Tuesdays from 1:00 p.m. until 2:30 pm.Caring for a loved one can be demanding, stressful, and a strain on physical health. Caregivers often sacrifice their own health and well-being while caring for a partner or family member. As a result, caregivers experience higher than average rates of depression, chronic illness, sleep deprivation, and poor nutrition.Powerful Tools for Caregivers is an evidence-based program that has been shown to improve self-care, reduce emotional strain, and increase confidence among participants. Workshop attendees also learn about community resources that may provide additional assistance. The May-June workshops are led by Sherry Young, AAASWFL Health & Wellness Coordinator, and JoEllen Keller, AAASWFL volunteer. Both are certified class leaders in Powerful Tools for Caregivers.For more information or to register for the six-week Powerful Tools for Caregivers workshop, call Sherry Young at 866-413-5337 or email sherry.young@aaaswfl.org.The Area Agency on Aging for Southwest Florida is a nonprofit organization serving Charlotte, Collier, DeSoto, Glades, Hendry, Lee, and Sarasota Counties. AAASWFL is the state's designated Aging and Disability Resource Center for Southwest Florida. The organization is committed to helping adults ages 60 and over and people with disabilities to live with independence and dignity in their own homes and communities. More information is available at http://www.aaaswfl.org or by calling the toll-free Helpline at 866-413-5337 (866-41-ELDER) Hales has over 20 years of experience acting as real estate counsel for closely held businesses, public companies, governmental entities, educational institutions, and religious organizations that serve the real estate, logistics, automotive, insurance, hotel, charitable, and military components industries. With considerable knowledge and expertise in real estate transactions, Hales assists both owners and lenders. He provides corporate real estate and general corporate counseling for real estate entrepreneurs, investors, lenders, and developers. "David is returning to McDonald Hopkins after an 11-year hiatus and we are delighted to welcome him back," said James Stief, chair of the Business Department at McDonald Hopkins. "His real estate know-how is an excellent fit for our clients and our firm." Earlier in his career, Hales was a certified public accountant at a Big 5 accounting firm in New York City. Hales earned his J.D., magna cum laude, from Boston University School of Law in 1996 and a Bachelor of Science degree from State University of New York at Binghamton in 1991. About McDonald Hopkins Founded in 1930, McDonald Hopkins is a business advisory and advocacy law firm that works with clients to deliver insight on the challenges of today and foresight for the road ahead. McDonald Hopkins has offices in Chicago, Cleveland, Columbus, Detroit, Miami, and West Palm Beach. With more than 50 service and industry teams, the firm has the expertise and knowledge to meet the growing number of legal and business challenges our clients face. For more information about McDonald Hopkins, visit mcdonaldhopkins.com. CONTACT: Deborah W. Kelm McDonald Hopkins LLC 600 Superior Avenue, East, Suite 2100 Cleveland, Ohio 44114 Phone: 216.348.5733 Email: [email protected] SOURCE McDonald Hopkins Related Links http://www.mcdonaldhopkins.com WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty-three years ago on April 19, 1995, an extremist turned his anti-government views into mass murder when he detonated a bomb packed inside his rental truck parked in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City. One hundred and sixty-eight people including children were killed and hundreds were injured when one-third of the building collapsed. On the 23th anniversary of the bombing of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in downtown Oklahoma City, the American Federation of Government honors the memory of the 168 people who died that day. Thirty-five sisters and brothers from the American Federation of Government Employees who worked in the Department of Housing and Urban Development and 16 in the Social Security offices died that day. On the 23th anniversary of the Oklahoma City bombing, AFGE honors the memory of federal employees that were so needlessly and suddenly lost. We mourn alongside the families who continue to grieve today. We renew our pledge to protect the health and safety needs of every federal government employee and combat the divisive and dangerous rhetoric against federal employees. The Oklahoma City bombing is a chilling reminder that federal employees have long been targets of crimes. One of the most recent examples is the death of TSA Officer Gerardo Hernandez, who was murdered at Los Angeles International Airport by a gunman who harbors anti-government views. In a separate incident, a man with anti-tax views flew an airplane into an IRS building in Austin, Texas, killing himself and an IRS employee. In an era where hateful, anti-government rhetoric regularly graces the internet and cable news, it's more important now than ever that elected officials and political pundits lead by example and refrain from making statements targeting our government and its workforce just to score political points. "Government employees go to work every day to make our lives better," said AFGE National President J. David Cox Sr. "They are medical researchers who find cures to diseases, they are environmental scientists who make sure our air and water are clean, they are doctors and nurses who take care of our veterans, they are law enforcement officers who keep our cities and streets safe, and the list goes on. If anything, they need more support and resources, instead of divisive rhetoric." As we're remembering the tragedy that happened in Oklahoma City 23 years ago, we need to do more than just honor the memory of those we lost, by doing everything we can to set the record straight on the importance of government institutions and the hardworking people who provide critical services to all Americans. The American Federation of Government Employees (AFGE) is the largest federal employee union, representing 700,000 workers in the federal government and the government of the District of Columbia. For the latest AFGE news and information, visit the AFGE Media Center. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube. SOURCE American Federation of Government Employees Related Links http://www.afge.org WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- "What do you want to be when you grow up?" Adults ask kids this question all the time. Bright Futures Press suggests that participating in events like the 25th annual Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day gives adults a chance to pay attention to their children's answers. Celebrated this year on April 26, the event involves millions of students, parents and employers and opens the doors to workplaces all over the country. It's a time for young people to look behind the scenes, ask questions and find out more about what adults do all day. Logo According to the Association for Career and Technical Education (ACTE), career exploration is particularly important for middle school students. Early career exploration engages students in active, age-appropriate learning and makes the most of developmental milestones like abstract thinking, problem-solving, and teamwork. Early career exploration is also credited as a highly effective school drop-out prevention strategy. "Starting career exploration in college is an expensive proposition," says author and publisher Diane Lindsey Reeves. "Getting an early start helps better prepares students to take full advantage of wonderful college and career readiness opportunities in high school and beyond. Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day offers many students their first step toward a bright future." How can you keep the momentum going after the workplace visits are over and the last class reports are given? According to Reeves, "High school used to be the entry point for career guidance activities. Now middle schools and even elementary schools are part of a more inclusive process. Parents will want to find out what their schools offer and encourage students to consider getting involved." One of the most common approaches is middle school career exploratory classes that cover everything from self-assessment and career options to employability skills and financial literacy. These types of classes lay important groundwork that can better inform high school course selection and college choices. Some middle schools also offer career and technical education classes that provide hands-on introductions to a variety of career pathways. CTSOs like Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) and SkillsUSA offer afterschool club activities including a dazzling array of local, regional, and national competitions that challenge students to make important discoveries about interests, talents, and skills. Parents can also use subtle teachable moments to draw attention to the work people do in everyday situations their family encounters. Dinner out at a restaurant, a visit to the hospital, a flight to another city all these present natural ways for children to expand their horizons and consider different types of career opportunities. Reeves has devoted much of her own career to helping students figure out what they want to be when they grow up. The website, www.CareersSheWrote.com, features her latest collection of 35 career exploration titles for middle-grade readers and offers free activity guides that parents and teachers can use to extend Take Your Son and Daughter to Work Day experiences. Diane Lindsey Reeves has spent many years and lots of ink helping students of all ages figure out what they want to be when they grow up. Her company, Bright Futures Press, along with partner Cherry Lake Publishing, recently co-published four nonfiction book series that feature creative hooks to spark curiosity and engage students in grades four through seven in interactive career exploration. The series include: Find Your Future in STEAM; Get a Job (introducing surprising opportunities in familiar places like the airport and hospital); Choose a Career Adventure (featuring cool jobs in some of America's coolest places like NASA, Hollywood, and the White House); and World of Work (showcasing each of the 16 nationally recognized career clusters). MEDIA CONTACT For more information or to arrange an interview, contact Diane Reeves [email protected] or 919-637-0194. RESOURCES Association for Career and Technical Education Career Exploration in Middle School: Setting Students on the Path to Success https://www.acteonline.org/uploadedFiles/Dump/ACTE_CC_Paper_FINAL.pdf Bright Futures Press http://www.brightfuturespress.com Careers She Wrote http://www.CareersSheWrote.com Family, Career and Community Leaders of America (FCCLA) http://www.fcclainc.org Skills USA http://www.skillsusa.org Take Our Daughters and Sons to Work Day http://www.daughtersandsonstowork.org Related Files ACTE_CC_Paper_FINAL.pdf Related Images bright-futures-press.png Bright Futures Press Logo new-creative-career-exploration.jpg New Creative Career Exploration Collection careers-she-wrote.png Careers She Wrote Author and publisher, Diane Lindsey Reeves find-your-future-in-steam.jpg Find Your Future in STEAM Related Links Bright Futures Press Careers She Wrote SOURCE Bright Futures Press Related Links http://www.brightfuturespress.com NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AJC praised the Senate Judiciary Committee for passing today the Protecting Religiously Affiliated Institutions Act of 2018. "The need for updated, stronger measures to deter, as well as punish, perpetrators of attacks on religious institutions is crystal clear," said Jason Isaacson, AJC Associate Executive Director for Policy. "We urge the full Senate to move quickly to adopt this bill, and President Trump to sign it into law." The House of Representatives overwhelmingly adopted a similar measure in December. AJC thanked Senator Orrin Hatch, former chair of the Judiciary Committee, and Ranking Member Senator Diane Feinstein for their leadership in shepherding the legislation to its unanimous adoption. According to the latest FBI report, hate crimes increased by 4.6 percent in 2016 compared to 2015. Anti-Jewish incidents continue to account for the majority of religious-based hate crimes, while incidents targeting Muslims rose nearly 20 percent over 2015. The new legislation builds on the Church Arson Prevention Act of 1996, expanding it to include religiously-affiliated institutions, such as schools and community centers, in addition to houses of worship. It clarifies that threats against, as well as acts that result in damage or destruction of religious institutions property are covered. "Freedom to exercise religion, to practice one's faith unhindered, without fear, is enshrined in the US. Constitution. This important legislation will provide a much-needed sense of comfort and security," Isaacson said. SOURCE American Jewish Committee Related Links http://www.ajc.org PLANO, Texas, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced that its Board of Directors declared a quarterly cash dividend of $0.57 per share on the Company's common stock, payable on June 19, 2018 to stockholders of record at the close of business on May 14, 2018. About Alliance Data Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) is a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. An S&P 500, FORTUNE 500 and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For company headquartered in Plano, Texas, Alliance Data consists of three businesses that together employ approximately 20,000 associates at more than 100 locations worldwide. Alliance Data's card services business is a provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, and business credit card programs. Epsilon is a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services, and also includes Conversant, a leader in personalized digital marketing. LoyaltyOne owns and operates the AIR MILES Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our expected operating results, future economic conditions including currency exchange rates, future dividend declarations and the guidance we give with respect to our anticipated financial performance. We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. Contacts: Investors/Analysts Tiffany Louder Alliance Data 214-494-3048 [email protected] Media Annabelle Baxter Alliance Data 214-494-3818 [email protected] SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation Related Links http://www.alliancedata.com PLANO, Texas, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Alliance Data Systems Corporation (NYSE: ADS), a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions, today announced results for the quarter ended March 31, 2018. Summary Quarter Ended March 31, (in millions, except per share amounts) 2018 2017 % Change Revenue $ 1,884 $ 1,879 -- Pro forma revenue $ 1,963 $ 1,879 +4% Net income $ 164 $ 146 +12% Net income per diluted share ("EPS") $ 2.95 $ 2.58 +14% Diluted shares outstanding 55.7 56.7 ******************************* Supplemental Non-GAAP Metrics (a): Adjusted EBITDA $ 525 $ 501 +5% Adjusted EBITDA, net of funding costs ("adjusted EBITDA, net") $ 437 $ 440 -- Core earnings per diluted share ("core EPS") $ 4.44 $ 3.91 +13% (a) See "Financial Measures" for a discussion of non-GAAP financial measures. Ed Heffernan, president and chief executive officer of Alliance Data, commented, "The first quarter's biggest accomplishment was the completion of the process to insource the collection of charged-off accounts. This effort has taken several quarters to complete and required us to absorb lower recovery rates during that period. Nonetheless, this investment was necessary to fully realize the value of this cash flow stream. This significant headwind to earnings and growth rate should become a tailwind as the year progresses." Heffernan continued, "This quarter's pro forma revenue growth of 4 percent and core EPS growth of 13 percent should reflect our softest quarter of the year. Specifically, higher reserve levels required to cover the transitory impacts of the internal recovery investment was an approximate $0.60 hit to core EPS for the first quarter. Moving forward, recovery rates should move in our favor." CONSOLIDATED RESULTS Revenue was $1.88 billion for the first quarter of 2018, flat with the prior year. Pro forma revenue which adjusts for the change to net revenue presentation for AIR MILES effective January 1, 2018 increased 4 percent. EPS increased 14 percent to $2.95 and core EPS increased 13 percent to $4.44 for the first quarter of 2018, both benefitting from lower tax rates and share count. Adjusted EBITDA, net was $437 million for the first quarter of 2018, flat with the prior year. SEGMENT RESULTS Quarter Ended March 31, (in millions) 2018 2017 % Change Revenue: LoyaltyOne $ 226 $ 333 ASC 606 adjustment (a) 79 -- LoyaltyOne pro forma revenue 305 333 -8% Epsilon 509 529 -4% Card Services 1,155 1,023 +13% Corporate/other and eliminations (6) (6) Total pro forma revenue $ 1,963 $ 1,879 +4% Adjusted EBITDA, net: Loyalty One $ 54 $ 59 -8% Epsilon 92 85 +8% Card Services 319 331 -4% Corporate/other (28) (35) Total adjusted EBITDA, net $ 437 $ 440 --% (a) Represents classification of certain redemption revenue recorded net upon the adoption of ASC 606, Revenue from Contracts with Customers, January 1, 2018. LoyaltyOne: Pro forma revenue decreased 8 percent to $305 million and adjusted EBITDA decreased 8 percent to $54 million for the first quarter of 2018. AIR MILES reward miles issued decreased 1 percent for the first quarter of 2018 improving from a 4 percent decline in 2017 and is trending to growth over remainder of 2018. In addition, BrandLoyalty's growing pipeline of programs already provides visibility into approximately 90 percent of its revenue guidance for 2018. Epsilon: Revenue decreased 4 percent to $509 million, while adjusted EBITDA increased 8 percent to $92 million for the first quarter of 2018. The decline in revenue is due to a 25 percent decrease in lower margin pass-through agency business. The resulting shift in revenue mix contributed to a 2 percentage point increase in adjusted EBITDA margins. Card Services: Revenue increased 13 percent to $1.16 billion while adjusted EBITDA, net decreased 4 percent to $319 million for the first quarter of 2018. Adjusted EBITDA, net was tempered by a $50 million allowance for loan loss build and an approximate $25 million market adjustment to the carrying value of held-for-sale receivables. Reiterating 2018 Guidance Revenue of $8.35 billion , representing an 8 percent increase, 12 percent on a pro forma basis. , representing an 8 percent increase, 12 percent on a pro forma basis. Core EPS of $22.50 to $23.00 , representing a 16 to 19 percent increase over 2017. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. Forward-looking statements give our expectations or forecasts of future events and can generally be identified by the use of words such as "believe," "expect," "anticipate," "estimate," "intend," "project," "plan," "likely," "may," "should" or other words or phrases of similar import. Similarly, statements that describe our business strategy, outlook, objectives, plans, intentions or goals also are forward-looking statements. Examples of forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements we make regarding our expected operating results, future economic conditions including currency exchange rates, future dividend declarations and the guidance we give with respect to our anticipated financial performance. We believe that our expectations are based on reasonable assumptions. Forward-looking statements, however, are subject to a number of risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from the projections, anticipated results or other expectations expressed in this release, and no assurances can be given that our expectations will prove to have been correct. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to, factors set forth in the Risk Factors section in our Annual Report on Form 10-K for the most recently ended fiscal year, which may be updated in Item 1A of, or elsewhere in, our Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q filed for periods subsequent to such Form 10-K. Our forward-looking statements speak only as of the date made, and we undertake no obligation, other than as required by applicable law, to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, subsequent events, anticipated or unanticipated circumstances or otherwise. Financial Measures In addition to the results presented in accordance with generally accepted accounting principles, or GAAP, the Company may present financial measures that are non-GAAP measures, such as constant currency financial measures, adjusted EBITDA, adjusted EBITDA margin, adjusted EBITDA, net of funding costs, core earnings and core earnings per diluted share (core EPS). Constant currency excludes the impact of fluctuations in foreign exchange rates. The Company calculates constant currency by converting our current period local currency financial results using the prior period exchange rates. The Company uses adjusted EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA, net as an integral part of internal reporting to measure the performance and operational strength of reportable segments and to evaluate the performance of senior management. Adjusted EBITDA eliminates the uneven effect across all reportable segments of non-cash depreciation of tangible assets and amortization of intangible assets, including certain intangible assets that were recognized in business combinations, and the non-cash effect of stock compensation expense. Similarly, core earnings and core EPS eliminate non-cash or non-operating items, including, but not limited to, stock compensation expense, amortization of purchased intangibles, amortization of debt issuance and hedging costs. The Company believes that these non-GAAP financial measures, viewed in addition to and not in lieu of the Company's reported GAAP results, provide useful information to investors regarding the Company's performance and overall results of operations. Reconciliation of Non-GAAP Financial Measures Reconciliations to comparable GAAP financial measures are available in the accompanying schedules, which are posted as part of this earnings release in both the News and Investors sections on the Company's website (www.alliancedata.com). No reconciliation is provided with respect to forward-looking annual guidance for 2018 core EPS as the Company cannot reliably predict all necessary components or their impact to reconcile core EPS to GAAP EPS without unreasonable effort. The events necessitating a non-GAAP adjustment are inherently unpredictable and may have a material impact on the Company's future results. The financial measures presented are consistent with the Company's historical financial reporting practices. Core earnings and core EPS represent performance measures and are not intended to represent liquidity measures. The non-GAAP financial measures presented herein may not be comparable to similarly titled measures presented by other companies, and are not identical to corresponding measures used in other various agreements or public filings. Conference Call Alliance Data will host a conference call on Thursday, April 19, 2018 at 8:30 a.m. (Eastern Time) to discuss the Company's first-quarter 2018 results. The conference call will be available via the Internet at www.alliancedata.com. There will be several slides accompanying the webcast. Please go to the website at least 15 minutes prior to the call to register, download and install any necessary software. The recorded webcast will also be available on the Company's website. If you are unable to participate in the conference call, a replay will be available. To access the replay, please dial (855) 859-2056 or (404) 537-3406 and enter "82317378". The replay will be available at approximately 11:45 a.m. (Eastern Time) on Thursday, April 19, 2018. About Alliance Data Alliance Data (NYSE: ADS) is a leading global provider of data-driven marketing and loyalty solutions serving large, consumer-based industries. The Company creates and deploys customized solutions, enhancing the critical customer marketing experience; the result is measurably changing consumer behavior while driving business growth and profitability for some of today's most recognizable brands. Alliance Data helps its clients create and increase customer loyalty through solutions that engage millions of customers each day across multiple touch points using traditional, digital, mobile and emerging technologies. An S&P 500, FORTUNE 500 and FORTUNE 100 Best Companies to Work For company headquartered in Plano, Texas, Alliance Data consists of three businesses that together employ approximately 20,000 associates at more than 100 locations worldwide. Alliance Data's card services business is a provider of market-leading private label, co-brand, and business credit card programs. Epsilon is a leading provider of multichannel, data-driven technologies and marketing services, and also includes Conversant, a leader in personalized digital marketing. LoyaltyOne owns and operates the AIR MILES Reward Program, Canada's most recognized loyalty program, and Netherlands-based BrandLoyalty, a global provider of tailor-made loyalty programs for grocers. Follow Alliance Data on Twitter, Facebook, LinkedIn, Instagram and YouTube. ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF INCOME (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Revenue $ 1,884.2 $ 1,879.0 Operating expenses: Cost of operations 1,047.0 1,086.7 Provision for loan loss 337.7 315.1 Depreciation and amortization 121.7 124.8 Total operating expenses 1,506.4 1,526.6 Operating income 377.8 352.4 Interest expense, net: Securitization funding costs 52.1 35.2 Interest expense on deposits 35.5 26.0 Interest expense on long-term and other debt, net 71.6 64.0 Total interest expense, net 159.2 125.2 Income before income tax $ 218.6 $ 227.2 Income tax expense 54.7 80.8 Net income $ 163.9 $ 146.4 Per share data: Weighted average shares outstanding basic 55.4 56.4 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 55.7 56.7 Basic Net income $ 2.96 $ 2.60 Diluted Net income $ 2.95 $ 2.58 ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED BALANCE SHEETS (In millions) (Unaudited) March 31, 2018 December 31, 2017 Assets Cash and cash equivalents $ 3,549.5 $ 4,190.0 Credit card and loan receivables: Credit card and loan receivables 17,819.1 18,613.8 Allowance for loan loss (1,169.3) (1,119.3) Credit card and loan receivables, net 16,649.8 17,494.5 Credit card and loan receivables held for sale 950.3 1,026.3 Redemption settlement assets, restricted 581.7 589.5 Intangible assets, net 739.8 800.6 Goodwill 3,890.6 3,880.1 Other assets 3,031.2 2,703.8 Total assets $ 29,392.9 $ 30,684.8 Liabilities and Stockholders' Equity Deferred revenue $ 918.0 $ 966.9 Deposits 10,485.0 10,930.9 Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities 8,121.5 8,807.3 Long-term and other debt 6,089.2 6,079.6 Other liabilities 1,777.8 2,044.8 Total liabilities 27,391.5 28,829.5 Stockholders' equity 2,001.4 1,855.3 Total liabilities and stockholders' equity $ 29,392.9 $ 30,684.8 ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION CONDENSED CONSOLIDATED STATEMENTS OF CASH FLOWS (In millions) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 (1) Cash Flows from Operating Activities: Net income $ 163.9 $ 146.4 Adjustments to reconcile net income to net cash provided by operating activities: Depreciation and amortization 121.7 124.8 Deferred income taxes (16.2) (12.2) Provision for loan loss 337.7 315.1 Non-cash stock compensation 25.5 23.5 Amortization of deferred financing costs 11.4 9.5 Change in operating assets and liabilities (108.0) (166.1) Originations of loan receivables held for sale (2,271.7) (1,852.2) Sales of loan receivables held for sale 2,312.8 1,847.9 Other 72.8 35.4 Net cash provided by operating activities 649.9 472.1 Cash Flows from Investing Activities: Change in redemption settlement assets (14.5) (137.0) Change in credit card and loan receivables 470.5 523.5 Capital expenditures (44.7) (46.6) Other (18.4) 1.5 Net cash provided by investing activities 392.9 341.4 Cash Flows from Financing Activities: Borrowings under debt agreements 685.0 1,763.2 Repayments of borrowings (706.5) (1,098.9) Net decrease in deposits (448.4) (188.7) Non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities 905.0 180.0 Repayments/maturities of non-recourse borrowings of consolidated securitization entities (1,590.0) (945.0) Purchase of treasury shares (415.0) Dividends paid (31.7) (29.0) Other (27.2) (29.5) Net cash used in financing activities (1,213.8) (762.9) Effect of exchange rate changes on cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (1.7) 2.4 Change in cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash (172.7) 53.0 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at beginning of period 4,314.7 1,968.5 Cash, cash equivalents and restricted cash at end of period $ 4,142.0 $ 2,021.5 (1) Adjusted to reflect the adoption of Accounting Standards Update ("ASU") 2016-18, "Statement of Cash Flows (Topic 230): Restricted Cash." The effect of the adoption of the standard was to include restricted cash and restricted cash equivalents at the beginning-of-period and end-of-period cash and cash equivalents totals. ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION SUMMARY FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS (In millions) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Change Segment Revenue: LoyaltyOne $ 226.3 $ 333.1 (32) % Epsilon 509.4 529.4 (4) Card Services 1,155.2 1,023.2 13 Corporate/Other 0.2 nm * Intersegment Eliminations (6.9) (6.7) nm * Total $ 1,884.2 $ 1,879.0 % Segment Adjusted EBITDA, net: LoyaltyOne $ 53.9 $ 58.7 (8) % Epsilon 91.6 85.0 8 Card Services 318.6 330.7 (4) Corporate/Other (26.7) (34.9) (23) Total $ 437.4 $ 439.5 % Key Performance Indicators: Credit card statements generated 77.8 72.2 8 % Credit sales $ 6,805.6 $ 6,579.2 3 % Average receivables $ 17,722.4 $ 15,685.4 13 % AIR MILES reward miles issued 1,226.2 1,235.9 (1) % AIR MILES reward miles redeemed 1,178.2 1,226.3 (4) % * nm-not meaningful ALLIANCE DATA SYSTEMS CORPORATION RECONCILIATION OF NON-GAAP INFORMATION (In millions, except per share amounts) (Unaudited) Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 2017 Adjusted EBITDA and Adjusted EBITDA, net: Net income $ 163.9 $ 146.4 Income tax expense 54.7 80.8 Total interest expense, net 159.2 125.2 Depreciation and other amortization 47.7 44.7 Amortization of purchased intangibles 74.0 80.1 Stock compensation expense 25.5 23.5 Adjusted EBITDA $ 525.0 $ 500.7 Less: Funding costs (1) 87.6 61.2 Adjusted EBITDA, net of funding costs $ 437.4 $ 439.5 Core Earnings: Net income $ 163.9 $ 146.4 Add back: non-cash/ non-operating items: Stock compensation expense 25.5 23.5 Amortization of purchased intangibles 74.0 80.1 Non-cash interest (2) 11.4 10.2 Income tax effect (3) (27.6) (38.3) Core earnings $ 247.2 $ 221.9 Weighted average shares outstanding - diluted 55.7 56.7 Core earnings per share - diluted $ 4.44 $ 3.91 (1) Represents interest expense on deposits and securitization funding costs. (2) Represents amortization of debt issuance and hedging costs. (3) Represents the tax effect for the related non-GAAP measure adjustments using the expected effective tax rate. Three Months Ended March 31, 2018 LoyaltyOne Epsilon Card Services Corporate/ Other Total Operating income (loss) $ 28.3 $ 7.3 $ 377.0 $ (34.8) $ 377.8 Depreciation and amortization 22.0 73.0 24.8 1.9 121.7 Stock compensation expense 3.6 11.3 4.4 6.2 25.5 Adjusted EBITDA 53.9 91.6 406.2 (26.7) 525.0 Less: Funding costs 87.6 87.6 Adjusted EBITDA, net $ 53.9 $ 91.6 $ 318.6 $ (26.7) $ 437.4 Three Months Ended March 31, 2017 LoyaltyOne Epsilon Card Services Corporate/ Other Total Operating income (loss) $ 37.4 $ (1.6) $ 363.1 $ (46.5) $ 352.4 Depreciation and amortization 19.2 77.9 25.7 2.0 124.8 Stock compensation expense 2.1 8.7 3.1 9.6 23.5 Adjusted EBITDA 58.7 85.0 391.9 (34.9) 500.7 Less: Funding costs 61.2 61.2 Adjusted EBITDA, net $ 58.7 $ 85.0 $ 330.7 $ (34.9) $ 439.5 Contacts: Investors/Analysts Tiffany Louder Alliance Data 214-494-3048 [email protected] Media Annabelle Baxter Alliance Data 214-494-3818 [email protected] SOURCE Alliance Data Systems Corporation Related Links http://www.alliancedata.com LEHI, Utah and SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, today announced that its Board of Directors has appointed Margo Georgiadis as Chief Executive Officer and member of the Board of Directors. Georgiadis will join the company on May 10, 2018. Most recently Georgiadis served as Chief Executive Officer of Mattel, Inc. and prior to that as President, Americas, at Google Inc. Georgiadis will succeed Howard Hochhauser, who has served as interim CEO since October 2017 while the Board conducted a comprehensive six-month search for a permanent CEO. Hochhauser will return to his role as Ancestry's CFO and COO. "I am thrilled to join Ancestry at a dynamic period of accelerated growth and innovation," said Georgiadis. "Ancestry is incredibly well-positioned for continued success and rapid expansion, as millions of consumers around the world embark on their journey of self-discovery with us. I am excited to help realize Ancestry's mission to connect the world and enhance our consumers' understanding of who they are and where they come from. In partnership with the world-class Ancestry team, together we will seek to drive the company to new heights." "Ancestry is at an exciting inflection point as we combine the world's premier online family history service with our market leadership in the hugely attractive and rapidly expanding sphere of consumer genomics," said Tim Sullivan, who served as Ancestry's CEO until September 2017 and is now Chairman. "After an extensive global search, it was clear that Margo is the ideal next leader of Ancestry as the company enhances its strong global position in fast-emerging categories and delivers unique personalized insights to our millions of current and future consumers." Bringing together science, technology and self-discovery, Ancestry's market-leading products and services leverage data and distinct content across family history and consumer genomics to provide consumers with valuable insights into their lives. In 2017, Ancestry generated more than $1 billion in revenue, an annual increase of more than 30 percent. The company has sold approximately 10 million AncestryDNA kits to date, reflecting a 115% year-over-year increase in sales in 2017. "On behalf of Ancestry's Board of Directors and lead investors at Silver Lake, GIC and Spectrum Equity, I am excited to welcome Margo to the company as our next CEO," said Stephen Evans, Managing Director at Silver Lake and member of Ancestry's Board of Directors. "Margo has all of the skills and experience we were looking for, with a unique background of successfully driving growth at scale across leading global Internet and consumer-facing businesses, and a strong track record of operating in growth-focused, technology-driven and data-rich environments." "I also want to thank Howard for his leadership as interim CEO," Evans continued. "Howard helped Ancestry maintain focus on our mission and continue to execute our strategy. Under his leadership, Ancestry's financial performance continued to be impressive, setting a sound foundation for 2018. Howard brings tremendous value to Ancestry and will continue to be instrumental in leading the company into the future." "Margo is the right person to lead Ancestry and capitalize on the dramatic new opportunities emerging for the company," said Hochhauser. "Margo's demonstrated management capabilities and the depth and breadth of her consumer and technology knowledge will enable Ancestry to continue to thrive." About Ancestry Ancestry, the global leader in family history and consumer genomics, harnesses the information found in family trees, historical records, and DNA to help people gain a new level of understanding about their lives. Ancestry has more than three million paying subscribers across its core Ancestry websites with an extensive collection of over 10 billion digitized historical records and has sold approximately 10 million AncestryDNA kits to date. Since 1996, users have created over 100 million family trees and 11 billion ancestor profiles on the Ancestry flagship site and its affiliated international websites. Ancestry offers a suite of family history products and services including AncestryDNA, Archives, AncestryProGenealogists, Newspapers.com and Fold3. AncestryDNA is owned and operated by Ancestry.com DNA, LLC, a subsidiary of Ancestry.com Holdings LLC. Media Contacts Patricia Graue / Harry Mayfield [email protected] +1 212 333 3810 SOURCE Ancestry NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- This Friday, April 20, 2018, hundreds of anti-Zionist Jews from the Orthodox community will hold a demonstration organized by Israel Versus Judaism in front of the Israeli Consulate in New York City [800 Second Ave], at 1:30PM. The purpose is to show their disassociation from the State of Israel and to decry its persecution of all who speak up against it. Friday marks the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel, and authentic Jews worldwide mourn the existence of the state. "The Zionist movement is about a transformation of Judaism from a religion to nationalism," said Rabbi Aron Jecobowitz, a spokesman for the rally. "The recent forced military draft, as well as cruel oppression of protesters, is another stage in their attempt to force the remaining authentic Jews to take part in their actions, which is totally contradicted to the laws of Judaism. "Jews are forbidden to create a sovereign state, wage wars against other nations or shed blood. The State of Israel is not Jewish at all, and its ongoing actions do not represent world Jewry. "The Zionist state's claim to be a Jewish state is the worst kind of identity theft. The ongoing crimes committed by the state against the Orthodox community prove once again that they don't represent the religious Jews living under them, let alone those around the world. "The brutal suppression of public demonstrations is a violation of universal freedom of speech, and forcing Jews to join an army that is opposed to their beliefs is a violation of freedom of religion." The demonstrators will be showing photos of recent cruel attacks by the Israeli police against religious Jews men, women and children - during a public demonstration in Jerusalem against the Israeli government and its actions. Leading rabbis visiting New York from the Holy Land will address the rally with first hand testimony about the arrest of boys and girls who resist the draft, as well as those who speak up on their behalf. Children at the demonstration will wear handcuffs as a symbol of solidarity with the children currently being beaten and arrested in the Holy Land. At about 2:15 the massive crowd will be a marching to the office of the Friends of the Israeli Defense Force, across of the Grand Central Station [42nd street between Park and Madison]. The Sephardic Jewish community in Jerusalem has also spoken out denouncing the Zionist state and its independence day. In a statement issued last week, the chief Sephardic rabbinic court of Jerusalem said, "Dear Brothers! The Jewish people, which has been through various exiles for almost 2000 years among the 70 nations of the world, remains faithful to G-d and His holy Torah. Now the Zionists have arisen and, rebelling against G-d, have established a state to uproot our belief and our Torah, a state of bloodshed and cruelty in the Holy Land and elsewhere, and war against the other nations. Therefore we make known our legal ruling that it is strictly forbidden to take part in their parades or to join in their celebrations in any way." For more info on the ongoing struggle of religious Jews in Israel against the Zionist regime, visit: www.israelversusjudaism.org SOURCE Israel Versus Judaism Related Links http://www.israelversusjudaism.org "We are excited to celebrate academic and personal achievements of our graduates during the campus celebration and commencement ceremony," said Dr. Craig Swenson, president and CEO of Ashford University. "The hard work our graduates have put into furthering their education has led to what is sure to be a memorable commencement weekend." On Saturday, May 5, Ashford will host a campus celebration at its San Diego headquarters, 8620 Spectrum Center Boulevard. Graduates and their guests can enjoy a variety of events and activities to include college mixers, a military appreciation event, honor society meet-and-greets, a graduation cap decorating station, and opportunities to have their picture taken with Dr. Craig Swenson and the University's mascot, Champ. For more information on Ashford's spring 2018 commencement, visit https://www.ashford.edu/online-learning-experience/graduation/ceremony-information. About Ashford University Where heritage meets innovation that's Ashford University. At Ashford, students discover relevant degree programs, innovative technology, and cherished tradition. Ashford offers associate, bachelor's, and master's degree programs online, allowing students to balance life by providing the flexibility to do school work anywhere, anytime. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, or www.twitter.com/AshfordU. Contact: Kathleen Park 858.513.9240 x11636 [email protected] SOURCE Ashford University Related Links https://www.ashford.edu NAPLES, Fla., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ave Maria School of Law's bar passage was ranked #2 in the state of Florida with 84.6 percent of graduates passing the February bar exam from a field of 11 law schools. "I'm extremely proud of our Ave Law alumni bar takers. We're thrilled to rank #2 with an 84.6% passage rate. This shows that our students are putting in the time and their hard work is paying off. I'm also proud of our faculty, our Bar Passage Program and the benefits it's allowing our students as a tool in prepping for the bar exam. Ave Law continues to grow stronger and I'm proud of every single individual who is a part of our community." Dean Cieply, President and Dean An important part of this success is due to the unique Bar Prep Program offered at Ave Law led by their Director of Bar Preparation, Chris Buscaglia, and his team. They are committed to prepping each person enrolled in the program with the tools to succeed. The recent results of the Florida bar underscore Ave Law's commitment to make successful bar passage the school's number one priority. Recruiting high performing students who will embrace the law as a vocation, who will act justly and who will stand for the principles advocated by our Founding Fathers are found in the men and women being educated at Ave Maria School of Law - https://www.avemarialaw.edu/. The Florida Board of Bar Examiners results for the February 2018 first-time takers were released by the Florida Supreme Court on Monday, April 16. ABOUT AVE MARIA SCHOOL OF LAW Ave Maria School of Law was founded in Ann Arbor, Michigan, in 1999 and in 2009 relocated to Naples, Florida. Ave Law was named the best Catholic Law School in the United States for the devout three times by The National Jurist's PreLaw Magazine, winter 2014 and spring 2016 and 2017 issues. Ave Law was ranked #1 Most Diverse Law School in the spring 2016 issue of PreLaw through a quantifiable study. The Princeton Review named Ave Law one of the nation's most outstanding law schools in the 2015 edition of its annual book, "The Best 169 Law Schools" and again in 2017 & 2018. The Law School was also ranked number one on the "Most Conservative Students" list in the book. Ave Maria Law has earned the 2017 & 2018/19 Military Friendly School designations by Victory Media, publisher of G.I. Jobs, STEM Jobs and Military Spouse Ave Maria School of Law is licensed by the Florida Commission for Independent Education, License Number 4007 and is fully accredited by the American Bar Association. SOURCE Ave Maria School of Law Related Links https://www.avemarialaw.edu MIAMI, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Babson College's Women Innovating Now (WIN) LabMiamia venture accelerator specifically for women entrepreneurswill have its finale event for the 2017-2018 cohort on April 26, 2018. The finale will involve a VIP reception, networking event, and a pitch competition where three of the WINners will pitch their businesses for a chance to win cash prizes totaling $8,000. Created by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (CWEL) at Babson College, the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab provides women entrepreneurs with an inspiring community and a rigorous, experiential process that catalyzes innovative thinking and enables them to successfully scale their businesses. "We are thrilled to be able to celebrate all the hard work of this year's WIN Lab Miami cohort at our finale event," says Babson's WIN Lab Miami Director Michelle Abbs. "These women have grown immensely through the last eight months, and we look forward to seeing the impact they will continue to make by growing their businesses." FedEx Corp. is an official sponsor of Babson's WIN Lab Miami, with funding equaling $400,000. As a part of this year's support, FedEx Corp sponsored a seat for one of the WINners, Nathalie Cadet-James, founder of Luxe Fete Social. WIN Lab Miami Finale When: Thursday, April 26, 2018, 78:30 p.m. Where: New World Symphony, 500 17th Street, Miami Beach Cost: FREE Register for the finale event Nathalie Cadet-James, Founder Luxe Fete Social Nathalie Cadet-James is the founder of Luxe Fete Social. Luxe Fete Social is a cutting-edge startup based in Miami, Florida, that is focused on transforming the party planning space by leveraging the power of the internet to enable millions of consumers to host luxurious dinner parties of their dreams. LFS offers highly curated themes, along with everything necessary for the party, that are typically only available through high-end party planners. Everything is delivered direct to their door at a fraction of the price via their rental program. A leading expert in the event planning and design industry, Nathalie has spent the last eight years planning events and weddings for celebrities, fashion houses, and other notable clients. Prior to that, she was a former attorney working at top law firms in Miami and clerking for a federal judge. Whether in a courtroom or a venue, she is deeply passionate about telling stories and creating spaces that connect people. She is the proud wife of SEC Attorney Brian Theophilus James and mother of two girls, Johanna James, age 10, and Lucca James, age 8. About FedEx Corp. FedEx Corp. (NYSE: FDX) provides customers and businesses worldwide with a broad portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. With annual revenues of $64 billion, the company offers integrated business applications through operating companies competing collectively and managed collaboratively, under the respected FedEx brand. Consistently ranked among the world's most admired and trusted employers, FedEx inspires its more than 425,000 team members to remain "absolutely, positively" focused on safety, the highest ethical and professional standards and the needs of their customers and communities. To learn more about how FedEx connects people and possibilities around the world, please visit about.fedex.com. About the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab at Babson Created by the Center for Women's Entrepreneurial Leadership (CWEL) at Babson College, the Women Innovating Now (WIN) Lab provides women entrepreneurs with an inspiring community and a rigorous, experiential process that catalyzes innovative thinking and enables them to successfully scale their businesses. Now in its fifth year, the WIN Lab has been designated as one of the top two specialty programs for Excellence in Entrepreneurship Education by the United States Association for Small Business and Entrepreneurship; earned BostInno's designation as one of Boston's "50 on Fire" innovators and visionaries; and was honored by the prestigious Rosoff Awards for diversity. Women entrepreneurs in both Boston and Miami can apply to become a member of the next cohort by submitting an application until May 31, 2018. About Babson College Babson College is the educator, convener, and thought leader for Entrepreneurship of All Kinds. The ranked college for entrepreneurship education, Babson is a dynamic living and learning laboratory where students, faculty, and staff work together to address the real-world problems of business and society. We prepare the entrepreneurial leaders our world needs most: those with strong functional knowledge and the skills and vision to navigate change, accommodate ambiguity, surmount complexity, and motivate teams in a common purpose to make a difference in the world, and have an impact on organizations of all sizes and types. As we have for nearly a half-century, Babson continues to advance Entrepreneurial Thought & Action as the most positive force on the planet for generating sustainable economic and social value. SOURCE Babson College Related Links http://www.babson.edu NEW HAVEN, Conn., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. (NYSE: BHVN) announced today that it will hold an investor event concurrently with the 2018 American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles, from 6:00 p.m. to 7:30 p.m. PT on Sunday, April 22, 2018. A live webcast of the event may be accessed from the Events page under the Investors section at http://www.biohavenpharma.com, with a replay available for 60 days. Biohaven recently announced successful achievement of both co-primary endpoints in two pivotal Phase 3 clinical trials of rimegepant, an oral CGRP receptor antagonist for the acute treatment of migraine. In each trial, rimegepant met the co-primary efficacy endpoints of pain freedom and freedom from most bothersome symptom (MBS) at two hours post-dose. During the event, a panel of migraine experts will discuss the potential therapeutic benefits associated with the rimegepant Phase 3 clinical trial results. Topic of Discussion: Rimegepant Phase 3 Update: Single-Dose Durable Headache Relief and Return to Function Endpoints. Pivotal trial presentation by Dr. Richard Lipton followed by migraine expert panel discussion. Migraine Expert Panel : DAVID W. DODICK , MD ; Mayo Clinic Arizona : Professor, Department of Neurology ; : Professor, Department of Neurology PETER GOADSBY , MD PhD ; King's College London : Professor of Neurology; and Director, King's Clinical Research Facility, King's College Hospital ; : Professor of Neurology; and Director, King's Clinical Research Facility, King's College Hospital SUSAN HUTCHINSON , MD ; Orange County Migraine & Headache Center : Director; President, Headache Cooperative of the Pacific ; : Director; President, Headache Cooperative of the Pacific RICHARD B. LIPTON , MD; Albert Einstein College of Medicine: Edwin S. Lowe Professor and Vice Chair of Neurology; Professor of Epidemiology and Population Health; Director, Montefiore Headache Center Webcast Biohaven will host a live video webcast of the event starting at 9:00 p.m. ET (6:00 p.m. PT). To access the video webcast with slides, please visit the "Events" page in the Investors section of the Company's website at http://investors.biohavenpharma.com/events. A replay will be available on the Company's website after the event. Institutional investors and analysts may RSVP to attend in person by contacting [email protected]. About Rimegepant Rimegepant is Biohaven's orally-dosed calcitonin gene-related peptide (CGRP) receptor antagonist, which the Company is developing as an acute treatment for migraine. Rimegepant represents a novel mechanism that targets the underlying pathophysiology of migraine without causing vasoconstriction. The efficacy and safety profile of rimegepant has now been consistently established across three randomized controlled trials to date: the two recently announced pivotal Phase 3 studies, and a previously reported Phase 2b study. The co-primary endpoints achieved in the Phase 3 trials are consistent with regulatory guidance from the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) and provide the basis for a planned submission of a new drug application (NDA) to the FDA in 2019. About Biohaven Biohaven is a clinical-stage biopharmaceutical company with a portfolio of innovative, late-stage product candidates targeting neurological diseases, including rare disorders. Biohaven has combined internal development and research with intellectual property licensed from companies and institutions including Bristol-Myers Squibb Company, AstraZeneca AB, Yale University, Catalent, ALS Biopharma LLC and Massachusetts General Hospital. Currently, Biohaven's lead development programs include multiple compounds across its CGRP receptor antagonist and glutamate modulation platforms. More information about Biohaven is available at www.biohavenpharma.com. For further information, contact Dr. Vlad Coric, Chief Executive Officer, at [email protected] SOURCE Biohaven Pharmaceutical Holding Company Ltd. Related Links http://www.biohavenpharma.com "At BJ's, we're committed to helping families meet basic needs, such as access to fresh, nutritious food," said Anna D'Addario, general manager of BJ's Wholesale Club in Columbia, Md. "We're proud to partner with the Maryland Food Bank to support its expansion efforts to help neighbors in need and end hunger." BJ's Wholesale Club opened its newest BJ's Gas location at 6345 Dobbin Road, Columbia, Md. on Thursday, April 12th, giving members even more savings. BJ's operates a total of 134 gas stations in the eastern United States including the new location in Columbia. "There are many ways to support your neighbors in need, and BJ's unique gift demonstrates the value of donations of all kinds," said Carmen Del Guercio, President & CEO of the Maryland Food Bank. "Gas and tires will allow us to effectively reach even more food-insecure people across the state, and we are grateful that BJ's understands the importance of being good community partners by helping us improve the lives of Marylanders in need." Additionally, through BJ's Feeding Communities Program, the club supplies unsold produce, meat, poultry, seafood, dairy and bakery products daily to reduce food waste and provide wholesome, fresh food to neighbors in need. Shoppers can learn more about BJ's Wholesale Club by going to www.bjs.com. About BJ's Wholesale Club, Inc. Headquartered in Westborough, Massachusetts, BJ's is the leading operator of membership warehouse clubs in the Eastern United States. The company currently operates 215 clubs and 134 BJ's Gas locations in 16 states. BJ's provides a one-stop shopping destination filled with top-quality, leading brands, including its exclusive Wellsley Farms and Berkley Jensen brands, along with USDA Choice meats, premium produce and delicious organics, many in supermarket sizes. BJ's is also the only major membership warehouse club to accept all manufacturers' coupons. Visit www.BJs.com, and for exclusive content find us on Facebook, Twitter, Pinterest and Instagram. BJ's is wholly owned by affiliates of Leonard Green & Partners, CVC Capital Partners and its management team. About the Maryland Food Bank The Maryland Food Bank is a nonprofit hunger-relief organization, leading the movement to end hunger throughout Maryland. For nearly 40 years, the Maryland Food Bank has partnered with communities across the state to distribute food to individuals and families in need. Through carefully-crafted programs, the food bank aims to meet the immediate needs of Marylanders while simultaneously working to find long term ways to reduce hunger statewide. Currently distributing more than 102,000 meals per day nearly 37 million meals annually the Maryland Food Bank will continue to expand its efforts until hunger ends. To learn more about the Maryland Food Bank, visit mdfoodbank.org. SOURCE BJ's Wholesale Club Related Links http://www.bjs.com NEW IBERIA, La, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BlueFin and Emerson announce that they have signed a working partnership agreement to deliver the Roxar gauge technology to the U.S. Gulf of Mexico (GoM) region. The partnership will deliver a combined offering of Emerson's Roxar Downhole Pressure and Temperature Gauge technology coupled with BlueFin's installation services and chemical injection systems. Emerson, a U.S. automation solutions-focused company, specializes in the design and manufacturing of high quality gauges for permanent installation in oil and gas reservoirs. The company's Roxar Downhole Pressure and Temperature Gauge product features quartz crystal measurements for reliable operation in the most extreme well conditions. The reliability, vast track record and new advanced high pressure and high temperature rating of the Roxar gauges brings a distinctive offering to the GoM region, empowering operators to efficiently explore new untapped reservoirs and make fully informed decisions throughout the well's lifetime. A more recent Roxar product announcement, the Downhole Wireless PT Sensor System, delivers field-proven wireless monitoring solutions with crucial well integrity data. This product feat measures real-time pressure and temperature in the B annulus behind the production casing in subsea wells. To date, the Downhole Wireless PT Sensor System has more than 28 successful deployments. BlueFin's Vice President of Completions, Wense Savala, added, "Emerson, with the highest quality of technology in areas of downhole pressure and temperature measurement, flow metering, corrosion and erosion monitoring solutions, and reservoir modeling, provides the tools operators need to help make informed decisions across the prospect lifecycle." BlueFin's Completion Services team's experience spans more than 20 years from various major oilfield service companies. This group was assembled as the first independent to offer upper completion solutions to improve response times to upstream operators both onshore and offshore. BlueFin's Executive Vice President, Kerry Broussard, said, "We are excited to see this partnership come to fruition to combine BlueFin's reputation for quality service with Emerson's reputation for quality products. Emerson has a reliable and robust Roxar downhole pressure and temperature measurement solution that has been proven in the North Sea and other areas for a long time. Through this partnership with Emerson, BlueFin will now be the only independent service company to have the depth to compete at a high level and deliver a full suite of products and services in multi-line systems. As our industry evolves, the need for new and advanced technology in the completions space continues to drive our focus." BlueFin, a GATE Energy company, is a Louisiana-based firm specializing in pipeline, process and completion services, specifically focused on technology to solve unique challenges within the energy community. For more information on Roxar, visit www.emerson.com/roxar For more information on BlueFin, visit www.bluefingrp.com For more information on GATE Energy, visit www.gate.energy SOURCE BlueFin Related Links http://www.bluefingrp.com The heart of this campaign lies with the five emerging artists selected to bring the sound of their respective city to life through original renditions of "Do You Wanna Dance?," including: Cam James ( Cameron James Williams ) Hip-Hop; Atlanta, Georgia ( ) Hip-Hop; Bass Physics ( Arja Adair ) Electronic Dance Music (EDM); Denver, Colorado ( ) Dance Music (EDM); Nathan Quick Blues; Houston, Texas Blues; Reptaliens ( Bambi and Cole Browning ) Rock 'n' Roll; Portland, Oregon ( ) Rock 'n' Roll; Calma Carmona Soul; San Juan, Puerto Rico As demonstrated through the styles of these artists, the United States' music scene is constantly evolving and each region has a unique story to tell. By being exposed to the sounds of electronic dance music (EDM) in Denver, the blues in Houston, rock 'n' roll in Portland, hip-hop in Atlanta, and soul in Puerto Rico, prospective travelers get a taste of the eclectic cultural and musical soundtrack the United States offers. Each version of the song balances the talents' creative flair with the energy and style of music inherent to their location, and together, they demonstrate the incredible diversity of people, places, and experiences available in the United States. "Music is a universal language that transcends language and cultural boundaries, and Hear the Music, Experience the USA presents an entertaining and highly engaging platform to showcase vibrant destinations across the United States," says Tom Garzilli, chief marketing officer of Brand USA. "The artists' passion for their cities shines through in each rendition as they reimagine a classic radio hit in a new digital streaming era. We're hoping their contagious energy connects with culture-seeking tourists across the globe and inspires them to experience the United States in a new way." Brand USA's partnership with Spotify will offer travelers the unique opportunity to explore the USA with 22 U.S. city soundscape playlists. "We're proud to partner with Brand USA, using music as an instrument to engage with international travelers and accessibly show the country's abundance of culture, innovation, and creativity," says Alex Faust, global head of Spotify's MAP team. Spotify creates each custom playlist based on the artists and genres that over-index in popularity with local users in each city. As such, each playlist reflects the current mood of the location, using music as a discovery travel tool, including everything from the upbeat Latin-inspired sounds of Miami, Florida to the industrial, Midwestern grit of Cleveland, Ohio. After listening to audio ads or viewing video content or digital display ads, Spotify users will be directed to the Visit The USA website to check out different cities, activities, and music. Visitors to the music landing music landing page on Brand USA's consumer website, Visit The USA, can immerse themselves in the captivating and unique sounds from several noteworthy locations, learn about the five artists, listen to the 22 city-inspired Spotify playlists, look at photos, and explore suggested activities waiting to be experienced. The Hear the Music, Experience the USA content and all of the rich features on the music page will be featured in native languages in the following markets: Australia, Brazil, Canada, Chile, Colombia, France, Germany, India, Japan, Korea, Mexico, Sweden, and the United Kingdom. Hear The Music, Experience the USA represents a collaboration between Brand USA and Mustache, the creative agency responsible for identifying the song, artists, and conceiving and producing the creative centered on the unique power of American music as a cultural lens. MediaCom, Brand USA's global media agency, provided the traveler insights and performance data underpinning the partnership. The focus on sound in the campaign aligns with Brand USA's new large format film, "America's Musical Journey," which explores America's history through its distinctive music and sound. The integrated campaign and film engage the ears and the eyes, and from small screen to big screen and everything in between, delivers an immersive experience for consumers. Discover more about America's rich musical culture and the diversity of experiences the USA has to offer at Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com and follow Visit The USA on Facebook, Twitter, and Instagram. About Brand USA Brand USA, the destination marketing organization for the United States, was established by the Travel Promotion Act as the nation's first public-private partnership to promote the United States as a premier travel destination and to communicate U.S. travel policies and procedures to worldwide travelers. The organization's mission is to increase international visitation to the USA in order to fuel the U.S. economy and enhance the image of the United States worldwide. Formed as the Corporation for Travel Promotion in 2010, the public-private entity began operations in May 2011 and does business as Brand USA. According to studies by Oxford Economics, over the past four years Brand USA's marketing initiatives have helped welcome 4.3 million incremental visitors to the USA, benefiting the U.S. economy with nearly $30 billion in total economic impact, which has supported, on average, 51,000 incremental jobs a year. For industry or partner information about Brand USA, visit TheBrandUSA.com. For information about exceptional and unexpected travel experiences in the United States, please visit Brand USA's consumer website VisitTheUSA.com (global). About Spotify Spotify transformed music listening forever when we launched in 2008. Our mission is to unlock the potential of human creativity by giving a million creative artists the opportunity to live off their art and billions of fans the opportunity to enjoy and be inspired by these creators. Everything we do is driven by our love for music. Discover, manage, and share over 35 million tracks for free, or upgrade to Spotify Premium to access exclusive features including offline mode, improved sound quality, Spotify Connect and ad-free listening. Today, we are the world's largest music streaming subscription service with a community of over 159 million users, including over 71 million Spotify Premium subscribers, across 61 markets. For more information, images, or to contact the press team, please head over to our press page at http://press.spotify.com/. About Mustache: Mustache is content-first agency that specialized in scripted, unscripted, live action, animation, short form, long form, TV, social media, commercial, branded content and beyond. The New York-based agency, staffed with a passionate and diverse set of multi-hyphenate creators and doers, is poised to craft soup-to-nuts, visually-stunning, imaginative, thoughtful, and sometimes hilarious content and campaigns for any platform. Mustache is the future of creativity. For more information, please visit https://www.mustacheagency.com/. About MediaCom MediaCom is "The Content + Connections Agency," working on behalf of its clients to leverage their brands' entire system of communications across paid, owned and earned channels to deliver a step change in their business outcomes. MediaCom is one of the world's leading media communications specialists, with billings of US$33 billion (Source: RECMA June 2017), employing 7,000 people in 125 offices across 100 countries. Its global client roster includes: Dell, Coca-Cola (TCCC), Mars, NBC Universal, P&G, PSA, Sony, Shell and Richemont. The agency was recently named Global Agency of the Year at the 2017 M&M Awards, an accolade it has been awarded 7 times in the past 9 years and FOM Global Agency Network of the Year in 2017, winning an unprecedented 18 awards. MediaCom is a member of WPP, the world's largest marketing communications services group, and part of GroupM, WPP's consolidated media investment management arm. For more information, visit www.mediacom.com Find us on Twitter @mediacomglobal Like us on Facebook at facebook.com/MediaComGlobalNews Join us on LinkedIn at linkedin.com/company/Mediacom Media Contacts: Brand USA Brand USA Monica Ceballos Tracy Lanza 202.650.7706 202.735.2316 [email protected] [email protected] SOURCE Brand USA Related Links http://TheBrandUSA.com RESTON, Va., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Sallyport Global Holdings is proud to welcome Brigadier General (Ret.) Steven Anderson as the company's new Chief Growth Officer. General Anderson will join Sallyport on April 23, 2018, to lead the company's business development and oversee its Global Mission Support and Security and Risk Management operations. "General Anderson has distinguished himself with an impressive career that includes more than four decades of military service and private sector work overseeing complex logistics and security operations," said Victor Esposito, CEO of Sallyport Global. "At Sallyport, we pride ourselves on a commitment to excellence and dedication to the mission, and General Anderson has admirably demonstrated both qualities during his expansive career. His vision and leadership will be a valuable addition as the company continues its integral work in the global fight against terror." "Sallyport stands apart for the quality of the services it provides and ability to go above and beyond for clients," said General Anderson. "The company approaches its work with a precision, commitment, and loyalty that are reminiscent of the armed services, and I look forward to joining the team as Sallyport takes on new challenges around the world." General Anderson retired from the U.S. Army in April 2010 after a 31-year career that included logistics command and staff assignments in Korea, Iraq, Kuwait, Afghanistan, Germany, Hawaii and four tours in the Pentagon. He served under General Petraeus as the Deputy Chief of Staff, Logistics for the Multi-National Force in Iraq for 15 months and was the chief logistics architect of the Five Brigade Surge of 2007. From 2004-2006, General Anderson was the senior logistics staff officer for U.S. Forces in Korea. His final assignment prior to retirement was Director of Logistics Operations and Readiness on the Army Staff in the Pentagon. For the past two years, General Anderson has served as the Afghanistan Country Manager for Fluor Corporation, leading more than 6,300 employees and providing logistics support to U.S. and NATO forces on 11 operating bases in the country. Since 2010, he has served as a director for Ultralife Corporation, a publicly-traded battery and communications equipment manufacturer. He has also been a Senior Mentor for the Army's Battle Command Training Program, training logistics leaders and units deploying to combat zones. Sallyport is a critical component of U.S. efforts in the war on terror and the fight against ISIS. The company currently has a contract to provide comprehensive life and logistics support, security, construction, and base operation support services at the largest Iraqi Air Base, supporting more than 4,000 resident contractors involved in the Iraqi Air Force F-16 Program. About Sallyport Sallyport is a leading provider of diverse services to government and commercial clients across the globe. For over a decade, we have worked in diverse environments on over 100 security, operations and maintenance, and life support contracts, combining exceptional customer services with a broad range of capabilities to help customers operate more efficiently. We have been at the forefront of working to enable global operations focused on developing capacity, post-conflict stability, and prosperity. SOURCE Sallyport Global WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- On Friday, April 20, the Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) will join other Muslim, Arab-American, Asian-American, and anti-torture organizations at a National Press Club news conference to urge that the Senate Foreign Relations Committee reject the confirmation of Mike Pompeo as secretary of state because of his history of Islamophobia and support of unconstitutional policies. The committee has set a Monday vote on Pompeo's confirmation. SEE: Senate Committee Sets Monday Vote Even as Pompeo Appears to Lack Support http://thehill.com/homenews/senate/383942-senate-committee-set-for-monday-vote-on-pompeo WHAT: CAIR News Conference Urging Senate Rejection of Mike Pompeo's Confirmation as Secretary of State WHEN: Friday, April 20, 10:30 a.m. WHERE: Zenger Room, National Press Club, 529 14th Street, NW, 13th Floor, Washington, DC 20045 CONTACT: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw, 202-742-6448, [email protected]; CAIR National Communications Director Ibrahim Hooper, 202-744-7726, [email protected] News conference participants will include: CAIR Government Affairs Director Robert McCaw CAIR National Executive Director Nihad Awad Engie Mohsen , Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) , Muslim Public Affairs Council (MPAC) Rev. Ron Stief , Executive Director, National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund , Executive Director, National Religious Campaign Against Torture Action Fund Megan Essaheb, Director of Immigration Advocacy, Asian Americans Advancing Justice Osama Abuirshaid, Executive Director, American Muslims for Palestine (AMP) Abed Ayoub, Director of Legal & Policy Affairs, American-Arab Anti-Discrimination Committee (ADC) Abdullah Baig , Islamic Circle of North America (ICNA) Council for Social Justice Earlier today, CAIR applauded U.S. Senator Ben Cardin's (D-MD) decision to oppose Pompeo's confirmation. GOOD NEWS ALERT: CAIR Applauds Maryland Senator Ben Cardin's Decision to Oppose Pompeo Confirmation https://www.cair.com/press-center/press-releases/15102-good-news-alert-cair-applauds-maryland-senator-ben-cardin-s-decision-to-oppose-pompeo-confirmation.html CAIR is also calling on all those who value America's traditions of religious inclusion and respect for diversity to contact members of the U.S. Senate to oppose Pompeo's confirmation. The Washington-based civil rights organization set up a click-and-send action alert to urge senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations to oppose and block Pompeo's confirmation. CLICK HERE TO SEND CAIR'S ACTION ALERT TO THE U.S. SENATE https://oneclickpolitics.com/messages/edit?promo_id=4139 In addition to issuing the action alert, CAIR released a congressional fact sheet, titled "U.S. Senate: Oppose and Block the Confirmation of Islamophobe Mike Pompeo to Secretary of State," for concerned citizens and activists to forward on to their senators and members of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. CLICK HERE TO READ CAIR'S CONGRESSIONAL FACT SHEET OPPOSING POMPEO'S NOMINATION https://www.cair.com/images/CAIR_-_Fact_Sheet_Opposing_Confirmation_of_Mike_Pompeo_to_Sec._of_State.pdf CAIR is America's largest Muslim civil liberties and advocacy organization. Its mission is to enhance understanding of Islam, protect civil rights, promote justice, and empower American Muslims. Become a Fan of CAIR on Facebook www.facebook.com/CAIRNational Subscribe to CAIR's Email List http://tinyurl.com/cairsubscribe Subscribe to CAIR's Twitter Feed http://twitter.com/cairnational Subscribe to CAIR's YouTube Channel http://www.youtube.com/cairtv SOURCE Council on American-Islamic Relations (CAIR) Related Links http://www.cair.com SAN JOSE, Calif., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Calvac Paving, an asphalt and concrete maintenance company that is based in the Bay Area, is pleased to once again be part of the upcoming 2018 CAA Connect Rental Housing Conference & Expo. Representatives from the company will be a trade exhibitor, located at booth #26, as well as a Master Sponsor at the event, which will take place on Thursday, April 19 at the Santa Clara Convention Center. As a company spokesperson noted, the event, which will be hosted by the California Apartment Association, offers invaluable opportunities to network, get updates on market trends, learn from a variety of industry experts and visit the always-popular vendor expo. About 1,500 professionals are expected to attend the one-day event. "Attendees can learn from experts in the rental housing industry, including tips and advice on how to increase your closing rates, resident retention and net operating income," the spokesperson noted, adding that everyone who attends will walk away with new tools and skills that they can start using right away. The team from Calvac Paving will be meeting and greeting fellow attendees from their booth in the expo; people are welcome to come by at any time and say hello to the team, as well as enter to win a raffle. Like last year, anyone who takes a photo of Calvac Paving's booth and uses the hashtag #CAAConnectExpo when they post it on social media will automatically be entered to win a prize. As always, representatives from Calvac Paving are looking forward to sponsoring the conference and expo, as well as meeting other vendors and business owners in the rental housing industry. "Also, since we have been in the Bay Area now for well over 40 years, we are confident that we can answer just about any questions that attendees have about the asphalt and concrete industry," the spokesperson noted. "And of course, we always enjoy seeing familiar faces and making new clients." About Calvac Paving: Calvac Paving is a full service asphalt and concrete maintenance company that has been serving the greater Bay Area since 1974. For more information, please visit http://www.calvacpaving.com/ Calvac Paving 2645 Pacer Ln San Jose, CA 95111 (408) 837-9021 SOURCE Calvac Paving Related Links http://www.calvacpaving.com LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FN Media Group Presents USA News Group News Commentary USA News Group - Canada's largest retail pharmacy chain, Shoppers Drug Mart continues to lend possibly the most important voice of credibility to the emerging legal cannabis market-so far, having signed supplier deals with three of Canada's largest cannabis growers, and leaving the door open for more to come. With over 1,250 stores across Canada, the chain owned by Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) (OTC: LBLCF) is a national retail heavyweight. So when Shoppers Drug Mart signed its latest supply deal with cannabis giant Aurora Cannabis (TSX: ACB) (OTC: ACBFF), it marked the fourth supplier deal the retailer has inked, and the third with a Canadian major. Two of the other companies that have already inked agreements with the retailer were Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), and MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF), late last year. The retail vote of confidence for the emerging cannabis sector started early-Parent company Loblaw Companies Ltd. applied in October 2016 for a license to dispense medical marijuana. Other pharmacies such as Lovell Drugs and PharmaChoice have already signed deals with other cannabis suppliers; However it's the intensity of the spotlight that Shoppers Drug Mart casts that lends to speculation of which company will be the next to garner the retailer's favorable access to mainstream consumers. One potential new cannabis supplier for Shoppers Drug Mart could be up-and-comer MYM Nutraceuticals (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF), which is in line to have Canada's largest cannabis greenhouse facility in Weedon, Quebec, and is partnered on Australia's largest in New South Wales. How many suppliers that Shoppers Drug Mart will carry is still yet to be determined. Should an MYM Nutraceuticals (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF) or another outfit join the ranks of Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF), and now Aurora Cannabis (TSX: ACB) (OTC:ACBFF), it would be yet another significant stamp of approval given by a leading retailer in the leadup to legalization. SHOPPERS LIKES BIG GROWERS The addition of Aurora Cannabis to the Shoppers Drug Mart portfolio was another signal that bigger is better to the retailer. Primary to the deal is the expectation that Aurora's products will be sold online, according to the press release. "The Shoppers and Aurora brands are trusted to deliver high-quality products and excellent customer service," said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora Cannabis. "Partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest pharmacy retailer, is yet another validation of the scale and maturity of our company, and of the demand for Aurora's medical cannabis. With its massive facility located adjacent to the Edmonton International Airport, Aurora is one of the largest producers in the country operating today. Not to be outdone, fellow Shoppers Drug Mart supplier, MedReleaf recently announced the purchase of 164-acre property in Exeter, Ontario, which includes 1 million square feet of existing greenhouse. The property adds 105,000 kilograms of cannabis production capacity annually to MedReleaf's balance sheet. However, it's the upcoming 1.5 million square feet of growing space planned by MYM Nutraceuticals in Weedon, Quebec that stands to be the largest project in the country once completed. Once coupled with the company's primary facility in Laval, Quebec, and with its international ventures in Australia, and Colombia, MYM should have a line of suitors that could very well include Shoppers Drug Mart in the coming months. MYM'S MASSIVE FOOTPRINTS In the lead-up to construction on its massive 1.5 million square-foot facility at Weedon, MYM Nutraceuticals received a boost of confidence and cash from a recent $10,000,000 financing that will move the company closer to its goals in 2018. "All of us at MYM are very excited about the future of our company," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM in the accompanying press release. "This excitement extends to our family and friends who have participated in this non-brokered financing. We have many major milestones to achieve this year that will shape MYM for years to come. Continued global expansion and leveraging the relationships we have built, will ensure that MYM and its shareholders have a bright future." The net proceeds are intended to be used towards general working capital and corporate purposes as the company pursues development on its two Quebec production projects, and its partnered 1.2 million square foot production facility dubbed the Northern Rivers Project in New South Wales, Australia. At the Weedon, Quebec project, MYM currently owns 75% (which goes up to 90% upon completion), and is set to help the municipality become the official cannabis capital of Canada. While there are other mega-greenhouse projects in other provinces in Canada, MYM's decision to house their operations in Quebec was very strategic- From an economic perspective, it can't be ignored how cheap Quebec's costs are. Quebec labor costs on average 34% less than in the US, and 16% less than in G7 countries. Electricity is 36% cheaper than in the US, and 49% lower, on average, than in the G7 countries. Quebec's taxes on investment are the lowest in Canada, and more importantly lower than the average of the US, G7 countries, and the OECD countries. The province offers an investment tax credit that covers up to 24% of the cost of newly purchased manufacturing and processing equipment, and reimburses sales tax on capital goods. Once MYM's Weedon location is opened, there's a possibility that it can provide MYM with a quantity-, and location-based cost advantage that could benefit them to the point of making a deal with a retail giant such as Shoppers Drug Mart. With cash in hand, and a steady momentum, it could be a good year for MYM Nutraceuticals. POTENTIAL COMPARABLES Aurora Cannabis (TSX: ACB) (OTC:ACBFF) Aurora Cannabis boasts the second highest square footage approved for cannabis production in Canada. Together with its subsidiaries, Aurora produces and distributes medical marijuana products in Canada. The company's products consist of dried cannabis and cannabis oil. Aurora is the only cannabis producer located in the province of Alberta, giving the company a cost advantage through its free use of fresh mountain-fed water used on site, and housed under the lowest corporate tax rates and power rates in Canada. Capitalizing on numerous farm credit programs provided by the province, Aurora has positioned itself as arguably the lowest cost-per-gram licensed producer in Canada. Aurora became a licensed producer in 2015, and is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF) Aphria is one of Canada's lowest cost licensed cannabis producers, specializing in the production, suppy, and sale of medical cannabis. The company offers sativa, indica, and hybrid medical marijuana products, as well as cannabis oils. It also provides support services in the form of medical consultations, group therapies, and rehabilitation to veteran and first responders. The company sells its products through its online store or phones, as well as engages in the wholesale shipping of medical marijuana plant cuttings and dried buds to other licensed producers. Aphria Inc. is headquartered in Leamington, Canada. MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF) MedReleaf produces and sells cannabis-based pharmaceutical products in Canada. It offers dried cannabis, cannabis oils, and cannabis oil capsules; and various accessories, including grinders, vaporizers, and lockable containers. MedReleaf was Canada's first and only ISO 9001 and ICH-GMP certified producer of medical cannabis. It recently announced a joint venture with an Australian partner for cultivation and production of medical cannabis in Australia. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada. OTHER COMPANIES MENTIONED Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) (OTC: LBLCF) Loblaw is a food and pharmacy company, which provides grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, credit card, insurance brokerage, gift card, and telecommunication services in Canada. It operates through three segments: Retail, Financial Services, and Choice Properties. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food and associate-owned drug stores, including instore pharmacies, other health and beauty products, apparel, and other general merchandise. Loblaw Companies Limited was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Brampton, Canada. For a more in-depth look into MYM Nutraceuticals you can view the in-depth report at American News Group: http://americannewsgroup.com/2017/12/06/meet-the-biggest-money-making-industry-of-2017-and-beyond/ Article Source: USA News Group http://usanewsgroup.com [email protected] Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: This piece is an advertorial and has been paid for. This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this Report should be construed as individualized investment advice. A licensed financial advisor should be consulted prior to making any investment decision. We make no guarantee, representation or warranty and accept no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of USA News Group only and are subject to change without notice. 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Media Contact Information: FN Media Group, LLC e-mail: [email protected] U.S. Phone: +1(954)345-0611 SOURCE USA News Group TULSA, Okla., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Canyon Creek Energy Arkoma, LLC ("CCEA") announced today that it has entered into a Joint Development Agreement ("JDA") with Pivotal Petroleum Partners II, LP ("Pivotal") to jointly fund the development of wells on CCEA's acreage in Atoka, Coal, Hughes and Pittsburg Counties, Oklahoma, targeting the stacked pay formations in the expanding Arkoma STACK play. CCEA and Pivotal plan to drill 18 wells in 2018 targeting the Woodford shale and Mayes shale in various locations throughout the Arkoma Basin of Southeastern Oklahoma. Pivotal will fund 75% of CCEA's working interest in all wells covered by the JDA. Once Pivotal achieves a preferred return, the majority of the wellbore working interest and net revenue interest will revert back to CCEA. This new partnership will accelerate CCEA's drilling activity across the company's 100,000 gross acre operated leasehold position. CCEA President & CEO Luke Essman commented, "We are excited to partner with Pivotal to continue delivering competitive investment returns within our Arkoma STACK acreage. Their investment signals the industry's renewed interest in developing the Arkoma's world class rock." "We are extremely excited to have the opportunity to partner with CCEA to develop its Arkoma STACK leasehold position," said Billy DeArman, Principal at Tailwater Capital. "The CCEA partnership allows Pivotal to deploy capital into wells with compelling rates of return alongside a highly respected operator in the basin." Kirkland & Ellis, LLP acted as legal advisor for CCEA. The Kirkland team was led by corporate partners Rahul Vashi and Shubi Arora and associate Lindsey Jaquillard, and tax partner Mark Dundon and associate Joe Tobias. Thompson & Knight, LLP ("T&K") acted as legal advisor for Pivotal. The T&K team was led by oil and gas partner Robert Dougherty and associate Kelli Sims, and tax partner Brandon Bloom and associate Jana Wight. ABOUT CANYON CREEK ENERGY Canyon Creek Energy Arkoma, LLC is a Tulsa, Oklahoma-based oil and natural gas company primarily focused on exploiting natural resources in Oklahoma. CCEA is managed by an affiliate Canyon Creek Energy Operating, LLC, which is led by President and CEO, Luke Essman; Vice-President and Chief Financial Officer, James R. McCoy; Vice-President of Geology, Jennifer Kessler; Vice-President of Engineering, C. Daniel Jacobs; and Vice-President of Land, Stephen McNamara, Jr. For more information, please visit www.canyoncreekenergy.com. ABOUT VORTUS INVESTMENT ADVISORS Vortus Investment Advisors is a Fort Worth-based private equity firm focused on the lower to middle market upstream energy industry in North America. Vortus has an asset-based investment strategy, targeting privately negotiated transactions in the lower to middle market requiring approximately $50 million to $75 million of equity capital in partnership with successful owner/operators. For additional information, visit www.vortus.com. ABOUT PIVOTAL PETROLEUM PARTNERS Pivotal is a Dallas, Texas-based oil and natural gas company focused exclusively on acquiring non-operated working interests in oil and liquids-rich basins. Pivotal seeks to grow its assets through the acquisition of non-operated working interests and leasehold positions alongside best-in-class exploration and production companies as well as through participating in drilling partnerships and joint ventures with select oil and gas companies. Pivotal is backed by a funding commitment from Tailwater Capital, LLC. For more information, please visit: www.pivotalpetro.com. ABOUT TAILWATER CAPITAL Dallas-based Tailwater Capital is a highly specialized, growth-oriented energy private equity firm with a well-established track record, having executed more than 65 energy transactions in the upstream and midstream sectors representing over $16.6 billion in transaction value. Tailwater currently manages over $2.3 billion in committed capital, over $800 million of which is available for new investments. Tailwater is focused on acquiring and growing midstream assets as well as participating in non-operated upstream opportunities in select basins. For more information, please visit: www.tailwatercapital.com. Contacts Canyon Creek Energy-Arkoma, LLC R. Luke Essman, 918-561-6737 [email protected] www.canyoncreekenergy.com Tailwater Capital, LLC William "Billy" DeArman, 214-269-1208 [email protected] www.tailwatercapital.com SOURCE Canyon Creek Energy Related Links http://www.canyoncreekenergy.com DALLAS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cenergistic, an energy conservation technology company, today announced the appointment of Samantha Foley as Vice President of Marketing. Foley will be based in Dallas, Texas, and responsible for leading marketing strategy, branding, communications, sales enablement and lead generation efforts. "We are elated to have Sam join the Cenergistic executive team as Vice President of Marketing. She is a savvy tech marketer with a deep understanding of digital strategy, branding and product positioning," said Ray Hood, Chief Executive Officer, Cenergistic. "Bringing her onboard is confirmation of our commitment to and investment in sales and marketing as we look to extend our product offering and market share within schools, colleges and universities, municipal government and healthcare, and expand into new, adjacent markets." Before joining Cenergistic, Foley served as Chief Marketing Officer at Entouch, a smart building solutions provider, responsible for the execution of all marketing activities. At Entouch, Foley was instrumental in transforming the company's brand to an IoT, SaaS solution play for energy management and facility optimization. Prior to Entouch, Foley served as Vice President of Marketing and held numerous other marketing roles at Allegro Development, a global provider of commodity trading and risk management (CTRM) software. During her tenure at Allegro, Foley had oversight of a global team responsible for product launch initiatives, acquisition brand integration, communications, sales enablement, campaigns, events, and press and analysts' relations. Foley holds a bachelor's degree in Journalism with concentration in Public Relations from Northwestern State University and an Executive MBA from Texas Woman's University. About Cenergistic Cenergistic is a leading provider of energy conservation programs that enable schools, universities, government and healthcare organizations to reduce capital spending and optimize resource planning to enrich the consumer experience and provide a more sustainable, eco-friendly environment for end users. Founded in 1986, Cenergistic serves as a trusted advisor to its clients with a team of seasoned energy engineers and experts who deploy onsite to drive operational efficiencies, process enhancements and behavioral changes to lower energy consumption and cut utility costs. For 10 consecutive years since 2009, Cenergistic has received the Partner of the Year or Partner of the Year - Sustained Excellence Award from the EPA. Cenergistic is headquartered in Dallas, Texas, with energy experts serving more than 1,425 clients across North America. For more information, contact Samantha Foley at [email protected] or +1.214.263.3547. SOURCE Cenergistic Related Links https://www.cenergistic.com TAMPA, Fla., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- AACSB InternationalThe Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) announces today that 52 business schools have extended their accreditation in business and 13 have extended their accreditation in business and accounting. Founded in 1916, AACSB is the longest-serving global accrediting body for business schools, and the largest business education network connecting students, educators, and businesses worldwide. For over a century, AACSB Accreditation has been synonymous with the highest standards in business education, and has been earned by less than 5 percent of the world's business schools. Today, 810 institutions across 53 countries and territories have earned AACSB Accreditation. Further, 186 institutions hold supplemental AACSB Accreditation for their accounting programs. "AACSB congratulates each institution on their achievement," said Stephanie M. Bryant, executive vice president and chief accreditation officer of AACSB. "Every AACSB-accredited school has demonstrated a focus on excellence in all areas, including teaching, research, curricula development, and student learning. The intense peer-review process exemplifies their commitment to quality business education." Achieving accreditation is a process of rigorous internal focus, engagement with an AACSB-assigned mentor, and peer-reviewed evaluation. During this multi-year path, schools focus on developing and implementing a plan to align with AACSB's accreditation standards. These standards require excellence in areas relating to strategic management and innovation; student, faculty, and staff as active participants; learning and teaching; and academic and professional engagement. To achieve accounting accreditation, an institution must first earn AACSB Business Accreditation. Then, in addition to developing and implementing a mission-driven plan to satisfy the business accreditation quality standards, accounting accreditation requires the satisfaction of an additional set of standards specific to the discipline and profession of accounting. Once accreditation is achieved, each institution participates in a five-year continuous improvement peer-review to maintain high quality and extend its accreditation. As ratified by the AACSB International Board of Directors, the following schools have extended their accreditation in business or business and accounting: Schools Extending Their Business Accreditation Adelphi University (United States) Alfred University (United States) Appalachian State University (United States) Boise State University (United States) Brandeis University (United States) Brock University (Canada) California State University, Stanislaus (United States) Chonnam National University (South Korea) Dartmouth College (United States) Delaware State University (United States) Duke University (United States) Duquesne University (United States) Eastern Washington University (United States) Florida Atlantic University (United States) Georgia Southern University (United States) King Fahd University of Petroleum and Minerals (Saudi Arabia) Lancaster University (United Kingdom) Louisiana State University in Shreveport (United States) Loyola Marymount University (United States) Marshall University (United States) Middlebury Institute of International Studies at Monterey (United States) Minnesota State University, Mankato (United States) Montana State University (United States) Murray State University (United States) NIDA Business School (Thailand) Pacific Lutheran University (United States) Providence College (United States) Purdue University (United States) Renmin University of China (China) Shenandoah University (United States) St. Mary's University (United States) State University of New York College at Brockport (United States) State University of New York College at Oneonta (United States) Texas Southern University (United States) The University of Michigan (United States) The University of Mississippi (United States) The University of Texas at Tyler (United States) Trinity University (United States) Universidade Catolica Portuguesa (Portugal) University of Arkansas at Little Rock (United States) University of California, Irvine (United States) University of Illinois at Chicago (United States) University of Louisville (United States) University of North Florida (United States) University of Otago (New Zealand) University of Ottawa (Canada) University of South Florida, Sarasota-Manatee (United States) University of West Florida (United States) University of Wisconsin-La Crosse (United States) West Texas A&M University (United States) Western Washington University (United States) Widener University (United States) Schools Extending Their Business and Accounting Accreditation Florida International University (United States) Florida State University (United States) Missouri State University (United States) San Diego State University (United States) Tennessee Technological University (United States) The University of Alabama (United States) The University of Arizona (United States) The University of Georgia (United States) University of Central Florida (United States) University of Richmond (United States) University of South Florida (United States) University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee (United States) Western Kentucky University (United States) For more detailed information about AACSB Accreditation, please visit aacsb.edu/accreditation. About AACSB International As the world's largest business education alliance, AACSB InternationalThe Association to Advance Collegiate Schools of Business (AACSB) connects educators, students, and business to achieve a common goal: to create the next generation of great leaders. Synonymous with the highest standards of excellence since 1916, AACSB provides quality assurance, business education intelligence, and professional development services to more than 1,600 member organizations and more than 800 accredited business schools worldwide. With its global headquarters in Tampa, Florida, USA; Europe, Middle East, and Africa headquarters in Amsterdam, the Netherlands; and Asia Pacific headquarters in Singapore, AACSB's mission is to foster engagement, accelerate innovation, and amplify impact in business education. For more information, visit aacsb.edu. SOURCE AACSB International Related Links http://www.aacsb.edu SEATTLE and SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- RSA Conference Booth #1039 -- The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA), the world's leading organization dedicated to defining and raising awareness of best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment, today released its newest research report, "A Day Without Safe Cryptography." Authored by the CSA Quantum-Safe Security Working Group, the white paper serves to illuminate the importance of building and using encryption tools that will work as quantum computing accelerates into reality. It goes on to examine the consequences should the encryption tools on which we rely be rendered ineffective. "A company is only as secure as the business systems with which it connects," said Jane Melia, Quantum Safe Security Working Group co-chair and Vice President Strategic Business Development at QuintessenceLabs. "Moving toward effective quantum-safe security will demand that a company's full business ecosystem be involved and invested. The working group intends that this paper serves as a first step in achieving the end-goal of quantum-safe security." "The effect of broken encryption tools and services cannot be overstated. If bad actors can overcome current defensive objectives, it will threaten every aspect of our daily social, business and governmental activities, the operational and economic impact of which may take years to rebuild," said Bruno Huttner, Quantum-Safe Security Working Group co-chair and Director of Quantum Space Programs in the Quantum-Safe division of IDQuantique. "Those that are first to implement quantum-safe security will reap both the rewards of quantum computing, as well as see dramatically reduced costs for insurance and security defenses." The paper examines such topics as: What is quantum computing? How will quantum computing replace existing cryptography and encryption at risk? What would our digital lives look like if bad actors use quantum computing to break encryption? What will quantum-safe encryption look like? What are the next steps forward? The work of the Quantum Safe Security Working Group addresses critical generation and transmission methods to help the industry understand quantum-safe methods for protecting their networks and their data. The Working Group examines two differing technologies: Quantum key distribution, or QKD, which is a physics-based technology to deliver keys securely, and Post-quantum cryptography, which refers to mathematical algorithms that do not suffer from the same weakness vis-a-vis quantum computing that existing algorithms do. Individuals interested in becoming involved in the future research and initiatives of this group are invited to join the group. A Day Without Safe Cryptography is a free resource available from the CSA. About Cloud Security Alliance The Cloud Security Alliance (CSA) is the world's leading organization dedicated to defining and raising awareness of best practices to help ensure a secure cloud computing environment. CSA harnesses the subject matter expertise of industry practitioners, associations, governments, and its corporate and individual members to offer cloud security-specific research, education, certification, events, and products. CSA's activities, knowledge, and extensive network benefit the entire community impacted by cloud from providers and customers to governments, entrepreneurs, and the assurance industry and provide a forum through which diverse parties can work together to create and maintain a trusted cloud ecosystem. For further information, visit us at www.cloudsecurityalliance.org, and follow us on Twitter @cloudsa. SOURCE Cloud Security Alliance Related Links http://www.cloudsecurityalliance.org JACKSON, Mich., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Board of Directors of CMS Energy has declared a quarterly dividend on the company's common stock. The dividend for the common stock (CUSIP: 125896100) is 35.75 cents per share. It is payable May 31, 2018, to shareholders of record on May 4, 2018. CMS Energy (NYSE: CMS) is a Michigan-based company that has an electric and natural gas utility, Consumers Energy, as its primary business and also owns and operates independent power generation businesses. For more information on CMS Energy, please visit our website at www.cmsenergy.com. To sign up for email alert notifications, please visit the Investor Relations section of our website. SOURCE CMS Energy Related Links http://www.cmsenergy.com WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A group of conservatives today asked the U.S. Trade Representative to make intellectual property protections part of the renegotiated North American Free Trade Agreement. Their letter, initiated by the Conservatives for Property Rights coalition, urges U.S. trade officials to make IP rights "a nonnegotiable item in NAFTA modernization" before NAFTA talks are concluded. Highlighting the vital importance of strong IP protections in NAFTA, the letter notes the significant contribution American innovation plays in U.S. competitiveness and IP-centered companies' outsized contribution to the U.S. economy. The writers discuss how U.S.-based biopharmaceutical firms rely on the exclusivity under patents to spur further research and development. Only strong, secure, enforceable intellectual property rights enable the "private-sector R&D [that] has led to new treatments and cures." The letter states that "our NAFTA trading partners continue to fall short of keeping their commitments and punitively treating American R&D-based companies. Canada and Mexico jeopardize their own citizens' health and American industrial competitiveness by the expropriation of U.S. IP, discriminatory pricing, nontariff barriers and otherwise denying practical exercise of the exclusivity patents and IP are supposed to secure." "It's vital that NAFTA protects the rights of IP owners in all three countries, and that the agreement conform to high standards like those found in U.S. law," Conservatives for Property Rights executive director James Edwards said. "For biologics, the growing field of pharmaceutical therapies, no less than 12 years of data exclusivity is acceptable. That aligns with reciprocity as the new trade standard." Signers of the letter include the leaders of the American Conservative Union, Citizens Against Government Waste and Let Freedom Ring. In all, 13 signatories joined the letter. The correspondence was sent at the start of the latest meeting of U.S., Canadian and Mexican negotiators in Washington. Contact: James Edwards [email protected] 202-329-1244 SOURCE Conservatives for Property Rights HARRISBURG, Pa., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Education and outreach staff from the Department of Banking and Securities will be meeting with senior citizens, members of the military and veterans, professionals, students, and the public across Pennsylvania during the month of May to promote financial capability as part of Governor Tom Wolf's Consumer Financial Protection Initiative. For Senior Citizens Department staff will present Elder Abuse Bingo as part of Elder Justice Day hosted by the Jefferson County Elder Abuse Task Force. The event will be held on May 3 from 10:00 AM to 2:00 PM at the Heritage House, 4 Sylvania Street in Brookville (Jefferson County). Register by calling the Jefferson County Area Agency on Aging at 814-849-3096. The presentation "Cybersecurity Staying Safe on the Internet" covering key topics such as using secure websites, creating strong passwords, being aware of what you put on social media, and even tips for shopping online safely will be offered with "Consumer Fraud Bingo" an interactive presentation to help participants learn ways to protect themselves from investment fraud and other financial scams at the Tri-boro Senior Center, 7555 W. Ridge Road in Fairview (Erie County) on May 16 from 11:00 AM to 1:00 PM. Outreach staff will also present "Consumer Fraud Bingo" at Cranberry Place, 6945 US Route 322, Unit 529 in Cranberry (Butler County) on May 17 from 1:00 PM to 2:00 PM. Department staff will participate in a Senior Expo hosted by Representatives Michael Schlossberg and Peter Schweyer at East Side Youth Center, 1140 East Clair Street in Allentown (Lehigh County) on May 18 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The presentation "Avoiding Scams and ID Theft" which helps consumers protect themselves from financial scams as well as informs victims of scams on how to get help will be offered at Klein Life Center in Philadelphia on April 4. (Open to members of the Center's Travel Club ONLY) The presentation "Avoiding Scams and ID Theft" which helps consumers protect themselves from financial scams as well as informs victims of scams on how to get help will be offered at the following locations: Meadville Senior Center, The Lew Davies Community Building, 1034 Park Avenue in Meadville ( Crawford County ) on May 18 from 10:45 AM to 11:45 AM . ( ) on from . Kephart Plaza in Lock Haven ( Clinton County ) on May 24 from 2:30 PM to 4:00 PM . This presentation will also include "Fraud Bingo." (Open to residents and their guests ONLY) For Professionals The presentation "Senior$afe" which helps financial professionals identify the "red flags" of suspicious behavior of their clients and/or those close to their clients will be offered to professionals in Harrisburg (Dauphin County) on May 3. (This event is NOT open to the public.) The STaRT (Start Today and Retire Tomorrow) program which focuses on retirement planning, setting goals, and how to achieve those goals will be offered to professional groups at the following locations and are NOT open to the public: White Haven Center in White Haven ( Luzerne County ) on May 14 . Open to employees of the center only. ( ) on . Open to employees of the center only. Schuylkill County Chamber of Commerce in Pottsville ( Schuylkill County ) on May 15 . Open to Chamber members only. Chamber of Commerce in ( ) on . Open to Chamber members only. Center for Career and Professional Development at Clarion University in Clarion ( Luzerne County ) on May 21 . (Open to Career and Professional Development Staff only.) Department staff will offer the presentations, "About the Department of Banking and Securities" and "Avoiding Scams and ID Theft" at PA Link to Aging and Disability Resources in Franklin (Venango County) on May 17 from 10:00 AM to 11:30 AM. (Open to service providers and their clients) The webinar "Skimming Devices Helping to Protect Business and Consumers" a program to discuss illegal card skimmers will be presented to members of the PA Food Merchants Association on May 22. (Open to PFMA members ONLY) Department staff will present "Elder Investment Fraud and Financial Exploitation Prevention Program" an innovative, research-based program that trains medical doctors, lawyers, social workers, senior services providers, and other partners to recognize and report financial abuse targeting their clients, especially those suffering from mild cognitive impairment to attendees of the 2018 Elder Abuse Symposium on the Prevention of Crimes Against Older Adults at Bucks County Community College in Newtown (Bucks County) on May 22. (Open to conference attendees ONLY) Department staff will present a training session, "The Importance of Giving Reentrants Tools to be Financially Stable," through the National Institute of Corrections to employees of the Board of Probation and Parole (BPP) at CareerLink in Williamsport (Lycoming County) on May 1 (Open to BPP employees only). For Military and Veterans Department staff will participate in the National Guard 25th Annual Health and Safety Awareness Fair in Lebanon (Lebanon County) on May 17. (Open to DMVA and PA Army and Air National Guard employees ONLY) The department will participate in the fourth annual Berks County Veterans Expo and Job Fair at the Crowne Plaza Reading Hotel, 1741 Papermill Road in Wyomissing (Berks County) on May 30 from 9:00 AM to 2:00 PM. (Open to active military personnel, veterans of all ages, and military families ONLY) For Students The presentation "Save & Invest PA!" introducing students to basic investing-oriented concepts, as well as financial fraud prevention will be offered at Greenwood High School in Millerstown (Perry County) on May 10 (Event is NOT open to the public) For General Audiences Department staff will be participating in Representative Thomas L. Mehaffie III's Health Expo at Hummelstown Chemical Fire Company #1, 249 East Main Street in Hummelstown (Dauphin County) on May 4 from 9:00 AM to 12:00 PM. The STaRT Program (Start Today and Retire Tomorrow) will be offered at the following locations: Schuylkill Valley Community Library at 1310 Washington Road in Leesport ( Berks County ) on May 7 from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM ( ) on from Warren Library at 205 Market Street in Warren ( Warren County ) on May 22 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM , and again from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM ( ) on from , and again from Franklin Public Library at 421 12 th Street in Franklin ( Venango County ) on May 23 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM , and again from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM Street in ( ) on from , and again from Oil City Library at 2 Central Avenue in Oil City ( Venango County ) on May 24 from 11:00 AM to 12:00 PM , and again from 6:00 PM to 7:00 PM The presentations "Avoiding Scams and Identity Theft" and "Cybersecurity Staying Safe on the Internet" will be offered at PA CareerLink at 1855 New Hope Street in Norristown (Montgomery County) on May 9 from 10:30 AM to 12:00 PM. Space is limited; registration is required . Contact Terri Jones at 610-278-2609 or [email protected]. The department's Financial Services for Consumers and Business staff works with state and local government agencies, service providers, community and trade organizations, the General Assembly, the military community, schools, and other partners to help Pennsylvanians across the commonwealth become well-informed about the financial marketplace. There are a variety of free, non-commercial programs [PDF] and presentations [PDF] available, or a program can be tailored to a specific group's needs. The department's Calendar of Events can be found online: http://bit.ly/1KIscBZ. Consumers and community groups can call 1-800-PA-BANKS or email [email protected] for more information. To learn more about the Consumer Financial Protection Initiative, search #GovWolfCFPI on Twitter. Media contact: Ed Novak, 717-783-4721 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Banking and Securities Related Links http://www.state.pa.us OTTAWA, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - Conversant Wireless Licensing S.a r.l., a subsidiary of Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc., announced today that the High Court of Justice in London has rejected a challenge by defendants Huawei and ZTE to the jurisdiction of the English court over Conversant's claim for infringement of its UK patents, where as part of its relief Conversant is asking for the determination of a global FRAND license for its standard essential patent (SEP) portfolio. Conversant Wireless Licensing S.A.R.L. v. Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, [2018] EWHC 808 (Pat). Conversant Wireless licenses its worldwide portfolio of wireless patents and patent applications that cover technologies used in a wide range of mobile communications devices and services, such as handsets, cameras, tablets, and laptops. The Conversant Wireless portfolio includes many declared SEPs that Conversant seeks to license on FRAND terms. In its complaint, Conversant Wireless alleged that each defendant's mobile handsets infringe four of Conversant's SEPs, European Patent (UK) No. 1,031,192, No. 0,978,210, No. 1,797,659, and No. 1,878,177. Conversant asked the Court to declare that Conversant had made a fair, reasonable, and non-discriminatory (FRAND) offers to license its SEP portfolio to each defendant, or alternatively to determine the FRAND terms for such a license to each defendant. In a previous judgment in the UK in 2017 Mr. Justice Birss had determined the global FRAND rate for a portfolio of SEPs, Unwired Planet International Ltd v Huawei Technologies Co Ltd, [2017] EWHC 2988, and Conversant is seeking a similar determination in its case. Huawei and ZTE responded to the Conversant Wireless complaint by arguing, first, that the English court had no jurisdiction to decide the claims, because, according to the defendants, they were in effect claims for infringement of foreign patents of disputed validity. The defendants argued in the alternative that the English court should decline to hear the case because China, not England, is the proper or appropriate forum to decide the claims. After a four-day hearing, Mr. Justice Henry Carr rejected both of the defendants' arguments. As for the English court's jurisdiction, he agreed with Mr. Justice Birss in Unwired Planet, and concluded that the English court has jurisdiction over the UK patent infringement claims and consequently the global FRAND license remedy for infringement of those patents. The Judge accepted the importance of one court, in this instance the English court, deciding the FRAND license issue on a global basis. Otherwise the purpose of the FRAND regime would be frustrated, because: no patentee will be able to have a determination of what terms would be FRAND for its global portfolio, without agreement from the defendants and subject to conditions imposed by the defendants, despite being bound by the obligation to offer a FRAND licence in order to be granted relief from patent infringement. The same arguments advanced by the Defendants on these applications could be advanced in every country in the world. The Huawei and ZTE Defendants would be able to say that any claim for infringement of local standards essential patents was non-justiciable locally, insofar as such a claim sought determination of a global FRAND licence. The effect would be that Conversant would need to seek separate licences for each individual country where it held SEPs, by commencing separate litigation in each such territory. Conversant characterised this as a "hold-out charter" which would enable continued infringement without payment of royalties. I agree. Conversant Wireless [2018] EWHC 808 (Pat) at 28 (emphasis added). As for whether England or China is the proper or appropriate forum, Mr. Justice Henry Carr ruled that the evidence established that the courts in China could not adjudicate the infringement of Conversant's UK patents, and could not determine a global FRAND license: In conclusion, in my judgment, China is not an alternative available forum in which infringement of the UK patents can be determined, nor in which the terms of a global FRAND licence can be set. Conversant Wireless [2018] EWHC 808 (Pat) at 64. In the coming weeks there will be another hearing to determine the consequential orders. Conversant intends to seek repayment of its costs incurred in connection with these failed applications. Huawei and ZTE have indicated that they intend to seek permission to appeal the ruling whether they are granted permission is within the discretion of the Court. "We are pleased that the court has rejected the latest hold-out tactics of Huawei and ZTE while they continue to infringe Conversant Wireless' global SEP portfolio without paying a FRAND royalty," said Boris Teksler, President and CEO of Conversant. "Conversant Wireless has been negotiating for years with both defendants. We have repeatedly explained to each of the defendants how they are using our SEPs and made clear Conversant's willingness to negotiate and conclude a FRAND portfolio license in accordance with our FRAND undertakings and offered arbitration to resolve the dispute. But neither Huawei nor ZTE has accepted any of Conversant's offers, leaving Conversant no choice but to continue to enforce our patent rights in court. We look forward to adjudicating the Conversant Wireless portfolio and will abide by their decisions." About Conversant Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc. is a global intellectual property management company known for its principled approach to patent licensing. With a portfolio of thousands of patents and patent applications under management, Conversant has special expertise in semiconductors and communications technology. For more information, please visit www.conversantip.com. Conversant Wireless Licensing S.a.r.l. is a subsidiary of Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc. that is focused on licensing a major portfolio of about 1,000 wireless patents and patent applications covering technologies used in a wide range of mobile communications devices and services. For more information, please visit www.conversant-wireless.com/. SOURCE Conversant Intellectual Property Management Inc Related Links Www.conversantip.com SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE: CUB) today announced that it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell its Cubic Global Defense (CGD) Services business to Valiant Integrated Services for $135 million cash at close on a debt free, cash free basis, plus $3 million of contingent consideration tied to certain contract wins expected over the next 12 to 24 months. "Cubic is focused on maximizing long-term value for our shareholders by delivering superior value to our customers," said Bradley H. Feldmann, chairman, president and chief executive officer of Cubic Corporation. "We regularly evaluate our portfolio to ensure we are devoting our resources to strategic markets where domain expertise, innovation and technical competency enable us to build market-leading positions with strong growth potential and higher margins. The sale proceeds will provide us with increased financial flexibility to pursue profitable growth opportunities in those markets." "We also believe current market dynamics are driving consolidation in the defense services industry, and the scale required to compete has increased meaningfully. This transaction will allow our Services business and its employees to be part of a more appropriately focused platform that will be better positioned to grow," added Feldmann. On March 31, 2018, the assets and liabilities of CGD Services will be considered held for sale and will be held at the lower of their carrying value or their fair value less estimated cost to sell. In Cubic's fiscal second quarter results, the CGD Services business will be reflected as discontinued operations and the previous period financial results will be reclassified for comparative purposes. Cubic expects to record a non-cash charge of approximately $7 million within discontinued operations in the second quarter, based on the estimated excess of the carrying value of CGD Services over the consideration to be received. Upon the close of sale, the non-cash charge will be adjusted based upon a final analysis of the carrying amount of the assets and liabilities at the date of the sale, including the assessment of deferred tax assets and liabilities of discontinued operations. The transaction is anticipated to be completed within 30 to 60 days, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory approvals. CGD Services is a non-Original Equipment Manufacturer (OEM) providing training, operations, intelligence, maintenance, technical and other support services to the U.S. government, its agencies and allied nations. CGD Services business had fiscal year 2017 revenue of $378 million and is comprised of approximately 3,500 employees working in 10 countries throughout the world. The employees serve with customers in training and operational environments to help prepare and support forces through the provision of comprehensive training, exercises, staff augmentation, education, operational, intelligence, technical and logistical assistance to meet the full scope of their assigned missions. Conference Call and Investor Information Cubic executives will host a conference call at 11:30 a.m. Eastern Time on Thursday, April 19 to discuss the transaction. The call can be accessed by dialing: 877-407-9708 (Domestic) 201-689-8259 (International) A live audio broadcast of the conference call along with a supplemental presentation will be available on the 'Events and Presentations' section of Cubic's Investor Relations website (https://www.cubic.com/investor-relations/events-and-presentations ). Raymond James & Associates, Inc. served as the exclusive investment banking advisor to Cubic in connection with the transaction. Holland & Knight, LLP served as legal counsel. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based (LVC-G) training solutions for the U.S. and allied forces. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp. SOURCE Cubic Corporation Related Links http://www.cubic.com SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Cubic Corporation (NYSE:CUB) today announced its Cubic Transportation Systems (CTS) business division's senior solutions architect, Andrew Tate, will speak on how open payment and closed loop systems used by public transit agencies can be adapted to tolling at the International Bridge, Tunnel and Turnpike Association (IBTTA) Managed Lanes, AET & Technology Summit from April 22 24 in Charlotte, North Carolina. "Using Apple Pay and Google Pay to pay for products online or at the store has been around for some time. More recently, transit agencies are adding these options for pay-as-you-go services at the point of travel as we've seen in Chicago and London," said Matt Cole, president of CTS. "Other major metropolitan areas like New York and Boston are on the horizon and it won't be long before consumers will be pushing to use open payment options for tolling." Tate's presentation will explore how open payment systems are utilized in transit and discuss what in-vehicle changes are needed and how the tolling back office can be transformed into a mobility service account to expand payment options for customers. Tate will present at the following session within the "Back Office Systems" technology track: Open Payment Systems: Monday, April 23 at 10:30 a.m. 12:00 p.m. (local time); Carolina Ballroom C-E of the Sheraton Charlotte/Le Meridien Complex. CTS will also demonstrate its tolling back office in the Symphony Ballroom. The Cubic Tolling Back Office solution is designed for multiagency use while giving each tolling authority control over its own business rules, revenue apportionment and general ledger. The solution lays a solid foundation for account-based payment processing and customer services across entire states or multistate regions for any number of agencies or types of operators. To join the social conversation, follow Cubic Transportation Systems at @CubicTS or use #IBTTA. About Cubic Corporation Cubic is a market-leading, technology provider of integrated solutions that increase situational understanding for transportation, defense C4ISR and training customers worldwide to decrease urban congestion and improve the militaries' effectiveness and operational readiness. Cubic Transportation Systems is a leading integrator of payment and information technology and services to create intelligent travel solutions for transportation authorities and operators. Cubic Mission Solutions provides networked Command, Control, Communications, Computers, Intelligence, Surveillance and Reconnaissance (C4ISR) capabilities for defense, intelligence, security and commercial missions. Cubic Global Defense is a leading provider of live, virtual, constructive and game-based training solutions, special operations and intelligence services for the U.S. and allied forces. For more information about Cubic, please visit the company's website at www.cubic.com or on Twitter @CubicCorp. SOURCE Cubic Corporation Related Links http://www.cubic.com NEW YORK, April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The award winning DarcMatter platform, which has successfully delivered key financial technology solutions for their clients globally for 3+ years, benefits from a strong community of advocates and financial technology enthusiasts sharing the same passion as the DarcMatter team: increasing access and transparency throughout investment services. As the company's financial technology solutions evolve to include blockchain, DarcMatter Coin (DMC) will be utilized on the NEM blockchain to continue to remove opacity and inefficiencies throughout the industry. Pursuing the implementation and integration of blockchain technology into a pre-established business, takes some key expertise and knowledge of both the financial industry and the core blockchain technology. To DarcMatter's significant benefit, DMC's ICO project consists of an exceptionally strong advisory and leadership team which is a key foundational element to the company's success with blockchain integration. DarcMatter's management team consists of the company's two co-founders and CTO, who have been working together since the inception of DarcMatter in 2014. The three-person management team, is responsible for over 20 employees globally. Given their vast professional experience, coupled with the success of building the platform 3+ years ago, the management team is extremely well poised to tackle the next step in the company's growth blockchain. DarcMatter's President and CEO (as well as co-founder), Sang Lee, is a former investment banker with BNP Paribas and WestLB, has executed $10.0 Bn+ in private placement transactions, and has experience on advisory boards. He is also the winner of leading entrepreneurship awards, such as Under30CEO, 30 under 30, and GOOD100, and contributes to Forbes, Huffington Post and TheStreet. The company's other co-founder and COO, Natasha Bansgopaul, has significant professional experience in strategy and insights from Fortune 50 corporations, with significant marketing experience from the CPG sector. She has successfully led the business development and expansion of DarcMatter in the US and abroad and is responsible for the team's awards, participation, and recognition as a global award winning fintech platform . DarcMatter's CTO, Stan Solodkyy is also extremely impressive. In addition to technically developing the DM platform, he has over 14 years of software development experience, and has had senior lead roles at companies including Estee Lauder and AdvisoryWorld Financial Technology. His skills are diverse, ranging from financial institution integration with SWIFT, to web development with European banks. His academic pedigree is just as impressive, having received a Master's degree in Computer Science at the age of 20. In addition to the management leadership team of DarcMatter (DM) and DarcMatter Coin (DMC), the team has an impressive roster of advisors and investors that are integral to the ICO project's success. Below highlights some of the key advisors that are a part of the DarcMatter Coin ICO project. For more information on DarcMatter's blockchain integration plans, DarcMatter Coin (DMC) and the ICO, visit: https://dmc.darcmatter.com/ and join the DarcMatter DMC ICO Community on Telegram: https://t.me/DarcMatter and https://t.me/DarcmatterChina Mai Gang: Co-Founder of OKEx and Founder of VenturesLab https://www.linkedin.com/in/gangmai/ Mark is the co-founder of OKEx.com, one of the world's largest and pioneering cryptocurrency exchanges. Prior to creating and launching OKEx.com, Mark founded VenturesLab in 2005. VenturesLab is China's first internet business incubator and was create in conjunction with legendary venture capitalist, Tim Draper. Mark was also the venture partner of DFJ Dragon fund in Silicon Valley in the early 2000s. George Sun (): CEO CMK Capital https://www.linkedin.com/in/georgegsun/ Mr. Sun established and was CEO at China Merchants Kunlun Capital ("CMK Capital") a China focused PE fund with AUM of RMB7.5BN. He was also the Managing Director, Head of China Business Development and at Deutsche Bank; Executive Director at Morgan Stanley and Direct and Head of China Financial Institutions group at HSBC Mattan Lurie: Private Equity Investor https://www.linkedin.com/in/mattanlurie/ Mattan is private equity investor with over 15 years of industry experience, involved in both deals and investor relations, at some of Asia's top PE firms, including Fosun Group (a $200bn conglomerate), Hony Capital (a $15bn firm), Ally Bridge Group, and CLSA. James Duplessie: Senior Principal at Armory Capital & Co-Founder of Pangea Investments https://www.linkedin.com/in/james-duplessie-840a8848/ James has over 30 years of investing experience. Previously, he led the Special Situations Credit team for Napier Park Capital. Before Napier, James was Head of Distressed Debt Strategies at Citigroup, which acquired his firm, Epic Asset Management. Earlier in his career, he was an Executive Director and Portfolio Manager for UBS AG, and for O'Connor & Associates. John Nahm: Strong Ventures Managing Director https://www.linkedin.com/in/johnnahm/ John is the Managing Director of Strong Ventures, John is a Co-Founder and Managing Partner of Strong Ventures, a seed fund with offices in Koreatown, Los Angeles and Gangnam, Seoul, which primarily supports and finances startups in Korea and AsianAmerican founders in the US. Adrian Lam Founder, Workzspace.com and ICO Advisor https://www.linkedin.com/in/adrianlam/ Adrian is the Founder of Workzspace.com with listings of 1000+ Serviced Offices and co-working spaces in Asia. He is also a top ICO Advisor, leading projects such as IHTcoin, Tradehero.mobi, and Electrify.Asia. He is also the former COO of Sportshero now listed on Australian Stock Exchange (ASX). SOURCE DarcMatter Related Links https://dmc.darcmatter.com HONG KONG, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- An Internet troll factory targeting millions of single Americans has been flying under the radar of federal agencies and watchdogs for over 10 years, warns Elena Petrova, founder of Elenasmodels.com, in her 3-year anniversary post following the first investigation into predatory practices of pay-per-letter (PPL) dating sites, released on 16 April 2015. View the complete report on Internet troll farms flying under the radar of the USA federal authorities here: http://blogs.elenasmodels.com/en/elena-petrova-about-ppl-sites/ Internet 'love trolls' industry involves over 30,000 people in Ukraine, Elena Petrova warns. Because of low wages and high unemployment, people accept offers of PPL agents to work online defrauding Americans. The companies employing workers are registered as businesses or private entrepreneurs and paid directly by the scheme organizers. "Hundreds of thousands of people within the USA, Australia, UK, and the European Union have been affected by the scams that originated from pay-per-letter websites targeting singles seeking love online," Petrova warned. "However, until now there had been no serious investigation by the government into these Eastern-Europe-based multi-layered troll farms scamming Americans every day. As in the case with Russian troll factories accused in attempted meddling into 2016 American elections, these structures are flying under the radar of federal agencies, even though there is enough information online about the nature of this systemic commercial fraud." The trolls based in Ukraine are employed through online recruitment portals and then trained to defraud Americans. According to Petrova, over 30,000 people are involved in the scheme in Ukraine. The largest website that operates a PPL (pay-per-letter) system claimed having over 1.3 million male users and 500 agents working within the scheme in Eastern Europe. The multi-layered scheme of 'love trolls' is constantly targeting new victims via sponsored ads in search and content networks. Major players of the scheme keep multiplying their online 'skins' by designing new covers on fresh URLs and plugging them into the existing system. As the market of PPL (pay per letter) scheme is lucrative and highly profitable, new players continually enter the market, broadening the reach, Petrova explained. The scheme itself is not novel, with American author O. Henry exposing this type of love scams in his short story 'The Exact Science of Matrimony' published over 100 years ago (1908). On today's Internet, this 110-year-old idea is bringing giant profits to operators of the scheme, who "put it on steroids," according to Petrova. The difference between "pay per letter" websites and regular dating sites and apps for singles is in the way how they charge clients. Regular dating sites and apps charge for access for a period of time, while PPL sites charge for each message or minute of chat. This allows PPL sites to pay a share of their income to providers of content (letters, messages, chats), who in their turn are able to employ "love trolls" to spam Americans with affectionate confessions. The majority of websites that advertise opportunities to date Eastern European women work in PPL (pay per letter) mode, which leads to exploitation and fraud via "love trolls". As opposed to that, ElenasModels.com works as a regular membership dating site and doesn't charge for communication. ABOUT ELENA'S MODELS Elenasmodels.com is a global dating site for people seeking love, romance, and serious relationships. It has been established in 1999 and listed over 2 million user profiles from 170 countries of the world. Contact: Darrin Field Manager, Public Relations Great Media Limited (trading as Elena's Models) + 61 404 656 847 [email protected] SOURCE Elena's Models WOODCLIFF LAKE, N.J., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Eisai Inc. will present six posters on FYCOMPA (perampanel) CIII at the American Academy of Neurology (AAN) Annual Meeting in Los Angeles from April 21-27. The poster presentations will include analyses on long-term convulsive seizure-freedom and retention rates for FYCOMPA, as well as data on the use of FYCOMPA as monotherapy for partial seizures. On July 26, 2017, FYCOMPA was approved as monotherapy for the treatment of partial-onset seizures (POS) with or without secondarily generalized (SG) seizures in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age or older; in addition to the monotherapy use in POS, FYCOMPA is approved for adjunctive use for POS and primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older. On March 30, 2018, Eisai submitted a supplemental new drug application (sNDA) for priority review to the U.S. Food and Drug Administration (FDA) for FYCOMPA as monotherapy and adjunctive use for the treatment of POS with or without SG seizures in pediatric patients (ages 2 to less than 12 years). The submission also proposed a pediatric indication for monotherapy and adjunctive use for PGTC seizures in children (ages 2 to less than 12 years) with epilepsy. The sNDA is for both the FYCOMPA tablet and oral suspension formulations. FYCOMPA is approved in 55 countries and has been prescribed to more than 100,000 patients worldwide across all indications. "As a company, we are constantly striving to provide new solutions for those living with epilepsy and increase the breadth of patients for which FYCOMPA may provide seizure-freedom," said Lynn Kramer, M.D., Chief Clinical Officer and Chief Medical Officer, Neurology Business Group, Eisai. "We are committed to exploring treatment options for patients across the age spectrum, and I am excited to be presenting data that could affect their treatment to our peers at AAN." "I am encouraged to share the results of an interim analysis showing that over half of patients with epilepsy receiving FYCOMPA as part of routine clinical care remained on the treatment at the two year mark," said Robert T. Wechsler, MD, PhD, Medical Director, Idaho Comprehensive Epilepsy Center. "It is invaluable to the medical community to have access to real-world data on the treatments that directly affect the lives of our patients living with epilepsy, a condition in which poor antiepileptic drug adherence can lead to issues such as breakthrough seizures, putting patients at risk for sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP). As an epileptologist, even one seizure for my patients is too many." The following data will be presented by Eisai at this year's AAN Annual Meeting: Abstract Name Session (All Times Pacific) Extrapolation of Adjunctive Efficacy and Safety Data from Phase III Partial Epilepsy Trials to Evaluate Perampanel as Monotherapy Poster: 259 Poster Session: P1 Date: April 22, 2018 Time: 4-5:30 PM Clinical Factors Associated with a Major Response (75% Reduction in Seizure Frequency/28 Days) in Phase III Trials of Adjunctive Perampanel in Patients with Partial Seizures: Post Hoc Multivariate Analysis Poster: 260 Poster Session: P1 Date: April 22, 2018 Time: 4-5:30 PM Effect of Common Concomitant Antiepileptic Drugs (AEDs) During Adjunctive Treatment with Perampanel: Post Hoc Analysis from the Open-Label Extension (OLEx) of a Phase III Study in Patients with Idiopathic Generalized Epilepsy (IGE) Poster: 261 Poster Session: P1 Date: April 22, 2018 Time: 4-5:30 PM Retrospective, Phase IV Study of Perampanel in Real-World Clinical Care of Patients with Epilepsy: An Interim Analysis Poster: 267 Poster Session: P1 Date: April 22, 2018 Time: 4-5:30 PM Assessment of the Long-Term Efficacy and Safety of Adjunctive Perampanel in Adolescent Patients: Post Hoc Analysis of Open-Label Extension (OLEx) Studies Poster: 268 Poster Session: P1 Date: April 22, 2018 Time: 4-5:30 PM Time to Pre-Randomization Monthly Seizure Count for Perampanel in Patients with Primary Generalized Tonic-Clonic (PGTC) Seizures: A Potential New Clinical Endpoint Poster: 270 Poster Session: P1 Date: April 22, 2018 Time: 4-5:30 PM This release discusses investigational uses for an FDA-approved product. It is not intended to convey conclusions about efficacy or safety. There is no guarantee that any investigational uses of such product will successfully complete clinical development or gain FDA approval. About Epilepsy Epilepsy is a medical condition that produces seizures affecting a variety of mental and physical functions. According to the Institute of Medicine, epilepsy is one of the most common neurological disorders, which affects about 3.4 million people in the United States, including 470,000 children. Partial-onset seizures are the most common type of seizure seen in people with epilepsy, accounting for 60 percent of all seizures. Generalized seizures account for approximately 40 percent of all epilepsy, with primary generalized tonic-clonic seizures being one of the most common and severe forms of generalized seizures. Convulsive seizures can cause significant injury to patients from falling down suddenly and are the most common risk factor associated with sudden unexpected death in epilepsy (SUDEP), making them one of the most severe forms of epileptic seizures. INDICATION FYCOMPA (perampanel) is indicated in patients with epilepsy 12 years of age and older for the treatment of partial-onset seizures (POS) with or without secondarily generalized seizures and adjunctive therapy in the treatment of primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizures. IMPORTANT SAFETY INFORMATION WARNING: SERIOUS PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS Serious or life-threatening psychiatric and behavioral adverse reactions including aggression, hostility, irritability, anger, and homicidal ideation and threats have been reported in patients taking FYCOMPA These reactions occurred in patients with and without prior psychiatric history, prior aggressive behavior, or concomitant use of medications associated with hostility and aggression Advise patients and caregivers to contact a healthcare provider immediately if any of these reactions or changes in mood, behavior, or personality that are not typical for the patient are observed while taking FYCOMPA or after discontinuing FYCOMPA Closely monitor patients particularly during the titration period and at higher doses FYCOMPA should be reduced if these symptoms occur and should be discontinued immediately if symptoms are severe or are worsening SERIOUS PSYCHIATRIC AND BEHAVIORAL REACTIONS In the partial-onset seizures clinical trials, hostility- and aggression-related adverse reactions occurred in 12% and 20% of patients randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg per day, respectively, compared to 6% of patients in the placebo group. These effects were dose-related and generally appeared within the first 6 weeks of treatment, although new events continued to be observed through more than 37 weeks. These effects in FYCOMPA-treated patients led to dose reduction, interruption, and discontinuation more frequently than placebo-treated patients. Homicidal ideation and/or threat have also been reported postmarketing in patients treated with FYCOMPA. The combination of alcohol and FYCOMPA significantly worsened mood and increased anger. Patients taking FYCOMPA should avoid the use of alcohol. Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed that FYCOMPA may increase the risk of psychiatric events. Patients should be monitored during treatment and for at least one month after the last dose of FYCOMPA, and especially when taking higher doses and during the initial few weeks of drug therapy (titration period) or at other times of dose increases. Similar serious psychiatric and behavioral events were observed in the primary generalized tonic-clonic (PGTC) seizure clinical trial. SUICIDAL BEHAVIOR AND IDEATION Antiepileptic drugs (AEDs), including FYCOMPA, increase the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior in patients. Anyone considering prescribing FYCOMPA or any other AED must balance the risk of suicidal thoughts or behavior with the risk of untreated illness. Epilepsy and many other illnesses for which AEDs are prescribed are themselves associated with morbidity and mortality and an increased risk of suicidal thoughts and behavior. Patients, their caregivers, and families should be informed of the risk and advised to monitor and immediately report the emergence or worsening of depression, suicidal thoughts or behavior, thoughts about self-harm and/or any unusual changes in mood or behavior. Should suicidal thoughts and behavior emerge during treatment, consider whether the emergence of these symptoms in any given patient may be related to the illness being treated. DIZZINESS AND GAIT DISTURBANCE FYCOMPA caused dose-related increases in events related to dizziness and disturbance in gait or coordination. Dizziness and vertigo were reported in 35% and 47% of patients in the partial-onset seizure trials randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg per day, respectively, compared to 10% of placebo-treated patients. Gait disturbance related events were reported in 12% and 16% of patients in the partial-onset seizure clinical trials randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg per day, respectively, compared to 2% of placebo-treated patients. These adverse reactions occurred mostly during the titration phase. These adverse reactions were also observed in the PGTC seizure clinical trial. SOMNOLENCE AND FATIGUE FYCOMPA caused dose-dependent increases in somnolence and fatigue-related events. Somnolence was reported in 16% and 18% of patients in the partial-onset seizure trials randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg per day, respectively, compared to 7% of placebo-treated patients. Fatigue-related events were reported in 12% and 15% of patients in the partial-onset seizure trials randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg per day, respectively, compared to 5% of placebo-treated patients. These adverse reactions occurred mostly during the titration phase. These adverse reactions were also observed in the PGTC seizure clinical trial. Patients should be advised against engaging in hazardous activities requiring mental alertness, such as operating motor vehicles or dangerous machinery, until the effect of FYCOMPA is known. FALLS Falls were reported in 5% and 10% of patients in the partial-onset seizure clinical trials randomized to receive FYCOMPA at doses of 8 mg and 12 mg per day, respectively, compared to 3% of placebo-treated patients. Drug Reaction with Eosinophilia and Systemic Symptoms (DRESS) DRESS, also known as multiorgan hypersensitivity, has been reported in patients taking AEDs, including FYCOMPA. DRESS may be fatal or life-threatening. DRESS typically, although not exclusively, presents with fever, rash, lymphadenopathy, and/or facial swelling, in association with other organ system involvement. If signs or symptoms are present, immediately evaluate the patient and discontinue FYCOMPA if an alternative etiology for signs or symptoms cannot be established. WITHDRAWAL OF AEDs A gradual withdrawal is generally recommended with AEDs to minimize the potential of increased seizure frequency, but if withdrawal is a response to adverse events, prompt withdrawal can be considered. MOST COMMON ADVERSE REACTIONS The most common adverse reactions in patients receiving FYCOMPA (5% and 1% higher than placebo) include dizziness, somnolence, fatigue, irritability, falls, nausea, weight gain, vertigo, ataxia, headache, vomiting, contusion, abdominal pain, and anxiety. DRUG INTERACTIONS FYCOMPA may decrease the efficacy of contraceptives containing levonorgestrel. Plasma levels of FYCOMPA were decreased when administered with moderate and strong CYP3A4 inducers, including, carbamazepine, phenytoin, or oxcarbazepine. Multiple dosing of FYCOMPA 12 mg per day enhanced the effects of alcohol on vigilance and alertness, and increased levels of anger, confusion, and depression. These effects may also be seen when FYCOMPA is used in combination with other CNS depressants. PREGNANCY AND LACTATION Physicians are advised to recommend that pregnant patients taking FYCOMPA enroll in the North American Antiepileptic Drug (NAAED) Pregnancy Registry. Caution should be exercised when FYCOMPA is administered to pregnant or nursing women as there are no adequate data on the developmental risk associated with use in pregnant women, and no data on the presence of perampanel in human milk, the effects on the breastfed child, or the effects of the drug on milk production. HEPATIC AND RENAL IMPAIRMENT Use in patients with severe hepatic or severe renal impairment is not recommended. Dosage adjustments are recommended in patients with mild or moderate hepatic impairment. Use with caution in patients with moderate renal impairment. DRUG ABUSE AND DEPENDENCE FYCOMPA is a Schedule III controlled substance and has the potential to be abused and lead to drug dependence. Please see accompanying Full Prescribing Information for FYCOMPA (perampanel), including Boxed WARNING. About Eisai Inc. At Eisai Inc., human health care (hhc) is our goal. We give our first thoughts to patients and their families, and helping to increase the benefits health care provides. As the U.S. pharmaceutical subsidiary of Tokyo-based Eisai Co., Ltd., we have a passionate commitment to patient care that is the driving force behind our efforts to discover and develop innovative therapies to help address unmet medical needs. Eisai is a fully integrated pharmaceutical business that operates in two global business groups: oncology and neurology (dementia-related diseases and neurodegenerative diseases). Each group functions as an end-to-end global business with discovery, development, and marketing capabilities. Our U.S. headquarters, commercial and clinical development organizations are located in New Jersey; our discovery labs are in Massachusetts and Pennsylvania; and our global demand chain organization resides in Maryland and North Carolina. To learn more about Eisai Inc., please visit us at https://US.eisai.com. Contact: Media Inquiries Investor Inquiries Michele Randazzo Ivor Macleod Eisai Inc. Eisai Inc. 201-746-2979 201-746-2660 SOURCE Eisai Inc. Related Links http://www.eisai.com "We're very happy to continue our relationship with Willacy County and excited by the continued community support from the surrounding South Texas area," said Silvia Ortin, Chief Operating Officer, North America and E.ON Climate & Renewables Board Member. "Michelle Bruenning was a treasured friend and colleague whose spirit and generosity was an inspiration. We feel this project, with its location near the beach and watertwo places she loved so muchwill be a fitting testament to Michelle and her lasting impact on the E.ON family." Bruenning's Breeze consists of 76 3MW turbines built by Acciona/Nordex and came online in December 2017. A team of more than 250 construction workers completed the Bruenning's Breeze project, and 14 personnel, including skilled technicians, are stationed on-site day-to-day. During the next 25 years, Bruenning's Breeze is projected to generate more than $57 million in property taxes for Willacy County. This additional revenue will support essential county services and local schools. About E.ON E.ON is an international investor-owned energy company, focusing entirely on energy networks, customer solutions and renewables. In the 2016 financial year, more than 40,000 employees from 90 nations generated sales of around $42 billion. Around 32 million customers purchase gas and electricity from E.ON. Within the global renewables segment E.ON is a leading company. The company has already invested more than $11 billion and operates nearly 5.4 gigawatts of renewable capacity. Press Contact Matt Tulis Communication Manager 512.698.4043 [email protected] SOURCE E.ON WAYNE, Pa., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Evolve IP, The Cloud Strategy Company, today announced that it has acquired thevoicefactory Ltd, a cloud communications provider based in Cardiff, United Kingdom (UK). This strategic purchase is part of the company's ongoing market development strategy, providing Evolve IP with additional distribution channels in the UK and Europe, a significant client base, and greater penetration of the hospitality, automotive, finance and legal verticals. Additionally, the company will add office locations in Fordingbridge, UK and Orlando, Florida as well as gain new data centers in the UK and United States. Founded in 2009, thevoicefactory has more than 65,000 users in 21 countries via its extensive private label program. Thevoicefactory currently works with 35 resellers who will gain access to Evolve IP's award-winning, analyst-acclaimed intellectual property and service delivery capabilities including: Web-based call management, an advanced omnichannel contact center, single-sign-on identity and access management, and a worldwide team of custom application developers. Based on the same blue-chip BroadSoft platform as Evolve IP, thevoicefactory shares a common architecture and framework that will help ensure the rapid adoption of new features and capabilities for existing and new clients. Today, thevoicefactory is recognized as one of the largest UCaaS providers in the United Kingdom and one of BroadSoft's biggest wholesalers in Europe. "We are delighted to welcome thevoicefactory, their associates, and its worldwide partner community to the Evolve IP family," said Guy Fardone, Chief Executive Officer and Founding Partner of Evolve IP. "Combining Evolve IP's intellectual property and OneCloud capabilities with thevoicefactory's reseller channel will help us expand into new markets even faster and provide incredible growth opportunities for our suite of award-winning, analyst-acclaimed cloud services." "We are very excited to be joining Evolve IP and thrilled with the opportunities it provides for our associates and partners," said Paul Harrison, CEO of thevoicefactory. "Evolve IP has developed significant intellectual property and a sophisticated service delivery platform that will be of great benefit to our partners and their clients. Additionally, their world-class, compliant OneCloud platform will provide a fantastic platform for clients to add new services. We're looking forward to immediately contributing to Evolve IP's international growth." Thevoicefactory was advised on this transaction by Knight Corporate Finance with legal support from Mason Hayes. "The acquisition of thevoicefactory represents another significant move for Evolve IP and has the company well positioned to capitalize on the considerable opportunities in the rapidly growing cloud PBX and unified communications-as-a-service (UCaaS) market," said Elka Popova, VP and Senior Fellow of Digital Transformation at Frost & Sullivan. "We believe that the combination of thevoicefactory's extensive reseller market in the UK, the ability to sell directly in the EU and APAC via Evolve IP Europe, and their recently announced partnerships with regional channel partners will provide the company with significant sales opportunities. In addition, with multiple on-continent data centers, and nearing 100 associates in the UK and Europe, the company has the infrastructure and personnel to effectively provision, deploy and support enterprises in the region." One of the world's fastest growing cloud strategy companies, today Evolve IP provides best-of-breed cloud solutions to more than 1,500 enterprises and to more than 410,000 users in virtually every industry. Many of the world's most recognizable brands rely on the company's Evolve IP OneCloud strategy to migrate multiple integrated cloud computing and cloud communications services onto a single, unified platform including: contact centers, IP phone systems / unified communications, virtual desktops, disaster recovery, IaaS, and more. Evolve IP's Compliance Cloud provides assurances and dedicated expertise for organizations in: healthcare, finance, hospitality, automotive, insurance, veterinary, legal, technology, retail and, construction verticals. WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE EVOLVE IP The Cloud is no longer about buying individual services. It's now about having a strategy for multiple services and making them work together to provide greater IT efficiency. For over a decade Evolve IP has delivered customized strategies and integrated services for both cloud computing and communications; solutions that are designed to work together and with the applications you already use in your business. The Evolve IP OneCloud lets enterprises move a service at a time, to a secure, virtual private environment, and our analyst-acclaimed solutions are built on a world-class, compliant architecture that leverages the blue-chip technologies organizations already know and trust. Our long-term success is built on a business deploying more services with Evolve IP so we are invested in our clients' future. As a result, we are obsessed with providing superior service in every aspect of our client relationships and this has resulted in the industry's highest verified client satisfaction. WHY CLIENTS CHOOSE THEVOICEFACTORY thevoicefactory (TVF) is an international carrier grade hosted telephony provider, specializing in verticals such as hospitality, automotive and legal. Our hosted unified communications platform is offered white labelled 100% in-directly sold through partners. We own and operate a global carrier-grade BroadSoft platform with open API's and flexibility to integrate to third party applications with deployments in over 21 countries. Launched in January 2010, tvf's first customer was the Conservative Party - still a customer today. PRLog ID: www.prlog.org/12703501 SOURCE Evolve IP Related Links https://www.evolveip.net FALMOUTH, Maine, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- TideSmart Global LLC today announced, the company has hired four key members of the organization to accommodate an expanding client base including two new global clients. The announcement was made by TideSmart Global's President and CEO Stephen Woods. TideSmart Global, previously recognized as one of the fastest growing companies in the U.S., encompasses seven entities: EMG3, Promerica Health, Sumerian Sports, Viridescence Marketing, Confidential Consumer, TideSmart Logistics, and Magnetix Digital. Last year, the company opened its first West Coast office, TideSmart West, located in San Francisco's Financial District. "2017 into early 2018 has seen a period of growth unlike anything I can recall in the history of TideSmart Global," Woods said. "With our expansion to the West Coast last year and the addition of two new global clients already this year, we needed to expand our personnel in some key areas to not only service those clients but to maintain that growth. Except for perhaps the day we signed our very first client 15 years ago, I can't think of a time when I was more excited about the future of TideSmart." ROBERT BRODEUR NAMED TIDESMART VICE PRESIDENT, CLIENT ENGAGEMENT: Robert Brodeur joins TideSmart from the Gigunda Group in Manchester, New Hampshire where he served in the role of general manager. At Gigunda, Brodeur oversaw strategy, agency culture, business development, and operational leadership of the agency, fostering relationships with brands such as Duracell, Pop-Tarts, Tide, Ben & Jerry's, HP, Good Humor, and Activision. ETHAN FOSS NAMED TIDESMART VICE PRESIDENT, OPERATIONS: Ethan Foss joins TideSmart from On Board Experiential Marketing in San Francisco, California where he was production manager. Foss has worked with notable clients including Kellogg's, S.C. Johnson, Airbnb, Unilever, GEICO, The National Guard, Procter & Gamble, Chevrolet, Anheuser-Busch InBev, and Verizon. Foss will initially join TideSmart's West Coast agency, TideSmart West, before relocating to Maine. CHRISTINE CAMPBELL NAMED TIDESMART VICE PRESIDENT, MEDIA: Christine Campbell joins TideSmart as Vice President, Media having previously worked for Garrand Partners in Portland, Maine where she was the media director responsible for their full scope of media including B2C, B2B, lead generation and brand awareness. Prior to Garrand, Campbell was media manager for Time Life, Inc. JENNIFER MINTHORN NAMED PROMERICA HEALTH VICE PRESIDENT, COMMUNICATIONS & COMPLIANCE: A certified project management professional with over 20 years of progressive leadership experience in healthcare management, program development, regulatory compliance and community relations, Jennifer Minthorn will take the lead of TideSmart Global's healthcare marketing agency, Promerica Health. Most recently, Minthorn was the program director at Health Care Resources in Portland, Maine. "An agency needs to continually adapt to a changing client landscape and evolve in regard to creativity, changing consumer universe, technology, efficiency, innovation, superior client service and value delivery," Woods said. "With these additions in key positions, I feel confident that TideSmart Global will only continue to grow and thrive in the years to come." TIDESMART GLOBAL: Since 2003, TideSmart Global has provided experiential solutions to some of the biggest and best companies in the world by combining the art of live experiences with the science of both new and traditional media. TideSmart Global consists of seven companies: EMG3, Promerica Health, Sumerian Sports, Viridescence, Confidential Consumer, TideSmart Logistics, and Magnetix Digital. All seven companies operate from a unique 6-acre, eco-friendly campus in Falmouth, Maine. The company opened its first West Coast agency in 2017, with TideSmart West operating in San Francisco, CA. www.tidesmart.com www.tidesmartwest.com SOURCE TideSmart Global LLC QINGDAO, China, April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- With the theme of "Urban Governance under the Background of Big Data", the 2018 International City Management Qingdao Conference was held in Qingdao on April 12 to discuss the solution to prominent problems faced by China's urbanization development and urban governance. The two-day conference, hosted by Information Research Center of International Talent of State Administration of Foreign Experts Affairs, China University of Political Science and Law, Qingdao Municipal Bureau of Human Resource and Social Security and People's Government of Shibei District and organized by Xinhua (Qingdao) International Ocean Information Center, attracted foreign experts from the U.S and Canada and so on, and also invited domestic experts from China University of Political Science and Law and Peking University and many famous Chinese experts to discuss with over 500 guests. In recent years, with the extended application of Big Data to urban governance in Shibei District and the launch of smart community and intelligent traffic and so on, the urban growth was improved a lot and the construction of core area with heat and thickness was accelerated. Mr. Zheng Deyan, Secretary of the Party Committee of Shibei District said that Shibei Disctrict carried out a promotion project of "Economic strength, industrial energy, city enchantment, social cohesion and governance ability" after city brand "Urban Growth" was put forward in 2016. Through 3 ways including making commanding office excellent, strengthening power of all levels and reinforcing basic support, gridding management in district, informatization in overall planning, precision of public service and refining in social governance were propelled and work situation for urban governance of "Inter-linkage, Inter-operability, and Interaction, Coordination, Cooperation and Collaboration, and Co-building, Co-governance and Sharing" was realized, opening up a new way for modernization of social governance. The practice of Shibei District such as opening data partition, establishing urban governance center and realizing precise four-in-one overall planning of land, building, house and people and drawing attention from attending experts and guests. Mr. Qiu Aijun, Deputy Director of China Center for Urban Development, said that Shibei District found the key of establishing sustainable society and community and adjusting main points and ideas of developing with the help of technological platform and through communication with citizens and department, which is an advantaged exploration for the problems of inadequate and unbalanced development according to the report of the 19th National Congress of the Communist Party of China. Mr. Lee R. Feldman, former Chairman of ICMA Board of Directors and Syndic of Fort Lauderdale in Florida, highly agreed with the main idea of "People-centered" of urban governance in Shibei District. He held the view that the realization of higher quality and more sustainable development should be with urban governance that requires temperature, keeping citizens as our ultimate source, making good use of big data for information collecting and feedback and adjusting focus of attention of government and development policies continually. A series of signature ceremonies were held for high-end research institutions to settle in Shibei District in this year's conference. Qingdao Research Institute of ICMA CHINA CENTER, National Supervisory Academy of China University of Political Science and Law (Qingdao), High-tech Business Incubator Project for Rule-of-law Culture Transmission of China University of Political Science and Law were launched officially. The launch and unveiling ceremony was held for Qingdao Academy of Digital Industry and Technological Entrepreneurship. People's Government of Shibei District also signed the cooperative agreement with Xinhua (Qingdao) International Ocean Information Center. SOURCE Xinhua (Qingdao) International Ocean Information Center SAN RAMON, Calif., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Identity theft is on many American's minds these days as news breaks of new data breaches constantly. While there are many ways that individuals can get their identity stolen, it turns out the state of residence is a factor. A recent report ranked states by the amount of identity theft that happened to their residents. Financial Education Benefits Center (FEBC), a membership benefits company specializing in health and financial wellness benefits, offers an identity theft benefit to help members monitor and handle potential identity theft. "It's becoming harder to believe that identity theft is something that won't ever happen to you," said Jennifer Martinez, manager at FEBC. "Knowing that it's always possible to have your identity stolen might be a good push to get protected in case it does happen." Identity theft is versatile and comes in many forms. Whereas theft of items like identification and credit cards is very noticeable, digital or tax-related identity theft may not be discovered quickly without proper protection. Data breaches can expose personal information to be sold on the dark web, allowing the buyer to commit credit card fraud or tax fraud. For example, victims of tax fraud may have waited to file their taxes only to find out that someone had already filed them and received their refund. Despite the digital nature of many types of identity theft, some states have more incidents than others. According to a report, Michigan, Florida and California had the highest rates of identity theft, with credit card fraud, government documents or benefits fraud, and employment or tax-related fraud coming out as the most common methods. FEBC recommends being proactive about monitoring for identity theft and minimizing risk. Common advice includes being careful about the information shared online, freezing credit reports and filing taxes as soon as possible. FEBC offers an identity theft benefit in which members have access to LifeLock services, including monitoring of all personal information. If LifeLock detects an identity theft incident, they will act quickly to minimize damage. "No matter where you live, you might be at risk of having your identity stolen," said Martinez. "We don't want people to live in fear of identity theft, but it is a good idea to be mindful of it. Having protection, such as the LifeLock benefit FEBC members have access to, can help ease your mind and potentially reduce stress if it does happen." About Financial Education Benefits Center Financial Education Benefits Center is located in San Ramon, California. The membership company has already helped thousands save money and obtain the necessary education required to live a financially healthy life. Financial Education Benefits Center has partnered with several name brand third-party companies to expand the financial and educational products and services available to its members and to provide a variety of wellness services as well. Contact To learn more about Financial Education Benefits Center, please contact: Financial Education Benefits Center 2010 Crow Canyon Place Ste. 100 San Ramon, CA 94583 1-800-953-1388 [email protected] Related Links FEBC home page SOURCE Financial Education Benefits Center WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- SeaDek has been named 2018 Small Business Exporter of the Year by the U.S. Small Business Administration. The Rockledge, Florida-based company will be officially recognized during National Small Business Week, an annual event honoring the accomplishments and contributions of the best small businesses in the nation. The award will be presented by SBA Administrator Linda McMahon on April 30, during a luncheon held at the U.S. Institute of Peace, in Washington, D.C. Jason and Serenity Gardner, SeaDek's Co-Creator and Chief Operating Officer respectively, will receive the award on behalf of the company. Jason Gardner worked for Hyperform producing surfboard fins and traction pads. In 2004, in conjunction with Hyperform's owners, he expanded the company's surfboard traction line by developing an innovative non-skid, closed-cell foam that is both UV-resistant and waterproof. The material provides traction, dampens sounds and absorbs shock making it an innovative alternative to traditional marine traction products. Serenity Gardner was asked to join SeaDek in 2008, where she plays an active role in scaling up the company through its rapid growth. In 2014, SeaDek made international expansion a key component of their strategic plan. Since then, exports have grown from three percent to nearly 10 percent of total sales in 29 countries, with a 170 percent increase in overall sales. SeaDek hired an additional 61 employees, doubling its size, to over 130 workers. The growth in export sales has allowed the company to reinvestment in itself, increasing production capabilities and manufacturing jobs. SeaDek recognized the expansion of sales and growth of employees would not have been possible without the assistance of the Orlando Florida Small Business Development Center (SBDC) and the U.S. Small Business Administration (SBA). The SBDC worked with SeaDek to craft its international business strategy. The SBA complemented this plan with nearly $4 million in financing used to fund the expansion of SeaDek's manufacturing facility tenfold in order to keep up with the international demand. SeaDek grew from 17,000 square feet in 2015 to 150,000 square feet over the course of two years. U.S. exports are important to the nation's economy, and 98 percent of all exporters are small businesses. The SBA's export loan programs help American small businesses reach customers in the global market and compete on an equal footing in countries around the world. During fiscal year 2017, the SBA had another record year guaranteeing more than 2,152 loans to small business exporters, resulting in more than $1.87 billion in financing. Each year since 1963, the President has issued a proclamation calling for the celebration of National Small Business Week. This year National Small Business Week will be recognized April 29 May 5, with events planned in Washington, D.C., Florida, North Carolina, and South Carolina. For more information on the national events, visit www.sba.gov/nsbw. About the U.S. Small Business Administration The U.S. Small Business Administration makes the American dream of business ownership a reality. As the only go-to resource and voice for small businesses backed by the strength of the federal government, the SBA empowers entrepreneurs and small business owners with the resources and support they need to start and grow their businesses. It delivers services to people through an extensive network of SBA field offices and partnerships with public and private organizations. To learn more, visit www.sba.gov. Release Number: 18-27 Contact: [email protected] Follow us on Twitter, Facebook, Blogs & Instagram SOURCE U.S. Small Business Administration Related Links https://www.sba.gov BALTIMORE, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Never has the privacy and security of patient data been more important than it is today. As access to patient data increases, threats to this sensitive information continue to grow and evolve, resulting in the need for healthcare to invest in privacy innovation. Marc Groman, Former Senior Advisor for Privacy to the White House Office of Management and Budget, will provide the opening keynote for the Privacy and Analytics (PANDAS) conference, focusing on building strategic alignment between privacy operations and the overall objectives of an organization. The keynote, "The ROI of Privacy Initiatives," will focus on the importance of investing in privacy, mitigating a breach when it occurs, increasing privacy program efficiency, and retaining trust. Groman's presentation will also highlight how the development of a comprehensive, risk-based, strategic, and continuous privacy program is critical for optimal return on investment. "A strategic privacy program will help an organization effectively and efficiently carry out its mission while ensuring the responsible use of personal data," said Groman. "Privacy officers must understand the business objectives of their organization, proactively evaluate risk, and help their organization mitigate risk." "The volume of health data available electronically has grown substantially over the last decade, and PANDAS provides privacy officers from our nation's most forward-thinking health systems an important forum to address the new challenges that brings to healthcare," said Nick Culbertson, CEO and Co-founder of Protenus, leading sponsor of PANDAS. "To that end, we're thrilled to welcome Marc. He's not only an internationally recognized expert in privacy and technology policy but a leading advocate and thought leader on the importance of making investments in protecting privacy. We're looking forward to a thought-provoking discussion." Groman specializes in the areas of consumer privacy, information governance, risk analysis, and data breach response. In 2015, Groman was appointed Senior Advisor for Privacy in the White House Office of Management and Budget, where he had government-wide responsibility for privacy policy. During that time he also served as the Chairman of the Federal Privacy Council established by President Obama and as the privacy lead on the President's Cyber Security National Action Plan. Since leaving the White House in January 2017, Groman has been advising senior leaders in business and government on mission-critical policy, risk management, and technology issues. Groman has worked on some of the largest and most high profile data breaches in history, leading the response and helping to mitigate risk. He currently serves on numerous boards and advisory councils and is a frequent speaker on issues relating to privacy, technology, and innovation. About PANDAS PANDAS brings together the nation's top health privacy leaders to discuss challenges with electronic health record adoption, patient data security, and practical information to improve HIPAA compliance and associated legal and policy issues. The two-day event is a forum for privacy professionals to learn from peer experiences, exchange best practices, and use their collective expertise to advance standards for protecting patient data. PANDAS will be held on May 2 and 3, 2018, in Baltimore, MD. To learn more about the Privacy and Analytics community, please visit the PANDAS website. About Protenus The Protenus healthcare compliance analytics platform uses artificial intelligence to audit every access to patient records for the nation's leading health systems. Providing healthcare leaders full insight into how health data is being used, and alerting privacy, security and compliance teams to inappropriate activity, Protenus helps our partner hospitals make decisions about how to better protect their data, their patients, and their institutions. Learn more at Protenus.com and follow us on Twitter @Protenus. Contact Kira Caban Director, Public Relations [email protected] 410-913-0274 SOURCE Protenus Related Links https://www.protenus.com MIAMI, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Florida Power & Light Company (FPL) today unveiled its new Brickell Substation, the largest enclosed substation in FPL's 27,000-square-mile service area, which will enhance the reliability of the company's energy grid and distribute electricity to thousands of customers in downtown Miami's urban core. With a decorative facade to complement the city's fast-changing skyline and world-class culture, the Brickell Substation includes the latest technology to ensure reliable service to customers and future customer growth in South Florida. "The cranes that dot the skyline throughout the area highlight Miami's reputation as an extremely attractive location in which to live, work and visit," said Eric Silagy, president and CEO of FPL. "This state-of-the-art facility is yet another example of our steadfast commitment to continuing to provide the power that Miami relies upon today and well into the future, and is illustrative of our shared goal with the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County of continuing to help grow this dynamic and vibrant community." FPL was challenged to design and construct a new substation to provide power to current and future customers in a limited area inside one of FPL's largest service centers, which houses company crews and vehicles. The project team was able to complete the construction under budget and in less than 18 months half the time typically needed for such a facility. The substation includes the latest technology which allows staff to remotely manage the substation, including flood monitors that help prevent damage to equipment and aid the company's restoration efforts after a severe weather event. "I'm extremely proud of our team, which overcame a number of challenges to design, engineer and construct this substation, which will power Miami for many decades to come," said Manny Miranda, senior vice president of power delivery for FPL. "In addition, the project provided us with an opportunity to collaborate with the city of Miami to enclose the equipment in an eye-catching structure that adds to the sleek and modern buildings currently under construction." Continued collaborative partnership with city of Miami and Miami-Dade County In addition to supporting FPL's continued commitment to build a stronger, smarter energy grid, the Brickell Substation is also one of the many collaborative plans between FPL and both the city of Miami and Miami-Dade County to invest in innovative energy and environmental improvements, including: Adding more than 1 million solar panels across Miami-Dade County that will generate clean, emissions-free energy; that will generate clean, emissions-free energy; Planning to develop a potential advanced reclaimed water system that would thoroughly clean up to 60 million gallons a day of county wastewater and help thereby reduce the amount of treated wastewater the county currently disposes of in the ocean; Enhancing and extending the carbon-free energy capacity and environmental restoration work at FPL's Turkey Point power generation complex; and Developing high-tech transportation-related improvement projects. Florida Power & Light Company Florida Power & Light Company is the third-largest electric utility in the United States, serving nearly 5 million customer accounts or an estimated 10 million+ people across nearly half of the state of Florida. FPL's typical 1,000-kWh residential customer bill is approximately 30 percent lower than the latest national average and among the lowest in the U.S. FPL's service reliability is better than 99.98 percent, and its highly fuel-efficient power plant fleet is one of the cleanest among all utilities nationwide. The company was recognized in 2017 as one of the most trusted U.S. electric utilities by Market Strategies International for the fourth consecutive year. A leading Florida employer with approximately 8,700 employees, FPL is a subsidiary of Juno Beach, Florida-based NextEra Energy, Inc. (NYSE: NEE), a clean energy company widely recognized for its efforts in sustainability, ethics and diversity, and has been ranked No. 1 in the electric and gas utilities industry in Fortune's 2018 list of "World's Most Admired Companies." NextEra Energy is also the parent company of NextEra Energy Resources, LLC, which, together with its affiliated entities, is the world's largest generator of renewable energy from the wind and sun. For more information about NextEra Energy companies, visit these websites: www.NextEraEnergy.com, www.FPL.com, www.NextEraEnergyResources.com. Editor's note: Link to b-roll of construction and aerial views of the completed Brickell Substation - https://fpl.sharefile.com/d-s450b4f947a34a0bb SOURCE Florida Power & Light Company Related Links http://www.fpl.com PORTLAND, Oregon and PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a recent report published by Allied Market Research, titled, "Cloud-Based Business Analytics Software Market by Deployment Model, End User, and Application: Global Opportunity Analysis and Industry Forecast, 2017-2023," the global Cloud-Based Business Analytics Software Market was valued at $28,854 million in 2016, and is projected to reach at $57,055 million by 2023, growing at a CAGR of 10.2% from 2017 to 2023. In 2016, the hybrid cloud segment accounted for the highest revenue share in the business analytics software market. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/636519/Allied_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Rise in demand for business analytics software over cloud and increase in consumer awareness about the benefits of cloud-based business analytics software such as easy access to vital business metrics, higher performance, lower cost, increased revenue, and others drive the growth of the market. However, factors such as traditional data warehouses as well as data security and availability issues hamper the growth of the cloud-based business analytics software market to a certain extent. Request Sample Report at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/request-sample/4589 Based on end user, the others segment dominated the global market in 2016, and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period, owing to surge in adoption of the software by numerous industries. Furthermore, retail is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The global cloud-based business analytics software Market was led by the customer analytics segment in 2016, and the segment is projected to maintain its dominance during the forecast period. However, the others segment is expected to witness the highest growth, owing to increase in adoption of business analytics software by many small- & medium-sized businesses for different applications. In 2016, the global market was dominated by the hybrid cloud segment, and is expected to remain dominant during the forecast period. However, the segment is also expected to witness highest growth, owing to increase in deployment of hybrid cloud-based software by multiple organizations. For Purchase Enquiry: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/purchase-enquiry/4589 Key Findings of the Cloud-based Business Analytics Software Market: By end user, the others segment is expected to exhibit significant increase in the global Cloud-Based Business Analytics Software Market during the forecast period. In 2016, North America accounted for the highest revenue among the other regions. accounted for the highest revenue among the other regions. Based on application, the customer analytics segment generated the highest revenue in 2016. By deployment model, the hybrid cloud segment is anticipated to exhibit substantial growth during the forecast period. Some of the key market players profiled in the report include Oracle Corporation, SAS Institute Inc., SAP SE, International Business Machines (IBM) Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, Adobe Systems Incorporated, Tableau Software., Salesforce.com, Inc., QlikTech International AB, and Fair Isaac Corporation. Access KNOWLEDGE TREE (Premium on-demand, subscription-based pricing model) at: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com/knowledgetree Knowledge tree is a cloud-based intelligence platform that offers more than 2,000 selective, off-the-shelf reports on niche markets to enable our clients gain deep insights on the latest trends, dynamic technologies, and emerging application areas. About Us Allied Market Research (AMR) is a full-service market research and business-consulting wing of Allied Analytics LLP based in Portland, Oregon. Allied Market Research provides global enterprises as well as medium and small businesses with unmatched quality of "Market Research Reports" and "Business Intelligence Solutions." AMR has a targeted view to provide business insights and consulting to assist its clients to make strategic business decisions and achieve sustainable growth in their respective market domain. We are in professional corporate relations with various companies and this helps us in digging out market data that helps us generate accurate research data tables and confirms utmost accuracy in our market forecasting. Each and every data presented in the reports published by us is extracted through primary interviews with top officials from leading companies of domain concerned. Our secondary data procurement methodology includes deep online and offline research and discussion with knowledgeable professionals and analysts in the industry. Contact: Shriram Dighe 5933 NE Win Sivers Drive #205, Portland, OR 97220 United States Toll Free: +1-800-792-5285 UK: +44-845-528-1300 Hong Kong: +852-301-84916 India (Pune): +91-20-66346060 Fax: +1855550-5975 [email protected] Web: https://www.alliedmarketresearch.com SOURCE Allied Market Research NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- About Insurance Brokerage Insurance brokerage encompasses insurance brokerage firms, insurance brokers or agents, and brokerage fees. A brokerage fee is paid to a broker or an agent for executing a transaction for a client on behalf of an insurer or an insurance brokerage firm. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02403070 Technavio's analysts forecast Global Insurance Brokerage market to grow at a CAGR of 4.69% from 2018-2022. Covered in this report The report covers the present scenario and the growth prospects of the Global Insurance Brokerage market for the period 2018-2022. To calculate the market size, the report presents a detailed picture of the market by way of study, synthesis, and summation of data from multiple sources. The market is divided into the following segments based on geography: Americas APAC EMEA Technavio's report, Global Insurance Brokerage Equipment Market 2018-2022, has been prepared based on an in-depth market analysis with inputs from industry experts. The report covers the market landscape and its growth prospects over the coming years. The report also includes a discussion of the key vendors operating in this market. Key vendors Aon Brown & Brown Insurance Arthur J. Gallagher & Co. MARSH & MCLENNAN COMPANIES Willis Towers Watson Market driver Increasing demand for insurance policies For a full, detailed list, view our report Market challenge Direct purchase of insurance policies by consumers For a full, detailed list, view our report Market trend Integration of IT and analytics solutions For a full, detailed list, view our report Key questions answered in this report What will the market size be in 2022 and what will the growth rate be? What are the key market trends? What is driving this market? What are the challenges to market growth? Who are the key vendors in this market space? You can request one free hour of our analyst's time when you purchase this market report. Details are provided within the report. Read the full report: https://www.reportlinker.com/p02403070 About Reportlinker ReportLinker is an award-winning market research solution. Reportlinker finds and organizes the latest industry data so you get all the market research you need - instantly, in one place. __________________________ Contact Clare: [email protected] US: (339)-368-6001 Intl: +1 339-368-6001 SOURCE Reportlinker Related Links http://www.reportlinker.com NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- If you're a weekly road warrior, traveling thousands of miles each month for work, then the thrill of business travel has probably long since worn off. The endless security lines, flight delays, shabby hotel rooms, and let's face it - pricey - but mediocre cities as venues, have left many dreading business trips as much as Monday mornings. Turns out, you've probably been flying to the wrong cities and the wrong continent. Best Cities for Business Travel FitSmallBusiness.com, the digital publication serving small business owners, set out to discover the best cities in the world for business trips. The surprise? Asian cities are the best equipped to handle the demands of business travelers. These cities provided the most affordable hotels, car rentals and food costs. However, a couple of U.S. cities made the Top 10 including Las Vegas and surprisingly San Antonio. The full list can be found HERE. With global business travel expected to grow from $1.2 to $1.6 trillion by 2020, the trend isn't disappearing any time soon. Regardless of whether your business moved its operations online, most managers understand the importance and immeasurable value of building face-to-face relationships. Yet, factors such as employees' productivity, number of expenses, and quality of employees' experiences can vary from city to city. The publication researched 100 global cities to identify the ones best equipped to handle the demands of the business professional. FitSmallBusiness.com then analyzed data from sources such as Business News Travel, Cvent, FlightStats, and the Federal Aviation Administration, to provide readers with a definitive ranking of the best cities in the world for business travel. The Top 10 Cities in the World for Business Trips 1) Bangkok, Thailand 2) Madrid, Spain 3) Guangzhou, China 4) Berlin, Germany 5) Singapore 6) Beijing, China 7) San Antonio, Texas (U.S.A.) 8) Dubai, United Arab Emirates 9) Las Vegas, Nevada (U.S.A.) 10) New Delhi, India FitSmallBusiness.com looked at seven metrics which measure the quantity and quality of a city's amenities. One thing to note: the publication did not factor transportation expenses to and from the city into the mix due to widely varying travel costs. As an example, the cost of flying to Bangkok from Los Angeles will be much less expensive than from New York. The 7 Factors That Contribute to a Great Business Travel Experience: (in weighted percentages): 1) Number of hotels 20 percent 2) Number of sleeping rooms 20 percent 3) Number of air travel operations 15 percent 4) Accuracy of arrivals and departures 17.5 percent 5) Hotel costs - 12.5 percent 6) Food costs 7.5 percent 7) Car rental costs 7.5 percent "We were surprised to find that six of the cities on our list are located in Asia," says Eric Noe, Editor-in-Chief, FitSmallBusiness.com. "Asian cities offer business professionals the most affordable hotel, car rental, and food options. In contrast, only two U.S. cities made the top 10, and in fact, most American cities fell to the bottom 50." About FitSmallBusiness.com : With a rapidly growing monthly readership of more than 1.2 million, FitSmallBusiness.com is an online publication devoted to helping small business owners. Its full-time staff of writers spends hours of research, data analysis, and interviews with industry experts to answer the questions that owners want in order to run a successful small business. For more information on this list and this topic, please contact Sarah Johnson, [email protected], 917-864-6355. SOURCE FitSmallBusiness.com Related Links http://FitSmallBusiness.com LAKE WORTH, Fla., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hudson Holdings, LLC and CDS International Realty, LLC have come to a settlement on their recent spate of public lawsuits. Hudson Holdings, the developer responsible for the Midtown Delray project at Swinton and Atlantic Avenue, is owned by Andrew "Avi" Greenbaum and Steven Michael while CDS is owned by vitamin kingpin Carl DeSantis and Bill Milmoe. Each party was suing the other in district court to effectuate a buy/ sell agreement for the iconic historic Gulfstream Hotel, in Lake Worth, Florida. CDS had claimed that Hudson did not perform on the agreement while Hudson professed to escrowing the funds and showing up at the closing table, but with no counterparty. CDS raised up the stakes last week when they brought in famed Palm Beach lawyer, Stuart Kaplan, to turn up the heat. He filed a Federal Civil RICO lawsuit against Hudson Holdings. Andrew Greenbaum, a Principal at Hudson described the Kaplan strategy as "brilliant, but impossible as we were the minority investor and CDS was the General and controlling partner, but strategically masterful." Kaplan said that the strategy was meant to "get Hudson's attention" and "bring everyone to the table," which it apparently did. The settlement between CDS and Hudson includes both the Gulfstream Hotel and the Linton Towers office building, located on the corner of Linton Blvd and Dixie Highway, in Delray Beach, Florida. Details of the settlement were kept secret and sealed. The new owner of both properties, however, is now CDS. Both sides were happy with the outcome. Steven Michael, a Principal at Hudson stated that, "we wish CDS success on both of these fantastic projects. We put much work into them and we look forward to seeing them succeed in the future." The following joint statement was issued by both parties. "CDS Gulfstream LLC and CDS International Realty LLC ("CDS") along with Hudson Holdings and its affiliates announce that they have come to a mutual agreement on all of their recent business dealings and all of the related legal situations resulting. All lawsuits against each other have been mutually dismissed. Hudson Holdings has sold its interests in the Gulfstream Hotel and Linton Towers to CDS. The parties wish each other success on any and all future endeavors." Dominic Martuscelli Treasure Coast Business SOURCE Hudson Holdings LLC "The unique partnership we are gathered here today to celebrate, is the cooperation between Hurtigruten and The Queen Sonja Print Award. Hurtigruten strives to provide their guests with an unforgettable experience. Exquisite art to enjoy on the journey is part of this experience," said the Queen during an event on board Hurtigruten's MS Fram docked in New York on Sunday, April 15. Almost 600 unique works of art by young Norwegian artists, as well as previous award winners and works of art by HM Queen Sonja herself will be featured throughout MS Roald Amundsen. In addition, the Hurtigruten-QSPA partnership includes the possibility for design and development of joint merchandise, resident artists onboard Hurtigruten's expedition ships, art talks, exhibitions and more. "We are very excited about the new partnership and the opportunities this presents to our guests. HM Queen Sonja, QSPA and Hurtigruten found each other through a common love for the outdoors, nature and art," says Hurtigruten CEO Daniel Skjeldam. With large battery packs and groundbreaking green technology, MS Roald Amundsen will join Hurtigruten's growing fleet of small, custom built expedition ships in 2019. Named after the legendary explorer, she will honor her namesake by exploring destinations such as Antarctica, the Arctic and the Norwegian coast. "At Hurtigruten, we are building the next generation of expedition ships. At QSPA, they are highlighting the next generation of young artists. A partnership is a very natural fit. It is an honor to, literally, have Her Majesty and the QSPA on board," Skjeldam adds. The extensive onboard art collection on MS Roald Amundsen will include multiple prints in all suites and cabins, and public spaces such as restaurants, staircases and corridors. Close to 20 different artists will adorn the ship with their work, showing a wide range of prints and the many possibilities this field of art has to offer. "The Viking ships were decorated with the most beautiful wooden carvings: Dragon heads and flowers, ornaments and animals adorned Leiv Eiriksson's ship as he fought his way through the waves towards Newfoundland, where he first set foot. Today, a 1,000 years later we continue the tradition and decorate a proud ship sailing on our oceans on a much more peaceful mission than back in the early Viking age," the Queen said during her speech. The Hurtigruten-QSPA partnership also includes a plan to expand the cooperation to include curation of the artwork on board MS Fridtjof Nansen, slated to debut Summer of 2019. About Queen Sonja Print Award The H.M. Queen Sonja Art Foundation was established in 2011 to generate interest in and promote the development of graphic art. The Foundation presents the Queen Sonja Print Award every other year. The winner receives a cash prize of NOK 400 000 and a residency stay at the Atelje Larsen art studio in Helsingborg, Sweden. The QSPA focuses on the powerful link between art and culture, with printmaking as one of the most easily accessible, inherently democratic forms of art. About Hurtigruten Hurtigruten is the world leader in exploration travel. The pioneering company with a history of nearly 125 years, offers expedition voyages to more than 200 destinations in over 30 countries from pole to pole. With 14 custom built expedition ships, Hurtigruten guests can enjoy nature-based expedition voyages to places such as Antarctica, South America, Caribbean, Norway, Greenland, Iceland, Spitsbergen and Arctic Canada. New destinations include Alaska, Russia and the Northwest Passage. In 2019, Hurtigruten introduces the world's first hybrid battery powered expedition ships, MS Roald Amundsen and MS Fridtjof Nansen further strengthening Hurtigruten's focus on sustainability. About MS Roald Amundsen Built: 2018 Kleven Yards, Norway Gross tonnage: 20,889 Length OA: 140 m Breadth moulded: 23.6 m Draft: 5.3 m Guests: 530 Cabins: 265 (all outside, 50% private balconies) Crew: 151 Cruising speed: 15 knots Flag: Norwegian Ice class: PC-6 SOURCE Hurtigruten WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) today announced the recipients of the 2018 Thomas Jefferson Award. The bi-annual award recognizes legislators whose voting record indicates strong support of policies that enable the U.S. foodservice distribution industry to create well-paying jobs, grow their businesses, and contribute to their local communities. In addition, IFDA announced that Representative Mario Diaz-Balart (R-FL) has been awarded the Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service for his commitment to advancing economic opportunity and reducing government regulation. "We commend the winners of the 2018 Thomas Jefferson award for standing true to the ideals of Thomas Jefferson by working to protect America's businesses and reducing the involvement of government in our economy," said Mark Allen, IFDA President and CEO. "Our nation faces a number of critical challenges and Representative Mario Diaz-Balart and all of the Thomas Jefferson Award recipients have answered the call to help our nation to prosper." Representative Diaz-Balart serves as chair of the House Appropriations Subcommittee Transportation, Housing and Urban Development (THUD) and has played a key role in eliminating over-reaching regulations that were stifling the industry. He was instrumental in passing the omnibus legislation in 2016 and 2017 that eliminated a particularly onerous part of the hours of service rules that uniquely impacted the foodservice distribution industry. "Florida is proud to host a number of IFDA member companies and I am honored to receive the 2018 Thomas Jefferson Award for Distinguished Service from the International Foodservice Distributors Association," said Representative Diaz-Balart. "I've long believed that the regulatory framework in this country should support long-term economic growth and private sector jobs." During each Congress, IFDA presents this award to Senators and Members of Congress who demonstrate, through their voting record, a commitment to increasing economic opportunity and reducing government regulation. The 2018 award is based on votes during the 115th Congress on issues critical to the health of the foodservice distribution industry and the nation's overall economy. About the International Foodservice Distributors Association The International Foodservice Distributors Association (IFDA) is the premier trade organization representing the foodservice distribution industry. This industry ensures a safe and efficient supply chain of food and products for more than one million restaurants and foodservice outlets in the U.S. every day. For more information visit: http://www.ifdaonline.org/ Contact: Meghan Cieslak 1-703-962-9950 [email protected] SOURCE International Foodservice Distributors Association Related Links http://www.ifdaonline.org SANA'A, Yemen, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- On March 23rd, Mr. Abdel-Malek al-Houthi, the leader of the Houthis in Yemen, gave a televised speech that vehemently vilified and denounced the Baha'i Faith, further intensifying the ongoing persecution of the Baha'is in that country. Within days, over 20 publications in Yemen reiterated his comments about the Baha'is, and a prominent Houthi strategist commented on social media that "we will butcher every Baha'i". Several political and religious actors associated with the Houthis expressed similar sentiments. "We find Mr. al-Houthi's comments extremely alarming," said Mr. Anthony Vance, Director of the Office of Public Affairs for the Baha'is of the United States. "Mr. al-Houthi's comments, taken with those made by Yemeni media and public officials suggest the beginnings of a strategic campaign of incitement to genocide". Over the course of his speech, Mr. al-Houthi employed a rhetoric reminiscent of statements made by the Iranian regime against the Baha'is, warning Yemenis of the "satanic" Baha'i "movement" that is "waging a war of doctrine" against Islam. Indeed, several independent sources have been confirming that Iranian authorities are directing the persecution of the Baha'is in Yemen. Multiple reports further indicate that high-ranking officials in the National Security Bureau are maintaining pressure on the Baha'i community as a result of instructions from Iran despite repeated appeals by prominent Yemenis. For more information about religious persecution and the rights of the Baha'is in Yemen, please contact the U.S. Baha'i Office of Public Affairs at 202-833-8990, or visit publicaffairs.bahai.us. Contact: James Samimi Farr Phone: (202) 833-8990, Email: [email protected] SOURCE Baha'is of the United States Related Links http://publicaffairs.bahai.us IGA, the constructer and operator of Istanbul New Airport (INA) for 25 years, and YOTEL, the London based hotel group, have signed an exclusive hotel management contract. The hotel will be one of the biggest airport hotels in the world with both airside and landside access to 451 rooms. Located conveniently inside the main terminal building, it will be easily accessible to business and leisure travellers, airline crew and businesses within the airport and local environment. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678765/YOTEL_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678764/IGA_Logo.jpg ) "We are delighted to have chosen YOTEL as our new airport's exclusive air and landside hotel operator," says Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of IGA Airport Operation. "We are making history with Istanbul New Airport. Already in its construction phase, the multiple-world record breaking project is likely to change the transportation and aviation dynamics of a tri-continent region covering Europe, Asia and Africa. In this connection, Istanbul New Airport will accelerate the growth of Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier airline of the Republic of Turkey which flies to the most countries in the world. Our focus is to bring an unprecedented passenger experience that is efficient and stress-free, cutting waiting time and paper processing. YOTEL will contribute to our perfect passenger experience approach with unique innovative, elemental luxury and technologically decked space. I am very confident that Istanbul New Airport will be a global showcase, not only for the world-renowned Turkish hospitality, but also a brand-new bridge, which connects people and continents. The inauguration of the New Airport is scheduled for October 29 this year and we look forward to hosting the world!" The capacity of INA will be expanded to cater up to 200 million people once all four phases are completed and will have a total of six runways and three terminals. INA will connect over 350 destinations from Istanbul and host nearly 100 airlines. Commenting on the brand's first investment in Turkey, Hubert Viriot, YOTEL's CEO says: "We've witnessed Turkey's, and particularly Istanbul's remarkable economic and urban development, transformation and its noticeably increased popularity over the past few years. Istanbul New Airport will only further increase Istanbul's ever-expanding popularity and economy, and YOTEL is delighted to be a part of it. The prevailing ambitious vision to make Istanbul New Airport the largest transit hub in the world made it very attractive for us to be there, and we are extremely honoured to be chosen for this exciting project. This city aspires to high growth success, just like YOTEL, so we are a perfect match." Continuing, Viriot says, "Istanbul is an unbelievably vibrant city. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it touts a surplus of historical and cultural offerings, rendering Istanbul the fifth most visited city in the world. What is more, it has one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the world, a solid reason to open even more hotels there in the future." YOTEL will introduce its clever design and use of technology in two zones - one airside (102 rooms) and one landside (349 rooms). Both parts of the new hotel will feature public spaces including YOTEL's signature Club Lounge concept with smart vending, co-working and relaxing areas, wellness centres and planted glazed atriums to connect people with nature. In addition, the landside zone will include a restaurant, bar and 24/7 gym. The new hotel will also feature flexible meeting spaces with seamless technology, ideal for small or large, formal and casual meetings, conveniently located for airport businesses and passengers alike. SOURCE YOTEL NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- New York Life Investment Management (NYLIM) announced today that Jac McLean will join the company in June as head of U.S. Distribution. In this newly created role, he will focus on building and leading a world-class distribution organization and strategy across all third-party retail and intermediary channels in the U.S. He will report to Yie-Hsin Hung, chief executive officer of NYLIM, and oversee Agency Relationship Management, Third Party Distribution, Relationship Management, Defined Contribution Investment Only (DCIO), and the Research Platform Group. According to Ms. Hung, "The distribution landscape has evolved significantly in recent years, and having a leader in place who can think strategically across client segments is critical to achieving our growth aspirations. Jac has a proven track record in building strong distribution organizations and strengthening relationships with a diverse client base. We look forward to his leadership as head of U.S. Distribution at NYLIM, and welcome him to our executive team." Mr. McLean will bring more than 25 years of experience in sales leadership to NYLIM. He will join NYLIM from The Hartford where he served as Head of Distribution for The Hartford Funds, with responsibility for retail sales, institutional sales and strategic relationship management. Mr. McLean began his career with MFS Fund Distributors, Inc. and held positions of increasing responsibility during his 16 years with the firm. He then served as head of U.S. retail and offshore distribution at Eaton Vance prior to joining the Hartford Funds in 2013. He holds the FINRA Series 7 and 24 licenses. Mr. McLean attended Boston College where he received a bachelor's degree. About New York Life New York Life Insurance Company, a Fortune 100 company founded in 1845, is the largest mutual life insurance company in the United States* and one of the largest life insurers in the world. New York Life has the highest possible financial strength ratings currently awarded to any life insurer from all four of the major credit rating agencies: A.M. Best (A++), Fitch (AAA), Moody's Investors Service (Aaa), Standard & Poor's (AA+). ** Headquartered in New York City, New York Life's family of companies offers life insurance, retirement income, investments and long-term care insurance. New York Life Investments*** provides institutional asset management. Other New York Life affiliates provide an array of securities products and services, as well as retail mutual funds. Visit www.newyorklife.com for more information. New York Life Investment Management LLC, an indirect subsidiary of New York Life Insurance Company, New York, NY 10010, provides investment advisory products and services. IndexIQ Advisors LLC is the wholly owned subsidiary of New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC. *Based on revenue as reported by "Fortune 500 ranked within Industries, Insurance: Life, Health (Mutual)," Fortune magazine, 6/12/17. For methodology, please see http://fortune.com/fortune500/. **Individual independent rating agency commentary as of 8/1/17. ***New York Life Investments is a service mark used by New York Life Investment Management Holdings LLC and its subsidiary, New York Life Investment Management LLC. SOURCE New York Life Investment Management Related Links http://www.newyorklife.com SANTA BARBARA, California, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RENTCafe will lead a sponsored session focused on marketing automation for property management at the Apartment Internet Marketing Conference (AIM Conference) in Huntington Beach this May. Esther Bonardi, vice president of marketing at Yardi, will be joined on stage by guest speaker Jamie Gorski, chief marketing officer for The Bozzuto Group, to discuss game-changing automation strategies designed to drive more leads and leases to property management businesses. The presentation is scheduled for Monday, May 7, from 3:15 - 4:15 p.m. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/676064/Yardi_Logo.jpg ) Practical Magic - Marketing Automation for Multifamily Take a deep look at the practical applications for marketing automation in the multifamily industry, including today's best automation technology, emerging tools and breakthroughs for the future. Explore marketing automation tools available today Identify marketing automation best practices based on current data Discover groundbreaking technologies used by early adopters Take home actionable insights for improving your property marketing Attendees will walk away with a better understanding of the role of marketing automation in property management. "Today's technology allows us to interact in a personalized and timely way via automation, so that we connect with customers at moments of highest impact. When used well, it's very effective, both for the agent and the customer," explains Esther Bonardi, vice president of marketing at Yardi. AIM Conference, Innovated by RENTCafe, will take place May 6-9, 2018 at the Hyatt Regency in Huntington Beach, California. Register today using the code "RENTCafe18" for a $100 discount. Interested in marketing automation but unable to attend the conference? Download 9 Marketing Automation Strategies for Property Managers to get started. About Apartment Internet Marketing Conference Since 2005, AIM Conference has supported outstanding thought leadership and innovation in the multifamily housing industry. Attendance at AIM is limited to executives who own and operate multifamily communities and elite sponsors. AIM is not open to the general public or to non-sponsoring vendors. Learn more at AIMConf.com. About The Bozzuto Group The Bozzuto Group is an experience-focused real estate company that is continually celebrated for its developments, customer service and workplace culture. With an expertise in homebuilding, multifamily development, construction and management for itself and its clients, Bozzuto is devoted to crafting extraordinary experiences. Founded in 1988, Bozzuto has developed, acquired and built more than 42,000 homes and apartments. Currently, it manages more than 60,000 apartments and two million square feet of retail space along the East Coast between Miami and Boston, in the Northeast and Chicago. bozzuto.com About Yardi Yardi develops and supports industry-leading investment and property management software for all types and sizes of real estate companies. Established in 1984, Yardi is based in Santa Barbara, California, and serves clients worldwide. For more information on how Yardi is Energized for Tomorrow, visit yardi.com. SOURCE Yardi Systems, Inc. JENSEN BEACH, Fla., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Having traveled extensively through her work, Stewart has seen first hand the dedication and achievements of organizations such as United Way of America, Planned Parenthood, and Sanford Health Foundation's Children's Miracle Network. Donating both time and funds to these causes, as well as to the likes of Safe Harbor and Mothers Against Drunk Driving, Stewart's generous nature is clearly apparent. Jillian Stewart, Jillian Stewart Jensen Beach, Jillian Stewart Florida The Children's Miracle Network is particularly close to Stewart's heart, having encountered the organization's work while based at South Dakota's Sanford Aberdeen Health. Stewart also shares a similar affinity for Planned Parenthood's charitable efforts, as one of the country's leading providers of affordable, high-quality health care, having worked in family medicine and as an OB-GYN. Charitable services offered by Planned Parenthood include general health care, birth control, women's services, pregnancy testing, patient education, and sexual health testing and treatment, in addition to LGBT and men's health services. Another of Stewart's charities, and one which was first established over 125 years ago, United Way aims to improve lives by utilizing the caring powers of communities across the globe to advance what it calls "the common good." The organization believes that every person has a stake in what befalls their fellow man. "We all benefit when a child succeeds in school, when someone finds a job which will help them provide for their family, or when more people can access quality, affordable health care," says the charity. Through its work in the U.S., United Way creates solutions to community problems, making them safer, healthier, and more prosperous. The organization can do this only with the support of volunteers and patrons such as Stewart. Now based in Florida, Stewart has recently offered her assistance to the local Treasure Coast Food Bank. Founded 30 years ago, Treasure Coast Food Bank is the area's largest hunger-relief organization. It's also the only food bank serving Indian River, Martin, St. Lucie, and Okeechobee. Volunteers such as Stewart help to provide food and assistance for up to 100,000 individuals each week, with a total of 8 million meals distributed annually. Treasure Coast Food Bank provides for over 300 pantries, homeless shelters, soup kitchens, and low-income day-care centers. It does so while simultaneously operating various mobile services in the area, staffed mainly on a voluntary basis by individuals such as Stewart. The food bank's vision is to provide nutrition in order to improve the wellness and quality of health of those who are struggling with food insecurity. Volunteers like Stewart handle all manner of tasks, from inspecting and sorting donated items, to assembling emergency food boxes for families, seniors, veterans, school pantries, pet pantries, and more. A board-certified OB-GYN and a member of the American Board of Obstetricians and Gynecologists, Jillian Stewart is also involved with South Dakota's Aberdeen Catholic Foundation, another cause close to her heart. The foundation provides support to the Aberdeen Catholic School System, Sacred Heart Parish, St. Mary's Parish, and other charitable organizations in the area. To find out more about Jillian Stewart, you can read more here. Media Contact: Web Presence, LLC Eric Blankenship 786-332-6554 SOURCE Jillian Stewart OAKBROOK TERRACE, Ill., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Chicago-area outsourced consulting firm Jonathan Wesley recently announced it has been honored for excellence and quality during 2017 for results achieved on behalf of a leading energy client. The company's dedicated brand ambassador and executive team was recognized for outperforming other offices across the country focused on the same program. The esteemed trophy is awarded based on quarterly results that factor in quality and sales statistics. Jonathan Wesley President Andrew Breuninger praised his team's continued ability to meet the high standards that the company achieved through its consistent results. "The recognition that our team earns with this award reflects the shared dedication to achieving at the highest level on behalf of the client. We plan to continue this standard well into 2018 and beyond." Jonathan Wesley collaborates with renewable energy clients to acquire new customers while ensuring the needs of current customers are being met. With a personalized focus on relationship building, the company's staff of talented client acquisition professionals is dedicated to reducing the negative impact created by burning fossil fuels. Incorporating marketing methods to address this pressing environmental issue, Jonathan Wesley is committed to helping to create a cleaner, greener planet for future generations. With a platform that promotes leadership development from within, Jonathan Wesley believes in the value of live, personal presentations as an effective method for acquiring and retaining new customers. The company provides services in branding, public relations, sales, and consulting. Jonathan Wesley has active partnerships with the Brookfield Zoo, Chicago Wolves, and Chicago twentysomething organizations, among others. Dedicated to charitable causes within the community, the company supports Operation Smile. Like Jonathan Wesley on Facebook and follow them on Twitter. About Jonathan Wesley Founded in 2003, Jonathan Wesley is an outsourced marketing firm that works on behalf of recognizable companies in the renewable energy industry to broaden their customer base. Providing tailored retail consulting services, the company represents the client with outstanding service, high quality, and integrity. For more information, call 630-519-6707 or go to https://www.jwillinois.com/. Contact: Andrew Breuninger 630-519-6707 SOURCE Jonathan Wesley Related Links http://www.jwillinois.com OAKLAND, Calif., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kaiser Permanente is the headline sponsor of the 2018 Professional BusinessWomen of California conference on April 24, continuing its deep commitment to the professional development and advancement of women in the workplace and its long affiliation with PBWC. Kaiser Permanente is the largest integrated health system in the United States and an organization deeply rooted in the San Francisco Bay Area. Through the conference, Kaiser Permanente and PBWC will bring together 6,000 women of all backgrounds at San Francisco's Moscone Center for the annual gathering to empower and catalyze professional advancement. "Our work with PBWC reaffirms the important contributions women make every day in many different roles and industries across America," said Chairman and CEO Bernard J. Tyson. "Thousands of women will attend the conference this year, including hundreds of employees and physicians from Kaiser Permanente, to gather inspiration and knowledge, which will lead them to excel in all stages of their careers. Everyone should have an equal opportunity to develop and advance in the workplace." As one of the largest women's organizations, and with a diverse community of more than 35,000 professionals worldwide, PBWC fosters professional development that breaks down silos, bridging seniority, specialty, gender, race and identity. This year's conference theme, "Stand Up, Lift Up," is a courageous call to impact significant positive change for gender equality, diversity and inclusion, to transform the vision of 50/50 representation from aspiration to actuality. Conference programming will give attendees the tools, courage and inspiration to voice their views, even in conversations where they feel undervalued or excluded. "The combination of Kaiser Permanente and PBWC will allow us to amplify our message as part of a very significant movement, harnessing the massive power, strength and momentum coming out of 2017 for the demand for equal rights in the workplace," said Alexandra Roddy, PBWC board chair and global head of marketing for Prologis. "Kaiser Permanente's public commitment to equity and inclusion has spanned decades, their workplace is a close reflection of the makeup of our society, and their values are very closely aligned to those of PBWC. Together we are stronger than ever." Kaiser Permanente's extensive involvement with the conference will include a keynote address by Tyson, who will speak on the theme of female empowerment in the workplace. And in addition to leading an energetic "Thrive Recess," Kaiser Permanente employees will host an exposition area with educational health and wellness resources. During the event, Kaiser Permanente will receive PBWC's Industry Leader Award as recognition of its long-time commitment to mentoring and advancing women and its unparalleled inspiration to their companies or their communities at large. "Kaiser Permanente has a long history of fostering equity, diversity and inclusion within our workforce and on behalf of our members, patients and communities," said Janet Liang, Northern California Region president, Kaiser Permanente. "We know that by welcoming differences rather than seeing them as barriers, we are in a stronger position to deliver high-quality, affordable health care to our 12.2 million members in communities across the country." Learn more: #PBWC #StandUp #LiftUp. About Kaiser Permanente Kaiser Permanente is committed to helping shape the future of health care. We are recognized as one of America's leading health care providers and not-for-profit health plans. Founded in 1945, Kaiser Permanente has a mission to provide high-quality, affordable health care services and to improve the health of our members and the communities we serve. We currently serve more than 12 million members in eight states and the District of Columbia. Care for members and patients is focused on their total health and guided by their personal Permanente Medical Group physicians, specialists and team of caregivers. Our expert and caring medical teams are empowered and supported by industry-leading technology advances and tools for health promotion, disease prevention, state-of-the-art care delivery and world-class chronic disease management. Kaiser Permanente is dedicated to care innovations, clinical research, health education and the support of community health. For more information, go to: kp.org/share. For more information, contact: Marc Brown [email protected] 510-271-6328 Kimberly Hathaway Spritz for PBWC [email protected] 415-994-1097 SOURCE Kaiser Permanente Related Links http://www.kaiserpermanente.org HOUSTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- KBR, Inc. (NYSE: KBR) announced today, following Carillion's recent insolvency, it has completed the acquisition of Carillion's interests in Aspire Defence. Through the Aspire Defence joint venture KBR has supported the UK Ministry of Defence (MOD) on Project Allenby Connaught since 2006, under one of the largest infrastructure Private Finance Initiatives in the UK. Aspire provides high quality design, construction and base support services to the British Army for living and working accommodations. KBR assumed operational control of the Aspire Defence joint ventures following Carillion's insolvency announcement in January including the hiring of affected Carillion staff and has maintained normal business operations without disruption to the delivery of services or performance. "This acquisition and our commitment to maintain the stability of the project strengthens KBR's long-standing relationship with the UK MOD as a core client," said Stuart Bradie, KBR President and CEO. "KBR has spent more than 12 years delivering this program to re-house soldiers into fit for purpose accommodation and working facilities." "We look forward to continuing to provide market-leading construction and long-term maintenance services in support of the Army Basing Programme within the Project Allenby Connaught footprint and to provide base support services across Salisbury Plain and Aldershot garrisons," Bradie continued. "This project underpins our long term relationship with the MOD whether at the home base, providing deployed operational support or acting as an integrator of complex defense equipment and systems." With more than 22 years remaining on the Aspire contract this acquisition provides KBR with enduring, stable and profitable backlog. The impact to KBR's earnings and cash flows has already been included in 2018 Guidance issued on February 23, 2018. About KBR, Inc. KBR is a global provider of differentiated professional services and technologies across the asset and program life cycle within the Government Services and Hydrocarbons sectors. KBR employs approximately 34,000 people worldwide (including our joint ventures), with customers in more than 75 countries, and operations in 40 countries, across three synergistic global businesses: Government Services, serving government customers globally, including capabilities that cover the full life-cycle of defense, space, aviation and other government programs and missions from research and development, through systems engineering, test and evaluation, program management, to operations, maintenance, and field logistics Technology & Consulting, including proprietary technology focused on the monetization of hydrocarbons (especially natural gas and natural gas liquids) in ethylene and petrochemicals; ammonia, nitric acid and fertilizers; oil refining; gasification; oil and gas consulting; integrity management; naval architecture and proprietary hulls; and downstream consulting Engineering & Construction, including onshore oil and gas; LNG (liquefaction and regasification)/GTL; oil refining; petrochemicals; chemicals; fertilizers; differentiated EPC; maintenance services (Brown & Root Industrial Services); offshore oil and gas (shallow-water, deep-water, subsea); floating solutions (FPU, FPSO, FLNG & FSRU) and program management KBR is proud to work with its customers across the globe to provide technology, value-added services, integrated EPC delivery and long term operations and maintenance services to ensure consistent delivery with predictable results. At KBR, We Deliver. Visit www.kbr.com Forward Looking Statement The statements in this press release that are not historical statements, including statements regarding future financial performance, are forward-looking statements within the meaning of the federal securities laws. These statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the company's control that could cause actual results to differ materially from the results expressed or implied by the statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to: the outcome of and the publicity surrounding audits and investigations by domestic and foreign government agencies and legislative bodies; potential adverse proceedings by such agencies and potential adverse results and consequences from such proceedings; the scope and enforceability of the company's indemnities from its former parent; changes in capital spending by the company's customers; the company's ability to obtain contracts from existing and new customers and perform under those contracts; structural changes in the industries in which the company operates; escalating costs associated with and the performance of fixed-fee projects and the company's ability to control its cost under its contracts; claims negotiations and contract disputes with the company's customers; changes in the demand for or price of oil and/or natural gas; protection of intellectual property rights; compliance with environmental laws; changes in government regulations and regulatory requirements; compliance with laws related to income taxes; unsettled political conditions, war and the effects of terrorism; foreign operations and foreign exchange rates and controls; the development and installation of financial systems; increased competition for employees; the ability to successfully complete and integrate acquisitions; and operations of joint ventures, including joint ventures that are not controlled by the company. KBR's most recently filed Annual Report on Form 10-K, any subsequent Form 10-Qs and 8-Ks, and other Securities and Exchange Commission filings discuss some of the important risk factors that KBR has identified that may affect the business, results of operations and financial condition. Except as required by law, KBR undertakes no obligation to revise or update publicly any forward-looking statements for any reason. SOURCE KBR, Inc. Related Links http://www.kbr.com DETROIT and NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lambert, Edwards & Associates, a leading PR, investor relations, and integrated communications agency, today announced the acquisition of leading financial communications firm Owen Blicksilver Public Relations, Inc., creating a national top-10 investor relations, transaction, and financial communications firm, and a top-five private equity-focused PR firm. The deal marks Lambert's fifth acquisition and adds a highly experienced team and New York City office for the combined firms' more than 150 clients. Led by industry veteran Owen Blicksilver, the Blicksilver PR team brings decades of financial communications expertise and strategic positioning acumen, with specialty practices in private equity, real estate, financial services, bankruptcy, crisis, litigation support, and B2B marketing. Lambert and Blicksilver will continue to operate under their respective brands with a combined staff of 65 and a client roster of publicly traded and privately held companies based in 20 states and six countries. Financial terms of the transaction were not disclosed. "Our firm is rooted in financial communications, and this business mindset differentiates us among our PR firm peers nationally, making this acquisition such a strong strategic fit," said Jeff Lambert, CEO and Managing Partner of Lambert Edwards. "Adding the expertise of Owen Blicksilver and his team, coupled with an impressive roster of long-term and market-leading clients, a specialization in capital markets, M&A and private equity, and a New York office, makes this a truly transformative opportunity." "True to our heritage in private equity and M&A, we approached this merger process looking for a strategic combination that would expand capabilities and talent breadth for each firm's growing client base," said Owen Blicksilver, Founder and President of Blicksilver PR. "Lambert provides more resources in the areas of investor relations, integrated marketing, digital, and B2C, plus expertise in key verticals such as automotive, consumer and healthcare, all of which we can now offer our clients. They also share our passion for business and financial communications and commitment to responsive, high quality client service." Founder Owen Blicksilver will remain with Lambert under a multi-year agreement, serving as President of the Blicksilver unit, which will remain based in New York. All of the Blicksilver senior account staff, who have an average tenure of a decade with the firm, will remain with the combined organization, assuring continuity for the firm's publicly traded and privately held clients coast to coast. Lambert concluded: "This is our fifth and largest acquisition to date, and we expect it to be our most impactful. The addition of Blicksilver addresses several of our strategic growth objectives including expanding our geographic reach, adding to our national practice areas in investor relations and financial communications, and multiplying our talent bench of C-level advisors. This deal also further enhances our reputation as The PR Firm That Can Read an Income Statement, and we are confident this unique combination will be compelling to clients and talent alike." Lambert added that its Midtown New York office will bring its clients increased access to the world's financial and media capital, and its proximity to the nation's largest consumer media publications is ideal for the firm's top-20 national food and beverage practice and rapidly growing consumer packaged goods (CPG) client base. Advisors on the transaction included M&A advisory firm The Stevens Group, law firm Warner Norcross & Judd LLP and New York counsel Silverman Acampora LLP with financing by Mercantile Bank of Michigan. About Lambert, Edwards & Associates Lambert Edwards (www.lambert.com) is a top-5 Midwest-based PR firm and a top-10 investor relations firm nationally with clients based in 20 states and six countries. As Michigan's largest PR firm, Lambert serves middle-market companies and national brands across a wide array of industries and is the state's largest bipartisan public affairs firm. The firm has posted 19 years of growth, been named PR Week and PRNews Small Firm of the Year, and earned Crain's "Michigan's Healthiest Employers" and "Coolest Places to Work" awards. Lambert is also a global partner in PROI Worldwide, the largest partnership of independent PR firms in the world spanning 120 cities on five continents. Follow us on Facebook or Twitter @LambertEdwards. About Owen Blicksilver Public Relations Founded in 2001, Owen Blicksilver Public Relations, Inc. is a New York-based financial communications firm and trusted advisor to some of the world's leading private equity, real estate, and financial institutions. The firm's specialty practices include M&A communications, portfolio company support, investor relations, bankruptcy, litigation, and crisis management. The Blicksilver team is comprised of senior-level professionals with decades of experience in financial communications for publicly traded and privately held companies coast to coast. Blicksilver brings expertise in corporate positioning, content, media relations, and full-service B2B marketing that creates business impact. www.blicksilverpr.com SOURCE Lambert, Edwards & Associates, Inc. Related Links http://www.lambert.com "To leading companies across America, deploying solar is a common-sense business decision," said Abigail Ross Hopper, president and CEO of the Solar Energy Industries Association (SEIA). "Large corporations have found that going solar not only benefits the environment, but also their bottom-line, satisfying both shareholders and customers alike." Adding more than 40 megawatts (MW) of solar in 2017, more than the annual total in 23 U.S. states, Target earned the top spot in the report for the second year in a row. Target now has 204 MW of installed solar capacity. "At Target, we're designing for tomorrow and putting solutions in place across our business to leave our homes better for future families," said John Leisen, vice president, Property Management, Target. "And we're proud of the progress our team has made over the past year towards Target's goal to install rooftop solar panels on 500 buildings by 2020. As we continue our commitment to supporting our local communities, it's an incredible honor to be recognized by SEIA for the second year in a row." Other blue-chip companies recognized for their installed solar capacity in the Solar Means Business 2017 Top 10 include Walmart, Prologis, Apple, Kohl's, Costco Wholesale, GGP, IKEA, Macy's and Amazon. "Solar is a vital component of Walmart's expanding renewable energy portfolio," said Mark Vanderhelm, vice president of energy for Walmart, Inc. "As one of the leading U.S. companies for solar energy installations and capacity, Walmart plans to continue our efforts on seeking to find renewable energy projects that are right for our customers, our business and the environment. It is an honor to be recognized by SEIA for our work in the renewable energy space as it serves as a confirmation that we are continuing to move in the right direction with our solar energy achievements and aspirations." "As the world's largest owner and operator of logistics real estate, we are committed to minimizing our environmental impacts and contributing to a more sustainable global distribution system," said Matt Singleton, senior vice president, Global Energy, Prologis. "Our holistic approach to sustainability is a core component of our long-term business strategy, helping deliver greater value for our customers and stronger returns for our shareholders. This is evident from the 175 MW of solar generating capacity in our global property portfolio, keeping us on track to achieve our goal of 200 MW by 2020." "It is a tremendous honor to once again be recognized by SEIA for our continued efforts to expand solar energy capacity across our portfolio," said Shobi Khan, president and chief operating officer of GGP. "Our investment in solar generation not only creates value for our shareholders, it reflects our long term commitment to reduce GGP's carbon footprint within our communities. Most importantly, it is the right thing to do." Among several fun facts, the Solar Means Business 2017 report, which is now in its 6th edition, notes that every week 9.6 million people visit a solar-powered Walmart store, more than 19,300 Americans work at a solar-powered Kohl's, and Apple's solar facilities produce enough electricity annually to fully charge more than 44 million iPhone's every day for an entire year. Several of the top companies featured in Solar Means Business 2017 will be discussing the report's findings, along with the latest trends in the commercial solar market, at SEIA's upcoming Solar Goes Corporate conference in Boston, Mass. For photos, rankings and the report's underlying data, go to SEIA's multimedia landing page www.seia.org/solarmeansbiz. About SEIA: Celebrating its 44th anniversary in 2018, the Solar Energy Industries Association is the national trade association of the U.S. solar energy industry, which now employs more than 250,000 Americans. Through advocacy and education, SEIA is building a strong solar industry to power America. SEIA works with its 1,000 member companies to build jobs and diversity, champion the use of cost-competitive solar in America, remove market barriers and educate the public on the benefits of solar energy. Visit SEIA online at www.seia.org. SOURCE Solar Energy Industries Association Related Links http://www.seia.org OTTAWA, Ontario, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Lockheed Martin (NYSE: LMT) signed an agreement to supply approximately 17 MWh of GridStar Lithium energy storage systems to Peak Power Inc., a North American energy storage services provider. The units will be installed in Ontario, Canada, and along the East Coast of the United States. "Peak Power Inc. is an innovative company that we are excited to collaborate with to deploy our robust, reliable GridStar Lithium systems," said Frank Armijo, vice president of Lockheed Martin Energy. "These projects are an example of solutions we're providing to address complex global energy challenges." Peak Power Inc. will use its own intelligent Synergy software, combined with GridStar Lithium energy storage systems, to forecast the most expensive peak demand events and shift energy consumption for its customers during these peak moments. This results in a reduced amount of peak demand on the grid and lower electricity costs for customers. "The Lockheed Martin name is a brand that is associated with a proven track record and high-quality design and engineering," said Derek Lim Soo, CEO of Peak Power Inc. "Our software performance this past year in Ontario allowed us to hit all five coincident peak events that form the bulk of our customer's bills within a one-hour window, with 100% accuracy. We're looking forward to integrating our software with Lockheed Martin's reliable and innovative solutions to support our customer's needs and the future of our distributed grid." Lockheed Martin has delivered and has a pipeline of energy storage solutions to address a range of applications, including reducing peak loads on the electrical grid and integrating renewable energy sources with energy storage. These projects have been installed in many locations, including Canada. "Our mission is to deliver solutions to our customers' most complex problems through applying innovative approaches, and through establishing strong, strategic partnerships," said Charles Bouchard, chief executive of Lockheed Martin Canada. "Lockheed Martin Energy has an excellent track record of providing comprehensive solutions across the energy industry, and our work with Peak Power Inc. is a great match to address complex energy needs across both Canada and the United States." Lockheed Martin's GridStar Lithium turnkey energy storage systems are compact, easy to install, and scalable from 100 kW to multi-MW projects. GridStar system architecture consists of modular, purpose-built energy storage units that contain batteries, local controls software and all required balance-of-system components. The systems are certified to UL 9540 standards, a key certification for product safety for energy storage systems and equipment. Lockheed Martin is also developing GridStar Flow, featuring the company's proprietary flow battery technology, for flexible, durable, long-duration energy storage for utility-scale projects. Lockheed Martin Energy is a line of business that delivers comprehensive solutions across the energy industry to include demand response solutions, energy efficiency, energy storage, microgrids, nuclear systems and bioenergy generation. About Lockheed Martin: Headquartered in Bethesda, Maryland, Lockheed Martin is a global security and aerospace company that employs approximately 100,000 people worldwide and is principally engaged in the research, design, development, manufacture, integration and sustainment of advanced technology systems, products and services. About Peak Power Inc.: Peak Power is a North American based energy storage services provider. Through their Peak SYNERGY controls platform, Peak Power is empowering building owners to achieve long-term savings from rising electricity bills, reach sustainability goals and increase onsite resiliency, all while aiding utilities in addressing aging infrastructure and peak demand requirements. Peak has received funding from both the Federal and Provincial governments, the MaRS technology incubator, and Osmington Inc., the investment office of David Thomson, chairman of Thomson Reuters. For more information, please visit www.peakpowerenergy.com. SOURCE Lockheed Martin Related Links https://www.lockheedmartin.com LOUISVILLE, Ky., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Marmon-Herrington announced today expanded offerings to its popular Rapid Response lead time program. Rapid Response, the company's axle stocking program, has been in place since 2012 and allows 30-day-or-less delivery of over 400 different popular axle configurations. The program is based on available stock at Marmon-Herrington and on-time delivery is tracking at 100% YTD. To satisfy customer demand, Marmon-Herrington is increasing the number of configurations offered through the 30-day program. In addition to expanded 30-day offerings, a select number of adjacent configurations are now available as part of a new 60-day-or-less program. Marmon-Herrington Rapid Response axles are assembled and shipped from its facility in Louisville, KY. The 30-day-or-less program now includes additional ratio availability for Marmon-Herrington MT-22 front drive steer axles and Sisu 70,000lb. tandem rear drive axles. The MT-Series Rapid Response ratios now range from 4.25 to 6.11. Sisu 70,000lb. tandem Rapid Response ratios now range from 5.56 to 7.01. Marmon-Herrington's new 60-day-or-less Rapid Response program includes 4.65, 8.79 and 10.55 ratios for Sisu tandem axles. "The overall popularity of this program has proven it to be a huge success," said Dan Souhan, Sales & Marketing Director for Marmon-Herrington. "Lead times for specialty axles are a critical part of our customers' supply chain. We created this program and will continue to expand it to afford our customers the ability to get product faster. Short lead times have always been a focus of ours, and we're excited to offer these additional ratio configurations as part of Rapid Response." Marmon-Herrington MT-Series and Sisu heavy-duty tandems are among the most robust axles available. Both products feature a decades-proven planetary, double-reduction design that allows torque to be distributed across the entire axle for improved durability when compared to single reduction axle products. These specialty axles are used in niche applications where competitive lead times are often 120 days or greater. Marmon-Herrington's Rapid Response program solves this problem and allows our customers to manufacture and deliver trucks in less time. Marmon-Herrington offers a full-range of double reduction, planetary axles and durable transfer cases for trucks and specialized vehicles within North America as well as class 6 through 8 all-wheel-drive conversions. With over 100 years of driveline know how, Marmon-Herrington sets the standards in each of its product offerings. Marmon-Herrington is a Marmon Highway Technologies/Berkshire Hathaway company. Marmon Highway Technologies (MHT) supports the transportation industry worldwide with a wide range of high-quality products and services. For more information, contact Dan Souhan, Marmon-Herrington, 13001 Magisterial Drive, Louisville, KY 40223, 269-873-5552, www.marmon-herrington.com. SOURCE Marmon-Herrington Related Links http://www.marmon-herrington.com HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Editors note: NASA is delaying the Near Earth Asteroid Scout solar sail deployment test and media event. During the final assembly phase, the NEA Scout team discovered an issue with the deployment boom. The team is working to prepare a replacement boom. As soon as the issue is corrected, the team will provide a revised test date. Media are invited to view the flight solar sail for propulsion test of NASA's Near-Earth Asteroid Scout at 1:30 p.m. CDT on Thursday, April 26 at prime contractor ManTech NeXolve's Huntsville test facility. NASA and industry representatives will be also available for interviews before the NeXolve event at NASA's Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville, Alabama. NEA Scout and 12 other small satellites will launch as secondary payloads on Exploration Mission-1 of NASA's Space Launch System and Orion Spacecraft. NEA Scout is a CubeSat developed jointly between Marshall and NASA's Jet Propulsion Laboratory. CubeSats are small spacecraft built for space-based science, exploration and engineering. NEA Scout relies on an innovative solar sail for propulsion and will be America's first interplanetary solar sail mission. When deployed, the sail -- square in shape with each side about the length of a school bus -- harnesses solar energy to use as propulsion to move through space. Journalists will also have an opportunity to tour the command center where the NEA Scout satellite will be tracked at Marshall and view SLS intertank test progress and interview representatives from the SLS team. To attend, media should contact Shannon Ridinger at [email protected] or 256-544-0034 by 12 p.m. CDT Wednesday, April 25. The SLS intertank test article arrived at Marshall on the Pegasus barge in March. It will be tested in a new test stand where engineers will use the stand to push, pull and bend the test article exposing it to millions of pounds of force to simulate the rocket's launch. The flight version of the intertank will connect the rocket's core stage fuel tanks, serve as the upper-connection point for the two solid rocket boosters and house the avionics and electronics that will serve as the "brains" of the rocket. To tour the NEA Scout command center and see the new SLS intertank test stand, media should plan to arrive at Gate 9 of the Redstone Arsenal Joint Visitor Control Center at the Interstate 565 interchange of Rideout Road and Research Park Boulevard no later than 11:15 a.m. for badging and security clearance. Media must provide one form of government-issued photo identification for badging. Access to the post requires proof of vehicle insurance. The Marshall tour and media opportunity will last approximately one and half hours. After the tour at Marshall, the group will reconvene at NeXolve's test facility located at 355 Quality Circle, Suite B, Huntsville, Alabama, at 1:30 p.m. to view the flight solar sail and speak with NEA-Scout representatives. SOURCE NASA Related Links http://www.nasa.gov DUBLIN, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The "MicroLED Displays: Intellectual Property Landscape" report has been added to ResearchAndMarkets.com's offering. This report has identified close to 1,500 patents filed by 125 companies and organizations relevant to the microLED display field. Among these are multiple startups, display makers, OEMs, semiconductor companies, LED makers, and research institutions. The overall corpus is relatively young, with an average age of 3.2 years across all families. The first patents were filed in 2000 - 2001, but the bulk of activity started after 2012. Thus, only a minority of patents have been granted so far. Pioneers include Sony, Sharp, MIT, and others, although the bulk of initial developments were conducted by a variety of research institutions including Kansas State University, University of Hong Kong, Strathclyde University & Tyndall Institute (which spun-off mLED, InfiniLED, and X-Celeprint), University of Illinois, and startup companies like Luxvue and, later on, Playnitride and Mikro Mesa. The study also reveals a number of companies that have not yet been identified as players in the microLED display field. Moreover, our study confirms the commitment of many more companies, i.e. Intel and Goertek, which are not typically associated with display technology. On the flip side, various companies known to be active in the field, i.e. Huawei, have yet to publish any patents in the field. Overall, the field is led mostly by startups and research institutions. With the exception of Sharp and Sony, display makers and LED makers are relative latecomers. Many companies started ramping up their microLED research and development activities after Apple showed faith in microLED with its acquisition of Luxvue. As of December 2017, Apple appears to have the most complete IP portfolio, covering almost all key technology nodes. However, many Apple patents pertain to the technological ecosystem developed around the company's MEMS transfer technology. Other companies like Sony, with a smaller portfolio but which had a head start, might own more fundamental design patents with strong blocking power. Transfer And Display Structure Dominate, While Defect Management Surprisingly Falls Behind Many patents include descriptions of display concepts and architectures. But in terms of manufacturing technologies, pixel transfer & assembly is, not surprisingly, the major topic discussed in invention disclosures. The ability to precisely assemble many millions of small LED chips in a costly, timely fashion, and with very high yields, has long been considered a key enabler for microLED displays. Dozens of possible solutions are presented from more than 50 organizations. Some appear to have given serious thought, and have explored credible development strategies to tackle the challenges. But many other applications only vaguely describe an idea or concept. Despite the diversity of solutions discussed, they can be organized in less than 10 major families, including MEMS, elastomer stamps, fluidic transfers, sticky tapes, etc. Right behind transfer aspects are chip design and manufacturing technologies, since microLEDs currently suffer from much lower efficiency than their traditional macro counterparts. New structures and manufacturing processes are required to improve efficiency and make the chips suitable for transfer & assembly, or optimize the emission beam pattern for display applications. More surprising is the relatively few number of applications relating to defect management and microLED testing. These aspects are considered to be key enablers since even with extremely high manufacturing yields defective pixels will remain, and a defect management strategy is required. A Complex Supply Chain? Enabling large-scale microLED display manufacturing requires bringing together three major disparate technologies and supply chain bricks: LED manufacturing, backplane manufacturing, and microchip mass transfer & assembly. The supply chain is complex and lengthy compared to typical displays. Every process is critical and it's a challenge to effectively manage every aspect. No one company appears positioned to master and execute across a supply chain that will likely be more horizontal, compared to other established display technologies. The IP landscape reflects these challenges through the variety of players involved, but requirements differ from one application to another. For low-volume, high added-value applications like microdisplays for augmented/mixed reality for the enterprise, military, and medical markets, one can envision a well-funded startup with good technology efficiently managing the supply chain. However, consumer applications such as TVs and smartphones will require significant investments to unlock large-scale manufacturing. Though only a few companies have a broad IP portfolio covering all major technology nodes (transfer chip structure, display architecture, etc.), enough players have patents across many technology bricks to guarantee that complex licensing and legal battles will arise once microLED displays enter volume manufacturing and reach the market. Small companies with strong positions in various technology bricks will attempt to obtain licensing fees from larger players involved in manufacturing. Large corporations will try to block each other and prevent their competitors from entering the market. To prepare for such events, some latecomers appear to be filing large quantities of patents, sometimes with little substance. Key Topics Covered: 1. Methodology and terminology 2. Executive summary 3. Introduction to microLED displays 4. MicroLED IP landscape: overview 5. Time evolution of patent applications Time evolution of patent publications Leading patent applicants Remaining applicants Number of patents and current legal status Time evolution of patent applications Average age of patent portfolio Time evolution of patent applications Breakdown by company types Start up companies Time evolution of patent applications per company typ OEM and consumer electronics companies Display makers Positioning of established panel makers LED makers Research institutions Others Breakdown by company headquarter Technology segmentation Overview of patent families per technology node 6. Company analysis Time evolution of patent applications Time evolution of patent applications per company Portfolio technology segmentation per company Detailed breakdown Apple-Luxvue (US) X-Celeprint (UK) Oculus/InfiniLED/mLED (US) Industrial Technology Research Institute (TW) China Star OptoElectronics Technology (CN) Mikro-Mesa (TW) Sharp/Elux (JP-TW) Goertek (CN) SONY (JP) Sony (JP) AU Optronics (TW) BOE Display Technology (CN) Samsung (Korea) Playnitride (TW) Intel (US) Collaboration Network 7. Pixel & display architectures, driving Ranking by number of patent family Patent portfolio strength iIndex Average strength iIndex vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio Singular patent: MIT Patent portfolio strength index Apple-Luxvue Other players Sony Nano & advanced materials institute ITRI IP blocking potential 8. Transfer & interconnect Pick and place processes Fluidic self assembly Ranking by number of patent families Patent portfolio strength index Average strength index vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio X-Celeprint (UK)- University of Illinois (US) (US) Apple Luxvue (US) LuxVue Transfer Process Sequence Sony (JP) Sharp/ELUX (JP) CM PSI Corp. (KR) Mikro Mesa (TW) Goertek (CN) BOE Technology (CN) CSOT (CN) LG Electronics (KR) GLO AB (SW) Vuereal (CA) Playnitride (TW) AU Optronics (TW) Industrial Technology Research Institute Intel IP blocking potential Other microchip transfer patents: timeline Other microchip transfer patents: key players Monolithic structures Monolithic integration of LTPS TFT Monolithic integration of metal oxide TFT Monolithic integration of GaN TFT Hybridized structures MicroLED array hybridization on CMOS 9. Chip structure and manufacturing MicroLED efficiency Ranking by number of patent families Patent portfolio strength index Average strength index vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio 3D integration Sony Apple Luxvue Current confinement trenches Reduction of sidewall defects Mikro Mesa X-Celeprint Facebook/Oculus Others IP blocking potential 10. Light extraction and management Viewing angle and power consumption Ranking by number of patent families Illustration: InfiniLED Patent portfolio strength index Average strength index vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio Apple/Luxvue Industrial Technology Research Institute IP blocking potential 11. Color generation, conversion and management Wavelength converter deposition Ranking by number of patent families CSOT Seoul Semiconductor mLED Patent portfolio strength index Patent portfolio strength index Average strength index vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio Apple/Luxvue Hiphoton/Aledia Others: Osram, Verlase. IP blocking potential 12. Epitaxy Wavelength homogeneity and consistency Ranking by number of patent families Intel Sun Yat-Sen University NanoWires Patent portfolio strength index Average strength index vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio IP blocking potential 13. Defect management & repair Bad pixels Defect management strategies Ranking by number of patent families X-Celeprint Patent portfolio strength index Average strength index vs number of family Ranking by strength index of the patent portfolio Example of repair strategies Apple/Luxvue Facebook/Oculus Mikro Mesa Sharp/eLUX Goertek IP blocking potential 14. Testing Ranking by number of patent families Testing Mikro Mesa Vuereal Patent portfolio strength index 15. Integration of sensor or other functions Ranking by number of patent families X-Celeprint Apple Luxvue Others Patent portfolio strength index Kansas State University (KSU) (KSU) IP blocking potential For more information about this report visit https://www.researchandmarkets.com/research/v6nr2t/microled_displays?w=5 Media Contact: Research and Markets Laura Wood, Senior Manager [email protected] For E.S.T Office Hours Call +1-917-300-0470 For U.S./CAN Toll Free Call +1-800-526-8630 For GMT Office Hours Call +353-1-416-8900 U.S. Fax: 646-607-1907 Fax (outside U.S.): +353-1-481-1716 SOURCE Research and Markets Related Links http://www.researchandmarkets.com MOOG premium-quality complete knuckle assemblies dramatically simplify bearing replacement and save time on many popular late-model passenger vehicle applications, and include all the premium components pre-assembled for a complete repair: MOOG knuckle and backing plate with corrosion-resistant E-coat; MOOG wheel hub; National bearing; axle nut; and lock ring. By relying on this comprehensive, bolt-on solution, service providers can save time and eliminate the need for special tools or a press, resulting in an easier installation. "Every month, MOOG continues to expand its product line to offer technicians the best possible, time-saving, innovative solutions to cover their customers' vehicle repair needs," said Christine Tower, Director, Product Management and Business Development, Global Wheel End, Federal-Mogul Motorparts. "With the complete knuckle assemblies, we have developed a product that not only saves technicians valuable installation time, but also eases the bearing replacement process on an expanded variety of vehicles." To learn more about this innovative MOOG solution, please log on to www.MOOGParts.com, and/or contact your MOOG supplier. Updates also can be found by searching for MOOG Parts on Facebook, and following MOOG on Twitter at www.Twitter.com/MOOGparts and Instagram at www.Instagram.com/MOOGparts. About Federal-Mogul Federal-Mogul LLC is a leading global supplier of products and services to the world's manufacturers and servicers of vehicles and equipment in the automotive, light, medium and heavy-duty commercial, marine, rail, aerospace, power generation and industrial markets. The company's products and services enable improved fuel economy, reduced emissions and enhanced vehicle safety. Federal-Mogul operates two independent business divisions, each with a chief executive officer reporting to Federal-Mogul's Board of Directors. Federal-Mogul Motorparts sells and distributes a broad portfolio of products through more than 20 of the world's most recognized brands in the global vehicle aftermarket, while also serving original equipment vehicle manufacturers with products including braking, wipers and a range of chassis components. The company's aftermarket brands include ANCO wipers; Beck/Arnley premium OE quality parts and fluids; BERU** ignition systems; Champion lighting, spark plugs, wipers and filters; Interfil filters; AE, Fel-Pro, FP Diesel, Goetze, Glyco, National, Nural, Payen, Sealed Power and Speed-Pro engine products; MOOG chassis components; and Abex, Ferodo, Jurid and Wagner brake products and lighting. Federal-Mogul Powertrain designs and manufactures original equipment powertrain components and systems protection products for automotive, heavy-duty, industrial and transport applications. Federal-Mogul was founded in Detroit in 1899 and maintains its worldwide headquarters in Southfield, Michigan. The company employs nearly 55,000 in 24 countries. For more information, please visit www.FMmotorparts.com. *BERU is a registered trademark of BorgWarner CONTACT: Karen Shulhan (Federal-Mogul Motorparts) 248.354.4383 [email protected] Drew Shippy (Pinnacle Media) 330.688.3500 [email protected] SOURCE Federal-Mogul Motorparts Related Links https://www.fmmotorparts.com WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- The American Academy of Ophthalmology is honoring nine members of Congress whose legislative efforts are helping to preserve patient access to quality medical and surgical eye care. The Academy is presenting its 2018 Visionary Awards to Sen. Tom Carper, D-Del., Sen. Lisa Murkowski, R-Alaska, Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., Rep. Buddy Carter, R-Ga., Rep. George Holding, R-N.C., Rep. Leonard Lance, R-N.J., Rep. Erik Paulsen, R-Minn., Rep. Bobby Rush, D-Ill., and Rep. Chris Stewart, R-Utah. The Academy presents its Visionary Award each year in conjunction with its annual legislative visit to Capitol Hill. This honor recognizes federal legislators for important efforts to advocate for issues that benefit the more than 50 million Americans who experience significant eye disease. Sen. Murkowski led an important effort to expand underserved Native American populations' access to diabetic retinopathy screenings. Native Americans' rates of this blinding ailment are higher than that of the broader U.S. Sen. Murkowski helped secure $1 million to upgrade retinal cameras used by an important Indian Health Service teleophthalmology program. The cameras are used to reach patients in the most rural areas. Reps. Carter and Stewart are ardent defenders of the need for physicians to access compounded and repackaged medications on which many patients rely. Ophthalmologists use these drugs to treat patients who suffer from wet age-related macular degeneration and other sight-threatening diseases. Sens. Carper and Roberts and Rep. Paulsen were instrumental in preserving access to specialty medical eye care for every patient, including retina treatments. They led requests that the Centers for Medicare & Medicaid Services forgo a planned application of quality-program penalties to reimbursements for in-office, physician-administered treatments. Such a policy could have made it too expensive for many retina specialists to practice in their chosen community. This might have forced some ophthalmologists to relocate to more sustainable markets. Rep. Holding is at the forefront of efforts to reform the Medicare Advantage prior authorization process. This is to ensure that Medicare Advantage beneficiaries' medically necessary care is not delayed beyond what is reasonable. For example, some plans require prior authorization for each visit for age-related macular degeneration, a sight-threatening disease that requires regular, injected treatments. This administrative step can cause delays that are unnecessary barriers to care. Reps. Lance and Rush are leading a congressional effort to protect the safety of millions of patients who require contact lens prescriptions. They are working with the Federal Trade Commission on behalf of physicians and patients who want to combine strong patient health protections with assurances that consumers continue to receive their contact lenses in a timely manner. "More than ever, the partnerships between the nation's ophthalmologists and our congressional lawmakers are making high-quality medical eye care available to every patient in the U.S.," said Keith D. Carter, M.D., FACS, president of the American Academy of Ophthalmology. "We pledge to continue fostering these relationships to improve our nation's health care system to ensure timely access to critical treatments for eye diseases." The Academy is the leading voice for the profession of ophthalmology in Washington. The organization takes an active role in working with Congress and government agencies on policy issues that affect how medical and surgical care is provided in the United States. About the American Academy of Ophthalmology The American Academy of Ophthalmology is the world's largest association of eye physicians and surgeons. A global community of 32,000 medical doctors, we protect sight and empower lives by setting the standards for ophthalmic education and advocating for our patients and the public. We innovate to advance our profession and to ensure the delivery of the highest-quality eye care. Our EyeSmart program provides the public with the most trusted information about eye health. For more information, visit www.aao.org. SOURCE American Academy of Ophthalmology Related Links http://www.aao.org MONTREAL, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ogilvy Montreal is pleased to announce the acquisition of Brad. With a presence in Quebec City and more than 175 employees, the agency becomes one of the largest in the province of Quebec. "We're extremely happy to welcome the Brad talent within the Ogilvy family," stated David Aubert, Chief Executive Officer of Ogilvy Montreal. "This acquisition will give us more depth in content creation, social media and design, and will offer employees and clients more growth opportunities," he added. Since its inception more than 20 years ago, Brad has earned a solid reputation in Quebec and across the country, serving a long list of provincial and national clients such as the Volvo Group, Fairmont Hotels, BRP, the Government of Quebec and Irving. Recognized for its innovative ideas and efficient solutions, the agency has been rewarded for its creativity at Cannes Lions International Festival of Creativity and most recently at Crea 2018, Quebec's premier award show, taking home six honours. Martin Bernier will lead the Ogilvy office in Quebec City as President and Dany Renauld will contribute to the growth of the agency as President of Ogilvy Montreal. They will both report to David Aubert, who becomes CEO of Ogilvy Montreal and Ogilvy Quebec. Carle Coppens will team up with Etienne Bastien to lead the creative team in Quebec. "The Brad acquisition brings us a step closer to making Ogilvy the leading agency in Canada," said John Seifert, Worldwide Chairman and CEO of The Ogilvy Group. "The synergy between the Montreal and Toronto offices has never been as fluid as it is today," he added. "The addition of Brad's talent expands our presence in Quebec and our creative firepower across our national clients as Ogilvy's next chapter continues to unfold," said Laurie Young, CEO of Ogilvy Canada. With 325+ employees in Toronto, Montreal and now Quebec City, Ogilvy becomes one of the 5 largest marketing communications agencies in Canada. The agency is comprised of industry leading units in advertising, branding and identity, shopper and retail marketing, digital marketing and branded content. Information: Yanik Deschenes, APR YPR Canada 438-390-8244 Tara Mullins Ogilvy USA 646-520-6468 SOURCE Ogilvy CINCINNATI, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Hillman Companies, Inc. (NYSE-AMEX: HLM.PR) ("Hillman") announced today that, effective April 16, 2018, David Owens was appointed to Hillman's Board of Directors. Mr. Owens has served on the faculty at Vanderbilt University's Owen Graduate School of Management in the area of management since 1998, where he has also directed the Accelerator Summer Business Institute since 2010. Specializing in innovation and new product development, Mr. Owens provides consulting services for a wide range of clients around the world, and his work has been featured in the New York Times, Wall Street Journal, London Guardian, and San Jose Mercury News, as well as on NPR's Marketplace. Mr. Owens has consulted for NASA, The Smithsonian, Nissan LEAF, Gibson Music, American Conservatory Theater, Alcatel, Tetra Pak, Tennessee Valley Authority, Cisco, LEGO, The Henry Ford Museum, and many other organizations. He has done product design work for well-known firms including Daimler Benz, Apple Computer, Dell Computer, Coleman Camping, Corning World Kitchen, and Steelcase. Mr. Owens also served as the Chief Executive Officer of a large consumer electronics firm, Griffin Technology Inc., from 2007 to 2008, Director of Product Development at LEGO SeriousPlay from 1999 to 2002, Co-Founder of Nova Bionics from 1998 to 2001, and Product Designer/Design Engineer at IDEO Product Development from 1992 to 1994. Mr. Owens earned his Ph.D. in management science and engineering through a joint fellowship program between Stanford's Graduate School of Business and its School of Engineering. He holds an M.S. in engineering product design and a B.S. in electrical engineering from Stanford, and is a registered professional electrical engineer (PE). Doug Cahill, Chair of the Board, commented: "We are very pleased to add Mr. Owens to the Hillman Board of Directors. We believe that his experiences, especially in innovation and new product development, will greatly benefit the company and its customers." About Hillman Founded in 1964 and headquartered in Cincinnati, Ohio, Hillman is a leading North American provider of complete hardware solutions, delivered with industry best customer service to over 26,000 customers. Hillman designs innovative product and merchandising solutions for complex categories that deliver an outstanding customer experience to home improvement centers, mass merchants, national and regional hardware stores, pet supply stores, and OEM & Industrial customers. Leveraging a world-class distribution and sales network, Hillman delivers a "small business" experience with "big business" efficiency. For more information on Hillman, please visit our website at http://www.hillmangroup.com or call Investor Relations at (513) 851-4900, ext. 60292. SOURCE The Hillman Companies, Inc. Related Links http://www.hillmangroup.com LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Patients who were sexually assaulted by doctors and lost loved ones to doctors' negligence shared their medical horror stories today and pressed the California Medical Board to adopt a new Patient Bill of Rights and ensure future patients are protected. The stories told at today's meeting of the Medical Board illustrate the devastating harm caused to patients by a regulatory system in which doctors' records of patient harm are hidden and patient complaints go unheeded. The patients and families testifying included: Karie H., whose doctor was sentenced to prison this week for sexual exploitation and battery of five patients. The Medical Board had failed to act on prior complaints about the doctor and did not remove him from practice until after a criminal complaint had been filed. Tammy Smick's son, Alex, was administered a lethal cocktail of drugs in the hospital where he sought help to safely detox from prescription medications. Smick fought for four years to ensure the investigation was completed. The Medical Board issued a Letter of Reprimand, its version of a stern warning, against Board disciplinary guidelines. son, Alex, was administered a lethal cocktail of drugs in the hospital where he sought help to safely detox from prescription medications. Smick fought for four years to ensure the investigation was completed. The Medical Board issued a Letter of Reprimand, its version of a stern warning, against Board disciplinary guidelines. Michele Monserrat-Ramos lost her fiancee to surgical mistakes, untreated infection and sepsis; the family was never informed the doctor had an arrest history the Medical Board knew about, including one for felony drug possession, and five prior negligence actions. lost her fiancee to surgical mistakes, untreated infection and sepsis; the family was never informed the doctor had an arrest history the Medical Board knew about, including one for felony drug possession, and five prior negligence actions. Eric Andrist lost his mentally disabled sister after doctors missed severe sepsis and followed an incorrect "Do Not Resuscitate" order when she went into cardiac arrest. The Medical Board first closed his case without obtaining the autopsy report, then closed it a second time without interviewing Andrist. lost his mentally disabled sister after doctors missed severe sepsis and followed an incorrect "Do Not Resuscitate" order when she went into cardiac arrest. The Medical Board first closed his case without obtaining the autopsy report, then closed it a second time without interviewing Andrist. Marian Hollingsworth lost her father after a series of medical mistakes including a cocktail of antipsychotic drugs the family never consented to. She was also never interviewed by Medical Board investigators before they closed her complaint with a minor reprimand that took more than a year to issue, and another year to enforce. "Patients have lost all protection in a system that does not mete out serious discipline even when people are killed, and patients are not notified even when doctors are disciplined for serious misconduct," said Carmen Balber, executive director of Consumer Watchdog. "The Board must acknowledge it's time to lift the veil of secrecy around sexual assault in the doctor's office and other patient harm, or abdicate its responsibility to keep patients safe. A Patient Bill of Rights will ensure transparency and accountability in doctor discipline." The Patient Bill of Rights addresses these failures in the Medical Board's enforcement process, which is statutorily mandated to prioritize patient safety. A key provision would require doctors on probation, for reasons including sexual assault and patient death, to inform their patients. Lawmakers will vote on Monday in Sacramento on SB 1448 by Senator Jerry Hill, that would mandate doctors disclose when they are on probation. The Patient Bill of Rights includes the: Right to Notice & Participation , such as the right to be interviewed, participate in proceedings and respond to investigators before enforcement case is closed. , such as the right to be interviewed, participate in proceedings and respond to investigators before enforcement case is closed. Right to Transparency , such as disclosure to the patient if a doctor is on probation before an appointment, and plain language summaries of reasons disciplinary action was, or was not, taken in response to a complaint. , such as disclosure to the patient if a doctor is on probation before an appointment, and plain language summaries of reasons disciplinary action was, or was not, taken in response to a complaint. Right to Independent Arbiters , to prohibit conflicts of interest by enforcement staff and decision makers in a disciplinary case. , to prohibit conflicts of interest by enforcement staff and decision makers in a disciplinary case. Right to Timely Action , such as moving complaint investigators to the Department of Justice to speed up enforcement proceedings. , such as moving complaint investigators to the Department of Justice to speed up enforcement proceedings. Right to Proportionate Enforcement , such as ensuring high priority complaints, including patient death, sexual misconduct or substance abuse, receive full investigations. , such as ensuring high priority complaints, including patient death, sexual misconduct or substance abuse, receive full investigations. Right to Accountability , including an outside investigation of the Board's enforcement activities by the State Auditor. "Four decades ago, patients' ability to hold dangerous doctors accountable in court was restricted with the promise that a strong Medical Board would keep patients safe. Without a Patient Bill of Rights the Board will continue to fail in that duty," said Balber. Read the Associated Press story about the launch of SB 1448, the probation disclosure legislation: https://www.sfchronicle.com/news/article/Olympians-back-California-plan-for-disclosures-on-12819030.php Read the KTLA story on the Encino doctor convicted of sexual battery and exploitation of his patients: http://ktla.com/2018/04/17/encino-doctor-sentenced-for-sexually-assaulting-female-patients-during-medical-visits/ SOURCE Consumer Watchdog Related Links http://www.consumerwatchdog.org TYSONS, Va., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Today the PenFed Foundation announced the launch of its new Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program (VEIP). Through Foundation contributions and matching funding of up to $1 million from PenFed Credit Union in 2018, the program will: provide veteran-owned start-ups with seed capital to build and grow their businesses, create a robust network for veteran-owned businesses to succeed and enable the PenFed Foundation to perpetually re-invest returns in future veteran-owned businesses. "Approximately 200,000 veterans leave active duty each year and 25 percent of them plan to start their own business. There is no shortage of talent or ideas, just capital and a powerful network of support," said James Schenck, President and CEO of PenFed Credit Union. "PenFed is dedicated to innovating new ways to support the service men and women who fight and win our nation's wars. Investing in veteran entrepreneurs is not only the right thing to do, it is good for the economy, will create new jobs and help businesses thrive." The VEIP will be funded by outside donors with PenFed Credit Union matching up to $1 million in contributions in 2018 to the PenFed Foundation in order to launch this program. The PenFed Foundation VEIP plans to invest in three to five selected businesses a year. Returns on all investments will go back into the program to support future veteran-owned business ventures. In addition to providing capital, the program leverages the power of PenFed and the PenFed Foundation's network of more than 1,700 business partners and its respective internal human capital to provide professional advice for strategic/business planning, HR and sales expertise, marketing opportunities and other support as needed. "The Veteran Entrepreneur Investment Program not only helps fund veteran-owned businesses, it provides them with the network of support and guidance they need to succeed," Schenck added. "The Veterans Entrepreneur Investment Program builds on the mission of the PenFed Foundation to provide those who have served, their families and caregivers the skills and resources they need to build a strong financial future," said Bruce Kasold, acting President and COO of the PenFed Foundation. "Veterans are tested, strong leaders who are especially mission driven. Through this program, we will enable veterans to build their own businesses, create jobs and build successful enterprises that will ultimately hire more veterans down the road. In short, the VEIP will help veterans build a strong financial future for themselves, their families and communities." The VEIP marks a significant new area of focus for the PenFed Foundation, which was created in 2001. Since that time, the Foundation has provided more than $30 million in financial support to veterans, active duty service members, families and caregivers. Its key programs include: Emergency financial assistance for veterans with disabilities Caregiver assistance, such as childcare or educational assistance Homeownership grants for low- to moderate-income veterans and service members to purchase their first home Interest-free microloans for service members and reservists to combat and provide alternatives to predatory lending Visit penfedfoundation.org to learn more. About PenFed Foundation Founded in 2001, the PenFed Foundation is a national nonprofit organization committed to helping members of our military community secure their financial future. It provides service members, veterans, their families and support networks with the skills and resources they need to improve their lives through programs on financial education, credit-building, home ownership, and short-term assistance. Affiliated with PenFed Credit Union, the Foundation has the resources to effectively reach military communities across the nation and forge strong partnerships. The credit union funds the Foundation's personnel and most operational costs, demonstrating its strong commitment to the programs the Foundation provides. To learn more, visit: www.penfedfoundation.org. About PenFed Credit Union Established in 1935 as the War Department Credit Union, Pentagon Federal Credit Union (PenFed) is America's second-largest federal credit union, serving over 1.6 million members worldwide with more than $23 billion in assets. Our long-standing mission is to provide superior financial services in a cost-effective manner, while being responsive to members' needs. PenFed Credit Union offers market-leading mortgages, automobile loans, credit cards, student loans, personal loans, checking, certificates and a wide range of other financial services with members' interests always in mind. PenFed Credit Union serves a diverse population, and no military service is required to join. PenFed Credit Union offers many paths to membership, including numerous employee groups and association affiliations. PenFed Credit Union is federally insured by the NCUA and is an equal housing lender. To learn more about PenFed Credit Union, visit PenFed.org, like us on Facebook and follow us @PenFed on Twitter. Interested in working for PenFed? Check us out on LinkedIn. We are proud to be an Equal Opportunity Employer. SOURCE PenFed Foundation Related Links http://www.penfedfoundation.org LONDON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PharmaBoardroom today releases its new 79-page Healthcare & Life Sciences Review Baltics 2018. While Lithuania, Latvia and Estonia have a lot in common - small, high-income economies and Eurozone members situated on the Eastern coast of the Baltic Sea - it would be inadvisable to consider the Baltic states as one homogenous block. Lithuania, for example, shares many similarities with neighboring Poland; Latvia takes its cultural cues from Russia; while Estonia exudes Scandinavian characteristics due to its proximity to Finland. In healthcare and the life sciences too, the Baltic states differ greatly. Lithuania, the largest market of the three, has a historic expertise in laser technology which is contributing to a thriving homegrown biotechnology industry. Latvia, on the other hand, boasts a strong industrial base and sees increasing numbers of medical tourists each year, although its government is working to reform what is a stretched public healthcare system. Estonia, the smallest of the three nations by population, has bet big on the digital revolution, with all public healthcare records now stored using blockchain technology and a number of innovative start-ups in the digital health space. This report explores the peculiarities of these small but promising markets, as well as the ways in which actors from across the Baltics are working together on issues such as regulatory harmonization for medicine approvals and innovation clustering to propel the region's industry forwards. Interviews The report features in-depth interviews with: Kristina Garuoliene, vice minister of health, Lithuania Gintautas Barcys, State Medicines Control Agency (SMCA), Lithuania Eugenija Sutkiene , TGS Baltic , TGS Baltic Mariua Giedraitis, Balux Anda Caksa, minister of health, Latvia Svens Henkuzens, State Agency of Medicines in Latvia (ZVA) (ZVA) Evija Buksa , Merck , Merck Janis Meiksans, Teva Rauls Velins, Roche Kristine Juckovica, Rigvir Holdings Ain Aaviksoo, ex-deputy secretary general for e-services and innovation, Ministry of Social Affairs, Estonia Andres Mannik , Icosagen Quotes "In the future, everyone will talk about Lithuania as a country with a bio-economy, just as Switzerland is the country of the best quality watches and banks" - Prof. Vladas Bumelis, BiotechPharma "Since 2016 we have focused on overhauling the entire healthcare system with a view to prioritizing patient needs and enhancing the accessibility of healthcare services and reimbursable medicines" - Anda Caksa, Minister of Health, Latvia "The Estonian e-health solution is quite unique in the world as it can be used not only by all healthcare professionals and patients, but its users also have the option of granting others access to their e-health data." - Riho Tapfer, APME, Estonia Click here to register and download the report. SOURCE PharmaBoardroom Piedmont recognized their classrooms were vulnerable to the invisible barriers to learning that exist in almost every learning space barriers like distance from the teacher, background noise, and echo. Saville and his team selected Juno classroom audio to help overcome these barriers. "My favorite aspect is the ability to be heard anywhere in the classroom no matter where I am or how I'm facing," says Piedmont Science Teacher Ted Greenebaum, whose classroom is set up in several pods of four students each. "I can speak in a low voice and still be heard. I'm finding kids are more engaged." But Piedmont's leaders took learning a step farther with Juno. Using one-touch lesson capture, teachers can record important video and audio content almost effortlessly, and make it available to students to review at home. It's an idea called 'flipping,' and Piedmont is a pioneer in this powerful new practice. "In addition to actually amplifying my voice and making it more present over the classroom, [Juno] Lesson Capture allows me to record whatever is happening on my screen, whatever is being projected onto the smart board, and capture the audio through the smart microphone," shares Daniel Kessler, another science teacher at Piedmont. "It gives students the opportunity to go back and review lesson materials for anything that they caught or any gaps in their learning. I think the confidence in what they are learning has increased." With the Juno technology in place in each classroom, Piedmont then asked FrontRow to link the systems together over the network using a communication platform called Conductor. This lets the district simplify communication across the entire campus: for bell scheduling, intercom, paging, and even alerting and emergency response. "We are using FrontRow Conductor to make our school lives easier," shares Attendance Secretary Michael Wong. "It allows us to set bell schedules, welcoming and dismissing chimes and tones, as well as communicate directly with individual classrooms and the whole school." About FrontRow FrontRow helps schools communicate effortlessly with students, groups, and devices. More than 15,000 schools choose FrontRow for its easy-to-use products, better academic outcomes, and a more efficient campus. FrontRow ed tech solutions include: Classroom audio systems (soundfield) for teacher voice, student voice, and media audio amplification Automated lesson capture and distribution AV control and management Campus communication and control, including IP paging, intercom, and bell scheduling FrontRow is part of the William Demant Groupfounded in 1904 and listed on the Copenhagen Stock Exchange (CSE3247)through 45 Group companies in over 20 countries, its consolidated sales exceed US$1.9 billion. Video Please follow this link for Piedmont Case Study video. Photos Please follow these links for photos: Dan Kessler , Piedmont Middle School teacher, using his FrontRow Smart Mic to amplify his voice as he leads lecture and an experiment during science class. , Piedmont Middle School teacher, using his FrontRow Smart Mic to amplify his voice as he leads lecture and an experiment during science class. Close-up (Mr. Dan Kessler ) ) Full Class (Mr. Dan Kessler ) Michelle Kerwin , Piedmont Middle School teacher, leads her students in a discussion of Avi's award-winning historical novel, The True Confessions of Charlotte Doyle . , Piedmont Middle School teacher, leads her students in a discussion of Avi's award-winning historical novel, The True Confessions of . Full-Class (Ms. Michelle Kerwin ) ) Close-up (Ms. Michelle Kerwin ) Ted Greenebaum , Piedmont Middle School teacher, using his FrontRow Smart Mic to amplify his voice during his science class. , Piedmont Middle School teacher, using his FrontRow Smart Mic to amplify his voice during his science class. Close-up (Mr. Edward Greenebaum ) FrontRow Logo Please follow this link for FrontRow's logo. SOURCE FrontRow Related Links http://www.GoFrontRow.com SAN DIEGO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Brad McLaughlin, the CEO of top cannabis tech platform BudTrader.com, met with former President of Mexico Vicente Fox Wednesday at the Manchester Grand Hyatt in San Diego. In a one-hour meeting, the two discussed international affairs, focusing primarily on the legal cannabis industry in both the United States and Mexico. "It was an honor to meet with President Fox," said McLaughlin after the hour-long meeting. "He's a great man, and we both felt it was a historic and important meeting for the cannabis industry both here in the U.S. and in Mexico." BudTrader CEO Brad McLaughlin and Former President of Mexico Vicente Fox President Fox invited McLaughlin and BudTrader's team to his CANNAMEXICO World Summit, taking place in Leon, Guanajuato, Mexico on May 30 and 31. McLaughlin is a technology and cannabis expert and has served as the de facto spokesman for the legal cannabis community in the United States since taking the helm at BudTrader.com in 2016. BudTrader.com is the largest online cannabis platform with over one million registered users in 29 states, Washington D.C., Puerto Rico and Canada. After the meeting, McLaughlin announced that he invited President Fox to his highly anticipated annual celebrity cannabis networking gala, BudTrader Ball 2018. President Fox will be delivering a special message to all the VIPs and influential members of the cannabis community who are in attendance. Media Contact: Victoria Omega [email protected] SOURCE BudTrader.com "As home to roughly 4,000 registered jewellery companies, Shenzhen is a fitting host for the China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair. It has the talent, know-how and infrastructure to serve the members of the global jewellery industry. We look forward to welcoming participating companies to Shenzhen year after year," says Teddy Tan, Event Manager, China Jewellery Fairs, UBM China (Guangzhou) Co Ltd, who adds that roughly 10,000 buyers from 60 countries are expected to attend. More than 300 local and overseas exhibitors from 13 countries and regions will be exhibiting jewellery, loose diamonds, gemstones and pearls, tools and equipment, and related services. Exhibitors include companies from Austria, Australia, Finland, Germany, Hong Kong region, Japan, Korea, Mainland China, Poland, Sri Lanka, Taiwan region, Thailand and Turkey. Some of these are participating in the event for the first time, proving that the Shenzhen Jewellery Fair is, now more than ever, the place to be for international companies. Not one to rest on its laurels, Shenzhen Jewellery Fair is introducing innovations that seamlessly enhance the trade show experience and deliver real added value. Brand Village - This venue gives leading companies the opportunity to showcase their image and latest collections to a large number of current and potential customers. Brand Village integrates new branding and product series, innovative materials and technologies, trendy and leading concepts, and inspiring business models. Chow Tai Fook T Mark, Swarovski Professional, Shanghai Laomiao Jewelry Co Ltd, Cmoy Jade, King Kai Fook Jewellery and Shenzhen Kaiente Jewellery Co Ltd are amongst the leading brands participating this year. Designer Pavilion - Made possible in partnership with the Shenzhen Jewellery Designers Association, the pavilion pays homage to Shenzhen's vibrant jewellery design and manufacturing heritage by giving local, independent designers a dedicated pavilion to showcase their talent and creations. Unmanned jewellery convenience store - The jewellery shopping experience is re-imagined in this new feature. Akin to a "convenience store for jewellery," the self-service shopping space innovatively integrates technology and jewellery sales, enabling consumers to try and buy jewellery in an unmanned space. Other highlights Jewellery Live Broadcast - Tapping into the popularity of live broadcasting through online platforms in China , Jewellery Live Broadcast invites renowned jewellery manufacturers who have promoted their companies or brands through online broadcasting. Here they will speak about their success and give helpful hints to inspire others to try this innovative channel in jewellery sales. the popularity of live broadcasting through online platforms in , Jewellery Live Broadcast invites renowned jewellery manufacturers who have promoted their companies or brands through online broadcasting. Here they will speak about their success and give helpful hints to inspire others to try this innovative channel in jewellery sales. Fashion-Jewellery Crossover - To further inspire participants, features that integrate jewellery with fashion elements such as accessories and clothes will be prominent at the Shenzhen Jewellery Fair. such as accessories and clothes will be prominent at the Shenzhen Jewellery Fair. 3D printing technology support - 3D printers and technology applicable to the jewellery industry will be available at the fair. Educational sessions and networking events Factory Visit Programme - A half-day factory visit is available for a select group of overseas jewellery trade buyers who have pre-applied to join a visit. The programme arranges visits to jewellery or diamond factories in Shenzhen to showcase talents and innovations that have helped propel the city as a manufacturing hub. Swarovski Seminar - The Austrian company synonymous with accessible luxury will present trends and solutions on how to excite consumers with awe-inspiring jewellery through its "Spring/Summer 2019 Crystal Trend Inspirations" seminar. "The Shenzhen Jewellery Fair will not only be packed with a variety of jewellery products, services and technological solutions, but will also feature networking opportunities and knowledge seminars that will provide crucial insights into future industry advances, emerging trends and regulations, and most importantly, to help participants create new business opportunities," says Mr. Tan. "This edition looks to be in good shape to continue its growth trend. The new innovations that we strive to produce every year and the concurrent events create the perfect forum for our attendees to make serious business and cultivate valuable long-lasting partnerships." UBM Global Jewellery Events Calendar 2018 Exhibitions Dates Venue Mainland China China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair Shenzhen 19 22 April 2018 Shenzhen Convention & Exhibition Center China International Gold, Jewellery & Gem Fair Shanghai 7 10 December 2018 Shanghai World Expo Exhibition & Convention Center Hong Kong region June Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 21 24 June 2018 Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre Asia's Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair September Edition 12 15 September 2018 AsiaWorld-Expo Hong Kong September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair 12 16 September 2018 14 18 September 2018 AsiaWorld-Expo Hong Kong Hong Kong Convention & Exhibition Centre Asia's Fashion Jewellery & Accessories Fair March Edition 27 February 2 March 2019 AsiaWorld-Expo Hong Kong Taiwan region Taiwan Jewellery & Gem Fair 2 5 November 2018 Taipei World Trade Center Japan Japan Jewellery Fair 28 30 August 2018 Tokyo Big Sight Exhibition Center India Kolkata Jewellery & Gem Fair 7 9 April 2018 Milan Mela Complex Kolkata Hyderabad Jewellery, Pearl & Gem Fair 22 24 June 2018 HICC, Novotel Hyderabad Delhi Jewellery & Gem Fair 29 September 1 October 2018 Pragati Maidan Delhi Gem & Jewellery India International Exhibition 8 10 March 2019 Chennai Trade Centre Singapore Singapore Jewellery & Gem Fair 26 29 October 2018 Marina Bay Sands Middle East Jewellery Arabia Bahrain 20 24 November 2018 The Bahrain International Exhibition and Convention Centre Turkey Istanbul Jewelry Show II 11 14 October 2018 CNR Expo Center Istanbul Istanbul Jewelry Show I 21 24 March 2019 CNR Expo Center Istanbul Russian Federation JUNWEX New Russian Style 23 27 May 2018 All-Russian Exhibition Centre Moscow JUNWEX Moscow, JUNWEX Watch 26 30 September 2018 All-Russian Exhibition Centre Moscow JUNWEX St. Petersburg 30 January 3 February 2019 EXPOFORUM St. Petersburg For exhibiting details, please contact: Sales Department, Jewellery Fairs, UBM China (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. Tel: (86) 20 8666 0158 Fax: (86) 20 8667 7120 E-mail: [email protected] For visiting details, please contact: Visitor Promotion Department, Jewellery Fairs, UBM China (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd. Tel: (86) 20 8667 2808 Fax: (86) 20 8667 7120 E-mail: [email protected] www.JewelleryNet.com About UBM Asia's jewellery fairs (www.JewelleryNet.com) UBM Asia, organiser of the most professional international jewellery fairs globally, offers opportunities to the world's jewellery trade. UBM Asia's jewellery fairs attract over 100,000 trade buyers and over 10,000 exhibitors from around the world. The September Hong Kong Jewellery & Gem Fair, with over 3,690 exhibitors and around 59,000 visitors, is the world's number one fine jewellery event. The June Fair is Asia's biggest mid-year international jewellery fair. UBM Asia also organises jewellery fairs in Shenzhen and Shanghai in China; Chennai, Delhi, Hyderabad and Kolkata in India; Japan; Turkey; Singapore; Taiwan region; Bahrain in the Middle East; and Moscow and St Petersburg in the Russian Federation. About UBM Asia (www.ubm.com) Owned by UBM plc listed on the London Stock Exchange, UBM Asia is the largest events organiser in Asia, India and SE Asia. We are also the leading commercial organiser in China. Established with its headquarters in Hong Kong and subsidiary companies across Asia and in the US, UBM Asia has a strong global presence in 25 major cities with 31 offices and over 1,600 employees. With a track record spanning over 30 years, UBM Asia operates in 11 market sectors with over 290 events, 28 targeted trade publications, 18 round-the-clock online products for over 2,000,000 quality exhibitors, visitors, conference delegates, advertisers and subscribers from all over the world. We provide a one-stop diversified global service for high-value business matching, quality market news and online trading networks. SOURCE UBM China (Guangzhou) Co., Ltd Related Links http://www.ubm.com LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Ralphs Grocery Company has joined in the effort to help the communities its stores serve combat the opioid epidemic. Ralphs currently stocks naloxone, an opioid overdose-reversing drug, in its 79 in-store pharmacies in Southern California. All Ralphs Pharmacies dispense naloxone without the need for a prescription making it easier for families, friends, caregivers and those at-risk individuals to have the drug on hand if needed to save a life. The U.S. Surgeon General recently urged more Americans to carry the lifesaving medication that can reverse the effects of an opioid overdose. "Naloxone is an effective antidote to opioid overdoses. By providing access to this medication in our pharmacies without a prescription, we can help save lives," said Linh Lee, Pharm.D. for Ralphs. "We have empowered our pharmacists to put this overdose rescue medication in the hands of those who are able to help an opioid overdose victim." All Ralphs pharmacists providing naloxone are required to take a one-hour training session to learn how to educate individuals who might use the medicine and screen patients for sensitivity to the antidote. According to the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services, an estimated 2.1 million people in the U.S. struggle with an opioid-use disorder and rates of opioid deaths are rapidly increasing. Naloxone, which can be administered as a nasal spray or an injection, helps a person suffering an opioid overdose wake up and continue breathing. The drug must be administered while also calling 911 for medical assistance. In addition to offering naloxone in its pharmacies without a prescription, Ralphs is hosting a drug take-back event at Leisure World in Seal Beach on April 28, in partnership with the Seal Beach Police Department and coinciding with the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration's National Prescription Drug Take-Back Day. "Ralphs is committed to being part of the solution to the problem of epidemic opioid and prescription drug abuse," said Dr. Lee. "Our efforts to prevent medication abuse, including providing naloxone, are designed to help the communities we serve become healthier and safer for everyone." Providing prescription-free naloxone is just one of many services Ralphs Pharmacies offer customers. Other services include adult and adolescent immunizations for Hepatitis A and B, tetanus, meningitis, cervical cancer, pneumonia, shingles (herpes zoster) and flu; customized medication reviews; prescription-free hormonal contraceptives; smoking cessation; and cholesterol screenings. Free blood pressure readings are also available. To find specific Ralphs Pharmacy locations, or call 1-888-437-3496 or go to https://www.ralphs.com/topic/pharmacy. About Ralphs Ralphs Grocery Company is dedicated to our purpose: to Feed the Human Spirit . We are more than 22,000 associates serving customers in 191 supermarkets across Southern California. From the company's headquarters in Los Angeles County, Ralphs is a recognized leader in community service and giving. Last year, the company contributed more than $6 million to support education, hunger relief, women's health and local nonprofit organizations in the communities served by the company's stores. Ralphs is a subsidiary of The Kroger Co., (NYSE:KR), one of the world's largest retailers, based in Cincinnati, Ohio. For more about Ralphs, please visit our website at www.ralphs.com. SOURCE Ralphs Grocery Company Related Links http://www.ralphs.com TEWKSBURY, Mass., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Raytheon Company (NYSE: RTN) has been awarded an $83 million contract for the design, test and deployment of the Barracuda mine neutralization system. The Barracuda mine neutralization system is an expendable, autonomous unmanned underwater vehicle intended to identify and neutralize bottom, near surface and drifting sea mines. It will field a shallow water capability and be an expendable modular neutralizer consisting of a kill mechanism, propulsion, sensors, and communications buoy that enables wireless communication to the deployment platform. "We've applied our sonar expertise and our understanding of the complex undersea environment to Barracuda," said Raytheon's Paul Ferraro, vice president of Integrated Defense Systems' Seapower Capability Systems business. "It's an innovative solution for the Navy's mine countermeasure mission and we are now one step closer to delivering." This contract includes options which, if exercised, would bring the cumulative value of this contract to $362,740,742. Work will be performed in Portsmouth, Rhode Island (96 percent); and DeLeon Springs, Florida (4 percent), and is expected to be completed by November 2022. Fiscal 2017 and 2018 research, development, test and evaluation (Navy) funding in the amount of $11,392,392 will be obligated at time of award and $1,594,935 will expire at the end of the current fiscal year. This contract was competitively procured on the basis of full and open competition via the Federal Business Opportunities website, with one offer received. The Naval Sea Systems Command, Washington, District of Columbia, is the contracting activity (N00024-18-C-6303). About Raytheon Raytheon Company, with 2017 sales of $25 billion and 64,000 employees, is a technology and innovation leader specializing in defense, civil government and cybersecurity solutions. With a history of innovation spanning 96 years, Raytheon provides state-of-the-art electronics, mission systems integration, C5ITM products and services, sensing, effects, and mission support for customers in more than 80 countries. Raytheon is headquartered in Waltham, Mass. Follow us on Twitter. Media Contact Carolyn Beaudry +1.401.842.3550 [email protected] SOURCE Raytheon Company Related Links http://www.raytheon.com MOUNTAIN VIEW, Calif., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Redis Labs, the home of Redis and provider of Redis Enterprise, has been recognized as the Bay Area's best place to work by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. Redis Labs, along with hand-selected employers from the Silicon Valley, were honored as winners of the 2018 Bay Area's Best Places to Work program at the Hilton Union Square in San Francisco on April 18, 2018. The Bay Area Best Places to Work nominees represent the best their industries have to offer and are widely known to attract and retain top talent. Award applicants were evaluated and ranked across five categories according to the number of Bay Area employees. The ranking found companies in the region whose employees rate them as the highest on such values as fun, collaborative culture, solid compensation and benefits offerings and other amenities as well as management practices. "Being named one of 2018's best places to work just builds on the amazing accolades our organization has taken home in the past year including being ranked in the top 50 of Deloitte's 500 fastest growing companies in North America," said Ofer Bengal, CEO at Redis Labs. "Redis Labs has become synonymous with innovation. The Redis Labs employees in conjunction with the Redis community deserve the full credit for the success of the technology and the company." In the past year, more than 8,200 enterprises adopted the Redis Enterprise platform, including Fortune 100 companies across many industries, two of the top three telecommunications companies and five of the top ten U.S technology companies. With organizations facing increasingly complex data challenges, Redis Labs enables enterprises to efficiently meet their real-time data needs. In addition to Redis Labs' immense growth within the enterprise, Redis was recently named the most loved database for second consecutive year by over 100,000 developers in 183 countries in the Stack Overflow's 2018 survey. If you'd like to see the power of Redis Labs and the Redis Community, join us at our annual Redis Community Conference, RedisConf18, April 24-26 in San Francisco. For more information or to register, visit http://redisconf.com/. To find out more about Redis Labs, please visit us here or connect with us on LinkedIn and Twitter. About Redis Labs Redis Labs, home of open source Redis, the world's fastest in-memory database platform, provides Redis Enterprise, as a cloud service and as downloadable software, to over 8,200 enterprise customers. The high performance, true high availability and seamless scaling of Redis Enterprise, are top-ranked by industry analysts, and power use cases such as high-speed transactions, queuing, user session stores, and caching, in e-commerce, social, personalization, IoT, metering, fraud detection and other real-time applications. Redis, voted the most loved database, rated the #1 cloud database, #1 database on Docker, #1 NoSQL datastore, and fastest growing NoSQL database reduces application complexity, simplifies development, accelerates time to market and provides unprecedented flexibility to developers. About 2018 Bay Area Best Places to Work Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantum's scoring process. By ranking companies and sharing best practices we facilitate idea sharing and help other companies learn from the best. Media contacts Sharon Thompson Redis Labs [email protected] (650) 483-7506 Travis Anderson 10Fold Communications [email protected] (925) 271-8227 SOURCE Redis Labs Related Links http://www.redislabs.com OAK BROOK, Ill., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Retail Properties of America, Inc. (NYSE: RPAI) announced today that James Avery and francesca's signed new leases at Huebner Oaks, a 285,200 square foot open-air destination shopping center located in the San Antonio metropolitan statistical area (MSA). James Avery and francesca's will join Victoria's Secret, Pink, Bath & Body Works, Chico's, Brighton, REI, Old Navy, the recently opened Ulta Beauty, and other national retailers. A rendering of the James Avery flagship that is set to open in the summer of 2018. francescas is expected to open at Huebner Oaks in early 2019 and will occupy 1,200 square feet. francescas is a boutique that offers an eclectic mix of carefully-curated clothing, bright baubles, bold accessories, and playful gifts. James Avery is expected to open in the summer of 2018, and their flagship will be located in a 6,100 square foot outparcel directly in front of Ulta. James Avery Jewelry is a family-owned company that offers finely crafted jewelry designs in sterling silver, 14K and 18K yellow and white gold, and gemstones for women and men. francesca's is expected to open in early 2019 and will occupy 1,200 square feet. francesca's is a boutique that offers an eclectic mix of carefully-curated clothing, bright baubles, bold accessories, and playful gifts. To better connect shoppers of Huebner Oaks with its great lineup of tenants, a pedestrian walkway opened in the spring of this year. The new walkway connects the 360 residential units of "The Mark | Huebner Oaks" via a breezeway that leads to the center's primary water feature and a newly renovated Starbucks patio. In addition, a new large format shared patio space was recently completed and includes open-air seating, charging stations, and bistro lighting for Potbelly, Chipotle and nine other restaurants and eateries. These property enhancements and two new leases demonstrate RPAI's continued investment in Huebner Oaks. "Huebner Oaks continues to boast a strong retail and restaurant lineup that is easily accessible from I-10, and we are thrilled to add two brands with such a rich Texas history to Huebner Oaks," stated Jason Kasal, vice president, senior leasing director - western division. "We are not only improving the tenancy at the center, but we have also upgraded the common area to create an inviting, walkable center for the northwest San Antonio community." ABOUT RPAI Retail Properties of America, Inc. is a REIT that owns and operates high quality, strategically located shopping centers in the United States. As of December 31, 2017, the Company owned 112 retail operating properties representing 20.3 million square feet. The Company is publicly traded on the New York Stock Exchange under the ticker symbol RPAI. Additional information about the Company is available at www.rpai.com. RPAI MEDIA CONTACT Tim O'Connell AVP, Corporate Branding & Communications (630) 634-4294 [email protected] SOURCE Retail Properties of America, Inc. Related Links http://www.RPAI.com CHICAGO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- RSM US LLP ("RSM"), the nation's leading provider of audit, tax and consulting services focused on the middle market, announced today that the leaders and staff of Explore Consulting, LLC, a top-tier Oracle NetSuite solution provider located in Bellevue, Washington, will join RSM. The firms have signed a definitive agreement for RSM to acquire substantially all the assets of Explore Consulting, and the transaction is expected to close on July 1, 2018, subject to certain terms and conditions. This transaction expands RSM's consulting practice and its growing presence in the broader Seattle market by adding nearly 60 professionals to the team in the Pacific Northwest and throughout the country. It also enhances the firm's growing technology and management consulting practice through Explore Consulting's deep knowledge and expertise in NetSuite, a platform of software offerings focused on helping businesses manage their finances, operations, e-commerce and customer relationship functions. Co-founders Steve Jones, CEO, and Jeremy DeSpain, COO, will join RSM as consulting principals, and their full team will transition to RSM upon closing. RSM has been ranked the top NetSuite provider in the U.S. for the past five years, with Explore Consulting consistently ranked among the top five providers since becoming a NetSuite partner in 2002. Together, the firms will further distinguish RSM's lead in providing middle market companies with NetSuite solutions for financial management, enterprise resource planning (ERP), customer relationship management (CRM) systems, and e-commerce and digital marketing solutions. "The size, depth and breadth of our combined NetSuite practice will be a major force in the market, creating opportunities for our clients, our people and our firms," said Brian Becker, national consulting leader for RSM US LLP. "This is yet another example of RSM's commitment to leading the way in meeting the evolving needs of middle market businesses." RSM and Explore Consulting share a client-centric approach to doing business, with a focus on building enduring, trusted relationships. "We are excited to join RSM in this important step forward for both of our firms," said Jones. "Our customer-focused philosophy and our expertise and service offerings represent a perfect fit for RSM's growing technology and management consulting practice. We especially look forward to continuing to serve our client base and offering a broader array of services to meet their business needs across tax, audit and other consulting services while at the same time helping RSM's clients take advantage of expanded e-commerce, retail and digital marketing offerings." "Consulting continues to be an area of rapid growth for RSM, and we are pleased that our clients can benefit from the knowledge and expertise the Explore Consulting team offers," said Joe Adams, managing partner and CEO of RSM US LLP. "Just like RSM, Explore Consulting listens to its clients to understand their unique needs, and tailors services to address their challenges and opportunities. RSM and Explore Consulting principals and team members have had consistent, positive connection over the years and have already begun collaborating as first-choice advisors to middle market leaders." The team from Explore Consulting will continue to be located in their existing offices at 10900 NE 8th St., Suite 200, Bellevue, WA, 98004 after completion of the transaction. About Explore Consulting, LLC Based in Bellevue, Washington, Explore Consulting was founded in 2001 and is a professional services company dedicated to providing innovative and cost-effective solutions for their customers' business applications needs. Having specialized in SaaS solutions for more than 17 years, Explore Consulting is the largest and most experienced NetSuite reseller and solution provider in the Northwestern United States. Explore Consulting is well-known as a leader in NetSuite implementation, customization, integration, and E-commerce, has been a 12-time NetSuite Star Performer, won 28 NetSuite awards, has twice been named NetSuite Partner of the Year, Americas, and in 2016 was named the inaugural NetSuite SuiteCommerce Partner of the Year. About RSM US LLP RSM's purpose is to deliver the power of being understood to our clients, colleagues and communities through world-class audit, tax and consulting services focused on middle market businesses. The clients we serve are the engine of global commerce and economic growth, and we are focused on developing leading professionals and services to meet their evolving needs in today's ever-changing business environment. RSM US LLP is the U.S. member firm of RSM International, a global network of independent, audit, tax and consulting firms with more than 43,000 people in over 120 countries. For more information, visit rsmus.com, like us on Facebook, follow us on Twitter and/or connect with us on LinkedIn. SOURCE RSM US LLP Related Links http://www.rsmus.com Highest risk areas identified by DOJ and OIG are not among the highest priorities of compliance officers; budgets remain stagnant CHICAGO, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SAI Global, a leading provider of integrated risk management solutions, today published key findings from its ninth annual survey of healthcare compliance professionals, which underscore the growing pressure compliance departments are facing in the ongoing monitoring and auditing of high-risk areas. The study, conducted jointly by SAI Global and Strategic Management Services, a leading expert in corporate compliance, was designed to gain an understanding of issues currently confronting compliance programs and how compliance officers are responding to them. Data was gathered from 388 healthcare organizations across all sectors, from physician practices to large integrated hospital systems. Overwhelmingly, respondents reported dealing with data breaches as their highest-ranked priority; HIPAA privacy and security among their chief concerns. However, the top two regulatory and enforcement priorities by the Office of Inspector General (OIG) and Department of Justice (DOJ) are corrupt arrangements with referral sources and false claims. These represent virtually all the major enforcement actions and penalties imposed by the government. To date they have resulted in far greater liabilities to healthcare entities than privacy and security breaches. Arrangement with referral sources was ranked fifth in priority and claims accuracy third place among compliance professionals included in the survey. "The question has to be asked as to why, in the face the enforcement agencies' priorities, compliance officers are placing these high risk-areas in a lower priority," said former HHS Inspector General and CEO of Strategic Management Services Richard Kusserow. "The takeaway from the survey is that compliance officers should be prepared to better align their priorities and programs with those set out by the regulatory and enforcement agencies." A trend found in the SAI Global surveys is the accretion of new duties and responsibilities for compliance offices surveyed. In addition to HIPAA privacy and security, most offices are also responsible for internal audit and some for legal counsel. However, there is little evidence of added resources to accommodate. Half of respondents are not expecting any additions to their budget this year, while 10 per cent were even looking at budget reductions. Nearly three quarters of responding organizations reported their compliance offices having five or fewer staff with one-third having only one full- or part-time person. "The 2018 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Survey gives us a better understanding of compliance program development in the healthcare sector and suggests that effectiveness is being measured in terms of output, rather than outcome," said Peter Granat, SAI Global CEO. "It is abundantly clear that there is a need for healthcare organizations to remove barriers and increased responsibilities being laid on their compliance offices that distract from the development of effective risk controls." About the 2018 Healthcare Compliance Benchmark Report This report represents SAI Global's ninth annual survey gathering data from healthcare industry compliance professionals. It builds on eight years of prior data to provide useful insights on trends that will impact compliance priorities in 2018 and the seven elements of an effective compliance program. To download the full report, visit saiglobal.com. About SAI Global SAI Global helps organizations proactively manage risk to create trust and achieve business excellence, growth, and sustainability. Our integrated risk management solutions are a combination of leading capabilities, services and advisory offerings that operate across the entire risk lifecycle allowing businesses to focus else ware. Together, these tools and knowledge enable clients to develop an integrated view of risk. To see our tools in action, request a free demo. We have global reach with locations across Europe, the Middle East, Africa, the Americas, Asia and the Pacific. For more information visit www.saiglobal.com. About Strategic Management Services The Firm was founded over 25 years ago by Richard Kusserow, the former DHHS Inspector General, and was the first consulting firm to focus on health care compliance, years before the government had even issued any formal compliance program guidance documents for the industry. The firm has assisted over 2,000 thousands of health care organizations with a full range of regulatory compliance services. SOURCE SAI Global DALLAS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- If you ask Richard Feldman, associate director of the drama program at the Juilliard School, what he thinks the most important quality an actor needs to have in order to succeed, he will tell you: "an ability to live in the momentthat's the holy grail for actors." But what does that actually mean and how does an actor get there? Kevin Page 150% Better Auditions Kevin Page is an actor who also has studied psychology and he thinks he's found an answer for those questions using neuroscience and modern psychology. "Mindfulness meditation is a technique that has been around for thousands of years but has only recently been studied by Western scientists," said Page during an interview about his new book, 150% Better Auditions (Acting Theory Books, 2018). "And those scientists have confirmed that the same ability to 'be in the moment' that is so important to actors, can actually be trained using meditation." As an actor, Page has appeared in more than 70 films and TV episodes. "I've worked with a lot of good actors, and they all share one quality in common: when the camera rolls, they are right there, totally focused on whatever is going on at that moment." Page attended graduate school for both acting and psychology, where he studied meditation and consciousness. While completing a master's degree in psychology, he noticed how similar meditation training and actor training often were. "But what surprised me was how rarely acting teachers actually used mindfulness training to help their acting students." To solve that problem, Page started doing research on meditation techniques that cultivate mindfulness or "the ability to live in the moment." He discovered research studies by scientists from the University of Rochester, New York, that confirmed mindfulness practice improves "attention to and awareness of current experience or present reality" (Brown & Ryan, 2003). He found other studies that demonstrated positive physical changes in the brain associated with longer-term meditation practice (Brefczynski-Lewis, Lutz, Schaefer, Levinson, & Davidson, 2007; Chiesa, Calati, & Serretti, 2011). "It was amazing," said Page. "Here was a training tool [meditation] that science had demonstrated actually helped people concentrate their attention better, and yet very few actors even knew about it!" To help other actors, Page wrote a book called 150% Better Auditions that applies meditative techniques to the acting process. "If you use the techniques I outline in my book, you can improve your auditions and your performance on either stage or screen significantly. You will actually start seeing improvements in your acting in as little as a week or two." Ultimately, Page believes the kind of exercises he has introduced for actors can be used by a broader audience of public speakers, business executives, and any person who is called upon to present themselves with high energy and charisma. "In my mind, someone giving a keynote speech or important business presentation is doing the same thing as a movie or stage star," says Page. "Everyone from CEOs to salespeople to college professors can use these techniques and see, directly in their own experience, if they work for them or not." 150% Better Auditions is now available on Amazon.com. About the author: Kevin Page is an author, actor, and holds a master's degree in psychology. On screen he was blown away by a robot (ED-209) in the classic movie, RoboCop (1987), offered Jerry his "show about nothing" on SEINFELD, and played the character that ultimately shot and killed "JR Ewing" on the 2012 re-boot of DALLAS. Media Contact: Joanne McCall [email protected] 503-642-4191 SOURCE Kevin Page MONTREAL, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ - After having aired on PBS affiliates in the United States and Canada, the fourth season of the Free Markets Series is now available online for the entire internet community to enjoy. Six new 30-minute episodes can be found in the dedicated series web library, and on social media networks. The Free Markets Series introduces viewers to some of the most dynamic thinkers and activists exploring and analyzing the principles of the free market. Season 4 features: Matt Kibbe , President and Chief Community Organizer at Free the People; , President and Chief Community Organizer at Free the People; Nick Gillespie , editor at large and former editor-in-chief of Reason magazine; , editor at large and former editor-in-chief of magazine; Daniel Ikenson , director of the Cato Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies; , director of the Cato Institute's Herbert A. Stiefel Center for Trade Policy Studies; Gabriel Calzada , president of the world's only libertarian university, Universidad Francisco Marroquin; , president of the world's only libertarian university, Universidad Francisco Marroquin; Edwin Feulner , founder and former president of The Heritage Foundation; and , founder and former president of The Heritage Foundation; and Daniel Hannan , renowned British journalist, author, and 17-year Member of the European Parliament. These unique interviews are conducted by Bob Scully, award-winning media personality and host of The World Show. The grassroots liberty movement, the rise of freedom, defending free trade, the entrepreneurial university, the shaping of better public policy, and the prospects for freer trade in the wake of Brexit are some of the topics discussed by the featured guests of these new interviews. The Free Markets Series is produced by The World Show in partnership with the MEI. The World Show is a syndicated television program broadcast across North America, on 304 stations affiliated with American PBS. It is seen in 141 markets across 44 U.S. states, including in nine of the top ten Nielsen DMA markets. "The MEI and The World Show are proud to be able once again to offer television and internet viewers the opportunity to delve into some of the principles of the free market, and how they relate to the issues of the day, as expressed by these respected thinkers discussing their life's work," says Michel Kelly-Gagnon, President and CEO of the MEI. Season 4 of the series is available on our website. The episodes can be viewed, commented on, and shared through social media networks. The Montreal Economic Institute is an independent, non-partisan, not-for-profit research and educational organization. Through its studies and its conferences, the MEI stimulates debate on public policies in Quebec and across Canada by proposing wealth-creating reforms based on market mechanisms. This project was made possible in part through the support of a grant from the John Templeton Foundation. The opinions expressed by the interviewees in each of the episodes do not necessarily reflect the views of the John Templeton Foundation. SOURCE Montreal Economic Institute Related Links http://www.iedm.org DALLAS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Serendipity Labs Coworking announced today it will establish its second DFW location at 3201 Dallas Parkway, the 17th building at HALL Park and the tallest office building in Frisco. HALL Group, the developers of HALL Park and HALL Arts who invested directly in Serendipity Labs, Inc. in 2017, will be a joint venture partner in the new Frisco location. Worth Coworking will manage Serendipity Labs Frisco-HALL Park, as it does the Serendipity Labs Dallas-HALL Arts at KPMG Plaza in the Dallas Arts District. 3201 Dallas Parkway at HALL Park Lab Cafe and coworking lounge at Serendipity Labs Dallas HALL Arts "HALL Group is a preeminent developer, known to be at the vanguard of commercial real estate trends, and we welcome them as a partner at our location in the newest HALL Park building," says John Arenas. "Their investment in our vision of the brand at both the corporate level and now at this location reflects their belief in the growing importance of offering workplace-as-a-service." Serendipity Labs Frisco-HALL Park is slated to open in September 2018 at 3201 Dallas Parkway. The ground level will house meeting and event space, the Lab Cafe and coworking. Dedicated desks, offices, team rooms and additional meeting rooms will be on the second. As with Serendipity Labs' location at HALL Arts, the first floor will be ideal for corporate and offsite events, surrounded by the building lobby's art installations and natural light. "Businesses today are seeking flexible office space options, marketing to the modern employee and future of the workplace," says Craig Hall, founder and chairman of HALL Group. "The Serendipity Labs' hospitality-driven model aligns with our view that the workplace needs to be inspiring to encourage productivity and creativity, while at the same time providing a high level of service to employees and visitors. We are thrilled to welcome Serendipity Labs to HALL Park and think they will be very successful in Frisco." Kim Butler, Brad Gibson and Cynthia Cowen represented HALL Park in the lease and Kimarie Ankenbrand and Michael Berman with JLL represented Serendipity Labs. Karen Pierre of Serendipity Labs will lead membership and event sales for both HALL Arts and HALL Park, making it convenient for businesses to set up enterprise memberships across DFW. "HALL Park has accommodated more than 800,000 square feet of company expansions in its twenty-year history," said Kim Butler, director of leasing for HALL Group. "Serendipity Labs is a natural extension of HALL Park's ability to accommodate growing companies of all sizes, both short and long-term, and will further enhance our capacity to offer greater flexibility." HALL Park's newest building features several on-site amenities that will benefit Serendipity Labs' members, including a full-service fitness center, an outdoor event lawn with kitchen and dining areas and a putting green and bean bag toss court. The building has several signature art installations designed specifically for the space and is also LEED Silver Certified. All Serendipity Labs have membership levels that include coworking, dedicated desks and offices, and team rooms. Private focus and wellness rooms, a work lounge, Lab Cafe, studios with full A/V, and retreats with dedicated phone lines are also standard. The IT infrastructure meets security and compliance standards including PCI-DSS, HIPAA, SOX, GLBA. Corporate memberships with centralized billing and contract portability allow for easy reassignment of employee memberships. Swing space and long-term offices are available. For more information visit serendipitylabs.com/frisco, hallpark.com, and worthhospitality.com. SOURCE Serendipity Labs, Inc. Related Links http://www.serendipitylabs.com ATLANTA, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Strategic Blueprint, LLC, a registered investment adviser (RIA), is designed to support the success of experienced independent advisors seeking to grow their businesses through a focus on delivering personalized wealth management services. It joins the SFA Partners' family of financial services companies, including The Strategic Financial Alliance, Inc. (SFA), a leading, privately owned independent broker-dealer and Registered Investment Adviser. Julie Sullivan, SFA Senior Vice President and Chief Compliance Officer, will serve as president of Strategic Blueprint. Clive Slovin, President and CEO of SFA Partners said, "We're delighted to roll out Strategic Blueprint as a top destination for experienced, entrepreneurial advisors focused on providing highly sophisticated wealth management offerings. Many independent advisors increasingly desire the best attributes of having one's own RIA firm without the administrative burdens that come with it. The comprehensive resources that are part of Strategic Blueprint are designed to provide the freedom and flexibility these advisors need to succeed in the long term." Strategic Blueprint offers its services as part of a highly cost-effective pricing package, utilizing TD Ameritrade Institutional, a Division of TD Ameritrade, Inc. ("TD Ameritrade"), member FINRA/SIPC, for custody and clearing services in one seamlessly consolidated platform. The platform features a full range of investment solutions, encompassing mutual funds, ETFs, closed-end funds and other traditional investment vehicles through TD Ameritrade. Strategic Blueprint also features alternative investments provided through relationships with specialized product sponsors and a wide range of model portfolios, strategists and asset managers available through unified managed accounts, and combines the capabilities of premier technology providers to create a high-performance advisor platform, including: Black Diamond for integrated, customized reporting; RedTail for complete customer relationship management; and Laserfiche for comprehensive document management. Ms. Sullivan said, "Strategic Blueprint combines the benefits of independence with the support of a powerful, turnkey technology platform, robust administrative and back office functions, and a vibrant and welcoming community of client-focused financial professionals. We are providing the blueprint, the tools and the foundation, while advisors bring their vision and passion for their businesses. The result is a strong path forward for wealth management-focused independent advisors as our industry continues to wade through a new regulatory era." About SFA Partners SFA Partners is a master brand that encompasses the enterprises wholly owned by SFA Holdings, including The Strategic Financial Alliance, a leading independent broker-dealer significantly owned by the independent advisors it supports, as well as Strategic Blueprint and SFA Insurance Services. About Strategic Blueprint Strategic Blueprint, LLC is a Registered Investment Adviser built to serve the needs of experienced, entrepreneurial financial advisors who focus on wealth management services by providing them with the benefits of independence while enabling them to concentrate on serving clients' needs rather than on administrative or regulatory concerns. The company offers a streamlined, integrated technology platform and a broad, diverse shelf of investment solutions. Strategic Blueprint advisors also have the ability to maintain a broker-dealer registration through its sister company, The Strategic Financial Alliance. About The Strategic Financial Alliance The Strategic Financial Alliance ("SFA") is a privately owned independent broker-dealer. The firm is focused on delivering support that goes above and beyond the norm within the independent financial advice industry, and is significantly owned by the independent financial advisors it serves. Based in Atlanta, GA, SFA is an empowering partner to independent fee and commission-based financial advisors across the country, acting as a powerful and expert partner in helping them grow their practices and build more efficient, thriving businesses. As of April 2018, SFA serves approximately 150 independent financial advisors across the country, collectively supporting nearly $4.9 billion in advisory and brokerage assets. For more information, please visit www.thesfa.net. **TD Ameritrade, Strategic Blueprint, and the other entities named are separate and unaffiliated firms, and are not responsible for each other's services or policies. TD Ameritrade does not endorse or recommend any advisor and the use of the TD Ameritrade name or logo does not represent the endorsement or recommendation of any advisor. Brokerage services provided by TD Ameritrade Institutional, Division of TD Ameritrade, Inc., member FINRA/SIPC. TD Ameritrade is a trademark jointly owned by TD Ameritrade IP Company, Inc. and The Toronto-Dominion Bank. Used with permission. Media Contacts: Joseph Kuo / Chris Clemens Haven Tower Group 424 652 6520 ext. 101 or 424 652 6520 ext. 102 [email protected] or [email protected] SOURCE SFA Partners LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- SHARE Inc. announced today that their annual Boomtown Gala will be headlined by The Righteous Brothers with additional performances by Martha and the Vandellas, Louis Van Amstel of "Dancing with the Stars" and the SHARE ladies. This year's honoree is Loreen Arbus, president of The Loreen Arbus Foundation and disability rights activist, philanthropist, producer, writer and author. The event's MC, a SHARE legacy, will be Natalie Lander (ABC's The Middle) the daughter of famed actors David Lander and Kathy Fields and granddaughter of Hollywood agent Freddie Fields and actress Polly Bergen. The event will be held on May 20, 2018, at The Beverly Hilton Hotel in Beverly Hills, California. "Boomtown is celebrating 65 years of phenomenal work on behalf of our community and we could not be more proud. This year's event will invoke old Hollywood glamour as we remember our founding members and the hardworking women who have helped make SHARE the organization it is today," said Corinna Fields, president of SHARE Inc. Loreen Arbus will be receiving the Shining Spirit Award for her tireless work to help those marginalized in our community, specifically through The Loreen Arbus Foundation, which provides scientific and medical research for those with disabilities, supports racial and gender minorities, and is active in environmental causes. Arbus is an industry trailblazer who earned the distinction of being the first woman to head programming for a U.S. network a feat she accomplished twice both at Showtime and Lifetime networks. "I am honored to be recognized by the amazing women of SHARE Inc.," said honoree Loreen Arbus. "Their mission is in very close alignment with my own in terms of helping children who are marginalized as is their long support of children with developmental disabilities and other special challenges." This year's star-studded event will include a red carpet, dressy Western attire, dinner, a live and silent auction, performances and more. The production team behind Boomtown includes Anita Mann of Anita Mann Productions, a five-time Emmy Award-winning choreographer; Christine Wallace, producer/first vice president of SHARE's Boomtown show and former professional dancer/choreographer of stage and screen; and Executive Producer Gary Smith, former producer of The Tony Awards and "The Judy Garland Show." Celebrity attendees and honorees in recent years have included Jamie Lee Curtis, Bruce Willis, Sharon Stone, Sherry Lansing, Glorya Kaufman and more. Throughout SHARE's illustrious history, famous supporters and performers have included Frank Sinatra, Judy Garland, John Wayne, Sammy Davis Jr., Jennifer Holliday, Lucille Ball, Ronald Reagan, Johnny Carson, Dean Martin, Bob Hope, John Ritter and k.d. Lang, to name a few. To learn more and/or purchase tickets to this year's Boomtown event visit http://www.share4children.org/boomtown-tickets-2018/. About SHARE Inc. One afternoon in 1953, seven women - some of whom were the wives of the infamous Rat Pack - met for lunch with a mission: to passionately commit to improve the lives of children with special needs and members of the community who are less fortunate. Fast forward 65 years and SHARE has now raised an impressive $65 million for multiple charities. Today, there are over 80 incredible women, including some of the founding members, who continue to "Share Happily and Reap Endlessly." These fearless volunteers are committed to helping children who are at risk and disabled by supporting treatment, research, prevention, and vocational and independent living programs. Each member of SHARE comes to the fundraising table with unique and complementary skills. The members are businesswomen, community activists and philanthropists. SHARE was given the President's Volunteer Action Award in 1988 by Ronald Reagan, the highest honor the President can award a charity for volunteerism. The organization also provided the first financial contribution for the now industry-leading Exceptional Children's Foundation and early money for Stuart House, a program at The Rape Treatment Center. SHARE has also provided critical support for research into developmental disabilities through the SHARE Child Disability Center at Cedars-Sinai, as well as vital funding for Ahead with Horses, Team Prime Time, CASA, The Sophia T. Salvin Center and many others. About Loreen Arbus Loreen Arbus is a disability rights activist, philanthropist, producer, writer and author. She is currently the president of The Loreen Arbus Foundation, The Goldenson-Arbus Foundation and Loreen Arbus Productions Inc. She holds the trailblazing distinction of being the first woman to head programming for a U.S. network, a feat accomplished twice (both at Showtime and Cable Health Network/Lifetime). She is the author of six books and was twice nominated for an Emmy Award. Arbus is a renowned professional Argentine tango dancer and choreographer and a sought-after speaker at national and international conferences. Among her many appearances around the world is an acclaimed speech at TEDxWomen. Through her philanthropic activities, particularly the Loreen Arbus Foundation, she supports a broad scope of interests, including advocacy for women and girls, scientific and medical research, minorities, people with disabilities, gender and racial equality in media, the arts, animal rights and global peace. The foundation has established and funds many scholarships that both enhance and elevate social consciousness around key societal issues. She has been honored many times, including the Heart of Giving Award presented by President Bill Clinton in 2001. Most recently, she was honored with the Arthur Ashe Institute for Urban Health Leadership Award and the Achievement Award by the UN Women for Peace Association, as well as the 2017 Ellis Island Medal of Honor presented by The National Ethnic Coalition of Organizations (NECO). The Loreen Arbus Foundation supports scientific and medical research; women and girls; people with disabilities and other minorities; gender and racial equity in media; the arts; the environment; and world peace. For more information or to purchase tickets, visit www.share4children.org. Contact Jennifer Buonantony Press Pass LA for SHARE Inc. 323-496-1976 [email protected] Related Links Website SOURCE SHARE Inc. Related Links http://www.share4children.org WASHINGTON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A new survey by the Program for Public Consultation (PPC) at the University of Maryland finds that six in ten voters oppose proposed Congressional legislation that postpones, for eight years, current requirements to lower ground ozone levels. Such ozone contributes to the creation of smog and is harmful to humans but lowering ozone levels incurs economic costs. The legislation, H.R 806 Ozone Standards Implementation Act of 2017, passed the US House on July 18,2017 and is now pending in the Senate. Nationwide, a majority of 61% opposed the legislation, including 76% of Democrats and 62% of independents. Fifty-five percent of Republicans favored the legislation. Respondents were also divided six-ways according to the Cook ratings for how Democratic or Republican their district votes, from very red to very blue. In very red districts, 54% opposed the legislation, while in very blue districts 66% were opposed. "Though air quality has improved over the least decades, a majority of Americans continue to press for further improvements, even when presented the costs," commented Steven Kull, director of PPC. To ensure that respondents understood the issues, they were first given a briefing and evaluated three arguments in favor and three arguments against the legislation. The content was reviewed by proponents and opponents of the proposals to ensure the briefing was accurate and balanced, and that the strongest arguments were presented. Respondents were told that in 1990, with bipartisan support, Congress passed an update of the Clean Air Act, which called for gradually reducing ground-level ozone. The Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) was charged with establishing the standards for this process and working with the states to meet them. In 2008, the EPA lowered the maximum ozone allowed to 75 parts per billion. Though some states had not yet reached this level, in 2015 the EPA further lowered the ozone level to 70 ppb, requiring states to develop a plan for meeting this standard by the early 2020s. Asked how important they think it is to lower the maximum allowed ozone level, 76% said they think it is very (48%) or somewhat (29%) important. Among Democrats, nine in ten said it was important, as did six in ten Republicans. Respondents were informed about the costs and benefits assessed by the EPA, including economic and health-related effects. They then evaluated arguments for and against legislation delaying, by eight years, the requirement for states to develop a plan to lower their ozone levels by the early 2020s to 70 ppb. The argument in favor found convincing by the largest number59%went as follows: To meet this new ozone standard, states could be required to place restrictions on everything from manufacturing and energy development to infrastructure projects like roads and bridges, hurting their economy. This will hurt the many people who are already having a hard time economically. This bill would give states more time to get ready for the new standard, thus balancing the needs for better air quality and economic growth. The other pro arguments, saying that the EPA is moving too fast and that the requirements are too demanding for some states with especially high ozone levels, were found convincing by half. The arguments against the legislation did substantially better, in all three cases being found convincing by more than seven in ten. Seventy-four percent found convincing both the arguments that, "Extensive research has clearly shown that ozone is dangerous, especially to children, the elderly, those with respiratory illnesses, and unborn fetuses." The same number found convincing the argument that the EPA is already giving more time to states for which it is especially difficult to lower their ozone levels, so it does not make sense to ease up on the standards for all the states. Asked, in conclusion, whether they favored or opposed "legislation in Congress that delays, by eight years, the requirement that states undertake a step-by-step plan for lowering the maximum allowed ozone levels from 75 ppb to 70 ppb," 61% said they were opposed, including 76% of Democrats and 62% of independents. However, 55% of Republicans favored the legislation. The online survey was conducted from March 9-23, 2018 by the Program for Public Consultation (PPC) and released today by the nonpartisan organization Voice of the People. The national probability-based sample of 1,999 registered voters was provided by Nielsen Scarborough from their sample of respondents, who were recruited by mail and telephone using a random sample of households. The national sample has a margin of error of +/- 2.2%. Questionnaire with Frequencies: http://www.publicconsultation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ozone_Quaire_041918.pdf Slides with Findings: http://www.publicconsultation.org/wp-content/uploads/2018/04/Ozone_Slides_041918.pdf Take the Survey: https://www.surveygizmo.com/s3/4227915/Ground-Level-Ozone Contact: Steven Kull, 202-232-7500, [email protected] SOURCE Program for Public Consultation PARSIPPANY, N.J., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Hennion & Walsh has plans to bring a new Unit Investment Trust (UIT) strategy to market that is focused on the technology revolution within its proprietary SmartTrust UIT business. The strategy, which has an anticipated deposit date in May 2018, will seek total return potential through capital appreciation and dividend income by investing in a portfolio consisting of equity securities of companies engaged in technologies believed to be "revolutionary". For these purposes, Hennion & Walsh defines companies engaged in revolutionary technologies to be companies that are principally engaged in, or that derive significant revenues from, businesses in artificial intelligence (AI), blockchain, cybersecurity, financial technology (FinTech), internet of things (IoT) and robotics. "Technology continues to change the way we interact in society on both a social and economic front," said Kevin Mahn, Chief Investment Officer at SmartTrust. "However, there are certain technologies that we have identified that have the ability to ultimately transform the bottom line of those companies, across multiple industries, which embrace them by transforming the way in which they operate." To help with the identification of these companies, Hennion & Walsh will start with the securities in the S-Network North American Disruptor Index as of the security selection date and then apply their own selection criteria to arrive at a final portfolio, which will be approximately equally weighted as of the trust's inception and will vary thereafter. Selection criteria that will be considered include, but will not be limited to, the following: market capitalizations; cash flow (through trailing twelve month free cash flow balances); revenues (through revenue per share and revenue growth); earnings (through earnings per share growth); profits (through gross profits and profit margins); valuations (through current and forward price/earnings, price/book and current and forward looking price/earnings growth ratios); dividends (through dividend yield and dividend growth rates); analyst coverage and analyst ratings; and average trading volumes. "The Technology Revolution Trust is another example of an innovative, theme-based strategy that we developed here at SmartTrust to provide an investment solution for a growing and popular area in the market," said Bill Walsh, President of Hennion & Walsh. "Over the longer term, we believe that the new technology revolution will ultimately transform economies, jobs, and society overall," added Richard Hennion, Partner of Hennion & Walsh. To obtain more information on the SmartTrust, Technology Revolution Trust, Series 1, including a Preliminary Prospectus, and the S-Network North American Disruptor Index, please call (888) 505-2872. About SmartTrust SmartTrust UITs, sponsored by Hennion & Walsh, offer diversified income and total return opportunities through innovative investment strategies. As of December 29, 2017, assets have grown by an annualized rate of 19 percent over the past five years while the number of Trusts outstanding grew by an annualized rate of 21 percent over the same period. For more information about Hennion & Walsh's SmartTrust UIT products, please contact the firm's Internal Support Desk at (888) 505-2872, or visit www.smarttrustuit.com. Hennion & Walsh is a member of FINRA and SIPC. Additional information on Hennion & Walsh is available at www.hennionandwalsh.com. SOURCE SmartTrust UITs Related Links http://www.hennionandwalsh.com SUMMIT, N.J., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Specialty Program Group LLC (SPG), a leading insurance holding company for specialty brokerages and underwriting facilities, announced today the launch of New Heights Insurance Solutions (New Heights). Based in Eastern Pennsylvania, New Heights specializes in providing insurance products for the crane & boom industry. Megan Rose, President of New Heights, joined SPG as part of the Norman-Spencer Crane acquisition and will run the newly created platform. With over 25 years of experience in the construction insurance space, New Heights provides superior resources and services to the crane & boom industry. "The creation of New Heights is important for SPG and will launch our construction platform. We believe in the team's ability to build durable solutions for the unique needs of the construction client, starting with crane and expanding into related niches," said Chris Treanor, President and CEO of SPG. About Specialty Program Group Headquartered in Summit, NJ, SPG focuses on expanding program underwriting and specialty businesses. For more information, please visit specialtyprogramgroup.com . CONTACT: Media: Yiana Stavrakis Phone: 908-790-6801 [email protected] M&A: Chris Treanor Phone: 908-790-6884 [email protected] SOURCE Specialty Program Group Related Links http://www.specialtyprogramgroup.com Introduction and Big Themes Hydrocarbon Supply Primary Price Outlook Gas Market Dynamics Refining & Product Implications Automotive Outlook Fuel specifications "Stratas Advisors closely follows multiple factors affecting today's Indian oil and gas market," said John Paisie, Executive Vice President of Stratas Advisors. "We look forward to this inaugural event and opportunity to partner with an organization that serves as a strong voice to the Indian oil and gas industry." The Federation of Indian Petroleum Industry hosts industry events upstream, midstream and downstream that help educate and connect Indian oil and gas businesses. FIPI is an apex society of entities in the hydrocarbon sector and acts as an industry interface with government and regulatory authorities. Members of FIPI represent the industry on government bodies, committees and task forces and submit recommendations to the government on behalf of the industry on various issues. For more information about the "Changing Oil & Gas Landscape" Workshop or to register for the event, click here or go to StratasAdvisors.com. About Stratas Advisors Stratas Advisors, a Hart Energy company, is a leading global consulting and analytics provider for upstream, midstream and downstream energy markets and related sectors, such as automotive; transportation; power; petrochemicals and heavy industries. Stratas Advisors' team of experts provides data and strategic insights to companies seeking to understand key drivers shaping development. Stratas Advisors' consultants and analysts offer forward-looking perspectives to help energy decision makers leverage opportunities, mitigate risk and implement strategies. Stratas Advisors is headquartered in Houston with offices in Brussels and Singapore. To learn more about their offerings, visit StratasAdvisors.com. Contact: Kate Clark tel +1.713.260.4657 SOURCE Stratas Advisors Related Links http://www.stratasadvisors.com ANNVILLE, Pa., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- A report by the National Center for Veterans Analysis and Statistics projects that by 2043 the number of women veterans will increase from about 10 percent to more than 16 percent of all living veterans. With this number on the rise, the Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs (DMVA) has partnered on a survey with the Women Veterans Committee of the Governor's Advisory Council of Veterans Services to identify issues of unique concern to Pennsylvania's approximately 60,000 women veterans. "Veterans face a number of challenges transitioning back to civilian status, including access to health care, unemployment and behavioral health issues," said Maj. Gen. (ret.) Eric Weller, DMVA deputy adjutant general for Veterans Affairs. "Understanding the needs and the unique challenges of our female veterans is the first step in making sure we provide the right benefits, services and programs. We ask Pennsylvania's women veterans of all service eras to complete the survey." Weller said that the survey data could be used to recommend policies or procedures that address issues women veterans face as a result of military service. "We are making a conscious effort to identify challenges and to improve the quality of life for Pennsylvania's women veterans," said Weller. The comprehensive survey is available online for easy completion and submission at https://www.surveymonkey.com/r/PADMVAWomenVeteransSurvey. Key survey topics focus on benefits and services, access to health care and veterans service organizations. The survey is available for completion now through midnight, June 18, 2018. MEDIA CONTACT: Joseph Butera, 717-861-2178 SOURCE Pennsylvania Department of Military and Veterans Affairs Related Links http://www.dmva.state.pa.us CORNUCOPIA, Wis., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Twenty-five thousand metric tons of purportedly organic corn grown in Russia, Moldova, and Kazakhstan currently sits on the M/V Mountpark, a United Kingdom-flagged vessel lingering off the coast of California. U.S. Customs officials have blocked the shipment for offloading on the basis that it violates federal law. Sunrise, a Canadian-based importer, is now suing the USDA and U.S. Customs for rejecting the shipment, which Sunrise attests is worth millions of dollars. Farmer-owned cooperatives in the United States contend that American grain producers have lost hundreds of millions of dollars in revenue in recent years, facing competition from fraudulent grain imported and fed to certified organic livestock in the U.S. Records released as part of the lawsuit confirm that U.S. farmers are competing with a sophisticated international supply chain and illegal shipments of organic corn originating from former Soviet Bloc countries. Court documents reveal that Sunrise and/or its trading partners provided U.S. Customs with shipping documents that inaccurately identified Turkey as the country of origin, when organic transaction records indicate this to be false. Imports of raw corn seed from Turkey are allowed through a permit process, but imports from certain countries, like Russia, are not because of concerns that contamination by pests and pathogens could place domestic producers at risk. "If these companies are willing to apparently cheat in order to circumvent import prohibitions designed to protect U.S. farmers from noxious pest infestations, why would we assume that they would hesitate to cash-in from misrepresenting conventional corn as organic?" asked Mark Kastel, Senior Farm Policy Analyst for The Cornucopia Institute. An organic industry watchdog, Cornucopia has been pressuring the USDA's National Organic Program (NOP) for over a decade to pay attention to import fraud. Last year, the NOP was rocked by allegations of massive import fraud reported in an investigation by The Washington Post. John Bobbe, executive director of Organic Farmers' Agency for Relationship Marketing (OFARM), an umbrella organization representing organic grain marketing cooperatives in 19 states, said, "Considering our domestic organic grain farmers have lost over $400 million from 2015 to 2017 to fraudulent organic imports, it's about time we get some relief through regulatory enforcement and judicial redress. We'll be watching these proceedings closely." Sunrise contends it is incurring costs of $23,500 a day while its shipment is denied entry. Read More: https://tinyurl.com/SuspectOrgGrain CONTACT: Anne Ross, JD, 843-209-1732 SOURCE The Cornucopia Institute Related Links https://www.cornucopia.org MINNEAPOLIS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Target Corp. (NYSE: TGT) announced today it will begin same-day delivery of more than 55,000 groceries, essentials, home, electronics, toys and other products across Colorado. Beginning May 3, Shipt will deliver from Target stores in the Boulder, Colorado Springs, Denver and Fort Collins metro areas. Cumulatively, the new partnership gives nearly 4 million households across Colorado access to Target products delivered by Shipt in as little as one hour. To celebrate the introduction of the service, new members who sign up prior to launch will receive an annual membership for $49 (regularly $99). "Same-day delivery was at the top of our list when we were thinking about ways to make shopping at Target even easier," said John Mulligan, executive vice president and chief operating officer, Target. "Shipt's personalized, customer-focused approach fits perfectly with our commitment to deliver a convenient, exceptional experience and we're excited to begin offering same-day service across Colorado." Founded in 2014, Shipt is committed to simplifying its members' lives by offering a new, convenient same-day shopping experience. Shipt's marketplace gives customers the ability to browse, search and shop the in-store assortment of products online. Customers can note preferences, choose a one-hour delivery window and pay for their order, all within the app. Shipt's expert team of shoppers takes care of selecting, bagging and delivering the items. The annual membership grants access to free, unlimited delivery on orders over $35. "Shipt is bringing same-day delivery to a number of bustling neighborhoods across Colorado, simplifying how residents shop for their lifestyle essentials," said Bill Smith, founder and chief executive officer, Shipt. "Through our app, our members have access to everything they need, when they need it, right at their fingertips. This is just the beginning of the expansion Shipt and Target have planned for the year." Leading up to the launch, Shipt plans to add more than 800 Shipt shoppers across Colorado to be part of the team responsible for ensuring complete, accurate fulfillments of each order. To apply to be a Shipt shopper, visit Shipt.com and click "Get Paid to Shop." Through this partnership, Target plans to offer convenient, same-day delivery of its in-store assortment of groceries, essentials, home, electronics, toys and other products from approximately half of stores by early 2018. The majority of Target stores will offer the service by the 2018 holiday season, and by the end of the year, it will be in nearly 180 markets, reaching 80 million households, or close to 65 percent of U.S. households. By the end of 2019, same-day delivery will include all major product categories at Target. About Target Minneapolis-based Target Corporation (NYSE: TGT) serves guests at 1,829 stores and at Target.com. Since 1946, Target has given 5 percent of its profit to communities, which today equals millions of dollars a week. For more information, visit Target.com/Pressroom. For a behind-the-scenes look at Target, visit Target.com/abullseyeview or follow @TargetNews on Twitter. About Shipt Shipt is a membership-based online grocery marketplace delivering fresh foods and household essentials through a community of shoppers and a convenient app. Shipt offers quality, personalized grocery delivery to members for $99 per year, and is available to nearly 50 million households in more than 100 markets across the country. Throughout 2018, Shipt will continue to expand by adding both Target stores and additional retailer partners to its online marketplace, offering members more options to shop. Shipt was founded in The Magic City, Birmingham, Ala., and maintains offices in Birmingham and San Francisco, Calif. For more information, visit Shipt.com. SOURCE Target Corp Related Links http://www.target.com BROOKLYN, N.Y., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire-USNewswire/ -- Researchers, policy makers and others in academia and industry will gather for the fifth anniversary of the annual Brooklyn 5G Summit at New York University's Tandon School of Engineering. The event, April 24-26, 2018, will explore innovations in products and services for the next generation of wireless communications. The Summit, available via livestream, is jointly organized by NYU WIRELESS and Nokia, and will explore 5G New Radio the backbone wireless standard for 5G including 5G for autonomous vehicles, 5G cloud technology, phased-array antennas, the latest advances in millimeter-wave (mmWave) hardware, and network automation with artificial intelligence (AI). The event features leaders from companies driving the momentum for 5G, including Nokia, AT&T, Ericsson, Huawei, National Instruments, Qualcomm, Verizon, and InterDigital; companies such as BMW, Toyota and Bosch that are laying the groundwork for 5G-enabled products; and the Federal Communications Commission (FCC) and the National Science Foundation. 5G Ready for Takeoff Theodore (Ted) S. Rappaport, the Ernst Weber/David Lee professor of electrical engineering at NYU Tandon, and Amitava Ghosh, who directs the Radio Interface Group at Nokia Bell Labs, launched the Brooklyn 5G Summit in 2014. In that year the number of mobile-connected devices first exceeded the world's population, and growth in demand has only increased since then. By 2021 more than three-quarters of the world's mobile data traffic will be video, a 9-fold increase from 2016, and by 2020, experts predict there will be some 20 billion IoT (Internet of Things) devices worldwide. NYU WIRELESS, part of NYU Tandon's Department of Electrical and Computer Engineering, is located in the hub of Brooklyn's Tech Triangle a globally recognized hotbed of wireless research, game development, green tech, and more and is helping establish Brooklyn's Innovation Coastline. Rappaport founded the center in 2012 soon after arriving at what was then called Brooklyn Polytechnic from the University of Texas at Austin. Now under the direction of NYU Tandon Professor of Electrical and Computer Engineering Sundeep Rangan, the center is keeping a steady drumbeat of innovation and research, including: A project with the Austin, Texas Fire Department to develop and test mmWave technology for first responders that will support high-definition images from drones, ambulances, and from robots in environments too dangerous for humans, all in real time. Fire Department to develop and test mmWave technology for first responders that will support high-definition images from drones, ambulances, and from robots in environments too dangerous for humans, all in real time. COSMOS, a multi-institute collaboration for a square-mile 5G test bed in upper- Manhattan , a project supported by a $22.5 million grant from the National Science Foundation that will allow researchers to test some of the biggest promises of 5G, including applications such as VR/AR and autonomous vehicles. , a project supported by a grant from the National Science Foundation that will allow researchers to test some of the biggest promises of 5G, including applications such as VR/AR and autonomous vehicles. NYU WIRELESS' pioneering research is guiding the FCC's and industry's drive to lay the groundwork for 5G, including last year's Spectrum Frontiers proposal. The center also helped test, debug, and provide feedback on a new FCC portal that streamlines the experimental bandwidth licensing process (the center was the first applicant to receive a Program Experimental License through the portal). "Ultra-fast connectivity delivering huge data rates is just around the corner, and NYU WIRELESS is proud to help industry, government, and standards organizations make strides towards that goal," said Rappaport. "While our research has proven the viability of the mmWave spectrum and above, we are also thrilled to have played a tangible role in shaping the 5G landscape, which promises innovations that were unimaginable just a few years ago." Added Rangan, "The advent of blazingly-fast, near-zero latency wireless will be a game changer not just for traditional telecommunications, but for countless applications, including IoT, vehicle-to-vehicle and vehicle-to-cloud communications enabling self-driving cars, 3-D streaming video, near-instant video downloads, and much more." In 2018, NYU WIRELESS industry affiliates such as Nokia begin deployment of 5G networks in the United States and beyond: Nokia and T-Mobile this year begin roll-out of a nationwide 5G multi-band network in the United States using the commercial Nokia 5G solution, completing the deployment during 2020. using the commercial Nokia 5G solution, completing the deployment during 2020. AT&T will launch mobile 5G to customers in a dozen cities by the end of this year. Verizon, which recently opened a 5G-enabled Open Innovation lab in New York to cultivate startups and innovations, aims to have 5G networks deployed in up to five U.S. markets by year's end, starting with Sacramento, California . to cultivate startups and innovations, aims to have 5G networks deployed in up to five U.S. markets by year's end, starting with . Qualcomm's new Snapdragon X50 5G modem will drive 5G New Radio (NR) trials worldwide by numerous carriers, including in the mmWave spectrum bands. National Instruments this year launches the first 5G NR field trials for 28GHz with Samsung. This year's Summit will include presentations by industry leaders, such as Marc Rouanne, president of Nokia Mobile Networks; and Melissa Arnoldi, President, Technology & Operations, AT&T Communications. NYU WIRELESS demonstrations include: An end-to-end mmWave Cellular simulation platform. Massive MIMO and mmWave Channel Emulation, a pioneering, cost-effective programmable channel emulator for high bandwidth, large antenna array systems. A demonstration of high quality virtual reality streaming via a 5G mmWave channel. A mmWave live demonstration showcasing the performance of a gigabits-per-second-capable system, operating both at millimeter-wave and sub-6 GHz frequencies. To learn more about the past five years of pioneering research at NYU WIRELESS visit http://engineering.nyu.edu/press-releases/2017/08/10/nyu-wireless-celebrates-five-years-pioneering-research-making-5g-communica. To watch the livestream of Summit proceedings, April 25-26, provided by the IEEE Communications Society and sponsored by OnScale, register at https://register.comsoc.org/content/brooklyn-5g-summit-2018. Join the conversation: @NYUWIRELESS, @NYUTandon, @Nokia, #B5GS. For more information, visit http://brooklyn5gsummit.com. Note: Images available at: http://dam.engineering.nyu.edu/?c=2076&k=fedf072b49 About NYU WIRELESS NYU WIRELESS is a multi-disciplinary academic research center that offers an unprecedented and unique set of skills. Centered at New York University's Brooklyn engineering location and involving more than 200 faculty and students throughout the entire NYU community, NYU WIRELESS offers its faculty, students, and affiliated sponsors from industry a world-class research environment that is creating the fundamental theories and techniques for next-generation mass-deployable wireless devices across a wide range of applications and markets. This center combines NYU's Tandon School of Engineering program, School of Medicine and Courant Institute of Mathematical Sciences, and offers a depth of expertise with unparalleled capabilities for the creation of new wireless circuits and systems as well as new health care solutions for the wireless industry. For more information, visit wireless.engineering.nyu.edu. About the New York University Tandon School of Engineering The NYU Tandon School of Engineering dates to 1854, the founding date for both the New York University School of Civil Engineering and Architecture and the Brooklyn Collegiate and Polytechnic Institute (widely known as Brooklyn Poly). A January 2014 merger created a comprehensive school of education and research in engineering and applied sciences, rooted in a tradition of invention and entrepreneurship and dedicated to furthering technology in service to society. In addition to its main location in Brooklyn, NYU Tandon collaborates with other schools within NYU, one of the country's foremost private research universities, and is closely connected to engineering programs at NYU Abu Dhabi and NYU Shanghai. It operates Future Labs focused on start-up businesses in downtown Manhattan and Brooklyn and an award-winning online graduate program. For more information, visit http://engineering.nyu.edu. www.facebook.com/nyutandon @NYUTandon SOURCE NYU Tandon School of Engineering Related Links http://www.poly.edu SOUTHFIELD, Mich., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The WardsAuto Interiors Conference, the annual event with a laser-focus on the automotive interior, announces Sharon Gauci, Executive Director for Industrial Design at General Motors, and Chris Benjamin, Head of the Fusion Studio and Jeep, Passenger Car and UV Interior Design at FCA, will deliver the keynote addresses. The event will be held May 30, 2018 in Detroit, MI. The event will also host vehicle and supplier exhibits, as well as an awards ceremony for Wards 10 Best Interiors and will celebrate the industry's top designers. The ten winning vehicles will be on display for attendees to see the advanced features, styling excellence, innovative material usage and other details that make the vehicles worthy of their honors. Plus, attendees will choose from nine "deep-dive" panel discussions, each focused on specific aspects of the vehicle interior. PANEL DISCUSSIONS: - Lightweighting Interiors - Creating the Ultimate User Experience - Autonomous Interiors 2.0 - Interior Crash Safety Systems for Autonomous Cars - Creating a Quiet Interior Environment - Manufacturing World-Class Interiors - Designing the Cockpit of the Future - Materials Innovations - New Concepts and Tech for Enhancing Interiors The event will also spotlight the winners of the WardsAuto Interiors Student Design Competition sponsored by IAC and Lear Corporation. Award winners will be announced, and the work of all finalists from the College for Creative Studies, judged by a panel of the industry's top designers, will be on display. "We're pleased that the design community has helped us grow the WardsAuto Interiors Conference every single year," says Drew Winter, content director and senior editor at WardsAuto. "The major automakers make the event a priority, providing top designers as keynotes as well as panelists for our break-out sessions. It's always exciting to pack so much design talent, along with technologists and industry disruptors, into a single venue for a high level of information sharing and networking." A limited number of seats remain available, and individual session seating is available on a first-come, first-served basis. Exhibit space is also available for suppliers of interior technologies and materials to display their products. Registration, exhibit and additional information is available at http://www.AutoInteriors.com. About WardsAuto WardsAuto is a world-leading provider of automotive insights and analysis, having served the industry's information needs for more than 90 years. WardsAuto provides a forward-looking perspective on all aspects of the automotive business, from the tech center to the plant floor to the showroom. Its services include the premium WardsAuto.com resource and suite of customizable data reporting tools, the WardsAuto Interiors, WardsAuto User Experience and WardsAuto Outlook Conferences, digital newsletters and more. Subscribe to WardsAuto and attend its events by visiting http://www.wardsauto.com. About Informa WardsAuto is part of Informa, the international business intelligence, academic publishing, knowledge and events group. Informa serves commercial, professional and academic communities, helping them connect and learn, and creating and providing access to content and intelligence that helps people and businesses work smarter and make better decisions faster. Informa has over 7,500 colleagues in more than 20 countries and a presence in all major geographies. It is listed on the London Stock Exchange and is a member of the FTSE 100. MEDIA CONTACT: Chris Lamphear Director of Marketing WardsAuto 248 799 2658 [email protected] SOURCE WardsAuto Interiors Conference Related Links http://wardsauto.informa.com/interiors MCKINNEY, Texas, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Torchmark Corporation (NYSE: TMK) announces the following webcast: What: Torchmark Corporation Annual Shareholders Meeting Webcast When: April 26, 2018 @ 11 AM Eastern 10 AM Central Where: https://www.webcaster4.com/Webcast/Page/904/25567 Live over the internet Simply log on to the web at the address above. If you are unable to participate during the live webcast, the call will be archived on the website http://www.torchmarkcorp.com/ on the Investors/Calls and Meetings page under "Annual Meeting of Shareholders". Torchmark Corporation is a holding company specializing in life and supplemental health insurance for "middle income" Americans marketed through multiple distribution channels including direct response, and exclusive and independent agencies. Torchmark has several nationally recognized insurance subsidiaries. Globe Life And Accident is a direct-response provider of life insurance known for its administrative efficiencies. American Income Life provides individual life insurance to working families. Liberty National Life is one of the oldest traditional life insurers in the Southeast. United American is a consumer-oriented provider of supplemental life and health insurance. Family Heritage Life provides individual supplemental health insurance. SOURCE Torchmark Corporation Related Links http://www.torchmarkcorp.com CUMMING, Ga., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- While already offering one of the most extensive and sought after UAV Flight Training Programs in the U.S., UAV Experts is once again breaking ground with the launch of a new Certified Aerial Thermographer Program. Produced and taught through an exclusive partnership with world infrared leader Monroe Infrared, this new program is designed to complement UAV Expert's current UAV flight training activities. It will offer participants an in-depth, yet cost-effective, two-day program to instruct both corporations and individuals on the science and specifics of infrared aerial photography utilizing UAVs. UAV Experts Cliff Whitney, CEO of UAV Experts, remarked, "UAV Experts is considered a sole-source, full-circle supplier, meaning we supply factory-direct UAV equipment, fleet management, flight training and FAA Part 107 test preparation. We have been flying infrared for a long time and are excited about launching this new training program headed by Monroe's Vice President and Level III Certified Thermographer Bill Fabian. The new Aerial Infrared Program adds to our other extensive training programs. No other company offers all five of our specialties nor has any been in the unmanned business as long as we have (since 1978)." The intensive two-day program is ideal for current UAV pilots wanting to expand into the infrared inspection and detection arena, as well as for non-UAV pilots wanting to become pilots and expand their current businesses. The certified Aerial Thermographer Program covers many areas with topics including the science of infrared, camera lens and resolution considerations. Various applications including commercial and residential building inspections, power lines, solar farms, roof leaks, walls and windows, temperature measurements and radiometric data interpretation will also be covered. UAV-centric topics comprised of actual hands-on time with the latest UAV flight equipment as well as details, guidance and specifics regarding the FAA Part 107 regulations are also included so students can perform commercial aerial flight and infrared inspections legally and safely. Bill Fabian, Monroe's instructor, commented, "I have seen and heard from so many people and businesses that invest in infrared technology but just don't know how to properly use the equipment or understand how to interpret the image data incorrectly for their clients. Our new partnership with UAV Experts puts the right people and skill sets together for a winning education for our students." Take two days and learn from the absolute industry leaders in UAV Flight and Infrared data interpretation and become a certified Aerial Thermographer. Classes are limited to 12 students, providing a better learning experience with more hands-on time. Don't miss out. Contact UAV Experts (www.uavexperts.com/store/pc/FlightTraining.asp) for more information and class schedule times. About UAV Experts: UAV Experts is the professional division of long-established Atlanta Hobby, powered by their decades of experience and legendary customer service. They are a full-circle provider, and the nation's leading supplier of unmanned aerial systems and equipment for commercial, agricultural, governmental and industrial applications. UAV Experts provides integrated UAV solutions for all applications, including in-house design and manufacture, sales, training and tech support of UAVs and payload systems. In addition, they operate the UAV Ground School training program for drone operators and UAV Expert News, the leading news source for the drone industry. For more information, please visit www.UAVExperts.com. About Monroe Infrared: Monroe Infrared is a Certified Veteran-Owned Small Business that has been providing Thermography Certification Training, supplying infrared cameras, and performing commercial and industrial Infrared Inspections since 1984. With offices in Florida, Maine, Michigan, Rhode Island and Texas, the Monroe Infrared team works as a true partner with their customers throughout the United States. Monroe's infrared training classes include their two-day Certification Program, Level I and II Certification training classes and customized on-site training programs to meet specific company's needs. Their Level III trainers have years of conducting infrared inspections so they bring practical, hands-on experience to their students. Monroe's classes are very highly rated by all attendees. For more information, please visit www.monroeinfrared.com. Media Contact: For more info, please visit www.UAVExperts.com or contact: Kelley Roberts [email protected] Tel. 678-513-4450 Related Images uav-experts.png UAV Experts monroe-infrared.png Monroe Infrared infrared-training.jpg Infrared Training pv-system-image.gif PV System Image SOURCE UAV Experts Related Links http://www.UAVExperts.com Thirty-five employees and their friends and family members joined with Valverde Elementary School staff and completed several projects to enhance the physical school environment. Projects included cleaning each classroom, cleaning the library, painting the inside handrails and stairwells, adding mulch to the grounds, and installing an outside art project. On hand to welcome the volunteers was Angela Cobian, Denver public school board member and Drew Schutz, Valverde Elementary School principal. Dr. Dawn Iwamoto, president and CEO of University of the Rockies and Dr. Theodore Blashak, regional vice president of shared services operations, Bridgepoint Education, presented a check to Valverde Elementary as additional support. "Valverde has come a long way, and our partnership with University of the Rockies, Bridgepoint, and Ashford University has been a significant part of our progress the last few years," said Schutz. "We truly appreciate their support and for being here today for Heroes Day!" Cobian stated, "We know that in this moment the gap between those who have the most and the least is the widest gap it's ever been. Our schools are a microcosm of our country, and are at the frontline of this gap. Partnerships like this provide a level of support that our schools both need and deserve." "This is our second year partnering with Valverde Elementary on Heroes Day," said Dr. Iwamoto. "We are thrilled to support elementary education and serve the students and staff of this wonderful school." University of the Rockies and Ashford University also support Valverde Elementary throughout the year though TutorMate and Power Lunch literacy programs, supply drives, and by supplying uniforms for students. About University of the Rockies University of the Rockies is a leading graduate school of the social and behavioral sciences that offers programs for students seeking their PhD, PsyD, or Master of Arts degree. Based in Denver, Colo., the University provides students with the convenience of an online education. While working toward a degree from anywhere in the country, students enjoy access to industry professionals, research, and publishing opportunities. For more information, please visit www.rockies.edu/, www.twitter.com/URockies, www.facebook.com/UniversityoftheRockies, or call Jana Mathieson, Sr. Communications and Community Relations Manager at 866.621.0124 x11870. About Ashford University Where heritage meets innovation that's Ashford University. At Ashford, students discover relevant degree programs, innovative technology, and cherished tradition. Ashford offers associates, bachelor's, and master's degree programs online, allowing students to balance life by providing the flexibility to do school work anywhere, anytime. For more information, please visit www.ashford.edu, www.facebook.com/ashforduniversity, www.twitter.com/AshfordU, or call Kathleen Park, Public Relations and Social Media Specialist,at 858.513.9240 x11636. About Bridgepoint Education Bridgepoint Education, Inc. (NYSE:BPI) harnesses the latest technology to reimagine the modern student experience. Bridgepoint owns two academic institutions Ashford University and University of the Rockies. Together, these programs, technologies, and resources represent a unique model for advancing education in the 21st century. Bridgepoint stands for greater access, social learning, and exposure to leading minds. For more information, visit www.bridgepointeducation.com, www.facebook.com/BridgepointEducation, or call Kathleen Park, Public Relations and Social Media Specialist, at 858.513.9240 X 11636. Contact: Jana Mathieson, Sr. Communications/Community Relations Manager 866.621.0124 x11870 [email protected] SOURCE University of the Rockies Related Links http://www.rockies.edu An established sales and marketing leader in Canada will now enhance growth and support members throughout North America LEHI, Utah, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- After establishing its strong footprint in Canada, Young Living Essential Oils, the world leader in essential oils, has promoted Lori Burgher as its Regional President of North America. "Lori is an entrepreneur at heart. Her passion to lead and mentor leaders in our membership to build meaningful relationships with their customers has contributed to explosive growth in Canada last year," said Jared Turner, Young Living President and Chief Operating Officer. "She has a unique ability to approach marketing and problem solving with creative gusto, and I have no doubt that she will continue to help Young Living meet its business initiatives and continue to grow in North America." She has played a critical role in helping Young Living enhance the member experience in Canada with new sales tools and innovative ways to resolve pain points quickly, which resulted in a 55-percent increase in sales. Before being named General Manager of Canada, she joined Young Living in 2016 as Director of Marketing and Communications, where she substantially increased sales, social engagement, and brand recognition across the Canadian marketplace. Prior to joining Young Living, Burgher held several positions with Travel Alberta and creative agencies that supported SunRype and Honda Motor Company. With more than 23 years of sales and marketing expertise, Burgher holds a certificate in Marketing Management from the University of Calgary and a bachelor's degree in Visual Communication Design from the Alberta College of Art and Design. About Young Living Essential Oils Young Living Essential Oils, LC, is the world leader in essential oils, with a strict Seed to Seal process that produces pure essential oil products for every individual, family, and lifestyle. This process ensures that all products are genuine, free of synthetic chemicals, and pure. This commitment stems from the company's more than 20 years of stewardship toward the earth and its people. For more information, visit YoungLiving.com. Media Contact: For media inquiries, please contact [email protected]. SOURCE Young Living Essential Oils Related Links http://youngliving.com GUEST OBSERVER Infrastructure Australias latest infrastructure priority list has been criticised for being too Sydney-centric and for giving Melbournes East West Link, cancelled in 2014, high priority status. The cancelled Roe 8 project in Perth was removed from the list. So how does a project get onto Infrastructure Australias list? This requires submission of a full business case, which then needs to be positively assessed to be given priority status. But our research, yet to be published, has found these business cases leave out highly significant costs. This article looks at three prominent projects the WestConnex and East West Link motorways in Sydney and Melbourne respectively, and Cross River Rail in Brisbane to illustrate how business cases submitted to Infrastructure Australia do not follow its requirements in key respects. This casts serious doubt on the business cases used to justify major motorway projects, as well as on how priority projects are selected. What do business cases assess? Ensuring business cases are completed before investment decisions are finalised is critical to good planning. Part of Infrastructure Australias remit is to head off concerns that projects are committed to before business cases are fully evaluated. This can help minimise optimism bias and ensure investments deliver community benefit. But we must also examine what the business case is actually showing us. The main part of each business case is the cost-benefit analysis. This compares the money value of project benefits and project costs. Economically viable projects should have a benefit-to-cost ratio above 1:1. Infrastructure Australia requires project business cases to consider non-monetised benefits and costs, including community impacts. These benefits and costs are required to be quantified in some other way, or at least described. The basis used to estimate external costs must also be provided. The cost-benefit methodology requires any significant positive or negative impacts on third parties externalities to be included. Examples include air quality, carbon emissions, noise, biodiversity and climate adaptation. Social impacts to be covered include equity or the distribution of benefits (which Infrastructure Australia says need to be identified since cost-benefit analysis does not explicitly take these into account), and affected local communities and other individuals/groups. The non-monetised benefit and cost categories listed as relevant are: social impacts, cultural impacts, visual amenity/landscape, biodiversity and heritage impacts. In support of monetary estimates, proponents must describe and provide supporting material that demonstrates how land use, population and employment projections are modelled. The guidelines stress that the supporting conditions for expected land use impacts will be in place for instance, necessary infrastructure investment where densification is assumed. Factors that can hinder the realisation of such benefits (such as local opposition to increasing density) must also be included. This process would seem to produce a rational prioritisation of national infrastructure projects. The problem is that the business cases submitted to Infrastructure Australia do not follow its requirements. High-priority projects with problematic business cases To illustrate this, we analysed the business cases of three projects designated as high priority for Commonwealth funding: East West Link, to which the Commonwealth allocated A$1.5 billion before the new Victorian government cancelled the project WestConnex, which has been allocated A$3.5 billion Cross River Rail, which is yet to receive funding. A key problem in these business cases is that significant project cost items have not been monetised. These include costs relating to environmental effects such as noise and visual amenity and to other impacts on businesses, households and property values. For example, none of the three cases includes a valuation of the costs of lost business and disruption to household travel and amenity during construction. (This is a big issue with Sydneys southeast light rail project.) There is also no costing of the loss of property values along motorways, especially around exhaust emission vents. The East West Link and Cross River Rail business cases make some allowance for this by including the value of general changes in amenity from noise, urban landscape and visual amenity. None of these are costed in the WestConnex case. Another significant omission relates to the costing of land use impacts. The WestConnex and East West Link business cases both forecast more, and longer, road trips across the network as a result of the projects. The WestConnex scheme will increase vehicle kilometres by 600,000 per day and make outer suburbs more accessible relative to the inner city. The potential extra costs from greater sprawl are high, estimated at A$4.99 billion for Sydney over 25 years from 2011 if greenfield housing was 50% of new dwellings rather than 30%. The opposite is the case for Cross River Rail. Increased higher-density development around rail stations would produce infrastructure savings, but the business case does not give these a value. Furthermore, the valuation of changes in transport mode resulting from each project is inconsistent. The Cross River Rail business case includes savings resulting from motorists switching from road to rail after the line is built. The WestConnex project will have the reverse effect, with 45,000 public transport trips per day being switched to the motorway. But the business case does not put a value on the costs of this. These include bus and train revenue losses, or reduced service frequency and increased waiting time to reduce losses. Debatable wider economic benefits The most contentious business case component is wider economic benefits. These are productivity improvements arising from increased central city job density as a result of the projects improving access. These benefits needed to be included to lift the East West Link benefit-cost ratio above one. But this is only achieved through sleight of hand public transport improvements into central Melbourne are included as part of the full project cost. As the public transport component of the business case had low costs compared to its benefits, including these wider economic benefits was enough to push the overall ratio above 1. Similar benefits are part of the WestConnex cost-benefit analysis. However, these benefits are to be achieved from extra car trips to the centre. This takes no account of the disincentives of road congestion and lack of parking. Current central Sydney planning controls allow a maximum of one new parking space per 75 square metres of floor area for not-so-tall offices - or one space for about five new workers - and even fewer spaces relative to floor area for higher buildings. This means most increased job density will not come from people driving to work. By contrast, the wider economic benefits of the Cross River Rail resulting from increased job density in central Brisbane are not valued for inclusion in the cost-benefit analysis. Rethinking the business case Our work points to several real concerns: a lack of consistency in what is included in business cases questions about how cases can be reasonably compared across projects discretionary inclusion or exclusion of critical items that bias results in favour of projects. We need more holistic and integrated analysis of projects. This will take into account not only the nation-building aspects the jobs and growth projects might inspire but also the disrupting and displacing effects they produce across transport modes, land uses and peoples experiences of the city. Glen Searle, Honorary Associate Professor in Planning, University of Queensland and, University of Sydney Crystal Legacy, Senior Lecturer in Urban Planning, University of Melbourne This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The ANZ has raised their 2018 house price forecasts. It expected prices to rise 2 per cent nationally this year, higher than the 1.4 per cent increase it predicted two weeks ago. It comes just two weeks after their most recent update. It suggests the likelihood the next Reserve Bank of Australia rate rise won't come until next year would push up dwelling prices faster this year than previously expected. The lender expects the central bank to raise rates twice next year. "We've changed our view on the RBA our expectation now is for no hikes in 2018 and two in 2019 which is a positive for the model's forecasts in 2018," the bank said. "This is offset to an extent by the slightly lower than forecasted price growth in Q1, which means that momentum will be less of a positive for the forecast than previously though." Under the new forecasting model ANZ said on Wednesday it had introduced, it predicted dwelling price growth next year of 4 per cent. Click here to enlarge. This was also higher than the 3.6 per cent gain that ANZ predicted two weeks ago. If you are new to iQ you can schedule a demo and learn more about this opportunity. PSFK iQ - Where Innovators Turn for Research. Our professional-grade research platform is designed specifically for Retail and CX leaders who want to know whats next. Whether youre staying current on trends or need a real-time research partner to help you get ahead, count on PSFK iQ to deliver the info you need to make your next move. Author and illustrator Anne Rockwell, celebrated for her many informational picture books for very young children, died of natural causes on April 10 in Stamford, Conn., during a brief hospital stay. She was 85. Anne Rockwell was born on February 8, 1934 in Memphis, Tenn., to Francis Howard and Hazel Edmunds Howard. She was later adopted by Emerson and Sabina Foote. In her autobiographical essay for Something About the Author, Rockwell recalled very early memories of her birth parents encouragement of her development as an artist and her passion for classic works of early Italian Renaissance and Egyptian art. After winning an art contest at age five with a painting of Cleopatra floating down the Nile River, Rockwell wrote, This early success convinced me that I would be a professional artist one day. She enjoyed school and said that she doesnt remember when she learned to read, but it seems as though I have always known how. She adored the childrens books handed down to her by her birth mother, fairy tale collections, and the various volumes shared in her elementary school classrooms. And when there were no childrens books available, she voraciously read reference booksincluding the dictionary and encyclopediaas well as works by Shakespeare and Louisa May Alcott. During these formative years, Rockwell said she also enjoyed making up stories and experimenting with oil paints she had received as a gift from her father. As a girl, Rockwell lived in various parts of the country including New Orleans, Santa Fe, Tucson, and Cincinnati. At the age of 18, she settled in New York City, where she found a job doing typing work for a textbook publisher, an experience, she wrote, that helped inform her thinking about the importance of good books for children. Rockwell studied at Pratt Graphic Arts Center and at the Sculpture Center, and began writing poetry. In her free time, she took advantage of the opportunity to learn from the many and varied works of art a great city like New York could offer. In 1955, she married Harlow Rockwell, with whom she raised three childrenHannah, Lizzy, and Oliverwhile living in Old Greenwich, Conn. Rockwells first childrens book, Paul and Arthur Search for the Egg, was published by Doubleday in 1964. She collaborated on a number of books with her husband, also an author and illustrator (Sallys Caterpillar, Parents Magazine Press, 1966; The Toolbox, Macmillan, 1971), and frequently used her children as inspiration, and sometimes as character models, writing and illustrating picture books in whatever time I had to myself while they were in school or otherwise occupied, she wrote. Rockwell referred to herself as largely a self-taught illustrator, noting that a lack of more formal training has meant that many things are more difficult for me than for those with more technical tricks of the trade, [but] it has also kept my vision closer to that of a child. Her signature style features simple, direct text, and crisp images of familiar objects in a childs world set against ample white space. Among her best-known works are a series of books about vehicles including Boats (Dutton, 1982), Fire Engines (Dutton, 1986), and Things That Go (Dutton, 1986) and titles about science and the natural world, including Our Earth (Harcourt, 1998). She wrote picture book biographies of such figures as Sojourner Truth (Only Passing Through: The Story of Sojourner Truth, Knopf, 2000) and retold and illustrated folktales and myths from around the world. Rockwell illustrated books by other authors as well. Following her husbands death in 1988, Rockwell began a 30-year collaboration with her daughter Lizzy Rockwell. Among their joint works are Career Day (HarperCollins, 2000) and Zoo Day (Aladdin, 2017). In total, Rockwell created nearly 200 books for children over the span of her career. Christy Ottaviano, publisher of her eponymous imprint at Henry Holt Books for Young Readers, worked with Rockwell on four books, including Here Comes the Night (2006) and My Preschool (2008). She offered these words to Rockwells family, describing her as one of a kindsuch a visionary in her ability to reach young children through her thoughtful, clever, and wide-reaching books. She had such a keen understanding of the picture book form and how it could open up a childs world. Additionally, Ottaviano paid tribute to her author-illustrator on her imprints Facebook page: I learned a lot from Anne about creating books for very young children during the time I was her editor and publisher and am grateful for that experience. There are few childrens book creators who have had careers that span five decadesthis is testament to the lasting power of Annes books as well as her relevance in an industry that can often be fickle. She will be sorely missed, but she has left a trunk full of thought-provoking books for new generations of young minds to discover and read over and over and over. Susan Hirschman, the retired founder and former publisher of Greenwillow Books, was editor-in-chief at Macmillan Childrens Books when several of Rockwells early titles were published there. Hirschman shared this reflection: Anne Rockwell knew what she wanted. And that was to write and illustrate what she considered important for young children. She and Harlow were not interested in who was doing what at the time, or what was considered in. She had three children, she had been a child, she was smartand she knew. I remember the fuss at Macmillan when My Nursery School was in the works. Surely, it was felt by people in management, no one read in nursery school. There would be no market for such a book. Ha! And her French and Spanish songbooksglorious books but like no others at the time. And her Games book [Games and How to Play Them, Crowell, 1973]. And all this is to say nothing of the many easy readers that were fresh and fun and wonderfully illustrated with Annes unique art. She was not easy to work with, but it was worth it. And the books are the proof. Details for a memorial service will be announced; Rockwells family has suggested that any memorial contributions may be made to Reading Is Fundamental. Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing and the Solomon R. Guggenheim Museum in New York City are teaming up to host a new event series that gives young readers and their families the chance to learn about the bookmaking process from a number of contemporary picture book illustrators. As part of the Childrens Book Illustrator Series, featured artists will read from their latest work and deliver a presentation providing insight into their creative process. Afterwards, attendees will have the opportunity to get creative in the Guggenheims art workshop, in the Sackler Center for Arts Education. The series kicks off on April 22 with a reading and workshop led by Caldecott Honor artist Bryan Collier, illustrator of Between the Lines by Sandra Neil Wallace, which tells the story of NFL-star-turned-artist Ernie Barnes. The 2018 lineup for the Childrens Book Illustrator Series also includes award-winning illustrator, author, and animator Evan Turk, who will discuss his new picture book, Heartbeat, following the life journey of a baby whale; Tomie dePaola, beloved creator of the Strega Nona series, whose book Quiet features a lesson in mindfulness; and artist Leah Tinari, who will present her nonfiction picture book Limitless, a collection of portraits celebrating the achievements of 24 American women. Lauren Hoffman, v-p and director of marketing and publicity at Simon & Schuster Childrens Publishing, told PW about the origin of the series. The initial spark came in November 2017, she said, when childrens musician Laurie Berkner was invited to give a performance in honor of her lullaby-based picture book, Pillowland, at the Guggenheims Peter B. Lewis Theater. Hoffman said, [After the show] attendees were invited to construct colorful shadow boxes based on illustrator Camille Garoches cut-paper technique, in the Guggenheims smaller workshop rooms. Watching the children connect with the book in such a creative, hands-on way was remarkable. We wanted to be able to share that amazing experience with families in N.Y.C. year-round, and invite other talented author-illustrators to participate. On developing the roster of artists for the 2018 series, she said, After the Berkner event, we met with the Guggenheims School, Youth, & Family Program to discuss additional opportunities. We reviewed a number of upcoming picture books, and together we selected [the lineup]. Some titles complement existing installations or upcoming exhibits, and the team was very interested in the illustrators process and art. Noting that this is the first series of its kind for S&S Childrens, Hoffman said, This partnership is a refreshing update to the standard storytime event model, in that attendees learn about award-winning illustrators art processes, and then create their own book-inspired projectsall while inside the historic landmark museum. A young attendee of an illustrator event may very well be tomorrows next Caldecott-winning artist! As far as the potential for extending the program, Hoffman said, Both S&S Childrens and the Guggenheim are open to continuing the series beyond 2018. Talking Pictures Many of the participating illustrators said they especially look forward to sharing their work with young readers in the museum setting. Evan Turk, whose event will take place at the Guggenheim on May 20, said, Childrens books are often some of the first experiences that children have with art, and for some kids, it might be (although hopefully not) the last time they really engage with a piece of art, especially as kids age out of picture books younger and younger. I love the idea that such a prominent museum as the Guggenheim is helping to expand kids visual literacy through such a perfect medium: the picture book. In addition to reading Heartbeat during his event, Turk said, Ill be talking with kids and their families about what kinds of thinking and decision-making go into illustrating a book, and how the symbols, colors, compositions, and style can all help tell a story if we pay close attention. Ill be bringing in some of the original pastels and collages from the book, as well as sketches and thumbnail drawings to help explain my process. Participants will then be invited to create their own artwork. Turk added, I think that the series is the perfect way to speak with kids about the idea of learning to read artwork. I love that [the presentation] is combined with the art-making process as well, so its really the full experience. Tomie dePaola will appear at the Guggenheims Peter B. Lewis Theater on October 21. The author-illustrator described his upcoming event as an interview-style discussion about Quiet, and my career. He is particularly excited about the programs interactive format, When I work in my studio in New Hampshire, Im alone. So, Im always pleased when theres an opportunity to talk with children and families. Referring to his latest project, he said, This new book, Quiet, will give me a chance to encourage [readers] to daydream and doodletwo things that have gotten lost in our busy device-driven society. Leah Tinari, whose event will be held on December 16, explained that the museum itself resonates with her latest work. My book Limitless is a celebration of remarkable women, and I have always thought of Peggy Guggenheim as a remarkable woman. Im grateful to her and her family for giving New York City the gift of this museum and art collection. I am thrilled to be able to share my work with families so intimately. Tinari reflected on the impact of her childhood trip to the museum: I remember visiting the museum with my family as a girl, she said. I was so impressed by the museums design. I mean, whats not to love as a young kiddo: a giant ramp as far as the eye could see, that starts on the ground floor and continues round and round all the way to the ceiling. I was totally psyched by the ramp, though I also remember feeling as though I was floating through the museum up and around, being able to take in all the artwork uninterrupted. My first trip to the Guggenheim really did feel magical. Tickets for each of the four programs include museum admission, workshop materials, and one copy of the featured book, to be signed by the author. The events are geared toward children ages four and up. For more information on the series, click here. Back in January, the Pennsylvania congressman Charlie Dentwho co-chairs the Tuesday Group, a caucus of about fifty moderate Republican House membersoffered up a bleak analysis of his partys prospects, in an interview with CNNs Don Lemon. I believe that 2018 will be a year that will be analogous to 1994, 2006, and 2010, Dent said, referring to previous wave election years. My advice to my colleagues is, Youd better prepare for the worst and hope for the best. Democrats scouring their ranks for a 2020 presidential candidate should put Andrew Cuomo high on their list. The New York governor is already on the case, giving speeches tailored for the Iowa caucuses. Assuming Donald Trump wins the Republican nomination for a second term, Cuomo would be an especially strong combatant. Five reasons: 1) Cuomo is a New Yorker. He knows Trump's New York act. He knows that almost anything could come out of Trump's mouth and can see a sucker punch a mile away. During Cuomo's recent State of the State address, a picture of an empty Oval Office flashed on a screen. (A subtle touch.) 2) Like Trump, Cuomo promotes his family roots in the working borough of Queens. When running for New York attorney general in 2010, Cuomo made clear that Queens formed him. "That's where we grew up," he said. "I lived in Queens. I went to school in Queens. I worked in Queens." Trump's tough-guy outer-borough accent gave him a ring of authenticity among many working-class Americans across the country. Cuomo knows the patter. He says things like "Anxiety is at a fever pitch. You feel it up around your neck." 3) Cuomo is a centrist skilled at juggling various constituencies. Sure, he's friendly with Wall Street. Wouldn't you be if financial services provided your state's largest payroll? His father, the late Gov. Mario Cuomo, was a master at negotiating the culture war. He famously announced his personal opposition to abortion while not restricting it. (Activists back then saw no reason to punish the elder Cuomo for his views, as long as he didn't act on them.) 4) Andrew Cuomo is unafraid of the left flank. His quest for another term as governor has encountered a speed bump in the form of actress Cynthia Nixon. Nixon has zero experience in government but uses her celebrity to draw attention to her hot lefty rhetoric. This was enough to win her the endorsement of the Working Families Party. The WFP is a small party but big enough to act as spoiler in a close general election. Look at what happened next. Two powerful unions, comprising service employees and communications workers, left the WFP in protest of the Nixon endorsement. Several labor leaders then accused the WFP of replacing trade union workers with "lifestyle progressives." Ouch. If unions or anyone gives money to WFP-affiliated groups, Cuomo said, "they can lose my number." Cuomo is not playing nice. That's the kind of person you'd want running against Trump. 5) Barbs from the left notwithstanding, Cuomo has a solid progressive record. He raised the minimum wage, launched a paid family leave program and secured significant new funding for education. He is pushing to divest the state's enormous pension funds of fossil fuel investments and has an ambitious plan to switch the state to green energy. It's not all tailwinds, though. A former top aide earned three convictions for corruption. Let it be said, however, that a pay-to-play probe of that sort would be a slow day for Trump. Cuomo would be less likely than Hillary Clinton to habitually go on the defensive after attacks. He is not the deer in the headlights. He's the headlights. The New York tabloids are rollicking over the current spectacle of Trump's (and Sean Hannity's) lawyer and a porn star filing into the same courtroom, news photographers toppling the fences. Imagine the delirium should a Queens-vs.-Queens presidential slugfest come to pass. On a more serious note, the nation desperately needs a president who is not Donald Trump. Cuomo could handle him in the ring, and that should make him a leading contender. COPYRIGHT 2018 CREATORS.COM Paul Ryan headlined three fundraisers for Republican congressional candidates in Washington Wednesday, a demonstration of strength a week after his surprise retirement announcement set off concerns about whether the speaker could continue his pace as the House GOPs top fundraiser. Ryan headlined an event for Debbie Lesko, a state senator running in an Arizona special election next week, that was expected to bring in around $70,000 for her campaign, according to sources familiar with the event. Early voting is looking good, but theyre throwing all this money at her, theyre throwing everything at her, Ryan said in his brief remarks, according to audio obtained by RealClearPolitics. Its Tuesday, so she needs to get money in and money out, money in and money out. National Republicans have spent hundreds of thousands of dollars in the race, hoping to prevent another special election defeat after losing a similar race in Pennsylvania last month. Ryan also headlined fundraisers for Reps. Steve Chabot of Ohio and French Hill of Arkansas, two incumbents being targeted by Democrats this fall. The events were expected to bring in around $80,000 combined, according to a source familiar with the planning who requested anonymity to discuss private events. Chabot and Hill were each outraised by a Democratic opponent in the first three months of 2018 and are likely to face competitive re-elections. When Ryan announced his retirement last week, some Republicans worried that his fundraising efforts would slow down as a lame-duck speaker, or speculated that donors would consider the House majority lost and would shift their money toward protecting the Senate. The events Wednesday were intended to show the Wisconsin Republican remains an asset to the GOP majority. Hill, in an interview with RCP, called Ryan a prodigious fundraiser and said he expected the speaker to continue his pace through the fall. He has an outstanding network around the country connected with his leadership both as speaker and serving as our partys nominee as vice president, Hill said. In my view, most people want not only for Paul Ryan to be a successful speaker through the end of his term but they also want our Republican majority to be successful. I think hell keep the pace up. Hill had a strong fundraising quarter to start the year, but Clarke Tucker, a Democratic state lawmaker who recently entered the race, outpaced him by pulling in more than half a million dollars. Democrats added Tucker to their Red to Blue program for top challengers, and the Cook Political Report moved the race from Likely Republican to Leans Republican, one step above a tossup. Hill said he wasnt concerned, pointing out that Tucker faces a primary and saying much of the Democratic money comes from outside the district. Its indicative of energy for Democratic candidates but its not indicative of the outcome, Hill said. Chabot, for his part, raised only about a quarter the amount of his Democratic opponent, Aftab Pureval, in a district Donald Trump won by less than seven percentage points. In a recent blog post on his campaign website, Chabot said he is gearing up for a tough fight but is confident in his race. The fundraisers came a day after Ryan assured the full GOP conference that his efforts wouldnt diminish following his retirement announcement. Ryan has transferred $40 million to Republicans campaign committee this cycle, a record for a speaker, and has held 70 events for individual members, hauling in nearly $6 million directly to their campaigns. Rep. Mike Coffman, a vulnerable GOP member in a suburban Colorado district, said upon exiting the meeting that Ryan made a compelling case for himself. He was just on a conference call with a network of donors across the country, assuring them of his commitment, Coffman said. He said he felt that there was absolutely a feeling of confidence among them. Last week, Ryan brushed off questions of whether he should leave the speakership early, or whether his fundraising numbers would dip in his final months on the job. There is nobody whos come close to being able to raise the kinds of funds I have and still can raise for this majority, Ryan said. It makes no sense to take the biggest fundraiser off the field. And I think most of our members see it that way as well. On July 1, the Mexican voters will choose a new president. Coverage in Mexico describes this election as a historic occasion with more offices on the ballot than ever before. To a casual American observer, however, the election sounds like it is being shaped by Mexican antipathy for Donald Trump. Virtually every story in the U.S. media about Mexico references some outrageous demand from President Trump and an equally over-the-top response from a Mexican political figure. These feuds have little bearing on Mexican politics surrounding the upcoming election. In reality, Trumps real impact will be minuscule, because this contest is shaped by its own powerful dynamic completely outside the influence of our commander-in-chief. Mexico, the third most populous country in the Western Hemisphere and eighth largest democracy in the world, is going through a rough transition. As in the United States, economic sentiments are generally trending in a positive direction, with climbing consumer confidence and 2 million new jobs created since 2014. Yet again like the U.S. the Mexican public is widely discontent. The country is plagued with vast inequality, unprecedented violence, and longstanding government corruption. In some respects, the deep-seated national angst echoes the trends that brought Trump to power, drove the U.K. to Brexit, and resulted in a French election between neophyte Emmanuel Macron and nationalist Marine Le Pen. Mexico is dealing with its own version of the populist wave and voters are looking for anti-establishment figures to bring the country back. The upcoming election will be an open contest because the current president of Mexico, Enrique Pena Nieto, is term-limited. His low approval rating in the mid-teens indicates that his designated successor in the PRI (Institutional Revolution Party), Jose Antonio Meade Kuribrena, is very unlikely to succeed him. Pena Nietos unpopularity isnt purely personal, either. Its symbolic of the Mexican peoples disillusionment with the countrys two major political parties, PRI and the principal opposition party, PAN (National Action Party). This disenchantment leaves a wide opening for an alternative candidate to emerge. The Pena Nieto administrations inability to deal with three major issues concerning a majority of Mexican citizens drives the debate in Mexico today. Recent Ipsos polling illustrates these trends. We find that 65 percent of Mexicans say crime and violence are one of the greatest worries facing their country. This is followed by 53 percent who cite corruption and 40 percent who call out poverty and inequality as one of their top concerns. These statistics emerge from real-life experiences: The homicide total hit over 29,000 last year as cartel violence spreads, and bribes and fraud rarely get exposed, much less prosecuted. As a consequence of the system breaking down, our recent surveys find that very few Mexicans have faith in either the leading political system (10 percent), the government (23 percent), big companies (36 percent), or the media (32 percent). An astounding 89 percent of Mexicans believe their country is headed in the wrong direction. They express an appetite for a strong man to take the country back from the corrupt elites (81 percent agree). The prevailing sentiment is that the existing system cannot deal with the pernicious problems the Mexican people face. They need someone from outside the system to do what is necessary to bring the country back from the brink. We saw similar sentiments in the United States in the run-up to the 2016 election. Hence, the firebrand Andres Manuel Lopez Obrador (known as AMLO) currently leads in election polling. On paper, Lopez Obrador a left-wing career politician and former mayor of Mexico City does not outwardly resemble Donald Trump. However, like Trump, AMLO (pictured) has broad name recognition among the public, is defiantly anti-establishment, and benefits from the same distrust of existing institutions that Trump was able to harness in the U.S. Reprising the 2016 campaign to the north, Lopez Obrador regularly channels the anger and frustration of the Mexican masses at the elites, whom they see as uncaring and out of touch. It should come as no surprise that the Mexican people seek a remedy. And with the traditional political parties discredited by their inability to end cartel violence, entrenched corruption, or jump-start the economy, people are turning to non-traditional leaders. Trump may not have much impact on who wins the Mexican election, but the anti-establishment forces that created him are just as real south of the border and are too powerful to be contained by any line on a map. Chris Jackson is vice president and strategic communications and research lead at Ipsos Public Affairs. On April 18, 1978, sixty-eight U. S. Senators risked political suicide by voting for final approval of the highly controversial Panama Canal treaties. Four decades later and at a time of increased stridency in the conduct of American foreign policy, the ramifications of this relinquishment of U.S. control over the vital waterway connecting the Atlantic and Pacific Oceans can be assessed with the advantage of greater hindsight. President Lyndon Johnson began negotiations with Panama to turn over the Canal to the host country. His successors Richard Nixon and Gerald Ford would continue the negotiations. The three presidents feared that the world regarded U.S. ownership as a form of anachronistic colonialism, and that Americas continued hold over the Canal was undermining relations within the Western Hemisphere. They also recognized that the commercial and strategic value of the traffic through the Canal had declined over the years and that violent protests in Panama might require U.S. military intervention. These early efforts failed to produce a signed treaty. U.S. insistence on total access to the Canal clashed with rising Panamanian nationalism. The capture of Saigon by the North Vietnamese army in April of 1975 further complicated matters by stoking fears that withdrawal from Panama might be part of a global loss of American influence. Campaigning for the 1976 Republican nomination for president, Ronald Reagan lambasted the Ford administration for negotiating over the Canal, calling it an example of placating potential adversaries and reluctance to assert our national interests in international relations. On the stump, he often repeated his mantra: We bought [the Canal]. We paid for it. Its ours, and we arent going to turn it over to some tinhorn dictator. He fell just short of upsetting Ford for the party nod, but his attacks on the negotiations had invigorated his late-surging campaign. After defeating Ford in the general election, Jimmy Carter decided to make a treaty with Panama an early priority of his presidency. Carter was well aware of the challenges of convincing the American public that such action was warranted. As an added complication, more than enough senators than were needed to block approval had already announced that they would oppose giving up the Canal. The former Georgia governor negotiated a treaty, signed in September of 1977, that turned over control of the Canal to Panama, with the provision that the transition would not be completed until the end of the century. A second treaty provided for the neutrality of Canal operations under Panamanian management and unfettered access for Americans ships. With constituent mail and public opinion polls revealing widespread opposition to the treaties, lining up the two-thirds of senators needed for approval proved a formidable task. After intense lobbying and last-minute horse trading, Carter secured passage with just one vote to spare. The next day, he wrote each supporter to praise them for their statesmanship and political courage on an important issue fraught with so much potential political sacrifice. For Senate Minority Leader Howard Baker, Republican of Tennessee, the decision posed a major threat to his ambitions for higher office, with one staffer warning that it lends a chilling quality to the Would you rather be right than President cliche. Baker not only voted for the treaties but helped line up some of the fifteen other GOP votes critical to their passage. On the Democratic side, Frank Church of Idaho helped lead the effort to approve the treaties, arguing that the United States needed to adapt to current realities rather than cling nostalgically to the days of global empires. Like other senators with rural constituents, he drew major flak from voters in his home state. As former New York Times reporter Adam Clymer chronicled in his book Drawing the Line at the Big Ditch, there was a symbiotic relationship between public angst at the turning over of a major symbol of American power and the rise of new organizations on the right stirring up opposition to senators supportive of the treaties while building up their mailing lists for battles on other hot-button issues. One group -- the National Conservative Political Action Committee founded in 1975 by Charles Back, Roger Stone, and Terry Dolan -- used targeted ad campaigns around the country to blame treaty supporters for giving away the Canal. Forty-five of the senators who supported the Canal treaties were up for re-election in 1978 and 1980. Most did not make it back. Eight of them retired. Then, in a stunning rejection of incumbents, 20 of the 37 who did run for re-election lost their seats. Clymer shows that in many of these races, the Canal vote was a fringe factor, if any factor at all. But in other states, it was a major wedge issue and helped bring down some of the titans of the Senate (including Church). Baker held his senate seat in 1978 but entered the 1980 presidential contest in weakened condition and made an early exit. Looking back in a 2010 forum with Baker at the Carter Presidential Library, Carter called Senate action on the Panama Canal, the most courageous vote in the history of the U.S. Congress. Over the years, the specter of an America in decline because of the loss of Canal has failed to materialize. The transition to Panamanian control of the Canal ran smoothly and, at the very least, negated the need for American troops to protect it. It also enhanced U.S. stature in the Western Hemisphere. Communists and other anti-American forces lost one of their most effective arguments and, for a good time, democratic institutions were on the rise. It would have been hard to imagine in 1978 how much the commercial operations of the Canal would improve under Panamanian management. Removal of the major source of controversy created a more stable environment for long-term investments to upgrade infrastructure. New financing spurred construction of wider locks, completed in 2016, that allowed passage of larger ships with bigger cargoes. American businesses are among the beneficiaries of the increased efficiency in transportation. The peaceful resolution of a dispute that could have led to armed conflict in Panama, and the later commercial advantages of transferring ownership of the Canal, could not have been achieved without several key ingredients. Carter and Panamanian leader Omar Torrijos had to defend the vital interests of their countries, while at the same time avoiding extreme nationalistic rhetoric that might inflame the other side. It was a delicate dance but necessary to achieve benefits for each side. In the Senate, many members had to look beyond the short-term electoral calendar to the long-term impacts on national security and the economy of a deal that would not be consummated until 1999. Skilled negotiations and political courage, as it turned out, produced a diplomatic achievement that has met the test of time. Jay Hakes is a historian who specializes in energy policy and the American presidency. From 2010 to 2013, he served as director of the Jimmy Carter Presidential Library in Atlanta. The views expressed are the author's own. This past weekend, I attended a re-enactment of the Battle of Lexington, the battle that started the American Revolutionary War, in Massachusetts. The pleasure of being with children and grandchildren was my primary motive. But as I watched the superb re-enactment, an obvious question came to mind: Why did the Americans defeat the British, not just at Lexington but in the war itself? The British forces were better armed and better trained, and there were potentially far more of them. On a purely military basis, the British should have won, yet they didnt. A phrase came to mind: asymmetry of interests. The concept of asymmetrical warfare has become commonplace in recent years. It refers to warfare in which different types of technology and tactics confront each other, like improvised explosive devices against armored brigades. Sometimes, the force with what appears to be inferior technology can compel the force with superior technology to withdraw. This is what we see in the American Revolution. We need to consider why. For the Homeland About 56,000 British troops were deployed at the height of the Revolutionary War, supplemented by 30,000 Hessian mercenaries in a kind of coalition. The Americans deployed about 80,000 regular and militia forces. The British forces were far better trained and, most important, had more and better artillery. The Hessians were professional soldiers. The Americans had a core of trained soldiers, but the militia troops were a mixed bag. During the war, 25,000 American troops died in battle or from disease compared to 24,000 British. The British losses were a fraction of the global British force, but for the Americans, this was 5 percent of the free white male population, according to the website Foxtrot Alpha. The British forces were united. The American population was divided. A little less than half of all Americans were committed to the revolution. A fifth were loyal to the British. Thus, both sides were fighting on a terrain in which substantial parts of the population opposed them. The British drew their supplies from Britain, while the Americans had to draw their logistics from the population with some help from the French. When you look at the disparities, the losses and the disunity, the Americans should have lost. It is true that the final battle involved the French fleet, but the Americans stayed intact as a fighting force for eight years to reach that point. So even leaving the French out, the Americans were not defeated. And to keep fighting, the Americans had to absorb tremendous casualties without a decisive break in cohesion and morale. They were able to do it because of the asymmetry of interests. The Americans were fighting for their homeland. Defeat would subordinate the United States to British power for a long time. They had no interests that could compete with the interest to defeat the British. The British, on the other hand, were simultaneously engaged in a struggle with France for domination of Europe and control of the oceans, a contest that would lead to global empire. For the British, the American Revolution was not a matter of indifference, but neither was its outcome decisive in determining Britains place in the world. The British were prepared to deploy a substantial force in North America, but having done that, they went on with their nascent industrial revolution and their global concerns. The amount of time and casualties they could rationally devote to North America had to be seen in the context of broader interests. They could absorb casualties, but the war could not be an absolute imperative. Absolute War World War II is on the other end of the spectrum, a rare war in which all major powers had absolutes at stake. Britain, Germany, Japan, the Soviet Union and the United States all faced, or could face, existential consequences from the war. Their interests were symmetrical. It was therefore a war in which no effort was spared by anyone to avoid defeat and attain victory. In a sense, the war, once commenced, ceased to be political. It became a purely military conflict in which anything less than total military and industrial commitment would be irrational. There was precious little political maneuvering once the war got fully underway in 1941. For many Americans, the WWII model, which I will call absolute war, ought to be the model for fighting all wars. Instead, none of the U.S. wars since WWII have been absolute. As a result, since that time the U.S. has been unable to decisively defeat enemies that are militarily inferior. Korea resulted in stalemate. Vietnam resulted in stalemate, withdrawal and the defeat of Americas Vietnamese allies. The wars against jihadists have not resulted in a decisive, positive outcome for the United States. The only conflict since WWII in which the U.S. achieved its strategic goal was Desert Storm, where the Iraqi army was defeated in Kuwait. Many blame strategy or insufficient public support or a host of other reasons for this. There might be truth to all these reasons, but I think the fundamental reason was an asymmetry of interest between opposing forces. Consider Vietnam. Vietnam was on the periphery of American strategic interest. The U.S. was less concerned with Vietnam than with the consequences in the region and elsewhere if North Vietnam were to unite the country under communism. Those consequences were hypothetical even if they occurred, they might not undermine U.S. interests substantially. On the other side, the North Vietnamese were fighting for fundamental national imperatives, chief among them the unification of Vietnam under the ideological and political control of Hanoi. From this, they might control all of Indochina and emerge as a major regional power able to counterbalance China. In other words, the outcome of the wars in Vietnam French and American went to the heart of the North Vietnamese national interest. The wars from the French and American points of view were not insignificant but were still on the margins of national imperatives. The unification of Vietnam under a communist regime was essential to North Vietnam. Blocking North Vietnams ambitions was of interest to the United States, but not an absolute imperative. It was part of a mosaic of interests. The British were not prepared to devote all the resources they had to fighting American rebels. Doing so would have been irrational. Even defeat at the hands of the heavily committed Americans was more palatable than throwing their fleet into battle with the French at that time and place. For the British, there was nothing absolute in North America. It was a political war, not an absolute one. The same has been true of the United States in Korea, Vietnam, Kuwait, Afghanistan and Iraq. Thus, only one of these wars was won, while over time, the imperative that led to war dissipated. When Great Powers Lose In a democratic society, sacrificing lives without an absolute commitment to victory is unsavory. All of the wars since World War II have left a bad taste in the mouths of Americans. Sacrificing lives for tactical advantage, rather than for the direct defense of the homeland, is unpalatable. Sacrificing them for tactical advantage that is abandoned over time is worse. Absolute war is moral; political war designed to bring temporary advantage has the air of immorality. In watching the re-enactment of Lexington, I could imagine British planners thinking, We cant abandon North America, but we cant ignore the French, and the French are more important. They must have spent many hours being briefed on the French and far less on the Americans. In due course, since the Americans were prepared to die far out of proportion to the interests of the British, their notional helicopters lifted off their notional embassies and left with their global power surging in spite of defeat. Great powers have multiple interests, and not all interests are the same. That means a global power is prepared to initiate and withdraw from wars without victory, for tactical and political advantage. Over time, paying the cost of the war becomes irrational. Great powers can lose wars in this sense and still see their power surge. Fighting in a war in which your countrys interest is not absolute, and therefore the lives of soldiers are not absolute, is difficult for a democracy to do. In most of the world, the great power will encounter an asymmetry of interest. Those who live there care far more about the outcome of the war than the great power does. And so, the great power withdraws from Syria when the price becomes higher than the prize. Given the string of defeats, it is expected that the great power is in decline. Like Britain after its defeat in North America, it is not in decline. It has simply moved on to more pressing interests. Athens, GA (30605) Today Cloudy in the morning, then off and on rain showers during the afternoon hours. High 82F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms during the evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 67F. Winds light and variable. Chance of rain 60%. TORRINGTON When the first dance students were putting on ballet slippers in a new dance school called Nutmeg Ballet in 1969, Torrington Savings Bank was looking ahead to its second century. Now the Nutmeg is approaching its 50th anniversary, and Torrington Savings Bank, a longtime supporter of Nutmeg for five decades, turns 150 this year. We both have a long history in the city of Torrington, which is the main reason that Torrington Savings Bank likes to support the Nutmeg, said Kathleen Katrenya, senior vice president of retail banking and marketing at TSB. Part of our mission statement is to demonstrate commitment to the communities we serve and participate both financially and through donating our time to deserving organizations, and the Nutmeg is definitely one of those, she said. Since 2013, TSB has donated over $20,000 to the Nutmeg to aid in Nutmegs facade and flooring replacement projects as well as The Conservatorys scholarship program. Katrenya is excited about TSBs plans to celebrate their 150th, including: * an Out for Business event on May 30 at their Torringford branch, sponsored by the Northwest Chamber; * celebrations in all branches during the week of June 17, when the actual anniversary occurs, featuring refreshments, raffles for gift cards, fun trivia and more; * increased advertising during June; * developing a brochure highlighting important milestones in the banks history. Torrington Savings Bank is a mutual bank, not owned by outside shareholders. Maintaining our mutuality allows us to serve our customers. We dont have to worry about shareholders, Katrenya said. Were here to support our customers. Were here to support our communities and our customers. In addition to supporting the Nutmeg, TSB was a major donor to the Torrington Library, contributing $150,000 in March 2018 for the Torrington Savings Bank Community Room at the newly renovated library. As Torrington Savings Bank celebrates our 150th year, we are very proud to offer our continued support to The Nutmeg Conservatory, Katrenya said. The Nutmeg has an outstanding reputation and near 50-year history in Torrington. As one of the leading professional ballet training programs in the country, Nutmeg has much to be proud of. Sharon E. Dante, founding director of Nutmeg Ballet, said, Torrington Savings Bank has proven to be a community-minded institution and a great friend to the Nutmeg Ballet over the years. Thanks to them and other generous donors, our young students now enjoy dancing on newly installed, safe flooring in our Nutmeg Ballet Studios and the entire community enjoys our continuously changing outside lighting on the outside of The Nutmeg Tower in downtown Torrington. For more information about Torrington Savings Banks services and community involvement, go to https://www.torringtonsavings.com/. NEW CANAAN Almost two months to the day after a gunman killed 17 people at a high school in Parkland, Fla., a handful of Republican candidates for Connecticut Governor finally addressed the topic of gun control. Speaking at the last of five GOP debates, nine gubernatorial candidates took to the stage in New Canaan in front of a few hundred people to answer questions put to them by an educator and a member of Hearst Connecticut Media that ranged from gun control to fiscal responsibility. And not a single candidate said they would favor arming teachers. Ninth-term Danbury Mayor Mark Boughton, a former member of Mayors Against Illegal Guns, called civilian shootings a mental health problem. We have to come to the fundamental understanding that the reason people commit violence is not because of the instrument, its because of whats inside of them, Boughton said. He added, We have to protect the Constitutional right to own a gun, we have to break down barriers amongst our caregivers so that theres no silo-ing of information. State Rep. Prasad Srinivasan, a Glastonbury physician who voted in favor of a package of bills that gave Connecticut some of the strongest gun laws in the nation shortly after the Sandy Hook Elementary School shooting, said he would press for full implementation of those bills. We need to make sure our schools are safe, Srinivasan said. In the bills that were passed, it asked for every school to turn in a safety plan and lockdown protocol. Less than 50 percent have done that. And funding for mental health has not been there at all. Its just been entirely stripped. Mike Handler, CFO for the city of Stamford and an EMT in New Canaan where he lives, said he would put a school resource officer in every school that wanted one. He did not address the Second Amendment argument. We have got a fiscal crisis weve got to deal with, Handler said. But money cannot be the limiting factor to having a school resource officer in every school. There is nothing more important than protecting our children. Fairfield Lawyer Peter Lumaj wants an armed guard in every school in the state. The president is protected by guns, the vice president is protected with guns, our police officers protect us with guns, even jewelry stores are protected by guns, Lumaj said. Yet the most precious things we have are not protected by guns, our children. Former U.S. Comptroller Dave Walker of Bridgeport spoke of background checks, bump stocks and other popular gun control measures outside of Second Amendment rights. I would protect the rights of law abiding and mentally healthy people to bear arms, Walker said. We clearly have a problem with background checks, we have a problem with mental health care ... we also have problems with devices that can change a legal weapon into an illegal weapon. David Stemerman, a hedge-fund millionaire from Greenwich, also called for better mental health care funding. We need better funding for mental health, Stemerman said. So many of those pulling the trigger are in and out of our mental health system. We need to train police. ...We should provide security to our schools. Former Trumbull First Selectman Tim Herbst declined to answer the question, instead using his time to address how he would solve Connecticuts fiscal crisis. How do we come up with a budget that is truly balanced? Its really quite simple, Herbst said. The next governor in the first 100 days must attack the 800-pound gorilla in the room. Pensions, OPEB liabilities and retiree health care ... If Im elected governor, within the first 45 days of my term, I will send a budget repair bill. On the same tack, Shelton Mayor Mark Lauretti said he would spend time developing a better working relationship with the state legislature. The problem that Connecticut faces from a financial standpoint has to be attacked from two ends, he said. Its the spending problem that you have to turn around, and we have to create more revenue. Until you stabilize spending and reduce some of the unfunded mandates that plague municipalities and are very costly to municipalities, its going to be very tough to do that. Westport businessman Steve Obsitnik had little to offer in terms of short-term solutions for dealing with the state budget in the current legislative session, and instead looked at the long term. Right now we have a leader who is a chief tax collector, a chief apologizer of a culture that we are in, Obsitnik said. I will be the chief economic development officer of the state of Connecticut. Other candidates or those interested in the position spent the debates on the sidelines. New Britain Mayor Erin Stewart, who officially declared her candidacy last month but didnt raise enough money to net an invitation to any of the five debates, attended a watch party in Manchester instead of the live event. State Sen. Toni Boucher announced earlier in the day she was dropping her bid for governor, instead opting to run for another term in the Senate. Bob Stefanowski, a former chief financial officer of UBS Investment Bank, declined the invitation to participate in the debate. He plans to skip the convention and will petition his way onto the August primary ballot, he said. Questions were posed by Gary Rose, chair in the Department of Government, Politics and Global Studies at Sacred Heart University, and Ken Dixon, political editor for Hearst Connecticut Media. The Republicans will hold their nominating convention May 11-12 at the Foxwoods Casino. kkrasselt@hearstmediact.com; 203-842-2563; @kaitlynkrasselt The state Board of Examiners for Nursing has revoked the RN license of Lori Riley of Sharon, saying she has not complied with the terms of a 2017 probation. Her license was placed on probation for two years because, state records show, she took a painkiller meant for a patient and replaced it with Tylenol while working for All About You Homecare in Torrington. The nursing board also found that in 2014, Riley abused Percocet, Oxycodone and Vicodin, records show. The board also has suspended the license of Jeannette Czaja, a licensed practical nurse from the Higganum section of Haddam, saying she posed a danger to the public. Czaja has been fired from three nursing homes, Touchpoints at Manchester, The Hearth at Tuxis Pond in Madison and Wadsworth Glen Health Care Center in Middletown, due to medication errors or the suspected theft of controlled substances, DPH records show. In 2016, she failed to document the administration of medication to patients at Wadsworth Glen, the statement of charges against her said. In 2017, while working at The Hearth, she failed to properly document the waste of a patients methadone, the statement said. Later in 2017, at Touchpoints, she failed to appropriately document medication and provided a Tylenol to a patient instead of Percocet. The board also revoked the RN license of Lori Riley of Sharon, saying she has not complied with the terms of a 2017 probation. Her license was placed on probation for two years because, state records show, she took a painkiller meant for a patient and replaced it with Tylenol while working for All About You Homecare in Torrington. The nursing board also found that in 2014, Riley abused Percocet, Oxycodone and Vicodin, records show. Also, a former head nurse at York Correctional Institution has been reprimanded by the state Board of Examiners for Nursing for failing to properly care for an inmate who suffered a serious brain injury while in the prison medical unit in 2014. In the Niantic prison case, the board Wednesday also placed the registered nurse license of Mary Howe of Griswold on probation for three years and barred her from working in a clinical care setting for the first two years of the probation, a consent order she signed with the board said. Howe was also ordered to take courses in ethics, delegation of nursing duties, professional nursing standards, documentation and "empathy and compassion in nursing," the order said. In signing the order, Howe did not contest the allegations against her but admitted no wrongdoing. In May 2017, a UConn Health spokesman said Howe no longer worked for the UConn Health unit that provided medical care in the prison. In 2014, the inmate complained of chest pain, weakness and difficulty walking. She struggled to reach the medical unit without timely nursing assistance and fell out of a wheelchair one or more times, striking her head, the consent order said. The order said that Howe failed to intervene when the inmate complained of chest pain and a head injury, failed to initiate an emergency code, failed to ensure the patients safety and failed to monitor the patients opioid withdrawal symptoms. News reports have identified the former inmate as Amy Rolon, then 36, who was being held before trial on misdemeanor charges of sixth-degree larceny and failure to appear in court. She suffered a traumatic brain injury at York and filed a $7.5 million medical-neglect claim against the state Department of Correction in 2016, the Hartford Courant reported. The charges were later dismissed and she has been treated in a long-term care facility, the Courant reported. A conservator for Rolon settled the case for $780,000 in 2017, Hartford Superior Court records show. The board also disciplined five more nurses Wednesday, including suspending for a year the RN license of an East Hartford nurse who was convicted of striking two pedestrians in Hartford and leaving the scene of the accident while driving drunk in 2015. The board also placed the license of the RN, Tonya Verdejo, on probation for four years, a consent order she signed said. In 2016, Verdejo was sentenced to two years in prison, the Hartford Courant reported. She pleaded guilty to second-degree assault with a motor vehicle and evading responsibility, the consent order said. One of the women Verdejo struck had a broken leg while the other suffered two broken legs and a traumatic brain injury and required a year of rehabilitation, the Courant reported. While in prison, Verdejo completed a substance abuse program and has had several negative urine tests since her release in November, DPH records show. Wednesday, the board fined an RN from East Windsor $7,500 for inappropriately performing medical services at the spa she owns in West Hartford. The board also imposed the fine on Nilce Conti for inappropriately tattooing clients at the Nelson Salon & Spa from 2014 to 2016, state Department of Public Health (DPH) records show. Conti inappropriately administered injections of Botox and Restylane, a facial filler, and permitted an unlicensed person to administer both types of injections at the spa, a consent order she agreed to said. The board ordered Conti to cease and desist the unlicensed practice of medicine, placed her license on probation for six months and ordered her to take a course in the scope of practice of an RN. Conti chose not to contest the allegations but admitted no wrongdoing in the consent order. The board imposed a four-year probation on Nicole Miller, an LPN from West Hartford, that requires her to undergo random drug and alcohol tests and bars her from having access to narcotics for one year, records show. Miller chose not to contest allegations that in 2016 and 2017, she abused alcohol and/or opiates to excess, a consent order she signed with the board said. This story was reported under a partnership with the Connecticut Health I-Team ( c-hit.org ). Former North Korean leader Kim Jong Il (C) inspects the Namhung Youth Chemical Complex, a large plant manufacturing fertilizers, herbicides, insecticides, and industrial chemicals in the city of Anju in North Korea's South Pyongan province in a file photo. A North Korean chemical plant which had been shuttered for 20 years and renovated for reoperation in 2016 appears to have been shut down again due to international sanctions imposed on the regime of leader Kim Jong Un, sources inside the country and in neighboring China said. The Chongsu chemical plant located in the workers district of Sakchu county in North Hamgyong province sits opposite the city of Dandong in northeastern Chinas Liaoning province across the Yalu River separating North Korea and China. The chemical factory It underwent a major renovation in October 2016 and until recently was known to produce batteries for military use, sources said. The Chongsu chemical plant had been reactivated for less than a year, and its been eight months since any smoke has come out of it, a resident of Dandongs Kuandian county told RFAs Korean Service. If there is no smoke coming out of its smokestack, then its evident that the plant has stopped operating. International sanctions on North Korea may have had a big impact on the deactivation of the chemical plant, said the source who declined to be named. There is strong possibility that the chemical plant was not able to obtain necessary materials because of Chinas sanctions. The United Nations, with backing from North Koreas longtime ally China, unanimously approved sanctions against North Korea in December as punishment for its development and launch of a ballistic missile that Pyongyang said is capable of striking the U.S. mainland. The sanctions place caps on the import of crude oil, and refined oil products, such as diesel and kerosene that are crucial to North Koreas economy. They also impose a ban on the export of a range of products, including food, machinery, electrical equipment, wood, earth, and stones, to other countries. In early January, Chinas Ministry of Commerce began imposing limits on exports of crude oil, refined oil products, steel, and other metals to North Korea, in line with U.N. sanctions. China suspended North Korea coal imports in 2017 after the U.N. adopted a previous sanctions resolution to punish the country for its nuclear weapons program by tightening restrictions on coal exports. Because of Chinas sanctions, chemicals, including sulfuric acid, are not allowed to be sent to North Korea, the source said. So how can the plant produce batteries without an essential material? Authorities let the Chongsu chemical plant fall into neglect in 1996 during the Great Famine during which up to 3 million North Koreans starved to death due to a variety of factors, including the states economic mismanagement, an end to aid and trade concessions from the former Soviet Union after it collapsed, and a series of floods and droughts. When they initiated the major renovation of the chemical plant, they probably did not expect there would be sanctions against them or any power shortages, he said. A North Korean resident of North Hamgyong pointed out that that the chemical factory could not sustain operations after a nearby hydropower plant stopped generating electricity last year when the Supung Dam, its water source, dried up during a drought. In order to operate factories in North Korea, raw materials and electricity must be guaranteed, said the source who declined to be named. Fertilizer production The chemical plant was built in 1943 and produced calcium cyanamide, a chemical fertilizer commercially known as nitrolime, and phosphate fertilizers when Korea was under Japanese colonial rule (1910-1945). In 1966, when North Korea founder and former leader Kim Il Sung was in power, the facility was expanded to produce other chemical fertilizers. The London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies issued a dossier in 2004 listing five major North Korean civilian chemical production facilities that sat on the border with China, including the Chongsu chemical complex. A report issued five years later by International Crisis Group listed a chemical plant in Chongsu as one of four chemical weapons sites on the border with China, though specific names of the facilities were not given. Though North Korea has long denied having a chemical weapons program that produces nerve, blister, blood, and choking agents, the U.S. Defense Department believes the rogue nation likely possesses production capability and a chemical weapons stockpile that could be used with artillery and ballistic missiles, according to an Associated Press report in March. In February, the U.S. determined that North Korean used the chemical warfare agent VX to assassinate Kim Jong Nam, the half-brother of Kim Jong Un, at the Kuala Lumpur international airport in Malaysia in February 2017. In response, the U.S. imposed sanctions on North Korea under the Chemical and Biological Weapons Control and Warfare Elimination Act in addition to existing U.S. comprehensive sanctions targeting unlawful North Korean activities. Later that month, a leaked report by U.N. investigators said that North Korea sent a range of materials used in ballistic missile and chemical weapons programs, including acid-resistant tiles, valves, and thermometers, to Syria between 2012 and 2017, The New York Times reported. The U.S. and other nations have accused the Syrian government of using chemical weapons on civilians in enclaves controlled by rebels, including an apparent toxic gas attack earlier this month that killed dozens of adults and children in the town of Douma near the capital Damascus. Reported by Joonho Kim for RFAs Korean Service. Translated by Leejin Jun. Written in English by Roseanne Gerin. Afghan authorities have returned the bodies of five Pakistani soldiers killed during a weekend clash along a disputed sector of the two countries' border, and also released a sixth soldier captured by the Afghans, Pakistan's Foreign Office says. Islamabad had described the clash as an attack on a Pakistani border post in the Kurram tribal region, saying it was carried out by Afghan forces and tribesmen. Muhammad Faisal, a spokesman for the Foreign Office, said the two sides resolved the issue of the incident through "diplomatic and military channels." Initial reports had said the Pakistani Frontier Corps troops were carrying out "routine surveillance" when they were "fired upon from the Afghanistan side," leaving two dead and five wounded. The Afghan police said the clashes erupted after Pakistani forces crossed into Afghanistan. Separately, three Afghan election workers and two police officers, who were kidnapped in Ghor Province on April 17 by militants, were freed, police said. With reporting by AP 11 A man places a flower onto an upside-down portrait of Prime Minister Serzh Sarkisian in a childrens park in Yerevan. The frame features a black strip of cloth at the corner, traditionally placed over a portrait when someone is dead. BRUSSELS -- The European Parliament has overwhelmingly approved a resolution deploring the harassment of independent media before and after the February 2018 local elections in Belarus. The resolution, passed on April 19 in Brussels, also urges the full rehabilitation of all former political prisoners and complete restoration of their civil and political rights. "The European Parliament urges the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally lift the blockage imposed on the leading independent news website Charter97.org, to abandon the amendments to the Law on the Media, which, if adopted, would threaten freedom of expression, and to end the persecution of independent bloggers for practicing free expression," said the resolution, backed by all major political groups in the European Parliament. EU lawmakers also called for the release of Mikhail Zhamchuzhny and Zmitser Paliyenka, two civil-society activists currently detained for political reasons. The resolution also "regrets the Belarusian authorities' disproportionate reaction to opposition activists' efforts to organize an unauthorized rally on March 25, 2018, to mark the 100th anniversary of Belarus' declaration of independence in 1918, reaction which resulted in dozens of arrests, including of opposition leaders and former presidential candidates Mikalay Statkevich and Uladzimer Nyaklyaeu." The lower house of the Belarusian parliament has approved in its first reading draft amendments to the countrys media law that would tighten control over online news websites and social-media networks. The draft amendments passed in their initial reading in Belaruss House of Representatives on April 19 with 98 lawmakers in favor and two opposed, as European lawmakers deplored the harassment of independent media in Belarus. At least one more reading is needed in Belaruss lower house of parliament before the draft amendments can enter into force. The bills under consideration propose companies providing news online to voluntarily register with the Information Ministry as media outlets. However, individuals would not be allowed to register news websites, and it would be forbidden to use private residences for online media activities. People working for unregistered online news sites would be denied accreditation and therefore would be unable to turn to Belarusian officials for comments. They would also be denied the right to make audio and video recordings in Belarus. Also, unregistered media outlets would not enjoy the right to keep their sources of information secret. The proposed amendments would require news websites to keep data on their servers for at least six months They would also ban anonymous comments on social-media posts and would allow authorities to block social networks without a court ruling. On April 19 in Brussels, the European Parliament overwhelmingly approved a resolution urging the Belarusian authorities to immediately and unconditionally abandon the proposed bills, saying that they would threaten freedom of expression. The resolution also called for the lifting of the blockage imposed on the independent news website Charter97.org, and for an end to the persecution of independent bloggers for practicing free expression. Rights groups and Western governments have accused the government of Belarusian President Alyaksandr Lukashenka, who has maintained power since 1994, of systemically quashing independent media, political opposition, and civil society groups. Hundreds of lawmakers from Germany, France, and Britain have called on their counterparts in the U.S. Congress to support the 2015 nuclear deal between Iran and six world powers, calling it a major diplomatic breakthrough. The initiative came as U.S. President Donald Trump has set a May 12 deadline to either improve or scrap the deal providing Iran with relief from sanctions in return for curbs on its atomic program. "We were able to impose unprecedented scrutiny on the Iranian nuclear program, dismantle most of their nuclear enrichment facilities, and drastically diminish the danger of a nuclear arms race," reads a statement signed by some 500 MPs from the German, British, and French national parliaments and posted online on April 19. Britain, Germany, and France are signatories to the nuclear accord, along with the United States, China, and Russia. Trump accuses Tehran of violating the spirit of the agreement and has called on European powers to "fix" what he says are the "terrible flaws" of the agreement. He wants new restrictions to be imposed on Tehran's nuclear and missile programs. "It is the U.S.'s and Europe's interest to prevent nuclear proliferation in a volatile region and to maintain the transatlantic partnership as a reliable and credible driving force of world politics," the European lawmakers said. They wrote that abandoning the accord would result "in another source of devastating conflict in the Middle East and beyond," would diminish the value of any promises or threats made by our countries, and would damage our credibility as international partners in negotiation, and more generally, to diplomacy as a tool to achieve peace and ensure security." We therefore urge you to stand by the coalition we have formed to keep Irans nuclear threat at bay, they added. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will both travel to Washington next week on separate official visits, in part to convince Trump not to pull the United States out of the nuclear deal with Iran. With reporting by AFP Russian students studying in the United Kingdom have expressed skepticism about a recently unveiled initiative from Moscow aimed at luring them home. "This project might be attractive for those who feel some sort of pressure or discrimination because of their origin and regret that they came abroad to study," said Alena Fedotova, who is studying for a master's degree in communications at Goldsmiths, University of London. "I don't have that problem. In fact, I don't sense any negativity stemming from the fact that I am from Russia." Russia's Rossotrudnichestvo aid agency launched its appeal on April 16 under the tongue-in-cheek name Highly Likely Welcome Back, referring to an earlier statement by British Prime Minister Theresa May in which she said that London believed it was "highly likely" that Russia poisoned former spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter with a deadly nerve agent. "I am not considering going back to Russia under this proposal," Timur Khairov, who is studying machine building at the University of Bath, told RFE/RL. "I don't feel any negativity here. Everyone is very polite. "In fact, I don't understand the...[Russian government] initiative at all," he added. "I think it would be better to offer Russian students a program under which they can study abroad if they agree to return to work in Russia." [Russian] television is creating a tense atmosphere and for some reason is trying to prove to Russians that we are surrounded by enemies and that everyone hates us. This isn't true." The Skripal incident was the latest in a spate of developments over the last decade souring Russia's relations with the West generally, and the United Kingdom particularly. An unnamed Rossotrudnichestvo official told RIA Novosti that many countries, particularly in Europe, have demonstrated "Russophobic attitudes on the activity of our compatriots, which purposely narrow their opportunities for self-realization." Under the proposal, returning students would be accepted to study at the Foreign Ministry's prestigious Moscow State Institute of International Relations (MGIMO) or other state institutions or would be given jobs in the Russian Far East. "The matter of the safety of our young people studying abroad has become critical," said Oksana Buryak, moderator of the Rosstrudnichestvo press conference that announced the project. But none of the handful of Russian students who spoke to RFE/RL expressed any concerns for their safety. "I'm definitely not going back to Russia under this program or in any other way," said Sofya Zakharova, who studies history at the University of York. "I feel free here, while in Russia it feels like I have to conform to stereotypes. I'm not saying that is wrong, but it doesn't suit me. I like it that, in England, people have every chance to participate fully in society despite their orientation or religion or nationality.... Moreover, people here aren't afraid to criticize the government." "I feel very good here," said Adriana Kyupar, a youth from Pskov who has lived in England for two years while studying long-distance at a Russian institute. "I don't sense any political pressure. Speaking of pressure, I'm more likely to feel it when I'm in Russia -- when I turn on the television, for example. I am so sick of being told that everyone is bad and only we are good." Aleksandra Medvedskaya, 23, is working on her bachelor's degree at the University of Westminster. She also says she has encountered no problems in England. "Russians don't feel any tension from the locals," she told RFE/RL. "Judging from the questions I get sometimes from my relatives, who ask how people in Europe treat me, it seems our [Russian] television is creating a tense atmosphere and for some reason is trying to prove to Russians that we are surrounded by enemies and that everyone hates us. This isn't true." Dmitry Zhikharevich, who is working on a doctorate at the London School of Economics, recalled the fact that the Russian government has been pressuring the respected independent European University in St. Petersburg for months and refused to grant it an educational license in December. "I have a hard time imagining anyone who would be seriously interested in the [Rosstrudnichestvo] offer," Zhikharevich said. "The whole initiative seems dubious, particularly against the background of what happened to the European University in St. Petersburg." Student Timur Khairov said for him, the bottom line is that studying in England is better for his future. "I chose an education abroad because a Russian education isn't always acceptable," he said. "I wanted to have more choices in the future." Written by Robert Coalson on the basis of reporting by RFE/RL Siberia Desk correspondents Natalya Kondrashova and Aleksandr Valiyev More than 20 people were arrested in the Armenian capital, Yerevan, as protesters attempted to block a government building on April 19. They were trying to prevent Serzh Sarkisian from chairing his first cabinet meeting as prime minister. Protesters erupted six days earlier as changes were made to Armenia's constitution to allow longtime former President Sarkisian to become prime minister. Commemorations were held to mark the 75th anniversary the Warsaw Ghetto uprising, when thousands of young Jewish fighters took up arms against occupying Nazi German forces during World War II. The uprising broke out April 19, 1943, when about 750 Jewish fighters armed with pistols and other light arms attacked a German force more than three times their size. Many left last testaments saying said they knew they would not survive but that they wanted to die at a time and place of their own choosing and not in the gas chambers at the Treblinka death camp, where more than 300,000 Warsaw Jews had already been sent. Only a few dozen fighters survived when the Germans crushed the uprising. Most have since died or are no longer healthy enough to attend the observances. INFOGRAPHIC: Warsaw Ghetto In Numbers (click to view) "We bow our heads low to their heroism, their bravery, their determination and courage," Polish President Andrzej Duda told officials, Holocaust survivors, and Warsaw residents who gathered at the city's Ghetto Heroes Monument. The commemoration came at a time of heightened tensions between Poland and Israel over Warsaw's new Holocaust law, which came into effect last month and led to harsh criticism from Israel, Jewish organizations, and others. The legislation penalizes statements attributing Nazi German crimes to the Polish state with fines or a jail term. Polish government officials say the law is meant to protect the country from false accusations of complicity. Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany in World War II and ceased to exist as a state. An estimated 6 million Poles, about half of them Jews, were killed. Based on reporting by AFP, AP, and The Times Of Israel A Moscow court has extended the house arrest of theater and film director Kirill Serebrennikov for three months, meaning he likely will not be able to attend the Cannes Film Festival next month. "The house arrest will be extended until July 19, 2018," the state-run RIA Novosti news agency quoted Judge Artur Karpov as saying on April 18. One of Serebrennikov's films, Leto (Summer), will compete for the prestigious Palme d'Or prize at the Cannes event, which runs May 8-19. He won a prize in Cannes in 2016 with his film The Student. Serebrennikov, who is the director of Moscow's famed Gogol Theater and has staged productions at the Bolshoi Theater, was arrested in August, accused of embezzling some $1 million in state funds. He has called the charges "absurd," and his supporters say the case was part of a politically motivated crackdown on Russia's arts community ahead of the March presidential election. The criminal case against Serebrennikov has drawn international attention and prompted accusations that Russian authorities are targeting cultural figures who are at odds with President Vladimir Putin's government. Serebrennikov has taken part in antigovernment protests and voiced concern about the increasing influence of the Russian Orthodox Church, which has close ties to the state. The director was unable to attend the premiere of his highly anticipated Bolshoi Theater ballet about the life of Russian dance legend Rudolf Nureyev in December. Serebrennikov's arrest raised concerns that the ballet's frank treatment of Nureyev's same-sex relationships had offended Russian authorities. Iranian director Jafar Panahi, who has been banned from leaving Iran, also has a film, Three Faces, entered in the Cannes festival. He was detained by Tehran authorities in 2010 for criticizing Iran. With reporting by AFP and Interfax Two prominent activists for the rights of Siberia's indigenous peoples, Vladislav and Yana Tannagashev, have had to leave Russia fearing for their safety, the Memorial human rights center says. Memorial representative Stefania Kulayeva told RFE/RL on April 18 that the couple from the Kemerovo region and their children are currently in an EU country. The Tannagashevs are known for their campaign to shut down coal-mining operations in regions inhabited by the Turkic-speaking Shor people, one of Siberia's oldest indigenous groups, which currently numbers some 13,000 people. The two activists say that coal mining damages the local environment. According to Kulayeva, the Tannagashev family had been under constant government surveillance and their telephones had been bugged. "Police several times urged them to renounce their activities and security officers put pressure on them, summoning their friends and relatives for questioning," Kulayeva said. Yana Tannagasheva was fired from a local school where she was working as a teacher, and the couple's house burned down in a suspected arson attack in November 2017. The United States has accused Russia and Syria of trying to "sanitize" the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in the Syrian town of Douma, while delaying access by experts from the global chemical-weapons watchdog. "We have credible information that indicates that Russian officials are working with the Syrian regime to deny and to delay these inspectors from gaining access to Douma, State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said on April 19. Nauert added that Russian officials have worked with the Syrian regime to sanitize the locations of the suspected attacks and remove incriminating evidence of chemical weapons use." U.S. allies have also suggested that the Syrian government and its ally, Russia, may be delaying a visit by international inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to tamper with evidence. Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova on April 19 dismissed the allegations as outright nonsense, a blatant lie." Western powers accuse the Damascus government of an April 7 chemical attack in Douma, near Damascus, where the World Health Organization said 43 people who died suffered "symptoms consistent with exposure to highly toxic chemicals." The United States, Britain, and France bombed several Syrian government sites on April 14 in retaliation. Damascus and Moscow insist the April 7 incident was fabricated. The OPCW team arrived in Damascus over the weekend but have not been able to travel to Douma, near the capital, to investigate the alleged chemical attack. On April 19, OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu said UN security experts had come under fire in the town when they arrived in an attempt to assess the situation. Uzumcu said the organizations team will not visit Douma until the UN security experts deem it safe and only if the chemical-weapons inspectors "can have unhindered access to the sites." "At present, we do not know when the team can be deployed to Douma," he added. In New York, UN spokesman Stephane Dujarric said on April 19 that discussions were taking place in Syria's capital with all key parties on security arrangements for the OPCW inspectors to visit Douma. She also said that "due to the volatility" of the situation on the ground, the UN doesn't want "to telegraph" when a security team will return to the town. Also on April 19, the Pentagon said that Syrian President Bashar al-Assad still retained the ability to launch "limited" chemical weapons attacks. "They do retain a residual capability. It is probably spread throughout the country at a variety of sites," said Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie, director of the U.S. military's Joint Staff. "They will have the ability to conduct limited attacks in the future, I would not rule that out," McKenzie added. He also said that the U.S., British, and French air strikes last week destroyed three targets tied to Syria's weapons program, including a large research center in Damascus. "We achieved the level of success that we wanted against those three targets," McKenzie said. "We believe that there was probably some chlorine and possibly sarin at possibly all of the sites," he also said. With reporting by Reuters, AFP, and AP The United States has joined media watchdogs in calling on Russian authorities to thoroughly investigate the death of Russian investigative journalist Maksim Borodin last week. The United States is shocked by the death of Borodin under mysterious circumstances, Harry Kamian, the new U.S. charge daffaires to the Organization for Cooperation and Security in Europe, said in a statement delivered on April 19 to the OSCE Permanent Council in Vienna. We note that Borodins colleagues stated he showed no signs of depression, and they expressed doubt that he committed suicide, Kamian also said. He added that the majority of the killings of journalists in Russia remain unsolved, which has a detrimental effect on media freedom in the country. Borodin of Yekaterinburg died on April 15 of injuries sustained three days earlier when he fell from the window of his fifth-floor apartment. Officially, his death was being investigated as a suicide. Borodin, 32, regularly wrote on crime and corruption for the independent news website Novy Den. In recent weeks, he wrote extensively about the deaths in February of Russian mercenaries fighting in Syria, identifying several fighters from the Urals city of Asbest who had been killed. In a statement on April 16, the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) said Russian authorities must consider the possibility that [Borodin] was killed in retribution for his reporting. "We call on Russian authorities to launch an effective, fair, and transparent investigation into the circumstances surrounding Maksim Borodin's death and not to rule out foul play," CPJ Europe and Central Asia Program Coordinator Nina Ognianova said. "Russia has a record of brushing aside suspicious deaths of members of the press," she added. The OSCE representative on freedom of the media, Harlem Desir, on April 13 also called for a full, transparent, and independent probe into Borodins death. Desir also urged Russian authorities to bring the perpetrators and masterminds of a brutal attack against the editor of the Oblastnaya Gazeta newspaper in Yekaterinburg on April 12 to justice. Dmitry Polyanin was hospitalized with multiple injuries after being beaten by at least two assailants with metal bars, he said. Man red listed with Interpol arrested in Cancun Cancun, Q.R. A man with a long-standing international arrest warrant for fraud has been arrested in Cancun. The Attorney Generals Office has reported the arrest of Mexican national Erik N, who was wanted internationally for crimes of generic fraud. With his named Red listed with Interpol, the National Migration Institute (INM) learned that he was arriving in Cancun from Houston, Texas. He was met by authorities from the Criminal Investigation Agency and arrested without incident. According to information from the Attorney General, officials were given a migratory alert of his arrival at the Cancun International Airport. He was carrying a US passport. Erick N had an arrest warrant issued by the Twelfth Criminal Court of Mexico City. He was handed over to personnel of the Attorney Generals Office for Mexico City (PGJ-CDMX). He will be transferred and presented before authorities. Matthew Mellon dies in Cancun day before rehab Cancun, Q.R. American Matthew Mellon, made wealthy for his investments in cryptocurrency, died a day before checking into a drug rehab center in Cancun. The billionaire Matthew Mellon, 53, died suddenly in Cancun, Mexico, where he attended a rehabilitation center for drug addicts, reported his representative through a statement. Mellon made his fortune in cryptocurrency, turning a $2 million investment into $1 billion, read the statement to Page Six. He was an early backer of the digital currency XRP also known as Ripple. Mr. Mellon struggled with drug addiction. A family representative said he died at a rehabilitation centre in the popular tourist destination city of Cancun. Mr. Mellon Died suddenly in Cancun, Mexico, where he was attending a drug rehabilitation facility, a representative of the billionaire said in a statement given to the New York Post. A statement from Dr. Alberto Sola, medical director at Clear Sky Recovery through a rep explained that Matthew Mellon arrived in Cancun, Mexico, with his private entourage. He arrived by private plane and checked into his hotel in Cancun . . . Mr. Mellon was scheduled to Clear Sky Recovery on Monday. We received word that he died in his hotel on the morning of April 16, prior to his scheduled check-in. His long struggle with drug addiction came to light during 2004 divorce proceedings with Tamara Mellon, the British co-founder of luxury shoe brand Jimmy Choo. In 2016, the billionaire was at a Malibu treatment centre to tackle a reported $100,000-a-month addiction to prescription opioid OxyContin. The couple, who married in 1999 at Blenheim Palace, met at Narcotics Anonymous while they were both in recovery. He is survived by his three children, Force, Olympia and Minty. Melon was 53. The battle over Cancun Uber public vote continues Cancun, Q.R. The battle over the Cancun Uber public vote continues between taxi drivers, businesses and the state. Through a press conference, taxi drivers from Cozumel are describing the public Uber vote as treason. Miguel Alonso, general secretary of the taxi drivers union of Cozumel, says there will be demonstrations in all municipalities at their disapproval of the private car service. After threatening to stop work, Cancun taxi drivers have decide to change their strategy declaring they will protest in peace to ensure their petitions are heard. A meeting will be held this week between union officials and the Secretary of State Government, Francisco Lopez Mena. Miguel Alonso explained that Lopez Mena was asked to not allow the entry of platforms that offer the urban transport service without a concession. We are working. We have the same platforms. The only thing we want is that if more platforms are going to enter, that it be equal, even floor for all. If they are going to enter with their platforms, let it be with a concession. Erasmo Avelar, secretary of the Trade Union of Tax Drivers Andres Quintana Roo says, We are going to talk with them. Negotiation does not exist. We do not want the public consultation () I think the governor has to understand that it is affecting more than 100,000 families of Quintana Roo. Avelar added that the first three injunctions against the consultation have already begun to be processed in the courts. Each of the unions will get an injunction since there is a law that states that there should not be a public consultation in a political event. However, president of the Caribbean Business Coordinating Council, Eloy Peniche Ruiz, says the public vote for Uber Cancun is a fact, so people need to participate adding that they city has every right to raise its quality of standards and have the best transport options. He says that Uber exists all over the world where different options coexist without any problem, ruling out that a public consultation influences the citizenship political vote. Cancun must be a mature city that expresses how it feels, so that a minority does not choose over the majority, he said. Peniche Ruiz considered that Those who have used this service in other parts of the country know it is an excellent mobility system with multiple advantages. He says you have an invoice, a predetermined route, a fixed price that gives you security, and when you arrive at the destination, they dont want to charge an exorbitant amount. AN INNOCENT Rotherham youth worker who says he was put through hell after a UKIP tweet wrongly branded him a paedophile is suing a former branch chairman for substantial damages. Zahir Monir says the Bristol branch tweet which identified him as a suspended child grooming taxi driver had a devastating impact on his life. He was subjected to abuse outside his childs school, his house was egged and vicious comments posted about him online. Via retweets and reposts on Facebook, the accusation made it all the way from Bristol to his next-door neighbour in Yorkshire, his lawyers told the High Court. Mr Monir (38), is suing Steve Wood for substantial damages, claiming that, although he did not personally pen it, the then Bristol branch chairman is legally responsible for the tweet. However, Mr Wood (57), who has since left his post, denies any responsibility for the publication, blaming his former campaign manager, John Langley. Mr Langley operated the branchs Twitter account, knew about rules banning personal attacks on the branch's social media, and went ahead with the tweet regardless, he claims. Representing Mr Monir, barrister Julian Santos said the tweet, which came days before the May 2015 General Election, in which Mr Wood stood as UKIP candidate in Bristol South, contained the most egregious allegation. It included a photo of Labour MP for Rotherham, Sarah Champion, flanked by two men, one of them Mr Monir, with the caption: Sarah champion labour candidate for Rotherham stood with 2 suspended child grooming taxi drivers DO NOT VOTE LABOUR. Mr Santos told High Court judge, Mr Justice Nicklin, that the Rotherham businessman was shocked and did what he could to get the untrue tweet removed. He called Mr Wood, but the phone was put down on him, he says, and the tweet was only deleted weeks later when police also phoned the chairman. In the mean time, the message had been retweeted and liked on Twitter numerous times and found its way onto Facebook. From there, it spread more widely, with clear links taking it all the way from the Bristol branch of UKIP to a neighbour in Mr Monir's street in Rotherham, said Mr Santos. Unsurprisingly, publication of this extremely serious libel on such a massive scale has had a devastating impact on Mr Monir, said his barrister. The complete shock caused to Mr Monir by the tweet and the recognition of the impact that it could have on him is apparent even from the recording of his first call to South Yorkshire Police. Until the time of the tweet, he had spent his life involved with charities and helping young people. The tweet, branding him a paedophile, has had a negative impact on his family life and relationships with his wife and young children, his charitable work and his employment. Mr Monir had suffered depression, anxiety and criminal damage. He was branded Jimmy Savile by a parent outside school and left feeling extremely threatened, he said. Defending the libel claim on Mr Wood's behalf, barrister David Hirst denied that Mr Wood was in any way responsible for the tweet, to which he had no input. It was Mr Langley who was authorised by the branch to operate its social media, he said. He received no day-to-day guidance or instructions and was specifically warned against posting material which included "personal attacks". Mr Wood did not read the branch Twitter account, did not have the app installed on any device and was very busy juggling, running his business, looking after his ill daughter and campaigning to become an MP, Mr Hirst added. He continued: There is a weight of evidence that Mr Langley had no authorisation to publish the type of material which the tweet represented. Mr Wood promulgated a general zero tolerance prohibition on any form of racism or xenophobic conduct. He had secured the expulsion of a member, partly for racism. Personal attacks on any individuals were not permitted, and members had to stick to facts. Everyone was to be careful what they posted. He said Mr Langley who is not being sued and is not a party to the proceedings admitted in a statement that he understood these branch-wide house rules. Mr Hirst said Mr Wood had not received a reasonable call from Mr Monir and was instead subjected to repeated hysterical rants by a caller claiming to have been wrongly identified as a paedophile. Mr Hirst is also disputing the meaning of the tweet, claiming it did not mean that Mr Monir was actually a paedophile. Instead, it was to be read as though there were grounds for investigating whether he was a child groomer, he said. And, whoever was responsible for it, Mr Monir had not shown that the publication caused him serious harm, the barrister said. But Mr Santos said that only made matters worse. This was an appalling and shameful tweet, which Bristol UKIP should never have published, should have immediately deleted and should have been at pains to apologise for, he said. And Mr Wood, as the chairman of this organisation, should equally have been at pains to apologise. To dismiss this tweet as merely unattractive and regrettable and to argue that it has not caused serious harm to his reputation unquestionably aggravates the injury even further." The hearing, which is expected to last until the end of the week, continues. The 86-year-old Castro will remain head of the Communist Party, which is designated by the constitution as the superior guiding force of society and the state. As a result, he will still be the most powerful person in Cuba for the time being. Diaz-Canel used a large portion of his acceptance speech to praise the Castro brothers. The country has been under the absolute rule of one family since the revolution, first by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and, for the last decade, his younger brother. The general public expectation is that Diaz-Canel will work hard on the economy, because people need to live a little better in this country. His promise is to make Cubas government more responsive to its people. Havana The lives of those who will be elected have to be focused on relating to the people, listening to the people, investigating their problems and encouraging debate, he said after casting a ballot for members of the National Assembly. Diaz-Canel is an electrical engineer by training and a career bureaucrat. The new president praised Castro for his work keeping the country together, helping broker the Colombian peace process and maintaining a peace zone throughout the Caribbean. This article was supported by The Rockefeller Foundation Bellagio Center . FAOs move to shore up the rights of small-scale fishers is making waves in Costa Rica. In August 2015, the government of Costa Rica received a letter from a tiny fishing community on the northern Caribbean coast. Nestled between Tortuguero National Park and the Nicaragua border, the community of Barra del Colorado some 2,000 people have been quietly making a living out of shrimp fishing for generations. The letter took issue with a 2013 constitutional vote to a ban trawling a fishing method that can damage marine environments by pulling along undesired fish species and destroying habitats at the ocean bottom. The vote targeted industrial and semi-industrial trawling operations. But it made no exception for fishers operating at a smaller scale, to catch fish for food or to sell locally for a basic income. For Barra del Colorado and similar communities, it meant losing the legal right to their only livelihood, and a way of life. In this place this is the only work we can do, says Ligia Mejia Guzman as she deftly cleans the days catch, shrimp by shrimp. The work, which occupies most women in the community, is without social security, leaves fingers bleeding as acid wears off the skin, and earns her about 20,000 colones (US$35) each day on a good day for two short fishing seasons a year. She learned it as a child and, like the rest, she is thankful for it. The letter marked the beginning of a fight for the licence to fish, which continues today. One of the communitys allies is CoopeSoliDar R.L, a local development NGO that facilitated a consensus-building policy process the National Dialogue for the sustainable use of shrimp involving government institutions, NGOs, and all productive fishing sectors. We have been dealing with conflicts at the grassroots level, very serious conflicts, trying to get an equilibrium between marine conservation and the sustainable use of these resources that bring development to a lot of people, says Vivienne Solis Rivera, a biologist with CoopeSoliDar. The NGO is working in Barra del Colorado to build the communitys capacity to reclaim their licence. That means research, workshops, getting organised to have a voice in policy discussions work that Solis Rivera says in recent years has had a boost from a new addition to the toolbox: a set of International Guidelines on Securing Sustainable Small-Scale Fisheries adopted by the UNs Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO) in June 2014. The product of a long consultation with over 4,000 stakeholders from over 120 countries, the guidelines are the first international instrument dedicated entirely to the immensely important but until now often neglected small-scale fisheries sector, according to FAO. They emphasise the rights of artisanal fishers and offer guiding principles for governance and development of the sector. Costa Rica is by no means unique in overlooking small-scale fisheries. But FAO believes it is the only country to make the guidelines, which are voluntary, a part of its national development plan. This makes it a case the UN agency is keen to watch. Troubled waters The effort has been controversial, going head-to-head with the countrys strong drive for conservation that has seen over a quarter of its territory designated as protected land. There is a real conflict with the environmental agenda, Solis Rivera says, pointing out that high-profile campaigns have tipped the scales considerably. She believes the guidelines have added a crucial counterweight to that: for CoopeSoliDar and the national fisheries management body, INCOPESCA, having them in hand has meant the communitys concerns get more weight in policy. They give small fishers a presence; and this, she says, makes them disruptive. According to Nicole Franz, a fishery planning analyst who leads FAOs work on the guidelines, such conflicts arent unusual. We do see that at times there are tensions, she says, citing a lack of dialogue between the agencies and NGOs leading the different agendas. Her hope is that the guidelines offer a basis for constructive collaboration. At a meeting convened by FAO last year at the Rockefeller Foundations Bellagio Center in Italy, delegates from around the world agreed to work towards indicators to monitor implementation of the guidelines through pilot projects. Solis Rivera, who took part in the meeting, believes the guidelines can make a difference by concretizing a range of issues relevant to policy that affects small fishers. When the guidelines were approved [in Costa Rica], we were able to really get a tool that could be used to provide more inputs of the need of this approach that considers human rights as the main backbone of conservation, she says. The fishermen who take their boats out a few kilometres away from Barra del Colorado, just where the mouth of Rio Colorado meets the Caribbean sea, catch only the amount of shrimp they can sell to middlemen in the area, plus a small percentage each for their families. They know that their nets dont drag along as much fauna as other trawlers. Yet it takes studies to persuade Costa Ricas government and thats what the community has set out to do, with help from CoopeSoliDar. Solis Rivera says the guidelines have helped secure the time and money needed to do the research. Since February, through a temporary research licence, the men have continued to fish legally while gathering information about the sustainability of their practices. That licence is due to expire soon. At a meeting last week, the community heard that early results of a study commissioned by CoopeSoliDar are promising. Hanging in the balance When it comes to the evidence on trawling, Solis Rivera says the devil is in the detail: in some cases semi-industrial fishing is less damaging than a fleet of small trawlers. She argues that the answer isnt to ban trawling outright, but to manage it and look at the specifics of each case. Trawling by small boats along the coast is indeed different from trawling by large industrial boats, says Tony Charles, a professor and research fellow at Saint Mary's University in Canada, and Director of the Community Conservation Research Network. He agrees that the right approach is a mix of measures depending on the fisheries, species and what works in a particular area. Jesus Chavez, president of the fishermens association and lead signatory on the letter that protested the ban, says the conditions in the Caribbean are very different [from elsewhere in the country], and the productive activity is very different. Jorge Jimenez is director of MarViva, one of the local conservation NGOs that favours the trawling ban. There is no evidence that grants an exception, he says, adding that research clearly shows the technique harms the environment as well as the resource that artisanal fishers depend on. Jimenez says conservation should be focused on the long-term well-being of communities, but argues this cannot be built on destruction of marine resources. A revision of existing fishing practices providing better prices for [fishers] products and ensuring the well-being of the ecosystem is the balance we need to achieve. Charles says fishers can be trained to switch to new methods but if trawling is the only way, its important to compromise and work with them to reduce its impact. Conservation cannot be achieved through one action like a trawl ban, he says. Should a government be so rigid in a trawl ban that it hurts those who most understand the coastal marine habitat and who are most likely to care about conserving fish and ocean? That does not seem the best path. Information and power Other communities are also struggling to get an official licence to fish. A group of women mollusc gatherers in Chomes, a fishing community of some 3,000 people on the countrys Pacific coast, have secured a licence for just one of the four species they can harvest. With the help of CoopeSoliDar, theyre now organised, routinely recording data on the mollusc species in their mangroves. The docking area in Chomes, a fishing community of 3000 people near Puntarenas, on Costa Ricas Pacific coast. The coast has a mix of developed areas where tourism thrives, and underdeveloped areas where poverty persists. Anita Makri Fishing nets rest in piles along the riverbank. The men of the community have a licence to fish and sell their catch locally. But there is no formal recognition of the women who gather molluscs from the mangrove. Anita Makri Clams pulled fresh from the mangrove. According to the local NGO CoopeSoliDar, the environment ministry, which has jurisdiction over the area, needs research on the species being collected to grant the women a permit. They can now legally extract just one species. Anita Makri Women members of a cooperative association formed with help from the NGO: Sophia Jimenez, Karmen Perez, Rosa Bustos, and Arelis Jimenes (left to right). Empowered about their right to claim this livelihood, they are actively involved in reforestation and research on mollusc species in the area. Anita Makri A board with mollusc species identified. Information gathered by the women goes into a database that now contains data for over 17,000 individuals. The culture of the research really is based on their work, says Marvin Fonseca of CoopeSoliDar. Here they control the process. Anita Makri Aracelly Jimenes Mora, the leader of the association, with member Arelis Jimenes. This is a joint effort between traditional and scientific knowledge, says Jimenes Mora. The women told scientists what species to look for, before the scientists could help them single out males and females of the same species. Anita Makri The site of a failed reforestation effort. Jimenes says scientists didnt listen when the women said the nursery was too close to the sea. Now, the site is further inland. They also insisted on a mix of mangrove soil and sand, not the 100 per cent soil experts suggested. Through trial and error we knew it was better, she says. Anita Makri Mangrove littered with plastic. The trash is picked up twice a month, says Sophia Jimenez, and the women are committed to protecting the area because different species of mangrove support different species of mollusc. Anita Makri A privately owned shrimp aquaculture operation separated by their womens fishing area by a thin stretch of mangrove. They dont give us access [to fishing areas], says Rosa Bustos. The women say the outfit pollutes the waters, and removing the mangrove has reduced their fishing area. Anita Makri A kitchen space set up by the womens cooperative. The plan was to open a restaurant for local fishers. It is ready but we have a big problem, says Jimenes Mora: there is no electricity. They say other enterprises have access, but their connection was refused on the grounds of the mangrove being a protected area. Anita Makri A photo, part of an exhibition, at the entrance to the kitchen. Gathering molluscs means getting steeped in mud for hours in a day. But its the only work available, and CoopeSoliDar says it needs to be dignified. A good days harvest is about 400 molluscs, which can fetch 14,000 colones (US$25). Anita Makri The idea is to capture knowledge that then feeds into policy discussions. We really need to generate information that is clear to them [the community], that is simple, that is in their own language, and that they can manage to improve their resources, says Marvin Fonseca-Borras, a geographer with CoopeSoliDar. Back in Barra del Colorado, Fonseca-Borras is leading a discussion with fishermen and an environment ministry official over a map that captures the communitys knowledge of marine areas and fish species. Marine spatial planning techniques are probably the most powerful tool that we have to communicate with fishers, he says. It provides information on the biological diversity of the marine ecosystems, but it also gets us to reduce differences between the different actors. And it allows us to find viable solutions to the challenge of combining conservation and development. More students report carrying guns in Chicago than in New York or Los Angeles, a new Northwestern Medicine study shows. The findings provide historical background for Chicago's 2016 spike in gun violence, which occurred mostly among youth and young adults. While self-reported gun carrying increased in Chicago over the 2007 to 2013 time period, it declined rapidly in Los Angeles and remained less than half the Chicago rate in New York, according to the study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The prevalence of high school freshman and sophomore students who reported carrying a gun was 9 percent in Chicago, 4 percent in New York and 6 percent in Los Angeles between 2007 and 2013, the study found. When students were exposed to more violence risk factors, such as feeling unsafe in school, being exposed to fights or doing illegal drugs, they were more likely to carry a gun, the study found. Chicago's students were exposed to more guns and these risk factors between 2007 and 2013 than their peers in New York and LA. The authors hypothesize Chicago students between the ages of 14 and 16 who were carrying guns in 2013 were likely involved in Chicago's gun violence in 2016 and 2017. "Our findings suggest that there is a clear link between the increase in Chicago students carrying guns in 2013 and the city's spike in gun violence in 2016," said senior author Joseph Feinglass, professor of general internal medicine, geriatrics and preventive medicine at Feinberg. "The city was fertile ground for this increase in shootings." The study is the first of its kind to compare major cities on self-reported gun carrying among younger high school students. It was published April 10 in the journal Injury Epidemiology. advertisement "It's not hard to imagine why more students in Chicago carry guns than the other two cities with significant violence and homicide burden," said co-author Dr. Karen Sheehan, professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "Kids in Chicago are experiencing multiple layers of violence and fear of violence in school on a daily basis." The study authors created a violence index to better categorize the most high-risk students and describe the magnitude of their increased likelihood to carry a gun. This violence index accounted for mental health risk factors, such as feeling sad or hopeless, and behavioral health factors, such as bullying and physical fights at school. Students in Chicago had a significantly higher prevalence of almost all mental health and behavioral health risk factors compared to their peers in New York or LA. "Our findings highlight the ongoing need to address Chicago's concentrated poverty and unemployment problems, its extreme levels of racial and ethnic segregation and the hopelessness and isolation so many young people feel," Feinglass said. Across all three cities, self-reported gun carrying was more frequent among boys (8.4 percent) than girls (2.5 percent). Six percent of African-Americans reported carrying a gun in the previous 30 days, which was higher than Hispanics (5.5 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (3.5 percent). The study was based on self-reported data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS), an anonymous, voluntary survey of public high-school students, for the three cities between 2007 and 2013. More than 50,000 respondents represented more than 1.13 million students. The study used four biennial waves of the YRBS. It focused on freshmen and sophomores because of the significant high school dropout rates among older students. Publication of this article was funded by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids. Researchers from the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) and the non-profit organization Terra Peninsular A.C. have rediscovered the San Quintin kangaroo rat (Dipodomys gravipes) in Baja California; the Museum is partnering with the organization and local authorities on a conservation plan for the species. The San Quintin kangaroo rat was last seen in 1986, and was listed as endangered by the Mexican government in 1994. It was held as an example of modern extinction due to agricultural conversion. In the past few decades, San Quintin, which lies 118 miles south of Ensenada, has become a major agricultural hub, converting huge areas of native habitat into fields and hot houses for tomatoes and strawberries. Despite active searches and monitoring over the years, there had been no sign of the animal until this past summer, when Museum Mammalogist Scott Tremor and Research Associate Sula Vanderplank were in the field conducting routine monitoring of small mammal communities. Having read the field notes of the person who had seen it decades ago, they were aware of its former occurrence in the area, but were amazed to find four individuals by using traditional field techniques and live traps. This animal is about 5 inches in length with a tufted tail. It is an herbivore that lives in arid lowlands and gets its name from its large, powerful hind feet that propel the animal in large bounds (like a kangaroo). It is larger than other kangaroo rats in the region, and is feistier than its relatives. "Not only is this discovery a perfect example of the importance of good old-fashioned natural history field work, but we have the opportunity to develop a conservation plan based on our findings," said Tremor. "The ability to take our research and turn it into tangible conservation efforts is thrilling. It is a commitment to preserving the uniqueness of the Baja California Peninsula." The discovery will be highlighted in an article by Tremor, Vanderplank, and Dr. Eric Mellink of the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE) in the scientific journal Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. Since the initial discovery, the San Quinton kangaroo rat has been found to also persist inside the Valle Tranquilo Nature Reserve just south of San Quintin, which is owned and managed by the local non-profit organization Terra Peninsular A.C. This reserve is recognized as an area voluntarily destined for conservation by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and will protect the future of the species into perpetuity. The Nat will work with Terra Peninsular and Dr. Exequiel Ezcurra, director of the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS), on a conservation plan for the small mammal communities of the area, with an emphasis on the San Quintin kangaroo rat. "Terra Peninsular has been monitoring the nature reserves looking for this species. You can't imagine how happy we are to find out that after all these efforts and with the help of The Nat we can be part of this rediscovery and continue working on its protection," said Jorge Andrade, adaptive manager coordinator at Terra Peninsular, who has also been involved in the project. "It's very gratifying for us to think that the San Quintin kangaroo rat persists in the area to some extent, thanks to the efforts of the staff, board members, and associated researchers of our organization." This plan, which is made possible with critical support from The JiJi Foundation Fund at the International Community Foundation, will be developed cooperatively with a working group created by Terra Peninsular and composed of local authorities, academic institutions and staff members. It will be written in both English and Spanish, will include restoration strategies, habitat improvements, molecular analysis of population health, land protection strategies and outreach and educational materials, and will identify key concerns for the future of the species. The Museum's research department, the Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias, conducts field explorations and engages in collections-based research to document and conserve our region's natural history and biodiversity. This is the third mammal that was thought to be extinct that museum staff have rediscovered in the Baja California Peninsula in the recent past: others include the high elevation California vole (Microtus californicus huperuthrus) and the round-tail ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus apricus). "These rediscoveries speak to hope and resilience in a changing world," said Vanderplank, who is also a science advisor at Terra Peninsular. "We are learning so much about this animal and its ecology, and we're delighted to know that it is permanently protected in the Valle Tranquilo Nature Reserve." This item is available in full to subscribers. Attention subscribers We have recently launched a new and improved website. To continue reading, you will need to either log into your subscriber account, or purchase a new subscription. If you are a digital subscriber with an active subscription, then you already have an account here. Just reset your password if you've not yet logged in to your account on this new site. If you are a current print subscriber, you can set up a free website account by clicking here. Otherwise, click here to view your options for subscribing. San Francisco officials are beginning to chart an ambitious course to sharply curtail the citys carbon emissions over the next three decades. The first step: planting more trees a lot of them. On Thursday, Mayor Mark Farrell will announce that the city is taking steps to become carbon-neutral with no net release of greenhouse gases into the atmosphere by 2050. As the Department of the Environment works out a long-term plan for shrinking the citys carbon footprint, Farrell is jump-starting the process by commissioning a project to plant 2,000 trees, which absorb carbon dioxide, across San Francisco over the next two years. The $4 million cost will be built into the upcoming budget. The announcement will come just days ahead of the planned Earth Day celebration and climate-action rally April 21 in the Civic Center Plaza. Its imperative for cities to take up the mantle of climate stewardship, Farrell said, especially since the federal government is reluctant to confront climate change or even to directly acknowledge its existence. The Trump administration has continued to bury its head in the sand when it comes to environmental policies, Farrell said. So its up to local jurisdictions like the city of San Francisco to once again take a leadership role, and were stepping up as a city. Lea Suzuki / The Chronicle President Trumps controversial decision to pull the United States out of the Paris climate accord in June has stirred cities and states across the country to adopt localized goals for reducing carbon emissions. In September, San Francisco will host the two-day Global Climate Action Summit, which will bring together government officials, scientists and business leaders to recommit to the Paris accords climate goals and accelerate efforts to reach them. Forty cities have made similar pledges to become net-zero carbon emitters. They include Austin, Texas, Los Angeles and New York City. The goal of making San Francisco carbon-neutral by 2050 builds on a string of emissions-curbing milestones the city has reached in recent years, according to data from the Department of the Environment. To date, the city has reduced greenhouse gas emissions by 29 percent from what it was producing in 1990 the equivalent of taking about 400,000 cars off the road. Notably, the city has managed those emissions cuts while increasing its population by 20 percent and its economy by 111 percent. San Francisco is debunking the myth that the Trump administration is attempting to promulgate, that a healthy environment cannot coexist with a healthy economy, Farrell said. Debbie Raphael, director of the environment department, said the citys success in curbing emissions so far are attributable to initiatives that include strict energy-efficiency requirements for almost all new construction projects. The city has also expanded its renewable-energy offerings with its CleanPowerSF program. Last week, the city announced that all public and private San Francisco Bay ferries and tour boats would shift to run on renewable diesel fuel made from organic matter to cut emissions by 22,000 metric tons a year. To become a net-zero greenhouse gas emitter, San Francisco will have to find ways to continue cutting emissions while boosting the amount of soil and plant life that can absorb carbon dioxide. Adding 2,000 trees across the city will help with that, Raphael said. Carla Short, the superintendent of the bureau of urban forestry at the Public Works Department, said exactly where the extra 2,000 trees will be planted is still being determined. But the city will be prioritizing any new tree locations in neighborhoods and communities with the least amount of (tree) coverage, she said. Like in the industrial Bayview, where there are a lot of streets that are pretty barren of trees well try to focus on that area, Short said. San Francisco currently has 125,466 trees owned and maintained by the city. Determining what species to plant, Short said, will depend on the characteristics of individual streets, including sidewalk width and the presence of overhead utility lines. Public Works will partner with organizations like Friends of the Urban Forest and other nonprofit groups to get the trees planted, Short said. Trees are going to be an important component in any climate-action plan, she said. You cant get more bang for your buck when it comes to investing in great infrastructure than planting trees. They sequester carbon as they grow, and they actually sequester more over time. When you look at the return on investment, theyre a great way to invest resources. But trees alone wont get the city to its net-zero goal. Raphael said her department is working on a plan, the outlines of which it will announce in September during the climate-action summit. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. In San Francisco, most carbon emissions 92 percent come from two sources in equal parts, Raphael said: transportation and buildings, including both residential and commercial properties. We need to electrify all forms of transportation, whether its a car, a truck, a bus, an Uber it doesnt matter. It needs to be electric and that electricity needs to be clean, Raphael said. Thats very simple to say, but not so simple to do. And when it comes to the citys dwellings, we need our electricity sources to become cleaner, she said, urging residents to sign up for CleanPowerSF, which is operated by the city, or a greener electricity option offered by Pacific Gas and Electric Co. The goals might be clear, but the solutions wont come easily, Raphael said. Weve got a lot of work to do. We know the what. We just need to figure out the how. But this is more than just the next logical step, she said of the citys 2050 goal. This is San Franciscos endgame for carbon. Dominic Fracassa is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: dfracassa@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @dominicfracassa Throngs of partyers will gather around Hippie Hill in Golden Gate Park on Friday to revel under skunky clouds of marijuana smoke during the annual bud-worshiping bash that has been known to cause conniptions among San Franciscans who dont like garbage and urine in their shrubbery. The annual 4/20 celebration has set off a scramble among city departments to control patrons of an event that began years ago as an unsupervised free-for-all and has had its share of troubles, including robberies, fistfights and numerous arrests. Past 4/20 festivities have led to horrific traffic, overwhelmed residential streets, public urination, damage to public and private property, and strained police, Muni and park resources, London Breed, president of the Board of Supervisors, said during a news conference Wednesday attended by the heads of six city departments who vowed to control anyone who causes trouble at the park shindig. The 4/20 celebration, the first to be held since the January launch of Californias legal recreational-cannabis industry, is expected to draw 15,000 people to Robin Williams Meadow, on the east end of Golden Gate Park. Organized by Sounds Bazaar, Haight Street Merchants and Greenrush.com, this is the second year that the event is to be supervised and highly regulated, with no one under 18 allowed inside. In an effort to shed its reputation for reefer madness, the city, in partnership with private sponsor Alex Aquino, has raised $200,000 to pay for fencing, security and park maintenance. The city is increasing the number of shuttles and has designated a ride-hailing pickup and drop-off area. The festival will kick off with a New Years Eve-style countdown and bud drop. It will include a food court called Munchie Land, merchant booths and a lineup of local nonprofits. Breed said no tents, canopies, tables, cooking equipment, generators, amplified sound, glass, carts, wagons, drones or weapons will be allowed. No barbecues, stoves or coolers larger than 9 by 12 inches will be permitted inside the gate. There will be no tolerance of violence whatsoever, said Breed, who emphasized that the day is an unsanctioned holiday. We will not allow anyone to use 4/20 as an excuse to damage our parks or our neighborhoods. San Francisco city officials arent the only people wondering what there is to celebrate now that the drug is legal. The 4/20 celebrations began in the 1970s when a group of San Rafael High School students, who called themselves the Waldos, began meeting for smoke sessions at 4:20 p.m., after school. The term and the practice were picked up by the Grateful Dead, and 420 soon took on new meaning as a time, date and cultural phenomenon. The idea was originally to gain acceptance and, ultimately, win legalization of the smokable herb. It succeeded beyond what any of the original Waldos could have imagined in 2016, when voters passed Proposition 64, which legalized the use and possession of up to an ounce of marijuana for anyone 21 or older and allowed adults to grow up to six plants for personal use. The cannabis industry, which is expected to be worth as much as $7 billion this year, is now Californias largest cash crop, according to the National Organization for the Reform of Marijuana Laws, known as NORML. It outpaced grapes, almonds, hay, cotton and oranges, in that order, according to the comparison of cannabis sales to farm receipts submitted last year to the California Department of Food and Agriculture. The success leaves the cannabis industry with a dilemma: What is left to fight for? There still is the component of protest that is a part of it, because cannabis is still illegal on the federal level, said Joe Rogoway, a lawyer who helped draft the regulations to legalize adult use of marijuana in California. Rogoway and others said the annual 4/20 marijuana party is also a commemoration of past sacrifices of a previous generation. It is about this journey this community has gone through for the past four decades, where it went from being highly stigmatized to a place where it is accepted, he said. Prop. 64 imposed a 15 percent excise tax on retailers and compelled cultivators to pay $9.25 for every ounce they produce. Since the law went into effect in January, there have been complaints about high prices, a lack of regulatory oversight, a black market that is still thriving and the pushing aside of medical marijuana by big business interests. Legalization is a work in progress, said David Goldman, a medical marijuana patient and president of San Franciscos Brownie Mary Democratic Club. We should celebrate the gains weve made, but not be so complacent as to think we are finished. Stanton Glantz, a professor with the Center for Tobacco Control Research at UCSF, said the giant plume of marijuana smoke that will be wafting over Hippie Hill is not something anybody should celebrate. I think the war on drugs has been a disaster, and getting marijuana out of the war on drugs has generally been a good thing, but we are now seeing the birth of the tobacco-ization of the marijuana industry, Glantz said. With modern product engineering to maximize the addictive potential, modern branding and marketing, we will soon have a lot of public health problems coming back at us. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Felicia Accomazzo, project manager at Mercy Wellness of Cotati, vehemently disagrees. I am a brain cancer survivor. I use this medicine every day and it has changed my life, said Accomazzo, who is organizing a 4/20 Weed For the People celebration at the dispensary. It will be really great for the world one day when they can actually prescribe cannabis along with other legal drugs in a pharmacy, but we dont have that yet, so awareness is still needed. Peter Fimrite is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: pfimrite@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @pfimrite San Francisco 4/20 events Hippie Hill: The second year as a licensed event means more safety, security, amenities, food and music. The event will be held between 9 a.m. and 6 p.m. Friday on the famed hill on the north side of Robin Williams Meadow (the former Sharon Meadow). Free. www.420hippiehill.com Hippie Hill at Bill Graham Civic: Hip-hop performance evoking the spirit of San Franciscos Hippie Hill 4/20 celebration. The lineup includes performances by 2 Chainz, Chief Keef, Trippie Redd and Styles P. starting at 5:30 p.m., Friday, at Bill Graham Civic Auditorium, 99 Grove St. 420 Fest SF: Dolores Park will have yoga, a panel of cannabis experts, a 5K and 10K race, edibles tasting bar, live art and the Stoned Olympics from 3 p.m. to 1 a.m., Friday. Free at Dolores Park, 19th and Dolores streets. SoMa StrEat Food Park: San Franciscos food trucks will provide craft beer, sangria, empanadas, gyoza and gyro-bowls served from 11 a.m. to 3 p.m. and 5 p.m. to 9 p.m., Friday. Free. SoMa StrEat Food Park, 428 11th St. The Magic CannaBus 4/20 Tour: Maiden voyage of the Magic CannaBus will tour San Franciscos cannabis culture, with the vehicle equipped with 16 video projectors, a sound system and a psychedelic light show, including a stop at Barbary Coast Collective. 7 p.m. Friday. $99. https://magicbussf.com/tour/the-magic-cannabus/ A sprawling homeless camp in southern Santa Rosa that swelled to more than 150 people after the North Bay wildfires was cleared by authorities Thursday. Many tent dwellers disappeared into nearby woodlands and fields when several dozen firefighters and police officers showed up in the early morning to clear the camp in the Roseland section of town. Authorities were enforcing a court order that the camp be empty by the end of the day. When they arrived, most of the tent dwellers were packing or already heading out with shopping carts and backpacks, or in ramshackle cars. The sweep proceeded with an air of gloomy quiet. Outreach counselors from the nonprofit Catholic Charities worked throughout the winter and spring to get people living in the camp into shelter or housing. By Thursday they had ushered more than 50 inside and designed tentative housing plans for 50 more. About 50 people lived in the camp before the fires swept through the North Bay in October. The subsequent influx swelled its population to more than 150, making it the biggest homeless camp in Sonoma County. By Thursdays evacuation date, set by a federal judges order, more than 50 people still lived on the windswept parking lots behind a Dollar Tree store. We knew we had to leave, so what can you do but go? said Tesla Meyer, 55, who stuffed the family car with bundles and blankets and relocated to a field a couple of miles away. Its sad to see this dismantled. The camp had troubles, yeah, but not everyone has somewhere else to go. Meyer is one of the lucky ones: She got a rent-subsidy voucher from a Catholic Charities outreach counselor last week and believes she will find a new home by next month. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. I can understand why people are anxious, said Margaret Van Vliet, director of the county Community Development Commission, which oversees homeless programs. Theres a lack of trust. Some people had bad experiences with shelters, and weve made improvements over the past year but not everybody knows that. Im very hopeful that most folks here have gotten into our coordinated entry system for services. Were trying very hard to help everyone. The camp was ordered cleared because the county has approved plans for a new development on the land. The project will include 175 apartments, about half of which will be affordable housing. Kevin Fagan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: kfagan@sfchronicle.com The Silicon Valley Community Foundation, a major fundraising force in the heart of the tech world, has been jolted by allegations of workplace misconduct. The Chronicle of Philanthropy reported that former employees have alleged inappropriate behavior by the Mountain View foundations top fundraiser, Mari Ellen Loijens. Loijens had worked there for more than a decade and is widely described as an accomplished fundraiser, the Chronicle of Philanthropy reported. She is listed as the chief business, development and brand officer on the foundations website. The allegations included claims that she demeaned and bullied her staff, made lewd comments in the workplace, and on at least one occasion sought to kiss a woman working for her, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy article. It was not uncommon to hear Mari Ellen suddenly screaming at the top of her lungs, berating one of my colleagues about how stupid they were, Jennifer Wood, a former director of individual giving for the foundation, told the Chronicle of Philanthropy. SVCF does not tolerate inappropriate conduct of any kind, and we investigate all claims of misconduct, CEO Emmett Carson said in a statement. The foundation has hired a law firm to fully investigate the claims. We are committed to taking whatever actions are necessary at the conclusion of the investigation. Sue McAllister, a marketing director for the foundation, said she could not comment on specific human resources-related questions, including the current status of Loijens. An email message to Loijens received an automated reply, saying she is on vacation and will be returning to the office on April 23. Loijens oversees about 40 people in various departments, according to the Chronicle of Philanthropy, which interviewed well over a dozen former employees many of whom preferred to remain anonymous for its story. Air Quality Tracker Check levels down to the neighborhood Ratings for the Bay Area and California, updated every 10 minutes Some former employees noted attributes of Loijens that were helpful for her job. Daniel Hoebeke, a fundraiser who worked for the foundation for five months and left in 2008, told the Chronicle of Philanthropy that her knowledge base is fabulous, though he described her management style as just oppressive. The foundation saw assets soar last year by $5.3 billion, or 65 percent, to $13.5 billion more than the Ford Foundation. Kate Galbraith is The San Francisco Chronicles assistant business editor. Email: kgalbraith@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @kategalbraith A couple allegedly tortured and murdered a 70-year-old Vietnam War veteran in Hanford, Calif. in an attempt to gain access to his financial information, police say. Kenneth Coyle, a retired contractor for Naval Air Station Lemoore first met Stacie Mendoza, one of the accused murderers, in a Hanford restaurant where she worked as a waitress, according to the Hanford Police Department. The two became friends, but police believe Mendoza was secretly using the friendship to gain access to Coyle's financial information, Hanford Police Captain Karl Anderson said during a press conference Monday. "We think she manipulated that relationship to gain his trust and defraud him of money," Anderson said. "As this relationship grew, we know that Ms. Mendoza started getting access to his bank account information and started getting money from him." Police say that on April 5, Mendoza and her husband Jose went to Coyle's house and tortured the veteran in an attempt to get him to reveal more financial information. Now Playing: What are your chances of becoming a victim of violent crime or property crime in San Francisco compared to other major US cities. Video: Ted Andersen, SFGATE "They restrained him on a bed and beat him to get access to his bank account information, passwords and other account information," Anderson said. After the suspected torture, Coyle died of "blunt force trauma and suffocation." A few days later, the Mendozas and their three children allegedly drove to nearby Madera County and burned Coyle's body. "We know the children were taken to where the body was burned and watched the body burn," Anderson said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Police say that the Mendozas then returned to Coyle's house to steal more of his items last week, but were spotted by property management employees. The Mendozas reportedly told the employees that Coyle had been hurt and was recovering at a care home in Northern California. Suspicious of the Mendozas' story, the employees called police, who were able to track Coyle's cell phone to the family's home in Fresno. Police later apprehended the couple at a Denny's near Los Angeles International Airport. Jose Mendoza had Coyle's credit card and a plane ticket to his native El Salvador in his possession at the time of his arrest. The Mendozas are being held without bail, and their children are in the custody of Child Protective Services. As a long-standing observer of celebrity/fan interaction, I divide the stars into two categories: The ones who go through the motions of meeting their admirers with their eyes glazed and their attention turned inward (when will this be over?) and the ones who look around a crowded room, trading glances and perhaps scraps of conversation with those peering at them, in a fair exchange of star radiance for star worship. When it comes to meeting the public, Diane Keaton is the good kind of celebrity. Shed said she didnt want to talk to the press at the Sacramento Street design store Hudson/Grace on Tuesday, where she was face to face, hand to (fingerless-gloved) hand with 400 fans whod lined up on the sidewalk outside to buy her $70 book and to meet her while she signed it. But she had a mini-conversation with each buyer and posed for souvenir snapshots taken by a staffer who used buyers cell phones to do the deed. (I can reliably report that store owners Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton passed the Starbucks test; you didnt have to buy a book to meet Keaton. Three non-buying non-selfie-taking women waited in line to give her a tote bag emblazoned with their company logo, and they did get to meet her.) The cover of Keatons book, The House That Pinterest Built, is black-and-white, and the elegant store had been staged in keeping with that color scheme, which was also how Keaton was dressed. The book, published in October and in its fifth printing, is about her designing her own house and its interiors. Shes a frequent customer at the Los Angeles area Hudson/Grace in Brentwood, the store owners said, and when someone had broached the idea of doing a San Francisco appearance, she drove up for the occasion. Invitations were sent and the event was full in a day. There was a tent outside for a row of booksellers. Buyers made their purchases, then waited patiently in a line that stretched outside and along the sidewalk. The customers were overwhelmingly female and overwhelmingly, in keeping with at least one half of the events color scheme, white. Keaton may be a role model for women of a certain age, but most of them streaked, highlighted, tipped and balayaged hadnt bought into that gray-haired thing. And while the authors quirky taste is legendary, and who doesnt love a good book about home design, Im guessing there were as many women there intent on peering at her up close as there were women there in search of tips about throw pillows. Catherine Hedrick came away from her conversation with Keaton with a grin on her face. Theyd talked about interior design. What did she tell you? I asked. She said, Enjoy yourself and have fun with it, said Hedrick. Who could argue? As to the Stanford intelligentsia: Marilyn and Irv Yalom her new book is The Amorous Heart, his is Becoming Myself: A Psychiatrists Memoir hosted a party to celebrate the publication of Cynthia Havens Evolution of Desire: A Life of Rene Girard. The books a biography of the late French historian/literary critic/philosopher, who was the second member of the Stanford faculty named to the Academie francaise and spent 30 years there. The academic circle that was completed at this gathering was that when Girard was at Johns Hopkins before coming to Stanford, Marilyn Yalom was his first graduate student. Meanwhile, in Berkeley: The Bay Area Book Festival, Saturday, April 28, and Sunday, April 29, in downtown Berkeley, sent word of its multitude of events, seminars, discussions and more, featuring an array of familiar big-name authors: Robert Reich, Pico Iyer, Rebecca Solnit, Alice Waters, Dave Eggers, Catherine Coulter, Geneen Roth, Barbara Ehrenreich, Peggy Orenstein, Joyce Maynard and more. But maybe because of the irresistible in her name, my browsing glance focused on Ellen Stkken Dahl, co-author of Norways bestseller The Wonder Down Under. Let its name not mislead you; its not a book about kangaroos. The subtitle is The Insiders Guide to the Anatomy, Biology, and Reality of the Vagina. The book, which came out of a blog written by two medical students, sold out in three days when it was published in Norway last year. Was it a coincidence that Norway was named the happiest country in the world in 2017? Leah Garchik is open for business in San Francisco, (415) 777-8426. Email: lgarchik@sfchronicle.com; Twitter: @leahgarchik Public Eavesdropping My son isnt a doctor, but hes a pretty good bartender. As the House Agriculture Committee debated the 2018 Farm Bill on Wednesday in Washington, the most controversial component of the bill had nothing to do with agriculture, but rather, hunger. Bay Area food banks and House Democrats said that the countrys most vulnerable populations would be severely hurt by Republicans proposed changes to food stamps, or the Supplemental Nutrition Assistance Program portion of the bill. House Republicans have proposed more stringent food stamp eligibility and work requirements, which anti-hunger groups say will lead to millions losing an essential but modest safety net that provides an average of $1.40 per person per meal. Theres no argument that this bill will put 1.6 million Americans off of SNAP, and that, Mr. Chairman, is quite honestly the purpose of your bill, said Rep. David Scott, D-Georgia, during the Agriculture Committee meeting. Congress is supposed to renegotiate the Farm Bill a set of federal food and agriculture policies every five years, and the current bill expires Sept. 30. Agriculture Committee Chairman Mike Conaway, R-Texas, presented the bill last week without the participation of Democrats, who refused to take part because of the proposed food stamp overhaul. I am hopeful Democrats will not hold the nations farmers and ranchers hostage in this process over the SNAP work and training requirements, which will provide SNAP beneficiaries not just a benefit, but a better future that only a job can provide, said Conaway in a statement after Republicans passed the bill out of the committee. The next step is for the House to vote on the bill. The Farm Bill proposes shifting billions of dollars away from direct benefits to job training programs and expands work requirements to include those age 50-59 and parents of minors over age 5. The changes would lead to a decrease of $20 billion in direct benefits over 10 years, according to the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities, a research and policy institute that focuses on programs serving low-income communities. Bay Area food banks expressed outrage at the proposed changes. These cuts will mean that people will go hungry, said Paul Ash, executive director of the SF-Marin Food Bank, which is licensed to help low-income residents apply for CalFresh, the name for the food stamp program in California. The SF-Marin Food Bank also provides free groceries at neighborhood food pantries and ingredients to soup kitchens. This is a partisan bill that seems to be trying to save money at all costs, even at the risk of taking money from an effective program. Food stamp benefits make up a majority of spending under the Farm Bill, costing $68 billion in 2017, when it served 42 million people, according to the U.S. Department of Agriculture. Thats down from a historic, post-recession peak of almost $80 billion in 2013, when enrollment reached 47 million. Republicans disagree with the Center for Budget and Policy Priorities estimates, arguing that the nutrition portion of the bill will be budget-neutral, as the Congressional Budget Office has reported. Republicans argue that the stricter work requirements are necessary, estimating that out of the 3.5 million households receiving benefits with a family member who should be required to work under the current rules, only 30 percent actually do. This is exactly the time when we need to pull people out of poverty, off of welfare, into the workforce so they can get good careers, so they can get livelihoods, House Speaker Paul Ryan said last week in support of the bill. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. Under current rules, able-bodied adults those who are not disabled or pregnant between the ages of 18 and 49 who do not have dependents are required to work or receive job training for 20 hours per week. The new bill raises the age to 59 and does not exempt those with children over 5. A parent of a 6-year-old wouldnt be exempt even if they couldnt get after-school or summertime child care, for example, in order to work at least 20 hours. The eligibility changes could hit Bay Area residents particularly hard because of the higher cost of living, as the bill also changes rules around the income cutoff required to qualify for benefits. California residents who earn up to 200 percent of the poverty level, $49,200 for a family of four, currently qualify for benefits. The new bill would drop the income cutoff to 130 percent of the federal poverty level, $31,980 for a family of four. If someone started to earn slightly more, they would no longer qualify. If Im a working family and I go out and I improve my income, and my SNAP benefits get taken away, then I actually get poorer, said Sue Sigler, executive director of the California Association of Food Banks in Oakland. In Alameda County, an estimated 110,000 residents are enrolled in CalFresh, 60 percent of them children, said Stephen Knight, director of policy and partnerships at the Alameda County Community Food Bank. Its outrageous to make this kind of proposal just a few short months after giving massive tax cuts to the wealthy and corporations, said Knight, referring to the $1.5 trillion in tax cuts passed by the Trump administration in December. We need to strengthen this program, not to cut it. Tara Duggan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: tduggan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @taraduggan After more than 30 former employees accused him of sexual harassment in Chronicle investigations published in December and March, Charlie Hallowell is selling Boot & Shoe Service, one of his three Oakland restaurants. Yet Boot & Shoe Service, which serves pizzas and cocktails, wont change in name or concept, said new owner Jen Cremer. She will be taking over the ownership of the restaurant with her husband, Richard Clark, within two months. They are applying for a small business loan and getting financial backing from friends and family. Cremer says that she and her husband are buying 100 percent of the business from Hallowell and his business partner, Richard Weinstein. Were trying to make the transition very seamless, said Cremer, who said the chef, menus and recipes will stay the same. Were trying to preserve everything that makes the restaurant great. Cremer was previously a manager at Hallowells restaurant Pizzaiolo and had been working at Boot & Shoe for the past two months. Until recently, Clark was on the management team at Tartine Manufactory and is working toward a Masters of Sommeliers certification. This was the right time for us to hand over ownership, and we look forward to working together to make this a seamless transition, said Donna Insalaco, who was hired as chief operating officer of the restaurant group in March, in a press release. Our intent is now to focus on our other two restaurants, Pizzaiolo and Penrose, as well as our future expansion plans. The release didnt elaborate on those plans. In February, the restaurant group announced that a previously planned second location of Boot & Shoe Service, set to open Feb. 1, had been put on hold indefinitely after the sexual misconduct scandal came to light. On Wednesday, Cremer and Clark told the staff, including chef Bradley Ceynowa, that they could continue to work at the restaurant. This particular location had seen significant turnover when seven of its previous managers and chefs resigned in January in protest to Hallowell staying on as owner. A lot of the staff is new, and were focusing on training, Cremer said. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Cremer said things have been slow at Boot & Shoe recently but that its hard to tell if thats just because its a quiet time of year. Its a slow season no matter whats going on, whether your owners under fire or not, she said. Were definitely gearing up to the busier season and better weather. I think everyones really excited to move past this. Boot & Shoe Service: 3308 Grand Ave., Oakland. Shake Shack, the hamburger chain founded by New York restaurateur Danny Meyer, has finally chosen a site in San Francisco: the former Real Food Co. market at 3060 Fillmore St. in Cow Hollow. The natural-foods market, on the corner of Fillmore and Filbert streets, closed in 2016 after 19 years in business and has remained vacant since then. The owners of the building have filed an application to break up the 12,000-square-foot property into a fitness studio and restaurant, according to Shake Shack. SocketSite had previously reported on the plans. Despite continuing complaints from President Trump, Gov. Jerry Brown is sending up to 400 members of the California National Guard to the Mexican border where they will follow his rules and not Trumps. In a statement released Wednesday, the governor said the troops would combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers within the state, along the coast and at the U.S.-Mexico border. But he also provided a wide-ranging list of what the California soldiers wont be doing. The Guard shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, Brown said. The governor also made it clear that he, not Trump, is the ultimate commander of the California National Guard. He told Guard officials that they must refuse missions that would exceed the mission scope and limitations outlined above, or missions that do not meet a valid state and/or national security interest. They also wont be building Trumps border wall, the governor said. Brown said the federal government has agreed to pay for the California Guards operations. The deployment is scheduled to last at least until Sept. 30, the end of the federal fiscal year. While Brown announced last week that he would comply with the presidents request for California troops along the border, he and the president have clashed over just what that would entail. Trump first praised Brown, then turned against him when it became clear the governor wouldnt let California troops enforce immigration laws. There is a Revolution going on in California, Trump said in a Wednesday morning tweet. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was welcoming, tweeting: Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! With the federal governments funding commitment and todays order from the governor, a signature on the agreement (the state) sent last week is no longer necessary, Evan Westrup, the governors spokesman, said in an email Wednesday evening. The terms of this deployment are consistent with those spelled out in the letter the governor sent (to the federal government) last week. Trump said he wanted California, Arizona, New Mexico and Texas to send 2,000 to 4,000 National Guard troops to the border, adding in a proclamation that he had no choice but to act because of the cross-border flow of illegal drugs, dangerous gang activity and extensive illegal immigration. The Republican governors of the other states promptly agreed without limiting their forces duties. Brown has consistently tried to downplay his disagreements with Trump on the troop deployment. In an appearance Tuesday at the National Press Club in Washington, D.C., he said the state was close to an agreement over the troops and that it was no big deal to add a few hundred more Guard soldiers to those already fighting cross-border crime and drug smuggling. Theres been a little bit of back-and-forth, as you always get with bureaucrats. But I think we can find common understanding here, the governor said. Theres enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do and were willing to do it. Even in his mobilization order Wednesday, Brown tried to smooth over any dispute with federal officials. The announcement reflects two weeks of productive discussions between the Brown administration including the California National Guard and the Governors Office of Emergency Services and its federal counterparts, the governor wrote, noting that it follows similar targeted Guard assistance provided by the state in 2006 under President Bush and in 2010 under President Obama. That last part may be a nod to Democrats and others who have argued that California should refuse to cooperate with Trump, arguing that the presidents plan for sending troops to the border is just another attempt to get tough on immigrants. Brown announced the deployment soon after he returned to California on Wednesday after a three-day trip to Toronto and Washington, D.C. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Dante Zedd can barely recognize Clawson, the West Oakland neighborhood hes lived in for more than three decades. He calls Clawson Dogtown, a nickname he says was earned because of the stray dogs that once roamed the streets nuzzling for food. The dogs barking in Dogtown these days are on leashes or in yards with sturdy fences. This aint the neighborhood that I grew up in, Zedd told me one recent Saturday afternoon from the stoop where he watches Dogtowns daily transformation. This the neighborhood I wish I grew up in. Zedd, 41, is the single father of a 5-year-old daughter. He works as a nighttime janitor at Peralta Community College. I met him last year as he was emptying trash cans at the college, where I host a monthly music show for KGPC. Id been looking to tell a story about gentrification from the eyes of someone whos watched their neighborhood change. Zedd invited me to hang out on the steps of the house his mother owns on 32nd Street. She also owns the house next door. He says his family is among the last black property owners in the neighborhood. Houses and buildings in Dogtown are wrapped in scaffolding, and the whirring screech of power saws every morning can substitute for an alarm clock. It just seemed like you wake up bam! Its there, Zedd said. More developments and more new neighbors are coming. Two blocks away on Hollis Street, 124 apartments are on the rise. On Hannah Street, next to West Oakland Farm Park, the foundation of a four-story, mixed-use complex is being excavated and graded. When I walked by the other day, I asked about the dog tied to the fence surrounding the lot. I was told it belonged to the backhoe operator. Seven decades ago, Dogtown was settled by blacks who migrated from the South to work in Oaklands shipyards during World War II. The industrial area was one of the handful of neighborhoods where blacks, who were subjected to public housing segregation and discriminatory lending policies endorsed by the federal government, could find adequate and affordable housing. Once undesirable and bereft of outside investment, historically black and brown neighborhoods in San Francisco, Oakland, Richmond and other Bay Area cities are now inundated by housing and retail investors. This, unfortunately, means people of color get displaced. But what about the black families like Zedds who remain anchored in their neighborhoods? This is what gentrification looks like when it knocks on your door. When he was growing up, Dogtown was a neighborhood that wasnt safe for people to walk dogs. As Zedd told me this, a white couple passed walking a dog on their way to play fetch in the field near his house. We laughed at the timing. Its like everybody dead or in prison so now its OK for (white people) to move back in the hood, he said. Thats how it feel like. Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle He feels out of place at home, and hes worried about whether its safe for a black man to walk the streets of the neighborhood hes lived in for 36 years. Im an outcast now in my own neighborhood, he said. Ive been saying that for the past two or three years now. (New neighbors) drive by and look at me like, what am I doing here? How can I live here? Ive been here. The thing is, Zedd really didnt expect to be here alive. I always had it in my head growing up that I wouldnt live any longer than 25, said Zedd, who recalled a white day care teacher telling him he wouldnt amount to much. And when youre young, you think thats an old age anyway. There werent many jobs in the area, so he started slinging drugs in high school to earn money. I seen kids my age having nice things, he said. Nice cars with flashy gold rims. Nice sneakers and nice clothes. And the attention from girls, of course, was especially nice. I didnt see anybody successful unless they were drug dealers, he said. When I was growing up, they would give us money to go buy something from the store. They was the nice guys. I didnt register the risk of it all. I just saw all the glamour and glitz. I wanted to be a part of that. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. Zedds been shot once, with four bullets piercing his body. Even after hed left the street life and gotten a job, there were years when he didnt leave the house without a gun because he feared retribution for the things his friends had done. He told me only one childhood friend of his hasnt gotten shot. It sounded like a positive piece of his life until he added the friend is in federal prison without a real shot at life. Zedd understands that some people some of you reading this right now will have a hard time identifying with his struggle to build his life without access to resources. But its a plight that many black and brown people in the Bay Area face. You have to live it to understand it, he said. Dogtown was once a neighborhood to survive, a place to escape. Now its an attractive neighborhood within biking or walking distance of Emeryville stores. Still, Dogtowns future residents wont be able to overlook the tent communities in the neighborhood, like the sprawling encampment on Peralta Street. When Zedd drives past the camps, he recognizes people. I know they used to live in a home, he said. There are no more crack houses set up in abandoned homes in the neighborhood. Sure, thats a good thing. Photos by Scott Strazzante / The Chronicle Its good and bad everything thats going on in the neighborhood, he said. Its less crime. Its a safer neighborhood. But its just no identity. Everyone who deserves to be here or want to be here cant be here. But his daughter will grow up here. Im hoping that shell grow up and run around happy, he said. I hope she grow up not seeing race or color or anything and shell be able to enjoy a new neighborhood. And maybe when she gets older shell get the pony shes been asking for. They already have a dog. In an angry tweet that appeared to contradict his Homeland Security chief, President Trump said Thursday that the federal government will refuse to pay California National Guard troops if they wont keep illegal immigrants from crossing the Mexican border. By the end of the day, however, Trump had taken no action to pull funding from the California Guards deployment and, in fact, the Guard said the Pentagon was going to pay for its troops. Trump and his administration have sent a series of clashing messages about Californias plans for the past week, ever since Gov. Jerry Brown said he would go along with the presidents request to deploy Guard troops but not to intercept illegal immigrants crossing the border, as Trump had asked. Instead, Brown said on April 11, California soldiers would be pointed at such cross-border crimes as human trafficking and gun and drug smuggling. He seemed to belittle Trumps assertion that Guard forces were needed because of a cross-border flow of illegal immigrants, saying, There is no massive wave of migrants pouring into California. Trump, surprisingly, promptly tweeted his thanks, saying, Good move for the safety of our Country! Nothing changed with Browns plan over the weekend, but by Tuesday, Trump had done a 180. He tweeted, Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. Then on Wednesday, Brown declared that he was going ahead with his plan for the deployment and that the federal government had agreed to pay for it. He made it clear the 400 Guard troops would not engage in any direct law enforcement role (or) enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities. There was no immediate pushback from the administration. Far from it Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen was welcoming, tweeting Wednesday night: Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! That seemed to settle that until Thursday morning, when Trump returned to Twitter. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing, the president tweeted. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! At the Pentagon, reporters asked if Trumps tweet meant that the Defense Department wouldnt pay for the California Guards deployment. They didnt get much of an answer. The Pentagon will continue to support the Department of Homeland Security as they identify their needs and their requirements, said chief Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White. We are in a support role, White added. National Guard troops are ... under the governors command and control. The Department of Defense will stand ready to support DHS. Then the California Guards Twitter feed jumped into action. Drought Map Track water shortages and restrictions across Bay Area Check the water shortage status of your area, plus see reservoir levels and a list of restrictions for the Bay Areas largest water districts. At approx 11:30am PDT today, Guard officials tweeted, we received written confirmation from the Pentagon that itll continue to fund the @theCaGuard mission & personnel mobilized to combat transnatl crime consistent w/the order issued by @JerryBrownGov - & agreement announced w/the fed govt yesterday. In short, nothing has changed today. But theres always tomorrow, especially with a president as mercurial as Trump, who has shown himself more than willing to overrule his staff and Cabinet. As president, Trump could simply say he wont accept Browns conditions. That would allow the governor, as commander of the California National Guard, to refuse to deploy the troops. If Trump wanted to take stronger action, however, he has the right to federalize the National Guard. That would take Brown out of the picture by putting the troops under direct federal control. Since 1952, presidents have taken that drastic action only a handful of times, most often during the civil rights era. The only time it has happened in California was in 1992, during the riots that took place after four Los Angeles police officers were acquitted of beating Rodney King, despite being caught on video attacking the African American motorist. John Wildermuth is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jwildermuth@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jfwildermuth Among those who didnt treat state Sen. Scott Wieners transit-friendly housing bill as a latter-day Stamp Act warranting revolution, one popular tactic was to declare sympathy for it in concept. It was just the details, countless officials claimed the precise building heights allowed, the level of affordable-housing set-asides, the strength of displacement protections that kept them from offering full-throated support. The bills first hearing Tuesday, which saw it ceremoniously dispatched by a Senate panel ironically known as the Transportation and Housing Committee, proved to be an exercise in bluff calling. Wiener, D-San Francisco, had welcomed compromise, amending the bill to reduce permitted heights, discourage demolition and displacement of existing housing and tenants, and increase affordability requirements. But it wasnt really the details of the bill that bothered his fellow lawmakers; it was the concept. What distinguished and doomed Senate Bill 827 is that it would have overruled local officials use of planning, zoning and other barriers to block new housing, particularly high-density housing in existing neighborhoods, which they reliably do at the behest of incumbent residents. This local obstructionism is the essential ingredient of Californias multimillion-home shortage accounting for half the nations housing deficit by one recent estimate which wont be solved without limiting cities and towns precious power to stifle even reasonable, environmentally responsible development. Its why Senate Bill 827 had as much support among housing and urban planning experts as it lacked among politicians and self-appointed activists. This was a remarkably unifying cause. Even as those claiming to represent the poor accused the bill of letting wealthy communities slide, officials from the likes of Marin County and Beverly Hills belied that by queueing up in staunch opposition. Candidates for governor and San Francisco mayor alike approached it as either fodder for demagoguery or a question to be artfully dodged. Republican or Democratic, reactionary or progressive, urban or rural, northern or southern, the fear and loathing of new housing claims the broadest of California political coalitions, revealing exactly how we got the problem this legislation addressed. There will and should be more such efforts, but SB 827 demonstrated the depth and breadth of the states will to avoid its most pressing problem. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. Ng Han Guan / Associated Press 2015 As the United States and China approach the brink of a trade war, it would be wise to cast aside the inflammatory rhetoric to weigh the cost and benefit of such a war to the American people. President Trump accuses China of unfair trade practice leading to a huge trade surplus. Its not that simple. As many have pointed out, the trade imbalance is distorted when the value of all components in a product is attributed to China including components that China purchased and included in the final product. For example, Chinas content in an Apple iPhone is around 5 percent of the total value, but the total value is credited to China. Candy-colored mermaid tails breach the surface of ocean waves and flick in sync toward a smiling sun. Sparkly nail polish beams all the way to the second balcony; metallic ruffs adorn shirtless chests. High Elizabethan English is brought low: Ventilate the belfry of thy mind. A dancer, standing stock-still, undulates his abs with such amplitude that its as if his stomach muscles alone are doing the break-dance move known as the Worm. To all this flash and fizz, Head Over Heels, which opened Wednesday, April 18, at the Curran, adds the fun of the Go-Gos. Hits from the groundbreaking 80s band such as We Got the Beat, Our Lips Are Sealed and Vacation give the musical a surging pulse, a raw edge, a rebel vibe. (And fittingly, an all-female live band performs Tom Kitts arrangements.) But as the confection heads to Broadway this summer, it needs some tweaks to rise into the cream puff it wants to be. Based on the Renaissance play The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney, the show centers on an ancient Greek royal family cursed by Pythio, the Oracle of Delphi (Peppermint) to have its daughters Pamela (Bonnie Milligan) and Philoclea (Alexandra Socha) bed and wed unexpected suitors, its king (Jeremy Kushnier) commit adultery against his queen (Rachel York) and the whole family lose its kingdom of Arcadia. The characters in Head Over Heels might be silly, eyeballs darting wildly back and forth, but paradoxically, that silliness needs to be grounded in watertight logic to register. You cant, in Scene 6, say, insist that a pair are crazy about each other when in the preceding five scenes theyve communicated only mild exasperation with one another or, worse, total apathy. If Arcadias whole shtick is that its the kingdom with the beat, and thats what its so afraid of somehow losing with the Oracles prophecy, maybe the show should mention or illustrate this beat more often than just at the very beginning and very end. Book writer James Magruder, adapting from an original book conceived by Jeff Whitty, fails to launch the show with a clear focus. At first it seems like soubrette Mopsa (Taylor Iman Jones) will ground the story as narrator, but the script almost never returns to her, and whenever it does, her explanation pads rather than expedites. Then it seems like the king, journeying to the shape-shifting Oracle, will tie the story together, but he proves more MacGuffin than mainspring, as the show finally settles on the forbidden loves of the daughters. Still, Michael Mayers direction affords plenty of joys. Lights by Kevin Adams capture the fires of lust; each time hues shift from, say, electric blue to magenta to bleached yellow, its as if characters desire has burned through something new. Costumes by Arianne Phillips ingeniously marry eras how do you communicate swimsuit while still looking Elizabethan? and amp up the shows overall ridiculousness. The king and queen, in particular, look as if they got pummeled by Bejeweled Blitz. To help find its beat, the rest of Head Over Heels might look to the zany pitch of Andrew Durand as Musidorus, a shepherd. He gives each discovery a conveniently abandoned trunk of costumes, an invitation to fold ladies underwear that extra zing of life that comes from core-to-fingertips ownership of character and situation. If the calibre of singing varies, Sochas voice spins gold, especially on the lesser-known Go-Gos song Good Girls, and Yorks weathered rock star timbre, with a yowl waiting to erupt from every note, is so perfect for the material you wish she had more numbers. But even with little stage time, she proves what fans already knew: that the Go-Gos music was ripe for musical theater. Lily Janiak is The San Francisco Chronicles theater critic. Email: ljaniak@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @LilyJaniak Head Over Heels: Book adapted by James Magruder from original book conceived by Jeff Whitty, based on The Arcadia by Sir Philip Sidney. Music and lyrics by the Go-Gos, with orchestrations and arrangements by Tom Kitt. Directed by Michael Mayer. Through May 6. Two hours, 40 minutes. $29-$175. The Curran, 445 Geary St., S.F. (415) 358-1220. www.sfcurran.com Online: To hear from the shows creative team: www.youtube.com/watch?v=w1ivOahOJdo A big-money ad war in Californias governors race officially started Thursday when a billionaire-backed independent expenditure campaign touting Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa launched a seven-figure buy that will blast a commercial on TV screens statewide for at least a week. The 30-second spot, titled Ahead, is intended to introduce the former Los Angeles mayor to voters who may not have been paying close attention to the June 5 primary race. It says violent crime in L.A. dropped by nearly 50 percent during Villaraigosas time in office, from 2005 to 2013, an assertion that the nonpartisan fact-checkers at Politifact California rate as mostly true. The ad is funded by an organization called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, which is run by the California Charter Schools Association Advocates. Last week, Netflix CEO Reed Hastings pledged $7 million to the independent group, and Los Angeles real estate entrepreneur Eli Broad promised $1.5 million. The money is helpful to the Villaraigosa camp, which had only $5.9 million cash on hand at the end of 2017 less than a third of what Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom had. Campaigns and independent expenditure group are banned from coordinating their activities or co-mingling funds. Most polls show that Newsom is leading the race, with Villaraigosa battling with John Cox, a GOP businessman from Rancho Santa Fe (San Diego County), for the other spot in the general election. But backers of the pro-Villaraigosa independent expenditure group think voters are still searching for their favorite candidate in a race that has yet to catch fire. Newsom isnt running away from the field, and about a third of voters remain undecided, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant running the independent group. Polling over the past two years shows Gavin hasnt gained support, and most recently shows Gavin losing votes, Pulliam said. People are looking for a different kind of governor. We want to introduce them to Antonio. In politics, the soft-focus biographical ads usually come first. Then, theyre followed by hard-hitting attacks on opponents. It wont be long before we find out if that pattern holds true here. Joe Garofoli is the San Francisco Chronicles senior political writer. Email: jgarofoli@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @joegarofoli SACRAMENTO A California lawmaker asked the Assembly to issue a subpoena to a Bay Area woman who is willing to testify in support of a bill but is barred by a nondisclosure agreement with her former employer. The subpoena, if granted by Speaker Anthony Rendon, D-Paramount (Los Angeles County), could become a new tool for the Legislature to allow victims of sexual harassment, wage theft and discrimination to talk publicly, despite forced arbitration agreements and settlements that require that they keep their silence. Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher, D-San Diego, said the Legislature has not issued a subpoena in more than a decade. She hopes to use it to enable Tara Zoumer to testify in open session next week. Zoumer was an associate community manager at WeWork, a multibillion-dollar startup that rents office space to entrepreneurs, when the company instituted a policy in 2015 requiring workers to agree to take employment disputes to binding arbitration instead of court. Zoumer told the New York Times in 2016 that WeWork fired her when she refused to sign the policy. She then sued the company, claiming wrongful termination. She said Wednesday that she could no longer publicly discuss anything about her employment at WeWork because of a nondisclosure agreement she signed last year as part of a lawsuit settlement. Zoumer appeared at a Capitol news conference Wednesday in support of Gonzalez Fletchers bill, AB3080, but said she could not talk about her case. WeWork declined to comment. Many nondisclosure agreements require those who enter into them to repay the money awarded in a settlement if they speak about their case. They can also be exposed to further financial damages. Nondisclosure pacts are often included in binding arbitration settlements. According to the Economic Policy Institute, more than 60 million workers in the country are barred from filing lawsuits against their employers because of binding-arbitration policies. Subpoenaing Zoumer to testify before the Assembly would legally free her from her nondisclosure agreement, Gonzalez Fletcher said. This would be a historic step, she said. Whether we can use the subpoena power on a larger scale and give more women who wish to speak publicly the opportunity to do so is something we will be investigating. Gonzalez Fletchers bill would ban employers from requiring workers to sign waivers forcing them to go to arbitration when they file a complaint alleging sexual assault, harassment, discrimination, retaliation or other claims. Companies could still offer such waivers to workers on a voluntary basis, but would be barred from retaliating against those who decline. A subpoena would compel, and thus allow, Tara (Zoumer) to testify, Gonzalez Fletcher said. Because of (a nondisclosure agreement), this is the only way we can actually understand more about what is happening during this agreements. Rendons office said the speaker was reviewing the request. Supporters of the bill, including the California Labor Federation and the United Food and Commercial Workers union, said forced-arbitration agreements are most commonly used in industries that employ large numbers of low-wage workers. Because victims are prevented from talking about wrongdoing at work, instances of wage theft and discrimination are not being reported to the California labor commissioner and complaints are kept out of courts, supporters say. Gonzalez Fletcher said forced-arbitration policies can also enable serial sexual harassers to avoid exposure. It creates a system that is unaccountable to the public, said Evelyn Rangel Medina of the Restaurant Opportunity Centers of California, a nonprofit that supports restaurant workers. Business groups like the California Chamber of Commerce oppose the bill, saying it will increase the number of lawsuits against employers. That will benefit only trial lawyers, not employees, they argue. Low-wage workers already face financial barriers to filing lawsuits, and removing arbitration agreements will make disputes harder to resolve, opponents say. Gonzalez Fletchers bill would not rescind nondisclosure agreements that have already been signed. Among the bills supporters is Susan Fowler, a former software engineer at Uber who wrote a blog post about alleged sexism at the company, prompting several other women to reveal similar conduct in Silicon Valley. Fowler was required to sign a binding-arbitration agreement when she accepted the job at Uber, preventing her from suing the company. There was no path to justice for me or my co-workers, Fowler said Wednesday. Ending forced arbitration is the single most import thing the Legislature can do to prevent harassment and discrimination in the workplace. Melody Gutierrez is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mgutierrez@sfchronicle.com. Twitter: @MelodyGutierrez Flower vendors opposed to being temporarily relocated to the Embarcadero while the San Francisco Flower Mart is redeveloped won a victory this week when the group behind the project said it was planning to move the businesses to a property in an industrial area on the south side of Potrero Hill instead. Kilroy Realty says the preferred location for the temporary flower market is 2000 Marin St. It had previously been eyeing Pier 19-23 on the Embarcadero, a site many flower vendors opposed because of traffic congestion and a lack of parking. In a statement, Kilroy said it was committed to working with city officials to provide an outstanding temporary location at 2000 Marin St. during the construction phase of the brand new, state-of-the-art, permanent New Flower Mart at Sixth and Brannan streets. The location at Piers 19-23 would be considered only in the unlikely event that 2000 Marin St. ultimately is not available in the time frame necessary to begin construction on the New Flower Mart. The decision comes as the citys Planning Department works to finalize the Central SoMa plan, a rezoning that will pave the way for a new 2.1 million-square-foot office development on the site of the historic flower market at 640 Brannan St. While that project will also include a new 115,000-square-foot flower mart, the wholesale vendors will have to relocate during the three-year construction period. The flower mart, the second largest in the United States, has been at Sixth and Brannan for 62 years. On Tuesday, the Board of Supervisors unanimously approved a resolution by Supervisor Aaron Peskin urging the San Francisco Public Utilities Commission to trade a piece of city-owned property at 639 Bryant St. for the 2000 Marin St. property, which is owned by developer Tishman Speyer. The PUC could then rent the space to Kilroy. Tishman Speyer wants to acquire the Bryant Street property for a public park that will be part of another SoMa project, a 1.2 million-square-foot office complex. Peskin, who also helped negotiate a deal three years ago between the flower vendors and Kilroy about the future of the market, called the resolution a signal to the world that this is really going to happen. It is meant to allay the flower vendors fears about moving to a spot they perceive to be less desirable. Wholesale flower vendor Grace Su said she is not particularly excited about either the Embarcadero property or the Marin Street site, but if forced to choose she said she would side with her flower-selling colleagues, who overwhelmingly prefer the Marin Street site. I dont like either of them, but the reality is we have no choice but to relocate and there are not many options in the city, she said. The layout is better at 2000 Marin. Its more efficient and there is less traffic and more parking. J.K. Dineen is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jdineen@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @sfjkdineen On Jan. 26, 1939, the San Francisco Chronicle introduced its readers to a new material that, though they didnt know it at the time, would soon envelop them from toe to head. An article reported that the du Pont Co. was building a plant to turn its new coal-based fabric, nylon, into stockings. Fashion editor Ninon (one word!) gushed, When a gossamer sheer stocking can be worn every day for five months before it springs a hole, thats news! Three-quarters of a century later, our closets are filled with nylon and other plastic fabrics and a similar revolution in materials may be at hand. Instead of coal and oil, these new fibers, fabrics and leathers are made with genetically engineered microbes. The first generation of companies to harness yeasts, bacteria and fungi to make clothing may have originally set out to mimic silk and leather. But theyre quickly finding they can do much more. At the office and laboratory of Geltor, located above a big-box hardware store in San Leandro, founders Alex Lorestani and Nick Ouzounov hand me several pieces of leather. One tiny square is as thin and white as vellum. Another resembles a stiff brown belt. A third piece, golden and translucent, I cant stop touching. It stretches as if someone had managed to infuse cowskin with rubber. The 3-year-old startup ferments yeast cells that are genetically programmed to synthesize animal collagen, the primary protein in skin, cartilage and tendons. Geltor is preparing to sell collagen to the cosmetics industry, but also plans to turn it into vegan, food-grade gelatin and leather. Rethinking how leather is produced gives designers all sorts of room to play. Sara Kinney / Modern Meadow 2017 Cows come in pretty standard sizes, Lorestani says. If a cow was the size of a conference room, what could you do with that unbroken, unscarred expanse of skin? The scrap Im fondling isnt even from a giant virtual cow. Its a proof of concept, a sheet used to bind a copy of Paul Shapiros 2017 book Clean Meat, about the cultured meat industry. And the collagen used to make it has the same molecular structure as jellyfish. The sample sets the imagination spinning: Why does leather have to come from a cow or an alligator? Can we custom-create leathers to conform to our needs? Design, as weve seen it, is something that happens at the end of the process, when youre handed a material off the shelf, says Suzanne Lee, chief creative officer at Modern Meadow in New Jersey and the founder of Biofabricate, a 5-year-old conference on these new materials. What biofabrication technology allows for is that design can start right at the beginning. Modern Meadow started off making steak chips grown from bovine cells, but switched to cultured leather from bioengineered yeasts. In the fall, the company displayed its biofabricated leather, branded Zoa, at the Museum of Modern Art and a New York pop-up shop. Zoa is based on bovine collagen. But that doesnt make it an exact substitute for cow leather. We could create a two-dimensional sheet on a roll, Lee says. But we can also paint with it, we can spray it, and we can integrate it with other textiles. The creative toolbox becomes super interesting, and far beyond what you could do with a traditional animal. The most popular prototype at Modern Meadows pop-up in New York was a swath of (traditional) silk with nanofibers of collagen sprayed onto it in big circles. The texture of the combined fabrics was like nothing Id ever felt, Lee says. The field of biofabricated materials is in its early days. Neither Geltor nor Modern Meadow have any products on the market. While MycoWorks (based in San Francisco), Ecovative Design and Grand Zero Espace are making leathers from cultured mycelium the fibrous, vegetative part of a fungal organism only the latter company is selling small pieces of its MuSkin products to the public. In 2016, North Face sold limited quantities of a $1,000 Moon Parka made with spider silk biofabricated by a Japanese company named Spiber but only in Japan. In December, San Franciscos Bolt Threads put up for sale 100 knit caps whose yarn was a blend of merino wool and cultured spider silk, and they disappeared almost immediately. (Bolt just announced it will be taking orders for a bag made of mycelium leather, produced with Ecovative, in June.) AMSilk is responsible for the next biofabricated clothing item customers may be able to buy: a running shoe from Adidas whose upper is woven from its Biosteel spider silk. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. According to company CEO Jens Klein, the shoe isnt just biodegradable or, well, cool. The silk protein that AMSilk cultures from bacteria and spins into fibers offers numerous performance advantages: Its lighter and better at wicking moisture away from the foot, and may be less likely to collect bacteria on its surface. Plus, he adds, Its better feeling. Why spiders, when traditional silk is such a luxurious fabric? Bolt Threads Silkworm silk is not something that yields really any performance, Klein says. Given spider silks elasticity and strength, AMSilk is finding other uses for the protein in liquid form, such as cosmetic creams, and is culturing green lacewing silk whose stiffness may eventually make it a good analog for Kevlar. Building the infrastructure to biofabricate fabrics and leathers and do it affordably may be the major hurdle right now, just as it was with nylon stockings in 1939. The challenge isnt that the market isnt ready for (these materials), Lee says. Theres huge demand from the fashion industry. From customers as well. This is a new, emerging category of materials that may give me what I love about an animal product the look, the feel but an animal hasnt lost its life in order for that to happen, Lee adds. Or I dont want to use a plastic material that is going to sit in a landfill for the next hundred thousand years. The most efficient solution to getting there is not around the existing class of materials, Geltors Lorestani says. Its around new features in the tree of life that havent been explored. Jonathan Kauffman is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jkauffman@sfchronicle.com. Twitter and Instagram: @jonkauffman Bar Crenn calls itself a wine bar. Is it, though? On one hand, it looks like a bar. There are no tablecloths. The lighting is dim. The food is mostly bite-size. On the other hand, it feels like a fancy restaurant. Reservations are encouraged. Service is formal. Oh, and its expensive. Shockingly possibly even traumatically expensive. My bill for two people was over $400. We didnt even get a bottle. Let me be clear: Im not opposed to spending money on good food and wine. Judging from how busy many of our citys upscale restaurants are, neither are many of you. In fact, a truly great experience in a restaurant or bar is one of the things Im happiest to splurge on. So what bothers me about Bar Crenn is not simply the sticker price. What bothers me is the strange incongruity between what it purports to be a casual living room hangout and what it is. What bothers me is that the gap between expectation and reality, for a visitor, is so wide that it feels downright blindsiding. Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle Take, for example, the reservation system. Bar Crenn reservations are available on Tock, the ticketing service used by restaurants like the French Laundry, Saison and Single Thread. You can book a caviar tasting ($165), the carte blanche tasting menu ($85), a reservation deposit ($50) or a counter deposit ($50). I admit I found the differences between these designations confusing, especially since Bar Crenns website has no menu and, therefore, no prices listed. Why were some of these options tickets, and others merely deposits? How much could I expect to spend on food? What was the carte blanche menu? Did the counter option signify a more formal experience, like a chefs table, or a less formal experience, like sitting at the bar? Did any of them include drinks? (No.) Its confusing. But heres what you need to know: All of the Tock tickets serve as deposits and will be subtracted from your check. Dont expect that the ticket price will reflect your final bill, or even your food cost. Despite the formality of the ticketing system, the space itself is a lounge. The seating options, apart from the white pelt-capped barstools along the marble bar, consist of hulking armchairs and cushy couches situated around coffee tables. Baroque chandeliers, built-in bookshelves and throw blankets draped over chair backs (more white pelts) add to the feeling that youre in the living room of your quirky Francophile great-aunt. You wouldnt mistake it for a restaurant, especially not for Atelier Crenn, located right next door. The style of cuisine is different here from Atelier Crenn and Petit Crenn, the chefs two other San Francisco restaurants. Here, most of the dishes have been borrowed from famous French chefs, and the food is old-school the sort thats not afraid of cream or offal. In many cases the dishes are so rich that they seem quaint: A recent menu included potee de cochon, pig trotters in broth (attributed to chef Arnault Lallement; $24), and cromesquis, pork croquettes with black truffle (Sylvestre Wahid; $10). Wine director Matt Montrose has assembled a French-focused list, especially strong in Burgundy, with a healthy dose of California and a sprinkling of other European wines. The Southern Hemisphere is absent. Twenty wines are offered by the glass, ranging from $15 (Lodi Graciano from Sheldon winery) to $50 (Krug Grand Cuvee Champagne). On the whole, its a good by-the-glass list, if weighted toward the higher end of the price spectrum. Many pours represent lesser-known producers from better-known regions, which I appreciate: Chateau Larruau from Margaux, in Bordeaux; La Raimbauderie from Sancerre, in the Loire Valley. Happily, there are some wild cards. A cuvee called Recto/Verso ($20/glass), from Domaine des Accoles in the Ardeche region of southeast France, is a still blanc de noirs of Grenache, blended with a little bit of the white grape Clairette. Its a fascinating wine, tactile and leesy, giving a whiff of Parmesan rind. From Samuel Tinon, a French-born winemaker working in Hungary, is a rendition of Harslevelu ($16/glass), a variety typically used for Tokaji dessert wines. Though dry, it carries many of the rich, honeyed tones typical of Tokaji, with a mineral tone, reminiscent of white ash. Mason Trinca / Special to The Chronicle In other words, its possible at Bar Crenn to discover something new, delicious, unexpected as it should be at any competent wine bar. And yet this sense of discovery feels dampened by the unnecessary formality of the Bar Crenn experience. The living room concept feels hamstrung given how expensive and utensil-intensive the food is. A $32 serving of quenelles Lyonnaises, for example, mounds of seafood mousse in a crayfish-cream sauce, does not lend itself easily to a bar format. Nor does the three-course tasting menu, which on a recent evening included a dish of crab encased in thin avocado slices, and an egg and bone marrow custard, topped with caviar and served inside its shell. Barring the mignardises that come for dessert, it all required silverware. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. You might, as I did, find it a little bit excruciating to be leaning forward from the very edge of your cavernous armchair, slouching down to reach your knife and fork to the coffee table, whose surface was roughly level with my knees. If I am paying $85 for a meal, should I have to slouch to eat it? Even from a lauded chef like Dominique Crenn, $85 is a lot for three small courses; if youre hungry, it wont feel like dinner. The suggested pairings with the tasting menu will run you $65. On a recent visit, the pairings included a German Weissburgunder (elsewhere known as Pinot Blanc), a Sancerre rose of Pinot Noir and a dessert wine from Frances Jurancon made from botrytized Petit Manseng. Interesting? Sure. Were those three pours worth $65? No. Was this simply a matter of mismanaged expectations? For instance, if Bar Crenn had been billed as a Dominique Crenn restaurant, rather than as a wine bar, would it have felt less jarring? Maybe. But even within the limited universe of Dominique Crenn, the Bar Crenn menus do not represent good value: At Petit Crenn, the chefs Hayes Valley restaurant, the six-course tasting menu runs $95, and the wine pairings $70 just $10 and $5 more than at Bar Crenn. Petit Crenn restaurant has an excellent wine list, overseen now by Mikayla Cohen. Its menu constitutes a full meal, and a beautiful one one Ive paid for before and would happily pay for again. I left Bar Crenn with a lingering question: Do San Francisco diners really want an elevated version of every type of experience? At some point, the very elements that let Bar Crenn pass as a wine bar the coffee tables, the light bites start to feel like a rip-off. Id rather drink great wine in a legitimately casual setting, as is possible in so many San Francisco bars. Barring that, Id rather spend my money on an actual, proper meal. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. Email: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram: @esthermob To order: Wine, by the glass ($15 to $50) Where: Bar Crenn, 3131 Fillmore St., S.F. (415) 440-0460. www.barcrenn.com When: 4:30 p.m. to midnight Tuesday-Saturday. Closed Sunday-Monday. Heitz Wine Cellars, a renowned Napa Valley winery, has been sold to Gaylon Lawrence Jr., whose family owns one of the countrys largest agricultural businesses. The transaction includes 425 acres of vineyards, the winery and the tasting room. The purchase price was not disclosed, though an unnamed source in Wine Business speculated that it could go up to $180 million. Winemaker David Heitz and president and CEO Kathleen Heitz Myers, the second-generation stewards of the winery, will be stepping down from their roles. Robert Boyd, previously of Joseph Phelps Winery, has been named president and CEO. Its an exciting day, Boyd said. The whole Heitz family came to a decision that it was time for someone else to take it on. Heitz was not considered a likely candidate for a sale. Family-owned for more than 50 years, it was expected to pass into the hands of its third generation, in particular to David Heitzs son Harrison. While its not the first family-owned winery in Napa Valley to be sold to an outside company, it may be the highest-profile one other than Robert Mondavi Winery, which is now owned by Constellation Brands. Since Joe and Alice Heitz bought an 8-acre vineyard in St. Helena in 1961, their family has built Heitz Wine Cellars into one of Napa Valleys leading estates. What began with that modest vineyard has since expanded to include the Ink Grade, Linda Falls and Valley Oak Ranch sites. The winery produces 35,000 to 40,000 cases of wine annually. Sarah Rice/Special to The Chronicle 2014 Heitz is best known for its Cabernet Sauvignon from Marthas Vineyard, which is owned by the May family. The Lawrence transaction does not affect the ownership of Marthas Vineyard, and Boyd expects that Heitz will continue making the wine. Theres no plan to change any of the existing relationships, he said. Lawrence, who lives in Memphis and whose headquarters are in Arkansas, is a newcomer to the wine industry. But he is a veteran of agriculture in other forms. His family business, the 75-year-old Lawrence Group, owns one of the largest citrus groves in Florida, in addition to land in Illinois, Missouri, Arkansas and Mississippi. Lawrence has expanded his familys business interests to include seven banks, including Tennessees F&M Bank, purchased in 2015 for $85 million in cash. Boyd indicated that this would not be Lawrences last winery transaction. Its hopefully the first of many investments that he makes, Boyd said of his new boss. Hes looking at vineyard acquisitions, hes looking at other winery acquisitions. He is certainly excited by our industry. Food Guide Top 25 Restaurants Where to eat in the Bay Area. Find spots near you, create a dining wishlist, and more. The main thing that we want to tell people is that theres no plans to change the wines stylistically, he said. Thats a crucial statement, since Heitz Marthas Vineyard Cabernet is famous for its herbal profile a flavor often described as like eucalyptus. While many attribute that flavor to the presence of eucalyptus trees in Marthas Vineyard, Kathleen Heitz Myers has long maintained that its simply a characteristic of the Cabernet Sauvignon grape variety. Theres always a little bit of mint in Cabernet Sauvignon, she said in a 2015 interview. Its a varietal characteristic. No immediate personnel changes are anticipated, apart from the departures of the Heitz siblings, Boyd said. Managing winemaker Brittany Sherwood remains on staff. Were hoping for continuity in our winemaking team, Boyd said, and Im hoping that means that if you look at a bottle of 2018 Heitz wines, it will have the same characteristics it always has. When asked whether the St. Helena tasting room will continue to offer complimentary tastings a rarity in Napa Valley Boyd said there are no plans now to start charging. But lets just say its early days, he added. Esther Mobley is The San Francisco Chronicles wine, beer and spirits writer. E-mail: emobley@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @Esther_mobley Instagram:@esthermob The first 11 (eleventh photo just added courtesy of Terri L. Roberts) photos in the slideshow are new. There are four photos taken by John Ashley Tyson, very shortly after the 1906 earthquake, showing the devastation. There are also some photos showing John and his wife in costume for their vaudeville act. Update: When I published the article, I never thought that I'd hear from John Tyson's family. The book was purchased at an estate sale, which often signals the end of the line for close heirs. It was exciting to hear from his grandchildren, Terri and John, fifth generation Bay Area Tysons. They wondered how my colleague, Jill Tucker, had come to own the book. Prior to the estate sale, the family had gone through the contents of their relative's house, looking for personal items to save. They had missed this book, and were hopeful that they could get it back. Without hesitation, Jill agreed to return the book. The estate belonged to John Tyson, Jr. who had passed away this past August. I established a rapport with Terri and her cousin John. As a result, they've shared some wonderful, original 1906 earthquake photos taken by their late grandfather. They also shared some history of him. Sometime after the 1906 earthquake, John and his wife Dorothy formed the vaudeville team of "Dot and Ash". Check the slideshow for some great images of them dressed to perform. They worked and socialized with the great magician, Harry Houdini. They both were mesmerized watching Houdini perform. Charlie Chaplin and his mother used to stay at the family ranch in Niles (now part of Fremont) when shooting films. He saw him film "The Tramp". Niles was used for films before the operation moved to Hollywood. According to family lore, Buster Keaton and the Keystone Kops would stay at the family ranch in Niles after a day of filming. John Tyson had a close friendship with Buster Keaton, who was seven or eight years his junior. He would tell the family how, after a day of filming, they would hear what sounded like a stampede coming towards the ranch--the Keystone Kops and Buster Keaton coming to have some fun. They would spend hours in the barn. On one occasion, Buster was practicing a part for filming some a stunt. It didn't go as planned and he hit his head and bust it open. There was no doctor available, so they went to San Quentin prison, where John Tyson's father was a guard. The prison doctor stitched him up. John would always say Buster Keaton was a comedic genius, and that he loved him. Original article: A colleague of mine, who is another passionate collector, told me of a book about the 1906 San Francisco earthquake that she had just gotten. She knows of my love for early San Francisco memorabilia, and asked me to take a look at her latest find. She had a book called "The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned," a first edition published in 1959. This alone is an OK find. The illustrations are great. But the book is not a rare one. I started thumbing through it and saw a firsthand account of the 1906 quake, handwritten by the book's owner in 1961. It's not a long account. But it's rare to find new ones after so many decades. It was a little difficult to transcribe the story. I tried to do it as written. The thing that got me was his recollection of the temblor shaking him out of bed, just in time to avoid having the skylight above come crashing down on him in the very spot he lay. The Napa earthquake that occurred in August of 2014 shook me out of bed. But, luckily nothing came falling down. The other thing that got me was his family being trapped in the apartment. Doors were no longer plumb. A neighbor had to chop a hole in the door with an ax so they could all escape. The building was burnt to the ground within two hours. Along with the book was a section of an Overland Monthly Magazine, published in 1906, showing the devastation from the quake and fire. I've included photos of the pages where the survivor, John Ashley Tyson, made annotations in the book, although a bit yellowed and worn with age. I've also included several photos and illustrations from the Overland Monthly Magazine. The following is from inside the flyleaf in the book "The Earth Shook, The Sky Burned," published by Double Day and Company Inc. written by William Bronson: "To Dad from Mom on his 73rd Birthday. July 12, 1961" ________________________________________________________ "The earthquake came at 5:13 a.m. on the morning of Wednesday April 18, 1906 - I was thrown out of bed just as a big glass sky light fell from ceiling and landed on my bed right where I was sleeping. Then I heard a great roar and everything smashing - I called mother and asked her what it was and she said earthquake. I could not get into my clothes so I wrapped a blanket around me and rushed to the front door when Maude & Hazel called me. Saw the Kingsbury Hotel all made of brick (4 stories) fall to the sidewalk. A woman in her night gown was half way out the window four stories high slid down the front wall as it went over and landed at her feet. Arch Heyward and father got an axe and chopped a big hole (and smashed the door down) in the outside door and Mother, Maude & Hazel and we came down the stairs one at a time and went through the hole. We were in an upper flat over some stores at 7th & Howard - between 7th and 8th. The whole building was leaning over just ready to fall. We lost everything we had in the world. (Had Arch not come when he did we would have burned to death.) maybe. All I has was my pants - shoes & shirt. Mother & sisters had just dress and shoes. Maude forgot her glasses and I took a chance & went up the stairs, got her glasses and a bird that we were taking care of. The fire was already across the street. The Heyward family of 6 and us 4 walked over to a little park. Mr. Heyward worked for a trucking firm. He got a gravel wagon and took us all to the Ferry Bld - We got the only boat out that day 2:30 p.m. and went to my grand mothers ranch at Niles - Dad was doing guard duty at San Quentin - We did not hear from each other for five days. We had light earthquakes every day for weeks after the big shake. I was 18 years old then and am now 77 - Hattie, Heyward - Bill Ida & Arch and myself are the only ones still alive after 59 years ago. Dots mom and Dots father was in the quake in San Jose - Had quite an experience also - but no fire. Our house burned less than an hour after the shake. On page 40 you will see a photo of our house burning. Three houses west between 7th and 8th on Howard on south west corner. John A. Tyson" Editor's note: I received an e-mail from The International Buster Keaton Society questioning the times and places where Buster Keaton appeared. I've contacted the family. They're going to go through their archives. The joy and excitement for me was never about whether or not John Ashley Tyson knew Buster. It was about an heirloom being reunited with the family. Two schools in the city of San Mateo sheltered in place Thursday morning after an unconfirmed mountain lion sighting, police said. Authorities said that a third party to the sighting called police to report a mountain lion was spotted around 8 a.m. near Fernwood Street and 36th Avenue, a residential area near the 225-acre Laurelwood Park. 2001-04-19 04:00:00 PDT Alameda -- Alameda's public utility announced yesterday that it is leasing four portable diesel electrical generators to avoid the one woe of the state's energy crisis they haven't been able to duck so far -- rolling blackouts. The utility's move to provide a backup source of electricity for its customers is part of a trend among city-owned utilities to gear up for expected power shortages during the dog days of summer. Healdsburg, Santa Clara and Palo Alto -- all with their own electric grids - - are also initiating their own energy backup plans. The generators would kick in only during severe energy shortages when rolling blackouts are on the horizon. In Alameda, four generators -- each the size of a tractor trailer -- arrived last week and are ready to be fired up, Alameda Mayor Ralph Appezzato said yesterday. "We're going to be the masters of our destiny," he said. Alameda Power and Telecom is one of about 30 municipal utilities in California that opted not to deregulate with the rest of the state four years ago. Consequently, its customers' power rates are expected to be stable this year while Pacific Gas and Electric Co. customers face huge rate increases. But municipal utilities such as Alameda's are still part of the statewide power grid, which is managed by the Independent System Operator, and are subject to rolling blackouts like everybody else when the state's energy reserves dip below 1.5 percent. Each of Alameda's four diesel generators will produce 1.5 megawatts of power. Each megawatt can light up 1,000 homes, utility officials say. The units, leased at a total cost of $68,000 a month through the end of the year, are parked at Alameda Point. Their cost will be paid through the municipal utility's reserve fund and customers' power bills won't be affected, said Junona Jonas, the utility's general manager. "I think in the long run, we'll see more supply in the state, but until that happens, there will be communities that'll have to take these short-term drastic measures," Jonas said. The utility's spokesman, Matthew McCabe, said the diesel exhaust from the generators won't be an environmental factor. "Our environmental record is extremely important to us," McCabe said. "The diesel generators are only for emergency backup. . . . Besides, these things are clean -- it's not like standing next to a diesel bus." The city is also getting help from the U.S. Maritime Administration, which operates more than a dozen ships at the former Navy station in Alameda. When the juice is low, those ships will unplug from the port and use onboard generators, Jonas said. In the North Bay, Healdsburg officials are waiting for the arrival of two diesel generators. Combined, they are expected to produce 3.5 megawatts of power, which can account for about 20 percent of the city's expected summer peak load, said Bill Duarte, city utility director. "We're taking matters into our own hands," he said. Farther south, both Santa Clara and Palo Alto are considering leasing portable generators, officials said. Bill Reichmann, senior electric utility engineer at Santa Clara's Silicon Valley Power, said the utility is planning to lease eight generators, operating them in the southeastern end of town near the San Jose International Airport. Palo Alto's municipal utility also has recommended that the City Council approve renting two generators starting next month, said spokeswoman Rima Johnson. This story originally appeared on the Daily Californian. After the ASUC tabulation ceremony Friday, the faces of candidates and their supporters expressed not only joy and disappointment, but also utter shock that UC Berkeley students had just elected a squirrel to the ASUC Senate. Furry Boi, who resides in Berkeley's Eucalyptus Grove and is endorsed by the UC Berkeley Memes for Edgy Teens Facebook page, finished the election in the top 10, winning a seat among 19 other senators. Though he ran as a satirical candidate before the election, Furry Boi is pivoting campus sophomore Stephen Boyle, who filed Furry Boi's candidacy and acts as his proxy, revealed his platforms Monday. Boyle posted on Facebook on Monday, detailing his more than 5000-word plan for his senate term and policy platform. "Yeahhhhhh... I ain't resigning rawr xd!" Boyle wrote. Before the election, Furry Boi's platforms addressed community representation, basic needs security and academic advocacy for squirrels. He previously said he hopes to create a squirrel sidekick mascot named Nutty McNut Nut, foster safe spaces for squirrels and bridge the divide between humans and squirrels. Boyle, however, will now govern on different, more human-centric platforms. "I believe after this year, Berkeley will be different," Boyle said, elaborating that he hopes to focus on campus sustainability, disabled students and community development. "Before I even filed for candidacy, I intended this three-part platform." Having his foot in the door, Boyle said, is the first step to making these goals happen. For Boyle, a school like UC Berkeley should be more environmentally friendly. To accomplish this, Boyle said he wants zero waste on campus by 2020. He also wants to reduce food waste by implementing policies to limit dining hall guests to one full plate of food at a time. "This campus is the No. 1 public university in the world," Boyle said. "We need to be tackling problems about our environment." Boyle also wants to address issues facing students with disabilities and mental illnesses. He said existing programs such as Mental Health Month and conferences focused on disability are good but do not accomplish enough. To replace these, Boyle intends to push for the creation of programs that "destigmatize and demystify disability and create a sense of community among DSP folks," in collaboration with the campus Disabled Students' Program and the Mental Health Commission. Finally, to improve "community development," Boyle said he wants to increase campus spirit, to "make inclusive environments" and to bring back late night dining, because "food brings people together." This is not the first time Boyle has mobilized around late night he previously organized a protest to bring back the services. In regard to his campaign strategy, Boyle said he tapped into the voter bloc that was upset with the ASUC and its lack of tangible accomplishments. He qualified this statement, however, by saying that there are many "truly passionate" people working in ASUC. "I think it's a big community loss ... for incoming transfer students; they won't have any representation next year yet we elected a squirrel," said Neil McClintick, a former columnist for The Daily Californian and Student Action senate candidate, at the tabulations ceremony after losing the election himself. Although he did not attend the tabulation ceremony, Boyle said he expected to win based on "countless" people who told him that they had voted for Furry Boi. "I have a very big network and lots of support," Boyle said. This is not the first time that satirical candidates have run for ASUC offices. The party SQUELCH! has run satirical executive candidates in past years, such as Ghost and Kira the Husky, though no candidates from the party ran this year. "I apologize to anyone that I personally offended or triggered," Boyle said. "It was not my intention to upset people." 1999-10-14 04:00:00 PDT San Francisco -- When the Loma Prieta earthquake struck San Francisco's Marina district, neighboring Letterman Army Medical Center became a hospital in the heart of a disaster zone. Soon the bloodied citizens from the wrecked homes and flaming apartments of the stricken Marina were walked, wheeled or carried toward its emergency room. Doctors visiting an Army-sponsored conference a mile up Lombard Street literally ran down the road to help. "Our staff did a remarkable job," said retired Maj. Gen. Leslie Burger, who was commander of the 340-bed Army hospital at the Presidio of San Francisco. "It was really something to be a part of." Ten years later, Letterman is shuttered, scheduled for demolition. The armed services are gone from the Presidio and from a dozen other major Bay Area bases that were fully equipped and able to respond to a nearby disaster. Meanwhile, a decade of cost-cutting at Bay Area hospitals has caused a substantial drop in the number of available hospital beds, according to state statistics. Together, base closings and new health care economics have vastly altered the medical landscape in the Bay Area, raising serious questions about just how prepared the region will be when the next major earthquake strikes. "I have no doubt that in a major catastrophe, the military will come in, just like we did in Greece and in Turkey and here in 1906," said retired Rear Adm. John Bitoff, who commanded naval operations from San Francisco at the time of Loma Prieta. "But it won't be as quick. It won't be next door." Since Loma Prieta, the Bay Area economy has boomed. The regional population has risen 14 percent, or 840,000, to 6.8 million. Yet a Chronicle analysis of data from the state Department of Health Ser- vices shows there are 2,641 fewer acute-care hospital beds in the nine county region, down 13 percent. Most of the acute-care bed loss comes from private hospitals, which have downgraded hospital wards into "skilled nursing facilities" in response to the cost-cutting pressure of managed care. But these facilities are not set up to handle the mass casualties expected in a major quake. "There is not a lot of depth to the system any more," acknowledged Ray Nikkel, disaster response coordinator for the California Health Department's hospital licensing division. LIMITED HOSPITAL RESOURCES Even an unexpected rise in illness can throw California hospitals out of kilter. After a spate of flulike illnesses overtaxed emergency rooms during the winter of 1997, a state task force concluded that "the capacity to respond to events of even moderate impact is doubtful." Compounding the bed deficit is the wholesale departure of the armed services from the Bay Area since 1989. Altogether, the dozen military bases employed 70,000 military and civilian personnel, including more than 11,000 who were directly engaged in responding to Loma Prieta. The Oakland Naval Hospital dispatched its medical staff to the collapsed Cypress freeway, site of Loma Prieta's worst horrors. Helicopters ferried victims from the Cypress and Bay Bridge to other nearby hospitals. A Navy ship based at Treasure Island delivered steam through an umbilical hose to a Pacific Gas and Electric Co. plant to start its idled generators. Military fuel supplies helped power city vehicles. The helicopter carrier Peleliu housed 500 of San Francisco's destitute homeless population, freeing city services to cope with those made suddenly homeless by the quake. "There is a benefit to having a large military base as your neighbor," said Bitoff, who spent five years after his retirement as San Francisco's director of emergency management. "It is certainly an enormous capability that you don't have any more." Richard Eisner, regional administrator for the Governor's Office of Emergency Services in Oakland, said both the loss of private hospital beds and the departure of the armed services are troubling but not insurmountable problems. Military resources in the United States are still highly mobile. The Army medical resources formerly at the Presidio now reside at Fort Lewis in Washington state, only 2 1/2 hours away by air. IMPROVED COMMUNICATIONS Eisner said that vastly improved local communications and disaster training programs make the Bay Area better prepared for a quake than at the time of Loma Prieta. A 1992 bill by former state Sen. Nicholas Petris, who lost his home in the Oakland fire one year earlier, is widely credited by county disaster planners with boosting local preparedness. "In 1989, we had telephones, faxes and a radio network," said Eisner. "Today, we have regional emergency operations centers, radios, satellite telephones linking every county, and multiple data lines." In a major Bay Area earthquake disaster, said Eisner, the emphasis would be on taking the injured to hospitals in Sacramento, Bakersfield, Fresno and Los Angeles. But traditional disaster resources, such as the California National Guard, may not be available in the numbers that state citizens might expect. The California Air and Army National Guard has seen its strength cut by 17 percent since 1989. There are a total of 4,500 fewer air and army personnel. In 1997, the 175th Medical Brigade, a 600-member mobile combat hospital with headquarters in Sacramento, was disbanded, leaving only 180 in an air ambulance company. An 1,800-member military police brigade based in Alameda has been cut to a 700-person battalion. But the Army National Guard argues that it still has more personnel and equipment today than were needed during Loma Prieta or the 1994 Northridge quake. In a similar disaster, most Californians wouldn't notice any change. "I don't see this as a problem," said Army National Guard spokesman Col. Douglas Hart. "We still have much more medical and MP personnel than we had to use in the past." Indeed, during Loma Prieta only 1,700 National Guardsmen were called to duty. Two big air transports were pressed into service, as well as 30 portable generators and a fleet of dump trucks. "We used more equipment during the floods of '96 and '97 than we used in the earthquake," Hart said. QUAKE ON HAYWARD FAULT But the concern about reduced hospital beds and military resources is not based on a repetition of Loma Prieta. Geologists and disaster planners alike fear a much bigger quake along the Hayward Fault, which runs the length of the densely populated eastern rim of San Francisco Bay. "There is a lot of head-in-the-sand thinking out there," said retired Maj. Gen. Frank Schober, who headed the California National Guard under Gov. Jerry Brown's administration. "We are better off than we were in 1989, but that is not good enough." Schober said that improved local disaster-response programs may compensate for deep cuts in military resources, but still leave the Bay Area underprepared for a catastrophic quake. "We'd be hard pressed today to do as well as the authorities in Taiwan," he said. The switch toward "just-in-time" delivery of inventories may also leave Bay Area hospitals short of needed supplies. "The position of 'supply nurse' doesn't exist any more," said Schober. "We are dependent upon Fed Ex." San Francisco Emergency Medical Services director Dr. John Brown agrees that the region does not have the resources to cope with a disaster that were readily at hand only 10 years ago. "The Presidio used to have the ability to store logistical material: tents, heaters and blankets. All that's gone," he said. Despite the loss of military and hospital resources since Loma Prieta, disaster experts say it would not make economic sense to restore them solely to be prepared for the next big quake. The answer lies in recognizing what has been lost, and determining what preparations are needed to make up for it. Improved communications, local training and mobile medical resources can help. But in the frightening early hours of a major earthquake, Bay Area communities simply cannot expect to tap resources they once took for granted. LEGACY OF LOMA PRIETA Ten years ago, the ground shook and millions of lives changed. Up next in The Chronicle's weeklong look at the legacy of Loma Prieta in a series of special reports: FRIDAY: The Odds. New studies estimate the probability of a major quake in the Bay Area. SATURDAY: Bridges, Buses and BART. How Loma Prieta changed the way transportation dollars are spent. SUNDAY: The Landscape. In the Sunday Chronicle, reporter Carl Nolte looks at the communities most affected and how they have changed. Plus, readers share memories of the quake. A DECLINE IN MEDICAL READINESS . Since Loma Prieta, a dozen military bases have closed, including many that played vital roles in treating victims of the quake. At the same time, cost-cutting among hospitals has resulted in a 13 percent decline in available hospital beds. Together, these trends raise questions about the Bay Area's medical readiness in the event of a major earthquake. . -- Military base closures since the Loma Prieta quake 1. Mare Island 2. Hamilton Field 3. Point Molate 4. Treasure Island 5. Oakland Army Base 6. Presidio 7. Oakland Naval Center 8. Oak Knoll Naval Hospital 9. Alameda Naval Air Station 10. Hunter's Point 11. Moffett Field 12. Onizuka Air Station(x) (x) - Base operations to be scaled down in 2001 . -- Population has increased 14% since 1989 . . . July 1989 5,946,000 Jan. 1999 6,784,700 . -- ... but cost pressures have reduced the number of hospital beds. . Acute care beds -13.3% 1999 17,237 1989 19,878 . Source: California Department of Health Services, Trade & Commerce Agency and Department of Finance CHRONICLE GRAPHIC San Francisco Public Works inspectors resumed seizures of illegally parked rental scooters Wednesday afternoon, snatching 24 of them from city sidewalks by 5 p.m. Rachel Gordon, a department spokeswoman, said crews will continue enforcement sweeps indefinitely. We will take it day by day, she said. After an initial sweep Friday morning, in which 66 scooters were impounded for blocking sidewalks, Public Works officials had planned to halt mass enforcement actions and instead respond only to complaints. But complaints were so abundant, Gordon said, that approach seemed neither efficient nor effective. On Wednesday morning, Public Works officials noticed sidewalks downtown littered with scooters blocking sidewalks, ramps, building entrances and bus stops with flagrant disregard for the citys rules to keep sidewalks clear for pedestrians. It wasnt doing the trick in terms of compliance, she said of the strategy of complaint-based enforcement. We decided it would be a better use of our time to proactively look for violations and rules not being followed. The resumption of sweeps comes a day after City Attorney Dennis Herrera sent cease-and-desist letters to LimeBike, Bird and Spin, the three companies renting the stand-up electric scooters, and the Board of Supervisors passage of an ordinance that allows the Metropolitan Transportation Agency to regulate the scooter operations. The cease-and-desist letters give the companies until the end of the month to come up with plans to get their users to heed city and state laws, but also order them to immediately stop illegal operations. Gordon said the decision to resume scooter impoundments was not a response to either of those actions. All of them are related, she said. But we each have different tools to use. City officials began a crackdown on the scooters, which quietly invaded the city in late March when the three companies deposited them on sidewalks without seeking permission. Since city laws dont mention scooters, supervisors passed an ordinance that will allow the Municipal Transportation Agency to issue permits and impose regulations. State law already bans motorized scooters from being ridden on sidewalks and requires users to have drivers licenses and wear helmets. Public Works inspectors are seizing scooters under a city code that prohibits the obstruction of sidewalks. The scooter companies are being fined on a cost-recovery basis. The initial impoundments cost each firm $1,637. Scooters are taken to an undisclosed location, where the companies can pick them up and put them back on the sidewalks where Public Works officials say theyll be impounded again if theyre illegally parked. Michael Cabanatuan is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: mcabanatuan@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @ctuan Today when the San Francisco Mart kicks off its four-day, twice-yearly industry showcase featuring floor upon floor of desk lamps and imported leather chairs, some of the liveliest chatter among the bedposts won't be about Barcaloungers or hot ottoman designs. There's more on tap at the 2002 Summer Market than of-the-moment cowhide area rugs and the latest sofa fashions. By many accounts, what's at stake for San Francisco is its status as the preeminent home-furnishings hub of the West Coast. When hundreds of exhibitors and about 8,000 buyers and designers from all over the Western United States descend on the furniture mart and San Francisco Design Center for this weekend's showcase, the conversation is sure to include plans for a new, $1 billion furniture-and-design complex in downtown Las Vegas. The Vegas project, as conceived, would dwarf the San Francisco Mart and, many say, ultimately threaten its future. As the start of this week's San Francisco market approached, tenuous relations splintered between mart promoters in the rival cities after San Francisco show organizers told the Las Vegas developers to stay away from the show here. Michael Gennet, president of San Francisco's 85-year-old mart -- which is located on Market Street at Ninth Street and is not open to the public -- has accused the Las Vegas development team of engaging in unprofessional methods to lure tenants away from San Francisco. According to Gennet, leasing agents for the Las Vegas project have used San Francisco Mart showcases over the past two years to solicit business for the planned Vegas center. Gennet said he could not allow such actions to continue. "This is more than a perceived threat. This is very real to us and to San Francisco. We were courteous in allowing their representatives (into past markets), either out of naivete or not fully realizing their intention, which is to destroy us and replace us. (Allowing them inside) is knowingly allowing a Trojan horse into the building." The huge semi-annual San Francisco shows are a big draw for the city. Scheduled in January and July, each show typically attracts 8,000 to 10,000 buyers, pouring millions of dollars each year into the city's restaurants and hotels, according to organizers. The summer show is the smaller of the two. And if there's ever a time when San Francisco needs all the visitors it can get, it's now -- in the post-Sept. 11 slump and with economic struggles keeping business travelers at home. Should Las Vegas trump San Francisco with a bigger and better home- furnishings complex, "that would be another example of how we're losing ground in business travel," said Laurie Armstrong, spokeswoman for the San Francisco Convention and Visitors Bureau. In late June, Gennet said, he told organizers of the Las Vegas development - - including two general partners, two leasing agents and the project's general manager -- that they would not be allowed into the San Francisco Mart for this week's show. The mart management can refuse admittance to visitors who lack valid industry credentials, Gennet said. But this week, he softened that stance, telling the Vegas team members they could attend -- but only at times when they have appointments with exhibitors and only with a security escort. In the chummy home-furnishings industry -- where competition is intense but generally amicable in a tight-knit network of buyers, retailers and designers who frequent large showcases in San Francisco, Tupelo, Miss., and High Point, N.C. -- Gennet's missive to his Las Vegas rivals was deemed highly unusual. "There is intense bickering. A story about (a mart director) banning somebody from market just doesn't happen," said Clint Engel, senior retail editor of the trade publication Furniture Today. "Las Vegas is one of the biggest topics in the industry right now," Engel said. "It's got people riled, both in High Point and in San Francisco. A lot of people think it's a threat to their existence." Ivan Saul Cutler, a furnishings-industry analyst, marketer and a former vice president of the San Francisco Mart in the late 1970s, said San Francisco does, in fact, need to worry. He points to the list of 200 companies that Las Vegas developers said have signed leases to occupy their planned World Market Center before a shovel even hits the desert dirt. About half of the commitments are from companies that occupy the San Francisco Mart temporarily for the big shows or do business at the mart year-round. "Best I can tell, Las Vegas is mounting an insurgency," Cutler said, adding that a critical mass of wholesale furnishings companies appears willing to pay more rent for showplace space in Vegas than they now pay in San Francisco. "If the buyers are there, then they'll justify it." The Vegas site sits on 57 acres near downtown where Interstates 15 and 95 intersect. The first phase calls for a 10-story high-rise with 1.25 million square feet of permanent and temporary showroom space. Eventually, developers plan to expand the complex to 7.5 million square feet. Members of the Las Vegas contingent said they'll go along with Gennet's rules at the San Francisco show beginning today -- but they still intend to speak to exhibitors here in an attempt to sign more leases before breaking ground later this year or in early 2003. The Vegas center, like the San Francisco Mart, would host two large-scale markets a year, possibly at the same time as San Francisco's shows, said Shawn Samson, a general partner and investor in the Vegas project. His team doesn't have building permits yet, but funding is in place through private investors, Samson said, adding, "Nothing will stop the project at this point." Samson acknowledges that while his team is not purposely trying to put the San Francisco Mart out of business, that's the likely scenario if the Vegas project succeeds. "I believe both the San Francisco Mart and ourselves have said there is room only for one," he said. Exhibitors at this week's show are split on the significance of the Las Vegas plans. Some said the project is just a dream in the desert; others have signed leases in a still-nonexistent building out of fear of losing out on a spot in the future when space won't be available. "To a certain degree, I'm hedging my bet, saying that I don't know what's going to happen in San Francisco," said Tim Sopp, president of Oak Tree Furniture Inc., a Southern California furniture manufacturer and wholesaler. Bitcoin is at an inflection point. Even with the price back above $8,000, many of the so-called miners that perform the complex calculations to generate the digital currency are at risk of turning unprofitable. If prices drop below that threshold again for an extended period, there will likely be a swifter consolidation to industrial-scale mining. That could knock out the last guy-in-a-dorm-room operations and leave holders of the currency vulnerable to the dictates of the big miners. Its totally different this year than last year, Silicon Valley venture capitalist Bill Tai said in an interview. The bitcoin mining industry was this mysterious dark cottage industry, and its about to grow up and about to have elements of institutional scalability at all levels. Smaller miners will drop out, and only five to 10 of the largest will survive and be profitable, said Tai, who serves as chairman of Hut 8 Mining Corp., the capital financing arm in North America for Amsterdams Bitfury Group Ltd., one of the biggest makers of crypto-mining equipment. When the price of Bitcoin approached $19,000 last year, Bitfury had to turn some customers away as $1.9 billion of orders streamed in, he said. More concentration could also hold a lot of sway over Bitcoins price. Miners hold between 20 and 30 percent of all bitcoins, according to Lucas Nuzzi, a senior analyst at Digital Asset Research. Bitfury alone has mined more than 1 million bitcoins, Tai said. The company has already sold coins to defray operating expenses. If miners are forced to sell more, that could depress bitcoins price. With mining power so-called hashrate aggregated in fewer hands, that also increases the risk that a few miners could band together to execute a so-called 51 percent attack where they would control enough of the transactions to dictate changes in the development of blockchain to suit their preferences. It has the potential of being dangerous from a security standpoint, since a single entity could use its power in terms of hashrate to disrupt the network, Nuzzi said. The largest miners are getting bigger. Industry leader Bitmain, which runs Chinas two largest bitcoin-mining collectives, has opened offices in Switzerland and the U.S. and is exploring expansion opportunities worldwide. Bitfury will be raising more than $100 million in the next six months to produce and sell portable mining server farms, each costing at least $2 million, Tai said. Its also opening up its own, additional farms in the Middle East and Africa, and expanding in Canada. Bitfury is profitable at current prices largely due to its economies of scale, Tai said. Unlike smaller miners, which buy hardware from other manufacturers, Bitmain and Bitfury design and make their own chips and machines. The large players also can place huge orders for parts and even buy electricity at a discount. We can buy and source orders of magnitude more, Tai said. We can buy silicon in large quantities and commit to the electricity grid in chunk sizes. We have the cash to make the deposits and set them up. The company is in discussions to connect to a nuclear power plant thats going online in about 18 months, he said. Many smaller miners are trying to cut costs by relocating to locations such as Springfield, Mo., where buildings abandoned factories and car dealerships can be had for as little as $1 a square foot. Electricity can cost between $3,224 and more than $9,000 to mine a single bitcoin, depending on the state, according to Crescent Electric Supply At current prices, though, all that may not help the smaller bitcoin miners that much. Startup Bcause, which hosts some 11,000 mining machines in Virginia Beach, Va., for clients. Its customers likely only make a profit, once theyve covered capital investments, with bitcoin above $9,000 to $10,000, founder Tom Flake said. For now, Flake and his customers are betting that bitcoins price will rise. Having only opened its facility in February, Bcause is already overbooked until September and is building another facility, as speculators continue to count on higher prices, he said. But even Flake expects to see miner consolidation in the next 18 to 24 months. Weve returned to some level of rationality, Flake said. Pivotal Software, a San Francisco company controlled by Dell Technologies, is expected to begin trading Friday on the New York Stock Exchange after setting a price of $15 for its initial public offering of shares. The company had said in a Wednesday filing that it anticipated selling shares for a price between $14 and $16. Pivotal was created in 2013 when EMC, which merged with Dell in a 2016 deal worth $67 billion, and VMware, a Palo Alto subsidiary of EMC, formed a new entity that specializes in software and services for cloud computing. After the offering, which is expected to raise approximately $555 million, Dell will retain more than 95 percent of the voting power in Pivotal. Fearless Girl statue moving New Yorks Fearless Girl statue that has become a global symbol of female business prowess will be moved from her spot staring down Wall Streets bronze Charging Bull to a new home facing the New York Stock Exchange. And the bull, a longtime tourist attraction at the foot of Broadway, may wind up following in her footsteps. Mayor Bill de Blasio said Fearless Girl will be moved this year. Chips Qualcomm cutting jobs Qualcomm will cut 1,500 jobs in California, the majority at its San Diego headquarters, according to documents filed with the state. Some 1,231 positions will be eliminated in San Diego with terminations starting about June 19, the company said in a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification notice. Companies are required to make such a state filing when they reduce their workforce by 50 or more employees within a 30-day period. At the same time, about 269 workers will lose their jobs at the companys Santa Clara and San Jose locations. The largest maker of chips used in smartphones pledged in January that it would slash $1 billion in expenses. Courts Drivers can change lawsuit Lyft drivers can revise a lawsuit alleging that Uber spied on them as part of a scheme to gain a competitive edge. A San Francisco federal magistrate judge dismissed most of the lawsuit on Wednesday, but allowed the drivers to file an amended complaint, leaving the door open for them to pursue the case. The suit seeks to represent drivers nationwide who were targeted. The drivers alleged violations of privacy and wiretapping laws, as well as unfair competition. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley preserved a claim under Californias unfair competition law, and said that the driver who filed the suit, Michael Gonzales, has sufficiently alleged that he lost revenue as a result of Ubers programs to decrease the supply of Lyft drivers. According to the lawsuit, Hell spyware, used from about 2014 to 2016, allowed Uber employees or its contractors to pose as Lyft customers and access the locations of drivers through their unique Lyft IDs. The goal was to identify drivers who worked for both companies so they could be targeted with incentives to primarily work for Uber, according to the complaint. Lawyers for Uber didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the ruling. Chronicle News Services As the corporate world reckons with an always-on work culture, some of the worlds biggest companies are turning to a tool made by a San Francisco startup that automatically alerts employees to issues round-the-clock. PagerDuty got its start as a service for companies to monitor their software and alert the programmer responsible for a particular set of code when crashes or other issues arise. The World Bank, Gap and IBM are among the more than 10,000 companies that have embraced the product. PagerDuty generates more than $8 million a month in recurring revenue, meaning its on track for more than $100 million in annual sales, the startup said. Now PagerDuty wants to deliver the same always-on-call approach to other classes of workers, including marketers, IT administrators and those in the executive suite. CEO Jennifer Tejada said certain events require a response no matter the hour, and her software can help companies look out for when, say, a celebrity tweets about the brand or Web hosting services are failing. The software makes sure the right people who oversee a project are notified when theres a crisis, instead of rousing colleagues unnecessarily in the middle of the night, she said. Rather than waiting until your customers are burning and tweeting to you, we see those event storms before they become an incident, Tejada said. PagerDuty helps a company track down workers to resolve those events before a customer feels any pain or an employee feels any pain, she said. The concept could be a tough sell to many employees, who feel overworked as it is. In practically every industry, executives are taking steps to accommodate a healthier work-life balance and avoid burnout. Last week, Moelis & Co. told senior bankers not to push young colleagues to keep working at all hours of the night. Half of Americans said they do work in their free time to meet employers demands, according to a study from Rand Corp., a nonprofit research group. PagerDuty was inspired by a project at Amazon.com. The retailer was building tools to immediately alert employees when their code needed to be repaired. Stores can lose millions of dollars in sales if their websites crash, so a few minutes of downtime can mean real money. Other companies started identifying this same need, and a new group of technical worker known as developer operations, or DevOps, emerged in the last decade or so. They were tasked with ensuring systems never went down. Three former Amazon employees went on to start PagerDuty in 2009. The name comes from a bygone era when workers on-call waited for the pagers on their belts to go off. After laying the groundwork for their company, the founders moved to the Bay Area from Toronto in 2010 to join Y Combinator, a business incubator. Venture capital firms Andreessen Horowitz, Bessemer Venture Partners and Accel Partners invested in PagerDuty. It has raised $83 million and has nearly half that amount in the bank, said Ethan Kurzweil, a partner at Bessemer who sits on the startups board. By 2016, co-founder Alex Solomon wanted to hire someone to help him manage the growing business. Initially, Solomon wanted to recruit an operating chief to complement him as chief executive officer. However, he quickly realized that wouldnt work. The best of the best are going to command the CEO title, and if you dont bite the bullet and do it that way, youre going to under-optimize, he said. I had to put my ego aside. With the help of a recruiting firm, PagerDuty pursued Tejada, an experienced executive who took charge of the marketing software company Keynote Systems in 2013 after it was acquired with her help by private equity firm Thoma Bravo. She also serves on the board of Puppet Inc., a corporate software company. She had a management style that endeared her to former colleagues, even when things didnt turn out so well. Even folks that she had fired in the past were happy, Solomon said. Tejada said she entertained plenty of job offers. I looked at 51 CEO roles, she said. It was a lot of coffee. After reviewing the companys financial statements, spending time with Solomon and meeting PagerDutys board, Tejada took the job. Solomon became chief technology officer and still sits on the board. It was one of the rare CEO transitions in Silicon Valley that came with little drama and turned out to be a success. When Tejada took over, she hired Steven Chung, the top-ranking sales executive at Demandware, an e-commerce software provider now owned by Salesforce.com Inc. He helped PagerDuty attract larger companies, Solomon said. Today, its used by Allstate Corp., Lyft Inc., Netflix Inc. and Staples Inc. In less than two years, Tejada has more than doubled PagerDutys sales. Evernote Corp., which makes a note-taking app, relied on PagerDuty for a transition to Google Cloud in late 2016. Chris ONeill, Evernotes CEO, described it as a very, very complicated, high-stakes project. We needed to alert the right engineer somewhere around the world to basically pay attention to it. We couldnt waste time, he said. Our name is Evernote. Its not sometimes note. Its not when you get to it note. Tejadas business is thriving in another area that has challenged most technology companies: gender diversity. Half of her 12-person senior executive team is women. The cloud-software business is overwhelmingly male. Tejada is one of only three female CEOs on a list of 100 fast-growing cloud companies compiled by Forbes, Salesforce and Bessemer. But PagerDuty doesnt have a lock on the market. ServiceNow Inc., a publicly traded software company, has a competing service, and other big businesses will wake up to the trend. PagerDuty could struggle to sustain its rapid growth. Its currently working on tools to help companies measure how many sales they lose when their websites crash and avoid future incidents. And then theres Tejadas vision for an on-call workforce across industries thats ready to respond at a moments notice. To get there, employees need to start thinking about their jobs differently, she said: People have to work in real time. Eric Newcomer is a Bloomberg writer. Email: enewcomer@bloomberg.net In recent airport news, Los Angeles officials awarded a $4.9 billion contract for construction of that proposed automated people-mover system at LAX; First look at interiors of TWA hotel at JFK; a concourse at Dallas/Ft. Worth will get more aircraft gates and additional concessions; a look at Newark Liberty International's planned new Terminal A; and Denver International will add some new food and beverage concessions to United's B Concourse, including a Shake Shack. TravelSkills with Chris McGinnis sponsored by See More Collapse An automated people-mover system has long been part of the future plans for Los Angeles International Airport, and the city council last week voted in favor of a $4.9 billion (!) contract to start construction on the project. (With all the various terminal expansion and improvement projects going on at LAX, why not throw in another big construction project right in the middle of the airport?) The city awarded the contract to LAX Integrated Express Solutions, which will use transportation equipment from Bombardier Transportation. According to City Councilman Joe Buscaino, the people-over system will eliminate the frustration of the tangled traffic inside the horseshoe at LAX. Coupled with the new consolidated rent-a-car facility and the LAX/Crenshaw line, in a few short years going to LAX will become stressless, he said. When it starts running ion 2023, the system will carry up to 10,000 passengers an hour, linking the car rental center and Metro light rail with the terminals. You can see a video preview of the system here. Big question: Will anyone ride it in auto-obsessed LA? Hmmm. Alaska Airlines is the third major airline, after United and Delta, to start getting tough on passengers who want to bring "emotional support" animals into the cabin. Alaska said that customers who buy tickets starting May 1 and want to bring "emotional support or psychiatric service animals" on the plane with them will have to provide documents attesting to the animal's health and good behavior and produce a signed document from a doctor or mental health professional at least 48 hours before departure. TravelSkills with Chris McGinnis sponsored by See More Collapse The company noted that the new policy does not affect "traditional service animals" like seeing-eye dogs for the blind. Starting April 30, Alaska said, the three required documents will be available on its website; passengers can fill them out and email or fax them back to gain approval for their animals. The animal health advisory form notes that emotional support animals' owners must travel with "a veterinary-issued health certificate," and that by signing the animal behavior form, the owner "accepts all liability for any injuries or damage to property." Ray Prentice, the airline's director of customer advocacy, said the number of emotional support animals on Alaska's flights has increased dramatically in recent years, and now totals about 150 a day. While most of them don't cause problems, he said, "over the last few years, we have observed a steady increase in incidents from animals who haven't been adequately trained to behave in a busy airport setting or on a plane, which has prompted us to strengthen our policy." The airline has seen "a number of recent incidents where the inappropriate behavior of emotional support animals has impacted and even injured our employees, other guests and service animals," Prentice said. Does this spell the end of the whole "emotional support" animal brouhaha? Is the increased documentation enough to stop the abuse? Please leave your thoughts in the comments. Read all recent TravelSkills posts here Get twice-per-week updates from TravelSkills via email! Sign up here Chris McGinnis is the founder of TravelSkills.com. The author is solely responsible for the content above, and it is used here by permission. You can reach Chris at chris@travelskills.com or on Twitter @cjmcginnis. San Bruno police traced a social media post threatening a shooting at YouTube headquarters to a juvenile suspect in Pennsylvania, officials said Wednesday. Police said the threat was deemed to have no merit and that no steps are believed to have been taken toward actually carrying it out. Authorities are considering whether to press charges. The post was originally discovered by police at 1:18 a.m. on April 4, just hours after Nasim Aghdam shot three people and killed herself at YouTube headquarters in San Bruno. Aghdam was apparently upset with the companys policies that she complained steered advertising revenue away from her accounts. The threat was posted on an Instagram page called youtubeshooters, police said, warning that another shooting would take place against YouTube. San Bruno police were able to determine that the post was made from a location in Pennsylvania, but they did not specify where. Police said the FBI made contact with the juvenile suspect in Pennsylvania who admitted to creating the post. Anyone with information on the incident can contact San Bruno police at (650) 616-7100. Annie Ma is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: ama@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @anniema15 A 21-year-old man was charged with vehicular manslaughter after fleeing the scene of a crash that killed a 9-year-old girl in Oakland, prosecutors said Thursday. Kevin Payne turned himself in to the Oakland Police Department three days after the April 10 hit-and-run that resulted in the death of a child and injured two other children and an adult, according to the Alameda County district attorneys office. Court documents show Payne, a four-time felon, submitted a written confession to authorities that he was the driver and that he fled the scene. Just after 9 p.m. on April 10, the driver of a Toyota Corolla attempted to make a U-turn near the intersection of 35th and Paxton avenues when Payne, driving an Infinity SUV, rammed into the car and both vehicles crashed into nearby parked cars, said Officer Johnna Watson, a spokeswoman with the Oakland Police Department. Payne reportedly fled the scene on foot. Zayda Monge, a 9-year-old passenger in the Corolla, was transported to the hospital and later declared dead, according to court documents. The driver of the Corolla, a 25-year-old woman, was transported to the hospital in critical but stable condition. Two other children in the car, 8- and 10-year-old girls, were transported to the hospital in stable condition. A YouCaring site was set up for Monges family. In addition to vehicular manslaughter, Payne was also charged with leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving, with enhancements for causing bodily injury to a woman and two juveniles, according to court documents. Based on video evidence and witness statements, authorities said, Paynes speed was a factor in the crash, which occurred in a residential zone. Witnesses also reported that Paynes vehicle was passing another vehicle by going into oncoming traffic just before the crash. Paynes prior convictions include second-degree burglary in 2016, two counts of possession of an assault weapon in 2015 and 2016, and a felony for receiving stolen property in 2014, according to prosecutors. He is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin on a $140,000 bail. His plea hearing is set for 9 a.m. Monday. Sarah Ravani is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: sravani@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @SarRavani A couple allegedly tortured and murdered a 70-year-old Vietnam War veteran in Hanford, Calif. in an attempt to gain access to his financial information, police say. Kenneth Coyle, a retired contractor for Naval Air Station Lemoore first met Stacie Mendoza, one of the accused murderers, in a Hanford restaurant where she worked as a waitress, according to the Hanford Police Department. The two became friends, but police believe Mendoza was secretly using the friendship to gain access to Coyle's financial information, Hanford Police Captain Karl Anderson said during a press conference Monday. "We think she manipulated that relationship to gain his trust and defraud him of money," Anderson said. "As this relationship grew, we know that Ms. Mendoza started getting access to his bank account information and started getting money from him." Police say that on April 5, Mendoza and her husband Jose went to Coyle's house and tortured the veteran in an attempt to get him to reveal more financial information. "They restrained him on a bed and beat him to get access to his bank account information, passwords and other account information," Anderson said. After the suspected torture, Coyle died of "blunt force trauma and suffocation." A few days later, the Mendozas and their three children allegedly drove to nearby Madera County and burned Coyle's body. "We know the children were taken to where the body was burned and watched the body burn," Anderson said. Police say that the Mendozas then returned to Coyle's house to steal more of his items last week, but were spotted by property management employees. The Mendozas reportedly told the employees that Coyle had been hurt and was recovering at a care home in Northern California. Suspicious of the Mendozas' story, the employees called police, who were able to track Coyle's cell phone to the family's home in Fresno. Police later apprehended the couple at a Denny's near Los Angeles International Airport. Jose Mendoza had Coyle's credit card and a plane ticket to his native El Salvador in his possession at the time of his arrest. The Mendozas are being held without bail, and their children are in the custody of Child Protective Services. The students gathered in the high school auditorium had read about Minnijean Brown-Trickey, learning about the day she walked through a rage-fueled mob to desegregate a Little Rock, Ark., school, and how she was expelled later that year for an infamous chili incident. She was only 15 at the time, one of nine black teenagers who walked into a white Southern high school in 1957 and then into the civil rights chapter of high school history books. She was an icon, the San Mateo students said, someone who exemplified what young people can do to make a difference yet until Thursday only as a name in the pages of their textbooks. Brown-Trickey, one of the Little Rock Nine, smiled as she walked out onto the auditorium stage at Aragon High School before spending the next hour answering questions and recounting the day she marched into Central High School under the protection of armed soldiers. I was the most gorgeous thing you ever saw, Brown-Trickey, now 76, told the several hundred San Mateo students gathered in the auditorium, their cell phones forgotten as they leaned in to hear her first-hand account. I was smart. I was talented. I was thoughtful. Brown-Trickey recounted what it was like to be out front in a fight for desegregation and equal access to education, to be a teenager who resented the public restrooms with pretty pink doors and signs that read White Ladies. She described going to class every day, knowing her white peers would trip her, spit on her or push her into lockers. She kept a change of clothes at school because she was frequently doused in soup. And she recounted the chili incident, which included students trying to trip her and her full lunch tray falling on the heads of two boys resulting in her expulsion. She didnt know all of it would make her a historical figure. You just take a step and see what happens, she told the students. It was a message that resonated with the students, who see themselves at another flash point in history, this time over gun violence in schools and on the streets. Brown-Trickey said she took a stand, in part because she was worried. Todays teens must be worried, too, she added, noting that Friday is the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. While integrating Central High wasnt easy, 17 people didnt die, Brown-Trickey said, referring to those who were killed two months ago at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High in Parkland, Fla. I cant imagine what it must be like for you, she said. I cant imagine. Backstage, Brown-Trickey said she believes the school walkouts, the protests including the 200 Bay Area students who went to Sacramento Thursday to speak to legislators about gun control measures indicate perhaps the origins of a movement. My definition of a movement is people doing things simultaneously in different places, she said, adding you dont need a Martin Luther King Jr. to spark one. So many young people say, We dont have a leader, and I say, No, no, no, you are the leaders. Brown-Trickey is speaking from experience. Paul Chinn / The Chronicle The civil rights icon has spent a good part of her life in the years since the desegregation of Central High speaking to young people about her role in making change. I know who you are, because I know who I was, she told the students. I know youre worried and concerned about what our society is like right now. That first day at Central High, she wanted to give up in the face of the onslaught of hate. But she kept going. There were 20 white classmates who were nice to the Little Rock Nine. There were 200 who tortured them verbally and physically. And then there were 1,900 silent witnesses, she said. The silent witnesses are the ones who stand by and say nothing, Brown-Trickey said, pausing to study the pin-drop-silent auditorium, a sea of diversity staring back. Before the civil rights movement, this room of people could not exist, she said. As the hour-long talk wrapped up, it became clear that it was not just a history lesson, but perhaps something of a motivational speech aimed at creating a new chapter in history books. Were all the Little Rock Nine, she said. We can choose to be the Little Rock Nine. We could choose to be the (200) terrorists, the 20 nice kids or those who remained silent. The choice for many of the students was clear. They want to be the next Minnijean Brown-Trickey. She is what you strive to be, said Aragon senior Jenn Dixon, 17, following the talk. She just proves what we do matters, that kids can and will change the world. Jill Tucker is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: jtucker@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @jilltucker It might seem unusual for a Wisconsin native to find his calling documenting San Francisco's Chinatown, but for Sam Johnson, it seemed a natural fit. Through his Instagram page Chinatown San Francisco, Johnson has spent the past year and a half capturing the essence of one of the city's most photogenic neighborhoods. He believes Chinatown is on the precipice of change with the conversion of SROs, rising rents and the Central Subway. "San Francisco's Chinatown has survived through Bubonic Plague outbreaks, the Great Earthquake and Fire of 1906, and widespread anti-Chinese sentiment and legislation," Johnson said. "It is truly amazing that it is still there, and it says a lot about the spirit of the people that have lived there since the city's wild Barbary Coast days." Johnson says he's talked with other San Franciscans who lament there was not a photographer who documented other iconic neighborhoods like North Beach or the Mission before they changed drastically. "My main focus is to capture the everyday lives of the denizens of the neighborhood," he added. "Chinatown is such a beautiful place with so much rich history that's on display. I feel that a lot of San Franciscans avoid or overlook Chinatown, which is a shame because you see and hear new things every time you pass through." Always carrying his camera with him, Johnson describes his shooting style as minimalist street-photography. "I usually stand off to the side and wait for things to happen," he explained. "I'm drawn to vibrant colors and unique textures which is why Chinatown is like a candy store for me." His ultimate goal is to put together a photography book of his images as a record of the neighborhood as it is today. "That may be a long way off, but someday it will happen," he said. You can follow Sam's work on Instagram.com/ChinatownSanFrancisco The buzz in Presidio Heights the other day along staid Sacramento Street was uncharacteristically voluble as Diane Keaton (actor and author-producer-director-photographer-real estate-connoisseur-interior designer-photographer) was at Hudson & Grace for a signing to celebrate her third coffee-table design book, The House That Pinterest Built (Rizzoli; $65; 272 pages). Yet Hudson Grace proprietors Monelle Totah and Gary McNatton, whove hosted numerous design stars at their six stores, were overwhelmed by the clamoring response. So much so that they added a simple tent outside their boutique, where guests first bought a Keaton book. Then said guests took their place on the sidewalk behind a velvet rope, sipping wine and queued up to actually enter the store where Keaton stood behind a table with a black pen. Shortly after emailing out this invite to our client list, we had 400 RSVPs. Its the largest turnout weve ever had, explained Totah, excitedly. And our store here is only 700 square feet! That buzz spilled onto the sidewalk fronting Hudson Grace, as a waiter passed hors doeuvres among excited guests whod reserved their book in advance. But looky-loos were welcome, too. As the reigning queen of quirky-cool, Keaton has for decades dazzled a legion of fans who applaud her gee-whiz acting style, all-American good looks and bold, bohemian fashion sense accented by an independent streak mingled with endearing goofiness. Keatons book charts her obsessional love affair with Pinterest the visual discovery app and image-curation site, with its endless boards on which practioners pin a variety photos (wedding cakes, dogs, door knobs, anything) they either love or derive inspiration from. And thats how Keaton built and designed her latest home, from the ground up, in a canyon outside Brentwood (Los Angeles County). Dressed in her signature monochrome adorned with a black hat, voluminous belted skirt cinched by a wide, white belt and black, fingerless gloves, the 72-year-old star looked gorgeous and chatted animatedly with female fans wielding books and cellphone cameras. Catherine Bigelow / Special to The Chronicle But this reporter didnt experience that full Keaton effect because she (or perhaps, her people?) didnt entertain any interviews. We were invited to sip The Keaton wine being served (yes, Keaton has also evolved into a lifestyle brand) or to purchase the Keaton book. But this reporter was (graciously) advised against whipping out her notebook to ask three quick questions. Which for a book junket is, well, odd. But, then again, 400 of her books had just flown off the Hudson Grace shelves. That star stance is somewhat de rigueur now in this digital age. From the bounty of Beyonce to the oversharing Kardashian clan, wecan see their newborns, their homes, their lingerie, their dogs, their developing derrieres or outre fashion choices. We can even interact: tapping like or leaving emoji-laced comments of awe. But in many cases that social media facade of access is not to be pierced. And the press now often finds itself at the back of the line as stars, tech titans and presidents break their own news across multiple platforms. With the kind assistance of Totah and McNatton, we finally managed to snap a photo of the hosts with author Keaton, who beamed at the camera. Then we stepped outside and threaded our way around the crowded sidewalk. Shaking off our disappointing reportorial fail, we recalled the wise yet slightly awkward words famously uttered in Annie Hall by Keaton. Well. Oh, well. La-di-da; la-di-da; la-la. Catherine Bigelow is The San Francisco Chronicles society correspondent. Email: missbigelow@sfgate.com Instagram: @missbigelow This story originally appeared on Hoodline. Nancy Ellen just wanted to do something positive for her neighborhood. A Rincon Hill resident since 1989, Ellen has long rallied to beautify and improve the area. So when she met a woman at an event in February who offered to paint a mural worth $10,000 for free, she jumped at the chance. Ellen worked with Mobina Nouri, a creative catalyst with SprayPrinter, a company that transfers images from smartphones. Ellen suggested depicting the city from the Golden Gate to Bay Bridge and asked Nouri to put it on a wall on Beale Street under Harrison Street. Nouri worked up a design, sent Ellen a picture for approval, and the company installed the mural on March 22. Its a techie kind of thing, Ellen said, I think thats why people loved it. That, and it brightened up an otherwise blank concrete wall along a major pedestrian thoroughfare. It made a lot of people happy walking to work, she added. But on April 10, the mural was defaced with graffiti. SprayPrinter workers returned on April 11 to try to fix the mural and integrate the tags into the design, but while they were on site, Ellen said, some men came by, shouted, this is our territory, and stole their paint cans. That night, the mural was tagged again, this time with the stolen paint. After that, Ellen said, the East Cut Community Benefit Districtfunded by property owners in the arearemoved the graffiti, and the mural is now beyond repair. It really deflates your balloon, she said. It ruined a lot of spirits. Garrick Mitchler, the district's public realm maintenance and operations manager, said the group immediately painted over the tagged portion and will collaborate with Public Works to find a more aesthetically appealing solution. He wasn't sure whether another mural would be painted there or elsewhere. "We don't want to be deterred from putting up public art," he said, "but we'll be more cautious," given that it appeared the mural was specifically targeted. "While the mural was not a Community Benefit District project, we are saddened that a piece of community artwork paying homage to many of San Franciscos most famous landmarks was targeted and vandalized," read a district statement. "This act will not deter The East Cut Community Benefit District from continuing in its efforts to enhance this neighborhood and build a greater sense of community among its members. " The vandalism is a sign that things are getting worse, said Ellen. There are so many issues. You could go crazy. You have to pick your fights. However, she said she's determined not to give in. I think we should solve our problems, not pass them on. If possible, Ellen said she's willing to work with the taggers if theyd like a creative outlet. Lets talk, she said. What do you want? What can we help you with? Lets come together as a unit to beautify the city. PARDEEVILLE, Wis. Margo Miller thanked her hosts, covered herself in a blue poncho and headed back into the driving sleet Saturday morning, with more doors to knock on in this rural subdivision but with another new volunteers name on her clipboard. Miller and about 50 other Democratic activists who braved the spring storm returned with 160 petition signatures for a special state Assembly campaign, a local sleeper election that Democrats hope will be anything but. Since Republican Donald Trumps surprise win in Wisconsin helped hand him the White House, Democrats like Miller have been channeling their anger and soul-searching into races close to home, racking up unexpected victories that are sounding alarms for Republicans across the country. The epicenter of the Republican resurgence of eight years ago, Wisconsin is now the proving ground for the Democratic revival. The work of activists like Miller could play a key role in the fight for control of the House and Senate in midterm elections in November. But the goal is bigger. One door-knock at a time, Democrats are seeking to rebuild their hold on the Upper Midwest and, with it, their hopes of winning the White House in 2020. Thats why Im here, Miller told Jane Breuer, a 71-year-old retired legal secretary, after knocking on her door in a rural subdivision outside tiny Pardeeville amid the rolling dairy farm country north of Madison. Youre starting to see that blue wave, and I think were making progress. California billionaire Tom Steyer has named Wisconsin one of the 10 states where he plans to spend some of the $30 million hes committed to promoting Democrats, including $2.5 million to organize young voters, who can help drive up turnout in liberal hubs of Madison and Milwaukee. And while Trumps election has ignited intensity for Democrats here, the drive in Wisconsin is not simply a backlash against the president. Before Trump there was Gov. Scott Walker, who tapped into frustrations across struggling small towns and growing suburbs in 2010 to upend the political establishment. His successful bid to dismantle the states union-friendly laws ignited a firestorm, an unsuccessful recall, and an identity crisis for Democrats who fretted the states pro-union, populist tradition was fading. The next front in the fight is a June 12 special election for two vacant statehouse districts one in working-class towns outside of Green Bay, the other just a few miles outside Madison. Democrats have quickly united behind Ann Groves Lloyd, a University of Wisconsin academic adviser, in one race. Thomas Beaumont and Scott Bauer are Associated Press writers. MINNEAPOLIS Prince thought he was taking a common painkiller and probably did not know a counterfeit pill he ingested contained fentanyl, a Minnesota prosecutor said Thursday as he announced that no charges would be filed in the musicians death. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz said Prince had suffered from pain for years and was addicted to pain medication. While some of the superstars associates might have enabled his drug habit and tried to protect his privacy, We have no direct evidence that a specific person provided the fentanyl to Prince. In all likelihood, Prince had no idea that he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him, Metz said. Metzs announcement came just hours after the U.S. Attorneys Office announced that a doctor who was accused of illegally prescribing an opioid for Prince agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a civil violation of a federal drug law. Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg allegedly wrote a prescription for oxycodone in the name of Princes bodyguard, intending for the potent painkiller to go Prince. That prescription was not linked to Princes death. Prince was 57 when he was found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park studio compound on April 21, 2016. His death sparked a national outpouring of grief and prompted a joint investigation by Carver County and federal authorities. An autopsy found he died of an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid 50 times more powerful than heroin. State and federal authorities have been investigating the source of the fentanyl for nearly two years. My focus was lasered in on trying to find out who provided that fentanyl, and we just dont know where he got it, Metz said. We may never know. ... Its pretty clear from the evidence that he did not know, and the people around him didnt know, that he was taking fentanyl. Metzs announcement effectively closed the case. There is no doubt that the actions of individuals will be criticized, questioned, and judged in the days and weeks to come, Metz said. But suspicions and innuendo are categorically insufficient to support any criminal charges. After the announcement, the U.S. Attorneys Office said it also had no credible evidence that would lead to federal criminal charges. A law enforcement official close to the investigation said the federal investigation is now inactive unless new information emerges. Amy Forliti is an Associated Press writer. For some male victims of sexual assault and abuse, #MeToo can feel more like #WhatAboutMe? They admire the women speaking out about traumatic experiences as assault and harassment victims, while wondering whether men with similar scars will ever receive a comparable level of public empathy and understanding. Because the movement happened to get its start with women only, in a way it furthers my loneliness as a past victim, said Chris Brown, a University of Minnesota music professor. He was among several men who in December accused renowned conductor James Levine of abusing them as teens several decades ago, leading to Levines recent firing by the Metropolitan Opera Company. Men are historically considered the bad guys, suggested Brown, referring to public attitudes. If some men abuse women, then we all are abusers ourselves ... so therefore when it comes to our being abused, we deserve it. Browns sense of distance from the #MeToo movement is shared by other abused men some of whom have been using a #MenToo hashtag on Twitter. Were never necessarily welcome to the parade, said Andrew Schmutzer, a professor of biblical studies at Moody Bible Institute in Chicago who has written about being abused as a teen. As a male survivor youre always an adjunct, he said. Youre never the leading subject of a conversation. Schmutzer is among a group of survivors and therapists forming the leadership of MaleSurvivor , which since its incorporation in 1995 has sought to provide support and resources to men who suffered sexual abuse as children or adults. It says its website has been visited by hundreds of thousands of men worldwide. The psychologists and therapists who work with MaleSurvivor endorse the findings of multiple studies concluding that about one in six men in the U.S. experienced childhood sexual abuse, compared with one in four women. Many adult men also suffer sexual abuse: Rape in prison is frequent, and the latest Pentagon survey found that 6,300 men in the military said they were victims of sexual assault or other unwanted sexual contact in 2016. Despite such data, experts say many men, because of social stigma and feelings of shame, are reluctant to speak up about the abuse they experienced or to seek professional help. Joan Cook, a psychiatry professor at Yale School of Medicine, has been treating sexually abused men for more than 20 years. Many of them still espouse this John Wayne mentality, she said. If something bad happens to you, just wall it off and dont acknowledge it to yourself or others. Some of her patients fear theyll be perceived as weak if they go public about their abuse, she said. David Crary is an Associated Press writer. NEW YORK President Trumps personal attorney dropped a pair of libel lawsuits against BuzzFeed and investigation firm Fusion GPS amid the stir caused by an FBI search of the lawyers files. Michael Cohen had sued in New York City over publication of the unverified dossier detailing alleged ties between Trump and Russia. He dropped the suits late Wednesday amid a separate legal battle over the seizure of documents and electronic files from his home, office and hotel room last week in a federal investigation of possible financial fraud. The dossier claims that Cohen met with Russian operatives in Europe for a meeting to clean up the mess over disclosures of other Trump associates reported ties to Russia. Cohens attorney, David Schwartz, said Thursday the decision to abandon the suits was difficult. We believe the defendants defamed my client, and vindicating Mr. Cohens rights was and still remains important, he said in a statement. But given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits. In a statement, BuzzFeed called the suit against it meritless. Todays news suggests that Donald Trumps personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time, it said. Fusion GPS said in a statement that it welcomed Cohens decision. With his decision, it appears that Mr. Cohen can now focus on his many other legal travails, it said. In another development, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told Trump last week that he isnt a target of any part of special counsel Robert Muellers investigation, Bloomberg News reported Thursday. Rosenstein offered the assurance during a meeting with Trump at the White House on April 12, a development that helped tamp down the presidents desire to remove Rosenstein or Mueller, the people said. After the meeting, Trump told some of his closest advisers that its not the right time to remove either man since hes not a target of the probe. The change in attitude by the president comes after weeks of attacks on the special counsel and the Justice Department, raising questions about whether he might take drastic steps to shut down the probe. At the same time, Rosensteins message may have been based on a technicality. Trump may not officially be a target, but Mueller hasnt ruled out making him one at some point in the future, according to a U.S. official with knowledge of the unfolding investigation. Also Thursday, former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining the legal team defending Trump in the Russia investigation, according to a statement from Trump personal attorney, Jay Sekulow. Bloomberg News contributed to this report. Kjell Qvale grew to fame and wealth in San Francisco decades ago, but some rather far out conspiracy theorists believe he may also have a more sinister background as the area's infamous...Zodiac Killer? Every conspiracy needs a good debunking, and this one deserves just that, but first, let's hear the theory out. It's a far-fetched hypothesis, and one based almost entirely on two things: a vague facial similarity, and the fact that Qvale happened to be walking his dog right nearby around the time that the killer murdered a taxi driver in the Presidio Heights neighborhood. Qvale, to be clear, was a widely successful man. As the San Francisco Chronicle wrote when he died in 2013, Qvale "introduced California motorists to 'foreign' cars at time when American-made cars reigned supreme in the United States." He founded the British Motor Car Distributors and the San Francisco International Auto Show, and was the first to sell Volkswagens in the West. Now, onto the Zodiac. Here's the history we do know: On October 12, 1969, a taxi driver named Paul Stine was shot at pointblank range and killed in the Presidio Heights neighborhood. Three witnesses saw it happen, but because of a miscommunication involving the police radio, police at the scene were looking for a black man rather than a white man. While looking for the wrong suspect, one of the cops happened to pass a white man who fit the description that the witnesses had actually described. Together, the police officer and the witnesses helped cobble together the now-famous composite sketch of the killer. Here's where it gets weird, as reported by Jalopnik. In the late 1960s, Qvale lived in Presidio Heights and was at a nearby intersection with his pup as police, including an officer named Armond Pelissetti, were searching for the suspect on foot. This is the working theory, as presented by one theorist: Pelissetti arrives at scene. He talks to the kids. He calls it in. In the meantime Fouke has been en route to the scene, driving along Jackson, where he encounters Zodiac. Shortly after this encounter Fouke meets Pelissetti somewhere on Cherry where the two of them has a brief conservation. If this is indeed the sequence, Zodiac could have made it to 3636 from 3712 Jackson St. He could have changed his clothes and picked up his dog and moved outside before Pelissetti managed to reach the point where he accosted KQ. The time allows for this. I'm not saying this is what happened. But the time does allow for it, as I see it. 3712 is the proverbial stone's throw from 3636. And Zodiac could have bolted as soon as Fouke was out of sight. The key red flag in this theory, as Jalopnik notes, is that upon returning home, Qvale could have just stayed there. That would have easily allowed him to avoid the whole ordeal, that is, if he actually was the Zodiac, which he is most definitely not. Vous etes confrontes a une infestation par la puce, la punaise de lit ? Voici plusieurs actions qui sont a mettre en uvre pour faire [] SEOUL South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that his rival, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, isnt asking for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula as a precondition for abandoning his nuclear weapons. If true, this would seem to remove a major sticking point to a potential nuclear disarmament deal. North Korea, a small, authoritarian nation surrounded by bigger and richer neighbors, has always linked its pursuit of nuclear weapons to what it calls a hostile U.S. policy that is embodied by the 28,500 U.S. troops stationed in South Korea, the 50,000 stationed in Japan, and the nuclear umbrella security guarantee that Washington offers allies Seoul and Tokyo. Although Moon reported that North Korea isnt asking for the U.S. troops to leave, he said the North still wants the United States to end its hostile policy and offer security guarantees. When North Korea has previously talked about hostility it has been linked to the U.S. troops in South Korea. It wont be until Moon and Kim meet next week, and then when Kim is to meet President Trump sometime in May or June, that outsiders might know just what North Korea intends. Until then, caution is needed over the statements the various leaders are using to set up their high-stakes negotiations. Moon and Kims summit on April 27 will be only the third such meeting between the countries leaders. Moon, a liberal committed to engaging the North despite being forced to take a hard line in the face of repeated North Korean weapons tests last year, is eager to make the summit a success and pave the way for Kim and Trump to settle the deep differences they have over the Norths decades-long pursuit of nuclear weapons. Many analysts believe that Kim sees the meeting with Trump as a way to bestow legitimacy on his own leadership and on a rogue nuclear program that he has built in the face of international criticism and crippling sanctions. Many say it is unlikely that the North will trade away its hard-won nuclear weapons without getting what it wants in return. Trump revealed Tuesday that the U.S. and North Korea had been holding direct talks at extremely high levels in preparation for their summit. Trump also said that North and South Korea are negotiating an end to hostilities before next weeks summit. North Korea has long sought a peace treaty with the United States to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War. Foster Klug is an Associated Press writer. PHILADELPHIA (AP) A second piece of a plane that made an emergency landing after a fatal engine mishap has been found in a Pennsylvania town about 60 miles (97 km) northwest of the Philadelphia International Airport. WCAU-TV reports that the debris believed to be from the plane was found on state game land near Reading Wednesday morning. It's the second piece of debris from the Dallas-bound flight found in the area. National Transportation and Safety Board officials said a piece of the engine covering was found in nearby Bernville Tuesday. The flight from New York was forced to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia after the twin-engine 737 blew an engine at 30,000 feet Tuesday and got hit by shrapnel that smashed a window. State police spokesman Trooper David Beohm says anyone who believes they have found debris should call the FBI office in Allentown. The National Transportation Safety Board says a preliminary examination of the blown jet engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that set off a terrifying chain of events showed evidence of "metal fatigue." One person was killed and seven others were injured after the twin-engine 737 blew an engine at 30,000 feet Tuesday and got hit by shrapnel that smashed a window. The plane from New York to Dallas landed in Philadelphia. In a late night news conference, NTSB chairman Robert Sumwalt said one of the engine's fan blades was separated and missing. The blade was separated at the point where it would come into the hub and there was evidence of metal fatigue. As a precaution, Southwest says it will inspect similar engines in its fleet over the next 30 days. A state appeals court on Thursday backed Californias listing of the widely used herbicide glyphosate as a possible cause of cancer and the states prohibition against discharging it into public waterways. The chemical is the main ingredient in Monsantos Roundup weed killer, popular with farmers as well as homeowners. Citing new findings by the International Agency for Research on Cancer, state health officials added glyphosate to their list of potential carcinogens in July 2017 under Proposition 65, a 1986 initiative that requires warnings of exposure to products that pose a risk of cancer or reproductive harm. Monsanto, backed by agricultural groups, immediately challenged the listing in both state and federal court. In February, a federal judge in Sacramento blocked the state from requiring Monsanto to put a warning label on glyphosate products, an action that had been scheduled to take effect in July. U.S. District Judge William Shubb said the international agencys findings had been contradicted by other studies, including one by the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency that found no link to cancer. Thursdays ruling involved a separate issue, Monsantos claim that the state was illegally delegating lawmaking powers to an unaccountable foreign agency, the International Agency for Research on Cancer. In rejecting that argument, the Fifth District Court of Appeal in Fresno preserved Californias authority to list glyphosate as a possible carcinogen and prohibit discharge of the chemical into waterways. The voters approved Prop. 65, which named the international agency, a cancer research arm of the World Health Organization, as the body to identify cancer-causing substances, Presiding Justice Brad Hill said in the courts 3-0 ruling. He noted that the U.S. and 24 other nations belong to a council that governs the agency. The agencys reputation and authority on the world stage and relatedly its funding is dependent, in part, on its work being accepted as scientifically sound, Hill said. He said the state, through its voters, had exercised lawmaking powers to require warnings on potentially dangerous products, and legally left factual decisions to an internationally supervised body. Monsanto could ask the state Supreme Court to review the ruling. A company vice president, Scott Partridge, said in a statement that no regulatory body in the world has concluded that glyphosate causes cancer, and that independent reports have found that the international agency had used flawed and incomplete science to reach a contrary conclusion. Environmental advocates hailed the ruling. This is a win for science and democracy, said Rebecca Riley, a lawyer for the Natural Resources Defense Council in San Francisco. The ruling clearly backs the voters choice to rely on expert scientific bodies to add dangerous chemicals to its list. The ruling is an existential threat to glyphosate, as it should be, said Adam Keats, a lawyer for the Center for Food Safety. Bob Egelko is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: begelko@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @BobEgelko The prank is common enough. Scrape the frosting off an Oreo cookie, fill it with white toothpaste and serve it to an unsuspecting person. Then you watch them cringe. YouTube star Kanghua Ren, who broadcasts under the name ReSet, faces up to two years in prison after serving a homeless man one such perverted Oreo, multiple international media outlets report. The 20-year-old from China filmed himself squirting toothpaste into double-stacked cookies and placing them back into their original blue packaging. He took them onto the streets of Barcelona, where he currently resides, and served them to unsuspecting passersbys, all in an attempt to amuse his 1 million-plus YouTube followers. In one encounter, Kanghua hands 20 ($25) and a cookie to a man on the street, which authorities identified as 52-year-old Gheorge L., according to the Independent. While the man eats the Oreo, Kanghua starts to question himself: "Maybe I've gone a bit far," he says, per video obtained by the British news outlet. "But look at the positive side," he continues, "This will help him clean his teeth. I think he hasn't cleaned them since he became poor." Kanghua earned about 2,000 ($2,475) from advertisements linked to the video, according to Spanish newspaper El Pais. The YouTuber now faces up to two years in prison and a 30,000 ($37,133) fine if convicted for what Spanish prosecutors are calling a crime against moral integrity, the Telegraph reported. Controversy followed immediately after Kanghua posted the video, which he later deleted. The YouTuber also attempted to make amends with Gheorge L. by visiting him, camera in-tow, with the intention of spending the night with him, upon which a witness called authorities. Prosecutors said Kangua offered the homeless man 300 ($371) to keep quiet, the Telegraph reported. Gheorge L. told El Pais he threw up shortly after consuming the Oreo. The man, who escaped dictatorship in Romania and told authorities he had spent time in a mental hospital, said he had never been treated so poorly while living on the street. Michelle Robertson is an SFGATE staff writer. Email her at mrobertson@sfchronicle.com or find her on Twitter at @mrobertsonsf. SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BCN) Human rights advocates protesting at San Francisco International Airport this afternoon say a Filipino activist visiting the U.S. for a speaking tour was detained on arrival and is scheduled to be removed from the country later today. Jerome Aladdin Succor Aba already had a visa when he boarded his flight, which was scheduled to arrive at SFO around 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to Terry Valen, a spokesman for the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. There were people waiting for Aba at the airport. "We were going to welcome him, feed him, make sure he's OK and send him off in the morning," Valen said. But that didn't happen. The plane was delayed about 25 minutes. Two hours later, they still hadn't heard from Aba. Then around 7 a.m. today, Aba left a voicemail saying he'd been denied entry to the U.S., and would be removed sometime today, according to Valen. Sources within U.S. Customs and Border Protection who asked to remain anonymous confirmed that Aba's application to enter the country was denied due to an unspecified problem with his visa -- which is relatively common -- and that foreign nationals do not typically have access to an attorney until after they've been allowed entry. As of 2 p.m. today, Aba was being held in a secured area of the airport with access to food, water and a restroom while he waits for the next available seat on a flight back to the Philippines. Meanwhile, activists with an amplified sound system are gathering outside the Customs and Border Protection offices at SFO demanding that Aba be allowed to enter the country and consult with legal representation from the National Lawyers Guild. Valen says Aba's here to raise awareness about a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Phillipines, where he said an estimated 20,000 people have died under the "brutal regime" of President Rodrigo Duterte. The itinerary includes meetings with religious and government officials, including members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, according to Valen. "These are all meetings scheduled already," Valen said. "He should be on his way there." U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not consider country of origin or human rights activism to be determining factors for admissibility, according to a statement issued today by agency spokesman Jaime Ruiz, but the agency is prohibited from discussing specific cases. Generally speaking, applicants for entry bear the burden of proof to establish their eligibility under federal law. Specific grounds for denying an application can include health problems, criminal history, security concerns, labor documentation, prior immigration violations, documentation problems and other miscellaneous grounds, according to Ruiz. ### OAKLAND (BCN) An attorney for the city of Oakland asked a judge today to grant a new trial on former Black Panther Party leader Elaine Brown's lawsuit against the city and Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks for an incident in which Brooks pushed Brown down at an Oakland nightclub. Attorney Robert Stumpf Jr. told Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Herbert that a jury's decision in December to award Brown $3.75 million in compensatory damages for the incident at the Everett & Jones BBQ restaurant near Jack London Square at about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2015, was "excessive" and "shocking." The incident occurred when Brown, 74, and Brooks, 56, got into an argument about a public housing project in West Oakland. In January, the same jury ruled that Brooks must personally pay Brown $550,000 in punitive damages for the incident. In addition, Herbert in March awarded Brown $1 million in attorneys' fees and other costs. Herbert took the city's motion for a new trial under submission and said he will rule on it by the end of next week. Brown's lawsuit alleged that Brooks, who was first elected to the City Council in 2002 and represents District 6 in East Oakland, punched Brown in the chest with two fists and sent her crashing backwards head over heels over a stack of folding chairs. Brown's attorney Charles Bonner said Brown landed hard, hitting the back of her head on a chair, and suffered a rotator cuff injury that required surgery and will affect her for the rest of her life. Bonner told the jury in his closing argument in the punitive damages phase of the trial that Brooks has a history of assaulting people she disagrees with, citing two incidents at Oakland City Hall in which he said she pushed people. In its verdict in the compensatory damages phase of the case, the jury found that Brooks attacked Brown without justification, that Brown had never threatened her, that Brooks was acting within the scope of her employment with the city and that her assault on Brown was an act of elder abuse. Bonner said the city of Oakland's liability insurance likely will pay the $3.75 million in compensatory damages but Brooks will personally have to pay the punitive damages award. It's expected that the city's insurance policy will also pay for the attorneys' fees and other costs. Herbert seemed skeptical about the city's motion for a new trial, telling Stumpf, "You're giving me the 'aw shucks' argument that the jury's award was out of size for the injury that was suffered." Herbert also said Stumpf was asking him to grant a new trial based on arguments involving matters that weren't part of the evidence in the case. "I can't pick stuff up out of the ether and base my decision on that," Herbert said. Bonner said after today's hearing that he expects that Herbert will deny the city's motion for a new trial and the city will then finally decide to pay Brown because her damage awards will increase if the city appeals the case. Bonner said that before the trial, he offered to settle the case for only $600,000 but the city only offered $25,000. Brown headed the Black Panther Party from 1974 to 1977 and served as an aide to Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson at the time of the incident in 2015. ### 238-3148 City Councilwoman Desley Brooks (510) 238-7006 Charles Bonner, Brown's attorney (415) 331-3070 or (415) 601-0268 Karan Gill, Brown's attorney (510) 688-9532 Attorney Robert Stumpf Jr. (415) 434-9100 SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) A state appeals court in San Francisco has upheld the murder conviction of a drug dealer who killed a 23-year-old man during a street fight in West Oakland in 2013, but ordered further consideration of his sentence. A three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday in the case of Alpacino McDaniels, 32. McDaniels was convicted by an Alameda County Superior Court jury in 2016 of the first-degree murder of Teric Traylor during a fight outside a corner store on the morning of July 6, 2013. McDaniels had previously two convictions for possessing cocaine base for sale, one conviction for selling a controlled substance and one for evading a police officer. In the murder case, Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman sentenced McDaniels to 25 years in prison for the murder plus a consecutive term of 25 years for a gun enhancement that was found by the jury to be true, resulting in a total sentence of 50 years. The gun enhancement was the jury's finding that he had personally and intentionally used a firearm causing death. At the time, the additional 25-year sentence was mandatory for that enhancement in a murder case. But a new state law that went into effect on Jan. 1 gives a trial judge the authority to strike or dismiss a gun enhancement during sentencing if the judge believes that is "in the interest of justice." The Court of Appeal panel said the law is retroactive and that McDaniels's case should go back to the trial court for consideration of whether the gun enhancement should be dropped. The panel noted that while it was sending the case back, it had no opinion on whether the trial judge should drop the enhancement. The appeals court said that such cases should be sent back, or remanded, unless the trial judge previously indicated a clear intent not to drop the gun enhancement. The San Francisco-based panel said it disagreed with a narrower standard set by a Court of Appeal panel in Los Angeles in a different case. The Los Angeles appeals court panel said the standard should be whether there is a "reasonable probability" the trial judge would dismiss the enhancement. The Court of Appeal in San Francisco rejected McDaniels's challenges to his murder conviction and upheld his 25-year sentence for that crime. The 2013 fight that ended in Traylor's murder began when a father and son, Jeffrey and Charles Fuller, who had been drinking and smoking marijuana during the night, allegedly in the company of McDaniels and another man, went to a convenience store to buy food at 7:30 a.m., according to testimony cited by the appeals court. The father and son began fighting and after Traylor asked them to stop yelling, Traylor and Charles Fuller started hitting each other and arguing. While they were arguing, McDaniels stepped into the street and shot Traylor, according to two trial witnesses. ### SAN JOSE (BCN) A former elementary school teacher from Watsonville has been sentenced in federal court in San Jose to five years of prison for possessing child pornography depicting children below the age of 12. Robert Krietzman, 53, pleaded guilty before U.S. District Judge Beth Freeman on Tuesday to one count of possessing child pornography and was given the five-year sentence on the same day. The plea and sentence were agreed to in a plea agreement between prosecutors and Krietzman. Krietzman had requested to have the sentencing on the same day as the plea. At the time he was arrested at his Watsonville home in May 2016, Krietzman was a first-grade teacher in Salinas. Prosecutors said in a sentencing brief he was an elementary school teacher for 23 years and had taught kindergarten, first grade and second grade in Oakland, Napa, Soquel, Castroville, San Jose, Watsonville and Salinas during that time. U.S. Attorney's Office spokesman Abraham Simmons said Krietzman admitted in his plea agreement to possessing more than 600 images and videos on his electronic devices that depicted minors, including prepubescent girls, in explicit sexual conduct. Krietzman was arrested after a Santa Cruz detective traced pornography files to Krietzman's computers and a search revealed child pornography images on two computers and two thumb drives he owned. Krietzman, who had no previous criminal history, "accepts full responsibility for the conduct he has admitted," defense attorney Peter Leeming said in a filing. ### 436-7264 Defense attorney Peter Leeming (831) 435-8000 SANTA ROSA (BCN) Dozens of people began gathering their belongings and dismantling makeshift tarp structures and tents at a homeless camp behind a Dollar Tree store in the Roseland area of Santa Rosa this morning. The "Last Chance and Remembrance Village" camp is located on land owned by the Sonoma County Community Development Commission, which wants the site cleared so it can begin construction of 175 apartments, some of which are to be affordable housing. The camp was to be vacated by March 23 but the date was extended to April 9. Housing advocates' attorneys then challenged the eviction and a federal judge suggested a three-week delay. The Community Development Commission then set today as the final date to vacate the camp. A Sonoma County Supervised Adult Crew, an alternative program for offenders sentenced up to 90 days in the county jail, began removing trash and debris from the camp this morning. About 80 people were at the camp on Wednesday, but some left during the night, according to homeless advocates at the camp this morning. Others left one by one over the past week ahead of today's eviction deadline. Advocates from Homeless Action! said it was home to as many as 130-140 people at one point who were displaced by the October wildfires or the evictions of people who were living underneath three U.S. Highway 101 overpasses in downtown Santa Rosa area and on "Homeless Hill" in east Santa Rosa. The camp started in November 2015. "I've been here 16 months. I came with my boyfriend after I left an abusive marriage with just the clothes on my back," Nicholle Vannucci said. "I don't have any place to go." Chief Deputy County Counsel Alegria De La Cruz said about 55 beds are available today in the Samuel L. Jones Hall homeless shelter in Santa Rosa for those with no where to go. Community Development Commission executive director Margaret Van Vliet, who also was at the site this morning, said permanent housing was found for six people at the Palms Inn motel where previously homeless veterans now live. She said shelters are "the front door" for assessment of the homeless people's needs and housing when there are vacancies. Jennielynn Holmes, director of shelter and housing for Catholic Charities, said 40 campers have found temporary shelter in Samuel L. Jones Hall, and Catholic Charities is helping the campers with inventory and transportation of their belongings. The Community Development Commission is providing free storage of the campers' personal belongings for 90 days in the vacant former Roseland Hardware store building on its Sebastopol Road property. Participants are allowed up to two boxes 18-by-18-by-16 inches. Bikes, computers, appliances, furniture and perishable food are not allowed. Several Santa Rosa police officers and some firefighters were present at the site this morning. Police Lt. Rick Kohut said clearing the camp will take several days. "We're helping Catholic Charities with outreach and our goal is to get people into services or shelters. We want people to be actively removing," Kohut said. Santa Rosa Assistant Fire Marshall Paul Lowenthal said there have been cooking fires and bonfires at the camp and there are concerns about getting people out of the camp containing dozens of tents in the event of a fire. Lowenthal said there is propane and diesel fuel in the camp, and the fire department has tried to get the campers to create aisles. Clearing the camp will be a lengthy process, he said. As the decampment slowly progressed, several people took turns addressing the large gathering at the site. Kathleen Finigan, a homeless advocate, said some campers were panicking because they had no place to go. Most of the remaining campers are disabled, she said. "People are frustrated, anxious and feel they are fighting for their right to just exist," Finigan said. "People prefer the privacy of their own tents over the Sam Jones shelter. They don't feel safe there. This is a real community that has grown here." Adrienne Lauby of Homeless Action! said the camp had a formal camp council structure. The Rev. Christopher Bell of the Unitarian Universalist Congregation, Santa Rosa, said he had no words, only heartache as he watched the camp disbanding. "We are not living up to our obligations as children of God. God is on the side of the poor, the homeless and disenfranchised. I'm not feeling that today. I pray for their strength, peace, safety and courage," Bell said. ### (707) 543-3535 Jennielynn Holmes, Catholic Charities (707) 321-5711 SAN FRANCISCO INTERNATIONAL AIRPORT (BCN) An activist entering the U.S. at San Francisco International Airport this week for a speaking tour addressing a human rights crisis in the Philippines was detained by customs, denied entry and sent back to Manila, according to his colleagues. Jerome Aladdin Succor Aba was scheduled to arrive at SFO around 8 p.m. Tuesday, but U.S. Customs and Border Protection agents detained him. Aba's friends spent hours waiting for him outside the international arrivals terminal, uncertain of what happened. When they learned that Aba had been denied entry, they launched a protest on short notice, bringing banners and a sound system to the airport demanding that Aba be allowed into the country, or at least allowed access to legal representation through National Lawyers Guild personnel who went to the airport to help. They even launched a hashtag, #AllowJeromeEntry, that was used in dozens of tweets and retweets within the activist community. Nonetheless, early this morning Aba boarded a flight back to Manila around 12:30 a.m., according to Terry Valen, a spokesman for the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. "That was ridiculous," Valen said, later describing the incident as a human rights violation at SFO. "They held him for more than 24 hours," Valen said. "Basically it's illegal detention. According to him, they told Aba there was a "glitch" with his visa. Customs officials said they were prohibited from discussing Aba's case specifically when asked for more information on Wednesday, citing privacy laws, but said that country of origin and human rights activism are not determining factors in cases like his. It is unclear at this time if and when Aba will attempt to travel to the U.S. again. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Firefighters briefly responded to a one-alarm fire this afternoon at a high-rise apartment complex near San Francisco State University. The blaze was reported at 150 Font Blvd., San Francisco Fire Department officials said on Twitter at 3:55 p.m. Once at the scene, firefighters were able to contain the fire to the dining room of a third floor apartment. No residents were injured and no one was displaced, according to fire officials. Investigators believe the blaze was accidental. ### SANTA CLARA (BCN) Santa Clara police are asking residents to be aware of scammers calling their homes demanding a payment for a nonexistent past due bill via a MoneyPak or Green Dot card. Police said the scammers will pose as a city or federal employee, demanding money for a traffic ticket, income taxes, an outstanding warrant or a past due bill. According to police, the scammer will ask a victim to go purchase a Green Dot card or a MoneyPak, telling them it is the easiest way to settle the bill. Police said once the victim purchases the card and gives the scammer the number on the card, they can download the value of the card anywhere in the world. Santa Clara police are advising residents that legitimate business would never ask them to pay an outstanding debt this way. Residents that have questions can call their local police department. ### UNION CITY (BCN) Union City police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 12-year-old girl who didn't go to school or return home on Wednesday, according to police. Camila Rodriguez, 12, of Union City, was last seen leaving for school with another girl Wednesday morning, police said. Rodriguez has not been reported missing previously and, according to police, there is no indication why she may have runaway. Her cell phone has been turned off, police said. Rodriguez is 5 feet, 1-inch tall, weighing 130 pounds with long, wavy brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a Northface windbreaker and jeans. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Union City police at (510) 471-1365. According to Union City police Sgt. Mike Mahaney, the other girl leaving for school with Rodriguez on Wednesday morning was also reported missing from Hayward, but no further information was immediately available from Hayward police. ### SAN BRUNO (BCN) San Bruno police responded to an Instagram post threatening another shooting at YouTube headquarters and found there was no merit to the post, police said today. Officers learned about the threat on April 4 at 1:18 a.m. about 12 hours after the shooting took place on April 3. They began investigating the threat and coordinated a security plan with YouTube officials. The Instagram page was named "youtubeshooters" and police traced the threatening post to a juvenile in Pennsylvania. Police said the juvenile admitted to creating the post, but the individual hadn't taken any steps to actually carry out a shooting. San Bruno police, the San Mateo County District Attorney's Office, the FBI and other agencies are working together to determine whether the juvenile will be criminally charged. San Bruno police said they take all threats to public safety very seriously and they will actively investigate all similar cases. Anyone with information about the threat is asked to call San Bruno police at (650) 616-7100 or to email them at sbpdtipline@sanbruno.ca.gov. ### SAN FRANCISCO (BCN) Crews with the San Francisco Department of Public Works this afternoon began confiscating multiple powered dockless scooters throughout the city, for what the department's spokeswoman said is a "flagrant disregard for the rules." According to DPW spokeswoman Rachel Gordon, 24 scooters were seized this afternoon after DPW continued to receive complaints from residents who said the scooters were obstructing sidewalks. "If these motorized scooters are going to be operating, they need to be operating legally," Gordon said. "We really have to keep the integrity of our sidewalks." DPW crews will be out again Thursday, looking for scooters obstructing sidewalks, according to Gordon. On Friday, DPW crews confiscated 66 scooters because of the complaints, Gordon said. The scooters were deployed throughout the city in March by companies LimeBike, Spin and Bird. The scooters, which have a GPS device that allows users to find them via a mobile app, are often seen being used on sidewalks and left unattended, oftentimes on their side. Today's confiscations come on the heels of the Board of Supervisors' unanimous vote to require the scooter share programs to seek permits for their vehicles. Unpermitted scooters would be subject to confiscation by DPW, according to the ordinance, which was sponsored by Supervisors Aaron Peskin and Jane Kim. The ordinance, however, will take about a week to go into effect. In addition, an online permit application for the share companies wouldn't be ready until at least mid-May. In addition to drawing the ire of residents, supervisors and DPW, on Monday, City Attorney Dennis Herrera sent cease and desist letters to the three scooter share companies. While noting that LimeBike, Spin and Bird had disregarded previous warnings, the letters demanded that they all stop operating unpermitted as the scooters are "creating a public nuisance on the city's streets and sidewalks and endangering public health and safety." LimeBike spokesman Joe Arellano said Tuesday in a statement that the company is taking the Board of Supervisors vote and the cease and desist letter from Herrera seriously. "In response, we are updating our current community outreach plan to address the city's concerns about pedestrian safety, parking compliance and rider education. We plan to roll out new initiatives, along with our complete response to the city attorney by the end of the week," according to LimeBike's statement. In the meantime, LimeBike said it will hand out helmets to users Sunday at their San Francisco headquarters, will develop a new feature on their app for riders to send a picture of their scooter at the end of their ride to ensure that it's properly parked and will ensure that users are aware that riding on or blocking sidewalks is illegal. "We recognize that we can't fix every concern overnight, but as a Bay Area company, we want to be lasting partners with the city and county of San Francisco," the statement said. ### (415) 554-7450 Ivy Lee for Jane Kim (415) 554-7973 Kenneth Baer, Bird (202) 792-7200 or press@bird.co Spin at press@spin.pm OAKLAND (BCN) A 19-year-old reputed gang member has been charged with murder for allegedly making a phone call to a colleague that led to the fatal shooting in Oakland of her 17-year-old cousin, who reputedly belonged to a rival gang, according to court documents. Olga Gisel Salgado was charged and arraigned on April 4 in connection with the fatal shooting of Maynor Funes-Salgado, her cousin, in the 1100 block of East 23rd Street at about 6:30 p.m. on April 2, according to court records. Funes-Salgado's 20-year-old brother was also shot but survived, according to police. Berkeley attorney Michal Tal was appointed to represent Salgado at a hearing on April 10 and Salgado is scheduled to return to court Tuesday to enter a plea. Oakland police Sgt. Michael Cardoza wrote in a probable cause statement that Olga Salgado is affiliated with the Norteno gang and on April 2 she placed a phone call to another Norteno member to beat up some members of the rival Surenos gang, including her cousin, Funes-Salgado, who Cardoza said is affiliated with that gang. Cardoza said a Norteno member responded to the area and shot and killed Salgado's cousin. The gang member who carried out the shooting apparently is still at large because the person isn't named in the charging documents. Cardoza wrote that a witness described the phone call that Salgado placed that led to the fatal shooting of her cousin. Salgado was arrested at her home in the 1100 block of East 23rd Street after the shooting, according to Cardoza. In addition to murder, Salgado is charged with assault with a firearm for the shooting of her cousin's brother and with an enhancement clause alleging that she carried out the crime to benefit a criminal street gang. A second suspect, Erick Canseco, 23, is charged with being an accessory in the shooting. Cardoza wrote that Canseco drove the unnamed shooter to the 1100 block of East 23rd Street, where the shooter located Funes-Salgado and his brother walking on the sidewalk. Cardoza said the shooter got out of Canseco's Honda Prelude, pulled out a firearm and shot Funes-Salgado and his brother multiple times. Funes-Salgado was pronounced dead at the scene but his brother survived, police said. Cardoza wrote that Canseco drove the shooter away from the shooting scene and did not contact police to report the shooting. Cardoza said that after Canseco was arrested the next day at his home in the 1800 block of San Antonio Way, several blocks away from the shooting scene, he "admitted his involvement in the incident." Canseco is being held in lieu of $70,000 bail and is also scheduled to return to court Tuesday to enter a plea. ### 272-6280 A woman killed in a broadside collision early Tuesday morning in Oakley has been identified as 35-year-old Erica Rae Pearce, according to the Contra Costa County coroner's office. The crash was reported at O'Hara Avenue and Laurel Road around 5:10 a.m., police said. There were three victims, Pearce and two men, who were taken to a hospital, but Pearce did not survive. One of the men was later released from the hospital while the other was listed in critical condition, and an update on his condition was not immediately available. There was a fiber optic line damaged at the scene of the crash, resulting in temporary outages for phone and internet customers, according to Oakley police. An alleged drunk driver who struck and injured a bicyclist in Foster City on Monday and then fled has been charged with multiple felonies, San Mateo County prosecutors said today. Gregory Datwyler, a 50-year-old Foster City resident, struck a 27-year-old man riding his bike on Hillsdale Boulevard shortly after 5:30 p.m. Monday, according to the district attorney's office. The victim fell and suffered broken teeth, facial lacerations and other injuries, while Datwyler allegedly drove off without stopping, prosecutors said. However, about 25 minutes later he pulled into the parking lot of the Foster City Police Department nearly a mile away, and told an officer, "I'm the one you're looking for, I hit the guy," prosecutors said. Damage to his car matched evidence from the collision scene and Datwyler appeared to be under the influence of alcohol. A breath test found his blood-alcohol content was .17, according to the district attorney's office. Datwyler, who has a prior drunk driving conviction in 2009, was arrested and charged with hit-and-run and DUI causing great bodily injury, with enhancements for having a blood-alcohol content above .15 and for having a DUI conviction within 10 years of the new offense. He didn't enter a plea during his initial court hearing Wednesday and will return to court next on April 25. He remains in custody on $100,000 bail. A mountain lion was reported near two schools in San Mateo this morning, but the witness said it did not appear to behave in an aggressive or predatory fashion, according to police. The sighting was called in at 8:02 a.m. in the vicinity of Fernwood Street and 36th Avenue, officers said. Due to the presence of students nearby, temporary shelter-in-place orders were issued for Abbott Middle School and Hillsdale High School while officers cleared the campuses, but classes continued behind closed doors. The sighting was never confirmed, according to police. Union City police said this morning that they've located a 12-year-old girl reported missing Wednesday after she failed to return home from school. Camila Rodriguez, of Union City, had last been seen leaving for school with another girl Wednesday morning, police said. That's also where she was eventually found, after a concerned member of the community called police. Police say she's since been reunited with her family. Officers believe she was voluntarily missing, and does not appear to have been abducted. A man who was transported to a hospital after crashing his vehicle down a 50-foot embankment in San Jose on Wednesday afternoon is expected to survive, according to the city's fire department. The victim lost control of his car and fell into the steep embankment along Yerba Buena Road east of Silver Creek Road, fire officials said. The crash was reported at 4:15 p.m. The first fire crew was on scene just two minutes later and extricated the man from his vehicle by 4:30 p.m., fire officials said. The rescue was expedited since firefighters were able to drive directly up to the crashed car using a service road and avoided having to use ropes to get down to it. The man suffered injuries but they were not considered life-threatening, Fire Capt. Daniel Vega said. Additional details about what caused him to lose control of the vehicle were not immediately available. UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital Oakland is celebrating a major milestone today by having a ribbon-cutting ceremony for its new six-story outpatient center. Hospital officials said the newly constructed, state-of-the-art building is bringing an additional 89,000 square feet of exam rooms, treatment facilities and family support services to the hospital's existing outpatient center. They said the outpatient center also will house advanced technologies and clinical space for specialties such as orthopedics, physical rehabilitation, ear, nose and throat, head and neck surgery, pulmonology, dermatology, cardiology, outpatient surgery, neurology and neurosurgery. Children's Hospital officials said the completion of the expanded outpatient center is the first major milestone in the hospital's master plan project, which aims to modernize the campus with new and improved technology and meet the state's updated seismic safety standards by 2020. They said that by constructing new facilities and modernizing existing ones, the hospital will continue to provide highly specialized health care to all children in the region and beyond, regardless of a family's ability to pay. Among the people expected to speak at today's ceremony were Oakland Mayor Libby Schaaf, UCSF Benioff Children's Hospital president Dr. Michael Anderson, UCSF chancellor Dr. Sam Hawgood and Oakland City Councilman Dan Kalb. Santa Clara police are asking residents to be aware of scammers calling their homes demanding a payment for a nonexistent past due bill via a MoneyPak or Green Dot card. Police said the scammers will pose as a city or federal employee, demanding money for a traffic ticket, income taxes, an outstanding warrant or a past due bill. According to police, the scammer will ask a victim to go purchase a Green Dot card or a MoneyPak, telling them it is the easiest way to settle the bill. Police said once the victim purchases the card and gives the scammer the number on the card, they can download the value of the card anywhere in the world. Santa Clara police are advising residents that legitimate business would never ask them to pay an outstanding debt this way. Residents that have questions can call their local police department. Santa Clara County Board of Supervisors president Joe Simitian announced Wednesday afternoon that the board voted to set aside millions in funding for affordable teacher housing in Palo Alto. Simitian pitched the project in order to bring in workforce housing closer to the communities where local educators teach, according to a statement from his office. Simitian proposed building teacher housing on county-owned land at 231 Grant Ave. in Palo Alto, a 1.5-acre site across from the Santa Clara County Courthouse. To provide parking, he suggested replacing parking on that lot with a parking structure on the courthouse lot. "It's better for everyone -- folks trying to avoid traffic, kids getting an education, school districts trying to hire and retain the very best teachers for our schools, and of course for our teachers themselves," Simitian said in the statement. "It's never easy to develop workforce housing in such an expensive area." Simitian went on to say that it is possible to develop this housing because of the available land, available funding and partners who want to help out. The $6 million in funding set aside for the project comes from the county's Stanford Affordable Housing Fund, designed for the creation of affordable housing near the Stanford University campus. The Grant Avenue site could host a large number of units, ranging from 60 to 120. The community services that are currently on the site could be relocated, Simitian recommended, or remain on the site on the ground floor below the housing units. So far, superintendents from the Mountain View Whisman School District, Mountain View Los Altos School District, Los Alto School District, Palo Alto Unified School District and the chancellor of Foothill De-Anza Community College District have shown preliminary interest in the proposal, according to Simitian's office. The project should also help schools retain more employees, which has become a huge problem in the region with teachers who do not qualify for traditional affordable housing yet cannot afford market-rate housing prices. The effort hits home with the board president, who grew up in Palo Alto as a teacher's son. "I can recall the days when a teacher could own their own home here in Palo Alto, or in a nearby community," Simitian said in a statement. "I know we can't turn back the clock, but I'm convinced that there are solutions to this problem." Caltrans has released its first-ever bicycle and pedestrian plan to improve and organize "active transportation" methods in California. The plan sets a goal of creating safe biking and walking conditions on California roads for people of all ages, abilities and incomes by 2040. The agency also wants to double the amount of walking, triple bicycle use and double transit usage between 2010 and 2020. Caltrans' goals are closely tied to the state's climate strategy with hopes of reducing greenhouse gas emissions to 40 percent below 1990 levels by 2030. The Road Repair and Accountability Act of 2017 - known as the gas tax - is financing Caltrans with $1 billion to carry out the project over the next 10 years. California residents can access the plan online at http://www.dot.ca.gov/activecalifornia/theplan.html. ### A four-time felon has been charged with vehicular manslaughter with gross negligence and other offenses for a hit-and-run collision in East Oakland last week that killed a 9-year-old girl, prosecutors said. Kevin Lee Payne Jr., 21, was arraigned earlier this week for the death of Zayda Monge of Oakland and is scheduled to return to court on April 23 to enter a plea. The collision, in which a 25-year-old woman and two girls, ages 8 and 10, also were injured, occurred at the intersection of 35th and Paxton avenues shortly after 9 p.m. on April 10. Oakland police said a Toyota Corolla the 25-year-old woman was driving with Monge and the other two girls as passengers was making a U-turn onto southbound 35th Avenue when an Infiniti SUV driven by Payne that was also going south collided with it. The impact of the collision caused both vehicles to hit nearby parked cars, according to police. Payne and other occupants of the SUV got out of the vehicle and fled on foot, police said. Monge died the day after the collision but the 25-year-old woman and the two other girls survived, authorities said. Payne turned himself in at Oakland police headquarters on Friday afternoon. Officer Timothy De La Vega wrote in a probable cause statement that Payne "admitted to being the driver in the collision and fleeing the scene without providing his information." De La Vega said Payne "also wrote a note confessing to the incident and was apologetic to what had occurred." De La Vega wrote that video evidence of the collision indicates that Payne was driving the SUV at a high rate of speed in a residential zone. De La Vega said witnesses told police that Payne was passing another vehicle by going into oncoming traffic just before the fatal collision. In addition to vehicular manslaughter, Payne is charged with leaving the scene of an accident and reckless driving with serious injury, based on Monge's death and the injuries to the three other people. Prosecutors say Payne has two prior convictions for possession of an assault weapon and one prior conviction each for second-degree burglary and receiving stolen property. Payne is being held at the Santa Rita Jail in Dublin in lieu of $140,000 bail. The city of Santa Rosa Wednesday declared an impasse in its contract negotiations with its firefighters union. Mayor Chris Coursey said the city and the union met 21 times since March 29, 2017, but could not reach an agreement. The city offered a two-year package of over 7 percent in increased pay that includes cost of living adjustments, additional pay premiums and a cash bonus, Coursey said. "We believe the package is fair and in line with contract agreements reached with our other labor unions, including the police union which last year agreed to a contract virtually identical to the one offered to the fire union," Coursey said in a statement. City officials said the average total compensation to a Santa Rosa firefighter is more than $235,000 a year, and the city regards that package competitive. The city said it has offered to mediate with the firefighters union and the union could force arbitration under the city's charter that provides for binding arbitration before a third party. "We understand that the union can force us into a costly arbitration but we really have no other reasonable choice but to maintain our position and hope a neutral arbitrator will side with us based on the overwhelming evidence of fiscal uncertainty facing our city," Coursey said. Tim Aboudara, Santa Rosa Firefighters' IAFF Local 1401 president, said he was surprised and disappointed the city declared an impasse and walked away from negotiations. He said the union has been bargaining in good faith and presented a comprehensive package Tuesday. Aboudara also said he is surprised the city included specific terms of the negotiations in its news release. He said the $235,000 average total compensation figure cited by the city is misleading, inflammatory and does not reflect a firefighter's salary. Aboudara said that's the cost, including health care expenses, to the city to employ a Santa Rosa firefighter. For the past 21 years, the evaluation of future firefighter contracts has been indexed to similar fire departments in the region, not to police departments, Aboudara said. "It doesn't line up with what we do historically. The needs are different. We use comparable firefighting units," Aboudara said. He said the Santa Rosa Fire Department wants to be the median, not the highest or lowest department in the region regarding compensation. Aboudara said the impasse is not the end of the process. "We'll be talking about mediation, arbitration dispute resolution and a multiple-year contract," he said. The firefighters' one-year contract expired June 17, 2017. Police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 11-year-old girl who was last see on Wednesday morning, according to police. Police said Diana Flores-Leiva was last seen before 9 a.m. Wednesday at the intersection of the El Camino Real and Bay Street. According to police, she was wearing a green sweatshirt with the word "PINK" on it, jeans, black shoes and a black backpack. Police said she is 5 feet, 5 inches tall, with brown hair and brown eyes. Anyone who sees her is asked to call Mountain View police at (650) 903-6395 or 911. Union City police are asking for the public's help in locating a missing 12-year-old girl who didn't go to school or return home on Wednesday, according to police. Camila Rodriguez, 12, of Union City, was last seen leaving for school with another girl Wednesday morning, police said. Rodriguez has not been reported missing previously and, according to police, there is no indication why she may have runaway. Her cell phone has been turned off, police said. Rodriguez is 5 feet, 1-inch tall, weighing 130 pounds with long, wavy brown hair and brown eyes. She was last seen wearing a Northface windbreaker and jeans. Anyone with information on the case is asked to call Union City police at (510) 471-1365. According to Union City police Sgt. Mike Mahaney, the other girl leaving for school with Rodriguez on Wednesday morning was also reported missing from Hayward, but no further information was immediately available from Hayward police. A state appeals court in San Francisco has upheld the murder conviction of a drug dealer who killed a 23-year-old man during a street fight in West Oakland in 2013, but ordered further consideration of his sentence. A three-judge panel of the state Court of Appeal ruled Tuesday in the case of Alpacino McDaniels, 32. McDaniels was convicted by an Alameda County Superior Court jury in 2016 of the first-degree murder of Teric Traylor during a fight outside a corner store on the morning of July 6, 2013. McDaniels had previously two convictions for possessing cocaine base for sale, one conviction for selling a controlled substance and one for evading a police officer. In the murder case, Superior Court Judge Larry Goodman sentenced McDaniels to 25 years in prison for the murder plus a consecutive term of 25 years for a gun enhancement that was found by the jury to be true, resulting in a total sentence of 50 years. The gun enhancement was the jury's finding that he had personally and intentionally used a firearm causing death. At the time, the additional 25-year sentence was mandatory for that enhancement in a murder case. But a new state law that went into effect on Jan. 1 gives a trial judge the authority to strike or dismiss a gun enhancement during sentencing if the judge believes that is "in the interest of justice." The Court of Appeal panel said the law is retroactive and that McDaniels's case should go back to the trial court for consideration of whether the gun enhancement should be dropped. The panel noted that while it was sending the case back, it had no opinion on whether the trial judge should drop the enhancement. The appeals court said that such cases should be sent back, or remanded, unless the trial judge previously indicated a clear intent not to drop the gun enhancement. The San Francisco-based panel said it disagreed with a narrower standard set by a Court of Appeal panel in Los Angeles in a different case. The Los Angeles appeals court panel said the standard should be whether there is a "reasonable probability" the trial judge would dismiss the enhancement. The Court of Appeal in San Francisco rejected McDaniels's challenges to his murder conviction and upheld his 25-year sentence for that crime. The 2013 fight that ended in Traylor's murder began when a father and son, Jeffrey and Charles Fuller, who had been drinking and smoking marijuana during the night, allegedly in the company of McDaniels and another man, went to a convenience store to buy food at 7:30 a.m., according to testimony cited by the appeals court. The father and son began fighting and after Traylor asked them to stop yelling, Traylor and Charles Fuller started hitting each other and arguing. While they were arguing, McDaniels stepped into the street and shot Traylor, according to two trial witnesses. Human rights advocates protesting at San Francisco International Airport Wednesday afternoon say a Filipino activist visiting the U.S. for a speaking tour was detained on arrival and is scheduled to be removed from the country. Jerome Aladdin Succor Aba already had a visa when he boarded his flight, which was scheduled to arrive at SFO around 8 p.m. Tuesday, according to Terry Valen, a spokesman for the International Coalition for Human Rights in the Philippines. There were people waiting for Aba at the airport. "We were going to welcome him, feed him, make sure he's OK and send him off in the morning," Valen said. But that didn't happen. The plane was delayed about 25 minutes. Two hours later, they still hadn't heard from Aba. Then around 7 a.m. Wednesday, Aba left a voicemail saying he'd been denied entry to the U.S., and would be removed sometime during the day, according to Valen. Sources within U.S. Customs and Border Protection who asked to remain anonymous confirmed that Aba's application to enter the country was denied due to an unspecified problem with his visa -- which is relatively common -- and that foreign nationals do not typically have access to an attorney until after they've been allowed entry. As of 2 p.m. Wednesday, Aba was being held in a secured area of the airport with access to food, water and a restroom while he waits for the next available seat on a flight back to the Philippines. Meanwhile, activists with an amplified sound system were gathering outside the Customs and Border Protection offices at SFO demanding that Aba be allowed to enter the country and consult with legal representation from the National Lawyers Guild. Valen says Aba's here to raise awareness about a humanitarian crisis unfolding in the Phillipines, where he said an estimated 20,000 people have died under the "brutal regime" of President Rodrigo Duterte. The itinerary included meetings with religious and government officials, including members of the U.S. Senate and House of Representatives, according to Valen. "These are all meetings scheduled already," Valen said. "He should be on his way there." U.S. Customs and Border Protection does not consider country of origin or human rights activism to be determining factors for admissibility, according to a statement issued Wednesday by agency spokesman Jaime Ruiz, but the agency is prohibited from discussing specific cases. Generally speaking, applicants for entry bear the burden of proof to establish their eligibility under federal law. Specific grounds for denying an application can include health problems, criminal history, security concerns, labor documentation, prior immigration violations, documentation problems and other miscellaneous grounds, according to Ruiz. Two employees at Oakland's Rawr Coffee Bar are recovering after being held at gunpoint during the shop's second theft in two months. The coffee bar at 2869 Broadway is attached to the Cat Town shelter and customers come in during one-hour sessions to play with kittens. Owner Sabrina Simmons said a man entered the store at about 5:55 p.m. Saturday, threatened the employees, emptied the cash register, searched the cafi for more cash and left within five minutes before the next set of customers arrived for their one-hour session. Simmons, who was not there at the time, said the robbery seemed planned and had "pretty perfect timing," considering none of the customers noticed the suspect or the crime. While the theft was happening, Simmons said there were about 14 people and 20 kittens in the "cat zone," but no one noticed what was happening because the two businesses are separated by a hallway. The suspect told the employees to stay inside a small supply room while he searched the rest of the cafi. Though the robbery was over relatively quickly, Simmons said "I'm sure it felt much longer for the people who were there." One of the employees had a phone and was able to text Simmons during the burglary. The two employees are scheduled for shifts in the future but they are currently taking time off to recuperate. Simmons said Oakland police arrived very quickly after the crime was reported. She did not disclose how much money was stolen during the robbery. Rawr Coffee Bar has an alarm system and surveillance cameras that captured video footage, but Simmons said the precautions are not helpful in every situation. She shared the footage with Oakland police, who are investigating the crime. Oakland police did not immediately respond to a request for information about the case. Simmons is glad that no animals or people were harmed, but the crimes have forced the small business to consider options like only accepting credit cards to avoid keeping cash in the building. In the previous theft, a suspect smashed a window in Cat Town at about 1 a.m. on March 15 and made a "beeline" to the door that leads to the cafi, Simmons said. Two cats were missing after the burglary but one of them was recovered at a nearby construction site and another was found hiding inside the shelter. Simmons also experienced another burglary at a former business on Webster and 17th streets, where suspects broke into her business and took the whole register system. She said it would benefit business owners if more people shared information about crimes when they happen. "The impact is more emotional and mental than anything else, that's the part that's hardest to recover from," she said. San Francisco city officials said Wednesday they will once again work with a private sponsor for Friday's annual, unsanctioned marijuana celebration in Golden Gate Park known as 4/20. Last year marked the first time the city had taken a bigger role in organizing the event, which had gone on in the city for decades previously without any type of sponsorship or extra security. "We are not encouraging the use of cannabis. But we are not in denial about what will occur on 4/20," Supervisor London Breed, whose district is the epicenter of the festivities, said Wednesday. The event typically draws an estimated 15,000 people to the Sharon Meadows area of Golden Gate Park, also known as Hippie Hill. Past events have led to traffic nightmares, people urinating in public, damage to public and private property and a strain on police, park and transportation resources, according to Breed. To prevent that, for the second time in a row, the city has partnered with event producer and Haight Street business owner Alex Aquino. According to Aquino, he and other local merchants have raised about $200,000 this year for 4/20 that will go toward securing a mile-long chain-linked fence surrounding the event; an increased police presence and 60 additional private security guards; traffic control officers ticketing and towing illegally parked vehicles and making sure people in taxis and ride-hailing service cars are being dropped off at the designated drop-off area on JFK Drive near Conservatory Drive; 30 portable toilets; and extra trash, recycle and compost bins. "I've been a merchant and resident of this district for over 12 years and I've seen the impact of this event in the surrounding neighborhoods and the park. Being an event producer for the last 20 years, I saw a solution to raise money, build the infrastructure for this event and make it more safe and clean," Aquino said. This year marks the first event since California's legalization of recreational marijuana went into effect in January following the passage of a 2016 statewide ballot measure. "Marijuana is legal, but is illegal to smoke marijuana in public," Park Station police Capt. Una Bailey said. "The 4/20 event will be inside the park and within that fenced area people can smoke pot in there. But once they come out onto city streets, no, they will not be allowed to smoke pot. They will be subject to our laws as usual." Additionally, Bailey said there would be an increased police presence, with both uniformed and plainclothes officers, checking for juveniles smoking marijuana and drivers who may be impaired. Event attendees are also being warned to avoid smoking synthetic cannabis. "If you're consuming a psychoactive substance, know what you're consuming," said Tomas Aragon with the San Francisco Department of Public Health. "Drugs that are obtained on the street may be contaminated with a dangerous substance. We know that just in the past few weeks, in the Midwest, in Chicago, in Baltimore, there's people who have been consuming synthetic cannabinoids that's contaminated with an anticoagulant that's been linked to three deaths and over 700 people becoming ill," Aragon said. "It's a very serious issue and we want to make sure that anyone that tells you that this is fake cannabis, or synthetic cannabis, do not consume it," he said. Event attendees who feel sick are encouraged to seek out medical personnel who will be stationed throughout the park. Attendees are also being encouraged avoid driving and to use public transportation, with the San Francisco Municipal Railway N-Judah and 5-Fulton lines heading to the immediate area. Additionally, four shuttle buses will depart from John F. Kennedy Drive and Conservatory Drive with express service to Market and Eighth streets around 5 p.m., Muni officials said. Public Works crews will also be on hand to keep the park and surrounding area clean. "What we're asking for the people who come is to respect our neighborhood and respect our city. There are tons of garbage cans around ... please use them and don't deposit it on the street," Public Works deputy director of operations Larry Stringer said. Residents who see illegally parked vehicles or damaged city or private property are encouraged to call 311 and report it. The time 4:20 -- a.m. or p.m. -- has been associated with smoking marijuana since the 1970s and the date April 20 has become a counterculture holiday celebrating the drug. In previous celebrations, people have been arrested for offenses such as selling marijuana, public intoxication and resisting arrest. No arrests were made last year during the first officially sponsored event. An attorney for the city of Oakland asked a judge Wednesday to grant a new trial on former Black Panther Party leader Elaine Brown's lawsuit against the city and Oakland City Councilwoman Desley Brooks for an incident in which Brooks pushed Brown down at an Oakland nightclub. Attorney Robert Stumpf Jr. told Alameda County Superior Court Judge Paul Herbert that a jury's decision in December to award Brown $3.75 million in compensatory damages for the incident at the Everett & Jones BBQ restaurant near Jack London Square at about 6:30 p.m. on Oct. 30, 2015, was "excessive" and "shocking." The incident occurred when Brown, 74, and Brooks, 56, got into an argument about a public housing project in West Oakland. In January, the same jury ruled that Brooks must personally pay Brown $550,000 in punitive damages for the incident. In addition, Herbert in March awarded Brown $1 million in attorneys' fees and other costs. Herbert took the city's motion for a new trial under submission and said he will rule on it by the end of next week. Brown's lawsuit alleged that Brooks, who was first elected to the City Council in 2002 and represents District 6 in East Oakland, punched Brown in the chest with two fists and sent her crashing backwards head over heels over a stack of folding chairs. Brown's attorney Charles Bonner said Brown landed hard, hitting the back of her head on a chair, and suffered a rotator cuff injury that required surgery and will affect her for the rest of her life. Bonner told the jury in his closing argument in the punitive damages phase of the trial that Brooks has a history of assaulting people she disagrees with, citing two incidents at Oakland City Hall in which he said she pushed people. In its verdict in the compensatory damages phase of the case, the jury found that Brooks attacked Brown without justification, that Brown had never threatened her, that Brooks was acting within the scope of her employment with the city and that her assault on Brown was an act of elder abuse. Bonner said the city of Oakland's liability insurance likely will pay the $3.75 million in compensatory damages but Brooks will personally have to pay the punitive damages award. It's expected that the city's insurance policy will also pay for the attorneys' fees and other costs. Herbert seemed skeptical about the city's motion for a new trial, telling Stumpf, "You're giving me the 'aw shucks' argument that the jury's award was out of size for the injury that was suffered." Herbert also said Stumpf was asking him to grant a new trial based on arguments involving matters that weren't part of the evidence in the case. "I can't pick stuff up out of the ether and base my decision on that," Herbert said. Bonner said after Wednesday's hearing that he expects that Herbert will deny the city's motion for a new trial and the city will then finally decide to pay Brown because her damage awards will increase if the city appeals the case. Bonner said that before the trial, he offered to settle the case for only $600,000 but the city only offered $25,000. Brown headed the Black Panther Party from 1974 to 1977 and served as an aide to Alameda County Supervisor Keith Carson at the time of the incident in 2015. The Bay Area has some of the worst air quality in the nation but numbers have gradually improved over the last few years, the American Lung Association said in a report released Wednesday. The Bay Area ranked sixth in the list of most-polluted metropolitan areas for short-term particle pollution and 10th in most-polluted cities for year-round particle pollution, according to the lung association's State of the Air 2018 report. Bakersfield was ranked worst for short-term particle pollution while Fairbanks, Alaska, was worst for the long-term pollution, the report said. Despite the poor rankings, the lung association said strong state and local clean air programs in California are driving progress. The Bay Area -- the report added San Joaquin County to the region in the results -- experienced a 70 percent drop in unhealthy ozone days since 2000 and an 80 percent drop in unhealthy particle pollution days since 2004. The lung association's senior director of air quality and climate change Bonnie Holmes-Gen said unhealthy levels of pollution can cause premature death, asthma, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and lung cancer if conditions do not improve. "We must continue the life-saving work of cutting air pollution and slowing climate change," Holmes-Gen said in a statement. If an earthquake larger then the 6.9-magnitude 1989 Loma Prieta earthquake struck directly below the city of Oakland on the Hayward fault line late Wednesday afternoon, what kind of havoc would it wreak? Roughly 2,500 people could get trapped in the rubble and require rescue. An estimated 800 could die and another 18,000 could be severely injured in a scenario presented Wednesday by the Haywired Coalition, which includes more than 50 public agencies and institutions like the University of California at Berkeley. Earthquake experts at the UC Berkeley Seismological Laboratory say that human costs aside, this narrative would also lead to massive and widespread damage to infrastructure as well as private and public property as tremors spread out along 52 miles of the fault line between San Pablo and San Jose. Gas and water lines could rupture, burning roughly 152,000 households in as many as 400 different blazes that fire departments may not be able to fight effectively, displacing an estimated 410,000 residents in an already hyper-competitive housing market. Approximately 8,000 buildings would be destroyed, with 100,000 more left unsafe to occupy. Expected damage to major freeways and bridges could take more than a year to fully repair, complicating efforts to move people, supplies and equipment during the early days after the quake and long afterward. The Haywired Coalition says this scenario is not intended to scare the public. Rather, they're trying to help us better understand the risks posed by a major earthquake and build the Bay Area's capacity to respond and recover from such an event. Bay Area residents are advised to keep emergency supply kits at home and at work, to secure large appliances and top-heavy furniture to walls and avoid hanging anything heavy above where they sleep. They also recommend backing up data, creating an emergency plan and consulting with a professional to make sure places of residence are structurally sound. A comprehensive list of personal home safety suggestions and resources for building community resilience is available online at https://outsmartdisaster.com. ### A non-governmental organization -Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK)- is looking to find 100 brave Kenyan men who are willing to undergo a vasectomy next week. The chop will be part of this years World Vasectomy Day (WVD) commemoration. The day is marked worldwide in November with an aim of encouraging men to shoulder part of the responsibility for family planning. In Nairobi, a four-day vasectomy celebration will be held from April 23-26 at Family Health Options Kenya (FHOK) clinic in Phoenix House, located on Kenyatta Avenue in Nairobi. FHOK is seeking to perform 100 vasectomies under the campaign 100 Kenyan Men to Rise Up For Their Families, Their Wives, and Our Future. The vasectomies will be free of charge and transportation services will also be covered. The challenge is real, but working as one, we are confident we will find the 100 heroes in Kenya, the organization said in a statement. Leading the medical team are two special guest vasectomists from the US, Dr. Doug Stein and Dr. John Curington both leaders of NSVI (No Scalpel Vasectomy International). Jonathan Stack, co-founder of World Vasectomy Day will grace the celebrations. Also attending will be George Mbogah, winner of WVDs Man of the Year award for 2016, who did his vasectomy six years ago. It is now almost six years since I had my vasectomy and I no longer fear the financial burden of more children nor the well-being of my wife due to multiple pregnancies. I might have been amongst the first men to choose this path, but we are now hundreds and growing, said Mbogah. On November 18th, 2016, 74 Kenyan men underwent the chop as part of the celebrations held at the Kenyan National Theater. And we all return again, from April 23-26, to show that when men learn about the simplicity, safety, and effectiveness of a vasectomy, they rise up to share responsibility with their wives, said the doctors. A vasectomy (male sterilisation) is a surgical procedure to cut or seal the tubes that carry a mans sperm to permanently prevent pregnancy. Its usually carried out under local anesthetic, where youre awake but dont feel any pain, and takes about 15 minutes. In rare cases, you may have a general anesthetic, where youre asleep during the operation. Vasectomies are said to be more than 99% effective. For the better part of Wednesday, social media users were up in arms against American rapper Rick Ross and his extortionate demands before he accepts to perform in Nairobi later this month. It had been reported by a local blog that the Maybach Music Group founder demanded among other things a helicopter, 3, 500 bottles of premium alcohol, three floors of a 5-star hotel, a shutdown of two major roads in Nairobi Mombasa and Langata Road, 30 air tickets; with ten of them being First Class tickets, four vans whose windows are fully tinted and 1, 500 new white towels. However, organizers and promoters of Rick Ross concert have rubbished the alleged demand list as a fake. NRGWave is urging the public to disregard the Rock Ross rider doing rounds online ahead of the concert scheduled for the 28 April at the Carnivore, read a statement posted on Twitter. The article misrepresents the terms of the contract we signed with Boss management team. Rick Ross is ready to meet Bosses and Ballers at Carnivore for a mega Boss Party with Rozay at the second edition of #NRGWave, it added. The Boss himself denied the alleged tour rider as he got into a tiff with an angry Kenyan on Twitter. The Twitter user, DJ Pskratch, posted: @RickRoss you are not the president. Your demands are too high, but make sure you live up to our expectations coz if you dont, @Khaligraph will tear you apart. In his response, a seemingly infuriated Rozay wrote: @PSKRATCH1, you sound just as stupid as whoever told your stupid [expletive] those false demands. #Kenya. Sacramento isnt the ideal perch for regulating the Internet. Then again, neither is Boise, Idaho, or Lincoln, Neb. Lawmakers in these state capitals and more are nevertheless working on their own rules for a network that knows no state or national boundaries. Its an unfortunate necessity given the federal governments abdication of its more appropriate role in regulating online access. In December, the Trump administrations Federal Communications Commission rescinded so-called net neutrality rules preventing cable companies, wireless carriers and other Internet service providers from favoring certain types of content over others. The companies will be allowed to start discriminating among different types of traffic starting Monday, when the repeal takes effect. But efforts to fill the regulatory vacuum have already surfaced in more than half the states. One such measure, by state Sen. Scott Wiener, D-San Francisco, survived its first committee vote in Sacramento Tuesday despite strenuous industry opposition. Wieners bill has the distinction of going even further than the rules passed by the FCC under President Barack Obama, which prohibited AT&T, Comcast and others from privileging or penalizing online traffic to suit corporate interests. SB822 aims not only to prevent them from selectively speeding or slowing certain content, but also to limit their ability to boost certain traffic by other means for example, by exempting it from customers data usage limits, a practice known as zero-rating. State Attorney General Xavier Becerra, who would be empowered to bring actions against companies that violate the rules, endorsed the legislation this week. The bill also has the support of Tom Wheeler, the former FCC chairman who spearheaded the repealed federal protections, and advocacy groups such as the American Civil Liberties Union and the Electronic Frontier Foundation. The opposition has been led by trade groups such as the California Cable and Telecommunications Association, which asserted that state-level policies regulating the Internet are preempted by federal regulations and are inappropriate for an inherently interstate service. That would be a persuasive argument if the relevant federal regulations had not been dismantled at the behest of the same corporate interests. The emerging patchwork of state regulations being lamented by the industry is a direct result of its successful lobbying to undo FCC rules that applied nationwide. With online abuse and manipulation coming under ever more scrutiny, the federal retreat looks even more unacceptable in retrospect. This commentary is from The Chronicles editorial board. We invite you to express your views in a letter to the editor. Please submit your letter via our online form: SFChronicle.com/letters. A burned-out home listed for $800,000 in San Jose is in contract for $900,000 and will close in 10 days, KTVU-TV reports. Listing agent Holly Barr of Sereno Group shared on Facebook that the property at 1375 Bird Ave. in the popular Willow Glenn neighborhood received six offers, all over the asking price. The uninhabitable property quickly became a symbol of the Silicon Valley's insane real estate market when Barr posted an image last week of the fire-ravaged home on her Facebook page Willow Glen Charm. The post was shared hundreds of times. Barr told SFGATE the price was based on the cost of local housing. But on the page, many commenters expressed shock over the price and said the property is emblematic of the lack of affordable housing in what many market analysts say is the hottest market in the country. "What has this area come to when a family earning good money cannot even afford to buy even a burned-out wreck," wrote Facebook user "Cally Jayne." "Greed, pure greed from all concerned right here." Another Facebook user posted an image of the house he built in Texas for $250,000 to show that other parts of the country are considerably less expensive. Barr said it was the 5,800-square-foot lot that she was selling, and its prime location near a commercial strip lined with trees, cafes and boutiques. The home is adjacent to downtown San Jose, where Google plans to build a new campus. Barr did her research on recent sales in the neighborhood and said the property was priced reasonably. "Houses nearby have sold for $1.6 million," Barr said. "This is land value at half of that." Doug Goss, vice president of the Santa Clara County Association of Realtors, says that price on homes, condos and townhomes has increased 18 percent in the past six months in Santa Clara County. The increase is the result of low inventory and high demand. Goss says there are less than 1,000 homes on the market in the county right now and many buyers have been looking for a house for months. Homes often receive multiple offers, and Goss is currently closing a townhome that received 23 offers. "You have these clients who you are like 'Wow, you are really paying premium for that home,' and then three months later what they paid is a deal," he says. Goss has noticed an especially hot frenzy to buy in Willow Gleng ever since Google announced plans to build a new campus to the north in Downtown San Jose. "It's like what happened in Sunnyvale and Santa Clara when Apple was anticipating putting in the new headquarters, and prices around there skyrocketed," he says. A Kenyan student, Racheal Njeri Njoroge, has revealed the details of her alleged sexual harassment ordeal at the hands of a Makerere University staff member. In a complaint letter dated 16, April, Rachel claims the incident happened when she had gone to pick her transcript from the office of Senior Administrative Assistant Edward Kisuze on April 13. She said she went to the office at around 10 am but was told to wait until 2.30pm. I went out and waited patiently on the bench but when it clocked 4.30 pm, I could not wait anymore and I went back to see if I had succeeded. When I got into the room, the staff told me to wait five minutes so they could see if my transcript had been worked on. Fortunately, my transcripts were certified and handed to me, wrote Ms Njeri. Njeri said the sexual attack started as she was looking through her transcript. As I was looking through them, the man who had given them to me turned out to be so inhumane to me. He grabbed my b**bs and started licking them as he lamented how much he loved me. Njeri added that she tried to resist Kisuze but he overpowered her, grabbed her, and threw her on the cabinet files. She said she hurt her head in the process and that Kisuze proceeded to kiss her thighs and told her that he wanted to perform cunnilingus on her. In the process, the student took out her phone and captured some pictures to provide as proof of the incident. I got my phone and captured some shots because I realized there were no cameras in the room to help me out if I had reported the case. I tried calling Steven to help me out but unfortunately, the man hanged up on me and threw my phone on the chair. He continued harassing me and thats when he put his fingers in my vagina which was so painful, the letter reads in part. Ms Njeri continues to narrate that she threatened the lecturer and that is when he opened the door (which was locked) and ran out crying. The Makerere University has since responded to the complaint and suspended Edward Kisuze after finding his response to the allegation unsatisfactory. In a letter, Prof. William Bazeyo, the acting University vice-chancellor, suspended Kisuze on half pay pending investigations. He has also been advised to desist from accessing the Senate building or interacting with Makerere University students until investigations are completed. Makerere University spokesperson, Ritah Namisango, said the lecturer has since been arrested and is being held at Wandegeya Police Station in Kampala. Zaza Pachulia's three children love their dad, but they're clear on who the coolest members of the Golden State Warriors are. When asked for an ESPN interview to name their favorite player on the squad, Pachulia's kids did a little thinking. "Steph Curry," Saba answers. "KD," adds Davit. Daughter Mariam takes the longest pause. Then, she whispers: "Klay Thompson." "Congratulations, Klay," Zaza says with a resigned laugh. The ESPN feature delves into Pachulia's reputation as one of the league's dirtiest players, contrasted with his easygoing family-man attitude at home. Pachulia points to the 2017 Western Conference Finals against the Spurs as the turning point for his reputation among non-Warriors fans. MORE: Steph Curry had a hilarious, no-look celebration as Klay Thompson went off against the Spurs In Game 1, Pachulia's closeout on a Kawhi Leonard jump shot resulted in Leonard injuring his ankle. The incident sparked such intense online abuse toward Pachulia that he was forced to employ security guards at his kids' Bay Area school. A Spurs fan filed a lawsuit against him for "devastating the quality of the Spurs' chances." "Last year was really hard, honestly. I'm not going to lie. It was a really difficult time," wife Tika tells ESPN. "That's the first time we experienced that kind of hate. It was spread around us. They had extra security, because when you get messages like that, I think it's practical to do that." ALSO: Gregg Popovich on story about angry pro-Trump Spurs fans: 'I don't care' But it's not all sad news in the ESPN piece: They also discuss how Pachulia and his wife met. Zaza approached Tika, who was a ballet dancer with the Georgian National Ballet, after seeing her perform. They had a lot in common, except for their dancing skills. "He is the worst dancer you could ever see," Tika says. "He can't move." You can watch the full interview in the clip above. HAVANA Raul Castro said Thursday that he expected 57-year-old Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel to serve two five-year terms as president and eventually take Castros place as head of the Communist Party, potentially dominating Cuban politics until 2031. It was the first time Castro has laid out a clear vision for the nations power structure after his retirement or death, a vision in which Diaz-Canel is Castros true successor as total leader of Cuba. Castro left the presidency Thursday after 12 years in office when the National Assembly approved Diaz-Canels nomination as the candidate for the top government position. Diaz-Canel told the nation that Castro, 86, would remain the countrys ultimate authority as head of the Communist Party. Speaking after Diaz-Canel, Castro said he expected the younger man to become first secretary of the party after Castro retires from the position in 2021. From that point on, I will be just another soldier defending this revolution, Castro said. In his half-hour speech to the nation, the new president pledged to preserve the islands communist system while gradually reforming the economy and making the government more responsive to the people. The people have given this assembly the mandate to provide continuity to the Cuban Revolution during a crucial, historic moment that will be defined by all that we achieve in the advance of the modernization of our social and economic model, Diaz-Canel said. He said Cuba was, as always, prepared to negotiate with the United States but was unwilling to cede to any of Washingtons demands for internal change. He emphasized that reforms would follow a 12-year-plan laid out by the National Assembly and Communist Party that would allow moderate growth of private enterprise while maintaining the important sectors of the economy in the hands of the state. With Castro watching from the audience, Diaz-Canel made clear that he would defer to the man who, along with his brother Fidel, founded and ruled for six decades what has become of one of the worlds last communist governments. I confirm to this assembly that Raul Castro, as first secretary of the Communist Party, will lead the decisions about the future of the country, Diaz-Canel said. Cuba needs him, providing ideas and proposals for the revolutionary cause, orienting and alerting us about any error or deficiency, teaching us, and always ready to confront imperialism. Michael Weissenstein and Andrea Rodriguez are Associated Press writers. BEIRUT Hundreds of Syrian rebels in a town northeast of Damascus handed in their weapons and boarded buses to leave under an evacuation deal, state media reported on Thursday. Fighters were to relocate with their families to opposition-held areas in northern Syria, effectively surrendering their town of Dumayr to the Syrian government. The departure was set to involve 1,500 fighters from the Army of Islam rebel faction with 3,500 of their family members, said the state-run SANA news agency. Their destination was Jarablus, a town shared under Turkish and Syrian opposition control near the Syria-Turkey border. Dumayr, in the Qalamoun mountains, is a few minutes drive away from the eastern Ghouta region, a former rebel enclave that came under full government control last week after a driving offensive that culminated in a suspected chemical weapons attack. Inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were still not able to reach the scene, 12 days after the suspected attack. A U.N. spokesman said discussions were taking place in Damascus with all key parties on security arrangements for inspectors to visit the site of the suspected chemical attack in Douma. The April 7 attack prompted the U.S., France, and Britain to strike at suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities. The three countries said they held the Syrian government and its ally Russia responsible for the attack. Damascus and Moscow denied responsibility. A U.N. security team touring the sites of the alleged attack on Tuesday, was shot at and subjected to a blast, said OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu. Also Thursday, neighboring Iraq launched air strikes inside Syria targeting militants from the Islamic State. Philip Issa is an Associated Press writer. STOCKHOLM An internal fight among members of the secretive academy that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature is spilling on to the streets of Sweden as outrage grows after a sex-abuse scandal linked to the body resulted in the ouster of the woman who ran it. The ugly internal feud at the prestigious Swedish institution has already reached the top levels of public life in the Scandinavian nation known for its promotion of gender equality, with the prime minister, the king and the Nobel board weighing in. On Thursday evening, people are expected to rally on Stockholms picturesque Stortorget square outside the headquarters of the Swedish Academy, which has awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1901, to demand all of its members resign. Parallel demonstrations are planned in Goteborg, Helsingborg, Eskilstuna, Vasteras, and Borgholm. The national protests have grown out of what began as Swedens own #MeToo moment in November when the country saw thousands of sexual misconduct allegations surfacing from all walks of life. It hit the academy when 18 women came forward with accusations against Jean-Claude Arnault, a major cultural figure in Sweden who is married to Katarina Frostenson, a poet who is a member of the academy. Police are investigating the allegations, which Arnault denies, but the case has exposed bitter divisions within the academy and given rise to accusations of patriarchal leanings among some members. After a closed-door vote failed to oust Frostenson, three male cultural figures behind the push Klas Ostergren, Kjell Espmark and Peter Englund resigned. That prompted Horace Engdahl, a committee member who has supported Arnault, to label them a clique of sore losers.He also lashed out at the academys former head, Sara Danius. Supporters of Danius the first woman to lead the Swedish Academy have described her as progressive leader who pushed reforms that riled the old guard. Last week, Frostenson said she was leaving the academy, at the same time as Danius stepped down. On Thursday, a sixth member, writer Lotta Lotass, announced that she, too, was stepping down, citing dissatisfied reactions to her membership from the board. Despite the resignations the academy, founded by King Gustav III in 1786, does not currently have a mechanism for board members, who are appointed for life, to step down. David Keyton, David Rising and Jan M. Olsen are Associated Press writers. Kerala is popularly known as Gods own country and is blessed with many natures wonders. Kerala is an all-time favourite travel destination for the tourists because there is a chunk of things in Kerala that people love to explore. What makes Kerala so popular for tourism? Lets unravel this question. 1. Ultimate backwater destination: Kerala is thronged with many enchanting backwaters like Alleppey, Kovalam, Kumarakom, etc. which will certainly mesmerize you. A trip in an Alleppey boat house across those backwaters is one of the core attractions behind the popularity of this place. A houseboat ride will give you an opportunity to spend some time with nature and will rejuvenate your energy. You can even spend the night on these floating houses and enjoy the calmness of the water. You can also get an experience of the life of the remote villages of this region which will make your trip more memorable. 2. Numerous beaches and hill stations: There are many beaches like Kovalam beach, Alleppey beach, Cherai beach, etc. which will give you some amazing view and will revamp your energy. Apart from beaches, there are also hill stations like Munnar, Vagamon, Athirapally, Gavi, etc. which are thronged with beautiful landscapes, waterfalls, wildlife sanctuaries, and many more things. 3. Ayurvedic massage: Kerala is famous for the best Ayurvedic treatments and massages. There are many resorts in Kerala which promise you to give the best ayurvedic therapies for rare and chronic illnesses. Massages and spas will rejuvenate your life and you will become more energetic and spirited. With this massage and spa, every part of your body (sin, head, feet, legs, hands, back, etc.) will get the ultimate rejuvenation and relaxation. The spa massage starts from 1000/- onwards and it can go up to 5000/-. 4. Moderate climate: The climate is another reason behind the popularity of Kerala as one of the popular travel destinations. Kerala has a moderate temperature during the summer and the winter season. This place offers a unique experience in monsoon and thus, you can visit this place anytime over the years. 5. Land of spices: Kerala is famous for its rich flavoured spices. You can find many spice plantations here which are the most-visited places place in Kerala. Spice tourism is also getting popular in Kerala. 6. Authentic Kerala food items: This place offers a variety of food options both for veg and non-veg lovers. One interesting thing that you can notice here is that the food items are served on banana leaves. You can find many restaurants which embrace the tourists with some authentic Kerala dishes. The top items to enjoy are Puttu, Vada, chickpea curry, fried banana chips, fish curry, etc. You will get a flavour of coconut in every item as most of the items are cooked with coconut. 7. Rich in traditions and colourful festivals: Kerala is thronged with many festivals. Festivals like Thrissur Pooram, Boat Races, Theyyams, Onam, etc. are very popular in Kerala. Any time you visit Kerala, most likely there will be at least one local festival you can experience. Kerala is known as one of the sacred places in India. Because this place is surrounded by many temples and shrines. So, if you are looking for a serene place where you can discover your spiritual side, then Kerala would be your ideal choice. Moreover, this place has a stable social and political environment. 8. Good connectivity: Kerala is a well-connected place. It is well connected by sea and air with three international airports. Moreover, there are many buses and trains which will take you from one district to another during your Kerala tour. Moreover, this place has a proximity to Bangalore which is the silicon valley of India. These are the prime reasons behind the popularity of Kerala tourism. If you want to spend some time in Kerala and want to explore this place, then contact your nearest tour operators and ask them for the best Kerala tour packages. Read More News: Stock Trading: How to find the best Stock Broking Company in India? Porsche, Audi headquarters searched in connection to 'dieselgate NEU Salonz - a premium salon chain, based out of Delhi/ NCR becomes the first ever salon in India to go eco-friendly and sustainable. The salon has undertaken various programs to progressively reduce the companys impact on the environment. The centerpiece of this initiative are the newly designed water taps which have been installed in the salons that reduce wastage of water by 50%, energy-efficient LED lighting to reduce power usage, professional waste management system to recycle all the salon waste and installation of many indoor plants to reduce the carbon emissions to almost 0%. While speaking about this new initiative, Mr. Vibhoar, Director of NEU Salonz said, We are proud to be associating ourselves with such a critical cause of existence with sustainability. We take immense joy to project our contribution as a salon towards our environment and announce that our team has worked tirelessly in order to make this possible. Our vision is to co-exist amongst other environment friendly salons and we hope to see our peers in the industry adopting such practices in the coming future. Our aim is to provide our customers with responsible alternatives so that they can choose greener options when it comes to availing our services he further added, . NEU has also become the first ever salon to introduce the organic make-up range in India, which will transform the way women use makeup. Apart from this, the salon has also introduced a comprehensive range of natural services to promote such as, The Raw Nature Company, which is a botanical grooming solution for men; ILCSI, a natural beauty range from Hungary; KEUNE, Natural Hair Colour and they also have Kerastase Aura Botanica, which is one of the most popular natural hair care brand from Paris. As well as using organic products NEU Salonzhave reduced usage of chemicals by giving their guests a perfect natural alternative for their needs. They have also held a plantation drive in the nearby locality and educate others to go green as well. Read more news: Zinc oxide in canned foods may damage your digestive system Tips to have fun in the sun Investors say board changes are still needed at AMP and chairman Catherine Brenner's position is still "in question", despite the abrupt resignation of chief executive Craig Meller and the company's "unreserved" apology for its misconduct and failures. The announcement on Friday of Mr Meller's immediate departure from the institution, along with a review of AMP's governance and regulatory processes, capped off a torrid week for the company following revelations at the royal commission that it repeatedly mislead the corporate regulator and that key figures, including Ms Brenner, were involved in altering an independent report from lawyers Clayton Utz on AMP's "fees for no service" scandal. AMP shares closed lower again on Friday, with investors noting that little had actually changed at AMP given Mr Meller was already departing before the end of the year. AMP shareholder Legg Mason said the resignation did not deal with underlying issues at the financial services giant. "The announcement of the [chief executive's] immediate resignation and additional governance reviews seem an appropriate response to the publics reaction this week," said Matthew Davidson, senior research analyst at Legg Mason's Australian arm, Martin Currie. Commonwealth Bank planners charged clients fees after they died, in some cases for more than a decade, the royal commission has heard. But the rogue planners were let off with only a warning from the bank and were not reported to the corporate watchdog. CBA's Marianne Perkovic was being more direct with her answers to questions but was still accused of obfuscating in her answers. An internal CBA report from 2015 presented to the royal commission on Thursday shows a client of CBAs Count financial planning arm was charged fees from 2003 to at least 2015, despite the planner knowing she passed away in 2004. The report was conducted as part of a review of CBA and its planning arms charging customers fees for services they did not receive. Former Telstra boss and Suncorp chairman Ziggy Switkowski has made an interesting choice for his successor at the banking and insurance group. Christine McLoughlin might not have Ziggys profile but she certainly knows how to keep controversy to a minimum. McLoughlin - as chairwoman of Venues NSW - managed to keep a very low profile as the NSW government dug itself into a ditch over the planned multi-billion dollar rebuild of two not-so-old stadiums. This included a complete rebuild of Venues NSWs biggest arena, ANZ Stadium which was built for the Olympics. Betty Kyallos former business partner Susan Kaittany is not going down without a fight as the two former besties go head to head with their beauty parlors. The fall out between the two has resulted in a cut-throat competition between their respective beauty shops Flair By Betty and Posh Palace. Barely a week after the KTN news presenter unveiled her premises, Susan Kaittany has pulled her move and revamped Posh Palace. The establishment, which is located a stones throw away from Bettys, has undergone a makeover. The revamp includes better prices, better deals for both hair and beauty services, and the hiring of brand new celebrity stylists. This comes after Betty Kyallo poached beauticians and stylists from Posh Palace. Also Read: PHOTOS Take a Look Inside Betty Kyallos New High-End Beauty Parlor The revamped Posh Palace opens its doors today following a four-day countdown on social media that excited netizens who have been following the laughable turn of events like an episode of Nairobi Diaries. I guess competition can only be a good thing. I said from today I will not ask my executives to take any responsibility. Everything is my responsibility. What I asked was for everyone to open their minds. To the R&D engineers, my message was to focus, analyse and ask why these things happened while I asked our sales and marketing teams to communicate outside of Samsung transparently. Once everyone was on board internally, what gave Koh confidence was time. Rather than feel the need to micromanage the crisis every day, he waited for a conclusion. Whats more, he reached out to analysts and scholars beyond his company colleagues. He brought in experts in mobile technology including world-leading researchers from the University of Cambridge in the UK and Stanford University in the US and everyone came to the same conclusion it was the batteries. It was only then that I could announce our conclusive findings but rather than asking the battery company to take responsibility, we took it ourselves as the device manufacturer. For Koh, all the research undertaken went beyond the Samsung story. It was an industry story and while the company had to recall millions of devices and the cost of the crisis reached more than $5 billion, Koh considers the whole episode as an investment in Samsung and the industry. And nearly two years later, Samsung is currently sitting atop the pile as the worlds number one smartphone manufacturer. Yet Koh remains humbled by the experience attributing the quick turnaround to my employees support, engagement as well as their involvement and hard work. A 34-year veteran of the giant Korean company, Kohs humility is one of the key drivers of his management style. Remembering the day he was promoted from leading R&D to head up the mobile business in 2015, he says he was overwhelmed for nearly three to four hours. I thought about becoming the president of the mobile business with over 140,000 employees internationally and wondered, how can I do this?. Then I realised that I had 10 executive vice presidents and another 130 executives and they will take care of me. If we all work together, we can make it happen. Bearing this in mind, Koh set about building a culture inside the company based around three core philosophies. The first of these was to make the Galaxy product a loved branded product. Secondly, he wanted to ensure there was mutual respect between all the partners in the production process. It takes around 300 partners to make this sort of technology ranging from Microsoft to Google and Amazon as well as many smaller partners. I wanted to make it a win-win game for all our partners so they would respect us and we would respect them no matter what size the company. And thirdly, Koh wanted to ensure the organisation was trusted by its own employees. In many ways, this is the most important philosophy because without our peoples trust we cannot compete in the global market. My energy always comes from my employees so without their support, how can I move forward? Trust from my employees is the foundation of everything management, operations and the next innovation. Without it, getting trust from our customers is impossible. A London court ordered the seizure of a luxury $US492 million ($637 million) yacht owned by a Russian billionaire as judges sought to enforce one of the largest divorce payouts in UK history. The court ruled that Farkhad Akhmedov should transfer ownership of the 115-meter (380-foot) MV Luna, currently impounded in a dry dock in Dubai, to his wife, Tatiana Akhmedova. The judge granted the order to uphold his earlier 453.5 million-pound ($826 million) judgment. The MV Luna is said to be the world's largest expedition boat. Credit:Shutterstock Judge Charles Haddon-Cave said that Akhmedov tried to hide his ownership of the Luna behind a group of companies and moved the ship to Dubai on the belief that it was "well beyond the reach of an English court judgment." The nine deck-yacht, which has 50 crew and two helipads, was originally built for Roman Abramovich before Akhmedov purchased it in 2014. It had just gone dark on Sunday night. Rain was falling and as the small car bumped its way down a one-way street, I was feeling totally lost. As the street narrowed further to barely a car width, my claustrophobic tendency started to kick in with milling crowds around the vehicle. Finally, we could go no further. I grabbed Louises hand and she reassured me in perfect Bahasa Tidak apa-apa meaning dont worry. Indonesian city of Bogor. Our driver then managed the seemingly impossible task of turning the car around in less than its own length and driving back down the one-way street. We were deep within the old sector of Bogor, an important cultural, economic and tourism centre of Java, which in its Dutch colonial days was known as Buitenzorg. Curiously the name translates to without worries. Tidak apa-apa indeed! "I really wanted to be a Jew and then I found out I was really a Nazi, you know, because my family was German," Von Trier said in 2011. "What can I say? I understand Hitler. I think he did some wrong things, yes absolutely, but I can see him sitting in his bunker in the end. "I think I understand the man," Von Trier continued. "He's not what you would call a good guy, but I understand much about him and I sympathise with him a little bit. But come on, I'm not for the Second World War, and Im not against Jews. I am of course very much for Jews." Von Trier then added: "No, not too much because Israel is a pain in the ass." The remarks left the media stunned and the stars of his film Melancholia - actors Kirsten Dunst, Charlotte Gainsbourg and Stellan Skarsgard, who were on the panel with him - speechless. Realising he was in trouble, Von Trier came back with: "Now how can I get out of this sentence? OK, I'm a Nazi." Mouthy Sal (Bryan Cranston) now runs a decrepit bar and drinks his takings. Mueller (Laurence Fishburne) found God and became a pastor; his war guilt is papered over with sanctimonious scriptural quotation. Larry wants them to come with him to the military base in Arlington, Virginia, where his son's body is being delivered. He doesn't want his son buried in a military cemetery. He wants to bring him home, but he needs help. Thus begins a kind of road movie, over the course of which the three men battle to come to terms with a past that turns out to have been anything but glorious. Linklater made the Before Sunrise series, Dazed and Confused and his recent masterwork, Boyhood. Last Flag Flying is his kind of war movie, he says, in that it consists almost entirely of people talking. The year is 2003. Steve Carell plays Larry, who served in Vietnam as a medic and has now just received news that his only son has been killed in Iraq. In the bewilderment of grief, Larry looks up two old comrades he hasn't seen for 30 years. "What does that mean even? That liberals can't be patriotic? That patriotism is owned by the right wing?" Actually, you could look at the whole film as Linklater's worrying in public over things most left liberals would rather avoid. Like whether all war movies, even anti-war movies, promote the next war. Probably they do, he says morosely. "Because, inevitably, you depict heroism." A conservative friend of Richard Linklater's described Last Flag Flying as "a liberal patriot movie." Judging by the way he bandied that around in interviews for a while, he clearly thought it was a handy summary. Now he's worrying over it. From left: Bryan Cranston as Sal, Steve Carell as Doc, and Laurence Fishburne as Mueller in Last Flag Flying. Everyone performs with conviction, but it is Cranston's mercurial Sal who, like Jack Nicholson before him, gives the film its propulsive energy. He says he could see Sal on the page. "Oh boy, it was so clear who that guy was! I so got it!" he says. "I know that guy! Who is in many cases someone you would do everything possible to avoid because he is exhausting, he consumes everything, he's self-medicated because of PTSD that he's never dealt with this is how he deals with it and yet he is the first who will have your back. It made me think the family they had, that military family, is not dissimilar from any family. There are members of my family I can't spend a lot of time with but I love them, you know." Any '70s film buff will spot the parallels here with The Last Detail, Hal Ashby's 1973 film about two Navy men taking a young offender across the United States to prison. Both films are based on novels published 30 years apart by Darryl Ponicsan. The characters match up: Cranston is playing an older version of Nicholson's brash Buddusky; Fishburne could be Otis Young's Mulhall; the crushed and drained Larry could be Randy Quaid's naive Meadows. Clearly, Linklater renamed the characters and shuffled the story because he wanted to avoid being confined by that idea. "I guess the most you can say there's a little bit of an echo," he has said. "But it's not a sequel." It is inevitably going to be read that way, however, given that trio of distinct characters and the frequent comparisons they make between the American experiences in Vietnam and Iraq. Linklater certainly isn't shying away from those. "I liked this because it wasn't just a diatribe about Iraq," he says. "I grew up with Vietnam: the news, the friends' older brothers who were killed in the war, returning vets. And then to see another war cycle come and go, you know. we're in the middle of a war now. It seems to be endless: the perpetual war for perpetual peace, that's where we live." It makes him worry, along with everything else, about men. "What is it about the male, that kind of general pack-animal attitude?" We need to think about that. "Not through the lens of heroics and sacrifice, but the tragedy of it." However much they rail against authority, Sal, Mueller and even Larry still believe in heroics, sacrifice and, above all, esprit de corps. Sal says the Marine Corps was the only religion that made sense to him; they all remember how great it felt to put on the dress uniform for the first time. There is a queasy sense that not only are they gradually returning to the fold, but that the film is going with them. "I was trying to honour their perspective," says Linklater. "It's kind of how they see the world." On the back of releasing his Killer album last year, collecting three ARIA nominations and just this week picking up a nomination for best Blues and Roots album in the upcoming AIR Awards, Dan Sultan's decided to hit the road again for 44 solo dates across the country. Killer debuted in fifth spot on the ARIA album chart last July and next month Sultan's label, Liberation Records, will release a collaborative EP called Killer Under A Blood Moon with a selection of Killer's tracks reworked alongside Dave Le'aupepe from Gang Of Youths, Meg Mac, A.B. Original and Camp Cope. "I'm really proud of Killer ... this is another way to show these songs from a different perspective," Sultan said. The EP will be released on May 18 and comes with a couple of bonus tracks. And if that's not enough to keep him busy, the Sultan of Everything has just added an extra Melbourne show to his sold out Memo Music Hall dates in Melbourne, playing a matinee performance on Sunday, April 22, before heading to the Spiegeltent in Wollongong on April 26, Canberra on April 28 and two Sydney Opera House shows on May 2 and 3. For all Dan Sultan's upcoming tour dates, go to dansultan.com album of the week Spencer P. Jones & the Escape Committee Sobering Thoughts (Aztec Music/Bang! Records) Dan Sultan. Credit:Mushroom Here's a tip for any eagle-eyed Record Store Day hunters snap up this album if you come across it because it was released in criminally low numbers back in 2010. Written (mostly), produced and starring SPJ, Sobering Thoughts is a rough diamond in an expansive catalogue under his own name and bands too numerous to list here. From the twangy Bouquet of Troubles dripping with it's bluesy lyrics to the unmistakeable Jonesness of (What Can I Do To) Change Your Mind, it's rousing stuff. Backed by his loyal Committee, these songs shine. Iconic Sydney venue The Basement, which earlier this month shuttered its doors, is set to return after a dramatic intervention from a Melbourne businessman and musician. Albert Dadon has bought the name and assets of the club and is now considering where to re-open. Albert Dadon's passion for jazz has driven his decision to save The Basement. Credit:Michele Mossop While Dadon has yet to make a final decision he said he "doubted very much" he would renew the lease on The Basement's current premises in Macquarie Place. However, he did confirm the new club would be "in the CBD or very close to it". Business and energy groups have broadly endorsed the NEG as they know it because it appears to offer the best - and many would say only - chance in years of a bipartisan agreement over both climate change and the energy sector. They believe any indication of future stability may be better than none. Notably, the states or territories most reluctant to commit are all Labor-led, except for the ACT, which is a Labor-Greens combo. Formerly the loudest voice against the NEG, South Australia has gone quiet since its leadership shifted from Labor to Liberal. Queensland, Victoria and the ACT all have renewable energy targets beyond 2020, which the Turnbull government would rather rein in. Environmental groups are generally opposed to the NEG because of what they say are weak ambitions to cut emissions from the main electricity market by only 26 per cent from 2005 levels by 2030. While roughly in line with Australia's Paris climate accord commitments (26-28 per cent cuts), the groups think the electricity sector can do far more - and will later be forced to anyway. Electricity generators have encouraged the government to give them a greater share of the emissions reduction target. Credit:Chris Ratcliffe The major generators agree the NEG is not ambitious enough, broadly encouraging the government to give them a greater share of the national emissions reduction burden. Scientists from the ETH Zurich university in Switzerland said the device could recognise the four most common types of cancer - prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer - at a very early stage of tumour development. Cancer causes calcium to rocket in the body and when too much is detected the implant triggers the production of melanin - the body's tanning pigment - which triggers the appearance of a small dark mole. The tiny patch lies under the skin and is made of a network of cells that constantly monitor calcium levels. London: An implant that detects cancer in the body and causes a small mole to appear on the skin as an early warning sign, has been developed by scientists. Cancer patients are far more likely to survive if the disease is picked up early. For example, nearly all women with stage one breast cancer survive for five years, but by stage four, survival rates fall to just 22 per cent. Professor Martin Fussenegger, of ETH Zurich, said the implant could be available within a decade. "People generally go to the doctor only when the tumour begins to cause problems. Unfortunately, by that point it is often too late. Early detection increases the chance of survival significantly. An implant carrier should see a doctor for further evaluation after the mole appears. The mole does not mean that the person is likely to die soon." About 190,000 people are diagnosed with prostate, lung, colon and breast cancer each year in Britain and 72,000 will die from the disease. But early detection could prevent tens of thousands of deaths. The mole - which appears long before the cancer becomes detectable through conventional diagnosis - acts as an early warning system that tells people it is time to seek treatment. Scientists think it would be particularly useful for those who are genetically susceptible to cancer, such as people carrying the BRCA1 or BRCA2 mutation, which puts them at far greater risk of breast cancer. The sheikh pulled out a Koran and asked Mazen to prove himself by holding it in both hands and swearing an oath that he was telling the truth about driving the woman home. From a young age, Muslims learn that if they tell a lie while touching the holy book, they are sentencing themselves to a stint in hell. The Koranic oath is taken so seriously that even those who are not overly religious will think twice about swearing it falsely. It came as no surprise to Jihan that Mazen refused to take the oath. He argued that his word should be enough. The sheikh ruled in Jihan's favour. This meant that Jihan was the wronged party in the relationship, a decision that would have implications for her financial rights under the Islamic marriage contract, especially since Mazen was now agreeing that they should no longer be together. The conversation turned to the contract's mahr clause. The sheikh pointed out that, since Mazen was at fault and also wanted to end the relationship, under that contract he owed Jihan $25,000 for violating it. At the mention of money, Mazen's father sprung to his son's defence, pleading with the sheikh to reconsider. He argued that, because the couple had not consummated their relationship, Jihan had kept her sexual purity which would make it easier for her to move on. His son could also not afford to pay such a large sum. Jihan was angered: why did her rights, as set out in the Islamic marriage contract, have to be renegotiated? Why did Mazen and his family agree to the terms in the first place if they weren't going to honour them? Why shouldn't Mazen have to pay for treating her badly? In many Middle Eastern communities, one part of the mahr is provided to a woman in the lead-up to her wedding, to be spent on jewellery and preparations for a home. The remaining amount, agreed on in advance by both parties in the Islamic marriage contract, can come into play in the event that things sour. It is a recognition that a woman in these circumstances no longer has a man to rely on for her basic financial support, a responsibility that falls on all men under Islam. However, a sheikh could also decide that a man is the innocent party and his wife has to repay the dowry to formally end a relationship. In Jihan's case, Mazen had promised a $25,000 dowry up front to cover expenses, including a diamond ring, and another $25,000 that would be paid if the relationship ended and he was to blame. Her father-in-law had insisted on the $25,000 because it was the same amount that he had requested for his own daughter upon her marriage. It was his way of showing that he thought of Jihan as a daughter. Jihan turned to Mazen's father and asked, "Why did you write that amount and sign it if you weren't going to take it seriously? Am I worth nothing?" She began to cry, shaking her head in disbelief. They had been meeting with the sheikh for two hours without a break and Jihan was starting to feel defeated. She turned to Mazen's father and, in a firm voice, explained that she no longer wanted his family's money, adding that she would never forgive his son for not paying her what had been promised and was within her rights. Mazen's father was mortified. As a Muslim, owing this money would be a millstone around his son's neck for the rest of his life and in the afterlife, too. In Islam, a debt is not forgiven until it is paid or the person owed the money forgives it. The sheikh stepped in. "Would you pay $17,000?" he asked Mazen's father. Such bartering angered Jihan all over again. "Why are you negotiating the figure down?" she asked the sheikh. But she was too late. Mazen's father saw an opening: "I will pay $10,000." The sheikh turned to Jihan and explained that she needed to accept that, if Mazen could not pay the original agreed sum, then it was better to take what she could get. Jihan persisted with the sheikh. "Would you do the same if it were your daughter?" "Yes, I would," the sheikh replied without hesitation. He looked Jihan in the eye and continued. "God said that, if you can be the better person, then be the better person." "And get less money," Jihan whispered under her breath. But the sheikh had spoken. Jihan resigned herself to the fact that it was the best deal she was going to get. Besides, she was tired, weighed down by all her emotions. Sensing that Jihan was waning, and keen to bring matters to a close, the sheikh turned to Mazen and warned him: "If you were in Saudi Arabia, you would have gotten a hundred lashes for what you did." Mazen sat stony-faced. Jihan was devastated by how things had turned out. She felt that not only had Mazen betrayed her, he had dodged his responsibilities as well. She would be the one left with a stain on her reputation. It dawned on her that she was a divorced woman before she had even really been married. Several years passed. One day, Jihan received an unexpected phone call from her father telling her that the sheikh wanted them to visit that night. She was a justice of the peace and the sheikh often required her signature; she assumed this was the reason why. Jihan met her father at the sheikh's house that night. She had become so comfortable in the sheikh's presence since her Islamic divorce that she almost immediately asked him if he had a document he wanted her to look at. "I have something better," he said, passing an envelope to her. "Did you win the Lotto and feel sorry for me?" Jihan joked as she played with the bulky package, which she guessed contained some cash. "It's from Mazen his father gave me the money," the sheikh replied. Jihan had convinced herself a long time ago that she'd never see the money owed to her. Despite agreeing to the lesser sum, Mazen's family had not wanted a deadline to be set for payment and had asked for some time for it to be saved. Jihan had assumed that this was code for non-payment and eventually moved on without relying on it. Now her head was swirling with questions. The sheikh asked her to count the money he had handed to her, $100 note by $100 note, and to do so in front of a witness an elderly female relative of his who was also well known to Jihan's family. This would help to avoid a dispute down the track between the parties about the exact sum that had been delivered. These are the stories making headlines today. Mike Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong Un One source said Pompeo took only intelligence officials with him on the trip, no White House or State Department officials. The meeting between Pompeo and Kim comes ahead of a planned historic summit between the North Korean leader and US President Donald Trump, currently planned for sometime in late May or early June. Trump says 5 locations are being considered for Kim Jong Un meeting Speaking amid talks with his skeptical Japanese counterpart, Trump said that very high levels of discussion between Washington and Pyongyang are already underway. We have had direct talks, Trump said alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. I really believe theres a lot of goodwill. Well see what happens, as I always say. Kim Jong Uns wife afforded new level of respect in North Korean media Referred to in a KCNA report as the respected First Lady, paired with an honorific reserved for respected members of society, the title is a step up from the usual comrade that she had previously been afforded. Southwest passenger died after shattered window nearly sucked her out The plane was flying at 32,500 feet Tuesday morning as passengers settled in for the three-hour flight. Suddenly, the alarms blared in the cockpit as what sounded like explosions boomed from the left side of the plane. Oxygen masks swiftly dangled from the ceiling. Mugabe is gone and people can now say anything about him A satirical play, Operation Restore Regasi, based on the military takeover and impending impeachment that ended the 37-year rule of the dictator, packed out theaters in the capital city, Harare. The response was overwhelming. I thought with the hard economic hardships Zimbabweans are facing it would not attract many people, said Charles Munganasa, the Comedy Director. Barbara Bush, former first lady, dies at 92 Only the second woman in American history to have had a husband and a son elected President (Abigail Adams was the first), Bush was seen as a plainspoken public figure who was instantly recognizable with her signature white hair and pearl necklaces and earrings. She became a major political figure as her husband, George H.W. Starbucks will close 8,000 US stores May 29 for racial-bias training The announcement follows an uproar over the arrest of two black men who were waiting for a friend at a Philadelphia Starbucks last week. CNNMoney (New York) First published April 17, 2018: 1:59 PM ET Stormy Daniels releases sketch of man who allegedly threatened her over Trump affair The disclosure of the drawing and the announcement of the monetary reward on ABCs The View mark yet another theatrical twist in the dramatic public feud between the porn star and President Donald Trump. Mans second face transplant is a world first Jerome Hamon, 43, underwent his first face transplantation procedure in 2010 to treat neurofibromatosis, a genetic disorder characterized by the growth of tumors along nerves in the skin, brain and other parts of the body. Yet Hamons body rejected the original transplant. US jet makes emergency landing A US passenger jet has made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after part of the covering on its left engine got ripped off. A window and part of the fuselage were also damaged, officials say. The Southwest Airlines plane was flying from New Yorks La Guardia airport to Dallas, Texas, with 143 passengers and five crew aboard. Facebook seeks to face scan Europeans Facebook has started asking European and Canadian users to let it use facial recognition technology to identify them in photos and videos. Facebook originally began face-matching users outside Canada in 2011, but stopped doing so for EU citizens the following year after protests from regulators and privacy campaigners. Trumps UN envoy hits back at White House US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley has fired back after a White House aide accused her of momentary confusion over new sanctions against Russia. With all due respect, I dont get confused, Ms Haley told Fox News television. She was responding to comments by White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow. Minister says India invented internet A minister who has claimed that the internet was invented hundreds of thousands of years ago by ancient Indians is being met with ridicule. Biplab Deb, who is the chief minister of the north-eastern state of Tripura had made the comments at a public function on Tuesday evening. Space diamonds came from lost planet A diamond-bearing space rock that exploded in Earths atmosphere in 2008 was part of a lost planet from the early Solar System, a study suggests. The parent proto-planet existed billions of years ago before breaking up in a collision and would have been about as large as Mercury or Mars. The mystery of the homesick mechanic who stole a plane In 1969, at the height of the Cold War, a mechanic in the US Air Force stole a Hercules plane from his base in East Anglia and set off for the States. Just under two hours later, he disappeared suddenly over the English Channel. Did he simply crash or was he shot down? Passengers Praise Southwest Airlines Pilot Who Landed Safely After Engine Explosion (Reuters) The pilot who safely landed a stricken Southwest Airlines flight on Tuesday got her first flying experience in the U.S. Navy, touching down F-18 fighter jets at 150 miles per hour on aircraft carriers. Plastic Surgeons Reveal The Serious Repercussions Of Plumping Your Lips Full, ultra-plumped lips are one beauty trend that just wont quit. Influencers like Kylie Jenner and the rest of her famous family have helped to make the use of facial fillers increasingly common. The more were bombarded with photos of perfectly plumped pouts on social media, the more we wonder: Is there such a thing as too much? Steven Spielberg Joins DC Universe For Blackhawk Film Steven Spielberg is directing his attention toward the DC Universe. The Ready Player One director has agreed to produce and possibly direct a movie based on the World War II-era character Blackhawk for Warner Brothers. The series debuted in 1941, according to The Hollywood Reporter, but isnt well known to todays audiences. Of Course Jesus Is Black: That S**t Doesnt Happen To White People A British comedy series took on both race and religion in a sketch about a white churchgoer who seeks help and encounters Jesus. But the savior wasnt what he expected. Have you heard my story? Jesus asked. I was arrested by a mob of angry government officials and beaten for a crime I didnt commit. Exxon sued for stoking drought, floods, and wildfires Coastal cities like New York and San Francisco have already started legal battles with oil giants for knowingly fueling climate change. Now, landlocked communities in Colorado have filed their own suit against the oil companies Exxon Mobil and Suncor, both of which extract large amounts of oil and gas from the Colorado ground. Facebooks facial recognition features could cost it billions of dollars If you thought Facebook was already having a bad couple weeks, a federal judge just reminded us that things could get a whole lot worse for the company. A judge in San Francisco ruled Monday that Facebook users in Illinois can proceed with a class action suit against the company over its use of facial recognition software. Why Iron Man needs to die in Avengers: Infinity War Lets get the bad news out of the way: your boy Iron Man is probably gonna die in Avengers: Infinity War. But the good news is, he probably should die. Why am I ruining everything you once loved and held dear? Im not. Marvel is doing that, so please direct your Twitter @s their way. Is business class worth it? Its an entirely hypothetical query given its (well) beyond the realm of my reality but its the question I inevitably ponder when I fly. Recently, before departing on an international trip I couldnt help but scrutinise the men, women and yes even children who were warmly welcomed and so quickly ushered through the first and business class queues beside me. Standing in the long economy queue adjacent to their priority lines was the only time we are in such close proximity. After checking in they will retreat to the world of lounges and private boarding before making themselves comfortable in their pods and flatbeds at the front end or upper floor of the plane, hidden away from cattle-class-dwellers like myself. And so while I am standing waiting to check in my bag I have to look and I have to ask. What do they do? Is their employer paying? Did they found a tech company? Is it frequent flyer points? How do they make the numbers work? In the depths of winter, Canberra CEOs will be sleeping out again to raise $480,000 to help St Vincent de Paul assist the homeless in the Canberra and Goulburn areas. Participants this year include Australian War Memorial director Dr Brendan Nelson, ACT Chief Police Officer Justine Saunders and Australian Transport Safety Bureau CEO Greg Hood. The ACT's chief police officer, Justine Saunders, will be sleeping out for Vinnies this year. Credit:ACT Policing An expected 150 of the regions business and community leaders will brave the cold at the National Museum of Australia on June 21. National Museum of Australia director Dr Mathew Trinca will participate in the sleepout fundraiser and said the museum was proud to host this years event. In a nation as affluent as Australia its important to provide time for people who need a hand, he said. An international exhibition celebrating Islamic culture will open at the National Museum of Australia on Friday. The museum's director, Dr Matthew Trinca, said "nothing makes me prouder than the fact this exhibition is opening here at this time." So That You Might Know Each Other: Faith and Culture in Islam brings together for the first time in Australia 100 artefacts from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation and the Vatican Anima Mundi Museum of World Arts and Cultures as well as artefacts from Australia. The artefacts, representing Islamic civilisations from around the world, include ceremonial hangings, musical instruments, armour, precious manuscripts, ceramics and jewellery. A night out at Mooseheads has allegedly left two police officers on the wrong side of the law, with one accused of violently bashing a man and the other accused of covering it up. But defence lawyers told a jury on Thursday the two men denied the allegations. One barrister said that the alleged victim had given multiple versions of what happened, and suggested the police officer who later complained held a grudge against one of the accused. The ACT Supreme Court heard that Wade Joseph Howell, 36, was visiting from Melbourne for a training course. He was out drinking when early in the morning on April 2, 2016, he ended up at Civic nightspot Mooseheads. The alleged victim and his girlfriend were also at the club. In her opening address, prosecutor Kylie Weston-Scheuber told the jury that the woman left the club and was followed shortly afterwards by Mr Howell, before they both sat down on a park bench. Its alleged the womans boyfriend came running towards them, and Mr Howell stood up and pushed him away. Its alleged Mr Howell proceeded to beat the man, fracturing his cheek bone and giving him a bloody nose. Sometimes common sense prevails, and thats what has happened at Trinity Grammar school in Melbourne, where the deputy headmaster was sacked after trimming a students hair. But the lessons in this sorry episode - from how our schools are run, to the power of parents, students and alumni - continue. Trinity Grammar deputy principal Rohan Brown greets students on Tuesday morning. Credit:Joe Armao Rohan Brown, a popular staffer who had worked at the school for three decades, was sacked in March on school photograph day, when he took it upon himself to snip the hair of a student. He had no right to do that, but the consequences over his decision to forcibly enforce school rules has been way out of proportion with what should have happened. The National Party wants new regional medical schools. Credit:Peter Braig Picture this: you are driving out of Sydney, when someone in the car is taken ill. How easy is it to get medical help? If you are still in the suburbs, it should be simple: hospitals and GP clinics are dotted across the urban landscape. If you have gone further, it will be more difficult. The nearest regional centre, with luck, should have a hospital. Even in larger towns, though, GPs are harder to find than in the city. And if you have driven well away from cities and towns your chances of finding more than the most basic medical help will be slim. How, you may wonder, do the people who live out here cope? At present the answer is: not well. Where city populations have nearly 440 doctors for every 100,000 people, in regional and remote areas the number hovers around 270. Specialists are particularly scarce. Patients out here will ignore a minor condition until it becomes intolerable, when they drive hours into town to a hospital emergency department. And things may get worse. Doctors in country areas tend to be old nearly 55 on average and specialists even older. Once they retire, who knows? Newly-qualified medical graduates are reluctant to work outside the cities. According to a 2016 survey for the Australian Institute of Health and Welfare, 20 per cent of people in the remotest regions reported not having a GP nearby was a barrier to seeing one. For city people, the figure was 3 per cent. Passengers on a packed inner city bus have been subjected to a terrifying scene as police used a Taser on a man who'd been accused of assaulting and harassing a number of people onboard. The officers from Surry Hills Police Area Command had been conducting random breath testing on Anzac Parade at Moore Park around 2.30pm when they boarded the 377 bus, after the driver signalled them for assistance. The police were told a man on the bus had assaulted two passengers, and when officers attempted to speak with him, he was uncooperative before allegedly assaulting an officer, a spokesman for NSW Police said. Video footage of the incident shows the man is seated when a police officer orders him off the bus. Instead of getting up, the man lashes out with his hand. It's then that the officer deploys the Taser on the man. Please, everyone, calm down. We haven't read the final report yet. Nearly everyone is innocent, the few bad apples will be punished, the system is not broken. Stay calm and carry on. - Tony Redmond, Wyong Graffiti on the wrong side of history in statue debate The vandalised Captain Cook statue in Hyde Park. Credit:Cole Bennetts If you disagree with what a work of art symbolises, does that entitle you to desecrate it ("Monumental ask: historian wonders if graffiti should stay", April 19)? Lisa Murray suggests not only is such vandalism justified, it should be retained as evidence of changing and conflicting social values. One principle only should apply; that of respecting public sculpture as a record that expresses its time and art. Choosing Captain Cook as a target for colonial and later wrongs against Aborigines is facile, easy and crude. There are more intelligent and constructive ways of making a point than vandalising an important sculpture that was initiated as part of the great International Exhibition celebration of 1879 in Sydney. - Philip Drew, Annandale I suggest to Dr Lisa Murray that there are more civilised and less destructive ways to update and reflect changing attitudes and knowledge than using self-indulgent, bogan graffiti on monuments and buildings. There's enough space at the base of Cook's statue for an interpretive plaque to reflect this. Remember the "No Wars" painted on the Opera House sails? It wasn't the spirit of the message that outraged people. - Keith Parsons, Newcastle It would be a shame if scrawling opinions on monuments were to become the de rigueur method for updating history as that would place all monuments and art at the mercy of scrawled comments, whether accurate or not. Stan Grant's suggestion that an additional plaque be added to the Captain Cook statue is an appropriate way to correct history, or at least add important perspectives which are not always taken into consideration when history is written. The creativity and ingenuity of the Indigenous people of this land has never been fully recognised because powerful weapons and written laws, rather than recalled history in oral stories, were valued as superior. - Gordana Martinovich, Dulwich Hill There is much to learn and admire about the real Captain James Cook, beyond the libel that he "took" Australia, and the false image of his responsibility for the many wrongs of British settlement, or invasion if you prefer. - Garry Dalrymple, Earlwood My feelings towards the renaming of places and the pulling down of monuments is equivocal at best. It seems to me a little like rewriting history and reminds me of Stalin withdrawing textbooks from classrooms. - Arthur Cooper, Alstonville No, Lisa Murray, graffiti is nothing more than vandalism and should be removed from not only any historical monument, but the entire city. It is an eyesore that demeans our fair city. - Peter Miniutti, Ashbury Monash promotion is selfish Sir John Monash. Bill Shorten, Tom Blamey was promoted to field marshal while he was still alive, so it was an honour to him ("Monash honour is long overdue", April 19). Sir John Monash is dead, so there is no honour for him in a promotion. Promoting John Monash posthumously is more about our feelings about ourselves than it is about honouring John Monash, and so it is an entirely selfish proposal, devoid of merit. - Michael McMullan, Five Dock I have no opinion on the promotion of John Monash ("PM right not to promote Monash", April 19). We cannot airbrush history, but as Kevin Rudd for one has shown, we can apologise for our mistakes. We can say we were wrong. We can undermine the false parts of the myth set up by Bean and Murdoch. And who are all these other generals living or dead waiting in line to be promoted to field marshal? Monash is unique. There will be no rush of other contenders. Promote him or not but give us better reasons than this effort please. - Graham English, Eastwood The simple solution is to transfer the field marshal rank bizarrely bestowed on Prince Philip, who of course never commanded any Australian forces, and pass it to Monash. And while we're at it, instead of Charles as Commonwealth head, time to appoint Helen Clark or Manmohan Singh, both distinguished former PMs of member nations. - Bruce Donald, Waverton The debate over Monash's rank highlights the growing awareness of our national need to reflect on and appropriately commemorate the enormous sacrifice of a generation of young volunteer Australians on the Western Front in World War I. Bean and Murdoch have a lot to answer for; should we continue their bigotry, and should army protocol be the arbiter of our national commemoration? - Vivienne Parsons, Thornleigh Governments should ignore experts Most would not be surprised that the advice of independent experts was disregarded by Transport for NSW ("Report reveals culture of mistrust in NSW transport", April 19). Governments frequently ignore the advice of experts when it's not to their liking, so I suggest they stop wasting taxpayer funds on consultants. They should simply dispense with the whole charade, and just impose their disastrous plans on us, a la the Berejiklian government. - Graham Lum, North Rocks The NSW government has done its best to hide a raft of controversial matters such as the Land Titles Office privatisation, the light rail cost blowout, WestConnex, the Powerhouse and stadiums. Secretive transport chiefs are only following the bad example set by Cabinet. - Peter Mahoney, Oatley To the "losers" identified by the transport authorities because of timetable changes, could you please add the following: those whose livelihoods are impacted by the botched light rail construction program; the rail users from the north-west facing months of rail closure followed by new trains with almost half the seating gone; North Shore rail commuters forced to compete with thousands of extra passengers for space between the city and Chatswood when the metro opens next year; and NSW taxpayers forking out for on-going inefficiency and duplication between the transport authorities. - Doug Walker, Baulkham Hills Employment forecasts ignore job losses Your article predicts a jobs bonanza over the next six years ("Where the jobs will be in 2024", April 19). Meanwhile, the committee for economic development of Australia predicts a high likelihood that 40 per cent of existing jobs will disappear over the next 10 years due to technological innovation. While the government trumpets the approach of achieving one million new jobs it fails to mention any job losses. Under-employment remains a critical issue for many workers as does non-payment of correct wages and superannuation.The jobs and growth mantra is looking a bit frayed around the edges. - Greg Thomas, Annandale Training doctors in the bush a National play Training of rural doctors is yet another test of Malcolm Turnbull's ability to keep the National Party in check ("Acting PM ups pressure over regional doctors", April 19). Fresh from gutting the national pesticides authority by forcing its move to Armidale, the Nationals now want to solve the rural doctor shortage by training more doctors in the bush. No matter that the AMA has made its opposition clear as Australia is already training enough doctors and coping with a shortage of training positions for medical graduates. It looks like a case of the Nationals playing "while the cat's away", with Turnbull overseas and the unknown Michael McCormack acting as prime minister. - James Moore, Kogarah Selective school support Lia Friedler asks whether selective schools have overcrowding and demountables too (Letters, April 19). Selective schools receive less government funding per student than most comprehensives because the socioeconomic profile of the parents is high. Sadly, parents are often reluctant to pay "voluntary" school fees to make up the shortfall. The resources are therefore poor, but the cap on student numbers prevents overcrowding of the crumbling buildings. Like all schools, there were good and bad teachers. I was surprised more effort wasn't made to find teachers who matched the students in enthusiasm and ability. By contrast, my other child attends a private school, where many of the teachers hold PhDs and their passion for their subjects is obvious.The overwhelming benefit for the selective kids was peers who wanted to learn, providing lifetime friends with common interests. - Eva Elbourne, Normanhurst When to reach for contraceptives So, Tom Orren,when population numbers reach the magic figure of "about 10 or 11 billion", will everyone then reach for their contraceptives (Letters, April 19)? - Dorothy Gliksman, Cedar Brush Creek Anzac legacy lives on So we don't owe the Anzacs anything (Letters, April 18). Nothing but our freedom and our way of life. I'm sure the millions marching and remembering these wonderful, brave young solders next Wednesday might disagree with the writer. We owe them so much. - Denis Suttling, Newport Farmer wants a life A new report says there will be great demand for farmers by 2024, as the old brigade retire ("Jobs boom: farmers get a life", April 19). The public debate about selective schools is distorted and strangely focused on their supposed positives we are repeatedly told about the opportunities students get for greater competition; the advantages of being among others with similar intellectual or sporting or musical gifts. But little consideration is given towards what selective school students miss out on when they are deprived of a comprehensive education. We must decide what we want from a school education. Credit:Phil Carrick The wider the range of students in a cohort, the greater their daily exposure to the human condition, to talents which echo the breadth of the general population. Students are also then exposed to a curriculum both inside and outside the classroom which reflects this variety in the student population. The result is a richer lived experience for each child. We unquestionably value this at primary school but for some peculiar reason dont appreciate its strengths at secondary level. It appears to me, the main issue underpinning the selective schools debate is determining what we, as a community, want from a school education. Tim Curran is the Chief Executive Officer of LiveBetter Services Limited. Credit:Jude Keogh The National Disability Insurance Scheme (NDIS) provider that was the subject of complaints from parents, staff and former staff in a Fairfax Media investigation has launched legal action against a former employee who allegedly blew the whistle on company practices, seeking unspecified damages. LiveBetter Services Limited, a fast-growing regional not-for-profit with millions in NDIS government funding, has launched legal action in the Federal Court of Australia claiming damages, civil penalties and costs against Ken Freedman, its former work health and safety coordinator, after details of his internal complaint expressing concerns for the safety of disabled clients under the Orange-based organisation's care appeared in the Herald. Mr Freedman allegedly spoke out about LiveBetter's poor reporting mechanisms and failure to respond properly to serious incidents. LiveBetter is the largest NDIS provider in regional NSW and is expanding nationally into Victoria and Queensland. Fairfax Media last month detailed examples of parents of clients in LiveBetter's care who had been left troubled about the safety of their loved ones after they allegedly suffered assaults in LiveBetter disability group homes. The Nation Media Group has downplayed the recent and noisy exit of columnists from the media house. The eight opinion-piece writers resigned en masse accusing the firm of allowing the government to interfere with editorial decisions. They accused the NMG management of being too close to the ruling party Jubilee. We refuse to continue to clothe the loss of editorial independence and media freedom at the NMG with respectability, the columnists said in a statement. They include Rasna Warah, Kwamchetsi Makokha, George Kegoro, Muthoni Wanyeki, Nic Cheeseman, Fr. Gabriel Dolan, Maina Kiai and Gabrielle Lynch. According to NMG Chairman Wilfred Kiboro, their exit would not affect circulation as they are not as important as they think they are and there is a lot of talent out there. Mr Kiboro was speaking during an investor briefing on Wednesday. He also dismissed speculations that the company may be up for sale. Speculation has been rife on social media about a potential sale following the exit of the top columnists and former NMG golden boy Larry Madowo. The sale reports heightened during the Aga Khans recent visit to Kenya to mark his Diamond Jubilee, 60 years since his accession to his role of spiritual leadership. It was said that he would meet President Uhuru Kenyatta to discuss among other things, the sale of his media interests. However, Kiboro refuted the claims and instead urged the government to pay the media house Sh 700million owed to them. What we can promise everybody here is we will report the truth, he told the meeting at Stanley Hotel, Nairobi. Queensland's 2-metre yowie statue, inspired by the reported sightings of the strange creatures, has returned after a three-month absence, taking pride of place in the state's south-east once again. Yowie sightings claim to have been made in the forests of the Somerset region from 1742 to 1971 and the local community embraced the reports by erecting a life-sized statue. The Kilcoy yowie statue has been replaced, with the wooden creature switched for a more durable fibreglass model. Somerset Regional Council mayor Graeme Lehmann said a local vineyard owner has dressed up as a yowie, local businesses sell a yowie burger and visitors can buy yowie postcards and pins. "When you talk to people involved in the sightings, theyre convinced it (yowie) exists ... one person in the Kilcoy community has a plaster cast footprint of a yowie," he said. A shooter remains on the run after a man was gunned down inside a unit north of Brisbane during the early hours of Friday. Jacob Bell, 24, was visiting the unit on Young Street in Petrie when he was fatally shot in the chest by a gunman, to whom police believe Mr Bell was known. Police investigate the scene of a fatal shooting at Young Street, Petrie. Credit:Jorge Branco Detective Superintendent Tony Fleming said police did not expect the shooter to target anyone else after gunning down Mr Bell in front of several other people inside the premises. While there were no specific suspects, detectives were speaking with a number of people after forensic and scientific officers combed the Petrie unit on Friday. Two men have been charged after the owner and two members of staff at a Brisbane karaoke bar were bashed by a group of customers last month, according to police. However, three people remain on-the-run, with detectives launching a public appeal in the hope of identifying the trio who may be able to help with the investigation. The trio police are hunting over the attack in the Coopers Plains karaoke bar. Credit:Queensland Police Service It will be alleged four men and a woman entered Red Chilli Karaoke on Boundary Road in Coopers Plains about 3am on Sunday, February 25. About 90 minutes later, the group was asked to leave the premises because it was closing time. If union boss Peter Marshall really has the goods on Premier Daniel Andrews, then it must be some pretty bad stuff. Because most people would have long ago grown tired of Marshall's demands and told the United Firefighters Union secretary to just put up or shut up. Marshall has been trouble for Andrews almost since the beginning of the Labor Leaders term of government, usually with the suggestion floating around that Marshall has something on Andrews. The Premier did not seem worried. Credit:Scott McNaughton Theres no evidence of that, but Andrews government has folded to so many demands from Marshall and his union over the years and at such a high political price, that this kompromat theory has often been the only one that makes sense. Melbourne Express, Friday, April 20, 2018 Were sorry, this service is currently unavailable. Please try again later. Dismiss When Snezana Stojanovska was found dead she was lying on a makeshift benchpress made out of an ironing board, propped up by telephone books. A 30 kilogram barbell was lying across her neck, making her death looked like a freak weightlifting accident. But State Coroner Sara Hinchey suspects the young woman - who was three months pregnant at the time - was strangled and her death staged. On Thursday, Judge Hinchey ordered an inquest into Ms Stojanovska's death having heard that an autopsy revealed the young woman had bruising on her neck that didn't fit a weights accident. "Snezana's death was reported to be a tragic weightlifting accident," counsel assisting the coroner Barbara Myers told the court. A 46-year-old man has been found guilty of fatally stabbing his children's uncle in Perth. Shane Frederick James Josephs was charged with murder after his ex-partner's brother Rhys Karl Kelly, 25, died in hospital in April last year. Josephs' Supreme Court of WA trial was set down for seven days but he was convicted on Wednesday by a jury after just three days. Josephs faced court on Wednesday. The court heard Josephs believed Mr Kelly had been providing drugs to his daughter, 17, and perhaps his 19-year-old son. "We heard for years the denials from the finance sector that royal commission was needed but now we see the mess beneath. Swan, former Labor treasurer now running for the ALP presidency, has just been appointed as a commissioner to the Independent Commission for the Reform of International Corporate Taxation (ICRICT), alongside Joseph Stiglitz and Thomas Piketty (double swoon). The aim of ICRICT is to bring enough pressure to rewrite international rules so corporations can't avoid paying their fair share. Now I couldn't quite get Wayne Swan to straight out back the idea but I reckon I could talk him around. In fact, I don't think it would take long at all. Now if you think the banking royal commission terrifies bankers and their friends, imagine what a commission into tax evasion/avoidance/minimisation would do. Brutal. Businesslike. Whatever you call it, the systemic abuse of power and privilege has been exposed. Every day brings horror. My favourite, no, not exactly favourite, my most compelling example of misconduct was the news on Thursday the Commonwealth Bank charged dead people fees for advice it wasn't providing. That was the same day ANZ spruiked #financialwellbeing. My guess is our collective financial wellbeing would all be a lot better off if our institutions stopped stealing from us. "Surely it is time the industry itself acknowledged the folly of its ways and began to support fundamental reform of the system. If the banks don't support fundamental reform, then the pressure will be unavoidable for a further royal commission." And what would that further royal commission be? Nothing could be more useful to the Australian economy and therefore to the Australian people than getting companies to pay a decent level of tax, to support the way of life we love. We need to rethink why tax rules are structured so that it's legal for companies to pay so little tax yet take advantage of all the other benefits of operating in Australia, such as the education of our excellent workforce and the health of our citizens. And that infrastructure and those services are built with tax. Swan says: "We have seen more clearly the evidence of outright tax evasion and massive avoidance across our large corporates. Everyone knows they use big money and big corporate power to try to intimidate the tax office which has fought back bravely." It depresses me that the Coalition is now pretending it thinks the royal commission is a good idea; or that the cure would be carving off financial advice. That's not the bad bit. The entire system has septicaemia and chopping off a limb won't remove the poison because the poison - the addiction to power and privilege is endemic. It was only eight months ago that Treasurer Scott Morrison said Australia's existing regulatory powers were enough. "The things that a royal commission could potentially recommend: we're already doing that," he told Reuters. Darrell "Dasha" Hicks is one of the last standing Stuart Flat tenants. Credit:Jamila Toderas The weather is looking nice and mild as you head towards the weekend. The Friday forecast is mostly sunny with a high of 26 degrees, a low of 7 degrees and the possibility of some light winds. Darrell Hicks will soon be kicked out of the flat he has called home since 1993. The ACT government is preparing to demolish the Stuart Flats in Griffith, making way for a private development as part of wider urban development plans. "It had a bad reputation, but that's what happens when you put that many people on the dole all living in the same area," Mr Hicks said. "But it's been home to so many people." Han Nguyen reports. But the governments response to a Freedom of Information request from the office of Centre Alliance (formerly Team Xenophon) senator Rex Patrick, and to additional questions in senate estimates hearings, demonstrates Canberras extreme sensitivity on a matter that threatens to tear apart American politics. The Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade told Senator Patricks office that it could neither confirm nor deny the existence of diplomatic cable traffic between Canberra and Australian missions in London and Washington in relation to George Papadopoulos. DFAT has also refused to answer any questions raised at a senate estimates hearing about Mr Downer's role in the affair because it was not in the national interest to engage on this matter. Loading Senator Patrick was attempting to establish a precise timeline of Australian involvement in the Trump-Russia controversy by seeking Australian diplomatic cable traffic using the Freedom of Information Act and the senate estimates process. While lawful, it is rare for a government department to respond to a FOI request by refusing to neither confirm nor deny the existence of documents. In almost all cases-- and even when access to documents is being denied in full-- an applicant is given a schedule of relevant documents uncovered by their FOI request. The schedule includes useful information such as the dates the documents were created, the identity of who authored them and who received them. But in this case, DFATs decision maker, Greg Wilcock, the acting first assistant secretary of the United States and Indo-Pacific Strategy Division, invoked section 25 of the FOI Act that permits the government to refuse to confirm or deny the existence of document on the grounds of national security, law enforcement and public safety. In response to Senator Patricks senate estimates questions, DFAT only provided a short statement saying, "These questions relate to ongoing and high profile investigations in the United States. "It is vital we do not prejudice or be seen to prejudice those investigations. They also relate to potentially sensitive matters in our bilateral relationship with the United States. For those reasons, the Department does not believe that it is in the national interest to engage in the matter. Former federal Information Commissioner and administrative law professor John McMillan said the failure to acknowledge even the mere existence of any documents appeared to be based on flimsy grounds. "It's important to state this is not about releasing what was actually said at a meeting with Mr Downer and a well known public figure [Mr Papadopoulos]. The refusal involves declining to say if a diplomatic cable was ever even sent. It is inherently implausible that the mere existence of a cable relating to an internationally known figure could be exempt." Sydney lawyer and FOI expert, Peter Timmins, said he could not recall many instances of a government using section 25 of the FOI Act to refuse to neither confirm nor deny the existence of a document. "What they would be trying to argue is that by actually releasing information to say they have such documents would endanger national security. That sounds pretty ridiculous to me," Mr Timmins said. Napa and Solano County officials said last week the counties were willing to help the Area Agency on Aging of Napa and Solano continue its work. But that commitment lacked the details and the money that the nonprofit board members wanted. Is the CDA, is the county serious? board member Michael Donnellan said. Put your money where your mouth is. I havent seen it yet. But any actions by the counties in this regard would have to be approved by the respective board of supervisors, which takes time. The Area Agency on Aging didnt want to wait for a solution that might or might not materialize. Solano County Supervisor Monica Brown and others at Tuesdays meeting urged the group to give the counties 30 days to address the issue. Please dont give up, Brown said. Let us work with the CDA. Let us work with nonprofits. Let us work together. I think we can come out and have a really good outcome. But please dont throw in the towel. Stanton favored having the nonprofit decide its future that day, rather than waiting another 30 days. The scientists spent three years programming the robot - made of arms, grippers, sensors and 3D cameras - which assembled the frame of an IKEA $25 solid-pine Stefan dining chair in about 20 minutes. Sifting through pages of instructions and a jumble of screws and bolts to build the low-cost Swedish furniture may soon be a thing of the past given advances in technology, say researchers at the city-state's Nanyang Technological University (NTU). They say it may not be long before such robots can fully assemble a piece of furniture from a manual, verbal instruction or by just looking at an image of the finished item. The researchers programmed their robot to create and execute a plan to piece together most of the chair on its own, calling on a medley of human skills to do so. The researchers explained their work in a study published Wednesday in the journal Science Robotics. "If you think about it, it requires perception, it requires you to plan a motion, it requires control between the robot and the environment, it requires transporting an object with two arms simultaneously," said Dr Quang-Cuong Pham, an assistant professor of engineering at the university and one of the paper's authors. "We have achieved the low level capability to teach the robot how to do it and then, in the next five to 10 years, high level reasoning - the 'what to do' - could be done too," Pham told Reuters. London: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is insisting on Australias perfect right to sail its fleet through the South China Sea after a robust exchange in the disputed waters between Australian frigates and the Chinese navy. Mr Turnbull said Australia asserted its right to freedom of navigation throughout the worlds oceans, including the South China Sea. The remark came after the ABC reported that three Royal Australian Navy vessels were challenged by Chinese forces when sailing through the region earlier this month. Mr Turnbull did not confirm or deny the event but declared that Australia had a right to the freedom to send its navy through the international waters. London: Queen Elizabeth II has expressed her clear desire that Prince Charles succeeds her as the head of the Commonwealth in an unusually direct message to political leaders after months of speculation over who should take the position. The Queen used a moment of high ceremony in Buckingham Palace to make her wishes known to the 53 member nations of the Commonwealth and ensure the position goes to the heir to the throne. It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949, the Queen said. By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities, I believe we will secure a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world for those who follow us: a world where the Commonwealths generosity of spirit can bring its gentle touch of healing and hope to all. Top gun: Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first women to fly navy tactical aircraft, in front of an F/A-18A with Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 34 in 1992. She was the pilot of the Southwest plane that made an emergency landing after an engine explosion. Credit:US Navy In the cockpit, Tammie Jo Shults, a veteran navy pilot, flew with one engine, displaying what one passenger would later call "nerves of steel". Shults was well trained to handle stress in the cockpit. She had flown supersonic F/A-18 Hornets as one of the navy's first female pilots at a time when women were still barred from combat duty, before leaving active service in 1993. Shults calmly radioed air traffic controllers in Philadelphia to discuss her approach. She told them the flight was carrying injured passengers and needed emergency medics on the ground. "Is your airplane physically on fire?" an air traffic controller asked Shults, according to audio captured by LiveATC. "No it's not on fire, but part of it is missing," she responded. "They said there's a hole and, uh, someone went out." It had all started so normally on Tuesday morning. When the Boeing 737 took off from La Guardia Airport, it was fresh from an inspection on Sunday night, although investigators on Wednesday said the likely cause of the explosion was metal fatigue in an engine blade. Its passengers were New Yorkers heading to San Antonio or Dallas for a meeting or a technology conference. They were Texans and New Mexicans heading home after a magical first visit to New York City, an education conference in midtown Manhattan or a trip to see family. They spent the morning at the airport making jokes about bag-check fees, snapping selfies on the plane, even getting into a tiff with another passenger about who got to board first. Just another day of air travel in America. But by 11.10am, as the flight descended toward Philadelphia, the same passengers were scrambling to put on oxygen masks and buy internet access so they could send a last message to their children and families. Marty Martinez, 29, of Dallas, held a yellow oxygen mask to his face as he live-streamed the descent on Facebook. "It appears we are going down!" he wrote. Bourman said he could not figure out how to use his mask and decided it would not save him if the plane crashed. Instead, he sat and prayed as his wife, Amanda, managed to connect her phone to the plane's Wi-Fi. They began texting Bourman's father to tell him what had happened and to convey a message to the couple's three daughters, aged six, four and two: Pray. Plane blew an engine. We are going to try to land. Tell the girls we love them and that Jesus is with them always. Loading Across from the blown-out window, Sheri Sears, 43, thought about her 11-year-old daughter, Tyley. Sears' own father had died when she was seven, and she kept thinking: "I'm not going to be there for her." Sears said she offered a thin prayer for mercy: "If this is your will, God, please let me go quickly. Don't let me suffer." Her friend and travel companion, Texas rancher Tim McGinty, reassured his wife and Sears that they would be fine and tightened their seat belts. Then he sprang up to help drag the injured passenger, Jennifer Riordan, back into the plane. Loading Riordan was unconscious and bleeding as McGinty and another passenger, a firefighter from north of Dallas, laid her across a row of seats. Peggy Phillips, a retired nurse and flight attendants rushed up and helped McGinty perform CPR all the way to Philadelphia, but it was no use. Riordan, 43, a Wells Fargo executive and mother-of-two from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was pronounced dead at a hospital of what medical examiners later called blunt trauma to her head, neck and torso. News of her death rippled through Albuquerque, where the Chamber of Commerce held a moment of silence and ranks of nonprofit leaders, arts advocates and others across the city mourned. Courtney Padilla, 34, a passenger from Albuquerque who was travelling home with her wife, mother, grandmother and aunt, said she had not met Riordan but knew her by name and her reputation as a community supporter. Loading Padilla and her family were sitting at the front of the plane when the engine exploded and, like other passengers, they stayed in their seats and held onto each other as the desperate attempt to save Riordan's life played out just rows behind them. A stranger beside Padilla assured her that she had just celebrated her 76th birthday and that they would not be dying that day. Padilla, in turn, made eye contact to support a younger girl sitting diagonally in front of her. "You were holding on to whoever was next to you," Padilla said. On the right side of the plane, over the wing, Jim Demetros, 55, watched flight attendants carrying portable oxygen bottles thread along the aisle to make sure the passengers - who included a number of children - were secured. As they approached Philadelphia International Airport, Demetros said, the plane vibrated as it made a slow turn. About two minutes before they landed, Matt Tranchin's phone got reception, so he called his wife and told her they were about to hit the ground. He figured they had a 50-50 chance of surviving. Over the intercom, the crew sternly told passengers to put their heads down and brace themselves. Sears held onto her friend in the seat next to her and wondered, "Will it stop? Will it crash? Will it explode?" It landed. It landed gently about 11.20am and, with whoops and applause, the passengers pulled out their mobile phones to text and call their families to report that they were all right. Loading The cabin went quiet as medics climbed on board and carried Riordan out on a stretcher, and flight attendants checked on seven other passengers who suffered minor injuries. They spoke to the captain and crew and walked off the plane to talk to investigators, watching the story of Flight 1380 saturate the television screens around the airport as they waited for their new flights home. It was hard to grasp. Philadelphia: The US Federal Aviation Administration says it will order an inspection of some 220 jet engines after investigators said a broken fan blade touched off an engine explosion on a Southwest Airlines flight, shattering a window and killing a passenger. The order, called an air-worthiness directive, would require an ultrasonic inspection within the next six months of the fan blades on all CFM56-7B engines that have accrued a certain number of flights. National Transportation Safety Board investigators examine damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane. Credit:AP The CFM56 engine on Southwest flight 1380 blew apart over Pennsylvania on Tuesday, about 20 minutes after the Dallas-bound flight left New York's LaGuardia Airport with 149 people on board. The explosion sent shrapnel ripping into the fuselage of the Boeing 737-700 plane and shattered a window. Washington: US Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt, who is under fire from lawmakers for his travel and security expenses, spent about $US45,000 ($58,000) in government money to fly five people to Australia to prepare for a planned trip that was later cancelled. Two of his aides and three security agents flew to Australia last August on business-class tickets costing roughly $US9000 each to set up meetings for the EPA administrator. EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt Credit:AP The purchase of business-class tickets was not a violation of US government policy, which allows federal employees to travel business class on trips lasting 14 hours or more. But the spending on a five-person "advance" team for the Australia trip, revealed by US officials who spoke to Reuters, comes as Pruitt faces scrutiny over his own frequent first-class travel and spending on such items as a 24-hour security detail. London: Britain's Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson says security is one of the reasons why Britain will open three new diplomatic posts in the Pacific Islands. The development follows Australia's call for the UK to direct more of its aid to the Pacific, to help hedge against China's spending-spree in the region. Johnson announced at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London that Britain would open nine new diplomatic posts in Lesotho, Swaziland, The Bahamas, Antigua and Barbuda, Grenada, St Vincent and the Grenadines, and - crucially for Australia - Samoa, Tonga and Vanuatu. Johnson said Britain wanted to expand its focus across the globe after Brexit and cited three reasons including security. The Security Council met behind closed doors Tuesday to hear UN chief mediator Martti Ahtisaari detail his contentious plan to grant supervised independence to Kosovo. The 15-member body also agreed to meet informally and separately later in the day with Serbian Prime Minister Vojislac Kostunica as well as Kosovo's ethnic Albanian president Fatmir Sejdiu ahead of further consultations. Ahtisaari's recommendations for the future status of the Albanian-majority province have already been endorsed by Kosovo Albanians, the European Union and the United States. But his plan, unveiled last week, is strongly opposed by Belgrade and Moscow, a veto-wielding, permanent council member. The council, which must approve Kosovo's future status, will not make any decision nor adopt any resolution during Tuesday's closed-door consultations, diplomats said. Is hybrid working a red flag for business security? The new normal was all we heard about when it came to the working model shift after the pandemic hit. Businesses worldwide adopted working from home, and then the hybrid model: a balance of remote work and office work. And according to a recent survey by 451 Research, nearly 80% of organisations surveyed said they have implemented or expanded universal work-from-home policies as a result of COVID-19, whilst 67% expect these policies to remain in place either permanently or for the long-term. With more vacant office spaces, the question is: is hybrid working a red flag for business security? Empty-office days When buildings and office spaces are still active with advanced technology, equipment and assets on show, yet footfall is not as busy as it once was, opportunistic criminals are closely watching and taking note. But what are they learning? Security systems provider, Expert Security UK, investigates our new normal. Offices are nests for expensive, valuable equipment, with maybe the latest technology Instead of a packed, busy office five or six days a week, hybrid working means more empty-office days, which is music to the ears of burglars. Offices are nests for expensive, valuable equipment, with maybe the latest technology and safes sitting there, or potential stacks of cash or company cards. You may be thinking, well, who leaves company cards or cash out? Youd be surprised, especially when business owners think theyll never be a victim, or sometimes, staff make mistakes. Hybrid working model And dont forget, burglars dont always know whats been left and will take their chances. And when a hybrid working model is the new normal, that means a lapse in security - at least in a thiefs mind. So how worried should business owners be? Well, the latest figures are pretty worrying, but also, not massively shocking. Reiterating the temptation and lure the working model shift has on robbers, Statista recorded a 12-year high for robbery offences in the UK in 2019/2020. When more businesses either shut up shop or sent staff away to home offices, its not hard to make a connection. These figures reflect how, when given the opportunity, thieves will strike and take advantage. Handing vital information Whether youve decided to go fully remote, its crucial to review and rethink your business security However, its worth noting that the lockdowns and empty streets would also have played a part in this spike, and now that were out of lockdowns with a world back to flipping its sign to open, many businesses will be carrying on working from home, but towns, shops, and streets are busy again. Whether youve decided to go fully remote, or have adopted the hybrid model, its crucial to review and rethink your business security, starting with your social media presence. Its a good idea to review your social media channels. We forget how open we can be on social media, and how our digital presence can actually work as a perfect guide and insight for criminals. All they have to do is follow your channels to pick up on clues. And if youre not giving it a minutes thought about what you're putting out there, you may even be just handing them vital information and helping their plans. Remote working shift Of course, there is information readily available such as your opening times, location etc. But, do you really want/need to show off the new, state-of-the-art tablets youve just kitted your office out with? It can be hard as a business, or even as a social person, to not want to share positive news on social media, but we really do have to stop and think, especially if people know a lot about the company and its remote working shift. Its also a good idea to have a meeting with your staff about a social media policy Maybe share a post about that new, intelligent security system you've installed instead. Its also a good idea to have a meeting with your staff about a social media policy or maybe just a casual chat about best practices, e.g. not to tag the business in a post about their new office gadget etc. Improving business security With fewer office days, you probably wont need to take up as much work space anymore. Maybe some equipment has become more ornamental. Anything you dont use or need, you could sell or donate. If you do have expensive equipment lying around thats not being used, try and make money back from it or store it elsewhere. If you are keeping a lot of expensive equipment in vacant premises, especially fixed equipment and technology, then consider installing bars and shutters over the windows. Whatever your budget, you can improve your business security tenfold with key security measures. One of them being access control. Security gates with access control are incredibly effective at stopping unauthorised people from gaining entry. There are also car park barriers and bollards that are highly effective at keeping any potential getaway vehicles out. Easily portable technology High-quality CCTV is a best friend to any business, but you need to be reviewing it frequently High-quality CCTV is a best friend to any business, but you need to be reviewing it frequently, especially if youve done a perimeter check and noticed any signs of forced entry or damage. Dont forget those signs either, let visitors or trespassers know theyre on camera. To fit in with the hybrid working model, static fixtures are becoming redundant. For instance, companies are switching to laptops instead of computers, so that workers can transport them easily to and from the office. This is not only more efficient and convenient, but it means assets are more guarded. Its the same for any other gadgets. Having easily portable technology is good for business, hybrid working, and security. Dont forget about your deterrents. Simple signs to warn people of alarms, CCTV, and even the fact that you dont leave equipment inside overnight can go a long way. Best security technology Thieves are famous for taking their chances. Some will meticulously plan, and many strike at a convenient, opportune time. So having signs in place that show you have high-quality, intelligent security in place can work wonders, making them think twice. Its also worth noting that you may not have the best security technology in place at the moment, but those on the outside dont need to know that; they can be fooled. However, having the best physical security in place is vital, as criminals lurk and will take chances. Keep reviewing your security, especially as your business adapts and reshapes - whether you return back to full office days or carry on the hybrid working model. This guest post was contributed by Danny Scholfield, Managing Director of Expert Security UK. According to Heitz Myers, Lawrence had been looking for some time in the Napa Valley and just hadnt found a match for he and his family. Though the family owns land throughout the South and Midwest and comes to Napa with more than 75 years of farming experience, the purchase of Heitz Cellars is their first foray into the wine industry and vineyard ownership. For us, its always been a family business, Heitz Myers said, and I think they have a real connection to the land as well. And his hope is to keep it in his family for generations. In a statement Wednesday, Lawrence said, Ive enjoyed coming to the Napa Valley for some time and have long admired the wine industry from afar. Our family was fortunate to have an extraordinary opportunity to acquire such a remarkable family business with Heitz Cellars. Were very excited about the winerys bright future. Heitz Myers said, Its kind of nice to have somebody new come into the wine industry. We wish them all the success in the world. We sure have enjoyed it during our tenure of it. Georgetown, SC (29440) Today Intervals of clouds and sunshine in the morning with more clouds for later in the day. High 81F. Winds SSE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Partly to mostly cloudy. Low around 65F. Winds light and variable. NASA has a new planet hunter in the heavens. The agency's Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) launched today (April 18) from Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida, rising off the pad atop a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket at 6:51 p.m. EDT (2251 GMT) and deploying into Earth orbit 49 minutes later. TESS will hunt for alien worlds around stars in the sun's neighborhood planets that other missions can then study in detail. And the spacecraft will be incredibly prolific, if all goes according to plan. [NASA's TESS Exoplanet-Hunting Mission in Pictures] "TESS is going to dramatically increase the number of planets that we have to study," TESS principal investigator George Ricker, of the Massachusetts Institute of Technology, said during a pre-launch briefing Sunday (April 15). "It's going to more than double the number that have been seen and detected by Kepler," Ricker added, referring to NASA's Kepler space telescope, which has spotted 2,650 confirmed exoplanets to date about 70 percent of all the worlds known beyond our solar system. And the Falcon 9's first stage came back to Earth less than 9 minutes after liftoff today, touching down softly on a robotic SpaceX "drone ship" stationed in the Atlantic Ocean. SpaceX has now pulled off two dozen such landings during Falcon 9 launches part of the company's push to develop fully and rapidly reusable rockets and spacecraft, a breakthrough that SpaceX founder and CEO Elon Musk has said will revolutionize spaceflight. SpaceX has re-flown 11 of these first stages to date, but the tally didn't increase today: This Falcon 9 was brand-new. Today's launch was originally scheduled for Monday evening (April 16), but it was delayed by two days to give SpaceX time to investigate a potential issue with the rocket's guidance, navigation and control systems. The first stage of a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket rests on the deck of the drone ship "Of Course I Still Love You" shortly after launching NASA's TESS exoplanet satellite on April 18, 2018. (Image credit: SpaceX) Looking for nearby worlds Like Kepler, TESS will find alien planets using the "transit method," noting the tiny brightness dips these worlds cause when they cross their host stars' faces. But there are some big differences between the missions. During its prime mission from 2009 through 2013, Kepler stared continuously at a single patch of sky, monitoring about 150,000 stars simultaneously. (Kepler is now embarked on a different mission, called K2, during which it studies a variety of cosmic objects and phenomena, exoplanets among them. But the iconic telescope's days are numbered; it's almost out of fuel.) Most of these stars are far from the sun from several hundred light-years to 1,000 light-years or more. But TESS will conduct a broad sky survey during its two-year prime mission, covering about 85 percent of the sky. The satellite will focus on the nearest and brightest stars, using its four cameras to look for worlds that may be close enough to be studied in depth by other instruments. Indeed, TESS will rely on a variety of other telescopes on the ground and in space to help determine which of its "candidates" are bona fide planets, and to characterize the newly discovered worlds. One such partner will be NASA's $8.8 billion James Webb Space Telescope, which is scheduled to launch in 2020. James Webb should be able to probe the atmospheres of at least a few TESS planets for oxygen, methane and other possible signs of life, NASA officials have said. "TESS is the first step toward finding habitable planets," mission project scientist Stephen Rinehart, who's based at NASA's Goddard Space Flight Center in Greenbelt, Maryland, said during Sunday's briefing. [10 Exoplanets That Could Host Alien Life] The mission will be a big step toward exploring such worlds up-close as well, team members said. In 50 to 100 years, humanity will probably be capable of launching tiny robotic spacecraft to explore a number of nearby exoplanets, perhaps using technology like that being developed by the $100 million Breakthrough Starshot project, MIT's Ricker said. "We are putting together a catalog of the very best targets for those probes," he said. "That's one thing that I think will be a lasting legacy of TESS." A unique orbit TESS also differs from Kepler in its orbit. Whereas Kepler loops around the sun, TESS will zoom around our planet, on a highly elliptical, 13.7-day orbit that no spacecraft has ever occupied before. This orbit will take TESS as close to Earth as 67,000 miles (108,000 kilometers) and as far away as 232,000 miles (373,000 km). The satellite will be able to beam its onboard data down to Earth quickly and efficiently during the close approaches. The orbit is also incredibly stable and features relatively low radiation exposure and low thermal variation, said Robert Lockwood, TESS spacecraft program manager at Orbital ATK, the Virginia-based company that built the satellite for NASA. "It really is a Goldilocks orbit," Lockwood told Space.com. But TESS won't get there for a while. After a number of engine firings and one dramatic maneuver a close flyby of the moon on May 17 TESS will arrive in its final orbit in mid-June, if all goes according to plan. The science campaign will start shortly thereafter. The TESS mission is capped at $200 million, not including launch costs (which added another $87 million, NASA officials said). Follow Mike Wall on Twitter @michaeldwall and Google+. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook or Google+. Originally published on Space.com. On May 23, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Australian National University (ANU) will produce the television event "Stargazing Live," designed to break a skywatching record set in 2015, when 7,960 participants in Australia looked up simultaneously to observe the night-sky. Thousands of Australians are invited to help set a new Guinness World Record for the most people stargazing at multiple venues. On May 23, the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) and the Australian National University (ANU) will join forces to produce the television broadcast event "Stargazing Live." ANU hopes to break a skywatching record the university itself set back in August 2015, when 7,960 participants across 37 locations in Australia looked up simultaneously to observe the night sky. Stargazing Live will air at 8 p.m. AEST (6:30 a.m. EST) on ABC and ABC iview, and the world-record attempt will last 1 hour. [Mobile Stargazing: Diving into Deep-Sky Objects Using Mobile Apps] "Stargazing Live shows that science is not just about a few people in lab coats doing work, but that science is everywhere and we can all get involved," Brad Tucker, an astrophysicist from the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics, said in a statement about the event. "The great thing about this Guinness World Records attempt is that anyone anywhere in Australia can take part, and I can't wait to break our record from three years ago," Tucker added. Stargazing Live will be televised from the ANU Siding Spring Observatory. The broadcast will be hosted by Julia Zemiro, a popular television presenter in Australia, and Brian Cox, who is a BBC (British Broadcasting Corp.) science communicator and a professor of particle physics at the University of Manchester in the United Kingdom. "With the future Australian space agency on the way, there's never been a better time to look skywards," said Tucker. This image combines data from four different space telescopes to create a multiwavelength view of all that remains of the oldest documented example of a supernova, called RCW 86. (Image credit: NASA/ESA/JPL-Caltech/UCLA/CXC/SAO) Stargazing parties across Australia are planned for the May 23 record attempt, according to ANU. The university will host a gathering as well, the "Canberra Star Party," which will run on the same day as part of the record attempt. An educational program is also slated to air before and after the live broadcast, produced by Tucker and the ANU Research School of Astronomy and Astrophysics. To register for the Australian National University's stargazing event, visit the school's website. Follow Doris Elin Salazar on Twitter @salazar_elin. Follow us @Spacedotcom, Facebook and Google+. Original article on Space.com. COLORADO SPRINGS The most contentious nomination process for a NASA administrator in the agency's six-decade history came to an end April 19 when the Senate voted to confirm Jim Bridenstine. The Senate voted 50-49 to confirm Bridenstine, a Republican congressman from Oklahoma, as the agency's 13th administrator. The party-line vote for a NASA administrator is unprecedented, as past administrators have been confirmed by the Senate with little or no dissent. The vote brought an end to a nomination process unlike any other since NASA was established in 1958. The White House formally nominated Bridenstine for the position Sept. 1 after a months-long search during which he was widely seen as a front-runner. The nomination had the support of much of the space industry. [Presidential Visions for Space Exploration: From Ike to Trump] Bridenstine's nomination faced strong opposition from Democratic senators, who argued that he was not qualified to serve as administrator and held views on topics ranging from climate change to social issues that disqualified him from leading the agency. That led to party-line votes by the Senate Commerce Committee in November and again in January to advance the nomination to the full Senate. One Republican senator, Marco Rubio of Florida, also expressed concerns about Bridenstine's qualifications to lead NASA. With Republicans holding only a 51-49 majority in the Senate, and with fellow Republican Sen. John McCain absent for health reasons, that effectively blocked the nomination. Rubio changed his mind recently, though, allowing the nomination to proceed to a vote. The Senate voted 50-48 April 18 to invoke cloture on the nomination, limiting floor debate and setting up the vote. That also had some unexpected drama as Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.) initially voted against the motion, creating a 49-49 deadlock. Flake later changed his vote to allow the motion to pass, and his initial opposition was due to issues unrelated to Bridenstine's nomination. Rubio, in a floor speech April 19, explained that the impending retirement of NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot led him to change his mind and support Bridenstine. "I was not enthused about the nomination. Nothing personal against Mr. Bridenstine," he said. "I felt NASA is an organization that needs to be led by a space professional." But, he said, with Lightfoot's retirement, "it leaves us with the prospect of this incredibly important agency for Florida and the country with a vacancy in its top job, and we're on our second acting administrator." Rubio said he feared that, if Bridenstine were not confirmed, a new nominee might not be confirmed until early next year. "There is no way NASA can go two years and X number of months without a permanent administrator," Rubio said. "So, you make these decisions always under the context that a president should have significant discretion in picking the team." Democratic members expressed their continued opposition to Bridenstine prior to the vote. "The NASA administrator should be a consummate space professional. That's what this senator wants, a space professional, not a politician as the head of NASA," Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.), who led the opposition to the nomination, said in an April 18 floor speech. However, Nelson said he would work with Bridenstine if he did become NASA administrator. "If Congressman Bridenstine is, in fact, confirmed, I will work with him for the good of our nation's space program," he said. "I have no doubt that the nominee is passionate about our space program and I don't doubt his motivation or his intentions." "It is an honor to be confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as NASA administrator," Bridenstine said in a statement immediately after the vote. "I am humbled by this opportunity, and I once again thank President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their confidence. I look forward to working with the outstanding team at NASA to achieve the president's vision for American leadership in space." Industry groups also immediately weighed in on his confirmation. "The Senate vote today marks the beginning of Jim's tenure at our nation's space agency as America prepares to return to the moon and push further into deep space," said Mary Lynne Dittmar, president and chief executive of the Coalition of Deep Space Exploration. "The Coalition looks forward to working closely with Administrator Bridenstine and his team to support NASA's human exploration and space science programs." "NASA needs dedicated and inspired leadership, and Rep. Bridenstine is an outstanding choice to provide precisely that," said Alan Stern, chairman of the Commercial Spaceflight Federation. "We look forward to working with you to advance America's civil and commercial spaceflight enterprises." This story was provided by SpaceNews, dedicated to covering all aspects of the space industry. Press Release AMY AND ROSA PURSUE THEIR "WHITE WHALE" ON AN ALL-NEW "BROOKLYN NINE-NINE" SUNDAY, MAY 13, ON FOXAllison Tolman ("Fargo") Guest-StarsRosa and Amy team up to take down their "white whale" suspect - a ruthless killer who has managed to elude them for seven years - while Terry helps Jake tackle his wedding planning chores. Then, Captain Holt and his rival, Olivia Crawford (guest star Allison Tolman), try to convince each other to step down in the campaign for Commissioner in the all-new "White Whale" episode of BROOKLYN NINE-NINE airing Sunday, May 13 (8:30-9:00 PM ET/PT) on FOX. (BRK-521) ((TV-14 D, L, V)Cast: Andy Samberg as Det. Jake Peralta; Andre Braugher as Capt. Ray Holt; Terry Crews as Sgt. Terry Jeffords; Melissa Fumero as Det. Amy Santiago; Joe Lo Truglio as Det. Charles Boyle; Chelsea Peretti as Gina Linetti; Stephanie Beatriz as Det. Rosa Diaz; Dirk Blocker as Det. Hitchcock; Joel McKinnon Miller as Det. ScullyGuest Cast: Allison Tolman as Olivia Crawford BRIDGEPORT Six years after state lawmakers legalized medical marijuana, the hot industry has, with the exception of a company that manufactures growing equipment, been kept out of Connecticuts largest city. Now Bridgeport officials may have another chance. The state Department of Consumer Protection recently received 73 applications for a maximum of 10 dispensary permits the first new permits available since 2013 and 2014. My guess is there are certainly a number (of applicants) from Bridgeport, based anecdotally on who has called over the last six months for information, said Catherine Blinder, a spokeswoman for that agency. Bridgeport economic development staff confirmed they were approached about a month ago by an unidentified group interested in opening a dispensary. Supporters say that besides offering help to patients suffering from a growing list of ailments, medical marijuana businesses create jobs and pay rent, local property taxes and annual $5,000 fees to the state. Sales tax is not imposed. It would seem that the administration of Mayor Joe Ganim, given his support as a gubernatorial candidate for legalizing marijuana statewide, would welcome medical pot purveyors to Bridgeport. Yet the city may still not be ready to embrace medical marijuana. No plan in place The Planning & Zoning Commission, in May 2014, unanimously established a yearlong moratorium on accepting any applications from industry. The stated goal was to come up with a strategy for reviewing pot proposals, including where growing facilities and dispensaries might best be situated to avoid the public outcry that helped sink prior applications. The zoning board had previously rejected controversial proposals for three dispensaries, but approved local businessman Jo Palmieris application to grow marijuana. Palmieri, however, did not receive his state license to operate. And zoning officials never drafted a medical marijuana plan in preparation for this second licensing round from the state. Nothing ever happened, Zoning Commissioner Anne Pappas Phillips recalled last week. Another commission member, Reginald Walker, said, I think most commissioners thought, Were never going to find a suitable site. Im open to discussion on it, Walker said. Most neighborhoods will probably all say not in my backyard. Back in 2013 and 14, then-Mayor Bill Finch and David Kooris, his economic development chief, were initially open to the medical marijuana industry. At the time, Finch even lamented the opposition from some Zoning Commissioners: Part of its my fault. I appoint them. But as residents began to mobilize against the pot proposals arguing they could draw crime and otherwise harm neighborhoods Finch ultimately supported the moratorium. One individual who had considered opening a dispensary in Bridgeport recalled feeling villainized. They were not forward thinkers on this, said this person, who wished to remain anonymous. They missed out on the bandwagon. Mayor vs. candidate Ganim, elected in late 2015, said in an interview last week he is open to hosting dispensaries in town. But the mayor did not sound like he was going out of his way to make it happen. These are project-specific, site-specific, Ganim said. It will go through a process. Assuming it meets all the requirements, it has to be up to the Zoning Commission. In contrast, Ganims gubernatorial campaign recently touted his enthusiastic support for legalizing, regulating and taxing recreational marijuana in Connecticut. It is long past time we in this country acknowledged that attitudes about marijuana have changed dramatically and it is time for us, too, in this land of steady habits, to change with it, candidate Ganim declared. William Coleman, deputy director of planning and economic development in Bridgeport, met four to six weeks ago with a group that is considering Bridgeport for a dispensary. They spent most of the time talking about their credentials, Coleman said. They just wanted to present themselves as a credible group. But they didnt disclose much about their particular plans. Colemans boss, Tom Gill, said with Bridgeport readying to draft a new master plan of development, medical marijuana could be part of that discussion. Anything that is legalized and is a benefit to the city, whether it be in the form of employment, tax revenue or other types of revenue, we certainly welcome it and would look at very strongly, Gill said. Bridgeport has not totally missed out on the medical marijuana boom. EnviroGrow, which manufactures grow rooms, dry and cure rooms, regulated extraction labs and more for sale nationwide and overseas, is headquartered in the city. EnviroGrow partner Dan Williams said he would gladly consult with city officials on the benefits of medical marijuana to try and do away with the stigma. Its only a win-win, especially when you have a place like Bridgeport which, frankly, needs additional tax revenue, Williams said. Its fully regulated. Its a business like any other. And it is not going away. Blinder said 25,111 medical marijuana patients are registered with the state and the number of total prescribing physicians has ballooned since 2013-14 from 80 to over 800. Blinder said the Department of Consumer Protection hoped to announced the recipients of the new round of dispensary permits in the coming months. We want to do it as quickly as possible and efficiently as possible because people have an investment, leases, security, he said. But we also want to make sure were doing it with the highest sense of integrity. "Software as a service" describes the delivery of a product to the end user, be it a business or an individual, through a software platform, for which the user typically pays on a recurring basis. And, not so long ago, this term and its more common abbreviation, SaaS, was largely unknown outside those intimately familiar with the software industry. But, as the SaaS business model has skyrocketed in popularity -- even Microsoft Office and Adobe Creative Cloud have adopted it -- interest in SaaS from investors, entrepreneurs and media consumers curious about the intersection of business and technology has exploded. Related: 3 Steps to Take to Start Transitioning Your Business to SaaS Websites popping up across the internet, like the SaaStr website and podcast, are now considered some of the best informational resources for tech entrepreneurs out there. Nathan Latka's profiles of up-and-coming SaaS companies and revealing interviews with founders are a treasure trove for anyone keenly interested in startup culture. As SaaS grows into an increasingly attractive and lucrative business model, I wanted to take stock of the current climate of SaaS startups. Here are eight up-and-coming U.S. SaaS businesses to watch this year. Hypr Founder: Gil Eyal / Base: New York / Founded: 2013 It's fair to say that Gil Eyal was an influencer in the world of influencer marketing before the term even existed. In his role as COO with the now-defunct photo-sharing app Mobli, Eyal worked with celebrities like Leonardo DiCaprio and Serena Williams at a time when influencer marketing was still referred to as "celebrity endorsements." It was during this time that the concept for Hypr was born. Hypr provides clients with a detailed analysis of influencers' audience behavior on a variety of social media platforms. It helps pair brands with the influencers that best meet their marketing goals. Hypr also allows brands to automate effective influencer marketing campaigns and measure their results. LaunchDarkly Founder: Edith Harbaugh / Base: Oakland, Calif. / Founded: 2014 Edith Harbaugh has been in software development for well over 15 years. In that time, she's borne witness to what she's called "some epically bad releases." Many of these were the result of companies trying go live with features that weren't quite ready for prime time. Related: Considering 'SaaS'? What You Need to Know LaunchDarkly gives online businesses the opportunity to audition new features to selected subsets of users, limiting their risk when they roll out new code. Perhaps just as crucially,the company makes rollbacks to earlier iterations of the code painless -- just in case things go awry. Originally built with developers in mind, LaunchDarkly has evolved into a tool that can be used across organizations for auditioning and testing new features. InfoScout Founder: Jared Schreiber / Base: San Francisco / Founded: 2011 InfoScout turns the gathering of detailed, real-world consumer data into a win-win situation. InfoScout's mobile apps Shoparoo and Receipt Hog incentivize consumers to scan and upload the receipts they receive from every shopping trip they make, rewarding them either by raising funds for a school of their choice or by giving them cold, hard cash. As of today, InfoScout has over 300,000 users uploading 300,000 sales receipts each day. This and the survey data collected through its apps give InfoScout and its clients deep insight into consumer behavior. Founder Jared Schreiber, a graduate of MIT, was a founding member of the Pat Tillman Foundation which supports active-duty military service members, veterans and their spouses with academic scholarships and professional development opportunities. Front Founder: Mathilde Collin / Base: San Francisco / Founded 2013 Front facilitates collaboration on email and other messaging platforms by providing a "shared inbox." For example, if you're part of a customer service team that relies on a shared email address to communicate with customers, Front gives you the ability to create an inbox shared by all members of your team. Once an email comes in, responsibility for a reply can be assigned to the appropriate team member. and Front makes it easy to have internal communications regarding email queries inside the app. No more forwarding customer emails to colleagues to get the answers you need. Front also integrates SMS, Facebook and Twitter messages so you can keep all of your customer communications in one place, regardless of the platform they were sent on. Like most founders, Mathilde Collins wears many hats at Front. Initially, her roles and responsibilities were so varied that at times it could be unclear exactly what her job was She created a presentation to illustrate this phenomenon many entrepreneurs face, and even shared it publicly. ShipHawk Founder: Jeremy Bodenhamer / Base: Goleta, Calif. / Founded: 2012 ShipHawk is a SaaS that integrates shipping services from multiple carriers and helps automate the fulfillment process, greatly alleviating the burdens logistics puts on many businesses. ShipHawk helps its customers to obtain the best possible rates from carriers and streamlines customer service. Founder Jeremy Bodenhammer has written extensively about being both a founder and a father -- and the challenges of both. BirdEye Founder: Naveen Gupta / Base: Palo Alto, Calif. / Founded: 2012 BirdEye is an online reputation-management SaaS. Birdeye encourages the customers of its clients to review those clients' products and services. This helps brands build authentic social proof. BirdEye also sends real-time notifications if a client's business receives a negative review on any supported platform, enabling the client to take steps to turn a bad customer experience into a positive one. A Harvard MBA graduate, founder Naveen Gupta was part of the C-suite that guided RingCentral to a successful $887 million IPO in 2013. Classy Founder: Scott Chisolm / Base: San Francisco / Founded: 2011 Classy, a fundraising platform for nonprofits, came from humble beginnings. In 2006, founder Scott Chisolm and a few friends held a benefit to raise money for the fight against cancer. Over the years, as he organized more charity events, Chisolm realized that "modern philanthropists" were not being given sufficient opportunity to contribute to the causes they believed in. Thus Classy was born. Classy has helped over 4,000 nonprofits raise hundreds of millions of dollars through the platform since its launch in 2011. Hireology Founder: Adam Robinson / Base: Chicago, Ill. / Founded: 2010 Hireology is a human resources SaaS aimed at enabling entrepreneurs and small businesses build and manage their teams from "hire to retire." Hireology offers an integrated suite of tools to help clients find the best candidates for the job and to retain them. Founder Adam Robinson is passionate about recruiting; not only does he have over 20 years experience in the industry, he has written a book about the power of predictive hiring. Related: How to Market Your SaaS Business Final Thoughts The growth of the SaaS business model has allowed many software startups to create a viable business plan from their expertise in software. Of course, each startup comes with its own challenges, and entrepreneurs will always find creative ways to fit founding a business into their lifestyle. Whether you choose to support the military through a foundation like Jared Schreiber, or write a book about your experiences like Adam Robinson, the SaaS business model has proven conducive to creativity in business plans and in the bigger picture of the founder's lifestyle. Related: 8 Up-and-Coming Businesses Capitalizing on a Forward-Thinking Business Model How Bad can Bad Customer Service Hurt Your Start-up A List of Effective Marketing Secrets for SaaS Start-ups Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK Applications for medical marijuana dispensaries around the state flooded into the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection in time for the April 9 deadline. We were slammed, said Catherine Blinder, chief of education and outreach at the department. Government workers lugged boxes of the paperwork up from the walk-in center that morning and into the afternoon. In total, the department received 73 applications. But anyone wanting to know if one is being sought in their town is out of luck the department isnt sharing. Unlike other licenses issued by Consumer Protection, the marijuana dispensary applications are being handled as bids. Catherine Blinder, chief of education and outreach at the department, said the names of the applicants and the municipalities where they intend to open dispensaries will not be released until they are selected. Theres just no way we will do that, Blinder said when asked for the names and locations by Hearst Connecticut Media. It would really, really violate the integrity of the process. Blinder said the bid process allows it to review several applicants without disclosing who they are before choosing the ones that best meet its criteria. In contrast, Massachusetts posts applications for medical marijuana dispensaries on a government site as it receives them. While New York, like Massachusetts, posted all of its applications online, its Department of Health spokesperson said that was done after awarding registrations. Out of all of the licenses listed on the Connecticut Department of Consumer Protection website, only those related to medical marijuana used a bid process exempting them from releasing applicant information under the Freedom of Information Act. The departments legal director, Julianne Avallone, explained the reason is the department determines how many dispensaries are appropriate to meet the needs of qualifying patients in the state. This differs drastically from all other license types wherein there is no limitation set by the commissioner on the total number of credential holders in a particular field, she said. For example, we do not restrict the number of accountants or food manufacturers that may operate in Connecticut. In addition, Blinder said releasing the information would have opened the department to lobbying. Municipal lobbyists are not the only ones who might have a stake in their town being home to a dispensary we have already received a letter from a Mayor, encouraging us to choose the applicant who lives in their town. (and no, I cant tell you which Mayor!!), she wrote in an email. And conversely there will be those who dont want one in their town! Currently, there are only nine dispensaries in the state, but that will soon change. The Department of Consumer Protection spokesperson Lora Rae Anderson confirmed that between three and 10 licenses will be awarded to new dispensaries this year meaning that the number of dispensaries could more than double in the coming months. The last time the department accepted applications was in 2015, when only 19 were filed. Each was scored for its business information, financial statements, organizational structure and site, business and marketing plans, and the highest-scoring were eligible to receive a license for a medical marijuana dispensary. One of the 2015 applicants, Legendary Wellness Connecticut, LLC, was for a Norwalk dispensary, but its application was not considered because it failed to meet requirements. At the time, Norwalks zoning did not allow dispensaries. That changed in 2017, when the citys Zoning Commission gave the green light to medical marijuana dispensaries to open in certain business zones, as long as they first received a special permit from the commission. Since then, Norwalk Director of Planning and Zoning Steve Kleppin said, the department has had conversations with several interested parties, but none so far have resulted in a zoning permit application. The closest of the nine existing dispensaries is in Bethel, but individuals from both Stamford and Westport have confirmed their interest in applying for a license. rschuetz@hearstmediact.com; @raschuetz Cecilie_Arcurs | Getty Images In a previous article, I shared practical steps in getting unstuck on the journey to identify your vision. Once you're unstuck, it's time to hone in on your vision and the viability it has in your life. Almost a decade ago, I came across an article about ikigai (don't worry, I'll explain) while I was searching for new and different ways to help a few startup founders align the disruption they were bringing to the world and to their lives with their vision for their lives. It might sound hokey; I assure you it is not. It is easy to run out of steam when you are trying to achieve the impossible. Prior to building out a first-stage business plan, I always like to do a few litmus tests on the human component of starting a business and/or creating the next big product or service. High-growth startups (businesses that solve big problems and/or result in big opportunities that impact masses of people) are not for the faint-of-heart. Being a founder of this type of business requires grit, commitment and resilience. There are pivots and people pulling you in multiple directions. The work becomes your life, filled with very high-highs and very low-lows. Trump lies like a late-night infomercial. He spews hyperbole and nonsense. He promises to build a wall and he promises that Mexico will pay for it. He compels his supporters and staff to repeat his lies, like instructing his first White House press secretary, Sean Spicer, to insist his inauguration had the largest crowds in history. He assures us that his campaign had no contacts with Russia, even though he was seeking to build a hotel in Moscow when he was running for office. This brings us to how Bill Clinton and Donald Trump are corrupted. For Trump, there is a real prospect that the sitting president is making public policy to advance his private interests. He declined to divest from his real-estate empire upon taking the office. This sort of concern appears to be the direction of Mueller's investigation. He is now probing the influence of the United Arab Emirates on Trump's inner circle, though the inquiry was initiated to focus on Russia's interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. And while there is still the possibility of collusion between the Trump circle and the Russian state, so far the Trump administration's relatively tough policy record challenges the theory that Moscow got something in return for its electoral assistance. E dward Bramsons plans are bad for Britain, bad for Europe and bad for Barclays. From his Wall Street eyrie, he looks across the Atlantic and declares Barclays should ditch its Markets trading business to focus on High Street banking and advisory work, the side of investment banking where expensively suited public schoolboys guide companies through takeovers. By shedding the investment bank, he argues, Barclays would no longer have to keep billions of pounds aside to cover potential losses. Instead, those billions could be returned to shareholders or invested elsewhere in the business. Sounds simple, doesnt it? But lets think of the implications: Barclays is the sole major UK player left in full-service investment banking, our last bulge-bracket bank, as they say in the trade. If Deutsche Bank shrinks under its new chief Christian Sewing, it will be the only remaining bulge-bracket player in Europe, too. We will become dependent on a small group of maybe four or five US banks. So what? you may say. Who cares if we dont have our own casino banks? We should. Despite the negative press investment banking rightly got during the financial crisis, we mustnt lose sight of what bulge-bracket banks do; help governments and companies raise money. Thats cash to keep our schools and hospitals going and help employers invest in their businesses and employ more people. Important stuff. Sure, the US giants would be delighted to step into the breach and snap up Barclays share of the market now. But what happens if we get another financial crisis and they decide, as they did in 2007, to rein in lending? Will they be as open to funding Brits as much as their home markets? Of course not. What if, post-Brexit, they decide to move their operations to the continent. Where are we then, with no national champion committed to the City? These doomsday scenarios might not happen, of course, but losing our flag carrier cant be a good thing. As for the bank itself, while its true Barclays has to set aside a big chunk of cash to guarantee its trading operations, without that business it would lose other lucrative mandates. Currently, like Goldman Sachs, JPMorgan and Morgan Stanley, when its bankers pitch for a juicy advisory contract, they can offer a one-stop-shop: hire us to advise you on this takeover and we will arrange the financing, too. So, last month, when Barclays advised the US pharmacies giant CVS on buying a healthcare company called Aetna, it also financed part of a $49 billion loan to fund the deal. It could pocket $100 million in fees for the work. Post Bramson, shareholders would kiss such jobs goodbye; turn a potential advisory customer away when they ask you to finance their deal and theyll go to Goldman or JP for the money. And once those boys get your client in the room, youll lose the whole business. It happened when the last CEO, Antony Jenkins, starved the investment bank. It would happen again under Bramson. Then theres the disruption factor. As all big banks learned in the financial crisis, ditching hundreds of millions of dollars of debt and derivatives contracts is fiendishly complicated. Bramsons timing is also out. Chief executive Jes Staleys plan to invest and improve the investment bank is just coming out of the restructuring phase and starting to deliver. First-quarter numbers next week should be the proof of the Staley pudding. C orruption claims in Algeria torpedoed shares in submarine warfare firm Ultra Electronics on Thursday in yet another blow for the beleaguered company. The shares sank nearly 8%, or 103p, to 1285p as Ultra admitted it was the subject of a criminal investigation by the Serious Fraud Office. The focus of its probe, which was uncovered and reported to the SFO by the company itself, is suspected corruption in the conduct of business in Algeria by Ultra, its subsidiaries, employees and associated persons. Due to the early stage of the SFO investigation Ultra said it was not possible to estimate reliably the potential impact. The corruption probe comes after a nightmare run for the company, which sacked its chief executive Rakesh Sharma last year and cited squeezed defence budgets for a major profits warning. Ultra appointed Simon Pryce, the former boss of BBA Aviation, as its chief executive last month on a potential 2.7 million package. Review at a glance I n a cavernous concrete lair beneath Islington Green, something remarkable and transportive is happening. Taryn Simon has invited professional mourners from 11 countries to perform on specially built stages at the periphery of a vast central, circular pit. The mourners enter the silent gloom. Then their chants, wails and songs begin, their voices merging a cacophony punctuated by unexpected crescendos and harmonies. We walk among these diverse peoples, whose backgrounds are not clear: a small booklet tells us that they hail from Greece, from the Yezidi community, from Venezuela. From Simons installation photographs, I learn some of their names: Marisol and Ana Luisa Montiel, for instance, who gesture and sob plaintively beneath patterned shrouds. But while theyre individuals, theyre also symbolic of cultures, communities and their rituals. And its this that makes Simons work so powerful and tense: these people normally appear in the context of grief, giving voice to others, reflecting their pain, connecting the living and the dead. By isolating them, Simon reiterates that these are performances, and yet, so often, emotions appear genuine and raw: tears streak down the anguished face of a Ghanaian woman; the soaring song of a Yezidi man is so devastatingly beautiful its like a blow to the solar plexus. I felt intrusive and beguiled, yet so often deeply moved. Until Apr 28 E ight female composers will be commissioned to write new works for this years Proms. The works will help to mark 100 years since (some) women were granted the right to vote with the 1918 Representation of the People Act. It will also contribute to efforts to redress the gender imbalance in the Proms line-up, with work by 22 female composers in total featured this year. The Proms made a pledge earlier this year that they would aim for a 50:50 gender balance by 2022. The eight-week classical music festival returns to the Royal Albert Hall and other venues around the capital this summer, and will open by marking 100 years since the First World War ended. The First Night concert will feature a new work by composer Anna Meredith, entitled Five Telegrams. Using live video projections as well as music, it will look at how soldiers communicated with families at home whilst in the trenches. Other highlights include a performance of West Side Story to mark Leonard Bernsteins centenary year. # TimesUp and #MeToo have dominated the discourse in Hollywood this year, but the upcoming Sundance Film Festival: London is asking #WhatNext? Taking place from May 31 to June 3 at Picturehouse Central, the festival has its focus firmly on celebrating the work of inspiring women in film. Inequality in the industry and events in Hollywood over the past 12 months are touched on throughout, including in Amy Adrions perceptive documentary Half the Picture and Jennifer Foxs traumatic drama the Tale. The festival, though, is determinedly looking forward rather than back as Clare Binns, Picturehouse Cinemas director of programming and acquisition, is at pains to point out. Its not just women complaining, its actually talking about their experiences and asking how we can make things better, she says. So, whats next? Well, with seven of the 11 announced films directed by women, the festival believes a wealth of robust female-led narratives bodes well for the industry at large. This is a connected, relevant, global art that provides a fresh alternative to the noise dominating the cultural mainstream, and an inspiration for its future, says festival director John Cooper. Thankfully, as well as a celebrating a worthy cause, the films being screened at Sundance just so happened to be the very strongest films at the parent event last January. We werent thinking: We have to find films by women, says Binns. These are just great films. Leave No Trace Winters Bone helped launch Jennifer Lawrences career back in 2010 and now director Debra Granik is back with this long awaited follow-up. The film follows the heart-rending relationship between a father and daughter living miles from civilisation in the wilderness of Oregons Forest Park. It is so nuanced and so subtle and a beautiful piece of filmmaking, says Picturehouses Clare Binns. Hereditary Toni Collette leads the cast of this unnerving horror from Ari Aster, as a woman who loses her mother and whose family then suffer a series of increasingly dark and disturbing fates. Collette will also be in attendance for the films screening. Youre going to be scared out of your wits, says Binns. Itll have you on the edge of your seat and probably falling off it. An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn Director Jim Hosking returns to Sundance with a follow up to The Greasy Strangler, one of the strangest and most original comedies to show at the festival in recent times. Hes armed with an impressive cast boasting some of the quirkiest names in comedy. Parks and Recreations Aubrey Plaza, Flight of the Conchords Jemaine Clement, British alt-comedy hero Matt Berry and the Offices Craig Robertson all star in the oddball indie flick An Evening with Beverly Luff Linn, which recounts a series of typically surreal events taking place out of a deadbeat Californian motel. Half the Picture Amy Adrions documentary focuses on the systemic struggles female filmmakers face trying to get their voices heard. It also looks to the future and asks #WhatNext? for the industry, chiming harmoniously with the festivals ethos. Weve always celebrated talented women and their stories, and I think that the current climate has really driven an appetite for that, says Cooper. Never Goin Back Women behaving badly is the sell on slacker comedy Never Goin Back, based on the real-life experiences of director Augustine Frizzell. The movie follows high school drop-outs Jessie and Angela (Maia Mitchell and Camila Morrone), whose beach holiday descends into chaos following a burglary. Slacker comedies have been dominated by the guys for decades and its time, finally, for women to get their goof on. Skate Kitchen It might sound less like a touching drama and more like a hipster pop-up restaurant in Shoreditch the kind of place that would serve negronis in kneepads but Skate Kitchen from filmmaker Crystal Moselle takes an endearing look at friendship and skateboarder culture in New York. It celebrates brilliant women who are independent, feisty and have a whole lifestyle that Moselle captures perfectly, says Picturehouses Clare Binns. The Tale The festivals opening film is the Tale, starring the irrepressible Laura Dern as a women forced to re-examine the memory of an abusive relationship. The movie also stars Elizabeth Debicki and Ellen Burstyn and is based on Jennifer Foxs own story. Fox is an incredibly articulate director, says Clare Binns. On its own merits its a great film and an important subject. Ive never seen Laura Dern as good. Yardie Its only appropriate that a film festival in the capital should have a London-centric tale to tell and Idris Elbas directorial debut is just the ticket. Yardie fuses a heartfelt coming-of-age story with a vivid gangster story, against the atmospheric background of Kingston, Jamaica in the 1970s and London in the 1980s, says Cooper. Both eras were times of radical flux in each city, and the moods and questions that Idris evokes feel shockingly current. Aml Ameen, Shantol Jackson and Stephen Graham star in the movie, which makes its UK debut at the festival and is already being lauded as one of the most visceral and compelling British films of the year. The Miseducation of Cameron Post Chloe Grace Moretz stars as a young woman forced into a gay conversion centre in this adaptation of Emily M Danforths novel. The movie shines a light on reprehensible attitudes towards homosexuality in the early 1990s, but director Desiree Akhavan manages to bring warmth into the bleakest of situations. Its a serious subject but approached with humour, says Binns. I think people are going to be very excited to see what Akhavan does after [2014 breakthrough] Appropriate Behaviour, too. Eighth Grade He might be better known for his experimental musical comedy than his movies but stand-up Bo Burnham has started strongly with his debut Eighth Grade. The film presents an exploration of adolescent angst and suburban sterility, experienced through the gaze of 13-year-old Kayla (Elsie Fisher). The movie eschews cliche as the young protagonist attempts to end her disastrous eighth grade year on a high. Generation Wealth Lauren Greenfield/INSTITUTE Take a cold, hard look at the American dream in Lauren Greenfields follow-up to the award-winning documentary the Queen of Versailles. Generation Wealth presents a revealing snapshot of gauche wealth, throwaway celebrity culture and an image-obsessed society in the US, and the impact these have around the world. Starting out as a historical study, Clare Binns says Generation Wealth turns into a very personal film about the director and her relationship with fame. Post a selfie in the movie theatre at your peril. Shorts The 2018 UK Short Film Programme includes Fry-Up, about a North London familys last day together, and Tomisin Adepejus The Right Choice, which focuses on a couple attempting to create the perfect designer baby. The Sundance Film Festival Short Film Tour meanwhile is led by the Short Film Grand Jury Prize-winning Matria from Alvaro Gago. Events This years highlights include the Big Culture Shift, which will see Half the Picture director Amy Adrion lead a panel discussion on inclusivity and representation in Hollywood. Film-makers Jennifer Fox, Debra Granik and Desiree Akhavan will also be offering insight into their careers and their experiences in the industry as part of the Triple Threat event. Watch out for a surprise screening, too details to be released. I m Radhika Sanghani and I have a big nose. That is a sentence I have avoided saying my whole life. From a very early age, I knew my nose was ugly, because people told me. Once, while bowling, some teenage boys yelled big nosed Indian at me (a factually correct, if horrible statement). Later in life, men came up to me in bars to tell me they had big nose fetishes. My well-meaning friends, meanwhile, told me Id be so, like, pretty, with a smaller nose. And the worst thing was, I agreed. I hated drawing attention to my (wide, crooked, bent) nose, and refused to speak about it anywhere except for the pages of my teenage diary. I began to do everything I could to hide it: from Kardashian-esque contouring to deflecting attention via big hair and glasses. I was skilled at adopting a flattering angle whenever I saw a camera. Id quickly move my head so the photograph would capture my nose straight on, raise my chin and smile with my tongue pressing the roof of my mouth all within seconds. I was so terrified of seeing my nose side-on that I could do this routine in my sleep. Radhika Sanghani / Matt Writtle Getting a nose job is something I have debated since I realised it was possible, aged 11. Ive imagined my face with a smaller nose and the life that would go along with it: more confidence, more friends and more dates. But I never went through with it, even when my mum offered to pay for the surgery when I was 17. I was too scared. What if it went wrong? What if I didnt look like me? What if I looked even uglier? If Im honest, Ive always used my nose as an excuse. To me, it was the reason I was one of the last girls at school to get a serious boyfriend, and why I wasnt confident speaking to new people. I couldnt bear the thought of having a new nose and then realising the problem wasnt my nose; it was me. And then suddenly, this year, everything changed. It hit me that this one insecurity had been ruling my life for 27 years. It had held me back from living my life to the fullest, to the point at which I almost turned down TV appearances to promote my work as a journalist and author because the camera would capture my face side-on. I knew I had to face my fears. So, after weeks of anxiety, I took my first-ever side profile selfie and posted it on social media with the hashtag #sideprofileselfie. Im breaking the big-nose taboo, I wrote. Join me. Thousands did and the movement spread so quickly that within hours it was written about on hundreds of websites around the world, from the United States to Australia. It has now reached millions, and more than 10,000 men and women have sent me their selfies, all with messages I completely relate to. They tell me how theyve always hated their noses, felt alone in their insecurities and desperately wanted plastic surgery until coming across my campaign. It showed them an alternative view: that big noses could be beautiful and not something to be hidden or fixed by surgery. Im now so glad I didnt go under the knife as a teenager. Im starting to accept that the societal view of big noses being unattractive isnt true. Its just a result of Hollywoods white standard of beauty. In the ancient world, big noses were seen as beautiful and women such as Cleopatra didnt have snub Liz Taylor noses they had strong, queenly, Roman profiles. In response to Amy Taylor's letter to the editor, "The difference is guns" (April 4), please educate yourself on the reality of what is going on in many countries that have extreme gun control. I would start with the recent article: "London's murder rate now tops New York City's," by Kim Hjelmgaard, USA Today, April 3, which has been repeated by many other media outlets. Criminals will find any means necessary to carry out violent crime. The "difference is not the gun." Bill Jabin Napa W hen friends drop by my flat they ask, Is this it? Answer: yes. It is all I need. Ten years ago I owned a three-bedroom house in Shepherds Bush. I sold it and rented a good-sized flat in central London. Then I gave that up and moved and moved again, each time to slightly smaller, neater version until I ended up in the place in which Im typing this now, with big windows on to the street and not much more in it. Each time I up sticks, I shed a few more possessions until I am down to a core of furniture, an electric piano for guests to play, a few prints that I love, three shelves of books, an almost empty kitchen and a workhorse of a laptop. I leave the house with just a wallet, phone and keys and walk. My London life has become simplicity itself. We are told a story about how our lives should unfold: as you grow up, so, too, should your life expand. You acquire more things some that you need, many that you dont you should aspire to owning a house, and then a bigger one in which to put your growing pile of possessions and perhaps family, too, one to match your status and ego. And you get stronger locks on your doors to protect it all. It was a narrative I believed until about nine years ago when a quiet rebellion began within me. I was reminded of it when the Swedish music streaming company Spotify floated on the New York Stock Exchange earlier this month for $25 billion. My marriage had long since ended; the house was a hangover from it. I had everything one could want and yet felt empty. Spotify filled the silence through the speakers of my laptop. I began wandering down the roads of music collections I could never own, tracing songs through cover versions and rooting around in history without obligation. No more paying for iTunes. But it did something else: it changed my physical world. The drawers in my living room, which had been stuffed full of cassettes and CDs, became irrelevant and went unopened. So, too, did other drawers. The paper copies of bank documents Id filed and kept meticulously were now online. My child spent more time on an iPad, on the BBCs recently launched iPlayer, than watching the stack of videos around the TV. We had become digital. Streaming had streamlined our lives. And once one room became minimal, the other rooms in my three-bedroom house where I lived with my child and my husband, replaced later by a lodger, began to seem overweight. Cupboards seemed repositories of the shame of not having thought about what I acquired over the years. The cellar was a hell of unused things. Joy Do Lico / Carlotta Cardana Tyler Durden said in Fight Club, after an explosion in the narrators apartment: Its only after youve lost everything that youre free to do anything. I wasnt going to go that far but it slowly dawned on me that ownership was a mental trap and I was going to liberate myself. Shortly afterwards I decided to put the house up for sale. I lined the street outside with pots and pans and books and furniture for the neighbours to take, which they did, hungrily. I ditched the car. With every act of discarding I just became a little lighter in my soul. The house over the following weeks returned to the state in which Id loved it most: the day Id moved in when there was nothing there. Friends who hungered for my middle-class existence were astonished. They fell out of my phone book. Theres not much space for entertaining in my new flat. How and why did we become so acquisitive? Of the few books that have travelled with me are those of Bruce Chatwin, the Sothebys art expert who, struck by temporary blindness, was told by his doctor that the cure was possibly less examination of small objects and more distant horizons. Chatwin set off on his travels through Asia, Australia and South America, writing all the way. In one series of jottings he meditates on what happens when we civilise: our nomadic forebears had only what they could carry about their person, on their pack animals and in their minds. When nomads stop walking and began to build villages, towns and cities, they acquired possessions as a substitute for the experiences granted by movement that had previously filled the mind. Christian Jarrett, a journalist specialising psychology, has observed that how we think about possession is cultural and most keenly felt in the acquisitive capitalist European and American societies. Other societies, or sections of them Jarrett cites certain groups of US Asians for whom individualism is not so firmly entrenched and where a collective mentality prevails, dont yearn. Is it possible that is spreading? The millennial generation needs and wants homes, but they all instinctively and obsessively like the opposite: an Instagram life that places high status on travel, on food, on experience, things that do not gather dust on shelves. Instead they are committed to the mind, and shared on social media. Here are the digital nomads who are hyper-individualistic in their identities but not in their possessions, other than their iPhones. It is one of the ironies of the modern age that the capitalist society of California has begun to create a society in which objects lose their value. Once that happens, do we begin to reassess the real world. The wardrobe, which has so many clothes in it; the throwaway culture, although most of us throw little away? The popularity of books such as Marie Kondos Spark Joy, a manual for cleaning out your life, suggest whatever buzz we got acquiring something does not last and that we want less. And then the question of an owned house or flat, perhaps the most desired possession. It wasnt always like this. One hundred years ago, only 23 per cent of Britons were owner-occupiers. Well over half do now. Renting is seen as the failure option but those who own a house can tell you the downsides: when the roof needs a 20,000 overhaul or the electricals go, or your family suddenly expands or contracts. If we stream music for a fixed fee a month, rent is the real world equivalent. Someone else deals with the economics of yield and the ups and downs of fixing it, and we move in and out of it based on our needs at the time. Where does this leave you, when you have no particular fortress, when you are less secure, when you own little and just dip into streams of things as you require them? Does it, as Tyler Durden suggests, set you free? Im not a millennial. I knew a world in which we had CDs. Although the younger generation craves what the older generation has, it may be that we have fooled ourselves. The baby boomers above me were the generation of growing wealth. They were also the ones for whom the great ad agencies of Mad Men fame learnt how to stimulate the desire to fill up their lives, told us to throw out old furniture and enthralled to the latest new gadget or design, and estate agents sold the houses to put them in. New-build room sizes peaked in the 1970s. But a house is not a home, and a home increasingly is a place in which we inhabit other digital borrowed worlds, libraries of everything, through our devices. The need for territory has begun to dissolve in city living. Im not going to advocate the Durden philosophy, not least because setting off explosions wont please the neighbours. But I would advocate thinking again about every time someone sells you the idea of space, and the possessions to fill it. P lanning to raid the newsagents freezer as soon as you get out of work? You have the same idea as us. While ice cream choices for a heatwave typically include the likes of a fruity Solero, a nutty Magnum or a basic-but-delicious Mini Milk - have you considered a pork pate variety? Yes, you heard that right. The brainchild of French dairy farmers, Patrice and Catherine Riaute, the pair originally came up with the delicacy for a nearby festival but it proved a hit and now the local school has ordered over 500 cups. Talking to France Bleu, the local radio, Mrs Riaute, said:It seems to work - people clearly like it as you can really taste the rillettes." Food. Bars. Going out. Delivered weekly Email Sign up Sign up I would like to be emailed about offers, event and updates from Evening Standard. Read our privacy notice {{message}} {{permutiveUid}} {{message}} Its not sickly, its very light. People were surprised, but pleasantly surprised, said her husband. They hesitate a bit but when they go for it, theyre smitten. Aside from the pure fun of coming up with a culinary curveball, following the milk crisis that has been plaguing France for the last couple of years (caused by falling levels of milk production by diary farmers), the couple wanted to invent something that would allow them to profit. Weve been really suffering from the milk crisis for the past three or four years. And today we have found new momentum to bring value to our profession, said Mr Riaute. Using a lot less milk than traditional ice cream, this is made from rillettes, sugar, eggs and milk so its much more economical for them to make. Gluten-free ice creams - in pictures 1 /7 Gluten-free ice creams - in pictures Scroll to see our pick of the best gluten-free ice creams... Shutterstock / Zadorozhnyi Vikto Jude's Dairy Free Chocolate Ice Cream British ice cream-maker Judes is popular for its sumptuous flavours and no-nonsense recipes, which exclude dairy and gluten. This delightful treat gets its rich, chocolatey flavour from pure Columbian cocoa. 4.79, Ocado, Buy it now Joe Delucci's Coconut Gelato Ice Cream An exotic choice that ought to bring some tropical vibes to any occasion. Created from an Italian recipe, this coconut-flavoured gelato is suitable for both vegetarians and coeliacs and contains no artificial flavours. 3.99, Tesco, Buy it now Swedish Glace Vanilla Non Dairy Frozen Dessert Swedish Glace has used soy instead of milk to create this coeliac and vegan-friendly version of the traditional favourite. With its thick and creamy texture, the refreshing dessert goes down a treat paired with warm treats like waffles and pancakes. 2.20, Waitrose, Buy it now Lick fat free frozen yogurt banana & honey Looking for something sweet yet guilt-free for a calorie-conscious summer? Not only is this frozen yoghurt free from gluten, but also contains no fat whatsoever and is loaded with live cultures. Just add some chocolate syrup and nuts to make it extra indulgent. 3, Waitrose, Buy it now Almond Dream Mint Chocolate Chip Non Dairy Ice Cream Dark chocolate chunks and a moreish minty flavour make this luxuriously smooth treat hard to resist. Created with blended almonds and natural peppermint, it's naturally lactose-free and tastes as creamy as dairy ice cream. 3.74, Waitrose, Buy it now Alpro Hazelnut Chocolate ice cream Chocolate-loving coeliacs rejoice: this indulgent frozen treat from the popular plant-based brand is free from gluten and also contains less sugar than most other ice creams. Rich and silky-smooth, it's chocolatey flavour is perfectly balanced with the subtle taste of hazelnuts. 3.50, Ocado, Buy it now T he summer days are drawing to a close, which means the kids head back to school and the early morning commute to work gets a little darker. Thankfully, before we have to face September, we've got an August bank holiday to spare. Whether you're spending the weekend partying at Notting Hill Carnival or just relaxing at home, here's everything you need to know about the August bank holiday: What is a bank holiday? A bank holiday essentially means a public holiday. Launched by Liberal politician and banker Sir John Lubbock in 1871, it was introduced as a way of giving workers respite. It was stated that on four days across the year, people shouldnt be expected to do what they wouldnt do on Christmas Day. Now, England has eight bank holidays across the year including Good Friday and Christmas Day and they differ in Ireland and Scotland. Why is it called a bank holiday? The reason its called a bank holiday is because historically it was the day banks closed and that meant nobody else could work - there were no computers back then and business tended only to be able to function when other services were open but dont highlight that too much to your employer Does everyone get a bank holiday? Under law, employers arent obliged to give you bank holidays off so make sure you find out what youre entitled to before you sign your contract. When is the August bank holiday? This year the August bank holiday will fall on Monday 27. When are the rest of the bank holidays in 2018? So far weve had New Year's Day: Monday 1 January Good Friday: Friday 30 March Easter Monday: Monday 2 April Early May bank holiday: Monday 7 May Late May bank holiday: Monday 28 May Coming up Summer bank holiday: Monday 27 August Christmas Day: Tuesday 25 December A n engineer chose to take his own life at a euthanasia clinic after an ex-lover threw acid over his face and body, a court heard. It was allegedly carried out by Berlinah Wallace, 48, who told him: "If I can't have you, no-one else can." Dutch-born Mr Van Dongen suffered 15 months of pain before being granted euthanasia in Belgium, where his family lived, in January 2017. Wallace, originally from South Africa, has denied a murder charge and a separate count of applying a corrosive fluid with intent on September 23 2015. Wallace denies charges of murder and applying a corrosive fluid to Mr Von Dongen / PA Adam Vaitilingam QC, prosecuting, told the jury at Bristol Crown Court that Wallace carried out the alleged attack at her flat in Westbury Park, Bristol. He said: "On September 2 2015, the defendant had bought a bottle of sulphuric acid. "She kept it in her kitchen. "At around 3am in the morning on September 23, as Mr Van Dongen was sleeping in bed, she took the acid into the bedroom. "She then went into the bedroom and woke him up. She laughed and said 'If I can't have you, no-one else can', and she threw the glass of sulphuric acid into his face. "It covered his face and parts of his upper body and dripped on to his lower body as he moved about. "Covered in burning acid, Mr Van Dongen ran out into the street in his boxer shorts, screaming for help." A neighbour found him, put him in a shower and took him to Southmead Hospital in Bristol, the court heard. The prosecutor said Mr Van Dongen's face and much of his body "was grotesquely scarred". He was confined to a hospital bed, unable to move anything other than his tongue for a long time, the barrister said. He added: "Fifteen months later, deciding that he could bear it no longer, he asked a euthanasia clinic in Belgium to assist him in taking his own life." Explaining the murder charge, Mr Vaitilingam said: "It is the prosecution case that the physical and mental suffering that he sustained from that deliberate acid attack were what drove him to euthanasia. "Put simply, he could not bear to live in that condition. If that is right, we say, then, she is guilty of murder." Mr Van Dongen had been an engineer in the construction industry while Wallace was a part-time fashion student at the University of West of England in Bristol, the court heard. The pair, both HIV positive, had been in a five-year relationship but split a few weeks before the alleged attack, with the victim moving in with his new girlfriend, Violet Farquharson. Ms Farquharson is said to have received silent phone calls and Wallace was given a police warning about harassment. During police interviews, Wallace denied deliberately throwing the acid at her ex-boyfriend, denied she had intended to hurt him and alleged that he had assaulted her. "She said that it was Mark who had poured the acid into the glass, encouraging her to drink it with her tablets, but that she had not realised that it was acid," Mr Vaitilingam said. "When she threw the contents of the glass over him, she believed that it was water that she was throwing." Wallace also carried out internet searches, including "Can I die from drinking sulphuric acid?" and news stories about people who had been victims of acid attacks. In hospital, Mr Van Dongen, having seen his face in a mirror, screamed at doctors: "Kill me now. If my face is going to be left looking like this, I don't want to live." He had burns to 25% of his body and underwent a lower leg amputation. Although he could speak, he was also paralysed from the neck down. A n NHS healthcare assistant who sexually assaulted two patients as they lay on hospital beds has been jailed for more than three years. Elroy Reid, 41, groped both men as they recuperated from painful procedures at Whittington Hospital. He preyed on his first victim just a day after he had been taken to hospital after a traffic accident. He was still in a neck brace and had breathing difficulties. Blackfriars crown court heard Reid brushed his hand against the patients genitals after being asked to give him a bed bath. A few days later, during another bed bath, he massaged the patients inner thigh and made remarks about the size of his manhood. The patient complained to staff and Reid was questioned by police in mid-2015. He was released without charge and kept his job. Then in late 2016, while pretending to be inspecting a patients emergency surgery scar, Reid put his hand into the mans underwear and grabbed his genitals before asking: Should I?. The patient insisted Reid should stop and told hospital staff who called in police. Reid lost his job and was charged with sexually assaulting both men. At trial he denied sexual contact, insisting the men, professionals in their 40s, had been confused. A jury convicted him of three counts of sexual assault last month. Sentencing Reid to three years and three months in prison, Judge Rajeev Shetty said: Both men were embarrassed; they had to go through the ignominy of... re-living it in evidence. He told Reid: Why you threw away a job you were doing well by... inexcusable behaviour is beyond me. He said Reid appeared to have gambled that neither patient would complain. Reid, who moved to the UK from Jamaica in 2000 and has worked in healthcare since 2003, whispered I love you to his mother then wailed as he was led to the cells. Sam Parham, mitigating, said Reid has struggled to adjust to prison life and is battling suicidal thoughts. He said: Mr Reid has done a lot of good; he has had an impact on people by taking proper care of them. C hildren as young as 12 are being prosecuted for rape in London amid police warnings that social media is fuelling serious sexual offending among juveniles. The crimes include some in which girls have been blackmailed into sex over pictures taken on phones in revenge porn type offences. Detectives say that girls are also being provided as rewards for boys carrying out county lines drug-running and other crimes. Some victims have been subjected to multiple attacks. New figures from the Metropolitan police, obtained by the Standard, reveal that 13 children aged between 10 and 12 were among 196 juveniles from the capital charged with rape between the start of 2015 and the end of last year. Those taken to court also include 25 children aged 13, and 33 suspects who were 14 at the time of the alleged of-fence. Virtually all those prosecuted were boys, but at least one was a girl. Those convicted in recent months include a 14-year-old boy from Uxbridge who admitted raping a 12-year-old girl after being investigated for an earlier suspected offence. In another case, a boy aged 15 from Hillingdon admitted raping a five-year-old girl and sexually assaulting another child. He was jailed for four years and three months. Another 15-year-old was given six years for the knifepoint rape of a woman in her forties near a childrens playground in south-east London. Justice minister Philip Lee has warned about a rise in dark and very troubling sex crimes by juveniles. He told MPs last year that in response, the Government was considering setting up a special prison unit for child sex offenders. The new statistics from the capital show that as well as the 196 rapes, 302 juveniles were also prosecuted for carrying out sexual assaults in the three years covered by the figures. That gives a total of almost 500 rapes or sex attacks by London children, including 117 by those aged 13 or under, and a further 78 by 14-year-olds. Acting Detective Inspector Laura Hillier, of Scotland Yards child abuse and sexual offences command, said children were only charged in quite extreme cases and social media was a key factor in many offences. Theres a number of things that drive this, but social media is obviously a massive part. You can take pictures, videos, that are then used to force a young person to perform different sexual acts, she added. It might be someone they know, in the boyfriend model, but theyve got a revenge porn type situation. Theyve got images that the young person then feels obliged to engage in sex, and because of that the CPS charge as rape because you are not giving your consent freely. She said county lines crime, in which young people are used to ferry drugs to other parts of the country, was also contributing to rapes in which children were both victims and perpetrators: Its criminal exploitation of young people. Its a reward You can have her. What happens can be multiple perpetrators against one child. You are talking 13, 14, 15-year-olds. A large part of our job is county lines. They are taken [out of London] to make a bit of money over the weekend. Its what happens when they are there. Its mostly peer-on-peer the sexual of-fending is young people together for a weekend. Its the control issue again. Ms Hillier said girls also carry drugs because they are less likely to be stopped and searched than males. But whenever they have those young girls there, maybe plying them with drugs and alcohol, thats when sexual offending takes place against the girls will. Ms Hillier said the public interest test applied by the Crown Prosecution Service meant charges were unlikely to be brought in cases involving experimentation, and careful consideration was given before children were taken to court. But the gravity of some offences meant prosecution was essential. She added: At that age, it would have to be quite extreme to make it through to a charge. We have to reassure the public. If it was our children what would we think of that? Equally, Londoners what would they be thinking if we didnt charge these people and put them before the court? Her colleague, Detective Inspector Ivon Beer, said that in a bid to stop offending police were using child abduction warning notices, under which boys were shown a photo of a girl and told she was underage. We are doing it on a regular basis, putting these disruptive tools in early. There are clearly occasions when it is out-and-out criminality. The more we look, the more we see, he said. T wo deputies have been shot and killed inside a Chinese restaurant in a suspected ambush in Florida, according to reports. Residents were warned to stay away from Trenton area of the state while police investigated following the shooting on Thursday. The gunman opened fire on the two officers while they were eating in the restaurant at about 3pm, US media reported. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi released a statement confirming the deaths of the two Gilchrist County deputies. The sheriff's office has not released any further details about how the deputies were killed. But officers said that no suspects are at large. R abbi Danny Rich is philosophical. Anti-Semitism in the Labour Party is not new for Jews, he said. The reality is that the Jews in the borough of Barnet have known about anti-Semitism in the Labour Party and our attempts to deal with it for some length of time, particularly since the Ken Livingstone affair [the former mayors 2016 claim that Hitler supported Zionism]. A cool head is perhaps essential for a Jewish campaigner standing for Labour in the key battleground of Barnet, where a bitter row over anti-Semitism on the Left might be the only thing standing in the way of a Labour victory on May 3. Barnet, part of the Finchley constituency where the late Margaret Thatcher was MP when she was prime minister, is a former Tory stronghold where the majority has been whittled down to just a single council seat. Candidates Ange Balendra and Paul Lemon (left) with local Labour leader Barry Rawlings / Alex Lentati Mayor Sadiq Khan named it as Labours top target in London, alongside Wandsworth. On paper it should be the easiest: at the turn of the year, of 63 councillors, 32 were Conservatives and 30 Labour, with one Liberal Democrat. Loading.... So Labour needs to capture just two seats to take power for the first time in two decades. If they fail, however, it will be seen as an open goal squandered with blame falling on party leader Jeremy Corbyns perceived failure to confront extremists in his ranks. A woman heads towards a polling station in north London during a previous election (Getty) / Getty Images Rabbi Danny, the chief executive of Liberal Judaism, pointed out that although the Jewish population is significant, most members live in just three (Tory-held) wards. But he admitted: I think the swing to Labour will be marginally less than in other boroughs. On the doorsteps of Barnet, however, the issues being raised by voters are varied. Resident Clare Russell said: I think the anti-Semitic situation was quite harmful to the Labour Party. However, my main interest is the fact I have two children in infant school and one in pre-school, and its their future Im most aware of. I still dont know how I will vote, but I will vote. General Election Night 2017 - In pictures 1 /31 General Election Night 2017 - In pictures Theresa May waiting in Maidenhead for the result to be announced Alastair Grant/AP Labour leaders Jeremy Corbyn at the Election count in Islington Jeremy Selwyn Leader of the Liberal democrats Tim Farron celebrates beating Conservative party candidate James Airey, Independent candidate Mr Fishfinger and Labour candidate Eli Aldridge following the announcement of the results at the Westmoorland and Lonsdale constituency count at Kendal Leisure Centre Dave Thompson/Getty Images Armed police outside the home of Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn in north London Yui Mok/PA Vince Cable pictured with his wife Rachel, is elected once again in Twickenham after losing his seat in 2015 Alex Lentati Nick Clegg loses his Sheffield Hallam seat and is no longer an MP Sky News Scottish National Party (SNP) leader Nicola Sturgeon reacts as her party loses their seat at the Emirates Arena in Glasgow, Scotland, Robert Parry/EPA Britain's Labour party leader Jeremy Corbyn, right, tries to high-five with Labour's Emily Thornberry after arriving for the declaration at his constituency in London Frank Augstein/AP Ballot boxes are run in during the count at the Silksworth Community Pool, Tennis and Wellness Centre as the general election count begins Ian Forsyth/Getty Images Boris Johnson at the Brunel Indoor Athletic Centre for the declaration of his Uxbridge and South Ruislip Constituency which he retained Rex Features Zac Goldsmith with his mother Lady Annabel Goldsmith Alex Lentati Close call for Zac Goldsmith as a recount is called for Richmond Park Alex Lentati Labour supporters react as Paul Sweeney (not pictured) is announced as the new MP for Glasgow North East for the British Parliamentary Elections at the Emirates Arena EPA UKIP leader Paul Nuttall at the Peter Paine Performance Centre in Boston during the counting Joe Giddens/PA Labour's Rupa Huq celebrates with her sister, TV presenter Konnie Huq, after increasing her majority from 274 to 13,807 in Ealing Central and Acton Matt Writtle Displays show the current rate of the British pound against the Japanese yen and a news program reporting on the British general election at a foreign money brokerage in Tokyo Roru Yamanaka/AFP/Getty Images Theresa May leaving CCHQ this morning Jeremy Selwyn Police watch as counting staff sort through ballots at a counting centre in Islington, London Niklas Halle'n/AFP/Getty Images Britain's Home Secretary Amber Rudd's speaks after retaining her seat in Hastings Kevin Coombs/Reuters Prime Minister Theresa May's chief of staff Nick Timothy and Joint-chief of staff Fiona Hill leave Conservative Party HQ in Westminster Rick Findler/PA Patrons watch the results for Britain's election in London. Alex Salmond loses his seat Peter Nicholls/Reuters Chuka Umunna kisses with his wife, Alice Sullivan at the London Borough of Lambeth UK Parliamentary Elections Lucy Young Prime Minister Theresa May waits with other candidates for the results to be declared at the count centre in Maidenhead Geoff Cadick/AFP/Getty Images Scottish Conservative leader Ruth Davidson at Meadowbank Sports Centre in Edinburgh Jane Barlow/PA Vote counters wait for Ballot boxes to arrive at the Peter Paine Performance Centre where the vote count for the constituency of Boston and Skegness Getty Images Kate Hoey who retained her Vauxhall seat at the London Borough of Lambeth Lucy Young Conservative's Gavin Barwell loses his seat to Labour at Croydon Central Chris Gorman Labour's Sarah Jones takes the Conservative seat of Croydon Chris Gorman DUP leader Arlene Foster and deputy leader Nigel Dodds cheer as Emma Little Pengelly is elected to the South Belfast constituency at the Titanic exhibition centre in Belfast Niall Carson/PA Exit poll results from Britain's general election are projected on to the BBC's Broadcasting House, London Jeff Overs/BBC The front door of 10 Downing Street in Westminster, London, as votes are being counted in the 2017 General Election Rick Findler/PA Neighbour Joanne Topping said she had divided her three postal votes between Labour, Lib Dems and Greens. Despite her ancestors being Russian Jews, she was unaware of the dispute within Labour. I didnt vote for the Conservatives, she said. Im not sure what is going to happen when we do go into Brexit. Its going to change a lot of things. "I would rather stay with the British pound than the euro but I think we have to be in Europe. Voices were raised when a refuse worker collecting bins asked a Labour candidate about last weekends US-led military action in Syria. I asked the lady and she said she agreed with the bombing of Syria, he complained angrily. Im going to vote Green. The Conservatives have troubles of their own, notably over Brexit. Tory councillor and former Times journalist Gabriel Rozenberg, on Twitter, wails: It will be like leaving the house naked, and then posting the keys through the letterbox. He vowed to continue to speak out against Brexit even though it is the official policy of my party. Conservative council leader Richard Cornelius, who keeps secret how he voted in the referendum, said when confronted by voters: My answer is, Its Barnet, not Brexit. It does come up, but we manage to separate the two issues. We are a council. We dont need a European policy. After 16 years in power, the party also has the challenge of showing it has not run out of ideas. At one stage Barnet was branded EasyCouncil for its enthusiasm for contracting out services to Capita. Shortly before the election was called, the party lost its overall majority when a deselected councillor resigned the party whip. The Standard was not invited to observe the Conservatives canvassing teams, despite several requests. Theresa Villiers, MP for Chipping Barnet, barely maintained her majority (PA Images) / PA Archive/PA Images On the broader picture in the borough, younger voters priced out of Camden and Islington are moving in and bringing different ideas. Labour councillor Adam Langleben boasted: They used to say, Move to Barnet and become a Tory. Now people are bringing their politics with them. Theresa Villiers, the pro-Brexit Tory MP for Chipping Barnet, escaped defeat by just 353 votes in last years general election. Seven years earlier she had a majority of almost 12,000. Both sides are keen to focus the 260,000 voters (the biggest borough electorate in London) on bins, potholes and schools. But the other issues keep intruding. Up until all the anti-Semitism stuff was kicking off, it was pretty plain-sailing, said Andrew Dismore, the Labour London Assembly member for the area. Labour group leader Barry Rawlings has publicly accused Mr Corbyn of a blind spot on anti-Semitism. He told the Standard: Sometimes you have got to cut through the crap and say, This is where we stand. The Mayor, who visited Barnet on Saturday, said it breaks my heart that some Jewish Londoners felt they could no longer back his party. The vote - which could yet be overturned by MPs - forced through an amendment demanding ministers report on the possibility of a continued customs union between the UK and the EU post-Brexit. The vote means ministers will have to report what efforts they have made to secure a Customs Union deal by the end of October. Mrs May has previously insisted the UK will leave both the EU's Single Market and Customs Union in March 2019. What is the Customs Union? Brexit secretary David Davis and EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier (AP) / Virginia Mayo/AP The Customs Union lays down rules throughout the EU (as well as a few non-member regions, such as Turkey and Andorra) on import and export tariffs. This means rates are fixed throughout Europe. For example, Germany could not suddenly undercut the French economy by offering discount rates to China or the US. The Customs Union is different to the Single Market, which deals with trade between member states - covering free movement of people, labour etc. The Customs Union deals with everything outside the EU, the Single Market with everything inside. Why do people disagree over leaving the Customs Union? Hardline Brexiteer Jacob Rees-Mogg has demanded Britain leave the CU (Getty) / Getty Images Those who support leaving the Customs Union say it will give the UK complete freedom in deciding business regulation and allow greater trading opportunities outside of the EU. Those who wish to remain believe jobs and British economic prosperity are better protected by the Customs Union's apparently proven security and stability. Since February, the Labour position has been that Britain should negotiate its position within a new customs union distinct to the existing one. However Conservative peer Nigel Lawson claimed on Wednesday that any kind of customs union arrangement would leave Britain in a "quasi-colonial" status, a common position among Brexiteers. Has this vote ruined Theresa May's plans? Mrs May faces a number of hurdles in the next 11 months / Getty Images Despite the defeat in the Lords, it is possible the House of Commons could overrule the amendment. However, as Theresa May enjoys a slim majority of just 13 MPs (assuming the DUP continues to back her), her Brexit strategy could be seriously thrown off course. Hypothetically, assuming all Opposition MPs voted in favour of the amendment, it would take just seven Conservative rebels to force the changes through. A hair-raising precedent was set in December, when 11 Tories rebelled over Parliament's right to a vote on the final Brexit deal - resulting in a devastating government defeat. What else is there to vote on? There are a number of issues around Brexit yet to be resolved / AFP/Getty Images Parliament has yet to vote through the trade bill, the customs bill, and the withdrawal agreement and implementation bill, providing the UK and the EU actually reach a Brexit deal. C abinet ministers are shifting towards a more positive approach to immigration by the Government, senior figures have told the Standard. The change of mood emerged in the wake of the Windrush generation furore, which reached its nadir last night when a former head of the civil service, Lord Kerslake, revealed that some coalition ministers had privately regarded Theresa Mays approach as reminiscent of Nazi Germany. Ministers say there was already a distinct move in Cabinet towards embracing a new approach of talking up the benefits of immigration in future, while playing down or even abandoning Mrs Mays target of cutting annual migrant numbers to 100,000 or fewer, in hopes that a more positive immigration policy will win the Conservatives a higher share of the national vote. The question for the next election is whether we should appeal to Mansfield Man or Wandsworth Man, a senior figure told the Standard. The Empire Windrush arrives at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica in June 1948 / Getty Images Mansfield was a Brexit-backing Labour stronghold that turned Tory in 2017 for the first time after a Conservative campaign that included anti-immigration policies aimed at disenchanted working-class white voters. Wandsworth is the multiracial, pro-EU south London borough where local Tories are battling to hold on to power on May 3. Environment Secretary Michael Gove said today the party needed to be more positive about the vital contribution of immigration to the economy and public services, while having policies to make industries such as agriculture invest in technology to reduce their reliance on overseas workers. Mr Gove said he believed Britons were welcoming of immigrants and had the most positive attitudes of any country in Europe. The British people have a robust and pragmatic and liberal approach, he said. They want to welcome people here who want to work. Responding to Lord Kerslakes comparisons of Mrs Mays hostile environment policy towards illegal immigrants with Hitlers Germany, Mr Gove said: I have never heard anyone make that comparison before Lord Kerslake. It is not for me to criticise a distinguished former public servant like Lord Kerslake, but I respectfully disagree. Many in the so-called Windrush generation of pre-1971 immigrants from the Caribbean lack proof of citizenship. Under tougher rules brought in when Mrs May was home secretary some have lost jobs, been denied free healthcare and threatened with deportation. Windrush generation arrive in Britain 1 /14 Windrush generation arrive in Britain Some of the pioneering Windrush generation arrive at Tilbury Docks, from Jamaica Getty Images The journey to the UK cost 28 Getty Images They arrived on June 22, 1948 Getty Images The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain SSPL via Getty Images The group were the first of the Windrush generation to emigrate to Britain Getty Images Arrivals scrutinise a map of the London Underground Getty Images The Windrush generation helped to rebuild post-war Britain Getty Images Members of the 55 Independent Squadron wait to board the Empire Windrush at Southampton, to fight in the Korean War Getty Images A black man walks past graffiti stating 'Powell For PM', referring to Enoch Powell who caused controversy with his outspoken attitude to black immigration and racial integration Getty Images Three Jamaicans (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury Docks Getty Images Nearly 1000 West Indian immigrants arrive in three boats trains at Waterloo Station. Many brought with them packing cases containing treasured possessions, 15th October 1961 Mirrorpix/Getty Images West Indian immigrants arriving in the United Kingdom, 19th May 1962 Mirrorpix/Getty Images Nearly 1000 West Indian immigrants arrive in three boats trains at Waterloo Station. Many brought with them packing cases containing treasured possessions, 15th October 1961 Mirrorpix/Getty Images 27th May 1956: Immigrants to Britain from the West Indies queuing up on arrival at Southampton holding documents Getty Images An immigration White Paper is due this year from the Home Secretary, Amber Rudd, who has apologised for the scandal. I think Amber Rudd has taken a grip of this issue, said Mr Gove. The gracious way in which she apologised to those affected was a model of how a politician should react to a situation like this. Speaking on Newsnight, Lord Kerslake said the hostile environment approach to illegal immigration had divided ministers during the coalition of the Conservatives and Lib Dems. It was highly contested and there were some who saw it, I shant name them, as almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the way its working, he said. Canadian farmer converts his 40,000-acre farm to all-organic Consumers have been voting with their wallets in recent years, shying away from toxin-laced conventional produce and shelling out for organic varieties instead. Some observers might have initially dismissed this as a trend that would eventually fade, but its clear that a desire for good health and environmental friendliness is not going out of fashion any time soon, and more and more farmers are stepping up to meet this demand. In fact, one 40,000-acre Canadian farm is currently in the process of becoming entirely organic, and it will take the honor of being the countrys biggest organic farm once it makes the full transition. The farm is big enough to make 2.2 million bushels of wheat every year. Owner Travis Heide says he plans to also start producing organic lentils, hemp, oats and peas. Right now, the farm is only half organic, but the full transition is expected to be completed within two years. Its an ambitious project when you consider the fact that Heide only started farming on a full-time basis four years ago. However, he grew up working on his parents Saskatchewan farm with his four brothers. He earned a business degree and worked as a commodity trader before starting up his own grain trading company. When his father asked him and his brothers to take over the family farm when he retired, they declined. However, his interest in agriculture never waned, and he moved to Africa and helped to start up a farm in South Sudan. After returning home, he eventually decided to buy a Canadian farm of his own. When he found out the land he bought had not been poisoned by pesticides and other chemicals in the past, he knew it was the perfect opportunity to create an organic farm. The power of the elements: Discover Colloidal Silver Mouthwash with quality, natural ingredients like Sangre de Drago sap, black walnut hulls, menthol crystals and more. Zero artificial sweeteners, colors or alcohol. Learn more at the Health Ranger Store and help support this news site. In addition to the growing consumer demand for organic produce, he believes that growing organically is a lot more economical in the long run than conventional growing. Eventually, hes considering adding cattle to his operations to help get phosphorus to the soil. He believes it could take as many as 40,000 head of cattle to keep the soil fertile across his 40,000 acres. Paving the way for future organic farmers Heide says he is hoping to show others that the idea that organic crops cant be mass produced is merely a myth. Theres a whole bunch of status quos these days: you cant start a farm from scratch nowadays, you cant do a large organic farm because theres too much tillage[But] if we can create opportunity for other people, create employment thats what were excited about, he commented. Hopefully, his success will inspire others to follow suit. He has said that he would like to see some of his employees eventually start their own organic farms in other parts of the country. Organics popularity continues to grow Organic sector sales skyrocketed from $3.7 billion to more than $43 billion between 1997 and 2015, making organic one of the fast-growing sectors within the food industry. Some of the biggest retailers in the U.S., like Costco, say they simply cannot obtain enough organic food to meet their customers demands. Thankfully, more and more farmers are taking note and getting on board. Last year, 15 percent of American produce sales were organic, and this number is only expected to grow as more farms switch over. Transitioning to organic is a lengthy and complicated process for farmers, but its one that could pay off in spades over the long term for consumers and farmers alike. Read Organics.news for more coverage of organic food production. Sources for this article include: WakingTimes.com Producer.com EcoWatch.com PRNewswire.com T he mother of a Windrush child has claimed the stress caused by immigration problems led to his death aged 57. Dexter Bristol moved to the UK in 1968 when he was eight and spent the rest of his life in the country. He travelled with his mother Sentine, who had a British subject passport from Grenada, and worked as an NHS nurse. He is reported to have lost his job as a cleaner because of questions over his right to be in the country, and then denied benefits as he could not prove he had not entered the country illegally, Channel 4 News reported. He died on March 29, aged 57, before receiving a letter suggesting a breakthrough in his case. Windrush generation arrive in Britain 1 /14 Windrush generation arrive in Britain Some of the pioneering Windrush generation arrive at Tilbury Docks, from Jamaica Getty Images The journey to the UK cost 28 Getty Images They arrived on June 22, 1948 Getty Images The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain SSPL via Getty Images The group were the first of the Windrush generation to emigrate to Britain Getty Images Arrivals scrutinise a map of the London Underground Getty Images The Windrush generation helped to rebuild post-war Britain Getty Images Members of the 55 Independent Squadron wait to board the Empire Windrush at Southampton, to fight in the Korean War Getty Images A black man walks past graffiti stating 'Powell For PM', referring to Enoch Powell who caused controversy with his outspoken attitude to black immigration and racial integration Getty Images Three Jamaicans (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury Docks Getty Images Nearly 1000 West Indian immigrants arrive in three boats trains at Waterloo Station. Many brought with them packing cases containing treasured possessions, 15th October 1961 Mirrorpix/Getty Images West Indian immigrants arriving in the United Kingdom, 19th May 1962 Mirrorpix/Getty Images Nearly 1000 West Indian immigrants arrive in three boats trains at Waterloo Station. Many brought with them packing cases containing treasured possessions, 15th October 1961 Mirrorpix/Getty Images 27th May 1956: Immigrants to Britain from the West Indies queuing up on arrival at Southampton holding documents Getty Images Mrs Bristol said Prime Minister should be "ashamed of herself". She told the broadcaster: "Mrs Theresa May should have another look at the situation... the situation she created in this country for the Caribbean and African (people)... the foreigners. "She should be ashamed of herself and all the other MPs who are on her side they should be ashamed of themselves because we are human beings. What is the Windrush generation "I would not accept myself as a foreigner - I am not a foreigner, this is my home." Recent restrictions in immigration law require people to have paperwork proof of near-continuous residence in the UK. Many of those in the so-called Windrush generation lack these records, having never applied for British citizenship or passports, and are now struggling to prove they are here legally. However, it has emerged that thousands of landing card slips recording the arrival of Windrush-era immigrants were destroyed by the Home Office in 2009. A Home Office spokesman told the Guardian they offered condolences after hearing of Mr Bristol's death. It added he was not subject of removal action. T ax chiefs were plunged into a row today after it was revealed they drew attention to a companys donations to the Conservative Party in a letter to French investigators. HM Revenue & Customs sent a letter declining to raid offices in London while also mentioning a companys political and charitable gifts. The letter stated: It is of note that they are the biggest corporate donor to the Conservative party led by Prime Minister Theresa May and donated 1.25m Euros to the Prince Charles Trust in 2012. It was sent to French authorities who were reportedly investigating individuals linked to comms company Lycamobile, which has made donations to the Conservatives. John McDonnell said the revelations were 'deeply concerning' (Photo by Chris J Ratcliffe/Getty Images) / Getty Images Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: If true, these are deeply concerning revelations. The Tories have serious questions to answer on this matter, and I hope the Chancellor immediately comes forward to explain this behaviour by HMRC and ensure there was no undue pressure exerted by Conservative Party politicians or officials. Privately, Whitehall officials admitted that HMRC should not have mentioned the donations in the letter. One source said: It is regrettable that this reference was made but it had no bearing on the decision. It was just a bit of colour and was superfluous. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: HMRC never takes political donations into account when it makes decisions on whether to investigate a business. The request was rejected because it did not contain sufficient information for HMRC to seek a search warrant. Pressed on whether the letter mentioned political donations, he added: My understanding from HMRC is that the information was only provided as background to offer a detailed profile of the company to their French counterparts but it was not taken into account by HMRC in deciding whether to support the French application. HMRC said it could not comment on individual cases. A spokesman said: HMRC always investigates suspected rule breaking professionally and objectively and is never influenced by political considerations. Website Buzzfeed reported that the letter came from an HMRC unit that handles law enforcement requests from foreign authorities. Lycamobile is denying allegations reported by Buzzfeed and has launched legal action over them. T he BBC has issued a warning after fake news clips suggesting allied NATO forces were at war with Russia spread throughout Africa and Asia. A number of false video reports, featuring a fake BBC News studio and doctored footage of British politicians, were shared throughout both continents via Whatsapp. Some of the clips' most alarming claims include: "Russia has used tactical nuclear weapons", "UK Government takes control of British Airways under Emergency Powers", and "Royal Family evacuated from Buckingham Palace". The original YouTube video titled 'Breaking news war between Russia and NATO has started WW3' is over 100 minutes long and was uploaded in January 2017. The Royal Family have not been evacuated from Buckingham Palace / YouTube Now clips from the original video are thought to have been shared thousands of times, with many contacting BBC World Service branches to check their authenticity. A BBC spokeswoman told the Standard: "Over the last couple of days we have had people contacting various BBC bureaux, mainly in Africa and Asia, to check if this was a real BBC report. "The video clip claiming to be a BBC news report about NATO and Russia has been circulating widely, particularly on WhatsApp - although we know it is being shared on other social media too. "We'd like to make absolutely clear that it's a fake and does not come from the BBC." The clip claimed the government had 'taken control of British Airways' / YouTube The BBC said the video apparently came from YouTube, where there is a disclaimer about its being a fictional dramatisation. This detail was not being shared, however, with those receiving it around the world. T wo people have been confirmed dead after a light aircraft crashed close to Belfast Airport. Paramedics, firefighters, an air ambulance and police rushed to the site of the crash, a three miles from the airport, after the plane crashed before bursting into flames. The ambulance service reported that no patients were taken from the scene in Co Antrim area. But police later confirmed that two people had been killed in the incident. A PSNI statement said: "Police can confirm that two people have died following a light aircraft crash near Nutts Corner, Crumlin, this afternoon, Thursday, 19 April." The incident happened close to a wooded area shortly after midday on Thursday. An airport spokeswoman said the aircraft was not operating to or from there. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) declared a major incident after receiving a call to say the plane had come down at around 12.23. NIAS implemented its major incident protocols in response to this incident and one rapid response paramedic, three emergency ambulance crews and four officers were dispatched to the incident, a spokeswoman said. "The charity air ambulance was also tasked. No patients were taken from the scene and the major incident was stood down at 12:49." S targazers will be treated to a celestial phenomenon this weekend with the Lyrid meteor shower set to light up the night sky. A spectacular show of shooting stars will streak across the sky in a display that will reach its peak in the UK early on Tuesday morning. Between April 16 and 26 each year, hundreds of meteors with long, glowing tails race across the UK sky in a burst of spectacular activity. Astronomers say the rate of shooting stars is about 18 meteors per hour but rare, short "outbursts" see rates of up to 100 per hour. The Lyrids were documented as far back as 687 BC, making them the first ever of the modern meteor showers to be recorded. Lyrid meteors will dazzle at a rate of about 18 meteors per hour ( AFP/Getty Images ) / AFP/Getty Images When, where and how can I see it? Experts claim the meteor shower reaches its peak between April 22 and 23, with the early hours of the morning of the peak day being the best time to see the shower. According to the Greenwich Observatory, this means that the best time to see the Lyrids will be the morning of April 23 - so remember to set your alarm early. The best places to watch the display are open areas, away from street lights. The observatory recommends for people to lie on the ground to get the best view. So Londoners' best chance of seeing the shower will be from one of the capital's large open spaces such as Richmond Park or Hampstead Heath. What is the Lyrid meteor shower? A meteor streaks across the night sky / AFP/Getty Images The Lyrids were named after the constellation Lyra. The shower is sparked when Earth passes through debris from the comet Thatcher. Shards of debris vaporise as they meet the Earths upper atmosphere and create colourful flashes in the night sky. Bill Cooke, NASA meteor expert, told Space.com that patience is key to catching a glimpse of the shower. He said: People say there is some periodicity there but the data doesn't support that. The Greenwich Observatory says it is the oldest record meteor shower still visible today, and was first recorded in 687BC. The flash occurs because the meteors are moving so quickly through the Earth's atmosphere that the air in front of them can't move out of the way fast enough. Meghans history empowering women The former actress is known for her commitment to gender equality and previously was a Women's Advocate for the UN. When she was 11, she persuaded a soap manufacturer to alter an advert after she wrote a letter to then first lady Hillary Clinton complaining that it implied women belonged in the kitchen. Ms Markle also visited the Myna Mahila Foundation in India last year, and wrote about its work to combat period poverty, highlighting how the schooling of young women in India is disrupted when they are menstruating. P rince Harry and Meghan Markle will attend a womens empowerment reception, hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. The couple, who will wed on May 19, will join charities and organisations aiming to promote global gender equality. The event is being held as part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. Mr Johnson will launch his Platform for Girls Education, a group of 12 influential figures from across the Commonwealth who will drive forward the political momentum on girls' education. More than 130 million girls around the world are not in school and girls in conflict zones are twice as likely to be out of school compared to boys. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum 1 /9 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception with delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum PA AP PA Getty Images PA Getty Images AP AP American former actress Ms Markle is known for her commitment to gender equality and empowering women, previously being a Women's Advocate for the UN. When she was 11, she persuaded a soap manufacturer to alter an advert after she wrote a letter to then first lady Hillary Clinton complaining that it implied women belonged in the kitchen. Harry and Meghan arrive at Commonwealth Youth Forum Ms Markle also visited the Myna Mahila Foundation in India last year, and wrote about its work to combat period poverty, highlighting how the schooling of young women in India is disrupted when they are menstruating. The Foreign Secretary will host the event / Getty Images Harry and Ms Markle have nominated the organisation as one of the seven charities well-wishers could donate to, rather than buying them wedding gifts. Charities at the reception will include the Malala Fund, Plan International, the Varkey Foundation and Code Camp. M eghan Markle's half-brother has blasted the Royal bride-to-be and claimed she is "acting phoney" and "trying to reinvent herself as the new Princess Diana." She had previously attacked her half-sister for "inviting 2,000 complete strangers" to the May 19 Royal Wedding at Windsor Castle and "ignoring her family." Now Thomas Jr, 51, has spoken out, telling the Daily Mirror his estranged half-sister has "turned into a different person" and "is acting phoney". Harry and Meghan at the Commonwealth Youth Forum / AFP/Getty Images Ms Markle and Prince Harry were carrying out their first major engagements together at the Commonwealth Youth Forum on Wednesday. They were set to attend a Commonwealth Women's Empowerment event hosted by Boris Johnson on Thursday. He said: "Meg likes to portray herself as a humanitarian, a people's person and a charitable person but she is none of those things to her family. "She is giving the greatest performance of her life. She is acting phoney. Once she got into Hollywood she turned into a different person. She's clearly forgotten her roots and her family. Harry and Meghan arrive at Commonwealth Youth Forum "There's a whole different side of her that has started to surface and it's ugly to see. "I've read that Meg wants to be like Diana. Diana was worshipped by everyone in the world. She was loved for the right reasons." Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum 1 /9 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception with delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum PA AP PA Getty Images PA Getty Images AP AP He added that Ms Markle was "not genuine" like Diana. Thomas Jr claims he and Ms Markle spent every other weekend together between 2009 and 2011, caring for their Dementia-stricken grandmother Doris. He now claims to have contacted Buckingham Palace three times in a bid to re-establish contact with Meghan with no response. On Wednesday, half-sister Samantha unleashed another furious rant at the Royal couple as they attended their first Commonwealth event together in London. She accused Prince Harry of contradicting himself for shouting about humanitarianism but allowing Meg to ignore the Markles in an angry tweet. T he Queen welcomed leaders from across the Commonwealth to a formal dinner at Buckingham Palace. The leaders, who were accompanied by their husbands, wives or partners, joined Her Majesty for a three-course meal in the picture gallery accompanied by fine wines from across the Commonwealth. The Queen greeted dignitaries at the palace, looking regal in a long white gown and jewels. She was not accompanied by Prince Philip, who is still recuperating from a hip operation. Pictures showed her greeting with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau who clasped her hand between both of his as he smiled down at the 91-year-old monarch. Queen Elizabeth II, the Prince of Wales, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and Prime Minister Theresa May / PA Theresa May was one of the first to arrive at the bi-annual event with her husband Philip. The Queen greeting the Canadian PM warmly / AP The Prime Minister, who is known for her love of fashion, looked elegant in a black floor-length dress and red heels. Theresa May arrives with her husband / AFP/Getty Images New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern was also an early arrival and was pictures walking through the palace with her partner Clarke Gayford. New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern with her partner Clarke Gayford / REUTERS She was earlier of four of the 19 new Commonwealth leaders who was granted a private audience with the Queen. Prime Minister of New Zealand Jacinda Ardern and her partner Clarke Gayford / REUTERS Earlier on Thursday the Queen lobbied world leaders on behalf of the Prince of Wales, suggesting they choose Charles to succeed her as head of the Commonwealth. The Queen raises a glass during the speeches / REUTERS The Queen's public endorsement of her son is an unprecedented move and came as she officially opened a major Commonwealth summit attended by presidents and prime ministers from across the globe. Speaking at the official opening of the Commonwealth summit, she said: It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as Head of the Commonwealth and to observe, with pride and satisfaction, that this is a flourishing network. Queen gives public backing for Charles to become Commonwealth head "It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. "By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities, I believe we will secure a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world for those who follow us: a world where the Commonwealth's generosity of spirit can bring its gentle touch of healing and hope to all." The leaders are due to discuss the issue of Commonwealth succession during the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), which will also see leaders debate topics ranging from a blue charter on ocean conservation to cyber security and trade. Harry was seen greeting the Mr Trudeau at the dinner, hours after the Canadian leader said he would not be attending his wedding in a months time. Prince Harry greeting the Canadian PM at the dinner / AP The Prince had spent the earlier hours of the evening at a Womens Empowerment event with his fiancee. During the reception, where Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson launched his Platform for Girls Education across the Commonwealth, Meghan spoke of the "rippling effect" of female empowerment. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Women's Empowerment event 1 /7 Meghan Markle and Prince Harry attend Women's Empowerment event The couple joked together as they met with charities Getty Images The couple met youngsters who have been invlolved in campaigning for female education Getty Images Meghan Markle attends the Women's Empowerment reception Getty Images Meghan looked chic in a black dress Getty Images She had her hair tied up, revealing diamond studs Getty Images They were hosted by the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson Getty Images They were hosted by the Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson Getty Images The event formed part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting being staged in London and Windsor this week. Hope, an 18-year-old from Kenya who campaigns on achieving equal rights for girls, said Ms Markle spoke to her about the long-lasting effect of getting girls into education. "Meghan Markle was talking about how it is a rippling effect when you empower girls, they empower the next generation," she said. The Suits star is known for her commitment to gender equality, previously being a Women's Advocate for the UN. A rmed and undercover police officers will patrol railway stations across London and the south east as thousands travel to celebrate Prince Harry and Meghan Markle's wedding. British Transport Police will also deploy visible officers, behavioural detection specialists and dog handlers in a bid to ensure safe journeys to and from the town on May 19, a force spokesman said. More than 100,000 people are expected to visit Windsor to celebrate the couple's special day. BTP's chief superintendent John Conaghan said: "After months of planning, we're looking forward to ensuring the safe travel of thousands of people into Windsor and then home again on May 19. Ms Markle and Harry will meet delegates taking part in the Commonwealth Youth Forum / PA Wire/PA Images "Officers will be highly visible at stations throughout London and the South East and will be on hand to offer help to anyone who needs it. "We've worked closely with our partners at other police forces, local authorities and train companies to ensure that we can respond quickly and decisively to any incident." BTP's specialist response unit will respond to reports of unattended items on the railway to determine if they pose a threat. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum 1 /9 Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend Commonwealth Youth Forum Getty Images Prince Harry and Meghan Markle attend a reception with delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum PA AP PA Getty Images PA Getty Images AP AP Mr Conaghan went on: "Passengers are the eyes and ears of the rail network. With thousands of extra people travelling to Windsor I'd urge them to stay vigilant and report concerns to us. "Nothing is too trivial or insignificant. Report it to us and our specialist police officers will investigate." Spectators travelling to Windsor by train are being warned to expect "extremely busy" conditions. Harry and Meghan arrive at Commonwealth Youth Forum Queueing systems will be introduced at several stations in a bid to avoid platforms becoming overcrowded. They could be in place at London Waterloo - already the UK's busiest station - Slough, Staines and the two stations in Windsor itself. Keeping this site up to date and interesting takes a great deal of time more than anything (parts of this site are updated on a near-daily basis), but your donations help cover the occasional out of pocket costs needed to keep it all up to date and constantly evolving. Thanks in advance for your help! T wo mothers have agreed to swap their 11-month-old sons after DNA tests proved they were handed the wrong babies in a hospital blunder. The mistake only came to light after a chance encounter between the mothers five months later after they booked a clinic check-up on the same day. The women took home the wrong babies despite them wearing identity bracelets bearing the other mothers name. When Francielli Monteiro Garcia, 24, noticed that it was not her name written on her son Eduardos bracelet the hospital assured her there was no chance of a mix-up. It was only during the routine check-up last October that Ms Garcia happened to meet Erivania da Silva Santos, 25, and noticed how her son, Felipe, bore a striking resemblance to her own husband. Her fears were confirmed after she asked Ms Santos her name, and remembered it was the same she had seen on her babys identity bracelet. The women, from Alta Floresta, then carried out DNA tests which proved that they had been bringing up each others babies for almost a year. At a civil court hearing the mothers agreed to swap the babies back with a three-month adaptation period. D onald Trump has said that if his planned talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un are not fruitful then he will call them off. The US President said that CIA director Mike Pompeo got along really well with Kim in their recent secret meeting as he declared: "we've never been in a position like this" with the rogue state. But Mr Trump added that if he decides the meeting with the North's leader would not produce the results the US wants then we're not going to go. The president was speaking at a news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida on Wednesday. CIA director Mike Pompeo, pictured, had a secret meeting with Kim Jong-Un in North Korea / AFP/Getty Images He said that his campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea would continue until Pyongyang gave up nuclear weapons. On the issue of the planned meeting, he said: "If I think that if it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful we're not going to go. If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful I will respectfully leave the meeting. North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, pictured, may have face-to-face talks with Mr Trump / STR/AFP/Getty Images Mr Pompeos secret meeting with Kim was the highest level meeting between the two countries since 2000. North Korea: Ballistic Missile Test - In pictures 1 /22 North Korea: Ballistic Missile Test - In pictures AFP via Getty Images AP AP People watch reports about the launch of the short-range ballistic missiles Getty Images North Korean government shows a test of a missile launch in North Korea AP North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un watching through binoculars as a new-type of tactical guided short-range missile is launched at an undisclosed location in North Korea AFP/Getty Images A test of a missile launch in North Korea AP People watch a TV showing images of North Korea's missile launch during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea AP A man watches a news report about the North Korea missile launch EPA North Korean leader Kim Jong Un watches a missile test in North Kore AP Kim Jong-Un admires the launching of the Hwasong-15 missile AFP/Getty Images The new missile is thought to be capable of reaching anywhere on the US mainland AFP/Getty Images Missile: the Hwasong-15 missile which is capable of reaching all parts of the US AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images AP AFP/Getty Images Missile test: The launch AFP/Getty Images AFP/Getty Images Rocket power: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un pictured giving an order to test-fire the newly developed intercontinental ballistic missile Hwasong-15 EPA The Hwasong-15 missile was launched in the early hours of Wednesday AFP/Getty Images Speaking on Tuesday, Mr Trump said his meeting with the North Korean leader could come in early June or a little before. But he conceded it was possible that the unprecedented meeting might not happen at all. A mother who was partially sucked out of a window on a Southwest Airlines plane died from a blunt impact trauma to her head, neck and torso, a Philadelphia medical examiner said. Jennifer Riordan, 41, from Albuquerque, was killed after almost being sucked out of the aircraft when an engine exploded and caused shrapnel to smash one of the windows. Ms Riordan was killed by blunt impact trauma to her head, neck and torso and her death was ruled accidental, according to James Garrow, spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Health. Her death generated an outpouring of grief and public sympathy from Albuquerque business leaders, state elected officials, writers and activists - all who portrayed Riordan as gracious and selfless. Tragically killed in a plane accident: Jennifer Riordan / AP "Jennifer's vibrancy, passion, and love infused our community and reached across our country," her family said. "Her impact on everything and everyone she touched can never be fully measured. But foremost, she is the bedrock of our family." US airline regulators have now ordered inspections on engine fan blades like the one that snapped off the Boeing 737 plane after the engine blast at 32,000ft on Tuesday. 'Nerves of steel': Tammie Jo Schults who landed the plane safely The plane, which was headed from New York to Dallas, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia and was steered to safety by pilot Tammie Jo Shults, who was one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy. The Federal Aviation Administrations announcement late Wednesday comes nearly a year after the engines manufacturer recommended the additional inspections. Investigators said a blade that broke off mid-flight and triggered the fatal accident was showing signs of metal fatigue microscopic cracks that can splinter open under the kind of stress placed on jetliners and their engines. The National Transportation Safety Board also blamed metal fatigue for an engine failure on a Southwest plane in Florida in 2016. Southwest Airlines passenger livestreams video to say goodbye The incident lead manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and Frances Safran SA, recommended last June that airlines conduct the inspections of fan blades on many Boeing 737s. The FAA proposed making the recommendation mandatory in August but never issued a final decision. On Wednesday, the FAA said it would issue a directive in the next two weeks to require ultrasonic inspections of fan blades on some CFM56-7B engines after they reach a certain number of take-offs and landings. Blades that fail inspection need to be replaced. It is not yet clear how many planes would be affected. Flight 1380 From NYC to Dallas crash landed in Philly. Engine exploded in the air and blew open window 3 seats away from me. Explosion critically injured woman sitting in the seat next to the window. Oxygen masked deployed. / Marty Martinez Southwest announced its own program for similar inspections of its 700-plane fleet over the next month, while United Airlines executives said yesterday that they had begun inspecting some of their planes. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly protested that it is too soon to say whether Tuesday's accident is related to any other engine failures. Kelly said the plane was inspected on Sunday and nothing appeared out of order. A Youtuber is facing jail over a video appearing to show him force feeding a homeless man an Oreo filled with toothpaste. Kanghua Ren from Barcelona posted the video to his millions of followers on his Youtube channel ReSet. The footage, recorded in January last year, appeared to show him filling an Oreo with toothpaste and putting them back in the packet. He then proceeded to feed the biscuits to a homeless man. As the 52-year-old homeless man, named Gheorge L by authorities, ate the biscuits, Mr Ren said to the camera: Maybe Ive gone a bit far, but look at the positive side: this will help him clean his teeth. I think he hasnt cleaned them since he became poor." The uncomfortable footage was viewed thousands of times, according to court documents seen by the Spanish daily newspaper El Pais. The Youtuber gave the homeless man Oreos filled with toothpaste / AFP/Getty Images The 20-year-old, originally from China, faces a charge of crime against moral integrity. Spanish prosecutors are pursuing an order for Mr Ren to pay the homeless man 26,000 (30,000) and are seeking a two year prison sentence. Gheorge L said he was not aware that the Youtuber had an online presence. I got sick after five minutes and threw up, he said. When Mr Ren received backlash for his video he went back to see the homeless man. He said: People exaggerate over jokes in the street (played) on a beggar, when surely if its done to a normal person they wouldnt say anything." When he revisited Gheorge L, he intended to spend the night with him on the street. But this plan was foiled when an onlooker saw what was happening and called the police. Mr Ren allegedly later offered the man 259 (300) for his silence. Gheorge L told El Pais that he had never been treated so badly while living on the streets. H omeland star Claire Danes has revealed that the upcoming season 8 of Homeland will be shows last. In a radio interview on The Howard Stern Show, Danes said yeah, thats it when asked if the American spy thriller would reach its conclusion next season. The American actress said the news had left her feeling really conflicted. Ill be ready, said Danes. Shes a lot, this Carrie-freakin Mathison. Award-winning show: Claire Danes and Damian Lewis pose with their awards at the 70th Golden Globes / Paul Buck/EPA Since it first aired in 2011, Homeland has won itself a legion of devoted, cult-like fans for its psychologically thrilling storylines and unreliable heroine. Commenting on the strenuous nature of her award-winning Homeland performance, she likened the role to a work-out because Carrie is under constant duress and said she will be ready for a break from that. The 39-year-old star, who first rose to fame as the lead in My So-Called Life, mused how Homeland is her longest-running project. Uh oh, Carrie's in trouble again. Claire Danes films third season of Homeland 1 /5 Uh oh, Carrie's in trouble again. Claire Danes films third season of Homeland claire-danes.jpg Fury: Carrie's in trouble again in this shot on the newsroom floor at the Charlotte Observer. The eagerly awaited new season follows a cliffhanger end to the second series when a huge explosion destroys the CIA headquarters and Nick Brody, played by Damian Lewis, goes on the run Rex claire-danes3.jpg Hair raising: Carrie's famous blonde locks get a touch up between takes Rex claire-danes4.jpg Out of order: Carrie is escorted from the newsroom by some burly police Rex claire-danes5.jpg She's a natural: Carrie's casual look takes a bit of maintenance Rex 168212625.jpg Claire Danes and husband Hugh Dancey Ive never done anything for this long, she said. I mean, Ive been married for as long, maybe a year longer. The Hollywood starlet also announced in the radio interview that she is expecting her second child with British actor husband Hugh Dancy. The couple married in 2009 and already have five-year-old Cyrus together. Countries & Areas Search for country or area A Afghanistan Albania Algeria Andorra Angola Antigua and Barbuda Argentina Armenia Australia Austria Azerbaijan B Bahamas Bahrain Bangladesh Barbados Belarus Belgium Belize Benin Bhutan Bolivia Bosnia and Herzegovina Botswana Brazil Brunei Bulgaria Burkina Faso Burma Burundi C Cabo Verde Cambodia Cameroon Canada Central African Republic Chad Chile China Colombia Comoros Costa Rica Cote dIvoire Croatia Cuba Cyprus Czechia D Democratic Republic of the Congo Denmark Djibouti Dominica Dominican Republic E Ecuador Egypt El Salvador Equatorial Guinea Eritrea Estonia Eswatini Ethiopia F Fiji Finland France G Gabon Gambia Georgia Germany Ghana Greece Grenada Guatemala Guinea Guinea-Bissau Guyana H Haiti Holy See Honduras Hungary I Iceland India Indonesia Iran Iraq Ireland Israel Italy J Jamaica Japan Jordan K Kazakhstan Kenya Kiribati Kosovo Kuwait Kyrgyzstan L Laos Latvia Lebanon Lesotho Liberia Libya Liechtenstein Lithuania Luxembourg M Madagascar Malawi Malaysia Maldives Mali Malta Marshall Islands Mauritania Mauritius Mexico Micronesia Moldova Monaco Mongolia Montenegro Morocco Mozambique N Namibia Nauru Nepal Netherlands New Zealand Nicaragua Niger Nigeria North Korea North Macedonia Norway O Oman P Pakistan Palau Palestinian Territories Panama Papua New Guinea Paraguay Peru Philippines Poland Portugal Q Qatar R Republic of the Congo Romania Russia Rwanda S Saint Kitts and Nevis Saint Lucia Saint Vincent and the Grenadines Samoa San Marino Sao Tome and Principe Saudi Arabia Senegal Serbia Seychelles Sierra Leone Singapore Slovakia Slovenia Solomon Islands Somalia South Africa South Korea South Sudan Spain Sri Lanka Sudan Suriname Sweden Switzerland Syria T Taiwan Tajikistan Tanzania Thailand Timor-Leste Togo Tonga Trinidad and Tobago Tunisia Turkey Turkmenistan Tuvalu U Uganda Ukraine United Arab Emirates United Kingdom Uruguay Uzbekistan V Vanuatu Venezuela Vietnam Y Yemen Z Zambia Zimbabwe Offre demploi au Togo: Political Affairs Officer [temporary], Lome Videos Dans le dossier Closing date: Sunday, 22 April 2018 Posting Title: POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER, P3 (Temporary Job Opening) Job Code Title: POLITICAL AFFAIRS OFFICER Department/ Office: Office for Disarmament Affairs Duty Station: LOME Posting Period: 11 April 2018-22 April 2018 Job Opening number: 18-POL-ODA-95522-J-LOME (X) Staffing Exercise ID: N/A United Nations Core Values: Integrity, Professionalism, Respect for Diversity Organizational Setting and Reporting The Political Affairs Officer in this position works collaboratively with the Deputy to the Director and reports to the Director of the United Nations Regional Centre for Peace and Disarmament in Africa (UNREC), part of the Office for Disarmament Affairs. The Mandate of UNREC is to provide technical support and expertise to Member States in the Africa region and other stakeholders in the areas of peace, security and disarmament as contained in General Assembly resolution 40/151 G. For more information, please refer to www.unrec.org. Responsibilities Within delegated authority, the Political Affairs Officer will be responsible for the following duties Advise the UNREC Director on matters pertaining to physical security and stockpile management (PSSM) in the Sahel; Gathers, selects and analyses information contained in communications and publications received from different sources, including the media. Maintains up-to-date knowledge of events relating to disarmament and political issues, in general, and in particular as they affect the countries and thematic mandates for which the staff member is responsible. Keeps abreast of latest trends and developments in the area of SALW, especially PSSM and provides inputs on issues to senior officials and colleagues in missions and elsewhere in the Secretariat. Provide technical and substantive back-up in the implementation of the project 'Physical security and stockpile management activities to reduce the risk of illicit trade in small arms and light weapons (SALW) and their ammunition in the Sahel region', including through policy development, the review and analysis of PSSM issues at country level, ensuring proper coordination with national authorities. Monitors national and regional level political developments and provides advice to field mission/UN agencies active on the ground. Provides technical and substantive back up in the implementation of mandates of the office, branch or unit. Maintains contacts with other sectors of the UN, other international organizations and governments on coordination and policy matters. Monitors and reports on actions taken by intergovernmental groups, UN organisations, government and non-governmental organizations. Selects, classifies and stores in computerised databases information relating to SALW and PSSM in the Sahel, including relevant activities conducted by other actors. Participates in fact-finding and other missions to countries within assigned area of responsibility. Participates in provision of secretariat services to conferences, meetings, and /or special missions. Prepares meetings of the UNREC Director with officials from countries member states and other partners. Prepares periodic narrative and financial progress reports on the implementation of the project and ensures appropriate dissemination of information about the Project through different communication products (i.e. bulletins, feature stories, photographs/videos, websites, UNODA Disarmament Yearbook etc.); Competencies Professionalism: Sound knowledge of and exposure to a range of disarmament issues including disarmament-demobilization-reintegration (DDR) and security sector reform (SSR), with a special focus on physical security and stockpile management of small arms and light weapons (SALW); ability to identify and analyze political, social and economic problems that cause civil unrest in the countries covered by the project. Shows pride in work and in achievements; demonstrates professional competence and mastery of subject matter; is conscientious and efficient in meeting commitments, observing deadlines and achieving results; is motivated by professional rather than personal concerns; shows persistence when faced with difficult problems or challenges; remains calm in stressful situations. Takes responsibility for incorporating gender perspectives and ensuring the equal participation of women and men in all areas of work. Accountability: Takes ownership of all responsibilities and honours commitments; delivers outputs for which one has responsibility within prescribed time, cost and quality standards; operates in compliance with organizational regulations and rules; supports subordinates, provides oversight and takes responsibility for delegated assignments; takes personal responsibility for his/her own shortcomings and those of the work unit, where applicable. Planning & Organizing: Develops clear goals that are consistent with agreed strategies; Identifies priority activities and assignments; adjusts priorities as required; Allocates appropriate amount of time and resources for completing work; Foresees risks and allows for contingencies when planning; Monitors and adjusts plans and actions as necessary; Uses time efficiently. Education Advanced university degree (Master's degree or equivalent) in political science, international relations, international economics, law, public administration or other related. A first-level university degree in combination with qualifying experience may be accepted in lieu of the advanced university degree. Work Experience A minimum of five years of progressively responsible experience in political science, international relations, law, disarmament, security, development management, conflict resolution or related area is required. Experience working in sub-Saharan Africa is highly desirable. Languages Fluency in the working languages of the UN Secretariat, English and French, (both oral and written) is required for this position. Knowledge of another UN official language is an advantage. Assessment Evaluation of qualified candidates may include an assessment exercise which may be followed by a competency-based interview. Special Notice Notes: A current staff member who holds a fixed-term, permanent or continuing appointment may apply for temporary positions no more than one level above his or her current grade. However, a current staff member who holds an appointment at the G-6 or G-7 level may also apply to temporary positions in the Professional category up to and including the P-3 level, subject to meeting all eligibility and other requirements for the position. A staff member holding a temporary appointment shall be regarded as an external candidate when applying for other positions, and may apply for other temporary positions at any level, subject to section 5.7 below and staff rule 4.16 (b) (ii). Therefore, a staff member holding a temporary appointment in the General Service or related categories may only apply to positions within those categories. For full information on eligibility requirements, please refer to section 5 of ST/AI/2010/4Rev.1 on Temporary Appointments. In its resolution 66/234, the General Assembly further 'stressed that the Secretary-General should not recur to the practice of temporarily filling posts in the Professional and higher categories with General Service staff members who have not passed the General Service to Professional category examination other than on an exceptional basis, and requests the Secretary-General to ensure that temporary occupation of such posts by the General Service staff shall not exceed a period of one year, effective 1 January 2013' Consequently, eligible candidates in the General Service or related categories for temporary job openings in the Professional category that have not passed the competitive examination may be selected only on an exceptional basis endorsed by the Office of Human Resources Management where no other suitable candidate could be identified. Upon separation from service, including, but not limited to, expiration or termination of, or resignation from, a fixed-term, continuing or permanent appointment, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment on the basis of a temporary appointment for a period of 31 days following the separation. In the case of separation from service on retirement, a former staff member will be ineligible for re-employment for a period of three months following the separation. This equally applies, mutatis mutandis, with respect to a former or current staff member who has held or holds an appointment in another entity applying the United Nations Staff Regulations and Rules and who applies for a temporary position with the Secretariat. Retirees above the mandatory age of separation who wish to be considered for the current temporary job opening must indicate the reason for their last separation as 'retirement.' Such retirees shall not be employed by the Organization, unless (a) the operational requirements of the Organization cannot be met by staff members who are qualified and available to perform the required functions; and (b) the proposed employment would not adversely affect the career development or redeployment opportunities of other staff members and represents both a cost-effective and operationally sound solution to meet the needs of the service. Subject to the funding source of the position, this temporary job opening may be limited to candidates based at the duty station. While this temporary assignment may provide the successful applicant with an opportunity to gain new work experience, the selection for this position is for a limited period and has no bearing on the future incumbency of the post. An external candidate selected for this position is bound by the prevailing condition of the staff selection system under ST/AI/2010/3, as amended, and ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. A staff member holding a temporary appointment who is recruited in the Professional and above categories on a temporary appointment, and placed on a position authorized for one year or longer may not apply for or be reappointed to his/her current position within six months of the end of his/her current service. This provision does not apply to staff members holding temporary appointments and placed on positions authorized for one year or more in duty stations authorized for peacekeeping operations or special political missions. The expression 'Internal candidates', shall mean staff members who have been recruited after a competitive examination under staff rule 4.16 or after the advice of a central review body under staff rule 4.15. Please note that candidates will be required to meet the requirements of Article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter as well as the requirements of the position. The United Nations is committed to the highest standards of efficiency, competence and integrity for all its human resources, including but not limited to respect for international human rights and humanitarian law. Candidates may be subject to screening against these standards, including but not limited to whether they have committed, or are alleged to have committed criminal offences and/or violations of international human rights law and international humanitarian law. For information on special post allowance, please refer to ST/AI/1999/17. For more details on the administration of temporary appointments please refer to ST/AI/2010/4/Rev.1. The Staff Regulations, Staff Rules and administrative issuances governing staff appointments can be viewed at: http://www.un.org/hr_handbook/English Staff members of the United Nations common system organizations who will reach the mandatory age of separation or retirement within the duration of the current temporary need period are not eligible to apply. Staff members are not eligible to apply for the current temporary job opening if they are unable to serve the specified duration of temporary need before reaching the mandatory age of separation. Submitting an application or selection for the current temporary job opening does not delay or increase the mandatory age of separation. United Nations Considerations According to article 101, paragraph 3, of the Charter of the United Nations, the paramount consideration in the employment of the staff is the necessity of securing the highest standards of efficiency, competence, and integrity. Candidates will not be considered for employment with the United Nations if they have committed violations of international human rights law, violations of international humanitarian law, sexual exploitation or sexual abuse, or crimes other than minor traffic offences, or if there are reasonable grounds to believe that they have been involved in the commission of any of these acts. The term 'sexual exploitation' means any actual or attempted abuse of a position of vulnerability, differential power, or trust, for sexual purposes, including, but not limited to, profiting monetarily, socially or politically from the sexual exploitation of another. The term 'sexual abuse' means the actual or threatened physical intrusion of a sexual nature, whether by force or under unequal or coercive conditions. Due regard will be paid to the importance of recruiting the staff on as wide a geographical basis as possible. The United Nations places no restrictions on the eligibility of men and women to participate in any capacity and under conditions of equality in its principal and subsidiary organs. The United Nations Secretariat is a non-smoking environment. Applicants are urged to follow carefully all instructions available in the online recruitment platform, inspira. For more detailed guidance, applicants may refer to the Manual for the Applicant, which can be accessed by clicking on 'Manuals' hyper-link on the upper right side of the inspira account-holder homepage. The evaluation of applicants will be conducted on the basis of the information submitted in the application according to the evaluation criteria of the job opening and the applicable internal legislations of the United Nations including the Charter of the United Nations, resolutions of the General Assembly, the Staff Regulations and Rules, administrative issuances and guidelines. Applicants must provide complete and accurate information pertaining to their personal profile and qualifications according to the instructions provided in inspira to be considered for the current job opening. No amendment, addition, deletion, revision or modification shall be made to applications that have been submitted. Candidates under serious consideration for selection will be subject to reference checks to verify the information provided in the application. Job openings advertised on the Careers Portal will be removed at 11:59 p.m. (New York time) on the deadline date. Rally protesting Texas abortion ban draws hundreds to Capitol Speakers focused on protecting the rights of younger generations and how the Texas abortion affects low-income populations and women of color. President Klaus Iohannis stated on Thursday that it is unacceptable for some proposals to amend the Criminal Codes to be made with a dedication to people with decision-making positions in Parliament. "There have been several proposals that were made aimed at amendments and you are probably referring now to the Criminal Code and the Criminal Procedure Code. Some of these amendments are necessary, as there is a need to somewhat modernise the legislation, to bring in line the decisions of the Constitutional Court and in certain points even with the European legislation. These proposals are good and I believe Parliament will work on them and will introduce these matters. Other proposals that have been made, I wouldn't want to go into details in this context, are totally unacceptable and I believe the parliamentary discussion will reveal which ones must remain under debate and which must be removed from the discussion. There is one principle, however, that everyone must understand. It is not acceptable for some amendments to be made with a dedication to some people who have decision-making positions precisely in Parliament," Iohannis said at Cotroceni Presidential Palace. In his turn, the President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic, Paolo Gentiloni, underscored that in a rule of law there cannot be any "intermediating.""I do not have any comments upon the bill proposals, on the domestic discussion as regards Romania. With certainty and based on the experience in my own country I know there is much to do on these topics concerning the fight against corruption, regarding the rule of law. These are the cornerstones of our living together in Europe. I think we must all make an effort in our countries to approach these matters in a dialectical way, without turning it into a fight-over element. We, unfortunately, have been through this and that is why we bring our contribution, by naturally observing this country's complete autonomy," Gentiloni showed.President Iohannis met on Thursday at Cotroceni Presidential Palace with President of the Council of Ministers of the Italian Republic Paolo Gentiloni. Romania's President Klaus Iohannis said on Thursday that there are three main lines of action that Romania supports in the period immediately ahead amidst unpredictable security in the wider Black Sea region, mentioning that Romania encourages an increase in the presence of US military and military equipment in Romania. "In Romania's vision (...), there are three essential lines of action to be taken into account in the period immediately ahead. First, solidarity within NATO needs to be strengthened, including by strengthening the transatlantic relationship. Inside NATO, the transatlantic relationship is a guarantee for the optimal functioning of the Alliance and the collective defence defined by Article V of the Washington Treaty. Therefore (...) Romania encourages the activities of US military on its soil, both in a NATO and bilateral framework, as well as an increase in the presence of US military and military equipment in Romania," President Iohannis told the seminar "Reshaping the Security Environment in Southeastern Europe - A view from Bucharest," hosted by the Cotroceni Presidential Palace. He pointed out that Romania also supports the development of the partnership between NATO and the European Union.Iohannis mentioned that the third major line of action is to ensure the unity, coherence and consolidation of NATO measures on the eastern flank, as part of NATO's deterrence and defence posture, pointing out that increased mobility of forces and assuring strengthening forces are essential to increasing NATO efficiency.He said that the process of implementing NATO's forward presence in Romania and the Black Sea region is in progress but that it has not reached its potential. The head of state underscored the necessity for a better defended eastern flank, including a unitary forward presence, based on an integrated north-south approach from the Baltic Sea to the Black Sea.Iohannis showed that these lines of action are reflected in the priorities that Romania is pursuing at the NATO Summit in July.According to the head of state, the security context in the wider Black Sea region is fluid, dynamic and complex, marked by unpredictability and a constant need for adaptation.He pointed out that Romania's major objective is to strengthen its security through national efforts and make the best possible use of strategic partnerships, especially with the US, and of its role inside NATO as well as the EU.Iohannis went on to say that amidst the current NATO security, NATO's deterrence and defence posture has to be strengthened, while its collective defence dimension against risks, threats and challenges coming from the East should be consolidated.He said that Romania will continue to support the allied goal of fair sharing of burdens and to meet its commitment to allocate 2 percent of its Gross Domestic Product (GDP) for defence spending.Iohannis also said that amidst the current security environment, defence begins with the national soil.Among the participants in the meeting organised by the American Center for European Policy Analysis (CEPA) think tank were Peter Doran, CEPA chairman and former commander of the United States Army Europe (USAREUR) Ben Hodges; Chief of Romanian Army Staff Nicolae Ciuca; as well as Romania's Deputy Prime Minister for Implementation of Strategic Partnerships, Ana Birchall.CEPA is a non-profit and non-partisan research institute dedicated to the study of Central and Eastern Europe. Established in 2005, CEPA is the only American think tank whose focus is solely on European states and societies. Chairman of the select parliamentary committee on the justice package Florin Iordache said on Thursday that through the bills amending the Criminal Codes, the MPs of the ruling Social Democratic Party (PSD) and its junior coalition partner, the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats (ALDE) seek nothing else but normalize life in Romania, "a life that must be governed by clear rules." "The PSD and ALDE parliamentary groups submitted yesterday [on Wednesday] in the Lower House and the Senate three initiatives aimed at modifying and rendering the Criminal Code, the Criminal Procedure Code and the Civil Procedure Code compliant with the decisions of the Constitutional Court of Romania, the European directives and the ECHR decisions. The three initiatives are also intended to normalize life in Romania, a life that needs to be governed by clear rules, the Constitutional Court's decisions; there has been footdragging on many articles and since the Justice Ministry and Parliament have not brought them in line in 45 days, there was a need for consistency, for a certain normalcy in society," Iordache said at the Palace of Parliament. He added that, as far as he knows, the Ministry of Justice is not considering issuing an emergency ordinance to amend these Codes, and the regulatory acts should have been rendered compliant with the European directives by April 1.Iordache mentioned that the Ministry of Justice did not participate in the drafting of the three legislative proposals to amend the Codes, but would be called upon to express an opinion on these initiatives of the PSD-ALDE MPs. Iordache also denied allegations that certain articles in the legislative initiatives would favor some politicians, PSD national leader Liviu Dragnea included."We don't put forth laws with dedication, no law is hammered out for a particular person. When it is promulgated, the law will apply to the entire society; we have come up with certain proposals, they are under debate and will definitely change through the effort and the proposals made by the professional associations, the Superior Council of the Magistracy (CSM), the Supreme Court, and the law universities in Romania's most important cities," he said.Asked why culpable carelessness was removed in the legislative blueprints, Iordache said that this misfeasance "was overlapping with abuse of office"."In the explanatory memorandum you will see the reasons why we proposed the abrogation of this crime. (...) We have defined the main guidelines aimed at redefining abuse of office, there are already around 14 proposals with a higher or lower threshold, and the Minister of Justice said he would too make a proposal on abuse of office; we will find the best formula to define abuse of office by debates in the committee," Iordache said.He also explained that a numerical threshold might be completely scrapped for abuse of office."I said that setting a certain threshold would trigger an entire debate over why that particular value and why not a lower or a higher one. I think that the definition of abuse of office should be done without linking it to a particular threshold, taking into account the two decisions of the Constitutional Court of Romania. Maybe the Ministry of Justice has a proposal to better bring together the two decisions of the Constitutional Court of Romania," Iordache concluded. Reading first reports that American CIA chief Mike Pompeo held secret talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 1, one might be forgiven for thinking it an April Fool prank. But no, the meeting did take, confirmed by none other than US President Donald Trump. In a tweet this week, Trump wrote: Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Pompeo, who is awaiting confirmation of his new post as Secretary of State before the Senate later this month, is known for his hawkish foreign policy views. As CIA chief, he notoriously said that he wanted to make the feared quasi-paramilitary organization even more vicious. Now Pompeo is serving as a peace tribune to North Korea, which until recently he has taken a confrontational stance towards. When he was nominated last month to take over from outgoing Rex Tillerson at the State Department, some observers expected the surprise rapprochement between the Trump White House and the North Korean leader would be subsequently nixed. Pompeo, and the advent of John Bolton as Trumps National Security Advisor, personify the neocon faction in Washington. The emerging fact that Pompeo met in person with Kim Jong-Un in Pyongyang and that the pair apparently formed a good relationship seems a rather dizzying revelation. It was the highest level meeting between a senior American official and a North Korean leader since 2000 when then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, from the Bill Clinton administration, met with Kim Jong-Il the father of the states current leader. Not only that, but Pompeo and Kim Jong-Un reportedly discussed making preparations for a forthcoming face-to-face summit between Kim and Trump. That encounter could take place in June, although a venue has not yet been finalized. It would be an unprecedented breakthrough and the first time a sitting American president has ever met a North Korean leader. Trump took his inner circle aback last month when he impulsively accepted an invitation from North Koreas Kim to hold a one-on-one summit. Trump jumped at the chance even before his national security team had been consulted. It appears that the president is very much still on board for the tete-a-tete. This is a startling turnaround in bilateral communications. During Trumps first year in office, he frequently used incendiary rhetoric towards North Korea, disparaging Kim as little rocket man, and threatening to use overwhelming military force against the northeast Asian nation over its clandestine nuclear-weapons program. For his part, Kim was none too shy about firing back the rhetoric at Trump, mocking the American leader as an old dotard and threatening to strike the US mainland with nuclear ballistic missiles. It is not confirmed if North Korea has reached the capability to hit North America with nuclear warheads. But it seems that Kims newfound willingness to engage in diplomacy with the US may be prompted by a sense of strength from having achieved that nuclear threshold. Others would say that the ratcheting of US-led economic sanctions under Trump has forced Pyongyang to the negotiating table. Whatever the exact motive force, the upshot is that the American and North Korean leaders are willing to talk. That outcome of jaw-jaw is better than war-war, as Winston Churchill once said. The diplomatic path of dialogue has also been consistently urged by Russia and China. If one hasnt already been overwhelmed with positive development, then heres one more thing. Next week, the South Korean President Moon Jae-In is due to hold a summit with Kim in which the two leaders are prepared to explore the signing of a full peace treaty to mark the end of the Korean War (1950-53). That meeting will the first of its kind between two Korean leaders in more than a decade. Never before has a full peace treaty been broached at such a senior Korean government level. For the past 65 years since the end of the war, the two Koreas have coexisted in a technical state of war, restrained only by an armistice or truce. That situation has been historically fraught with concerns of a return to full-blown war. Furthermore, President Trump has said he gives my blessing to the inter-Korean talks next week aimed at negotiating a definitive peace treaty. No sitting American president over the past six decades has acknowledged the issue of signing a peace treaty, let alone endorsing it. The US was a main belligerent in that war, siding with its ally South Korea against the Communist North. Any peace treaty would involve the US signing up to it, along with South and North Korea, as well as China which backed the latter in the war. Unfortunately, this is where the goodwill on display so far may become unstuck. Trump says he welcomes North Koreas offer of engaging in talks for denuclearization that is, to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. But North Korea will want proper exchange for such a momentous move. A full peace treaty over the Korean War is one such reasonable demand. That could then pave the way for the eventual unification of the two Koreas, which many people on the Peninsula have long desired, including the present leaders on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone. But a peace treaty also implies that the US withdraws all its forces from the Korean Peninsula. Currently, there are some 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea. There has been an American military presence on the peninsula since the end of the Second World War. Every year, the US conducts large-scale military maneuvers with South Korean forces in the air and waters around the peninsula. This has long been a cause of animus in North Korea which views the war games as rehearsals for the resumption of war. The fundamental issue is that American strategy for power and influence in Asia-Pacific towards perceived chief rivals Russia and China depends on the US military having a foothold on the Korean Peninsula. It therefore seems deeply counter-intuitive that US geopolitical planners would be prepared to surrender their Korean power-projection point. President Trump has so far, surprisingly, shown goodwill to talks with North Korea and the search for peace. But when Washington realizes that a genuine peace settlement involves the complete withdrawal of American military forces from Korea, Trumps thumbs-up is likely to become inverted. Photo: South China Morning Post The Syrian government considers the loss of their chemical weapons facilities a minor setback. Russia or Iran will pay to have the facilities replaced. Meanwhile the April 7 th chemical weapon attack on Douma caused rebel resistance in the area to collapse and within a few days Syrian troops were able to move in, even though that violated terms of a peace deal the Russians had worked out. That was nothing new, Syria had regularly violated the Russian peace deals and it was no secret that the Russians created these ceasefires and safe zones mainly as propaganda and never as something that would prohibit Syrian forces from advancing. The civil war is not over but there is little to stop Assad from regaining control over most of Syria. About a third of the pre-war population is gone but nearly all of those exiles are anti-Assad so their departure is a good thing for the Assads. Turkey, Lebanon and Jordan ended up with most of these refugees and would like to see them return home. That could be a problem with Turkey, which is the only host for these refugees that could force Assad to take the largely Sunni Arab refugees back. The Turks see that as impossible as long as the Assads are in power. Another problem for Assad is Iran which, as the price of bailing him out, insists on establishing military bases in Syria and organizing a Hezbollah-like organization in Syria. The Assads are not happy with either of those developments because those Iranian moves could put Syria in the middle of a war between Iran and Israel. Israel (quietly) and Saudi Arabia (openly) are trying to persuade the Americans to keep their troops in Syria. The U.S. recently announced that withdrawing American troops was a possibility although it appears all this has more to do with negotiations with Turkey over a number of issues, like membership in NATO and relations with the EU and America. There is also little enthusiasm in the United States for continued American troop presence in Syria. The popular attitude is that Syria and Iraq are regional problems. The U.S. helped to destroy ISIL (Islamic State in Iraq and the Levant) and that effort continues around the world. The U.S. remains committed to the defense of Israel and any Arab states who agree with that, but permanently stationing troops in the Middle East is very unpopular with Americans. Russian Bots Unleashed Russia continues pushing the accusation that the Syrian chemical attack on Douma was actually a fake. Syria has joined in and made a film about this fraud. But the Syrian video was quickly exposed as providing fake evidence of the staged attack when it was pointed out that the video proof the Syrians broadcast was from an earlier Syrian propaganda film that was presented as staged. The Russians were somewhat more successful as they unleashed an enormous bot campaign in support of its conspiracy theory. This bot campaign could be seen throughout the English language web as robotic accounts quickly provided scripted messages in support of the conspiracy theory in any public site where people were discussing the Syrian chemical attacks and using certain words and phrases that the Russian Internet monitoring system was set to seek out so the bots (programs pretending to be people posting messages) could be sent to support the claim that the chemical attack was faked to justify illegal air strikes on Syrian. It was an impressive disinformation campaign and part of a larger Russian effort to distract those asking why Russian air defense systems failed to perform when the air strikes hit and have been similarly ineffective against Israeli attacks. Meanwhile The American campaign against ISIL in Iraq and Syria continues, especially the intelligence collection and air strikes. American forces in Iraq work with their Iraqi counterparts to search for and attack remaining ISIL personnel and a lot of this action is taking place close to the Syrian border. There are several air strikes a day (in Iraq and Syria) and these are often against major targets. ISIL no longer controls any territory in Iraq but Syria is another matter with several remote areas in Syria known to be under ISIL control. The Assads have never been particularly eager to go after ISIL base areas, preferring to let others do it. The Assads concentrated on the rebel groups that were more determined to overthrow the Assads rather than, like ISIL, control all the Islamic terror groups in the area. Most of the damage done to ISIL in Syria was inflicted by the Americans, Syrian Kurds (and their non-Kurd allies) and more recently the Turks. This situation has not changed and the Assads still expect to take control of areas cleared of ISIL occupation. Recent American reminders that U.S. forces will leave Syria once ISIL is eliminated has the Syrian Kurds worried that the Americans have made a deal with the Turks. Theres been no confirmation of that and the Kurds dont want to believe that there is little popular support in the United States for keeping American troops in Syria any longer than required to deal with ISIL. The Americans were annoyed at how the Kurds halted their operations against ISIL three months ago to fight the Turks at Afrin. The Turks won and now the Kurds are looking to the Americans to protect them from Turkish retaliation. This is the sort of local politics the Americans in general want no part of. April 17, 2018: Syrian media announced two more airstrikes on Syrian air bases (one in the north near Homs and the other outside Damascus). No one took credit for these attacks, there were no photos of any after-effects and Syria claims to have shot down some of the attack missiles. Syria has to be careful with false claims because Israel has its own photo satellites passing over Syria several times a day. This has made it difficult for Syria to stage faked events. The Israelis have also made it clear they keep tab on who has what where and that is causing problems for Iran and Russia as well. April 16, 2018: Iran has threatened to retaliate against Israel for the latest attack on Iranian facilities at the T4 base in Syria. These threats were not unexpected but so far Iran has not been able to carry out an attack on Israel itself. Iran has been supporting efforts from its allies in Gaza but there have been nothing but failures so far. Israel recently revealed that the Iranian UAV shot down on February 10th as it entered Israeli airspace was armed with explosives. The UAV incident prompted the attack on Iranian UAV bases in Syria. Another reason for the T4 attack was also revealed; Iran had just set up a new air-defense system that might have made a later attack less successful. Meanwhile the Iranian inability to strike a blow against Israel is making the Iranian radicals (IRGC, Quds) back in Iran look bad at a time when they are under attack for corruption and brutally suppressing widespread protests by Iranians against the misrule of the Iranian radicals and the religious dictatorship the radicals serve. To make matters even worse the radicals campaign against Saudi Arabia and other Arab oil states has resulted in the Saudis openly siding with Israel and reveling in the apparent Iranian ability to hurt Israel. All this makes for a dangerous situation as the Iranians are notorious sore losers and far more adept with technology than the Arabs. . April 15, 2018: A Russian cargo ship was seen headed for Tartus with a cargo of armored vehicles (mostly various wheeled armored vehicles), heavy trucks and at least one coastal patrol boat. April 14, 2018: The United States, Britain and France launched 105 cruise missiles and glide bombs at three Syrian facilities that developed, produced and stored Syrian chemical weapons. Satellite photos later showed that all of the missiles and smart bombs apparently hit their targets. This was backed up by cell phone photos that got out of Syria showing the damage in great detail. Russia had immediately announced that the Russian supplied Syrian air defense system had performed as designed and shot down 71 of the missiles. This was an attempt to protect the reputation of the Russian air defense systems and even though there will be no wreckage of the 71 missiles Russian insists their systems shot down they will continue with the invented story. The Americans revealed that the Syrian air defense system went into action after the missiles hit and the coordinated attack had all the missiles hitting their targets with a few minutes of each other. French, British and American aircraft delivered some of the missiles and they all returned safely. There was no response from Russian naval forces against the American and British warships that launched most of the missiles. The only one to keep believing the Russian version are many Russians who depend on state controlled media for all their news. There Russians are also told that the Syrian use of chemical weapons in Douma was a hoax perpetuated by the British, as was the earlier incident in Britain where someone (apparently a Russian agent) tried and nearly succeeded in killing a former Russian intelligence agent who had defected to the British. The failure of Russian air defense systems in Syria is going to cost Russia export sales as well as much embarrassment. All Russian claims about the success of their new weapons in Syria will be devalued. This is something Russia cant even discuss publicly because the official Russian position is that none of their systems have failed. Iran has been a big customer for Russian air defense systems and Turkey has indicated interest in buying the S-400 system. Turkey and Iran have to reconsider in light of recent experience. Later today there were reports of explosions at an Iranian base outside Aleppo. Iran denied that this was the result of another Israeli air strike and insisted the explosions were part of rebuilding the base. April 13, 2018: Turkey reports that it has neutralized (killed or captured) 4,157 terrorists (Kurds, their Arab allies and some ISIL and other Islamic terrorist fighters) since their operation against Afrin began on January 20th. So far the 6,000 or so Turkish soldiers lost 52 dead and the three times more numerous FSA rebels who are allied with the Turks. Most of the troops involved in this operation are from FSA, who are believed to have suffered several hundred dead so far. The Turk/FSA forces finally captured Afrin on March 18th. Now the force is preparing to advance east, to the Euphrates River. April 11, 2018: The Turkish foreign minister accused the Assad government of having killed over a million Syrians since 2011 and that it had no legitimate claim on being the government of Syria. Turkey has never had good relations with the Assads but was thought to have eased up a bit to get along with their Russian and Iranian allies, who are strong supporters of the Assads. But now Turkey has reverted to its normal attitude, that the Assads are a bunch of opportunistic, unreliable and murderous thugs. The current Turkish government has been unpredictable but the distrust of the Assads is a lot older than the Erdogan government, which took power in 2003. The Turks later elaborated that they are still Russian allies, aside from the support for Assad issue. The Turks would be pleased if the Russians arranged some other group to take control of the Syrian government. April 10, 2018: In the north (Syria) Russian ships have left the Russian naval base at Tartus. This is considered a standard move if major attacks are expected. European air control warned airlines to be careful over the eastern Mediterranean for the next 72 hours because there might be more air or missile strikes that would result in electronic countermeasures that could disrupt commercial navigations systems on airliners. Russia admitted that its electronic countermeasures were unable to stop the missiles, which they say were launched over Lebanon by Israeli F-15Is, during an earlier attack. April 9, 2018: In central Syria several missiles hit the Iranian T4 airbase near Palmyra. Four Iranian IRGC personnel were killed, including a colonel known for his work with Iranian UAVs. There were at least ten other dead, all believed to be Iranian mercenaries. This is where Iran moved its UAV operations after its original UAV base in Syria was destroyed by an Israeli airstrike on February 10th. The Americans said they had advance warning of todays attack while Russia complained that it was not advised even though it has some personnel at the T-4 base. Israel did not take credit for the attack, which is how Israel handles most of its airstrikes in Syria. Russia later revealed that its electronic jammers, which were supposed to disrupt the guidance systems of missiles attacking Syrian bases failed to do so during the T-4 attack. Details were not given, only that the Russian jammers were interfered with by external forces. April 7, 2018: In Syria an airstrike against Douma, a rebel held town east of Damascus, apparently involved some type of chemical weapon. Medical aid workers report at least 70 dead, including many civilians. The airstrike, like many Syria carries out against pro-rebel civilians, involved a barrel bomb (an empty oil barrel filled with explosives and whatever else was available). These are pushed out of helicopters or transports and are equipped with a contact fuze so they explode on impact. Russian and Iranian military personnel work closely with the Syrian air force and know what goes on (and into barrel bombs). Iran has military advisors assigned to all the senior Syrian military commands and many of the lower level ones. Syria has been accused of using primitive (World War I type) chemical weapons that attack the respiratory system. These older chemical weapons are often nothing more than industrial chemicals (like chlorine) in large (and dangerous) doses. But this new attack and one before it apparently also included some nerve gas. Russia believes that industrial chemicals (like chlorine) dont count as chemical weapons (according the 2013 Russian brokered deal to rid Syria of chemical weapons) and the Iranians apparently dont care. When pressed Iran will blame Israel or the Americans. In response the United States said it would retaliate if the Douma attack did involve any kind of chemical weapon. The evidence indicates that the Douma attack involved a combination of chlorine and a nerve gas. Israel fears Iran is permitting Syria to use these chemical weapons to test their effectiveness and the degree of international outrage. Israel has always believed Iran planned to provide Syria and Hezbollah with chemical weapons for use in a major attack on Israel. April 6, 2018: The Syrian Army launched an assault on the remaining portions of the Ghouta suburb that are still held by the rebels. The main objective here is the Douma neighborhood, which sits astride a key highway that the rebels have blocked for years. April 5, 2018: In Syria Turkey, Russia and Iran again agreed to put aside their differences and help each other in order to defeat the remaining rebels while also preventing Syrian Kurds from controlling any part of the country. The three agreed to tolerate Turkish operations (to build a Turkish controlled buffer zone on the Syrian side of the border) and cooperate to force American forces out of Syria. While this session was held in Turkey this is an extension of the talks that began in late 2017 in the Central Asian city of Astana (the capital of Kazakhstan). There the pro-Assad coalition of Russia, Turkey, Iran and the Assad government began their negotiations (also called peace talks) with each other about how to achieve everyones goals. From the beginning Iran wanted access to the Israeli border and suppression of the Syrian Kurds. Turkey wanted an end to Kurdish autonomy in northern Syria. Russia wants to get whatever it can at the least cost. The public sessions were propaganda and details of the private meetings, the ones that mattered, were largely kept secret but it has always been clear that the Astana talks are about how to restore Assad rule to Syria, or at least most of it. April 4, 2018: In the north (Syria) Assad forces have begun moving reinforcements towards the Israeli border, apparently with the intention of destroying rebel groups that have come occupy most of the southern border since 2011. This has been accompanied by increased Syrian air strikes against rebels near the border. This move by Syria alarms the UN because they fear for the safety of their peacekeepers. In late 2016 UN Peacekeepers returned to the Syrian side of the Israeli border for the first time since 2014. Initially only 127 peacekeepers crossed the border and wasnt until the end of 2016 before the full force of over a thousand troops returned to their Syrian positions. Back in 2014 UN peacekeepers from Fiji and the Philippines were forced out by al Qaeda (al Nusra) rebels, who wanted to ensure that the UN peacekeepers did not interfere with the rebel takeover of a border crossing. The Islamic terrorist rebels looted the UN camp. The rebels were driven away from the border in 2016 by the Syrian Army, which had regained control of the entire 70 kilometer long border with Israel. Up until 2014 the UN had 1,223 peacekeepers monitoring the Syrian/Israeli border and wanted that force returned. The UN troops have been there since 1974 to monitor a ceasefire between Israel and Syria. Israel defeated Syria in 1967 and took the Golan Heights from Syria. In 1973 Israel defeated a strong effort by Syria to regain the Golan Heights. Since then the UN has watched over an uneasy peace. From 2014 to 2016 the peacekeepers were only able to operate on the Israeli side of the border. March 28, 2018: Israel revealed that it had resumed airstrikes against targets in Syria. These air operations had been halted for several weeks after an F-16I crashed after returning from one of those missions. Israel rarely releases details of these missions but observers in Syria usually do and there have been reports in the last week that Hezbollah and Iranian targets are being hit from the air again. March 26, 2018: In the northeast (Deir Ezzor province) the American commander for Syria spoke with his Russian counterpart and that led to the withdrawal of Russian, Syrian and Iranian forces that had gathered near the new American base that had been attacked unsuccessfully on February 7th. Further south, outside Damascus, Russia reports that their aerial bombing effort against a rebel controlled (for over five years) area east of the city was largely back under government control. Russia was criticized for its ruthless bombing of residential areas but the Russians agreed with the Assad strategy of going after pro-rebel civilians to weaken the resolve of the rebels there to keep fighting. It worked again in Ghouta, where many of the civilians and most of the surviving rebels have agreed to leave for northwest Syria where Idlib province, on the Turkish border. Idlib is the last major stronghold for rebels. About ten percent of the Ghouta suburb is still held by rebels who refuse to leave but are still negotiating. These areas are still being hit with artillery and airstrikes. March 24, 2018: In the west, on the Lebanese border, locals report that there were several Israeli air strikes on Hezbollah border positions. Increased persecution of Algerian Christians, covert support of Moroccan rebels and criticism of air attacks against the Syrian chemical weapons facilities has defined Algerian foreign policy lately. To placate Islamic conservatives the government is closing Christian churches and persecuting Algerian converts to Christianity. The Algerian constitution guarantees religious freedom but the government has adhered to the constitution selectively depending on what it needs at the moment. The government says there are only 20,000 Christians but there are apparently more like 100,000 and more Algerian Moslems are quietly converting. Not quietly enough because for Islamic conservatives it is forbidden for a Moslem to convert. In some Moslem countries (like Saudi Arabia) conversion is a capital offense and those found guilty are executed. Yet the government feels a need to persecute Christians in order to keep the Islamic political parties weak. These Islamic parties need a hot issue to exploit and have not been able to find one. But the government ignoring the growth of Christianity in Algeria could be turned into headline news if only the government would cooperate. The Polisario Paradox Earlier this month Algeria had assured neighbor Morocco and the UN that it no longer had anything to do with Polisario, a group of Moroccan terrorists that Algeria helped create decades ago. Then on April 11th an Algerian Air Force transport crashed on takeoff and among the 257 dead were 26 Polisario members. The transport was taking off from a base near the Algerian capital carrying mainly military personnel. This was more than an embarrassment, it confirmed the accusations that Algeria could not be trusted when it came to Polisario, and perhaps other matters as well. For example, Algeria is one of the few Sunni majority Arab countries that supports the Assad government. Algeria is a major customer for Russian weapons and admirer of current Russian politics (the creation of a president for life in what is supposed to be a democracy), which is now very similar to what Algeria has had since the 1960s. Back (before 1991) when Russia was the Soviet Union the Russians backed Algerian efforts to support and encourage Polisario and thereby weaken neighbor Morocco (which was, and still is, a centuries old monarchy and a more efficient government than the democratic dictatorship in Algeria). Morocco has accused Algerian leaders of being lying hypocrites and now the UN and many other nearby nations are agreeing with that. Polisario has always caused problems with neighboring Morocco and the problem got worse in 2013. The two countries recalled ambassadors and there was talk of escalation. This made cooperation in counter-terrorism efforts (or anything else) with Morocco impossible. Meanwhile, Polisario provided Islamic terrorists safe haven in Polisario refugee camps in Algeria (90,000 refugees) and Mauritania (24,000). This is all connected with the declining prospects of Polisario, which has been in bad shape since 1991. Back then, Morocco finally won its war with Polisario Front rebels, who were seeking independence for the Western Sahara (a region south of Morocco). Polisario remains powerful in Mauritania, where the rebel group has official recognition and maintains several refugee camps. At the beginning (the 1960s) Polisario was so well-subsidized by Algeria, back when Algeria was a radical state, that Polisario still has enough diehards out there to keep lots of people in Western Sahara unhappy. This situation has also provided recruits and sanctuary for al Qaeda and other Islamic radicals. Since the 1990s the UN has been trying to work out a final peace deal between Polisario and Morocco. During the 1990s Algeria said it cut off all support for Polisario. But that, and UN efforts to mediate the differences have just not worked. The contested area is largely desert with a current population of less than 600,000. Logic would have it that the area is better off as a part of Morocco. But there are still thousands of locals who would rather fight for independence than submit to Morocco. Some resistance is tribal and cultural, with the Moroccans seen as another bunch of alien invaders. The area was administered until 1976 as a Spanish colony. Most Western Saharans have made peace with Moroccan rule, especially since Morocco has been spending a billion dollars a year on infrastructure and other improvements and doing so for decades. Western Sahara is a much nicer place because of that. Polisario still has several thousand armed men based in the refugee camps and refuses to accept Moroccan rule of Western Sahara. Polisario has become an outlaw organization with no real purpose. If the fighting breaks out again Morocco could defeat Polisario, but Polisario still has a sanctuary in the Algerian refugee camps. There Polisario discourages any talk of peacefully returning to Western Sahara, even though a growing number of the camp inmates are quietly doing that. The refugee camps have become police states run by Polisario and tolerated by Algeria. Smuggler Blues Increased security on Algerias southern border (especially the ones with Mali and Niger) catches more people illegally crossing the border but most of them are smugglers. While most of the smuggled goods are consumer items (easier to sell in Algeria) weapons and drugs were encountered. It was the drug shipments that had the heaviest security. This often meant crossing the border at night and then hiding the drugs or weapons at a hiding place known only to partners in Algeria, who had a legitimate reason for being down south. These weapons and drugs were then smuggled north to the coast and another gang of smugglers got the drugs on ships or airplanes headed for Europe. The weapons were for local markets (mostly criminals). Since moving drugs involved so many people, it is more expensive. But thats the nature of drug smuggling and Islamic terror groups tend to supply most of the security and maintain that monopoly by killing any competitors. Drug shipments still get seized. This is usually when the hiding places on the Algerian side of the border are stumbled on by patrols or the transporters moving the drugs from the southern border to the coast have an accident or get exposed as smugglers for some other reason. The Algerian police estimate that over 90 percent of the drugs get through and the Islamic terrorists get paid more than enough to keep them in business. For this reason, small groups of Islamic terrorists survive in northern Mali, near the Algerian and Niger borders not because of Islamic radical locals but because of the cash. With that, you can buy all the hospitality and discretion you need. April 18, 2018: Algeria and Saudi Arabia signed four agreements to improve economic and diplomatic relations. Algeria has condemned the Yemeni rebels using Iranian ballistic missiles to attack Saudi Arabia but tries to avoid criticizing Iran. April 12, 2018: France announced that it would support Morocco using military force to deal with continued Polisario violence, especially in light of the recent revelation that Algeria continues to support Polisario. April 11, 2018: Some 30 kilometers west of the capital an Algerian Air Force IL-76 transport crashed on takeoff from the Boufarik Airport. All 257 aboard died and the situation got worse when the victims were identified and 26 turned out to be members of Polisario. April 9, 2018: In neighboring Morocco military reinforcements are being sent south to deal with increased Polisario violations of the buffer zones that a UN agreement established in 1991. The UN was assured by Algeria and Morocco that these two nations would cooperate to maintain the peace. Instead, Algeria has secretly continued to support Polisario and encourage violations of the ceasefire. April 4, 2018: The UN openly criticized Algeria for continuing to support Polisario, an outlaw group that carries out attacks against Morocco largely because Polisario continues to obtain support from Algeria. Yet Algeria denies that it supports Polisario despite ample evidence to the contrary. UN officials have witnessed this cooperation with Polisario in refugee camps and heard from many refugees who complained of Polisario punishing anyone who openly opposed them and Algerian security forces backing Polisario up. April 2, 2018: In the east (Skikda province, 500 kilometers from the capita) troops confronted a veteran Islamic terrorist and killed him when he would not surrender. The dead man was armed with an assault rifle. Only four Islamic terrorists were killed in March and another seven suspects were arrested. Troops found 41 rural Islamic terrorist hideouts. Often these were just bunkers or caves where weapons and supplies were stored. That material was seized and included over 30 firearms and lots of ammo. Islamic terrorist activity in Algeria continues to decline and is no longer considered a major problem. March 30, 2018: On the Libyan border security on the Libyan side has been improved because of the Misrata and Zintan militias agreeing to put aside their differences and unite their forces in an effort to improve public security in western Libya. Zintan is a largely Berber city 135 kilometers south of Tripoli while Misrata is a major coastal city east of Tripoli. At one time the Zintan militias controlled many neighborhoods in Tripoli but the Misrata militias drove them out in 2014 and it took over three years for the Misrata militias to repair that damage. Algeria and Tunisia support the UN backed GNA government in Tripoli and the new Misrata-Zintan alliance because it means better security for the western borders. March 24, 2018: In neighboring Libya, an American UAV missile strike in Southwestern Libya killed Musa Abu Dawud, a veteran Algerian Islamic terrorist who had risen to high rank in al Qaeda but during the last few years had spent most of his time in Libya because it was safer. TICKERS: SSC; SSCFF; R3W Source: Clive Maund for Streetwise Reports (4/18/18) Clive Maund provides a technical analysis on an energy efficiency company that he believes is a buy. Whilst obviously a speculative play that is not suited to all subscribers, simply because of its low price, Smartcool Systems Inc. (SSC:TSX.V; SSCFF:OTC.MKTS; R3W:FSE) continues to shape up well, and look even more attractive than when we last looked at it on 14th March. This is because, as we can see on its latest 1-year chart below, the Head-and-Shoulders bottom that is developing in it has now become pleasingly symmetrical, which means that the time is nigh for it to break out upside from this pattern into a significant new bull market upleg. The strongly bullish volume pattern and volume indicators support this outcome, in particular the strong On-balance Volume line, and the current tight bunching of the price and moving averages create the potential for a big move soon. The fundamentals of the company are believed to be good and continuing to improve. Holders should therefore stay long, and Smartcool is rated an immediate strong buy again here. Smartcool Systems website. Smartcool Systems Inc, SSC.V, SSCFF on OTC, closed at C$0.06, $0.045 on 13th April 2018. Clive Maund has been president of www.clivemaund.com, a successful resource sector website, since its inception in 2003. He has 30 years' experience in technical analysis and has worked for banks, commodity brokers and stockbrokers in the City of London. He holds a Diploma in Technical Analysis from the UK Society of Technical Analysts. Want to read more Energy Report articles like this? Sign up for our free e-newsletter, and you'll learn when new articles have been published. To see a list of recent articles and interviews with industry analysts and commentators, visit our Streetwise Interviews page. Disclosure: 1) Clive Maund: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: None. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: None. CliveMaund.com disclosures below. I determined which companies would be included in this article based on my research and understanding of the sector. 2) The following companies mentioned in this article are billboard sponsors of Streetwise Reports: None. Click here for important disclosures about sponsor fees. As of the date of this article/interview, an affiliate of Streetwise Reports has a consulting relationship with Smartcool Systems. 3) Statements and opinions expressed are the opinions of the author and not of Streetwise Reports or its officers. The author is wholly responsible for the validity of the statements. The author was not paid by Streetwise Reports for this article. Streetwise Reports was not paid by the author to publish or syndicate this article. The information provided above is for informational purposes only and is not a recommendation to buy or sell any security. 4) This article does not constitute investment advice. Each reader is encouraged to consult with his or her individual financial professional and any action a reader takes as a result of information presented here is his or her own responsibility. By opening this page, each reader accepts and agrees to Streetwise Reports' terms of use and full legal disclaimer. This article is not a solicitation for investment. Streetwise Reports does not render general or specific investment advice and the information on Streetwise Reports should not be considered a recommendation to buy or sell any security. Streetwise Reports does not endorse or recommend the business, products, services or securities of any company mentioned on Streetwise Reports. 5) From time to time, Streetwise Reports LLC and its directors, officers, employees or members of their families, as well as persons interviewed for articles and interviews on the site, may have a long or short position in securities mentioned. Directors, officers, employees or members of their immediate families are prohibited from making purchases and/or sales of those securities in the open market or otherwise from the time of the interview or the decision to write an article, until one week after the publication of the interview or article. As of the date of this article, officers and/or employees of Streetwise Reports LLC (including members of their household) own securities of Smartcool Systems, a company mentioned in this article. Chart provided by the author. CliveMaund.com Disclosure: The above represents the opinion and analysis of Mr Maund, based on data available to him, at the time of writing. Mr. Maund's opinions are his own, and are not a recommendation or an offer to buy or sell securities. Mr. Maund is an independent analyst who receives no compensation of any kind from any groups, individuals or corporations mentioned in his reports. As trading and investing in any financial markets may involve serious risk of loss, Mr. Maund recommends that you consult with a qualified investment advisor, one licensed by appropriate regulatory agencies in your legal jurisdiction and do your own due diligence and research when making any kind of a transaction with financial ramifications. Although a qualified and experienced stockmarket analyst, Clive Maund is not a Registered Securities Advisor. Therefore Mr. Maund's opinions on the market and stocks can only be construed as a solicitation to buy and sell securities when they are subject to the prior approval and endorsement of a Registered Securities Advisor operating in accordance with the appropriate regulations in your area of jurisdiction. Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi met British counterpart Theresa May on Thursday at the Buckingham Palace. The premier is scheduled to meet Prince Charles today and attend a dinner later, hosted by Prime Minister May. The main theme of the Commonwealth conference, of which Pakistan is one of the founding members, is Towards A Common Future. Earlier, His Royal Highness Prince of Wales welcomed Commonwealth leaders from 53 countries to the formal opening to the meeting. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi reached the United Kingdom to lead the Pakistani delegation in the 25th Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018. Abbasi was received by Pakistans High Commissioner to the UK Syed Ibne Abbas and David Pearey, the special representative of the British Foreign Minister, at Heathrow Airport upon his arrival in London. PM Abbasi is expected to participate actively in all executive and retreat sessions as well as a number of events being held on the CHOGMs sidelines. Further, during his stay in London, he is also scheduled to call on Queen Elizabeth II and Prince of Wales, and meet the British leadership as well. Earlier the 25th Meeting of Commonwealth Heads of Government (CHOGM) has formally begun in London. Prince Charles opened the meeting, the theme of which is Towards a Common Future.Addressing the meeting, British Prime Minister Theresa May said together the member states can face crucial challenges of the 21st century including economy, cyber crimes and climate change. Earlier, Prime Minister Abbasi upon arrival at the Buckingham Palace was presented guard of honour. Three motorcycle-riding men threw acid on two sisters and their friend in the Dang district of Gujrat Thursday morning. According to reports, the three girls, who are said to be students of the University of Gujrat, were waiting at a bus stop to go to university when men riding a motorbike approached them and threw acid. The girls were taken to Aziz Bhatti Shaheed Teaching Hospital where they are being treated at the burn unit. According to reports, one of the suspects was apprehended by passers-by and later handed over to the police. He is in custody and under investigation, according to police. A search for the remaining two suspects is underway. Chief Minister Punjab Shahbaz Sharif has taken notice of the incident and has asked the district police officer to submit a report. The CM has asked for immediate action to be taken against the men involved in the case. He has also asked for the best medical facilities to be provided to the survivors of the attack. According to a report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) earlier this week, 143 women were attacked with acid or were set on fire in Pakistan last year. German Industry Cautions Against EU Digital Tax by Ulrika Lomas, Tax-News.com, Brussels 19 April 2018 The Federal Association of German Industry (BDI) has said that proposals for a tax on digital companies will be detrimental to the European economy and exacerbate trade tensions between Europe and the United States. In comments published on the association's website, BDI Chief Executive Joachim Lang called for an "internationally coordinated approach" to the taxation of the digital economy, rather than short-term unilateral solutions that will increase the tax burden on companies investing in digitization. "Our companies are increasingly pursuing digital business models and are therefore also affected by the EU digital tax. As they digitize their products and processes, they face additional tax burdens. An EU digital tax is detrimental to the industry," Lang said. "The proposal for an EU digital tax comes at an inopportune time because it exacerbates transatlantic tensions. The European Commission is risking to intensify the trade conflict with the US. The expense and income of the planned tax are disproportionate. Instead of short-term interim solutions at EU level, we believe that an internationally coordinated approach is necessary," Lang added. Last month, the EU proposed two measures: an interim tax on the turnover of companies engaged in digital activities that would otherwise go untaxed, at a rate of three percent; and a longer-term solution, which the EU will seek to achieve international consensus on under the leadership of the OECD, which would establish new digital permanent establishment rules. The interim measure would be levied on revenues created from selling online advertising space; created from digital intermediary activities; and those created from the sale of data generated from user-provided information. Such would apply only to companies with total annual worldwide revenues of at least EUR750m (USD928m) and EU revenues of EUR50m. Think Tank Calls For Scottish VAT Devolution by Jason Gorringe, Tax-News.com, London 19 April 2018 Reform Scotland, a non-partisan think tank, has called for value-added tax powers to be devolved from the UK Government to the Scottish Government, once legal restrictions imposed by EU law are lifted following the UK's from the European Union. The think tank said: "Devolving VAT to the Scottish Parliament would mean that the Scottish Parliament would be responsible for raising 60 percent of what it spends, passing the 50 percent threshold for the first time. This would also significantly reduce Holyrood's reliance on income tax revenue." The link between VAT and the performance of the economy has been a talking point for successive Commissions into Scottish devolution, the think tank pointed out, stating: "The Calman Commission said that the devolution of VAT had the 'potential to deliver accountability given its significant yield and the transparency to the population,' but [added] 'devolution of VAT to Scotland is precluded by EU law.'" The Scotland Act 2016, which provides for the devolution of tax powers to Scotland, including limited income tax powers, assigns 50 percent of VAT revenues to the Scottish Parliament. The think tank suggested there may be political support for such a move, noting statements from government officials, both in Scotland and the UK, that VAT devolution may have been earlier discussed were it not precluded by EU law. Commenting, Reform Scotland's Chairman, Alan McFarlane, said: "Whilst we supported the principle of devolving income tax to the Scottish Parliament, we have consistently expressed concern that the Scottish Government's powers are so heavily dependent on one tax. The devolution of VAT, adding a consumption tax to an income tax, would help address this problem. Politicians have previously acknowledged the benefits of devolving the tax, but it was never previously possible due to EU law. Brexit removes this impediment. "We hope that the Scottish Conservatives still recognize the benefits of devolving VAT and will argue its case, along with politicians from other parties in Scotland. Although the politics of this issue are critical, so are the economics. Devolving VAT would rapidly focus minds at Holyrood on promoting economic growth because of its direct link to tax revenue, and it would also give the Finance Secretary an important extra tool to change outcomes through tax policy." With 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts, real-time security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click - for free! Learn More. Rising tensions between China and the United States have led to growing concerns that a tariff war will have a negative impact on the electronics industry. Amazingly, the industry has been spared thus far, and with good reason. However, even if tariffs arent imposed, there is a silent battle between the two countries that already has impacted the global electronics ecosystem. Watching the countries levy their recent tariffs has been like watching two opponents playing chess. Each has made a move intended to weaken the others political position. Thus far, tariffs have been aimed at key resources, such as food and raw materials. China even has targeted key regions that produce those products, such as the states that vote first in the next presidential election or that have members of Congress in strategic positions. Everyone Gets a Tariff? The electronics industry has been spared the tariff wrath because any tariff that impacts one country surely will impact the other. For example, imagine the process of building a smartphone from an imaginary U.S. mobile phone vendor. The intellectual property for the mobile processor comes from a variety of countries throughout North America, Europe and Asia. The chip is designed and fabricated in the U.S. and assembled and tested in Malaysia. The processor is then integrated into a phone that is designed in Taiwan and assembled in China with other components, such as the display and memory, coming from Korea. The completed phones are sold throughout the world, including in both China and the U.S. A scenario much like this applies to building just about any electronics device, such as a PC, car stereo, smartwatch, TV, or even embedded electronics like the control boards for appliances. With the IP, components and final systems being developed in multiple regions and shipped from one region to another, even during the manufacturing process, it is extremely difficult to put tariffs on those items. Any such tariffs would have a negative impact on the rest of the value chain, which ultimately would result in negative impacts on every country and region involved in the development and manufacturing of electronics components, systems, software and services. It would be possible to put tariffs on the raw materials used in the manufacture of electronics, but the result would be the same. As a result, the global nature of the electronics industry is what should protect it from the rising tariff battle between China and the U.S. Tit for Tat Even though the electronics industry has been spared from the China and U.S. tariff attacks, it is very much at the center of other political attacks that often are less visible. Just about every country involved in the electronics industry is involved in some form of related protectionism. The electronics industry is important not only for economic growth and prosperity, but also for national independence and security. Examples of protectionism can be seen through laws and regulations, as well as other actions by courts, regulatory bodies, and even preceding administrations. The number of these acts is countless. As with all government intervention in commerce, protectionism has become an obstacle that all companies must navigate. In the case of China and the U.S., the two have a long history of actions some clear and some covert. The U.S. has banned the transfer of some technologies to China, banned Chinese firms from bidding on government contracts, blocked the acquisition of U.S. companies by Chinese companies, and influenced carriers not to sell or support products from Chinese companies. Most of those actions have been taken under the guise of national security and IP protection, which are a concern. Meanwhile, China has required U.S. companies to have joint ventures with Chinese companies to do business in the country, forced special terms for licensing technology to products sold within China or by Chinese companies, and held up or forced the divestiture of assets for mergers involving U.S. companies. Those actions have been ongoing for decades and are not targeted solely at China or the U.S. ZTEs Story The U.S. just announced severe penalties on Chinese telecommunications equipment vendor ZTE, not permitting any U.S. company to provide components to it. While this adds to the political hostilities, the actions are the result of ZTEs noncompliance with U.S. laws and a Commerce Department agreement, not the current tariff battle. So, even though the electronics industry has been spared the initial wrath of the tariff battle, it has been, and continues to be, a pawn in the greater political battles between the two countries. Despite these challenges, the levels of innovation, cooperation and even competition among companies, countries and regions continues to grow. It is unfortunate that the electronics industry is influenced by global politics, but it is a testament to the industry that it continues to thrive despite the political interference. Aside from the standard OPPO F7 retail unit, this plan will also power the device with monthly 5GB of Open Access Data, 10GB of Video Streaming through Youtube and iflix - among other video apps, Unlimited Text Messages to All Networks, 60 Minutes of All-Net calls, plus one-month Gadget Shield. During the handset's official launch in our country held at Marriott Grand Ballroom last night - April 19, 2018, the company disclosed that their latest hero handset will be available for free withwith 24-month lock-in period.The key features of gorgeous OPPO F7, which include its 6.23-inch FHD+ Super Full Screen face and 25 MegaPixel Al-Powered Selfie Front-Cam, make it real powerhouse when it comes to browsing photos, viewing videos, and sharing detailed self-portraits on social media.To know more about #SmartOPPOF7, feel free to visit a Smart Business Center in a mall near you where you can inquire the bundle and sign up for one. As part of its promise to investors to reduce costs by $1 billion, Qualcomm has started cutting around 1,500 jobs. Most of these layoffs will take place in California, but Bloomberg reports that there will be some losses in other locations. Qualcomm, which employees around 33,800 employees globally, is set to file Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) notices with California in the next few daysa requirement when firms cut 50 or more employees within a 30-day period. It also requires that companies give affected employees 60 days notice before being let go. We first evaluated non-headcount expense reductions, but we concluded that a workforce reduction is needed to support long-term growth and success, which will ultimately benefit all our stakeholders, Qualcomm said, in a statement. Qualcomm, which eliminated thousands of jobs back in 2015, has been going through a tough time recently. It promised to cut $1 billion from its expenses as part of the plan to fight off a hostile takeover bid from Singapore-based rival Broadcoma move supported by shareholders but ultimately blocked by the Trump administration over national security concerns. Despite the government intervention, management must still live up to the promise, which should help ease its financial concerns. The chipmakers earnings have tumbled since its legal battles with Apple began; it saw a 90 percent drop in profit during Q4 2017. Qualcomm's problems were compounded by a $1.2 billion EU fine in January for violating antitrust laws, and its looking increasingly likely that Apple will drop Qualcomms tech from its future products, turning to Intel and MediaTek for its modem chips instead. When asked about the cuts, Qualcomm gave the following statement: As part of the cost reduction plan announced in January, Qualcomm is conducting a reduction of our full-time and temporary workforce. A workforce reduction, such as this one, affects not only those employees who are part of the reduction, but their families, co-workers and the community. We recognize this and have offered affected employees supportive severance packages to reduce the impact of this transition on them. We first evaluated non-headcount expense reductions, but we concluded that a workforce reduction is needed to support long-term growth and success, which will ultimately benefit all our stakeholders. Dania Alexandrino helps students break ground in Spanish-language media A year ago, Dania Alexandrino was filming a newscast for a Univision affiliate in Puerto Rico, and twenty-four hours later, she was overhauling the Innovation News Centers (INC) Spanish-language department at the University of Florida College of Journalism and Communications. Today, the Puerto Rican natives fast-paced nature matches the tone of the media industry, which is why her curriculum and management style are ambitiously preparing her students for the competitive communications industry. Alexandrino was born in Puerto Rico, but was raised from the age of seven in Boston. From there, she had early ambitions to join the Air Force and then become an international lawyer. Her early disqualification from the Air Force due to asthma seemed like a hurdle for her future career, but it quickly became a building block for her passion in journalism. She earned a full-ride scholarship to study journalism at Boston University, and later, a masters in public relations. Working in radio and television with companies like CNN Espanol and Univision followed. Flash-forward to March 2017, when she was presented with two choices: being a weather forecaster for Accuweather, or serving as the first Spanish-language News Manager for UF. Her mentor from Univision knew that she was meant to be a Gator. Her push was actually what made me think that yes, I do need a challenge. Ive been a beat reporter for so long that it was time for me to have a change of atmosphere, a challenge, Alexandrino said, adding that she was also attracted to the opportunity because it meant she could pass on her knowledge to the next generation of students, a responsibility she feels intensely. Switching roles from a reporter to educator was a challenge for Alexandrino, but prompted her to work harder to make her goals for future communicators to become realized. Within a year at the UF College of Journalism and Communications, she has modernized WUFTs Noticias website, enhanced its weekly Saturday morning radio show, doubled enrollment of students participating in the Spanish-language newscast between fall and spring, created a weekly social media newscast and rebuilt Noticias to make it an avenue where students can produce material for every media platform, giving them a broader perspective of what journalism entails and bilingual students an edge. Long gone are the day where print journalists were just print journalists ... they've become multimedia journalists, Alexandrino said. If youre not willing to learn all aspects of the business, youre not going to survive in this business. Noticias reaches Alachua county and its surrounding areas, like Marion county, along with the UF community and the students own families in Latin American countries because of its social media newscasting and online presence. Its social media newscasts, including Noticias in 90 (news overview in 90 seconds) and 15 to 20 minute weekly news videos, produce the highest amount of viewership, reaching up to 500 views in two days. The fact that kids here are producing a daily newscast that airs on a PBS affiliate is a big deal, Alexandrino said, What we have here for our students is beyond amazing. Not to mention that Ive worked in small news stations and yet this is a fully loaded newsroom that has nothing to envy from other newsrooms across the country. Alexandrinos main goal with Noticias is to expand outreach even farther, and the universitys own Latinx community to let them know that it is here to tell their stories while also increasing student enrollment in the Spanish news program to increase production size. Her urgency to energize the program is to thoroughly prepare her students for real world challenges of the industry and keep them ahead of their competition. This is why her collaboration to create a Spanish-Language News certificate with the Center for Latin American Studies (LATAM) and the Language Learning Center will soon arrive with perfect timing for any student interested in the Spanish or Latin American communications field, providing a valuable foundation for those interested in public relations to international nonprofit work. The hope is to open it up to other students that are not necessarily journalism students, but are probably [public relations] students and want to learn a little bit about what it takes to produce a newscast or produce news content because journalists and [public relations] are two in the same. They depend on each other in this business, Alexandrino said. The certificate program will offer students the opportunity to learn about cross-platform communication in the Latinx market, and teach skills ranging from how to seek news coverage for a nonprofit to how to write a press release in Spanish. The 15-credit course requirements will include two courses in the CJC, one of which is the Noticias reporting class, two courses in LATAM and one course conducted in Spanish called espanol en periodismo (journalism in Spanish). Additionally, she serves as the liaison for a partnership with Telemundo. This joint effort was created in 2017 and provides one students with a one-year fellowship at the broadcast network, along with enrollment in the television news production academy held twice each semester at the INC for Noticias students. Reflecting on her past year, Alexandrino said that it's the little things -- such as knowing that her students have received jobs thanks to the training they had with Noticias - that make her glad shes able to be part of the UF community. The school spirit here is just amazing, people here love their Gators! Even the community support for the university is great. Just being a part of something like this makes me feel good and every day I just know I made the right decision to be here, Alexandrino said. Definitely since Dania came on board weve seen a growth in Noticias, said Zalome Briceno, a 22-year-old telecommunications student who has been part of the program for the past four years. I was working on the radio show for the first two years, up until last year we only had a radio show, but now that Dania came on board we finally have a Spanish manager specifically dedicated to Noticias and weve seen a quick growth and weve all benefited from that. Noticias has definitely been a plus on my resume, Briceno said. The massacre claimed the lives of four people in the Anori municipality. It is the tenth massacre to be registered in Antioquia so far this year. | Read More Westpac failed to promptly tell the corporate regulator about a financial adviser it suspected of "serious misconduct," including breaches of the bank's rules on acting in clients' best interests. As the royal commission probed further into the troubled financial advice sector, on Thursday afternoon it turned its attention to adviser Andrew Smith, who worked for Westpac and St George bank between 2007 until he resigned in 2015. Michael Wright, national head of BT Finance. Credit:AAP Counsel assisting Rowena Orr, QC, told the hearing that Mr Smith resigned in March 2015, after the bank launched an investigation into his behaviour following a series of audits that flagged him as high risk, and several complaints were made against him. Before he quit, the bank presented Mr Smith with allegations that included potential breaches of the bank's code of conduct, its policies on the "best interests duty," and failures to properly manage conflicts of interests. The Turnbull government is within touching distance of the key economic benchmark set by former prime minister Tony Abbott when he took office - generating 1 million new jobs in five years. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is on the cusp of hitting the ambitious target set by Mr Abbott on the election trail in September 2013 early, with figures from the Australian Bureau of Statistics on Thursday showing 996,800 jobs have been created since then. The economy added only 4900 net new jobs in March. Credit:Erin Johansson But the economy added only 4900 net new jobs in March, below expectations after February's figures were revised down as the number of full-time positions filled slowed. "Australias jobs creation machine has taken a bit of a breather," Commonwealth Bank economist John Peters said. "The lift in employment was way short of market expectations of a 20,000 rise [and] it's probably more about statistical payback after a year of crackerjack jobs growth." Bloom's novel, White Houses, is told in the first person by Hick: a remarkable self-made woman, born to an abusive father and sickly mother in dirt-poor South Dakota, with enough wit and gumption to become a staff reporter at the Associated Press the first woman to get a front page byline in The New York Times. She met Eleanor while covering FDR's presidential run in 1932, and was soon faced with the choice between resigning and betraying her soul mate. She took a room at the White House and a job at the Federal Emergency Relief Administration, reporting on the ravages of the Depression. "Farmers watched their babies get through flu, survive mumps and measles, and then die of just plain starvation," writes Bloom, as Hick. "It hurt me, I tell you, to understand that the Hickoks of Bowdle, South Dakota, with shoes from a dead girl to wear on school days only and oatmeal for dinner, were lucky people." It was an open secret at the White House that Eleanor and Lorena were more than friends, but the men of the press were more interested in Franklin's mistress, the "delightful, competent, charming, discreet" Missy LeHand. Eleanor baffled them, Bloom says: "How could she be that virtuous? How could she be that hard-working? How could she be that devoted to people when she wasn't running for office and there wasn't anything to be gained?" As her fictional Hick puts it: "Eleanor was a Great Lady and what man in Christ's name wanted to be married to that?" The media's rather unflattering portrayal of Eleanor, working tirelessly in Franklin's shadow, has seeped into the historical record. In an author's note, Bloom reminds readers that for all her research and commitment to veracity, White Houses is "a work of fiction, from beginning to end", but she was also clearly eager to paint a less bloodless picture of a woman she considers to have been misrepresented. When the first volume of Wiesen Cook's biography came out, fellow Roosevelt historian Geoffrey Ward surveyed it sceptically in The New York Review of Books, inspiring a forceful response. "Ward is devoted to his vision of Mrs. Roosevelt: Cold, remote, endlessly prodding; ugly, terminally insecure, dry-as-dust," wrote Wiesen Cook. "I decided to write this biography in part because such views have dominated and limited all understanding of a great woman's life." Bloom has finished the job. "Ken Burns did a documentary on the Roosevelts only a couple of years ago: Very good on Franklin, very good on Teddy, skimpy and bland on Eleanor," Bloom says, "and when he was asked why he didn't include anything about this passionate affair in the middle of her life, he said 'oh, that's just tabloid gossip'. Now for someone like Ken Burns to have not bothered to read anything on the subject indicates to me a pretty strong wish not to know anything about the subject. "Franklin has this affair with her secretary [Lucy Mercer Rutherfurd], who is also her very good friend, and breaks her heart, and the classic historical narrative is she deals with her broken heart by throwing herself into good deeds for the next 40 years, and it seems to me quite possible that in addition to the good deeds, she also had a life." In one story in Carmen Maria Machado's recent collection, Her Body And Other Parties, a lesbian couple creates a pantheon of saints, among them Billie Holiday and Frida Kahlo, Patsy Cline, Patricia Highsmith and Shirley Jackson, Lorena Hickock and Eleanor Roosevelt. The couple, airbrushed from the accounts written by male historians, have long been gay icons. "It wasn't an easy relationship. It had lots of ups and downs," Bloom says. "But sometimes for people it's just important to know that it was that it existed." At a recent signing, an elderly lady told her she had been waiting for a book like White Houses her whole life. Bloom is bisexual, her two marriages to men punctuated by relationships with women. "As my children say, I only have four subjects: love, family, sex and death, which I think is plenty," she says. She grants Eleanor and Lorena a lively, mutually fulfilling sex life, and enjoys a few digs at Franklin's lack of verve, in passing. In one memorable passage Hick imagines them riding on the metro as old ladies: "You remember that very pleasurable and surprising thing that was done to you by the wrinkly old bag of bones next to you and you breathe in memory, the weight and the mortality and the sensible shoes are just costume, falling away, and your real selves rise up, briefly, dancing rosy and naked, in the middle of the subway car." Bloom worked as a psychiatrist for 20 years before taking up writing. Her Hick is no less acute an observer, with a keen eye for human weakness and delusion. In her telling, FDR comes across as a seducer and manipulator who "broke hearts and ambitions across his knee like bits of kindling and then said: 'Who's for cocktails?'." "Part of what I found interesting in creating Hick's view of him is he was her great president. He was her man," says Bloom. "He spoke up for working people. He tried to steer this democracy towards greater inclusiveness. And also he was her rival I found myself thinking 'I would love to have known him. I would not have wanted to be in love with him.'." Pyramid. Framer. Bubble quote. Time-hook. The words will ring a bell to any hack in the crowd. Pyramid is the shape of a hard news article where facts taper from headline to details, all the simpler for subbies to chop from the base. While framer occupies a feature story, the paragraph to outline the story's scope, like this next one: We all belong to one tribe or more, from office to club, from hobbies to chatrooms. And for every tribe there's a unique dialect, such as bubble quote (the breakout excerpt sitting below), and time-hook, which is due in para 4. Today's Wordplay will delve the why and the WTFs of tribe-talk. Illustration: Simon Letch There, framer done. Now to act on its promise, by saying tribe-talk serves a dual role, underscoring a member's in-ness as much as an outsider's out-ness. Master the jargon and you'll belong. There's a practical side to private speech too, protecting the message as much as ousting clunkier tags that newbies would apply. When teaching journalism, if framer didn't exist, I'd forever be saying "the early paragraph that maps a story's extent, pledging what ground will be covered". No thanks. Tribe-talk is terse as much as tamperproof. Rebel Wilson is back in court for a second day to fight Bauer Media's appeal against her $4.5 million defamation payout. The Pitch Perfect star returned to Melbourne's Court of Appeal on Thursday morning after sitting through Wednesday's five-hour hearing. The Hollywood actress was awarded a record amount of damages last year after a Supreme Court jury found the publisher of Woman's Day and The Australian Women's Weekly defamed her in a series of articles that suggested she was a serial liar. Ms Wilson's barrister Dr Matthew Collins told the court Bauer's appeal was based on a "mischaracterisation" of defamation law and involved "cherry-picking" a small number of the trial judge's reasonings. As the ACT government prepares to demolish the Stuart Flats in Griffith, the remaining tenants say they're disappointed to be leaving. Darrell Hicks, who has lived in and out of Stuart Flats since 1993, said the flats were part of Canberra's history. Darrell Hicks, who has lived in and out of Stuart Flats since 1993, said he was disappointed the flats were to be demolished Credit:Jamila Toderas "It had a bad reputation, but that's what happens when you put that many people on the dole all living in the same area," Mr Hicks said. An 11-year-old boy was given a snorkel to breathe through after the hole he was digging on an Adelaide beach collapsed on top of him. Jordan Spraggs had been digging the hole at Horseshoe Bay on Thursday when it collapsed, covering him with more than a metre of sand, the Nine Network reported. Jordan Spraggs was digging a hole more than a metre deep when it collapsed on him. Credit:Nine News I was shouting out for help, and no one could barely hear me, he said. "[The sand] was up to probably about an inch above my head." Picture this: you are driving out of Melbourne, when someone in the car is taken ill. How easy is it to get medical help? If you are still in the suburbs, it should be simple: hospitals and GP clinics are dotted across the urban landscape. If you have gone further, it will be more difficult. The nearest regional centre, with luck, should have a hospital. Even in larger towns, though, GPs are harder to find than in the city. And if you have driven well away from cities and towns your chances of finding more than the most basic medical help will be slim. How, you may wonder, do the people who live out here cope? Credit:Virginia Star At present the answer is: not well. Where city populations have nearly 440 doctors for every 100,000 people, in regional and remote areas the number hovers around 270. Specialists are particularly scarce. Patients out here will ignore a minor condition until it becomes intolerable, when they drive hours into town to a hospital emergency department. And things may get worse. Doctors in country areas tend to be older nearly 55 on average and specialists older still. Once they retire, who knows? Newly qualified medical graduates are reluctant to work outside the cities. A drug dealer on trial for shooting dead a teenage Comanchero in a south Sydney car park claimed he was unarmed and that a gun was pulled on him. Joseph Gatt, 27, is charged with the murder of Bassil Hijazi, 18, following a confrontation behind the Bexley shopping strip on July 29, 2013. Bassil Hijazi was shot dead in a Bexley car park. Credit:Facebook Mr Gatt on Thursday afternoon told a Supreme Court jury he braced for impact when a small silver gun appeared out of the window of the Mitsubishi Lancer his alleged victim was sitting in. I thought I was about to be shot, he said when cross-examined by Crown prosecutor Adrian Robertson. Four people are in hospital, including a child, after a four-car crash closed the Pacific Motorway heading into Brisbane on Thursday morning. The vehicles collided at Woolloongabba, near the Stanley Street on-ramp, just before 10am, shutting all lanes of the highway. A Queensland Ambulance Service spokesman said the child was taken to the Lady Cilento Childrens Hospital, one adult to the Princess Alexandra Hospital and two other adults to the Mater Hospital. All were in stable conditions and he could not provide age or gender details. The highway reopened about 11.10am. Delays, which had earlier stretched back to Holland Park, were clearing quickly. Queensland has recorded its highest jobs growth in the country for the 12 months to March but still languishes compared with other states' unemployment rates. The Bureau of Statistics found Queensland had an employment growth rate of 4.3 per cent followed by the Australian Capital Territory at 3.9 per cent and New South Wales at 3.6 per cent. Queensland employment is on the rise, ABS data shows. Credit:Michelle Smith Queensland's trend unemployment rate also remained unchanged for March at six per cent, above the national figure of 5.6 per cent. That was compared with March 2017, when Queensland's trend unemployment rate was 6.4 per cent. A regional Victorian mayor who came under fire for being a fly-in fly-out leader after taking a job in rural Queensland has resigned. Ararat Rural City Mayor Glenda McLean came under intense heat at a packed council meeting on Tuesday evening watched by thousands on a live broadcast on Facebook for taking up a job in the Queensland mining town, 2600 kilometres away from Victoria's Western District. Ararat Rural City Council mayor Glenda McLean. Credit:Peter Pickering Cr McLean told ABC radio on Thursday night that she would submit her resignation as mayor. It is understood Cr McLean has not yet resigned as a councillor. The brother of accused Bourke Street killer Dimitrious Gargasoulas has been spared jail for holding a knife near a woman, despite his lengthy history of drug and violence offences. Angelo Gargasoulas was given a two-year community corrections order Credit:AAP Angelo Gargasoulas was back in Melbourne Magistrates Court on Thursday so magistrate John Hardy could impose a two-year community corrections order. The 27-year-old admitted entering the woman's home in July last year, holding a knife near her and saying, "You bitch, slut", before he threw her mobile phone against a wall. He also pleaded guilty to possessing the drug ice. Gargasoulas served two separate stints in jail last year for a series of offences in 2016, which included throwing an object police believe it was a vacuum flask that hit a woman in the face; throwing a box-cutter at his boyfriend; and holding a knife in a threatening manner in a separate argument with his partner. That offending came on the back of using ice, courts have been told. A former disability services worker who splashed petrol on a pharmacist and threatened to burn him during a run of armed robberies has been jailed for seven years. Kepa Kemp dedicated much of his adult life to helping disadvantaged and vulnerable people at McKillop Family Services, Scope and Yooralla disability organisations and was committed to raising his own children given their mothers had serious mental-health problems. But by late 2016, Kemp was unable to manage his own stress and mental-health problems and began abusing cannabis and ice and was soon guzzling up to five litres of cask wine a day. Over 18 days in December 2016, he carried out five armed robberies in Melbourne's western suburbs. He held up convenience stores, a taxi driver and man sitting in his parked car, as well as the pharmacist, the County Court heard this week. During the third robbery, on Christmas Eve, Kemp took a drink bottle full of petrol and splashed fuel over a 29-year-old pharmacist in Hoppers Crossing, held up a cigarette lighter and said: "Give the money or I'll put fire on you." It was a huge blow for the family, who had already moved from Mentone to Cheltenham to be closer to the site earmarked for the school. But when the new Beaumaris Secondary College was finally announced, her excitement turned into disappointment: she wasnt in the zone. She says she didnt consider appealing the zoning decision because she knew her chances of success were low, even though she could have argued that Beaumaris Secondary would be the most convenient high school for her children Abigail, 11, and Xavier, 9, because it didnt involve crossing major highways. Ms Connor could have also pointed out that she spent six years lobbying politicians, harnessing community support and securing a pledge from Labor to build the school on the former Beaumaris campus of Sandringham College. Instead, the family moved house for a second time, finally securing a home within the zone. We are here and we are happy and thats all that matters, she said. Commuters traveling on inner-city tram Melbourne needs two more underground rail tunnels by 2035 to cope with exploding population growth, the City Council has proposed. It also says trams need road and traffic light priority throughout the city as in Zurich to cope with the demand. Melbourne City Council has put forward its vision to expand the city's public transport network, as it prepares for an extra 116,000 people taking trains into the city in the morning peak by 2031 almost double the present number. There is room for improvement, the council's discussion paper concedes. Trains are overcrowded, trams are impossibly slow and tram stops are poorly designed and cramped. A man found dead in a suburban Melbourne driveway on Tuesday morning had been shot on a nearby main road and left to stumble for up to 300 metres in a bloody and fruitless search for help, police now say. The Essendon man, 28, was found dead in a driveway in Barkly Street, Ringwood by police as they responded to reports of gunfire at 1am on Tuesday, with police now believing the fatal shot was fired on nearby Wantirna Road, some way from where his body was found. Victoria Police spokeswoman Natalie Webster said detectives were appealing for anyone with information to contact police. "Investigators have now confirmed that the victim, a 28-year-old Essendon man, was shot on Wantirna Road between Arlington Street and Barkly Street around 1am," she said. Two senior executives have resigned from one of Australia's largest security companies after an investigation into alleged bribes for contracts going to a rival business owned by underworld associate Santo "Toni Two Guns" Celona. Victoria Police's Licensing and Regulation Division (LRD) is investigating claims that companies controlled by Mr Celona and his wife Antonina made regular payments to security firm Prosegur Australia, which acquired Chubb Security in 2013. Mick Gatto, Anthony Swords and Toni Celona Credit:Facebook The Age revealed in November 2017 that Mr Celona's company TCB Always Australia Monitoring made regular payments to a former Chubb operations manager, who referred security work to TCB, including lucrative contracts to service automatic teller machines for banks in Victoria and Queensland. Monthly payments of up to $10,000 were made in cash or by online transfer between about 2011 and 2017, according to several sources familiar with Mr Celona. A controversial plan to build a $4.13 million 7-Eleven and a Hungry Jacks development in Victoria Park was given the go-ahead after the applicant went over the heads of local councillors and appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal and the development requires Carlisle IGA to be demolished. The development application was put forward by Peter Webb & Associates on behalf of Universal Enterprises in May last year, and its been a long road towards getting the project the green light after significant opposition from the local community. The plan has been approved by JDAP. Residents took up the fight to stop the petrol station and takeaway outlet months ago, with about 6000 people signing a petition calling for the development application to be thrown out. The community thought they had a win when the Town of Victoria Park knocked back the plans in May last year, with city officers citing issues with traffic, noise, odour and the fact the development will sit just metres from an existing BP service station but it was just the beginning. JDAP rejected the redevelopment plans and backed up the councils decision, but the developer pressed on and appealed to the State Administrative Tribunal. The SAT often considers proposals based purely on their legality and compliance with town planning schemes, and sent the decision back to the JDAP asking for them to reconsider. JDAP then approved the proposal pending conditions, and the reaction to the decision was immediate. I honestly was not expecting this. I thought community would prevail but it didnt, Teressa said. I was heartbroken. I think my parents were as well but they just had to put on a strong front, and not make it look like it affected them. I know it means the world to our family. Imagine going somewhere every single day for the last 17 years of your life and then in a few months time, its just going to be gone. Its not like we want to give it up. The first petition got 6000 signatures, the second petition was only up for half the time so it only got 3000. I think the system is a bit flawed. How can they just ignore what the community want? Just because a big corporation has more money they can just come in and spend what, $4.1 million or something and just because its over a certain amount of money it doesnt matter what the community wants? Development applications are forwarded to JDAP when the project is estimated to cost over $2 million. The Thai family wasnt alone in their devastation, with members of the community soon chiming about the approval. Absolutely shocking decision - heartbreaking, as a local mum who frequents this IGA almost daily, it will be a huge loss to the community, one woman wrote to the local council. Plus its a difficult and congested intersection at the best of times... lets throw in a petrol station on the same side of the road because there isnt one 100 metres away? This is a sad day for Carlisle and Lathlain residents, another said. This cold-hearted spreadsheet driven decision doesn't benefit the local community in any way, shape or form. One of the reasons that Carlisle and Lathlain are great places to live is the amenity of having this local supermarket owned and worked by local, permanent, residents and not having to drive to distant mega-corp shopping centres to get milk and bread. Town of Victoria Park mayor Trevor Vaughn said the town was disappointed by the developments approval. The Town of Victoria Park twice recommended refusal of the development application to the JDAP, but ultimately the decision to accept or reject the development application rests with the JDAP, which voted three to two to approve the application subject to conditions, he said. The town is disappointed with the JDAP's decision. The town's position was that the proposed development would have an adverse impact upon the amenity of the area particularly in relation to the issues of traffic and noise - however the JDAP have determined otherwise. Two councillors were present at the meeting, Claire Anderson and Vicki Potter, and their votes were the two recorded as rejections. Canberra's iconic Parliament House vista could become a giant bottleneck if two lanes of traffic are permanently closed for light rail, the National Capital Authority has warned. The Barr government released its preferred route for the second stage of light rail on Thursday, scotching the Parliament House option in favour of snaking through Barton and Parkes on the way to Woden. Parliament House, as seen through the centre of Commonwealth Bridge. Credit:Glen McCurtayne But because the rail line will run over Commonwealth land, the NCA can scuttle the route if they chose. The National Capital Authority's chief executive Sally Barnes said the authority did not support the territory government's plan to reduce traffic from six to four lanes along Commonwealth Avenue and the bridge, and add an extra set of traffic lights. There's a war being waged in Australia - on our 4.3 million young people. You hear it in the negative and dispiriting language of our national conversation, from being told to just 'get a good job' or 'cut back on the smashed avo' as the solution to housing affordability, to Prime Minister Turnbull's assertion his cabinet is 'young at heart' when the average age of that cabinet is over 50. Young people and the issues they face are being trivialised. And you see it in the actions of Parliament. The first shots in this war rang out five years ago, when the Youth Minister position was removed from cabinet for the first time since 1978. Then the government systematically dismantled almost all the mechanisms it had to hear from young people. In 2014 the national peak body for young people was defunded and the Office for Youth disappeared. Youth Week has had its funding cut. Credit:Katherine Griffiths And now it is Youth Week, although you might not know it, given the government cut its funding in 2017. It's meant to be a time when Australia celebrates the role young people play in our community, through events, art shows, awards and festivals. But every year it's getting harder to celebrate. The issues facing young people are not going away. Far from it. The trends suggest life is getting more difficult. The youth unemployment rate sits at 13 per cent. Suicide is still the leading cause of death for those under 25. Rates of youth homelessness have jumped. We have record-low levels of housing affordability, and inaction on key environmental and social issues. Young people have been left asking themselves why nothing is changing for the better. On 11 August, British Munitions Minister Winston Churchill called on Monash to salute his progress and learn about the new tanks firsthand. And the very next day, King George V himself travelled to the front to bestow a knighthood on Monash. After the war, Monash devoted much of his time and energy to supporting the construction of the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne and raising funds for the first generation of Australian veterans and their families. In 1929, after a decade of peace, Prime Minister Jim Scullin promoted the long-retired Monash from a three-star to four-star general. Today, Im writing in support of the campaign to promote Monash to the rank of Field Marshal, the highest in the Australian army. By every reasonable measure, its an honour his memory richly deserves. Indeed, had it not been for the narrow attitudes of the time, its a promotion he would have won long ago. The British military historian, Liddell Hart, wrote that Monash was saddled with a "tremendous compound handicap of prejudice". He viewed it a stunning tribute to Monashs unquestioned ability that he rose so high in the Allied ranks in spite of being born in Australia, being Jewish, being a reservist rather than a member of the regular army and having German ancestry. But if we can agree those prejudices were wrong, then surely we can also agree to overturn the injustice they perpetuated. It is true that posthumously promoting Monash to field marshal in this centenary year would be a break with normal protocol. But there are powerful precedents for such a decision. Thomas Blamey, who served as Monashs own chief of staff when he was commander in chief of all Australian forces and then, in the Second World War, served as commander in chief himself, was made a field marshal by Prime Minister Menzies in 1950, five years after he left the army. Prince Philip, who for all his dedication to Australia, to the military and to public life, never commanded an Australian unit in the field, is also a field marshal in the Australian Army, again appointed by Menzies. And in 1976, in commemorating the bicentenary of its War of Independence, the United States government promoted General George Washington to the rank of Field Marshal. Yes, elevating Monash would be an exception to the rule. But we are talking about an exceptional Australian. Of course there will be those who dismiss this idea as merely a symbolic move. But surely all of us can recognise the power of symbolism in commemorations: the sprig of rosemary, the sunrise badge, the poppy, the minutes silence, the haunting echoes of the Last Post, the flicker of the eternal flame. In so many ways, symbolism and ritual are how we gather to honour the memory of all those who served our nation, in all conflicts. And perhaps, in bestowing this overdue honour on a great Australian, we can enlist Monash in the service of our nation once again. A century on, saluting the brilliance of this great man reminds us of the courage and sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of Australians who served under his skilful command. Because this is not just about personal recognition for Monash. It is an acknowledgement of everyone who served our nation in the First World War the young Australians whose brave deeds shaped our national identity. I hope re-examining the victories won in 1918 will elevate the memory of those who helped to win them, broadening our national collective understanding of the First World War beyond the deadly disaster of the Gallipoli campaign. A nation reveals itself by who it honours. This year, 100 years after a great Australian helped secure a decisive victory in a long and deadly struggle, let us honour the contribution he made to the peace and freedoms we enjoy today. London: Australians must brace for rising tension with Russia that will expose essential infrastructure to attack, as leaders raise the alarm over political interference and cyber warfare linked to the wider clash over the use of chemical weapons in Syria. British Prime Minister Theresa May warned of aggressive Russian tactics against the west as she met Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and leaders from Canada and New Zealand to discuss the latest intelligence on the threat. Ms May will use the Commonwealth summit in London this week to send a show of force to Russia and Syria, urging leaders from all 53 nations to back a statement that condemns the use of chemical weapons. Ms May has Australian support for the statement after discussing it with Mr Turnbull during a meeting where she condemned the Syrian governments indiscriminate and barbaric gas attack on its own people. Premier Daniel Andrews insists the powerful United Firefighters Union has no compromising material about him and that he did not strike a secret deal in exchange for support in the 2014 election. Mr Andrews is under renewed scrutiny over his relationship with the volatile leader of the firefighters' union, Peter Marshall, just a month after peace appeared to have finally broken out with a new industrial agreement. But in a Thursday morning press conference studded with the word "no", Mr Andrews sought to shoot down the speculation that had been running hot since Wednesday's incendiary radio interview Mr Marshall. "No", there was no secret deal with the union, Mr Andrews told the gathered media at Moorabbin Oval, and "no", there would be no review of the appointment of the new chief executive of the Metropolitan Fire Brigade that has so incensed the union boss. Mr Marshall also declined to rule out rumours that he has a compromising tape of Mr Andrews. In an incendiary interview on ABC Melbourne, union secretary Peter Marshall has accused Premier Daniel Andrews and Deputy Premier James Merlino of lying to him by appointing British fire chief Dan Stephens as the new head of the fire services. Premier Daniel Andrews made secret promises to Victoria's powerful firefighters' union "in the heat of a political moment", says the union's secretary, who has warned that the truth will come out before the next election. Youd have to ask Dan Andrews that, not me, he told the ABCs Raf Epstein. The truth will come out about Daniel Andrews and James Merlinos role in this and exactly why theyve chosen to engage in an extremely provocative appointment, Mr Marshall said. There was a number of promises and they will come out in the near future there were discussions which will come out in the near future. Asked if there was any deal with the firefighters' union or if the Premier was aware of any recording, a government spokesman said no. The interview sent shockwaves through Labor ranks on Wednesday night with one frontbencher telling The Age that while he expected a difficult couple of days, Mr Marshall's demands in relation to the new Chief Officer could not be accepted. Manila: The Philippine president would "probably" need to apologise for ordering the detention of 71 year-old Australian nun and humanitarian worker on an allegation of "disorderly conduct", his spokesman has conceded. Sister Patricia Fox had not been engaged in any political activity when she was taken from her home by immigration authorities and detained for 24 hours, the spokesman for Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte admitted. Australian missionary Sister Patricia Fox gestures as she is interviewed by reporters after she was released from custody at the Bureau of Immigration in Manila. Credit:AP Duterte had earlier boasted about personally ordering the investigation into the Australian nun, justifying it as a legal move against "undesirable" foreigners. He said he had "ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but to invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct". According to Brian Henson in an interview with Forbes, a stage musical adaptation of Jim Henson's 1986 film Labyrinth is in the works. "We are working on a theatrical adaptation of the original movie for the stage," Henson told Forbes, in addition to noting that a sequel was also being developed. "We are working on both of those but I certainly don't have a timeline for them." When asked about the musical's Broadway possibilities, Henson responded, "Not necessarily Broadway, it could be for London's West End, but it will be a stage show, a big theatrical version." Labyrinth, starring David Bowie and Jennifer Connelly, was a box-office flop upon its release in 1986, but has since become widely recognized as a children's classic. Fathom Events is bringing the film back to theaters for screenings across the US on April 29, May 1, and May 2. The A-Class is the first of eight models of the new compact car generation to roll off the production line at the lead plant in Rastatt, Germany. The new compact cars are setting new standards in their segment, for example in connectivity and design and also in the worldwide production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. Markus Schafer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production & Supply Chain: Mercedes-Benz Cars starts an unprecedented ramp-up cascade with the A-Class. In our global production network, we can ramp-up the production of our vehicles in proven top quality and supply the global market even faster. Using modern industry 4.0 technologies our plants are becoming even more flexible and efficient. Rastatt, Germany - The start of the new A-Class at the Mercedes-Benz plant in Rastatt, 90 km west of Stuttgart in Germany, is the trigger for the production of the new generation of compact cars in five plants on three continents. Starting the serial production, Markus Schafer, Member of the Divisional Board of Mercedes-Benz Cars, Production & Supply Chain, drove the first vehicle off the assembly line in Rastatt. Symbolically he focused the next A-Class plant: With the infotainment system MBUX and the What3Words address, he headed for the Kecskemet plant in Hungary: The address empires-astronaut-handshake is leading exactly to the end of the production line, where the first A-Class Made at the Mercedes-Benz Kecskemet plant will roll off in just a few weeks. Mercedes-Benz Cars starts an unprecedented ramp-up cascade with the A-Class. In our global production network, we can ramp-up the production of our vehicles in proven top quality and supply the global market even faster. Using modern industry 4.0 technologies our plants are becoming even more flexible and efficient, says Markus Schafer. The new A-Class is the first model of the fourth generation of compact cars and replaces the predecessor model produced since 2012. The compact car family currently consists of five models: A-, B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake and GLA. In future there will be eight models. First new A-Class rolls off the production line in Rastatt Rastatt in Germany is the lead plant for compact cars in the global production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. The plant is responsible for control and planning as well as quality and supplier management on a global basis. In addition, Rastatt coordinates production in the compact car production network at the Kecskemet plant in Hungary, at Beijing-Benz Automotive Co. Ltd (BBAC) in China and at the Finnish production partner Valmet Automotive in Uusikaupunki. In future, the joint venture production plant COMPAS (Cooperation Manufacturing Plant Aguascalientes) in Aguascalientes in Central Mexico will expand the global compact car production network of Mercedes-Benz Cars. The production of the A-Class in Kecskemet and at Valmet Automotive will start in the second quarter of 2018. The Rastatt plant supports the smooth ramp-up in the other plants, for example by qualifying employees and technical experts on site. Our Rastatt team has done a great job in the last months. We have mastered the demanding production program of the current generation of compact cars, successfully completed the ramp-up of the new A-Class at our plant and at the same time optimally prepared our colleagues in the other compact car plants, says Thomas Geier, site manager Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant. For the start of production of the A-Class, apprentices from the Rastatt plant produced a steering wheel model using modern additive production processes (3D printing). The steering wheel has a screen on which employees can upload messages for the next plant in the ramp-up cascade. The steering wheel is passed on from plant to plant like a baton and thus travels once around the whole world. The ramp-up of the new A-Class sets a new milestone at the Rastatt location. It is now the fourth generation of compact cars rolling off the production line in Rastatt. More than 4.7 million cars have been produced in Rastatt since 1992. The first Mercedes-Benz A-Class was produced at the Rastatt plant in 1997 and started the success story of the compact cars at Mercedes-Benz. Extensive construction work was part of the preparations for the new compact car generation. For example, two body-in-white shops have been expanded to over 50,000 m2. The construction of additional production areas was necessary to continue the preceding generation of the A-Class as well as the B-Class and the GLA without interruption until the start of the new vehicle generation. The new space will also be needed in the future for the production of the new models at the site. In the future, this will also include compact electric vehicles of the product and technology brand EQ. The new training centre at the Rastatt plant is a central qualification area for all compact car factories. There, up to 240 employees can train simultaneously. They then pass on what they have learned to their colleagues at the site and in the other compact car plants. Digital and flexible production All Mercedes-Benz plants in the global production network are connected via the Integra system. Thus, for example, the Rastatt plant, as the lead plant for the compact models worldwide, can access data from all other locations of the production network and - if necessary - remotely connect to systems and robots or install programs and test them prior to commissioning. In this way, improvements can be adopted for all plants in the sense of best practice. In addition, modern digital production technologies and forward-looking industry 4.0 solutions are used: Driverless Transport Systems (DTS): With its multitude of equipment variants, the new A-Class places high production standards in terms of efficiency and flexibility, which, among other things, are implemented with the help of intelligent logistics concepts, among other things. Driverless transport systems (DTS) deliver shopping carts with components and parts precisely matched to the individual vehicle on the conveyor belt, where they are mounted without intermediate buffers. The concept of a paperless factory, which replaces the documentation of the individual work steps on paper, will be successively integrated by means of state-of-the-art data transmission and new hardware solutions. Additional mobile devices such as tablets, smartphones and smart watches support employees in the individual work steps. Adjustment of head-up displays: The new A-Class has an optional head-up display (HUD). Important information is projected directly into the driver's field of vision on the windscreen. To ensure that the display is within the driver's field of vision, it must be adjusted after installation. At the new A-Class a new and particularly simple process is used for this purpose. This can be done at selected points on the assembly line. An employee sits behind the steering wheel with a tablet computer equipped with two additional cameras. One camera measures the tablet to a specific point in the instrument panel. Arrows on the screen tell the employee where to place the tablet. When this is achieved, a recording is automatically triggered via the second camera and the image is analysed. The derived setting parameters are sent via Wi-Fi via OBD interface to the control unit of the HUD and adjusted accordingly. The second camera then checks the position and shape of the image. Quality Gate: The so-called Q-Gate offers live visualizations of the production steps on the conveyor belt and thus makes quality inspection processes digital and in real time possible. Sustainable and energy-efficient production Through continuous improvement over the past few years in the Rastatt plant, significant reductions in energy consumption per vehicle have been achieved. For the start of the new compact car generation, a new, more energy-efficient painting system was installed. In production, the focus is on avoiding production waste. Rejects that cannot be avoided are collected separately and recycled. The new A-Class The benchmark in the compact class The new Mercedes-Benz A-Class celebrated its world premiere in Amsterdam on February 2nd, 2018 and was presented to the general public for the first time at the Autosaloon in Geneva in March. The market launch is in May. The new A-Class is the first Mercedes-Benz model to feature the completely new multimedia system MBUX - Mercedes-Benz User Experience, which also ushers in a new era in Mercedes me connectivity. A unique feature of this system is its ability to learn thanks to artificial intelligence. MBUX can be individualised and adapts to suit the user. As an option, it also has intelligent voice control, which is activated with the words "Hey Mercedes". Despite its sporty look, the new A-Class has considerably more utility value, making it as youthful as ever but grown-up like never before. More shoulder, elbow and headroom plus easier access to the rear are clear benefits, as is the larger and more family- and recreation-friendly luggage compartment. The all-round view has also been considerably improved. This benefits both safety and space. The new A-Class has the very latest driving assistance systems with cooperative driver support, giving it the highest level of active safety in this segment with functions adopted from the SClass. The new A-Class is not only full of innovations. It is also produced in a truly innovative way using modern technologies that make the digital factory a reality. Recently in Rastatt - and soon in Kecskemet and Uusikaupunki. About the Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant The Mercedes-Benz Rastatt plant in Germany is the biggest employer in the region, with a workforce of around 6.500 employees. Within the global Mercedes-Benz production network, the Rastatt plant is the lead plant for the production of compact cars worldwide. The A- and B-Class as well as the compact SUV GLA are manufactured at the location. In 2017, more than 330,000 vehicles rolled off its production lines. The production compound of the current compact car generation further includes the plant in Kecskemet, Hungary (production: B-Class, CLA, CLA Shooting Brake), the Chinese production location BBAC (Beijing-Benz Automotive Co. Ltd joint venture between Daimler AG and BAIC Motor; production: GLA) and the Finnish contract manufacturer Valmet Automotive (production: A-Class). In 2018, the Joint Venture plant COMPAG in Mexico will be added. AUTO LAB Talk Radio - LIVE from NYC Saturday Morning 7-9 AM April 21, 2018 Auto Lab Talk Radio on New York City's WNYM Radio AM 970 and Streamed Worldwide On The Auto Channel This Weeks Show: Broadcast Date: April 21, 2018 Car Question or Concern? Call Toll Free 888-692-7234 Auto Lab is a 28 year old interactive automotive-focused New York area radio call-in show hosted by Professor Harold Wolchok. Each week a cadre of experienced hands-on automotive experts are in-studio with advice for the New York area's 12 million people, providing listeners with honest, practical and street-smart car repair and buying advice. Auto Lab is also about the automotive industry, its history, and its culture, presenting the ideas and advice of leading college faculty, authors, and automotive practitioners in a relaxed, conversational interactive format. Listeners can hear the past 18 years of archived Auto Lab shows as simulcast on www.theautochannel.com. Auto Lab Page includes Audio-on-Demand Archives, Auto Programs at Community College Database, Guests Pictures This Weeks Show: April 21, 2018 IN STUDIO: Auto Lab's Real World Experts Answer Your Questions; Discuss: Repairs, Second Opinions, Regular Maintenance, How To's, Safety, Used and New Car Buying, Ombudsmen Suggestions Harold Bendell - Major Auto Fred Bordoff - Bronx Community College's Automotive Technology Department-CUNY Audra Fordin - Great Bear Auto Repairs & What Women AUTO Know David Goldsmith - Urban Classics Jerry Pastore - D & J Diagnostics Johanna Pastore - D & J Diagnostics Joanne Porcelli, Esq. Michael Porcelli - Automobile Services Nicholas Prague - MTA Auto Lab Correspondents Remote Interviews: Featuring Auto Safety News, New Car Reviews, Technology and Latest Auto World Information That Will Effect You! Robert Erskine, Senior European Correspondent, Suffolk England COMMONALITY? NOT THE CITROEN C1! John Russell- Senior Correspondent 2018 HYUNDAI ELANTRA ECO Robert Sinclair AAA Northeast DOUBLE DIGITS MEANS DOUBLE TROUBLE FOR VEHICLE BREAKDOWNS Russ Rader, Senior Vice President IIHS REDESIGNED BMW X3 EARNS TOP SAFETY PICK + AWARD Its like shes done this before. When Cynthia Nixon announced she was challenging New York governor Andrew Cuomo to be the Democratic nominee this fall, the incumbent did himself no favors by dismissing her candidacy as the start of political silly season and offering up some weak jokes involving Billy Joel and Vladimir Putin. Even after members of Cuomos own team acknowledged that his response was unartful, he continued making cringeworthy flubs, like referring to himself as an undocumented person. Cuomo still has a 31-percentage-point lead in the latest poll, but if he wasnt nervous before, Nixons appearance on Wednesdays Late Show With Stephen Colbert should do it. In her highest-profile appearance since sitting down with Wendy Williams earlier this month, Nixon articulated her progressive vision with aplomb, touching on everything from gerrymandering to criminal-justice reform to recreational marijuana legalization. She also delivered plenty of slick Cuomo jabs. When Colbert joked about her opting not to use the slogan Nixon for New York, she answered: My mother used to say, she grew up during World War II with a father named Adolf and she lived through the 1970s with a husband named Nixon. So I am aware of the dubious nature of my last name. But I have to say if given a choice, I would rather be the good Nixon than the bad Cuomo. And she made her case to the many New York Democrats who dont have a problem with their gay-marriage legalizing, pro-gun control governor. Im running because Im a lifelong New Yorker, and I love this state and I just know we could do so much better, she said. Because were a blue state. Were a proudly Democratic state. But weve got a governor in there who governs like a Republican. Better start bracing yourself for Cuomos awkward late-night blitz. Karen McDougal. Photo: Jeff Kravitz/FilmMagic On Wednesday, American Media Inc. the parent company of the National Enquirer agreed to allow former Playboy model Karen McDougal out of a contract to stay quiet about her alleged affair with President Donald Trump. As the New York Times reports, McDougals lawyer confirmed that the ex-Playmate had reached a settlement agreement with AMI, ending her lawsuit against the publisher over an apparent attempt to buy her silence during the 2016 election. Now, McDougal is allowed to discuss her alleged relationship with Trump. The Times notes that the deal not only releases McDougal from the agreement, but also protects Trump from getting dragged into the models lawsuit. However, the president is still involved in a separate lawsuit filed by adult-film actress Stormy Daniels, who is seeking to invalidate an agreement to not discuss her own alleged affair with Trump. McDougals relationship with Trump allegedly started in 2006 (just a few months after the birth of his son with wife Melania, Barron) and lasted for nine months. During that time, McDougal told CNNs Anderson Cooper, Trump apparently tried to pay her the first time they had sex. He also allegedly made repeated disrespectful comments about her family and friends, according to a report by The New Yorker. In her lawsuit, McDougal claimed she was paid $150,000 in 2016 by AMI, whose chief executive is friends with Trump, to not discuss the affair. Under the Wednesday agreement, the company still has the right to up to $75,000 of any future profits from her story about the affair (which Trump still denies ever occurred). McDougal told the Times that she currently has no plans to sell her story. Its one step at a time for me, she said. Today, Im doing my victory dance. Yoselyn Ortega. Photo: AP Photo The Nanny Murder Trial came to an end today, as Yoselyn Ortega was found guilty for the murders of 6-year-old Lucia Krim and 2-year-old Leo Krim. The jury rejected her defense of not guilty by reason of insanity. Ortega was the nanny to Marina and Kevin Krims three children when, in 2012, she stabbed Lucia and Leo to death. Marina had taken her 3-year-old, Nessie, to swim lessons at the time; she returned to her Upper West Side apartment to find a murder scene. Ortega then turned the knife on herself. Ortega is facing life in prison without parole. The logo of AMP Ltd, Australia's biggest retail wealth manager, adorns their head office located in central Sydney, Australia, May 5, 2017. (Reuters/David Gray/File Photo) Australia Warns Banks to Restore Trust as Scandal Inquiry Continues SYDNEYAustralias financial services minister said on Thursday that the countrys banks have a lot of work to do to regain the publics trust as executives prepared for another day of grilling before a powerful inquiry into the scandal-hit sector. Kelly ODwyer backed comments by Treasurer Scott Morrison that jail terms were possible after executives at AMP Ltd, Australias largest wealth manager, admitted it had lied to the corporate regulator to cover up charging thousands of customers for services they did not provide. Commonwealth Bank of Australia, the countrys largest bank, also admitted to the inquiry earlier this week that it was the worst offender in misappropriating fees and also misled the regulator about it. Is it any wonder that people would be critical of those companies who have engaged in this sort of behaviour, absolutely not and it is not acceptable, ODwyer told Australian Broadcasting radio. It is for them to explain how they are going to regain the trust of their customers, she said. On Thursday, executives from Westpac Banking Corp, Australias oldest company, and Australia and New Zealand Banking Group are scheduled to be questioned over cases where their senior advisers provided inappropriate counsel to clients. Former ACCC chairman Allan Fels: there is a natural bias from the banks to recommend their own services even if that product is inferior to their competitors. MORE: https://t.co/s7tRU3hKWD #auspol #SkyLiveNow pic.twitter.com/gp6m2hu8oa Sky News Australia (@SkyNewsAust) April 19, 2018 In the past decade, over 80,000 consumers have been affected by bad advice, with losses totalling over A$5 billion ($3.89 billion), according to the inquiry. The government-backed Royal Commission into Australias banking sector is just a couple of months into what is expected to be a year-long investigation. The inquiry will be able to make wide-ranging recommendations including legislative changes and for criminal or civil prosecutions. By Paulina Duran Recommended Video: Quokka Likes Face Massage Pope Francis arrives for his weekly general audience in St. Peter's Basilica at the Vatican on April 18, 2018. (AP Photo/Gregorio Borgia) Bishops Try to Clarify Popes Refusal to Apologize for Residential Schools OTTAWAThe Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops says its incorrect to suggest that Pope Francis is refusing to apologize to survivors of Canadas notoriously abusive residential schools. The conference has sent a background paper to MPs and senators in a bid to clarify what it characterizes as misunderstandings and factual errors in media reports about the Popes decision not to personally apologize for the role played by the Roman Catholic Church in operating the schools. The paper suggests that under the churchs decentralized structure, its not appropriate for the Pope to apologize, that its best left to Canadian bishops to pursue engagement and reconciliation with Indigenous Peoples. A papal apology was one of 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission. Late last month, Bishop Lionel Gendron, president of the conference of bishops, issued a letter to Indigenous Peoples in Canada, indicating that after carefully considering the request and extensive dialogue with the bishops of Canada, (the Pope) felt that he could not personally respond. That letter disappointed Indigenous leaders and Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, who had personally asked Pope Francis during a visit to the Vatican last year to consider an apology; it also prompted the NDP to propose a motionsupported by the governing Liberals and expected to be debated in the House of Commons this weekcalling on the bishops to invite Pope Francis to come to Canada to apologize. In the background paper sent this week, the conference of bishops says neither the Holy See nor the conference were involved in running the residential schools. But it says the 50 autonomous Roman Catholic entities that did operate schools have publicly apologized, both collectively and individually, and paid nearly $60 million in compensation and other payments under a 2006 settlement agreement. Moreover, the paper notes that the conference of bishops has on a number of occasions expressed regret and remorse at the involvement by various Catholics in the schools. As well, Pope Benedict met with a delegation of Indigenous leaders in 2009 and expressed sorrow and regret for the abuses suffered in the schools. At that time, the paper notes that Phil Fontaine, then national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, declared that the meeting with Pope Benedict closes the circle of reconciliation. To suggest that the Catholic community has not accepted responsibility for its involvement in residential schools is simply inaccurate. The Catholic Church has apologized in the way it is structured, the paper says. As for Pope Francis, the paper says hes encouraging Canadian bishops to continue taking leadership and assuming their proper role in pursuing reconciliation and he remains open to a future visit when it is opportune. Sharing in the pain of Indigenous Peoples, he would certainly ensure such a visit includes meaningful encounters with them. From The Canadian Press China Manufacturing of Most US Medicine and Vitamins Poses Security Threat, Researchers Say As Chinese companies have begun taking control of the pharmaceutical market in the United States, a hidden health crisis has been building. The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) is inspecting only a small number of the Chinese companies that manufacture U.S. drugs, and those it does inspect are often found to have serious health violations. Meanwhile, the drugs that are making their way into the United States from China, either as finished products or as ingredients, are often falling far below U.S. safety standards. And some of these drugs are not being inspected at all. The failure of Chinese drugs to meet U.S. quality standards is exacerbated by the volume of imported drugs. China has become the primary source of many crucial medical drugs, including penicillin, heparin, and medications essential for surgeries. This supply would be placed in jeopardy if a dispute were to erupt between China and the United States. If the supply chains are cut, crucial medications would stop reaching Americans. A new book, China RX: Exposing the Risks of Americas Dependence on China for Medicine by Rosemary Gibson and Janardan Prasad Singh, explains what led to the U.S. dependence of Chinese drugmakers. It details how the Chinese regime has overtaken, and in some cases, put out of business, many key drug industries by undercutting competitors, stealing from competitors, and cutting corners. Global reliance on China for drug manufacturing is already becoming a reality. If China cut its supplies now, Gibson and Singh write, Surgeries would be canceled, cancer treatments halted, kidney dialysis rationed. Infections would spread. Global reliance on China for drug manufacturing is already becoming a reality. Its unclear just how many drugs in the United States come from China, since many drug companies choose to keep their sourcing under wraps or fail to take due diligence in identifying the sources of their ingredients. A short list of medications made in China and sold in the United States that the authors traced includes medications to treat HIV, Alzheimers disease, bipolar disorder, schizophrenia, cancer, depression, epilepsy, and high blood pressure, among others. Even drugs not directly sourced from China often have Chinese chemicals as their ingredients. The authors state, China is the largest global supplier of the active ingredients and chemical building blocks needed to make many prescription drugs, over-the-counter products, and vitamins. Going Global It wasnt always this way. Gibson and Singh write, In the 1990s, the United States, Europe, and Japan manufactured 90 percent of the global supply of the key ingredients for the worlds medicines and vitamins. Now, according to industry newsletters cited in the book, 80 percent of active ingredients in medicines come from China and India. While India also makes generic drugs for the United States, the authors note, it, too, is dependent on China for key ingredients to make drugs such as penicillin. The impetus for this shift in the global supply chain can be traced back to 2000, when then-President Bill Clinton was in the final year of his second term. The authors write that the White House went into overdrive to pass legislation to give China permanent normal trade relations, granting the same trade advantages to China as other U.S. trading partners, including low import tariffs. This was done against public opinion, which overwhelmingly opposed the free trade deal. As the doors opened, China had its own plans to dominate the markets. The authors note, China pressured U.S. companies to lobby on its behalf or face economic retribution. It reportedly kept close tabs on chief executives who lobbied Capitol Hill. Companies that rebuffed the Chinese governments expectations risked being barred from investing, manufacturing, and selling their products in the country. Just three years after Clintons U.S.China Relations Act of 2000 was signed into law, the United States incurred a trade deficit with China totaling $124 billion. Lack of Inspections For drug industriesand for the health of average Americans, Chinas command over drug manufacturing would have a lasting impact. The FDA was ill-prepared for that new reality. Gibson and Singh note, The FDA was created in 1906 with the belief that Americas medicines would be made in the United States. The FDA was not set up to inspect foreign facilities on a large scaleand Chinese drug plants went out of their way to make inspections exceedingly difficult. Drug company executives at home complained to the FDA about the uneven playing field. It was unfair that they were constantly inspected while businesses shifting production abroad to China were hardly ever inspected, the authors write. These warnings, however, went largely unheard. After Clinton eased trade restrictions, at least 714 Chinese plants began making drugs and active ingredients for the United States, with the FDA only inspecting around 15 of them a year, according to the book. The situation only grew worse: In 2007, the FDA budget for inspection programs was cut, including the budget to inspect foreign plants making drugs for the United States. The authors write, As the regulatory apparatus was being decimated, toxic products made in China flowed into the United States. The FDA was able to expand its inspections of Chinese plants in 2008, when it opened its first office in China, which was also the first FDA facility outside the United States. The reforms had mixed results. The book states that soon after, when FDA inspectors attempted to inspect Shanghai No. 1 Biochemical & Pharmaceutical Co., which sells the blood thinner heparin to the United States, they found that the facility apparently never made any heparin and was a so-called show factory. The company had been purchasing its heparin from an unknown factory and was merely putting its name on the aluminum drums that were shipped to the United States. The FDA improved its situation in China somewhat, but remains under-staffed. As of April 2014, only two full-time FDA staff members were assigned to the agencys China office in Beijing for inspecting drug-manufacturing plants. The Chinese regime also refused to grant visas to additional inspectors the agency had hired and forced the FDA to close its offices in Guangzhou and Shanghai. Inspections also dont guarantee safety. The FDA is required to give local government authorities advance notice when inspecting facilities. Additionally, FDA inspectors often have trouble communicating during sensitive negotiations, and long delays are common. The book quotes an industry veteran who said data requests that would take 10 to 15 minutes in the United States will often take days in China. Furthermore, you know they are scrubbing the data. Theyre showing you what they want to show you, in many cases, the industry expert said. A High Cost The poor quality of made-in-China medicine has already taken its toll. In March 2008, the FDA held a press conference in response to news that heparin made in China and sold through Illinois-based Baxter Healthcare Corp. was contaminated. The tainted heparin killed four people and injured 350. The full toll around the world was never reported, although federal officials determined that the contaminated product had been shipped to 11 countries. When FDA inspectors traveled to the plant in Changzhou, China, that made the contaminated heparin, they discovered the heparin ingredientmade from pig intestineswas made in a dirty tank. Later, scientists conducted tests and identified the contaminant as oversulfated chondroitin sulfate. In 2007, a similar contamination scandal occurred with Chinese-made pet food laced with melamine. Thousands of pet dogs and cats got sick, and hundreds died. A year later, the same toxic chemical was found in Chinese-made baby formula, which killed at least six babies and caused illnesses in more than 300,000 infants in China. Among the problems with Chinese companies is that they often sell drugs at lower prices and drive out foreign competitors who do make medicines according to regulated standards. Noncompliance with U.S. standards is a deliberate competitive strategy. As long as they arent caught, they continue to win contracts. Lower prices discourage production in the United States and force worldwide sourcing, thereby risking poorer quality products, Gibson and Singh write. This was seen clearly in the vitamin C market. In the early 1990s, most vitamin C (ascorbic acid) was made in Europe or Japan. China entered the market in the mid-1990s. By 2001, four major Chinese companies had cut their vitamin C prices in half. Other companies couldnt compete. After China controlled the market, its companies raised prices by 600 percent, according to the authors. A 2005 class-action lawsuit filed in New York found an overwhelming evidence of collusion among the Chinese companies. The book states, The companies admitted to price-fixing and acting under the direction of the Chinese government. The Chinese regime used similar tactics to control the penicillin market. The methods the Chinese Communist Party has used to seize control of global drug markets follows a similar model it has employed to control other sectors. The authors cite testimony from Jeffrey Johnson, president of cybersecurity firm SquirrelWerkz, before the U.S.China Economic and Security Review Commission created by Congress. Johnson said that these campaigns consist of state-sponsored and supported criminal cartels that have used a variety of dishonest tactics designed to accelerate Chinas entry and domination of each key global industry. Former FDA commissioner Dr. Margaret Hamburg explained, in a 2014 speech in Beijing, the consequences of relying on China to produce vital life-saving drugs. The risks are greater at every step in our increasingly complex global supply chain networks today. Sometimes these hazards are the result of a lack of quality control [or] intentional acts of diversion, counterfeiting, or adulteration. A promoter displays a smartphone from ZTE, the Blade L2, during its launch in Singapore on Aug. 13, 2014. (Roslan Rahman/AFP/Getty Images) Chinese Smartphone Maker ZTE in Dire Straits After US Ban on Exporting Tech Parts After the United States said it would ban American companies from supplying tech parts and software to the Chinese smartphone maker ZTE, a document circulating on the Chinese internet has elucidated just how troubling the situation would be for Chinas second-largest telecoms company. The U.S. Department of Commerce announced the decision on April 16 after discovering that ZTE had failed to comply with the terms of a prior court agreement following the companys sanctions violation. In 2017, ZTE pleaded guilty in U.S. federal court to evading U.S. embargoes on Iran, by buying American tech parts, incorporating them into ZTE equipment, then illegally shipping them to Iran. The case was the result of a five-year federal investigation. The company paid $890 million in fines and penalties, with an additional penalty of $300 million that could be imposed. As part of the agreement, ZTE was to also dismiss four senior employees and discipline 35 others, by either reducing bonuses or reprimanding them. In March, the company admitted to U.S. officials that it had not disciplined the 35 others. This [ban] will be devastating to the company, given their reliance on U.S. products and software, Douglas Jacobson, an exports control lawyer who represents suppliers to ZTE, told Reuters. Its certainly going to make it very difficult for them to produce and will have a potentially significant short- and long-term negative impact on the company. The Commerce Department decision also means ZTE may not be able to use Googles Android operating system in its mobile devices, a source familiar with the matter told Reuters on April 17. ZTE and Googles parent company, Alphabet Inc., have been discussing the impact of the ban, the source added, but the two companies were still unclear about the use of Android by ZTE. The Chinese firm shipped 46.4 million smartphones last year, placing it seventh among Android-based manufacturers, according to research firm IHS Markit. A day after the Commerce Department ban, the Federal Communications Commission (FCC), which regulates the U.S. telecoms industry, proposed new rules that would bar government programs from buying from companies that it says pose a security threat to U.S. telecoms networks, which will likely hurt both ZTE and its rival Chinese smartphone maker, Huawei Technologies. The proposed FCC rules would prevent money from the $8.5 billion FCC Universal Service Fund, which includes subsidies for telephone service to poor and rural areas, from being spent on goods or services from companies or countries that pose a national security threat to the integrity of communications networks or their supply chains, the FCC said. Hidden backdoors to our networks in routers, switches, and other network equipment can allow hostile foreign powers to inject viruses and other malware, steal Americans private data, spy on U.S. businesses, and more, said FCC Chairman Ajit Pai, who introduced the proposal. Pai did not specify China or specific companies, but in a letter to Congress last month, Pai said he shared the concerns of U.S. lawmakers about espionage threats from Huawei, the worlds third-largest smartphone maker. Republican U.S. senators have introduced legislation that would block the U.S. government from buying or leasing telecoms equipment from Huawei and ZTE, citing concerns about its potential use for spying on U.S. officials. ZTEs Dependence on US Firms A 2016 report released by a Chinese regime-affiliated think tankwhich has resurfaced in recent days due to the news of the U.S. banreveals just how troubling the situation will be for ZTE. In March 2016, before ZTE settled the federal court case, the company was reeling from the repercussions of a temporary U.S. ban on exporting tech parts to ZTE, a punishment for the sanctions violations. About a month later, CCID, a Beijing think tank affiliated with Chinas Ministry of Industry and Information Technology, released a report analyzing the impact of the ban. It found that ZTE relied heavily on imported chips and optical modules for manufacturing its smartphones, such as 4G baseband chips from Xilinx, FPGA chips from Intel, and radio frequency chips from Skyworks and Qorvoall American chipmakers. In 2014, ZTEs biggest chip supplier was Broadcom, with the company purchasing $1.3 billion worth. All told, ZTE purchased 53 percent of its chips from American firms, worth $3.1 billion. The report concluded that any U.S. sanctions would have a destructive impact on ZTE, and that without any U.S. suppliers, ZTE would only be able to rely on its own stock of chips. Within three months of a U.S. ban, ZTE would face the brink of bankruptcy, the report said. The ban would also have ripple effects on the Chinese tech industry in general, according to the report. Huawei ZTEs chief competitor, Huawei, is also in trouble. This month, amid a slew of bad news, Huawei laid off its vice president of external affairs, Bill Plummer, and four other employees at its Washington office, sources familiar with the matter told Reuters. Huaweis planned deal with U.S. carrier AT&T to sell its smartphones in the United States collapsed in January after U.S. lawmakers lobbied against the idea to federal regulators, citing security concerns. In March, electronics retailer Best Buy announced that it had cut ties with Huawei and will stop selling Huawei devices. Huaweis CEO, Ren Zhengfei, also has a unique background. According to a 2005 study by RAND Corporation, Ren was a former director of the Chinese militarys Information Engineering Academy. After he started Huawei in 1988, Ren used his father-in-laws connectionsthe latter a former deputy governor of Sichuan Provinceto obtain contracts setting up electronic switching systems for the military. Meanwhile, the companys former chairwoman Sun Yafang worked in Chinas Ministry of State Security, an intelligence and security agency, for many years before joining Huawei in 1992, according to Chinese media reports. She was in charge of business with different governments and their militaries. Reuters contributed to this report. Recommended Video: Australias China Experts Discuss Chinese Communist Party Infiltration in Australia House Hacking Suspects Father Transferred Data To Pakistani Government, Ex-Partner Claims Pakistani Pakistani FAISALABAD, Pakistan The father of Imran Awan an IT aide to Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz who investigators concluded made unauthorized access to House servers transferred a USB drive to asenator and former head of aintelligence agency, the fathers ex-business partner, Rashid Minhas, alleged. Minhas told The Daily Caller News Foundation that Imran Awans father, Haji Ashraf Awan, was giving data to Pakistani official Rehman Malik, and that Imran bragged he had the power to change the U.S. president. Asked for how he knew this, he said that on one occasion in 2008 when a USB [was] given to Rehman Malik by Imrans father, my brother Abdul Razzaq was with his father. After Imrans father deliver (sic) USB to Rehman Malik, four Pakistani [government intelligence] agents were with his father 24-hour on duty to protect him, he said. Minhas did not say what was on the USB. TheDCNF traveled to Pakistan for this story and interviewed numerous residents who interacted with Imran, and they confirmed that he does travel that country with a contingent of armed Pakistani government officials and routinely brags about mysterious political power. The House Office of Inspector General charged in Sept. 30, 2016 that data was being funneled off the House network by the Awans as recently as September 2016 shortly before the presidential election. Nearly Imrans entire immediate family was on the House payroll working as IT aides to one-fifth of House Democrats, and he began working for the House in 2004. The inspector general, Michael Ptasienski, testified this month that system administrators hold the keys to the kingdom meaning they can create accounts, grant access, view, download, update, or delete almost any electronic information within an office. Because of this high-level access, a rogue system administrator could inflict considerable damage. Minhas said Imran Awan said to me directly these words: See how I control White House on my fingertip He say he can fire the prime minister or change the U.S. president, Minhas said. Why the claiming big stuff, I [didnt] understand till now. I was Imran fathers partner in Pakistan, Minhas said, in two land deals in Pakistan so big that they are often referred to as towns. In 2009, both men were accused of fraud, and Haji was arrested but then released after Imran flew to Pakistan, allegedly exerting pressure on the local police through the ministry as well as the department concerned, according to local news. Minhas and multiple alleged victims in Pakistan also told TheDCNF Imran exerted political influence in Pakistan to extricate his father from the case. Minhas is now in U.S. federal prison for additional fraud, and TheDCNF could not confirm whether Minhas claims about the USBs are true. But Minhas said the DOJ or FBI never interviewed him about the Awans, an indicator the potential for espionage may not have been explored extensively. The probe involves money allegedly disappearing to Pakistan and Minhas was, prominently, their business partner there. He is also one of many people with past relationships with the Awans who have said they believe they are aggressive opportunists who will do anything for money. And parts of Minhass story correlate with observations elsewhere. Hajis wife, Samina Gilani Imrans stepmother said in court documents that Imran used his IT skills to wiretap her as a means of exerting pressure on her. Haji would frequently boast that Imrans position gave him political leverage, numerous Pakistani residents told TheDCNF. My son own White House in D.C., he would say, according to Minhas. I am kingmaker. Sen. Malik is a former intelligence agent who served as director of the Federal Investigation Agency from 1993 to 1996. From 2004 to 2007, he was chief of security for former prime minister Benazir Bhutto. In 2013, he became an adviser to Prime Minister Yousaf Gillani, and served as Interior Minister until 2013, a capacity in which he interfaced with then-Secretary of State Hillary Clinton. He now serves in the Pakistani Senate. Sen. Malik denied any relationship with the parties allegedly involved, saying I am hearing their names for the first time. I am in public and people always do name-dropping. Chris Gowen, an attorney for Imran, said Minhass contentions were completely and totally false. House Sergeant-At-Arms Paul Irving banned the Awans from the congressional network on Feb. 2, 2017 after the IG report alleged that the Awans were making unauthorized access to House servers. They logged in using members of Congresss personal usernames and logged into servers of members for whom they did not work, the IG report said. After some members fired them, they still kept accessing their data, an IG presentation charged. The behavior mirrored a classic method for insiders to exfiltrate data from an organization, and steps are being taken [by the Awans] to conceal their activity, it said. In the months before the election, the epicenter of the cyberbreach was the server of the House Democratic Caucus, a sister group of the Democratic National Committee (DNC). Authorities said they believe Imran secretly moved all the data of more than a dozen House members offices onto the caucus server. The server may have been used for nefarious purposes and elevated the risk that individuals could be reading and/or removing information, an IG presentation said. The Awans logged into it 27 times a day, far more than any other computer they administered. Imrans most forceful advocate and longtime employer is Florida Democratic Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz, who led the DNC until she resigned following a hack that exposed committee emails. Wikileaks published those emails, and they show that DNC staff summoned Imran when they needed her password. Democrats have blamed the DNC hack for former Clintons loss in the 2016 presidential race. Soon after the IG report, the entire House Democratic Caucus server was physically stolen, three government officials said, in what authorities took as evidence tampering. Then-Caucus Chairman Xavier Becerra has refused to discuss the incident except to say that he would cooperate with authorities. The Awans began selling their assets during the same time period. In January 2017 they took out a loan intended for home improvement, falsely claimed a medical emergency in order to cash out their House retirement account, and wired $300,000 overseas, according to an FBI affidavit. Imran was arrested at Dulles Airport in July 2017 trying to fly to Pakistan with a wiped cell phone and a resume that listed his address as Queens, New York, prosecutors said. Imran and his wife, Hina Alvi, were indicted in August on bank fraud charges, with prosecutors contending in court filings that shortly before moving the money, the couple had likely learned that authorities were closing in on them for their other activities. Yet Imran and Hina have not been charged with unauthorized access to congressional data, despite an analysis of server logs by House investigators that determined that unauthorized access by Imran and Hina occurred. Three other suspects Abid Awan, Jamal Awan and Rao Abbas have faced no charges. Abids wife, Ukraniane-born Nataliia Sova, was also on the payroll but left before the Awan family was banned. The separation between the legislative and executive branch has complicated the prosecution. Congressmen have refused to publicly address the IGs findings, and Wasserman Schultzs brother is a prosecutor in the office of the U.S. Attorney for the District of Columbia, which is handling the case. Two months after the ban, Capitol Police found that Imran was in the building and left a laptop with username RepDWS in a phone booth along with a note that read attorney client privilege, according to a police report. Wasserman Schultz hired a private lawyer to block prosecutors from looking at the computer. Imrans attorney then said the laptop should not be looked at unless he withdraws his claim of attorney-client privilege. Their next court date is May 4. The suspects worked for foreign affairs committee members such as Ted Lieu of California and for intelligence committee members Joaquin Castro of Texas, Andre Carson of Indiana, and Jackie Speier of California. All have ignored repeated requests for comment. Imran appeared to still have a backdoor into the congressional network as late as August 2017 through the email account 123@mail.house.gov, according to civil court filings. Instead of Imrans name, the email address was associated with the name Nathaniel Bennett, an intelligence specialist for Carson. Minhas said Last time I seen Mr. devil Awan in Pakistan 2010 about him and his father commit fraud with me and other landlords in Faisalabad. Minhas and Haji Awan acquired a large tract of farmland from elderly farmers to turn into a housing development, but allegedly failed to pay them. When the farmers filed charges, Imran tried to have the elderly victims arrested by claiming they beat and tortured him, and used political influence to have police drop the charges against his father, according to a detailed 2009 article in Pakistani newspaper Dawn. Minhas said that was Sen. Maliks influence. The way he used his resources through Congress to call U.S. Embassy in Islamabad and Pakistani officials, it was so bad, Minhas said. What the hell Rehman Malik was doing being involved in a local case? The alleged scam Minhas and Haji ran was not the only one for either. Minhas is now in federal prison in Minnesota for swindling money from American Muslims. According to court documents, Minhas stole $700,000 from American Muslims by using their faith against them. He set up travel agencies that sold cheap tickets to the Hajj, the obligatory trip to Mecca. But instead of providing the tickets, he sent buyers letters saying Allah didnt invite you. Thats why you guys didnt go, as one victim recounted in court papers. So, he blamed the whole thing on God, not on his thing what he did to us. Prosecutors said he used the travel agency down in Falls Church, Va., as a stalking horse to make it appear to his customers that he was doing what he was supposed to be doing, knowing all along that he wouldnt get those visas. Minhas lived in Chicago at the time, while Imran ran a car dealership in Falls Church on top of his $165,000-a-year job in Congress. But no connection between Imran and the travel agency was apparent. The Awans car dealership business partner Nasir Khattek said in sworn testimony that the automobile business called Cars International A, or CIA used false bookkeeping and took $100,000 from Ali Al-Attar, an Iraqi government official who is wanted by the U.S. Department of Justice. Minhas has been in prison since 2014. He said his brother, Abdul Razzaq, witnessed one handoff of a USB between the elder Awan and Malik in 2008. He said his brother has since died. Sen. Joe Donnelly of Indiana, then a House member, inexplicably paid the elder Awan $116 in late 2007 to be his systems administrator, according to payroll records, even though he did not have any computer training and said on insurance documents that he worked as a religious figure. Imran told Laurel Everly, a tenant of one of his familys numerous Virginia rental homes, that Imran sometimes performed his job administering congressional servers from Pakistan. Several people, including Imrans stepmother Gilani, said Imran used his job as a congressional IT administrator to exert pressure, particularly among foreigners and immigrants. Minhas said the Awans also defrauded him. My brothers brought all customers and investors. I stay in Pakistan March 2006 to August 2006 and sold about 79 percent town name Gulshan-e-Moin (sic), after sold that town end of 2006, we purchased another land and sold 40 percent land to Faisalabad Agriculture University staff. In 2007 Awan family showed me dirty blood in their body, and from 37 acres they only transfer 1000 square feet oh yes only 1000 square feet in my name, and I was third 34 percent partner. Even with Minhas out of the picture and the Awans in full control of the land business, multiple people said Imran and his family have continued to defraud them in Pakistan. The land was subdivided and a portion sold to the faculty of the Faisalabad Agriculture University to build a housing complex for professors. Dr. Zafar Iqbal, a faculty member and the groups president, told TheDCNF in an interview on his front porch that the group paid Haji for the land, but he never turned over the deed, and they have been fighting him and Imran for it for years. In January 2017, Haji died and Imran traveled to Pakistan, where the association members cornered him, Dr. Iqbal said. Imran cautioned them that he has got powerful political connections in Pakistan and in the U.S, Dr. Iqbal said, adding that he had seen the government agents protecting him. Imran promised to either refund their money or get them the deeds. But Imran pulled another trick, Dr. Iqbal said. Hes such type of person. Wajid Al-Sayed reported from Faisalabad, Pakistan. Follow Luke on Twitter. Send tips to luke@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. PGP key. Content created by The Daily Caller News Foundation is available without charge to any eligible news publisher that can provide a large audience. For licensing opportunities of our original content, please contact licensing@dailycallernewsfoundation.org. The Awan IT Scandal Put Congressional Data at Risk Congressional IT workers paid by 44 House Democrats gained unauthorized access to sensitive networks The emails and personal files of at least 44 House Democrats could have been stolen and transferred overseas by their own IT workers, in a scandal that has been quietly brewing in Congress. At the center of the controversy are Imran Awan, his brother Abid Awan, and five other family members and associates. They worked as shared IT employees for 44 House Democrats and had access to the House members sensitive data, including emails, calendars, constituents data, and personal files, despite having little to no IT experience. Click on timeline to enlarge. All of the 44 House members had waived the background check on the employees, according to an inspector generals report. Some of the members serve on committees that handle sensitive and sometimes classified information, such as the House Permanent Select Committee on Intelligence, the House Committee on Homeland Security, and the House Committee on Foreign Affairs. The IT workers were paid an estimated $7 million by Congress since 2004, despite the fact that some of them were often not seen at work and in some cases worked remotely from Pakistan. In September 2016, the House Office of Inspector General warned House leadership and the Committee on House Administration that the IT workers had made unauthorized logins on systems of House members they were not employed by, and in some cases continued to log in to the computers of members who had previously fired them. They also logged in using the personal credentials of congressmen, the office found. The findings came during the heat of the 2016 presidential race and as WikiLeaks was publishing emails taken from the Democratic National Committee, which was chaired by Rep. Debbie Wasserman Schultz (D-Fla.), who had employed Imran Awan since 2005. Despite the findings, access to congressional servers by the IT workers was not restricted until months later, after the election. An analysis spanning seven months by the IG found that the five IT workers made excessive logons to a server belonging to a group similar to the DNC, the House Democratic Caucus. A total of 5,735 logons were recorded, an average of 27 times per day. Excessive logons are an indication that the server is being used for nefarious purposes and elevated the risk that individuals could be reading and/or removing information, said the IG in the briefing, which was not publicly released. The IG briefing also reveals that Dropbox had been installed on at least two computers that were uploading files online, in defiance of House policy. The Dropbox accounts contained thousands of files, which, according to the IG, contained information that was likely sensitive. The House leaders, Paul Ryan and Nancy Pelosi, did not ban the five IT workers from the network until Feb. 2, 2017, when their access was blocked by the sergeant at arms. The Committee on House Administration put out a statement that acknowledged suspicious activity and said a theft investigation was ongoing. Awan Family Imran Awan, who immigrated from Pakistan to the United States in 1997 under the diversity lottery program, was hired in 2004the same year he gained citizenshipby Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), Rep. Gregory Meeks (D-N.Y.), and, soon after, Wasserman Schultz. Imran quickly began earning among the highest salaries on Capitol Hill. After his salary hit a pay cap under congressional rules that prevent staffers from earning more than congressmen, other Democrats began adding Imrans relatives to their own payrolls as IT aides, even though they did not have any background in IT. In 2005, Imrans brother Abid joined the payroll, and in 2007 Imrans wife, Hina Alvi Awan, was added. In 2011, Abid Awans wife, Ukrainian-born Natalia Sova, was added to the congressional payroll. Civil court documents show that during this time, Abid and his wife were running a used car dealership named Cars International A, which accepted a loan from Ali al-Attar, an Iraqi political figure of Iranian heritage who is wanted by the IRS and FBI on unrelated tax fraud charges. In 2012, Abid Awan filed for bankruptcy, discharging $1.1 million in debts, despite his high salary. Documents showed that Abid Awan owed money to a man named Rao Abbas, who reportedly worked at McDonalds. Shortly after, several House Democrats began paying Abbas as their ostensible IT aide. In 2014, the youngest Awan brother, Jamal, was added to the payroll at age 20 and was soon earning as much as a congressman. In total, the IT workers received $7 million in congressional pay and were responsible for the IT of 1 in every 5 House Democrats, or 44 in total. Imran Awan himself took frequent trips to Pakistan and told associates he worked remotely from that country, The Daily Caller reported. Background checks on the Awans and their associates were waived despite a number of red flags. Background checks are designed, in part, to reveal weaknesses, such as financial difficulty, that could be exploited by outside actors. Suspicious Activity on Server The House Democratic Caucus, whose server was identified as ground zero of the cybersecurity problems, was led by Becerra from 2013 to January 2017, when he became Californias attorney general. The total logons onto the system, 5,735 during a seven-month period, were considered suspicious, as the computers in offices managed by the shared IT employees were accessed in total less than 60 times during the same time period. The IG investigation also revealed that the pattern of login activity suggests steps [were] being taken to conceal their activity. This included the use of active role servers, which could have been used to grant access on a temporary basis and could have been used to evade network monitoring. The Democratic Caucus server could be used to store documents taken from other offices or evidence of other illicit activity, according to the IG presentation. The unusual login activity could also indicate computers were used as a launching point to access other systems for which access may be unauthorized. The installation of Dropbox on two Democratic Caucus computers used by the IT workers raises concerns that those computers could have been used to transfer data out of Congress to other groups or nation-states. According to other congressional IT workers, congressional staff and IT workers are prohibited from using Dropbox due to security concerns. While file sharing sites, such as Dropbox, have legitimate business purposes, use of such sites is also a classic method for insiders to exfiltrate data from an organization, the IG report states. Sensitive Data and Potential Blackmail Among the data hosted on the IT systems of House members are emails, calendars, House members personal files, and personal information of constituents who have contacted their representatives office. Such sensitive data could prove useful to companies and other entities around the world. We know that there are countries and companies, entities around the world, who would pay a lot of money to have access to some members calendars, to their e-mails, see who they are meeting with, see what theyre saying about those meetings, that could be very valuable information, said Rep. Louie Gohmert (R-Texas), during an informal hearing on the issue in Congress on Oct. 10, 2017. In certain cases, personal files and data could also be used to blackmail politicians. Investigations Following its warning to House leadership on Sept. 20, 2016, the Office of Inspector General provided another briefing on Sept. 30, warning of continuing unauthorized access by the IT workers. The investigation was then taken away from the inspector general in October and handed over to Capitol Police, despite the police having no cybersecurity expertise. In January, Imran Awan was able to travel to Pakistan unimpeded. A server belonging to the House Democratic Caucus was stolen after the inspector generals report named it as evidence in a hacking probe, three senior government officials told The Daily Caller. Around the same time, the head of the caucus, Rep. Xavier Becerra (D-Calif.), left Congress to become Californias attorney general. On Feb. 2, 2017, the sergeant at arms officially banned the IT workers from the House network. A day later, most of the 44 House Democrats ended their contracts with the IT workers and fired them. Wasserman Schultz did not fire Imran, saying the IT worker could service her technology needs without connecting to the House network. She also added Hina Alvi Awan as a second IT aide well after the investigation was underway. In March 2017, Hina left for Pakistan with her children without notifying their schools. Prosecutors say that FBI agents had been surveilling her, and that they approached her at the airport, where she refused to speak to them. A search revealed Hina was carrying $12,400 in cash and many of her personal belongings, some packed in cardboard boxes. Despite this, she was allowed to board the plane. When Imran Awan tried to leave the country on July 24, the FBI arrested him at the airport. A month later, on Aug. 17, both Imran and Hina were indicted for bank fraud. In September, Hina reached a deal with prosecutors to return to the United States from Pakistan. Missing IT Equipment The initial investigation by the Office of Inspector General also found that the shared IT employees were involved in irregular purchases of technology, such as iPads, iPhones, and other equipment. Under congressional rules, inventory must be kept of all purchases by House members of equipment that has a purchase price of $500 or more. The IG found that some offices that employed the Awans were signing off on forms that manipulated pricing to make expensive products appear like they cost less than that. Examples of purchases made this way include an iPad with an original cost of $799, that was billed for $499 together with Apple Care that was billed for $350, despite its actual cost being $88. To accomplish this, the Awans allegedly worked with CDW Government, a major government contractor, which says it is cooperating with prosecutors but has been told it is not a target. The IG report also found that 75 pieces of equipment with a total purchase price of $118,416 went missing from one of the offices where Abid Awan worked. The office was later revealed to be that of Rep. Yvette Clarke (D-N.Y.). The missing equipment included laptops, iPads, TVs, video conferencing equipment, and computers. The IG report said Abid Awan, who was responsible for the equipment, made contradicting statements about it. Family members of the Awans told The Daily Caller that they shipped a significant number of devices, such as iPads and iPhones, to Pakistan. But one of Imran Awans lawyers said it was congressmen who wanted invoices falsified. This is what experienced members of Congress expect: to expedite things, they adjust the pricing, Aaron Page told The Daily Caller. Abid Awans attorney, Jim Bacon, told The Washington Post: In a fluid situation, you do what youre ordered to do. It sounds to me like theres a lot of scapegoating here. Wasserman Schultzs Laptop Two months after being banned from the House IT network by the sergeant at arms, Imran Awan left a laptop with a username RepDWS in a phone booth, along with a letter to prosecutors and copies of his House ID card and drivers license, according to a Capitol Police report. The bag was found by Capitol Hill police and seized. During a televised hearing on May 18, 2017, Wasserman Schultz threatened the Capitol Police chief with consequences if the laptop was not returned. She hired a lawyer in an attempt to prevent prosecutors from looking at the contents of the laptop. In August 2017, Wasserman Schultz seemingly changed course, saying: This was not my laptop. I have never seen that laptop. I dont know whats on the laptop. Emails of Wasserman Schultz released by WikiLeaks reveal that Imran Awan had the login to her iPad. This means he would have had access to all of her personal information, including her calendar, emails, and notes. In an October court appearance, Imran Awans lawyer, Chris Gowen, said he feels very strongly that the RepDWS laptop should not be used as evidence, citing attorney-client privilege. Both Imran Awan and Wasserman Schultz have been provided with an image of its hard drive. In the six months since, prosecutors have postponed the next court date four times, pointing to voluminous discovery and discussions about the attorney-client privilege argument. Observers of the justice system say such delays would not be necessary for a bank fraud case and tare a sign that prosecutors are stalling while they build the cybersecurity and fraud cases. Imran Awan remains out of jail with a GPS tracking monitor, which his lawyer has repeatedly requested be removed. On Dec. 18 prosecutors objected to that request. Taking into account (1) Awans strong connections to Pakistan, (2) the wealth he already transferred there, and (3) his attempt to depart to Pakistan while knowing he was under investigation, the government asserts that Awan is a flight risk, they wrote. Epoch Times reporter Joshua Philipp contributed to this report. Trump Admin Sanctions Russian Oligarchs and Officials Over Malign Activity Around the Globe The United States Treasury Department sanctioned seven Russian oligarchs and 17 top government officials on Friday in response to what it described as Moscows hostile activity around the globe, including conventional warfare, cyber attacks, and attempts to subvert Western Democracies. The Treasury listed 7 Russian oligarchs, a dozen companies that they control, and 12 government officials. Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin cited Russias malign activity in eastern Ukraine and supplying the Assad regime in Syria with weapons as some of the reasons for the sanctions. Russian oligarchs and elites who profit from this corrupt system will no longer be insulated from the consequences of their governments destabilizing activities, Mnuchin said in a statement. Fridays action was being planned for a significant amount of time and coordinated with Americas allies in Europe, according to a senior administration official. The sanctions are not in response to a specific instance but target a pattern of events dating back to before President Donald Trump took office. But most importantly this is in response to Russias continuing attack to subvert Western democracies, a senior administration official said in a call with reporters. Many of the oligarchs are being sanctioned for the first time and are close to Russian President Vladimir Putin. American officials expect the sanctions to be noticed far and wide given the high profiles of the people being sanctioned and their proximity to the Kremlin. Individuals and companies will see consequences in near term and will have to adjust their planning, said a senior administration official. The seven oligarchs sanctioned were Viktor Vekselberg, Andrei Skoch, Kirill Shamalov, Igor Rotenberg, Suleiman Kerimov, Oleg Deripaska and Vladimir Bogdanov. Shalamov is an energy executive who married Putins daughter in 2013 and subsequently catapulted into the billionaire club surrounding the president. Deripaska has been accused of threatening to kill business rivals, wiretapping government officials, money laundering, extortion, and racketeering. He is allegedly linked to an organized crime group and has allegedly ordered the murder of a businessman. The sanctions are the latest in a diplomatic tit-for-tat between Washington and Moscow. Sixty American diplomats left Russia this week after the Kremlin retaliated for the expulsion of Russian intelligence officers from the United States in connection to the poisoning of a former Russian spy, Sergei Skripal, in the United Kingdom. The poisoning led to the coordinated expulsion of 100 Russian diplomats and intelligence officers from 20 countries. The United Kingdom alleges that Russia was behind the poisoning. Russia vehemently denies the claim. Recommended Video: Trump Wants to Create a Space Force A woman reads with a child near the Mercado Surquillo No.1 in Lima, Peru, on Apr. 16, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Pence Denounces Communist Dictatorships at the Summit of the Americas Corruption, Venezuelan crisis, Syria airstrike, and drug trafficking take center stage at the eighth summit LIMA, PeruVice President Mike Pence blasted Cuba, calling it a tired communist regime, at the Summit of the Americas on April 14. He accused Cubas dictators of exporting their failed ideology across the region and supporting the dictatorship in Venezuela. Standing in for President Donald Trump at the Lima summit, Pence called on regional leaders to stand with the people suffering in Venezuela and to isolate the ruling Maduro regime. In Venezuela, as in Cuba, the tragedy of tyranny is on full display, he said. Pence walked out of the session when Cubas foreign minister, Bruno Rodriguez Parilla, was recognized to offer a rebuttal. In Venezuela, as in Cuba, the tragedy of tyranny is on full display. Vice President Mike Pence The Summit of the Americas is held every three years. Thirty-three out of 35 countries in the Western Hemisphere attended the eighth summit this year on April 13 and 14. Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro was barred from attending the summit. Maduro earlier insisted that he would appear at the summit anyway. However, he announced later that he would not attend the meeting, calling it a waste of time. His announcement came right after Trump canceled his trip to Latin America. The Summit of the Americas has been a complete failure, Maduro said on April 14. Trump, who had planned to attend the Summit of the Americas, called off his visit a few days before the meeting after choosing to stay in Washington to oversee the American response to chemical attacks by the Assad regime in Syria. Leaders of the Americas Condemn Syria At the summit, leaders from North and South America decried the use of chemical weapons by Syria. All countries, except Bolivia, Cuba, and the absent Venezuela, condemned Syrian President Bashar al-Assad and urged him to stop chemical attacks on his citizens. Pence also briefed leaders on the April 13 military action in Syria. Im pleased to report that the strike by the United States, UK, and French forces was effective, overwhelming, and successful, he said. He criticized Russia for deliberately spreading disinformation about Assads heinous actions. Countries including Canada and Colombia expressed support for the U.S.-led airstrike on Syria. Bolivia and Cuba condemned the United States and its allies. Argentina, Brazil, and Peru voiced concerns about escalating problems in the Middle East. Combating Corruption The formal theme of this years summit was Democratic Governance Against Corruption. During the summit, all leaders pledged to confront systemic corruption, at a time when a wave of corruption scandals has been sweeping through their governments. Host country Peru was the latest to be rocked by a bribery scandal linked to Brazilian construction firm Odebrecht that has shaken some major countries in Latin America. Peruvian President Pedro Pablo Kuczynski resigned over his role in the scandal a few weeks before the summit. His vice president, Martin Vizcarra, who took power last month, hosted the summit. In addition, the leaders also raised concerns about the mass immigration of Venezuelans into neighboring countries as the political and economic crisis in the country deepens. Colombia faces a massive influx of refugees. More than half a million Venezuelans have fled to Colombia, mostly in the last two years. The United States provided $2.5 million aid for Venezuelans living in Colombia last month. And during the summit, Pence announced an additional $16 million in assistance to support Colombias efforts. The members also condemned the murder of two Ecuadorean journalists and their driver by Colombian drug traffickers. Ecuadorian President Lenin Moreno had to return to his country early from the summit to deal with the crisis. Reporter Javier Ortega, photographer Paul Rivas, and driver Efrain Segarra were on assignment on the border between Ecuador and Colombia for Ecuadors El Comercio newspaper when they were taken hostage by former fighters from the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) last month. Moreno confirmed the deaths of the hostages on April 13. More than a thousand FARC fighters refused to demobilize under last years peace deal with Colombia and instead joined dissident drug-trafficking groups. Leaders expressed their solidarity with the Ecuadorian president and vowed to fight criminal gangs and drug traffickers. The New US Initiative As part of the U.S. delegation, White House senior adviser and first daughter Ivanka Trump also participated in the summit and announced the beginning of a new initiative by the Trump administration to promote womens empowerment in the region. The new U.S. initiative will commit $150 million and mobilize a total of $500 million to provide access to capital and economic opportunities for women entrepreneurs throughout Latin America. Pence also expressed Americas wish to host the next summit. We will be submitting a bid to host the Ninth Summit of the Americas three years from now in 2021, he said. Abousfian Abdelrazik in Montreal in a file photo. A highly classified 2006 report by the office of the inspector general for CSIS has come to light through federal disclosure of records to Abdelrazik in his long-running lawsuit against the government. (The Canadian Press/Ryan Remiorz) Secret Watchdog Report Warned of Undue Pressure From CSIS on Detainees Held Abroad OTTAWANewly disclosed documents show a top-secret federal reportkept under wraps for over a decadecriticized Canadas spy agency for shortcomings as its members increasingly travelled overseas to interrogate people in foreign prisons in the name of fighting terrorism. The report warned that new practices were needed because Canadians held abroad had little recourse if tortured by a foreign government. As a result, when Canadian Security Intelligence Service officers showed up at a detainees cell door in another country, it could place undue pressure on the prisoner to take part in an interview with the spy service. Even if CSIS does not force any individual to answer its questions, the conditions under which a detainee abroad is held can give the latter the opposite impression, the report said. Additional precautions on the part of the Service are therefore required during interviews of detainees abroad. The highly classifiedand still heavily censoredreport by the office of the inspector general for CSIS was completed in November 2006 but has only now come to light through federal disclosure of records to Abousfian Abdelrazik in his long-running lawsuit against the government. Abdelrazik, a Canadian citizen, was arrested during a 2003 visit to see his ailing mother in Sudan. While in custody, he was interrogated by CSIS about suspected extremist links. Abdelrazik claims he was tortured by Sudanese intelligence officials during two periods of detention, but Canada says it knew nothing of the alleged abuse. He denies involvement in terrorism and is suing the Canadian government in Federal Court for an apology and compensation. Abdelraziks lawyer, Paul Champ, made a copy of the report, titled Review of CSIS Interviews with Detainees Abroad, available to The Canadian Press. In 2012, the then-Conservative government abolished the office of the inspector general, considered the eyes and ears on CSIS for the federal minister responsible for the spy service. Some of the inspector generals functions were assumed by the Security Intelligence Review Committee, the main watchdog keeping tabs on CSIS. The inspector generals report, which covered the five years ending June 30, 2005, found the spy service was not fully prepared for its expanding post-9/11 role in probing violent extremism internationally. The report said the interrogation of detainees in countries that flout human rights creates dilemmas for CSIS, notably in terms of the protection of the image and reputation of the Service. In the case of the CSIS trip to Sudan, for example, the Sudanese governments failings on human rights were publicly known through recent Amnesty International and U.S. State Department publications, the report noted. Finally, this practice makes it more difficult to achieve a balance between intelligence collection and the protection of human rights, considering that the interviews are conducted in zones controlled by foreign organizations which do not respect human rights and which are not accountable to CSIS. The inspector general recommended CSIS be more rigorous in the choice of policy and procedure used to approve travel to conduct interviews and that the spy service draft guidelines to clarify the roles of players, notably Canadas foreign ministry, involved in overseas interrogation cases to protect Service employees and the image of CSIS. A final version of the report was finished just weeks after a federal commission of inquiry delivered its main findings in the case of Maher Arar, an Ottawa man who was tortured in a Syrian prison. The Arar inquiry made 23 recommendations that led to new policies and procedures intended to clarify the roles of federal agencies and prevent complicity in abuses by foreign police and spy services. A Security Intelligence Review Committee probe of the Abdelrazik case, made public in 2013, found that while CSIS followed proper authorities in seeking approval to interview Abdelrazik following his initial imprisonment, the spy service inappropriately, and in contravention of CSIS policy, disclosed personal and classified information. The review committee also said that in mid-2004, in preparation for Abdelraziks possible release, CSIS updated government partners on information it possessedassessments the review committee said contained exaggerated and inaccurately conveyed information. In addition, the committee found that CSIS and Foreign Affairsthe two Canadian agencies most heavily involved in the casewere sometimes at odds with each other in carrying out their consular and intelligence work. From The Canadian Press Syrian Sanctioned for Smuggling People to US Border WASHINGTONA Syrian man accused of trafficking Syrian and Lebanese nationals to the U.S. border was sanctioned on Wednesday by the U.S. Treasurys Office of Foreign Assets Control, which said it was intent on disrupting his prolific human smuggling operations around the globe. Acting under executive order 13581 Blocking Property of Transnational Criminal Organizations issued under President Obama in 2011, the Treasury placed Nasif Barakat and his gang, based in Homs, Syria, on a list of people and entities whose assets under U.S. control can be frozen. The action generally prohibits U.S. citizens from dealing with Barakat or his group. The Barakat TCO is a human smuggling organization based in Homs, Syria, that facilitates the smuggling of Syrian and Lebanese nationals to the United States border using a variety of travel routes. Since 2013, the Barakat TCO has facilitated the smuggling of hundreds of individuals to the Southwest border of the United States. Nasif Barakat is being designated for materially assisting, sponsoring, or providing financial, material, or technological support for, or goods or services to or in support of, the Barakat TCO, and for acting on behalf of the Barakat TCO, the Treasury said in a statement. The designation of the group as a transnational criminal organization is an important step toward disrupting Barakats prolific human smuggling operations in Syria and around the world, Sigal Mandelker, Treasury undersecretary for terrorism and financial intelligence said, according to the statement. We will continue to work with our partners to take action against human smugglers who prey on the vulnerable, expose those involved in their reprehensible activities, and protect the U.S. financial system from abuse, Mandelker said. Barakat and his gang operate a global network of traffickers that smuggle foreign nationals to the United States for an average price of about $20,000, the Treasury said in a statement. Trafficked individuals are provided with fraudulent or counterfeit documents, often including passports from European or other countries, the Treasury said. They often travel across Lebanon, Turkey, the United Arab Emirates and Latin American countries before arriving at the Southwest U.S. border, it said. The day I was sworn in as Attorney General, President Trump sent me an Executive Order to dismantle transnational criminal organizations, said Attorney General Jeff Sessions. Many of these organizations use human smugglers to bring people across our borders with little regard to their safety or our national sovereignty. I want to thank Secretary Mnuchin and Under Secretary Mandelker for todays designation, which will help us stop more crimes from being committed. We will continue to use every lawful tool we have to defend our borders, fight alien smuggling, restore legality to our immigration system, and to defund criminals of their ill-gotten gains. Recommended Video: Trump Leads a Listening Session on Domestic and International Human Trafficking Defense Secretary Gen. Jim Mattis (L) and Gen. Joe Dunford, chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff, brief members of the media following airstrikes on Syria, at the Pentagon on April 13. (ALEX WONG/GETTY IMAGES) This Weeks Fake News Pentagon Says New York Times Article Blatantly False The Pentagon said a New York Times article claiming that President Donald Trump had overruled Defense Secretary Gen. James Mattis was blatantly false. The New York Times used unnamed sources to claim that Mattis had urged Trump to seek congressional approval for the airstrike on Syria in retaliation for a chemical attack. A Pentagon official told the Washington Examiner that there was no debate on the need to get congressional approval, as suggested in The New York Times. Everyone agreed POTUS was justified under Article II, the official said. Mattis told a press conference on April 13, As our commander in chief, the president has the authority under Article II of the Constitution to use military force overseas to defend important United States national interests. Mueller Spokesperson Says Many Stories on Russia-Collusion Probe Are Wrong Many stories about the investigation into collusion between the Trump campaign and Russia have been wrong, according to a spokesman for the office of special counsel Robert Mueller. The spokesman did not specify which stories have been inaccurate, but the statement was issued amid media inquiries about a McClatchy DC article that said Mueller had evidence that President Donald Trumps personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, had traveled to Prague, contrary to testimony Cohen gave under oath. What I have been telling all reporters is that many stories about our investigation have been inaccurate, the Mueller spokesperson said, according to The Washington Times. Be very cautious about any source that claims to have knowledge about our investigation and dig deep into what they claim before reporting on it. If another outlet reports something, dont run with it unless you have your own sourcing to back it up. The McClatchy story was quickly amplified by a number of major news outlets, including Reuters, The Washington Post, and The Guardian. Similarly to Mueller, former FBI Director James Comey, speaking under oath before the Senate Select Committee on Intelligence in June 2017, said many stories on the alleged Russia collusion were wrong. In his testimony, Comey specifically discredited a Feb. 15, 2017, New York Times article that claimed that Trumps 2016 presidential campaign had repeated contacts with senior Russian intelligence officials in the year before the election. At the hearing, Sen. Tom Cotton (R-Ark.) pressed Comey further on the piece from The New York Times, asking, Would it be fair to characterize that story as almost entirely wrong? Comey replied, Yes. Comey went on to discredit other media reports, which have frequently cited unnamed intelligence and government sources to push their narrative that the Trump campaign colluded with Russia to influence the election. All of you know this. Maybe the American people dont, Comey said, addressing the Senate committee. He said when it comes to reporters writing stories about classified information, people talking about it often dont really know whats going on. President Donald Trump speaks at The Generation Next event, a White House Forum featuring millennial voters and administration officials on Mar. 22, 2018, in the South Court Auditorium of the Eisenhower Executive Office Building in Washington on Mar. 22, 2018. (Samira Bouaou/The Epoch Times) Trump Tackling Multiple High-Stakes Crises at Same Time President breaking new ground on a number of issues that have plagued the US for years China Tariffs During the presidential campaign, President Donald Trump vowed to bring down the United States trade deficit with Chinawhich reached an estimated $375 billion last year. The annual cost of intellectual property (IP) theft to the U.S. economy could be as high as $600 billion, according to the IP Commission. And China is the worlds top IP infringer, responsible for between 50 percent and 80 percent of all IP theft costs. In late March, the results of an inquiry by the Office of the U.S. Trade Representative into Chinas IP theft, ordered by Trump in August last year, were unveiled. It said that following the Chinese regimes Made in China 2025 plan, aimed at achieving global dominance in technology, the regime had been acquiring American tech innovations through two main strategies: giving Chinese firms financial support for acquiring U.S. tech firms, and forcing U.S. tech joint ventures in China to transfer their tech know-how to their Chinese counterparts, in exchange for market access. Trump slapped $50 billion worth of tariffs on Chinese high-tech goods as a punitive measure against Chinathough the administration made sure to exclude some of the most popular consumer goods produced in China that Americans enjoy, such as iPhones and Dell computers. China retaliated with tariffs on U.S. soybeans, airplanes, cars, and other major imports. Just days prior, the Chinese regime had announced tariffs on U.S. pork, wine, and other agricultural products in response to U.S. duties on imported aluminum and steelwhich included other countries in addition to China. The trade fight tit-for-tat seemed poised to escalate. But on April 10, U.S. pressure for a fairer trade relationship seemed to have broken through. In a speech to the Boao economic forum, Chinese leader Xi Jinping promised to cut the countrys tariff rates, increase its imports, open up its markets, and do more to enforce IP lawsall actions Trump had advocated for in the past. Though most media and U.S. business circles were worried that trade tariffs would invite Chinese retaliation and result in disastrous impacts on American businesses, it appears Trumps tactics are actually nudging China into playing fairer. Iran Nuclear Threat In January this year, Trump extended for the last time a waiver certifying Irans compliance with the 2015 nuclear agreement, officially known as the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action. The three-month extension expires on May 12. Trump has demanded that Iran agree to key changes that would address weaknesses in the existing agreement, or else the United States will pull out altogether and aim to renegotiate a new deal. At the heart of the requested changes by the Trump administration is an end to the so-called sunset clauses, which would allow Iran to develop a nuclear weapon by 2026 as key provisions in the agreement ended. At that time, Iran would be allowed to install thousands of advanced uranium centrifuges, which experts say would allow the Islamic regime in Tehran to develop a nuclear weapon within six months. The Trump administration has also demanded that Irans ballistic missile program be included in the nuclear deal. Under the agreement negotiated by then-President Barack Obama in 2015, Irans missile program is covered by a separate U.N. resolution, not the agreement. This means that Irans moves to develop advanced ballistic missiles capable of delivering a warhead to, for example, Israel, have no effect on whether Iran is in compliance with the terms of the nuclear deal. Including the ballistic missile program in the nuclear deal would ensure that Iran cant develop advanced missiles without repercussions. According to U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. Nikki Haley, Iran has used the money freed by the lifting of sanctions under the 2015 nuclear agreement to significantly advance its missile program. Earlier this month, Trump replaced national security adviser H.R. McMaster with former U.S. Ambassador to the U.N. John Bolton. Bolton has been a long-time critic of the Iran nuclear deal and has long spoken in favor of taking a stronger stance against the Islamic regime. One obstacle to countering Iran is the presence of Iranian-backed Hezbollah terrorists in Latin America. The Hezbollah terror group is known to have a significant presence in Latin America, especially Peru, as well as drug trafficking routes into the United States. These same routes could be used to send terrorists into the United States in the event of escalating tensions. Ahead of the May deadline, Iran has taken an increasingly hard-line stance. Ali Akbar Salehi, leader of Irans Atomic Energy Organization, reportedly threatened in Iranian media earlier this month that Iran could resume its nuclear enrichment program within days. North Korea After nearly a year of diplomatic pressure, combined with a credible threat of military action from the United States, North Korean regime leader Kim Jong Un announced in March that he is willing to meet with Trump and abandon his nuclear weapons program. A meeting between Trump and Kim is being scheduled for sometime in May or early June. CIA Director Mike Pompeo already met with Kim ahead of the meeting. During Pompeos Senate confirmation hearing to become secretary of state, he said that in past negotiations the United States and other countries had relaxed sanctions too quickly. It is the intention of the president and the administration not to do that this time to make sure that before we provide rewards, we get the outcome permanently, irreversibly, that it is that we hope to achieve, Pompeo said. It is a tall order, but I am hopeful that President Trump can achieve that through sound diplomacy. Trump made North Korea a key focus during his first year in office, pressuring North Koreas biggest trading and political partner, China, to impose strict sanctions on the North. The United States also increased its military presence in the region and provided key allies South Korea and Japan with advanced THAAD missile defense weapons. The United States also deployed F-35 fighter jets to Japan. During a visit to South Korea in November last year, Trump warned the Kim regime: Do not underestimate us and do not try us. We will defend our common security, our shared prosperity, and our sacred liberty. North Korea is not the paradise your grandfather envisioned, said Trump. It is a hell that no person deserves. Yet, despite every crime you have committed against God and man, we will offer a path to a much better future. Sex Trafficking Fighting widespread sex trafficking is a key focus of the Trump administration. An estimated 4.8 million people worldwide are currently forced into sexual exploitation. More than 1 million of those are children, according to the International Labor Organization. The United States is a source, transit, and destination country for men, women, and childrenboth U.S. citizens and foreign nationalswho are victims of sex trafficking. The Department of Homeland Security opened more than 800 human trafficking cases in 2017 alone. More than 1,600 people have been arrested and nearly 600 convicted in connection with the cases. The National Human Trafficking hotline has received 22,191 reports of sex trafficking cases in the United States since 2007. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children, 1 in 7 runaway children is likely the victim of sex trafficking. On April 11, Trump signed the Allow States and Victims to Fight Online Sex Trafficking Act of 2017, which provides victims and law enforcement with new tools to fight sex trafficking. Human trafficking is a modern form of the oldest and most barbaric type of exploitation. It has no place in our world, Trump said. The act also makes it a federal crime to operate a website with the intent to promote or facilitate prostitution. House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy (R-Calif.) wrote in a statement: Today, President Trump signed into law the most significant anti-human trafficking legislation in years. This new law will provide families and law enforcement the tools they need to shut down online marketplaces for trafficking and hold its enablers accountable. On April 6, authorities seized the website Backpage.com, a massive ad marketplace that is primarily used to sell sex. Sen. Heidi Heitkamp (D-N.D.) praised the move in a tweet: Its a huge step. Now, no child will be sold for sex through this website. Syria Tensions In response to a chemical attack by Syrian forces that resulted in at least a dozen deaths and hundreds of injuries, the United States launched a missile strike against Syrian chemical weapons infrastructure. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders said the attack sent a strong message to Syria, [to] Russia, to Iran. The incidents come on the heels of already worsening relations with Russia, a key ally of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. Our relationship with Russia is worse now than it has ever been, and that includes the Cold War. There is no reason for this, Trump wrote in an April 11 tweet. Russia needs us to help with their economy, something that would be very easy to do, and we need all nations to work together. Last month, the United States expelled dozens of Russian intelligence officers, in a coordinated response with European allies to the poisoning of a former Russian spy in the United Kingdom. On April 6, the U.S. Treasury Department sanctioned several of Russias top billionaires and government officials. The Russian stock market crashed as a result. Trump said much of the worsening of relations with Russia can be attributed to the Russia collusion narrative. The narrative that Trump colluded with Russia to win the 2016 presidential election became the main line of attack against Trump following his election, despite that an investigation by Director of National Intelligence James Clapper, ordered by then-President Barack Obama, found no evidence of collusion. Similarly, a yearlong House intelligence committee investigation, concluded last month, found no evidence of collusion. According to the Media Research Center, the investigations into Russian collusion were the most covered Trump-related topic on the evening news on major networks in 2017. The worsening relations with Russia have made it more difficult for the United States to use a range of diplomatic options to deal with the situation in Syria. Border Security Border security issues have been welling up for years, with previous administrations taking a lax stance on enforcing laws against illegal immigration. Trump built his election campaign on strong border control and has been attempting to follow through on his promisesthe biggest being to build a wall along the 2,000-mile southern border with Mexico. Started in February, a new 30-foot-high, bollard-style wall is going up in Calexico, California. The new wall will replace 2.25 miles of structure built in the 1990s out of recycled scraps of metal and old landing mat. In April, construction also started on a 20-mile project in Santa Teresa, New Mexico, where a three-foot vehicle barrier and a taller mesh fence are being replaced with 18- to 30-foot walls. After a dramatic five-month decline in illegal border crossings after Trump took office, the numbers have steadily increased to higher than they were three years ago. Congress has failed to pass any substantial immigration reforms thus far, prompting Trump to look to the military to bolster border security. National Guard troops started deploying to the southwest border in early April, and the Department of Defense has provision for 4,000 troops to assist Border Patrol. Trump has also cracked down on violent transnational gangsespecially MS-13, which uses asylum and the unaccompanied minor program to recruit from Central America. Loopholes in the asylum system and the practice of catch and release are both being targeted as priorities to fix. The immigration court system is groaning under a backlog of more than 640,000 cases. The attorney general has sent more judges to the border to facilitate quicker adjudications, and has asked all immigration judges to make decisions without as many delays. Trump also sees robust border security as critical for stemming the opioid crisis. The USS Ronald Reagan heads out to sea with the San Diego skyline in the background January 4, 2006 at Naval Air Station Coronado, California. The Reagan is making its first deployment since being commissioned in 2003 in support of the U.S. war on terrorism. (Photo by Sandy Huffaker/Getty Images) Trump Thanks San Diego County for Joining Anti-Sanctuary Lawsuit President Donald Trump thanked San Diego County on Thursday for joining his administrations lawsuit against Californias sanctuary laws. Thank you San Diego County for defending the rule of law and supporting our lawsuit against Californias illegal and unconstitutional Sanctuary policies, Trump wrote on Twitter. Californias dangerous policies release violent criminals back into our communities, putting all Americans at risk. Thank you San Diego County for defending the rule of law and supporting our lawsuit against California's illegal and unconstitutional 'Sanctuary' policies. California's dangerous policies release violent criminals back into our communities, putting all Americans at risk. Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 San Diego County joined a string of local governments on Tuesday by voting to join the lawsuit filed by the Department of Justice against the state of California, Fox News reported. The county plans to file an amicus brief supporting the federal lawsuit as soon as possible, according to County Board Chairwoman Kristin Gaspar, KCAL reported. Gaspar said that after the sanctuary law passed, San Diego County allowed 284 criminal suspects to be released instead of handing them over to immigration agents. San Diego was really a model of excellence before, We were safer before SB54, Gaspar told KCAL, referring to the sanctuary laws reference number. San Diego is the second largest county in California with some 3 million residents. It is the largest locale to join Trumps legal battle. The county board voted 3-1, with one person absent. The day before the San Diego vote, the city of Alamitos voted to approve an ordinance seeking to exempt the city from the states sanctuary laws because they are unconstitutional. Prior to that, Orange County, the states third most populous, rejected a state law that shielded illegal immigrants from deportation. In all, a total of 10 local governments in California voted against the states sanctuary law. The legislation requires all law enforcement personnel throughout the state to not communicate with federal authorities about criminal illegal aliens, except for cases where the aliens were violent or have repeat convictions. California Gov. Jerry Brown has vehemently defended the law. The majority of Californians find it important to increase deportations of illegal aliens, according to a survey by Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at UC Berkeley. Also on Thursday, Trump slammed California Governor Jerry Brown for prohibiting the newly-deployed National Guard troops on the Mexico border from helping catch illegal aliens. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing, Trump wrote on Twitter. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! Recommended Video: President Trump Links Sanctuary Policies to Opioid Crisis in Weekly Address KASHGAR, CHINA - JULY 30: Chinese soldiers in riot gear secure the area outside the Id Kah Mosque, after Imam Jumwe Tahir was killed by assailants following early morning prayers on July 30, 2014 in old Kashgar, Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region, China. (Kevin Frayer/Getty Images) US Officials Concerned About Chinas Intensifying Crackdown on Xinjiang, Considers Possibility of Sanctions BEIJINGA senior U.S. State Department diplomat said punitive measures could be taken to condemn the Chinese regimes further crackdown on Uyghurs and other Muslim minorities in the far-western region of Xinjiang. Laura Stone, the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told reporters in Beijing on April 18 that the recent mass detentions of Xinjiang residents in so-called political re-education centers paints a disturbing picture, and called on Chinese Communist regime to have a more transparent and accountable system. She added that the United States could take action through the Global Magnitsky Act, which places travel and financial restrictions on individuals who have been proven to be involved in human rights violations or corruption. Individuals listed under the Magnitsky Act would have their U.S. assets frozen and would not be allowed to do business with U.S. banks. In January, U.S. President Donald Trump announced sanctions under the Magnitsky Act against 14 Iranian entities and individuals involved in human rights crimes. We will continue to raise our concerns with the Chinese government and call for legitimate due process in the detention of its citizens, Stone said. She said the scarcity of information coming out of Xinjiang made it hard to derive authoritative numbers of those detained but that it was at the very least in the tens of thousands. Stone added that the U.S. government was particularly concerned about the detained family members of six journalistsfour U.S. citizens and two U.S. permanent residents who have reported on Xinjiangworking for the Washington D.C.-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), which is partly funded by the U.S. government. Local authorities have over the past two years overseen a dramatic escalation in security and surveillance across Xinjiang in an apparent effort to impose greater central authority and clamp down on violence as a result of ethnic tensions. Rights groups and exiles say Chinese controls on religion, culture, and freedom of movement in Xinjiang are heavier than ever, amid reports of widespread detentions, including for those who have traveled abroad or judged to be too religiously devout. RFA reported in January that more than 120,000 people were being held in re-education facilities in the southern Xinjiang city of Kashgar alone. The Communist regime routinely denies repression in Xinjiang, a vast region that millions of ethnic and religious minorities call home. Officials also do not publicly acknowledge the existence of mass detentions at the regions network of political re-education centers. The Associated Press reported back in December 2017 that Xinjiang authorities had established a network of detention centers where people would be forced to receive so-called political education for indefinite periods. Epoch Times staff member Sunny Chao contributed to this report. Recommended Video: How Doctors in China Turn into Murderers UNRWAs commissioner-general Pierre Krahenbuhl waves to refugee students at the UNRWA Rimal Girls Preparatory School in Gaza City Jan. 22, 2018, during the launch of a global fundraising campaign seeking hundreds of millions of dollars in response to funding cuts by the Trump administration. (AP Photo/Adel Hana) UN Agency That Helps Palestinians in Serious Need of Reform: Jewish Group Bnai Brith questions Canada's $10M donation given the fomenting of anti-Israel hate in UNRWA schools Ottawas recent $10 million emergency donation to the U.N. agency that helps Palestinian refugees has drawn criticism from Canadas former ambassador to Israel and Jewish groups who say the agency is in need of serious reform, including curbing the incitement of hate against Israel in its classrooms. Following the U.S. governments decision in January to withhold $65 million of its $125 million planned funding to the UN Relief and Welfare Agency for Palestine Refugees (UNRWA), the head of the agency appealed to other donor countries to supply emergency humanitarian aid, claiming the loss of U.S. funding would risk instability in the region. Global Affairs Canada stepped up, along with several other democratic nations, and provided an additional $10 million that will go toward helping the poorest and most vulnerable Palestinian refugees by delivering essential food, health, education, and social services through UNRWA. But like the Trump Administration, Bnai Brith Canada and former ambassador to Israel Vivian Bercovici allege neutrality violations within UNRWA havent been addressed, and reforms and more peace talks need to take place before any new tax dollars are doled out. We think that especially at a time like this, when UNRWA is more desperate for money because of the American decision to cut some of the funding, that Canada and other Western donor countries should be banding together to demand change and to make sure that this money isnt being dumped into a bottomless pit of grievance and perpetuating the conflict, said Aiden Fishman, a spokesperson for the Jewish advocacy group Bnai Brith Canada. A chief concern, Fishman said, is the ample evidence that anti-Semitism runs rampant among teachers in UNRWA schools, and within the curricula and textbooks there is incitement of hatred and anti-Israel bias. UNRWA has five million Palestinian refugees listed under its agency and operates schools in the Gaza Strip, West Bank, Jordan, Lebanon, and Syria. Schools use textbooks and curricula of the countries that host the refugees. Bnai Brith points to a February review conducted by Princeton scholar Arnon Groiss that found UNRWA textbooks represent Jews as aides of the devil, erased Jewish historical and religious ties to Jerusalem, and described all of Israel as occupied Palestine. Whats worse, Fishman said, is that Palestinian children are being taught the only solution to the conflict is the complete elimination of Israel. Obviously if youre a U.N. agency that is supposed to be politically neutralpolitical neutrality is actually written into UNRWAs mandateand yet youre teaching on one side of the conflict that the other side of the conflict is going to inevitably lose and be destroyed and they should just keep fighting until it happens, thats very problematic, he said. Another concern from critics is UNRWAs alleged ties to Hamas, which is listed as a terrorist organization by Canada and other Western donor countries. Last year, UNRWA said a Gaza school principal was no longer with the agency but didnt disclose why he left. The Times of Israel reported he was suspected by the Israeli government of being a newly elected member of Hamass political leadership. We would like to see Canada and the other Western donor countries work harder to end these problems with UNRWA, Fishman said. Openly toxic curriculum According to Global Affairs Canada, the government is using due diligence to address these concerns and ensures the funding goes only toward helping those who truly need it in one of the most challenging and volatile regions of the world. Canada supports UNRWA in its ongoing efforts to improve neutrality within the Agency and its operations, Global Affairs spokesperson Brianne Maxwell wrote in an email. Canadian funding has allowed UNRWA to engage a neutrality coordinator to monitor activities related to neutrality, lead the development of neutrality initiatives, respond to allegations of neutrality violations, and uphold UNRWAs neutrality. Maxwell added the government is aware of the criticism and allegations UNRWA has faced and while some are based on fact, others are unfounded. Canada, along with other donor nations, will closely monitor any substantiated issues as they arise, she said. But for former ambassador to Israel Vivian Bercovici, this isnt good enough. At the beginning of the year she wrote an open letter to Marc-Andre Blanchard, Canadian ambassador to the U.N., asking for clarity on how the government is conducting its neutrality reviews. She is still awaiting a response. Bercovici points out that UN Watch, a Geneva-based watchdog NGO, reported Global Affairs has glossed over specific allegations against UNRWA, claiming that they were unfounded or had been addressed, without explaining why or how. She is also critical that Canada doesnt have an independent review panel for UNRWA; instead, the agency is getting money from Canada to police itself. There is copious evidence of Hamas rockets and military accessories being sheltered in the same UNRWA schools and health clinics which Canada is funding, Bercovici writes, adding that the openly toxic curriculum promotes and glorifies terror against Israel. She notes that the Palestinian Authority authors the UNRWA curriculum in the West Bank while Hamas does so in Gaza. Highest standards of neutrality UNRWAs chief spokesperson Chris Gunness said the focus of the agency is to provide dignity and a shot at a decent life for Palestinian refugees living in horrid conditions. Allegations of a lack of neutrality are rare but always taken seriously, he said. You can certainly be assured that we do everything in our power to maintain the highest standards of neutrality in the most difficult of circumstances. We take the issue of neutrality with the utmost seriousness, Gunness told The Epoch Times. We employ more than 30,000 staff and they are required to comply with strict neutrality-related obligations. In rare cases where alleged breaches occur and investigations show that accusations are well founded, action is taken in accordance with UNRWAs regulatory framework. The decrease in the number of cases of neutrality issues around social media in recent months, he adds, show the agencys policies are working. Gunness said UNRWA put in place a curriculum framework in 2013 to protect from discrimination in the classroom and uphold U.N. values such as human rights, tolerance, and equality throughout the teaching process in UNRWA schools. Thomas Woodley, president of Canadians for Justice and Peace in the Middle East, has said that much of the allegations of incitement of anti-Israel hatred in UNRWA schools has been debunked. Woodley points to a 2013 report funded by the U.S. State Department and conducted by both Israeli and Palestinian researchers from Tel Aviv University and Bethlehem University who did an in-depth study of 74 Israeli textbooks and 94 Palestinian textbooks. The study found that dehumanizing and demonizing characterizations of the other were very rare in both Israeli and Palestinian books. The research team observed 20 extreme negative depictions in the Israeli state books, seven in the ultra-Orthodox books, and six in the Palestinian books. Ultimately, Woodley said, Canada must demand both sides in the conflict do better at educating their children toward peace. Shimon Koffler Fogel, CEO of the Centre for Israel and Jewish Affairs, wrote in a Globe and Mail op-ed that it is important that agencies like UNRWA are not funded blindly, and that our resources are instead allocated thoughtfully to most effectively achieve Canadian foreign policy objectives. The federal government should ensure that its efforts are results-focused and do not contribute to further entrenching the plight of those we wish to help or diminish the prospects for peace. Jared Gnam is a freelance reporter based in Vancouver. He broke into the world of journalism covering the Stanley Cup Riot in 2011. Currently Reading 50 things to do this weekend in Connecticut, April 20-22 The following is an extended excerpt of Javier Hasses book Start Your Own Cannabis Business. Buy it now from Amazon | Barnes & Noble | IndieBound Cura Cannabis Solutions is one of the biggest cannabis brands in America. The company only manufactures cannabis oils and has managed to amass a 20 percent market share in Oregon, doubling its size every month between April and December of 2016 -- ending the year with 20 times the revenue it had in April. Over the first three quarters of 2017, monthly sales quadrupled as well, hitting $40 million by the end of the year and earning the company a $400 million valuation. Furthermore, the company posted sales of $18 million for the first quarter of 2018 which, according to the firm, is the largest revenue quarter in the history of legal cannabis sales. So, what determined the success of this company that, unlike most others in the industry, has chosen to remain horizontal and focused on oils instead of pursuing vertical integration or expanding its portfolio to include products beyond the concentrates category? The number-one factor that determined Cura Cannabis Solutions success was passion, President and Co-Founder Cameron Forni assures. Find your strengths and partner up with someone who fills your gaps. Its very rare to see venture capitalists fund a single-founder company. The founders stories multiply. They dont just add up; they create a multiplying, exponential effect, which is very visible in an investors mind, he adds. Attracting the right people to your team requires you getting out there and actually doing what you want to do with your business, Forni comments. Business plans are important, but in cannabis, a business plan changes often and is always evolving every single day. So, by actually getting out there and doing it, and proving sales and proving that there is a demand and a need for your product [or service] on a very, very small level can change the entire way your company is looked at -- the entire perspective of investors. Curas story from the beginning Everything started with Cameron Forni, a regular American with a B.S. in Business Administration, researching vaporization to help a friend and business partner who suffered from Barrett's esophagus. This meant that, while he wanted to medicate with cannabis, he could not smoke it. We bought every vaporizer we could get our hands on and studied how they worked, he remembers. At one point, they found out that some of the components in the existing vape cartridges were carcinogenic -- or at least detrimental for peoples health -- so they decided to research the options. We finally came across a design that had no hazardous components. So, we ordered a few hundred vape cartridges and started filling these up with oil from a producer we knew in my living room and selling them online, Forni continues. It took $44,000 dollars in cash and $66,000 in credit card debt to get the business going. The entrepreneurs were able to pay off the full credit card debt in less than three months. Thats a good piece of advice: start with your own money and your own credit card, one of the members of Curas original team remembers. We were in an 800-square-foot apartment filling cartridges from 8 P.M. to two or three in the morning. The next day, we would go out and sell them to stores, explaining the differences in our product, Forni voices. At the time, the market in Oregon was only medical, so you had to have every product tested, but labeling and other things were not as strict and as stringent as they are today. So, you could start a business with a medical card and a business license at the time. Perseverance took Fornis venture (called Select Strains at the time) to a point where a highly educated guy with an M.S. in Industrial Engineering and a strong startup and management background, noticed it and got interested in getting involved. We were getting ready to raise money among friends and family when we came across Nitin, who had a product that competed with ours and a facility that was licensed for medical use. Proving my product was much more important than coming up with a business plan and a list of things that differentiated my product to show investors, Forni says. From my perspective, you have to show a little proof of concept -- a little proof of success -- to get investors interested, Forni adds. Being able to show a purchase order from a big customer will make things a lot easier too. Curas exponential growth But, how did Cura Cannabis Solutions grow from a living room company into a multi-million-dollar business? The first thing that drove Curas growth was an extremely clear vision and mission, the co-founders reveal, pointing out how easy it is for everyone to understand these and suggesting we just pick this up from their website: Our mission is to be the leading provider of cannabis oil to both consumers and premium edible brands in legal US and international markets. The second thing Cura Cannabis Solutions really believes in is people, the co-founders assure. A final element in Curas success was cautious expansion. "We were never going to expand beyond Oregon until we absolutely felt like we were hitting at all cylinders there," Forni says. People want to do vertical integration; they want to do candy in Oregon but grow in California That is a hard mission focus. If you want a retail store in Oregon, and you want a gummy company in Nevada, and you want a grow operation in California, I ask: who are you? What do you want to be when you grow up? How do you give a clear message to investors, customers and vendors? While this might be a good income strategy, it is not a wealth creation strategy; it is not a company building strategy. That is why Im tying all this together: your mission has to be clear, the people that you hire have to believe in that mission, and then, you should only grow, especially in a regulated industry like cannabis, at a speed thats appropriate. Having hit a 50 percent market share for vape cartridges in Oregon, Forni and his partner decided the time had come to ramp up hiring and evaluate what getting into the California market would look like. This led Forni to move out to California to establish the business. Within seven months, Cura has become the third largest cannabis company in California, so the partners decided to take that model and replicate it in Nevada. Do what you are doing really, really well and keep your promises and your customers happy. This is the way to expand, Forni concludes. If you are in the cannabis industry for the right reasons, you should be in it for the long run -- not just a couple of years. Related: How Starting With a Small, Niche Audience Can Have a Huge Impact Addicted to Your Business? Never Satisfied? It's Not a Bad Thing. Failed to Meet Your Quarterly Marketing Goals? Do These Three Things Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK A West Haven man was charged with attempted murder in the July 2017 shooting of an 18-year-old man in what police described as a gun battle on Plymouth Avenue. Marquel Middleton, 24, of Groton Avenue, West Haven, was charged Thursday with criminal attempt at murder, illegal discharge of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and reckless endangerment. His bond was set at $500,000. Middleton was arraigned at Norwalk Superior Court on Thursday where his case was transferred to the Part A docket at Superior Court in Stamford, where more serious cases are tried. Judge Alex Hernandez ordered Middletons bond to remain as set and his file sealed. His next court date is May 3. During the proceedings, a shackled Middleton appeared to be attempting to communicate with a female he knew in the court gallery. He mouthed something to the woman, smiled several times, and turned to blow a kiss in her direction as he was led out of the courtroom by judicial marshals. Criminal attempt to commit murder is a Class A felony and if convicted, Middleton faces a prison sentence of 25 to 60 years. Middletons charges stem from a somewhat idyllic Sunday morning in 2017. Around 11 a.m. July 9, police dispatch received multiple 911 calls about a shooting. Court records said the callers reported several different parties with multiple firearms being displayed and one individual on the ground with numerous gunshot wounds. During the entire time of the shooting, there were multiple people present on the street, mowing lawns, doing yard work, moving furniture and walking about...this shooting took place on a residential street, in the middle of said street, according to the arrest affidavit for Middletons alleged co-defendant Alexander Cardone. These people were in the line of fire of the shooters during this gun battle. Cardone, 19, was charged July 20 with first-degree assault, unlawful discharge of a firearm, first-degree reckless endangerment and conspiracy to commit first-degree assault in the incident. According to court records, a group of men was seen walking down the street when one of them began firing at the victim. The group scattered and court records state Cardone pulled something out of his right hand pants pocket as he runs off...toward the driveway. After he limped off to the driveway, video footage showed Cardone with a gun in his hand. He pointed it down the driveway and appeared to fire four shots, court records state. Cardones arrest affidavit further stated that once the victim was on the ground, another man stood over him, continuing to shoot at him. The victim, who had a handgun, returned fire, striking the man in his right thigh. Witnesses said the shooters fled the scene. The male victim was found on the ground and had suffered what police said were multiple, life-threatening gunshot wounds. Lt. Thomas Mattera, commander of the Norwalk detective bureau, credited a person on scene who rendered medical care to the victim with possibly saving his life. Police said Middleton was located at St. Vincents Hospital in Bridgeport, where he had sought treatment for a gunshot wound to his leg. Norwalk detectives made contact with Middleton at the hospital less than 30 minutes after the shooting. Evidence at the scene was recovered and, according to court records, much of the incident could be seen clearly on video. Police said Middletons account of his injury was inconsistent with the evidence. Police credited the public for their assistance in the investigation, as well as the Milford Police Department and the Office of Adult Probation. Mattera also commended Detective Nick Kougioumtzidis for his investigative work leading to the arrests of both Middleton and Cardone. On Thursday, Mattera said an arrest warrant has been secured for a third person involved in the shooting. EDWARDSVILLE Organizers are expecting this year's Progressive Taste of Edwardsville/Glen Carbon to be their largest ever. As of Monday, about 500 participants who will sample fare from 23 local restaurants were expected, according to organizer Shonda Justice, who has run the event since its inception five years ago. This year's slate of 23 restaurants also represents a new record, and they will offer a large variety of cuisines, from standard American fare to Japanese sushi to Thai. "We first started out with what was called Pizza Prowl, because there were a lot of pizza restaurants (that participated)," Justice said. "The other restaurants wanted to offer more than just pizza. It's similar to a crawl, where people can start where they want, and they can finish where they want. And the restaurants really like this event because it brings lots of customers right through their front doors the restaurants don't have to leave the comfort of their own kitchens. It's a fun, family event. "The event which doubles as a fundraiser for the Glen Ed Pantry, a local food bank will start off at 9 a.m. Saturday, and participants will have four hours to chow their way across town. The first 20 families to return to the starting point Edwardsville High School after visiting all 23 restaurants will receive gift cards to local eateries. Restaurants also walk away with bragging rights, as people vote on their favorite cuisine across multiple food styles. "The public can also vote on their favorites in different categories, such as best pizza, best international, best wings, best Mexican, best non-alcoholic beverage, best ice cream," Justice said. Meridian Village and Cambridge House will also be taking part in this year's event, shuttling their senior citizens to many of the sites. Following the event, at 1:30 p.m., there will be a silent auction with a wide variety of items, including restaurant gift cards, a trip to Tennessee aboard a private aircraft, a Branson trip, casino vouchers and other items. "It's just a fun event, and it's good for people to come out," Justice said. "It's for all ages. And people really like the auction afterwards." Tickets which cost $20 for adults and $10 for children are available at progressivetaste.com GLEN CARBON When the Village of Glen Carbon begins issuing bonds to raise money for the reconstruction of Old Troy Road, local residents will have the opportunity to invest. At the last regular meeting of the Village Board, trustees accepted a proposal from Commerce Bank's Capital Markets Group to issue the municipal bonds. Director of Finance Scott Borror said 13 financial institutions had responded to a request for proposals. "We solicited proposals for bond issuance that is supported by non-home rule sales tax," Borror said. "It is the recommendation of the Finance Committee, that voted 3-0, to enter into the agreement with Commerce Bank." Joy Howard, WM Financial Strategies, helped review the proposals. "The decision to go with Commerce Bank is based on the anticipated low finance costs coupled with flexible and favorable financing terms," she said. "One of the financing terms that they offered, which is very favorable to the village, is to make the bonds available on a priority basis to local residents." Howard said one of the requirements for the proposals was to make the bonds available locally. "Commerce Bank presented the best proposal regarding local distribution," Howard said. The sale date of the bonds will be April 23. Residents interested in investing in the general obligation bonds can contact Commerce Bank. Borror said interest income from the bonds is not federally taxed but is taxed by the State of Illinois. Municipal bonds are used to fund public works projects and are backed by the full faith and credit of the issuing municipality. When the bonds are issued, municipalities pledge to use all available resources, including taxes and general funds, to repay bondholders as scheduled. The Glen Carbon bonds are being backed by the non-home rule sales tax that was passed by referendum. The village has estimated that the annual payments on the $8 million in bonds would be approximately $550,000. Conservative estimates of sales tax receipts have the village receiving approximately $700,000 per year in revenue. While the village is issuing $8 million in bonds for the construction of Old Troy Road, the actual cost of the project is only $3.9 million. Village officials have pledged to use the remaining $4.1 million on other capital improvement projects American Consumer News, LLC dba MarketBeat 2010-2021. All rights reserved. 326 E 8th St #105, Sioux Falls, SD 57103 | U.S. Based Support Team at [email protected] | (844) 978-6257 MarketBeat does not provide personalized financial advice and does not issue recommendations or offers to buy stock or sell any security. Our Accessibility Statement | Terms of Service | Do Not Sell My Information 2021 Market data provided is at least 10-minutes delayed and hosted by Barchart Solutions. Information is provided 'as-is' and solely for informational purposes, not for trading purposes or advice, and is delayed. To see all exchange delays and terms of use please see disclaimer. Fundamental company data provided by Zacks Investment Research. 1+ days ago 3 Large Cap Stocks Under $50 with 50% Upside The recent market slump has put many stocks on sale. In some cases, such as high multiple technology stocks, the recalibration is warranted given the backdrop of rising yields. In other cases, it has made non-tech value stocks even more attractive. Investors looking to follow the script of buying the dip have many choices. Read Article LONDONEmboldened by last years successful campaigns against excessive executive pay, some of the worlds biggest investors are shifting their focus to women or the lack thereof on corporate boards. Legal & General Investment Management is the latest institution to say it will vote against boards that are not at least 25 per cent female. Standard Life Aberdeen Plc, one of Britains largest fund management groups, has said it will vote against boards where men hold more than 80 per cent of seats. Standard Life voted Thursday against the Herald Investment Trust because its board has no women, a spokesperson said. Among the FTSE 250, Herald has one of 11 all-male boards, a group thats grown from eight earlier this year. Read more: Editorial | Amend Bill C-25 to push companies harder to get more women on boards Fearless Girl led the way in firms fight for women on boards Set goals for number of women on boards, OSC urged Investor action has been a long time coming, says Denise Wilson White, chief executive of the Hampton-Alexander Review, which has campaigned for greater diversity on Britains boards since 2011. Investors have been terribly slow in this regard, but they can really make a difference, she said. Board diversity has moved up on the list of priorities for long-term investors in the U.S. as well. BlackRock Inc., the worlds largest asset manager, has said it now expects companies to have at least two women on their boards in the U.S. We are likely to vote against directors that dont make progress on diversity without a specific and credible explanation, representatives said in an emailed statement. State Street Corp. last year also led an unprecedented campaign to vote against hundreds of U.S., U.K. and Australian directors on the nominating committee at boards that lacked women. This year, its campaign extends to Canada and Japan. Hermes, another large institutional investor, says it believes boards should already have achieved a minimum of 30 per cent female representation. Last year, it openly opposed the then-chair of the mining group Rio Tinto Plc because of a lack of diversity on its board. But the Hermes vote was not supported by many others and the chairman was voted through with a resounding majority. Its clear from the Rio Tinto vote that not enough investors lend their votes to back up their public stance, says Hans-Christoph Hirt, head of Hermes EOS at Hermes Investment Management. The publication of every big companys gender pay gap figures in the U.K. has become a powerful catalyst for action. In the first year of mandatory reporting, some companies reported a difference of as much as 50 per cent in what male and female employees earn, far bigger than the national average of 18 per cent. Its beyond persuading now, Hampton-Alexanders White said. Its all about voting. Theres a strong possibility that the proposed expansion of the Kinder Morgan crude oil pipeline from Albertas Athabasca tar sands to the B.C. coast will never be built. And that setback will do no small damage to Canada. Its been two weeks since the sponsor of the Ottawa-approved $7.4-billion megaproject, Kinder Morgan Inc., suspended all but essential operations on the pipeline. Kinder Morgan gave Ottawa until May 31 to persuade the Houston-based company that there will be an end to B.C.s relentless obstruction of the project. The company noted that B.C. has been clear and public in its intention to use every tool in its toolbox to stop the project. Since Kinder Morgans stunning announcement, the Trudeau government and Alberta Premier Rachel Notley have not been able to dissuade B.C. from its threatened court challenges and relentless calls for studies into every aspect of a project thoroughly examined and approved by the National Energy Board. Its rare that the fate of a single project has the potential to disrupt a federation. But it is folly to downplay whats at stake here. The issue is not the pipeline, but the causes and consequences of the projects quite possible demise. B.C.s delaying tactics on Kinder Morgan are borderline illegal. B.C. Premier John Horgan has acknowledged as much, having told his environment minister that trying to stop the project outright would be inappropriate and unlawful. To get around that, Horgan, 53, devised the campaign of B.C. obstructionism that has been playing out for months. But since formally blocking the project and causing it to be ceaselessly delayed amounts to the same thing, Horgans government is paying scant heed of the law. Construction of the Kinder Morgan project, which would provide Athabascas landlocked oil access to global markets, would enable currently discount-priced Athabasca oil to command a much higher price. The reward would be greater employment income, R&D prowess, and government royalties that Alberta, in particular, needs in its bid to diversify away from oil and gas. Much more troubling is that the cancellation of this project could lead Canada into a constitutional crisis. It would require Canadians to decide whether a province or territory can trample on federal authority with impunity. The demise of the project would likely also prompt a foreign-investment chill in Canada. If the project dies, Kinder Morgan stands to lose the approximately $1 billion it has already spent on it. The company will also have wasted the more than four years it has spent obtaining approvals for the expansion, including agreements with the 41 Indigenous communities closest to the pipeline route. Any country in which the national government cannot enforce its authority is a place that global investors understandably avoid. Foreign investment is not only an engine of oilsands development. It is also powering the growth of Southern Ontarios remarkable high-tech eco-system. The legacy of a failed Kinder Morgan would also include years and possibly decades of soured relations between not only Alberta and B.C., but Alberta and Ottawa. Facts to the contrary, it is widely believed by Albertans that Ottawa has made little effort to get Kinder Morgan built. In the absence of tidewater access for Athabasca output, Canadas oil industry will continue to have just one customer, the United States. Reliance on a sole customer is a profoundly unwise business strategy. Already, most Athabasca oil is sold to the Americans, and at a deep discount to the global price because it cant be sold elsewhere. Which means Canadians are subsidizing U.S. oil consumption. Access for Athabascas heavy crude to the immense markets of China and Japan, the worlds second- and third-largest economies, respectively, would correct that long-standing anomaly. Depending on world oil-market conditions, Western Canadian Select (WCS), the benchmark price for Athabasca crude, trades at a discount of between $10 and more than $30 (U.S.) per barrel to West Texas Intermediate (WTI) and Brent, two of the most prominent global benchmarks, and even to Mexico's flagship Maya, which is of the same lower quality as WCS but has access to global markets." Insufficient pipeline capacity is the culprit in that yawning price differential. As Canadian production has increased while pipeline capacity has stagnated, producers have been forced to turn to rail to serve U.S. customers. But the steep cost of rail transport further widens the price differential. In the absence of an expanded Kinder Morgan, whose capacity would roughly triple if the project proceeded, Canada will continue to forfeit billions of dollars in annual royalty and other revenue. That forfeiture is a punishing reality for all Canadians. The Alberta oilpatch has always been a major customer of suppliers elsewhere in Canada, notably Central Canada. B.C. is run by a newish minority NDP government propped up by the Green Party. The Greens can topple Horgan at any moment if he reneges on his campaign promise to somehow block an expanded Kinder Morgan. Officially, B.C.s antipathy to Kinder Morgan is all about protecting the B.C. coastline from potential spills by oil tankers. Actually, its about Horgan keeping his government in power by appeasing the Greens. It is galling to consider the logic-free hand B.C. is playing. The Port of Vancouver handles about half of Canadas ocean shipping. Each of those vessels manages to navigate the admittedly challenging sea lanes of that portion of the B.C. coastline. But B.C., offering no proof, argues that tankers calling on Kinder Morgans terminal at Burnaby would be unable to do so. B.C. is a major exporter of coal, the fossil fuel most powerfully implicated in climate change. And the Horgan government has been using the lure of taxpayer subsidies to induce the LNG Canada consortium to proceed with a $40-billion natural-gas megaproject. That project includes a new tanker terminal on the B.C. coastline and sit down for this a new pipeline carved through B.C. mountain ranges to feed that terminal. It also happens that for 65 years residents of B.C.s Lower Mainland have been supplied with Alberta oil by the Trans Mountain pipeline, opened in 1953. The Kinder Morgan expansion would essentially twin that existing pipeline, requiring no new right of way. So, B.C. is not averse to pipelines or more tankers off the B.C. coastline just those associated with the Kinder Morgan expansion project. Obviously, the mere existence of oil is a problem for many people. But the hard reality is that global oil demand is expected to keep rising between now and 2040, according to the latest forecast of the Paris-based International Energy Agency (IEA). Oil not sourced from Athabasca will be obtained from the emirs of Kuwait, the perpetual conflict zone Nigeria, or the Siberian oilfields that enrich the kleptocratic regime of Vladimir Putin. It would not be difficult to rally to Victorias side in wishing for a world free of fossil fuels. Except thats not remotely John Horgans game. The obstructionism of a B.C. government oblivious to its hypocrisy is a cynical exercise in political self-preservation. It is also a clear and present danger to the Canadian federation. Correction - April 20, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that mistakenly said that Western Canadian Select (WCS) is trading at a discount between $10 a barrel and $17 a barrel (U.S.) to West Texas Intermediate and Brent. Capt. Roy Brown had ordered the young airman not to engage the enemy, but Lt. Wilfrid (Wop) May a school chum from Edmonton couldnt help himself. It was April 21, 1918 a century ago this Saturday and the two Canadians in their canvas-covered Sopwith Camel biplanes were about to match wits with the deadliest ace of the First World War, Manfred von Richthofen, better known as the Red Baron. As the engines of primitive German and British warplanes snarled in the skies over the Somme River in northern France, May joined the fight, only to have his guns jam as Richthofens all-red Fokker triplane closed in from behind for what would have been his 81st kill. Brown saw that his buddy was in trouble, says Don Brodeur, Browns grandson and a retired Royal Canadian Air Force pilot with more than 6,000 hours of flight time in fighter jets. Richthofen broke some of his own cardinal rules ... He followed May for too long, which is why Brown got on top of him. As May flew fast and low over the French countryside, skimming over the scars left by trenches and bomb craters, Brown pitched his plane into a dive and aimed his machine-guns at Richthofen, firing bursts at long range. (Brown) wound that Camel up to 190 miles an hour, which was no mean feat, says David Bashow, editor of the Canadian Military Journal and a retired lieutenant-colonel who served 36 years with the RCAF. That aircraft was particularly unstable at high speeds. What happened next has long been the subject of an intense debate, even as the world marks the 100th anniversary of the storied dogfight. May escaped as Richthofen broke off to the right to avoid Browns blasts and rising terrain, but that manoeuvre brought him within range of Australian Corps machine-guns on the ground. Soon after Brown fired on the scarlet fighter aircraft, Richthofen crashed in a sugar-beet field, where he died from a gunshot wound to the chest. He was 25. The Royal Air Force credited the 24-year-old Canadian, originally from Carleton Place, Ont., with the combat victory his 10th. However, the results from autopsies performed on Richthofens body raised questions about who fired the fatal shot. Over the years, some historians and forensics experts have suggested the orientation of Richthofens wounds indicated the .303-calibre bullet must have been fired from the ground and not from Browns guns, which fired the same type of ammunition. Over time, the Australians made a very compelling case for one of their troops on the ground, says Bashow, an associate professor at the Royal Military College of Canada in Kingston, Ont., and a former fighter pilot who logged 2,400 hours in the supersonic CF-104 Starfighter. (Browns) flight-path geometry just does not work. However, Browns grandson disagrees, saying the more plausible explanation is that Brown fired a lucky shot. There is only one record, Brodeur said in an interview from his home in Victoria. Both Canada and the U.K. attribute the shooting down of the Red Baron to Capt. A. Roy Brown. Thats a fact to this day. As well, Brodeur says his interpretation of what happened as seen through the eyes of an experienced fighter pilot has led him to conclude Richthofens aircraft would have been practically inverted for the Australian theory to make sense. In movies, you see aircraft rolling in a dogfight, but its a waste of time, says Brodeur, who flew several types of jet fighters and was a member of the Canadian Forces Snowbirds aerobatic squadron. It looks good in Hollywood films, but its not something you do in an air-to-air fight. Rob Probert, president of the Roy Brown Historical Society in Carleton Place, says there was nothing to be learned by examining Richthofens downed plane because it had been damaged by artillery shells and quickly stripped by souvenir hunters. Brown was officially credited with the kill, and 100 years later that still stands, Probert says. The problem here in Canada is that there hasnt been a group championing Roy Browns story, until our group came along. Were just trying to make sure the story doesnt get lost over time ... Its part of the Canadian psyche not to brag about our heroes. Appropriately, the society will gather Saturday in Carleton Place, to fete the man they say brought down the Red Baron. Regardless of who fired the fatal shot, one thing is for certain: Were it not for Browns superior skills as a pilot and leader, one of the most celebrated aerial battles of the war would never have happened. I think he was a hero for sure he never lost a man under his command, says Probert, who is part of a local effort to have a statue of Brown installed across from town hall in Carleton Place. It cant be refuted that Brown caused this battle to happen. After the dogfight, Brown went to a nearby aircraft hangar to see Richthofens body. His face, particularly peaceful, had an expression of gentleness and goodness, of refinement, Brown later wrote. Suddenly I felt miserable, desperately unhappy, as if I had committed an injustice. With a feeling of shame, a kind of anger against myself ... I could no longer look him in the face. I went away. I did not feel like a victor ... If he had been my dearest friend, I could not have felt greater sorrow. Brown, who was in poor health and complained of being on the verge of a nervous breakdown, was later transferred to a flight training unit. He was badly injured in a crash on July 5, 1918, when his engine quit soon after takeoff. Unlike Richthofen, whose martyrdom continues to be commemorated in books, movies and, of course, the perennial Peanuts cartoon, Browns legacy is largely muted in Canada. He didnt really speak about his exploits, says Tim Cook, First World War historian at the Canadian War Museum in Ottawa. We dont have a whole lot of military heroes from the past who still resonate today. It has something to do with our national character. It has something to do with how we view war and peace. And, perhaps, theres the sense that Canadians are not always the best at backslapping and elevating their heroes. Brown moved to Stouffville, Ont., after the war. He died of a heart attack in 1944 at the age of 50. He is buried in Toronto, but his grave remained unmarked until a few years ago. A pea-sized pebble, earthy brown and polished smooth, sits next to my keyboard as I write this, alongside a pinch of tobacco, bound in bright yellow fabric and tied up with ribbon. Theyre gifts from a group of Indigenous children, who passed them out to everyone who came to the Royal Ontario Museums grand reopening of its Daphne Cockwell Gallery dedicated to First Peoples Art & Culture Wednesday morning and, for me, the generosity astounds: a people from whom so much was taken, still willing to give. To not take it personally seems to miss the point. Just before the crowd settled into its seat, Louise Profeit-LeBlanc, who is Tlingit, and Clayton Shirt, who is Anishinaabe, led the group in a smudging ceremony in the museums new space. We formed a circle, at Profeit-LeBlancs request, and Shirt walked slowly around, a thatch of smouldering sweetgrass in his hand, offered to each one of us as a purifying rite. This was not an off-the-rack institutional procedural: the ribbon-cutting, handshaking photo op that these things have most often been. There are teachings among the Indigenous people about humility, Profeit-LeBlanc said, her voice quiet but clear as she addressed the circle. Humility is required to acquire knowledge. For a long time, people made assumptions about us. Now we can all learn together. Read more: Buffy Sainte-Marie urges patience, empathy on both sides of reconciliation Indian Horse: Learning how to endure on the icy path from boy to man At Oakville Galleries, Sarah Cwynars consumer-fetish landscape, set in motion Josh Basseches, the ROMs director, had come with something to give, too. After a performance by the Bear Creek Drummers under the gilded mosaic ceiling of the museums original grand entrance off Queens Park, Basseches announced that the renewed Canadian galleries would be free, permanently, to anyone. What does it mean to be a museum in the 21st century? he said, as an array of leaders, both Indigenous and otherwise, looked on. It means innovation and learning, linking our past to our present and, critically, it means removing barriers to collections for Indigenous people. It was a tacit acknowledgment of the rift still to be closed between Indigenous communities and mainstream society, both socially and economically. The ROM, to its credit, is doing its part to sustain the conversation, though a major promise made at last years Anishinaabeg: Art & Power, to install a permanent staff curator of Indigenous art, remains unfulfilled (the museum says its actively searching for candidates, though it cant offer a timeline). The reopening is timely. After a swell of interest in Indigenous culture last year brought on by Canada 150, the wave seemed to have crested. At the ROM, Basseches reaffirmed the museums commitment. Todays announcement is a promise; a promise to Indigenous people to be able to craft their own narratives, so when they come to see this collection they will not only see themselves but be heard. The reopening stands as a symbol of years of consultation between the museum and its Indigenous advisory council, and the changes in the galleries, though subtle, are profound in their shared authority. Objects are paired not with dry curatorial text but, often, with personal remarks from Indigenous cultural leaders. Paul Kane, the much-mythologized painter of patronizing new-world Indigenous exotica, remains, though juxtaposed with a new section: A Living Culture. (In a refreshingly cheeky moment, the old-guard ethnographic display convention, a diorama of mannequins frozen in a stilted demonstration of daily life in a Mohawk village is facetiously torqued to include a man in a breechcloth plugged into his iPhone and a woman taking photos with a digital camera.) Now it would seem an obvious inclusion. For most museums like the ROM, though, which came to be in the early 20th-century swell of colonially driven ethnography, deadening Indigenous culture under glass has been a hard habit to break. Shirt, whose parents founded the Wandering Spirit Survival School in the 1970s no hyperbole there after decades of residential schools, a federally sponsored assimilation effort to wipe Indigenous culture away remembers avoiding the Indigenous galleries at the ROM as a child. I loved the dinosaurs, he said, but the Indigenous objects all that beautiful art, the war shirts, the canoes looked to me like they were in prison. Worse, maybe, was the fact that they had been preserved as relics of a culture breathing its last. It said to me that the culture was dead, that its not here anymore, Shirt said. I knew that wasnt true. Just before, the drummers song echoed off the museums stone walls and affirmed Shirts belief. Sentinels of the foreign culture rooted in their land surrounded them, high on pedestals in the museums walls: the headless classical form of a female nude; a Venetian urn; a Buddha; the Indian god Vishnu. Its a not so subtle reminder that these things were brought here to replace Indigenous culture with an acquisitive European object fetish, in a building built for just that purpose. They didnt, though they came close. Its a long road back, but the journey has at least begun. Tobacco was given to us by the creator; its the first medicine, Shirt told the crowd. Its our link to the creator and, when we struggle, we hold it and we pray. As the children went row to row, passing out their tiny parcels from woven baskets, headbands woven from sweetgrass around their heads, he continued. The creator gave us a power thats unique in the universe: the power to choose, he said. Today, were choosing to move forward, to heal and to talk, together. This is a great beginning. Afterwards, Shirt offered a shrug. Its a baby step, he said. But its important for the young people to be able to have that conversation: that were still here, were thriving and that it matters. That we matter. The Royal Ontario Museums Daphne Cockwell Gallery is free to the public all opening hours. See rom.on.ca for information. April 20, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version that referred to Daphne Cockwell Gallery dedicated to First Peoples Art & Culture by its former name. HALIFAXMarine biologists are on the lookout for one of the most productive North Atlantic right whales left in the world, after an apparently unsuccessful attempt to free it from thick rope. Heather Pettis of the New England Aquarium said the team spotted the older whale named Kleenex near Stellwagen Bank off Boston last week and decided to try to cut a length of yellow rope that was snarled around the upper portion of its mouth and near its blow hole. Pettis said the whale, which has given birth to eight calves over several decades, appeared thin and in poor health, raising concerns that the species could be losing an animal that is responsible for 22 right whale descendants. Read more: No births for endangered North Atlantic right whales, but researchers hope for new, unknown calving areas Truly alarming: No newborns for critically endangered right whales Gulf of St. Lawrences snow crab fishery loses its designation as sustainable after right whale deaths Its estimated that Kleenex is the mother, grandmother or great-grandmother of nearly 5 per cent of the remaining 430 North Atlantic right whales. Shes got a reproductive span of 32 years, so shes a really important animal in the population, she said in an interview. She is in the top six reproductive females in the history of what we know about this population. About 18 right whales were killed in U.S. and Canadian waters in the last year. Its suspected that many of them died after getting ensnared in fishing gear or hit by large vessels. Bob Lynch of the Center for Coastal Studies in Provincetown, Mass., was on the boat with the disentanglement crew that used a crossbow to shoot a cutting arrow at the rope, managing to slice a bit of it as Kleenex dipped below the waters surface. Lynch said the exercise was particularly challenging since they couldnt get too close to the elusive 15-metre whale, which often disappeared under the water. Its not an easy task and it takes a whole village, he said with a laugh. There was an aerial survey team that spotted the whale and it takes the driver putting the shooter in the right position and the people on the boat to help see the whale when its coming up. He said it wasnt clear whether the line was cut enough to lead to its release. What we do know is that we improved the chances for that individual by nicking it, he said, adding that they may try another disentanglement if they see her again. Still, he said its unlikely that she would breed while entangled. Its likely shes not going to be reproducing, so that basically removes a female from the reproductive population, he said. Pettis said Kleenex was thin, had a concave slump in her back and marks around her blow hole, indicating that she was in poor health. She said the whale was first seen in 1977 with a calf and is a critical member of the species since its believed there are only 100 breeding females left in a population of about 430 North Atlantic right whales. Only a couple of other right whales have produced more calves. The whale, who was named Kleenex because one of her calves had white scars that reminded scientists of a child with a runny nose, was seen entangled in gear in 2014. Pettis said she can still eat with some difficulty, but is expending extra energy because of the drag caused by the rope. Having gear attached to her is requiring an expenditure in energy, she said. The development is the latest setback for a species that suffered record losses last year. There were also no new calves spotted this season. Read more about: HALIFAXNicholas Butcher testified in his own defence at his murder trial Thursday, describing affectionate messages he exchanged with the Montreal-born yoga instructor hes accused of killing. Butcher, charged with second-degree murder, was arrested after the body of Kristin Johnston was found on a blood-soaked bed inside her Halifax-area home on March 26, 2016. That same morning, Butcher called 911. He told the dispatcher he had killed his girlfriend and tried to kill himself. Breathing heavily and wailing, he also said he had cut off his hand. Today, youre going to hear Nicholas Butchers side of the story, defence lawyer Peter Planetta told the 14-member jury during his brief opening address in Nova Scotia Supreme Court. Planetta then called his client to the stand. Butcher placed his right hand which was surgically reattached on a bible and swore to tell the truth. A stocky man with closely cropped hair and beard, the 36-year-old spoke about the stress Johnston was feeling in February 2016, as her yoga studio in Halifax was failing. He said she was behind on paying her rent, and despite efforts to revamp the business, it closed that month. It was a huge stressor for her, said Butcher, adding that he often helped run the Bikram yoga studio. It was the reason she moved to Halifax. It was her baby. Days after the business was shuttered, Johnston travelled to Florida to visit family, he said. While there, Johnston contemplated heading to Costa Rica to visit her friend Jennifer Hazard. Reading a message Johnston had sent him, Butcher said: Im looking up flights to Costa (Rica). I cant do this unless I know it will not stress you out at all. Babe, you do what you need to do. Ill be all right, he replied in a message. Youre too good to me, she said. You deserve it Babe, Im always going to be this good to you, said Butcher, whose voice wavered only once during his testimony Thursday. Read more: Trial for Halifax man accused of killing yoga teacher hears recorded statement from deceased officer Yoga teacher Kristin Johnston had injuries to neck, hands, Halifax murder trial told Hard to forget: In pre-recorded testimony, deceased officer describes night of yoga teachers death Butcher then described messages they exchanged during her trip to Costa Rica in early March 2016. In the messages, Johnston spoke about her lingering stress related to her business, including a lawsuit and about being excited to get home and make a plan with Butcher. I just wanted to say I love you and Im so grateful for you, Butcher said, reading Johnstons message. The trial has heard that Butcher and Johnston were in a relationship and were living together. However, the jury has also been told that Johnston broke up with him hours before her death. Earlier in the trial, Hazard testified that Johnston talked about ending her relationship with Butcher during the trip to Costa Rica. She said the 32-year-old woman wanted to leave her Halifax life behind, and was ready for a new chapter in Tofino, B.C., where her sister lived. Butcher, wearing a navy suit, white collared shirt and a navy tie, told the jury he graduated from Dalhousie Universitys law school in 2015, and spent that summer looking for work. He said he was having financial difficulty in late September, and took on five part-time jobs. He said he eventually moved in with Johnston, partially for financial reasons. Butcher will be back on the stand Friday. Medical examiner Dr. Marnie Wood testified that Johnstons death was caused by sharp force injuries to her neck that led to a fatal amount of bleeding, and that the injuries were consistent with being caused by a single-edge blade. Police have testified a steak knife was on the bed next to Johnstons body. Dr. Jonathan Trites, a head and neck surgeon, testified that along with Butchers amputated hand, he also had 13 sharp wounds on his neck. The Crown closed its case Wednesday after calling 31 witnesses to testify. Read more about: A group of Indigenous Ecuadorians are arguing in an Ontario court that they should be able to seize shares of Chevron Canada to pay for the pollution its parent company allegedly left in their homeland. Its been 25 years since the case was originally launched by a group representing 30,000 Ecuadorians, who say their land and people have been poisoned by 900 pits of toxic waste left behind in the Amazon by Texaco, a company now owned by Chevron. Chevron shut down its operations in Ecuador decades ago, and a U.S. judge barred any American court from enforcing an Ecuadorian Supreme Court ruling against Chevron. The plaintiffs are now asking Canadas justice system to enforce that $9.5-billion (U.S.) Ecuadorian judgment against Chevron Canada, even though the ruling was made against Chevron Corp., an American company that owns Chevron Canada via seven intermediary subsidiaries. The plaintiffs do not allege wrongdoing by Chevron Canada. After a Supreme Court of Canada decision allowed the case to go ahead here, the fate of the Ecuadorians has drawn interest from Indigenous groups from around the world who are dealing with industrial pollution. Just look at Grassy Narrows in northern Ontario its the same thing. A forestry mill polluted the water and the Indigenous people were affected by mercury poisoning, said Perry Bellegarde, national chief of the Assembly of First Nations, who came to watch the proceedings and show his support in the courtroom. Investor rights should not supersede Indigenous rights, Bellegarde said. The corporate veil shouldnt be something that anyone hides behind when lands and waters and health is affected. Over two days of arguments at the Ontario Court of Appeal, Alan Lenczner, a lawyer representing the Ecuadorian Indigenous people, argued that Chevron Corp.s 1,500 subsidiaries and holding companies, including Chevron Canada, are essentially operating as a single company. He noted that Chevron Canada cannot make independent decisions because its policies require it to ask executives at Chevron Corp. for permission to spend any significant amount of money. The Canadian company even had to seek approval from its parent in California to lease its head office in Calgary, Lenczner said. Other than day-to-day operations, Chevron Canada has no significant authority to engage in its core and fundamental business. Every step ... has required (outside) approval, he told a three-judge panel. Benjamin Zarnett, representing Chevron Canada, argued the two companies are distinct and separate. Corporations are separate legal entities even if theyre part of a group. Its not an economic reality, but its a legal reality, Zarnett said. In response to Lenczner saying the polluter must pay, Zarnett responded: That principle has nothing to do with Chevron Canada. The U.S.-based Chevron Corp. is also named in the Canadian suit. Its lawyer, Larry Lowenstein, said a U.S. Appeals Court found that the Ecuadorian decision was based on fraud and the attempt to enforce it in Canada should be dismissed. The plaintiffs problem is not Chevrons corporate structure. The plaintiffs problem is that they were subject to a finding of fraud, said Lowenstein. Developments since that U.S. decision in 2014 cast it in doubt, said Aaron Marr Page, an American lawyer who pleaded that case for the Ecuadorians and was in the public gallery Wednesday. One such development is that witness Alberto Guerra told the U.S. court he participated in a conspiracy to bribe the Ecuadorian judge and ghostwrite the ruling, according to media reports. Guerra has since recanted much of his testimony in an international arbitration in the U.S. in 2015, where the parties were arguing some of the same issues, Guerra said he lied in the U.S. court, those media reports said. A decision in the Ontario case is expected in the coming weeks. OTTAWAA Conservative MP from Alberta has scuppered an attempt to have the House of Commons unanimously call on Pope Francis to apologize for the Catholic Churchs role in the abuses of Canadas Indigenous residential school system. Garnett Genuis, the representative for Sherwood ParkFort Saskatchewan, loudly proclaimed from his desk in the House that he absolutely does not support an NDP motion to push for a papal apology. Genuis told reporters after the vote that he doesnt believe Parliament should tell religious institutions what to do. I believe very much in religious freedom and the separation of church and state, he said Wednesday. It is quite unprecedented that Parliament would tell the Church how to undertake its (Indigenous) reconciliation efforts. Charlie Angus, the NDP MP who sponsored the motion, said he believes Parliament as a partner that created the residential school system with various Christian denominations has a responsibility to call on Pope Francis to apologize for the churchs involvement. He vowed to bring the motion back to the Commons for a debate, instead of asking MPs to unanimously support it. Every party except the Conservatives has said it supports the motion as it is currently written, although Conservative Leader Andrew Scheer has said he thinks any institutions involved in the schools should apologize. The obligation of Parliament to address this issue remains, Angus said. We will be laying out the case very clearly about the churchs complicity and role and obligation, and it will come to a standing vote. More than 150,000 Indigenous children attended residential schools from the late 19th century until the last one closed in 1996. In 2015, after years of study, the Truth and Reconciliation Commission (TRC) described how children were forced from their families and home communities to attend the church-run schools, where they were indoctrinated into new languages, religions and ways of life. This amounted to cultural genocide, the TRC concluded. The TRC also issued 94 calls to action, including a request for the pope to come to Canada within a year to apologize for the churchs role in the spiritual, cultural, emotional, physical, and sexual abuse of Indigenous children in the Catholic-run schools. Prime Minister Justin Trudeau also asked Pope Francis to apologize during a meeting at the Vatican in May 2017. Before Wednesdays request for unanimous consent in the House of Commons, two bishops from the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) spoke to reporters and defended the popes decision announced last month not to personally respond to the TRCs call for an apology. The pope never said he wouldnt apologize. He said he wouldnt personally respond to the TRCs specific call for an apology, said Richard Gagnon, Archbishop of Winnipeg and vice-president of the CCCB. Pressed repeatedly by reporters whether that means the pope will eventually apologize, CCCB president Lionel Gendron said Pope Francis is the only one who can give answer to that. At the same time, Gagnon argued theres a misconception that the Church has never apologized for its role in running the schools. The CCCB points to an apology from Canadian bishops in 1991 and a statement from Pope Benedict XVI in 2009, who expressed sorrow at the anguish caused in the schools by some members of the church, according to a Vatican release at the time. NDP MP Romeo Saganash, who is Cree from northern Quebec and attended residential school as a child, said he had to leave the room as the bishops spoke because he felt like he was going to throw up. When the pope announced that he wouldnt apologize, I was of course, as a survivor, very disappointed. And after hearing what they said today, now Im disgusted, Saganash said. Evelyn Korkmaz, who attended the notorious St. Annes school near Fort Albany where children were shocked in an electric chair and reported being forced to eat their own vomit said an apology from the pope would help students who were abused try to move on. Just an apology, she said. Thats all we want. HALIFAXA Halifax councillor and an aspiring politician are speaking out after a member of the Nova Scotia Legislature insinuated that Jamaican people are lazy during a debate over the provinces cannabis legislation. According to a recording of Tuesdays debate in the legislature, Progressive Conservative MLA and candidate for the party leadership Elizabeth Smith-McCrossin made several arguments against the legalization of cannabis. To support one of those arguments, she used an anecdote about a conversation with a Jamaican friend to say she was worried legalized cannabis would make Nova Scotians less productive than they already are. I worry for the future of our province and our country. I grew up surrounded by hard-working people who were clear-minded, sober, and productive, she said. I have a best friend in Amherst who is from Jamaica. She said to me, Elizabeth, smoking marijuana in Jamaica is completely accepted, and there's a completely different work ethic and very low productivity in Jamaica. I think we already have a productivity problem here in Nova Scotia. We do not need something else making it worse. After her comments came to light on Wednesday, Smith-McCrossin posted a statement on her Facebook page in which she said her words were criticized as racist and insensitive. I am sorry if my comments were hurtful. Had I known that this statement would have caused offense, I would never have made it, she wrote. That prompted a response on Twitter from Halifax Councillor Lindell Smith. Its very unfortunate that we have elected officials with a serious lack of cultural understanding, he tweeted. Its even more unfortunate when they cant even own up to the fact they lack it, and need to be educated. Cant let this one slide. Asked about the tweet and Smith-McCrossins comments after a news conference on Thursday, Smith told StarMetro he didnt want to speak directly about the issue. In general, I just think as elected officials we just need to be culturally sensitive, he said. We have to own up to any mistake that we have made, and if people recognize that they are hurt by it, youve got to take ownership and apologize for hurting them. Smith-McCrossins statement went on to apologize for her choice of words and any impression left that this was based on someones country, race or ethnicity. I am certainly open to meeting individually with anyone offended by these comments to better appreciate their perspective and ensure my words are better chosen in future, she wrote. Quentrel Provo might take her up on that offer. Provo announced last month that he wants to run in the next provincial election. He hasnt picked a party yet, and Smith-McCrossin asked to speak with him back when he made the announcement. Its concerning for someone in a position like that to say something like that. And its unfortunate. Shes actually one of the politicians that have reached out to me once I announced that I was running. Now, Im gonna have to take that into consideration, Provo told StarMetro in an interview on Thursday. Provo said he still hopes to meet with Smith-McCrossin, because if I ignore or have some sort of hostility towards this, its not fixing the problem. Hes concerned her comments may have been referring to Black people in general. When you put Jamaicans in there, that changed the whole narrative of what you were saying. Because Jamaica is predominately Black, you were talking about Black people here, being less productive, he said. And thats what I want to know what did you mean? So thats why I said Ill probably sit down with her, just to hear her thoughts on everything and what point of view she was trying to get across. Responding to comments about her first statement, Smith-McCrossin issued a second statement on Facebook on Thursday. Please know that my apology is without reservation or qualification; it is from the heart, she wrote. I recognize that I should have known the implications of what I was saying with that story. That is my mistake and Im sorry for that. With files from Madeline Lines Read more: Free weed for a year contest being investigated by Halifax police P.E.I. will allow residents to grow up to four pot plants Read more about: LONDONPrime Minister Justin Trudeau joined counterparts from Britain, Australia and New Zealand on Wednesday to present a united global front against the most pressing security challenges facing their countries and the international order. Top of the list: cyberattacks, particularly those conducted by Russia. The call to arms came as the four leaders, who together represent along with the U.S. the tight-knit security and intelligence partnership known as the Five Eyes, gathered for a top-secret intelligence briefing in London. The meeting coincided with a warning from the U.S. and U.K. this week that Russia has been involved in an unprecedented level of cyber-infiltration and attacks, which includes targeting the routers that many people use at home. Read more: Trudeau greeted with Trans Mountain pipeline protest in London Russia denies feeble U.S., U.K. charges of internet tampering Chemical watchdog rejects Russias claim of 2nd nerve agent found in U.K. city where ex-spy was poisoned British Prime Minister Theresa May, who convened the briefing, wasted no time turning her guns on Russia, which she accused of using cyber as part of a wider effort to attack and undermine the international system. Those attacks have been stepped up, she added, alongside a concerted disinformation campaign following last months poisoning of a former Russian spy and his daughter in the British city of Salisbury. Britain and its allies have blamed Moscow for the poisoning, which they say was conducted using a military-grade nerve agent, though the Kremlin has denied any involvement. We know what its doing, and we should be in no doubt that such cyberwarfare is one of the greatest challenges of our time, May said before the four leaders went behind closed doors at Britains National Cyber Security Centre. And working with our closest allies, three of whom are here today, we will work around the clock with all the technology at our disposal to stop aggressive states and non-state actors from succeeding. The other three similarly reaffirmed their commitment to work together to protect against cyberattacks and, more broadly, defend the system of rules and norms they credited for decades of peace, stability and prosperity. There are folks out there in the world, countries out there in the world who do not share our values and our approach to freedoms and mostly the rules-based order, Trudeau told the others. So the importance of like-minded friends and partners like us four to stand together provides a response and a solidarity that is a clear message to those around the world who do not play by the same rules. Even so, while Canada has taken Russia to task for spreading disinformation and interfering in countries like Ukraine, officials have been relatively silent about whether Canadians should be worried about Russian hackers trying to get into their computers. Asked after the intelligence briefing about the threat posed by Russia to routers and other personal devices, Trudeau said the federal government and its Communications Security Establishment (CSE) take cybersecurity seriously. The CSE is an extraordinary institution that is doing great work to keep Canadians safe and were going to continue to make sure that Canadians are apprised about any extra measures they need to take, he said in an interview. We continue to be on it. In its last budget in February, the Liberal government promised $507 million over five years as it fleshes out its cybersecurity strategy, with much of the money going to the CSE to create a federal cybersecurity centre. The government has also proposed new powers for the signals intelligence agency that would allow it to conduct offensive cyber operations, rather than simply defend against attacks. OTTAWAA senior Facebook executive has apologized to Canadians whose accounts were compromised, telling a parliamentary committee on Thursday that the social media giant is sorry for what amounts to a huge breach of trust. Kevin Chan, head of public policy for Facebook in Canada, faced tough questions from MPs about the companys past practice of allowing third-party developers to access their users personal data, a policy that may have violated Canadian law. Just 272 Canadians participated in a personality quiz that allowed the researcher behind the Cambridge Analytica scandal to harvest the data of more than 622,000 Canadians, explained Robert Sherman, Facebooks deputy chief privacy officer, who also testified before the committee. In most cases, the data was mined without the knowledge or consent of those affected. Read more: Opinion | Loreena McKennitt: Why Im leaving Facebook Privacy watchdog wants rules for how political parties use Canadians personal data Opinion | Vinay Menon: If we cant fix Facebook, how will we face the future? Thats a problem, said Liberal MP Nathaniel Erskine-Smith, since Canadian privacy law requires companies to obtain meaningful consent before collecting and sharing personal information. Where was the consent of 620,000 users? Perhaps youre in compliance with the law now, but it seems pretty clear that you werent in compliance with the law previously, Erskine-Smith said. Sherman did not challenge Erskine-Smiths statement, but said the social media behemoth was up front with its users about how it handled their personal information. I think its important to note that, as our (policy) changes in 2014 reflect, we dont think thats the right way for the platform to operate and its not how the platform operates today, Sherman said. Sherman was testifying via teleconference on the second day of hearings by the House of Commons ethics committee into the Facebook scandal. Cambridge Analytica, a consulting firm, has been accused of harvesting personal details of 87 million Facebook users, and selling its analysis of that data to political campaigns in the U.S. and the U.K. Both Sherman and Chan spoke Thursday about the need to restore users trust in Facebooks handling of personal data. Chan, who agreed with Erskine-Smith that the company needs to be transparent and honest, ignored reporters questions as he walked calmly out of the building. The Star requested an interview with Chan, who at one time served as policy director for former Liberal leader Michael Ignatieff, and sent Facebook Canada a detailed list of questions. In response, the company issued a statement saying it is open to the federal government bringing in tighter rules for social media companies in the wake of recent scandals. We have said publicly, including during todays hearing, that we are not opposed to regulation, the statement read. We dont think its a question of if but rather its about getting regulations right. Chan, who is the companys public face in Ottawa, was also asked Thursday why he has not registered as a lobbyist, despite meeting with numerous federal cabinet members, including Finance Minister Bill Morneau. At no time has Facebook come close to meeting the threshold for registration as a lobbyist, Chan said. We will of course register, if and when we meet the threshold. Chan said that Morneau requested his assistance in setting up a Facebook Live event for his recent budget. New Democratic MP Charlie Angus expressed some doubt over that explanation. You are registered as the companys leading public policy-maker in Canada, Angus said. My light bulb breaks, I dont call the head of General Electric to come and fix it. And yet you show up to help him figure out how to get more likes. The committee is scheduled to resume its study of the Cambridge Analytica/Facebook scandal next week. Note - April 19, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to clarify the specific subject of the senior Facebook executives apology. Read more about: OTTAWA The federal government ordered a review of the budget for a new cross-border bridge in Windsor, Ont., after concerns arose that the cost was in danger of exceeding spending targets, newly released documents show. Officials found ways to save money on the Gordie Howe International Bridge without significantly changing the risk to the federal government, noted one slide from a presentation that was delivered to senior government officials last October. The review was focused on construction costs after the Crown agency overseeing the project heard concerns from the three bidders about meeting the governments budget expectations, insiders say. Read more: Gordie Howe Bridge between Detroit, Windsor to have pedestrian-cyclist path Bridge between Detroit and Windsor to be named after Gordie Howe Timeline of Gordie Howes life and career Experts from both within and outside government were consulted early last fall to evaluate the concerns of bidders and to find the necessary savings through technical changes to the project. A spokesperson for the Windsor-Detroit Bridge Authority said the Crown agency had to ensure it was providing value to Canadian taxpayers, but refused to answer further questions about the spending review. The government is keeping a tight lid on the cost of the bridge. The federal spending projections account for some $4.8 billion, including costs to prepare and purchase properties, construction of the bridge itself and building new customs plazas on both each side of the Canada-U.S. border. In return, the government and the private company thats to build and operate the new crossing together hope to collect enough toll revenue over the first 30 years of its life to recoup the cost. The Liberals are likely to find out in the next few weeks if the savings identified in the affordability review will yield the intended results when the three groups vying for the project file their financial bids. A group of deputy ministers was briefed in late October about the proposed changes to construction plans and the spending review, as well as the effects on cash flow, the risks to private capital and project timelines. All dollar figures have been redacted from the presentation, which was obtained by The Canadian Press under the Access to Information Act, on the grounds that the information could harm Canadas economic and financial interests. The Liberals expect to award a contract in the coming months, with construction starting this fall. The bridge is not expected to be completed for four to five years. At the same time, the private company that owns the existing Ambassador Bridge between Windsor and Detroit has been given the go-ahead to build a replacement span, subject to multiple conditions that include the demolition of the aging span. Green-lighting the Ambassador Bridge replacement prompted speculation about how committed the Liberals actually are to the Gordie Howe project. The government pushed back, saying the plan was always for two crossings at the busiest trade point between Canada and the U.S. The briefing note, marked secret, said the federal communications efforts hit their mark: Officials were quoted as saying a replacement span is not imminent for the Ambassador Bridge because governments had to issue demolition permits for the existing structure before construction on a replacement span started. Still, it is important that the government reiterate their commitment to this project given recent media coverage, the briefing note says of the Gordie Howe bridge, adding strategic, factual and co-ordinated information on the project would assure stakeholders. Read more about: OTTAWAGerard Comeau wasnt the only one shaking his head when the Supreme Court of Canada ruled Thursday there is no constitutional guarantee of free trade within Canada. Moneys more important than liberties, I guess, said the 64-year-old retired linesman in an interview from Campbellton, N.B. where he was juggling calls from reporters. Comeaus bid to strike down the N.B. Liquor Control Acts limits on cross-border beer shopping failed, but he became the champion of free-traders across Canada. Now some of his supporters hope all the attention his case, and the social media campaign dubbed #freethebeer, brought to the issue will galvanize provincial and federal leaders to drop barriers they say add $50 billion to $130 billion in extra costs to goods and services that cross provincial borders. The Supreme Court unanimously ruled that the 1867 constitution did not impose an absolute free trade regime within Canada. The judgment makes clear any decision to knock down interprovincial trade barriers would be a political one, not a judicially-imposed one. It cited the need to maintain balance within the Canadian version of federalism, saying provinces are free to pass laws in a whole range of areas they control, as long as the laws primary purpose is not aimed at blocking trade across provincial borders. Any other interpretation, warned the court, could lead to a whole slew of laws being invalidated: environmental or public health regulations, agricultural controls on the production and distribution of eggs, dairy or poultry, for example, and innumerable other exercises of provincial jurisdiction. Business leaders who had backed Comeau at the high court say the ruling was a missed opportunity to knock down Canadas own protectionist barriers at a time when the country is trying to argue for freer trade globally. Comeau was stopped in October 2012 after crossing the Quebec border with 14 cases of beer and three bottles of booze in his trunk. The Mounties, trying to crack down on bootleggers, stung him with a $292 ticket for exceeding the provinces import limit of a dozen beers and a bottle of liquor. On Thursday, Corinne Pohlmann, of the federation representing small businesses, said its now up to provinces to eliminate costly, excessive regulations as they agreed to do in the Canadian Free Trade Agreement, signed last year. We are calling the provinces to get their act together and break down the barriers, and ensure that real free trade is possible across Canada. Dan Paszkowski, president of the Canadian Vintners Association, said he was extremely disappointed in the decision. We are the only wine-producing country in the world that does not allow consumers to order wine from a different part of the country. Only B.C., Manitoba and Nova Scotia allow wineries to ship direct to consumers, he said. He said a federal-provincial working group under the Canadian Free Trade Agreement is to report by July 1 on ways to lower provincial trade barriers in alcohol trade, and he hopes change for direct consumer delivery of wine products will come via that route. Advocates such as lawyer Rob Cunningham of the Canadian Cancer Society, on the other hand, welcomed the high courts reinforcement of provincial powers to regulate and tax harmful substances, such as tobacco, alcohol and soon, cannabis. Lawyer Howard Anglin, of the Canadian Constitutional Foundation, which intervened at the high court in support of Comeaus arguments, said its clear the provinces are reluctant to move. Anglin believes the ruling actually provides an opportunity for a federal government or federal party leader to push to lower trade barriers, using the federal power to regulate trade and commerce. The high court ruled there is no constitutional guarantee of free trade within Canada, but it did not say there is a requirement to impede it, Anglin said. Freer trade between provinces could be a windfall for the provinces, said Anglin, who pointed to a senate committee report that accepted findings by Trevor Tombe and Lukas Albrecht. They say interprovincial barriers cost each Canadian household about $7,500 a year. Economist Brian Lee Crowley of the Macdonald-Laurier Institute said the high court is always very keen to promote and protect Canadians rights in all kinds of social contexts, but is very reluctant to protect their economic rights to exercise their profession, or freely sell their goods and services, and that prevents other Canadians from benefitting from their efforts. Whats more, Crowley said, the timing couldnt be worse with all the tensions in the pipeline dispute in the West and Alberta and B.C. at each others throats. Comeaus lawyer Ian Blue told CBC the ruling is at odds with what the prime minister is trying to do for Canada in international forums and negotiating trade agreements. Its very difficult for Canada to say that a foreign country should knock down its barriers when the foreign country can point and say, In Canada, you have interprovincial trade barriers . Why should we be any different? Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said his government will take time to study the ruling and look at the ramifications of it. He acknowledged there are still a number of issues to be pursued, but said the internal free trade deal is a significant step forward towards full free trade within Canada. Accused underworld boss Giuseppe (Pino) Ursino admitted to talking about cocaine importing and other crimes with a paid police agent but told court he didnt really mean it. The stupid words come out of my mouth, Ursino, 65, of Bradford, Ont., told the University Ave. court Wednesday, testifying under cross-examination from federal prosecutor James Clark. What Im talking is one thing, Ursino said. What I mean is another. Ursinos testimony marks the first time an accused senior member of the Ndrangheta organized crime group has testified in court to defend himself in a criminal proceeding in Canada, according to police sources specializing in organized crime. Read more: Accused in criminal organization trial says hes no boss not even in my family Respect came up at least 33 times in secret tapes, drug trafficking trial told Paid police agent used cocaine while undercover, drug trafficking trial told The prosecution also marks the first time in Canada the Ndrangheta has been targeted as an organized crime group since the offence of criminal organization came into effect in 1997, senior federal prosecutor Tom Andreopoulos said earlier in an interview. Ursino and Cosmin (Chris) Dracea, 41, of Toronto each face two counts of cocaine trafficking for the benefit of a criminal organization and one charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. In the second day of often-emotional cross-examination, Clark repeatedly challenged Ursinos description of himself as nothing more than a close-to-broke food importer with a bad back. The prosecutor noted Ursino spoke often about drug importing, debt collection, money laundering and Ndrangheta structure with paid police agent Carmine Guido. Court heard Guidos payment for the operation is $2.4 million. Clark asked if he spoke with Guido about crime because he was Guidos boss. Wrong, Ursino replied. Ursino accused Guido of continually trying to draw him into conversations about crime because he wanted to hook me like a fish. Clark questioned Ursino about how he appeared to have an understanding of Ndrangheta history and structure. Ursino said he learned about Ndrangheta structure and history in Grade 5, his last year of formal schooling in his birthplace of Calabria in southern Italy. I think I was still working on spelling my name in Grade 4, Clark replied. Court has heard more than 40 secretly recorded conversations involving Guido from a two-year RCMP-led investigation called Project OPhoenix, which ended in June 2015. Ursino said that the secretly recorded tapes that were played in court didnt ring true. Are you suggesting, sir, that someone tampered with recordings? Clark asked. Yes, Guido replied. You dont have to tell me because I know what the truth is If you want to be honest in this moment you have to tell the truth to the jury and not to me. At another point, Ursino suggested that somehow Guido doctored the recorded conversations. Mr. Guido, he can combine words together, Ursino said. I dont understand, Clark said. He can combine words together, Ursino said. After a recess, Judge Brian OMarra told the jury that portions of the tapes played in court were edited with the full consent of defence counsel and the Crown and that nothing improper had been done with them. You and I are not being deprived of anything that we should have, OMarra told the jury. In earlier testimony, Guido called Ursino a senior member of the board of directors of the Ndrangheta in the GTA called the Camera Di Controllo. Ursino told Clark he hadnt even heard the term Camera Di Controllo until Guido used the term with him. Clark asked Ursino why he said on one tape that Carmine Verduci of York Region was on the board of control. I dont know my reason, Ursino said. I dont know what this means, board of control. Verduci was shot dead in April 2014 outside a Woodbridge cafe. The murder remains unsolved. Guido also bristled when asked about his older brother Antonio, who was arrested in Italy in 2007 and in the 1980s for Mafia association. Your brother is a member of the Ndrangheta? Clark asked. Not because I know, Ursino replied. Because of the news or some other sources. Then Ursino scolded Clark for his line of questioning. Why you prefer him to stay in jail? Ursino asked. Clark did not respond and Ursino continued, You love it to see people in jail. Ursino said he was also arrested in Italy in the 1980s for association but balked when Clark asked if that was for Mafia association. They dont tell you nothing, Ursino said. They arrest you. Thats all. Ursino snapped again when asked by Clark about agreeing to mediate between Guido and Cosimo Commisso of Woodbridge over a debt owed by Guido. Guido called Commisso a senior member of the Ndrangheta in the GTA. Court earlier heard that Commisso was one of the original targets of the RCMP operation involving Guido, but he was not charged. Is this something you are known for, negotiating debt repayment? Clark asked. I dont see nothing bad, Ursino replied. He also said Clark misinterpreted a recorded conversation in which he told Guido to go do a job with serious young men who never talk. That was about cocaine was it not? Clark asked. Im not sure if it was about cocaine or what else, Ursino said. I come up with the words. Ursino said Guido owed him $6,000 after a cafe they ran together went out of business. Ursino said he was desperate for money, and invented stories about criminal activity in order to stay close to Guido, who he called a drug trafficker, liar and expert at debt collections. You were afraid of him but you wanted to stay close to him? Clark asked. I was desperate for money, Ursino said. He stole it from my pocket. Clark noted that Ursino didnt mention the $6,000 in the secretly recorded conversations with Guido. Clark also questioned why he discussed cocaine importation and how they had to give the 75 back in talk about a drug load. Only words, Ursino said. But these are the words that you used, Clark said. I used them yes, Ursino said. Clark also questioned Ursino about a conversation with Guido in which Ursino suggested he scare a mans wife and children. Ursino said he meant to say the opposite, and that children and women should not be bothered. Dont involve kids or women, Ursino told Clark. At one point, Ursino snapped at Clark, when the prosecutor softly said OK before beginning a question. Its not OK, Ursino snapped. Im sorry but its not OK. He appeared to briefly melt down as he gesticulated forcefully with both hands and called Guido that lousy bastard. OK ... I dont have answers for you, Ursino continued. Thats the big problems ... I dont have your answer. Please! After taking a brief pause, Ursino continued: Im sorry. Im really sorry. Im sorry for everything ... Im a human being. Im not a criminal. The trial continues. Ontarios minister of education says she is keeping a close eye on the Halton Catholic District School Board a day after it rejected her request to suspend a policy that bans student fundraising for charities that dont align with its religious values. Meanwhile, a parent who is upset with the Sanctity of Life policy which prevents students from collecting money for organizations including the Canadian Cancer Society and the United Way is challenging the rules in court. Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris wrote to the trustees suggesting they pause implementation of the policy, which blocks schools from raising money for organizations that directly or indirectly support abortion, euthanasia, contraception or embryonic stem cell research. But at Tuesdays board meeting, the trustees voted 5-4 to refer the matter to a future meeting. That vote left the policy in effect while consultations with the community continue. Read more: Tempers flare over charity ban, trustees leave Halton Catholic school board meeting in protest Editorial | Halton Catholic school board is wrong to ban charitable donations Halton Catholic school board bans donations to charities not in line with churchs values Five votes said that they would like to keep it the same way as it is, board chair Diane Rabenda said Wednesday. I found that very disappointing, personally, but I do represent the board and I have to abide, like all trustees do, with the will of the board. The vote came on the same day that David Harvey, a parent and retired lawyer, applied to Ontario Superior Court to quash the policy, or at least stop the board from enforcing it until consultations are done and the policy is revised. We are very upset with the boards refusal to hear from parents prior to implementing its new policy, despite its legal duties, demands from students and parents, and a request from the Minister, Harvey said in an email to the Star. Rabenda acknowledged that parents are very upset and I understand theyre upset when asked about fundraising for legal costs. Whatever they decide to do would be their own initiative, their right, she said. Its their prerogative to do what they see fit. Harvey was at Tuesdays meeting, where the trustees voted to defer a decision after hearing from delegates and receiving a copy of the ministers letter. Premier Kathleen Wynne weighed in Wednesday morning, saying there are very, very concerned students and teachers in the board. Rebuffing the minister will mean that we will have to have another conversation with the chair of the board and with the director, Wynne told reporters at a news conference. Rabenda said she is always very pleased to talk with the minister and absolutely will be open to discussing anything the minister wishes to speak about. Boards are there to be the eyes and ears on the ground and reflect the needs of communities, Naidoo-Harris said Wednesday at Queens Park. It has been my experience that this doesnt come up very often most boards do their due diligence, most boards listen to their communities, most boards are in line with their policies reflecting those voices. In this instance, I just want to ensure that that is the case, and that is happening. This is not the first time the Halton Catholic District School Board has found itself in hot water. In the past, it has banned gay-straight alliance student groups and refused to allow students to receive the HPV vaccine in its schools. NDP Education critic Peggy Sattler called the situation disappointing ... I hope board members, families, students and school community members will get together and find a solution, for everyones sake. Naidoo-Harris added that she would continue to monitor the situation closely to inform potential next steps to ensure the board is acting in the best interests of its students and community. A Toronto jury hearing closing arguments Wednesday was presented with two starkly different portraits of a Hamilton Police Service officer facing corruption charges. Defence lawyer Greg Lafontaine urged jurors to acquit Craig Ruthowsky, calling him a hard-working, crime-busting cop who has been thrown under the bus by a manipulative cocaine dealer who made up a bogus pay-for-protection scheme to avoid being outed as his confidential informant. Lafontaine cited examples of what he called the drug dealers fantastical evidence, during his lengthy time in the witness box, such as when he suggested Ruthowsky volunteered to import drugs from Jamaica or was planning a home invasion. Give him credit for his imagination, he said of the dealer, whose identity is covered under a publication ban. The dealers assertion that Ruthowsky called him to warn him that the RCMP were bugging his phone pure nonsense, Lafontaine added, because if his phone is being tapped, then the Mounties are listening to my client tell him that. If anything, Ruthowsky, 44, should be commended for his actions, not on trial for bribery, obstruct justice, breach of trust, trafficking and conspiracy to commit an indictable offence, Lafontaine said. The defence lawyer conceded his client had dodged taxes, not declaring all of the income he was earning from his swimming pool business in 2011, a decision he probably regrets ...because he has to explain things here. But, he said, there is no evidence of great gobs of cash rolling in, referring to the $20,000 a month the dealer alleges he paid Ruthowsky for protection. At the end of his argument, Lafontaine summarized an intercepted call he played during the trial of the drug dealer and another man snickering about Ruthowskys suspension from the force in 2013. (He remains suspended with pay.) Theyre probably laughing now, as this is going on, Lafontaine said. Dont let them have the last laugh. Prosecutor John Pollard followed Lafontaine to the podium because the defence called evidence during the trial. He told the jury that Ruthowskys conduct was an attack on the rule of law...one in which he decided who would be policed and who would be allowed to continue to offend, and the entirety of it was for profit. The officers churning, endless informant program created a perfect circumstance for corruption. There were no notes, no reports, no registration, Pollard continued. Because he was so effective getting drugs and guns off the street, no one above him (was) asking why, or checking on his work, or ensuring that anything was verified and real. So in 2011, when money becomes a bit of a problem for the Ruthowsky family, the officer jumped at the dealers offer to accept bribe money so he could run his drug operation without police interference, Pollard said. And as disreputable as he may be, the cocaine trafficker presented as a compelling, truthful witness whose narrative makes sense, he said. Pollard asked the jury to find Ruthowsky guilty on all five counts in order to hold him to account and deny him the exceptional position before the law he created for himself. Superior Court Justice Robert Clark is scheduled to deliver his instructions to jurors Monday before they retire to deliberate. The Ontario Liberals will pay $39 million to various education groups, from principals and vice-principals to other non-unionized staff, settling the agreements in advance of the June 7 provincial election. The announcement comes weeks after the government agreed to quietly pay as much as $31 million to the provinces Catholic teachers, who won a grievance over a delay to their salary grid. About 40 per cent of members of the Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association will receive $2,000 each under the deal reached last month. Harvey Bischof, head of the provinces public secondary teachers union, called the payment to Catholic teachers a dirty deal. Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, said it was outrageous. The news comes days after Ontarios public elementary and secondary teacher unions filed a complaint with the labour board, saying provincial payouts to their Catholic counterparts were unfair. The Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario and the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation have accused the government of bargaining in bad faith in 2014 by saying all four of Ontarios teacher unions would be receiving substantially identical financial settlements for their 2014-2017 collective agreements. They also accused the government of engaging in coercion, reprisals and discrimination against certain unions members. A spokesperson for the education minister confirmed the payout to the Star Wednesday night. The government has acted with fairness and equity in our discussions with our education sector partners, a statement from the spokesperson said. Last year, the Star reported that Ontarios public high school teachers were in line for a cash bonus of as much as $3,000 each after a court found that the government breached the Charter of Rights and Freedoms in 2012 by temporarily stripping teacher and support staffs rights to collective bargaining under the Putting Students First Act. In response to the Superior Courts ruling, the ministry statement said it has now reached agreements with the Ontario Secondary School Teachers Federation, Ontario Public Service Employees Union, Canadian Union of Public Employees and Unifor. The province does not yet have a deal with the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario, which has indicated it will be returning to court, the spokesperson wrote, adding that the ministry would engage in discussion with other education partners that werent party to the challenge to mitigate further legal risks. The two public teacher unions called that a smokescreen. Payments were made to organizations that had no grievances, Hammond told the Star earlier this month. It is outrageous and has no legitimate basis. The provincial government has now reached agreements with the Association des enseignantes et des enseignants franco-ontariens, Education Workers Alliance of Ontario, Ontario Council of Education Workers, Ontario English Catholic Teachers Association and the principals and vice-principals associations, according to the ministry. Agreements with AEFO, EWAO, OCEW, the principals and vice-principals, and funding for those without representation will provide for payments equivalent to $1,200 per full-time equivalent employee who was employed in the 2012-13 and/or 2013-14 school years, plus an amount for benefits. Whether in remedy discussions or collective bargaining, the parties and the Crown at the various central tables had different priorities in their negotiations, the ministry wrote, and therefore arrived at different agreements. A prominent LGBTQ community leader who has been demanding justice for Bruce McArthurs alleged victims has been chosen as the grand marshal for Pride Torontos 2018 festival. Haran Vijayanathan is the executive director of the Alliance for South Asian AIDS Prevention (ASAAP), an organization committed to providing culturally responsive holistic health and support services for South Asian community members at risk of or affected by HIV. He is also the founder of My House: Rainbow Resources of York Region, a support group for local LGBTQ families and youth. Born in Sri Lanka and raised in Winnipeg, Vijayanathan has been an active member of the Ontario LGBTQ community for more than 18 years, advocating especially for the rights of the marginalized groups. Its truly an honour, Vijayanathan said, Im grateful for the opportunity because it raises the community on many levels. Its validating, he told the Star on Wednesday. It says that if you are Middle-Eastern, South Asian, gay, there is a space for you. Read more: Pride Toronto to honour AIDS activism and reflect on loss Toronto police name eighth victim of alleged serial killer Bruce McArthur 10 questions about the Bruce McArthur investigation Since McArthurs arrest in January, Vijayanathan has been outspoken in calling for a third-party investigation into how Toronto police handled missing persons cases. Were going to sit down and have a conversation, he told the Star in March. We can look what police think they did well, and then what actually happened, and then look to see what gaps exist and find solutions based on that. Vijayanathan said learning about the murder of Skandaraj Navaratnam, McArthurs first alleged victim to date, hit close to him. Navaratnam, like Vijayanathan, was Sri Lankan, Tamil and gay. His death was Vijayanathans worst nightmare as an openly gay teenager, he had wondered if anyone from his community would care or notice if he died. In a previous interview, Vijayanathan told the Star he had offered to collect the remains of the victims on behalf on their families many of whom are not based in Toronto and perform proper funeral rites. Olivia Nuamah, Pride Torontos executive editor, told the Star Vijayanathan took up a mantle and space that had rarely been publicly taken up, and done so with grace and poise. Before these men were discovered murdered, their particular stories, how they navigated their queerness, were not stories that necessarily made up a part of the community, she said. Pride Toronto felt he did a very good job of opening up that door and starting to navigate that narrative. With the appointment of the grand marshal, Nuamah said Pride Toronto aimed to represent the future of the LGBTQ community and highlight different kinds of stories. We feel that the stories of these seven men and the way in which Vijayanathan has spoken about them is worthy of a platform and some prominence, she said. The third annual Pride Month will begin on June 1 with a flag-raising at Toronto city hall. This years festival will take place from June 22 to 24, and will honour AIDS activism and reflect on loss. A Toronto brewery is standing by its trademark of YYZ after another local beer maker took to social media to say itd been served a cease-and-desist order for using the citys airport code on its products. In most respects, its a tempest in a teapot, said Jeff Carefoote of the social media storm brewing around his company, Amsterdam Brewery Co., who owns the trademark for YYZ in the beer and alcoholic beverage category. Earlier this week, Bandit Brewery, located at Bloor and Dundas Sts., posted on social media about receiving a letter claiming trademark infringement using YYZ on its travel-inspired beer series. Turns out, a few weeks back we got some very friendly mail from The Big Guys claiming they own YYZ our fair citys airport code, Bandit said in posts on Instagram and Twitter. The company name was blacked out in the letter, but social media sleuths searched the federal trademarks database and outed the sender as Amsterdam Brewery. Bandit spokesperson Juan Gonzalez-Calcaneo said the brewery decided to put out a statement to clarify confused customers about our apparent inability to spell YYZ, so we felt it necessary to explain the issue to them. They had changed the name of its YYZLAX beer a strawberry vanilla milkshake-flavoured India pale ale to YY*LAX. We looked into challenging the trademark but unfortunately, as a small microbrewery, we simply dont have the funds or resources to fight this, he said in a statement to the Star. Carefoote is unhappy his business has been characterized as one of The Big Guys Amsterdam includes a Brewhouse, Brewery, and Barrel House locations in Leaside and on the lake and defended his companys action to protect the trademark. He filed for the trademark last April on the companys Adventure Brews series. Were really kind of arguing about nothing, he said, explaining his company is within its rights to take recourse having invested in the title. If you have a trademark and you dont protect it, or you dont advise people theyre infringing on it, then its pretty much worthless. Carefoote, who has operated Amsterdam Brewery for the past 16 years (it opened in 1986), has filed for trademarks on various other airport codes and brand names at Amsterdam Brewery. They make around 60 beers a year. In Canada, the application to file for registration of a trademark costs at least $250. Once approved, it costs $200 to register for a trademark, which means the trademark owner will be issued a certificate of registration. Im kind of upset that they tried to vilify us unreasonably, he said, adding he doesnt know what to make of the online comments about his companys actions. Theres a number of people who are upset at us. Though some commented in support of Bandits social media posts suggesting alternative names such as Why Why Zed to get around the copyright others stood with Amsterdam Brewery. This is an unfortunate situation of not doing your homework. The craft beer industry in Toronto is awesome and for Bandit to post this letter seems kind of petty. If you come up with a sweet name trademark it!!! Look forward to seeing some great stuff from Bandit, one user wrote. At least one other company in the country holds a YYZ trademark. A Mississauga sound company trademarked it under the audio classification. Some other companies have the words YYZ embedded in their company name, such as legal consultants YYZ Traffic Tickets. Toronto restaurant manager Cosmin (Chris) Dracea tried to scam a seasoned scam artist and got badly burned himself, an organized crime trial heard Thursday. It was the worst nightmare of my life, Dracea told the University Ave. courthouse. Dracea, 41, and Giuseppe (Pino) Ursino, 65, of Bradford, Ont., each face two counts of cocaine trafficking for the benefit of a criminal organization and one charge of conspiracy to commit an indictable offence. The prosecutions star witness, Carmine Guido a self-described wise guy and Ndrangheta associate, who worked with the RCMP as a paid police agent described Ursino as a boss in the GTA Ndrangheta organized crime network. On Thursday, Dracea told the court he tried to scam Guido out of $80,000 in a bogus cocaine trafficking scheme. Guido earlier told the court that he was heavily involved in fraud, drug trafficking, debt collection and enforcement before agreeing to work for police. Are you a member of organized crime? Draceas lawyer Kathryn Wells asked him. No, replied Dracea, a Romanian-born father of two whose wife has attended the court case daily. Dracea, whose defence is assisted by Anthony Doran, said he was only posing as a cocaine trafficker. He said he was recruited by a man named Gianfranco Caputo to scam Guido out of $80,000 in the bogus drug importation scheme. Im not in the drug business, Dracea testified. He said he had no idea that Guido was a police agent at the time. We tried to put a good story together, me and him, Dracea said. Hes (Caputo) up for these things because its his life. Dracea said Caputo introduced him to Ursino. Guido earlier testified that Ursino was his boss in the local Ndrangheta. Did Mr. Ursino know about this scam? Wells asked. No, he didnt know, Dracea said. Were you taking direction from anyone? Wells asked. From Gianfranco Caputo, Dracea replied. Caputo has not been charged. Dracea said part of the scam involved providing Guido with a kilo of cocaine, which Wells called a huge mistake. Guido pled guilty to trafficking that cocaine at the outset of the trial. As the scheme to scam Guido became increasingly dangerous, Dracea tried to end things by proposing what Wells called more and more ridiculous methods of importation in the hopes that Carmine Guido would walk away. Court heard earlier that proposed schemes included bringing cocaine into the country in jerk chicken sauce from Jamaica, bellies of fish from Peru and cocaine-saturated cardboard from Costa Rica. Dracea worked at the attempted scam between October 2014 and May 2015, court heard. Wells told the jury that Dracea couldnt get Guido to walk away from the importation schemes because Guido was making $15,000 a month, and his letter of agreement (with RCMP) stipulated that his award would be performance-based meaning the more people taken down as part of the project, the more money he was likely to get. Court heard that Guido eventually agreed upon a payment of $2.4 million for his services to police. A federal proposal for reducing delays in the courts could have the unintended consequence of making access to the justice system even more difficult for many people, legal experts say. The Liberal government wants to shift some of the caseload away from Superior Court by increasing the maximum penalty for all criminal cases heard in provincial court known as summary offences to two years less a day in jail. However, that would effectively prevent paralegals and law students from representing defendants in provincial court, as they regularly do now, because the Criminal Code only allows them to act in cases where the maximum penalty is six months in jail. By increasing the maximum penalty for all summary offences, the federal government would boot them out of court. It would create, in my opinion, a terrible access-to-justice issue, said Stephen Parker, president of the Ontario Paralegal Association. Defendants who use paralegals or law students tend to fall into a gap, neither qualifying for legal aid nor being able to afford a lawyer. Critics say the governments proposal will mean more accused will be left to fend for themselves in court, and risk being saddled with a criminal record and all of the employment, travel and immigration consequences that flow from it, not to mention possibly face jail time. But for our students, the clients would be there unrepresented, said Lisa Cirillo, executive director of Downtown Legal Services, a legal clinic with the University of Torontos faculty of law. That is an access-to-justice crisis, both for the clients and the courts, because it slows everything down if you have clients in there who dont understand the process, dont know whats expected of them, and cant get access to legal advice. Summary convictions that currently carry a maximum penalty of six months in jail include causing a disturbance and public nudity. Other summary offences, such as impaired driving, have maximum penalties of 18 months in jail, while a few dealing with sexual offences involving children already have a maximum penalty of two years less a day in jail. David Taylor, spokesman for federal justice minister Jody Wilson-Raybould, pointed out that there is a provision in the Criminal Code that allows provinces to create a program allowing paralegals and students to defend cases where the maximum penalty is above six months. A spokesperson for Ontarios Ministry of the Attorney General said the government is considering the issue. Only Alberta and British Columbia have approved such programs since that provision in the code was enacted in 2002. Bill C-75, the governments massive package of reforms to the justice system announced in March, will provide provinces and territories with the tools they need to speed up the justice system, in the wake of a landmark Supreme Court of Canada ruling in 2016 that set strict timelines to bring criminal cases to trial, Taylor said. The Criminal Lawyers Association (CLA) said it would be concerned if the province created a program allowing paralegals to defend even more serious cases should C-75 pass and make all summary convictions punishable by a maximum penalty of two years less a day in jail. Daniel Brown, a Toronto director of the CLA, noted that students work in provincial courts under the supervision of criminal defence lawyers and its unlikely they would be permitted to defend serious criminal cases. We dont think that paralegals have the same type of training, background and supervision that should allow them to continue to represent accused persons on what would now also include very serious criminal charges with steep penalties, Brown said. Parker disagrees, saying his association has long wanted paralegals to have the ability to defend more serious cases. He said prior to the regulation of paralegals by the Law Society of Ontario in 2007, they were permitted to act in such cases. They didnt have any training at all apart from their own experience, and there really was no issue with competency, he said. Just because the maximum penalty has been increased doesnt reduce somebodys competency to be able to present a full answer and defence on behalf of a client. Aside from the impact on access to justice, the amendment in C-75 would deal a blow to law students looking to get experience in criminal law. Cirillo said campus legal clinic directors will be meeting to discuss advocacy around the issue. We feel like the government couldnt possibly have intended to do this, Cirillo said. We feel there's such a huge access to justice issue in our country, we feel like they couldnt have meant to wipe out the ability of all of these clients to access legal assistance, she said. The fatal shooting of reputed mobster Rocco Zito in his North York home was the result of a domestic dispute and not a mob hit, court heard Thursday. This case is not a whodunit, Crown attorney Iain Sunderland said in his opening remarks to the jury at the University Ave. courthouse. Zitos son-in-law, Domenic Scopelliti, has been charged with murder. Read more: Longtime mobster Rocco Zito shot dead in his home Sunderland noted that Zito, 87, was suspected of longtime involvement in organized crime, but said his shooting on Jan. 29, 2016 was the result of a domestic dispute over money. He was supposedly involved in organized crime, specifically the Italian Mafia, for the entirety of his adult life, Sunderland told the jury. Sunderland said Zito was shot three times and a fourth bullet was found near his body, which lay in the front foyer of his bungalow that he shared with his wife, and Scopelliti, his wife and their children, court heard. Court heard Zito and his wife raised five daughters and several women were in the house at the time of the shooting. The scene was chaotic when paramedics arrived at roughly 5:10 p.m., minutes after someone in the home called for help, according to a 9-1-1 call played in court. On the call, wailing and crying can be heard in the background as a woman pleaded with the 9-1-1 operator for help in the recording played in court. Why do you need an ambulance?, the 9-1-1 dispatcher asked. There has been an accident here my dad got shot, the woman replied. Is the wound self inflicted? the operator asked. I dont know, the woman replied. I just got home. The dispatcher asked: Where is the gun? I have no idea, the woman replied. Did he own a gun? the dispatcher asked. He went hunting, the woman replied. I dont know. Did the shot come from outside? the dispatcher asked. I do not know, the woman replied. Who shot him? she asked. I dont know, the woman replied. She paused and added: My sisters husband. Where is the man who shot him? the dispatcher asked. I dont know, the woman replied. He took off. Paramedic Michael Cook told court that there were no police officers or firefighters on scene when he and his partner arrived at Zitos home. It was a chaotic scene, Cook said. Lots of screaming and yelling. Zito lay motionless on his back in the front foyer of his home, Cook said. There were no signs of pulse, Cook said. We assumed the shooter was unaccounted for, Cook said. Its not a secure scene. Cook said that his partner said he saw someone in a room facing the foyer as they attended to Zito. He said, Who is that? Cook said. At that point I turned and didnt see anyone. There must have been some concern that that was the shooter, defence lawyer Brian Ross said. It was a concern, Cook replied. The trial continues. Dont bet on politicians raising the topic. But with the provincial election coming, opponents of separate school funding in Ontario want to resurrect the subject most candidates prefer to tiptoe around, galvanized by reports about crumbling schools, stretched resources and a GTA Catholic boards controversial policy on student fundraising. Were trying to force them to talk about it because they dont want to, says Adrienne Havercroft, a supply teacher with the Hamilton Wentworth District School Board. Havercroft spent five years trying to land a full-time job after graduating and says as a non-Catholic, she cant access one-third of the job market because Catholic boards consider her ineligible, even though many enrol students of other faiths. Shes one of the plaintiffs in a legal challenge against taxpayer-funded Catholic schools in Ontario, led by the small grassroots group One Public Education Now (OPEN). Richard Thain, another opponent, also wants politicians to start talking about the issue, and says funding one religion in a province of many cultures and faiths is shameful and amounts to religious discrimination. The retired Ottawa-area dentist favours the creation of one secular board in two languages and recently spent $20,000 on electronic billboards promoting the cause. They appeared throughout Toronto last month. Last week his organization, Civil Rights in Public Education, joined other groups supporting the legal challenge at a rally on Parliament Hill. The provinces elementary teachers union have also joined the fray, releasing an education agenda this week in advance of the June 7 election that includes dismantling the separate school system as one of its pillars. We do know that having the political will to move to one secular school system will reduce wasteful spending and reduce school closures, said Sam Hammond, president of the Elementary Teachers Federation of Ontario. The principle has long been supported by counterparts at the Ontario Secondary Schools Teachers Federation. The rumblings come at a time of increasing financial pressure on school boards and amid repeated calls for Ontario to fix its outdated education funding formula. The non-partisan group Fix Our Schools is enlisting candidates across Ontario to fight for the billions of dollars needed to repair deteriorating schools. Boards shuffle resources to pay for special education supports and struggle to provide supervision. A showdown at the Halton Catholic District School Board has further ignited the debate about mixing public dollars and religious beliefs. Despite intervention from the Minister of Education, the board has forbidden students from donating to charities that support any activities the church opposes, including contraception and stem cell research, which rules out recipients like the United Way and the Canadian Cancer Society. For a cash-strapped government, the idea of folding multiple school systems into one is low-hanging fruit, says Reva Landau of Toronto, OPEN founder and the woman behind the legal challenge. Her group argues operating four systems English public, French public, and Catholic boards in each language is not only unfair, but a waste of resources. Money spent on duplicate administrations and infrastructures would be put to better use in classrooms or repairing buildings, they say. And it makes no sense in an era of declining enrolment that has led to school closures and prompted boards to compete for students. OPEN has hired legal counsel, raised $62,000 through crowdfunding and hopes to file an application in court in the next few months, says Landau, a retired business systems analyst who has a law degree. Politicians are quick to dismiss the debate as a complex constitutional matter that cant be changed, and voters have been too quick to swallow that, says Landau. But Quebec showed us the way on this. The hard work has already been done. Quebec and Newfoundland stopped funding religious schools two decades ago, after their legislative assemblies passed decisions and then sought Ottawas blessing, delivered in the form of constitutional amendments. Landau says Quebecs decision to back out of its Confederation deal with Ontario, which guaranteed education to each others religious minorities, means Ontario is no longer legally on the hook. Those in favour of public discussion say theres no reason to wait. If there was ever a time for an Ontario political party to have the courage to announce a task force to phase out funding for separate schools, this is the time, says Charles Pascal, a professor at the University of Torontos Ontario Institute for Studies in Education. Seems like the only way to get this done is for a courageous grassroots group to use litigation to wake up the electorate and the legislators they elect. So far, only the Green Party of Ontario supports that approach, a position it has held for at least a decade. In consultation with all stakeholders, Greens will end duplication in administration, buildings and busing by integrating the public and separate school boards, leader Mike Schreiner said in an email. The Liberal government has long maintained it wont consider eliminating separate schools, which Education Minister Indira Naidoo-Harris reiterated this week. This is something that we are not looking at, she told the Star. Its been in place for a long time. I, frankly, think it would be very disruptive to move forward with something like that. Thats no surprise to David King, a former Alberta education minister who is behind a movement in that province to merge public and Catholic schools into one secular board. Regardless of the conversation in the community, political parties are really, really afraid of dealing with this issue, he told the Star. But when a government has the will to do it, it happens. He expects a court case in Alberta, similar to the Ontario challenge, in the next 18 months. With files from Kristin Rushowy Andrea Gordon can be reached at agordon@thestar.ca Whats happening elsewhere in Canada: Ontario, Alberta and Saskatchewan are the only provinces that fund both public and Catholic school systems. Quebec stopped funding separate schools and created one secular two-language public system in 1997. Newfoundland also stopped funding denominational schools in 1997, a move endorsed by the public in two referenda. In an interview with CBC last year, former premier Brian Tobin said hes proud citizens voted not to be chained to the past and that maintaining multiple school systems was no longer affordable and would have resulted in an inferior education. In Saskatchewan, a court battle has gone on for more than a decade over whether non-Catholic students have the right to funding in Catholic schools. A Queens Bench ruling a year ago found that funding such students was a violation of the Charter of Rights and Freedoms. But the province has appealed the decision. The increased publicity of far-right extremist groups is partially to blame for the noticeable increase in hate crimes in Mississauga and Brampton, says a report that will be presented to the Peel Regional Police Services Board on Friday. The 2017 annual Hate/Bias Motivated Crime Report reveals hate crimes in Peel shot up last year with 158 incidents compared to 59 in 2016. Part of the reason for this increase may be related to a focus on hate-motivated crime training, part of which includes information being relayed to community members on the importance of reporting such crimes, wrote Peel police Const. Karen McNeilly in the report. Additionally, the recent increase in groups espousing far-right ideologies may be triggering more overt crimes of hate, such as graffiti-related mischief, with a particular focus on the Jewish and Muslim faiths. Read more: Peel police investigating alleged hate crimes at three Mississauga mosques McNeilly added that the noticeable increase in reported hate crimes should be put into context. Irrespective of the fact that the regional community is increasingly more diverse, hate/bias motivated crimes reported to police continue to be low, she states in the report. The Hate Crime Report by the Peel service documented incidents in 2017. Here are the five most targeted groups: Muslims (57 incidents) Black community (39 incidents) Jewish community (36 incidents) South Asian community (12 incidents) LGBTQ community (eight incidents) Middle Eastern (five incidents) Last year, 35 of the 158 hate motivated crimes reported to Peel police involved acts of violence, including threatening (13), assault (13) and assault with a weapon (five). McNeilly said a reason for the recent spike in hate-motivated crime may be in part, due to Peel polices dedication to educating and working with the community in an effort to not only address issues of hate-motivated crime but also generate more calls to police if/when such incidents arise. The increase in the visibility and the voice of far-right extremists groups have also played a role in the rise of anti-Semitic and anti-Muslim targeted bigotry, McNeilly said. Read more about: JOINED: In marriage, a former Miss America and her same-sex partner. Deidre Downs, also a former Miss Alabama, married Abbott Jones in Birmingham in an event that surprised many. A breakthrough in a conservative state? Maybe. It was beautiful, said Nan Teninbaum, president of the Miss Alabama Pageant, who attended the ceremony. SPLIT: Opinions about Swazilands new name. King Mswati III announced he is renaming the country the Kingdom of eSwatini coinciding with his 50th birthday, and 50 years of independence. Hes been referring to the country that way for years so the change wasnt totally out of the blue, except to non-followers of Swaziland news. MISLEADING: Conspiracy theorist Alex Jones, who now faces lawsuits over his claims. Three parents whose young children were killed in the 2012 Sandy Hook school shooting are suing him for defamation. Jones has claimed that the massacre of 20 kids and six adults was a giant hoax. CORRECTING: Any notion that Stormy Daniels was killed in an airstrike in Syria. Contrary to reports making the rounds online, the porn actress admittedly in a lot of news lately did not perish in U.S. and allies bombings of Syria. Satirical websites had helped spread the bizarre rumour. STRUGGLING: El Chapo. The Mexican drug lord, a.k.a. Joaquin Guzman, is having psychological problems that could hurt his ability to fight U.S. drug-trafficking charges, his lawyer and his wife said. Hes being held in Manhattan under conditions that he has likened to torture. How is he going to get to trial if his health is not good? his wife asked. STRAGGLING: Donald Trump in his tax-filing duties. The U.S. president has requested an extension to file 2017 returns, the White House said, like many Americans with complex returns. While cynics (or legal types with the Mueller inquiry?) might joke about why theyre complex, spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders says hell meet the extension deadline of Oct. 15. CONDEMNED: A poet to three years in prison. Somalilands Nacima Abwaan Qorane, 27, was jailed for anti-national activity of a citizen and bringing the nation or state in contempt, the Guardian reported. Her social media comments were deemed to undermine the semi-autonomous African states claims to independence. BLASTED: Sleepwear company Lunya over its silk set named Offred. Named after the protagonist in The Handmaids Tale, the lingerie has attracted criticism on Twitter and in the Huffington Post, which points out that the character wears red so she can be identified as others property. So after the thing with the mouse Im in the office on the Group W Bench. Thats what my dad calls it. After my first time there he played me the song about Alices Restaurant and the bench where all the misfits have to sit. In the song its for the guys who might not be good enough to get drafted into the army. At my school its where kids wait to see one of the VPs when they get kicked out of class. Ive been here before. Its not like what I did today was so bad. No worse than littering, which is what the guy in the song did. Hes got a criminal record and it blows him away that the U.S. Army says hes not fit to kill and maim because hes a litterer. Plus hes got to sit on the bench with all the mother rapers and father stabbers and father rapers. Miss Palmer would say thats irony or something. I say its just stupid. The guy beside me on the bench, Brayden, says, What a pussy, and snorts a laugh. A kids losing it in the VPs office. Shes got her face pushed against the narrow pane of glass beside his office door like shes trying to escape and her tears and snot are marking up the glass. Her cheek is flattened into a series of red and white rings with a small circle of pale pink skin in the middle. Everyone on the bench is laughing at her. I can hear her sobbing. The girl beside Brayden says, Glad Im not a janitor. Shes always crying, someone else says. I say, Give her a break. Pussy, Brayden says again. He means me. The secretary who answers the phone and greets visitors says, No talking on the bench. And Brayden, for the last time, take off your hat. Im having a bad hair day. Brayden smirks. Too bad. Take it off. Then she talks politely into the phone: No ones picking up in the math office. Can I put you through to his voice mail? Id like to remind Brayden about the time he lost it. Tore the door off the youth workers office and pushed a teacher in the hall just because he thought someone had insulted his loser of a dad. Id like to but I dont. I cant stand Brayden but I get it that he feels like he has to defend his dad. And I figure he acts tough because hes afraid someday he might really fall apart in front of everyone just like the girl in the VPs office. Its one thing to destroy property, its another to break down and cry. I think about my own dad. I know hell be disappointed if I get suspended today. Really, Id rather stay at school, as lame as it is. Its so quiet at home now with just the two of us. Even when my aunt comes by with food and brings my three cousins who never stop talking and jumping around, the house feels empty. The last time I was on the bench was because of what happened in Cosmetology. When Miss Ortiz wasnt looking, busy flirting with the automotive teacher who just happened to drop by the classroom, I told Jadyn to shave a patch of hair above my left ear. She did it, too. Miss Ortiz flipped out yelled at both of us for being irresponsible and sent us to the office. Miss Baker, one of the VPs, made those big sad eyes at me and asked if I wanted to talk to the youth worker. When I said no, she called my dad. I could tell he was upset but he didnt say much. Later, when the grief counsellor tried to get me to talk about it, I just shrugged. What was there to say? Shaving beats cutting. Now Miss Ortiz watches me like a hawk. I dont know what she thinks I might do but I guess she figures I cant be trusted. At home, later, I finished the job. Shaved the AC/DC lightning bolt into the stubble and it looked good. AC/DC. Best band ever. Best time ever? Grade 8 trip to Ottawa and the fireworks on the last night. We got on the bus and went across the river into Gatineau to the Museum of History and sat on the grass beside the river along with hundreds of other people families with little kids, couples holding hands, old people on plastic folding chairs. There were food vendors and people selling glow-in-the-dark bracelets and glow sticks. That night we watched Canadas entry in a big competition. The fireworks were launched from a barge way out on the river and they were timed to music. For one part of the show the soundtrack was Thunderstruck and the fireworks were just black and white all-white explosions against the all-black sky. They thumped into the darkness above the river and pulsed and shimmered until I couldnt tell where the fireworks left off and the pounding of the music began. The two surged through me like electricity. I could barely breathe, it was so beautiful. I wanted to leap to my feet and dance and shout but I didnt. I wish I could live that night again the smell of the river, the breathlessness of the crowd and Brian Johnsons voice echoing across the water, rolling over all of us on the riverbank and rolling right up the hill to the Parliament buildings, filling everything up so there was no room for thinking. Now Malcolm Young is dead. Bon Scott died even before I was born. The VPs door swings open and Mr. Marshall comes out with the crying girl. He walks her quickly through the front office in the direction of Guidance and the youth workers office. Brayden, he says, Ill see you when I get back. Lookin forward to it, Brayden mutters. Mr. Marshall looks at me. Grace. Again? I feel ashamed and it bugs me that he can do that to me so I shrug and say, So what, and Marshall frowns at me before he disappears into Guidance. The main office door opens suddenly and Miss Dixon from History marches a kid right up to the front desk. Derek needs to see a VP, she says to the secretary and its clear shes pissed. Hes refusing to change his T-shirt. Derek looks over at all of us on the bench and grins and we get a look at the front of his shirt. Theres a full-colour picture of the poop emoji and underneath is the word Happens. We all laugh and the secretary glares at us and tells us to be quiet. I believe my right to freedom of expression is enshrined in the Constitution, Derek says. He knows his audience. Read more: Toronto Star announces short story contest winners Toronto Star Short Story Contest 1st-place winner: The Second Law of Thermodynamics Toronto Star Short Story Contest 3rd-place winner: Perhaps Tomorrow Marshall comes back from Guidance. Brayden shuffles after him into the small office and the door closes. I hear the low rumble of their voices and through the glass I see Brayden slouching in the chair in front of Marshalls desk all cool-like. Thinks hes so tough. Dereks beside me on the bench. His shirt makes me think of the time my mom gave my dad a T-shirt for Fathers Day. It was white with bold black print that said Will marry for money. My dad laughed like crazy when he saw it. He put it on right away. Then he grabbed my mom in a big bear hug and kissed her. Didnt know that was a thing, he said. l thought you had to marry for love. Suddenly Brayden yells, Fk you! We hear him right through Marshalls closed office door and when I look, Braydens sitting bolt upright all his gangster cool vanished. Thats gotta be worse than the poop emoji, Derek says. Looks like Im going to be on the bench for a while longer. Thinking this makes me tired. Im pretty much tired all the time. Its like every day is a rerun of the one before and the only thing that breaks the monotony is a clown like Derek or a fight in the hall, one of those times when something unscripted busts loose. Sometimes, though, a person should maybe look away because whats happening is too private. First period in Grade 10 History, some smartass always asking, Miss, can I go to Timmys to get a coffee? Ill get one for you. I cant give you permission to leave the school. Im responsible for you while youre in this class. Then can I go to my locker for a pencil? Okay but take the hall pass. And watch out for traffic. Cue the snickering. In Science, its chaos. Kids screw around with the lab equipment and hide in the little sink cabinets, all folded up like origami shapes. Its always noisy and usually something gets broken. Sometimes Mr. Cahill gets on the class to behave. Most days he acts like he doesnt notice or care. Were supposed to be learning about the respiratory system. Todays lesson was about the effect of COon breathing. Thats why Im sitting on the Group W Bench. Cahill put a white lab mouse in a small sealed terrarium. Then we all had to sit and watch while the mouses breathing gradually produced more and more carbon dioxide. It didnt take long. Pretty soon the mouse was in trouble. You could see its little sides moving with the effort to breathe. Then its whole body was heaving and the mouse was on the floor of the terrarium, dying. Cahill was giving us a running commentary: Suffocation is caused by carbon dioxide poisoning, not by a shortage of oxygen. The increase in the level of COis directly related to the rate of breathing. A person at rest breathes at a slower rate and produces less carbon dioxide than someone who is active or stressed. Its likely that the mouse is feeling some stress in this situation. Youll notice how, within a fairly short period of time, its reacting to the impact of increased CO I stood up. We get the point. Cahill, confused. Excuse me? You can stop now. Everyone quit fooling around and the room went quiet. Sit down, please, Grace, Cahill said. I wont until you let the mouse out. Im pretty sure my voice was getting louder. Grace, sit down while we finish our observations. Were not idiots, I said. We get it that the mouse is suffocating. You dont have to kill it to prove youre an asshole. We can observe that. Pretty sure I was shouting. Cue the snickering. Cahill kicked me out. Marshalls door opens and he and Brayden come out. Sit there, Marshall tells Brayden, pointing to the bench. Then he says to the secretary, Braydens fathers coming to get him and I want to speak to Mr. Green when he gets here. Of course, the secretary says. Grace? Marshall signals to me. Heres what I dont say out loud: I think about my mom all the time. I think about her and my thoughts get all coiled up. Its like she was a lot of different moms and I remember them all and I cant keep her or my feelings straight. When I was a little kid she was the kind of mom who noticed cool things and made sure I saw them, too. Like the time she showed me how the sand in the sandbox was rippling and shifting and I couldnt figure out why. Suddenly tiny baby toads popped up to the surface, sand exploding around them in small puffs like the smoke in magic tricks. I shrieked and my mom laughed and hugged me tight. When I was little, our house was always full of family and friends. That changed the year I turned 9. My mom started spending a lot of time alone because she said having too many people around made it hard for her to breathe. She was a good cook, but she said food didnt interest her. My dad started doing most of the cooking. She had trouble sleeping and prowled through the house at night. Sometimes I woke up, knowing she was standing in my bedroom in the dark. She never said why she was there. She was selfish sometimes. Other times she was too generous, gave away things that werent hers. Like the time she gave away my bike without even asking. Usually she seemed sad. She mostly forgot about me. If she saw things in the world that delighted her, she didnt share them. Then she started hurting herself and there were trips to the hospital. After the third time, she was away for three months and when she came home she was so thin and pale, locked away in her own thoughts all the time, already half-gone from us. And the last time she came home, sitting in the back seat with me while my dad drove, and it was after a rainstorm and she said, Oh, smell that air. Isnt it beautiful, Gracie? So soft and fresh. Therell be a rainbow somewhere She held my hand and stretched forward to put her other hand on my dads shoulder and the three of us were together. I thought she was going to be okay from then on. I dont think she left us a note. Im pretty sure Dad wouldve told me. Picturing her at the end curled up like Cahills lab mouse, sides heaving, worries me. I cant put it out of my head. Was she afraid or did she slip away like someone falling into a familiar dream? Did she think of me at all? Did she think how it would be if I found her? Dad says itll get better with time. Id like to believe him but most days I figure it wont. I dont say any of this to Marshall. He tells me Cahill says the mouse is fine. I start to cry. I cant help it. I cant stop seeing the mouse, gasping, poisoning itself while we all watch. So I cry but Im careful to keep my back to the window beside Marshalls office door. BEIRUTAssailants opened fire at a UN security team visiting the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, an official said Wednesday, forcing it to retreat to its base and further delaying a fact-finding mission by outside experts to examine the claims. Gunmen shot at the UN team in Douma on Tuesday and detonated an explosive, leading it to return to Damascus, said the head of the international chemical weapons watchdog, Ahmet Uzumcu. He did not identify the assailants. Inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have been waiting since Saturday to visit Douma, the site of the alleged April 7 attack. They were initially blocked by the Syrian government and its ally, Russia, on Monday. Then on Tuesday, the advance security team from the UN came under fire, compounding the delays. The OPCW inspectors have not yet been able to visit the site, and Uzumcu did not say when they would deploy. Read more: That attack on Syria was as good as it gets: Salutin Chemical weapons use 'can't go unchecked,' U.K.'s Theresa May says Trump addresses nation on strike against Syria The UN said more security measures were needed before the inspectors could go in. There is still a lot of volatility in the area, UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said, adding that the UN security team needed to make at least another visit before the fact-finding mission could go ahead. The town is under the protection of Russias military police. The Russian military said a Syrian security employee was slightly wounded in the crossfire Tuesday, but no Russian servicemen were at the site of the attack. Journalists visiting Douma on a government-organized tour Monday did not report any security threats. The Associated Press met with residents who said they were overwhelmed by chlorine fumes on the night of the alleged attack, and lost their loved ones. Syrian media says inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons have entered Douma, yet, the U.S. believes that the inspectors have not been able to enter the town that was the site of a suspected poison gas attack. (The Associated Press) With 11 days now having passed, concerns are growing that evidence could fall prey to tampering or be otherwise compromised. In response, the oppositions Syrian Civil Defence, whose first responders were operating in Douma on the night of the alleged attack, gave the chemical weapons watchdog the locations of victims graves so it could salvage evidence, the groups chief, Raed Saleh, told The Associated Press. The Civil Defence no longer has a presence in Douma after being evacuated to rebel-held areas of northern Syria when the government took over the town. The government says the Civil Defence is a terrorist organization. Russia and the Syrian government have denied responsibility for the alleged attack, which took place during a government assault on the then rebel-held town. The Army of Islam surrendered Douma two days later. The U.S., which has drawn its own conclusions about the attack on Douma, has accused the Syrian government and Russia of trying to cover up evidence of their culpability. Speaking to reporters at the Pentagon on Wednesday, Defence Secretary Jim Mattis said the evidence was at risk of being tampered with as the delays dragged on. We are very much aware of the delay that the regime imposed on that delegation. But we are also very much aware of how they have operated in the past. ... In other words, using the pause after a strike like that to try to clean up the evidence before the investigation team gets in, Mattis said. The U.S., France and Britain struck against suspected chemical weapons facilities belonging to the Syrian government on Saturday, after concluding that Syrian President Bashar al-Assads forces were behind the attack, though they have not made that evidence public. Russia has accused the rebels of staging the attack with support from Britain, an allegation that Britain has strongly denied. Russias military said Tuesday it had uncovered a chemical weapons stockpile left behind by the rebels in Douma. The claim could not be independently verified. First responders and activists say more than 40 people were killed the night of the attack, many found with foam around their mouths, a sign of suffocation. Medical workers said they treated symptoms including difficulty breathing and fainting. If confirmed, it would not be the first chemical weapons attack in Syrias more than 7-year-old civil war. The UN-mandated Independent International Commission on Syria has documented more than 30 chemical attacks in Syria between 2013 and the end of 2017 and says at least 25 of them were carried out by the Syrian military. For the rest, it had insufficient evidence to determine the perpetrator. Most involved chlorine gas. Meanwhile, Syrian state media reported that rebels in a town northeast of Damascus were surrendering their weapons as part of an agreement to hand over control to the Syrian government. Fighters from the Army of Islam and their families were to leave the town of Dumayr as part of the arrangement, the state-affiliated al-Ikhbariya TV station said. Some 1,500 gunmen and 3,500 others were expected to relocate to opposition-held territory in northern Syria, it said. The Syrian military would then resume control. The UN and human rights agencies say such arrangements amount to forced population displacement, a war crime. They say civilians should not be forced out of their homes in war. Read more about: LONDONNever easy to lose a pet. Getting a little weepy even typing that sentence. Reports from the palace say Britains Queen Elizabeth II is absolutely gutted by the loss of her beloved corgi Willow, the last in a royal line of loyal, nippy dogs who have kept the monarch company during her entire reign. The Daily Mails correspondent says the 91-year-old queen was hit extremely hard by the death of good ol Willow, 14, who died on Sunday was put down, actually after suffering a bout of cancer. For more than 80 years, Her Majesty has been surrounded by corgis. There is barely a family portrait that does not include a couple of the tawny red, white-pawed, short-legged pooches under foot. Read more: From shelter to castle: The fairy tale of Meghan Markles Ontario-adopted pup These two corgis are certainly dramatic can their owners tell what theyre thinking? Queen, family and corgis make appearance in new Annie Leibovitz photos Elizabeth was mad for Pembroke Welsh Corgis ever since she was a little girl. During her long life, the Queen has not had just a corgi she has had a pack of corgis. Alas, no more. A Buckingham Palace source told the Daily Mail: She has mourned every one of her corgis over the years, but she has been more upset about Willows death than any of them It is probably because Willow was the last link to her parents and a pastime that goes back to her own childhood. It really does feel like the end of an era. Why? Family. Tradition. Dynasty. Sands of time, all that. Twitter was filled with notes of condolences for the queens loss of the royal couch-surfer. Elle magazine posted a note at the end of its report, Our thoughts go out to the Queen and her household during this difficult time. When Elizabeth was a little girl, her father, who would go on to be crowned King George VI, brought home a corgi named Dookie in 1933. Elizabeth was 7; her sister Margaret, 3. For her 18th birthday, Princess Elizabeth was given a corgi of her own named Susan, who later accompanied Elizabeth on her honeymoon. Susan became what breeders call the foundation bitch. From Susans line came hundreds of corgi puppies. Her Majesty has had 30 of them as companions over the years. From the queens breeding program at the Kennels of Windsor, hundreds of royal corgis have been whelped. Elizabeth never sold them but instead gave them to family friends. The British press reports the breeding program quietly ended a couple of years ago. The Queen did not want to leave behind dogs for others to care for. The Queen has, quite obviously, loved her pets. She reportedly took pride in feeding them herself and was often photographed on walks beside them. They leaped on the sofas. They insisted on tummy rubs. They chased a lot of rabbits. The little dogs, too, have given much in return. They have softened and humanized a monarch who has sometimes been viewed as a cool, distant star (at least until The Crown television series came along). The dogs have also been steady stand-ins for the sometimes dysfunctional royal family. In living memory, no world leader has been as widely identified with a particular animal as Elizabeth II with her corgis, wrote Michael Joseph Gross in Vanity Fair. Symbols of friendliness, they are shrewdly deployed for publicity purposes, lending warmth to her public image. Gross and other corgi-watchers recalled a skit for the opening ceremony of the 2012 London Olympics, which featured the Queens corgis Willow, Monty, Holly, now all departed leading the actor Daniel Craig, playing a tuxedoed James Bond, into Buckingham Palace. The royal corgis have included a few notorious little nippers. Over the years, the scamps have bitten the ankles and trouser bottoms of a police officer, the Royal Clock Winder, a chauffeur and a member of the Grenadier Guard and a palace sentry. Those are just the ones we know about. Elizabeth herself was chomped on her left hand when her corgis got into a dogfight with the Queen Mums pack. Required three stitches, palace sources revealed. In an interview last year, Prince Harry and his fiancee, American actress Meghan Markle, told their own shaggy dog story. The corgis took to you straight away, Harry said of Markles meeting of the pups. Ive spent the last 33 years being barked at. This one walks in, absolutely nothing. Just laying on my feet during tea it was very sweet, Markle said. Just wagging tails, Harry said, moving his hand back and forth. And I was just like, Argh! In the 2015 Vanity Fair article, the author quotes Monty Roberts, the California cowboy and horse whisperer who serves as the Queens adviser on all things equine. Roberts observed: The dogs are so critical, and the horses, the cows, and the other animals, the wild deer and the stags of Scotland they all play into it, because in my opinion the Queen created an avenue by which people could include animals as a part of our social structure. For company, Elizabeth still has her dogs Vulcan and Candy, both dorgis, a corgi-dachshund mix. The Guardian went with the headline: The Queens corgis are dead: long live the dorgis. On Wednesday, the Toronto Police Service released its annual hate crime report. While every Torontonian has a vested interest in these trends, as a member of two at-risk groups the Jewish community and the LGBTQ+ community I reviewed the report with a keen eye. The latest figures are alarming and worth examining. In 2017, the total number of hate crimes increased by 28 per cent over the previous year. With 186 incidents, an average of one every 48 hours, the city saw a 15-year high in the number of hate crimes. Incidents against the Jewish community escalated by 23 per cent (from 43 to 53 crimes). While Jews are only 3.8 per cent of Torontos residents, they are victims of 28 per cent of all hate crimes and the citys most frequently targeted minority. The LGBTQ+ community was also a targeted group, with 22 hate crimes against LGBTQ+ victims in 2017. Some groups within this diverse community are exceptionally vulnerable to hate and discrimination, including trans and queer people of colour, as a result of their intersectional identities. We should all be alarmed and concerned that, as the report notes, anti-LGBTQ+ hate crimes are among the most violent. Disturbingly, 36 per cent of hate crimes against the LGBTQ+ community were assaults in some form, including assault with a weapon and assault causing bodily harm. In reflecting on this weeks report, I would suggest readers consider three key take-aways. First, our communities are stronger when we are united against hate. No one should turn a blind eye when someone from another community is targeted simply for their identity be it LGBTQ+, Jewish, Muslim, or Black, to name just a few at-risk groups. Cross-community solidarity is key to overcoming the sense of isolation that affects targeted groups in the wake of a hate crime. To dismiss anti-Semitism as a Jewish issue or homophobia as a gay issue is to ignore the fact that all forms of bigotry are inherently linked. Doing so also neglects the real threat that hate and extremism pose to broader society. When vulnerable groups become less secure, this is usually a sign of deeper societal corrosion. Second, we must embrace a sense of resilience against hate, rooted in the knowledge of how far we have come. The fight against bigotry today is not what it was for previous generations. One hate crime is one too many. Behind each statistic is someone whose life has been permanently impacted by hate. Every victim deserves our empathy and support. While we must remain vigilant, we should also recognize that hate-mongers have lost the battle for hearts and minds. It is telling that Toronto Police noted: Analysis of cases where offenders have been identified revealed that, in the majority of cases, the offenders had no known association to any commonly known hate groups. While extreme groups have gained traction in Europe, their toxic messages have been widely rejected in Canada. Polls show that, despite hateful views at the margins of society, Canadians overwhelmingly reject anti-Semitism, homophobia, and other forms of bigotry. Third, we must recognize we have strong allies in this cause, including elected officials across political lines. Just as we commend their efforts, we must urge government and policy-makers to do more. The Ontario election is a timely opportunity for all parties to make a priority of combating hate. Across Ontario, at-risk groups spend millions annually to protect their places of worship, community centres, and schools. The next provincial government should provide support for these communities to help offset security personnel and training costs. Many police agencies in our province, even those in diverse cities, lack dedicated hate crime units and would benefit from more resources in this area. And when it comes to hate speech, Ontario must remain a national leader in laying charges under the Criminal Code where necessary (as the attorney general rightly did in the case of those behind Your Ward News). Toronto remains one of the worlds safest and most welcoming cities for minorities. This weeks report should remind us that, even in a place as great as Toronto, there is still much work to be done. Lets roll up our sleeves together. In a better world, the Supreme Court of Canada would have struck a blow against parochialism and protectionism across this country. It would have helped to break down barriers that prevent Canadians from trading and working across provincial boundaries. It would have nudged us in the direction of becoming truly one country. But it did not. Instead, the court ruled unanimously on Thursday that the provinces are well within their rights to enact laws that have the effect (if not the intent) of restricting trade. There is, it said, no constitutional guarantee of free trade within Canada. The case at hand was, so to speak, small beer. Gerard Comeau of Tracadie, N.B., was appealing a $292 fine he received back in 2012 for the offence of bringing 14 cases of beer and three bottles of liquor home from Quebec. Comeau challenged New Brunswicks law against importing alcohol from another province. All provinces have similar rules, designed to protect their monopolies over booze sales and the tax revenue that comes along with them. On the face of it, those restrictions amount to a straight-up conspiracy against the consumer. And they seem to violate the plain meaning of Section 121 of the Constitution, which says the products of one province shall be admitted free into other provinces. But the Supreme Court decided that its not so simple. If Section 121 was interpreted as allowing full economic integration it might invalidate all sorts of other provincial rules, such as supply management schemes, public-health regulations and environmental measures. It would significantly undermine Canadian federalism, the court warned. Some other legal authorities believe this is seriously overstating the matter, and argue the Supreme Court could well have interpreted Section 121 in a way that would promote much freer trade within Canada. But the court is unambiguous: its ruling was signed simply by The Court, which gives it added weight as the unanimous opinion of all nine justices. So from a legal point of view, that settles the matter. Still, that doesnt mean New Brunswicks petty restrictions on bringing beer over the border, or dozens of other regulations by other provinces that prevent Canadians from trading and working freely across the entire country, are smart, desirable or efficient. Just because you have the power to do something doesnt mean you should do it. A policy that is short-sighted and counter-productive doesnt become any wiser just because its constitutional. That certainly covers the provincial booze rules that tripped up Gerard Comeau and deny other Canadians the simple pleasure of sampling fine wines and craft beers from other provinces without going through their local provincial liquor monopolies. But its more than just an annoyance. The consequences of provincial restrictions on the free movement of goods, services and people are serious. A Senate committee in 2016 estimated the annual cost of lost trade opportunities at between $50 billion and $130 billion in GDP. The senators decried the tangled web of provincial regulations that make it harder for companies to do business across Canada, even as our federal government promotes the merits of free trade abroad. The barriers to free inter-provincial trade include regulations that prevent construction workers from working in neighbouring provinces. Different standards for beer bottle sizes and grades of maple syrup. Conflicting rules about trucking and tires. Licensing requirements that make it hard for professionals to move to another province. And on and on. Aside from the needless cost, this isnt what Canada was meant to be. Confederation was intended, in part, to build a national economy by promoting trade among the provinces. A century and a half later, were still not quite there. And as the bitter pipeline battle between Alberta and British Columbia shows, the issues are far from settled. The Supreme Court might have ruled in the case of R. v. Comeau in favour of freer trade. Absent that, its up to governments themselves to do the right thing and tear down the internal barriers that make Canada a less united and less prosperous country than it could be. York U. trapped in a time warp, Cohn, April 14 My daughter recently graduated from York University. She can tell you why there are continuing strikes and the employer the government of Ontario should be ashamed of itself. Why should parents send their kids to York, you ask? Why, indeed, should we send our kids to any university or school of higher education where we expect our kids to get a good education that will, in the end, get them a decent job, so they can live a decent life and become a contributing member of our society. My daughter told me that the teaching assistants (TAs) at York cannot make a decent life for themselves because they are on continuous contracts, instead of permanent jobs. They dont know if they will have a job in a few months, so they cant buy a house or settle down. Why should I send my daughter to a university when the example set by the government of Ontario is one of insecurity? These TAs have a higher education and supposedly work for a decent employer. What a bad example to set. They are not asking for much just a decent job for the work they do. The professors make so much more than they do and they cant hope to continue their wait for a position if they arent paid enough to plan a life here. Thats why my niece left for England to get a teaching job. Brain-drain. It is very sad. With the high prices of everything and the disgraceful way our best employers are treating their employees, how can the youth of today have any hope for a decent life? Denise Vrant, Toronto Martin Regg Cohn blames the Canadian Union of Public Employees (CUPE 3903) workers currently on the picket lines for bringing York University to the brink of collapse. But in arguing that the union should have the wisdom to cave in to an administration for the good of all, he misses the point that Yorks sessional workers are an organized fierce group of well-educated workers demanding a fair living wage for a growing group of young workers, which will include many who are currently students. My husband teaches at York as tenured faculty. Our son, a recent York grad, is currently using much-valued skills he learned while at York (and like most of his cohort, hes working on contract). Precarious work is the new issue for young people. Cohn suggests students can no longer trust York because of the strikes. Id say, instead, they can trust York as a place where the people who teach them will defend their rights, and fight for fairness in the real world, where precarious workers can all too easily get used up and thrown aside. Laura McLauchlan, Toronto Weve been warned: This will be an election unlike any other since Donald Trump beat Hillary Clinton for the American presidency. Get ready for a rematch of sorts on local soil, pitting PC Leader Doug Ford against Liberal Premier Kathleen Wynne. Its already happening here, now three weeks before the official campaign begins for the June 7 vote. While the outcome remains unpredictable, the ugliness looks unstoppable. The more Ford lashes out, the more Wynne vows to throw it right back at him. Reprising the role of the U.S. president, Ford played his Trump card against Wynne this week, casting the premier as a criminally inclined Hillary Clinton incarnate: a politician who must be investigated for illegalities not least email deletions of the kind that could land her behind bars. Read more: Wynne likens Doug Ford to Donald Trump, saying he is a bully who lies Opinion | Emma Teitel: Four tips to help Kathleen Wynne up her populist game Ford promises outside audit of Wynnes Liberals if he wins June election Making wild accusations of improprieties utterly unproven Ford claimed that if Kathleen Wynne tried to pull these kinds of shady tricks in private life the result would be Liberals like her landing in jail. Weve seen this campaign before. He might as well have mouthed Trumps infamous chant: Lock her up! While Fords fulminations left little to the imagination, the premiers impassioned counterattack spelled out a new campaign template: If the Progressive Conservative leader wants to play bully, the Liberal leader wont play victim. Doug Ford sounds like Donald Trump, and thats because he is like Donald Trump, Wynne told a news conference Wednesday. He believes in an ugly, vicious brand of politics that traffics in smears and lies. Hell say anything about anyone at any time.... Thats how Trump campaigned in 2016 and thats how Ford is campaigning right now. Wynne told reporters she felt so strongly about Fords tactics that she had written out her thoughts the night before. But even as she read her statement, the premier stressed she wont be following the conventional script. This time, she promised not to repeat the mistakes that others have made against populist firebrands: No matter how vicious the tone, dont turn the other cheek. If Ford detours from the campaign trail into the gutter, dont expect Wynne to take the high road. I guarantee you that it will get worse before it gets better, Wynne warned. The premier quoted former U.S. first lady Michelle Obamas admonition that when they go low, we should go high. Unfortunately, theres not always a happy ending in the blood sport of politics. I loved that idea when she said it until we ended up with Donald Trump in the White House. So, Im sorry, but not again. Not here, not in Ontario, Wynne mused. Im going to call that bullying behaviour out for what it is.... He may be Donald Trump, but Im not Hillary Clinton, not in Ontario, and Ontario is not the United States of America. The similarities between Ford and Trump are numerous attacking female reporters with vulgar language, condemning law enforcement authorities, claiming elections were rigged until he won them, demeaning those with vulnerabilities (Trump targeted a disabled journalist, Ford went after people with autism). On Wednesday, Wynne contrasted the Ford-Trump persona with Canadian politicians of the past who were models of civility Bill Davis, John Robarts, Lester Pearson, Flora MacDonald. Read more: Opinion | Thomas Walkom: Backward campaign now a referendum on Fords vague platform Editorial | Doug Fords election promises dont add up One former premier she didnt mention was Mike Harris, to whom many critics often compare Ford for trying to take the province right. Its a false analogy both on ideology and personality grounds. While many disagreed with the Harris agenda, few doubted his political discipline learning the ropes as a backbencher and cabinet minister, then hiring the best and the brightest to map out his Common Sense Revolution when he rose to PC leader. He could take cheap shots and display callousness, but Harris was far closer to a George W. Bush than a Donald Trump. By contrast, Ford is Trumps twin because he is all about disruption, destruction and dysfunction. He is a populist without a plan, a loner who cant harness a team, unsupported by most in his caucus and unloved by most staffers who have seen him up close. Despite his spurious allegations of ethical lapses (falsely linking her to David Livingston, convicted in January of illegally deleting emails while working for ex-premier Dalton McGuinty but never for Wynne), Ford is the candidate who is demonstrably ethically challenged. As a councillor, he was sanctioned by the integrity commissioner for improperly using his influence at city hall to benefit clients of his family business. Unlike Clinton, Wynne has never been accused of deleting emails (nor has McGuinty, for that matter). And unlike Ford, the premier has never been cited by an integrity commissioner for abusing her office. Let he who is without ethical sins recast that first chant: Lock her up! Correction - April 19, 2018: This article was edited from a previous version to update an incorrect headline that said, How the Trump-Clinton campaign became a Ford-Wynne rematch. Martin Regg Cohn is a columnist based in Toronto covering Ontario politics. Follow him on Twitter: @reggcohn Read more about: There was a time when the word heritage always piqued my interest. Now it increasingly causes a feeling of loathing. Toronto may not be the worlds most beautiful city, but it may be one of the most heterogeneous ones. Victorians. Edwardians. Mid-century modern. Brutalism. Post-modernism. Some of it is mediocre, some of it even junk, but dont believe the hype: there are lots of gems in this city. When I moved here I read books about Torontos heritage that explained how neighbourhoods came to be. They also featured noble old houses and buildings that Id then go out and look at myself. I toured more of them during the annual Doors Open weekend. Each year I attend the Heritage Toronto Awards, a celebration of this citys 13,000 years of human history. Along the way I learned about past fights to save beautiful buildings from bulldozers, buildings that later became essential parts of the city that would be heretical to tear down now. Union Station and Old City Hall were almost lost to progress, but citizens spoke up, protested, and defended these buildings and they were saved. Increasingly, however, the label of heritage seems to be applied to places it shouldnt be. Last week in a story that seemed too-absurd-to-be-true, a vocal group of Not In My Backyard (NIMBY) Cabbagetown residents opposed a daycare on Sackville St. in a building thats now residential but, if youre into heritage, youd know it was once a commercial shop serving area residents. When the proposal came to the committee of adjustment at city hall last week, Jane Pepinos deputation stood out. She is a renowned and respected municipal lawyer from the powerhouse municipal law firm Aird & Berlis and she spoke of reasons why Cabbagetown cant bear the toddler set. Pepino, who has been appointed to the Order of Canada for her municipal work, told the committee the strollers that would be parked on the porch are a significant heritage concern. Of course, not a word was or is ever said about the late model cars parked bumper to bumper in the neighbourhood. Cars dominate Cabbagetown streets like nothing else, as they do in the rest of the city, yet somehow they arent up for debate, ever, even while non-heritage strollers are. All of this is done with a straight face and a wilful, cynical disingenuousness that erodes what true heritage preservation means. Of course, the committee of adjustment sided with the vocal residents, refusing to permit the daycare. The abuse of heritage, in this case by a highly respected member of civil society and others, has become a NIMBY tool. What to make of the motivation to add vast blocks of one- and two-storey buildings along Bayview, Eglinton and Mount Pleasant to the heritage registry last summer? Perhaps some of it is worth saving, but is all of it worthy, especially along the new, multi-billion-dollar LRT line that could and should accommodate many more people? Regarding that very same high capacity LRT, last week there was an intention to designate a dowdy, two-storey apartment building at 1783-1785 Bayview Ave., just south of the new Eglinton LRT station. Theres little special about this building and its location this close to a major transit hub should have many storeys of rental apartments there, but with a heritage designation it would be frozen as is. While we abuse the idea of heritage, we are allowing the Toronto District School Board to destroy the absolute mid-century gem that is the Davisville Junior Public School. As this city and province grew rapidly in the postwar era, we collectively invested a great deal in beautiful modern buildings in which to educate the citys children. We, with some help from the TDSB, have proven to be bad caretakers of this architectural legacy, letting our modern gems deteriorate. Is it possible that because the idea of heritage has been so watered down, so denuded, so cheapened, that when something important and worthy of saving is at risk we cant muster the conviction to mount a proper Toronto fight to save it as we did in the past? Just like how those noisy Cabbagetowners maligned the entire neighbourhood, obscuring the good Cabbagetown I came to know as much as the bad when I lived on Sackville, a block away from the proposed daycare for nearly five years, abusing heritage affects the entire heritage community, one I consider myself part of. Its incumbent on all of us to call out heritage abuse when we see it. Apart from it being disingenuous and hurting legitimate heritage efforts, responsible heritage advocates know too that the city must grow and change: it isnt a museum. Theres an affordability crisis in Toronto, in housing and daycare, and we need more of both. If you attend a heritage event, youll notice the crowd is overwhelming older and white. Though changing slowly, its a movement that, if it wants to survive, needs the energy of younger people who represent all of Toronto today. They wont be attracted to heritage that has the stench of NIMBYism in it. There should be a new category for most egregious abuse of heritage at the Heritage Toronto Awards. Surely Cabbagetown would win, but the year is still young and Toronto could outdo itself yet. Perhaps more reasonably, Heritage Toronto is currently conducting research over the next six months for a State of Heritage Report that, in part, is looking at where heritage concerns have been used to harm the inclusivity of Toronto neighbourhoods. This is most welcome. We must get past the culture of no to make heritage truly worth fighting for. VANCOUVER As the clock ticks down to Friday nights deadline to reach a settlement between two unions representing 3,400 workers and the Canadian Pacific Railway Ltd., experts warn shipments of everything from food products to consumer goods could grind to a halt. Beau Storey, operations manager at Pacific Coast Terminals in Port Moody, B.C. said the terminals operations rely entirely on CP Rail. The port handles sulphur, potash, canola oil and ethylene glycol used heavily in mining and agriculture, which arrive in Port Moody by CP trains, and are then shipped overseas. When products are shipped in by rail on CP Rail or Canadian National Railway routes, an agreement between the two rail companies stipulates that only CP Rail can bring the products into the terminals facilities for export to regions such as Asia, Brazil and Australia. The terminal transports roughly $1.5 billion worth of goods a year. Storey estimates that the strike could affect the equivalent of 30-40 full-time staff mainly in operations who would be out of work short-term. Eventually it would impact us all if we had a strike for a year we would be laying people off. If the strike does happen, Pacific Coast Terminals has enough goods in the terminal to continue shipping out containers for at least a couple of weeks. A strike would involve about 3,000 conductors and locomotive engineers and 365 signal and communications workers, and its worrying Bonnie Gee, vice-president of Chamber of Shipping an association that represents vessel owners, operators and shipping agencies. It would have disastrous consequences on the provinces marine gateways, which are already constrained, she said. If workers strike, there would be delays and congestion at the docks, Gee explained, and businesses would wait longer to get their products to overseas market, and stores across Canada would have to wait longer to be re-stocked. A strike would also mean many freight ships coming from overseas have to wait around before they could dock and unload, thus increasing the demand for anchorage space near local ports in the Southern Gulf Islands. Local ports are already seeing ships stay anchored for longer after a particularly difficult winter, said Gee. These disruptions could turn away companies looking for more reliable schedules and services. American gateways on the west coast are eager to take some of the business away from our Canadian gateways, explained Gee. On April 11, the Canadian International Freight Forwarders Association (CIFFA), based in Toronto, called on the federal government to help resolve the dispute. The group represents such companies as UPS and FedEx. A stoppage of rail service by CP Railway at this time might irreparably tarnish Canadas reputation as a reliable trading nation and will most certainly contribute to congestion, delays, increased costs and a growing sense of unreliability in Canadas supply chains. Julia Kuzeljevich, public affairs manager at CIFFA, said freight forwarders across Canada are already facing surcharges, and wait times accessing terminals which are adding hours and costs in operations. Eventually its going to add costs to the consumers, she said. Read more about: VANCOUVERMore pipeline opponents appeared in B.C. Supreme Court Wednesday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau faced protests against the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion overseas in Britain. In Vancouver, people arrested for breaking a court-ordered injunction while protesting in front of Kinder Morgans Burnaby Mountain tank farm are now facing criminal rather than civil contempt of court charges. The B.C. Prosecution Service determined Monday that criminal contempt proceedings are warranted for those who have been brought before Court after being arrested in breach of the injunction. With more than 150 people facing charges its created a fairly mammoth task for the justice system to sort out and schedule trials, said Tim Bray, a 62-year-old who works in the technology sector and was arrested March 17. Just managing that many criminal trials is a tough job, the scheduling nightmares that face them are pretty severe, he said. So we dont really have very good information at the moment as to when the trials will actually happen or at what rate they will proceed. Those of us who signed up for this I think should just go with the flow and let the system work its way through, he suggested. Lawyers and justice officials involved in the cases are in the process of figuring out how, when and in what manner the cases will be tried, said Casey Leggett, a lawyer with Martin & Associates who is representing some of the protesters. Theres still a lot of question marks out there, he said. The B.C. Prosecution Services took over the cases after Supreme Court Justice Kenneth Affleck recommended last week that criminal charges be brought against the people facing charges for disregarding a court-ordered injunction banning protesters from being within five metres of Trans Mountains worksites. Read more: Trudeau greeted with Trans Mountain pipeline protest in London Support for B.C. governments anti-pipeline position slides significantly: poll Opinion | Chantal Hebert: Pipeline debate resonates with politicians more than it does with voters so far Special prosecutors have been appointed to address the cases against Green Party Leader Elizabeth May and NDP MP Kennedy Stewart and determine whether the actions of the two members of Parliament amount to criminal contempt of court. The key difference between civil and criminal contempt of court charges is whether the nature of the offence could affect the courts authority. Civil contempt is where a person or corporation breaches a court order, and the nature of the conduct interferes with the interests of another private party, wrote Dylan Mazur, a community lawyer with the British Columbia Civil Liberties Association, on the organizations website this month. Criminal contempt is where a court order is breached, but the nature of the conduct interferes with the publics interest in the proper administration of justice. While judges have discretion to choose the sentence for criminal or civil contempt of court, Mazur noted some Clayoquot Sound protesters did receive custodial sentences, like jail time, of 45 days, he wrote. I certainly hope that something like that can be avoided, said Bray. I believe firmly in the rule of law and that means that when one engages in civil disobedience one has to be prepared to deal with the penalty that might be forthcoming, he said. But if the protesters are found guilty, he hopes the courts would consider the public spirited nature of the work. The controversial pipeline project, which is supported by the federal and Alberta governments, would double the existing 1,100-km pipeline, nearly triple the flow of diluted bitumen west, and increase tanker traffic sevenfold. For Bray, its the environmental risks that are the main concern. It seems nearly inevitable that eventually there will be a serious spill and we dont even know what the effects of that are, he said. Ainslie Cruickshank is a Vancouver-based reporter covering the environment. Follow her on Twitter: @ainscruickshank Read more about: VANCOUVER This years 4/20 cannabis celebration at Sunset Beach is getting pushback from the Park Board, which says it has significant concerns about the impact tens of thousands of pot smokers will have on the West End community. Stuart Mackinnon, chair of the Vancouver Park Board, told StarMetro the smoke from droves of cannabis consumers is an enormous issue for the dense, downtown neighbourhood. Its not just the people at the event who are participating, its people throughout the neighbourhoods, all along the beaches, Mackinnon said, adding the Park Board has refused to issue a permit for the event. We have wind gusts that come off the water and we have no idea where they will go. Read more: Reasons unclear for ban on mixing caffeine and cannabis, researchers say One third of Canadian pot users get it from illicit sources, report says But Dana Larsen, a key organizer of 4/20 Vancouver, said his group has gone above and beyond to make sure the gathering will go smoothly, and feels singled out by the Park Boards denial of permit. Certainly the Park Board is still very hostile to our event, Larsen said. The Park Board voted in March of last year to ban cannabis events from Vancouver parks, saying it feared allowing such gatherings would encourage people to violate the no-smoking bylaw in parks and on beaches. That same year, the 4/20 event went ahead anyways, and ended up costing the city nearly a quarter of a million dollars in policing expenses, cleanup and turf-replacement after thousands of revellers churned the beachs grass field into a mud bath. Larsen acknowledges the previous years 4/20 had problems, and said he was sorry for the damage it caused. But the citys costs have been paid back, Larsen said, and this year would be different. Im expecting things to go a lot smoother than last year because weve learned from our mistakes, Larsen said. And despite the dispute over permission, both 4/20 Vancouver and the Park Board said theyre working with Vancouver Police, Vancouver Coastal Health and emergency workers to make the event as safe as possible. The event is also partnering with the Binners Project a group of Vancouver waste-pickers to help divert as much refuse as possible away from landfills, and has had the park area scanned with sonar to ensure no buried archeological artifacts or internet lines will be disturbed when an estimated 60,000 people show up to blow smoke. Kathryn Gibbons, a parent and member of the West End Families in Action citizens group, said she was disappointed 4/20 organizers hadnt done more community consulting to find ways to celebrate that more closely aligned with the values of West End residents. This is not an inclusive event, Gibbons said. Its not somewhere I want to bring my children. I would challenge 4/20 to come up with an all-inclusive, all-ages event, and recognize that this is a community. This is a neighbourhood. A spokesperson for the Vancouver School Board told StarMetro it has not issued any special instructions for West End children or parents for April 20, though it distributes information from its substance-use initiative to school principals around the city to help keep everyone on the same page about drug safety. Read more about: ALTON After continued negotiations Monday night and Tuesday during the regularly scheduled Alton School Board meeting, the district and the Alton Education Association have reached a tentative agreement. The agreement will be voted on Friday afternoon at 3 p.m. at North Elementary School. After meeting with IEA (Illinois Education Association) leadership and at the advice of the federal mediator, the PN (professional negotiating) team decided to make a proposal showing good faith bargaining in the hopes of reaching a satisfactory settlement for all of our members and avoiding a costly strike, the AEA said in a Facebook post Tuesday night. Prior rounds of negotiations began Monday, April 16. The district and the AEA negotiated for a few hours before deciding to continue negotiations on Tuesday, where Alton Superintendent Mark Cappel brought the AEAs proposal to the board and reach a tentative agreement. I met with the board last night to get a yes or no on the proposal and they agreed to it, said Cappel. I met with Mr. Chapman this morning (Wednesday) and we both signed off on it as a tentative agreement. The AEA came to the Board Monday night with an offer of $500 added to each cell plus a step movement for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years for certified staff, which is a $100 increase from the districts previous offer; and $0.50 per hour/per cell with no step movement for each non-certified employees for the 2017-18 and 2018-19 school years, which is a $0.05 increase from the districts previous offer. The current offer from the Alton School Board is a step in the right direction, said AEA professional negotiating chair Jason Chapman. This offer will help the AEA continue to provide an excellent education to all students in the district as well as provide all of our members with a long awaited salary increase. While both sides are hopeful the AEA will vote for the proposal, if it is again voted down, a strike would be the next step. The earliest day the group could strike would be April 25. Im encouraged that this was the associations offer that we accepted, said Cappel. Whereas last time, it was our offer that was rejected. Previous offers have been overwhelmingly voted down by the Alton Education Association. The most recent was rejected by 68 percent of AEA members in attendance at a March 22 meeting. That offer included a $400 raise plus a step movement for certified staff, and a $0.40 per hour raise for non-certified staff. After that contract was rejected, Cappel expressed concern about the districts finances if they pushed the numbers higher. We were already preparing to make budget reductions for the 2018-19 school year that are concerning and will significantly impact areas including administration, instruction and program services, Cappel said in a news release on March 23. The release noted Cappel was disappointed the contract was rejected because the district is already planning to make significant cuts in order to generate enough revenue to cover the proposed salary increases. The AEA and the Alton School District previously posted their final offers on the Illinois Educational Labor Relations Board website last Thursday, which was the next step in contract negotiations. However, if the newest offer is voted against, they will not have to go through the posting process again. Chapman said the current offer would not have been possible without the unity of our members and the support of the community. We thank them all and we are hopeful the AEA membership will approve this proposal, so we can get back to focusing on what we do best; educate our students. In regards to graduating seniors, Chapman said he hopes it doesnt come to that, but he believes that if we were to strike before the school year is up and then came to an agreement afterwards, we would have to negotiate any make-up days. Cappel stated that if the offer is voted for, teachers and staff will receive a check for retro-pay in mid May. I think both sides are feeling pretty confident that the teachers and staff overall will be pleased with this agreement. I am hopeful, said Cappel. Last time we didnt have a tentative agreement, but it does still come down to the vote. Reach reporter Kelsey Schulz at 618-208-6452. GODFREY How to deal with illegal sump pumps dumping water in to the sewers was discussed at Tuesdays Godfrey Village Board meeting. The village has concerns about stormwater being dumped into its sanitary sewer system. The issue came up during discussion about approving changes to the Frontenac Place Sanitary Sewer project, being done by Juneau Associates in Edwardsville. The proposal was not acted on because all the details were not available yet. Instead, it turned into a larger discussion about illegal dumping of stormwater into the sewers. Trustees Mark Stewart and Joseph Springman did not want to wait to approve the work, then started a larger discussion over illegal sewer connections. Stewart and Springman argued the village should contact residents and ask for voluntary cooperation in dealing with the issues, noting that in some cases residents may not even know they have illegal connections. Sump pumps are not supposed to empty into sanitary sewers. Trustee Jeffrey Weber said that for the village to do anything would require a court order. Springman said it might be better to approach residents and ask for voluntary cooperation and possibly the village paying the cost. In other business, the board approved the purchase of a ballfield pulverizer for $2,630. The village currently borrows one from Lewis and Clark Community College. It was also announced that the board would hold a special meeting at 4:30 p.m. Tuesday, April 24 to tour the sewer facility at 4725 Brecht Lane. The special meeting is required to comply with the Illinois Open Meetings Act. The village is considering selling its sewer operations. At a recent meeting the board approved seeking bids, the first step toward putting the sewer system on the market. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. EDWARDSVILLE A possible referendum to limit property tax increase for Madison County residents was formally introduced at Wednesdays County Board meeting. If eventually placed on the fall ballot it would be the second referendum aimed at cutting costs and reducing taxes for Madison County residents to come out of the County Board. Board Chairman Kurt Prenzler said he wanted the boards Government Relations Committee to consider a referendum for a Property Tax Extension Limitation Law in November. PTELL limits property tax increases by capping the total dollar amount certain property taxes may increase from year to year based on the Consumer Price Index or 5 percent, whichever is greater. However, larger increases can be made with voter approval. Prenzler announced he would seek the referendum on Monday. Property taxes are out of control, Prenzler said in a press release Monday. I want to give the voters an opportunity to do something about it. The issue will be brought up under new business, so it cannot be acted on, and is also expected to be referred to the Government Relations Committee. PTELL is in affect in 39 counties throughout Illinois. Madison County has approximately 220 separate taxing districts, and voters rejected PTELL in 1999. Prenzlers announcement came at the end of the meeting during new business, when he said he would be recommending that the Government Relations Committee consider putting PTELL on the ballot. Board Member Phil Chapman, R-Highland and chairman of the Tax Cycle Committee, asked that it also come through that committee. Board Member Mike Parkinson, D-Granite City, said he wanted to see studies on the effects of PTELL, especially on small school districts. In March the board approved placing a referendum on the November ballot to eliminate the elected position of Madison County Recorder in 2020 and move those functions to the County Clerks Office. Current Recorder Amy Meyer spoke at the beginning of Wednesdays meeting, touting her workers and their efforts at speeding up the processing of documents. She also criticized Board Member Tom McRae, R-Bethalto, who she said called the office low-hanging fruit at the last meeting. She called the remark sexist. The phrase itself has several meanings, but according to the Merriam-Webster dictionary the obvious or easy things that can be most readily done or dealt with The elimination of the recorders position is being touted as a cost-saving measure by supporters. However, according to Urban Dictionary some definitions also have some sexual connotations. After Meyer spoke, McRae clarified his comments, saying he was referring to the elected office of recorder as low-hanging fruit. Reach reporter Scott Cousins at 618-208-6447. ATMs in some parts of the country continued to remain out of cash on Wednesday as the government scrambled to rush currency to meet an "unusual spurt in demand" ahead of looming polls. ATMs in cities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and poll-bound Karnataka were either not operating or showed no cash signs, reminiscent of post demonetisation scene. Some ATMs in the national capital too were reported to be out of service. The government on its part claimed that the situation was fast improving with over 80 per cent of 2.2 lakh ATMs operating normally today as against 60 per cent on Tuesday. Officials attributed the "unusual spurt in demand" for payments made for crop procurement and looming elections. Banks, they said, are replenishing cash at ATMs. Also, all the four printing presses are working round-the-clock to print smaller currency notes. Senior finance ministry officials today held video conferences with public sector banks during which they have been asked to replenish ATMs with 500 rupee notes. The PSBs have been asked to ensure that above 80 per cent of ATMs start dispensing cash within a day and step up cash supply in all branches. State Bank of India, the country's largest lender, said cash availability at its ATMs has increased in the past 24 hours. As many as 92 per cent of its ATMs were working today as against around 85 per cent yesterday. The situation is likely to be back to normal before weekend. Other lenders, including Canara Bank, Bank of India and Axis Bank claimed that cash shortage at ATMs was limited to select pockets. A PNB spokesperson said overall the bank has not faced any cash shortage in its ATMs across the country and continue to function as usual. "Out of 9,679 PNB ATMs, there is a 90 per cent availability of ATMs which is normal. The bank would like to reassure its customers that all possible measures are being undertaken to ensure that its ATMs remain functional and are refilled regularly." The shortage has been blamed on inadequate availability of Rs 2,000 currency notes, and the fact that ATM cassettes have not been configured to dispense smaller Rs 200 notes. Other reasons being attributed for the cash crunch are upcoming polls in Karnataka, state government programmes in Telangana and Andhra Pradesh that are used to make cash payments, festive seasons, and misunderstanding of the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill's 'bail-in' clause, where depositors would bear a portion of any losses. Amid currency shortage reported in at least six states, Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg yesterday had said the government had stepped up printing of 500 rupee notes by five times, and RBI clarified that there is enough cash available in the system. The government is also analysing the demand pattern in the states. "Availability of cash in SBI ATM has improved in the last 24 hours. Efforts are being made on a continuous basis to improve the cash availability further in a few geographies. Overall issue of less cash should come to normalcy within soonest possible time, " said Neeraj Vyas, DMD (Chief Operating Officer), SBI. Meanwhile, SBI Research pegged the cash shortfall in the system at Rs 70,000 crore, which is a third of the monthly withdrawals at ATMs. In a note that comes a day after reports of currency shortages made national headlines, it said Rs 15,291 billion was withdrawn from ATMs in the second half of FY2017-18, 12.2 per cent higher than the previous six months. Currently, the circulation currently at Rs 18.17 lakh crore is higher than pre-note ban levels of Rs 17.77 lakh crore. Government sources said on an average 10-12 per cent of ATMs at a given point of time remain under maintenance or closed and so currently only a small number of ATMs are extraordinarly out of service. Reports of cash shortage first emerged from southern states of Andhra and Telengana. Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh and Telegana which received highest cash supply in the country in the last two years faces cash shortage, indicating tendency to hoard high denomination currency notes. According to the RBI data, during November 2016 to March 2017, Rs 82,168 crore was supplied to Hyderabad office of RBI which is the highest amongst all the offices of RBI in the country. 40 AIADMK MPs, led by deputy chief minister O. Panneerselvam knocked at the doors of N.K. Singh, chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, in the national capital on Thursday and submitted a memorandum of their concerns on the Terms of Reference of the Commission. Stressing the efforts made and resources mobilised by them to improve the lot of the people in Tamil Nadu, the AIADMK delegation that included M. Thambidurai, deputy speaker of the Lok Sabha, urged the Commission to meet the growing aspirations and expectations of the better performing states, even as it balances the need for fiscal transfers to less. The AIADMK MPs had wholeheartedly supported the Telugu Desam Party MPs who demanded special category that equals much more allocation of funds. The two parties, along with the Congress had obstructed the entire second half of the budget session earlier this month, to press for more allocation of funds. Singh assured the visiting delegation that the fiscal needs of each state will be assessed individually, and their special characteristics would be kept in view. A progressive state like Tamil Nadu which has contributed greatly to India's prosperity would certainly receive the Commission's careful consideration, Singh told them. The Commission is slated to visit Tamil Nadu by end-September. Constituted in November, 2017, the Commission is mandated to make recommendations on the transfer of resources from the Centre to the States for the period 2020-2025. The process is about sharing central taxes with the states, distribution of central grants to them, take measures to improve the finances of the states to supplement the resources of panchayats and municipalities and address other specific matters referred to it. Tamilnadu is not alone in feeling that the developed states chip in more but get less. Andhra Pradesh chief minister Chandrababu Naidu was recently in the capital to share his agony of being denied funds, even though the state has the highest growth rate but remains poorer than the neighbours in the peninsula. Even as the government of Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath has proposed the death penalty for those who rape minors, there seems to be no let-up in horrifying incidents of sexual abuse in Uttar Pradesh. While the Unnao rape case dominates national headlines, another horrifying incident of rape has been reported from Sitapur district in which a 50-year-old man raped his own daughter with his two friends. The incident occurred in Kamlapur town of Sitapur district, which is about 60km from the capital Lucknow. According to police, the incident took place on the night of April 15. The 50-year-old man went with his 35-year-old daughter to see a fair in Kamlapur. At the fair, the man allegedly called a friend, Maan Singh, who has a criminal record. The father reportedly persuaded the victim to go with Singh, who in turn, took her to the house of his friend, Miraj. The father later joined them. The police said that the three of them raped the woman at Mirajs house, while his family was away. The woman managed to escape the house on Monday evening. She then reached her home and informed her mother about the incident. The mother approached the police and lodged a complaint. Acting swiftly after filing an FIR, the police nabbed Miraj, while the other two accused fled. According to SP Sitapur, Sureshrao Kulkarni, Miraj is a quack working in the area. Kulkarni said the woman had been married off 16 years ago but did not stay with her husband because of some altercation and had returned to her parents' house. The father of the victim was arrested in 2017, when a village panchayat had complained to the police that the man had been in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. After that incident, the victim was staying separately. The father was released on bail in February this year. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday rejected the resignation filed by the judge who delivered the Mecca Masjid blast verdict on April 16. As per sources, Ravinder Reddythe special National Investigation Agency (NIA) judge who delivered the verdict in the case and submitted his resignation soon thereafterhas been asked to attend to his duties immediately. On Monday, a special NIA court at Nampally had acquitted all accused in the case due to lack of evidence provided against them. Hours after the verdict was pronounced, Reddy tendered his resignation. The blast, which took place on May 18, 2007, at the Mecca Masjid in Hyderabad during Friday prayers, had killed eight people and left 58 injured, and was allegedly carried out by a group of right-wing terrorists. The NIA had taken charge of the case from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2011, in which 10 persons were named as accused. However, only five of themDevendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar and Rajendra Chowdharywere arrested and faced trial in the case. Meanwhile, two other accusedSandeep V. Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangraare absconding, while one of the accused, Sunil Joshi, was allegedly murdered while the case was being investigated. The Indian Computer Emergency Response Team (CERT-In), the nodal agency for responding to computer security incidents, has been entrusted the investigation into the alleged hacking of the Supreme Court website, which went down minutes after the court on Thursday delivered its ruling in pleas filed over the death of judge B.H. Loya. The SC maintains the website and the CERT is helping them restore the site besides investigating the matter, a senior government official told THE WEEK. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death. Soon after, the government's cybersecurity apparatus went into a tizzy following the incident of the alleged hacking of the website. The National Informatics Centre, which hosts websites of key Central government ministries and departments, is the backbone of the governments cyber networks and e-governance platforms. Even as government sources tried to play down the hacking incident, saying that the SC website is maintained by the Supreme Court itself, the episode has prompted the National Cyber Security coordinator, Gulshan Rai, to seek a report from CERT-In. CERT-In has meanwhile begun its investigation into the matter. Its report is awaited. High tech, a Brazilian hacking group, is alleged to have claimed responsibility for the hacking of the SC website, which appears to be part of a global hacking attempt, cyber security experts said. The alleged hacking claims have been put up on a mirroring portal, they said. The experts pointed out that it isnt the SC website alone but 514 websites worldwide that have allegedly been hacked by this group. Most of group apparently belong to Argentina, the experts said. The CERT is expected to be looking at these claims during its investigation. Meanwhile, The SC website isnt the only one that has gone down. The websites of the ministry of home and law commission of India, besides few others, have also gone down. Government sources said the 'outage' at the home ministry website isnt a case of hacking and it is under maintenance. Last week, 10 government websites crashed, setting off speculation of organised hacking attempts by inimical elements across the border. The website of the union ministry of defence, among nine others, had been affected last week and the presence of certain characters on the MoD website, which bore some resemblance to Chinese characters, set off speculation of a cyber attack by alleged Chinese hackers. However, it turned out that the mysterious character was the logo of the Drupal content management system software, used by the websites for managing content. The other websites affected included ministries of home, labour, and civil aviation as well as the Central Vigilance Commission. The problem we encountered last week has been solved. It was a hardware failure and it has been restored. This time, the MHA website is under maintenance, said a government official. But the fact that the SC website faced an alleged hacking episode, prompting an investigation, is evidence enough of the need to bolster the security of the government's cyber network and infrastructure that appears to be in dire straits now. Pravin Togadia, former working president of VHP International, ended his 'indefinite fast' in Ahmedabad, two days after commencement, and said that he would go on a nationwide tour to revive Hindutva politics. Togadia, who quit the VHP, an organisation with which he was associated for 32 years, had embarked on a fast on Tuesday, demanding construction of Ram temple in Ayodhya and implementation of Uniform Civil Code. The 62-year-old cancer surgeon turned right wing leader is diabetic; in an exclusive interview to THE WEEK, he had said that any leader has to take risks, when asked why he embarked on a fast considering his medical condition. Late in the afternoon, Togadia said he was breaking his fast on the advice of doctors, and requests from saints. Taking a dig at Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who was attending several official functions in London, Togadia said that he (Modi) would have to answer to 100 crore Hindus, farmers and the youth before the 2019 polls. Mentioning that the current government at the Centre failed to deliver on its promises, Togadia also observed that it (the government) was as bad as it predecessors. Two proposed venues for the fast had to be changed as the police did not grant permission. Finally, the fast was held near the Gujarat VHP headquarters situated in Paldi, Ahmedabad. Quite a few number of supporters, VHP workers and saints sat along with him on the token fast. However, he failed to draw a significant crowd at the venue. While ending the fast, Togadia said he was willing to take the risk to his life, but did not want the youth and farmers to die. I will sacrifice my life but will not allow volunteers to do so, he said. He said he would embark on the yatra from Friday. He plans to go to villages, towns and cities and make people aware about the issues he has been fighting for. The fast that lasted only about 50 hours did not see any big shot from the BJP coming to the venue except from senior party leader Surendra Patel on the first day before Togadia emerged on the stage. Patel requested him not to embark on indefinite hunger fast. On the opening day, he minced no words to criticise Modi, his one-time-friend, for the latter's alleged failure to live up to his promises. A few months before, Togadia had gone missing from the VHP headquarters in Ahmedabad, and was found late night on the same day in semi-conscious condition. While Togadia had claimed that he faced a threat to his life, the Crime Branch contended that Togadia's story was fabricated. Sea levels could be rising at a rate faster than most of the scientists estimated, according to a recent research report published in the journal of Science Advances. According to the report, melting of icebergs in Antarctica produce water which, when it enters the sea, renders the surface less salty. This interferes, according to the report, with warm water rising to take up the place of cold water in the winter. The warmer layer of freshwater on the surface could be creating a feedback loop by expediting the melting of icebergs around it. Earlier, scientists had claimed that the biggest icebergs breaking off Antarctica unexpectedly help to slow global warming as they melt away into the chill Southern Ocean. The rare Manhattan-sized icebergs, which may become more frequent in coming decades because of climate change, release a vast trail of iron and other nutrients that act as fertilisers for algae and other tiny plant-like organisms in the ocean. These extract carbon dioxide from the atmosphere as they grow, a natural ally for human efforts to limit the pace of climate change blamed on man-made greenhouse gas emissions. Ocean blooms in the wake of giant icebergs off Antarctica absorbed 10 to 40 million tonnes of carbon a year, the study estimated, roughly equivalent to annual man-made greenhouse gas emissions of countries such as Sweden or New Zealand. Until now, the impact of ocean fertilization from the demise of giant icebergs, defined as floating chunks of ice longer than 10 nautical miles (18 kms) or almost the length of Manhattan, had been judged small and localised. (Inputs from Reuters) Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he ordered the investigation into a 71-year-old Australian nun for disorderly conduct, justifying it as a legal move against undesirable foreigners. Sister Patricia Fox, a coordinator of a Philippine congregation of Catholic nuns called Notre Dame de Sion, was taken from her house this week and detained at the immigration bureau in Manila for almost 24 hours. She was released on Tuesday pending further investigation. Fox had taken part in rallies seeking the release of political prisoners and urging Philippine authorities to respect human rights, but she denied she was engaged in politicking. I ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but to invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct, Duterte said during the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there was probably a need to apologise for the detention of Fox because she was not engaged in any political activity when she was taken from her home by immigration authorities. Perhaps an apology was in order. Clearly there was a mistake, he said early on Thursday in an interview with ANC news channel. Roque said Duterte had to clarify his order and had taken full responsibility for the incident. Its a violation of sovereignty, Duterte said, accusing Fox of badmouthing his administration. You do not have that right to criticise us. Do not insult my country. We never did that to Australia. We never did that to (a) European country. Why dont you criticise your own government, the way you handle the refugees, hungry and dying and you turn them back to the open sea, he said. The United Nations has called on Australia to take responsibility for around 800 refugees and asylum seekers stranded in a detention centre on Papua New Guinea where it said many lack medical and mental health care. Australia, which controversially holds asylum-seekers in offshore camps, has said the centre on the island is adequate and that the Papua New Guinea government is responsible for running it. LONDON, April 19, 2018: UK law firms expect to see a long-term decline in work if Brexit negotiations between the UK and the EU end up in a no-deal scenario, according to a survey of 300 law firm partners in the UK and Europe published today by the Legal business of Thomson Reuters.The report finds that while UK firms are bracing themselves for a new and complex regulatory environment, and looking to expand their businesses into new geographies to hedge an expected downturn in demand for their services over the long-term, European firms are preparing to meet a long-term increase in demand for their services. Most of the firms surveyed are advising their clients on how Brexit will affect their businesses, said Jim Leason, VP, Market Development & Strategy at the UK & Ireland Legal business of Thomson Reuters. Significantly fewer firms have been doing the same analysis with respect to their own businesses, although its clear that some firms are going further and are looking at their own partnership structures and investing in technology to help meet the expected demand. Optimism for a short-term uptick According to the survey, 46 per cent of UK lawyers anticipate an increase in workload over the short-term, while some 72 per cent of European respondents point to an increase in workload. In specific areas of law in certain countries, the report finds that lawyers in Europe are already helping clients take pro-active measures. For example, banking and finance lawyers in Frankfurt say they are helping clients shift operations to Germany. Likewise, Swiss private client lawyers report assisting individuals in moving from London to Switzerland and Monaco. But outlook over longer term more gloomy from UK firms When asked to consider the impact on the future of their firms over the longer term, 34 per cent of UK law firm partners predict a fall in workload while only 23 per cent forecast an increase in workload. Conversely, 64 per cent of European partners predict an increase in workload with only 15 per cent expecting to see a decrease. While the long-term impact on law firms will vary according to the area of law in which they practice, the report highlights uncertainty from law firm partners over the future of English law - particularly when it comes to cross-border transactions and commercial contracts. Survey respondents report the extent to which English law will be impacted as the preferred governing law of choice following Brexit will depend on factors such as the mutual enforcement of judgements between the UK and the EU. Meanwhile, corporate lawyers workload will be affected by the extent to which inbound investment M&A activity drives changes in the UK and Europe if acquirers favour assets in Europe over the UK. In parallel, the impact on workload for banking and finance lawyers will be determined by whether arrangements for equivalence or regulatory convergence are put in place for companies to supply services between the UK and the EU. German firms most prepared for Brexit, Italian firms lagging The survey data show that 67 per cent of UK firms have already taken some action to prepare for Brexit. Some 92 per cent of German respondents have taken some action to prepare for Brexit, significantly more than the average 68 per cent of firms across continental Europe. Firms in The Netherlands are also well prepared 81 per cent of respondents have taken some action to prepare for Brexit. In contrast, firms in France, Spain and Italy are less prepared. Only 63 per cent, 64 per cent and 50 per cent respectively of firms in these countries have undertaken some action to prepare for Brexit. Brexit a catalyst for innovation When it comes to meeting the anticipated increase in workload, the majority of respondents plan to hire more fee-earners while a significant number (more than 20 per cent) plan to invest in legal software, information and technology solutions. While hiring fee-earners remains the trusted solution for law firm partners in times of short-term demand, our survey interviewees report that Brexit will accelerate investment in technology, especially those that help firms update provisions in a huge number of contracts and documents, said Leason. This technology is being used to support more innovative approaches to service delivery, for example developing technology-assisted propositions for large-scale, bulk document review and repapering using AI technologies. About the research Thomson Reuters asked law firm partners to consider the impact of a worst case, no-deal Brexit scenario on the future of their firms. The results offer a broad insight into the range of potential challenges and opportunities that law firms face and reveal what firms are actually thinking and doing as part of their Brexit preparations. The report Catalyst or Catastrophe how Brexit will impact law firms is based on an online survey, conducted in December 2017 and January 2018, of more than 300 law firm partners based in the UK and Europe. To supplement the survey data, 15 interviews were conducted with participating law firms. To download a full copy of the report, please visit: http://info.legalsolutions.thomsonreuters.co.uk/brexit-impact-law-firms Thomson Reuters Thomson Reuters is the worlds leading source of news and information for professional markets. Our customers rely on us to deliver the intelligence, technology and expertise they need to find trusted answers. The business has operated in more than 100 countries for more than 100 years. For more information, visit www.thomsonreuters.com. CONTACT Paul Sandell PR & Communications Tel: +(44) 20 7542 8616 paul.sandell@thomsonreuters.com Wall Street analysts have given iShares S&P 500 ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares S&P 500 ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. SCHENECTADY - Less than two weeks after taking workplace violence prevention training, City Council President Ed Kosiur violated the policy by getting loud with a female employee, city leaders and a local union president say. City Councilwoman Leesa Perazzo said she was part of a meeting Tuesday where a female employee recounted how Kosiur barged into her office yelling and screaming at her in front of other co-workers while waving papers in her face. Judy Versocki, president of the Civil Service Employees Association Local 886, who attended the meeting, said Wednesday that Kosiur was apparently angry over funding cuts to a community development block grant application. Perazzo said the woman, who wants to remain anonymous for fear of retaliation, filed a claim under the city's workplace violence prevention policy. The matter, usually handled by the city corporation counsel and human resources office, was investigated by an outside law firm, to avoid any conflict of interest because Kosiur is an elected official. Ultimately, the firm determined that woman's allegations were true, said city officials. She subsequently received a standard letter from the city, stating that "appropriate action" had been taken. "I guess my question is what is appropriate action when you're talking about an elected official because an elected official isn't going to be suspended, a write up is not going to go into his file, there's no way you can fire an elected official, so that's why I think we need to hold ourselves to a higher standard and why this concerns me," Perazzo said. Kosiur, a Woodlawn Democrat who works for Schenectady County, texted late Wednesday that he had minor surgery and was unavailable for more comment. He took a workplace violence prevention training on March 8. On March 19, Kosiur and the city council committee meeting discussed bullying and other issues related to violence on the job in City Hall. The verbal encounter took place a few hours before that meeting. City Attorney Carl Falotico said Wednesday that the city does not comment on workplace violence claims "due to our workplace violence policy requiring confidentiality." The governing body last month took up the issue at the urging of Perazzo, who has been lobbying to get the city to put language pertaining to bullying in the city's work place violence prevention policy. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. She pledged Wednesday to continue her fight for "best practices with regard to this policy" and the claim against Kosiur only strengthens her resolve. City Councilwoman Marion Porterfield said Wednesday that she learned of the incident Tuesday. "I'm concerned when any elected officials or anyone for that matter makes an employee feel uncomfortable," added Porterfield, Kosiur and majority of the council members have steadfastly maintained that though the word bullying is not mentioned in the city policy, it is covered broadly by it. Versocki said she was saddened by Kosiur's conduct. "I'm disappointed because this is a body that is supposed to uphold the policies of the city and here we have a council president violating the policy against our members," said Versocki. "It's workplace violence and its management against an employee." ALBANY - A Waterford man pleaded guilty Wednesday to accessing a child pornography website, federal officials said. Brian Napier admitted that he accessed Playpen, an online forum where users advertise, view and distribute child pornography, in 2015. Before the FBI shut down Playpen, it was only available through an anonymous Internet network that allowed people to access it without revealing their IP address, geographic location or other identifying details. Napier, 34, faces up to 10 years in prison, a term of post-imprisonment supervised release of at least five years and up to life, a fine of up to $250,000 and mandatory registration as a sex offender, according to U.S. Attorney Grant C. Jaquith and Vadim D. Thomas, special agent in charge of Albany's FBI office. Schenectady Transfinder awarded the Schenectady City School District its Ambassador of the Year award at its annual client summit in downtown Albany Wednesday. Laurence Spring, the district's superintendent, accepted the award during an afternoon ceremony at the Albany Capital Center where Transfinder was holding its summit. Transfinder makes bus routing software used by school districts, and the Schenectady school system was Transfinder's first client when the company started 30 years ago. "Schenectady City Schools is what officially made Transfinder a company, because it was our first client," Transfinder CEO Antonio Civitella said. "I always talk about the importance of that first client, when you go from zero to one. Schenectady is that client. And they stuck with us through it all, including the times we had to work the kinks out." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The Transfinder client summit brings in 200 transportation officials from school districts across North America that use Transfinder software systems to operate their bus schedules. "Transfinder is really the bedrock of our transportation department," Spring said. "As different folks transition in and out of the department, it's Transfinder that provides the infrastructure to how we do things, how we get routing done, how it is that we make sure that, despite at transient population, kids still get picked up." The award was given out just after former Army linguist and intelligence officer Eric Maddox gave a keynote talk about how he helped track down former Iraq President Saddam Hussein after the fall of Baghdad in 2003. Maddox interrogated prisoners trying to get information on Hussein's whereabouts and finally was able to get to Hussein's bodyguard, who gave up the dictator and led a Delta Force team to the farm in Tikrit where he was hiding in a hole. Albany Eric Maddox says we all talk too much. And if we just sat back and listened more, we'd be a lot more productive. Maddox, a former U.S. Army interrogator who helped track down Saddam Hussein in a hole in Tikrit, Iraq in 2003 while working with Delta Force, was in Albany on Wednesday speaking at Transfinder's annual client conference that was held at the Albany Capital Center. Transfinder is a Schenectady-based company that specializes in making bus routing software used by school districts. The client summit is designed to educate the company's customers, and Maddox was brought in to inspire them. This year's event was bigger than most as the company celebrates its 30th anniversary. Maddox said that when U.S. special forces were trying to hunt down Hussein after the fall of Baghdad in April 2003, they searched the military for an interpreter who also had experience in the infantry and could accompany them on raids and then could interrogate prisoners. Maddox fit the bill as an Army linguist who had previously been a paratrooper. But Maddox was a Mandarin Chinese linguist. And he had never interrogated prisoners in a war zone. He felt totally unprepared, and wasn't sure why he was chosen. That ended up being a strength because Delta Force wasn't getting any information about Suddam's whereabouts from the prisoners they were questioning. Initially using the Army's interrogation training, Maddox said he hit a wall as well, although he said he never used or was asked to use torture. He then tried something unique: he listened to the prisoners and got to understand their concerns, their fears and their hopes. "They needed to be heard and when they were heard, they opened up," Maddox said. This required dropping his preconceived notions and bias. And it required getting rid of distractions. Something changed. They began to trust Maddox. And they started talking to him, giving up information to him, allowing him to negotiate with them and make deals that allowed them to uncover Saddam's trail. Maddox and his new method became extremely effective. He uncovered hundreds of leads, getting closer and closer to Saddam's inner circle. He was able to get prisoners to give up information at a highly successful rate, finally helping to capture Mohammed Ibrahim, Saddam's bodyguard, who led Delta Force to the farm where he was hiding. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. By the time he was captured, Ibrahim knew who Maddox was because word had gotten around about his effectiveness. "Mr. Interrogator in the blue shirt. I've been waiting to meet you," Ibrahim told him. Maddox's methods were so successful that the Defense Department hired him as a civilian interrogator to revamp the way information is gathered in warfare and fighting terrorism. It runs counter to how the military usually operates, which is why it's so revolutionary. Maddox said people can use the method in any walk of life, in their jobs, with their families and out in public. It's about being a good listener, he said, which is hard because people want to talk about themselves and rarely listen well to others. "Put yourselves in the shoes of the person you're talking to," Maddox said. "That's empathy." Ill admit that if you look closely enough OK, maybe you dont even have to look all that closely youll see dust bunnies. And sand tracked in on the porch. Oh, yeah, and fingerprints on the windows. So, in other words, my house is not quite spotless. Once every three days on average, a bridge or overpass in New York is hit by truck, bus or other vehicle that is too large to fit under it. And as more drivers rely on GPS to plan their routes, it is costing millions to fix damage and leading to injuries and sometimes even death. On Long Island this month, dozens of high school students were injured, some seriously, when the top of their bus was sheared off by an overpass on the Southern State Parkway. It was one of hundreds of such strikes in the state since 2009, fueled by constraints that were built into a 1930s-era state parkway system in the Hudson Valley and Long Island. Now the state is pushing insurance companies to offer lower premiums to firms that outfit their oversized vehicles with commercial-grade GPS systems, which unlike standard consumer units provide drivers with warnings about highway height restrictions and low overpasses. The out-of-state driver of the bus in the Long Island crash was using a consumer-level GPS to guide him, which does not provide such warnings about upcoming potential obstructions. Such strikes can be deadly. In 2010, four passengers on a double-decker bus died when it struck a railroad bridge overpass in Syracuse. That driver was using a GPS that apparently did not provide any warnings of low overpasses. During the last five years, it has cost the state Department of Transportation more than $125 million to fix the damage from such vehicle strikes, according to an April 12 letter to the state insurance industry from Scott Fisher, executive deputy superintendent for insurance at the state Department of Financial Services. Between 2009 and 2015, he wrote, more than 700 bridges and overpasses were damaged by being hit by oversized vehicles, he wrote. Fisher called upon insurance companies to "assist and encourage" their policyholders to use "only commercial GPS, if a GPS is in use at all." "Bridge hits occur when commercial vehicle drivers ignore posted warning signs and illegally enter roadways where commercial vehicles are prohibited from operating," according to a statement issued by DOT on Thursday. "The vast majority of incidents are limited to two regions." DOT did not cite examples of specific highways or locations, but said 97 percent of bridge strikes occurred in either the Hudson Valley and Long Island regions. Region 8 includes Columbia, Dutchess, Orange, Putnam, Rockland, Ulster, and Westchester counties, while Region 10 includes Nassau and Suffolk counties. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Those counties include most of the state parkway system, where trucks are specifically banned from operating. Composed of about three dozen parkways, this network was designed during the 1930s by urban planner Robert Moses. In Robert Caro's biography of Moses, "The Power Broker," he wrote that Moses deliberately designed the parkways to have low bridges to prevent low-income families from traveling by bus to destinations outside of New York City. It could not immediately be determined how much of the $125 million in damage repair costs cited by state insurance regulators were ultimately borne by taxpayers, and how much was reimbursed drivers or their insurance companies. DOT indicated it has an "aggressive" cost recovery program, but could provide no details as to how much of the $125 million has been recouped. In December, Gov. Andrew Cuomo announced $4.3 million would be used to install overheight vehicle detectors at 13 locations in Nassau and Suffolk counties. There are already 12 such detectors on Long Island, predominantly on the Hutchinson River Parkway. The state trucking industry supports commercial GPS use. "The Trucking Association of New York has long-encouraged all commercial vehicle drivers to use commercial GPS in their vehicles," said association Vice President Karin White. At Alpin House, which is a regional dealer in large recreational vehicles, new RV owners are told know the height of their vehicle, stay on main roads and watch for any signs that warn of low overpasses, said company President Andy Heck. On Sunday afternoon the Union College Concert Series will present the first commissioned work in its long history. "Soft Power" was written by 28-year-old composer Matthew Aucoin, one of the most in-demand young composers on the scene today. It will be performed by the Brentano String Quartet as part of a program that also features music of Haydn, Beethoven and Shostakovich. The new work, which lasts only about six minutes, is actually the first of two pieces that Aucoin has agreed to write for the Brentano. A larger work is slated for debut in November 2019 also in Schenectady. For that piece Union College will be the lead organization in a consortium that includes Carnegie Hall. "It was me who begged for a chance to write a warm-up," explains Aucoin, of the unusual double commission. "There's something very naked about writing a string quartet. It has to do with uniformity of the texture. You can't hide behind shifts of instrumental color as you can with mixed instruments. Also there's the incredible history of contrapuntal music in the literature." Aucoin's reticence about plunging into string quartet writing is, on one hand, understandable. But it also comes as a surprise because as a musician Aucoin seems to know no bounds. He's excelled at both composing and conducting and is the youngest assistant conductor ever hired by the Metropolitan Opera. He currently holds the position of resident artist with the Los Angeles Opera, a post created expressly for his talents. For the company he conducts two operas a season. Up next are three performances of "Rigoletto" in May. Next summer he'll conduct John Adam's "Doctor Atomic" at the Sante Fe Opera. "I'm a composer first and foremost," he says. "I come from the jazz and rock tradition as well as classical. It felt natural to perform as well as to write music. In jazz, composing and performing are almost the same thing." Among a myriad of projects, Aucoin is at work on a new opera co-commissioned by the LA Opera and the Metropolitan Opera. That piece will be his third outing in the form. His 2015 opera "Crossings" features his own original libretto and was inspired by the life and writing of Walt Whitman. It debuted in Boston and had a successful run at the Brooklyn Academy of Music last fall. Obviously, word has been traveling fast about Aucoin. Mark Steinberg, the founding first violinist of the Brentano, recalls hearing about the young talent from a colleague who urged him to get in touch. Steinberg invited Aucoin to dinner and afterward looked over some samples that the composer provided. "I thought the music was compelling, that it drew me in and he had a lot to say," recalls Steinberg. "He's busy doing all kinds of interesting things and I thought that string quartets should be included." With a couple dozen premieres under its belt during its 26-year history, the Brentano is accustomed to handling new work and interacting with composers. Steinberg says the process of learning a new piece is the same whether it's something brand new or something from the classical canon. "It's messy," he explains. "We wait, listen and respond and bounce ideas off each other and tinker with it." Aucoin was yet to attend a rehearsal with the Brentano when Steinberg was interviewed. "Some composers have a solid idea of how something should sound," says Steinberg. "Others are very open to seeing what's going to come from the performers." While it's a special thing to interact with a living composer, Steinberg observes that his group actually has a deeper level of intimacy with someone like Haydn, who's dead and gone but whose works they have played extensively. "For a composer we never met, we have more relationship with Haydn than with Matt," he says. "It's funny but I think it's true." Both Steinberg and Aucoin use the word "meditative" to describe the new work, "Soft Power." According to Aucoin, the piece attempts to create a synthesis between what he calls process music (better known as minimalism) and the thorny style of atonal writing. "It's about the power of a gentle calming gesture," he says. Aucoin doesn't claim to have a regular meditation practice, but he admitted that amid his busy professional life a feeling of calm may be something to aspire to. "People often make the assumption that a piece of music shows who the composer is," he says. "I think we tend to write where we want to be rather than where we are. If you're going to write a piece that goes into a trancelike state, you have to put yourself into that state to write the piece." Joseph Dalton is a freelance writer based in Troy. Back when Matt Nemeth was a student at Koda Middle School in Clifton Park, he tried his hand at jazz. He had started piano lessons at age 5, so he already knew his way around the keyboard. But jazz. Jazz was different. Jazz was ... daunting. "I was really intimidated throughout the entire year really, sixth grade and at one point I had tried to drop jazz band." His teacher at the time dissuaded him. "He said, 'You're not the only person in this band that's struggling at all. It's supposed to be an experience a learning experience.'" So it was. Nemeth kept right on learning as he participated, year after year, in the Shenendehowa Jazz Festival an annual, district-sponsored event that brings in world-class talent to teach and perform with students from grade six through high school. This year's is Mike Rodriguez, a New York City trumpet player, known for swing and Latin jazz, who performs with the Jazz at Lincoln Center Orchestra and other prominent ensembles. He'll work with students April 25-27 and perform with them at a public concert at 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26. "We've really had great luck with really terrific musicians but also some of the best jazz educators in the world," said Brian Carucci, the music chair at Shen, who's run the festival for nine of its 15 years. The three-day musical blowout is "one of those opportunities that can take a student who is nominally interested in it jazz, or music in general, and put their enjoyment and appreciation of the art form just through the roof. And I've seen it time and again with so many of our students." Shen has seven jazz bands: three in middle school, four in high school. For the first two days of the festival, the guest artist works with all seven, conducting master classes and prepping each group on a tune for the public concert. On the final day, the district up opens up sessions to jazz students from other area schools including, this year, Niskayuna, Ballston Spa and Shaker. At the concert's climax, around 150 kids get to perform onstage with a top-flight luminary: in this case, Rodriguez, a rising virtuoso whom The New York Times called "an exacting trumpeter." "It's a really unique and amazing opportunity for these youngsters to perform alongside one of the world's best jazz musicians. ... We call it the biggest big band," Carucci said. "That's been a lot of fun." The Shen Jazz Fest was founded in 2004 by former music chair Matt Cremisio, who aimed to provide educational workshops and hands-on jazz experience at a time when public schools tended to emphasize choral, orchestral and general music. "Not that jazz is more important than any other genre," he said in an email. But he hoped it might "be recognized as part of a well-balanced music program" and hoped, too, the exposure to parents, administration and teachers would showcase "an essential artistic form of American art." Saxophonist Denis DiBlasio played and taught at Shen during the festival's first year; since then, guest artists have included bassist Todd Coolman, saxophonist Dick Oatts, trumpeter Terell Stafford and trombonist Michael Dease. Carucci's summer job as an administrative coordinator for Skidmore's Jazz Institute helps him form connections with top-flight performers "and also, just through the years, we've built a nice reputation." Coolman agreed. "In my experience participating in many such jazz festivals around the nation, the one at Shen is one of the finest," he said in an email. "It inspires the students to reach to get to the next level of proficiency, and they take the suggestions of the professionals to heart, and try to implement them in a very short time frame." (He added: "Brian Carucci is one of the finest music educators at the high school level I have ever encountered, and Shen is lucky to have him.") Often, Carucci said, younger students come into the festival lacking a familiarity with the idiom, an ease with its rules and freedoms, that would bolster the courage to improvise. "A lot of times, these great educators are able to very skillfully provide the students with a basic language that gives them the confidence to stand up and play a solo," he said. "I've seen that where the guest artist says, 'Hey, if you just play these few notes together, see how cool that sounds.' And that just gives the student confidence to get up and say, 'Oh yeah, I can be a musician.'" Consider Nemeth, poised to graduate Shen and head to the University of Vermont with plans to minor in jazz. Such early exposure "definitely influenced my desire to continue studying. ... I probably wouldn't have come across it if it weren't for the strong concentration on jazz in particular throughout Shen in general," he said. "And it really has a huge culmination in the jazz fest." Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. For some students, the three-day festival can be "a life-changing event," Carucci said. A few years ago, Dick Oatts who teaches at Temple University arranged for a student to be admitted there. During his own time at Shen, Michael Dease arranged a lesson for Shen student Samantha Ivey with Metropolitan Opera trombonist Westin Sprout; he also shipped her an instrument. Ivey now plays with the Empire State Youth Orchestra. But beyond those examples, Carucci said, the Shen Jazz Festival and broader jazz curriculum offer students a chance to unplug, step up and take part in a shared creative effort that sparks the imagination while encouraging self-possession. "In a day and age when our students are just completely bombarded with technology, to me this is an opportunity, based in the arts, which promotes creativity through improvisation and it also promotes confidence," he said. "Students get up and play solos, you know. To me, this is a rare opportunity for our students, these days, to communicate in a different way than they're used to." For Nemeth, it's a lesson he's been absorbing since middle school. Back at Koda, he eventually realized that playing jazz "was more about having fun and expressing yourself in a way that feels appropriate and that's something I have seen in the Jazz Fest a lot." At the public performance, he said, everyone has fun: the students, the teachers, the guest artist. It's there for all to see. "And I think it shows the audience the students that are watching, and the students are playing that it really is a communal music that doesn't need to be restrained." More Information If you go Shenendehowa Jazz Festival, featuring trumpeter Mike Rodriguez Where: Shenendehowa High School East auditorium, 970 Route 146, Clifton Park When: 7 p.m. Thursday, April 26 Admission: Free Info: shenet.org or 518-881-0600 See More Collapse abiancolli@timesunion.com 518-454-5439 @AmyBiancolli Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. ALBANY Albany Law School will next month honor a pair of notable New Yorkers with honorary degrees as part of its annual commencement ceremony. Only one of them is both dead and the subject of a hit Broadway musical. That would be Alexander Hamilton, whose descendant Douglas Hamilton will accept the degree on the Founding Father's behalf. "Alexander Hamilton's ties to the Albany area are significant," said Alicia Ouellette, Albany Law's president and dean, in a news release. "Hamilton studied law and practiced law in Albany. He wrote Federalist (Letter) No. 1 while traveling between Albany and New York City. By conferring this degree, we are acknowledging his impact on the Capital Region and New York's legal community." Hamilton was the nation's first Secretary of the Treasury, author of a large portion of the Federalist Papers, and an officer in the Revolutionary War who traveled to Albany for the first time in 1777 on behalf of George Washington to meet with General Horatio Gates, to convince Gates to provide Washington with reinforcements. In 1780, Hamilton married Elizabeth Schuyler at the Schuyler Mansion in Albany with Aaron Burr who in 1804 kill Hamilton in a duel was one of the invited guests. After becoming lawyers, both men were regularly in Albany on legal assignments. Hamilton's biography provided the raw material for Lin-Manuel Miranda's hip-hop musical "Hamilton," a hit on Broadway that is currently spreading across the nation. The show comes to Proctors in Schenectady in August 2019. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The other recipient at the May 18 event is the prominent Capital Region real estate magnate and entrepreneur Edward P. Swyer, president of the Swyer Companies. "Edward Swyer has been a part of Albany Law School for decades. He has made a significant and lasting impact on Albany Law School's students, on our Clinic and Justice Center, and in the lives of our Clinic's clients," Ouellette said. "He is a true believer in the power of law to build and strengthen communities, and a strong advocate for the important legal work done by our Clinics. I'm honored to award him this degree." Swyer Companies' signature properties include Stuyvesant Plaza. The school noted that Swyer and his family have been an important part of the law school since before his father's construction company, The L.A. Swyer Co., Inc., built the Schaffer Law Library in 1986. In addition to the Swyer family's other acts of support for the school, its Lewis A. Swyer Academic Success Program provides additional academic support for first-year law students. ALBANY A federal appeals court in Texas has ordered NXIVM founder Keith Raniere to pay more than $444,000 in attorneys' fees to AT&T and Microsoft in a case in which he claimed the companies had marketed teleconferencing services using technology from patents that he owned. A federal judge threw out the case last year and ordered Raniere to pay the two companies' legal fees after finding that Raniere offered no evidence that he owned the patents and allegedly gave contradictory and misleading testimony. The patents were assigned to a company in Spokane, Wash. Global Technologies, Inc. and listed Raniere and three others as the inventors, records show. The patents detailed technology to allow teleconferencing over standard telephone lines while users could exchange data and other electronic information without interruption. The federal judge said that Raniere failed to produce any written documentation or other credible evidence that he had an interest in GTI that would allow him to transfer the patents to himself, as he claimed had been done. "Raniere also testified that his ex-girlfriend held her shares in the corporation in trust for him, based on a side letter executed between these parties, but he did not have possession of that letter nor did he know where the letter could be," the appellate court said in its decision this week. "The district court found that Ranieres testimony surrounding the alleged transfer contradicted Ranieres earlier representation that the shares had already been transferred to him and was 'wholly incredible and untruthful.'" The district court judge who threw out the case said that "an award of fees is the least severe sanction adequate to deter similar conduct by (Raniere) in the future and to preserve the integrity of the court. The court awarded $300,295 to AT&T and $143,719 to Microsoft in attorney fees and costs. The appellate decision was handed down as Raniere remains in the custody of U.S. marshals in an unrelated criminal case in which he is charged with sex trafficking and conspiracy to commit forced labor. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Raniere has been incarcerated without bond since he was deported from Mexico on March 25 and taken into custody by federal law enforcement officials in Texas. He is being held at the Metropolitan Detention Center in Brooklyn; a hearing in his case is scheduled to take place April 27. It's unclear if Raniere has financial assets to pay the penalty in the civil case. The Justice Department said that for the past 18 months Raniere had been using a credit card and bank account in the name of a former NXIVM associate and girlfriend, Pamela Cafritz, who died in November 2016. Federal prosecutors said the bank account has about $8 million, but have not said whether they would move to seize the account. A Kingston dentist acquitted of killing his lover's husband but convicted of possessing forged documents purported to be from the CIA offered an imaginative argument for why an appeals court should reverse that conviction. Dr. Gilberto Nunez argued his conviction on forgery possession charges in Ulster County should be thrown out because his assertion he was in the CIA was absurd and despite documents found on his computer "no reasonable person would perceive them to be authentic." "We cannot agree," the Albany-based Appellate Division of state Supreme Court wrote rejecting Nunez's appeal on Thursday. "The identification document found on defendant's computer has the text 'Central Intelligence Agency' across the top, bears the CIA seal and a bar code, contains defendant's photograph and sets forth other identifying information, such as defendant's name and purported title," the judge's wrote in an unanimous opinion. Nunez was ordered to serve a one-year sentence in the local jail after the jury convicted him of the forgery charge. He would have faced much more prison time if he was convicted of second-degree murder in the Nov. 29, 2011, death of Thomas Kolman, 44. Toxicology reports revealed significant amounts of midazolam, a sedative used primarily by doctors and dentists, in Kolman's system. Nunez became a suspect in the death and police searched his home, discovering a document that appeared to be a CIA identification card bearing his name and photograph. Nunez later gave a "CIA" letter to his lawyer who turned it over to police. Nunez had dated Linda Kolman, the dead man's wife, prosecutors asserted, but the couple reconciled before Kolman died. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. The year before the death, Linda Kolman told Nunez that she was getting text messages from someone using the identity "Samantha" and claiming "Samantha" was having an affair with her husband. Nunez told the woman he was a "special agent" with the CIA and offered to have a friend in the CIA look into the matter. A week later, Nunez gave her a letter bearing CIA letterhead that detailed the investigation. She initially dismissed it as absurd but Nunez berated her and asked for the letter back. She kept it. Thursday's ruling wasn't Nunez only legal defeat. In a unrelated case, the appellate division upheld his 2017 grand larceny and insurance fraud conviction and his sentencing to 1 to 4 years in prison. Nunez argued the sentencing in that case was colored by the murder case but the appellate division rejected that argument. Nunez is service that sentence at the Altona Correctional Facility in Clinton County. Tens of thousands of feet above the Earth, the passengers clasped hands with strangers, prayed together and got ready to die. Moments earlier on Tuesday morning, they had been playing Sudoku, catching up on their reading for church and curling up together to watch funny movies as their Southwest Airlines flight climbed above 30,000 feet on its way from New York to Dallas. It was around 11 a.m. Eastern time, 20 minutes into a four-hour flight, as they skimmed above the clouds and waited for flight attendants to hand out drinks. Then, with a deafening roar, Flight 1380 became a midair scene of chaos and terror. With no apparent warning, the plane's left engine exploded and a gust of shrapnel blew out a window, partly sucking one passenger headfirst into the sky. Oxygen masks dropped down, and the plane plunged thousands of feet in a minute. Over the next 20 minutes, the depressurized cabin air swirled with insulation and debris, panic and prayers as the pilot stabilized the plane and rerouted it to Philadelphia for an emergency landing. In the cockpit, the pilot, Tammie Jo Shults, a veteran Navy pilot, flew with one engine and calmly radioed air traffic controllers in Philadelphia to discuss her approach. She told them the flight was carrying injured passengers and needed emergency medics on the ground. On Wednesday, Robert L. Sumwalt, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board, said there was evidence of metal fatigue on the left engine of the plane, a two-engine Boeing 737. Sumwalt also said that investigators had discovered that a fan blade was missing from the plane's other engine. Robert W. Mann, an airline analyst, said this kind of metal fatigue is virtually impossible to see until a failure has already occurred. It is always destructive when a blade comes loose, although it is unusual for uncontained engine failures to be deadly, he said. On Tuesday morning, as the flight descended toward Philadelphia, some passengers scrambled to put on oxygen masks while others hurried to buy internet access so they could send a last message to their children and families. Marty Martinez, 29, of Dallas, held a yellow oxygen mask to his face as he live-streamed the descent on Facebook. "It appears we are going down!" he wrote. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Sheri Sears, who was on the right side of the plane, just across from the blown-out window, said her friend and travel companion, Tim McGinty, reassured his wife and Sears that they would be fine and tightened their seat belts. Then he sprang up to help drag the injured passenger, Jennifer Riordan, back into the plane. Riordan was unconscious and bleeding as McGinty and another passenger, a firefighter from north of Dallas, laid her across a row of seats. A retired nurse rushed up and helped McGinty perform CPR all the way to Philadelphia, but it was no use. Riordan, a Wells Fargo executive and mother of two from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was pronounced dead at a hospital. Ten Broeck Mansion in Albany will host its annual Living History Day from noon to 4 p.m. Sunday, May 6, with tours of the historic property, re-enactors, vendors, live music, pony rides and petting zoo, sheep-shearer, live demonstrations, hands-on activities and more. As part of the day, there will be a "welcome to the neighborhood" barbecue in honor of Albany Mayor Kathy Sheehan, who early this year announced that she and her husband bought a home across from St. Joseph's Park in the Ten Broeck Triangle Historic District. They will be stabilizing and renovating the home before moving in. Bouncing back after last year's long, painful drama that stretched past its April 1 deadline, New York can once again claim an on-time state budget. This year's $168 billion spending plan was a gigantic amalgamation of provisions that included increases in school aid, strong protections for victims of sexual harassment, remedies to the new federal tax code, congestion pricing for NYC taxis and ride-sharing services, opioid fees, and even free feminine products in school restrooms. However, glaringly absent was any inclusion or mention of ethics reform, a dubious omission considering the string of high-profile government corruption scandals over the past few years, most recently last month's conviction of Joe Percoco. This is another example of an opportunity to assuage public concerns that Albany is a culture of corruption and cronyism that we, as state legislators, once again failed to seize. Some wondered if the Percoco conviction was the "wake-up" call that would jolt Albany to finally take action. However, during my time in the Assembly, there have been countless such alarms, but we have yet to see the enactment of any major ethics proposals to ensure oversight and transparency. Some of my colleagues argue New York does not need new ethics laws; we just need better enforcement of the ones we already have. While shoring up efforts to root out illicit activity is key, we must also concede that some acts questioned for their ethical and moral values are legal only because no existing law prohibits them. To secure public trust, we must put safeguards in place to specifically address these ambiguities, or "gray" areas. High among them is "pay-to-play." Every state, either directly or indirectly, prohibits bribery in obtaining government contracts, although only a few have laws outright banning campaign contributions from companies who seek these state-funded projects. New York is not one of them. The optics of possible corruption are as damaging as the actual act. In order to force transparency and to limit the impact of corporate dollars in politics, I have introduced pay-to-play legislation (A.9968) that would bar any company that seeks to do business with the state from making a monetary or in-kind campaign contribution to an elected official or a candidate if that person's position has any influence over the award of such contract and require disclosure of all monies donated. The state also needs to squelch family member conflicts of interest. Recent scenarios involving public officials' family members placed in positions of power or given special perks underscore the need for laws addressing nepotism and personal conflicts of interest. Perhaps unbeknownst to most people, New York still permits lawmakers to obtain state funding for organizations and businesses in which a family member or domestic partner has an official role. Sign up for The Knick Get the latest news and some area history with our afternoon newsletter. Even if the connection between the elected official and the organization is benign, again, at issue is the public perception that wrongdoings are happening. To that end, I have re-introduced legislation (A.6808) that codifies a conflict-of-interest standard that prevents a lawmaker from requesting grants for organizations that have ties to lawmakers through people in their inner circle. While a public official's conscience cannot be legislated, my bill would at least remove another opportunity for unethical activity. It was not only Joe Percoco who stood trial, but the entire Albany apparatus too. If we do not take concrete, actionable steps to implement reforms, we also run the risk of being found guilty of breaching the public's trust and raising questions about the integrity of state government. I call on my colleagues in the Legislature to make ethics reform a priority for the remainder of this legislative session. The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a very innovative and exciting foldable phone, but Samsung doesnt justify the high price for this first-generation device. The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a phone that elicits mixed emotions. On the one hand, theres the sheer wonder and excitement of holding a foldable phone and seeing it transform from a 4.6-inch handset to a 7.3-inch tablet and back again. That excitement continues when you see an app that's running on the front screen instantly pop up on the larger display, and when you start running three apps at once on the bigger canvas. The other emotion is trepidation. Even though Samsung has made several enhancements to make the Galaxy Fold more durable since it delayed the devices launch, the company strongly suggests that you use a light touch when pressing on the display. Then theres the emotional sticker shock when you realize that this phone costs nearly $2,000. As I used the device for this Samsung Galaxy Fold review, I vacillated between all of these emotions and kept coming back to a single question: Who is the Galaxy Fold made for? The answer is: Very brave and very well-off early adopters who are willing to live with a product that feels like a refined prototype. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Cheat sheet Galaxy Fold specs Starting Price: $1,980 OS: Android 9.9 with One UI CPU: Snapdragon 855 RAM: 12GB Storage: 512GB External display (closed): 4.6 inches (HD+) Main display: 7.3 inches (QXGA+) Rear cameras: 12-MP wide-angle (f/1.5 to f/2.4); 12-MP telephoto (f/2.4); 16-MP ultra-wide (f/2.2) Front camera (closed): 10-MP selfie (f/2.2) Front camera (open): 10-MP selfie (f/2.2); 8-MP RGB depth (f/1.9) Fingerprint sensor: Bixby button Colors: Space Silver, Cosmos Black Battery: 4,380 mAh Battery Life: 10:01 Size: 6.3 x 2.5 x 0.66 inches (62.9 x 160.9 x 17mm) Weight: 9.48 ounces Samsung has durability improvements to the Galaxy Fold, including extending the top display, adding caps to the hinges, and putting a metal layer beneath the screen. The 7.3-inch display is very immersive and lets you run three apps on the screen at once, but the front 4.6-inch screen is quite small. When folded, the Galaxy Fold is considerably thicker than other phones, which means its best stored in a jacket pocket or purse. The Galaxy Fold lasted 10 hours on the Tom's Guide web-surfing battery test, which is not great, but you can save power by using the front screen for checking notifications. AT&T is the only carrier that is selling the Galaxy Fold directly, but you can also buy it unlocked. And that's not a bad idea; the AT&T version comes with lots of bloatware. A Galaxy Fold case comes in the box to further protect the device, along with a pair of wireless Galaxy Buds. The Samsung Galaxy Fold went on sale through AT&T and Best Buy on Sept. 27, as well as through Samsung.com . The Fold is one of the most expensive phones ever. It costs $1,980 in the U.S. and 1,800 in the U.K. (2,000, $2,214), or about double the price of most premium flagships. (For context, the Galaxy S10 Plus starts at $999, and you can get a model with 1TB of storage and 12GB of RAM for $1,599. The iPhone 11 Pro Max with 512GB of storage costs $1,449. In essence, youre paying about a $380 to $530 premium for the Folds ability to fold. For those scoring at home, the Fold would cost you $66 per month, at least if you pay off your phone in 30 months using one of AT&T's Next plans. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Design Even though this is my second go-around with the Samsung Galaxy Fold, theres still a real Wow factor to this device. Thanks to a sophisticated, 20-part, dual-axis hinge, you can open this clamshell just like a book, transforming the Fold from phone to tablet mode. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The motion is fairly smooth and natural; Ill admit I felt a bit like a secret agent as I used the Fold in public, surfing the web or watching a video and then closing the whole thing up before I walked away. But I also felt nervous that someone might try to steal the device from me. It's worth noting that the main display is plastic, not Gorilla Glass, like the outer cover display. But Samsung has fortified the larger panel by placing a metal layer beneath the screen. (See more on the Galaxy Folds durability below). (Image credit: Tom's Guide) When closed, the Galaxy Fold feels like a throwback phone, and a chunky one at that. Its quite tall and narrow, and 0.66 inches thick. Thats about double the thickness of the Galaxy S10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max. This size was not optimal for the front pocket of my pants; its a better fit for a blazer pocket or a purse. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The Galaxy Fold weighs a hefty 9.5 ounces, compared to 7.97 ounces for the iPhone 11 Pro Max and 6.9 ounces for the Galaxy Note 10 Plus. And I felt this weight strain my hands and forearms a bit when playing games for more than 10 minutes at a time; but if youre watching a movie or TV show, you can lean the Fold on your lap. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Im not a fan of the Galaxy Folds button layout: Samsung decided to separate the power button and fingerprint reader on the right edge of the Galaxy Fold. It would have made more sense to combine them, which would have enabled users to power on and unlock in one fluid motion. Instead, the fingerprint sensor doubles as the Bixby button, which you can program to open other apps, as well. Even though its less secure, I wound up using facial recognition to unlock the Fold because its simply faster. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The device comes in two color options: Space Silver and Cosmos Black. That's a bummer, because Samsung was going to offer funkier colors like Astro Blue and Martian Green through its site before it redesigned the phone. The other important thing to note is that the Fold doesnt have a headphone jack, but this isnt a huge deal because Samsung includes wireless Galaxy Buds in the box. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Durability (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Samsung made several changes to the Galaxy Fold's design to address durability concerns before it launched for the public. Top display extended: Some reviewers accidentally removed this protective layer, so now it goes all the way to the edge; users are much less likely to accidentally damage the device. Some reviewers accidentally removed this protective layer, so now it goes all the way to the edge; users are much less likely to accidentally damage the device. Hinges now have caps on them: This move should prevent debris from getting caught behind the screen. This move should prevent debris from getting caught behind the screen. Samsung narrowed the gap between the two sides: There's still a small space for stuff to get inside the Fold when closed, but it's improved. There's still a small space for stuff to get inside the Fold when closed, but it's improved. Metal layer added underneath the display: This increases rigidity and makes touch interactions feel more solid. All of these tweaks add up to a foldable that feels much closer to a $2,000 phone. Closing the phone still has a reassuring clap, like a book, and the hinge system feels pretty smooth. However, Samsung still treats this as a different class of phone when it comes to how it wants you to handle it. The company cautions that you use a light touch when touching the 7.3-inch display and to keep the Fold free of water and dust. One reviewer from TechCrunch reported that his Galaxy Fold was damaged after one day of use. The center of the screen became pixelated with a blob, but the cause is not clear. Thus far, we have not encountered issues with our review unit. Samsung claims that the Galaxy Fold can withstand 200,000 opens. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Displays Its best to think of the front display on the Samsung Galaxy Fold as an at-a-glance screen for quick interactions. Thats because its just 4.6 inches, which is Lilliputian compared to even the best small phones (typically 5.5 inches and up). Because the screen is narrow, its also difficult to type on. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) During my testing, I used the front display maybe 15% of the time, which included checking Gmail (but not responding), reading a news story with one hand while on the subway, and changing tracks on Spotify. Anything more made me feel that I needed the larger screen. Samsung Galaxy Fold (left) and Apple iPad Mini (right). The interior 7.3-inch display is where the real action is an oversized Super Active Matrix organic light-emitting diode (AMOLED) canvas thats sharp and colorful but with a couple of trade-offs. On the plus side, I really enjoyed watching the Star Wars: The Rise of Skywalker trailer; it really felt like I was using a tablet. I could even access and edit articles in our site's CMS because of how wide the display is. This is something I cant do as easily on the 6-inch-plus-size screens of the Galaxy Note 10 and iPhone 11 Pro Max. (Image credit: Future) During one commute home, I watched The Boys on the Prime Video app and felt like I had a mini movie theater in front of my eyes. If youd rather not have big bars above and below the display you can choose which apps go full screen in the Settings app. However, the crease in the middle of the Folds display is noticeable when you use apps with a white background, such as Chrome and Gmail. Its not ugly, just distracting. And you can feel the crease when youre using various apps. The good news is that the crease isnt as noticeable when viewing head-on movies, photos or anything with lots of colors. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) On our testing, the Galaxy Folds display averaged 525 nits of brightness, which is not as bright as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus (686 nits) and nowhere near as bright as the iPhone 11 Pro Max (761 nits). The OLED panel on the Fold of the color gamut registered 124.8% of the sRGB color gamut in Natural mode, which is about the same as the Galaxy Note 10 Plus and a bit higher than the iPhone 11 Pro Max (118.6%). The notch in the top right corner of the display can cut off videos should you decide to watch in full-screen mode; you can hide this notch by turning on an option in Software, but this just creates a black bar across the top of the screen. My bigger problem with the Folds notch is that you cant swipe down from the right side of the screen to reveal your notifications and quick settings. Instead, I had to shift my finger toward the middle of the display. However, you can also use the fingerprint sensor to open and close the notification shade with a swipe down and up. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Software To make the most of its foldable design, Samsung worked with Google to devise a couple of clever software features. The first is App Continuity, which enables you to open an app on the cover display and then have the app immediately fill the larger screen when you unfold the phone. One of the coolest features of the Galaxy Fold is App Continuity. If you're using an app like Google Maps on the front screen, you can open the display and it will instantly fill the larger display. This feature worked really well in my testing, with most apps popping up instantly.But you will need to tweak a setting if you want a given app to keep running on the small screen when you close the phone again. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The other handy feature is Multi Active Window, which allows you to run up to three apps at once on the Galaxy Folds large display. You swipe in from the right side of the screen to open additional apps, and can also easily resize the apps and move them around with your finger. A decent number of third-party apps already support this multitasking mode, such as Spotify and Slack, but I noticed that Skype does not. It will take time for more developers to update their software for foldable phones like this. By default, the big-screen keyboard offers a split layout to speedup thumb typing on such a large canvas, but I found myself switching to a regular layout because it felt like less work. No matter which mode you choose, swipe typing is supported. If youre not a fan of carrier bloatware, I recommend that you buy the unlocked version of the Galaxy Fold. The AT&T model I reviewed had 19 apps from AT&T and AT&T-owned brands, including everything from DriveMode and Visual Voicemail to Bleacher Report and AT&T TV. I would prefer a much cleaner canvas for a $2,000 smartphone and I think Fold owners would, too. (Image credit: Future) Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Cameras Having six cameras on a phone seems like overkill, but it isnt given the Samsung Galaxy Folds unique design. Just like the Samsung Galaxy S10 Plus and Samsung Galaxy Note 10 , theres three shooters on the back of the Galaxy Fold: a 12-megapixel wide-angle camera, a 16-MP ultra-wide lens and a 12-MP telephoto lens. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Up front when the Fold is closed theres a 10-MP camera for selfies. And when unfolded, the Galaxy Fold has another 10-MP main camera plus an 8-MP depth camera for portraits. Shooting with the Fold closed feels borderline sneaky because its so compact. You just double press the power button and start firing away. Its particularly good for selfies, as you dont have to stretch your thumb far at all to shoot. The problem is that the 4.6-inch screen is pretty small for framing shots; I found myself using the larger 7.3-inch panel when I wanted to make sure that I liked what I was capturing. Surprisingly, I didnt find shooting with a tablet-size display in front of my face embarrassing, which is probably due to the small bezels around the screen. But, in this mode, it is a two-handed affair. Image 1 of 3 (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Image 2 of 3 (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Image 3 of 3 (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The Galaxy Fold is capable of delivering gorgeous photos with saturated color and a stunning amount of detail, as evidenced by this flower close-up. The rich purple really shines through, and the veins in the petals are well defined. Image 1 of 3 Galaxy Fold (standard lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Image 2 of 3 Galaxy Fold (wide-angle lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) Image 3 of 3 Galaxy Fold (zoom lens) (Image credit: Tom's Guide) I also had fun playing with the multiple lenses in Times Square. The standard wide-angle camera captured the myriad signs with crisp detail, and I could easily make out details on the signs as I zoomed in. The wide-angle shot resulted in a noticeable fish-eye effect toward the edges, but it got a lot more of the surrounding buildings into the frame. Like the Galaxy S10 and Galaxy Note 10, the Galaxy Fold comes with artistic new Live Focus modes, including spin bokeh, zoom bokeh and color print. I especially like the latter option, as it colorizes the main subject while leaving everything else black and white. However, the Fold fell flat compared with the iPhone 11 Pro Max in this portrait of my two colleagues, Henry and Kate. The camera washed out both of the subjects faces and made Henrys jeans look like pants. Adam Ismail, who reviews lots of phones for Toms Guide, said of the Folds shot that Henry and Kate looked like they needed medical attention. You can also make out more texture and details in Kates shirt on the iPhone 11 Pro Maxs shot. The Galaxy Fold also offers a dedicated Night mode, which I put up against the Night mode of the iPhone 11 Pro Max. When I snapped a photo outside around 7:30 p.m. in almost complete darkness, the Fold produced a brighter image, as you can make out more of the tree in the foreground. The iPhone 11 Pro Maxs shot also has more of an orange cast to it, especially in the street, it's image also provides better contrast in the bricks and better detail. (Image credit: Tom's Guide) The front camera on the Galaxy Fold can take sharp selfies. Theres a fair amount of detail here in my hair and in the folds in my shirt. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Video The Samsung Galaxy Fold is a very capable phone when it comes to shooting video. It can record in 4K at up to 60 frames per second. And the device can shoot super steady video when you press the hand icon in the camera app. In our footage shot near Bryant Park, the Galaxy Fold kept stead as I walked, but the camera had some trouble with the bright sunlight, as some faces looked washed out. However, the fountain looked pretty sharp, and the Fold did a good job rendering the surrounding buildings when I activated the ultra-wide camera. When I engaged the telephoto lens on the Fold to shoot a nearby Le Pain Quotidien, I could make out small details like the Pick Up Here sign. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Performance Given that the Samsung Galaxy Fold has the same Snapdragon 855 processor as the Galaxy S10 and Note 10 line of phones, its not a surprise that it offers comparable performance. The main difference is the whopping 12GB of RAM included in the Fold, which did seem to help juggle having multiple apps open on screen at once. I didnt notice much lag as I ran three apps simultaneously. On Geekbench 5, a relatively new benchmark that measures overall performance, the Galaxy Fold scored 728 on the single-core portion of the test and 2,619 on the multi-core portion. The Galaxy Note 10 Plus scored 736 and 2,691 respectively, which is pretty much identical, while the OnePlus 7T scored a slightly higher 744 and 2,802. The iPhone 11 Pro Max blew away the field with a single-core mark of 1,334 and a multi-core score of 3,517. We'll be running additional tests throughout our time with the device. To gauge graphics performance on the Galaxy Fold, we ran GFXBench; the phone turned in a score 1,038 frames on the high-tier version of the Aztec Ruins Vulkan test (offscreen). The iPhone 11 Pro max notched a higher number 1,657 frames. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Battery life With a 4,380 mAh battery, the Samsung Galaxy Fold has pretty good staying power given its huge display, but other phones last longer on a charge. On the Tom's Guide battery test, which involves continuous web surfing over 4G LTE (we used AT&T's network) at 150 nits of screen brightness, the Galaxy Fold's battery lasted 10 hours and 1 minute. This runtime is pretty good when you consider that we used the larger 7.3-inch display for the entire duration of this test. (We will be retesting where we use the smaller front display for a quarter of the time.) By comparison, the Galaxy Note 10 Plus lasted an average of 11:09 on our test, and the iPhone 11 Pro Max averaged 11:54. Best phone battery life: Longest-lasting smartphones On a day with intermittent usage, which included snapping photos, streaming music, watching video clips and checking email, the phone still had 60% capacity left at 9:15 p.m; I had unplugged the phone at 6:30 a.m. On a day when I used the Galaxy Fold more heavily, which included watching two full TV episodes on Netflix, the Fold was down to 25% come 9 p.m. Thats still more than a full days worth of endurance. (Image credit: Future) I loved being able to fire up the Wireless PowerShare feature on the Galaxy Fold, which allows you to charge other phones and accessories by simply placing them on the back of the Samsung handset. This includes the wireless Galaxy Buds, which Samsung throws in for the $1,980 price. Samsung Galaxy Fold review: Verdict The Galaxy Fold feels like a phone from the future, and yet from a practical perspective it falls a bit short. When I was using Slack in one window, Gmail in another and Spotify in yet another on the 7.3-inch screen, I could see myself using my laptop less and a device like this more. I also liked being able to review and edit large documents on the go. And its just cool to close the whole thing up when youre ready to walk way. But that doesnt mean you should invest $2,000 of your own money. Even if you put aside the lingering durability concerns around the Galaxy Fold, I find the overall design bulky and heavy, and the front display is too small. And while the cameras are solid, the iPhone 11 Pro has leapt ahead with its better HDR and night mode. So as much as I appreciate what Samsung has accomplished with this first-generation foldable phone, I would suggest that most people wait for the sequel and for other foldables to hit the market before they take the foldable plunge. The general rule with automotive startups is to see what theyre offering, and then take it with a grain of salt. Time and again, weve seen startup brands promise the world with electric supercars, only to watch those promises go up in smoke for one reason or another. That said, somethings different about Automobili Pininfarina . The automaker is barely a week old, but it traces its roots to one of the most respected auto design houses in the world. That should count for something, especially now that Automobili Pininfarina has its first model, the PF0 electric hypercar, in development. We see a huge glass cockpit, massive separated spoilers in the front and back, and carbon fiber body curves that could go on for days Keep the buckets of salt away; you wont need it. Automobili Pininfarina may be a start-up in the technical sense of the word, but its not the kind of ambitious startup thats shooting beyond its range. Not only does it have the tradition of the Pininfarina name backing it up, it also has a number of factors in its favor, including having one of the best auto designers in the business, Luca Borgogno, the same man responsible for the drop-dead gorgeous 2010 Stratos that captivated our hearts and loins. Give Borgogno an idea of what you want an all-electric to look like and hes going to knock it out of the park. If you need more proof, feast your eyes on this sketch. The PFO looks downright mental. Granted, we dont get to see the entire design of the car, but from the looks of it, we see a huge glass cockpit, massive separated spoilers in the front and back, and carbon fiber body curves that could go on for days. Oh, and those it also has one of those full-length LCDs that seem to be the rage in the auto industry these days. According to Top Gear, the car will also feature an element that references the Seventies staple pop-up headlights. Color us intrigued. From a performance perspective, Pininfarina says that the PF0 is capable of hitting 250 mph without breaking a sweat Not much is known about the cars interior, but the word audacious is being thrown around to describe it. Apparently, its going to feature a driver-centric layout with a vanishing point aspect to the main display. From a performance perspective, Pininfarina says that the PF0 is capable of hitting 250 mph without breaking a sweat. Thats largely due to an electric powertrain that will be developed by no less than Rimac, the Swiss supercar brand responsible for the Concept One and and the upcoming C_Two supercars. Rimac also happens to be one of the few startups that actually came through on its word of launching a mind-numbing supercar. Richard Hammond would know. In any event, word on the street is that the PF0 is also capable of accelerating from 0 to 62 mph in less than two seconds and 0 to 186 mph in less than 12 seconds. If youre not down for those kind of speed runs, you can drive the car economically and get 310 miles of range out of it. With all that in place, the PF0 is expected to sell for 1.7 million per unit. With all that in place, the PF0 is expected to sell for 1.7 million per unit. That converts to around $2.4 million based on current exchange rates. Pininfarina only plans to sell around 90 units of the hypercar so you can be sure that if it lives up to expectations, those 90 units will sell out faster than it takes the car to reach 250 mph. The obvious question now is whether the PF0 is actually a real thing, or if its nothing more than an ambitious unicorn that wont end up getting built. Fortunately for all of us, the man writing the checks, Mahindra chairman Anand Mahindra, wants to see it happen. This will enable us to fulfil our vision of participating at the very pinnacle of automotive design and manufacturing, he says, referring to the PF0. We believe we cant stretch the Mahindra brand too far out, nor can you stretch the Pininfarina name too far down. Luxury is the meeting point of heritage and craftsmanship, which is what Pininfarina has. You cant just create that. It would take 90 years to build what Pininfarina has. Cross your fingers that his words are worth more than his $9.4 billion worth of assets. References Pininfarina Wants To Unleash A Monster, Plans for Electric Supercar Are Real The Pininfarina H2 Speed Evolves from Simple Concept to Full-Blown, Hydrogen-Powered Racecar Read our full review on the 2016 Pininfarina H2 Speed. Read more Pininfarina news. A logo is the easiest way to identify a brand. Some of the biggest companies in the world have logos that are easily identified. Nike has the swoosh, Apple has the bitten apple, and Volkswagen has the round logo with a V sitting on top of a W inside of it. The German automaker, though, is looking to update its iconic logo, the first time its doing so since 2012 when it made the lettering more silvery and three-dimensional. This update could be the most significant one since the current version first appeared in 1945. There are no details yet on what the updated logo is going to look like, but judging by comments made by Volkswagen chief marketing officer Jochen Sengpiehl to Bloomberg, this update could be the most significant one since the current version first appeared in 1945. In his words, Sengpiehl said that the logo needs to be updated, not only because of the Dieselgate scandal but also because it has lost some of its emotional appeal by being too German. So, as Volkswagen prepares for a future that will be dominated by electric cars, it wants a logo that will be able to embrace that future. The big challenge is: How do we get people into the electric world, Sengpiehl said. We want people to have fun with us. We need to get more colorful. Sengpiehl left little room for interpretation there. He said that the VW logo needs to be more colorful. Its unclear how the automaker plans to do that, but it already sounds like a bad idea. The VW logo may need to be updated, but making it more colorful isnt the way to do it. As sincere as the companys intentions are, theres no turning back from dressing up an iconic logo with garish colors. It has the makings of an ill-timed idea akin to Coca-Cola introducing the New Coke formula that flamed out due to the overwhelming negative and hostile reactions towards it. It wants to re-establish its identity and become a more fun and approachable brand. The temptation is there to give the logo a more vibrant look. I understand why Volkswagen would even reach for that fruit. It wants to re-establish its identity and become a more fun and approachable brand. A more colorful logo could do that, but its also running the risk of turning into a completely different brand, one that could end up being detached from its long and storied history. Thats the kind of power a logo has, especially one as iconic as the current VW logo. Who knows, maybe thats what Volkswagen wants to do anyway. On top of updating the logo, its also inviting communications and advertising agencies to pitch for its creative business in the coming months. The automaker even has plans to set up marketing hubs in main regions that can tailor messages and react more quickly to changing trends in those specific regions. Theres no stopping VW from being more pro-active in spreading a more fun and approachable brand identity. Im just not sure that updating the logo and making it more colorful is the way to do it. Thats low-hanging fruit that Volkswagen should avoid reaching for. References Read more Volkswagen news. Source: Automotive News Regional integration is the key to Malawis trade success, according to a new ITC report that uncovers the countrys greatest untapped export potential in agro-processing. This report is a roadmap for Malawian exporters and policymakers to identify higher value-added products and markets with growth potential, as well as giving guidance to realize these opportunities and overcoming production challenges. Executive summary Over the course of the past 15 years, there has been a marked slowdown in the growth of Malawis major traditional exports, such as sugar, tea and groundnuts. This has been accompanied by strong growth in imports, creating an overall trade imbalance. The countrys trade also tends to be concentrated in a few markets and products. The 2014 update of the Diagnostic Trade Integration Study concluded that a lack of product diversification resulted in Malawis inability to plug into regional or global value chains. In response to these challenges, the countrys Second Growth and Development Strategy aims at expanding and diversifying exports. This paper draws ITC data, customized methodologies for product and market prioritization, desk research, and consultations with local stakeholders to identify products that could help Malawi achieve the following three objectives: Expansion of existing exports; Diversification of the export bundle; Identification of possibilities for adding value to existing export products. The papers findings highlight the importance of regional integration for Malawis trade development and export growth. Its analysis demonstrates that most of the potential for the countrys export growth and diversification lies in the Southern African Development Community (SADC) region. The paper also presents a new analysis on opportunities for upgrading to transformed products, taking into account the existing export structure and available inputs. It reviews the current trade challenges that Malawi faces and provides guidance on targeted avenues for enhancing export growth, diversification and product upgrading by moving towards higher value added products within a value chain. Finally, it identifies a number of promising export products for the country, including raw cane sugar, macadamia nuts, black tea, eggs, oil products, groundnuts and various legumes. These are the key findings: (i) The future of Malawis trade performance hinges on its effective integration within the region. SADC is the natural market for Malawian exporters where 39% of the countrys untapped export potential ($154.4 million) lies. Realizing these opportunities should help create a solid export basis for the country while also enabling to acquire the experience needed to reach more distant markets. (ii) Untapped export opportunities in the SADC region comprise a mix of Malawis traditional and novel export sectors. Among traditional exports, raw cane sugar, black fermented tea, groundnuts, maize seeds for sowing, dried peas, and wood-related products offer room for export growth, ranging from $30.6 million to $3.7 million. Among non-traditional exports, Malawi recently increased its exports of chicken eggs to Mozambique dramatically (353% annual growth between 2011 and 2015), a performance that opens the door to further regional opportunities valued at $29.7 million for chicken eggs. Plastic products also have an unrealized potential for intraregional trade, amounting to $8.9 million. (iii) Regional markets will be at the heart of future competitiveness. Malawian exporters remain generally competitive vis-a-vis other suppliers in the regional market. Other SADC countries offer a natural testing ground for diversification opportunities, in particular for processed products based on raw materials currently exported. The development of an oil processing industry seems to be the most natural path for the countrys industrial development. Exports of wooden furniture constitute yet another opportunity for building on the export performance of key inputs, such as fibreboards. Other diversification opportunities in the sugar and poultry sectors could lead to exports of cane molasses, refined sugar, and fresh and frozen poultry products. In addition, the countrys climate conditions appear suitable for diversification of production into palm oil tree and sunflower seed. (iv) Export competitiveness in international markets needs to be sustained. Some Malawian agricultural products, such as macadamia nuts (shelled and in shells), dried shelled common peas, chickpeas, and raw cane sugar, are already reaching overseas markets. This presence allows exporters to acquire specific market knowledge that could be useful also for the exporters of other products wishing to expand their sales internationally. Cashew nuts and frozen common peas seem to be promising options for market diversification. (v) A coherent framework of domestic and sectoral policies is needed for realizing opportunities and overcoming production challenges. Ensuring widespread access to finance for national producers, reducing transport costs through improved connectivity to regional markets, and implementing an attractive and effective taxation system are overarching policies that will have a positive impact on the general business environment. A business-friendly environment is also important for attracting investment and increasing competition in the Malawian economy. However, more coordination between public and private stakeholders would help increase the impact of sectoral policies along the production chain (farmers, processors, exporters). Download the full paper on the ITC website. Tourists in Iceland /CC BY 2.0 But there are problems; environmentalists are complaining that all these power plants might muck up the biggest industry in Iceland: Tourism. When you get down to it you are dealing with extremely rare and beautiful places, delicate places, said Andri Snaer Magnason, a poet, activist and third-place finisher in Icelands last presidential election. The expansion of the current grid is quite painful. Other more successful politicians have complaints too. Guthmundur Ingi Guthbrandsson, Icelands new Yale University-educated environmental minister, is urging caution. Electricity already produced should be used more efficiently. That is goal number one, he said. But buried in the second-last paragraph of this entire article is the key point: One particular concern is cryptocurrency mininga processor and electricity-intensive computing process for generating currencies such as bitcoin. The process accounts for about 90% of Icelands data center industry in terms of electricity consumed, according to the KPMG study. As always, I recommend that you never read the comments on the Wall Street Journal, which in this case are entirely an attack on environmentalists for complaining about green power. I think this was a setup by the author, given the quotes from "a poet, activist and third-place finisher". But at least one reader got to the end of the article and noted: So when this silly cryptocurrency bubble bursts, Iceland will suddenly lose 90% of the electrical demand that the greenies are so worried about? Seem to recall the country went pretty much bankrupt a few years ago. That was the banking crisis. Before that, there was a fishing crisis. In the past our eggs have tended to be in one basket, said [private utility] HS Orka spokesman Johann Snorri Sigurbergsson, referring to Icelands earlier focus on fisheries and the smelting industry. Data centers for us are adding to the diversity in our client portfolio. Digiconomist/Screen capture But surely, if 90 percent of your output is going to bitcoin, all your eggs are again in one basket. Environmentalists everywhere should be getting loud about the issue of cryptocurrencies; right now, according to the Digiconomist, making them is creating 30,162 kilotons of CO2 per year, and using enough electricity to power 5,699,560 American households. Why isn't this a bigger issue? In celebration of Earth Day: An ode to our awesome orb. Allow me to roll out a cliche and say that here at TreeHugger, every day is Earth Day. Tips on going green and sustainable design and treehugging in general are business as usual; our modus operandi 24/7. But who would we be to let such a momentous day as April 22 pass without some fanfare? So with that in mind, heres some praise for the planet, glory for the globe, an all-around high-five highlighting some randomly remarkable features of this wild world were so lucky to call home. 1. Earth plays host to deadly, exploding lakes Why should science fiction and horror movies have all the fun? Earth is pretty dramatic too. Weve even got exploding lakes. In Cameroon and on the border of Rwanda and the Democratic Republic of the Congo there are three crater lakes Nyos, Monoun and Kivu which sit above volcanic earth. The magma below releases carbon dioxide into the lakes, and the gas can escape to form a limnic eruption, potentially killing everything nearby. Around Kivu Lake, geologists have found evidence of massive biological extinctions about every thousand years. 2. And boiling rivers Screen capture. Peter Koutsogeorgas/Vimeo Peter Koutsogeorgas/Vimeo/Screen capture Hidden deep in the Peruvian rainforest and overseen by a powerful shaman, the sacred healing site of Mayantuyacu is home to a 4-mile long river that is 82-feet wide and 20 feet deep. And boasts water temperatures that range from 120F degrees to 196F degrees; in some parts it actually boils! Animals who fall in are killed quickly. And while there are hot springs in the Amazon, there is nothing like this river which is known to locals as Shanay-timpishka. 3. The planet is covered in stardust Every year, 40,000 tons of cosmic dust falls upon our planet. Its not something we notice, but eventually all that dust, which is made of oxygen, carbon, iron, nickel, and all the other elements, finds its way into our bodies. We are stardust. 4. You cant keep a good planet still While we may feel like were standing still, of course, we are not. Were actually spinning wildly and flying through space! It's a wonder life seems so calm. Depending on where you are, you could be spinning at over 1,000 miles per hour (though those on the North or South poles would be still). Meanwhile, were moving around the sun at a zippy 67,000 miles per hour. Whoosh. 5. It has some really cold spots Were talking really, really cold. A few hundred miles from the Arctic Circle is the town of Oymyakon, Russia, which in 1933 earned the title as the coldest place on Earth when the temperature dropped to -90F. It is so cold here that people dont turn their cars off and must heat the ground with a bonfire for days before in order to bury their dead. During the winter, the temperature averages -58F. Who needs mascara when you have crystal eyelashes? 6. And others that are as hot as Hades On the other end of the mercury, Death Valley plays home to the hottest temperatures recorded: the hottest on the planet being 134F on July 10, 1913. That was not a good week in the desert; temperatures reached 129F or above on five consecutive days. More recently, the summer of 2001 saw 100F for 154 consecutive days, while the summer of 1996 was bestowed with 105 days over 110F and 40 days when the mercury reached 120F. 7. The high highs are really high At 29,028 feet above sea level, Mount Everest is the highest place on Earth when measured by sea level. But if you measure height based on the distance from the center of the planet, Mount Chimaborazo in the Andes Mountains in Ecuador takes the prize. Although Chimaborazo is about 10,000 feet shorter (relative to sea level) than Everest, this mountain is about 1.5 miles farther into space because of the equatorial bulge. 8. And the low down is deep The lowest point on Earth is the Mariana Trench in the western Pacific Ocean. It reaches down about 36,200 feet (nearly 7 miles) below sea level. 9. The planet has rocks that scoot themselves tahoenathan/CC BY 3.0 In a remote stretch of Death Valley, a lakebed known as Racetrack Play plays home to one of the natural worlds more compelling mysteries: Rocks that sail across the bed of the lake, propelled by nothing that anyone can see. Its a puzzle that has long-stumped scientists, and has rarely ever been seen in action, save for the long meandering tracks left behind in the mud surface. One theory holds that the scooting is caused by a succinct combination of rain, wind, ice and sun all playing on concert. 10. And dunes that sing Around 30 places across the planet have sand dunes that sing and croak, creating low droning music that lands somewhere between chanting monks and a swarm of bees. From the Gobi Desert and Death Valley to the Sahara and Chilean desert, the source of the sounds has long remained a mystery, although there are a number of theories explaining the sonic phenomena, it remains a hotly debated topic. 11. Theres a sweet spot for lightning CC BY 3.0. Thechemicalengineer Thechemicalengineer/CC BY 3.0 Every night in northwestern Venezuela, where the Catatumbo River meets Lake Maracaibo, a thunderstorm occurs. And not just a passing show, but a storm that can last up to 10 hours and averaging 28 lightning strikes per minute. Known as Relampago del Catatumbo (the Catatumbo Lightning) it can strike as many as 3,600 bolts in an hour. Every night! 12. The world below is a giant, mysterious thing We think were so fancy with our terrestrial lives, but you should see whats going on down in the coral reefs. It is there in which exists the most species per unit area of any of the planet's ecosystems, even more than the rainforests. And while the reefs are comprised of tiny individual coral polyps, together they form the largest living structures on Earth, even visible from space. 13. And we dont know the half of it While oceans cover around 70 percent of the planet, weve only explored some 5 percent of them. In a similar vein, scientists estimate that there are anywhere between 5 million and 100 million species on Earth, but ... we have identified only about 2 million of them. We think we know it all, but there is so much left to discover. What a wonderful world! We have used your information to see if you have a subscription with us, but did not find one. Please use the button below to verify an existing account or to purchase a new subscription. While businesses prepare to participate in the Covid-19 safe zone initiative, Government is warning that there will be fines and penalties of up to $25,000 for those found to be in breach of the safe zone requirements. On September 22, 2021, it became public knowledge that former member of the Police Service Commission (the PolSC) and attorney-at-law Roger Kawalsingh had made a serious allegation of a secret approach to the Chair of the PolSC regarding the appointment of a commissioner of police (CoP) and outgoing CoP Gary Griffith. Wife and I are going to be there in June, flying in and out of Liberia. We'd like to visit the following places (not necessarily in this order). Liberia(nearby beaches, Rincon de la Vieja, Llanos de Cortez), Monteverde, Arenal/La Fortuna, San Jose and Manuel Antonio. What is the best order to visit these in? We'd like to save some money on the car rental and I believe all these are accessible by bus. We are willing to rent a car for a few days if it would make that leg of the trip more enjoyable. Which location would a car be best in? Lastly could anyone recommend any 'hidden gems' aka non touristy areas, maybe somewhere that locals would go to enjoy like a hot spring, etc? Thanks all. Thanks North. I have tendency to use the Hutch but that's partly because I'm usually headed to the area around White Plains or Pound Ridge and Stamford (and perhaps somewhat set in my ways). NH - Regarding approaching Randall's Island from the north (or west), it's certainly possible but IMO might be a little more complicated for a non-local to navigate because of the route changes and river crossings depending on where your hotel is. I'd check google maps for the route options for any hotel that catches your eye: The reason I like the option of your staying in Queens is because since you'll be near I-678 and I-278/GCP the routes to/from the island are pretty obvious and straightforward (But then I live in the area and am pretty familiar with it so may lack a little perspective on the other routes.) Edited: 3 years ago The U.N. General Assembly Convenes on Sept 12. This causes hotel prices to skyrocket (though all of September is some flavor of expensive). Have you looked at pricing yet for your two time periods? Chances are good that hotels in Brooklyn will be less expensive than Manhattan, but Manhattan has some cheap hostel-type hotels with tiny rooms and shared bathrooms, or occasional specials on older hotels that can end up being cheaper than staying in the fun and lively areas of Brooklyn. I think it's important to look at real pricing for the start and end of your trip and see what you can find that is appealing at a price you can live with. That will help you make your decision. Hotel prices fluctuate so much, that's always a good idea. Note that vacation apartment rentals (e.g. AirBnB apartments) are almost all illegal in NYC so if you were considering doing it that way, focus on hotels instead. Manhattan has neighborhoods where locals hang out and weekends are particularly fun too. I don't think that there will be a clear argument for Manhattan vs Brooklyn for weekends. Or whether you could end up wanting to stay in two different Manhattan neighborhoods, especially if hotel pricing shows a clear winner. For the most part no. There is no direct connect from SI to Newark Airport. You could "potentially" take a local bus, transfer to another bus (only M-F during rush hours) to Bayonne, take Light Rail to NJ Transit train to Newark. It would take a significant amount of time and energy. It is much easier to go back to Manhattan to then travel to Newark Airport. Staten Island is the most car-centric of the boroughs of NYC. Most SIer's would drive themselves, have a family member drive them, or take a car service to the airport. There is very limited public transit on SI to begin with. Getting to the airport is not high on the priority list of local electeds when discussing mass transit improvements. Car services charge about $60 to go from SI to Newark Airport. Dial 7 and Carmel have much higher prices for airport transit to/from SI than local car services. Clove Lake cars and Mid-Island cars are 2 that provide affordable transit. - The attacker was arrested following public uproar over his conduct - He was taken to Kiamariga Police Station but later released on bail - Mathira West OCPD said appropriate action will be taken against him Police have finally arrested a man who was caught on camera physically assaulting Political Parties Liaison Committee election observer, Martha Miano, during Ruguru Ward by-election in Nyeri County on Wednesday, April 18. The attacker, believed to be an aide of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, was nabbed on Thursday after a video of him slapping Miano went viral. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens Political Parties Liaison Committee Martha Miano was reportedly assaulted by a man believed to be Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua aide. Photo: Ngugi Isaac/Facebook. READ ALSO: 10 Kenyan celebrities whove been involved in domestic violence Confirming the arrest, Mathira West OCPD Birgen Kiptoo said appropriate action will be taken against the attacker. TUKO.co.ke gathered the suspect was taken to Kiamariga Police Station where he was briefly locked up then released of a KSh 10,000 cash bail. He is expected to appear in court on Wednesday, April 25. READ ALSO: Woman leaves husband over Raila Odingas loss in the 2007 General Election The arrest came following public uproar over the incident which unfolded at Ndunduini polling station in Mathira constituency. Kenyans, including Narc Kenya party leader Martha Karua, took to social media to demand for action to be taken against the attacker. READ ALSO: Jubilee candidate takes the day in Ruguru by-election In the viral video, the suspect was seen swinging a terrifying slap at Miano moments before a commotion ensued. The lady reportedly went to Ruguru as an election observer on behalf of the Political Parties Liaison Committee. The MCA by-election was between Erastus Karanja Muriuki, a Jubilee Party candidate, and James Simpson Macharia of Maendeleo Chap Chap (MCC) party. Residents claimed the assault was as a result of bitter rivalry between Gachagua and Jubilee loyalists allied to Deputy President William Ruto and supporters of Nyeri Senator Ephraim Maina. READ ALSO: Wataalamu waonya dhidi ya kuoga kila siku, ijue sababu Meanwhile, FIDA Kenya has issued a statement condemning the Ruguru incident and has vowed to make sure the attacker is charged in court. "We demand a report on action taken against the man in the next 24 hours. We also call upon the Director of Public Prosecutions to prosecute the matter to conclusion. We call upon the IEBC to come out and condemn this heinous act upon one of its officials and take relevant action," FIDA said. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Meet Kenya's Strongest Man who has the Strength of a Rhino - On Tuko TV Source: Tuko - Rahab Kimani confirmed her relationship with Joe Singiser which caused outrage over their age difference - She met Singiser while working at a nursing home in New Jersey - The couple is now planning to start a family together A Kenyan student in the United States has left tongues wagging after news emerged about her relationship with an elderly American boyfriend. The 21-year-old woman, Rahab Kimani, confirmed her relationship with her 54-year-old Joe Singiser, sending many reeling in shock over their outrageous age difference. Speaking to Mail Online, Kimani disclosed she met Singiser through work at a nursing home in New Jersey. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens READ ALSO: Sosholaiti Huddah Monroe akemea Wakenya kuhusu afya ya bilionea Chris Kirubi 21-year-old Rahab Kimani with her 54-year-old American lover Joe Singiser. Photo: Rahab Kimanki/ Instagram "I thought he was very attractive and immediately wanted him.I really liked his big muscles and that everyone at work was afraid of him," she said. Despite being very comfortable on their first date, Kimani divulged it was hard to deal with her family as they disapproved her relationship. Kimani met her American lover through work in a nursing home. Photo: Rahab Kimani/ Instagram "I just see him as my boyfriend and my best friend. If anything, the difference is that I take this relationship more seriously than previous ones. It took everyone a long time, but they are finally understanding of us being together," said the love struck woman. READ ALSO: Majority of those born in the 80's are using debts to finance lavish lifestyles - study Kimani and Singiser have been living together as a couple for years. Photo: Rahab Kimani/ Instagram Singiser, who is Kimani's supervisor at work is a father of four. He revealed he was at first 'startled'when he got interested in his younger employee but decided to continue with the relationship because he knew it was true love. Rahab and her lover are planning to settle down in marriage. Photo: Rahab Kimani/ Instagram He said he was attracted by her beautiful smile from across the room and would find excuses to come out of his office just to see her. READ ALSO: Diamond Platnumz pleads for fans' forgiveness days after posting graphic video Singiser who is Kimani's supervisor at work is a father to four children. Photo: Rahab Kimani/Instagram According to Kimani, she no longer sees the age difference, however, they attract stares from strangers on the streets. "We get looks while in public all the time. Someone even approached me once and said I should be ashamed of myself because I just want his money. I did get sensitive but I just walked away," she said. The lovebirds who have been dating for a year now, live together and are planning on starting a family together, having discussed possibility of marriage and children. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news. Meet Kenya's Strongest Man who has the Strength of a Rhino (Amazing Story)| Faces of Kenya - Tuko TV: Source: Tuko - The DP is urging private companies to invest in stock exchange for their own sake - This, according to the DP, was better than borrowing from financial institutions Deputy President William Ruto has challenged private companies to raise money from stock exchange instead of borrowing from financial institutions. Ruto said on Thursday, April 19 the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) should do more to ensure more companies get listed at the Bourse. Send 'NEWS' to 40227 to receive all the important breaking news as it happens The NSE is supposed to help us support more companies, especially the big ones, so that they can go to the stock exchange and instead of borrowing money they can list and raise capital for their expansion, the DP said during the official opening of the 7th Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) Seminar in Nairobi. READ ALSO: Wataalamu waonya dhidi ya kuoga kila siku, ijue sababu Private companies can raise money without borrowing - Deputy President William Ruto explains how. Photo: William Ruto READ ALSO: Fresh petition to reduce presidential term limit to 4 years tabled in Parliament The seminar was attended by several dignitaries including Nigerian Stock Exchange (NSE) CEO who is also the President of African Securities Exchanges Association (ASEA) Oscar Onyema, Capital Markets Authority CEO Paul Muthaura and CEO Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) Geoffrey O. Odundo Ruto further revealed that the government was supporting the growth of the capital markets through incentives and an enabling environment. One such incentive, which should be exploited is the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement that was signed by 44 countries in Kigali, Rwanda last month. It allows African countries to trade and cushion themselves from foreign aid, he said. Private companies can raise money without borrowing - Deputy President William Ruto explains how. Photo: Ruto/Facebook According to the DP, the government has already tapped into the international market for financing, which he termed a deliberate strategy to create affordable capital for the private sector and reduce its cost. This week, President Uhuru Kenyatta was at the London Stock Exchange to ensure that we can dual list the National Oil Corporation to raise funds that will help us develop infrastructure for our oil, The Deputy President said that capital markets are major components of transformation, sustainable development, wealth creation and should tap into and push the governments Big Four priority areas of food security, manufacturing, housing and healthcare. READ ALSO: Screen siren, Lilian Muli launches own TV show Ruto during the official opening of the 7th Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) Seminar, Nairobi. Photo: William Ruto/Facebook READ ALSO: Raila holds unity talks with ex-Nyanza MPs after deal with Uhuru He singled out delivery of Universal Health Coverage, saying the government plans to float bonds to finance the program and urged the NSE to leverage on it. A significant portion of proceeds from future issuance of Government infrastructure bond will be earmarked for the health sector. The NSE chairman Samuel Kimani said there are efforts increase the number of listed companies in the country in a bid to raise more money for stock exchange. We will hold talks with relevant stakeholders to come up with ways of ensuring this happens, Mr Kimani said. Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish, please reach us through news@tuko.co.ke or WhatsApp: 0732482690 and Telegram: Tuko news Meet Kenya's Strongest Man who has the Strength of a Rhino (Amazing Story)| Faces of Kenya - Tuko TV: Source: Tuko Breaking News Latest The Attorney General says he is not the Government but is it's attorney at law, as he spoke about the legal challenge now before the Courts regarding the process as outlined in the Constitution for the appointment of Gary Griffith as the Acting Police Commissioner. Two Ukrainian soldiers were wounded in the anti-terrorist operation (ATO) area in eastern Ukraine over the past day. Ukrainian Defense Ministry's Spokesperson for ATO issues Dmytro Hutsuliak said this at a press briefing on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "Unfortunately, one Ukrainian defender was wounded in enemy shelling... Another soldier suffered combat injury, Hutsuliak said. According to him, the wounded soldiers were immediately taken to hospital where needed treatment was provided to them. Hutsuliak also added that Russian-backed militants continued to violate the ceasefire regime. Over the past day, they launched 50 attacks on the positions of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, using weapons that are prohibited by the Minsk agreements. iy The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented over 400 terrorist attacks in various regions of Ukraine over past 3.5 years. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this at the meeting on the counteraction to the information aggression of the Russian Federation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "We see the attempts to organize terrorist attacks inside the country. The Security Service of Ukraine has prevented over 400 terrorist attacks in various regions of Ukraine over past 3.5 years. The identified and detained terrorists, a lot of them, were trained in the respective camps in the territory of the Russian Federation... as well as in the territory of the illegally annexed Crimea," Poroshenko said. Ukraine is in a state of war and rebuffs the Russian aggression, Poroshenko stressed. "The war has absolutely new features and characteristics. The war is hybrid, where, along with the military actions of the armed forces of the Russian Federation, Russian mercenaries, Russia wages a subversive war against Ukraine on all the fronts," the President said. ol Ukraine now has unprecedented support in the European Parliament, in particular regarding Ukrainian foreign policy, the position on occupied territories, and opposition to the aggressor in Crimea and in occupied territories. MP Mykola Kniazhytsky, a co-chairman of a meeting of the Ukraine-EU Association Committee, which was held in Strasbourg, told this to Ukrinform. "We were very pleased with the full support of Ukrainian foreign policy and the Ukrainian position on occupied territories, opposition to the aggressor in Crimea and in occupied territories. Such unanimous support, which was seen at this meeting, has not been seen long ago," Kniazhytsky said. According to him, Ukraine is supported not only by deputies of the European Parliament, but also by representatives of the European Commission's foreign policy office. "Therefore, we hope for the introduction of additional sanctions, that the situation with human rights and Ukrainian political prisoners both in Crimea and on the territory of the Russian Federation will be properly assessed in relation to those people who were involved in the occupation of Ukrainian territories or the violation of human rights regarding Ukrainians, that sanctions will be imposed and that the EP will toughen its stance towards Russia," he said. As for the introduction of additional sanctions, he said, this issue is still being discussed. "We are currently discussing this issue, but we see that MEPs support this idea and promise to influence the European Commission so that the European Union could support the sanctions imposed by the U.S. and work out sanctions against those who violate Ukrainian legislation, encroach on Ukraine's territorial integrity, or violate human rights," the politician said. He also emphasized the effectiveness of the work of the Association Committee, since "we have learned to work together with our European partners and we have proved to the Europeans, the European Parliament, the European community that the Ukrainian parliament, the Ukrainian government, the Ukrainian authorities can effectively implement all recommendations of the Association Agreement." op Ukraine is interested in intensifying the development of Ukrainian-Turkish strategic partnership in order to achieve the concrete results for both countries. Vice Prime Minister for European and Euro-Atlantic Integration of Ukraine Ivanna Klympush-Tsintsadze said this during the meeting with Volkan Bozkir, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Turkish Grand National Assembly, the Governmental portal reports. "Ukraine is interested in intensifying the development of Ukrainian-Turkish strategic partnership, aimed at achieving tangible concrete results in the interests of our states. The cooperation at the level of the parliaments of the two countries should play a special role," the Vice Prime Minister noted. The parties discussed the progress and prospects of Ukraine-Turkey cooperation. Klympush-Tsintsadze stressed that Ukraine was satisfied with the dynamic pattern of the political dialogue between the countries at all the levels and hoped for its strengthening. Klympush-Tsintsadze also stressed the importance of Turkey's support for the territorial integrity and independence of Ukraine and fruitful cooperation in the international organizations. Volkan Bozkir confirmed that his country would remain a reliable partner of Ukraine and expressed satisfaction with the level of dialogue that exists between the states. Turkey does not recognize the annexation of Crimea and is also interested in the successful implementation of Ukraine's Eurointegration and Euro-Atlantic aspirations, the Chairman of the Foreign Relations Committee at the Turkish Grand National Assembly stressed. ol The Verkhovna Rada has supported the president's appeal to Archbishop of Constantinople, Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew, with the request to issue a tomos (decree) on autocephaly for the Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). A total of 268 people's deputies voted for such a decision on Thursday. President Petro Poroshenko said from the parliament's rostrum that the issue of autocephaly of the UOC goes far beyond the church issue. According to him, the issue concerns Ukraine's ultimate independence from Moscow. "To me the establishment of an independent local church is as important as the visa-free regime and the Association Agreement with the European Union, as our common struggle for membership in the European Union and NATO membership, which is still ahead. This is a question of national security and our defense in this hybrid war, because the Kremlin views the Russian church as a key tool of influence on Ukraine," Poroshenko said. According to the president, autocephaly for the UOC will remove the elements of the "Russian world" in Ukraine. op There are currently no grounds for holding early elections in Ukraine, Prime Minister Volodymyr Groysman has said. He said this at a meeting with representatives of regional media outlets on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reported. "There are currently no grounds for holding early elections. We can make many useful decisions for the country within one-and-a-half years [before the elections]. If our law on more severe punishment for the bribing of voters is passed, we will have a chance to get a new quality of elected representatives," Groysman said. op Ukraine has developed a system for counteracting the anti-Ukrainian broadcasting in the occupied territories. President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko said this at the meeting on the counteraction to the information aggression of the Russian Federation, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "On my instruction, the National Security and Defense Council, under the coordination of the Secretary of the Council and with the active participation of the Information Policy Ministry, the National Security Committee of the Verkhovna Rada and the regulator, the National Television and Radio Broadcasting Council, has developed and implemented the system of counteraction to the anti-Ukrainian broadcasting in the area of anti-terrorist operation, the Head of State said. He specified that the goal was not just to develop the system of counteraction to the Russian-language and anti-Ukrainian broadcasting, but "to convey the signal of the Ukrainian mass media, which today can be considered as the vaccine against Russian propaganda." ol Ukrainian Social Policy Minister Andriy Reva, Head of the Infrastructure Division of the German KfW Development Bank Marion Kneesch and Executive Director of the Ukrainian Social Investment Fund Andriy Laktionov have signed a financial and project agreement according to which the German Ministry for Economic Cooperation and Development (BMZ) through the KfW Bank provides Ukraine with EUR 9 million for the construction of social housing for internally displaced persons (IDPs). The agreement was signed on Thursday, an Ukrinform correspondent reports. "We expect that the housing will be built for about 1,000 IDPs at the expense of these funds, and almost 20 projects in schools and kindergartens will be implemented," German Ambassador to Ukraine Ernst Reichel said. According to him, the funds will be spent on the housing construction in Kharkiv, Zaporizhzhia, Dnipropetrovsk regions, as well as in some areas of Donetsk and Luhansk regions. Social Policy Minister Andriy Reva states that Ukraine highly appreciates the assistance from the German Government. ish The Ukrainian community and diplomats in Brussels have thanked the Ukrainian servicemen, who suffered severe injuries in the area of anti-terrorist operation while defending Ukraine from the Russian aggression. The award ceremony took place at the Embassy of Ukraine in the Kingdom of Belgium, a Brussels-based Ukrinform correspondent reports. Three Ukrainian soldiers, who now undergo rehabilitation in Brussels, received the awards from the NGO "Association of Patriots Strong in spirit. "Today, Ukraine stands at the forefront in protecting the democratic values of Europe and the entire world from the Russian aggressor. We highly respect our soldiers," said Major-General Mykola Bulhakov, the military attache of the Ukrainian Embassy in Belgium. He thanked the Belgian government, in particular, the Ministry of Defense, for inviting three Ukrainian soldiers to undergo medical rehabilitation. Colonel Vasyl Kovtun, one of the three Ukrainian soldiers, said that today every Ukrainian had their own front in opposing the Russian aggression. "These are trenches on the contact line as well as the diplomatic front, where it is necessary to consolidate the international efforts in support of Ukraine," Colonel Kovtun said. ol The sacking is due to the "improper performance" on the post and not related to his wife having dual Russian citizenship, according to a report. The Ministry of Defense has dismissed First Deputy Chief of the Ukrainian Navy Roman Hladkiy. "In accordance with the submission received by the defense minister, a decision was made to dismiss First Deputy Chief of the Ukrainian Navy of the Ukrainian Armed Forces, Captain Roman Hladkiy," the ministry said. Read alsoRussia boosts navy presence in Azov Sea, provocations possible Ukraine militaryIt is reported that Hladkiy was dismissed due to the "improper performance" on the post. "The assumption made by some media about other reasons for the dismissal does not correspond to reality," the ministry stressed. Earlier, media reports claimed that the sacking was connected with the fact that Hladkiy's wife is a holder of a Russian passport. Delegation of 70 people from Syria is attending at the event as well. Yalta International Economic Forum (YIEF) has opened in the Russian-occupied Crimea, with participation of a number of pro-Russian European politicians. According to organizers, some 3,000 guests from 60 countries will take part in the event to be held on April 19-21 in Yalta, the Russian news agency TASS reported. Occupation forces earlier announced the arrival of German and Austrian delegations, as well as the participation of envoys from Italy and Greece. Read alsoAdidas, Puma, DHL illegally operating in occupied Crimea Ukraine officialsAs reported, a large delegation of 70 people from Syria is attending at the event as well. Envoy of the youth wing of Alternative for Germany (AfD) party Markus Frohnmaier delivered a speech at the opening of the forum. Deputy Mayor of Linz Detlef Wimmer earlier called for lifting sanctions against Russia. Earlier, the occupation authorities announced that a delegation of German lawmakers and businessmen would visit the peninsula in April. The presidential spokesman denies authenticity of tapes Fugitive Ukrainian MP Oleksandr Onyshchenko has unveiled part of an audio file he claims he recorded secretly of his conversation with President Petro Poroshenko. A man's voice Onyshchenko claims to be the president's is heard as the two discuss a number of "agreements" allegedly reached with former Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mykola Zlochevskiy on closing down criminal investigation against the MP. The record was made public on the NewsOne TV channel on Wednesday. The conversation starts with random questions voiced by "Poroshenko" about Onyshchenko's vacation. Further, the "president" is heard being interested about a person he calls "Yulia" (last name not mentioned). He asks: "How is Yulia?" Onyshchenko says she is on a vacation. "She continues to 'muddy the waters' against me, I'm getting such reports," a man tells Onyshchenko. The MP says he doesn't think so, but offers to arrange a meeting for them. After that, the two men start talking about former Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources Mykola Zlochevskiy. He is involved in the gas business and has a significant impact on the market in Ukraine. Read alsoSpain rejects Ukraine's extradition bid against fugitive MP Onyshchenko"I met Zlochevskiy in Dubai, he has been settling with [MP] Ihor [Kononenko] for a year. I don't know if you're getting reports about their agreements. Zlochevskiy asked me to talk with you and put forward some offers." "When he meets Ihor, he is only interested in gas supplies to his company, and Mykola wants to settle the issue globally," Onyshchenko said. Zlochevskiy, as allegedly Onyshchenko said, had bought out a "promising" company of a late Polish businessman named Kulczik. The company produces 20 million cubic meters of gas. He also bought a hydrofracturing company. Zlochevskiy seeks to sign contracts with Naftogaz and other companies and share profits in half. The former minister wants to enter Ukraine with his western company as an investor to pay rent payments for business at only 2%. Zlochevskiy also suggests that "Poroshenko" curtail all of the businessman's debts, register all gas assets on his company, and, most importantly, "share the economy 50/50." Read alsoDirty deal traced to three Ukrainian tycoons Al Jazeera (Video)"Yes, Mykola is a good guy. I'll think of what can be done. It's just the Americans have been on him lately," he said. Onyshchenko assures his interlocutor that the U.S. will not interfere in the case since the son of Senator Joe Biden plays a significant role in Zlochevskiy's business. Then, "Poroshenko" says that in a week he will give an answer on the issue of assisting Zlochevsky when he settles the issue with "Yulia," who has not yet returned from her vacation. In turn, Presidential Press Secretary Svyatoslav Tsegolko has called the record fake. "The position is known fake news does not need comments," Tsegolko told journalists on Thursday, an UNIAN correspondent reported. UNIAN memo. On December 1, 2016, Onyshchenko claimed he had handed over to the U.S. security services "compromising evidence" against Ukrainian President Poroshenko. The deputy said that for about a year, he has been secretly recording his conversations with the head of state with a wristwatch-type device. In addition, Onyschenko accused the Presidential Administration of buying up votes in the Verkhovna Rada for cash that was passed through him and several other deputies. Subsequently, on December 6, an audio recording of Onyshchenko's conversation was allegedly made with the MP Oles Dovhyi. On the tape, interlocutors discuss the scheme of closing a criminal case against Onyshchenko. Dovhyi confirmed that he had twice met with Onyschenko while abroad. However, he said, he simply persuaded Onyshchenko to cooperate with the investigation, compensating for the damage caused to the country's budget. February 9, Onyshchenko through the media unveiled the second part of his tapes allegedly with Ukrainian high-ranking officials. He claimed that in the records, the voice of former People's Deputy Mykola Martynenko was heard. The record was published by Strana.ua. As Onyshchenko said, Martynenko acted as another mediator in the negotiations between him and the president. On March 19, 2018, Onyshchenko stated that he had at least one record of the conversation, where Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko allegedly threatened him with criminal cases "if somebody fails to vote for his laws." The Russian side does not confirm information about dozens of Ukrainian citizens. Ukraine offered at a meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group's humanitarian subgroup in Minsk on April 18 to hand 23 Russians convicted for crimes against Ukraine over to the Russian side in exchange for Ukrainian hostages kept in Russia, however, the Russian representatives ignored the offer. "I once again stressed the Ukrainian side's readiness to give the Russian Federation as quickly as possible 23 Russians convicted of crimes against [Ukraine's] territorial integrity in exchange for Ukrainians in Russia. We did not receive feedback," Ukraine's envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group's humanitarian subgroup Iryna Gerashchenko wrote on Facebook after the meeting. "On the other hand, representatives of ORDLO [the two self-proclaimed republics in Donbas] continue to include these Russians in their lists as members of the 'militia' residing in the 'young republics.' The Russian Federation has so far shown no interest in its citizens it sent out to Ukraine." Read alsoTwo Ukrainian border guards abducted by Russia return home Therefore, there is no progress in the release of the Ukrainian hostages. "They do not confirm information about dozens of our citizens, neither do they provide updates on them, but they persistently demand extraditing former Berkut riot police officers and others who are not covered by the provisions of the Minsk agreements. Therefore, we will continue to work here to arrive at a compromise and bring about a rapprochement of positions to succeed, "she summed up. As UNIAN reported earlier, Ukraine on December 27 exchanged 233 convicts in relation to the Donbas war for 73 Ukrainian civil hostages and prisoners of war. War-torn Libya braces for a new era of uncertainty amid reports of General Haftar being in Coma in Paris after suffering a stroke. It is uncertain if Haftar will emerge able to rule after his hospitalization. One this is sure, his ailing health or death could mean a renewal of violence that could hit the OPEC countrys oil output and create new opportunities for groups like ISIS. Many fear that the absence of Haftar could create a power vacuum and chaos in eastern Libya where the general has led the Libyan National Army (LNA), as a stabilizing force and a deterrent against the surge of terrorist groups. Haftar has also asserted control of Libyas oil crescent. Exports from the four ports under Haftars control are Libyas main source of much-needed hard currency. A return of hostilities in the region would hit hard Libyas finances. Up to now there is no consensus on who should replace Haftar within the LNA. The strongman has groomed his two sons, Khalid and Saddam, for succession, granting them command roles and keeping them deeply involved in his diplomatic engagements. Yet Haftars sons lack a deep well of support in the LNA, but given the lack of other candidates, theyre probably the only opportunity for the existing leadership to maintain command. Egypts has most to lose in the demise of Haftar. Sisi regime has invested in Haftar and offered him military support. The UAE and Russia have also seen in Haftar a strongman who will help stabilize Libya. Poroshenko asks Patriarch Bartholomew to provide Ukrainian Orthodox Church with a tomos for autocephaly. Ukraine's parliament, the Verkhovna Rada, has adopted a resolution in support of the appeal by President Petro Poroshenko to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to recognize the independence of Ukrainian Orthodox Church (UOC). A total of 268 MPs of 334 registered in the session hall voted for draft resolution No. 8284, an UNIAN correspondent reports. In the appeal, Poroshenko asks Patriarch Bartholomew to provide Ukrainian Orthodox Church with a tomos for autocephaly. Read alsoUPDATE: Ukraine asks Constantinople to allow creation of independent Ukrainian Orthodox Church"This long-awaited document will not only be a triumph of Orthodoxy, but also an act of deep historical justice, because it was from Constantinople that the light of the Christian faith shed on our blessed land," the appeal says. According to Poroshenko, the document will strengthen religious freedoms and interfaith peace in Ukraine, rights and freedoms of citizens. It is also stressed that such a document "will raise the respect and authority of the Ecumenical Patriarch among Ukrainians to new heights." Poroshenko notes that Patriarch Bartholomew is the only person in the world who has canonical rights and legal authority to resolve such issues. Read alsoPatriarch Filaret supports Poroshenko's appeal to Patriarch Bartholomew to create independent UOC"Our whole nation is looking up on you with reverence and hope, because it is in your power to give us unity, peace and harmony that we need so much and that we have been deprived of for so long. Your blessing, as well as the document granted to our Ukrainian Church, will complete the assertion of independence and autonomy of Ukraine in the spiritual dimension," the appeal says. The president of Ukraine expressed hope and belief that Patriarch Bartholomew would not refuse "the blessing and long-awaited benefit to your spiritual children, Ukrainians loyal to our mother church." The decision comes into force from the date of its adoption. As UNIAN reported earlier, President of Ukraine Petro Poroshenko on Tuesday, April 17, announced the start of the procedure for the creation of a unified Ukrainian Orthodox Church. The enemy used banned weapons both in the Donetsk and Luhansk sectors. Russia's hybrid military forces attacked Ukrainian army positions in Donbas 50 times in the past 24 hours, with two Ukrainian soldiers reported as wounded in action (WIA). "In the Donetsk sector, the defenders of Butivka coal mine, and the villages of Nevelske and Novotroyitske came under fire from 120mm and 82mm mortars, grenade launchers, heavy machine guns and small arms," the press center of the headquarters of Ukraine's military operations reported on Facebook Thursday morning. In addition, the Ukrainian positions near the village of Mykolayivka were attacked with the use of 120mm mortars. Moreover, the enemy employed 82mm mortars and grenade launchers near the villages of Pisky and Vodiane. Read alsoRussian-led troops in Donetsk now using 152mm artillery to attack Ukraine NGO StopTerror"Militants opened fire from grenade launchers against the defenders of the town of Avdiyivka, and the villages of Talakivka, Hnutove and Bohdanivka, infantry fighting vehicles at our fortified positions near Bohdanivka, and heavy machine guns near the villages of Opytne, Vodiane and Talakivka," the press center said. Furthermore, small arms were used near the towns of Avdiyivka and Maryinka, and the villages of Lebedynske, Verkhniotoretske, Kamianka and Shyrokyne. A sniper was active near Hnutove. In the Luhansk sector, occupiers fired 82mm mortars at the Ukrainian fortified positions near the village of Novo-Oleksandrivka and the town of Popasna, as well as grenade launchers at the defenders of the village of Luhanske and the town of Svitlodarsk. The Russian occupation forces also used heavy machine guns against the Ukrainian positions in the village of Novoluhanske, and sniper weapons near the villages of Maiorsk and Novhorodske. According to experts, the current situation being preserved until 2020 would be the most sustainable scenario. Neither war nor peace; return by peaceful means; return by force; and the abandonment of the occupied territories these are the key options for Donbas developments for the coming years. Experts of the Ukrainian Institute for the Future (UIF) have been studying the issue from the beginning of the year, trying to assess probability of each of the scenarios, the Novoe Vremya weekly reported. At the same time, UIF analysts consider the current status quo in Donbas, namely the scenario of "neither war nor peace," the most probable and most sustainable one. Meanwhile, most Ukrainians, judging by a late-March survey by GfK Ukraine, fail to grasp the essence of the recently adopted law on the reintegration of the occupied territories, and neither do they believe it is possible to return Donbas by such means. At the same time, all respondents would like to see the conflict resolved peacefully. Scenario No. 1: Neither war nor peace Probability: 75% According to experts, this is the most sustainable scenario: preservation of the current situation until 2020, i.e. until the new president and parliament are elected in Ukraine. Under this course of events, the Ukrainian political elite will be reluctant to take drastic steps that could violate the existing status quo. No clear and concrete plan for the region's return will emerge so the risks will rise of some unexpected failures will. Russia might actively employ provocations at the front line as a tool to respond to any increase in pressure on the part of Kyiv or international institutions. Clashes are possible as a way for the Kremlin to warn the West, NATO and other organizations against engaging in the conflict even in case of its sharp aggravation. Experts also believe that the split in society will be widening against the background of an increasing number of war veterans. Scenario No. 2: Return by peaceful means Probability: 18% Most likely, such a development will immediately follow the previous scenario, whenever it is completed. Peaceful return is possible in two ways: a "Trojan horse" and a "peacekeeping mission." The "Trojan horse" actually means the implementation of the Russian version of Minsk agreements. In this case, currently occupied territories will come under the formal jurisdiction of Ukraine. Many militants will be granted amnesty. Local elections will be held in the region where pro-Russian forces will win. As a result, a steady balance will be broken in Ukrainian politics as political parties oriented toward Russia will get more support. Therefore, Donbas will gain a special status and autonomy with the ability to influence Kyiv, while the latter will be limited in its impact on the "republics." According to experts, the "peacekeeping mission" is a more realistic option: the introduction into the region of a limited contingent of foreign peacekeepers under international mandate. However, chances are very high that the "blue helmets" will be deployed on the front line with the self-proclaimed republics, not on the Ukraine-Russia border. In this case, Ukraine will not get full access to the occupied part, so the situation will develop according to the scenario of Transnistria. Scenario No. 3: Non-Ukrainian Donbas: Ukraine's abandonment of its eastern territories and their direct annexation by Russia Probability: 5% This is the most painful scenario for the nation's self-consciousness. It can become a reality if a pro-Russian candidate wins the presidential election for example, someone from the former Party of Regions. Another option is if the victory will be sealed by a politician declaring the need for a dialogue with Vladimir Putin. The official recognition of Donbas non-Ukrainian will create a coalition within the country against the initiator of such actions. Mass discontent will cause protests and rallies, since the war that lasted four years affected many layers of the population. Military, volunteers, and activists will rally against authorities. The situation in the country will become dangerous. The only advantage is that the authorities will be forced to act very concretely, strengthening borders and refusing from making any obligations to the population of "republics." Scenario No. 4: Return of Donbas by military means Probability: 2% This is the least likely scenario, although today's Ukrainian army is fully capable of large-scale military actions. If the authorities decide to return the occupied territories by force, the offensive will take place along the entire demarcation line, i.e. about 500 km of the front line. Given the large number of militants deployed in the occupied territories, (according to various estimates, it's a 30,000 to 50,000-strong force), the striking grouping of the Armed Forces of Ukraine will need to amount to no less than 100,000 troops (this is almost equaling to all infantry units available today). The main offensive must be focused in two or three directions, where commanders will deploy a major part of the infantry with the support of the armored units. The latter force should employ at least 1,500-2,000 armored vehicles. Such a scenario presupposes militarization of society and, even more likely, introduction of martial law across the country. Martin Sajdik said the situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine "has been far from stable." Ensuring security and improving the work of checkpoints in eastern Ukraine remains an urgent topic for the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine, the special representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Wednesday. Martin Sajdik, a member of the TCG, told reporters that "the improvement of checkpoints and the opening of new ones" remains a significant topic for the TCG in order to handle the difficulties encountered by civilians at the existing checkpoints, Xinhua reports. Read alsoRussian tanks entering Ukraine that the OSCE is mandated to miss - KHPGSajdik said the situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine "has been far from stable." The next meeting of the TCG will be held on May 4. The TCG is a group of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE that was formed to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. One of the narratives pushed by Moscow shortly after the tragedy encouraged officials to compare the crash to the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand before the First World War and accuse Kyiv of provoking a new world conflict. Kremlin leaks have revealed Russian use of disinformation over the shooting down of Malaysia Airlines flight MH17 in 2014. Emails hacked by a coalition of Ukrainian activists called Cyberhunta from accounts linked to senior Kremlin officials contained a briefing document that set out eight separate messaging lines to take over the crash, which killed 298 people, The Times reports. The eight narratives sought to blame Ukraine for the disaster, although the Boeing airliner was shot down by a Russian surface-to-air missile. The briefing note was dated July 20-27, 2014, the week after the crash. One of the narratives encouraged officials to compare the crash to the murder of Archduke Franz Ferdinand before the First World War and accuse Kyiv of provoking a new world conflict. The briefing note was found among more than 4,165 leaked documents. British officials believe that Russia has spread disinformation after the chemical weapons attack in Douma, in Syria, and the poisoning of Sergei and Yulia Skripal in Salisbury. A Whitehall source said that a total of 31 different false or distorted narratives had been pushed out by Russian officials and through state-backed media channels. They included claims that there was no gas attack in Douma, that the UK staged the attack and that Britains intelligence services carried out the attempted assassination of the Skripals in order to justify an increase in defense spending. Read alsoMH17 downing: Media shed light on involvement of Russian ColonelThe MH17 briefing, which was titled Thematic lines for work in the political field, was among thousands contained in the Surkov leaks, named after Vladislav Surkov, a Kremlin spin master. The Kremlin claims that the Surkov leaks are fabricated. The documents were analysed by InformNapalm, a Ukrainian open source journalism group, who released them online. The last of three tranches was uploaded in November. The first part of the SurkovLeaks materials is available here, the second part is here, and the third one is here. Bob Seely, a Conservative MP and Russia expert, and Alya Shandra, managing editor of Euromaidan Press, a Ukrainian news website, have further examined the leaks and translated key parts. Their research will be published by the Royal United Services Institute this spring. Read alsoUSA Really. Wake Up Americans: Russia launching another propaganda outlet in U.S.Seely told The Times: This document is the only written evidence to prove that the Russian state has actively engaged in disinformation strategies which it has attempted to disseminate to global audiences. Until now we have lacked evidence that the Russian state has used messaging deception. We have heard their diplomats and media but there has been nothing in writing. After the joint U.S., British and French airstrikes on Syria on Saturday morning US officials said that they had tracked a 20-fold increase in Russia-linked disinformation. British officials are also understood to have tracked a significant spike in disinformation from automated online accounts, including on Twitter and Facebook. The latest package of sanctions the U.S. Treasury imposed on Russia hit Moscow much harder than past ones. By putting harsh economic restrictions on a group of Russian oligarchs, the United States is effectively putting more pressure on Russian President Vladimir Putin, CEO of Hermitage Capital and architect of the Magnitsky Act William Browder believes. "By going after these oligarchs, the U.S. government is effectively going after Vladimir Putin," Browder told The American Interest. "Vladimir Putin has amassed enormous wealth over the last 18 years. In order for him to hold that wealthhe cant do it in his own namehes effectively appointed oligarchs to be his trustees. And hes had to do that because if anything was held in his own name, then those people who knew that would be able to blackmail him. However, hes created an ideal situation for us in the West because politically we cant sanction Putin, we cant put Vladimir Putin on a sanctions list. But we can put his oligarchs on a sanctions list and know exactly what were doing to him," he said. "By going after this group of Russians, weve now gotten Putins attention." According to the financier, previous sanctions against Gennady Timchenko and many other people who are fairly close to Putin didn't work well due to a number of reasons. "Timchenko, Arkady and Boris Rotenberg, and Kirill Shamalov were the four relevant people in the Ukraine sanctions. However, with Timchenko, for example, two days before the sanctions were put into place, he allegedly sold his company to his personal lawyer. And therefore the company has continued to operate without any consequence since then. On top of that, the sanctions in the past have gone after apparatchiks, not businessmen for the most part," said Browder. Read alsoU.S. Treasury sanctions Russian oligarchs, officials, entities in response to worldwide malign activityBy contrast, sanctions against the seven oligarchs on the latest sanctions list completely disrupt every aspect of these businesses, according to the Hermitage Capital CEO. Any company, whether its American, European, or Latin American, that has business in the United States, can no longer do business with these oligarchs without risking being in violation of U.S. Treasury sanctions. And that goes for people who have major equity investments with them all the way down to a company like Microsoft which sells them software. They can no longer use Microsoft Word anymore because that would be an American company having business with them. And so every bank, every corporation, anybody who has any contact with America has to sever ties with these people, according to Browder. All the people on this listOleg Deripaska, Viktor Vekselberg, Suleiman Kerimovhave huge international operations. They have big equity investments abroad. They have Western investors investing in their operations in Russia. And everything now grinds to a halt, William Browder said, adding that "the main beneficiaries of this whole thing are international law firms that are now crawling all over all of these companies and all of their counterparties. Everybodys quickly trying to figure out how to not be in violation of U.S. Treasury sanctions." Answering the question on what would happen to shares owned by targeted oligarchs, Browder said: "Theyre stuck Lets say someone owns 100 shares of General Motors. They cant sell ititll just sit somewhere. And most banks who are the custodians of these people will also be trying to extricate themselves from those relationships as quickly as they can, because they dont want to be holding assets on behalf of a sanctioned individual." Read alsoRussian ruble plunge not to affect Ukraine's forex market - expertsPutin, in response to this, has said that the government is going to essentially indemnify these companies or help them sort through the short-term problems that they are having. "The Russian government is going to have to burn through a significant amount of hard currency reserves in order to help these companies stay afloat. And thats the reason why the ruble devalued on the back of thisbecause everybody understood that if the central bank is burning money for sanctioned Russian oligarchs, thats less money available for foreign exchange reserves, and therefore the ruble should be weaker," Browder suggests. "It means that Russia becomes much more of a non-global economy. The Russian economy is weak to start with because theres so much crime in Russia that its very difficult for entrepreneurs to start businesses. And as a result, the economy is ridiculously skewed towards large resource-based enterprises that are either oligarch-owned or state-owned." Read alsoMinister Avakov calls on U.S. to introduce sanctions against possible contractors of Nord Stream 2"I dont think that this affects Russian politics because there is no such thing as Russian politics. The phrase Russian politics would suggest that there is a competition, that there is uncertainty," said Browder, adding that Russia has mutated to "totalitarianism under the current version of Putin." Move against Telegram app wreaks wider havoc perhaps on purpose. After Russia banned messaging app Telegram for not helping the security services access user data, the task for the Kremlins internet censors was simple: block access to the app and show their resolve in their wars on user privacy. Instead, they blocked nearly everything else, according to The Financial Times. Roscomnadzor, Russias communications watchdog, stopped access to more than 16m IP addresses this week from Amazon and Googles decentralized cloud hosting services, which Telegram uses to get around the ban. The move wreaked havoc across the Russian internet while leaving the renegade app largely unscathed. Read alsoRussia may block Facebook following Telegram banThe sweeping blockages failed to curb Telegram, but they have suggested that the Kremlin is nonetheless willing to go further than ever against foreign internet companies as President Vladimir Putin prepares to begin a new term next month. Privacy advocates speculate that the Kremlin is laying the groundwork for all-encompassing censorship like Chinas. Now, Roscomnadzor can draw conclusions about the biggest vulnerabilities from banning various services and putting up a Russian national firewall, said Sarkis Darbinian, chief legal officer at RosKomSvoboda, a privacy rights group. Roskomnadzors crusade has taken down everything from car dealerships to e-commerce sites. Although Alexander Zharov, Roskomnadzor head, said Telegram had degraded by 30%, the apps top Russian-language communities all reported an uptick in subscribers. Read alsoTelegram chat app blocked in Russia mediaLacking Chinas built-in censorship infrastructure, Russia favours a selective approach based on pressuring big internet companies to comply with local laws. That has seen it tussle with U.S. internet giants over a series of measures requiring them to store user data on Russian servers and censor content at the Kremlins request. Its all about the political costs, and now they dont look that horrible, said Andrei Soldatov, co-author of The Red Web, a book about the Kremlins efforts to control the internet. You have an international crisis and sanctions vis-a-vis Russia and the west, so you can spin issues with Facebook, Google, and Telegram this way as well. The hearing gives Manafort a chance to seek dismissal of charges in an indictment against him in Washington before the case can go to trial in September. Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, will try on Thursday to convince a judge to throw out charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, arguing Mueller has overstepped his authority. Manafort, hit with two indictments accusing him of conspiracy against the United States and other crimes, backed away from an earlier request to the same judge for dismissal of the special counsel's charges during an April 4 hearing in a related civil lawsuit, Reuters said. Read alsoMueller was authorized to investigate Paul Manafort's work for Ukraine media On Thursday, Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing is expected to tell U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson during a hearing in Washington that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's order in May 2017 appointing Mueller was overly broad, and that Mueller's case falls outside the boundaries of what he was permitted to investigate. The hearing gives Manafort a chance to seek dismissal of charges in an indictment against him in Washington before the case can go to trial in September. That indictment charged him with offenses including conspiring to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent in connection with his lobbying for the Ukrainian government under pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych. The other indictment, in Alexandria, Virginia, charges Manafort with bank fraud and filing false tax returns, among other offenses. Manafort's lawyer is set to ask for a dismissal of those charges in May. Both indictments arose from Mueller's investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election. Manafort is expected to have two separate criminal trials, with the Virginia one starting in July. Thursday's hearing is the latest development stemming from a special counsel investigation that potentially could threaten Trump's presidency. While Manafort has pleaded not guilty, the special counsel's office has extracted guilty pleas from other former campaign figures including Manafort's former deputy and business partner Rick Gates. Manafort is hoping to convince the judge that the Washington indictment should be tossed because the charges fall outside the scope of the investigation Rosenstein authorized. Rosenstein's order directed Mueller to investigate whether Trump's presidential campaign colluded with Russia and gave Mueller the power to investigate any other matters that arise from the probe. Trump and Russia have denied any such collusion. The meeting marks the first such one-on-one meeting since Russia-West relations fell apart following Russia's March 2014 annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. Russia's top military officer has met with his NATO counterpart, the first such encounter since relations between Moscow and the alliance have sunk to post-Cold War lows over the Ukrainian crisis. Russia's Defense Ministry said the chief of the military's General Staff, Gen. Valery Gerasimov, met Thursday in Azerbaijan's capital, Baku, with U.S. Army Gen. Curtis Scaparrotti, NATO's top military officer, according to ABC News, citing the Associated Press. Read alsoExpert assesses threat of full-scale offensive by Putin's troops in Donbas The ministry said the military chiefs discussed Russian and NATO military activities in Europe and measures to improve trust and avoid incidents. They also exchanged views on Syria. The meeting marks the first such one-on-one meeting since Russia-West relations fell apart following Russia's March 2014 annexation of Crimea and Russian aggression in eastern Ukraine. NATO responded by deploying its forces closer to Russian borders. Maghreb countries continue to make independent counterterrorism (CT) efforts, without much development of multilateral regional initiatives, says Australian Strategic Policy Institute (ASPI). In its Counterterrorism Yearbook 2018, ASPI deplores lack of coordination between Maghreb countries in the fight against the terrorism threat. Morocco has many times urged Algerian authorities to coordinate CT actions against jihadists threatening the regions stability, but its calls went unheeded due to rivalry between the two neighboring countries. Relations between Rabat and Algiers are still strained over the Sahara issue as the Algerian authorities continue to shelter, fund and provide weapons to Polisario separatist group set up to undermine Moroccos territorial integrity. In 2017, peace and security across North Africa were threatened by jihadists, armed conflicts, poor governance and porous borders, say the authors of the ASPI report. Morocco and Tunisia are clearly doing better than others, while Egypt suffered the second-highest number of attacks in the Maghreb in 2017, underlines the document, saying that the attack in Bir al-Abd on the Sinai Peninsula in November 2017 was the most lethal in Egypts modern history, with over 300 fatalities. The Egyptian governments heavy-handed response to terrorism had negative effects on national security, stress the analysts of the ASPI, citing in this regard the reinforcement of police powers, the restrictions imposed on freedom of expression, the unlawful detention and capital punishment. In Libya, five dangerous extremist groups operate in the country beside some smaller militant cells. In the absence of an effective government, these armed groups continue to challenge the central authority, say the CT experts. In Algeria, al-Qaedas regional branch, AQIM, continues to enjoy solid support and influence. AQIM has demonstrated considerable durabilityit has been in operation in the region since 2007 and retains around 500 members, underline the analysts of the Australian Strategic Policy Institute. CT measures in Morocco, Tunisia and Algeria are far more sophisticated and multidimensional than those deployed in Egypt and Libya, say ASPI report. In these three countries, strong security measures, coordinated intelligence and military operations are combined with socio-political moves aimed at addressing the drivers of radicalization. According to ASPI, Morocco and Algeria have both imposed a strict policy on the dissemination of religious material, allowing only those preaching moderate Islam. Such measures led to security improvements. There have been no terrorist attacks on Moroccan soil since 2011. Tunisia has also avoided any mass-casualty terrorist attacks since the 2016 assault on the town of Ben Guerdan. (@ChaudhryMAli88) British Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands has assured to work with Pakistan to promote it as a safe destination for British investment and assured that post Brexit ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :British Minister of State for Trade Policy Greg Hands has assured to work with Pakistan to promote it as a safe destination for British investment and assured that post Brexit, Pakistan will get more generous market access in the United Kingdom as compared to the access which it currently enjoyed under GSP Plus regime. Assurance to this effect was given in a meeting between Commerce Minister Mohammed Pervaiz Malik with British Minister of State for Trade Policy during Commonwealth business Forum. According to press release issued here Thursday by Ministry of Commerce, Pervaiz Malik is visiting London from April 15 to 19 in order to represent Pakistan in the "Commonwealth Business Forum" which is an integral part of Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018. During the meeting, Commerce Minister thanked British Government for their support in securing GSP plus status with EU and asked for a closer trade relation post Brexit. He was accompanied by Pakistan's High Commissioner Syed Ibne Abbas. Hands assured Pakistan's Commerce Minister that post Brexit, Pakistan would get more generous market access in the UK as compared to the access which it currently enjoyed under the GSP Plus regime. He also assured to work with Pakistan to promote it as a safe destination for British investment. The commerce minister also invited him to visit Pakistan which Greg Hands agreed in principle. Apart from this meeting, the minister attended "Asia Leaders Roundtable Conference" and "Fashion and Textile Event under Commonwealth Business Forum where he effectively projected the success which Pakistan is making on the economic front. The minister also highlighted the mega change which the realization of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project was bringing about in the infrastructure and energy landscape of the country. Commerce Minister also met Prince Andrew, Duke of York at St. James Palace during Commonwealth forum. On this occasion, both the leaders acknowledged close relations between the two countries and agreed to cement them further. It is important to note that Commonwealth countries represent about one-third of the global population having a combined GDP of US$ 10 trillion which offers immense opportunities in trade and investment, which Pakistan was keen to exploit for boosting its exports and creating employment opportunities. Federal Commerce Minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik Wednesday called on British Minister of State for trade policy, Greg Hands and discussed ways for enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK) LONDON, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Federal Commerce Minister Muhammad Pervaiz Malik Wednesday called on British Minister of State for trade policy, Greg Hands and discussed ways for enhancing bilateral trade between Pakistan and the United Kingdom (UK). Pervaiz Malik is visiting London from April 15 to 19, in order to represent Pakistan in the "Commonwealth business Forum" which is an integral part of Commonwealth Head of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018. According to a statement issued here by Pakistan High Commission, he held important meetings with Greg Hands and Trade Envoy for Pakistan, Rehman Chishti during his visit. The Commerce Minister was accompanied by Pakistan's High Commissioner to UK, Syed Ibne Abbas. The commerce minister thanked British government for their support in securing GSP plus status with EU and asked for a closer post Brexit trade relations. Hands assured Pakistan's Commerce Minister that Pakistan would get more generous market access in UK as compared to the access which it currently enjoys under GSP Plus regime. He also assured to work with Pakistan to promote it as a safe destination for British Investment. Pervaiz Malik also invited Hands to visit Pakistan which he accepted. Apart from this meeting, the commerce minister attended "Asia Leaders Roundtable Conference" and "Fashion and Textile Event" under Commonwealth Business Forum where he effectively projected the success which Pakistan is making on the economic front. Pervaiz Malik also met with Prince Andrew, Duke of York at St. James Palace. On the occasion, both the leaders acknowledged close relations between the two countries and agreed to cement them further. It is important to note that Commonwealth countries represents about one third of global population having a combined GDP of US$ 10 Trillion which offers immense opportunities in Trade and Investment which Pakistan is keen to exploit in order to boost its exports and create employment opportunities. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The private sector industries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agreed to recruitment of 800 youth with technical skill by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and FATA Development Authority (FDA). PESHAWAR, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :The private sector industries of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa agreed to recruitment of 800 youth with technical skill by the Technical Education and Vocational Training Authority (TEVTA) and FATA Development Authority (FDA). The skilled youth will be adjusted in different industrial units of the province. In this connection, a meeting of the Technical Education Advisory Forum of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa held here at TEVTA Office. Besides, Director General (DG), NUTEC, Mohammad Faheem, Chief Executive Officer (CEO), KP EZDMC, Saeed Ahmad, Manager Skill. FATA Development Authority (FDA), Arshad Farooq, Chairman, Technical Board, Dr. Ghulam Qasim, Secretary Trade Testiing board KP, Saeed Murad, Team Leader GIZ-NUTEC, Mohammad Ali Khan, Ashfaq Paracha and representatives of pharma, renewable & alternate energy and All Pakistan Marble Association attended the meeting. The meeting decided the finalization of the market-oriented curriculum for the technical educational institutions in consultations with the stakeholders to up-grade the institutions and adjust the graduates of the public sector technical institutions in the private sector industries of the province. During the forum, the private sector representatives assured the recruitment of the graduates of the technical education institutions in CPEC and other private sector enterprises. They also assured the provision of employment to 800 skilled youth in the industrial sector as soon as possible. The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged robust investments in Somalia's fragile healthcare infrastructure as a means to accelerate the country's reconstruction after two and a half decades of civil strife. NAIROBI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) ::The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged robust investments in Somalia's fragile healthcare infrastructure as a means to accelerate the country's reconstruction after two and a half decades of civil strife. Senior officials said at a forum in Nairobi that affordable health care will help Somalia deal with frequent disease outbreaks worsened by conflicts and natural calamities. Ghulam Popal, the WHO Representative in Somalia, proposed new funding and technical interventions to help rebuild Somalia's healthcare system. "The healthcare system in Somalia has suffered from continuous emergencies including epidemics of infectious diseases due to conflicts and extreme climatic shocks like droughts and floods," said Popal. "We must accelerate action to rebuild the country's health infrastructure and strengthen response to frequent cholera and measles outbreaks," he said. Representatives from multilateral lenders, governments and relief agencies attended the Nairobi forum that sought to explore innovative ways to broaden access to affordable healthcare services in Somalia. Participants discussed Kenya's and Sudan's model of expanding health coverage and how it can be replicated in the neighboring Somalia. Popal stressed that universal health coverage will have a positive socio-economic bearing on Somalia and the greater horn of African region. "Regional collaboration combined with stable institutional capacity is key to expanding access to quality and affordable healthcare services in Somalia. Resilient health systems in the country will benefit other East African Nations," Popal said. He urged greater investments in surveillance infrastructure to enhance timely response to disease outbreaks in Somalia. The governments of Somalia and other autonomous regions have identified reconstruction of health infrastructure as critical to achieve peace, stability and economic growth. Osman Isse Abdinasir, the Minister for Health in the autonomous Puntland region, said there is a political goodwill to promote access to quality health care to help deal with emergencies that undermine stability and progress. "We are gradually recovering from the turmoil of previous years and revitalizing health services will be the cornerstone of development and stability," Abdinasir said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Measles still claims young lives in Romania, where nearly 40 children have died in an outbreak that many blame on parents being misled by scare stories that vaccinating them is dangerous. BoldestiScaieni, Roumanie, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Measles still claims young lives in Romania, where nearly 40 children have died in an outbreak that many blame on parents being misled by scare stories that vaccinating them is dangerous. Some 12,000 people have contracted measles since late 2016 in the European Union's second-poorest country, 46 of them died. Among the dead, 39 were children under the age of three who had not been vaccinated, making Romania one of the worst affected countries in the ongoing measles outbreak in Europe. "People are mistrustful because they read all sorts of things on the internet," said Dr Silvana Dan, from the southern regional Prahova Public Health Authority, citing persistent rumours that vaccination causes autism. A girl aged just 11 months died in the region in March after her parents refused to vaccinate her. Measles is a highly contagious viral disease that affects children in particular but it has largely been brought under control. The World Health Organization (WHO) says deaths caused by measles plunged from 550,100 in 2000, to just under 90,000 in 2016. Paradoxically, and to the horror of health authorities worldwide, this very success has seen the public let down its guard and question whether vaccination is now really necessary. Local officials say health workers are "on the barricades," doing all they can to get the message across, especially in rural areas, that measles is a killer which can be stopped. It is not straightforward. "The reasons for people not being vaccinated are different in different population groups," local WHO representative Miljana Grbic told AFP. "Our research shows that there are specificities such as convenience of services, education, support of family doctors, community support and peer support that play a big role here," Grbic said. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Commission (JK HRC ) here Thursday said that the gang rape and brutal murder of minor Kashmiri Muslim girl Asifa Bano in Indian Occupied Kashmir had uprooted the human rights-loving people the world over, even in India, for this gruesome act of inhumanity and violence. MIRPUR (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) , :Jammu Kashmir Human Rights Commission (JK HRC ) here Thursday said that the gang rape and brutal murder of minor Kashmiri Muslim girl Asifa Bano in Indian Occupied Kashmir had uprooted the human rights-loving people the world over, even in India, for this gruesome act of inhumanity and violence. Talking to a group of journalists here, the JK HRC Chairman, Humayoon Zaman Mirza vehemently condemned the gang rape and the assassination of the murder of Asifa Bano. The highly shameful act was the ample proof of the fact that Muslims and even the low caste Hindus and other minorities were not safe and secure in India and most particularly in the Indian occupied Jammu Kashmir at the hands of the fanatic Hindus, including the occupying Indian forces. The JKHRC chief called for immediate raising of the ugly and shameful incident in the Human Rights Council, the UN General Assembly and the UN Commission on the Status of Women. Mirza said "Hindu extremists, instead of showing any sympathy for the victim, are demonstrating against the arrest of eight accused Hindus. The Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) extremists have been terrorizing 1.1 million Gujjars in Jammu for years. This time, he said, their persecution has moved to a higher pernicious level whereby they have used rape of an 8-year girl as an instrument of hatred, religious fanaticism and war against the Kashmiris. He said that the Indian occupation forces in Jammu and Kashmir have created a culture of impunity for crimes against humanity. Extremist gangs, therefore, feel encouraged to victimize young girls and that's why they are coming to the defense of the accused. The JKHRC Chief underlined that since 1989 Indian occupation forces had raped and molested thousands of women to teach Kashmiris a lesson and to subjugate them. Sexual violence, he pointed out, was used a weapon of war throughout the occupied territory. They use these tactics to force Gujjars and Nomads out of Jammu, but they will never succeed because Kashmiris are determined to get their freedom, he said. Humayoon said that it is also very disturbing to learn that the lawyer community in Jammu who are supposed to uphold the law are supporting Hindu extremists. "It is high time Indian civil society the world over to wake up and save Kashmiris from bondage, killings, torture and rape since women and children have no security in the bleeding occupied valley, he concluded. In Indian occupied Kashmir, the Muslim Deeni Mahaz (MDM) has expressed concern over the deteriorating health of its illegally detained Chairman, Dr Muhammad Qasim in Udhampur jail. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :In Indian occupied Kashmir, the Muslim Deeni Mahaz (MDM) has expressed concern over the deteriorating health of its illegally detained Chairman, Dr Muhammad Qasim in Udhampur jail. According to Kashmir Media Service (KMS) , the MDM spokesman in a statement issued in Srinagar said, "Dr Qasim is suffering from several ailments and in absence of medical treatment his condition has deteriorated considerably. "Dr Qasim is being subjected to political vendetta," he added. He said that Dr Qasim was shifted from Srinagar central jail on the pretext of a medical check-up despite clear court orders that he should not be shifted from Srinagar central jail. He said, "In Udhampur jail, he has been denied any kind of medical treatment that has resulted in the worsening of his medical conditions. Relatives are not even being allowed to meet him." The spokesman said after 25 years in illegal detention, the way forward should have been to release him but the Indian government and its local stooges have shredded every word in the book of law in his case. He appealed to the world community and the human rights organisations to look into the case of Dr Qasim and put pressure on India for his immediate release. EU High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Josep Borrell advised on Wednesday against disregarding defense expenditures in member states as economic investments become central due to the coronavirus pandemic, saying that COVID-19 is likely to bring about new security threats in the future The SECP, to ensure continuity of its adjudication function, while keeping the health and safety of respondents at forefront, has decided to conduct hearings through video conferencing facility where respondents can make their hearing submissions from their respective safe locations, be it their offices or homes The US oil supply in 2020 is expected to decline by 1.4 million barrels per day after the country's producers have shut down production or pledged to reduce output in an attempt to stabilize market, OPEC said in a monthly report on Wednesday The oil supply in the non-OPEC producing countries is expected to show a decline of 3.5 million barrels per day due to production cuts, mainly by the major North American producers, OPEC said in its monthly report on Wednesday The world oil demand in 2020 will fall even further than previously expected, the decline will amount to 9 million barrels per day (bpd), but could be mitigated if the economic recovery happens faster than anticipated, OPEC said in a monthly report on Wednesday The Omani Financial Ministry has decided to cut the approved national 2020 budget by another 5 percent for all ministries, as well as for the military, security and civilian government bodies, in an attempt to reduce the impact of the oil price collapse on the economy, the state-run ONA news agency reported on Wednesday The world oil demand in 2020 will fall even further than previously expected, the decline will amount to 9 million barrels per day (bpd), but could be mitigated if the economic recovery happens faster than anticipated, OPEC said in a monthly report on Wednesday The Greek National Council for Foreign Policy is meeting on Wednesday to develop a new operational plan and discuss the ongoing actions of Turkey in the Eastern Mediterranean Sea amid an oil and gas drilling dispute, Greek media reported on Wednesday The US economic recovery may be slower than desired in the aftermath of the coronavirus pandemic, but should rebound "substantially" once the outbreak is reined in, Federal Reserve Chair Jerome Powell said Wednesday Adviser to the Prime Minister on Finance and Revenue Dr Abdul Hafeez Shaikh said Wednesday that the government was carefully trying to strike a balance between protecting the health of its citizens and the economy by opening only essential services and sectors Records 17151 To 17175 (Total 65788 Records) Business news Business news is important part of the news. 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Moroccan-Spanish talks during this forum will focus on several issues of common interest, particularly in the political, economic, social and cultural fields. The agenda features debates on politics & security, economic cooperation, mobility & migration, cultural cooperation, development, the respect of the States sovereignty, the consolidation of democratic institutions, decentralization and regionalization. Participants will also review Moroccan-Spanish contribution to sustainable development in the Euro-Mediterranean basin, the challenges and opportunities of migration and the role of parliaments in enhancing cultural dialogue. Rabat hosted the 1st Moroccan-Spanish forum convened in 2012, the second was held in Madrid in 2013, while the third forum was organized in Morocco in 2015. Spain remains among Moroccos top trading partner. In 2016, trade exchanges reached $10.6 billion up from $9.3 billion in 2015. Between 2015 and 2016, Moroccos imports from Spain rose from $4.4 billion to $6.2 billion, while its exports to the country jumped from $4.2 billion to $5.1 billion. Spanish officials describe neighboring Morocco as a friend, a partner and an ally of Spain in the war against terrorism, drug trafficking and illegal immigration. They also hail the efficiency of cooperation set between Madrid and Rabat in this field. The solid cooperation set between Moroccan and Spanish security services, which carry out joint anti-terror operations, has led to the arrest of several jihadist cells threatening the regions security and stability. Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said that disciplinary action has been taken against 100 police officials who were involved in corrupt practices. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Dr Sultan Azam Temuri said that disciplinary action has been taken against 100 police officials who were involved in corrupt practices. IGP said that Islamabad police was following zero tolerance policy against corruption and no one was above the law and those doing wrong would have to face strict action. He said that community policing was the focus of Islamabad police force, adding seven model police stations and Facilitation Center at Rescue 15 were providing quality services to the citizens. Reviewing the overall performance of the force during the last three months, he said that special campaign was launched to curb drug peddling activities and added that 438 drug pushers were held and 389 cases were registered against them. He further said that police recovered 122.095 kilogram hashish, 16.439 kilogram heroin, 2.5 kilogram opium, ice and several tranquilizing pills from them. The IGP said that Islamabad police is an important department like other institutions and effective steps were being taken by the force to ensure protection of lives and property of the citizens. "After the current initiatives, there had been significant decline in crime rate in the city while public trust had also been restored on police department," he maintained. Temuri said that Islamabad Police had registered 144 cases after the arrest of 182 bootleggers while 10,388 wine and liquor bottles were recovered from them. He said that Islamabad police had taken action against those involved in immoral activities and arrested 65 females and 62 males following registration of 30 cases against them. In another action, 24 cases were registered after the arrest of 40 gamblers and further efforts are underway to curb gambling practices. Temuri said that effective action would be taken to curb the use of narcotics especially in educational institutions and ban Sheehsa Centers. He said that equal implementation of law would be ensured and those involved in unlawful, criminal activities would not be spared. (@FahadShabbir) All Pakistan Hurriyat Conference (APHC) (Jammu and Kashmir Chapter) Thursday organized a protest demonstration at D Chowk here, to protest rape and brutal martyrdom of eight years old innocent Muslim girl Asifa by workers of Bhartia Janata Party (BJP) in occupied valley of Kashmir. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :All Pakistan Hurriyat Conference (APHC) (Jammu and Kashmir Chapter) Thursday organized a protest demonstration at D Chowk here, to protest rape and brutal martyrdom of eight years old innocent Muslim girl Asifa by workers of Bhartia Janata Party (BJP) in occupied valley of Kashmir. A large number of people participated in the demonstration and chanted slogans against Indian brutalities in occupied Kashmir. The workers of BJP raped the innocent girl continuous eight days and then brutally murdered her. No matching example could be found from the world history, said the speakers while addressing the gathering. Speakers said the brutal murders of Asifa, Nilofar and Asiya could never be forgotten. They demanded the international community to play their over due role in awarding exemplary punishment to the rapists. They expressed solidarity with the families of victims and saying that the sacrifices of innocent Kashmiris would not go waste. Kashmiris would continue their just struggle till achieving the goal of winning the right to self determination. Speaking on the occasion, the leaders and APHC said India was using brutal force to suppress the freedom struggle of Kashmiris. Many innocent Kashmiris have been killed and injured hundreds by Indian forces during the last two months. The Indian forces have destroyed properties of Kashmiris in the occupied valley. The speakers expressed agony and distress over the use of pallet guns and arrests of innocent people under draconian laws. India has given license to its forces to trample human rights brazenly. The speakers said that the tragedies of Kathua, Kulgam and Shopian have made the whole nation worrisome. Rapes and brutal killings of innocent Kashmiris have become a routine affair in Occupied Kashmir. The speakers said the Indian Army has martyred 89 Kashmiri youth and injured over 890 Kashmiris in the last four months. Over 510 Kashmiris have received bullets, pellets injuries and 55 lost either one or both eyes during the current Calendar year. Indian forces use chemical weapons and explosive, thus completely burning the house, property along with human bodies. (@FahadShabbir) Federal Minister for Defence Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan is visiting Poland on the invitation of Minister of National Defence of Poland. On arrival, he was received by senior Polish Military officials and the Ambassador of Pakistan in Warsaw, said a press release received here on Thursday. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Federal Minister for Defence Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan is visiting Poland on the invitation of Minister of National Defence of Poland. On arrival, he was received by senior Polish Military officials and the Ambassador of Pakistan in Warsaw, said a press release received here on Thursday. On his arrival at the Polish Ministry of National Defence, Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan was received by the Polish Defence Minister,Mariusz Blaszczak . National anthems of the two countries were played and Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan was presented with Guard of Honour by a tri-services contingent of the Polish Armed Forces. The two Ministers held a one on one meeting followed by full delegation level talks. The two sides reviewed the existing defence cooperation between Pakistan and Poland and discussed various ideas to further promote these relations. They also exchanged views on security situation in their respective regions and important global issues. Blaszczak welcoming Pakistan's Defence Minister warmly recalled that Karachi hosted 30,000 Polish refugees during 1942-45. He underlined the importance, Poland attached to the relations with Pakistan and his country's interest in further promotion of these relations including in the field of defence. Engr. Khurram Dastgir mentioned the role played by Polish pilots in the development of Pakistan Air Force. He particularly highlighted the contribution of Turowicz who went on to become Air Commodore in Pakistan Air Force and later was instrumental in the setting up of SUPARCO. The Minister said that the signing of the Defence Cooperation Agreement and the growing defence cooperation were a tribute to the memory of Air Commodore Turowicz. Engr. Khurram Dastgir Khan briefed the Polish side on positive developments in Pakistan including economic growth, democratic consolidation and major success in counter terrorism. He explained in detail Pakistan's security perspective, its efforts to promote peace and stability in Afghanistan and the wider region. Blaszczak accepted the invitation of the Defence Minister to visit Pakistan at mutually convenient dates. Engr. Khurram Dastgir latter laid wreath at the tomb of unknown soldier and also visited the Warsaw Uprising Museum. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage while briefing the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information and Broadcasting in regards to the new film and cultural policy said that it would be made part of the Finance Bill 2018. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Minister of State for Information, Broadcasting, National History and Literary Heritage while briefing the Standing Committee of the National Assembly on Information and Broadcasting in regards to the new film and cultural policy said that it would be made part of the Finance Bill 2018. She told the committee that the policy envisaged a number of incentives for the revival and development of the film industry including: exemption from sales tax on the film making equipment for ten years; establishment of Finance Fund from which loans up to 50 million rupees would be given for the production of films of international standard and construction of cinema houses; establishment of Artists Assistance Fund; setting up of film academy and re-organization of the Film Directorate. She said that the cinemas having 350 seats for the audience would also be exempted from paying income tax. She said that by ensuring complete implementation of the new film and cultural policy Pakistan could end Indian monopoly on the cinema in the region. Marriyum said that the film makers would be provided unhindered access to the beautiful and scenic places and the foreign film makers opting to shoot 70% of their film in Pakistan and 30% in their own countries would be able to avail tax rebates and other incentives. She told the committee that the ministry of Information and Broadcasting had made relentless and dedicated efforts during the last eight months to formulate the first ever film and cultural policy of the country for which the team of the ministry deserved unqualified gratitude. The minister said that in the '60s Pakistan film industry was ranked among the top most industries of the world and the country also had a positive image among the global community. She said that the people of Pakistan also had strong connectivity with their culture and heritage. Marriyum pointed out that in the 80's and 90's the film industry experienced an unprecedented decline to the extent that only two to three films were produced during a year and in 2007 only one film was rolled out. The minister said that the terrorism during the last 35 years had badly affected the film industry. She said that the cinema houses were converted into shopping plazas and brought under other commercial uses and the playfields of the country also presented a deserted look. Pakistan remained out of screen tourism during the last 35 years and the international community looked at Pakistan through the prism of terrorism, she added. She observed that due to the steps taken in consonance with the vision of the former Prime Minister and the sacrifices rendered by the people, armed forces and law enforcing agencies, the law and order situation in the country had been normalized, hustle and bustle of the playground had returned and films and music were also witnessing their revival. The minister said that the country also had to win the perception war adding that the foreign delegations and dignitaries visiting Pakistan were now duly acknowledging that they found the country entirely different from what they had heard about it and Pakistan was a safe and peaceful country. The minister said that there was a time when no foreigner wanted his transfer to Pakistan, but now whoever was transferred here wished to stay longer and also called their families to join them. Marriyum told the committee that Turkey, Iran, Saudi Arabia and Qatar had used broadcasting and cinema to promote tourism in their countries. She revealed that the Saudi government had asked its ministry of culture to set up 2000 cinemas in the country. She said unfortunately this medium could not be used for that purpose in Pakistan during the last three decades. She said that after 19 years a Pakistan film titled 'Mein Punjab Naheen Jaoon Gi' did record business as against the Indian movies and Pakistani Punjabi films had been a hit. She also informed the committee that Pakistan and China for the first time had signed an agreement on Executive Cultural Programme. Marriyum said that Pakistan would participate in the film festivals in Beijing and Shanghai and Pakistani films would be screened at the Chinese cinemas. She said both the countries were also working on a number of joint ventures in the domain of films and culture. The minister said that under the 18th amendment the subject of culture had been devolved to the provinces. She said that they had found a direction and could replicate the Federal film and cultural policy. The minister said that Pakistani films and dramas were not shown on the Indian screens and as such there should also be a ban on showing Indian content on the Pakistani screens. She said it was therefore incumbent upon the media to strictly observe the quota specified for the foreign content. The committee meeting, presided by its chairman Aslam Bodla, was attended by its members, Secretary Information Ahmed Nawaz Sukhera and officials of the Ministry of Information. The chairman of the committee and its members thanked the minister of state and the ministry of information for the cooperation extended to it during 2013-18. Final phase of repatriation of North Waziristan's displaced people living in Afghanistan has started from Thursday. Spokesman, FATA Disaster Management Authority Ihsan Dawar said around 50 families will be repatriated in this phase. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Final phase of repatriation of North Waziristan's displaced people living in Afghanistan has started from Thursday. Spokesman, FATA Disaster Management Authority Ihsan Dawar said around 50 families will be repatriated in this phase. Eight families consisting of around 55 members returned to Pakistan via Ghulam Khan route, VOA Deewa Radio reported. He informed that complete arrangements had been made at Ghulam Khan route and at the camp. The people are first shifted to camp in Bannu and then they leave for North Waziristan Agency. The process will continue till the end of this month. He said they will provide transport facilities to take them to Bannu camp. A facilitation centre is set up at Ghulam Khan route for the displaced people. He said the displaced people would return to their homes from Bannu camp as soon as the roads leading to their villages open. Ihsan Dawar added it is final phase for the peoples return. Those, who fail to come to Pakistan in this phase, will face difficulties in entering the country. At least four people were killed while eight other injured after a gas cylinder of a Sehwan-bound passenger van exploded near Khairpur district of the Sindh province. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :At least four people were killed while eight other injured after a gas cylinder of a Sehwan-bound passenger van exploded near Khairpur district of the Sindh province. Police sources said the incident occurred in a Sehwan-bound passenger van near Khairpur, claiming lives of four people and injuring several others, Radio Pakistan reported. Rescue teams reached the spot and shifted the bodies and injured to Civil Hospital Khairpur. (@FahadShabbir) An eight-member high level Kuwaiti delegation visited Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Headquarters here on Thursday and discussed Anti Narcotics matters and share Kuwaiti experiences on the subject. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :An eight-member high level Kuwaiti delegation visited Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) Headquarters here on Thursday and discussed Anti Narcotics matters and share Kuwaiti experiences on the subject. The discussions focused on legal framework and other areas of mutual cooperation. Kuwaiti delegation was headed by Maj Gen Khaled Abdullah Al-Daiin, Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Affairs, State of Kuwait while on Pakistan's behalf, Director General ANF Major General Musarrat Nawaz Malik headed the dialogue. Other members of Kuwaiti delegation included Brig Bader Mohammad Al Ghadouri, General Manager, Drug Enforcement General Department, Director of International Control Administration Col. Fahad M. Albadar, Officer in the office of Assistant Undersecretary for Criminal Security Affairs Capt Abdulaziz Al Barjas and four high ranking officers from Embassy of Kuwait, Islamabad. ANF participants included Officers from fields of International Cooperation, Law, Intelligence and Enforcement. Both delegates emphasized need to further cement the brotherly relations of both the countries, enhance intelligence sharing and elimination of impediments in coordinated and international controlled delivery operations. Due emphasis was also laid for up-gradation of legal aspects compatible to prevalent environments. Need for regular interaction, communication and sharing of best practices was also discussed. It is pertinent to mention here that in near past cooperation of Narcotics Control Agencies of both the countries had resulted into many successful seizures of drugs and precursor chemicals. The visit of the delegation is considered as a milestone for bilateral cooperation on drug issues between the two countries. In the past, Narcotics Control Agencies of both the countries had remained in cooperation with each other in the fields of capacity building, Rehabilitation of Drug Addicts, Technical Up-gradation and Drug Law Enforcement Training. Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Thursday said Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with United Nations (UN) resolution and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Azad Jammu and Kashmir Prime Minister Raja Farooq Haider Thursday said Kashmir issue should be resolved in accordance with United Nations (UN) resolution and aspirations of the people of Kashmir. Kashmir issue should be raised at all available forums to grab attention of international community, he said talking to ptv. He said international community should take notice of grass human rights violation committing by Indian occupied forces. Many innocent Kashmiris were killed by forces in fake encounters, he added. He said all leaders of Kashmiris had gathered in United Kingdom (UK) to raise voice against Indian atrocities and barbarism jointly and termed it a landmark initiative. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Ambassador of Tunisia, Adel Elarbi called on National Security Adviser, Lt. General (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua on Thursday and discussed ways to further enhance bilateral relations. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Ambassador of Tunisia, Adel Elarbi called on National Security Adviser, Lt. General (Retd) Nasser Khan Janjua on Thursday and discussed ways to further enhance bilateral relations. Matters regarding security and stability of South Asia and Africa also came under discussion during the meeting. Talking to the Ambassador, Nasser Janjua said Tunisia is a brotherly Muslim country and Pakistan is also keen to expand cooperation with Tunisia. Strong relations with Tunisia would be instrumental for maintaining good relations with other African countries as well, he said. The Envoy highlighted that because of its location Tunisia can be helpful for Pakistan in providing an easy access to European and African countries. "We have a lot of scope to move forward and it is high time to translate our different ideas of cooperation into tangible projects," the Envoy added. He said that Tunisia attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan and expressed desire to boost bilateral relations by extending cooperation in multiple areas including defence, trade and social sector development. He also asked Pakistan to keep up momentum of improvement in relations of the two countries, the frequency of high level engagements should be maintained. He conveyed the desire of his government to start comprehensive counter terrorism cooperation with Pakistan. "Our government is keen to explore possibilities of enhancing cooperation between both the countries in field of security, particularly counter-terrorism. He expressed desire and need to initiate cooperation between Tunisian Counter Terrorism and Organized Crime Pole and National Counter Terrorism Authority (NACTA), of Pakistan. Both sides agreed to work together at all levels to promote cordial and cooperation bilateral relations. National Savings will launch new bonds specifically for the Overseas Pakistanis next month in target markets. KARACHI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :National Savings will launch new bonds specifically for the Overseas Pakistanis next month in target markets. Director General, National Savings, Zafar Masud announced a pre-bid conference held here on Thursday. He said that Government has decided to launch a retail bond under the platform of National Savings called Overseas Pakistanis Savings Certificates (OPSCs) in terms of US Dollars and Pak rupees. OPSCs will be a script less retail certificate in both the US Dollar and Pak Rupee currencies, which are being initially launched in Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries he added. Members of the European Parliament and Moroccan MPs have commended the constant European stand on the Moroccan Sahara, supporting UN efforts that seek to reach a lasting political settlement on the basis of the Moroccan autonomy plan for the Sahara, a plan described by the international community as serious and credible. The remarks were made during the meeting of the joint EU-Morocco parliamentary committee in Strasbourg. The Moroccan delegation, led by Abderrahim Atmoun, held several meetings in the European Parliament with influential MEPs on Euro-Moroccan relations and Moroccos advanced status with the EU. The European and Moroccan MPs hailed the strong parliamentary ties existing between Morocco and the Europe Union and their partnership contributing to the advance of democracy, peace and security in the Euro-Mediterranean region. During their meetings with members of the Moroccan delegation, the MEPs, representing various political trends, praised the reforms engaged by Morocco, its noteworthy progress accomplished in all sectors and the impressive socioeconomic development made particularly in the Southern provinces of the country, a gateway to Africa. The European and Moroccan parliamentarians also surveyed the challenges facing the Euro-Mediterranean region as well as the Sahel-Sahara region, with focus on the fight against terrorism and transnational organized crime. The two sides agreed on the need to bolster trade and investment between Morocco and the EU to improve economic stability and facilitate job creation, promote inclusive socio-economic development and combat the causes of illegal immigration through a comprehensive and innovative approach to issues related to human mobility. On the sidelines of these meetings, the two co-chairs of the Joint Parliamentary Committee, Abderrahim Atmoun and Ines Ayala Sender, finalized preparations for the 9th annual meeting of the JPC scheduled to take place at the European Parliament in Brussels on June 21. The Strasbourg meeting came as the European Union braces to open talks with Rabat on a new fisheries agreement, which includes the Moroccan Sahara. (@FahadShabbir) Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, who is on an official visit to China called on Defence Minister and State Councilor, General Wei Fenghe of Peoples' Republic of China, During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, a press release issued here by Directorate of Public Relations of Pakistan Navy on Thursday said. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi, who is on an official visit to China called on Defence Minister and State Councilor, General Wei Fenghe of Peoples' Republic of China, During the meeting, matters of mutual interest were discussed, a press release issued here by Directorate of Public Relations of Pakistan Navy on Thursday said. The Naval Chief congratulated General Wei Fenghe on his appointment as Defence Minister of Peoples' Republic of China and reaffirmed Pakistan's firm support on "One China" policy and on China's other core interests. He elaborated on the close relationship between the armed forces of the two countries. The Chinese Defence Minister thanked Chief of the Naval Staff on Pakistan's support to China and appreciated the strong ties between the armed forces of the two countries. He reiterated China's firm commitment in support of Pakistan's core interests. General Wei Fenghe termed Pakistan as China's all weather strategic partner. On China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), as vital part of belt and road initiative, both sides expressed their full confidence and termed it as a project aimed at prosperity and economic empowerment of the people of the region and beyond. Earlier, Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi also met Defence Industry Leadership of China including President Poly Technologies, President China Geological Survey and Chairman China State Ship Building Corporation. Issues related to ongoing and future projects of Pakistan Navy were discussed. Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana has said that Pakistan detests terrorism in all forms, saying it has made the highest number of sacrifices in the face of terrorism. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Punjab Governor Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana has said that Pakistan detests terrorism in all forms, saying it has made the highest number of sacrifices in the face of terrorism. Talking to the foreign trainee-officers of the Pakistan Postal College during their visit to Governor's House here on Thursday, he said the government, armed forces and law-enforcement agencies had eradicated terrorism from the country. Director Pakistan Postal Service Khalid Awais Ranjha was also present during the meeting. The governor said that Pakistan is a peace-loving country and wishes good relations with all its neighbours. He said that country's economy had improved due to good governance of the government, adding that the foreign investors preferred investment in Pakistan today. He said law and order situation had improved in the country due to comprehensive strategy of the government. Rajwana said the foreign trainee-officers would also have found Pakistan as a peace-loving country during their stay here. He hoped that the trainee-officers would serve as Pakistan's ambassadors when they return to their respective countries. He said that Pakistan Post is one of the world's best postal services, adding that the modern gadgets like laptops, mobile phones and other inventions have adversely affected the postal services. The Punjab goveror also attended a Q&A session. Responding to a question by one of the visitors, he said the government had introduced various initiatives to empower women, adding that women quota had been fixed in the governmnt services. Reafique Rajwana said that China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) was a great gift from China for Pakistan, which will mark a new era of progress and prosperity in the county as well as in the region. Provincial Minister Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu Thursday said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had approved five per cent quota for minorities in all kinds of jobs. LAHORE, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Provincial Minister Human Rights and Minority Affairs Khalil Tahir Sandhu Thursday said Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif had approved five per cent quota for minorities in all kinds of jobs. He said scholarships would be given students from minority communities to encourage them to contribute to development of the country. He expressed these views while participating in a special event at DC Complex Sargodha to distribute scholarships among brilliant minority students. Additional Deputy Commissioner General Malik Asif Iqbal, President Minority Wing, Pakistan Muslim League-N MNA Chaudhry Mushtaq Gul, DEO Scandy Riaz Ahmed Cheema, DO Elementary Qazi Muhammad Ayub, Director information Sharafat Hussain, minority councilors and large number of minorities students were present there. The financial assistance cheques worth over Rs 19 lakh were distributed among 68 Christian community's brilliant students of Matric, inter and professional belonging to Sargodha, Khushab, Mianwali and Bhakkar districts. The minister congratulated the scholarships holders and said the chief minister Punjab had allocated million of rupees for providing educational scholarships to talented students of minorities during the current year of 2016-17. The Food Branch of Rawalpindi Cantonment Board (RCB) issued 462 notices to food outlets during last three months while 12 restaurants, kitchens of bakeries, hotels and other fast food points were sealed for unhygienic and poor cleanliness conditions. RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :The Food Branch of Rawalpindi Cantonment board (RCB) issued 462 notices to food outlets during last three months while 12 restaurants, kitchens of bakeries, hotels and other fast food points were sealed for unhygienic and poor cleanliness conditions. According to RCB spokesman Qaiser Mahmood, total 990 food samples collected from different areas during the period were sent to lab for quality test while over Rs 843,600 fines were also imposed on rules violators. The cases of substandard food items were also sent to the court of the cantonment magistrate which imposed fines on the rules violators. Food Inspectors on the directive of the Cantonment Executive Officer conducted surprise visits of different markets including Saddar, Peshawar Road, Qasim Market, Chor, Allahabad, Masrial, Tench Bhatta, Peoples Colony, Chungi Number 22, Bakra Mandi and other areas and inspected cleanliness condition with quality of food items at food outlets. He said, the teams also imposed fines on the stall holders and vendors for unhygienic food and poor cleanliness condition. The raids would continue, he said adding that the teams were directed to also check the health of the workers serving at the food outlets. (@FahadShabbir) Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi has been re-elected as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice. His name was proposed by Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Senator Muhammad Javed Abbasi has been re-elected as Chairman of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice. His name was proposed by Senator Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo. The Chairman thanked the members of the committee for reposing confidence in his abilities and wowed to seek guidance from the members of the Committee to make it more vibrant and active. "In the previous tenure, the committee made all out efforts to fulfill its legal and constitutional role and presented 62 reports relating to various issues and legislative matters," Javed Abbasi said. Members of the Committee assured their cooperation to make the committee more efficient and play assertive role. Besides Leader of the House in the Senate Raja Muhammad Zafar ul Haq and Leader of the Opposition in the Senate Sherry Rehman, the meeting was also attended by Senators Mian Raza Rabbani, Farooq H. Naek, Mussadiq Malik, Muhammad Asad Ali Khan Junejo, Sana Jamali and senior officers of the Senate. Senator Raza Rabbani said that the performance of the committee during its past tenure was remarkable and expressed the hope that the committee under the Chairmanship of Senator Javed Abbasi would strive to beat its record. Farooq H. Naek said that the Committee has touched upon the issues of utmost importance. He appreciated the Chairmanship of Senator Javed Abbasi and said that he has excellent skills to cope with the difficult situations and create a consensus without being harsh. While presenting the performance of the Senate Standing Committee on Law and Justice during last three year (2015-2018) Chairman of the Committee Senator Javed Abassi apprised the members that Committee presented 62 Reports during the three years period and 71 meetings of the Committee were held. Among various Bills and the matters referred by the House during this period the Committee presented its Reports on the important matters and bills including Report on "Affairs of Cooperative Housing Societies in Islamabad particularly the violations committed by them in planning and allocation of land for community services", Report on "Steps taken/being taken by the Government against illegal Housing Societies in Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Implementation of Building Code, with particular reference to provisions regarding earthquake, for suggesting penal provisions, measures and mechanism regarding violation of said Code, Proposed amendments in the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority Act, 1996, "Review of the Section 25 which deals with voluntary return and plea bargaining of the NAB Ordinance, 1999",Matter raised by Senator Saeed Ghani regarding recalling/ withdrawal of Order by the Chairman NAB wherein acting/ current charges were given to various officers of NAB in violation of rules and reappointment of same officers, on the same day, in the Own Pay Scale (OPS), "The Pakistan Commissions of Inquiry Bill, 2016", "The PANAMA papers Inquiries Bill, 2016", "The Contempt of Court (Amendment) Bill, 2016" (introduced by Senator Farhatullah Babar), "The Supreme Court Number of Judges (Amendment) Bill, 2016", The Legal Practitioners and Bar Council (Amendment) Bill, 2016, "The Alternate Dispute Resolution Bill, 2017, "The Cost of Litigation Bill, 2017", "The Elections Bill, 2017", "The Public Interest Disclosures Bill, 2017", "The Constitution (Amendment) Bill, 2017" (Amendment of Article 153 to provide a Constitutional provision to ensure equal provincial representation in the Council of Common Interest) moved by Senators Murtaza Wahab and Saleem Mandviwala, Current Report on the issue of Hanging in Public. He further said that in finalization of its reports the Law Committee also invited all stakeholders including lawyers, Bar Associations, human rights forums, provincial governments departments, institutions like Pakistan Engineering Councils and experts as well. During this period, the Committee also took briefings from the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan, Human Rights Commission of Pakistan and the National Accountability Bureau on the work and performance of these institutions. (@ChaudhryMAli88) Three day wrap-up session for visiting Senegalese delegation to Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) concluded here Thursday. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Three day wrap-up session for visiting Senegalese delegation to Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) concluded here Thursday. Chairperson BISP Ms. Marvi Memon alongwith, Secretary Omar Hamid Khan co-hosted the wrap-up session, said a press release issued here. The 14 member Senegalese delegation was led by Mr. Gningue Pape Malick Director of the National Cash Transfer Program Senegal, accompanied by Special Advisor to Prime Minister Ms. Ndiaye Adjaratou Diakhou, Advisor to Secretary Mr. Diallo Abdoulaye Djibril and other Social protection specialist from World Bank, based in Senegal. The Senegalese delegation, while sharing their experience during three-day long study visit expressed their warm gratitude to BISP leadership. They expressed their study tour as worth-learning experience, while appreciating the BISP Graduation Model, Biometric Verification System, the IT applications and database management system. In addition to that Senegalese also thanked for the warm hospitality by the BISP team during their visit. Ms. Memon, extended an invitation to the Minister of Senegal to visit Pakistan soon. Moreover, she shared documentation of the latest NSER 3.0 Model with them, to adopt productive features from it. She also expressed concern to share IT based applications between the two countries. The Secretary BISP appreciated the approach of strategic alignment of Senegalese Protection Model with other programmes in Senegal. Moreover, he shared his views about the untapped private sector in both the countries to sustain this model. The Secretary BISP termed the study tour "joint-learning" process for both sides and expressed the hope that it would continue the knowledge sharing process in future. (@rukhshanmir) Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Islamabad Police have arrested six persons involved in dacoities and street crimes, a police spokesman said. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Crime Investigation Agency (CIA) of Islamabad Police have arrested six persons involved in dacoities and street crimes, a police spokesman said. He said that the operation was conducted on the directives of Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Operations, Najeeb-ur-Rehman Bugvi. SP (Investigation) Zubair Ahmed Sheikh constituted a special team under the supervision of Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) CIA Muhammad Ashraf Shah including Sub-Inspector Mushtaq Ahmed, ASI Mohsin Ali, Head Constables Basharat Usman, Muhammad Asghar, Jawad Ali, Ali Asghar and Asad Ali to conduct the operation against street criminals and dacoits. According to details, the police team raided the hideout of dacoits on a tip off in sector G-13/4 near Kashmir Highway. Police team succeeded to arrest six persons and recovered two stolen motorbikes, one 30-bore pistol, one knife and other items from them. The arrested have been identified as Aizaz Gul resident of Afghan colony Tarnol, Arshad resident of Chungi no.26 Tarnol, Liaqat Hussain and Liaqat Khan both residents of Dhok Khokhran Chungi no.26 Tarnol, Sohail Khan resident of Merabadi sector G-11 and Sajjad resident of Tehsil Topi Swabi. During the preliminary investigation, they confessed to strike in various areas of Golra, Tarnol, Shamas Colony, Secretariat and Sabzi Mandi police stations. They also admitted to injure a citizen in firing during dacoity in Golra on August 11, 2017 and also a police constable Muhammad Saleem who reached there to foil their bid. SSP (Operations) Najeeb-ur-Rehman Bugvi has appreciated the performance of CIA police team and announced cash prizes and commendation certificates for the team members. (@FahadShabbir) Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Thursday urged the Parliament to remove loopholes in the election laws for ensuring timely general election in the country. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Leader of Opposition in National Assembly Syed Khursheed Ahmed Shah on Thursday urged the Parliament to remove loopholes in the election laws for ensuring timely general election in the country. In a statement, elaborating the loopholes, he said the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had announced to issue final notification of the delimitation of the new Constituencies on May 4, whereas, as per sections 22 of election laws 120 day are required for holding elections after the completion of delimitation process. But on the other hand, Khursheed Shah said that it is necessary to conduct general election within 60 days after the completion of tenure of the incumbent government. "If the tenure of the present government is completed on June 1, then the elections should be conducted on August 1 which is impossible in presence of section 22, adding that if we can see the section 22, general election is not possible before September 4. " Meanwhile, Chairman Senate Sadiq Sanjrani and senior Leader of Pakistan Muslim League Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi met with the Leader of Opposition in his Chamber. Leader of Opposition in Senate Sherry Rehman, Senator Farooq H Naek and Tariq Bashir Cheema were also present during the meeting. Khursheed Shah and Pervaiz Elahi discussed the name for the slot of caretaker prime minister. Pervaiz Elahi said that suitable and reputed persons should be appointed as a caretaker prime minister. Khursheed Shah hoped that the name of caretaker prime minister will be final by May 15. (@rukhshanmir) The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted two prisoners accused of murdering a person in 2009 for lack of evidence in the case. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :The Supreme Court on Thursday acquitted two prisoners accused of murdering a person in 2009 for lack of evidence in the case. A three-judge bench headed by Justice Asif Saeed Khosa passed the acquittal orders of Haji Muhammad Hashim and Gulab when it observed that there was no concrete evidence against the accused. The apex court also observed that the incident was not witnessed and acquitted the convicted persons by giving them benefit of doubt. The Balochistan High Court had maintained life imprisonment of the two accused, which was reverted by the Supreme Court. Gulab had served four years in prison whereas, Haji had almost served eight years in jail. The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) is accepting applications for the 2018 Reham Al-Farra (RAF) Memorial Journalism Fellowship, which would be held at UN Headquarters in New York from September 16 to October 6. ISLAMABAD, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :The United Nations Department of Public Information (DPI) is accepting applications for the 2018 Reham Al-Farra (RAF) Memorial Journalism Fellowship, which would be held at UN Headquarters in New York from September 16 to October 6. The Fellowship will bring a select group of young journalists from around the world to United Nations Headquarters to cover the General Assembly, interview senior officials, attend special briefings and workshops. The Fellowship is open to full-time journalists aged between 22 and 35 from countries with developing and transitioning economies. The applicant must be proficient in English and possess a passport valid for at least 6 months beyond the start of the Programme. The applications must be submitted via the online form by May 7. The candidates meeting the eligibility criteria will be considered. The Fellowship covers the cost of round-trip air travel to New York and provides a daily subsistence allowance. Morocco and the European Union have started this Thursday in Rabat negotiations for the renewal of the fisheries partnership protocol, said a statement from the Ministry of Agriculture, Maritime Fisheries, Rural Development and Waters and Forests. These talks kicked off after the Council of the European Union last Monday confirmed the continuation of the partnership between Morocco and the EU in the fisheries sector, after it gave its green light to the European Commission to open negotiations with Morocco on a new fisheries agreement, which includes the Moroccan Sahara. The mandate was approved by the 28 EU Member States, without any opposition, and provides that the waters off the Moroccan Sahara will be covered by the fisheries partnership between Morocco and the EU. The unanimous adoption of the negotiating mandate was not a surprise. Actually, immediately after the European Court of Justice las February 27 issued a ruling deeming the fisheries agreement inapplicable to the Sahara, Morocco and the EU expressed in a joint statement willingness to safeguard and bolster their partnership as well as to negotiate a new fisheries deal upon expiry of the current 4-year agreement on July 14. The Moroccan government had welcomed the decision of the Council of Europe to greenlight the fisheries negotiations, noting with satisfaction the EUs coherent approach, in accordance with its internal rules and international legality. For the Moroccan Government, the European Councils decision unequivocally confirms the legality of the inclusion of the Moroccan Sahara in international agreements concluded, particularly with the EU and also strengthens the Kingdom as the unique and legitimate interlocutor entitled to conclude international agreements covering the southern provinces. According to EU ambassador to Rabat Claudia Wiedey, Morocco and the EU fisheries partnership marks this year its 30th anniversary. It is one of the major pillars of relations between the two sides. Its main goal is the development of a mutually beneficial sustainable fishing. Mme Weidey said the EU will continue to support Moroccos fisheries sector through Halieutis plan, help the North African country modernize and improve governance of the fishing industry, promote sustainable fisheries and contribute to the protection of the marine environment. An independent study conducted last year at the request of the European Commission showed that the deal was beneficial to both the EU and Morocco. The deal not only promotes sustainable development of the fisheries sector through Halieutis strategy projects but also facilitates jobs for Moroccan sailors and fishermen via 1000 boarding contracts per year, the study outlined. About 120 vessels from 11 EU countries (Spain, Portugal, Italy, France, Germany, Lithuania, Latvia, The Netherlands, Ireland, Poland and United Kingdom) are operating in Moroccos waters. A high-level delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Secretary of Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Lt Gen Victor Vladimirovich called on Secretary Ministry of Defence Production Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhary here on Thursday, RAWALPINDI, (UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :A high-level delegation of Uzbekistan headed by Secretary of Security Council under the President of the Republic of Uzbekistan, Lt Gen Victor Vladimirovich called on Secretary Ministry of Defence Production Lt Gen (Retd) Muhammad Ijaz Chaudhary here on Thursday, said a statement issued by Ministry of Defence Production. Secretary Defence Production warmly welcomed the delegation. He appreciated the existing relations between the two countries and desired to translate these into active cooperation in the domain of defence production also. Matters of mutual interest were discussed including visit of Uzbek experts to Defence Production Establishments of Pakistan. Secretary Defence Production also thanked Uzbekistan's leadership for supporting Pakistan's bid for full membership of Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO). Police in the Armenian capital Yerevan detained dozens of anti-government demonstrators on Thursday -- the seventh day of large-scale protests against ex-president Serzh Sarkisian's election as prime minister Yerevan, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Police in the Armenian capital Yerevan detained dozens of anti-government demonstrators on Thursday -- the seventh day of large-scale protests against ex-president Serzh Sarkisian's election as prime minister. Led by firebrand opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, hundreds of protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to government headquarters in central Yerevan, before riot police intervened, arresting dozens of people and taking them to a local police station, an AFP journalist reported from the scene. Protesters have held rallies over recent days to denounce Sarkisian's efforts to remain in power as prime minister under a new parliamentary system of government. Controversial constitutional amendments approved in 2015 have transferred governing powers from the presidency to the premier. On Wednesday evening, more than 16,000 rallied in central Yerevan's Republic Square, vowing to mount a nationwide campaign of "civil disobedience" in opposition to the Kremlin-backed Sarkisian who was on Tuesday elected by parliament to the post of prime minister after a decade serving as president. Pashinyan -- who earlier announced the "start of a peaceful velvet revolution" -- told Wednesday's rally that the protest movement's objective was to "change power" in Armenia through a nationwide campaign of "civil disobedience" and permanent sit-in protests inside government buildings. The number of demonstrators dwindled on Wednesday, compared with Tuesday's rally of some 40,000 -- the largest Armenia has seen in years. Protests began in Yerevan on Friday and have since spread to the country's second and third largest cities, Gyumri and Vanadzor. On Monday police used stun grenades against protesters who tried to break through a barbed wire cordon to get to the parliament building. Authorities said 46 people, including six police and opposition leader Pashinyan, sought medical help. The country's new president, Armen Sarkisian, was sworn in last week but his powers will be weaker under the new system of government. The two men are not related. A former military officer, Serzh Sarkisian, 63, has been in charge of the landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people for a decade. He also held the office of prime minister from 2007 to 2008. After he was first elected in 2008, 10 people died and hundreds were injured in bloody clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate. (@FahadShabbir) Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Andrei Dapkiunas and Acting Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Mohammed Bin Awad Al Hassan talked over the prospects of further visa liberalization between the two states on 18 April, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. MINSK, 19 April (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) ::Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs of Belarus Andrei Dapkiunas and Acting Undersecretary for Diplomatic Affairs at the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of the Sultanate of Oman Mohammed Bin Awad Al Hassan talked over the prospects of further visa liberalization between the two states on 18 April, BelTA learned from the Belarusian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. The ministries of foreign affairs of Belarus and Oman held the fifth round of political consultations on Thursday. The parties discussed the topical issues of bilateral agenda, the current state and prospects for Belarus-Oman dialogue, including at the supreme and high levels, cooperation in education, science and culture, and the ways to develop the legal framework for bilateral relations. The parties also considered the prospects for further mutual visa liberalization, including possible abolition of visas for holders of ordinary passports. Oman is among the countries whose citizens have the right for a five-day visa-free stay in Belarus, the ministry said. The consultations also focused on the development of trade relations, investment cooperation, and an exchange of visits between business delegations. The parties took note of the importance for a wider marketing of trade, technological and innovative opportunities of Belarus in Oman and discussed possible steps in this direction. The parties agreed to study these and other issues in detail at the first meeting of the joint intergovernmental committee. The leaders of the Belarusian and Omani delegations exchanged views on the development of the situation in the middle East, North Africa, the European region, and also discussed the interaction of the two states in the UN. They took part in the opening ceremony of the Omani Center for Arabic Language and Culture at the Belarusian State University. Bilateral consultations at the level of deputy ministers of foreign affairs of Oman and Belarus have been held since 2008 to become the major permanent mechanism of interstate dialogue. A Croatian parliamentary delegation on Wednesday aborted a visit to Serbia after Serb ultranationalist leader Vojislav Seselj, recently convicted of war crimes by a UN court, trod on a Croatian flag. Zagreb, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2018 ) :A Croatian parliamentary delegation on Wednesday aborted a visit to Serbia after Serb ultranationalist leader Vojislav Seselj, recently convicted of war crimes by a UN court, trod on a Croatian flag.. The incident could further hit the already strained relationship between the former foes, whose ties have gradually improved since the 1990s war that claimed 20,000 lives. "At the entrance of the (Serbian) parliament Seselj... desecrated the Croatian flag and then, passing by members of the Croatian delegation, insulted them," read a statement by the delegation led by parliamentary speaker Gordan Jandrokovic. According to a statement from Seselj's Serbian Radical Party (SRS) he threw the flag on the floor and stepped over it. "Because of this act that heavily violated the dignity of Croatia and its parliament, the visit was cut off," the statement said. In Belgrade, the incident was "strongly" condemned by Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and parliamentary speaker Maja Gojkovic and other senior Serbian officials. "An attempt to tear a Croatian or anybody else's flag... and insulting members of official delegations visiting our country is not the behaviour that represents Serbia, values of the Serbian government and majority of our citizens," Brnabic wrote on her Twitter account. The European Parliament called Thursday on Slovakia to ensure a full and independent investigation into the murder of an investigative reporter while demanding better protections for all journalists in the EU. Strasbourg, France, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :The European Parliament called Thursday on Slovakia to ensure a full and independent investigation into the murder of an investigative reporter while demanding better protections for all journalists in the EU. The appeal was adopted by 573 MEPs with 27 against and 47 abstentions after journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova were shot dead in Slovakia in February. "MEPs called on Slovak authorities to deploy all necessary resources to ensure a full, thorough and independent investigation of the double murder," the parliament said in a statement. They said it was preferable that European police agency Europol join the investigation. "They also urge them to protect investigative journalists from any form of intimidation and defamation charges and from attacks aimed at silencing them," it added. With mass street protests since the murders, Slovakia has been plunged into a political crisis that has forced the cabinet and police chief to resign. As over eight million Pakistanis were suffering from preventable vision loss, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday expressed his government's clear commitment to eliminate preventable blindness from the country. LONDON, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :As over eight million Pakistanis were suffering from preventable vision loss, Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi on Thursday expressed his government's clear commitment to eliminate preventable blindness from the country. He made this commitment during a meeting with senior officials of Peek Vision and CBM here on the sidelines of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM 2018). Peek Vision was a world leader in using smartphone technology and training healthcare workforces in developing countries to eliminate preventable blindness and poor vision, while CBM was an international non-governmental development organisation working in the field of disability globally for over 100 years with a major focus on eye care. During the meeting with Prime Minister Abbasi, Peek Vision was represented by Chief Executive Officer and co-founder Dr Andrew Bastawrous while CBM was represented by their Director of Inclusive Eye Health Dr Babar Qureshi. The discussion centered around a major challenge for Pakistan, that of eliminating preventable blindness. It is estimated that there are more than eight million citizens of Pakistan that are suffering from preventable visual loss. Peek Vision with CBM were prepared to deploy their partnership to deliver the most advanced solutions for the identification, diagnosis and treatment management for Pakistani citizens using the country's existing health infrastructure and staff. Prime Minister Abbasi invited Peek Vision to Pakistan and committed the full support of the Government for a national program in that regard. Peek Vision and CBM agreed to follow up and work with the Government to reach this noble goal. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister Ali Jehangir Siddiqui and Pakistani High Commissioner to United Kingdom Syed Ibne Abbas were also present during the meeting. (@rukhshanmir) The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that increased logging in Bialowieza forest in Poland has violated EU environmental laws and the Polish government is facing massive fines WARSAW, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 18th Apr, 2018 ) ::The European Court of Justice (ECJ) ruled that increased logging in Bialowieza forest in Poland has violated EU environmental laws and the Polish government is facing massive fines. At least 10,000 trees have been cut in the ancient forest, which is a UNESCO World Heritage site nourishing plenty of animals and plants, including Europe's largest herd of bison. UNESCO has classified the forest nestled across Poland and Belarus on the watershed of the Baltic and Black Seas as a site of "outstanding universal value." Poland argued that its decision to increase logging was necessary to combat beetle infestation. But the ECJ found that Poland's own documents showed logging posed a greater threat to Bialowieza's integrity. A minimum fine of 4.3 million Euros (about 5.3 million US Dollars) could be levied against Poland unless the tree felling is stopped, according to the court. "If they comply with the judgment, no problem," an EU official told the Guardian. "If they don't, we have a possibility to go to a second infringement procedure that may end up in fines." The ECJ ruling was hailed by environmental activists. The group ClientEarth said the decision was for now only on paper and called for the Polish government to scrap its original approval of logging. (@rukhshanmir) Tanzania will promote its tourism attractions at an international tourism festival to be held in the French city of Cherbourg-Octeville in July, a senior official said on Thursday. DAR ES SALAAM, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Tanzania will promote its tourism attractions at an international tourism festival to be held in the French city of Cherbourg-Octeville in July, a senior official said on Thursday. Tanzania's Minister for Natural Resources and Tourism, Hamisi Kigangwalla, told a news conference in Dar es Salaam that Tanzania will team up with other African countries at the festival, known as the International Heritage Festival, and will be able to promote the continent's tourist attractions collectively. A preparatory meeting of key stakeholders from various African countries ended on Thursday in the commercial capital Dar es Salaam ahead of the festival, Kigangwalla said. "This is a platform for us to showcase our tourist products and we want to use it as a golden chance to attract tourists to visit our attractions at the same time showcasing what Africa has," said Kigwangalla. He added: "Tanzania will be participating for the first time in the festival." "Many people view Africa as a place which has nothing to offer but in reality there is a lot of historical heritage that we can offer to the world, and the festival will provide space for that," he said. In recent years Tanzania has embarked on plans aimed at marketing its tourism attractions in Asia and Europe. Tourism is Tanzania's largest foreign exchange earner since 2012, contributing an average of 2 billion U.S. dollars annually, which is equivalent to 25 percent of all exchange earnings, according to government data. Tourism also contributes to more than 17 percent of the country's GDP, creating more than 1.5 million jobs. (@ChaudhryMAli88) The Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency (TIKA) continues to provide humanitarian aid for the Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the agency said Thursday. ANKARA, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :The Turkish Coordination and Cooperation Agency (TIKA) continues to provide humanitarian aid for the Muslim Rohingya refugees in Bangladesh, the agency said Thursday. TIKA said in a statement that aid packages including personal care products and food items have been delivered to 2,000 Rohingya families in cooperation with Kazakhstan. The agency is planning to distribute aid to 20,000 families during the Muslim fasting month of Ramadan, it said. The Rohingya, described by the UN as the world's most persecuted people, have faced heightened fears of attack since dozens were killed in communal violence in 2012. Since Aug. 25, 2017, some 750,000 refugees, mostly children and women, fled Myanmar when Myanmar forces launched a crackdown on the minority Muslim community, according to the UN. Local media reports suggest at least 6,000 Rohingya have been living in the no man's land -- a small strip of land along the border between Bangladesh and Myanmar. At least 9,000 Rohingya were killed in Rakhine state from Aug. 25 to Sept. 24, according to Doctors Without Borders. In a report published on Dec. 12, the global humanitarian organization said that the deaths of 71.7 percent or 6,700 Rohingya were caused by violence. They include 730 children below the age of 5. The UN has documented mass gang rapes, killings including of infants and young children brutal beatings, and disappearances committed by security personnel. In a report, UN investigators said such violations may have constituted crimes against humanity. Polisario militiamen have fired warning shots at members of the UN mission to the Sahara, MINURSO, which was conducting a patrol east of the Moroccan-built security wall in the demilitarized area, said UN Spokesperson Stephane Dujarric. Speaking to reporters at the daily briefing, Dujarric said that the MINURSO confirmed that they were fired at and intercepted by the Polisairo armed men in an incident that further vindicates Moroccos concerns regarding the polisairos serious violations of the UN-brokered ceasefire agreement. He said that the MINURSO members were later allowed to continue their patrol and that Polisario leadership acknowledged the incident and apologized to the UN mission. Responding Wednesday to questions about the attacks and harassment targeting peacekeeping missions, Dujarric said that UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres is more concerned than ever about the growing threat and the deadly attacks against peacekeepers, which we have witnessed in all missions. Morocco has threatened to intervene militarily if the UN fails to compel the Polisairo to uphold the ceasefire agreement and the status of the area east of the security wall. The Polisario had previously announced that it will set up military and civilian facilities in Bir Lahlou in a bid to acquire the attributes of a state, a move that is a casus belli for Morocco which has handed the area to the UN for ceasefire monitoring purposes pending a lasting solution to the conflict. Morocco has built the wall inside the Sahara territory in order to be able to pursue Polisario militiamen without crossing the Algerian borders. Two Taliban divisional commanders have been killed in two eastern Afghan provinces as Afghan and coalition forces continued in mopping-up operations, authorities said Thursday. JALALABAD, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) ::Two Taliban divisional commanders have been killed in two eastern Afghan provinces as Afghan and coalition forces continued in mopping-up operations, authorities said Thursday. Taliban commander named Abdullah alias Mazlomyar, along with three of his subordinates, was killed after special operations forces of the country's Primary intelligence agency or National Directorate of Security (NDS) attacked Taliban hideout in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, on Wednesday, provincial government said in a statement. In neighbouring Logar province, a Taliban commander Enayat Khan was killed after a Taliban group came in contact with Afghan National Police (ANP) on outskirts of provincial capital Pul-e-Alam city also on Wednesday, the provincial police department said, adding a female civilian was also killed after the gunfight. The Afghan security forces and U.S. and NATO-led coalition forces have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the last few months as the militants attack government interests. Taliban militants have yet to make comment on the reports. (@FahadShabbir) A senior United Nations humanitarian official has called on Israeli authorities to halt plans to demolish Palestinian-owned structures and cease plans for the relocation of Palestinian Bedouin communities in the West Bank. UNITED NATIONS, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) ::A senior United Nations humanitarian official has called on Israeli authorities to halt plans to demolish Palestinian-owned structures and cease plans for the relocation of Palestinian Bedouin communities in the West Bank. "We are monitoring the situation in Khan al Ahmar closely and are deeply concerned by what we see here, and in the scores of other vulnerable Bedouin communities," UN Humanitarian Coordinator Jamie McGoldrick said on Wednesday. McGoldrick visited the Khan al Ahmar-Abu al Helu, located on the outskirts of East Jerusalem in the Occupied Palestinian Territory, with Scott Anderson, the UN Relief and Works Agency's Director of Operations in the West Bank, and Palestinian officials. "We call on the Israeli authorities to respect their legal obligations, as the occupying power, including through stopping the demolition of Palestinian-owned structures and ceasing plans for the relocation of Palestinian Bedouin communities," McGoldrick stressed. Khan al Ahmar-Abu al Helu is home to 181 people, 53 percent of whom are children and 95 percent of whom are Palestine refugees registered with the UN agency. It is one of 46 Bedouin communities in the central West Bank that the UN considers being at risk of forcible transfer, due to a coercive environment generated by Israeli practices and policies, plans to move the communities from their current locations and other reasons. Eighteen of these communities, including Khan al Ahmar, are located in or next to an area slated in part for a settlement plan reportedly aimed at creating a continuous built-up area between Ma'ale Adumim and East Jerusalem. Nearly all of the Khan al Ahmar community's structures risk demolition by the Israeli authorities, including the school, initially built with donor support that serves some 170 students from the community and four surrounding ones, according to the UN Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs. "The entire community of Khan el Ahmar-Abu al Helu, the vast majority of whom are Palestine refugees and who are amongst the most vulnerable Bedouin communities in the West Bank, is facing the risk of demolitions of their structures and relocation," said Anderson. For years, the residents have insisted on the right to return to their original lands, in what is now southern Israel, and, until this occurs, asks for international support to remain in their current location. "The humanitarian impact of home demolition is severe and long lasting. It is well documented in previous instances that the transfer of Bedouin communities into urban settings is socially and economically non-viable. The Khan al Ahmar-Abu al Helu community has repeatedly called for the provision of suitable planning solutions and services in its current location," Anderson added. The visit came in advance of next week's Israeli High Court of Justice case, which may determine the fate of the structures and Israeli relocation plan. Yemen's interior minister on Thursday ordered the "immediate arrest" of an Aden-based colonel, citing allegations of rape against African detainees that occurred under his watch. Aden, (APP - UrduPoint / Pakistan Point News - 19th Apr, 2018 ) :Yemen's interior minister on Thursday ordered the "immediate arrest" of an Aden-based colonel, citing allegations of rape against African detainees that occurred under his watch. Interior Minister Ahmed al-Misri "directed the relevant security services to immediately arrest Colonel Khalid al-Alwani, the former director of the African refugee centre, and refer him for investigation over human rights violations and cases of rape against African migrants", a statement on the ministry's website said. Alwani was suspended from his role overseeing the Buraika migrant detention centre in mid-March but continued to serve as a police chief for the Mualla district in the southern port of Aden. The ministry said it had already pledged to carry out a full investigation and take legal action against those found guilty of abuses "regardless of whether they are members of the ministry". Human rights Watch published a report on Wednesday saying Yemeni government employees had "tortured, raped, and executed" migrants and asylum seekers at the Buraika migrant detention facility in Aden. Migrants held at the facility -- in use since early 2017 -- were denied refugee protection and often deported en masse into rough seas, the watchdog said. The United Nations refugee agency published a parallel report corroborating the findings and calling for "unfettered access" to detainees. Last year, more than 87,000 people arrived in Yemen from the Horn of Africa, according to UNHCR. Yemen's government is based in Aden, having been driven out of Sanaa by Huthi rebels who overran the capital in 2014. Nearly 10,000 people have since been killed in Yemen's conflict, which has unleashed what the UN has called the world's worst humanitarian crisis. African refugees in Israel began to tell their stories to Sr Azezet Kidane in 2013. We pick up the story from a previous article entitled Trafficked: trapped in a nightmare. By Sr Bernadette Mary Reis, fsp Sr Azezet, on behalf of Physicians for Human Rights, has heard the stories of hundreds of refugees in Israel who come from Eritrea, Ethiopia, and the Sudan. Most of them fell into the hands of traffickers in Northern Africa, and survived hellish tortures in Sinai until their ransom was finally paid. Crossing the border into Israel After all that they had experienced in Sinai, many immigrants were shot down by Egypts border guards as they tried to cross into Israel. It was common for Sr Azezet to hear, I left Sinai with ten people, two of us were left when we arrived. Others arrived bearing wounds from bullets that had grazed them. Stranded in Israel Once they arrived in Israel, the immigrants received treatment and were identified. But Israel refused to take them, Sr Azezet explains. Some were deported immediately to Egyptto the exact country in which they had been tortured. It was during this time that Physicians for Human Rights began to intervene, providing food and water to the refugees who remained on the border between Egypt and Israel. They were in the desert without water and without food, Sr Azezet says. The aid Israel provided to these refugees was gradually reduced more and more. What now? The fact that the United Nations has been unsuccessful in resolving their situation with the Israeli government has affected the refugees deeply. Their suffering concluded with great hope. Because they arrived in the Holy Land, Jesus land, the prophets land. And they thought that everything would be okay because I am in the best land in the world, the holiest land in the world. The suffering that they had endured in Sinai which they had been able to view with hope and strength has been changed. They are more depressed than before, Sister says. They touch this suffering every three months when they have to renew their visa with procedures that constantly change. It is a reminder to them that they are always unwanted. This unending cycle is hell, says Sr Azezet. They are more depressed, they are more worried, they dont know what will be their future. The head of the global chemical watchdog agency on Wednesday rejected Russian claims that traces of a second nerve agent were discovered in the English city where former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter were poisoned. Britain blames Russia for the attack, which it says was carried out by smearing a Soviet-developed nerve agent known as Novichok on a door handle at Sergei Skripal's house in Salisbury. Moscow denies involvement. Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Saturday that Moscow received confidential information from the laboratory in Spiez, Switzerland, that analyzed samples from the site of the March 4 poisoning in Salisbury. He said the analysis - done at the request of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons - indicated that samples contained BZ nerve agent and its precursor. He said BZ was part of the chemical arsenals of the U.S., Britain and other NATO countries, while the Soviet Union and Russia never developed the agent. OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu told a meeting Wednesday of the organization's Executive Council that a BZ precursor known as 3Q was contained in the control sample prepared by the OPCW Lab in accordance with the existing quality control procedures. He added it has nothing to do with the samples collected by the OPCW team in Salisbury. Britain's representative to the OPCW, Ambassador Peter Wilson, slammed the Russian foreign minister's comments as a breach of the treaty outlawing chemical weapons. The thing for me that was particularly alarming about Lavrov's statement is, first of all, the OPCW goes to enormous lengths to make sure that the identity of laboratories is confidential and, second of all, either the Russians are hacking the laboratories or they are making stuff up, he said. Either way, that is a violation of the confidentiality of the Chemical Weapons Convention. In a summary of its report last week, the OPCW didn't name Novichok as the nerve agent used but it confirmed the findings of the United Kingdom relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury. Wilson told reporters that the OPCW confirmed that they found what we found, and that is a Novichok. Russia's representative to the OPCW, Ambassador Alexander Shulgin, repeated Moscow's denials and accused Britain of a string of lies. For now, I will only say one thing: the claim that the Technical Secretariat confirmed that this chemical points to its Russian origin is an outright lie, he said in a statement posted on his embassy's website. The report itself does not say a single word about the name Novichok; the CWC simply does not contain such a concept.'' Shulgin at a later news conference accused Britain of trying to turn the executive council meeting into a kangaroo court and suggested that Britain could have arranged the attack on the Skripals to counter domestic tensions over Britain's withdrawal from the European Union. Perhaps the government of Theresa May, weakened by the troubles associated with Brexit, needs society to rally around this government,'' he said. Shulgin also said Russia wouldn't accept the results of any report on the matter unless it gets full access to investigation details, consular access to the Skripals, and participation in the probe by Russian experts. The envoy also spent several minutes of digression on Britain's alleged very impressive experience of using poison abroad, including involvement in the 1916 poisoning of Rasputin, a self-styled mystic who held great influence with Czar Nicholas II's wife. The Skripals were hospitalized for weeks in critical condition. Yulia Skripal was discharged last week from Salisbury District Hospital, where her father continues to be treated. Wilson told the meeting that London continues to believe evidence points to Russian involvement in the attempted assassination. We believe that only Russia had the technical means, operational experience and motive to target the Skripals, Wilson said. Wilson warned the Chemical Weapons Convention was being undermined by a growing use of nerve agents and other poisons, mentioning the 2017 assassination in Malaysia of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un's estranged half-brother, in addition to the Salisbury attack and the use of poison gas in Syria and Iraq. It is being continually violated, Wilson told reporters. He said the convention would be strengthened if all nations fully declared any stockpiles they still have. Member states are supposed to declare all their chemical weapons stocks upon joining the OPCW and destroy them. The OPCW and Russia last year celebrated the destruction of the country's final declared stocks. Russia clearly has chemical weapons they are not declaring and they need to do that, Wilson said. The antagonism between Britain and Russia played out again in the U.N. Security Council on Wednesday afternoon after U.N. disarmament chief Izumi Nakamitsu briefed members on the OPCW findings. Britain's U.N. ambassador, Karen Pierce, said Russian responsibility for the attack was the only plausible explanation. She dismissed several Russian allegations that others were responsible, including one accusing Britain for drugging Yulia Skripal. She said the claim was more than fanciful - this is outlandish. Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia said the council heard the same lies and mendacious, baseless and slanderous allegations that the U.K. has been putting forward since the attack. He said the OPCW report only confirmed that the substance could be produced in a well-equipped lab, stressing that such labs exist in the U.K., U.S. and a host of other countries. Nebenzia said Russia agreed with Britain on one point: There will be no impunity and the perpetrators will be held responsible. U.S. President Donald Trump has "made a very firm commitment to work as hard as possible to try to return" American detainees and Japanese abductees from North Korea, said William Hagerty, the U.S. ambassador to Japan. "This is a very sensitive issue for us and a high priority for both leaders that was covered extensively," said Hagerty in a telephone briefing that followed a meeting Wednesday between Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida. Abe said Trump had pledged that during his planned meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he would raise the issue of Japanese nationals abducted by Pyongyang decades ago. Trump met with the abductees' families in Japan last November during a visit. Three detained Three Korean-Americans are currently imprisoned in North Korea. Tony Kim and Kim Hak Song were teaching at the Pyongyang University of Science and Technology, the only private university in the country. They were separately detained in 2017 and accused of participating in anti-state activities and trying to overthrow the government. The third detainee, Kim Dong Chul, was arrested in Rason on the northeast tip of North Korea in October 2015. He was sentenced to 10 years in prison with hard labor in 2016 after being convicted of espionage. Freeing the prisoners would be seen as a sign of goodwill by North Korea's leader. It would also mark a personal success for Trump, who has highlighted the issue. Hagerty told reporters that while the agenda of the highly anticipated meeting between Trump and Kim was still "being formed," Washington has "more clarity" in terms of the "direction" in which it will go with Pyongyang. He noted Trump's "intention" to see all of the weapons of mass destruction, including nuclear, chemical and biological weapons, eliminated from the Korean Peninsula. Discussion on liaison office Earlier this month, the Trump administration was said to be looking into incentives for North Korea, including the consideration of establishing a U.S. liaison office in Pyongyang, if the North were to take concrete actions toward denuclearization, according to media reports quoting South Korean government sources. "We are aware of these reports. I cannot go into details regarding internal U.S. government preparations, but a comprehensive, whole-of-government effort in support of the president is under way," said Katina Adams, spokeswoman for the State Department's Bureau of East Asian and Pacific Affairs. "We will do things differently; now is the time for bold action and concrete steps toward denuclearization. In the meantime, the global maximum pressure campaign will continue until North Korea denuclearizes," Adams told VOA, adding that the U.S. was committed to having close coordination with South Korea and Japan on a unified response to North Korea. When asked about the veracity of the reports about a liaison office, Heather Nauert, acting undersecretary of state for public diplomacy and public affairs, said recently, "I've seen those reports. I highly doubt that that is something that we would do." Some experts say establishing such an office may be constructive, particularly following CIA Director Mike Pompeo's recent secret meeting with Kim in Pyongyang. Pompeo's is Trump's pick to become secretary of state. "I think if the Trump-Kim summit occurs and a diplomatic process focused on implementing a deal on denuclearization, it might be useful," Robert Manning, senior fellow at the Atlantic Council, a global affairs think tank in Washington, told VOA. Manning said a Trump-Kim summit would be a "steppingstone" to normalized relations between the United States and North Korea, "which I'm guessing would be part of a resolution of the nuclear issue. It is useful to the degree we have business to conduct with North Korea." Previous planning for office Manning, a former State Department official, was involved in planning for a U.S. liaison office in Pyongyang in the 1990s. The move at the time was part of diplomatic efforts to engage North Korea that grew out of the U.S. concerns Pyongyang was trying to attain the capacity to build nuclear weapons. A U.S. liaison office in Pyongyang was first considered and prepared for in 1992 by then-President George H.W. Bush, according to Manning. "The State Department had designated an official to open it, but North Korea backed off. It was considered again in 1996, but Pyongyang, in the end, decided against it a second time, perhaps because of the cost of a D.C. office, and/or reluctance to see Americans poking around in Pyongyang," Manning said. When asked whether a liaison office would be an incentive for North Korea's denuclearization, Hagerty said, "The notion of the liaison office is a very specific tactical result of what I think is going to have to be a broader, strategic discussion. "We're still in the process of establishing the parameters for that strategic discussion." More than 500 British, French and German lawmakers wrote to their U.S. counterparts Thursday, urging them to support the international pact restraining Irans nuclear weapons development and to keep President Donald Trump from abandoning it. Trump has demanded that dangerous flaws be fixed in the 2015 deal and has set a May 12 deadline to decide whether to pull the United States out of the agreement. Tehran agreed to the pact with the United States, Britain, Germany, France, Russia and China in exchange for ending economic sanctions that had hobbled its economy. Trump has called the agreement crafted under the administration of former President Barack Obama the worst deal ever negotiated. Trump contends Iran would quickly achieve nuclear capability at the end of the 10-year agreement and often assails its current military adventures in Syria, Yemen, and Lebanon. German Chancellor Angela Merkel and French President Emmanuel Macon are separately headed to Washington next week for talks with Trump, in part to urge him to not abrogate the Iran pact and instead impose new sanctions on Tehran. The British, French and German lawmakers wrote to members of Congress and published their appeal for saving the Iran pact in major newspapers. The European parliamentarians called the Iran deal the crowning achievement of 12 years of intense diplomatic negotiations and a safeguard against a nuclear Middle East. They said a U.S. withdrawal from the deal would put the agreement at risk and might also prompt the Iranians to leave the pact, starting a nuclear race in the region. The lawmakers condemned Irans contribution to the war in Syria and its backing of the murderous government of President Bashar al-Assad and military intervention in Lebanon and Yemen. But the Europeans concluded that by taking the threat that Iran would develop a nuclear weapon off the table, the pact has effectively limited that countrys means to carry out its destabilizing activities. We are pleading to the men and women of Congress to play their part in keeping the nuclear deal alive, they said. The lawmakers said they hoped to show the international community Europe's democracies will rise in solidarity on critical international problems, but warned there would be disastrous consequences with an American withdrawal. A former Playboy model who said she had a 10-month affair with President Donald Trump settled her lawsuit Wednesday with a supermarket tabloid over an agreement that prohibited her from discussing the relationship publicly. Karen McDougals settlement with the company that owns the National Enquirer restores to me the rights to my life story and frees me from this contract that I was misled into signing nearly two years ago, she said in a statement Wednesday. In August 2016, the tabloids parent company, American Media Inc., paid McDougal $150,000 for the rights to her story about the alleged relationship, but the story never ran. Last month, McDougal filed a lawsuit in Los Angeles asking to invalidate the contract. The suit alleged Trumps attorney, Michael Cohen, was secretly involved in her discussions with AMI executives. Federal agents raided Cohen office and residence last week seeking any information on payments made in 2016 to McDougal and porn actress Stormy Daniels, according to people familiar with the investigation but not authorized to discuss it publicly. Daniels has said she had a sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. The search warrants also sought bank records, records on Cohens dealings in the taxi industry and his communications with the Trump campaign, the people said. Under the settlement agreement, McDougal can keep the $150,000 she was paid and AMI has the rights to up to $75,000 for any future profits from her story about the relationship. The company also retains the rights to photographs of McDougal that it already has, the settlement said. AMI had argued McDougal had been allowed to speak about her relationship since 2016 and the contract gave the company discretion over whether to publish the story. In an interview with CNN that aired last month, McDougal said Trump tried to pay her after their first sexual tryst at a bungalow at the Beverly Hills Hotel in 2006. McDougal said she continued the relationship with Trump for about 10 months and broke it off in April 2007 because she felt guilty. The White House has said Trump denies having an affair with McDougal. Trump married his current wife, Melania Trump, in 2005, and their son, Barron, was born in 2006. My goal from the beginning was to restore my rights and not to achieve any financial gain, and this settlement does exactly that, McDougal said. I am relieved to be able to tell the truth about my story when asked, and I look forward to being able to return to my private life and focus on what matters to me. The house where Rosa Parks sought refuge after she fled the South will be displayed in Rhode Island for at least a month after all because several groups have provided money. The future of the rebuilt house from Detroit was uncertain after it was taken on a transatlantic journey and Brown University reneged on plans to exhibit it. A nonprofit arts organization, WaterFire Providence, said Thursday that it would put the house on display within two weeks. WaterFire is receiving money from the Nash Family Foundation, one of the original exhibit sponsors, NAACP Providence, and others. Brown still will pay for the dismantling and transportation after the exhibit ends, according to WaterFire. The exhibit will run through at least June 3. The house where Parks lived after sparking the Montgomery bus boycott in the 1950s was on a demolition list in Detroit until it was saved by Parks' niece and a Berlin-based artist. The artist, Ryan Mendoza, moved it to Germany and reassembled it in his yard, piece by piece. It was supposed to be the centerpiece of a weekslong exhibition this spring at Brown University, which the Ivy league school abruptly canceled. Dispute with institute Brown cited an unspecified dispute involving the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, which Parks co-founded but which has feuded with relatives for years. A lawyer for the institute has questioned whether Parks spent any significant time in the house. Volunteers partially assembled the house, and it was displayed for a weekend in Providence. Mendoza said he jumped for joy when he learned funding had come through for a longer exhibit. "I had really feared that it would be shipped back to Berlin," he said. "I feared that the importance of this house would not be recognized." When Brown's exhibit was canceled, the house was mostly reconstructed, but the roof wasn't finished, Mendoza said. Mendoza, who has returned to Berlin, said he'd like to finish it at some point. He said the house can be seen as a snapshot of civil rights in America "unfinished business." Parks' niece, Rhea McCauley, said the house was now more of a community project, the way it should be. "It's much better," she said. "It's the way, I believe, Rosa would've wanted it." Jim Vincent, NAACP Providence branch president, said the exhibit could help teach people about civil disobedience, why it was needed at the time and its effect. "It's timely, especially now at this point in our history here in America, that we tell these stories of civil rights heroines like Rosa Parks," he said. WaterFire hopes to extend the exhibit at its arts center in Providence if additional funding becomes available. Irans decision to start curtailing usage of a popular foreign instant messaging app has prompted Iranian fans of the service to say they will defy government efforts to push them into using domestic apps. Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khameneis office said Wednesday he has stopped using the Telegram app, citing his desire to protect national security. Iranian state media said President Hassan Rouhani also banned all government bodies from using the encrypted messaging service. Published reports say Telegram has about 40 million users in Iran, about half of the population. Fans of the app who spoke to VOA Persians Straight Talk call-in show Wednesday said that if the government imposes a total ban on Telegram, as some lawmakers have demanded, they will find other ways to access it. Many Iranians used virtual private networks (VPNs) and other tools to bypass government blockages of digital media and communication services. Some callers accused the Iranian government of trying to restrict freedom of speech and access to information. Iran temporarily blocked Telegram during a wave of anti-government protests around the country in late December and early January, saying people were using it to fuel the unrest. Iranian leaders have been promoting domestic messaging apps such as Soroush as an alternative to Telegram, but have faced skepticism from Iranians who fear the government will monitor those apps. One Straight Talk caller who identified himself as Naser from the northern province of Gilan said he will not use any government-approved messaging services if Telegram is blocked because he does not trust them. Khamenei tried to address those concerns last week, issuing a statement saying it is religiously forbidden for authorities to invade the privacy of citizens. Other callers to Straight Talk said they would be prepared to switch from Telegram to domestic apps. They said Iran has rules and regulations regarding digital communications and people should abide by them. Iran has banned access to other foreign social media networks such as Facebook and Twitter for years. But Khameneis office runs accounts on both networks in multiple languages to promote his agenda. VOA Persians Afshar Sigarchi and Behrooz Samadbeygi contributed to this report. As rogue states and terrorist organizations continue to exploit cyberspace, governments around the globe must do more to curb illicit online funding, U.S lawmakers say. "We really need to prioritize creating the cyber equivalent of the Geneva Conventions," Jim Himes, a Democratic representative from Connecticut and a member of the House Financial Services Committee's subcommittee on terrorism and illicit finance, said during a panel discussion Tuesday at the U.S. Institute of Peace in Washington. "All of these problems get a lot easier if nation-states act responsibly," he added. The United States and its allies are concerned that countries like Iran and North Korea and international terror organizations are developing sophisticated cyber capabilities to evade international sanctions and make money online. Himes said the lack of global cooperation to counter illicit online funding could lead to intensified cyberwarfare between countries and continue the stream of revenues for terror groups like Islamic State. IS was once the world's richest terror group, making millions of dollars from oil sales, ransom, extortion, taxes and other activities. As its physical caliphate crumbled and it lost the ability to generate revenue, the group has increasingly turned to the internet as an alternative financial source. Cryptocurrency Counterterrorism officials have reported dozens of pro-IS social media accounts on Twitter and Telegram that have asked supporters to fund the jihadists by sending funds in cryptocurrencies. Last December, U.S. government officials said they charged a 27-year-old Long Island resident, Zoobia Shahnaz, with money laundering and bank fraud after she was found transferring $85,000 to support IS, with $62,700 of it in Bitcoin and other cryptocurrencies. In February, Vasily Nebenzya, Russia's ambassador to the United Nations, accused IS members of seeking to fund their operations with online casinos. There are national and international organizations who have been cracking down on terror financing, including the U.N.'s Working Group on Countering the Financing of Terrorism and the U.S.-led coalition's Counter IS Finance Group. But officials said these efforts are often hindered by disagreement over mechanisms and lack of harmony between international law and domestic legislation. Steve Pearce, a U.S. Republican representative from New Mexico who also chairs the House Financial Services Committee's subcommittee on terrorism and illicit finance, charged that terror organizations and rogue states are getting better at misusing the innovative technologies, making it difficult for the international community to keep pace. "The systems have to be very, very fast-moving, and I am not seeing that in the U.S. system and the world systems," Pearce told the audience at the peace institute. "The other side is making billions without risk. So, the stimulation for them to create problems is greater than ours to solve the problems." Pearce said IS has been able to outsmart governments by selling ancient relics online and collecting revenues by exploiting legal platforms such as the crowdfunding website GoFundMe. At times, they have resorted to using the Hawala system. "It [Hawala] is a legitimate forum of commerce, except it can easily be misused. Finding that misuse is extraordinarily difficult," Pearce said. Hawala is an unregulated equivalent of Western Union and a common tool for transferring money in the Middle East; money is paid to an agent who then instructs a remote associate to pay the final recipient in a different country. Citizen mobilization Himes said an effective solution would ultimately require officials to mobilize citizens, especially in countries where debate about online privacy and encryption converge with cybersecurity and counterterrorism. "I don't ever want somebody to crack strong encryption that is not us, because that means everything we do our military, nuclear command and control becomes observable to somebody who cracks strong encryption," Himes said. "Citizens of the country need to think hard about what that means, and what they want us to do about it," he said. "If the government can crack strong encryption, there is no, theoretically, privacy anywhere, ever. So, what constraints do you want to put on that, or how much do you want us to keep up with our ability to use tools like that?" Leaders from around the world are gathered in London for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Questions linger over the Commonwealths future: what is it for, and what role should the former imperial power Britain play? In her opening address to the summit, Britains Queen Elizabeth, the head of the Commonwealth, made it clear she wants its leadership to stay in the family. It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations. I will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949 by continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities, Queen Elizabeth told delegates gathered Thursday at Buckingham Palace. WATCH: Commonwealth Leaders Ponder Future as Britain Prepares to Exit Europe The Commonwealth emerged from the breakdown of the British Empire in the last century and critics say it has failed to shake off its colonial legacy. Many argue the organization should sever its royal links including Professor Philip Murphy, director of the Institute of Commonwealth Studies at the University of London, and author of a new book The Empire's New Clothes: The Myth of the Commonwealth. The problem in recent decades, really since the 1990s, is that as the Commonwealth has lost its relevance, its lost any really major unifying issue to make it newsworthy, the only really newsworthy thing about the Commonwealth has been the Royal Family. Imperial transgressions The Commonwealth has made headlines this week, but not for reasons the British government intended. Prime Minister Theresa May apologized to the leaders of Caribbean member states, after it emerged migrants who arrived in Britain in the 1950s and 60s from what were then British colonies had been refused residency and threatened with deportation. I want to dispel any impression that my government is in some sense clamping down on Commonwealth citizens, particularly those in the Caribbean, who brought a life here, May told the leaders of several Caribbean countries. Speaking at the Commonwealth summit, she also later apologized for the role Britain had played in criminalizing same-sex relations in its former colonies. I am all too aware that these laws were often put in place by my own country. They were wrong then and they are wrong now. Campaigners say millions of gay, lesbian, and transgender people live in fear of arrest across the Commonwealth. Peter Tatchell led a protest outside the Commonwealth headquarters at Londons Marlborough House. Thirty-six member states still criminalize same-sex relations. Nine have life imprisonment. And in parts of two countries Nigeria and Pakistan gay people can be put to death. Quite clearly the rhetoric of the Commonwealth is not matched by the practice of the governments, Tatchell told VOA. Direction unclear Despite internal tensions, the Commonwealth heads of government meeting has offered tangible progress: billions of dollars pledged to tackle malaria, a crackdown on plastic waste, and a rainforest conservation drive. It also offers a global platform for countries seeking investment, as South Africas President Cyril Ramaphosa said earlier this week. WATCH: Fears Grow Over Malaria Resurgence, London Summit Urges Global Action We are trawling, going to trawl the whole world, right from Africa, Asia, Europe, and Americas, both North and South, to try and campaign for investments that will come to South Africa as we are proceeding on our route of building more confidence in our country, in our economy. And coming here, participating in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is an added boost for us. Some British lawmakers want to reinvigorate the Commonwealth after Britain leaves the European Union. That will be difficult, says Professor Philip Murphy. The Commonwealth is a rather difficult soft power vehicle for Britain. It may perform good works, it may channel aid through the Commonwealth. But its a reminder that Britain used to be the imperial ruler, the imperial master. And theres still a great deal of resentment about that within the Commonwealth. Until that image is shaken off, questions over the purpose and future of the Commonwealth are likely to persist. The number of undocumented people taking refuge in places of worship across the United States has increased six-fold in the past 15 months. Nationwide, there are now at least 42 people trying to avoid deportation by living in sanctuary in 28 U.S. cities. We didn't see the numbers go up until after the [presidential] elections when it was like seven people. Now you have over 40 people that are currently taking sanctuary, Myrna Orozco, an associate with the Church World Service's Immigration and Refugee Program, told VOA. The number of churches, mosques and synagogues offering sanctuary nationwide has also grown. According to CWS, the number of interfaith congregations that have signed up to be part of the sanctuary movement has increased from 400 to more than 1,100. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement regards places of worship as sensitive locations, along with schools and hospitals, and avoids making arrests at those places. Enforcement actions may occur at sensitive locations in limited circumstances, but will generally be avoided, ICE spokesman John Mohan wrote in response to a VOA query. But ICEs policy is just a policy and not protected by law. And it is subject to change. While immigrant advocates have long regarded courthouses as sensitive locations, ICE does not, having issued a policy directive just this past January for enforcement actions in courthouses. As a result of their murky status, sensitive locations are a sensitive subject with immigration lawyers and advocates, many of whom declined to talk to VOA about the issue. Knocking on sanctuary doors Though she cannot leave the South Congregation Church on Maple Street in Springfield, Massachusetts, Gizella Collazo sees her two American born children regularly. They come and go as they please, as does Collazos U.S. citizen husband. A Peruvian who has lived in the U.S. for 17 years, Collazo is the latest undocumented immigrant to seek sanctuary in a church; she has been at South Congregation since late March avoiding a deportation order. She had hardly been there a week when Springfield officials conducted a health and safety inspection at the church. With a warrant issued by Western District Housing Court, city officials found no major housing code violations although the church did have to do some minor fixes including replacing a door lock. Local news outlets reported that the inspection was at the instigation of Springfield Democratic Mayor Domenic Sarno who opposed the churchs decision to offer sanctuary. Sarno told MassLive that he is in favor of legal immigrants but will not defend the ones who've broken the law. And Im not going to become a sanctuary city, he told MassLive, although sanctuary jurisdictions, which choose not to cooperate with federal immigration authorities, are different from places of worship that offer sanctuary. CWS' Orozco says congregations that offer sanctuary are careful to upgrade housing codes and regulations, a process that can take months before sanctuary is ever offered. "Cities where people are living have the right to make sure that the living codes are up to date and it's a little different from like an actual enforcement action from immigration [authorities,] because the city has to make sure that there are living conditions where people are at," she says. Orozco thinks the inspection was just "the mayor trying to take retaliation" against this particular church. "If immigration were to show up at a congregation, most of the congregations that are having somebody would expect that they would do so with a warrant. And knowing that they would be essentially violating their own policy of not conducting enforcement operations at places and houses of worship." Sanctuary congregations, she says, ensure nobody comes in without an official warrant signed by a judge. Victim or lawbreaker? At the heart of the controversy, Gizella Collazo remains at the church. She has no criminal record, but immigration officials say she entered the country with fraudulent documents. She has been trying to adjust her status since her marriage in 2006. But immigration advocates say she had complications changing her status due to multiple legal errors thus putting her on a path to an order of removal. She just wants to be with her family. This is the country of her kids and her husband. She wants to stay here with them. This is the country that she knows as her own and she's been here 17 years. This is where she got married, Emily Rodriguez, community organizer at Pioneer Valley Project told VOA. Collazo must now fight the deportation order in court before adjusting her status. It has taken her 11 years to work on her documents, something that could've been done within three years, has taken her over 11 years to, to be able to fix her status because of a wrong assessment in her case, Rodriguez said. ICE says that Collazo entered the U.S. illegally on a fraudulent passport. She was granted voluntary departure by a judge in 2012. ICE said she had agreed to voluntarily leave the U.S. after multiple appeals were denied. However, after originally agreeing to voluntarily depart the country Ms. (Collazo), on March 26, 2018, took refuge at a church in Springfield, Massachusetts in an attempt to avoid complying with a federal judges order, ICE's Mohan wrote. The blossoming friendship between China and the Cambodian government has become so close that a Chinese majority-owned, Khmer Language television station has built studios directly inside the Ministry of Interior in Phnom Penh. Its a peculiar joint venture that comes as western-backed news outfits are being shutdown or harassed ahead of a national election in July. David Boyle has this report from Phnom Penh. To some, it may seem like just another week at the Trump White House. A potentially historic breakthrough on North Korea is forced to compete with a scathing assessment of the president by his former FBI director. Add into the mix, court appearances earlier in the week by his personal lawyer and an adult film actress who claims she had an affair with the president. Who can blame those in Washington who ask: Is this the new normal? Or is it simply the political phenomenon of Donald Trump breaking the mold once again? WATCH: Trump's Chaotic Week: North Korea, Comey and Stormy For most presidential administrations, North Korea's announcement it is halting nuclear weapon and missile tests ahead of a potential summit with the U.S. would be enough for a week of headlines. "It will be a great day for them. It will be a great day for the world," President Trump told reporters Wednesday on the possibility of a successful meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. Trump spoke at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the president's Florida resort. Bad for the country Just minutes later, Trump made a quick pivot away from the North Korea situation to blasting the Russia probe that continues to cast a shadow over his administration. "It is a bad thing for our country," he said. "A very, very bad thing for our country. But there has been no collusion. They won't find any collusion. It doesn't exist." Throughout the week, the president has also been engaged in a war of words with James Comey, the man whose dismissal from the job of FBI director set in motion the appointment of special counsel Robert Mueller to lead the Russia investigation. Comey has held a series of interviews for his new book, "A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership." Comey told the ABC News network he believes Trump is "morally unfit" to be president. Mueller's fate And speaking to the USA Today newspaper, Comey mused about the possibility that the president could move to fire Mueller and the man he reports to, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. "That is a fundamental attack on the rule of law, so that is the most important thing. All of us should care about that," Comey said. "Again, this is above politics, above party affiliation because it is all we are as a country." During his news conference on Wednesday, Trump was asked about the fate of Mueller and Rosenstein. "They have been saying I'm going to be getting rid of them for the last three months, four months, five months, and they are still here," said Trump. "So we want to get the investigation over with, done with, put it behind us." Others with the president's ear are urging him to take action, according to Associated Press White House correspondent Jonathan Lemire. "There is, though, a team of outside advisers, sort of Trump's informal kitchen cabinet," he said. "A number of those people have suggested to him, 'Hey, you need to be tougher, Mueller is imperiling your presidency and you should fire him.'" Some Democrats and a few Republicans are pushing congressional leaders to pass legislation that would protect Mueller and Rosenstein. But House Speaker Paul Ryan sees no need for it at present. "We do not believe that he should be fired. We do not believe that he will be fired and we therefore don't think that that is necessary," Ryan told reporters this week. Stormy weather Adding to the turmoil this week was the Monday media circus outside a federal court in Manhattan where Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, made an appearance along with adult film star Stormy Daniels. Cohen was the target of FBI raids recently on his office, home and hotel and is under scrutiny for a payment to Daniels. Daniels claims she had a brief affair with Trump back in 2006, which he has denied, and that Cohen facilitated a payment intended to silence her about the affair. The ongoing Russia probe combined with Cohen's legal troubles suggests more uncertainty ahead for the Trump White House. "We are coming to some sort of a head," said American University political expert Chris Edelson. "I mean, certainly this Cohen news is a really big deal and maybe we will find out more about that in the not too distant future. But it is hard to say with certainty what does that mean? Does that mean weeks or months? I don't know for sure." Recent polls suggest Trump has bolstered his support among Republicans, now in the 80 percent approval or better range in several recent surveys. The president's overall average approval rating has inched up in recent weeks from about 39 percent to 41 percent. But some recent polls, including Gallup and NBC News/Wall Street Journal, show his approval slipping back to under 40 percent, still historically low for a first-term president. North Korea's commitment to the denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula is expected to be a key issue for discussion at next week's 2018 Preparatory Committee for the 2020 Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty Review Conference. "The United States remains committed to a complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea," said Robert Wood, U.S. ambassador and permanent representative to the conference on disarmament. "We will be looking at this preparatory meeting to continue to put pressure on North Korea to fulfill its obligations," he added. But that will be difficult to do within the context of the meeting as North Korea opted out of the NPT in 2003, the first state ever to withdraw from the treaty. Next week's meeting in Geneva, which runs from April 23 to May 4, is the second of three planned sessions to be held prior to a 2020 review conference on the treaty. The five nuclear weapons nations the United States, Russia, China, the United Kingdom and France are among 191 countries that have joined the NPT, which came into force in 1970. "It has been one of the most successful treaties in human history," Wood said. International unity However, he agreed that the failure of four other countries that have or are believed to possess nuclear weapons India, Pakistan, Israel and North Korea to join the treaty is of concern. He warned that the international security environment is rapidly deteriorating and the challenges posed by North Korea's nuclear and ballistic missile programs made it critical for parties "to come together to strengthen the treaty." He acknowledged that strong divisions in the disarmament community are problematic. "The conditions right now are not ripe for nuclear disarmament, but as a community, we need to work together to create those conditions," he said. The Nobel Peace Prize-winning organization, ICAN, the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons, was not sympathetic to that argument. Beatrice Fihn, director of ICAN, accused the five nuclear weapons states of "sabotaging the treaty." "They are not taking action to move toward nuclear disarmament as agreed to under their treaty obligations," she said, claiming that they, along with the four nuclear-armed states outside the treaty, were modernizing and upgrading their arsenals. Fihn singled out the threats posed by North Korea, which continued to test nuclear weapons. She expressed concern about the extremely tense and dangerous standoff between North Korea and the United States in the last couple of months. She told VOA that she was somewhat heartened at the prospect of a possible U.S.-North Korean summit in coming weeks. "I am not quite sure what to make of this meeting, ... but it looks promising that there is interest in finding a diplomatic solution," she said, adding. "I think it is unlikely that one of the nine nuclear arms states will simply give up their nuclear weapons, if the other nuclear arms states continue to threaten to use nuclear weapons. "It is impossible to address the North Korean nuclear arsenals without looking at nuclear arsenals in general." U.S. Ambassador Wood said it is important to maintain pressure on North Korea until it is clear that Pyongyang is serious about getting rid of its nuclear weapons. "We have a long way to go, and I think the upcoming summit to take place between Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump is clearly a momentous time and we hope to make progress," he said. "The president will be going into this meeting with his eyes wide open," he added. "The United States is not naive about the situation. But, it is an opportunity and hopefully it will lead to some success." Iran treaty The Iran nuclear agreement that was negotiated under the Obama administration is an issue that could prove to be a deal-breaker with North Korea. Trump has to make a decision by May 12 regarding the future of U.S. participation in the Iranian Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action, JCPOA. "We and some of our European friends are trying to work on a supplemental agreement, to try to deal with some of the major concerns we have about the JCPOA," Wood told VOA. "Those discussions are ongoing, and they are intense. "We are hopeful that an agreement can be reached that the president can feel comfortable with," he said. ICAN's Fihn told VOA it would be dangerous for the United States to withdraw from the agreement. "I think it would be extremely concerning and worrying if the United States would pull out of a treaty, an agreement with Iran that works; that prevents Iran from developing nuclear weapons; that puts on Iran the strongest verification and safeguards that any state has at all. "It would be a security concern for the United States. It would be a security concern for the whole world if this deal falls apart," she said. "And, in particular, it would send a very worrying message to a country like North Korea." The second-in-command of eastern Libyan military forces says he survived a car-bomb attack against his motorcade in the eastern capital of Benghazi. The attack comes amid uncertainty about the health of the top eastern Libya commander, General Khalifa Hafter Saudi news channel al-Ikhbariya showed video of the site of the attack against General Abdel Razzaq Nazouri's vehicle in Benghazi Nazouri, the number two commander for the eastern Libya forces, told Arab media he escaped the car-bomb unscathed and there were no casualties. He added his troops continue military operations against militants in the eastern coastal city of Derna. Speculation continues to swirl over the fate of Nazouri's boss, Army Commander General Khalifa Hafter, who is reportedly in a Paris hospital. Libyan media reported the general was transferred from his headquarters in eastern Libya to Jordan about a week ago, then flown to France for treatment. His military spokesman denies Hafter has any serious health issues. Nazouri also says Hafter is expected to return from abroad, shortly. Governing Council member Abdel Qader al Haweily serves under internationally recognized Libyan Prime Minister Fayez el- Seraj. Al Haweily tells Arab media he thinks there is a struggle for succession inside the military forces loyal to Hafter, now that his health is deteriorating. Eastern Libyan political and military leaders have denied such reports. University of Paris Professor Khattar Abou Diab said the uncertainty about Hafter has added confusion to the political and military situation in eastern Libya. He says the attack against Hafter's top commander looks like an effort by Islamist forces in Tripoli to regain control over the east of the country. That, he stresses, is a serious blow to the battle against terrorism in the east of the country and threatens the security of Libya's large eastern neighbor, Egypt. Hafter's forces are battling militants in Derna, which is close to the Egyptian border. Cairo, which launched airstrikes against Derna several years ago, complains militants there use the town as a stepping stone for attacking Egypt. More than 60 leading journalists, op-ed writers and editors of some major newspapers in Pakistan have condemned what they said are the ongoing curbs on freedom of expression in the country. Beginning with a crackdown against select media groups and banning the broadcast of various channels, there now is enhanced pressure on all media houses to refrain from covering certain rights-based movements, according to a statement obtained by VOA. The government of Pakistan has not reacted to the statement issued Wednesday. The transmission of Pakistans most widely watched news channel, Geo, has been blocked in many parts of the country for almost a month. Government officials and the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority, PEMRA, insist they have not blocked the news channel. Instead, PEMRA issued instructions to cable operators earlier this week to restore Geo to normal distribution or face suspension of their licenses. 'Unannounced censorship' The statement also says that media managers, who feel under pressure, are dropping regular op-ed columns and removing online editions of published articles. Wajahat Masood, a well-known columnist associated with Pakistans largest daily, Jang, confirmed to VOA that he has been experiencing blocking of his op-ed pieces. No formal announcement has been made but unannounced censorship has been in place since 2014. I cannot complain to my newspaper (for not publishing my pieces) as the paper itself has been facing censorship problems for four years now, Masood said. Irshad Arif, group editor of Daily 92 News, does not hold newspapers responsible for not publishing certain pieces and says journalists and writers should be aware of their responsibility. There is some difference between mainstream media and social media, he said. Writers should think before they submit articles to newspapers. When it is published, it is the responsibility of editor and the newspaper. They cannot justify something that is against the constitution, laws or society norms. You cannot justify uncontrolled freedom. It does not happen even in [the] USA and Europe. Some subjects off-limits Its not just the opinions on op-ed pages that are under pressure. TV channels and some newspapers have also blacked out the coverage of a peaceful movement by ethnic Pashtuns against extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. Speakers at the rallies of Pashtun Tahafuz (Protection) Movement (PTM) are often critical of Pakistans powerful intelligence agencies that are believed to be behind the disappearances. Journalist Khan Zaman Kakar told VOA that his article Why PTM Matters was published in English daily The News but was taken down from their website after a few hours. When I inquired over the phone, my editor told me that they have been told to take off the article. The editor told me to write on other topics and not PTM, Kakar said. Upcoming elections Steve Butler of the New York-based Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ) calls the situation extremely unfortunate. I think Pakistani people need full access to information to be able to intellectually choose whom they support in the upcoming election, Butler told VOA. General elections are to be held this summer in Pakistan. No date has been announced yet. Analysts say that free and fair elections are not possible if private media are under pressure from powerful circles. Syed Asfar Imam of VOA's Urdu service contributed to this report. Next weeks inter-Korean summit will take place in the uninhabited village of Panmunjom, inside the tense and highly fortified demilitarized zone that separates the communist North and the democratic South. This historic site, where the Korean War armistice was signed in 1953, has since become a key point of contact for cross border communication and a major tourist destination. The Panmunjom meeting site, located on the border between North and South Korea, was first established in 1951 to negotiate a truce to end the Korean War. The talks and the fighting went on for three more years before an armistice was signed. Symbol of division Today Panmunjom has come to symbolize the ongoing division of the Korean Peninsula. It is the only site along the heavily fortified 250-kilometer long demilitarized zone border where soldiers from both the North and South are in close proximity to each other. No civilians live in the cluster of blue huts within the Joint Security Area, which is controlled by both North Korea and the United Nations Command established during the Korean War. The whole job of the joint security battalion here, the R.O.K. [Republic of Korea] soldiers and the U.S. soldiers that you see out here today is to provide security to enable dialogue between the two [sides], said J. Elise Van Pool, a spokeswoman for the U.S. Forces Korea during a media tour on Wednesday. Panmunjom is located 50 kilometers north of Seoul, and has been the site of numerous cross border talks, including recent planning sessions for the upcoming inter-Korean summit. The conference rooms are reportedly equipped with closed circuits cameras so that officials in Seoul and Pyongyang can monitor meetings. Inter-Korean summit The April 27 meeting between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un will take place at the Peace House conference building on the South Korean side of Panmunjom. It will be the first time a North Korean leader has visited South Korea and the first inter-Korean summit in over a decade. They are still working out the series of events, so how the two leaders will egress into the building, and of course they will have staffers who come with them. So that is still all being negotiated, said the USFK spokeswoman. The rapid diplomatic progress this year that has led to the inter-Korean summit, and the U.S.-North Korea summit expected to be held in late May or early June, came from the North Korean leaders expressed willingness to engage in denuclearization talks. Kims turn toward diplomacy has reduced, for now, the potential for conflict over the Norths accelerated efforts last year to develop an operational nuclear-armed intercontinental ballistic missile that can reach the U.S. mainland. In addition to addressing denuclearization issues, South Korean officials said this week that Moon and Kim would discuss formally replacing the Korean War armistice with a formal peace treaty that would normalize relations and increase security cooperation. Tense peace While the border region is controlled to maintain a tense peace, there have been isolated incidents of conflict and violence over the years. In November, security cameras in the DMZ recorded the North Korean military shooting one of its own soldiers, as he raced across the border to defect to the South. One of the most infamous incidents occurred in 1976 when axe wielding North Korean soldiers killed two U.S. Army officers who were part of a work crew cutting down a tree that partially blocked the view of U.N. observers. South Korea also discovered four tunnels being dug across the DMZ that had the capacity to secretly transport as many as 2,000 North Korean troops for a potential surprise invasion. The tunnels have been disabled and are now tourist attractions. Pyongyang denied the tunnels where made for military use, instead saying they were for coal mining. The Joint Security Area is also a major tourist destination where over 100,000 people visited from the South in 2017, and nearly 30,000 visited the site from the North. One of the main attractions is, what is often called the propaganda village on the North side of the DMZ, a group of brightly colored buildings that South Korea says is uninhabited, and was built to produce the illusion of prosperity in the impoverished North. On the South Korean side of the DMZ is the village of Daeseong-Dong, a farming community where residents are exempt from taxes to encourage them to stay and populate this potentially dangerous border region that would become a battleground if war were to ever break out again. Lee Yoon-jee in Seoul contributed to this report. Two months after the deadly shooting at high school in Parkland, Florida, a majority of American teens and their parents are worried about safety in schools, a new survey found. Fifty-seven percent of teens surveyed by the Pew Research Center said they were worried about the possibility of a shooting at their school. Most parents of teens shared that concern. The survey found one in four teens admitted being very worried while nearly 30 percent said they were somewhat worried. Only 13 percent they were not worried at all. Nonwhite teens expressed a higher level of concern than their white peers. Sixty-four percent of black and Hispanic teens said they were at least somewhat concerned, compared with 51 percent of white teens. Parents of teenagers expressed levels of concern similar to those of their children, with 63 percent saying they were worried about the possibility of deadly shootings at their children's schools. The survey was conducted in March and April after the February 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School that killed 17 people and injured more than a dozen others. The tragedy has spawned one of the largest ever youth-led movements against gun violence. On March 24, teenagers, led by survivors from Parkland, held a massive rally in Washington and most cities across the country and many around the world. Organizers estimated 800,000 people attended the March For Our Lives rally in the U.S. capital. CIA Director Mike Pompeo's secret trip to North Korea puts him back in the spotlight as a close, trusted emissary and confidante of President Donald Trump, and the man chosen to lead preparations for a planned summit between Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. VOA's Diplomatic Correspondent Cindy Saine takes a look at the top U.S. "spy" who is line to become the next top U.S. diplomat. Russia demanded compensation from the U.S. for its worldwide tariffs on foreign aluminum and steel Thursday, becoming the third influential member of the World Trade Organization to do so. China, the European Union and India have also objected, arguing the tariffs are a "safeguard" measure to protect U.S. domestic products from imports, which require compensation for major exporting countries. The Trump administration has rejected that argument and says the tariffs are for national security reasons and are therefore allowed under international law. The U.S. has agreed to negotiate with China and has informed the EU and India it is willing to discuss any other issue, while maintaining their compensation claims are unwarranted. It is unclear what Moscow's demand means in practice because it did not challenge the tariffs through a WTO appeals mechanism through which the organization's 164 members can negotiate solutions to trade disputes. China is the only country that has pursued that course and India has asked to be present at negotiations with the U.S. on the issue. U.S. allies Australia, Canada, the EU, Mexico and South Korea have received temporary exemptions from the tariffs, pending negotiations with the U.S. South Korean President Moon Jae-in says North Korea is not imposing conditions on upcoming summits with him and U.S. President Donald Trump over banning nuclear weapons from the Korean Peninsula. They have not attached any conditions that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea, Moon told corporate executives in Seoul Thursday. All they are talking about is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security, he added. I dont think denuclearization has different meanings for South and North Korea. The North is expressing a will for a complete denuclearization, Moon said. WATCH: US Lawmakers Express Hope, Concern Over Trump-Kim Summit He said the dialogue between the two Koreas must continue after the April 27 summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and the North Korea-United States summit, for which no date has been set. The two Koreas opened a hotline between their leaders Friday, a week before the summit between Kim and Moon in the Demilitarized Zone. The line, which links the presidential Blue House in Seoul with the Pyongyang office of the Norths State Affairs Commission, which Kim chairs, was used for a test conversation between North and South officials that lasted 4 minutes and 19 seconds. The hotline is the latest step in an intense diplomatic activity on and around the Korean peninsula, initiated with the Winter Olympics in the South. US committed Moon's assessment of the upcoming summits came as U.S. Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood said in Geneva the United States "remains committed to complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearization of North Korea. In terms of the pressure campaign, the things we have been very interested in are maintaining the pressure, meaning enforcing sanctions, ensuring that the North is not able to get access to funds that help further its nuclear and ballistic missile programs." Wood, the top U.S. envoy to the U.N.-hosted Conference on Disarmament, said the United States believes its international campaign to force an end to North Korea's nuclear weapons development "has had an important impact in the North's decision to return to the table." He said, "We do not want to go through [the] traditional process that happened over the years where you get this gradual kind of approach that the North eventually goes back on. That is why we are insisting on concrete steps." Wood said the United States is demanding "bold action" from North Korea. Moon said he sees the potential for a peace agreement with the denuclearization of North Korea and international aid to help North Korea's economy. The two countries are technically at war, with only a truce, not a peace treaty signed after the 1950-53 Korean War. North Korea has defended its nuclear development and missile tests, in defiance of the U.N. Security Council mandates, as a deterrent to what it sees as a threat from the United States, which has 28,500 troops stationed in South Korea. But it has not launched a missile test since late November, or conducted a nuclear test since last September. Long term peace? Tensions between the two Koreas eased earlier this year when North Korea sent a small group of athletes to participate in the Winter Olympics in South Korea. Trump struck an optimistic note Wednesday about the possibility of a denuclearized North Korea. "As I've said before, there is a bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearization in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way," Trump said. "We hope to see the day when the whole Korean peninsula can live together in safety, prosperity and peace." But he cautioned that if his talks with Kim did not go the way he hopes, he was willing to walk away. "If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it," Trump said, adding, "If the meeting, when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting." He also revealed negotiations are under way for the release of three Americans being held by Pyongyang. Trump said his summit with Kim "will be taking place probably in early June or a little before that, assuming things go well." Trump also said Seoul has his blessing to try to negotiate with Pyongyang to formally end the 1950s Korean War. A senior South Korean presidential official said Wednesday the peace talks are a possible subject, but the discussion of formally ending the war would need to involve the other relevant parties. Active combat in the war ended in 1953 with an armistice signed by the United States, which commanded United Nations forces, North Korea, and China. South Korea was not a signatory, and the two Koreas have never established diplomatic relations. Experiencing cultural anxiety. Photo: Getty Images Nearly everyone writing about politics today seems anxious about tribalism. Although trends toward greater political polarization have been in place for decades, the chaos of the Trump era has made the countrys divisions seem starker and more dangerous than at any time since at least the 1960s. And no wonder: Geographical mobility, racial and ideological sorting along party lines, and the segmentation of media mean that for many Americans, their political opponents are no longer friends and neighbors but a nation of hostile foreigners with whom they happen to share a country they look and speak differently, live in different places, and cling to strange and potentially malevolent beliefs with all the irrational fervor of a doomsday cult. More literal forms of tribalism are on full display as well: Trump ran and won as, among other things, a white racial demagogue who mocked and insulted minorities on his way to the White House; while the left, as it has grown more diverse, has become accustomed to periodic spasms of hostility and mutual recrimination among its various minority groups and their white allies. Perhaps the most bitter of all contemporary political battles and a Trump favorite is immigration, which behind the ideological posturing is a referendum on whose tribe will control the countrys demographic future. Making sense of this mess is the task set by Amy Chua in her new book, Political Tribes: Group Instinct and the Fate of Nations, published in February. Chua, a law professor at Yale, is most famous for her 2011 book, Battle Hymn of the Tiger Mother a paean to authoritarian Asian parenting but she has a long history of publishing unorthodox books on race, ethnicity, and nationalism. Her 2003 book, World on Fire, argued that the combination of free markets and democracy in diverse societies often leads to ethnic conflict, as certain market-dominant minorities become disproportionately wealthy and provoke majoritarian backlash. And her 2014 book, The Triple Package, co-authored with husband Jed Rubenfeld, argued that three cultural traits insecurity, impulse control, and a feeling of superiority are the secret to success in America (though a subsequent study suggests otherwise). Moreover, Chua herself knows something about just how bad ethnic relations can get. Her family are ethnic Chinese from the Philippines, members of a market-dominant minority that accounts for a little under 2 percent of the population but controls perhaps 70 percent of the economy. Such stark inequality tends to undermine ethnic harmony. In 1994, Chuas 58-year-old aunt, still living in Manila, was stabbed to death with a butchers knife by her ethnic Filipino chauffeur, an episode Chua recounts in the opening of World on Fire. The belief that diversity inevitably leads to universal brotherhood is not an illusion to which she is likely to be inclined. The central conceit of Political Tribes is that Americans, and especially American elites, are afflicted by a blindness to the importance of tribalism and group identity, of which ethnic and racial identity are but two particularly stubborn examples. The United States is what Chua calls a super-group, which means that unlike the ethnic nations of Europe, it provides its citizens with an overarching national identity without asking them to abandon their more particular and specific identities one can still be a Southerner or a Korean-American without being any less of an American. Because the United States has proved successful in absorbing people from so many different backgrounds, the American political elite has, since the mid-20th century at least, tended to look on group identity as a kind of irrational atavism. Given the opportunity, they believe that most people, whether they live in Baghdad or Kansas City, will jump at the opportunity to shed their restrictive, premodern identities and become citizens of liberal-democratic states, with political preferences defined by individual interests and ideology. If it works in New Haven, why wouldnt it work around the world? For Chua, this idealism is both inspiring and completely false. People care very much about their group identity, tribalism is a part of our evolved psychology that cannot be educated away, and history is full of evidence that groups whether ethnic, racial, religious, or political are more than happy to dehumanize, exploit, and murder one another at the drop of a hat; indeed, we may take positive pleasure in watching members of our out-group suffer. Conflict becomes especially likely in conditions of extreme between-group inequality and in political systems that foreground group difference rather than providing a basis for common identity and solidarity conditions that apply to the United States today, and which help to explain the countrys worsening partisan and racial divides. Conflict is not inevitable, and Chua is optimistic that America can find a way out of the downward spiral into tribalism. But doing so requires taking group feeling seriously, lest we blindly march down the road to Yugoslavia. Much of the first half of Political Tribes is dedicated to showing how the American elites group blindness has crippled U.S. foreign policy in far-flung parts of the world. In Vietnam, for instance, American policymakers interpreted the war as a Cold War ideological conflict between communism and capitalism. Yet there was a hidden ethnic dimension that undermined U.S. efforts to prop up the South. South Vietnam, like the Philippines and many other Southeast Asian countries, had a private economy dominated by a tiny Chinese minority called the Hoa. This was a source of great resentment for ethnic Vietnamese, whose own national identity had been defined by centuries of resistance to Chinese imperialism. To many Vietnamese, capitalism was code for exploitation at the hands of the Hoa, and communism a dog-whistle for Vietnamese ethnic nationalism; predictably, the latter proved more popular. Subsequent chapters focus on Afghanistan and Iraq, where U.S. ignorance of sectarian and tribal divisions spelled disaster for postwar reconstruction efforts. Washington needed local allies who opposed the regime, and these often came from formerly subordinated groups eager to take revenge on their old masters. Meanwhile, American troops were inevitably seen by formerly dominant groups the Pahstun in Afghanistan and the Sunni Arabs in Iraq as foreign patrons of their ethnic rivals, pushing them into extremist sectarian movements such as the Taliban and ISIS. Referring to Pashtun intransigence, Chua lays out what she calls a cardinal rule of tribal politics: once in power, groups do not give up their dominance easily. Its a rule that applies to the United States as well. While the bulk of Political Tribes page count is taken up by examples drawn from around the world, the real focus of Chuas book is contemporary American tribalism. The short version of the problem is, as she writes, that race has split Americas poor, and class has split Americas whites. Whites, that is, have begun to separate more and more cleanly into two tribes defined largely along class, educational, and increasingly, partisan lines. (There are also, though Chua doesnt mention them, subterranean ethnic divisions: Germans, Italians, and Americans usually a proxy for Scots-Irish were more likely than other whites to vote for Trump.) Better-educated whites, who dominate the countrys political and cultural institutions and are the main beneficiaries of the globalized economy, have adopted as their tribal identity a sort of post-national cosmopolitanism, defined against what they regard as the provincial culture of poor whites. Meanwhile, less-educated whites have defined their tribal identity in opposition to the Establishment, which they perceive as a distant, occupying foreign power, indifferent to their interests and intent on elevating minorities and foreigners to pride of place within their country. Donald Trump was their tribune, and his election has led to an omnidirectional escalation of hostility and mistrust. Progressive whites see him as a monstrous goon elected through appeals to Americas worst impulses; poor whites identify with his vulgarity and open contempt for elite mores; and minorities see in him the face of a terrifying white revanchism that has long bubbled under the surface of post-civil-rights America. Every group feels it is under attack, causing them all to close ranks and become more insular, more defensive, more punitive, more us-versus-them. This analysis is not exactly new we know, for instance, that poor whites feel alienated from the coastal elite and that minorities fear the backlash of poor whites. Much of the post-2016 debate on the left, for instance, has concerned the extent to which the Democratic Party should tone down its focus on identity politics in order to make inroads with working-class whites. Where Chua innovates is in applying her ethnic- and tribal-based lens specifically to the transformations of white America over the past few decades, a difficult task made easier by considering the countrys racial neuroses as a specific case of a global problem. People everywhere are attached to their own group cultures, and dominant groups dont like to give up their dominance. This is as true of Americas whites, Chua argues, as it is of Pahstuns in Afghanistan. And thanks to the combined effects of immigration and fertility, it seems inevitable that American whites will lose their majority status sometime around the middle of the current century. More cosmopolitan whites tend to view this prospect with indifference or even excitement, but for many others it is a source of deep anxiety, made worse by the sense that they and their culture which they view as identical with American culture writ large are increasingly objects of scorn and vilification in the eyes of the progressive coalition. (Fifty-two percent of Trump supporters, Chua notes, feel like strangers in their own land.) The sense that they are rapidly losing both demographic weight and cultural influence to people who despise them is leading these whites to adopt what Chua calls ethnonationalism lite a form of white identity politics that, while officially colorblind, would like to return to an era of implicit white cultural hegemony. It is not that these whites would like for minorities to be expelled or oppressed, but they would like them to quit complaining so much. Something like this narrative has been repeated countless times in analyses of the 2016 election, but any recognition that cultural anxiety drove white Trump support is typically taken as proof that these voters were motivated by racism, or racial resentment, to use the social-science term of art. From Chuas perspective, however, they are simply doing what you would expect most groups in most places to do most of the time: hold on to whatever power they have, an impulse that becomes all the more desperate the more tenuous that hold on power becomes. Chua does not intend this as an excuse for white racism, and she is emphatic that ethnonationalism lite is not a viable way forward for an increasingly diverse country minorities are not going back in the closet, so to speak. But she is critical of those on the left who regard even a limited empathy with this perspective as tantamount to compromising with evil, and suggests that the more aggressive forms of left-wing identity politics, which move from demands for equality to the blanket demonization of American society, tend to exacerbate tribal sentiment on both sides of the countrys racial divide. A less tribal future will likely require talking whites off the identitarian cliff by addressing at least some of their cultural anxieties without, however, indulging their uglier impulses. Ultimately, Chua believes that the way forward is dialogue between Americas hostile camps, and the strengthening of a superordinate American identity capable of acknowledging the countrys past sins while elevating the aspects of history that everyone can believe in recognizing, for instance, that the Constitution was written by white male slaveholders, but that the principles enshrined in it can fit all people. (The musical Hamilton, she suggests, is evidence of a viable American nationalism.) Its a nice thought, as far as it goes, but it feels curiously underpowered after pages and pages on human tribal psychology and examples of the universal tendency to fear and mistrust out-groups. It is true, for example, that with every wave of immigration in the past, American freedom and openness have triumphed over the sorts of nativist fears we see today. Yet the great wave of European immigrants that came before 1924 was only forged into the cohesive American nation of the 1950s by decades of reduced migration, an intensely assimilationist public culture (consider the brutal suppression of German language and culture during World War I), a political economy based on mass male factory employment, and, perhaps most importantly, the shared experience of national mobilization in World War II. Even then, it was premised on the exclusion of black people. In short, it was not simply freedom and openness that created a somewhat unified American identity one in which Italians and Irish and Jews could become simply whites but tectonic cultural and material forces and decades of shared historical experience. We have some forces working in that direction today intermarriage is likely to slowly erode racial distinctions but others are working toward the opposite: Polls, for instance, show decreasing approval of cross-partisan marriage, dating apps are making it easier to filter out political rivals, and party and ideology are becoming more and more important facets of personal identity. Our tribes are no longer unified by a shared national myth or religion, and absent some convenient external enemy like Nazi Germany, for which Putins Russia and Islamic terrorism are poor substitutes, the impulse to exclude is mostly exercised against other Americans. Some speak of a new civil war. Thats an exaggeration, probably. But it does suggest that without more pushing us together than good will and an open mind, Hamilton alone wont cut it. The organization representing more than 15,000 striking nurses in Zimbabwe vowed a legal battle unless the government reverses its order to fire strikers from state-run hospitals. "We are forced to approach the courts to intervene," Enoch Dongo, secretary general of the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, said Thursday. Nurses went on strike Monday to demand better pay, better equipment for medical facilities and a bigger budget for the country's fragile health sector. Zimbabwe Vice President Constantino Chiwenga announced late Tuesday that striking nurses would be fired immediately and would be replaced "in the interest of patients and of saving lives." On Thursday, Dongo said the nurses had not received formal letters of dismissal. "At the moment," he added, "we are still employed, we are still government employees." Dongo said he'd seen accounts that the government was recruiting retired nurses to replace the strikers. Dr. David Parirenyatwa, Zimbabwe's health minister, told state broadcaster ZBC that nurses who have been dismissed must reapply for jobs if they want to return. "I must add that we do want our committed nurses to come to work," he said, adding that the country is experiencing a nursing shortage. Dongo accused the government of unwillingness to negotiate, saying that stance has worsened health care conditions. Cancer patient Edmore Siyakurima, who comes to the capital city for routine treatments, said the standoff presents a health risk to patients. "Some like us get medication with three-week intervals. If we skip when we come to get injections, then the medication we take ceases to be useful," Siyakurima told VOA. Siyakurima said the burden also falls on patients' relatives and friends, who share in what can be costly and inconvenient trips to and from the hospital. Moline Chindove had been getting daily treatments for her swollen feet at Harare's Parirenyatwa public hospital, named for the official's father, a former health minister. "My family has gathered funds for me to seek treatment in South Africa, because the hospitals here are closed," she told VOA. Zimbabwe's President Emmerson Mnangagwa has said he intends to revive the economy, which shrank during the second half of former president Robert Mugabe's 30-year rule. Mugabe was pushed out in November. "Unreasonable wage demands, or worse, obdurate industrial action will hurt this recovery process," Mnangagwa's spokesman, George Charamba, told the state-owned Herald newspaper, according to French news agency AFP. The nurses' labor action follows a recent monthlong strike by Zimbabwe's junior medical doctors. On Wednesday, the Zimbabwe Association of Doctors for Human Rights, along with Zimbabwe Lawyers for Human Rights, issued a statement saying they were "appalled by the government's arbitrary decision to dismiss all striking workers." The Zimbabwe Teachers Union, which has threatened to strike next month for better pay, also denounced the dismissals. A U.N. councils decision to accredit an organization highlighting Irans alleged human rights violations has drawn rare praise from one of the most prominent U.N. critics in the global rights community. In a Wednesday phone interview with VOA Persian, Hillel Neuer, executive director of the Geneva-based group UN Watch, welcomed the United Nations accreditation of the Iran Human Rights Documentation Center (IHRDC). The 54-member U.N. Economic and Social Council (ECOSOC) granted the status to IHRDC, an American organization, Tuesday by a vote of 22 to 7, with 17 abstentions. A subordinate U.N. body, the 19-member NGO Committee, had voted against IHRDCs application for accreditation in February, prompting the United States to appeal to ECOSOC, the larger parent body, to overturn that decision. Speaking to VOA Persian from Tel Aviv, Neuer said IHRDCs accreditation is a rare bit of justice for a human rights group at the United Nations. Neuers UN Watch, which also has accreditation, is a frequent critic of U.N. bodies for granting influential roles to nations accused by rights activists of having poor human rights records. UN Watch also advocates against what it sees as anti-Israel bias in U.N. forums. In a Facebook statement, IHRDC cheered the U.N. accreditation as a new chapter in its history. It said the move will enable it to better engage with Irans civil society and the international community as it works to promote human rights and accountability in Iran. It is the first time a group with such a mission has received the status. Neuer said U.N. accreditation is significant because it allows a group to participate in U.N. meetings with diplomats as they make decisions, particularly at the U.N. Human Rights Council in Geneva. UN Watch has brought human rights heroes from around the world China, Cuba, Venezuela, Saudi Arabia and Iran to the Human Rights Council because we have the status, Neuer said. Those activists were able to walk into the council, with diplomats representing their oppressors in the room, and challenge them. They get almost equal speaking time to what an ambassador gets, and that is extraordinary. In another U.N. vote on Tuesday, ECOSOC removed Iran and Venezuela from membership of the NGO Committee for the 2019 to 2022 period. U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley welcomed the ECOSOC votes as wins for human rights. In a statement, she said the NGO Committee has been overrun by serial human rights abusers that ruin the U.N.s credibility on human rights. But she also said more needs to be done. Countries with abysmal human rights records should never be allowed to police NGO access, and credible NGOs should never be blocked from participating at the U.N., especially when their work sheds light on some of the worlds worst human rights abuses, Haley said. This report was produced in collaboration with VOAs Persian Service. The U.N. assistant secretary-general for peacekeeping operations said Thursday that she was disturbed by the humanitarian situation in South Sudan and called on its leaders to end the conflict now. Bintou Keita called on the country's government and opposition leaders to put South Sudanese citizens first for a change. "Give your children a chance. Every opportunity for peace, every chance to save lives has to be seized. I am particularly appalled by the violence this conflict has brought against women and girls in South Sudan. The atrocities committed are beyond the imaginable," she said. Keita said protection against gender-based violence was a human right and a public health issue. 'Emergency situation' "We have to be able to look at this as an emergency situation, and we have to make sure that there's a policy level which is taken into account as well as prevention," said Keita. Makoi Philip Wol, coordinator on conflict-related sexual violence in the office of South Sudan President Salva Kiir, said the Kiir administration was committed to implementing the communique he signed with the U.N. in 2014. "The president of the republic appointed the minister in his office to lead and coordinate government efforts and work with the SRSG [special representative of the secretary-general] on sexual violence in conflict and the U.N. and the United Nations system to ensure the full implementation of the communique on conflict-related sexual violence," Wol said. Wol said several units of the regular armed forces stationed around the country had been trained to prevent sexual violence since the communique was signed four years ago, but funding is needed to fully implement the agreement. At the same press conference, David Shearer, head of the U.N. Mission in South Sudan, said signing a communique was not enough. "The question really now is how do we make that a reality on the ground," he said. Shearer said the U.N. was ready to provide the South Sudan government with technical assistance to ensure that sexual predators are held accountable "to make sure that when people are arrested for sexual crimes that the police are able to take that evidence accurately, that the prosecution is done well, the courts function appropriately so that there's a process of justice which means impunity ends." Fighting continues Despite the signing of a cessation-of-hostilities agreement last December, Keita said the warring parties have been fighting in parts of greater Upper Nile and greater Bahr el Ghazal regions in the past few weeks. Keita spent the past four days touring the country and meeting with government officials, including First Vice President Taban Deng Gai. The U.N. official met with aid workers and internally displaced persons in Wau, where she said she became deeply concerned about what she saw. Keita urged the warring parties to find peace at the next phase of the High-Level Revitalization Forum, as the peace talks are known, expected to get under way in May in Ethiopia. "But peace will not be won in Addis Ababa only. It has to be won in every state of the country where politically motivated intercommunal violence has become a great source of concern and has caused numerous fatalities in the past months," Keita said. Shearer said the remaining battalions of the Regional Protection Force would arrive in the country in the coming weeks and bring its total strength in Juba to 2,300. South Sudan is in its fifth year of conflict. More than 2 million people have been displaced inside the country and at least 2 million more have fled to neighboring countries. The United States hopes to reach agreement with Britain, France and Germany to address President Donald Trump's concerns about the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, Washington's disarmament ambassador said on Thursday. The crux of the accord between Iran and six major powers Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States was that Tehran would curb its nuclear program in return for relief from international sanctions that hobbled its economy. U.N. nuclear inspectors have since repeatedly verified Iranian compliance with the deal and sanctions were rescinded. On Jan. 12, however, Trump sent an ultimatum to Britain, France and Germany, saying they must agree to "fix the terrible flaws of the Iran nuclear deal" or he would refuse to extend the critical U.S. sanctions relief that it entails. U.S. sanctions will resume unless Trump issues new "waivers" to suspend them on May 12, although it is unclear how fast they would go into effect. Iran has ruled out renegotiating the deal. U.S. disarmament ambassador Robert Wood said Washington had been having "intense" discussions with its three major European allies ahead of the May 12 deadline. He said Washington wanted to address the Iranian ballistic missile program, 10-year "sunset" clauses for limits on its nuclear activity and Tehran's "destabilizing behavior in the Middle East", as well as to toughen inspections by the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Iran. These issues have to be dealt with. We are hopeful that an agreement can be reached that the president can feel comfortable with, Wood told a news conference in Geneva. "We want the IAEA to get access to all the sites they need to. The Iranians obfuscate and deny, say they'll offer access and then deny it. It's important for the IAEA to go anywhere it needs to, including military sites," Wood said. European officials said after their latest round of talks on April 12 they were making headway toward an agreement, though remain unclear whether a deal could be struck on the sunset clauses and if Trump would embrace their efforts. Iran has said its nuclear program is for peaceful purposes only and that its ballistic missiles are solely for defense and having nothing to do with its nuclear activity. It has said it will stick to the accord as long as the other parties do, but will "shred" the deal if Washington pulls out. While Trump has often lambasted the deal struck under his predecessor Barack Obama, the other big power signatories have said the accord is crucial to reducing the risk of wider war in the Middle East and urged Washington to stick by it. Speaking ahead of French President Emmanuel Macron's trip to Washington next week, an aide to the leader said there had been progress in talks with the United States, but Paris was being prudent as the "moment of truth" approached. "We know that President Trump hasn't made his decision yet so we are continuing to exchange and defend our arguments," the aide said. "But we must be very cautious and we shouldn't expect a breakthrough on this issue during the visit to Trump." Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said Friday that the United States inquired about Moscow's positions in Syria prior to last week's U.S. and allied airstrikes and avoided those areas. Lavrov said that despite rising tensions between Moscow and Washington, the U.S. ensured that Russian personnel and positions were not targeted during attacks against the regime of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad after suspected chemical attacks on the town of Douma. "We told them where our red lines were, including the geographical red lines," Lavrov said in an interview with Russian state television. At a joint news conference in Moscow on Friday with U.N. Syria envoy Staffan de Mistura, Lavrov said the airstrikes by the U.S., Britain and France "bombed not only imaginary chemical facilities in Syria, they also bombed the talks in Geneva." U.S. Defense Secretary Jim Mattis, meanwhile, warned Assad on Friday that he would be "ill-advised to ignore the international community" by continuing to develop and use chemical weapons, a war crime that is prohibited by international law. "There's been full support for that regrettable but necessary attack on his research and engineering part of his weapons program," Mattis added. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana White said Thursday that there had been no indication the Syrian military was ready to launch another chemical weapons attack but that Washington and its allies "remain vigilant." The U.S.-led strikes came in response to a suspected chemical weapons attack that killed at least 40 civilians in Douma on April 7. The U.S. blamed Syria. But Damascus and its Russian allies deny any such weapons were used. White said following the recent missile strikes, "Russia immediately began a misinformation campaign to sow doubt and confusion to hide its complicity. Russia falsely claimed Syria air defense shot down a significant number of missiles, when in fact all of our missiles hit their targets." Joint Staff Director Lieutenant General Kenneth McKenzie said Thursday that U.S. military officials believed there was probably some chlorine and some sarin at all of three Syrian chemical weapons facilities targeted in last Saturday's missile strikes. But he admitted that without direct access, "that will likely be an open question." In Syria, global chemical weapons inspectors are still waiting to enter Douma. In Cameroon, officials say eight villages in the English-speaking northwest have been torched and hundreds of residents have fled amid clashes this week between security forces and separatist rebels. Terence Fukah, a 33-year-old pig farmer, told VOA he fled his village of Ajin on Tuesday as the military responded to an attack by armed men. "It was around five o'clock in the morning. I saw dead people lying down. I had to cross on top of them and run for my dear life," Fukah said. "I don't even know where my children are. I don't even know where my wife is. I don't know how the pigs are doing, how many have died. I don't know if my own house has been burned. I am crying, crying for the government to do something." The military says armed separatist rebels torched at least eight villages in northwest Cameroon; however, residents told VOA the fires were set by the military after the attackers had fled. "We heard gunshots. We did not know exactly what to do. Everybody was running up and down," said Thomas Tuboh, a maize farmer from the village of Anyajua. "It was the burning that made us to know our lives were at stake, so I decided to run away from Anyajua. When the military people invaded the area, the bridges were blocked and they decided to put them down with flames." He said his village is now nearly completely deserted. "You see it is a farming area that helps the whole division and the region at large. I don't know how we are going to cope if this persists," Tuboh said. General Agha Robinson, who is commanding troops in the northwest region, said his soldiers were not responsible for the burning. The crisis began in November 2016 with a strike by Anglophone lawyers and teachers, who were demanding reforms to address what they say is the marginalization of the country's English-speaking minority by French-speakers. The situation spiraled into all-out conflict as separatists demanded independence for the two English-speaking regions. Thirty-eight members of the military and hundreds of rebels have been killed in the fighting, according to Cameroon's ministry of defense. The U.N. refugee agency says tens of thousands of people have fled their homes, with at least 20,000 crossing over to neighboring Nigeria in search of safety. There appears to be little hope for dialogue. Separatists say they will not budge on secession. Meanwhile, Cameroon has refused to release dozens of detained separatist leaders, and President Paul Biya says he will entertain no talks that threaten national unity. How Chris Christie will be remembered. Photo: Andrew Mills | NJ Advance Media/AP Chris Christie has been out of office for more than three months, but the former New Jersey governor is still sticking it to the states taxpayers. His latest middle finger to New Jerseyans is blowing $85,000 of taxpayer dollars on his official portrait, which is more than his three predecessors combined, according to NorthJersey.com. The portrait, which probably wont depict Christie in repose on a secluded beach, although it totally should, will be painted by the Australian artist Paul Newton, who has previously worked with subjects including Kylie Minogue and the Duke of Edinburgh. The payment for Christies portrait comes from a $250,000 taxpayer-funded transition account that is typically used to finance a governors portrait, along with staff and office space. But no other governor has ever used so much of the fund on a painting. The three Democratic governors who occupied the office before Christie spent a combined $74,500 on their own. The two previous Republican governors spent a combined $63,000. No one who endured Christies eight years in office will be surprised by his big spending. This is the same guy who jetted around the world on the the private planes of his billionaire buddies while publicly mocking public school teachers. Its the same guy who spent that day on a beach closed to the public because of a government shutdown that he ordered. And the same guy who once boasted that he tries to squeeze all the juice out of the orange that I can. The good news for those tired of being squeezed by Christie is that the orange is almost empty. From pop to folk to country, an all-female lineup of artists like Betty Who, The Burney Sisters and Brittney Spencer took the stage at this years Roots N Blues. After being canceled last year due to COVID, this year's fest was full of COVID vaccination cards as well as the usual barbecue an Please enable cookies on your web browser in order to continue. The new European data protection law requires us to inform you of the following before you use our website: We use cookies and other technologies to customize your experience, perform analytics and deliver personalized advertising on our sites, apps and newsletters and across the Internet based on your interests. By clicking I agree below, you consent to the use by us and our third-party partners of cookies and data gathered from your use of our platforms. See our Privacy Policy and Third Party Partners to learn more about the use of data and your rights. You also agree to our Terms of Service. GOP lawmakers have a fever, and the only prescription is more memos. Photo: Zach Gibson/Getty Images When asked on Wednesday whether hes planning to get rid of Special Counsel Robert Mueller either by firing Mueller himself, or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, whos overseeing the probe President Trump suggested reports that the Russia probe is in immediate danger are greatly exaggerated. Theyve been saying Im going to get rid of them for the last three months, four months, five months, and theyre still here, Trump told reporters. So we want to get the investigation over with, done with, put it behind us. But meanwhile, Trumps allies in the House were escalating their months-long battle with Rosenstein for access to documents related to the Russia probe and the investigation into Hillary Clintons private email server. Democrats claim that much like #ReleaseTheMemo debacle, their real aim is to undermine Mueller in this case by providing the justification for getting rid of Rosenstein and replacing him with a deputy AG willing to rein in the special counsel. On Wednesday evening, House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte informed the panels ranking Democrat, Representative Jerrold Nadler, that he plans to issue a subpoena for the seven memos former FBI director James Comey wrote documenting his interactions with Trump, which are part of the Mueller investigation. According to The Hill, its standard procedure to consult the ranking member at least two days before making such a move, so the subpoena could be issued this week. With Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused from the Russia probe, the subpoena for the Justice Department sets up a confrontation with Rosenstein. On Friday Goodlatte, along with House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes and Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, issued a letter demanding that the memos be released by Monday, saying, There is no legal basis for withholding these materials from Congress. In his response Rosenstein asked for a few more days to consider the request. He said that the Justice Department is looking into whether it can comply, but one or more of the memos may relate to an ongoing investigation, may contain classified information, and may report confidential Presidential communications. Rosenstein also undercut the argument that theres great urgency to release the Comey memos, noting that several top House officials (including Nunes and Gowdy) were already allowed to review the memos in a secure Justice Department facility last year. Nadler, the Judiciary Committees top Democrat, said handing over evidence from Muellers ongoing criminal investigation violates DOJ policy, and alleged that the request was just a ruse to undermine Rosenstein. If House Republicans refuse any accommodation short of the Department of Justice handing over custody of these documents which it cannot do I fear the majority will have manufactured an excuse to hold the deputy attorney general in contempt of Congress, Nadler said. If they succeed in tarnishing the deputy attorney general, perhaps they will have given President Trump the pretext he has sought to replace Mr. Rosenstein with someone willing to do his bidding and end the special counsels investigation. Nunes has already threatened to impeach both Rosenstein and FBI Director Christopher Wray over their failure to release various documents, telling Fox News last week, I can tell you that were not going to just hold in contempt, we will have a plan to hold in contempt and impeach. That threat resulted in members of the House Intelligence Committee being allowed to review a redacted version of other material theyd requested: the document that launched the investigation into Russias 2016 election interference. Previous memos indicated that the probe was triggered by a tip from a friendly foreign nation about contacts between then-Trump adviser George Papadopoulos and individuals linked to Russia. One committee member said the document was narrowly tailored to protect the name of a foreign country and the name of a foreign agent who provided the tip. Unsurprisingly, House members werent satisfied. According to the Washington Post, two of Trumps other legislative allies, House Freedom Caucus leaders Mark Meadow and Jim Jordan, met with Rosenstein on Monday to press him to release documents related to the Russia probe and Clintons email server. Like Nunes, they have said theyre ready to take serious action against Rosenstein if he doesnt comply. Contempt of Congress is really at the doorstep of Rod Rosenstein more than anybody else, Meadows told reporters last week, saying that could be followed by other moves. It is certainly on the path to impeachment, he added. Trump appears to be keeping close tabs on these efforts. Earlier this month, he suggested the DOJ is hiding documents from congressional committees for some nefarious reason: Lawmakers of the House Judiciary Committee are angrily accusing the Department of Justice of missing the Thursday Deadline for turning over UNREDACTED Documents relating to FISA abuse, FBI, Comey, Lynch, McCabe, Clinton Emails and much more. Slow walking - what is going on? BAD! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2018 What does the Department of Justice and FBI have to hide? Why arent they giving the strongly requested documents (unredacted) to the HOUSE JUDICIARY COMMITTEE? Stalling, but for what reason? Not looking good! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 7, 2018 Rosenstein and FBI officials went to the White House last week to discuss plans for addressing the congressional requests. The Post reported that Meadows touched base with the president after he met with the deputy AG this week: Trump and Meadows spoke at some point after the meeting, the three people said, but they declined to share details of the exchange. House members arent alone in paving the way for Trump to undermine the Russia investigation. Earlier this week Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell squashed a push for bipartisan legislation that would protect Mueller, saying its unnecessary and he would not put it on the floor for a vote. He may not be actively working to undermine Mueller, like the presidents allies in the House, but it was a signal that he wont stand in Trumps way. Allan Monga. A high-school student in Maine is suing the National Endowment for the Arts after the agency disqualified him from a poetry contest because he isnt an American citizen or green card holder. Allan Monga, a junior at Portlands Deering High School, fled Zambia last year and applied for asylum in the United States. Eight months later, he earned a spot in the Poetry Out Loud national finals, beating out nearly 10,000 students across Maine who participated. At the state finals, Monga recited poems by W.E.B. Du Bois, Stephen Crane, and Lord Byron: In federal court on Wednesday, lawyers for the NEA argued that Monga, who has a work authorization and Social Security number, cant represent Maine in next weeks competition in Washington, D.C. Why is it in the national interest to prevent someone like Mr. Monga from participating in this poetry contest? U.S. District Judge John Woodcock asked federal attorneys. Its in the national interest to give the limited resources of the country to permanent legal residents and U.S. citizens, Assistant Attorney General Rachael Westmoreland responded, according to the Bangor Daily News. She said the competitions eligibility requirements were based on those set by Congress for the National Medal of Arts, the highest award the government gives artists, which requires recipients to be citizens or permanent residents. (Spokespersons for both the NEA and the Department of Justice declined to comment on this story.) Mongas attorneys argued that a 1982 Supreme Court ruling affirming undocumented immigrants right to public education should apply. Poetry Out Loud is included in Deering High Schools English curriculum, Melissa Hewey, an attorney for Monga, said. Hes working with his English teachers to do this. What theyre saying is, the government has an important interest in immigration. Which is true if we were talking to the Department of Homeland Security, Hewey said. But you look at the mission supposedly of the National Endowment for the Arts and its to promote cultural diversity. So, how do you square those two things? I dont get it. Theres no indication that the NEA is cowing to the Trump administrations disdain for refugees (evident in the presidents interpretation of his favorite poem, The Snake). In fact, last fall, Poetry Out Loud clarified its rules page, adding a line that explained its citizenship requirements had been in place since 2006. So the NEA mightve made this same argument if Hillary Clinton were president. But if NEA administrators are taking Trumps views on immigration into consideration, theyre probably doing so in light of the fact that Trumps 2017 and 2018 federal budget proposals called for the total elimination of the NEA. (Nonetheless, Congress fully funded the NEA in its new budget.) But then there is still the time-sensitive question of whether Monga will be allowed to display his talents in next weeks contest. I think he could win the national finals, said Gregg Palmer, the principal at Deering High School. Theres something special about him. Hes about the most centered, mature, and ethical person I know. Judge Woodcock will decide on Friday whether Monga is eligible to attend the national finals. America is a country of immigrants, Monga said in an affidavit. If someone works hard and earns something, no barriers should be placed in his or her way. I am the state champion and I should be given an equal opportunity. Trump is already having campaign rallies, but some members of his party say they dont know if hell run in 2020. Photo: Nicole Craine/Bloomberg via Getty Images Donald Trump has made no secret of his intention to run for reelection in 2020, holding rallies, raising money, and joking that he plans to also run in 2024 and 2028. In a normal world with a normal president, that would be enough for high-profile members of Trumps party to back his reelection. But this world isnt normal and CNN reports that a wide array of House and Senate Republicans are not yet ready to endorse President Donald Trumps bid for a second term. Some of the lawmakers who went on the record with reporter Manu Raju tried to avoid the question of endorsing Trump in two years. I dont know what the world is going to look like, Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn said. But lets say its not something Ive given any thought to. Look, Im focused on opioids, Senator Lamar Alexander said. Others suggested that Trump, who filed 2020 campaign paperwork on the day he was inaugurated, might not be even be running. We need to make sure that hes actually moving forward and wants to go after this, Representative Bill Huizenga said. CNNs New Day continued to pull the thread in interviews with Republican senators Thursday. Its way too early to be talking 2020, Senator Ron Johnson said when asked about his support for Trumps reelection. It could be a completely different world by 2020. We have a 2018 election first. Tennessee senator Bob Corker, one of Trumps most outspoken critics in the Senate, sounded doubtful that Republicans will even have to choose whether to support Trump in 2020. Because, Corker said, hes not sure Trump will even run. I have no idea whether the president will run for reelection nor what the field will be on the Republican side, so I think its way too early to weigh in on who won my support, Corker said on CNN. But are you saying youre not sure the president is going to run? New Day anchor Alisyn Camerota asked. Im definitely not sure if hes going to run, Corker said. All we are saying is give Trump a chance. Photo: Joe Raedle/Getty Images As a candidate, Donald Trump expressed support for reinstating military torture, dropping bombs on the wives and children of enemy combatants, and mass murdering Muslim prisoners of war with bullets dipped in pigs blood. As president, he has praised police brutality, closed Americas border to Syrian refugees, defended white supremacists, demonized Central American immigrants, threatened thermonuclear war over Twitter, and endorsed extrajudicial assassinations of suspected drug users as a public health policy. And yet, Trumps aides believe he just might win a Nobel Peace Prize. And that notion is a tad less crazy than it sounds. You may have trouble picturing Donald Trump as a world-historic peacemaker. But Donald Trump doesnt. As the president contemplates his upcoming summit with Kim Jong-un, he feels confident that his unique deal-making skills will allow him to resolve the tensions that have kept the Korean peninsula in a cold war for 65 years and led Pyongyang to cling to a nuclear arsenal at immense economic and diplomatic cost. As Axios reports: President Trump views the North Korean crisis as his great man of history moment. The big picture: He came into office thinking he could be the historic deal maker to bring peace to the Middle East. Hes stopped talking about that. Theres very little point. The peace deal looks dead and cremated. But Trump wants to sign his name even larger into the history books, and he views North Korea as his moment. Sources close to him say he genuinely believes he and he alone can overcome the seemingly intractable disaster on the Korean Peninsula. A source who has discussed North Korea with Trump: He thinks, Just get me in the room with the guy [Kim Jong-un] and Ill figure it out. On Thursday, Trumps ambition began to look a bit more plausible. Speaking ahead of his own summit with Kim next week, South Korean president Moon Jae-in announced that North Korea had expressed a will for a complete denuclearization of the peninsula and would not demand the withdrawal of all U.S. troops from South Korea in exchange. They have not attached any conditions that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea, Moon told reporters. All they are expressing is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security. But one should probably treat this promise with at least as much skepticism as Donald Trumps great man theory of (his own role in) history. Historically, Pyongyang has defined complete denuclearization as an agreement in which it forfeits its nuclear ambitions in exchange for the dismantlement of Americas security infrastructure in the region. Which is to say: The withdrawal of the 63,000 U.S. troops in South Korea, a cessation of joint military exercises between Washington, Seoul, and Tokyo, and an end to Americas nuclear security umbrella over the South. Its possible that Kim has decided he could live with a few American troops in the South, so long as the U.S. pares back all other features of its security policy in East Asia. But there is little chance that all Kim desires is an end of hostile policies towards North Korea, as Washington would define them. And even if Kim were inclined to take a radically softer stance than his father and grandfather, China would be sure to stiffen his spine. As Anish Goel explains for NBC News, forcing the U.S. to pare back its security presence in East Asia is as much of a foreign policy priority for Beijing as it is for Pyongyang. And Kims historic visit with Xi Jinping last month confirmed that China will have an invisible seat at Trump and Kims negotiating table. Nevertheless, there is reason to wonder if Trump might actually be right that he alone can bring peace to the Korean peninsula. Granted, he knows virtually nothing about the region or its history, and tacitly confessed this week that he only recently learned that the Korean War had never technically ended. And sure, his famous deal-making abilities might be a wholly fictional marketing ploy; his steadfast refusal to educate himself on geopolitics, and irritable personality might have soured his diplomatic relationship with a wide variety of U.S. allies; his word might be less trustworthy than just about any major leaders in world history; and he may very well be cognitively incapable of imagining the world from another persons perspective, or feeling anything resembling human empathy. But when it comes to forging a peace deal with North Korea, Trumps aversion to sweating the details of geopolitics could be an asset. And his disagreeable (and/or sociopathic) personality could prove less detrimental to negotiations than his egotism and susceptibility to flattery are beneficial to them. In fact, those latter qualities are the very reason that peace talks between Trump and Kim are taking place at all: When the president was presented with North Koreas routine offer of direct talks, he interpreted it as an unprecedented gesture of conciliation inspired by his exceptional leadership and then pounced on the opportunity to generate a flattering headline, before his advisers could brief him on the potential downsides of such a summit. This move was hardly uncharacteristic. Last year, when Saudi Arabia offered Trump the opportunity to claim that he had convinced Americas Gulf State allies to get tough on terrorism by blockading Qatar the president did not worry about whether this development actually advanced U.S. security interests in the region before he declared mission accomplished. And Trump displayed a similar propensity for not letting bad policy be the enemy of good (short-term) PR in his withdrawal from the Paris climate accords and announcement of steel and aluminum tariffs. Thus, it isnt hard to imagine Trump leaping at the opportunity to announce that he has reached a historic denuclearization deal with North Korea even if such an agreement includes concessions on Americas security role in the region that all previous presidents have recoiled from. If Axioss report is correct, Trump has begun to see securing such a peace deal as a means of validating his megalomaniacal self-conception; at this point, accepting that he alone cant fix the crisis would ostensibly deal his ego a painful blow. More critically, unlike any previous U.S. president, Trump can plausibly brand a withdrawal of the U.S. military from East Asia as a foreign policy win in its own right. After all, the mogul has repeatedly complained about the fiscal costs of maintaining American security guarantees, while calling on U.S. allies to shoulder more of the burden of their own defense. And while his administrations actual foreign policy has been anything but noninterventionist, his affinity for isolationist rhetoric and gestures has not gone away. Just a few weeks ago, the man was calling on his generals to withdraw all U.S. troops and humanitarian aid from Syria. All of which is to say: If Kim offers Trump a chance to announce that he has forged a genuinely historic deal to end the Korean War, denuclearize North Korea and bring American troops and treasure home from the region could anyone be confident that hed turn down such an opportunity? Michael Cohen. Photo: Drew Angerer/Getty Images One of the ways in which the scandals around President Trump have come to resemble a mob movie, other than the nature of the crimes themselves, is that nobody involved is putting up much of a pretense that Trump is innocent. Asked today by Katy Tur if theres any chance [Michael Cohen] would end up cooperating, flipping, Anthony Scaramucci said no, because Cohen is a very loyal person. You meant because Trump is innocent, right? Cohen is not going to testify against Trump because Trump did nothing wrong? Not all of Trumps supporters feel so confident that Cohen will respect the omerta. In a conversation with Trump last Friday, Jay Goldberg, one of Trumps lawyers, warned the president, Michael will never stand up [for you] if charged by the government, according to The Wall Street Journal. But why would Trump have anything to worry about, unless Trump committed a crime that Cohen knows about? In an interview with the Journal, Goldberg elucidated his concerns about Cohens loyalty and the devastating impact it would have if he cooperated with the government. The mob was broken by Sammy The Bull Gravano caving in out of the prospect of a jail sentence, Goldberg explained. Again, this makes a lot of sense as a legal defense strategy for a businessman who has probably done a lot of illegal stuff. But as a public-relations strategy, isnt Trumps lawyer supposed to say he believes Cohen is innocent, and would be shocked to learn if he did something wrong, because of course Trump has never engaged in any illegal behavior and would never tolerate it among his employees? Hes probably not supposed to casually liken the president of the United States to the boss of a criminal syndicate. Update: Politico has more reporting on Trump allies expressing concern that Cohen will flip on Trump. All of the sources implicitly assume both Cohen and Trump are guilty of serious crimes. (Because otherwise, Cohen couldnt give prosecutors any information damaging to Trump.) And many of them also use mafia lingo. I think for two years or four years or five years Michael Cohen would be a stand-up guy. I think hed tell them go piss up a rope, says a defense lawyer who represents a senior Trump aide, But depending on dollars involved, which can be a big driver, or if they look at him and say its not 2 to 4 years, its 18 to 22, then how loyal is he? Eighteen to twenty-two years sounds like it would involve some pretty serious crimes, huh? From George Wallace to Kay Ivey, Alabama pols love to attack outside agitators for stirring up racial controversies. Photo: Bettmann Archive/Getty Images, Brynn Anderson/AP/REX/Shutterstock After the abrupt action by a Republican legislature in 2015 to remove the Confederate battle flag from the South Carolina Statehouse, and the generally negative reaction (other than in the White House) to a lethal white-nationalist rally to protect a Confederate monument in Virginia in 2017, youd think the Lost Cause would be in full retreat. But thats not the case in parts of the former Confederacy. Not long before the violence in Charlottesville, the Alabama legislature enacted a law that bars the removal, renaming, removal and alteration of monuments, memorial streets, memorial buildings and architecturally significant buildings located on public property for 40 or more years. Tennessee (in 2013) and North Carolina (in 2015) enacted similar statutes in response to civil-rights protests against Confederate monuments and symbols in recent years, and a bill is pending in the Texas legislature to do likewise. These laws arent just dead letters, either; southern conservative politicians are touting them as a sword against local governments who dare take down Confederate monuments, not just a shield against protestors and defilers. That became obvious this week in Tennessee, as the Associated Press reports: The Republican-dominated House in Tennessee voted Tuesday to punish the city of Memphis for removing Confederate monuments by taking $250,000 away from the city that would have been used for a bicentennial celebration next year. The retaliation came in the form of passage of a last-minute amendment attached to the House appropriations bill that triggered heated debate on the House floor and stinging rebukes from lawmakers from Memphis. The political usages of anti-anti-Confederate activity is becoming obvious in conservative precincts across the region. Georgias large batch of 2018 Republican gubernatorial candidates are competing to denounce Democratic candidate Stacey Abramss proposal to remove a huge carving of Confederate leaders from the state-owned Stone Mountain Park. And next door in Alabama, Governor Kay Ivey is making her work to protect Confederate monuments a signature and a shout-out to an old, disreputable tradition. Ivey is far and away the front-runner for reelection this November. She assumed the governorship just over a year ago when disgraced governor Robert Bentley stepped down as part of a plea deal over corruption charges linked to the sex scandal that gave him the nickname Love Gov. While Ivey has had some controversial issues to deal with most notably the handling of a special election after Jeff Sessions resigned from the Senate, which led to her own Republican Party improbably losing her administration has been relatively stable. Another Democratic victory in November isnt very likely. But she does have some significant primary opposition. And it would appear she has decided any danger she faces will come from her right flank. We know this because her first reelection ad boasts of her efforts to preserve the states many Confederate monuments, and scores the politically correct nonsense from folks in Washington suggesting that the self-styled Heart of Dixie might need to come to grips with its past in the kind of ways that special interest groups (e.g., every civil-rights organization in the state) recommend. In a campaign appearance after the ad went up, Ivey doubled down on the old-timey rhetoric, attacking out-of-state liberals for messing with Alabamas fine heritage. Southerners of a certain age could not have possibly missed the echo of the old segregationist complaint about outside agitators coming in and inciting African-Americans to challenge Jim Crow. During the civil rights era, you heard that complaint constantly from reactionary southern politicians, most notably their most famous leader, Alabama governor George C. Wallace. Heres an excerpt from a 1964 letter he sent that typifies the use of the term back in the day: This will acknowledge and thank you for your letter of April 8, 1964, in which you request literature on the subject of segregation in the South. We have no material on this subject in our office. As a matter of fact, we have never had a problem here in the South except in a very few isolated instances and these have been the result of outside agitators. White and colored have lived together in the South for generations in peace and equanimity. They each prefer their own pattern of society, their own churches and their own schools which history and experience have proven are best for both races. (As stated before, outside agitators have created any major friction occurring between the races.) Now you have to appreciate that Kay Ivey is 73 years old. She lived through the civil rights era in Alabama, and in fact, as an Auburn student, coordinated efforts on behalf of the 1966 gubernatorial campaign of Lurleen Wallace (Georges wife, who was running to get around the law that kept her husband from running for consecutive terms) on her campus. There is approximately a zero percent chance she doesnt understand the dog whistle she is blowing in scoring the out-of-state liberals who want to interfere with the loving memory of the Men in Grey. It is so well-known in Alabama, in fact, that Doug Jones used it ironically to criticize Steve Bannon for his intervention on Roy Moores behalf in last Decembers special Senate election. Yes, old times there are not forgotten in Alabama and other conservative precincts of the South. And thats manifesting itself in a renewal of the neo-Confederate sentiment that during the last days of Jim Crow built and blessed many of the symbols and monuments we are still talking about today. The current pushback to protests against these relics has almost certainly drawn inspiration from the presidents defiance of political correctness, and the more general sense among many older white people that race relations would be peachy-keen if wed all stop talking about slavery and segregation and police misconduct and voter suppression and economic inequality and mass incarceration and all the other complaints minority folk have about our great country. Its a lot easier to Make America Great Again when you believe it was really great when women and minorities knew their place. Over the last few months, Select All has interviewed more than a dozen prominent technology figures about what has gone wrong with the contemporary internet for a project called The Internet Apologizes. Were now publishing lengthier transcripts of each individual interview. This interview features Richard Stallman, an activist and legendary programmer who developed the foundational and widely used software Emacs and GNU. He is a recipient of the MacArthur genius grant and is currently president of the Free Software Foundation. You can find other interviews from this series here. Thank you so much for agreeing to a call. I apologize that Im calling late, Ive just had a jam-packed morning. Please. Stop apologizing. It doesnt matter when you call me if I can talk to you. I never cared about that. In other words, youre being excessively polite. Catering to an imaginary desire that I never had in my life. Im happy if people call me at any time if the conversation is a useful one. Of course sometimes I cant talk or they cant reach me, which is unfortunate. But its not gonna make me unhappy. All right then. Lets start it this way and get right into it. Im interested in how you think that the major digital platforms in particular, and Silicon Valley more broadly, sort of went off the rails. Im thinking of the toxic nature of many of these communities and platforms online issues with data privacy, the ability to be abused for electioneering or other purposes, and so on. Youre talking about very about specific manifestations, and in some cases in ways that presuppose a weak solution. What is data privacy? The term implies that if a company collects data about you, it should somehow protect that data. But I dont think thats the issue. I think the problem is that it collects data about you period. We shouldnt let them do that. I wont let them collect data about me. I refuse to use the ones that would know who I am. There are unfortunately some areas where I cant avoid that. I cant avoid even for a domestic flight giving the information of who I am. Thats wrong. You shouldnt have to identify yourself if youre not crossing a border and having your passport checked. With prescriptions, pharmacies sell the information about who gets what sort of prescription. There are companies that find this out about people. But they dont get much of a chance to show me ads because I dont use any sites in a way that lets them know who I am and show ads accordingly. So I think the problem is fundamental. Companies are collecting data about people. We shouldnt let them do that. The data that is collected will be abused. Thats not an absolute certainty, but its a practical, extreme likelihood, which is enough to make collection a problem. A database about people can be misused in four ways. First, the organization that collects the data can misuse the data. Second, rogue employees can misuse the data. Third, unrelated parties can steal the data and misuse it. That happens frequently, too. And fourth, the state can collect the data and do really horrible things with it, like put people in prison camps. Which is what happened famously in World War II in the United States. And the data can also enable, as it did in World War II, Nazis to find Jews to kill. In China, for example, any data can be misused horribly. But in the U.S. also, youre looking at a CIA torturer being nominated to head the CIA, and we cant assume that she will be rejected. So when you put this together with the state spying that Snowden told us about, and with the Patriot Act that allows the FBI to take almost any database of personal data without even talking to a court. And what you see is, for companies to have data about you is dangerous. And Im not interested in discussing the privacy policies that these companies have. First of all, privacy policies are written so that they appear to promise you some sort of respect for privacy, while in fact having such loopholes that the company can do anything at all. But second, the privacy policy of the company doesnt do anything to stop the FBI from taking all that data every week. Anytime anybody starts collecting some data, if the FBI thinks its interesting, it will grab that data. And we also know that the FBI and other such agencies are inclined to label protesters as terrorists. So that way they can use laws that were ostensibly adopted to protect us from terrorists to threaten a much larger number of us than any terrorist could. This is effectively a core practice of all of Silicon Valley, right? It sounds like you also think that this is something that extends well beyond privacy. Its the foundation for how these companies act. Yes. Although Id rather not refer to companies that collect personal data with the name Silicon Valley because there are other companies there that do other things that relate to digital technology, and maybe theyre making some chips that are not harmful at all. So Id rather not talk about Silicon Valley, also because they may be located somewhere else. So how about we use the New York Times phrase? They use the Frightful Five to refer to sort of the emergent tech, digital monopolies or duopolies. Well, first of all, whether theyre monopolies is a secondary issue, as I see it, and the danger is not limited to them. For instance, the FBI was I suppose still is collecting data about every long distance call from some of those long distance companies. Perhaps all. But those are not monopolies. There arent very many of them; its an oligopoly, and thats dangerous too. But in any case, theyre not among the five companies youre thinking of. And as I see it any store that wants to know who you are is doing the same thing and its just as bad regardless of the size of the store. I never tell stores who I am. I never let them know. I pay cash and only cash for that reason. I dont care whether its a local store or Amazon no one has a right to keep track of what I buy. The local store, I might do business with, I wouldnt give it any way to know my identity. I would pay cash. With Amazon, I cant pay cash, so I dont buy from there. Understood. The Frightful Five I think in France theyre called GAFAM may have special power to cause harm. Certainly Facebook does. But each one is different and theyre doing things that other companies are also doing, and its just as bad when other companies do it. So I think its a mistake to focus on the especially large companies, and instead we should look at the things they are doing that are the basis for being harmful. And then we should stop anyone from doing that. It sounds like you feel that collection of user data is the root problem with these companies. Its an injustice. It is disrespect for human rights, and its not only when a company does it. There are, on streets nowadays in some cities, lots of cameras that can be pointed by officials in any direction they like, and I believe theyre trying to recognize peoples faces automatically. Well, this is monstrous. This is far worse than Google or Facebook. And it doesnt its not done by a company. Its done by the city of New York. Or some other city doing the same thing, who knows? The point is, tracking people is dangerous. And especially tracking who communicates with whom. And who goes where. Once the state can find that out, human rights are basically dead because protests will be crushed. Look at what various so-called law-enforcement agencies did to try to crush the pipeline protests not long ago, or the laws various states are adopting or thinking of adopting making it a grave crime to protest, and imprisoning protesters for a long time. Or cutting off journalists to cover them, as was done during the Dakota Access Pipeline protests, when they declared a no-fly zone so journalists drones couldnt be there to watch what the thugs were doing to the protesters. So, I see this as fundamentally dangerous to a point that makes the issues of, say, advertising pale by comparison. Sure, I dont want companies to be able to find out all about us for the sake of advertising, although for the specific case of Facebook, there could be a remedy to stop it from being so harmful. For instance, political ads on Facebook might be less harmful if every company that buys political ads is required to post the full list of all the ads that it has bought in the past six months in one place. So people can see what they all are. Why do you think these companies feel justified in collecting that data? Oh, well, I think you can trace it to the general plutocratic neoliberal ideology that has controlled the U.S. for more than two decades. A study established that since 1998 or so, the public opinion in general has no influence on political decisions. Theyre controlled by the desires of the rich and of special interests connected with whatever issue it is. So the companies that wanted to collect data about people could take advantage of this general misguided ideology to get away with whatever they might have wanted to do. Which happened to be collecting data about people. But I think they shouldnt be allowed to collect data about people. We need a law. Fuck them theres no reason we should let them exist if the price is knowing everything about us. Let them disappear. Theyre not important our human rights are important. No company is so important that its existence justifies setting up a police state. And a police state is what were heading toward. Most non-free software has malicious functionalities. And they include spying on people, restricting people thats called digital restrictions management, back doors, censorship. Empirically, basically, if a program is not free software, it probably has one of these malicious functionalities. So imagine a driverless car, controlled of course by software, and it will probably be proprietary software, meaning not-free software, not controlled by the users but rather by the company that makes the car, or some other company. Well imagine if that has a back door, which enables somebody to send a command saying, Ignore what the passenger said, and go there. Imagine what that would do. You can be quite sure that China will use that functionality to drive people toward the places theyre going to be disappeared or punished. But can you be sure that the U.S. wont? You could argue that in China, theyve just centralized integrated data collection and theyre integrating it with streams of data from a variety of different sources, both government-controlled and not. Whereas in the U.S., it seems like these platforms sort of compete with one another to offer different services like this its not centralized. Remember all the data is available to the FBI at any time. And remember how easy it is to pressure companies to send the remote-control command or to get from them all the secrets that are needed. Remember Lavabit. Lavabit was ordered to tell the state enough to spy on all its users 100 percent. And the only way that Ladar Levison could avoid that was to shut down the company instantly. And he could do that; he could consider doing that because he just owned it. Now imagine that its a public corporation with stockholders, and imagine that the insane ideology that its primary responsibility is to make money for the stockholders, which, by the way, is still not accepted in some European countries. And I read that this idea didnt get started until the 1980s; before that, even in the U.S., it was accepted that a corporation had other obligations. So we shouldnt accept that premise. But the fact is, they do accept that premise and they wouldnt even dream of shutting down the company just because it had been corrupted 100 percent lock, stock, and barrel into spying on all its users. Apple just faced that situation in China and Apple surrendered. As somebody whos had your set of experiences and expertise, Im curious: Do you feel like youve had any experiences that lend particular insight into how these companies work? Theyre corporations. Corporations have been compared to psychopaths. But do you think theres any particular set of cultural attitudes, or ideology, that has affected this particular variety Yes, neoliberalism. A certain flavor of neoliberalism? No, I dont think it is. Neoliberalism in general. The idea that greed is good and justifies doing to people whatever profit requires, thats all thats needed. Of course, depending on what business the company is in, therell be different nasty things it could conceivably do. The nasty things that, say, Apple can do are not the same as the nasty things that Facebook can do, and not the same nasty things Monsanto can do, or the same as the nasty things Kinder Morgan can do. And each one finds itself in certain circumstances based on its line of business, which will suggest certain ways of making more money by screwing people over. But, and it would be good to make it clear that corporations have other duties that are just as important as making money for their shareholders. But we also need specific laws. For instance, there was a coal company that a few years ago arranged to steal its employees pensions by splitting into two companies and programming the one with pension obligations to go bankrupt. Now, I think we need a law requiring pensions to be handled through independent funds so that a company cant just disappear and leave its 20-year employees with no pension. So the remedies depend on the area. Thats one remedy that deals with stealing employees pensions. Lots of employees wages are being stolen frequently, especially low-paid employees. Happens a lot in fast-food establishments. Im not sure how to prevent that. But thats another very big area where companies screw people over. Companies that have websites or apps tend to screw people over by collecting data about them. I think we need a law that requires every system to be designed in a way that achieves its basic goal with the least-possible collection of data. And secondary features, conveniences and so on, should not be allowed to justify making the primary goal require collection of data. Lets say you want to ride in a car and pay for the ride. That doesnt fundamentally require knowing who you are. So services which do that must be required by law to give you the option of paying cash, or using some other anonymous-payment system, without being identified. They should also have ways you can call for a ride without identifying yourself, without having to use a cell phone. Companies that wont go along with this well, theyre welcome to go out of business. Good riddance. When interviewing people for this, Ive found that there are some people who think there are some simple fixes and others who think that these companies are never going to change, so they need to die. Im curious what you think should be done, and what you think will actually happen. Well, in terms of what should be done, I think we should go back to selling things in physical stores where you can walk in and pay cash. And if you want a product that they stock somewhere but isnt in that store, well you should be able to put down a deposit and have them order something and come back and get it later. And they dont need to know who you are to do that. They can give you a receipt that will prove you paid the deposit so you can come back and collect it later. And by the way, we shouldnt allow stores to do anything to try to track the movements of customers. This bizarre practice is again the result of the ideological assumption that companies should be allowed to do anything they like unless the people have managed to make a law against it. I think, in general, identifying or tracking people should not be allowed, unless theres some specific and extremely strong justification offered. And this requirement should apply to systems, no matter what organization runs them, including systems run by cities, states, and the U.S. government. They shouldnt be allowed to collect data except in specific ways that have been approved, and that approval should require justifying that the danger to privacy can be permitted. And the reason is that we need democracy, more than almost anything else. And the sickness of democracy in the U.S., which is thoroughly established, and which was recognized by the supporters of Sanders as well as the supporters of the troll, is a problem we need to solve. Not exacerbate. So we must make sure that the state cant identify people, but the only way to do that is to make sure that companies cant identify people either most of the time. In addition, were facing the threat of massive unemployment due to some kind of digital technology. One of these areas of unemployment of course is driverless vehicles. There are also the self-checkout machines in some supermarkets and drugstores. When I go in and out of those stores, I shout to the people by those machines, If you use these machines, youre putting other people out of work. When I recognized that, I decided I wouldnt use them. Id always go to the human sales agent and help them stay employed. I think we could allow driverless vehicles and self-checkout once we have a system like a universal basic income. It sounds like the problem youre describing isnt these companies; the problem is capitalism. Well, its neoliberal capitalism. Its unrestrained capitalism. In other words, its plutocracy. When these companies control our laws by buying politicians, then were not really going to have democracy and the laws will leave us at the mercy of the companies that regard us as prey. But that doesnt mean we have to eliminate capitalism. We have to eliminate plutocracy. If we have capitalism and democracy, we have more or less what was invented in Athens. Thats what we had in 1970. If you look at Chomskys video Requiem for the American Dream, it describes the campaign that was started in the 70s to recover control for business so people couldnt demand and get things like the Endangered Species Act or the Americans With Disabilities Act or the Clean Air Act or Clean Water Act or have high enough taxes on the rich or on businesses so that we could run the country. And everything doesnt fall apart. It would be nice to see some of these big companies bring back some of the gigantic profits that theyve collected over the years and use them to fund beneficial things for the public. Well, yeah, they should pay more taxes so that we can do the things that we need to do. But because the operations of those companies are directly harmful in themselves, just making them pay taxes is not enough. Weve got to make them stop doing things in ways that are harmful, but not just those big companies, also smaller companies. Guber is one of the companies I detest the most. I called it Guber because it pays drivers peanuts. But the worst thing it does to the public is make people run non-free software, which is specifically an app, and that is non-free, meaning the users dont control it and it turns out its malware. People found it was tracking peoples movements before and after the ride. But the fundamental thing it does wrong is the fact that you have to run that non-free program to get a ride, and you have to identify yourself. And then you cant pay cash. These are things that a transport company shouldnt be allowed to do. The law should say, First, respect peoples privacy. And if you can make money doing so while respecting peoples privacy, okay. Of course, well make you pay a decent amount of taxes, but thats a separate issue. I have web pages about many of these companies saying why you shouldnt use them. If you look at Stallman.org, pretty near the top, on the front page, youll see this list. And its on your website? Yes. Stallman.org. WSU Commencement Celebrates Class of 2018 April 18, 2018 OGDEN, Utah Weber State University officials expect the class of 2017-18 to total more than 5,772 graduates the largest class on record. So far, 3,150 candidates have applied for spring graduation and will be honored April 27 during WSUs 151st commencement. Others received their diplomas during winter commencement ceremonies. This group of graduating Wildcats and I have something in common, said WSU President Charles A. Wight, who is leaving the university shortly after commencement to assume a presidency at Salisbury University. After an amazing time at Weber State, filled with growth, friendship and learning, we are embarking on new adventures. I wish the graduates my very best on their journeys." Graduates attending commencement in the Dee Events Center will receive a commemorative medallion to mark the occasion. The ceremonys academic processional begins at 8 a.m., followed by the formal program. Sir Chris Bonington, a celebrated British mountaineer, will deliver the keynote address and receive an honorary degree. Bonington began climbing when he was 16 years old. Since then, he has logged many mountaineering successes around the world. His adventurous spirit has led him to 19 Himalayan expeditions, four of which were to Mount Everest. He led a 1975 British expedition that summited the Southwest Face of Everest, the first successful climb of a face on that peak. He summited Everest in 1985 at the age of 50. His last Everest trip was in 1991 from Tibet. Bonington serves as the chancellors ambassador for Lancaster University, after previously serving there as chancellor for a decade. There, he enjoys climbing with students from the Lancaster University Climbing Club. He served as president of the United Kingdoms Council for National Parks (now Campaign for National Parks) for eight years. His service has also included president of the British Mountaineering Council, president of the British Orienteering Foundation, chairman of the Mount Everest Foundation and president of the Alpine Club. In addition to his most well-known work, he had a career in the British armys Royal Tank Regiment and was an instructor in the Army Outward Bound School. He is a graduate of the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst. He is the author of 17 books and has appeared on many television programs, as well as presented and lectured across the world. In addition to Bonington, three others will receive honorary degrees: Dixie Blackinton, a retired WSU math instructor with more than 20 years teaching experience; Jill Parrish, a WSU alumna and Utah federal judge; and the Reverend France Davis, who has provided an unwavering voice for equality and led the Calvary Baptist Church for more than 40 years. The 2018 Brady Presidential Distinguished Professors also will be honored during the ceremony. This years recipients are Geography Professor Dan Bedford, Economics Professor Therese Grijalva and Communications Professor Sheree Josephson. Graduating in both international business economics and English literature, Eric Gibson, will be the student graduate speaker. During his time at WSU, Gibson traveled to Germany with the Goddard School of Business & Economics to work on his senior research project. He enjoyed Europe so much he hopes to travel there eventually to pursue a masters degree. Beginning at 10 a.m., each of WSUs academic colleges will hold individual convocations at various locations, where graduates will walk across the stage to receive their diplomas. Lunch will be served in the Shepherd Union Atrium from 11 a.m.-2 p.m. Each graduate received two complimentary tickets to the lunch at the time they picked up their caps and gowns. Additional tickets may be purchased for $11 at the Shepherd Union Information Desk. Putting Students Through, a short program where graduates honor parents, spouses and friends who supported them, will be held April 26 in the Shepherd Union Ballroom at 4 p.m. To watch commencement live, visit weber.edu/commencement. By May 4, the commencement ceremony can be streamed on WSUs YouTube channel at youtube.com/weberstateu. Parking will be free throughout the day on April 27. Campus shuttle buses will run every five minutes from 7 a.m.-5:30 p.m. with stops on the east and west side of the Dee Events Center, Val A. Browning Center, Stewart Library and McKay Education Building. American Sign Language services will be available at the Dee Events Center in Section S at the base of Portal 17. Graduates with special needs should contact the director of Services for Students with Disabilities, Don Guthrie at 801-626-6856. Visit weber.edu/commencement for more information on WSUs commencement activities. Visit weber.edu/wsutoday for more news about Weber State University. Bryan Steffy/WireImage It's a shame recording artist and reality TV star Tamar Braxton and music executive Vincent Herbert weren't able to sell their gorgeous Calabasas, CA, estate when they put it on the market for $15 million in October 2017. The luxe mansion is now available as a rental for a whopping $85,000 a month. A timely sale might have alleviated the drama facing the couple, who are in the midst of an acrimonious divorce. Liens totaling nearly $450,000 were filed on their property by a nanny who was awarded a claim for unpaid wages, a limousine company that's claiming unpaid services, a financing corporation, and a bank, according to The Blast. OTTAWA Facebook is free to use, from uploading photos to clicking the like button on others social media posts. But showing enthusiasm for federal programs could cost Ottawa some taxpayer money, and raises questions about user privacy. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/4/2018 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA Facebook is free to use, from uploading photos to clicking the "like" button on others social media posts. But showing enthusiasm for federal programs could cost Ottawa some taxpayer money, and raises questions about user privacy. Documents tabled in Parliament this week show Natural Resources Canada paid Facebook for each time users decided to "like" a Facebook post encouraging energy retrofits. Its the first time its been reported the federal government has paid for advertisements based on their popularity. The posting, on the Facebook page for Energy Star Canada, appeared in various Canadians Facebook feeds for two weeks last fall. The English and French version attracted a combined 3,611 "likes," which together cost the department $5,000. Its part of a relatively new advertising model where companies pay a low cost, or nothing, for Facebook to place ads on screens of users whom the social-media platform believes are most likely to be interested in the content. Facebook then charges for how many times those users "like" the post. The data came in response to a formal request from the Conservatives on Facebook advertising among all federal departments. It revealed that none, at least since 2016, had paid for fake "likes," which is when companies commission bots to click the "like" button to make social-media content appear more popular. Winnipeg South Centre MP Jim Carr, who is the minister for Natural Resources Canada, said hes confirmed the department did not pay for such bots. He's also asked Natural Resources Canada to analyze whether the ad was an effective way to inform Canadians about energy-saving programs. "We seek to communicate with Canadians in their own medium, but there is no payment for the search for 'likes,' from the department," he said Wednesday. Transcona-Elmwood MP Daniel Blaikie said Ottawa needs tighter rules on how it uses social media, since there are detailed rules for television and print advertisements. "Social-media advertising, from a government point of view, is still largely unregulated, and I think that's a problem," said Blaikie, the NDP critic for the Treasury Board, which outlines spending criteria for federal departments. The Treasury Board could not provide guidelines on social-media advertising Wednesday afternoon. In February, the federal government revealed it has spent 55 per cent of its advertising budget on digital media in the fiscal year ending in March 2017, marking the first time it had spent more on internet ads than newspapers, television or billboards combined. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Blaikie said Ottawa should be advertising on social media, but there needs to be clear guidelines on partisanship, and how ads are purchased such as by the number of "likes." "It's also a problem in light of all the revelations about Facebook and privacy," Blaikie said, raising a concern targeting Canadians mostly likely to be interested in certain government policies and then having them confirm that interest through "likes" could help third-party groups profile them. "I think that the government also needs to turn its eye seriously to people's digital rights and security before they make this the most common way to advertise their programs," he said. "But theyve put the cart before the horse." Blaikie also had concerns about the government spending less on traditional advertising while paying advertising platforms based outside Canada. "It doesn't support local media here in Canada, and (the) government hasn't taken any initiatives that would help replace that revenue for Canadian media that are filling a really important role in Canadian democracy." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca OTTAWA The NDP will ask each member of Parliament to declare whether the Pope ought to formally apologize for the Catholic Churchs role in residential schools, though Winnipegs archbishop suggests Rome cant atone for the sins of its entities. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/4/2018 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. OTTAWA The NDP will ask each member of Parliament to declare whether the Pope ought to formally apologize for the Catholic Churchs role in residential schools, though Winnipegs archbishop suggests Rome cant atone for the sins of its entities. On Wednesday, the NDP called for unanimous consent in the Commons to suggest the Canadian Conference of Catholic Bishops (CCCB) to invite Pope Francis to apologize for the churchs role in residential schools, which were largely run by Christian institutions. "I think the bishops have let us down, dramatically," NDP MP Charlie Angus said. The motion comes from one of the 94 recommendations of the Truth and Reconciliation Commission of Canada (TRC) on residential schools. It failed after some Conservatives raised concerns about religious freedom. Moments earlier, Winnipeg Archbishop Richard Gagnon spoke on behalf of fellow bishops to reporters in Ottawa, saying the Pope was interested in having "a significant encounter with Indigenous people in Canada," but hed have to decide whether that includes an apology. "What the Pope says to Indigenous people is something that he will determine according to what he thinks is best, pastorally speaking." The CCCB had issued a letter to MPs and senators about "misunderstandings and factual errors" in media reporting. The letter said the churchs decentralized structure meant roughly 50 Catholic entities involved in residential schools ought to decide how to engage in reconciliation. "The misconception that exists in some peoples minds (is) that the church has never apologized, and there are examples of apologies, all the way, from all those entities," Gagnon said Wednesday. Gagnon and his fellow bishops were evasive when asked whether the Pope was concerned with travelling to Canada, or the timeline suggested by the TRC (to respond within a year, which has already passed) or a financial liability. Government officials have admitted a loophole in contracts they drafted allowed the Catholic Church to pay just $3.7 million of a separate $25 million it had pledged to fundraise for healing programs for residential-school victims. Manitoba Sen. Murray Sinclair, who chaired the TRC, told reporters the church seemed to be using "corporate charades" to offload financial liability. "They were following the directions of the church when they did what they did. And now, for the church to hide behind its legal creations is a shame," Sinclair said, saying current bishops are responsible for ongoing impediments to survivors ability to heal. The NDP motion Wednesday would have required all MPs in the Commons to consent, but some Conservatives disagreed, including Alberta MP Garnett Genius, who yelled "absolutely not." He told reporters afterward it would be "unprecedented" for Parliament to be "dictating" how to apologize. Genius would not say whether his personal belief is the Pope should apologize. The Liberals, NDP, Greens, and recent Bloc Quebecois MPs unanimously supported the motion. Angus said Parliament and the churches are "the two defendants" in the "crime" of residential schools, and so its appropriate for one to ask the other to follow them in apologizing. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "This is a moral call to do the right thing," he said. The NDP has pledged to call a standing vote, in which MPs will have to rise and stand for or against the motion. Angus, who was raised Catholic, said the bishops remarks dont jive with a Good Friday message he heard at mass. "We have to take accountability for the wrongs that we do; thats how we make the world whole." dylan.robertson@freepress.mb.ca Brian Pallister is facing accusations hes a part-time premier after dodging an appearance at a budgetary committee for a second day this week. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/4/2018 (1263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Brian Pallister is facing accusations hes a "part-time premier" after dodging an appearance at a budgetary committee for a second day this week. On Monday, a scheduled estimates meeting for Executive Council, the premiers department, was adjourned when Pallister spent the day away from the legislature meeting with groups about a proposed outlet channel to manage water levels on Lake Manitoba. On Wednesday, the government tried to arrange for Families Minister Scott Fielding to pinch hit for Pallister, but was turned down by the Opposition NDP. Again, the meeting was cancelled. "Every time we engage in the estimates process, he kind of picks and chooses when hes going to show up and when hes decided hes had enough for the week," NDP house leader Nahanni Fontaine said after the second meeting was called off. "You cant be a part-time premier. Either youre going to do this job 100 per cent or youre not," she said. Fontaine said she wasnt told Wednesday why Pallister was unavailable. "Im not even sure if the government house leader (Cliff Cullen) knows why the premier is not available," she added. Estimates meetings also known as committee of supply are part of the budgetary process. One-hundred hours are devoted to the process each year, with the Opposition getting a lot of say over which ministers and departments they will focus upon. As many as three committees of supply operate simultaneously at the legislature, generally starting after the daily question period. Unlike Monday, when Pallister was away from the legislature all day, the premier attended question period on Wednesday but did not stay for estimates. A government spokesman later said in an email that Pallister had departed for Brandon, where he had scheduled meetings in the afternoon and evening. The premier also has two scheduled events in the Wheat City today, including a state of the province address to the Brandon Chamber of Commerce at noon. Pallisters attendance in the legislature has not been an issue since the Progressive Conservatives were sworn into office two years ago. All premiers and cabinet ministers miss time when the house is sitting due to the nature of their jobs. For the Opposition, however, its a blow to miss an opportunity to grill the premier for two consecutive hours on government spending and priorities. The Tories relished such opportunities when they were in opposition. Cullen, the government house leader, declined to do an interview afterwards. A government spokesman said in an email that because the premier was unavailable, the government asked to substitute Executive Council estimates with that of the Families Department, headed by Fielding. When the Opposition balked, the government offered to have Fielding sit in for the premier, the spokesman said. That was also denied. Fontaine said the NDP permitted Pallister to get a minister to sit in for him in estimates one day last year, but wasnt prepared to allow that to happen again. She said he needs to be held to account. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. Fontaine said the Opposition could have agreed, with proper notice, to take a week off from Executive Council estimates and substitute another department, but she said she received notice late Tuesday about the governments desire for a switch. Paul Thomas, a retired University of Manitoba political scientist, said it would be rare for a premier to have a minister stand in his place in the estimates process. "Ive never heard of it before, not to say it couldnt have happened," he said. No cabinet minister would have the same breadth of knowledge about the office of the premier and the functioning of cabinet and overall government policy that the premier would, he said. With so much power concentrated in the premiers office these days, it makes sessions such as the Executive Council estimates an important part of the political process, Thomas said. larry.kusch@freepress.mb.ca Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister refused Wednesday to address accusations from NDP Leader Wab Kinew that the Tories are planning to allow private surgery for hip and knee replacements and cataracts. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 18/4/2018 (1263 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Manitoba Premier Brian Pallister refused Wednesday to address accusations from NDP Leader Wab Kinew that the Tories are planning to allow private surgery for hip and knee replacements and cataracts. Kinew made the charges during question period, telling Pallister a report released April 12 by the Canadian Institute for Health Information cited a drop in the number of Manitobans receiving hip or knee replacements within the recommended six months. (In 2017, 53 per cent of Manitobans got hip replacement surgery within the recommended time frame, compared with 69 per cent in 2015. For knee replacements, 43 per cent had surgery within six months in 2017, down from 64 per cent in 2015.) "These numbers had been moving in a positive direction prior to this government taking office (in 2016)," Kinew said. Reminding the house the recent wait-times reduction task force had recommended private services be used to catch up with the provinces demand for surgery, Kinew challenged Pallister: "Does the premier plan to privatize hip and knee and cataract surgery, here in our province?" Pallister didnt answer and didnt speak with media after question period. (An aide to Health Minister Kelvin Goertzen said later the government is not considering such private services, but gave no further details.) Pallister fired right back at Kinew, accusing the NDP leader of hoping for news thats as bad as possible so Kinew can blame the government. Last week, the premier said, Kinew was hoping for Manitoba Hydro rates to soar. "The member seems to be cheering for the worst results," Pallister said. "No, the sky is not falling, even though the member may wish it." It could be fear or it could be partisanship, said Pallister, claiming Kinew was disappointed a report released Tuesday by the Winnipeg Regional Hospital Authority (WRHA) showed year-to-year overall wait times are down. Meanwhile, the personal attacks got nasty as Pallister again rejected NDP demands the province open a safe-injection site in Winnipeg to help deal with the opioid crisis. Pallister said MLA Nahanni Fontaine had worked for a decade for the former NDP government as special adviser to cabinet on Indigenous womens issues, and theres no evidence she ever did anything. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. As the debate over the issues of safe-injection sites drew in Justice Minister Heather Stefanson and Goertzen, New Democrat MLA Andrew Swan told the house: "The premier and the justice minister are making light of something that is killing Manitobans." Goertzen said the province has been increasing training and availability of naloxone as an antidote to opioid overdoses, and is pursuing other solutions that meet the needs of the most people possible. In 17 years in government, the NDP didnt promote the use of naloxone, the health minister said. Goertzen said Kinew was basing his support of a supervised drug-injection site on a report Tuesday from the Canadian Mental Health Association, which also called for the decriminalization of some illegal drugs. Noting Swan is a former attorney general, Goertzen demanded Swan tell the house if he agrees with Kinew that heroin and cocaine should be decriminalized. "He didnt answer in government, either," Goertzen scoffed. nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca Controlling Manitobas finances through an eight per cent reduction in the civil service means going office by office in search of potential cuts, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/4/2018 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Controlling Manitobas finances through an eight per cent reduction in the civil service means going office by office in search of potential cuts, Finance Minister Cameron Friesen says. Friesen told his departments estimates hearing this week the Tory government, led by Premier Brian Pallister, is well on its way to achieving its goal of trimming some 1,200 provincial employees though it is doing so through retirements and departures, not layoffs and firings. (Estimates hearings are meetings to allow the Opposition to ask government ministers detailed questions about their budgets and programs.) "Every resignation becomes an opportunity for a government who is fixed on that goal to reassess that particular position. And to understand whether an opportunity exists to find a better way of doing that business, to assign a task to someone else who might say, I have that capability and I can do that task, to understand if the function already exists somewhere else in the work area within the department or somewhere else," Friesen told the hearing. The minister cited the example of the office formerly tasked with handling seniors education tax rebates. (The eligible recipients and amounts were significantly reduced in the 2017 budget.) Friesen said he redeployed the staff and closed the stand-alone office that operated separately from the rest of the taxation branch, after simply asking the Canada Revenue Agency to assume the duties. Government officials said the move saved $900,000 and made 10 staff available to work elsewhere. "It was a bunch of conventional work, heavy lifting, affixing stamps, I imagine, to envelopes and processing applications. And, when we got to government (in 2016), we were looking for efficiencies and we asked the Canada Revenue Agency (CRA) whether they couldnt just administer this program for us. They said, well, absolutely they could," Friesen told the hearing. "We were able to collapse a lease. We were able to realize an efficiency where the CRA, of course, had an apparatus in place already to be able to do this important work." Similarly, Friesen said, he freed up one staff member for other work and saved provincial resources by paying the CRA $126,000 to administer a program to sign up newcomers to Manitoba to the education property tax credit some of whom wouldnt otherwise have known they were eligible. Meanwhile, the finance department both enhanced and streamlined the primary caregiver tax credit, which freed up another civil servant to work in a different department, he said. "This was a very labour-intensive tax credit before. Logbooks had to be taken and kept. There was a difficult application process that involved multiple steps. Weve streamlined all of that to provide a benefit to these people who are giving care to seniors in the province of Manitoba," Friesen said. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. The minister said the previous NDP government had a separate "very large" property housing cabinets priorities and planning secretariat. "It was not always clear to us what each of those individuals had been doing." The province has since rolled that 6,689-square-foot space (in two buildings) into one building using 3,882 square feet at 386 Broadway, he said. The freed-up space is now occupied by civil servants. The finance minister challenged NDP critic Matt Wiebe to defend the former governments spending for technical political staff which, Friesen said, the Tory government is doing well without. "The member may be able to provide a further explanation on behalf of Manitobans as to what all of those individuals were doing. We were unable to provide a full explanation as to what those individuals in that area were all doing, what activities they were undertaking for the previous NDP government, but I can tell you that we were able to reduce that square footage of space, harvest those savings," Friesen said. "Some people call them political officers. Those are a significant reduction from the previous governments complement of technical officers." nick.martin@freepress.mb.ca SACRAMENTO, Calif. Real estate developer Alastair Mactaggart became alarmed about the internets threat to personal privacy while chatting with a Google engineer at a cocktail party. Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/4/2018 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion SACRAMENTO, Calif. Real estate developer Alastair Mactaggart became alarmed about the internets threat to personal privacy while chatting with a Google engineer at a cocktail party. "I asked, Whats this deal with all the privacy stuff? Is it anything to be worried about?" Mactaggart recalls. "I expected him to say, No, its not a big deal. "Instead he said, If people only knew how much we know about them, theyd really freak out." "I was taken aback," the developer says. "That got me interested." Now the big internet companies are freaking out over what Mactaggart is doing. Hes threatening to jeopardize the operations of Google, Facebook and the like with a ballot initiative that regulates profiteering off their users private data. "Most people dont understand how pervasive this (data leaking) is and that these big companies know so much about you," he says. "Its like a frog boiling in a pot." People have become a lot more aware of it this month, however, as two congressional committees grilled Facebook chief Mark Zuckerberg. The lawmakers particularly wanted to know why Facebook failed to protect the data of 87 million users that fell into the hands of Cambridge Analytica, a political consulting firm working for U.S. President Donald Trumps election campaign. Its not just the marketing of political candidates that personal data are used for, of course. Its also employed to market shoes, TV sets, cars you name it. Companies glean information about your hobbies, age, children, residence, religion, gender and sexual orientation. And they use it to target ads at specific groups. Theres nothing new in this. But with technology, the data is a lot easier to collect. It also can be used for anything, including scary stuff. Its very complex. But the basics are simple: the internet is collecting personal data on people unbeknownst to them and spreading it around for big profit. People are becoming more aware of that and starting to demand protection. It seems a timely intersection of one persons crusade and the publics desire. The internet is no longer the infant that needed freedom to innovate and grow unregulated, if it ever was. It has grown into a monster and now needs to be restricted like the railroads at the turn of the last century and financial institutions during the Great Depression. "Were taking on the richest, most powerful industry that the world has ever seen," Mactaggart, 51, says. "Standard Oil was powerful, but they didnt know everything about you." Mactaggarts initiative would affect companies that earn at least US$50 million a year and derive half their annual revenue by peddling personal information. Consumers would have the right to learn what info is collected. Theyd need to be told whether it was disseminated and to whom. They could tell the companies to stop selling or sharing it. They couldnt be charged more for internet service if they opted out. And they could sue if they were ignored. Mactaggart must collect 365,880 voter signatures by June 18 to qualify the initiative for the November ballot. Hes the sole financier so far, putting up US$2 million-plus. The timing couldnt be better with the Facebook controversy. "This is not a tough sale," campaign manager Robin Swanson says. "Right now were riding a tidal wave." Tech companies are expected to spend tens of millions fighting the measure if it qualifies. So far theyve put up US$1 million US$200,000 each from Facebook, Google, AT&T, Verizon and Comcast. After its hammering by the congressional committees, however, Facebook announced Wednesday that it wouldnt contribute more money to the opposition campaign. The company said it wants to focus "on supporting reasonable privacy measures in California." That sounds like it might be looking for a legislative compromise something the rest of the tech industry has shown no interest in. Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. "Weve got all our resources focused on the ballot measure," says Robert Callahan, vice-president of government affairs for the Internet Association. "This is very much a gotcha initiative. Its unworkable. It would strangle the ability of companies to innovate." Tech firms especially fear giving opportunistic internet users the ability to sue, he says. Callahan also contends "its dishonest to link" the initiative with the Facebook turmoil. But good luck convincing voters of that. Opposition campaign spokesman Steve Maviglio says, "This is a national issue. Its more appropriately settled in Washington. Clearly thats the way to do it, not state by state." But if California had waited for Washington to act, southern Californians would be choking on smog. And who knows how many beaches would have been fouled by oil spills? Los Angeles Times Hey there, time traveller! This article was published 19/4/2018 (1262 days ago), so information in it may no longer be current. Opinion I will do such things What they are, yet I know not: but they shall be The terrors of the earth. King Lear, Act II, Scene 4 There are occasions when only Shakespeare will do and Donald Trump was really, really cross. Theres still no proof that the Assad regime was responsible for the poison gas attack that killed, according to various reports, 40 or 75 or even more people in the besieged Syrian town of Douma. Indeed, the Russians, Bashar al-Assads faithful ally, maintain that the attack did not even happen. Moscow suggests the video footage was faked by the Islamist rebels, or perhaps taken from some previous occasion. There has been no proper investigation, although the Russians offered to escort a team from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons to the site of the alleged attack as early as Tuesday. But Trump saw the footage on Fox News and he was determined to punish the evil ones. And he did act, although his actions were not exactly "the terrors of the Earth." The missile strike, according to the U.S. defence secretary, Gen. James Mattis, involved "double" the number of missiles that were used in last years similar attack. So thats around 120 Tomahawk cruise missiles, costing around US$100 million, delivered on three or four targets that were almost certainly evacuated last weekend. There were also a few smaller missiles, delivered by British or French aircraft, that tagged along after the Americans. They probably came within range of the Russian S-400 air defence system, by general assent the best in the world, but there was no risk of their being shot down. The Russians didnt turn their system on. It was a big enough attack to rearrange the landscape around the alleged "chemical weapons-type targets," even if Syrian anti-aircraft fire shot down a few of the unmanned missiles (as the Syrians claim). Essentially, however, it was a pantomime event designed to impress a small and unsophisticated audience: U.S. President Donald J. Trump. It would appear that the grownups really are still in charge in the White House. They couldnt actually disobey orders, but they could arrange things so that nobody got seriously hurt. They specifically chose targets that would "mitigate the risk of Russian forces being involved" and the Syrians obviously had time to get their people out of the likely targets, too. The U.S. even warned the Russians to clear the airspace so that there would be no accidental encounters with Russian (or Syrian) aircraft. "We used the normal deconfliction channel to deconflict airspace," explained the chairman of the Joint Chiefs, Gen. Joseph Dunford. And the Russians obligingly turned off their air defences, since the Western attacks werent going to do any serious harm anyway. Trump did say that "We are prepared to sustain this response until the Syrian regime stops its use of prohibited chemical agents," but that is a perfectly meaningless commitment since Syria is not using them now. If it did use them last week, it has already stopped. As Mattis said, "Right now, this is a one-time shot." Want to get a head start on your day? Get the days breaking stories, weather forecast, and more sent straight to your inbox every weekday morning. Sign Up I agree to the Terms and Conditions, Cookie and Privacy Policies, and CASL agreement. So move along, folks. Nothing more to see here. And spare us all the talk (most recently by United Nations Secretary-General Antonio Guterres) about a "new Cold War." There cant be a new Cold War, because the Russians dont have the resources to hold up their end of it. The Russian Federation has half the population of the old Soviet Union, and its economy is about the same size as Italys. If Italy spent its budget the way Russia does, it too could have big conventional forces and a nuclear striking force big enough to deter even the United States from attacking it but it could not sustain a global military confrontation with the NATO powers for even one year. Neither could Russia. Moscow commits its forces only to areas that really threaten its security (or at least appeal to its own sometimes-paranoid definition of what constitutes a security threat). Syria is quite close to Russia, whose own population is more than one-tenth Muslim, so Moscow was unwilling to let Islamist extremists win the Syrian civil war and in September 2015 it intervened to stop them. The Russia intervention in Syria has been almost entirely successful: Bashar al-Assad has won the war and already controls all the big cities and most of the countrys "useful" land. The Washington foreign-policy establishment hates this outcome, but it never had a plausible alternative to peddle, nor (after Afghanistan and Iraq) was there the political will in the U.S. for a major military intervention in Syria. The Syrian war will end in a year or two and fleabites such as this weeks air strikes will have no influence. And Moscow will stop there; it has no further ambitions in the Middle East. Gwynne Dyer is an independent journalist whose articles are published in 45 countries. Genworth Financial, Inc. is a financial services company, which engages in the provision of insurance, wealth management, investment and financial solutions. It operates through the following segments: U.S. Mortgage Insurance, Australia Mortgage Insurance, U.S. Life Insurance, and Runoff. The U.S. Mortgage Insurance segment offers mortgage insurance products predominantly insuring prime-based, individually underwritten residential mortgage loans. The Australia Mortgage Insurance segment offers flow mortgage insurance and selectively provides bulk mortgage insurance that aids in the sale of mortgages to the capital markets and helps lenders manage capital and risk. The U.S. Life Insurance segment offers long-term care insurance products as well as service traditional life insurance and fixed annuity products in the United States. The Runoff segment includes the results of non-strategic products which are no longer actively sold but continue to service its existing blocks of business. Its non-strategic products primarily include variable annuity, variable life insurance, institutional, corporate-owned life insurance and other accident and health insurance products. The company was fo Read More Wall Street analysts have given iShares North American Natural Resources ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares North American Natural Resources ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. San Francisco-based cab aggregator Uber on Wednesday said it would stay put in India and will step up its investments in the country to take on arch rival Ola. Uber's new COO Barney Hardford said the Indian market has such a huge potential that the company won't settle for minority stakes in deals here. The world's most valued startup's comments come in the wake of talks of a merger of its India unit with homegrown rival Ola. Hardford said Uber has found itself with some freed up resources after its recent deal with ride-hailing firm Grab in South-east Asia, which it will "invest across people, products and partnerships that can better serve this country and the cities that we operate in." "India is absolutely a core market, now and in the future. Uber's success is hard coded to India's success...We are doubling down on our investments in this country like never before," said Hardford. Calling the situation in India different from that in Southeast Asia, the COO said, "We have clear strengths in the Indian market and see huge potential in the market. We have no interest in doing minority deals going forward and the commitment we have to the Indian market is immense." Uber sold its South-east Asia business to bigger local rival Grab, getting a 27.5 per cent stake in Grab, which was last valued at $6 billion in July. Uber has also exited China and Russia after selling their business to local rivals. Hardford, who took charge as Uber COO in December, is on a four-day trip to India. His visit comes months after CEO Dara Khosrowshahi's trip in February. This has intensified speculation about a possible merger between Ola and Uber in India. The speculation was triggered by SoftBank- an investor in Ola - joining Uber as an investor and committing over $1 billion. However, Hardford refused comment on whether Uber is holding merger discussions with Ola. The Bengaluru-based startup has not spoken about it either. The two have reportedly held multiple rounds of discussions, including one just before Khosrowshahi's February visit. But no deal has been struck yet. Apart from India, both startups also compete in Australia as Ola recently forayed into Perth and Sydney. In India, Ola continues to have a stronger hold, operating in 110 cities. Uber, on the other hand, runs its services only in 29 cities in the country, which is its largest after the United States. "We are not expanding to a lot more cities in India. The additional cities (that Ola operates in) account for a very small fraction of the total trips we book in the cities we are already present in," said Uber India and south Asia president Amit Jain. The potential is so much more in the cities we are already present in, and that is why our focus is going to remain on them, he added. Hardford also said they are working to make Uber Elevate, flying electric vehicles, operational by 2022. Uber has announced a partnership with India's only electric car maker Anand Mahindra-led Mahindra & Mahindra to test drive 700 electric vehicles in Delhi and Hyderabad. Rival Ola has announced it will introduce 10,000 three-wheeled e-rickshaws and electric auto-rickshaws over the next 12 months. Hardford also released a report by Boston Consulting Group which said congestion costs in Delhi, Mumbai, Kolkata and Bengaluru were estimated to be $22 billion per year. The report commissioned by Uber said Indian cities are 149 per cent more congested than comparable cities around Asia with commuters taking 1.5 times longer to travel a given distance in peak hours (compared to travel time during non-peak hours) on an average. The following companies are subsidiares of Owens Corning: 0979301 B.C. ULC, AS Paroc, Asahi Glass - Composites Business, Crown Mfg. Inc., Deutsche Foamglas GmbH, Dutch OC Cooperatief Invest U.A., European Owens Corning Fiberglas SPRL, FOAMGLAS (Italia) SRL, FOAMGLAS (Nordic) AB, FiberTEK Insulation, Fibreboard Corp., Finefiber (Shanghai) Building Material Co. Ltd., Finefiber Insulation Co. Pte. Ltd., IBCO SRL, IPM Inc., InterWrap, InterWrap (Hong Kong) Ltd., InterWrap (Qingdao) Trading Co. Ltd., InterWrap Corp., InterWrap Corp. Private Ltd., International Packaging Products Pvt. 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Ltd, Pittsburgh Corning Asia Limited, Pittsburgh Corning CR S.R.O., Pittsburgh Corning Europe N.V., Pittsburgh Corning France, Pittsburgh Corning Gesellschaft m.b.h., Pittsburgh Corning LLC, Pittsburgh Corning Nederland B.V., Pittsburgh Corning Singapore Pte. Ltd, Pittsburgh Corning Suisse SA, Qingdao Novia Polymer Co. Ltd., SIA Paroc, Soltech Inc., The Modulo /ParMur Group, Thermafiber, Thermafiber Inc., Transandina de Comercio S.A., UAB Paroc, UC Industries, and Vitro Fibras. The following companies are subsidiares of Crown: Adularia Inversiones 2010 S.L., Angleboard Sweden AB, Bates Cargo-Pak ApS, Butimove, CMB Machinery and Technology (Shanghai) Co Ltd, CROWN AP (Thailand) Company Limited, CROWN Aerosols & Promotional Nederland, CROWN Aerosols Italia Srl, CROWN Aerosols Nederland BV, CROWN Aerosols UK Limited, CROWN Americas LLC, CROWN Arabia Can Company Ltd, CROWN Asia Pacific Holdings Pte. 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VI, Crown Brasil Holdings Ltda., Crown Canadian Holdings ULC, Crown Closures Spain S.L., Crown Colombiana S.A., Crown Comercial de Envases S.L., Crown Commercial Italy Srl, Crown Commercial Polska Sp. z.o.o., Crown Consultants Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Company (DE) LLC, Crown Cork & Seal Company Inc., Crown Cork & Seal Deutschland Holdings GmbH, Crown Cork & Seal Receivables (DE) Corporation, Crown Cork & Seal de Portugal Embalagens S.A., Crown Cork Kuban, Crown Cork and Seal Receivables II LLC, Crown Developpement SAS, Crown European Holdings, Crown Food Espana S.A.U., Crown Foodcan Turkey Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Crown Hellas Can Packaging SA, Crown Heshan Trading Company Limited, Crown Holdings Italia Srl, Crown Holdings Spain S.L., Crown International Holdings B.V., Crown International Holdings Inc., Crown Luxembourg Holdings, Crown Mexican Holdings S. de R.L. de C.V., Crown Overseas Investments B.V., Crown Packaging Commercial UK Limited, Crown Packaging Distribution UK Limited, Crown Packaging European Division GmbH, Crown Packaging European Division Services SAS, Crown Packaging European Holdings GmbH, Crown Packaging Lux I S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux II S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Lux III S.a.r.l., Crown Packaging Manufacturing UK Limited, Crown Packaging Maroc, Crown Receivables III, Crown Services Iberia, Crown UK Holdings Limited, Crownway Insurance Company, Dacro B.V., EMPAQUE, Fabricas Monterrey S.A. de C.V., Form Koruyucu Ambalaj Sanayi Ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Foshan Continental Can Co. Limited, Foshan Crown Easy-Opening End Co. Limited, Glass & Silice S.A. DE C.V., Globoplastt s.r.o., Gunther S.A.S., Haloila Bulgaria EOOD, Interstrap B.V., Josef Kihlberg AB, Kiwiplan GmbH, Kiwiplan Inc, Lachenmeier ApS, Liljendals Bruk AB, Litec France S.A.S., Mezger Heftsysteme GmbH, Mima Films S.a.r.l., Mima Films Sprl, Mima Packaging Systems S.A.S., Mivisa, Nordic S.A.S., Norsk Signode AS, Oy M. Haloila AB, PT CROWN Beverage Cans Indonesia, Package Design and Manufacturing, Prolatamex S.A. DE C.V., Quandel Verpackungs- und Foerdertechnik GmbH, SMB Schwede Maschinenbau GmbH, SMP Schwede Maschinenbau Weischlitz GmbH, SPG Denmark, SPG France Holdings SAS, SPG Germany Service Management GmbH, SPG Industrial Packaging S.a.r.l, SPG Netherlands B.V., SPG Packaging Ireland Limited, SPG Packaging Systems GmbH, SPG Packaging UK Ltd, Scybele S.A.S., Shippers Europe S.p.r.l., Signode BVBA, Signode Brasileira Ltda, Signode Hong Kong Limited, Signode Industrial Group, Signode Industrial Group AB, Signode Industrial Group Colombia S.A.S., Signode Industrial Group GmbH, Signode Industrial Group Holdings Lux S.a.r.l., Signode Industrial Group Holdings US Inc, Signode Industrial Group Lux S.A., Signode Industrial Group Mexico, Signode Industrial Group Sweden AB, Signode International Holdings LLC, Signode International IP Holdings LLC, Signode International Investment LLC, Signode Kabushiki Kaisha, Signode Korea Inc, Signode NZ Limited, Signode Netherlands B.V., Signode Packaging (Qingdao) Co., Signode Packaging (Shanghai) Co., Signode Packaging Espana S.L., Signode Packaging Group (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Signode Packaging Group Australia Pty Ltd, Signode Packaging Group Canada ULC, Signode Packaging Group NZ, Signode Packaging Systems Limited, Signode Pickling Holding LLC, Signode Polska sp. Z.o.o., Signode Singapore Pte. Ltd., Signode Sweden Holdings AB, Signode System GmbH, Signode System Packaging GmbH & Co. KG, Signode Systems (Thailand) Ltd., Signode US IP Holdings LLC, Silice De Veracruz S.A. DE C. V., Silice Del Istmo S.A. DE C.V., Silices De Veracruz, Societe Civile Immobiliere Rousseau-Ivry, Societe Civile Immobiliere des Baquets, Societe de Participations CarnaudMetalbox, Stopak India Pvt. Ltd, Strapex Austria GmbH, Strapex Embalagem L.d.a., Strapex Holdings Limited, Strapex S.A.S., Strapex Srl, Superior Investments Holdings Pte. Ltd., Superior Multi-Packaging Limited, TopFrame LLC, V.A.C. B.V., Vichisa S.A. de C.V., and Warehouse Automation Iberia S.L.. Eagle Materials, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of heavy construction materials, light building materials, and materials used for oil and natural gas extraction. It operates through the following segments: Cement, Concrete and Aggregates, Gypsum Wallboard, Recycled Paperboard, and Oil and Gas Proppants. The Cement segment deals with the manufacture, production, distribution, and sale of portland cement. The Concrete and Aggregates segment involves mixing cement, sand, gravel, or crushed stone and water to form concrete, which is then sold and distributed to construction contractors. The Gypsum Wallboard segment mines and extracts natural gypsum rock, which is used in the manufacture of gypsum wallboard. The Recycled Paperboard segment processes paper fiber, water, and paper chemicals to form recycled paperboards, then sell them to gypsum wallboard manufacturers. The Oil and Gas Proppants segment produces frac sand used in oil and natural gas exploration, and provides transloading and storage for well servicing companies. The company was founded in 1963 and is headquartered in Dallas, TX. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of Eastman Chemical: BP - Aviation Turbine Oil Business, CP Films Vertriebs GmbH, Commonwealth Laminating & Coating (Hong Kong) Limited, Commonwealth Laminating & Coating Inc, Crown Operations International LLC, Dynaloy, Eastman Administracion S.A. de C.V., Eastman Chemical (Barbados) SRL, Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd., Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd. - Guangzhou Branch, Eastman Chemical (China) Co. Ltd. - JingAn Branch, Eastman Chemical (Gibraltar) Limited, Eastman Chemical (Malaysia) Sdn. Bhd., Eastman Chemical (PPU) Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical AMI GmbH, Eastman Chemical AMI LLC, Eastman Chemical AP Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical Adhesives (Hong Kong) Limited, Eastman Chemical Advanced Materials B.V., Eastman Chemical Argentina S.R.L., Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte Ltd-Indonesia Rep Office, Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Asia Pacific Pte. Ltd. - Vietnam Representative Office, Eastman Chemical Australia Pty LTD - New Zealand Branch, Eastman Chemical Australia Pty. Ltd., Eastman Chemical B.V., Eastman Chemical B.V. - Czech Republic Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Denmark Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Filiale Italiana, Eastman Chemical B.V. - France Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Hungarian Commercial Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - Poland Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. - South Africa Representative Office, Eastman Chemical B.V. Taiwan Branch, Eastman Chemical B.V. The Hague Zug Branch, Eastman Chemical Canada Inc., Eastman Chemical Company Investments Inc., Eastman Chemical EMEA B.V., Eastman Chemical Europe Middle East and Africa LLC, Eastman Chemical Europe S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Fibers IP GmbH, Eastman Chemical Fibers IP LLC, Eastman Chemical Finance B.V., Eastman Chemical Finance CN S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance EUR S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance GBP S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance SGD S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Finance USD S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Financial Corporation, Eastman Chemical GDL S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Germany Holdings GmbH & Co. KG, Eastman Chemical Germany Management GmbH & Co. KG, Eastman Chemical Germany Verwaltungs-GmbH, Eastman Chemical Global Holdings LLC, Eastman Chemical Global Holdings S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical GmbH, Eastman Chemical HK Limited, Eastman Chemical Holdings do Brasil Ltda., Eastman Chemical Hong Kong B.V., Eastman Chemical Iberica S.L., Eastman Chemical India Private Limited, Eastman Chemical Intermediates (Hong Kong) Limited, Eastman Chemical International GmbH, Eastman Chemical International Holdings B.V., Eastman Chemical International LP LLC, Eastman Chemical Japan Ltd., Eastman Chemical Korea B.V., Eastman Chemical Korea Ltd., Eastman Chemical Latin America Inc., Eastman Chemical Ltd., Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Australia Branch, Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Singapore Branch, Eastman Chemical Ltd. - Taiwan Branch, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Finance S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 1 LLC, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 1 S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings 2 S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings LLC, Eastman Chemical Luxembourg Holdings S.a.r.l., Eastman Chemical Malaysia B.V., Eastman Chemical Middelburg B.V., Eastman Chemical Netherlands Limited, Eastman Chemical Products Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Regional UK, Eastman Chemical Resins Inc., Eastman Chemical S.C.S., Eastman Chemical Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Chemical Switzerland GmbH, Eastman Chemical Technology BVBA, Eastman Chemical Texas City Inc., Eastman Chemical US Finance LLC, Eastman Chemical Uruapan S.A. de C.V., Eastman Chemical Workington Limited, Eastman Chemical do Brasil Ltda., Eastman Cogen Management L.L.C., Eastman Cogeneration L.P., Eastman Company UK Limited, Eastman Fibers Korea Limited, Eastman Fibers Singapore Pte. Ltd., Eastman Foundation, Eastman Global Holdings Inc., Eastman International Holdings LLC, Eastman International Management Company, Eastman Italia S.r.l., Eastman Kimya Sanayi ve Ticaret Limited Sirketi, Eastman LAR Distribucion S. de R.L. de C.V., Eastman Mazzucchelli Hong Kong Limited, Eastman Mazzucchelli Plastics (Shenzhen) Company Limited, Eastman Servicios Corporativos S.A. de C.V., Eastman Spain L.L.C., Eastman Specialties Corporation, Eastman Specialties Holdings Corporation, Eastman Specialties OU, Eastman Specialties S.a.r.l., Eastman Specialties Wuhan Youji Chemical Co. Ltd, Eastman de Argentina SRL, Ecuataminco S.A., Flexsys America L.P., Flexsys America LLC, Flexsys Chemicals (M) Sdn Bhd, Flexsys K.K., Flexsys Rubber Chemicals Limited, Flexsys Verkauf GmbH, Flexsys Verkauf GmbH - France Branch, Flexsys Verwaltungs- und Beteiligungsgesellschaft mbH, Genovique Specialties Corporation, HDK Industries Inc., Holston Defense Corporation, Huper Optik (GP) L.L.C., Huper Optik International Pte. Ltd., Huper Optik U.S.A. L.P., Industriepark Nienburg GmbH, Kingsport Hotel L.L.C., Knowlton Technologies LLC, Monchem International LLC, Mustang Pipeline Company, Nanjing Yangzi Eastman Chemical Ltd, Novomatrix Inc., Novomatrix International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Qilu Eastman Specialty Chemicals Ltd, S E Investment LLC, Sakra Hyco Pte. Ltd., Sakra Island Carbon Dioxide Pte Ltd, Scandiflex do Brasil Ltda., Solchem LLC, Solchem Netherlands C.V., Solutia (Thailand) Ltd., Solutia Brasil Ltda., Solutia Canada Inc., Solutia Chemicals France S.a.r.l., Solutia Chemicals India Private Limited, Solutia Chemicals India Private Limited - Branch, Solutia Deutschland GmbH, Solutia Europe BVBA - Portugal Representative Office, Solutia Europe BVBA - Russia Representative Office, Solutia Europe SPRL/BVBA, Solutia Greater China LLC, Solutia Hong Kong Limited, Solutia Inc., Solutia International Trading (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Solutia Italia S.r.l., Solutia Japan Limited, Solutia Performance Products (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Solutia Performance Products Solutions Ltd., Solutia Singapore Pte. Ltd., Solutia Solar GmbH, Solutia Therminol Co. Ltd. Suzhou, Solutia Tlaxcala S.A. de C.V., Solutia UK Holdings Limited, Solutia UK Investments Limited, Solutia UK Limited, Solutia Venezuela S.R.L., Southwall Europe GmbH, Southwall Insulating Glass LLC, Southwall Technologies Inc., St. Gabriel CC Company LLC, Sterling Chemicals Inc, SunTek Australia Pty. Ltd., SunTek Films Canada Inc., SunTek UK Limited, TX Energy LLC, Taminco Argentina S.A., Taminco BVBA, Taminco BVBA - France Rep Office, Taminco BVBA - Hungarian Commercial Representative Office, Taminco BVBA - Oficina de Representacion en Espana, Taminco BVBA - The Philippines, Taminco Chile S.p.A, Taminco Choline Chloride (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Taminco Corporation, Taminco Finland Oy, Taminco Germany GmbH, Taminco Global Chemical LLC, Taminco Group BVBA, Taminco Group Holdings S.a.r.l., Taminco Holding Netherlands B.V., Taminco Intermediate LLC, Taminco Italia S.r.l., Taminco Limitada, Taminco Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Taminco US LLC, Taminco Uruguay S.A., Taminco de Guatemala S.A., Taminco de Honduras S.A. de C.V., Taminco do Brasil Comercio e Industria de Aminas Ltda., Taminco do Brasil Produtos Quimicos Ltda., Te An Ling Tian (Nanjing) Fine Chemical Co. Ltd., TetraVitae Bioscience, V-Kool International Pte. Ltd., and Yixing Taminco Feed Additives Co. Ltd.. Cash availability across the country is improving fast with over 80 per cent of 2.2 lakh ATMs operating normally, PTI reported. Last week, many states were hit by acute currency shortage due to insufficient cash supply. As per global norms, on an average 88 per cent of ATMs are functional and till yesterday, only 60 per cent ATMs had money. The government and the Reserve Bank had assured the nation that the situation would normalise in three days. The central bank decided to go in for a five-fold increase in the printing of Rs 500 notes to deal with cash shortages. On Wednesday, Financial Services Secretary Rajiv Kumar said that about 10-12 per cent of the ATMs were out of cash and it may take another five to seven days to get back the supply. India's largest lender SBI also said that cash availability at its ATMs has increased in the past 24 hours. However, the state-run bank in a report said that India's currency shortfall may be Rs 70,000 crore, which is nearly three times the government's estimate. Speaking on the current situation, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar today said: "It is not a uniform cash crunch problem. It is there in geographies like Telangana and Bihar. We are hoping that the problem will be resolved by tomorrow (Friday) because cash is in transition and it is reaching these states by today evening." The government had earlier claimed that the 'sudden and unusual' spike in cash demand has been due to a Rs 45,000 crore demand for currency in the economy in the past two weeks as against the normal Rs 20,000 crore, implying the shortfall at just Rs 25,000 crore. Reports of cash shortage first emerged from southern states Andhra and Telengana. Interestingly, Andhra Pradesh and Telegana which received highest cash supply in the country in the last two years faced cash shortage, indicating tendency to hoard high denomination currency notes. According to the RBI data, during November 2016 to March 2017, Rs 82,168 crore was supplied to Hyderabad office of RBI which is the highest amongst all the offices of RBI in the country. Similarly, during April 2017 to February 2018, Rs 51,523 crore was supplied to Hyderabad office of RBI which was again the highest amongst all the offices of RBI. (With inputs from PTI) Grand City Properties S.A. engages in the residential real estate business in Germany, the United Kingdom, and internationally. The company invests in, manages, and rents real estate properties in North Rhine-Westphalia and Berlin; metropolitan regions of Dresden, Leipzig, and Halle; and the cities in the north of Germany, Bremen, Hamburg, and Hannover, as well as other urban centers, such as Nuremberg, Munch, Mannheim, Frankfurt, and London. Grand City Properties S.A. was founded in 2004 and is based in Luxembourg. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Hertz Global a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Hertz Global wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The Committee on Doubling Farmers Income (DFI) has called for an overhaul of the registration process for crop inputs like pesticides to ensure speedy availability of patented and off-patent agri-inputs in the country. The seventh volume of the DFI report, made public for stakeholder views on April 19, examines how resource use efficiency and total factor productivity can be improved in the agricultural sector. According to the committee, there is a need to encourage local production of the new molecules with patents to reduce the cost per unit for the farmer. "Special encouragement should be given for discovery and manufacture of active ingredients in India. The local manufactures should also be encouraged to export, so that they can afford to sell at lower price in the domestic market by way of cross subsidisation to an extent", the report says. The committee calls for a comprehensive policy on products sold as 'organics', 'biostimulants' as these are currently sold without any proper regulatory mechanism. "These are not recommended by any scientific body for usage in pest management, active ingredients in these products are not disclosed, keeping both the user and the subject experts in dark. Many a time, these organic products are used along with the other synthetic insecticides as single application. Therefore, it increases the cost of plant protection significantly. Further, as the nature of the molecule is not known, it also puts the consumer at serious risk on account of pesticide residues", the committee cautions. Another significant suggestion by the committee is the proposal for "prescription-based sales" of pest management inputs. It wanted all states to emulate similar practices that are being undertaken in regions like Kerala (for spices) and Maharashtra (for pomegranate, grapes, sugarcane) on this front. It also proposes that the Registration Committee should be asked to register a formulation after the fixation of its Maximum Residue Limit (MRL) set across by FSSAI (Food Safety Standards Authority of India). Noting that the protective cultivation is becoming popular and with diversification into high value crops, its adoption is growing, the committee wanted formulations specifically registered for use in cultivation, where fertigation (that combines application of water), fertilizer and plant protection can be encouraged. It also called for registration of seed treatment solutions with a focus on export oriented produce. The committee also talks about registering plant protection products needed for treatment of agri-produce during storage (post harvest management), consider price control over generic pesticides. The committee observes that utilization of inputs at the most optimal level makes the agricultural value system more effective, efficient and sustainable. "Resource use efficiency brings long term positive transformation in farmers' income and the agricultural economy. This volume enlists the broad contours of input management, with a view to realise higher net returns from agriculture", it states. Wall Street analysts have given iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but iShares iBoxx $ Investment Grade Corporate Bond ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. GMS, Inc. is a holding company, which engages in the distribution of wallboard and suspended ceilings systems and complementary interior construction products. It operates through the following segments: Geographic Divisions, Other, and Corporate. The firm offers ceilings products, including suspended mineral fibers, soft fibers, and metal ceiling systems primarily used in offices, hotels, hospitals, retail facilities, schools, and various other commercial and institutional buildings. It also provides steel framing products, such as steel tracks, studs, and various other steel products used to frame the interior walls of a commercial or institutional building; and insulation, lumber and other wood products, ready-mix joint compound, and various other interior construction products, as well as ancillary products comprising tools, fasteners, and safety products. The company was founded by Richard K. Mueller and Richard A. Whitcomb in 1971 and is headquartered in Tucker, GA. Read More If you are worried that you will miss your connecting flight, things may not be as bad as would have expected. Soon, you will get up to Rs 20,000 if you are not able to catch a connecting plane due to delays or cancellations in the first leg of your travel. According to a report in The Times of India, the aviation ministry has come out with a charter under which it has proposed a compensation of up to Rs 20,000 (depending on the number of hours of delay) to passengers missing their onward journeys due to delays attributable to the carrier in the initial leg of the flight. A similar compensation will also be given to passengers missing the onward flight due to flight cancellations. The charter has reportedly directed the airlines to pay a compensation of Rs 5,000 for 'forced' boarding denials to passengers. When a flight gets overbooked, passengers are at times denied boarding. The DGCA move has not been received well by the domestic carriers. The airlines have argued that domestic airfares in India are among the lowest globally and such compensation may lead to higher airfares as they will eventually pass on the increased cost to flyers. Meanwhile, the Federation of Indian Airlines (FIA) has written to the aviation ministry, TOI reported. The letter said that the charges are 'unfair' and a lot of times flight delays and cancellation are caused by factors that are beyond the carriers' control, such as bad weather, air traffic congestion and even unruly passengers. According to the proposed rules, passengers will be provided free hotel accommodation for delays more than 6 hours if the departure time is after 00.00 hours. Airlines will offer full refund if the delay is over 6 hours. For flight delays of up to 2 hours on tarmac, passengers will be offered free hot snacks and beverages. For loss, damage and delay of baggage, DGCA rules propose to increase the liability for both domestic and international travel. The following companies are subsidiares of Occidental Petroleum: 1PointFive Inc., 1PointFive P1 LLC, APC Aviation Inc., APC International Holdings LLC, APC Midstream Holdings LLC, APC Venezuela Srl, ARCO Long Beach, Altura Energy, Amarok Gathering LLC, Anadarko 20-25 Company, Anadarko 20-36 Company, Anadarko 20-47 Company, Anadarko 20-48 Company, Anadarko 20-49 Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 403 c/e Company, Anadarko Algeria Block 406B Company, Anadarko Algeria Company LLC, Anadarko Algeria Oil & Gas Company, Anadarko Brazil Investment I LLC, Anadarko Brazil Investment II LLC, Anadarko Canada E&P Limited, Anadarko China Holdings 2 Company, Anadarko Colombia Company, Anadarko Consolidated Holdings LLC, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Block 103 Company, Anadarko Cote d'Ivoire Company, Anadarko DBMOS Operator LLC, Anadarko Development Company, Anadarko Development Holding Limited, Anadarko E&P Onshore LLC, Anadarko Egypt Holdings Company, Anadarko Energy Holding Limited, Anadarko Energy Services Company, Anadarko Exploracao e Producao de Petroleo e Gas Natural Ltda., Anadarko Finance Company, Anadarko Gabon Company, Anadarko Ghana Mahogany-1 Company, Anadarko Global Energy S.a.r.l, Anadarko Global Funding 1 Company, Anadarko Global Funding II Ltd., Anadarko Guyana Company, Anadarko Holding Company, Anadarko International Development S.a.r.l, Anadarko International Energy Company, Anadarko International O&G Company, Anadarko International Trading Corporation, Anadarko Jordan Company, Anadarko Kenya Company, Anadarko LMM S.a.r.l, Anadarko Land Corp., Anadarko Mexico B.V., Anadarko Mexico S.a.r.l, Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell BR Corp., Anadarko Midkiff/Chaney Dell LLC, Anadarko Natural Gas Company LLC, Anadarko New Zealand Company, Anadarko OGC Company, Anadarko Offshore Holding Company LLC, Anadarko Offshore Well Containment Company LLC, Anadarko Oil & Gas 5 LLC, Anadarko Peru B.V., Anadarko Petroleum, Anadarko Petroleum Corporation, Anadarko Realty LLC, Anadarko Rockies LLC, Anadarko Royalty Holdings Company, Anadarko UK Corporate Limited, Anadarko US Offshore LLC, Anadarko USH1 Corporation, Anadarko Venezuela Company, Anadarko Venezuela LLC, Anadarko Venezuela Srl, Anadarko WCTP Company, Anadarko West Texas BR Corp., Anadarko West Texas LLC, Anadarko Worldwide Holdings C.V., Atlantic Rim Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Aventine LLC, Baseball Merger Sub 2 Inc., Bear Branch Exploration LLC, Big Island Trona Company, Bitter Creek Coal Company, Bravo Pipeline Company, Cain Chemical, Cain Chemical Inc., Carbon Finance Labs LLC, Concord Petroleum Corporation, Conn Creek Shale Company, D.S. Ventures LLC, DMM Financial LLC, Deerwood Exploration LLC, Downtown Plaza II, Elk Hills Field, FLAG Development LLC, FP Westport Commodities Limited, FP Westport GmbH, FP Westport LLC, FP Westport Limited, FP Westport Services LLC, FP Westport Trading LLC, Fosters Mill Exploration LLC, Glenn Springs Holdings Inc., Globrep Representaciones S.A., Grand Bassa Tankers Inc., Grupo OxyChem de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Headwater II LLC, Houndstooth Resources LLC, INDSPEC Chemical B.V., INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Corporation, INDSPEC Chemical Export Sales LLC, INDSPEC Holding Corporation, Ingleside Cogeneration GP LLC, Ingleside Cogeneration Limited Partnership, Interore Trading Ltd., Joslyn Partnership, KERR-McGEE TT E&P LTD., KM BM-C-Seven Ltd., KM International Insurance Ltd., Kerr-McGee Corporation, Kerr-McGee Natural Gas Company Inc., Kerr-McGee Oil & Gas Onshore LP, Kerr-McGee Shared Services Company LLC, Kerr-McGee Stored Power Corporation, Kerr-McGee U.K. Energy Corporation, Kerr-McGee Worldwide Corporation, Kerr-McGee do Brasil Ltda., Kerr-McGee of Canada Northwest Ltd., Laguna Petroleum Corp., Laguna Petroleum LLC, Liwa Oil & Gas Ltd., MC2 Technologies LLC, Mariana Properties Inc., Marico Exploration Inc., Miller Springs Remediation Management Inc., Moncrief Minerals Partnership L.P., NGL Ventures LLC, Natural Gas Odorizing Inc., New OPL LLC, OEVC Energy LLC, OEVC Midstream Projects LLC, OIH LLC, OLCV CE Holdings ULC, OLCV CE US Holdings Inc., OLCV Net Power LLC, OLCV Services LLC, OOG Partner LLC, OOOI Chem Holdings LLC, OOOI Chem Sub LLC, OOOI Chemical International LLC, OOOI Chile Holder LLC, OOOI Ecuador Management LLC, OOOI Oil and Gas Sub LLC, OOOI South America Management LLC, OPM GP Inc., OPM Holdco LLC, OTCF LLC, OTH LLC, OXY CV Pipeline LLC, OXY Campus LLC, OXY Inc., OXY LPG LLC, OXY Libya E&P Area 103 BR4 B.V., OXY Libya E&P Area 35 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P Concession 103 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 102 B.V., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1981 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P EPSA 1985 Ltd., OXY Libya E&P NC 143 144 145 150 B.V., OXY Libya Exploration SPC, OXY Libya LLC, OXY Little Knife LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings I LLC, OXY Mexico Holdings II LLC, OXY Middle East Holdings Ltd., OXY Oil Partners Inc., OXY PBLP Manager LLC, OXY Support Services LLC, OXY Tulsa Inc., OXY USA Inc., OXY USA WTP LP, OXY VPP Investments LLC, OXY West LLC, OXY of Saudi Arabia Ltd., OXYCHEM (CANADA) INC., OXYMAR, Oakwood Exploration LLC, Occidental (Bermuda) Ltd., Occidental (East Shabwa) LLC, Occidental Advance Sale Finance Inc., Occidental Al Hosn LLC, Occidental Angola Holdings Ltd., Occidental CIS Services Inc., Occidental Canada Holdings Ltd., Occidental Chemical Asia Limited, Occidental Chemical Belgium B.V.B.A., Occidental Chemical Chile Limitada, Occidental Chemical Corporation, Occidental Chemical Export Sales LLC, Occidental Chemical Far East Limited, Occidental Chemical Holding Corporation, Occidental Chemical International LLC, Occidental Chemical Investment (Canada) 1 Inc., Occidental Chemical Receivables LLC, Occidental Chemical de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Occidental Chile Investments LLC, Occidental Chile Minority Holder LLC, Occidental Colombia (Series G) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series J) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series K) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series L) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series M) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series N) Ltd., Occidental Colombia (Series O) Ltd., Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (Canada), Occidental Crude Sales Inc. (International), Occidental Dolphin Holdings Ltd., Occidental Energy Marketing Inc., Occidental Energy Ventures LLC, Occidental Exploradora del Peru Ltd., Occidental Exploration and Production Company, Occidental Hafar LLC, Occidental International (Libya) Inc., Occidental International Corporation, Occidental International Exploration and Production Company, Occidental International Holdings Ltd., Occidental International Oil and Gas Ltd., Occidental International Services Inc., Occidental Joslyn GP 2 Co., Occidental LNG (Malaysia) Ltd., Occidental Latin America Holdings LLC, Occidental Libya Oil & Gas B.V., Occidental MENA Manager Ltd., Occidental Middle East Development Company, Occidental Midland Basin LLC, Occidental Mukhaizna LLC, Occidental Oil Asia Pte. Ltd., Occidental Oil Shale Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas (Oman) Ltd., Occidental Oil and Gas Corporation, Occidental Oil and Gas International Inc., Occidental Oil and Gas International LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas Pakistan LLC, Occidental Oil and Gas of Peru LLC, Occidental Oman (Block 27) Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 51 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 65 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 65 LLC, Occidental Oman Block 72 Holding Ltd., Occidental Oman Block 72 LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Company LLC, Occidental Oman Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oman North Holdings Ltd., Occidental Oriente Exploration and Production Ltd., Occidental Overseas Holdings B.V., Occidental PVC LLC, Occidental Peninsula II Inc., Occidental Peninsula LLC, Occidental Permian Ltd., Occidental Permian Manager LLC, Occidental Permian Services Inc., Occidental Peruana Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 101) Inc., Occidental Petrolera del Peru (Block 103) Inc., Occidental Petroleum (Pakistan) Inc., Occidental Petroleum Corporation, Occidental Petroleum Corporation Political Action Committee, Occidental Petroleum de Venezuela S.A., Occidental Petroleum of Nigeria, Occidental Petroleum of Oman Ltd., Occidental Petroleum of Qatar Ltd., Occidental Power Marketing L.P., Occidental Power Services Inc., Occidental Qatar Energy Company LLC, Occidental Red Sea Development LLC, Occidental Research Corporation, Occidental Resource Recovery Systems Inc., Occidental Resources Company, Occidental Shah Gas Holdings Ltd., Occidental South America Finance LLC, Occidental Specialty Marketing Inc., Occidental Tower Corporation, Occidental Transportation Holding Corporation, Occidental West Texas Overthrust Inc., Occidental Yemen Ltd., Occidental Yemen Sabatain Inc., Occidental del Ecuador Inc., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Bab) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi (Shah) Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Abu Dhabi LLC, Occidental of Abu Dhabi Ltd., Occidental of Bahrain Ltd., Occidental of Bangladesh Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Chipiron) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Cosecha) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Medina) Inc., Occidental of Colombia (Putumayo) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia (Teca) Ltd., Occidental of Colombia PUT-36 LLC, Occidental of Dubai Inc., Occidental of Iraq Holdings Ltd., Occidental of Iraq LLC, Occidental of Oman Inc., Occidental of Russia Ltd., Occidental of South Africa (Offshore) Inc., Occidental of Yemen (Block 75) LLC, Oceanic Marine Transport Ltd., Opcal Insurance Inc., Oryx Crude Trading & Transportation Inc., Oxy BridgeTex Limited Partnership, Oxy C & I Bulk Sales LLC, Oxy Canada Sales Inc., Oxy Carbon Solutions LLC, Oxy Carbon Storage LLC, Oxy Climate Ventures Inc., Oxy Cogeneration Holding Company LLC, Oxy Colombia Holdings LLC, Oxy Colombia TopCo Ltd., Oxy Delaware Basin LLC, Oxy Delaware Basin Plant LLC, Oxy Dolphin E&P LLC, Oxy Dolphin Pipeline LLC, Oxy Energy Canada Inc., Oxy Energy Services LLC, Oxy Expatriate Services Inc., Oxy FFT Holdings Inc., Oxy Holding Company (Pipeline) Inc., Oxy International Ventures Ltd., Oxy LPG Terminal LLC, Oxy Levelland Pipeline Company LLC, Oxy Levelland Terminal Company LLC, Oxy Low Carbon Ventures LLC, Oxy Midstream Strategic Development LLC, Oxy Oleoducto SOP LLC, Oxy Overseas Services Ltd., Oxy Permian Gathering LLC, Oxy Permian Plaza LLC, Oxy Petroleum de Mexico S. de R.L. de C.V., Oxy Renewable Energy LLC, Oxy Salt Creek Pipeline LLC, Oxy TL LLC, Oxy Taft Hub LLC, Oxy Technology Ventures Inc., Oxy Transport I Company LLC, Oxy Vinyls Canada Co., Oxy Vinyls Export Sales LLC, Oxy Vinyls LP, Oxy Westwood Corporation, Oxy Y-1 Company, OxyChem Ingleside Ethylene Holdings Inc., OxyChem do Brasil Ltda., OxyChile Investments LLC, Oxychem Shipping Ltd., Permian Basin JV Tax Matters Member LLC, Permian Basin Limited Partnership, Permian VPP Holder LP, Permian VPP Manager LLC, Phibro, Placid Oil LLC, Ramlat Oxy Ltd., Rio de Viento Inc., Rodeo Midland Basin LLC, San Patricio Pipeline LLC, Scanports Shipping LLC, SequestCo LLC, Stetson Exploration LLC, Sun Offshore Gathering Company, Swiflite Aircraft Corporation, Transok Properties LLC, Troy Potter Inc., Turavent Oil GmbH [in liquidation], Tuscaloosa Holdings Inc., UP Petroleo III Ltd., Upland Industries Corporation, Venezuela US SRL, Vintage Gas Inc., Vintage Petroleum, Vintage Petroleum Argentina Ltd., Vintage Petroleum Boliviana Ltd., Vintage Petroleum International Finance B.V., Vintage Petroleum International Holdings LLC, Vintage Petroleum International LLC, Vintage Petroleum International Ventures Inc., Vintage Petroleum Italy Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America Holdings Inc., Vintage Petroleum South America LLC, Vintage Petroleum Turkey Inc., WGR Asset Holding Company LLC, WGR Canada Inc., Wardner Ranch Inc., Western Gas Resources Inc., Western Gas Resources-Westana Inc., Western Midstream Holdings LLC, Woodlands International Insurance Ltd., and YT Ranch LLC. Having now finished reading Tim Shipman's excellent 612 page book on the Brexit referendum campaign and see what a shit-show that whole episode in UK history was, I am rather less surprised by this revelation in the Independent that the governments preferred Brexit scenario would leave the UK public finances 615m per week worse off than staying in the EU.The paper quotes a study for the think tank Global Future carried out by Jonathan Portes, a professor of economics at Kings College, London, which looked at each of the three scenarios assessed by the government in its own leaked analysis.His research calculates that the governments preferred option of a bespoke deal would mean about 40bn more in annual public borrowing than under the status quo by 2033/34 - the same time period over which the government worked out its impact assessments:This is a far cry from the widely debunked claim by Brexiteers that the UK will have an extra 350m a week to spend after Brexit. Somehow though, I doubt the UK Government will be putting the envisaged 615m cut in public services on the side of a bus. His Roots Corporation, together with its subsidiaries, provides apparel, leather goods, footwear, and accessories under the Roots brand in Canada and internationally. The company operates through two segments, Direct-To-Consumer, and Partners and Other. The Direct-to-Consumer segment sells products through the company's corporate retail stores and e-commerce. The Partners and Other segment primarily engages in the wholesale of Roots branded products to the company's international operating partners. This segment is also involved in licensing Roots brand to manufacturing partners; and wholesaling Roots branded products to retail partners. As of January 30, 2021, it operated 111 corporate retail stores in Canada, two corporate retail stores in the United States, 117 partner-operated stores in Taiwan, 26 partner-operated stores in China, and two partner-operated stores in Hong Kong, as well as an eCommerce platform and partner-operated eCommerce channels in Taiwan and mainland China. W. Roots Corporation was founded in 1973 and is headquartered in Toronto, Canada. Read More Sanchez Energy Corporation, an independent exploration and production company, focuses on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources. It engages in the horizontal development of resources from the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas. It also holds an undeveloped acreage position in the Tuscaloosa Marine Shale (TMS) in Mississippi and Louisiana. As of December 31, 2017, the company had assembled approximately 285,000 net acres in the Eagle Ford Shale; and owned approximately 37,000 net acres in the TMS. Sanchez Energy Corporation was founded in 2011 and is headquartered in Houston, Texas. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Source Energy Services a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Source Energy Services wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. The following companies are subsidiares of UnitedHealth Group: 1031387 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1070715 B.C. Unlimited Liability Company, 1st Avenue Pharmacy Inc., 310 Canyon Medical, 310 Canyon Medical LLC, 4C MSO LLC, 4C Medical Group PLC, 5995 Minnetonka LLC, ABCO International Holdings LLC, ACN Group IPA of New York, ACN Group IPA of New York Inc., ACN Group of California, ACN Group of California Inc., AHJV, AHJV MSO, AHN Accontable Care Organization LLC, AHN Central Services LLC, AHN Target Holdings LLC, AMIL International, AMIL International S.a.r.l., APS Assistencia Personalizada a Saude Ltda., ARC Infusion, ASC Holdings of New Jersey LLC, ASC Network LLC, ASI Global, ASI Global LLC, Access Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Administrators Inc., Access HealthSource Inc., Access I.V., Administradora Clinica La Colina S.A.S., Administradora Country S.A., Administradora Medica Centromed S.A., Advanced Care, Advanced Care Pharmacy, Advanced Pharma Inc., Advanced Surgery Center of Clifton LLC, Advanced Surgical Hospital LLC, Advantage Care Network Inc., Advocate Condell Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Sherman Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate Southwest Ambulatory Surgery Center LLC, Advocate-SCA Partners LLC, Alere Health, Alere Health Improvement Company, Alere Healthcare of Illinois, Alere Wellbeing, Alere Wellology, Alere of New York, Aliansalud Entidad Promotora de Salud S.A., All Savers Insurance Company, All Savers Life Insurance Company of California, Alliance Surgical Center LLC, Aloha Surgical Center LLC, Ambient Healthcare, Ambient Healthcare Inc., Ambient Healthcare of Central Florida, Ambient Healthcare of Georgia, Ambient Healthcare of Northeast Florida, Ambient Healthcare of S. Florida, Ambient Healthcare of West Florida, Ambient Holdings, Ambient Holdings Inc., Ambient Nursing Services, AmeriChoice, AmeriChoice Corporation, AmeriChoice Health Services, AmeriChoice of Connecticut, AmeriChoice of New Jersey, AmeriChoice of New Jersey Inc., American Health Network of Indiana Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Indiana II LLC, American Health Network of Indiana LLC, American Health Network of Ohio Care Organization LLC, American Health Network of Ohio II LLC, American Health Network of Ohio LLC, Amico Saude Ltda., Amil, Amil Assistencia Medica Internacional S.A., Amil Lifesciences Participacoes Ltda., Antelope Valley Surgery Center L.P., Analisis Clinicos ML S.A.C., Apothecary Holdings Inc., Apothecary Shop of Phoenix Inc., AppleCare Medical Management, AppleCare Medical Management LLC, Aquitania Chilean Holding SpA, Arise Physician Group, Arizona Physicians IPA, Arizona Physicians IPA Inc., AssuranceRx, AssuranceRx LLC, Athens ASC Holdings LLC, Audax Health Solutions, Audax Health Solutions LLC, Austin Center for Outpatient Surgery L.P., Avella Patient Access Program Inc., Avella Specialty Pharmacy, Avella of Austin Inc., Avella of Columbus Inc., Avella of Deer Valley Inc., Avella of Denver Inc., Avella of Gilbert Inc., Avella of Las Vegas II Inc., Avella of Orlando Inc., Avella of Phoenix III Inc., Avella of Sacramento Inc., Avella of Scottsdale Inc., Avella of St. Louis Inc., Avella of Tampa LLC, Avella of Tucson II Inc., Avella of Tucson Inc., Aveta Arizona, Aveta Health Solutions Inc., Aveta Inc., Aveta Kansas City, Aveta Tennessee, AxelaCare Health Solutions, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings, AxelaCare Intermediate Holdings LLC, AxelaCare LLC, B.R.A.S.S. Partnership in Commendam, Banmedica Colombia SpA, Banmedica Internacional SpA, Banmedica S.A., Beach Surgical Holdings III LLC, Behavioral Healthcare Options, Behavioral Healthcare Options Inc., Belleville Surgical Center Ltd. an Illinois Limited Partnership, Benefit Administration for the Self Employed L.L.C., Benefitter Insurance Solutions Inc., Birmingham Outpatient Surgical Center LLC, Blackstone Valley Surgicare GP LLC, Blue Ridge GP LLC, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings I SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings II SRL, Bordeaux (Barbados) Holdings III SRL, Bordeaux Holding SpA, Bordeaux International Holdings Inc., Bordeaux UK Holdings I Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings II Limited, Bordeaux UK Holdings III Limited, Bosque Medical Center Ltda., Brandon Ambulatory Surgery Center LC, BriovaRx, BriovaRx, BriovaRx Infusion Services, BriovaRx Infusion Services 102 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 200 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 204 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 209 Inc., BriovaRx Infusion Services 305 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services 402 LLC, BriovaRx Infusion Services Inc., BriovaRx Specialty LLC, BriovaRx of California, BriovaRx of California Inc., BriovaRx of Florida, BriovaRx of Florida Inc., BriovaRx of Georgia, BriovaRx of Georgia LLC, BriovaRx of Hawaii, BriovaRx of Indiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana, BriovaRx of Louisiana L.L.C., BriovaRx of Maine, BriovaRx of Maine Inc., BriovaRx of Massachusetts, BriovaRx of Massachusetts LLC, BriovaRx of Nevada, BriovaRx of New York, BriovaRx of New York Inc., BriovaRx of Texas, BriovaRx of Texas Inc., CDC Holdings Colombia S.A.S., CLISA Clinica de Santo Antonio S.A., CMO Centro Medico de Oftalmologia S/S Ltda., CMS Central de Manipulacao e Servicos Farmaceuticos S.A., CNIC Health Solutions Inc., COI Participacoes S.A., COI Clinicas Oncologicas Integradas S.A., Cabin Enterprises LLC, Cabin Holdings LLC, California MedTrans Network IPA LLC, California MedTrans Network MSO LLC, California Medical Group Insurance Company Risk Retention Group, Camp Hill-SCA Centers LLC, Capital City Medical Group L.L.C., Cardio Management, Cardio Management Inc., Care Improvement Plus Group Management, Care Improvement Plus Group Management LLC, Care Improvement Plus South Central Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus Wisconsin Insurance Company, Care Improvement Plus of Texas Insurance Company, Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha Ltda., Casa de Saude Santa Therezinha S.A., Castle Rock SurgiCenter LLC, Catalyst360, Catalyst360 LLC, Catamaran Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Catamaran Health Solutions, Catamaran Holdings I, Catamaran IPA III, Catamaran Mail, Catamaran PBM of Illinois II, Catamaran PBM of Puerto Rico, Catamaran PD of Pennsylvania, Catamaran PD of Puerto Rico, Catamaran Rebate Management, Catamaran S.a.r.l., Catamaran Senior Services, Catamaran of Pennsylvania, Cedar Park Surgery Center LLC, Cemed Care - Empressa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Cemed Care Empresa de Atendimento Clinico Geral Ltda., Central Indiana Care Organization LLC, Central Ohio Care Organization LLC, Central de Compras SpA, CentriHealth Corporation, CentriHealth UK Limited, CentrifyHealth LLC, Centro Medico Hospitalar Pitangueiras Ltda., Centro Medico Odontologico Americano S.A.C., Centro Medico PJ Ltda., Centro de Entrenamiento en Reanimacion y Prevencion Limitada (CERP), Centro de Servicios Compartidos Banmedica S.A., Centromed Quilpue S.A., Centros Medicos y Dentales Multimed Ltda., Centurion Casualty Company, Channel Islands Surgicenter L.P., Channel Islands Surgicenter Properties LLC, Charleston Surgery Properties LLC, Charlotte-SC LLC, Childrens Surgery Center LLC, ChinaGate (Hong Kong) Limited, ChinaGate Company Limited, Citrus Regional Surgery Center L.P., Clinica Oftalmologica Danilo de Castro Sociedade Simples, Clinical Partners of Colorado Springs LLC, Clinica Alameda S.A., Clinica Bio Bio S.A., Clinica Ciudad del Mar S.A., Clinica Davila y Servicios Medicos S.A., Clinica Medico Cirurgica de Santa Tecla S.A., Clinica San Borja (La Esperanza del Peru S.A.), Clinica San Felipe S.A., Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Clinica Sanchez Ferrer S.A., Clinica Vespucio S.A., Clinica del Country S.A., Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare, Coachella Valley Physicians of PrimeCare Inc., Coalition For Advanced Pharmacy Services, Coalition for Advanced Pharmacy Services Inc., Coastal Physicians Management Inc., Collaborative Care Holdings, Collaborative Care Holdings LLC, Collaborative Care Services, Collaborative Care Services Inc., Collaborative Care Solutions, Collaborative Realty, Collaborative Realty LLC, Colmedica Medicina Prepagada, Colonial Outpatient Surgery Center LLC, Colorado Innovative Physician Solutions Inc., Colorado Springs Surgery Center Ltd., Comfort Care Transportation, Comfort Care Transportation LLC, Commonwealth Administrators, Connecticut Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Connecticut Surgery Properties LLC, Connecticut Surgical Center LLC, Connextions, Connextions HCI, Constructora e Inmobiliaria Magapoq S.A., Consumer Wellness Solutions Inc., Country Scan Ltda., Crescent Drug Corp., Cypress Care, Cypress Care Inc., DBP Services of New York IPA, DBP Services of New York IPA Inc., DTC Surgery Center LLC, DWIC of Tampa Bay, DWIC of Tampa Bay Inc., DaVita Magan Management Inc., Danbury Surgical Center L.P., Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company, Day-Op Surgery Consulting Company LLC, Definity Health, Dental Benefit Providers, Dental Benefit Providers Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of California, Dental Benefit Providers of California Inc., Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois, Dental Benefit Providers of Illinois Inc., Derry Surgical Center LLC, Diagnostico Ecotomografico Centromed Ltda., Diasnostico por Imagenes Centromed Ltda., Dilab Medicina Nuclear Ltda., Diplomat Pharmacy, Distance Learning Network, Distance Learning Network Inc., Doctor + S.A.C., Dry Creek Surgery Center LLC, Dublin Surgery Center LLC, Duncan Printing Services, Duncan Printing Services LLC, E Street Endoscopy LLC, ELG FZE, EP Campus I, EP Campus I LLC, East Brunswick Surgery Center LLC, Electronic Network Systems, Electronic Network Systems Inc., Elual Participacoes S.A., Empire Physician Management Company, Empire Physician Management Company LLC, Employers Health Choice PPO Inc., Empremedica S. A., Endoscopy Center Affiliates Inc., Enterprise Life Insurance Company, Equian, Equian LLC, Equian Parent Corp., Esho Empresa de Servicos Hospitalares S.A., Etho Empresa de Tecnologia Hospitalar Ltda., Evercare Collaborative Solutions, Evercare Collaborative Solutions Inc., Everett MSO Inc., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos Ltda., Excellion Servicos Biomedicos S.A., Excelsior Insurance Brokerage Inc., Executive Health Resources, Executive Health Resources Inc., Executive Surgery Center LLC, Eye Clinic Oftalmologia Clinico Cirurgica e Diagnostico Ltda., FMG Holdings, FMG Holdings LLC, FOR HEALTH OF ARIZONA, Family Health Care Services, Family Home Hospice, Family Home Hospice Inc., First Rx Specialty & Mail Services, Florida MedTrans Network LLC, Florida MedTrans Network MSO LLC, For Health, For Health Inc., For Health of Arizona Inc., Fortified Provider Network Inc., Fortify Technologies Asia LLC, Fortify Technologies LLC, Foundation Financial Services Inc., Franklin Surgical Center LLC, Freedom Life Insurance Company of America, Freeway Surgicenter of Houston LLC, Frontier MEDEX Limited, Frontier Medex Tanzania Limited, FrontierMEDEX, FrontierMEDEX (RMS), FrontierMEDEX (RMS) Inc., FrontierMEDEX Government Services, FrontierMEDEX Government Services LLC, FrontierMEDEX Inc., FrontierMEDEX Kenya Limited, FrontierMEDEX US, FrontierMEDEX US Inc., Fundacion Banmedica, GRANTS PASS SURGERY CENTER LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center LLC, Gadsden Surgery Center Ltd., Gainesville Surgery Center L.P., Gainesville Surgery Properties LLC, Genoa, Genoa Healthcare Inc., Genoa Healthcare LLC, Genoa QoL Wholesale LLC, Genoa Technology (Canada) Inc., Genoa Technology Inc., Genoa Telepsychiatry Inc., Genoa of Arkansas LLC, Glenwood Surgical Center L.P., Glenwood-SC Inc., Golden Outlook, Golden Outlook Inc., Golden Rule Financial Corporation, Golden Rule Insurance Company, Golden Triangle Surgicenter L.P., Grapevine Finance LLC, Greater Hartford ASC LLC, Grove Place Surgery Center L.L.C., Guardian Health Systems Limited Partnership, H&W Indemnity (SPC), H&W Indemnity (SPC) Ltd., H.I. Investments Holding Company LLC, HCP ACO California LLC, HCP ACO Nevada LLC, HCentive Technology India Private Limited, HMI NewCo LLC, Harken Health Insurance Company, Hayes-Strub LLC, Health Business Systems, Health Care-ONE Insurance Agency Inc., Health Inventures Employment Solutions LLC, Health Inventures LLC, Health Net Insurance of New York, Health Net Services (Bermuda) Ltd., Health Plan of Nevada, Health Plan of Nevada Inc., Health Technology Analysts Pty Limited, HealthAllies, HealthAllies Inc., HealthCare Partners ASC-LB LLC, HealthCare Partners Management Services California LLC, HealthCare Partners RE LLC, HealthFirst IPA Inc., HealthMarkets Group Inc., HealthMarkets Inc., HealthMarkets Insurance Agency Inc., HealthMarkets LLC, HealthMarkets NewCo Inc., HealthMarkets Services Inc., HealthSCOPE Holdings Inc., HealthScope Benefits Inc., Healthcare Partners Plan of Nevada Inc., Healthcare Solutions Inc., Heartland Heart and Vascular LLC, Help S.A., Help Service S.A., Highlands Ranch Healthcare, Highlands Ranch Healthcare LLC, Home Care I.V. of Bend, Home Infusion With Heart, Home Medical S.A., Hospice Inspiris Holdings, Hospice Inspiris Holdings Inc., Hospitais Associados de Pernambuco Ltda., Hospital Alvorada de Taguatinga Ltda., Hospital Ana Costa S.A., Hospital Maternidade Promater Ltda., Hospital Samaritano de Sao Paulo Ltda., Hospital Santa Helena S.A., Hospital de Clinicas de Jacarepagua Ltda., Humedica, Humedica Inc., Hygeia Corporation, Hygeia Corporation (Canada), Hygeia Corporation (DE), Hygeia Corporation (Ontario), INOV8 Surgical at Memorial City LLC, INSPIRIS of New York IPA, INSPIRIS of New York Management, INSPIRIS of New York Management Inc., INSPIRIS of Texas Physician Group, IRX Financing I LLC, Illinois Independent Care Network, Imed Star Servicos de Desempenho Organizacional Ltda., Impel Consulting Experts, Impel Consulting Experts L.L.C., Impel Management Services L.L.C., Indian River Surgery Center Ltd., Indian River Surgery Properties LLC, Indiana Care Organization LLC, Infusource, Ingram & Associates, Ingram & Associates LLC, Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3001 S.A., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo 3600 Ltda., Inmobiliaria Apoquindo S.A., Inmobiliaria Clinica Santa Maria S.A., Inmobiliaria Vinamed Ltda., Inmobiliaria e Inversiones Alameda S.A., Inspiris, Inspiris Inc., Inspiris Services Company, Inspiris of Tennessee, Instituto do Radium de Cammpinas Ltda, International Psychological Services Pty Limited, Inversiones Clinicas Santa Maria S.A., Isapre Banmedica S.A., Isapre Vida Tres S.A., Johnston Surgicare L.P., Joliet Surgery Center Limited Partnership, LHI, Laboratorio ROE S.A., Laboratorios Medicos Amed Quilpue S.A., LifePrint Health, LifePrint Health Inc., LifeStyles Marketing Group Inc., LifeWell Ltd. Co., Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization, Lifeprint Accountable Care Organization LLC, Lifeprint East, Lifeprint East Inc., Logistics Health Inc., Lotten-Eyes Oftalmologia Clinica e Cirurgica Ltda., Louisville S.C. Ltd., Louisville-SC Properties Inc., Loyola Ambulatory Surgery Center at Oakbrook Inc., Lusiadas - Parcerias Cascais S.A., Lusiadas A.C.E., Lusiadas S.A., Lusiadas SGPS S.A., MAMSI Insurance Resources, MAMSI Life and Health Insurance Company, MD Ops, MD Ops Inc., MD-Individual Practice Association, MD-Individual Practice Association Inc., ME AHS UC LLC, MEDEX Insurance Services, MEDEX Insurance Services Inc., MGH/SCA LLC, MHC Real Estate Holdings, MHC Real Estate Holdings LLC, MIAMI SURGERY CENTER LLC, MSLA Management LLC, MXMD Centros De Cancer, Mamoeco Mamografia e Ecografia Centro de Diagnostico, Managed Physical Network, Managed Physical Network Inc., March Holdings, March Holdings Inc., March Vision Care, March Vision Care Inc., Marin Surgery Holdings Inc., Maryland Ambulatory Centers, Maryland-SCA Centers LLC, Massachusetts Assurance Company Ltd. PIC, Massachusetts Avenue Surgery Center LLC, Mat-Rx Development, Mat-Rx Fort Worth GP, MedExpress Development, MedExpress Development LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Alabama LLC, MedExpress Urgent Care Inc. - Ohio, MedExpress Urgent Care Maine Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care New Hampshire Inc., MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach, MedExpress Urgent Care of Boynton Beach LLC, MedSynergies, MedSynergies LLC, MedSynergies North Texas, Medalliance Net Ltda, Medalliance Net Ltda., Medica Health Plans of Florida, Medica Health Plans of Florida Inc., Medica HealthCare Plans, Medica HealthCare Plans Inc., Medical Clinic of North Texas PLLC, Medical Hilfe S.A., Medical Preparatory School of Allied Health, Medical Support Los Angeles Inc., Medical Surgical Centers of America Inc., Medical Transportation Services, Medical Transportation Services LLC, Medication Management Systems Inc., Melbourne Surgery Center LLC, Memorial City Holdings LLC, Memorial City Partners LLC, Memphis-SC LLC, Memphis-SP LLC, Mesquite Liberty LLC, Metro I Stone Management, Metropolitan Medical Partners LLC, Metropolitan Medical Transportation IPA LLC, Mid Atlantic Medical Services, Mid-West National Life Insurance Company of Tennessee, Midwest Center for Day Surgery LLC, Mile High SurgiCenter LLC, Mississippi Surgery Holdings LLC, Mississippi Surgical Center Limited Partnership, Mobile Medical Professionals, Modern Medical Inc., Monarch Management Services, Monarch Management Services Inc., Montgomery Surgery Center Limited Partnership, Mountain View Medical Group LLC, Mt. Pleasant Surgery Center L.P., Multiangio Ltda., Muskogee Surgical Investors LLC, Mustang Razorback Holdings, Mustang Razorback Holdings Inc., My Wellness Solutions LLC, NAMM Holdings, NAMM Holdings Inc., NSC Fayetteville LLC, NSC Greensboro LLC, NSC Lancaster LLC, NSC Seattle Inc., NSC Upland LLC, Nashville-SCA Surgery Centers Inc., National Foundation Life Insurance Company, National MedTrans LLC, National Pacific Dental, National Pacific Dental Inc., National Surgery Centers LLC, Neighborhood Health Partnership, Neighborhood Health Partnership Inc., Netwerkes, Netwerkes LLC, Nevada Medical Services LLC, Nevada Pacific Dental, New Orleans Regional Physician Hospital Organization L.L.C., New West Physicians Inc., Newton Holdings LLC, North American Medical Management - Illinois, North American Medical Management California, North American Medical Management California Inc., North Puget Sound Center for Sleep Disorders LLC, North Puget Sound Oncology Equipment Leasing Company LLC, Northern Nevada Health Network, Northern Nevada Health Network Inc., Northern Rockies Surgicenter Inc., Northwest Surgicare LLC, Northwest Surgicare Ltd., Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care, Nutritional/Parenteral Home Care of Huntsville, OC Cardiology Practice Partners LLC, OSB Tecnologia e Servicos de Suporte Ltda., Omesa S.A., OmniClaim LLC, Oncocare S.A.C., OneNet PPO, OneNet PPO LLC, Optimum Choice, Optimum Choice Inc., Optum, Optum Bank, Optum Bank Inc., Optum Biometrics, Optum Biometrics Inc., Optum Care Inc., Optum Care Services Company, Optum Clinical Services, Optum Clinics Holdings, Optum Clinics Holdings Inc., Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings, Optum Clinics Intermediate Holdings Inc., Optum Digital Health Holdings LLC, Optum Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, Optum Global Solutions (India) Private Limited, Optum Global Solutions (Philippines), Optum Global Solutions (Philippines) Inc., Optum Global Solutions International B.V., Optum Government Solutions, Optum Government Solutions Inc., Optum Growth Partners LLC, Optum Health & Technology (Australia) Pty Ltd, Optum Health & Technology (Hong Kong) Limited, Optum Health & Technology (India) Private Limited, Optum Health & Technology (Singapore) Pte. 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Entidad Prestadora de Salud, Paoli Ambulatory Surgery Center, Paoli Surgery Center L.P., Parkway Surgery Center LLC, Pasteur Plaza Surgery Center GP Inc., PatientsLikeMe, PatientsLikeMe LLC, Patrimonio Autonomo Nueva Clinica - PANC., Payment Resolution Services, Payment Resolution Services LLC, Peoples Health, Peoples Health Inc., Pharmaceutical Care Network, Pharmacy Review Services, Pharmacy Software Holdco Inc., PhyServe Holdings, Physician Alliance of the Rockies LLC, Physician Care Partners, Physicians Health Choice of Texas, Physicians Health Choice of Texas LLC, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland, Physicians Health Plan of Maryland Inc., Physicians Plaza Holdings LLC, Plano de Saude Ana Costa Ltda., Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico, Plus One Health Management Puerto Rico Inc., Plus One Holdings, Plus One Holdings Inc., Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes, Polar II Fundo de Investimento em Participacoes Multiestrategia, Polo Holdco, Polo Holdco LLC, Pomerado 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Inc., United Group Reinsurance Inc., United Health Foundation, United HealthCare, United HealthCare Services Inc., United Management Services Inc., United Resource Networks IPA of New York, United Resource Networks IPA of New York Inc., UnitedHealth Advisors, UnitedHealth Advisors LLC, UnitedHealth Group Finance Inc., UnitedHealth Group Global Healthcare Services Limited, UnitedHealth Group Global Services, UnitedHealth Group Incorporated, UnitedHealth Group Information Services Private Limited, UnitedHealth Group International Finance (Ireland) Unlimited Company, UnitedHealth Group International GP, UnitedHealth Group International L.P., UnitedHealth International, UnitedHealth International Inc., UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services, UnitedHealth Military & Veterans Services LLC, UnitedHealth UK Limited, UnitedHealthcare, UnitedHealthcare Benefits Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Benefits of Texas Inc., UnitedHealthcare Children's Foundation Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of California Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Georgia Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Ohio Inc., UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas, UnitedHealthcare Community Plan of Texas L.L.C., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co., UnitedHealthcare Consulting & Assistance Service (Beijing) Co. 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On April 10, Republican governor Doug Ducey of Arizona stood in front of TV cameras and announced a 20 percent pay increase by school year 2020 for the states teachers. The announcement, however, has been met with considerable, and justifiable, skepticism by tens of thousands of the states educators. Teachers in Tucson Tuesday afternoon lined 17 miles of busy roads, carrying signs and campaigning for public support to their struggle for a substantial pay increase and restoration of funding for public schools. Since early March, the campaign for a state-wide walkout for an immediate 20 percent raise, and millions of dollars for classrooms and student resources has been gaining strength among rank-and-file educators. Facebook comments and videos show some teachers describing having to work multiple jobs and driving long distances from one job to the next, and facing intolerable teaching conditions in their underfunded schools. Many express the determination of the teachers and support staff for a struggle. It is way past time to do something. This movement needed to happen when Brewer was Governor. Ducey has made it far worse. Education funding has become so bad in this State that this movement is so long overdue! commented Pam. In a video posted Monday on the Facebook page of Arizona Educators United (AEU), the group's leaders outline the plan for taking a vote for a walkout among the states 50,000 public school teachers. Noah Karvelis, the initiator of the Facebook group, says, We dont have a sustainable revenue source to fund these raises, so what that means is these are empty promises. This doesnt do enough for our kids and colleagues. The AEU began polling on Tuesday and holding a walkout vote-in on Wednesday, to be counted by Thursday at 4 p.m. On Saturday there will be a series of community meetings throughout the state to generate support from parents and others. Educators and supporters in hundreds of districts shared their photos of the Wednesdays vote-in. The governors proposal for a teacher pay increase does not include support staff or additional funding for programs or materials, and does not address one of the central concerns of teachersto return school funding to pre-2008 levels. A typical response to the governors offer was posted on the AEU Facebook page from L.E. Cat: We have the power now. We have the upper hand. Never take the first offer. Now is the time to stick to our principles and stay strong. I dont trust the incremental increase. That could always go awayand then he will say, I gave you 9%. We also need to demand an ongoing plan for funding education, not just teacher pay, and restoring education to pre-recession levels. The governors offer is a shell game, Jane, a veteran teacher in Phoenix, told the World Socialist Web Site. Ducey has made it abundantly clear hes anti-public education. I guess he thinks teachers are stupid and dont remember his callous statements about us. According to a recent study by Arizona State Universitys Morrison Institute for Public Policy, the pay for elementary school teachers in Arizona, when adjusted for cost of living, ranks 50th in the nation. High school teachers rank 49th. Arizona Educators Uniteds website (arizonaeducatorsunited.com) lists their demands, beginning with a 20 percent pay increase for all teaching and certified staff for the 201819 school year; a return to 2008 funding, with student-teacher ratio of 23:1; no tax cuts until Arizona per-pupil funding reaches the national average; and yearly raises until teacher salaries reach the national average. David Lujan of the Arizona Center for Economic Progress, appearing in a video on the Facebook page of the Arizona Education Association (AEA) union, explained, There is not a sustainable revenue source to fund his (Duceys) teacher salary increase for future years. He is looking to fund it by sweeping money from other agencies and programs. Schools have $1.1 billion less than they did a decade ago. All state agencies but two were cut after 2008. Lujan pointed out that, since 1990, the Arizona legislature has cut taxes every year but one, resulting in a $4.4 billion cut in revenue for state-funded programs. The current legislature is now discussing yet another tax cut for the wealthya capital gains tax cut for millionaires with assets over $5 million. The Arizona Republic website reports that Duceys plan relies on a sunny view of the states financial future as well as cuts in other programs. The plan would redirect over $35 million from the Department of Environmental Quality and garner $15 million from more sweeping income tax audits and over $10 million from several health and arts programs that the governor is planning to cut from the current budget proposal. One of the cruelest cuts will be in Medicaid spending, which will affect many poor children in teachers classrooms. Arizona is one of ten states that have submitted applications to add work requirements and a five-year lifetime limit on Medicaid benefits for low-income people. In January, the Trump administration gave states the green light to impose work requirements and keep the poor off of their only source of medical care. The Arizona Education Association (AEA) and AEU waited until after the shutting down of the 10-day strike of Oklahoma teachers before polling teachers for their own walkout. Significantly, it never uses the word strike or speaks about shutting down the schools. Alarmed by the rank-and-file response to the call for a walkout, as in West Virginia, Oklahoma and Kentucky, the AEA, the largest official union, is seeking to suffocate the movement and steer it into futile appeals for legislative action. The leaders of Arizona Educators United, which began as a rank-and-file group, have ceded control of their organization to the AEA. The Facebook group conspicuously sidesteps setting a date for a walkout, and in one recent video avoided even mentioning a strike, saying, A strong vote for a walkout provides choices to leverage the legislature, which is why were voting The struggle in Arizona is erupting as teachers in states across the country press for strike action to recoup more than a decade in lost wages and demand the restoration of funding cuts. Teachers in Broward County, Florida are protesting tomorrow. Earlier in the week, a protest by Colorado teachers led to the closing of schools in the Denver-Aurora area. There are also growing calls for joint nationwide action by teachers, with a Florida teacher posting, We should gather teachers from Colorado, Arizona, Kentucky, Oklahoma, West Virginia and FLORIDA to head to Washington!!! Lets rally for our salaries. We cant just live on apples! WHOs with ME? The National Education Association (NEA) and the American Federation of Teachers (AFT) are doing everything in their power to block a unified struggle against the Republicans and Democrats. The position of unions is made crystal clear by their arguments in the Janus v AFSCME case, which is currently before the Supreme Court. Jason Walta, senior counsel for the National Education Association, warned of the dangers facing the ruling elite and the political establishment if the grip of the unions over workers is weakened. It is no coincidence that West Virginia, Oklahoma, Kentucky, and Arizona are all so-called right to work states with weak or no public-sector collective bargaining laws," Walta said. "In states like thesewhere anti-union laws frustrate educators ability to come together to advocate for quality public schools through the stable, formal channels of mature collective bargaining--the only meaningful option available is for educators to press their demands through mass protest and the disruptions in public services that those entail." It doesnt have to be this way, Walta declares. When educators can join together and bargain effectively as partners with school administrators, the benefits to all are clear... (Emphasis added.) Union-management collusion certainly benefits the state, which can impose austerity without strikes. It also benefits union bureaucrats, who are paid handsomely for betraying teachers. But it is to the detriment of rank-and-file teachers, who have suffered decades of union-backed assaults on their jobs, living standards and classroom conditions. The struggle to defend public education and the rights of educators cannot be won if it is left in the hands of the unions. This was proven again by the betrayal of the 10-day Oklahoma teachers strike. Instead, teachers must elect rank-and-file committees, entirely independent of and in opposition to the unions, to fight for the broadest mobilization of the working class to defend public education, and to link up with educators and other workers around the country in preparation for a general strike. The resources for livable wages and high quality public education exist, but they are monopolized by a few and squandered on the lavish lifestyles of the super-rich, endless corporate tax cuts and wars. That is why the teachers rebellion should become the starting point for a political counter-offensive of the working class as a whole to fight for a vast redistribution of wealth to meet human need, not corporate profit. The forced apology by UK Prime Minister Theresa May and her Home Secretary Amber Rudd concerning the governments deportation and persecution of Commonwealth citizens who have lived in Britain for decades should be treated with contempt. Rudds mea culpa in parliament, announcing a task force to investigate the issue, and Mays subsequent apology to the leaders of Caribbean nations on Tuesday, constitute an attempt to portray the deliberate result of a government policy to victimize and expel migrants as mistakes by a few over-zealous civil servants. In recent months, many Commonwealth migrants have been contacted by the Home Office and told they are not eligible to stay in the UK. They have faced harassment and violations of their rights as well as the denial of health care, housing and employment. The Home Office insisted they prove that they have been in the UK continually since January 1973 by providing four relevant documents for every year of residence. According to the Migration Observatory at Oxford, there are around 524,000 current UK residents who were born in a Commonwealth country and arrived in Britain before 1971. It estimated that 50,000 people who arrived from the Caribbean between 1948 and 1973 may not have regularised their residency status and are threatened with deportation. The first of these arrived in the UK after the Second World War on the cruise ship Empire Windrush, which brought West Indian workers to Britain in 1948. Known as the Windrush generation, Caribbean migrantsand later migrants from the Indian sub-continentwere invited to the UK to help fill a massive labour shortage in such vital areas as the National Health Service. Many migrants were children when they arrived, often on their parents passports. The governments belated and reluctant apology came only after harrowing stories began to emerge of the disgusting treatment of Commonwealth migrants. The case of one man, Albert Thompson, is indicative of the sadistic treatment meted out. He has lived in London for 44 years after having arrived from Jamaica as a teenager and worked and paid taxes for more than three decades. He went for his first radiotherapy session for prostate cancer, only to be told that unless he could produce a British passport he would be charged 54,000 for the treatment. As well as being denied his right to free health care, Thompson was evicted last summer as a result of tighter immigration legislation, leaving him homeless for three weeks. Following changes to immigration law made during Mays time as Home Secretary (2010-2016), the lives of many migrants have been ruined. In 2012, legislation was passed requiring people to possess documentation of their right to be in the country in order to work, rent or access health and welfare benefits. But the 1971 Immigration Act did not issue any such paperwork and the Home Office did not keep a record of those who had been granted leave to stay. The onus was placed on individuals to prove they were residents in the UK before the Act went into effect on January 1, 1973. In 2014, this situation was worsened by the secret removal from the 2014 Immigration Act of a clause that protected long-term Commonwealth residents from deportation. More evidence emerged Tuesday proving that other measures were enacted whose purpose could only have been to facilitate mass deportations. In 2010, the government destroyed thousands of Windrush-era landing cards of Caribbean migrants. Attempting to play down the destruction of the important archive, the government said the cards did not provide reliable evidence of ongoing residence in the UK or immigration status. On Wednesday, this claim was exposed as a lie by two Home Office whistle-blowers, who said the cards were used regularly in decision-making. One said the databases would show who else arrived with you; it would show the parents and the children that they brought with them. The tightening of immigration legislation was part of a policy of creating, in Mays words from a 2012 speech, a really hostile environment for illegal immigrants. This was necessary, she declared, after thirteen years of uncontrolled mass immigration. It was directed not just against people who rightly considered that they had full citizenship rights, including three generations of citizens hailing from the Caribbean, but all immigrants. This was central to the Tory governments efforts to bring net migration down to the tens of thousands as part of their adoption of policies demanded by the UK Independence Party, which was winning over swathes of Tory supporters. In 2013, the government even hired vans, at Mays direction, to drive around towns and cities with large immigrant populations displaying giant Go Home or Face Arrest posters. Since then, the Home Office has pursued a ruthless anti-immigration agenda. Landlords were required to check on tenants immigration status, while hospitals and charities in receipt of NHS funds were required to carry out ID checks on patients prior to treatment in order to bill them if they were not found eligible for free treatment. Banks and building societies were forced to conduct immigration checks on their current account holders. As a result of the 2014 and 2016 immigration acts, a deport first, appeal later policy was routinized. The post-war migrants were granted leave to remain under the 1971 Immigration Act, which came into force in 1973. However, due to the very provisions of that reactionary act, many of the Windrush generation are still not officially classified as British citizens. The act shut down Commonwealth migration through the introduction of a patriality clause. A partial right of abode was introduced, lifting all restrictions on immigrants who could prove a direct personal or ancestral connection with Britain. Under this provision, a persons father or grandfather had to be born in the UK for citizenship to be granted. In effect, this provision meant the applicant had to have a white parent or grandparent. Black and Asian people were effectively barred from citizenship, but not white migrants from Canada, Australia, New Zealand, etc. Those already here for five years were granted permanent leave to remain, but Commonwealth citizens lost their automatic right to remain in the UK. As migration from the West Indies to Britain occurred mainly between 1948 and 1965, the documentation now being demanded of them did not exist. As a result, many of the Windrush generation and their childrensome of whom have never traveled outside the UK and did not require a passportare still not classified as citizens. This racist act was introduced by the Conservative government of Edward Heath, who declared, There will be no further large-scale permanent immigration. Only three years earlier, leading Tory MP Enoch Powell delivered his fascistic Rivers of Blood speech in Birmingham, in which he called for stopping, or virtually stopping, further inflow, and promoting the maximum outflow. Heath was forced to sack Powell from his cabinet after the public outcry at the speech, but cabinet papers confirm that Powells politics were critical in formulating the Immigration Act. In the following decades, many of the Windrush generation, their children and grandchildren would be involved in fighting against the racist policies of Margaret Thatcher and the rest of Mays political forebears. On becoming prime minister, May tried to strike a newly minted progressive pose. The UKs leaving the European Union, she said, would be based on a Global Britain, which would turn out to the world to grow its trading relationships, in particular with the more than 50 Commonwealth nations. Mays political pretense lies in tatters. She has been forced to make an apology on the eve of todays Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, which is centred on discussing the strengthening Britain's trading relationships. Of greater political import still, millions of people are repulsed and angered at the treatment of their lifelong neighbours, friends and work colleagues. It is a stark exposure of the divisive and socially destructive implications of the anti-immigrant rhetoric and associated policies used to divide the working class in the face of the common enemy. 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United Arab Emirates United Kingdom of Great Britain & N. Ireland Uruguay, Eastern Republic of Uzbekistan Vanuatu Venezuela, Bolivarian Republic of Viet Nam, Socialist Republic of Wallis and Futuna Islands Western Sahara Yemen Zambia, Republic of Zimbabwe A Milwaukee man is accused of killing his pregnant girlfriend whose body was found stuffed inside a suitcase and bound with duct-tape, PEOPLE confirms. Quentin Neal, 27, was arrested Friday after investigators allegedly found the stabbed and shot body of 21-year-old Shannon Mani inside a suitcase in a storage unit he leases, according to a criminal complaint obtained by PEOPLE. Mani who was five months pregnant with what police believe was Neals child had been bound with duct tape, the complaint states. Neal has been charged with two counts of first-degree intentional homicide: one for Mani and another for their unborn child. According to WTMJ, Mani was a student at the University of Wisconsin Milwaukee. Mani, who lived with her parents in Waukesha, was reported missing on April 13 after she failed to pick up her younger brother from school and missed work, the complaint states. Quentin Neal Subsequently, Manis parents reached out to police with their concerns about Neals possible involvement. A search warrant was obtained for his apartment in Milwaukee, and forensic investigators discovered traces of blood in the basement, a bath tub, a bucket, the walls and at the top of the basement stairs. The criminal complaint alleges that Neal, while being questioned, did not appear to be concerned or unsettled with the circumstances surrounding [Mani] and her apparent disappearance. Confronted with the blood evidence, the complaint alleges Neal said the couple got into an argument at his apartment. The defendant claimed that he showed [Mani] a gun that he had obtained for protection at which time the defendant alleged that [Mani] took the gun and a knife from the kitchen, then tried to pull the trigger but it didnt go off because of the safety, the complaint alleges. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Story continues It continues: The defendant said he then shot [Mani] twice in the head causing [Mani] to fall down the stairs to the basement. The defendant then claimed that [Mani] came at him again so he took the knife and cut her. The defendant then admitted that he put [Mani] into a garbage bag and put her into a suitcase. The defendant then took the suitcase to a storage locker. Neal allegedly told police where they could find his girlfriends phone and purse, which he respectively left in a pond and a gas station garbage can. He also said he returned the gun to the person hed borrowed it from, the complaint alleges, and told police Manis parents did not approve of their relationship. Police found Manis body with a bag over her head. The complaint states that her eyes had been covered with duct tape, which was also used to bind her at the ankles and wrists. The suitcase from which she was recovered contained bloody towels, duct tape, a knife handle, and a knife blade. The complaint alleges Mani was stabbed in the head and neck, and shot twice in the head. Neal is being held on $500,000 bond, charged first-degree intentional homicide, first-degree intentional homicide of an unborn child and possession of a firearm by a felon. He faces life in prison if convicted of the killings. Neal has yet to enter pleas to the charges, but will likely be asked to during his next court appearance April 27. The criminal complaint does not discuss any possible motive for the slayings. Neals attorney, Travis Schwantes, could not be reached for comment. Jenna Fischer, visiting Build Series NYC in March, found herself in the middle of a protest on Tuesday. (Photo: Manny Carabel/WireImage) Jenna Fischer went to DePauw University to discuss her new book and what happened next was a twist she wasnt exactly expecting. The Office alum, whos currently appearing in the show Splitting Up Together, was at the liberal arts school in Indiana on Tuesday to speak with theater students about her career, which is detailed in her new tome, The Actors Life: A Survival Guide. In the middle of her lecture, attended by 1,450 people, a protest involving about 100 students broke out over the schools handling of racist messages found on campus. There have been at least four incidents at DePauw recently during which racist, homophobic, anti-Muslim, or anti-Semitic messages were reported. Fischer had been warned ahead of time that a protest was a possibility, so she looked calm as it all went down. It started with someone blowing a whistle, and then protesters, holding signs, started their rallying cries. The students demanded safety, protection, and security from the school, which is investigating the incidents. One onlooker named Shannon Samson described the scene of the protest to the Indy Star, saying, It was very tense. Samson shared video and photos of the protest: Tense protest at @jennafischer book-signing lecture and event at @DePauwU over racial incidents on campus. pic.twitter.com/sUmgpSxIN1 Shannon Samson (@ShannonSamson) April 18, 2018 .@jennafischer appearance at @DePauwU interrupted by student protest over racial incidents on campus. pic.twitter.com/JfRpjJUKXC Shannon Samson (@ShannonSamson) April 18, 2018 Fischer made it clear to the students that she was on their side, according to footage from the event posted by the newspaper. At one point, a protester yelled, Its not OK. The actress agreed, Its not OK. She later told the group, In my personal opinion, oftentimes justice requires disruption and interruption of our scheduled lives. The protest was over 15 minutes after it began. Story continues DePauw spokesman Ken Owen, who was interviewing Fischer and was seated next to her onstage, told the Indy Star that Fischer sat there, she listened, she got very emotional. It affected her. I think her reaction was absolutely spot on, and I think respectful. Owen added that the protest changed the tone of the interview and he didnt ask many of his original questions. It didnt seem right to talk about The Office, he said. The actress, who stuck around after the lecture to sign books, addressed the protest in a post on Twitter on Wednesday. Again, she showed her support, noting that students should never feel at risk or have to endure hate or bigotry. Fischers message ended by noting that she would be donating her entire lecture payment to the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League, and the Trevor Project in honor of the DePauw students. Not all of the event was tense, though well, at least according to this video: At another point, a male student asked Fischer if she would attend a formal with him this weekend. Spoiler: Fischer, who is married to Lee Kirk, has plans. Fischers book details her journey to success in Hollywood, detailing her struggles breaking into the biz. She told students it took years until she got a speaking role and many more years before she landed the role of The Offices Pam Beesly, a character she made into a fan favorite. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Time magazine has released its Time 100: The Most Influential People of 2018, and while the annual list often includes controversial figures, the piece on the Parkland Florida shooting particularly struck a chord. The magazine featured five of the most notable students from the shooting that killed 17 people in February. David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin, and Alex Wind helped organize the March for Our Lives movement, which is focused on changing Americas gun laws. CBS News reported that more than 200,000 people attended the march last month in Washington, D.C., with more than 800 other marches taking place across the nation that same day. Theres little question as to why Time included the students in its Time 100 issue, given their impact on the gun control debate, but many had a problem with the author of the article about the organizers. Former President Barack Obama praised the teenagers, saying, Our kids now show us what weve told them America is all about, even if we havent always believed it ourselves: that our future isnt written for us, but by us. Obama also criticized the Republican Congress and the NRAs bias on the issue, saying that progress will be slow and frustrating. Many right-leaning Twitter users attacked Obamas words, blaming his administration for the gun violence in America. maybe these students should ask Obama why he DID NOTHING FOR 8 YEARS TO MAKE SCHOOLS SAFERQUIT BLAMING TRUMP Vintage Enterprise Memorabilia (@VEMVintage) April 19, 2018 oh please, perhaps asking the past administration why nothing was done for years to secure their safety. And for all students. Christine (@ChristineStergi) April 19, 2018 So does that mean you regret expanding gun laws to allow gun owners to take weapons on Amtrak and into National Parks. You had two years of control of Congress and nothing to show for it on gun control. NoleMan (@NoleMan22) April 19, 2018 By talking a lot, saying a lot of things that are not true and doing nothing to actually achieve our claimed goal, we can get Obama, greatest gun salesman ever, to write a blurb for us. Nickarama (@Nickarama1) April 19, 2018 The left-leaning commenters had their own culprit: President Trump. Story continues Whats sad is they are going to learn if they havent already that half of America is so uneducated and ignorant that they believe the GOP, FOX, and Trump no matter how crazy and obvious the lies are and that will prevent America from ever being great. jim Kelley (@jimKelley13) April 19, 2018 If Im correct, after all the marches and the tireless promotion of @davidhogg111 I can still go and purchase an AR15 and the bump stock to convert itWelcome to our world #BLM #PoliceMuderers Los Che (@cherok1212) April 19, 2018 Funny that Trumps rallies are gun free zones Throw Them Out (@JHunter65284456) April 19, 2018 The Obama administrations 2014 guidance on public school discipline and race was bad law and bad policy, it applied disparate impact theory to schools discipline policies. Since then most studies have shown actually made the schools more dangerous. Broward was touted as model. Matthew Newgarden (@newgar) April 19, 2018 Demanding real answers? Pretty disgusting, to me, for Obama to write this. His policies are what caused this tragedy. https://t.co/SKAb0HxR2r https://t.co/YGOzy7ovbj K J Gillenwater (@kjgillenwater) April 19, 2018 Others seemed fatigued by the Parkland students and the gun control debate in general. You mean these "crisis actors", they are no more a victim than I am an astronaut. Push your liberal agenda off on someone else. The REAL AMERICAN population says PISS OFF!! We will defend our #2A with flags flying and fire burning through our patriotic fucking veins!! #DTOM #3% Tyler (@RepealELD) April 19, 2018 Why do you spend your attention on these 5 individuals? Have they fooled you? This is not, nor ever has been, about them. This is about the victims and the victims families. Shameful, the attention goes to those striving to benefit from deaths of people. Not the real guy (@youngfung5) April 19, 2018 In other words..Parkland students will be perfect mouthpieces for my liberal agenda. Brenda Riggs (@Riggs337928) April 19, 2018 Watch: Jim Carrey latest political painting is Sean Hannity as a manatee: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are reportedly headed to Africa for their honeymoon! The couple is set to marry at Windsor Castle in London, England, on May 19, and Travel + Leisure magazine reports that the two will then head to Namibia for their honeymoon. The choice makes sense given the country is ideal when it comes to privacy -- Namibia being one of the least densely populated countries in the world. The magazine also reports that it's rumored that the pair will be staying at Namibia's newest luxury camp, Natural Selection's Hoanib Valley Camp. According to Natural Selection's website, the company is "a collection of owner-operated safari camps and lodges united by the common aim of providing our guests with unique and exceptional safari experiences and being a part of the conservation solution for Africas wildlife." Check out the romantic digs: And there's plenty to do in Namibia aside from taking safari tours. The magazine lists a few of the incredible activities the two might partake in, including checking out the Sossusvlei sand dunes or visiting Kaokoland, which is home to the one of the last nomadic tribes in Africa. Harry and Meghan have spent time together in Africa before. In the couple's first joint interview with BBC News after announcing their engagement last November, Harry revealed he and Meghan went camping together in Botswana early in their courtship, solidifying their relationship. Story continues "We met once and then twice, back-to-back, two dates in London, last July," Harry said. "I think about three, maybe four weeks later, I managed to persuade her to come join me in Botswana and we camped out with each other under the stars. We spent five days out there, which was absolutely fantastic. Then we were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure we had a chance to get to know each other." Hilariously, even before Harry proposed to Meghan, the 33-year-old royal was offered a honeymoon by the prime minister of Antigua and Barbuda, Gaston Browne, in November 2016. "I am told that there may be a princess and I just want to say that should you make the decision to honeymoon, then Antigua and Barbuda want to welcome you," Browne said during Harry's trip to the Caribbean. "We have been voted consistently as the best honeymoon destination in the Caribbean -- and one of the best in the world. ... Whatever is done here, stays here. So, do not worry." Hear more in the video below, and keep up with all of ET's coverage of the royal wedding as we count down to May 19. RELATED CONTENT: Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Look Spring Chic at Reception for Youth: Pics! Will Meghan Markle Have 2 Wedding Dresses When She Marries Prince Harry? Meghan Markle and Princess Diana: How Prince Harry's Fiancee Measures Up to His Late Mother (Exclusive) Related Articles: Photo credit: Getty Images From Esquire Out in Missouri, Governor Eric Greitens is hanging onto his identity as a rising political star by his fingernails, which is becoming increasingly difficult because, as the NYT reports, prosecutors keep hanging new felony charges around his ankles. On Tuesday, the state attorney general plunged the governor even more deeply into political and legal jeopardy, saying Mr. Greitens may have committed a felony in using a charitys donor list for political fund-raising. Josh Hawley, the Republican attorney general of Missouri, said his office had evidence that Mr. Greitens had illegally obtained a donor list from The Mission Continues, a veterans charity the governor founded. He did all of this without the permission of The Mission Continues, Mr. Hawley said at a news conference in Jefferson City, Mo. If proven, these acts could amount to the unauthorized taking and use of property. But Mr. Hawley stopped short of filing charges against the governor, who is also a Republican, saying that his office does not have jurisdiction to do so. Instead, he referred the matter to Kimberly Gardner, the St. Louis circuit attorney, who could decide to file charges against Mr. Greitens. Fortunately for Josh, hes better at press conferences than the law, the governor said in a statement. Anyone who has set foot in a Missouri courtroom knows these allegations are ridiculous. Well, OK, then. Photo credit: Getty Images It has to be noted here that both Greitens and Hawley are ambitious young Republicans with an implacable Saurons eye for the main chance. It is safe to say that they dont get along. Hawley has announced his intention to run against incumbent Democratic Senator Claire McCaskill, who is considered among the most vulnerable senators her party has. However, there seems to be no question that Hawleys campaign would be infinitely better off if Greitens were not hanging around the Republican tickets neck like a dead raccoon. Hence, it is thought, Hawley is committing GOP-on-GOP crime in order to enhance his own prospects. Story continues In this, Hawley is at the moment on the right side of Republican politics. The push to spare the state and the party the ongoing spectacle that is Eric Greitenss baroque legal problems is very much a general and bipartisan effort, but the Republicans are the ones who have sharpened their blades to the brightest shine. Right on cue, Missouri Republicans jumped on Hawleys latest charges with conspicuous glee. From The Springfield News-Leader: Several hours after Hawley's press conference, House Speaker Todd Richardson, Speaker Pro Tem Elijah Haahr and Majority Floor Leader Rob Vescovo called for Greitens to resign in a joint statement. "At the outset of this process, we said the governor needed to be forthright and accountable for his actions. After thoughtful consideration of the findings in the House committees report and todays news that the Attorney General has evidence to support another felony charge, we believe the governor needs to take responsibility for his actions," the statement said. "Leaders at all levels of government are entrusted with an incredible responsibility to the Missourians we represent. When leaders lose the ability to effectively lead our state, the right thing to do is step aside. In our view, the time has come for the governor to resign." Photo credit: Getty Images The leading Senate Republican, Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, also said it was time for Greitens to go. "We have reached a critical turning point in the allegations made against the governor," said Richard. "The decisions made going forward will have a significant effect on the state of Missouri. After speaking with the attorney general today, I believe the governor has no other respectable option than to resign from office." Greitens, whose problems arose from a messy alleged sexual misconduct scandal that also involves alleged blackmail, insists hes staying in office, and hes largely pulled up the drawbridge and taken to the ramparts of the electric Twitter machine. I will not be resigning the Governor's office. In three weeks, this matter will go to a court of law-where it belongs and where the facts will prove my innocence. Until then, I will do what the people of Missouri sent me here to do: to serve them and work hard on their behalf. So to win a winnable Senate seat, Missouri Republicans may have to resort to outright cannibalism. Claire McCaskill remains the luckiest politician in America. Respond to this article on the Esquire Politics Facebook page. You Might Also Like LONDON (Reuters) - Russian news channel RT said its editorial approach had not changed since a Russian double-agent was poisoned in the English city of Salisbury last month. Britain's media regulator has opened seven investigations into whether RT broke impartiality rules in broadcasts made since the attack on Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia. "Our editorial approach has not changed since the events in Salisbury, and we will be directly addressing this matter with the regulator," Anna Belkina, a spokeswoman for RT, said by email. Ofcom said RT producer TV Novosti's overall compliance record has not been materially out of line with other broadcasters until recently but that since the Salisbury attack a number of programmes warranted investigation. "We are pleased to see that Ofcom has acknowledged RTs compliance record has been in line with other broadcasters putting to bed any of the salacious political statements and challenges made against our channel," Belkina said. (Reporting by Guy Faulconbridge) The two black men who were arrested at a Starbucks in downtown Philadelphia last week and accused of trespassing say they were there for a business meeting that they had hoped would change their lives. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson came forward this morning on ABC News' "Good Morning America" to publicly share their story for the first time. The 23-year-old entrepreneurs and longtime friends said they were waiting to meet a potential business partner at the Starbucks in Philadelphia's Rittenhouse Square neighborhood April 12 when a barista asked them whether they wanted to order anything. They declined and told her they were just there for a quick meeting, they said. Nelson said he immediately asked to use the restroom when they walked in but was informed it was for paying customers only. So the pair sat at a table and waited for the person with whom they were scheduled to meet. Then they saw police officers enter the store and speak with the manager, they said. "I was thinking, 'They can't be here for us,'" Robinson said in the interview with "GMA" co-anchor Robin Roberts. "We have meetings at Starbucks all the time." PHOTO: Two men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, April 12, 2018. (Twitter) They didn't think anything of it until the officers approached their table and told them they needed to leave, they said. "It was just, 'Get out, you have to leave. You're not buying anything, so you shouldn't be here,'" Nelson told "GMA." They said they calmly told the officers they were there for a meeting, and Robinson said he even called the person for whom they were waiting. But the officers repeatedly insisted that they leave, they said. "It's a real estate meeting. Weve been working on this for months," Robinson said. "We're days away from changing our whole entire situation, our lives, and you about to sit here telling me I cant do that? Youre not doing that." The officers ultimately handcuffed Nelson and Robinson, and escorted them out of the Starbucks and into a squad car before taking them to the police station. Both men were later freed and the charges they were facing -- trespassing and disturbance -- were dropped that night. Story continues PHOTO: Two men were arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, April 12, 2018. (Twitter) An onlooker, Melissa DePino, captured the incident on video, which has been viewed more than 10 million times online and prompted protests outside the coffee giant's location on Spruce Street. DePino, a 50-year-old writer and mother of two, told ABC News a Starbucks barista shouted from behind the counter at the two men to make a purchase or leave. "They were sitting quietly minding their own business, and waiting for their friend to come," she said in an interview Sunday. Robinson said police never read them their Miranda rights when they were handcuffed and they were held in custody for eight hours. "There was no reasoning," he said. "They had nothing. They just kept using defiant trespassing as their excuse for putting us behind bars." PHOTO: Protesters demonstrate outside a Center City Starbucks, April 15, 2018 in Philadelphia. (Mark Makela/Getty Images) The Philadelphia Police Department did not immediately respond to ABC News' request for comment this morning. But Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross Jr. said in a video testimonial released Saturday that his officers "did absolutely nothing wrong." "I can tell you candidly these officers did a service they were called to do," Ross said. The police commissioner also accused the men of being disrespectful to the officers and said that both were given several chances to leave, but they refused. "On three different occasions the officers asked the two males politely to leave the location because they were being asked to leave by employees because they were trespassing," he said. "Instead the males continued to refuse as they had told the employees and they told the officers they were not leaving." PHOTO: Rashon Nelson, left, and Donte Robinson are interviewed by The Associated Press in Philadelphia. (Jacqueline Larma/AP) Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson released a statement last Saturday night apologizing to the two men on behalf of the company. "The video shot by customers is very hard to watch and the actions in it are not representative of our Starbucks mission and values," Johnson said in the statement. "Creating an environment that is both safe and welcoming for everyone is paramount for every store. Regretfully, our practices and training led to a bad outcome -- the basis for the call to the Philadelphia police department was wrong. Our store manager never intended for these men to be arrested and this should never have escalated as it did." In an interview Monday morning on "GMA," Johnson said he will order managers to undergo training on how to spot "unconscious bias." "I'll say the circumstances surrounding the incident and the outcome at our store on Thursday were reprehensible," he said. "They were wrong, and for that, I personally apologize to the gentlemen that visited our store." A Starbucks spokeswoman subsequently confirmed to ABC News that the store manager who called police no longer works there. Starbucks manager told 911 of 2 men 'refusing to make a purchase or leave' before their arrests Starbucks to close 8,000 stores to give staff 'racial-bias' training Starbucks manager who made call resulting in black men's arrests no longer works for company Protesters rally at Philadelphia Starbucks where two black men were handcuffed and arrested for 'trespassing' Handcuffing of 2 black men in Starbucks in Philadelphia called 'reprehensible outcome' by CEO PHOTO: Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson appear on 'Good Morning America,' April 19, 2018, to discuss their arrest at a Philadelphia Starbucks. (Lorenzo Bevilaqua/ABC) The next day, Starbucks announced in a statement that it will close more than 8,000 company-owned stores across the nation for the afternoon of May 29 to train its staff on how to avoid "racial bias" in an effort to prevent "discrimination in our stores." Stewart Cohen, the attorney representing Nelson and Robinson, said his clients have met face to face with the Starbucks' CEO, but it's not enough. "Starbucks holds itself open as a place for people to meet and to have public conversations; those are words from their website," Cohen said on "GMA" this morning. "The apologies are fine, but what we need to do is have some action by Starbucks with respect to this situation. "There has to be real and meaningful discussions," he added. ABC News' Alexandra Faul, Joshua Hoyos, Bill Hutchinson, Amanda Maile, M.L. Nestel, Matthew Stone and Jason Volack contributed to this report. The latest fraternity to be suspended by Syracuse University issued a formal apology late Thursday in which it acknowledged the production of a racist video that was intended as a spoof. "It's with profound embarrassment and disappointment in ourselves that we find our fraternity in this situation," the statement from Theta Tau read, in part. "Anyone of color or of any marginalized group who has seen this video has every right to be angry and upset with the despicable contents of that video." Each year, according to the statement, the fraternity asks new members to roast older members, and "one of these brothers is a conservative Republican, and the new members roasted him by playing the part of a racist conservative character. It was a satirical sketch of an uneducated, racist, homophobic, misogynist, sexist, ableist and intolerant person. The young man playing the part of this character nor the young man being roasted do not hold any of the horrible views espoused as a part of that sketch. ... None of the satire was said or done in malice." The frat also said: "We cannot apologize enough for the pain, sadness and fear that this has caused. Our heart breaks when we see the protests and Hendricks Chapel congregations when we see the pain that our brothers have caused." Theta Tau became the fourth fraternity to be suspended by the university this academic year, according the school's independent newspaper, The Daily Orange. Syracuse suspended Sigma Alpha Mu last week following a months-long investigation into hazing. The video -- made public by The Daily Orange on Wednesday -- showed members of the engineering fraternity using racist, ethnic, sexist slurs, and other offensive language, while pretending to perform sexual acts on each other. Syracuse University Chancellor Kent Syverud called the students' conduct in the footage "extremely troubling and disturbing" in a statement released Wednesday. Story continues Students protest Theta Tau videos outside Chancellor Kent Syveruds house: https://t.co/KOHOwcYZxn pic.twitter.com/HqXB3PQmLB The Daily Orange (@dailyorange) April 19, 2018 "Videos showing this offensive behavior have surfaced online. They include words and behaviors that are extremely racist, anti-semitic, homophobic, sexist, and hostile to people with disabilities," Syverud said. "The conduct is deeply harmful and contrary to the values and community standards we expect of our students. There is absolutely no place at Syracuse University for behavior or language that degrades any individual or group's race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability or religious beliefs." SU students gathered outside the chancellor's house to protest the university withholding a video that led to Theta Tau's suspension pic.twitter.com/ePDfEvVOAy The Daily Orange (@dailyorange) April 19, 2018 Syracuse University's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities suspended the fraternity after confirming Theta Taus involvement, according to the statement. The universitys Department of Public Safety was investigating the incident and looking to "identify individuals involved and to take additional legal and disciplinary action," Syverud said. The university hasn't released the footage, citing the ongoing investigation, but part of the video still was available on The Daily Orange's website as of early Friday. It was originally posted to a secret Facebook group called "Tau of Theta Tau," according to The Daily Orange. Many students held on-campus protests on Wednesday, marching near the chancellor's home with signs and chanting for the video to be released. The demonstrators, including some who marched for more than three hours, pointed to the footage as an example of systemic racism and sexism at Syracuse University, according to local news reports. The word on the street is that Saint Laurents Anthony Vaccarello is going to show in New York on June 6, a week where international names are already gathering in the city thanks to the CFDA Awards, which will be held on June 4. It would certainly realize something Vaccarello has talked about in the past. In fact, after the blockbuster presentation of the houses Spring 2018 collection in the shadow of the Eiffel Tower last September, he mentioned maybe doing a show in New York at some point. After all, its hardly surprising: How do you top one of the most iconic locations in the world, let alone Paris? The lure of New York is undeniable, and theres history here. The YSL fragrance Opium was launched with a huge party in New York City in 1977; it was one of those mythical extravaganzas which linked the Euro-chic of Paris with the disco fabulosity of Manhattan, and all held aboard a boat borrowed from the South Street Seaport Museum. Alicia Drake discusses it at great length in her book The Beautiful Fall. When you read about that time for the house of Saint Laurent, orchestrating an event both intimate and larger-than-life, you can see the parallels between the YSL of those days and how Vaccarello sees his house today. Any YSL show now would once again fuse hyper-glamour and hyper-realism into one beautiful, pulsating NYC moment. Photo: Mikael Jansson/Vogue While Vaccarello was in New York last December being interviewed for a story that ran in the March 2018 issue of Vogue, he allowed himself a moment to dream about what kind of Saint Laurent show hed want to do in town, should he ever have the opportunity. I like change and surprise, he said at the time, even to surprise myself and not to be in that whole routine of always doing the same thing. The one specific thing he had in mind all those months ago was this: I would want there to be the feeling that youre really in New York, he said, that you truly get the vibe of the city. Kris Kobach is perhaps best known as the head of the failed "voter fraud commission." That would be the body set up by Donald Trump to find evidence for his delusional claims that millions of fraudulent votes went to Hillary Clinton. Of course, in the commission's brief existence it failed to find any proof, because voter fraud isn't so much "real" as it is a "lie that Republicans use to keep poor, minority, or probably-left-leaning voters from voting." But Kobach is no doubt fully aware of that. He's currently the secretary of state for Kansas, where he helped push one of the strictest voting ID laws in the country. It's expected to have disenfranchised 18,000 people in that state who tried to register after the "Documentary Proof of Citizenship" law went into effect. The ACLU challenged the law and in early 2016 a judge ruled that Kobach couldn't enforce it until after the trial (which is still pending). But that's not how Kobach saw things, per the New York Times: A law went into effect in Kansas in 2013 that required proof of citizenship to register to vote, one of the strictest such laws in the country. But in May 2016, Mr. Kobach lost a challenge to the law brought by the A.C.L.U., and [U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson] ordered him to notify people who had tried to register while renewing or applying for a drivers license that they were indeed eligible to vote. Judge Robinson wrote in the ruling on Wednesday that those voters should have received postcards with information telling them of their polling place and their registration status, but Mr. Kobach did not ensure that the postcards were sent. The Court is troubled by Defendants failure to take responsibility for violating this Courts orders, and for failing to ensure compliance over an issue that he explicitly represented to the Court had been accomplished, the judge wrote. Story continues But Kobach, who's currently running for the Republican nomination for Kansas governor, couldn't be bothered to tell nearly 20,000 people in Kansas that they were actually allowed to vote in the 2016 presidential election, despite assuring a federal judge that he would. According to the Times, he didn't even take measures to fully update the Kansas secretary of state website. Now, he's in contempt of court and is obligated to reimburse the ACLU's legal fees. With such relentless and deceitful opponents fighting against the right to vote, it's more important now that states work to expand voting rights rather than just fight to maintain what meager protections already exist. Last year, Oregon was the first state in the country to institute automatic voter registration through its DMVs, seeing a swell in voter turn out as a result. This week, New Jersey became the twelfth state since Oregon to pass similar laws. And yet, it shouldn't surprise anyone that Kobach refused to follow the court's orders. He's shown that his primary motive in public life is to make sure that as few Americans as possible can vote, even if he has to repeatedly mislead courts to do it. And there's plenty of evidence that this strategy works: just last week, a Republican official in Wisconsin bragged in a radio interview that repressive voter ID laws successfully handed the state to Trump. New Details About The Mom Who Was Killed After Almost Being Sucked Out Of An Airplane Window A New Mexico woman died after being partially sucked out of a plane window early Tuesday morning while in flight from New York to Dallas. An engine explosion on Southwest Flight 1380 caused a passengers window to break just before noon, which nearly pulled Jennifer Riordan, 43, out of the plane 32,000 feet above Philadelphia, NBC reports. "The plane dropped immediately," said Matt Tranchin, who was sitting three rows behind Riordan. "Plane smelled like smoke. Ash was all around us." Officials reported that the aircrafts engine was missing one of its fan blades and there was evidence of metal fatigue. Those aboard the flight scrambled to put their oxygen masks on as the planes cabin depressurized. The airliner had only been in the air for about 20 minutes when it began dropping thousands of feet per minute, passengers said. Frightening video shows passengers wearing oxygen masks as Southwest jet prepares to make emergency landing in Philadelphia. https://t.co/hpUZKZMpzL pic.twitter.com/q43jNwd4DH ABC News (@ABC) April 17, 2018 According to passengers, Riordans body was sucked out of the Boeing 737s small window up to her waist and her blood painted the windows around her. "You hear the pop and she was sucked out from the waist up," one passenger told NBC's Nightly News. "There was blood on the windows...her arms were actually out of the airplane and her head was out of the airplane." RELATED: Sad New Details About The Instagram Models Killed In A Plane Crash And How Police Are Not Releasing The Name Of The Pilot Other passengers on the flight managed to pull Riordan back into the plane and performed CPR for about 20 minutes to no avail. "It just wasn't going to be enough," said Peggy Phillips, a nurse who helped perform CPR on Riordan. Story continues Riordan was pronounced dead at the hospital after the plane landed in Philadelphia. Riordan was an Albuquerque bank executive and left behind two children. Of the 144 passengers and five crew members aboard the Boeing 737, seven sustained minor injuries as a result of the engine malfunction. RELATED: Horrifying New Details About The Woman Who Was Raped In An Airplane Bathroom And Why The Man Responsible Still Hasn't Been Arrested One passenger praised the crew for handling the terrifying ordeal with nerves of steel. "The crew and the pilotthat lady has the nerves of steelat this point you dont know where youre going you dont know where youre going to end up, you just have to keep everybody calm," Alfred Tumlinson told NBC. The pilot was identified as Tammie Jo Shults. Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly issued a statement Tuesday evening regarding the tragic incident. I am immensely grateful there are no other reports of injuries but truly this is a tragic loss, he said. This is a sad day and our hearts go out to the family and loved ones of the deceased customer please join us in offering our thoughts and prayers and support to all those affected by today's tragedy. Southwest Airlines will begin enhanced inspections procedures of all their airplanes, according to Kelly. This is the first onboard death in Southwest Airlines 51 years of operation. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt told CBS that Riordans death was the first U.S. airline fatality since 2009. RELATED: Watch Full Video Of Southwest Airlines Emergency Landing, Plus Southwest Pilot Audiotape Keywords: crime, death read more A convicted drug importer known for her lavish Instagram photos has been sentenced to prison in Australia for helping smuggle $21 million worth of cocaine into the country. Melina Roberge will serve a maximum of eight years in prison, according to the Washington Post. The sentence carries a mandatory minimum of four years and nine months, meaning that her earliest release date could be May 2021. The 24-year-old Roberge, a Canada native who became known in Australian media as Cocaine Babe, wept as she learned her fate. Roberge was known as an Instagram influencer, posting stylish photos of herself and her friends in luxurious surroundings. The Sydney Morning Herald reported that she was lured into drug smuggling by an older man she called her sugar daddy. It all came to an end in July 2016, when she accepted a free trip on the Sea Princess, a luxury cruise liner that made stops in several countries in the southern hemisphere, including Colombia, Peru, New Zealand and Australia, reports CBS. When the ship docked, authorities raided the boat and arrested three Canadians, including Roberge, for importing 209 pounds of cocaine. According to the New York Post, she stood to earn $100,000 from the plot. Want to keep up with the latest crime coverage? Click here to get breaking crime news, ongoing trial coverage and details of intriguing unsolved cases in the True Crime Newsletter. Roberge and her two friends Isabelle Lagace, 29, and Andrew Tamine, 63 were jailed and charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison. All three have pleaded guilty. Lagace has been sentenced to at least 4 years for transporting the substance, with a maximum term of 7 years. Tamine is still awaiting sentencing. In court on Wednesday, Judge Kate Traill of the New South Wales District Court acknowledged that Roberge seemed to be genuinely remorseful and had a good chance of rehabilitation. Story continues Then the judge criticized Roberge, saying she was motivated to go on the cruise by the idea of posting Instagram photos in exotic locations, the Morning Herald reported. This is a sad indictment on her relative age group in our society, the judge said. It is sad they seek to attain such a vacuous existence, where how many likes they receive is their currency. She added, This highlights the negative influence of social media on young women. Samantha Sally and her late husband, Moussa Elhassani. (Photo: via Facebook) A mother of four from Indiana is sharing how she became involved with ISIS and why she and her children are now being held in a Syrian-Kurdish jail. Samantha Sally spoke to CNN about how her romantic second marriage to Moroccan-born husband Moussa Elhassani resulted in an unexpected move to Syria in 2014. Once there, Elhassani became violent and joined ISIS as a sniper. Before he would spoil me, the 32-year-old American said. We were very much in love. The romance never left. As soon as we came here, it changed. I was a dog. I didnt have any choice. He was extremely violent. And there was nothing I could do about it. Nothing. The couple moved to Syria along with their daughter and Sallys son from her first marriage. Sally, who first met Elhassani while they both worked at a delivery company in Elkhart, Ind., says that they originally planned to temporarily move to Elhassanis native Morocco. First, however, they traveled to Hong Kong to transfer their money, followed by a vacation in Turkey. It was their arrival in Turkey, near the border with Syria, where Elhassani revealed his intention to join ISIS. Although Sally opposed the plan, she feared that leaving Elhassani would separate her from her daughter. To stay there with my son or watch my daughter leave with my husband I had to make a decision, she told CNN. Maybe I would never have seen my daughter again ever, and how can I live the rest of my life like that? The family ended up settling in Raqqa, Syria, where Sally gave birth to two more children. In addition to Elhassanis violent behavior, she was subjected to abuse from ISIS leaders, including a three-month stretch in jail while she was pregnant. Sally says that she was tortured, sexually abused, and put in solitary confinement while being accused of espionage on behalf of the U.S. Their home life eventually included the purchase of three Yazidi slaves two teenage females and one young boy captured by ISIS. Both girls were raped by Elhassani, though Sally defends having them stay in her home. Story continues No one will ever know what it is like to watch their husband rape a 14-year-old girl, she said. Ever. And then she comes to you me after crying and I hold her and tell her its going to be OK. Everything is going to be fine, just be patient. I would never apologize for bringing those girls to my house, she added. They had me and I had them. And we knew that if we were just patient, we would stick together. You understand? In any other situation, they would be locked in a bedroom and fed tea every day. And the situation I was in with them, we cooked together, we cleaned together. Drank coffee together. Slept in the same room together. I was like their mother. Her eldest son, Matthew, was also taken advantage of and was made to appear in videos on behalf of the terrorist group. Sallys objection to his participation resulted in a beating and two broken ribs. Things changed when Elhassani was killed in a drone strike in 2017. Sally and her family eventually left Raqqa and were detained soon after. They remain in custody and wait for U.S. officials determine whether her affiliation with ISIS merits jail time. Sally, meanwhile, is hopeful that she and her four children are able to return to the U.S. I will do anything to get my kids back where they belong, she said. If I have to spend 15 years in prison, its better than anything here. Me and my kids, we talk about wanting to eat McDonalds, she continued. We want to live a normal life again. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Cartoonist pays emotional tribute to Barbara Bush and her daughter who died at age 3 How Ronda Rousey stays in fighting shape McKayla Maroney says Larry Nassar manipulated her with food Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will walk down the aisle May 19 at the most anticipated wedding of the year. And sure, the royal wedding will be cool and all, but once they walk out the doors of St Georges chapel and get the reception over with, the newlyweds' fun will really begin as the two travel lovers jet off on their honeymoon. But where will they go? A source has confirmed to Travel + Leisure that Harry and Meghan have indeed chosen Namibia as the country where they will spend their first vacation together as husband and wife. After taking a closer look at Namibia, its easy to see why the couple decided to go there for the ultra-romantic honeymoon of their dreams. In fact, if youre planning your own honeymoon, or simply want to go somewhere unforgettable with your partner, you should seriously consider Namibia, as this southwestern African nation is filled with once-in-a-lifetime experiences to offer. Why Namibia Is so Unique Yes, Namibia has plenty of safari tours to choose from, but that's not the only reason to go. In Namibia, visitors must check out the Sossusvlei sand dunes, which they can access by car and then climb around by foot. While exploring the area, they may be able to spot animals you probably wouldn't expect to see in the desert, such as zebras, antelopes, ostriches, and even lions. The wet season is ideal for this, as the animals gather around the temporary watering holes to drink. In Namibia, visitors like Meghan and Harry can also go visit Kaokoland in the northwest, which is home to the Himba tribe, one of the last nomadic tribes in Africa. And you can also plan a flying safari over the Skeleton Coast to get a bird's-eye view of the dramatic Namibian landscape. Why Namibia Is Ideal for Harry and Meghan Namibia's points of interest and luxury camps are extremely remote. Its also one of the least densely populated countries in the world. In fact, its so remote that you have to charter a bush plane to get to many of its safari destinations, truly making it one of the few places in the world where privacy is essentially guaranteed. For that very reason other famous and highly private people like Brad Pitt and Angelina Jolie choose to frequent the nation. In fact, Brad and Angelina even chose to have one of their children in Namibia due to its intense privacy factor. Story continues As for Harry, Namibia is still part of the Commonwealth, so it makes sense as a British royal that hed choose to go there for such an important moment in his life. Where Harry and Meghan Might Stay Its rumored that the pair will be staying at the countrys newest luxury camp, Natural Selection's Hoanib Valley Camp. We think frills are great, but they are no match for thrills, especially when it comes to African safaris. Dont get us wrong, we love a great bottle of wine and soft sheets as much as anyone. But for us, the greatest luxury of all, by far, is experience, the tour company explained on its website. Thats why were creating a portfolio of welcoming camps and one-of-a-kind experiences that are full of unique soul and colorful character, with extraordinary staff, located in the very heart of where the wild things are. Related: See More Top Properties in Namibia Hoanib also has a camp along the Skeleton Coast, so if Meghan and Harry choose to move around the country while they are there, they can do so. Of course, Hoanib isnt the only game in town. If youre looking to book an equally royal safari vacation, read up on all the top safari companies in the world. Who knows, you may end up sharing a Jeep with royalty. Photo credit: Getty Images From Town & Country Prince Charles will succeed his mother, Queen Elizabeth, as the head of the Commonwealth. The decision was made by Commonwealth leaders on at Windsor Castle on Friday. The news comes just one day after Queen Elizabeth publicly backed her son Prince Charles as her successor. While Prince Charles is the hereditary heir of 16 countries in the Commonwealth, he was not guaranteed to be chosen as the symbolic leader of the entire organization, a group which is made up of 53 countries, primarily former British colonies. "It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949," the Queen said on Thursday. Thursday evening, President of Ghana suggested that the Queen would be winding down her duties as leader of the Commonwealth, making her backing of Prince Charles as her successor all the more significant. "Were led to to understand that shell be winding down her duties as Head of the Commonwealth. This toast thus takes on an added significance, for it falls upon me to express the depth of our collective regret that she will no longer automatically be present at proceedings," he said at the banquet at Buckingham Palace, according to royal correspondent Rebecca English. I have to say, this Commonwealth dinner tonight really felt like the end of an era and brought a lump to several peoples throats (mine included).... - Rebecca English (@RE_DailyMail) April 19, 2018 Commonwealth leaders discussed the issue of the Queen's succession on Friday in a private meeting, which reportedly covered a number of topics. According to the BBC, "the Queen presides over the meeting but does not take part in the leaders' discussions." Story continues On the retreat, the 53 leaders get to go away together with no agenda and just talk about all the things that they desire to talk about. That enables them to deal with some quite tricky, sensitive issues, but collectively, collegiately and as part of the family, Patricia Scotland, the organization's secretary general Patricia Scotland told the Guardian. You Might Also Like Stormy Daniels graces the cover of Penthouse magazine, hitting newsstands May 8. For the issue, which calls the prn star the Penthouse Pet of the Century, she poses without a shirt on, only covering herself up with a strategically-placed American flag which is especially fitting, considering the covers subline: Getting Intimate with the Most Wanted Woman in America. This title is bestowed on Daniels in part thanks to the fact that shes come forward with her alleged affair with President Donald Trump, who reportedly had her sign a Non-Disclosure Agreement, and then her subsequent defamation lawsuit against Trumps lawyer Michael Cohen. (Photo: Penthouse) As Daniels revealed to the magazine, if shes successful in her case against Cohen, she plans to donate the $130,000 worth of litigation proceeds to Planned Parenthood in Cohen and the presidents names. I dont have shame. You cant bully me, she said. This isnt the first time Daniels has fronted Penthouse. We are really excited to have Stormy back on the cover of the magazine, Kelly Holland, CEO and owner of Penthouse, told The Daily Beast. She was a Penthouse Pet back in 2007, so we have a history with Stormy, and she has a good relationship with us. Mish Barber-Way, executive editor of Penthouse, added, In the feature article she talked to us about her incident with the president. It also really gets to the heart of who Stormy is, and we reveal another side of her. In addition to a full-length, in-depth interview in which she reveals even more details than she did in her 60 Minutes interview, as well as another side of her the issue will include a new photo shoot. Danielss Penthouse cover comes after Hustlers 2017 anniversary issue that similarly draped an unclothed model in an American flag. Hustlers version featured a brown-eyed model with an American flag fashioned as a hijab. Needless to say, this cover caused a lot of drama; people called it problematic and insulting, and accused Hustler of glamorizing and sexualizing this garment worn by Muslim women. Story continues Happy 4th of July!Hope everyone has a safe & fun holiday! Click link in bio 2 see the BTS of this shoot (ps not a real flag) Subscribe!N pic.twitter.com/w1yhvpnYOt Nikki & Brie (@BellaTwins) July 4, 2017 Celebrities have been known to get saucy with the symbol. Beyonce once posed for Beat magazine in a swimsuit, using the flag as a cover-up. Nikki Bella wore nothing but an American flag as a tube dress to wish her fans a Happy Fourth of July last year (although she claimed it wasnt a real flag). Pamela Anderson and Julianne Hough have done the same. #tbt Happy 4th of July!!! A post shared by Julianne Hough (@juleshough) on Jul 4, 2013 at 1:16pm PDT A ude Sarah Jessica Parker was swathed in the flag for her cover of Harpers Bazaar in 2001. Miss Piggy once posed similarly. Madonna attempted to get people to Rock the Vote in 1990 in a PSA wearing a red bra and underwear and a flag over her shoulders. Kesha, Nicki Minaj, Britney Spears, Tina Fey, and even Stephen Colbert have all also used the flag as a garment previously. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The death of a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight has sparked flying fears on social media. (Photo: Getty Images) The death of one person on a Southwest Airlines flight has triggered many on social media who struggle with a fear of flying. On Tuesday, flight 1380 traveling from New York City, N.Y. to Dallas, Texas carrying 144 passengers and five crew members, experienced engine failure, causing the plane to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Passenger Matt Tranchin told Philadelphia news station WPVI there was a huge explosion and glass shattering three rows ahead of me adding, Flight attendants rushed up. There was momentary chaos. Everyone kind of descended on where this hole was. As passengers, we werent sure if they were trying to cover up the hole, but the plane smelled like smoke. There was ash coming through the ventilation system. We started dropping. Some of the crew couldnt hold back their horror. And some were crying as they looked out through the open window onto the engine. Flight 1380 From NYC to Dallas crash landed in Philly. Engine exploded in the air and blew open window 3 seats away from Posted by Marty Martinez on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 Cassie Adams, another passenger, also told ABC News that a window exploded and the woman was sucked out, and Two brave men immediately responded and helped grab her and try to pull her back in. This is a sad day and our hearts go out to the family and the loved ones of the deceased customer, Gary Kelly, CEO of Southwest Airlines said, according to CNN. We dont know the cause of this incident. Kelly added that the plane was last inspected on April 15th and National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters that the accident is classified as engine failure. Posted by Marty Martinez on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 One passenger named Marty Martinez began recording the experience on Facebook Live. Something is wrong with our plane! he wrote while wearing an oxygen mask. It appears we are going down! Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!! Story continues Martinez later added, Engine exploded (we think) and shattered one of the windows killing a passenger. Flight attendants ran over calling for passengers to help cover the hole as they broke down and began uncontrollably crying and looking horrified as they looked outside. Plane dropped dramatically and it smelled like fire with ash coming down on everyone thru the vents. Absolutely terrifying, but we are okay. As photos and witness accounts spread online, so did peoples fear of flying. My fear of flying just went up she was WHAT?!! https://t.co/XKMmepqlE3 SUNNI (@SunniAndTheCity) April 17, 2018 This picture and this description is exactly how I feel every single flight I take is going to play out. I can never fly again. #fearofflying pic.twitter.com/CGGe0X5GV8 Susan Cockrell (@SusanWCockrell) April 17, 2018 Today's news is really not helping my fear of flying. Rebecca (@RebeccaLapinsky) April 17, 2018 I have the fear of flying back in me now especially because of how many times I've flown Southwest out of LGA wawa is better than sheetz (@CoggieB) April 17, 2018 The event is entirely unimaginable, however, its the first deadly accident on a U.S. passenger airline flight since 2009, when Colgan Air 3407 crashed near Buffalo, N.Y. killing 49 including one civilian, reports CNN. And its the first fatality on a major U.S. airline since 2001 when American Airlines flight 587 traveling from New York to the Dominican Republic crashed shortly after takeoff, killing 260 people, per the New York Daily News. We know that about 33 percent of people have a fear of flying and of those people, half struggle to fly and half dont fly at all, Captain Tom Bunn, L.C.S.W., a retired airline pilot of 30 years, and the author of Soar: The Breakthrough Treatment For Fear Of Flying, tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Theres no ubiquitous cause of flying anxiety, but Bunn says coping mechanisms are linked to birth. When a baby cries, its amygdala, the part of the brain that handles stress, is activated, and is only soothed by its caretakers face, voice, and touch, he says. Over time, babies learn to calm down by anticipating their parents response, which is similar to the relief many experiences while the plane descends to the ground. The so-called danger is still present because the plane is in motion, but the anticipation of landing feels soothing. Triggering anxiety is often a lack of control or an inability to escape danger, two factors one must accept when boarding a plane. Curiously, many people develop a fear of flying around age 27 when brain development has fully matured and the youthful assumption that one is invincible fizzles. Bunn can only speculate what occurred on Southwest Flight 1380 but one possibility is that the engine cowling (the cover) loosened. During engine repair, the cowling is loosened and when the work is complete, its closed, he says. But if a person didnt lock it properly or the cowling lock is worn, it can fly off. Its happened hundreds of times, but until now, hasnt caused fatalities. Bunn surmises that if the cowling flew off and hit the planes plexiglass window, the incoming wind would suck the air and anyone in its path through the window. Debunking common flying myths can help ease worry. For example, turbulence wont cause a crash and represents only a tiny fraction of what planes can handle, he says. Also, shaky wings during flying are completely normal. Per CBS MoneyWatch, A planes wings can survive turbulence 50 percent stronger than the worst thats ever been encountered before breaking. In order to absorb all that force, the wings are built like giant springs. If they were rigid and unyielding, it would take a lot less wind power for them to snap off not something you want happening at 30,000 feet. Adds Bunn, If you stood on a step ladder, you could bend the planes wings with your hands. Requesting to meet the pilot before takeoff or disclosing your fears to the flight crew may also build a support system before anxiety mounts, and sitting near the wings can reduce the impact of turbulence. In most cases, when passengers feel nervous, says Bunn, the pilot is cheerfully flying the plane. The job can be pretty uneventful. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Investigators examine the damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane in Philadelphia - REUTERS Airlines are inspecting Boeing 737 planes after an engine on a passenger flight ripped apart mid-air and killed a woman who came close to being sucked through a broken window. Jennifer Riordan, 43, was on a Southwest Airline flight from New York to Dallas when a part of the engine shattered into the window and nearly pulled her out. Mrs Riordan, a banking executive, was hauled back into the aircraft by other passengers who attempted to resuscitate her but she later died of her injuries. Jennifer Riordan was partially pulled out of the jet's window Robert Sumwalt, the chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) said an initial inspection of the failed engine found evidence of metal fatigue where a fan blade had broken off. Mr Sumwalt said investigators were "very concerned" about the issue of detecting slow-developing metal fatigue. "There needs to be proper inspection mechanisms in place to check for this before there's a catastrophic event." Jet engine scrutinised All recent Boeing 737s are powered by engines from CFM, one of the world's largest engine suppliers for commercial planes. In 2016, another Southwest flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a fan blade separated from the same type of engine, and debris ripped a foot-long hole above the left wing. Metal fatigue was cited in that incident too. CFM said on Wednesday that there are more than 8,000 of its CFM56-7B engine - the model involved in Tuesday's incident - in operation on Boeing 737 passenger jets. Southwest, which operates one of the world's largest 737 fleets and has a strong safety record, said it was speeding up inspections of all related engines, which it expected to complete within 30 days. This month European regulators ordered engine checks following a lengthy analysis of the 2016 Southwest incident but investigators said it is too early to say whether the two problems are linked. Story continues The incident on Tuesday, the first fatal US airline accident in almost a decade, left seven others injured on the 144-passenger plane. How the Southwest Airlines tragedy happened James Healy-Pratt, a pilot and aviation lawyer, said: "Uncontained engine failures are rare but can be devastating. It is where a turbine blade breaks off at high speed within the engine and projects shrapnel through the protective Kevlar engine cowling, designed to stop that. "The crew did well to get the aircraft down. The question remains how and why the protective Kevlar cowling did not do its job." Bob Mann, an aviation consultant, said the question was whether current inspection requirements had been met. "If it is determined to be CFM56-7B fan blade root fatigue failure, as was the earlier 2016 SWA incident...an Airworthiness Directive could be expected from aviation oversight agencies," he said. He added: "As to the window puncture, despite all simulations, we don't really have a very good idea of where high energy rotating turbine parts will go if they do depart the containment rings and casings, so more attention may be paid to how engine containment is tested and certified as flight-worthy." Southwest is not inspecting all of its CFM56 engines, instead focusing on older models, according to a source. It is likely its inspections "are in the 400 to 600 engine range in order to wrap this up in 30 days," the source said. Hero pilot Meanwhile the "hero" pilot of the Southwest plane has been praised for her "nerves of steel" in carrying out an emergency landing in Philadelphia during the freak accident. Tammie Jo Shults, a former fighter pilot with the US Navy, told emergency services: We have part of the aircraft missing, so were going to need to slow down a bit. Pilot Tammie Jo Shults was praised for her handling of the mid-air drama Weve got injured passengers, Ms Shults added, pausing for a moment, they said theres a hole, and uh, someone went out. Others on board the Dallas-bound flight braced for impact as oxygen masks muffled their screams. After touching down, the pilot walked through the aisle to meet her passengers. "She has nerves of steel that lady, I applaud her," said passenger Alfred Tumlinson. Mr Tumlinson said a man in a cowboy hat rushed forward a few rows to grab Mrs Riordan and pull her back in. "She was out of the plane. He couldn't do it by himself, so another gentleman came over and helped to get her back in the plane, and they got her," he said. You might not know Alicia Garza by name, but youve certainly heard of the movement she co-founded. Black Lives Matter was started by Garza, Opal Tometi, and Patrisse Cullors in 2013, after George Zimmerman was acquitted in the shooting death of Trayvon Martin. Re-humanize and change our understanding of whos human and who deserves access to humanity, Garza tells Yahoo Lifestyle of the Black Lives Matter mission. Its also her rallying cry for Americas future. With her dedication to progress, it makes perfect sense that Jared Leto chose to highlight Garza and her work in an episode of his show, Beyond the Horizon. The series, which has its Season 2 premiere this week on Yahoo, Tumblr, HuffPo, AOL, go90, and Yahoo View, is a compilation of short documentaries about individuals that probe the questions of where this country, and humanity in general, are headed. America, and the promise of America, is yet to be realized, Garza says confidently and directly to the camera in her Beyond the Horizon episode. I am not ready to give up this country without a fight. The origin stories of Black Lives Matter are distinctly modern and entirely organic. After the jury made the [Zimmerman] announcement, I wrote a love letter on Facebook to black people, Garza says on Beyond the Horizon. And after I cried myself to sleep that night, I woke up and I saw that it had gone viral. Her Facebook love letter read: Black people. I love you. I love us. Our lives matter. Garza said forming the Black Lives Matter movement came out of the realization that people were looking to channel their anger and energy into something productive that could change, as she puts it, our conditions, and change the way things are. The hunger for action was made evident to her by the simple virality of her words. Photo: Getty Images Were in a moment where were at a real crossroads, Garza tells Yahoo Lifestyle. I still am incredibly hopeful for whats possible, but I also know whats required. That, according to Garza, is listening, collaboration, patience, and the re-humanization of all. There is hope for humanity, but in order for us to get there, we really have to interrogate, not just what it takes to change laws, but what it takes to change culture that supports laws that uplift humanity, and also supports laws that serve to denigrate it, Garza says. Story continues The activists sit-down interview in Beyond the Horizon is spliced with news footage images of protests, devastating floods, Donald Trump. The right wing agenda in this country is not just something I politically disagree with, she says. It is something that threatens to end humanity as we know it: People who dont believe the earth is warming and that that has impacts and implications on whether or not people live; people who dont believe that women should be allowed to decide if and when we want to have families; folks who dont believe that people who make this country run every single day deserve to live in dignity and deserve to have protections in the workplace. To Garza, the divisions in America have only gotten sharper on President Trumps watch, with his administration serving as the personification of Americas ideological struggle with progress. This country was created from stolen land and stolen labor, Garza explains. And from a moral perspective, but also from a practical one, everybody knows that when you steal, youre always looking over your shoulder because you know that somebody may steal it back. I think Donald Trump really reflects that sentiment of always looking over your shoulder to see what is the impending threat to the power that you built, because you havent built it on a ground that is stable. And I think what is happening now in the United States is that demographics are changing, politics are changing, and there is a segment of people in this country who want to go backwards, she says. And what were seeing right now in the personification of Donald Trump is really that struggle over forward motion or backward motion. So how do we calm this struggle, and where do we go from here? If I dont watch the news in a day, I think the potential for humanity is incredible, Garza tells Yahoo Lifestyle. But anytime I look at the news Im like, were in really big trouble. My greatest fear for this country is that we wont learn the lessons we need to before its too late, Garza adds. And my greatest hope for this country is that this is the moment where we pivot and we say, Not anymore and never again. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. For the first time since revolutionaries swept to power, the surname of Cubas leader will be differentbut there is much speculation over whether such a change will be anything more than cosmetic. Raul Castro, 86, who succeeded his brother Fidel in 2008, will stand down as president on Wednesday and the countrys National Assembly is expected to choose his handpicked successor Miguel Diaz-Canel. But Juan Carlos Hidalgo, a Latin America policy analyst at the Washington, D.C.-based CATO Institute, said Diaz-Canel is just warming the seat for Castros son, Alejandro, a colonel in the interior ministry, who is expected to take over in 2021. Trending: Why Certain Sounds Drive You Crazy | Opinion RTSH160 Irene Perez/Courtesy of Cubadebate/Handout via Reuters. The new Cuban leader has been adamant that the political system is not going to change. Even though [Diaz-Canel] will be the new president, he is not going to have much power," Hidalgo told Newsweek. Raul Castro is grooming his son Alejandro to be the one to take the reins of the leadership. So Cuba will remain a firm Stalinist dictatorship in the foreseeable future. Raul Castro has ushered in market reforms when he took over from his brother in 2008, including giving Cubans the right to buy and sell properties, own computers and cellphones. But more than two-thirds of Cubans are state employees earning only around $30 a month. Furthermore, the government has only implemented a fraction of its intended market reforms with its economy still one-third smaller than it was in 1985 when it received subsidies from the Soviet Union, Reuters reported. A significant moment in Raul Castro's tenure was when he presided over a warming of ties with Washington, and in 2016 a historic meeting with former President Barack Obama paved the way for the reopening of embassies and an easing of restrictions on tourism and business links. Story continues Don't miss: U.S. Crypto Crackdown Begins? Bitcoin Exchanges Face Major New York Probe RTX5RA7W REUTERS/Alexandre Meneghini However, President Donald Trump has rowed back on some of these and the U.S. State Department issued a travel warning after American embassy staff in Havana complained of dizziness and headaches after what was described as "sonic attacks." Despite all this, the changes which benefited U.S. tourists and businesses, are expected to continue. William LeoGrande, a professor of government at the American University School of Public Affairs in Washington, D.C., said he doubted that Trumps return to a policy of hostility would do lasting damage. There is a broad consensus in the United States and Latin America that normalization with Cuba was a good thing. The only thing not part of that consensus, are conservative Cuban Americans in the South of Florida and even they are a minority in their own community," LeoGrande told Newsweek. The president of the United States thinks he owes them a political debt for delivering Florida to them [in the 2016 election] but he has essentially outsourced his Latin America policy to Senator Marco Rubio. The U.S. State Department prohibits doing business with a number of Cuban enterprises that have links to the islands armed forces, but American firms can still work with companies that are part of that list. Most popular: Starbucks Racial Bias Training: What Will Coffee Chain Teach Its Baristas? For tourists, these Obama-era regulations only mean that certain hotels and restaurants are off limits. This month, the Department of Transportation awarded five airlines the right to fly to Havana from cities such as Fort Lauderdale and Miami. RTS1N4B7 (1) REUTERS/Alejandro Ernesto/Pool American visitors still have to meet 12 categories of approved travel. LeoGrande said the main change to regulations under Trump affecting travelers was the ending of educational travel that allowed individual journeys. Under Obama, you could go on your own and design your own educational trip, but they eliminated that, now you have to go with an organized trip, he said. However, Hidalgo said the Trump administration is highly unpredictable and so relations between Washington and Havana could change quickly. It could be that given the reaffirmation of the Communist governments core principles, that the Trump administration uses this as an excuse to impose harder sanctions on Cuba. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Luanda (AFP) - Angola on Thursday passed a law scrapping rules that previously forced foreign investors to partner with local firms, as President Joao Lourenco tries to revive the oil-dependant economy. Lourenco has vowed to pull in foreign investment after he succeeded Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who had ruled Angola for 38 years, in September. The new law ended a minimum investment level of 50 million kwanza (180,000 euros, $230,000), and the requirement that at least 35 percent of the capital had to come from Angolan partners. "The law effectively eliminates the obligation on national citizens participating" in private investment, Finance Minister Pedro Luis da Fonseca told lawmakers. The law was passed unanimously by parliament with the backing of opposition parties. Lourenco promised an "economic miracle" in Angola after the nation was badly hit by the drop in oil prices. During the country's oil boom, Dos Santos was accused of corruption and enriching a small elite, including his own family, while millions of Angolans remained in dire poverty. Lourenco, a veteran of the ruling MPLA party and previously a loyal minister under Dos Santos, has moved to tackle state corruption and nepotism since taking over. Yerevan (AFP) - Police in the Armenian capital Yerevan detained dozens of anti-government demonstrators on Thursday -- the seventh day of large-scale protests against ex-president Serzh Sarkisian's election as prime minister. Led by firebrand opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, hundreds of protesters attempted to blockade the entrance to government headquarters in central Yerevan, before riot police intervened, arresting dozens of people and taking them to a local police station, an AFP journalist reported from the scene. Pashinyan called on police to "stop protecting government buildings from protesters, as they belong to the people, not to Sarkisian who has seized power in Armenia." Several hundred protesters then marched through Yerevan's suburban districts, briefly blocking road traffic and chanting anti-government slogans. "Police think detentions will scare us and that we will lose spirit. But we will not stop, we are resolute in our struggle to achieve change in this country," 24-year-old protester Suren Harutyunyan told AFP. Protesters have held rallies over recent days to denounce Sarkisian's efforts to remain in power as prime minister under a new parliamentary system of government. Controversial constitutional amendments approved in 2015 have transferred governing powers from the presidency to the premier. On Wednesday evening, more than 16,000 rallied in central Yerevan's Republic Square, vowing to mount a nationwide campaign of "civil disobedience" in opposition to the Kremlin-backed Sarkisian who was on Tuesday elected by parliament to the post of prime minister after a decade serving as president. Pashinyan -- who earlier announced the "start of a peaceful velvet revolution" -- told Wednesday's rally that the protest movement's objective was to "change power" in Armenia through a nationwide campaign of "civil disobedience" and permanent sit-in protests inside government buildings. Story continues The number of demonstrators dwindled on Wednesday, compared with Tuesday's rally of some 40,000 -- the largest Armenia has seen in years. Protests began in Yerevan on Friday and have since spread to the country's second and third largest cities, Gyumri and Vanadzor. On Monday police used stun grenades against protesters who tried to break through a barbed wire cordon to get to the parliament building. Authorities said 46 people, including six police and opposition leader Pashinyan, sought medical help. The country's new president, Armen Sarkisian, was sworn in last week but his powers will be weaker under the new system of government. The two men are not related. A former military officer, Serzh Sarkisian, 63, has been in charge of the landlocked South Caucasus nation of 2.9 million people for a decade. He also held the office of prime minister from 2007 to 2008. After he was first elected in 2008, 10 people died and hundreds were injured in bloody clashes between police and supporters of the defeated opposition candidate. YEREVAN (Reuters) - Armenian President Armen Sarkissian on Thursday called for dialogue, as thousands continued to protest on the streets against the appointment of the new prime minister, who was president for 10 years before switching jobs this month. Parliament on Tuesday voted to allow ex-president Serzh Sarksyan to become premier in the former Soviet republic, despite weeks of angry rallies against such a move. "I'm confident that the only solution is a dialogue and mutual respect," Sarkissian said in a statement. "As a leader of the country, I'm calling on the sides to hold a dialogue in order to find the best solution in the current situation." Thousands of opposition activists marched in the center of Yerevan on Thursday, waving national flags and chanting: "Make a stand, say no to Serzh". They blocked entrances to government buildings and staged sit-ins. In the evening about 15,000 protesters were massed in the main square. Police detained more than 120 activists. Sarksyan was president from 2008 until April 9 and demonstrators said he was switching jobs but clinging to power. Under a revised constitution approved by referendum in 2015, the prime minister will hold most power while the presidency becomes largely ceremonial. Sarksyan's ally Sarkissian was sworn in as president last week after being elected by parliament. Sarksyan said in March, while still president, he would become prime minister to allow him to share the benefit of his experience. Armenia seceded from the Soviet Union in 1991 but remains dependent on Russia for aid and investment. Many Armenians accuse the government of corruption and mishandling an economy that has struggled to overcome the legacy of central planning. (Reporting by Hasmik Mkrtchyan; writing by Margarita Antidze; editing by Andrew Roche) Dubai (AFP) - A Bahrain court sentenced 24 Shiite citizens to prison and stripped them of their nationality after finding them guilty of forming a "terrorist group", a Bahraini judicial source said Thursday. Other charges included travelling to Iraq and Iran for "weapons and explosives training" and attempted murder of police officers. The High Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced 10 of the defendants to life in prison, 10 to a decade behind bars and the other four to jail terms ranging from three to five years. The Sunni-ruled, Shiite-majority kingdom has stripped hundreds of its citizens of their nationality and jailed dozens of high-profile activists and religious clerics since protests demanding an elected government erupted in early 2011. The Bahraini government has accused Shiite Iran of backing the protests and attempting to overthrow the government. Tehran denies involvement. Authorities on Wednesday also referred to trial seven Bahrainis accused of attacking an oil pipeline to Saudi Arabia in November. That trial is set for May 10. The blast cut off the pipeline linking Bahrain's Bapco refinery with oil giant Aramco's main pumping station in neighbouring Saudi Arabia's Dhahran province. Manama in February said it had arrested four men suspected of attacking the pipeline, accusing Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran of training and arming two of them, which Tehran denied. Under Bahrain's citizenship law, amended after political protests broke out in 2011, the authorities can revoke the nationality of individuals who engage in acts deemed "disloyal" to the state. Human Rights Watch in February accused the kingdom of "stripping away the citizenships of people whom they find undesirable". Bahrain earlier this year deported eight people to war-torn Iraq after revoking their citizenship and making them stateless. Barbara Bush, the wife and mother of presidents, died on Tuesday in Houston, Texas at the age of 92. The Bush family had announced two days earlier that the former first lady would not seek further medical treatment following a series of recent hospital stays. Barbara was married to George H.W. Bush, the country's 41st president, for 73 years and together the couple had six children over a span of 13 years. RTR5F4S REUTERS/Jason Reed JIR/HB Trending: Fresno State Responds After Professor Calls Barbara Bush 'Amazing Racist,' Says 'I Will Never Be Fired' Her oldest son, George W. Bush, was born in 1946 and would continue the familys political legacy to become the 43rd president of the U.S. His first term in office would be rocked by the 9/11 attacks on the World Trade Center and the Pentagon. The Republican president would serve two terms in the White House. The couples second child, Pauline Robinson Robin Bush, was diagnosed with Leukemia at the age of three. The young family was living in Midland, Texas when they learned of the girls cancer diagnosis and immediately traveled to New York City to get treatment at leading cancer center Memorial Sloan Kettering. Robin survived seven months of treatment before dying in October 1953, The Washington Post reported. Don't miss: NRA Fires Back at Dick's Sporting Goods for Destroying Unsold Guns: 'What a Waste' Barbara's third chid, a son named John Ellis Jeb Bush was born in 1953. Following in his familys political footsteps, Jeb served as the 43rd governor of Florida from 1999 to 2007. The Republican threw his hat in the 2016 presidential race along with 16 other candidates. He dropped out in February 2016, losing to Donald Trump. Story continues Neil Bush, Barbara and Georges fourth child, was born in 1955. Neil did not enter politics like his father and brothers, instead becoming a businessman and investor. According to KHOU-TV, Neil will keep his mothers legacy alive through her foundation, the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation. Another son, Marvin Bush, was born in 1956. Marvin, an investment manager who is the managing partner at Winston Partners, grabbed headlines after his brother Jeb dropped out of the presidential race by endorsing Libertarian candidate Gary Johnson. Most popular: China Launches War Games Near Taiwan, Sends Official to Tell Island You Belong to Us Barbara and Georges youngest child, a daughter named Dorothy "Doro" Bush, was born in 1959. Doro, who was named after her grandmother, has raised money for charity and is a published book author. Like her brother Neil, Doro will continue their mother's literacy advocacy by serving as a co-chair for the Barbara Bush Foundation For Family Literacy. RTS1HLKX David J. Phillip/Pool Photo via USA TODAY Sports In addition to her husband and five children, Barbara Bush leaves behind 14 grandchildren and seven great-grandchildren. According to The Washington Post, she will join her daughter Robin in a small, gated burial plot on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Library in College Station, Texas. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Former Democratic presidential nominee Bernie Sanders has backed rapper Cardi Bs plea for America to strengthen social security. The veteran Vermont Senator said social security needed to be strengthened so the elderly population could retire in a gracious way. "Cardi B is right. If we are really going to make America great we need to strengthen Social Security so that seniors are able to retire with the dignity they deserve, Mr Sanders tweeted. The Bronx-born rapper, who is famed for her forthright no filter approach, recently said she was a big fan of President Franklin Delano Roosevelt and heaped praise on both his policies and resilience. Hes the real Make America Great Again, because if it wasnt for him, old people wouldnt even get Social Security, she told GQ in a recent profile. Mr Sanders, a keen advocate of welfare reform, has long been a supporter of expanding social welfare programs like Social Security and Medicare. Thanks to @iamcardib for calling attention to the importance of Social Security. pic.twitter.com/bJdt9Oxzzf Bernie Sanders (@SenSanders) April 18, 2018 While many have praised the politician for supporting Cardi B others argued Mr Sanders applause of the musician was simply an attempt to calm anger over a recent speech, which some interpreted as an attack on Barack Obama. Speaking on the 50th anniversary of Martin Luther King's assassination he said Democrats had lost a record number of legislative seats. "The business model, if you like, of the Democratic Party for the last 15 years or so has been a failure," he told a crowd in Jackson, Mississippi. "People sometimes don't see that because there was a charismatic individual named Barack Obama. He was obviously an extraordinary candidate, brilliant guy. But beyond that reality..." Story continues Picture: (Getty Images / JEWEL SAMAD / Contributor) Some social media users called the speech "patronising" and "deplorable". After his praise for Cardi B, some social media users suggested it was a strategic move to appease those angered by his remarks about Mr Obama. Bernie: How do I make things right with the Blacks after insulting Obama on the anniversary of MLK's death? White staff: Start mentioning Cardi B, said freelance writer Marcus Johnson. Another wrote: Bernie thinks quoting Cardi B makes up for dissing Obama on MLK day, dismissing the black vote during the primaries, being an all around shithead to Hillary and dismissing 'identity politics.' Black People are not buying it." Others commended Mr Sanders for his support of Cardi B, and argued they were an iconic duo. cardi b and bernie sanders arent the duo we asked for but definitely the duo we needed soap (@sophpoll) April 19, 2018 Mr Sanders tweet about Cardi B is not the first time he has endorsed a rapper's views - he shared a New York Times interview with Jay-Z in a 2016 tweet, writing "Jay Z is right: we have to end the war on drugs." The politician was also joined by rapper Killer Mike on the presidential campaign trail. Brussels (AFP) - The number of asylum-seekers in the European Union whose applications were granted dropped by almost a quarter in 2017 to 538,000, official figures released Thursday showed. Syrians accounted for 33 percent of successful applications, according to the figures released by the European Union's statistics agency Eurostat. "Of the 175,800 Syrians granted protective status in the EU, over 70 percent have been registered in Germany," Eurostat said. Germany saw over a million migrants, many Syrians, enter the country after Chancellor Angela Merkel announced an open door refugee policy in 2015. Of the total number of successful applications across the EU, the largest number -- 60 percent or 325,400 -- were in Germany, followed by France (40,600), Italy (35,100) and Austria (34,000). According to Eurostat figures released in March, 650,000 asylum applications were registered in EU countries in 2017, almost half the number in 2016. Applications peaked in 2015 when nearly 1.26 million people sought asylum. A graphic shows the preliminary design for satellites that Airbus is manufacturing for OneWeb. EarthNow plans to use a modified version of the same platform to beam real-time video down to Earth. (C3 Creative Code and Content GmbH Photo via Airbus) The latest spinout from Intellectual Ventures, EarthNow, says its coming out of stealth mode with backing from Microsoft co-founder Bill Gates and other high-profile investors. Bellevue, Wash.-based EarthNow aims to operate a fleet of small satellites that will send continuous real-time video views of our planet from Earth orbit. The satellites will be modified versions of the spacecraft that Airbus is building for the OneWeb broadband internet satellite constellation. In addition to Gates, EarthNows investors include Airbus, OneWeb founder and executive chairman Greg Wyler and Japans SoftBank Group, the startup said today in a news release. The amount of funding was undisclosed, but for what its worth, SoftBank made a billion-dollar investment in OneWeb back in 2016. The funding will be used primarily to mature the overall design for the Earth observation system, EarthNow said. EarthNow logo EarthNow is ambitious and unprecedented, but our objective is simple: We want to connect you visually with Earth in real time, said CEO Russell Hannigan, who worked at Intellectual Ventures before founding EarthNow. We believe the ability to see and understand the Earth live and unfiltered will help all of us better appreciate and ultimately care for our one and only home. Wyler made clear that EarthNow would leverage the design work thats already been done for OneWeb. We created the worlds first low-cost, high-performance satellites for mass production to bridge the digital divide, he said in todays news release. These very same satellite features will enable EarthNow to help humanity understand and manage its impact on Earth. The satellites for EarthNow, like the satellites for OneWeb, would be manufactured by Airbus at facilities in France and Florida. Nicolas Chamussy, head of space systems at Airbus, said his company will certainly be a valuable partner for EarthNow. Story continues EarthNow declined to provide details about its timetable for winning regulatory approvals, launching satellites or beginning commercial operations. But the fact that EarthNow is piggybacking on OneWebs expertise implies it wont have to start from square one. OneWeb aims to have its first satellites deployed next year. Hundreds of satellites, and eventually thousands, are to be put into orbit for OneWebs internet constellation by launch providers including Arianespace, Virgin Orbit and Blue Origin. EarthNow said it would begin by offering commercial video and intelligent vision services to a range of government and enterprise customers. The applications could include monitoring the seas for illegal fishing, tracking hurricanes and typhoons as they evolve, detecting forest fires when they start, providing on-demand data about crop health, and observing conflict zones and natural disasters around the world. Russell Hannigan is founder and CEO of EarthNow. (Photo via Twitter) EarthNow said its also working on mass-market video apps for tablets and mobile devices. We are excited by the prospect of giving everyone a stunningly beautiful real-time window on your world from space, Hannigan said. With EarthNow, we will all become virtual astronauts. EarthNows plan to beam continuous real-time video from space is more ambitious than the near-real-time satellite imagery services envisioned by such companies as Planet, BlackSky, Earth-i and Planetary Resources. But EarthNow may not have the real-time video market to itself. SpaceX, for example, is competing with OneWeb to put an internet satellite constellation known as Starlink into low Earth orbit. Last year, SpaceX filed a trademark application for the Starlink name that suggested its constellation could be used for Earth observation and remote sensing as well. SpaceX already has extensive satellite development facilities in Redmond, Wash., near EarthNows headquarters. The first prototype Starlink satellites were sent into orbit in February. And last month, the Federal Communications Commission approved SpaceXs application for broadband internet services. EarthNow takes its place among earlier spinouts from Intellectual Ventures, a Bellevue-based technology incubator led by former Microsoft executive Nathan Myhrvold. Gates is an investor in most of those spinouts, including TerraPower, Kymeta, Echodyne, Evolv, Pivotal Commware and Sunlight Payments. More from GeekWire: A bird strike forced a Southwest Airlines plane to make a quick landing at a Nashville airport shortly after takeoff on Wednesday. The event comes less than 24 hours after a woman was killed after being partially sucked out of a shattered plane window on a Southwest flight. Bound for Phoenix, the plane took off from Nashville International Airport at around 5 a.m. local time. Within 30 minutes, the plane was making a quick turnaround. Weve confirmed Flight 577 departing Nashville experienced a bird strike shortly after takeoff, Southwest Airlines said in a statement. The Captain in command safely returned the flight." Trending: Naturopath Prescribes Rabid-Dog Saliva to Boy Bitten By Animal: 'It Does Sound Crazy' The airline added that the plane had been taken out of service for maintenance review, and that it was working with passengers to find alternate travel arrangements. When a plane collides with a bird, it could have disastrous consequences. Captain Chesley Burnett "Sully" Sullenberger III was forced to land a commercial plane in the Hudson River in 2009 after a collision with a flock of geese caused engine failure. That case inspired the film Sully and was quickly dubbed the "Miracle on the Hudson." Investigators are still looking into the engine failure issue on Tuesday's Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 in which one woman, later identified as Jennifer Riordan, died after she was "partially sucked out" of the plane's shattered window. Based on witness testimony, authorities are currently working under the assumption that a piece from the broken plane engine flew into the window, causing it to shatter, and hitting the woman. The National Transportation Safety Board said a preliminary look showed one of the fan blades missing. Don't miss: Why Didnt Nikki Cross Join SmackDown Live? The airline has expressed its "deep sympathies" to the family of the victim in a statement and noted that it had activated its emergency response team. Story continues "We are deeply saddened to confirm that there is one fatality resulting from this accident," the airline said. "The entire Southwest Airlines Family is devastated and extends its deepest heartfelt sympathy to the customers, employees, family members, and loved ones affected by this tragic event." Southwest Scott Olson/Getty Images This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) -- Gov. Jerry Brown said Wednesday he reached an agreement with the federal government that California's National Guard troops will deploy to the border to focus on fighting transnational gangs as well as drug and gun smugglers. The announcement comes after a week of uncertainty in which President Donald Trump bashed the governor's insistence that troops avoid immigration-related work. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote on Twitter that final details were still being worked out "but we are looking forward to the support." Brown said he secured federal funding for terms similar to those outlined in last week's proposed contract: The Guard cannot handle custody duties for anyone accused of immigration violations, build border barriers or have anything to do with immigration enforcement. Federal officials refused to sign the proposal because they said it was outside established protocol for the Guard. Brown's office said Wednesday that the previous contract was unnecessary after he secured federal funding for his goals. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said the exact cost hasn't been determined. Some troops may be deployed this month and are expected to stay until at least Sept. 30, Brown said. They will be assigned to all parts of the state, not just the border. Brown elicited rare and effusive praise from Trump last week when he pledged 400 troops, which helped put the president above the lower end of his threshold of marshaling 2,000 to 4,000 troops for his border mission. Federal officials said Monday that Brown refused to commit California Guard troops to some initial jobs that were similar to assignments in the three other border states Arizona, New Mexico and Texas all governed by Republicans. Trump bashed Brown's position two days in a row, even as the governor said a deal was near. "There's been a little bit of back and forth, as you always get with bureaucrats but I think we can find common understanding here," Brown said Tuesday in Washington. "There's enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do and we're willing to do it." Nielsen, appearing alongside Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to thank him for contributing 440 troops, said Wednesday there were 1,000 troops deployed on the border mission and that number is growing. She said they were performing aerial surveillance and vehicle repairs. (Reuters) - California said on Wednesday it had reached a deal with the Trump administration to provide 400 National Guard troops to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers within the state and at the U.S.-Mexico border. California National Guard troops will not enforce immigration laws or participate in the construction of any new border barrier, the governor's office said in a statement. The deal comes after a U.S. Defence Department official last week said the Democratic-run state had declined a request to commit troops to Republican President Donald Trump's effort to send up to 4,000 National Guard troops to help the Department of Homeland Security secure the border with Mexico in four southwestern U.S. states. California Governor Jerry Brown has been a staunch opponent of Trump's efforts to tighten immigration law enforcement and build a wall along the U.S.-Mexico border. Brown last year signed a sanctuary law ordering state and local officials not to cooperate with federal immigration agents in certain situations. California reached Wednesday's agreement after securing the federal government's commitment this week to fund the mission, Brown's office said. Currently, 900 National Guard troops have been deployed in Texas, New Mexico and Arizona, officials said Monday. National Guard troops are not taking part in direct border security and are not performing law enforcement work. (Reporting by Andrew Hay; Editing by Leslie Adler) PHNOM PENH (Reuters) - A court in Cambodia on Thursday declined to grant bail to two journalists who have been charged with espionage for filing news reports to a U.S.-funded radio station. The case of the two, Uon Chhin and Yeang Sothearin, has compounded concern about a crackdown on criticism and dissent by Prime Minister Hun Sen, who aims to extend his rule of more than three decades in a general election in July. "The court denied our appeal," Keo Vanny, a lawyer for the pair, told reporters after the hearing. "They upheld the Phnom Penh court decision which continues the pre-trial detention." The two used to work for the Washington-based Radio Free Asia (RFA), which broadcasts in the Khmer language, and which the government criticized for being biased toward the opposition. RFA shut down its Phonom Penh office in September complaining of a "relentless crackdown on independent voices", which made it impossible for it to guarantee "the integrity of RFAs journalistic mission". The two journalists have been in pre-trial detention since their arrest in November. They were charged with "providing information that is destructive to national defense to a foreign state" after they were caught filing stories to RFA. Both men deny the charge against them which carries a prison term of up to 15 years. "It is very unjust. They intend for us to suffer," a handcuffed Yeang Sothearin told reporters as police took him away after the hearing. "The government took revenge on us because we broadcasted the real situation about Cambodia." A government spokesman, Phay Siphan, rejected any suggestion the government was taking revenge on the pair, saying: "We cannot accept what he said." The reporters were arrested days before the Supreme Court dissolved the main opposition Cambodia National Rescue Party after it was accused of plotting to take power with the help of the United States. The party and the United States denied the accusation. Hun Sen and his government reject accusation of human rights violations. (Reporting by Chansy Chhorn in PHNOM PENH; Writing by Amy Sawitta Lefevre; Editing by Robert Birsel) Ottawa (AFP) - Canada's top court on Thursday upheld restrictions against stocking up on booze in one province to imbibe in another, leaving proponents of freer domestic trade out in the cold. The case -- which had implications for the movement of not just alcohol but myriad products from marijuana to milk -- involved a retired steel worker who fought a Can$292 fine for bringing alcohol from Quebec into his home province in contravention of New Brunswick's Liquor Control Act. The measure -- similar to those established in other provinces -- limits the importation of alcohol for personal use to one bottle of liquor or wine, or 12 pints of beer. The unanimous 9-0 decision comes as Canada looks to sign a number of free trade agreements with foreign nations. Federal police charged Gerard Comeau in 2012 for transporting 14 cases of beer, two bottles of whisky and a bottle of liqueur to New Brunswick from neighboring Quebec province, where they are cheaper. A lower court dismissed the charge, ruling that the Fathers of Confederation had envisioned an economic union with unfettered trade between Canada's regions. That decision pointed to Section 121 of the Constitution Act, which says all goods from a province are to be admitted free into each of the others. The win made Comeau the accidental champion of a national "free-the-beer" campaign, for highlighting the hypocrisy of lawmakers. "While many government leaders extol the benefits of free trade internationally, they regularly condone trade barriers within Canada's own borders," he said in his filings to the Supreme Court. But the Supreme Court disagreed, saying the constitution prohibits trade bans, but allows provinces to pass laws that may "incidentally" limit interprovincial trade. New Brunswick's liquor law wasn't aimed at blocking alcohol imports, it noted, but "to enable public supervision of the production, movement, sale, and use of alcohol within New Brunswick" by the liquor control board. Story continues The justices said the trial judge wrongly relied solely on the expert testimony of a historian's interpretation of the act and took too narrow a view of constitutional texts. It also dubbed "ambiguous" the phrase "admitted free." The case attracted broad interest and an eclectic group of interveners, including the feds, 10 regional governments, dairy and poultry farmers concerned for their supply-managed industries, wineries and brewers, and even cannabis producers readying for the legalization of recreational pot later this year. SANTIAGO (Reuters) - Thousands of students marched in Chilean cities on Thursday to denounce what they say is profit-making in higher education, in the first major protest under the month-old administration of conservative President Sebastian Pinera. The marches, attended by students and professors, follow a recent decision by the country's constitutional court to overturn a law that prohibited for-profit companies from controlling universities. Profit-making from higher education is illegal in Chile. But critics have long claimed that some companies that operate universities have found ways to exploit loopholes in the law, allowing them to turn a profit without re-investing the money in reduced tuition or improved education. "We would prefer to be in the classroom...but unfortunately, we can't do it with dignity because there continues to be profiteering (in education) in Chile," said Sandra Beltrami, a spokeswoman for the students. Banging drums, toting banners and sometimes throwing rocks and blocking traffic, students marched through downtown Santiago, occasionally sparking small confrontations with police, who used tear gas to disperse the protesters. The protest was the first under Pinera, a conservative billionaire and ex-president whose first term between 2010 and 2014 was marred by massive student protests seeking an education overhaul. Earlier this week, Pinera sent a bill to Chile's Congress to increase public financing for technical colleges and promised that access to free higher education was "here to stay," a move seen as intended to defuse tensions with students. (Reporting by Dave Sherwood and Antonio De la Jara, writing by Dave Sherwood; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) By Ben Blanchard and Judy Peng BEIJING/TAIPEI (Reuters) - Chinese aircraft have again flown around self-ruled Taiwan in what China's air force on Thursday called a "sacred mission", as Taiwan denounced its big neighbour over what it called a policy of military intimidation. Taiwan, claimed by Beijing as Chinese territory, is one of China's most sensitive issues and a potential military flashpoint. China has ramped up military exercises around Taiwan in the past year, including flying bombers and other military aircraft around the island. More recently, China has been incensed by comments by Taiwan Premier William Lai that it deemed were in support of Taiwan independence, though Taipei says Lai's position remains that the status quo between Taiwan and the mainland should be maintained. In a statement on its microblog, the Chinese air force said H-6K bombers had "recently" flown a patrol around Taiwan. "The motherland is in our hearts, and the jewelled island is in the bosom of the motherland," an H-6K captain, Zhai Peisong, was quoted as saying in the statement, using another name for Taiwan. "Defending the beautiful rivers and mountains of the motherland is the sacred mission of air force pilots." Taiwan's Defence Ministry said two Chinese H-6K bombers had flown around the island on Wednesday afternoon, passing first through the Miyako Strait, to Taiwan's northeast, then back to base via the Bashi Channel between Taiwan and the Philippines. Late on Wednesday, Chinese state media said the military had also conducted live-fire military drills with helicopters along its southeast coast after increasingly stern warnings by Beijing for Taiwan to toe the line, though the exercises were more low key than had been flagged in state media. China's Taiwan Affairs Office said the island's "independence separatist activities" were the biggest threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait. "No force and no person should underestimate our resolute resolve and strong ability to defend the nation's sovereignty and territorial integrity," the office said. 'DETERMINATION TO DEFEND' Taiwan's China policy-making Mainland Affairs Council said China's military exercise - which it described as routine and small scale - as well as the Chinese air force fly-by, amounted to "military intimidation". "Our determination to defend the country's sovereign dignity will never give in to any threat or inducement of force," it said. China had said the live-fire drills would happen on Wednesday off the city of Quanzhou, in between two groups of islands close to China's coast but which Taiwan has controlled since 1949, when defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island at the end of the Chinese civil war. Chinese state media has said the drills were a direct response to "provocations" by Taiwan leaders related to what China fears are moves by the island to push for formal independence. The latest Chinese military movements come during a time of heightened tension between Beijing and the island and follows strong warnings by Chinese President Xi Jinping against any Taiwan separatism last month. China's hostility towards Taiwan has grown since Tsai Ing-wen from the pro-independence Democratic Progressive Party won a presidential election on the island in 2016. China fears she wants to push for independence. Tsai says she is committed to peace and maintaining the status quo across the Taiwan Strait, but will defend Taiwan's security. Setting aside the tension with China, Tsai began a visit to the southern African nation of Swaziland on Wednesday, one of only 20 countries which maintain formal diplomatic ties with Taiwan. (Reporting by Ben Blanchard; Additional reporting by Clare Jim TAIPEI; Editing by Darren Schuettler, Robert Birsel) About Me Scott Because prophetic scriptures are found throughout the bible, it is obvious that a comprehensive, systematic approach would be useful, if not necessary, for the understanding of prophecy. Past prophecies have been fulfilled in a literal manner, as confirmed by the dating of these writings and historical records of confirmation. These past prophecies also serve as a model of how to interpret future prophecies. A literal view of prophecy clearly indicates a certain sequence of events will occur within a single generation, concluding with the Tribulation and Second Advent and these events will be obvious. The prophetic signs appear to be present in this generation and we believe these signs are revealed in the news from around the world. View my complete profile BEIJING (Reuters) - China's war on pollution is at risk of reaching a "stalemate", with poor weather conditions undermining the country's efforts to reduce smog, an environment ministry spokesman said on Thursday. Air pollution rose by more than a quarter in parts of northern China in March, and the region has been hit by another bout of smog in the second half of April, which the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) has blamed on weak air circulation. "Weather conditions last month in Beijing were the worst over the past six years with slow wind, little rain and high temperatures, but average pollution readings were able to stay at same level as the past five years," Liu Youbin, spokesman for the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE), said at a regular press briefing. "The air pollution campaign has entered a stage of stalemate, as Chairman Mao described in his famous book 'On Protracted War'... The efforts we made have sometimes been offset by unfavorable weather, and it will take time for us to slip the leash of weather conditions to win the war," he added. China met its 2013-2017 air quality targets after forcing major polluters like steel mills and coal-fired power generators to raise standards and upgrade their technology, and it also shut down thousands of smaller law-breaking enterprises. Liu said China shut down as many as 62,000 small-scale and "dispersed" pollution sources in 2017, noting that they were responsible for around 30 percent of total emissions of PM2.5, small particles that lodge in the lungs. But experts have warned that China's anti-smog campaign is getting even harder, with improvements in air quality starting to level off now that relatively straightforward programs like the desulphurisation of power plant emissions have been completed. While the focus has primarily been on reducing concentrations of PM2.5, experts have also urged the authorities to take action against other hazardous forms of air pollution like ozone, which has been on the rise in northern China. "The easy actions have been done very well but now there is more that needs to be done," said Chen Songxi, an expert in environmental statistics at the Guanghua School of Management at Peking University. "Motor vehicles in cities have to be curbed - so far, there has been little action in that regard, because it will be very unpopular with drivers," he added. (Reporting by Muyu Xu and David Stanway; Editing by Joseph Radford) China is scheduled to hold live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait Wednesday, flexing its military muscle after warning Taipei about seeking independence or closer ties with Washington. It is the first such exercise in the waterway since 2016, and it coincides with Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen's visit to Swaziland, one of the self-ruled island's few remaining international allies. The Chinese government has given scant details about the manoeuvres, with a Fujian province maritime safety administration statement merely saying last week that the drills would take place from 8:00 am until midnight. China's Taiwan Affairs Office director Liu Jieyi said Monday the drill was "an action to safeguard the sovereignty and territorial integrity of our motherland". As she left for Africa on Tuesday, Tsai said Taiwan has "the confidence and determination to safeguard the country's security". Relations between Beijing and Taipei have deteriorated since Tsai came to office in May 2016, largely because she has not embraced the position that Taiwan and China are part of one country. China sees the island as part of its territory to be brought back into the fold and has not ruled out reunification by force. Tsai's Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) is traditionally pro-independence and her newly appointed premier William Lai is a long-standing independence advocate. "The mainland must create military pressure to let the other side know that no matter whether it happens gradually or they really declare independence, it is totally unacceptable," Song Zhongping, military commentator for Hong Kong-based Phoenix TV, told AFP. After the Communist Party-led parliament paved the way for Xi Jinping to rule for life, the Chinese president warned on March 20 that "all acts and tricks to separate the country are doomed to fail". That same day, China's sole operational aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, sailed through the Taiwan Strait. Story continues Song said the Liaoning is likely to participate in Wednesday's drill, as it "has a lot of advantages for resolving the Taiwan problem." "It can effectively acquire control of the airspace, and even effectively block the US-Japanese alliance's strategy for intervening in China's plan to settle the Taiwan issue," he said. - 'Psychological warfare' - Beijing has stepped up military patrols around Taiwan and used diplomatic pressure to isolate Taiwan internationally since Tsai took office, with Panama switching allegiance to China last year. Swaziland is among just 20 nations that still recognise Taipei. The drill "is part of Beijing's psychological warfare against Taiwan, and possibly a means to divert attention from Tsai's visit abroad by compelling media to report on the military drills," said J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based senior fellow at the University of Nottingham's China Policy Institute. The planned drill could also serve as a signal to Washington, which sent an aircraft carrier through the disputed South China Sea last week. Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taiwan to China in 1979 but maintains trade relations with the island and is its main arms supplier. Beijing protested last month after President Donald Trump signed a bill allowing top-level US officials to travel to Taiwan. China said the US should stop official exchanges with Taiwan to avoid "damaging Sino-US relations". The Chinese military began live-fire exercises Wednesday in the waterway that separates it from Taiwan, a breakaway island nation still claimed by the mainland government in Beijing. China's Taiwan Affairs Office Director Liu Jieyi said the drill, which the Fujian Maritime Safety Administration described as lasting from 8 a.m. to midnight local time, was designed to "safeguard China's sovereignty and territorial integrity," according to the official China Global Television Network. As Beijing increased and intensified its South China Sea presence, its rhetoric targeting Taiwanese autonomy has grown more militant. Related: China Says U.S. Should Give Syria's Assad 'an Opportunity to Explain' Before Trump Attacks Trending: League of Legends Midseason Update: Whats Changing on the Rift? Liu himself met with Taiwan's Hualien County Governor Fu Kun-chi on Wednesday, urging him to stick to the "one-China principle and resolutely oppose all kinds of 'Taiwan independence,'" according to Liu's office. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesman Hua Chunying also emphasized this talking point to reporters. "There is only one China in the world, and Taiwan is an indispensable part of China's territory," Hua said during a regular press briefing Wednesday. ChinaMilitaryParade3 81.cn Don't miss: Since Parkland Shooting, NRA-Backed Bills Have Advanced in Large Numbers in State Legislatures ChinaMilitaryParade4 81.cn The U.S. has recognized the communist government in Beijing as the sole representative of China since 1972, when Washington agreed to forego regular ties to the rival government in Taiwan. The U.S. has, however, sold weapons to Taiwan and President Donald Trump broke with tradition in December 2016 by accepting a congratulatory call from Taiwanese President Tsai Ing-wen. As Trump edged closer to a trade war against Chinese President Xi Jinping last month, the Republican leader signed a travel agreement with Taiwan. Story continues Xi has already laid out sweeping reforms to his country's armed forces, which he sought to transform into a state-of-the-art warfighting machine in the coming decades. He has overseen the commissioning of China's first aircraft carrier, which was to soon be joined by the nation's first homemade aircraft carrier. Most popular: 'Yakuza 6' Clan Creator Guide: How to Unlock Okada and Other NJPW Wrestlers Over the past year, China has conducted more military drills near Taiwan, and Xi promised last month any attempts to challenge Beijing's claims to the island nation would be "doomed to fail" and invite "the punishment of history." After mobilizing a thousand marines in the largest exercise of its kind last month, China held its biggest military parade in history last week. Xi himself joined the massive aircraft carrier formation, announcing Wednesday's drills and telling sailors it was "urgent" to strengthen the navy. RTX5NU2F Tyrone Siu/Reuters When asked Monday if the upcoming drills in the Taiwan Strait were targeting Taipei's aspirations of total independence, Chinese Taiwan Affairs Office spokesman Ma Xiaoguang said, "the Chinese mainland is firmly against 'Taiwan independence,' according to ruling Chinese Communist Party newspaper The Global Times. "We would like to reaffirm that we have strong determination, confidence and capability to destroy any type of 'Taiwan independence' scheme in order to safeguard the country's sovereignty and territorial integrity." The Taiwanese Defense Ministry said Wednesday that a Chinese Xian H-6K bomber passed through the nearby Miyako Strait to carry out long-distance training activities, but described the maneuver as "not unusual." Nevertheless, Ministry spokeswoman Chen Chung-chi condemned the exercises. "The Chinese communists have been using cheap verbal intimidation and saber rattling on every aspect of the Republic of China in the hope of affecting our morale or creating social unease," Chen said, according to Reuters. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek It was a master class in public relations, and one that may have stopped a trade war. For now. While U.S. President Donald Trump stewed about Beijing on Twitter, Chinese President Xi Jinping played the role of the grown-up and struck a softer tone. On April 10, Xi said his country was committed to becoming a more open market. As evidence, he offered to reduce tariffs, particularly the 25 percent levy China slaps on imported automobiles, as well as the limits on foreign ownership of auto plants. The American president liked what he heard. Very thankful for President Xis kind words on tariffs and auto restrictions, Trump tweeted. After weeks of declines, U.S. stock prices soared in relief. Trending: Who Is Darren Ellisor? Co-Pilot During Fatal Southwest Flight With Engine Failure Identified Xi may have been relieved too. The conventional wisdom about a trade war between the worlds two largest economies is that both sides would lose, bigly. The standoff, in this view, is a lot like two people aiming guns at their own heads, shouting, Do as I say, or the idiot gets it! The reality is a bit more complicated. In a trade war with China, the U.S., if its smart about it, could win, or least make sure that China loses more. In fact, as Michael Pettis, a professor of finance at the elite Peking University in Beijing, explains, the dirty little secret of trade is that for diversified economies with large deficits (such as the U.S.), a trade war can actually be positive for growth, at least in the short run, as long as the intervention is done correctly. (He and others argue that the U.S. should focus on reducing the amount of money from abroad that flows into the country to rectify trade imbalances.) When it comes to trade wars, many reflexively invoke the infamous Smoot-Hawley tariff of 1930. That measure helped bring on the Great Depression by accelerating a contraction in global trade. The reason this tariff was so monumentally stupid: The United States ran massive trade surplusesmuch like China does today. Its domestic economy could not absorb everything it produced. So it exported the difference. At the time, Pettis notes, the U.S. had the highest absolute trade surplus in history. Story continues Today, that surplus is long gone, and the United States is the worlds economic shock absorber, as Pettis puts it, taking in half of all the globes excess savings. Its the only economy in the world big enough, and with sufficient capital markets, to absorb those inflows. All that foreign money has to go somewhere, and a decent chunk of it winds up in real estate or the stock market, leaving Americans suddenly feeling richer and more willing to spend than they otherwise would be. This extra consumption helps fuel the trade deficit. Don't miss: Donald Trump Will Likely Get U.S. Into a War, Majority of Americans Think: Poll The U.S. can respond in two ways. It can allow an increase in unemployment, as foreign producers take market share away from domestic companies. But that, obviously, creates political problems. Or it can increase government spending to keep overall demand high and unemployment relatively low. Guess which it chooses? PER_China_02_936577932 Mark Wilson/Getty Would tariffs of the sort Trump has proposedas opposed what Pettis and others believe would be more effectiveactually reduce the trade deficit? Probably not. But if the U.S. chooses that route anywayand Trump has long expressed an affinity for tariffsthe conventional wisdom is that China will retaliate. Its widely assumed that Beijing has significant weapons with which to do soweapons that could seriously damage the U.S. and global economy. But Xi knows better. His ability to retaliate is limited. One thing Beijing could do is stop buying U.S. Treasury debt. Hillary Clinton invoked this possibility on the campaign trail Most popular: Trump Says Sanctuary Cities Are "Crime Infested"Research Suggests He's Wrong in explaining why the United States was in no position to get tough with China. But that outcome is unlikely. If China did not buy American debt, it would have to repatriate the money it earns from trade, which it receives in dollars. To do so would require selling those dollars and buying the renminbi. That would drive up the value of the Chinese currency significantly, putting the exporters who generated the surpluses at risk. As Pettis puts it, selling U.S. debt is a completely empty threat. Xi, of course, does have one advantage in a trade war: He doesnt have to worry about voters. Trump does, and many of his constituents live in states that could be affected by Chinese tariffs on agricultural products or Boeing airplanes. Beijing could try to intimidate Trump and hope he folds. Yet Chinas hand isnt that strong. Yes, import restrictions on specific U.S. companies could be painful to them, their suppliers and shareholders. Boeing, for example, is very vulnerable. A sales ban on U.S. products assembled and then sold in China (hello, Apple) would also hurt. But Beijings ability to inflict pain on the overall U.S. economy is limited, some analysts believe. U.S. soybean producers, for example, could suffer, but were not talking about another Great Depression. PER_China_01_628756824 Travis Dove/Bloomberg/Getty Beijing, on the other hand, could suffer greatly because of its surpluses. To the extent that Chinese retaliation encourages greater trade intervention by the U.S. and the rest of the world, Pettis argues, China is hugely at risk. Any forced contraction in their surpluses requires either more debt or more unemployment. And though Xi doesnt have to worry about voters, he does have to worry about protesters in the streets. He sounded reasonable in early April because he cant really want any part of this game of chicken. Which means its possible that the specter of a trade war might ultimately vanish and stop haunting the global economy. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek A Type-05 advanced amphibious assault vehicle attached to a brigade fires at simulated sea targets - China Military Online A senior Chinese official has warned that Beijing would do "everything" to defend its sovereignty as China began live-fire drills in the Taiwan Strait on Wednesday. The comments came as China was accused of "sabre rattling" by Taiwan after it launched a military exercise which is being seen as a warning to the United States over its involvement in the self-ruled island. The drills, which began at 8am (00.00 GMT), are also being viewed as a show of force against what Beijing views as moves by Taiwan towards formal independence. Cui Tiankai, the Chinese ambassador to the US, on Tuesday reiterated Beijing's long-held view that Taiwan will eventually be reunited with the mainland, saying that China hoped for "peaceful reunification". "But if someone tries to separate Taiwan from China, we will do everything that is possible to defend our sovereignty and territorial integrity," he added, as he answered questions at an event at Harvard University, according to China Review News Agency. The Chinese military provided few details about the drills, which are taking place off the south-eastern Chinese city of Quanzhou, between two groups of islands that are controlled by Taiwan, but very close to China. Chinese President Xi Jinping delivers a speech as he reviews a military display of Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea last week Credit: Xinhua/Reuters They come after President Xi Jinping oversaw the biggest naval exercises in the country's history last week. Taiwan's defence ministry said the drills only involved land-based artillery conducting "routine" shooting practice. A spokesman said China has been engaged in "cheap verbal intimidation and sabre rattling" as it sought to undermine the "morale" of the Taiwanese people. Tensions between Beijing and Taipei have escalated in recent weeks, with officials sparring over comments from William Lai, Taiwan's prime minister, that he was a Taiwan independence worker. Beijing has also become alarmed at moves by the US to forge closer links with Taipei. Story continues Washington recently passed a travel act, which will allow more official visits between the US and Taipei. The US also offered support to build Taiwan's indigenous fleet of submarines. Arthur Ding, a military expert and Professor Emeritus of the Institute of International Relations (IIR) at the National Chengchi University in Taipei, said the drills "definitely target both Taiwan and the US." He said: "China opposes any improvement of relations between Taiwan and US because, for them, it sends a wrong signal to the Taiwanese leadership who perceptively pursue a course of 'Taiwan Independence. Taiwan's President Tsai Ing-wen, second from left, inspects on a Kidd-class destroyer during a navy exercise in the northeastern port of Su'ao in Yilan County, Taiwan, April 13 Credit: Military News Agency "Also, improved relations blocks the way for re-unification." Prof Ding said Beijing believes that Tsai Ing-wen, who became Taiwan president in 2016, has adopted a policy of "comprehensive incremental independence". He said "frustration broke" among China's Communist leaders with Mr Lai's comments last month. "President Xi had to do something to answer domestic pressure, while not escalating tension in the Taiwan Strait and avoiding blame for causing tension," he told The Telegraph. J. Michael Cole, a Taipei-based Taiwan expert from the University of Nottinghams China policy institute, said the Chinese exercise appeared to be "a routine artillery drill". The aircraft carrier Liaoning and other vessels and fighter jets in the maritime parade conducted by the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) Navy in the South China Sea on April 12 Credit: China ilitary Online/ ZLSY Earlier reports that China's only aircraft carrier, the Liaoning, was to join the drill appear to be unfounded, Mr Cole said. He also said that the People's Liberation Army (PLA) had failed in its attempts to cause alarm among Taiwanese people. "The growing frequency of PLA live-fire exercises and passages near Taiwan many of them in the West Pacific in recent years, has, ironically, diluted the effectiveness of such propaganda efforts. "Thus, if the aim is to spark a panic in Taiwan, Beijing is failing miserably." Ms Tsai last week oversaw her first military exercises since she became Taiwans leader, although those drills did not involve any live fire. At a glance | The One China policy Beijing has claimed Taiwan since defeated Nationalist forces fled to the island in 1949 after losing the civil war with Mao Tse-tung's Communists. It views Taiwan as a renegade province which will be reunited with the mainland - by force if necessary. The drills coincided with President Tsai's visit to Swaziland, one of Taipei's few remaining international allies. Additional reporting by Christine Wei Migraines are notoriously misunderstood, and as a result, difficult to treat. However, a new study may offer relief for those who were failed by other treatments. A drug called erenumab was found to reduce the average number of migraines by 50 percent or more. The study will be presented at the American Academy of Neurologys 70th Annual Meeting in Los Angeles later this month, a press release stated. In the research, the scientists recruited 246 volunteers who were prone to episodic migraines. Thirty-nine percent of those volunteers had been treated unsuccessfully with two other medications, 38 percent had been treated unsuccessfully with three other medications and 23 percent had been treated unsuccessfully with four other medications. Study co-author Dr. Uwe Reuter of The Charite - University Medicine Berlin in Germany told Newsweek that these particular patients make the study especially noteworthy. Trending: College-Educated People Develop Dementia Later in Life, New Study Suggests Usually these patients are excluded from episodic migraine trials as they are difficult to treat, explained Reuter. 04_16_migraine Ralph Orlowski/Getty Images Half of patients were either given injections of erenumab and half were given a placebo; treatment was administered once a month for three months. Overall, erenumab reduced the average number of migraine headaches by more than 50 percent for nearly a third of the patients, as opposed to only 14 percent in the placebo group. Don't miss: Where Will Barbara Bush Be Buried? Former First Ladys Grave Will Be Near Daughter Robin Migraine prevention guidelines state that any drug is considered successful if migraine frequency is reduced by 50 percent after eight to 10 weeks of treatment, Reuter explained. Based on these guidelines, the nearly one-third of volunteers who found relief with erenumab is substantial. Story continues The erenumab group also experienced fewer days in which they had headaches and fewer days in which they needed drugs to treat headaches. The study also tested the safety and tolerability of erenumab. Results revealed none of the volunteers needed to stop taking the drug during the course of the trial due to adverse side effects. The drug is currently under review by the FDA but based on these results, Reuter predicts that it may be available to U.S. patients at some point in 2018, and to European patients not long after. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek There was an intense rescue on Deadliest Catch, with the Coast Guard answering a distress call about a crewman who had severely injured his thumb. Despite horrific weather conditions, the helicopter crew rushed in to save the mans hand. Record swells and bad weather combined to make the seas particularly treacherous in the 2017 king crab season. The injured fisherman, who was unidentified, got caught up in the rocking seas. He described the incident: My hand got pinched in between the block and the davit. Took a wave, and I rolled over, and I went to catch myself, and it smashed it. The accident caused the skin, nail, and fat to tear from the bone, leaving only an excruciating stub. Fortunately, a Coast Guard helicopter crew was able to overcome the hurricane winds and waves and hoist the fisherman into the chopper. They evacuated him to Cold Bay, where he received medical attention. Deadliest Catch airs Tuesdays at 9 p.m. on Discovery. See why Sig threw Jake out of his wheelhouse. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. A group of Republican lawmakers made a direct request Wednesday for the FBI and Attorney General Jeff Sessions to open criminal investigations into former FBI director James Comey, former secretary of state Hillary Clinton, and others for bias against Trump or favoritism toward Clinton. The letter came after Comey began a promotional tour for his new book, A Higher Loyalty. In the book, Comey said he asked to speak directly with President Barack Obama at the end of his tenure to take the opportunity to thank you and tell you how much Im going to miss you, and added, I dread the next four years, but in some ways, I feel more pressure to stay now. The 11 Congressmen and women who signed the memo to United States Attorney General Jeff Sessions, FBI director Christopher Wray and United States attorney for the district of Utah John Huber asked for criminal investigations to be opened on Comey, Clinton, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch, former acting director of the FBI Andrew McCabe as well as FBI agents Peter Strzok and FBI counsel Lisa Page. Trending: Kawhi Leonard Not Going Anywhere as Spurs Consider $219 Million Designated Veteran Extension GettyImages-878355612 BRENDAN SMIALOWSKI/AFP/Getty Images We are especially mindful of the dissimilar degrees of zealousness that has marked the investigations into former Secretary of State Hillary Clinton and the presidential campaign of Donald Trump, respectively, the letter read. Because we believe that those in positions of high authority should be treated the same as every other American, we want to be sure that the potential violations of law outlined below are vetted appropriately. Clinton has been the subject of multiple congressional and FBI investigations, but the letter claimed that she should face investigation because a lawyer who worked for her campaign partially financed the Steele dossier. Story continues Don't miss: Great Barrier Reef: Can Iconic Coral System Survive After Heatwave Kills One-Third? Clinton spokesperson Nick Merrill called the letter pathetic. House Republicans have seen the numbers and are running scared as we head into midterm season. They should focus on working for the people they are asking to reelect them, not do Trumps bidding, he said in a statement. The letter was signed by Representatives Ron DeSantis, Andy Biggs, Dave Brat, Jeff Duncan, Matt Gaetz, Paul Gosar, Andy Harris, Jody Hice, Todd Rokita, Claudia Tenney and Ted Yoho. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Former FBI Director James Comey spoke about his teenage job and his regrets about the 2016 presidential election as he took questions from the public for the first time since the release of his book. At a Barnes and Noble bookstore in New York City on Wednesday night, following the release of A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, Comey also faced two hecklers who had to be removed by security. Related: Meghan McCain Rips Comey on The View Trending: Cynthia Nixon: Trump and I Couldn't Be More Different 'Celebrity' Politicians Speaking without the prompting of a congressional committee, George Stephanopoulos, Meghan McCain or another interviewer, the former FBI chief told the audience about why he wrote the book. "What we face today is a situation where lying has become so normal that when I wake up in the morning and see the president of the United States has called for my imprisonment, I actually shrug," he said, dressed in a striped suit with paisley lining and a light blue button-down shirt. "And then I stop myself and say, 'Wait a minute, that shrug means you're becoming numb to something that is not ok, that is not normal.'" But he continued to insist that the book is not about Donald Trump. Comey spoke for around 20 minutes, including about his job as a grocery store employee at age 16, and learning good leadership qualities from his boss at the time. 04_18_Comey_Barnes_Noble Drew Angerer/Getty Don't miss: Who Does Alexander the Great Belong To? How a Fight Over His Legacy Could Change the Future of a European Region For an additional 20 minutes, Comey responded to questions that audience members had submitted on index cards. Asked what he would have done differently in the 2016 election, he said, "I would rather have not been involved. Honestly, and I don't mean this to sound flip, I would rather Hillary Clinton never have used a personal email system. I'd rather Anthony Weiner never had a laptop." Story continues Early into Comey's answering questions, a demonstrator stood up and began shouting that he should be prosecuted. Several security guards removed the heckler, Laura Loomer, a right-wing figure who describes herself as an investigative journalist. She live-streamed the incident. Moments after Comey began again, another person, later identified as Sunsara Taylor, an advocate for what she describes on her Twitter account as "new communism," stood up, unfurled a banner and shouted about fascism. She, too, was removed. Most popular: Moscows Objective in the Middle East: Replace the United States | Opinion The demonstrators didn't appear to rattle Comey, and the disruptions didn't last as long as the one at Howard University last September, when student activists shouted over the entirety of his presentation. There were demonstrators outside too, all of whom appeared to support Trump. During the event they could be heard chanting "lock him up" outside. "He's corrupt, he's a dirty cop, he's on the take with Clinton cash and he's a disgrace," said Diane Atkins, a frequent pro-Trump demonstrator, who said she was there on her own. "He belongs in jail along with crooked Hillary." But the crowd inside was otherwise friendly towards Comey, applauding enthusiastically throughout the event. A line for signed bookplates formed early in the morning. "I see good and bad in all people. I see good and bad in him," said Richard Wisniewski, a self-identified liberal from Staten Island, New York, who came early in the day to get a signed copy of the book and returned for the event. I'm happy to be here because he's part of history." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Updated | In his new book, former FBI Director James Comey provides new details about a plan he had to reveal Russias election tampering before the Obama administration ended up doing so. As Newsweek first reported last year, Comey proposed writing a newspaper op-ed about Russias efforts to meddle in the 2016 presidential election to Obama administration officials in the summer of 2016. Related: Comey tried to reveal Russian tampering before election Trending: Why Kawhi Leonard's Future Could Hit LeBron's Free Agency Plans In A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership, published Tuesday, Comey writes that the draft he shared with the administration laid out what the Russians were doing with the dumping of stolen emails, highlighted hacking aimed at state voter databases and placed those activities in the context of historical Russian election disruption efforts. He adds, I intended that as a warning to the American people. The proposal happened prior to the Obama administrations acknowledging the Russian interference for the first time in an October 2016 statement. In the book, Comey recalls how as the 2016 election approached, the FBI was receiving calls from reporters asking about Russian interference, accounts of which were starting to appear in the press. Don't miss: Black Lightning Finale Cliffhangers & Season 2 Predictions 04_17_Comey_Higher_Loyalty_Russia Drew Angerer/Getty During a meeting with Obama, Comey and other officials discussed a possible inoculation for the public about the Russia issue. I said I was tired of being the guy at the podium with controversial news, he writes, referring to his July 5, 2016 announcement about completing the Hillary Clinton emails investigation, but I was willing to be the voice on this, absent any alternatives. Story continues If we felt that there were attempts to influence the election, we felt that it would be important for the American public to know that, Michael Steinbach, a former FBI official under Comey who was involved in the op-ed discussions, told Newsweek last year. That was a conversation that we had, and one course of action as a way for the director to get that message out was to do an op-ed. Most popular: Black Lightning Showrunner Salim Akil Reflects on Season 1 He had a draft of it or an outline, a source with knowledge of the proposal, who requested anonymity in order to discuss the internal matter, previously told Newsweek. He held up a piece of paper in a meeting and said, I want to go forward. What do people think of this? A second source with knowledge of proposed op-ed, who requested anonymity for the same reason, said Comey was not planning to mention in the article the FBI investigation into Donald Trumps campaign, which at that point had only just started. But, as Newsweek previously reported, the administration did not take him up on the offer. The Obama teams deliberations were, as usual, extensive, thoughtful and very slow, Comey writes. He adds that maybe the administration did not immediately act because it did not think Trump would win. He backed the wrong horse, Comey recalls Obama saying in a meeting that September about Putin and Trump. Speaking with Newsweek last year, Ned Price, a former special assistant to Obama and National Security Council spokesperson, insisted that the administration was not too slow to acknowledge Russian meddling. As we consistently said, the Obama administration clearly and firmly publicly attributed the election-related hacks to the highest levels of the Russian government as soon as we were able to do so last year, weeks before the election, he said. The order of the paragraphs in this article has been updated. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Former FBI Director James Comey visited The Late Show with Stephen Colbert, and in discussing Donald Trumps Twitter attacks against him, the lawman said the president needs to get over it. Colbert brought up the topic by saying, The president has said some kind of fun things about you. He has called you Slippery Jim and slimeball.' Ive been gone for a year, Comey responded. Im like a breakup he cant get over. That comment drew lots of laughs from the audience. He went on to say, Im out there living my best life. He wakes up in the morning and tweets at me. The big questions in Comeys badly reviewed book arent answered like, how come he gave up Classified Information (jail), why did he lie to Congress (jail), why did the DNC refuse to give Server to the FBI (why didnt they TAKE it), why the phony memos, McCabes $700,000 & more? Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 15, 2018 Comey has spent the past year writing a book about his career, A Higher Loyalty, whereas Trump has spent his time writing tweets. In fact, just Sunday the president called for Comey to be jailed. As far as that is concerned Comey said, Its not OK for the President of the United States to say a private citizen should be in jail. Its not normal. Its not acceptable. Its not OK. The Late Show with Stephen Colbert airs weeknights at 11:35 on CBS. Watch as Colbert mocks Trump with parody performance of My Way: Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Tell us what you think! Hit us up on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram or leave your comments below. And check out our host, Kylie Mar, on Twitter, Facebook, or Instagram. .@secupp just now on @HLNTV: "I for one hope Nikki Haley is looking to run for president in the near future. It would be nice to have someone with balls in the White House." https://t.co/JGddD8XMUD SE Cupp Unfiltered (@UnfilteredSE) April 18, 2018 A conservative commentator is calling out the administration of President Donald Trump for the way its treated U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. HLN host S.E. Cupp said Haley whom she called arguably the strongest, most competent and effective Cabinet official was thrown under the bus by the White House when officials tried to walk back her announcement of new sanctions aimed at Russia. In one instance, economic adviser Larry Kudlow suggested there was confusion on Haleys part. Haley shot back: With all due respect, I dont get confused. It was the perfect rebuttal, Cupp said on S.E. Cupp Unfiltered on Wednesday. Only Id have left out the respect bit. They dont deserve hers, because she clearly doesnt have theirs. Cupp suggested that Trump perceives Haley as a threat because she may one day want his job. I, for one, hope she is looking to run for president in the near future, Cupp said. It would be nice to have someone with balls in the White House. And she praised Haley for being unafraid of challenging Russian President Vladimir Putin and Syrias Bashar Assad. She makes her male counterparts look like scared schoolboys merely playing at government, Cupp said. Of course, other commentators have pointed out that the Trump administration Haley serves in has undermined plenty of women besides her, targeting womens rights at home and abroad: Nikki Haley rocks. No male is going to condescend to her, or stop her from faithfully serving a fanatically misogynistic President. https://t.co/Uv6eknPKwl Isaac Chotiner (@IChotiner) April 18, 2018 Watch Cupp praise Haley in the clip above. Story continues H/T Mediaite Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Kaylee Lorincz (middle) said Friday that MSUs interim president offered her a secret payout. (Mike Clark/The Grand Rapids Press via AP, File) An attorney advising Michigan State Interim President John Engler told other officials in an email that a story told at a board meeting by Larry Nassar sexual abuse victim Kaylee Lorincz was fake. Lorincz said at Fridays board meeting that she and her mother met with Engler earlier in the year after she felt Engler made hurtful comments. During the course of their meeting, Lorincz recounted on Friday, Engler said he couldnt discuss much because of pending civil litigation. Then, she said, Engler asked her Right now, if I wrote you a check for $250,000, would you take it? She then said he asked her for a number when she responded that it wasnt about the money to her. Engler did not dispute Lorinczs story at the meeting and a spokesperson for the school who was in the meeting with Lorincz and her mother said the topic of money was more of a philosophical one. Per Englers lawyer, Lorinczs story is false news. The Detroit Free-Press obtained an email sent over the weekend by Michigan State special counsel Carol Viventi. In it, she claims Lorincz and her mother would not leave the campus without meeting with Engler in an attempt to set up the school and president. She also said that Lorinczs story at the board meeting Friday was part of a plot to try to increase the possible settlement amount from the school. Really. From the Free-Press: Understand that Bob Young advises that the plaintiff attorneys are willing to make bold and false assertions to advance their goal of increasing the cost of settlement, Viventis e-mail said. What members of the board say in public can, however unwittingly, advance the plaintiffs goals and injure the university. When, as here, it is possible to verify whether public assertions made by plaintiffs are true, there should never be a statement in the press by board members that gives credibility to sensational headlines or what can best be described as false news. Lorincz, 18, is one of hundreds of women suing the school for the way it handled claims of sexual abuse by Nassar, the schools and USA Gymnastics former doctor. Nassar was sentenced to 175 years in prison in January on multiple counts of sexual abuse and assault. Story continues Nassars former Michigan State boss, William Strampel, was charged with four crimes in March. Authorities said they found a video on his computer of Nassar sexually abusing a victim. Strampels charges were an early product of the Michigan Attorney Generals investigation into Michigan States handling of allegations against Nassar. Nick Bromberg is a writer for Yahoo Sports. More from Yahoo Sports: Ohtani gets quick reality check after blazing start Report: Brady hasnt decided on playing in 2018 McKayla Maroney speaks out on Nassar abuse scandal Jeff Passan: How a Twitter war may spark a much-needed MLB change Havana (AFP) - Sixty years ago, on January 1, 1959, Fidel Castro took power in Cuba after a socialist revolution. Here is a look back at the Castro years: - 'Revolution begins now' - On New Year's Day in 1959, dictator Fulgencio Batista flees Cuba, defeated by 26 months of guerrilla warfare spearheaded by the Castro brothers. Fidel declares victory in the southern city of Santiago de Cuba, pronouncing "The revolution begins now" before heading to the capital. The regime begins moving toward communism in May, enacting the first agrarian reform law to allow the expropriation of land. - Rupture with US - In 1960, Cuba nationalizes US companies in response to Washington's decision to limit oil exports to the island and reduce imports of Cuban sugar. A year later, the United States breaks diplomatic relations with Cuba. In 1962, Washington cuts off most trade with the island. - Bay of Pigs - In April 1961, around 1,400 anti-Castro Cubans -- trained and financed by the CIA -- land at the Bay of Pigs in a bid to overthrow the communist regime. The endeavor ends in failure. - Socialism proclaimed - Castro proclaims the socialist character of the Cuban revolution on April 16, 1961. In a speech on May 1, he declares the regime has adopted a socialist system and has "no time for elections." In 1965, the Communist Party of Cuba is created. It has ruled the island ever since. - Missile crisis - In October 1962, the United States identifies facilities for Soviet Union nuclear missiles installed on Cuba. For two weeks, the world is gripped by fears of nuclear war between the two superpowers until negotiations bring an end to the Cuban Missile Crisis. - Death of 'Che' - A hero of the Cuban revolution and brother-in-arms to the Castros, Argentina's Ernesto "Che" Guevara is executed by the Bolivian army in 1967. His death brings an end to a scheme to spread the Cuban revolution across Latin America, starting with Bolivia. Story continues - Soviet sphere - In 1970, Cuba fails to meet its promised objective of a harvest of 10 million tons of sugar to be sold to the Soviet Union at preferential prices. It becomes indebted to the Soviet Union, increasingly moving under its influence and going on to join the communist trading bloc COMECON in 1972. - Troops to Angola - Starting in 1975, Cuba sends troops to Angola to support the first post-independence government of the communist MPLA party in a civil war against the US-backed UNITA movement. Thousands of Cuban troops are deployed as part of the operation, which runs for 16 years, and extends to conflicts in Ethiopia and elsewhere in Africa. - Raul takes charge - On July 31, 2006, an unwell Fidel Castro provisionally hands power to his younger brother Raul, until then his number two in government. Raul officially becomes president in 2008 and undertakes a slow program of reforms to "update" the Soviet economic model that is on its last legs. Fidel dies on November 25, 2016, aged 90. - Thaw with US - In December 2014, then US president Barack Obama and Raul Castro announce plans to normalize US-Cuba ties after 53 years of hostilities. The process comes to fruition the following year. The thaw is later slowed by the arrival of Donald Trump in the White House in 2017. - End of the Castro era - On April 19, 2018, Miguel Diaz-Canel, a 58-year-old technocrat, succeeds Raul Castro, being the sole candidate in a National Assembly vote. Ending six decades of rule by the Castro brothers, he becomes the first Cuban president born after the revolution. - New constitution - On July 22, 2018, Cuba's parliament approves a new draft constitution that will recognize for the first time the role of the market and private sector. Presidential terms will last five years with the possibility of renewal for one term. A referendum on the text will be held on February 24. By Frank Jack Daniel and Sarah Marsh HAVANA (Reuters) - Cuba's Raul Castro was just hours away from retiring as president on Wednesday, with his vice president Miguel Diaz-Canel set to replace him in a shift that will usher in the island's first non-Castro leader since the 1959 revolution. Castro, 86, was due to step down on Thursday after 10 years in office. He announced his departure several years ago and has long signalled that Diaz-Canel, a 57-year-old Communist Party stalwart, was his likely successor, carefully managing the transition to ensure political continuity. The move to a younger generation of Communist leaders is historic on an island dominated for nearly 60 years by Fidel Castro and then his brother Raul. But in the short term it is unlikely to herald major changes to the one-party system or state-dominated economic model. The transition was met with indifference by ordinary Cubans on the streets of Havana, with some saying they felt distant from politics and were more concerned with making ends meet within the limited economic opportunities that opened under Castro's changes. "We are more worried about the day to day than politics," said Ricardo Lugone, 28, who earns his living as a private hairdresser, an industry that was state run until Castro relaxed some restrictions after taking over from his brother Fidel in 2008. Diaz-Canel, who is currently first vice president, was the only name put forward by a party-backed commission on Wednesday, eliciting a long ovation from lawmakers who later held a closed-door vote to unanimously approve the proposal and 30 other appointments to Cuba's state council. The results are expected to be announced on Thursday, and the new president will be sworn in. Although this week's assembly is promoting younger government leaders, Castro and other elders of the revolution will retain considerable power in their roles as the top leaders of the Communist Party at least until a party congress set for 2021. Story continues Political observers said Diaz-Canel would be given the job of breathing life into the creaking economy, but would seek Castro's approval on major strategic decisions such as the relationship with the United States. He is expected to be cautious at first, seeking to consolidate support among party conservatives despite desire among young Cubans for faster development. He is extremely unlikely to challenge one-party rule. Diaz-Canel should "increase the speed of change in Cuba while preserving the good things," said blogger Harold Cardenas, 32, adding that resistance from within the party to Castro's economic reforms had held the country back. After years spent climbing the ranks of the Communist Party, the future president is considered a safe bet to carry the mantle of Castro and other elderly leaders who helped Fidel Castro oust U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista. Trained as an electrical engineer, Diaz-Canel embraces technology and appears socially liberal, but he is relatively unknown to ordinary Cubans. He faces "myriad challenges on all fronts," said Richard Feinberg, who led Latin America policy in former U.S. President Bill Clinton's White House. U.S Senator Marco Rubio, a Republican from Florida, said Diaz-Canel was "an enemy of democracy, human rights and the impartial rule of law." Cuba's economy remains smaller per capita than it was in 1985, when it had the support of Communist ally, the Soviet Union, according to one study. It is suffering from a crisis in oil benefactor Venezuela. Relations with the United States are strained anew under President Donald Trump and Cuba has few allies in the region. "Most Cubans, especially the young, await an unambiguous, decisive acceleration of market-opening reforms," Feinberg said. "Strategically, Diaz-Canel must confront renewed hostility from the U.S. administration." Castro, who had served for decades as defence minister, effectively took over two years before he was formally named president, when Fidel Castro, his health failing, relinquished power. Fidel Castro died in 2016 aged 90. CASTRO'S REFORMS Shunning the long speeches for which his brother was famous, Raul Castro kept his low-key style even as he reached a landmark agreement in 2014 with former U.S. President Barack Obama to restore diplomatic ties with the United States. Relations with Washington had been hostile since soon after Fidel Castro took the island on a sharply leftward path after the revolution. While stressing he was acting to preserve and not dismantle socialism, Castro also introduced market reforms to one of the world's last Soviet-style centrally planned economies, permitting small businesses from hairdressers to restaurants, while encouraging some foreign investment. He gave more freedoms to Cubans, allowing them to travel, visit resorts on the island previously reserved for foreigners and gradually increasing internet access, although opposition groups still face official harassment. On Wednesday, Castro wore a dark suit in place of military fatigues and sat near Diaz-Canel as an official read out the names of proposed leaders to the 604 legislators gathered at a wood-panelled convention centre in a quiet Havana suburb. The legislators then cast secret ballots. One of the elders of the revolution, 85-year-old Ramiro Valdes, was proposed to the council of state, the country's top executive body, a sign of caution in implementing the generational shift. Valdes has held senior posts since the 1960s. The first vice president will be Salvador Valdes Mesa, who at 72 is between the two generations. He is seen as less reform-minded than the new president. He is the first Afro-Cuban to hold such high office in the government. Cuba calls its political processes democratic. However, many Cubans interviewed by Reuters said they were barely paying attention to the transition. A few even call for political reform. "Change would be good to give opportunities to the opposition, so that there are other parties and freer elections," said Ruben, 51, a musician who did not want to give his full name for fear of reprisals. (Additional reporting by Nelson Acosta and Marc Frank in Havana, Patricia Zengerle in Washington; Editing by Frances Kerry, Daniel Flynn, Toni Reinhold) U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley speaks during the emergency U.N. Security Council session Saturday on Syria. (Photo: Eduardo Munoz / Reuters) It was momentarily glorious to hear Nikki Haley, the U.S. ambassador to the United Nations, stand up for herself against her male colleague at the White House. But dont let that moment blind you. Responding to the suggestion, made by Trumps newly appointed economic adviser Larry Kudlow, that there was confusion about the White House plan for Russian sanctions, Haley shot back. With all due respect, I dont get confused, she said in a statement to Fox News Dana Perino, who read the comment during her Tuesday show. It was the rare power move made by the rarest of creatures an actual woman (of color!) in the Trump administration. Kudlow even apologized later that day, though that doesnt mitigate the fact that Haley was left out of critical decision-making and made to look like a dupe. Haleys words were enough to charm CNN chief political correspondent Dana Bash, who tweeted that the line should go down as one of the best by a female leader. Ever. Said so much, with so few words. Indeed, it was hard not to feel a little bit heartened by Haley in that moment. While a strong woman standing up for herself isnt exactly novel in the Me Too era, spotting one in the male wilds of the White House is definitely a noteworthy occasion. But a tossed-off strong comeback doesnt let Haley off the hook. She still works for and consistently defends a notorious misogynist accused by more than a dozen women of sexual misconduct. I know it was like 12 news cycles ago at this point, but @nikkihaley quote "With all due respect, I don't get confused" should go down as one of the best by a female leader. Ever. Said so much, with so few words. Dana Bash (@DanaBashCNN) April 18, 2018 The Trump administration, Haleys team, has worked relentlessly to curtail womens rights, beginning in its earliest days when, surrounded by men, the president signed the so-called global gag rule that bars international health organizations from receiving funding if they mention abortion as a family planning option and may lead to a rise in maternal deaths around the world. Story continues The administration is also working tirelessly to roll back reproductive rights in the U.S., has killed reforms that would have helped close the gender wage gap and has made it more difficult for women to report sexual discrimination. Still, even if you vehemently object to those policies, Haley does hold an allure. Particularly compared to the handful of women in Trumps Cabinet, the most male group of secretaries since the Reagan era. She is clearly an intelligent woman who knows what shes talking about. Its a low bar, but one Education Secretary Betsy DeVos has had trouble clearing. Haley also hasnt vanished into obscurity like Transportation Secretary Elaine Chao or Small Business Administrator Linda McMahon. (The fifth woman in the Cabinet is Kirstjen Nielsen, who runs the Department of Homeland Security and recently said she wasnt sure if Norway is predominantly white to deflect racist comments made by her boss.) Nikki Haley rocks. No male is going to condescend to her, or stop her from faithfully serving a fanatically misogynistic President. https://t.co/Uv6eknPKwl Isaac Chotiner (@IChotiner) April 18, 2018 Haley is also clearly better than White House senior adviser Ivanka Trump when it comes to playing the strong, confident female leader in the press even as she backs the administration in its role curbing womens rights. Indeed she is strong-willed, competent and principled enough that she seems to now be in danger of losing her job. The New York Times reported on Wednesday that Trump is unhappy with Haley and she may be in line to take a Tillerson-like fall. Still, Haley is out there defending the White House. She argued in favor of the global gag rule just this week in an interview with Marie Claire. Haley smoothly responded to a question about a possible rise in unsafe abortions, a likely result of the Trump policy, by talking about womens rights. I think the only thing youre seeing is, instead of us funding and supporting abortions, what weve tried to do is fund and support clean facilities where mothers give birth, she said, adding that, though there may be disagreement on abortion, we should never disagree on the fact that we want the strongest, healthiest, most educated women we can have out there. It was an artful dodge that obscures the harm being done to women by the rule, which human rights groups say is putting millions of women in peril by cutting off access to birth control and crucial health care. Haley also deflected a question about what its like to be a woman in an administration with a challenging record on women by saying she always tells Trump the truth. Whether its the #MeToo Movement, whether its the rumors, whether its facing any other challenges that come along the way, I just try to be as honest as I can, she said. Haley, who was the first woman ever elected governor in South Carolina, wasnt always so clearly on team Trump. She first became known nationally when she pushed to remove the Confederate flag from the South Carolina statehouse not exactly a Trumpian move. And its worth noting that back in 2016 Haley was a fairly vocal critic of Trump, specifically calling him out on his rhetoric around Muslims and once even saying Trump was everything a governor wouldnt want in a president. They even had the requisite Twitter spat, with Trump calling her an embarrassment to the state and Haley hitting back with a classic Southern put-down: But those days seem long ago. To Marie Claire, Haley also spoke about often being the only woman in the room. Indeed, there is a definite dearth of women in politics, particularly in the Republican Party. I push just as hard whether its women or men in the room. Im not intimidated by men at all, she said. Do I wish there were more women? Always. I would love to have more girlfriends all around me. But until that happens Im going to keep trying to represent. What I try to do every day is show its doable. Its inspiring until you think about the rooms she is operating in now, with a president whos making a mockery of our democracy on the world stage and who has at every turn humiliated and undermined women (and men, too). Sometimes there are no women in the room because the room is a bad place to be. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Senator Chuck Schumer expressed concern Wednesday that President Donald Trump's unpredictable foreign policy strategy may have negative effects on the nation and its allies. During a Senate meeting Wednesday, the New York Democrat wondered if White House officials ever spoke with one another to establish a "coordinated strategy" as opposed to U.S. foreign policy "being completely subject to the president's fleeting whims, changing as they do day to day, moment by moment." Schumer criticized Trump's decision to become the first sitting U.S. president to meet a North Korean supreme leader, saying the White House should first demand assurances that Kim Jong Un was planning to give up his nuclear weapons. Related: What does North Koreas Kim Jong Un want from Trump? Three steps the U.S. can take to solve nuclear crisis Trending: Did the Cavs Bench Tristan Thompson Because He Allegedly Cheated on Pregnant Girlfriend Khloe Kardashian? "We should all root for diplomatic solutions in the decades-long North Korean conflict. That's why the U.S. should pursue a diplomatic opening, including through direct diplomacy with Pyongyang," Schumer said. "But thus far we've not seen any indication that North Korea is willing to take concrete measures toward denuclearization. Now, we've read this book before, and I'm concerned that the administration, without a clear or coherent strategy, is buying a pile of magic beans at the cost of our allies and our partners and our own security," he added. RTX5S01R KCNA/Kevin Lamarque/Reuters Don't miss: Ex-911 Operator Crenshanda Williams Gets Probation for Hanging up on Thousands of Callers Story continues Trump surprised observersand reportedly his own advisersby accepting Kim's invitation last month to hold unprecedented direct talks. Trump said Tuesday the meeting, initially set for May, "will be taking place probably in early June or a little before that." On Wednesday, he revealed on Twitter that Mike Pompeo, the CIA director and prospective secretary of state, "met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week," saying the "meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed." These remarks were a stark contrast to last year's nuclear-fueled war of words between the two leaders, who have charged one another with disrupting the international order and creating obstacles for peace on the Korean Peninsula. The U.S. has long demanded Kim and his predecessors abandon their nuclear aspirations, but previous breakthroughs have eventually devolved into dueling accusations and mutual distrust. Trump took a hardline stance early in his presidential career by sending warships to the Asia-Pacific and warning Kim not to test the nuclear weapons he considered vital to his country's survival. Kim reacted by demonstrating his country's ability to launch intercontinental ballistic missiles (ICBMs) and detonate a hydrogen bomb for the first time ever. Hostility between the leaders began to mount in a very publicand sometimes personalway. Most popular: Erin Popovich Cause of Death: Wife of Spurs Coach Gregg Popovich Dies Aged 67 However, as Trump increasingly endorsed the current inter-Korean peace talks, even North Korea has toned down its harsh anti-U.S. rhetoric, with various state-run media outlets largely absent from the routine insults and slights against Washington. Trump has frequently hailed his own "maximum pressure" campaign of military pressure and intense sanctions for bringing about North Korea's diplomatic outreach, but Kim has remained mostly silent about his feelings toward Trump and the upcoming summit in general. RTX5GRY5 Kim Hong-ji/Reuters Kim first mentioned his planned sit-down with Trump during a meeting of the ruling Korean Workers' Party last week. Rodong Sinmun, the official newspaper of the party's central committee, reported that Kim "made a profound analysis and appraisal of the orientation of the development of the north-south relations at present and the prospect of the DPRK-U.S. dialogue." South Korean officials who met with Kim have said the young leader, who inherited power after his father's death in 2011, was ready to denuclearize if the U.S. ended its "hostile policy" toward Pyongyang. North Korea has long argued it would be willing to shutter its nuclear program in exchange for peace, but as the failed attempts of previous administrations showed, meeting these demands was a complex task even for seasoned diplomats. As Kim prepared to first meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in, a Rodong Sinmun commentary hailed "the rosy future" of the two Koreas, praising the supreme leader and asserting that "no persistent move of the anti-reunification forces can block the Korean nation vigorously advancing along the road of independent reunification under his leadership." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Welcome Guest! You Are Here: By Timothy Gardner WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The White House budget office said on Wednesday it was probing whether a $43,000 soundproof phone booth installed for Environmental Protection Agency chief Scott Pruitt violated the law, while dozens of Democratic senators called for him to resign over allegations of ethics lapses. Pruitt has been under fire for potential ethics lapses, including flying first class, excessive spending on security, and the rental of a room in a Washington condominium owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist. The Office of Management and Budget is reviewing whether spending on the booth installed in Pruitt's office broke a law prohibiting federal agencies from incurring expenses in excess of available funds, known as the Anti-Deficiency Act. "We take the anti-deficiency statue very, very seriously and if (it's) been broken, we'll follow the rules," Mick Mulvaney, the head of the Office of Management and Budget, told lawmakers in a House hearing. "We will enforce the law, and we'll do so in a transparent fashion." An OMB spokeswoman said the probe had already begun and her agency was working with the EPA on it. The EPA's approval of the phone booth violated both the anti-deficiency law and another requiring agencies to notify Congress when they obligate more than $5,000 in federal funds to make improvements in an office of a presidential appointee, the Government Accountability Office, a congressional watchdog, said on Monday. Pruitt has said the phone booth is necessary for him to conduct official business. When asked about the OMB's probe, Jahan Wilcox, an EPA spokesman, said his agency disagreed that spending on the booth required notification to Congress and said the agency is addressing the GAO's concern. President Donald Trump said this month that Pruitt, who has carried out his policy of slashing regulations on the fossil fuel industry, "has done a fantastic job." Trump added that he will look into the allegations of ethical lapses. Mulvaney said the anti-deficiency law is technically a criminal statute, but he did not know if anybody had ever been charged criminally with violating it. Both Republican and Democratic lawmakers have criticized Pruitt over the allegations. On Wednesday, 38 Democratic U.S. senators and an independent who votes with them in the 100- member chamber introduced a resolution calling for Pruitt to resign. Pruitt has "completely violated the trust of the American people and the standards of his office, with a list of ethical transgressions that grows longer by the day," Senator Tom Udall said. The Senate is controlled by Pruitt's fellow Republicans. Although Republicans can defeat the resolution, it is symbolically important because it represents the most senators ever to call for a cabinet member's ouster in such a petition, its sponsors said. More than 130 U.S. representatives signed a companion resolution in the 435-seat House of Representatives. (Reporting by Timothy Gardner; additional reporting by Roberta Rampton; editing by Leslie Adler and Cynthia Osterman) Amsterdam (AFP) - The Dutch state Thursday appealed a decision by an Amsterdam court to refer a landmark case over Brexit to Europe's top court, as British expats demand clarification of their rights as EU citizens. In what is believed to be the first such case as Britain prepares to leave the European Union next year, five Britons living in the Netherlands and two expat organisations took the government to court in January. They have argued that they have independent rights as EU citizens, over and above being citizens of any specific EU member country -- including Britain. But lawyer Erik Pijnacker Hordijk, representing the Dutch government, told the appeals court Thursday that their case "is groundless" and should be ruled as "inadmissible". Even in the event of a hard Brexit, where Britain would leave without a deal with the EU "it doesn't mean that British citizens who legally live in the Netherlands will lose their residency rights," he said. "There is no chance that any of the plaintiffs will run the risk of being ejected from the country," he maintained. Currently about 46,000 Brits live in the Netherlands and there was no reason "to believe ... that they will run a serious risk of being told to leave the country," he said. But the group insist their legal rights as EU citizens -- including freedom of movement -- should remain and be protected by The Netherlands even after Britain withdraws from the 28-member body at midnight on March 29, 2019. "Irrespective of how an eventual Brexit will look, the plaintiffs rights as EU citizens are already in jeopardy," the group's lawyer Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm told the judges. In what could have far-reaching implications for about one million Brits on the continent, judge Floris Bakels in February asked the European Court of Justice to answer two preliminary questions. The questions are: "Does Brexit mean that Britons automatically lose their European citizenship or do they maintain their rights, and if so, under what conditions?" Story continues Observers say that should the ECJ indeed rule that Britons have separate implicit rights as EU citizens it could have massive implications -- including impacting current Brexit negotiations. Dutch MPs were later Thursday to take up the issue with a special round table organised in parliament to discuss the ramifications of Brexit. Some of the court plaintiffs and their lawyer, as well as pro-EU groups "British in Europe" and "the3million" were due to appear to "discuss the possible consequences of Brexit for citizens, business, government departments and civil society," a parliamentary notice said. Bogota (AFP) - Ecuador will no longer host peace talks between Colombia and that country's last rebel group, Bogota's foreign minister said on Wednesday after recent attacks on the border between the neighbors. The talks between Colombia's government and guerrillas of the ELN, the National Liberation Army, have been hosted in Quito since early 2017. But Colombia's Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said Bogota "understands the reasons why President (Lenin) Moreno has decided to step away from his condition as guarantor and host of these negotiations." Holguin thanked Ecuador for its support and said talks will be transferred to either Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Norway or Venezuela. Earlier Wednesday, Ecuador's Morena said he had asked his foreign ministry to "put the brakes on these discussions and put the brakes on our role as guarantor in this peace process as long as the ELN doesn't commit to stopping terrorist attacks." There was no immediate comment from the ELN. Colombia's President Juan Manuel Santos is trying to conclude a peace agreement with the ELN, similar to the one signed with FARC guerrillas in November 2016. The FARC has since become a political party. His remarks came as Ecuadoran and Colombian troops pressed a hunt along their respective sides of the border for the Oliver Sinisterra Front, another rebel group responsible for the kidnapping and murder of a three-member Ecuadoran journalist team. The massive manhunt began on Friday after the journalists' deaths were confirmed. Colombia's police chief Jorge Nieto said on Wednesday they had captured one of the group's leaders. He identified him as Vicente Canticus Pascal, who goes by the name "Brayan." "He is a leader of this organization which is run by Guacho," a former middle-ranking FARC commander, Nieto told reporters in the port city of Tumaco, where the Colombian hunt is focused. He said Brayan was suspected of "direct responsibility" for attacks on police and electricity pylons in the Tumaco area that have left hundreds of thousands of people without power. Story continues Officials believe Guacho and his group of around 70-80 rebels work for Mexico's Sinaloa cartel. Until now, Ecuador has been unable to locate the remains of the murdered journalist team after Guacho suspended moves to coordinate their return on Monday. The rebels have since announced the capture of another Ecuadoran couple whose whereabouts remain unknown. QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's state prosecutors' office said on Wednesday that it had opened an investigation of former President Rafael Correa and 10 former officials for alleged mismanagement of public debt during the last five years of his administration. "There were irregularities in the use of public debt in the Ministry of Economy and Finance, the Central Bank of Ecuador, the National Planning Secretariat and other institutions (...) between January 1, 2012 and May 24, 2017," the prosecutors' office said in a statement. The investigation is based on an audit by the national comptroller that concluded that Correa and others changed the formula for calculating the country's debt to GDP ratio and refused to release certain documents. Those under investigation include three former finance ministers and seven other former officials. Reuters was unable to obtain comment from Correa, who lives in Belgium. Three advisors who live in Ecuador did not answer calls seeking comment. Correa borrowed heavily during his 10 years in office, in part through oil-for-loan arrangements with China and Thailand that helped finance the government spending that made him popular. Prosecutors have accused these officials of violating public debt regulations by negotiating up-front payments for future oil deliveries without registering the operations as indebtedness. Correa has defended the financial operations and has said he is victim of political persecution by President Lenin Moreno, his former vice president. (Reporting Alexandra Valencia Writing by Brian Ellsworth) QUITO/BOGOTA (Reuters) - Ecuador will not be a guarantor country at peace talks between the Colombian government and ELN rebels as long as the guerrillas wage attacks, Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said on Wednesday. The sometimes-fraught, 14-month-long talks between Colombia and the National Liberation Army (ELN), a group founded in 1964 by radical Catholic priests, resumed in Quito last month after a six-week pause marked by deaths on both sides. Their first ceasefire ended in January. "I have asked the foreign minister of Ecuador to put the brakes on the conversations and put the brakes on our role as a guarantor of the peace process while the ELN does not commit to ending terrorist actions," Moreno told Colombian channel NTN24 in an interview. Moreno did not specify the actions to which he was referring, but the ELN has been held responsible for kidnappings and bombings during the talks. Two Ecuadorean journalists and their driver were killed last week by a group of former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who refused to demobilize under a 2016 peace deal. The group is holding a civilian couple. "President Santos understands the reasons why President Moreno has decided to move away from his role as guarantor and host of these negotiations," Foreign Minister Maria Angela Holguin said in a televised address, referring to Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos. "Colombia's government will immediately begin the necessary procedures to move the talks to one of the countries that was previously established as an alternative site," Holguin said. Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Norway and Venezuela are guarantor countries and possible locations for the negotiations. ELN representative Alirio Sepulveda said on Wednesday that the group would meet with the Colombian and Ecuadorean governments and the other guarantors to look for a solution. (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia and Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by David Gregorio) Elon Musk (pictured) believes the way to get ahead in business is to walk out of meetings if they go on for too long - REUTERS Elon Musk believes the way to get ahead in business is to walk out of meetings if they go on for too long. The CEO of Tesla and SpaceX has also advised workers to hang up on people once they believe the call is not adding value. In a leaked email to his employees, he said, excessive meetings are the blight of big companies and almost always get worse over time. The memo, obtained by Electrek, was to update Tesla staff on the Model 3 production, which was halted for the second time this year on Tuesday. But he used the email to remind his employees of how maximise their productivity at the office. In quotes | Elon Musk In it, he said: Please get [rid] of all large meetings, unless youre certain they are providing value to the whole audience, in which case keep them very short. Also get rid of frequent meetings, unless you are dealing with an extremely urgent matter. Meeting frequency should drop rapidly once the urgent matter is resolved. Walk out of a meeting or drop off a call as soon as it is obvious you arent adding value. It is not rude to leave, it is rude to make someone stay and waste their time. Billionaire entrepreneur Mr Musk, 46, also told staff to avoid using acronyms or nonsense words at work. He said: In general, anything that requires an explanation inhibits communication. We dont want people to have to memorize a glossary just to function at Tesla. History of Tesla And the South African had a stark warning for his line managers. Communication should travel via the shortest path necessary to get the job done, not through the chain of command, he said. Any manager who attempts to enforce chain of command communication will soon find themselves working elsewhere. Havana (AFP) - Cuba is poised for the end of an era on Thursday as President Raul Castro steps down, formally handing power to his long-time deputy Miguel Diaz-Canel -- and thereby ending his family's six-decade grip on the island. The silver-haired Diaz-Canel, 57 -- a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 -- will become the island's first leader born after the 1959 revolution, and the first in 60 years who is not named Castro. Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. Raul, now 86, has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution. Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency on Wednesday. He will formally be confirmed as the country's leader at roughly 9:00 am (1300 GMT) Thursday -- the anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Fidel Castro's forces defeated 1,400 US-backed rebels seeking to overthrow him. Havana has long hailed the showdown as American imperialism's first great defeat in Latin America. It is also the day before the new president's 58th birthday. - In Raul's footsteps - Diaz-Canel, who some say bears a passing resemblance to American actor Richard Gere, is a fan of The Beatles whose penchant for wearing jeans has set him apart in Havana's corridors of power. Although he has advocated fewer restrictions on the press and a greater openness to the internet, he also has a ruthless streak, with harsh words for Cuba's dissidents and the United States. Crucially, he will remain under the watchful eye of Castro, who will continue to serve as the head of Cuba's all-powerful Communist Party. Once sworn in, Diaz-Canel will be tasked with pursuing reforms begun by Castro to open up Cuba's economy to small private entrepreneurs and reach a rapprochement with its Cold War arch-enemy, the United States. Story continues In 2015, Havana and Washington renewed diplomatic ties, with then president Barack Obama making a historic visit to the island a year later. But, steps towards a normalization of ties have been severely curtailed since Donald Trump arrived in the White House last year. - Continuity over change - Diaz-Canel will also inherit a youthful population hungry for change on the Caribbean island -- one of the world's last outposts of Communism since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba watchers and domestic analysts say he will favor continuity over change in the early days of his presidency, however. As they began their momentous two-day meeting Wednesday, the 605 delegates of the National Assembly cast their votes for the new Council of State, which counts 31 members and whose head automatically becomes president. "I have the honorable mission of putting forward comrade Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez as president of the Council of State," commission president Gisela Duarte told assembly delegates, effectively ending any suspense over the identity of Cuba's new leader. Delegates immediately broke into applause and the two men rose to share an embrace as Cuba's two other vice presidents, both veterans of the revolution, looked on from the row behind. Thursday's session will simply formalize the vote. The Missouri Attorney Generals Office said it has fresh evidence of criminal activity by embattled state Governor Eric Greitens, just days after the Republican was accused in a graphic report of sexually assaulting and blackmailing a woman with whom he had an extramarital affair. Greitens, 44, admits the affair with the unnamed woman but denies any non-consensual sexual activity, or threatening the woman with violence and that he would make public nude images that he had taken of her. The womans disturbing allegations were detailed in a report by a Special Investigative Committee on Oversight of the Missouri House of Representatives. Greitens was charged by St Louis prosecutors in February in relation to the alleged blackmail and faces trial. Many senior Republicans are demanding his resignation. Trending: Why Certain Sounds Drive You Crazy | Opinion Now Missouri Attorney General Josh Hawley says his investigators have uncovered new evidence that Greitens committed a felony by obtaining and using for political purposes an electronic donor list from The Mission Continues, a St Louis-based veterans charity he founded in 2007. Hawley said there is evidence suggesting Greitens obtained the donor list without the consent of The Mission Continues and used it for political fundraising. "If proven, these acts could amount to the unauthorized taking and use of property. In this case, electronic property," Hawley said, adding that it is a felony. Eric Greitens St. Louis Metropolitan Police Dept./Handout via REUTERS Greitens office did not respond to a request for comment about Hawley's allegations. Don't miss: U.S. Crypto Crackdown Begins? Bitcoin Exchanges Face Major New York Probe But the governor tweeted hours after Hawley's statement: I will not be resigning the Governor's office. In three weeks, this matter will go to a court of lawwhere it belongs and where the facts will prove my innocence. Until then, I will do what the people of Missouri sent me here to do: To serve them and work hard on their behalf. Story continues Attorney General Hawley said there is a statute of limitations on the offense of computer tampering and that the deadline is fast approaching, though he would not give a precise date, saying to do so would potentially disclose evidence. He also said his office obtained permission from the court to share all of its evidence with prosecutors in St Louis, the jurisdiction where Greitens alleged offense took place and so the one with the power to make a charging decision. Yesterday, prosecutors in the Circuit Attorneys Office met with members of the Attorney Generals team, said a statement from City of St Louis Circuit Attorney Kimberly M. Gardner. The AGs team provided information they have gathered to us, and we are reviewing the evidence. We cant discuss any specifics at this time, as the investigation is ongoing. Most popular: Starbucks Racial Bias Training: What Will Coffee Chain Teach Its Baristas? The evidence was also shared with the House Investigative Committee because its work is subject to no statute of limitations and Hawley believes it potentially reaches the threshold for impeachment. Hawley emphasized that all parties are presumed innocent until proven otherwise. Hawley, a Republican, is running for his party's nomination for Senate in Missouri, hoping to win the seat from Democratic incumbent Claire McCaskill. After the Missouri House of Representatives report on Greitens alleged sexual behavior, Hawley called on the governor to resign. At the press conference about the latest evidence of criminal activity, Hawley defended himself against criticism that he is aggressively pursuing Greitens to bolster his candidacy for the Senate. "I'm doing my job and my job is to enforce the laws of Missouri, to protect the people of Missouri, and that's exactly what I'm doing, Hawley said. And I'm going to go on doing it no matter who criticized me or tries to intimidate me. This office will not be intimidated and we will not be deterred. We will go on doing our job for the people of Missouri. Greitens, a decorated former U.S. Navy SEAL, was elected Governor of Missouri in 2016. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Robin Emmott and John Irish BRUSSELS/PARIS (Reuters) - European Union governments are showing more support for the idea of new sanctions on Iran proposed by Britain, France and Germany as a way of dissuading U.S. President Donald Trump from pulling out of the 2015 nuclear deal, diplomats say. London, Paris and Berlin angered their EU partners in March when they tried to move quickly with a proposal to impose sanctions on 15 senior Iranian officials, military figures and companies, before a May 12 deadline set by Trump. But assurances from U.S. government officials that such sanctions could influence Trump, who has given Europe until next month to "fix" what he says is "the worst deal ever negotiated", as well as a less confrontational approach by London, Paris and Berlin, appear to be winning other EU members over. Diplomats also said EU governments were under more pressure to protest against Iran's role in Syria's civil war following an April 7 suspected chemical weapons attack near Damascus which the West blames on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. "It's not a 'done deal' but several states have dropped their resistance," one diplomat said, citing Spain, Austria and Sweden which had recently joined a majority in favor. Following meetings in Washington, Luxembourg and Brussels over the past week, Britain, France and Germany have agreed to take a more consensual approach to winning over the other 25 EU governments, which must all agree to the measures, envoys said. That now includes a formal study of the potential political and economic impact of the proposed travel bans, asset freezes and other steps. That could be followed by a final round of debate among EU envoys in Brussels, or, if all countries see only a modest sanctions' impact, a formal document bringing the measures could come into effect in the next few weeks. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel are both due to meet Trump in separate visits to Washington next week and are expected to discuss the Iran deal. ITALIAN HOLDOUT New EU sanctions are part of a multi-pronged approach being negotiated with senior U.S. government officials to show Trump that scrapping the pact between Iran and six major powers - Britain, China, France, Germany, Russia and the United States - could be devastating for the Middle East. However, Italy, which January signed a 5-billion-euro ($6 billion) investment deal with Tehran in January, fears sanctions could damage efforts to rebuild a business relationship with Iran that once made Tehran the EU's second-biggest oil customer. Following inconclusive elections in Italy last month, diplomats say the caretaker government in Rome may tell its EU partners it cannot support any new sanctions. Italian diplomats also questioned whether sanctions would really sway Trump, as some U.S. officials believe they could. But agreeing sanctions before Trump's May deadline may be less important than actually getting them approved. The European Union wants to show its anger at Tehran's support for Assad. "What is crucial is that there is a goal that has been set and that the Europeans share concerns on Iran's ballistic and regional activity," a second diplomat said. According to the sanctions proposal sent to EU capitals and seen by Reuters, Paris, Berlin and London are also concerned by Iran's ballistic weapon program, accusing Tehran of "transfers of Iranian missiles and missile technology" to Syria and allies of Tehran in Yemen and Lebanon. Iran says its missiles are for defensive purposes only. (Additional reporting by Gabriela Baczynska; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Strasbourg (France) (AFP) - The European Parliament called Thursday on Slovakia to ensure a full and independent investigation into the murder of an investigative reporter while demanding better protections for all journalists in the EU. The appeal was adopted by 573 MEPs -- with 27 against and 47 abstentions -- after journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova were shot dead in Slovakia in February. "MEPs called on Slovak authorities to deploy all necessary resources to ensure a full, thorough and independent investigation of the double murder," the parliament said in a statement. They said it was preferable that European police agency Europol join the investigation. "They also urge them to protect investigative journalists from any form of intimidation and defamation charges and from attacks aimed at silencing them," it added. With mass street protests since the murders, Slovakia has been plunged into a political crisis that has forced the cabinet and police chief to resign. Critics had argued that Police Chief Tibor Gaspar's alleged political connections prevented a fair investigation into the murder of Kuciak who had been probing alleged ties between top politicians and the Italian mafia. Kuciak's murder occurred months after anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, was assassinated by a car bomb on October 16 in Malta. Eighteen international media outlets are pursuing their own investigation into Galizia's murder as her sons accuse the Maltese government of handling the case like a public relations campaign. The blogger had made repeated and detailed corruption allegations against Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and members of his inner circle, as well as the opposition. "The murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak are an attempt to undermine our fundamental values and a blow to the rule of law in the European Union," European Parliament president Antonio Tajani said. Story continues The MEPs also condemned "insulting comments" some EU politicians made towards journalists and urged all EU countries to protect the personal safety and livelihoods of investigative journalists and whistle-blowers. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico once told journalists they were "dirty, anti-Slovak whores" and used terms like "plain, silly hyenas" and "slimy snakes" to describe the media. The MEPs called for better protection of journalists subjected to frequent lawsuits "intended to censor their work" and for "a permanent EU scheme to support independent investigative journalism." It also called for "better monitoring of media ownership concentration." By Benet Koleka TIRANA (Reuters) - EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini urged Albania on Wednesday to deepen a reform drive so that it can persuade member states it deserves to join the bloc after 2025. The European Commission recommended on Tuesday that the Balkan country should start accession talks following a series of steps including to combat corruption and improve law enforcement. It also again recommended membership negotiations with neighboring Macedonia, but that step has been held up for years over a dispute with Greece over the country's name. Mogherini called on Albania to maintain the momentum before European Union member states consider the recommendation at the end of June. "The Commission's assessment ... says clearly ... that Albania is ready to open negotiations, maintaining and deepening the reforms you have undertaken," she told reporters on a visit to Tirana. "Do not stand still, keep going!" Albania aspires to join the EU along with west Balkan neighbors Serbia, Montenegro, Macedonia, Bosnia and Kosovo - most of which were war zones after Yugoslavia broke up in the 1990s. The Commission judged it suitable for accession talks thanks to its vetting of judges to clean up a corrupt judiciary, law enforcement successes, a government-opposition deal that led to peaceful elections and work to solve old and new disputes with neighboring Greece. The recommendation has boosted the Socialist government which faces growing dissent and protests at home over road toll fees and value-added tax for small businesses. Italy and other EU members back accession talks. However, France and Germany have resisted further EU enlargement, with some member states worrying about Albanian economic migrants seeking asylum, organized crime, drug trafficking and a lack of cooperation between the government and opposition. "They want to see a country moving beyond the line of non-return, get the assurance that it will not slide back," an EU diplomat said on condition of anonymity. Albania still needed to consolidate urgently its system of property titles, which has been in disarray and a source of conflicts, even deadly ones, since the fall of communism in 1990. Mogherini later arrived in Macedonia whose hopes of accession talks remain blocked by Athens due to the decades-long dispute. Greece believes the name "Macedonia" implies a territorial claim over its northern region, which uses the same name. A new Macedonian government has intensified talks with Greece to resolve the dispute and Prime Minister Zoran Zaev has expressed optimism. "The government will even more energetically lead the reform and political processes in the next two months, so that in June Macedonia receives a date to begin talks," he said. (Reporting By Benet Koleka,; Additional reporting by Kole Casule, Editing by Ivana Sekularac and David Stamp) Berlin (AFP) - About 500 lawmakers from Germany, France and Britain on Thursday urged the US Congress to support the Iran nuclear deal which President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon. "It is the US's and Europe's interest to prevent nuclear proliferation in a volatile region and to maintain the transatlantic partnership as a reliable and credible driving force of world politics," the MPs wrote. The MPs from the parliaments of the three European signatory countries said the landmark 2015 deal was a "major diplomatic breakthrough" that had halted the imminent threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. "We were able to impose unprecedented scrutiny on the Iranian nuclear programme, dismantle most of their nuclear enrichment facilities and drastically diminish the danger of a nuclear arms race," they wrote. "Not a drop of blood was spilt." Scrapping the agreement would result "in another source of devastating conflict in the Middle East and beyond," they warned in an open letter published in several newspapers. Trump has derided the deal as a capitulation to Tehran and has declared it no longer is in the US interest to maintain the sanctions relief his predecessor Barack Obama granted Iran in return for controls on its nuclear programme. He has demanded that US lawmakers and European allies fix "disastrous flaws" in the deal or face a US exit, possibly as early as next month. The MPs warned that ending the deal would spell "lasting damage to our credibility as international partners in negotiation, and more generally, to diplomacy as a tool to achieve peace and ensure security." French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will both travel to Washington next week on separate official visits, in part to lobby Trump on the Iran issue. Yara Shahidi arrives at the Kids Choice Awards at the Forum on March 24, 2018, in Inglewood, Calif. (Photo: Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP) Pedestrians in northwest London who happen to wander down a certain alley on their way to work or school this week will have the treat of an unexpected piece of art: a beautifully executed mural of actress-activist Yara Shahidis face. The large painting is composed of spray paint on cinderblock and is a remarkably realistic rendering. However, as it turns out, the person who created the mural, Richard Wilson, didnt even know who Shahidi was when he undertook the painting. As he explains in a post on his own Instagram account, he was inspired seeing her in Drakes Nice for What video and decided to make her his next artistic endeavor. I liked the colours and this girls look (hoops and curls u GOT ME lol), the London-based street artist wrote on Instagram. I wanted to know who it was so asked on here and was told its Yara Shahidi. So since then I find out shes an amazing role model for young women in particular and has a huge following. Wilson even admitted that he is not really a fan of Drake, so the painting is truly a remarkable example of serendipity. Excuse my ignorance not knowing who she was, he noted. Thanks Yara for the lesson, and inspiration too! Shahidi re-grammed the picture on her own account, saying she was honored to be illustrated by Wilson and appreciated the connection of art forms. Fans raved over the painting as well, with nearly every comment including the word beautiful. Story continues The 18-year-old Black-ish and Grown-ish star is also raising her visibility in a different arena this week, having announced Wednesday (April 18) that shell be teaming with social-news publisher NowThis for Eighteen x 18, an initiative urging young Americans to get involved politically and vote in the 2018 U.S. midterm elections. Shahidi has a long record of social activism for her age, with many causes championed on her social media accounts. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: Friday, April 20 is the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School. It was the deadliest high school shooting in U.S. history until 17 people were killed in Parkland, Florida in February. To mark the grim milestone, and in an effort to keep national attention on stopping school violence, students across the country are planning to leave class as part of the National School Walkout. The National School Walkout was started by Lane Murdoch, a 16-year-old who grew up just 20 miles from Sandy Hook Elementary School where 20 students were killed in a mass shooting in 2012. The movement began as a Change.org petition following the Feb. 14 shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. More than 250,000 people have signed the petition, and there are over 2,000 protests registered. Murdock, a sophomore at Ridgefield High School in Connecticut, is part of a wave of student activists, inspired by the shooting survivors from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School, who are protesting violence in schools and calling for tougher gun control measures. I was 15 when I started this; Im a newly-turned 16 year old, she said. I guess theres no way to control this, but just for people to know that whether its the Parkland students or myself and my team, were growing up while doing this. This is the second major school walkout in two months. On March 14, students walked out of class for the #Enough! National School Walkout. Since February, student activists have also organized meetings with lawmakers, boycotts against companies that partner with the NRA and the March for Our Lives in Washington, D.C. which had siblings protests around the globe. Heres what you need to know about the National School Walkout. When is the National School Walkout? The National School Walkout is April 20 at 10 a.m. (the anniversary of the Columbine shooting). On April 20, 1999, 12 students and one teacher were killed at Columbine High School in Littleton, Colorado. Story continues What will the day look like? At 10:00 a.m. across time zones, students will walk out of their classrooms and observe 13 seconds of silence in memory of those killed at Columbine. Unlike the #Enough National School Walkout organized by Womens March Youth Empower, which was for 17 minutes to mark the 17 people killed in Parkland, organizers want the walkout to last the entire school day. Students are encouraged to plan open mics, rallies, protests, voter registration drives, letter writing campaigns or other activism for the rest of the day. The open-ended nature of the event is important to Murdock, who wants this to be focused on the kids. There is an entire Walkout Planning Guide at the National School Walkout website with resources on everything from a model walkout day schedule, to safety and legal rights, to inclusion and privilege. I want to see nation-wide empowerment, Murdock said. I think weve been told to shut up and get through school and deal with things when were older, and its just not really how good society should function. What about safety? As Francisco Negron, the Chief Legal Officer at the National School Boards Association, noted to NPR in March, Schools stand in whats known as loco parentis (in place of parents), so we dont simply release our students into the ether. The NSBA issued guidelines for student protests, and suggests working with students, teachers and parents and planning ahead of the protests. The National School Walkout student organizers are also stressing planning ahead and working with teachers, administrators and local law enforcement if students have a good relationship with them and encouraging protesters to stay on campus in a centralized location. Making sure its in a contained, controlled environment has been really important, and it just makes their lives easier as well, Murdock said. You know its finding that balance between people realizing that this is civil disobedience some of them may get punished for walking out but making sure that theyre ensuring the safety of their own lives. Can students be punished for walking out? Yes, says the ACLU in its guide for students and free speech in public schools. Because the law in most places requires students to go to school, schools can discipline you for missing class. But what they cant do is discipline you more harshly because of the political nature of or the message behind your action. But, students dont lose their First Amendment rights just because theyre at school. You have the right to speak out, hand out flyers and petitions, and wear expressive clothing in school as long as you dont disrupt the functioning of the school or violate the schools content-neutral policies, according to the ACLU. This was upheld in the 1969 ruling of Tinker v. Des Moines Independent Community School District. This, however, does not apply for students at private schools. In terms of potential punitive measures for students who walk out, it will be up to individual schools and school districts. In an interview with ABC News, one of Murdocks co-organizers, Grant Yuan, a 17-year-old junior, said the response to the walkout has been relatively neutral or positive. Resistance does exist, Yuan told ABC, thankfully it seems at least the majority however slim the majority may be of schools are at least friendly to the event or have accepted its going to happen whether they sanction it or not, and have made moves to accommodate. Who is participating? The event is geared toward high schoolers, and there are more than 2,000 registered groups, according to the National School Walkout page, where students can find a walkout planned in their area. Organizers are encouraging the day to be led by students though parents, teachers and the community may lend support. What are the students protesting for? The students are protesting school violence, and congressional, state, and local failures to take action to prevent gun violence, according to the website. In terms of specific causes, Murdock and the National School Walkout website mention universal background checks, asking lawmakers to vote against the Concealed Carry Reciprocity Act which would allow gun owners to carry weapons in any state, so long as they have a permit from their home state and supporting other common sense gun control laws. What about after the protest? The National School Walkout is also starting local chapters there are at least 150 so far to continue working and communicating on school violence issues. While Murdock worries about the momentum slowing, she said she is not worried to the point of doubting this generation. (Reuters) - A former Liberian warlord known as "Jungle Jabbah" was sentenced to 30 years in prison on Thursday for gaining U.S. asylum by lying about his role in the civil war in his homeland and atrocities he committed, U.S. prosecutors said on Thursday. Mohammed Jabbateh, 51, who has lived in East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, since the late 1990s, was found guilty in October on two counts of fraud in immigration documents and two counts of perjury. During the height of Liberias first civil war from 1992 to 1995, Jabbateh, while serving as commander of a warring group, either personally committed or ordered acts such as rapes, ritual cannibalism, mutilation, murder and the use of child soldiers, according to prosecutors. An attorney for Jabbateh, Greg Pagano of Philadelphia, did not immediately respond to a request for comment. While applying for asylum in December 1998, and then for permanent legal residency later on, Jabbateh was not truthful about his membership in the group known as the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy (ULIMO), and later ULIMO-K, rebel groups that battled for control of Liberia, prosecutors said. Two dozen witnesses, including 17 Liberian victims, testified in the trial. According to testimony, in one instance Jabbateh ordered that the heart of a captive be cooked and fed to his fighters. In another, fighters under his command murdered a villager, removed his heart and ordered the town chiefs wife to cook it. Jabbateh later had the town chief himself murdered and ordered his widow to cook her husbands heart. During Jabbateh's trial Pagano said Jabbateh had been framed by accusers who were desperate to blame anyone they could for atrocities committed during the civil war. These are tall tales of enemies settling old scores not because they had personal experiences with him but because of what group hes identified with, Pagano said at the trial, according to a posting on his website. There is no greater motive than revenge. The case was investigated by special agents of Homeland Security Investigations, an arm of the U.S. Department of Homeland Security. (Reporting by Andrew Hay; Editing by Tom Brown) By Brendan Pierson NEW YORK (Reuters) - A former U.S. Army sergeant and two other U.S. citizens were found guilty by a jury in Manhattan federal court on Wednesday of taking part in a plot to murder a woman in the Philippines for money, prosecutors said. Ex-soldier Joseph Manuel Hunter, Adam Samia and Carl David Stillwell were convicted of charges including murder-for-hire, which carries a mandatory life sentence, according to the office of U.S. Attorney Geoffrey Berman in Manhattan. "Obviously, we're disappointed, but respect the jury's verdict," said Robert Ray, a lawyer for Stillwell, adding he planned to appeal. Lawyers for Hunter and Samia could not immediately be reached for comment. Hunter, 52, is scheduled to be sentenced by U.S. District Judge Ronnie Abrams on Sep. 7. He is already serving a 20-year sentence after pleading guilty in 2015 to separate charges of conspiring to kill a federal drug agent and an informant. Samia, 43, and Stillwell, 50, are scheduled to be sentenced by Abrams on Sep. 14. Samia is a self-described "personal protection/security industry" professional trained in tactics and weapons, while Stillwell's resume says he worked at a North Carolina firm that provides firearms training, according to court filings. Prosecutors said Samia and Stillwell traveled to the Philippines and murdered a woman there in February 2012, and were each paid $35,000 by Hunter. The woman was shot multiple times in the face and left on a pile of garbage, prosecutors said. The first charges against Hunter stemmed from a U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration sting operation that followed the arrest in Liberia in 2012 of Hunter's boss, Paul Le Roux, the Zimbabwe-born head of a multinational criminal organization. Le Roux subsequently agreed to cooperate with authorities. He admitted to shipping drugs and weapons around the world and to having ordered various murders, and ordered a fake murder-for-hire operation to help authorities catch Hunter, according to court records. (Reporting by Brendan Pierson in New York; Editing by Peter Cooney) By Alwyn Scott and Alana Wise (Reuters) - The U.S. Federal Aviation Administration said it will order inspection of about 220 aircraft engines as investigators have found that a broken fan blade touched off an engine explosion this week on a Southwest flight, killing a passenger. The regulator said late on Wednesday it plans to finalize the air-worthiness directive within the next two weeks. The order, which it initially proposed in August following an incident in 2016, will require ultrasonic inspection within the next six months of the fan blades on all CFM56-7B engines that have accrued a certain number of takeoffs. Airlines said that because fan blades may have been repaired and moved to other engines, the order would affect far more than 220 of the CFM56-7Bs, which are made by a partnership of France's Safran and General Electric . The CFM56 engine on Southwest flight 1380 blew apart over Pennsylvania on Tuesday, about 20 minutes after the Dallas-bound flight left New York's LaGuardia Airport with 149 people on board. The explosion sent shrapnel ripping into the fuselage of the Boeing 737-700 plane and shattered a window. Bank executive Jennifer Riordan, 43, was killed when she was partially pulled through a gaping hole next to her seat as the cabin suffered rapid decompression. Fellow passengers were able to pull her back inside but she died of her injuries. On Wednesday, National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt said the incident began when one of the engine's 24 fan blades snapped off from its hub. Investigators found that the blade had suffered metal fatigue at the point of the break. Sumwalt said he could not yet say if the incident, the first deadly airline accident in the United States since 2009, pointed to a fleet-wide problem in the Boeing 737-700. Southwest crews were inspecting similar engines the airline had in service, focusing on the 400 to 600 oldest of the CFM56 engines, according to a person with knowledge of the situation. It was the second time this kind of engine had failed on a Southwest jet in the past two years, prompting airlines around the world to step up inspections. A NTSB inspection crew was also combing over the Boeing 737-700 for signs of what caused the engine to explode. Sumwalt said the fan blade, after suffering metal fatigue where it attached to the engine hub, has a second fracture about halfway along its length. Pieces of the plane were found in rural Pennsylvania by investigators who tracked them on radar. The metal fatigue would not have been observable by looking at the engine from the outside, Sumwalt said. Passengers described scenes of panic as a piece of shrapnel from the engine shattered a plane window, almost sucking Riordan out. Riordan was a Wells Fargo banking executive and well-known community volunteer from Albuquerque, New Mexico, the company said. Videos posted on social media showed passengers grabbing for oxygen masks and screaming as the plane, piloted by Tammie Jo Shults, a former U.S. Navy fighter pilot, prepared for the descent into Philadelphia. The airline expected to wrap up its inspection of the engines it was targeting in about 30 days. The GE-Safran partnership that built the engine said it was sending about 40 technicians to help with Southwest's inspections. Pieces of the engine including its cowling - which covers its inner workings - were found about 60 miles (100 km) from Philadelphia airport, Sumwalt said. The investigation could take 12 to 15 months to complete. In August 2016, a Southwest flight made a safe emergency landing in Pensacola, Florida, after a fan blade separated from the same type of engine and debris ripped a hole above the left wing. That incident prompted the FAA to propose last year that similar fan blades undergo ultrasonic inspections and be replaced if they failed. (editing by David Stamp) Facebook has said it would offer GDPR-like features to users all around the world. (AP Photo/Matt Rourke, File) Facebook has been rolling out new privacy settings to certain users around the world. Here at Yahoo Finance, for example, many of the staff have been greeted by a new message at the top of their Newsfeeds demonstrating where they can see privacy features. But these changes arent necessarily the groundbreaking controls over your data you might be expecting. Instead, theyre more akin to a lite version of the looming European privacy regulation thats set to take effect May 25, called the General Data Protection Regulation, or GDPR. Facebook isnt offering you new controls, but this may actually be good news, depending on your expectations. Thats because theyve already been offering much of these, though many of the controls are now simplified or being further simplified and reformatted into a more digestible format. For example, no one has had to have facial recognition turned on, or certain types of targeted ads if they dont want to. But theres been some confusion that saying no to this stuff is new. Thats because many people have not reviewed these privacy settings before, and in Europe, Facebook has never used its facial recognition software for its users, so there was nothing to turn off or on. (Not existing means off.) It exists now, and the default is off, according to Facebook. The news these days, to clarify, is that the education and notification is different, and that defaults are off so you have to opt into data sharing features, both big parts of GDPR. However, Facebook said it would be continuing to improve and simplify some features like the download my data feature that lets a user view their archive. All of these changes serve to bolster goodwill for the company, which has been embroiled in the the Cambridge Analytica scandal, where data from more than 87 million users was used improperly by a third party. The company, however, did show its red line this week, when it said it would require European users to accept ad targeting if they want to use the service. Under GDPR, Facebook must clearly notify users of its terms of use and privacy policies, but it still can set the terms. If a European user doesnt like it, they can part ways with the companys service, Facebooks deputy chief privacy officer told reporters. At the end of the day, the company is not stepping back from the fact that it is an ad-driven product that people are not forced to use. Story continues Ethan Wolff-Mann is a writer at Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter @ewolffmann. Confidential tip line: FinanceTips[at]oath[.com]. Facebook has a window to self-regulate, and its taking advantage Zuckerberg: How Facebook uses your browsing data Welcome Guest! You Are Here: Home Regional News East Jordyn Wieber, a member of the gold medal-winning 2012 Fierce Five gymnastics team, is the latest Olympian to file suit in the ongoing scandal involving former team doctor Larry Nassar. Wieber has filed suit against USA Gymnastics, the United States Olympic Committee, and Michigan State University, the latest of many prominent gymnasts to charge that those organizations failed to take action while Nassar was allegedly committing acts of sexual abuse. My parents trusted USA Gymnastics and Larry Nassar to take care of me and we were betrayed by both, Wieber said in a statement. And now, the lack of accountability from USAG and Michigan State, have caused me and many other girls to remain shameful, confused, and disappointed. Wieber said Nassar abused her about 10 times over a six-year period. Fellow gymnasts Aly Raisman, McKayla Maroney and Jamie Dantzscher have also filed suit against the organizations, charging that they failed to protect vulnerable gymnasts from Nassar. Maroney, in making a public statement against Nassar in January, could have been speaking for many of her fellow gymnasts: I had a dream to go to the Olympics. The things I had to endure to get there were unnecessary and disgusting. Nassar was recently sentenced to up to 175 years on charges of sexual assault, and also faces a 40-to-125-year sentence on three other counts of sexual assault and a 60-year sentence for federal charges of child pornography. Jordyn Wieber in 2012. (Getty) ____ Jay Busbee is a writer for Yahoo Sports. Contact him at jay.busbee@yahoo.com or find him on Twitter or on Facebook. More from Yahoo Sports: Teammate bursts into tears during NFL stars retirement Charles Robinson: Why things may get ugly for Rodgers, Packers Report: LeBron sued over barbershop web show Are Yankees fans being too tough on Stanton? CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (Reuters) - A Falcon 9 rocket blasted off on Wednesday on SpaceX's first high-priority science mission for NASA, a planet-hunting space telescope whose launch was delayed for two days by a rocket-guidance glitch. The Transit Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or TESS, lifted off on schedule from Florida's Cape Canaveral Air Force Station at 6:51 p.m. EDT, starting the clock on a two-year quest to detect more worlds circling stars beyond our solar system that might harbour life. The main-stage booster successfully separated from the upper-stage of the rocket and headed back to Earth on a self-guided return flight to an unmanned landing vessel floating in the Atlantic. The first stage, which can be recycled for future flights, then landed safely on the ocean platform, according to SpaceX launch team announcers on NASA TV. Blastoff followed a two-day launch postponement forced by a technical glitch in the rocket's guidance-control system. (Reporting by Joey Roulette from Cape Canaveral, Florida; Additional reporting and writing by Steve Gorman in Los Angeles; Editing by Cynthia Osterman) Turkey will hold snap presidential and parliamentary elections on June 24, the government announced Wednesday, in a move many believe will help strongman president Recep Tayyip Erdogan consolidate power for another five years. The decision was reportedly made following a meeting between Erdogan and the Nationalist Movement Party's leader, Devlet Bahceli, with whom the Turkish president's Justice and Development Party (AKP) has formed an alliance. The elections will be held a year earlier than scheduled, and some experts said the decision was made because Erdogan is worried his popularity would plummet before November 2019, when the next elections were originally scheduled. Turkey has never called snap elections before. Trending: Why Trumps Judicial Nominee Refusing to Say Brown v. Board Was Right is Dangerous | Opinion But Erdogans military incursions into Syria, where Turkey is battling Kurdish fighters, have boosted his popularity, and analysts said the president hopes to ride that wave of support to an election victory. What the announcement appears to mean is that Erdogan and his party are somewhat desperate. Amid fresh memories of Turkey's capture of Afrin [in Syria] in March and fears of an ailing economy, it seems that Erdogan reasons that June presents the best opportunity to capitalize, Ryan Gingeras, an expert on Turkish history at the Naval Postgraduate School, told Newsweek. The fear is that if you wait [until] November 2019, you don't know what the economy will be like or what the international environment will be like. Now is as good as ever. Don't miss: These Women Say the New York City Police Department Is Failing Rape Victims Whats more, the decision to hold elections early could disqualify one of Erdogans main political opponents from running against him, some experts said. The snap elections put the newly established IYI Party, a credible competitor on the center-right, in limbo, as it is likely that they could be legally excluded from the elections because they were established less than six months prior to the now scheduled election date, Magdalena Kirchner, a fellow at the Istanbul Policy Center in Turkey, told Newsweek. Story continues In the past weeks the dramatic devaluation of the [Turkish currency] lira had caused major headlineswith an economic crisis looming large that would also hit the AKPs base. Snap elections help Erdogan to regain the political momentum, Kirchner added. Most popular: Ted Cruz Could Be Defeated By Anti-Wall Democrat Beto ORourke in Texas Midterms, Poll Suggests Erdogan has been steadily increasing his grip on power over the past several years. In July 2016, a failed military coup gave him an excuse to begin cracking down on dissidents, political opponents and critical journalists. Tens of thousands have been arrested, and over 100,000 people have been suspended from their jobs. Then, in 2017, Erdogans party pushed through a constitutional referendum to abolish the position of prime minister and give increased power to the president. That success of the referendum ensured that Erdogan can legally run in two more election cycles, allowing the 64-year-old to remain in power for another decade if he wins both elections. The extra powers granted by the referendum will go into effect after the upcoming presidential election. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Paris (AFP) - The French parliament votes Friday on a tough immigration bill that has sparked rumblings of revolt within President Emmanuel Macron's party, with several MPs openly challenging his plans to speed up deportations of failed asylum-seekers. The government argues that tighter controls are needed to check the rise of anti-immigration populists, who are on the march across Europe from Berlin to Budapest after suffering a setback in last year's French elections. "I fear that if we do not resolve the problem facing us... others will do it without any humanity," Interior Minister Gerard Collomb said earlier this month. The bill aims to both cut waiting times for asylum applications -- from around a year currently to six months -- and make it easier to deport those turned down as "economic" migrants. The right-wing opposition say the bill is too soft but left-wing parties and NGOs have branded it repressive. "We cannot take on the misery of the world," Macron, who campaigned as a champion of open borders but has adopted a tough line on migration since taking office, said in an interview with BFMTV on Sunday. Macron pointed to the "ticking bomb" of population growth in Africa, wars and climate change among factors that would continue driving migration to Europe in the years to come. Faced with an "unprecedented" wave of arrivals the government would focus on welcoming those whose lives were at risk in their country of origin, he said firmly. France received a record 100,000 asylum applications last year, bucking the general trend in Europe, where the number of asylum seekers halved between 2016 and 2017. A shortage of accommodation means many wind up on the streets of Paris, or the northern port of Calais, a gateway to Britain, where a squalid camp housing thousands of migrants was razed by the state in late 2016. A February survey by pollsters BVA showed 63 percent of voters felt there were too many immigrants in France, home to around six million people who were born in another country. Story continues - 'Unworthy of France' - On Monday, France's human rights ombudsman Jacques Toubon slammed the "unacceptable conditions" facing around 1,000 migrants packed into a new tented camp along a canal in northeast Paris. "We cannot remain on this path which is unworthy of France's welcoming tradition and increasingly difficult for some of our fellow citizens," Collomb, one of the more hawkish figures in Macron's left-right administration, argued in parliament this week. The bill doubles the time that failed asylum seekers can be detained to 90 days, making it easier to deport them. It also reduces the time they have to lodge their application from 120 to 90 days and gives them just two weeks to appeal if unsuccessful, a period slammed by NGOs as far too short to gather more evidence in support of their claim. Once accepted, however, refugees will be given more help to integrate, by, for instance, gaining the right to work and being given more French classes. The government has defended the legislation as balanced but several members of Macron's usually compliant Republic on the Move (LREM) party have vowed to reject the bill or abstain when it is put to a vote Friday. "This bill stigmatises foreigners," Francois-Michel Lambert, a LREM lawmaker representing the southern Bouches-du-Rhone region, told BFMTV. Delphine Bagarry, an MP representing Alpes-de-Haute-Provence, told France Inter radio that while she supports the need to shorten the agonising wait for asylum, "it cannot be at the expense of their right to a defence". Fearing that any sign of weakness could embolden dissidents to break ranks on other issues, party leader Richard Ferrand has threatened LREM naysayers with expulsion. But the bill is expected to pass, despite strong opposition from far-right leader Marine Le Pen -- the runner-up to Macron in last year's election -- and the conservative opposition Republicans. The Republicans' hardline leader Laurent Wauquiez charged that Macron's presidency was on course to legalise "a million more immigrants" by 2022. Right-wingers have also argued that provisions allowing underage refugees to bring siblings to live with them in France will have a "pull effect" on migration. BERLIN (Reuters) - French President Emmanuel Macron said on Thursday that euro zone member states should add solidarity mechanisms such as a banking union to the existing instruments meant to improve competitiveness if they want the bloc to thrive. "No monetary union can exist without elements of convergence," the French leader said in a joint conference with German Chancellor Angela Merkel ahead of talks on the currency union's reform. "The most important thing is not to react on such and such instrument at this stage, but to be sure that we share the same goals and to have a joint political objective," he added. Both leaders want to present joint proposals in June, Macron reiterated. (Reporting by Michel Rose; Editing by Ingrid Melander) President Trump will leave the Iran nuclear deal next month if there are no significant changes, Republican Sen. Bob Corker says. "Maybe there will be a breakthrough before May 12," the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations chairman says. President Donald Trump will leave the Iran nuclear deal next month if there are no significant changes, Republican Sen. Bob Corker told CNBC on Thursday. "Maybe there will be a breakthrough before May 12," said Corker, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. May 12 is the deadline for the U.S. to recertify the deal. "If there's not, I absolutely believe that he'll leave the agreement." The United States is hoping to reach an agreement with Britain, France and Germany to address Trump's concerns about the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Trump has been critical of the deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama , demanding it be fixed or the U.S. will withdraw the pact and sanctions will be reinstated. Trump has opposed terms that would allow Iran to gradually reinstate its nuclear activities and accused Iran of violating the agreement. Iran has said its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and its ballistic missiles solely for defense. Corker, a two-term senator from Tennessee who won't be seeking re-election, has played a key role in talks aimed at the preventing the deal from crumbling. He said a deal still could be reached if "there's a framework agreement." But, "we've had some resistance from the EU three that we've been dealing with," he said. Iran's nuclear deal was struck in 2015 with China, the United States, U.K., Russia, France and Germany. Corker was an early supporter of Trump during the election and was floated as a potential running mate during the campaign. However, Corker later became critical of Trump's behavior and at one point called Trump an "utterly untruthful president." Story continues Corker's relationship with Trump has ebbed and flowed ever since. Reuters contributed to this report. More From CNBC Democrats have an edge on health care in the 2018 elections. (Photo: Nicholas Kamm/Getty Images) WASHINGTON Since the Affordable Care Acts passage in 2010, repealing Obamacare has been the driving issue for the Republican Party. GOP lawmakers voted to defund, change or repeal parts of the law at least 67 times while President Barack Obama was in office, and they promised voters that if they won control of the White House, theyd make the dream of full repeal come true. Republicans received their chance in the 2016 elections, which handed the party control of both chambers of Congress and the White House. But they failed to get the job done last year as voters realized what theyd be losing and public opinion swung in favor of the law. The GOP has shown no signs of trying to take up repeal again this year. Now, Republicans are giving up on Obamacare repeal as a campaign issue as well. Anti-Obamacare ad spending in the 2018 election cycle has plummeted compared to the same period in the previous three cycles, according to data compiled by Kantar Media/CMAG for HuffPost. (Photo: Kantar/CMAG data for HuffPost) The reality of the situation is that Republicans really dont have much to say about health care at this point, said Geoff Garin, a Democratic pollster who is president of Hart Research. What are they going to say on it? admitted a Republican strategist who requested anonymity to speak openly and who previously worked at the National Republican Congressional Committee. Well repeal Obamacare? I mean, what are they going to say thats believable? Democratic spending on health care ads is slightly up from where it was in the past three election cycles during the same period. And Democratic strategists and candidates say that for them, health care will be front and center. We see health care as the defining issue of the 2018 midterms, said David Bergstein, spokesman for the Democratic Senatorial Campaign Committee. The Republican health care agenda is incredibly toxic with voters of every political persuasion. For the first time in an election cycle since Obamacares passage, a majority of the public now approves of the health care law. Democrats now have a sizable advantage over the GOP on the issue, too. And in a recent HuffPost/YouGov poll, voters chose health care as one of their top issues. Story continues (Photo: HuffPost chart created with Datawrapper) Even a poll commissioned by America First Policies, a pro-Trump group, found that lowering the cost of health care is the top issue for many voters. Of the respondents who said health care is a top concern, only 34 percent said they want Obamacare repealed and replaced. Forty-seven percent wanted problems with the law to be fixed, while 15 percent said they want it to stay exactly as it is. (Photo: America First Policies) One of the ironies of the Republican attack on the Affordable Care Act is its made it more popular in voters eyes, especially as voters have a chance to compare the Affordable Care Act to the Republican alternatives, Garin said. Republican attempts to repeal Obamacare met a wall of opposition last year as the details of GOP alternatives became clear and Americans realized what it would mean for people who now benefit from the laws protections and financial assistance. As part of a broader mobilization against the Trump administration and its policies, Obamacare supporters showed up at town halls and protests around the country, leading to high-profile confrontations and pleas to keep the health care law in place. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Health care is one of the most personal of issues far more so than tax cuts, which is what Republicans apparently want to run on this cycle and Democrats are using it in powerful campaign ads. Health care costs are still a significant concern for people, and the GOP has largely dropped any efforts to make health care more affordable. Anna Greenberg, a Democratic pollster at Greenberg Quinlan Rosner Research, cautioned that while theres no doubt that people are concerned about health care costs, shes not sure if that issue or any other particular issue will be what drives people to the polls in November. In political discussions, people talk more about how much they hate the divisiveness in the country, she said. I think its going to be interesting to see how Democrats can bring the health care issue in as an indictment of Republicans and their values, but also as an economic conversation at a time when a lot of this is being driven by this kind of larger mood in the country, she said. Republicans sense that health care is no longer an issue they own. Rep. Mike Bishop (R-Mich.) is in what should be a reliably Republican district, but in an election year thats already bringing unexpected wins to Democrats, Bishops seat is considered a bellwether that could be up for grabs. Last year, his campaign site had a section about repealing Obamacare. (Photo: Mike Bishop for Congress) This year, Bishops issues page has no mention of health care. Stu Sandler, a campaign consultant for Bishop, told The Washington Post that the new site reflects the congressmans accomplishments and that he hasnt changed his position on Obamacare. Im sure Republicans want to change the topic, said Jesse Ferguson, a Democratic consultant who works with groups on the health care issue. If you asked the captain of the Titanic, hed want to change directions too. But after youve already hit the iceberg, its too late. Tax cuts seem to be where Republicans are focusing their energy and pinning their 2018 hopes. I think running for the benefits of tax reform is where Im going to focus my attention on speaking about why ... we should be the party in power and in control, and what that means for the American people, Sen. Tim Scott (R-S.C.) said Tuesday when asked about health care in the midterms. But so far, that measure which was supposed to be the highlight of the GOP legislative agenda isnt resonating as much as the party would have liked. Toward the end of the heated special election in Pennsylvanias 18th Congressional District last month, Republicans largely abandoned ads touting their signature piece of legislation. On Tuesday, House GOP leadership told its members that they needed to get out there and start talking more about the tax cut law, because right now, its not at the top of the publics minds. Republicans did run ads on Obamacare in the Pennsylvania special election, going after Democrat Conor Lamb for supporting the health care law. And Republican Rick Saccone supported repeal. But ultimately, it didnt work. Lamb won in a district where the Republican incumbent (who resigned over a sexual misconduct scandal) had run unopposed in the previous two cycles. Trump won there by 20 percentage points as well. Nancy Pelosi and Conor Lambs agenda of higher taxes and bigger government is too liberal for #PA18 families and workers. pic.twitter.com/jq1CIpQmLg Congressional Leadership Fund (@CLFSuperPAC) February 12, 2018 A Democratic poll found that the health care message was a winning issue in the race, with a majority of voters opposed to what the Republicans wanted to do to the Affordable Care Act. On the anti-Obamacare side, the American Action Network is running the greatest number of ads and spending the most money ($1,253,700) this cycle, according to the data compiled by Kantar Media/CMAG for HuffPost. On the pro-Obamacare side, the group Save My Care has the highest number of spots, while J.B. Pritzker, who just won Illinois Democratic gubernatorial primary, has spent the most money ($2,173,010). American Action Network is the biggest anti-Obamacare ad spender this cycle. (Photo: Kantar Media/CMAG data for HuffPost) Save My Care has run the most ad spots in favor of Obamacare this cycle. (Photo: Kantar Media/CMAG data for HuffPost) Yet the ongoing efforts to undermine the law and how that affects voter sentiments are an X-factor in all of this. Last years GOP tax bill eliminated the financial penalty for people who dont get insurance. Without that penalty in place, healthy people are less likely to buy insurance, causing premiums for those who keep insurance to rise. At the same time, Republicans at both the state and federal levels are doing what they can to change the rules on the kinds of insurance available. This is expected to result in cheap but less generous plans for people in good health and more expensive premiums for people who want or need more comprehensive coverage, including those with pre-existing conditions. The effects of some of these changes will become apparent this fall, right before Election Day, as consumers begin to learn what coverage for next year will cost. Republicans will likely respond as they always have, making the argument Sen. Dean Heller (R-Nev.) did in a closed-door event this month. The problem, theyll say, is still with the law itself. Give Republicans more seats in Congress, and this time, theyll actually repeal it. Igor Bobic contributed reporting. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. How the prom dress has evolved over the years. (Photo: Everett Collection, Art: Quinn Lemmers) The prom has endured as a meaningful teenhood tradition for decades: Its a hotly anticipated toast to high school, playing a pivotal part of basically any teen flick worth its salt (not to mention how pivotal it can be IRL too). But the true roots of prom short for promenade are as a rite of passage, debuting at Northeast colleges such as Harvard University and Amherst College in the mid- to late 19th century, as relatively simple farewell dances for graduating classes. The practice skewed younger in the decade that followed, emerging as a teen tradition at high schools by the 1940s. Proms are held at some Canadian high schools, and they have also caught on to a lesser extent and with a younger demographic in the past decade or so in the U.K., although it hasnt expanded much farther globally. Proms are just one type of coming-of-age ceremony, along with quinceaneras, bar/bat mitzvahs, Catholic communions and confirmations, debutante balls, and weddings. All these rites of passage, and the carefully chosen clothes that are worn on these special occasions, have stuck around. But the prom dress differs from most rite-of-passage fashion traditions: Its nonsecular, and not tied to any particular ethnicity, and, thus, its more universal. Its also the rare coming-of-age garment that can, and often does, telegraph a teen girls burgeoning sexuality, as sociologist Amy Best explores in her 2000 book, Prom Night: Youth, Schools, and Popular Culture. The prom dress is critically important to this invention of a sexual self, Best writes, detailing how she overheard some of the girls she interviewed describing their fathers utter discomfort upon seeing their risque getups for the big night, which provide proof that the girls had succeeded in transforming themselves. 1942: High school seniors at their prom in Greenbelt, Md. (Photo: Getty Images) Granted, the prom dress wasnt very sexy at its midcentury inception. Prim and ultrafeminine was the M.O. instead. In the 1940s, prom dress silhouettes were often cut slim and close to the body. This wasnt done for the sake of a sexier, more body-con dress: It was due to WWII fabric rations. These frocks had higher necklines and covered shoulders (often with some pouffy volume at the shoulders), with floor-grazing hemlines, often fabricated from heavy materials like velvet and taffeta. Story continues 1954: Prom in Cloyne, Canada (Photo: Wikicommons) Ultrafeminine, waist-whittling tea-length dresses dominated the fashion vernacular in a big way in the 1950s, and it was the preferred shape for promgoers during that midcentury period too. The style includes fitted waists, full skirts, and calf-grazing hems, falling 3 to 4 inches below the knees. (Interestingly, the term tea length actually dates back to the dresses women wore when having teas circa the 1920s.) Some styles even were bedecked with frilly ruffles. Necklines were less demure than in previous decades, for the most part, and strapless styles were also common. 1960s: Students dancing at the Mariemont High School prom in Cincinnati. (Photo: Getty Images) The early 60s brought about a return to closer-cut skirting that had been de rigueur two decades earlier, but purely for aesthetic reasons not as a cost-cutting measure. Slimmer skirts were paired with higher waistlines, making for more of a baby-doll silhouette. Pastel palettes with Easter egg-worthy hues were popular, and dresses moved toward spaghetti-strap and boatneck shapes up top. Later in the decade, empire waist shapes rose to prominence, paired with a range of necklines, like sleeveless boatneck styles and square-neck short-sleeved iterations. And throughout the 60s, ultra-voluminous coifs were the norm. However, proms fell out of favor to an extent as the decade wound down, thanks to shifting cultural attitudes based on political events and attitudes of the time: The proms popularity waned in the late 60s and early 70s, Best writes in Prom Night. With countercultural movements, antiwar protests, and an antiestablishment stance, many irreverent youth brought proms to a halt. 1975: Susan Ford and her date, William Pifer, dance during the 1975 Holton Arms School Senior Prom, held in the East Room of the White House. (Photo: Getty Images) In the 1970s, many prom dresses, reflecting the wider dress trends of the era, became roomier in cut, often without any definition at the waist whatsoever. Unlike the strapless, snug bodices or sleeveless styles that were dominant in previous decades of prom dressing, these frocks tended to have off-the-shoulder, possibly lace-trimmed necklines or long sleeves that were often sheer or billowy. On the silver screen, Carrie depicted a considerably less dowdy take on the trend: a clean-lined strappy gown with a fluid skirt. Another iconic 70s prom dress was worn at the first, and only, prom to be held at the White House: Susan Ford, daughter of President Ford, donned a flowy, salmon-hued jersey gown designed by Albert Capraro, a former assistant to Oscar de la Renta. The frock was trimmed with a few buttons, plus a massive orchid corsage (as her classmates had). 1976: Carrie White, played by Sissy Spacek, is unexpectedly elected prom queen in Brian De Palmas horror film Carrie. (Photo: Getty Images) A major prom milestone of the 70s was the founding of Jessica McClintock: The brand, created by a former schoolteacher with no formal design training, went on to become synonymous with prom dressing in the 80s and 90s, and also did big business with bridesmaid gowns and other formalwear during those decades. While the designer herself retired in 2014, and her namesake stores were shuttered around the same time, the label still has licensing deals for some products, such as fragrances. 1986: Jon Cryer and Molly Ringwald in the film Pretty in Pink. (Photo: Everett Collection) The maximalism of all things 80s certainly didnt spare the prom dress category. The extravagant excess of the era translated to ultra-pouffy details like oversize bows or ruffles and flashy metallic materials. Tresses were teased and/or crimped, and the makeup of the era tended to be equally as over the top: heavily pigmented lids, copious amounts of self-tanner, and bold lips. But the most memorable 80s prom dresses were certainly in the multiplex, as the teen-movie genre really solidified and took off in the decade, thanks in no small part to John Hughess iconic flicks. Take, for example, the pale pink dress a thrift-store hand-me-down that gets some considerable revamping worn by Andie (Molly Ringwald) in the seminal 1986 teen classic Pretty in Pink. 1990s: Jennie Garth and Shannen Doherty in Beverly Hills 90210. (Photo: Fox) In the early part of the 90s, prom frocks looked quite similar to those of the 80s in terms of having lots of pouf and ample metallic hues. Sweetheart necklines became quite popular for promgoers (and for fancy occasions in general), and while form-fitting bodices endured, the silhouette shifted slightly, with waistlines hitting closer to the hips. Shorter hemlines with dramatic necklines were common too, among prom-worthy minidresses of the early 90s. To wit: the identical black tube dresses with massive, white bow-adorned off-the-shoulder necklines worn by both Brenda Walsh (Shannen Doherty) and Kelly Taylor (Jennie Garth) on an episode of Beverly Hills 90210 in 1993. The style was so iconic, it inspired a runway look nearly a decade later, when designer Isaac Mizrahi trotted out a similar frock in his resort 2011 collection. 1999: Julia Stiles and Heath Ledger in 10 Things I Hate About You. (Photo: Everett Collection) Later in the decade, slinky, spaghetti-strap slip dress or sheath styles reigned supreme. Recalling the iconic and ill-fated style that Sissy Spacek wore (and got drenched in pig blood) in Carrie, two decades before. These styles represented a trickle-down from what was seen on the runway during the era, most memorably in Calvin Klein collections circa the 90s. Two epic teen flicks that debuted on the silver screen in 1999 showcased the style: Kat Stratford (Julia Stiles) in a deep purple gown with a lavender shawl in 10 Things I Hate About You, and Laney Boggs (Rachael Leigh Cook) in her post-makeover prom reveal, replete with a sparkly, skinny-strapped LBD. 1999: Rachael Leigh Cook in Shes All That. (Photo: Everett Collection) Other popular silhouettes of the 90s included skinny-strapped halter styles, which flaunted ample shoulder and back. As for length, a mix of floor-grazing gowns and minidresses ruled late 90s prom dance floors. Rachel Bilson and Mischa Barton in The O.C. (Photo: Fox) The new millennium brought about a mishmash of prom trends (spurred by the eras prevailing fashion trends). Think: bubble-hemmed looks, like a wildly unrealistic, straight-off-the-runway Chanel frock worn by Marissa Cooper (Mischa Barton) to the prom on The O.C. in 2006. Strapless gowns with lots of shirred detailing were, and continue to be, popular, often sporting some level of sparkly embellishments and resembling colorful, slightly less voluminous iterations of wedding dresses. Sweetheart necklines, one-shouldered styles, and halter-style necklines were also popular. Prom dress styles have certainly evolved and gotten more scintillating in the past two decades, becoming a more controversial topic in the process. Some schools have enforced restrictive and often sexist dress codes, which tend to predominantly control what girls can and cant wear to the big event. By the 2010s, risque prom dresses entered the picture, such as ones sporting dramatic cutouts, which tend to resemble the most revealing of Miss Universe getups or professional dance competition looks. Social media and the evolution of celebrity red carpet style are largely responsible for these saucier prom looks, which include midriff-flaunting two-piece sets, ultrahigh slits, and sheer overlays on supershort minidresses (the latter lends a sense of modesty to a short, potentially controversial silhouette). As for prom dresses of the 2020s and beyond, perhaps theyll stay consistent with the styles dominating dance floors currently. Or the 20s may usher in an entirely new era of prom frocks, continuing the decades-long tradition of getting gussied up for one last, festive hurrah of the all-important teen years. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: This teen wore a Michelle Obama suit jacket to prom to honor the strong black women who raised him This gay couple is fighting for their right to be their high schools prom king and king This teen is going viral for DIYing a $4 thrift-store dress into her dream prom dress Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. IMF Managing Director Christine Lagarde holds a press conference during the 2018 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund and World Bank Group at IMF Headquarters in Washington, DC, April 19, 2018 (AFP Photo/SAUL LOEB) International Monetary Fund Managing Director Christine Lagarde is a big fan of the corporate tax reform bill passed by the U.S. Congress and signed by President Donald Trump last year. In fact, the IMF chief, who has been critical of many of the policies Trump has pursued, said the organization was very, very supportive of the tax cut. During a press briefing at the IMF/World Banks spring meeting in Washington, Lagarde called the tax cut something the IMF had advocated, recommended, encouraged, and one [thing] that we are very pleased to see happen. Lagarde was responding to a question from a reporter about whether she could name anything that Trump had done right, given his policies conflict with much of the IMFs guidance. The Fund is an international organization which seeks to encourage global cooperation, global financial stability and facilitate international trade. Its stated goal is to ensure the stability of the international monetary system. The IMF raised its expectations for global growth this year from 3.7% to 3.9%, the highest since 2011, and increased its U.S. growth projection to 2.9% for 2018. Lagarde said the measures taken by the Trump administration and Congress were largely behind the upgrade. Lagarde added, however, that she remained concerned about the debt the United States has been taking on since Trump took office. On the other hand, what we are saying is that in order to deal with entitlements the United States should take advantage of the current upswing given the measures that have been taken, she said. So taking advantage of this upswing we believe that the United States should try to reduce its deficit and try to move its debt downward rather than upward. Thats all we are saying in that respect. More from the IMF/World Bank meetings: Dion Rabouin is a markets reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter: @DionRabouin. Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. Former First Lady Barbara Bush, wife of former President George H.W. Bush and mother to former President George W. Bush, died on Tuesday at the age 92. She was born Barbara Pierce, the daughter of publisher Marvin Pierce, and attended Smith College until she dropped out to marry George H.W. Bush, whom shed met at a party in Greenwich, Conn., over a winter break. As a result of that meeting, she would garner important, if subtle, political influence. When Margaret Carlson, who also memorialized Bush for TIME on Tuesday, profiled the then-new First Lady in a TIME cover story entitled The Silver Fox in the Jan. 23, 1989, issue, the magazine explored how she would make the transition from the role of Second Ladymore able to speak her mind, not quite so visibleto White House resident. And, as the story explained, she seemed like the right woman in the right place. She seemed to walk the line between the necessarily supporting nature of the role and the personal activism expected of a First Lady, campaigning tirelessly for her husband but also finding inspiration in her role as a mother and wife. Sure enough, when her husband was elected the 41st President of the United States, she promoted efforts to combat illiteracy (inspired by her son Neils dyslexia) and research for cancer cures (inspired by the death of her daughter Robin at just 3 years old). Heres how TIME described the way that she wielded influence in her husbands political career in his time leading up to the White House: Barbara has been most influential on issues that concern her deeply or where her husband is behind the curve, like AIDS, the homeless, civil rights and education. In the late 1950s, she battled segregationist innkeepers who refused to let the familys black baby-sitter stay with them in the same hotel. She was instrumental in the appointment of the only black in Bushs Cabinet, Dr. Louis Sullivan, whom she came to know from her work at [Atlantas Morehouse School of Medicine]. Story continues It was Barbaras visits to AIDS hospitals in Harlem that nudged her husband into endorsing additional federal funds for fighting the disease when the Reagan Administration was still balking. Similarly, after an early debate when her husband brushed aside a question about the homeless with boiler plate about housing, Barbara exhorted him to make homelessness a campaign issue. She really talked hard at him, said an aide, and rode him until he got it right. Barbaras interest in children and literacy, meanwhile, helped Bush commit himself to being the education President. Every time he says Head Start, thats Bar, says Sheila Tate, Bushs transition spokeswoman. Barbara tries to mask her views where they differ from her husbands. Her preferred line on abortion is Im not going to tell you my opinion, a perhaps pointedly transparent admission of her pro-choice views, since if she agreed with Bush she would presumably say so. She disagreed behind the scenes with his hardball campaign tactics, masterminded by Jim Baker, Atwater, Roger Ailes and others. Late in the general-election campaign, aides sensed Barbaras unseen hand after speeches were rewritten in a softer tone. There were drafts of speeches that went into the suite at night and came out the next morning with changes, an aide recalls. Some staffers credit Barbara with getting George to suddenly pledge cleaner campaign tactics at a fund raiser last fall at Bob Hopes Hollywood spread. The announcement so stunned aides that they disappeared on purpose afterward. But Barbara wasnt all softball. When Bush was resisting advice to air the now famous straddle ad in New Hampshire that showed Iowa caucus victor Robert Dole flip-flopping on taxes, Barbara finally chimed in, I dont see anything wrong with that ad. It ran, and Bush took the state by 10 points. While she opted not to weigh in on policy, she mastered the politicians art of dodging questions (Im not running for President, so I am not going to tell you my position on abortion. But I would love to tell you what Georges is.) yet when TIME asked her in 2015 to recall the best political advice shes ever received, she had an answer that could serve anyone well. Be yourself, she said. Well, maybe someone a little nicer. Tehran (AFP) - Iran's hardline former president Mahmoud Ahmadinejad called for the immediate holding of free presidential and parliamentary elections in a letter to supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei published on Thursday. The call, from a man whose name is synonymous with the bloody repression of mass protests against his controversial 2009 re-election, marked a new act of defiance against a political establishment that has long since turned against him. Ahmadinejad made no specific reference in his letter to a wave of unrest that swept Iran over the new year but it comes as the country's divided political factions argue over how to respond. "The immediate holding of free presidential and parliamentary elections -- of course without their being engineered by the Guardian Council and without interference by military or security bodies so that people have a free choice -- is an urgent necessity," he wrote. The Guardian Council is a powerful vetting body which oversees all elections in Iran and which barred Ahmadinejad, among others, from running for president last May. The council rejected Ahmadinejad's call for early elections and hit back at his criticism of its supervisory procedures. "The country has no need for... elections right now because all elections are conducted in a legal and sustainable manner," council spokesman Ali Kadkhodai said. Parliamentary elections are not due before 2020 and the next presidential election is due in 2021. Kadkhodai charged that Ahmadinejad had himself sought to get round the rules in the 2009 election by pressing it to publish the results before the legal time-limit. - 'Injustices' - The former president referred directly in his letter to a speech Khamenei delivered on Sunday in which he said that progress was needed in "the field of justice", acknowledging widespread criticism of the system. "These clear comments from the leader can of course be understood" as an appeal for "urgent and concrete reforms that meet the demands of the people," he said. Story continues Ahmadinejad called for the dismissal of judiciary chief Ayatollah Sadeq Larijani, a rival hardliner, on the grounds that the "injustices" of the judiciary were "one of the main causes of public discontent." He also called for the release of all people arrested for criticising the regime and the halting of any proceedings under way. Ahmadinejad remains popular, particularly among poorer segments of society who recall the large-scale welfare schemes he implemented during his 2005-2013 presidency. But he has fallen out with the establishment, especially since he ran for president last year against Khamenei's advice. A number of his senior aides have been arrested on financial and corruption charges, and his protege Hamid Baghaie was sentenced to 15 years in December. The demonstrations over the new year, during which at least 25 people died, initially focused on economic problems but swiftly escalated into protests against corruption and the regime itself. During the 2009 protests against Ahmadinejad's re-election, dozens of people were killed as the regime deployed militia to back up police. Thousands of people were detained and his two reformist challengers -- Mehdi Karoubi and Mir Hossein Mousavi -- remain under house arrest. Baghdad (AFP) - The Iraqi air force on Thursday carried out a "deadly raid" against positions of the Islamic State group in neighbouring Syria, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said. Abadi ordered the strike against the jihadists "because of the danger they pose to Iraqi territory," a statement said. A video released by the air force showed two F-16 fighter jets in action. "These raids demonstrate the growing capacity of our armed forces to hunt down and liquidate terrorists," it added. The US-led coalition fighting IS said the air strike targeted an area of eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province near Hajin, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border with Iraq. The strike, carried out with intelligence support from the coalition, "demonstrates Iraq's commitment to destroy Daesh (IS) remnants who continue to threaten their citizens", said Brigadier General Robert B. Sofge, deputy commander of coalition operations. Iraq declared victory in December against IS, which launched a sweeping offensive in 2014 and at one point controlled a third of the country. The jihadists still control pockets of desert along the border with Syria, where Iraq had already carried out limited raids against IS before Thursday's strike. Concerns are growing in Israel that Moscow is set to provide Bashar al-Assads regime with the S-300 weapons system, which could herald a new spiraling of the Syrian conflict. In 2013, Russian President Vladimir Putin was about to supply Damascus with the Russian-made system that can give long-range protection from missiles and aircraft, but he changed his mind after pressure from Israel. But in light of the U.S and U.K.-led strikes on Syria, an angered Kremlin may reconsider that position and provide Assad with the weapons systems he has been pushing for, especially after Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov told the BBC Moscow would do what was needed to help Syria deter aggression. Trending: Doctors Want to Implant Color-changing Mole Tattoo to Detect Skin Cancer RTS1AJ9C EUTERS/Maxim Shemetov Ex-Israeli military intelligence chief Amos Yadlin said it was inevitable that the S-300s would be deployed in Syria and then targeted by Israel. If I know the air force well, we have already made proper plans to deal with this threat. After you remove the threat, which is basically what will be done, were back to square one, he told Bloomberg. Don't miss: Ancient Egypt: 1,500-Year-Old Papyrus Contains Stories of Biblical Human Sacrifice There were unconfirmed reports on Wednesday that cargo ships had docked at the Russian naval base of Tartus on the Syrian coast under the cover of smoke and aerosol gas to block satellite and drone sensors. If Damascus got the S-300 systems, Israels air superiority would be impacted, having carried out around 150 bombing raids in Syria. It allegedly struck an air base used by Iran and a convoy heading for Iranian-backed militants, Hezbollah. Story continues However, Israeli analyst and journalist, Ron Ben-Yishai, said that Russia is likely to sell the system to Syria but it will not be the newest model. Most popular: 'Radical Heights' Patch Notes: First Update Adds New Weapons, Bike Tricks and More But the training of Syrian operators will take a long time, and the Russians may discover that they made a mistake. If, for example, the Syrians use this system against Israel Air Force planes and if Israel destroys the S-300 in retaliation," he wrote in Ynet News. That would spoil the Russian arms industrys reputation, which isnt something the Russians want. Whatever the Russians do, the next U.S. move will be crucial for the region. Former U.S. Ambassador to Syria Ryan Crocker and Brookings Institution senior fellow Michael O'Hanlon wrote in the Wall Street Journal that the U.S. should help local allies on the ground and continue its threats of military retribution against Assad. But Washington will also need to secure the co-operation of Turkey. In order to secure Turkeys cooperation, the Kurdish question needs a better answer, one that addresses Ankaras security concerns while also preventing Kurdish positions in Syrias north from being overrun, the authors said. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Rome (AFP) - Italian police arrested the closest aides of Cosa Nostra kingpin Matteo Messina Denaro on Thursday, clamping down on a tightknit, family-run clan which has kept the mobster safely hidden over a quarter of a century on the run. Twenty-one people were arrested in towns near the Sicilian city of Trapani where Denaro's criminal empire is based, as part of the "Year Zero" police investigation that allowed authorities to uncover a system of paper notes, or "pizzini", that Denaro uses to give orders to his most faithful associates. Those include brothers-in-law Gaspare Como and Rosario Allegra, both in custody, who allegedly manage their boss's most important affairs. "The Trapani Mafia is (securely) in the hands of fugitive Matteo Messina Denaro and we can say that because its most important members are his own family," said Pasquale Angelosanto, head of the Italian carabinieri's ROS special investigative unit. Angelosanto was speaking at a press conference in Sicilian capital Palermo. Palermo's assistant public prosecutor Paolo Guido said that six of the accused were local Mafia bosses. - 'Active control' - Denaro, now 55, vanished in 1993, with the police seeking his arrest on a range of crimes including dozens of murders, and authorities say he has evaded justice by being more "mobile" than others on the lam, who tend to hunker down in hideouts. "It would be pointless to say we're closing in on him. He's a different type of fugitive to the other big targets, who've all been arrested, and that means locating his whereabouts is particularly hard," said Palermo prosecutor Francesco Lo Voi. Police also arrested a businessman involved in the online gambling industry, one of Denaro's suspected income sources. Police told reporters that despite reports of Cosa Nostra's decline, the Trapani branch was "particularly lively and active in control of the area" and operating in the longstanding Mafia industries of extorsion, property fraud and clinching public works contracts. Story continues Police told AFP that the gang used people apparently above suspicion to take part in judicial auctions to buy seized assets cheaply and sell them on at a profit. Police also confirmed the existence of a wiretapped recording of one of those arrested on Thursday praising the notorious January 1996 murder and dissolving in acid of 14-year-old Giuseppe Di Matteo. The son of Mafia turncoat Santino was kidnapped in 1993 in a vain attempt to stop his father from collaborating with the authorities. "Did he not do the right thing? He did the right thing!" news agency AGI reported the suspect as saying in the recording, apparently referring to the perpetrators. "It's right that we don't touch kids ... but why didn't you retract? You obviously didn't care about your kid." - Trigger man - In another recording, Denaro and his deceased father Francesco, once a local boss, are compared to Padre Pio, a friar who died in 1968 and was subsequently sainted and is revered in Italy. One voice says the two mafiosi should have statues erected in their honour. Denaro, a former trigger man who once reportedly boasted that he could "fill a cemetery" with his victims, is believed to have become the "boss of bosses" following the death of Salvatore "The Beast" Riina in November. He is suspected to have been behind bombings in Rome, Milan and Florence in 1993 that killed 10 people just months after Cosa Nostra murdered anti-Mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in similar attacks. In 2015, police discovered that he was communicating with his closest collaborators via the use of pizzini, which were being left under a rock at a farm in Sicily. Japan has offered to help China with its toilet revolution, a project launched by President Xi Jinping to improve hygiene via upgrading lavatories across the country with cutting-edge technology. On Sunday and Monday, Japanese and Chinese officials met and discussed improving political ties and cooperating on potential infrastructure projects. During the high-level talks, Japan reportedly also reiterated its support in helping China with its mission to modernize toilets in the mainland. Japans Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Ministry of the Environment and the Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry have reached out to private entities to research ways of helping Beijing with their lavatory endeavors, according to Nikkei Asian Review. Trending: How to File a Tax Extension 2018: Here's How to Get an Extra 6 Months From the IRS RTX137V3 Reuters A large majority of public toilets in China do not include a flush system, while many in rural areas do not even have cubicles that offer privacy. Japans interest in Chinas toilet revolution began in December, when Toshihiro Nikai, the secretary general of the Liberal Democratic Party, visited the Communist Partys central school in Beijing and officially announced Tokyos support for the project. Tokyos cooperation in lending technological assistance for the construction of sanitary facilities in rural areas will help deepen diplomatic relations between the two countries. Don't miss: Rachel Maddow 'Struggling Not to Laugh' Over Hannity, Cohen Revelation In 2015, Xi Jinping launched a campaign, through the local tourism administration, aimed at improving hygiene and driving foreign tourism. Xi said the crusade to replace the country's squatting toilets is essential to Beijings revitalization and would also improve quality of life of the masses. Story continues Since it was announced, Beijing has stepped up the initiative. Over the past three years, Chinas tourism industry has renovated or built over 68,000 toilets, a figure that only constitutes 19 percent of the total amount it wishes to cover. Last year, Chinas National Tourism Administration said it will renovate 64,000 lavatories between 2018 and 2020. The toilet issue is no small thing," Xi said last November, according to official state-run Xinhua News Agency. "Its an important aspect of building civilized cities and countryside." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Actress Jenna Fischer visited Indiana's DePauw University on Tuesday to discuss her career and her new book, The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide, with students. But not long after the event began, students began to protest, voicing serious concerns over their safety at the university. About 15 minutes into Fischer's lecture, an audience member stood up and blew a whistle, according to the IndyStar. Around 100 students, some of whom held protest signs, filled the aisles of the auditorium and began shouting concerns in reference to several recent incidents on campus. SEE ALSO: Starbucks to close all U.S. stores for an afternoon of racial-bias training According to the paper, on April 11, a racist and threatening message in a men's bathroom stall sparked an on-campus investigation, which led to a response from DePauw University President Mark McCoy. In his letter to members of the university community, McCoy listed three other incidents under investigation, including "a homophobic and an anti-Semitic message" found in a bathroom on campus, "an incident of a student engaging in offensive behavior" (reportedly wearing blackface) at the bar, grill, and event center The Fluttering Duck, and "the n-word formed by rocks in the nature park." In video footage shared by event attendee Shannon Samson, students display their signs and yell, "It's not a joke," "Stop excusing this problematic behavior," and "Don't give them protection when they're attacking us." After DePauw University spokesperson Ken Owen asked to continue the event, promising they would take questions, Fischer told the audience, "It's not okay." "In my personal opinion, oftentimes justice requires disruption and interruption of our scheduled lives," Fischer can be heard saying in the video. "I don't know what to say except that I'm so sorry." Story continues The actress, who was reportedly made aware of recent events before she took the stage, tweeted a letter on Wednesday to offer the student protesters her additional support. "The student protesters spoke about their experiences and the hate they have been encountering. I could feel the pain, sadness, and fear coming from these students," Fischer shared on Twitter. "...These students need to be heard and they need change." Fischer went on to say that the students had inspired her to donate her speaking fee from DePauw University to the NAACP, The Anti-Defamation League, and the Trevor Project in their names. "My hope is for all people to be respected, accepted, and loved for their individuality and uniqueness," she wrote. "And above all, to be safe." In the letter to students, President McCoy vowed, "Make no mistake, we will take every action available to us to address these incidents," noting that the investigations will continue. Turning the ship before it hits the iceberg A St. Louis judge is expected to rule on Thursday on a request by Missouri Governor Eric Greitens' lawyers to dismiss a criminal invasion of privacy case brought against the Republican politician in connection with an admitted extramarital affair. Linda So reports Washington (AFP) - A judge in Washington was expected to rule Thursday on whether the US government can hand over a US-Saudi dual citizen who allegedly supported the Islamic State group to Riyadh, rather than try him in US courts. In a test case on how Donald Trump's administration will deal with American "foreign fighters" for the jihadist group, federal judge Tanya Chutkan has until around 8:00 pm (0000 GMT Friday) to decide whether or not to block the transfer of the unnamed man, now held by US forces in Iraq for seven months. Dubbed "John Doe" in court documents, the man was detained in Syria last September and has been interrogated by US military and FBI officials, who have labelled him an "enemy combatant." He was transferred to Iraq shortly after his arrest. But they have not accused him of fighting for the Islamic State, and he has not been charged by the Department of Justice or the US military with any crime. On Monday, the Justice Department gave a required 72-hour notice saying they planned to hand him over to an unnamed country, which has agreed to accept him. Though the country has not been officially identified, multiple court document references point to Saudi Arabia, and lawyers for both sides have not disputed media reports naming the country. Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the man, asked the court Wednesday to block the transfer, and demanded that he be charged under US law or freed. "Forcibly rendering him to another country would be an unconscionable violation of his constitutional rights," said ACLU attorney Jonathan Hafetz. - American 'foreign fighter' - "John Doe" is the only known American alleged "foreign fighter" currently being held in Iraq or Syria, and his case has posed a challenge for the administration of Trump, who has pledged to be tougher on Americans who support designated terror groups like IS or Al-Qaeda. Story continues The government could have a hard time proving in a US court that the citizen had joined the IS group, and could face questions about whether his rights were violated when he was interrogated. But the decision to hand him over to Riyadh raised tougher questions of his rights in a court hearing Thursday. The government maintains that handing him to Saudi Arabia is important for bilateral relations. Chutkan compared the planned move to the legally questionable CIA "renditions" of alleged Al-Qaeda detainees in the early 2000s to the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after the 9/11 attacks. "John Doe is a US citizen and that cannot be emphasized enough," she said. "They have had seven months to charge him and they have not." "He is being forcibly taken from US custody and given to the custody of a foreign country" without being charged with anything by either government, she added. By Mark Hosenball WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A long-awaited U.S. Justice Department internal watchdog report on former FBI chief James Comey's public disclosures on Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server while secretary of state and whether FBI employees leaked information to try to hurt her 2016 presidential bid is expected to be issued next month. The report from Michael Horowitz, the department's inspector general, arises from an investigation he launched about a week before Republican President Donald Trump, who defeated Democrat Clinton in the election, took office in January 2017. In a letter last week to Republican Representative Trey Gowdy, chairman of the House of Representatives Oversight and Government Reform Committee, Horowitz said his office was "working diligently" to complete the report and expected to release it in May. Horowitz's letter did not offer details of what will be in the report. In a Jan. 12, 2017 letter to five congressional committees, he enumerated 2016 election-related issues his office would look into. Clinton has called the FBI investigation into her emails and Comey's public disclosures about it significant factors in her loss to Trump, who fired Comey as FBI director in May 2017. The investigation will examine Comey's statements in August 2016 that no charges would be brought against Clinton and in October about the re-opening of the FBI investigation into her use of a private email server rather than a government server, potentially jeopardizing classified information. The report also is expected to address whether active and retired FBI agents in New York leaked information about investigations of the Clinton Foundation charitable organization and the discovery of a trove of Clinton-related emails. Law enforcement officials previously told Reuters the information was leaked to former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an adviser to the Trump campaign who subsequently discussed the contents on Fox News. Horowitz's office also has sought to determine whether such leaks influenced Comey's decision 11 days before the election to announce the reopening of the Clinton email investigation. Law enforcement sources with knowledge of the matter, speaking on condition of anonymity, said at the time a fear of leaks from within his own agency helped prompt Comey to make that public disclosure. Comey did not respond to a request for comment. Trump and Comey have exchanged harsh criticism in the past week. Trump called Comey a "slime ball." Comey called Trump an unethical liar who is morally unfit to be president. (Reporting by Mark Hosenball; Editing by John Walcott and Will Dunham) SEOUL (Reuters) - South Korean police raided Korean Air Lines headquarters in Seoul on Thursday as part of a probe into the youngest daughter of the airline's chairman, Yonhap News Agency said. Cho Hyun-min, a senior vice president at the airline, is under investigation by police for possible assault after testimony that she "sprayed a drink towards them" during a business meeting. Korean Air Lines shares fell as much as 4.1 percent while budget airline affiliate Jin Air, where Cho is an executive vice president, dropped 5.3 percent. A Korean Air spokesman confirmed the raid, but did not elaborate on the reason. A police official declined to comment. Cho, who is also known as Emily Cho, has apologized for her behavior, but says she "pushed" a cup of water and did not throw it at anyone's face as media have reported. Her older sister Heather Cho made headlines over a notorious "nut rage" incident in 2014, when she lost her temper over the way she was served nuts in first class and ordered the Korean Air plane to return to its gate at a New York airport. South Korea's customs agency is also looking into accusations that Cho and other family members did not pay customs duties on luxury goods brought into the country, the agency said on Wednesday. (Reporting by Hyunjoo Jin; Additional reporting by Dahee Kim; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) Bishkek (Kyrgyzstan) (AFP) - Kyrgyzstan on Thursday jettisoned its 29th prime minister in less than three decades of independence as new President Sooronbai Jeenbekov looks to cement control over the Central Asian country. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, a 40-year-old technocrat viewed as a loyalist of the country's former leader Almazbek Atambayev. Jeenbekov subsequently signed an order confirming the government's dismissal. A total of 101 legislators voted for the move with just five against, according to an official parliamentary protocol. The vote indicated broad parliamentary support for Jeenbekov, 59, who is now expected to play a key role in determining the next premier. Jeenbekov came to power in a bitterly fought presidential election last year while enjoying strong support from Atambayev, 61, who was limited to a single term in office by the constitution. But tensions have since emerged between the pair after Atambayev criticised appointments made by Jeenbekov and called for the new president's brother, Asylbek, to relinquish his seat in parliament in a public appearance last month. Earlier this month Jeenbekov fired key Atambayev allies in the national security service and initiated the sacking of the country's state prosecutor, but has yet to make his own appointments. Known since his time as an opposition leader for a fiery and often vulgar public speaking style, Atambayev moved the impoverished ex-Soviet country away from the West and closer to traditional ally Russia while in office. On March 31 he was elected chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan that has dominated Kyrgyz politics since a violent revolution ousted authoritarian leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2010, despite initially pledging to leave politics. Laura Ingraham argued with a guest on her show Wednesday night after he commented about advertiser backlash following comments the conservative host made about Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg's college rejections. Enrique Morones, the founder of nonprofit migrant rights organization Border Angels, appeared on The Ingraham Angle to discuss Californias state laws on sanctuary cities with Ingraham and John Cox, a Republican candidate in the California gubernatorial race. In the clip, Cox discussed getting criminals and illegal immigrants out of California. Cox then claimed that he will be the next governor of California. Trending: Could Trump Sell Deadly Drones to Dictators? New Policy Makes It Easier to Sell Lethal Weapons Abroad I dont know who this guy is, who is this guy? Morones asked. Who is this Cox guy? I never ever heard of him. Ingraham butted into Moroness comments and called him, claiming that he had been acting rude since the segment began. Enrique, I just want to tell you, God bless you, I really, I wish the best for you. But you have been so incredibly rude and nasty since almost the first second of this appearance, Ingraham said. RTX4YN5H REUTERS Don't miss: James Comey Says He Doesnt 'Dislike' Trump, Despite Calling Him an Unethical Liar Ingraham chided Morones about how he was invited to the show to participate in a conversation when Morones interjected to call out Ingraham about the shows loss of sponsors. Wheres your sponsors? Morones said. David Hogg got rid of half of them. High school kids shut you down. Ingraham then cut Morones off. The sad thing is this is how the left operates, she said, thanking Morones for appearing on show before he was kicked off the air. Story continues Ingraham lost more than 20 sponsors in the past month after she mocked Parkland shooting survivor David Hogg for his college rejections on Twitter. Hogg took to social media and led a boycott of Ingrahams advertisers until they decided to no longer do business with her. Ingraham apologized but Hogg did not accept her apology. Most popular: Joel Embiid's Comeback Will Likely Involve a Mask, So We Interviewed Richard Hamilton, the NBA's Most Famous Mask-Wearer The TV host went on a planned vacation a week after the controversy and returned to the show last week claiming that Stalinist liberals were trying to keep conservative opinions quiet. Morones told Newsweek that he has been on the Ingraham show and other Fox news programs multiple times. He admitted that perhaps he was a bit more contentious than usual, but said he was tired of Ingraham saying things he believed was untrue. When you have lies and hate words, they lead to hateful actions, said Morones. Thats what Im outraged about. Newsweek has reached out to Fox News for comment but did not hear back in time for publication. Tim Rosales, the campaign manager for Cox told Newsweek that the Republican candidate was happy to be a part of the show and debate about sanctuary cities. Hes very happy to participate in the debate on sanctuary states. He will be happy to debate and talk to Enrique or anyone else anytime, anywhere," said Rosales. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Guest Enrique Morones asks Ingraham: "Where's your sponsors @davidhogg111 got rid of half of them", then gets kicked off the show pic.twitter.com/GCdUPgKMhJ Madeline Peltz (@peltzmadeline) April 19, 2018 Fox News host Laura Ingraham cut off a guest who taunted her about the boycott that prompted some two dozen advertisers to ditch The Ingraham Angle. Wheres your sponsors? David Hogg got rid of half of them, said Enrique Morones, an immigration advocate and the founder of Border Angels. A high school kid shut you down! The Fox News host appeared to reach her limit with Morones before he even made the crack, saying he was being dismissive of fellow guest John Cox, a Republican candidate for governor in California, during a debate over immigration. Youve been so incredibly rude and nasty since almost the first second of this appearance, she said, according to footage posted online by Media Matters. Moments later, Morones vanished from the screen. Ingraham has been losing sponsors since last month, when she mocked Hogg, one of the teen survivors of the Parkland, Florida mass shooting. Hogg called for a boycott of Ingraham sponsors after she accused him of whining for not getting into some of the colleges he had applied for. One of those sponsors, Ace Hardware, later returned to the show. Another sponsor, My Pillow, actually increased its advertising. Despite the loss of advertisers, Ingrahams program has seen some of its highest-ever ratings since the controversy. Related... Ace Hardware Resumes Laura Ingraham Advertising, Sparking Outrage Laura Ingraham Accidentally Delivered The Best Self-Own Of 2018 Kate McKinnon Kills As Laura Ingraham On 'Saturday Night Live' Laura Ingraham Cracks At Hannity: I'm Glad The 'Heat's Off Me And On You!' Story continues Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. uber David Ramos/Getty Images A University of Denver professor took to her Twitter account Tuesday to recount her nightmarish experience with an Uber driver. According to the woman, the driver drove off-course, told her he was taking her to a hotel, and refused to unlock the doors. Uber said the company is currently investigating the matter, and the driver has been banned from using the app. Nancy Leong, a law professor at the University of Denver, took to her Twitter on Tuesday to recount a nightmarish Uber ride where the driver took her off-course and wouldn't let her leave the vehicle. "What Nancy described is awful and unacceptable. This driver has been blocked from the app and we are investigating," an Uber spokesperson tells Business Insider. Uber says that it has reached out to both Leong and the driver as part of the investigation. A spokesperson for the University of Denver told Business Insider that Leong is not currently interested in speaking to the press about her experience. Leong appears to have deleted her Twitter account just hours after her story began to spread. However, according to her now-unavailable tweets, Leong was being taken to the airport when she says her Uber driver instead drove off-course and got off the highway. He allegedly told her he was going to take her to a hotel. When the car was stopped at a red light, she said, the Uber driver ignored Leong's demand to unlock the doors. He eventually let Leong out of the vehicle after Leong began pounding on the windows and shouting, which got the attention of some nearby construction workers, she said. When Leong demanded the driver open the trunk so that she could grab her suitcase, she wrote, the driver got out of the car and came toward her. She thanked the presence of the construction workers for encouraging the driver to back down. Furthermore, she expressed concern that the driver has her home address, since that's where she was originally picked up. Story continues About an hour after her posts to Twitter, an agent for Uber Support replied to her comments, saying that the company takes these matters seriously, and asked Leong to get in touch. Usually, in cases like these, Uber blocks both driver and rider from the platform as the investigation gets underway. However, in this situation, only the driver was banned, the company tells Business Insider. Take a look below to see her account in full. nancy leong tweet uber Twitter/Nancy Leong nancy leong tweet uber twitter Twitter/Nancy Leong This isn't the first time an incident like this has occurred. In 2014, an Orlando woman accused an Uber driver of groping her chest, and asked the driver to stop and resume driving for fear of angering him. In 2015, a woman was allegedly raped and beaten by an Uber driver in Delhi. Uber suspended the driver following the incident, and the woman went on to sue the company before eventually dropped the lawsuit. Following the Delhi incident, Uber introduced a "panic button" feature in its app for Indian riders, allowing riders to directly and discreetly call the police. The "panic button" feature was rolled out for the Uber app in the United States just last week. Along with the new safety features, the company will begin conducting annual criminal background checks on drivers in the United States, with plans to continually monitor criminal charges and arrests in an effort to keep riders safe. NOW WATCH: SCOTT GALLOWAY: Bad behavior cost Uber $20-30 billion See Also: SEE ALSO: Travis Kalanick's final months as Uber CEO reportedly included squirming on the floor 'on his hands and knees' and offering the driver he yelled at $200,000 Ankara (AFP) - A Turkish court Thursday sentenced 18 people to life in prison over the killing of a soldier who became a national hero for shooting dead one of the suspected leaders of a 2016 failed coup, state media reported. Sergeant Omer Halisdemir killed Brigadier General Semih Terzi on the night of July 15, 2016, breaking the command chain of the plotters. An Ankara court, which heard the case, found all 18 guilty of "deliberately killing" the soldier as well as "attempting to destroy the constitutional order" by seeking to oust the government, the Anadolu news agency reported. Halisdemir shot Terzi dead outside special forces headquarters in Ankara. He was then himself killed by the plotters. After the shooting, Halisdemir has become a national hero with parks, schools and other public places named after him. His tomb in the central Anatolian region of Nigde has also become a major place of pilgrimage for visitors. Anadolu reported Thursday that Omer in 2017 was now one of the three most popular names for boys in Turkey. The government blamed Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen for masterminding the failed coup. Gulen, who lives in self-imposed exile in Pennsylvania, strongly rejects the charges. Turkish authorities have cracked down on alleged coup plotters in the wake of the attempted putsch, with over 55,000 people either jailed or in custody awaiting the outcome of their trials. Billboards featuring an image of Lois Riess, a fugitive grandmother wanted in connection with two killings, are going up in four states as authorities offer rewards for information leading to her arrest. The 56-year-old allegedly shot her husband to death in Minnesota, police say, and then drove to Florida, where she allegedly killed a woman who resembled her in an effort to steal her identity, according to investigators. The "wanted" billboards are being unveiled in Texas, New Mexico, California and Arizona. Riess was last seen in Texas, authorities said. Meanwhile, five new surveillance videos have been released by the Lee County Sheriff's Office. In one, she is seen calmly walking away from Marina Village in Fort Myers, where authorities believe she killed 59-year-old Pamela Hutchinson after befriending her in a restaurant. Another shows Riess driving a 2005 Acura that investigators say belonged to Hutchinson. Authorities did not say when the videos were recorded. Rewards totaling $6,000 have been offered for information leading to the woman's arrest. Police in Pasadena, Calif., received a tip that Riess may be the woman who robbed a bank there on Saturday. Officers said there is no evidence linking Riess to that robbery, but they were investigating the tip. RELATED STORIES Family of Woman Allegedly Murdered by Her Look-Alike: 'It's Just Sick' See Meghan Markle and Prince Harry Look-Alikes in First Look at Upcoming Lifetime Movie Rachel McAdams Look-Alike Sparks Social Media Frenzy With Senior Portrait Related Articles: By John Irish PARIS (Reuters) - When France's ambassador to Washington told American officials last July that he was heading to Paris and would shortly see President Emmanuel Macron, one of them handed him a copy of the New York Times. In it, he read the words "Yes, Emmanuel. It's true, I love You" written in highlighter next to an article about the French leader's good relationship with U.S. President Donald Trump. Whether Trump scribbled the words himself is unclear, but coming just two weeks after he had been hosted in great pomp at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, it showed just how strong Franco-American ties were. As he arrives in Washington on Monday for a three-day state visit, that good rapport will be tested as Macron tries to sway Trump on key issues from Syria to Iran and trade after a year spent investing a lot of political capital with few returns. While he has delivered on promises of change at home and is pushing his views in Europe, the world stage is proving tougher terrain. Like others before him, Macron has found predicting Trump a challenge. With the exception of one unusually prolonged and firm handshake, Macron has opted for a non-confrontational approach toward the unconventional U.S. president, hoping that by engaging with him he could win concessions. He played to Trump's admiration for the military and grandeur by inviting him to Paris for the annual July 14 celebrations and dining him at the Eiffel Tower. The soft diplomacy aimed to gain Trump's confidence and influence U.S. foreign policy at a time European diplomats say Washington lacks direction. Macron has spoken to Trump by phone in the last year more than with any other leader, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arguably becoming Trump's bridge to Europe. "He is not a classic politician," Macron said in a January interview just days after Trump tweeted about nuclear war with North Korea and gave an ultimatum to "fix" the Iran nuclear deal. "We've built a strong relationship. We disagree on several topics. I'm always extremely direct and frank and he is too. Sometimes I manage to convince him, sometimes I fail." The relationship has suited Trump. He needed a friend overseas. His preference for a more unilateral, transactional diplomacy had unsettled traditional allies in Europe and left him appearing isolated among world leaders. Besides, diplomats say that France's military role fighting Islamist militants in West Africa and Syria has opened doors in Washington. TESTS ON TRADE, IRAN The next two weeks will provide a critical test of what influence, if any, the French president can have on his American counterpart. Trump has given the European Union until May 1 to negotiate permanent exemptions from steel and aluminum tariffs and France, Britain and Germany until May 12 to "fix" the Iran nuclear deal with world powers. "Macron has been trying to build alliances and wants to be the bridge between the U.S. and Russia," said a senior former U.N. official. "There comes a point where that kind of political messaging has to be backed up with results." Macron's desire to keep the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, while offering to be tough on Tehran's ballistic missile program and regional activities has yet to assuage Trump. "We're hoping that Macron will find the arguments to convince Trump to not commit this mistake, but we're not very optimistic," said a French diplomatic source. MERKEL COORDINATION Macron's visit will be followed on April 27 by Merkel, whose relationship with Trump has been markedly more tense. Before a phone conversation on March 1 to discuss the war in Syria and Russian nuclear arms, the two leaders had not spoken to each other for more than five months. Rather than being subjected to a public dressing down, like Merkel over Germany's trade policy for example, Macron has been spared criticism. The French and German leaders meet in Berlin on Thursday to ensure they are on same page on Iran and trade ahead of their trips, a presidential source said. Macron's good relationship with Trump has had benefits. U.S. companies overtook German ones as the top corporate investors in the French economy last year, with U.S. investments up 26 percent. But he appears to have limited the damage rather than be able to claim resounding successes. Although he failed to convince Trump to stay in the Paris climate deal, the U.S. president did not oppose Macron pushing for American firms and states to act on climate independently. Macron has been worried about Trump feeling backed into a corner and has sensed an opportunity to sway U.S. thinking and elevate France in global affairs, especially over Syria and the Middle East. However, Trump's unpredictability means that nobody knows whether a Macron factor really does exist. After French, British and U.S. strikes on Syrian government targets last week, Macron boasted publicly that he had persuaded Trump to maintain U.S. engagement in Syria for the long-term. Within hours, he was met with a rebuke by the White House. "We've seen the decisions Trump made, but we don't know what decisions he could have taken if we hadn't had this dialogue," said a senior French official. (Additional reporting by Michel Rose and Marine Pennetier; Editing by Ingrid Melander and Richard Balmforth) Host Meghan McCain accused former FBI director James Comey of being a political commentator during his appearance on ABCs The View on Wednesday. Why bring up politics now? McCain, the daughter of Republican Senator John McCain, told Comey during the program. Im more interested in what you know about national security. She added, You have to understand how this looks to Republicans. You sound like a political commentator to me. Wednesdays television appearance came one day after the release of Comeys book A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership. In the book, Comey writes how his wife and daughters had supported Hillary Clinton for president and participated in the Womens March in Washington, D.C., the day after President Donald Trumps inauguration. Trending: Naturopath Prescribes Rabid-Dog Saliva to Boy Bitten By Animal: 'It Does Sound Crazy' The book also describes Comey's relationship with Barack Obama. Toward the end of Obama's tenure, Comey told the president he needed to take the opportunity to thank you and tell you how much Im going to miss you, according to the book. He recalls adding, I dread the next four years, but in some ways, I feel more pressure to stay now. McCain, a Republican, brought up those comments from the book during the show on Wednesday. Don't miss: Why Didnt Nikki Cross Join SmackDown Live? 04_18_James_Comey_View Drew Angerer/Getty During the appearance, Comey pushed back on the claim that he is a partisan. I dont think of it as my politics, I think of it as my values, he said. He went on to say that he is neither a Democrat nor a Republican. I hope the conversation will start with values and come to policy second, he said. All we are as a country is a collection of values, and thats what unites Republicans and Democrats. Story continues Comey also said he didnt engage in political discussions as FBI director. Heck no. I didnt vote, I tried not to follow the back and forth and tried not to and didnt engage with my wife on what I was doing, he said. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Melania Trump is embracing the shirtdress. On Wednesday, the first lady wore an emerald-green belted shirtdress and Christian Louboutin heels to meet up with Japanese first lady Akie Abe and visit the Flagler Museum in Palm Beach, Fla. During the 40-minute tour, the first ladies viewed much of the 75-room Gilded Age mansion, the former home of industrialist Henry Flagler; boarded his private railcar; and listened to a classical music concert. First lady Melania Trump rocked a green shirtdress for a visit with Japanese first lady Akie Abe. (Photo: Getty Images) I enjoyed showing Mrs. Abe a timeless part of Floridas history, Melania said in a White House press release. Thank you to the welcoming staff of the Flagler Museum for having us, and for continuing to share Whitehalls historic influence. Melania Trump wore a stylish shirtdress to spend the day with Japanese first lady Akie Abe in Palm Beach, Fla. (Photo: Getty Images) On Tuesday, the women visited Loggers Run Middle School in Boca Raton to prep sushi rolls and chat with students, with Melania sporting a $3,000 Carolina Herrera off-the-shoulder gown and white pumps as she walked with President Trump to dinner at Mar-a-Lago with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and first lady Akie Abe. That day, the Trumps caught notice for holding hands, a rare display of affection. Melania loves her shirtdresses in March, while visiting St. Marys Medical Center in Palm Beach, Fla., she wore an Adam Lippes black-and-white-striped version to drop off Easter baskets to young patients. While in Saudi Arabia in May, she wore a camel-colored version by Ralph Lauren with black-and-white heels by Manolo Blahnik. A few months later, en route to see hurricane victims in Texas and Louisiana, she rocked the same dress, this time with Manolo Blahnik snakeskin heels. Melania Trump accompanied President Trump to Saudi Arabia in May 2017. (Photo: Getty Images) Melania Trump rocked a shirtdress in September 2017, to visit Texas in the wake of Hurricane Harvey. (Photo: Getty Images) And in October, she brightened up in a kelly-green Cefinn shirtdress for a visit to a drug recovery center in West Virginia. Melania Trump wore a kelly-green shirtdress in West Virginia. (Photo: Getty Images) Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. By Paul Carrel and Andreas Rinke BERLIN (Reuters) - Germany's Angela Merkel called for a spirit of compromise on reforming the euro zone at a meeting on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pressed for solidarity among members of the currency union. Before their talks, the two said they would present a united front at June meeting of European Union leaders on a range of issues including reform of the 19-member euro zone, which Merkel said they agreed was "not yet sufficiently crisis-proof". France and Germany, which account for around 50 percent of euro zone output, are essential to the reform drive. Stressing the need for compromise, Merkel said: "We each bring some different facets but I think the sum of our proposals will make for a good result in the end." However, their meeting took place against a backdrop of grumbling by lawmakers from Merkel's conservative bloc, wary that Macron's call for more solidarity could see German taxpayers' money used to fund profligate member states. "No monetary union can exist without elements of convergence," the French leader told a news conference with Merkel in the German capital before their talks. "The most important thing is not to react on such and such instrument at this stage, but to be sure that we share the same goals and to have a joint political objective," he added. At pains to present a united front despite their underlying differences and distinct styles - Merkel's cautious, no-nonsense approach contrasts with Macron's bold rhetoric - they stressed they would tackle a range of issues, including migrant policy. Macron reiterated a proposal made at the European parliament to subsidize local authorities who welcomed refugees. "We can't let this or that country alone carry the burden of hosting and integrating (migrants)," he said. On a European asylum system, Merkel said the two leaders agreed on many points, and concurred that offering incentives was a better approach than talking about penalties. EURO ZONE REFORM Macron's vision also includes turning Europe's existing bailout fund into a European Monetary Fund (EMF), to act as a buffer in any future financial crises in the bloc, which was nearly torn apart in a debt crisis that took hold in 2009. He has also suggested the euro zone have its own finance minister and, at one point, floated the idea of a budget for the currency bloc worth hundreds of billions of euros. Germany's Social Democrats (SPD), Merkel's junior coalition partner, sympathize with Macron's call for solidarity. They want him to be rewarded for efforts to reform the French economy, well aware that a big chunk of French voters remain susceptible to far-right and far-left populists skeptical about the EU. But Merkel's larger conservative bloc insists on what they call the principle of 'liability', whereby individual member states carry responsibility for their own economic risks. Merkel said she was very optimistic about completing a banking union. Berlin's focus has long been on banks first reducing the risks they take in lending. "We are also ready, perhaps not in the immediate future but in the longer term, to agree on a common deposit guarantee system," said Merkel. "But we want liability and risks to be kept together." Underlining a sense of urgency for reform in Brussels, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici warned momentum could be lost for deepening euro zone integration if decisions are not taken at the June summit. "We are some way from reaching a consensus on the priorities and method for moving the euro area forward and time is running out," Moscovici said in a speech at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. (Additional reporting by Madeline Chambers and Thomas Escritt in Berlin and by Michel Rose in Paris; Editing by Richard Balmforth) Daryl Cates, a corn and soybean farmer, stands on his soon-to-be planted field in Columbia, Ill. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News) COLUMBIA, Ill. As Daryl Cates well knows, farming requires a mix of luck and faith. The 62-year-old has spent most of his life working the dark, rich soil of his familys farm here a little over a mile east of the Mississippi River, in rural southern Illinois. For four generations, the Cates family survived the whims of Mother Nature, from epic drought to the great flood of 1993, when the rain-swollen Mississippi burst its banks and destroyed thousands of acres of farmland here. This spring, the weather has been rainy and colder than usual conditions that could force Cates to delay his annual planting of corn and soybeans, which usually begins in mid- to late April. Farming requires the ability to be calm and steady and prepared to handle whatever the weather throws at you, Cates said, as he walked through one of his muddy fields on a recent afternoon. Thats the life. But these days, hes is dealing with more than just the unpredictability of nature. Like other farmers here in this deeply agricultural region, he is worried about a potential trade war with China as President Trump moves to deliver on a campaign promise to crack down on a rising superpower that he has described as an economic enemy of the U.S. After spending much of his White House bid railing against China for currency manipulation and trade practices that he has said is responsible for killing thousands of American jobs and costing billions of dollars in lost revenues, Trump last month issued a 25 percent duty on global steel imports and a 10 percent duty on aluminum. The policy, which exempts allies like the European Union, Australia, South Korea, Brazil, Argentina, Canada and Mexico, was widely perceived as a slap at China. It was followed weeks later by another sweeping set of tariffs on roughly $60 billion in Chinese goods, including computers and other electronics, as punishment for what the Trump administration described as decades of intellectual property theft from U.S. companies by the Chinese. Story continues Trumps trade moves had instant results. On the same day the White House announced the steel and aluminum tariffs, United States Steel announced it would reopen one of two idled blast furnaces at its plant in Granite City, Ill., across the Mississippi River from St. Louis, where more than 2,000 workers were laid off two years ago. The move would result in 500 new jobs in coming months a much-needed boost for a region that has been hard hit by a downturn in manufacturing. The headquarters of Granite City Steel in Granite City, Ill. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News) Trump and his aides immediately seized on the news, citing Granite City as proof that his economic policies are working. Its about JOBS JOBS JOBS for our incredible workers and putting AMERICA FIRST! Trump tweeted. While Trumps crackdown on China was cheered in the northern part of Illinoiss 12th Congressional District, where Granite City Steel is located, there was a much more tempered reaction just 20 miles to the south, where soybean farmers like Cates count China as one of their most important trading partners. In retaliation to Trump, China announced it was considering trade penalties of its own against U.S. agricultural goods, including a 25 percent tariff on American soybean imports a potentially devastating move for Illinois farmers who worry they could lose one of their biggest export markets. It makes you nervous, really nervous, Cates said. Were not sitting on an island where youre just worried about the United States. Were looking at the world. The world is our market. If you lose a customer, a big customer like China, they are going to start buying somewhere else, and thats a huge issue for us. According to the Department of Agriculture, roughly half of U.S. soybean exports, some $14 billion worth, went to China in 2017. One third of the total U.S. crop was sold to China, which buys whole soybeans to feed its rapidly expanding pork industry. In Illinois, the top producing soybean state in the country for the last four years, more than 25 percent of the harvest went to China last year, amounting to roughly $2 billion in sales, according to the Illinois Soybean Association. A farmer plowing a field near Jacob, Ill. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News) The threat of becoming pawns in a trade war with China has sparked fears among farmers who already deal with more than their share of uncertainty about weather conditions and crop prices. They monitor Trumps tweets on trade as closely as the local forecast, worried about what that storm could mean for them. And perhaps nowhere is that tension more defined than in Illinoiss 12th Congressional District, where farmers find themselves pitted against another pillar of the local economy, the steel industry. Even though the Trump administrations moves against China are more sweeping, farmers ask whether adding 500 jobs at the steel plant is worth the damage it may do to agriculture. I feel sympathy for steel workers, I really do. We need industry in this state and in this country, said Leon McClerrin, a soybean farmer from Benton, Ill., who is president of the Franklin County Farm Bureau. But farmers are fighting to survive, too, and some are just not as sympathetic as I am to the need to have balance between industry and agriculture. Its a dynamic that is playing out in many states with potentially far-reaching political effects if China carries out its tariff threats. A trade war could test Trumps support among farmers, many of whom backed his insurgent bid for the presidency and have cheered his rollback of environmental regulations and his tax plan. In southern Illinois, a historically Democratic region with many unionized jobs in mining and manufacturing, Trump won counties that had been carried by President Barack Obama in the previous two elections. U.S. Steel recently announced it would partially re-open an idled part of its plant in Granite City, Ill. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News) But Trumps tough trade talk has alarmed farmers. In addition to concerns over China, agricultural interests have been frustrated by Trumps back and forth on the Trans Pacific Partnership. After withdrawing from the treaty soon after taking office, Trump reportedly asked aides last week on how to opt back in, then sent a tweet Tuesday that seemed to signal he was reverting to his opposition. Farmers are also wary of his threats to exit the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). Illinois farmers export pork, soy and corn to Mexico, where officials have suggested they may look to South America for those commodities amid concerns that the U.S. may no longer be a reliable trading partner. The uncertainty has caused turmoil in the agriculture markets, where prices have fluctuated in recent weeks, and shaken an industry that has been having trouble attracting young people. Farmers arent making more money under Trump, and whats happening right now is probably not going to change that, McClerren said. Locally, that trade issue has put pressure on the local congressman, Rep. Mike Bost, a two-term Republican who faces a tough reelection fight this fall. While many Republicans in Washington have criticized Trumps tariffs, including GOP lawmakers representing rural America, Bost has enthusiastically supported the presidents efforts, crediting him for helping to revive the Granite City mill and restore steel industry jobs in his district and across the country. That earned him a shout-out from Trump on Twitter. Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News But hes faced a trickier path after China announced it might retaliate against farmers. In an interview with the Belleville News-Democrat, a local paper in his district, he defended Trumps trade moves against criticism from farmers, warning against a knee-jerk reaction to Chinas tariff threats. He questioned if China will even carry them out, though he said he would work with farmers in his district to develop other markets where we can just in case. Ive always been working with my farmers, I will continue to work with my farmers, but I believe this is a balance that has to occur, Bost said. While Bost was praised by name by the executives of U.S. Steel for his help in encouraging the Trump administrations efforts on China and trade, its unclear whether it will help him in his race for reelection. The local chapter of the United Steelworkers union has endorsed his Democratic opponent, Brenden Kelly, the St. Clair County states attorney. In Washington last week, Trump acknowledged that farmers could take a hit from his crackdown on China but that they would ultimately understand and fare better in the long term. These are great patriots. They understand that theyre doing this for the country, Trump said. And well make it up to them. And in the end, theyre going to be much stronger than they are right now. Asked about Trumps comments, Cates offered an uneasy smile. Though he declined to say whether he voted for Trump in 2016, he said he does support him. He is our president, and I do support the president, whoever is in office, he said. All the farmers, we are patriots. Some things have to take place with China. I just hope its not the ag industry that takes the brunt of this. Weve got to hope that better minds prevail in the end on this thing. Daryl Cates, a corn and soybean farmer, at his farm in Columbia, Ill. (Photo: Holly Bailey/Yahoo News) _____ Read more from Yahoo News: The Missouri attorney generals office has uncovered evidence of potential criminal acts of wrongdoing by Gov. Eric Greitens, Attorney General Josh Hawley announced Tuesday. At issue, Hawley said, is an electronic donor list Greitens obtained from a Missouri nonprofit called The Mission Continues. Evidence suggests Greitens unlawfully used that list to fundraise for his own political purposes, the AG said. [Greitens] did all of this without permission of The Mission Continues, Hawley said at the Tuesday morning press conference. This is known as computer tampering. Given the value of the list in question, it is a felony. Hawley said his office lacks the jurisdiction to prosecute the governor for the alleged crime. The AGs office has passed the evidence along to St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, who will make the decision on whether to charge the governor, Hawley said. As for whether the evidence is grounds for impeachment, Hawley said thats a matter for Missouri state lawmakers to decide. Last week, a woman who Greitens previously admitted to having an extramarital affair with in March 2015 revealed their sexual encounters werent always consensual and were sometimes violent. The governor was arrested in February on charges of felony invasion of privacy related to the affair. The woman says Greitens blindfolded and took a nude photo of her without her permission, then used the photo to blackmail her into silence. When asked about Hawleys announcement on Tuesday, Sen. Roy Blunt (R-Mo.), the vice chairman of the Senate GOP conference, said both the legislative and legal process should be allowed to play out. I believe both of those are appropriate at this moment to find out what the real facts are, he told HuffPost. Greitens appears in a Feb. 22 police booking photo after he was charged with felony invasion of privacy. Tuesday's announcement has to do with a separate possible felony charge over political fundraising activity. (Photo: Handout / Reuters) The Mission Continues, which Greitens co-founded in 2007, helps veterans transition back into civilian life by placing them in volunteer roles with community organizations. The nonprofits president, Spencer Kympton, acknowledged the investigation into Greitens alleged misuse of its resources in a statement released late last month. Story continues We are supporting various document requests and are fully cooperating with the agencies that are reviewing this situation, Kympton wrote. We look forward to the completion of those efforts in a timely manner. This article has been updated with comment from Sen. Roy Blunt. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Most parents swear up and down that they dont play favorites when it comes to their kids. But one woman isnt shy about sharing her truth: She has a favorite child. As Britains Independent newspaper reports, Alisha Tierney-March, a mother of four who lives in Sheffield, England, has caused an uproar after appearing on a talk show to reveal her preference for her 2-year-old daughter. Kennedie is just all-round nicer to be around, she said of her second-youngest child during Tuesdays taping of the British morning show This Morning. Alisha openly says she prefers her third child over the others giving her preferential treatment and showing her more affection. But do you think it's okay to pick favourites when it comes to your children? pic.twitter.com/ab8SiTGerP This Morning (@thismorning) April 17, 2018 Tierney-March is also mom to Addisson, 9, and Harleigh, 7, as well as 1-year-old Elijah. She suspects that her tighter bond with Kennedie was fostered because the older children were at school, giving her more time with the girl. Ive just got that different bond with Kennedie, she said. I have got such a bond with her. Im not sure if its down to breastfeeding. Is it psychologically damaging to children when a mother admits she has a favorite? (Photo: JGI/Jamie Grill/Getty Images) Tierney-March added that she was disappointed when she learned that her youngest child, Elijah, would be a boy. I love him to pieces [and] hes a lovely baby, but again hes hard work, she said. She said her older daughters are aware of her preference for Kennedie, causing This Morning host Holly Willoughby to suggest that she was causing them emotional harm. Many viewers agree and have taken to social media to blast Tierney-Marchs parenting. Wait until they have the deciding vote on the nursing home she goes to!! Tanya_Stephens (@tanya_furk) April 17, 2018 I feel sorry for the other children! Theyll always feel like theyre not good enough, I think this is horrible and twisted! Nikolei (@Shorteh86) April 17, 2018 Psychologically damaging to the other two children. That's all I can say. And it's all the mothers fault. Samantha Thomas (@sammiebonkers) April 17, 2018 But Tierney-March may not be alone. In a recent U.K. study, 23 percent of parents confessed to having a favorite child. Of those respondents, more than half favored their youngest offspring, while 26 percent preferred their eldest. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: This teen took his mom to prom because she missed hers and the photos are so glam The problem with celebrity baby accounts, like the one for True Thompson These parents are raising their child as a gender-neutral theyby Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Port-au-Prince (AFP) - A month after photographer Vladjimir Legagneur disappeared in a violence-plagued area of Port-au-Prince, other journalists are fearful and Haitian authorities have provided little in the way of information. On March 14, the 30-year-old freelance photographer left in the morning for Grand-Ravine in Port-au-Prince's Martissant neighborhood. The area is one of the poorest in the world and is plagued by deadly gang violence, and police have said they fear Legagneur is dead. "What happened to Vladimir could have happened to any of us," said photographer Jeanty Junior Augustin. "Faced with the total silence of the authorities, we are obliged to go out less... because we don't know what could happen to us," Augustin said. After not hearing from her husband, Fleurette Guerrier began searching for him on the evening of March 14 and filed a report with the police two days later. A hat belonging to him was recovered with the remains of a body in a vacant lot in Grand Ravine in late March, with investigators saying that DNA testing would be used to confirm the identity of the deceased. But "so far, the police have not contacted his wife to obtain a sample to compare with the DNA test," Augustin said. - 'Where is Vladjimir?' - Haitian journalists organized a silent protest two weeks after Legagneur's disappearance, with more than 200 people marching behind a simple banner that read: "Where is Vladjimir?" "With what has happened, we are looking more than before to be safe," said Jean-Jacques Augustin, the spokesman for the journalists' and photographers' union. "When we have information, we will know more about how to act. But we don't understand why the police have said nothing all this time," Augustin said. The police, for their part, insist that the investigation is ongoing. "The police continue to search for people involved in the alleged assassination of Legagneur," police spokesman Frantz Lerebours said. Story continues "We did not give up on the case, but as we always say, we cannot divulge our methods in the press," Lerebours said. Media rights groups have expressed concern over Legagneur's fate and urged Haitian authorities to take action. "A full, transparent investigation would demonstrate to the public and Legagneur's family and colleagues that authorities respect the vital role of the press in Haiti and are taking his disappearance seriously," said Maria Salazar-Ferro, the Committee to Protect Journalists' emergencies director. Rabat (AFP) - "Even a pet animal is better treated," sobs 17-year-old Fatima, one of thousands of young girls exploited and too often abused while working as housemaids for unscrupulous employers in Morocco. She has managed to get to the Annajda help centre for battered women in the capital, Rabat. "I only wanted to help my parents, my family was living in destitution," murmurs the teenager, who has worked as a household servant for two years. For the volunteers who offer support, such stories are commonplace despite recent legislation to protect minors from servitude. Fatima's parents agreed to let her leave their southern village at the age of 15 to work as a domestic, with the aid of a local intermediary, or "semsar". A place was found and she was sent to work with a family in Rabat. "At first I was well-treated," she told AFP. "But gradually, violence became my daily life. "The mistress used to beat me, insult me, she always had a reason." Fatima El Maghnaoui, who runs the Annajda shelter, talks of slavery and says teenage Fatima should be at school. "It's a form of slavery, a violation of the right to education and of Morocco's international commitments," she said. - 'Degrading conditions' - There are no official figures on the employment of maids. But a study carried out in 2010 by non-governmental bodies reported that Morocco had between 66,000 and 80,000 domestic workers aged under 15. INSAF, an NGO which has campaigned for women's rights for nearly 20 years, lists "degrading working and living conditions" suffered by the girls, who are usually from the country and illiterate. Latifa's story caught public attention recently after the 22-year-old was taken to hospital in Casablanca with third-degree burns and broken bones. She had been a maid since adolescence and long abused by her employer. INSAF has helped her find shelter. Story continues For Fatima, work began at 7:00 am and ended late into the night, "sometimes 3:00 am," she says. "I used to sleep on the terrace in the cold, like a domestic animal. "I used to eat the scraps and my feet always ached from standing up." She was not even paid. "A salary of 800 dirhams a month (nearly 70 euros, around $85, or a third of the minimum wage) was agreed, but I didn't get a penny," she adds. After the first year she asked for what she was owed, only for the mistress of the house to confiscate her identity papers and forbid any contact with her family. Caught in a trap, Fatima decided to run away. "I didn't know anyone, I had no money and did not even know the address where I was working," she says. In the end, a young man who lived nearby helped her get in touch with an aunt and "bring the ordeal to a close". - 'Lost childhood' - Omar Saadoun, who heads INSAF's programme against child labour, says that the fate of maids, such as Fatima, starts with "failure at school in rural settings, poverty and parental ignorance". In some areas, "girls are considered inferior to boys and are the first in line to be married off or sent to work as a servant when extra money is needed," he said. Long awaited amid years of debate, legislation to protect maids was passed in the summer of 2016. It sets a minimum age of 18 for household work. The law covers labour contracts, a minimum wage, one day off a week, annual holidays and financial penalties for failure to abide by the rules. Government has hailed the law as major social progress. However, it allows another five years for the employment of 16-18 year-olds, much to the annoyance of human rights activists, and there has been little or no assessment of implementation. "We need a global strategy... the legislation does not bring any guarantees, there is no system for support, rehabilitation, to identify families," says Saadoun. "Many maids who are minors do not even know the address of their employer." And, noted El Maghnaoui, "work inspectors are not authorised to investigate inside households where abuse can take place far from prying eyes." - Painful memories - Despite the new legislation, non-government agencies such as INSAF report that girls as young as eight or nine are still being taken on as servants. After years of servitude, many still bear the scars. Hayat, now 38, became a maid at the age of nine. "When I think back today, 30 years after, it's still just as painful," she laments. "I lost my childhood. "My first employer mistreated me, gave me leftovers to eat. He constantly humiliated me. "It was exhausting. I did not have the strength needed for housework." Today she's a mother and does "everything to take care of my children so they do not live through the same thing." The Hague (AFP) - NATO is not planning to boost its military presence in Baltic nations, which have called for extra protection from their Russian neighbour, the alliance's head Jens Stoltenberg said Thursday. "Currently we are not planning to increase our military presence in the region, but what we are planning is to strengthen our ability to reinforce if needed," Stoltenberg told reporters after talks with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte. The leaders of Baltic states, Estonia, Latvia and Lithuania, occupied and annexed by the Soviet Union during World War II, are seeking extra US aid to ward off any Russian moves against them. They are urging the United States to send more troops and bolster air defences on NATO's eastern flank. Last year, NATO deployed four multinational battalions to Poland and the Baltic states as tripwires against possible Russian adventurism, while the US military sent a Patriot battery to Lithuania for drills. "If there is a need, we need to have ready forces which can deploy very quickly," Stoltenberg added. The issue is set to be discussed at the next NATO summit in July in Brussels, he added. Since the fall of the Soviet Union, the Baltic countries have turned away from Moscow's orbit by joining NATO's mutual defence pact and the European Union. Russian President Vladimir Putin has never made any secret of the fact that he resents this and regards former Soviet republics as belonging in Moscow's zone of influence. Kris Osborn Security, Coming soon, a big test. The Navy's Stealth Destroyer is a Giant Missile 'Carrier' (And It Will Soon Fire Some Missiles) In preparation for all of this, the ship is now going through combat activation in San Diego, Calif., to pave the way toward preparing the weapons systems for the ships planned move to operational status in 2020, Navy officials say. This process will also carefully refine many of the ships other technologies, such as its advanced Integrated Power System and Total Ship Computing Environment, multi-function, volume-search SPY-3 radar and sonar systems. Navy developers of the new high-tech, stealthy USS Zumwalt destroyer are widening the mission envelope for the ship, exploring new ammunition for its guns and preparing to fire its first missiles next year. The US Navys stealthy destroyer will fire an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and SM-2 in 2019 from its Mk 57 Vertical Launch Systems, marking the first time the new ship will fire weapons as part of its ongoing combat activation process. The Navy is exploring a new range of weapons for its stealthy USS Zumwalt destroyer to better prepare the ship for future warfare against technically advanced enemies. Recommended: North Koreas Most Lethal Weapon Isnt Nukes. Recommended: 5 Worst Guns Ever Made. Recommended: The Worlds Most Secretive Nuclear Weapons Program. The Navy is in the process of updating required documents to support new surface strike requirements, according to Navy statements briefed at the services Sea Air and Space Annual Symposium by Zumwalt program manager Capt. Kevin Smith. The new ship, engineered with a sleek, radar-evading design, was initially conceived of in terms of primarily engineering a shallow-water land attack platform. While the ship was envisioned as a multi-mission platform at its inception, current emerging threats and new technology have led Navy strategists to scope a wider strategic view for the ship. Story continues In particular, given the rapid evolution of targeting technology and advanced long-range precision weaponry, particularly those being developed by near-peer adversaries, the strategic calculus informing maritime warfare is changing quickly. Long-range strike technology, coupled with advanced seekers, electromagnetic weapons and higher-resolution sensors, quite naturally, create the need for greater stand-off ranges; such a technical phenomenon is a key element of the Navys current distributed lethality strategy designed to better prepare the Navy for modern, open blue-water combat operations against a technologically advanced adversary. Part of the initial vision for this ship, which is still very much part of its equation, is to engineer a ship able to detect mines. For this reason, the ship has been architected with a shallow draft, enabling it to operate closer to shore than most deep water surface ships. At the same time, threat assessment experts, strategists and Navy weapons developers also heavily emphasize the growing need for the ship to succeed in the event of major nation-state force-on-force maritime warfare. In preparation for all of this, the ship is now going through combat activation in San Diego, Calif., to pave the way toward preparing the weapons systems for the ships planned move to operational status in 2020, Navy officials say. This process will also carefully refine many of the ships other technologies, such as its advanced Integrated Power System and Total Ship Computing Environment, multi-function, volume-search SPY-3 radar and sonar systems. The activation process for USS Zumwalt development includes many technology assessments, such as calm and heavy weather examinations to further verify the ships stability. Many of the weapons systems are being assessed and refined on board a specially configured unmanned test ship. The remote- controlled vessel continues to be involved in integration testing with the SM-2 and other weapons. The USS Zumwalt is built with a high-tech, long-range, BAE-built Advanced Gun System designed to find and hit targets with precision from much farther ranges than existing deck-mounted ship guns. Most deck mounted 5-inch guns currently on Navy ships are limited to firing roughly 8-to-10 miles at targets within the horizon or whats called line of sight. The Advanced Gun System, however, is being developed to fire rounds beyond-the-horizon at targets more than three times that distance. The Navy had been planning to have the gun fire a Long-Range Land Attack Projectile, but is now exploring different ammunition options for, among other things, cost issues, Navy leaders said. The Navy is also currently evaluating potential SM-6 integration for the USS Zumwalt. The SM-6 has been a fast-evolving weapon for the Navy as it has expanded its mission envelope to include air-defense, ballistic missile defense and even offensive use as an anti-ship surface attack weapon. In addition, utilizing its active seeker, the SM-6 is a key part of Naval Integrated Fire Control Counter Air, or NIFC-CA; NIFC-CA uses fire-control technology to link Aegis radar with an airborne relay sensor to detect and destroy approaching enemy threats from beyond the horizon. With an active, dual-mode seeker able to send an electromagnetic ping forward from the missile itself, the SM-6 is able to better adjust to moving targets, according to Raytheon developers. Giving commanders more decision-making time to effectively utilize layered ship defenses when under attack is an integral part of the rationale for NIFC-CA. The ship also fires Vertical Launch Anti-Submarine Rockets, or ASROCs. ASROCs are 16-feet long with a 14-inch diameter; a rocket delivers the torpedo at very high speeds to a specific point in the water at which point it turns on its sensors and searches for an enemy submarine. Wade Knudson, DDG 1000 program manager, Raytheon, has told Warrior in recent years through the course of several interviews. The ship is also built with Mk 57 a vertical launch tubes which are engineered into the hull near the perimeter of the ship. Called Peripheral Vertical Launch System, the tubes are integrated with the hull around the ships periphery in order to ensure that weapons can keep firing in the event of damage. Instead of having all of the launch tubes in succession or near one another, the DDG 1000 has spread them out in order to mitigate risk in the event of attack, developers said. In total, there are 80 launch tubes built into the hull of the DDG 1000; the Peripheral Vertical Launch System involves a collaborative effort between Raytheon and BAE Systems. Also, the launchers are especially designed with software such that it can accommodate a wide range of weapons; the launchers can house one SM-2, SM-3 or SM-6, ASROCs and up to four ESSMs due to the missiles smaller diameter, Raytheon developers explain. In 2016, the new ship was formally delivered to the Navy at Bath Iron Works in Portland, Maine. The ship was formally commissioned in October of that year. This first appeared in Warrior Maven here. Read full article Lagos (AFP) - Nigerian police said on Thursday they had recovered the ceremonial mace -- the parliamentary symbol of authority -- under a flyover after it was stolen from the Senate. The mace was snatched on Wednesday by "hoodlums" suspected to have been hired by an embattled senator who had been suspended from the upper house because of a dispute over the date of the presidential election next year. Seizing the mace has been a long-established tactic to express discontent with parliamentary proceedings in the Senate and the lower House of Representatives, as well as state legislatures. The Senate described the theft in the capital Abuja as an "act of treason" and gave police 24 hours to retrieve the mace. Parliament cannot convene without the mace, a one-metre (three-foot) long metal rod traditionally carried by the Senate speaker upon entering and leaving the chamber. Deputy police spokesman Aremu Adeniran said a massive search operation was launched, forcing the suspects to abandon the mace under an Abuja flyover, "where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the police". He said an investigation into the theft was ongoing. Ovie Omo-Agege, a senator from the oil-rich southern Delta state who allegedly led the intruders into the upper chamber was arrested for questioning on Wednesday but was later released after denying his involvement. In 2000, then-Senate speaker Cuba Okadigbo allegedly removed the mace from the chamber and took it to his hometown in a dispute with his deputy over when to resume parliament after recess. Lagos (AFP) - Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari came under fire on Thursday for criticising youths who he said "do nothing" and want everything for "free" in the oil-rich country. Buhari, who declared earlier in April he is seeking re-election in 2019, made the remark on Wednesday at a business conference in London. "A lot of them haven't been to school and they are claiming, you know, that Nigeria has been an oil producing country therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, health care, education, free," said Buhari. The comment touched a nerve West Africa's largest economy, which suffers from high unemployment and lacks basic government services, including running water and electricity. Most business and homes rely on private generators for power and buy water privately, while many Nigerians make their living in the informal sector, working as small business owners. Nigeria's former vice-president Atiku Abubakar, who is also running for president for the main opposition Peoples Democratic Party (PDP), lambasted Buhari. "I will never refer to Nigeria's youth as people who sit and do nothing," the 71 year old said on Facebook, adding that youth were the "backbone" of the country. Another presidential hopeful Adamu Garba said Buhari was being "humorous with our national pride". The Daily Post newspaper said the 75-year-old former general was "attacking" youth while the Daily Trust accused him of calling them "lazy". On Thursday morning, the hashtag #LazyNigerianYouths was trending on Twitter, with young Nigerians blasting the government. "The government never created anything for me, I feed from my hustle and yet they say we are lazy," said one tweet. - Buhari off message - Despite the uproar, Buhari's comments are unlikely to play any serious role at the presidential polls next year, political analyst Saheed Animashaun said. Story continues "First, a huge section of youths who are going to vote are not going to be aware of that comment," Animashaun said. "Two, when the election time comes next year, they will have forgotten about this" Buhari has previously veered off message when speaking off the cuff on overseas trips. In 2016, Buhari told Britain's Daily Telegraph that Nigerians were difficult to "accept" abroad because of their reputation for criminality, specifically human and drug trafficking. Later that year, Buhari said that his wife Aisha "belongs to my kitchen" on a visit to Germany, after she suggested she would not support him if he sought a second term of office. The remarks earned him a stoney glare from German Chancellor Angela Merkel. "The president has not had a media chat in a while, and I'm sure it's deliberate, he has a tendency to say something off mark, so his aides will try as much as possible to avoid free speech," Animashaun said. Nigeria's combined youth unemployment and underemployment rate hovered around 50 percent in late 2017 following the country's worst economic recession in 25 years. The country came out of recession last year but growth outside the lucrative oil sector remains tepid, constrained by a lack of education and infrastructure. Nigeria is home to more than 180 million people, with 63 percent of the population living below the poverty line, according to the IMF in a March 2018 report. American Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley listens during a Security Council meeting on the situation in Syria United Nations headquarters: AP Photo/Mary Altaffer Americas ambassador to the United Nations rebuked a fellow Trump aides suggestion that she was confused in announcing new sanctions on Russian firms. With all due respect, I dont get confused, ambassador Nikki Haley told Fox News. Her comment was a response to National Economic Council chairman Larry Kudlows saying earlier in the day that Ms Haley got ahead of the curve. There might have been some momentary confusion about that, Mr Kudlow told reporters. The administration has sent mixed messages about imposing additional sanctions in recent days. While Ms Haley on Sunday pointed to imminent penalties on Russian businesses connected to Syrias chemical weapons programme, subsequent reports said Donald Trump had not yet decided whether to sign off on new sanctions. The President has been clear that he's going to be tough on Russia. But at the same time, he'd still like to have a good relationship with them, White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders told reporters the day after Ms Haleys initial comment, adding that were continuing to evaluate a number of sanctions. In announcing joint military strikes on Syrias chemical weapons facilities with the UK and France, Mr Trump specifically lambasted Russia for its support of Syrian president Bashar al-Assad, saying Russia must decide if it will continue down this dark path, or if it will join with civilised nations as a force for stability and peace. But Mr Trump has also repeatedly professed admiration for Russian president Vladimir Putin and has cast doubts on intelligence assessments that Mr Putin directed a broad offensive intended to disrupt the 2016 presidential election. Earlier this year the administration delayed imposing congressionally mandated sanctions on Russia for election meddling. (HAVANA) Cuba on Wednesday selected 57-year-old First Vice President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez as sole candidate to succeed Raul Castro as president of Cuba, the centerpiece of an effort to ensure that the countrys single-party system outlasts the aging revolutionaries who created it. The virtually certain unanimous approval of the National Assembly will install someone from outside the Castro family in the countrys highest government office for the first time in nearly six decades. The 86-year-old Castro will remain head of the Communist Party, designated by the constitution as the superior guiding force of society and the state. As a result, Castro is almost certain to remain the most powerful person in Cuba for the time being. His departure from the presidency is nonetheless a symbolically charged moment for a country accustomed to 60 years of absolute rule first by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and, for the last decade, his younger brother. Nominated as new first vice president was Salvador Valdes Mesa, a 72-year-old Afro-Cuban former union official who has held a long series of high posts in the Cuban government. The governments official Candidacy Commission also nominated another five vice presidents of the Council of State, Cubas highest government body. Only one of the five, 85-year-old Ramiro Valdez, was among the revolutionaries who fought with the Castros in the eastern Sierra Maestra mountains. Facing biological reality, Raul Castro is working to ensure a smooth transition from him and his small group of former guerrillas to a new generation that can maintain the governments grip on power in the face of economic stagnation, an aging population and waning revolutionary fervor among Cuban youth attuned more to global consumer culture than the anti-capitalist, nationalist messaging of the state-run media. That media went into overdrive Wednesday with a single message: Cubas system is continuing in the face of change. Commentators on state television and online offered lengthy explanations of why Cubas single-party politics and socialist economy are superior to multi-party democracy and free markets, and assured Cubans that no fundamental changes were occurring, despite some new faces at the top. Story continues It falls on our generation to give continuity to the revolutionary process, said assembly member Jorge Luis Torres, a municipal councilman from central Artemisa province who appeared to be in his 40s. Were a generation born after the revolution, whose responsibility is driving the destiny of the nation. Most Cubans know their first vice president as an unremarkable speaker who initially assumed a public profile so low it was virtually nonexistent. Until March, Diaz-Canel had said nothing to the Cuban people about the type of president he would be. The white-haired, generally unsmiling Diaz-Canel had been seen at greatest length in a leaked video of a Communist Party meeting where he somberly pledged to shutter some independent media and labeled some European embassies as outposts of foreign subversion. That image has begun to change slightly this year as Diaz-Canel stepped into the moderate limelight offered by Cubas Soviet-style state media. With his public comments in March, many Cubans got a glimpse of him as a flesh-pressing local politician, an image familiar to residents of the central province where he was born and spent nine years in a role akin to a governor. Castro entered the National Assembly just after 9 a.m. accompanied by a broadly smiling Diaz-Canel. The 604 assembly members were sworn in a 605th was absent then voted for the president and vice president of the legislative body itself. The result of the votes for president and vice presidents and other national leaders is expected to be officially announced Thursday, the anniversary of the U.S.-backed Bay of Pigs invasion defeated by Cuban forces in 1961. As in Cubas legislative elections, all of the leaders being voted in on Wednesday are selected by a government-appointed commission. Ballots offer only the option of approving or disapproving the official candidate. Candidates generally receive more than 90 percent of the votes in their favor. Fidel Castro was prime minister and president from 1959 until he fell ill in 2006. Although Osvaldo Dorticos was president of Cuba during Fidel Castros time as prime minister, he was considered a figurehead beside the man who led Cubas revolution, forged its single-party socialist system and ruled by fiat. For the first time in more than half a century, a man not named Castro will be the leader of the Communist-run island nation. On Wednesday, Cubas National Assembly elects a new president to replace Raul Castro, 86, who in 2013 pledged to step down after his second five-year term. The election results are expected to be announced Thursday. Who is the apparent successor and what happens after Raul Castro is replaced? Time magazine has released its Time 100: The Most Influential People of 2018, and while the annual list often includes controversial figures, the piece on the Parkland Florida shooting particularly struck a chord. The magazine featured five of the most notable students from the shooting that killed 17 people in February. David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez, Cameron Kasky, Jaclyn Corin, and Alex Wind helped organize the March for Our Lives movement, which is focused on changing Americas gun laws. CBS News reported that more than 200,000 people attended the march last month in Washington, D.C., with more than 800 other marches taking place across the nation that same day. Theres little question as to why Time included the students in its Time 100 issue, given their impact on the gun control debate, but many had a problem with the author of the article about the organizers. Former President Barack Obama praised the teenagers, saying, Our kids now show us what weve told them America is all about, even if we havent always believed it ourselves: that our future isnt written for us, but by us. Obama also criticized the Republican Congress and the NRAs bias on the issue, saying that progress will be slow and frustrating. Many right-leaning Twitter users attacked Obamas words, blaming his administration for the gun violence in America. Paris Jackson made a red carpet appearance with the Hilton family to honor long-time family friend Kathy Hilton at the CASA Of Los Angeles Evening To Foster Dreams Gala on Wednesday night. The 20-year-old looked gorgeous amongst the Hilton ladies including Paris, 37, and Nicky, 34 in a printed green Elie Saab dress, which featured a thigh-high slit. Paris Jackson rocks a thigh-high slit on the red carpet. (Photo: Getty Images) In a photo posted to Paris Hiltons Instagram, Jackson was pictured in between the two Hilton sisters, where they each showed off their glam looks. Jackson flaunted her long legs, while Hilton captioned the photo #SexySisters of the three who have known each other since Jackson was born in 1998. #SexySisters A post shared by Paris Hilton (@parishilton) on Apr 18, 2018 at 10:40pm PDT The women attended the event where matriarch Kathy Hilton was honored for her role as the first official ambassador to the organization, which provides advocacy for neglected children in LA. Jackson even spoke in front of the crowd about Kathy, who became friends with Jacksons father when the two were just teens. Michael Jacksons sister La Toya Jackson even told Yahoo back in 2012 that both Paris Jackson and Paris Hilton having the same name is not a coincidence. Jackson takes off her heels and hangs out with Hilton during the event. (Photo: Getty Images) Later in the evening, Jackson was seen rocking her look with no shoes, while her heels hung off of her backpack, as she hung out with Paris Hilton. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Paris Jackson walked the red carpet with no makeup on Please stop lightening Paris Jacksons skin thank you Kim Kardashian and Paris Hiltons ups and downs over the years Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Barbara Bush, pictured in 2008, died Tuesday. (Photo: Scott Olson/Getty Images) Since news of Barbara Bushs death broke Tuesday, social media has been flooded with tributes honoring the 92-year-old former first lady. Some of the homages have been accused of missing the mark, however. President Trump was mocked after the White House released a statement with the date off by a year. But a tribute posted on the Twitter page for the Womens March seems to be causing a more contentious stir. The tweet, sent Tuesday evening, told Bush to rest in peace and power. Rest in peace and power, Barbara Bush. pic.twitter.com/GI8eIYd8A6 Women's March (@womensmarch) April 18, 2018 Many followers felt that praising Bush was at odds with the Womens Marchs feminist message, citing her criticism of Anita Hill and controversial statements she made about Hurricane Katrina victims. Much of the flak stems from a passage in Bushs 1994 memoir detailing her thoughts about Hills assertions that she was sexually harassed by Supreme Court Justice Clarence Thomas. Though Bush acknowledged that sexual harassment is wrong and expressed hope that the hearings would give a voice to other women, she was dismissive of womens groups and doubted Hills statements. All the womens groups are up in arms and the hue and cry for Clarences blood can be heard from every side, she wrote. It is setting a picture that anyone can testify if he or she wants and cause doubts. Barbara Bush on feminist activists and Anita Hill. Shame on y'all for this. pic.twitter.com/dt7VxYeDFo Robin (@caulkthewagon) April 18, 2018 In 2005, Bush made headlines when she commented that victims of Hurricane Katrina who had been evacuated to Texas would handle their situations because they were underprivileged anyway, a remark that was perceived as insensitive and privileged. Story continues These controversies prompted many to object to the Womens Marchs celebration of Bushs legacy. This is so so disappointing. The things she and her family have down to global Black people is criminal, to say the least. She is part of the system of white supremacy, anti Black, anti feminist, as Malcolm said who taught you to hate yourself? Rosa A. Clemente (@rosaclemente) April 18, 2018 hard pass Virgil Texas (@virgiltexas) April 18, 2018 shitty people dying is my favorite form of progress. MXWELL: FREEDOM ROAST (@maxoncoffee) April 18, 2018 You guys are new at this, right? Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 18, 2018 Umno. Please don't honor this woman. Fix Your Hearts or Die (@elevatorcore) April 18, 2018 This whitewashed nonsense is what happens when you let your movement be taken over by corporate foundations, the Democratic Party, and neoliberals who make the name of a protest a brand and then attack activists who organize other protests with that namehttps://t.co/RGaW49zURT Ben Norton (@BenjaminNorton) April 18, 2018 Several critics also noted the term rest in power is typically used to reference someone who was denied peace and justice by society something they say Bush, the matriarch of one of the nations most powerful political families, did not face. Its the second time in a week the Womens March Twitter feed has run afoul of its followers. A tweet decrying the closure of sex worker resource Backpage.com was bashed for enabling the underpinnings of sex slavery. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. The police have released an audio recording of the 911 call that led to the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia branch of Starbucks. The arrests sparked accusations of racial profiling by both the company and the police. In the phone call, which lasted only seconds and brought police officers to the branch, an employee at the coffee chain, believed to be the manager, asks police to come to the cafe. "Hi, I have two gentlemen at my cafe that are refusing to make a purchase or leave. I'm at the Starbucks at 18th and Spruce," a Starbucks employee told police last Thursday just after 4.30pm. It was this call which sparked a slew of apologies from the coffee giant and said it should never have been made. Public outrage grew after the two African-American men were arrested at the branch. The controversy prompted the multinational firm to announce it would close all 8,000 of its US stores for an afternoon in May to train baristas on how to come to recognise their racial biases and prevent racial discrimination occurring in its cafes. The men had initially asked to use the bathroom inside the cafe but were told the branch's bathrooms were for customers only. They then sat at a table without ordering anything something many observers have noted is a frequent occurrence at the chains locations. A manager called the police after the pair said they would not leave the premises because they explained they were waiting for a friend who arrived just as they were taken away in handcuffs. The video of the ordeal quickly went viral amassing 4.5 million views by Saturday evening. The men were arrested for trespassing but no charges were filed. The manager in question is no longer working at the store. The short 911 call was just one recording released by the Philadelphia Police on Tuesday, with authorities also releasing dispatch and officer communications. In the recording, a police car is dispatched. Officers ask for backup and a supervisor due to a "disturbance at the Starbucks" involving a "group of males" and then officers indicate they are going to make arrests and transport the two men. Story continues The racial bias training for the close to 175,000 employees nationwide Starbucks has organised is designed to address implicit bias, promote conscious inclusion, prevent discrimination and ensure everyone inside a Starbucks store feels safe and welcome, according to a statement from the firm. The incident has sparked protests outside the store and the #BoycottStarbucks hashtag has gained increasing traction on social media. MANILA (Reuters) - Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte said on Wednesday he ordered the investigation into a 71-year-old Australian nun for "disorderly conduct", justifying it as a legal move against "undesirable" foreigners. Sister Patricia Fox, a coordinator of a Philippine congregation of Catholic nuns called Notre Dame de Sion, was taken from her house this week and detained at the immigration bureau in Manila for almost 24 hours. She was released on Tuesday pending further investigation. Fox had taken part in rallies seeking the release of political prisoners and urging Philippine authorities to respect human rights, but she denied she was engaged in politicking. "I ordered her to be investigated, not deported at once, not arrested, but to invite her to an investigation for a disorderly conduct," Duterte said during the change of command ceremony of the Armed Forces of the Philippines. Presidential spokesman Harry Roque said there was "probably" a need to apologize for the detention of Fox because she was not engaged in any political activity when she was taken from her home by immigration authorities. "Perhaps an apology was in order. Clearly there was a mistake," he said early on Thursday in an interview with ANC news channel. Roque said Duterte had to clarify his order and had taken full responsibility for the incident. "It's a violation of sovereignty," Duterte said, accusing Fox of badmouthing his administration. "You do not have that right to criticize us. Do not insult my country. "We never did that to Australia. We never did that to (a) European country. Why don't you criticize your own government, the way you handle the refugees, hungry and dying and you turn them back to the open sea," he said. The United Nations has called on Australia to take responsibility for around 800 refugees and asylum seekers stranded in a detention center on Papua New Guinea where it said many lack medical and mental health care. Australia, which controversially holds asylum-seekers in offshore camps, has said the center on the island is adequate and that the Papua New Guinea government is responsible for running it. (Reporting by Enrico dela Cruz; Editing by Nick Macfie and Michael Perry) By Rinat Harash GIVAT BRENNER, Israel (Reuters) - The cooing of pigeons fills the air once again in a secluded dovecot that was once part of a top-secret communications project during Israel's war with its Arab neighbors 70 years ago. It housed carrier pigeons, which delivered critical messages from the battlefield to Israeli military headquarters during the 1948 war after the new state declared independence and was attacked by the armies of countries including Syria, Egypt and Jordan. As Israel prepares for its Independence Day celebrations, starting at sundown on Wednesday, the recently restored dovecot in Kibbutz Givat Brenner is today an educational center devoted to the winged warriors. "This is the only thing that was left, and we thought that this is a great place to tell the story," said Tal Ben Nun of The Society for Preservation of Israel's Heritage Sites. It has used 600,000 shekels (about $170,000) given by the defense ministry and Prime Minister's office to restore the site. Kibbutz Givat Brenner was founded by Jewish immigrants from Europe in 1928. It lies between Ashdod and Tel Aviv, just north of where Egyptian forces reached after invading from the Sinai in 1948. Lacking communication devices during the war, the Israeli forces relied on a clandestine network of 68 dovecots spread across the country, and ran 'pigeoneer' courses for soldiers, Ben Nun said. Counting on the pigeons' ability to return to their home dovecot, as armies have long done, the Israeli soldiers flew them from the heart of the battle - this time carrying messages written mostly in Morse code. "It was the only way to communicate, to receive news of what's going on with the troops - whether they succeeded or not, whether they were attacked, if they have wounded or dead, is there a need to send a vehicle to evacuate the wounded? It was all done through the pigeons," said veteran military pigeoneer Shaul Sapir, 90, who still gets emotional when he reminisces about his birds. "They were nurtured, so much that... a truck would be brought carrying food for the pigeons, when we remained very hungry." After being deserted for decades, the restored dovecot in Givat Brenner now houses 60 carrier pigeons, some of which are descendants of those who were there during the war. They are trained daily by volunteers. "I think it is a duty, a duty, to all the youths and especially those who will be enlisted to the Israeli army's communication or intelligence units, to come and see how we started from nothing, with a pigeon, and what is reached today, with satellites." In the coming days and weeks Palestinians will also hold events marking what they call the "Nakba" or "Catastrophe", when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from their homes during the violence that surrounded Israel's creation. (Reporting by Rinat Harash; Editing by Stephen Farrell and David Stamp) (BRUSSELS) Europes top trade official said Wednesday that new U.S. steel and aluminum tariffs are distorting global trade and could damage hopes for economic growth. Cecilia Malmstrom, the European Unions trade commissioner, also said the bloc would not offer any concessions in order to be exempt from the U.S. import duties ahead of a May 1 deadline in talks. We are a seeing a recovery and a potential growth in trade and global growth but it is threatened by these tariffs, she told reporters in Strasbourg, France. We can see already tendencies of distortion of trade that affects the EU as well. Last month, U.S. President Donald Trump slapped tariffs of 25 percent on steel imports and 10 percent on imported aluminum, but granted the EU a temporary exemption until May 1. He also temporarily exempted big steel producers Canada and Mexico provided they agree to renegotiate a North American trade deal to his satisfaction. The EU has drawn up a list of rebalancing duties worth some 2.8 billion euros ($3.4 billion) to slap on U.S. products if it is not permanently excluded. Describing the U.S. tariffs as pure protectionism, Malmstrom said the EU would not be strong-armed into giving up any sweeteners in exchange for a permanent exemption, amid rumors that Brussels might be preparing some kind of trade offer. We have not offered the U.S. anything. We are not going to offer them anything to get exceptions from tariffs that we consider are not in compliance with the WTO, she said, referring to global trades governing body, the World Trade Organization. We expect to be permanently and unconditionally exempted from these measures, said Malmstrom. She added that talks with Washington are continuing but that the EU has received no guarantees yet. Malmstrom also expressed concern about trade tensions between the U.S. and China, describing a possible escalation as something that could be very worrisome for the global economy. Story continues Her remarks came as the European Commission announced that it had wrapped up negotiations with Japan and Singapore on major trade and investment deals and that it hoped the new pacts can be endorsed by EU countries and enter force by late next year. EU Commission Vice President Jyrki Katainen hailed them as a victory for rules-based trade and the multilateral system. Its always worrisome if any of our partners are willing to take unilateral action against us, or against any of us, he said, but he noted that support for multilateralism has strengthened recently because of unilateral actions. Article I, Section 8, of the U.S. Constitution provides: The Congress shall have the power To declare war Article II, Section 2, provides: The President shall be commander in chief of the Army and Navy of the United States The distinction could not be clearer: Congress is not the Commander in Chief, and the President has no power to declare war. Where, then, did President Truman get the authority to send troops to Korea without seeking Congressional approval, Eisenhower send troops to Lebanon, Johnson to bomb North Vietnam (even before the questionable Tonkin Gulf Resolution), Reagan to send troops to Grenada, Clinton to bomb Serbia, Bush I to invade Panama or Obama to make war in Libya, and so on and so forth? Where did President Trump get the authority to in all but name declare war on ISIS, and to bomb Syria and have troops on the ground there? How is this all being done without any declaration or authorization by Congress? And why are efforts to change this state of affairs failing? Put aside the issue of whether our wars on ISIS or against Syrian President Bashar Assads forces are morally justifiable. What is the legal justification for this violation of the Constitution? There is no answer that passes the laugh test. Truman called our presence in Korea a police action. People said Clinton could bomb Serbia because of the commander-in-chief clause. Currently, our leaders argue we can make war against ISIS and Assad because on September 14, 2001, Congress reacted to the attack on the Twin Towers three days earlier by passing The Authorization for Use of Military Force (AUMF), which gave the President power to use military force against those who planned, authorized, committed, or aided the terrorist attacks that occurred on September 11, 2001, or harbored such organizations or persons. Without congressional approval, the Bush Administration independently insisted that meant it was authorized to make war on Al Qaeda and the Taliban wherever we found them. Congress sat on its hands, and successive administrations have followed suit. Story continues But even under that questionable extrapolation of the 2001 AUMF, there is certainly no authorization for the current war against ISIS or our attack on Assad for his chemical assault against his own people. ISIS had nothing to do with the 9/11 attack it did not even exist then, as the President himself has enjoyed bringing up, albeit with incorrect information. There is also no suggestion that Assads 2018 atrocities had anything to do with 9/11. Yet the proponents of presidential war-making power, both in and out of Congress, continue to cite the 2001 AUMF as authority for the Executive Branchs military ventures. Those justifications are legally preposterous. A bipartisan group of Senators is now actually getting ready to propose a new AUMF, but there is apparently no hope of getting it through either house. Outgoing Speaker of the House Paul Ryan has said he sees no need for new legislation. In the wake of the news about the latest chemical attack, Ryan said the President has the authority under the existing AUMF. But that is not true, and even lapdogs should at times be skeptical of where their they place their loyalties. It seems obvious what is going on here: Congress doesnt want to make these decisions, especially since they might come back and bite them come election time. This is disgraceful. The prime example of this was when Assad used chemical weapons and crossed Obamas red line declaration. The President then went to Congress to seek authorization to strike Assad. Congress did not take up the bill. It was never even discussed. The result? Obama did not use force, and the hawks criticized Obama not Congress, to its delight. It is clear that two of the three constitutionally created Departments of our government have been engaging in an unmistakable, if unspoken, conspiracy to ignore the Constitution. They do this even as most of these foreign adventures have public support. In Korea, we fought the bad guys. The same occurred in Kosovo. ISIS is evil, and Assads use of poison gas is horrendous. But why take unnecessary political risks when theres always an election right around the corner for all the members of the House and one-third of the Senate? It is perhaps easier to overlook Constitutional violations if we have Dwight Eisenhower making the call, and we were even okay with the Bush presidencies and President Obama. This assault on our Constitution may also be easier to swallow when the adversaries are monsters like ISIS and Assad. But the wisdom of the Founders is ever more prominent today. Their vision was that making war on anybody was something deserving indeed, demanding discussion and decision exclusively by the peoples representatives. Thats the law. But our current Congress ignores its Constitutional duty. While Trump bombs, Congress dithers. This danger will not disappear. With regards to North Korea, the President is talking about how big his nuclear button is demonstrating a malignant misunderstanding of the Presidents power. Unless the United States is attacked, the button does not belong to him. It belongs to Congress. Puerto Rico Gov. Ricardo Rossello said Wednesday's island-wide blackout, caused by an excavator next to a power transmission line in the south part of the island, was "unacceptable." Cobra Energy, which has been working in Puerto Rico to restore service since October 2017, following Hurricane Maria's rampage, was reportedly responsible for the incident. Even though power has been restored to all of the 1.4 million customers that were affected by Wednesday's island-wide blackout, Rossello said that it is unacceptable for this type of outage to occur on the island. I have suggested to the Board of @AEEONLINE that they cancel the contract with the Cobra subcontractor that is directly responsible for this power outage. This is the second power failure that has affected the people of Puerto Rico in less than two weeks. Ricardo Rossello (@ricardorossello) April 18, 2018 Rossello said that it is surprising that a territory with 3.5 million inhabitants has been completely dark due to negligence in the work carried out by a simple excavator. He cataloged Wednesday's event as a reminder that should help to continue with the "goal of transforming Puerto Rico's electrical system and guarantee a quality service." Last January, Rossello announced in a televised message the privatization process of PREPA as part of his plan to transform the island's energy system. Possible cancellation of contract Rosello urged in a press conference Wednesday that the contract of the company responsible for this blackout should be canceled. After the incident, the deputy director of PREPA, Justo Gonzalez, blamed the private company Cobra Energy for the accident that occurred while removing a collapsed tower with the aforementioned excavator. Cobra Energy is one of the North American companies that has presence on the island to restore the energy system, after Hurricane Maria passed through Puerto Rico. Story continues The company is a subsidiary of the company Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. and since Feb. 27, 2018, it has been under a modified contract with PREPA modification for an increased total amount of $945 million to address additional work requirements. Last week, the company also was blamed for a breakdown that affected the center and north of the island, leaving over 700,000 customers of PREPA without energy service. Cobra Energy reacts The Director of Mammoth Energy Don Crist told AccuWeather that "despite the frailty of the existing electrical infrastructure system, Cobra is dedicated to the difficult work that lies ahead and continues to work around-the-clock with PREPA and the citizens of Puerto Rico to repair the entire infrastructure system to prevent outages such as this one from affecting the entire population on the island." Before the blackout, about 42,000 customers still did not have normal electricity service nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria's impact. Hospitals, the Luis Munoz Marin International Airport, the pumping systems of the Aqueduct and Sewer Authority (AAA) and the banking centers are being prioritized, according to PREPA. The recent whirlwind of diplomacy over North Korea has sparked hopes in Japan of a breakthrough in the painful decades-long issue of citizens kidnapped by Pyongyang. US President Donald Trump pledged after a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe to work "very, very hard" to "try and bring these folks back." Trump also met relatives of the abductees during his last visit to Tokyo, the emotional high point of his trip as grieving families clutched pictures of their loved-ones. Here is what you need to know about the issue that has dogged ties between Japan and North Korea for years. - What happened? - In the 1970s and 80s a number of young Japanese disappeared from areas abutting the Japan Sea. Tokyo pointed the finger at Pyongyang, saying North Korean agents had kidnapped them to train its spies in Japanese language and customs. After years of denial, North Korea admitted in 2002 it had taken 13 Japanese civilians. Tokyo believes the number to be at least 17. A month later, five were allowed to return to Japan. Pyongyang insisted the other eight were dead but has not produced evidence that Japan accepts. One of those said to have died was Megumi Yokota, kidnapped on her way home from school in 1977 at the age of 13 - the youngest among the 17 officially listed as abductees by the Japanese government. In 2004 North Korea handed over cremated remains it claimed were Yokota's. However, Tokyo said DNA tests conducted in Japan proved the claim to be untrue. There are strong suspicions in Japan that the North also snatched dozens of others. Japanese police say there are 800 missing people for whom the possibility of being kidnapped by the hermit state cannot be ruled out. - Why is it so important? - Yokota's ageing parents have been at the forefront of a long and emotional campaign to keep the subject in the national consciousness. Their dignity and persistance continues to strike a chord among the public. Story continues The issue, which is never far from the domestic news agenda, has coloured Japan's attitude to its neighbour for years and Abe rarely passes up an opportunity to raise it. While Japan is at the sharp end of North Korean aggression and has seen missiles flying over its territory, it is the abduction issue that really rankles. "I think it would be a tremendous signal if Kim Jong-Un would send them back," Trump said during his Tokyo visit in November, when tensions were at fever-pitch. - Was it just Japanese kidnapped? - Far from it. A 2014 UN report on human rights in North Korea estimated that 200,000 people from other countries have been snatched over the decades. Most of them were South Koreans left stranded after the 1950-1953 Korean War, but hundreds of others from around the world -- including women from Lebanon, Thailand, Malaysia, Singapore, Romania and France -- were taken or disappeared while visiting the country between the 1960s and 1980s, the report said. More recently, the North abducted a number of its own nationals and South Koreans from China, the UN said. - Can there be a resolution? - Experts think probably not -- at least, not in the short term -- and this is not the first time a US president has made efforts to resolve the issue. Yokota's parents met Barack Obama in 2014 when he visited Japan. Under an agreement brokered in Stockholm in May 2014, North Korea undertook to reinvestigate all abductions of Japanese citizens in what appeared to be a significant breakthrough on the issue. But there has been almost no progress since then, as relations between the North and the international community deteriorated. "It is highly unlikely we will see an immediate return of the abductees even if President Trump raises the issue during his summit with Kim," said Satoru Miyamoto, expert on the North Korean issue at Seigakuin University. "No progress has been made since former prime minister (Junichiro) Koizumi visited North Korea and the North has long said no Japanese nationals were alive," Miyamoto told AFP. "It's hard to think that the issue will be dramatically resolved after the summit," he added. The Queen of England has been hit extremely hard by the loss of her 15-year-old corgi Willow, the last of a long line of dogs she had from the breed. The dog is said to have been suffering from a cancer-related illness and was euthanized on Sunday at Windsor Castle, Queen Elizabeth II's home 40 kilometers west of London. Queen Elizabeth II has a long history with corgis, which dates back more than eight decades. Willow was the 14th generation of the breed which descended from the Queens first dog, Susan. Trending: Star Wars Battlefront 2 Skins List - Appearances in April Update & Beyond According to the Daily Telegraph, the Queen made the decision to euthanize Willow because she did not want the dog to suffer any longer. She has mourned every one of her corgis over the years, but she has been more upset about Willows death than any of them, a Buckingham Palace source told the Daily Mail. It is probably because Willow was the last link to her parents and a pastime that goes back to her own childhood. It really does feel like the end of an era. The Queenthen Princess Elizabeth first began her relationship with corgis on her 18th birthday when Susan was given to her as a gift. The Queen still has two dorgis, a mix of corgi and dachshund, but was said to be closest to Willow. Don't miss: Most U.S. Voters Approve of Trump's Syria Strikes but Also Say They Won't Work, Poll Reveals Queen Elizabeth II Ben Stansall - WPA Pool/Getty Willow represents a significant thread running through the Queens life from her teenage years to her 90s, a courtier told the Mail. For many, many years she bred and raised corgis and to think that the last one has now gone is something of a milestone. During her reign, the Queen has owned more than 30 corgis and many are believed to be direct descendants of Susan, her first dog. Willow was one of four dogs that joined the Queen and her grandchildren in a photograph taken on her 90th birthday in 2016. Story continues This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The Queen and the Prince of Wales at the official opening of CHOGM - PA The Queen has expressed her "sincere wish" that her son, the Prince of Wales, will one day succeed her as Head of Commonwealth, in the clearest signal yet about the future of the family of nations. The Queen, who addressed the Commonwealth heads of government in the Buckingham Palace ballroom at the official opening of CHOGM this morning, said it was her sincere wish that Prince Charles would carry on the important work started by her father, George VI in 1949. Her highly significant speech, met with warm applause, is the most explicit statement she has made to date of her hopes for the Commonwealths future, and the honorary and not hereditary position of its head. In an unusually explicit statement of her views, she told the presidents and prime ministers of the Commonwealth: It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as Head of the Commonwealth and to observe, with pride and satisfaction, that this is a flourishing network. It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day The Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. The Queen and the Prince of Wales at the official opening of CHOGM Credit: Yui Mok /PA The Prince of Wales bid to one day accede to his mothers Commonwealth role is due to be discussed at a private CHOGM retreat at Windsor on Friday, but is now widely considered a foregone conclusion. Two years ago, speaking at the last CHOGM in Malta, the Queen offered a hint to her feelings, saying she could not have been "better supported and represented in the Commonwealth than by The Prince of Wales who continues to give so much to it with great distinction. The Prime Minister, Theresa May, and the Queen Credit: Dominic Lipinski /PA Today, at the start of the London summit, she told an audience: "When I meet the young leaders of this century, I remember my own life-long commitment made in South Africa in 1947 at the age of 21. Story continues "As another birthday approaches this week, I am reminded of the extraordinary journey we have been on, and how much good has been achieved." Saying that "my family and I have been heartened" by the successful Commonwealth programmes "in which we are proud to play a part," she added: "Here at Buckingham Palace in 1949, my father met the Heads of Government when they ratified the London Declaration, which created the Commonwealth as we know it today then comprising just eight nations. The Commonwealth Heads of Government "family picture" Credit: Jonathan Brady /PA "Who then - or in 1952, when I became Head of the Commonwealth - would have guessed that a gathering of its member states would one day number 53, or that it would comprise 2.4 billion people? Members of the Royal Family watch the ceremony Credit: Jonathan Brady /PA "Put simply, we are one of the world's great convening powers: a global association of volunteers who believe in the tangible benefits that flow from exchanging ideas and experiences and respecting each other's point of view. "And we seem to be growing stronger year by year. The advantages are plain to see." The CHOGM opening ceremony saw leaders move to pay tribute to the Queens service to the Commonwealth in a ceremony attended by 46 Commonwealth heads of government and seven foreign ministers representing their countries to make up 53 member states. The Queen delivers her speech Credit: Dominic Lipinski /PA Dr Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta and outgoing chair-in-office of the Commonwealth, said: "When your father, His Majesty King George, started what he started, you have not only continued, but also elevated to unprecedented levels. "We are equally elated by the vigour with which His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales actively participates in Commonwealth affairs, and puts a strong Commonwealth dimension in his various national and global initiatives. "We are certain that when he will be called upon to do so, he will provide solid and passionate leadership for our Commonwealth." A Guard of Honour for CHOGM Credit: Gareth Fuller /PA Theresa May, the Prime Minister, received prolonged applause after addressing the Queen directly, saying: This week you have opened your homes to us here in London and in Windsor. Over many years you have been the Commonwealths most steadfast and fervent champion. You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth that the voice of the smallest member country is worth precisely as much as that of the largest; that the wealthiest and the most vulnerable stand shoulder to shoulder. You have seen us through some of our most serious challenges. And we commit to sustaining this Commonwealth, which you have so carefully nurtured. Soldiers of the Coldstream Guards carry flags of the 53 Commonwealth countries at Buckingham Palace Credit: Gareth Fuller /PA For your service, for your dedication, for your constancy we thank you. The Prince of Wales, who walked into the ballroom at the side of the Queen and made the first address, said: For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember, beginning with my first visit to Malta when I was just five years old. And so, Ladies and Gentlemen, I pray that this Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will not only revitalize the bonds between our countries, but will also give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all citizens, finding practical solutions to their problems and giving life to their aspirations. Theresa May delivers her speech at Buckingham Palace Credit: Jonathan Brady /PA By doing so, the Commonwealth can be a cornerstone for the lives of future generations, just as it has been for so many of us. He raised a smile from Canadian leader Justin Trudeau, as he name-checked his father Pierre during a list of giants of the Commonwealth he has been fortunate enough to meet. The ceremony, hosted by broadcaster Reeta Chakrabarti, also saw guests treated to musical performances, with the Queen looking on intently. Emeli Sande gave a rendition of the national anthem, before a group of six Commonwealth Voices performed a version of Unwritten, a pop song now considered by organisers to be a youth anthem. The Queen and Prince of Wales arrive at the opening of CHOGM together Credit: Jonathan Brady /PA Young musicians played Shepherds Hey, a folk song, and two winners of the Queens Young Leaders programme, Devika Malik and Philip Cole, told their stories. While the Queen took her seat on stage with the heads of government and Secretary-General Baroness Scotland, the Prince of Wales watched with senior members of the Royal from a small audience. The formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace Credit: Dominic Lipinski /PA He was joined by his wife, the Duchess of Cornwall, and sons the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry. Also in attendance were the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex, the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra, who walked out as a family at the end of the ceremony. Later today, the Queen and Prince of Wales will host a lunch at Buckingham Palace for new heads of government. This evening, the Royal Family, heads of government and their spouses, will reconvene at the palace for a formal Queens Dinner, with a drinks reception and a second speech from Her Majesty. About | The Commonwealth Philippine authorities detained an elderly Australian Catholic nun overnight in what civil rights groups alleged Tuesday was a crackdown on foreign critics of President Rodrigo Duterte's human rights record. Sister Patricia Fox, 71, was held overnight at the nation's immigration bureau on Monday but was later released without charge, the government agency said, the day after it deported a European Union politician who has criticised Duterte's deadly drug war. Fox, a Manila resident, was taken into custody for allegedly violating the conditions of her stay by engaging in "political activities and anti-government demonstrations", the bureau said in a statement. "The allegation that she engaged in partisan activities is not true. She has been in the Philippines for almost 27 years doing advocacy work for farmers," Fox's lawyer Jobert Pahilga told AFP. Fox, a missionary of the Sisters of Our Lady of Sion, joined an international fact-finding mission in the southern Philippines this month to look into reported violations of the rights of farmers and indigenous people, Pahilga added. Rights groups criticised Fox's detention as a warrantless arrest. The Philippines on Sunday deported Italian Giacomo Filibeck, deputy secretary general of the Party of European Socialists, who had condemned "extra-judicial killings" in Duterte's anti-drug crackdown. Like Fox, the immigration bureau had accused Filibeck of violating laws barring foreigners from engaging in political activities. Duterte, 73, has launched an unprecedented campaign against illegal drugs that has left thousands dead. He has lashed out at foreign critics of his drug war, threatening last week to arrest the International Criminal Court's chief prosecutor, who has begun a preliminary examination of whether the campaign amounted to state-sanctioned mass murder. Rights groups said the incidents involving Fox and Filibeck were part of a crackdown on foreign activists. Story continues "This shows the international community that the democratic space in the Philippines is shrinking. We are not just concerned and alarmed but we view these actions as despicable," Amnesty International Philippines human rights officer Wilnor Papa told AFP. "If the government is threatened by a 71-year-old nun, there is something really wrong with the government." Manila Catholic Bishop Broderick Pabillo also condemned the detention. "They don't even mind if they are nuns or if they are old. There is no humanity here. People should realise the government has a tendency of being dictatorial," Pabillo said. United Nations (United States) (AFP) - Russia's UN ambassador on Tuesday dismissed as "untimely" a push by the United States, France and Britain at the United Nations to establish a new chemical weapons investigation in Syria and re-energize peace efforts. The three allies on Saturday presented a draft Security Council resolution just hours after carrying out military strikes on three targets they said were linked to Syria's chemical weapons program. Asked about the proposed resolution, Russian Ambassador Vassily Nebenzia told AFP that it was "untimely," indicating Moscow was not ready to engage with the West on Syria after the military strikes. "First they have to undo what they did a few days ago," Nebenzia said, referring to the military action. The draft resolution would set up a new inquiry to identify perpetrators of chemical attacks in Syria, push for the full dismantling of Syria's chemical stockpiles, call for a ceasefire and demand that Syria engage in peace talks. During a Security Council meeting called by Russia to discuss the situation in Raqa, Nebenzia said the West's military action on Saturday had set back efforts to advance political talks. "It's hard to imagine that after everything that has occurred, the Syrian authorities feel any enthusiasm about discussing the political solution in their country at the request of the Western troika," he said. "If the goal is to force a Syrian president, under a hail of bombs, to sit at the table of negotiations... this goal is simply unrealistic," he added. A first round of negotiations on the draft resolution was held on Monday, but diplomats said Russia did not engage in discussions and no date has been set for a vote on the measure. - 'Going to take time' - Western diplomats said they were ready to allow time for negotiations to make every effort to bring Russia on board. "The resolution is being discussed but we are not looking for quick progress on this," British Ambassador Karen Pierce told reporters. Story continues "We need to chart a path back to the political process and I think we all know this is going to take time." Russia has used its veto 12 times at the Security Council to block action targeting its Syrian ally. International investigators of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) were on Tuesday on the ground in the Syrian town of Douma, where dozens were killed in a suspected chemical weapons attack on April 7. The OPCW team can determine whether chemical agents were used as a weapon but it does not have a mandate to identify the perpetrators of chemical attacks. The Security Council in 2015 set up such a mechanism for attribution, but Russia in November killed off the panel, known as the Joint Investigative Mechanism (JIM), when it vetoed the renewal of its mandate. The JIM had determined that Syrian forces were responsible for the use of sarin in an attack in April last year in Khan Sheikhun. Addressing the council, the Russian ambassador said re-establishing a panel "no longer makes sense when Washington and its allies have already determined who is guilty." The war in Syria entered its eighth year last month, with diplomacy deadlocked over the way forward to end the conflict that has killed more than 350,000 people and forced millions to flee. MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's state communications regulator on Tuesday said it had blocked IP addresses owned by Google and Amazon , saying they were being used by the Telegram messaging service which Moscow moved to ban this week. Russia's Roskomnadzor watchdog began blocking Telegram, a messaging service popular in Russia, on Monday after it refused to comply with a court order to grant state security services access to its users' encrypted messages. Roskomnadzor's head Alexander Zharov said it had blocked 18 sub-networks and a significant number of IP-addresses belonging to Google and Amazon, the Interfax news agency reported. "We have currently informed both companies that a significant number of IP addresses located in the clouds of these two services have fallen under the block on the basis of the court ruling (to block Telegram)," Zharov was quoted as saying. Blocking the IP addresses has prevented Russian internet users from accessing Telegram and other services that route content through Google and Amazon servers. Some users have circumvented the block by using virtual private networks, which make it seem as though they were accessing the internet from another country. Zharov told Interfax that Roskomnadzor hoped it would receive "legally meaningful" responses from Amazon and Google by Wednesday. The U.S. companies did not immediately respond on Tuesday to a request from Reuters for comment on the Russian move. "DIGITAL RESISTANCE" Telegram CEO Pavel Durov called on Tuesday for "digital resistance", saying he was prepared to give out millions of dollars worth of grants in bitcoin digital currency to individuals and companies that run proxies and VPNs to support internet freedom. Writing on his Telegram channel, Durov said there had not been a significant drop in users of the service in Russia since the ban took effect because users were using VPNs and proxies to access the messenger. He also thanked Apple, Google, Amazon and Microsoft "for not taking part in political censorship". Story continues Durov, a pioneer of social media in Russia, left the country in 2014 and has become a vocal critic of the Kremlin's policies on internet freedom. Telegram is widely used in countries across the former Soviet Union and Middle East. Durov said on Tuesday that Russians account for about 7 percent of its users. As well as being popular with journalists and members of Russia's political opposition, Telegram has also been used by the Kremlin to communicate with reporters and arrange regular conference calls with President Vladimir Putin's spokesman. On Monday the spokesman's office asked journalists who were previously subscribed to a chat in Telegram to switch to a chat that had been set up in a different messaging service, ICQ, which is part of the Russian Mail.ru technology group (MAILRq.L). (Reporting by Gabrielle Tetrault-Farber; Editing by Gareth Jones) WASHINGTON RZA, the spiritual leader of the Wu-Tang Clan, got a kick out of seeing two of his rap colleagues meet former FBI Director James Comey on Tuesday. Wu-Tang Clan members Ghostface Killah and Method Man ran into Comey backstage at The Late Show With Stephen Colbert. Comey was there to promote his book, A Higher Loyalty, which was released on Tuesday and details his experience being fired by President Trump in May 2017. Ghostface Killah posted a photo on Instagram along with a caption implying Comey was helping the rap group get back the sole copy of their album Once Upon a Time in Shaolin, which is currently in federal custody. Yahoo News spoke to RZA on Wednesday night and asked if his colleagues talked with him about their meeting with Comey and whether the ex-FBI director gave them any advice about getting the album back from the government. He dodged the question and simply said he was amused by the situation. RZA also implied that Method Man, a well-known marijuana enthusiast, was under the influence when he posed with Comey. That was a funny thing on Colbert last night, RZA said of the Wu-Tang Clan members meeting with Comey, adding, Meth ate the cookie. Wu-Tang Clan only released one copy of Once Upon A Time in Shaolin in 2015. It was purchased by infamous pharmaceutical entrepreneur Martin Shkreli for $2 million at an auction. A federal court seized the sole copy of the album in March after Shkreli was convicted of securities fraud. Shkreli was sentenced to seven years in federal prison and the future of the record is unclear. RZA was in the nations capital for a screening of the classic kung fu film The 36th Chamber of Shaolin. He is currently traveling the country performing a live score along with showings of the movie. Story continues Yahoo News also asked RZA if hed want to ask President Trump to intervene and release the album. He was noncommittal. Well, were in D.C. right now, boy, RZA said. White House press secretary Sarah Sanders did not immediately respond to an email asking whether Trump would be interested in releasing the album. Neglected for now, but its got to be accepted. Life is hectic. Read more from Yahoo News: (Cover photo credit: Getty Images) By Eric Onstad and Polina Devitt LONDON/MOSCOW (Reuters) - Russia's Rusal may be forced to divest most of its portfolio of overseas operations if the aluminum giant cannot restructure them to evade U.S. sanctions and ensure a flow of raw materials. U.S. sanctions imposed against key allies of Russian President Putin have already started to cripple United Company Rusal's extensive string of international operations from Sweden to Guinea to Australia. Rusal, the world's second biggest aluminum producer behind China Hongqiao Group Ltd, is heavily dependent on its international network of mines and refineries. These last year accounted for 53 percent of its output of raw material ore bauxite and 64 percent of production of semi-processed sister alumina. "How does Rusal continue to fund its operations and produce metal if its raw material supply chain is broken?," said Robin Bhar, head of metals research at Societe Generale. One key will be finding shipping and logistics firms willing to take the risk to transport those supplies, industry sources said. Shipping giants Maersk Line and Mediterranean Shipping Company (MSC) both said they were halting any new trade with Russian entities targeted by U.S. sanctions. "Like everywhere, it's greed and fear. At some point greed wins," said a industry source who declined to be named because he was not allowed to speak to the media. "The bigger the company the more reluctant it will be, but smaller companies that can go under the radar may think the risks are worth it if they can get a really good price." To view a graphic of Rusal's Alumina Output, click: https://reut.rs/2vpaG4l FORCE MAJEURE Rio Tinto, which supplies bauxite to some of Rusal's refineries and buys refined alumina, said it will declare force majeure on some contracts, showing the immediate impact on Rusal's supply chain. Rio also said on Friday it was reviewing Rusal's 20 percent stake in the Queensland Alumina refinery. Illustrating knock-on effects, French aluminum smelters in Dunkirk and St. Jean de Maurienne are scrambling to find alternative alumina supplies after being cut off from material from Rusal's Irish refinery, said Johan Vlietinck, CGT union official at the Dunkirk smelter. Rio is selling the Dunkirk smelter to Britain's Liberty House while the other smelter is owned by Germany's Trimet. Another crucial issue is funding since the U.S. sanctions prohibit Rusal from doing transactions in dollars. The Russian government has pledged to provide Rusal with short-term liquidity and offer other assistance, but that help will mainly assist the domestic assets and may do scant good overseas. "When it comes to Rusal's Russian operations, they should continue to operate without restriction... but the same is not true for the remainder of the portfolio, each one of which has its own set of unique problems," said senior analyst Anthony Everiss at consultancy CRU. Many governments are working behind the scenes to keep Rusal operations running in their countries to safeguard jobs, but the easiest way to ensure this may be to transfer ownership, said Goldman Sachs. "Rusal's international facilities are...under potential restructuring. The alumina and bauxite facilities...could therefore change hands," the bank said in a research report. Restructuring asset ownership into non-sanctioned entities has precedents in Russia going back to Gunvor in 2014, it added. To view a graphic on Rusal's Bauxite Output, click: https://reut.rs/2vkX8H5 GUINEA SUPPORTIVE The authorities are supportive in Guinea, which accounts for more than a quarter of Rusal's bauxite output, and the mines are continuing to operate, according to industry sources in the country. The main issue will be logistics and finding middlemen who do not have any links with the United States, an industry source said. The Dian-Dian project, the world's largest bauxite deposit, was still on track to launch production by the end of April, a senior official with the project told Reuters. With expected output of 3 million tonnes a year, it would nearly double Rusal's bauxite output in the country. In Ireland, Rusal's biggest alumina refinery, Aughinish, is under threat because Rio Tinto, which provided bauxite for the plant, has declared force majeure. The plant has enough bauxite to last to the end of June, local media reports said. The plant did not reply to emails seeking comment. The Swedish Kubal aluminum smelter, the only metal producing operation outside of Russia, was still producing but had halted deliveries, a local newspaper said. (Additional reporting by Gus Trompiz in Paris, Daniel Dickson in Stockholm, Samb Saliou in Conakry, Graham Fahy in Dublin and Jonathan Saul in London; Editing by Veronica Brown/Keith Weir/David Evans) (Photo: Chip Somodevilla via Getty Images) WASHINGTON The Senate on Thursday narrowly confirmed Rep. Jim Bridenstine (R-Okla.), a former Navy pilot with no scientific credentials and who doesnt believe humans are primarily to blame for the global climate crisis, to lead NASA. Bridenstine will become the first elected official to hold the NASA administrator job. He joins a Cabinet already loaded with people who question the near-universal scientific consensus that climate change is real and that human activity is the primary cause. The final vote which was 50-49 along party lines came one day after the Senate narrowly advanced Bridenstines nomination, thanks to an about-face from Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) and a key vote from Sen. Jeff Flake (R-Ariz.). Rubio, who in September told Politico that he worried about Bridenstines nomination could be devastating for the space program, said in a statement Wednesday that he decided to support the nominee in order to avoid a gaping leadership void at NASA. Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Jim Bridenstine as our 13th administrator. Once sworn in, he will oversee our ongoing mission of exploration and discovery. Welcome to the NASA family! pic.twitter.com/r1Eiyb13PY NASA (@NASA) April 19, 2018 Much like the procedural vote on Wednesday, which was temporarily deadlocked at 49-49, Thursdays confirmation ultimately hinged on Flake, who voted in favor only after a bit of drama that included a long discussion with Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-Ky.) and stepping out for a phone call, as CNNs Manu Raju reports. Bridenstine will replace Robert Lightfoot Jr., who has been serving as acting administrator since previous NASA administrator, Charles Bolden Jr., resigned from his post in January. In a statement following Thursdays vote, Bridenstine said he is humbled by the opportunity. I look forward to working with the outstanding team at NASA to achieve the Presidents vision for American leadership in space, he said. Story continues The Senate confirmation comes more than seven months after President Donald Trump tapped Bridenstine for the post. Democrats skewered Bridenstine during the confirmation process, pegging him as extreme and unqualified to oversee a scientific agency with an annual budget of more than $18 billion. Echoing previous statements, Sen. Bill Nelson (D-Fla.) said on the Senate floor Wednesday that he finds Bridenstines behavior in Congress as divisive as any in Washington. And he called Bridenstines previous comments about climate change troubling. Sen. Brian Schatz (D-Hawaii) said before Thursdays vote that it is downright dangerous to put someone without the appropriate expertise in charge of NASA. And quite frankly it is even more frightening to have a leader who has made a career out of ignoring scientific expertise, he said. There is simply no excuse for voting for someone so unqualified to run NASA. They arent even bothering to make the argument that he will be a good administrator. They are just voting yes and getting out of town. For me this is a good reminder that elections have consequences. Brian Schatz (@brianschatz) April 19, 2018 In a June 2013 speech, Bridenstine peddled a debunked argument made by climate change skeptics, claiming that global temperatures stopped rising 10 years ago. He said the people of Oklahoma are ready to accept an apology from then-President Barack Obama for what Bridenstine called a gross misallocation of funds for climate change research instead of weather forecasting. Critics have also pointed to Bridenstines history of opposing equal rights for same-sex couples in 2013, he suggested LGBTQ people are sexually immoral and voiced concern about his ability to manage an agency of more than 17,000 employees. Bridenstine has no formal background in science or engineering. The former Navy Reserve pilot previously served as executive director of the Air and Space Museum & Planetarium in Tulsa, Oklahoma. During his tenure, the nonprofit suffered financial losses, and an investigation by the Project On Government Oversight found that Bridenstine used the nonprofits resources to benefit a company he co-owned, according to a report from The Daily Beast this week. Republican lawmakers, including Sens. Ted Cruz (Texas) and James Inhofe (Okla.), have flocked to Bridenstines defense. On Wednesday, Cruz called Bridenstine a strong leader and said he could think of few people more inspirational or qualified. And he blasted cynical politicians for attempting to malign his character. .@NASA will have that strong leader in Jim Bridenstine. Having spent his entire adult life in public service, first in combat as a fighter pilot, then in the House of Representatives, he is a principled and effective leader who I count as a dear friend. pic.twitter.com/RSjFg2muAU Senator Ted Cruz (@SenTedCruz) April 19, 2018 In a Twitter post, Inhofe said Bridenstine has the experience to take our space program to new heights b/c of his background as an aviator, passion for space & work to modernize our nations space program. At his confirmation hearing in November, Bridenstine said NASA was at a critical time in its history and that he would build off the hard work of the previous administration. Humanity is ready to go to deep space for the first time in 45 years, he said. This article has been updated to include Bridenstines statement and additional details about the final vote. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. One man launched a Facebook debate by calling female submarine officers a social engineering experiment. (Photo: Getty Images) A former member of the U.S. Navy who called female submarine commanders a social engineering experiment was shut down for the sexist comment on social media including by the U.S. Navy Submarine Force. Earlier this week, the Facebook page for the government organization posted an extended deadline for women already enlisted as sailors to apply for various submarine-related jobs. Do you have what it takes to earn dolphins? asked the post, referring to the services insignia, a sub flanked by two dolphins. Thats when Bill Brown, a former Navy officer in Hertford, N.C., couldnt resist writing, So glad I am retired and not involved with this social engineering experiment. Facebook commenters were quick to point out Browns sexism. Youre just scared that a woman might actually be better than you at something. Stuck in your old ways enjoy retirement, wrote one man. Another wrote, Weve got a dozen female Rangers. What makes you think they cant be Sailors? Submarine Forces also jumped in, writing, Bill Brown, integrating women aboard submarines is not a social engineering experiment and it is not something new. Women have been serving aboard submarines in other nations since 1995. The U.S. Submarine Force requires the best and the brightest America has, regardless of gender. Glad you are enjoying retirement. Brown retorted, I again state that I am glad I am retired and dont have to put up with it. Just because you can do something doesnt mean you should. The retiree had one defender among the group, a man who offered his unscientific take on why women arent suited for submarine work: menstruation. My vote against it comes from doing time on a tender, he wrote. Dont know if the same rules apply but light duty/rack pass for cramps, we are getting underway, the I-might-be-pregnant crowd would show up at medical. A woman wrote, Where do I sign up for LLD [limited/light duty] for cramps?! Ive been Navy-ing wrong all these years! Clowns. Story continues And one man replied to both critics, writing, I have yet to see something get better from exclusion. Your bigoted worldview isnt welcomed in our Force anymore its for the best that youre both retired, we need open minds and humility to lead sailors and you seem to be lacking. Someone else added, I dont know a single female who has ever gotten lld for cramps. 99% of the time Doc will toss her a thing of Motrin and tell her to deal with it. Brown did not return Yahoo Lifestyles request for comment. Cmdr. Sarah Self-Kyler, a spokesperson for the submarine force, says comments like Browns are important to address. Its our responsibility to recruit the best people, regardless of gender, and we feel strongly that women are more than capable and have the talent to serve in the submarine community, she tells Yahoo Lifestyle. Current stats show there are 18 U.S. submarine crews with female officers (four of those crews have a mix of officers and junior sailors), and the 19th will be integrated in July. By the end of 2024, there will be 21 crews with female officers and 14 crews with women of varying rank. Self-Kyler says the Navy holds annual sexual harassment training. All sailors are expected to uphold high standards of character and conduct, and to treat fellow shipmates with the utmost dignity and respect regardless of gender, she says, adding, For the most part, these women want to go to work and do their job and not be treated differently. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. Since a gunman shot and killed 17 people at a Parkland, Florida, high school in February, state legislatures across the country have responded to activists by introducing a number of gun control measures. But while the Parkland shooting has generated a new wave of gun control activism, many state lawmakers have pushed back with bills that protect their constituents Second Amendment rights. Republican governors in Florida and Vermont have signed gun violence prevention packages into law in the two months since the Parkland shooting. Red flag legislation, which would enable family members and law enforcement to request court orders to temporarily prohibit dangerous peoples access to firearms, are before legislatures in 28 states and Washington D.C., according to gun-control advocacy group Everytown For Gun Safety. But in some rural states, Second Amendment advocates are digging in their heels on the gun rights. While the National Rifle Association (NRA) has opposed dozens of state gun control bills across the country, it has also endorsed more than 25 bills that were introduced in state legislatures this past legislative session. Some of the bills were largely uncontroversial tweaks to hunting regulations, while others sought to implement stand your ground laws, expand access to concealed carry permits, overturn magazine ammunition limits, allow off-duty law enforcement officers to serve as school security guards and prevent private organizations from limiting firearms on their premises. Trending: When Will The Flash Season 4, Black Lightning' Release on Netflix? Several have become law. One could become a constitutional amendment. In Iowa, lawmakers in both chambers passed a joint resolution in March that would begin the process of adding an amendment to the states constitution affirming the right of citizens to keep and bear arms as well as subject any restrictions on that right to the strictest legal scrutiny. Voters will eventually have to pass the amendment by referendum in order to amend the state constitution. Story continues GettyImages-922452480 Don Juan Moore/Getty Images Don't miss: 'The Voice' 2018 Top 12 Results: Who's Moving Forward and Who Got Eliminated During Live Playoffs Night 3? In March, West Virginia Governor Jim Justice, who switched his party affiliation from Democrat to Republican last year, signed a bill, dubbed a parking lot protection bill by the NRA, that prohibits certain employers from banning firearms on their premises. Stand your ground bills became law in Idaho and Wyoming. Stand your ground laws eliminate requirements that law-abiding citizens attempt to retreat, or remove themselves from a situation, before using deadly force in self-defense. That type of law garnered widespread attention during the Florida trial of George Zimmerman, who claimed self-defense after killing Trayvon Martin in 2012. In Colorado, the Senate passed a bill that would repeal the states ban on large-capacity ammunition magazines instituted after a 2012 mass shooting at a movie theater in Aurora, Colorado. The bill is scheduled for an April 25 hearing in the Colorado House of Representatives. Most popular: Trump on Barbara and George W. Bush 73-Year Marriage: Ill Never Beat that Record At least one law sought to protect not just gun owners guns, but their private data. Nebraska Republican Governor Pete Ricketts signed a bill into law last week that exempts personal info associated with firearm records from public records requests. Additionally, Republicans in South Carolina are ready to renounce statehood altogether if the federal government overreaches on guns. A bill currently in committee would allow the legislature to debate seceding from the U.S. entirely if the federal government began confiscating legally purchased firearms in the state. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Its all about small businesses. During a high-profile Supreme Court case about Internet sales tax on Tuesday, both sides emphasized the interest of small businesses in their arguments. In South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc. (W) case, states want to reverse a 1992 ruling known as Quill v. North Dakota, which requires retailers to collect sales tax only if they have a physical presence in a state. They believe the ruling is obsolete, making states lose massive revenue while hurting small businesses. Our small businesses on Main Street are being harmed because of the unlevel playing field created by Quill, where out-of-state remote sellers are given a price advantage, Marty Jackley, South Dakotas attorney general, argued. George Isaacson, a lawyer representing Wayfair and other online merchants in the case, believes small online businesses will bear the cost if the 1992 ruling gets overturned. If you increase the cost of admission, if you have barriers to entry, one of the inevitable effects is going to be that those small and medium-sized companies are going to be deterred and there will be even greater concentration by the largest retailers, said Isaacson. In a debate where opposite sides claim to protect small businesses, Justice Sonia Sotomayor asked, Is there any brief I can read or any source to determine what constitutes a small business in America? Its hard for small businesses to win States argue they want to collect internet sales tax to help local merchants level the playing field with their online competitors. (CNBC) The case highlights how small and middle-size retailers have become the center of the debate in sales tax collections. Though President Donald Trump has repeatedly accused Amazon of not paying taxes, 19 of the 20 largest Internet retailers, including Amazon (AMZN) and Walmart (WMT), do collect taxes in most states since they have gradually established a local physical presence across the U.S. But smaller sellers have largely avoided collecting taxes because of ambiguous laws and complex tax codes that vary in each state. States argue this pits small businesses that are not headquartered in their hometowns against locally based retailers. Story continues Small businesses are not being treated fairly, said Jackley. Were not asking remote sellers to do anything that were not already asking our small businesses to do in our state. And that is simply to collect and remit a tax. Justices also asked about the cost of implementing the sales tax program, and if there should be a minimum sales requirement on small businesses that would be subjected to the sales tax. South Dakotas current law requires companies with at least $100,000 in sales or 200 transactions in the state to collect and remit sales taxes. The increasing trend of more brick-and-mortar stores expanding their online presence further complicates the arguments in the case. According to a survey by Clutch, a Washington, DC-based research firm, over 70% of all small businesses have a website, though this doesnt necessarily mean they sell products online. Some justices worry that favoring either side in the case would ultimately benefit large companies. Amazon, for example, now provides third-party sellers on its site with a tax calculation service, but charges 2.9% of all sales. Piper Jaffray estimates more sellers will sign up for the Amazon service if they are faced with a complex sales tax environment, helping to boost a high-margin revenue stream for Amazon. Now theres something a little bit ironic in saying the problem with Quill is that it benefited all these companies, so now were going to overturn Quill so that we can benefit the exact same companies, said Justice Elena Kagan on Tuesday. A decision on South Dakota v. Wayfair Inc., is expected to be reached by July. Krystal Hu covers technology and economy for Yahoo Finance. Do you think online sellers should collect sales tax? Write to Krystal at krystalh@oath.com or follow her on Twitter Read more: Apple CEO Tim Cook on Facebook data leak: Regulation is necessary Amazon and Whole Foods clash over products like Coca-Cola How to bet on Amazon without buying Amazon stock BUDAPEST (Reuters) - George Soros' Open Society Foundations will close their office in Budapest and move their eastern European operations to Berlin, Austria's Die Presse newspaper reported on Thursday. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban has blamed Soros, a Hungarian-born U.S. financier, for a host of ills and pushed through legislation cracking down on non-governmental organizations called the "Stop Soros" laws which drew international criticism. The Hungarian news web site 444.hu said the Open Society Foundations office would shut by Aug. 31 and move first to Vienna then on to Berlin. Reuters was not been able to immediately reach the Open Society Foundations either in Budapest or New York. Orban, a self-styled champion of what he calls an "illiberal democracy", has long been at odds with Soros' network of NGO's which promote liberal values around the world. The Hungarian premier has for years waged a campaign against migration into Europe, an issue at the center of his re-election bid which resulted in a third landslide victory this month. Orban's Fidesz party said it would deliver on campaign promises to crack down on NGOs that promote migrant rights. The Organisation for Security and Co-operation in Europe said the election was characterized by xenophobic and intimidating messages. The legislation submitted to parliament before the election would impose a 25 percent tax on foreign donations to NGOs that the government says back immigration. Their activity would have to be approved by the interior minister, who could deny permission if he saw a national security risk. Open Society Foundations could not immediately be reached for comment. Hungarian government spokespeople did not immediately reply to emailed requests for comment. The Soros-founded Central European University has also said it is opening a campus in Vienna in the near future. It has said it remains committed to its Budapest campus, despite government pressure that it said was geared to oust it from Hungary. (Reporting by Marton Dunai; Editing by Robin Pomeroy) North Korea is willing to accept the U.S. military presence in the Korean Peninsula, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said on Thursday. Moon celebrated the resumption of dialogue with Pyongyang when, just a few months ago, "the shadow of war glimmered on the Korean Peninsula as military tensions here escalated extremely," he said at a press conference quoted in Yonhap news agency. Ahead of his summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for April 27, Moon sought to dispel any doubt as to whether Pyongyang agrees on what denuclearization means. Trending: City Leader Refuses to Resign or Apologize Despite Mounting Backlash Over 9/11 Conspiracy Theory I dont think denuclearization has different meanings for South and North Korea. The North is expressing a will for a complete denuclearization," he said, according to Reuters. "They have not attached any conditions that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea," he added. What the North Koreans want, he said, is an "end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security. North Korea's state-controlled media have not yet mentioned any of these issues in their reporting of the inter-Korea summit, with an article published in the ruling party's official newspaper Rodong Sinmun on Thursday focusing instead on Kim's desire for "reunification under his leadership." 04_19_Kim_Trump REUTERS/KCNA handout via Reuters & Kevin Lamarque (R) Don't miss: ICE Accused of Raiding Farm Without Warrant, Violently Arresting Legal Immigrant, Sparking Senator Call for Investigation South Korea confirmed on Wednesday that Moon was seeking an agreement to end the decades-long conflict with North Korea, signing a peace treaty to follow up on the armistice signed in 1953. Story continues The U.S. troops' presence in the peninsula and their joint military exercises with the South Korean forces, which North Korea usually protests as rehearsals for invasion, was sanctioned shortly after the armistice took effect, when the two countries signed the Mutual Defense Treaty in October 1953. North Korea has blamed on multiple occasions the "threat" of U.S. troops as the reason why it sought to pursue nuclear capabilitiesmost recently in February during a session of the U.N.sponsored Conference on Disarmament. U.S. Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood, who has often heard those arguments in virtue of his position, warned North Korea on Thursday of not underestimating President Donald Trump, who is planning on meeting Kim by early June. Most popular: Democrats Back 'Impeach Trump' Candidates, Poll Shows 04_19_trump Kevin Lamarque/Reuters The president is a sharp deal-maker, people should not underestimate him," he said, quoted in Reuters. Wood said the U.S. would keep enforcing U.N. sanctions to exercise maximum pressure on the regime until it takes "concrete steps" to give up its nuclear arsenal. The president will be going into this meeting with his eyes wide open, the U.S. is not naive about the situation," Wood added. Trump recently discussed the North Korean summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida, after confirming on Wednesday that Mike Pompeo, the president's CIA Director and candidate to succeed Rex Tillerson at the State Department, traveled to Pyongyang "last week" to speak to Kim. The New York Times' correspondent Mark Landler asked at a press conference on Wednesday about negotiations to release the three American prisoners held in North Korea. Trump said the U.S. is "fighting very diligently," for their release and that he'd be ready to "respectfully leave the meeting" with Kim in case it wasn't fruitful. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek By Joyce Lee and John Walcott SEOUL/WASHINGTON (Reuters) - North Korea has expressed its commitment to "complete denuclearisation" of the Korean peninsula and has not attached conditions, South Korea's president said on Thursday, but Washington remains wary and has vowed to maintain "maximum pressure" on Pyongyang. South Korean President Moon Jae-in said agreements about denuclearisation, establishing a peace regime and normalisation of relations between the Koreas and the United States should not be difficult to reach through a North-South summit next week, and a later summit planned between North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and U.S. President Donald Trump. "I don't think denuclearisation has different meanings for South and North Korea. The North is expressing a will for a complete denuclearisation," Moon said during a lunch with chief executives of Korean media companies. "They have not attached any conditions that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. All they are talking about is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security." CIA Director Mike Pompeo met Kim this month to discuss a proposed summit with Trump and reported that the North Korean leader was not demanding the withdrawal of all U.S. forces as a precondition for the meeting, a U.S. official briefed on Pompeos trip told Reuters. However, the official, who did not want to be identified, said that while Kim was open to negotiating denuclearisation, the term remained undefined and potentially deceptive, given the need for a timetable and an inspection regime. North Korea has defended its nuclear and missile programmes in the face of worldwide condemnation and sanctions as a necessary deterrent against perceived U.S. hostility. It has said over the years that it could consider giving up its nuclear arsenal if the United States removed its troops from South Korea and withdrew its so-called nuclear umbrella of deterrence from South Korea and Japan. Story continues On Wednesday, Trump, who says he plans to meet Kim in late May or early June for an unprecedented summit to try to persuade him to give up his nuclear weapons, reaffirmed the "unwavering" U.S. commitment to maintain that umbrella. In a joint statement after talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump said the U.S. commitment to defend Japan "through the full range of U.S. military capabilities" was "unwavering". They reiterated their commitment to the "permanent and verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea" and the need for Pyongyang to abandon all of its weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missile programs, while vowing stepped up sanctions enforcement. The United States stations 28,500 troops in South Korea, a legacy of the 1950-53 Korean War, which ended in a truce, not a peace treaty. Trump complained in his election campaign about the cost of keeping those in Korea but his administration has given no indication of any plan to withdraw them. South Korea announced on Wednesday it is considering how to change a decades-old armistice with North Korea into a peace agreement as it prepares for the North-South summit this month. Moon said he saw the possibility of a peace agreement, or even international aid for North Korea's economy, if it denuclearises. But he also said the inter-Korean summit had "a lot of constraints", in that the Koreas could not make progress separate from the North Korea-United States summit, and could not reach an agreement that transcends international sanctions. "So first, the South-North Korean summit must make a good beginning, and the dialogue between the two Koreas likely must continue after we see the results of the North Korea-United States summit," Moon said. Trump said on Wednesday that Pompeo formed a "good relationship" with Kim when he met him in Pyongyang and the U.S. President said he hoped the summit would be successful. But Trump warned he would call it off if he did not think it would produce results. Trump told a joint news conference with Abe that his campaign of "maximum pressure" on North Korea would continue until Pyongyang gave up its nuclear weapons. In Geneva on Thursday, U.S. Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood told a news conference North Korea must show that it is "serious about getting rid of its nuclear weapons programme" and take "concrete steps", adding: "We've got a long way to go". China's foreign ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying told a regular press briefing in Beijing that China supported ending the state of war on the Korean peninsula. "China supports ending the war state on the peninsula at an early date," she said. "As a party involved in the peninsula issue, China is willing to play an active role." Ahead of next week's summit, Seoul and Pyongyang will also complete the instalment of a telephone hotline between the two leaders on Friday, directly connecting the South's presidential Blue House and the North's State Affairs Commission, the South's presidential spokesman said. Six top South Korean officials will accompany Moon to the summit, including his chief of staff, spy chief, national security adviser and unification, defence and foreign ministers, the spokesman said. North Korea meanwhile will hold a plenary meeting of its ruling party's central committee on Friday, state media KCNA said on Thursday. The meeting was convened to discuss and decide "policy issues of a new stage" to meet the demands of the current "important historic period", KCNA said. (Additional reporting by John Walcott and David Brunnstrom in Washington ; Heekyong Yang and Soyoung Kim in Seoul and Michael Martina in Beijing; Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg and Alistair Bell) [caption id="attachment_18300" align="aligncenter" width="620"] Southwest-Levitt[/caption] Less than 24 hours after a Dallas-bound Southwest Airlines jet made an emergency landing in Philadelphia Tuesday, attorney Ladd Sanger had already fielded two calls from passengers on that flight. By midafternoon Wednesday, former passengers on Southwest Flight 1380 were making inquiries with Sanger's Texas-based aviation law firm, a sign of litigation brewing over the airline's engine failure. The callers had witnessed a woman, Jennifer Riordan, almost sucked out of a shattered window of a plane traveling about 30,000 feet above the ground. Riordan died, despite efforts from other passengers to pull her back into the plane and resuscitate her. "They're looking to see what their rights are," said Sanger, managing partner of Slack Davis Sanger's Dallas office. "We suspect there are going to be claims by passengers against the airline and engine manufacturer." The attorney wouldn't say whether Slack Davis agreed to represent any of the callers, but one thing was clear: Lawyers are mulling what sort of litigation might be in the works. A class action could be in play, but there would be several hurdles. The trouble is there has to be some kind of commonality of damages," said Cozen OConnor New York member Christopher Kende, who focuses on international insurance, reinsurance, aviation and marine litigation. Potential claims over the Southwest Airlines flight could include wrongful death and trauma. Any plaintiffs would have to overcome the "numerosity" requirement, and show that a collective suit would be more efficient than multiple proceedings. Attorneys say it's also still too early to determine how litigation could shape up in a situation potentially involving residents of multiple states, who might be bound by varying rules in their home jurisdiction. Also still in play: breach-of-contract claims. "Anybody that flies on any airline has a contract of passage," said airline attorney Mark A. Dombroff, outside general counsel to the Aviation Emergency Response Organization and former director of the Department of Justice's aviation and admiralty section. "When you purchase a ticket on an airline, the contract is they will deliver you safely from Point A to Point B. Attorneys agree the airline would likely move to avoid litigation over the event that has grabbed international headlines. "They will aggressively seek to resolve any claim, Dombroff said. Southwest is an incredibly good airline in terms of not only customer service, but in terms of operation and maintenance. Southwest did not immediately respond to a request for comment, but posted updates to its social media accounts. "Safety is always our top priority at Southwest Airlines, and we are working diligently to support our customers and crews at this time," the company tweeted Tuesday. Federal regulations also limit the scope of the airline's public comments as the National Transportation Safety Board investigates. Instead, the NTSB provides daily public briefings to release its latest finding. In the meantime, passengers have been posting their accounts on social media, describing the event in harrowing detail. Attorneys say this could weigh against potential defendants if a case reached a jury. With no chance of assigning blame to the passengers, defendants would have to shoulder all the responsibility. Dombroff suggests Southwest's counsel could rely on the agency to help fact-check other reports emerging in the frenzy following the event. The former Dentons attorney has represented Southwest, Virgin America, Spirit Airlines, US Airways and others. "Social media has made everybody a reporter," said Dombroff, of LeClairRyan in Alexandria, Virginia. "If I was representing the airline, I would want to make sure that the speculation machine doesnt get out of hand. We dont need to speculate here. All we have to do is just be a little be patient. On Tuesday, a Dallas-bound Boeing 737-700 was in dire straits after it departed from New York Citys LaGuardia Airport, blew an engine and lost a window at approximately 32,500 feet. Tragically, one woman was partially sucked out of the window opening and later died from her injuries. But the rest of the people aboard made it safely to the ground thanks to the efforts of the aircrafts pilot, who has been identified by multiple sources as Tammie Jo Shults. And given her heroism, as well as her groundbreaking career, the internet was quick to not only praise her but to also begin campaigning for a movie about her amazing story. Shults saved 148 lives when she successfully guided Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport. It was a task she was well prepared to handle because, according to family and friends, Shults was among the first female fighter pilots in Navy history and one of the first women to fly an F/A-18 Hornet. Though Navy regulations prevented her from engaging in combat missions, Shultss tenacity and skill nonetheless earned her a 10-year military stint in a male-dominated field. She attained the rank of Navy lieutenant commander before she retired from service in 1993. It is, all told, a tale fit for the big screen, so its no surprise that people on Twitter were quick to call for a Sully-like biopic about Shultss life and amazing deeds this week. I cant wait for our daughters to watch the movie about Southwest Airlines pilot Tammie Jo Shults, a fearless trailblazer and national hero.https://t.co/6enh3SI4O1 Simran Jeet Singh (@SikhProf) April 17, 2018 Tammie Jo Shults better get a movie Leandra (@leandrawwz) April 17, 2018 They made a movie about Sully, we should at least make sure everyone knows the name Tammie Jo Shults.https://t.co/3Xa5v533kq (((edelweisspirat))) Taint Team captain (@crandallgold) April 18, 2018 Total badass. When is her movie being made? #TammieJoShults JEN_M (@savagecookie) April 18, 2018 if Tammie Jo Shults doesn't get the celebrity status and book and movie like Sully did I STG pic.twitter.com/i6Vc0c8L6z doodoo persistence (@doodoodiIigence) April 18, 2018 HERO Tammie Jo Shults on the left. Dear Hollywood, we want a movie! Sandra Bullock??? pic.twitter.com/qWM7Er4wBD Kelly Ann (@LadyKellDiva) April 18, 2018 Impressive lady! I expect Tammie Jo Shults to get at least the @Captsully treatment! With that said, I don't think @tomhanks should play her in the movie. #TammieJoShults https://t.co/sImGrUEWGa viva la resistance! (@Bibliofile21) April 18, 2018 Since weve yet to hear from Shults, a possible movie about her life remains a way off. But if Hollywood is smart and interested in a true story with Oscar potentially written all over it itll heed these social-media calls. Read more from Yahoo Entertainment: New York (AFP) - New York on Tuesday removed from Central Park the statue of a 19th century gynecologist who experimented on enslaved black women without anesthesia, as the United States increasingly confronts racism in its history. A commission recommended in January that the statue of J. Marion Sims be relocated from Central Park to a Brooklyn cemetery, where Sims is buried, and steps be taken to explain the legacy of a man considered the father of modern gynecology. "It's about time!" shouted an African American woman, one of around two dozen people who attended the removal on Tuesday. "Sims is not our hero," shouted the others. For Bernadith Russell, a doctor at New York-Presbyterian Hospital, it's not "important to say he didn't make contributions, but it's important to acknowledge that these contributions really came at the expense of women who weren't able to consent." "I recognize his contributions but it's sort of if Josef Mengele had contributions to the field of medicine, we wouldn't put a statue to him because of how he got that information," she said. Mengele was a German Nazi physician who carried out experiments on prisoners at concentration camps during the Holocaust. But it was the only one of four statues on public land that New York Mayor Bill de Blasio agreed to relocate following the review, as the United States debates tributes to figures whose legacies are increasingly scrutinized. The Democrat ordered the 90-day review after deadly violence at a neo-Nazi rally in Virginia last August built nationwide momentum to remove symbols of the pro-slavery Civil War-era South. New York is keeping in place statues of Christopher Columbus and former US president Theodore Roosevelt, as well as a plaque dedicated to Philippe Petain -- a World War I hero who later collaborated with the Nazis -- albeit with additional signs to provide context. A monument to indigenous people will also be erected near the Columbus statue at the gateway to Central Park. Story continues Columbus, the so-called man who "discovered America," has been increasingly denounced as embodying the genocide of indigenous Americans. Critics complain that the Roosevelt monument is an image of racial hierarchy, depicting a triumphant Roosevelt on horseback looming over Native American and African men. "Our approach will focus on adding detail and nuance to -- instead of removing entirely -- the representations of these histories," de Blasio said in January. Stormy Daniels graces the cover of Penthouse magazine, hitting newsstands May 8. For the issue, which calls the prn star the Penthouse Pet of the Century, she poses without a shirt on, only covering herself up with a strategically-placed American flag which is especially fitting, considering the covers subline: Getting Intimate with the Most Wanted Woman in America. The Indiegogo campaign for Broken Lizards Super Troopers 2 was a rousing success. The comedy troupe raised $4.6 million for the comedy, a sequel to 2001s cult classic Super Troopers, becoming the second-most-successful crowd-sourced film effort ever (after the TV-show-turned movie Veronica Mars). Still, they didnt get everything they wanted. If you happened to scroll all the way down the campaigns perk page, you may have noticed that for a cool $25 million, the cast (Jay Chandrasekhar, Kevin Heffernan, Steve Lemme, Paul Soter, and Erik Stolhanske) offered to father a child for the high-rolling donor. It was dream budget, as Stolhanske puts it. As the ragtag cop laugher Super Troopers 2 hits theaters this week, the guys insist they would have followed through with the brazen promise (watch above). We wouldve done it, said Chandrasekhar, who also directs. Of course. Said Heffernan, We even dropped the price by a thousand bucks [during the campaign]. But nobody wanted it. All five of the writer-actors are married, though, so how did their wives feel about their quote-unquote indecent proposal? Stolhanske: It was a tough conversation. Chandrasekhar: They had 25 million reasons to think it was a good idea. Heffernan: They wouldve been okay with it. Soter: A lot of that budget would have had to gone to the particular wife [of the surrogate father]. Broken Lizard never specified who of the five exactly would be the father, and that was very much by design. It was gonna be a grabbag, said Soter. Youd just get a turkey baster in the mail. Super Troopers 2 opens Friday. Watch the trailer: Read more on Yahoo Entertainment: Damascus (AFP) - Syria returned to France the prestigious Legion d'Honneur it gave to President Bashar al-Assad, saying Thursday he would not wear the award of a "slave" to America. Assad was decorated with the Legion's highest rank of Grand Croix, or Great Cross, by former president Jacques Chirac in 2001, shortly after taking power following the death of his father Hafez al-Assad. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that "a disciplinary procedure for withdrawing the Legion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour) is underway". Syria said it had returned the award after France took part in air strikes at the weekend against regime targets over an alleged chemical weapons attack. "The ministry of foreign affairs... has returned to the French republic... the decoration of the Grand Croix of the Legion d'Honneur awarded to President Assad," said the Syrian foreign ministry. It said in a statement that the award was returned to France via the Romanian embassy in Damascus, which represents French interests in Syria. A source close to the presidency, quoted in the statement, said the decision comes after the "participation of France in the tripartite aggression alongside the United States and the United Kingdom against Syria on April 14". "It is no honour for President Assad to wear a decoration attributed by a slave country and follower of the United States that supports terrorists," the statement said. France grants the Legion d'Honneur to around 3,000 people a year, including 400 foreigners recognised for their "services rendered to France" or for defending human rights, press freedom or other causes. Assad has been accused of a series of chemical attacks on his own people during the brutal civil war which has torn Syria apart since 2011. He has become a pariah for Western powers while maintaining the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military intervention in the conflict gave Assad the upper hand against rebel opposition groups. Putin himself is also a recipient of the Legion's Grand Croix, decorated by Chirac in 2006. It is not the first time Macron has stripped a foreigner of France's highest honour, having moved to withdraw the award from Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein after a series of accusations of sexual harassment and rape. Ted Cruz wrote an essay for Time magazines 100 Most Influential People of 2018 issue praising President Trump as a flash-bang grenade thrown into Washington by the forgotten men and women of America. According to the Texas senator, the chaotic nature of Trumps first year in office is not a bug but a feature. The same cultural safe spaces that blinkered coastal elites to candidate Trumps popularity have rendered them blind to President Trumps achievements on behalf of ordinary Americans, Cruz writes in the issue, which hits newsstands Friday. While pundits obsessed over tweets, he worked with Congress to cut taxes for struggling families. While wealthy celebrities announced that they would flee the country, he fought to bring back jobs and industries to our shores. While talking heads predicted Armageddon, President Trumps strong stand against North Korea put Kim Jong Un back on his heels. President Trump is doing what he was elected to do: disrupt the status quo, Cruz adds. That scares the heck out of those who have controlled Washington for decades, but for millions of Americans, their confusion is great fun to watch. It wasnt always great fun for Cruz. During the Republican primary, Trump frequently referred to his GOP opponent as Lyin Ted, insulted his wife and suggested that Cruzs father was involved in the assassination of President John F. Kennedy, which led to this epic rant to reporters at a campaign stop in Indiana in May 2016: This man is a pathological liar. He doesnt know the difference between truth and lies. He lies practically every word that comes out of his mouth. And in a pattern that I think is straight out of a psychology textbook, his response is to accuse everyone else of lying. He accuses everybody on that debate stage of lying. And its simply a mindless yell. Whatever he does, he accuses everyone else of doing. The man cannot tell the truth, but he combines it with being a narcissist. A narcissist at a level I dont think this country has ever seen. Donald Trump is such a narcissist that Barack Obama looks at him and goes, Dude, whats your problem? Everything in Donalds world is about Donald. And he combines being a pathological liar and I say pathological because I actually think Donald, if you hooked him up to a lie detector test, he could say one thing in the morning, one thing at noon and one thing in the evening, all contradictory, and hed pass the lie detector test each time. Whatever lie hes telling, at that minute he believes it. Story continues The man is utterly amoral. Morality does not exist for him. Its why he went after Heidi directly and smeared my wife, attacked her. Apparently shes not pretty enough for Donald Trump. I may be biased, but I think if hes making that allegation, hes also legally blind. Every one of us knew bullies in elementary school. Bullies dont come from strength, bullies come from weakness. Bullies come from a deep, yawning cave of insecurity. There is a reason Donald builds giant buildings and puts his name on them everywhere he goes. And I will say there are millions of people in this country who are angry. Theyre angry at Washington. Theyre angry at politicians who have lied to them. I understand that anger. I share that anger. And Donald is cynically exploiting that anger. And he is lying to his supporters. Donald will betray his supporters on every issue. If you care about immigration, Donald is laughing at you. And hes telling the moneyed elites he doesnt believe what hes saying. Hes not going to build a wall. Thats what he told the New York Times. He will betray you on every issue across the board. And his strategy of being a bully in particular is directed at women. Donald has a real problem with women. He is proud of being a serial philanderer. He describes his own battles with venereal diseases as his own personal Vietnam At the 2016 Republican National Convention, Cruz was booed when he gave a speech while declining to endorse Trump, his partys nominee. Cruz eventually caved, endorsing Trump two months before the election and visiting a phone bank at the Republican Party headquarters in Fort Worth, Texas, to encourage potential GOP voters to come out and vote. But even then, Cruz did not mention Trump by name in his calls to voters. Hi, this is Ted Cruz calling, he said while leaving a voicemail with one potential voter. Im encouraging you to come out and vote on Election Day. This election is critical for the direction of our country. And I urge you to come out and support freedom, the Constitution and the Bill of Rights. The Texas senator may soon find himself working those same phones as he campaigns for reelection against Democratic Rep. Beto ORourke. According to a Quinnipiac poll released Wednesday, Cruz held just a three-point lead (47 percent to 44 percent) over ORourke among the Lone Star States likely midterm voters. As for Trump, he never deleted his caustic tweets about Cruz and his wife. Lyin' Ted Cruz just used a picture of Melania from a G.Q. shoot in his ad. Be careful, Lyin' Ted, or I will spill the beans on your wife! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) March 23, 2016 Read more from Yahoo News: Tennessees Republican-controlled House on Tuesday retaliated against Memphis for removing two Confederate monuments by withholding $250,000 previously earmarked for the citys 2019 bicentennial celebration. Democrats in the House condemned the move, which came in the form of a last-minute amendment to an appropriations bill and triggered a heated debate. State Rep. Antonio Parkinson (D) said the amendment was the most vile, racist measure he had seen, while state Rep. Raumesh Akbari (D) called it un-Christian. The amendment and the explanation is hateful, Akbari said before the vote. But Republicans were not moved, and the amendment passed with a strong majority. In a largely party-line vote, only five Republicans joined 22 Democrats in opposing the measure. These Republicans even made @RepAkbari mad - and shes not one to raise her voice. Yall made sis put her hand on her hip! pic.twitter.com/w5sPyGdfGg Wendi C. Thomas (@wendi_c_thomas) April 18, 2018 Memphis itself had been legally blocked from removing the statues of Confederate general and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest and Confederate president Jefferson Davis from two public parks, according to The Commercial Appeal. But in December, the city council voted unanimously to sell the parks to a local nonprofit, for a reported $1,000 each. That evening, the nonprofit took down the monuments. Some people in the majority-black city had been voicing their discomfort with the lingering reminders of the Confederacy for well over a decade. Tennessee House Republicans strongly opposed removing the statues, however, and have called for an investigation into the legality of the parks sale. The law was very clear, and they got smart lawyers to figure out how to wiggle around the law, state Rep. Gerald McCormick (R) told Nashville Public Radio. Story continues Memphis Mayor Jim Strickland (D) said on Twitter that officials followed the state law down to the letter of it. Ahead of the citys 200th anniversary in May 2019, Memphis government officials have been working on a plan that Strickland calls Memphis 3.0. According to the projects website, organizers aim to develop great neighborhoods and walkable/bikeable communities connected by effective transportation options, among other goals. While we would have appreciated the additional funding, the ongoing planning for the joint city-county bicentennial will continue unchanged, Strickland said. A Memphis resident has set up a GoFundMe page to help recoup the $250,000. The story has been updated with comment from Mayor Strickland and news of the GoFundMe page. Back in 2005, protesters rallied against the name of Memphis' Nathan Bedford Forrest Park in front of a statue of the Confederate general. (Photo: Carlo Allegri via Getty Images) Related Stories Here Are Some Of The Confederate Monuments Protesters Have Vandalized ACLU Advocates Removing Confederate Statues After Charlottesville Backlash Tennessee Republicans Want To Investigate The Removal Of Memphis' Confederate Statues Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Sen. Tammy Duckworth recently made history by becoming the first senator to give birth while in office, and on Thursday she did so again with her 10-day-old daughter in tow. After the Senate approved a resolution on Wednesday to allow senators to bring their infant children onto the chamber floor during voting sessions, Duckworth did just that. The 50-year-old from Illinois voted on the confirmation of Rep. James Bridenstine to be the next NASA administrator (in the 50-to-49 vote, Duckworth voted against Bridenstine). Sen. Tammy Duckworth heads back to work with newborn in hand. (Photo: Getty Images) For the occasion, Maile Pearl Bowlsbey was dressed in a onesie and a green cardigan. I made sure she has a jacket so she doesnt violate the Senate floor dress code (which requires blazers). Im not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies, but I think were ready, Duckworth tweeted of the look. I may have to vote today, so Mailes outfit is prepped. I made sure she has a jacket so she doesnt violate the Senate floor dress code (which requires blazers). Im not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies, but I think were ready pic.twitter.com/SsNHEuSVnY Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) April 19, 2018 While Maile, born April 9, slept in her mothers arms throughout the event, Duckworth was all smiles and was welcomed with applause. A number of other senators gushed over the little girl. On her way out of the Capitol, Duckworth told reporters that it feels great to be able to bring her child with her to work. Its about time. I want to thank all my colleagues for the unanimous consent vote that we can do this. Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: Sen. Tammy Duckworth, a vet and double amputee, faces fight for equality as she will become first senator to give birth in office Why pregnant Sen. Tammy Duckworth wont be able to take maternity leave The internet is obsessed with Nikki Haleys response to being called confused by a man Story continues Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. This article originally appeared on the Conversation. President Donald Trump recently said he was open to returning to the Trans-Pacific Partnership, but only if he could get a substantially better deal than his predecessor. This apparent change of heart, announced via Twitter, caught most observers off guard. The TPP was on track to become the worlds largest free trade zone by joining Pacific Rim countries that collectively produce about 40 percent of global economic output. But Trump railed against the accord on the campaign trail, making it the ultimate bugbear for his brand of economic nationalism. In a widely anticipated move, he withdrew the U.S. from the TPP as one of his first presidential acts. Trending: Some Republicans Wanted Tammy Duckworth to Vote With Her Baby From Senate Cloakroom trump Mandel Ngan/AFP/Getty Images If Trump ever officially changed his tune and tried to rejoin this trade pact, could he? Like many observers, I believe it would be tough to pull off. The other 11 countries would clearly prefer to have the U.S. in rather than out, but they are understandably reluctant to throw open, for a third time, negotiations that took years to conclude. Backstory In 2008, most of the major Pacific Rim economieswith the notable exception of Chinabegan to consider a massive free trade agreement for the region. Formal TPP talks finally began two years later, when representatives of the U.S. and several other Pacific nations, such as Australia, Chile and Vietnam, started to hammer out the pacts contentious details. Don't miss: Were Passengers On Southwest Flight 1380 Wearing Their Oxygen Masks Incorrectly? The deal, which took another six years to complete, later expanded to include more countriesincluding Japan, Canada and Mexico. Story continues The aim of the TPP was to deepen economic ties between the dozen countries, slash tariffs on a broad range of goods and services, and better synchronize their policies and regulations. The substance of the agreement was complex, and different countries negotiated different grace periods for its implementation. TPP proponents like me based our support on well-established economic theories, which point to the benefits of barrier-free trade for all participating countries. These theories do not deny, of course, that some industries and workers can suffer significantly from open exchange. But they emphasize the overall advantages of freer trade in generating new jobs, cheaper products and more innovation. Another argument in favor of the accord was more geopolitical, considering the TPP as a bulwark against Chinawhich was never slated to join. Despite its potential benefits, however, the emerging partnership soon became a lightning rod for U.S. opponents of open markets. Objections The critics lodged three distinct complaints. They expressed skepticism for the benefits of free trade itself, arguing that imports can destroy industries, uproot communities and threaten national security. They also argued that international agreements undermine democracy and objected to the secrecy of the negotiations themselves. Most popular: Should Facebook Be Regulated? Silicon Valley Lawmaker Wants 'Internet Bill of Rights' Finally, opponents homed in on the pacts specific details, especially those that were leaked or released early on. The most controversial issues proved to be indirectly related to trade policy. TPP foes, for example, lambasted provisions regarding intellectual property, labor and the environment. Some critics argued that these rules went too far, while others complained that they didnt go far enough. Many of them also vehemently opposed its investor-state dispute settlement provisions, which would have let foreign businesses sue member governments for any violations that they claimed were hurting their interests. Despite this opposition in the U.S and elsewhere, the 12 nations ultimately signed the TPP in February 2016 and began the process of domestic ratification. But Trump was elected later that year, and he backed out of the deal as soon as he entered the White House. Most observers expected Americas exit to doom the agreement. Instead, the 11 remaining signatories forged a smaller pact among themselves, renamed the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership and signed in March 2018. Lawmakers in the countries taking part are now considering ratification. Another flip-flop Besides, this bout of Trumps apparent openness to join the TPP seemed to be short-lived. It may have ended as it started, on Twitter. The pact would have too many contingencies and no way to get out if it doesnt work, Trump said in a tweet that mischaracterized South Korea as a member. (It isnt.) Perhaps Trump realized that the U.S. would probably have to accept terms that are no betterand possibly worsethan those President Barack Obama agreed upon in 2016 when the TPP talks ended. Charles Hankla, Associate Professor of Political Science, Georgia State University. The Conversation This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Seoul (AFP) - US President Donald Trump says that five locations are under consideration for his expected meeting with Kim Jong Un, the leader of nuclear-armed North Korea. But he gave no clues as to what they might be, and speculation is rife as to the possibilities -- with many contenders suggested. Here are some of the options: - Panmunjom - The truce village in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas will host a summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week. It offers ease of access for both sides and high security but diplomatic sources have played it down as an option, pointing to the 1976 Axe Murder Incident, when North Korean troops bludgeoned to death two American officers in the area. That background is unwelcome to Washington, and the site is also the clearest possible reminder of the division of the peninsula. - Pyongyang - The sight of a US president stepping onto the tarmac at Pyongyang airport -- where Kim supervised a missile launch as recently as September -- and driving through Kim Il Sung Square would be spectacular. It would appeal to both men's sense of drama. But it risks giving the North Koreans too much control over the process, and rewarding the North with a presidential visit before anything has been agreed. - Seoul - A member of the Kim family has already been to the South Korean capital this year -- the leader's sister Kim Yo Jong, who acted as his envoy to the Winter Olympics in the South that triggered the whirlwind of diplomacy on and about the peninsula. A trip by Kim himself would be hugely symbolic but risks being highly controversial in the South across the political spectrum. It might also make Kim a bigger focus of attention than Trump, something the White House will want to avoid, and which could detract from the negotiations. - Beijing - Both Trump and Kim have visited the Chinese capital in the last six months. But a summit there would be fraught with complications -- China was itself a participant in the Korean War, when its forces saved Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung from defeat, and a signatory to the 1953 armistice that stopped the fighting. Story continues Beijing has long been Pyongyang's main diplomatic defender and source of trade and aid, and while the relationship soured more recently, Kim went there last month on his first visit overseas since inheriting power to pay his respects to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A summit in Beijing could risk giving Xi too much influence -- China regards the North as very much part of its backyard -- and the right to claim credit if a deal is reached. Chinese authorities also have a track record of imposing strict and intrusive security and limiting media access to international diplomatic events on their territory, which could restrict the meeting's impact as a global spectacle -- something both principals will likely want to maintain. - Ulaanbaatar - A popular outside bet among Korea-watchers, the Mongolian capital can be reached from the North by both air and train, has ties with both Pyongyang and Washington - and has publicly offered to host the meeting. The then Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj visited the North in 2013, and nearly 1,200 North Koreans worked in the landlocked country until regulations passed following UN Security Council sanctions required them to leave last year. Ulaanbaatar has signed several economic pacts with Washington, and the US military co-sponsors the annual Khaan Quest multinational peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia. - Switzerland - Kim does not have the same fear of flying as his father and predecessor Kim Jong Il -- he is known to travel by air domestically -- so destinations further afield cannot be ruled out. A young Kim studied in Switzerland in the 1990s, including at the International School of Berne, along with his brother and sister, so he is familiar with the country, which has maintained its neutrality for centuries and hosts a North Korean embassy. - Singapore, Vietnam - Other Asian options mooted in the media include Singapore, where Xi and Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou met in 2015, in the first encounter between the leaders of Beijing and Taipei since they split at end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Vietnam is also reportedly under consideration -- a Communist state, but one that has seen relations with the US improve markedly since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, with an economy that has become increasingly vibrant in recent years. - Scandinavia - Sweden and Finland both received senior North Korean officials last month. Foreign minister Ri Yong Ho went to Stockholm, and Helsinki hosted unofficial talks between US experts and North Korean delegates -- something Norway also did last year. As the protecting power for US citizens in the North, Sweden has a long history of mediating between Pyongyang and Washington -- and its Pyongyang mission was the first Western embassy established in the country, in 1975. Alternatively both Kim and Trump's appetite for a place in history could be whetted by the 1975 Helsinki Accords, signed by US president Gerald Ford and Soviet leader Leonid Brezhnev among others, in an attempt to improve relations between the West and the communist bloc in eastern Europe. Doug Bandow Security, Asia Launching preventive strikes on the North might tempt some people, but history argues against loosing the dogs of war. Trump Can't Afford to Launch Missiles at North Koreaand Kim Jong Un Knows It CIA Director Mike Pompeos secret trip to Pyongyang raises hopes that the planned summit between Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un and President Donald Trump will come off, and with positive results. Still, much could go wrong, especially if Kim proves unwilling to yield the Norths nuclear arsenal and capabilities without more than verbal and paper guarantees of Washingtons goodwill. Even then, however, the president should not revive his belligerent, even militaristic posture of last year. This is not the first time America has faced the prospect of a worrisome adversary possessing nuclear weaponsand when restraint proved to be the best response. North Korea has varied between problem and crisis since it was established in 1948. Originally selected by the Soviet Union to govern its occupation zone in the north of what had been Japans Korean colony, Kim Il-sung launched a full-scale assault in June 1950 to unify the peninsula. The United States and China successively intervened, leading to stalemate and an armistice in July 1953. Koreas cold war occasionally flared hot over the years, and the North began a serious effort to develop nuclear weapons in the early 1990s. Pyongyang also developed a growing array of missiles. Kims son and successor, Kim Jong-il, continued both programs. Now the latters son, Kim Jong-un, who ascended the throne in the worlds only known communist monarchy, has been rapidly pressing forward in developing both nukes and ICBMs, capable of targeting the United States. This has thrown the Trump administration into an unseemly panic. Then-National Security Adviser H. R. McMaster and then-Secretary of State Rex Tillerson contended that Kim was uniquely dangerous and could not be deterred. One official called the possibility of a nuclear DPRK unimaginable. As the president threatened the North with fire and fury, administration officials reportedly debated military options. Story continues Alas, North Korean retaliation would be almost certain in response to any American attack, the result of which could be full-scale war highlighted by the use of biological, chemical, and nuclear weapons. The ill consequences of other U.S. debacles, such as the Iraq and Vietnam wars, would pale in comparison. Understandably, Supreme Leader Kim Jong-un does not inspire confidence in the West. He has proved adept at brutally eliminating rivals, even executing his uncle. He also has routinely thrown a mix of insults and threats at both the Republic of Korea and the United States. Nevertheless, there is no evidence that he is suicidal. To the contrary, he, like his father and grandfather, evidently enjoys his virgins in this world rather than the next. U.S. intelligence has come to the same conclusion as most policy analysts: Kim is evil, not crazy. He wants to preserve his regime, not trigger a Goetterdaemmerung in which he leaves this world atop an atomic funeral pyre. Indeed, the Norths nuclear program is not the first significant challenge to the equanimity of Washington policymakers. There was the Soviet Union, aggressive communist power ruled by Joseph Stalin, a man who defined ruthlessness and slaughtered his own supporters as well as opponents. If there was one government the United States did not want to see acquire nukes, it was Moscow. However, America stood by, rejecting proposals for preventive war. Even more disturbing was the nuclear program undertaken by Mao Zedongs China. The PRCs effort began in 1955, apparently in response to American threats of nuclear war. Outsiders worried that Beijings leadership was anything but normal. The 1960 National Intelligence Estimate warned: the PRCs arrogant self-confidence, revolutionary fervor, and distorted view of the world may lead [China] to miscalculate risks. This danger would be heightened if Communist China achieved a nuclear weapons capability. Mao seemed unhinged even by communist standards. Mao makes Kim appear to be a responsible, even mainstream thinker. In 1955 the former told the Finnish ambassador that The Chinese people are not to be cowed by U.S. atomic blackmail. Our country has a population of 600 million and an area of 9,600,000 square kilometers. The United States cannot annihilate the Chinese nation with its small stack of atom bombs. Two years later Mao declared: China has a population of 600 million; even if half of them are killed, there are still 300 million people left. He mused about nuclear war with Indian prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru: If half of mankind died, the other half would remain while imperialism would be razed to the ground and the whole world would become socialist. Happily, in Maos view, the worlds population ultimately would recover. In retrospect, such comments appear to have been political bravura rather than calculated policy, perhaps an attempt at geopolitical bluff by a notably weaker power. Nevertheless, Mao initiated the deranged Great Leap Forward in the late 1950s, which resulted in mass starvation, and the Cultural Revolution in the mid-1960s, which plunged much of the nation into a veritable civil war. No American could comfortably trust such a person to keep the peace. Against the Chinese nuclear threat President John F. Kennedy first employed diplomacy, seeking to cooperate with the Soviet Union, which had ended its support for Chinas nuclear energy program. Although Moscow indicated its interest in test ban and nonproliferation treaties, it did not respond to proposals for joint military action. In April 1963 the Pentagon presented military options to the Kennedy administration. Ideas in and out of the administration included sabotage, commando raid, blockade, invasion of China by the Nationalists or of North Korea by South Korea, and air strikes. There is disagreement over how serious the administration was. Kennedy National Security Adviser McGeorge Bundy later contended that there was only talk, not serious planning or real intent. However, Bundy wrote on one memo: Im for this. Researchers found evidence that the administration took the idea quite seriously, devoting serious intelligence resources to monitor Beijings activities. Ambassador W. Averell Harriman suggested threatening to take out the facilities if necessary. In one administration meeting Ambassador Chester Bowles argued: We [are] going to have to fight the Chinese anyway in two, three, five, or ten years and it was just a question of where, when and how. Preventive war also won outside support. In 1965 the conservative magazine National Review backed preventive war: We can destroy, destroy literally, physicallythe present Chinese nuclear capability. Doing so would prevent the PRC from developing nuclear weapons for some years and could be done with little risk, editor William F. Buckley contended. (Nearly three decades later he wrote of North Korea: That we are obligated to abort [the Norths] nuclear bomb is axiomatic.) His brother, James Buckley, who was later elected to the U.S. Senate from New York on the Conservative Party line, said that preventive war against China: would have been a prudent step because it would have eliminated an atomic capability which is now increasingly threatening. The Johnson administration debated the idea. Although President Kennedy believed that a Chinese nuke would lead to the conquest of Southeast Asia, President Lyndon Johnson reportedly was less concerned about the threat posed by the PRC. A detailed report by the State Departments Robert Johnson helped allay concerns about a nuclear China. Among the arguments advanced by critics of the military option was the fact that strikes would be difficult to conduct and even if successful would only slow Beijings progress. Moreover, in the administrations view, a nuclear China would not dramatically change Asias balance of power and could be deterred. Beijing also was likely to retaliate in some way, perhaps against U.S. forces in Vietnam, Taiwan, or American bases elsewhere, and might move to heal its rift with the Soviet Union. In fact, some analysts wondered if a U.S. attack would cause Moscow to act on its mutual defense commitment, despite the communist nations strained relationship. Finally, the United States would risk significant international blowback. These concerns apply to North Korea today. So the United States did nothing. On October 16, 1964, the PRC conducted its first nuclear test. Within two more years, China had tested a nuclear-capable missile and hydrogen bomb. This still did not end the preventive war story. The Republic of Chinas Chiang Kai-shek continued to push for U.S. action after Chinas test. Escalating combat in Vietnam caused Washington to fear that Beijing might intervene in massive numbers, a la the Korean War, and plans were made to respond, including with attacks on Chinas nuclear facilities. But those tensions soon subsided and the Johnson administration decided against preventive strikes. The newly inaugurated Nixon administration briefly considered attempting to resurrect the idea of joint action against the PRC with the Soviet Union, but, as before, that idea went nowhere. Thoughts of preventive war against China finally receded into history. Looking back it appears U.S. administrations were right to accept a nuclear PRC rather than launch preventive strikes, which likely would have triggered a broader, enduring conflict. China went on to develop a nuclear arsenal and missiles capable of delivering death and destruction around the globe. However, Mao Zedong hosted Richard Nixon as the two leaders ended decades of bitter hostility. After Maos death his nation abandoned totalitarianism, adopted capitalism, enjoyed the fastest sustained economic growth on the planet, and developed the worlds second largest economy. As for nuclear weapons, Beijing possesses far fewer than Russia and America. Noted the Union of Concerned Scientists: The small size and limited capabilities of Chinas nuclear arsenal make the threat of a first use of nuclear weapons against the United States or Russia highly unlikely and not at all credible, since it would invite massive nuclear retaliation as well as international condemnation. So far, at least, the fears which motivated proposals for preventive war have proved false. It is impossible to know how U.S. military strikes would have played out, but they would have been a dangerous experiment best not conducted. Of course, the fact that restraint toward Beijing was the best course does not necessarily mean Washington should accept a nuclear North Korea. Nevertheless, the case of China demonstrates the virtue of caution, inherent limitations on intelligence, inevitable uncertainties about consequences, and imperative of carefully counting the cost of military action, no matter how the summit turns out. No one wants a nuclear North Korea. But it is not the only threatening, even scary regime that has acquired nuclear weapons. Also, Pyongyang is not the only case in which Washington has considered war to disarm such a country. Launching preventive strikes on the North might tempt some people, but history argues against loosing the dogs of war. While we dont know what war with Pyongyang would bring, we do know the horrors that wars usually yield. Doug Bandow is a senior fellow at the Cato Institute. A former special assistant to President Ronald Reagan, he is author of Tripwire: Korea and U.S. Foreign Policy in a Changed World and coauthor of The Korean Conundrum: Americas Troubled Relations with North and South Korea. Image: Missiles are driven past the stand with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and other high ranking officials during a military parade marking the 105th birth anniversary of the country's founding father, Kim Il Sung in Pyongyang, April 15, 2017. REUTERS/Damir Sagolj Read full article President Donald Trump boasted Wednesday about taking a tough stance on Russia despite backing off on issuing new sanctions over its support of Syrian dictator Bashar al-Assad. Theres been nobody tougher on Russia than President Donald Trump, he said. With the media, no matter what I did, its never tough enough, because thats their narrative. But Russia will tell you, theres been nobody tougher than Donald Trump. Critics on Twitter immediately let Trump know just what they thought of his assertion: Yes, let's ask Russia if Trump has been tough on them. I'm sure they'll play it straight. Kevin M. Kruse (@KevinMKruse) April 18, 2018 I'm sure they will. John Sipher (@john_sipher) April 19, 2018 Trump is so RIGHT on this one pic.twitter.com/ZTBeSagumX Ignite (@IgnitedTrueWord) April 18, 2018 Donald Trump has issued tougher sanctions on Colin Kaepernick than he has on Russia. Born Miserable (@bornmiserable) April 19, 2018 And if you cant trust fascist dictator Vladimir Putins.... Molly Jong-Fast (@MollyJongFast) April 19, 2018 THERES BEEN NOBODY TOUGHER ON RUSSIA THAN PRESIDENT DONALD TRUMP! pic.twitter.com/V2bbLZaIoe Leah McElrath (@leahmcelrath) April 18, 2018 Shouted a question at the end about Russia sanctions. Trump said hes been tougher on Russia than any US President. Reagan and Kennedy would disagree. Jim Acosta (@Acosta) April 18, 2018 .... and Vlad told me I should say that! TheDudeAbides (@DudeAbides2017) April 18, 2018 Ha ha lol ha ha lol ha Did Trump just say there's nobody tougher on Russian then him. He warned Russia who's going to attack Syria he pulled back sanctions we definitely were going to enact. pic.twitter.com/Q3VBJMmHuX John / Dems 2018 (@aparadox12) April 18, 2018 You know whos been tougher on Russia than Trump-Vladimir Putin. Pablo Kutter (@Mossimo77) April 18, 2018 FUN FACT: No white president in the past nine and a half years has been tougher on Russia than Trump. Tea Pain (@TeaPainUSA) April 18, 2018 "NO ONE has been tougher on Russia than Donald Trump." - Donald Trump pic.twitter.com/1OxQaV7pYr Kilohana (@KilohanaKona) April 19, 2018 Trump announced that there wont be new sanctions after all against Russia for backing the chemical attack by Syria on its own citizens. Trump would have said more, but his mouth was too busy kissing Vladimirs ass. George Takei (@GeorgeTakei) April 18, 2018 Trump again says "there has been nobody tougher than me" on Russia... just days after he rejected his own administration's plan to impose sanctions on Russia for their actions in Syria. Caroline O. (@RVAwonk) April 18, 2018 Trump Again Said There has been nobody tougher on Russia than Him Trump is the same Person Who Twice canceled sanctions on Russia Never said a bad word about Putin Everyone he knows has had contact with Russia Praised Putin over Obamapic.twitter.com/Hz4w4CPn4v Janice (@Janice_Resist) April 19, 2018 I'm sure that's EXACTLY what Russia will tell us since #Trump coordinates his strategy with Putin before he does his own Cabinet.#Resist #TrumpRussia #Collusion On The Case Man (@OnTheCaseMan) April 18, 2018 Trump said that nobody has been tougher on Russia than him. If this is him being "tough" then I'd really hate to see him be "weak." Allie Wen (@alliewen21) April 19, 2018 "There has been nobody tougher on Russia than President Donald Trump." Trump actually just said that. In a lifetime full of pathological lying, this whopper is among his worst lies ever.pic.twitter.com/b7eMAbZnlE Adam Best (@adamcbest) April 18, 2018 Also on HuffPost Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Los Angeles (AFP) - San Diego County has joined what US President Donald Trump called on Wednesday a "revolution" against "sanctuary" laws in California that protect undocumented migrants. In a closed-door vote, the Republican-controlled board of supervisors governing San Diego County, which borders Mexico, backed the Trump administration's federal lawsuit challenging California legislation that restricts local police and businesses from cooperating with immigration authorities. Trump took to Twitter to praise the news, writing: "There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept." The president has repeatedly tried to link immigration to crime but immigrant defenders say many are fleeing poverty and violence. Activists accuse authorities of rounding up longtime residents with families and jobs on minor infractions. California's "Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy", Trump added, referring to the state's Democratic governor. "Want Security & Safety NOW!" After rejecting the Trump administration's initial proposals for a National Guard mission along the state's border with Mexico earlier this week, Brown announced Wednesday that California would mobilize 400 National Guard soldiers in addition to the 250 already deployed. The soldiers are tasked with combatting "criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers" and will be funded by the federal government, a statement from Brown's office said. - No immigration law enforcement - The governor's order "specifies that the California National Guard will not enforce immigration laws or participate in the construction of any new border barrier," the statement said, referring to Trump's pet project to build a wall on the US border with Mexico. Story continues San Diego is California's second most populous county behind Los Angeles. Orange -- a staunchly conservative county in a state with strong Democratic tendencies -- voted three weeks ago to support the US Justice Department's case. On Monday, the small municipality of Los Alamitos in Orange County ratified a decision exempting the city from laws protecting undocumented immigrants. Another 10 cities have followed their lead since then by backing the federal challenge. California is at the forefront of what opponents call the "Resistance" to Trump's administration, with the heavily-Democratic state suing the federal government over numerous issues. Several cities, including Los Angeles, are "sanctuary cities" that require local law enforcement agencies not to tell federal agents about residents' legal status. Trump this month said he would send thousands of National Guard troops to the southern border, where they could remain until the wall is constructed. The order would eventually see about 4,000 Guardsman along the border, which spans four US states. So far about 960 have arrived, officials said. Texas has seen the biggest deployment, with 650 sent to the border, while Arizona has dispatched 250, and New Mexico about 60. Washington (AFP) - US President Donald Trump will lead a political rally during this year's White House Correspondents' Association dinner, his campaign team has announced, opting to hold the event in the small town of Washington, Michigan. It is the second consecutive year Trump will be snubbing the annual dinner, amid his sustained attacks on much of the news media, and also the second time he has chosen instead to rally in a key battleground state he won in his 2016 election after speaking last year in Pennsylvania. His campaign chief operating officer Michael Glassner made it clear that choosing Washington, a town of some 25,000 people on the outskirts of auto manufacturing hub Detroit, was no coincidence. "While the fake news media will be celebrating themselves with the denizens of Washington society in the swamp that evening, President Trump will be in a completely different Washington, celebrating our national economic revival with patriotic Americans," he said in a statement released to the media. The April 28 event will be begin at 7pm Eastern Time (2300 GMT) with entrance free and tickets available on Trump's campaign website. Trump regularly accuses major media organizations such as CNN, The New York Times and The Washington Post of bias. The Republican president's assaults on the "fake news" media have sharpened in recent weeks and have included attacks on CNN president Jeff Zucker and Amazon founder Jeff Bezos, who owns The Washington Post. Since taking up the presidency, Trump has strongly favored news outlets that provide glowing coverage such as Fox News, the Daily Caller, Newsmax and Sinclair, a group of almost 200 local TV stations. Margaret Talev, the president of the White House Correspondents' Association, said earlier this month that while Trump would not attend the dinner, the White House had said the president would "actively encourage members of the executive branch to attend and join us as we celebrate the First Amendment." "In keeping with tradition, Press Secretary Sarah Sanders also will represent the administration at the head table," Talev added. INSIDER Police have received tips that Laundrie, a person of interest in the Gabby Petito case, could be near the trail, but none have been publicly verified. President Donald Trump said Wednesday a fight between the U.S. and Russia in Syria produced scores of casualties, apparently referring to a Pentagon-led strike on pro-Syrian government fighters in February. Speaking at a press conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Trump defended his record on Russia after the White House rejected sanctions announced Sunday by U.S. ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley. Trump said that, although he wanted to improve Washington's relationship with Moscow and wasn't sure if additional sanctions were currently necessary, he had demonstrated his ability to challenge the Kremlin by building up the U.S. military, funding Western military alliance NATO and bombing Russian fighters in Syria. Related: Does Trump Have a Syria Plan? U.S. Needs Russia and Iran to End the War Trending: Why Is 'Fearless Girl' Moving? Mayor Bill de Blasio Announces New Location for Statue "Yeah, well do sanctions. As soon as they very much deserve it, we will have that is a question. There has been nobody tougher on Russia than President Donald Trump. Between building up the military, between creating tremendous vast amounts of oil. We raised billions and billions of dollars extra in NATO," Trump told reporters. "We had a very, very severewe were talking about it a little whilefight in Syria recently, a month ago, between our troops and Russian troops, and thats very sad. But many people died in that fight. There has been nobody tougher than me," he added. RTX5SOWW Joe Skipper/Reuters The U.S. and Russia are both involved in the fight against the Islamic State militant group (ISIS) in Syria, but back separate forces that have both fought with and against one another in recent years. The U.S. supports the Syrian Democratic Forces, a mostly Kurdish militia. Russia and Iran back the armed forces of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, who faced a 2011 uprising sponsored by the U.S., Turkey and Gulf Arab states. Story continues Don't miss: I Feel Pretty Directors Respond To Body Shaming Backlash From Amy Schumer Comedy Many of the Syrian Democratic Forces' Kurdish fighters grew closer to Assad after fleeing U.S.-led coalition frontlines against ISIS to defend against an attack from fellow U.S. ally Turkey in northern Syria in January. Meanwhile, the Arab-majority faction of the Syrian Democratic Forces in the east claimed they were attacked by pro-Syrian government fighters and called for U.S. backup. The U.S. responded with air power, causing significant casualties that have yet to be officially counted. Initial reports from activist and official media varied from a few dozen to up to 500 pro-Assad fighters killed, including an unknown number of Russian citizens believed to be operating on behalf of a private military company. Moscow said it had no control over volunteer fighters, but joined Syria in accusing the Syrian Democratic Forces of being the aggressor. A few days later, the U.S.-led coalition again struck what it said were attacking pro-Syrian government forces, this time in a Russia-built T-72 tank. Defense Secretary James Mattis said last month that a third incident was avoided when the U.S. Joint Chiefs of Staff contacted its Russian counterpart, but Mattis maintained that he believed Moscow when it said the irregular Russian fighters were not under the Russian military's command. USdestroysRussiatank DEPARTMENT OF DEFENSE Most popular: Laura Ingraham's Guest Asks 'Where's Your Sponsors' During Heated Debate CIA Director and Secretary of State hopeful Mike Pompeo also made an apparent reference to the February incident during his confirmation hearing last week in front of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. In his own effort to prove a tougher stance on Russia, he became the first U.S. official to offer some semblance of a death toll for the bloody incident. "In Syria, now, a handful of weeks ago, the Russians met their match. A couple hundred Russians were killed," Pompeo said. Tensions between the U.S. and Russia have been high since a number of Western governments accused Moscow of being behind a nerve agent attack against an ex-Soviet spy in the U.K. and attempting to cover up an alleged toxic gas attack by the Syrian military in what was the last rebel-held suburb of Damascus. The U.S. has responded by rolling out sanctions, expelling diplomats and, on Friday, rallying France and the U.K. in a series of cruise missile strikes against Syrian facilities suspected to be involved in the production of chemical weapons. Russian President Vladimir Putin said such strikes in Syria, whose government considered U.S. and Turkish military presence illegal, could "lead to chaos in international relations." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek When President Donald Trump opened Twitter on Wednesday morning, it was to tear into the source of one of his greatest frustrations: Sanctuary cities, the sites of astounding rates of crime and violence perpetrated by undocumented immigrants who violate the law under the protection of liberal mayors who provide them refuge. According to Trump, that is. "There is a Revolution going on in California," the president wrote early Wednesday morning. "Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW!" Trending: God of War Download Time: When Can Players Battle with Kratos and Atreus? But experts say there's no evidence that sanctuary citiescities, or in some cases counties, that limit their involvement with federal law enforcement to defend law-abiding immigrant residents against deportationgive way to higher rates of crime. "Every country, and of course the U.S. too, has the right to secure its borders and define its immigration policy, including dealing with illegal immigration," Dany Bahar, a fellow at the Brookings Institution, told Newsweek Wednesday. "But lets be honest on the motivations to do so. When it comes to crime, the evidence does not fully support the statement made by the president." Several studies have drawn conclusions to this effect. In October 2016, before Trump's election, researchers from the University of California, Riverside and Highline College examined 54 sanctuary cities using two different methods, to see if there was any significant difference in those cities' crime levels. They found none. "Our findings provide evidence that sanctuary policies have no effect on crime rates, despite narratives to the contrary," they wrote. "The potential benefits of sanctuary cities, such as better incorporation of the undocumented community and cooperation with police, thus have little cost for the cities in question in terms of crime." Story continues Since then, the FBI has provided its own data on crime rates in the country, including in sanctuary cities, which supports these findings. Don't miss: Transfer News: Anthony Martial Out at Manchester United, Liverpool to Poach Star In January, the bureau published preliminary results, which showed that the rate of violent crime had decreased by 0.8 percent in the first six months of 2017, when compared to the same period of time the year prior. That included cities like New York and Chicago, which both saw drops in murders and shootings. At the time, Washington Post columnist Jennifer Rubin declared the findings "bad news for the phony war on 'sanctuary cities.'" Some research even suggests that sanctuary cities may actually be safer than non-sanctuary cities for all residents, not just immigrants. After studying 33 sanctuary cities, Mike Males, a senior research fellow at the Center on Juvenile and Criminal Justice, found that white residents of sanctuary cities were far less likely to die from illegal drug overdoses or from any violent crime. Residents of color saw benefits, too. The impact of sanctuary cities on people of color is less consistent, Males told The Crime Report in December. "But overall, African-American, Latino, Asian, and Native American residents generally experience greater safety in counties with at least some sanctuary policies." Most popular: California Governor Jerry Browns Sanctuary Law Under Fire as Poll Finds Majority Backs Deportations The White House did not immediately return Newsweek's request for comment. But the Trump administration has been steadfast in admonishing sanctuary cities. In October, Attorney General Jeff Sessions warned a handful of sanctuary cities that they had just one "last chance" to comply with federal laws the Department of Justice believed they were violating. A month later, the DOJ sent letters to 29 cities, counties and states, telling them they were breaking the law by not cooperating with federal agents. Sessions and the administration continued to escalate its warnings to sanctuary cities, to the point where, in January, Department of Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen said the DOJ was considering criminal charges and arrests for mayors of sanctuary cities who weren't compliant. "The Department of Justice is reviewing what avenues might be available, Nielsen said. The context of this is of course not only putting my [Immigration and Customs Enforcement] officers at risk, but also finding an efficient and effective way to enforce our immigration laws. The Trump administration's opposition to sanctuary cities may be a self-defeating one, according to Bahar. Immigrants don't bring crime, he pointed outbut they do bring jobs. "Trump is ignoring the vast evidence showing the fact that migrants are highly entrepreneurial ... and thus generate jobs," Bahar said. "If hes so keen on generating jobs, then the answer to that is not less, but rather more migration." This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Palm Beach (United States) (AFP) - US President Donald Trump voiced hope Wednesday that North and South Korea, technically still at war, can pave the way to a lasting peace at a series of upcoming summits. Trump made the comments amid a flurry of diplomatic activity that has fuelled hopes of a major breakthrough in the standoff with Pyongyang. "We hope to see the day when the whole Korean peninsula can live together in safety, prosperity and peace," the US president told a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. "As I've said before, there is a bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearization in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way," Trump said. "It will be a great day for them and a great day for the world," added Trump, who is planning to meet North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in the next two months. Earlier Wednesday, the US leader confirmed a clandestine meeting had already taken place between his CIA chief and the North's reclusive leader. News of the talks between Kim and Mike Pompeo, Trump's pick to be the next secretary of state, comes with hopes riding high on a pair of upcoming and potentially historic summits. Kim is expected to meet South Korea's President Moon Jae-in next week for landmark talks at which discussion of a formal peace declaration is now on the cards. Trump's talks with Kim would then follow. Trump earlier said that the inter-Korean summit could, with his "blessing," explore a peace treaty to formally end the conflict. But reaching any final treaty would be fraught with complications: while the US-led United Nations command, China and North Korea are signatories to the decades-old armistice, South Korea is not. "This is the destiny of the Korean people who deserve and have gone through so much over the years," the president said, as he reiterated his hope for a lasting peace agreement. Story continues "We hope it all works out. We'll be trying very hard." Trump and Kim have not yet spoken directly, the White House said, but the president revealed Tuesday that there had been contact at "very high levels" to prepare for the historic meeting -- an apparent reference to Pompeo's visit. US officials say that no decision has yet been made on a meeting venue, but China, North Korea, South Korea, and Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone are seen as possible locations. On Tuesday, a Dallas-bound Boeing 737-700 was in dire straits after it departed from New York Citys LaGuardia Airport, blew an engine and lost a window at approximately 32,500 feet. Tragically, one woman was partially sucked out of the window opening and later died from her injuries. But the rest of the people aboard made it safely to the ground thanks to the efforts of the aircrafts pilot, who has been identified by multiple sources as Tammie Jo Shults. And given her heroism, as well as her groundbreaking career, the internet was quick to not only praise her but to also begin campaigning for a movie about her amazing story. Shults saved 148 lives when she successfully guided Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to the tarmac at Philadelphia International Airport. It was a task she was well prepared to handle because, according to family and friends, Shults was among the first female fighter pilots in Navy history and one of the first women to fly an F/A-18 Hornet. Though Navy regulations prevented her from engaging in combat missions, Shultss tenacity and skill nonetheless earned her a 10-year military stint in a male-dominated field. She attained the rank of Navy lieutenant commander before she retired from service in 1993. It is, all told, a tale fit for the big screen, so its no surprise that people on Twitter were quick to call for a Sully-like biopic about Shultss life and amazing deeds this week. By Sijia Jiang HONG KONG (Reuters) - A U.S. ban on sales of American components to ZTE Corp has unleashed a patriotic backlash in China's cyberspace, highlighting the growing tension between the world's two largest economies. The United States this week imposed a ban on American companies selling parts and software to ZTE for seven years, saying it had broken a settlement agreement with repeated false statements - a move that threatens to cut off the Chinese firm's supply chain. Sympathy for ZTE has swept Chinese social media while most domestic newspapers have chosen to put the lion's share of the blame for the telecom equipment maker's troubles on China's heavy reliance on foreign semiconductors. The U.S. action comes at a time when the two countries have threatened each other with tens of billions of dollars in tariffs in recent weeks, fanning worries of a full blown trade war. In one widely circulated photograph online, an unidentified restaurant erected a banner with patriotic slogans calling for solidarity and offering ZTE employees free meals. "If it were not because of ZTE's strength and ability to represent China, it would not have been punished like this," the banner said. A photograph purportedly showing ZTE's 76-year-old founder Hou Weigui with senior executives at a mainland airport about to catch a flight to the United States also prompted a torrent of messages of support. "Trying so hard, bearing so much, all to fight for China's interest - how touching!" said one popular comment that played on a comparison with a late Qing dynasty official, Li Hongzhang, a chief negotiator in the first Sino-Japanese war. The state-run Global Times said in an article this week that the move against ZTE was a strong push for China to strengthen its domestic chip industry. China's semiconductor-related imports from the United States last year came to $11 billion. Nineteen stocks related to semiconductors listed on the mainland rose by their daily limit on Wednesday. Story continues Separately, a company source said on Thursday ZTE's chief compliance and chief legal officer was removed from his posts more than a month before the Chinese telecom equipment maker was slapped with U.S. sanctions this week. Citing an internal memo dated March 8, the source said Cheng Gang, ZTE's chief compliance and chief legal officer, was "removed from his posts" more than a month ago, although that the memo did not give a reason for the action. It was not clear if Cheng was still with the company, according to the source, who declined to be identified as the information in the memo was confidential. Cheng did not respond to an email and a LinkedIn message seeking comment. Reuters was unable to obtain a phone number for Cheng. ZTE did not respond to calls and emails seeking comment. News of the memo was first reported by the South China Morning Post. China's No.2 telecoms equipment maker admitted in March 2017 to illegally shipping U.S. technologies to banned countries including Iran and paid a record $890 million fine to settle the case. As part of the agreement, Shenzhen-based ZTE promised to dismiss four senior employees and discipline 35 others by either reducing their bonuses or reprimanding them, but had failed to fully carry out those actions, U.S. government officials told Reuters this week. The ban could be catastrophic for ZTE, the fourth-largest smartphone vendor in the United States, as it is estimated to rely on U.S. firms for nearly a third of crucial components such as chips in its products. ZTE has delayed its earnings results, originally scheduled for Thursday, saying it needs time to assess the impact of the U.S. sanctions. Its shares in Shenzhen and Hong Kong remain suspended. (Reporting by Sijia Jiang; Editing by Edwina Gibbs) By Stephanie Nebehay and Tom Miles GENEVA (Reuters) - The United States said on Thursday that in the run-up to President Donald Trump's planned summit with North Korea's leader countries should continue to put financial and diplomatic pressure on Pyongyang to surrender its banned nuclear weapons. U.S. Disarmament Ambassador Robert Wood said that the U.S. delegation would be looking for support at a two-week conference on the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT) which opens next Monday in Geneva. Pyongyang announced its withdrawal in 2003 from the landmark pact prohibiting the spread of atomic weapons. "The United States remains committed to complete, verifiable and irreversible denuclearisation of North Korea," Wood told a news conference. "In terms of the pressure campaign, the things we have been very interested in are maintaining the pressure, meaning enforcing sanctions, ensuring that the North is not able to get access to funds that help further its nuclear and ballistic missile programmes," he added. That "maximum" pressure would continue until Pyongyang takes steps that clearly indicate it is "serious about getting rid of its nuclear weapons programme" and takes "concrete steps", he said, adding: "But we've got a long way to go". China, the main ally of North Korea, has played a "constructive role with regard to denuclearisation", he said. Trump said on Wednesday he hoped an unprecedented summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un would be successful after a recent visit to Pyongyang by CIA Director Mike Pompeo, but warned he would call it off if he did not think it would produce results. "The President is a sharp deal-maker, people should not under-estimate him ... These are high-stakes discussions, assuming they take place," Wood said. "The President will be going into this meeting with his eyes wide open, the U.S. is not naive about the situation. But it is an opportunity right now and hopefully this summit will lead to some success," he added. Wood declined to reveal details of the U.S. strategy for getting North Korea to surrender its nuclear weapons, but noted that Trump had made clear he would not pursue a "traditional process...where you get this gradual kind of approach that the North eventually goes back on." "His abilities are going to be very important. But like anything else, it takes two to tango, and the North has to be willing to take steps that the North has said itself it was willing to take," Wood said. (Reporting by Stephanie Nebehay; Editing by Tom Miles and Matthew Mpoke Bigg) Kahled Mahmoud Nuseir, 25, who lost his wife and daughters during the alleged chemical weapons attack occurred speaks during an interview with the Associated Press - AP A UN security team was fired at while on a reconnaissance mission in the Syrian town of Douma ahead of the deployment of experts investigating an alleged chemical attack, according to a UN official. The forward team had been assessing the security situation when they came under fire, though none were injured. Peter Wilson, Britain's ambassador to the UN, told reporters in The Hague that the security team on Tuesday travelled to two sites in Douma, escorted by Russian security police. The officials were greeted by a "large crowd" of protesters at one site, forcing them to withdraw while at the second site "they were subject to small-arms fire and an explosion," Mr Wilson said. The Organisation for the Prevention of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) inspectors arrived in Syria on Saturday, but have so far been unable to reach the site of the April 7 attack to carry out tests. A Syrian man holds bread as Syrian authorities distributed bread, vegetables and pasta to Douma residents, in the town of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack Credit: AP They said they did not know who was responsible. Jaish al-Islam, the rebel group which had been in control of Douma, agreed to leave the town in an evacuation deal agreed with Russia the day after the attack. Under the terms of the deal Douma was to be emptied of heavy and medium weaponry, but those who stayed behind were allowed to keep light arms. Thousands of its fighters were sent to opposition-held areas near the Turkish border in the days after and Russia declared it was in full control of the enclave on April 12. The OPCW team will seek evidence from soil samples, interviews with witnesses, blood, urine or tissue samples from victims and weapon parts. But, more than a week after the suspected attack, hard evidence might be hard to trace. A Syrian boy holds an oxygen mask over the face of an infant at a make-shift hospital following a reported gas attack on the rebel-held besieged town of Douma Credit: AFP The US, UK and France say that, based on open source information and their own intelligence, they are confident chlorine and possibly a nerve agent were used. They launched a joint missiles strike on chemical facilities near Damascus and the central city of Homs on Saturday morning. Story continues The US has expressed concerns that the delay may have given the Russian troops in control of the area the time to interfere with evidence. It is our understanding the Russians may have visited the attack site. We are concerned they may have tampered with it with the intent of thwarting the efforts of the OPCW fact-finding mission to conduct an effective investigation, Kenneth Ward, US ambassador to the OPCW, said in comments at a closed-door meeting in The Hague that were later made public. France's foreign ministry also said in a statement that it was "very likely that proof and essential elements are disappearing from this site". While the inspectors have been denied access, a small group of journalists was allowed to report from the scene of the attack earlier this week. The Associated Press spoke to survivors, who said they encountered a powerful smell like chlorine. CBS News broadcast footage of what experts said appeared to be chlorine canisters. Some residents told pro-government al-Ekhbariya television channel that the dust had triggered an asthma attack and had not been the effect of poisonous gas. Activists from Douma who have been displaced and now living under rebel areas elsewhere in the country suggested that they spoke under duress and that those who stayed were coerced into making the statements in return for being allowed to remain in their homes. Civil defence rescuers, known as the White Helmets, revealed on Wednesday that the victims of the April 7 chemical strike have been hidden in a secret location, which has been shared only with the OPCW. A lawyer representing relatives of an unarmed black man killed in a hail of police bullets in a California Walmart parking lot accuses officers of profiling, stalking and unjustifiably shooting him. Diante Butchie Yarber, 26, who had been driving his cousin and friends to a Walmart in Barstow, died when police fired what witnesses told The Guardian sounded like more than 30 bullets. A passenger was seriously wounded. They saw a car full of black people sitting in front of a Walmart, and they decided that was suspicious, Lee Merritt, an attorney representing Yarbers family, told the paper. They just began pouring bullets Its irresponsible. Its dangerous. Its mind-boggling, the use of force. He said Yarber was hit an estimated two dozen times. The San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department said Barstow officers opened fire after the driver of a black Mustang, wanted for questioning in a recent crime involving a stolen vehicle, suddenly reversed in a getaway attempt, crashed into two patrol cars and accelerated toward the officers. Police had been sent to the Walmart lot to investigate a call of a suspicious vehicle, the sheriff said in a statement. Officers involved in the April 5 shooting have been placed on paid administrative leave, police said. Dale Galipo, an attorney representing Marian Tafoya, 23, a back seat passenger seriously wounded in the shooting, said officers werent in the path of the Mustang, so they had no justification to open fire. Video footage of the car after the shooting shows what appear to be many bullet holes. Theres also minor damage to the front bumper and drivers side fender, but its unclear whether that happened prior to the incident: Yarbers aunt, Aleta Yarber, said the car belonged to her son, who was a passenger in the vehicle, and hadnt been reported stolen. She said her son has not been able to say much of anything since the shooting, because it was very traumatizing. Story continues Yarber was a loving, caring and a friendly person, said Samantha Robledo, who has a 7-year-old daughter named Naliyah with Yarber. Our relationship was like no other, she told HuffPost. Yarber also has daughters ages 9 and 1. Samantha Robledo with Diante Yarber. (Photo: Samantha Robledo) Samantha Robledo, Diante Yarber, and their daughter, Naliyah. (Photo: Samantha Robledo) Yarbers sister, Ruby Hawkins, told The Guardian that police frequently targeted her brother. They are the biggest criminals. They are bullies with badges I dont know how you can fear for your life with a person that is moving away from you, she said. Merritt, the familys lawyer, wrote on Facebook that the shooting was the worse case of excessive and unnecessary force I have seen in my career. The Yarber family deserves answers in the form of transparency by the Barstow Police Department, he said. Body, dash and surveillance video must be turned over to my office immediately. The San Bernardino County district attorney must throughly investigate and zealously prosecute the gunman involved. Love HuffPost? Become a founding member of HuffPost Plus today. Yarbers killing comes amid continuing protests against the Sacramento police shooting of Stephon Clark, also an unarmed black man, who was gunned down in his backyard in March. Also on HuffPost The car of Philando Castile is seen surrounded by police vehicles in an evidence photo taken after he was fatally shot by St. Anthony Police Department officer Jeronimo Yanez during a traffic stop in July 2016. The trajectory of where a bullet became lodged next to a child's chair in the rear seat of the car. Bloodstains and bullet holes are seen in the front seat. A bullet hole is seen on a bloodied seat belt. Bloodstains and a marker are seen on the car. St. Anthony Police Department officer Jeronimo Yanez poses for investigation photographs after he fatally shot Philando Castile during a traffic stop in July of 2016. The bloodied car insurance papers of Philando Castile are seen in the pocket of St. Anthony Police Department officer Jeronimo Yanez. The gun belonging to Philando Castile lies on the ground outside his car. The handgun of St. Anthony Police Department officer Jeronimo Yanez. A bullet extracted from the car of Philando Castile. A shell casing from a bullet fired at Philando Castile lies outside his car. Bloodstains surround a bullet hole in the car of Philando Castile. The gun belonging to Philando Castile lies on the ground. An investigator holds the wallet of Philando Castile. Bloodstains are seen next to a marker in the car of Philando Castile. An investigator lifts fabric to show a bullet lodged in the car of Philando Castile. A child's car seat is seen at the rear of Philando Castile's car. Bloodstains are seen next to markers outside the car of Philando Castile. The school identification card of Philando Castile. This article originally appeared on HuffPost. Mr Yarber was in a packed car when police opened fire: Barstow Police Police have shot and killed a 26-year-old black man in a packed car outside of a Walmart in what his family say was an overly aggressive police response that led to an unnecessary death. Police in Barstow, California killed Diante Yarber, a father of three, earlier this month after attempting to stop the vehicle he was in. A report from Barstow police says that Mr Yarber was wanted for questioning in a stolen vehicle case, and that he struck two patrol cars before an officer opened fire. Dozens of gunshots can be heard in a shaky video recorded by a witness of the shooting. Mr Yarber is said to have been unarmed at the time of the shooting, which also injured a young woman in the vehicle. The police took him away for no reason, Brittany Chandler, the mother of one of Mr Yarbers children, told the Guardian. The police should be held accountable for this They are sick people for them to be able to shoot someone down in broad daylight. Previous reports from the police and local media in March indicate that Mr Yarber had been sentenced to four years probation last year for child abuse or endangerment, and resisting or obstructing an officer, according to court records. He was also sentenced to more than a year in prison in August of 2011 for pointing a shotgun at a group of people, and then shooting overhead, other records show. Mr Yarber was taken into police custody in mid-March on felony charges for possessing a firearm, but managed to escape from custody at the time. The shooting is the latest police involved shooting of black men to spark outrage locally and across the country after northern California police shot and killed Stephon Clark weeks ago. Mr Clark was standing in the backyard of his grandmothers home when police, responding to a 911 call in the neighbourhood, shot him. He was reportedly holding only a cell phone. An attorney for the Yarber family said that the 26-year-old was not armed at the time, and that the car which police contend rammed into a first patrol car while reversing, before accelerating into a second posed no risk to officers. Story continues They saw a car full of black people sitting in front of a Walmart, and they decided that was suspicious, Lee Merritt, the attorney, told the Guardian. They just began pouring bullets. Its irresponsible. Its dangerous. Its mind boggling, the use of force. Mr Merritt continued to say that he believed Mr Yarber was trying to shield the other occupants of the car when he was killed. The other victim, a 23-year-old woman, was initially taken into the back of a police car, but was later airlifted to receive medical attention. Mr Yarber was reportedly driving the car of his cousin, and the vehicle had not been reported stolen. Related Video: Starbucks to Close Stores for Racial Bias Training Watch news, TV and more on Yahoo View. In the middle of an empty Manhattan church on a Wednesday afternoon sits Rev. Juan Carlos Ruiz, adjusting his priest collar. Outside, people cross the street to and from Central Park. Although it is April, they are still dressed in winter coats. Upstairs in a room inside the church, Aura Hernandez plays with her toddler daughter. Every so often, you can hear coos and happy yells echoing off the churchs old walls. We have a whole apparatus that criminalizes people, the reverend says. That sees people not as people, but as a threat. So we have many, many people who are living in the shadows. Aura Hernandez is one of those people. An undocumented immigrant mother of two, she fled violence and an abusive relationship in her native Guatemala for a better life in the United States. She was issued a final deportation order for March 1, and, fearful of being separated from her U.S.-born children, she sought help at a free legal clinic hosted by Rev. Ruizs organization, the New Sanctuary Coalition. A few weeks later, she moved to a church with her youngest child and hasnt stepped outside since. In this weeks episode of Yahoo News Unfiltered, Rev. Ruiz shows us the daily struggles facing undocumented immigrants in America, including a mother who has taken to living in a church for fear of being deported. The New Sanctuary Coalition, a network founded by Ruiz and other religious leaders, is striving to revitalize the sanctuary campaign of the 1980s: The original movement had enlisted churches to transport, house and hide refugees fleeing to the U.S. from the civil wars in El Salvador and Guatemala. We work with families and communities who are facing deportation, Rev. Ruiz explains. New Sanctuary provides legal resources and support to immigrants in their fight for legal status, offering free weekly legal clinics where they can review their paperwork, attend group meetings outlining the legalization process, and even a program in which immigrants are paired with volunteers who accompany them to their mandatory check-ins with Immigration and Customs Enforcement, or ICE. Story continues They also work to provide sanctuary spaces to undocumented immigrants who are in immediate danger of being deported. The government talks about sensitive spaces. Places where la migra, ICE, cannot violate. And those sensitive spaces are schools, clinics, hospitals and churches. Taking shelter at those locations, however, does not mean the individual is immune to deportation. Here in New York we have seen ICE violating some of the schools. We have seen them violating some of the hospitals, says Rev. Ruiz. More and more, we are being accustomed to seeing weaponized people going into our homes, into our communities and snatching and kidnapping people away. Without any defense. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) officers arrest an undocumented Mexican immigrant in Brooklyn, New York. (Photo: John Moore/Getty Images) These are not people that came here yesterday: Theyve been with us for the last four decades. Forty years. And they are still checking in. It is like the parole system. You have to be under supervision. There are approximately 2.3 million immigrants checking in with immigration agencies nationwide, including DACA recipients and those with temporary protected status. We talk about these 2.3 million people being the low-hanging fruit, which the administration is going after. They have their names. They have their family, friends. They know where they work. They know where they go to school. Rev. Ruiz says that this constant fear of deportation causes many people to say, I cannot go through this humiliation. I cannot put my family in such uncertainty that my kids drop out of school because they dont want to leave my side. The end result is that they sometimes make the difficult decision to self-deport to their home country. Back in the church, Auras daughter laughs and crawls her way to the altar. Absent is Auras 10-year old son, Daniel, who lives in Westchester with his father. He visits Aura on the weekends and plans to move in with her in the summer, after the school year ends. The baby, she has no idea whats going on, says Aura, with Rev. Ruiz by her side. She can tell we are not in our home, that we arent with our family, that we see them very little. She feels that a lot, but its my 10-year-old son who understands more: Hes the one whos being affected the most psychologically. Undocumented immigrant mother Aura Hernandez with her daughter inside the church offering sanctuary (left), and Hernandezs 10-year old son at a vigil for his mother (right). (Photos: Spencer Platt/Getty Images) Clutching a notebook close to her chest, Aura talks about what its like to live in the church. Its a change, because its not your home. But you adapt to it by knowing youre fighting for something, and that is the well-being of your family. With the recent changes made by the current presidential administration to restrict immigration, specifically those of illegal migrants, Rev. Ruiz fears that the situation will only worsen. I need to remind myself, and I need to remind people that our humanity is in danger. And we need to, somehow, find ways of resisting together, celebrating our diversity, and really organize ourselves, so that the change that we need may be a reality so that everybody can enjoy and live in dignity and in peace. New York (AFP) - Philadelphia's police chief publicly apologized Thursday after the arrest of two black men in a Starbucks store triggered uproar in the United States, admitting he "failed miserably" with his initial response. After the coffee chain moved to repair the damage to its image in the wake of a series of protests at Starbucks outlets, the city's police commissioner Richard Ross told reporters his force also needed to do better. "It starts at the top and that starts with me," Ross, who is himself African-American, told a press conference in the East Coast city. "Messaging is important and I failed miserably in this regard. It is obvious the issue of race is indicative of a larger problem in our society and I should not at all be the person that is a party to making anything worse relative to race relations." Ross was widely criticized after he initially said his "officers did absolutely nothing wrong" during the arrests which followed a 911 call from a Starbucks worker who said the men were trespassing, after refusing to buy anything. Police said officers had "politely" asked Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson to leave before finally arresting them. They reportedly asked first to use the bathroom, but were told it was only for paying customers. A video, which went viral after being posted on social media by a customer, showed several uniformed police officers questioning and then handcuffing the pair despite offering no resistance. Ross said he himself had "to do better" and that his force now had new policy guidelines over how to deal with a similar situation in the future. "Previously we did not have such a policy... but we have a policy now," he said. "I'm not going into it at this point in time but we will be pushing that out at a later date." Speaking for the first time about the arrest, Nelson told the ABC network on Thursday that he and Robinson had never been given a chance to explain themselves when the police arrived in the downtown store last Thursday. Story continues "As soon as the officers approached us, they said we have to leave. There was no question of 'was there a problem here between you and the manager (or) what happened?'" The two men's lawyer Lauren Wimmer has told a CBS affiliate in Philadelphia that they had been waiting for a third man to arrive for a business meeting. The chain's CEO Kevin Johnson has already apologized and has ordered that all Starbucks stores and corporate offices across the United States close for an afternoon next month to conduct "racial-bias education." A record number of white evangelical Christians say they support President Donald Trump. According to a poll from the Public Religion Research Institute released on Thursday, 75 percent on white evangelicals said they had a favourable view of the president and just 22 percent saying they had an unfavourable view. And white evangelical men are the most likely of that group to back the president, with 81 percent holding a favourable view of Trump compared with 71 percent of white evangelical women. Trending: Lesbian Mother in Italy Cannot Register Baby Because She Did Not Have Sex With a Man to Get Pregnant This is a dramatic jump in support for Trump when compared to the rest of the population, with a recent poll from ABC News/Washington Post putting the presidents approval rating at just 40 percent. Another survey from NBC News/Wall Street Journal put Trumps approval rating at 39 percent. 2017-02-02T120000Z_349166797_RC1587203F70_RTRMADP_3_USA-TRUMP-RELIGION Reuters The president has also seen support fall in his previous stronghold, the South, with the majority of Southerners saying they disapprove of the presidents performance, an NBC News/SurveyMonkey poll showed. Don't miss: Southwest Passenger Jennifer Riordan Cause of Death: What Is Blunt Impact Trauma However, evangelicals appear to be flocking to Trump in droves, with support for the president in this particular group increasing over time, PPRI reported. Indeed, despite fluctuating at various points since Trumps inauguration, support for the president from white evangelicals has never fallen below 65 percent. Given the support Trump received from white evangelicals in the 2016 presidential election (with Pew Research Center showing 81 percent voted for Trump), the president has taken several steps to repay the support since his inauguration, signing both a religious freedom order and reinstating the Mexico City Policywhich blocks funding to overseas abortion providers Story continues Trump also reportedly has a number of evangelical Christians on speed dial, with one member of the presidents board of evangelical advisers, Johnnie Moore, telling Newsweek evangelicals had more of a voice under Trump than under former president Barack Obama. Most popular: Elon Musks Boring Company Tunnel Under Los Angeles May Happen Sooner Than Expected Its a totally different time now. Theyre not only on our speed dial, were on their speed dial. In my opinion, its good for America, says Moore. Such an honor to pray within the Oval Office for @POTUS & @VP . pic.twitter.com/JrDOSJyFeN Johnnie Moore (@JohnnieM) July 12, 2017 This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Australias former prime minister Julia Gillard. REUTERS/Andrew Taylor WASHINGTONFixing education for kids around the globe and creating sustainable conditions for them to attend school would come with a massive price tag, according to the head of the Global Partnership for Education. During an event with policymakers and financial leaders at the World Bank headquarters in Washington, former Prime Minister of Australia and Global Partnership for Education Board Chair Julia Gillard said that if heads of state around the world are serious about taking on the issue of providing children with an environment and an opportunity to learn, it will require trillions of dollars of investment. Rather than a few cosmetic changes, weve got to be talking about how do we change whole education systems, Gillard said. The step change that we need to make that a reality is an enormous one and no one here should be underestimating how big that step change is, she added. In dollars thats measured in the trillions. A step change is a substantial change in policy or attitude that is sudden and results in a difference that would rise above a standard deviation. Last year the World Bank warned of a learning crisis happening for millions of students, noting that many children were attending school without learning, which was not just a wasted development opportunity, but also a great injustice to children and young people worldwide. The discussion was dedicated to how leaders could improve childhood education as well as combat issues that hold children back from educational attainment, such as child marriage and lack of access to healthcare. A chart from Global Partnership for Education shows official development assistance (ODA) to education has gone down for six year in a row, but aid to other sectors like health or infrastructure has increased. Princess Mabel van Oranje, of the Netherlands and Chair of Girls Not Brides, a collection of NGOs that works to stop child marriage, said the key was for organizations to come together outside of official governments to pool their resources. The organization that I am engaged with, we have a partnership of more than 1,000 NGOs working together and we cant do it on our own, she said. We need to understand that what we bring to the table is different. We need to learn each others language but we need to respect the fact that we all have a role to play. Story continues Former Chilean President Michelle Bachelet, who also participated in the discussion, said that the strides made thus far were good, but had so far fallen short of whats needed. One of the biggest problems for a lot of countries is quality of education and access to education, she said. I think the climate here is great but we need to see it in concrete steps. More from the IMF/World Bank meetings: Dion Rabouin is a markets reporter for Yahoo Finance. Follow him on Twitter: @DionRabouin. Follow Yahoo Finance on Facebook, Twitter, Instagram, and LinkedIn. By Jonathan Stempel NEW YORK (Reuters) - New York's attorney general on Wednesday asked Governor Andrew Cuomo and state legislators to give him and other local prosecutors power to bring criminal charges against people pardoned by U.S. President Donald Trump. In a letter, Attorney General Eric Schneiderman urged Cuomo and legislative leaders to close a loophole in New York's double jeopardy law shielding recipients of presidential pardons from state prosecution. A change could make it more difficult for Trump aides and others who might be pardoned to escape criminal prosecution, even if special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election were curbed or shut down. The president has no constitutional power to pardon state crimes, but Schneiderman said the current law means defendants pardoned for serious federal crimes could be freed from "all accountability" under state criminal law. Schneiderman, a Democrat in his eighth year as attorney general, has made his office a central figure in blue state challenges to Trump, tangling with the Republican president on such matters as consumer finance, the environment, immigration and the 2020 census. The White House had no immediate comment. Cuomo, a Democrat, is reviewing Schneiderman's proposal, and "believes that the federal legal system should not provide a basis for any wrong doers to escape justice," press secretary Dani Lever said in a statement. Democratic State Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie said "we will take a close look" at the "serious" issue, and State Senator Todd Kaminsky, also a Democrat, tweeted a plan to introduce a bill closing the loophole. It is unclear if a revised law can make it through the state senate, which is closely divided between Republicans and Democrats. The office of Republican Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Story continues Double jeopardy laws prevent people from being tried twice for the same crime. "By closing New York's double jeopardy loophole, lawmakers can ensure that no one accused of breaking New York's laws will escape accountability merely because of a strategically-timed presidential pardon," Schneiderman said in a statement. Jed Shugerman, a Fordham University law professor, said Schneiderman's "balanced" proposal both protects people from "repeated harassment" by a single group of prosecutors, and also "protects against pardons being used to obstruct justice." He said its adoption would bring New York law in line with laws of several other U.S. states. Schneiderman said more than 20 states provide defendants only the minimum required protection against double jeopardy. Some onetime Trump aides have pleaded guilty in Mueller's probe, including former national security adviser Michael Flynn and former campaign adviser Rick Gates. Trump has called the probe a witch hunt. His personal lawyer Michael Cohen faces a separate criminal investigation that arose from it. Last week, Trump pardoned Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a onetime chief of staff to former Vice President Dick Cheney, over his role in the unmasking of CIA agent Valerie Plame. (Reporting by Jonathan Stempel and Jan Wolfe in New York; Editing by David Gregorio and Tom Brown) HARARE (Reuters) - Zimbabwe said it had sacked 16,000 striking nurses as the new government seeks to keep a lid on labor unrest in the build-up to the first elections since the fall of Robert Mugabe. The nurses walked out on Monday over unpaid allowances and other issues, leaving hospitals understaffed. The action came days after junior doctors wrapped up a month-long walkout over pay and working conditions. Vice President Constantino Chiwenga accused the nurses of staging a "politically motivated" walkout and said they would be replaced by retired and unemployed staff. The nurses' union told its members to stay calm as it considered its response. The Zimbabwe Nurses Association (ZINA) said it had given its employer, the Health Services Board, until 1400 GMT on Thursday to reverse the mass dismissal or face legal action. Chiwenga, the retired army general who led a de facto military coup against Mugabe in November, said ZINA had rejected a $17 million offer to clear wage arrears. ZINA said it was open to talks with the government and that its grievances had not yet been resolved. "The government now regards this lack of remorse as politically motivated, and thus going beyond concerns of conditions of services and worker welfare," Chiwenga said late on Tuesday. He did not say which political group he thought was behind the strike. Mugabe regularly accused opposition groups of trying to undermine his government by encouraging the public sector strikes that punctuated his 37 years in power. The Zimbabwe Teachers Union, which itself has threatened to go on strike next month over poor pay, said the government should rescind its "inhuman and unilateral decision." A doctors and lawyers union said the government decision was illegal. President Emmerson Mnangagwa, who replaced Mugabe in November, will stand in elections set for July against a revitalized opposition Movement for Democratic Change party led by 40-year-old Nelson Chamisa. Mnangagwa has promised to revitalize the southern African country's economy after decades of severe mismanagement. Cash shortages mean banks are forced to limit withdrawals, unemployment remains above 80 percent and the government still struggles to pay workers on time. (Reporting by MacDonald Dzirutwe; Editing by Mark Heinrich) Harare (AFP) - Zimbabwe warned Thursday that a string of strikes threatened efforts to revive the economy after the ousting of Robert Mugabe, as a stand-off with striking nurses deepened. The government on Tuesday sacked the majority of 15,000 nurses who started industrial action this week shortly after doctors ended their month-long strike. Public wages suck up more than 90 percent of government revenue in Zimbabwe, where the economy suffered decades of decline under Mugabe's rule. His successor, President Emmerson Mnangagwa, has vowed to tackle the country's dire economic crisis that created mass unemployment, emigration and a severe shortage of banknotes. "Government is working extra hard to recover and improve the economy," George Charamba, Mnangagwa's spokesman, said in the state-owned Herald newspaper. "Unreasonable wage demands, or worse, obdurate industrial action will hurt this recovery process." He added that the government would not "succumb to blackmail." Teachers have threatened to strike next month when the school term opens over low salaries. Zimbabwe is due to hold elections in July or August, the first since Mugabe's shock fall from power in November. Despite the government's hardline approach, the nurses struck a defiant note, saying they would approach the courts if the decision to sack them was not reversed. "We embarked on a lawful collective job action," the Zimbabwe Nurses Association said. Mugabe, now 94, ruled Zimbabwe from 1980 until he was ousted last year when the military took over briefly and ruling ZANU-PF lawmakers turned against him. Thank you for reading! Please purchase a subscription to read our premium content. If you have a subscription, please log in or sign up for an account on our website to continue. For 42-year-old Valentina Matviyenko and her two sons, Oleg and Matti, the recent Passover holiday they spent in the southern Israeli city of Ashkelon marked the end of a real journey to freedom. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Two months agoon February 7, 2018the small family made aliyah after four years of war near the line of fire in Donetsk, the biggest city in Ukraines Donbass region. Click here for the full project We decided to immigrate to Israel because were Jewish and are entitled to do so, Matviyenko tells Ynet. The events of the past four years definitely helped us reach this decision. We lived in Donetsks Petrovsky District, which is located just several kilometers from the front, and what we experienced was a nightmare. It was hell. No electricity, no water The average Israeli is unfamiliar with the front Matviyenko lived on. A small war zone, out of sight and out of mind, between Ukraine and Russia. In four years of battles, she saw everything: Our windows were shattered from the blasts. I saw a kindergarten sustaining direct hits. We would hear the bombardments every evening. Valentina Matviyenko with her two sons, Oleg and Matti. A better future Matviyenko, who usually stays away from politics, found herselflike the rest of the citizens of the new republic established by Russian separatistswithin the line of fire. The authorities blamed the Ukrainians, and the Ukrainian side pointed an accusing finger at Donbass on the issue of who started it. But our neighbors were actually killed in a bus stop which was directly hit by Grad missiles, and I really hope these things are happening to the Ukrainian army as a result of an error and inexperience. An entire community near our area was wiped off the face of the earth. We often had to live without electricity and water for weeks. We stored water in the bathtub and were forced to buy or bring home water from other sources. Matviyenko, who used to run a restaurant, says that many times in the morning I was forced to heat the iron on the stove, like they used to do in the past, to iron my clothes and look neat. I want my son to join the IDF The curfew began every evening. One day, I returned from work late. We were stopped and had to wait in the taxi till 5 am, she recalls. There is a curfew in Donetsk every day from 11 pm to 5 am. Its called off only three times a year, on the major holidaysNovy God (New Year), Christmas and Easter. Valentias immigration with her family wasnt easy. To get the documents ready, she was forced to cross roadblocks on Ukrainian border and wait for about three to four hours at every crossing. Well-informed sources say the barrier can be crossed without the wait, for a fee of 500 hryvnia (roughly $20). Valentina Matviyenko. An entire community near our area was wiped off the face of the earth Im not angry with the Ukrainian authorities, she says. I believe there is injustice in the war with Donbass. They wanted to draft my eldest son, Oleg, to the Ukrainian army in 2014. Being in school saved him. Had we stayed, he would have received a mobilization order from the army of the Donetsk Peoples Republic. I dont want him to take part in a war between brothers in Ukraine. I do want him to join the IDF, as that would help him adjust to life in Israel and he wont be different from other people serving the state. I have nephews who live in other cities in Ukraine and have been drafted into the Ukrainian army. I truly hope they wont receive an order to bomb Donetsk. From minus 19 degrees to plus 19 degrees Valentinas elderly parents stayed behind. On January 11, 2018, the local cellphone provider cut all communication to the separatist republic, making it difficult for her to contact her parents. The official version, by the way, is that the communication was cut following a shelling and that it isnt being fixed due to lack of access. I installed my elderly parents WhatsApp and Viber on their phone and they use the services of Donetsks cellphone provider, she says. (Photo courtesy of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ) ) Her aliyah was preceded by an enthusiastic visit to Israel in 2012, before the war. But the actual immigration two months ago set a new record: We arrived in February from a temperature of minus 19 degrees to plus 19! The view from the plane was so beautiful and picturesque. Matviyenko arrived in Israel with the help of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ), which is also active in conflict areas in eastern Europe. She believes her sons will have a better future here. Despite choosing to live in Ashkelon, which has had its share of Code Red alarms, she isnt deterred by the security situation. Im certain that Israels defense is more efficient than Donetsks defense, she says. Now, she hopes to work in a restaurant on the Ashkelon beach and says her son plans to work as a cooling system engineer after completing his military service. Azerbaijan s Jewish community is one of the ancient Jewish communities in the world. For years, it was relatively closed and maintained no relations with other Jewish communities, but the changes in the entire region and in the country eventually affected the Jewish community as well. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter This special community began changing after the collapse of the Soviet Union. Upon the arrival of Chabad and Bnei Akiva emissaries, some of the community members started thinking about leaving the country. I hope to live here in dignity Roman Mishiev, 45, arrived in Israel about half a year ago with his wife and eight children, largely with the help of the International Fellowship of Christians and Jews (IFCJ). Azerbaijan. A strong and active Jewish community (Photo: Roi Simyoni) He was born and raised in Baku, where the majority of the countrys Jewish community lives. The community, he says, was strong and active, and apart from synagogues there are also schools and extensive Jewish activity. How did the authorities treat the community? In general, they are treated well. There is tolerance and acceptance. Personally, I didnt wear a skullcap on the street, but I believe it can be done safely and fearlessly. He decided to immigrate to Israel first and foremost, because of the financial distress and the need to improve our quality of life, he says. Im looking for a place where my children will be able to live in dignity among Jews, advance and earn a dignified living. Baku, Azerbaijan (Photo: Roi Simyoni) The family now lives in the northern city of Kiryat Motzkin. Mishiev has a large family in Israel and friends who made aliyah before him, so he hopes for an easy absorption. I love Israel. Everything is new and the children are satisfied. I hope to succeed and live here in dignity. The Fellowship has been helping dozens of Jewish communities around the world for decades, says IFCJ President Rabbi Yechiel Eckstein. We are proud to work for the Jews of Azerbaijan in a variety of areas, and we have helped dozens of them immigrate to Israel. Its a small community, but very connected to its Jewish roots and to the State of Israel. One of the highlights of Independence Day every year is the Israel Air Force's fly-over air show, and this year citizens were in for a special treat on Thursday as Israeli aircraft will fly alongside foreign ones. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter : , , , , /TPS X The fly-over began at around 9:30am, with several types of planes and helicopters traveling the length of the country as a salute to Israel and its citizens. Fighter jets over the President's Residence in Jerusalem (Photo: Ohad Zwigenberg) The demonstration flies over 49 cities and towns, from Kiryat Shmona to Eilat, featuring the F-35, F-16, F-16I and the relatively new training plane, the M-346. (Photo: Avi Mualem) (Photo: Avi Mualem) Alongside these were Apache helicopters, the CH-53 Sea Stallion and the UH-60 Black Hawk, and a variety of transport planes, from a Boeing 707-based refueling aircraft, the C-130 Hercules and the C-130J Super Hercules, to the B200 King Air and the Gulfstream V, which are mainly used in reconnaissance and intelligence missions. (Photo: Motti Kimchi) (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The fly-over also included civilian aircraft: Arkia's Boeing 757 and Embraer E-Jet, El Al's Boeing 787 Dreamliner, three Air Tractor AT-802 planes belonging to the police's fire brigade and three police H125 Airbus helicopters. The IAF's aerobatics team (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The IAF's aerobatics team (Photo: Matan Deri) (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The IAF's aerobatics team (Photo: Motti Kimchi) This year's fly-over saw Israeli aircraft maneuvering alongside aircraft from foreign air forces, including a Greek F-16, a Polish C-17 transport aircraft, a Canadian C-295 transport aircraft, a British C-130 transport aircraft, a similar Austrian aircraft and an Italian Eurofighter. The IDF said the demonstration will showcase Israel's cooperation with the foreign nations and will help "maintain diplomatic relations between the countries." (Photo: Yaniv Cohen) Just like every year, several Air Force bases have been opened throughout the country for the general public, offering a variety of activities, including Tel Nof, Ramat David, the Air Force Technical School, the Hatzerim Air Force Museum and Ovda. Naval display In addition to the fly-over, a Navy flotilla sailed along Israel's coastline from Haifa to Ashkelon, coming near the beach in Tel Aviv and Ashdod. Dolphin-class submarine (Photo: Gil Nechushtan) It included two submarines and Sa'ar 5-class corvette warships that were accompanied by a maritime helicopter, a Nirit Saar 4.5 missile boat, and smaller vessels such as Dvora-class fast patrol boats and Defender-class boats. On board on of the Navy's Dvora-class vessels (: ) X Commandos from the elite Shayetet 13 naval unit parachuted into the water and boarded RHIBs, which they then sailed to shore. (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) Civilian yachts joined the Navy vessels in Tel Aviv and Herzliya. The Eilat Navy base opened its gates to the public, putting its vessels on display in a flotilla in the Red Sea. Dvora-class fast patrol boats (Photo: Gil Nechushtan) Dvora-class fast patrol boats (Photo: Gil Nechushtan) Parachuting demonstration Also new this year was a unique parachuting demonstration, during which some 100 past and present commanders and combat soldiers parachuted at the Dado Beach in Haifa, Gordon Beach in Tel Aviv and the Tiberias boardwalk. (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) (Photo: IDF Spokesman's Office) A video released by the IDF showed the skydivers boarding the Super Hercules plane, jumping into the Mediterranean and the Kinneret and being collected by naval commando forces from the elite Shayetet 13 unit. Eight soldiers parachuted together in every jump. : " X Among the skydivers were the commander of Shayetet 13, Col. T., major generals in reserves Yoram Yair, Doron Almog and Elazar Stern, Paratroopers Brigade Commander Yaki Dolef, and other division commanders and brigadier generals. Parachuting demo ( : , ", ) X (Photo: Motti Kimchi) The three beaches, as well as Jerusalem, also saw the IAF's aerobatics team along with the Spearhead Squadron in a fly-over including the F-15 and the Beechcraft T-6 Texan II. Sixteen men and women will be honored Thursday by receiving the country's highest civil honorthe Israel Prize. Education Minister Naftali Bennett has announced all of the laureates, who will be honored on Israel's 70th Independence Day, with the final list including seven professors, four former MKs and two former ministers. A few minutes before the ceremony, Education Minister Naftali Bennettwho selected the committees of judges deciding on the winners of the prizemet all the laureates and congratulated each of them, but when he reached notable left-wing author David Grossman, the conversation between him and Bennett, a staunch traditionalist, nationalist and right-wing politico, was very formal and polite. Grossman, who chastised the government and its leader Benjamin Netanyahu two days ago at a joint Israeli-Palestinian memorial ceremony in Tel Aviv, nevertheless shook Netanyahu's hand when receiving the honor. Grossman shaking Netanyahu's hand (Photo: Mizmor) Addressing the friction in an adress given at ceremony's opening, Bennett acknowledged his bias, and confessed to his belief that his path his "the right on." Even so, Bennett stressed, "if there was a button that could be clicked to turn all Israelis to have the same opinion as mine, I would not have pushed it. "We need everyone together. Each side in the debate balances the other side, and elevates it. Artificial tribalism is sometimes perceived as a kind of fate, but it is not. "The right has no monopoly on patriotism just as the left has no monopoly on human rights Not only the Right loves the Land of Israel, and not only the Left aspires to peace. Both of these want the good of the state. An argument between brothers should not turn into hostility." Education Minister Bennett (Photo: Yoav Dudkevitch) Then, addressing Israel's youth and future generations, Bennett urged them to "take responsibility; let's talk and not shout. Let's deal with the argument and not handle the ones arguing. We need to remember that we are one family. It is important to note, particularly on this day. "(You can) look at the winners this evening and see how much we stand to lose without unconditional lovebut it's much more important that you see how much we have to gain from it." Hundreds of IDF reservists were called up for service on Thursday morning by accident, the IDF Spokesman's Office said. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Reservists from the 98th Division received the call up message early Independence Day morning, but the IDF stressed there was no reservists call up. "Due to an error, an automatic message went out to reservists. We would like to make it clear this is a malfunction that will be examined," the IDF said, adding it ruled out a cyber attack. Call up message sent to 98th Division reservists Text message calling up the reservists said that "emergency call up has been activated." "You are to report immediately to the meeting place," the message said. "Reminder, you are to bring your protection kit and your military kit." Another message was sent shortly later cancelling it and explaining that the call up had been an error. The call up message came amid high tensions on the Syrian border, after an attack on the T-4 military complex in Syria, which is used by Iranian forces, was attributed to Israel, prompting vows of reprisal from Tehran. The Wall Street Journal reported the target of the attack was an advanced Iranian air-defense system that was recently installed. The surprise attack was launched last Monday in central Syria near Homs on a base that was used by militias controlled by Tehran, and was originally attributed to the US, which flatly denied the accusations. Shortly after, Iran, Syria and its patron Russia pointed the finger squarely at Israel. According to official reports, the attack claimed 14 lives, including seven Iranian military advisors. US officials also indicated that the Israeli Air Force was behind the attack, but Jerusalem declined to confirm or deny the reports. US President Donald Trump and his Vice President Mike Pence sent greetings to Israel Wednesday evening on the occasion of its 70th Independence Day. Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter "Best wishes to Prime Minister Netanyahu and all of the people of Israel on the 70th Anniversary of your Great Independence. We have no better friends anywhere. Looking forward to moving our Embassy to Jerusalem next month!" Trump wrote on Twitter. US President Donald Trump (Photo: MCT) Pence added on his own Twitter account, "Today we join our great ally Israel as they celebrate their 70th Anniversary of Independence. The miracle of Israels rebirth in her historic homeland is an inspiration to the world and the American people are proud to stand with Israel on this historic day and every day." US Vice President Mike Pence (Photo: AFP) In addition to their traditional Hebrew-language greetings, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and President Reuven Rivlin also released Independence Day messages in English. "Israel's success didn't happen overnight," Netanyahu said in his own message. "Men and women from every walk of life young and old, Jew, Christian, Muslim, religious and secular, men and women that have worked hard to build our nation." Prime Minister Netanyahu's Independence Day greeting in English X "As I travel around the world meeting other leaders, I am struck by their appreciation and admiration for Israel. They seek Israel's technology. They seek Israel's ingenuity. They seek Israel's genius," he continued. "I am proud that Israel is helping people in Latin America, in Africa, in Asia and in many other places to live healthier and safer lives." Rivlin, meanwhile, recorded a lengthy message to Jewish communities and Israel's supporters around the world. Rivlin's Independence Day message in English BEIRUT - Islamic State militants have been given 48 hours to agree to withdraw from an enclave they control south of Damascus, the pro-Syrian government newspaper al-Watan reported on Thursday. "If they refuse, the army and supporting forces are ready to launch a military operation to end the presence of the organization in the area," it said. The jihadist-controlled enclave is centred around the Palestinian Yarmouk camp and the al-Hajar al-Aswad area south of Damascus. The area is much smaller than the eastern Ghouta region where the Syrian government recently defeated insurgents. A commander in the regional military alliance that backs the Syrian government said the Syrian army had begun shelling the jihadist enclave on Tuesday in preparation for an assault. WASHINGTON - US President Donald Trump said that although he's looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un he could still pull out if he feels it's "not going to be fruitful." Follow Ynetnews on Facebook and Twitter Trump said that CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Kim "got along really well" in their recent secret meeting, and he declared, "We've never been in a position like this" to address worldwide concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons. But speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, after the allies met at Trump's Florida resort, he made clear that he'd still be ready to pull the plug on what is being billed as an extraordinary meeting between the leaders of longtime adversaries. North Korean leader Kim Jong Un and US President Donald Trump (Photo: AFP, EPA) "If I think that if it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful we're not going to go. If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful I will respectfully leave the meeting," Trump told a news conference. He also said that a US-led "maximum pressure" campaign of tough economic sanctions on North Korea would continue until the isolated nation "denuclearizes." Abe echoed the sentiment. "Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained," he said. Trump has said his summit with Kim, with whom he traded bitter insults and threats last year as North Korea conducted nuclear and missile tests, could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. Other than the threat posed to by North Korea's weapons of mass destruction, another issue overhanging the summit plans is the fate of three Americans detained there. Trump said that was under negotiation and there was a "good chance" of winning their release, but he wouldn't say whether that was a precondition for sitting down with Kim. Pompeo raised the question of the three Americans in his meeting with Kim, a US official said. Mike Pompeo (Photo: AFP) Trump also said he had promised Abe he would work hard for the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says at least a dozen Japanese said to have been taken in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. News of Pompeo's trip to North Korea, which took place more than two weeks ago, emerged on Tuesday, as lawmakers weighed whether he should be confirmed to become secretary of state. Trump and Republican senators held up his highly unusual, secret mission as sign of Pompeo's diplomatic ability. But the prospect of his confirmation hung in the balance as Democrats lined up against him. Sen. Robert Menendez, top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that will have the first vote on confirmation, expressed frustration that the CIA chief had not briefed him on the visit that took place more than a week before Pompeo's public hearing last Thursday. He is the most senior US official to meet with a North Korean leader since Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kim's father in Pyongyang in 2000. "Now I don't expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit," Menendez said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The committee is expected to vote on the nomination next week. Pompeo, whose hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities have raised Democratic hackles, would replace Rex Tillerson who was pushed out by Trump last month. It is not unprecedented for US intelligence officials to serve as conduits for communication with Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-director of US national intelligence, James Clapper, secretly visited North Korea to bring back two American detainees. Clapper did not, however, meet with Kim, who has only in recent weeks emerged from international seclusion after taking power six years ago and super-charging North Korea's push to become a nuclear power. Kim met last month with China's president and is to meet South Korea's leader April 27. GENEVA - The United State is hopeful of reaching agreement with Britain, France and Germany to address US concerns about the Iran nuclear deal, US disarmament ambassador Robert Wood told a news conference in Geneva on Thursday. Wood said that the discussions were "intense" ahead of a May 12 deadline, and said the United States had concerns about a failure to address Iran's ballistic missile program, 10-year "sunset" clauses for limits on Iran's nuclear programs, and Iran's general behavior in the Middle East. "These issues have to be dealt with. We are hopeful that an agreement can be reached that the President can feel comfortable with," Wood said. Iraq's airforce carried out "deadly" airstrikes on Islamic State positions inside neighboring Syria on Thursday, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said. The airstrikes were launched "from the Iraqi side of the border", it said in a statement. An Iraqi military spokesman told Reuters the strikes were carried out in coordination with Syrian President Bashar Assad's government. The Iraqi air force used F16 jets to cross into Syria and carry out the strikes, Brigadier General Yahya Rasool said. Three Israelis have been attacked with sticks by locals in Midigama, a surfers' town in Sri Lanka. An Israeli woman who was surfing accidentally hit a local surfer and injured his hand. The man demanded compensation to cover his medical bills. According to reports in local media, the injured local got into an argument with the woman's Israeli friends, and a brawl broke out. Local police said a group of locals then attacked the Israelis. The police launched an investigation into the incident. President Reuven Rivlin said on Thursday at a welcoming ceremony for consular and diplomatic staff that Iran's evil regime must be stopped. "The Iranian regime continues supporting terror and hatred and endangers the world's security. We all have to the everything in our power to stop it," Rivlin said. Security forces arrested on Thursday several people who posted signs and handed out flyers inciting against Samaria Battalion Commander Col. Gilad Amit. Chieff of Staff Gadi Eisenkot condemned the incident, saying it caused him "great sorrow that extremists chose to mark Independence Day in such way." Ministry of Defense Avigdor Lieberman also condemned the acts, calling them "a disgrace." "We will act to ensure those responsible will be held accountable," he tweeted. News Washington, DC - The United States condemns yesterdays shooting of civilian employees of the Donetsk Filtration Station in Ukraine, which left five individuals wounded. The filtration station has temporarily shut down following the incident. In addition to endangering the lives of innocent civilians, this attack threatened water supplies for almost 350,000 Ukrainians living on both sides of the line of contact. Yesterdays incident follows closely shelling that severely damaged power lines near water pumping stations in the Donetsk region, which has endangered water supplies to over three million people. We urge Russia-led forces and Ukrainian Armed Forces to allow for maintenance workers to conduct repairs and prevent a new humanitarian crisis. We further call on all forces to withdraw from positions around the Donetsk Filtration Station and other critical civilian infrastructure. The Department takes this opportunity to repeat its call on Russia to withdraw its forces from eastern Ukraine and fully implement its commitments under the Minsk agreements. As Russia instigated this conflict and continues to arm, train, lead, and fight alongside its proxy forces in the Donbas, Russia bears the responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. It is very unethical and unfortunate that some employers just wake up one morning and decide they shall not be served by so and so anymore. The government of Ghana takes very keen interest on citizens, specifically the work rights of its employed citizens. Ghana labour law on termination of appointment is very strict on how an employee should be called off. There is a set down procedure and consequences when it is not observed. Read on to get more on the Ghana labour laws. Source: A Dr Daily A countrys working population is its pride and the Ghana labour commission knows this too well. All Ghana labour laws are implemented by this National body in conjunction with the International Labor Organization laws (ILO). Ghana joined the organization in 1957.The labour Act NO 651 was last reviewed and updated in 2003. ILO conventions protect both the employer and employee, except the members of the disciplined forces. Since joining the International Labour Organization, Ghana has ratified 46 conventions some of these being Convention no 87 that gives employees freedom to join workers unions, Convention no 98 that allows workers to collective bargaining and convention number 100 and number 111 that call for equal treatment at the work place. The labour act of Ghana basically provides for equal employment of all people, air terminations and promotions, good working conditions, air remuneration, safety at the work place, the set up of both public and private organizations and the legal existence of the Ghana labour commission. Read on and have the Ghana labour law on termination of appointment explained, alongside everything else you should know about Ghana labour laws. READ ALSO: Chinese company sacks 180 workers Ghana labour law on contract workers What a contract entails Source: Graphic The contract act of Ghana is found in page numbers 73-78 of the Labour Act 2003 (Act 651).According to section 12 of the Labour Act, for an employment agreement to be deemed official and legal in the Ghana labour laws, there has to be a written agreement that states every little detail agreed upon and they should be as listed in Schedule 1 to the Act. The details that must be captured in an employers contract agreement are the period the contract shall last, the amount to be paid, the working hours, arrangement on the leave and off days and any allowances that the employee is given. All the employees details are captured and the companys policy is attached.Also, a guideline on sick offs, public holidays, overtime and other special days are given. This is with the exception of casual laborers and temporal workers .While the former are given daily tasks and daily pay or working periods as short as a week, Temporal workers sometimes work for longer periods but these opportunities are irregular. Most times they are called upon to help during peak office periods or when there is a specific ongoing activity that is causing a toll on the companys current staff. When a temporary worker stays with the same employer continuously for six months or more, the Labour laws of Ghana recognize this person as a permanent employee of the organization in question. Although temporal workers have no written contracts, pages 74-75 and schedule 1 of the labour Act 2003 state that they are entitled to the labour Acts minimal. This means they too must have rest, overtime pay, paid public holidays and sick leaves. READ ALSO: Court of appeal dismisses claim of 88 national security operatives for end of service benefit Labour laws of Ghana on probation period The labor act of Ghana recognizes the probation period for the duration agreed upon by the employer and employee. Under Regulation 5 of Labour Regulations 2007, the contract act of Ghana refers to this period as a reasonable duration determined in advance. Probation is the period given to a new employee to be monitored before they are fully absorbed into office.Usually; another contract is signed after the probation is over, stating the terms of permanent employment. Before someone starts working, the Job contract has to stipulate how long the probation shall last. A contract has to be signed within the first two months a person is confirmed to permanent employment. Once someone gets appointed and starts working, they definitely wont be in that office forever. Thankfully, the labour act of Ghana is with you every step of the way as the employer that just lost a worker or as the employee that just lost their job. What is the Ghana labour law on termination of appointment? What guidelines does it lie down to be a standard measure and is there any way one can appeal when they feel they have been treated unfairly by the other party? Read on and find out. Labour act of Ghana On contract termination Source: Gold Berg Devilliers In the same way the contract act of Ghana lies down procedures on what is expected during appointment, the labour act of Ghana provides a guideline on what should happen in case of termination. These laws give the employee job security and the employers interests are protected too as one is not allowed to simply not show up when they decide to quit. They ensure a soft, peaceful transition. Lets begin with the reasons that can make one get terminated. Reasons that can lead to contract termination According to the Ghana labour law on contract workers, a job agreement may be terminated if; The employee proves lack of qualification to perform what they were employed to do In this case, the company has to prove with evidence that the employee cannot perform their tasks due to lack of the know-how The company is controlling redundancy The employee has been accused of continued misconduct as per the company policies The employee passes away before their contract expires The worker is proven to be medically or legally unfit for prescribed tasks The medical report and a subsequent medical certificate is a must have in any food production industry The employee gets sexually harassed in the course of their work Both parties mutually agree to end the contract prematurely for their own reason While it takes some employers more than four warning letters and a million verbal warnings to give a termination letter, others lay staff off for no reason at all or for the wrong reasons. You can consider yourself unfairly terminated if it is based on any of the following reason; Your disability note that you are protected under section 50 of the Ghana labour laws The religion or tribe you belong to. In other cases, the region you originate from Your quest to join a trade union or become actively involved in your unions activities Absence from work due to pregnancy complications or maternity leaves to female workers. (Note that section 57(8) protects female workers on this). Being ill thus incapacitated for a period of time Not having the current education qualification deemed right for your type of work ,which makes it a different qualification from your time of employment Refusal to step in for someone who missed work due to collective bargaining issues like participating in a lawful go slow If at any time you feel that you were unfairly terminated, the Ghana labour laws allow you to take up an appeal with the Ghana labour commission. The commission looks into your case and if proved to have been unfair it either gets you re-instated or compensated well for damage. Even if you dont get back to your previous job description, an alternative position is sought that requires the use of your knowledge and skills. Some people are lucky to get both re-instated and compensation, thanks to the labour commission. Labour act of Ghana on the termination process Source: FK Mahia Once reasons to terminate an employee have been ascertained, the termination proceeds with a notice first, or a pledge of pay in lieu of notice. Giving notice or pay in lieu of notice The Ghana labour laws demand that a terminated employee is given notice before the termination date is due. If the employer insists on immediate termination, then they must give pay in lieu of notice. This is referred to as severance pay and includes a months pay in addition to all other allowances that were due to this employer, leave and off days included. The notice differs depending on how long the person in question has been the organizations employer. If one works for less than three months before termination, they are not entitled to any severance pay. Illustrated below is the minimum amount of time one needs to receive notice before termination as outlined in section 63 of the Ghana labour laws. PERIOD OF EMPLOYMENT MINIMUM LENGTH OF NOTICE 3 months but less than one year one week One to two years two weeks Up to 3 years three weeks Up to 4 years four weeks Up to 5 years five weeks Up to 6 years six weeks Up to 7 years seven weeks 8 years or more eight weeks When the employer decides to pay in lieu notice so that the terminated person may exit immediately, the severance pay amount is calculated by; Getting a total of the employees weekly wages, dividing the sum by eight weeks and multiplying the result by the number of days the employer should get paid for at the moment. It is wise to know how these calculations are done, just in case you are the employee in question. Note that if one resigns or voluntarily quits their job, no severance pay is made to them. Also, the labour act of Ghana exempts termination for just cause cases from having to receive notice. An example of such an occurrence is where an employee has been warned severally about misconduct and keeps on repeating it. In the event of serious breaches on the company policy like theft, one can also be dismissed without notice. The employer must however prove beyond doubt that this particular employee had received prior warnings and enough pardoning but refused to change or rise to the required standards. In a scenario where termination is a mutual agreement between both parties, the employer does not have to give pay in lieu to notice. Everyone walks freely out of the contract. Some employees however come back to demand pay later, for malicious reasons. So its wise for the employer to give some form of compensation and have it in written form that it was settled. Follow the link https://mywage.org/ghana to find out more about contract termination and what it entails. READ ALSO: Petrol workers to strike over unfair treatment Ghana labour law on resignation Resignation is when an employee decides to voluntarily leave their current place of work to purse greener pastures or personal interests. It is allowed and provided for in the Ghana labour laws. However, you must give your employer a notice before resigning. Otherwise its a contract breach on your side and the office may sue you for damages according to article 90 of the labor contract law, although it rarely happens. No one should hold an employer forcefully from resignation, its their labour right. Ghana labour commission - The implementer of the labour laws Source: Sambianandco Established legally under section 135 of the labour Act, The National Labour Commission does the onus of handling all issues related to the work population of Ghana. It settles disputes between employers, employees and also between employers and employees. The Ghana labour commission is governed by the NLCs Regulations (2006), Legislative Instrument (LI) 1822 and the Labour Regulations (2007), LI 1833. The commission consists of seven members as required under Section 136 of Act 651 .These are include a chairperson and six representatives; two from each from Government, two from the employers organization and two more from Organized Labour. With a mission to ensure peaceful industrial relations, the labour committee keeps the labour industry of Ghana sane by ensuring each party involved is satisfied in their work. The link http://laws.ghanalegal.com provides more information on this important commission. Ghana labour law on termination of appointment and all other Ghana labour laws ensure the countrys productive group is working under optimum conditions by keeping both parties in check. The laws bring about order and peace in the process, as everything is clearly laid down and measures on how it shall be followed to the latter put into place. As everyone knows their place and what they are supposed to be doing, the Ghana economy keeps moving forward with every day better than the previous one. READ ALSO: Anglogold Ashanti Forced To Reinstate 539 Workers Source: Yen News Ghana is a beautiful and vibrant country, that is one thing both the locals and the many visitors of this country agree to. Even with the beautiful places, rich Ghanaian culture and the warmly residents, there is still more about this country that you probably dont know. To help you keep up to speed with this country, we have compiled a number of current affairs questions and answers in Ghana and facts you definitely should know. Source: clipartpanda Ghana is one of the fastest growing countries in the continent. With its numerous natural resources, beautiful tourist destinations, safe environment and a vibrant economy, this country is nothing but the new hub of Africa. As a result of this, there has been an increased focus from people to know more about the country. If you want to have a better understanding of this country then you need to keep up with the daily happenings within the country. Our detailed article below will furnish you with all the amazing current affairs facts you should know about the country. In addition to this we will also outline to you some of the current affairs questions and answers you will always come across in case you go to an interview. READ ALSO: Interesting facts about Ghana that you never knew Current affairs questions and answers in Ghana Now that you know at least some of the facts that make the nation of Ghana great, you need to be prepared also on current affair questions. Below are some of the common questions and answers on current affairs in Ghana that will help you will preparing for an interview in Ghana or just for the purposes of general knowledge. When did Ghana become independent? Answer: 6 March 1957 How was Ghana formerly known? Answer: Gold Coast Which country is to the east of Ghana? Answer: Togo When did the Portuguese build Elmina Castle? Answer: 1482 Which is the capital of Ghana? Answer: Accra Which is the official language of Ghana? Answer: English Who was Ghanas first prime minister? Answer: Kwame Nkrumah Who was Ghanas first president? Answer: Kwame Nkrumah Who overthrew the government of Kofi Busia and established military rule in Ghana in 1972? Answer: Ignatius Kutu Acheampong Who became Ghanas president on 7 January 2001? Answer: John Kufuor READ ALSO: 5 Important Facts that you Should Know About Tourist Sites in Ghana Current affairs questions and answers for competitive exams With the dynamic education system today classroom knowledge is not enough if you want to excel in your competitive exams, you need to back your knowledge with some understanding of current affairs issue. Critical areas you need to pay attention when preparing for your competitive exams in Ghana include its political landscape, its important and export market and a little bit of its historical landscape to name but a few. In addition to this, equip yourself with some knowledge about the world happenings since Ghana does not exist in a vacuum. Below are some of the sampled current affairs questions and answers 2018 for any competitive exam you might have in Ghana. Who was Ghanas first prime minister and president? Answer: Kwame Nkrumah Who is the author of the newly launched book Dilli Meri Dilli: Before and After 1998? Answer: Sheila Dikshit What is Ghanas main export? Answer: Cocoa seeds Which year did Ghana receive its independence? Answer: 1957 Which country borders Ghana to the west? Answer: Cote d'Ivoire (Ivory Coast) What is Ghanas oldest landmark? Answer: The Larabange mosque Source: ghanapark.blogspot In addition to the current affairs questions and answers about Ghana, the other way of knowing about this beautiful country is through its facts. Below are some of the facts you need to know about this country. READ ALSO: Best Ghana points of interest for tourists and locals What are some of the current topics you should know about Ghana? Source: buzzghana Every country in the world is known for particular reasons, be it its natural landmarks, politics or way of life, Ghana is no different. There are many things that have made Ghana what it is today including its culture, people and landmarks. While some of these things are stored in terms of historical artifacts in the countrys archives, they greatly have an impact in the current affairs of the country. Below are some of what we think are the current affairs issues in Ghana we think you need to know. Ghana recent selection in the malaria vaccine Malaria is one of the predominant medical conditions affecting sub-Saharan African countries. The most recent current affairs in Ghana comes with the announcement by the World Health Organization that includes Ghana in the three countries that have been chosen to conduct the pilot vaccination phase. Whether you are planning to visit Ghana, migrate there or are a resident of this country, then it is important to have this knowledge. The pilot vaccination will go on for a period of four years from 2017-2021 and will be done parallel in Kenya and Malawi. Ghanas largest market in West Africa Source: lonelyplanet Yes, our current affairs meter tells us that Ghana is one of the greatest shopping destination in Africa and the world. This country host the Kejetia Market situated in Kumasi and its the largest open air market in the entire West African region. In this market, locals and travelers alike can visit and shop for fabrics, garments , vegetables and fruits to name but a few. READ ALSO: One Checklist that You Should Keep in Mind Before Visiting Tourist Sites in Ghana Ghanas independence Inasmuch as this to many people is more of a historical fact, it is a very important current affair fact to have in mind. Yes, among the many Sub-Saharan countries, Ghana was the first country in 1957 to gain its independence from the British. However, despite gaining its independence the country still underwent a long period of political instability characterized by numerous coups from 1957-1981. The Ghanaian currency Cedi is a type of Shell I am sure by now we all know that the Cedi is Ghanaian main currency. What we dont know however is that this currency name is actually a name derived from a type of shell found in the sea. Before the advancement of trade the cowry shell was the main form of currency thus explaining how the country ended adopting this name even in its currency. Cocoa Beans are part of Ghanas main exports When preparing for an interview in Ghana one of the many questions you need to prepare yourself with is that of Ghanas exports. If you didnt know that one of Ghanas leading export is Cocoa beans, now you know. Cocoa is a popular product and is associated with the manufacturer of many sweet and amazing products all over the world. Take note that Ghana is the second largest exporter of Cocoa beans after Ivory Coast and that Ghanas Cocoa beans are grown in the countrys densely populated forests. Ferdi Ato Abobe a Ghanaian Athlete holds the worlds record for walking backwards If you thought you knew Ghana then its high time your rethink again as this fact will surely blow your mind off. Ferdi Ato Abobe a Ghanaian athlete is one of the many athletes who will be remembered for their phenomenal activities his being walking the longest distance backwards. If you are interested in joining Ghana I would recommend that you first familiarize yourself with the place better. Immigrants who would want to make Ghana their home should visit Ghana immigration service website and familiarize themselves more with the current affairs questions and answers in Ghana immigration service beforehand. Our article above highlights some of the current affairs in Ghana 2018 you should know. The lists keeps changing and therefore should you. Keep checking up on us and let us furnish you with all the details through Ghana current affairs questions and answers and facts. Source: Yen Ghanas youngest millionaire popularly known as Ibrah Money has been arrested for defrauding at a tune of $400,000. The arrest has sent shock waves to thousands of his fans who never saw this development coming. 5 facts, allegations about Ibrah Money you can't miss As it stands now, Ibrah was picked up at the airport when he was preparing to travel to South Africa. But there are some strong claims and facts about the young Ghanaian millionaire that you need to know. READ ALSO: Three Ghanaians arrested for smuggling cocaine, cannabis worth 32m into Britain 1. Ibrah Money had a street named after him somewhere in Accra. 2. Ibrah Money distributed 10 free iPhone X to passengers of a commercial bus during his birthday. 3. Ibrah Money lives in a luxurious mansion inside a multi-million dollar estate named Ibrahville. 4. Source of wealth, according to inside sources is reportedly linked to money laundering. 5. He is claimed to be linked with some powerful businessmen and politicians in Ghana. READ ALSO: CNN's Amanpour calls on President Akufo-Addo to defend Moesha Meanwhile, some social media users have expressed shock over the arrest of the young millionaire. Where as some were shocked, others were not shocks at all. YEN.com.gh brings to you a new video of John Mahamas 2020 bid and allegations of double salaries taken by some former ministers: Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now. Source: Yen Being the Minister for Gender, Children and Social Protection is a tough one. And that is exactly what sector minister Otiko Afisa Djaba has found out. Prior to becoming a minister, Madam Djaba used to be one of the firebrands of the then opposition New Patriotic Party. Now in power, and appointed as Gender Minister, Otiko Djaba appears to have relaxed on her public utterances a bit. However, that said, she has previously been involved in certain talks that could at best qualify as reckless. Otiko Afisa Djaba READ ALSO: Below are five times that Otiko Djaba was reckless: 1. Otiko vs Naabu Last year, Otiko Djaba was involved in a bitter feud with the Northern Regional Chairman of the New Patriotic Party (NPP), Daniel Bugri Naabu. The relationship between the pair reached breaking point, with both using unsavoury words on each other. At one point, Madam Djaba accused Bugri Naabu of collecting cows, goats and sheep from people with the promise of offering them positions on the School Feeding Programme. She, however, later apologized to the nation for her conduct in the whole episode. 2. Otikos comment on rape to Krobo Girls students Again in 2017 whiles addressing students of Krobo Girls Senior High School, the Gender Minister urged them not to attract rape by wearing provocative clothing. Her statement suggested that girls who wear short skirts and other provocative clothes are attracting rapists to themselves. Madam Djaba said: I want to say to you, be bold, be confident, be respectful. If you wear a short dress, its fashionable but, know that it can attract somebody who would want to rape or defile you. You must be responsible for the choices you make. She was subsequently bashed by a section of Ghanaians who believed she did not speak well. Join YEN on Instagram to be always informed and entertained! 3. Release on Moesha's case Another controversy that engulfed the Gender Minister was the release from the Gender Ministry condemning actress Moesha Boduong for her comments on CNN. Moesha became an object of public scrutiny when she suggested on CNN that Ghanaian ladies have to depend on married men to survive due to the harsh economic conditions in the country. The Gender Minister took up the matter and released a strong-worded statement condemning the actress for generalizing when she should have referred to her personal situation. However, the Gender Minister was also attacked by some feminists who deemed the statement needless. 4. Support for Ken Agyepong calling Charlotte Osei a whore Prior to the 2016 elections, MP for Assin Central Kennedy Agyapong alleged that EC boss Charlotte Osei has exchanged sexual favours to be appointed to the role. The lawmaker accused then President Mahama of sleeping with the EC boss before giving her the job. Instead of condemning Mr. Agyapong who is also a member of the NPP, Madam Djaba did the opposite rather calling for an investigation into the sex allegations. She said: A Member of Parliament has alleged that the EC boss had sex with someone before she was offered a job, instead of us finding out the truth in the matter, the NDC is organizing women groups to demonstrate against the MP? Why are we not investigating whether the President have something doing with the EC boss or not? In the aftermath of her comment she was widely condemned for making such distasteful utterances. 5. Comments urging people to stop giving money to street children Earlier this year Madam Otio Djaba was once again at the centre of controversy after she appealed to Ghanaians to stop giving money to beggars on the street. According to her, it is a bad practice which would only encourage the beggars to continue staying on the streets. It is demand and supply, as some of the people contract some of the children to be pushing them and preventing them from being in school. Some of them own kiosks, have houses and taxis working for them and have taken it as a profession and it cannot be a profession, she said. Again, her comments did not sit well with many people who condemned her. Otiko Afisah Djaba is 54 years old. She studied Information Systems in the UK, communications in Eygpt and holds a Bachelor of Arts degree in Integrated Development Studies at the University for Development Studies in Ghana. She was the National Facilitator for the Campaign for Greater Discipline under Former Vice President Aliu Mahama in 2004. She worked as a Consultant in Childrens Rights and rural womens development for Plan Ghana in extremely deprived rural communities in Sissala districts and in Wa. In 2008 she was the NPP Parliamentary Candidate for the Bole-Bamboi constituency, and is currently the Womens leader of the New Patriotic Party and has held the position since 2010. She is a polyglot, who speaks 8 Ghanaian dialects. She has 4 children. YEN.com.gh brings to you a new video of John Mahamas 2020 bid and allegations of double salaries taken by some former ministers: READ ALSO: 5 facts, allegations about Ibrah Money you may not know Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now. Source: Yen The debate on whether or not to legalize homosexuality in Ghana is getting intense as the days go by. So far, the British government has indicated its preparedness to help Ghana embrace gay rights. The United Nations (UN) has also slammed the speaker of parliament for speaking against homosexuals and hinting of parliament never legalizing homosexuality. READ ALSO: Young Ghanaian millionaire Ibrah, has been arrested by police Come to think of it, have we thought about the implications of having a gay law passed in Ghana? This article explores the impact. 1. Outbursts of protests Ghana has not yet legalized homosexuality and yet there is a fierce opposition especially on social media against the move to do so. The opposition is more likely to translate into massive protests if a pro-gay law is ever passed in Ghana. Not to say protests are bad but these outburst of it could plunge the country into some state of chaos and tension. 2. Clashes with the gay community Should gay laws be passed in Ghana, one must expect the target of hate on the LGBT community. It is with no doubt that majority of Ghanaians publicly speak against these persons. Legalizing the act could make the community exposed to more stigma and opposition. 3. More cases of abuse Ghana continues to register cases of abuse against gays and lesbians. With crazy and bloody mob actions at Islamic communities as Nima, it is clear that gays and lesbians will need heightened security and protection should the law be passed. This could also overstretch the services of the already burdened security force. 4. The outburst of health emergencies The LGBT community remains one with poor healthcare attention. In fact, figures show that Ghana's gay community face severe health challenges from HIV/AIDS to other health complications. Most homosexuals will now have the liberty to seek emergency treatment in times of infection. The question is, does our challenged health care system have the capacity to deal with this issue? 5. Dark secrets Homosexuality is something happening in secret here in Ghana. Let's face it, we have married men, heterosexual men, people from all walks of life practicing homosexuality in the dark. Legalizing the act could tear the cover of secrecy over this and Ghanaians would be shocked at the unbelievable things happening on the dark side of things. Maybe this could be a good one. 6. The strain on health facilities Legalising homosexuality means the government will have to expand its health care system. This means more sexual health centers, more reproductive health classes, and more gay clinics. This also means that we need to expand our health care and National Health Insurance. More investments in this sector if indeed we want to check the health of our gay community. 7. Fear of population control It is always expected that the legalization of homosexuality in any country could among other things spark a population control mechanism. Ghana's population has been on a steady growth. Family planning interventions have helped bring down the numbers. Could the gay law also do more? READ ALSO: 'Braless' celebrities spotted at the 2018 VGMA Passing the gay law has its own advantages as well, especially when the development could see more gays and lesbians come out to society and also feel free to have health care treatment which continues to cripple most of them. But the wide and long term effects is what we are trying to explore. YEN.com.gh brings to you a new video of John Mahamas 2020 bid and allegations of double salaries taken by some former ministers: Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now. Source: Yen One of Ghana's rich young men, Ibrah One, was arrested on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 by a combined team Ghana's Police and Interpol personnel. As YEN.com.gh reported earlier, Ibrah One was arrested in connection with an investigation into a money laundering case in the US. YEN.com.gh breaks down the whole arrest of Ibrah One in these simple facts below. 1. Why was he arrested? Though Ibrah is officially being arrested for money laundering, as part of an ongoing investigation in the US. According to a report on US website, WKBN.COM, eight other people namely Kwabena M. Bonsu, Kwasi A. Oppong, Kwame Ansah, John Y Amoah, Samuel Antwi, King Faisal Hamidu, Nkosiyoxoxo Msuthu, and Cynthia Appiagyei have already been arrested. 2. Who gave him away? We know people who deal in this kinds of business usually use fictitious names and to get to them, you may need an insider information. In the case of Ibrah, YEN.com.gh understands it is one of his own 'boys' who snitched on him to the Interpol. The guy, only identified as Snapchat user, Heloo_Stephen actually took the videos of Ibrah in police custody and shared on social media. READ ALSO: These 7 Ghanaian musicians didn't win 'anything' at the 2018 VGMA's 3. What led him to snitch on Ibrah? YEN.com.gh gathers that the two were involved in a scam deal which brought in about $1.2m. Ibrah was supposed to give Stephen a $400,000 cut but he refused while referring to Stephen as a small boy. This angered Stephen and as someone who knows Ibrah's modus operandi, he contacted the Interpol and struck an immunity deal for his confession. 4. How was he arrested? A team of officers stormed Ibrah's East Legon residence on Wednesday afternoon but met his absence. A lady in the house was asked to call him and after about 40 minutes, Ibrah appeared and was picked up. YEN.com.gh has learnt that he had tried to flee the country. READ ALSO: VIDEO: Obinim turns 'Imam'; Leads his church to sing 'Allahu Akbar' 5. Where from here? Since this is an international investigation, Ibrah will not be put on trial in Ghana. According to reports, Ibrah cried in the police custody when he heard that he will soon be transferred to the US for his trial and a likely conviction. 6. How has Ibrah taken his arrest? In the aftermath of his arrest, Ibrah has posted so many messages on Snapchat threatening to expose all other money launderers he knows. He has also mentioned the name of firebrand NPP MP, Kennedy Agyapong and even requested an audience with the President. Reports suggest that Ibrah is willing to cooperate with the Interpol and his lawyers may even hold a press conference to reveal some secrets. READ ALSO: Mzbel finally opens up on rumours that she's been 'chopping' a 17-year-old boy Check out some of the trending news in Ghana in YEN.com.gh's video below: Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook or Instagram now Source: Yen - A group of armed men interrupted a senate meeting and stole a mace in Nigeria - Some Nigerian Senators have described the attack an attempted Coup d'etat The Nigerian Senate was on high alert on Wednesday, after armed men interrupted a session at Nigeria's parliament, stealing its mace. According to reports, the gunmen were allegedly led by a suspended member of the senate, Ovie Omo-Agege, and seized the symbol of authority from the upper legislative chambers sitting in Abuja. The armed men invaded Nigeria's Senate Wednesday READ ALSO: Metro Mass MD fired over 'corruption' scandal The incident is said have been described as an 'an act of treason' by Aliyu Abdullahi, a Senate spokesman who said the lawmaker was trying to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria. "This action is an affront on the legislature. Security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the perpetrators of this act," the spokesperson for the Senate was quoted in BBC report. Further reports say laws cannot be passed by Nigeria's Senate currently in the absence of the mace, a symbol of authority binding decisions taken on the Senate floor. READ ALSO: Patapaa jabs 'One Corner' critics, his VGMA loss (Video) However, Shehu Sani, a representative of Kaduna Central, said despite the incident, sessions continued on Wednesday in the 109-member assembly with a spare mace. "I and others insisted that the Senate must not adjourn. I removed my waist belt and lay to serve as a mace for us to continue. My colleagues seconded, then a spare mace was brought in and the session continued," Sani added. Some Nigerian lawmakers who condemned the attack on Facebook, called the incident an attempted coup that could fester if not addressed. READ ALSO: Three Ghanaians arrested in UK for smuggling cocaine, cannabis worth 32million YEN.com.gh brings to you a new video of John Mahamas 2020 bid and allegations of double salaries taken by some former ministers: Yen.com.gh is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Message us on Facebook. Source: Yen - Kennedy Agyapong is one of Ghanas rich politicians - He has been threatened by Ibrah Money to be exposed of involving in money laundering - Ibrah was arrested yesterday for money laundering Young Ghanaian millionaire, Ibrah Money, was arrested by the police for alleged money laundering. He was arrested at his plush East Legon mansion and is reportedly set to be extradited to the United States to stand trial. But Ibrah has said he wont go down alone, thus threatening to expose all those with whom he has been in that business with. Ibrah and one of his many cars READ ALSO: Blame my daughter's death on her management Ebonys father Ibrah Money, known in real life as Ibrahim Daouda has alleged that New Patriotic Party (NPP) firebrand Kennedy Agyapong is also involved in the money laundering scandal. Kennedy Agyapong has been long accused of involving in dubious means to make himself a rich man. He had been tagged as a cocaine dealer, others in the past. But the MP has often fired back, claiming that he had made his riches from the right source, including working as a shoe shine in the US for many years, according to an interview monitored by YEN.com.gh some years back on TV3. READ ALSO: Ebony's response to her managers when they asked her about her 17 tattoos Ibrah was said to be snitched on by a friend who he owed over $400,000 to but failed to pay. He has threatened to expose all others in Ghana who he launders money for if prosecuted, mentioning the name of Kennedy Agyapong emphasizing that he has documents to prove. READ ALSO: 6 facts about Ibrah One's arrest by Interpol Ibrah wrote on social media: Where is Kennedy Agyapong, I have a book for you. Ibrah is on record for freely distributing 10 iPhone X for passengers on board a commercial vehicle for his birthday. READ ALSO: Young Ghanaian millionaire Ibrah, has been arrested by police Check out some of the trending news in Ghana in YEN.com.gh's video below READ ALSO: Tell the world how your 2 mansions came about Shatta Michy dares Shatta Wale Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook now! Source: Yen - Ibrah Money was arrested by interpol on Wednesday for money laundering - He threatened to name all those with him in the businessmen - Ibrah has mentioned the name of a top blogger, Jojo, as one of his partners Embattled young Ghanaian millionaire, Ibrah Money, has dropped the name of a Ghanaian blogger as one of his accomplices in money laundering. Ibrah, known in real life as Ibrahim Daouda, was arrested yesterday, April 18, 2018, by the interpol for money laundering. He was arrested in his plush East Legon mansion, and reportedly assisting in investigations. Ibrah with one of his many luxurious cars READ ALSO: Kennedy Agyapong exposed as Ibrah Money names him as a money laundering accomplice? But Ibrah has stated that he wont go down on the arrest alone, therefore, he would go ahead to mention names of all his partners in crime. A photo sighted by YEN.com.gh on social media has the name of a blogger called Jojo, whom Ibrah has mentioned as his accomplice. According to Ibrah, the last transaction he made was with this popular blogger. Ibrah's post about Jojo which was sighted on Facebook READ ALSO: Bullet caused Ebonys death, 3 other allegations Ebonys father has made against Rufftown Records However, we immediately cannot say who this Jojo is, probably, the name could even be a nick-name between Ibrah and the blogger. YEN.com.gh is following this development and would update readers when full details of Ibrahs accomplices are uncovered. READ ALSO: Tell the world how your 2 mansions came about Shatta Michy dares Shatta Wale Check out some of the trending news in Ghana in YEN.com.gh's video below READ ALSO: Ebony's response to her managers when they asked her about her 17 tattoos Do you have a hot story or scandal you would like us to publish on YEN.com.gh? Please contact us on Facebook now! Source: Yen The arrest of young Ghanaian billionaire, Ibrahim Dauda, aka Ibrah has set various social media platforms on fire. According to reports, the young millionaire was picked up by Interpol in connection with some fraudulent financial transactions, including money laundering. Alien 1 showing off his cars READ ALSO: Counselor Lutterodt 'wickedly' jabs Shatta Michy in a latest video Ibrah, who is currently under police investigations in a series of social media posts has threatened to drop the names of all Ghanaian personalities who are engaged in similar fraudulent activities. However, his arrest has generated huge social media debate among a number of Ghanaian Rich Kids who are said to be engaged in similar fraudulent financial transactions. While some have faulted the the young millionaire or his woes, others have argued that he was greedy in his line of business, therefore he must shut his mouth and go down alone. However, many social media users are raising some key questions and pointing fingers at a number of Ghanaian rich kids who they suspect to be sakawa dons. READ ALSO: Diamond Appiah fires Ghanaians over Moesha's CNN interview Though many of their critics have not provided evidence to their claims, they are convinced a lot more young Ghanaian millionaire are deeply involved in other dubious means in making their monies. 1. Ibrah Ibrahim Dauda aka Chairman Ibrah 2. Criss Waddle Chris Waddle 3. Jibril aka Baron Cash Jibriel 4. Baron Wan Baron Wan 5. Nana Wan Nana Wan 6. Alien 1 Alien Wan 7. Slyper Slyper READ ALSO: Gunmen storm Nigeria's senate, stealing mace in broad daylight (Video) 8. Dosty Dee Dosty Dee YEN.com.gh brings to you a new video of John Mahamas 2020 bid and allegations of double salaries taken by some former ministers: Yen.com.gh is building a platform where Ghanaians can share local news and own experiences with each other. Witnessing an incident? Want to tell about a local problem? Know someone who is extremely talented and needs recognition? Your stories and photos are always welcome. Message us on Facebook. 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At least forty Palestinian protestors have been killed and more than a thousand have been wounded by Israeli forces during the last one month. Palestine has had a long and tumultuous history at crossroads of religion, culture and politics. The Israel Palestine conflict is an unresolved issue of international politics which dates from the end of the First World War. During the First World War, Palestine was a part of the Ottoman Empire. The Ottoman Empire sided with Germany and was defeated. It was then dissolved. Its successor, the Republic of Turkey, transferred Palestine to the British Empire. In 1917, British Foreign Minister Arthur Balfour issued what is known as the Balfour Declaration for the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people. Mahatma Gandhi wrote in the Harijan aThe cry for a national home for the Jews does not make much appeal to me. Why should they not, like other peoples on earth, make that country their home where they are born and where they earn their livelihood? Palestine belongs to the Arabs in the same sense that England belongs to the English or France to the French. It is wrong and inhuman to impose the Jews on the Arabs. What is going on in Palestine today cannot be justified by any moral code of conduct. Surely it would be a crime against humanity to reduce the proud Arabs so that Palestine can be delivered to the Jews partly or wholly as their national home. The nobler course would be to insist on a just treatment of the Jews wherever they are born and bred. The Jews born in France are French in precisely the same sense that Christians born in France are Frencha . In 1947, the United Nations General Assembly approved a plan to partition Palestinian land and proposed a Jewish State and an Arab State on that land. The Arab State of Palestine included the West Bank, the Gaza Strip, East Jerusalem and some other territories. The Jewish State of Israel was established in 1948 and several wars between the Israelis and the Arabs followed. In the Six Day War of 1967, Israelis captured and occupied the West Bank, East Jerusalem and the Gaza Strip. Thereafter, Israel tightened its hold over these territories, in spite of international objections which called these seizures illegal. The United Nations Security Council has condemned repeatedly Israeli depredations in the occupied territories. It did direct Israel to immediately and completely cease all settlements in the occupied territories including East Jerusalem. Amnesty International has held Israel guilty of war crimes and murder of thousands of innocent Palestinians and demolition of their homes. A large number of Israelis support the cause of human rights and political freedom for the Palestinian people. They oppose the current policy of Israel towards the Palestinian territories particularly the occupied territories. India was the first non-Arab country to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization as the sole legitimate representative of the Palestinian people and it was also the first non-Arab country to recognise Palestine as an independent State. A PLO office was set up in New Delhi in 1975 and full diplomatic relations were established in 1980. In 1987, I submitted a message from Prime Minister Rajiv Gandhi to the Committee on the Exercise of the Inalienable Rights of the Palestinian people at the United States Headquarters in New York. In his message, our Prime Minister said: "I reiterate the firm and continued support of the Government and people of India to the cause of the Palestinian people and its sole legitimate representative, the Palestine Liberation Organization. The struggle of the people of Palestine has always been considered by the Indian people as being a part of the wider movement against colonial rule and oppression. Ever since the beginning of our freedom movement, support to the Palestinian cause has been a consistent part of Indias foreign policy. It is indeed a tragedy that in spite of its arduous and long struggle, the brave Palestinian people remain without a homeland of their own. I take this opportunity to emphasize that delays in seeking a comprehensive and just solution to this problem can only escalate tension and turmoil in the Middle East. A just and lasting solution must include the exercise of the right of self-determination by the Palestinian people and the setting up of an independent State in Palestine. Israel must withdraw from all Palestinian and other Arab territories occupied by it since 1967, including Jerusalem. I pledge Indias full support as a member of this important Committee in sparing no effort to work alongside other members in the pursuit of this very important common objective. History has shown that a just cause will triumph, no matter how long and arduous the struggle may be. We have no doubt in our minds and we are confident that the Palestinian cause will achieve complete success. Towards this we pledge our unconditional and total support.a In 1992, during my tenure in the Ministry of External Affairs, I was asked by Prime Minister Narasimha Rao to ensure the establishment of diplomatic relations with Israel so that India could assist the Palestinian cause in a more efficient manner. I met with the PLO Chairman Yasser Arafat at his headquarters in Tunis. Chairman Arafat told me that he was confident that India would not vacillate on its commitment to the legitimate demand for an independent Palestine and that he had no objection if we established diplomatic relations with Israel. I then held a meeting with the Israeli Foreign Minister Shimon Peres at the United Nations Headquarters and diplomatic relations with Israel followed. After 1992, India continued its unstinted support to the Palestinian people in their quest for a strong and viable State and provided material as well as technical support to the Palestinian Government in their efforts at nation building. At present, the Israeli political scene has fallen under the control of pro settler, right wing parties opposed to a Palestinian State. The recent coalitions have been led by Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu, who is committed to expanding settlements whilst paying lip service to the two State solution. Even Netanyahuas possible departure from politics in the face of looming corruption charges is not likely to change this reality. The announcement by President Donald Trump that US recognises Jerusalem as Israelas capital has strengthened the Israeli right wing approach. Palestinian disunity that has emerged between the Fatah in the West Bank and Hamas in Gaza has further affected the movement for a Palestinian State. Indo-Israeli relations have witnessed a sharp upswing since the present Government came to power and there has been an unprecedented level of bilateral visits by senior Ministers from India to Israel and vice-versa. In 2017, Prime Minister Narendra Modi undertook the first ever Prime Ministerial visit from India to Israel. Prime Minister Netanyahu visited India last January. Noting that Israel and India have had diplomatic relations for twenty five years and addressing Prime Minister Modi, Netanyahu said: asomething different is happening now because of your leadership and because of our partnershipa . The joint statement refers to the ties between the two countries as a astrategic relationshipa . Israel ought to comply with international law and the United Nations resolutions and vacate the occupied Palestinian territories of West Bank, Gaza and East Jerusalem. All future agreements between India and Israel should explicitly exclude Jewish settlements in the occupied territories. (The writer is a former Union Minister) [19 April 2018] National Alliance of Journalists The Chairperson of the National Alliance of Journalists Gender Council Ms. Sujata Madhok , the President of the National Alliance of Journalists (NAJ)and the Delhi Union of Journalists (DUJ) Mr. SK Pande and the Secretary General of the NAJ Mr. Koteswararao, have blasted the spate of attacks on women journalists this week . These range from a petrol bomb thrown at an editoras home, death threats to a cartoonist for her critique of Hindutva, and lastly the patronising pat on the cheek of a woman journalist by the Governor of a state! We condemn these incidents that reflect the special targeting of media women, be it through physical violence, vicious trolling on social media, filing of court cases or the subtle aggression displayed in direct interactions by politicians and others in power today, the joint statement added. In a dangerous attack a petrol bomb was hurled at the home of Patricia Mukhim, veteran journalist and editor of the North Eastas first English language daily the Shillong Times, on April 17, 2018. Mukhim was lucky to have escaped injury but it is evident that her writings have aroused the anger of unknown forces. Mukhim is a staunch feminist and social activist, known to have repeatedly taken up issues of gender justice, social justice and environmental justice. She has written against gun culture and extortion and violence by armed militant groups in the North East. She has opposed the large scale destruction of forest lands by coal and cement companies in Meghalaya and the rest of the region. She has also campaigned for a greater role for women in public life, including in village councils and other bodies that are entirely male dominated. We demand that the attack on Mukhim be immediately investigated and the perpetrators brought to justice. We commend the Shillong Press Club for its initiative in this matter. On Monday April 16, 2018 Hyderabad police filed an FIR against Swathi Vadlamudi, cartoonist for The Hindu, for her cartoon commenting on the Kathua and Unnao rapes. A Hindu nationalist group had filed a complaint about the cartoon that she had posted on her Facebook page. The cartoon went viral on social media, evoking both applause and angry comments. We consider the filing of the FIR against Vadlamudi an attack on the freedom of speech and expression. Women cartoonists are a rare, precious breed as they counter misogyny with humour; they should be promoted, not prosecuted, the NAJ-DUJ firmly believes. The NAJ and DUJ also condemns the behavior of Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit at a Press Meet at the Raj Bhavan in Chennai on April 17. When Lakshmi Subramanian, a correspondent with The Week, asked Purohit some difficult questions, he chose not to reply but instead patted her on the cheek. They say that this gesture is patronizing, sexist and offensive to a woman professional. It could even be construed as sexual harassment. It joins the Press Club of Chennai and several women journos in demanding an unconditional apology from the Governor. Sd/- SK Pande President a DUJ Sd/- M.Koteswararao Secretary General -NAJ Sd/- Sujata Madhok Chair Gender Equity Council of NAJ Fans of longtime Valley resident Gerald DiPego can experience some of his favorite screenpla Theater-in-the-Raw Author Gerald DiPego describes the May 18-19 Grange Hall production as a bare-bones theater experience, with no actual sets, but a scattering of chairs, a table... - 8 balsa wood gliders - 1 glass of wine - 4 stools - 1 briefcase - 1 football - Fake flowers for a grave Doors open at 6:30 p.m. and the performance starts at 7 p.m. Tickets are $15 at the door. Ages 13 and older suggested because of language. Thank you for reading! Please log in, or sign up for a new account and purchase a subscription to continue reading. Service of Document in the jurisdiction Social Share Service of documents is a necessary part of court proceeding. It is the way by which a person (defendant) is informed of an action against him. If you file a claim or take other action against a person, he must know an action is brought against him. The claimants lawyer will arrange to have the claim form served on the defendant. If there is more than one defendant, each must be served with a claim form. The lawyer will engage a bailiff to serve the claim form. You will have to give the address of the defendant/defendants so that the defendant could be reached. A statement of claim should be served with the claim form, although it could be served without the statement of claim. Other documents, such as an affidavit, or a copy of an order, could be served with the claim form, depending on the claim that is made. The regular type of service is personal service, that is, the document must be handed to the defendant in person and he must be served within the jurisdiction. The person who serves must swear afterwards to an affidavit that he served the defendant. He must indicate in this affidavit the date and time of service, the place where it was served and how the defendant was identified. If someone identifies the defendant to the bailiff, that person may be required to swear to an affidavit. A person other than the defendant could be served in special circumstances. For example, a legal practitioner could accept service on behalf of the defendant. The defendant, however, must notify the claimant in writing that his legal practitioner will accept service. There are some other requirements when serving a company, a firm, partnership, a body corporate, a minor or patient. For example, a body corporate could be served by sending the claim form by prepaid post mail to the principal officer of the body corporate, or by serving the principal officer of the body corporate personally. The secretary, the treasurer or other officer could be served. For minors or patient, a parent or guardian could be served. If there are no parents or guardian, the person with whom the minor lives could be served. You cannot keep the claim form after it is filed for an extended period. It must be served within six months of its filing. If you are serious about your claim you should make all attempts to serve an evasive defendant. If you are the defendant, then you must accept the claim form when you are served. There is no running away from it. The bailiff can throw it at your feet if you refuse to take it. If you decide to represent yourself, then you must observe the instructions given in the document served on you. You would need to acknowledge service by filling in the acknowledgment of service form and return it to the court office within the stated date. You are also required to fill in and file your defense 28 days after service of the claim form. If you want a lawyer to represent you, you must take the documents that were served upon you to a lawyer of your choice who would arrange for further service. But you must sign documents associated with the matter when the lawyer calls upon you to do so. You would have to provide information to your lawyer to prepare your defense in the matter. To serve documents outside the jurisdiction requires the permission of the court. Ada Johnson is a solicitor and barrister-at-law. E-mail address is: [email protected] CMO urges people with flu-like symptoms to get tested for Covid19 as positivity rate increases Social Share With 35 new Covid-19 cases reported in St Vincent and the Grenadines between Monday, August 30 and Friday, September 3, the Chief Medical Officer is urging people with flu like symptoms to get tested for the virus. As the Minister said in our press conference last week, the positivity rate is going up. There are now 54 active cases with 35 detected between Monday, August 30th and Friday, September 3rd. This represents a very worrying rise, especially as we are seeing clusters where one person is infecting several persons. Also, many of these new cases are showing up in areas with very low vaccination rates as unfortunately is expected, chief medical officer Dr Simone Keizer-Beache said on Sunday. The CMO said the level of infectivity now being seen in St Vincent and the Grenadines is suggestive of the presence of the delta variant here. Though we have yet to confirm the presence of the delta variant in our communities, the level of infectivity is highly suggestive of this variant. The latest evidence indicates that a person infected with the delta variant can infect between five to nine persons, Keizer-Beache said. Ten new cases were reported from 304 samples processed on Friday September 3, resulting in a positivity rate of 3.3 per cent. Three new cases were reported on both September 1 and 2, with positivity rates of 1.5 per cent and 1 per cent respectively. Seven cases were reported on August 31, from 187 samples, resulting in a positivity rate of 3.7 per cent. Twelve new cases were reported from 263 samples processed on August 30, resulting in a positivity rate of 4.6 per cent. No new recoveries were reported between September 1 and 3. A release from the National Emergency Management Organization dated September 5 said: Fifty-four (54) cases are currently active and twelve (12) persons with COVID-19 have died. Two thousand three hundred and seventy-one (2371) cases of COVID-19 and two thousand, three hundred and five (2305) recoveries have been recorded in St. Vincent and The Grenadines since March 2020. In view of the increased risk of infection and subsequent transmission of COVID-19 posed by the growing incidence of variants of concern in persons entering St. Vincent and the Grenadines, strict compliance with all protocols and recommendations is strongly recommended. These include the effective use of masks, physical distancing, hand sanitizing and immunization with available vaccines. SVG Police force has 74 new constables Social Share Seventy-four police officers complete probation Commissioner of Police Colin John has commended the latest batch of 74 men and women who have completed probation and are now fully enlisted into the Royal St Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF). You have completed your two years of probation thus making all of you full-fledged police officers in the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF). This is a new phase in your careers and you need to endeavour to continuously improve your performance and service to the people of St. Vincent and the Grenadines (SVG), John told the former recruits from course #37. They received their Confirmation of Appointment in the rank of Constable certificates during a ceremony at the Office of the Commissioner of Police on Tuesday July 27, 2021, a release from the RSVGPF states. The Commissioner congratulated the officers on their confirmation and urged them to be loyal, law abiding and professional in the conduct of their duties. He cautioned them that as police officers they are not above the law but must seek to enforce and abide by the laws in the exercise of their daily duties. The officers from Course #37 commenced their initial training at the Old Montrose Police Training School on January 3, 2019 and were the first batch of recruits to have received training after the passage of the Police (Amendment) Act of 2018. That amendment increased the probationary period from 18 months to 24 months. It also stipulates that rather than taking the oath of office upon recruitment into the constabulary, all recruit will do so upon successful completion of training at the Police Training School. T&T Archbishop calls for decriminalization of homosexuality Social Share PORT OF SPAIN, Trinidad, Monday April 16, 2018 Archbishop of Port of Spain, Jason Gordon says even though the Catholic Church views buggery as an immoral and disordered act, it should not be illegal. In fact, he says in any country where buggery is a criminal offence, the church should find ways to remove it from the statute books. Gordon made the churchs position clear on the heels of a High Court judge in Trinidad and Tobago ruling that the sections of the Sexual Offenses Act which criminalize the act of buggery between consenting adults are unconstitutional. In an interview on local television, the Archbishop made it clear that the church is still against homosexuality. There is no question in the churchs mind or teaching that [buggery] is an act that is immoral, disordered one would even say a sin against nature, Gordon said. Buggery or the homosexual act, is a disordered act, is a frustrated act; it is an act that is not in keeping with the intention of God for human sexuality. But, he added, it did not mean it should be illegal. The Archbishop said buggery is a moral matter and not a criminal one, and insisted that although the Roman Catholic Church does not support homosexuality, it does not believe that buggery should be criminalized at this time. Following Justice Devindra Rampersads ruling last week Thursday, the State said it intended to lodge an appeal. The States lawyers had argued that the buggery legislation has never been enforced against consenting adults. But the judge did not accept that argument, contending that maintaining an unenforced law on the statutes makes no logical sense and, instead, seems more vindictive than protective or curative in manner, as if to hold a big stick over a minority to try to enforce a portion of societys morality over it. The fact that the State proscribes against it quite obviously validates societys feelings against anyone who does call himself a homosexual, to the extent that society may possibly feel justified in denouncing the practice forcefully or physically, he added. However, Rampersad did not throw out the legislation. He said he wanted to hear from the parties on whether the offending sections should be struck down in their entirety. They have been given until June 4 to present their views and the judge said he would deliver his judgment the following month. (Caribbean360) JUSTICE Devindra Rampersad ARCHBISHOP OF Port of Spain, Jason Gordon Retired West Indies cricketers among 14 to receive honorary degrees from UWI Social Share The University of the West Indies (The UWI) will present honorary degrees to 14 eminent persons at its 2021 graduation ceremonies for their outstanding contributions to regional and international development. The UWI retains this annual tradition of the conferral of honorary degrees even as some of its graduations are expected to again be held virtually due to the COVID-19 pandemic, this time during the customary graduation season of October-November, a release from the UWI states. Nominations from across The UWIs five campuses were approved by the University Council, at its sitting on April 30, 2021. These 2021 graduands will join a list of over 450 honorary degree recipients conferred by the regional University since 1965. Last month, a special convocation was permitted to confer an Honorary Doctor of Science degree (DSc) on Dr Ruby Lake-Richards, one of the first 33 medical students who attended The UWI (then University College of the West Indies). Now 99 years old, she is also the first female, UWI graduate from Antigua and Barbuda. The ceremony hosted by The UWI Five Islands marked the first honorary degree awarded at the Universitys newest campus. In September, another special convocation will be held for the conferral of a Doctor of Laws on Dame Sandra Prunella Mason, GCMG, DA, QC, Governor-General of Barbados. The schedule for the 2021 graduation and list of the 14 honorary graduands conferrals at those ceremonies are as follows: On October 10 at Five Islands Campus, the honorary graduands are: Dr George A. Mansoor (Physician, Educator and Entre preneur) who will be conferred Doctor of Science (DSc); and former West Indies cricketer, Sir Anderson Montgomery Everton Roberts who will receive the Doctor of Laws (LLD). At the Open Campus on October 16, George S. Willie, CPA, CGMA, CGFM (International Auditor, Leader and Philanthropist) will be conferred the Doctor of Laws (LLD). On Saturday October 23 at the Cave Hill Campus, the honorary graduands are Nicholas Brancker (Musician, Reggae Producer) who will receive the Doctor of Letters (DLitt); Sir Cuthbert Gordon Greenidge, KCMG, MBE (Former Cricketer) Doctor of Laws (LLD); and Desmond Leo Haynes (Former Cricketer) who will be conferred the Doctor of Laws (LLD). Between October 28-30 at the Augustine Campus, the honorary Graduands are Ray Anthony Holman (Musician, Educator) Doctor of Letters (DLitt); Dr Roshan A. Parasram (Medical Practitioner) Doctor of Science (DSc); Sieunarine Persad Coosal (Entrepreneur, Philanthropist) Doctor of Laws (LLD); Lynette Seebaran-Suite (Attorney at Law) Doctor of Laws (LLD). At the Mona Campus on November 4-5, the honorary Graduands are Alia Shanee Atkinson, CD (Sport Icon) Doctor of Laws (LLD); Gary Butch Craig Hendrickson (Philanthropist) Doctor of Laws (LLD); Linton Kwesi Johnson (Poet) Doctor of Letters (DLitt); and Oliver Adolphus Samuels, OD, CD (Cultural Icon) Doctor of Letters (DLitt). War Teacher shot dead by police Social Share A 26-YEAR-OLD MAN, known to his friends as War Teacher, was shot and killed by police officers patrolling the Gibson Corner area, last Tuesday, April 17. Brice Raffique Chewitt, originally from Calliaqua/Glen in East St. George, was shot twice, at around 3.45 p.m. by officers mainly associated with the narcotics division of the Royal St. Vincent and the Grenadines Police Force (RSVGPF). A press release from the RSVGPF Public Relations Department, issued last Wednesday, April 18, said members of police force were on mobile patrol in the Gibson Corner area when Chewitt was seen walking along the public road acting in a suspicious manner.As a result, members of the party alighted the vehicle and approached him; he ran into some bushes then drew a firearm and pointed it at the police, the police opened fire and he was shot in his chest and arm. He was taken to the Milton Cato Memorial Hospital where he was pronounced dead on arrival. The coroner was informed, said the polices release.It was also reported that a firearm (.45) and eight rounds of .45 ammunition, two portions of cocaine and a portion of cannabis, were found on Chewitt.Persons in the area said that Chewitt ran into the yard of resident Donald Collins, leaving his slippers behind on the main road.The police say Chewitt was a suspect in several matters, including the March 15 robbery of the Lions Club Lotto Booth at Heritage Square.In relation to the lotto booth robbery, Kishron Jackson of Rockies was charged, that he, on March 15 at Heritage Square, with intent to commit the offence of murder on Veron Williams of Kingstown and Errol Hinson of Enhams, did an act which was more than merely preparatory.He is also charged that he did agree with another person, in the same place and on the same date, that a course of conduct shall be pursued, which if the agreement was carried out in accordance with their intention, would involve the commission of the offence of robbery.Jackson is currently on remand. Seguin, TX (78155) Today Mainly cloudy. A few peeks of sunshine possible. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds ENE at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 69F. Winds light and variable. Another Booker, this one in Florida, prevails on a notable Sixth Amendment Blakely claim | Main | Now a full decade after Rita, Gall and Kimbrough, do any Justices still care about reasonableness review? April 19, 2018 Lots of notable reporting and commentary as federal prison reform tries to move forward As reported here last week, there was talk of a federal prison reform bill moving forward in the House of Representatives this week. This article from The Hill, headlined "Prison reforms groups battle over strategy," highlights that folks on the left may be gumming up the works: Progressive groups fighting for criminal justice reform are divided over legislation that would allow prisoners to finish their sentences in a halfway house, home confinement or under community supervision if they complete education, job training, drug treatment and other programs while behind bars. The Leadership Conference for Civil Rights, American Civil Liberties Union and NAACP are among the groups saying that legislation that fails to reduce mandatory minimum sentences isnt worth their support.... But #cut50, a criminal justice reform advocacy group led by Van Jones, the CNN host and former adviser to President Obama, sees the bill sponsored by Reps. Doug Collins (R-Ga.) and Hakeem Jeffries (D-N.Y.) thats supported by the White House as an opportunity for positive change, even if its incremental. Its a bill thats moving that we decided as a group well hop in and try to make stronger because I think this is going to move with or without us, said Jessica Sloan Jackson, the national director and co-founder of #cut50. Instead of shooting it down, the group said its lobbying to make the Prison Reform and Redemption Act stronger. Sloan Jackson acknowledged #cut50 would rather have the CollinsJeffries bill include language that reduces mandatory minimum sentences, but recognized the criminal justice reform movement has shifted under Trump. She said #cut50 would like to at least win some changes to help people in prison. At this point in the process, I think its stupid not to even engage in conversations with folks on the right and in the White House just because you arent getting everything you want, she said. To supporters of broader reforms, however, the bill is a significant step down from legislation that nearly won approval in the last Congress. That bill, sponsored by Sens. Chuck Grassley (R-Iowa) and Dick Durbin (D-Ill.), has been reintroduced and would eliminate certain mandatory minimum sentences for nonviolent drug offenses. It would also give judges more discretion in sentencing. The CollinsJeffries bill authorizes $50 million to be appropriated each year from 2018 to 2022 for the Bureau of Prisons to offer education, work training and other programming, but opponents say thats not enough. It also lists 48 different categories of crimes that make prisoners ineligible to earn time in pre-release custody for taking these programs, a provision groups backing broader reforms say excludes too many prisoners who are at a high risk of reoffending and need prison programming the most. By cutting out or limiting so many people to get incentives to programming you are missing the point, said Kevin Ring, the president of Families Against Mandatory Minimums. In a letter to members of the House Judiciary Committee on Friday, dozens of groups opposed to the bill said it would do little good if it does not reduce mandatory minimum sentences. Only front-end reforms have the power to significantly stem the tide of incarceration, reduce the exorbitant cost of the prison system, and give redress to those inside who are serving sentences that are disproportionate to the severity of the offense, the groups wrote. The CollinsJeffries bill has won support from groups on the right that have backed minimum sentencing reforms. Were big advocates for commonsense sentencing reform as well and we hope that happens, but we want to get the ball rolling and we think prison reform is a great place to start, said Mark Holden, Koch Industriess general counsel and senior vice president.... Advocates say Jeffries and Collins have been negotiating possible changes to their bill, and a markup that had been expected this week was pushed back to provide time for their work. In a joint statement to The Hill, Jeffries and Collins said their bill will reunite families and help thousands of Americans get back on their feet. Similar report on these debates and developments are in this Politico article, headlined "Kushners prison-reform push hits bipartisan resistance: The son-in-law of President Donald Trump is pressing for a criminal justice bill thats narrower than a bipartisan one that has stalled in Congress." And Van Jones has this new CNN commentary that highlights his work and his support for a prison-reform-only bill under the headlined "Prison reform is possible even in the Trump era." As long-time readers likely know, I am a strong believer that the best should not be the enemy of the good. In this setting, I am especially eager to urge federal criminal justice reform advocates to secure ASAP any and whatever improvements they can. I still can recall, though it is now nearly five years ago, when commentators were asserting that "momentum for sentencing reform could be unstoppable." But from 2013 through 2016, despite a President, Attorneys General and many members of both parties advocating all sorts of federal sentencing reforms, not a single statutory change could make it through Congress to the desk of the President. Meanwhile, hundreds of thousands of defendants have been (often over) sentenced to federal prison since 2013. And while there, as Craig DeRoche highlights in a letter in the New York Times, these prisoners are stuck within a prison system that "offers drastically less opportunity for prisoners to transition to community corrections before the end of their sentence compared with almost all states." Advocates are right to complain that a compromise bill with only prison reform is insufficient, but the fact that broader bills have been pushed and stalled for half-a-decade leads me to be more than ready to settle for half a loaf. I have grow so tired of the reform talk that produces no result, though I am sure I am not as exhausted and frustrated as hundreds of thousands of federal prisoners, defendants and their families who have been clinging on to still empty promises of reform potential for year after year after year after year. Van Jones has a couple of lines in his commentary that capture well my feelings here, as well as my desire to preserve some hope for this process: My big heartache -- on this topic and so many others -- is how much common ground there is when you get people talking -- and yet how little we actually do about it. Taking a small but meaningful step together now could allow us to take more steps together later. April 19, 2018 at 06:14 PM | Permalink Comments "that folks on the left may be gumming up the works" This is well-worn but inaccurate nonsense. The Republicans are in the White House, Attny General, DOJ, Senate and House. They have run over Democratic opposition on many, many issues because of their majority in both houses. If they can't get anything done, they should take the heat. The Republicans stalled reform under Obama and you blamed him. They stall reform now and you blame the oh so powerful ACLU and NAACP? BS The right caused the mass incarceration problem. (Clinton did a lot of damage by pivoting right on crime, yes.) The right talks a good game but has delivered no federal reform. Posted by: Paul | Apr 20, 2018 8:28:13 AM When you have a complex adaptive adversarial system it is hard to believe there is much "common ground". It takes a long time for someone who is qualified to work in the criminal justice system to become an experienced practitioner and they don't agree on many issues. Furthermore, they know from experience that reforms often have serious unintended outcomes. The other criminal justice system insiders and the outside observers also don't agree on many issues. That leaves the interested and uninterested outsiders and we have no idea what they think other than mixed results from polls. However, they do know that there are many contradictory statements. Common ground and contradictory statements don't go together. Posted by: John Neff | Apr 20, 2018 10:01:58 AM I agree 100% Paul that if Republicans really want to get sentencing reform and/or prison reform done, they can do it on their own. (Same was true for Dems in 2009 and 2010, but they only passed (tepid) crack sentencing reform.) And I blame the GOP leadership not only for halting reform, but also for precluding votes --- on bills that likely would pass if floor votes were allowed --- simply because the GOP caucus is divided on this issue. But, critically, because the GOP caucus is divided on this issue AND because GOP leadership has not allowed floor votes on these matter for 5+ years, it is critical for folks on the left to decide if they want to secure reform ASAP or just blame the right for not getting anything done until 2021 or later. I criticize Prez Obama because he (1) did not prioritize these issues in 2009 and 2010 when Ds had full control of Congress, (2) did not prioritize these issues from 2011 to 2014 when Ds still controlled the Senate and crime was still dropping, and (3) did not seek to cut some kind of reform deal with GOP leaders from 2015 to 2016 that would have included mens rea reform and prison reforms and FSA retroactivity and modest sentencing reform (e.g., expansion of the safety valve). Though it is easy to take pot shots from the ivory tower, it was even easier to see how a failure of Dems to work strategically on these issues has preserved the status legislative quo for now EIGHT YEARS. You are correct that the right has done more talking than delivering at the federal level. But at the state level the right has delivered a lot, in part because state-level Ds have been working with GOP leadership in the states. If state Ds can help GOP leaders move forward with state level reforms, I continue to hope that federal Ds will help GOP leaders move forward with federal level reforms ASAP. Posted by: Doug B. | Apr 20, 2018 12:47:02 PM Post a comment Ohio Supreme Court unanimously rejects Sixth Amendment challenge to state's capital sentencing procedures | Main | Another Booker, this one in Florida, prevails on a notable Sixth Amendment Blakely claim April 19, 2018 NY Gov Cuomo restores voting rights to parolees via executive order As reported in this local article, New York's "Gov. Cuomo on Wednesday signed an executive order granting parolees the right to vote in New York." Here is more: Cuomo announced the signing at the annual convention of Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. He decried the state's current law blocking those who have been released from prison but are still on parole from voting, saying it didn't square with the goals of parole and re-entry. "At the same time, we're saying we want you a part of society, we want you to get back into the community," he said. Cuomo said he had proposed legislation to grant voting rights to parolees, but it was shot down by the State Senate leading him to argue the state needs a new Legislature. But Cuomo said he wouldn't wait that long. "I'm unwilling to take no for an answer," he said. "I'm going to make it law by executive order and I announce that here today." Cuomo signed the executive order later Wednesday afternoon. There are about 35,000 New Yorkers on parole who could not vote, the governors office said. The executive order will restore the right to vote upon release from incarceration, his office said, citing a disproportionate impact of disenfranchisement on communities of color and links between civic engagement and reduced recidivism. Fourteen other states and the District of Columbia restore voting rights upon release.... Cuomos office pointed to other criminal justice reforms hes enacted, including raising the age of criminal responsibility and naming the attorney general as a special prosecutor for police-related deaths, arguing hes long cared about the issue. Republicans, meanwhile, ripped the order. A "dumbfounded" Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) blasted it as illegal and horrific public policy.... Flanagan said that those on parole, including murderers and rapists, are still serving out their sentences and should not be entitled to their voting rights. He said he would not be surprised if a lawsuit is filed seeking to block the order and accused Cuomo of trying to "expand the universe of people who are eligible to vote." Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, the front-runner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, ... accused Cuomo of being a dictator. "Just months before an election, with the stroke of his pen, Andrew Cuomo, plans to restore the voting rights for cop killer Herman Bell and Palm Sunday killer Chris Thomas and calls it 'justice', he said. But if the dictator of a third world nation threw open it's prison doors and granted voting rights to the criminals right before a reelection, we all would be appalled.... The New York Civil Liberties Union praised the executive order, but also said Albany should push forward with legislation on same-day voter registration and early voting. Gov. Cuomo's office issued this press release yesterday with this link to his executive order. The press releases stressed additional points in support of Gov. Cuomo's decision: Parole voting restrictions have a disproportionate impact on New Yorkers of color, with African Americans and Hispanic New Yorkers comprising 71 percent of the population so disenfranchised. Civic engagement is linked to reduced recidivism and this action will promote access to the democratic process and improve public safety for all New Yorkers. The executive order is available here. "I am issuing an executive order giving parolees the right to vote. It is unconscionable to deny voting rights to New Yorkers who have paid their debt and have re-entered society," Governor Cuomo said. "This reform will reduce disenfranchisement and will help restore justice and fairness to our democratic process. Withholding or delaying voting rights diminishes our democracy." This executive action will reverse New York's current disenfranchisement of individuals released from prison who are under post-release community supervision. New York joins fourteen other states and the District of Columbia that restore the right to vote upon release from incarceration. There are roughly 35,000 individuals currently on parole in New York who cannot vote. These individuals are participants in society at large, despite the limitations placed on them by parole conditions. They work, pay taxes, and support their families, and they should be permitted to express their opinions about the choices facing their communities through their votes, just as all citizens do. Additionally, the current law keeping people on parole supervision from voting is internally inconsistent with New York's approach to voting for people serving sentences of probation. People on probation never lose the right to vote, but many county election officials are unclear about the distinction between those on parole and those on probation, often resulting in illegal disenfranchisement. A 2006 Brennan Center study reported that one-third of all New York counties incorrectly barred people on probation from registering to vote, while another third of all counties illegally made individuals show proof of their voter eligibility status. April 19, 2018 at 09:43 AM | Permalink Comments Thanks, Cynthia Nixon. This is one of many left leaning [right leaning types support this sort of thing, but he is appealing to his left here] he did in large part because of her primary challenge. Posted by: Joe | Apr 19, 2018 10:16:55 AM Well, its about time. Finally, a move in the right direction. Posted by: atomicfrog | Apr 19, 2018 10:31:28 AM "Parole gun restrictions have a disproportionate impact on New Yorkers of color, with African New Yorkers and Hispanic Americans comprising 71 percent of the population so disarmed." That's cause gun-control is Jim Crow. Posted by: Arm the Lot | Apr 19, 2018 12:36:43 PM I am expecting a claim of the type that we saw in Virginia (and have seen ad nauseum at the federal level over the past two decades) that the executive order exceeds the governor's authority and that the only way to change this is by legislation. Posted by: tmm | Apr 19, 2018 2:46:37 PM @tmm Yes. Even though I agree with the policy goals I think this is dubious behavior from the perspective of political theory. I loathe the idea of a unitary executive and this behavior seems awfully close to that. Posted by: Daniel | Apr 19, 2018 4:32:31 PM On the executive power front, it seems the issue would be the breadth of his pardon power. Some states put limits on executive power there. Others, the governor could commute ever drug offense or something, in theory, I gather. Posted by: Joe | Apr 19, 2018 5:25:44 PM Post a comment "Why Public Defenders Matter More Than Ever in a Time of Reform" | Main | NY Gov Cuomo restores voting rights to parolees via executive order A couple of states have had their death penalty systems chewed up by the "post-Hurst hydra," the term I have used to describe the aftermath litigation in various courts in various states as judges apply the Supreme Court Sixth Amendment ruling in Hurst v. Florida. But yesterday in Ohio v. Mason, 2018-Ohio-1462 (Ohio April 18, 2018) (available here), the Ohio Supreme Court explained why Ohio's capital sentencing procedures are constitutionally sound. Here is how the opinion starts and some key passages: At issue in this case is whether Ohios death-penalty scheme violates the right to a trial by jury as guaranteed by the Sixth Amendment to the United States Constitution. The Marion County Court of Common Pleas found that it does, but the Third District Court of Appeals reversed the trial courts judgment. Because the Ohio scheme satisfies the Sixth Amendment, we affirm.... When an Ohio capital defendant elects to be tried by jury, the jury decides whether the offender is guilty beyond a reasonable doubt of aggravated murder and unlike the juries in Ring and Hurst the aggravating-circumstance specifications for which the offender was indicted. R.C. 2929.03(B). Then the jury again unlike in Ring and Hurst must unanimously find[], by proof beyond a reasonable doubt, that the aggravating circumstances the offender was found guilty of committing outweigh the mitigating factors. R.C. 2929.03(D)(2). An Ohio jury recommends a death sentence only after it makes this finding. Id. And without that recommendation by the jury, the trial court may not impose the death sentence. Ohio law requires the critical jury findings that were not required by the laws at issue in Ring and Hurst. See R.C. 2929.03(C)(2). Ohios death-penalty scheme, therefore, does not violate the Sixth Amendment. Masons various arguments to the contrary misapprehend both what the Sixth Amendment requires and what it prohibits.... While we uphold our conclusion in Belton that weighing is not a fact-finding process subject to the Sixth Amendment, we further conclude that even if the weighing process were to involve fact-finding under the Sixth Amendment, Ohio adequately affords the right to trial by jury during the penalty phase. Mason contends that it does not, because the process permits a jury only to recommend a death sentence. See R.C. 2929.03(D)(2). Here, he emphasizes the statement in Hurst that [a] jurys mere recommendation is not enough. Hurst, ___ U.S. at ___, 136 S.Ct. at 619, 193 L.Ed.2d 504. But he fails to appreciate the material difference between the process by which an Ohio jury reaches its death recommendation and the Florida process at issue in Hurst. Attending at the opening ceremony were Politburo member and Head of the Party CentralCommittee's Commission for Communications and Education Vo Van Thuong and leaders of the Ministry of Information and Communications and publishing houses. Speaking at the event, Minister of Information and Communications Truong Minh Tuan affirmed that book plays an important role in human education and development. The book show presents 50,000 book titles in various genres such as literature, policy, history, science, society and more; and stationeries by around 80 publishing houses nationwide. Many activities will be held during the event, including the introduction of writers, seminars and exchanges between readers and writers, as well as forums on books and political and cultural events. Launched in 2014, the annual book show is to encourage and promote reading habit in the community and raise awareness of using books as a tool for critical thinking. It also celebrates appreciation for readers, writers, publishers, distributors, and other affiliates of the publishing industry. The event will run until April 22. By MAI AN Translated by Kim Khanh Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying's Regular Press Conference on April 19, 2018 2018/04/19 Q: According to reports, the ROK Ministry of Unification spokesperson yesterday said that the ROK will consult with the DPRK to release a declaration to end the state of war and establish a permanent peace regime on the Korean Peninsula. What is your comment? A: We believe that denuclearizing the Korean Peninsula and establishing a peace regime in parallel in accordance with the "dual-track" approach is an effective way to fundamentally resolve the Korean Peninsula issue. China supports an early end to the state of war and the establishment of a peace regime on the Peninsula with the concerted efforts of all relevant parties. As a party concerned to the Peninsula issue, China is willing to play a positive role to this end. Q: Handelsblatt reported that ambassadors of many EU countries supported a report criticizing the Belt and Road Initiative, which alleged that China has blocked free trade and put Chinese enterprises at advantage through this initiative. What is your comment? A: We have noted this report. According to my information, the EU side has clarified with China that the report by Handelsblatt is inconsistent with facts. You may still remember that the leaders of most EU countries have in public expressed their interest in joining the Belt and Road Initiative. For example, Prime Minister of the Netherlands Mark Rutte said his country was highly interested in the Belt and Road Initiative while attending the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 not long ago. French President Emmanuel Macron called on the whole Europe to actively engage in the initiative during his visit to China. British Prime Minister Theresa May said that the Belt and Road Initiative has far-reaching influence over the globe and she hopes that the UK and China will carry out cooperation under the initiative to promote global and regional economic growth. China has stressed many times that the Belt and Road Initiative is a global public good for mutual benefit, win-win outcomes and common development. The Belt and Road Initiative follows the principle of extensive consultation, joint contribution and shared benefits as well as the market law and established international rules, with a view to achieving high-quality sustainable development. As I said yesterday, the Belt and Road Initiative is a transparent one. Whether in cooperation planning or projects implementation, everything is decided through consultation and operated in an open and transparent manner. The accusation mentioned by you that China is capitalizing on the Belt and Road Initiative to block free trade is obviously inconsistent with facts. Promoting unimpeded trade and enhancing trade liberalization and facilitation constitute an important part of the Belt and Road Initiative. There are indeed many trade barriers in the world, but who can tell me which is attributed to China's Belt and Road Initiative? On the contrary, those more than 80 countries that have inked cooperation agreements with China under the Belt and Road Initiative all support promoting unimpeded trade through the initiative. We hope that relevant parties can look at and interpret the Belt and Road Initiative in an objective and correct manner. Q: According to reports, the Chinese Ambassador to Australia, when recently giving an interview to the local media, once again denied China's political infiltration in Australia. He also said that the buildup of mistrust between China and Australia would affect bilateral trade and economic relations. Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, who is on a visit in London now, responded that the bilateral trade and economic relations are stable and enjoy strong development, but he also said that Australia would not retreat when it comes to preventing foreign political infiltration. What is your comment? A: I will answer your question from the following two perspectives. First, with regard to political infiltration, we have responded to it on multiple occasions. There are normal people-to-people exchanges between countries and normal exchanges and cooperation can be conducted in various fields. If one views normal exchanges as infiltration, he had better lock himself in a dark room and live in isolation. People with such a mindset should reflect on themselves. Second, regarding China-Australia relations, the normal and friendly exchanges and cooperation between countries should be underpinned by reliable and strong mutual trust. Without mutual trust, exchanges and cooperation in other areas would be impossible. We hope that the Australian side can make concrete efforts to discard its prejudices and discriminatory practices against China, join hands with China to step up mutual trust and create enabling conditions and relaxing atmosphere for our exchanges and cooperation across the board. Q: The China International Development Cooperation Agency was officially unveiled yesterday. What is the significance of this agency to China's diplomacy in a new era? A: The unveiling ceremony for the China International Development Cooperation Agency was held yesterday. Member of the Political Bureau and Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Yang Jiechi and State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi attended the ceremony. Setting up this agency is an important decision made by the CPC Central Committee with comrade Xi Jinping at its core for the development of the Party and the country. It is a major initiative to uphold world peace and promote common development, which has a far-reaching significance for the general layout of China's diplomacy and the international cooperation on the Belt and Road Initiative. During the past 60-plus years, we have been carrying forward the spirit of internationalism and following the basic principles of equality, mutual respect, results orientation and mutual benefit to offer assistance to other developing countries with no political strings attached as our capacity allows. We have created a foreign assistance model with Chinese characteristics, which has won high acclaim from the international community, especially the developing countries. Presently, the international landscape is undergoing big changes and the human society is at a crossroads. The socialism with Chinese characteristics has entered a new era. Just as General Secretary Xi Jinping highlighted, we will uphold justice and pursue shared interests and adhere to the principles of sincerity, real results, affinity and good faith to enhance solidarity and cooperation with other developing countries. We will increase assistance to other developing countries, the least developed countries in particular, bridge the north-south gap and forge a community with a shared future for mankind so as to make greater contributions to the common prosperity and progress of the human society. Q: The US Federal Reserve's latest "Beige Book" on the state of US business across the central bank's 12 regional districts published on April 18 said that steel and aluminum prices rose nationwide as a result of recently-imposed tariffs on imported steel and aluminum by the US government. The US manufacturing, agriculture and transportation industries and enterprises have raised their concern over the US administration's move and possible imposition of tariffs on a wider list of Chinese imports going forward. Yesterday, joined by Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, US President Donald Trump told the press that the US tariff rate for Chinese cars is 2.5 percent while the Chinese duty on US cars is 25 percent. "Reciprocal" will be the primary word that they're going to be using in the US trade with China. What is China's comment? A: We have noted the relevant reports. I also noticed that the Brookings Institution said in a recent report that the China-US trade war could jeopardize up to 2.1 million jobs in 2,700 American counties. In addition, 107 US business and industry groups already sent a letter to the House Ways and Means Committee to oppose the imposition of tariffs on Chinese goods. The Federal Reserve's report you mentioned once again shows that in today's world featuring highly interdependent global economy, seeking unilateralism and trade protectionism is self-defeating as well as harmful to others. With regard to the issue of tariffs on imported automobiles, I only want to remind you of several facts. First, though the US tariffs on imported passenger vehicles are only 2.5%, the rate for imported trucks is as high as 25%. Second, China's 25% tariffs are for imported whole vehicles and the rate for components and parts are only 10%. Third, most of the US automobiles sold in China are manufactured by the Chinese branches of those US car-makers. General Motors alone sold as many as around 4 million vehicles in China in 2017, and the Cadillac sold more cars in China than in the US. It is fair to say that the US car-makers have reaped enormous dividends in China. On the other hand, the US exported over 280,000 vehicles to China in 2017, while the Chinese ones exported to the US only amounted to 53 thousand over the same period. Therefore, a simplistic comparison of the Chinese and US tariff rate for imported finished automobiles makes no sense. Finally, let's talk about the word "reciprocal". I would like to point out that when it comes to tariffs, the WTO doesn't have a principle of reciprocal tariffs and the overall rate varies a lot among the WTO members. The standards of reciprocity and fairness cannot be determined by oneself alone entirely on the basis of its own interests and needs. Instead, unified international rules and standards should be set up through equal negotiations by all and they should be followed by all. Imposing business deals on others is by no means reciprocal or fair, and someone who is self-righteous and presumptuous in this aspect will suffer the consequence of his action. Q: The National Development and Reform Commission has announced new opening-up measures regarding automobile and other industries. Can we view this as a response to the United States? A: The National Development and Reform Commission recently has responded to the questions raised by journalists in this regard in details. We have stressed multiple times before that China will press ahead with the reform and opening-up in accordance with the set goals and tempo. At the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018, President Xi Jinping announced a series of major measures China will take to expand opening-up, which are the solemn commitments made by the Chinese people to people around the world. The experience of China's endeavor to pursue reform and opening-up in the past four decades demonstrates that on the basis of a certain degree of development, only opening-up can fully stimulate market vitality, compel enterprises to pursue innovation and amass resources from both home and abroad. The full opening-up of our manufacturing industry demonstrates that we are crystal clear in our stance against trade and investment protectionism and that we unequivocally support the extensive and in-depth development of economic globalization and both Chinese and foreign enterprises in achieving common development on a level playing field. We believe that the new round of China's opening-up will deepen reform, promote the high-quality development, competition among industries and the optimal allocation of resources, further energize the market and break new ground in opening up in all-round way. We welcome other counties' sharing of the opportunities brought by China's opening up and development. It goes without saying that whoever pursues protectionism and closes its own door to China will end up in locking the door that leads to China. Q: According to reports, in a recent subcommittee hearing of the House Committee on Science, Space and Technology, some accused Chinese experts, scholars and students of "stealing" US scientific and technological outcomes and described China's talents program as a threat to the US, asking the US government to tighten up and restrict scientific and technological communication and cooperation with China. What is your comment? A: Certain US people's highly irresponsible remarks are sheer fabrication and constitute a deliberate slander against Chinese experts, scholars and students. The people-to-people and cultural exchanges between China and the US meet the aspirations of the two peoples and are beneficial to both sides. Q: According to reports, in response to China's growing influence in the Pacific region, the Australian leaders will use the upcoming Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to urge the members of the Commonwealth to step up their presence in that region. Previously, the Australian officials once criticized China of building a military base in Vanuatu, which has been refuted by Vanuatu. We noted that a Vanuatu media director's article recently published in Fiji's largest newspaper says that this week Vanuatu began to evacuate hundreds of thousands of residents from the island of Ambae as a volcano there erupted, using the Chinese-aided wharfs that were called the future Chinese naval base by Australia. The article calls on Australia to heed the voice of the island countries and stop indulging in its "malicious speculation". What is your comment? A: I have seen that report. Indeed, the relevant country should put aside its arrogance and learn to listen to the voice of other countries and people with an open mind. Slander or containment won't win respect from others. Action speaks louder than words when it comes to lending help to the island countries. The gravity of the existential threat we face from Islamic Jihad is truly of epic proportions. It is essentially a battle pitting free-civilized man against a totalitarian barbarian. What is at stake is the struggle for our very soul - namely who we are and what we represent. The lives that were sacrificed for individual rights and freedoms that we've come to cherish are being chiseled away from right under our noses by the stealth jihadists. And many of us are in denial and totally clueless. The left's appeasement and pandering to evil is nothing new. What makes their utopian delusions so infuriating and unpardonable is that it is not only they who will have to pay the consequences, and deservedly, so, they are thwarting and undermining our best efforts at resistance and are thus dragging us down in the process as well. By Peter Lancz,, the head of the Raoul Wallenberg World Campaign Against Racism. At its meeting tonight, The Pride Centers Board of Directors voted not to terminate the employment of Robert Boo, the organizations executive director. Boo has been embroiled in controversy for not taking action sooner to terminate the employment of a registered sex offender, Clarence Collins, who raped an 11-year-old girl in the mid-90s and threatened to kill her if she told. Children regularly visit the Pride Center and use its playground. Boo, admitted he knew of Collins sex offender history all along, just not the details of the crime, and wanted to give him a second chance. But once the playground was installed Collins employment at the center was no longer legal since sex offenders arent allowed to work near anywhere children gather. Boo later claimed ignorance of the law. In a press release, it was stated the vote to retain Boo was not unanimous. But, details on how each board member voted were not released by The Pride Center at press time. Following that vote, the board unanimously voted to censure Boo and that formal disciplinary action will be taken. The decision on that action will take place at a board meeting scheduled for Monday, April 23. Since the controversy began, Boo has faced calls from the community and at least one board member to resign. Pride Board Member Jim Walker has also called on Boo to resign. I am ready to call for resignation. This was a clear lack of judgement on Roberts part. Boo apologized Tuesday night to a crowd at the Founders Circle Reception held at Rosies Bar & Grill in Wilton Manors. We learn from our mistakes and obviously the reason we are here tonight is so I can very publicly, very openly, apologize. Members of the public who showed up to tonights meeting were angry when they discovered they werent allowed to attend. Thats what you do when youre scared, said Dawn Holloway, a parent and grandparent. Holloway said she doesnt know who on the board has children, but shes sure that not having children might be influencing their thought process. Other individuals, some who are parents and some who arent, also showed up to the meeting, which was taken into a closed executive session as soon as the public was allowed to enter the room where it was being held. As soon as the executive session was called, members of the public were asked to leave. Even if youre not a mom, youre still justified in being here. This is supposed to be a safe space, said Amber Taylor, a mother. Taylor and others told SFGN they think Boo should be fired or resign. I think he made a huge mistake, she said. John Grzeszczak compared the situation to the decades-long cover up the Roman Catholic Archdiocese of Boston committed to protect priests who raped and molested children. He said it was Boos duty to protect the children who came to the Pride Center, either to use the playground or for some other reason, and that his failure threatens to further stigmatize the LGBT community, which in the past has been accused of pedophilia. How can we say were safe [for children]? Richard Alalouf, a father, the executive director of South Florida Family Pride, and the person who brought the issue to the attention of SFGN, said he was dismayed and shocked the meeting was closed to the public. Not once did they mention they were going to close this. Its a little insulting. Alalouf, whose employer Jet Blue was the main corporate sponsor for the playground, built in 2015, said theres no question Boo has to resign. He put our kids in harms way without us knowing. By not firing Boo, Alalouf added that now the entire board is part of the controversy. Originally, it was Robert Boo. Now its they. One community member, who asked not to have their name published, said they suspect the community might call for a number of members of the board to resign. Barbara Bush, who died Tuesday night at age 92 from an unspecified cause, leaves a legacy as both a former first and second lady for encouraging good citizenship and patriotism. But she is unique also for using her position to embrace gay rights and HIV/AIDS at a time when they were unpopular issues, especially among conservatives. The standout moment for Bush on gay rights was in 1990 when she was first lady under the administration of her husband former President George H.W. Bush and responded to a letter from PFLAG president Paulette Goodman, who led the group for parents and friends of gay people and sought support for the then-fledgling organization. In the letter, Bush called Goodman, whose daughter was a lesbian and who helped co-found the D.C. chapter of PFLAG, a caring parent and compassionate citizen. I firmly believe we cannot tolerate discrimination against any individuals or groups in our country, Bush said. Such treatment always brings with it pain and perpetuates intolerance. Bush concluded, Your words speak eloquently of your love for your child and your compassion for all gay Americans and their families. The letter, which may have been the first gay-positive comments to come from the White House, was reported by the Associated Press and reportedly ignited a firestorm among social conservatives, who were pushing for the U.S. government to condemn gay people at a time when the HIV/AIDS epidemic was at its height. In a statement to the Washington Blade, Goodman said Bushs letter to PFLAG put us on the national scene and in the aftermath our letters were picked up by press, and PFLAG National began getting calls. What first attracted me to Mrs. Bush, to write this letter, was that I saw her on TV, visiting a home with babies and children affected by HIV and AIDS, and I thought, This is a woman I could write to,' Goodman said. And she was, indeed, a most wonderful person. We had further correspondence after that first letter, and she was a most down-to-earth person. Mrs. Bush, with her correspondence, really put PFLAG on the national map. Indeed, the letter from Bush was consistent with her work on HIV/AIDS as first lady. In 1989, Bush visited Grandmas House, a D.C.-area hospice for children with HIV/AIDS. At time when HIV infection was a death sentence, she was seen hugging children and adults with HIV/AIDS to help dispel stigma and fears the disease could be transferred simply through touch. When Bushs death seemed imminent this week, West Wing Reports distributed on Twitter a photo of her at Grandmas House hugging a small child as she smiled at another. A First Lady has the power to make people think. In 1989 Barbara Bush visited a Washington hospice where abandoned infants with the AIDS virus were being cared for. Some folks were ignorant and thought you could get AIDS from touching someone. Mrs. Bush hugged and kissed the kids pic.twitter.com/V2w41XkXlR West Wing Reports (@WestWingReport) April 17, 2018 In 1992, when her husband sought re-election, Bush distanced herself from the Republican Partys anti-gay rhetoric at a time when Pat Buchanan stoked fears over gays at the Republican National Convention as attendees chanted, Family Rights Forever/Gay Rights Never. Bush told the media being gay as well as the choice to have an abortion was a personal thing and they should be left out of, in my opinion, out of platforms and conventions. President George H.W. Bush lost re-election to President Bill Clinton and Barbara Bush gave up the position of first lady to Hillary Clinton. Their son, George W. Bush, on the other hand had two terms as president, winning re-election in 2004 after a campaign stoking fears about same-sex marriage and in support of a U.S. constitutional amendment that would have banned it nationwide. One action Barbara Bush took as she left her role as first lady echoes the sentiments she previously expressed on gay rights. In 2013, she attended the same-sex wedding in Kennebunkport, Maine, of her friends Bonnie Clement and Helen Thorgalsen. George H.W. Bush served as a witness at the ceremony. Gregory Angelo, president of Log Cabin Republicans, said Barbara Bush leaves an important legacy on gay rights, which he said she approached in a manner consistent with her actions as first lady. Barbara Bush was a prime example of a Republican who was willing to engage with gay Americans, and didnt shy away from doing so, Angelo said. Hers was a more demure brand of allyship, but she demonstrated a bold compassion for others not just LGBT Americans, but all Americans. Chris Johnson, Washington Blade courtesy of the National LGBTQ Media Association. A bisexual Maryland state delegate is taking the charge on Marylands conversion therapy ban against her senator father. Meagan C. Simonaire of the Maryland General Assembly spoke in favor of a bill banning the practice on minors in the state, according to the Washington Post. Simonare told her own story of being put into conversion therapy by her fundamentalist parents. The pain of having her good-intentioned parents convinced of its ability to fix her was enough to cause significant pain, self-loathing and deep depression, Simonaire said. There were times where she seemingly couldnt stop the tears from falling. Simonares father, House of Delegates senator Bryan, disputed the story and said he and his wife did not force her to go to conversion therapy. Check out the latest news from around Wilton Manors! Art Expo returns The next Art Expo will be held on Saturday, April 21 from 6 to 9 p.m. along Wilton Drive. Art Expo is a monthly event where business owners host local artists. Visit wmae.org for more information. At the same time, local gallery owner Aster da Fonseca will host IN OPEN AIR, an exhibition depicting paintings focused on Florida's landscapes. It features works by Ted Matz, Janet Onofrey, and Dunny Potter. The gallery is at 2201 Wilton Drive. Citizens Police Academy Graduates of the 6th Wilton Manors Citizens Police Academy pose with police and city officials at the April 10 commission meeting. The Academy is a 10-week course that aims to teach participants about code compliance, the K9 unit, road patrol, the detective bureau, drug enforcement, and other aspects of the police department. The next course will begin on Jan. 31, 2019 and end on April 5. Email This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. for more information or call 954-390-2162. This years graduates are John Attilus, Garrett Brian, Linden Cheney, Joan Coniglio, James Cunningham, Concettina Koenig, Michael Miranda, Joseph Pallant, Inez Pasher, Gudrun Rhoads, Miguel Sarquis, Ron Shimshilashvili, Robert Shore, Paul Sterl, Andrew Walker Vazquez, and William Zilligen. Tip-A-Cop Tip-A-Cop, a dining event where Wilton Manors police officers serve as celebrity waiters, will be held on Thursday, April 19 from 11:30 a.m. to 2:20 p.m. at Rumors Bar & Grill, 2426 Wilton Drive. The money raised will be donated to Special Olympics Florida. Fire station roof bid Wilton Manors is now accepting bids for the renovation of the Fire Station roof. Bids must be submitted by May 15. A pre-bid meeting will take place at city hall on Thursday, April 26 at 10 a.m. The work will include but not be limited to site preparation, earthwork, the cutting, removing all existing roofing down to the metal deck and replace with new roofing system on existing roof and overhangs. When the validation mission for a satellite the size of a cereal box launches in May, it will test a small component in space that could have big benefits for future NASA satellite missions. Radio frequency interference (RFI) is very common. Familiar sources that generate RFI include cell phones, radio and television transmissions, satellite broadcasts and other sources. You probably recognize it as that annoying static when you can't seem to get your favorite radio station to come in clearly because another station is nearby on the dial. The same interference that causes radio and television static also affects the quality of data that instruments like microwave radiometers collect. As the number of RFI-causing devices increases globally, NASA's satellite instruments - specifically, microwave radiometers that gather data on soil moisture, meteorology, and climate, and more - will be more challenged in collecting high-quality data. RFI is already a problem for space-based radiometers. Currently, satellite radiometer measurements are transmitted to the ground where they are then processed to remove RFI-corrupted data. This is a complicated process and requires far more data to be transmitted to the ground than should be needed. That's where CubeSat Radiometer Radio frequency interference Technology (CubeRRT) comes in. The small satellite will be carrying a new technology whose development was led by Joel Johnson of The Ohio State University. This technology can be added to radiometers to help them both detect and filter any RFI the satellite encounters in real-time from space. This will reduce the amount of data that needs to be transmitted back to Earth, thereby increasing the quality of important weather and climate measurements. Once the CubeRRT mission has met all of its validation goals, the proven technology can be included in NASA's future radiometry missions to ensure they can continue to collect high-quality Earth-observing data - data that will help researchers answer scientific questions about our planet and better understand our home. Please follow SpaceRef on Twitter and Like us on Facebook. We're just a few short days from Black Coffee, a new live podcast event from creative director Michelle Johnson in Portland, Oregon. Tickets are available here, and today we've got some exciting additions to the programming to announce! The event takes place on Tuesday, April 24th from 6-9pm at the Clinton Street Theater, a classic cinema and live theater venue in the heart of Southeast Portland, Oregon. Ticket pre-sale is now available. Hosted by Michelle Johnson, Ian Williams (Deadstock Coffee), and Gio Fillari (Coffee Feed PDX), this event centers the voices and experiences of Black coffee professionals and enthusiasts alike, all with unique perspectives that span intersectional identities and roles on the retail end of the value chain. Special guests include DOnna Stubblefield (Counter Culture Coffee), JUST ADDED Ezra Baker (Share Coffee Roasters), Zael Ogwaro (Never Coffee), Adam JacksonBey (The Potters House), and Cameron Heath (Revelator Coffee Company). The main event at Clinton Street Theater will feature a live DJ performance by |Fritzwa|. Were excited to partner up with several sponsors for this event, including La Marzocco USA, Stumptown Coffee Roasters, Oatly, and The Ace Hotel Portland. Ticket proceeds will be donated to our charitable partners, Sankofa Collective and Brown Girl Rise. We are thrilled to have this event supported by NXT LVL, Portland's partiers for social justiceread more about their involvement with the event here. Black Coffee tickets are $10 pre-sale, $15 at the door. Were offering a limited number of VIP tickets that include an invite to the after party, and a special come down event the following morning. A little update regarding the afterparty: due to demand this event has been moved to the Society Hotel, featuring DJ VNPRT, natural wine selections by Sprudge Wine, and dessert catering from Kee's Loaded Kitchen. We hope you can join us April 24th in Portland! But if you can't make it, don't worrywe're planning on creating wall to wall coverage of the event, including a special podcast presentation to follow. Follow Sprudge for more details. #blackcoffeePDX Read Michelle Johnson's statement of intent for the event here. Read more about NXT LVL's partnership with the event here. Original poster art by Taylor McManus (@tmcmanusillustration) Its the end of an era in Cuba. For the first time in more than half a century, Cuba wont be ruled by a Castro. Raul Castro who took over from his brother Fidel 12 years ago is expected to step down as president on Thursday. When he does, hell be replaced by First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez. Diaz-Canel was selected by Cubas National Assembly as the sole candidate for head of state. While the assembly doesnt technically vote until Thursday, the closely held political process virtually guarantees that hell be the successor. The incoming president has promised to stick closely to the agenda set by the Castro brothers. I believe in continuity, Diaz-Canel told reporters recently when asked about his vision for Cubas future. During Raul Castros time in office, he focused largely on economic reforms in an attempt to modernize the countrys Soviet-style centrally planned economy. These efforts have led to mixed results. Follow us: Facebook and Twitter Miami Herald, Cnn, Reuters This Sunday, we hosted a celebration of my dad's life here at the vineyard. We tried to make it an event my dad would have enjoyed: good food and wine, not too formal, a chance for people to tell stories in different ways, either to speak to the whole audience, to reminisce in smaller groups, or to record a video with Nathan, our Shepherd/Videographer. About 350 people came, from as far away as France and Vermont, wine folks from all over California, and a great representation of the local wine community. The mood was one of appreciation, not sadness, which I thought was great. Yes, we are all sad to lose him, but at almost 91 he had a great and long life, achieved so many goals that he had, and laid the foundation for many others to succeed after him. I will forever be grateful to everyone who helped put this event together. There were many, but a few principal ones were Neil Collins, who did a masterful job organizing leading the storytelling; Chef Jeff Scott, who put together a great array of foods for the gathering including my dad's favorite East Coast oysters and Tablas Creek lamb; my brother-in-law Tom Hutten, who assembled a selection of music from my dad's favorite artists and eras, Nathan Stuart, who spent his day filming reminiscences and the breaks taking photos; the many volunteers from the Paso Robles wine community, who manned the food and wine stations so that the team here could participate fully in the event; and finally Kyle Wommack, Wonder Woman and master event coordinator, who pulled together all the pieces of this complicated event -- of a sort we'd never hosted before -- and allowed the family to focus on the guests who came and on what we wanted to say. It has also been a pleasure to see the tributes that appeared in the national and international press since he passed away. If you haven't read these, and you have a half hour to spare, there are some wonderful stories in each of these pieces. My sincere thanks go out to all these writers, who gave him the tributes his long career deserved. In the order in which the stories were published: A theme that came out again and again both in the articles that were written and in the tributes that people gave on Sunday was that my dad was a builder: someone who didn't just come up with ideas (though he did that, for sure) but oversaw the creation of structures that were set up to succeed long-term. The impacts of that foundation-building were in full evidence at the party, with people there to remember his work not just at Tablas Creek, but as an importer, as an advocate for the Paso Robles wine community, and as a patron of the arts. I thought it might be interesting for me to share the speech I wrote for the occasion. I didn't end up giving it verbatim, but this was, more or less, what I said to the group. Welcome, everyone. I had an anxiety dream a few days ago where there were only about 40 people here and I had to slink up to the podium and announce that we were going to start, I guessed, since it didnt look like anyone else was coming. I am so honored to see all of you here, and to have heard from so many of you and so many people who couldnt be here today about how my dad had touched your lives. Its been one of the really nice things in what has been a difficult month. I remember, when Meghan and I were thinking about moving out here almost 20 years ago, that getting the chance to work with my dad while he was still actively involved in Tablas Creek was my main motivation in making the move when we did. If Id waited a few years, and something had happened to him, I would have regretted that forever. But I wasnt sure exactly what it was that he did that had made him successful. After having the pleasure of working with him for 15 years, I think it boiled down to three things: First, he generated more ideas per amount of time spent at work than anyone else Ive ever worked with. This wasnt always easy there were times when it drove us all nuts, because he would have a new good idea while we were still trying to implement the last one but what a great foundation for any business. Second, he was willing to lead by example. Whether this was going out well into his 80s and carrying a wine bag up and down the New York subway stairs showing Tablas Creek, or being the first to stand up and put in money to get the 11 new Paso Robles AVAs off the ground, or in creating the winery partners program to support the Foundation for the Performing Arts Center, on whose board he served into his 90s, if the cause was something he believed in, he was willing to put his own time, effort, and money into making sure that cause succeeded. Third, he believed in people. One of the hallmarks of all the companies he founded was that people stayed and made a career there. He did this by giving the people he hired the authority to make the right decisions in their area of expertise, by allocating them the resources they needed, and by providing them vision without micro-managing the details. There are people here today from Vineyard Brands who remember me coming home from little league games and walking through the sales meeting dinners that he and my mom were hosting, in uniform. A dozen of them made the trip out here, many of whom are still there 30 years later, running the company that he founded. My dad also had a pretty clear sense of what mattered, and what didnt. I remember once, getting a semi-critical review in a class I took in high school, that said (with the implication that my judgments were perhaps less nuanced than they should be) that I had little use for fools. He read it and said, well, Im not sure there is much use for fools. I wouldnt worry about it. But in the end, what Im going to hold on to most about my dad was his essential optimism. He started this vineyard when he was already in his early 60s. He did it in a way that guaranteed that we wouldnt see any wine for a decade. And for him, none of that mattered. It was an interesting and worthwhile thing to do. He was confident that he could figure out the pieces he didnt yet know. The fact that we would be making wine from grapes that most Americans didnt know and couldnt pronounce, and that we would be blending these grapes into wines that didnt really have a category in the marketplace, were just details that could be overcome by perseverance and force of will. That perseverance and force of will hadnt ever let him down. And they wouldnt here either. All kids, I think, grow up thinking that what they grow up with is normal. Your dad is Dad. He does the things he does because thats the way the world works. I will forever be grateful that I got the chance to work with my dad as an adult, and see him through the eyes of the people he worked with and inspired. And I believe that the reason he was successful in business was the same as why he was a great dad and a great friend. You always knew where you stood. You always knew that if you needed his support, youd have it. And you knew that when he said something, he meant it. I have one story Id like to end with. I remember, not long after we moved out here, walking out into the middle of the vineyard here with my dad. Most of the vines here were still young. He was in his mid-70s. He stopped for a moment and waved generally toward the vineyard and said, you know, I didnt build this for me. Im not going to be around when its at maturity. I didnt even really build it for you. But it should be amazing for your kids. Thank you all for coming today. I am really looking forward to hearing your stories. Its been an honor to spend as much time inside my dads life as I have these last two decades. Thank you all for being a part of it. Finally, one observation that really drove home to me what a lasting impact my dad had on not just the communities in which he lived, but on the people who he brought into the businesses he started. At the event, there were some 65 people who had worked for him either at Vineyard Brands or at Tablas Creek. By my rough calculations, those 65 people had combined for about 1000 years of tenure in his businesses. And that, I think, is the legacy of which he would have been proudest. Connect easily with the potential customers Give customers step-by-step directions to the organization Receive feedbacks from the customers App Revisions/Updates in real time Send push notifications, text messages, and emails Establish their presence on both iOS and Android platforms Abhinav Girdhar, Founder and CEO at Appy Pie, said, Our aim is to provide SMBs with an easy-to-create app building platform, wherein they can easily make use of next-generation technologies and deliver enhanced user experience to their customers. These new features that we have introduced on our app builder allows business owners to easily convert their Facebook Page, Google My Business Page, or their YouTube Channel into an app for Android and iOS. Further briefing about how these features can benefit business owners, he added, With these new features, SMBs can now make way for their businesses into the hearts and pockets of customers, while improving their visibility among the local audience. Not just this, but with their own Facebook Page app, Google My Business Page app, and YouTube Channel app, entrepreneurs can also read and respond to the customers reviews instantly. Appy Pie provides chat, phone, and email support in a wide range of languages including English, Spanish, Italian, French, Portuguese, and Arabic. Technuter.com News Service Tech Mahindra, a leading provider of digital transformation, consulting and business re-engineering services and solutions, today announced strategic investments in the UK. A research and development center Makers Lab has been established to work in collaboration with the long-term client and partner, British Telecom (BT) at the Adastral Park research campus, home of the world-renowned BT Labs. Makers Lab is also a part of Innovation Martlesham, teaming up with BT to promote and add value to this growing business incubation cluster. Additionally, Tech Mahindra is setting up a brand new office in Salford to strengthen its presence across the UK while rolling out its apprentice program in 2018. The announcement comes on the sidelines of Prime Minster of India Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of UK Theresa Mays meeting in London. Makers Lab will focus on major technologies such as Artificial Intelligence (AI), Machine Learning (ML) and quantum computing to make citizen services and experiences simpler and easier especially in the communications space. With 5G roll out in striking distance, co-innovating with industry partners and academia is the need of the hour. Makers Lab is also connecting with University of Suffolk to onboard students as interns in the lab for various positions. Tech Mahindra as a part of its larger engagement is working with universities in UK to onboard students as interns, offer apprenticeship and hire graduates for various positions. This would aid in ensuring the regions participation in co-innovating for the future, along with employment opportunities. Innovation is key to the UKs economic and social plan, leading as a global center for innovation and creating a global talent pool along with job opportunities. Tech Mahindra through Makers lab, its new office in Salford and its apprentice program will engage with more than 100 local talent as 2018 unfolds . Innovation is the key to survival in the digital future. The UK-India Innovation partnership draws from the best learning and skills of both developed and developing economies in shaping the digital future. We at Tech Mahindra are taking the philosophy of disruption by design to our client ecosystem, academia and people through our Research arm Makers lab in UK, said Mr. CP Gurnani, CEO & MD, Tech Mahindra. Innovation is the key to survival in the digital future. The UK-India Innovation partnership draws from the best learnings and skills of both developed and developing economies in shaping the digital future. In support of this, TechMNxt is Tech Mahindras global program rolled out to explore emerging technologies like AI, Blockchain, Cybersecurity and AI-infused IoT solutions, designed by preempting and anticipating customers evolving and dynamic needs. The underlying priority is the application of the trending technology to solve real business problems of our customers by collaborating and co-innovating with startups, academia and partners. @Technuter.com News Service Barracuda Networks, Inc., a leading provider of cloud-enabled security and data protection solutions, today announced Barracuda PhishLine Levelized Programs, an alternative to the problematic, but industry-standard, click rate metric. Levelized Programs provide a new, incentive-focused, way to measure user resistance to phishing attacks. Barracuda is demonstrating its email security solutions, including PhishLine Levelized Programs, at RSA Conference happening this week, April 16 20, 2018 in San Francisco, CA at booth 4708 in the Moscone Center North Hall. As phishing attacks have grown stealthier and more sophisticated, awareness training and simulation have proven invaluable in conditioning employees as a line of defense, said Hatem Naguib, SVP and GM of Security at Barracuda. But the effectiveness of these solutions has hit a ceiling, inhibited by click rate fatigue overreliance on a problematic metric. Levelized Programs, the industrys first click rate alternative, accelerates the learning process by showcasing improvement focusing on the positive, and not the negative. Leveling provides a positive way to communicate progress across multiple metrics to encourage improvement, letting users progress in easy-to-measure steps. PhishLine Levelized Programs let organizations create a program based on the hallmarks of a healthy security culture: training completion, avoiding interactions with simulated attack messages, and reporting suspected phishing. As employees progress through the program, they are presented with training and simulation content that challenges their security awareness, enabling the administrator to track and report on overall campaign effectiveness and individual user awareness. Barracuda PhishLine turns employees into a line of defense through continuous training and attack simulation. PhishLine offers data analytics and reporting to allow customers to measure and report on risks at macro and micro levels across the human and process layers. For more information about PhishLine and new PhishLine Levelized Programs, please visit: https://www.barracuda.com/products/phishline/. PhishLine is recognized as a Visionary within Gartners Magic Quadrant for Security Awareness Computer-Based Training1 based on its completeness of vision and ability to execute. The PhishLine SaaS platform includes multivariable attack simulations across email, text message, voice, and USB/mobile media; best-in-class data capture, analytics and reporting; and continual, complex analysis of employee performance. Email threats continue to become more targeted, making a multi-layered approach critical in successfully protecting targeted employees, applications, and data. Barracuda offers a broad solution against email-borne targeted attacks and social engineering. Orthodox Jewish organizations in the United States have condemned attacks by ultra-Orthodox extremists against religious Jews in Israel who join the countrys security forces. Amid a recent rise in attacks on IDF soldiers and police officers, the leaders of the Orthodox Union, Rabbinical Council of America and National Council of Young Israel issued official statements condemning the violence. The statements were issued at the request of New York Orthodox activist David Nyer, he said in a news release sent to JTA. Moishe Bane, president of the Orthodox Union, said in a statement that violence by one Jew against another, whether physical or otherwise, is an assault on the Torah values that have been passed down through our [tradition], from generation to generation. Any such attack by Jews against soldiers of the IDF, to whom every Jew owes immeasurable respect and gratitude, is an attack against each and every member of the Jewish community, and provokes shame and regret in us all. Rabbi Avi Shafran, spokesman for Agudath Israel of America, told Nyer that such unwarranted violence and abuse against any fellow Jew is beyond outrageous. Assault of Jewish brethren, especially those who have dedicated themselves to the protection of [Israel] such as IDF soldiers and Israeli police, is indefensible, ugly and wrong. Shafran added that bystanders are obligated to intervene to help the person under attack. Some Orthodox movements in the US have spoken out against the ultra-Orthodox who've been assaulting IDF officials in their hostility to the state:Maybe the most surprising part of all is that rabbi Avi Shafran, who previously downplayed the seriousness of the issues at hand, has suddenly spoken out:Well that's getting somewhere for a change! Now maybe he'll also apologize for any pro-Islam and misogynist positions he may have taken? Let's be clear: when a Haredi extremist commits a crime, it only serves as a discredit to their lifestyle and educational upbringing. So if he really believes in what he goes by, he'll have to start admitting it was wrong to take standings that can hurt Israel badly. Otherwise, he's accomplished little or nothing. Labels: dhimmitude, haredi corruption, islam, Israel, Judaism, military, misogyny, Moonbattery, United States North Korea is very cynically and selfishly attempting to abdicate its role as the most convincing existential threat to the United States since Nicaragua, according to the president of South Korea. Moon Jae-in claimed that the North would require in return only the twin enormities of an end tohostile policies and a guarantee of security; which under any normal US president would constitute an unacceptable violation of the World Cop's jurisdictional sovereignty. The Trumpster, doubtless inspired by the brilliant negotiating stance of Team Tessie against the sovereignty-plundering Euro-wogs, has confined himself to an assertion of willingness to walk away if Kim Jong-un's head-tribble should start yapping and spraying at his own.North Korea has previously indicated a willingness to give up its independent nuclear deterrent in return for US withdrawal from South Korea and denuclearisation of the peninsula and Japan. As is mentioned in Britain's leading liberal newspaper, North and South Korea have been technically at war since the 1950-53 conflict when, as is unmentioned in Britain's leading liberal newspaper, the United States butchered a fifth of the North's population in collaboration with its South Korean allies, many of whom had been collaborators with Imperial Japan during the recent unplesasantness. Bureaucrat set to replace Raul Castro as Cuba's President Cuba\'s President Raul Castro, center left, enters the National Assembly followed by his successor Miguel Diaz-Canel, center right, for the start of two-day legislative session in Havana. AP, Havana : A 57-year-old bureaucrat will take Raul Castro's place as the president of Cuba on Thursday as a government led by a single family for six decades tries to ensure the long-term survival of one of the world's last communist states. Members of the National Assembly voted Wednesday on Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez's nomination as the sole candidate for president. The result won't be officially announced until Thursday morning but it's already clear because the assembly approves all executive branch proposals by margins of 95 percent or higher. The 86-year-old Castro will remain head of the Communist Party, which is designated by the constitution as "the superior guiding force of society and the state." As a result, he will still be the most powerful person in Cuba for the time being. His departure from the presidency is nonetheless a symbolically charged moment for a country that has been under the absolute rule of one family since the revolution - first by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and, for the last decade, his younger brother. Facing biological reality but still active and apparently healthy, Raul Castro is stepping down as president in an effort to guarantee that new leaders can maintain the government's grip on power in the face of economic stagnation, an aging population and increasing disenchantment among younger generations. "I like sticking with the ideas of President Fidel Castro because he did a lot for the people of Cuba, but we need rejuvenation, above all in the economy," said Melissa Mederos, a 21-year-old schoolteacher. "Diaz-Canel needs to work hard on the economy, because people need to live a little better." Most Cubans know their first vice president as an uncharismatic figure who until recently maintained a public profile so low it was virtually nonexistent. That image changed slightly this year as state media placed an increasing spotlight on Diaz-Canel's public appearances, including remarks to the press last month that included his promise to make Cuba's government more responsive to its people. "We're building a relationship between the government and the people here," he said then after casting a ballot for members of the National Assembly. "The lives of those who will be elected have to be focused on relating to the people, listening to the people, investigating their problems and encouraging debate." Diaz-Canel gained prominence in central Villa Clara province as the top Communist Party official, a post equivalent to governor. People there describe him as a hard-working, modest-living technocrat dedicated to improving public services. He became higher education minister in 2009 before moving into the vice presidency. Momo appears as Alta today Zakia Bari Momo Sheikh Arif Bulbon : National Film Award winner actress Zakia Bari Momo acted and Arun Chowdhury directed movie Altabanu releases today. In this movie, Momo acted in role of Alta against Anisur Rahman Milon. Farzana Rikta acted in role of Altas younger sister Banu. Including Dhaka this movie is set to release in different cinema halls across the country. After three years break, Momo presents herself with a new movie among the viewers. In 2015, she last presented Shihab Shahin directed movie Chhuye Diley Mon. Arifin Shuvo was her co-actor in that film. While talking about Altabanu Momo told this correspondent, Many years ago, under Arundadas directed I acted in a play. Under his direction I acted in a movie for the first time. It is his directed first movie also. It is a nice story based movie. Viewers will find a tale of story from first to last of this movie. I hope it will surely touch minds of many viewers. I played the role of Alta. It is tale of struggle of Alta herself. Dada has made it cordially. I believe viewers will enjoy the movie on the screen. Faridur Reza Sagor wrote story of Altabanu while Brindaban Das and Arun Chowdhury jointly written its script. Meanwhile, Momo will enjoy this film with the audience. Shooting of Momo acted and Tanim Rahman Angshu directed movie Swapnobari has been finished recently. She paired up with Milon also. This pair earlier acted in Rokibul Alam Rokibs movie Prem Korbo Tomar Sathey. Role of BAHOP in homoeo medical science lauded President of Bangladesh Homoeopathic Parishad, Principal Dr Abdul Karim addressing the divisional science seminar and homoeopathic day arranged by Dhaka District Chapter as Chief Guest recently. Chattagram Bureau : President of Bangladesh Homeopathic Parishad , central committee Principal Dr.Abdul Karim said BAHOP played praiseworthy role for creating appropriate homoeo physicians across the country. He said the students of homoeopathy medical science and physicians are being benefitted through arranging higher science based seminar on homoeopathy system of medical treatment . He disclosed it while addressing the Divisional science seminar on homoeopathy and homoeopathy day as arranged by the Dhaka district chapter on Sunday last as Chief Guest. The speakers in the seminar said homoepathy is now a popular science based and easily available medical treatment . This homoeopathy system of treatment should be sustained as a mass oriented medicare system. To popularize the homoeopathy system of medicine across the country , govt is patronizing the Homoeopathy Board as well as Homoeo Parshad(BAHOP) and BHMA for developing this system of medicines. Former central President and incumbent patroniser of BAHOP Dr. Shawkat Ali Bhuyia presided the seminar . Incumbent President of BAHOP and chief editor of Homoeo Chetona Journal Principal Dr. Abdul Karim graced it as chief guest. The subject wise discussions held with the multimedia projections by the reputed Indian Homoeopathic physicians Prof. Dr. Srikanta Chowdhury, Prof.Dr. Sevansu Banerjiee and Prof. Dr. Pradip Sarkar. Central leaders of BAHOP were present in the seminar and homoeopathy day,BAHOP Chittagong chapter sources said. Bangladesh polls pose a challenge to regional stability Asia Times : Elections are expected in Bangladesh soon, as by law they must take place between October 31 and December 31 this year. This is not an easy prospect either for Bangladesh or for its principal neighbor, India. The previous general election in 2014 was marred by violence and was boycotted by the Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP). It saw a turnout of just 22%. The international community is hoping that the elections this time around are more credible and help stabilize the polity of this volatile country, which is witnessing the growth of Islamist radicalism. This month, Indian National Security Adviser Ajit Doval traveled to Dhaka to attend the meeting of NSAs of the BIMSTEC (Bay of Bengal Initiative for Multi-Sectoral Technical and Economic Cooperation) countries. His visit was followed by that of Foreign Secretary Vijay Gokhale aimed at shoring up bilateral relations. India has old ties with the Awami League going back to the time the country fought its liberation war in 1971. India suspicious of BNP India's perspectives on Bangladesh have been shaped by the experience of the governance of the BNP in the 1991-96 and 2001-06 periods, when Islamist militancy took root in the country and separatists and terrorists in India received covert Pakistani support as the Bangladesh authorities looked the other way. Bangladesh is important for India for political, national-security and religious reasons considering that it borders no fewer than five Indian states. But it is no less important Bangladesh polls for the larger region and the world, given its large Muslim population that is being subjected to creeping radicalization. Islamist groups such as Jamaat-e-Islami, Harkat-ul-Jihad al-Islami Bangladesh and Jamiat-ul-Mujahideen have been around for a while, and now Islamic State (ISIS) and al-Qaeda also claim a presence on its soil. And recent years have also seen suicide attacks. For that reason, the prospect of any government other than one run by the Awami League and current Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina is viewed with some dismay by India. For the record, though, India insists it is neutral with regard to the two parties, and during her visit to the country last October, External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj also met with BNP chief Begun Khaleda Zia and held talks with party officials. Some Indian officials say that their experience of working with the Awami League government on issues relating to terrorism, radicalization and curbing the activities of third-country intelligence services has been positive. They say that Sheikh Hasina has been proactive in curbing Islamist extremism in her country, while claiming that the BNP has tolerated, if not encouraged, some Islamist elements. Clearly, any fresh elections will have to meet the challenge of credibility. As of now the BNP has said it is willing to contest the next election, but preferably with a non-partisan election commission that would take charge of the government during the elections period. In fact, in recent months it has stepped up its campaign demanding that a caretaker government conduct the polls. The BNP is banking on the anti-incumbency factor. By itself, it is not in particularly good shape to fight elections. Begum Khaleda Zia is embroiled in some 37 different cases relating to corruption and abuse of power relating to her two terms as prime minister, and the party is being led indirectly from London by her son Tarique Rahman. In February, Begum Khaleda and her son were convicted in a corruption case involving embezzlement from a trust. Khaleda was sentenced to five years in jail. Though her party claims that the charges were a political vendetta, endemic corruption has been a factor in the poor performance of Bangladesh's governments. Her principal ally of the past, Jamaat-e-Islami, has been decimated by trials relating to its role in the Bangladesh war of independence in 1971. In any case, as of 2013, the Jamaat has been deregistered and cannot contest elections, though it still retains considerable street power through its youth wing, the Bangladesh Islami Chhatra Shibir. Sheikh Hasina's problems are, of course, the problems of incumbency, but also that her erstwhile ally, the Jatiya Party of former dictator Hussain Muhammad Ershad, has said it will seek to contest the election on its own. The Bangladeshi economy has done well under her watch, averaging 6.7% annual growth in the last four years and growing even faster than India in 2017. Yet there are persistent weaknesses in the government system that cannot be easily overcome. In the current situation, the Bangladesh Army has so far remained non- political, but it did step in in 2006 to prop up a caretaker government for a period of two years before elections were held bringing Sheikh Hasina to power. The corruption charges against Begum Khaleda were actually filed by the caretaker government. If there are serious questions about the fairness of the elections under the auspices of an Awami League government, there are chances that the Bangladesh Army will once again be brought in to provide the process credibility. But Sheikh Hasina has kept the army close to herself, doubling its size and providing a generous budget with which to equip itself and build new bases. The one-sided 2014 election, which some Western countries frowned on, provided Beijing with an opportunity to reach out to Dhaka. China has a growing interest in Bangladesh both as a means of containing India and for its strategic location at the head of the Bay of Bengal, proximate to Rakhine state in Myanmar, where it has significant investment and from where it has an important pipeline that avoids the Malacca Strait and transports oil directly to its landlocked Yunnan province. While India has been Bangladesh's longtime trade and aid partner, China has emerged as a serious rival. China, which has invested US$3 billion in the country since 2007, has been involved in building bridges, roads and power plants in the country. It is also Dhaka's biggest supplier of military hardware. In his October 2016 visit, Chinese President Xi Jinping promised $20 billion worth of investments in infrastructure. One analysis says that this could rise to $31 billion and that if the commitments are actually implemented, China could emerge as the largest investor by far in Bangladesh. India cannot match China, but it has upped its credit line to $4.5 billion, the highest it has offered anywhere. The Rohingya issue has the potential to poison both Indian and Chinese relations with Bangladesh. On one hand, China has not permitted any condemnation for the Myanmar government's role in triggering the exodus of Rohingya Muslims, and on the other, some in India remain concerned that the Rohingya will infiltrate into India in larger numbers and pose a threat. 3 policemen hurt in firing by drug dealers Three policemen sustained bullet injuries as drug dealer fired gunshots targeting the law enforcers during an anti-drug drive in the city's Gendaria area on Thursday afternoon. Police arrested two alleged drug dealers, one with bullet injury, along with 2,000 pieces of yaba pills from their possessions. Injured police men are - ASI Mohsin Ali, ASI Moshiur Rahman and Constable Bashir Uddin of Gendaria police station. Arrested drug dealers are - Jewel, 20, and Sonia, 24. Jewel sustained bullet injuries in his leg. Acting on a secret information, a special team of Gendaria police station conducted a drive at a flat of multi-storied building at 60/3 Din Nath Sen Road of Ghuntighar Sheltek Gali under the police station at around 4:20 pm. Sensing presence of the law enforcers, one of the drug dealers, known as Babul, fled the scene firing indiscriminately injuring the three policemen, said Assistant Commissioner (Wari Zone) Md Shamsuzzaman Babu. Police arrested Sonia from the flat. When Jewel was trying to flee the scene during the firing, police also fired gunshot and arrested Jewel with bullet injuries, he said adding that 2000 pieces of yaba tablets were recovered from their possessions. Arrested Jewel and the three policemen were rushed to nearby Asgar Ali Hospital, AC (Wari Zone) said. Hospital staff, police nexus! UNB, Chattogram : She took her newborn baby girl to a private hospital in the city for treatment. After two days of treatment, the hospital authorities handed over the body of a baby, saying her daughter died of excessive bleeding. They also suggested the family not see her face, saying it got disfigured. But the things got a twist while giving funeral bath to the dead body. It got exposed then that it was not the body of a baby girl but of a baby boy. The fact was that the baby girl taken to the clinic did not die, but it was stolen. As the entire episode got exposed, the hospital authorities returned the newborn alive to the family when the police came up and intervened. Roksana Akhter, 21, wife of expatriate Mohiuddin of Begumganj in Noakhali, gave birth to a baby girl on April 12 through normal delivery. As some complications arose after the birth, she took her to a local hospital where doctors after three days of treatment referred the girl to Chattogram for better treatment. The family then took the baby to Chattogram and saw a child specialist who suggested admitting her to Child Care Hospital in Panchlaish area. After her admission to the hospital on April 15 noon, doctors kept the baby at Intensive Care Unit (ICU). However, after two days on Tuesday, the hospital authorities claimed that the baby girl died due to excessive bleeding and made a bill of Tk 14,000. Hospital manager Saikat Hossain suggested that the family bury the baby's body in two hours and not see the face as it got distorted due to excessive blooding. The family took the body to the village home for burial. However, while giving bath to the corpse, they discovered that the body they were handed over was of a baby boy. Later, they went to Panchlaish Police Station seeking redress. Although the police station initially refused to take cognisance of the matter, they finally recorded a complaint. Around 4 am on Wednesday, the hospital authorities confessed that the baby girl was alive and returned it to the family. Newborn's uncle Alamgir said, "Although we got back out child, we're in doubt whether she is physically fit. Those who can exchange a baby with a dead one, they can do anything." He also alleged that they wanted to file a case against the hospital authorities but police refused to record it. Meanwhile, hospital manager Saikat Hossain said it was a misunderstanding which was later sorted out. Bangladesh Human Rights Commission's Chattogram unit President Aminul Haque Babu described the incident as a serious crime. "Those involved in the incident must be brought to justice." Move to settle BB heist case outside court Muhith, Espenilla meet in Manila soon Kazi Zahidul Hasan : Finance Minister AMA Muhith will hold a bilateral meeting with the Governor of Philippines Central Bank Nestor A. Espenilla Jr seeking the latter's active cooperation to speed up recovery of Bangladesh Bank's reserve heist fund. They will meet on the sidelines of the 51st annual meeting of the Asian Development Bank (ADB) Board of Governors to be held in Manila from May 3-6. Officials said a draft of talking points has been prepared for the Minister in discussion with the Philippines Central Bank Governor about the recovery process of major chunk of US$ 81.01 million sent to the Philippines Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) by cyber hacking from the account of Bangladesh central bank held with the Federal Reserve Bank of New York. They, however, hinted that the meeting would be the Bangladesh government's last effort to settle the issue bilaterally before entering into a legal battle against the RCBC. Muhith earlier unveiled a government plan to sue RCBC to channel the BB's stolen fund. Such a move can take many years to get back the stolen fund, cautioned banking experts earlier. "The meeting is expected to give a significant breakthrough in retrieving rest of the stolen fund through bilateral negotiation," a senior BB official told The New Nation on Thursday wishing not to be named. A sum of US$15 million was returned to Bangladesh Bank (BB) by the order of Regional Court, Manila in 2016. Court procedure continues in the Philippines to recover rest of the fund. The BB official said the minister (Muhith) will request the Philippines Central Bank Governor to expedite the court process. He will also ask the Governor for considering the possibilities to settle the issue outside the court involving all agencies concerned. "The minister may seek the Governor's directive to the Rizal Commercial Banking Corporation (RCBC) to settle the issue with the Bangladesh central bank," he added. The Philippines Central Bank, Bangko Sentral ng Pilipinas (BSP), fined RCBC a record one billion Pesos (U$21 million) in August 2016 for its failure to prevent the movement of the stolen money through it. "The imposition of fine by BSP on RCBC proved the connivance of RCBC in the reserve heist. We have sought compensation from the bank for bearing the responsibility of the theft. But it denied to pay it forcing BB to consider legal action," said the BB official. Regarding BB's steps in this case, he said, Bangladesh Financial Intelligence Unit (BFIU) is coordinating the matter with BSP, Department of Justice (DoJ), Anti-Money Laundering Council (AMCL), President Commission on Good Government (PCGG) and Office of the Solicitor General (OSG) of the Philippines. The Bangladesh embassy in Manila is providing necessary assistance to Bangladesh bank in this regard. In February 2016, fraudulent payment instructions were sent to Federal Reserve Bank of New York by unknown hackers instructing the New York's bank to transfer US$81.01 million to four fake accounts RCBC. The stolen fund was rapidly transferred to some casino operators by the RCBC disagreeing the "Stop Payment" request by the Bangladesh Bank (BB) and also RCBC's intermediary bank in New York. UK AL demands Tarique's extradition bdnews24.com : A day after Sheikh Hasina said her government is trying to negotiate the extradition of Tarique Rahman, the UK chapter of the Awami League has demanded that the top BNP leader be sent back to Bangladesh to face justice. They staged a demonstration in front of the British Parliament at London's Westminster on Wednesday to put pressure on Prime Minister Theresa May's government. The protest was also meant to counter demonstrations by BNP activists in London on the same day as Prime Minister Hasina is attending the Commonwealth summit. Now heading the BNP from exile, Tarique is convicted of money laundering and corruption in two separate cases. He is also being tried in many other cases, including one on charges of attempted assassination of Hasina. The Prime Minister on Tuesday said they were trying to get the British government to extradite the BNP leader from London. "The UK is a free country, anybody can take shelter, refugethat's true. The crime that the person committed and already he is convicted," Hasina said. "And I don't understand how UK enjoys keeping a convicted person," she had remarked. Hasia also said her government was "eager" to take Tarique back. "He should face the court," she said. "Well, we are talking to the British government about it and definitely one day we will take him back," she added. BNP Senior Vice-Chairman Tarique, in London for a decade, is standing in for his mother Khaleda Zia who was jailed for five years for corruption on Feb 8. DU to showcause 26 for 'harassing' Esha Staff Reporter : In an unexpected turn of events the Dhaka University administration has decided to issue show cause notices against 26 residential students of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall for their alleged involvement in harassing Iffat Jahan Esha, president of Bangladesh Chhatra League (BCL) of the hall. DU Vice-Chancellor Md Akhtaruzzaman, however, declined to disclose their names when media persons asked for the list of names. "In primary investigation, those 26 resident students of Kabi Sufia Kamal Hall have been found involved in harassing Esha, creating chaos and spreading rumors on the night of April 11 at the dormitory of the university," said DU VC Akhtaruzzaman on Thursday noon. "The decision to issue show cause notice was taken at a disciplinary committee meeting on Wednesday," he added. At the same disciplinary board meeting, the DU authorities withdrew Esha's expulsion order issued on April 11 for allegedly assaulting Botany department's fourth year student Morsheda Khanom and other residents who had joined the quota reform movement. Esha was also expelled from the BCL and the university simultaneously at the wee hours of April 11, after hundreds of students took to DU streets during midnight demanding her expulsion over torturing a student for participating in quota reform movement. Earlier on April 13, the ruling Awami League's student wing BCL also reinstated Esha within 48 hours of her expulsion, amid protests against her reported assault on party fellows. Esha and her accomplices allegedly assaulted Morsheda Khatun, which triggered protests at about 12:30am on April 11. According to the records, Esha also threatened that girls would be kicked out of the dorm if they joined the protests. On April 11, DU Proctor Golam Rabbani said Esha had been expelled from the university and she said she was sorry for what she did. Footage that went viral showed Esha wearing a necklace of shoes after apologizing. Some recordings where Esha was using profanity to threaten other students for joining the quota reform protests also went viral. Yes, the decision belongs on the local level No, no one should be able to dictate whether people wear masks Vote View Results If you are looking for the new Immoral Minority posts, you should know that they can be found here at our new home Please stop by to get caught up on politics, join the conversations, or simply check out the new digs. The best bang for your buck! This option enables you to purchase online 24/7 access and receive the Sunday, Tuesday & Thursday print edition at no additional cost * Print edition only available in our carrier delivery area. Allow up to 72 hours for delivery of your print edition to begin. Print edition not available for Day Pass option. Maryam Namazie is a political activist and writer. Follow Maryam Namazie on Twitter @MaryamNamazie Bangladesh: Asad Noor , a 25-year-old atheist blogger is facing up to 14 years in prison because he hurt religious feelings with his social media posts mocking the prophet.Iran: 20-year-old Sina Dehghan was sentenced to death for insulting the prophet. Deghans co-defendants, Sahar Eliasi and Mohammad Nouri, have also been convicted of posting anti-Islamic content on social media. Nouri was sentenced to death; Eliasi has been sentenced to three years in prison upon appeal. Soheil Arabi was initially sentenced to death for insulting the prophet is on hunger strike and in critical condition. Ruhollah Tavana and Saeed Malekpour have also been sentenced to death for insulting the Prophet and insulting and desecrating Islam respectively.Iraq: In Dhi Qar- Al-Nasiriya, a city in the southern part of Iraq, atheists have been hunted down; in most recent news, one of four has been arrested for spreading the culture of the absence of God.Pakistan: Ayaz Nizami and Rana Noman face the death penalty for blasphemy. After the arrest, #HangAyazNizami trended on Twitter. Taimoor Raza , 30, has also been sentenced to death for insulting the prophet Muhammad.Saudi Arabia: Ahmad Al-Shamri , in his 20s, has been sentenced to death for atheism and blasphemy; Raif Badawi has been sentenced to 10 years in prison and a thousand lashes for apostasy and insulting Islam. Poet Ashraf Fayadh has been sentenced to eight years imprisonment and lashes for poems containing atheist ideas reduced from an initial death sentence.#AtheismNotACrime #EndBlasphemyLaws #EndApostasyLaws International Holding Company (IHC), formerly known as International Fish Farming Holding Company (Asmak), has posted a net profit of Dh29.3 million ($7.9 million) in 2017 versus Dh26 million in 2016,marking a rise of 12 per cent. The profit boost followed a growth in sales revenue of 9 per cent, up from Dh348 million in 2016 to Dh421 million in 2017. Underpinning the improved profit and revenue was the growth of IHCs subsidiaries throughout the year, a statement said. Asmak, the holding companys seafood producer and distributor, reached a leadership position in 2017 as it expanded its footprint across various trade channels, including wholesale and hospitality. IHCs real estate division also recorded satisfying growth in net income in 2017, driven by the delivery of several major projects in Abu Dhabi. The developments were led by IHC subsidiary Century Real Estate, supported by three joint ventures with Lazio Real Estate Investment, Progressive Real Estate Development, and Mountain Gate Property Investment. IHCs strong 2017 was further bolstered by the expansion of its Contracting subsidiary, which signed new landscaping agreements in Abu Dhabi with Gulf Dunes Landscaping & Agricultural Services, and secured partnerships with Abu Dhabi Land General Contracting. The success we enjoyed in 2017 owes much to the outstanding efforts of our team, who have triumphed in the face of a challenging business environment across our divisions and markets. said Hamad Abdulla Al Shamsi, chairman of IHC. Our priority now is to nurture the growth of last year and continue to build our presence in new markets, particularly through a strategy of diversification among every sector we serve, Al Shamsi added. Specifically, Asmak is currently moving forward with plans to build a new hub for the production and processing of fish and seafood that would raise the companys annual production capacity by 40,000 tons. The new site, which is under development at Dubai Industrial Park, supports IHCs commitment to reinforcing the UAEs food security by increasing the volume of produce sourced within the country. IHCs wider CSR activities fall in line with this commitment to enhancing the livelihood of the UAE community, through the efforts of its subsidiaries. In 2017, Asmak made sizeable food donations to different UAE registered charity associations. The company also worked alongside government institutions to develop food security plans that would enrich the UAEs natural fish stock and maintain the countrys marine environment, strengthening the nations strategy towards sustainable fish sources. TradeArabia News Service Oman Power and Water Procurement Company (OPWP) has awarded a RO60-million ($155 million) contract to a consortium led by Saudi-based Acwa Power for developing the sultanate's first independent water desalination (IWP) procurement in the governorate of Dhofar. The consortium, Dhofar Desalination Company, includes French water and energy management company Veolia and Dhofar International Development & Investment Holding Company (Didic) as partners. The Salalah IWP project will be vital in meeting Dhofar regions increasing demand for water, which is expected to be at an average of six per cent per annum over the next seven years, said the statement from OPWP, the sole procurer of all electricity and water capacity in the sultanate. The plant, which will have a capacity to generate 25 million gallons per day of desalinated water using reverse osmosis technology, is procured by OPWP under a build-own-operate framework on the back of a 20-year water purchase agreement. The signing ceremony was held in the presence of Sayyid Mohammed bin Sultan Al Busaidi, the state minister and governor of Dhofar, and a number of government officials and representatives from the consortium and electricity sector in the sultanate. Speaking at the event, Yaqoob bin Saif Al Kiyumi, the chief executive of OPWP said: "This project is considered as the first standalone water desalination project in the governorate of Dhofar and would positively contribute to security of water supply in light of urbanisation and ambitious projects that are implemented in various sectors." Al Kiyumi pointed out that the RO60-million project reflects the confidence of foreign investors to invest in the sultanate and in the water sector in particular, given the legal and regulatory transparency and stable environment. Paddy Padmanathan, the president and chief executive of Acwa Power, said: "Water is a vital resource for development and human life, and we are pleased to work in partnership with OPWP to deliver desalinated water to the region." "This project is one of a number of projects we are currently working on in the sultanate and we look forward to continue to supply power and water at an economical cost," he noted. Rajit Nanda, the chief investments officer at Acwa Power, said: "The Salalah IWP project will play a key role in meeting the increasing demand for water in the sultanate. This significant milestone will support Omans infrastructure in line with the countrys efforts to reduce reliance on groundwater resources and maximize the use of local resources." "Oman continues to be one of the leading investment destinations in the region, and we look forward to furthering our growing presence in the country," he added. OPWP said as per the deals, the engineering, procurement, and construction of the plant will be handled by a consortium of Fisia Italimpianti and Abeinsa Infraestructuras Medioambiente, while the operations and maintenance of the plant will be undertaken by a consortium led by Veolia Middle East with Nomac Oman and Didic. Patrice Fonlladosa, the president and chief executive of Veolia Middle East/Africa, said: "We are very glad to have partnered with Acwa Power and Didic for the Salalah IWP and we are committed to extend the delivery of optimal operations and plant performance to OPWP."-TradeArabia News Service Aldar Properties of Abu Dhabi has signed an escrow agreement with First Abu Dhabi Bank (FAB), enabling the leading property developer to provide escrow services for buyers of its newly-launched masterplanned development, Alghadeer. Talal Al Dhiyebi, chief executive officer, Aldar, said: We are pleased to partner with FAB, the largest bank in the UAE, to provide escrow account services for our customers. The introduction of Escrow requirements and our agreement with leading financial institutions not only protects customers, but assists in attracting investors to Abu Dhabis real estate market. Andre Sayegh, deputy group CEO and group head of corporate and investment banking at FAB, said: As a leading bank in the UAE, our wealth of experience and market-leading capabilities have positioned us as the ideal partner of choice for Aldar. Having provided Escrow services for a range of leading projects in the UAE over the past ten years, we are pleased to be offering bespoke services to Alghadeer buyers, and to support the property sector and the overall economic growth of the Emirate. Alghadeer is a new Dh10-billion ($2.72 billion) masterplan that will incorporate and greatly enhance one of Aldars already established destinations Alghadeer, which sits close to the border of Abu Dhabi and Dubai within its Seih Al Sdeirah landbank. Perfectly positioned and equidistant between the cities of Dubai and Abu Dhabi, the 14,408-home Alghadeer masterplan includes villas, townhouses, and apartments. Total residential GFA is set to exceed 1.3 million sq m and will be complemented by office space, retail space, hospitality, education and community amenities. TradeArabia News Service Cityscape Abu Dhabi, a top real estate expo, has gathered more than 100 local and international exhibitors, and provided a platform for the launch of numerous flagship real estate projects worth more than Dh15 billion ($4 billion). The 12th edition of the event concludes today (April 19) at the Abu Dhabi National Exhibition Centre. Among the key projects showcased at the expo were: Alghadeer by Aldar Properties Dh10 billion The first affordable new mixed-use project of Abu Dhabis leading property developers is located close to the Kizad Free Zone, Dubais Al Maktoum International Airport and the Expo 2020 site. The project consists of 14,408 units including villas, townhouses and maisonettes which will be delivered over a period of 15 years. MAG EYE by Mag Lifestyle Development - Dh4.7 billion MAG EYE is a master planned townhouse and villa community situated in Meydan District Seven in Mohammed Bin Rashid City. Built in close proximity to Meydan Racecourse, with easy access to Al Khail and Sheikh Mohammad Bin Zayed Roads, MAG EYE is centrally located within a few minutes drive to major leisure and shopping destinations in Dubai. Jewelz by Danube Properties Dh300 million Located in the Arjan area in Dubai, Jewelz is an affordable luxurious residential project composed of 463 units featuring studio, one and two bedroom apartments. Jewelz offers a wide range of leisure facilities, including a spa, a swimming pool, sauna and steam rooms, a multipurpose hall, a jogging track, a barbecue area and a badminton court. It also has an advanced technological system to enhance the protection and security of residents. Running in parallel to the exhibition, the Cityscape Abu Dhabi Conference took place during the first day of the show under the theme: Rewriting the Rule Book Generating Growth in Abu Dhabi Real Estate. Four main sessions were discussed: Real Estate Industry Trends in 2018, The 4th Industrial Revolution, Investment in Abu Dhabi, and Affordable Housing. One of the speakers at the conference, Muhammed Binghatti, CEO and head of Architecture at Binghatti Developers said continued investment in real estate is playing a key role in sustaining the emirate as the government expands its efforts to diversify revenue streams. The markets performance has been improving since Abu Dhabis government is taking several measures aimed at diversifying the economy and reducing the extensive dependence on oil prices and the recurring impacts that may accompany it. More funds have been invested in sectors such as health, energy, tourism and transport and manufacturing. Additionally, Abu Dhabi offers a profitable environment for investors as it strengthened by high-quality infrastructure, 100 per cent exemption from income and corporate tax, and a high political stability, he added. Cityscape Talks are also running during the three days of the show, providing an interactive platform for visitors of the exhibition to learn from experts about the latest industry trends. TradeArabia News Service Leading global players from the construction, engineering and ICT industry discussed the latest trends for powering digital transformation in smart cities and smart buildings at the BICSI Middle East & Africa Conference and Exhibition held in Dubai. Building Industry Consulting Service International (BICSI), a US-based global association leading the advancement of the information and communications technology (ICT) community, organised the event which drew over 400 delegates representing 45 nationalities and 34 countries. The 2018 MEA Conference was held under the theme, A Connected World: Smart Cities, Smart Buildings, Smart Infrastructure, and More!, said a statement from BICSI. The conference attended by international experts and professionals focused on providing unprecedented insights into technologies and standards driving the evolution of smart cities, smart buildings and smart infrastructures. Jeff Beavers, the president of BICSI, said: "We are extremely pleased to choose Dubai as the continuing venue for this conference. As a global hub for BICSI, Dubai is growing rapidly in its design and deployment of advanced smart technologies, which can be seen in plans for such internationally recognized projects as Silicon Park. Intelligent buildings and cities require standards and best practices and a highly-qualified workforce and that is a great match for BICSI standards, education and credentials." The keynote address was delivered by Limor Schafman, the director, Smart Buildings Program, Telecommunications Industry Association (TIA) said: "Smart Buildings play a critical role in the deployment of these next generation networks and can accelerate the development of smart municipalities, particularly highly sophisticated buildings which are microcosms of smart communities." TIA is the leading association representing the manufacturers and suppliers of high-tech communications networks. Schafmans keynote address was hosted by BICSI MEA diamond sponsor, Tamdeed Projects, a subsidiary of the multinational telecommunications services provider Etisalat," he noted. "To advance the vision of what is possible, TIAs Smart Buildings Program is defining fully integrated buildings to ensure proper interoperation and future proofing of communications. The program is developing guidelines, specification and standards as needed to facilitate the ecosystem," stated Schafman. "It is already anticipated that the Smart Buildings marketplace will see significant growth from an estimated $7.24 billion in 2017 to an anticipated $32 billion in 2022. By building a common framework and language, TIA hopes to contribute to the foundation of that market growth," he added. Steve Surfaro, the chairman, Public Safety Group - Security Industry Association, speaking at a workshop titled, Envisioning Smart/ Safe Cities Future: 2020 and Beyond, said: "Information and communication are key to the intelligent city of tomorrow and BICSI members will learn and execute smart city projects with data exchange as ultimate goal. What are the top smart city goals? Although global priorities vary, one of the main areas of study are transportation improvements for the citizen experience." Attendees witnessed how natural languages processing like Alexa Skills are working within a smart city. Critical infrastructure, mobility and public safety all are riding on the smart city/smart buildings transport toward a more global, intelligent, connected tomorrow." On the concluding day, Ali Al Suwaidi, VP, Middle East Facilities Management Association (Mefma), focused on the topic of Smart Facilities Management for Smart Cities. "This will help the city managers to invest wisely, while ensuring the residents comfort and safety, putting forward long-term city-wide facility management and infrastructure sustainable plans," stated Al Suwaidi. "It is very critical for the overall smart city concept to include Facility Management best practice during its implementation," he added.-TradeArabia News Service Saudi German Hospital, a leading healthcare group in the region, has announced plans to build a 100-bed specialty at Al Marjan Island, a luxury resort destination in the northern emirate of Ras Al Khaimah that will offer key healthcare including medical, rehabilitation and cosmetic services. The hospital will serve the residents and visitors to Al Marjan Island as well as the wider Ras Al Khaimah community by offering specialised services in a modern hospital led by expert healthcare professionals, said a statement from the heathcare group. Establishing the hospital is in line with the Saudi German Hospital Groups mission to fulfil the healthcare needs of the public and to expand its presence across the UAE, and to support the countrys medical tourism sector, said Sobhi A Batterjee, the president of Saudi German Hospital Group. "With the new hospital in Al Marjan Island, we aim to provide excellent and integrated healthcare services that will meet the needs of the people. It will serve the residents and visitors to Al Marjan Island and the wider community," he added. The Saudi German Hospital in Al Marjan Island is scheduled to be operational in early-2019. According to Batterjee, the hospital will offer seven specialties and by 2020, it will provide specialist care in 13 disciplines as well as expand the number of beds. The medical and nursing teams strength will also be increased in line with the proposed expansion, he added. Al Marjan Island CEO Abdullah Al Abdooli said: We are pleased to welcome the Saudi German Group to Al Marjan Island, which will further enrich the range of services that we are providing to residents and visitors from around the world." He was speaking after signing the agreement with Reem Osman, the CEO of Saudi German Hospitals Group. "With the increase in number of residents and visitors, it is important that we offer them truly world-class healthcare services in close proximity. The addition of the hospital will add to our appeal as a truly integrated destination, and will help us consolidate our market leading position as a hub for tourism and investment," he stated. Al Abdooli said: "The establishment of the hospital reflects the vision of our leadership to strengthen the all-round infrastructure of Ras Al Khaimah as per international standards. The Saudi German Group is a pioneer in providing high quality medical services and we are confident that the new hospital will be a valuable addition to Al Marjan Island and Ras Al Khaimah. Al Marjan Island is a 15-minute drive from RAK International Airport and 45 minutes from Dubai International Airport. In all, the master-planned community will feature 7.8 km of beaches, 23 kilometres of waterfront, 6,500 planned residential units, 8,000 planned hotel rooms, 400-room wellness retreats and 600 holiday villas.-TradeArabia News Service ENBD REIT, a UAE-based sharia-compliant real estate investment trust, said it has applied the Internet-of-Things (IoT), machine learning and artificial intelligence, in partnership with EP&T Global, to deliver energy savings at Al Thuraya Tower 1, its office building in Dubai Media City, as part of its overall strategy to adopt green initiatives. Al Thuraya Tower 1, which has 28 floors covering 18,000 sqm of commercial office space, has deployed EP&T Globals innovative Edge Zeus technology to deliver operational energy efficiency throughout the building. The cutting-edge system combines big data analytics, machine learning and Artificial Intelligence to achieve cost reductions and improved comfort conditions. Having established Edge Zeus technology in Al Thuraya Tower 1, ENBD Reit will now look to apply similar initiatives across its property portfolio over time. Anthony Taylor, the head of real estate at Emirates NBD Asset Management, said: "We are pleased to announce the launch of Edge Zeus technology at Al Thuraya Tower 1, in partnership with EP&T Global the systems provider and with the support of Operon Middle East Facilities Management, who run the building." "From an asset management perspective, we have always been committed to delivering ENBD REITs green initiatives, without compromising on comfort or building quality. This innovative and industry-leading energy saving technology will enable us to do exactly that, and we look forward to further green drives in other parts of our portfolio," he added.-TradeArabia News Service UAE-based Khidmah, the regions leading property solutions provider, has been awarded a contract to manage Sharjahs beaches. The company currently manages beaches in Abu Dhabi, Dubai and Sharjah, employing over 200 lifeguards to serve developments, hotels, and communities across the UAE. As per the agreement signed with Sharjah Municipality, Khidmah will oversee more than 13 miles of beaches, providing lifeguards and related safety personnel at UAE's beaches. It will also provide lifeguards and related services to operate Al Khan 1 and 2 areas in the emirate besides providing training and support to them. Khidmah is proud to be one of the few comprehensive service providers in the UAE. We operate a First Aid and Lifeguard Training Centre, in addition to providing pool and beach lifeguard services, as well as a wide array of services for the property developer and housing sectors, said its managing director Abdulla Al Qamzi. "Our expertise is now widely recognised by our industry peers and leaders, highlighting our solid position as an integrated facilities solution provider," he added. Khidmah's client list includes top firms such as Aldar, FGP, Adnoc, Sharjah municipality, Shurooq and Novotel Hotels where the company is providing property solutions services.-TradeArabia News Service GAC Abu Dhabi, a leading shipping and logistics service provider, provided on-site logistics support to the Special Olympics Middle East and North Africa (Mena) 9th Regional Games, held recently in Abu Dhabi, UAE. GAC Abu Dhabi was appointed to ensure smooth running behind the scenes at the high profile event with support including specialised packing and crating, inventory management, receipt/dispatch from suppliers and stakeholders, local transportation and delivery, stock replenishment and coordination of dedicated on-site storage and warehousing operations, said the company in a statement. The entire project, from the pre-event planning to the on-ground execution and post-event arrangements, spanned three weeks, it said. Richard Rees, business manager - logistics, GAC Abu Dhabi, said: Our staff worked tirelessly, clocking more than 3,000-man hours over the three-week period, to ensure that the event ran smoothly. We are no stranger to the demands of and delivering top-notch services to the fast-moving event logistics sector, so despite facing tight deadlines and lack of storage facilities, our team handled the challenges adeptly and efficiently, he stated. Youssef El Khouri, logistics and arrivals and departures manager, operations, for the Special Olympics World Games, Abu Dhabi 2019, lauded GAC Abu Dhabi for its tremendous support to the event. GAC said it is also providing storage solutions for some of the cargo until the Special Olympics World Summer Games, hosted by Abu Dhabi, begin next year.-TradeArabia News Service IT managers cannot identify 45 per cent of their organizations network traffic, said a new report from Sophos, a global leader in network and endpoint security. In fact, nearly one-in-four cannot identify 70 per cent of their network traffic, added the global survey titled The Dirty Secrets of Network Firewalls. The lack of visibility creates significant security challenges for todays businesses and impacts effective network management. Considering the debilitating impact cyber-attacks can have on a business, its unsurprising that 84 per cent of respondents agree that a lack of application visibility is a serious security concern. Without the ability to identify whats running on their network, IT managers are blind to ransomware, unknown malware, data breaches and other advanced threats, as well as potentially malicious applications and rogue users. Network firewalls with signature-based detection are unable to provide adequate visibility into application traffic due to a variety of factors such as the increasing use of encryption, browser emulation, and advanced evasion techniques. If you cant see everything on your network, you cant ever be confident that your organization is protected from threats. IT professionals have been flying blind for too long and cybercriminals take advantage of this, said Dan Schiappa, senior vice president and general manager of products at Sophos. With governments worldwide introducing stiffer penalties for data breach and loss, knowing who and what is on your network is becoming increasingly important. This dirty secret cant be ignored any longer. On average, organizations spend seven working days remediating 16 infected machines per month. Smaller organizations (100-1,000 users) spend on average five working days remediating 13 machines, while larger organizations (1,001-5,000 users) spend on average 10 working days remediating 20 machines per month, according to the survey. A single network breach often leads to the compromise of multiple computers, so the faster you can stop the infection from spreading the more you limit the damage and time needed to clean it up, said Schiappa. Companies are looking for the kind of next-generation, integrated network and endpoint protection that can stop advanced threats and prevent an isolated incident from turning into a widespread outbreak. Sophisticated exploits such as MimiKatz and EternalBlue reminded everyone that network protection is critical to endpoint security and vice versa. Only direct intelligence sharing between these two can reveal the true nature of who and what is operating on your network. IT managers are very aware that firewalls need an upgrade in protection. In fact, the survey revealed that 79 per cent of IT managers polled want better protection from their current firewall. 99 per cent want firewall technology that can automatically isolate infected computers, and 97 per cent want endpoint and firewall protection from the same vendor which allows for direct sharing of security status information. Security is not the only risk to businesses Following security risks, lost productivity was cited as a concern for 52 per cent of respondents when it comes to a lack of network visibility. Business productivity can be negatively impacted if IT is unable to prioritize bandwidth for critical applications. For industries that rely on custom software to meet specific business needs, an inability to prioritize these mission critical applications over less important traffic could be costly. Fifty per cent of IT professionals who had invested in custom applications admitted that their firewall could not identify the traffic and therefore were unable to maximize their return on investment. Lack of visibility also creates a blind spot for the potential transfer of illegal or inappropriate content on corporate networks, making companies vulnerable to litigation and compliance issues. Organizations need a firewall that protects their investment in business-critical and custom applications by allowing employees to have prioritized access to the applications they need, said Schiappa. Increasing network visibility requires a radically different approach. By enabling the firewall to receive information directly from the endpoint security, it can now positively identify all applications even obscure or custom applications, he added. TradeArabia News Service Smart Solutions and IT Technology (SSIT), a leading one-stop shop for office automation solutions and part of the Al Ahlia Group, has introduced an extensive range of Germany-based TA Triumph-Adler products to the UAE market. SSIT is a joint venture between UAE-based Al Ahlia Group and New Generation Imaging (NGI). TA Triumph-Alders tailor-made document and output management software solutions are designed to deliver the highest levels of quality, reliability, and value. Catering to small, medium, and large office requirements, the extensive product range of A4 and A3 mono and colour multifunctional and print systems includes over 40 models of printers and photocopiers delivering quality output and low-maintenance, said a statement from the company. For the first time, the globally-renowned product range is available to customers in the UAE, it said. The official launch event was inaugurated by Al Ahlia Group chairman Saeed Hilal Al Darmaki, and senior regional manager international of Triumph-Adler Ralf Schumann in the presence of SSIT directors Gopal Pai and Naresh Jain, it added. Ralf Schumann, senior regional manager international, Triumph-Adler, said: We are delighted to partner with SSIT and to introduce our managed print services and the concept of print less for less to the innovative business community of the UAE. Efficient workflows are key to effective processes. As your digitisation partner, we can help you reduce the time and investments associated with your workflow. We provide professional hardware and software solutions that will massively support users during implementation, he said. Naresh Jain, director, SSIT, said: We are honoured to facilitate the launch of these powerful solutions for the first time here in the UAE. Triumph-Adlers product range is truly comprehensive and powerful and we are confident will totally revolutionise and streamline processes for our regional customers, he added. With offices in Abu Dhabi and Dubai, SSIT is the sole distributor of Triumph-Adler TA MFPs and printers in the UAE, said a statement. SSITs direct sales and support team and authorised local partners will advise on customised solutions and provide onsite support and maintenance for TA Triumph-Alder machines during and post-warranty, as well as offer supplies of spares and consumables, it stated. TradeArabia News Service Facebook is introducing new privacy experiences including updates to its terms and data policy as part of the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Everyone no matter where they live will be asked to review important information about how Facebook uses data and make choices about their privacy on Facebook. Well begin by rolling these choices out in Europe this week, said a statement from Erin Egan, VP and chief privacy officer, Policy and Ashlie Beringer, VP and deputy general counsel. As soon as the GDPR was finalized, Facebook realized it was an opportunity to invest even more heavily in privacy, they said. We not only want to comply with the law, but also go beyond our obligations to build new and improved privacy experiences for everyone on Facebook. We've brought together hundreds of employees across product, engineering, legal, policy, design and research teams. We've also sought input from people outside Facebook with different perspectives on privacy, including people who use our services, regulators and government officials, privacy experts, and designers, they added. Everyone on Facebook will be asked to make choices about: Ads based on data from partners. Ads on Facebook are more relevant when we use data from partners, like websites and apps that use business tools such as our Like button. Facebook will ask people to review information about this type of advertising, and to choose whether or not they want us to use data from partners to show them ads. Information in their profile. If you've chosen to share political, religious and relationship information on your profile, well ask you to choose whether to continue sharing and letting us use this information. As always, including this information on your profile is completely optional. Facebook will make it easier for people to delete it if they no longer want to share it. Allowing face recognition technology. Facebooks face recognition features help protect your privacy and improve your experiences, like detecting when others might be attempting to use your image as their profile picture and allowing us to suggest friends you may want to tag in photos or videos. Facebook has offered products using face recognition in most of the world for more than six years. As part of this update, Facebook is now giving people in the EU and Canada the choice to turn on face recognition. Using face recognition is entirely optional for anyone on Facebook. Facebook will also ask people to agree to our updated terms of service and data policy, which include more detail in response to questions about how our services work. It is not asking for new rights to collect, use or share your data on Facebook, and continues to commit that it does not sell information about you to advertisers or other partners. While the substance of our data policy is the same globally, people in the EU will see specific details relevant only to people who live there, like how to contact Facebooks Data Protection Officer under the GDPR. People in the EU will start seeing these requests this week to ensure they have made their choices ahead of GDPR coming into effect on May 25. As part of our phased approach, people in the rest of the world will be asked to make their choices on a slightly later schedule, and we'll present the information in the ways that make the most sense for other regions, the statement said. Introducing better tools to access, delete and download information The new Settings and Privacy Shortcuts features we announced last month were built with GDPR in mind, and people will start seeing them this week. Our recently-expanded tools for accessing your information will allow people to see their data, delete it, and easily download and export it. These tools are available globally, although we designed them to comply with GDPR too. We've also updated our Activity Log on mobile to make it easier for people to see the information they've shared with Facebook from their mobile device, the statement said. Providing special features for young people The GDPR recognizes the importance of providing special protections and experiences for teens. The social media company has built many special protections into Facebook for all teens, regardless of location. For example, advertising categories for teens are more limited, and their default audience options for posts do not include public. Facebook also keep face recognition off for anyone under age 18 and limit who can see or search specific information teens have shared, like hometown or birthday. Later this year we'll introduce a new global online resource center specifically for teens, and more education about their most common privacy questions, the statement said. Under the GDPR, people between the ages of 13 and 15 in some EU countries need permission from a parent or guardian to allow some features on Facebook seeing ads based on data from partners and including religious and political views or interested in on your profile. These teens will see a less personalized version of Facebook with restricted sharing and less relevant ads until they get permission from a parent or guardian to use all aspects of Facebook. Even where the law doesn't require this, Facebook will ask every teen if they want to see ads based on data from partners and whether they want to include personal information in their profiles. TradeArabia News Service GlassPoint Solar, leading supplier of solar energy to the oil and gas industry, is now accepting applications for its GlassPoint Innovation Spur programme from innovators looking to transform their inventions into implementable businesses. With partners including The Research Council (TRC), Innovation Park Muscat (IPM), Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) and Sharakah, this first-of-its-kind incubator is set to contribute and sustainably drive innovation within Omans renewable energy and water management sectors. Steven Moss, chief executive officer of GlassPoint Solar said: GlassPoint started as a small high-tech start-up in Silicon Valley, California and is now one of the fastest growing solar companies in the world thanks to the opportunities given to us here in Oman. The GlassPoint Innovation Spur came to existence to enhance Omans role as a global leader in renewable technology. By sharing our entrepreneurial journey and renewables expertise, we aim to drive the culture of innovation and empower local talent to achieve what we have achieved. The GlassPoint Innovation Spur aims to harness the growth in the renewables market by providing an intensive, full-cycle incubation programme focused on developing innovative solutions for a sustainable Oman. Dr Hilal Al Hinai, secretary general of The Research Council, said: The programme will without doubt support innovation and knowledge-based entrepreneurship in the fields of renewable energy and water. The Research Council is keen to provide technical and material support to participating innovators and entrepreneurs enabling them to develop their projects to enter the market, compete and grow. Serving as a platform to develop innovative solutions to Omans challenges, the GlassPoint Innovation Spur includes two themes, renewable energy and water management. The first theme covers categories such as renewable energy solutions for domestic use, cooling and air-conditioning systems, energy efficiency, as well as enhanced energy generation and storage. The second theme focuses on identifying solutions for water management and collection techniques for domestic use. D. Ahmed Al Ghassani, chief executive officer, Public Authority for SME Development (Riyada) said: Riyada aims to equip Small and Medium Enterprises with the required skillsets and a solid foundation to support them in initiating innovative business ideas ready to scale-up to well-established business organizations. Riyada is also committed to providing business advisory and mentorship services and offering collaboration through its network of SMEs across the Sultanate. Dr Abdulbaqi Al Khabouri, director of Science Park, Innovation Park Muscat, said: Science and technology are at the heart of what we do at Innovation Park Muscat. We are always looking to bridge the gap between academia and industry, therefore, we are excited to offer participants access to highly-qualified business professionals to advise them in implementing a sustainable business growth plan. We want them to see their extraordinary ideas transform into successful innovative companies. The GlassPoint Innovation Spur is designed to provide an all-encompassing experience to help applicants mold their prototyped inventions into real businesses. Post the initial screening, 10 will be selected to take part in the three-month Spur Workout to test their inventions validity and commercial feasibility. Up to three innovators will then be selected to continue to the extensive Spur Incubation phase and will be awarded initial seed funding to further develop and test their innovative product or service. Upon graduating from the incubation phase, they will be linked to investors for growth and business upscaling. Abdullah Al Jufaili, general manager, Sharakah, said: The programme will help innovators in refining and building their businesses for the marketplace. We will support them in identifying different financial opportunities, but more importantly, help them find smarter and better ways to use capital to drive scale and growth. The GlassPoint Innovation Spur is the companys first corporate social responsibility (CSR) initiative contributing to Omans diversification strategy by helping expand the renewable energy market. Applications are now open until June 30th 2018. Over the coming weeks, GlassPoint will be touring universities across Oman to share more details on the programme. TradeArabia News Service SNC-Lavalin, a leading engineering and construction group, said it has been awarded a multimillion-dollar contract by state oil giant Saudi Aramco to install additional facilities at its Wasit Gas plant, a major energy processing facility, in the country's Eastern Province. Wasit Gas Plant is one of the largest gas plants to come onstream in Saudi Arabia, and is an enabler for the kingdoms Vision 2030 economic roadmap, feeding into the national master gas network to meet domestic energy demand. The scope of work includes construction of the Arabiah condensate handling facility and sour water disposal unit project at the Wasit Gas plant, besides the installation of process equipment as well as related civil and structural, piping, electrical and instrumentation and control systems, said a statement from the Canadian builder. Work is already under way with a target completion date of late 2019, it added. Christian Brown, the president of Oil & Gas, said: "SNC-Lavalin has an impressive track record of successful project delivery during our 40 years of working with Saudi Aramco and we are pleased to continue our long-term relationship on another important project." "Not only does this contract further demonstrate our industry-recognised onshore construction solutions, it also emphasises our commitment to supporting Saudi Aramcos IKTVA localisation programme to increase the employment and skills development of local Saudi talent," he noted. Founded in 1911, SNC-Lavalin is a global fully integrated professional services and project management company and a major player in the ownership of infrastructure. From offices around the world, the Canadian group's employees provide comprehensive end-to-end project solutions including capital investment, consulting, design, engineering, construction, sustaining capital and operations and maintenance to clients in oil and gas, mining and metallurgy, infrastructure and power. Last year, SNC-Lavalin had acquired Atkins, one of the worlds most respected design, engineering and project management consultancies.-TradeArabia News Service The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL), which operates the Taj brand of hotels, has announced its entry into Saudi Arabia, with a 340-key property in the holy city of Makkah. The new hotel, signed in partnership with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company, will be developed as part of the King Abdul Aziz Road (KAAR) project, one of the largest urban rejuvenation projects in the city of Makkah, and will be located within walking distance of the Grand Mosque (Masjid Al-Haram). The agreement was signed between Hisham Ebeid, senior executive, Hospitality, Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company and Puneet Chhatwal, managing director and chief executive officer at The Indian Hotels Company Limited (IHCL). Commenting on the signing of this agreement, Chhatwal, said: We are honoured to partner with Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company in bringing the first Taj hotel to Saudi Arabia. This signing is aligned with our strategy of a strong focus on global growth markets and to be present where our guests travel to. We are committed to expanding our presence in the Mena region. This hotel will be IHCLs fourth venture in the Mena region. The company manages Taj Dubai located in the Burj Khalifa downtown area. It will also open another two hotels in Dubai in the next twelve to eighteen months. The hotel, scheduled to open in January 2023, will have banqueting facilities and several restaurants to serve all tastes. Commenting on the partnership, Eng Mohammad Al Ganawi, chief executive officer of Umm Al Qura Development and Construction Company, said: We are delighted to partner with The Indian Hotels Company Limited. We look forward to working with them to bring the iconic Taj brand to the unique development project in Makkah. - TradeArabia News Service Flag carrier Royal Jordanian (RJ) has signed a component services contract with Spairliners, a leading integrated component care provider for Embraer E-Jet and Airbus A380 aircraft. Effective from March, the contract covers the component supply and repair management of Royal Jordanian Airlines' E-Jet fleet consisting of three E175 and two E195 aircraft. Spairliners will supply Royal Jordanian Airlines' fleet from its component pool and logistic hub in Paris, France, as well as its central spare parts warehouse in Munich, Germany. The contracted services include streamlined supply chain management, pool access, repair management and tailored logistics services for Line Replaceable Units of Royal Jordanian Airlines' E175 and E195 fleet. "We are delighted to be awarded by Royal Jordanian Airlines. It is an honour for us to support this leading network carrier in the region with our Integrated Component Care services", said Cornelius Dalm, head of Sales, Account Management and Marketing at Spairliners. He continued: "This contract is a great step for Spairliners to strengthen its presence in the Middle East. It enables us to further expand our footprint in this region and attract more operators with our cost-efficient services, customised product offerings and extensive in-house repair capabilities." Royal Jordanian Airlines' CEO Stefan Pichler said: "As an airline carrier focusing on process optimisation, cost improvement and profitable growth, we are pleased to have selected Spairliners as our partner. Spairliners is ready to offer us their customised product services, attractive cost scheme and their long-term experience in supporting E-Jet aircraft. We are delighted to continue and extend the successful and excellent relationship which we have with Spairliners' shareholders Air France KLM Engineering and Maintenance and Lufthansa Technik AG since many years." - TradeArabia News Service TCN News Photojournalist Danish Siqqiqui, an alumnus of Jamia Millia Islamias AJK-Mass Communication Research Centre (AJK-MCRC), may have add a new feather to the institutes cap by getting the prestigious Pulitzer Prize 2018 in the photography category. 35-year-old Danish did his MA (Mass Communication) from AJK-MCRC in the year 2007. Siddiqui and another Indian photographer Adnan Abidi were in the seven-member Reuters team that won the 2018 Pulitzer prize given out by the Columbia University in New York. Support TwoCircles The Reuters team was given the prize for feature photography for their series documenting the violence faced by Myanmars minority Rohingya community and their mass exodus to Bangladesh beginning August 2017. The picture for which Siddiqui was given the Pulitzer Prize shows a sun-burnt woman sinking to her knees on the shore of the Bay of Bengal, fatigued and forlorn. In the distance, a group of men unload the meager belongings that they have carried with them in a small boat as they made their way across the Bay of Bengal from their homes in Myanmar to Bangladesh for safety. While congratulating Danish Siddiqui, JMI Vice-Chancellor Prof Talat Ahmad said, It was a proud moment for the university that one of its alumni has been honored with what is indisputably one of the highest awards in journalism. His work exhibits the critical focus that is a hallmark of teaching at AJK MCRC. The faculty members and students of the center expressed their happiness over the news that one of its alumni has received high international recognition in the field of photojournalism. AJK-MCRCs Director, Prof Iftekhar Ahmad said, The acclaim achieved by Siddiqui will serve as an inspiration to both the students and the faculty members of the center. JMIs press statement further read, He hoped that many more students will bring laurels to the university. Prof FB Khan, senior most faculty member of AJK-MCRC said that Siddiqui has been deeply passionate about the photography since his time when he was a student at the center. The European Union (EU) should keep the door open for Turkey and its Islamist leader to join the bloc, Germanys EU minister has insisted. As Breaitbart writes in the article Germany: Keep Door Open to Turkey Joining European Union, the nation first applied to join the open-borders club back in 1987, and its bid is been supported by current Commission President Jean-Claude Juncker, who said last year that Turkey should move closer to Europe rather than moving away from us. If Turkey joined, it would be the second largest member state by population, giving it significant voting power, and meaning the free-movement bloc has borders with war-torn Syria. Nevertheless, Michael Roth, Germanys minister for the EU, seems undeterred, telling a meeting of EU ministers in Luxembourg: It is in the hands of those responsible in Turkey to decide whether they want to be a member of this European community of values. He added: I would suggest we do not slam the door shut. That would be a wrong signal towards those in Turkey who still long for European values. Just last month, Mr. Erdogan confirmed membership of the EU remains a strategic goal for Turkey under his leadership. As Turkey, we have been continuing on our way with the goal of full membership (of the EU) despite all the mines that were planted on our path and barriers in front of us, he told reporters at the end of March. The Turkish president also repeatedly threatened to scrap a deal with the EU to hold back the flow of Middle Eastern migrants, and flood Europe with tens of thousands of new arrivals, if they resisted the Islamist rallies. Turkish membership of the European Union was strongly supported by Britains former prime minister David Cameron, who said he wanted to pave the road from Ankara to Brussels, and the subject proved to be an important long-term concern for Leave voters during the EU referendum. A round table titled "Dialogue of languages and cultures as a factor of peaceful coexistence in a multipolar world" was held at the Moscow State Linguistic University. The event, organized by the MSLU and the Azerbaijan University of Languages, was dedicated to the 95th birthday anniversary of Azerbaijani national leader Heydar Aliyev. "The largest number of ethnic Russians in the South Caucasus live in Azerbaijan. They have preserved their identity and culture, language and religious identity. The villages named in Russian have not been renamed in Azerbaijan. For example, the famous village of Ivanovka is located in Ismayilli district, Slavyanka - in the Gadabay district, Kalinovka in the Masalli district, Alekseyevka, Vladimirovka and a number of others - in the Guba district, which undoubtedly shows the respectful attitude to the historical memory of the local Russian population. Vladimir Putin during his visit to Azerbaijan noted that he attaches great importance to cooperation in the field of culture and thanked Heydar Aliyev for the attention he pays to the development of cultural relations between Azerbaijan and Russia, and the support of the Russian language," the director of the Center of Azerbaijani-Russian Culture and Solidarity Mehman Shukurov said. The cultural and tourism attache of the Azerbaijani Embassy in Russia, Nigar Akhundova, highlighted several milestones in the Moscow period of Heydar Aliyev: "He oversaw 12 ministries - engineering, trade, light industry, all types of transport, communications, as well as cultural and educational spheres. In 1984, Aliyev led the commission on the Soviet school reforms. In 1986 was appointed chairman of the bureau of the USSR Council of Ministers on Social Development. His signature can be found under dozens of the most important decrees of the Council of Ministers and Politburo of that period. Besides, Aliyev participated in the system of foreign economic relations and played a prominent role in the international contacts of the USSR in Asia and the Middle East. His reforms in the social sphere and in health care stand out. At the initiative of Aliyev, the first complex diagnostic centers were created. Thanks to his support, Soviet surgeons were allowed to conduct first open-heart surgeries. In August 1987, the project of the Central Committee of the Communist Party of the Soviet Union titled "Main directions of the development of healthcare and the healthcare system restructuring until 2000" was published. According to experts, it was one of the most notable documents of the 1980s." The historian and public figure Manaf Agayev spoke about Heydar Aliyev's role in the formation and development of the Azerbaijani diaspora: "Due to the consistent policy pursued by Heydar Aliyev during his leadership in the independent Azerbaijan Republic, the Azerbaijani diaspora was formed and developed, demonstrating a close connection with its historical homeland. The fact that today Azerbaijanis living in different parts of the world consider Azerbaijan their homeland, perceive it as a temple of national spirit, national spiritual values, national culture, being rallied around the ideas of Azerbaijanism, is the result of Heydar Aliyev's activities. The national leader has always attached great importance to the development of interrelations between the peoples of Azerbaijan and Russia. Together with President Vladimir Putin he made considerable efforts to normalize these ties, managed to build a solid and constructive foundation for them. Russia and Azerbaijan are not just close neighbors - we are united by a common history, closely interwoven fates." Armenian president Armen Sarkisyan signed a law on ratification of the EU-Armenia Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement, the Information and Public Relations Department of the republic's Presidential Administration said. On April 11, the Armenian National Assembly unanimously voted for ratification of the agreement. The agreement will come into force when all the 28 members of the European Union and Armenia ratify it. The Partnership Priorities will be key in guiding EU financial assistance to Armenia until 2020. For that period, the EU has earmarked around $175 million for Armenia to invest, among other areas, in education and innovation. In addition, it is expected that the EU will provide Armenia with thew Visa Liberalization Action Plan. The agreement was signed by Armenia and all EU member states on 24 November 2017 in Brussels by the Armenian foreign minister Edward Nalbandian and the High Representative of the European Union for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini. Former head of the Central Bank of Armenia Bagrat Asatryan, speaking with a correspondent of Vestnik Kavkaza, noted that the agreement with the EU will not significantly affect lives of Armenian citizens. "This agreement is more about alternative ways of developing the country's relations with the whole world. In the situation when Armenia participates in the EEU together with Russia, which has faced so many sanctions, we can also have significant losses and problems. This is an opportunity to maintain more or less normal relations with Western countries and follow the same course that Armenia has been following recently," he said. "Before the decision was made to join the EEU almost five years ago, Armenia has been moving along the path of integration with European structures in terms of legislation and economy. I hope that we will maintain a balanced relationship with Russia as a traditionally strong partner, and with the West in general. I am convinced that the current world political crisis will come to an end in 5-10 years and Russia will resume cooperation with European countries," Bagrat Asatryan added. According to him, singing this agreement, Armenia also showed dissatisfaction with the level of relations that it had with other countries in the EEU. "We have certain problems in terms of economic cooperation with the EEU countries, including Russia, since we do not have common borders. Unfortunately, no decision was taken within the framework of the EEU that would facilitate the development of Armenian-Russian economic ties," the ex-head of the Central Bank of Armenia explained, adding that Yerevan expects, in connection with the entry into force of the agreement with the EU, that the work of the EEU countries to keep Armenia in the post-Soviet space will be intensified. Earlier, head of the Institute of Caspian Cooperation Sergey Mikheyev, speaking with Vestnik Kavkaza, stressed that despite "formal" safety of this agreement for Russia, it will draw Armenia into the orbit of the EU influence. "Threats are the same as in the case of Ukraine. Although Armenia signs a somewhat different document, overall the "Eastern Partnership" and the association with the European Union mean one thing - they draw a country into the orbit of influence of the Western powers, in this case, the European Union. This continues the trend of competition between Russia and Europe on the territory of the countries that join this system. In this case, I think there can't be two opinions - that's exactly what happening. Yes, indeed, this document is slightly different, it's not as global as the agreement that was imposed on Ukraine, but, nevertheless, political meaning is the same: expansion of the European and Western influence to the east and the post-Soviet countries in general," he noted. Associate Professor of the Department of International Security of the Faculty of World Politics of Moscow State University, Alexey Fenenko, in turn, stressed most probable impact of Armenia's greater focus on the West, explaining why Russia is better then the European Union for Armenia. "Russia is close to Armenia, and the European Union is far away from it. Armenia's goods transit mainly through the Russian territory, not through any other, currently, Russia is the key market for Armenian goods. In the area of security, Russia provides guarantees to Armenia, it was once again confirmed at the CSTO summit in Yerevan last year. If Armenia focuses on the West, it may lose it. Although so far the Armenian leadership used this association agreement only as a bargain in relations with Russia, if they reach a serious level in this issue, it can blow up the whole strategic situation in the region," the expert warned. Azerbaijan Airlines will launch direct flights to new destinations of its route map within its summer flight schedule, the company said in a message on its website. The flights will be carried out to Saudi Arabia's Dammam and Riyadh from June 15 to September 1, as well as to Montenegro's Tivat from July 5 to September 15. The air ticket includes free baggage allowance (up to 23 kg) and a full range of cold and hot onboard meals. The flights will be operated on Airbus A320 airliners. The leader of the Civil Contract opposition party, MP Nikol Pashinyan, and his supporters blockaded all the government facilities on Republic Square and the Government House in central Yerevan. The first meeting of the countrys new government chaired by Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan will be held in Yerevan today. The opposition is holding protests outside the government buildings to derail the meeting, which is expected to be held at 11:00 local time (10:00 Moscow time). Armenian law enforcement officers have detained 17 participants in the opposition rally outside the Government House, the police spokesman said. "A total of 17 participants in the rally were taken to police stations this morning," TASS cited him as saying. Russian presidential spokesman Dmitry Peskov has heard nothing about any plans the Kremlin might be considering to launch an equivalent of Chinas firewall that would allow for isolating the Russian segment of the world web Runet from the global network. "No, Ive not heard anything about that," the spokesman said when asked if the Russian authorities were going to introduce a system of filters that would make it possible to control Internet traffic the way China does. Peskov also said that Russias telecom and media watchdog has not discredited itself by temporarily failing to block the Telegram messaging service as it will take time to implement this decision. "Clearly, the implementation of the law takes time, one should understand that it cannot be done in one day," TASS cited him as saying. The Russian authorities has not worked out any exact formula yet to support national companies slapped by the US sanctions, the Russian Presidents spokesman Dmitry Peskov said. "As far as I know, so far there are not any ready-made scenarios, formulas of providing support yet , which is quite explicable," TASS cited Peskov as saying, Kyrgyzstans President Sooronbay Zheenbekov has dismissed the republics cabinet of ministers headed by Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, the Kyrgyz presidents press service reported. "The president has approved the decision earlier taken by the parliament expressing distrust in the government and signed an order dismissing the cabinet of ministers," TASS cited the press service as saying. Kyrgyzstans parliament today passed a vote of no-confidence to the Cabinet led by Isakov. This motion was supported by 101 lawmakers, while five voted against. In accordance with legislation, the president has the right either to make a decision on the Cabinets resignation or disagree with the lawmakers decision. The non-confidence motion against the government was initiated by members of the Kyrgyz parliaments opposition factions on Thursday who said they had collected the required number of signatures for that (of one-third of the MPs). OPEC and non-OPEC oil ministers will meet in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia today to discuss their oil production cut deal. The Joint Ministerial Monitoring Committee (JMMC) will make a recommendation to OPEC about whether or not the production cut deal should be extended into 2019. The meeting will provide substantial guidance on how OPEC and its partners will proceed at their June 2018 meeting in Vienna. The meeting will play out against a backdrop of falling stockpiles and geopolitical tensions that have lifted prices, which in turn risk encouraging more US supply. Many bank analysts are declaring the oil glut largely resolved. This, they say, is evidenced by the fact that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East pushed oil prices up last week. The IEA agreed, saying that its data on global oil stocks supports the conclusion that OPEC and its partners have met their goal, Investing writes. Earlier, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman said he wants long-term cooperation with Russia to stabilize oil prices. "We are working on moving from a model agreement for a year to a longer term - 10-20 years," he said. Russian Energy Minister Alexander Novak said there were no concrete plans on long-term cooperation yet, while new proposals for cooperation will be discussed during an OPEC ministerial committee in Jeddah. Protesters have surrounded Serzh Sargsyans residency in Yerevan yesterday evening. The leader of the Civil Contract opposition party, MP Nikol Pashinyan, has urged his supporters to blockade all government facilities across the country. "The whole country can hear me at the moment. I am urging everyone to head to government buildings, get into offices, paralyze the activity of the entire government sector," Pashinyan told a meeting late on Wednesday. "Rural residents and residents of townships should compel all heads of local administrations to join the opposition movement," TASS cited Pashinyan as saying. Parliament voted in Sarkisian as prime minister on April 17, sparking the largest protest in Armenia in years, with tens of thousands taking to the streets. Heeding a call Nikol Pashinyan, protesters had held rallies over recent days to denounce a change in the political system that they say is a bid to ensure Sargsyan can remain in power. A constitutional amendment approved in 2015 has transferred governing powers from the presidency to the premier. Pashinyan has called for "a peaceful velvet revolution" and urged his supporters to set up "revolutionary committees" across the country. Russian General Staff Chief General Valery Gerasimov has arrived on a working visit to Azerbaijans capital of Baku, where he particularly plans to discuss the Syria issue with NATOs Supreme Allied Commander in Europe General Curtis Scaparrotti, the Russian Defense Ministry said in a statement. "The parties will discuss issues concerning the military activities of NATO and Russia in the European region, as well as the situation in Syria," TASS cited the statement as saying. The Russian Defense Ministry added that while on a visit to Baku, Gerasimov would be received by Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev. NATO Deputy Secretary General Rose Gottemoeller said earlier in an interview with Russias Kommersant daily that a meeting between Scaparrotti and Gerasimov was planned to be held this week. Meanwhile, a diplomatic source in Brussels said that the talks would focus on ways to prevent military incidents caused by a possible misunderstanding between Russia and NATO. An earthquake of at least magnitude 5.9 struck in southern Iran near the countrys sole nuclear power plant this morning, shaking countries across the Persian Gulf. There was no immediate report of damage or injuries. The US Geological Survey said the quake struck at 0634 GMT some 100 kilometers east of Bushehr. The USGS put the earthquakes magnitude at 5.5 while Iranian state television, citing officials, described the quake as a magnitude 5.9. Varying magnitudes are common immediately after a temblor. Iranian state TV did not report any damage at Bushehr plant, which has seen other earthquakes in the past and is built to resist damage from a temblor. It put the earthquakes epicenter near the town of Kaki. The Iran Red Cross described the epicenter as being in a sparsely populated area, the Washington Post reported. In Bahrain, people said they felt the quake and evacuated from high-rise buildings. Some in Qatar also felt the quake and evacuated tall buildings in Dohas West Bay area. People in Kuwait City also felt the temblor. The USGS put the earthquakes depth at 10 kilometers below the surface. Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party's (CHP) nominated its leader Kemal Klcdaroglu as the presidential candidate. According to the Turkish media, his candidacy was supported by 85% of the party's members. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan said yesterday that Turkeys presidential and parliamentary elections will be held on June 24, 2018. Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan and his Chinese counterpart Xi Jinping discussed Syria over the phone today according to a Turkish presidential source. Erdogan said Turkey has "all along" been against the use of chemical weapons and it is important not to allow tension in Syria to escalate in the upcoming period, the source, who spoke on condition of anonymity due to restrictions on talking to the media, said. The presidents agreed to ensure Syria's territorial integrity and enhance ties in all areas, Anadolu Agency reported. The source added Erdogan and Xi also discussed bilateral relations and exchanged views on regional issues. Erdogan also congratulated Xi on his second term in office. HCM CITY SolarGATES Joint Stock Trading Company and SCG Roof Viet Nam (a member of Siam Cement Group Thailand), have agreed to distribute solar power equipment, including concrete roof tiles and solar power panels, to families in Viet Nam and around Southeast Asia. SolarGATES, a member of HCM City-based SolarBK Holdings Group, said the deal will help provide combined solar power panels and concrete roofs for households in Thailand market, as well as elsewhere in Asia via SCGs agents and showrooms. SolarGATES will provide made-in-Viet Nam solar power panels for renewable power from 2kWp (Kilowatt photovoltaic) to 10kWp, solar-powered water heaters and solar cells for solar power-generated backpacks, suitcases and umbrellas. The agreement marked further co-operation between two partners in providing clean energy for household use in Viet Nam and Asia. Earlier, SCG Roof Viet Nam began distributing roof solar power solutions for household use in central Viet Nam. In 2017, Irex Energy JSC, a company of SolarBK Holdings, began construction of a high-tech renewable-energy device factory complex in Ba Ria-Vung Tau with total investment of US$17 million. SolarBK Holdings has been seen as a forerunner in developing solar-powered water heaters, wind power turbines, solar power-driven sea water filter systems and renewable use solutions in Viet Nam. According to European experts, Rooftop solar power in Viet Nam could be smoothly integrated into the national grid, and the cost of solar power installation in Viet Nam is lower than in countries such as the US. The Vietnamese Government has set ambitious targets to install 12GW of solar power by 2030. VNS HCM CITY More than 2,000 primary school students in a Nang City last Saturday attended Education Day which is held every year and offers them a chance to both play and learn. It is also a chance for them to show off their knowledge in maths, history and Vietnamese through a contest. Outstanding students were commended. The event was organised in co-operation with FrieslandCampina Viet Nam, which gave rewards to the contest winners and more than 4,000 glasses of milk, and provided consultancy on proper nutrition and physical activities for students through games and other events. VNS Educational experts believe that by focussing on education in three main training fields of business, technology and health science VinUni could become one of 50 best universities in the world. Some 28 days after the group announced its decision to join the higher education field by establishing VinUni University (VinUni), Vingroup signed a strategic cooperation agreement with two of the top 20 leading universities in the world, US-based Cornell and Pennsylvania (Penn) early on April. At the signing ceremony, Prof. Rohit Verma, dean of external relations, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Cornell University) expressed his confidence that Vingroup and its partners, Cornell and Penn, have the great opportunity to create VinUni University, turning it into one of the top universities in the world. Prof. Rohit Verma At the signing ceremony, Prof. Rohit Verma, dean of external relations, Cornell SC Johnson College of Business (Cornell University) expressed his confidence that Vingroup and its partners, Cornell and Penn, have the great opportunity to create VinUni University, turning it into one of the top universities in the world. It may take a few years, a decade or even longer, but VinUni definitely will be in the list of top 50 universities in the world, according to Prof. Rohit Verma. Prof. Larry Jameson, Penn executive vice president-cum-dean of the Perelman School of Medicine, said that VinUni - Cornell Penn alliance has had a close collaboration, with a young and dynamic team full of the spirit of innovation. "These are the key elements that create value and the advantage of VinUni," Prof. Larry Jameson said. Vingroup Vice President Le Mai Lan said that sufficient conditions for the success of VinUni would be the choice of an appropriate direction. VinUni University will focus on the education and training in three key areas including business, technology and health sciences, Lan said. "These are specific subjects, focusing on key areas where Viet Nam has the potential to develop and requires innovation to create sustainable competitive advantages. These are Tourism; Real estate; Retail, Industry and Health, Public health," Lan said. VinUni will consider opening more training in other fields, Lan added. Quality is better than quantity Education expert am Quang Minh said that focusing on the three training fields is a move into the right direction for VinUni, a successful way that many universities world famous have done successfully. "Talking about a famous university, people often think of the fields that make up the school's name, as with MIT is Technology, Harvard is the social sciences, business and management, Stanford is natural science and technology," Minh said. For VinUnis partners, Cornell and Penn, Cornell is proud of Cornell SC Johnson College of Business and Sibley School of Mechanical and Aerospace Engineering while Penn is famous with Perelman School of Medicine and Pennsylvania Nursing School. A member of the National Education and Human Resource Development Council said that it is very difficult to reach an international quality. "It is very difficult to develop training programmes that meet international quality standards and accreditations. However, with three announced training fields, VinUni absolutely could be successful because Cornell is strong in business, hospitality, technology and engineering and technology training, while Penn has a global reputation for health science training," the expert emphasised. This is an advantage and also a foundation for VinUni to quickly rise up to become a world class training centre in regional and the world, the expert said. "We want to achieve a breakthrough quality in higher education and create in the country a world-class university that is accredited and ranked following international standards, has excellent ability in teaching and researching, contributing to key economic fields in Viet Nam and the global knowledge economy," Vingroup Vice President Lan added. Vietnamese shares were dragged down by strong profit-taking pressure yesterday while investors remained cautious towards the current trading outlook. Photo vneconomy.vn HA NOI Vietnamese shares were dragged down by strong profit-taking pressure yesterday while investors remained cautious towards the current trading outlook. The benchmark VN Index on the HCM Stock Exchange dropped 1.28 per cent to close at 1,138.53 points, retreating from 0.4 per cent growth on Tuesday. The HNX Index on the Ha Noi Stock Exchange fell 1.09 per cent to end at 132.78 points. It gained 0.7 per cent in the previous session. Nearly 233 million shares were traded on the two local exchanges, worth VN6.25 trillion (US$278 million), up 5 per cent in volume and 1.5 per cent in value from Tuesday. Declining stocks outnumbered gainers by 279 to 181 and 117 other stocks were steady, showing investors were quiet amid the current market volatility. Across the two stock markets, 15 of 20 sectors saw share prices fall, including leading industries such as banking-finance, property development, energy and building material production. Among those sectors, the worst-performing industries were banking, insurance and securities, which lost between 3.3 per cent and 1 per cent. The banking sector was driven down by Bank for Investment and Development of Viet Nam (BID), Sai Gon-Ha Noi Bank (SHB), Vietinbank (CTG) and Vietcombank (VCB). Those four bank stocks each lost at least 3.3 per cent. Among insurance and brokerage stocks that suffered were insurer Bao Viet Holdings (BVH), Agribank Securities (AGR), VNDirect Securities (VND) and Sai Gon-Ha Noi Securities (SHS). According to BIDV Securities Co (BSC), confidence remained low as investors worried about the worlds macroeconomic conditions and that concern caused the market to decrease. China on Tuesday announced heavy anti-dumping deposits on US sorghum with an accusation against the US for selling this agricultural product below market value. No further information on the talks between the two nations over the trade war has been revealed. Therefore, this factor will remain an unpredictable objective risk for the global stock markets in the short term, Bao Viet Securities Co (BVSC) said in its report. Modest trading liquidity showed investors were hesitant as liquidity rose but remained far below the moderate level amid negative market breadth, BVSC said. Such trading conditions indicated investors cautiousness and fears about a markets plunge in the next session, it said, adding that the VN Index may continue to fall before reverting to a sustainable uptrend. The VN Index is likely to drop to the 1,130-1,135 point threshold in the next sessions, BVSC forecast. The market is expected to recover in this zone, but this recovery could be a technical rise and the index can still slide afterwards. VNS SEOUL Viet Nam wants South Korean investors to actively take part in and become strategic partners in the equitisation and divestment of State capital from State-owned enterprises (SOEs). This is due to their financial strength, management experience and high technology. Finance Minister inh Tien Dung said this in an interview to Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of an investment promotion conference in South Korea on April 18. He said the Vietnamese Government recognised the role of foreign investors, including those from South Korea. The Korean investors participation in the equitisation and divestment processes will help improve the quality of economic restructuring in Viet Nam. It is expected to promote the effectiveness of governance and use of capital at SOEs in the country, he added. According to him, the fields in which Viet Nam wanted to attract Korean investment should be the ones both sides were strong at and could contribute to the growth of the two economies, such as heavy industries, oil refining and petrochemistry, high technology, electronic and consumer product manufacturing and infrastructure and real estate development. Viet Nam highly values Korean investors advantages in capital, technology and governance. It hopes that aside from direct investment, they will also step up indirect investment to materialise the statement of the two countries leaders during a visit by South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Viet Nam in March. South Korea is currently the largest investor in Viet Nam, with US$59 billion of direct investment and over $3 billion of indirect investment. Samsung projects in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces and HCM City, Kaengnam and Lotte buildings and the Starlake residential area in Ha Noi are examples of successful investment cooperation between the two countries. VNS HA NOI HCM Stock Exchange (HoSE) has received an application from Techcombank to list more than 1.16 billion shares on its bourse. According to HoSE, Ban Viet Securities Company has been selected as the consulting institution for Techcombanks listing. Techcombank last week also launched the nations biggest initial public offering (IPO) that aims to raise as much as $922 million and has attracted global funds as cornerstone investors. Reuters had reported that Techcombank was offering shares at a price range of VN120,000-128,000 per share (US$5.27-$5.62), which is expected to raise between $864 million and $922 million. Singapore wealth fund GIC, Fidelity Management and Research, and Dragon Capital are among the funds coming in as cornerstone investors. Techcombanks IPO, scheduled in June, will be larger than Warburg Pincus-backed Vincom Retails IPO last year, which raised some $700 million. The IPO is expected to value the bank at some $6.1-$6.5 billion, ranking it among the 10 largest listed local companies. The lender got a boost last month when Warburg Pincus agreed to invest more than $370 million in the bank in the largest-ever private equity investment in Viet Nam. According to a source with knowledge of the transaction, the demand from cornerstone investors is so strong that some 76 per cent of the IPO is being allocated to such investors, much higher than in other IPOs. The source said investors were keen to put in money in one of the fastest-growing banks in Southeast Asia while the countrys strong economic growth had also attracted a range of international investors. Techcombank is focused on retail and fee income, a story that long-only funds are keen to play, said the source on condition of anonymity. The 25-year-old bank provides a broad range of banking products and services to more than 5.4 million Vietnamese customers. It has an extensive network of 315 branches across the country. VNS HA NOI The cultural diversity of ethnic groups in the northwestern province of Son La will be highlighted at the Liberation Day (April 30) celebrations at the Viet Nam National Village for Ethnic Culture and Tourism in Son Tay town, Ha Noi. A wide range of cultural activities will take place from April 28 to May 1 featuring the cultural traditions of ethnic groups residing in Son La Province such as the khen (panpipes) festival of the Mong, the art of making pieu (embroidered scarves) of the Thai and Xen Cung festival of the Kho Mu. Xen Cung is the important festival due to its scale and spiritual meaning in the Kho Mu community. It preserves the unique traditional culture of the Kho Mu, in which they perform rituals to pay gratitude to the ancestors and organise games to strengthen solidarity in their community. Pieu, the traditional scarf of Thai women, is not only a kind of accessory but also a cultural symbol of the Thai people. Each scarf tells a story about the wearers feelings and character through patterns and colours. No matter how the life of the Thai has changed, the traditional art of weaving pieu is still preserved, reflecting the aesthetic sense of Thai women. The scarfs patterns feature animals such as deer, butterfly, bird, elephant and tiger, the moon, and trees such as fern. These same patterns are also seen on the hems of Thai costumes. Researcher Luong Van Thiet from the Viet Nam Museum of Ethnology said the skill of making pieu reflects the womans talent and character. Thai men seek partners based on their ability to decorate and embroider pieu. Traditional markets in the mountainous region will be recreated during these days as a highlight of the festival. The markets are an important cultural practice of the ethnic groups, according to Lam Van Khang, head of the management board of the village. Its a place for people to exchange goods and perform cultural activities. Its also a rendezvous for young men and women to date and get acquainted, he said. Accordingly, traditional foods and products of Mong, Dao, Thai, Muong, Kho Mu and Tay will be introduced together with folk games and artistic performances. The ethnic people will perform their skills in making traditional handicraft. Son La Province is the home of 12 ethnic groups including Thai, Kinh, Mong, Muong, Dao, Kho Mu, Xinh Mun, Nung, La Ha, Ha Nhi, Tay and Hoa. Of these, the Thai are the largest community in Son La accounting for 54 per cent of the population. VNS HA NOI General Mai Chi Tho (1922-2007) and his comrades had to eat small rotten fishes and boiled buffalo meat that tasted like rubber when they were imprisoned at Hoa Lo Prison in 1940-1945. The story of Tho and other Vietnamese soldiers are told at an exhibition that opened on Wednesday in Ha Noi. Titled Bare Feet, Steel Will, the exhibition reflects the strong will and courage of those who followed President Ho Chi Minhs determination to gain independence. The exhibition depicts portraits of heroes such as Vo Nguyen Giap, inh uc Thien, Mai Chi Tho and Nguyen Chi Thanh, who were excellent students of President Ho. They devoted themselves to fight for Viet Nam and contributed to the victory of ien Bien Phu (1954) and the Ho Chi Minh Campaign (1975) as well as during the history of fighting invaders. During two long and arduous wars, the elite Vietnamese people entered in the war with their bare feet and fight against the enemy by their steel will, said Nguyen Thi Bich Thuy, head of the management board of the Hoa Lo Prison Relic, where the exhibition takes place. They had extraordinary strength to overcome all difficulties and challenges, with the will to win, the faith in their country without any self-interest, following the path of revolution with all their hearts. As people say Fire proves gold, adversity proves men, many young revolutionary people had been trained and became matured through years and months of imprisonment in Hoa Lo, Son La, Con ao and Buon Me Thuot. They contributed to our glorious history, he said. The exhibition of 250 photos and objects will run until June 15 at Hoa Lo Prison Relic, 1 Hoa Lo Street, Ha Noi, to celebrate Liberation Day which falls on April 30. VNS Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc speaks at a conference in Ha Noi yesterday to review the progress of building the draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units. VNA/VNS Photo Thong Nhat HA NOI Institutions and legal regulations for special administrative-economic zones in Quang Ninh, Khanh Hoa and Kien Giang provinces must be different from other cities and provinces to attract investment, Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc has said. Phuc made the statement at a conference in Ha Noi yesterday to review the progress of building the draft Law on Special Administrative-Economic Units and projects on the establishment of the units, which will be submitted to the National Assembly at the upcoming fifth session. The PM stated that the law must be built in line with regulations of the Constitution but it should have features to increase competitiveness and attract investments. The administration apparatus at these units must be streamlined and effective, ensuring the balance of interests between the State, citizens and enterprises, he said. Issues relating to the apparatus and policies must be globally competitive and guarantee national security, he added. The PM urged the Ministry of Planning and Investment to hasten the building of the draft law and relevant projects for submission to the National Assembly. He said that it is necessary to push ahead with reforms in building institutions and policies for development to create better conditions for enterprises and citizens. The special administrative-economic units are not only of the three provinces but also of the whole nation, Phuc said, adding that it is important to build a unique institution to boost their development and contribute to the countrys growth. The building of the draft law and projects must also receive high public consensus, he noted. The Government leader emphasised the decentralisation of management and clear definition of functions, tasks and power of relevant agencies, including the army, public security, court, procuracy, foreign affairs, taxation and customs, in building the units apparatus. Regarding mechanisms and policies for these units, Phuc stressed the need to build mechanisms to draw investors. The PM asked the three provinces to improve the management of land, forests and environment and ensure social order and safety. He also requested the development of human resources involving management personnel and workers for priority industries in the special units. VNS HCM CITY Three Royal Australian Navy (RAN) warships, including the helicopter frigates HMAS ANZAC and HMAS TOOWOOMBA and support ship HMAS SUCCESS, docked at HCM Citys Sai Gon Port on April 19 as a part of a goodwill visit. The three-day visit with a total crew of 73 officers and 569 sailors aims to strengthen relations between the two navies. The crew met senior officers and sailors of the Vietnamese Peoples Navy to participate in information-sharing activities covering broad topics such as search and rescue, peacekeeping and maritime security, said Commander Michael Devine, RAN and Commander of the Task Unit for South East Asia Deployment. Colonel Nerolie McDonald, Australian Defence Attache in Viet Nam, said: It has been 17 years since we had three Australian Navy ships visiting Viet Nam at the same time, and this year marks the celebration of the 20th Anniversary of defence relations between Australia and Viet Nam, the 45th Anniversary of diplomatic relations, and the recent elevation of the bilateral relationship to a strategic partnership. The HCM City visit was part of the three ships trip throughout South East Asia. VNS Fishermen prepare logistics for long fishing trips at Tho Quang fishing port in a Nang. VNS Photo Cong Thanh A NANG The Prime Minister has asked ministries and localities to boost control on unsafe seafood exports and remove poor quality aquaculture products that failed to conduct food safety regulations at import markets. The PM has given an instruction on measures and solutions of batches of sea products that had been either returned or flagged by importing countries recently. The instruction also required joint actions among ministries of agriculture, health, industry and trade, public security, and association of seafood exporters and producers (VASEP) to promoting strict controls and management of the use of chemicals, antibiotics, and additives in food processing. Relevant agencies are required to inform businesses about quarantine regulations, policy changes and import conditions of sea products that were given by importing countries. Following the instruction, progressive actions and measures, as well as education programmes on illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing, have been held by local fishery associations, as positive solutions for the European Commission (EC)s yellow card warning to Viet Nam over IUU fishing last year. The yellow card is a warning measure, given to nations considered at risk of being deemed uncooperative in the fight against IUU fishing. Chairman of a Nang Citys Fisheries Association Tran Van Linh said education and practical training for fishermen, captains and ship owners had been regularly carried out by the association, even before the yellow card warning. All seafood and sea product processing companies for exports in a Nang had to follow strict regulations given by the EU. Its because local exporters and processing companies could not get the necessary permission for exporting to the EU market if they did not follow various regulations on food safety. Regulations include obtaining a Certificate of Original (CO), and measures relating to the fishing grounds and quality of seafood stores, Linh said. Almost all offshore fishing boats are equipped with a Global Positioning System (GPS), or sea journey diary containing the co-ordinates of fishing, and also fish species that are illegal to catch, he said, adding that the education and communication programmes had been performed by the association since 2010. Linh said the association has 1,100 fishing boats, of which 30 per cent were high-capacity ships (90CV engine), and 20 per cent carry modern fishing equipment and are capable of long voyages. He said a Nang that the fishing port authority had advised fishermen and boat owners regarding fishing licenses, the need to record in a sea journey diary, and the need for a CO, three years prior to the ECs yellow card warning. Linh explained that fishermen and ship owners recognised that these procedures would improve the quality of their product, and thus help them to export to the EU, leading to a higher income. Fish is loaded at Tho Quang fishing port for processing for export. VNS Photo Cong Thanh Changes Nguyen Than, a captain in a Nang, said his fleet of four offshore vessels often fish in the sea of the Hoang Sa (Paracel) Islands of Viet Nam. We often catch tuna for export, so the coordinates of our fishing ground were constantly reported to the mainlands sea product management sub-department. Our captains were well educated and knew the appropriate laws regarding their trade. They kept a sea diary, and were aware of the documents related to fishing and sea journeys, Than said, adding that these ships also received warnings on areas where fishing is illegal. He added that his fleet of 48 fishermen could catch 40 tonnes of fish each month and that fishermen working on the four ships were well aware of banned fish species, the regulations on fishing nets, fishing seasons and food safety conditions. Than stressed that 90 per cent of their fish were processed for export at local factories. Nguyen Toan, the owner of a fishing boat in Son Tra district said that the EUs regulations in seafood and sea production exports helped fishermen develop their awareness on laws and violations that they could face in fishing trips. We had to change, or our fish would be returned by importers. Previously, fishermen or captains were not aware of sea journey diaries, COs, or co-ordinate recording, nor were they aware of the need for cold storage of fish, but it became the norm in recent years, Toan said. Major Nguyen Van Binh, from the citys Border Guard Force, said communicating laws, fish species bans, or strict regulations on the size of fishing nets is ensured at fishing ports or on board ships. Binh said fishermen also receive updated warnings on new regulations or procedures dictated by the EU or importing countries. Nguyen Thanh, a fisherman from Quang Ngais Sa Huynh district, said his boat often docks at Tho Quang to sell fish. We will earn a lot from our fish with full certificates of fishing ground, food safety regulations, and if we release small fish as well. We will lose out if we do not follow the strict conditions that the association and relevant fishery agencies and administrations had warned us about, Thanh said. Linh said Viet Nam should build up more vocational centres to educate fishermen and captains in the near future. The countrys fishing industry should have a face-lift reform policy. The trade needs a strategic development plan that requires professional education programmes and centres as well as increased studying of fish reserve data. We also need to build modern fishing fleets with well-equipped ships, Linh said. He said fishing in Viet Nam is still a traditional trade, and not as professional as the countries like Japan and Korea. Fishermen must have a strong education, he said, adding that just 60 per cent of fishermen finished junior secondary school. Automated technology is needed to replace current manual or labour-intensive fishing. Over-fishing, fishing in banned seasons or the use of explosives must be banned from the trade. VNS Infographic Hoang Anh Strict controls General Manager of a a Nang-based trading and service company under Chinese Taipei Chiu Cheng Tsai said Viet Nam should set up an exclusive organisation to enforce strict controls on fishing boats, and each boat must be installed with a GPRS. The organisation will require regular reports from fishing vessels regarding their daily fishing volume, what kind of fish and size of fish, and the kind of fishing net. Each fishing boat must be given a code to keep orderly control, Chiu said. You should open training courses for captains and crew members in fishing skills, and the preservation of fresh seafood, he said. Chiu said management agencies of Viet Nam should supervise some seafood factories with imported fish or seafood for exporting with CO Viet Nam. Chiu said his company alone exports seafood worth $10 million to Europe and the US market annually, and all fishing boats are required to submit clear sea journey diaries and fishing ground coordinates before their fish are processed for export. At a conference on solutions for the European Commission (EC)s yellow card warning to Viet Nam over IUU fishing in a Nang last year, legal experts under the Natural Resources and Environment Ministry said that strict sanctions were included in the revised Law on Fisheries that was approved by the National Assembly on November 21, 2017. Phan Thi Hue, head of the section for legislation and inspection under the department of sea product, said that the revised law on fisheries states that up to 10 years in prison and fines of up to VN5 billion (US$221,000) now await captains, fishermen and boat owners who conduct illegal, unreported and unregulated (IUU) fishing. Hue said that the revised law also prescribes fines from VN50 million ($2,200) to VN70 million ($3,000) and the revocation of fishing licenses from three to six months for smaller cases of illegal fishing. She said it also stipulates that all fishing boats longer than 15m must run tracking systems 24 hours a day when at sea. The law also included detailed regulations based on the principles of the UN Convention on the Law of the Sea 1982, as well as the Port State Measures Agreement by the UN Food and Agriculture Organisation (FAO), the Straddling Fish Stocks Agreement of the United Nations and the ECs recommendations, Hue said. It also states that the temporary import and re-export of illegal fishing materials and sea products via Vietnamese ports is illegal. Deputy General Secretary of the Viet Nam Association of Seafood Exporters and Producers (VASEP) Nguyen Hoai Nam said the association, in cooperation with Eurocham, has issued a white paper in English and Vietnamese and a database on fisheries to promote Viet Nams efforts to improve its legal system in regards to IUU fishing. He said more than 60 out of 100 businesses from VASEP have committed to fighting IUU fishing, and these positive actions will be clearly and publicly shown to the EC. The Government has approved an action plan to prevent, minimise and eliminate IUU fishing by 2025, set be issued later this month. According to VASEP, Viet Nams sea product export earned US$8.3 billion in 2017, of which 20 per cent were to the EU market. VNS HCM CITY Experts have urged ong Thap Province, the largest mango producer in the Cuu Long (Mekong) Delta, to build brands and develop large-scale fields by strengthening cooperation among local farmers. Speaking at a seminar held in the provinces Cao Lanh City on Tuesday, Professor Tran Van Hau of Can Tho University said that farmers also needed to work more closely with companies to ensure that output meets export demand. ong Thap has more than 9,300ha of mango varieties with annual output of 90,000 tonnes, according to the provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Two specialty mango varieties, Cat Chu and Hoa Loc, account for 70 per cent and 20 per cent of the provinces total mango area, respectively. The fruit is one of ong Thaps key products in its agriculture restructuring programme. The provinces mangoes, which are mostly exported to China, have also been exported to South Korea, Japan and New Zealand. The province, which has set up two co-operatives and 29 co-operative teams that grow mango, has contracted with companies to guarantee outlets for their mangoes. Last year, the companies purchased more than 6,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes from farmers. Participants at the seminar said that farmers should pay more attention to fruit quality and post-harvest preservation if authorities decide to focus on selling mostly fresh mango. To increase exports to demanding markets, the fruit should meet global Good Agricultural Practice standards, look beautiful and have good quality, they said. Professor Nguyen Bao Ve, former head of the Can Tho Universitys Agriculture Faculty, said nutrition management would improve quality. The sugar and starch in mango should account for 96 per cent of mango nutritional value and the minerals should account for less than 4 per cent, he said. Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy chairman of the provinces Peoples Committee, told farmers to work together and set up mango production chains. In the province, most mango fields that have outlet guarantees are cultivated under Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practice (VietGAP) standards, while young mangoes are covered in plastic bags to protect them from pests. Farmers earn profits of VN200 -250 million (US$8,800 11,000) per ha a year for mangoes planted in co-operation with companies. ong Thap has six areas that produce off-season mangoes, with a total area of 416ha in Cao Lanh District and Cao Lanh City. - VNS HA NOI The construction sector is currently seeing the highest number of fatal work accidents, making up more than 20 per cent of the total amount of incidents across the country. The findings were announced yesterday in a press conference in Ha Noi by the Department of Work Safety under the Ministry of Labour, Invalids and Social Affairs (MOLISA). The construction materials manufacturing sector ranks second with more than nine per cent of total fatal work accidents in the country. Falling from height is the main cause of fatalities in work accidents, making up more than 27 per cent. Electric shock is the second main cause with 13 per cent of the total number. HCM City experienced the highest number of fatalities in work accidents last year, with 122 cases killing 123 people. Director of the Department of Work Safety Ha Tat Thang said that most work accidents were investigated based on regulations, however, several localities sent investigation reports to MOLISA late, making it difficult for management to investigate effectively. Provinces and cities with the highest number of fatalities in work accidents last year. VNS Infographic oan Tung Besides, he said, several large enterprises relied vain gloriously on their wealth to compensate the victims families and local authorities in order to avoid criminal responsibility. As a result, the violated enterprises only received administrative fines. In order to increase the safety awareness of enterprises and workers, an action month on work safety and hygiene will be launched in HCM City on May 6 with the theme To take the initiative in preventing and controlling dangerous and harmful factors at the work place so as to limit occupational accidents and diseases. Nguyen Anh Tho, deputy director of the department, said that during the month, inspections will be conducted, especially in sectors with high risk. Community activities will be organised, with participation from enterprises and workers, as well as training courses, contests, forums, painting exhibitions and conferences on the issue. The work safety awareness of authorities at different levels, from grassroots to central, changed significantly after the National Assembly approved the Law on Occupational Safety and Health in July 2016. "The action month is expected to help limit work accidents, and better control work diseases," said Tho. The country saw close to 9,000 work accidents last year, killing 982 people and injuring more than 9,100 others, according to the MOLISA. VNS HA NOI The International Educational Cooperation Department under the Ministry of Education and Training (MoET), on Tuesday asked Newton Grammar School in Bac Tu Liem District to end its relationship with George Washington International School (GWIS) in the US . The request was made after GWIS was confirmed to be an unregistered school. A report issued by MoET said GWIS did not perform any educational activities in the US or have any national or regional accreditation. Earlier, on April 13, MoET issued a dispatch asking Ha Noi Department of Education and Training to investigate the case. Newton Grammar School has been told to end its co-operation with GWIS and work to guarantee the benefits of students partaking in courses linked with GWIS and related agencies. The investigation is also looking into the bilingual (Vietnamese English) curriculum which follows the American high school education. It also touches upon the teaching activities at Newton Grammar School . Finally, the responsibilities of stakeholders working with foreign institutes are being probed. The ties between Newton Grammar School and GWIS came under scrutiny after American documents calling Newton s claims into question were posted online. Students enrolling in the programme supposedly study Mathematics, Science and English language using the American curriculum supplied and taught by GWIS. Students will receive credits from both Newton Grammar School and GWIS. After collecting 24 credits, a student will obtain an American high school diploma. Although the set-up sounds attractive, the information GWIS founder Philip Nguyen provided to substantiate claims about the schools operations in the United States are paltry, prompting an outcry from parents. Karen Tang, Assistant Culture Affairs Officer of US Embassy in Ha Noi, said that GWIS had not appeared on any official registration of schools that they were able to find. Nguyen Thanh Phong. Photo vfa.gov.vn Nguyen Thanh Phong, director general of the Department of Food Safety under the Ministry of Health, talks to Vietnam News Agency about positive changes in food safety management. Decree No.15/2018/N-CP on food safety management came into force more than a month ago. What achievements have been achieved so far? The Decree has received high appraisal from enterprises. They have to take their legal responsibility for the safety of their products instead of submitting reports to concern government agencies for their accreditations. However, under the Decree 15, certain products are still need to be sent to the Ministry of Health or the Provincial Health Department for verification. These products include supplement health foods; food supplememts or nutrition food for children under 36 months old. Under the new Decree, Government agencies will undertake the role of post-checks while heavy fines /sanctions will be given to any fraudulent cases if they are detected. The advantage point of the Decree 15 is that enterprises are given more autonomy rights to do business if they act in accordance to the law. According to the Central Institution for Economic Management (CIEM), more than 95 percent of food products will no longer need safety food stamps from functional agencies. In other words, it will save about 1.8 million of working days and more than VN600 billion (US$26.5 million) in a year. Are there any challenges for the enterprises? The enterprises have faced quite a few challenges. The most challenging is that until now, quite a few Provincial/City Peoples Committees have not dispatched official letters asking local functional agencies to receive enterprises dossiers declaring their food safety. The work has still been done by the Sub-department of Food Safety. Many enterprises have wondered that after submitting their dossiers to functional Government agencies, should these agencies notify them to say they have received their papers? The enterprises dont have to worry. After completing all the required paper work, the enterprises can start their business and it is the task the functional agencies to perform their assigned tasks. What the enterprises need to do now is to keep their dossiers and take notes of the date and time they submitted their dossiers as references for post checks if it is required in the future. However, the most important point is that all enterprises must uphold law and order in their products regarding the issue of food safety declaration. Will you please talk a bit more about the switch from pre-check to post check? Currently, the MOH has developed an inspection plan for the imported food on sale in the market. In addition, the MOH has also petitioned on the need to apply strong administrative penalties on cases violating the law on food safety. Heavy penalties should be considered as the last resort to deter future violations. In addition, the MOH has also proposed that in a severe case of food poisoning, a term of 20 years imprisonment could be applied in the Article 317 of the Criminal Code. Worthy of note is that Article 13 has further expanded cases that will enjoy checks exemption for food imported from abroad, unless cases are suspected of violating the Vietnamese Food Safety Law. Under the new law, the Food Safety Certificate will be valid throughout the products life cycle. Under the Decree, any product, raw production materials which are imported for the only purpose of production, processing for export or for internal production within the enterprise or individuals, they will not be subjected for inspection. However, in such a case, the enterprises are prohibited to sell their raw materials in the market._VNS HCM CITY Passengers buying train tickets 20 days in advance of their journey will have the price reduced, ranging from 20 per cent to 50 per cent, the Sai Gon Railway Transport JSC has announced. The promotion applies to trips of more than 1,000km on the Thong Nhat (North - South) route and TPHCMHue route at Sai Gon Train Station. Passengers booking train tickets 20 days before the departure date will enjoy a cut of 20 per cent to 30 per cent, on routes from HCM City to the central provinces of Quy Nhon, Nha Trang and Quang Ngai. Price reductions will not apply for passengers on air-conditioned four sleeper-seat cabins. Tickets can be returned or exchanged 72 hours prior to the departure date. In case of exchange, passengers have to pay 20-50 per cent of its value, depending on the route. Groups of over 10 passengers will see their ticket prices cut by 3-12 per cent. In addition, travel companies participating in the domestic tourism stimulus programme for 2018 will be offered a reduction of 10 per cent to 40 per cent. The travel companies will receive an additional discount of 10 per cent if they book tickets 30 days in advance for groups of more than 10 passengers. The reduction in ticket prices will continue until December 26, except during holiday periods from April 25 to May 1, and from August 30 to September 3. New schedules Ha Noi Railway Transport JSC (HARACO) will change its timetables of trains SE1, SE2, SE3 and SE4 linking Ha Noi and HCM City beginning on May 15. Accordingly, SE1 will depart at Ha Noi Railway Station at 10.20pm daily; SE2 will leave Sai Gon Railway Station at 9.55pm daily; SE3 will depart at Ha Noi station at 7.30pm daily; and SE4 will leave Sai Gon Railway Station at 7.45pm every day. In addition, some trains will change their pickup schedules at transit stations. HARACO has also launched a promotion for groups of passengers from 3 per cent to 7 per cent beginning this summer. Purchases made from May 24 to August 12 by groups of 20-50 people will be reduced by 3 per cent, and for groups of 51-100 people, 5 per cent. Groups of over 101 people will see a cut of 7 per cent. Depending on total number of people in each group (excluding tour guides), a discount will also be offered for their tour guides. A group of 20-50 people will receive a discount for a tour guide, while a group of 51-100 people will have a reduction for two tour guides. Groups of over 101 people will enjoy a discount for three tour guides. Each tour guide will receive a 70 per cent discounted ticket price. More promotions Earlier, Viet Nam Railway announced its new promotions for 2018. Accordingly, passengers who are Vietnamese heroic mothers or who took part in national liberation before the August revolution (19/8/1945) will receive a 90 per cent discount off train ticket prices. A 30 per cent discount will be given for those who are war invalids, policy beneficiaries, Agent Orange victims and people with disabilities. There will also be a discount of 25 per cent for children 6 to 10 years old; 15 per cent discount for those 60 and above; and 10 per cent discount for students at vocational schools, high schools, colleges, universities and academies (excluding postgraduate students). Children under six years old accompanied by an adult will travel free of charge. There is a limit of two children per adult. VNS HA TINH Vice chairman of the central Ha Tinh Provinces Peoples Committee ang Ngoc Son has signed a decision to establish a working group that will be responsible for guiding, inspecting and supervising the treatment of oil-contaminated wells in Huong Trach Communes Tan Phuc Village under Huong Khe District. The 16-member working group, chaired by Phan Lam Son, deputy director of the provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment, will be tasked with guiding and coordinating directly with the Peoples Committee of Huong Khe District to work out plans for treating the contaminated wells. On April 8, Nguyen Xuan Hai, a resident of Tan Phuc Village, noticed the smell of oil in his well. A day later, six other families in the village found their wells contaminated with oil. Two of them were severely polluted. Immediately after receiving the news from the local residents, Ha Tinh Province officials went to the village to investigate the matter. To ensure the safety of the water resources, local authorities have asked the affected families not to use the contaminated water and to have measures in place to prevent fire and explosion. Local authorities will also support the people in accessing safe water. The provincial Department of Natural Resources and Environment has requested Huong Khe District Peoples Committee to take measures to absorb the water in the contaminated wells to limit water pollution and prevent the oil from spilling into the surrounding areas. VNS HCM CITY Secretary of the HCM Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan has called on the IT and telecommunications sectors to work closely with local agencies in smart-city development. Traffic congestion and floods continue to occur. We need smart city forecasting and solutions, Nhan said at a meeting with the city Peoples Committee and members of the IT and telecommunications community held on Wednesday. The city planned to carry out simulations on urban traffic, the economy, and floods, he added. Under the smart urban area project, there will be four centres. One will be a shared database and open database eco-system and another will integrate all the citys information sources and databases from various departments and district committees. The others will be used for simulations to forecast socio-economic strategy, and on information security. Tran Vinh Tuyen, deputy chairman of the city Peoples Committee, said that students at schools would be taught about smart city issues. Nhan said the city should learn from other countries but that products and technologies for the projects implementation should be from Vietnamese. The city, which covers more than 2,000 square kilometres, with a population of 10 million, would develop the smart city plan in gradual phases. The citys eastern region including District 2, 9 and Thu uc would be given priority, he added. The region is near the citys centre and has land for new infrastructure and facilities. The area also has a buffer zone to encourage innovation and startups. This would be the first smart urban centre, which will help speed up the project, Nhan said. He instructed all city departments to assess the development of IT and telecommunications industries with detailed figures. The city has nearly 80,000 people working in these industries, accounting for 1.86 per cent of its total labour force. This is too low, Nhan said. Viet Nam National University- HCM City said it would train more IT students in coming years. Many enterprises and startups have asked the city to give them preferential treatment so they can be part of the smart city project. Phi Anh Tuan, vice chairman of HCM City Computer Association, said that preferential tariffs or other preferences should be provided to enterprises that use software produced by local companies. VNS HCM CITY The District 11 Hospital in HCM City has successfully performed its first ever surgery to remove a pancreatic tumour. The surgery was performed three weeks ago on a 37-year-old man who had a tumour on the head of his pancreas with assistance from doctors from the HCM City University Medical Centre. The man has to date recovered completely and been discharged. The man from Tien Giang Province was brought to the hospital with abdominal pain and loss of weight. He had earlier been admitted to the provincial hospital, where his situation worsened. A CT scan found the tumour, which was 80 per cent cancerous. Doctors at the District 11 Hospital decided to perform the Whipple procedure, a complex operation to remove the head of the pancreas, the duodenum and a portion of the bile duct. Even if the tumour had not been cancerous, the patient would have needed surgery because it could have led to cirrhosis and liver failure and death, they said. Dr Phan Thanh Long of the hospital said complications after this surgery are highly likely, at 30-50 per cent. Ten days after a surgery, patients could still get complications, he said. VNS BAC NINH The Tri Phuong River Port Project was launched on Wednesday in Tien Du District, Bac Ninh Province, with Bac Ki Investment Joint Stock Company as its main investor. The project is expected to handle the imports and exports of five northern provinces including Bac Ninh, Bac Giang, Thai Nguyen, Vinh Phuc and Ha Noi, using waterway containers, reducing delivery time and easing the pressure on road traffic. The port located on the 2.5ha area has the capacity to handle barges of 900TEUs and four 120TEUs. The total capacity is 200,000TEUs per year. Moreover, there will be 100 tractors taking charge of transferring goods to and from the port. A custom authority will also be established to directly process documents related to goods being imported and exported. Tri Phuong River Port helps connect the coastal city of Hai Phong with five northern provinces that host the factories of major manufacturers including Samsung, Foxconn, Toyota, Canon and Honda. In 2016, the volume of imports and exports from these five localities accounted for some 50 per cent of the total goods volume transiting through Hai Phong City Port. Moreover, Tri Phuong Port is an extended project of ICD Tien Son Logistics Centre in Tien Son Industrial Zone, Bac Ninh Province, aiming to offer comprehensive service packages, including multimodal transportation, warehousing and customs declaration services. The charges offered are competitive, 20 to 25 per cent lower than the fees of road transportation. This allows customers to receive goods during the day by storing containers at Tri Phuong Port instead of having to order goods at least one day in advance because of containers being stored at Hai Phong Port. It also helps shorten the delivery time of exports because the distance from the factories to Tri Phuong Port is less than the distance to Hai Phong City. The port contributes to reductions in traffic congestion and pressure on National Highways Nos. 5 and 18 as well as reducing the number of roads connecting northern provinces and Hai Phong. Nguyen Tran Hieu, director of Bac Ki company, told the Vietnam News Agency that the initial investment in the project amounted to VN170 billion. On the day of the launch, three customers registered to use the port when it is completed. These companies signed the memorandums of understanding on exploiting the port with Bac Ki company when the port goes into operation at the end of July, Hieu said. VNS NINH THUAN Some 11 reservoirs and several seasonal dams in the southern central province of Ninh Thuan have dried out, leaving 1,700 households without clean water. The information was released on Wednesday at a meeting between the local authorities and the Water Resource Directorate. Tran Van Tuan, chief of office under Ninh Thuan Province Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Rescue, said that because of the drought, 7,500 people do not have access to clean water for daily use, mostly in the districts of Ninh Hai, Ninh Son and Bac Ai. Moreover, the areas severely affected by the drought are Thuan Nam District and some communes in the districts of Ninh Phuoc, Ninh Hai, Ninh Son, Thuan Bac and Bac Ai. From February to April 10, the number of cattle who died was 785, including 578 sheep, 105 goats and two cows. Phan Quang Thuu, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that until April 17, the total volume of 21 reservoirs was 120.56 million cu.m, accounting for nearly 62 per cent of the designed capacity. As 11 small reservoirs and some other seasonal dams have completely dried out, district authorities have asked people to stop planting summer-autumn crops and to save water for daily activities and for livestock. It is estimated that an area of 6,000ha will not be planted this year, Thuu told Tuoi tre (Youth) newspaper. Therefore, the department asked the Government to support Ninh Thuan Province during the drought by supplying six 10cu.m water tank trucks for people suffering from water shortage and investing in pumping systems in the dried out reservoirs of Ong Kinh in Ninh Hai District and Phuoc Nhon in Bac Ai District. The construction of Tan My Dam will also be acclerated to connect water reservoirs. Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the directorate, recommended that Ninh Thuan Province update and compare data of drought and water resources in the first three months of 2018 with the severe drought in 2015-16 to supply water to people and distribute water from reservoirs to localities engaged in agricultural activities. VNS ONG NAI Chin Well Fasteners Viet Nam Company in Hiep Phuoc Commune, Nhon Trach District, was fined VN3.5 billion (US$154,000) for releasing untreated wastewater and directly burying 1,600 tonnes of contaminated waste. On Wednesday, the Department of Environmental Crime Prevention, also known as PC49, under ong Nai Provinces Police, in collaboration with the provincial Department of National Resources and Environments Inspection Force, found sludge, contaminated waste and chemicals buried under the soil at the companys site. The agencies took samples of the waste to test for further investigation. According to Tien Phong (Vanguard) newspaper, in July 2016, PC49 detected that the company was discharging untreated wastewater into the environment. It also found 1,600 tonnes of hazardous waste buried at four locations of the company. ong Nai provinces Peoples Committee, therefore, asked the company to adopt chemical clearance measures to restore the land. But nearly a year later, the site remains heavily contaminated. VNS For each issue of our sister publication, Warbird Digest magazine, James Church collates a marvelous Resurrection Report featuring some of the most recent highlights of news in the warbird world. The upcoming issue is set to be a real blockbuster, as always, with some marvelous feature-length stories we know will create an impact. As a sneak-peak at Issue #78, we thought we would share some of the stories from the latest Resurrection Report SBD Arrives at Yankee Air Museum: The Yankee Air Museum, Ypsilanti, Michigan, has taken delivery of Douglas SBD-3 Dauntless, BuNo.06626, which was recovered from the depths of Lake Michigan on June 20, 1994. Previously held in storage by the National Museum of Naval Aviation in Pensacola, Florida, the damaged, yet largely complete aircraft had been used as a source of parts to support several other SBD restorations undertaken there. The NMNA will retain ownership of the artifact, which the YAF now have on a long-term loan agreement. Lost while used for carrier qualification training while operating out of Willow Groove Naval Air Station, it is one of the many airframes recovered by Taras Lyssenkos A&T Recovery. The YAM plans to incorporate it into a display that shows the airframe as it would have appeared on the lake bottom prior to recovery, with an anticipated unveiling set for this October. Butch Schroeder Acquires a Curtiss P-40K Warhawk: Through Courtesy Aircraft Sales, Butch Schroeder of Danville, Illinois, has acquired Curtiss P-40K USAAF Serial No. 42-9733, N4436J. Formerly owned by Tom Duffy of Millville, New Jersey, the P-40 is the last type Schroeder wanted to check off of his list in order to have flown all of the types his father flew while in USAAF service. Bob Sturges recovered it from Amchitka Island in the Aleutians in 1969, where the damaged airframe was abandoned during World War Two. It was restored to airworthiness by the Alpine Fighter Collection, Wanaka, New Zealand, for owner Sir Tim Wallace in 1992. Following damage sustained in a crash, it was again restored in New Zealand, this time by Pioneer Aero, for owner Dick Thurman. A succession of owners followed, and it was repainted into its current AVG scheme in 2012. Schroeder has stated that the paint scheme will be changed in due course. Spitfire Mk.Vb Arrives in the USA: Comanche Fighters Supermarine Spitfire Mk. Vb EP122, G-CISV, will now be based in the U.S. Using components manufactured by Airframe Assemblies, the aircrafts restoration was completed at the Biggin Hill Heritage Hangar, with its first flight taking place on May 4, 2016. EP122 served on Malta before damage incurred during a landing accident at Gozo saw it put out of service. The Spitfire was then pushed off a cliff into the ocean, where it remained until portions of it were recovered in the 1970s. This Spitfire has a strong wartime U.S. connection, as it became the regular mount of volunteer Sgt. Pilot Claude Weaver III of Oklahoma City, flying combat with 185th Sqn., remarkably becoming an ace in the aircraft at the age of 19! Subscribe to Warbird Digest, click on the image below! By The Associated Press/West Kentucky Star Staff Apr. 18, 2018 | 11:33 AM | PADUCAH, KY Kentucky's Democratic attorney general has filed a fifth lawsuit against a pharmaceutical company for deceptive marketing of opioid-based painkillers. This lawsuit was filed in McCracken Circuit Court. Andy Beshear says he has filed a lawsuit against Johnson & Johnson and two of its subsidiaries. Beshear says the companies persuaded doctors and patients that its opioid drugs were "rarely addictive" when used for chronic pain in order to increase the sales of their product. Beshear says the companies violated the state's Consumer Protection Act and the Kentucky Medicaid and Kentucky Assistance Program fraud statutes. The lawsuit was filed in McCracken Circuit Court because Beshear says some of the patients were treated in Paducah. The suit says, "One opioid addiction treatment center in Paducah, Kentucky doubled in size to meet the growing needs of the community. The center reports seeing as many (as) 300 patients, of all ages and from all backgrounds, for addiction to prescription opioids, including Janssen opioids, heroin, and fentanyl." Beshear has also sued Endo Pharmaceuticals, AmerisourceBergen, Cardinal Health and McKesson Corporation. Together, Beshear said those companies supplied 85 percent of opioid-based prescription painkillers in Kentucky. From 2006 to 2015, Beshear said Kentucky had more opioid prescriptions than people and the state had the sixth-highest number of opioid-related deaths in the country. You can see the entire legal document below, Paducah and McCracken County are reference in items 19 and 94. 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chemicals giant BASF and 3D printing materials company Essentium, intended to develop a range of new materials solutions for 3D printing and other applications. A major breakthrough has recently been achieved by the partners, with Essentiums subsidiary brand TriFusion Devices leveraging one of BASFs advanced materials to develop an important new prosthetic device. The new prosthetic is the strongest 3D printed thermoplastic/carbon fiber definitive prosthetic leg socket available on the market. The device was 3D printed using BASFs Ultramid polyamide material, reinforced with short carbon fiber. This combination of high-performance materials means that the prosthetic is lightweight but also tough, and more flexible than other carbon fiber-reinforced prosthetics. The material properties will enable it to be regularly adjusted throughout its lifecycle. This is a crucial aspect that sets it apart from similar devices. Small adjustments can be made in increments of 2-3 mm without weakening the socket, which will ensure that it is always a comfortable fit for a patient. After development of the device, the companies enlisted the help of Michigan-based clinic Anew Life Prosthetics and Orthotics for testing and practical validation from patients and clinicians. Anew Life owner Chris Casteel is an amputee as well as a clinician and former manufacturing professional, so he is well-suited to evaluating the effectiveness of the TriFusion device. He will be providing the companies with real-time feedback on the prosthetic socket's performance from his patients, so improvements and adjustments can be made at the level of materials as well as the 3D printing process. ''Just like anything else, its one thing to hear about a product like this, but another thing to actually feel and touch it,'' Casteel said. ''We received extremely positive feedback from patients on the 3D printed test sockets and it is incredible to see and feel how well they fit. This is a huge success for the prosthetic industry and I look forward to seeing what comes next.'' As well as the improved materials used, the implementation of 3D printing technology in the manufacturing of this prosthetic device means that the process is significantly quicker and more efficient. A conventional carbon fiber prosthetic socket would typically take three days of labor by a technician to mold and to cast. 3D printing allows the workflow to be streamlined, with a detailed scan being captured of a patients anatomy and a digital model being designed, which can then be quickly printed. The whole process takes less than 24 hours, from the intial scan to shipping. The 3D printed socket, along with a prosthetic leg and foot also produced by Essentiums TriFusion Devices subsidiary, will be on display at this years NPE plastics show in Washington, D.C. The next step for the companies partnership is the production of a multi-material 3D printed prosthetic, with rigid and flexible TPU elements. This is intended to allow clinicians to incorporate softer material into the design, for increased patient comfort in more sensitive areas. It should be ready for release sometime later this year. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Apr 19, 2018 | By David A group of researchers based at Canadas University of Windsor have made use of 3D printing technology to investigate an unusual phenomenon in the natural world. They 3D printed replica ''robo-toads'', similar to other 3D printed robotic versions of animals that have been used for research in the past. These robo-toads were used to track the mating behaviour of toads. The males of a species of toad that lives in the forests of Central America turn yellow for one day a year, during their mating season, and behavioural ecologists Daniel Mennill and Stephanie Doucet wanted to find out why. The project started when the scientists observed the behaviour in Costa Rica. They were there to study birds, but were surprised by a remarkable transformation in the toads they saw. On the first day of heavy rainfall after a long period of dry weather, toads emerged that were bright yellow in colour, like a lemon. When they returned the next day, they had turned back to brown again. The team wanted to find out why this happened, theorizing that it was a way for the male toads to impress potential mates. They wanted to produce replica versions of the toads that could be placed amongst the real ones to stimulate particular types of behaviour through their colours. Starting out with molding plasticine and clay toads, they figured out that the yellow colour was a way of toads signaling which sex they were. They then wanted to know how females made their choice among similarly-colored males, and this study required a higher level of realism in their models. The idea to use 3D printed robotics came from Lincoln Savi, a University of Windsor Masters of Science graduate student. The advantages of 3D printing would be that the replica toads could be printed to a high enough level of accuracy that real toads would be fooled, and they could also incorporate robotic mechanisms that enabled them to move around, stimulating real toads through movement as well as colour and shape. Savi started out by making use of photogrammetry, a technique that takes multiple photos of an object and uses software to creates a digital 3D model from the 2D images. This took a while, however, as the object he was taking photos of was constantly hopping around and would rarely strike a pose long enough to be captured. "I only got 11 photos before he moved, said Savi. I couldn't get any photos of his underside and he was in some leaves, so there was some geometry hidden by leaves." Making do with the best images he could get, Savi 3D printed the model and then sculpted the parts that he was unable to properly capture in the digital version. The initial printing took just one hour, and he was at work on the sculpting for around seven hours. He then applied different coats of paint to get the colours right, one for yellow toads and one for regular brown ones. All that was left was a robotic mechanism to enable the replica toad to move around in a vaguely realistic way. (all images, credit: CBC.ca) "The robo part was actually pretty easy," said Savi. "I used some programmable microprocessors and some servos and just made a simple program that chooses a random angle and makes the toad move there." A research team is now in Costa Rica with the robo-toads, waiting for the heavy rainfall to start. They will expose females to their 3D printed creations and hopefully get a little closer to solving the mystery of the yellow toads and their mating rituals. Posted in 3D Printing Application Maybe you also like: Lincoln Savi wrote at 4/20/2018 3:20:36 PM:If I might suggest an edit. The "sculpting" that I did was digital. So I edited the photogrammetry geometry digitally BEFORE printing it. It took several hours to print. Avalon Rare Metals Inc. (TSE:AVL) (OTCQX:AVARF) is pleased to announce that it has engaged SNC-Lavalin Group Inc. (TSE:SNC) to complete a scoping study for the construction of a rare earth separation plant in North America. This study will provide Avalon with an estimate of capital and operating costs, as well as identify specific criteria for site selection. The study is scheduled for completion by September 30, 2010. As well as highlighting a disconnect between employee and employer attitudes to benefits, the study also found a clear correlation between benefit choice and appreciation. Almost three-quarters (72%) of employees able to tailor their provision via flexible benefit schemes said their package met their needs, compared with just 23% among those offered no benefits choice. These findings reinforce the importance of employers actively engaging with their staff to identify the benefits they most value, aligned to their workforce demographics, said Mark Ramsook, Director of Sales and Marketing at Willis Towers Watson Health and Benefits. This vital intelligence should be married with wider corporate values and business objectives when benefits strategies are reviewed. Furthermore, employers should ensure their benefits programmes are being effectively communicated and leveraged to maximise engagement and address associated employee requirements. This is particularly important for traditional core benefits, such as pensions and health insurance, which continue to be valued highly, according to the study, and which will invariably attract the highest levels of spend. Given the choice, overall two-thirds (66%) of employees said they would sacrifice salary for more generous pension benefits, while health insurance saw a marked rise in popularity, with 39% calling for improved provision in lieu of salary a 16 percentage point increase from 2015. The research also showed that different employee populations want different things from their benefits. For example, baby boomers are more likely to cite retirement planning as their preferred benefit than millennials, while younger workers are more likely to choose annual unpaid leave than their older counterparts. Providing flexibility in benefits not only creates better appreciation from employees overall but also helps companies to engage all segments of the workforce, avoiding situations where certain employee groups do not feel their benefits are relevant or engaging, added Ramsook. Employers looking to introduce flexibility around benefits choice should investigate the considerable advancements that have been made in supporting technology platforms, off-the-shelf solutions and digital communications. These can hold the key to the successful introduction of flex schemes, ensuring they streamline the benefits process, enabling it to be cost-effectively managed and administered. Employers, however, should give careful consideration to the balance of benefits they offer, how they will support and enhance the lives of employees and how flex schemes are structured to ensure they supports companies overall benefits strategies. For full functionality of this site it is necessary to enable JavaScript. Here are the instructions how to enable JavaScript in your web browser Companies from Huntsville, Birmingham and Loxley were honored as Manufacturers of the Year today in Montgomery. The Business Council of Alabama and the Alabama Technology Network announced the honorees in the large, medium and small manufacturer categories in an event at the Alabama Activity Center. Taking the honors in the large manufacturer category (400 or more employees) was information and communications technology firm Adtran of Huntsville, a previous honoree from 2010. From an initial seven employees to a workforce of almost 2,200 today, including 1,500 in Huntsville, Adtran serves more than 2,400 customers in 68 countries. In the medium category, (100 to 399 employees) was Birmingham Fastener & Supply Inc., the South's largest and most diversified fastener supplier, with structural steel fabrication and metal building manufacturers. It also supports transportation, water works and utilities, original equipment manufacturers, agricultural equipment manufacturers, construction and maintenance, and repair and operations industries. For small manufacturer, (1 to 99 employees) was Ecovery LLC in Loxley which processes primarily copper and aluminum radiators from commercial and residential HVAC units. Ecovery has two plants that employed 66 men and women last year. Governor Kay Ivey, the keynote speaker, said Alabama is committed to seeing manufacturers succeed. "From automobiles to aerospace to everyday products and equipment, whether for our own use or for export around the globe, Alabama's manufacturers create high-quality jobs and produce substantial economic benefits," Ivey said. Autocar opened its $120 million manufacturing plant Thursday in a long vacant factory straddling Center Point and Birmingham. The manufacturer of concrete trucks, waste management trucks, and garbage trucks is employing 746 at the 1.3 million square-foot factory, the former Meadowcraft Complex at the intersection of Carson Road and Highway 79. The average salary for employees will be $58,000. Autocar LLC Chairman Andrew Taitz said the opening, less than a year after the project was announced, was on an aggressive timeline which was justified, given where the company picked to do business. "Our rapid growth meant we had to be up and running really fast," Taitz said. "We knew we could do it because of the people of Alabama." Autocar was founded in 1897 and is the oldest motor vehicle brand in the United States. It built America's first truck in 1899 and makes heavy-cab trucks. Gov. Kay Ivey, calling Autocar "a world class company," said it took work from all levels of government and community action to make the project come to fruition. "Today reflects a commitment to build not only a business, but a community, and a state, all for the better good," Ivey said. Jefferson County Commissioner Joe Knight hailed the "resurrection" of the building, which he said could "breathe new life into our community." Josh Carpenter, Birmingham's director of development, said Autocar's entry into the business community is in keeping with the city's history. "Birmingham is and has always been a city of builders," Carpenter said. UPDATE:Wesley Reed was found safe at a Birmingham hospital and is expected to go home today. EARLIER STORY: Authorities are asking for the public's help finding an elderly Birmingham man who has been missing for more than a week. Wesley Reed Jr., 87, was last seen on April 9, 2018 in the 500 block of 24th Place North, said Birmingham police spokesman Lt. Pete Williston. Reed was supposed to catch a MAXX bus to go to the Central Station on Morris Avenue with plans to transfer to the 6 Pratt bus. His final destination was the Checkers Club in the Smithfield Community. Police said family has had no contact with Reed since that day. Reed is a black male, 5-feet, 3-inches and weighs 115 pounds. He has a pacemaker, hypertension, and other medical issues that require him to take daily medication. There is no clothing description for him. Anyone with information is asked to call the Birmingham Police Department's Special Victims Unit at 205-297-8413. The young male victims accusing an Alabama evangelist of multiple sex crimes told investigators the misconduct lasted months, and sometimes years, according to new court records filed on Wednesday. One of the victims, a teen boy over the age of 12 but under the age of 16, said Acton Bowen exposed him to deviate sexual intercourse from 2006 through 2009. Another victim claims the abuse happened from 2014 through 2017 and yet another reported to lawmen that he suffered the abuse from January of this year through earlier this month. The 37-year-old Gadsden native and founder of Acton Bowen Outreach Ministries remained in the Etowah County Detention Center Wednesday with a cash bond set at $500,000. His attorney, however, filed a petition late Wednesday morning challenging that bond amount, saying the amount is too high and there is not competent evidence or probable cause. "What is disturbing is that no citizen can remain presumed innocent when a $500,000 cash only bond is set,'' attorney Richard Jaffe told AL.com. "Who could meet that condition?" Bowen - a self-described speaker, best-selling author and visionary - was arrested last week by Hoover police on charges of second-degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes and second-degree sex abuse. The Hoover victim is a boy under the age of 16 and over the age of 12. Court records in the Jefferson County case say he engaged in deviate sexual intercourse with the teen boy, and also enticed him into getting into a 2010 Jeep Wrangler for the purpose of sodomy. Police have said the Hoover victim is a family acquaintance of Acton Bowen. On Tuesday, seven new charges were filed against Bowen by the Etowah County Sheriff's Office. His attorney said the charges were expected. "Our client had heard rumors that additional charges would be filed in Etowah County and they have been,'' Jaffe said. "At least one dates back to 2006, raising the question of why now?" The latest charges against Bowen are second-degree sodomy, enticing a child to enter a vehicle or house for immoral purposes and second-degree sex abuse. Five of the charges are felony crimes, and two are misdemeanors. On one of the sodomy charges, a victim claims Bowen engaged in deviate sexual intercourse for a period of three years - 2014 through 2017. Records state the victim was subjected to sexual contact during that same time frame. One of the enticing a child for immoral purposes incidents happened on February 18, records state, and accuse Bowen of luring a 16-year-old victim into a room for "the fondling or feeling of the sexual or genital parts of such child." Investigators said there are four victims in the seven new charges. Authorities have said they expect there are more victims out there and additional charges are possible. Bowen has denied the allegations. "I have not done what I am accused of and have not acted inappropriately in any way,'' Bowen said in a press statement to AL.com issued last week. "My family and I trust the legal system and the people who are entrusted with the duty of protecting each of our rights. I believe the truth will stand and I will be vindicated of this false accusation. We ask that each of you keep everyone involved in this process in your prayers." The day after Bowen was released from jail, his wife of three years filed for divorce in Etowah County. Ashley Bowen's divorce complaint mentions the criminal charges against her husband and notes, "she has fully cooperated with law enforcement with regards to any information requested from her related to the investigation of the crimes for which (Acton Bowen) is alleged to have committed." Bowen is set to appear in court on the Hoover charges on May 15. A court date in Etowah County hasn't yet been set. Amy Pleasant (Photo Credit: Jason Wallis) Birmingham-based artist Amy Pleasant was recently awarded a highly prestigious fellowship from the John Simon Guggenheim Memorial Foundation. "This is such an unbelievable honor," she said. "I am blown away." Pleasant said this fellowship, which was awarded to a group of 173 scholars, artists and scientists from the United States and Canada, will give her the freedom to create her artwork. "It takes your work to a totally different level when you have that financial freedom," she said. Pleasant's work includes painting, drawing, and ceramic sculpture, all exploring the body and language through repetition. She said she is captivated by human gesture and repetition. "I will draw an image over and over again," she said. "I am interested in how an image evolves." Pleasant said she is interested in the symbol of the body, pulling from rock paintings, Greek and Roman sculpture and other ancients works including writing. "I use my drawings to build my own visual language, like an alphabet," she said. In her new works, Pleasant said she wants to push her art further including creating larger ceramic sculptures. In the 94th year of the Guggenheim Fellowships, the candidates were selected on their prior achievement and exceptional promise, according to the foundation. The 173 winners were selected from 3,000 applicants. "It's exceptionally satisfying to name 175 new Guggenheim Fellows. These artists and writers, scholars and scientists, represent the best of the best," said Edward Hirsch, president of the foundation. "Each year since 1925, the Guggenheim Foundation has bet everything on the individual, and we're thrilled to continue to do so with this wonderfully talented and diverse group. It's an honor to be able to support these individuals to do the work they were meant to do." Since its establishment, the foundation has granted more than $360 million in fellowships to more than 18,000 individuals, among whom are Nobel laureates, Fields Medalists, poets laureate, members of the various national academies, and winners of the Pulitzer Prize, Turing Award, National Book Awards, and other important, internationally recognized honors. Pleasant was born and raised in Birmingham. She graduated from Shades Valley High School. She went on to receive her bachelor's in fine arts degree from the School of the Art Institute of Chicago and a master's in fine arts from the Tyler School of Art. Though it wasn't her original plan, Pleasant said she remained in her hometown because of family and the affordability of studio space. For about 13 years, she rented a raw space on the fourth floor of the Alabama Theatre. The space was right by the marquee, Pleasant said, and she only had to pay enough rent to cover her portion of the light bill. She later moved to another space down the street that's also owned by the Alabama Theatre. "I really saw Birmingham come alive" over the years, Pleasant said. "I am excited to be a part of it. That's why I stayed." She said Birmingham has a strong base of art collectors. She said they are a smart and engaged group of people who want to see local artists thrive. Pleasant was also recently awarded the 2018 South Arts Prize for the State of Alabama and was a recipient of the Joan Mitchell Foundation Painters and Sculptors Award in 2015. Other awards include the Mary Hambidge Distinguished Artist Award (2015), and Individual Art Fellowships from the Cultural Alliance of Birmingham (2008) and the Alabama State Council on the Arts (2003). She has held solo exhibitions at Jeff Bailey Gallery, Hudson/NYC; whitespace gallery, Atlanta, GA; Indianapolis Museum of Contemporary Art, IN; Birmingham Museum of Art, AL; Atlanta Contemporary, GA; among others. Her work has been included in numerous two-person and group exhibitions at venues such as the Montgomery Museum of Fine Arts, AL; Adams and Ollman, Portland, OR; Frist Center for the Visual Arts, Nashville, TN; Cuevas Tilleard Projects, New York, NY; Knoxville Museum of Art, TN; Zuckerman Museum of Art, Kennesaw, GA; Lamar Dodd School of Art, Athens, GA; Hunter Museum of American Art, Chattanooga, TN; and Weatherspoon Museum of Art, Greensboro, NC. Pleasant's work is in numerous collections, including the Birmingham Museum of Art, The Progressive Art Collection, and Art in Embassies. Alabama on Thursday night executed 83-year-old Walter Leroy Moody for the 1989 pipe bombing death of a federal judge. He became the oldest inmate executed in the United States since the return of executions in the 1970s. The execution was delayed about two hours after the U.S. Supreme Court issued a temporary stay about 15 minutes before the scheduled 6 p.m. execution time. The Supreme Court gave no explanation in its orders for the delay or why it later lifted the stay. The execution began at 8:16 p.m. and according to prison officials his time of death was 8:42 p.m. Moody kept his eyes closed and head still throughout the lethal injection execution and did not respond when asked by the warden whether he wanted to make a last statement. Other than his chest moving during the early part of the execution and his jaw dropping slightly, only once during the event did he move when a few of his left fingers fluttered. That happened soon after he didn't respond to a consciousness test. The test involves a corrections officer calling out the inmate's name, brushing his left eye brow, and pinching the left arm. It is administered to make sure the inmate is sedated enough to administer the two drugs used to halt breathing and the heart. One of Moody's attorneys with the federal public defender's office in Montgomery took issue with the execution even though Moody moved less on the gurney than some previous inmates. "I have attended two executions. In both, my client moved after the consciousness check. Ron Smith's was more horrific, but both were disturbing, and raise grave concerns about the DOC's (Department of Corrections) process," said attorney Spencer Hahn. "Further, I'd like to know what they gave him before to knock him out and prevent him from getting to give his last words. There was no dignity in that room. This dishonored the memory of Judge Vance and Mr. Robinson," Hahn said. Alabama Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said Moody was not given any sedatives prior to the execution. The execution was carried out with more security than usual because of the high profile nature of Moody's crimes. There were 10 investigators and intelligence agents at the prison, instead of the usual two to four, as the hour of Moody's death neared. "I approach every execution by giving the condemned, and the issues raised by the underlying case, the careful consideration both deserve. My ultimate desire is to see justice rightly administered," Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey said in a statement issued after the execution. "Mr. Moody was convicted of killing Federal Judge Robert Vance and severely injuring Judge Vance's wife with a bomb purposefully created to kill and maim. The crimes committed by Mr. Moody were intentional, well-planned and aimed at inflicting the most possible harm. A jury found him guilty beyond a reasonable doubt and his conviction has been upheld at every level of the judicial system." "For our system of government to work properly, the judiciary must be able to operate without undue outside influence," Ivey stated. "By targeting and murdering a respected jurist, Mr. Moody not only committed capital murder, he also sought to interrupt the flow of justice. After considering the facts of his horrendous and intentional crime, I have allowed Mr. Moody's sentence to be carried out in accordance with the laws of this state and in the interest of ensuring justice for the victim and his family." Ivey's office early Thursday evening had issued a copy of the letter from her general counsel denying clemency to Moody. In that letter the general counselor noted Moody's argument, filed in court papers, that prison officials may not be able to successfully find veins for the lethal injection. "As you know, whether venous access can be obtained is impossible to know for sure, even by trained medical personnel, until it is attempted. If their attempt at venous access is unsuccessful, then obviously Mr. Moody's execution by lethal injection would be impossible," he stated. A brief filed by Hahn had cited the execution attempt of Doyle Lee Hamm on February 22, where officials tried for over two hours to unsuccessfully insert a catheter into Hamm's veins for the execution. That execution was called off just before midnight, and the state has recently settled with the inmate and agreed not to set another execution date for Hamm. The brief states that Moody is likely to experience the same "severe pain" as Hamm. Dunn said there was no problem in finding a vein for the lethal injection drugs. Before the execution Moody did not accept his breakfast meal and did not request nor eat a final meal Thursday, said public information specialist for the Alabama Department of Corrections Samantha Banks. She said Moody did eat two philly cheesesteak sandwiches, one bag of chips, two Dr. Pepper sodas, and one bag of M&M candies with two attorneys and three friends in the death row visitation yard. One of Moody's attorneys said he actually ate the M&Ms, and Moody had a Hershey bar with almonds. He also made one call to an attorney. Moody had no special requests and asked that four attorneys view the execution, Banks said. Two attorneys and a paralegal attended. No one from Judge Vance's family witnessed the execution. Moody had no visitors and made six calls to attorneys on Wednesday, Banks said. Also prior to the execution, there was a flurry of requests by Moody's attorneys to bring a halt to the execution and responses from the Alabama Attorney General's Office. After the execution, Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall issued a statement. "Nearly 30 years ago, 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals Judge Robert Vance was brutally slain when a pipe bomb sent to his Birmingham home exploded," Marshall stated. "Walter Leroy Moody was convicted of Judge Vance's murder in both federal and state courts. Even though he was also convicted of a similar pipe bomb death of a Georgia attorney, Moody has spent the better part of three decades trying to avoid justice. Tonight, Mr. Moody's appeals finally came to a rightful end. Justice has been served." In 1991, a federal jury convicted Moody of 71 charges related to the pipe-bomb murders of U.S. 11th Circuit Judge Robert Vance and Georgia civil rights attorney Robert E. Robinson, who also was killed in a pipe-bomb blast two days after the judge. He was sentenced to seven concurrent life sentences and 400 years. The federal trial was conducted in Minnesota. Moody was placed on death row after a jury convicted him of capital murder at a trial in Alabama five years later for the deadly pipe bomb explosion at Vance's Mountain Brook home that also seriously injured Vance's wife, Helen. The jury recommended 11-1 that the death penalty be imposed and the judge agreed. Moody has maintained that he did not send the pipe bombs. Vance's son, Jefferson County Circuit Judge Bob Vance, recently sat down with AL.com to talk about his father and the execution. Victims' families can view executions, but Vance said he won't be there tonight. An attorney for Moody told AL.com this morning they are waiting on the U.S. Supreme Court to act. "I am hopeful that the United States Supreme Court will grant certiorari (review) to consider the substantial issues raised in his cert petition," said Spencer Hahn, one of Moody's attorneys, said in an email today to AL.com. "I urge Governor (Kay) Ivey to respect the wishes of the victim, Judge Vance, and grant the clemency Judge Vance would have," Hahn also stated in the email. Bob Vance has said that his father was personally against the death penalty but that when he dealt with death penalty cases during the 12 years he was on the federal appeals bench he set those beliefs aside and followed the law. Custody After the U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals denied their appeals, Moody and his attorneys filed requests to the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday night - and again Thursday morning - to stay the execution and to review the arguments in Moody's case. Among Moody's arguments are that the federal government which convicted him first on non-death penalty charges should have him in custody instead of the state. Justice Department attorneys and the Alabama Attorney General's at that hearing and in written briefs have said that they have had an agreement since the 1990s to allow Moody to serve his sentence in Alabama. Then on Monday the Justice Department filed another brief on behalf of Attorney General Jeff Sessions, who at the time of Moody's conviction and death sentence in Alabama was the state's attorney general. In the DOJ brief it states that Sessions has agreed to waive the federal government's right to exclusive custody of Moody "and consents to his custody in Alabama for purposes of carrying out the capital sentence imposed on Moody in Alabama." Moody's lawyers In today's request to the U.S. Supreme Court argued Sessions cannot do that. "The Attorney General of the United States does not have the authority to interrupt a federal sentence which has commenced and, under Bond, Chadha, and Marbury (a previous case), Mr. Moody may seek to invalidate the attempt," according to Thursday's filing by Moody's attorneys. Moody also asked the U.S. Supreme Court on Wednesday night for another appeals court - other than the 11th Circuit -hear his case, to be assigned to hear his case. He cited jurisdictional issues with several judges' recusal in 2014. He argues that a three-member panel of the 11th Circuit, which didn't have to recuse, had decided his appeals. But he couldn't get a hearing before the full 11th Circuit because the other judges had recused. Walter Leroy Moody has petitioned the nation's highest court to halt his execution, scheduled for Thursday night. The U.S. 11th Circuit Court of Appeals denied Moody's request for a stay of execution Wednesday afternoon. Moody, acting pro se, then filed to the U.S. Supreme Court. "The Eleventh Circuit has failed to provide Mr. Moody with 'equal protection of law' required by the constitution for nearly three decades and presently lacks the ability to provide him with the supervisory protection of... hearings being afforded to other defendants," Moody's motion states. The 83-year-old has asked that another appeals court hear his case, citing jurisdictional issues with several judges' recusal in 2014. In the motion to the U.S. Supreme Court, Moody also asks for a stay of execution. Moody is set to die by lethal injection Thursday at 6 p.m. at Holman Correctional Facility. He is the oldest inmate on Alabama's Death Row, and still maintains he is innocent in the 1989 bombing that killed U.S. 11th Circuit of Appeals Judge Robert Vance Sr. at his Mountain Brook home. The blast also injured Vance's wife. The motion filed Wednesday states, "all judgments relative to Mr. Moody issued by the Eleventh Circuit subsequent to the date that all judges of that court recused themselves are null and void due to the court's lack of jurisdiction and must be vacated." In 1991, a federal jury convicted Moody of 71 charges related to the pipe-bomb murders of Vance and Georgia civil rights attorney Robert E. Robinson, who also was killed in a pipe-bomb blast two days after the judge. That federal trial was conducted in Minnesota. Moody was placed on death row after a jury convicted him of capital murder at a trial in Alabama five years later. The jury recommended 11-1 that the death penalty be imposed and the judge agreed. Both Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshal and the U.S. Justice Department have said the federal government has the right to allow the state to take custody of Moody and have him serve his state sentence first, even though he was first convicted in federal court. The state has not yet responded to Moody's motion to the U.S. Supreme Court. The outrage over the Birmingham City Council permitting a horse-drawn carriage company to operate is growing in the Magic City. Birmingham resident Sara Bush launched a Change.org petition hours after the council's Tuesday vote asking the city to ban the "dangerous and cruel" practice of horse-drawn carriage rides. It has received more than 4,200 signatures as of Friday afternoon. "I was pretty shocked when I saw the council passed this without any public comment or discussion on it," she said. "This is something that is really concerning to me and other citizens as well." Bush contends that Birmingham's regulations on horse-drawn carriages are "antiquated and out of date." She said the city's ordinance doesn't have many protections for animals and the carriage drivers. Read the ordinance here. The Birmingham City Council on Tuesday approved permits that would allow Magic Tours to operate in the city. Horse-drawn carriages are allowed under city law. The city, though, hasn't released what streets the carriages would be allowed to operate on. While council members didn't discuss the permits on Tuesday, Magic Tours was discussed at a meeting of the council's transportation committee. Mayor Randall Woodfin has up to 10 days to sign or veto any item passed by the city council on Tuesday. Woodfin's office hasn't commented on whether the mayor supports horse-drawn carriages. Magic Tours owner Frank Tate said he planned to begin operations in the second or third week of May. He said the business will start with four or five carriages. Birmingham City Councilor Darrell O'Quinn said he didn't think the city could revoke Magic Tours license to operate unless there is adequate justification to do so. He said people are condemning the business without even giving them a chance to start. "I don't think there is adequate justification that we shouldn't have carriage businesses in the city of Birmingham," he said. Despite that, O'Quinn said he is willing to hear suggestions on how the city's ordinance can be amended. O'Quinn is the chair of the council's transportation committee, which first reviewed Magic Tours permit to operate. O'Quinn is also a veterinarian and formerly worked as a clinical veterinarian for University of Alabama at Birmingham. "The fact is that these horses have been bred for this purpose," he said. "Horses have been pulling things since the dawn of civilization. Just because we have other forms of transportation doesn't mean we should rule this out as an option." People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) issued a statement condemning the council's action and urging Woodfin to reject horse-drawn carriages. "Birmingham's city council should never allow any business that would force skittish horses to haul heavy carriages on chaotic city streets day in and day out," PETA Executive Vice President Tracy Reiman said in a statement. "Today's kind public wants nothing to do with businesses that exploit animals, and PETA is calling on Birmingham to join Palm Beach, Florida; Salt Lake City; and the many other cities across the country that have banned these cruel and archaic operations." PETA also said it sent a letter to Woodfin's office. Bush said the city is making steps to be more progressive, but now it is taking a step back by allowing horse-drawn carriages. She said pulling a carriage can be dangerous for horses in Alabama's high summer temperatures, and there's no limit on the temperatures that the horses will have to work in. "They can be working in Alabama heat for 10 hours a day," she said, adding that giving water to the horses is up to the discretion of the operators. Birmingham's ordinance states: Adequate water shall be provided in the stables at all times and in the working areas as often as needed, as climate and working conditions require. Bush said the massive carriages will also obstruct traffic on the city's always congested roadways. She was also concerned if any Birmingham police officers were trained to enforce the laws on the carriages and conditions of the horses. Updated Friday at 1:38 p.m. to include updated number of signatures on the Change.org petition. A judge denied youthful offender status for a teenager who testified against two of his co-defendants in their trials for a Hoover veteran's shooting. Darrian Bryant, 18, was charged with murder along with three other teens for the Jan. 5, 2016 shooting death of Jonathan "Mike" Gilotti. Bryant had a pending application for youthful offender status, in which he agreed to give truthful testimony in the trials against his co-defendants and cooperate with the prosecution and police. If granted youthful offender status, Bryant would not have a felony conviction on his record and case documents would not be public. A youthful offender also can't be sentenced to more than three years in prison, can still hold public office, and can vote. Bryant testified in the trials of both Charleston Wells and Ahmad Johnson--both of who were acquitted of murder charges in Gilotti's death. Bryant pointed to Wells as the shooter, and said Johnson also had a gun. The teen claimed that he and another person charged, De'Ron Lucas, were inside of a vehicle when Gilotti was shot in front of his Lake Cyrus home. Bryant testified at Wells' trial last May, and Johnson's trial earlier this month. After a hearing this week, Jefferson County Bessemer Cutoff Circuit Judge David Carpenter denied Bryant's youthful offender application. Gilotti's slaying came after a string of car break-ins across St. Clair, Jefferson, Shelby, and Tuscaloosa counties, police said. According to prosecutors, the four teens were members of a Bessemer-area street gang called "M-Tre," which stood for "Money Making Mafia." At both trials, Bryant said the four teens were in Hoover's Lake Cyrus community breaking into cars in the early-morning hours of Jan. 5, 2016. When the group got into their vehicle-- which was stolen from another neighborhood-- they saw Gilotti walking out of his home. Gilotti, a 33-year-old father of two and Army veteran, was headed to the YMCA for a workout. Bryant testified that once the group saw Gilotti, Wells and Johnson exited the car and approached the man to ask for directions. After Gilotti pointed the teens back to the main road, Bryant said Wells "upped his gun" and fatally shot Gilotti in the back while Johnson stood nearby with another firearm. Gilotti was pronounced dead on the doorway of his home. Johnson's attorney Bret Gray said there was no evidence Johnson was even present during the Lake Cyrus incident, while Wells testified at his trial and placed the blame on Johnson and Bryant. Lucas has not had a trial date set. This post will be updated. After more than 30 years in the criminal justice system, Madison County Circuit Judge Karen Hall wondered aloud today, "What is fair and what is just?" That's the question she's pondered while watching over and over again video footage of the shooting that killed 25-year-old Adam Fitcheard on Sept. 20, 2015. Standing before the judge in her courtroom this morning was Dashawn Rice, the now 20-year-old who fired that fatal gunshot outside the FX Market on Alabama 53 one Sunday night. Rice late last month pleaded guilty to murder, which carries a lesser punishment than the capital charge he would have faced at trial. "I just want to say I'm sorry," Rice said as he faced Fitcheard's family. "If I wasn't at the gas station that night, Adam Fitcheard would still be alive." Hall sentenced Rice to a 20-year split sentence with five years to be served in prison, followed by five years probation. "I'm giving you the opportunity to prove to (the victim's) family, to the court, to your community, to yourself, to those who care about you that this really was what you say it was," Hall told Rice. "If for some reason I've analyzed this incorrectly and you're not a model inmate... I can extend your (prison) stay up to 20 years." Rice claimed the shooting was a case of self-defense. He claimed he was threatened by another man, Kelan Gree. Gree was in the vehicle with Fitcheard the night of the shooting. Fitcheard wasn't a target. "He was more of an innocent bystander," defense attorney Bruce Gardner told AL.com. "He, like so many other victims, was the victim of circumstance." Surveillance video shows Gree get out of the vehicle and walk over to Rice. After Gree has gone back to the vehicle and it starts to leave the parking lot, the video shows Rice fire at the car. Rice claims a window was rolled down and a gun was pointed at him, but the video is inconclusive. "I have no doubt Mr. Rice perceived he was in danger," Gardner told Judge Hall. "I don't think he has one ounce of deceit in his body." Prosecutor Jonathon Hubbert saw the case differently. Rice's vehicle, he said, approached the victim's vehicle as it left the parking lot. That's when the shooting happened. "They were leaving," the assistant district attorney told the judge. "It's not reasonable" to believe Rice felt threatened at that point. What charge fits the crime? Rice shortly after the shooting was charged with capital murder, which carries a sentence of either the death penalty or life without the possibility of parole. He was charged with a capital offense because Alabama law says anyone who fires into a vehicle, killing another person, has committed capital murder. The law was passed by the legislature years ago when there was a rash of intentional drive-by shootings. The capital murder law also requires that the shooter acted with intent when he fired the gun. "I think we can all conceed this was reckless, not intentional," Hall said at today's hearing. The defense and prosecution agreed. Reckless actions could mean either a murder or manslaughter charge, court officials said. Murder would be punishable by up to life with parole. Manslaughter carries a maximum of 20 years. The judge said that if Rice had been charged with murder, it would be reasonable to believe a jury might convict him of the lesser manslaughter. Considering that, she issued the 20-year split sentence. Gardner said the reason Rice pleaded guilty instead of going to trial was because of concerns about whether a jury might convict him of capital murder, based solely on the wording of Alabama's capital murder statute. "Then you've got a young guy automatically doing life without parole because of a law the legislature passed with the intent to stop drive-by shootings," Gardner told AL.com. More than a dozen people--friends, family and others -- sat on Rice's side of the courtroom. No witnesses spoke, but the judge said she read several letters from family, friends and other community members. The victim's family was in court today but didn't testify. "Good luck to you," the judge told Rice as the hearing ended. "And good luck to you," she told Fitcheard's family. Huntsville won't be home to the Army's new Futures Command, the Associated Press reported today. The Army said it is considering 15 other cities including Atlanta, but Huntsville was not on the list. According to the AP, the cities asked to provide the Army more information includes Atlanta; Austin, Texas; Boston; Chicago; Dallas; Denver; Houston; Los Angeles; Minneapolis; New York; Philadelphia; Raleigh, North Carolina; San Diego; San Francisco; and Seattle. The new command will be the Army's fourth and part of a major reorganization designed to prepare the Army for future conflicts. Its mission is to bring new technologies to troops in the most fast and efficient way. The new command was a major topic of the Association of the U.S. Army Global Force 2018 conference in Huntsville in March. The city is already home to the Army Materiel Command that supplies troops with equipment now. The Army says it is looking for a city with a workforce competent in biomedicine, chemistry, computer hardware and software, electronics, materials and mechanical systems. U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks, seeking a fifth term in Congress representing north Alabama, has maintained a lopsided fundraising advantage over his opponent in the June 5 Republican primary. Brooks has about six times as much money in his campaign war chest as challenger Clayton Hinchman, according to the latest candidate finance filings with the Federal Election Commission. Brooks has almost $700,000 in cash on hand as of March 31 while Hinchman has almost $100,000. Included in those funds for Hinchman, a Huntsville businessman and Iraq War veteran, is a $100,000 loan he has made to his campaign. Peter Joffrion, the former longtime Huntsville city attorney who is unopposed in the Democratic primary, will be the general election opponent in November of the GOP primary winner. He has just over $77,000 in his campaign account. Brooks' fundraising advantage comes after he ran in the U.S. Senate special election last year, finishing third in the GOP primary. When that race began, Brooks had more than $1 million at his disposal. Brooks announced the night of the Senate Republican primary that he would run for re-election in 2018. Brooks reported a campaign balance of $690,199 as of March 31. So far in 2018, he has received $8,200 from the House Freedom Fund PAC - which was founded by U.S. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio. Jordan is chair of the House Freedom Caucus - a conservative wing of the House of which Brooks is a member. Brooks also received a $2,700 donation from the Poarch Band of Creek Indians in the first quarter of 2018. Hinchman reported a campaign balance of $94,166 as of March 31. His largest donation so far this year was $2,700 from Huntsville philanthropist and businesswoman Dorothy Davidson. Davidson also made a $2,700 contribution to Brooks' campaign. Hinchman has spent $85,320 so far in the race. Joffrion reported a campaign balance of $77,442. He has received monetary contributions of $2,700 - the maximum allowed by an individual - from Karen Gann of Huntsville, Seung Choi of Huntsville and Elizabeth Crenshaw of Birmingham. Joffrion has spent $124,020 so far in the race. The Senate today confirmed U.S. Rep. Jim Bridenstine as NASA's new administrator, ending a 15-month gap since former administrator Charles Bolden, Jr. stepped down. The 50-48 vote was along partisan lines with Republicans rallying behind Bridenstine and Democrats opposing him. Bridenstine takes over a space agency with a budget of almost $21 billion and centers around America, including the Marshall Space Flight Center in Huntsville. Bridenstine's job will be to keep the agency moving forward on its Space Launch System rocket while also cooperating with commercial companies like Boeing and SpaceX now building America's next space capsules. Bridenstine is a former fighter pilot who has been serving Oklahoma as a congressman. He was a controversial choice as a NASA administrator largely because of his past skepticism about climate change and votes against some NASA climate research while in Congress. "It is an honor to be confirmed by the United States Senate to serve as NASA administrator," Bridenstine said in a statement. "I am humbled by this opportunity, and I once again thank President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their confidence. I look forward to working with the outstanding team at NASA to achieve the president's vision for American leadership in space." "My long-time friend and ally, Jim Bridenstine, has the ability to make an exceptional NASA administrator," U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks said in a statement. "Jim not only has a keen interest in aeronautics and space, he also understands the Washington political atmosphere and, as such, has political insight that NASA needs to help overcome the political hurdles that have all too often hampered NASA in the past." "We applaud the Senate's confirmation of Jim Bridenstine to lead NASA," the Commercial Spaceflight Federation said in a statement by board chairman Dr. Alan Stern. "NASA needs dedicated and inspired leadership, and Rep. Bridenstine is an outstanding choice to provide precisely that." (Updated at 4:30 p.m. CDT to include a statement by U.S. Rep. Mo Brooks) Fourteen Alabama students are among those earning corporate-sponsored Merit Scholarships. Some 1,000 high school seniors nationwide received the scholarships, which are financed by about 200 corporations, company foundations and other business organizations. The scholars were selected from students who advanced to the Finalist level in the National Merit Scholarship competition. Most the rewards are renewable for up to four years of college and provide annual stipends ranging from $500 to $10,000 per year. Alabama's receipients were: Two Gilchrist County, Florida sheriff's deputies were shot and killed in the Ace China Restaurant in downtown Trenton around 3 p.m. Thursday, according to Sheriff Bobby Schultz. Schultz said the deputies were standing inside the restaurant and a suspect walked up to the business and shot both deputies through the window. He said responding deputies found the shooter dead outside the business. "At this point, it remains an active criminal investigation with no apparent motive or indications as to why this tragedy occurred," Schultz said. The sheriff is expected to provide updated information to the media at 6 p.m. CST. Officials from the Levy County Sheriff's Office, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office, the Florida Department of Law Enforcement, and the State Attorney's Office have all responded to the area to assist, he said. Nearly two months ago, Mobile police officer Justin Billa was shot and killed by a murder suspect in northwest Mobile. City Mayor Sandy Stimpson said that Billa's death was "a loss that affects the entire city", while Alabama governor Kay Ivey said that her "prayers are with his wife, young child and the city of Mobile." Billa was Mobile's 19th officer to be killed in the line of duty. In a gubernatorial race where the candidates appear to be separated by the slimmest of margins, it's the small things that matter. Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, evangelist Scott Dawson and Alabama State Sen. Bill Hightower took part in the Reckon by AL.com debate at the Lyric Theater in Birmingham Thursday night. Gov. Kay Ivey did not attend, the second time she's skipped a public forum of Republican gubernatorial candidates. [See video of the debate here] Unlike the past debate, the three candidates did separate themselves on several issues, including the recently signed ethics bill, judicial oversight and financing infrastructure improvements. The night was marked by more contentious questions than the past debate, and it tripped up some candidates. Hightower struggled with some questions, mainly during times when he was called on to defend current Legislative action. Battle, who was advised during one point to speak up, was understated for much of the debate but sounded more confident when he talked about economic development, his strong suit, and nuts and bolt issues such as infrastructure. Battle, once he appeared more comfortable, also injected some of the night's more humorous moments, including one when he said he personally prayed in school, particularly before tests. Dawson was given perhaps the most contentious question of the night when he was asked if he voted for Roy Moore, the failed Republican Senate candidate who was accused of having sexual contact with teenage girls in the 1970s when he was in his 30s. Dawson said he spoke to Moore's pastor before making his decision and then answered the question with "I did vote for Roy Moore." The other two candidates would only say they supported the Republican candidate in the race. Dawson's candor, while controversial, was refreshing. Dawson also gave one of the few concrete plans for school safety, detailing a multi-point platform that included arming teachers voluntarily if they are trained. His plan drew the first round of applause for the night. Dawson is an evangelist and as such, he's adept at making people feel like he's speaking to them personally. Couple that with the fact that he doesn't speak like a politician - because he's not one - and it's easier for Dawson to separate himself from the pack. "Most Alabamians are just doing their best to raise their families and have a job and when we start talking about these political things we lose them," he told the crowd. But... While none of the three candidates did anything to remove themselves from the race, Ivey's looming presence hung over the room. On Thursday, many of the candidates were - with apologies to Dawson - preaching to the choir. Whether they can move beyond their own congregations and into Ivey's remains to be seen. Will Aaron Sorkin's stage version of "To Kill A Mockingbird" open in U.S. District Court? That's not quite as far-fetched as it sounds. A legal battle between a lawyer for the estate of late "Mockingbird" novelist Harper Lee and Broadway producer Scott Rudin has cast doubt on the fate of the scheduled production and led Rudin to make an extraordinary offer: to stage the piece first in federal court, with actor Jeff Daniels playing Atticus Finch, to prove that the adaptation is true to the novel. That a courtroom drama may provoke a courtroom drama has the makings of, well, a juicy courtroom drama. The fight, being waged in the chambers of federal judges in both New York and Alabama, offers an unusual glimpse into the vituperative backstage wrangling that can erupt over control of a celebrated work of literary fiction when it is has been adapted for the stage. The executor of the estate, lawyer Tonja B. Carter, has objected to what she has characterized as changes Sorkin has made to the book's well-known characters that derogate the "spirit of the novel." In a lawsuit filed last month in the Southern District of Alabama, the Monroeville, Alabama-based attorney asked for unspecified monetary damages and a ruling that Rudin's company, Rudinplay, "does not have final authority" to decide whether the script abides by the terms of the original agreement signed between the production company and Lee before she died in 2016. Rudin, producer of "The Book of Mormon" and, this season alone, several Broadway plays, struck back this week, with a lawsuit in federal court in New York, arguing that the Alabama action should be dismissed, that the script is faithful to Lee's vision and that it is Carter who is going beyond the bounds of Rudinplay's contract with Lee, which initially paid her $100,000 for stage rights to the novel, extending into 2019. "Ms. Carter's conduct, in falsely alleging that the script for the play violates the agreement, has rendered it impossible for the play to premiere as scheduled in December 2018, and unless this dispute is resolved in the immediate future, the play will be canceled," the suit contends in asking for $10 million in damages. Even at this early stage, the case seems to underline the adage that everyone's a critic. (Rudinplay suggests in its countersuit that a separate dispute over theatrical rights between Lee's estate and the estate of late actor Gregory Peck, who played Finch in the 1962, Oscar-winning film version, is behind Carter's efforts to cancel the play.) How exactly Finch and the novel's other characters fail to abide by the novel's prescriptions is not made entirely clear, although Carter's suit intimates that Sorkin's idea of Lee's Finch - a small-town white lawyer who takes on the unpopular cause of defending a black man accused of rape - is not sufficiently heroic. Her suit quotes a portion of an interview Sorkin gave last September to the pop culture website Vulture, in which he describes his script as "a different take on 'Mockingbird' than Harper Lee's or Horton Foote's," the latter having written the screenplay for the '62 movie. "He becomes Atticus Finch by the end of the play," Sorkin is quoted as saying about his script, "and while he's going along, he has a kind of running argument with Calpurnia, the housekeeper, which is a much bigger role in the play I just wrote. He is in denial about his neighbors and his friends and the world around him, that is as racist as it is, that a Maycomb County (Alabama) jury could possibly put Tom Robinson in jail when it's so obvious what happened here. He becomes an apologist for these people." Rudinplay maintains in its suit, first reported by the New York Times, that while Lee was granted the right to approve the choosing of Sorkin, neither she nor her estate were given "any approval right over the script of the play, or any right to subjectively determine whether the play 'derogates or departs' from the spirit of the novel or its characters. Rather, the agreement provides only that the estate has 'the right to review the script of the play and to make comments which shall be considered in good faith' by the playwright." The actual degree of license that Sorkin may have taken - recognizing that by its nature, a good play should make an artistic statement apart from its source material - could not be determined; Rudinplay declined to share Sorkin's script. Reached for comment, Carter's Birmingham, Alabama, lawyer, Matthew H. Lembke, issued a statement quoting Carter as saying the agreement with Rudinplay "included a written contractual promise that the play would not alter the book's characters. In particular, Ms. Lee would have refused any alteration to the character of Atticus Finch - which, in the play's current form, is altered significantly." Having the matter of the heroic stature of Sorkin's Finch adjudicated through a performance in federal court would certainly take some of the pressure off an eventual Broadway production's publicity budget. In that regard, Rudinplay's lawsuit suggests the judge might have to play critic, too. "Mr. Sorkin," the suit states, "is one of the leading writers in America ... and his participation as playwright would hardly be necessary, or appropriate, if the play were to be a mere transcription of the novel." Vernon Madison has spent decades on Alabama's death row. Now 67, Madison has suffered from strokes and dementia and his lawyers say he no longer recalls the crime that put him there: the 1985 killing of a police officer. His speech is slurred, he suffers from confusion, and once thought he was near release and talked of moving to Florida, according to his lawyers. This fall, the U.S. Supreme Court is set to review the claims by Madison's defense team that executing someone in his condition would violate the Constitution's ban on cruel and unusual punishment. "Killing a fragile man suffering from dementia is unnecessary and cruel," Madison's attorney, Bryan Stevenson of the Equal Justice Initiative, said in January, when the justices stayed Madison's execution the night he was to receive a lethal injection. The U.S. death row population is aging, and that leaves courts increasingly likely to grapple with questions of when it becomes unconstitutionally cruel to put someone to death who is mentally frail -- or whose medical conditions could complicate the execution procedure. "That is going to be an increasing issue in carrying out the American death penalty," said Robert Dunham, executive director of the Death Penalty Information Center in Washington. "We are reaching a stage, as death row inmates age, we'll see this more frequently." About 2,800 people are on death row in prisons nationwide, and about 1,200 of them over age 50, the non-profit group said. An Associated Press review of the group's data shows the median age of an executed inmate in the U.S. rose from 34 to 46 between 1983 and 2017 -- a fact observers attribute to appeals taking longer -- sometimes decades. One of the oldest, 83-year-old Walter Leroy Moody, is scheduled to be executed Thursday in Alabama for the 1989 package bomb killing of a federal judge. If the sentence is carried out, Moody would be the oldest person and the first octogenarian put to death since U.S. executions resumed in the 1970s, Dunham said. "Many of these defendants have done terrible things. People are torn between wanting to punish severely and the belief it is beneath us as a nation to kill a frail person who is already dying. It's a challenge to our morality and our sense of humanity," Dunham said. Kent Scheidegger, legal director of the pro-death penalty Criminal Justice Legal Foundation, supports steps to reduce the time between an inmate's sentencing and execution. "There is no constitutional issue from age alone, though dementia does, of course, become more common with age. The underlying question about what kind and degree of mental illness will prevent an execution is not new. It is ancient." Justice Stephen G. Breyer, writing in Madison's case, noted the growing number of aging prisoners on death row and said, "Given this trend, we may face ever more instances of state efforts to execute prisoners suffering the diseases and infirmities of old age." Age by itself isn't the issue, but rather the illnesses more common with old age. Take Alva Campbell, 69. He died last month in an Ohio prison of natural causes after his 2017 lethal injection procedure was halted when a usable vein couldn't be found. Alabama similarly aborted last month's execution of Doyle Lee Hamm, 61, who has battled lymphoma. His lawyer said Hamm had at least 11 puncture wounds from attempts to find a vein. "It was precisely Doyle's old age and illness that raised all the problems. The state of Alabama was not prepared," Hamm's attorney, Bernard Harcourt, wrote in an email. Yet 75-year-old Tommy Arthur, who had argued that his cardiovascular disease would complicate execution, was put to death without obvious incident last year in Alabama. Madison was convicted of killing Mobile police officer Julius Schulte. Schulte responded to a missing child report on April 18, 1985. Arriving at a home, he found the child had returned but Madison and his girlfriend were embroiled in a domestic dispute. According to court records, Schulte interacted briefly with Madison, telling him to "just to go on and let things cool down." According to prosecutors, Madison left but then crept up behind Schulte as he sat in his police car, shooting him twice in the head. The Supreme Court has ruled inmates must have a rational understanding of why they're being executed, faculties which Madison's lawyers say he doesn't possess. His attorneys argue strokes have left Madison frequently disoriented with no independent memory of his crime. They also say he is legally blind, cannot walk independently and has urinary incontinence from his brain damage. The state's lawyers counter that Madison was found competent at a 2016 hearing, hasn't presented new evidence and is aware he received the death sentence -- even if he doesn't remember killing Schulte. "What happened to my dad was cruel and unusual punishment," said Schulte's son, Michael. "He was shot twice in the head while he was trying to help somebody." Schulte, 59, has suffered health problems of his own, including a stroke and heart attack. Yet he said Madison's protracted legal fight has been hard on his family and doesn't "do my dad justice." Said Schulte: "Somebody needs to make a decision. Either we are going to have the death penalty or we're not." The poop train is gone. Parrish, Alabama is now free of smelly containers of human waste that had been parked on railroad tracks in the small Walker County town for more than two months. The shipping containers had been parked at a rail yard since February, awaiting transport to the Big Sky Environmental landfill in Adamsville, about 20 miles away in Jefferson County. Parrish Mayor Heather Hall said in a Facebook post that the last container of sludge was taken to the landfill Tuesday afternoon and that any remaining containers in the town were empty and ready to be shipped back north. "I have wonderful news," Hall wrote. "Big Sky has ended their operation in Parrish." The Big Sky landfill reached a deal in 2016 with seven wastewater treatment plants in New York and New Jersey to ship their biosolids -- the solid material left after wastewater treatment processes -- to the landfill for use as "alternative cover," to encourage plant growth on the covered slopes of the landfill. Trainloads of the material have been rolling into Alabama since early 2017, generating complaints and lawsuits from local towns and counties along the way. Big Sky has been using local rail yards to transfer shipping containers full of sludge from trains to trucks to haul them to the landfill. That transfer operation generated most of the complaints. The landfill shifted to Parrish from a rail yard in Jefferson County, after a federal judge ruled that the county could enforce a zoning ordinance on the rail yard, which prohibited noxious odors from being emitted at the rail yard. During those court proceedings, landfill personnel admitted that on two occasions, sludge from the containers spilled out onto roadways near the town of West Jefferson during transit. Hall said that approximately 250 containers of the sludge were parked in Parrish at one point, and it took the landfill more than two months to haul those containers to the landfill by truck. In her Facebook post, Hall thanked state Sen. Greg Reed for advocating for the town of Parrish, as well as Norfolk Southern railroad. "I would also like to thank Norfolk Southern for requiring Big Sky to hire more drivers to move this material more expeditiously out of the Town of Parrish and all they did to help bring an end to our nightmare," Hall said. "We are extremely grateful for your help." Norfolk Southern also forced the cars out of a rail yard in Birmingham when they were parked there for more than a week. Residents there complained of a "death smell" emanating from the containers. "I will say this over and over....this material does not need to be in a populated area...period," Hall said on Facebook. "It greatly diminishes the quality of life for those who live anywhere near it." The New York City Department of Environmental Protection announced in March that it was no longer sending its sewage sludge to Big Sky after the numerous public complaints from Alabama. Civilians anywhere near the Ladd Peebles stadium in Mobile Wednesday would have been forgiven for thinking that President Donald Trump was back in the city, as a convoy of SUVs, trucks, unmarked vans and other vehicles snaked its way through the Maysville community in south Mobile. Onlookers stopped and watched from the street, their yards and homes as the dozen or so vehicles with blue flashing lights passed through stop signs and busy junctions. But instead of bringing a message of thanks, as the then President-elect had done as part of his victory tour in December 2016, this was a message of no thanks. Mobile law enforcement spent the morning raiding multiple homes and one business in an attempt to snuff out the crime and violence associated with narcotics. The operation was known as April R.A.I.N.S, which stands for Raiding and Incarcerating Narcotics Subjects. Operations on this scale are commenced at least once a month, according to police. Officers had warrants for 10 addresses in the area, while one convenience store, the epicenter of crime in the community, according to police, was given a temporary restraining order (TRO). No shots were fired as part of the raids and searches were conducted peacefully by dozens of officers. Most were dressed in regular Mobile Police Department uniforms, while some wore street clothes and bullet proof vests. Others had items covering their faces as they were undercover. In all, 10 individuals were arrested, two of which had been targeted at the start of the raids. Seven of those people were taken in on possession of marijuana, first and second degree, and possession of controlled substances. Nearly every person arrested had a warrant out for their arrest. Those ranged from as a little as not wearing a seatbelt to burglary, harassment, assault, and domestic violence. Seven weapons were also seized. The initial investigation centered around 15 targeted individuals that were being pursued for felony drug crimes, according to Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste, who was present throughout the raids. "many of these people sold to an undercover officer or a confidential informant, so those are actually felony offences," said Battiste at the end of the raids. "Our goal is to pick all 15 and hold them accountable for the their actions in the community." Thirteen remain at large. But the main objective of the raids was to shut the Mitchell Brother's Convenience Store located at 1300 Arlington Street. The store's parking lot has for years been a place where violence and drug dealing has taken place, according to officers at the scene. Bullet holes in the awning above the shop door and in nearby buildings were pointed out by Mobile's Executive Director of Public Safety James Barber, who was present throughout the raids. Last year there were 90 crimes reported within 1000ft of the property, many of which were violent. Chief Battiste who also witnessed the raids, said that the owner of the store had been warned since 2014 about drug activity in the area but had failed to act. "We've given them multiple opportunities to correct the behavior out here in this parking lot," said Battiste. "As a stakeholder to the community, he (the owner) has a responsibility to put up no loitering signs, ensure that if people are doing things they report that to the police." One of the police department's targets, Demario Sampson, was immediately arrested in the parking lot, placed face down on the tarmac as the business was searched and closed. He was arrested for distribution of a controlled substance and taken to Metro Jail. No narcotics were found in the business. It was boarded up and padlocked, while the owner of the store was briefed that the action was a civil matter and not criminal, and that he should attend court in 10 days. Mobile Circuit Court Judges Charles Graddick was also on hand to ensure that officers were following the correct laws in their search of the business and to help with search warrants. In a press conference outside the business in Maysville, Chief Battiste said that closure of the store was important as drug activity was a precursor for other crimes in the area. "We want the entire city of Mobile paying attention to what's happening and to respect the neighborhoods," said Battiste. "Again, you'll see us continue these type of operations in the future." Justice for a McGill-Toolen Catholic High School student fatally shot on Easter Sunday could come down to a tip from the public -- and the Mobile Police Department is offering a $5,000 reward for that tip. Anesa Baker, 15, was hospitalized after gunfire erupted outside a teen concert at The Grand Hall, a venue on Halls Mill Road. It was not a school event and was open to an 18-and-under crowd from the community at large. She died more than a week after the April 1 incident. Police reported that five people were injured by gunfire, with at least one of the wounds self-inflicted, and at least two were hurt in the ensuing stampede. Three people later were arrested on firearms charges: Two juveniles found with weapons and one adult without a permit. In a Thursday press conference, Mobile Police Chief Lawrence Battiste said that some witnesses had been very cooperative and others less so. Police were turning to the public to help crack the key question of who fatally shot Baker. "We've run down every lead we've had to this point," Battiste said. "It's very important that our community hear our plea." "In the past when we've made this type of plea, the community has certainly come to our rescue," he said. Battiste said police are hoping for a witness account, a cell-phone video or anything else that will lead to a breakthrough. "If it leads to the arrest, there will be a $5,000 reward," he said. Battiste said police do have a partial understanding of what occurred during the incident, but need to corroborate some of the information they have received. "There are details we don't want to put out there and discuss at this point," he said. Anyone with information relevant to the case can call the Crime Stoppers line at 251-208-7000. Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey's newest campaign ad defending a state law that protects Confederate monuments is a reminder to black residents "where Alabama stands when it comes to race relations," the Alabama NAACP said in a fiery response. The organization's president, Bernard Simelton, said the NAACP was "shocked" at the campaign ad, and chastised the governor for not wanting to meet with them to discuss race relations. "Just when we thought Alabama was beginning to turn the corner in race relations, we see our governor wanting to continue to remind African Americans and people of color where Alabama stands when it comes to race relations," Simelton said in an email statement to AL.com. "Not on her watch will Alabama move to be a more inclusive state." Ivey's campaign, in a response, defended the ad that was released Tuesday and the Alabama Memorial Preservation Act of 2017, which Ivey signed into law about 11 months ago. "Our ad highlights a law that was passed by the Legislature and signed by the governor to protect all of our historical monuments. We can't - and we shouldn't - change, erase, or tear down our history. We should learn from all of it," the campaign issued in a response. Simelton said Ivey's office has ignored the NAACP's requests for meetings to discuss the formation of a commission or a panel to study race relations in Alabama. "The request hit a brick wall," said Simelton. "We also asked her to make a public statement that KKK, Neo Nazi's, and other white supremacists groups are not welcomed in Alabama. It met the same brick wall." Said Simelton: "The numerous issues that Ivey could have included in her ad, such as better education system, improved health care, reduction of crime, a fairer criminal justice system and she chose the one thing that divides Alabamians perhaps more than anything else ... the Confederate monuments that is a reminder of a very dark past." Ivey's campaign ad touts a law that requires local governments to obtain state permission before altering or renaming historically significant buildings and monuments that date back 40 years or longer. The law also creates a 11-member commission which is charged with determining whether historic buildings or monuments can be moved or renamed. Ivey, in her campaign ad, criticized Alabama outsiders for pushing an agenda on the state. "Up in Washington, they always know better," Ivey said at the beginning of the clip. "Politically correct nonsense, I say." But the most prominent fight in Alabama hasn't been with outsiders, rather with the City of Birmingham. The law is subject to recent litigation in Jefferson County Circuit Court, where the city of Birmingham is pitted against the Alabama Attorney General's Office. In August 2017, two months after the law was passed, then-Birmingham Mayor William Bell ordered the Confederate Soldiers and Sailors Monument in Linn Park covered with plastic - later, plywood - while lawyers could explore legal options. Bell said at the time he wasn't going to have the statue torn down, even though there were calls for its removal. The debate over the fate of Confederate monuments has exploded nationally since the 2015 massacre inside a Charleston, South Carolina church. A rash of monuments have either been removed or torn down in the past couple of years highlighted last year by New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu's decision to remove a Robert E. Lee statue. The Tennessee House of Representatives pulled $250,000 in funding from Memphis in protest of the city's removal of Confederate monuments from public parks. The funding, intended for the city's bicentennial celebration next year, was pulled through an amendment attached to a House appropriations bill in retaliation for last year's removal of two statutes and a bust of a Confederate soldier. Memphis facilitated the removal of the monuments by selling city parks to a non-profit group which removed statues of Confederate President Jefferson Davis and General and Ku Klux Klan leader Nathan Bedford Forrest, the AP reported. Removal of funding won't affect plans for the bicentennial, however, according to a spokesperson for Mayor Jim Strickland. Chief Communications officer Ursula Madden told the Commercial Appeal the city had not budgeted for the state's donation. The legislative action drew criticism from the Tennessee Democratic party. "The city of Memphis should not be punished for the removal of Confederate statues," party chair Mary Mancini said. "Taking away $250,000 meant for the city's bicentennial celebration speaks volumes about the current Republican majority leadership in the State House. Elected public servants should have the backs of all Tennesseans -- no matter who you are, what you look like, or where you live -- and not take punitive measures against a community simply for doing what's right. This action is a disgrace." Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey continued to dominate the GOP governor's race on Wednesday, despite her persistent no-shows to the debates. "I would think as long as her internal polling data shows she's far ahead, she can resist debating," said Waymon Burke, a political science professor at Calhoun Community College. "It's beneficial for her not to stand side-by-side with her challengers." Ivey's campaign provided no reaction Thursday to the Reckon by AL.com debate at the Lyric Fine Arts Theatre in Birmingham on Wednesday despite her name being mentioned throughout the night. Ivey, in Birmingham Thursday, that she had not watched the debate. She spent Wednesday in coastal Alabama, and attended an Alabama Gulf Coast Recovery Council meeting. What was Kay Ivey doing during the gubernatorial debate? https://t.co/cahPMZ94Og WilliamThornton (@billineastala) April 19, 2018 All three Republican governor candidates who attended - Huntsville Mayor Tommy Battle, Senator Bill Hightower of Mobile and evangelist Scott Dawson of Birmingham - took repeated shots at the sitting governor, whose podium stood darkened during the 90-minute debate. "I think she's wishing she was here tonight right now," Dawson said at one point in the debate. But does she? Ivey looms large Political pundits statewide believe Ivey's campaign is doing the smart thing by keeping the 73-year-old governor away from public debates against her younger rivals. They also believe Ivey, whose campaign is by far the most well-funded with more than $2 million in the bank, is the prohibitive favorite to win the June 5 Republican primary. Candace Cooksey, a Mobile-based political consultant who is not involved in the governor's race, attended Wednesday's debate. She said she understands Ivey's strategy of not participating. Still, Cooksey said the three challengers should be applauded for answering difficult questions posed by a panel that included Reckon's Pulitzer Prize-winning columnist John Archibald, ABC 33/40's Lauren Walsh and AL.com contributor Cameron Smith of the R Street Institute. "I think, as a citizen, I'd like to see her face tough questions and see her think on her feet," said Cooksey. "This was a tough debate." Ivey's three GOP rivals believe they have the political chops to pressure Ivey to make a public splash in the final month ahead of the primary. At the Reckon debate, each told AL.com afterward that it's important for the governor to speak to the public about her platform. "The three of us got to stand up here and say this is what we'd do as governor," said Battle. Said Hightower: "The questions asked and probed at were deep and complex issues. The fact the governor is not here to answer those questions, people begin to say, 'Why not?' I think that is a problem. Dawson, in pleading to Ivey directly, said: "Show up to these debates." Even politicians who showed up wanted to hear what the governor had to say. Among them was state Rep. Will Ainsworth, R-Guntersville, who is running for lieutenant governor. "I think if you're running for office, you certainly need to be at debates," said Ainsworth. "You got to show up and talk about your vision for the state." He added, "I'm not involved in the governor's campaign and with her strategy. But I can speak for myself, the public deserves to hear your message, your vision for Alabama and what you want to do." Steve Flowers, a former Republican member of the Alabama House and a political analyst whose weekly column appears in about 60 newspapers statewide, said he believes Ivey's lead is comfortable enough that she doesn't benefit from participating in the debates. He said she's benefited from the power of incumbency, which brings name recognition. Ivey, though, has never won election to the governor's seat. She assumed the office about one year ago after former Gov. Robert Bentley resigned following an alleged sex scandal with a former aide. "The majority of the people in the state haven't heard of Tommy Battle or Bill Hightower or Scott Dawson," said Flowers. "But if you poll the average person in Slocomb, Alabama, they'll say, 'Yeah, I know who Kay Ivey is and I'll vote for her.'" Said Flowers: "But if they see her up against a younger and vibrant person (at a debate) and she stutters and cannot answer the questions or slips and falls or something like that, then it makes it look like 'Am I voting for someone for president of the nursing home or am I voting for governor?'" 'Organized, informative debate' Republican leadership, meanwhile, is proud of the debate sans Ivey. Terry Lathan, chairwoman of the Alabama GOP, attended with Republican representatives throughout the state including Jefferson County GOP chairwoman Sallie Bryant. "The Reckon team and ABC 33/40 ran a very organized and informative debate with our Republican candidates," Lathan said in an email to AL.com early Thursday. "Tough questions had good straight forward answers. Our GOP candidates showcased strong mastery of issues, shared their vision for Alabama and reminded us of the stark differences between liberal agendas and conservative Republicans." Pundits have split views over who won the debate, given that the prohibitive frontrunner was absent. Flowers said he thought Dawson did a good job at "answering questions" which were asked of him, and Hightower "came across more outspoken" than in past events. Battle, meanwhile, showcased some more light-hearted moments on stage including a gentle jab at Archibald. Holding up a copy of Wednesday's Birmingham News with a story about Archibald's Pulitzer Prize win on the front page, Battle queried: "Did you really win a Pulitzer?" "I was enjoying myself," said Battle. "When it was over, I was like 'Wow, this is already done?'" Battle did elicit some groans from a crowd of mostly conservative attendees by suggesting he would consider an increase in the state's gasoline tax to help finance road construction. "My views on the gas tax is that it's one of the tools you may have to use," said Battle. "You got to do something on infrastructure and roads. It's not a 'want to' or a 'maybe we will' but we have to do something." Battle did disagree with Hightower on their viewpoints about separation of powers. Hightower said it's up to the legislative body to hold the Judiciary Inquiry Commission accountable, and that there should be an impeachment process against judicial offices "like we do with any other offices." Hightower said that he did not like how a "one-sided" process unfolded in the past removal of former Alabama Supreme Court Chief Justice Roy Moore. The JIC filed ethics violation charges against Moore in 2016, after the former judge directed probate judges to not issue marriage licenses to same-sex couples even after the U.S. Supreme Court ruled gay marriage legal. "Judge Moore was not the only person who has a problem with the JIC," said Hightower. "There are a lot of people who are afraid. They are liberally focused, and we have some of the most conservative judges in Alabama because they are elected." Battle, though, said the Legislature is in place to "legislate." "I don't want the Legislature to make political decisions on judges or the court system," said Battle. Hightower and Battle also differed on immigration policy. Battle, as mayor of a growing city, said Huntsville doesn't want to send a message of exclusion, adding, "one of the things I'll make sure of is that we'll not exclude people." In 2017, Huntsville council meetings were attended by residents pushing for leaders to consider making it a "sanctuary city." "One of the things we don't want in Alabama are sanctuary cities," said Hightower. "We don't want our government with a catch and release philosophy." Dawson, perhaps, got the loudest applause of the night for articulating a school safety that includes the voluntary arming of teachers, providing extensive training for them, and coordinating on school safety plans with local police. He said that teachers would get paid a stipend for going through the training. Ainsworth, who sponsored a teacher-arming bill in the Alabama Legislature this past spring, applauded Dawson's plan. Arming teachers has become a politically polarizing issue since it was first mentioned by President Donald Trump following the Feb. 14 school massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. An NPR/Ispos poll, taken in March, shows that while a majority of Americans oppose arming teachers, 71 percent of Republican men agree with the idea. "It was one of the loudest applauses tonight," said Ainsworth, referring to Dawson's position. "People want to make sure we keep our kids safe." A 2016 graduate of Eastside High School and seven others between the ages 10 and 20 are suing the state of Florida for promoting the use of fossil fuels that lead to climate change. On Monday, Oscar Psychas and others filed a lawsuit paid for by Oregon-based Our Childrens Fund, a nonprofit that helps youth take legal action to ensure a stable climate. The 20-year-old Eastside alumnus said he experienced the effects of climate change while hiking 300 miles from Gainesville to Tallahassee in unusual Florida heat last February. This isnt just a publicity stunt, Psychas, a Middlebury College freshman, said. We have a really strong case and think we can win. The lawsuit said state government officials are contributing to climate change by encouraging the use of fossil fuels, while suppressing the use of renewable resources, Psychas said. He said state officials, particularly Gov. Rick Scott, dont acknowledge climate change, which leads to a lack of policies to protect the environment. He said the state uses fossil fuels when solar power would make more sense because of how much sunshine the state gets due to its flat geography. Florida has a choice to either stick to the old way of fossil fuels and be left behind, he said. Or we can get excited about this new model of switching to renewable energy. Guy Burns, the lawyer representing the plaintiffs, said the state has to protect the environment. He said the case is winnable because the state has increased greenhouse gas emissions, which have caused climate change and natural disasters. He said he thinks the trial will make it clear that the state has failed in its obligations. Burns said young people are the perfect people to file a lawsuit because they will be affected for the rest of their lives. Theres nobody that has greater vested interest in the case, he said. When contacted, the state emailed a statement about the lawsuit. The governors office declined to comment further. The Governor signed one of the largest environmental protection budgets in Floridas history last month investing $4 billion into Floridas environment, Gov. Scott spokesperson McKinley Lewis wrote in an email. The governor is focused on real solutions to protect our environment not political theater or a lawsuit orchestrated by a group based in Eugene, Oregon. Psychas said as an environmental studies student, his main reason for joining is because the beauty of Florida is in danger. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Its just such a profound injustice that young people are being left a world, and a Florida, that will be broken, he said. Oscar Psychas, 20, is suing the state of Florida with seven other people under 21 to advocate for better environmental practices. He hiked 300 miles last February to raise awareness for conservation of Floridas wild areas. Carolina Sepulveda doesnt know when shell die, but she knows what she wants to get done beforehand. Sepulveda, a 20-year-old UF biology junior, sat across from a swath of chalkboard titled Before I Die as she studied between classes next to the Reitz Union POD market on Tuesday. Before walking to her biochemistry class, she read the goals written in chalk by her fellow students: Travel the world. Buy my Ma a house. Graduate. Sepulveda stopped in front of the wall, grabbed a piece of blue chalk and wrote, Save lives. Sepulveda, who hopes to become a doctor, said she didnt know the wall is part of UF Healths monthlong initiative to encourage students and Gainesville residents to reflect on life, death and end-of-life health care. Wendy Resnick, the UF Health senior director of finance, said UF Health installed 12 Before I Die walls in downtown Gainesville, around UF Health buildings and on campus for the second year in a row. The walls raise awareness for advance directives, which are written statements of a persons preferred medical treatment if they are too ill or incapacitated to communicate with a doctor. About a third of American adults have advanced directives filled out, according to Reuters. Resnick said although death is a taboo subject for many people, the walls are a positive way to start a difficult conversation. It takes some of the scariness away from it, she said. Anyone over 18 years old can fill out an advance directive and scan it into their medical records in case of a medical emergency, Resnick said. Advance directive, including a living will or health care surrogate form, designate a specific person, like a family member or friend, to speak on behalf of an incapacitated patient. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now They could step into your shoes and sign for the care you might want, she said. Abby Wolz, a 23-year-old UF master of health administration graduate student and project coordinator, said the Depot Park wall was taken down last week because of inappropriate language. The remaining walls will stay up until April 30, except for the Reitz Union location, which will be taken down Friday, Wolz said. Student Legal Service will offer advance directive assistance from 10 a.m. to 2 p.m. Friday in Suite 3500 in the Reitz Union. Wolz said the walls have received overwhelmingly positive feedback from the Gainesville community. The walls almost fill up simultaneously, she said. I wish I could stop for a day and watch a blank wall fill up. UF Health is also screening Defining Hope, a nursing documentary, at the UF Health Cancer Hospital on Wednesday and at the McKnight Brain Institute on Thursday and on April 28. UF Health is also hosting a panel on advance directives at the Alachua County Senior Recreation Center next Monday. Joseph Whelihan Jr., a 23-year-old UF medical student, filled out an advance directive form in March. He said hell be ready when hes on his deathbed. Tomorrow is not guaranteed, so I think that everyone needs to go out and sign one of these, he said. Whelihan decided to name his mother as his health care surrogate after completing a class assignment to talk to a family member about advance directives. He said he dreaded asking his mother about what she would want when she dies, but he was pleasantly surprised by how open his mother was. I think its a difficult conversation for a lot of people, he said. Especially given that Im going to be going into a health care field, and I had difficulties, I cant even imagine what the majority of Americans must feel like. At the Sun Terrace wall last week, Whelihan wrote what he wants to do before he dies. In bright yellow chalk, he wrote graduate med school. Three and a half more years, he said. Well see if I can make it. Before I Die wall locations: Alachua County Senior Center Bo Diddley Plaza Haven Hospice Attic Thrift Store Possum Creek Park Santa Fe College United Church of Gainesville UF Health Facilities Administration Building Orthopedic Sports Medicine Institute Sun Terrace UF Health Shands Psychiatric and Rehab Hospitals 1329 Building The Reitz Union Correction: This story has been updated to fix an editing error. The story now reflects that the Reitz Union wall will stay up through Friday. Contact Amanda Rosa at arosa@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @AmandaNicRosa. UF Health installed 12 Before I Die walls in downtown Gainesville, around UF Health buildings and on campus for the second year in a row. The walls raise awareness for advance directives, which are written statements of a persons preferred medical treatment if they are too ill or incapacitated to communicate with a doctor. Andrew Lim told a group of about 30 people the LGBTQ+ community is not safe from rape culture. The lack of conversation around LGBTQ+ survivors makes it difficult for people to come forward, the 21-year-old said. Lim was one of four speakers at the event, Rape Culture in LGBTQ+ Communities, hosted by UF Sexual Trauma/Interpersonal Violence Education and student organization Pride Awareness Month on Tuesday afternoon at the Matthews Suite of the Reitz Union. Mark Tracz, a STRIVE lead peer educator, said the two organizations collaborated to put on the panel because rape culture is not often discussed in the community due to a lack of guidance. The event was STRIVEs first general body meeting co-programmed with Pride Awareness Month. Tracz, 24, said the event aimed to dispel myths and educate students on interpreting unhealthy and healthy behaviors in the minority community. The talk was broken up into different aspects of how the media portrays non-straight relationships. Were relating it back to what UF students are going to be most likely exposed to. So current movies, what it is like going out to clubs and having that social life, the second-year UF College of Education graduate student said. Lim, a UF psychology sophomore, said the idea of a gay club is seen as a safe place for LGBTQ+ people. But the presence of drugs and alcohol in these environments is an increasing factor in sexual assaults, said Lim, the co-executive director of Pride Awareness Month and the peer educator of STRIVE. The panel also spoke about what Tracz called, a media approach. Lim guided the discussion about scenes from the films Blue Is The Warmest Colour, which is a French film about two female lovers, and Call Me by Your Name, which is about two male lovers. Some of the scenes in the films, Lim said, depict large age gaps in relationships and underage drinking, which can lead to problems in relationships. Students then broke into small groups of three or four to discuss questions about the movie scenes before Julia Catuogno discussed problematic trends like teacher-student romantic relationships, portrayed in media. Catuogno, a UF psychology sophomore, grew up seeing these illegal relationships in the media and thought they were attractive because it was normalized. The 21-year-old acknowledged this was another factor of rape culture in the LGBTQ+ community. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Its not talked about and needs to be talked about, Catuogno said. UF Student Body President Smith Meyers has denied being involved with a conservative nonprofit after his photo appeared in one of the organizations brochures. The photo of Meyers was published in a 28-page brochure for Turning Point, as reported by The Chronicle of Higher Education on April 6. An article from The Chronicle in May 2017 described Turning Point USA as a conservative group that tries to influence Student Government elections at colleges and universities nationwide. The article reported the organization was offering to pay for the campaigns of conservative students running to help them get into higher leadership positions as part of Turning Point USAs Campus Victory Project. The Chronicle reported that the group has funded candidates at UF but did not say which ones. Meyers, who has served as the Student Body president since April 2017, wrote in email April 10 that the group took a photo of him from social media without his permission. He said this has happened to other Student Body presidents across the country. Smith said he does not have a relationship with the organization. Student Government is a non-partisan platform with members from every side of the aisle, he said in the statement. I am proud of the work we have accomplished this year, and I believe our work reflects a commitment to working with students across the political spectrum. Meyers declined to comment further. The Alligator tried to contact the national branch of Turning Point USA multiple times. Nobody responded to the requests for comment. SG adviser James Tyger, whose role is to advise, collaborate and train members of Student Government, did not return any of The Alligators multiple requests for comment. According to the brochure on The Chronicles story, Turning Point USA has successfully elected 54 Student Body presidents. SG races in Florida funded by Turning Point are estimated to cost about $2,206,000, according to The Chronicle. The pamphlet said the group recruits students in Greek and residential life. Meyers is a former chapter president of the fraternity Alpha Tau Omega. Turning Point USA has embarked on making the largest strategic impact for taking back and fighting the entrenched institution that has hijacked billions of public dollars to promote anti-capitalist, anti-American, anti-Semitic and pro-globalist themes, the pamphlet said. Enjoy what you're reading? Get content from The Alligator delivered to your inbox Subscribe Now Alia DeLong, a UF interdisciplinary ecology doctoral student, said she was disappointed to see Meyerss photo on the brochure. She said she wished he wouldve taken a stronger stance against the organization in his response. I think thats a pretty weak response because the organizations views are extreme, the 29-year-old said. I just dont understand why he wouldnt come out and stand up against those kinds of views because theyre harmful and oppressive views. Contact Christina Morales at cmorales@alligator.org. Follow her on Twitter at @Christina_M18. UF Student Body President Smith Meyers Posted on: April 19, 2018 2:36 PM Parliamentarians and senior religious leaders from 11 Commonwealth countries gathered at Lambeth Palace, the London official residence of the Archbishop of Canterbury, for two-days of discussions on freedom of religion or belief. The gathering was chaired by the Bishop of Coventry, Christopher Cocksworth, and was part of the parallel programme of events running alongside the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), one of the worlds largest international summits, bringing together the leaders of 53 independent nations. The event was convened by the Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby in partnership with the Commonwealth Initiative on Freedom of Religion or Belief project director, Baroness Berridge. The discussions at Lambeth Palace were attended by 40 senior religious leaders, parliamentarians and academics from 11 Commonwealth countries, Lambeth Palace said in a statement. The theme was Majority and minority in context. Participants heard of the importance of the international legal framework for Freedom of Religion or Belief (FoRB) and the need for faith communities and governments to engage with it more consistently was also stressed. It was highlighted that faith communities must advocate the same global standards on religious freedom when they are the majority in one country as when they are a minority in another country, and governments must abide by international standards on FoRB. The meeting was held under the Chatham House rule, named after the international think tank. Under the rule, participants are able to report what they heard at the meeting; but not in a way that will explicitly or implicitly indentify the source of that information. Lambeth Palace said that participants at the discussion noted that religious freedom is a deep tradition and rich heritage of the countries of the Commonwealth, but one that cannot be taken for granted. One un-named participant was quoted as saying that the tradition of tolerance and liberty is a Common Wealth that needs to be cherished, celebrated and continuously cultivated. Posted on: April 19, 2018 8:01 AM Grants for the historic preservation of church buildings by Morris County, near New York City, have been ruled unconstitutional by the New Jersey Supreme Court. Between 2012 and 2015, a dozen churches received $4.6 million USD (approximately 3.2 million GBP), according to the MorristownGreen news website. The churches, which include St Peters Episcopal Church and the Episcopal Church of the Redeemer, will not have to pay the money back; but they will no longer be eligible to receive grants available to other historic buildings. The decision is being reviewed by the Morris County legal team, who say it contradicts a recent opinion from the US Supreme Court. The case against Morris County was bought the secularist campaign group Freedom from Religion Foundation and local taxpayer David Steketee. They argued that the payments were in direct contradiction of the New Jersey Constitution which states that nobody shall be obliged to pay tithes, taxes, or other rates for building or repairing any church or churches, place or places of worship, or for the maintenance of any minister or ministry, contrary to what he believes to be right. In the 62-page judgment, Chief Justice Stuart Rabner said that The plain language of the Religious Aid Clause bars the use of taxpayer funds to repair and restore churches, and Morris Countys program ran afoul of that long-standing provision. In a statement, the co-president of the Freedom from Religion Foundation, Annie Laurie Gaylor, said: its shocking that it took a trip to the New Jersey Supreme Court to enforce such a plain constitutional command. New Jersey taxpayers can breathe a sigh of relief that their constitutional religious liberty rights have been protected. The Morris County officials expressed disappointment with the ruling. In Morris County, as in all counties in New Jersey and across the nation, churches and other religious buildings are a vital part of the historic fabric of where we live, interwoven in the history of how our county, state and nation developed, Morris County Administrator John Bonanni said. We believe historic churches are a strong component of that overall rich history, and we have considered churches only those eligible for the State or National Registers of Historic Places among historic sites that have been eligible for consideration by the countys historic preservation grant program. The ruling appears to go against last years ruling by the US Supreme Court which said that the Missouri Department of Natural Resources express policy of denying grants to any applicant owned or controlled by a church, sect or other religious entity violated the rights of Trinity Lutheran Church under the free exercise clause of the First Amendment to the US Constitution, by denying the church an otherwise available public benefit on account of its religious status. (ANSA) - Rome, April 19 - The transport ministry can now authorise road tests of driverless cars in Italy, according to a decree published in the Official Gazette Wednesday night. The decree, contained in the 2018 budget law, OKs so-called smart roads and road tests of driverless vehicles, a note from the ministry said. Fiat Chrysler Automobiles (FCA) last year joined an alliance led by BMW to produce driverless cars. Waymo, the self-driving unit of Google parent Alphabet, in January reached a deal with FCA to dramatically expand its fleet of autonomous vehicles. DOHA - Qatar's non-oil exports for the first quarter of 2018 touched QR5.64bn, up 15.1 percent or QR4.9bn, compared to the same period in 2017, according to the monthly report of Qatar Chamber as reported by the Peninsula. According to the Chamber, in March, Qatar exported goods and services to about 57 countries, including 11 Arab countries and GCC, 10 European countries including Turkey, 16 Asian countries (excluding Arab countries), 15 African countries (excluding Arab countries), 3 countries of North America, and one of South America and Australia. Oman was still Qatar's top non-oil exports destination in March 2018 accounting for QR485.8m or 35.8 percent of the total exports. It was followed by Netherland with almost QR209.1m or 15.4 percent and Turkey with QR87.7 m or 6.5 percent. India came in fourth place with almost QR78.8m or 5.8 percent followed Bangladesh by with QR76.3m or 5.6 percent. Hong Kong was in the sixth place followed by Germany, Indonesia, China and Australia. GCC countries (Oman and Kuwait) as an economic bloc were top destinations of Qatari exports amounting to 37.1 percent of the total exports with QR502.4m. Most of them was received by Oman. Asian countries excluding Arab countries come in the second place. They imported goods worth QR440 m, which represents 32.4 percent of the total non-oil exports. European countries including Turkey come in the third place amounting to 20.4 percent of the total value with QR276.3m. Commenting on the report, QC's Director-General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi said that despite the slight decrease in the value of March's non-oil exports compared to the last month, new markets have entered to the fray with advanced position such as Netherland and Australia. He noted that the escalating surge in Qatar exports in the first quarter of 2018 assured that the country is not affected by the siege. Non-oil exports value increased by 15 percent than its level before the blockade, he added. Qatar non-oil exports at QR5.6bn in Q1 despite embargo Exports value increased by 15pc. Oman top destination in March (ANSAmed) - DOHA, APRIL 19 - Qatar's non-oil exports for the first quarter of 2018 touched QR5.64bn, up 15.1 percent or QR4.9bn, compared to the same period in 2017, according to the monthly report of Qatar Chamber as reported by the Peninsula. According to the Chamber, in March, Qatar exported goods and services to about 57 countries, including 11 Arab countries and GCC, 10 European countries including Turkey, 16 Asian countries (excluding Arab countries), 15 African countries (excluding Arab countries), 3 countries of North America, and one of South America and Australia. Oman was still Qatar's top non-oil exports destination in March 2018 accounting for QR485.8m or 35.8 percent of the total exports. It was followed by Netherland with almost QR209.1m or 15.4 percent and Turkey with QR87.7 m or 6.5 percent. India came in fourth place with almost QR78.8m or 5.8 percent followed Bangladesh by with QR76.3m or 5.6 percent. Hong Kong was in the sixth place followed by Germany, Indonesia, China and Australia. GCC countries (Oman and Kuwait) as an economic bloc were top destinations of Qatari exports amounting to 37.1 percent of the total exports with QR502.4m. Most of them was received by Oman. Asian countries excluding Arab countries come in the second place. They imported goods worth QR440 m, which represents 32.4 percent of the total non-oil exports. European countries including Turkey come in the third place amounting to 20.4 percent of the total value with QR276.3m. Commenting on the report, QC's Director-General Saleh bin Hamad Al Sharqi said that despite the slight decrease in the value of March's non-oil exports compared to the last month, new markets have entered to the fray with advanced position such as Netherland and Australia. He noted that the escalating surge in Qatar exports in the first quarter of 2018 assured that the country is not affected by the siege. Non-oil exports value increased by 15 percent than its level before the blockade, he added. (ANSAmed). BEIRUT - Syrian authorities have reached an agreement with Islamic State (ISIS) for the surrender of jihadi fighters in a district on the southern outskirts of Damascus, pan-Arabic TV al Mayadin reports. The sources cited by the broadcaster say that approximately 1,200 ISIS affiliates who have been present in what remains of the Palestinian refugee camp of Yarmuk for years have agreed to surrender and leave the area. They are to be transferred to central Syria, where ISIS continues to be active, al Mayadin reports. Other rebels affiliated to Al Qaeda from around Yarmuk and the nearby district of Hajar al Aswad will instead be deported to Idlib in northwest Syria, in an area under de facto Turkish influence. Syrian media neither confirm nor deny the reports, but the pro-government daily al Watan instead reports a "48-hour ultimatum" given by loyalist forces to the fighters in Yarmuk and Hajar al Aswad. Jordan: activists launch anti-child marriage campaign 10,000 children coerced into marriage very year in the country (ANSAmed) - AMMAN, APRIL 19 - Human rights activists launched a campaign to combat early child marriage in Jordan as the phenomena grows out of control due to rising poverty and arrival of refugees from neighboring countries. Over 10,000 girls under the age 18 are married in Jordan every year, according to figures provided by Sisterhood is Global Institute (SIGI), the organization behind the initiative against child marriage. Called "Nujoud" in reference to a notorious case of a Yemeni girl was coerced to marriage at the tinder age of 10 and got divorced months later, to become the youngest ever divorced in the world. Pundits for anti-child marriage are lobbying for the parliament to abolish an article in the law that allows marriage of children under age 18 and deprive judges from the right to make exemptions of marriage. Jordan's tribal community has allowed for the early marriage to continue despite improvement in human rights law, as the parliament is dominated by conservative leaders, say human rights activists. The arrival of refugees from Syria has added to the phenomena, with families from the war stricken country often forced to marry their children to obtain legal rights and secure stable future for them in the new environment. The difficult economic situation has forced many families to marry their daughters for some financial gains and to avoid spending on them, but activists say such actions should be considered a crime. According to SIGI's executive director Asma Khader "early marriage for financial gains could be considered human trafficking. Khader claim that figures indicate that "we have around 30 girls wed every day in Jordan who are under the age of 18". (ANSAmed). AMMAN - The Red Sea port city of Aqaba is expected to get a shot in the arm this month with the arrival of 16,000 tourists on board of cruise ships from around the world as tourists promise to bring the city to life and boost tourism sector in the kingdom. Officials from Aqaba Special Economic Zone Authority (ASEZA) said a total of 14 cruise ships from Europe, the US, Canada, Australia and Asia will dock on the port of Aqaba to embark on a journey in south Jordan that will take them to the rock engraved city of Petra and the stunning mountains of Wadi Rum. The so called "Golden Triangle" has become the mantra of Jordan tourism business as authorities seek to attract nature and history lovers to the kingdom, after years of struggling due to the political instability in the region. Other sites to be visited also include the biblical region of Baptism Site on the Jordan River, where millions of Christians visit yearly to perform holy pilgrimage. They would also visit the Dead Sea, one of the world seven natural wonders, according to officials form ASEZA. Aqaba, an industrial and trade hub has been turned into a tourism attraction after authorities facilitated investment of major tourism projects in multi-billion dollar schemes on the shores of the Red Sea. AZESA says that tourism has been improving in the port city, 320 km south the capital with number of visitors doubling compared to the same number last year. The start of the tourism season in April is seen as a good sign for improving performance of tourism sector across the country, where tourism is considered the second most important source of national income. Global air services provider and UKs leading ground handler, Dnata, has been awarded certification for Good Distribution Practice (GDP) by the UK Medicines and Healthcare Products Regulatory Agency (UK MHRA). The UK MHRA granted Dnata full Wholesaler Dealer Authorisation (WDA) after Dnata completed the organisations Good Distribution Programme, while simultaneously investing into cutting-edge pharma handling technology at several of its facilities. Dnatas investment includes a sophisticated 24-hour warehouse monitoring system that has the ability to conduct temperature mapping and advise Dnata operators ahead of any deviation in temperature. This, in, turn enables pre-planning, quick response to adapt to adverse weather conditions and assessment of potential transport routes for pharma products. Temperature mapping is also routinely conducted within Dnatas facilities in the summer and winter to gauge average temperatures. This leading-edge technology recently paid dividends when the cold front struck in early March and temperatures across the UK plummeted. Dnata was able to prepare for the severe temperature onslaught, and ensure that all pharmaceuticals handled followed the optimum route, at temperatures that limited the risk of spoilage. In addition, the company has installed automated handling systems that can store pharmaceuticals at variable temperature ranges. In order to achieve certification, Dnata was required to either review or make enhancements to its quality systems, operations documentation and facilities management practices a 12 to 24-month process that it completed in just six months. We have invested in pharma-handling facilities across the UK in response to customer demand and in recognition of the growing importance of pharma cold-chain logistics, said Dnata UK CEO Gary Morgan. With world-class technology already in place at our facilities, the next logical step was to ensure standards compliance and achieve UK MHRA certification. These initiatives not only demonstrate our ongoing focus on safety and quality, but also reinforce our commitment to our airline customers who operate in the fast-growing pharmaceutical transportation sector. How much do engineers in the field and in MRO shops contribute to shaping current and future programmes? Plenty, say those who know. Chuck Grieve reports. Climatic conditions in the Middle East are notoriously hard on machines. The summer heat, humidity, salty and grit-filled air can and do damage aircraft and aero engines when they are operating and when they are static. In few other environments is the feedback loop between MRO and line engineers and original equipment manufacturers (OEMs) as important in maintaining airworthiness. When Boeings David Longridge, vice-president commercial services, said the Seattle airframer would be able to design even better aircraft by expanding its aftermarket presence, he was overlooking the virtuous circle that already exists between manufacturers, operators and those who regularly see what happens to aircraft after they leave the factory. Feedback is a constant in the industry, whether it comes from an MRO or OEM facility, said Nick Weber, maintenance director of ExecuJet Middle East. Anne Lilywhite, director of engineering for Honeywell Aerospace, said feedback plays a critical role in the R&D process. It encourages new ideas and helps us deliver on our promise of continuous innovation. And Dr Oliver Reichel-Busch, head of corporate idea management at Lufthansa Technik (LHT) added: Engineers want to make things better. Its in our DNA. Feedback from engineers has led to innovative new programmes and systems. It also prompts improvements in current programmes, notably through new service bulletins and airworthiness directives (ADs). ExecuJet has instigated several of each since 2006, when the company, part of the Luxaviation Group, established MRO facilities for a range of business jets in Dubai. They were based on issues found and reported to the relevant OEMs, said Weber. We regularly provide information back to OEMs, he said. Any work outside the approved maintenance data needs approval and guidance; once raised, an issue will receive OEM attention until its resolved. The Middle East climate is known to cause corrosion across all aircraft types. Windshields appear to be particularly vulnerable, said Weber, suffering higher failure rates in the region than elsewhere due to grit in the air. Surface treatment and exterior refurbishment suppliers are also looking at improved ways of protecting surfaces in general, he added. More generic fleet issues are also detected. We found an issue with the flaps of an aircraft operating in the region, said Weber. The flaps bushings/bearings were migrating. We reported this back to OEM. This led to an advisory. When the OEM started looking into it, it uncovered several more aircraft with similar problems. Now theres a global campaign to rework the area. For Honeywell Aerospace, feedback from engineers is hugely important in product development. Were constantly challenging our engineers to come up with new ideas, said Lilywhite. You cant rush engineering feedback, especially with technologies as advanced as Honeywells SmartPath ground-based augmentation system and the connected weather radar. Time can be the difference between sharing a technology thats ready for use after testing and sharing something that wont meet the customers goals, she said. Its important enough for Honeywell to have formalised the process in Europe with an innovation council and innovation events. Company engineers can present ideas to the council to win funding for further development. The innovation events update leadership teams on new ideas. This kind of open forum ensures recognition of ideas and allows research to be shared among relevant teams, said Lilywhite. More often than not, we incorporate engineer feedback and ideas into Honeywell technologies. One example is the traffic collision avoidance system (TCAS). The engineering team turned it into a competitive product by adding coupled autopilot, a feature that predicts dangerous collisions in the vicinity and automatically steers the aircraft away from them. The automated concept ensures a quick change in route, without harming passengers with an aggressive dive or climb. Processes also benefit from shop-floor feedback. LHT realised it saves around 40 million ($47 million) a year by implementing creative ideas from its technicians, so in 2016 it formalised a programme of encouraging creative thinking and called it my ideas. Its important to us that all those involved in the company, from the idea generators to the experts and company executives to top management, devote the necessary attention to the topic, said Reichel-Busch. Only then can the enormous potential of employee ideas be made permanently available to the company. The new idea management concept uses streamlined processes and modern IT to make it easy to submit an idea, verify it and decide on its implementation. LHT expects it to be rolled out internationally this year. Results from my ideas spread quickly, said Reichel-Busch. When a laborious process for recording data from damage analyses frustrated a team of LHT mechanics in Hamburg, they developed an app that combined several steps into one. The new app takes one to three minutes, instead of up to 10 minutes per process with the old approach, to link a photo taken on a tablet PC to a barcode from the order sheet and add them to the report in the system. More than 50 departments are already using this in-house development. With thousands of recordings like these every year, the savings potential is enormous. Boeing, in addition to advancing its understanding of what happens to aircraft when they leave the factory, sees logic in wanting to increase its aftermarket presence. Its aircraft account for 50-60% of the global fleet, said Longridge, while its share of the aftermarket is estimated at 7%. There is evidence that airlines are not entirely happy about the big civil aviation prime contractors increasing their direct involvement in MRO. We dont support it, Heiko Holm, chief technology officer at Wizz Air, was quoted as saying. Wed rather maintain competition. Although global consultancy ICF International foresees a more consolidated market with OEMs taking a larger share of MRO, Airbus argues that Boeing and itself are actually medium-sized players in MRO. Laurent Martinez, senior vice-president for services at Airbus, observes that the aftermarket is more fragmented and competitive than aircraft manufacturing. And far from pushing smaller players out of the MRO market, Boeing expects to be teaming up with them. We need help around the world for our airline customers to actually implement the work were planning, so we use MROs globally to achieve this and will continue to do so, Longridge told an audience at MRO Asia-Pacific in November. I would advocate that there is plenty of room [in the wider aftermarket] for everyone. Qatar Airways was again recognised for its outstanding safety performance record at the International Air Transport Association (IATA) Safety and Flight Operations Conference 2018, held in Montreal this week. The airline was the first to complete the Safety Audit Programme (IOSA) in 2003, doing so voluntarily and achieving 100 per cent compliance, before the safety programme became mandatory for all IATA member airlines. In a fitting tribute to the 15 year anniversary of the IOSA programme, IATA used the conference as the ideal opportunity to emphasise the programmes importance by presenting the Special Recognition Award to Qatar Airways, the inaugural IOSA programme airline. Qatar Airways Senior Vice President Group Safety and Security, Ashish Jain, said: "We are delighted to receive this special award that recognises our contribution to the success of the IOSA programme. We were the first airline audited under the program in 2003, and we remain committed to the ideals that it promotes in the aviation industry. It is vital that IOSA is universally embraced as the global benchmark, aviation safety and security compliance standard. I especially thank my colleagues who have maintained our unblemished safety and security record throughout the 15 years of IOSA, and we acknowledge them at this conference. The IOSA programme was introduced to enable airlines to review their safety processes using a worldwide standard that has become the single internationally-accepted safety and security audit process for airlines. Under IOSA, accredited auditors assess an airline's operational management and control systems, including the areas of corporate organisation and management, flight operations, operational control, flight dispatch, aircraft engineering and maintenance, cabin operations, aircraft ground handling, cargo operations and operational security. Seawings award-winning Silver tour has had an upgrade and now takes in even more of Dubais skyline including the citys newest landmarks The Dubai Frame and soon to be completed Ain Dubai. The new 45-minute Silver flight route offers breath-taking views of all the world-famous icons including the Burj Khalifa, Palm Jumeirah, Burj Arab, World Islands and more covering the city from Jebel Ali in the south right up to Dubai Creek in the north. Seawings CEO, Stuart Wheeler, says visitors the from across the globe flock to Dubai for one-of-a-kind experiences and see world-famous landmarks, but what makes it even more fascinating as a destination is that it is always changing. For us to be successful as a business we need to be agile, we must constantly evaluate our offering and evolve with the city to ensure our scenic flights are showing off the best of Dubai year after year. In addition to Seawings signature 45 minute tour, a shorter 20-minute Snapshot flight has been introduced. Stuart says, The Seawings Snapshot flight offers a viable alternative for a larger segment of the market, in particular families and economy travellers. The beauty of our Snapshot flight is that it opens up the opportunity for even more people to experience the magic of seaplane flight and see Dubais most famous icons. To deal with currency shortage, the printing of Rs 500 notes have been increased 5 times. New Delhi: The problem of cash crunch being faced by some states will be resolved by Friday as currency is being transported to areas which are facing the shortage, SBI Chairman Rajnish Kumar said on Thursday. Kumar said there are certain areas where there is a problem with running of ATMs and availability of cash of particular denomination. "It is not a uniform cash crunch problem. It is there in geographies like Telangana and Bihar. We are hoping that the problem will be resolved by tomorrow because cash is in transition and it is reaching these states by today evening," Kumar told reporters here. The finance ministry said earlier this week that there is an unusual spurt in demand in some parts of the country like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, MP and Bihar. In the first 13 days of the current month, the currency demand went up by Rs 45,000 crore. Holding accountable those who are hoarding cash, Kumar said the money should be recycled, meaning that if people withdraw money from the bank and the money needs to be deposited back as well. "If we (people) hold everything, then whatever supply we (banks) do, it will be insufficient for the country. So it is important that the currency is also recycled," he said. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg had earlier this week said that the government suspects that Rs 2,000 notes are being hoarded as they are not coming back into the circulation fast enough. To deal with currency shortage, the printing of Rs 500 notes have been increased 5 times. Officials held meetings with ministries as trade tension with US rises. Washington said ZTE had violated an agreement reached after it was caught illegally shipping goods to Iran. Beijing: China is looking to accelerate plans to develop its domestic semiconductor market amid a fierce trade stand-off with the United States and a US ban on sales to Chinese phone maker ZTE that has underscored the countrys reliance on imported chips. Senior Chinese officials have held meetings this week with industry bodies, regulators and the countrys powerful chip fund about speeding up already aggressive plans for the sector, two people with direct knowledge of the talks told Reuters. The talks underscore Chinas concern about its reliance on imported chips from global names such as Qualcomm Inc and Intel Corp, aggravated by a worsening dispute with the US centred on cutting-edged tech. In the last few days senior Chinese officials have met to discuss plans to speed up the development of the chip industry, one person with knowledge of the talks said, asking not to be named because of the sensitivity of the matter. China has already made the semiconductor market a key priority under its Made in China 2025 strategy to cut reliance on foreign technologies and create its own domestic champions. That goal has been given fresh urgency after a US ban on sales of products including chips to Chinese phone maker ZTE Corp roiled the firm, which uses mainly US chips in its smartphones. A second person with knowledge of the talks said senior officials had met with key ministries, as well as the National Integrated Circuitry Investment Fund, this week to discuss speeding up plans due to recent trade tensions. Chinas ministry of commerce and the ministry of industry and information technology (MIIT) did not immediately respond to faxed requests for comment late on Thursday. The IC Fund did not immediately respond to requests for comment. The seven-year ban on US firms selling parts to ZTE comes at a time when the two countries have threatened each other with tens of billions of dollars in tariffs in recent weeks, fanning worries of a full blown trade war. Washington said ZTE had violated an agreement reached after it was caught illegally shipping goods to Iran. ZTE, which has chips from US firm Qualcomm in an estimated 50-65 percent of its phones, is now facing a struggle to save its smartphone business as it looks to find new supplies. That over-reliance has spooked China though most industry insiders said shifting production back home would not be easy. China wont allow the US to use chips as a stick against it. China can take steps to replace foreign-made chips with domestic, the countrys hawkish Global Times newspaper said this week. Amitabh Bachchan has been the brand ambassador for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao since a long time. Mumbai: Amitabh Bachchan has been the brand ambassador for Beti Bachao Beti Padhao since a long time. While he has been promoting girls at various platforms, cases like the Kathua and the Unnao come in front of the world. At a recently held event, the actor was asked about his thoughts on the recent happening, to which he commented, I feel disgusted to talk about that issue. Kindly do not ask me about that. Bollywood, including his own son Abhishek Bachchan, had stood strong and united when raising their voice for the 8-year-old victim, but the megastar did not send across a single tweet and now even refused to speak about the topic altogether. Salim Khan adds, I feel all over the world, children have a special love for their fathers. The supposed nonchalance with which Salman Khan seems to be treating the verdict in the Black Buck case does not seem to be shared by his family. His father, Salim Khan, whom Salman has repeatedly called his hero, has said the case has torn the family. He says every single family member is worried about what lies in store for Salman. As Salmans next movie, Bharat, revolves around a father-son relationship (the film is based on a Korean film, Ode to My Father) we thought we would ask Salim Khan about the special bond he shares with his eldest son. But, the stress that the entire Khan clan is currently under was immediately evident in Salim Khans outburst when he answered our call. Mere ghar mein aag lagi hui hai. Mere bachchon ke saath problems chal rahi hain, aur aap pooch rahi hain ki kaise hai aap? (My house is on fire. My children are facing problems and you are asking me how are you?). I remember the media going berserk when Salman was sentenced to five years in jail. During my morning walks, reporters from various channels would shove their mics into my face and ask me silly questions. We patiently waited until Salim Khan had let off steam before we told him that we were not asking about Salmans case at all, but were instead interested in his views on his sons latest film, Bharat. And, about his thoughts on Salman considering his father his hero. A mollified Salim Khan immediately warmed to the subject, saying, It is undisputedly the love and respect of the children for their father that makes them consider him their hero. A father, being the head of the family, plays a pivotal role in our society. Children look up to their fathers. Ab yeh meri taareef samjhun? Yeh uska badappan hai ki woh mujhe apna hero maanta hai? (Should I consider this a compliment? It is Salmans large-heartedness that he considers me his hero). Salim Khan adds, I feel all over the world, children have a special love for their fathers. I feel all fathers try to fulfill their duty towards their family and especially towards their children. In London, director Ali Abbas has already started shooting for the film, with Salman giving the muhurat shot. Ali is happy that despite the Black Buck case, Salman is racing to complete all his shooting. Mere bachchon ke saath problems chal rahi hain, aur aap pooch rahi hain ki kaise hai aap? I remember the media going berserk when Salman was sentenced to five years in jail. During my morning walks, reporters from various channels would shove their mics into my face and ask me silly questions Salim Khan The arrested Rohingyas allegedly escaped from camps in Bangladesh and were heading to New Delhi in search of jobs. Agartala: Eighteen Rohingya refugees were on Thursday arrested from Teliamura under Khowai district for entering the country illegally, police said. India shares an 856 km border with Bangladesh in Tripura. The arrested Rohingyas allegedly escaped from camps in Bangladesh and were heading to New Delhi. Superintendent of Police (Khowai district) Krishnendu Chakravertty said that acting on a tip-off, police raided a Guwahati-bound bus and arrested the refugees including 11 men, three women and four children. "They came from Chittagong in neighbouring Bangladesh, but it is not clear which route they followed because they were giving confusing statements. However, they said that they are Rohingya refugees and were going to Vikas Nagar in Delhi in search of jobs, where many other Rohingyas are staying," the SP said. On January 14, 2018, six Rohingya refugees were arrested from Dharmanagar railway station in North Tripura district, 170 km from Agartala. Eight others were arrested from Khayerpur market area in West Tripura district, 10 km from Agartala city, on November 29, 2017. According to police, Rohingya refugees often sneak through Tripura to enter Indian soil. The Ministry of Home Affairs had asked the Tripura government last October to identify and monitor Rohingya refugees. The ministry had said that infiltration of Rohingyas from the Rakhine state of Myanmar into Indian territory is a burden on the limited resources of the country. Security challenges to the country are also aggravated by this influx, it said. Myanmar"s military Junta regime cancelled nationality of Rohingya Muslims as per provisions of the Myanmar Citizenship Law, 1982. Many have since fled the county and lakhs are housed at refugee camps in Bangladesh. Several have taken shelter in India. It lists BJP with the highest number at 12, followed by Shiv Sena (7) and TMC (6) who have declared cases related to crime against women. The list includes 45 MLAs and 3 MPs, who have declared cases of crime against women. (Photo: Representational) New Delhi: At least 48 MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crime against women, with BJP having the highest number of such politicans at 12, a report said on Thursday amid a nation-wide outrage over rape incidents, including UP's Unnao where a ruling party lawmaker is an accused. "Out of 1,580 (33 per cent) MPs/MLAs analysed with declared criminal cases, 48 have declared cases related to crime against women," as per the report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). This includes 45 MLAs and 3 MPs, who have declared cases of crime against women such as charges related to assault of woman with intent to outrage her modesty, kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her to marriage, rape, domestic violence and trafficking, the Delhi-based think-tank said. Giving party-wise details, the report said that BJP has the highest number of MPs and MLAs ie 12, followed by Shiv Sena (7) and Trinamool Congress (6) who have declared cases related to crime against women. The report is based on an analysis of 4,845 out of 4,896 election affidavits of current MPs and MLAs. This includes 768 out of 776 affidavits of MPs and 4,077 out of 4,120 MLAs across the country. "All major political parties give tickets to candidates with cases of crime against women especially rape and therefore hindering the safety and dignity of women as citizens. These are serious cases where charges have been framed and cognisance have been taken by the courts. Hence, political parties have been in a way abetting to circumstances that lead to such events that they so easily but vehemently condemn in Parliament," the report said. Among states, Maharashtra has the highest number of MPs and MLAs (12), followed by West Bengal (11), Odisha and Andhra Pradesh each with five MPs and MLAs who have declared cases related to crime against women. ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) have recommended that candidates with serious criminal background should be debarred from contesting elections. Also, political parties should disclose the criteria on which candidates are given tickets and that cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner, they added. According to the report, in the last five years, recognised parties have given tickets to 26 candidates who had declared cases related to rape. During this period, 14 independent candidates with declared cases related to rape have contested for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assembly elections. As per the analysis, 327 candidates who had declared cases related to crime against women were given tickets by recognised political parties. Also, 118 independent candidates with declared cases related to crime against women had contested for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assembly elections in the last five years. Among major parties, in the last five years, 47 candidates with declared cases related to crime against women were given tickets by BJP. As many as 35 such candidates were given tickets by BSP, followed by 24 from Congress. The candidates had contested in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assembly polls. The report also noted that among states, in the last five years, Maharashtra had the highest number of such candidates at 65, followed by Bihar (62) and West Bengal (52) (including independents). The analysis comes at a time when there are rising rape incidents, including those reported from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, Unnao and Surat in Gujarat. UIDAI tells SC that Aadhaar seeks to secure the poor and deprived sections of society providing an identity. The object of the law is to ensure to the people adequate food at affordable prices so that people live with dignity. New Delhi: The Unique Identification Authority of India (UIDAI) on Wednesday asserted in the Supreme Court on Wednesday that Aadhaar is the minimum requirement for a poor man to live with dignity by availing benefits. Senior counsel Rakesh Diwedi, appearing for UIDAI made this assertion before a Constitution Bench of the Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A.K. Sikri, A.M. Kanwilkar, D.Y. Chandrachud and Ashok Bhushan, hearing a batch of petitions challenging the legal validity of Aadhaar law. Mr Diwedi said that while testing a law the court should not imagine that all sorts of abuse would happen. Realistically speaking there is no scare, which has been created by the petitioners. Aadhaar is the minimum requirement for a poor man to live with dignity, which is an essential and integral part of right to life under Article 21. Counsel told the court "In testing a law don't be a crusader like an NGO, have a positive and not a negative approach. Why should the court think of stalling and collapsing a law when judicial tools are available to make Aadhaar work better, rather than strking it down." He said Aadhaar seeks to secure the poor and deprived sections of society to live their life and exercise their liberty by providing them a nationally acceptable identity, which gives them pride, dignity and self respect that they are part of the society. The object of the law is to ensure to the people adequate food at affordable prices so that people live with dignity. Mr. Diwedi said when 99 % of the population is having Aadhaar as an identity and the government having spent huge money and created the vast infrastructure, nobody can say that Aadhaar is bad. Wherever there are gaps, the court can fill those gaps by issuing guidelines or directions in this regard. Nationwide agitations are expected to be launched on August 9. Dalits make a substantial portion of the vote bank across the country and it is the shift of this vote which analysts say helped the BJP cross the majority mark in 2014. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: After the massive success of the April 2 Bharat Bandh to protest the Supreme Court-mandated dilution of the SC/ST atrocities Act, Dalit groups are now all set to ramp up their agitation against the BJP government with a demand for reservation in judicial services. Sources said that Dalit organisations across the country plan to launch a pan-India agitation from Quit India Day on August 9 till August 15 with a demand that the Prime Minister make his commitment for a quota in Judicial services in his Independence Day speech from the Red Fort. At a joint Press Conference held last week, Dalit Shoshan Mukti Manch, an Umbrella body of Dalit organisations from across the country, had said that the government should bring in an ordinance to overturn the dilution of the Prevention of Atrocities against SC/ST Act. Leaders of these organisations, however, told this newspaper later that they were certain that in case the Supreme Court order was not favourable, the Modi-government would address the issue in the monsoon session to prevent political losses. Hence, the Dalit groups would launch a new agitation demanding reservation in the Judiciary to prevent any such casteist action by the Supreme Court in the future, the sources said. The Judiciary is the only arm of the government which does not have reservation in its services and it is now time that this happens, Dalit activist Ashok Bharti said adding that the judiciary as of now is not representative of the social demography of the country. Following the March 20 order of the Supreme Court in the SC/ST atrocities case and the subsequent Bharat Bandh on April 2, many Dalit ministers in the Union Cabinet, including Ram Vilas Paswan and Ramdas Athawale, have weighed in on the government to file a review petition in the Apex Court. Dalits make a substantial portion of the vote bank across the country and it is the shift of this vote which analysts say helped the BJP cross the majority mark in 2014. Opposition parties looking for a pie in the Dalit vote have also been up in arms over the SC order and have questioned the Centres delay in filing the review petition in the Supreme Court. It might be recalled Opposition parties, led by Congress, are contemplating moving an impeachment motion against CJI as four senior most judges had held a press conference questioning the CJIs role as the master of roster. The man was detained by immigration officers at Japan's immigration detention centre for around nine months. Ludhiana: The family of an Indian man, who had died on April 13 at a Japanese immigration detention centre in an apparent suicide, have stated that the man had a one month visa and was visiting Japan to renew it. However, the man, who is yet to be identified, was detained by immigration officers at Japan's immigration detention centre for around nine months. Family members, who hail from Ludhiana, are now demanding a probe as they suspect foul play. They have also requested the Indian government to bring back the man's body. Also Read: Japanese immigration detainees launch hunger strike over Indians death Guards at the facility had found the man, who was in his 30s, in a shower room with a towel wrapped around his neck. The man, who was not breathing at the time, was administered CPR before being taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead about an hour later. Kiran Bala wrote to Pak Foreign Office seeking extension of her visa as she married Lahore-based Pakistani national. The ongoing Baisakhi festival is a subject of controversy as India accused Pakistan of using it to incite Indian pilgrims on the issue of 'Khalistan', which was rejected by Islamabad. (Photo: Representational/AFP) Chandigarh: An Indian Sikh woman from Punjab who went to Pakistan to attend Baisakhi festival has sought extension of her visa after marrying a Lahore-based Pakistani national and has reportedly embraced Islam. Kiran Bala, daughter of Manohar Lal from Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, wrote to the Pakistan Foreign Office (FO) that her visa should be extended as she married one Mohammad Azam, resident of Lahore, during a ceremony held at Jamia Naeemia seminary in Lahore on April 16, Pakistan-based daily The Express Tribune reported. She also changed her name to Amna Bibi which she used to sign the letter addressed to the foreign ministry, the report said. "Now in the given circumstances, the undersigned could not return back to India and the undersigned have received life threats of assassination, therefore, the undersigned intends to extend her visa," she wrote in the letter, published by the local media. Meanwhile, back home, Kiran Balas father-in-law Tarsem Singh alleged on Thursday that his daughter-in-law could have fallen into the hands of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI), and may have been forced to convert and remarry there. Kiran Bala arrived in Pakistan on April 12 with other Sikh pilgrims to attend the festival in Gurdwara Panja Sahib located in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad. She reportedly went missing on April 16. Her visa will expire on April 21. The FO or the Indian High Commission have not said anything about the letter. According to a report in NDTV, the husband of Bala, 31, died in 2013; she has three children. She had been living with her in-laws at a village in Punjab's Garhshankar sub-division, 90 kilometres from Chandigarh. "I had dropped my daughter-in-law with SGPC (gurdwara committee) officials in Amritsar on April 10 for the pilgrimage in Pakistan. The jatha is expected to return on April 21," Tarsem Singh, the father-in-law, told reporters. "I cannot believe what has happened. No one has contacted us officially from the SGPC and the foreign ministry. I want my daughter-in-law to be returned safely," Singh, who is also a Sikh priest at the village, added. He also alleged Kiran Bala could have been in touch with the Pakistani man (whom she has reportedly married) through social media, particularly Facebook. His daughter-in-law had been seen browsing Facebook on her mobile phone for the past one month, he said. The ongoing Baisakhi festival is the fresh subject of controversy between Pakistan and India. It has already created bitterness after India accused Pakistan of using it to incite Indian pilgrims on the issue of 'Khalistan', which was rejected by Islamabad. (With PTI inputs) The victim went missing while grazing horses in Rasana village of Hiranagar tehsil of J&Ks Kathua district on January 10. Srinagar: President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday said the gang-rape and murder of an 8-year-old nomadic Bakarwal girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district in January this year was shameful. He said, After 70 years of independence, such an incident occurring in any part of the country is shameful. The President who was addressing the sixth convocation of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University (SMVDU) at Katra near Jammu said, We have to think what kind of society we are developing. He added, It is our responsibility to ensure such a thing does not happen to any girl or woman. Earlier Chief Minister, Mehbooba Mufti, while speaking on the occasions asked, How can someone do such a cruel thing to a small girl who is a manifestation of Mata Vaishno Devi? She said, There is something wrong with the society. The victim went missing while grazing horses in Rasana village of Hiranagar tehsil of J&Ks Kathua district on January 10. A week later, her body was found in woods near her village. The DNA and police investigations have revealed that she was held inside a local temple where she was drugged, raped and killed. The Crime Branch of the J&K police entrusted with investigation of the gory incident filed two separate charge sheets against the eight accused including the custodian of the temple, his son, four police officers and two others in the Chief Judicial Magistrate (CJM)s court at Kathua. All the accused who have already been arrested pleaded not guilty at the first hearing of the case held on April 16. Thought belatedly the incident has sparked outrage across the country and strong voices for awarding capital punishment to the guilty are being raised by different quarters. The Kashmir Valley on Wednesday once again witnessed a series of protests including by students of various colleges and higher secondary schools. Clashes between irate crowds of students and youth and the security forces were reported from Tral, Awantipore, Pampore and Anantnag in south Kashmir, Baramulla and Uri in the northwest and Ganderbal in north Kashmir, leaving many protesters injured. Mintoo felt uneasy before appearing in a video-conference in an ongoing case trial. Chandigarh: Khalistan Liberation Force chief Harminder Singh Mintoo died of cardiac arrest in Patiala Central Jail where he was lodged said. Police has recommended a judicial inquiry into the death of Mintoo. Mintoo felt uneasy before appearing in a video-conference in an ongoing case trial. He was lodged in the jail from past over a year. Senior Intelligence officials rushed to Patiala to ascertain the detailed cause of his death, as his links with ISI and various international spy agencies were under scanner. Mintoo had escaped from Nabha jail in a sensational jailbreak on November 28, 2016, only to be arrested later. In November 2014, Harminder Singh Mintoo was arrested by Punjab Police from the Indira Gandhi International airport on his return from Thailand. At the time of his arrest, Mintoo was accused of being involved in 10 terror-related cases. Mintoo was using Thailand as his base to mobilise funds for the banned organisation. He was using online resources to enlist support for the Khalistan cause and to radicalise youth. Using a fake Malaysian passport and identity card, Mintoo travelled extensively across Europe and South East Asia in order to develop contacts. He frequently made trips to Pakistan, where he was reported to have acquired funds and support. In India, Mintoo was named accused in several terror cases, including the attack on Sirsa-based Dera Sacha Sauda chief Gurmeet Ram Rahim Singh and on three Shiv Sena leaders. Supreme Court said there is no merit in the petitions and there is no reason to doubt the statements of sitting Judges. Special CBI judge BH Loya was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case at the time of his death. (Photo: Facebook) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of special CBI Judge BH Loya. The apex court, ruling that the death was due to natural causes, observed that the petitioners tried to scandalise the judiciary. "These petitions are scandalous and amount to criminal contempt," the court said adding, "We can't doubt the statements of the judicial officers who were with Judge Loya." "Attempt of the petitioners was to malign the judiciary," SC said while dismissing petitions seeking independent probe into Judge BH Loya's death case. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, pronounced its verdict after hearing a clutch of petitions. At the time of his death, Judge BH Loya was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Medical records show Judge BH Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgement on the pleas. The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November 2017 after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP President Amit Shah along with Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged. Also Read: Here's chronology of special CBI Judge BH Loya's death case Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them. (With inputs from PTI) Sources say that the draft impeachment motion contains five charges against CJI Mishra. New Delhi: The Congress along with other Opposition parties is expected to meet in the national capital on Friday. The parties who will be attending the meeting include Samajwadi Party, Bahujan Samaj Party, Rashtriya Janta Dal and Nationalist Congress Party. Insiders claim that the main topic of discussion will be the Impeachment of the CJI. Congress and the other opposition parties have already circulated a draft impeachment proposal against the CJI Dipak Mishra. According to signatories of the impeachment motion there are already 50 signatures. As per law a minimum of 50 signatures are required to move an impeachment motion in the Rajya Sabha. Sources say that the draft impeachment motion contains five charges against CJI Mishra. The signatories to the draft impeachment motion wanted the TMC and the DMK to also join in so that opposition unity is intact. But as of now these two parties are not amongst the signatories to the motion. On January 11, four top-level Supreme Court (SC) judges, had in a press conference, made complaints against Dipak Misra, on grounds of administrative and judicial irregularity in the apex court. Justices Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurien Joseph had said Misra was assigning important cases in an arbitrary manner to junior judges, ignoring these four senior judges. They questioned the sacred position of the Chief Justice of India. Government has maintained a silence on the issue. If the motion is introduced, it will be up to the Speaker of the Lok Sabha or the Chairman of the Rajya Sabha to accept the case. it. In this case, it would be up to Sumitra Mahajan and Venkaiah Naidu, respectively. PM Narendra Modi's visit was not without controversy, as several hundred protesters greeted him noisily outside parliament. The demonstrators were mostly Muslims and Sikhs calling for an end to 'religious persecution'. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi/London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi was on Wednesday set to sign 1 billion pounds (USD 1.42 billion, 1.14 billion euros) of investment deals with Britain during a visit to London, where he was met by hundreds of protesters. PM Modi, in Britain for the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting, was also expected to confirm the new India-UK Trade Partnership, which London said "will seek to improve the accessibility of trade for businesses in both countries" as Britain leaves the European Union next year. The government said the investments would create or safeguard 5,750 British jobs. Prime Minister Theresa May, who is hoping to secure a free trade agreement with India after Brexit said: "Our trade partnership is showing how we can remove barriers to increase trade between our two countries." Total trade in goods and services between Britain and India was 18 billion pounds in 2017. But PM Modi's visit was not without controversy, as several hundred protesters greeted him noisily outside parliament. The demonstrators were mostly Muslims and Sikhs calling for an end to "religious persecution". Protesters chanted "Modi go back" and "Modi is a terrorist". Kashmiri separatists held aloft flags, while others displayed posters depicting an eight-year-old Muslim girl, who was raped and murdered in Kathua in January, allegedly by a group that included policemen and a former government official. Other demonstrators included Sikhs demanding independence. "Lots of different groups are here," said Dupinder Jit, a Sikh businessman. "What is happening in Modi's regime is unacceptable, he is killing minorities." Currently, the minimum educational qualification required to be eligible for such employment is Class 10 for Level-1 or Group D jobs. The Railway Board has said in a recent order that there were a lot of queries from zonal railways about cases in which the wife or the widow of the employee didnt have the minimum required qualification for Level-1 job on compassionate grounds. New Delhi: In a move which would help wives and widows of employees, who passed away while on duty, the Railways has done away with the provision of minimum educational qualification for giving jobs on compassionate grounds. Currently, the minimum educational qualification required to be eligible for such employment is Class 10 for Level-1 or Group D jobs. The Railway Board has said in a recent order that there were a lot of queries from zonal railways about cases in which the wife or the widow of the employee didnt have the minimum required qualification for Level-1 job on compassionate grounds. Following this, the Board decided the rule for mandatory minimum educational qualification be scrapped. The internal communique says: The matter was under consideration of this ministry for quite some time. It has now been decided that in case of appointment of a wife not having requisite minimum educational qualification she will be placed in the Level - I of the pay matrix...Without insisting on fulfillment of educational qualification norms. These appointments can be made provided the appointing authority is satisfied that the duties of the post against which the appointment is being made can be performed with help of some on-job training. Judge K Ravinder Reddy stepped down on Tuesday, hours after acquitting all 5 accused due to lack of evidence. Judge K Ravinder Reddy cited personal reasons for his resignation and said it had nothing to do with the judgement. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: The resignation of NIA special court judge K Ravinder Reddy, who delivered the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case verdict earlier this week, has been rejected by High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The judge has been asked by the high court to attend to his duties immediately. Judge K Ravinder Reddy had stepped down on Tuesday, hours after acquitting all the five accused, including Swami Aseemanand, due to lack of evidence. The judge cited personal reasons for his resignation and said it had nothing to do with the judgement. Read: Acquitting all in Mecca Masjid blast case, judge resigns post-verdict Swami Aseemanand, a monk and former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member who has been linked to three terror attacks, was among the five men acquitted in the case. The judge said they had been acquitted because the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had failed to establish their role in the attack. Also Read: 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case: Special NIA court acquits all accused Nine people were killed and over 50 injured when the blast ripped through the historic mosque during Friday prayers on May 18, 2007. Rizvi said that the flag belonged to Pakistan and some vested interest were linking it to Islam. Lucknow: Shia Central Waqf Board chairman Syed Waseem Rizvi has said that green flags with a star and a crescent had no religious significance and should not be linked to Islam. Talking to reporters a day after the Shia Waqf Board filed a petition in Supreme Court seeking a ban on hoisting of green flags with crescent and star at buildings and religious places, Mr Rizvi said that the flag belonged to Pakistan and some vested interest were linking it to Islam. He said that during his visit to Mumbai and other places in the country, he saw flags on several buildings and religious structures, which were allegedly a cause of tension between Hindu and Muslim communities. These flags resemble the flags of the Pakistan Muslim League, which belongs to the enemy country. The crescent- star flag in green colour owes its origins to the erstwhile political party, Muslim League, founded by Nawaz Waqar Ul-Malik and Mohammad Ali Jinnah in 1906, but in the present day, it was being used by Indian Muslims who were treating it as an Islamic flag, he explained. He further pointed out that such flags are being hoisted in Muslim-dominated areas with utmost impunity. The flag has never been part of any Islamic practice and does not have any role or significance in Islam. He stated that Pakistan, as an enemy country, has been responsible for a series of terror attacks on our country and promoting and propagating cross border terrorism. Our country remains vulnerable to the hidden attacks by the Pakistani intelligence agencies through their militant network which is very active in our country. Hoisting of enemy flags and linking it to Islam is a dangerous trend in the country, he said. According to reports, Brazil team is suspected to be behind the attack on Supreme Court website. Home page of Supreme Court website shows that the site cannot be reached. (Screengrab) New Delhi: Minutes after the Supreme Court dismissed the pleas for independent probe into special CBI Judge BH Loya's death case, the website of the apex court crashed on Thursday. According to News18 report, the website, supremecourtofindia.nic.in, displayed an image that resembled a leaf and said hackeado por HighTech Brazil HacTeam on top. The website is currently down. The report said a Brazilian hack team was suspected to be behind the attack. After the alleged cyber attack a message on the home page of the Supreme Court website reads: "This site can't be reached." The hack comes days after the Ministry of Defence website was hacked. Several reports had then claimed that the website was hacked by Chinese hackers as it showed a Chinese character which translates to Zen. Read: Defence Ministry website hacked, Chinese characters appear on home page The Home Ministry website was also hacked earlier this year. Meanwhile, the Supreme Court on Thursday denied independent probe in Judge BH Loya case, who died while hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in which Amit Shah was an accused. The court dismissed the petitions calling them "scandalous". Also Read: No independent probe into Judge Loya's death case, SC says pleas 'scandalous' 48-year-old judge Loya died of a heart attack in Maharashtra's Nagpur, where he was attending a wedding. The judge who replaced judge Loya ruled there was not enough evidence against Amit Shah to merit a trial and discharged the BJP chief. Villagers thrashed Satyabhama Behera, president of a local self-help group, claiming she was interfering in their personal matters. Satyabhama Behera, president of a local self-help group was tied to an electric pole and allegedly attacked by locals, police said. (Photo: ANI/Twitter) Balasore: A woman leading a self-help group to resolve problems of distressed women, was allegedly tied up by villagers and beaten in Odishas Balashore district. Satyabhama Behera, president of a local self-help group was tied to an electric pole and allegedly attacked by locals, police said. The incident took place in Manitri Chandanpur village of Balasore district on 14 April. Locals allegedly thrashed her and abused her claiming that she was interfering in their personal matters and disturbing the local social practices. Locals had issues with how she solved problems of distressed women. The victim said that she will fight for justice. "We'll fight for justice," Behera said. Reportedly, following the incident, two different complaints have been registered at the Simulia police station. Senior investigating officer Sanjay Kumar Parida said investigation is underway to ascertain what triggered the incident. (With ANI inputs) Shah said Congress had committed the sin of linking Hindu culture with terrorism. BJP National President Amit Shah offers tribute to Lord Basaveshwara on the occasion of Basava Jayanti in Bengaluru on Wednesday. Mr Shah is in Karnataka on a two-day election campaign tour. (Photo: PTI) Bengaluru: BJP president Amit Shah on Wednesday accused the Congress of having defamed the country in the name of 'saffron terror' and 'Hindu terror' and demanded an apology from party chief Rahul Gandhi, following the acquittal of right-wing activists in the Mecca Masjid blast case. He said Congress had committed the sin of linking Hindu culture with terrorism. "The great Hindu culture taught the world about culture, peace and civilisation for lakhs of years. The Congress party has committed a sin by linking it to saffron terror," he said at a meeting of "Shakti Kendras" of the party. Mr Shah said Congress had defamed the country for several years around the world by using the term saffron terror and Hindu terror. The BJP president said whenever Congress leaders went around the world all these years, they termed the Mecca Masjid blast case as saffron terror or Hindu terror. By doing so, they 'insulted' the nation, he said. "Rahul Gandhi, terrorism does not have any?religion. You should apologise to the nation," he said. Mr Shah said Congress was now saying they never used saffron or Hindu terror terminologies. Mr Shah said he wished to state some truths that Rahul Gandhi had mentioned about it on December 16 2010 before the U.S. Ambassador, which was revealed by Wikileaks. The terminologies were used by P Chidambaram on August 25, 2010, Sushil Kumar Shinde on January 20, 2013 and Salman Khurshid on January 20, 2013, Shah said. BJP chief also called on Kannada scholar Chidana-ndamurthy and Dalit writer Siddalingaiah. Mr Shah conducted a roadshow at Hoskote near Bengaluru. Mr Shah garlanded the statue of the 12th century social reformer Basaveshwara on his birth anniversary. The party is expected to bring in a new state unit chief in Rajasthan where Ashok Parnami resigned from the top post. New Delhi: Alarmed by recent setbacks in bypolls ahead of Assembly elections in states under BJP rule, the party high command has initiated steps for appointment of new state unit chiefs in Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, where elections are scheduled later this year. The BJP appointed Rakesh Singh, 55, as the new party president in Madhya Pradesh, replacing Nand Kumar Chauhan. The party also is expected to bring in a new state unit chief in Rajasthan where Ashok Parnami resigned from the top post. BJPs Andhra Pradesh unit chief K. Hari Babu also resigned on Wednesday. Mr Singh, the newly-appointed Madhya Prade-sh unit chief, belongs to the backward caste and is also the partys chief whip in Lok Sabha. The three-term MP representing Jabalpur in the Lok Sabha is seen as a dynamic leader with vast organisational experience and the party hopes that he will be able to use its strong organisation to ward off damage due to any perceived anti-incumbency in the state where the BJP has been in power for 15 years. According to sources in Bhopal, Mr Singhs name was finalised at the BJPs state core group meeting last night. The meeting was also attended by chief minister Shivraj Singh Chouhan and BJP organisational secretary Ram Lal. Speculation is rife that the party could also change its Chhattisgarh unit chief Dharamlal Kaushik. Assembly elections are scheduled by the end of this year in Madhya Pradesh, Rajast-han and Chattisgarh. The polls in these three states are being treated by all parties as a semi-final before the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. A party statement said that Mr Chauhan, Mr Parmani and Mr Babu have been made members of its national executive. Sources said Union rural development minister Narendra Singh Tomar, who was in contention for the post of the party president in Madhya Pradesh, will be its campaign committee chief in the state. With feedback suggesting trouble for the BJP in all coming elections, the party brass could go on in for further revamp in Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Chhattisgarh. In Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan, the BJP has been facing major challenges, including farmer and dalit agitations. In Andhra Pradesh, the BJPs focus is to strengthen its organisation after ruling the TDP walked out of the NDA over the issue of special category status for the state. The southern state will go to polls next year along with the Lok Sabha elections. After stepping down, Mr Pranami said, I will continue to work in accordance with the responsibilities given to me as a disciplined party worker. When asked if his decision was a fallout of the BJPs defeat in the recent Lok Sabha bypolls in Alwar and Ajmer, Mr Parnami, who is an MLA from Jaipurs Adarsh Nagar constituency, said, Any defeat or victory is a collective responsibility and individuals are not responsible. Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the government of doing politics instead of focussing on governance. New Delhi: The Congress on Wednesday alleged that Prime Minister Narendra Modi was solely responsible for the cash crunch in the country, claiming that it was a result of his demonetisation decision. Congress leader Pawan Khera accused the government of doing politics instead of focussing on governance. Senior party leader and former finance minister also said the ghost of demonetisation had come to haunt the government and alleged that the Rs 2,000 notes were printed only to help hoarders. He also said there was a possibility that people had lost confidence in the banking system due to the bank scams and they were not putting their surplus money into the banks. Khera alleged that the government and its mouthpieces were coming up with fresh excuses daily, but they had to answer questions about where the people should keep their money as the cash crunch and scams had shattered their faith in the banking sector. This government is continuously doing cheap politics all day long and and is not focussing on governance. How will the country run like this? There is a cash crunch in the country and the government and its mouthpiece are coming out with new excuses and theories, he told reporters. Khera alleged that the cash crunch was was a result of demonetisation for which the prime minister was solely responsible. The Congress leader also asked why only one-sixth of the daily requirement of cash was made available to banks which were asking the RBI for more cash supply. If you keep your money outside the banks, then the bigger Modi (Narendra Modi) has problems and if you keep the money in the bank, then the Chhota Modi (Nirav Modi) will take it away and flee abroad, he alleged. However, hours later, he claimed that he was misquoted and he meant that BSP was better than the SP regime. Bhopal: Senior UP minister Swami Prasad Maurya, in a move that has caused embarrassment to the Yogi government, has said that the Mayawati government was better because it had kept the bureaucracy in discipline. "Ms Mayawati would keep a close watch on officials and would make sure that her instructions are followed. In Yogi government, the officials do not follow instructions of the ministers and act on their own", Mr Maurya told a news channel. However, hours later, he claimed that he was misquoted and he meant that BSP was better than the SP regime. Toby Smiths photographs explore issues of water availability, usage and distribution in urban spaces of small Himalayan towns. British photographer Toby Smith is showcasing an exhibition Pani-Pahar: Waters of Himalayas, as a part of the Indian Habitat Centres photography festival on sustainable development, titled Habitat Photosphere, curated by Dr Alka Pande, at IHC and Jor Bagh Metro Station (till May 6 and June 29 respectively). The photographs in this exhibition are based on research in India and Nepal on how environmental and social changes are impacting the ways in which small towns throughout the region source and distribute water. This project was based on the academic research led by Professor Bhaskar Vira and Dr Eszter Kovacs at the Department of Geography at Cambridge University. Our project has investigated the ways in which people living in and around six small towns in the Western Himalaya access water through a diversity of sources, from springs to piped supply, and the sustainability challenges faced by these sources, said Prof. Vira. Environmental changes are impacting both the timing and intensity of rainfall, coupled with changes in the extent of green cover in the hills, which are changing the ecology and hydrology of the region. British photographer Toby Smith visited India previously in 2009 for a project on electricity generation across four different states. I found India to be a heady blend of traditional culture, lifestyles and food but with an enormous ambition and energy for growth, change and modernisation. Those two factors can often exist side by side, can clash or sometimes produce a heady mix. That makes it a fascinating place to visit. In 2017 UK celebrated the Indian Year of Culture. Across 2017, different cultural and art organisations across UK united in a programme of events to demonstrate the strength of contemporary Indian culture and also highlight our past together and changing relationship over time. We are living in a period of national and global political uncertainty and therefore it is important to understand, acknowledge and celebrate the positive legacy of historical events, said Smith. The British photographer had many memorable experiences while working on the project in India. Both Nainital and Mussoorie, chosen as study sites, have many similarities but are also very different in geography and location. On my second assignment, I journeyed between the two towns by motorbike to experience and gain a broader understanding of life in the lower Himalayas. It gave me the opportunity to visit large infrastructure projects at Tehri Dam and downstream, towns of spiritual importance, confluences of rivers and also get glimpses of untouched forested areas of India and the small villages along the road. He hopes the exhibition is successful and attended by large number of people. The exhibition is designed to function on a number of different levels. It is a deliberate balance and combination of a photography exhibition and an information resource on water in the lower Himalayas. We hope that visitors engage with both and perhaps better understand the relationship of water and population in India. Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, typically involves deficiencies in social and communication skills. Asperger managed to accommodate himself to the Nazi regime and was rewarded for his affirmations of loyalty with career opportunities. (Photo:Pixabay) Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger, after whom Asperger's syndrome is named, "actively cooperated" with the Nazi euthanasia programme, according to a new study published Thursday (Apr 19). "Asperger managed to accommodate himself to the Nazi regime and was rewarded for his affirmations of loyalty with career opportunities," Herwig Czech, a historian of medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, wrote in the study. Asperger "publicly legitimised race hygiene policies including forced sterilisations and, on several occasions, actively cooperated" with the Nazis' child euthanasia programme, according to Czech. Asperger joined several organisations affiliated with the Nazis, although not the Nazi Party itself, Czech added in the report, published in the open access journal Molecular Autism. Czech said he consulted a vast array of contemporary publications and previously unexplored archival documents including the doctor's personnel files and case records from his patients. He quotes a Nazi document from 1940 as saying Asperger "was in conformity with National Socialist [Nazi] ideas in questions of race and sterilisation laws". In public lectures Asperger declared his allegiance to the tenets of Nazi medicine. From 1938, when the Nazis "annexed" Austria into the Third Reich, he took to signing his diagnostic reports with "Heil Hitler". According to Czech, Asperger recommended the transfer of two girls, one aged two and the other five, to the notorious Am Spiegelgrund facility inside Vienna's Steinhof psychiatric hospital. This was where nearly 800 children lacking "hereditary worthiness" and "racial purity" died, many of them killed by poisoning and other methods. The two girls were among those who perished, officially from pneumonia. Asperger was also a member of a committee tasked with deciding the fate of around 200 patients in a children's ward at another hospital, 35 of whom were deemed "uneducable" and later died, according to Czech. Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, typically involves deficiencies in social and communication skills and is often seen in people of average or above average intelligence. Asperger first identified it as "autistic psychopathy" but his work was only recognised and the syndrome named after him following his death in 1980, although its designation has long been contentious. Museveni, who has ruled Uganda for 31 years, issues public warning , says mouth is for eating. The 73-year-old had signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2014, making it illegal to be gay in Uganda. (Photo: AP) In a bizarre revelation, Yoweri Museveni, the president of Uganda issued a public 'warning' condemning sex acts, which he said were brought in by 'outsiders' The Ugandan president has said he wants to ban his nation from having oral sex because "the mouth is for eating". Museveni, who had ruled Uganda for 31 years, issued a public warning condemning sex acts, which he said were brought in by outsiders. The socially conservative evangelical leader said in a televised press conference: "Let me take this opportunity to warn our people publicly about the wrong practices indulged in and promoted by some of the outsiders. He went on to add, One of them is what they call oral sex. The mouth is for eating, not for sex. The 73-year-old had signed the Anti-Homosexuality Act in 2014, making it illegal to be gay in Uganda. In Uganda, those found to be engaging in gay sex regularly face life imprisonment and those turning a blind eye to same-sex couples could also be at risk of committing a criminal offence. After introducing the law almost four years ago, Museveni said oral sex could cause worms. Museveni went on to state, You push the mouth there, you can come back with worms and they enter your stomach because that is a wrong address. A Ugandan court is currently hearing a case that seeks to overturn a measure that removed an age limit to Museveni's rule. Opposition politicians and the local bar association are challenging the law, passed in December, that allows him to potentially hold power for nearly five decades. HC also stated that 'for once', the Centre must agree with the Delhi govt which has made it mandatory for auto rickshaws to have GPRS. The court also issued a notice to the Centre, AAP government and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Limited and sought their stand on the plea by the next date of hearing. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Delhi High Court on Friday questioned the Centre's 2016 policy to exempt auto rickshaws and e-rickshaws across India from having panic buttons or General Packet Radio Service (GPRS), saying how it can have such a scheme "in an atmosphere where people are getting raped". The high court also said that "for once", the Centre must agree with the Delhi government which has made it mandatory for auto rickshaws to have Global Positioning System (GPS) or GPRS system under its public transport policy of 2010. The observation by Justice Rajiv Shakdher came while hearing a plea by a trade union of auto rickshaws plying in the national capital seeking exemption from having GPS or GPRS systems, used for tracking vehicle location, in the three-wheelers. "Why are three-wheelers and e-rickshaws exempted in the present environment? In an atmosphere where people are getting raped, you are saying you don't want panic buttons or GPS or GPRS systems. For once, you (Centre) must agree with them (Delhi government) that auto rickshaws and e-rickshaws need GPS or GPRS system," the court observed. The court also issued a notice to the Centre, AAP government and Delhi Integrated Multi-Modal Transit System (DIMTS) Limited and sought their stand on the plea by the next date of hearing. The trade union, represented by advocate Barun Kumar Sinha, told the court that while a 2010 notification of the Delhi government makes it mandatory for them to have GPS or GPRS, the central government notification of 2016 exempts them from the requirement. Taking note of the submission, the court asked central government standing counsel Anurag Ahluwalia to take instructions on whether the Centre's notification would come in the way of the one by the Delhi government. While asking for the clarification from the Centre, the court said if its policy will occupy the field then the same will have to be examined. Ahluwalia told the court that the Delhi government will have to say whether it will follow the central government notification, which will come into effect from April 1, 2018. The court, thereafter, asked the Delhi government whether its notification continues to remain in operation subsequent to the Centre's scheme. Apart from seeking exemption from installing GPS or GPRS system in their vehicles, the auto rickshaw trade union has as an alternative sought to regulate the mechanism. It has claimed that despite charging the auto rickshaws for setting up a GPS control centre, the Delhi government has not yet set up any such system. The top court has ordered senior officials of the two state governments to appear before it in person on April 23. The Delhi Jal Board has alleged that Haryana has reduced the supply of Yamuna water by one-third to the national capital, leading to a grave water crisis. (Photo: File) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the chief secretaries of Haryana and Delhi to appear before it on Monday after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to the national capital. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur took a strong note of the apathy shown by authorities in dealing with the water woes of the residents of the national capital. "People are dying. But no urgency is being shown by you people," the court said, directing senior officials of the two state governments to appear before it in person on April 23. The Delhi government had informed the apex court it was in talks with Haryana for the release of 450 cusec of water of the Yamuna river daily for the national capital. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the DJB alleging that Haryana had reduced the supply of Yamuna water by one-third to the national capital, leading to a grave water crisis. The DJB has contended in its plea that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusec of water daily as against 450 cusec per day, which was agreed upon between the state and the Union Territory. It has claimed that while the population of Delhi has increased phenomenally over the years, there has not been a commensurate rise in the water supply. The DJB has said that due to the present curtailment in water supply to the Wazirabad reservoir, the plant is running at reduced capacity leading to "grave water crisis" in the city. It had said the situation would "escalate" with the onset of summer and as the demand for drinking water shoots up. It has sought directions from the apex court to the Haryana government to supply the full 450 cusec of water per day continuously and daily to the Wazirabad reservoir. The Delhi High Court had recently told the Haryana government it has to stick to its 2014 direction specifying the amount of water to be released to Delhi every day. Meanwhile, Pakistan waged a proxy war through armed tribal militia backed by its regular army with agenda to annex Kashmir. Kashmiri students throw stones at policemen during a protest in Srinagar on Wednesday against recent cases of rape in the country. Fresh rounds of protests are being seen across the country, triggered by the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in the Kathua. (Photo: AP) The unabated violence and street protests have engulfed Valley again before the Durbar of governance would open in summer capital Srinagar in the first week of May. Mehbooba Mufti has frantically asked for Centres support for a dialogue process with the youth and other stakeholders inwardly and externally with Pakistan. The citizens outrage reflected by mass protests in Delhi and elsewhere in the country included the participation of Priyanka Gandhis teenage daughter along with thousands of protesters in the midnight candle light protest against the rape and killing of minor nomad girl in Kathua. This eventually forced the BJP to dismiss its two cabinet ministers in the Mehbooba Mufti-led coalition government in J&K. The ministers were allegedly shielding the accused and attempting to stoke communal tension over the heinous crime in sensitive border state. The PDP-BJP combine is pulling apart in opposite directions and the so-called North Pole and South Pole alliance of convenience has messed up affairs of J&K and failed to deliver good governance. Kashmir seemingly spins out of Control. Chief of Army General Bipin Rawat recently said that Kashmir imbroglio cannot be resolved militarily apparently realising that it is the biggest internal security challenge. He advocated engagement and dialogue. Until recently he had argued against any dialogue process and hailed the officer who had tied a Kashmiri youth to bonnet of the jeep to scatter the stone throwing crowd on army. Democracy is the only way forward is the accepted jurisprudence to resolve the peoples issues. General it is a welcome change of perception keep it up. New Delhi needs to approach the issues keeping in sight the fact that Indias strategic interests are intertwined with the goodwill of the Valleys common people, including Kashmiri Pandits, and not the land alone. The unabated violence and street protests have engulfed Valley again before the Durbar of governance would open in summer capital Srinagar in the first week of May. Mehbooba Mufti has frantically asked for Centres support for a dialogue process with the youth and other stakeholders inwardly and externally with Pakistan. In Kashmir people expect end to violence in their homeland. They ask dont we deserve peace and violence free life to our future generations as almost a generation has gone into graves and citizens are suffering perpetual miseries and colossal societal agony. Dont the aborigines exiled natives who are yearning to return back to their home deserve their rightful place in their own roots which are engraved in the soil of Valley for more than five thousand years? These are the important questions posed to the Prime Minister and the leadership of all hues. Kashmiris loudly say PDP-BJP government has failed the people of Jammu and Kashmir. Twenty ninth year of unabated violence has taken the toll of almost a generation. Retributive policy of the government called all out operation according to government official sources claims killings of 250 plus militants in the year 2017 and 2018 out of which almost 50 percent are reportedly local boys and rest the foreign mercenaries and miltants. About 100 security personnel and 50 of innocent civilians have lost their lives. The people of the Kashmir Valley rejected Jinnahs two nation theory and booted him out of the Valley when he asked Kashmiris to opt for Pakistan. Maharaja Hari Singh, the ruler of J&K, was keen to keep it as an independent, sovereign nation. He had dreamt of making J&K another Switzerland by promoting tourism. His vision was to keep J&K independent and out of the newly formed Indian Union which was not acceptable to Pandit Jawaharlal Nehru, Patel and even Mahatma Gandhi who had personally counselled Maharaja not to dither and decide the future status of the State urgently. Maharaja instead opted for stand-still agreement with both India and Pakistan. Meanwhile, Pakistan waged a proxy war through armed tribal militia backed by its regular army with agenda to annex Kashmir. The Maharajas army was unable to stop the Pakistani irregulars and was soon outnumbered. He sought Indias help and asked Lord Mountbatten for military assistance, to blunt the Pakistani attack. The Instrument of Accession was signed like in case of all other princely states and immediately the Indian Army landed in Kashmir to prevent its forceful occupation by Pakistan irregulars. Pakistans incursion was repelled despite its advantage of surprise, speed, timing and uninterrupted access to the Valley. The Indian army, despite many operational disadvantages skillfully managed to save Kashmir from Pakistan for Kashmiris. The J&K consisted of five separate regions which had nothing in common with each other. The hill areas of Gilgit, Baltistan and Skardu and the Punjabi-speaking areas of Muzzaffarabad are with Pakistan. Most of its area has been bartered to China by Pakistan. In the Indian part of the state there are three divisions- Hindu dominated Jammu, Sunni Muslim majority Kashmir Valley with a small Shia community, the Pandits, the Sikhs and the Gujjars and Ladakh, with Buddhist and Shia Muslim population. The political leadership in the past and efforts by the people integrated these diverse divisions as a mosaic of different ethnic, religious and tribal groups and united these together in a culture of mutual tolerance and creative interaction in a pluralistic and democratic J&K state. Unfortunately, J&K has got engulfed in its worst phase of terrorism, intolerance and distortion of heritage because of self-serving and competing political interests. The Kashmiri Pandit community has been hounded out en-mass by ethnic cleansing. A concerted plan of killing one and scaring a thousand was the militants tactics to exile the Kashmiri Pandits who are on the verge of disintegration. Tragedy of violence has brought about the threatre of mayhem and instability to dismantle the idea of democracy and plural ethos in Kashmir. Kashmiris are yearning for peace and wish to have an end to the mayhem of destruction. They strive for peaceful life for the future generations. Dependence on Pakistan by Kashmiri militants and the non mainstream leadership is like collection of the dew that only wets the hands and nothing is achieved. It has led to death and destruction in the Valley and brought about the societal agony and colossal miseries, loss of lives, perpetual cynicism in the social psyche and devastated the plural socio-cultural ethos. It is known well by now that the young Kashmiris and all others those crossed over to Pakistan for receiving arms training and for waging anti-India campaign are totally disillusioned. These elements have realised that Pakistan has no strength and interest in freeing Kashmir. Pakistan just wants to bleed India and Kashmiris. It is the grand intelligent realisation with Kashmiris of all hues living in Kashmir and the Kashmiri diaspora that secession is not possible. Pakistan may have created limited terrorist space in the Valley. With radicalism spreading the vicious narrative, the rich and lasting political legacy of Kashmir is fast becoming a casualty say the Kashmiri intelligentsia. Therefore, the dialogue and engagement with New Delhi is the way forward to resolve the Kashmir imbroglio. The dire requirement for peace in the Valleys polity is the guarantee of upholding the ethnic, geographical, Constitutional and plural distinct entity of Kashmir. Pakistans using terrorist groups as part of its security and foreign policy is function of its obsession with India which it perceives as existential threat. Pakistans paranoia is unfounded. India wishes and wants a peaceful, terror free and democratic Pakistan as a friendly neighbour. There have been military wars, continuing undeclared war, numerous skirmishes and stand offs. Many successful attempts to improve relations through Shimla Aggrement, Agra and Lahore summits, etc. have fallen apart. The relations soured after Siachen conflict of 1980s, Kashmir insurgency of 1989 onwards, Kargil conflict of 1999. Terror attack on Indian Parliament in 2001 almost brought two nuclear nations to a brink of war. Mumbai terror attack of 2008 by Pakistani terrorists and killing hundreds and continuing support to terrorists in Kashmir is to delegitimise the idea of India. Pakistan despite having started to reboot its diplomatic ties with US to end the stalemate of last few many years, their relations are on the downside. That because Islamabad lied to the whole world about the presence of Al-Qaeda chief the most wanted Osama Bin Laden in Pakistan. The Americans nailed these lies by an operation finish Bin Laden and he was found in Abbottabad near elite military School in Pakistan and was liquidated. Pakistan is on notice and has to come clean and stop breeding terrorists in its backyard and root them out. It has received billions of dollars from US so far that is in public domain. Pakistan is on notice to act fast and hard on terror network operating from its soil. Pakistans Army Chief General Javed Bajwa has also advocated peace and dialogue with India to resolve the outstanding bilateral issues. It is taken as assuring by experts in India and hopefully it is helpful for ongoing NSAs engagement of both Countries. US is concerned about the regional security in South Asia. US experts feel that India-Pakistan tensions will complicate and spoil USs interest in the region as was reflected by the recent visit of Ambassador Alice Wells US Assistant Secretary of State to Pakistan, Afghanistan and India . Meanwhile, Kashmir spins out of control. Unabated street protests and killing of innocent civilians, the security force personal and militants and continued recruitment of young local educated boys to militancy have made Valley almost a battlefield. The level of discontent has gone up accretive and there are no palliatives of succour. The aimless and meandering policy perceptions are fraught with that we lose people and retain control over the geographical location. Unfortunately BJP has allowed Kashmir to slip away of its grasp eventually it is sad for India as a worlds largest democracy. Policy framework on Kashmir needs a correction in view of changing political dynamics. The writer is a senior Supreme Court lawyer and chairman, Kashmir Policy and Strategy Group. He can be reached at ashokbhan@rediffmail.com Alleging that the government is protecting the main accused, Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide. Mumbai: A day after the raids on Kabir Kala Manch members over the activities of Elgar Parishad, Bhrip Bahujan Mahasangh leader Prakash Ambedkar on Wednesday alleged that the state government was trying to shift the focus away from the main accused in the Bhima Koregaon riots case. Ambekar objected to the police connecting Maoism with the Dalit movement and said that this was calculated to harm the movement. Alleging that the government is protecting the main accused, Manohar alias Sambhaji Bhide, Mr Ambedkar said the police were misleading the entire probe. The chief minister (Devendra Fadnavis) said that the raids were targeting Maoists in urban areas. But it is not true. The police statement clearly mentions the name of Elgar Parishad, Ambedkar said. Elgar Parishad organised the rally at Shanivarvada, Pune, on December 31, 2017, the speeches during which allegedly resulted in the violence the next day. Police on Tuesday searched the home of renowned lawyer Surendra Gadling, Sudhir Dhavale and a few others. Mr Gadling has appeared in the several cases of left-wing political activists accused of Maoism. The rally organisers have denied the charges saying the state government wanted to suppress the voice of Dalits and (Bahujan) backward castes. Also, Sudhir Dhavale, who was earlier arrested for alleged Maoist activity, was acquitted of the charges by the Gondia sessions court in 2014. Apart from Kabir Kala Manch members, others were also acquitted by the Supreme Court from Naxalism charges in the absence of evidence. Hence, the chief ministers claim about urban Naxalism is absolutely false, Ambedkar said. The woman complained to party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam, who promised to take action against those found guilty. A woman Congress worker has complained to the party's city unit that she was allegedly molested by male colleagues on Sunday during a candle march held in Mumbai to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. (Representational image) Mumbai: A woman Congress worker has complained to the party's city unit that she was allegedly molested by male colleagues on Sunday during a candle march held in Mumbai to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. She complained to the party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam, who promised to take action against those found guilty. The protest march was organised by the party at Juhu. Talking to news agency PTI, Nirupam said the woman, who is a district-level party worker, sent a text message to him about the alleged incident. In her message, the woman said, "The workers of Youth Congress and NSUI (party's students' wing) stooped to such low level that they touched, pushed and shoved women workers in an inappropriate manner, making us feel unsafe among our very own party's male colleagues. "Sadly, some male workers did this to us only to get ahead in the march so that their faces were captured by the media. I want to know if women workers will be safe in similar events held in future?" her text message said. Nirupam said, "This incident is very unfortunate and I condemn it. I told the woman that he would take action if she identifies the persons involved. I told her that if she wished, he would help her file police cases against the accused. But she told me there was too much crowd, so it won't be possible for her to identify them." He said the woman enthusiastically participates in all dharnas and morchas organised by the city unit. "She does not participate alone, but brings along with her over a dozen women members. I have apologised to her for the agony she had to suffer on Sunday. Male workers often rush ahead in any morchas, so that their faces can be seen on television cameras," he said. The Congress leader said he will issue the dos and don'ts to be followed during the protest marches or morcha when women are also participating in large numbers. "If the instructions are not followed, action would be taken," he said. Verma had sustained grievous injuries to her head and arms. Mumbai: In two separate incifdents on central railway (CR) Thursday morning, Jyoti Verma (17) lost her life while crossing the tracks near Vidyavihar station while Tejashree Vaidya (23) fell off a running train between Sion and Matunga and is in a critical condition at Sion Hospital. Ms Verma, a F.Y.J.C. commerce student of Somaiya College, was headed to college from her Vikhroli Parksite residence for extra lectures when a slow train hit her while crossing the tracks at about 11am. A few locals spotted her lying unconscious on the tracks after which she was immediately rushed to the civic Rajawadi Hospital in Ghatkopar, where she was declared dead on arrival. Ms Verma had sustained grievous injuries to her head and arms. In the case of Ms Vaidya, who works at Elphinstone Road, she fell off a running train near pole 12/3 between Sion and Matunga stations at about 9.30am. She was reportedly standing on the footboard and was headed to college to give her masters examinations. A senior Government Railway Police (GRP) officer in Dadar said that as soon as they received a call, constables were rushed to the spot. They found Ms Vaidya inside a gutter and crying for help as she had barely managed to keep her head above the gutter water. The constables climbed down into the gutter and pulled Ms Vaidya out only to admit her to Sion Hospital which was the nearest. Dr Jayshree Mondkar, dean, Sion Hospital, said, Ms Vaidya is quite serious and is on respiratory support. She is still unconscious and a CT scan has been conducted on her. Prima facie it appears that she has suffered a brain injury. The barrage comes while most of us are yet to get over the two ghoulish reports that have convulsed the nation. Demonstrators take part in a protest in Srinagar over the gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir. (Photo: AFP) Rapes are barbaric displays of power. But it serves no purpose to rate rapes by savagery quotient, lapse into whataboutery or a generalised lament about brutalities. Each rape is heinous. That said, its vital to recognise that factors at play vary. Sometimes a rape is a hate crime, as in the brutal rape and murder of the eight-year-old Bakerwal community girl in Kathua. Here rape was clearly used to signal visceral hatred towards a community. Elsewhere, its the marker of political power, as in Unnao. In other times, it may be just a pointer to bestialities brute physical power would resort to when it meets the weak and vulnerable. In the 24x7 news cycles we have today, its also true that once a brutal rape makes front-page news, other stories about rape across India get picked up with more alacrity. As I write, the mornings newspapers have front-paged another gruesome story. This time, it was a seven-year-old girl attending a wedding with her family at Etah, Uttar Pradesh. What should have been a joyous occasion for the little girl ended in her rape-murder. On inside pages were details of another girl, probably between nine and 11, who had been raped and murdered. Her body, which was found in Surat, had 86 injury marks. The barrage comes while most of us are yet to get over the two ghoulish reports that have convulsed the nation. Everyone knows the details now, but it bears repetition as it needs to be seared into our national memory as a mark of shame. The eight-year-old Muslim girl from the nomadic Bakerwal tribe was abducted while grazing horses in a meadow, and then allegedly sedated, hidden in a temple, raped and tortured repeatedly over days by a group of men who ultimately strangled her and bashed her head in with stones. A week later, her mutilated body was found in a forest near Kathua, a mile from Rasana village, where she and her family lived. The chargesheet by the police is stomach-churning. What is perhaps worse is the violent opposition by local lawyers when the police went to court to file the chargesheet, the open support to suspects including policemen charged with destroying evidence by two BJP ministers in the state government. That barrage has been toned down after a national outcry forced the BJP leadership to act, but its not over, by any means. Then in Unnao, Uttar Pradesh, theres the case of a 17-year-old girl who has alleged that Kuldeep Singh Sengar, an MLA of the ruling BJP, raped her. The girl had been seeking justice from the UP chief minister. Her pleas went unheard for months, even when she tried to immolate herself in front of the CMs home. Instead, her father was allegedly thrashed by the MLAs brother and his accomplices, while the police first watched and then took the victims father into custody instead. The man later died in police custody. This is the state of the nation. Just six years after the Nirbhaya case which shook India, we are back on the streets, to hold protests and candlelight marches. Still, a raft of rapes and murders flood the front pages and prime-time television. This leaves one with two options. The first is sheer numbness which can make one switch off. Many people I know are doing just that. Unable to deal with the cascade of horror stories about little girls and young women who are raped, mutilated and murdered, they are switching off from news. The other way is a restorative narrative that offers hope. If the brutal rape and murder of the eight-year-old girl in Kathua is a hate crime, aimed at instilling fear in her community and driving away her family from their village, there is also the countervailing narrative of a female lawyer from a member of the majority community, Hindus in this case, taking up cudgels on behalf of the girls family. Deepika Singh Rajawat, who is fighting on behalf of the victim, is a heroine of our troubled times. She has said she fears for her life and that she has been dubbed anti-Hindu and boycotted socially, but that hasnt stopped her. The stand of J&K police chief S.P. Vaid has been reassuring. Ordinary people, including schoolgirls, are hitting the streets to show India will not be bullied into submission and its girls will raise their voice against gender-based violence. One of the most moving speeches at a Not-in-my-Name protest I attended in Delhis Parliament Street was by 15-year-old schoolgirl Pakhi Jain, who read out her own poem Scream. I have a dream that one day this nation will rise up... I have a dream that no girl, no woman will be tortured or molested or raped, Pakhi said. As before, some politicians have demanded the death penalty for the rape of minors as the solution to this epidemic. But feisty lawyers like Vrinda Grover, who has been dealing with such cases for years, warn against falling into this trap. Besides the humanitarian argument, the death penalty doesnt work as a deterrent. The problem is the abysmally low conviction rate. The real challenge for the powerless is to get an FIR registered. But when people get together, there is an impact. In the Unnao rape case, for instance, a CBI court has sent BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengars brother Atul and five others to police custody for four days. Kuldeep and others are charged with gang-raping a minor, Atul and others with murder and assault of the rape survivors father. With the BJP on the backfoot, its supporters have resorted to whataboutery and snarky remarks about street protests and candlelight vigils. The response to that is raising ones voice, louder. using whatever platform one can. One can grieve alone, but there is strength in solidarity and raising voices together. India remains a democracy and the roar of the determined many cannot be ignored. The fact that work visas and access to labour markets work better was never mentioned. The visa, then, with the promise of mobility that it holds, is one of the few single things that has the greatest capacity to eliminate global poverty than anything else in the world. (Representational image) In a recent report, the Centre for Global Development made a surprising and somewhat startling observation. Looking at the data from several recent studies, they noted that even the very best international development programmes to reduce global poverty could only produce outcomes that were 40 times less successful than the income gain people in poor countries experienced when their citizens were provided greater labour mobility. In simple non-economist terms, it means that visas work faster and better to reduce global poverty by a lot than even the very best international development programmes. The visa, then, with the promise of mobility that it holds, is one of the few single things that has the greatest capacity to eliminate global poverty than anything else in the world. What is true, however, is not always popular, and this is certainly true of the visa solution. While this may be true, the extent of the discrepancy between the effectiveness of international aid programmes versus work visas is quite alarming. A study published in Science magazine reveals how intensive and highly targeted programmes directed at poor countries were successful at reducing poverty even if they were far more expensive to implement and produce. Even so, the mood of the announcement was triumphant; pricey as it may be, their study had found that international aid could work. The fact that work visas and access to labour markets work better was never mentioned. The omission is not surprising. As another study has noted, the infrastructure of aid depends on hierarchies in which Western experts imported into impoverished environments diagnose how and what poor countries must do to escape persistent poverty. Behind all of this, there is a hierarchy at work and it always involves donor countries and their experts being at the top. This is even more visible in public presentations of development work at this or that conference; in one example, noted in the report, an organiser had to fight to ensure that at least one Arabic speaker be included in a panel on international development in the Middle East and the North African region. Its not just panels and experts that are the problem; it is also the impact of these interventions on local populations. Take, for instance, the issue of capacity building, a term of art deployed when aid is handed out in poor communities but little improvement is seen in their metrics. At this point, capacity building enters to save the day, that is, to introduce skills, such as financial management, entrepreneurship, etc that would hypothetically enable better results and prove the development programmes effective after all. Few of these capacity-building programmes actually deliver the promised, improved results. The reason is simple. Contrary to the assumption that aid grants exist solely to eliminate global poverty in the worlds most wanting populations, the international aid system is also a moral hierarchy. The aid grantors are at the top; they have the most and know the best, but in addition to all that they are also morally superior, willing to grant assistance with little expectation in return. They are the worlds altruists, whose purity of purpose lends them the authority that no others possess. They can pretend that they are doing good while expecting nothing at all in return. When this moral aspect of international aid and aid giving in general is noted, the international aid system can be recast not as a means of actually helping the poor but rather a means via which a moral hierarchy is created and maintained the worlds wealthy, also the worlds noblest, inhabiting its summit, and the wanting at the bottom. Seen against this, the purpose of development programmes may not actually be to reduce poverty or eliminate it but rather to enable the continued existence of this moral hierarchy. Permitting some programme of labour mobility would dismantle this structure, whose moral currency permits the West to justify wars, trade restrictions and so much else that enable the maintenance of Western dominance. Research shows that an individuals own desire to change his or her circumstances is the best predictor of success in escaping poverty, but is often ignored. Even while virtual platforms of communication enable organisation and discussion across national and continental boundaries and time zones, Western countries continue to rely on the archaic premises that borders are real, racial and religious difference are threats and the basis on which opportunities are distributed. It is not the lack of capacity or initiative among farmers in sub-Saharan Africa or shepherds in Ethiopia, then, that explain the persistence of global poverty, it is the inability of these people to travel freely to work where the jobs are. By arrangement with Dawn The intent of our sea warriors was to let the Chinese know we keep a close watch over their movements. The Indian Navy needs more versatile platforms in IOR and the capacity to show the flag in the South China Sea. (Photo: Twitter/@indiannavy) Its good to see the Indian Navy has a sense of humour. Through two posts on Twitter on Tuesday, the Navy welcomed the arrival in the Indian Ocean Region (IOR) of ships of its Chinese counterpart sailing on an anti-piracy mission. The Chinese Navy is part of an international effort to deal with piracy off the Somali coast. The intent of our sea warriors was to let the Chinese know we keep a close watch over their movements. A fleet of 50 warships of different descriptions is deployed in mission mode from the Malacca Straits to the Persian Gulf, sea lanes through which 70 per cent of world trade in hydrocarbons passes, to cover Chinese naval movements. The Chinese now sail around a dozen naval vessels in the IOR, and sometimes give their nuclear submarines an outing in these waters. They could step this up, then the joke might be on us. Remember, our budgetary support for defence has fallen while Chinas has risen significantly. More, they have got naval basing facilities in Djibouti on the Horn of Africa and are not far from getting ready Gwadar base in Pakistan. That will give the Chinese Navy a lot of heft in IOR. We have also let go any goodwill we had with Maldives, where the Chinese plan to open an observation post. Chinas economy is three times ours in size, and its military spending keeps pace. The Indian Navy needs more versatile platforms in IOR and the capacity to show the flag in the South China Sea. Prowess must be for real. Lets not just be Twitter warriors. These are vast resource-rich territories with rickety infrastructure, poor transport, communications and connectivity. Someone, somewhere in China must have had either done research on the great West-East landmass spanning from the English Channel to the shoreline of the Sea of Japan from Greenwich to 145 degrees east longitude, and mapped the contours of thousands of kilometres of the North-South axis, from the Laptev Sea, adjacent to the North Pole (80 degrees north latitude), to the Gulf of Talaimannar and the equator, and further to the southern hemisphere across the Indian Ocean, to the Maldives, Mauritius, Djibouti, and beyond; and to the Pacific island-nation of Vanuatu. Chinas BRI/OBOR/CPEC actually seems to be the result of multi-disciplinary research. Though Chinese President Xi Jinping is at pains to explain the bona fides of Beijings aim, intention and objectives, he tells his soldiers to prepare to die; deprecates and denounces democracy in no uncertain terms and emphatically thunders that China will never cede an inch of its territory or compromise with its sovereignty. China has a clear plan of action, but many doubts persist why is it pretending to be the ultimate Good Samaritan of the 21st century world? Does this come from Beijings genuine altruism? Will China succeed in its endeavour at the cost of other small, economically weak and geographically disadvantaged nations? Or will it succeed owing to folly, miscalculation, cupidity and avarice of the ruling class of the targeted BRI/OBOR/CPEC nations? And where does it all end, and how? Lets try to visualise what could be in store for India three decades from now. Will a sovereign India continue to stand where it is standing since August 1947? Or will some unforeseen and unprecedented tectonic shift take place to change the demography and geography of Delhi? As has so often happened in the past! Lets revisit the contemporary ground reality of the Chinese politys unprecedented look out policy. Today, Chinas focus is on empty, sparsely populated land. The great heartland from the Atlantic to the Pacific Ocean, wherein several countries face the grim reality of diminishing demography. Thus, of the 60-plus states which are under the Chinese radar for non-geopolitical and non-geo-strategic and economics only BRI/OBOR/CPEC, the population of, at least 23 countries are downhill. All these nations are to the west of the Ural mountains Bulgaria (-0.8 per cent); Romania (-0.7 per cent); Lithuania (-0.6 per cent); Latvia (-0.5 per cent; Ukraine (-0.5 per cent); Croatia (-0.4 per cent); Hungary (-0.4 per cent); Serbia (-0.4 per cent); Belarus (-0.3 per cent; Bosnia & Herzegovina (-0.3 per cent); Estonia (-0.3 per cent); Albania (-0.2 per cent); Moldova (-0.2 per cent); Georgia (-0.1 per cent); Poland (-0.1 per cent); Russia (-0.1 per cent); Montenegro (0 per cent); Slovakia (0 per cent); Armenia (0.1 per cent); Czech Republic (0.1 per cent); Macedonia (0.1 per cent); Slovenia (0.1 per cent) and Turkey (0.1 per cent). The vast Central Asian heartlands steppe of Kazakhstan (2.4 births per child-bearing woman); Kyrgyzstan (2.7 births per child-bearing woman); Tajikistan (2.8 births per child-bearing woman); Turkmenistan (2.1 births per child-bearing woman) and Uzbekistan (2.2 births per child-bearing woman) too are slow-moving upward-demography. which crave for development. All the more as each of these five states is inherently handicapped being landlocked terrain (some being double landlocked). These are vast resource-rich territories with rickety infrastructure, poor transport, communications and connectivity. They are geographically connected as one piece, but economically disparate and disconnected, separate entities which understandably can find solace from the proposed Chinese action, if any. And this action, that ensures China is going out, rather than foreigners are coming into China, has already begun. But no sooner did the Chinese forward march begin that a grim warning came from IMF managing director Christine Lagarde that ventures can also lead to a problematic increase in debt, potentially limiting other spending as debt service rises, and creating balance of payments challenges. Notwithstanding Mr Xis investments worth billions of dollars into infrastructure development across the worlds heartland, two critical issues have already surfaced. First In countries where public debt is already high, careful management of financing terms is critical. Nothing could be more specific and precise than what is happening around some of the targeted small countries of South Asia. And second A challenge comes as it needs to be ensured that BRI only travels where it is needed an oblique reference by Ms Lagarde to problems of insider dealing; a complaint which more often than not keeps cropping up from Balochis about Pakistans Punjab. With any large-scale spending, there is sometimes the temptation to take advantage of the selection and bidding process, a typical characteristic of insider dealing which could throw the entire planning out of gear, leading to unrest. Despite the positive response from some developing nations to the Chinese approach due to stringent IMF conditions on debt management, symptoms of unrest are somewhat real. Sri Lanka, Pakistan, Bangladesh, Laos, Indonesia, Kazakhstan and Poland are already feeling the heat. Growing resentment of sovereignty infringement owing to the Hambantota port takeover by China and the uneconomic Mattala airport being the worlds emptiest international airport constitute Sri Lankas twin dilemma of BRI/OBOR. Bangladesh is facing sudden funding delays from the Chinese bank. Indonesia grapples with land acquisition unrest. Pakistans unending problems of ethnic strife, Islamic fundamentalists, terrorist outfits, and free for all and free for war, along with the deployment of 15,000 designated soldiers to protect Chinese nationals across turbulent terrain constitute a constant real-time threat to BRI/OBOR/CPEC. Laos too has serious issues on hand as the imported Chinese labour force has created an enhanced feeling of deprivation and unemployment to local workers. Kazakhstan is facing a dominant and dominating Chinese presence in critical areas. Poland feels the heat from its neighbour Germany, which is trying to change its law to check Chinese entry into Germanys crucial and critical sectors and Beijings propensity to buy high tech through its cash power. Its cash, cash and more cash all the way to buy, take over, operate, bribe, acquire, prepare, dominate far from the homeland, to bring distant lands under the homelands indirect suzerainty. A bid to extend and continue to acquire without direct action; operate without responsibility. Theres no doubt there is method in the Chinese action plan, that has so far succeeded in checkmating, avoiding and even bypassing virtually all possible hurdles. However, all good things must come to an end. Early 20th century geostrategist Halford Mackinders disturbing reference to China as yellow peril in his famous article The Geographical Pivot of History seems to be dawning in the minds of all those who now feel threatened by Beijings shenanigans through all means, fair or foul. The most spectacular of all, however, is Beijings plan to get India involved thick and through. Why? Because 49 European countries total 84.1 crore heads; 58 African nations constitute 115.3 crores; the two Americas (South and North) of 55 countries are 98.2 crores; the 25 countries of Australasia are 3.9 crores; but India alone is a staggering 130 crores. The picture is stark. Its up to India to realise the ground reality, to understand its power, strength and wisdom, and play accordingly. The company has teased the new release of Marvel Avenger OnePlus 6 edition slated to launch on 27th this month. In addition to this new Marvel collaboration, the company has been teasing that the OnePlus 6 will be featuring water-resistant support as well. After StarWars, OnePlus is teaming up with Marvel for its new flagship OnePlus 6. The company has just released an official announcement on its OnePlus India Twitter handle slating the launch of the new flagship on 27th this month. The tweet suggests that its new flagship might be an exclusive Marvel Avengers themed edition OnePlus 6. Late 2017, we became one with the force. And now weve decided to take our partnership with @Disney to the next level. This April, we come face to face with infinite power and the war that will decide the fate of our universe. See you in theaters on April 27 pic.twitter.com/nghW3gHOUH OnePlus India (@OnePlus_IN) April 19, 2018 OnePlus association with Marvel Studios is a manifestation of the enduring love and support they have garnered from its respective community over the years with a purpose to go beyond the ordinary and achieve groundbreaking innovations in mobile technology only to create the best user experiences, OnePlus said in a statement obtained by Android Central, noting that the deal marks a step towards strengthening our association with Disney India. In addition to this new Marvel collaboration, the company has been teasing that the OnePlus 6 will be featuring water-resistant support as well. Furthermore, the companys CEO has already released the camera samples of the OnePlus 6 on his social media. The photographs showcased daylight conditions of various subjects from a flower to buildings and so on. Most of the specifications are already out there thanks to the leaks. The latest flagship is expected to feature Snapdragons 845 SoC along with dual camera setup (20MP+16MP). Last, but not the least, the company has already confirmed the most controversial iPhone X-like notch is here to stay. The CEO has already justified the necessity of the notch, stating that implementing the notch will maximise screen real estate, freeing up space at the top of the screen. As per the tweet from the company, we can expect a Marvel Avengers themed OnePlus 6 variant. The company might also be releasing new colour variants along with the standard Midnight Black colour variant. Assembly members are widely expected to vote in his successor of choice, first vice-president Miguel Diaz-Canel. Havana: Cubas National Assembly on Wednesday began a historic two-day meeting to elect a successor to President Raul Castro, who steps down Thursday, passing the baton to a new generation in a transition that brings to a close the Castro brothers six-decade grip on power. We have come a long way so that our children, those of the present and those of the future, will be happy, Mr Castro, 86, said in one of his last speeches as the leader last month. Assembly members are widely expected to vote in his successor of choice, first vice-president Miguel Diaz-Canel. Dona Lupita, as affectionately known, was welcomed with applause from her fellow students at High School Number 2 in Tuxtla Gutierrez. Palacios (92), who is seeking to live out her dream of finishing high school by her 100th birthday, is also the most enthusiastic student in the classroom. (Photo: AFP) Tuxtla Gutierrez (Mexico): Guadalupe Palacios stands out in her high school class in Mexico, and it is not just because of her gray hair, her deeply creased skin or her 96 years. Palacios, who is seeking to live out her dream of finishing high school by her 100th birthday, is also the most enthusiastic student in the classroom. I feel ready to give it my all. Today is a marvellous day, she said Monday on her first day of high school in the southern state of Chiapas, wearing the school uniform of a white polo shirt with a black skirt and her own personal touch: a pink sweater. Dona Lupita, as she is affectionately known, was welcomed with applause from her fellow students at High School Number 2 in the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital. She diligently took notes in her chemistry and mathematics classes and even strutted her stuff in a dance class. Palacios grew up in poverty in an indigenous village and spent her childhood helping her family farm corn and beans instead of going to school. As an adult, she went to work selling chickens at market, married twice and had six children. Along the way, she picked up arithmetic, but never learned to read and write. When she turned 92, she said, she decided it was time, and enrolled in a literacy program. Now I can write letters to my boyfriends, she said with a laugh. But she did not stop there: In 2015, she enrolled in a primary school program for adult learners. In less than four years, she completed both primary and middle school. But there was no adult learning program for high school so she decided to enrol in a regular public school, with classmates eight decades younger. Already, she is looking beyond high school: She would like to be a kindergarten teacher someday. The announcement on Tuesday comes after the arrests sparked protests and calls for a boycott on social media. Protesters gather outside of a Starbucks cafe in Philadelphia on Sunday, April 15, 2018, where two black men were arrested last Thursday after employees called police to say the men were trespassing. (Photo: AP) New York: Starbucks, moving swiftly to confront a racially charged uproar over the arrest of two black men at one of its stores in Philadelphia, plans to close more than 8,000 US stores for several hours next month to conduct racial-bias training for nearly 175,000 workers. The announcement on Tuesday comes after the arrests sparked protests and calls for a boycott on social media. A video shows police talking with two black men seated at a table. After a few minutes, officers handcuff the men and lead them outside as other customers say they werent doing anything wrong. Philadelphia-area media said the two were waiting for a friend. Philadelphia police released a recording of the call from the Starbucks employee that led to the arrests. In the recording, a woman is heard saying, Hi, I have two gentlemen in my cafe that are refusing to make a purchase or leave. She gives the address of the Starbucks store, and the entire call lasts less than 30 seconds. In the communications between police and dispatch that were also released, someone refers to a group of males inside causing a disturbance, and additional officers are sent. Starbucks, which was once ridiculed for urging its employees to write Race Together on coffee cups to start a national conversation on race relations, has found itself through the looking glass: under fire for its treatment of black people. The company reacted from a high level: Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson called the arrests reprehensible and said that he wanted to apologise to the two men face-to-face. The company and a lawyer for the two men said that they did meet, and Mr Johnson delivered the apology. Starbucks also said the employee who called police no longer works at the store, but declined to give details. The mainstream media had failed to take notice of his actions against Russia, Trump said. Trump was responding to a question on the remarks by the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, that US will impose sanctions on Russia on Monday. (Photo: File) Washington: US President Donald Trump on Thursday said that nobody had been tougher on Russia than him and that he'd slap new sanctions on Moscow "as soon as they very much deserve it". The mainstream media had failed to take notice of his actions against Russia, he said. "Yes. We'll do sanctions as soon as they very much deserve it. There's been nobody tougher on Russia than President Donald Trump," Trump told reporters at a joint Mar-a-Lago news conference with the visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "There has been nobody tougher than me. With the media, no matter what I did, its never tough enough because that's their narrative. But Russia will tell you there has been nobody tougher than Donald Trump," he said. Trump was responding to a question on the remarks by the US Ambassador to the UN, Nikki Haley, that US will impose sanctions on Russia on Monday. The White House later denied the claim. However, said Trump, building a good relationship with Russia is a "good, not bad" thing. "I leave it with this, with all of that said, if we can get along with China and if we can get along with Russia and if we can get along with Japan and other nations that's a good thing, not a bad thing," the US president said. The girls suffered burns on their face and arms and were admitted to a hospital, according to police. The sisters and their friend -- all said to be university students -- were standing at a bus stop in Dang district of Gujrat in the morning when the men arrived on a motorcycle and hurled acid on the girls, DawnNewsTV reported. (Representational Image) Islamabad: Three girls, including a sister duo, in Pakistan's Punjab province suffered burn injuries in an acid attack on Thursday when they were allegedly attacked by the sisters' uncle for rejecting a marriage proposal, according to media reports. The sisters and their friend -- all said to be university students -- were standing at a bus stop in Dang district of Gujrat in the morning when the men arrived on a motorcycle and hurled acid on the girls, DawnNewsTV reported. The girls suffered burns on their face and arms and were admitted to a hospital, according to police. "The primary suspect was the uncle of the two sisters who were attacked. Another accused was identified as the uncle's friend," Dang police Station House Officer Ameer Abbas was quoted as saying in the report. The police official's statements were seconded by one of the victims, it added. One of the girls had refused a marriage proposal which was the reason behind the attack, the police said, adding that the uncle and his friend are still absconding while the third accused has been arrested. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz have sought a detailed report of the case. They have also instructed senior police officials to ensure the arrest of the accused within 24 hours, the report said. In response to Modis comments on Pakistan exporting terrorism, Faisal claimed that it was the other way around. 'Repeating a lie doesnt turn it into the truth,' the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Dawn. (Photo: AFP) Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday rejected as false and baseless Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks on the surgical strikes across the Line of Control in 2016 , saying repeating a lie doesnt turn it into the truth. Speaking at the Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath programme in London on Wednesday, Modi had said India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people. Read: Called Pak first on surgical strike, they were scared to come on phone: PM Modi I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media, Modi had said. Reacting to Prime Minister Modis remarks, Pakistan Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said on Thursday Indias claims about the surgical strike were false and baseless. Repeating a lie doesnt turn it into the truth, the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Dawn. In response to Modis comments on Pakistan exporting terrorism, Faisal claimed that it was the other way around and accused India of backing terrorists in Pakistan. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism, he alleged. Jadhav (47) was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism. India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in May 2017 against the verdict. The ICJ halted his execution on Indias appeal pending the final verdict by it. Pakistan claims its security forces arrested Jadhav from restive Balochistan province on March 3, 2016 after he reportedly entered from Iran. However, India maintains that Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy. Jadhavs sentencing had evoked a sharp reaction in India. Taiwanese military cancel scheduled canon drill. The Chinese involved ships and helicopters at sea. The Liaoning aircraft carrier will pass through the Strait. Taipei (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The military exercises that China conducted yesterday in the Taiwan Strait were "scaled down", even if they wanted to be a provocation to the "rebel" island's claims of independence. This is the opinion of the Taipei Ministry of National Defense spokesperson, Chen Chung-chi, who declared that the Peoples Liberation Army activities (Pla) military drills were only a routine exercise and for this reason Taiwan would not raise its combat level. Sources from the PLA, interviewed by the SCMP, also downplayed the drill : It was relatively small-scale because Beijing wanted to send a warning to the separatists and the independence-leaning [Taiwanese president] Tsai Ing-wen administration, not provoke ordinary peoples emotions". Relations between Taipei and Beijing began to sour in 2016, with the victory of Tsai and its Democratic Progress party. Since Tsai has not expressed its support for the "one China" principle, Beijing is convinced that the island's government is aiming for independence. China looks to Taiwan as a "rebel" island and has promised several times to target it and invade it militarily if it dares to proclaim independence. In recent days, China's official media had stressed that the Strait exercises wanted to show that Beijing will not tolerate any moves by the separatist forces in Taiwan. For Chen Chung-chi it is the Chinese Communist Party that has played this up with cheap verbal intimidation and saber rattling through the state media, hoping to create panic and unease". In any case, a Taiwanese live cannon drill scheduled for yesterday was canceled. The Chinese exercises, which started at 8 in the morning and ended at 11 in the evening, used ships and helicopters to hit targets in the water and attack them. Despite being "low key", the Liaoning, the first aircraft carrier "made in China", will pass through the Strait in these days, heading towards the port of Dalian, after having participated in the naval parade in the South China Sea. The country will go to the polls for the presidential and legislative elections on June 24th; a year and a half before the expiry of the mandate set for November 3, 2019. The president focuses on nationalism and achievements in the anti-Kurdish offensive in northern Syria. A decision that is a "sign of panic and weakness" in front of "worrying" economic indices. Istanbul (AsiaNews / Agencies) - Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan yesterday announced presidential and legislative elections scheduled for June 24, one and a half years ahead of expiry of the mandate scheduled for November 3, 2019. The Turkish leader wants to exploit the crackdown on the country - including opposition - following the failed coup in July 2016, the results of the presidential referendum and of popularity due to the anti-Kurdish offensive in northern Syria, to obtain a new mandate with strengthened powers. The next elections represent a key step for the future of Turkey. Analysts and experts speak of a "nationalist wave" ridden by the current head of state to consolidate his power. Furthermore, the country will be called to the polls with the state of emergency still in force. Indeed, yesterday, the Parliament approved the continuation of the special measures for the next three months. The elections will guarantee the possibility for 64-year-old Erdogan and the ruling AKP (Party for Justice and Development) to extend the leadership for a further five years, after leading the country for 15 years first as prime minister and then as president. The main rival will be the leader of the secular opposition Kemal Kilicdaroglu, head of the Republican Popular Party (Chp). Few chance of success, however, for the pro-Kurdish democratic movement (Hdp), weakened by several arrests that have also hit the party's leading figures. In recent days Erdogan had met the government ally Devlet Bahceli, leader of the Nationalist Party (MHP). At the end of the face-to-face meeting, Bahceli had invoked the need for an early return to the polls to meet the country's challenges. "As a result of the consultations - said the Turkish president - we decided to bring forward the vote to Sunday 24 June 2018". Previously Erdogan had repeatedly denied a return to the polls before the end of the legislature. The Turkish president justified this electoral drive because of "the events in Syria" and the need to take "important decisions" on the subject of the economy. For Fadi Hakura, Turkey expert at Chatham House study center in London, this decision is "a sign of panic and weakness" in the face of "troubling" economic indices. For some weeks now the country has already been immersed in an electoral atmosphere, with Erdogan and Prime Minister Binali Yildirim, stepping up speeches and public rallies with bright and nationalist tones. The main opposition parties say they are ready to take up the challenge, even if the chances of success are scarce. ChHP leader Kemal Kilicdaroglu declared that "2018 will be the year of democracy. We are ready, we will win!". For EU foreign policy chief Mogherini, We want to see the full compliance by all. But no consensus exists on new sanctions among the EUs 28 members. Irans role in Syria remains an issue. Rouhani insists that his country does not have aggressive intentions, that its weapons are defensive, and that it wants negotiations to solve problems. Tehran (AsiaNews) European Union foreign ministers meeting in Luxembourg this week strongly defended the 2015 Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) signed with Iran, thus rejecting new US sanctions against Tehran for its role in the Syrian conflict. "There is no consensus at the moment on the fact that these measures would be useful in this moment or appropriate in this moment," EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini said after the Monday meeting. She added that further consideration on how to deal with Iran's role in Syria "will happen in the coming days or weeks. The United Kingdom, France, and Germany tried to get the EU's 28 foreign ministers to support expanding sanctions against Iran over its support for Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, whose forces have allegedly used chemical weapons in a recent attack. After years of embargo, Western economic sanctions against Iran were eased in 2015 in exchange for a deal over the countrys controversial nuclear programme, a move that was largely welcomed by the international community. However, the United States and critics of the deal, especially Israel have continued to back sanctions against Iran over its ballistic missile programme and its support for armed Shia movements in places like Yemen and Syria. On 12 January, US President Donald Trump extended the suspension of a series of sanctions against Iran for another 120 days but stressed that it would be "the last time". Any decision to reimpose sanctions would effectively kill the JCPOA. Tehran has in fact repeatedly said that it does not intend to accept additional obligations with respect to those already signed. For Mogherini, the goal is "to preserve the nuclear deal with Iran. We want to see the full compliance by all to all commitments included in the deal. At the same time, the EU will continue to closely monitor Irans behaviour, and plans to maintain sanctions already in place. The sanctions, which consist of travel bans and asset freezes against 82 people and one entity, were first put introduced in 2011. They also include a ban to export equipment to Iran that might be used for internal repression as well as equipment for monitoring telecommunications. For his part, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani said on Wednesday that his government "does not intend any aggression" against its neighbours. "We tell the world that we will produce any weapons that we need, or if necessary we will procure them. We have not been waiting... and will not wait for your remarks or agreement," Rouhani said at a military parade in Tehran to mark the annual Army Day. The United States and its allies have been demanding that Iran curb its ballistic missile programme, but Tehran sees it as crucial to its defensive posture. "We want friendly and brotherly relations with our neighbours and we tell them that our weapons, our equipment, our missiles, our planes, our tanks are not against you, it is for deterrence," said Rouhani. "The only way to resolve problems is political negotiation and peaceful behaviour," he added. by Kamran Chaudhry On April 15th, Msgr. Arshad inaugurated St. Mary's Church in the atrium of the Agriculture University. Until now, only mosques were allowed to be built in Pakistan. The church "will ensure the religious needs of Christian students and workers". Lahore (AsiaNews) - For the first time in the history of Pakistan, a Christian chapel has been opened in an Islamic university. This is the church of St. Mary, housed in the atrium of the Agriculture University of Faisalabad. To inaugurate it, on April 15th, Msgr. Joseph Arshad, archbishop of Islamabad-Rawalpindi and president of the Pakistani Episcopal Conference, formerly titular of the diocese of Faisalabad. During the ceremony, he said: "The presence of a church inside the university enclosure will offer a message of love and harmony throughout the country. Christians will come here to pray for the progress and prosperity of the institute and of the country ". The new chapel is a novelty for the majority Muslim country. Up until now, more than 177 universities and colleges have been allowed to build only Islamic mosques. Christian places of worship were only allowed in Christian institutions. At the same time, there are no Hindu or gurdwara temples for Sikhs. The project was launched in 2015, at the initiative of the former vicar general of the diocese of Faisalabad. The latter has allocated 300,000 rupees (about 2,000 euros) for the construction of the site, while the faculty has assigned more than one square km of land. The ceremony was attended by university leaders, two priests and over 70 Christian workers who live on campus. Muhammad Zafar Iqbal, chancellor of the faculty, said: "This church was built with the aim of ensuring the religious needs of Christian students and university workers. I believe in inter-religious harmony and in the fact that mosques and churches are both sacred places in which to worship God. A university chapel is a living example of Islamic-Christian brotherhood ". Msgr. Arshad thanked the administration and the government, for their willingness to provide a place of worship in which the Christian minority can meet and profess their faith in freedom. Then he cited a speech addressed to the nation by the founding father Mohammad Ali Jinnah, who had launched an appeal to create an inclusive and impartial government, [guarantee] religious freedom, the rule of law and equality for all. "You are free - the archbishop said, quoting the words of Jinnah -, free to go to your temples, free to go to your mosques or other religious places in this state of Pakistan. You can belong to any religion, caste or creed: this has nothing to do with the business of the State." by Melani Manel Perera The two-day National Youth Summit 2018 will open tomorrow. Its aim is to create a platform that connects young people and strengthens their role as peace builders. More than half of them have never befriended people from another ethnic group. Colombo (AsiaNews) The National Youth Summit 2018 will open tomorrow at the Bandaranayaka Memorial International Conference Hall in Colombo. Under the auspices of the Sri Lanka Development Journalist Forum (SDJF), the event will bring together young people from around the country and from every social and ethnic background to talk about peace and sustainable development. "More than 250 young people are expected from all over Sri Lanka, including members of marginalised groups, said SDJF Project officer Dhaneshi Yatawara speaking to AsiaNews. Various authorities, including Mano Ganesan, Minister of National Coexistence, Dialogue and the official languages, will be present at tomorrows inaugural ceremony. Also attending will be representatives of the universities of Jaffna and the Visual Arts, and provincial education ministers. This is the second national meeting of young Sri Lankans. On 21 April the second day of meeting young people will meet in the Department of Government Information, in the capital. The events goal "is to create a platform that connects young people and strengthens their role as peace builders, Yatawara said. The SDJF organised the first meeting in 2015, entitled 'Capturing local voices and strengthening democracy', which was the forerunner of the current initiative. Participants will attend sessions dedicate to various topics such as inclusion of young people in national policies and dialogue; young people and non-violence; young people and social change; young people in the development of the community; the relationship between young people, social media and hate speech; the contribution of young people to social justice and equality. "There has never been a better time than now to bridge the gap and encourage those with passion for peace building within the youth, said the SDJF press release announcing the summit. This is the more urgent considering that 54.1% of this largely monolingual population have never interacted with people from another ethnic group as a close friend. For the first time in 36 years, a movie was screened in Saudi Arabia. Tickets for the first show open to the public went on sale today. For one moviegoer, Were opening up and were catching up with everything thats happening in the world. However, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans plans to modernise the country and boost the economy, hit by the low oil prices, has come in for criticism from conservatives. Riyadh (AsiaNews/Agencies) Movies are back in Saudi Arabia. For Rahaf Alhendi, who attended the first movie showing in 36 years, Its a new era, a new age. Its that simple. Things are changing, progress is happening. Were opening up and were catching up with everything thats happening in the world. In 1982, under pressure from the countrys religious establishment, the government ordered the closure of all movie theatres. Yesterday, Marvels superhero movie Black Panther (minus a censored kiss scene) marked the end of the ban as it premiered on a 45-foot screen at the King Abdullah Financial District Theatre. The red-carpet invitation-only gala event attracted senior government officials, foreign dignitaries and select industry figures. Tickets went on sale today for anyone who wants to see the movie tomorrow. Saudi authorities are planning to open around 350 cinemas with over 2,500 screens by 2030. Except for certain screenings for families and others for male-only crowds, movie theatres will not be gender-segregated with family sections for women and related men and separate single sections for male-only crowds. Public viewing of movies marks another milestone in Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salmans Vision 2030 plan to open up the country, which includes reforms to modernise the country, boost local spending, and create jobs at a time when oil prices are low. Many Saudis have rejoiced at the end of the cinema ban, sharing praise and pictures of Prince Mohammed on social media. But others expressed confusion. Some see the change as a government flip-flop, with one tweeting on Wednesday: Remember you will stand in front of God ... and you will bear the sins of all those who watched the movies. So far, there has been little apparent resistance to social reforms, which seemed unthinkable just a few years ago. However, room for criticism is also limited. Several prominent clerics were arrested last year in an apparent attempt to quell dissent. by Sumon Corraya The workshop is called the Jagorani Handicraft Centre. The founder started working with poor women in 1968; now it works with 3,000 people, mostly non-Christians. The products are also exported abroad. For the nun, if women can be independent, they can make a difference for their family. Dhaka (AsiaNews) The Jagorani Handicraft Centre is craft shop that helps thousands of poor men and women survive. Located in Tejgaon, a predominantly Catholic district in Dhaka, it came into being in 1971 thanks to Sister Mary Lillian, 88, a nun with the Associates of Mary, Queen of Apostles (SMRA). Speaking to AsiaNews, the nun explained how the centre was established in the aftermath of the War of Independence from Pakistan. In Bangladesh at that time, "many people were out of work, and they were in dire need of food. I realised that we had to do more for these poor people and get them involved in person." In 1968, Sr Mary Lillian had begun working with three Catholic women with physical disabilities who could not speak. After the war, "the CORR-JW*, a Caritass sister concern, helped us organise courses, Sister Mary remembers. We ourselves were trained and went to remote villages to teach." From small beginnings, the Jagorani Handicraft Centre (Jagorani means awaking) began to grow fast, until it involved some 6,000 people. Today it works with about 3,000 people, most of whom are not Christian, making handicrafts like terracotta figurines, jute products, woven baskets, candles, rings, earrings, handbags, hand-painted squares, rugs, wooden trays, and typically Asian garments. Many people have overcome poverty thanks to the centres training, which offers not only courses, but also helps producers to sell the fruit of their labour," the nun said. Compared to the past, "when the jute market was not thriving, today we find ourselves in a more favourable economic context. Several craftspeople bring their products to Dhaka, then I and other nuns go out to sell them in local markets." The products are also exported abroad to industrialised countries. Foreign visitors were a common site in Tejgaon "before the attack on the bar in Dhaka in July 2016. After that incident, unfortunately, visits have decreased due to security considerations" Thanks to the sale of their products, "so many women have transformed their lives". This is the case of Sumi Begum, a Muslim. "With my work, she explains, I give a hand to my husband, an occasional labourer. I can send our two children to school and live a happy life ". Basunti Costa too owes a lot to the training she got from the nuns. She was able to send her children to school and one of them now is a university professor. "Without the help of the centre, I would never have done it," she said full of gratitude. "I believe that if women can be independent, they can make a difference for their family, Sister Mary Lillian said. I try to do the same in my life with this small commitment to society. * Christian Organization for Relief and Rehabilitation-Jute Works A 71-year-old Australian nun and well-known human rights activist, who has been in the country for 27 years, has been accused of joining anti-government demonstrations. The Catholic Church and activists are now concerned about a government campaign against dissent. Manila (AsiaNews) "It is a shameful act, a very undemocratic gesture by the government. They should be ashamed because speaking in favour of the poor cannot be a crime," said Fr Edwin A. Gariguez, head of the National Secretariat for Social Action (NASSA) and Caritas Philippines, the humanitarian agency of the Catholic Bishops Conference of the Philippines (CBCP). The clergyman spoke to AsiaNews about Sister Patricia Anne Fox (picture), the 71-year-old Australian nun and human rights activist, who was briefly detained. In his address to the Armed Forces of the Philippines change of command ceremony yesterday, President Rodrigo Duterte took "full responsibility" for the arrest of Sister Patricia, who is the superior of the Our Lady of Sion congregation in the Philippines. The president said he had ordered that the missionary be investigated for "disorderly conduct", on the grounds that she was undesirable alien who has no right to criticise us. Sister Patricia has been in the country for 27 years and has worked with farmers and indigenous peoples. She recently joined an international fact-finding and solidarity mission that investigated alleged rights abuses against farmers and lumad in Mindanao. The authorities accuse Fox of joining anti-government demonstrations in the cities of Davao and Tagum, both in Mindanao. Three days ago, six officials from the Bureau of Immigration removed Sister Patricia from the mission house in Quezon City and took her to the Bureaus intelligence division in Intramuros, Manila. The nun was released Tuesday afternoon after 22 hours after it was established that she holds a valid missionary visa making her a properly documented alien. The Bureau of Immigration said that Fox is not covered by inquest proceedings as the latter will only apply to aliens arrested after being caught in flagrante violating immigration laws. Nevertheless, the missionary will still be under investigation to determine if deportation charges should be filed against her. Under the immigration law, foreigners are barred from joining mass actions or political activity as the act amounts to violating the conditions of their stay in the country. Fox admitted joining demonstrations in solidarity with peasant groups but not anti-government rallies. I would call it religious because we are called to stand beside the poor, she said. I havent joined partisan political rallies but I have been active in human rights issues. The Catholic Church and human rights activists are concerned that a campaign against dissent lies behind Sister Patricias Patricia. Mgr Broderick Pabilllo, auxiliary bishop of Manila, visited the nun at the Bureau of Immigration Monday evening. Speaking about the incident, he said, Theres no martial law yet but they are already going after people who oppose them. Fr Edwin A. Gariguez however is convinced that what happened will not affect the missionary work of the Church in the Philippines. He explained that "By virtue of her prophetic ministry, the Church is called to be courageous, bold in expressing herself in the name of truth, as well as the rights of the last and the oppressed. Hence, we cannot be intimidated by the government. We will carry on our mission and the government can do nothing to stop us ". What is more, "Sister Patricia's arrest goes against the cultural values of the Filipino people. We are a very charitable people towards others and seeing a 71-year-old nun in prison has struck a chord with people. "Sister Patricia's detention is also unacceptable to Duterte's supporters because piety and respect for the elderly are an integral part of our tradition. On social media there have been very harsh reactions, I have read many comments from outraged people." Under the authority of the World Trade Organization, the duties imposed by the US on steel and aluminum and those planned by China on US products will be addressed. Theft of intellectual property is also on the agenda. Washington (AsiaNews / Agencies) - The United States has agreed to negotiate with China to resolve the tensions related to the theft of intellectual property and tariffs on various Chinese exports, stated a report presented to the World Trade Organization (WTO). Although not complete, the passage sheds a positive light on the so-called tariff war between the two largest global economies. Already at the beginning of the month, China had requested to dialogue under the auspices of the WTO to find a solution to the tensions. The request came after the US imposed duties of 25% on steel and 10% on aluminum products imported into the USA from China. Washington later proposed additional taxes on Chinese products to the tune of 50 billion US dollars, accusing Beijing of causing a huge trade imbalance and stealing intellectual property. In a document published two days ago, the US said they were willing to discuss the issue with China, as well as on US taxes on steel and aluminum. They also want to know Beijing's "justifications" for wanting to impose 50 billion dollars on US products, announced in response to US duties. The tariff war has sparked fears among many countries, concerned it could damage the stock exchanges and the world economy Analysts and observers expect positive or negative signals from today's meeting of G-20 finance ministers and in two days at the annual meeting of the International Monetary Fund. Meanwhile, the US has gathered behind them the countries of the European Union and Japan, which are also frustrated by China's overproduction and forced technology transfer practices. On the other hand, many countries that admire the growth of the Chinese economy and are worried about the difficulties facing the American one, tend to support Beijing. Photo courtesy of WestportWiki via Wikimedia. Enterprise Holdings, which currently operates the largest rental fleet in Canada, is celebrating its 25th anniversary in the country, the company announced. Through a network of over 750 airports and neighborhood locations, Enterprise Holdings contributed $2.8 billion to the Canadian economy last year. The rental giant also purchased 4.3% of all new vehicles sold in Canada at a total cost of $2.3 billion. "When we started out in Canada we faced some challenges, but our employees never compromised," StevenTudela, corporate VP of Canadian Operations, said in a press release. "That's why we've seen success in Canada for the past 25 years, and why we will continue to be leaders in the transportation industry, especially as new mobility technologies evolve." Employing 5,400 Canadians, Enterprise was named as one of The Best Places to Work in Canada by job-finding website Indeed, and was named as one of the best employers in the Greater Toronto Area by Mediacorp Canada. Harold Pierce covers education and health for The Californian. He can be reached at 661-395-7404. Follow him on Twitter @RoldyPierce Joseph Luiz can be reached at 395-7368 or by email at jluiz@bakersfield.com. You can also follow him on Twitter @JLuiz_TBC. Unfortunately, our website is currently unavailable in your country. We are engaged on the issue and committed to looking at options that support our full range of digital offerings to your market. We continue to identify technical compliance solutions that will provide all readers with our award-winning journalism. CAPE CANAVERAL, Fla. (AP) NASA's Tess spacecraft embarked Wednesday on a quest to find new worlds around neighboring stars that could support life. Tess rode a SpaceX Falcon rocket through the evening sky, aiming for an orbit stretching all the way to the moon. The satellite the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or Tess will scan almost the entire sky for at least two years, staring at the closest, brightest stars in an effort to find and identify any planets around them. Hundreds of thousands of stars will be scrutinized, with the expectation that thousands of exoplanets planets outside our own solar system will be revealed right in our cosmic backyard. Rocky and icy planets, hot gas giants and, possibly, water worlds. Super-Earths between the sizes of Earth and Neptune. Maybe even an Earth twin. "The sky will become more beautiful, will become more awesome" knowing there are planets orbiting the stars we see twinkling at night, said NASA's top science administrator, Thomas Zurbuchen. Discoveries by Tess and other missions, he noted, will bring us closer to answering questions that have lingered for thousands of years. Does life exist beyond Earth? If so, is it microbial or more advanced? But Tess won't look for life. It's not designed for that. Rather, it will scout for planets of all sorts, but especially those in the so-called Goldilocks or habitable zone of a star: an orbit where temperatures are neither too cold nor too hot, but just right for life-nourishing water. The most promising candidates will be studied by bigger, more powerful observatories of the future, including NASA's James Webb Space Telescope, due to launch in another few years as the heir to Hubble. These telescopes will scour the planets' atmospheres for any of the ingredients of life: water vapor, oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide. "Tess will tell us where to look at and when to look," said the mission's chief scientist, George Ricker of Massachusetts Institute of Technology. Tess is the successor to NASA's Kepler Space Telescope, on its last legs after discovering a few thousand exoplanets over the past nine years. Astronomers anticipate more than doubling Kepler's confirmed planetary count of more than 2,600, once Tess' four wide-view cameras begin scientific observations in early summer. Unlike Tess, Kepler could only scour a sliver of the sky. The total exoplanet census currently stands at more than 3,700 confirmed, with another 4,500 on the not-yet-verified list. That's a lot considering the first one popped up barely two decades ago. Until about 25 years ago, the only known planets were in our own solar system, noted NASA's director of astrophysics, Paul Hertz. While Kepler has focused on stars thousands of light-years away, Tess will concentrate on our stellar neighbors, dozens or hundreds of light-years away. Most of Tess' targets will be cool, common red dwarf stars, thought to be rich breeding grounds for planets. To find the planets, Tess will use the same transit method employed by Kepler, watching for regular, fleeting dips in stellar brightness that would indicate a planet passing in front of its star. That's the best astronomers can do for now. By sticking to stars closer to home, it will be easier for Webb and other massive telescopes planned for space and Earth to sniff out possible signs of life in the atmosphere. It also will be more feasible for robotic explorers to set sail for these new worlds in the decades and centuries ahead. For such a large undertaking, Tess is surprisingly compact and its mission relatively inexpensive at $337 million. Smaller than a stacked washer-dryer, the 5-foot-tall, 4-foot-wide, 800-pound spacecraft (1.5-meters by 1.2-meters and 362 kilograms) is bound for an elongated orbit of Earth, with the far end skirting the orbit of the moon. Tess should come within a few thousand miles of the lunar surface on May 17. The moon's gravity will help get the satellite in the right orbit and keep it there. The cameras equipped with wide-angle lenses a mere 4 inches across (10 centimeters) will be off during the lunar flyby. "No moon selfie," said Robert Lockwood of Orbital ATK, which built Tess. Tess team members reveled in Wednesday's smooth, photogenic flight through clear skies, and NASA officials were delighted to clear the way for a May 5 launch of the Mars lander, InSight, from California. SpaceX employees had another reason to celebrate: The first-stage booster rocket landed on an ocean platform following liftoff, to be recycled for a future NASA mission. "It was incredible, it was so emotional," said MIT researcher Natalia Guerrero. "I can't wait to get started on collecting data." ___ The Associated Press Health & Science Department receives support from the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Department of Science Education. The AP is solely responsible for all content. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. GENEVA (AP) Russia on Thursday joined the European Union, India and China in appealing through the World Trade Organization to demand compensation from the United States for its tariffs on foreign steel and aluminum. The WTO published a filing from Russia that, like other countries, argues that the U.S. tariffs that took effect March 23 amount to a "safeguard" measure aimed to protect U.S. domestic producers from surging imports. The Trump administration has rejected those arguments and says the measures are for national security reasons. Russia has asked for "consultations" with the United States over a provision under WTO rules that require countries who invoke the "safeguard" clause to allow for similar compensation in other areas, to balance out the impact on trade overall. But the United States denies the allegations by others that the tariffs amount to a safeguard measure. Russia did not go so far as to appeal to the WTO's dispute settlement process over the tariffs, meaning its demand for compensation could amount to a merely symbolic gesture. In a move that could presage what the U.S. response to Russia will be, the WTO says the United States told India and the EU Wednesday that it was open to consultations on their similar complaints but not if they are about safeguards. Under WTO rules, the trade body will only intervene in Russia's effort if Russia initiates a "dispute" to engage the WTO settlement system. But Russia has never triggered a dispute against the U.S. since Russia joined the WTO in 2012. So far, China is the only country that has done so over the blanket tariffs on imports of the metals, though India has asked to sit in on its talks with the United States on the issue. Longtime U.S. allies including Canada, Mexico, South Korea, Australia and the EU have won temporary exemptions from application of the tariffs, pending talks with the United States. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. BEIJING (AP) Taiwan's government said Thursday that recent Chinese military drills are aimed at intimidating the island and are a threat to regional peace and stability. China is attempting to "pressure and harass Taiwan and seek to raise tensions between the sides and in the region," the Cabinet-level Mainland Affairs Council said on its website. "Taiwan's people are very clear about this and will not accept it. We are determined in our defense of our nation's sovereignty and dignity and will absolutely not yield to military threats or inducements," the statement said. Underscoring the heightened tensions between the rivals, China's Taiwan Affairs Office issued a new warning to Taipei on Thursday against taking further steps toward formal independence. "Taiwan independence separatist activities pose the biggest actual threat to peace and stability in the Taiwan Strait," spokesman Ma Xiaoguang was quoted as saying. "Any plots seeking to separate Taiwan from China are doomed to failure." Ma was responding to a question about whether an increase in Chinese air force training flights around Taiwan was a response to comments from Taiwanese Premier William Lai in parliament that he's a "Taiwanese independence worker," adding that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation. Ma offered no details. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and says the two sides, which separated during the Chinese civil war in 1949, must eventually be united, by force if necessary. The Taiwanese statement referred to China's live-fire exercises off its southeast coast on Wednesday, echoing earlier comments from the defense ministry that Beijing was playing up the limited-scope war games in hopes of intimidating Taiwan for political purposes. Beijing's hostility makes "the hugest mockery" of its assertion of a spiritual connection between people from the two sides, it said. Chinese state media said the single-day drills off China's southeast coast featured an air unit of the People's Liberation Army ground forces. The PLA said the exercise involved the coordination of various types of armed helicopters that detected targets on the water and attacked them. It was unclear if the exercises referred to earlier drills announced by China that were to take place in the Taiwan Strait. State broadcaster China Central Television reported Wednesday that the Taiwan Strait exercises targeted advocates of formal independence for Taiwan, saying in a headline on its website, "Don't say you haven't been warned!" China's defense ministry did not immediately respond to questions. China severed ties with Taiwan almost two years ago, after independence-leaning President Tsai Ing-wen refused its demand to recognize the self-governing island democracy as a part of Chinese territory. Chinese officials have denounced the recent passage of a U.S. law encouraging more high-level government contacts with Taiwan, saying that violates U.S. commitments not to restore formal exchanges severed when Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. Ties have also been roiled by U.S. plans to provide Taiwan with submarine manufacturing technology and the appointment of hawkish U.S. National Security Adviser John Bolton. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. MINNEAPOLIS (AP) The Latest on the investigation into Prince's death (all times local): 5:20 p.m. An assistant to Prince told investigators that he had been unusually quiet and sick with the flu in the days before he was found dead. Investigative materials released Thursday include audio of a 5-minute interview with Meron Bekure, who told a detective she had been Prince's personal assistant for the last year and a half. Bekure says that Prince had "been kind of quiet" in recent weeks, and hadn't sent her as many emails throughout the day as he did previously. She says she chalked up his behavior to the flu, which had caused him to recently cancel a show. Bekure says she last saw Prince a day earlier, when she was going to take him to the doctor for a checkup. She says that Prince told her he would go with his aide Kirk Johnson instead. ___ 4:45 p.m. Newly released investigative material in the probe into Prince's death include several police videos showing the pop superstar's body on the floor near an elevator inside his Minnesota estate. The videos show the scene that investigators documented inside Paisley Park after Prince was found dead of a drug overdose. They do not have any audio but show an investigator with a video camera panning the estate to show the death scene. Prince is shown on his back next to a sun design in the carpet. His head us on the floor, eyes closed, right hand on his stomach, and left arm on the floor. The walls are decorated with several albums, depictions of Prince and other memorabilia. ___ 2:20 p.m. At least one Prince fan says she doesn't believe he got justice when a Minnesota prosecutor announced that no criminal charges would be filed in the musician's accidental overdose death two years ago. Thirty-nine-year-old Kimberlee Andrus of Austin, Minnesota, attended the news conference Thursday where Carver County Attorney Mark Metz made the announcement. The prosecutor said investigators were unable to determine who supplied the counterfeit opioid drugs that killed Prince. Andrus says the announcement was "devastating." She says Prince deserves for the truth to come out, and she doesn't think it will. Andrus wore a purple sweater and has a tattoo of Prince's love symbol. She plans to participate in a candlelight vigil Friday night outside Paisley Park, which is Prince's former estate. Saturday will mark the second anniversary of his death. ___ 1 p.m. A friend of Prince's who authorities said helped the pop superstar obtain pain medication says he's relieved not to be charged in Prince's death. That's according to F. Clayton Tyler, an attorney for the Prince friend, Kirk Johnson. Tyler says Thursday's announcement by a state prosecutor that no criminal charges would be filed in Prince's death affirms Johnson's innocence. Tyler says Johnson continues to deny that he had anything to do with Prince's death. A search warrant in the case said Johnson asked a doctor to prescribe pain medication for Prince, and the doctor prescribed oxycodone in Johnson's name. Federal authorities said earlier Thursday that the doctor had agreed to pay a civil penalty to resolve the case. Prince died of a fentanyl overdose, not oxycodone. ___ 12:30 p.m. As the state of Minnesota ends its investigation into Prince's death without criminal charges, federal authorities say they haven't gotten any credible evidence to support charges either. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz announced Thursday that investigators had found no evidence to charge anyone in the case. He says Prince thought he was taking Vicodin pills, not the fentanyl that killed him, and there was no evidence anyone around Prince knew the pills were counterfeit. After Metz's announcement, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis issued a statement saying it hasn't received any credible evidence that would support federal criminal charges. The office said it wouldn't comment further. A law enforcement official close to the investigation told The Associated Press that the federal investigation is now inactive unless new information comes forward. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the case remains open. ___ Associated Press writer Amy Forliti contributed to this report. ___ 12 p.m. A Minnesota prosecutor says Prince thought he was taking Vicodin when he accidentally overdosed on fentanyl. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz detailed a two-year investigation that he said found no evidence to warrant criminal charges being filed in the pop superstar's death. Prince died April 21, 2016, at his Paisley Park compound. Metz says evidence showed that Prince took counterfeit Vicodin without knowing it. And Metz says there's no evidence any of the people surrounding Prince gave him counterfeit Vicodin or knew he had it. A doctor who was accused of illegally prescribing a pain medication to Prince shortly before he died agreed Thursday to pay a fine as part of a civil settlement. But that pain medication wasn't what killed Prince. ___ 11:35 p.m. The prosecutor in the Minnesota county where Prince died says he's filing no criminal charges in the musician's death. The announcement Thursday from Carver County Attorney Mark Metz means the state's investigation into how Prince got the fentanyl that killed him is closed. It came hours after documents revealed a doctor accused of illegally prescribing an opioid for Prince had agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a federal civil violation. Metz said the evidence shows Prince thought he was taking Vicodin, not fentanyl. He said there's no evidence any person associated with Prince knew he possessed any counterfeit pill containing fentanyl. Prince was 57 when he was found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his Paisley Park estate on April 21, 2016. ___ 11:25 a.m. A newly unsealed federal search warrant says a Minnesota doctor who treated Prince in the weeks before he died expressed concern that the musician was suffering from opiate withdrawal. The document unsealed Thursday says Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg saw Prince on April 7, 2016, at the request of Prince's friend, Kirk Johnson, and prescribed Vitamin D and ondansetron under Johnson's name. The document says Johnson called the doctor on April 14 and asked him to prescribe a pain medication for Prince. Authorities say Schulenberg prescribed oxycodone for Prince, again under Johnson's name. Schulenberg disputes that, but is paying $30,000 to settle a civil violation. The doctor also saw Prince on April 20 when Prince was reporting feeling antsy. A urinalysis tested positive for opioids. Prince was found dead of a fentanyl overdose the next day. The doctor is not facing criminal charges and his attorney says he had no role in Prince's death. ___ 10:25 a.m. An attorney for a Minnesota doctor accused of illegally prescribing an opioid painkiller for Prince a week before the musician died from a fentanyl overdose denies the allegation but says he agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a federal civil violation to avoid the expense and risk of litigation. Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg was accused of prescribing oxycodone to Prince and putting it under the name of Prince's bodyguard and close friend, Kirk Johnson, to protect Prince's privacy. But attorney Amy Conners says in a statement that Schulenberg affirms his previous statement that he did not prescribe opiates to any patient with the intention that they be given to Prince. She says that after the doctor learned of Prince's addiction, he immediately began working to get him into treatment ___ 10 a.m. A Minnesota doctor accused of illegally prescribing an opioid for Prince a week before the musician died has agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a federal civil claim. The settlement comes as state prosecutors are planning to announce whether anyone will be charged in the two-year investigation into Prince's death. Prince died on April 21, 2016, from an accidental overdose of fentanyl, a synthetic opioid. No one has been criminally charged. But the federal government alleges that Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg violated the Controlled Substances Act when he wrote a prescription in someone else's name on April 14, 2016. The settlement released Thursday doesn't name Prince, but search warrants previously released say Schulenberg wrote a prescription for oxycodone in the name of Prince's bodyguard, intending it to go to Prince. ___ 12 a.m. A two-year probe into the overdose death of music superstar Prince is reaching a critical stage as a county prosecutor reveals whether criminal charges will be filed. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz planned a news conference Thursday morning to give an update on the investigation. It is scheduled for 11:30 a.m. Prince died April 21, 2016, after being found alone and unresponsive in an elevator at his home and recording studio in a Minneapolis suburb. An autopsy showed he died of an accidental fentanyl overdose. Prince's death at 57 sparked a national outpouring of grief, as well as a joint county and federal investigation. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. PASCO COUNTY, Fla. -- Pasco County Sheriff's deputies arrested a man following a pursuit that led them into a swamp in Land O' Lakes. 34-year-old Paul Smith arrested Tuesday Deputies say he was found in swamp after chase K-9 located Smith, licked his face instead of biting him Paul Daniel Smith, 34, was taken into custody Tuesday evening. "When we found him, he was just breathing out of his mouth and he had lowered himself, squirmed himself down into the mud," said Deputy Rob Wilkins. Deputies estimate Smith was about a mile from the road when they found him, and they credit Deputy Wilkins' partner, K-9 Knox, with leading them to his location. "The odor will hang on top of the water, so it's kind of helpful, Wilkins said of tracking through watery conditions. Pasco deputies were alerted to be on the lookout for Smith after he allegedly resisted arrest and battered a Hernando County deputy who was trying to take him in for a stolen vehicle tag.   He fled in a truck, still handcuffed on one wrist, according to the Pasco County Sheriff's Office. A deputy spotted Smith on U.S. Highway 41 in Land O' Lakes and pursued him, as did district STAR Units in the area. After turning into the Lake Thomas area, Smith hit a pole and a mailbox, authorities said. A female, Tara Berger, 31, jumped out of the passenger side when the truck slowed at one point and was taken into custody by deputies. "At one point, his vehicle became disabled, and he fled on foot into the woods," said Pasco County Sheriff's Cpl. Andrew Denbo. That's when Wilkins and Knox were called in. Wilkins said Knox's specialty is tracking missing people, and he was prepared to deal with the swamp conditions. "The big thing is exposing the dogs to different environments," Wilkins said. "We'll go train in the swamp, we'll go train around construction sites, loud noises anything that the dog may encounter." One thing Knox doesnt do is bite and hold. So despite Wilkins' command to Smith upon finding him that he show his hands or he'd get bitten, body camera video shows the year-old bloodhound licking Smith's face instead. "The reward for him is just to get to the end. He's proud of himself, like, Oh, my God, I found the bad guy, Im so happy,'" said Wilkins. "So, he was licking on the guy, and well let him do that as long as we feel it's safe." Smith faces a number of charges, including fleeing to elude, aggravated assault on a law enforcement officer, and violation of probation. Berger was charged with lying to a law enforcement officer during a felony investigation. For the first time in 60 years, the nation of Cuba will not be led by a member of the Castro family. Tampa's Cuban community reacts to change of Cuba leadership Resident Raul Castro steps down on Thursday Current vice-president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is sole candidate to replace Raul Castro Its the end of an era in Cuba, as President Raul Castro steps down on Thursday. Its weighing heavily on the minds of the Cuban community across the globe, and, of course, in Tampa Bay. But some Cuban-Americans in Tampa Bay dont feel hopeful about the change. The only thing historic about it is how they can tactically try to fool the world, and theyre doing it again. But it's not historic in the sense that theres going to be an actual change for Cuba, said Rafael Pizano, an outspoken Cuban dissident in Tampa. His father, Roberto Pizano, was a Cuban political prisoner for 18 years. Youll see, the next year and the next, there wont be any change. Until the regime disappears, the system implemented by the Castros in Cuba, there wont be change in Cuba of any kind, Roberto Pizano told Spectrum Bay News 9. They said they dont believe the shift in power will bring change, because 89 year-old Castro will still be chief of the Communist Party of Cuba despite stepping down. Thats when we know true change is happening, when true change towards civil liberties and civil rights are being implemented. Until then, its just a face, a different face but nonetheless its the same regime, Rafael Pizano said. Others in the Cuban community in Tampa are cautiously optimistic. "Where you have a transition of power particularly from someone by the name of Castro to anybody but Castro, theres always some optimism that you can have in there. But you also have to face the reality of history, said Tampa city council member Luis Viera. Viera said whether on not change will happen remains to be seen. "Those moral issues of the right to speak your mind out, the right of normal everyday cubans to have a say in their own future, their own destiny, something that they have been deprived of for far too long. For me, that's going to be the test. Meanwhile, local experts are weighing in on the transition of power. Eckerd College political science professor Mary K. Meyer McAleese said she believes there wont be any major shake ups as the new president takes over; however, things are unlikely to change too much because the country will remain under Communist leadership. The fact that a younger leader is stepping in, though, could be a good thing. "I think we might compare it to the coming of power of Gorbachev in the Soviet Union back in the 1980s. A younger generation of political leadership that might have been a little more open to reform, Meyer McAleese said. ST. PETERSBURG, Fla. St. Petersburg police have shut down two assisted living facilities for squalid conditions. Police close 2 assisted living facilities Facilities at 3434 2nd Ave South and 3418 2nd Ave South close over poor conditions 9 residents displaced; no charges filed According to police, the facilities located at 3434 2nd Ave South and 3418 2nd Ave South were shuttered Thursday for what they called "deplorable living conditions." The department revealed that they became aware of those conditions after an officer stopped by the facility following a robbery earlier this week. [The officer] was invited inside by one of the residents, and thats when he discovered that there was no power, said police spokeswoman Yolanda Fernandez. No running water, the living conditions were deplorable, and so thats when he said, 'ok, weve gotta shut this down. Both homes are run by Tampa Bay Behavioral Health. Officers said they also found broken windows and drug paraphernalia on the property. Nine adults were displaced in the closure, and have since been relocated. Nicole Fords adult son has lived in the facility for more than a year. She says she paid the owner, Marcus Anderson, directly. My sons check goes to [the owner] every month, Ford said. He made me sign his check over for him to live up under this facility, and going in there, looking at it, like they have mattresses on the floor that are molded, they have mold on the walls, on the ceiling and the bathroom, and the kitchen are [sic] disgusting. The owner, Marcus Anderson, didnt offer much of an explanation why the conditions got to where they are. Police are continuing to investigate to determine if charges will be filed. PALM HARBOR, Fla. Thanks to the heartfelt words of a 12-year-old former student, a retired Palm Harbor teacher has one more title to add to her list of accolades. "My Favorite Teacher." Diego Jose Mercado Rivera, 12, wrote letter for Barnes and Noble contest Susan Terry won title for Clearwater Barnes and Noble store Diego a student from Puerto Rico displaced by Hurricane Maria "Life in Florida could have been scary, horrible and sad. I smile now and I am happy," wrote 12-year-old Diego Jose Mercado Rivera. The seventh-grader says hes happy after leaving hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico because of his favorite teacher, Ms. Susan Terry. "A teacher and a class can change my life, and it did," wrote Diego. The essay was part of the Barnes & Noble My Favorite Teacher writing contest. Diego entered the contest, writing about Terrys influence on him at his new school, Carwise Middle School in Palm Harbor. His letter ended up winning for the Clearwater Barnes & Noble store, and earning Terry the title of "My Favorite Teacher." "It just touched my heart," said Terry, who recently retired after a 36-year career in teaching. "It is a great feeling to know that your life has been doing something that is worthwhile." Diego was inspired after just a couple of months in Terrys class. "She means, like, everything to me, helping me read, helping me write," said Diego. "Diego will now go forward and he will know that he can accomplish anything, and he is a hero for all the students that have to be placed somewhere else away from their home," said Terry. Terry encouraged her students to enter their writing assignments in various contests. I believe that every student should write something, and when they write from their heart that I should not just grade it and put it away -- it should be sent to someone else to read," said Terry. "I want my "Teacher" to remember me like I will her," wrote Diego. "These memories will last me a lifetime, said Terry. I get kind of choked up even thinking about it." For Immediate Release, April 19, 2018 Contact: Miyoko Sakashita, (510) 844-7108, miyoko@biologicaldiversity.org Trump Administration Ignores Deepwater Horizon Lessons on Eve of Anniversary Explosions, Injuries, Blowouts All Dropped After Offshore Drilling Safety Regulations That Officials Are Now Trying to Repeal NEW ORLEANS The Trump administration is ignoring advice from the bipartisan commission that investigated the BP Deepwater Horizon disaster as officials move to repeal offshore drilling safety regulations adopted in its aftermath. Tomorrow is the eighth anniversary of the explosion that killed 11 oil workers and caused more than 210 million gallons of oil to flow uncontrolled into the Gulf of Mexico for more than three months, killing thousands of marine mammals and birds. Deepwater Horizon was a deadly reminder that offshore drilling is dangerous. Refusing to learn from this disaster threatens workers, wildlife and coastal communities, said Miyoko Sakashita, oceans program director at the Center for Biological Diversity. Trumps plans to get rid of safety rules dishonor the dead and ramp up the risk of another catastrophe. The National Commission on the BP Deepwater Horizon Oil Spill and Offshore Drilling made a series of recommendations in its January 2011 report to President Obama. Only the most significant ones including a well-control rule that would have prevented the explosion and blowout preventer rule to seal compromised wells were adopted. They are now being targeted for significant rollbacks by the administration, which is expected to publish revisions in the near future. Commission co-chairs Bob Graham and William K. Reilly wrote to Interior Secretary Ryan Zinke almost a year ago, shortly after President Trump ordered an expansion of offshore drilling and more industry-friendly rules to govern it, urging restraint in his deregulatory zeal. The Commission members hold the unanimous view that weakening or rescinding the Well Control Rule would aggravate the inherent risks of offshore operations, put workers in harms way, and imperil marine waters in which drilling occurs, they wrote in a May 8, 2017 letter, in which they called that rule the most broadly important measure to come out of what the Commission learned. Offshore incidents including fires, explosions, injuries and the loss of well control (also known as blowouts) have all steadily declined since 2014, according to data from Bureau of Safety and Environment Enforcement, which was created in the wake of the 2010 disaster. Better regulations and inspections adopted after Deepwater Horizon seem to be paying off, despite the Trump administrations stated desire to rescind them. Yet the annual number of offshore oil spills (those spilling more than 2,100 gallons of oil, chemicals or drilling mud) has remained high since 2010, when Deepwater Horizon was among nine offshore oil spills. From 2012 through 2017, there was an average of more than 20 serious offshore spills per year, the Bureaus data showed. From 2000-2009, spills averaged at 17 per year. That number could dramatically increase in the coming years as the administration tries to expand drilling in almost every U.S. ocean. Based on its draft 2019-2024 outer continental shelf oil and gas program and our analysis of historic federal spill data, oil spills could increase to more than 100 per year. This does not account for catastrophic oils spills like the Deepwater Horizon or a weakening of regulations. Aging offshore drilling infrastructure and an oil industry more concerned with profits than public safety are likely factors in the high number of annual spills. As The New York Times reported last month (Trump Rollbacks Target Offshore Rules Written with Human Blood ), small oil companies backed by private equity firms have bought up older offshore wells in the Gulf and are pushing hard to make them more profitable. These companies had much higher rates of offshore safety violations than the industry average and have publically pushed the Trump administration to roll back offshore drilling safety regulations. Offshore drilling cant be made safe, but they can make it much more dangerous. This is pure greed coupled with an administration that is reckless and willfully ignorant, Sakashita said. The legacy of Deepwater Horizon shouldnt be just ecological destruction. We need to learn from it. The spill left the seafloor coated in oil and dispersant chemicals to this day. Studies show dolphins, sea turtles and some fish species are still experiencing problems due to the spill. Yet the Trump administration continues to permit offshore fracking and seismic oil surveys that harm sperm whales and other imperiled species. For Immediate Release, April 18, 2018 Contact: Emily Knobbe, (314) 313-2708, eknobbe@biologicaldiversity.org House Agriculture Committee Advances Farm Bill Filled With Sweeping Attacks on Environment Unprecedented Legislation Would Gut Endangered Species Act, Forest Protection WASHINGTON The House Agriculture Committee passed H.R. 2, the 2018 Farm Bill, today on a party-line basis. The legislation, sponsored by Rep. Mike Conaway (R-Texas), includes dozens of poison-pill riders that would gut fundamental environmental safeguards. Most significantly it would completely exempt the use of pesticides from the Endangered Species Act, effectively dooming hundreds of endangered species to extinction and making it legal to kill any endangered species with a pesticide at almost any time. This Farm Bill is a sick joke. It gives polluters and special interests the keys to the castle, while environmental safeguards are thrown in the ditch, said Brett Hartl of the Center for Biological Diversity. Farmers dont want to poison our waters, kill our wildlife, and reduce our national forests to clearcuts. This is another low for this Congress, which is already the most anti-conservation in history. The next step for this legislation is consideration by the full U.S. House of Representatives in the following weeks. In addition to the broadest attack on the Endangered Species Act in 40 years, the legislation weakens Clean Water Act protections from pesticides and includes a sweeping forestry title that would gut protections for forests and eliminate many safeguards within the National Environmental Policy Act. The bills attacks on the environment include the following provisions: Section 9111: Completely exempts the EPA from the requirements of the Endangered Species Act allowing the agency to ignore impacts of toxic pesticides on endangered wildlife. Section 9118: Eliminates all protections under the Clean Water Act when toxic pesticides are sprayed directly into rivers and streams. Section 8303: Guts the consultation process required by Endangered Species Act on national forests by allowing the U.S. Forest Service to rubber-stamp project approvals without consulting with expert wildlife scientists at the U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service about whether a project would put endangered species in jeopardy of extinction. Section 8107: Doubles the allowed acreage for categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act from 3,000 to 6,000 acres per project, allowing the Forest Service to approve clearcuts under the guise of controlling insects and disease outbreaks in national forests. Section 8311-8321: Eliminates public engagement, environmental review of most Forest Service logging projects by creating 10 new categorical exclusions under the National Environmental Policy Act for projects up to 6,000 acres in size. Section 8503: Guts the extraordinary circumstances protections under the National Environmental Policy Act, allowing the Forest Service to approve destructive projects without further review even if sensitive species are present or the project is within a wilderness area. This farm bill should be called the Poisoned Waters and DDT Restoration Act. If it becomes law, Americans can look forward to our water and wildlife being poisoned by pesticides for the rest of our lives, said Hartl. For Immediate Release, April 19, 2018 Contact: Lisa Belenky, (415) 385-5694, lbelenky@biologicaldiversity.org California Protects Tricolored Blackbirds, Lassics Lupine Wildflower VENTURA, Calif. The California Fish and Game Commission voted today to protect tricolored blackbirds as a threatened species under the California Endangered Species Act, 14 years after the Center for Biological Diversity petitioned for the birds protection. The commission also voted to protect the rare Lassics lupine mountain wildflower as endangered. These protections are critical for these two remarkable species, which face growing threats from habitat destruction, pesticides and climate change, said Lisa Belenky, a senior attorney at the Center. The commissions decision will help stabilize their populations and prevent the tricolored blackbird and lupine wildflower from going extinct. In 2016 the Center and Dave Imper, a retired U.S. Fish and Wildlife Service biologist, filed a state petition to protect the Lassics lupine. Found only in two small areas on the the Six Rivers National Forest, the total population of the pink alpine wildflower is estimated at fewer than 500 plants. The flower is threatened with extinction because of the effects of global climate change, including decreased snowpack and drought, habitat changes and increased seed predation by small mammals. Tricolored blackbirds once formed massive nesting colonies of millions of birds in Californias Central Valley. But they have declined dramatically because of the destruction of wetlands and native grasslands, shooting and pesticide use. Mowing and harvesting crops that tricolored blackbirds use for nesting has also devastated populations. Tricolored blackbirds have declined by nearly 90 percent since the 1930s. Comprehensive statewide surveys found only 145,000 in 2014 the smallest population ever recorded. The 2017 survey appears to show a small population rebound, with 177,656 blackbirds observed. The population increase came only after legal protections were put in place in 2016, and scientists caution that one year of data cannot be relied on to show population stability. Todays listing comes 14 years after the Center first petitioned to secure protections for the bird. The commission implemented emergency protections from nest destruction and shooting, which expired in June 2015. In December 2015 the commission designated the tricolored blackbird as a candidate under the California Endangered Species Act list, providing temporary protection for the birds. Terry Unser, previously Executive Business Director at FCB Africa affiliate, 1886, has rejoined the agency as Executive Director: Integrated Business. The position, a newly created one, underscores the importance of integration across all media channels and marketing disciplines for 1886's clients. Her responsibilities include all communication and business development for clients as well as managing their integrated media solutions. What I found really appealing about the role, was the responsibility of integrating all communication efforts for our clients. Integrated marketing communication, when done properly, is capable of creating a holistic consumer experience that effectively engages ones emotions and senses, and enhances a brands value construct, she said.Unser has more than 19 years experience in the advertising and marketing industries and, prior to returning to 1886, headed up the marketing division of Alpha Investment Group (AIG), a local investment firm that has successfully managed high profile business transactions and mergers.Her experience covers a range of industries including telecommunications, FMCG, financial services, motor, food and beverages, education, parastatals and pharmaceuticals. She has, as part of the agency team, won numerous awards and personally has ranked as the top performing client service professional in South Africa on three separate occasions. The IAB SA today announced that Paula Hulley is succeeding former CEO Josephine Buys. How do you feel about being appointed CEO at the IAB SA? I am excited about a collaborative future that empowers us to thrive in the digital economy. What will the role entail? Comment on your previous experience and how it has equipped you well for this new challenge. What do you love most about working in these areas and your career in general? I love to connect information and people together, hopefully, to inspire an outcome bigger than the sum of its parts. In my time at the IAB, as vice chair and head of the agency council, this has also been a helpful process for me, and has been an inspiration to work with competitor agencies for a common outcome to better the digital industry. What are you most looking forward to? Whats at the top of your to-do list? What are you currently reading/watching/listening to for work? Tell us something about yourself not generally known? More about Paula Hulley: After almost four years, Josephine Buys has stepped down as the IAB SA CEO. Josephine made massive strides within all aspects of the business, working closely with the Transformation and Education Council championing diversity in digital, along with the other councils to further cement IABs positioning as a significant role player within the industry. We wish her all the luck in her future endeavours and are confident that she will remain a friend of the IAB, said the IAB in its April newsletter.Currently the head of innovation and digital for Ogilvy Cape Town, Hulleys appointment as the new CEO of the IAB SA is effective from 1 July. She has served as vice chair for the last two years, and was head of the Agency Council.Chris Borain, chairperson of IAB SA says, Josephines contagious spirit and drive has left an inimitable mark on the digital industry in South Africa. During her tenure as CEO, the IAB SA came into its own as an industry body, The Bookmark Awards grew significantly and the Education and Transformation Councils merged into one formidable, visionary entity.The IAB SA has also welcomed Alistair Mokoena, CEO of Ogilvy SA as the new vice chair. Kantha Govender, former publishing manager at Media24 has been appointed as GM to support Hulley in her role, focusing on driving the transformation and education agenda alongside her. Replacing Hulley as head of Agency Council is Brad Page, partner and strategist at Neo@Ogilvy.Commenting on these appointments, Borain says, Paula and Alistair bring the perfect mix of management and technical capabilities to drive the IAB to even greater prominence in the digital industry, while Kantha has the expertise and passion required to dedicate herself to the roleI asked her how she feels about her new role, what she's most looking forward to and why she still loves what she does 20 years in...I feel honoured and humbled to join and to lead the incredible effort already in play by the IAB SA leadership team and councils to date. I am grateful for the legacy and support of our teams and leaders at Ogilvy, and previously at Gloo.Setting the strategic vision for the IAB in South Africa that both leverage the efforts from our global offices and nurtures the amazing work already in action by our local councils, as well operationalising, delivering on and demonstrating the achieved results of the key objectives set in our strategy in partnership with our core leadership team, councils, members and partners.In my experience, collaborating with diverse teams from different backgrounds, industries and agencies with a variety of skill sets and specialities has always been the route to the best outcome. That and a core set of processes to work with. These principles of collaboration, honesty, creativity and a supportive and action-oriented attitude have been at the core of my career journey over the past 20 years in the brand, marketing, publishing and advertising industries, with the last 12 as part of the Gloo and Ogilvy family, driving digital and innovation in everything we do.I love that I am always learning and meeting new and incredibly talented people who create amazing and effective brand experiences for their audiences.I am looking forward to continuing to work with the very talented IAB leadership team and council members, as well as inviting new individuals from different backgrounds and areas of expertise to join our teams and achieve further tangible and measurable results in our councils. I am also excited to leverage both the IAB local and global properties including the IAB Tech Lab, IAB Global Network, the IAB Mobile Marketing Center of Excellence, IAB Digital Video Center of Excellence and the IAB Data Center of Excellence, to build our membership and partner to grow the digital industry and thrive in a digital economy.Top of my to-do list is first and foremost to listen to our key stakeholders and our members their ideas, key challenges and requirements to make a difference in their business, within the core IAB mandate. Building brands digitally, creating awareness of a trustworthy digital supply chain including best industry standards, our transformation and education mandate, as well as recognition of the best in digital, will be key platforms for me. BusinessofFashion (innovation, retail leadership, business mergers and more) Ray Donovan Season 4 (yes, Im behind)And so many more for many different reasons. Currently readingby Chris Anderson (not what I thought I knew about public speaking), as well as(who is my great uncle) by Stephen Clingman.I am a chips and cheese vegetarian.Her 20-year career commencing in brand marketing at Speedo, then Touchline Media, joining digital agency Gloo in its first year of inception and going on to become MD of the Cape Town office, and then MD of the integrated business, Gloo@Ogilvy, post the merger with Ogilvy in 2015.Hulley has worked across brands such as Puma, BWE CAT, Investec, Samsung, Audi, KFC, Vodacom, FNB, Virgin Active, BAT, Woolworths, Allan Gray and Associated Magazines, and is a member of the Digital Board at Ogilvy.She holds a BA degree from Stellenbosch University with a psychology honours degree from Unisa, post-degree in Copywriting at Red & Yellow and Finance FNFM at UCT GSB. VR and digital video storytelling as top marketing tools for 2018 Creative director and virtual reality expert Brendan Stein of Soapbox Films video production company explains how to make B2B video pop and why you need to get to the 'why' fast in your VR and video marketing, or else. The Soapbox Films team with Stein back-left. Explaining why video content wins, Stein quotes a host of stats from a variety of credible sources. For example, in an overview of 2017 video marketing, Wirebuzz claims that viewers retain as much as 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in text. Also, using video on a landing page can increase conversions by as much as 80%. Moving away from your website, Wordstream adds that social video generates 1200% more shares than text and image content combined yes, combined. Those are really big numbers, but you need the magical 'Goldilocks balance' to not only attract viewers' attention but keep it, as Stein says, Viewers are ruthless and have no qualms at all about clicking next within seconds of your video starting if they feel it is not worth their time. The first drop off peak in video stats happens within the first five seconds. So there's lots to consider before getting started, but the nimble team at Soapbox Films have unlocked that balance, with their virtual reality activation having walked away with the accolade for most innovative stand for client City of Cape Town's 'place marketing' division at the World Travel Market 2017 - fitting as the 2018 version of Here, Stein explains the need to upskill and keep up with the times, the power of video content and VR as brand storytelling tools in 2018, and how to get to the why fast, to keep your video viewers attention Talk us through the Soapbox evolution, from Hero Film agency to your current incarnation as digital content specialists? Talk us through the Soapbox evolution, from Hero Film agency to your current incarnation as digital content specialists? Explaining why video content wins, Stein quotes a host of stats from a variety of credible sources. For example, in an overview of 2017 video marketing,claims that viewers retain as much as 95% of a message when they watch it in a video, compared to just 10% when reading it in text. Also, using video on a landing page can increase conversions by as much as 80%.Moving away from your website,adds that social video generates 1200% more shares than text and image content combined yes,Those are really big numbers, but you need the magical 'Goldilocks balance' to not only attract viewers' attention but keep it, as Stein says,So there's lots to consider before getting started, but the nimble team at Soapbox Films have unlocked that balance, with their virtual reality activation having walked away with the accolade for most innovative stand for client City of Cape Town's 'place marketing' division at the World Travel Market 2017 - fitting as the 2018 version of WTM Africa is underway at the CTICC this week.Here, Stein explains the need to upskill and keep up with the times, the power of video content and VR as brand storytelling tools in 2018, and how to get to the why fast, to keep your video viewers attention We werent just a technical executor, we knew how to do things to get the right message across. Excellent. Elaborate on the need to upskill and keep up with the times as youve done along the way, to flourish as a business. Excellent. Elaborate on the need to upskill and keep up with the times as youve done along the way, to flourish as a business. We came about precisely because things were changing in the industry and we took the leap and did something despite not entirely knowing what we were doing. Sean Leask helping another 360 take flight A post shared by Soapbox (@soapbox_films) on Apr 11, 2017 at 12:37pm PDT Explain the power of video content and VR as brand storytelling tools in 2018. Explain the power of video content and VR as brand storytelling tools in 2018. We believe that the power lies in the fact that videos connect emotionally and so they reach the parts of the brain that other channels cannot. Virtual reality is even more so it is such an intensive and focused experience that we believe people are not just seeing something, theyre feeling it. Its the next best thing to real and it puts the viewer in control of the experience they get to choose what to look at. Video and VR are some of the best ways to tell brand stories as they can show and tell and even feel and most importantly in this age, they do it quickly. A super win-win! How can brands make even the more 'boring' B2B videos pop, and get around the fact that the first drop-off peak in video stats happens within the first 5 seconds? A super win-win! How can brands make even the more 'boring' B2B videos pop, and get around the fact that the first drop-off peak in video stats happens within the first 5 seconds? In this day and age of increasing video content competition you need to be different, authentic or intriguing from the beginning. Tell a good, short story stories always win. Seeing the VR future is actually todays reality, whats next in the digital innovation space? Seeing the VR future is actually todays reality, whats next in the digital innovation space? At the moment, videos are one-directional. Already we can do interactive videos, where viewers can choose the path the video takes, but we think this will get even more sophisticated and intuitive and allow viewers to take control of the story. Leigh Andrews' articles About Leigh Andrews Leigh Andrews AKA the Leigh Andrews AKA the #MilkshakeQueen , is former Editor-in-Chief: Marketing & Media at Bizcommunity.com, with a passion for issues of diversity, inclusion and equality, and of course, gourmet food and drinks! She can be reached on Twitter at @Leigh_Andrews Around 2010, we created a small video production company within the advertising agency, Hero. It had one editor and me, the agencys creative director and also a passionate photographer as the cameraman/director.This was as a result of the increasing demand for video production from clients, and also in response to increasing cost sensitivity from clients. Many clients balked at the costs for the production companies the agency was using at the time, and sometimes such a high level of production was just not required.We began by filming interviews and customer stories for our clients. With our communications insights and creative background, together with a new generation of small, light, more affordable DSLR-based video cameras, our aesthetic led to us getting an increasing amount of work.We were filming stories in a contemporary, beautiful way and it wasnt costing clients as much as before. But the main selling point, as it is still today, was that the company was unique in that it really understood marketing and communications and strategy.After a while, I left the agency position and made the move to head up the video division full time.And so Hero Film has recently changed its name to Soapbox Films, separating it further from its agency roots. The agency still owns a small share of the production company, but it is self-sufficient and operates entirely independently.Being able to adapt and change is our number one reason for success, we believe.We embraced change again when we produced the first commercial virtual reality or 360-degree videos in South Africa, back in 2014. The technology was so new that no amount of Google searching could teach us what we needed to know, so it was trial and error and testing that got us through, with a tight, fixed deadline for the final production.The results were fantastic and to this day we are still one of the most experienced producers of 360-degree videos in the country. We own the latest 360 camera technology and specialist editing and stitching software.We also needed to create our own 360 activation service to ensure the quality of the production extended to the execution at roadshows and events. To ensure even more professional executions, we created what was likely the first application of its kind in the world that allows us toas well as cast what any individual viewer is seeing onto an external screen. This hugely enhances the activation experience.We feel that you cannot succeed today if you are not willing to adapt to change. Even now, theres another video revolution happening that is creating huge amounts of video content more cost effectively than ever before, and if you dont stand out or offer something that others dont, you wont succeed.The statistics proving the power of video content are staggering. Marketers cannot deny that video creates more impact, attention and action than any other medium.VR already has the power to convince your body that it is somewhere else, no matter what your brain is saying.For instance, our VR films with running legend Bruce Fordyce actually made peoples heart rates go up and some people started sweating while feeling like they were really running with him.Our abseiling Table Mountain films make adults squeal out loud in a room full of strangers.Get to the Why, fast. Its still the age-old marketing rules that apply show your reader or viewer the relevance to them right up front, then tell the backstory. Consider the first five seconds as your advert headline. You need to intrigue them so much that they just have to carry on.One of our most successful YouTube pre-roll ad campaigns was for a financial services company we started the clips featuring highly professional and serious fund managers by showing the clapper or slate and the slate operator calling the take.Another one featured one of the fund managers having make-up applied. People were drawn to find out what on earth was going on and we got to show the human side of the fund managers, before they put on their serious public face.One of our biggest challenges is getting clients to allow us to delete what they feel are really important parts so that we can shorten web videos down to less than one-and-a-half minutes.We are on the cusp of another video and digital revolution. VR or virtual reality and AR or augmented reality will combine to create better quality experiences, where it will be hard to tell what is real and what is not, as created objects will be visible in real spaces.VR is not really mainstream yet but will become more so in 2018 with the launch of new, cheaper, better technology. But more importantly, we feel that the traditional video space will be made a lot more interactive and engaging.That is when you have your viewer really engaged. Got a question or tip? Contact us at bizmojoidaho@gmail.com. BUCKS COUNTY >> While the coronavirus forced many businesses to shutter their doors permanently, Marcus Davis, an enterprising steamfitter living in NYC, traded the big city for greener pastures in Bucks County and took a leap of faith to launch his life-long dream of entrepreneurship during the height of the pandemic! Wah Gwan is a luxury seasoning line inspired by... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor The bank employees' union has urged the government to take immediate action to address the cash crunch issue at banks. The employees have threatened to launch a protest iIf the government fails to address the problem. They have also raised doubts on whether cash from banks is finding its way to states like Karnataka, where elections are scheduled on May 12. C H Venkatachalam, General Secretary, All India Bank Employees Union (AIBEA), said that mere statements will not help much. There should be a concrete action. If timely and immediate action is not taken to ... The recently concluded budget session was the least productive in four years for the Lok Sabha (lower house of Parliament), where four in five hours stipulated for business were lost due to interruptions, according to an analysis by PRS Legislative Research, a think tank. The 2015 budget session was the most productive for the Lok Sabha, when it conducted business for 122% of the stipulated time. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor A large chunk of point of sale (PoS) terminals set up after demonetisation are inactive and need to be redeployed, industry players have said. The Indian government set a target for banks of deploying an additional one million PoS terminals after demonetisation. Following this, the number of PoS terminals went up from 1.5 million in the pre-demonetisation period to over three million in February 2018, according to RBI data. However, PoS monthly transactions, both in terms of volume as well as value, are roughly at the level of the pre-demonetisation era. Barring the spike in ... The 61-year-old chief executive officer walks into a 21st-floor meeting room at United Bank Ltd.s headquarters in Karachi and right away says she doesnt want to be viewed as a token woman and would prefer to discuss the banks strategy. Yet she recognizes that as the only woman heading a private sector lender in Pakistan -- and one of the very few women leading companies in the country -- she has a responsibility that goes beyond her job. Its a privilege and a burden at the same ... Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor Shares of Mishra Dhatu Nigam (Midhani) are locked in upper circuit of 10% for the second straight day, rising to Rs 169 per share on the BSE after the company said it has signed two pacts in Defexpo India-2018. The company has participated in the recently concluded Defexpo India- 2018 and entered into two non-binding memorandum of understanding (MoU) which are confidential in nature, Midhani said in clarification with reference to increase in price on Wednesday after market hours. Dear Reader, Business Standard has always strived hard to provide up-to-date information and commentary on developments that are of interest to you and have wider political and economic implications for the country and the world. Your encouragement and constant feedback on how to improve our offering have only made our resolve and commitment to these ideals stronger. Even during these difficult times arising out of Covid-19, we continue to remain committed to keeping you informed and updated with credible news, authoritative views and incisive commentary on topical issues of relevance. We, however, have a request. As we battle the economic impact of the pandemic, we need your support even more, so that we can continue to offer you more quality content. Our subscription model has seen an encouraging response from many of you, who have subscribed to our online content. More subscription to our online content can only help us achieve the goals of offering you even better and more relevant content. We believe in free, fair and credible journalism. Your support through more subscriptions can help us practise the journalism to which we are committed. Support quality journalism and subscribe to Business Standard. Digital Editor At least 31 militants have been killed and 37 wounded during the coordinated air and ground operations in various provinces of Afghanistan in the past 24 hours, confirms the country's Ministry of Defense (MoD). The operations were conducted in Nangarhar, Kunar, Kapisa, Paktia, Paktika, Logar, Khost, Uruzgan, Faryab, Balkh, and Helmand provinces, reported Khaama Press, citing, MoD deputy spokesman Gen. Mohammad Radmanish, as saying. At least 11 of the militants were killed in Nejrab district of Kapisa, 15 were killed in Moqor, Waghez, and Andar districts of Ghazni, and 5 others were killed in Sherin Tagab district of Faryab. 24 improvised explosive devices were also diffused. "Gen. Radmanish also added that 15 operations are underway in 11 provinces of the country at the moment as commando forces have conducted 66 operations while Afghan Air Force has carried out one airstrike during the same period," the report said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Paul Morigi/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Someone told me daddy is gross. He isnt gross. He is a hero, said the oldest daughter of Michael Verardo, a wounded veteran who is missing a limb. Verardo lost his leg in 2010 serving as an infantryman in Afghanistan. Since then, he has undergone over 100 surgeries and years of physical and occupational therapy, according to a press release. After hearing their daughters words, the Verardo family realized the need for a childrens book that could explain the wounds sustained by many veterans. There are many military families who struggle with explaining the complex injuries to their own children, and even more so with children who are not exposed to this life on a daily basis, said Michaels wife and caregiver, Sarah Verardo. She's now the author and publisher of "Hero At Home," a childrens book that aims to normalize interactions with injured veterans, especially those with amputations. Our goal with this book is to be able to describe this in a way that allows these children to understand the sacrifices made by our nations wounded veterans and to see that they are truly heroes, she said. The mother of three is also the executive director of the Independence Fund, an advocacy organization for severely wounded Veterans. One of the pillars of the Independence Fund is the mobility program, which provides all-terrain wheelchairs and adaptive bicycles to veterans of all eras. The cover of "Hero at Home" features an illustration of a veteran in one of those all-terrain wheelchairs. While the book may be for children, a spokesperson says that it's educational for people of all ages. "Hero at Home" is currently available on Amazon. The proceeds from the sale of the book will go towards the Independence Fund, according to a spokesperson. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Turns out, experts have taken another step closer towards the futuristic A team of researchers from the University of Manchester and Shandong University has worked together to create a nanoscale transistor which can aid in the development of NextGen gadgets. The international team has developed an ultrafast, nanoscale transistor - known as a thin film transistor, or TFT, - made out of an oxide semiconductor. The TFT is the first oxide-semiconductor based transistor that is capable of operating at a benchmark speed of 1 GHz. This could make the next generation electronic gadgets even faster, brighter and more flexible than ever before. A TFT is a type of transistor usually used in a liquid crystal display (LCD). These can be found in most modern gadgets with LCD screens such as smartphones, tablets, and high-definition televisions. LCD features a TFT behind each individual pixel and they act as individual switches that allow the pixels to change state rapidly, making them turn on and off much more quickly. But most current TFTs are silicon-based which are opaque, rigid and expensive in comparison to the oxide semiconductor family of transistors which the team from the UK and China are developing. Whilst oxide TFTs will improve the picture on LCD displays, it is their flexibility that is even more impressive. Researcher Aimin Song explained, "TVs can already be made extremely thin and bright. Our work may help make TV more mechanically flexible and even cheaper to produce. "But, perhaps even more importantly, our GHz transistors may enable medium or even high performance flexible electronic circuits, such as truly wearable electronics. Wearable electronics requires flexibility and in many cases transparency, too. This would be the perfect application for our research", continued Song. Song added, "Plus, there is a trend in developing smart homes, smart hospitals and smart cities - in all of which oxide semiconductor TFTs will play a key role." Oxide-based has seen rapid development when compared to its silicon counterpart which is increasingly close to some fundamental limitations. Song said there has been fast progress in oxide-semiconductors in recent years and extensive efforts have been made in order to improve the speed of oxide-semiconductor-based TFTs. So much so some oxide-based has already started replacing amorphous silicon in some gadgets. The study appears in the journal IEEE Explore. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Welcoming the Supreme Court's verdict in Justice B.H. Loya death case, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh on Thursday said that an attempt to malign the image of a senior leader of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has fallen flat. "An attempt to malign senior leaders of the party has failed, it is clear that the judiciary cannot be made a field for political battles," Rajnath said. Earlier in the day, a bench of apex court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra dismissed petitions seeking SIT probe into Justice Loya's death case. The Supreme Court in its verdict said that statement of the lower judges, who accompanied Justice Loya during his death cannot be doubted. Justice Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, involving various police officers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah at the time of his death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) KRONOTHON2.0, the second edition of the Kronothon Programming Challenge and Case Study presentation conducted by Kronos Incorporated, received overwhelming responses from participating professional coders, engineering graduates, and school students across the country. Nearly 11,000 participants from more than 300 institutions and organizations pan India applied for the KRONOTHON2.0 competition, which was comprised of two main events: iCODE for budding engineers and professional coders as well as iDEATE for B-School graduates and professionals. News Facts The intensive 11-week challenge concluded with the top 140 participants competing in a final two-day event at the Kronos Noida office. The top six coders and professionals were rewarded with individual prizes of up to Rs. 1 lakh, with the total prize money of more than Rs. 5 lakhs. The contest received 45 percent more applications compared to first year of the event. Kronothon2.0 is a pan-India competitive programing challenge conceptualized and executed by Kronos to bring out the best talent among Indian business students and coding professionals. The 2018 competition revolved around future challenges faced by businesses due to technology and digitisation with an added goal of bridging the gap between industry and academia. Nearly 11,000 students and coders from across the country registered for Kronothon2.0, which was launched in January. Entrants were subjected to a series of online coding tests to be among the top final 140 finalists. The challenge was conceived not just to uncover the next generation of tech talent, but also to make the students and young professionals ready to become future technology leaders in line with industry demand. KRONOTHON2.0 saw a sizeable number of aspiring female engineers and management graduates being speed mentored by team of Kronos senior women leaders on corporate work culture, women in business initiatives, and shared tips on business etiquette, interview skills, corporate attire, et al. During the final two-day event, participants engaged in a gamification programing challenge to test their ability to execute and implement computer code in a structured environment, as well as their speed and creativity. Participants also attended knowledge sessions and technology talks hosted by Kronos employees about key industry topics, including assimilation of the next generation of the workforce into corporate India. The Kronothon2.0 challenge reaffirms Kronos' commitment as one of the most innovative technology companies in India, its dedication to empowering the next-generation workforce, and to reinforce its award-winning Work Inspired company culture. Most recently, Great Place to Work India placed Kronos in its 50 Best Information Technology Companies to work for list for the third consecutive year. "The world is looking at India as one of the fastest growing economies. Kronos has recognised an opportunity to better connect today's students with today's industry needs and, in turn, help overcome the upcoming challenges which India will face as we continue to embrace technology and move towards a digital, smart India. The fact that KRONOTHON2.0 received fabulous response from the students is heartening and builds the confidence not only among us, but also among the students, who are the future leaders of this country", said Nishan Thankappan, Director, Talent Acquisition, Asia Pacific, Kronos. Supporting Resources Connect with Kronos via Facebook, Twitter, LinkedIn, Instagram, and YouTube. Take a look at the lighter side of the workforce in our Time Well Spent cartoons. Subscribe to follow The Workforce Institute at Kronos for insight, research, blogs, and podcasts on how organizations can manage today's modern workforce to drive engagement and performance. Learn about the Kronos Work Inspired culture and check out Kronos job openings. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The State Bank of India (SBI) on Thursday said that the current and sudden surge in Currency in Circulation (CIC) could be superficial. The leading Public Sector Bank (PSB) added that ATM withdrawals have declined in quarter four (Q4) on a sequential basis. "The sudden surge in Currency in Circulation (CIC) is perplexing. The quarterly growth in Q4 FY18 shows that from the average growth of 4.4 percent of five years from FY12-16, the growth has shot up to eight percent. This is despite the fact that economy had achieved remonetisation and digital modes have also gained traction in a big way. On a monthly basis, an incremental pace in Currency in Circulation is three times higher in Q12018, compared with Q1 of the five previous years (FY12-16). Hence there is indeed some unusual trends in 2018," a report from the Economic Research Department of State Bank of India stated. The report, however, noted if the hoarded notes are not back into circulation, the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) will have to print more notes to fix this 'artificial shortage'. "However, in April in previous years too the currency in circulation had seen spikes, and the expansion in April 2018 till date is as usual. The average increase was 0.43 lakh crore for FY12-16. This year by mid-April this number has risen to 0.44 lakh crore. However, the catch is this can go up even further if the hoarded 2000 notes are not back into circulation as RBI will have to print more notes to fix this artificial shortage," it said. Attributing the decline in ATM withdrawals to a 'seasonal phenomenon', the bank said that it believes that the current shortage could be superficial rather than real. "Coming to withdrawals, the quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) ATM cash withdrawal trend indicates that there has been a continuous increase in withdrawal in Q1, Q2 and Q3 of FY18 (though increased in the second half). Interestingly, in Q4 of FY2018, there was a sequential decline, that has been also the case in some of the earlier years. Thus the decline in ATM withdrawal in Q4 could actually be a seasonal phenomenon apart from the usual reasons floating around like currency shortage. This strongly supports our contention that the current shortage could be superficial rather than real," the report concluded. In the last two days, people from various pockets of the country, including Karnataka, Hyderabad, Madhya Pradesh, and Gujarat have expressed their dismay on ATMs running dry. In this regard, the RBI on Tuesday clarified that all currency chests had sufficient amount of money, thereby dismissing the possibility of a cash crunch. However, the central bank said printing of notes was being ramped up at its four presses as a precautionary measure. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Residents Welfare Association (RWA) of Defence Colony here has urged the South Delhi Municipal Corporation (SDMC) to look into the matter of aggravated mosquito breeding as well as security hazards. Residents have complained about a lack of CCTV coverage in the area. "It's been long and matters are not getting resolved. None of the concerned authorities are ready to help us. Among many other issues, the colony is also facing problems of overflowing sewage, unauthorized hawkers, pot holes, lack of speed breakers on roads, dumping of junk cars and lack of modern garbage collection services," RWA President, Major Ranjit Singh (retired) told ANI. Singh further said that it is getting extremely difficult for them to manage what is a very difficult scenario. The RWA recently invited local MLA, Madan Lal and Municipal Councilor Seema Malik to appraise them of the deteriorating civic conditions. Malik was represented by her husband Bhopender Malik. Following the discussion on Wednesday, it was decided that there is an immediate need for improved coordination between key civic agencies like Public Works Department (PWD), Municipal Corporation of Delhi (MCD) and Delhi Development Authority (DDA). (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Pakistan-backed PoK and Khalistani elements burnt the Indian flag in Central London yesterday while the London Metropolitan Police quietly watched the flag burning taking place right before its eyes. The incident took place at Parliament Square as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the Indian community at Westminster on Wednesday. Indian activists are outraged over the London Metropolitan Police turning a blind eye to the Indian flag being pulled down from a pole and replaced by a flag representing PoK and Khalistan. The Indian tricolour was allegedly pulled down and ripped apart by a a pro-Khalistani activist. Video evidence shows another person identified as Sahab Kashmiri from PoK, who now lives in London, raising the PoK and Khalistani flag at the pole from where the Indian tricolour was pulled down. Indian activists reminded the Metropolitan Police of former U.S. Secretary of State Hillary Clinton's famous words that Pakistan is harbouring snakes in its backyard- a grave warning to UK authorities that unless they do something about militants running across the UK, they would end up paying a heavy price for "harbouring snakes in their backyard." Activists are shocked that the U K authorities would let the flag of a nation be desecrated as tens of police persons watched. They said that unless the U K wakes up now and sees the reality of these " militant " elements it will soon became a " safe haven " for militants who will do to the U K what they have done to Pakistan. Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi is among the 53 heads of Commonwealth nations attending the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London. Addressing the Indian community at a 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' event at Westminster, Prime Minister Modi described Pakistan as a "terror export factory". He said, "We believe in peace, but we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted." "When someone has put a terror export factory in place, attacks my people, has no power to fight a war, so attempts to attack from behind our backs... in such a case Modi knows how give a reply in the same language," said the Prime Minister, to which, the audience raised slogans of 'Bharat Mata ki Jai'. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Iraq has officially launched air strikes on Islamic State of Iraq and Syria (ISIS) strongholds in Syria on Thursday. According to Russia Today, strikes were launched in coordination with the Syrian government. "According to the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Dr. Haider Al-Abadi, our heroic air force carried out, on Thursday, in Syria near Iraqi border deadly air strikes against Daesh's Terrorists gangs," Iraqi Prime Minister's office tweeted on Thursday. According to the orders of the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Dr. Haider Al-Abadi, our heroic air force carried out, on Thursday, in Syria near Iraqi border deadly air strikes against Daesh's Terrorists gangs. PM Media Office (@IraqiPMO) April 19, 2018 This comes days after US, UK and France carried out a joint military strike in Syria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hours after the Supreme Court dismissed a petitions seeking Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Justice Loya's death case, Minister of State (MoS) for Prime Minister's Office, Jitendra Singh on Thursday asked the Congress party and party president Rahul Gandhi to apologise to target BJP chief Amit Shah in the case. Speaking to ANI, Singh said, "I think this an occasion for Congress party and Rahul Gandhi to apologise to Amit Shah. Infact, they should apologise to the whole nation for such kind of defamation campaign that they marked on. He further hit out at the Congress party for questioning the apex court's decision and said, "If you are doubting the credentials of the judiciary, you are doubting the credentials of the evidence report. They (Congress) only tend to believe what they say, I think it is not good for any healthy democracy." Earlier in the day, a bench of apex court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra dismissed petitions seeking SIT probe into Justice Loya's death case while ruling that he died of natural causes. The court further observed that the petitions were 'frivolous and motivated' and filed to settle political rivalry. Justice Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, involving various police officers and Amit Shah, before his death in December 2014. As per the official records, Justice Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur in 2014, a day after he attended wedding and reception of his colleague's daughter. Maharashtra-based journalist B.S. Lone and activist Tehseen Poonavala had filed independent pleas seeking a fair probe into his death alleging that he died under mysterious circumstances. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking the Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge B.H. Loya's death case. A bench of apex court headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra passed the order. "There is no merit in the petitions and there is no reason to doubt the statements of sitting Judges, attempt of the petitioners was to malign the judiciary," said SC while dismissing the petitions. The apex court had earlier asked the Maharashtra Government to submit the postmortem report of the CBI judge, who had died in alleged suspicious circumstances in 2014, citing that the "matter was very serious." As per the official records, Justice Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur in 2014, a day after he attended the wedding and reception of his colleague's daughter. Maharashtra-based journalist B.S. Lone and activist Tehseen Poonavala had filed independent pleas seeking a fair probe into the death of Justice Loya alleging he died under mysterious circumstances. Justice Loya was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, involving various police officers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah at the time of his death. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bharatiya Janata Party leader Chaudhary Lal Singh, who resigned after participating in a rally in support of the culprits in Kathua rape and murder case, on Thursday took out a candlelight vigil and demanded Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) inquiry into the incident. For weeks now, Singh has been demanding a CBI probe, claiming that their probe would give clarity in the case. In a crime that shocked India, an eight-year-old girl from a nomadic Muslim community was kidnapped, abducted, drugged, gangraped, tortured and killed. After being missing for a week, her body was found on January 17. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) United Kingdom Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday hosted a black-tie dinner for the leaders of 53 Commonwealth Nations. Prime Minister Narendra Modi after attending the Westminster's Central Hall's event "Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath" departed for the dinner. Prime Minister Modi is on a three-day visit to the United Kingdom as part of which he will attend the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting scheduled to take place on April 19. Earlier in the day, Prime Minister had a bilateral talk with PM Theresa May in which they discussed economic offenders including Vijay Mallya and the much-talked attacked ex Russian spy Sergei Skripal. He was earlier honoured in a private audience with Queen Elizabeth at Buckingham Palace, an event which has been organised previously for only three nations. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The prosecutor in the Minnesota county, where Prince died, has said that no criminal charges will be filed in relation to the singing legend's April 2016 death. Minnesota's Carver County Attorney, Mark Metz, revealed in a press conference that no criminal charges could be filed because the two-year investigation into the music legend's drug-related death resulted in "no reliable evidence," Radar Online reported. He further noted that the 'Purple Rain' hit-maker, who suffered from an opiate addiction, died of an accidental fentanyl overdose after taking counterfeit Vicodin pills. "In all likelihood Prince had no idea he was taking a counterfeit pill that could kill him," said Metz, adding that there was no evidence that the counterfeit drugs were prescribed by a doctor or that there was a "sinister motive to murder Prince." Meanwhile, the Minnesota physician, who saw Prince twice in the weeks before his death, was ordered to pay $30,000 to the United States to settle civil allegations that he prescribed drugs to someone else knowing that the artist would take them. Metz further revealed that Dr Michael T. Schulenberg, who prescribed painkillers to Prince's assistant Kirk Johnson knowing the musician would be using them, was being held "accountable." The doctor would also be monitored for two years by the U.S. Drug Enforcement Administration. "Prince's death is a tragic example that opioid addiction and overdose deaths do not discriminate," he said, wrapping the press conference. Prince was found dead in the elevator of his Paisley Park mansion on April 21, 2016 from a drug overdose. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Queen Elizabeth II has voiced her wish for her son Prince Charles to succeed her as the leader of the Commonwealth nations. The Queen's statement comes ahead of the meeting between top government officials from the 53-nation body to discuss the issue. "It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity to future generations and will decide one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949," local media quoted her as saying at the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The Queen has been head of the Commonwealth since coming to the throne in 1952, but the position is not automatically held by the British monarch. As the Queen no longer goes abroad, the current summit in London in all likelihood will be her last. Prince Charles has represented her at recent CHOGMs outside the United Kingdom. On a related note, Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said that he would support a bid by Prince Charles to become the new leader of the Commonwealth. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana on Thursday rejected the resignation filed by the judge who delivered the Mecca Masjid Blast verdict. As per sources, Ravinder Reddy, the special Investigation Agency (NIA) judge who delivered the verdict in the above case, has been asked to attend to his duties immediately. On Monday, a special NIA court at Nampally had acquitted all accused in the case due to lack of evidence provided against the latter. Hours after the verdict was pronounced, Reddy tendered his resignation. The blast, which took place on May 18, 2007, at the Mecca Masjid here during Friday prayers, had killed eight people and left 58 injured, and was allegedly carried out by a group of right-wing terrorists. The NIA had taken charge of the case from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2011, in which ten persons were named as accused. However, only five of them, namely Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar and Rajendra Chowdhary were arrested and faced trial in the case. Meanwhile, two other accused- Sandeep V Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra- are absconding, while one of the accused, Sunil Joshi was allegedly murdered while the case was being investigated. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Six Bangladeshis workers were killed in a gas cylinder explosion in Saudi city of Ha'il on Wednesday. The dead included two siblings as well, reported the Dhaka Tribune. The victims said the Bangladeshi workers went to sleep in their room on Tuesday night as usual, and the gas cylinder went off in the early hours of Wednesday, killing them on the spot, the report said, quoting the families of the victims as saying. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday will pronounce its judgment on pleas seeking an independent probe into the death case of Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge B. H. Loya. The petitions will be heard by a bench headed by Chief Justice of India (CJI) Dipak Misra The apex court had earlier asked the Maharashtra Government to submit the postmortem report of the CBI judge, who had died in alleged suspicious circumstances in 2014, citing that the "matter was very serious." As per the official records, Justice Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur in 2014, a day after he attended the wedding and reception of his colleague's daughter. As per reports, Maharashtra-based journalist B.S. Lone and activist Tehseen Poonavala had filed independent pleas seeking a fair probe into the death of Justice Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, involving various police officers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 33-year-old man left his job and travelled over 6,000 km on foot, from Srinagar to Trivandrum, to spread awareness about the importance of blood donation. Starting his journey from Srinagar, he travelled to Udaipur, Vadodara, Chennai and Bengaluru. Kiran Verma, founder of Simply Blood - world's first virtual blood donation platform, realised the importance of a life after losing his mother to cancer. Since then, his life mission has been to save at least one million potential lives through blood donation, by 2020. "I started my Journey on January 26, 2018 from Lal Chowk, Srinagar and have travelled more than 6500kms till Trivandrum in two months. I have met more than 600,000 people across the country. I have shared my vision with students in colleges, Universities and public places like malls, restaurants, railway stations, bus stands etc," Kiran told media. He added, "Everyday more than 12,000 people die in India due to lack of blood. Our mission is to encourage at least 10 people every kilometre to take a pledge to donate blood once in their life." On that note, Kiran Verma has been walking on a completely voluntary basis to encourage blood donation across India, Nepal and Bhutan. 2,000 potential lives were saved in 11 countries through the cost-free Simply Blood app last year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) ACC said its consolidated profit after tax rose 18.48% to Rs 250 crore on 14.45% increase in net sales to Rs 3557 crore in Q1 March 2018 over Q1 March 2017. Operating EBITDA rose 17.99% to Rs 492 crore in Q1 March 2018 over Q1 March 2017. Cement sales volume rose 7.73% to 7.11 million tonnes in Q1 March 2018 over Q1 March 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. A rise in energy and slag prices adversely impacted operating costs during the quarter as compared to the same quarter a year ago. Despite a challenging external environment, cost savings were achieved through sustained improvement in operational efficiencies, optimization and robust control on fixed costs, the company said in a statement. ACC's financial performance in Q1 March 2018 reflects strong volume growth momentum powered by the company's focused approach to innovation, operational improvements, and customised solutions for consumers. The company is on a clear growth trajectory to deliver strong returns to its shareholders, Neeraj Akhoury, managing director and CEO, said in a statement. In its outlook, ACC said increased government spending on infrastructure development including roads and railways, housing and other schemes as announced in the Union Budget are expected to reinvigorate the construction sector and boost demand for cement and concrete during 2018. NMDC said it cut prices of lump ore and fines by Rs 100 each to Rs 2,900 per tonne and Rs 2,560 per tonne with effect from 18 April 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said that one of the wholly-owned subsidiaries has increased its shareholding in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, by way of further purchase of 394,404 shares of face value of MYR 1 each (equivalent to 4.93%) of Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd., is a subsidiary of the company, and the total shareholding of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, alongwith its wholly owned subsidiary is 90.74%, prior to this purchase of shares. Post completion of this purchase of shares, the total holding of the company along with its wholly owned subsidiary will increase to 95.67% in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Infosys will be watched. With reference to media article titled, "Whistleblower allegations unfounded: Shaw", Infosys clarified that it has not, till date, received the alleged anonymous whistleblower complaint through its whistleblower complaint reporting channels or from Sebi or SEC and is therefore unable to comment on the complaint or the allegations made therein. In the event the anonymous whistleblower complaint is received by the company through its whistleblower complaint reporting channels or from Sebi or SEC, it will deal with it in accordance with the company's whistleblower policy. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Container Corporation of India said that its board may consider stock split in its meeting scheduled on 30 April 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Bharat Dynamics said it signed licensing agreement with Defence Research Development Organisation (DRDO) for ASTRA MK-1 Weapon System. Limited scale of production will commence shortly on suitable arrangements from DRDO. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Mercator announced that coal mining operations in Indonesia have attained near optimum levels. Further, revenue from third party logistics operations and coal handing have also stabilized. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. In January 2018, Mercator had announced successful resumption of coal operations in Indonesia. The management expected operations to reach optimum levels by March 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Container Corporation of India rose 1.75% to Rs 1,369.50 at 9:39 IST on BSE after the company said that its board may consider stock split in its meeting scheduled on 30 April 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 102.03 points, or 0.30% to 34,433.71. On the BSE, 960 shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 12,000 shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 1,370 and a low of Rs 1,353.05 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 1,500 on 22 January 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 1,080 on 31 July 2017. The board of Container Corporation of India (Concor) will consider audited financial results for the quarter and year ended on 31 March 2018 on Monday, 30 April 2018. Net profit of Concor rose 55.43% to Rs 289.08 crore on 24.75% rise in net sales to Rs 1639.55 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016. Concor provides logistics solutions. It has the largest network of inland container depots (ICDs)/container freight stations (CFSs) in India. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Honeywell Automation India announced the expansion of its Fulgaon manufacturing facility in Pune to meet the growing demand for automation solutions and factory instrumentation more effectively. In line with the growth of the Indian manufacturing sector, Honeywell continues to invest in its local production capabilities by doubling the operational space of the plant to 151,000 square feet. The state-of-the-art facility enables Honeywell to provide enhanced expertise and training capabilities to customers and expand its production range. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Director General of Foreign Trade, Mr. Alok Vardhan Chaturvedi, called upon industry to adopt and implement internal compliance programmes (ICP) on export control as it scouts for new business opportunities that have opened up following India's entry into new multilateral export control regimes. Mr. Chaturvedi said that while India's accession to global export control agreements has given rise to opportunities for industry, it cannot lose sight of its onerous responsibility in ensuring a safe and secure world. "Implementation of ICP by industry is an example of a best practice in discharging its responsibility", he said, adding that the ICP module should be used by industry as a template for creating its own ICP depending upon whether a company is a large systems integrator or an SME. He suggested that an institutional structure should be evolved by industry with an active 'To Do' list that should be monitored regularly. The recently released draft Defence Production Policy envisages an export market of US$ 50 billion by 2032. Industry feels that to achieve this target, the Government of India needs to handhold and expedite the licensing process. FICCI believes that once industry voluntarily puts in place checks and balances by adopting ICP, it could ask the government for any exemption or bulk licenses which the government would be in a better position to consider. The FICCI Export Control Compliance Manual 2018, which has templates for large, medium and small industries as per their needs, is an attempt to combine best practices in internal compliance policies and procedures to safeguard organisations from exporting unauthorized items and consequently damaging the reputation of their firms and of the country, in addition to facing export penalties. Companies looking to enter these strategic sectors can benefit from the growing goodwill accrued to India must align themselves to the rules laid down by the Government of India under the guidelines for SCOMET (Special Chemicals, Organisms, Materials, Equipment & Technology) items for the export of dual-use commodities, software, and technology. The ICP guides an organisation in establishing and maintaining trade compliance and further helps in planning and maximising international trade. It includes steps, in varying capacities, for not only finished products but also for licences, software and counter parties, as it is in these matters that most violations occur. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Key benchmark indices turned range bound in afternoon trade. At 13:20 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 84.07 points or 0.24% at 34,415.75. The Nifty 50 index was up 32.45 points or 0.31% at 10,558.65. Positive global stocks boosted sentiment on the domestic bourses. Key indices resumed uptrend after taking a one-day pause yesterday, 18 April 2018, on positive Asian stocks. Indices hovered in near day's high in morning trade. Indices were range bound in afternoon trade. The S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.53%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.46%. Both these indices outperformed the Sensex. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 1,336 shares rose and 1,149 shares fell. A total of 155 shares were unchanged. Pharmaceutical shares were mixed. Divi's Laboratories (up 1.02%), Piramal Enterprises (up 0.85%), Dr Reddy's Laboratories (up 0.54%), GlaxoSmithKline Pharmaceuticals (up 0.45%), Glenmark Pharmaceuticals (up 0.34%), Alkem Laboratories (up 0.29%) and Cipla (up 0.20%), edged higher. Wockhardt (down 0.01%), Lupin (down 0.17%), Aurobindo Pharma (down 0.34%), Cadila Healthcare (down 0.65%), Strides Shasun (down 0.7%) and IPCA Laboratories (down 1.65%), edged lower. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries fell 0.52%. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said that one of the wholly-owned subsidiaries has increased its shareholding in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, by way of further purchase of 394,404 shares of face value of MYR 1 each (equivalent to 4.93%) of Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd., is a subsidiary of the company, and the total shareholding of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, alongwith its wholly owned subsidiary is 90.74%, prior to this purchase of shares. Post completion of this purchase of shares, the total holding of the company along with its wholly owned subsidiary will increase to 95.67% in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Power generation stocks were mixed. Jaiprakash Power Ventures (down 0.9%), Adani Power (down 0.78%), Tata Power (down 0.51%), NTPC (down 0.34%), GMR Infrastructure (down 0.25%) and NHPC (down 0.18%), edged lower. CESC (up 0.18%), Torrent Power (up 0.21%), Reliance Power (up 0.51%), Reliance Infrastructure (up 0.57%) and JSW Energy (up 1.12%), edged higher. State-run Power Grid Corporation of India was up 0.83%. State-run Coal India was down 0.82%. Overseas, most European shares rose as soaring oil prices triggered a broader rally across commodities. Asian stocks rose, building on gains a day earlier, with oil prices at 3-year highs helping to boost sentiment for the region's equities. In US, the Dow industrials ended lower yesterday, 18 April 2018 as IBM's shares got walloped; however, gains in shares of energy-related firms helped the broader market post modest gains. Wall Street showed a muted reaction to the release of the Beige Book report, which underscored that economic activity remained at a modest to moderate pace in March and early April. The Fed's Beige Book showed that economic activity remained at a modest to moderate pace, though nine of the 12 regional banks expressed concerns about trade tariffs, centered on the tit-for-tat spat between Beijing and Washington. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Stocks hovered in near day's high in morning trade. At 10:23 IST, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, was up 108.63 points or 0.32% at 34,440.31. The Nifty 50 index was up 34.70 points or 0.33% at 10,560.90. Metal and mining stocks were in demand as copper prices rose in global commodity markets. Positive Asian stocks boosted sentiment on the domestic bourses. Key indices resumed uptrend after taking a one-day pause yesterday, 18 April 2018 on positive Asian stocks. Stocks had corrected yesterday, 18 April 2018 after rising in past nine consecutive sessions. On that day, the barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 63.38 points or 0.18% at 34,331.68 while the Nifty 50 index fell 22.50 points or 0.21% at 10,526.20. The Sensex had jumped 1,375.99 points, or 4.17% in nine trading sessions to settle at 34,395.06 on 17 April 2018, from its low of 33,019.07 on 4 April 2018. Coming back to today's trade, the S&P BSE Mid-Cap index was up 0.31%. The S&P BSE Small-Cap index was up 0.28%. Both these indices underperformed the Sensex. The market breadth, indicating the overall health of the market, was positive. On the BSE, 1,106 shares rose and 919 shares fell. A total of 105 shares were unchanged. Overseas, Asian stocks rose, building on gains a day earlier, with oil prices at 3-year highs helping to boost sentiment for the region's equities. In US, the Dow industrials ended lower yesterday, 18 April 2018 as IBM's shares got walloped; however, gains in shares of energy-related firms helped the broader market post modest gains. Wall Street showed a muted reaction to the release of the Beige Book report, which underscored that economic activity remained at a modest to moderate pace in March and early April. The Fed's Beige Book showed that economic activity remained at a modest to moderate pace, though nine of the 12 regional banks expressed concerns about trade tariffs, centered on the tit-for-tat spat between Beijing and Washington. Back home, Axis Bank (down 1.38%), Bajaj Auto (down 0.62%) and Sun Pharmaceutical Industries (down 0.61%) edged lower from the Sensex pack. Metal and mining stocks were in demand as copper prices rose in global commodity markets. Stocks were also boosted after US firm Alcoa reportedly predicted a global deficit for both aluminium and alumina in 2018 due to delays in projects to expand smelters in China. Hindustan Copper (up 10.85%), Vedanta (up 4.31%), JSW Steel (up 2.39%), Tata Steel (up 2.14%), Steel Authority of India (Sail) (up 2.26%), National Aluminium Company (up 6.42%), Hindustan Zinc (up 2.65%), Jindal Steel & Power (up 2.88%) and Hindalco Industries (up 4.84%) edged higher. NMDC rose 1.3%. NMDC said it has reduced prices of lump ore and fines by Rs 100 each to Rs 2,900 per tonne and Rs 2,560 per tonne with effect from 18 April 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Copper edged higher in the global commodities market. High Grade Copper for May 2018 delivery was currently up 0.4% at $3.1710 per pound on the COMEX. Bharat Dynamics rose 2.39% after the company said it signed licensing agreement with DRDO for Astra MK-1 Weapon System. Limited scale of production will commence shortly on suitable arrangements from DRDO. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Container Corporation of India rose 0.9% after the company said that its board may consider stock split in its meeting scheduled on 30 April 2018. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Parag Milk Foods rose 4.93% to Rs 285.10 at 14:17 IST on BSE after the company said it acquired Danone's manufacturing facility in Sonipat, Haryana. The announcement was made during trading hours today, 19 April 2018. Meanwhile, the S&P BSE Sensex was up 72.55 points, or 0.21% to 34,404.23. On the BSE, 1.93 lakh shares were traded in the counter so far compared with average daily volumes of 1.95 lakh shares in the past two weeks. The stock had hit a high of Rs 288 and a low of Rs 274.90 so far during the day. The stock hit a 52-week high of Rs 318.90 on 4 January 2018. The stock hit a 52-week low of Rs 205.85 on 28 June 2017. Parag Milk Foods announced its expansion plans in North India with the acquisition of Danone manufacturing facility in Sonipat, Haryana, post the completion of regulatory requirements. The acquisition is a strategic investment in strengthening Parag Milk Foods fresh category distribution in the North and North-East regions of India. As a part of investment, the company will refurbish the new facility with additional amenities to increase its product portfolio in the region. The company thrives to deliver the freshest dairy products available in the market. To maintain freshness, it is imperative to have a manufacturing unit close to the market. With this investment, the company becomes the largest player in private dairy sector in India involved in the manufacturing, marketing and distribution of dairy products produced exclusively from pure and fresh cow's milk. The manufacturing plant is spread across 5,500 square meters on the outskirts of Delhi NCR and provides easy accessibility to target consumer segment. Plant's current milk processing capacity is 0.75 lakh litre per day along with curd processing capacity of 15 MT (metric tonne). In the coming months, the company is planning to expand the new manufacturing facility by installing processing units for pouch milk, flavored milk, pouch butter milk, cup curd, misthi dahi as well as expand the existing yoghurt facility. On a consolidated basis, net profit of Parag Milk Foods reported to Rs 25.48 crore in Q3 December 2017 as against net loss of Rs 41.08 crore in Q3 December 2016. Net sales rose 16.41% to Rs 519.28 crore in Q3 December 2017 over Q3 December 2016. Parag Milk Foods is the largest private dairy FMCG company with a pan-India presence. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Trading of Nifty 50 index futures on the Singapore stock exchange indicates that the Nifty could rise 36 points at the opening bell. Overseas, most Asian stocks rose, building on gains a day earlier, with oil prices at 3-year highs helping to boost sentiment for the region's equities. In US, the Dow industrials ended lower yesterday, 18 April 2018 as IBM's shares got walloped; however, gains in shares of energy-related firms helped the broader market post modest gains. Wall Street showed a muted reaction to the release of the Beige Book report, which underscored that economic activity remained at a modest to moderate pace in March and early April. The Fed's Beige Book showed that economic activity remained at a modest to moderate pace, though nine of the 12 regional banks expressed concerns about trade tariffs, centered on the tit-for-tat spat between Beijing and Washington. Back home,domestic shares corrected yesterday, 18 April 2018 after rising in past nine consecutive sessions. The barometer index, the S&P BSE Sensex, fell 63.38 points or 0.18% at 34,331.68. The Nifty 50 index fell 22.50 points or 0.21% at 10,526.20. The trading activity on that day showed that the foreign portfolio investors (FPIs) sold shares worth a net Rs 915.71 crore yesterday, 19 April 2018, as per provisional data released by the stock exchanges. Domestic institutional investors (DIIs) bought shares worth a net Rs 869.70 crore yesterday, 19 April 2018, as per provisional data. Among corporate news,ACC said its consolidated profit after tax rose 18.48% to Rs 250 crore on 14.45% increase in net sales to Rs 3557 crore in Q1 March 2018 over Q1 March 2017. Operating EBITDA rose 17.99% to Rs 492 crore in Q1 March 2018 over Q1 March 2017. Cement sales volume rose 7.73% to 7.11 million tonnes in Q1 March 2018 over Q1 March 2017. The result was announced after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. In its outlook, ACC said increased government spending on infrastructure development including roads and railways, housing and other schemes as announced in the Union Budget are expected to reinvigorate the construction sector and boost demand for cement and concrete during 2018. Sun Pharmaceutical Industries said that one of the wholly-owned subsidiaries has increased its shareholding in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd, Malaysia, by way of further purchase of 394,404 shares of face value of MYR 1 each (equivalent to 4.93%) of Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd., is a subsidiary of the company, and the total shareholding of Sun Pharmaceutical Industries, alongwith its wholly owned subsidiary is 90.74%, prior to this purchase of shares. Post completion of this purchase of shares, the total holding of the company along with its wholly owned subsidiary will increase to 95.67% in Ranbaxy Malaysia Sdn Bhd. Infosys will be watched. With reference to media article titled, "Whistleblower allegations unfounded: Shaw", Infosys clarified that it has not, till date, received the alleged anonymous whistleblower complaint through its whistleblower complaint reporting channels or from Sebi or SEC and is therefore unable to comment on the complaint or the allegations made therein. In the event the anonymous whistleblower complaint is received by the company through its whistleblower complaint reporting channels or from Sebi or SEC, it will deal with it in accordance with the company's whistleblower policy. The announcement was made after market hours yesterday, 18 April 2018. Powered by Capital Market - Live News (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Eighteen Rohingyas from Myanmar, including three children and four women who had entered India illegally, were on Thursday apprehended in western Tripura, a police official said. According to the Khowai district police chief Krishnendu Chakraborty, the 18 Rohingyas were arrested in Khowai district's Teliamura -- 70 km north of Agartala, he added. They were later taken to the Teliamura Police Station for questioning. "We are yet to get exact details on their presence in Tripura. The intruders are being questioned by senior police and intelligence officials. They would be produced in a local court soon," Chakraborty told IANS. Another police official said that the Rohingyas entered the state on Wednesday and were trying to go to Delhi in search of jobs. The Rohingyas from Myanmar have illegally entered Tripura and a few other northeastern states via Bangladesh in the past in search of work. But, subsequently they were pushed back following legal and security formalities. Over 670,000 Rohingyas, a mainly Muslim minority living in Myanmar, have fled the northwestern province of Rakhine since the end of August last year after a wave of persecution and violence that the United Nations described as an attempt at "ethnic cleansing". Efforts are on to repatriate them to their homeland in Myanmar. Border Security Force (BSF) Tripura Frontier Inspector General S.R. Ojha told the media that since 2015, many Rohingyas entered Tripura and other northeastern states via Bangladesh. Tripura shares an 856-km border with Bangladesh, most of which is fenced except a stretch of nearly 20 km. Other than Tripura, the other states sharing the 1,880-km international border with Bangladesh are Meghalaya (443 km), Mizoram (318 km) and Assam (263 km). --IANS sc/nir/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three female students, including two sisters, suffered burns in an acid attack carried out by the sisters' uncle for rejecting a marriage proposal in Pakistan's Gujrat city on Thursday morning. The girls -- students of the University of Gujrat -- were at a bus stop in Dang district when three men including the sisters' uncle approached on a motorcycle and threw acid on them, Dawn reported. The victims suffered burns on their faces and were undergoing treatment at a hospital. Dang police station SHO Ameer Abbas told the daily that the primary suspect was the uncle of the two sisters while another accused was identified as the uncle's friend. They both managed to escape while the third suspect was arrested. One of the girls had refused a marriage proposal which was the reason behind the attack, said police. Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Inspector General of Police Arif Nawaz asked for a detailed report on the incident and directed the police to arrest the suspects within 24 hours. According to a report released by the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan in 2018, 143 women were attacked with acid or were set on fire in Pakistan in 2017. --IANS and/soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Film: "Beyond the Clouds"; Director: Majid Majidi; Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Malavika Mohanan, Goutam Ghose, Tannishtha Chatterjee, Dwani Rajesh; Rating: *** Iranian director Majid Majidi's "Beyond the Clouds", set in Mumbai's underprivileged class, alternates between being shockingly tone-deaf and surprisingly on-point. It has moments when everything shifts, when the two main characters face each other, and there is an unexpected insight into the nature of their relationship. Those moments are sudden and true, making us realise; how sluggish many films are in making their points, and how quickly life can blind side us. These moments take place between Aamir (Ishaan Khattar) a self-assured 19-year-old drug peddler and his estranged older sister Tara (Malavika Mohanan). Their paths collide after Aamir, while on-the-run from the police in order to escape a drug bust, seeks his sister's help. Their outbursts, either in Tara's house or in the rickshaw while travelling or in the jail where Tara is imprisoned for attempted murder, are all palpable. The rest of the film is guided by these moments. Full of emotional turmoil, these moments are not a "surprise" in the sense of a plot twist, but a different perspective. It's the kind of shift you find in the sudden insight of life. It's about how you look at someone and realise that you have never really known them. The characters are well-etched so much so that you are drawn to them naturally. Ishaan Khatter in his debut, as the confident, happy-go-lucky Aamir is earnest, charismatic and promising. He is a treat to watch. He delivers a power-packed performance with a broad spectrum of emotions ranging from a smug drug-peddler to a considerate care-taker of the two little kids and the aged mother of his sister's victim, Akshi. Malavika Mohanan as Tara is equally enchanting. But since her journey is much simpler in comparison to that of her brother's, her performance feels rather limited. She flits from a confident to panicky mode with a jerky ease that makes the entire process seem laboured. Bengali director Goutam Ghose as Akshi - Tara's awe-struck admirer who tries to molest her is enigmatic. He is short-changed for a minimalistic speaking role. After being brutally attacked by Tara in self-defence he lands up in the hospital and he skilfully conveys his suffering and repentance through his eyes alone. The talented Tannishtha Chatterjee as Tara's asthmatic inmate with a little son in the prison, is wasted. She hardly has anything to offer except for coughing vehemently and revealing why she landed up in prison. The dialogues in Hindi, Tamil and English are impressive in a way that uses the techniques of short fiction to trigger the emotional shift. There are also brief silences, during which Aamir's understanding of the situation changes entirely. But the plot; that intertwines this complex, provocative drama that highlights the many facets of human relationships, is overwrought with uneven performances, jerky edits and brilliant imagery with earthy frames. Cinematographer Anil Mehta's camera work is flawless. Each frame is artistically crafted to offer an arresting visual experience. Some of the frames offer a unique insight of the city; especially the washer men's colony, scattering flock of Flamingos at the marshland of Sewri or the pipelines of Mumbai. A.R. Rahman's upbeat score accompanies the visuals but it does nothing to elevate the viewing experience. Overall, by the end, "Beyond the Clouds" seems like a forced narrative that tells the tale of the unfortunate siblings who are trying to coexist within their circumstances. --IANS troy/rb (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) Chief Ministerial candidate for the May 12 Karnataka Assembly polls, B.S. Yeddyurappa, on Thursday filed his nomination papers from Shikaripura Assembly segment, a party official said. "Yeddyurappa has filed his nomination from Shikaripura constituency," the party's state spokesman S. Shantharam told IANS here. He will be contesting from his hometown Shikaripura in Shivamogga district, about 300 km northwest of Bengaluru, for the eighth time since 1983. Yeddyurappa, 75, a Lok Sabha member from Shivamogga in the state's Malnad region, was the BJP's first Chief Minister in Karnataka from 2008 to 2011 when he resigned following an indictment by the state ombudsman (Lokayukta) in a multi-crore mining scam. In a related development, another BJP leader K.S. Eshwarappa, the party's leader in the state Legislative Council, also filed his nomination from Shivamogga Assembly segment. Eshwarappa, who was the Deputy Chief Minister in the BJP's first government in the state from 2008 to 2013, will be contesting from the seat for the sixth time. He lost the seat in the 2013 Assembly elections to the Congress. Also, the ruling Congress' Energy Minister D.K. Shivakumar filed his nomination from Kanakapura in Ramanagara district, about 55 km from Bengaluru. Polling across the state's 224 Assembly segments will take place in a single phase on May 12 from 7 a.m. to 5 p.m. Votes are to be counted on May 15, as per the notification issued by Governor Vajubhai R. Vala on Tuesday. According to it, April 24 is the last date for filing nominations. Scrutiny of nominations will be on April 25 and the last date for withdrawal of candidature is April 27. --IANS bha/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Brazil will manage to recover enough to register an annual primary budget surplus in 2022, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) said in a report. However, in October 2017 the IMF had expected Brazil would manage to register a primary surplus by 2021. Last week, the Brazilian government said it would propose maintaining the projection of primary deficit in the public accounts at 139 billion reals (about $41.1 billion) for 2019, Xinhua news agency reported. It also plans to propose primary deficits for the 2020 and 2021 budgets. According to the IMF's Fiscal Monitor report on Wednesday, Brazil's debt will reach 87.3 per cent of its gross domestic product (GDP) in 2018, up from 84 per cent in 2017. In 2019, the debt is expected to surpass 90 per cent of the GDP. --IANS and/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi power distribution company (Discom) BSES on Thursday announced that it has signed separate agreements with The Energy and Resources Institute (TERI) to deal with different aspects of energy conservation and conduct research on Demand Side Management (DSM). According to a statement, the separate MoUs will be signed by BSES Rajdhani Power Ltd (BRPL) and BSES Yamuna Power Ltd (BYPL) "While the agreement with BRPL will see the launch of an innovative educational programme for government school children, the strategic partnership with BYPL will explore collaboration opportunities for capacity building programmes, Distributed Energy Resources and implementation of Manual and Auto-Demand Response programmes, which will help in reducing power demand and improve its quality and reliability," it said. "BYPL has signed a two-year MoU to conduct cutting-edge research on Demand Side Management, Manual and Auto Demand Response Program, smart grid technologies, solar rooftop PV, energy storage systems, electric vehicles and energy Efficiency." These studies will solve technical issues relating to loading of feeders, static and dynamic voltage regulation, energy efficiency, issues, power quality and protection that may arise with higher penetration of solar rooftop systems and electric vehicle charging infrastructure in distribution grids, it added. BYPL, supplying power in central and east Delhi, will also launch a Demand Response Project and request large consumers to voluntarily reduce their electricity load as and when required, especially during the peak hours, the Discom said. "For the same, they will be given a financial incentive. This will also help in improving the quality and reliability of power supply. BYPL is expecting savings of around 50-60 MW from Demand Response and roof top solar installations," it said. Sister discom BRPL's three-year MoU with TERI provides for launching the "Energy Wise Energy Rise" school programme that will educate, train and reach out to around 90,000 students in government schools. "It will provide students with a unique platform that will help them to make sustainable choices, learn new concepts and share experiences on energy efficiency, alternative/sustainable energy and newer ways to mitigate environmental hazards," it said. Commenting on the partnerships, a BSES spokesperson said: "BSES is committed to be a green corporate citizen. These agreements with TERI will help us to leverage their expertise and enable us to connect with our consumers in a more meaningful way." TERI is working in the area of energy, and sustainable development. --IANS bc/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) British star Benedict Cumberbatch has shared some powerful words for boys dating girls -- "respect, just respect". He sat down with YouTube sensation Sophia Grace Brownlee to take on some of the biggest challenges facing teenagers, reports people.com. Cumberbatch started off with how to deal with bullies. "As hard as it may seem, you have to meet it with love," he said. "You have to try and empathise with hate. Not hate yourself, but you have to understand why people often want to damage other people is because they are damaged themselves. And if you could just turn that mirror around a little bit on them, then it might quell it slightly." The father of two sons - Christopher Carlton, 2, and Hal Auden, 1 - also had some advice for young boys dating girls. "Respect, just respect. Equality," Cumberbatch said. "The central tenants of feminism: a place at the table and equality. Include and don't exclude and learn what you can." The actor, who will be seen as the powerful sorcerer Doctor Strange in the Marvel Studios' forthcoming film "Avengers: Infinity War", often uses his stardom for social causes. He has raised money for cancer charity, highlighted the plight of Syrian refugees, helped children in need and much more. But the Oscar-nominated actor says it would be strange to give up acting for charity work. "No (I won't quit acting for charity work). But I am very happy to use the platform to reach out to people and try and focus people's attention on worthy causes," Cumberbatch said in response to a question asked by IANS during the promotion of "Avengers: Infinity War" in Singapore earlier this week. "I am no expert, not a politician or a policymaker or in the field of charity work. It's very much about a reaction to something. "My job is to be an actor. That's how I got to reach out to people. So, it would be a strange thing to give all that up for that (charity work)," added the son of actors Wanda Ventham and Timothy Carlton. The star-studded "Avengers: Infinity War" hits Indian theatres on April 27. --IANS nn/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte on Thursday said he personally authorised an investigation against an Australian nun who was detained in the country earlier this week after being accused of political activity that breached her visa. Sister Patricia Fox, 71, was held by immigration authorities in Manila on Monday for "violating the conditions of her stay by attending protest rallies and engaging in political activities", the BBC reported. The nun, who has been working in the Philippines for the past 27 years, was released on Tuesday without charge and has denied any wrongdoing. She is also the mother superior of a local Catholic order. Duterte accused her of "disorderly conduct", warning that foreign critics of his government faced being deported. "You insult me under the cloak of being a Catholic priest and you are a foreigner. Who are you? It is a violation of sovereignty," he said at an armed forces ceremony in Manila. "The Philippines laws provide that I can deport you or refuse you entry, if you are an undesirable alien." Her temporary detention sparked protests from supporters in the largely Catholic country. Sister Fox is accused of participating in partisan rallies in Mindanao, a restive island in the country's south that is under martial law. However, she denied that her activism was political. "I have been joining pro-human rights rallies for the farmers -- for their land rights -- (and) to release political prisoners... I would call it part of our duty as a religious (group) that we support the poor," she said. In his speech, Duterte suggested that Sister Fox should instead scrutinise Australia. "You nun, why don't you criticise your own government, the way you handle the refugees, hungry and dying and you turn them back to the open sea? "You do not have that right to criticise us. Do not insult my country. We never did that to Australia. We never did that to (a) European country," he said. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) European Commission Vice President for the digital single market Andrus Ansip said on Wednesday he had met with Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg and discussed privacy protection and countering disinformation. "Discussed with Mark Zuckerberg and Sheryl Sandberg the steps that Facebook has taken and plans to take to protect users privacy and tackle disinformation. There is a wider need to rebuild trust. GDPR (General Data Protection Regulation) shows the way forward," Ansip tweeted. Facebook is accused of allowing UK-based data company Cambridge Analytica to harvest the personal details of more than 50 million users without their permission to target them during the 2016 US presidential election and the Brexit referendum, Xinhua reported. Zuckerberg told US Congress last week that he is "responsible for" not preventing the social media platform from being used for harm, including fake news, foreign interference in elections and hate speech. Zuckerberg pledged to limit the information the platform developers can access and they have to get users' approval. European Parliament on Wednesday renewed its call to Zuckerberg to come before the Parliament to answer questions on the misuse of European citizens' personal data. Members of the European Parliament (MEPs) emphasized that the General Data Protection Regulation that will apply as of May 26 will give citizens control over their personal data and set global standards. However, some MEPs pointed out that the new data protection rules will not prevent future scandals and called on the Council to proceed with the e-privacy regulation. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Expectations of healthy quarterly earning results coupled with a rebound in commodity prices and broadly positive global indices pushed the Indian equity market to close at its highest level in the last seven weeks on Thursday. "Both the Nifty and the Sensex closed the day at seven week high levels. Positive global cues supported the markets," Deepak Jasani, Head, Retail Research, HDFC securities told IANS. Index-wise, the wider Nifty50 on the National Stock Exchange (NSE) closed higher by 39.10 points, or 0.37 per cent, at 10,565.30 points. The barometer 30-scrip Sensitive Index (Sensex) of the BSE, which opened at 34,403.67 points, closed at 34,427.29 points -- up 95.61 points, or 0.28 per cent, from its previous session's close. The Sensex touched a high of 34,478.82 points and a low of 34,358.91 during the intra-day trade. The BSE market breadth was bullish with 1,265 advances and 1,082 declines. The market breadth on the NSE was also bullish during the day. In the broader markets, the S&P BSE mid-cap index closed higher by 0.63 per cent and the small-cap index by 0.60 per cent. "Markets ended in green, despite volatility continuing in the last half of weekly expiry. Investors sentiment was optimistic ahead of quarterly earnings of some key companies, including TCS, which will release its results later in the day," said Dhruv Desai, Director and Chief Operating Officer of Tradebulls. On the currency front, the Indian rupee weakened by 13 paise to 65.80 against the US dollar from its previous close at 65.67. "Recent drop in rupee over the last one week... is on back of a combination of factors such as hardening of crude oil prices which is likely to put pressure on India's deficit coupled with US action in Syria and increase in political activity ahead of upcoming Karnataka elections," Salil Datar, CEO and Executive Director, Raha Advisors told IANS. In terms of investments, provisional data with the exchanges showed that foreign institutional investors sold scrip worth Rs 624.99 crore, while the domestic institutional investors bought stocks worth Rs 448.61 crore. Sector-wise, the S&P BSE metal index rose by 632.58 points, followed by capital goods which gained 203.34 points and IT stocks which edged up by 115.48 points. On the other hand, the S&P BSE consumer durables index fell by 195.89 points, oil and gas index by 191.12 points and energy index by 24.05 points. The major Sensex gainers on Thursday were Tata Steel, up 3.17 per cent at Rs 620.55; Yes Bank, up 2.83 per cent at Rs 318.00; Bharti Airtel, up 2.64 per cent at Rs 394.95; Larsen and Toubro, up 1.74 per cent at Rs 1,384.30; and Power Grid, up 1.61 per cent at Rs 208.20 per share. The top losers on Sensex were Axis Bank, down 1 per cent at Rs 513.50; Coal India, down 0.77 per cent at Rs 282.85; HDFC, down 0.65 per cent at Rs 1,864.45; Sun Pharma, down 0.61 per cent at Rs 508.80; and IndusInd Bank, down 0.57 per cent at Rs 1,834.10 per share. --IANS rrb-ppg-rv/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Facebook has no plans as of now to bring digital payment facility to its Messenger application in India, informed sources said on Thursday. "There are currently no tests planned for recharges or peer-to-peer payments on Messenger in India," the sources told IANS. Factor Daily had reported that Facebook has begun a beta version of recharge payments for mobile phone and other prepaid services on Messenger. "Mobile recharge option is a Facebook 'Marketplace' offering -- which is actually going on as a pilot test which is right now available to only Android users in some regions," the sources added. Launched in 2016, Marketplace is a user-to-user exchange platform for buying and selling goods with others within the community. Currently, the peer-to-peer payment service on Messenger is available for its users in the US and the UK. More than 1.3 billion people around the world are now using Facebook Messenger every month. The growth of Messenger now puts the app at par with Facebook-owned WhatsApp which also has over 1.3 billion monthly active users (MAUs). WhatsApp, however, has rolled out the testing phase of its digital payment feature in India -- a first such move globally -- which will be officially rolled out to its over 200 million Indian users in the days to come. When launched, the new payments feature is set to give a tough competition to Paytm and other digital payment services like Google Tez. The payments feature would take advantage of UPI (Unified Payments Interface) and include support by a number of banks, including the State Bank of India, ICICI Bank, HDFC Bank, and Axis Bank. --IANS na/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fortis Healthcare on Thursday decided to constitute an "expert advisory committee" to evaluate all binding proposals for fund infusion. The company's Board in a regulatory filing with the BSE said while evaluating all the offers from suitors such as Hero Enterprise-Burman Family, Fosun Health Holdings, IHH Healthcare Berhad and Manipal Hospital Enterprises approved the constitution of the panel to "oversee the evaluation process and function as an advisor". As per the filing, the committee has "been requested to provide a report of its recommendation to the Board, by April 26, 2018, and will be chaired by Deepak Kapoor, Former Chairman and CEO of Price Waterhouse Coopers, India". The panel is likley to meet by April 25 to decide on the merger or buy offers, Brian Tempest, Director of Board, Fortis Healthcare, said in a conference call following the Board meet. "The Board is scheduled to meet on April 26, 2018 to decide the further course of action. Standard Chartered Bank, the company's financial advisors has been directed to assist the expert advisory committee and the Board," the BSE filing said. Tempest also clarified that there was no proposal from KKR-backed hospital chain Radiant Lifecare as was widely speculated. Earlier in the day, Fortis Healthcare informed the BSE in two separate filings, that its Board has received two improved binding offer to invest in the company from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and the Burman Family Office as well as IHH Healthcare Berhad. The new binding offer from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and the Burman Family Office entails an investment of Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company and will replace the original offer made to the Board on April 12, 2018. On April 12, 2018 Hero Enterprise promoted by Sunil Munjal and the Burman family offered to invest Rs 1,250 crore directly in Fortis Healthcare. After the board meet Sunil Kant Munjal, Chairman, Hero Enterprise said: "We are pleased to note that the Board of Fortis Healthcare has found merit in our offer, which is simple, binding and is the quickest to implement. We believe that our offer is the most compelling, and is significantly better than any other options being explored by the company. We believe that this is the only offer which is in the best interest of all stakeholders of Fortis." In a separate stock exchange filing to the BSE, Fortis said that it has received a "supplemental proposal" from IHH. On April 14, the company reported that it has received EoI from IHH Healthcare Berhad for possible due diligence and participation with the company. The IHH in its letter to the company's Board on April 11, 2018 made an offer of Rs 160 per Fortis share. On Thursday, Fortis Healthcare's shares closed trading at Rs 148.45 per share, up 2.66 per cent at the BSE. Besides IHH, Fortis Healthcare has received "an unsolicited non-binding expression of interest (EoI)" from Fosun Health Holdings for a possible due diligence. Fosun Health Holdings, in its letter to the company's Board, made an offer of a "primary infusion at a price up to Rs 156 per share, subject to due diligence to be completed within three weeks, up to a total investment of $350 million" including a preliminary investment of up to Rs 100 crore. However, Fortis Healthcare on March 27 had announced plans to demerge its hospitals business (Fortis Hospitals) into Manipal Hospital Enterprises Private Ltd (Manipal Hospitals). The company at that time said the proposed transaction is subject to shareholders' approval, creditors' approval, applicable regulatory approvals (including Competition Commission of India, SEBI, stock exchanges and National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT)) and other customary conditions precedent. The company's board has also approved the sale of its 20 per cent stake in SRL Ltd to Manipal Hospitals. --IANS rv-ppg-ag/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Srinivas Loya, the brother of Judge B.H. Loya, declined to comment on the Supreme Court order on Thursday dismissing a petition seeking a SIT probe into the death of Judge Loya, saying "it's futile". "We have nothing to say... Whatever has happened, has happened. What can we do now?" said Srinivas Loya, who lives in Latur in the Marathwada region of Maharashtra. He said when the Supreme Court has not heeded big lawyers like Prashant Bhushan "then what is our standing before them... We are very small people". "The best is we will not say anything in the matter now. How will it help? We can do nothing further... It's futile," Srinivas Loya said in a resigned tone. Earlier in the day, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that there was absolutely no merit in the petition and Judge Loya had met a natural death. Judge Loya was conducting a trial in a case related to the killing of criminal Sohrabuddin Sheikh, who was allegedly shot in a staged shoot-out. --IANS qn/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The West Bengal CID on Thursday arrested three persons and seized two firearms and several rounds of ammunition from them in the state's North 24 Parganas district, an official said. According to the sleuths, the three had gathered at the house of a hardened criminal named Kalyan Das in North 24 Parganas district's Halisahar town where an arms deal was being negotiated. Though Das managed to flee before the raid, the sleuths chased and apprehended three of his associates and seized a country made revolver and three rounds of ammunition. A loaded single smaller gun was recovered from Das' residence, the official said. "Bijoy Sarkar, 23, Raja Muhuri, 20 and Aman Das, 22, were arrested following a hot chase by the Crime Investigation Department (CID). All of them are residents of Halisahar. A country-made revolver with .303 ammunition, and two 9mm ammunition were seized from them," Nishad Parvez, Deputy Inspector General, West Bengal CID, said in a release. A case has been registered under the Arms Act against the criminals. "The three arrested persons were produced in court on Thursday. They have been remanded to three days in police custody," the officer added. --IANS mgr/pgh/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Scouting for untapped international markets in the face of dwindling fruit exports, the government has zeroed in on Kazakhstan, which is expected to open up local markets in the Central Asian region, where tropical fruits are in demand. "The region remains covered under snow for almost six months of the year. They have (sub-tropical) pomegranate and grapes. Our embassy in Kazakhstan has informed us that tropical fruits are in much demand there. So we are going to promote Indian varieties of mango, pineapple and banana," APEDA Chairman D.K. Singh told IANS. "The move will open up the markets in the surrounding countries since Kazakhstan acts as distribution centre in the region," he added. Kazakhstan is a part of the Commonwealth of Independent States (CIS), a regional grouping of former Soviet republics, including Russia. The other CIS countries are Azerbaijan, Armenia, Belarus, Kyrgyzstan, Moldova, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan, Uzbekistan and Ukraine. While Mango varieties from across the country would would be chosen for the exports, pineapples would be preferred from Sikkim. "We can easily air-transport banana to (Kazakhstan capital) Almaty in just three hours," Singh said. (Last year, APEDA managed to send 250 tonnes of bananas from Kochi to Dubai through ships despite the low shelf-life of the fruit.) According to APEDA data, global exports of fruits fell to 455,805 tonnes during April-January 2017-18 from 581,718 tonnes in the corresponding period in 2016-17. Similarly, vegetable exports in the same period fell to 1,882,035 tonnes from 2,871,370 tonnes in 2016-17. Currently, the export of agricultural commodities to Russia is at a "comfortable" scale but other CIS countries do not import "much" from India, Singh said. India exported 28,755 tonnes of fruit to Russia in 2016-17 but the quantity has reduced this year as just 15,244 tonnes could be exported during April-January 2017-18. Ukraine and Belarus have also been importing Indian fruit, but the share has reduced this year. While imports by Armenia and Azerbaijan have not been considerable this year, it has been nil for Georgia and Moldova. There has been no fruit trade with the remaining CIS countries. This summer, APEDA will conduct market promotion activities for Indian varieties of mangoes in Kazakhstan, South Korea, China and Iran. "Last year, we exported 60-70 tonnes of mangoes to South Korea. This year, we expect it to be 100 tonnes. We are going to take some exporters to these countries this year to promote our mangoes," Singh said. Iran had approved of the mango treatment facilities in India last year and subsequently imported 500 tonnes of mangoes. Singh said the export body was facing difficulties in selling mangoes in the Chinese market due to tariff barriers and issues with translation. "We have been trying hard to export mangoes to China. But issues like tariff barriers, and faults in translation have created obstructions. We are trying to create bonds with them. This year we have decided to enter the market with a token export of 10-25 tonnes," he said. (Saurabh Katkurwar can be contacted at saurabh.k@ians.in) --IANS spk/vm/ky (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actress Kiara Advani, who featured in "M.S. Dhoni: The Untold Story", is all set to make her debut in Telugu cinema opposite superstar Mahesh Babu in "Bharat Ane Nenu". She says its a blessing to be able to cater to the audience in the north and south market. Excerpts from the interview: Q. You seem to have discovered alternate success in the Telugu film industry. How did this happen? And how comfortable are you doing films in Telugu? A. I think I got really lucky that there was this demand for me to do a Telugu film. Success is met when hard work meets the right opportunity. I'm still awaiting the release of the film to know how I fare with the audience. It's like giving an exam and waiting for your results. Q. How did you bag "Bharat Ane Nenu" and what was it like working with Mahesh Babu? A. Mahesh's wife Namrata had been in touch with me. She felt this would be the right project to debut with. My director Koratala Siva Garu came to Mumbai to meet me which was when he took me through the script of the film. The subject and content drew me to the project. I had also watched his earlier films and admired his ability to tell stories that are contemporary and topical in the most relatable, commercial and entertaining manner. It's also extremely important that my role lends to the story. To top it off, I was cast opposite the biggest star and so it was too good to say no. Q. Now you have signed another Telugu film, this time with Ram Charan Teja. Are you planning to shift to Telugu cinema? A. I'm happy that I'm able to balance my work schedule and do projects in both Hindi and the south. We're living in a time where language is no longer a barrier when it comes to viewing cinema. I'm lucky that I will be reaching out to a wider audience both north and south and as an artiste that's a blessing. Q. What about your career in Hindi cinema? Where does that stand? Do you regret not being able to cash in on the success of "Dhoni"? A. I've been extremely fortunate to be working with the finest directors in the country. "Dhoni" was an extremely loved film and it's overwhelming that people still come up to me and have connected with me as Sakshi. This year is very special because along with my debut Telugu film releasing this month, I'm also looking forward to the release of my next Hindi film in June called "Lust Stories", produced by Ronnie Screwvala and Ashi Dua and directed by Karan Johar. --IANS skj/rb/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed concern over the manner in which advocate Prashant Bhushan has acted with a "lack of objectivity" and his assertions have bordered on an attempt to "misrepresent the facts and mislead the court". The observation of a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud came while dismissing PIL seeking a SIT probe into the death of Judge B.H. Loya in 2014 at Nagpur. Loya was heading the trial court that was holding a trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh shootout. The bench took note of the expert opinion from Upendra Kaul, a former Professor of Cardiology at AIIMS, submitted by Bhushan, who had sought the doctor's professional opinion on certain queries relating to the medical evidence available on record. The bench said that in their practice before this court, counsel are "expected to assist the court with a sense of objectivity in aid of justice". "But what has happened here is that Bhushan has adopted a dual mantle, assuming the character of a counsel for the intervenor as well as an individual personally interested on behalf of the intervening organisation (NGO CPIL) of which he is a member. "He has gone to the length of personally collecting evidence to somehow bolster the case. The manner in which the opinion of Dr Kaul was obtained on the basis of a laconic questionnaire leaves much to be desired and is a singular reflection on the lack of objectivity which is to be expected from counsel appearing before this court. This has bordered on an attempt to misrepresent the facts and mislead the court," the bench added on its judgement. --IANS gt/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP on Thursday said the "invisible hand" behind the petition on Judge B.H. Loya case was of the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi and they should apologise to the country for defaming the judiciary. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came down heavily on opposition parties after the Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the death of Judge Loya. Addressing the media soon after the apex court pronounced its verdict over death of Judge Loya, who was earlier holding trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the petitions were filed with a political agenda. "For sometime, a few people were trying to politicise the judiciary. The court has slammed the petitioners who were demanding a SIT probe into the death of Judge Loya," he said. Accusing the Congress of being the "invisible political power or a political platform" behind the petition, Patra said it was an attempt to settle political rivalry. "Who held a press conference on January 12, 2018? It was Rahul Gandhi. It will be true to say the invisible hand, the invisible body that the Supreme Court is talking about... is none other than Rahul Gandhi and the Congress," he said. "You people lost power because of your inefficiencies. And it's the reason why you people are so jealous. Rahul Gandhi should come out and apologize to (BJP President) Amit Shah, the country and judiciary," he said. He said that all the petitions were politically motivated and were aimed at defaming Amit Shah. "Today, he (Rahul Gandhi) got a befitting reply from the Supreme Court." He accused the Congress of using such tactics as they were not able to fight politically against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah. "The Congress has always promoted one family and when they are out of power they hatch such conspiracies," he said. Holding that there was absolutely no merit in the petition, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said Judge Loya had met a natural death. --IANS aks-bns/pgh/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 29-year-old man from Punjab on Thursday committed suicide in Haryana's Faridabad town after shooting his wife, police said, adding that the woman also succumbed to her injury. According to the police, Narender Singh arrived at his in-laws' house in Sector 30 of the city on Wednesday night and went to sleep after having dinner. Singh's wife Chranjeet Kaur alias Nikki was living with her parents following some dispute with her husband. Singh hailed from Punjab's Amritsar and was into the cable business in Chandigarh. Deceased Nikki's mother told the police that the couple got married four years ago and had two children -- a three-year-old daughter and a one-year-old son. "Singh was an alcoholic and used to beat up Nikki. Following regular torture, my daughter had started living with us for the last few months," the deceased's mother told the police. Nikki was shot at on Thursday while washing clothes. "After shooting at his wife, the accused also shot himself. Singh died on the spot while his wife succumbed to her injury on the way to hospital," a senior police officer said. He said that a countrymade pistol and cartridges were recovered from the scene of the crime. "We are trying to find out the exact cause behind the killing of his wife and the extreme step taken by the man," the officer added. --IANS pradeep/nir/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A top bureaucrat in Japan's Finance Ministry has resigned following allegations that he sexually harassed female journalists. Junichi Fukuda has denied the accusations reported in a magazine which said it had evidence against him, the BBC reported on Thursday. Fukuda said he was resigning only because he did not want to disrupt work at the ministry which already "faces a severe situation". The allegations that Fukuda had made sexually suggestive comments to female journalists were first reported by the magazine Shukan Shincho. The publication also released an audio clip earlier this week which it said was the voice of the bureaucrat saying "Can I give you a hug?" and "Can I touch your breasts?", the BBC reported. Prior to Fukuda's resignation, Japan's newspaper employees union had issued a statement calling for better protection of women in the workplace. Japan's Finance Ministry is under fire for allegedly having altered documents to shield Prime Minister Shinzo Abe from accusations of cronyism. The ministry said it plans to appoint a law firm to investigate the accusations. In another case, Niigata Prefecture Governor Ryuichi Yoneyama stepped down over accusations that he paid women for relationships. Yoneyama explained his resignation saying those relations might "look to some like prostitution". Prostitution is illegal in Japan but prosecution is rare. Yoneyama, who is unmarried, said he was stepping down to avoid further political "turmoil". "It was hard to find someone to date... I did give gifts and money to get attention," he said at a news conference. #MeToo movement, sparked by the Harvey Weinstein scandal in Hollywood, started a broad pushback against sexual harassment in many countries around the world. But Japan's socially conservative society has so far been slow to join the drive. --IANS soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Miguel Diaz-Canel was elected on Thursday as Cuba's new President, as the successor of Raul Castro who concluded two consecutive five-year terms in office. In his first speech as the new head of state before the National Assembly, Diaz-Canel said that "in this new legislature there will be no space for those aspiring to a capitalist restoration". "Only for those aspiring to continue improving our socialism," Xinhua quoted the President as saying. Diaz-Canel said that "by decision of the people, the only choice we have is to continue the work started by the founding fathers of Cuban revolution in 1959, through the unity of all the generations of Cubans". The leader highlighted the responsibility of taking the presidential office and remarked that he "will fulfil with honour the orders of the people, following the steps of the historic first generation of the revolution". Concerning to the election of the new legislature, Diaz-Canel described it as the "ratification of the democracy", with the main protagonist being the Cuban people. "It is a legislature, emerged from the people, which will control its function and will participate in the decision of measures and the implementation of the approved policies," Diaz-Canel said. Diaz-Canel, former first Vice-President and an electronics engineer who will turn 58 this Friday, was nominated by the National Candidature Commission on Wednesday after he was proposed by the 604 National Assembly lawmakers to head the country. After handing over the presidency to his successor, Castro, 86, remains as a lawmaker in the parliament and as the first secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba, which is considered as the leading force of the Cuban society. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A hotline between South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will open on Friday ahead of their summit set for April 27, Seoul's presidential office said on Thursday. "The hotline between the leaders will be connected tomorrow and working-level officials will conduct a trial call," presidential spokesman Kim Eui-keyom was cited as saying by Yonhap news agency. The two Koreas agreed that Moon and Kim will hold telephone talks before the summit, the report said. The spokesman said the date of the first telephone talks between the two leaders had not been fixed. The two sides will hold separate rehearsals ahead of the landmark summit, he said. The phone line will directly link South Korea's Presidential Palace Blue House to the State Affairs Commission, the office of the North Korea leader. Moon and Kim agreed to have their first phone talks via the hotline, before holding their first summit at Peace House, a South Korean building in the border village of Panmunjom. The Peace House is under renovation and the work will end on Friday, the spokesman said. South Korea's presidential office said six senior officials -- Chief of Staff Im Jong-seok, head of the National Security Office Chung Eui-yong, chief of the National Intelligence Service Suh Hoon, Unification Minister Cho Myoung-gyon, Defence Minister Song Young-moo and Foreign Minister Kang Kyung-wha -- will accompany Moon to the April summit. --IANS and/soni/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio called on the Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh here on Thursday and discussed issues related to development as well as support for improvement of police infrastructure in the state, an official statement said. "The Chief Minister apprised the Union Home Minister about the situation in the state and the issues on which it requires support of the Centre such as improvement of police infrastructure," a Home Ministry statement said. Minister of State for Home Affairs Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba and senior officers from the ministry and the state government were also present during the meeting. Rio described the meeting as "positive" and thanked the Home Minister for expressing concerns for development of the state. "Had a positive meeting with the Home Minister along with my colleague Kazheto Kinimi and discussed matters related to development of Nagaland. Thankful to him for his concern for development of our region," Rio said in a tweet. --IANS bns/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Overcrowded prisons in Australia have prompted calls for mandatory sentencing to be abolished, a media report said on Thursday. The problem has led to bed shortages in the facilities, said Beth Wild, manager of the criminal law section of the Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (Naaja). "Prisoners are sleeping on floors, on mattresses and outside. They are asking not to be brought to court so that they don't lose their beds," said Wild on Thursday. A total of 1,833 people were incarcerated across the Northern Territory (NT), Xinhua news agency reported citing the NT Corrections Department figures. The NT has the highest rate of incarceration. The territory's largest prison, the Darwin Correctional Facility, was found to be three per cent overcapacity with 1,087 prisoners house there. The Alice Springs prison was 30 per cent overcapacity with 642 detainees. "(The Territory government) should get rid of mandatory sentencing immediately. In the long-term it will save money as incarcerating people is expensive," Wild said. The average cost of keeping a prisoner behind bars in 2015-16 was $154.9 per day. --IANS and/in (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Tamil Nadu Deputy Chief Minister O. Panneerselvam on Thursday met N.K. Singh, Chairman of the 15th Finance Commission, in New Delhi and put across the state's views on the latter's Terms of Reference (ToR), an official said. The Deputy Chief Minister, who also holds the Finance portfolio, led a delegation of 40 parliamentarians from the AIADMK, including Lok Sabha Deputy Speaker M. Thambi Durai. He also handed over a memorandum signed by Chief Minister K. Palaniswami. The state government's major concern is the use of 2011 census data by the 15th Finance Commission, which is disadvantageous for Tamil Nadu when it comes to allocation of funds by the central government. According to the Tamil Nadu government, the state has controlled population growth and therefore, share of funds by the Central Government based on 2011 census data will be less as compared 1971 census figures. The delegation wanted the Commission to balance the need for fiscal transfers to less developed states with the growing aspirations of better performing states. Singh assured the visiting delegation that the Commission would give the state a "careful consideration", said a statement from the Ministry of Finance. "A progressive state like Tamil Nadu which has contributed greatly to India's prosperity would certainly receive the Commission's careful consideration. Commission's visit to the state of Tamil Nadu was finalised for end of September," said Singh in the statement. "Fiscal needs of each state will be individually assessed and their special characteristics will be kept in view," Singh added. --IANS vj-mgu/nir (Only the headline and picture of this report may have been reworked by the Business Standard staff; the rest of the content is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A political slugfest erupted on Thursday over Supreme Court's verdict dismissing petitions seeking a SIT probe into the death of Judge B.H. Loya, with the BJP accusing Congress chief Rahul Gandhi as the "invisible hand" behind the pleas for "character assasination" of its chief Amit Shah while Gandhi attacked Shah, saying truth has its own way of catching up with people like him. Soon after the court verdict, senior BJP leaders including Union Ministers Rajnath Singh and Ravi Shankar Prasad alleging that the pleas were a conspiracy by the Congress and its President to finish the political career of Shah. Addressing a press conference, Prasad said: "This was not a PIL. Basically, it was filed to promote the interest of Congress. It was filed to cause damage to Amit Shah in particular." He said that Gandhi conspired to target Shah as it believes that only one family had a right to rule the country. "It was a conspiracy by the Congress and Gandhi to finish the political career of Shah," Prasad said, adding: "The biggest tragedy of the proceedings was that to settle political scores, even the judicial authorities and judges were sought to be scandalised." Prasad also demanded that Gandhi apologise over the issue. Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to attack Congress, saying that the judiciary has sent a message that it cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta. "It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of 'fake facts'. These attempts have failed miserably once again," he said, adding that the apex court has not only rejected the PIL pertaining to Justice Loya's death but also raised serious questions on the intention of filing such PILs. BJP Spokesperson Sambit Patra said the "invisible hand" behind the petition was of the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi and they should apologise to the country for defaming the judiciary. "Who held a press conference on January 12, 2018? Who led 100 leaders before President over the issue? It was Rahul Gandhi. It will be true to say the invisible hand, the invisible body that the Supreme Court is talking about... is none other than Rahul Gandhi and the Congress," he said. Holding that there was absolutely no merit in the petition, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said Judge Loya had met a natural death. Gandhi also took to Twitter to respond to BJP's charges. "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him," he said. His party meanwhile rejected the "natural death" theory of judge Loya and said it was a "sad letter day" in India's history and reiterated its demand for a "fair" investigation. "Today is a 'Sad Letter Day' in India's history. Congress is committed to people's demand for a fair investigation in the matter surrounding Judge Loya's death," said Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala, holding that not even judiciary can decide whether a death is natural or not without an investigation. He also said it was "intriguing" that Prasad had a copy of the Supreme Court judgment in the controversial death case when even lawyers or media did not have it and the court website had crashed. Meanwhile, the Communist Party of India-Marxist (CPI-M) dubbed as "unfortunate" the court's verdict and demanded that the case be heard by a larger bench of the apex court. "The Supreme Court's rejection of all petitions demanding an independent probe into the death of Judge Loya and holding such petitions as 'scandalous' by a three-member Bench is unfortunate," the party, whose 22nd Congress is in session in Hyderabad, said in a statement. --IANS bns/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) German state prosecutors and regional police have searched several premises associated with the car makers Porsche and Audi in the ongoing "dieselgate scandal", a spokesperson for the Stuttgart State Prosecution Office confirmed on Wednesday. The spokesperson said that Stuttgart-based Porsche and Ingolstadt-based Audi were being investigated for potentially committing criminal offences of fraud and illicit advertising in connection to diesel emissions cheating practices. Three Porsche employees, including one member of the management board, have been formally listed as suspects in the case by German judicial authorities, Xinhua reported. Reacting to the incident on Wednesday, a Porsche spokesperson said investigators had examined and secured documents at corporate premises. Porsche and Audi, both of which are subsidiaries of the larger Wolfsburg-based Volkswagen Group, are being targeted in a joint investigatory effort by state prosecutors in the "dieselgate" scandal. The spokesperson said the two firms were fully cooperating with the authorities. Around 30 state prosecutors, as well as 160 officers have joined forces to shine a light on Porsche and Audi's potential involvement in the installation of illegal software which understated nitrogen oxide (Nox) emissions levels produced by diesel vehicles including the Porsche "Cayenne". Audi was responsible for delivering large six-cylinder diesel motors to Porsche used in the "Cayenne" SUV of the brand. The Stuttgart State Prosecution Office noted that Audi premises in Ingolstadt and in Neckarsulm were also searched, but did not provide any additional information to press. The spokesperson merely said that investigators were trying to secure more evidence to assist ongoing investigations. Porsche has voluntarily ordered recalls of its Macan SUVs following reports that diesel versions of the model emitted significantly more NOx than is permissible under European Union (EU) clean air regulations. The German ministry for transport subsequently ordered a formal ban on new registrations for Porsche "Cayenne" cars with 3.0-liter diesel motors. So far, Porsche and Audi's mother corporation Volkswagen has paid out more than $31 billion in settlements and fines as a result of the "dieselgate" scandal since 2015 in the US alone. The Braunschweig State Prosecution Office is currently investigating senior Volkswagen managers on suspicion of market-manipulation offences committed by the publicly-listed car maker. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind has praised the the people of Jammu and Kashmir for their commitment towards tolerance despite heavy odds. Speaking at a civic reception in his honour on Wednesday, the President recalled the days when he visited the Mata Vaishno Devi shrine on foot and shopped in Srinagar's city centre Lal Chowk as a commoner. "Jammu and Kashmir is affected by many ups and downs and turmoil but India is proud of the people of the state and is confident of their ability to use economic and educational opportunities. "I appreciate the state government and its people for showing commitment to development," he added. Kovind also said that the state was the centre of India's culture and spiritual tradition. "People of different faiths following Mahatma Buddha, Sufism, Shaivism and Shakti are part of this cultural legacy," he said. He spoke highly of the Jammu and Kashmir Police for discharging its duties with fortitude despite the heavy odds. Before flying back to New Delhi, the President visited the Mubarak Mandi heritage complex in old city area of Jammu on Thursday. --IANS sq/in/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor R. Madhavan, who has supported leprosy initiatives, wants victims of the skin and nerve disease to live with dignity. Japanese photographer Natsuko Tominaga travelled across India to capture examples of leprosy cured patients. Thirty such photographs of cured leprosy patients are the subject of her photo exhibition. Recognising this effort, Madhavan said in a statement: "Medically, leprosy is a curable disease. Emotionally, it plunders every last ounce of dignity you have - by making you feel rejected and unwanted." "I congratulate the WHO and Nippon Foundation for this photo exhibition of leprosy survivors, heroes who have a message to give - leprosy is just another curable disease!" He also posted an image of one such cured leprosy victim on his social media accounts. Yohei Sasakawa, head of the Nippon Foundation, and the WHO goodwill ambassador for Leprosy Elimination since 2001, said: "These are powerful images of hope, which convey that leprosy is curable and that there is life after leprosy." Speaking about her exhibition, Tominaga said: "I am very grateful to R. Madhavan for his support. His powerful message will energise people to stop discriminating against leprosy." "Over the last 16 years, I have visited many individuals affected by leprosy. It saddens me to see the level of discrimination they face and realise how many members of the general public are not aware that leprosy is a curable disease. "The aim of this exhibition is to show the impact of leprosy on individuals and their families, and raise awareness so that society may be more supportive." The exhibition, which started on Thursday, is on for 10 days at the India International Centre here. --IANS nn/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Move over Bengaluru and Pune. Udaipur in Rajasthan is aiming to set up the biggest start-up hub in the country with a capacity to accommodate 700 newcomers. The state plans to create a strong start-up ecosystem, taking a leap to match the top tech cities in the country. The incubation centre, coming up in Udaipur, will give start-ups and entrepreneurs space, internet connections and other infrastructure facilities -- all free. It will also throw in government funding. "The incubation centre will not charge any kind of fee from start-ups as well as entrepreneurs and shall provide free facilities unlike T-Hub in Hyderabad which charges a fee for different facilities. It will be bigger than the biggest T-Hubs operational in India," Akhil Arora, Principal Secretary, IT and Communication Department of Rajasthan, told IANS. Arora said some of the best incubators were being invited for the hub and the management would be handled by professionals. Mentoring for start-ups would be provided by top corporates. "We will evaluate the performance of start-ups every three months to ensure that they do not turn complacent," he said, adding that entrepreneurs can use the facilities for a maximum of two years. An incubation centre in Jaipur is already running with 45 operating start-ups. The Udaipur one was recently inaugurated -- to be operational from next month -- and had already drawn "exciting response" from the start-up community, he said. "We want to spread wings across the state to provide equal opportunity to all. Incubation Centres would be set up in Kota and Jodhpur for which work had already started," he said. According to Arora, the start-up ecosystem has the potential to germinate new ideas as this is being extended to even students coming out of college, who will be mentored. "We will help them to take their ideas forward, at a time when they lack sufficient capital structure," he added. To take care of funding needs, Bhamashah Technofund was introduced which provides seed capital without any collateral or without detailed evaluation. This was an investment decision taken by the government without expecting big returns, Arora said. Under Technofund, seven start-ups, based on their Q-Ranking -- which blends quality rating and curation -- were funded. While six were given Rs 20 lakh each, the seventh one got Rs 15 lakh. The seven were chosen from over 700 applications. Mudit Jain, founder of Qriyo, and one of the beneficiaries of the funding in Jaipur, said: "Rajasthan's start-up ecosystem is growing and we are receiving constant support from the government. For the first time, we have seen a government expediting the processes at a fast pace." Arora said that for the funding process they had roped in creditable agencies empanelled with the government. "When they grant funding, we match the funds up to Rs 25 lakh, sanctioning them in five days," he said, adding that the government had earmarked Rs 500 crore to meet the funding requirement of start-ups. Also, the government gives a grant of Rs 2 lakh to help them try out their ideas. For those looking for expansion, equity capital and interest-free loans are provided after proposals are evaluated by an external jury. "We are confident that entrepreneurs and start-ups will get their best in Rajasthan as we provide quality lifestyle too, which is missing in Bengaluru, Pune and other similar cities due to modern-day challenges such as traffic and pollution," Arora said. (Archana Sharma can be reached at archana.s@ians.in) --IANS arc/hs/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nine people, including six women, are on a 72-hour hunger strike in the Bihar capital here. They are protesting against the rape cases in Kathua, Unnao, Surat and Rohtas that have led to countrywide outrage. They are seeking to mobilise voices against the rising cases of crimes against women across the country. The hunger strike being held near the statue of Mahatma Gandhi at Gandhi Maidan started here on Tuesday. The protesters belong to women's rights and advocacy bodies, civil society and social activists. At least 50 people have joined the relay hunger strike, the protesters said. Protests have hit various cities across the nation following the brutal rape and murder of an eight-year-old in Jammu's Kathua district. Shocking reports of a Dalit girl having been raped by a sitting MLA in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district added fuel to it. Subsequent reports of gang rapes in Gujarat's Surat district and Bihar's Rohtas have further enraged the people. Police inaction in these cases at different points have raised questions. The protesters have demanded stricter laws for rape; increase in the Nirbhaya fund besides life imprisonment to the accused in rape cases and ensuring that investigations are completed within 90 days. --IANS ik/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Miguel Diaz-Canel, Cuba's 57-year-old first Vice President and Communist Party loyalist, replaced Raul Castro as the country's new President on Thursday. It is the first time since the revolution in 1959 that a Castro is not at the helm of the government. Cuba's National Assembly concluded a two-day session where Raul Castro stepped down after 10 years in the presidency and endorsed the election of Diaz-Canel, his handpicked successor, the BBC reported. According to the National Assembly, Diaz-Canel was approved as the sole candidate for President. There was a single dissenting vote to Diaz-Canel's nomination as he was confirmed by 99.83 per cent of the vote. The 86-year-old Castro will remain head of the Communist Party, designated by the constitution as "the superior guiding force of society and the state". Afier the vote, the two men embraced each other as hundreds of National Assembly delegates cheered, the Cuban state TV reported. In his inaugural speech, Diaz-Canel said that his mandate was "to ensure the continuity of the Cuban revolution at a key historic moment". He said that Cuba's foreign policy would remain "unaltered" and that any "necessary changes" would be decided by the Cuban people. He also said that there was "no room in Cuba for those who strive for the restoration of capitalism". --IANS soni/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Reliance Industries (RIL) and British oil major BP on Thursday jointly announced the sanction of development work on the "Satellite cluster" deep-water gas fields in their Krishna Godavari (KG) D6 block on the eastern offshore. According to a statement here, the "Satellite cluster" is the second of three projects in block KG D6, being operated by the RIL-led consortium that includes BP and the Canada-headquartered Niko Resources. "The companies are moving forward to develop the block's discovered deep-water gas fields in an integrated series of projects, bringing new gas production for India," it said. "The 'Satellite cluster' is the second of three projects in the Block KG D6 integrated development. The first of the projects, development of the 'R-Series' deep-water gas fields, was sanctioned in June 2017. "Together the three projects will develop a total of about three trillion cubic feet of discovered gas resources with a total investment of Rs 40,000 crore ($6 billion). "They are expected to bring a total of 30-35 million cubic metres (one billion cubic feet) of gas a day new domestic gas production onstream, phased over 2020-2022," it added. Commenting on the development, RIL Chairman Mukesh Ambani said in a statement: "In consonance with our announcements last year to raise domestic gas production, we are delighted to announce the on-schedule progress of the Satellite cluster in the east coast of India." "This latest investment is a further demonstration of BP's commitment to India," the statement cited BP Chief Executive Bob Dudley as saying in London. --IANS bc/in/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Rejecting the "natural death" theory of judge B.H. Loya based on which the Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a petition seeking a SIT probe, the Congress said it is "sad letter day" in India's history and reiterated its demand for a "fair" investigation. "Today is a 'Sad Letter Day' in India's history. Congress is committed to people's demand for a fair investigation in the matter surrounding Judge Loya's death," said Congress spokesman Randeep Surjewala. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking a SIT probe into the death of Judge Loya who was earlier holding trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case, holding he had a natural death. Surjewala maintained that not even judiciary can decide whether a death is natural or not without an investigation, while targeting the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party, saying it was afraid of getting an investigation done. He said Judge Loya's "suspicious death" at a Nagpur guesthouse in November 2014 had anguished many for he was trying a case where one of the accused was (now) BJP President Amit Shah, and the apex court's verdict left many questions unanswered for all those seeking fair investigation and justice. After Loya's death, Amit Shah was discharged and CBI refused to file an appeal against it, he said. Listing the chain of events leading to Judge Loya's "mysterious death" and all the apprehensions expressed by members of his family, judges, jurists, the bar, media and people at large hinting at a conspiracy, Surjewala also noted that the matter was even raised by the four seniormost judges of the Supreme Court in their unprecedented press conference. He questioned the rationale behind using statements of some judges in an administrative enquiry before a police officer as the sole yardstick for arriving at a conclusion, particularly when suspicion was being raised by forensic evidence, witnesses, as well as withdrawal of the judge's security, the lack of his travel records and no entry in the guesthouse's register - while 15 different employees at the Nagpur guesthouse did not even recall that Judge Loya even came there. Surjewala also said that even Loya's family had publicly stated that clothes on his body were blood-stained. He also noted two associates of Judge Loya who were allegedly informed about the pressure being mounted on him to let off the accused also died under suspicious circumstances in 2015 and 2016, but no case had been filed or investigation done, while a third narrowly escaped. Surjewala also said BJP's attempts to make false political capital out of Supreme Court judgment must be condemned, as the Congress was not a petitioner. "For a vile BJP to misinterpret SC's judgement to attack the Congress reflects their jitteriness and frustration," he said. --IANS mgu/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday expressed serious concern over the manner in which Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was being "brazenly mis-utilised" by persons with a personal, political and business agenda. Observing that PIL has "developed as a powerful tool to espouse the cause of the marginalised and oppressed", Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said it was being "brazenly mis-utilised by persons with a personal agenda" and to settle business and political rivalries. "The misuse of PIL is a serious matter of concern for the judicial process," the court said. "Both this court and the High Courts are flooded with litigation and are burdened by arrears. "Frivolous or motivated petitions, ostensibly invoking the public interest," the court said, "detract from the time and attention which courts must devote to genuine causes. "Business rivalries have to be resolved in a competitive market for goods and services. Political rivalries have to be resolved in the great hall of democracy when the electorate votes its representatives in and out of office," the judges said. The time and space of court should not be utilized to settle "extra-judicial scores", the judges said. The court said taking a dim view over the manner in which PIL route was taken for seeking a SIT probe into the death of Judge B.H. Loya in 2014 at Nagpur. He was heading the trial court that was holding a trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh shootout. Holding that PILs were a powerful instrument to preserve the rule of law, the court said: "Yet over time, it has been realised that this jurisdiction is capable of being and has been brazenly mis-utilised by persons with a personal agenda." Speaking for the bench, Justice Chandrachud said: "At one end of that spectrum are those cases where PILs are motivated by a desire to seek publicity." The motivated petitions "pose a grave danger to the credibility of the judicial process", the judges said. --IANS pk/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking a SIT probe into the death of Judge B.H. Loya, who was conducting a trial in the killing of gangster Sohrabuddin Sheikh in Gujarat in which now BJP President Amit Shah was an accused. Holding that there was absolutely no merit in the petitions, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said that Judge Loya met a natural death while in Nagpur. Dismissing the petitions, the court said: "There is no doubt and it is clear from the statements of the judicial officers that Loya died of natural causes." Three of the judicial officers, the court said, had travelled with Judge Loya by train from Mumbai to Nagpur to attend a wedding reception. They stayed together at Ravi Bhawan, attended the function and during the day they also visited the residences of a few judges. Sohrabuddin Sheikh was allegedly shot dead in a stage-managed shoot-out. One of the accused was Amit Shah, who was then the Home Minister in Gujarat when the Chief Minister was now Prime Minister Narendra Modi. After Loya's death in November 2014, Amit Shah was discharged and the CBI refused to file an appeal against it. Thursday's Supreme Court ruling did nothing to quieten the political temperatures. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came down heavily on Congress President Rahul Gandhi, saying he should apologise to Shah, the country and the judiciary. BJP spokesman Sambit Patra said all the petitions were politically motivated and were aimed at defaming Amit Shah. "Today, he (Rahul Gandhi) got a befitting reply from the Supreme Court." Law Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad echoed the sentiment and said Rahul Gandhi should hang his head in shame. The Congress retorted that Thursday was a "sad letter day" in India's history and reiterated its demand for a fair investigation into Loya's "mysterious death". It listed the chain of events leading to his death. The Communist Party of India-Marxist demanded that the case be heard by a larger bench and described as "unfortunate" the apex court's rejection of demands for an independent probe into Loya's death. The judgment pronounced by Justice Chandrachud took exception to the way the Public Interest Litigation (PIL) was filed and insinuations were made against the committee of administrators of the Bombay High Court and the judges of the Supreme Court in the course of the hearing. But the court said it was not initiating civil contempt against the petitioner for scandalising the judiciary. It pulled up the petitioners for making unfounded allegations against the judicial officers which were extraneous to the issue. "The PIL was misused with a political agenda that one man was behind everything. It is a matter of serious concern when court is faced with frivolous PILs and several genuine cases involving personal liberty of under-privileged are pending. "It is a travesty of justice in the guise of demanding independence of judiciary as if there is a great danger to this institution," the court said. "It gives a sense of anguish that the proceedings were converted to scandalise the judiciary bordering on contempt," the court said. --IANS pk/mr/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Islam is about friendship, kindness and peace, and far from roughness and terrorism that it has been lately associated it, avers Majid Majidi, the globally acclaimed Iranian director who once attempted to change the "false" perception of the religion with the film "Muhammad: The Messenger of God". But he realised that the path is full of thorns. For Majidi, cinema has the power to bring people together. "Cinema for me is a bridge between cultures. Cinema has great potential to bring different cultures together because cinema doesn't have any borders. It can travel around the world and have a great effect on human beings around the world. Cinema can show different rituals, different cultures to different countries visually in the best way," Majidi told IANS through a translator on phone from Mumbai. "I made 'Muhammad: The Messenger of God' with this vision.... Because in these years some people have created a false face of Islam, a wrong interpretation of this religion. I wanted to show the truth of that," Majidi said. "Muhammad: The Messenger of God", which traces the life of Prophet Muhammed, and was also Iran's nomination for best foreign language Oscar in 2015, had music by Indian composer A.R. Rahman. Some radicals issued a "fatwa" against Majidi and Rahman in 2015 for the film, which was planned as a trilogy but there's no update on it. Majidi recalled that it was a project close to his heart and he gave seven years of his life to make it. "ISIS and Taliban are wrong and completely lying about Islam... Western countries and Saudi Arabia are showing the wrong face of Islam. I gave seven years for research in filmmaking to show just a small part of real Islam. "Islam is a religion of friendship, kindness and peace, which is completely far from this concept such as roughness and terrorism. I tried to open a small window to show what is real Islam. "But radical Muslim groups, mostly from Saudi Arabia... were scared to show this real part of Islam; so they banned this film, calling it not to be shown in different countries." The Oscar-nominated filmmaker says he wanted to put focus on both parts of Islam -- Shia and Sunni. "After long research around both parts of Islam -- Shia and Sunni -- talking with the religious people of both... I tried to make a film to get unity between these two." But he was disappointed when his film was labelled as "haram" (forbidden). "In different times and occasions, I asked all those religious leaders to come and watch the film because they called it "haram" and gave it a fatwa without watching the film." Majidi, known for masterpieces like "Children of Heaven", "The Colour of Paradise" and "Baran", is confident that "Muhammad: The Messenger of God" will find its "own way". But will he continue on his mission to change the perception about Islam? "Working and filmmaking in this path is very difficult. I gave seven years of my life to this film. And what I did was open a path. The path is now open and I hope others will continue on it," added the director, who says he is influenced by Indian legends like Satyajit Ray and Shyam Benegal. As a director, Majidi says he wants to become the voice of the "lower class of society". "I always tried to show the issues of the lower class of society. I always want to be the voice of all those who have no power to voice their concerns." And he has done so in his own way via his maiden India-set project "Beyond The Clouds", which explores the underbelly of Mumbai and introduces Ishaan Khatter and Malavika Mohanan. The film is about how a brother and sister find happiness in separation and turbulent times. Produced by Zee Studios and Namah Pictures, it is set for release on Friday. (Sugandha Rawal can be contacted at sugandha.r@ians.in) --IANS sug/rb/hs/tb/sac (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The city-based St. Xavier's University will start an MBA course from the coming 2018-19 academic year at its New Town (Rajarhat) campus, its Vice Chancellor Father J Felix Raj said here on Thursday. The MBA programme will roll out in the Xavier Business School under the university. "The University has got approval from All India Council of Technical (AICTE) to begin MBA. programme and is going to start the MBA. Course from the coming academic year 2018-19 in the Xavier Business School (XBS) at its New Town (Rajarhat) campus," Felix Raj told media persons. He said the MBA programme will be a two-year full time residential course, offering specialisations in marketing, finance, human resources and systems & operations. "The permission has been obtained for two sections with 60 students in each," Felix Raj said. The university has already finalised the curriculum and syllabus and started the admission process of the students through national and international level admission tests like XAT, CAT, GMAT and others. As a part of the university's Vision 2025, a full-fledged Law School will also be set up, he said. --IANS ssp/vd (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) As Tesla aims to boost the production of its Model 3 sedan, company CEO has told his staff to cut short unproductive phone calls and meetings. According to a BBC report on Thursday, Musk wrote an email to his staff that also suggested a crackdown on expenditure. Musk advised the staff to "cancel large meetings or if you have to have them, keep them 'very short', walk out of a meeting or end a phone call if it is failing to serve a useful purpose, avoid acronyms or nonsense words." The report quoted Musk as also saying: "We don't want people to have to memorise a glossary just to function at Tesla. Sidestep the 'chain of command' to get the job done. Managers insisting on hierarchies will 'soon find themselves working elsewhere' and ignore the rules if following them is obviously ridiculous." "I have asked the Tesla finance team to comb through every expense worldwide, no matter how small," the email continued. "All contracting companies should consider the coming week to be a final opportunity to demonstrate excellence. Any that fail to meet the Tesla standard of excellence will have their contracts ended on Monday," Musk wrote. The development came a day after Musk said that the company would now build Model 3 sedan round the clock until the end of June to produce 6,000 cars per week. Tesla temporarily suspended its Model 3 assembly line as the firm struggled to deliver on targets. The company said the move was a planned production pause of up to five days. It is the second time since February that Tesla has halted its production line for the Model 3 at its Fremont, California plant. Michael Avenatti, adult movie star Stormy Daniels' lawyer, who is suing US President Donald Trump, on Wednesday exchanged fire with Trump directly on Twitter after the latter posted his first tweet about Daniels. Trump on early Wednesday morning posted a tweet, disputing Daniels' allegation that she was accosted and threatened in 2011 by a man who urged her not to disclose the alleged affair, Xinhua reported. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, released a sketch of the man on Tuesday on ABC's day time talk show programme The View, described details of her sexual relationship with Trump, especially the first encounter that occurred in July 2006, and how she was threatened by a man in 2011, a few weeks after she tried to sell her story with Trump to a magazine for $15,000. "I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter... and a guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.' And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, 'That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom.' And then he was gone," Daniels said. Trump, through representatives, denied his relationship with Daniels and insisted that he was unaware of the payoff by his attorney Michael Cohen, who, Daniels said, had paid her $130,000 before the 2016 presidential election. But he posted his first tweet about the issue, saying "A sketch years later about a nonexistent man, A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!" In reply, Avenatti mocked the president on his official Twitter page, saying "In my experience, there is nothing better in litigation than having a completely unhinged, undisciplined opponent who is prone to shooting himself in the foot. Always leads to BIGLY problems...like new claims (i.e. defamation)". In another tweet, Avenatti referred to "FBI search warrants uncovering EXISTING documents and recordings showing con job after con job pulled on REAL people and very REAL American citizens". Avenatti on Tuesday announced on the programme The View to offer a $100,000 reward for the identification of the man, he raise the rewards to $131,000 hours later. Daniels is now suing Trump and Cohen in Los Angeles court to be released from a non-disclosure agreement between the third parts because Trump never signed it. FBI agents raided Cohen's office and home in New York last week as part of a criminal probe and seized files related to the case. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Chief Minister Biplab Kumar Deb has said that Tripura will flourish swiftly if tourism is developed, and his BJP government will do everything to transform it into a model state in the next three years. Speaking here late on Wednesday after launching a new English daily the "North East Colors", he said Tripura has world class bio-diversity. "To enjoy the eco-forest or rainforest, you need not go to the Amazon rainforest in South America. Southern Tripura's Dambur Lake is a better option," Deb added. "My government will work more, speak less. My government's work will speak for itself. My government will not deceive the people," said Deb, who is also the Tripura Pradesh President of the Bharatiya Janata Party. The "North East Colors", published by the state's leading daily group "Dainik Sambad", is the third English daily to be published from the state. Hailing Narendra Modi, Deb said he is the first Prime Minister to have shown the courage to take a decision like the one on demonetisation of high value currencies and the introduction of the Goods and Services Tax (GST). "Former Prime Minister Indira Gandhi and other ministers only thought about demonetisation, but did nothing," he added. Deb defected from the Congress in August 2017 and won the assembly polls on a BJP ticket. --IANS sc/in/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With the Supreme Court dismissing pleas for an SIT probe into the death of Judge B.H. Loya, Congress President Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said truth will finally catch up with BJP President Amit Shah. "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him," tweeted Gandhi. At the time of his death, Judge Loya was presiding over the trial in a case related to the killing of Sohrabuddin Sheikh in an alleged staged shootout in November 2005 near Gandhinagar in which the now BJP chief was an accused. Shah was later discharged from the case. --IANS sid/tsb/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Grammy nominated American rapper Tyga is expected to visit Delhi's tourist attractions like Qutub Minar and India Gate during his less than 24-hour maiden India trip. He will arrive in the capital on Friday evening to promote his newly-released "Kyoto" album as part of his world tour. For his visit, event management company White Fox India is going to arrange a Mercedes V Class and a seven spread Indian meal. The food will include butter chicken, chole bhature, biryani, mango kulfi and more. The artiste will be doing a quick trip around the city at places like Qutub Minar, India Gate and Gurudwara Bangla Sahib before he hits the luxury pop-up sponsored by Absolut Elyx at The Grand hotel in Vasant Kunj at 1 a.m. on Saturday. Arjun Jain of White Fox India said in a statement: "This is Tyga's first visit to India and though he is here for less than 24 hours, we want to show him around." "Luckily his performance will start much later at night giving us enough time to show him a few key spots in the capital." The 28-year-old is expected to perform tracks like "AYO", "Rack city" and "Still got it" at the Delhi gig. --IANS nn/him/bg (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The US and China, the most important trade partners to each other, need cooperation instead of trade wars, said Michael Bloomberg, founder of Bloomberg L.P. Bloomberg made the remarks at the 2018 International Finance and Infrastructure Cooperation Forum held jointly by Bloomberg L.P. and China General Chamber of Commerce-USA (CGCC) in New York on Wednesday, Xinhua news agency reported. "This forum comes at a critical juncture in the US as leaders in Washington are considering new trade policies that would hamper economic growth and strain ties with nations around the world, including China," said Bloomberg. "The US and China are closely interconnected and each country has a strong stake in the economic prosperity of the other. Cooperation between the US and China is critical to meeting all of the challenges facing our world, from economic growth and trade to security and climate change," he said. Bloomberg said that China and the US are top trading partners to each other, each benefiting from the other's success. No country in history has undergone such extensive economic reforms and with as much success as China, he added. In its second year, the forum provides a high-level platform for companies in the US and China to exchange perspectives, against the backdrop of an escalating trade spat between the two countries. --IANS and/hs (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court on Thursday sought the presence of the Chief Secretaries of Delhi and Haryana on April 23, after it was told by the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) that it has not been receiving sufficient water from Haryana. Justice Madan B. Lokur and Justice Deepak Gupta, taking note of the DJB's submission that Haryana had reduced the Yamuna water supply to Delhi leading to a severe water crisis in the capital, asked the Chief Secretaries of both states to be present before it on Monday. The bench observed that people were dying but state authorise were not showing any urgency on the issue. With Delhi facing a water shortage, the DJB earlier moved the Supreme Court seeking directions to Haryana to release adequate water to the Wazirabad reservoir, alleging that one-third of the Yamuna water supply had been reduced. The petition filed in the apex court sought instructions to Haryana to supply 450 cusecs of potable water daily to Delhi as agreed upon between the states. Haryana was supplying to Delhi only 330 cusecs of water daily as against 450 cusec per day, the DJB petition said. "Delhi is in the midst of an acute water crisis owing to stopping of supply of water by Haryana in the Yamuna, which is meant for drinking purposes in Delhi," the plea stated. The DJB's water treatment plants have been functioning below their capacities over the past few weeks due to drop in the level of Yamuna water and release of polluted water from Haryana that could not be treated, it added. Yamuna water sharing between Delhi and Haryana has been a contentious issue for decades and the apex court had ordered Haryana to release 450 cusecs of water daily to Delhi in February 1996. --IANS gt/nir/mr (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The White House on Thursday denied that Secretary of Defense James Mattis had advised US President Donald Trump against striking Syria before seeking Congress sanction. "Reports that Secretary Mattis urged the President to seek congressional approval before last week's strikes in Syria are categorically false," a statement from White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. "As Secretary Mattis explained to Congress in yesterday's all-member briefs, the President appropriately ordered the strikes under his constitutional authorities," the statement said. The response came after the US media cited military and administration sources as saying that Mattis had urged Trump to seek Congressional approval before punishing Syria for alleged use of chemical weapons, Xinhua reported. Trump, who was said to be eager to back up his fiery tweets against the Syrian government, reportedly then overruled Mattis. The US, in coordination with the UK and France, fired a barrage of missiles against three targets in Syria that it alleged contained, manufactured or researched chemical weapons. The attack was carried out without sanction from the United Nations Security Council in accordance with the UN charter, nor was it based on any findings from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a UN watchdog tasked to investigate alleged uses of chemical weapons in Syria. The US, with its allies, said they have obtained evidence to support their claim, but has not yet released any of the evidence. The attack came one year after US forces took out a Syrian government military airfield, which it said supported chemical attacks. --IANS qd/ (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Commission for Women (DCW) Chairperson Swati Maliwal, who is on an indefinite hunger strike demanding a stringent law against rapists, continued it for the seventh day on Thursday, saying she is ready to sacrifice anything to get her demands accepted. "The Prime Minister during his speech in London said a rape is rape, it shouldn't be politicised. But, I want to know who is then politicising it? We (DCW) are not politicising it. "We want implementation of a law which punishes convicted rapists within six months. I request him to take some action instead of providing verbal assurance," Maliwal, 33, said at Raj Ghat where she is sitting on protest. Communist Party of India (CPI) leader D. Raja joined Maliwal on the seventh day and questioned Modi's "politicising recent rape incidents" comment and promised the DCW chief of raising the issue in Parliament in monsoon session. In a letter to Modi written last week, the DCW chief said: "I will not break my 'anshan' (fast) until the Prime Minister promises the country a better system for the safety of our daughters." As a mark of protest against the recent rape incidents in Kathua and Unnao, Maliwal launched her hunger strike at Raj Ghat last week. The civil society also extended their support to Maliwal, saying they were with her in strongly and unequivocally condemning the brutality of rapes. However, it also appealed her to withdraw her indefinite hunger strike, saying there was no evidence to suggest that death penalty acted as a deterrent to rape. "Death penalty is often used to distract attention away from the real issue -- it changes nothing but becomes a tool in the hands of the state to further exert its power over its citizens. A huge set of changes are required in the system to end the widespread and daily culture of rape," it said in a statement. --IANS som/nir (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Are you a salaried individual waiting to file your income-tax returns (ITRs) for the financial year 2017-18 (assessment year 2018-19)? Beware! Do not try to tweak your salary components or search for other options to avoid paying taxes. Not only is tax evasion absolutely against our national interest but any such attempt might now also bring you under the glare of the income-tax department, which is going to crack down on such malpractices. To reduce tax liability, some taxpayers increase their deductions or exemptions or reduce their taxable income by either under-reporting ... A former U.S. Army sniper and two other ex-soldiers have been convicted in New York for the contract killing of a woman in the Philippines. A federal jury yesterday found Joseph Hunter, of Owensboro, Kentucky, and Adam Samia and Carl David Stillwell, both of Roxboro, North Carolina, guilty of committing murder-for-hire and other charges. Prosecutors say Hunter recruited the two for the cold-blooded hit on the Filipino real estate agent in 2012. He paid them each $35,000. The 12-day trial offered a window into the clandestine world of private mercenaries willing to kill for money. Defense attorneys had said the case was too weak to convict them. All three face up to life in prison. Hunter already is serving 20 years over a plot to kill a federal agent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) At least 48 MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crime against women, with BJP having the highest number of such politicans at 12, a report said today amid a nation-wide outrage over rape incidents, including in UP's Unnao where a ruling party lawmaker is an accused. "Out of 1,580 (33 per cent) MPs/MLAs analysed with declared criminal cases, 48 have declared cases related to crime against women," as per the report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). This includes 45 MLAs and 3 MPs, who have declared cases of crime against women such as charges related to assault of woman with intent to outrage her modesty, kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her to marriage, rape, domestic violence and trafficking, the Delhi-based think-tank said. Giving party-wise details, the report said that BJP has the highest number of MPs and MLAs ie 12, followed by Shiv Sena (7) and Trinamool Congress (6) who have declared cases related to crime against women. The report is based on an analysis of 4,845 out of 4,896 election affidavits of current MPs and MLAs. This includes 768 out of 776 affidavits of MPs and 4,077 out of 4,120 MLAs across the country. "All major political parties give tickets to candidates with cases of crime against women especially rape and therefore hindering the safety and dignity of women as citizens. "These are serious cases where charges have been framed and cognisance have been taken by the courts. Hence, political parties have been in a way abetting to circumstances that lead to such events that they so easily but vehemently condemn in Parliament," the report said. Among states, Maharashtra has the highest number of MPs and MLAs (12), followed by West Bengal (11), Odisha and Andhra Pradesh each with five MPs and MLAs who have declared cases related to crime against women. ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) have recommended that candidates with serious criminal background should be debarred from contesting elections. Also, political parties should disclose the criteria on which candidates are given tickets and that cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner, they added. According to the report, in the last five years, recognised parties have given tickets to 26 candidates who had declared cases related to rape. During this period, 14 independent candidates with declared cases related to rape have contested for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assembly elections. As per the analysis, 327 candidates who had declared cases related to crime against women were given tickets by recognised political parties. Also, 118 independent candidates with declared cases related to crime against women had contested for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assembly elections in the last five years. Among major parties, in the last five years, 47 candidates with declared cases related to crime against women were given tickets by BJP. As many as 35 such candidates were given tickets by BSP, followed by 24 from Congress. The candidates had contested in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state assembly polls. The report also noted that among states, in the last five years, Maharashtra had the highest number of such candidates at 65, followed by Bihar (62) and West Bengal (52) (including independents). The analysis comes at a time when there are rising rape incidents, including those reported from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, Unnao and Surat in Gujarat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Bollywood actor Kim Sharma today recorded her statement in connection with a Range Rover car case, at suburban Khar police station. The actress is accused of illegally driving the high-end vehicle and not returning it to its owner, a businessman from Rajasthan. "Sharma came to police station at around 12:30 pm and recorded her statement for over 15 minutes," said Khar police station senior inspector Ramchandra Jadhav. He, however, refused to divulge details, saying the matter is under investigation. According to police, the businessman, Dilip Kumar, had parked the luxury car at Sharma and her now estranged husband Ali Punjani's residence in suburban Khar in good faith since he doesn't have a house in Mumbai. However, he later discovered that Sharma had been using his car and was refusing to return it, police said. Kumar then filed a complaint with police in this regard in September 2017. However, Kumar by mistake named Sharma's estranged husband in his complaint, an official said. Kumar later filed an application seeking dropping Punjani's name, he said. Police recently served a notice on the actress and Punjani asking them to appear in the Khar police station, he said. Punjani is yet to record his statement as he is out of the town, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russian diamond mining company Alrosa, which has set up its representative office in the city, is looking at increasing direct clients and plans to launch its own brand of diamonds by the end of this year. "We have 15 long term direct contracts with diamond manufacturing companies in India and after setting up this office in India, which will mainly be for marketing activities and information, we will work towards increasing our long term direct client base in India," Evgeny Agureev, member of the executive committee and director of the United Selling Organisation of Alrosa told reporters here. He said, Alrosa is also planning to launch its own brand by the end of this year. Other mining companies have brands, including Rio Tinto's Nazraana and De Beers Forevermark. The Russian mining company will also work closely with industry body Gem Jewellery Export Promotion Council, RBI and the banks to create a conducive atmosphere for the industry in India, Agureev said. "We will communicate with banks, regulators and GJEPC on sectoral issues and work towards creating interesting business models that will maximise additional value to the industry," he added. When asked, if this was a good time to enter India when the gem and jewellery industry is fighting the fallout of the Rs 13,000-crore Nirav Modi-PNB scam, he said, the timing is very apt as this will restore a positive sentiment across the industry and send the message that the diamond sector is still strong as foreign players are interested in India. The mining company will also encourage Indian manufacturers to set up facilities and subsidiaries in Russia, Agureev said. Alrosa accounts for about 30 per cent of the global rough diamond supply. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A team of surgeons at the Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College, Aligarh Muslim University (AMU) has made it to the Guinness Book of World Records for performing a delicate gallbladder surgery on a 244-day-old girl, breaking the previous record of such a surgery on a 271-day-old infant. The team led by Dr Rizwan Ahmad Khan, Chairperson of the Department of Pediatric Surgery, has earned its way into the Guinness Book of World Records for performing the laparoscopic cholecystectomy surgery on the youngest infant, an official statement released by AMU's Jawaharlal Nehru Medical College Hospital said. "The authorities of the Guinness Book of World Records have officially communicated their acknowledgement of this record and have posted it on their official website," it said. Khan told PTI the infant was suffering from gallstone disease and performing the surgery had become a necessity if her life had to be saved. "The surgery was performed in September 2017 and the patient is now fully recovered. The medical authorities had communicated the details of this surgery to the Guinness Book officials shortly after the surgery. During the past six months the officials were scrutinising all the documents before finally recording the feet on their website last week," the release said. The Guinness World Records has listed the landmark Khan and other doctors achieved at the AMU on its website. "The youngest person to have gallstones and gallbladder removed is Riya Kumari (India born 19 January 2017), who was 244 days old when she had the operation in Uttar Pradesh, India, on 21 September 2017. "A total of three gallstones were removed alongside the gallbladder by Dr Rizwan Ahmad Khan and the team at JNMCH AMU Aligarh Hospital," it said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Army today busted a terror hideout and recovered arms and ammunition, including two AK rifles, 289 rounds of ammunition, and Hizbul Mujahideen donation books in Doda district, rasing concern of presence of the terror outfit in the hills of the Jammu region, an officer said. Acting on intelligence inputs, the Army and the police launched a search operation in the Majmi area of Dessa in the district this morning, the army officer said. The joint party cordoned off the area and carried out meticulous searches during which they located a natural hideout of terrorists in a cave containing a huge cache of weapons and ammunition, he added. One AK-47, one AK-56, five magazine of AK 47/56, one under barrel grenade launcher (UBGL), two UBGL grenades, 289 rounds of 7.62 mm ammunition of AK 47/56 and Hizbul Mujahideen's donation receipt book and papers (in Urdu language) were recovered, he said. This is the first time such huge recovery has been made particularly of Hizbul Mujahideen donation books and other material aimed to raise funds in the hills of Jammu region and increase the foot-prints of terror outfit in the hills of the region, he said. He said the recovery has dealt a severe blow to the nefarious designs aimed at reviving terrorism in the area. The Army will continue its operations to keep Doda district safe and free from terrorists as well as their support infrastructure, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A Bahrain court sentenced 24 Shiite citizens to prison and stripped them of their nationality after finding them guilty of forming a "terrorist group", a Bahraini judicial source said today. Other charges included travelling to Iraq and Iran for "weapons and explosives training" and attempted murder of police officers. The High Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced 10 of the defendants to life in prison, 10 to a decade behind bars and the other four to jail terms ranging from three to five years. The Sunni-ruled, Shiite-majority kingdom has stripped hundreds of its citizens of their nationality and jailed dozens of high-profile activists and religious clerics since protests demanding an elected government erupted in early 2011. The Bahraini government has accused Shiite Iran of backing the protests and attempting to overthrow the government. Tehran denies involvement. Authorities yesterday also referred to trial seven Bahrainis accused of attacking an oil pipeline to Saudi Arabia in November. That trial is set for May 10. The blast cut off the pipeline linking Bahrain's Bapco refinery with oil giant Aramco's main pumping station in neighbouring Saudi Arabia's Dhahran province. Manama in February said it had arrested four men suspected of attacking the pipeline, accusing Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran of training and arming two of them, which Tehran denied. Under Bahrain's citizenship law, amended after political protests broke out in 2011, the authorities can revoke the nationality of individuals who engage in acts deemed "disloyal" to the state. Human Rights Watch in February accused the kingdom of "stripping away the citizenships of people whom they find undesirable". Bahrain earlier this year deported eight people to war-torn Iraq after revoking their citizenship and making them stateless. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The All-India Employees Association (AIBEA) has threatened to launch an agitation on the cash crunch issue, its general secretary CH Venkatachalam said on Thursday. "Mere statements will not help. Concrete, immediate action is needed to improve the supply of currency notes," Venkatachalam said. For the past few weeks, in many states, especially those in Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, Gujarat, Telangana, Andhra and the poll-bound Karnataka have been facing severe cash shortages, with many ATMs showing 'no cash' signboards. Because of this, bank employees are facing the wrath and anger of the public, said Venkatachalam. "Customers are shouting at and abusing bank staff for no fault of theirs," he added. While the RBI has claimed that there are enough printing and supply of cash in the system, the government tried to blame it on the unusual spike in cash demand due to the ongoing farm procurement. Blaming the government and the Reserve Bank for an inadequate supply of currency notes, he said in fact the problem started with the decision to print Rs 2,000 notes after the note-ban announcement in November 2016. "If the Rs 1,000-notes were withdrawn to prevent black money and cash hoarding, it is only obvious now that both have become easier with the Rs 2,000 notes," he said. Blaming the central bank for the poor cash management that has lead to the present shortage, he wondered if the RBI governor is to be believed where has all the money gone. "The RBI governor has made a statement that adequate amount of currency notes are printed. But then where have these notes gone? Are they not to investigate? Are they not to ensure that have enough cash to meet the requirements of customers?" he asked. He also alleged that even 16 months since the demonetisation, many ATMs are still not re-calibrated for the newly designed banknotes. "This is adding to the problem," he said, and noted that the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance (FRDI) Bill, pending for Parliamentary approval, has also added to the problem. The FRDI Bill seeks to bail out a failing bank with the depositors' money if the proposed resolution corporation deems it to do so and can refer a bank for liquidation. He said there is fear among the public about the proposed bail-in clause in the Bill. Therefore, he demanded that government immediately withdraw the Bill. The present cash shortage has created more doubts and fears among the public whether all is well with banks. "It is the duty of the RBI and government to dispel these fears," he said. A police inspector, accused of extorting Bitcoins and cash from a builder, was nabbed by the city Crime Branch today. Inspector Anant Patel, the accused, was attached to the Local Crime Branch (LCB) of Amreli district when the alleged crime took place. A team of Ahmedabad Crime Branch arrested him from a pan shop in Adalaj area, said Assistant Commissioner of Police C N Rajput. "Based on a tip-off, we nabbed Anant Patel today. He had tonsured his head and taken to wearing a cap to conceal the identity. "We handed him over to the CID-Crime which is handling the case," Rajput said. Patel is one of the nine policemen from Amreli who have been named as accused in the case by the CID-Crime, which has formed a Special Investigation Team for probe. Recently, two police constables of Amreli LCB along with a middleman were arrested by the CID-Crime in the case. The SIT was looking for Patel for the last two weeks. On April 8, the CID-Crime registered a case against Patel and others for allegedly kidnapping Surat-based builder Shailesh Bhatt and extorting Bitcoins, a popular crypto-currency, and some cash from him. They were booked under IPC sections for kidnapping, extortion, illegal detention, as well as under various sections of the Prevention of Corruption Act. Bhatt had alleged that he was kidnapped from near a hotel in Gandhinagar by the accused policemen on February 9. He was taken to a farmhouse near the state capital where inspector Anant Patel beat him and forced him to digitally transfer 200 Bitcoins worth crores of rupees, the builder alleged. The exchange rate of one Bitcoin is over Rs 5.40 lakh at present, as per the websites which track the prices of crypto-currencies. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A day after a UP minister heaped praise on BSP supremo Mayawati and then retracted it, another Cabinet member embarrassed the Yogi Adityanath government by accusing it of betraying backward class students. "I am ready to quit the government any time, if I am asked to do so," Suheldev Bhartiya Samaj Party (SBSP) leader and Uttar Pradesh backward class welfare minister Om Prakash Rajbhar told PTI today. The BJP ally complained that the students were not getting the scholarships meant for them. "There is a lot of hue and cry in the entire state over scholarships and fee reimbursement of backward class students, he said. This is injustice against them. The state government is betraying them. Of the 26 lakh backward class students, about 11 lakh have not benefited till now," the minister said. Rajbhar had recently kept Bharatiya Janata Party on tenterhooks over his support for a candidate in Rajya Sabha polls. Asked whether his SBSP will continue its alliance with BJP till 2019, Rajbhar said, "We have formed an alliance till 2024. If BJP says it does not need us, I will immediately return them my ministerial post. If raising voice for the backwards is wrong, then BJP can immediately snap ties with us," he added. The minister said the state has a budget of Rs 3,000 crore for scholarships. But only Rs 1,085 has been allotted for scholarships for backward classes students. He said a state government order issued on April 16 allowed scheduled caste, minority and general category students who could not apply for scholarships, or if there were some discrepancies in their cases, to do so online up to May 15. No such initiative has been taken for backward class students," he said. The minister said when he discussed this with Yogi Adityanth, he was told more money was allotted in this year's budget for scholarships, compared to the previous Samajwadi Party government. I don't know what was done earlier. I want scholarships for 100 per cent of backward class students, the minister said. He said he had also talked about this with BJP president Amit Shah. The government order smacked of stepmotherly treatment, but the backward class leaders in BJP do not have the guts to speak in front of the CM, the minister said. A government is run with the support of everyone, but this is not done here," he added. He also levelled allegations over the appointments to the state's selection board for teachers. "Why were the relatives of Union ministers Nitin Gadkari and Rajnath Singh and Deputy CM Dinesh Sharma and UP BJP president Mahendra Nath Pandey given places on the board? In the recent Rajya Sabha elections, Rajbhar had threatened not to support BJP's extra candidate from UP. He was mollified by Amit Shah who promised to come down to Lucknow and have a detailed talk with him in the presence of the chief minister. Rajbhar, whose party has four MLAs in the 403-member Assembly, then agreed to vote for the BJP nominee. Shah recently visited the state capital and met Rajbhar, but he still sounded disgruntled. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP in West Bengal is planning to rope in Hindutva preacher Swami Aseemanand, who was acquitted in the Mecca Masjid blast case earlier this week, to strengthen its base in the state, a senior party official said today. "I have personally known Swami Aseemanand for a long time. I will talk to him and try to bring him to West Bengal so that he can work here. For a long time, he has worked among the tribals in Bengal. He can help us in a lot of ways," BJP state president Dilip Ghosh told PTI. A special anti-terror court on Monday had acquitted the 66-year-old self-confessed monk and four others in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case, holding that the prosecution failed to prove "even a single allegation" against them. Aseemanand's younger brother, Sushanta Sarkar, is presently the secretary of the BJP's Hooghly unit. Sarkar said he would be happy if his brother returned to the state for work. "Our entire family is dedicated towards the Sangh Parivar. If my brother comes to Bengal and wants to work here, we will be very happy," Sarkar told PTI. Aseemanand, who was born as Naba Kumar Sarkar at Kamaarpukar in West Bengal's Hooghly district, completed his graduation in science in 1971. The self-confessed monk is known for his fiery speech and anti-minority stance. He became involved with rightwing groups from school, going on to work full time with the Vanvasi Kalyan Ashram in Purulia and Bankura districts in the state. It was at the Ashram that Naba Kumar Sarkar was christened Swami Aseemanand in 1981. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Mounting an attack on the Congress after the Supreme Court rejected pleas to probe the death of judge B H Loya, the BJP today alleged that Rahul Gandhi was the "invisible hand" behind the petitions and demanded an apology from him and Sonia Gandhi for defaming its top leadership. The Congress president had tried to use the judiciary for the character assassination of BJP chief Amit Shah, party spokesperson Sambit Patra said. His colleague and Union minister Mukhtar Abbas Naqvi added that the Supreme Court verdict had demolished the Congress' efforts to defame the BJP's top leadership and the party, Rahul Gandhi and Sonia Gandhi should apologise for the "sin". The Supreme Court today ruled that special CBI judge Judge Loya died of natural causes and that the petitions were serious attempts to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. It dubbed the PILs into the death of judge Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, frivolous and motivated litigations to settle political scores. Shah was an accused in the case but was later discharged. Addressing a press conference, Patra described the public interest litigations seeking a probe Loya's death "political interest litigation" and said the Congress and Rahul Gandhi were behind it. Noting that the Congress had held press conferences and Rahul Gandhi had led a delegation of opposition parties to President Ram Nath Kovind to seek a probe, Patra said he should "apologise" and be "ashamed" for his conspiracy to target Shah, the judiciary and democracy. The Congress was engaging in all sorts of conspiracies after its ruling family had lost power, he alleged, adding that the attempt to use the judiciary for political purposes was a "new low" in Indian politics. The "invisible hand" behind these petitions in the apex court belonged to Rahul Gandhi and the Congress, Patra alleged. Echoing him, Naqvi said the Supreme Court order on Judge Loya case had exposed the criminal conspiracy of Congress and its "freelance friends". When the Congress was in power, it failed to destroy Prime Minister Narendra Modis leadership and his credibility as Gujarat chief minister as well as Amit Shah, he said. Now in opposition, the party was conspiring to defame BJP's top leadership, he said. "Today's judgement has demolished the Congress' attempts of hatching criminal conspiracy to destroy and defame our top leadership. The Congress, its president Shri Rahul Gandhi and Smt Sonia Gandhi should apologise for this sin," Naqvi told reporters here. The issue of Loya's death came under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister fuelled suspicion about circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case, which he was hearing before he died. While dismissing the plea for an independent probe, the top court said that it became clear with these petitions that a frontal attack was made on the independence of the judiciary. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Private investment is required to restore the heritage assets here, British Deputy High Commissioner Bruce Bucknell said. Fortunately the private sector is coming forward to save many such sites of heritage, Bucknell told reporters after unveiling of the restored RNM Galleria by a heritage conservationist in the city last evening. Stating that the city has rich associations in so many places, Bucknell said he would certainly work towards drawing the attention of the private sector to support the cause. "I am very supportive to various organisations working with this objective". Observing that there are not just buildings retaining British or European architectural style, he talked about some of the lesser known terracota temples in different parts of Bengal. He said one should keep in mind that architecturally preserved places could draw more visitors from outside and not just Britishers. "I am delighted to be here to support this fantastic building (RNM Galleria) where restoration took five long years with private investment. It is a labour of love," he said. The building was constructed in 1910 and restored in the past five years. Referring to the 'Danish Tavern' restored in Serampore and serving customers as a cafeteria, he said "such social models may make an impact on heritage restoration. If you can't generate income you can't preserve." US Consul General Craig L Hall said Kolkata remained special because of its rich US connections "having one of America's oldest diplomatic posts in the city as President George Washington nominated the first American Consul to Kolkata in 1792. Kolkata has also been a very enriching place and "we have so many common interests of things in which we work together - from culture to science," he said. The RNM Galleria will promote performing art, house The Calcutta Heritage and Art Club and a Cafe Galleria 1910 on its different floors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Black Panther" star Chadwick Boseman will deliver the keynote address at this year's Howard University's commencement ceremony. The 40-year-old actor, who is a Howard graduate, is also expected to receive an honorary degree at the event scheduled for May 12, reported Washington Post. "I'm excited to return to the Mecca in celebration of the achievements of our illustrious students. Let's listen, learn and build with one another," Boseman said in a release. Wayne AI Frederick, the university president, said it was an honour for the school to have Boseman back for the commencement and also praised him for playing characters such as Jackie Robinson, James Brown and Thurgood Marshall. Talking about his role in the blockbuster "Black Panther", Frederick said, the actor's portrayal served as a reminder of the "excellence found in the African diaspora and how places like Howard are hidden, untapped gems producing the next generation of scientists, engineers and doctors." "Mr Boseman exemplifies the monumental heights and levels Howard graduates can achieve by using the skills and knowledge they acquired at the university," he added. The varsity also shared Boseman's picture as '2018 Commencement Speaker' on its official Twitter page. "It is an incredible honor and privilege for the Howard University community to welcome back home one of its native sons, @ChadwickBoseman, to deliver the 2018 commencement address (sic)," said Howard University President in the tweet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) "Homeland" star Claire Danes and her husband actor Hugh Dancy are pregnant with their second child. The 39-year-old actor broke the when she appeared on "The Howard Stern Show", according to The Hollywood Reporter. Danes, who already shares five-year-old son Cyrus with Dancy, said she was "seriously preggo". "I'm pregnant. I'm deep into my second trimester," she confessed on the radio. When Stern said she looked "so thin", Danes responded, "I'm seated." It was her official announcement. When asked about the gender of their second child, the actor said, "I'm going to keep that to myself." She also confirmed that "Homeland" is all set to end after season eight. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Newly appointed Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee (OPCC) president Niranjan Patnaik today said the party is set to fight a winning battle in 2019. The Congress earlier in the day revamped its Odisha unit naming Patnaik as the new chief, barely months ahead of simultaneous Assembly polls in Odisha and Lok Sabha election. "We are going to fight a winning battle, not a losing battle, in Odisha," Patnaik said. The tenure of the 147-member Odisha Assembly ends on June 11, 2019 and elections are due before that. Patnaik said, "I admit that the Congress is weak in Odisha now. But, it can be acceptable to the people as the ruling BJD has utterly failed to meet their aspiration." The people have voted the Biju Janata Dal (BJD) four times in a row, but Chief Minister Naveen Patnaik failed to solve the problems of Odisha, he claimed. Stating that both the BJD and the BJP were rivals of the Congress in Odisha, Niranjan Patnaik said, "While BJP has failed to meet the expectation of the people across the country, the BJD government betrayed the trust of Odias." On the recent exodus of party leaders, he said some people have quit the Congress on personal grounds. Those who have faith in the Congress and Mahatma Gandhi's ideology are most welcome, he said. "We will work with dedication to strengthen the party at the grassroots level. We will continue to fight against issues such as unemployment, farmers problem and water dispute," Niranjan Patnaik said. Congress chief whip Tara Prasad Bahinipati said all leaders and workers will bury their differences and work unitedly under the leadership of the new OPCC president. Niranjan Patnaik replaced Prasad Harichandan, who had tendered his resignation after the party's debacle in Bijepur bypoll in February. The BJD wrested the Bijepur Assembly constituency from the Congress in the election. While the BJP came second, the Congress nominee came third and lost his deposit. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Cuba marked the end of an era today as Miguel Diaz-Canel was formally elected as the country's new president, succeeding Raul Castro and becoming the first non-Castro to lead the island in six decades. The silver-haired Diaz-Canel -- a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 -- is the island's first leader born after the 1959 revolution. Diaz-Canel was elected in a landmark vote of the National Assembly a day before his 58th birthday. The chamber erupted into applause as the results were read out, with many of the delegates smiling, and shaking hands warmly with Castro and Diaz-Canel. As Diaz-Canel walked to the front of the chamber, he high-fived the front line of delegates, embracing Castro as he took to the stage, images broadcast on state television showed. Then the 86-year-old Castro raised his successor's arm in the air in victory, prompting another wave of applause from the delegates -- some were in their shirt sleeves, while others wore military fatigues. Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. Raul has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution. Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency yesterday. Today's symbolic vote took place on the anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Fidel's forces defeated 1,400 US-backed rebels seeking to overthrow him. Havana has long hailed the showdown as American imperialism's first great defeat in Latin America. Diaz-Canel, who some say bears a passing resemblance to American actor Richard Gere, is a fan of The Beatles whose penchant for wearing jeans has set him apart in Havana's corridors of power. Although he has advocated fewer restrictions on the press and a greater openness to the internet, he also has a ruthless streak, with harsh words for Cuba's dissidents and the United States. Crucially, he will remain under the watchful eye of Castro, who will continue to serve as the head of Cuba's all-powerful Communist Party. Once sworn in, Diaz-Canel will be tasked with pursuing reforms begun by Castro to open up Cuba's economy to small private entrepreneurs and reach a rapprochement with its Cold War arch-enemy, the United States. In 2015, Havana and Washington renewed diplomatic ties, with then president Barack Obama making a historic visit to the island a year later. But, steps towards a normalization of ties have been severely curtailed since Donald Trump arrived in the White House last year. Diaz-Canel will also inherit a youthful population hungry for change on the Caribbean island -- one of the world's last outposts of Communism since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba watchers and domestic analysts say he will favour continuity over change in the early days of his presidency, however. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Three policemen arrested in connection with the recent custodial death of a 26-year-old man at nearby Varappuzha in a purported video have "pleaded innocence" and alleged a conspiracy to make them "a pawn" in the case. "" In the video footage, believed to have been recorded before their arrest yesterday and telecast by local TV channels today, Rural Tiger Force (RTF) members Jithin Raj, Sumesh and Santhosh Kumar said they were ready for a lie detector test. They sought the intervention of Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan and DGP Loknath Behera for ensuring a fair probe into the circumstances that led to the death of S R Sreejith on April 9 at a hospital after he was taken into custody in connection with a case. """ The three alleged there was a conspiracy to make them "a pawn" in the case. """"When asked about the video, Behera told reporters Thiruvananthapuram that he had not watched it. He, however, said it would be looked into and assured a fair, impartial and scientific investigation in the case. """""Don't spare if anyone found guilty.That is what I told (the SIT)," Behera said. The death due to alleged torture has been condemned by opposition parties with the Congress and BJP demanding the resignation of Vijayan, holding the Home portfolio. Congress has also sought a CBI probe. """" Seven policemen have been suspended in connection with the incident. """" Sreejith's family has alleged that more policemen were involved in the 'custodial torture' and demanded their arrest. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Hundreds of demonstrators chanting slogans in favour of India's development and against "atrocities" taking place in the country have greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he landed in the UK for a four-day visit. A flash mob of sari-clad women with dhols set the tone for the pro-Modi crowds opposite 10 Downing Street as the Indian prime minister arrived for his bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May yesterday. They were joined by the Friends of India Society International (FISI) group, which spearheaded a crowd of Indian diaspora from across the UK waving banners such as 'Chak De India' and 'Jai Hind' outside Downing Street and nearby Parliament Square. "We want to welcome the Indian prime minister to the UK and show him the diaspora support he enjoys," said one of the members of the gathering. On the other side, anti-Modi protesters from Caste Watch UK and South Asia Solidarity group waved banners such as "Modi, you have blood on your hands" and "Modi Not Welcome". "Hindu nationalism must be curtailed to avert India sliding towards wholesale dictatorship threatening democratic fabric, rule of law and the unity of India," a Caste Watch UK spokesperson said. They were joined by other protestors carrying images the eight-year-old rape victim from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and Gauri Lankesh, the Indian journalist who was shot at her doorstep last year. The group also included representatives of several Indian women's groups in the UK, wearing white as part of their silent protest against "atrocities that are taking place in India". "I am Hindustan, I am ashamed," read their placards alongside banners such as "Beti Bachao" and "Politics minus rape". Some pro-Khalistani demonstrators from Sikh Federation UK and demonstrators from the so-called "Minorities Against Modi" group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Lord Ahmed, completed the congregation at Parliament Square. At one point, some of the protesters surrounded the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the square with yellow Khalistani flags. Indian officials involved in organising the prime ministerial visit to the UK had said that protests and demonstrations are "part and parcel of any democratic society". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The difference of opinions on the political tactical line in the CPI(M) today reached such a level that an unprecedented demand for voting through secret ballot on it was raised by a delegate at the party's ongoing congress here today. The demand, which has never been witnessed earlier at a CPI(M) congress, was raised by a delegate from Maharashtra, who referred to the recent massive farmers' agitation there in his speech on the first day of debate on the draft political resolution. The delegate is understood to have said that the CPI(M)'s peasants wing, All India Kisan Sabha, was able to unite the farmers, cutting across political lines. If the party differentiated between secular parties, then the BJP would would take the opportunity away, he is stated to have said. "He pressed for secret ballot while putting across the farmers' issue toeing (General Secretary) Sitaram Yechury's line", a party insider said requesting anonymity. The CPI(M) constitution is not categorical on the provision for a secret ballot to incorporate amendments to the document. The draft resolution, once adopted by this mega conference being attended by around 1,000 delegates and invitees, would finalise the political line of the CPI(M) for the next three years. The critical issue in it centres around whether the CPI(M) should join hands with "all secular, democratic forces", including the Congress, to take on the BJP. While the Karat faction has been against any understanding with the Congress, the Yechury faction has favoured joining hands with all secular parties to fight the BJP in the changed scenario, especially after the recent ouster of the CPI(M)-led Left Front from Tripura as well as the victory of united opposition in Bihar and Uttar Pradesh at the recent Lok Sabha bye-elections. Asked about the demand for voting through secret ballot, Yechury said the decision to consider such a demand lay with the steering committee, which is elected by the congress. "The normal practice in our congress is that if anybody presses an amendment, then there is voting. Otherwise, the steering committee that is elected by the congress considers all amendments and makes a proposal to the party congress. "If somebody presses for secret voting, then the steering committee takes it up. There is no laid-out procedure. But the normal practice is done through a show of hands," Yechury told reporters here. According to some delegates, the supporters of the Yechury line feel that the doors for an understanding with the Congress, without any electoral alliance, should be kept open. This line is understood to be getting majority support from the party units of West Bengal, Karnataka, Punjab, Haryana, Maharashtra and Jharkhand. Those opposing this line, led by former general secreatary Prakash Karat, is stated to be getting support from some delegates from Kerala, Andhra Pradesh, Tripura, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan and Himachal Pradesh. Witnessing the mood in the party over the political line, the Central Committee seems to be considering options to avoid voting, which breaks all traditions. "We have realised the mood. But we will see what we can do to avoid voting," said a politburo member who is also a steering committee member. The discussion would continue till tomorrow, after which the conference would take up a debate on organisational report. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The ED has seized a land asset belonging to an accused in connection with its money laundering probe in the Bikaner alleged land grabbing case. The central probe agency had recently taken possession of the land in Rajasthan after it obtained the confirmation of its provisional attachment order in this case, against the property of Jai Prakash Bagarwa, by the Adjudicating Authority of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). The Enforcement Directorate (ED) had attached assets worth a total of Rs 1.18 crore of government officials and others in April last year. The ED order was issued for attaching the property of private person Bagarwa, the then Patwaris of the area Uma Charan Sharma and Mahaveer Swami and the then Nayab Tehsildar Fakir Mohammad "who fraudulently allotted government land on the basis of forged allotment letters in the name of non-existing persons". The said land in the Kolayat area of state's border district of Bikaner was meant for the "allotment of displaced persons" of the army's Mahajan field firing range. The attached assets included agricultural land, plots, residential buildings, fixed deposits and bank balance of the accused. The ED had registered a criminal case of money laundering in this deal in 2015 taking cognisance of FIRs filed by the state police after the local tehsildar had made a compliant of alleged forgery. The agency, in this case, had also issued notices to a firm linked to Robert Vadra, the brother-in-law of Congress president Rahul Gandhi. However, it has not mentioned the name of Vadra or any company linked to him in its FIR filed under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA). In the FIR, it had named some Rajasthan government officials and some of the "land mafia". Vadra has denied any wrongdoing even as the Congress party had called the action "sheer political vendetta". "During investigations it was revealed that with a view to grab government land under a criminal conspiracy Ranjit Singh and Jai Prakash Bagarwa stole some blank allotment letters with stamp on them from the colonisation department of Bikaner. "Patwaris told Jai Prakash Bagarwa about the khasra number, rakba and village name of government land. The stolen material was used for preparing forged and fabricated allotment letters in the name of the alleged displaced persons of the Mahajan field firing range," the ED had said earlier. On the basis of these forged allotment letters, it had said, "1,422 bighas land was recorded in revenue record in the name of these fictitious allottees without due verification of these allotment letters from the colonisation department. "Jai Prakash Bagarwa and others prepared power of attorneys wherein the fictitious allottees appointed Kishore Singh, Ranjeet Singh and Gugangar as power of attorney holder of land authorising them to sell the land on their behalf." It said in this manner, "they (accused) had sold 1,372 bighas of impugned land to various individuals and companies and generated proceeds of crime. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The father-in-law of a 32-year-old woman, Kiran Bala, who has reportedly remarried in Lahore, today sought the Centre's intervention for her safe return to the country. Hoshiarpur-based Bala's father-in-law Tarsem Singh sought the Centre's interference fearing that she might have fallen into the hands of Pakistan's Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) and forced to convert into Islam and remarry there. The woman had gone to Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival there as part of an SGPC Sikh 'jatha' (delegation). "I had dropped Kiran Bala, who is my daughter-in-law, at Amritsar on April 10 for accompanying the Sikh jatha which was going to Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi there. She was very happy at that time," said Tarsem. The Shiromani Gurdwara Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), apex religious body of the Sikhs, had sent a Sikh 'jatha' to Pakistan to celebrate Baisakhi festival there. A senior SGPC official told PTI that the Committee has sought a report under what circumstances the woman was separated from the 'jatha.' "We have sought a report in this whole matter from the SGPC official who was leading the delegation to Pakistan. This matter may also figure in the executive committee meeting of the SGPC tomorrow," he said. Tarsem Singh said he got a call from some foreign media journalists today telling him that his daughter-in-law had embraced Islam and remarried in Lahore. Singh, a resident of Garhshankar here, however, said there was no official confirmation that her daughter-in-law embraced willfully and married a Lahore resident. At the same time, the 70- year old man revealed his daughter-in law contacted her on April 16 over phone and told him that she had got married in Pakistan. "But I thought she was joking and therefore did not take the matter seriously. Now, after I got the call from journalists of the foreign media that she had gone missing, I was shocked..," he said. He suspected that she might have fallen into the hands of Paksitan's ISI. "I suspect she may have fallen into the hands of ISI," he said, adding she could have also been in touch with some person through social media. Singh urged Prime Minister Narendra Modi and External Affairs minister Sushma Swaraj to ensure safe return of his daughter-in-law. He said the safety of the 'jatha' members was the responsibility of the SGPC. Kiran Bala's husband Narinder Kumar had died in a road accident in 2013. She has three children -- a 12-year-old daughter and two sons, respectively eight and six years old. Tarsem said she had been leading a happy life here with her children and she loved them very much. Bala has sought extension of her visa after marrying a man in Lahore and embracing Islam, media reports said today in Pakistan. Kiran Bala reportedly wrote to the Pakistan Foreign Office that her visa should be extended as she has married one Mohammad Azam, resident of Lahore, during a ceremony held at Jamia Naeemia seminary in Lahore on April 16. She also changed her name to Amna Bibi which she used to sign the letter addressed to the foreign ministry, the reports said. She arrived in Pakistan on April 12 with other Sikh pilgrims to attend the festival in Gurdwara Panja Sahib located in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad. Her visa will expire on April 21. Tarsem said he had told SGPC officials to ensure that she returned along with jatha. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Promoting music as a tool to encourage peace , tolerance and empathy, a new classical music festival is being organised here. Sahitya Kala Parishad, the Department of Art, Culture and Languages, Delhi Government in association with NDMC, will host the three-day festival "Bhakti Sangeet" at the Nehru Park here. The festival, featuring folk music, sufi music, jugalbandi and devotional bhajans across genres, will be inaugurated by Deputy Chief Minister of Delhi, Manish Sisodia. "Our country has a rich legacy of celebrating the idea of 'bhakti' in its diverse forms. Various faiths have stressed on the importance of music in reaching the divine the paths are different, but the destination is one. "In these difficult times, when hatred and violence have enveloped our society, it is important for us to reclaim our religious traditions and celebrate the pluralism in our devotional music," Sisodia said. The festival will showcase the plurality of faith and expression in devotional music, as it packs in a comprehensive itinerary, featuring renowned artists from across the country like Pooja Gaiton, Zikir Wazidur Rehan, Ajoy Chakraborty, Hari Haran, Prahlad Singh Tipanya, Sudha Raghuraman Sarita Pathak and the Nooran Sisters among others. The festival will come to a close on April 22. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Fortis Healthcare today said it has received an improved binding offer from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company, ahead of its scheduled board meet today. "The company has received an improved binding offer from Hero/Munjals and Burmans to invest directly into the company," Fortis Healthcare said in a regulatory filing. Spelling out the details of their offer, the Munjals and Burmans in a joint letter said, the offer is "faster to implement and without any due diligence. We are proposing to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company". The Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 500 crore through preference issue of equity shares and Rs 1,000 crore through preferential issue of warrants, based on the current business and financial position of the company. Meanwhile, in a late night filing yesterday, Fortis said it has also received a supplemental proposal from Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Bhd. "As part of the IHH proposal and subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence..We are ready to infuse Rs 4,000 crore through a preferential allotment of equity shares at a price not exceeding Rs 160 per share which will fund the buyout of RHT Health Trust assets as well as provide immediate liquidity towards working capital and infrastructure upgrades," IHH said. "Notwithstanding the foregoing, IHH remains flexible to jointly working with the existing shareholders of the company towards solving the company's funding requirements," it added. Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 750 crore upfront. Group entities of Hero Enterprise Investment Office led by Sunil Kant Munjal and the Burman family of the Dabur Group currently hold around 3 per cent stake in the healthcare chain. Last week, Fortis had an "unsolicited binding offer" from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office to invest Rs 1,250 crore in the company through preferential allotment route. As per the improved offer letter, allotment and pricing for the preferential issue of equity shares for Rs 500 crore shall be as per Sebi ICDR guidelines or Rs 156 per share, which is higher. Allotment and pricing for the preferential issue of warrants for Rs 1,000 crore shall be as per Sebi ICDR guidelines or Rs 161.60 per share, which is higher, it added. The board of directors of the company is scheduled to meet today to consider all the options. The offer letter stated that utilisation of proceeds from the preferential issue of equity shares for Rs 500 crore shall only be for the purpose of payment of employee dues, repayment of loans which have matured and payment to the most pressing creditors and lenders. "We seek two board seats, given the sizeable investment, and to generally act in the interest of stakeholders," it added. IHH Healthcare Bhd, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Burmans and Munjals (jointly) and Chinese firm Fosun Health Holdings are in the race for buying Fortis. IHH offered a price of 160 per share which valued the company at Rs 6,061 crore. The Malaysian firm's offer had come a day after Sunil Kant Munjal-led Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office offered to invest Rs 1,250 crore in the healthcare chain at up to Rs 156 per share. Fortis has also received an unsolicited non-binding expression of interest from Fosun Health Holdings Ltd, an arm of Fosun International Ltd, with a proposal of primary infusion at a price up to Rs 156 per share up to a total investment of USD 350 million (over Rs 2,295 crore). Manipal had raised its offer for Fortis last week to Rs 155 per share by valuing the hospital business higher at Rs 6,061 crore, from Rs 5,003 crore initially. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) With global growth showing solid momentum, the challenge is to make it inclusive, World Bank chief Jim Yong Kim said today. "The challenge now is to ensure that strong growth will translate into inclusive growth, so that the benefits of global economic integration are enjoyed by all members of society," Kim said at the start of the annual spring meeting of the International Monetary Fund and the World Bank. "The global economy is showing solid momentum. We're expecting global growth to edge up to 3.1 per cent in 2018 its strongest performance since 2011 as the recovery in investment, manufacturing, and trade continues, and as commodity-exporting developing economies benefit from firming commodity prices," Kim said here. Kim said this period of robust growth is a great opportunity to invest in human and physical capital. Filling infrastructure gaps, improving education and health outcomes, and increasing female labour force participation could continue to drive growth. If policy makers around the world focus on these key initiatives, they can increase their countries' productivity, boost workforce participation, and move closer to the goals of ending extreme poverty and increasing shared prosperity, he said. Referring to the Global Findex financial inclusion database, launched by the World Bank this morning, Kim said financial inclusion is on the rise. "Digital technology is driving access to and the use of financial services. But there is still a wide gender gap," he said. Kim said the bank would release later in Indonesia a rigorous, detailed measure of the human capital in each country, which will help its member nations invest more and more effectively in their people. "We will be releasing an index to rank countries according to how well they're investing in the human capital of the next generation. The measurement will provide information that heads of state and finance ministers need to know in order to invest to build human capital, and the index will make those measurements hard to ignore," Kim said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Lawyers' associations at the Calcutta High Court today set a record of the longest strike in its history by extending their ceasework, making it a over two month long agitation, over demands of appointment of judges. Compounding the plight of thousands of litigants, the Bar Association took a resolution to extend the ceasework till April 25 on the ground that the authorities concerned have not appointed any new judge or a permanent chief justice to the high court despite the two-month long agitation. The high court at present has 33 judges, even as the sanctioned strength is of 72 judges. High Court Bar Association president Uttam Majumdar said with no tangible results despite the agitation, the ceasework had to be extended by another week. "With this extension, this will become the longest strike in the history of the Calcutta High Court," he said. The lawyers' associations began the ceasework demanding appointment of judges from February 19 and has been extended several times. The previous longest strike was of 2 months in 2002 in protest against hike in stamp duty by the West Bengal government. It was observed across all courts in the state including Calcutta High Court. After today's resolution, the extended period would cross the two-month mark. Majumdar said the decision will be reviewed by the association members on April 26. The Bar Library Club also extended the ceasework in solidarity by another week. Meanwhile, thousands of litigants, many of whom have urgent cases before the high court, are at their wit's end with no solution to the present impasse in sight. A few petitioners are appearing in person to plead their cases, but most litigants are unable to plead their matters owing to legal intricacies and complex laws and their interpretations. Apart from the litigants, hundreds of people indirectly associated with the high court for their livelihood are also suffering owing to the long ceasework. From typists and photocopiers to food vendors and tea sellers - many people are finding it difficult to make ends meet. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Delhi High Court today dismissed a BJP MP's plea to reassess the threat perception against him and enhance his security cover to Z category, after the Centre said he was being provided adequate protection. The Ministry of Home Affairs (MHA) told Justice Mukta Gupta that BJP MP from Kurukshetra in Haryana, Raj Kumar Saini, was provided 'Y+' protection in 2016 and his present security arrangement was assessed to be adequate. Taking note of the submission made by the MHA, represented by central government standing counsel Manish Mohan, the court dismissed Saini's plea. The BJP MP in his petition has contended that his life was under threat as he has been opposing the demand for reservation by a particular community which had carried out widespread agitation in the state of Haryana. Another reason he gave in his petition was that the state government had withdrawn prosecution against the persons of the community who were involved in the agitations and riots and released them. Claiming that he had received threats to his life, he had sought directions to the central government to reassess his threat perception. He had moved the high court claiming he had received no response from the Centre on his representation made in February this year to reassess his security cover. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The headmaster of a primary school in Howrah district was today arrested for allegedly molesting several girl students of the school, police said. A large number of guardians today protested in front of the school demanding the headmaster's arrest alleging that he molested a number of girl students. On the basis of the complaint by the guardians the headmaster was arrested, the police said adding further investigations are on. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Acting tough on errant hospitals, the Health Ministry has decided to name and shame from next year the health facilities found to be lacking on sanitation, waste management and infection control under its 'Kayakalp' initiative. To fix accountability at various levels, the ministry will also make public names of the hospitals getting negative feedback from patients through its Mera Aspataal (My Hospital) App. The Mera Aspataal initiative, which aims at empowering patients by seeking their views on quality of experience in a public healthcare facility, was launched in August 2016. "From next year, we will not only name and award hospitals which perform very well under the Kayakalp initiative but will also name those health facilities which will not perform up to the mark on various parameters, including sanitation, waste management and infection control," Union Health Minister J P Nadda said today during the national felicitation ceremony of Kayakalp awardees (2017-18) here. Nadda said the 'Kayakalp' programme was launched by Health Ministry following Prime Minister Narendra Modi's call to the people of the country to realise Mahatma Gandhi's dream of Swachh Bharat (Clean India). "Kayakalp has been instrumental in inculcating a sense of ownership' amongst all stake holders. This sense of ownership' has translated into commitment for Swachhta," he said. Congratulating the awardess, Nadda said that cleanliness is no more a one-time activity and Kayakalp has played a pivotal role in gaining trust and confidence of community in public health facilities. He asked the hospitals to continue with their efforts in improving cleanliness, hygiene and infection control practices. Meanwhile, in a bid to replicate the AIIMS model, the ministry will come up with an exchange programme as part of which doctors from AIIMS in the national capital and PGI Chandigarh will go to other AIIMS and central government hospitals to share their expertise and help them improve their performance standards. Similarly, doctors from those hospital will also come to the premier institute and undergo training here. Kayakalp, an initiative for awarding public health facilities, aims to incentivise the facilities that show exemplary performance in adhering to standard protocols of cleanliness and infection control as well as inculcate a culture of ongoing assessment and peer review of performance related to hygiene, cleanliness and sanitation. It was launched in May 2015. Under the Central Government Hospitals A category, the first prize of Rs 2.5 crore was given to the AIIMS, Delhi. Postgraduate Institute of Medical Education and Research (PGIMER), Chandigarh was judged as the runner-up in this category with Rs 1.5 crore prize. Commendation Award of Rs 50 Lakh was given to JIPMER, Puducherry along with Safdarjung Hospital, Delhi. MGIMS, Wardha received the certificate of appreciation. In the Group B category, the winnerwas NEIGRIHMS, Shillong with Rs 1.50 crore and the runner-upwas AIIMS, Bhubaneswar with Rs 1 crore. Commendation Awardof Rs 50 Lakh was given to NIMHANS, Bengaluru, AIIMS, Rishikesh,AIIMS, Raipur, NITRD, New Delhi andAIIMS, Bhopalin Group B. AIIMS, Jodhpur received the certificate of appreciation. Nadda also felicitated the district hospitals, PHCs and CHCs for winning the awards in their respective states and union territory. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) CIA drama "Homeland" is ending after season eight. Actor Claire Danes, who is expecting her second child with husband Hugh Dancey, confirmed the in an interview with Howard Stern on his Sirius XM show. "Yeah, that's it," she said when Stern asked her about rumours that the show was ending after its next season. A representative for Showtime said that the network has not made a decision beyond season eight. The series is currently airing its seventh season, the finale for which is set to air on April 29, according to The Hollywood Reporter. When Stern asked Danes how she's dealing with the upcoming season being the last, the actress acknowledged that she feels "really conflicted" about it. "I mean, I'll be ready. She's a lot, this Carrie-freakin' Mathison character," she said. "It's a workout, so I'll be ready for a reprieve from that. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India's image today has taken a beating with a growing perception abroad that it's a country of crimes and rapes and the liberal and secular people are not safe here, the Bombay High Court observed today amid a nation-wide outrage over the Kathua rape-cum-murder and the Unnao rape cases. A bench of Justices SC Dharamadhikari and Bharati Dangre went on to say that the rest of the world was hesitant now to engage with India over educational or cultural issues due to the current state of affairs here. The bench made these observations while hearing pleas by the kin of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and Communist leader Govind Pansare. They had sought a court-monitored probe into the killings. "It is unfortunate that today, the image of the country is such that those living abroad feel only crimes and rapes happen in India. "Anywhere we go (outside of India), we have to answer a barrage of questions. People are under the impression that liberal, open-minded and secular people cannot be safe in India and that they are bound to be attacked. The image of India is suffering due to the acts of a few people," the bench said. Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, the lawyer for Maharashtra CID (Crime Investigation Department) probing the killing of Pansare, told the high court that there was little hope now of achieving anything substantial from any further field probe. "Field probe including raids at possible hiding places will not lead to anything anymore. Our only hope is scientific probe and evidence from call detail records, forensics etc.," Mundargi said. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the CBI probing Dabholkar's killing, echoed the same view. "How do we then take the case to its logical conclusion?" the bench asked. "Can we allow for the case to reach a dead-end when similar crimes are on the rise?" it asked. The bench said while it was not critical so far of the ongoing probes by the two agencies, it could not allow them to leave everything to the mere hope that the absconding accused persons in the two cases, tired of hiding or fearing threat to their lives, would turn themselves in one day. "Why don't you take steps to completely strangulate the organisational backing that the accused persons must be receiving?" the bench asked. It also directed the agencies to seek help of expert interrogators in the case. The bench warned that if the agencies failed to make any progress by the next date of hearing, it would be constrained to summon the senior officials concerned. Continuing with its observations on the state of affairs in the country, the bench said the rest of the world was now hesitant to engage with us over educational or cultural issues. "No international body wants to be a part of our educational and cultural projects. Investors show interest at first but pull back later on. We are very sorry to see this. Do we (India) want to live in a cocoon?" the bench asked. "No institution in the country, including the judiciary, is spared from this," it said. Recently, the brutal rape and killing of a minor girl in Kathua and rape of a teenage girl allegedly by an MLA in Unnao in Uttar Pradesh had triggered a nation-wide outrage. Dabholkar, who championed the anti-superstition cause through a social movement in his life, was shot dead on August 20, 2013 in Pune while on a morning walk. Pansare was shot at on February 16, 2015 in Kolhapur and had succumbed to his injuries on February 20. A high court bench had last year observed that the killings of Dabholkar and Pansare were "well planned" and the perpetrators had an organisational backup. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) India will invest more than 1 billion pounds in the UK that will create or safeguard 5,750 British jobs, as part of a new partnership forged during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit as the two sides signed a wide range of MoUs, agreements and initiatives across technology, trade and investment. The British government yesterday announced a new India-UK trade partnership after Prime Minister Modi held talks with his British counterpart Theresa May. The UK's Department for International Trade (DIT) said a range of new Indian investments worth more than 1 billion pounds will create or safeguard 5,750 British jobs for the economy as part of the new partnership, which builds on the recommendations of the Joint Trade Review (JTR) between the two countries which concluded earlier this year. "Removing barriers to trade is a key way in which the UK can capitalise on the predicted growth in world markets and so I'm delighted we have come to this new trade partnership with India," said Liam Fox, UK international trade secretary. "It is clear that the opportunities for growth in trade with India are plenty, and as an international economic department we will continue to use tools such as trade missions not only to boost UK exports, but also to help businesses of all sizes forge ties and build cultivate relationships with potential buyers and investors," he said. According to DIT figures, total trade in goods and services between the UK and India was 18 billion pounds in 2017, a 15 per cent increase from 2016. UK exports to India, led by innovative machinery and mechanical appliances, form a large part of this trade basket, increasing significantly by 14.9 per cent. The new partnership will seek to improve the accessibility of trade for businesses in both countries, as the UK gets ready to leave the European Union (EU). Focusing on the three key sectors of life sciences, information technology (IT) and food and drink, the partnership will seek to reduce barriers to trade with an eye on Brexit. The UK also intends to recruit a British cyber security industry expert to be based at the high commission in New Delhi, with a remit to share British expertise and connecting Indian private and public sector organisations with cutting- edge UK companies who can supply their specific requirements. "The visit of Prime Minister Modi will see the launch of a package of technical assistance to help India climb further up the rankings for ease of doing business, benefitting UK companies and the Indian economy alike. Additionally, the two countries have also agreed to strengthen ties between their respective agriculture industries," the DIT statement said. Meanwhile, the National Association of Software and Services Companies (NASSCOM) and techUK have set up the UK India Tech Alliance, which will facilitate collaboration on building future skills in new technologies by nurturing a solid skills base in the UK and India, with the support of both the governments. The UK and India also announced the Technology Summit II, which will be held in autumn 2018 to bring together the greatest UK and Indian tech innovators, scientists, entrepreneurs and policy makers to work together to scope and design solutions to challenges including the governance of future tech. India and the UK have also agreed to an overarching cyber-relationship framework that among others enables the development of a common and shared understanding of international cyber activity and discuss and share strategies to promote user confidence in the security of Information and communication technology (ICT) products and services. On rejuvenation of River Ganga, an MoU has been signed between National Mission for Clean Ganga (NMCG) and Natural Environmental Research Council (NERC), UK. In the area of regulation of safe nuclear energy use for peaceful purposes, an arrangement has been arrived at between Atomic Energy Regulatory Board of India (AERB) and the Office for Nuclear Regulation of Great Britain (ONR). Recognising the increased threat posed by international criminality because of its increasingly complex nature and the threat posed by organised crime, an MoU on 'Exchange of Information for the Purposes of Combating International Criminality and Tackling Serious Organised Crime' has been signed. The UK has announced setting up a Fast Track Mechanism to identify and resolve specific issues faced by Indian companies who are either in the UK or looking to establish operations in the UK. The UK announced the creation of a UK-India Tech Hub based in the British High Commission in New Delhi. The Tech Hub will include a network of people and programmes designed to facilitate ideas, investment and prosperity for India and the UK. The UK and India will take forward a dialogue under the Joint Working Group on Trade, which will support a shared commitment to the global rules-based system and to the WTO's role in underpinning it. The UK and India announced a mechanism to support Indian investments into the UK. The two nations said that this commitment will ensure continued application to the UK of EU-India Agreements during the Implementation Period following the UK's departure from the EU, and put in place arrangements to replicate relevant EU-India agreements beyond this period. The UK signed the Framework Agreement of the International Solar Alliance and became the 62nd signatory member country. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) An Indian Sikh woman, who went to Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival, has sought extension of her visa after marrying a man in Lahore and embracing Islam, media reports said today. Kiran Bala, daughter of Manohar Lal from Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, wrote to the Pakistan Foreign Office that her visa should be extended as she married one Mohammad Azam, resident of Lahore, during a ceremony held at Jamia Naeemia seminary in Lahore on April 16, The Express Tribune reported. She also changed her name to Amna Bibi which she used to sign the letter addressed to the foreign ministry, the report said. "Now in the given circumstances, the undersigned could not return back to India and the undersigned have received life threats of assassination, therefore, the undersigned intends to extend her visa," she wrote in the letter, published by the local media. The FO or the Indian High Commission have not said anything about the letter. She arrived in Pakistan on April 12 with other Sikh pilgrims to attend the festival in Gurdwara Panja Sahib located in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad. Her visa will expire on April 21. The ongoing Baisakhi festival is the fresh subject of controversy between Pakistan and India. It has already created bitterness after India accused Pakistan of using it to incite Indian pilgrims on the issue of 'Khalistan', which was rejected by Islamabad. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Actor Isabella Rossellini says she is not comfortable telling her #MeToo story as she does not believe there is any value in naming the man who raped her as a teenager. The 65-year-old actor, in an interview with Vulture, said she is a supporter of the #MeToo movement, which shows the many obvious and subtle ways women are diminished. "I do understand the value for some people to talk about their experiences, but for me, there is no value. The person that raped me I was 15 or 16, he was a year older than I, why would I dig out this story 48 years later? What if people start to say, No, you have to say the person's name?' I don't know what happened to him. He might be married. He might have children. I am a superstar in Italy. If I said who did this, I would destroy him," the actor said. Rossellini said date rape was a common occurrence among young men and women in Italy while she was growing up. "This man hurt me in the context of a culture that we are all trying to change. I don't think that pinpointing one person and destroying their life because they made a sin in the context of that culture I don't have the heart for it." The actor believes the movement, started in the wake of Harvey Weinstein scandal, has been helpful in making men realise that they can no longer mistreat women. "Yes, for me, the interesting thing is how the #MeToo movement has shown us all the subtle ways women can be diminished. Rape is a way of being hurt that everyone can recognise. There are other ways. It could be your boss saying, 'I like your skirt on you.' It's a compliment, but it makes you feel diminished. It's like when people say to me, 'You look so good for your age.' To hear other women express their stories and to show how devious some men can be that is what has been so helpful to see. "I'm happy that we are talking about these issues because all women have been harassed, but it was never discussed before. We just lived with it. Even if you didn't have anything violent happen to you, there was always a way for a man to belittle you. This is changing, I think. Men have to see they can't behave in these ways. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Israeli army reservists received an emergency message calling them to duty early Thursday as the country celebrated Independence Day -- but found out shortly later the message had been a mistake. A military spokesman confirmed the mistaken call to duty, but declined to provide further details, including how many reservists received the message. The mistaken message came with tensions high between Israel and its main enemy Iran over a recent strike in Syria attributed to the Jewish state. Israel's military said the message was issued by an automated system by accident and "was very quickly resolved." It was issued as Israel marked 70 years since the founding of the country according to the Hebrew calendar, celebrated as Independence Day and a national holiday. Israeli media published images of the text message calling up the reservists which said "emergency call up has been activated." "You are to report immediately to the meeting place," the message said. "Reminder, you are to bring your protection kit and your military kit." Another message was sent shortly later cancelling it and explaining that the call up had been an error, the reports said. An air strike attributed to Israel on April 9 at Syria's T-4 airbase left 14 people dead, including seven Iranian personnel. Ali Akbar Velayati, foreign policy adviser to Iranian supreme leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei, threatened a response, and Israeli media have focused heavily on the possibility in recent days. Israel has refused to confirm or deny responsibility for the strike in Syria. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has repeatedly said Israel cannot accept Iran entrenching itself militarily in neighbouring Syria, where Tehran is supporting President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Israel has warned that Iran could seek to attack it from Syria. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Praising the people of Jammu and Kashmir, President Ram Nath Kovind has said that they showed courage, fortitude and resilience in the face of challenges arising because of multiple factors. Speaking at a civic reception hosted in his honour at Amar Mahal palace in Jammu last night, Kovind said Jammu and Kashmir "is affected by ups and downs...and turmoil", but India is proud of the people of the state and is confident of their ability to use economic and educational opportunities. He appreciated the state government and the people for showing commitment to development. Jammu and Kashmir is the epicentre of India's culture and spiritual tradition, the president said, adding, the people of different faiths following Mahatama Bhudh, Sufism, Shivism and Shakti prayers are part of this cultural legacy. He talked about development-related works being carried out in the statye - including the longest road tunnel on Jammu-Srinagar national highway, Mata Vaishnodevi railway station at Katra, and setting up of an IIT, an IIM and AIIMS. The president shared is memories about visiting Mata Vaishnodevi on foot and shopping at Lal Chowk in Srinagar. He also talked about the children visiting him at Rashtrapati Bhavan from remote areas of Jammu and Kashmir. Governor N N Vohra hosted a banquet at Raj Bhavan for President Kovind and First Lady Savita Kovind last night. Jammu and Kashmir Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti and her deputy Nirmal Singh attended the reception and the banquet. The reception was hosted on the lawns of the heritage palace of the erstwhile Dogra Maharaja. President Kovind is on his maiden two-day visit to Jammu. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) On a day the Supreme Court ruled that special CBI judge B H Loya died of natural causes and dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into his death, the NCP demanded a narco test be conducted on a doctor in Nagpur, who the party said had "supervised" the judge's autopsy in 2014. NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik said Dr Makrand Vyawhare is a close relative of BJP leader and Maharashtra Finance Minister Sudhir Mungantiwar. "The postmortem report of judge Loya was prepared under the supervision of Dr Vyawhare at the Nagpur Medical College," Malik told reporters here. He said some medical students had complained in 2015 that Dr Vyawhare had tried to pressure them to change the postmortem (PM) report of judge Loya. "These students had said that Dr Vyawhare tried to pressure them into changing the PM report in 2015. Dr Vyawhare might have tried to do the same (trying to change Loya's autopsy report) in 2014. Hence, we demand that a narco test be conducted on him to ascertain the truth," Malik said. Judge Loya had died allegedly of a cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. The top court today dubbed the PILs seeking an SIT probe into the death of judge Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, as frivolous and motivated litigations to settle political scores and rivalry. When contacted by PTI, Mungantiwar admitted that Dr Vyawhare is his relative. However, he said Dr Vyawhare was in no way associated with judge Loya's autopsy. "He is a relative of mine. However, the Supreme Court has already given its judgement and dismissed the petitions (demanding a probe into judge Loya's death)," he said. Asked to comment on Malik's demand for a narco test on the doctor, Mungantiwar said, "If they (the Opposition) continue to indulge in cheap ways to get publicity, they will be dragged to court (by those who are being defamed)". "The doctor has no relation whatsoever with judge Loya's autopsy. He neither conducted it nor he headed the department to have signed the postmortem report," the minister said. Mungantiwar said the Opposition was levelling baseless allegations without proofs. "Had they submitted evidence in the apex court, they would not have been left red faced today," he said. Loya and the four judges had travelled to Nagpur for the wedding and stayed at Ravi Bhawan, a government-run VIP guest house, where he suffered a cardiac arrest. The issue of Loya's death had come under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. However, Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's former advisor V K Jain is being questioned today in the case of alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash. Jain had been served a notice last week for questioning for which he arrived at Civil Lines police station this afternoon. His questioning is still underway, a senior police officer said. Jain is being questioned in the case of alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary in February this year. In March, he had resigned as Kejriwal's advisor citing personal reasons and family commitment. The alleged assault had taken place at Kejriwal's residence on February 19 night. The Delhi Police had earlier told a court that during interrogation, Jain said that AAP MLAs Prakash Jarwal and Amanatullah Khan had allegedly surrounded the chief secretary and assaulted him. The police has already questioned the 11 MLAs who were present at the chief minister's residence apart from Kejriwal, Jain and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia for the meeting in which Prakash had allegedly been attacked. On February 23, a police team had examined the CCTV system installed at the chief ministers residence in Civil Lines area and seized the hard disk. The forensic report on the hard disk is still awaited. The alleged assault on the chief secretary had triggered a bitter tussle between the Delhi government and its bureaucracy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Delhi Chief Minister Arvind Kejriwal's private secretary Bibhav Kumar was questioned today in connection with the alleged assault on Chief Secretary Anshu Prakash, police said. Earlier, the police had claimed that Kejriwal's former advisor VK Jain was questioned but later clarified that Kumar was quizzed at the Civil Lines police station. Kumar was questioned in the case of alleged assault on Delhi chief secretary at Kejriwal's residence on February 19 night, they said. Police has already questioned the 11 MLAs who were present at the chief minister's residence for the meeting in which Prakash had allegedly been attacked. Kejriwal, Jain and Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia were also present at the meeting. On February 23, a police team had examined the CCTV system installed at the chief minister's residence in Civil Lines area and seized the hard disk. The forensic report on the hard disk is still awaited. The alleged assault on the chief secretary had triggered a bitter tussle between the Delhi government and its bureaucracy. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) :"Kerala Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan today lauded the functioning of Telangana Police and its IT initiatives. The Kerala Chief Minister visited the Punjagutta police station here and Hyderabad City Police Commissionerate along with Telangana Home Minister Nayini Narsimha Reddy and the state's Director General of Police M Mahendar Reddy. According to an official release, the Kerala Chief Minister was impressed with the Telangana Police performance and the infrastructure provided to the department. He also said a team would be sent to Telangana to study in detail and implement the same in Kerala. The Kerala Chief Minister praised the functioning of police stations in Telangana, the release said adding he observed the process of petition registration at the reception counter to processing of the complaint. Later, he visited Technology Fusion Centre and Traffic Command Control Centre in the Hyderabad City Police Commissionerate, it said. The Telangana DGP explained the working of TS COP and Hawk Eye Mobile Applications. Punjagutta police station was early this year adjudged the second best police station in the country in a survey conducted by the Quality Council of India and Ministry of Home Affairs. Telangana Police are using technology and IT enabled technologies, as a force multiplier, in crime prevention, detection, public order management, traffic management, women and child safety, surveillance over criminals, work force management among others. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Five people kidnapped from a voter registration centre in a largely Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan were freed today, officials said. Gunmen attacked the facility in the central province of Ghor on Tuesday, abducting three employees of the Independent Election Commission and two policemen. Provincial police spokesman Iqbal Nizami blamed the Taliban for the attack -- the first on a voter registration centre since the process began last Saturday. Local elders negotiated with the Taliban for the release of the hostages, Nizami told AFP, adding "no ransom was paid". Provincial IEC chief Fazlullah Jalali confirmed the employees and police had been released. Voter registration in the area will resume only after security officials give the green light, he said. The attack underscored concerns about security in the lead-up to the war-torn country's long-delayed legislative elections scheduled for October 20. Afghanistan last weekend began registering voters as it seeks to ensure that the parliamentary and district council elections -- which are a test-run for the presidential poll next year -- are seen as credible and fraud-free. In an operation that will last for two months, authorities hope to register up to 14 million adults at more than 7,000 polling centres -- an ambitious goal in a country where militants control or contest much of the territory. President Ghani today urged religious leaders to use Friday prayers to encourage worshippers to register. He also called on provincial governors to tell their employees to register themselves and family members. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) In a potentially controversial remark, a BJP candidate for the Karnataka Assembly elections has said the electoral contest in the state was "not about roads and drinking water but Hindu and Muslim religions". Sanjay Patil, Belagavi (Rural) MLA and BJP candidate, is seen making the purported remarks in a video shot in his constituency amid loud cheers by a crowd of his supporters. It was not immediately known when the video, which went viral today, was shot. "...This election is not about road, drainage or drinking water. This election is about Hindu and Muslim religions," he told the crowd. "Keeping a hand on my chest I say loudly, this is Bharat, this is the country of Hindus, and this is the country where (Lord) Ram was born. We are prepared to do anything to construct Ram mandir in Ayodhya," Patil purportedly said in the footage. Patil also told the crowd, which lapped up every word he said, that the Congress favoured constructing a mosque in Ayodhya instead of a Ram temple. "Let Laxmi Hebbalkar speak about constructing Ram mandir, you all vote for her, but she can't say it, as she is among those who will construct a masjid, Babri masjid," he said, insisting the May 12 polls were "very important." Hebbalkar, the Karnataka Mahila Congress chief, is pitted against Patil from Belagavi (Rural) constituency. "(Those) Who want to construct Babri Masjid... who want to celebrate Tipu Sultan's jayanti...let them vote for Congress." "If you want Shivaji Maharaj, if you want Sambhaji Maharaj, if you want those who offer pooja at Lakshmi temple, you will have to vote for BJP," he added. Belagavi (Belgaum) on Karnataka-Maharashtra border is a communally sensitive area with significant presence of Muslims and Marathi speaking Hindus. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Kyrgyzstan today jettisoned its 29th prime minister in less than three decades of independence as new President Sooronbai Jeenbekov looks to cement control over the Central Asian country. Lawmakers voted overwhelmingly to dismiss the government of Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, a 40-year-old technocrat viewed as a loyalist of the country's former leader Almazbek Atambayev. Jeenbekov subsequently signed an order confirming the government's dismissal. A total of 101 legislators voted for the move with just five against, according to an official parliamentary protocol. The vote indicated broad parliamentary support for Jeenbekov, 59, who is now expected to play a key role in determining the next premier. Jeenbekov came to power in a bitterly fought presidential election last year while enjoying strong support from Atambayev, 61, who was limited to a single term in office by the constitution. But tensions have since emerged between the pair after Atambayev criticised appointments made by Jeenbekov and called for the new president's brother, Asylbek, to relinquish his seat in parliament in a public appearance last month. Earlier this month Jeenbekov fired key Atambayev allies in the national security service and initiated the sacking of the country's state prosecutor, but has yet to make his own appointments. Known since his time as an opposition leader for a fiery and often vulgar public speaking style, Atambayev moved the impoverished ex-Soviet country away from the West and closer to traditional ally Russia while in office. On March 31 he was elected chairman of the Social Democratic Party of Kyrgyzstan that has dominated Kyrgyz since a violent revolution ousted authoritarian leader Kurmanbek Bakiyev in 2010, despite initially pledging to leave (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) RJD chief Lalu Prasad's elder son and former Bihar Health Minister Tej Pratap Yadav was engaged to Aishwarya Rai, the daughter of former state minister Chandrika Rai in Patna. Aishwarya Rai is the granddaughter of former Bihar Chief Minister Daroga Prasad Rai, who briefly served as a Congress CM in 1970, when Lalu Prasad was an emerging student leader. Tej Pratap Yadav and Aishwarya Rai exchanged rings at a posh city hotel yesterday in presence of family and friends. Lalu Prasad, who is serving jail terms in connection with fodder scam cases and currently undergoing treatment at AIIMS in New Delhi, could not attend the function. Bhola Yadav, an MLA and confidante of Lalu Prasad's family, told PTI today that the ceremony was a family affair. But he added that for the marriage ceremony on May 12, prominent leaders such as Sonia Gandhi, Rahul Gandhi, Nitish Kumar, Mamata Banerjee and Sushil Kumar Modi would be invited. He said the family would also seek permission from court so that Lalu Prasad can attend the marriage. Chandrika Rai, Aishwarya's father, is a RJD legislative Assembly member from Parsa in Saran district. He served as a minister in the previous RJD dispensation from 1990 to 2005, and again in the Grand Alliance government last year. Tej Pratap Yadav was number three in the Grand Alliance government and served as health minister. "The ceremony was attended by family members, close relatives and friends," MLA and party spokesman Shakti Singh Yadav, who oversaw the preparations, said. Party sources said nearly 200 guests attended the function. Former deputy chief minister and Tej Pratap Yadav's younger brother Tejashwi Yadav welcomed the guests. After the ring ceremony, Tej Pratap Yadav and Aishwarya Rai came out and posed for photographs with family members. The Yadav family said they missed Lalu Prasad. "It is a happy occasion for the family as my son has got engaged. But we are missing Lalu ji on the occasion. This is the first big ceremony in the family which he could not attend," former Bihar chief minister Rabri Devi told reporters. Tej Pratap Yadav tweeted: "Miss you PAPA" with a sad smiley. Congratulating his brother on his official Twitter handle, Tejashwi Yadav said: "Congratulations@TejYadav14 Bha...!" and retweeted his elder brother's tweet "Miss you PAPA". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, today came in the line of fire of the Supreme Court which questioned their conduct for casting aspersions on judicial officers and judges including of the apex court who were seized of matters relating to the death of Special CBI judge B H Loya. The apex court also lashed out at a junior of senior lawyer V Giri and petitioners including NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) for casting "unfounded aspersions" on the judges of the Bombay High Court and said it was a "serious attempt to scandalise the court and obstruct the course of justice". A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the attempt of the petitioners was to create prejudice and to malign the dignity of the judges, particularly of Justice B R Gavai of the Bombay High Court. The bench, which also comprised Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, rapped Dave, Jaising and Bhushan for making serious attacks against the judiciary during the hearing. Regarding CPIL, the court said "Facts have emerged from the record which indicate that a carefully orchestrated attempt has been made during the course of these hearings on behalf of the CPIL to create evidence to cast a doubt on the circumstances leading to the death of Judge Loya". Immediately after the verdict, an attempt was made by the PTI to elicit the reaction of Jaising in the apex court corridor but she refused to make any comment. PTI also tried to reach Dave but he did not respond to the calls. It was only Bhushan who reacted. An anguished apex court said the counsel are expected to assist the court with a sense of objectivity in aid of justice but Bhushan "adopted a dual mantle", assuming the character of a counsel for the intervenor and an individual who was personally interested on behalf of the intervening organisation of which he was a member. "He has gone to the length of personally collecting evidence to somehow bolster the case," the bench observed. The court also noted that Jaising too has "joined the fray" by requesting the court to issue contempt notices to the Administrative Committee of the Bombay High Court. The top court also took strong note of Dave's plea to bring on record the order of the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court to allege that one of the two judges, who had given statement in the Judge Loya's death case, had ordered settlement of a criminal case against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2014. "Dave has gone to the extent of insinuating that one individual is controlling the entire judiciary in Maharashtra and elsewhere," the bench said. It also said the petitioners cannot assert as of right that they should be allowed to cross-examine a host of persons including the doctors and judicial officers. "By casting unfounded aspersions on the judicial officers who had accompanied Judge Loya, the petitioners have revealed the real motive of these proceedings which is to bring the judiciary into disrepute on the basis of scurrilous allegations. "We find no basis or justification to allow the request for cross-examination. The application shall accordingly stand rejected," the bench said, adding that the discretion was vested in the court to order cross-examination. "A party to a proceeding before this court -particularly a proceeding under Article 32 - cannot demand as of right the production of a person, who has filed an affidavit, for cross-examination. Whether cross-examination should be allowed has to be determined by the court having regard to the interests of justice," the bench said. It said "what is worse is the manner in which wholly unfounded aspersions have been cast on the judges of the Bombay High Court following a decision which has been taken in the judicial capacity. This constitutes a serious attempt to scandalise the court and obstruct the course of justice". (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis today demanded an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi, Communist leaders and a few media houses for "attempting to malign" the image of BJP chief Amit Shah in the judge B H Loya death matter. He said the Supreme Court, in its decision today on PILs seeking independent inquiry into the judge's death, has accepted "the inquiry report submitted by the state government. Three years after Loya's death, an attempt was made to create suspicion and target Shah, Fadnavis said. The Supreme Court's ruling exposed the "Congress, Communists and a few media houses (which had taken up the issue)", the chief minister told reporters in Parbhani in Marathwada region of the state. The petitioners wasted the apex court's time and lied to the country, Fadnavis claimed. "They must apologise to the Supreme Court and the country. Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, the Communist parties, their allies" and "some media houses" must apologise" to our country for spreading such utter lies against our (BJP's) national president Amit Shah," he tweeted later. The Supreme Court today dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya, ruling that the judge died of natural causes and the petitions were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. The top court dubbed the PILs into the death of judge Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, as frivolous and motivated litigations. Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Madras High Court today ordered Rs 25 lakh compensation to a boy who lost his eyesight when a classmate threw a stone at him in the school, holding that the authorities had the duty to look after children in schools. Rejecting the private school's argument that fights among students in the class was a thing beyond its control, the court said it was the duty of the authorities to take care of children after parents leave them in school. Passing orders on a petition filed by the boy's mother, K Ranjees Mary, Justice M V Muralidharan said but for the negligence in the discharge of duty, the boy would not have lost his eyesight. The student, R Remish Fedlin, of the school in Kanyakumari district, was injured in the eye when his classmate threw a stone at him during special class in May 2010. The Tamil Nadu government too has failed to take action against the school authorities after the incident was reported, the judge said. Justice Muralidharan of the Madurai bench also rejected the contention that the petition was filed to extort money and said the FIR itself was filed 18 months after the incident. "The authorities owe a duty to provide security to the children to prevent chances of injury. In this case, the authorities did not perform their duty," he said. The judge said the money may not be adequate but it would provide a sense of justice and security when dealing with treatment cost. Also, it would provide comfort for the parent for being able to take care of the child's recovery, the judge added. He ordered the compensation to be paid within four weeks by the five respondents, including Secretary, department, chief and district officers of Kanyakumari, and correspondent and headmaster of the private school. The judge said the petitioner had made several pleas to the school authorities to help her provide treatment for her son, but they had ignored them. Justice Muralidhran rejected the plea of the government advocate that the school authorities had conducted special classes against the government order, and as the incident took place during the special class, the government was not responsible. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man was arrested at the Delhi airport after he allegedly used a fake ticket to enter the terminal area, officials said today. I A Bhat was intercepted by the Central Industrial Security Force (CISF) personnel yesterday as he was about to leave the Terminal 3 building of the Indira Gandhi International (IGI) Airport, they said. He was stopped and questioned as passengers are not usually permitted to exit the terminal area, the officials said. Bhat told the security personnel that he used a "cancelled" ticket to enter the terminal area to see off his friend, who was travelling to Srinagar. The man was subsequently handed over to the police as his ticket was a fake travel document, the officials said, adding that he was booked on charges of cheating, forgery and trespassing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A man has been arrested in Kairana town of the neighbouring Shamli district for allegedly killing his seven-year-old daughter over a dowry dispute with his wife, police said today. Imran and his brothers have been booked for poisoning to death the girl, Circle Officer Rajesh Kumar Tiwari said. They were arrested after Imran's wife, who was living with her parents, filed a police complaint against her husband and his two brothers, Tiwari added. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 55-year-old owner of a motor vehicle spare parts shop in southeast Delhi's Govindpuri was allegedly stabbed by her employee, who then killed himself in his house, police said today. A woman informed the police that her mother, Premlata Gaba, had been stabbed at her shop which sells motor spare parts. She was taken to Safdarjung Hospital for treatment. Gaba alleged that she was attacked by one of her employees, Rohit (22), they said. He had been working with her for one-and-a-half years, but had not been coming to work for the last three days. Yesterday, he entered her shop on the pretext of taking a bed sheet which her son had asked for and without any provocation hit her with a kitchen knife and fled, she alleged. Police said Rohit returned to his mother's house in south Delhi's Sangam Vihar. She questioned him about his behaviour and a few minutes later, he allegedly committed suicide by hanging himself using her saree. Further investigation is underway, the police said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Maruti Suzuki India's(MSI) entry-level hatchback Alto retained its status as the best selling passenger vehicle in India in 2017-18, leading the company's dominance with seven of its models featuring in the top ten list. According to data by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Hyundai Motor India Ltd's (HMIL) three models made it to the list. The top ten list clearly showed the dominance of the two companies in the Indian passenger vehicle (PV) market. The Alto retained its number one position by selling 2,58,539 units in 2017-18 as against 2,41,635 units in the previous financial year, up 6.99 per cent. MSI's new version of compact sedan Dzire moved to the second spot selling 1,96,990 units in the year. The older version of the sedan, Dzire Tour, had occupied the third spot in 2016-17 with 1,67,266 units. Similarly, the company's premium hatchback Baleno also moved up to the third spot selling 1,90,480 units in 2017-18 from seventh in 2016-17 when it clocked 1,20,804 units. The newly launched version of hatchback Swift retained its fourth position with 1,75,928 units in 2017-18. The model had sold 1,66,885 units in 2016-17. MSI's Wagon R moved down to fifth position in the list selling 1,68,644 units from second in 2016-17 when it clocked 1,72,346 units, as per SIAM data. HMIL's compact car Grand i10 was the sixth best selling model in 2017-18 with 1,51,113 units, a position down from 2016-17 when it sold 1,46,228 units. Occupying the seventh position in 2017-18 was MSI's compact SUV Vitara Brezza with 1,48,462 units, moving up from ninth position in the previous year when it sold 1,08,640 units. HMIL's premium hatchback Elite i20 was at eighth position with 1,36,182 units. The model was at sixth spot in 2016-17 when it registered sales of 1,26,304 units. The company's popular SUV Creta was the ninth best selling PV model in 2017-18 with a total of 1,07,136 units. It did not feature in the top ten list in the previous year. MSI's another compact model completed the list retaining its tenth position at 94,721 units in 2017-18 as against 97,361 units in 2016-17, SIAM said. Maximum number of people were booked in the southeast, south and north districts of Delhi for violating the provisions of The Cigarettes and Other Tobacco Products Act (COTPA), that prohibits smoking in public places, police said today. In a year-long drive, the southeast district issued 7,460 challans, the north district issued 4,592 challans and south district issued 4,039 challans. Special Commissioner of police, Law and Order (South) P Kamraj said more than 30,000 people were fined under the COTPA in the national capital. We first trained and sensitised our police force on COTPA. Thereafter, we started taking action against people caught smoking in public places or selling tobacco within 100 yards of an educational institute," the officer said. Kamraj said the objective of this initiative was to bring in behavioural changes in smokers. "We will sustain this important initiative so that behavioural changes take place in smokers, thereby helping non-users who suffer the ill-effects of passive smoking. We have to protect our future generation from evils like tobacco, he added. Deputy Commissioner of Police (North) Jatin Narwal also concurred with Kamraj and said they had seen that when college students were challaned for smoking in public, they felt that they were doing wrong. "They not only feel the finacial pinch of paying the challan but also feel bad about being challaned by police," the official said. Deputy Commissioner of Police, (Southeast) Chinmoy Biswal, however, said many times people challenge them about the law and they have to then explain to them it to them in detail. "People challenge us and say, 'The place where we are smoking is not a public place'. They are not ready to accept their fault but we try and explain them," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 50 senior Pakistani journalists and media groups have signed a petition, expressing serious concern over "all forms of censorship" imposed by the management of media houses on free media and freedom of information, under pressure. Noted journalists, editors, columnists, media personnel and representatives of media freedom organisations signed a petition, protesting against the ongoing curbs on freedom of expression in the country in the recent days. "Beginning with a crackdown against select media groups and banning the broadcast of various channels, there now is enhanced pressure on all media houses to refrain from covering certain rights based movements. "Media house managements under pressure are dropping regular op-ed columns and removing online editions of published articles. One media house even asked its anchors to stop live shows," they said in a signed statement. They alleged that there is a growing self censorship (by the management) and discussions take place on "given news" rather than real news, which violates the citizens' right to information. "These examples represent a fraction of the kind of censorship taking place across the country in different ways. We strongly protest against all forms of censorship imposed on free media and freedom of information and stand united against it," they said. Zahid Hussain, a known columnist, alleged that unannounced censorship seems to have been imposed on the media across the country. "The restrictions have certainly not been imposed by the federal government or any regulatory body. Still, the media houses are compelled to follow a diktat (from the establishment). "Opinion pieces violating guidelines' have reportedly been withdrawn by the management of some leading newspapers for fear of being penalised. Indeed, TV channels are much more vulnerable to the threat. And that fear is not unfounded," he said. Over the past weeks, Hussain said, Geo has reportedly been taken off by cable operators or shuffled out of the main bouquet of channels as punishment' for being too outspoken on certain sensitive issues'. "What we are witnessing is described by some analysts as the creeping expansion of the power of the deep state'. It is not just about media gagging or increasing number of cases related to enforced disappearances, it is also about the growing perception of political manipulation by invisible forces', often referred to as 'namaloom afraad' (unknown people, a reference to military establishment). Hussain said that the deep state commonly meant the security establishment. He said the removal of Nawaz Sharif from the prime minister's office has deepened the political crisis in the country and brought to the surface various contradictions that seem to be extremely difficult to manage. "While trying to fill the vacuum, these forces seek to curb any voice of dissent. The threshold has been further reduced by the growing internal and external security challenges. "Many believe that the unannounced censorship of the media may be a part of a wider plan. The media houses reportedly receive advice' on what should or should not be telecast or printed all in the name of national security interest. In fact, the pressure can be so intense that oftentimes, even if there is no such advice', the owners and editors of certain media houses indulge in self-censorship in an attempt to remain on the right side of the powers that be," Hussain said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Editor of English daily The Shillong Times, Patricia Mukhim was today provided armed security guards by the police in the wake of hurling of a petrol bomb by unidentified men at her residence on Tuesday. The police also ordered a tight vigil near her residence here. The journalist, who was awarded Padma Shri in 2000 for her work in the fields of social justice and women's empowerment, was home when two men on a motorcycle stopped by her residence and lobbed the bomb at her house on Tuesday. "Two armed guards have been given to Mukhim based on the current threat perception," a senior police officer told PTI. He said the journalist had earlier filed an FIR with the district police after one person had issued death threat to her on Facebook. While no arrest has been in this case, the police are looking at possible clues to solve the case, the officer said. State Home Minister James K Sangma said, "Adequate security has been provided to the Editor in view of the incident on Tuesday." He said police patrolling in and around her residence at Umpling locality in the city has been ordered to ensure that a sense of security prevails in that area. Earlier today, journalists and Shillong Press Club member staged a silent march in the city in protest against the attack on Mukhim. Carrying placards condemning the incident, journalists from all over the state participated in the march from the Shillong Press Club to the Raj Bhavan Secretariat. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Miscreants today snatched a rifle from a bank ATM guard in south Kashmir's Shopian district, police said. A group of unarmed men, whose identity was not immediately known, snatched a 12 bore rifle from the ATM guard in the Pinjoora area of Shopian, a police official said. He said the ATM belonged to the Jammu and Kashmir Bank. Police have taken cognisance of the incident, the official said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi today had a series of bilateral meetings including discussions with Seychelles President Danny Faure and his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here. "Friend in an extended neighbourhood! PM @narendramodi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assumes significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises. Cementing close friendship with Mauritius, Prime Minister Modi met his Mauritius counterpart Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties, Kumar said. The "pull-aside meetings" with world leaders included an interaction with Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, St. Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Rick Houenipwela. Modi also interacted with President of Kiribati, Taneti Maamau, and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda, Gaston Browne. Sheikh Hasina is set for an interaction with Modi, their first meeting since the Bangladeshi Prime Minister's visit to New Delhi last year. Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with Modi include Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness. Additionally, Modi is likely to interact with Dr Keith C. Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. "The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues," a senior official said. Officials had earlier indicated that no meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. The bilateral talks took place as the formal heads of government meeting got underway in London today, following a formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to address the second plenary meeting of the heads of government during the closed-door executive session of CHOGM. At the launch of the CHOGM executive session at Lancaster House open to the media, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The great strength of the Commonwealth is that all our members have equal status, an equal voice, and an equal right to make that voice heard. So, as we tackle these challenges, I want to hear from everyone, and everyone will have chance to speak. "We face many challenges in the world today. But the Commonwealth is a unique organisation and, at this summit, we have an opportunity to deliver lasting change that benefits all of our 2.4 billion people." Later today, the 91-year-old monarch will host a dinner for all 53 heads of government at the palace. "I had not been able to visit the last summit and this time, it was an honour that Prince Charles came personally to India last year to invite me for it. The Queen herself wrote a personal letter to me, a matter of great pride for India," Modi had said during his 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' diaspora event in London last evening. An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. The Indian government has said that this symbolises the country's wider efforts to step up its role across global forums. The executive session of the summit today will be followed by a retreat at Windsor Castle tomorrow, when the leaders get together in an informal setting without any pre-set agenda or being accompanied by their close aides. The summit concludes tomorrow when leaders will issue their communique and a leaders' statement after their retreat. CHOGM takes place every two years in different Commonwealth countries, with the next host country also to be announced at the end of this summit. Following the retreat, Modi will head back to India after a brief stopover in Berlin, Germany for his meeting with Chancellor Angela Merkel. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings, including with his counterparts from Bangladesh, Australia and the President of Seychelles, on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London today. Modi will be interacting with Sheikh Hasina, their first meeting since the Bangladeshi Prime Minister's visit to New Delhi last year. However, officials have indicated that no meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, so far. Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with the Indian prime minister during the CHOGM include Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness. Gambian President Adama Barrow, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the President of Seychelles Danny Faure are also on the list. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assumes significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises. Modi is likely to interact with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbua, Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Keith C Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. "The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues," a senior official said. The bilateral talks are scheduled as the formal heads of government meeting gets underway in London today following the formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. "Over many years you have been the Commonwealth's most steadfast and fervent champion. You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth? we commit to sustaining this Commonwealth, which you have so carefully nurtured," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in reference to the Queen at her opening address. The 91-year-old monarch, as the Head of the Commonwealth, will host a dinner for all 53 heads of government at the palace later in the evening today. "I had not been able to visit the last summit and this time, it was an honour that Prince Charles came personally to India last year to invite me for it. The Queen herself wrote a personal letter to me, a matter of great pride for India," Modi said during his Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath diaspora event in London yesterday. An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. The Indian government has said that this symbolises the country's wider efforts to step up its role across global forums. "In the multilateral space for us, the Commonwealth is a very unique multilateral grouping. It comprises of a very diverse set of 53 countries ranging from small island developing states to some of the most advanced industrialised countries of the world It has a very strong international voice particularly on developing country issues," an MEA spokesperson said. The executive session of the summit today will be followed by a retreat at Windsor Castle tomorrow, when the leaders get together in an informal setting without any pre-set agenda or being accompanied by their top advisers. As Britain takes over the two-year Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth at the heads of government deliberations, it marks the last such summit to be hosted by the Queen. With the monarch having ruled out long-haul travel, she is unlikely to travel to any future CHOGMs to be hosted by other member-states. This has triggered widespread speculation over whether her son and heir, Prince Charles, would be anointed as the next Head of the organisation. As the position is not hereditary, a decision on succession is expected during the informal chats at the retreat. At the end of the retreat, Modi will head back to India after a brief stop for his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A 65-year-old Muazzin of a mosque was allegedly killed today near the prayer place under Taliya police station area in the Madhya Pradesh capital, police said. Nisar Ahmed, attached to Akhade Wali Masjid, was allegedly attacked in neck with a sharp object by unidentified person (s) when he was sitting on a bench near the mosque, said Additional Superintendent of Police (ASP) Rajesh Singh Bhadauriya. Muazzin is a Muslim official of a mosque who summons the faithful to prayer from a minaret five times a day. He said Ahmed was possibly attacked with a screwdriver. "After he was attacked, Ahmed ran towards the mosque, but collapsed in its compound," said the ASP. Ahmed was rushed to a hospital where doctors declared him brought dead, the officer said. "He died due to excessive bleeding. The wound was not lethal, but bleeding for a long period of time caused his death," Bhadauriya said quoting a doctor. When asked about the exact number of attackers involved in the incident, the officer said the investigation was on. Another senior police officer said initial investigation suggested that the killing could be the fallout of an "internal rivalry in the mosque". He said Ahmed died due to excessive bleeding, as he failed to get help in time. "Police were informed late about the incident," he said. "We are hopeful of cracking the murder mystery shortly," Bhopal Inspector General of Police Jaideep Prasad told PTI. Meanwhile, police personnel have been deployed around the mosque. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nagaland Chief Minister Neiphiu Rio today met Home Minister Rajnath Singh and discussed with him various issues concerning the state. During the 20-minute meeting, thechief minister apprised the home minister of the security situation in the Northeastern state and the issues on which the state government requires the Centre's support such as improvement of police infrastructure, a spokesperson said. Union Minister of State for Home Hansraj Gangaram Ahir, Union Home Secretary Rajiv Gauba, and senior officers from the Ministry of Home Affairs and the Nagaland government attended the meeting. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Archbishop of Nagpur Abraham Viruthakulangra died of a cardiac arrest early this morning, Archdiocese of Nagpur said in a statement here. He was 74. The Archbishop died in Delhi, where he had gone to meet the Hindi-speaking Bishops at the Catholic Bishops' Conference of India (CBCI), the statement said. Born in Kerala on June 5, 1943, he joined the seminary in Indore after his high school studies in 1960. He was ordained priest in October 1969 after his priestly studies at St Charles Seminary in Nagpur, it added. After the ordination, he worked among the Gond tribals for eight years. "He was just 34 years old and the youngest prelate in India when appointed as the bishop of the newly-created Diocese of Khandwa in Madhya Pradesh in 1977. He also became the 100th Indian Catholic Bishop since the establishment of the Indian Hierarchy in 1886," the statement said. "During one of her visits to Khandwa, St Mother Teresa commended him for his profiency in language that helped him reached out to thousands and transform their lives," it said. He was promoted as the metropolitan Archbishop of Nagpur on April 22, 1998. The funeral ceremony is scheduled to be held in the city on April 23. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former union minister P Chidambaram's wife Nalini contended in the Madras High Court today that the summons issued to her by the ED in its money laundering probe in the Saradha chit fund scam case was "purely politically motivated to damage her reputation". Nalini, a senior lawyer, made the charge while appearing as party-in person before Justice S M Subramaniam and opposing a petition by the Enforcement Directorate seeking to vacate a stay earlier granted by the court on the summons. After hearing arguments by her and the counsel for the ED, the judge reserved orders on the petition without mentioning any date. The ED had on November 7, 2016 issued summons to Nalini to appear in its Kolkata office as a witness in connection with the Saradha chit fund scam. She was allegedly paid a legal fee of Rs 1 crore by the Saradha group for her appearances in court and the Company Law Board over a television channel purchase deal. The high court had on September 21, 2016 stayed the summons on a petition by Nalini that as per Section 160 of the CrPC a woman could not be summoned for inquiry and it has to be conducted in her residence. When the matter came up today, Nalini submitted when several lawyers had appeared for "Manoranjana" Sinh, one of the accused in the case, ED has preferred to summon only to her for 'interrogation'. "This shows that the move is purely politically motivated to damage my reputation," she said. Pointing out that receiving fee by a counsel for representing an accused was not an offence, she said every lawyer who represents a suspect in criminal cases charge professional fee. She further reiterated that section 160 of CrPC which gives protection to women, children and senior citizen from being summoned by any authority out of their place of residence applied to this case also. So far as section 160 of CrPC was not in contrary to the provisions of the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), the protection applies, she added. Opposing her arguments, Additional Solicitor General G Rajagopalan submitted Sinh has given statement to the agency claiming that Rs 1 crore was given to Nalini towards professional fee. To verify the claim, the petitioner had been summoned and her request to represent through an authorised person was rejected since the authorities felt that such person cannot provide answer to such queries, he said. Moreover, the ED believes that the fee was paid out of public money, funds collected from public as chits. Therefore, it can attach properties of the petitioner worth the fee amount if needed. PMLA also empowers ED to attach properties of such third parties, to recover proceeds of crime, Rajagopalan said. "But this is a premature stage to decide what are all the proceeds of the crime, we have just issued summon to the petitioner as a witness, there is no room to apprehend that PMLA has been invoked against her," he submitted. And as per the provisions of PMLA, so far as there was no express bar in the Act, ED can summon any person to appear in person in connection with the probe, Rajagopalan added. During the previous hearing, counsel for Nalini had said his client had not approached the court to quash the summon. "All that she insists is when there is a statutory protection, the agency cannot demand her personal appearance," he had said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Nepal government today honoured eight foreign mountaineers, who were part of a team that scaled Mt Everest in 1978, marking the 40th anniversary of their ascent of the world's highest mountain peak. The mountaineers, from various countries, were felicitated by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari in a special ceremony organised here. Standing 8,848-metre high, Everest was first summitted in 1953 by Nepal's Tenzing Norgay and New Zealand's Edmund Hillary. The mountaineers honoured today constituted a 12-member-team which had a historic summit of the peak four decades ago, with two of its members reaching the top of the world without oxygen. Eight surviving members from the team had arrived in Nepal together for the first time for the event. Reinhold Messner (Italy), Oswald Oelz (Switzerland), Peter Habeler (Austria), Wolfgang Nairz (Austria), Raimund Margreiter (Austria), Robert Schauer (Austria), Hanns Schell (Austria) and Helmut Hagner (Austria) are the surviving members of the expedition. Messner and Habeler had scaled the peak in Nepal-Tibet, without supplementary oxygen when all of them had scaled the Everest in 1978. Messner believes that the expedition to 'Sagarmatha', the Nepalese name for Everest, has become more of a tourism event than a mountain expedition in the recent years. "Decades ago, climbing mountain was all about adventure as it was without fixed schedules and no use of high-end, equipment and technology. Now, it's more like a tourism activity rather than mountaineering, it has been quiet easy," Messner told media. Minister for Tourism Adhikary said that Nepal's mountaineering activities are under-publicised and strssed the need for collectively working towards promoting mountain tourism. "You are our goodwill ambassadors, our missionaries who will convey the message to world community in a factual manner," he said of the iconic mountaineers who were honoured at the event. He also announced the Nepal government's plan to observe year 2020 as 'Visit Nepal Year' with the objective of attaining 1.5 million visitors annually, a 50 per cent rise against the current footfall and increasing tourism's contribution to GDP to 25 per cent from the current five per cent. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Nitish Kumar cabinet today approved an ambitious scheme under which a girl would be given Rs 25,000 as an incentive if she acquires graduation degree. In addition, under the scheme "Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana", a girl passing intermediate examination and if she is unmarried, then she would be given Rs 10,000, Chief Secretary Anjani Kumar Singh told reporters after the cabinet meeting. The newly launched scheme would be applicable from April, 2018, he said. The government's ambitious scheme would benefit around Rs 1.60 crore girls every year, he said. The government would be spending annually Rs 60,000 per girl child apart from the existing schemes like scholarship, bi-cycle scheme, Students Credit Card etc., the CS added. The idea behind giving Rs 10,000 as an incentive is to stop "child marriage", Singh said adding that if a girl passes intermediate examination and gets married then she would not be entitled to the benefit. A girl who passes graduation would be entitled to get Rs 25,000 as an incentive, he said adding that this scheme is applicable to even married women as it is considered that by the time a girl passes graduation she becomes major. The scheme is a universal one and would be applicable to all sections of the society without making any discrimination on the basis of caste, religion or income, Singh said. The basic idea is to improve the lot of women especially girl children by checking female foeticide and child marriage, improving sex-ratio, promoting girl child's birth and education, immunisation of girl children of upto two years of age, reducing female infant mortality rate etc. "At present, the state government gives Rs 2,000 on the birth of girl child and she gets the amount after 20 years on maturity. Now we will give Rs 5,000 to every girl child," Singh said. The first installment of Rs 2,000 would be given to the girl child on her birth while the second installment of Rs 1000 will be given to the child once she turns one year and her biometrics linked with Aadhaar and final installment of Rs 2000 will be given to the child on the completion of immunisation, he said. He said that this would help government in achieving the target of complete immunisation and Aadhaar linkage. Similarly, the amount being given for girl's uniform has also been increased by around 50 per cent for students of class I to XII, the Chief Secretary said. The amount being given annually for buying sanitary napkins has also been increased from current Rs 150 to Rs 300, he added. The state government, which spends Rs 840 crore annually on girl's education, health and social welfare schemes, will spend another Rs 1400 crore annually under the ambitious "Mukhyamantri Kanya Utthan Yojana", thus taking the total annual spending for girl's overall development to Rs 2221 crore. In another important decision, the cabinet also decided to abolish the criteria of 40 per cent disability in case of acid victims in order to give them Rs 400 pension per month, Singh said. The cabinet chaired by Chief Minister Nitish Kumar also decided to increase the amount to buy uniform from current Rs 250 to Rs 400 for children aged between three to six years of age at Anganwadi Kendras, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The National Commission for Women (NCW) Chairperson Rekha Sharma has claimed that there was "no democracy" in the Darjeeling hills and that the district administration was playing the role of a "robot". The NCW chief was on a four-day visit to the Darjeeling hills in view of her office receiving a number of complaints of police atrocities on women during the 104-day shutdown in the region last year. "The police here has been working as an agent and they are getting orders from somewhere else. After hearing the stories (from women), I can say that there is no democracy in the hills," Sharma told reporters here before leaving for Delhi yesterday. Alleging that the police had played a "brute negative role" against women during the 104-day strike, she said she did not think that she was in a part of independent India. The indefinite strike by the Bimal Gurung-led Gorkha Janmukti Morcha (GJM) in the Darjeeling hills demanding a separate Gorkhaland state began on June 15 and it was lifted on September 26 last year. When contacted, senior ministers and ruling Trinamool Congress leaders Partha Chatterjee and Subrata Mukherjee declined to comment in this regard. The NCW chief claimed she was discouraged to visit the hills by the administration and there had been efforts so that she cannot meet the complainants. "However, I met around 150 complainants. There were heaps of reports, pertaining to gross misconduct against women, which had accumulated at my desk. I was concerned and decided to set foot on ground zero to take stock of the situation," she said. "I think that the administration is working on someone's direction here. They are working like a robot. There is no freedom for them," Sharma said adding that she will send the complaints to the Centre and the President. She urged Chief Minister Mamata Banerjee to visit the hills and meet the complainants. The NCW chairperson said the Darjeeling district magistrate had initially refused to meet her, but did so later after her tweets went viral on social networking sites. "The DM had no answers to my questions.... I was not satisfied," Sharma said. District Magistrate Joyoshi Dasgupta said, "There is no question of non-cooperation. I went and answered each question. The instructions given by her are being followed." Sharma said she wanted to meet the district SP and IGP but they were on vacation. Meanwhile, a group of women workers of the GJM, now headed by Binay Tamang, protested against the NCW chairperson's visit on Tuesday. The coordinator of the district committee of the GJM's women's wing, Kalpana Tamang, said they protested as the NCW chairperson did not show up when the hills needed her during last year's agitation. The GJM central committee had suspended Bimal Gurung and appointed Tamang the party's new president. BJP MP of Darjeeling, S S Ahluwalia, had last month appealed to the chief minister and Gurung to resolve the Darjeeling problem through political dialogue. The West Bengal police had claimed that Gurung and some of his aides were absconding after being booked under the Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act in connection with the violence during the 104-day strike. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Prime Minister Narendra Modi did not meet his Pakistani counterpart Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here today and no such meeting is planned for tomorrow, the External Affairs Ministry said. Prior to the prime minister's visit, the MEA had said last week that Modi was unlikely to have bilateral talks with the Pakistani premier at the summit. "No meeting took place with the Pakistani prime minister. There is no plan to have any (meeting)," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar said in response to a question. The prime ministers of India and Pakistan last met in December 2015, when Modi, in an unplanned visit, landed in Lahore on his way back from Afghanistan and attended then Pakistan premier Nawaz Sharif's granddaughter's wedding. However, relations turned frosty after the Pathankot terror attack in January, 2016 and another strike by terrorists on an Army camp in Uri in Jammu and Kashmir in September that year. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Orissa High Court today expressed displeasure at the irregularities in rituals at the Shree Jagannath Temple in Puri and said it had at no point of time interfered with the rituals of its presiding deities. A division bench headed by Chief Justice Vineet Saran said the state government and the temple administration should immediately settle the issue amicably after holding discussions with the stakeholders. The devotees visiting the temple for last four days have been deprived of 'Mahaprasad' due to dispute between servitors and the temple administration. The high court has been monitoring the repair undertaken by the Archaeological Survey of India (ASI) in the 12th-century shrine since 2016, while adjudicating over a PIL seeking judicial intervention for effective repair and renovation of the temple. "About the high court's order passed on April 10 pertaining to restrictions of entry of servitors and devotees into the sanctum sanctorum of the temple, it said the relevant portion of its order was misinterpreted by the temple administration," said senior advocate Ashok Mohapatra, who is the petitioner-advocate in this case. The high court on April 10 had asked the administration of the temple to open by April 16 the prayer hall for devotees which had been out of bounds for over two years for repair works. The temple administration in an affidavit informed the court that the devotees were allowed darshan of the deities from Jagamohan (assembly hall) since April 16. The bench had on April 10 asked the temple administration to file an affidavit in the court today stating the procedures followed for complying with its orders. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Over 1,200 non-banking financial companies (NBFCs), recently flagged as "high risk" prone for not complying with a provision of the anti-money laundering law, have hurriedly submitted their records to the government to be identified as legally compliant, officials said today. These firms, from across the country, submitted the required documents to the Financial Intelligence Unit (FIU) recently, after the agency in February had published the names of 9,491 such firms for non-compliance of a provision under the Prevention of Money Laundering Act (PMLA), they said. The flagged NBFCs filed their records and furnished the identity of their principal officers to the FIU after their names were put in the public domain, the officials said. The FIU works under the Union finance ministry to check crimes in the economy and alert enforcement agencies about such instances. A senior official said the finance ministry has now taken off their names from the "high risk" list. "Over 1,200 such names have been taken off the list even as more names are in the process to be taken off. The ministry had said that as soon as they comply with the law, they will be cleared," he said. The rest of the cases are under process and those found "defunct or non-compliant" will be barred from operating with the help of the Reserve Bank of India, the official said. Under the PMLA, the NBFCs, which include cooperative banks, are required to furnish details about the identity of their clients, maintain records and furnish the information to the FIU. "As these unregistered NBFCs remain outside the reporting ambit of the FIU, they pose a risk to the integrity of the country's financial system and, therefore the FIU has published the list of such 'non-compliant' entities which have not fulfilled their obligation under the PMLA and the rules relating to non-registration of the principal officers. "The list has been published to enable the bankers to conduct enhanced due diligence of the transactions carried out by such NBFCs," the finance ministry had said in a statement last month. The activities of these institutions came under the scanner of the FIU after the scrapping of currency notes of Rs 1,000 and Rs 500 in November 2016. "The publication of names is primarily a step by the FIU to make the public and the banks aware that these NBFCs are not law compliant and that they should refrain from indulging into transactions with them," a finance ministry official had told PTI. According to the records, there are about 12,000 NBFCs in the country at present. An NBFC is a company registered under the Companies Act and engages in the business of loans and advances, acquisition of shares, stocks, bonds, debentures and securities issued by the government or local authority, besides other marketable securities. The NBFCs lend and make investments and, hence, their activities are akin to that of the banks. However, they cannot accept demand deposits and do not form part of the payment and settlement system and cannot issue cheques drawn on themselves. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Procter & Gamble will acquire 51.80 per cent stake for Rs 1,289.88 crore in India listed drug firm Merck Ltd as part of a global deal under which it is taking over German firm Merck KGaA's international consumer health business. The global deal is for about 3.4 billion euro (Rs 27,677 crore) in cash. P&G will acquire Merck's majority shareholding in Merck Ltd. (India) and make a mandatory tender offer to minority shareholders. In a regulatory filing, Merck Ltd said Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V and The Procter & Gamble Company have launched an up to Rs 647.53 crore open offer to acquire up to 4,315,840 equity shares of Merck Ltd, constituting 26 per cent stake from public shareholders. The open offer document said: "The acquirer (Procter & Gamble Overseas India B.V and The Procter & Gamble Company) has entered into a sale and purchase agreement...wherein it is proposed that the acquirer shall purchase from Emedia Export Company MBH, Merck Internationale Beteiligungen GmbH and Chemitra GmbH 8,599,224 equity shares...which constitutes 51.80 per cent of the voting share capital." It further said sale of the equity shares held by the sellers is proposed to be executed at a "price of up to Rs 1,500 per fully paid up equity share aggregating to up to Rs 1,289,88,36,000 total for all equity shares held by the sellers payable as Euro equivalent in cash". The company also said under the open offer by P&G, up to 26 per cent of the fully diluted voting equity share capital will be acquired at a price of Rs 1,500.36 per share amounting to Rs 647.53 crore. On the impact of the global transaction in India, Merck Ltd said: "As part of the transaction, Merck and P&G have agreed to a number of manufacturing, supply and service agreements." Merck announced it has signed an agreement to sell its global consumer health business to P&G for approximately 3.4 billion euro in cash, or approximately USD 4.2 billion at current exchange rates. It said it intends to use the net proceeds from the divestiture primarily to accelerate deleveraging. At the same time, it will allow Merck to increase flexibility to strengthen all three business sectors. The transaction will be executed through the sale of Merck's shares in a number of legal entities as well as various asset sales and comprises the Consumer Health business across 44 countries, including more than 900 products and two Consumer Health-managed production sites in Spittal (Austria) and Goa (India). It is contemplated that approximately 3,300 employees, mainly from Consumer Health, will transition to P&G upon completion of the transaction, subject to prior works council consultation where required. The sale of the global Consumer Health business does not yet comprise the French Consumer Health business, where P&G has made a binding offer to acquire the shares and assets, it added. The transaction is expected to close by the year end. JP Morgan acted as financial adviser to Merck on the transaction, and Freshfields Bruckhaus Deringer acted as a legal adviser to Merck. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Sixty activists of the ruling PML-N in Pakistan have been arrested for using abusive language against Supreme Court judges and the military establishment in Punjab province. PML-N lawmakers led by parliamentarians Waseem Akhtar and Naeem Safdar held a rally on April 13 in Kasur district, 50 kms from Lahore, to lodge a protest against the Supreme Court's verdict imposing a lifetime ban on ousted prime minister Nawaz Sharif from taking part in parliamentary politics. As some clips of the rally in which participants using abusive language against Chief Justice Mian Saqib Nisar and the military were circulated on social media, Punjab Chief Minister Shahbaz Sharif ordered arrest of the participants in the rally. "We have arrested 60 suspects, including Waseem Akhtar, Naeem Safdar, Kasur Municipal Committee Chairman Ayaz Khan, Vice Chairman Ahmad Latif, two UC chairmen - Nasir Khan and Jamil Khan - and as many councillors during the last two days. "An FIR against them has been registered under sections 166, 506, 341, 228 (intentional insult or interruption to public servant sitting in judicial proceeding), 109, 147 and 149 (offences against public tranquillity) of Pakistan Penal Code," said Kasur District Police Officer Zahid Nawaz Marwat. Marwat said the PML-N leaders and workers blocked roads and used abusive language against judges and intelligence agencies. He said video recording of the suspects is also available with the police. "We have booked a total of 85 PML-N workers in this case and police are raiding the whereabouts of the remaining 25," he said. Meanwhile, Nawaz Sharif's daughter Maryam Nawaz has urged party workers to refrain from showing "aggressive reactions". Nawaz Sharif was disqualified as prime minister in the Panama Papers case last July. This month the apex court also disqualified him for life from taking part in parliamentary politics. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Two local Dalit leaders have gone on an indefinite hunger strike here since last evening, demanding arrests of those who had fired indiscriminately, injuring two youths of their community during a recent sectarian clash on the issue of renaming an NH1 traffic intersection through the town as 'Samvidhan Chowk' here. Dalit leaders Pawan Sethi and Rajinder Ghera, observing fast under the banner of Bahujan Sangharsh Organisation of India, said their agitation is also aimed at seeking suspension of Phagwara Superintendent of Police Parminder Singh Bhandal and other police officers in whose presence the gunshots were allegedly fired. The duo alleged that despite being victims of the April 13 clash, the police lodged the FIR against the Dalits. While demanding revocation of the FIRs against them, the arrests of the assailant youths and suspension of their firearms' licences, Sethi and Gehra also sought compensation for the injured Dalit youths during the clash. They also pressed for renaming the NH1 traffic intersection as Samvidhan Chowk, besides seeking government jobs for their community members. The April 13 clashes in Phagwara had taken place between a Dalits' group and the members of a right-wing outfit over differences between them on renaming the intersection. Akali councillors Sarabjit Kaur and Baljinder Singh were among scores of supporters of different parties who sat along with the duo to express solidarity with them. Meanwhile, an ongoing sit-in by the Dalits in Bhagwan Valmik chowk entered sixth day today. In a separate meeting, the Congress party demanded action against the "divisive forces" for allegedly holding peace and amity of town to ransom. Presided by former Punjab minister Joginder Singh Mann, the meeting demanded deterrent punishment to those who had vitiated city's peace. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A "veiled attempt" was made to launch a "frontal attack" on the independence of judiciary through the pleas seeking probe into the death of special CBI judge B H Loya, the Supreme Court today said while expressing concern over the "brazen mis-utilisation" of PILs, especially at the behest of political or business rivals. The apex court said that frivolous petitions, instituted at the behest of business or political rivals to settle scores behind the "facade" of a public interest litigation (PIL), pose a grave danger to the credibility of judicial process. While dismissing the PILs seeking probe into Loya's death, a bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra said "business rivalries have to be resolved in a competitive market for goods and services. Political rivalries have to be resolved in the great hall of democracy when the electorate votes its representatives in and out of office". It noted that PIL has developed as a powerful tool to espouse the cause of marginalised and oppressed and its hallmark was that a citizen may approach the court to ventilate the grievance of those who are unable to pursue their rights. "Yet over time, it has been realised that this jurisdiction is capable of being and has been brazenly mis-utilised by persons with a personal agenda," the bench noted, adding, "the true face of the litigant behind the facade is seldom unravelled". The bench said that senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and activist-lawyer Prashant Bhushan along with others, who were representing the petitioners and intervenor in the Loya case, have attempted to inform the court that they have no personal agenda and they have instituted these proceedings to protect judicial independence. "An aura of good faith has been sought to be created by submitting that the true purpose of seeking an inquiry into the circumstances relating to the death of judge Loya is to protect the district judiciary," it said. "But as the submissions have evolved, it has become clear that the petition is a veiled attempt to launch a frontal attack on the independence of the judiciary and to dilute the credibility of judicial institutions," the court said. It said that the apex court and high courts were flooded with litigation and burdened by arrears and motivated pleas, ostensibly invoking public interest, detract from the time and attention which courts must devote to genuine causes. "It is a travesty of justice for the resources of the legal system to be consumed by an avalanche of misdirected petitions purportedly filed in the public interest which, upon due scrutiny, are found to promote a personal, business or political agenda. This has spawned an industry of vested interests in litigation," it said. "There is a grave danger that if this state of affairs is allowed to continue, it would seriously denude the efficacy of the judicial system by detracting from the ability of the court to devote its time and resources to cases which legitimately require attention," the bench said. It said that such frivolous petitions has the "propensity of endangering" the credibility of other institutions and undermining public faith in democracy and the rule of law and it would happen when courts were utilised to settle "extra-judicial scores". "Courts resolve disputes about legal rights and entitlements. Courts protect the rule of law. There is a danger that the judicial process will be reduced to a charade, if disputes beyond the ken of legal parameters occupy the judicial space," the bench said. The bench also dealt with the submissions of petitioners who had questioned the veracity of statements given by four judges -- Shrikant Kulkarni, S M Modak, Vijay C Barde and R R Rathi-- who were with Loya on December 1, 2014 when he died at Nagpur where he had gone to attend the wedding of his colleague's daughter. "Judicial review is a potent weapon to preserve the rule of law. However, here we have been confronted with a spate of scurrilous allegations. Absent any tittle of proof that they are conspirators in a murder the court must stand by the statements of the judicial officers. "The judges of the district judiciary are vulnerable to wanton attacks on their independence. This court would be failing in its duty if it were not to stand by them," it said. Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, had died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) People in Warsaw pinned paper daffodils to their clothes as the Polish capital began a day of commemorations today on the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. Sirens will wail, church bells will toll and newscasters on TV, politicians and regular citizens are wearing the daffodils in what has become a symbol of mourning for the Jews who died fighting, as well as the millions of other Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The daffodils tradition comes from Marek Edelman, who was the last surviving commander of the uprising and on every anniversary used to lay these spring flowers at the monument to the fighters. He died in 2009. President Andrzej Duda is to speak during official commemorations and will pay homage to the hundreds of Jewish fighters who took up arms in the 1943 rebellion against the German forces that occupied Poland during World War II. The revolt ended in death for most of the fighters, yet left behind an enduring symbol of resistance. At a ceremony at Warsaw's Town Hall, three Holocaust survivors Helena Birenbaum, Krystyna Budnicka and Marian Turski were given honorary citizenship of the city. There is also to be an "independent" gathering by Poles furious at a government that sometimes seems to tolerate or even support anti-Semitic views despite its official denunciations of anti-Semitism. Open Republic, an association that fights anti-Semitism and xenophobia, said it was organizing its ceremony in opposition to what it called the "hollow nationalist pomp" of the government, recalling how the prime minister earlier this year paid tribute to a Polish wartime insurgency unit that had collaborated with the Nazis. The signs of rising nationalism have also strengthened the resolve of those seeking reconciliation, and this year a record 2,000 volunteers are handing out the paper daffodils, which have become a moving symbol of Christian Poles expressing their sorrow at the loss of a Jewish community that was Europe's largest before the Holocaust. "I feel this is my responsibility and do it with all my heart," said Barbara Sekulska, 76, who joined mostly younger volunteers. The Warsaw Ghetto uprising broke out April 19, 1943, when about 750 young Jewish fighters armed with just pistols and fuel bottles attacked a German force more than three times its size. In their last testaments they said they knew they were doomed but wanted to die at a time and place of their own choosing. In the end, the fighters held out nearly a month, longer than some German-invaded countries did. The Germans razed the ghetto and killed most of the fighters, except for a few dozen who managed to escape the ghetto through sewage canals to the "Aryan" side of the city, Edelman among them. A survivor from the Warsaw ghetto, Marian Kalwary, 87, told The Associated Press that he is horrified to see violence in the world today and what he asserts is the rise in Poland of the same nationalistic views that drove Nazi Germany into starting World War II and the Holocaust notions that had long been condemned and seemed banished. Israeli dignitaries usually attend the major ghetto commemorations, but mostly remained home because the Warsaw anniversary this year coincides with major celebrations in Israel marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of that nation in 1948. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The city police today opposed a farmers' plea to the Madras High Court for permission to stage a 90-day fast at the Marina Beach here to press for expeditious setting up of the Cauvery Management Board to implement the apex court judgement on the rive water distribution among the riparian states. The Chennai police opposed the plea by farmers' leader P Ayyakkannu fearing the anti-social element may exploit the agitation and create law and order problem. They also pointed out to the court that Marina was not in the list of places, designated for staging agitations. Ayyakannu, who had led a prolonged agitation in New Delhi last year pressing for farmers' issues, has sought permission to observed a "hunger strike" at the Marina for 90 continuous days, demanding constitution of the Cauvery Management Board. The group led by Ayyakannu earlier had staged bizarre protests, demonstrating with human skulls outside the prime minister's residence and stripping and drinking urine during their agitation in Delhi. The counter to Ayyakannu's petition, filed by the Greater Chennai police commissioner, said if the fast was allowed, the possibility of anti-social groups taking part in the stir and creating law and order problem could not be ruled out. It also said permission to go on a fast for 90 days cannot be granted as it was humanly impossible, physically incompatible and may have serious repercussions. The counter said all political parties, including the DMK and the AIADMK, were given permission for only one day to stage any demonstration, that too from morning to evening. The places for conducting agitations has already been earmarked, it said listing the locations, including Valluvar Kottam and the state Guest House here. Various political parties have staged protests over the Cauvery Management Board issue in Tamil Nadu in the past few weeks. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The BJP in Punjab said today that clashes in Phagwara were the result of a "political conspiracy" to polarise voters ahead of the 2019 general elections and demanded that a special investigation team be formed to probe the matter. Six days after the clashes left four people injured, a BJP delegation led by state unit chief and MP Shwait Malik met Punjab Governor V P Singh Badnore and sought constitution of an SIT to "identify the conspirators and inciters". A "political conspiracy" was hatched to "incite caste-based clashes to polarize voters" ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha polls, the party alleged in a memorandum. It also sought a directive to Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh to call an all-party meeting to discuss joint initiatives for ensuring peace in the area. Talking to the media, Malik termed the Phagwara clash a "conspiracy". "There is a conspiracy. We have a BJP MLA in Phagwara... Therefore, it is politically motivated," he alleged. The BJP state chief said the central government had been taking steps to uplift Dalits. Malik was asked whether the BJP supported Dalit activists who wanted to rename a roundabout in Phagwara -- apparently the reason behind the clashes. When he was told that the Shiromani Akali Dal blamed Shiv Sena leaders for instigating attacks on Dalits, Malik said the BJP could not answer for the Sena. "They are a separate organistaion... Do not link our party with the Shiv Sena," he said. In the memorandum, the BJP said the police investigation into the Phagwara clashes was limited only to the incidents of violence. "They are not probing the angle of political conspiracy. ... political conspiracy to incite caste/section-based clashes to polarize voters for the 2019 Lok Sabha elections," the memorandum read. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Ram Nath Kovind today visited the cave shrine of Shri Mata Vaishno Devi and paid obeisance at the sanctum sanctorum. Kovind prayed for the progress and prosperity of the people of the country, an official spokesman said. The President was accompanied by First Lady Savita Kovind, Governor N N Vohra and Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Kumar Singh. During his visit, the President went around the Shrine complex, viewed the facilities and met with pilgrims. Governor, who is also the chairman of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Shrine Board, briefed the President about the initiatives being taken for upgrading and expanding the infrastructure for serving the increasing number of pilgrims. Vohra observed that a master plan has been prepared for the Bhawan and the extended shrine area to provide accommodation to pilgrims at Bhawan, Adhkuwari, Katra and Jammu. Giving details about various social support initiatives taken by the Board, especially in the education and health sectors, the governor referred to the establishment of superspeciality hospital, Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University and College of Nursing at Kakryal and Shri Mata Vaishno Devi Gurukul at Charanpaduka. On infrastructure projects, the Governor informed the President that passenger ropeway between Bhawan and Bhairon Ghati and Material rope way between Siar Dabri and Bhawan are nearing completion. He also informed the President about the ongoing slope stabilisation project and installation of shelter sheds for ensuring safety of pilgrims against shooting stones and landslides, besides, the upcoming Tarakote Marg at an estimated cost of about Rs 80 crore. Earlier, on his arrival at the Panchhi Helipad from Jammu, the President was received by Umang Narula, the CEO of the Shrine Board. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The government has ramped up printing of currency notes and is operating all the four presses 24x7, an official said today amid ATMs running dry in many parts of the country. Since this week, the presses are minting out Rs 500 and Rs 200 notes without a break to meet an estimated Rs 70,000 crore of currency shortfall in the country, he said. On an average, the four presses of Security Printing and Minting Corporation of India Limited (SPMCIL) operate for 18-19 hours daily with a 3-4 hour break. But since the time ATMs ran dry due to "unusual spurt in demand" for cash, the presses are operating 24X7, an official told PTI. Normally a currency printing cycle is of 15 days, meaning thereby the increased number of currencies which are being printed beginning this week would be available only towards the end of this month. The official said that the printing of currency 24x7 was last done post demonetisation when the printing of new Rs 2,000 notes was fast tracked to meet the liquidity shortage in the market. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) had on Tuesday stated that there is sufficient cash in its vaults and currency chests. "Nevertheless, printing of the notes has been ramped up in all the 4 note presses." The shortage may be felt in some pockets largely due to logistical issues of replenishing ATMs frequently and the recalibration of ATMs being still underway to dispensing smaller sized 200 rupee notes, the RBI had said. The Finance Ministry earlier this week said there is an unusual spurt in demand in some parts of the country like Andhra Pradesh, Telangana, Karnataka, MP and Bihar. In the first 13 days of the current month, the currency demand went up by Rs 45,000 crore. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said that the government suspects that Rs 2,000 notes are being hoarded as they are not coming back into the circulation fast enough. To deal with currency shortage, the printing of Rs 500 notes have been increased 5 times. "The currency printing (will increase) from Rs 500 crore to Rs 2,500 crore per day of Rs 500 note... So in a month, we will be printing about Rs 70,000-Rs 75,000 crore. This should give you assurance that we are geared up to meet the rising demand," he had said. The Rs 2,000 rupee notes account for about 35 per cent of the Rs 18.43 lakh crore currency in circulation in the country. The printing of this high denomination notes has been halted as it had reached its threshold of Rs 6.70 lakh crore in the system. The Rs 18.43 lakh crore currency in circulation compares to nearly Rs 17.97 lakh crore currency in circulation before demonetisation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes on November 8, 2016. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Public sector banks, which are reeling under a huge burden of growing non-performing assets and being probed by central agencies, have emerged as the leading public authorities in terms of rejecting RTI pleas, an analysis by a voluntary group shows. The 26 public sector banks, including the RBI, got 9 per cent of the total RTI applications received by all central authorities. They account for 33 per cent of the rejections reported by all the authorities, said Venkatesh Nayak of the Commonwealth Human Rights Initiative (CHRI) who crunched data from the annual report of the Central Information Commission (CIC). The banks received 86,000 RTI applications during 2016-17, according to a CHRI report. In other words, the rate of rejection of RTI applications was much higher as compared to other public authorities under the Government of India. Resistance to transparency seems to have increased during this period, particularly when the banking sector is going through a difficult phase, Nayak said. The CIC data shows that the State Bank of Hyderabad (now part of SBI) rejected a record 71 per cent of the RTI pleas it received in 2016-17 and the Oriental Bank of Commerce declined every second plea recording a 50 per cent rejection rate. The Corporation Bank's rejection rate was 47.3 per cent, while the Andhra Bank rejected 45.9 per cent of the RTI queries received in 2016-17. "Both Dena Bank and Canara Bank dismissed more than 40 per cent of the pleas. Six other PSBs rejected more than one-third of the RTI applications, he said. The Punjab National Bank, at the centre of an over USD 2 bn fraud by Nirav Modi and Mehul Choksi, denied about 33 per cent of the pleas, according to the report. The banks cited others as the reason for turning down the applications which implies that they did not invoke exemption clauses under Sections 8, 9 11 and 24 of the RTI Act, Nayak said. "The RBI also rejected more than half (57 per cent) of the applications under the others category. Only the Indian Bank and the Union Bank of India did not reject any plea under this category," he said. Interestingly, the Syndicate Bank, the Allahabad Bank, and the Punjab and Sind Bank dismissed RTI queries citing Section 24 of the RTI Act, which is only for intelligence and security-related organisations and is exempt from the ambit of the transparency law except in cases of human rights violations and corruption. "Official RTI statistics do not seem to show evidence of any undue burden on them as the average load factor on each branch of PSB was less than two RTI applications per year," Nayak told PTI. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A special CBI court today issued a non-bailable arrest warrant against RJD supremo Lalu Prasad's close aide Bhola Yadav, a Bihar MLA, for his remarks on the Fodder scam verdict involving fraudulent withdrawal of the money from Dumka Treasury. Special Judge Shivpal Singh issued the order after Yadav failed to appear in the court today in response to an earlier contempt-of-court notice to him. The Ranchi court had directed Yadav on April 3 to appear before it today on April 19 over his reported comments that the verdict sentencing the RJD supremo in Dumka case was "not impartial" and was based on wrong observations. The opinion was aired after the court sentenced Lalu Prasad to 14 years in jail and imposed Rs 60 lakh as fine in the case on March 24. When contacted, Bhola Yadav said in Patna that he has challenged Ranchi special court's summons to him in the Jharkhand High Court. "I have challenged the Ranchi court's order (issuing summons) in the high court (Jharkhand). My lawyer informed the honourable Ranchi special court along with the documents that showed that an appeal has been filed but even then, the judge issued the arrest warrant against me," Bhola Yadav told PTI. Yadav, who has maintained that he never uttered a single word against the court at any point of time in the past, said he had talked about the CBI and not the CBI court but a Hindi newspaper had published my remarks as having been made against the CBI court. Even the newspaper has published corrigendum in this regard, he said. "It has been the RJD's stand all through that Lalu is not getting justice because of the biased investigation by the CBI. I had made a statement to this effect while leaving for Delhi last month," Yadav said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Tamil Nadu government today informed the Madras High Court that it has accorded administrative sanction for various works and initiatives related to juvenile justice system to be taken up at a total cost of over Rs 60 crore. The Principal Secretary of Social Welfare and Noon Meal Programme department filed an additional affidavit giving details of compliance of the directions of the high court's Juvenile Justice Committee given earlier. The affidavit filed before a division bench of justices Huluvadi G Ramesh and R Dhandapani submitted that Rs 60.4 crore had been sanctioned toward construction of new building for observation home for boys and girls in Madurai. It also said the government has created 32 posts of District Child Protection Officers. Listing out other initiatives, the affidavit said a Juvenile Justice Fund had been created with a corpus of Rs 25 lakh for the welfare and rehabilitation of children as early as in November, 2016 itself. The bench, which had already appointed advocate T. Mohan as amicus curie in the matter, directed him to go through the affidavit and come out with suggestions, if any, and adjourned the petition to June 11. Chief Justice Indira Banerjee had earlier suo motu (on her own) taken up the petition with regard to implementation of Juvenile Justice (Care and Protection of Children) Act as per the Feb 9 last directions of the Supreme Court. The apex court had given the order on a PIL by Sampurna Behura, who had raised various questions over virtual non-implementation of laws beneficial to the voiceless children, particularly the juvenile. It had highlighted the failure of the states to implement various provisions like establishment of child welfare committees, justice boards and special juvenile police units and prayed for directions to improve the living conditions of juveniles in conflict with law. The Supreme Court had said since the involvement of the machinery of the state was critical to child rights and effective implementation of the Juvenile Justice act, it would be appropriate if each high court and its Juvenile Justice Committees continue a proactive role in children's welfare. To make the involvement and process more meaningful, the bench had requested the Chief Justices of high courts to register proceedings on their own so that roadblocks, if any, were meaningfully addressed. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Russia said today it would screen at the United Nations an interview with a child who it claims was made to pose as a victim of chemical weapons in Syria. Moscow said the video supports its allegation that an alleged chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma was a hoax. Russian state television had yesterday aired the conversation with the child, whom it identified as an 11-year-old Syrian boy called Hassan Diab. Russia says the supposed atrocity was staged by the civil defence organisation the White Helmets. "We already have a subtitled version of this report," Russia's ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said on state channel Rossiya 1 today. "We are distributing it to member countries (of the UN Security Council) and journalists, and at the next meeting of the Security Council we will find a way to screen it." AFP was not able to independently verify the veracity of the claims. Western powers accuse Syrian leader Bashar al-Assad's regime of using chemical weapons against civilians in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7. The United States, France and Britain carried out air strikes on what they said were Assad's chemical weapons installations in response. Assad's ally Russia has claimed the White Helmets faked the Douma atrocity with British backing in order to justify Western action. In the video, a man presented by the channel Rossiya 24 as Hassan Diab's father said his son was given "dates, cakes and rice" to play a part in the staging of the alleged attack. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) BJP president Amit Shah today reminded his party booth level workers that Karnataka assembly polls are not "an ordinary" election and asked them to sacrifice their comfort and sleep till state unit chief B S Yeddyurappa is sworn in as chief minister. Addressing BJP's booth level presidents and Shakti" Kendra chiefs at Devanahalli near here, Shah said, "We have won elections in 14 states since 2014. Now the elections are due in the 15th state of Karnataka." "Any guess what will happen?," he asked and the workers responded, shouting "BJP (will win)." "It's not an ordinary election. It is our grand entry in South India," Shah said. "I want to appeal to all the booth level workers and Shakti Kendra chiefs present inside this meeting hall that you have to sacrifice your comfort and sleep till the time Yeddyurappa swears in as chief minister on May 15," Shah said. Assembly polls are scheduled for May 12 and counting of votes will be taken up on May 15. He said ever since Narendra Modi took over as prime minister in 2014, BJP has won in 14 states including Maharashtra, Jharkhand, Haryana, Gujarat,"Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Manipur, Tripura, Meghalaya and"Assam. The BJP president said changing the regime has become essential as Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah had "ruined" Bengaluru that was one of the highest revenue generating cities of the country. "Bengaluru"s development is stuck in the chaotic" traffic jam. None of the development works take off or get" completed without paying commission," he said. The Modi government had provided Rs three lakh crore to the state which was just Rs 88,000 crore during Manmohan Singh government, he said. The additional Rs 2.12 lakh crore straightaway became "prey to the prevailing corruption in Karnataka," Shah said. As many as 24 BJP/RSS workers have lost their lives in the state, he said,. "These people (in the government) think that they will"get away with the murder of our workers," he said. "They should know that we will drag them out even if they take refuge in netherworld"once our government comes to power in Karnataka and put them behind the bars," Shah said. He said while Modi was working towards ease of living, Siddaramaiah transformed the state into "ease of murdering people." Highlighting the importance of booth level workers and Shakti Kendra chiefs, Shah said they are those who actually lead the party to victory. "While other parties are leader based party," BJP is a cadre based party. That's the reason that we rose from two seats to 329 seats, from 10 members to 11 crore members," Shah said. He said there was a time when the party celebrated if its candidates could save their deposits. "Today we have 1,780 MLAs," Shah" said. He became nostalgic remembering his days as booth" level president in 1982. "It can happen only in BJP that a booth level member" becomes the national president," Shah said. He was addressing booth level presidents and Shakti Kendra chiefs of 15 constituencies in three districts of Kolar, Chikkaballapura and Bengaluru Rural. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today allowed the Sahara Group to choose any parcel of its properties in the Aamby Valley city project in Maharashtra and sell them by May 15 and deposit the proceeds with SEBI-Sahara refund account. A special bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra considered the submission of senior advocate Vikas Singh, representing Subrata Roy and the Sahara group, that they be allowed to sell the properties on their own as auctioning would not fetch the desired price. The bench, also comprising Justices Ranjan Gogoi and A K Sikri, initially asked the group to deposit Rs 750 crore by May 15 by selling the properties from one parcel of the Aamby Valley. However, later the bench said it would not specify the amount in its order. It said if the Sahara Group failed to sell its property by May 15, the Bombay High Court's official liquidator will proceed with the proposed auctioning process to sell them. The court specifically told the Sahara Group that they have time till May 15 to sell the properties by themselves or these would be auctioned. It said the group will have to establish its bonafide by depositing some more money and fixed the matter for hearing on May 16. At today's hearing, Singh said Sahara has already deposited more than Rs 17,000 crore and they deserved a hearing as lot of issues were required to be looked into. The bench asked the group to keep apprising the company judge of the Bombay High Court about the sale of its properties and submit the sale proceeds with the SEBI-Sahara Refund account. It took note of the reports filed by the official liquidator of the High Court and the court receiver appointed to maintain the Aamby Valley properties, and said the Sahara Group will start carrying out their maintenance. The bench asked the court receiver to collect money from the residents of these properties for maintenance and pay to the group if the group starts the maintenance work. The official liquidator, in its report, said it has commenced the procedure for auctioning the Aamby Valley property for which bids will be invited from May 21 to 31 and the auction begin from June 2. On November 23, the apex court had granted liberty to two Bombay High Court judges to adopt procedures to facilitate the auctioning of the properties and directed the liquidator not to allow any obstruction in the process. Earlier, the apex court had taken strong exception to the Sahara Group allegedly obstructing the auctioning process and warned that anyone indulging in such an act would be held liable for contempt and "sent to jail". Roy, who has spent almost two years in jail, has been on parole since May 6 last year. The parole was granted the first time to enable him attend the funeral of his mother. It has been extended since then. Besides Roy, two other directors -- Ravi Shankar Dubey and Ashok Roy Choudhary -- were arrested for failure of the group's two companies -- Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL) -- to comply with the court's August 31, 2012 order to return Rs 24,000 crore to their investors. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Assam Chief Minister Sarbananda Sonowal today demanded an apology from Congress president Rahul Gandhi for allegedly trying to defame BJP chief Amit Shah, saying the Supreme Court's dismissal of the pleas seeking a probe into the death of judge B H Loya "exposed" the "dirty design" of the opposition party. He also said a "conspiracy" allegedly hatched by the Congress to frame Shah in a false case was "badly unmasked" before the people. "I welcome the Supreme Court order on judge Loya case. It has exposed the dirty design of the Congress and Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the country," he told reporters here. The chief minister said Gandhi had led a delegation of opposition parties to President Ram Nath Kovind to seek a probe into the matter. The BJP chief minister said it has been the Congress' culture to "mislead" people on every issue and try to take political mileage out of it. "The order will send a clear signal to those who try to defame political leaders through false cases," he said. The Supreme Court today dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of the special CBI judge and ruled that he died of natural causes. The petitions were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice, the court said. It dubbed the PILs into the death of judge Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, frivolous and motivated litigations to settle political scores. Loya had died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister, had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court order rejecting the plea for a probe into the death of Judge B H Loya has sent out a clear message that the judiciary cannot be "misled" by allegations based on political vendetta, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said today. The minister, who posted a series of tweets, also came down heavily on "several attempts" to target the BJP and its top leaders through "fake" cases. "It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of fake facts'. These attempts have failed miserably once again," he said on Twitter. The home minister said the Supreme Court order has also raised serious questions on the intention of filing such PILs. "The Supreme Court has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in political tug of war. The SC verdict gives a clear message that the judiciary can not be misled by allegations based on political vendetta," Singh said. The Supreme Court today dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of the special CBI judge and ruled that he died of natural causes. The petitions were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice, the court said. It dubbed the PILs into the death of judge Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, frivolous and motivated litigations to settle political scores. Loya had died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The reference to Bombay High Court judges, who had closed a criminal case involving Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis, by senior advocate Dushayant Dave in the B H Loya case did not go down well with the Supreme Court which rapped him for casting aspersions on the judiciary. The top court took strong note of Dave's plea to bring on record the order of the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court to allege that one of the two judges, who had given a statement in the special CBI Judge B H Loya death case, had ordered settlement of a criminal case against the chief minister in 2014. Dave, representing the Bombay Lawyers Association (BLA), had said a bench of justices B R Gawai and V M Deshpande had closed the prosecution against Fadnavis and others in criminal cases lodged way back in 1991. Alleging political affiliations, Dave had said the judge concerned was one of those who had said he was with Judge Loya on the fateful day when he had died of a heart attack. The apex court noted that Dave had gone to the "extent of insinuating that one individual is controlling the entire judiciary in Maharashtra and elsewhere." Strongly disapproving Dave's act, a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. said the attempt of the petitioners was to malign the dignity of the judges and sensationalise the case. "We are rather surprised at the manner in which an insinuation has been made by producing the above order, which was passed in completely unrelated proceedings. The insinuation is against the judges of the Bombay High Court at Nagpur for having quashed a criminal case in which the present Chief Minister was involved... "The attempt of the petitioners is to create prejudice and to malign the dignity of the judges, particularly of Justice BR Gavai...What is worse is the manner in which wholly unfounded aspersions have been cast on the judges of the Bombay High Court following a decision.which has been taken in the judicial capacity. This constitutes a serious attempt to scandalise the court and obstruct the course of justice," the bench said. The apex court also rejected Dave's submission that the statements of the judicial officers who accompanied Loya to hospital "cannot be regarded as independent" as two judges of the High Court had taken the view that Loya's death was due to natural causes. "Dave submitted that judicial officers in the district judiciary could not be expected to take a plea at variance with what was stated by the two judges of the HC. He urged that disciplinary action should be initiated against the two High Court judges. This submission is preposterous. It constitutes an undisguised attempt to malign four senior judicial officers and the judges of the High Court," the court said. The top court took umbrage against Dave seeking to cross-examine the four judges who had accompanied Loya to the hospital. It said the conduct of the judges --Shrikant Kulkarni and S M Modak, V C Barde and Roopesh Rathi -- cannot be questioned and there was no reason for this court to doubt the veracity of their statements. "The petitioners cannot assert as a matter of right that they should be allowed to cross-examine a host of persons including the doctors and judicial officers. By casting unfounded aspersions on the judicial officers who had accompanied judge Loya, the petitioners have revealed the real motive of these proceedings, which is to bring the judiciary into disrepute on the basis of scurrilous allegations. "We find no basis or justification to allow the request for cross-examination. The application shall accordingly stand rejected," the bench said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court today rejected the claim of activist- lawyer Prashant Bhushan that no electrocardiogram (ECG) of judge B H Loya was conducted at Nagpur's Dande hospital, where he was initially taken for treatment after he complained of chest pain. The apex court said that the mention of an ECG in the progress notes of the doctor at Meditrina hospital, where he was taken later, indicated that the procedure was carried out at Dande hospital. It rejected the submission of Bhushan, who sought an independent probe into the death of Loya that no ECG was done at Dande hospital where the judge was taken by four judges --Shrikant Kulkarni, S M Modak, V C Barde and Roopesh Rathi -- for medical assistance after he complained of chest pain. "The death summary specifically adverts to the fact that the patient was taken to Dande hospital earlier where an ECG was done. Dr Dande has made the same statement. The progress notes also note a tall T' in the anterior lead which indicates that the ECG was seen by the doctors attending to Judge Loya at Meditrina hospital," the court said. "These progress notes are contemporaneous, since they also form part of the communication addressed by Dr N B Gawande at Meditrina to the PSI at Sitabardi on the same day after the judge had been brought dead to the hospital," it said. "As a matter of fact, it is this very ECG which forms the subject matter of the submissions which have been urged by one of the intervenors, for whom advocate Prashant Bhushan appears. Having regard to the fact that the ECG has been specifically mentioned in the progress notes of the doctor at Meditrina hospital, we find no reasonable basis to infer that no ECG was done at Dande hospital," a bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said. While seeking an independent probe, Bhushan had relied on the statement of judge Rathi who had said that the nodes of the ECG machine at Dande hospital were not working and no ECG was done at the hospital. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) The Supreme Court rejecting pleas seeking a probe into judge B H Loya's death triggered a slugfest between the Congress and the BJP today with the ruling party alleging an "invisible hand" behind the petitions and the opposition party accusing it of making "false political capital" by "misinterpreting" the apex court order. The CPI(M) termed the court order as "unfortunate" and demanded a review by a larger bench. A bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said there was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on circumstances leading to the judge's death and the scrutiny of documents established the death was due to natural cause. The Congress also dared the government to order an independent investigation and asked why it was shying away from it if judge Loya's death was natural. Congress President Rahul Gandhi hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah saying truth will catch up with him. "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him," he tweeted. The BJP earlier hit out at the Congress alleging that the "invisible hand" behind the petitions before the Supreme Court was of Rahul Gandhi as part of a "conspiracy" to finish the political career of Shah. Law Minister and BJP leader Ravi Shankar Prasad said the Congress and Rahul Gandhi conspired to target Shah as it believes that only one family had a right to rule India. "It was a conspiracy by the Congress and its chief Rahul Gandhi to finish the political career of BJP President Amit Shah, as part of which wrong accusations were made and an over 100-strong delegation was taken to the President," he said. Home Minister Rajnath Singh took to Twitter to say that the judiciary has sent a message that it cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta and claimed that several attempts have been made to target top BJP leaders through 'fake news'. "The Supreme Court has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in political tug of war," Singh tweeted. While Singh did not specifically name Congress or its chief, Prasad was unsparing in his attack on Gandhi and wondered if he wanted to enhance his party's political standing by seeking recourse to the corridors of courts by making them "a political battleground with politically-vested litigations". Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis demanded an apology from Rahul Gandhi, Communist leaders and media houses for "attempting to malign" Shah's image. "Congress and its president Rahul Gandhi, the Communist parties, their allies" and "some media houses" must apologise" to our country for spreading such utter lies against our (BJP's) national president Amit Shah," he tweeted. CPI(M) leader Sitaram Yechury termed as "unfortunate" the Supreme Court order and demanded its review by a larger bench. "This dismissal or rejection of all the petitions is very unfortunate. The CPI(M) demands that this matter be reviewed by a larger bench of the Supreme Court and it must be done in interest of delivery of justice," he said in Hyderabad. With the war of words between the two main parties intensifying, the Congress disagreed with the Supreme Court verdict saying it is a "sad letter day" in the country's history and pitched for a fair investigation into the matter. Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala condemned the BJP for doing "cheap politics" in the death of judge Loya as it accused the ruling party of making political capital out of the supreme court judgement on the issue. Attacking the BJP for accusing Rahul Gandhi as being the invisible hand behind the petitions seeking the probe, Surjewala termed the allegations as a "malicious attempt" that showed the ruling party's "jitteriness" and "nerveousness". "It is a sad letter day in India's history. The suspicious circumstances in which Loya died, was a matter of deep concern for those who have faith in the judiciary. There are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary, he told reporters here. Surjewala alleged that there is a question mark on the conduct of BJP government in Maharashtra and pointed towards a "conspiracy" to not permit the entire evidence available to be placed before an appropriate forum for investigation. "When those in power agree it is a natural death, then why are they against a probe and why are they shying away from a probe. The prime minister should say that he will order a Supreme Court-monitored probe to ascertain the exact reasons for the death of judge Loya," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A seer died after setting himself afire in a police station here protesting against alleged inaction over his stolen items, following which three policemen, including an SHO, were suspended, police said today. On Sunday, Ram Das Tyagi, a resident of Madhya Pradesh's Bhopal, had gone to Hanumangarhi temple and there someone snatched his bag, containing around Rs 4,000, they said. Tyagi alleged that police had not lodged an FIR in the case and attempted to immolate himself on Tuesday in the Ram Janambhoomi police station premises. He suffered 70 per cent burns and was referred to Lucknow Trauma Centre where he died this morning, police said. Faizabad Senior Superintendent of Police Subhash Singh Baghel said, I have suspended three policemen, including the SHO, and ordered registration of the case of the seer." The body has been sent to Bhopal after post- morterm, he added. The Vishwa Hindu Parishad demanded strict action against the policemen in the case. "The seer was forced to take such a step as the police were not lodging his complaint. The responsible policemen must be strictly punished," VHP spokesman Sharad Sharma said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Thirty one Shiv Sena workers, including a party MLA, were arrested today for protesting against the proposed Nanar mega-refinery in coastal Konkan region, police said. Sena MLA Rajan Salvi had staged a protest at Rajapur on April 12, opposing the refinery project, Rajapur police inspector Suvarna Patki told PTI over phone. The protesters had violated section 37 and 31 of Maharashtra Police Act, which resulted in an offence and notices were served to the protesters under section 135 of the Code of Criminal Procedure (CrPC ), she said. Salvi and his supporters came to the police station today and were arrested, she said. They were produced before a local court and released on bail, she added. Protests against the refinery are gaining momentum. Activists of the Maharashtra Navnirman Sena on Monday vandalised the Mumbai office of a company associated with the project. MNS chief Raj Thackeray has said the project would not be allowed to come up in the ecologically-sensitive Ratnagiri district. While Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis has backed the project saying it would generate employment opportunities for local youths, Sena, BJP"s alliance partner, has strongly opposed the refinery. Maharashtra Congress unit president Ashok Chavan said the government should accept the fact that local residents were against the project. The Rs 3-trillion project envisages setting up of a mega refinery complex at Nanar in Ratnagiri district. Farmers and fishermen opposing the project had met leaders across the political spectrum to seek support for the agitation against the refinery. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Defence Minister Nirmala Sitharaman today visited the Indo-China border in Arunachal Pradesh to inspect the Indian Air Force's Advanced Landing Ground at Pasighat there, a defence spokesman said here. Sitharaman also visited the Chabua IAF base station in Assam's Dibrugarh to witness its Gagan Shakti Exercise 2018, a pan-India exercise which is in its second phase. "The scale and scope of #GaganShakti2018 is enormous & like never-before. Given here are only glimpses. Kudos to @IAF_MCC, CAS Air Chief Marshal BS Dhanoa and to all #AirWarriors. @DefenceMinIndia. "Today at #GaganShakti2018. Appreciate the detail and exhaustive plan with which @IAF_MCC is executing this monumental exercise. Our #AirWarriors displayed agility& great team spirit," Sitharaman tweeted. The minister inspected operations of SU-30 MKI fighter aircraft, C-17 Globemaster aircraft and rocket loading on Mi-17 V5 helicopters at Pasighat, defence spokesperson Lt Col Harsh Wardhan Pande said. She also witnessed a assault drill by the IAF's Garud commandos. The minister visited the Air to Ground weapons range at Dullong Mukh, where the strike package of Su-30 aircraft was displayed. Mi-17 V5 Helicopters also demonstrated their strike capability delivering 80mm rockets on a simulated target, the spokesman said. Sitharaman then visited Chabua, interacted with the air warriors and was also briefed on employment of Air Power in the defence of Eastern Sector, he said. The defence minister has been visiting various air force establishments to gauge the operational capability and preparedness of the IAF. Stating Exercise Gagan Shakti-2018 is a large scale IAF exercise which is currently in its second phase, he said the assets have now been deployed along the northern region and operations are taking place in full swing. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia ended his "indefinite fast" today, three days after he began the strike in Ahmedabad to press his demands, including the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, and said he would now embark on a nationwide tour to revive "Hindutva politics". Togadia, 62, said he was ending his fast on the advice of doctors. The surgeon-turned-firebrand leader accepted fruit juice from religious leaders to end the fast. Led by Akhileshwar Das Maharaj, the religious leaders had urged him to end his fast. Togadia quit the Vishwa Hindu Parishad last week after his nominee lost a key organisational election. He had sat on fast on Tuesday to press his demands such as construction of Ram temple, deportation of illegal Bangladeshis, resettlement of Hindus in Kashmir, and abolition of Article 370 of the Constitution. Speaking to reporters, Togadia took a swipe at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying they have proved to be "as bad as their predecessors" and failed to fulfil their promises. He said he would undertake a nationwide tour to take up the issues of "100 crore Hindus" and seek to revive "Hindutva politics" as the BJP government has failed to solve the problems facing the country. "People are now asking whom they should vote for, as those who gained power in 2014 proved to be as bad as those who were ousted. So I will try to establish Hindutva in 2019 to realise people's aspirations," Togadia said. "I will continue raising the voice of 100 crore Hindus by embarking on a pan-India tour from tomorrow. I will also take up the issues of farmers, labourers and the youth. I am sure that the Hindus, along with workers of the RSS, BJP and VHP, are still with me in my endeavour," he said. "Narendra bhai, you need to answer why promises were not fulfilled. If you don't answer, then 100 crore Hindus along with farmers and youths will seek answer from you in 2019. Instead of roaming around the world, try to solve the problems of the people of this county," he said. Togadia quit the VHP after his nominee Raghav Reddy was defeated by former Himachal Pradesh governor V S Kokje in an election for the post of VHP's international president. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump said today he would work to help Tokyo bring home from North Korea Japanese citizens who were abducted in the 1970s and 1980s to help Pyongyang train its spies. Trump, who was addressing reporters with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his side, said: "We will work very hard on that issue and we will work hard to try and bring those folks back -- very, very hard." The issue sours already strained relations between Japan and North Korea, and Abe often wears a blue ribbon to remind himself of their abduction. As he headed to the United States earlier this week, the Japanese premier said the abduction issue would be high on his agenda -- and at today's press conference, he thanked Trump profusely for his support on the matter. In 2002, North Korea admitted to the kidnapping of 13 Japanese civilians, dating back to the 1970s, but Tokyo believes the true number to be higher. The Japanese government has officially listed 17 people as abductees, but there are strong suspicions that dozens more citizens were snatched to train Pyongyang's spies in the Japanese language and culture. Japanese police have said there are 800 missing people for whom the possibility of being kidnapped by the hermit state cannot be ruled out. Under an agreement brokered in Stockholm in May 2014, North Korea undertook to reinvestigate all abductions of Japanese citizens in what appeared to be a significant breakthrough. But there has been almost no progress since then, as relations between the North and the international community deteriorated amid a protracted crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Disagreeing with the Supreme Court verdict that rejected pleas seeking a probe into the death of judge B H Loya, the Congress today demanded a fair inquiry to address the "unanswered questions" and accused the BJP of making "false political capital" by "misinterpreting" the apex court order. Congress President Rahul Gandhi targeted BJP chief Amit Shah, saying "the truth has its own way of catching up with people like him". The opposition party said it was "unfortunate that the BJP is doing cheap politics even on the death of judge Loya" after the BJP alleged that the Congress chief was the invisible hand behind the petitions seeking the probe "The truth of Judge Loya's death will one day positively come out after an independent inquiry monitored by Supreme Court," Congress communications in-charge Randeep Surjewala told reporters, and wondered why those in power are "shying away from a probe" if they "agree it is a natural death". "The prime minister should say that he will order a Supreme Court-monitored probe to ascertain the exact reasons for the death of judge Loya," he said. He claimed there is enough material that has not been placed before the Supreme Court and that can only come out through a fair investigation. "It is a sad letter day in India's history. The suspicious circumstances in which Loya died was a matter of deep concern for those who have faith in the judiciary. The copy of the entire judgment is not yet available. But there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary, Surjewala said here. He raised a set of 10 questions relating to the case and noted that issue of criminality can be decided only through a probe, contending that no investigation was done into the death of Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Taking to Twitter, Rahul Gandhi said, "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him." Surjewala alleged that there is a question mark on the conduct of BJP Government in Maharashtra and hinted at a "conspiracy" to not permit the entire evidence available with different sets of people including his fellow judges to be placed before an appropriate forum for investigation. He said the BJP's charge against Rahul Gandhi was a "malicious attempt" that showed the ruling party's "jitteriness" and "nervousness". "In this background, the BJP's attempt to make false political capital out of the Supreme Court judgment must be condemned with strongest possible words," he said, adding "We reject and condemn the malicious attempts of the BJP to misinterpret the judgement for finger pointing. He also said that the Congress is committed to people's demand for a fair probe. "The people's court is supreme in this country. We respect the judiciary. But we respectfully disagree with the conclusions arrived at. We believe there is material that was never placed before the Supreme Court. There is material that can only be examined in an investigation and not in a Public Interest Litigation (PIL)," he said. "We believe that the matter needs to be thoroughly investigated with all the evidence, with all the link chain evidence, with all the documents and discrepancies therein with all the over-writing that has been brought out so as to arrive at a just conclusion regarding the reasons for death of Judge Loya," he said. "It is that innate commitment that makes us place all the apprehensions expressed so far by members of the family of Judge Loya, the Bar, jurists, judges, media and people at large, in public domain, once again," he said. Asked whether the Congress would move a review petition in the case, Surjewala said his party was not a petitioner seeking the probe into the judge's death and recalled that the party had instead approached the "people's court" and had met President Ram Nath Kovind along with 14 opposition parties. "We sincerely wish that all these judges could have been heard in an appropriate enquiry monitored by the Hon'ble Supreme Court and the truth would have come out. Hopefully, in an independent and in an impartial enquiry monitored by Hon'ble Supreme Court, the truth of Judge Loyas' death one day will positively come out," he said. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the apex court's verdict will raise more questions. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said there was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on the circumstances leading to the judge's death and the documents placed on record and their scrutiny established that the death was due to natural cause. Loya had died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Leader of Opposition in the Maharashtra Assembly Radhakrishna Vikhe-Patil today lodged a police complaint against unidentified persons for allegedly uploading derogatory videos about the members of the Nehru-Gandhi family and the Congress on YouTube. The Congress leader lodged the complaint under IPC sections 153-A (promoting enmity between groups) and 295 (malicious act intended to outrage religious feelings) at Loni police station in Ahmednagar district, said Sagar Patil, Deputy Superintendent of Police. The videos, uploaded on a YouTube channel, contain false and defamatory content about the country's first prime minister Jawaharlal Nehru and other members of the Gandhi-Nehru family including Congress president Rahul Gandhi and his mother Sonia Gandhi, the complaint alleged. Language used in the videos was abusive, it added. It was also an attempt to incite communal riots, Vikhe Patil, who hails from Ahmednagar district, said in the complaint. Speaking to reporters later, he said"such videos maligning the legacy and image of leaders who have contributed to India's progress and development was an insult to the country itself. The YouTube channel as well as its Facebook page should be removed, and if the police do not act, the Congress will take to the streets, he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) President Donald Trump has said he does not want the US to rejoin the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- a trade pact he withdrew the US from days after assuming presidency -- but would reconsider his stance if offered a deal that is good for America. Trump's was responding to recent media reports that he has asked the US Trade Representative to review the possibilities of rejoining TPP. "The media has not covered the TPP correctly," Trump told reporters during a joint conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse, on behalf of the United States, I would do it," he said. TPP is an ambitious trade agreement involving 12 countries. Trump said he still preferred bilateral ties over multilateral trade agreement like TPP. "I think it's better for our country.I think it's better for our workers.I much would prefer a bilateral deal, a deal directly with Japan.We already have a deal with six of the 11 nations in the TPP.So we already have trade deals, and the others we can make very easily.They're all calling wanting to make a deal.But we think that's much better for us," he said. "So, unless they offer us a deal that we cannot refuse, I would not go back into TPP.We'll see what happens.In the meantime, were negotiating," Trump said. The US president said his administration was looking to have "a very good deal" with Japan. "What I really prefer is negotiating a one-on-one deal with Japan.That's where we are right now.. We will hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, have a very good deal for Japan and good for the United States," Trump said. The US has a massive trade deficit with Japan -- anywhere from USD 69 billion to USD 100 billion a year. "That's massive by any standpoint..if we can come to an arrangement on a new deal between the United States and Japan, that would certainly be something we would discuss -- aluminium tariffs and steel tariffs.I would look forward to being able to, at some point in the future, take them off," Trump said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) US President Donald Trump has warned that if his planned talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are "not fruitful" he will "walk out". Trump said he will be meeting with Kim in the coming weeks to discuss the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. At a joint conference, Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe yesterday said maximum pressure must be maintained on North Korea over nuclear disarmament. "If we don't think it's going to be successful.. we won't have it. We won't have it. If I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we are not going to go," Trump said. "If the meeting, when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting and will continue what we are doing or whatever it is that we'll continue, but something will happen," Trump said a day after he told reporters that he is likely to meet Kim in June or before that. Officials from the two countries are looking at five different venues for the meeting. None of them are in the US. "Hopefully, that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it," Trump said, adding that it would be tremendous for the world if the meeting went well. Trump expressed hope that the Korean Peninsula could live together "in safety, prosperity, and peace" following a series of meetings between North Korea and South Korea. "This is the destiny of the Korean people, who deserve and have gone through so much over the years. We hope it all works it and we'll be trying very hard," he added. North Korea has been isolated for decades because of its alleged human rights abuses and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, in defiance of international laws and UN sanctions. It has carried out six nuclear tests, and has missiles that it says could reach the US mainland. Trump said the release of three American prisoners in North Korea would be among the topics of his discussion with Kim. Trump yesterday had confirmed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo had made a secret trip to North Korea to meet Kim. He said Pompeo had forged a "good relationship" with Kim - whom the US president was last year calling "little rocket man" - and that the meeting had gone "very smoothly". The visit marked the highest-level contact between the US and North Korea since 2000. Trump pat himself on the back over North Korea and said his administration had achieved what his predecessors could not. "For many years they have been talking to North Korea and nothing has happened. This should have been taken care of by past administrations when they were not nearly so far along. But we put unbelievably powerful sanctions on, and many other things," said Trump. The Japanese prime minister backed Trump for his efforts regarding North Korea and demanded complete denuclearisation of North Korea. "Based on such (past) lessons learned, both the US and Japan, together with the international community will demand for all weapons of mass destruction of ballistic missiles complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles to North Korea," Abe said. "By envisioning multiple scenarios, we carefully thought out our policies and directions at a concrete and detailed level. Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue there should be no reward," Abe said. The Japanese prime minister demanded that maximum pressure be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions toward de-nuclearisation be demanded from North Korea. Abe said in his talks with Trump, the two countries have reached agreement regarding the upcoming US-North Korea summit. "We hope that it will lead to the resolution of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear missile..., he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) A woman Congress worker has complained to the party's city unit that she was allegedly molested by male colleagues on Sunday during a candle march held here to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. She complained to the party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam, who promised to take action against those found guilty. The protest march was organised by the party at Juhu. Talking to PTI, Nirupam said the woman, who is a district-level party worker, sent a text message to him about the alleged incident. In her message, the woman said, "The workers of Youth Congress and NSUI (party's students' wing) stooped to such low level that they touched, pushed and shoved women workers in an inappropriate manner, making us feel unsafe among our very own party's male colleagues. "Sadly, some male workers did this to us only to get ahead in the march so that their faces were captured by the media. I want to know if women workers will be safe in similar events held in future?" her text message said. Nirupam said, "This incident is very unfortunate and I condemn it. I told the woman that he would take action if she identifies the persons involved. I told her that if she wished, he would help her file police cases against the accused. But she told me there was too much crowd, so it won't be possible for her to identify them." He said the woman enthusiastically participates in all dharnas and morchas organised by the city unit. "She does not participate alone, but brings along with her over a dozen women members. I have apologised to her for the agony she had to suffer on Sunday. Male workers often rush ahead in any morchas, so that their faces can be seen on television cameras," he said. The Congress leader said he will issue the dos and don'ts to be followed during the protest marches or morcha when women are also participating in large numbers. "If the instructions are not followed, action would be taken," he said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) DCW chief Swati Maliwal, who is on an indefinite hunger strike, said today she would continue her fast till Prime Minister Narendra Modi accepts her demands for death penalty for rapes of minors and setting up fast-track courts to complete the trial in such cases in six months. Maliwal's protest at Samta Sthal comes amid a furore over incident of rapes reported from several parts of the country. On the seventh day of her hunger strike, Maliwal visited Raj Ghat on a wheelchair, carrying a placard which read - "This is my energy saving exercise. Still can run 5km!!." CPI leader D Raja today reached Samta Sthal and alleged the BJP was politicizing rapes. "Isn't it's your (Narendra Modi) own party BJP which is politicizing (rapes)? Isn't it's your own party which is communalizing (rapes)?" Raja said as he assured Maliwal of raising the issue in Parliament. Hitting out at the prime minister, Maliwal said, "He has failed to understand 'Man Ki baat' of our countrymen. Today, the country needs action and not speeches or statements from the prime minister." "If the prime minister is ziddi (stubborn), I am also unshakeable. I will not end the anshan (fast) until he accepts my demands. I am ready to make any sacrifice for it," she said. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) Gurgaon-based scheduled air operator Zoom Air has signed an initial pact with luxury business jet operator Club One Air to dry lease regional jet Bombardier. This is the first time a domestic carrier will lease out an aircraft to compatriot firm, Club One Air claimed in a release today. As per the agreement, Club One Air will dry lease a Bombardier CRJ 200 plane to Zoom air, the release said. As on February, Zoom Air had a fleet of three CRJ 200s, according to the DGCA website. The induction of the new aircraft in the fleet will help Zoom Air launch new flight services under the regional connectivity scheme, Udan. "We believe this agreement will play an important role in promoting the prime minister's ambitious regional air connectivity scheme, UDAN," said Rajan Mehra, chief executive officer, Club One Air. Zoom Air currently has 10 aircraft in the fleet, with four of them Dassault-made Falcon 2000s. Most airlines prefer to lease their planes from firms outside India but with this agreement, both Indian companies will now be able to share the benefits, the release added. "With this agreement, we become the largest operators of Bombardier CRJ aircraft in India. We are proud to be associated with Club One Air. We will go ahead with our plans to connect more and more domestic cities, as the regional connectivity scheme moves forward," said Koustav Dhar, chief executive officer, Zoom Air. Zexus Air Services-run Zoom Air has been awarded six networks and 12 routes under RCS-2. As part of its expansion plans, it aims to extensively connect north-east India under the scheme. (This story has not been edited by Business Standard staff and is auto-generated from a syndicated feed.) By John RevillZURICH (Reuters) - ABB reported its best start to a year since 2015 on Thursday, easing the pressure on Chief Executive Ulrich Spiesshofer by showing his turnaround plan is making progress.The company's shares rose more than 4 percent after it beat profit, sales and order forecasts in the first three months of the year. It pointed to improvements in its power grids division, having resisted calls from shareholders to spin off its least profitable business.Some investors, frustrated with the company's tepid share price performance and stalled progress in recent quarters, had ... (Reuters) - Twenty-First Century Fox Inc , which has agreed to sell most of its assets to Walt Disney Co , rejected a deal with another entity that a source identified as Comcast Corp due to higher regulatory risks.Disney, in a filing with regulators on Wednesday, disclosed Fox's reasons for rejecting the rival offer without disclosing the bidder.Comcast had abandoned its bid to buy most of the assets of Rupert Murdoch's Fox.Disney announced the $52.4 billion deal for Fox's film and TV assets in December. (Reporting by Ankur Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Sai Sachin Ravikumar)(Only the ... By April Joyner(Reuters) - Although the United States and Russia have imposed economic sanctions on each other since 2014, several large U.S. corporations, including PepsiCo Inc and McDonald's Corp , still count Russia as a growth market.But new developments have raised the possibility of fresh challenges for U.S. companies in Russia.The United States on Wednesday announced it would impose fresh sanctions on Russia after Washington determined Moscow had used a nerve agent against a former Russian double agent, Sergei Skripal, and his daughter, Yulia, in Britain. Russia on Thursday condemned ... By Arnab Paul and Aby Jose Koilparambil(Reuters) - Indian hospital operator Fortis Healthcare will set up an advisory committee to evaluate binding offers from suitors lining up to buy the cash-strapped company or take a stake.Fortis has become the target of a takeover battle that includes offers from China's Fosun International and Malaysia's IHH Healthcare. Both offers, however, are non-binding as yet.The other two offers -- from local rival Manipal Health Enterprises and a consortium of two prominent Indian business families, Hero Enterprise and the Burman Family Office -- are both ... (Reuters) - India's Fortis Healthcare Ltd, which runs around 30 multi-speciality hospitals in India, said on Thursday its board will set up an advisory committee to evaluate all takeover proposals.Fortis has become the target of a takeover battle with Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Bhd, local rival Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd, a consortium of Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office, and China's Fosun International Ltd bidding for the cash-strapped company.The committee, which will be chaired by PricewaterhouseCoopers India's former chairman and CEO Deepak Kapoor, will ... (Reuters) - Fortis Healthcare Ltd said on Thursday it had received an improved binding offer worth 15 billion rupees ($228.3 million) from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office.The proposal is higher than their last week's offer of 12.5 billion rupees.The consortium's proposal is to invest 5 billion rupees via preferential issue of equity shares and 10 billion rupees through issue of warrants, Fortis said in a statement (https://www.bseindia.com/xml-data/corpfiling/AttachLive/2dfc74c0-0e32-43e0-a844-3043b70e50c4.pdf).Fortis, which runs about 30 hospitals across India, has ... PARIS (Reuters) - JPMorgan is considering moving almost 200 banking jobs from London to Paris after Britain leaves the European Union, Les Echos newspaper reported on Wednesday, citing unidentified sources.Boosted by reforms undertaken by President Emmanuel Macron, Paris has overtaken Frankfurt as the most popular destination for the number of finance jobs to be shifted out of Britain after Brexit, a Reuters survey found last month."Paris has become attractive again, even from a tax point of view," Les Echos cited an anonymous source as saying.JPMorgan's Daniel Pinto, who holds the shared ... By Paulina DuranSYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian inquiry into the financial services sector heard tearful testimony on Thursday from a nurse who lost her home after taking advice from a major lender, and that the country's biggest bank knowingly charged dead clients for counsel.The testimony was among the most personal yet at the Royal Commission that has already resulted in startling admissions of bad behaviour by firms. Government data prepared for the inquiry shows over 80,000 consumers have been given bad advice over the past decade, costing them a total A$5 billion ($3.89 ... By Koustav SamantaSINGAPORE (Reuters) - Oil prices rose on Thursday to their highest since the end of 2014 as U.S. crude inventories declined and as top exporter Saudi Arabia pushes for higher prices by continuing to withhold supplies.Brent crude oil futures rose to as much as $74.02 a barrel, the highest since Nov. 27, 2014, and were at $73.93 per barrel at 0514 GMT, up 45 cents, or 0.6 percent, from their last close.U.S. West Texas Intermediate (WTI) crude futures were up 38 cents, or 0.6 percent, at $68.85 a barrel. WTI earlier rose to as much as $68.95, its strongest since Dec. 2, ... NEW YORK (Reuters) - The Federal Reserve is "very much focused" on possible threats to U.S.-China trade that could hurt the U.S. economic outlook, New York Fed President William Dudley said on Wednesday, adding a trade war "is not a winnable proposition."The Trump administration is pursuing potential tariffs, negotiations and other restrictions to try and cut a massive trade deficit with China. "A tariff war would be a terrible, terrible outcome," Dudley said when asked at Lehman College. "I would not look at trade wars as something that we can win." (Reporting by Jonathan Spicer; editing by ... TCS CEO & MD Rajesh Gopinathan speaks during a press conference to announce the company's Q4 financial results in Mumbai (Photo: Kamlesh Pednekar) India's Tata Consultancy Services Ltd (TCS) expects a rebound in spending by its key banking, financial services and insurance (BFSI) clients this financial year, it said on Thursday, as it posted its biggest-ever profit, helped by deal wins. India's top software services exporter is more confident about BFSI revenues from North America as client discussions show there is "not much stress left in the ... PALM BEACH, Fla. (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday they had agreed to intensify trade consultations between the two longtime allies.Trump repeated his desire to do something about U.S. trade imbalances with Tokyo. He said earlier on Wednesday he thought the United States would soon be able to trim its trade deficit with Japan and that Tokyo planned to order large numbers of U.S. aircraft."In order to benefit both Japan and the U.S., we will further expand trade and investment between the two countries," Abe told reporters at a ... WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former official of a subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA pleaded guilty on Thursday to a U.S. charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the U.S. Justice Department said.Cesar Rincon, a Venezuelan citizen who was extradited to the United States from Spain after his arrest there last year, pleaded guilty in federal court in Houston to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the department said.He was one of five former Venezuelan officials accused in February of soliciting bribes in exchange for helping vendors win favourable treatment ... 1What is the connection between setting up of the Yale University and the Kalabari people /tribe, an ethnic group in Nigeria? 2A company is named after this pre-Socratic Greek philosopher, mathematician, and astronomer who hailed from present-day Milet in Turkey. He was one of the Seven Sages of Greece who broke away from the tradition of using mythology to explain the world and the universe. He used geometry to calculate the heights of pyramids and the distance of ships from the shore. Name him and the company. 3Who said this In the beginning I looked around ... LOGAN The identity of the 23-year-old Smithfield man killed Monday night in an automobile crash has been released. Michael L. Hunsaker died after the car he was driving was broadsided by a truck. According to Hunsakers obituary, he was traveling home from a play with his mother and little sister when the crash occurred. Hunsaker was thrown from the SUV and died at the scene. The other two were hospitalized with non-life threatening injuries and later released. Hunsakers family described him as a gentle soul, a peacemaker, and a man without guile. He served a mission for the Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints in Bakersfield, California, and later volunteered in the Logan Temple as an officiator. He had attended Bridgerland Technical College and recently completed his certifications in IT/Web Technology. Police allege Hunsaker was driving a white Toyota SUV and stopped at the corner of 400 South 100 West, attempting to go east. As the car started through the intersection it was broadsided by a Chevrolet truck, driven by Bradley M. Thompkins. The 25-year-old Logan man was reportedly driving under the influence and at a high rate of speed. Court records show Thompkins was arraigned in 1st District Court Thursday afternoon, appearing by video from the Cache County Jail. Hes been charged with automobile homicide, a second-degree felony, three counts of driving under the influence and one count of obstruction of justice, all third-degree felonies and two misdemeanors. As officers arrived, witnesses were assisting Thompkins. Bystanders also reported two other occupants in the truck had run from the scene. Officers began searching and soon located 26-year-old Jerry L. Gooding, hiding a block away from the crash. He was combative and uncooperative. He and Thompkins were also treated at the hospital. The second runner, a 17-year-old male juvenile, was located hours later at his residence. Thompkins is being held on $35,000 bail. Hell appear again in court April 23. Charges for Gooding and the 17-year-old male are pending the completion of the investigation. Funeral services for Hunsaker will be Saturday, April 21st at the Smithfield 14th Ward LDS chapel. A viewing will also be held Friday, April 20 at Nelson Funeral Home in Smithfield. OGDEN Suspended Logan High School teacher, Joseph Scott Harris made his first appearance before a judge. The 58-year-old Nibley man is suspected of having sex with a teenage girl. Harris appeared with his defense attorney in 2nd District Court, Thursday morning. The hearing lasted only five minutes as Judge Michael Direda, read the six charges of unlawful sexual activity with a minor, prosecutors had filed. Each of the counts are third-degree felonies and carry a prison sentence of up to five years if convicted. Defense attorney, Michael Edwards asked the court if he and Harris could return in a month, to decide whether they wanted to have a preliminary hearing. Judge Direda ordered them to appear May 17. Weber County Sheriffs deputies arrested Harris February 16, after finding him inside a car with a 15-year-old girl. The two were parked alongside a road in West Haven and were both partially undressed. The girl later told deputies, she had met up with Harris multiple times for sex during the past six-and-a-half-weeks. Harris was interviewed by detectives and said he met the girl online, claiming he thought she was 19-years-old but admitted she looked young. He described meeting up with her three times, engaging in multiple sex acts. Harris was booked into the Weber County Jail. He was later released after posting $30,000 bail. Harris has been a teacher at Logan High School for more than 30-years. He taught career and technical education (CTE) and oversaw the schools daily news broadcasts. He has been placed on unpaid suspension, pending the outcome of the criminal case. Life as a white hat: My day with an ethical hacker Published on April 19, 2018 Story by Francesca Candioli Translation by: Larisa Rusu en it es de fr pl The world of hackers is no longer solely inhabited by malicious cyber pirates, but also by individuals who use their technological skills to increase collective security and protect the online community. They are called white hats, Internet slang for ethical hackers. To see what they keep under their hats, we went to meet one in Bologna. For the YoTambien series we dive into the themes of Yo!Fest @ the EYE2018, Europe's largest youth-led political festival, to explore the issues that matter to young people the most. We start with the digital revolution. __ A black hoodie, the hood lowered down to eye level and a laptop turned on in the darkness of a room that hasn't seen daylight for a long time. In a small basement, data and highly confidential information dance on a computer screen. Data that would make the secret services shake in their boots. This is the image of a hacker many of us have in mind: an IT geek with a bit of a dull social life; someone who spends their time infiltrating secured networks and adapting them to their needs, whether malicious or benevolent. It's a cliche that has inspired hundreds of movies and influenced generations of writers and readers, but one that is far removed from reality. The divine comedy I too had believed that cliche. I loved the film Mr. Robot. But it all changed when I met Davide Del Vecchio, an Italian hacker who is currently helping a team of 20 people in a multinational company. Known in the Italian e-commerce sector, the company works to protect IT security. Davide is nothing like the stereotypical hacker we see in films and read about in books. He has nothing in common with Lisbeth, the introverted geek from Stieg Larsson's Millenium trilogy, who uses her photographic memory to memorise enormous amounts of data. He's not like Neo from The Matrix either. Davide broke all of the cliches I had in mind, he didn't quite fit the part. I was looking for a white hat, Internet slang for an ethical hacker. A white hat is someone who hacks into their own company's operating systems to uncover potential vulnerabilities, prevents external attacks and prepares for risky situations like malware or targeted hacking attacks. In short, they are the good kind of hackers; they are not on the dark side. The person who puts me in touch with Davide, who began geeking out with his first PC (an Amiga) at age six, is a colleague of mine who is part of the Italian hacker community. A few days later, I find myself in Bologna at his apartment. Davide is a regular guy, waiting for me at the fourth floor of a historic building in the centre of town. He takes refuge here about two weeks each month and spends time abroad the rest of the days. He invites me into his kitchen, which sits below an open glass window that lights up the room. No darkness here. Within the community, Davide is known as 'Dante', due to an old virus he created many years ago. At the time, he had set it up using the same steps as in the Divine Comedy; the user had to complete these steps in order to continue using their computer. As he tells me about coding, vulnerabilities, software and malware, we sip a cup of tea. His is a passion that was born when there were no words to define it. Since he was a child, Davide understood how to advance from one level to the next quickly, directly changing the code in his computer games to get his character more lives. He didn't know it then, but this would become his career, even if his father wanted him to be a doctor. At 16, he first gained access to the Internet. At 19, he started travelling the world to take part in the very first conferences on hacking and IT security. "My field hadn't exploded then. It was only in the 2000s that the first discussions on hiring staff to protect organisations from cyber attacks started. But it was still early; the search engines weren't fully developed and, to stay informed, I would follow hyperlinks. In the meantime, I travelled as much as possible when I was invited by the community. I would do research and I would set off. Age didn't matter," Davide tells me. He doesn't define himself as a hacker, even if others call him one. That's how, in a way, he goes by unnoticed: "We never use this term. I consider myself an IT security specialist." The topic fascinates everyone, but it's better not to talk about it too much. Especially because, after some routine questions, Davide explains that the conversation always ends up being the same: people ask him if he can hack into their partner's account or smartphone. Of course, he refuses every time. "That would be considered abusive access into an IT system, which is the legal equivalent to trespassing. I'm not up for that, especially due to ethical questions. For me, privacy is sacred. Still, those kinds of requests are quite common." Debunking myths Up until now, Davide, who doesn't spend all of his time in front of his computer, has travelled to 75 different countries. His goal is to set foot everywhere in the span of one lifetime. A lifetime he spends in the office, from Monday to Friday. In his office, he has an inflatable palm tree with a pirate flag. This is where he leads his team of ethical hackers and IT experts from. Some are fully-fledged white hats who try to infiltrate the company's system, identifying possible flaws and signalling them. Others deal with security-related technologies, trying to prevent external attacks (hundreds of thousands per minute), which are mostly automated. And then there are those that develop the information on upcoming threats, creating possible alarms that help detect when someone or something is entering the system. "You don't need to be a software engineer," Davide points out, "to deal with IT security, but you need to know a bit of everything. How networks work, how information circulated on the Internet, understand programming to see if some problems are rooted in code, as well as various operating systems." No network is 100% secure. According to Davide, it's easier to enter NASA's software than a private system. "Let me debunk some myths. There's a law that says that the level of IT security of a network is equal to the level of security of the weakest computer. The more computers there are, the more difficult it is to protect it. This is why reading about a young person who infiltrated big companies' or institutions' systems makes me smile. All you need is a computer to get in." Davide doesn't only lead his team. With his colleagues, he deals with selecting future ethical hackers that could be an addition to the team. "Besides theoretical questions, I can give my computer to candidates and ask them to try and break into a test copy of our server," he says, taking a break to turn on the heating. It's still cold in the city, and a guest should be arriving anytime soon. These past years, Davide has hosted almost 600 people in the various places he's lived in: Bari, Milan, Rome, Treviso and now Bologna, through Couchsurfing. He even guided the revolt of its users, when in 2011, the founder of the website Casey Fenton announced the transfer of some of the NGOs' shares. It went from a non-profit to a corporation. At first, Couchsurfing was a portal based on gratuity, reciprocity and sharing, values that white hats respect given their connection to the free software concept. The same values have inspired the Hermes Center for Transparency and Digital Human Rights, an NGO that Fenton also cofounded, which focuses on developing free systems like Globaleaks. These programmes collect anonymous warnings used by various journalists for their investigations, but they are also used by Anac, the National Anti-Corruption Authority. "The Internet has become a war instrument" "The Internet was born as an instrument for liberation; a great medium to allow communication from everyone, everywhere in the world," he explains, "It was a boundless, lawless field where knowledge could spread anywhere without being controlled. Then, it started being used as a control mechanism, and now it's a fully-fledged war instrument." To get a better idea of what Davide is talking about, all you have to do is think about the amount of money generated from cybercrime, which has exceeded that of drugs. In fact, according to a study by McAfee, IT-related crimes are the third most expensive illegal activity after corruption and drug-trafficking. "Today, the risk of cybercrime is higher than that of floods and wildfires. We're talking about a phenomenon that has and will have tough consequences, both at a geopolitical level and a private level. If we're thinking about mafia in Italy, well, it's still a bit soon to tell. But in other places like Russia, organised crime travels freely throughout the Internet." In the course of the past 30 years, the Internet has changed its face several times. Few things remain from what the Internet once was when it started, when it was a place you could endlessly explore and get on to share knowledge. But the worst is yet to come. Davide is convinced that this year, we'll make another leap forwards and start seeing lethal cyber attacks, not only on companies. "Entrepreneurs that don't invest in security will be wiped out, and soon, we'll see the first person die because of a cyber attack. Today, everything is linked to the Internet: from gas plants to bypasses inserted in people's hearts. All it takes is a little bit of imagination." It's a scenario that various directors have already thought about, but after having sketched an apocalyptic future, my eyes fall on two comic books. They are fairy tales for children, Davide writes them himself. Probably at night, when all of Hollywood's hackers are geeking out on their computers, in their basements, in the dark. __ Cafebabel is a media partner of Yo!Fest, the annual political youth-led festival organised by the European Youth Forum that mixes political debates and workshops with live music and artistic performances. The festival is once again being organised as part of the European Youth Event - EYE2018 at the European Parliament in Strasbourg. The #EYE2018 provides a unique opportunity for over 8,000 young Europeans to make their voices heard and shape a vision for the future of Europe. This series will explore the event's five core themes: Keeping up with the Digital Revolution, Staying Alive in Turbulent Times, Working out for a Stronger Europe, Protecting our Planet and Calling for a Fair Share. Follow the EYE and Yo!Fest on social media. Story by Francesca Candioli Translated from Una vita da White Hat: incontro ravvicinato con un hacker "etico" Patrick Ekema W. MUSA A Judge at the Buea High Court in the South West region has ordered the suspension of talks from all parties concerned on the issue of fake certificates of the mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema, for the next 48 hours. The courts decision is to allow the complainant to prepare his defense. The President Kenneth Ako Tanyi, made the decision after the counsel for the defense Barrister Nkea Emmanuel filled a complaint revealing that the accused, Patrick Ekema was not heard by the Senate body of the University of Buea, before ripping him of his degrees obtained in the institution. After due examination, the court found out that there was a serious breach of the rights of the Applicant. It notes that the Applicant only saw the decision in a newspaper called The Rambler. In a decision signed by Magistrate Kenneth Ako Tanyi, an interim injunction was ordered for 48 hours during which findings will continue on the matter, the decision partially reads An interim injunction for a period of 48 hours is hereby ordered for a period within which the Applicant here will be required to submit a motion on notice between this same parties, while the Respondents jointly and severally, their servants, agents, workmen are enjoined from making any public statement or revoking the Academic Degrees awarded the Applicant here pending the hearing and determination of the suit now pending between parties before this honorable court. While Mayor Patrick supporters are celebrating first victory in the matter, observers hold that it was natural for the court to halt discussions while proceedings are carried out. Members of the Senate in the University of Buea, the institutions highest decision taking body had voted to cancel all examinations taken by the Mayor of Buea, Patrick Ekema Esunge while in the institution. The decision taken Thursday April 5, 2018 was sent to the Ministry of Higher Education for approval. This court decision implies that Patrick Ekema will have to bring evidences that he did not fake his certificates before gaining admission into the University of Buea some 15 years ago. | BY Ricki Green | For its first Australian campaign, Champion has partnered with creative and content agency Emotive to launch a new music program titled Revealed. Revealed champions emerging Australian artists by intimately telling their story through video and providing funding and creative support to create world class music videos for new release music. The first Revealed artist is Melbourne Hip Hop act REMI made up of Remi Kolawole and Sensible J. The content series follows their story in the lead up the release of their new single My People. My People is REMIs first new music since 2016 and is a celebration of all the people closest to the duo. The music video is their most ambitious video yet and the episodic content gives the audience an intimate view of their people and their music world. For Champion, who has a rich connection to hip hop culture, this is a natural fit. Legends like the Wu-Tang Clan, Rakim and Jay Z were voluntarily wearing the brand making it a streetwear icon in the 90s. The brand has always represented expression of ones true self- a notion that resonates with the key millennial audience. As an ode to Champions history, the company is supporting todays hip hop culture in Australia by giving emerging artists their chance in the spotlight. The content led approach includes five key videos, all designed to address each phase of the purchase funnel. Says Mahli Pullen, marketing manager, Champion: Champion is such an iconic brand in todays streetwear culture. A traditional advertising approach wouldnt work with our millennial audience we needed to be truly authentic and embed the brand into culturally relevant environments. Says Andrew Cameron, creative director at Emotive: What sets this campaign apart from the many other brands partnering with music properties, is the genuine support the artist receives and subsequent value that is created through the music video. Its very rare for emerging musicians to be able to create a premium music video, as well as guaranteed exposure to a wider audience. | BY Lynchy | Dentsu Jayme Syfu in The Philippines has pulled off a massive coup in the local industry, being awarded the total Coca-Cola sparkling drinks business. The appointment sees Dentsu Jayme Syfu picking up the digital business out of Ogilvy & Mather Philippines and the above the line duties out of McCann Worldgroup. The appointment includes Coca-Cola, Royal Tru-Orange (Fanta), and Sprite. Dentsu Jayme Syfu emerged as the overall winner of the companys two rounds of benchmarking exercises. The award-winning agencys strength of insightful thinking and innovative solutions for the brands growing yet challenging young market, is said to have been pivotal in the appointment. To date, this is Coca-Colas biggest move after more than 5 decades of marketing in the Philippines. Dentsus Chairmom and Chief Creative Officer Merlee Jayme (pictured right) has guided her teams for weeks on a new campaign for the brand. We still cant believe this win, said Jayme. It has always been a dream to work for an iconic brand like Coke. And it has come to us in the most perfect time when brand relevance to a young market in the digital age is a pretty tough challenge. But believe it or not, ideas just flowed naturally. It has kept me awake for many nights!. She said the Coca-Cola Integrated Marketing Communications team and the brand group have been blown away with the energy, enthusiasm and the creative thinking showcased by the agency. They love the fact that we have shown them a totally different way of working that brings out an endless source of fresh ideas. Dentsu Aegis Networks Global & APAC Executive Client President Masaya Nakamura is very happy with the agencys performance, quick turnaround with unexpected ideas: Clients were impressed when the team put time and effort in seriously learning about the Coke brand in just a short time. The collaboration from our Tokyo office was a big help to this. Notice for the Postmedia Network This website uses cookies to personalize your content (including ads), and allows us to analyze our traffic. Read more about cookies here. By continuing to use our site, you agree to our Terms of Service and Privacy Policy. Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at 10:58PM New job listings from Facebook suggest the company is looking to be a bit more self-reliant. Under the infrastructure category, the social media company is looking to hire a manager who will assemble end-to-end SoC/ASIC, firmware, and driver organization. With the listing filed under infrastructure, it could be Facebook is looking to build a team for its artificial intelligence servers, which are currently NVIDIA-powered. One of the job listing references says it needs expertise to build custom solutions targeted at multiple verticals including AI/ML, which broadens the focus a bit but also shows the company looking to develop its AI capabilities further. Also, who knows if the company might want to use it to power any hardware it might release in the future, including things like future Oculus virtual reality headsets. Source: The Verge news, latest-news An international exhibition celebrating Islamic culture will open at the National Museum of Australia on Friday. The museum's director, Dr Matthew Trinca, said "nothing makes me prouder than the fact this exhibition is opening here at this time." So That You Might Know Each Other: Faith and Culture in Islam brings together for the first time in Australia 100 artefacts from the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation and the Vatican Anima Mundi Museum of World Arts and Cultures as well as artefacts from Australia. The artefacts, representing Islamic civilisations from around the world, include ceremonial hangings, musical instruments, armour, precious manuscripts, ceramics and jewellery. Among them are a 19th-Century Meshla, or overcoat, believed to have been woven in Aleppo or Damascus in Syria, a 200-year-old suit of war armour from the Mindanao region of the Phillipines and a gold-embossed illustrated Koran manuscript believed to have been hand-lettered during the Ottoman Caliphate in 1823. Two of the exhibition's organisers were Father Nicola Mapelli, the director of the Anima Mundi Museum of World Arts and Cultures, and Manal Ataya, director general of the Sharjah Museums Authority. Ms Ataya said the current exhibition had its origins in 2014 when the Vatican offered a selection of its holdings to the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation for an exhibition of the same name, inspired by a verse from the Koran. She said in a time when misinformation and rhetoric were often about, a museum was "a safe space" to initiate conversations about faith and culture. While this was to be the only Australian venue for the exhibition, Ms Ataya said she hoped it might travel to other countries, such as China, and include local elements from their Islamic cultures. Father Morelli said while people tended to associate the Vatican's art with the likes of Raphael and Leonardo da Vinci, more than half its collection was of non-European origin. "The core of its collection began in 1925 with Pope Pius XI," he said. With the rise of fascism, the Pope wanted to promote culture and religion on the occasion of the Universal Exposition in Rome and asked the people of the world to send objects, and many did - including Islamic countries. The items in this exhibition were a small but representative part of the collection, he said. "It is important for us to share a commitment to sharing between cultures and between religions." The exhibition is being sponsored by the Embassy of the United Arab Emirates in Australia and under the patronage of the Sharjah Museum of Islamic Civilisation. So That You Might Know Each Other: Faith and Culture in Islam opens at the National Museum of Austraia on Friday, April 20 and runs until July 22. For more information visit nma.gov.au. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/14efcb8b-87e1-47f8-872b-918ca397efbc/r0_230_4500_2772_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, crime International construction giant Multiplex Constructions and RAR Cranes have been charged over a fatal Canberra worksite death. The nine charges, which include a criminal count of manslaughter against a crane driver and workplace charges against company bosses, have been labelled an "extensive and unprecedented" response by ACT's work safety watchdog. Herman Holtz, 62, was killed on August 4, 2016, after an incident involving a mobile crane on the University of Canberra Hospital construction site in Bruce. The crane driver, who was moving an 11-tonne generator at the time of the incident, has been charged with Mr Holtz's manslaughter. Reckless conduct charges have also been laid against the crane driver's employer, subcontractor RAR Cranes, and its crane dogman, along with principal contractor Multiplex, its site manager, site supervisor and site safety officer. Multiplex's chief executive and RAR Cranes' managing director face charges of failure to comply with a health and safety duty. The charges span the first two categories of the Work Health and Safety Act with maximum penalties of $3 million in fines for corporations, a $600,000 fine and five years' jail for duty holders, and a $300,000 fine and five years' jail for individuals. WorkSafe ACT commissioner Greg Jones said the evidence suggested there were significant and systemic failures on the site, with workers' safety not taken into account. It is alleged that a number of people made several very poor decisions, repeatedly over a periodof time, in undertaking that lift, Mr Jones said. The evidence gathered under this investigation suggests that the risk of serious injury or death in what they were doing was obvious and readily apparent. However, despite the risks, they continued in their task which resulted in the mobile craneexceeding its design capabilities to such a degree that it overturned with tragic consequences. Based on the evidence obtained in relation to the circumstances surrounding this incident thatresulted in the death of a person, a strong regulatory response is required and has beenprovided." Mr Jones said that the range of charges reflected the shared responsibilities under the WorkHealth and Safety Act, from the boardroom to the workers conducting the activity. All workers, employers, their directors and managers, both on site and in the office, must ensurethat safety is the number one priority, he said. In a statement, Multiplex said the company was doing everything it could to support Mr Holtz's family and colleagues. "The welfare of our thousands of employees, subcontractors and suppliers is always our priority, and this fatality was a devastating event given our long history of working safely across a large workbook of projects in Australia," the statement said. "Given this matter is now before the courts, it would be inappropriate to comment further. RAR Cranes director Geoff Rumble said the company had not yet decided how it would plead. "I'm not in a position to comment further at the moment," Mr Rumble said. "We haven't even got the brief of evidence." Canberras union representatives said the charges showed that chief executives and construction industry employers could not get away with disregarding safety. The construction union and Unions ACT, in a joint statement, said the territory was the most dangerous jurisdiction for construction workers in the nation, with an average of 42 construction workers injured every month. There were more than 600 serious injuries in the Canberra construction sector in 2016, the year of the fatality, the statement said. CFMEU ACT secretary Jason OMara said no construction worker chooses to work in an unsafe environment. Construction workers are forced to work unsafely through economic fear over losing their jobs, and the failure of employers to provide a safe environment, Mr OMara said. When construction companies cut corners to save time and money, construction workers pay with their lives and livelihoods. It is an ongoing tragedy that construction workers are often put in a no-win situation of being either forced to work unsafely, or speak up and lose their job. UnionsACT secretary Alex White welcomed the charges against the companies and applauded WorkSafe for taking a strong stance in the prosecuting safety law violations. Master Builders ACT chief executive Michael Hopkins said the charges highlighted the shared responsibility of everyone in the industry, from employers to workers, to continue to improve the industrys safety culture and outcomes. The matters are expected to come before the court next month. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/3ef06d9a-c353-44b0-9ecf-01d07d8e8e97/r0_214_4256_2619_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news As the ACT government prepares to demolish the Stuart Flats in Griffith, the remaining tenants say they're disappointed to be leaving. Darrell Hicks, who has lived in and out of Stuart Flats since 1993, said the flats were part of Canberra's history. "It had a bad reputation, but that's what happens when you put that many people on the dole all living in the same area," Mr Hicks said. "But it's been home to so many people." The government lodged a development application to demolish the public housing block, bordered by Light Street and Captain Cook Crescent in Griffith to make way for a private development on the prominent site, as part of its wider urban renewal agenda. The flats sit on a 30,137 square-metre site and still has tenants living in it. Another resident, Pinntalla Barnett, will relocate to Woden Valley within the week and was packing her belongings on Wednesday afternoon. "I think it's a shame they're demolishing it, they're a bit of an icon these buildings," Ms Barnett said. "I was hoping to stay here. We're all disappointed, not angry but we can't do anything about it." A government spokeswoman said 50 per cent of all tenants had been relocated, with the complex to be released to the market in December. "Housing ACT staff and community partners actively engage with tenants during a period of 12 months that includes identifying individual needs and post-relocation support to ensure tenants are supported through the relocation process have settled in their new home and community," she said. But Mr Hicks said he believed there were only 13 remaining tenants, including himself. "Last week there was somebody every day moving out and last month it was like two people a day," he said. "I know there are three tenants moving out in the next couple of days." Stuart Flats were constructed in 1959-60 with 29 bedsitter flats and 117 two-bedroom units across 12 blocks. On Wednesday, cleaners were seen clearing what was left in block 4 of the Stuart Flats. Mr Hicks said the last tenant for the block was relocated yesterday. He said blocks four, six, seven, 10, 11 and 12 were empty and there were one or two people still living in the remaining blocks. Last month, The Canberra Times reported former residents were squatting in neighbours' living rooms and laundries after being evicted with nowhere else to go The demolition is estimated to cost $4.2 million and would include the removal of residential housing blocks, car parking structures and 19 trees. It also plans for the disconnection of services, including communications, stormwater, water, and power. A Griffith Narrabundah community association spokesman said the group supported the redevelopment of "this part of Griffith" but was more interested in what would be proposed rather than the demolition itself. "We will await the pre-development consultation, but recommend the whole site should be sold as one entity," the spokesman said. "The loss of 860 square metres of open space from block five, section 43 should be reversed and the precinct code amended accordingly. "As Manuka accommodates more people there should more open space, not less." The group also suggests the whole site has 50 per cent open space to plant large trees for shade and cooling effect and that the dwellings have solar access. The flats will be demolished in three stages, blocks 'B', 'C', and 'D'. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/dd0f1737-5ec4-4660-a2ce-2387aaf547bf/r0_239_4500_2781_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A number of suppliers have been left out of pocket after the sudden closure of Canberra Jamie's Italian restaurant. Canberra craft brewers Capital Brewing Co are owed thousands of dollars after the Bunda Street restaurant closed without warning on Monday and the Australian arm of Jamie's Italian entered into voluntary administration. "[Jamie's Italian] were a really big customer of ours and we were really stoked to work with them. We've been huge fans of Jamie Oliver over the years and been to his restaurants in London and were really excited," said Capital's managing director Laurence Kain. "Then in late February they stopped paying their bills. We didn't want to stop supplying them because they're a really big customer and then all of a sudden they're in administration and we don't know if we're going to get paid or not." The five other Australian Jamie's Italian restaurants in Sydney, Brisbane, Perth, Parramatta and Adelaide will continue to trade under the management of the Brisbane-based Hallmark Group. A spokeswoman for Hallmark said the Canberra restaurant was closed due to, "high rent and restrictive trading conditions". Mr Kain said they had outstanding invoices totalling almost $5000, and had also loaned the restaurant a beer tap system worth around $3000 which remains at the venue. "We've had letters from the administrators and we're following the process, but there's phrasing in there that we may not have rights to get paid and it's very ambiguous as to if we will get paid or when we will get paid," he said. "For a really small business that's only been going for less than two years, it's significant. We hope they do the right thing and support the small businesses that have supported them." Fairfax Media understands that a number of other suppliers cut off deliveries to the Canberra restaurant late last week. One employee at the now-closed Jamie's Italian in Canberra told Fairfax Media workers were told that as well as losing their jobs, they would not receive their wages for the past fortnight until further notice. Going into administration means there is no guarantee workers will receive their entitlements at all, or that suppliers will have their invoices paid. Adminstrators BDO Group was contacted for comment. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/740f21f5-f98a-4e74-8b83-faf6ebd15720/r0_293_4500_2835_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news Canberra boasts some of the best museums in the country, but the real question is, can the staff dance? The Museum Dance Off competition has asked that question for the past four years, with staff from museums, galleries, libraries and archives all around the world putting on their dancing shoes and getting in front of the camera to compete for a tropy and bragging rights. Run by website When You Work At a Museum, this year's competition includes entries from the USA, Canada, Mexico, New Zealand, Hungary, Ukraine and Australia. From Canberra, both the NFSA (National Film and Sound Archive) and the NPG (National Portrait Gallery) are participating this year, and both institutions have looked to the past for inspiration in their clips. At the NFSA it's all about Kylie Minogue, with a dance chorographed to her '90s hit Step Back in Time. The clip features a huge number of staff from their offices all over the country, including curators and others who typically work behind closed doors, dancing through the archives, complete with plenty of feather boas, and even an appearance by a cardboard Hugh Jackman. The NPG has focussed on the hits of 1998 in celebration of their 20th birthday. With a soundtrack featuring everyone from Fatboy Slim, Madonna and Lauryn Hill to Britney Spears, the Beastie Boys and Will Smith, the video shows staff, dancing, singing, juggling and playing air guitar throughout the gallery. Director Angus Tumble makes an appearance with some impressive lipsyncing to Cher's Believe, and even the security staff feature, showing off their Irish dancing abilities to B*Witched's C'est La Vie. You can see their clip here. Given the amount of entries from around the world, museums are first going through heats, with the public able to vote for who progresses to the next round. Both the NFSA and NPG will go up against the History Trust of South Australia in Adelaide this week Voting for this heat opens at 10pm Thursday, April 19 and will be open for 24 hours at whenyouworkatamuseum.com. The winner of this round will go on to the Australian final on May 7, and a national winner will then participate in the international Thunderdome final on May 14. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/87abaf12-73d6-48bf-a0bc-79d79d7189fe/r4_0_1278_720_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg news, latest-news A driver who was allegedly looking at his mobile phone when he crashed into two police officers, causing one to have his foot amputated, at random breath test site, has been granted bail. Jakob Thornton, 22, had showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder behind bars after the collision in Sydney's south-west on February 16, the NSW Supreme Court heard on Thursday. He was allegedly travelling at 60km/h when he hit the highway patrol officers, who were pulling safety gear out of the boot of their marked police car to set up the random breath testing site on Campbelltown Road at Leumeah, crushing them between the boot of their car and his Fiat van. Senior Constable Jonathon Wright had his right foot amputated about 15 centimetres above his ankle, while Senior Constable Matthew Foley sustained a fractured leg. Mr Thornton, of Ruse in Sydney's south-west, was charged with two counts of dangerous driving causing grievous bodily harm. He has not yet entered pleas. A police statement previously tendered in court alleged Mr Thornton had admitted he looked at his phone for between 10 and 20 seconds before he saw the lights of the police car. He allegedly told police he did not know whether he braked before hitting the officers. A court previously heard Mr Thornton had lost his licence four times in four years as a P-plater after clocking up too many demerit points. He had also received two warning letters about an impending loss of licence and had been fined before for using his mobile phone while driving. He appeared in court via audiovisual link from prison as his lawyer made a bid for his release in court. The hearing was interrupted by loud screams from another inmate, at one stage prompting Justice Peter Hamill to remark that the prison sounded "like a nice place for a young man". Prosecutors opposed bail on the grounds that Mr Thornton would most likely commit further serious offences or fail to appear in court, and posed a risk to community safety. But his lawyer told the court that Mr Thornton could comply with strict conditions if he was released, and had a history of obeying court orders. He said a nurse found that his client showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder in custody and that his family had arranged appointments with a psychologist. Justice Hamill noted Mr Thornton had a limited criminal history despite his "fairly bad traffic record" and said any potential trial would likely not take place until early 2019. He said Mr Thornton had "excellent community support". Justice Hamill said the Crown case appeared "reasonably strong" and the police officers' injuries were serious. "Offences of this nature are serious and usually, though not always, result in a full-time custodial sentence." He granted bail with conditions that Mr Thornton live at his partner's home at Bankstown, report to police weekly, not get behind the wheel of a car and attend his psychologist appointments. Mr Thornton's mother, Katja Thornton, who put up $5000 security for his release, shed tears outside court after he was granted bail. The case returns to Campbelltown Local Court next month. /images/transform/v1/crop/frm/silverstone-ct-migration/0ed43753-9a96-41ba-b1ca-4a65db566d22/r0_210_4054_2501_w1200_h678_fmax.jpg The Florida Department of Health in Lee County is advising the public not to enter the water at the Cape Coral Yacht Club Beach due to high levels of bacteria identified in routine testing. The beach park is located at 5819 Driftwood Parkway, Cape Coral, FL 33904. According to the DOH, tests completed today, April 19, indicate that the water quality at the Yacht Club Beach does not meet the safety criteria for Enterococcus bacteria recommended by the Florida Department of Health. Water contact may pose an increased risk of disease, particularly for susceptible individuals. It is recommended that there is no wading or swimming at the Yacht Club Beach. Enterococcus bacteria normally inhabit the intestinal tract of humans and animals. The presence of an elevated concentration of these bacteria is an indicator of pollution, which may come from storm water runoff, pets, wildlife or sewage. Elevated levels of Enterococcus bacteria have been associated with an increased risk of swimming-associated gastroenteritis illness (diarrhea and abdominal pain). This advisory will continue until bacteria levels are below the accepted health level. New test results should be available for Yacht Club Beach Tuesday afternoon, April 24. For more information call 239-274-2200 or go tolee.floridahealth.gov/. Photo: Thinkstock.com The City of West Kelowna is tightening its bylaws around the illegal sale of cannabis. Council endorsed several bylaws Tuesday in an effort to start with a "clean slate" once federal legislation to legalize the production, sale and use of recreational cannabis is entered into law sometime in late summer or early fall. The new bylaws, once they are given final reading, would prohibit the use of dispensaries to sell marijuana in West Kelowna, unless in the form of a "full-service pharmacy" under the Pharmacy Operations and Drug Scheduling Act. "I read this as the intent is to start with a clean slate when legalization comes in," said Mayor Doug Findlater. "Basically, this is to clean up the anomalies in zoning and business licensing, then at some point, open up the opportunity based on what council decides for both private enterprise and the provincial government to provide, presumably recreational marijuana." City planner Nancy Henderson says the measures are just temporary. Once more information comes down from the federal and provincial governments, she says staff will come back to council with several recommendations as to how to proceed. She says council can then decide where retail sales can occur. "Once this is all cleaned up and we have a clean slate to work with, I would like to see the availability on a very limited basis, of both recreational and medical marijuana in West Kelowna," added Findlater. A public hearing on the latest changes will now be set up. Photo: Contributed For those who follow Canadian politics closely, all eyes were focused on Ottawa last Sunday for a summit meeting hosted by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau with Alberta and B.C. NDP premiers Rachel Notley and John Horgan. The topic of the meeting was the growing dispute between Ottawa, British Columbia and Alberta over the construction of Trans Mountain pipeline. The media headlines that followed this meeting were candid. Trudeau has failed to resolve pipeline crises and more recently, Kinder Morgan project a test of Trudeaus competency, puts his 18 B.C. seats at risk, say pollsters." While this is occurring, Prime Minister Trudeau has remained firm in his statement that the Trans Mountain pipeline will be built. From my time on the government side of the House, it is my opinion that media headlines are not always fair to elected officials. The expectation that Mr. Trudeau could resolve this pipeline stand off in a single meeting are overly optimistic and more so when you consider both provincial NDP premiers politically benefit from their respective positions. From a political perspective, the real challenge for the Prime Minister, who is in a situation of his own making, is whatever actions he ultimately makes will come at a steep political cost to the Liberals. The Prime Minister is also well aware of this fact, and rather than take any decisive action, he has suggested he may ultimately work with the project proponent, Kinder Morgan, to mitigate investor risk in the Trans Mountain project. Although no formal announcement has been made, I am already hearing strong opposition from some Canadians at the thought of throwing, and I will quote directly, public money into the coffers of an oil giant. Meanwhile, Alberta continues to move forward a bill in their provincial legislature that could limit the supply of Alberta gasoline to British Columbia. A move that the premier of Saskatchewan has also voiced support for. In British Columbia, the NDP government has called Albertas threat a bluff and remains committed that they will not change their position. What happens next? At this point, it is all speculation and rather than engage in 'what if' scenarios, I will provide a factual update when more information is available. While the debate on potentially restricting oil flow between two provinces rages on, one subject that has my full attention is the upcoming decision by our Supreme Court on the Comeau case. This decision should be rendered later this week. Many will know that for decades provinces have prohibited the inter-provincial direct consumer shipping of alcohol over provincial borders. In fact, there are many items and even services that face similar restrictions that amount to inter-provincial trade protectionism. In the last Parliament, I had a bill passed that removed the Federal government from some of these restrictions but only a handful of provinces followed suit. Ultimately, this lead to the Comeau case that came before the Supreme Court of Canada (SCC). The Comeau case argues in favour of section 121 of our Charter: All Articles of the Growth, Produce, or Manufacture of any one of the Provinces shall, from and after the Union, be admitted free into each of the other Provinces." In the event the SCC rules in favour of this definition, it could potentially create significant new opportunities for many local industries and producers to access important new markets in Canada. Something I believe most Canadians support. My question this week: Do you support the idea of open provincial borders and increased inter-provincial trade? I can be reached at [email protected] or call toll free at 1-800-665-8711. Cirque du Soleil Crystal opened Wednesday night at the South Okanagan Events Centre. The show combines Cirques signature acrobatics with figure skating for their first-ever on-ice performance. Wednesday was the first of eight shows in Penticton, running through to Sunday evening. Photographer Jordan Shade was there. Tickets are still on sale. Check our video from behind the scenes with Cirque here. Flood preparations are underway in earnest in West Kelowna. The city has begun installing bladder dams along the west side of Gellatly Road, between the Cove Lakeside Resort and the bridge crossing Powers Creek. The bladder dam is a temporary measure, but will remain in place until the threat of creek flooding has passed. Powers Creek has a history of flooding in that area. It was one of the first areas hit during last spring's floods. Gellatly Road will remain open during installation, however, motorists may experience some delays. It's expected to take about two days to install the dam. The city says the measure is one of several in place along Gellatly Road. Rotary Trails Park is closed, and has been set up as a staging area for creek flood response equipment. With conditions expected to be similar to last year, and record snowpacks on surrounding mountains, West Kelowna is monitoring the flood threat constantly. Homeowners living along creeks can pick up sand and sandbags from the following locations: Kinsmen Works Yard 3170 Shannon Lake Road Across the street from the Glenrosa Fire Station on Gates Road Across the street from the Rose Valley Fire Station on Westlake Road 4081 Hitchner Road road end Kinsmen Works Yard driveway West Kelowna Yacht Club 4111 Gellatly Road Lakefront property owners are not being advised to put protective measures in place on their properties at this time. Photo: Contributed Police in Oliver have put out a warning to residents about a rise in thefts from vehicles. Sgt. Blaine Gervais said two suspects, a male and female, are believed to be the primary perpetrators, and he said many thefts are a result of vehicles being left unlocked with possessions sitting in plain sight. "These suspects are not committing sophisticated crimes, they are simply trying to open door handles on vehicles and once they discover it is unlocked they take whatever they can carry," Gervais said. "Unfortunately they have successfully stolen items of considerable value." Gervais affirmed that residents need to lock their doors when leaving their vehicle for any amount of time. "Suspects continue to steal from unlocked vehicles only because it is of low risk of being caught and it is a fruitful source of income." Residents are also asked to mark their belongings with something distinguishable, and to record any serial numbers on items. The Mayor of Penticton says even if the local Smart Cities Challenge application is unsuccessful, the process over the past four months will reap benefits for the community. Council approved the group's challenge statement Tuesday an overarching goal to improve the city. Lets build a physically and mentally healthier, strongly-connected Penticton where each person has access and opportunity to maximize their health potential. The volunteer group is proposing a series of to-be-announced projects using technology to reach that goal. This has really been a community-driven initiative, which is why it's quite exciting for council to support, and I think is what will separate us from a lot of the other submissions, Andrew Jakubeit said on this weeks Mayors Minute. The mayor noted more than 1,200 people engaged with the grass-roots campaign to share ideas about solvable problems in the community. Having 1,200 people, and it wasnt just the normal people that have been coming out to some of our other engagement, its really drawing in a larger cross-section of people who are renewing and regaining some passion in our community, he said. In December, Keith MacIntyre of Big Bear Software, came to council urging the city to support the team of volunteers he would lead in crafting an application for the Infrastructure Canada competition Penticton is competing in the mid-sized city category for one of two prizes of $10M. Finalists will be announced this summer and will received $250,000 to fully develop their submission. Jakubeit said some of the specifics of the projects behind the challenge statement are under wraps until the application deadline on April 24, given Penticton is competing against other cities. A lot of it has centred around connectivity, so feeling connected, he said. Engage and participate with whats happening in the city getting back to neighbourhoods, knowing your neighbours, and that community feel Even if Penticton isnt selected as a finalist, Jakubeit says having a volunteer-led conversation on the community like what has occurred over the last four months is invaluable. Some of the data thats been collected about ideas put forth, that in itself, will be a positive for us to act on. There is a lot of great initiatives that people have come up. Photo: Connie Sahlmark Penticton Green Party candidate Connie Sahlmark was arrested while protesting the Trans Mountain Pipeline in Burnaby on March 24 and charged with civil disobedience. Penticton's Green Party candidate in last year's provincial election was in Vancouver Supreme Court on Wednesday, after being apprehended for protesting the Trans Mountain pipeline expansion. Connie Sahlmark was arrested near Kinder Morgan's pipeline terminal in Burnaby on March 24 and charged with civil disobedience. She was one of more than 100 protesters arrested in late March, including federal Green leader Elizabeth May. The pipeline expansion would triple the amount of diluted bitumen shipped to B.C.'s coast, which will be exported overseas. Sahlmark said there isn't a good environmental or economic case for the project. "They're touting this as an economic thing about jobs and resources, but the fact is it's not. It's being exported to a foreign country to be processed. So someone else is making the money," she said. "There's no rush to push this through, there's not a shortage of gas and oil... It's endangering our country and our world to let this stuff happen, you have to say something." The B.C. Prosecution Service announced earlier this week it is considering criminal charges for pipeline protesters who were arrested. Two special prosecutors will be doing independent reviews to determine if there's enough evidence to lay criminal contempt of court charges. The province's prosecution service said in a statement the independent prosecutors are needed to avoid the perception of "improper influence" in the criminal justice system. Sahlmark finished third in the Penticton riding during the 2017 provincial election with 18 per cent of the popular vote behind Liberal candidate Dan Ashton, who was elected for a second term, and NDP candidate Tarik Sayeed. The Tennessee Supreme Court has adopted the Uniform Bar Exam as the key testing component for bar admission for aspiring Tennessee attorneys. The UBE is a nationwide test that has been adopted in 31 jurisdictions and allows test takers to transfer scores between states, greatly improving the mobility of Tennessee attorneys. The change comes after the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners filed a petition with the Supreme Court to adopt the change and a public comment period. The comments received by the Court were overwhelmingly supportive of the change. The UBE allows the Court to adapt to changing times while protecting the public. The UBE will be given for the first time in Tennessee in February, 2019. As the legal field continues to evolve, the Court understands its rules must modernize and adapt to changing practice realities, said Chief Justice Jeff Bivins. At the same time, it is essential we ensure attorneys practicing in Tennessee are well-qualified and prepared to represent clients with the vigor and excellence the law requires. The changes we have adopted strike that necessary balance. Under current rules, a Tennessee lawyer needing to obtain a license to practice law in another state has to meet waiver requirements, which often include a significant experience component, or retake the bar exam in that state. The UBE allows scores earned in Tennessee to be transferred to other states for licensure. In addition, attorneys from other states utilizing the UBE can petition for admittance in Tennessee based on those results. Lawyers are more mobile than they once were. No longer do lawyers always settle in one state and practice in that state until retirement, said Jeffrey Ward, president of the Tennessee Board of Law Examiners. Multi-jurisdictional, or cross-border, practice is more common, particularly in Tennessee, where we border more states than any other state in the Union. This can be seen in the increase in applications for admissions without examination in recent years. Between 2012 and 2016, the Board of Law Examiners saw a 90.4 percent increase in requests for admission without examination and a 218 percent increase in in-house counsel registration applications. In Tennessee, in order to be eligible for admission without exam, lawyers must be in good standing in at least one other jurisdiction and have at least five to seven years of experience. The proposal would provide more mobility for younger, or more recently admitted, attorneys. In this region, Alabama, Missouri, West Virginia, North Carolina, and South Carolina have adopted the UBE. The Board of Law Examiners recited in its petition the statistics that demonstrate the demand for mobility in the legal profession, and the Tennessee Bar Association agrees that this is a laudable goal in order to encourage lawyers and businesses to operate in Tennessee, the Tennessee Bar Association stated in its official comment letter. Toward that end, the proposed rule change, which adopts the UBE, and its portability provisions is positioned to benefit the profession, and the Tennessee Bar Association supports such action. The Bar Associations letter was signed by more than 65 local bar associations as well as the Tennessee federal bar, public defenders conference, and associations representing Women, Hispanic, African-American, and Asian attorneys. The UBE is prepared and coordinated by the National Conference of Bar Examiners and consists of three parts: the Multistate Bar Examination, which includes 200 multiple choice questions; two Multistate Performance Test tasks, which are 90-minute exercises testing basic lawyering skills; and six Multistate Essay Examination questions. The test covers a dozen topics and is given over two days. The current Tennessee Bar Exam uses the multiple choice questions, one performance test task, and nine Tennessee-specific essay questions. The nine essay questions are prepared and graded in the state. One benefit of using the UBE essay questions is the vast amount of testing and resources that go into developing each question, something that is hard to duplicate on a small scale, according to the Board of Law Examiners. The essay questions will still be graded by Tennessee attorneys. The Tennessee Supreme Court will determine the minimum passing score for the UBE. The Supreme Court will also consider requiring newly admitted attorneys to complete a course of study focused on Tennessee law within one year of admission. The Supreme Court will continue to set educational, character, and fitness requirements for those requesting admission to the bar, and the Board of Law Examiners will continue to determine an applicants eligibility for admission based on the standards set by the Supreme Court. The Courts Order may be viewed on tncourts.gov. Dr. Andrew Lee, professor of English, and Dr. Donna Summerlin, assistant chairperson of the Lee University Department of Language and Literature, took students from Lees Theories of Reading and Writing class to Tennessee Williams play The Glass Menagerie at the Chattanooga Theatre Center. Im so thankful for this opportunity and the ability to experience it with peers who have the same appreciation for the work and for literature in general, said English major Abigail Cribbs. I believe this trip has helped me to gain a deeper understanding of the emotions of the characters and the context in which Tennessee Williams may have been writing this play. The students also traveled to the University of the South in Sewanee, where they received a private tour of the Tennessee Williams archives. Students were able to see the playwrights original type-written manuscripts of some of his other plays. The students were thrilled to be able to do hands-on research with primary source material for the first time, said Dr. Lee. The trip also helped students grow closer as a cohort in our English major degree program. After the archives tour, the group stayed at the Smokehouse Lodge on Monteagle. Overall, the trip was fantastic, said English major Tylor Hudson. It opened my mind up to interpret and theorize The Glass Menagerie. I found fascinating information on Tennessee Williams himself and created friendships. For more information on Lees Department of Language of Literature, contact 614-8210. Metro Tab Church, 2101 West Shepherd Road in Chattanooga, Highway 153 at Airport exit 1, invites the public to hear the message "A Place of Praise" by Pastor Steve Ball at the 10:30 a.m. worship service this Sunday. "Everyone is invited to come and worship with us," officials said. Atoms are composed of electrons moving around a central nucleus they are bound to. The electrons can also be torn away, overcoming the confining force of their nucleus, using the powerful electric field of a laser. Half a century ago, the theorist Walter Henneberger wondered if it was possible to free an electron from its atom with the laser field, but still make it stay around the nucleus. Many scientists considered this hypothesis to be impossible. However, it was recently successfully confirmed by physicists from the University of Geneva (UNIGE), Switzerland, and the Max Born Institute (MBI) in Berlin, Germany. For the first time, they managed to control the shape of the laser pulse to keep an electron both free and bound to its nucleus, and were at the same time able to regulate the electronic structure of this atom dressed by the laser. What's more, they also made these unusual states amplify laser light. They also identified a no-go area. In this area nicknamed "Death Valley", physicists lose all their power over the electron. These results shatter the usual concepts related to the ionisation of matter. Since the 1980s, many experiments have tried to confirm the hypothesis advanced by the theorist Walter Henneberger: an electron can be placed in a dual state that is neither free nor bound. Trapped in the laser, the electron would be forced to pass back and forth in front of its nucleus, and would thus be exposed to the electric field of both the laser and the nucleus. This dual state would make it possible to control the motion of the electrons exposed to the electric field of both the nucleus and the laser, and would let the physicists to create atoms with "new", tunable by light, electronic structure. But is this really possible? Leveraging the natural oscillations of the electron The more intense a laser is, the easier should it be to ionise the atom--in other words, to tear the electrons away from the attracting electric field of their nucleus and free them into space. "But once the atom is ionised, the electrons don't just leave their atom like a train leaves a station, they still feel the electric field of the laser", explains Jean-Pierre Wolf, a professor at the applied physics department of the UNIGE Faculty of Sciences. "We thus wanted to know if, after the electrons are freed from their atoms, it is still possible to trap them in the laser and force them to stay near the nucleus, as the hypothesis of Walter Henneberger suggests", he adds. The only way to do this is to find the right shape for the laser pulse to be applied, to impose oscillations on the electron that are exactly identical, so that its energy and state remain stable. "The electron does naturally oscillate in the field of the laser, but if the laser intensity changes these oscillations also change, and this forces the electron to constantly change its energy level and thus its state, even leaving the atom. This is what makes seeing such unusual states so difficult ", adds Misha Ivanov, a professor at the theoretical department of MBI in Berlin. Modulating laser intensity to avoid Death Valley The physicists tested different laser intensities so that the electron freed from the atom would have steady oscillations. They made a surprising discovery. "Contrary to natural expectations that suggest that the more intense a laser is, the easier it frees the electron, we discovered that there is a limit to the intensity, at which we can no longer ionise the atom", observes Misha Ivanov. "Beyond this threshold, we can control the electron again". The researchers dubbed this limit "Death Valley", following the suggestion of Professor Joe Eberly from the University of Rochester. Confirming an old hypothesis to revolutionise physics theory By placing the electron in a dual state which is neither free nor bound, the researchers found a way to manipulate these oscillations as they like. This enables them to directly work on the electronic structure of the atom. After several adjustments, for the first time, physicists from UNIGE and MBI were able to free the electron from its nucleus, and then trap it in the electric field of the laser, as Walter Henneberger suggested. "By applying an intensity of 100 trillion watts per cm2, we were able to go beyond the Death Valley threshold and trap the electron near its parent atom in a cycle of regular oscillations within the electric field of the laser", Jean-Pierre Wolf says enthusiastically. As a comparison, the intensity of the sun on the earth is approximately 100 watts per m2. "This gives us the option of creating new atoms dressed by the field of the laser, with new electron energy levels, explains Jean-Pierre Wolf. "We previously thought that this dual state was impossible to create, and we've just proved the contrary. Moreover, we discovered that electrons placed in such states can amplify light. This will play a fundamental role in the theories and predictions on the propagation of intense lasers in gases, such as air", he concludes. Now with only five games remaining, Diego Simeone's men would be forgiven for focusing their remaining efforts on making sure they finish second ahead of Real Madrid -- now just three points adrift -- and their bid to win the Europa League. A Barcelona statement read: "One of the available first team players was Ivan Rakitic, who has been given medical clearance to return to training following a metacarpal operation." But while dominant throughout, Unai Emery's men were kept on their toes in an at times messy encounter in which they had one goal chalked off by the Video Assistant Referee (VAR), and Mbappe's second fall under its scrutiny before it was confirmed nine minutes from time. Carson's got its start in Amboy, Ill., in 1854 before moving its headquarters to Chicago, where it took the name Carson, Pirie Scott & Co. in 1890. It opened its Louis Sullivan-designed flagship on State Street in 1904 and remained in operation there for more than a century. Target took over a portion of that space after Carson's closed in 2007. The 39 new hotel rooms are being announced as the city is experiencing rapid growth in the number of hotel rooms downtown. More than 1,600 rooms were added last year, and another 1,800 are expected to be completed this year, according to Choose Chicago, the city's tourism agency. There was a 15 percent increase in downtown hotel rooms from 2014 through the end of 2017, to a total of 42,456 rooms. Otunga was the only person to take the stand. He talked about how he attended and graduated from Harvard Law School in 2006 to honor his father, but he really wanted to be an actor. Field walked Otunga through his resume even going so far as to show Otunga's alleged LinkedIn page on a large screen to try to pinpoint how much money he's made and how many days he's worked since he began a relationship with Hudson around December 2007. There's something of a dress-up Frenchness to the enterprise, too, that grates against the otherwise handsome production values, guarding proceedings from any darker sense of grit and decay: Even when the chips are down, every boy's adorable beret looks box-fresh. It's the boys themselves, however, who often cut through the Camembert to deliver a shot of honest, imperilled feeling. Le Clech serves as the eyes of the audience throughout, handling a tricky, sometimes clunky voiceover with natural aplomb, and maintaining an ingenuous, believably curious presence without straying into doe-eyed precociousness. As his older, savvier but still achingly naive brother, big-screen newcomer Fleurial Palmieri has the wily, darting charisma of a future star. The pair's sweet, comfortable onscreen connection renders their adult co-stars a bit colorless by comparison, as it perhaps should be in a story where even the kindliest grown-ups bring prematurely gray reality into their children's lives. In June of last year, Steve Bartels, then-CEO of West's label Def Jam, told Variety that the MC doesn't necessarily keep the label apprised of what he's doing. "When we talk we don't really get down to the granular of where he's going and how he's flying there, we keep it much more on a broader level," Bartels said. "Kanye is working, that's been widely reported. He's always very focused, and our relationship with him is that we always have great respect for him and when he's ready to do something or talk about something, we're there for him, we totally support his vision and his focus, and that's where we leave it. I check in with him from time to time just to see how he's doing. "I come from a family of troublemakers," Richards said, referring to her civil rights lawyer dad, David Richards, and her left-wing force of a mother, who served as governor of Texas from 1991 through 1995. Richards said that watching her mom's "metamorphosis" from homemaker to politician inspired her own sense of activism, noting that Ann Richards "grocery shopped like the other moms she just demanded to see the United Farm Workers label first." U.S. family-leave policies are not as generous as those in many other countries, where mothers often can take more paid time off after giving birth, she said. And many U.S. sector jobs have been slow to accommodate working moms. While there has been progress in some professional sectors namely medicine and academia it remains difficult for women in other industries to have families and advance their careers, Percheski said. Consulting and finance, as well as most working-class jobs, remain behind the times, she said. We could not afford to extend our vacation by another week. We had to purchase seats on an American Airlines flight in order to complete our travel to Toronto. Before leaving Trinidad, we contacted a LIAT supervisor at the airport. He informed us that it was company policy to give us a refund for the flight that we missed. He documented our situation on an itinerary he printed at the terminal and signed it as proof of our situation. We submitted a refund request to the airline's customer-relations department. A representative promised us a reply in "a few weeks." But a few weeks later, we had no response. Also remaining is the 30-by-60-foot swimming pool, said to have been the largest private pool in Florida at the time of its construction, and a two-story cabana, which Capone used as a guardhouse, and in which he died a syphilitic wretch in 1947, following his release from prison. "He seemed relaxed, he was laughing. I feel like he was being really genuine, which I appreciate," Ponce said. "For politicians, it's one of those things they have to decide with their families how much of their personal lives they are going to disclose. Mayor Emanuel, based on what I know, has at times he holds his personal life pretty close to the chest." Before police officers escorted the two black men out of the Philadelphia Starbucks in handcuffs, at least one of them had asked to use the restroom. The manager said no, reportedly because the men had not ordered anything. And if they stayed without at least a cup on their table, it was considered trespassing. "This is not a lawsuit about keeping guns in the toy box or keeping them on the coffee table," said Sigale, who is based in west suburban Glen Ellyn. "This is about saying we want to behave safely but we also want to be able to defend ourselves. What the state rules do is take that ability away." Bryan Edelman, who specializes in jury strategy, said McDonald's shooting has garnered some of the most extensive media coverage of any case he has worked on. He said he has worked on such high-profiles cases as those of James Holmes, convicted of killing 12 people in a packed movie theater in Aurora, Colo., in 2012 and Gabrielle Giffords, the former Arizona congresswoman severely wounded in a mass shooting in Tucson, Ariz., in 2011 in which six people were killed. "We know that CPS diverse learners must be given every opportunity for growth and achievement," CPS special education chief Elizabeth Keenan told ISBE members Wednesday. "Reforms are already on the way, and we need to look forward to a system that does not maintain prior status quo but instead provides real opportunity for all students." The bridge over the South Branch of the Chicago River was not locking properly, according to a spokeswoman for Amtrak, which operates the bridge. The problem had been resolved by late morning, the spokeswoman said. Both Bell and Henderson got out of the minivan and fled on foot but were caught a short time after. The murder weapon was found after a search of the minivan was conducted. The weapon, which was reported stolen in December 2017, was loaded and had 11 live rounds in the magazine, prosecutors said. "I don't think it's something we should just say as policymakers, we should put our money where our mouths are," said Raoul, a state senator from Hyde Park who has worked on criminal justice issues. "I can't ask people in the private sector to do it if I won't as well." "Law and order have vanished in the last four years under Rauner. Sanctuary for illegal immigrants and attacks on our Second Amendment rights is what we have now thanks to Rauner and Chicago Democrats," he said. "We need a governor who will support our federal government to deport illegal immigrants, stand up for the police who protect our families and defend our Second Amendment rights." "It's critical that we have a change in the governor's office," Preckwinkle told reporters, going on to note that in 2016 county Democratic voters were divided in their support for presidential candidates Hillary Clinton and Bernie Sanders. "I think our challenge is to bring those two groups together and achieve the same level of enthusiasm that we saw in the primary in 2016 translated into the fall of 2018." "There's been a little bit of back and forth, as you always get with bureaucrats but I think we can find common understanding here," Brown said Tuesday in Washington. "There's enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do and we're willing to do it." Adams, who works for Trump, is not waving a baggie of illegal drugs, but an injector for overdose antidote naloxone. Last week he issued a rarely used official advisory, urging people with an addict in their family, school or medical practice to learn how to use naloxone because "keeping it within reach can save a life." (The last advisory from a surgeon general was in 2005, when Richard Carmona warned pregnant women against drinking alcohol.) Meaningful campaign finance limits. For almost a decade, Illinois has had a patchwork of limits on campaign contributions for state elections. The state limits individual and some PAC and party campaign contributions, but it is not hard to see how these restrictions can be circumvented. We need limits on the number of PACs an individual can control Madigan has at least two as well as on the steering of contributions from other elected officials' campaign funds at the party's direction. (It was such contributions from five members of Madigan's House caucus that financed my opponent's last-minute TV ad blitz.) The main reason is that Trump doesn't have any better options to resolve this conundrum without military action. Several decades of patient American diplomacy, from the Clinton administration in the 1990s through those of Presidents George W. Bush and Barack Obama, failed to achieve the key goal: to prevent North Korea from threatening the U.S. and the world with nuclear weapons. Kim now has up to 60, and he is intent on building more. He also has ballistic missiles that could hit U.S. cities, including Chicago, with a nuclear payload. Illinois has inched closer to legalizing recreational marijuana use a measure could appear on this fall's ballot. Until that day, however, 4/20 celebrations around Chicago mostly offer a wink and a puff toward the day's stoner-friendly history. Up in Andersonville, the first annual Waldos Forever Fest is a step closer to that recognition, as the event bills itself as "a full day of music, education and fun for cannabis lovers and anyone that loves a good time." From 9 a.m. to 10 p.m. Friday, vendors, educators, musicians and food trucks will be posted outside of Dispensary 33 at Clark and Ainslie streets in Andersonville, so they'll have all the bases covered for a cannabis celebration (not that we would know anything about that!). RSVP at do312.com. Southern Illinois University offers more than 250 undergraduate majors, minors and specializations catering to career goals in areas from the arts through the sciences, humanities, business, mass media, engineering, education, allied health, aviation and more. If you aren't ready to commit to a major, SIU's mentoring program can help you decide. SIU is all about opportunity more than 90 percent of its students attend SIU with financial assistance. Visit campus and see for yourself why so many students from the Chicago area choose SIU nearly half of SIU's student population is from Chicago and its suburbs. For more information, visit siu.edu. Some of Mike Conboy's best childhood summer memories were spent fishing and boating on Lake Michigan with his family, recreational pursuits the Conboys still enjoy today. Proximity to the water is one of the reasons the 2007 graduate of Joliet Catholic High School chose to live in downtown Chicago after receiving his engineering degree from Michigan State University six years ago. That's why he is concerned about the threat posed to Lake Michigan by a looming invasion of Asian carp and wants to see Illinois government leaders take action. Murnane started to work more directly with George H.W. and Barbara Bush by late 1991, when he was named director of travel and advance operations in the Bush administration, putting him in charge of coordinating presidential trips and all the intricate details that come with those trips, including communicating with the Secret Service, the White House Military Office and other government agencies. 3214 N. Southport Ave., No. 3N, Chicago: $1,299,000 | Listed: Aug. 18, 2021 This three-bedroom home has two full bathrooms, one half-bath, and crown molding. The kitchen has hardwood flooring, fresh tile backsplash, a pantry, an island and space for a table. An open concept living and dining room on the main level features wainscoting and a fireplace. A separate family room and a breakfast nook are also on the main level, and an upper-level living room can be converted into a fourth bedroom. This home has five private outdoor areas, including a composite rooftop deck, a front porch, an enclosed brick space thats turf and tile, and two rear decks. A wet bar with a wine refrigerator, a storage room, and garage parking complete this home. Agent: Tommy Choi, Keller Williams, 773-851-5840 *Some listing photos are virtually staged, meaning they have been digitally altered to represent different furnishing or decorating options. To feature your luxury listing of $800,000 or more in Chicago Tribunes Dream Homes, send listing information and high-res photos to ctc-realestate@chicagotribune.com. Join our Chicago Dream Homes Facebook group for more luxury listings and real estate news. An official announcement of the merger which will include revealing the new name, logo and mission statement is scheduled for a May 15 roll-out event at the Paramount Theatre lobby. Tickets to the event will be $20, although the event is not a fund-raiser. "Jacobson's philosophy as an artist and teacher was that of a missionary rather than an instructor of technique," Sherwood told the West Aurora School Board this week. "When you see part of the mural at Freeman above the drop ceiling, you can sense his feeling that he was on a mission." "That is one of the entrances to our town. We have been pretty deliberate in where we have allowed specifically gambling parlors and they have been off the beaten path and with a history of not being occupied," Parr said. Many in the community agreed, and didn't mind standing in Monday's frigid temperatures to prove it. Etter, who has been inundated with letters and flowers from supporters, was pleased with the outpouring of support he received. But even as he was reading a compelling letter to board members about his feelings, he told me later, "they never had any intention" of admitting they had messed up. A: Our club was trying to raise funds for the needy, and our largest projects were the holiday bazaars from Thanksgiving to Christmas. We would get together and create things for sale like wreaths and floral decorations. We created them at St. Anne Church and in our homes. We also raised money at dinner dances, and we had a cookbook that parishioners donated recipes to. The year I was president, the book was called "Anne's Pantry." I probably donated a German potato salad recipe. Doing a church cookbook is very difficult because it takes lots of recipes to fill it. Plus, people had to take time to write them all down with a typewriter or in longhand back then. When we had an excess of cookbooks, I ended up selling them out of the back of my car (she laughs). The ladies thought that was funny. The sun shining on rain- and snow-covered roads melts and refreezes the surface and makes it very slippery, Tullis said. The drivers, who also may have to deal with the sun in their eyes, may not realize the road is icy, which makes condition very treacherous. According to the lawsuit, Salazar was questioned after distributing flyers that read "Shut Down Capitalism." One of the officers who questioned Salazar allegedly suggested that due to the "political climate of the country" she should not pass out such flyers because it could "start something on campus," according to the lawsuit. Cholula, 26, said she came to the United States from Mexico with her family when she was an infant and to Elgin when she was in 7th grade. Being undocumented herself, Cholula said she had no scholarship or grant money available to her to attend college when she graduated from Elgin High School in 2009. But Kaptain said Wednesday that any challenge was contingent upon the project supporters having a plan in place and a space to operate. That fell through the cracks last fall, Kaptain said, when structural issues were found with the building next to the downtown Ziegler's Ace Hardware. Shared Harvest was going to do the renovations and get the space rent-free. "The lawsuit admits that the State Legislature expressly grants the power to amend such an assault weapons ordinance in the future," reads the statement posted by the village in response to the first lawsuit. "The lawsuit admits the lawfulness of the Village's ban on the sale of assault weapons. And the lawsuit effectively concedes the lawfulness of the Village's assault weapons ban under the Second Amendment to the U.S. Constitution." "If you look at Illinois, downstate, these towns, their budgets survive on prisons," Curran said. "The General Assembly has passed these horrible increases in penalties, some of which are not fair and equitable and not needed to keep people safe, so there's been an agenda to incarcerate more and more people. When you do that, there's less and less funding for mental health and what ultimately needs to be done." This week, we speak with Javier Mejia, 39, who grew up in Mexico City and came to the United States when he was 18. A graduate of the College of DuPage's culinary arts program, Mejia has worked in several local establishments, including Carzz Seafood Grilleria and Hugo's Frog Bar. For the last decade, he's been the lead chef at Traverso's Italian Restaurant in Naperville. Joan Bemis, of Leland, and Sarah Runkle, of Aurora, will be there, too, but not to remember when 89.1 FM moved from the fourth floor of Old Main to its own building in 1995, or to honor station manager and assistant professor of broadcasting John Madormo, who is retiring after 38 years. Instead, the red-headed sisters will take the opportunity to reminisce about a simpler time in Naperville, when the Fox Valley was not a shopping center but farmland and they could go to the movies in downtown Naperville for a quarter. During a March 27 meeting of the Maine Township Board, Morask, after informing the elected officials of Dowd's resignation, publicly stated that she was considering for appointment an attorney from Ancel Glink who had been recently hired to work on the township's personnel manual. The board, at that same meeting, then approved a motion to meet again on April 17 "for the purpose of the supervisor bringing an appointee [for township attorney], who will be present, for advice and consent of the board." Brazier asked the mother, who is also 21, if she wanted to go with him into the store to try on clothes, according to Rice. The woman, who is seven weeks pregnant, said she was "feeling ill" and was hungry with a "severe headache," Rice said. "They were family men," attorney Jon Loevy said. "One day they were going to work, and then they were basically kidnapped from their lives, they're being accused of this terrible rape they had absolutely nothing to do with, they have no idea what the police are even talking about. All they know is they go to work, they pay their bills, they take care of their families and next thing you know, they're spending a combined 42 years in prison for a crime they didn't commit." The ordinance also says that people must be capable of retrieving their automobiles all seven days of the week between 6 a.m. and 10 p.m. It also requires signs to be posted by all tow companies that do business with Gary to explain the fees. "City and state officials knew there was a depression and growing pothole in this part of Lincoln Street for over two weeks. Despite this knowledge, however, they did not take any emergency action, place warning signs around this area of the road, or otherwise act to protect drivers and local citizens," the law firm's release stated. That program was designed specifically for shift workers, like steelworkers, and adult learners by offering flexibility with classes -- meeting once per week, or twice per day -- and offered videotapes of classes for students that needed to skip that day. The project would not just help the county improve its infrastructure, Allen said, but also deal with flooding issues. Allen said Lake George, the Little Cal and Deep River all have water that runs under the bridge. The 3-year-old found the gun and was playing with it before shooting the mother, who was sitting in the driver's seat, he said. The bullet hit the mother from the back in the upper right chest before going through the windshield, according to the chief. Luckily, it did not hit anyone else, he said. St. Mary Medical Center will offer free pap tests and health screenings from 8-11 a.m. April 28 at the Portage Health Center II, 3545 Arbors Blvd., Portage. The annual event is to support uninsured or underinsured women in the community. Community Care Network certified nurse midwives and nurse practitioners will conduct the screenings. Physician referrals will be available for women who do not have a primary care physician. The Pap-a-thon also features bone-density screenings, body composition testing, certified bra fittings and chair massages. Light refreshments will be available and there will be door prizes. Registration is required for pap tests, which are available on a first-come, first served basis, at 219-836-3477 or 866-836-3477. Gonzales's 6-year-old son found her stabbed and beaten to death Aug. 22 on her kitchen floor in the 7500 block of Alexander Avenue, police said. The boy and his siblings then went to a neighbor's house for help, according to police. "In other words, the defense attorneys might be trying to find prospective jurors who don't want to leave it up to the judge, but want to keep the decision in the hands of the jury and would be willing to keep trying to reach a unanimous sentencing verdict," Hoffman said. Lake County Councilman Eldon Strong, R-Crown Point, and Sen. Rick Niemeyer, R-Lowell, raised concerns about debris from the site going to an unlined landfill in Lowell, saying it puts residents, who rely on well water, at risk because of potentially contaminated material going into the facility. The pair want to stop the demolition debris from going to Lowell and have it all go to a facility in Newton County. The Earth Day Network has focused 2018's campaign on plastic pollution, labeling it as the No. 1 ecological problem right now. Plastic straws, bags and bottles have become major detriments to the health of our earth, and we need to figure out ways to live conveniently without the use of old-school plastics. Even the new breed of biodegradable plastic needs specific conditions to break down its composition. Without it, those too can take as long as regular plastic to decompose. "At this point, we just want to make sure it's going to be acceptable to change the use of the bank and also to connect the two buildings to make one unit," Ley said. Zero is the name of the game for Centennial goalkeeper By I-Ting Shelly Lin In March, the Beijing Municipal Administration of Industry and Commerce, the Tax Bureau, the Commission of Development and Reform, and other relevant bureaus issued a series of policies and measures designed to improve the ease of doing business in the capital city. Beijing businesses now enjoy simplified establishment procedures, reduced costs, and greater transparency on the governments actions. The reforms should be familiar to anyone who has read a World Bank Doing Business report: manual transactions are now online; procedures have been streamlines and shortened; costs have been reduced. Every little counts. The initiative will undoubtedly help businesspeople in the capital. Perhaps more interestingly, the initiative follows direction set by the presidents office in 2017: metropolitan cities like Beijing were told to lead efforts to improve the business environment. National-level reforms changed Chinas investment landscape significantly for foreign investors last year; subnational reforms like Beijings may lead the way in 2018. Foreign investors in Beijing should review the reforms to understand if there are any benefits that may be derived, while other observers should look at the Beijing reforms as a possible marker for cities like Shanghai, Guangzhou, and Shenzhen. Beijing may very well set the tone for reforms in other cities over the year ahead. RELATED: China to Establish Hainan Free Trade Zone Establishing a business The authorities have shortened the registration process for newly established companies. Now, newly established companies may complete the entire registration process for business operation five days after submitting an application, compared to the previous 15+ days. The authorities also plan to establish one-stop service stations for business registration in each district of the city. The service stations will provide one window, accepting all application materials that are required by authorities to obtain a business registration. However, in a bid to encourage online business registration, the authorities have shortened the online process from eight days to between one and three days. The online application process should proves fastest for most businesses, as same day approval is possible. An estimated 10,000 enterprises have obtained electronic business licenses in Beijing. Further, the government is now offering free official chops for newly-established enterprises, which will be automatically recorded to an exchange database between Administration of Industry and Commerce (AIC) and Beijing Municipal Public Security Bureau (PSB). This measure is designed to reduce setup costs; enterprises in Beijing are expected to save a total of RMB 60 million (US$9.54 million) annually. Property registration The authorities have combined a number of processes under one platform, which will reduce the property registration time to between one and five days. Transaction, tax, and registration department processes have now been streamlined and moved online under a single platform. Following the reform, the authorities expect over 90 percent of applications to be completed through this online real estate ownership registration platform by the end of 2018. Paying taxes First time applications for VAT invoices are now more efficient. This new process will allow taxpayers to collect the equipment, as well as paper invoice, at their local tax bureau within one day of the online payment. Housing fund The authorities have streamlined the application for housing fund. Applicants now only need to complete one form, compared to the old six. Financial credit The reform includes provisions to support small and medium-sized enterprises (SMEs), namely through a reduced guarantee cost, and a new one-time financial guarantee evaluation process. In order to reduce capital guarantee companies risk on financing for small and micro-sized businesses, the Beijing municipal government and the central government established an RMB 500 million (US$79.54 million) guarantee fund to support small and micro businesses to pay loans. Reports show that this fund has already supported more than 3,000 small and micro businesses. RELATED: Foreign Investment in Guangdong: New Incentives Announced Cross-border trade The authorities are now able to provide approval for automatic import and export licenses within one day, compared to the old five day processing time. The authorities have also reduced the processing time for online quarantine from 36 hours to two hours. Construction projects The authorities now plan to provide project approvals simultaneously, rather than separately by department. Further, the amount of time required for the examination of new construction projects has been reduced from 109 days to between 29 and 44 days. Obtaining basic services The authorities have reduced the overall number of documents, as well as the amount of information, required to obtain electricity. Small- and micro-sized businesses, for example, no longer need to fill out any paperwork, and the total number of procedures have been cut in half. The reform also grants small and micro-sized enterprises access to savings up to RMB 1.2 billion (US$191.4 million) of total electricity expenses. The authorities have also limited the turnaround time for applications enterprises to obtain access to public infrastructure services, including electricity, water, gas, and heat. The application now takes under 15 working days to process. Social insurance guidance The Beijing Municipal Human Resources and Social Security Bureau put forward 12 specific measures and 30 guidelines to handle social insurance issues, including social insurance registration and account management. Applicants applying for social insurance are now only required to visit social security institutions no more than one time. 80 percent of future social insurance administrative affairs will be able to be completed online. Applicants are also now able to make appointments through online platforms and WeChat when applying for social insurance. Major services like the registration of insurance, reporting of increase and decrease of personnel, change of information, and declaration of payment are now open for applications every business day of the month. Moreover, the government has built social insurance exchange service platforms that offer the convenience of paying social insurance via cyber banks, mobile banks, or third-party payment methods. Pre-Investment, Market Entry Strategy Advisory Services from Dezan Shira & Associates Increasing foreign economic participation Beijings business environment reforms are just some of the citys recent measures to promote investment. For example, the municipal government released guidelines to attract foreign investment to Beijing. The city promises to help multinational companies establish headquarters in Beijing by promoting key industry parks and encouraging foreign investment into high-end technologies. It also recently released Guideline on Expanding Market Openness to Foreign Investors and Improving the use of Foreign Capital, which encourages investment in science and technology, Internet and information, culture and education, finance, commerce and tourism, and health and medical services. Further, the authorities in Beijing will also seek to encourage foreign talent to come to the city. This is incentivized with medical and endowment insurance, support for obtaining local school placement for children, as well as granting foreign talent the opportunity to purchase commodity housing and register for property rights. You are here: Arts The Melbourne-made short film All These Creatures was selected by the Cannes Film Festival on Wednesday to compete for the 2018 Short Film Palme d'or. Along with six others, the film was chosen from 3,943 short films around the world that were received by the Cannes selection committee. All These Creatures focuses on the social code around mental illness and follows a 13-year-old boy who lives with a destructive father. Screenwriter and director Charles Williams said he can't think of a higher honor for him than being selected by the Cannes. After considering about 400 children for the lead role, Williams finally decided Yared Scott was the one. "We had a whole range of kids, but we eventually settled on Yared Scott, who was born in Ethiopia and raised by his adoptive parents in Melbourne," Williams said. To ensure the story is well matched for Scott, William consulted a lot of experts from Melbourne's Ethiopian community, and surprisingly everyone thought the film was written specifically about Ethiopians. Shot in the culturally diverse area of Dandenong, the east Melbourne suburb provided the perfect gritty backdrop for the 13-minute film. The official award ceremony of the 71st Cannes Film Festival will be held on May 19 in France. A lost film was brought back to life at the Eighth Beijing International Film Festival on Wednesday night. "The Stormy Night," directed by famous novelist Zhu Shouju in 1925, held its first public screening at the China Film Archive after it was lost in history for nearly a century. The film was last seen in Hong Kong in 1932. A damaged and incomplete copy of the film was discovered in a collection owned by the late Japanese director Teinosuke Kinugasa when his family made a donation to the National Museum of Modern Art, Tokyo in 2006. The lost part of the film is the first ten minutes, which means that no one knows the film title and film production company, as well as the film credits. Therefore, the copy was left on a shelf at the National Film Center under the national museum. A descendant of Dan Duyu, one of China's very first filmmakers, later found the mysterious copy in Tokyo and persistently examined it. He believed the film is actually Zhu Shouju's "The Stormy Night." In 2016, a descendant of Zhu and several Chinese scholars worked together to obtain a copy of the film from the Japanese film center and brought it back to China for several private screenings in academic circles in Beijing, Shanghai and Nanjing. The screenings excited Chinese film historians and experts, who believed the film could redefine Chinese film arts and styles in the early 20th century and fill the blanks in Chinese film history as well as world film history. Last December, representatives from the China Film Archive started to negotiate with the film center, which was promoted to a higher level as the National Film Archive of Japan this April, about the possibility of bringing it back to China for a public viewing at Beijing's film festival. They finally reached an agreement and the Chinese side borrowed a Blu-ray version from Japan. There were reportedly more than 650 Chinese silent films produced in the 1920s, but most were destroyed and lost because of the war and turbulence. Now no more than 20 such films still exist. The China Film Archive said they will attempt to negotiate to recover the digital data and copy permanently from Japan, and are working with the National Film Archive of Japan to restore the film in the future. Members of European Parliament (MEPs), meeting in plenary session in Strasbourg, joined their President on Wednesday in calling for the CEO of Facebook, Mark Zuckerberg, to appear at the European Parliament to answer questions on the scandal over the misuse of personal Facebook user data by Cambridge Analytica. The most widely-used social network in the world, with 2 billion users, has been accused of having allowed the company Cambridge Analytica to exploit the personal data of over 50 million users without their authorization, in order to target them during the campaign for the 2016 American presidential election and the Brexit campaign. The European Parliament was alarmed by the impact of social networks, fake news and the manipulation of democratic processes as the next European legislative elections loom on the horizon in May 2019. The General data protection regulation (GDPR) gave the European Parliament reason to be reassured, with its application starting from May 25. The GDPR will contribute to giving European citizens more control over their personal data and will set global norms, said MEPs. Certain representatives, however, doubt that the mechanisms of the GDPR will prevent new scandals and invited the European Council to put in place the regulation on privacy and electronic communications. EU: ZUCKERBERG SHOULD COME IN PERSON European Parliament President Antonio Tajani requested that Mark Zuckerberg come personally to explain himself to the plenary session on the use of the personal data of the millions of users put at risk. "All of the political groups insist on the absolute necessity for your personal presence, as was the case before the United States Congress," he wrote in a letter addressed to the young American billionaire. Since March 20 and the explosion of the scandal around Cambridge Analytica, the company which exploited by their own prerogative the data of tens of millions of Facebook users, the President of the European Parliament has invited the Facebook CEO to come as quickly as possible to address the representatives of the 500 million EU citizens. Mark Zuckerberg, who gave testimony for 10 hours in a hearing with American legislators last week, proposed the Vice President Global Public Policy, Joel Kaplan, speak to MEPs. European Commission Vice President Andrus Ansip met with Mark Zuckerberg in California on Tuesday and told him that "the invitation from the European Parliament was a manner to restore confidence" with European officials, reported on Wednesday the European Commissioner for Justice, Consumers and Gender Equality Vera Jourova to MEPs in Strasbourg. The CEO of Facebook is in trouble. The economic model of his social network has received strong criticism while the frustration of users has increased with new revelations. "Our privacy is not for sale," declared the Green party MEP and former French Presidential candidate Eva Joly Wednesday, in Strasbourg, acting as a spokesperson for a growing sentiment among European and American citizens. The deletefacebook movement has also been launched in the wake of the first revelations. In total, some 87 million Facebook users, including 2.7 million in the EU, could have been victims of the data breach involving Cambridge Analytica, according to reports. The price of gold is expected to grow sustainably from the third quarter this year, a Chinese annual revealed recently. Jointly issued by the China Gold Association, the World Gold Council and British Metals Focus Ltd, the annual showed a positive outlook for the growth curve of gold prices, particularly starting in July, 2018. The international gold price opened at US$1,302.70 per ounce at the start of the year, closing at US$1,324.95 per ounce at the end of the first quarter; it is now fluctuating around US$1,330.06 on average, registering year-over-year growth of 9.06 percent. Despite the minor fluctuations, which are predicted to last till the end of the second quarter, gold prices are forecasted to increase in the third quarter, following the weakening of the U.S. dollar, fluctuating stock markets and dented confidence in global economic performance. Moreover, according to Wang Lixin, the general manager of the Chinese division of the World Gold Council, geopolitical uncertainties may also drive up the price. "Gold sold well in the previous year," he added while forecasting a simultaneous rise of gold prices worldwide in the following months this year, explaining that growth is likely to be maintained due to market readjustments, timely supply and increasing transparency of transactions. In 2018, gold demand is expected to rise by 1.5 percent globally, buttressed by the increase of jewelry sales, industrial applications and physical gold investments. Taking recycled gold for instance, the supply is expected to grow by 2 percent this year, with a host of customers dominated by developing countries. Also according to the annual report, demand for gold jewelry, stimulated by the two major purchasing powers China and India, is likely to rise this year. Meanwhile, investments in physical gold are growing, especially in the Chinese market, thanks to improving price projections and investors' strong desire to keep their assets safe. Additionally, the development of electronic sectors is also boosting gold demand for industrial use. Song Xin, director of the China Gold Association, said, "With the growth of high-end consumption and the development in second- and third-tier cities, the Chinese market will show its substantial demand, mostly unexplored, for physical gold, as more and more people start to realize gold's stored and retaining values in the long term." The Chinese navy is conducting large scale live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait. The move comes in the wake of the largest-ever military exercises by the Chinese navy in South China Sea over the weekend. Yang Baowei, deputy brigade commander of an army aviation brigade, says the drill aims to enhance the actual combat capabilities of the military in all aspects. "In this round of live drills at sea, the key is to highlight various combat environments like the night, sea, and complex electromagnetic environments in accordance with the requirements of truth, hardship, strictness, and solidity. In terms of operation tactics, it highlights long-range attacks, coordinated attacks, and multi-bullet continuous attacks." The director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council warned on Tuesday that adhering to the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence" are crucial to peace and stability across the Strait. In a related development, the United States has recently decided to sell military hardware to Taiwan and boost official ties between the two sides through the Taiwan Travel Act, running the risk of escalating tensions in the region. The detention of a doctor who was accused of damaging the reputation of a health liquor maker in the Inner Mongolia autonomous region has aroused heated debate, with the public calling for severe punishments for those who mislead consumers about health-related products. Tan Qindong, who holds a master's degree in anesthesiology, was detained for more than three months for posting an online article saying that a liquor product made by Hongmao Pharmaceutical Co in Liangcheng county could be toxic. Tan was released on bail on Tuesday, following an order by the region's top prosecuting authority, which said in a statement on Tuesday that a review had found insufficient evidence to support criminal accusations against Tan. Local prosecutors in Liangcheng were instructed to send the case back to local police for further investigation. Tan, 39, who holds a master's degree in anesthesiology and lives in Guangzhou, Guangdong province, was detained in January by police from Liangcheng after he posted an online piece saying that the product's beneficial effects were exaggerated and that it could be toxic. The case has stirred heated public debate in the past few days over possible abuse of power by the Liangcheng police, as well as over irregularities in the advertising of medicines and products claiming to have beneficial effects. Misleading advertising for drugs or other healthcare products has deceived many people, and authorities should punish such activities harshly to ensure drug and food safety, Xinhua News Agency wrote in a commentary. A statement released by the State Administration for Market Regulation on Tuesday said healthcare product producers should use clear, precise labeling that conforms to standards to avoid misleading consumers. The administration also urged authorities in Inner Mongolia to intensify their inspections and oversight of Hongmao's advertising. The administration said it monitored 137 reports of the liquor's side effects between 2004 and 2017. Symptoms included dizziness, stomach aches and nausea. The product is an over-the-counter drug certified by the administration, but it is not suitable for everyone and may cause serious harm to some people, it said. According to a report by Health Times in Beijing, sales of the liquor were suspended dozens of times by authorities across China because advertisements exaggerated its benefits. Li Enze, a lawyer at Beijing Impact Law Firm, said irregularities are still common in advertisements promoting drugs and health foods in China. "Some over-the-counter drugs, such as the liquor product produced by Hongmao, are advertised as healthcare foods to give the public the impression that they can be used by everyone," he said. "Advertisements for some health foods, such as certain beverages and biscuits, claim medicinal effects." Li said local protectionism has caused drug authorities to ease their scrutiny over the makers of drug or health food products within their jurisdictions. Meanwhile, false advertising has also been linked with some television stations and other media, which rely on advertising for revenue, he said. He said more severe punishments for violations should be employed to effectively deter them, against both producers and sellers. Police in Shanxi province are looking into accusations that village officials took money to shield a polluting enterprise and that they bullied local protesters, according to the government of Linfen. The inquiry follows a China Central Television report on Tuesday about Shanxi Sanwei Group, a State-owned chemical enterprise in the city's Hongtong county. According to the report, the company transported solid waste, including fly ash and carbide slag, to Xigou village-some 2 kilometers from its factory-and dumped it in a 30-meter-deep pit without taking measures to prevent its spread in the environment. The waste has the potential to affect air quality if dispersed by wind, or to contaminate water resources if washed away by rain. Some residents' homes stand less than 100 meters from the pit, the report said. The company is also alleged to have discharged industrial wastewater into the Fenhe River, a major tributary of the Yellow River. Some residents told CCTV that the waste had led to "tremendous pollution" in the village, but they were afraid to provide their names or air their grievances in public. They said village officials had reached a secret agreement with Sanwei Group to dispose of the waste in return for personal gain, and unhappy residents had been intimidated or physically assaulted. A sales manager surnamed Wang at Sanwei, who asked not to be fully identified, told China Daily that he believed the CCTV report exaggerated affairs to some degree. "As far as I know, the discharged wastewater met national standards," he said, adding that the company is awaiting the results of the investigation "and will fully cooperate". A statement released by the Linfen government on Wednesday said that two village officials involved have been placed in 15-day administrative detention, and an investigation of six others is continuing. The investigative team has also collected evidence from two leaders of Sanwei. The city will launch a campaign against officials or business executives who breach environmental protection rules or who have relationships with organized crime figures, the statement said. The Ministry of Ecology and Environment also released a statement on Wednesday urging the government of Linfen to "strictly investigate" the wrongdoings. It said it would investigate and determine punishment, along with the China Securities Regulatory Commission. A recently released report, "China Integrated City Index," highlights that the concept of Densely Inhabited Districts is essential to promoting a city's quality development, and is the foundation of the development of modern cities. Zhou Muzhi, a professor of economics at Tokyo Keizai University and head of the Cloud River Urban Research Institute, is a compiler of the index. He said that the core of a city's development comes down to the composition and activities of its population. "In other words, cities need to rely on the aggregation of population to drive the development of the service industry and the knowledge economy, so that various functions can be interwoven together to form a good superposition effect and improve overall efficiency," Zhou said. "Only through the agglomeration of people, can the city continuously strengthen its scale effect, economic efficiency and economic potential," he added. Zhou said the index introduces the concept of DID areas with population densities above 5,000 people per square kilometer. According to the report, the total area and population density of a city's DIDs directly correlates with its capacity to attract talent, industries, and resources. Zhou said that over the past 20 years, Chinese cities blindly pursued GDP growth, resulting in chaos. He said that the index is based on comprehensive analysis, taking the environment, society and economy into account. The index, jointly compiled by the National Development and Reform Commission and the Cloud River Urban Research Institute, used data collected via surveys, satellite and the internet to evaluate 297 Chinese cities. Zhou said the index aims to help cities make smarter decisions by examining world development patterns and looking at city development mechanisms in a global perspective. The first version of the annual index was released in 2017. This year, the index continues to use a "333" structure, with three major indicators (environment, society and economy), each containing three sub-indicators, which in turn comprise another three minor indicators. The number of specific indicators included in this year's index increased from 133 to 175, and the index pays more attention to cities' ecological resources, as well as air pollution measurements. A feature report titled "Development Strategy of Core City" based on the index, was released this year. The featured report found that between 1980 and 2015 as many as 92 cities around the world saw their urban population grow by more than 2.5 million. Thirty of these cities are located in China, and they contribute to around 40 percent of the country's GDP. The 30 cities also export 67 percent of its goods, take in 60 percent of inbound tourists, receive 56 percent of patent grants, and are the base of 66 percent of the country's companies listed on the main bourse. The report concludes that these cities are the spearhead for the development of China's economy since its reform and opening up. "China's rapid urbanization, and the development of big cities as well as mega cities, synchronize with the global trend of development," Zhou said. According to the report, developing and strengthening the functions, advantages and capacities of core cities is the key part of the competition. In this regard, how to correctly evaluate, cultivate and strengthen the central functions of cities becomes an important national strategy to emerge ahead of the competition. Over the past 40 years, since the reform and opening up, China has experienced the fastest urbanization in the world's history, but many problems emerged in the process, undermining the quality of the Chinese urbanization and city development. Zhou said China's urbanization was not easy sailing, as it also saw decades of counter-urbanization, and then a period of diverging strategies from the central government. In the 1980s, the central government set forth the construction of small towns as a national policy, setting the direction of urbanization through small - and medium-sized town. Looking back, Zhou said, the policy proved to be a failure, which caused environmental pollution in rural areas and led to the collapse of rural traditions. When China implemented its 11th Five-Year Plan in 2006, the development strategy shifted to urbanization led by its major cities. Zhou considered the move as a victory, but stopped short of hailing it as a complete solution to China's urbanization. "We still have too many institutional and policy restrains on urbanization," he said. "The most typical is the hukou system and the land system." The top 30 cities on the index account for 40.6 percent of DID population. They also account for 40 percent of the total national GDP and house 89.7 percent of the Chinese companies listed in the world's top 500, 67.2 percent of companies listed on the main bourse in the country, 85.5 percent of the "new third board" listed companies in the country, and receive 80.7 percent of imports. This data shows that the top 30 cities have strong DID and lead the development of China's economy. Zhou pointed out many people attribute traffic congestion, environmental pollution and daily inconveniences to population density, but he argues that the real culprit lies in the lack of effective governance. The report raises Tokyo's metropolitan area as an example: Around 1950, the area had a population of more than 10 million, and faced the same challenges as Beijing and Shanghai today, such as pollution, traffic congestion, housing insufficiency and inadequate infrastructure. Tokyo took a series of measures to curb population growth and industrial development in the area. Today, the population of the Japanese capital is close to 40 million, but the "big city diseases" are mostly eradicated. The reason, according to the report, was that the capacity of the area has been remarkably enhanced through improving the level of infrastructure and management. In stark contrast, many megacities around the world, such as Sao Paulo in Brazil and Mumbai in India, are facing serious problems, including slums. "We see that the same large population has produced very different results because of different levels of intelligence required for urban development and governance," Zhou said. The professor said that for big cities such as Beijing and Shanghai, curbing the population is a convenient strategy, but only by improving urban infrastructure and governance can a city really cure big city diseases. Flash Ningbo Museum Located at No. 1000 Mid-Shounan Road, Yinzhou District, it covers a total construction area of 30,000 square meters, with free admission. The architecture is the work of famous architect Wang Shu, which itself is an exhibit. The appearance of the building is shaped into a fragment of a mountain, integrating Ningbo's regional cultural features, traditional architectural elements, and modern architectural forms. It showcases more than 60,000 pieces of cultural relics ranging from Hemudu culture to modern times, including precious bronze, porcelain, bamboo carving, jade, calligraphy and paintings, gold and silver wares, and folk art articles, which not only displays Ningbo's 7,000 years of civilization history, but also shows its local customs. Transportation: Take bus No. 102, 126, or 160 to Ningbo Museum Station. Tianyi Pavilion Museum Located at No. 10 Tianyi Street of Haishu District, it is China's oldest private library. As one of the three old libraries in the world, it was built from 1561 to 1566 and houses nearly 300,000 ancient books, and more than 80,000 of which are rare and precious editions, especially the local chronicles and the records of imperial examination of the Ming Dynasty, which are the most representative works of Chinese culture of private libraries. Transportation: Take subway line 1 to Ximenkou Station, and then walk south for about 10 minutes to get there. Old Bund Located in the north bank of Sanjiangkou in Ningbo City, it is the convergence place of the Yonghe River, Fenghua River, and Yuyao River. It opened in 1844 and was one of five trading ports (Guangzhou, Xiamen, Fuzhou, Ningbo, and Shanghai). Along the banks of the river, foreign consulates, Catholic churches, banks, and docked ships have witnessed the entire history of Ningbo's opening as a commercial port. Currently preserved cultural relics are: the British Consulate, the police station, Maritime Command of the Japanese invaders, Zhejiang Customs, the Catholic Church, Jiangbei Church of Jesus, Ningbo Post Office, and commercial banks. These buildings feature strong European flavors, representing the architectural style of many countries such as Britain, France, Germany, and the Netherlands, in sharp contrast to traditional Chinese residences. Nowadays, the Old Bund exudes the modern meanings. By preserving historic buildings and block style, the new urban culture is implanted, and the thick history and development is perfectly integrated. Transportation: Take bus No. 1, 4, 370 or 541 bus to the Bund station. Anqing Guild Hall Located in the east of Sanjiangkou in the urban area of Ningbo City, it was founded in 1853 with donations from the Ningbo shipping merchants. It was a place where merchants and citizens offer sacrifice to the Goddess Matsu or to discuss business and hold meetings. It was rebuilt into the maritime folk museum, displaying ship models from various dynasties. The hall is decorated with traditional Ningbo crafts, such as tile carvings, stone carvings, and wood carvings, which can be labeled as the masterpieces of Ningbo craft, having an important historical and cultural value. Transportation: Take bus No. 2, 529 or 821 to the station of Anqing Guild Hall. Ningbo Confraternity Museum Located in Ningbo's Zhenhai District, the museum sits in the southern side of the Sea-Crossing Bridge in Hangzhou Bay. Covering an area of 24,000 square meters, it consists of a museum and a guildhall. The museum shows the development history of the Ningbo confraternity. The guild hall is not only an extension of the museum exhibition, but also the main venue for Ningbo people at home and abroad to hold activities as well as their spiritual home. The museum is free. Transportation: Take bus No.107, 126, 129 or 281 to there. Former Residence of Chiang Kai-shek Located in Xikou of Fenghua District, it was the place where the family of Chiang lived, worked, and entertained. The architectural complex includes Fenghao House, a Western-style house and Yutai salt shop. The Fenghao House in Xihou Middle Street covers 4,800 square meters, built in the Qing Dynasty. The rest are all Chiang's expansions, made in 1929. Yutai salt shop is the birthplace of Chiang Kai-shek. Transportation: Take a shuttle bus from Xikou Passenger Transport Center. Located at the foot of Haba Snow Mountain, the White Water Terrace (called Baishuitai in Chinese) is a gorgeous natural terrace with beautiful cliff side pools. It is about 100 kilometers southeast from Shangri-La County which takes about 3 hours by vehicle. Measuring 140 meters in length and 160 meters in width, the terrace is one of the biggest of its kind in China. It looks like a large white marble carving among the green mountains and local people call it 'a field left by fairies'. The terrace is covered by a layer of white deposits of calcium carbonate. Spring water flows down from the mountain, leaving crystallized sodium carbonate along its slopes, giving the impression of a marble sculpture. White Water Terrace is the birthplace of Dongba culture of the Naxi Ethnic Group. It is a sacred place for the Naxi people. A Dongba doctrine explains that the white color represents auspiciousness and sanctity. According to the Naxi culture, a man without any experience of visit to the White Water Terrace cannot be a true believer. In addition to the spectacular terrace itself, travelers can also learn more about the Naxi ethnic culture in the nearby Baidi village. On the eighth day of the second lunar month, the Naxi people come to worship this sacred site. Dressed in their holiday best, they sing and dance to celebrate this ethnic festival. [China.org.cn] Flash China on Wednesday refuted a U.S. research group report on the Belt and Road Initiative, reiterating that the initiative aims to achieve win-win economic cooperation. According to the Associated Press, after analyzing 15 Chinese-funded port projects, a research institute called C4ADS concluded that the projects were not driven by win-win economic development, but intended to expand China's "political influence and military presence." Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stressed at a daily press briefing that the Belt and Road Initiative is essentially about economic cooperation, and the core concept of the initiative is to promote common development by advancing connectivity in infrastructure and other fields. The initiative has gained support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, with more than 80 of them signing cooperation agreements with China. She noted this worldwide support would never have been impossible were the initiative not adapted to the trend of the times and beneficial to people of various countries. The spokesperson emphasized that the initiative has been open and transparent, with all participants involved in consultations in both planning and project implementation. "China has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and imposes no business deals on others," she said. "Belt and Road is a mutually beneficial and win-win initiative," Hua said, adding that it will allow other countries to share opportunities from China's development and help solve development problems facing the world. "During the Belt and Road construction, the Chinese side sticks to market rules and takes all parties' interests and concerns into consideration," Hua said. She added that a large number of relevant cooperation projects are being carried out, and they have bettered the local economy and benefited the local people. Flash U.S. President Donald Trump on Wednesday voiced his support for Andrew Brunson, an American pastor on trial in Turkey over charges of espionage and links to the Gulen movement, amid fractured U.S.-Turkish relations. "Pastor Andrew Brunson, a fine gentleman and Christian leader in the United States, is on trial and being persecuted in Turkey for no reason," Trump tweeted. "They call him a spy, but I am more a spy than he is. Hopefully he will be allowed to come home to his beautiful family where he belongs!" the U.S. president said in his first-ever tweet on Turkey, a NATO ally. The 50-year-old Andrew Brunson, a Christian pastor who has lived in Turkey for more than 20 years, was indicted for helping the Gulen movement, which Ankara accuses of being behind the failed coup against President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in 2016. He faces up to 35 years in prison. The ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) led by Erdogan, promptly retorted the Trump's remarks. "We are used now to Trump's tweets. He is acting as if there is no judiciary system in Turkey," said AKP Spokesman Mahir Unal during an interview with private NTV news channel. "We have our courts here and the court will decide on the pastor and we will all respect it. It is not Trump but the court that will decide on the faith of this cleric," he added. Brunson has been the pastor of Izmir Resurrection Church, serving a small Protestant congregation in the third largest city in Turkey. The U.S. State of Department also released a statement saying the entire government is "following Mr. Brunson's case closely." "We hope that the judicial system in Turkey will resolve his case in a timely, fair and transparent manner," it said. Last May, at a face-to-face meeting with Erdogan in Washington, Trump called for Brunson's release, the White House said at the time. But Erdogan suggested that his fate could be linked to the U.S.-based Muslim cleric Fethullah Gulen. Turkey has repeatedly demanded his extradition, while the U.S. always refuses citing lack of sufficient evidence. "Give us the pastor back, they say. You have one pastor (Gulen) as well. Give him to us," Erdogan said in September. "Then we will try him (Brunson) and give him to you," he added. Gulen denies any role in the 2016 coup, which killed 250 people. A state of emergency has been in force since then. Brunson appeared in court for his first hearing in Izmir on Monday, where his lawyer said the pastor, detained 18 months ago, was in custody because of his religious belief in a Muslim country. "I want the whole truth to be revealed," Brunson told the court. "I reject the charges mentioned in the indictment. I was never involved in any illegal activities," he said. Prosecutors presented a lengthy indictment saying Brunson had been using missionary activities as a cover to work with the Kurdistan Workers' Party (PKK), a separatist movement blacklisted by Turkey, the U.S. and the EU as a terrorist organization, as well as the Gulen Movement, labelled as a terrorist group by Ankara. They also claim that Brunson passed along state secrets and intelligence that might be useful in the event of an armed conflict, such as the location of railway stations. "I've never done something against Turkey," Brunson said, rejecting the charge of his involvement in the Gulen Movement. Turkish judges refused to release him and fixed the date of the next hearing on May 7. Brunson's trial is just one of the several legal cases roiling U.S.-Turkish relations. The two countries are at odds over U.S. support for the Kurdish militia in northern Syria, as Turkey considers the militia a terrorist organization and launched a military campaign against it in late January, raising fears that Turkish and American troops could come face-to-face in a potential conflict in war-torn Syria. You are here: World Flash Turkish parliament on Wednesday approved a motion to extend the ongoing state of emergency for three more months. This seventh extension move means the period of state of emergency in Turkey will reach two years, and the parliamentary and presidential elections will be held under the state of emergency. Turkey declared state of emergency on July 20, 2016, five days after a failed coup attempt that kill 250 people and left thousands injured. Turkish government accused the U.S. based Muslim preacher Fethullah Gulen as chief plotter behind the coup. Speaking after a cabinet meeting on Tuesday, Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said that the state of emergency is targeting at terrorists and terror groups, rather than peaceful citizens. Main opposition Republican People's Party (CHP), however, urged the government to lift state of emergency soon, saying it would cast shadow over upcoming elections. Flash Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on Thursday to further promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two sides. The two leaders reached the agreement during a telephone conversation, and they also exchanged views on the situation in Syria and global trade. Xi told May that the alleged chemical attack in Syria needs a comprehensive, just and objective investigation, whose results should withstand the test of history, so as to solve the Syrian crisis through political means as soon as possible. You are here: World Flash China and Norway plan to increase cooperation on Arctic climate monitoring and prediction. According to the Institute of Atmospheric Physics (IAP) of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, scientists from the two countries will strengthen collaboration in climate change and influence research in the Arctic. A climate research seminar was attended by Chinese and Norwegian scientists in Beijing from April 16 to 17. They will conduct more research on how the Arctic climate change influences the climate of Europe and Asia. They will also develop a prediction system for extreme weather and secondary disasters. The cooperation is expected to improve China's exploration and understanding of the Arctic climate and environmental change, and provide scientific support for the development of Arctic resources and utilization of the Arctic passage. The cooperation will be based on the platform of the Nansen-Zhu International Research Center (NZC), jointly established by China and Norway in 2003. By Alexander Cornwell, Reuters | Apr. 19, 2018 Emirates has revived prospects of non-stop flights to Panama, the airline said on Wednesday, encouraged by development potential in Latin America. The Middle East airline shelved plans for flights to Panama City from its Dubai hub in early 2016 after it was unable to secure enough code-share agreements to make the route feasible. "We are still looking at Panama. We had some conversations recently with a delegation from Panama," Emirates Chief Commercial Officer Thierry Antinori told reporters in Dubai. Emirates had trumpeted the 8,590-mile (13,824km) route as the world's longest, taking 17 hours and 35 minutes westbound. Code-shares with Panama's Copa Airlines were to connect Emirates passengers to cities across Central America, the Caribbean and the northern part of South America. Emirates has shown growing interest in Latin America and Antinori said the airline sees a lot of development in the region. Flights to Mexico City are also being evaluated, though non-stop services to Dubai may not be feasible because of the Mexican capital's high altitude. Mexico is the only country with a population of more than 100 million where Emirates is not operating passenger flights, Antinori said. Asked if Emirates was considering connecting the route to another city and then onto Dubai, Antinori said different options were being considered but that Boeing's 777x jets are likely to be able to make the non-stop journey. Emirates is a launch customer for the 777x, which Boeing plans to start delivering in 2020. Emirates will start flights to Santiago, Chile, via Sao Paolo in Brazil during July. It operates other so-called fifth-freedom flights, which allow an airline to fly between foreign countries as part of services to and from its home country, including to the United States. China hopes to comprehensively increase its connectivity with Nepal, which would facilitate the construction of an economic corridor connecting China, Nepal and India, State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi said in Beijing on Wednesday. Wang spoke at a news conference after meeting with Nepalese Foreign Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawali. "As a long-term vision, we hope to build a multidimensional passage between China and Nepal covering ports, railways, roads, aviation, electricity and communication," Wang said. The maker of China's bestselling unmanned combat aircraft is ready to market some of its killer drones for civilian commercial use. Shi Wen, chief designer of the Caihong, or Rainbow, series at the China Academy of Aerospace Aerodynamics in Beijing, said it is widely believed among engineers at the academy that civilian users will buy more unmanned aircraft than will the military. That's why the academy decided to build some unarmed versions of the CH-4 and CH-5, which were developed as combat drones, and market them to private businesses. CEUTA, Spain - It's a form of hard labor that has provoked an outcry - Moroccan women bent double, overburdened by goods approaching or exceeding their own body weight. For years, thousands of such porters have crossed the border every day into Ceuta, a Spanish enclave perched on the northernmost tip of Morocco. But now an initiative aims to ease the burden by encouraging the women - who are paid to exploit an anomaly in Moroccan law that exempts items carried by pedestrians from duties - to use trolleys. BERLIN - French President Emmanuel Macron's vision for a stronger European Union may be in tatters as a growing rift emerges with Germany on everything from defense to his plans for deeper eurozone integration. Less than a year after his stunning election win on a pro-EU platform, Macron's hopes of pushing through his bold post-Brexit reforms with Chancellor Angela Merkel by his side are facing a cold dose of reality. "Macron's European initiative is as dead as a dormouse," Der Spiegel news weekly wrote ahead of the Frenchman's visit to Berlin on Thursday, a chance for both leaders to take stock of the stalled reform process. The talks will come as differences between the neighbors were thrown into stark relief in recent days, when Berlin - but not Paris - chose to sit out the biggest Western intervention yet in the Syrian war. And while Macron laid out his lofty reform goals in a passionate speech to the European Parliament, Merkel's own party publicly pushed back against his proposals for a eurozone budget and an expansion of the EU's bailout fund. Merkel nevertheless said she remained convinced both sides would find "common solutions" before an EU summit in June. "Things are moving at a snail's pace, if at all," said Stefani Weiss, an analyst at the Bertelsmann Foundation think tank. "I think we'll end up with only very modest reforms." Inaction on Syria Topping the agenda on Thursday will be talks on bolstering European defense cooperation, with Macron calling for a joint intervention force and joint military doctrine. Berlin and Paris agree that Europe must be able to stand alone on defense in the face of US President Donald Trump's isolationist tendencies - but it remains to be seen how far Germany is willing to go. The airstrikes against the Syrian government last weekend by the US, France and Britain, in response to a suspected chemical attack, were carried out without the EU's biggest nation. Although Merkel supported the intervention, she ruled out any German participation. But observers say the veteran chancellor, who has just begun her fourth term with a much-reduced parliamentary majority, was playing to the domestic gallery. As the instigator of two world wars, Germany abhors the idea of getting involved in armed conflicts and Merkel anyway needs parliamentary approval before she can agree to any deployments. Although the country has in recent years cautiously stepped up its role in multinational missions abroad, including alongside French troops in Mali, Germany remains reluctant to resort to military force. Years of underfunding have also left Germany's military equipment in a woeful state, leaving allies to privately grumble over the nation's lack of combat-readiness. Agence France-presse (China Daily 04/19/2018 page12) SHANGHAI - Chinese musicians are rehearsing a musical to reproduce the sound of an ancient bone flute at the upcoming Shanghai Spring International Music Festival in May. Chinese flute virtuoso Tang Junqiao and her team took a year to make the replica, which best resembles the sound of the Jiahu bone flute, thought to be 8,000 years old, which was unearthed in central China's Henan Province in 1980s. The multimedia musical, Flute: Sound of Nature, will premiere during the three-week music festival. "The musical not only tells the legendary story of the Chinese flute, but also demonstrates many Chinese cultural and art elements," says Tang, who acts as the leading lady in the play. From the newsroom to the fund house Updated: 2018-04-20 07:06 (HK Edition) Journalist-turned-funds expert Cheah Cheng Hye has come a long way in turning his company into one of Asia's leading asset management houses. He tells Evelyn Yu luck and timing played a big part in his success story. Cheah Cheng Hye - one of the few rags-to-riches stories in the fund management industry - owes much of his hard-earned success to the attributes of overseas Chinese. Overseas Chinese, he says, are noted for building up something from nothing - they can wait, they don't rest on their laurels in summer and will always have plenty of cash in hand when winter comes. Cheah, a street urchin who took to the streets of his native Penang, Malaysia, selling pineapples after his father died when he was 9, co-founded Value Partners in 1993 and turned it into a rare, successful, home-grown Hong Kong fund house - the only asset management company listed in the SAR and is one of Asia's largest asset managers, with assets under management (AUM) of $17.8 billion and a focus on the Chinese mainland and Hong Kong, . Cheah, now in his 60s and remains chairman and co-chief investment officer of the company, has no plans to retire at this stage. Instead, he aims to take Value Partners to even greater heights, getting the group into the premier league to become a world-class enterprise. He's staking the company's future on the continued opening-up of the vast mainland economy, confident that the world's largest savings pool will pump up a huge demand for value investment. After a tough year in the Asian market in 2016, Value Partners came up with handsome annual results in 2017. Net profit, apart from a generous bonus of over HK$600 million, soared to a record HK$2.05 billion. The surge was mainly underpinned by a hike in performance fees, according to the company. "It's quite a big result for a medium-sized company by Hong Kong standards," Cheah tells China Daily. He declined to take all the credit for the performance, attributing part of it to luck as the Hong Kong stock market had a sizzling performance last year. But still, it's not easy to outperform a good market, he says. One of the company's best-performing funds, Value Partners Classic Fund, with assets hand-picked by Cheah in 1993 and valued at about $1.6 billion, returned a net 44.9-percent profit last year, handily beating the 40.1-percent gain by the benchmark Hang Seng Index in the same period. The fund has seen a return of more than 36 times since its launch as of the end of March. Luck, determination, good timing, a good internal infrastructure and young people combined contributed to the good results, says Cheah. Cheah disclosed that the 70-plus strong investment professionals in his team carry out around 2,500 company visits every year. Clients' trust crucial Value Partners is one of the few independent asset managers which have a whole back office. Over 140 people, from compliance to IT and communicating are supporting its daily operations. The infrastructure is costing the company a big chunk of money. "I'm burning more than HK$1 million per day," he says in jest. Cheah is against the idea of outsourcing back office services, emphasizing the trust of his clients, many of which are major banks and insurance companies. For Value Partners, it has undergone long summers and short winters, but winters can be very tough. "I always have capital," says Cheah. The company currently has HK$4 billion capital, including HK$2 billion in cash, he reveals, and that's a key reason for its survival. "That's a typical overseas Chinese company. No debt and lots of cash ready to deal with any crisis." Cheah calls himself a contrarian investor who's apt in taking positions against the crowd. "When people are pessimistic and worried, I'll buy aggressively." But, he also points out the importance of capturing the good times. "When we started off in 1993, it was a very lucky timing." In 1990, the Shanghai Stock Exchange had reopened after an almost 40-year hiatus. In 1993, the Chinese government allowed mainland companies to list in Hong Kong, giving rise to H-shares. Value Partners was among the first foreign asset managers to tap into China's onshore market, having established its Shanghai office in 2009. It's also rare for a non-mainland asset manager to have become a full member of the Asset Management Association of China. Market opening-up As of today, Cheah sees the market holding great promise as the continuing deregulation by the mainland authorities has cleared many of the barriers faced by foreign asset managers as they seek to grow. In 2016, the mainland opened up its private fund market to foreign asset managers, allowing asset managers from around the world to register as onshore private fund houses. Value Partners obtained its private fund management (PFM) license in November last year and started off work immediately. Its first PFM fund launched in January this year raised more than 100 million yuan ($15.91 million). A substantial chunk of the initial funds raised came from high-net-worth clients. Cheah plans to launch at least two PFM funds this year, with more to follow. Value Partners' Shenzhen subsidiary has obtained a Qualified Foreign Limited Partnership license, which lets foreign institutional investors raise money both offshore and onshore to invest in domestic private-equity projects. Cheah says the company is also preparing to launch a private-equity business in Shenzhen. The market opening-up was delayed for two years by the country's anti-corruption campaign and derisking efforts to fortify the financial stability, Cheah says. Yet, apart from cutting out shadow banking and the tighter controls on local government debt, the main theme of the mainland is opening-up. For the longer term, Cheah hopes Chinese regulators will continue to deregulate and expand he mutual fund access to foreign asset managers as well. He believes this would be conducive to both foreign asset managers and the mainland, as private wealth continues to grow. Competition will offer mainland people more options in choosing quality asset management products and curb wasteful investment. Cheah predicts there will be five to six Chinese-brand companies in the region - the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Taiwan - that will become world-class, and it will happen in the next five to 10 years. Value Partners, which aspires to be one of them, also aims to double its AUM in the next three to five years. "You can call it luck or being in the right place at the right time." Contact the writer at evelynyu@chinadailyhk.com (HK Edition 04/20/2018 page9) The 'new economy' takes the floor Updated: 2018-04-20 07:06 By Lin Wenjie in Hong Kong(HK Edition) Asia's leading stock exchanges swing into top gear with groundbreaking listing overhauls to lure tech enterprises As the tech revolution continues to grip the globe, major bourses across Asia have been flexing their muscles and priming the pump with dramatic shakeups of their listing protocols to embrace technology enterprises and get them to the trading floor. The focus has been on the Chinese mainland, Hong Kong and Singapore stocks exchanges as they grapple with how to lure the big players to their fold. Market pundits assert it won't be a zero-sum game. Rather than bidding to edge each other out, they would be complementing one another by backing technology companies' IPOs to their own advantage, they believe. The China Securities Regulatory Commission (CSRC) - the mainland's securities watchdog - fired an eye-catching salvo on March 30 this year, unveiling a pilot program that calls for a lifting of some of the rules to make way for tech "unicorns" to issue new shares and Chinese Depositary Receipts (CDRs), or stock trading certificates that bear similarity to the US-traded American Depositary Receipts (ADRs), on the mainland as part of efforts to further open up the capital market. Companies targeted include those with high stakes in the internet, big data, cloud computing, artificial intelligence, software and integrated circuit fields, as well as in high-end equipment manufacturing and biological medicine. The Ministry of Science and Technology, in particular, has pinpointed 164 "unicorns" with a combined valuation of $628.4 billion yuan. Leading the pack are Ant Financial - an affiliate of Hangzhou-based tech titan Alibaba Group; Beijing-headquartered ride-sharing giant Didi Chuxing; and Beijing-based smartphone maker Xiaomi, which is expected to be the mainland's first tech floated under a new weighted voting rights structure and reportedly eyeing a listing in Hong Kong next month. Enterprises that are yet to be listed overseas can apply for an IPO on the strength of having posted at least 3 billion yuan in revenue in the past year and are valued at 20 billion yuan or above. Even if they fail to meet these requirements, they still can apply if their business income registers fast expansion and have developed independent and advanced technologies, according to the CSRC. For technology greats already floated abroad and are operating on the Chinese mainland with a capitalization of not less than 200 billion yuan ($31.7 billion), the CSRC will accept CDR applications to help them return to the A-share market unhindered, as most of them do have dual-class share or Variable Interest Entity (VIE) setups that are not accepted domestically. But, Goldman Sachs says only five of the mainland's offshore-listed companies with market capitalization of more than 200 billion yuan qualify - Tencent Holdings, Alibaba, Baidu, JD.com and NetEase. Besides, the investment bank found that the CDR requirements would leave the door open to them for a possible second listing in Hong Kong. "In the past, companies listed in the US, for example, would need at least three years and 22 billion yuan to unwind their VIE structures or rejig their shares to be in the same class and return to the mainland market. But now, CDRs will offer them an easier and cheaper channel for an onshore listing," according to a report by Ren Zeping, vice-president and chief economist with property developer Evergrande Group. The Hong Kong Stock Exchange - Asia's third-largest bourse in terms of market capitalization after the Tokyo Stock Exchange and the Shanghai Stock Exchange - is also revamping its IPO rules to allow technology companies with a dual-class structure to float. The new rules are likely to come into force after the end of the consultation period in late April. Xiaomi, said to command a valuation of $70 billion, is reported to be among the first batch of companies to list after the planned reforms. Charles Li Xiaojia, chief executive of Hong Kong Exchanges and Clearing, which runs the city's bourse, called the proposed CDRs for the A-share market a breakthrough in the mainland's capital market. He's convinced it will not threaten the Hong Kong stock exchange's position because Hong Kong and the mainland enjoy a long-term cooperative relationship - the more open the mainland is, the better for the SAR. "Hong Kong has been acting as a connector between the mainland and overseas markets for years. Under 'one country, two systems', the China Securities Regulatory Commission and Hong Kong's Securities and Futures Commission have fostered a close relationship. I believe the IPO reform in both markets could indeed serve the country's real economy, achieving a win-win result," Li told the China (Shenzhen) IT Leader Summit 2018. Global banking giant Citigroup said in a report the mainland's CDR scheme would not have much of an impact on the prospects of the Hong Kong stock exchange as the threshold for a dual-class structure in Hong Kong is lower than the CDR requirements on the mainland. Singapore Exchange Ltd (SGX), which has been running the Lion City's bourse since 1999, may also allow technology companies with a dual-class structure to list. The first round of consultations started last year and will be followed by another round on the key framework and rules later this month, according to report by Business Times on March 22. SGX Executive Vice-President Chew Sutat has revealed that a couple of Hong Kong companies with a "multi-billion-dollar market cap" intend to list in Singapore in July and August this year, including one with a dual-class listing structure and has operations in Hong Kong, Southeast Asia and the Chinese mainland. "We see ourselves playing an offshore complementary role in emerging markets in Asia. That includes the Chinese mainland and, to a certain extent, Hong Kong companies that are looking to expand overseas," Chew said. Li threw out concerns about the Lion City's threat, saying he welcomed the reform in Singapore and stressing that the Hong Kong market only compares itself with those of the mainland and the US. "No one wants to lag behind in the technology era and, as you can see, great companies had emerged in the technology sector in the past few years, especially in the United States. Asian countries are trying their best to support technology companies," said Bill Li Zhi-yong, chief strategist at Hong Kong-based business advisory firm Harmony Capital. In his view, technology enterprises generally consider two things when choosing a listing venue - the cost and the market's recognition of the company's long-term value, which is reflected in the valuation. The advantage of the Hong Kong market lies in the lower revenue threshold and the relatively simple and quick listing process. It also offers companies ready access to overseas funds, while the mainland market prides itself on high valuation, as well as government support, said Li. "Previously, technology companies would prefer to seek a listing in the US, but now, they have more choices. They can choose to go public on the Hong Kong stock exchange at first, and then issue CDRs on the mainland so that they could enjoy the benefits from both sides, policy support from the mainland and the link-up to foreign capital," Li added. Hong Kong, which saw Jack Ma Yun's Alibaba Group scuttle a listing in the city in 2014 in preference for the US, where the e-commerce behemoth raised $21.8 billion in a record IPO in the country, seems to have sprung back to heal the wounds. Beijing-based Meituan-Dianping - the mainland's largest provider of on-demand online services which was previously reported to be mulling a flotation in the US - is now seeking a Hong Kong listing that's likely to occur as early as later this year, according to Reuters, citing people familiar with the matter. Peter So Kwok-kin, head of CCB International Securities, told China Daily that CDRs involve issuing depository receipts on the mainland for shares already listed in another stock exchange, such as in Hong Kong or the United States, thus, it will not substantially affect Hong Kong's attraction for technology companies seeking a first listing in the city although mainland liquidity flowing into Hong Kong may be reduced as part of it will be plowed into CDRs. "And, if the technology stocks are domiciled in Hong Kong or overseas, the companies may prefer to seek a listing in Hong Kong, like red chips, if they are from the mainland. For this category of shares, they can get a listing in Hong Kong and issue CDRs in future," he added. cherrylin@chinadailyhk.com Sculptures of water bu alos stand in the Central district of Hong Kong. Hong Kong Stock Exchange will allow technology firms and other large new economy companies with dual-class shares to list in the city in the second half of this year.Anthony Kwan / Bloomberg (HK Edition 04/20/2018 page8) World Health Industry Conference kicks off in Beijing ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2018-04-18 The Seventh Beijing World Health Industry Conference and the 23rd China International Health Industry Expo was held at the China International Expo Center in Beijing from April 8 to 10. The conference was attended by representatives of more than 40 countries and regions, including China, Germany, the United States, Russia, India, Ukraine, Thailand, Albania, Tajikistan, and Gabon. Zhao Wenxiang, president of the executive committee of the conference, said, "This year's conference is themed on 'Contributing China's wisdom to promote the world's health'." The Seventh Beijing World Health Industry Conference and the 23rd China International Health Industry Expo was held at the China International Expo Center in Beijing from April 8 to 10. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] A most professional gathering of the global health industry, the event aimed to spread the wisdom of Chinese traditional medicine and health science and technology to the world, especially Europe and Africa, and also promote the exchange and development of the world's health industry. The Research Institute of the World Health Industry Conference was launched during the conference as a key project of the United Nations. Chairman Huang Mingda said that the Institute was set up to create a cross-border platform of high-end think tanks for medical companies and promote international cooperation in the worldwide health industry. The Research Institute of the World Health Industry Conference is launched during the conference as a key project of the United Nations. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Transnational cooperation was apparent during the three-day feast as the China Germany Large Health Industry Development Cooperation Union was launched to bridge Chinese traditional medical achievements and Germany's advanced medical technologies. Gu Kaiyuan, general secretary of the World Health Industry Conference, said, "The China and Africa Big Health Industry Cooperation Foundation was also founded to make China's health wisdom, capital, and expert resources available for the benefit of African people." Youna, Tencent eye smart pathology ( chinadaily.com.cn ) Updated: 2018-04-18 Digital pathology leader Youna Technology Co joined hands with internet giant Tencent Holdings Ltd on a medical deal at the 2018 China "Internet Plus" & Digital Economy Summit in Chongqing Municipality on April 12. The two sides will work together on applying big data and artificial intelligence (AI) to medical diagnosis and pathology research. Representatives unveil the open platform operated by Tencent. [Photo/bjhd.gov.cn] The platform will bridge different industries, boost inter-discipline research and blend multiple forces to employ AI technology in digital imaging, auxiliary diagnosis and medical robots. In July 2017, the State Council of China urged acceleration of innovative applications of artificial intelligence in medical treatment. In accordance with the initiative, Tencent launched its new generation open platform for medical imaging during the summit. Youna Technology and Tencent sign the strategic cooperation agreement. [Photo/bjhd.gov.cn] By virtue of the platform, the newly forged alliance will bring advanced AI technologies to primary hospitals, offering patients more convenient and attentive diagnosis services. Headquartered in Beijing's Zhongguancun Science Park, Youna Technology is an industry leader in digital pathology, with a complete set of solutions from biopsy to diagnosis. As two aspiring trailblazers, Youna Technology and Tencent will open a new era of digital pathology. Lembaga Ilmu Pengetahuan Indonesia (LIPI) visited the Institute of Oceanology, Chinese Academy of Sciences (IOCAS) in Qingdao, Shandong province on April 14 to further promote the implementation of the China-Indonesian maritime cooperation fund project to create "Indonesian Marine Ecological Ranching". This project is one of the most important undertakings of IOCAS's international maritime cooperation, which is centered on the Belt and Road Initiative. Both parties will collaborate and cultivate talents in marine environment and biodiversity protection, marine biological technology research and development, natural product development, and marine ecological ranching development and demonstration. IOCAS is actively building a marine science and technology cooperation network with countries and regions involved in the Belt and Road Initiative. It has already reached strategic cooperation agreements with institutes in developed countries, such as the Scripps Institution of Oceanography, the Institute of Oceanography of the University of Plymouth, and the Helmholtz Institute of Coastal Research. At the same time, it is collaborating with Russia, Australia, Indonesia, the Philippines, Portugal, Chile and other countries involved in the Belt and Road Initiative to jointly establish cooperation mechanisms in marine science and technology, and to strengthen international cooperation in scientific investigations and research in polar regions. We're always interested in hearing about news in our community. Let us know what's going on! Go to form We attempted to send a notification to your email address but we were unable to verify that you provided a valid email address. Please click here to update your email address if you wish to receive notifications. Otherwise, you may click here to disable notifications and hide this message. AKRON, Ohio - University of Akron Associate Professor of Art Markus Vogl has continued his work "In Silico et in Situ - Wien," which copies culturally significant works and transforms them into miniature works of art via 3D printing. Vogl's works are on display in various public places throughout Vienna, Austria, where he was recently awarded a Fulbright Fellowship to conduct research at the MuseumsQuartier Vienna, where he also serves as artist-in-residence. The works are geotagged to help people find them through GPS treasure maps, and are also viewable via virtual reality. "This project is a continuation of a new body of work that takes art/design out of the traditional gallery exhibition space and places it in nature or an urban environment," said Vogl in a news release. "My intent was to wander the city discovering hidden fragments that for one reason or another appealed to me. It came to light that the city of Wien is home to all kinds of historical and mythological creatures. It can be argued that by replicating fragments of these hidden-in-plain-sight everyday beasts, in a different scale and production method, it changes their aura, infusing the object with its necessary charisma and a new meaning." Vogl is a native of Salzburg, Austria. His work is co-sponsored by the Bureau of Educational and Cultural Affairs of the United States Department of State and the Austrian-American Educational Commission in Austria. Want more Akron news? Sign up for cleveland.com's Rubber City Daily, an email newsletter delivered at 5:30 a.m. Monday through Friday. CLEVELAND, Ohio - The Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University want to create a park as an interim step toward future development on a sizable and highly visible property on East Boulevard opposite the museum. On Thursday, the museum and CWRU, which bought the 4.2-acre property for $9.2 million from the Cleveland Institute of Art in 2013, unveiled plans for the park at a meeting of the city's Euclid Corridor Design Review Committee. The university and the museum also want to remove a parking lot and the two-story, 1956 building on the property that used to house art institute classrooms and administrative offices. The design review committee unanimously approved the demolition and the park design. Both steps will be reviewed by the city planning commission on Friday in a step required before the project can receive a building permit. The property, located at 11141 East Blvd., is widely viewed as one of the most important remaining pieces of open land in University Circle, the city's cultural, educational and medical hub. CWRU and the art museum bought an undivided, 50-50 interest in the property, and plan to develop it together. The demolition and park construction, scheduled to start this summer, will cost roughly $1.5 million, Matt Langan, a senior associate of Sasaki Associates, which is designing the park, said at the committee meeting. Stephen Campbell, the university's vice president for campus planning and facilities management, said before the meeting that the property could accommodate 450,000 square feet of construction, roughly 75 percent of the size of the art museum itself. The land is in a multi-family residential zone that would allow construction up to 175 feet high without a variance or special permit. Campbell said that an architect would not be hired to design anything for the site until 2023, and nothing permanent would be built before 2028. The museum has discussed using the property to house its art history library or other functions that would enable it to convert more of its complex at 11150 East Blvd. to galleries or storage spaces for art. CWRU and the museum have discussed using the property to build a permanent facility for their 50-year-old joint program in art history, revitalized in 2013 with a $15 million donation from philanthropists Nancy and Joseph Keithley, and also named for them. The property is also big enough to hold a high-rise residential tower that could generate revenues to help support any cultural or academic facilities in a manner similar to the Museum of Modern Art condominium tower in New York. When asked before Thursday's meeting about the future of the site, CWRU President Barbara Snyder said: "We don't want to foreclose possibilities by throwing ideas out there. We want to keep everything and anything on the table that could be good for the Cleveland Museum of Art and Case Western Reserve University and our community." William Griswold, director of the museum, said, "the sky is the limit with what we can accomplish as we set our minds to it." The park, to be called East Bell Commons, would in the meantime provide tree shaded walks and a performance stage and would be equipped with movable seats during events, museum and CWRU officials said. It could host commencement events or part of the museum's annual summer Parade the Circle and Solstice celebrations. "I see an opportunity here to co-organize all kinds of pop-up festivals and other events to attract audiences to University Circle," Griswold said. The park is designed to frame future projects envisioned in the university's 2015 master plan, which it has not yet formally released. Those plans include two potential buildings whose footprints are outlined in the park proposal, plus an expansion of Mather Quadrangle, a grassy plaza that would extend across a part of Bellflower Road that the university would like to close. Snyder said the master plan would be fully shared with the public by mid-May. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority ridership plunged to a record low of 39.6 million in 2017. That was a drop of more than 4 million riders from the previous year, and the decline of 9.5 percent was the largest single-year drop since 2010. The 2017 numbers were affected by a budget decision to reduce routes and increase fares in August 2016, said Stephen Bitto, executive director of marketing and communications for RTA. Below is a chart showing annual ridership since the first year of the transit agency in 1976, formed with the merger of several municipal public transit services. Last year marked the second year in a row for record low ridership, and the third straight year of ridership declines. In 2016, some 43.8 million riders took RTA trains and buses, according to data provided by RTA. The record high of 125.9 million riders was set in 1979, the fourth year of operation. The Greater Cleveland RTA is Ohio's largest transit agency, carrying more than double the number of riders than the Central Ohio Transit Authority in the Columbus area. COTA's ridership totaled 18.7 million last year. Transit ridership is the result of numerous factors, including the service offered, the concentration of jobs downtown at the core of the system, increasing numbers of people working at home, traffic delays (or lack of them), gasoline prices, parking rates, employment and public funding. RTA, facing budget concerns in part due to the loss of tax money, last month reduced frequency of service on 15 bus and train routes, but decided to postpone another fare increase that was to go into effect this August. Bitto said one area of focus to improve ridership is working with employers and college students. Approximately 50,000 college students receive fare cards as part of their fees at Cleveland State, Case Western Reserve, Cuyhoaga Community College and the Cleveland Institute of Art. Statistical snapshots from cleveland.com/datacentral provide numbers on a variety of topics. Annual Greater Cleveland RTA ridership Year Ridership One-year change 2017 39,601,492 -9.5% 2016 43,759,100 -6.9% 2015 46,993,200 -4.6% 2014 49,271,617 0.1% 2013 49,236,100 2.0% 2012 48,264,404 4.3% 2011 46,278,896 3.6% 2010 44,680,000 -10.4% 2009 49,870,000 -14.0% 2008 57,977,574 1.1% 2007 57,322,600 0.1% 2006 57,246,000 0.3% 2005 57,097,400 2.9% 2004 55,498,840 3.7% 2003 53,515,066 1.5% 2002 52,706,142 -8.7% 2001 57,752,620 -2.4% 2000 59,191,175 -0.2% 1999 59,303,747 -2.1% 1998 60,557,584 -0.6% 1997 60,901,337 3.8% 1996 58,657,764 0.7% 1995 58,266,246 -3.4% 1994 60,289,244 0.3% 1993 60,085,236 -6.6% 1992 64,320,599 -5.3% 1991 67,906,688 -6.8% 1990 72,869,669 6.4% 1989 68,516,771 -8.9% 1988 (x) 75,206,868 -3.6% 1987 78,035,640 -3.3% 1986 80,688,287 -6.3% 1985 86,156,907 -3.6% 1984 89,341,174 0.3% 1983 89,083,949 -19.5% 1982 110,622,417 -8.5% 1981 120,865,879 -6.8% 1980 129,691,743 3.0% 1979 125,890,860 2.5% 1978 122,864,475 1.0% 1977 121,621,862 5.5% 1976 115,292,977 Sources: Greater Cleveland Regional Transit Authority and cleveland.com archives. Note: A 1988 change in the passenger counting method resulted in a 5.2 million adjustment downward, according to RTA. Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com Record Store Day 2018: Guide to Northeast Ohio events Record Store Day is Saturday, April 21, and the exclusives range from Aaliyah to Frank Zappa. Indie shops around Northeast Ohio will be stocked full of special releases, and plenty will be hosting sales, in-store performances and DJs. RSD is a holiday we like to celebrate every day here but it doesn't hurt when you can also pick up music from The Notorious B.I.G., MC5, Run the Jewels and The Rolling Stones. This is your guide to events happenings all over town. Don't Edit (Photo: My Mind's Eye) My Mind's Eye Lakewood's new-and-used record shop My Mind's Eye will be carrying a number of RSD exclusives, and theyll also be inviting in some of their friends around town for all-day music. Beginning at 8 a.m., they kick things off with Mr. Suit, otherwise known as DJ Total Business of the Monday Morning Jazz and Blues show on 89.3 WCSB-FM. Other DJs include Kiah Rogers of Cotton Ponys, Steven Peffer of Hausfrau Record Shop, Kat Cade of FUZZ zine and more. My Minds Eye is at 16010 Detroit Ave., Lakewood. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. More info Don't Edit Record Den For many vinyl enthusiasts, Mentor megastore Record Den is often a go-to shop to start their RSD shopping. This year, theyll be opening early to showcase more than 2,000 pieces in stock. Once again, theyll bring back live music throughout the morning, so dont worry about getting bored while waiting in line. Performances kick off early for people waiting in line, with Michael McFarland playing at 8:30 a.m., Kevin Conaway at 9:30 a.m., Maria Petti at 10:30 a.m. and Sean Benjamin at 11:30 a.m. Record Den is at 7661 Mentor Ave., Mentor. 9 a.m-9 p.m. Don't Edit (Photo: PD file photo) Beachland Ballroom and Tavern brunch Waterloo music venue Beachland Ballroom is hosting a special Saturday edition of its popular brunch in honor of RSD. While one of the streets beloved record shops, Music Saves, may have recently closed its storefront, DJ Melanie Saves will be spinning records along with DJ MuGG H00ks. Melanie will also be bringing along a selection of vinyl to purchase. The Beachland will have specials on Dogfish Head beer and the new brew by Wayne Coyne of The Flaming Lips, food specials and swag giveaways. The Beachland is at 15711 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. 11 a.m.-3 p.m. More info Don't Edit (Photo: Brittany's Record Shop) Brittany's Record Shop Brittanys Record Shop marks its first Record Store Day since recently opening its doors in Slavic Village. Helmed by Brittany Benton, also known around town as DJ Red-I, the store specializes in hip-hop, reggae and soul. In addition to stocking RSD vinyl selections, shes inviting two of Clevelands best DJs, Candi Fresca and NuERA, to spin in-store sets. Brittanys Record Shop is at 6410 Fleet Ave., Cleveland. 8 a.m.-8 p.m. More info Don't Edit Don't Edit Nikki Delamotte, cleveland.com A Separate Reality Tremont's A Separate Reality isn't partaking in RSD specials, but they will be celebrating the day with in-store performances and sales. Chicago's Constantine and Alex Rowney will perform, along with Cleveland's Optimal X and a liquid light show by Evening Sun. $1 albums will be 25 cents and $5 albums will be $2.50, and you can expect freebies and prizes throughout the day. An added bonus: the Buckland Museum of Witchcraft & Majick is tucked inside the record shop, and they'll display the 1960s Fillmore East & West postcard collection of Raymond Buckland, a leading figure of the Wicca movement. A Separate Reality is at 2678 West 14th St., Cleveland. 11 a.m.-8 p.m. More info Don't Edit Blue Arrow Records Customer Appreciation Day While Blue Arrow Records no longer participates in the formal RSD, they do host a Customer Appreciation Day with in-store shows, specials and giveaways. This year, theyll host Lachlan Mackinnon, reading from his new book, Let Me Tell You A Story: Small Stories of a Large Family. At 2 p.m., indie-punk act Public Squares will perform. A 3 p.m. performance by a secret special guest has yet to be disclosed. Blue Arrow is at 16001 Waterloo Road, Cleveland. Noon-7 p.m. More info Don't Edit Bent Crayon Bent Crayon, located inside 78th Street Studios, is known for stocking experiment and avant-garde sounds. For RSD, they'll be carrying a curated selection, mainly focusing on European titles that fit the focus of the shop: underground dance and rock, experimental, dub/reggae/international and free jazz. Bent Crayon is at 1305 West 80th St., Cleveland. 11 a.m.-6 p.m. bentcrayonrecords.com Don't Edit (Photo: The Plain Dealer) Square Records Kickstart your record shopping by fueling up on coffee and snacks from Angels Falls Coffee Company at Akrons Square Records. Theyll also be handing out totes to the first 100 customers who make purchases of $25 or more. Theres something for shoppers who arent scoping out new releases, too. Square will be putting out hundreds of used LPs, including a number of rarities. Square Records is at 824 West Market St., Akron. 9 a.m.-9 p.m. More info Don't Edit (Photo: The Vinyl Groove) The Vinyl Groove Start your morning with sugary snacks from Go Nut Donuts at The Vinyl Groove. Then, get to browsing their 600 new exclusive pieces for RSD, along with other specialty stock. Theyll also be adding another 1,000 used titles, which will be on sale for 20 percent off. Throughout the day, theyll be hosting giveaways, including promo swag, T-shirts, $100 gift certificates and tickets to upcoming concerts. The Vinyl Groove is at 679 Broadway Ave., Bedford. 8:30 a.m.-9 p.m. More info Don't Edit Don't Edit (Photo: Hanson Records) Hanson Records Oberlins eclectic Hanson Records, helmed by acclaimed experimental artist Aaron Dilloway, is hosting their own party at the shop. Theyll have thousands of records for sale, as well as DJs and in-store performances. Stick around for snacks while you browse. Hanson Records is at 25 West College St., Oberlin. 10 a.m.-8 p.m. More info Don't Edit (Photo: Time Traveler) Time Traveler Records Akron shop Time Traveler Records will be stocked with RSD special releases. Youll also find an extensive selection of collectible records. Time Traveler is at 118 West Market St., Akron. 10 a.m.-7 p.m. facebook.com/timetravelerakron Don't Edit (Photo: Hollow Bones) Hollow Bone Records Fairlawn shop Hollow Bone Records will be opening early for RSD. You can expect to see plenty of special releases during its extended hours. Hollow Bone is at 2721 West Market St., Fairlawn. 9 a.m.-8 p.m. More info Don't Edit (Photo: PD file photo) LOOP Tremont's LOOP will be opening its doors at their usual early-morning 8 a.m. and carrying a number of RSD exclusives. As always, the coffee shop-record store-art gallery will be serving up drinks and fresh baked goods. LOOP is at 2180 W. 11th St., Cleveland. 8 a.m.-10 p.m. facebook.com/LoopinTremont Don't Edit (Photo: The Wine Spot) The Wine Spot Unwind after a long day of record shopping or pre-game before you head out. Cleveland Heights shop The Wine Spot will be featuring the Flaming Lips brew, Dragons & Yum Yum, which is a pink pale ale brewed with dragonfruit and yumberry. Theyll also have more Dogfish Head beer on tap as audio/visual masters The AV Club spin official RSD selections and their own vinyl. You can also bring your own wax that theyll be happy to spin. The Wine Spot is at 2271 Lee Road, Cleveland Heights. Noon-11 p.m. More info Don't Edit Don't Edit (Photo: Just Jettie's / All $ales Vinyl) Just Jettie's What better way to start your RSD than coffee and doughnuts? Just Jetties will be serving up both (bring your own cup, please) as DJ Total Chaos spins tunes all morning. Within Just Jetties is used record shop All $ales Vinyl. While not an official RSD event, its as good an excuse as ever to dig through crates as you discover new tunes. Just Jetties is at 3348 St. Clair Ave., Cleveland. 8 a.m.-Noon More info Don't Edit (Photo: Record Store Day) Record Store Day 2018 releases Looking for a full rundown of releases? The official guide takes you through some of the best of this year's RSD specials. Plus, read our guide to local record stores for more shopping around town. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A 10-year-old Cleveland boy who died after being pulled from the base of Mill Creek Falls was out exploring with his aunt when both were swept into deep waters, according to a police report released Thursday. Rescue crews pulled J'Meirre Williams, a student at Cleveland's Miles Park Elementary, from the water before he was pronounced dead Saturday afternoon at MetroHealth, according to officials and a school district spokeswoman. The Cuyahoga County Medical Examiner's Office has not yet determined his cause of death. J'Meirre's 16-year-old aunt told Cleveland Metroparks rangers that she and her nephew went to Mill Creek Falls that day to explore and play in the water, according to a ranger's police report. The girl said she used a stick to find a shallow spot where they could wade in the water. But they were swept out into deeper waters and the girl was unable to help her nephew, the report says. A passerby called police about 1:30 p.m. after spotting the children in the water at the base of the falls, officials said. Rescue crews arrived to find the 16-year-old girl clinging to a tree limb. J'Meirre went underwater during the incident, and crews were able to locate him and pull him from the water within about 30 minutes, according to the report. Officials took both children to MetroHealth. J'Meirre was in critical condition and initially showed signs of improvement, but was pronounced dead about two hours later, according to the report and a Cleveland fire spokesman. The girl was in stable condition and was treated for possible hypothermia, according to the report. Her current medical condition was not immediately available Thursday. Cleveland Metropolitan School District spokeswoman Dr. Roseann Canfora said that a crisis team will provide counseling for J'Meirre's schoolmates and staff members at Miles Park Elementary. The district also sends letters to families and provides guidance to parents whose children may have trouble coping with the loss of someone dear to them, Canfora said. To comment on this story, visit Thursday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - Ohio's provider of state tests says it has fixed issues that prevented students across the state from taking state English tests as planned today. Schools across the state had trouble this morning using Ohio's online testing platform provided by the American Institutes for Research this morning, leading many to complain that the system had "crashed." The Ohio Department of Education and AIR said late morning that the system had not "crashed," but was having issues with students logging in. "The system is not crashing," said Jon Cohen, AIR's president of assessments. "Students who are in the system are testing successfully." "We are having a problem with the login system so new students are not getting in," he said. Students across the region reported similar problems. "The state's technical issues made it impossible for Beachwood students slated to test today to login to their exams," said Beachwood Superintendent Robert Hardis. "Our students cannot take the test and we will have to make plans to 're- test'," said Parma Superintendent Carl Hilling. Critics of state tests had harsher words. "Learning shuts down for weeks across school districts to get all kids tested and now this?!!" asked a frustrated Dawn Neely-Randall, a Elyria teacher who has campaigned against state tests. "My 5th-graders are stressed out. Ridiculous. Stop the insanity!" Brittany Halpin, spokesperson for the Ohio Department of Education, said at 4 p.m. that AIR had resolved the log-on issue. "Schools should plan to resume testing Thursday," Halpin said. Districts were supposed to finish having students take the English exams by the end of this month, but Halpin said the state has extended that deadline because of today's delay. "To the extent possible, we're encouraging schools to complete their English language arts testing within the original window," Halpin said. "However, for those schools that are unable to do so, we're extending the English language arts testing window statewide by two days, through May 1." Today's glitch is the second high-profile error AIR has had this year. Earlier this year, AIR computers mis-scored 5,300 essay questions after an employee entered incorrect information into the scoring program. Jon Cohen, AIR's president of assessments, said one was a human error and today's was a hardware error, but declined to comment on why AIR has had these mistakes this year. Test glitches with the PARCC exams that Ohio used in 2015 led the state to fire that testing consortium and hire AIR instead. GREENVILLE, Ohio -- Exposure to a suspect's methamphetamine has sickened several deputies, forcing the closure of the Darke County Jail, according to reports. The initial exposure occurred at 1 p.m. Tuesday as deputies booked Stephen Garner Jr., 37, WKEF Channel 6 reports. Several bags containing a white substance, identified as meth, fell to the floor from Garner, who then opened some of the bags. Moments later deputies began complaining of feeling lightheaded and ill, reports say, and Garner fell unconscious. Garner and four deputies were taken to the hospital for treatment, with some receiving Narcan. All were treated and released, the Dayton Daily News reports. However, 10 more officers became ill Wednesday morning. Officials believe the meth got into the jails air ducts, which had been shut off for decontamination. The Daily News reports 28 inmates were moved to Miami County and Mercer County jails. The inmate area and other parts of the jail have separate air systems and were not affected. The Darke County jail will remain closed until the facility can again be decontaminated. Greenville is located northwest of Dayton. To comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Thousands of students across the country plan to demonstrate for gun control during National School Walkouts planned for Friday. After a mass shooting that killed 17 at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida, in February, students have registered school walkouts at more than 2,000 locations. The National School Walkout will take place at 10 a.m. Organizers are working to break the cycle of gun control discussions dying down after mass shootings. The protests follows national student walkouts in March. The March for our Lives, a student-led event with a flagship demonstration in Washington D.C. in March, had more than 800 locations across the world. In Cleveland, thousands of people marched for gun control in Public Square. Here's what you need to know about Friday's walkout. Why are students walking out? Students are walking out of schools to protest inaction from lawmakers against gun violence. There are three listed goals on the walkout's site: hold elected officials accountable promote solutions to gun violence demystify and engage students in the political system The walkout also encourages participants to raise awareness of gun control issues and to call their political representatives. Why April 20? The walkouts will take place at 10 a.m. on Friday. April 20 is the 19th anniversary of the mass shooting at Columbine High School, which killed 13 people. Columbine High School officials wrote a letter asking students to consider committing that day to service, a tradition in the Columbine community. Wasn't there already a walkout? On March 14, hundreds of thousands of students across the United States walked out to protest gun violence. That march was organized by EMPOWER, the youth branch of the Women's March. The March 14 date was a month after the Parkland shooting. Students streamed out of high schools in Northeast Ohio, amounting to thousands at some locations. The way schools recognized the event varied. Some schools folded it into school programming, creating assemblies or even a week of events to recognize the protest. This one was launched by Lane Murdock, a sophomore from Connecticut. Head organizers listed on the page are generally students. Who's participating? Here are the local schools registered on the National School Walkout site: Olmsted Falls High School Strongsville High School John Marshall High School Fairview High School North Royalton High School North Ridgeville High School Brunswick High School Avon High School Lewis F. Mayer Middle School Beachwood High School Cleveland Heights High School Chagrin Falls Middle and High Schools Brecksville-Broadview Heights High School Willoughby South High School Aurora High School This isn't a conclusive list; some of the schools might not actually participate. When asked Wednesday, Avon High School officials said they weren't aware of plans for a walkout. When students walked out in March, schools were usually aware of the plans. Inclusion on this list does not imply support from the adminstration at these schools. Reporter Linda Gandee contributed to this report. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- A shooting Wednesday night in the Mount Pleasant neighborhood wounded a 26-year-old man in the foot, according to police. The shooting was reported at 9:30 p.m. near the intersection of East 124th Street and Union Avenue, just south of Kinsman Road. Police did not release the condition of the victim or possible motives for the shooting. No arrests were reported. This story will be updated if more information becomes available. To comment on this story, visit Wednesday's crime and courts comments page. CLEVELAND, Ohio - A problem with Ohio's online testing system has blocked students across Ohio from taking their state tests today. Teachers are reporting that the system, provided by the American Institutes for Research (AIR), has "crashed" and prevented them from testing. The Ohio Department of Education and AIR say the system has not "crashed," but is having issues with students logging in. "The system is not crashing," said Jon Cohen, AIR's president of assessments. "Students who are in the system are testing successfully." "We are having a problem with the login system so new students are not getting in," he said. ODE spokesperson Brittany Halpin said AIR informed the state of the issues this morning. "AIR is actively working to resolve the issue and districts have been notified," Halpin said. "Districts will again be notified when the assessments are available." Halpin also said that rumors of student test data from Monday being lost are not true. President Donald Trump imposed tighter restrictions on Cuba for U.S. travelers and businesses, fulfilling a campaign promise to reverse former President Barack Obama's efforts to normalize relations with the country. Trump and other Cuba hardliners believe the U.S. should not work with a repressive communist regime, but now that Raul Castro announced he is stepping down, many think it's time to normalize relations with Cuba. The Cold War is over and communism lost -- it's time to move on. What do you think? PERSPECTIVES Raul Castro, brother of Fidel Castro, announced he will be stepping down as Cuba's president and Miguel Diaz-Canel will officially become the new leader of Cuba. Last year, Trump announced he would roll back Obama-era efforts to normalize relations with Cuba, stating American dollars should not go to a government known for its human rights violations. But human rights advocates say Trump is a hypocrite. This isn't about standing for human rights. It's about checking off a box to show he's fulfilling his promises to reverse progress made under Obama. Trump's moves to isolate Cuba has little support outside of a core group of Cuba hardliners. The U.S. is going back to a policy that doesn't work. For the past 50 years, isolating Cuba did not do anything but cement opposition to the U.S. and Obama's agreement was a good first step in doing what is truly good for the Cuban people. Now that the Castro brothers are no longer in control of the Cuban government, shouldn't the U.S. take steps to normalize relations with the country? But Cuba hardliners like Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.) argue the U.S. should stay tough on Cuba and the shifting of power in Cuba is nothing more than a "sham." Trump's decision to stay tough on Cuba was the right one. U.S. travelers are banned from going to the island and businesses are barred from engaging with their Cuban counterparts. Trump says "we have no choice" than to stand up against the communist regime. The Cuban people are being oppressed by their government and this is about standing up for human rights. If the U.S. began to normalize relations with the communist country, we would be legitimizing an oppressive regime. America travelers will have to vacation elsewhere. The Tylt is focused on debates and conversations around news, current events and pop culture. We provide our community with the opportunity to share their opinions and vote on topics that matter most to them. We actively engage the community and present meaningful data on the debates and conversations as they progress. The Tylt is a place where your opinion counts, literally. The Tylt is an Advance Digital, Inc. property. Join us on Twitter @TheTylt or on Facebook, we'd love to hear what you have to say. COLUMBUS, Ohio -- Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine rejected a recreational marijuana legalization measure backed by a group of Ohio marijuana advocates, his office announced Thursday afternoon. The "Marijuana Rights and Regulations Amendment" to the Ohio Constitution would allow people age 21 and older to possess, produce, transport, use, sell and share cannabis. The legislature would have to create laws treating marijuana impairment similar to those of alcohol, and Ohio residents would have first dibs on marijuana business licenses. The amendment would leave in place Ohio's nascent medical marijuana program. Unlike Ohio's failed 2015 legalization measure, the new amendment is not backed by wealthy investors, nor does it promise business licenses to campaign backers. DeWine's job at this early stage in the ballot issue process is to certify that the summary included on petitions accurately describes the proposed amendment. DeWine said in a letter rejecting the group's petition that there were at least three instances where the amendment summary didn't match the full text: The summary says the General Assembly has the authority to regulate marijuana commerce, but that doesn't accurately match the amendment. The summary doesn't mention that marijuana businesses are only lawful in precincts where a majority votes for the amendment. The summary doesn't reference the requirement that lawmakers "enact and enable laws, rules, and regulations" within 240 days after the amendment takes effect. "For these reasons, I am unable to certify the summary as a fair and truthful statement of the proposed amendment," DeWine, a GOP candidate for governor, stated in his letter. "However, I must caution that this letter is not intended to represent an exhaustive list of all defects in the submitted summary." What's the next step? The group backing the petition is called Ohio Families for Change, which wants to end marijuana prohibition in a manner that supports safety, well-being, social justice and economic equality. Tom Jackson, one of the petitioners, said the group will make changes and resubmit language and the necessary 1,000 signatures of registered Ohio voters as early as next week. The group wanted to put the measure on the November ballot. But that seems unlikely without major funding and with only a few months before the deadline for this year's ballot. Once approved by the attorney general, the bipartisan Ohio Ballot Board will then decide whether the issue is one or multiple ballot questions. Then, supporters need to collect at least 305,591 signatures of registered Ohio voters. Those signatures need to be turned in by July 4 to qualify for the November ballot. To compare, Ohio's 2015 marijuana legalization measure, backed by more than $20 million from investors, was first submitted two months earlier on the time line. ResponsibleOhio, the organization pushing the measure, did not have enough valid signatures at first and had to collect more after the deadline. The earliest Ohio Families for Change could begin collecting signatures would be early next month. But signatures don't expire, and the group could try to get on the ballot next year. ResponsibleOhio co-founders, Ian James and Jimmy Gould, have said they too want to put a recreational measure on the ballot in the near future. "We're not giving up this campaign," Jackson said. "Because if we do, we're giving it to ResponsibleOhio, and we don't have any faith they'll do anything for anyone other than themselves." James of ResponsibleOhio shot back in a statement Thursday night, empahsizing his years of experience in the marijuana legalization fight in Ohio, the nearly $29 million he says he's invested and spent to legalize and the fact that his group is the only to ever reach the statewide ballot. "It's more than just having an idea; it's having a plan, raising awareness and the financial resources to win," he said. What would the amendment do? The proposed amendment would put the right to grow and possess marijuana in the Ohio Constitution and allow the state to regulate commercial production and sales. Recreational marijuana sales would implement a licensing structure similar to beer retailers. Marijuana businesses could locate in precincts where a majority of voters approved the measure. Other precincts could later decide. Marijuana business license fees must be comparable to other business licenses. For example, a beer retailer pays $225 for a state permit. Ohio's medical marijuana program charges $35,000 a year for a dispensary permit. There's no limit on how much marijuana could be bought for personal use. Only people with two years residency in Ohio could own marijuana businesses for the first seven years the amendment is in place. Employers could maintain drug-free workplaces. Cleveland.com reporter Jackie Borchardt contributed to this report. Mobile readers, click here to read a copy of the petition. CLEVELAND, Ohio -- Texas U.S. Sen. Ted Cruz has endorsed Lt. Gov. Mary Taylor's bid for Ohio governor, a move that comes after the two met in Washington, D.C. two months ago. Cruz's endorsement also follows Taylor's February decision to hire Axiom Strategies, a Republican consulting firm with close ties to Cruz, to run her campaign, which had been lagging. Her political team had hoped an endorsement would help open doors to Cruz's national network of fundraisers and conservative grassroots supporters. A Thursday statement from Taylor's campaign announcing the endorsement references Cruz's first electoral victory -- his upset win in the 2012 Republican Texas primary of the state's then-lieutenant governor. Taylor's campaign is hoping for a similar upset win in the Ohio Republican primary for governor over Ohio Attorney General Mike DeWine, who has consistently led Taylor in polling, fundraising and endorsements from key Republicans within the state. In a statement, Cruz said: "I'm asking voters to carefully consider the choices before them this election cycle, and to stand with those who have proven themselves to be conservatives of conviction. In the race for Governor in Ohio I am proud to endorse Mary Taylor, and I urge the voters of Ohio to join me by supporting her." Taylor previously has received endorsements from a trio of other conservative U.S. senators -- Steve Daines of Montana and Mike Lee of Utah and Rand Paul of Kentucky -- but Cruz's is the first she's landed from a senator who's appeared on an Ohio ballot. Cruz finished second in the Republican presidential primary to now-President Donald Trump two years ago. He placed third in the Ohio Republican primary, when he received 264,640 votes, or about 13 percent of the vote. He also gave a memorable speech at the July 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland during which he pointedly refused to endorse Trump, although he later did. Early voting currently is ongoing for the Ohio primary election, which will take place on May 8. PARMA, Ohio -- The Parma City School District, which is currently under a state-mandated Fiscal Caution citation, is asking voters to approve Issue 5 on the May 8 ballot. If approved, the 7.4-mill new-money levy would cost $259 annually per $100,000 of home valuation. (Left to right) Retiring Parma City Schools Superintendent Carl Hilling, new Parma City Schools Superintendent Charles Smialek and Parma City Schools Board of Education President John Schweitzer. (Photo Courtesy of Parma City Schools) "A levy passage gets us out of all of the fiscal plans from the state and allows us to continue with our current programs," Board of Education President John Schweitzer said. "That's what we're after. We're trying to maintain what we have at this point. "The levy is designed to preserve the fact that the students continue to take more credits than the state minimum. It's designed to preserve them being able to participate in extracurricular and co-curricular activities without costing them an arm and a leg. We're already at pay-to-participate. That's not going to go away, but it certainly could escalate if we have to put more cuts into place," Schweitzer said. The upcoming ballot issue comes exactly a year after residents voted down a 5.9-mill increase for 10 years that, if passed, would have added $206.50 in property taxes per $100,000 of home value. What has Schweitzer optimistic about the passage of Issue 5 is that last fall, residents made it clear that they wanted new leadership in the district. Since then, voters have put into office three new Board of Education members, including Schweitzer, Amanda M. Karpus and Steven Vaughn. Also, the Board of Education hired new Treasurer and Chief Financial Officer Sean Nuccio and recently appointed Charles Smialek to take over as superintendent beginning this summer. "We're fairly confident the community will stand behind what we heard in the fall," Schweitzer said. The district currently has financial forecasts projecting a $3.6 million deficit next year and more than $9 million for 2020. If Issue 12 fails, Schweitzer said Fiscal Watch and Fiscal Emergency are potential realities. "Over the last couple of years, $15 million has already been cut, and that's pretty deep," Schweitzer said. "What will happen is if it fails, we have to be ready to pull the trigger on another $3.6 million (fiscal recovery) plan and submit to the state of Ohio a week (after the levy), as well as another $9 million plan by the end of the year." If Issue 5 fails, Schweitzer isn't sure when residents would see a new-money levy again on the ballot. "That would be a decision by the administration and whole Board of Education," Schweitzer said. "I can't comment if it fails. I don't even want to think if it fails. We eventually need (the funds), and the eventually is now. We need new money infused into the district in order to maintain the things that we currently have." CLEVELAND, Ohio - The never-ending winter has struck again, and will return the cold, wind and possibly some snow to Cleveland today. Snow chances are highest in the morning, and quickly drop after 9 and 10 a.m. Morning commuters shouldn't have too hard of a time on roads in Cleveland as accumulations should remain below an inch. That doesn't rule out the possibility of a few slick spots of ice, however. Those coming from the far east-side lake-effect belt will bear the brunt of the heavier snow. As high pressure pushes in, snow chances drop in the afternoon and the cloudy skies will begin to clear. Temperature wise, you'll need that parka to go with your warm boots. Temperatures will hover in the 30s all day, but with gusty winds reaching 30 mph at times, chills will stay in the 20s. Thankfully, we'll warm back up this weekend, and sun will replace the snow. Check out the forecast: Temperatures Temperature forecast. Precipitation chances Precipitation forecast. Winds Wind speed and direction forecast. Sunrise: 6:41 a.m. Sunset: 8:12 p.m. Keep checking cleveland.com/weather for daily weather updates for Northeast Ohio, and don't forget to submit any weather questions you may have! Kelly Reardon is cleveland.com's meteorologist. Please follow me on Facebook, Twitter @KellyRWeather and Instagram. Questo comunicato e stato pubblicato piu di 1 anno fa. Le informazioni su questa pagina potrebbero non essere attendibili. I had cheap rs gold wanted to go there and be a crazy fan like everybody else. Honestly, the day was so heavy, so many things were going on, I couldn't have told you from Adam who scored [Canada's first goals]. Kluwe's tweet was in response to an ongoing controversy over New England Patriots tight end Rob Gronkowski, who was spotted in a Twitter picture with adult film actress Bibi Jones. 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Turk televizyonlarnda bu da oldu! 18 Nisan 2018 Carsamba, 15:37 MHP General Chair Bahcelis proposal for the holding of an early election on 26 August has caused flurry in the AKP lobbies. The take in the AKP lobbies is that there has long been talk of the expectation of an early election, the election can be brought forward but it is not correct for the date to be announced before discussions have been held between the two parties. There is also discussion in the party of an early election having as many negative as positive aspects. The expectation of an early general and presidential election for which Bahceli has proposed the date of 26 August has long been spoken of in the corridors of Parliament and political lobbies. Indeed, heading the list of frequently mooted scenarios was one in which the AKP would get MHP General Chair Devlet Bahceli to make the first announcement and President Tayyip Erdogan, who says in virtually all of his speeches that the elections will be held on time, would say, I actually wanted them to be on time, but if Mr Bahceli so wishes let us hold an early election. Prime Minister Binali Yldrms surprise visit two weeks ago to MHP General Chair Bahceli had also been interpreted as a testing of the waters for an early election. The initial spin put on Bahcelis statement was that this was staged between the AKP and MHP and there was no way Erdogan could not have known. However, confusion has ensued from Erdogans statement shortly after Bahcelis comment that he would meet with him today and his attending the group meeting without raising this matter at all and also the stress he has laid on November 2019. He spoke to staff Erdogan convened with Prime Minister Binali Yldrm and party administrators immediately after the group meeting. Apparently, during the roughly one-hour meeting, Erdogan asked party staff not to evaluate Bahcelis proposal and requested that they wait until the conclusion of the meeting he will hold today with Bahceli. With Erdogan mentioning todays discussions following the meeting and indicating, I have nothing to say at the moment, this has led to speculation that Erdogan had no knowledge of the affair and was put out by Bahceli making such an announcement without consulting him. With certain party administrators saying that todays Erdogan-Bahceli meeting had already been pencilled in, certain other party administrators were saying that Erdogan had no knowledge of it and the meeting was fixed that day. Erdogan, having chatted to Parliamentary Speaker Ismail Kahraman in his office for a while and to Prime Minister Yldrm and party administrators, left parliament. As much as there are those in the party who consider the early election proposal to be a surprise, there are also those who note that the expected has happened, the election was going to be held early and this is what had been on the cards. In the party lobbies, the following analysis is being made of the possible positive and negative aspects that will be entailed if the election is held early: Should have been announced jointly: If an early election is to be decided on, this should be announced jointly to the public as a common decision after the leaders have convened and made an assessment. If Bahcelis target is the Good Party, this is wrong: An early election has been expected for some time and a decision to this effect can be taken. But, the matter of the date is problematic. Bahceli may particularly have chosen the date of 26 August to prevent the Good Party from contesting the election. If the Supreme Election Council deems the congress the Good Party held on 1 April to be valid, it may only contest an election held after 1 October. The inability of the Good Party to contest the election, in turn, will do injustice to Meral Aksener and this situation will harm Erdogan in the presidential election. There can be an early election but the date can change: It will become clear at Bahcelis meeting today with Erdogan whether the election is going to be brought forward. The election can be brought forward, but its date can change. It is planned to hold the partys big congress towards the end of June. There will remain a very short time between the congress and the election and this situation will affect the party negatively. The grudges and indignation ensuing from potential changes made to the partys committees, party administration and the cabinet at the congress held a short time before the election will have a debilitating effect on the campaigning process. Is Bahceli setting a trap?: There is a body within the party that still does not trust the MHP and Bahceli. When speaking of the possibility that this pronouncement by Bahceli is a trap for the AKP, it is noted, Bahceli made the same pronouncement in 2002. However, while he remained below the threshold in the election, it also spelt the end for the ANAP, DYP and DSP. It will bring an advantage if held in the autumn: Holding the local elections before the general election will be detrimental to the alliance between the two parties. Actual alliances can be formed between the two parties in certain provinces, but the intense rivalry and possible tension between candidates and organisations in provinces in which both parties are strong will have a negative effect on the alliance that will be formed in the presidential and parliamentary elections scheduled for seven months later. Consequently, the moving of the general election to before the local election will bring advantages in terms both of the presidential and parliamentary election. If the parliamentary election is held first, there will be no problem for members of parliament who will stand for mayor. Especially if Prime Minister Binali Yldrm stands for Istanbul Metropolitan Mayor, there will be no need to go through the processes of appointing the prime minister and creating a government again. AKP kulisleri hareketlendi: Bahceli tuzak m kuruyor? A teenager struggling to find a date to take to her junior prom has revealed how she decided to take matters into her own hand figuratively and literally. Shunning convention, high school junior Audeva Agyeman from Philadelphia, who is known as @audeva on Twitter, revealed that she decided to make a life-size cardboard cut-out of her celebrity crush Michalel B. Jordan instead. Taking to the social media app, Audeva who is a student at St. Hubert's Catholic High School for Girls, explained that because she procrastinated and waited 'til the last minute', she didn't have a date. Fan girl: Audeva Agyeman, a high school junior from Philadelphia took to Twitter to share photos of her unconventional prom date, Michael B. Jordan Crafty: A student at St. Hubert's Catholic High School for Girls, Audeva spent three hours making her prom date from scratch Backup plan: Audeva shared that despite asking two friends, she failed to secure a date so decided to make a life-size cut out of Jordan instead So instead of going solo, she spent three hours bringing the man of her dreams to life of sorts, before whisking him away to pose for the photos she posted online. Students at her all-girls school are required to ask a boy to prom. 'I asked my friend Tyler, but he couldn't come because of college stuff,' she told Insider. 'My other friend Dillon was going with someone else, and everyone else said no because, "Why would I go to an all-girl school prom?'"' However, the Creed star isn't the only celebrity Audeva has her eye on as she also revealed she's 'currently obsessing over Chance [The Rapper]' in her Twitter bio. 'My options were Chance the Rapper or Michael B. Jordan because both are FINE,' the teen said. 'I think the main reason I opted for Michael is because of his recent rise up because of Black Panther.' On the night, she detailed that the reaction to her date was largely positive. Playing along: 'People interacted with him like he was real and asked about his movies. And so many people asked for pictures,' Audeva (pictured kneeling) added Commitment: Audeva's pictures have since gone viral on Twitter and The Shade Room's Instagram where Michael B. Jordan commented, 'This is called commitment' Dream date: Audeva is now hoping her alternative date with secure a real life date with the 31-year-old actor and she tweeted that she hopes to meet him in real life 'People interacted with him like he was real and asked about his movies. And so many people asked for pictures,' she added. And when The Shade Room posted pictures of her big night, Michael B. Jordan took to the comments section to share his appreciation for Audeva's dedication. 'This is called commitment,' he wrote. However, Audeva is now hoping her alternative date with secure a real life date with the 31-year-old actor, and she tweeted that she hopes to meet him in real life. She typed: 'Now i need to MEET my man,' before including The Ellen Show in the tweet in the hopes of gaining more media attention. She also created the hashtag #GetDeetoMBJ. 'It's all really exciting and unexpected,' she said. 'I fell and cried in school when he replied. I wanna go on Ellen and meet him.' My mother has passed down a lot of lovely gifts from good skin to a love of fashion. Unfortunately, though, theres one thing Ive inherited which Im not at all grateful for bunions. As a relatively short woman of 5ft 4in, Ive always loved high heels. They make me feel feminine and finish off a fashionable outfit. But when I turned 40, 15 years ago, I noticed a tell-tale lump on my right foot at the base of my big toe. For the first few years, the bunion didnt bother me too much. My feet were hardly my most attractive feature, so I just avoided sandals and open-toed shoes. But eight years ago, I noticed two things: one, that if I wore heels I felt a burning pain in my right foot. Second, my right foot looked deformed and my shoes had also started to look awful because the lump on my big toe stretched the leather. Dr Dawn Harper (pictured wearing her Sole Bliss shoes) noticed the signs of bunions on her feet after she turned 40 Ive always walked a lot, but it got to the stage where my bunion was so painful a sharp, piercing pain that I began choosing not to walk as much. It was heels that caused me the most discomfort, so I invested in flat pumps and carried them in my handbag, changing in to my nice shoes round the corner from meetings. More than anything, I wanted to avoid surgery. Its not just because Im a GP and know whats involved. My mum had both her feet operated on for bunions, about 20 years ago when she was 60, and I know just how long and how painful the recovery period is. She was off her feet for at least two weeks and it took a good 12 weeks for her to fully recuperate. My bunions havent got any worse and my left foot is thankfully still relatively unscathed. But how do you avoid bunions and what can you do to alleviate the pain if theyve already arrived? Heres everything you need to know about bunions and what you can do about them . . . Foot turnips The word bunion derives from the latin word for turnip, presumably because of their lumpy shape. Theyre not a modern problem: there are carvings outside the tombs of ancient Egyptians in 2400 BC showing people having their feet attended to. A bunion is a deformity, in which the big toe starts to point away from its base (the equivalent to the knuckle) and push towards the other toes. It puts pressure on the joint at the base of the big toe forcing it to get bigger and stick out. The bony prominence is covered only by a tiny bit of soft tissue and skin, which is why it is so painful. As the big toe starts to point inwards, it also squashes the second toe, causing more pressure points and pain on the sole of the foot too. Dawn revealed researchers have not yet discovered the cause of bunions but believe pointed shoes are likely to make them worse (file image) Dont blame heels! Bunions are surprisingly common. There are approximately 15 million bunion sufferers in the UK, of whom 10 million are women. They tend to develop in your 30s or 40s and approximately 38 per cent of all women over 30 suffer from them but they can start as young as in your teens. Sadly, I dont think I have any older lady patients with entirely straight feet. Many patients have said to me: Its my own fault for wearing heels when I was younger. But I want to try to dispel this myth. We dont know exactly why they occur, we do know that theres a strong hereditary factor. If your mother and grandmother have them, its likely you will, too. However, wearing tight, pointed shoes is likely to make them worse they are incredibly rare in tribal people who go barefoot. Best shoes to wear Specialist shoes can help. Sole Bliss shoes (from 149, solebliss.com) incorporate technology to accommodate the bony deformity. Creator Lisa Kay says they took five years of research to perfect. Each pair contains a bunion bed which is a stretch panel invisible from the outside to cushion and support bunions. They also all have a cushioning memory foam sole to boost the comfort. Dawn (pictured) claims women are more prone to bunions than men and they can be triggered during pregnany The memory foam helps to keep feet in the correct position and counters pronation (the inward rolling of the foot, which can exacerbate bunions). Unlike all my ordinary shoes, the bunion hasnt changed their shape; theyve accommodated my foot without changing the look of the shoe and without pain. Men get them too Women are more prone to bunions than men. This may have something to do with the fact that women have slacker ligaments than men, which is a result of different hormones. This is especially true during pregnancy before childbirth a hormone called relaxin is released, to loosen up and prepare the body for childbirth, this is when problems with bunions can start. But men do suffer with bunions. There are known to be more than 4 million male sufferers in the UK alone and I suspect there are many more who havent yet reported them. Most men are also happy to wear flat, wide-fitting shoes, meaning bunions dont bother them as much. Dawn revealed splints can be used in the early stages of bunions to hold the big toe in a straighter position (file image) Beware the pain Some people dont want to bother a doctor with something as seemingly trivial as a bunion. But being in constant pain and being unable to walk properly is not a minor concern. Bunions can have a huge impact on the quality of your daily life. The skin on the foot is thin, without much in the way of natural padding from fat, so the pain can be severe. You can take anti-inflammatory medication such as ibuprofen and simple painkillers to ease the pain. People are also extremely self-conscious about their feet. Ive lost count of the number of times patients with foot problems try to hide them under their chair. I reassure them that Ive seen feet of all shapes and sizes before! What you can do . . . Surgery is the only corrective cure for bunions. However, there are things you can do for relief and to stop them getting worse. In the early stages you can buy splints to hold your big toe in a straighter position (10.95, completecareshop.co.uk). They are designed to be worn at night. Sticky gel pads that protect the skin over the boney prominence are also popular (Scholl Pressure Point Foam Padding, prices from 1.99). Stick them over the bunion to help relieve the pain. If bunions are severe, then surgery is the only option. To start with, we can operate on the tendons that run alongside the big toe, either to tighten it up or to lengthen it, depending on how it is pulling the toe out. Usually, youll also need bone surgery called an osteotomy, in which little slits are cut in the bone so the surgeon can force the toe straighter. The surgeon will insert some screws or plates to hold it in position. In the most severe cases, they will completely fix the toe in a rigid position. This is called an arthrodesis. Sometimes, the surgeon shaves off part of the bone. Unfortunately bunions do sometimes return after surgery. The greater the deformity the higher the chance of recurrence. National Bunion Day, launched by Sole Bliss Shoes is April 26, 2018. A Philadelphia woman has recounted her feelings of 'utter rage' when she learned she had cancer after six years of doctors insisting that her health problems were all due to her weight. Rebecca Hiles, now 28, was 17 when she first started to experience coughing fits and trouble breathing. For the next six years, according to Cosmopolitan, she visited several doctors, all of whom advised her to lose weight to solve her problems. It wasn't until she was 23 and in the hospital for yet another bloody fit of coughing that she learned the truth: She had a tumor in her bronchial tube that had been left untreated for so long that she needed her entire left lung removed. Sick: Rebecca Hiles, now 28, was in high school when she first started experiencing frequent coughing fits and trouble breathing Fixated: Over the next several years, her health problems got worse, but doctors just told her to lose weight Rebecca first started to have health problems when she was a senior in high school, getting bronchitis and pneumonia. But while those cleared up, her coughing did not, and she saw doctors for help. 'Doctors said, "If you lost weight, you wouldn't have this many coughing fits,"' she says. Even when she began to cough up blood one night and went to the emergency room, doctors dismissed her concerns. 'I went to the ER only to have them tell me that there wasnt anything they could do for me. It was probably just a broken blood vessel. They prescribed me some antibiotics, told me that if I lost weight, I would have a stronger immune system,' she wrote on her blog. Awful: Her issues became so bad that she would cough up blood, vomit, and lose bladder control Stuck on it: Doctors diagnosed her with asthma and GERD but kept telling her to lose weight and her health would improve Losing weight also didn't come the way it should have. At Clarion University, Rebecca danced regularly and climbed up an on-campus hill called 'Cardiac Hill' ever day but despite being 'very active,' her weight stayed the same and her breathing problems got worse. 'Any time I went to see the doctor to figure out why I couldn't shake this cold or that cold, I was given an antibiotic and told to lose weight,' she says. The coughing eventually led to bladder control issues in her early 20s that were so severe she needed adult diapers. She would cough until she threw up, and took a long list of medications including cough syrups, antacids, and steroids. Still, though, doctors told her it was 'clearly just weight-related,' diagnosing her with everything from asthma to GERD. They were so fixated on that idea that being overweight was at the root of her problems that they ignored some of her symptoms. Really ill: At 23, she ended up in the hospital, where doctors finally discovered that she had a tumor in her bronchial tube 'Instead of listening to a patient when they say, "Well, I'm trying to work out, but then I can't breathe," they just dismiss them by saying, "Well, if you lose a little bit more weight, it's going to be easier for you to breathe."' Finally, when she was 23 and had been sick for six years, Rebecca saw a new doctor who recommended that she visit a pulmonologist, a respiratory doctor, who could test her lungs. Before she could see the specialist, though, she ended up back in the emergency room, coughing up blood. There, doctors did a CT-scan (in the past, they had only done X-rays), and discovered a tumor in her bronchial tube. The tumor had caused her left lung to deteriorate so bad that she needed an operation to remove the whole thing. 'The bottom half of my lung was black. It was dead. I had a rotting piece of tissue inside of me for who knows how long,' she said. Wasted time: She felt 'rage' to learn she needed her entire left lung removed 'When my surgeon told me a diagnosis five years prior could've saved my lung, I remember a feeling of complete and utter rage. Because I remembered the five years I spent looking for some kind of reason why I was always coughing, always sick. 'Most of all, I remembered being consistently told that the reason I was sick was because I was fat.' Now, Rebecca advises other people to advocate for themselves and do research when they're sick, instead of blindly trusting their doctors. 'My doctors treated my fat, rather than investigating the real reason I was sick and it couldve killed me,' she added. This week Helen McGinn (pictured) tries Quisco Malbec paired with beef stew BARGAIN OF THE WEEK Tesco Finest Provence Rose, 6.40 (normally 8), Tesco The sun has made an appearance so we can at last declare rose season open. And this ones perfect to kick it off. Simple but effective, its light and fresh with redcurrant flavours. WHITE WINE Old-Blocks Chenin Blanc 2016, 14.25, bbr.com The grapes grown in South Africas Piekenierskloof are full of character. The Berry Bros buyer found a gem. Stocks are limited so if you like your wine ripe and fresh, with delicious grapefruit flavours, get in quick. Food pairing: Mild curries. RED WINE Quisco Malbec 2016, 6.99, Aldi Named after Chiles most common cactus, this is made from the grape grown in Colchagua. Were used to our Malbec coming from Argentina. Clearly it travels well think juicy cherries and berries. Great value. Food pairing: Beef stew. SPARKLING SO Organic Prosecco, 10, Sainsburys Finding a good organic sparkler isnt always easy, but this new one from Sainsburys is excellent. To the nose its light and floral, but take a sip and its all apples and apricots. Food pairing: Crisps and dips. The Knackered Mothers Wine Club by Helen McGinn (Pan Macmillan, 7.99). New Zealand Olympic shot putter Dame Valerie Adams has responded to the balcony picture that left some fans concerned for her baby's safety. The seemingly innocent photograph shows the 33-year-old mother and six-month-old daughter Kimoana standing on the balcony of a high-rise building with oceanfront views. But some were feeling anxious when they noticed how close the pair were standing to the hotel railing as they celebrated the athlete's fifth Commonwealth Games on the Gold Coast. Taking to social media on Thursday, Adams responded: 'Kimoana is in safe hands', along with hashtags 'calmthefarm', 'enjoytheview' and 'moveon'. New Zealand Olympian Valerie Adams celebrated her fifth Commonwealth Games with her six-month-old daughter Kimoana - but the seemingly innocent picture has left some fans worried Most of her adoring fans defended the picture. 'One of the strongest women in the country, and she looks like she has a pretty firm grip on Kimoana too,' one wrote. Another said: 'There will always be someone with a judgemental opinion, good on you for rising above. You are an inspiration to mums everywhere. Who else can say they won a silver medal at the commonwealth games six months post baby.' Another posted: 'Wasn't worried in the slightest. I just love this photo.' Another wrote: 'Of course she is! What a ridiculous drama over nothing. As if you would let anything happen to her! You do you Mama.' Another posted: 'I think the comments say more about some people's fear of heights than anything else. They sound like they'd be scared even if there was no baby in the photo.' And another said: 'Too many people overreacting. Of course you'd never put your bubba in danger. I love this pic!' The supportive comments come just days after some fans expressed their concerns over the picture. 'Happy six months my baby girl. I love you more then you'll ever know. Our journey so far has been incredibly amazing but tough,' Adams wrote in the caption alongside the image on Facebook. 'Today we are in the Gold Coast for mummy's 5th Commonwealth Games. Thank you for the inspiration.' But the momentous occasion on the Gold Coast has left some fans anxious. The 33-year-old mother was with her six-month-old baby during with Commonwealth Games 'This woman is so inspirational and I hope she wins something today but that balustrade is freaking me out. Looks so low but I am guessing that Val is just so tall,' one wrote. One said: 'This gives me anxiety that you're standing so close to the rail and you're so high up.' One wrote: 'That height is scaring me!' And another said: 'Can you move to the right a little more, you're making me nervous.' One fan even likened the candid photograph to Michael Jackson's infamous balcony stunt when he dangled his nine-month-old son from a fifth floor hotel balcony. 'Bit close to the edge with bubs #michaeljackson,' the person said. The mother celebrating with her baby daughter Kimoana and husband Gabriel Price after winning a silver medal in the women's shot put final at the Commonwealth Games on April 13 Despite the concerns, hundreds of fans seemed unfazed by the picture as they were more infatuated with her adorable baby girl. 'She is possibly, the happiest little sweetheart I have ever see, and so very beautiful, congratulations Valerie, great sportswoman, wonderful mother,' one said. Another posted: 'Your baby is beautiful and you look stunning. Beautiful all round I say - you must be both good for each other...' One wrote: 'She is super gorgeous. Well done to you, you are such an inspiration for so many people. You make NZ proud.' Another posted: 'What a beautiful photo of you and your Daughter and you have a magic day.' And another said: 'Baby's smile is already a winning smile.' Most people need some sort of sexual activity to have an orgasm, however, there are some who can hit that blissful state in unexpected but equally exciting ways. Speaking to FEMAIL, sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein from the Sex and Life podcast explained an orgasm wasn't only limited to sex and there were many variations, depending on the activity. From sleeping and exercising to thinking, FEMAIL reveals some of the more unusual ways people can orgasm without having sex. Sexologist Dr Nikki Goldstein (pictured) explained an orgasm wasn't ever only limited to only sex and there were many variations, depending on the activity Sleep orgasms It's entirely possible to have a sex dream, which is related to sexual thoughts, but may not involve any actual sexual activity. According to research from the US, 70 per cent of females experience overtly sexual dreams over their lifetime, compared to 100 per cent of men. And five per cent of women had their first orgasm through dreaming at night, while more than 13 per cent of men said their first ejaculation occurred during sleep. 70 per cent of females experience overtly sexual dreams over their lifetime, compared to 100 per cent of men (stock image) Dr Goldstein explained strong sex dreams could give a person the feeling of having had an orgasm, and that people do have actual orgasms while sleeping. 'An orgasm in a sex dream is triggered by what you're experiencing. 'Even if it's only something you dreamed about, you still experience that pleasure.' Coregasms Yoga and core workouts can tip some women over the brink, the sex expert said. 'My take on people having coregasms is when they are holding or contracting their core muscles, they are actually contracting their pelvic floor muscles at the same time. 'An orgasm is an involuntary muscle contraction in our vulva region so when we contract either the core or pelvic floor muscle it could be we are also mimicking that and bringing on an orgasmic response.' Yoga and core workouts can tip some women over the brink, the sex expert said (stock image) Orgasmic birth Dr Goldstein said orgasmic birth is a process where a woman is encouraged to have an orgasm during labour - either by masturbation or intercourse. She explained there's a school of thought which believes birth should be a pleasurable experience, and that a baby does better being born into a blissful state rather than one of agonizing pain. 'One of the benefits of orgasm is that it can actually help with pain. 'So in the case of an orgasmic birth, a specialised doula (midwife) will work with a woman to help her achieve this while she is in labour.' Thinking your way to bliss While it might seem a little far-fetched, it's entirely possible to think your way into an orgasm - by connecting with your thoughts to your body's actions. People are able to tap into this through a type of tantric meditation - a practice that combines movement, breath, and sound. While it might seem a little far-fetched, it's entirely possible to think your way into an orgasm - by connecting with your thoughts to your body's actions (stock image) 'If you are tapping into the thought processes of an orgasm and revisiting a good feeling you have had there's every chance you can trigger off that in your body as well.' Teeth-brushing induced orgasms Dr Goldstein said a teeth-brushing induced orgasm was one of the stranger instances she had heard of during her time working as a sexologist. In 2015, an epilepsy sufferer baffled doctors when botched surgery left her unable to reach orgasm except when she brushed her teeth. Dr Goldstein said a teeth-brushing induced orgasm was one of the stranger instances she had come across during her time working as a sexologist (stock image) The orgasms she experienced while cleaning her teeth were believed to be so powerful they left her in a state of temporary impaired consciousness. 'With all of this, what you need to keep in mind is the definition of an orgasm,' Dr Goldstein said. When I say the word orgasm I think of intensity and involuntary muscles spasms but with a lot of these other sorts of orgasms, it might be a much smaller response.' A Romanian teenager who allegedly sold her virginity online has spoken out to claim the story was simply a 'publicity stunt' for a notorious sex auction website. Aleexandra Khefren, 19, made headlines around the world when she announced she was offering herself to the highest bidder in November 2016. Four months later the teenager garnered further publicity when it emerged a Hong Kong businessman had won the seedy auction with his 2million bid. But now Aleexandra, an aspiring model from Bucharest, said the entire story was simply a publicity stunt for Germany-based Cinderella Escorts, which boasts about 'selling' dozens of virgins to high-profile clients including Hollywood A-listers. Aleexandra Khefren, 19, made headlines around the world when she announced she was offering herself to the highest bidder in November 2016. She has now revealed it was a lie The teenager, left on the website and right on This Morning in 2016, said the story was a publicity stunt for Cinderella Escorts, which boasts about 'selling' dozens of virgins Aleexandra also claimed the website used so-called auctions to trick young women into sex work. Speaking to Joe Roberts at Metro.co.uk, Aleexandra said the ordeal had left her struggling with her mental health. 'It's hard for me,' she said. 'I went through depression, it was truly hard. I had to have therapy sessions.' The teenager, who was 18 at the time of the alleged auction, told how Cinderella Escorts contacted her on social media and told her the 'marketing proposal' would help boost her modelling career and raise her profile. The company, founded by Jan Zakobielski, had also allegedly promised her friends and family would not learn about the stunt but instead they courted publicity. Pictured, with her parents The company, founded by Jan Zakobielski, had also allegedly promised her friends and family would not learn about the stunt but instead they courted publicity. The teenager gave a number of interviews about the auction, shocking viewers and readers with her indifferent attitude towards the transaction. At the time of the 'auction' she told the The Star: 'I wanted to sell my virginity with Cinderella Escorts rather than giving it to a future friend who might have left me anyway. And I think many other girls have the same attitude. The teenager told how the ordeal left her 'depressed' and struggling with her mental health 'How many would possibly forgo their first time in retrospect if they could have 2.3 million euros (2million) instead?' Aleexandra claimed she was selling herself to raise money for her family who faced eviction from their home. However it later emerged the family lived a comfortable life in Romania. She also said the money would be used to fund a college place, with Oxford University a favoured choice. Mr Zakobielski denied the auction was a publicity stunt. He told Metro.co.uk: 'Talk about girls who make allegations against us are just not existent. He added: 'We never in our history have had a single report against us.' The website owner told MailOnline that he would 'expose' Aleexandra's 'lies'. He added that the company publicly advertises as working with sex workers and so the women are not 'tricked', as Aleexandra claims. Acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has declared that Meghan should be Head of the Commonwealth, while praising her and Harry's 'modern relationship'. The Nigerian writer, who has been hailed Beyonce's favourite feminist, said the former Suits actress should be given the position when asked if 'anyone would mind' if Prince Charles succeeded the Queen in the role. She also praised Meghan, 36, and Harry, 33, for their 'very modern' and 'forward-looking' relationship, saying she found it 'heartening'. It comes as the Commonwealth Heads of Government are expected to decide if the Prince of Wales should succeed the Queen as Head of the Commonwealth at their meeting in London this week. Scroll down for video Acclaimed author Chimamanda Ngozi Adichie has declared that Meghan should be Head of the Commonwealth Speaking on Channel 4 News, Chimamanda, 40, said: 'You know who I think should be it; I think Meghan Markle should be Head of the Commonwealth.' When asked whether she ever thought the royal family would marry into a mixed-race family, the author replied: 'Why not? And you know, black people are gorgeous so of course a person who wants gorgeousness in his life would do well to look at black people.' Describing Harry and Meghan's relationship, she added: There's something very modern and forward-looking about their love, and there's something about it that I find really interesting, and it has that progressive element to it that I find heartening.' Chimamanda, who is known for novels including Half of a Yellow Sun and features on Beyonce's hit Flawless, was on the programme to discuss the Commonwealth Heads of Government (Chogm) summit. Chimamanda praised Meghan, 36, and Harry, 33, for their 'very modern' and 'forward-looking' relationship, saying she found it 'heartening' Meghan attended her first major event on behalf of the Queen on Wednesday, joining Harry at the Commonwealth Youth Forum. It comes just days after the prince, who is the newly appointed Commonwealth Youth Ambassador, said Meghan was hugely excited about joining him in his duties. It is unusual for someone who has not yet married into the royal family to be involved in a high-profile occasion such as the Chogm summit. However, the Queen, who is Head of the Commonwealth, has made clear she sees Harry and his bride-to-be as lynchpins of her work with the so-called family of nations. A woman targeted by cruel bullies because she was born with extensive birth marks has stripped off after years of covering her skin. Lorena Bolanos, 24, from Queretaro, Mexico, has more than a dozen raised birthmarks, or moles, including a large one, known as a giant congenital melanocytic nevus, which covers much of her torso. She was taunted as a teenager over the way she looked, with peers calling her 'Dalmatian' and making fun of her appearance. On one occasion a classmate even told her she should 'kill herself' because of the way she looked. The constant negativity drove Lorena into a deep depression during her first year of university. She was also left too ashamed to expose her birthmarks in public, instead covering them with long-sleeved t-shirts and scarves - despite the hot climate. The import and export manager was taunted as a teenager by peers who called her 'Dalmatian' and even urged her to take her own life Now the body positivity activist has bared almost everything in a revealing photoshoot as part of the Underneath We Are Women project, which champions diversity. Lorena explained her attitude towards her body changed earlier this year when she saw an online troll abuse another woman on Facebook about her appearance. She shared a post on her Instagram talking about her birthmarks which quickly went viral, leading to her being chosen for the body confidence shoot. Speaking about her journey to confidence, Lorena said: 'When I was a little kid it wasn't a problem. My mom always said, "You're a healthy child don't worry about it". Lorena is now embracing her individuality and championing body positivity Lorena was also left too ashamed to expose her birthmarks in public, instead covering them with long-sleeved t-shirts and scarves - despite the hot climate Lorena Bolanos, 24, from Mexico, was branded a 'chocolate chip cookie' by cruel bullies because of her birthmarks. She has now stripped off to promote body positivity 'It was when I started school that it got really terrible. I was so uncomfortable. 'Kids would stare at me and they started calling me "Dalmatian" which was so hurtful and cruel. It made me feel so bad about myself. 'I would come home from school and just cry with my mom. When I was a teenager, I just didn't have relationships. I wasn't confident enough. 'In middle school I was lucky to have a group of really supportive friends but in high school, everything changed. Lorena was born with the birthmarks but did not mind them as a young child because her mother always told her not to worry However when she started attending school she was cruelly taunted about them and began to feel conscious 'I was on my phone one evening when this guy from my school sent me a message. It said, "Why don't you just kill yourself?" WHAT IS A GIANT CONGENITAL MELANOCYTIC NEVUS? A giant congenital melanocytic nevus is a birthmark that covers more than two per cent, or 20cm, of a sufferer's body and requires more than one incision to remove. The head, legs and arms are normally affected. Treatment can involve birthmark removal, however, scarring is likely. Laser therapy can reduce skin pigmentation, however, in some cases the colour returns. Source: Nevus Outreach Advertisement 'I had become so used to it that I just ignored it, but when I showed it to my friend she was outraged. She asked him how he could ever dream of saying that to someone.' Lorena told how a few months ago she spotted a comment left for a beauty blogger she follows on Facebook from a man who called her mole 'disgusting'. She continued: 'I thought to myself, she is so beautiful, how can anyone talk to people like this. It inspired me to take a photo of my own body in a bikini and put it on Instagram. 'For my whole life I had covered up because I was ashamed but I just decided to tell my story and show the world my marks. 'I never dreamed of the response. I had mums writing to me that their daughters were inspired by me.' The response to Lorena's post was so large that she came to the attention of Underneath We Are Women curator, Amy Herrmann. Lorena would often cover her skin in jumpers and trousers, despite the heat Lorena fell into a deep depression during her first year of university after years of enduring negative comments about her appearance Lorena flew to Santa Monica to be photographed by Amy for the project in March, which will result in the production of a photo book celebrating different bodies. 'I was really terrified but Amy made me feel so comfortable,' she said. I didn't tell many people except my mom, but she encouraged me to do it if it made me happy.' Although Lorena has to protect her skin from the sun because she is at greater risk of skin cancer, she said she has grown to love her body for what it is. Her attitude towards her own body started to change earlier this year when she saw an online troll abuse another woman on Facebook about her appearance A picture she posted on Instagram about her moles went viral and she came to the attention of Underneath We Are Women curator, Amy Herrmann 'With my birthmarks, I need to be very careful about sun protection. I have to make sure I cover up and wear a lot of SPF. 'But the reason I wanted to be more open about my body is because I want to change the concept of beauty. 'Before, my moles weren't beautiful to me but I've learned to accept myself and love my body because it's the only one I've got.' Lorena flew to Santa Monica to be photographed by Amy for the project in March, which will result in the production of a photo book celebrating different bodies Professor Green has written candidly about the lasting impact of growing up in a 'relatively rough area' without any male role models. The 34-year-old rapper and documentary maker was brought up on an estate in Hackney, London, by his grandmother, 'Nanny Pat', and his great-grandmother, 'Nanny Edie', after his parents walked out on him as a child. Writing under his real name, Stephen Manderson, he explained how he felt torn between the lessons of non-violence instilled in him by his female relatives and the open aggression and 'alpha-male' mentality he witnessed around him. Professor Green, real name Stephen Manderson, explained how he felt torn between the lessons of non-violence instilled in him by his female relatives and the aggression and 'alpha-male' mentality he witnessed around him growing up on an estate in Hackney, London The star, 34, was brought up by his grandmother, 'Nanny Pat', pictured, and his great-grandmother, 'Nanny Edie', after being abandoned by his mother and father as a child He also offered a candid, introspective look at his own character, concluding that his most 'defining' quality is being an 'anxious' man. The frank post marks the launch of a new bi-weekly column by Manderson titled 'Learning To Adult, Slowly' for The Book of Man. The star wrote how the column will explore 'all things relative to masculinity including femininity'. Manderson, who was previously married to Made In Chelsea star Millie Mackintosh, 28, opened by reflecting on the factors that impacted his formative years. He wrote: 'I realised that my family was quite fractured, and I had a distinct lack of male role models, though I found this through hindsight and wasnt aware of it at the time... Manderson reflected on the lasting impact of growing up with a 'lack of male role models' after his father walked out when he was six years old. Pictured, Manderson with his father as a child 'My adventure began growing up in a relatively rough area with constant repetition of "fighting doesnt make you a man, always walk away" echoing in my ears... Already as a boy I was having to learn how to 'be a man', through various different sources and uncovering lots of contradictions always with what Nanny Pat had told me in mind Professor Green 'Already as a boy I was having to learn how to "be a man", through various different sources and uncovering lots of contradictions always with what Nanny Pat had told me in mind. 'But her advice often conflicted with my environment, the advice of my "olders" (how wed describe the older kids) and I suppose the idea of the more alpha-male. The archetype.' The documentary maker told how he often found himself heeding his grandmother's advice and walked away from confrontations, leaving him feeling 'emasculated'. However on the occasions when he did strike back, Manderson said he found himself 'disproportionately aggressive' as he released the feelings of anger he had held back during previous confrontations. Manderson rose to fame as a rapper with hits like Good To Be Green and Read All About It but has more recently gained prominence as a documentary filmmaker Manderson rose to fame as a rapper with hits like Good To Be Green and Read All About It but has more recently gained prominence as a documentary filmmaker. He has explored topics including suicide and why many working class men feel demonised, forgotten and angry. Green yesterday posted his first column for new men's support network The Book of Man. Writing as Stephen Manderson, he writes about the difficulties of being a man today. The designer behind Diana's iconic wedding gown has revealed what she predicts Meghan Markle will wear to marry Prince Harry next month. Elizabeth Emanuel, who together with her then husband David created the dress - complete with 25ft train that Harry's mother wore to marry Prince Charles in 1981, is hoping the royal bride will choose something to 'show off her wonderful legs'. The designer - who predicted the bride will choose a classic dress, but throw in something that 'makes a fashion sttement' - appeared on This Morning to discuss the hotly-anticipated May nuptials, and revealed a sketch of what she would have designed had she been tasked with making Meghan's gown. Her dress had an off-the-shoulder neckline, nipped in waist, and a raised hem at the front to expose a flash of leg. 'I hope she is going to do something a little bit different,' Elizabeth said on the show. 'In my collection right now, we are not doing full-length anymore, and wouldn't it be great - because she has got such wonderful legs - to do something a little bit shorter that has still got that classical silhouette. 'You just know that everyone is going to copy whatever she does,' she added. Elizabeth Emanuel revealed her hopes for Meghan's dress - an ankle-length gown that revealed her 'wonderful legs' The dress designer was behind Diana's famous gown that she wore to marry Prince Charles Meghan is expected to wear two wedding dresses on her big day - a 'traditional and elegant' gown for the ceremony and a more glamorous dress for the evening While everyone knew that the Emanuels were designing Diana's dress when she married Prince Charles in 1981, Meghan's designer is a closely guarded secret. The Emanuels were in their twenties when they got the commission of a lifetime when he and Elizabeth, his partner at the time, were asked to create Diana's dress for her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles. 'The tradition has been something really classical in recent years, at the time we did Princess Diana's dress it was the time of froth and romance and we were just out of college and we thought great lets go for it,' Elizabeth said of Diana's iconic gown. But the designer is hopeful for something new from Meghan. 'I think it's time for a change, I really, really hope that she will do something a little bit different while keeping in with tradition as well. 'I am sure that she will pick something that has got a bit of a fashion statement in there as well as classic.' The Emanuels were in their 20s when they got the commission of a lifetime when he and a partner were asked to create Diana's dress for her 1981 wedding to Prince Charles It is thought that Meghan will follow the Duchess of Cambridge and have two dresses on her big day in May, according to sources. Prince Harry's fiancee, 36, is expected to have a 'traditional and elegant' wedding gown and a second more glamorous number. According to a source, there has been 'talk of some lace and sleeves' when it comes to the dress she wears for the ceremony at St George's Chapel in Windsor. The insider also suggested the same designer will be responsible for both wedding dresses - explaining that the person has been 'sworn to secrecy.' The Duchess of Cambridge wore two wedding dresses on her big day in 2011, which were both designed by Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton. The Duchess of Cambridge wore two wedding dresses for her big day in 2011, both designed by Alexander McQueen's Sarah Burton Kate's wore her second wedding dress, teamed with a bolero, for the evening reception A source told Vanity Fair: '[Meghan] will have two dresses, one for the ceremony and another dress for the evening. 'The plan is for her to change after the ceremony so that she can party the night away in something glamorous and less restrictive. The wedding dress itself will be traditional and elegant.' The insider added: 'There is talk of some lace and sleeves and Meghan has been working very closely with the designer who has been sworn to secrecy.' It comes as speculation mounts that Meghan has picked Burberry as the designer, with the former Suits actress being a long-standing fan of the British brand. Sources have told the Mail about several meetings held recently by senior executives to co-ordinate to what has been described as a major PR strategy around a high profile dress. These meetings have been shrouded in secrecy but it is understood that they concern the PR strategy for a seriously high profile dress, a source said. No-one knows for sure whether Burberry has secured the commission for definite as this is all being done very much on a need-to-know basis. There is mounting speculation that Meghan has picked Burberry's outgoing president Christopher Bailey as the designer for her big day But there can be no more high profile dress this year than Meghans. Fashion designer Henry Holland has also put his bet on Burberry's outgoing president Christopher Bailey on designing Meghan's dress. Speaking to the Wedding Guest Extraordinaire podcast, Holland said: 'I personally really hope it's somebody British. 'I would be quite excited if it was Christopher Bailey's final bow for Burberry. I think that would be a nice thing for him to do, she's worn for them for a long time.' This is the touching moment Pope Francis comforted a grieving boy who was worried his father didn't go to heaven as he was an atheist. The boy, known only as Emanuele, broke down in tears as he approached the microphone to take part in a Q&A session with the pontiff who visited the St. Paul of the Cross parish on the outskirts of Rome on Sunday. According to The National Catholic Reporter, Pope Francis told the crowd that Emanuele's father, who had recently passed away, was a 'good man' but hadn't believed in god. And he reassured the heartbroken boy that his late father was in heaven because god is 'surely proud of him'. A young boy, known only as Emanuele, broke down in tears as he approached the pope to ask a question during a Q&A at St. Paul of the Cross parish on the outskirts of Rome The touching moment took place when Emanuele broke down while trying Unable to get his words out, the Pope beckoned him to come forward and whisper the question and they pair had a private chat and shared a hug. With Emanuele's permission, the Pope told the crowd that the boy had shown 'courage' to cry in front of everyone. 'If that man was able to make his children like that, then it's true, he was a good man. After Emanuele broke down in tears, the pope listened to his story and offered him a hug The youngster was overcome with emotion over his late father as he approached the pontiff during a Q&A "That man did not have the gift of faith, he wasn't a believer, but he had his children baptized. He had a good heart," Francis said. He explained that god makes the decision on who is welcomed into heaven and said that he has 'a dad's heart'. Describing Emanuele's father, he said: 'Do you think God would be able to leave him far from himself? Does God abandon his children when they are good? The children in the crowd shouted back: 'No.' 'There, Emanuele, that is the answer,' the pope told Emanuele. 'God surely was proud of your father.' Queen Mathilde could be seen embracing the warmer weather today as she attended an art exhibit in Brussels. The Queen of Belgium put on a chic display in capped sleeved rainbow dress as she arrived at the Contemporary Art Fair in the capital. The 45-year-old's famous blonde bob was coiffed to perfection for her engagement today offset by a pair of jade drop earrings. Queen Mathilde of Belgium put on a colourful display as she attended the 50th anniversary event of the Contemporary Art Fair in Brussels In light of her loud outfit choice the mother opted for muted accessories in the form of a burgundy clutch and matching suede court shoes. The wife of King Phillipe was greeted by officiates at the annual art fair including Anne Vierstraete who manages the event. Royal well-wishers were also on hand to present the queen with an elegant posy of spring flowers on her arrival. The Queen of Belgium was seen admiring some of the more outlandish pieces on display at the annual exhibit The 45-year-old's famous blonde bob was coiffed to perfection for her engagement today offset by a pair of jade drop earrings The royal was given a tour of the fair's latest exhibits including an almighty clay sculpture that towered over the monarch. She stopped to pose for a photo alongside a contemporary piece reimagining the US flag. Thursday marks the 50 anniversary edition of the Contemporary Art Fair which is held in Belgium each year. The mother posed for a photo alongside a contemporary piece reimagining the US flag The annual event was founded as the Foire dArt Actuel by 11 art dealers in 1968 and today is the preview for the event. Over the next three days the European capital becomes a focal point for collectors, gallerists and art lovers from all over the world. The event provides a unique opportunity to explore the artistic richness of the city, which is home today to an ever greater number of artists, galleries and curators thanks to the fair. Queen Mathilde has been married to King Phillipe of Belgium for 19 years, who ascended the throne following the abdication of his father, King Albert II, on 21 July 2013. A Girl Scout cookie is just about the last thing that most people would think to dip in their hummus, but one food company seems to think that flavor mash-up is missing from the market. Biena, which specializes in chickpea snacks, has a new flavor coming to Whole Foods this June: Thin Mints. According to The Washington Post, the brand's founder Poorvi Patodia said the discovery of the flavor combo was a happy accident. Coming soon: Biena is releasing Thin Mints chickpeas this summer at Whole Foods Something new: The chickpeas have been flavored with peppermint and dipped in chocolate Odd combo: They came up with the flavor on their own and reached out to the Girl Scouts for a partnership The Girls Scouts didn't exactly call on Biena to make the product. Rather, the snack company stumbled upon the flavor and licensed the name. Biena actually has several unexpected chickpea flavors: In addition to savory ones like sea salt, ranch, and barbecue, it has roasted chickpeas covered in salted caramel and dark chocolate. When they created a peppermint-flavored chickpea, the brand decided to dip those in chocolate as well for the Thin Mints mash-up. 'People started to make the comment that these taste a whole lot like Girl Scout Thin Mint cookies,' Patodia said. 'From there, I thought, "I wonder if the Girl Scouts would actually partner with us?"' Biena has several chickpea snack flavors including ranch, barbecue, honey-roasted, and sour cream & onion Unexpected: They already sell a variety that is covered in dark chocolate Sweet: There is also a salted caramel chickpea snack from the brand The gluten-free snack is made with fair-trade chocolate and cane sugar, plus four other ingredients. It will be available exclusively at Whole Foods from June until September, when it will also roll out in other stores. In recent years, the Girl Scouts have team up with several other brands for collaborations. There has also been Thin Mints-flavored Dunkin' Donuts coffee, Nesquik milk, Quaker Chewy granola bars, and Coffe-Mate creamer. Recently, Yoplait released Thin Mints-flavored yogurt, while Thin Mints Crunch bars, Breyers ice cream, and Pillsbury brownie and cupcake mix have also been on the market Teenagers should be made to walk or run a mile every day to protect them against depression, a study claims. Experts believe a lack of exercise could be behind soaring rates of mental illness among young people. And figures show the amount of physical activity children get drops dramatically in secondary school. Researchers claim that a 'daily mile' scheme - pioneered in Scotland six years ago - could help beat the blues. Experts believe a lack of exercise could be behind soaring rates of mental illness among young people. Figures show physical activity drops in secondary school The scheme was started by St Ninian's Primary, Stirling - and has been copied by more than 3,000 schools. It is in addition to PE and has been credited with improving young children's health. It can even be done in a lunch break. The Canadian and Australian research team says the initiative could combat the stress epidemic if extended to older groups. Study author Professor Mark Beauchamp, of British Columbia University, said: 'In the Daily Mile children run, jog or walk one mile every day in their school clothes. 'The Daily Mile does not require specialised equipment or unique staff training and emphasizes enjoyment, inclusion and social participation. 'All of which happen within 15-minute transitions and during times in the day that work for teachers and schools. WHAT IS THE 'DAILY MILE' SCHEME? Researchers claim that a 'daily mile' scheme - pioneered in Scotland six years ago - could help beat the blues. The scheme was started by St Ninian's Primary, Stirling - and has been copied by more than 3,000 schools. It is in addition to PE and has been credited with improving young children's health. It can even be done in a lunch break. The daily mile was the idea of Elaine Wyllie, then the head teacher of St Ninian's Primary, as a way to improve general fitness after hearing her pupils lacked stamina during a simple warm-up before a PE lesson. Advertisement 'Although typically implemented with younger children, active breaks - along with initiativess such as the Daily Mile - represent excellent targets for implementation with older adolescents in secondary schools.' The prevalence of depression and anxiety increases during late adolescence, between 15 and 19 - reaching a peak during early adulthood. This age group have to worry about academic performance and various social pressures, Professor Beauchamp wrote in JAMA Psychiatry. The researchers also recommended a US initiative called Take 10! which combines ten minutes of physical activity with lessons and 'walking meetings'. Professor Beauchamp added: 'In sum, short breaks for physical activity during the school day - separate from physical education classes - represent time-efficient, low-cost, efficacious and scalable means of intervention and have promise for stress reduction and health promotion among older adolescents.' It is estimated a fifth of adolescents in the UK experience a mental health problem in any given year. Exercise has been shown to prevent depression and reduce stress - as well as combat such illnesses as heart disease, cancer and type 2 diabetes. An international study published 18 months that looked at 38 countries across the globe placed England, Scotland and Wales among the worst for physical activity. Overall, England and Wales were both scored D minus - the third worst grade in the rankings - while Scotland was joint worst with a grade of F. Government advice says children should do at least an hour of moderate intensity physical activity per day. Donald Trump reportedly only sleeps for four hours a night, while some of us wake after seven hours wishing we could have a couple more. But how much sleep do we really need, and what time should we go to bed? There will be days when you can't get to bed early or you don't have time for a lie-in, but there is a way to time your slumber to maximise the chances of waking up feeling refreshed and ready to face the day. A new online sleep calculator can work out what time you need to go to bed just by knowing when you need to be up. It calculates the time using information on the body's natural sleep pattern, which works in 90 minute cycles. Scroll to the bottom to take the test for yourself Each person should go through five or six 90-minute sleep cycles a night, and your bedtime can be timed so you wake up at the end of a cycle, which will make you feel less groggy Being woken by an alarm in the middle of one of the 90-minute cycles, and potentially interrupting deep sleep, is often what makes people feel groggy and unwilling to get out of bed. Using this sleep calculator made by the team at home interiors specialist Hillarys, you can work out what time you need to go to bed to make sure you feel sprightly in the morning. For example, if you need to wake up at 7am, simply put that into the easy-to-use website and it suggests that you go to bed at 9.46pm, 11.16pm, 12.46am or 2.16am for the best night's sleep. The calculator takes into account that it takes people an average of 14 minutes to drop off. Tara Hall, spokesperson for www.hillarys.co.uk said: 'Getting a good night's sleep is about more than simply going to bed early - it's about waking up at the right time, too. How can I fall asleep faster? It is common to have trouble getting to sleep quickly, but there are things you can do to help. Try to go to bed and wake up at the same or similar times every day - even at the weekend. Make sure your bedroom is totally dark and quiet. Don't use your bedroom for work or watching TV; save it for sex and sleep. Don't use technology like your phone or laptop before bed - it stimulates your brain. Wind down by having a bath or reading instead. Exercise during the day; aerobic exercise like walking has been found to help people sleep better. Source: The Sleep Council; NHS Choices Advertisement 'Using a formula based on the body's natural rhythms, the Sleep Calculator will work out the best time for you to rise or go to sleep.' Combine the calculator's formula with Sleep Council advice about how much shut-eye each member of the family should be getting, and bedtime is solved. Adults need seven to nine hours per day, while seven to 12 year-olds need ten to 11 hours; if the whole family needs to be up at 7am you could send the children to bed at 9.46pm and stay up a little later yourself until 11.16pm. How much sleep we need depends partly on our age, with babies needing the most at up to a whopping 16 hours a day, but over 65s needing the least at just seven to eight hours. The amount children need to sleep drops steadily as they grow older, with toddlers needing 12-14 hours but 12 to 18 year-olds just eight to nine hours. For the majority of our adult lives we should get a recommended seven to nine hours shut-eye a night to stay healthy. Many will know it's not always possible to get the full nine hours but by using the calculator you can work out what time to sleep to try and make sure you wake up with a lower chance of feeling exhausted. There are different phases of each sleep cycle, starting with three stages of non-rapid eye movement sleep (NREM) which get progressively deeper, followed by a fourth phase of rapid-eye movement sleep (REM), which is when we are in a deep enough sleep to dream. Each person should go through five or six 90-minute sleep cycles a night and if you are woken during REM sleep you may feel tired for the rest of the day, so it is best to wake between phases; after a multiple of 90 minutes since you dropped off. If you have trouble getting to sleep the Sleep Council recommends making sure your bedroom is completely dark, tidy and not too hot or cold, as well as avoiding using phones, laptops or TVs in the bedroom or working there during the day. A mother-of-one who was asked if she was drunk at the school gates discovered her stumbling was caused by a hidden rare illness that left her paralysed in just a few weeks. Charlotte Debieux, 25, believed to be from Southampton, was mortified when she was asked if she had been drinking when she collected her daughter Poppy, three, and found herself unsteady on her feet. A month later, after suffering numbness and back pain, single mother Ms Debieux, who was hoping to join the army, was diagnosed with Guillain Barre Syndrome (GBS). Although out of hospital, the illness has left Ms Debieux, who takes 40 tablets a day, with drooping facial muscles, and forced to use a mobility scooter and bath lift. During Ms Debieux's recovery, which could take up to three years, Poppy has had to move in with her grandmother Michelle, 44, in Gloucester. Ms Debieux, who is sometimes too weak to get out of bed, said: 'I just want to be able to pick my daughter up and swing her around in the summer. If I did that now I'd have to sleep for two hours afterwards.' Charlotte Debieux, who was asked if she was drunk at the school gates, discovered her stumbling was caused by an illness that left her paralysed in just a few weeks (pictured before) Ms Debieux spent a month in hospital before she gradually regained movement in her toes During her recovery, her daughter Poppy (pictured) has moved in with her grandmother WHAT IS GUILLAIN-BARRE SYNDROME? Guillain-Barre syndrome (GBS) occurs when the body's immune system attacks its nervous system. It affects around one in 100,000 people in the UK and US. Symptoms usually start with a tingling sensation in the leg, which may spread to the arms and upper body. In severe cases, the person can become paralysed. The condition can be life-threatening if it affects a person's breathing, blood pressure or heart rate. GBS' cause is unknown, but it usually occurs after a viral infection. The NHS states campylobacter infections have been known to trigger GBS. There is no cure. Treatment focuses on restoring the nervous system. Source: National Institute of Neurological Disorders and Stroke Advertisement 'My daughter's school was asking if I'd been drinking' Ms Debieux first became ill in August 2017 when she started experiencing numbness in her genital area, which spread to her hands and feet, similar to pins and needles. Not long after, Ms Debieux developed agonising back pain and difficulty swallowing. She said: 'I'd been walking around for weeks, looking drunk. I was finding it hard to walk because my feet felt numb. 'My daughter's school was asking if I'd been drinking and I was mortified. That was the point where I realised something was seriously wrong. 'After managing to stumble home I did cry, I was worried I'd have social services or the police round. 'Another time, I'd been watching The Kardashians, and I went to the toilet and wiped from front to back after having a wee and felt a lack of sensation.' Ms Debieux was admitted to hospital regularly until, in September 2017, her condition deteriorated further. She said: 'Doctors thought I might have MS, as my condition usually starts in your feet and works its way up, and effects much older people.' After an MRI scan ruled out MS, Ms Debieux was diagnosed with GBS in September. Before receiving IV treatment, Ms Debieux's limbs were 'completely lifeless' for over a week After regaining movement in her leg, Ms Debieux gradually got stronger day-by-day Slowly regained movement After spending a month at University Hospital Southampton, Ms Debieux was given intravenous antibodies, which make up the immune system, using donated blood over a period of five days. Ms Debieux said: 'My arms and legs were completely lifeless for about eight days. 'I could move my right leg after four days, as well as my left arm, and I could squeeze my hands.' Ms Debieux was discharged from the neurological ward in October, and told she would need physical and occupational therapy as part of her recovery. She said: 'I slowly got stronger day-by-day and had physio. 'I started to use a Zimmer frame and finally had the catheter removed, but I was using bedpans until I was strong enough to use the walker alone, then finally holding onto someone's arm.' Ms Debieux had a catheter removed as she recovered but still required the use of bedpans Getting stronger, Ms Debieux was discharged last October, but needed physical therapy Ms Debieux's symptoms began with numbness in her genital area (pictured before) 'The illness changes your life and not for the better' Ms Debieux has since moved to Gloucester to be closer to her mother and daughter. While she regains her strength, Michelle had to lift her 6ft 3inch daughter out of the bath. Ms Debieux, who has moved in with a friend, said: 'Mum was going to have to care for me and for my daughter. 'She's been run ragged. She's bringing up my daughter and she's had to give up her job to look after us.' Speaking of her symptoms, Ms Debieux said: 'I have a lot of feeling now, but I just can't walk some days. Sometimes I lose feeling in my toes and fingers. 'I'm not strong at all so I'm working on the muscles I need most. I still need help bathing.' Doctors believe Ms Debieux's GBS may have been brought on by an infection, such as flu or food poisoning. Ms Debieux said: 'The illness changes your life and not for the better.' Michelle Johnson, chief nurse at Whittington Hospital in north London, enforced the ban An NHS hospital has urged patients to avoid wearing pyjamas during the day in an attempt to get them better sooner. Patients at Whittington Hospital in north London have been asked to wear their 'normal clothes' in daylight hours. The move, made by the hospital's chief nurse, is part of a major national NHS campaign to help patients recover quicker and end so-called pyjama paralysis. Michelle Johnson, who took up the role earlier this year, argued wearing PJs makes patients want to stay in bed for longer. She said: 'It isnt normal for people to spend all day in pyjamas at home, so why should they do this in hospital? 'Getting dressed makes it more likely that our patients will get out of bed and move around, meaning that they will regain strength and can go home sooner.' Ms Johnson, who spoke to the Camden New Journal newspaper earlier this week, was last year awarded the title Queen's Nurse. She said the new guidance, which comes amid the NHS' publicised battle with so-called bed-blockers, was being implemented this week. Patients' loved ones have been asked to bring in a new outfit every day and help them get dressed and ready each morning. Patients at Whittington Hospital now have to wear their 'normal clothes' in daylight hours Ms Johnson said: 'Patients need support from their loved ones - family and friends can help by taking home clothes that need a wash and bringing in fresh outfits. 'This is a way that everyone - staff, family and friends - can come together to help patients get back to their own homes faster.' HOW BAD IS THE NHS' BED-BLOCKING SITUATION? NHS figures for bed-blocking are currently among the worst on record. Up to 8,500 bed-blocking patients are stuck in hospitals each day because of a lack of care at home, a major report warned in February. In January, a total of 153,000 days were lost due to patients not being discharged because they cannot be looked after in the community. The crisis is costing the health service 900 million a year and is far worse than previously thought. The report commissioned by the Government in 2014 estimated that the NHS could save up to 5 billion a year by 2020 if it becomes more efficient. It was written by Labour peer and businessman Lord Carter, who compared how a sample of 32 hospital trusts are run. Lord Carters report urged trusts to set up cottage hospital-style wards to house patients who are well enough for discharge, but not ready to live independently. Advertisement The new regime will also request that friends and family help patients do their hair and make-up - as well as help male patients to shave and 'spruce up'. Local residents of the Islington-based hospital have welcomed the decision. Gareth Boyes, 34, said: 'Its not a bad idea I suppose. 'But only for some patients - you cant expect someone with a really serious illness to start thinking about what they are wearing.' The pyjama move comes after the NHS launched a campaign earlier this week to try and get patients to ditch their PJs in hospital. The 70-day EndPJparalysis campaign is supported by Professor Jane Cummings, the chief nursing officer for England. Professor Cummings said: 'For many wearing pyjamas reinforces feeling unwell and can prevent a speedy recovery. 'One of the most valuable resources is a patients time and getting people up and dressed is a vital step in ensuring that they do not spend any longer than is clinically necessary in hospital. 'I urge all those caring for our older patients to help end PJ Paralysis and get involved in the 70-day challenge and show the impact they can make.' Studies have found that for patients over the age of 80, a week in bed can lead to 10 years of muscle ageing. Other research shows it can cause muscle loss - which can lessen mobility and may lead to increased dependency and demotivation. Testosterone could be good for more than men's sexual health and strong muscles and bones. A new study has found those with low levels of the hormone could be more likely to suffer from chronic illness. Even the under-40s are at higher risk of obesity-related conditions like diabetes and heart disease thanks to modern sedentary lifestyles, and low testosterone means they are more likely to have more than one at once, according to the research. One researcher warned that all men should be worried about falling testosterone levels - which could cause 'a silent decline in overall health' - even if their level of the hormone is not low enough to have been diagnosed by a doctor. The study involved men with and without testosterone deficiencies and looked for type 2 diabetes, arthritis, heart disease, stroke, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD), high triglycerides - an excess of a type of fat found in the blood, high cholesterol, high blood pressure and clinical depression. Studies have shown that low levels of testosterone are associated with obesity-related illnesses, even when the results took participants' body weight out of the equation The conditions were more common among the men with lower than normal testosterone levels, researchers found, and the same men were also more likely to have more than one. Published in Scientific Reports, the findings come as British experts have warned that nearly half of over-50s in the UK are living with at least one serious health condition, and the proportion of people in their 20s and 30s who are is rising, in part because of unhealthy lifestyles. Lead author of the study and assistant professor of physical medicine and rehabilitation at Michigan Medicine, Mark Peterson said: 'A lot of men may not be aware of the risk factors for testosterone deficiency because of their current lifestyle. 'And more importantly, that declining levels could be contributing to a silent decline in overall health and increased risk for chronic disease. 'Men should be concerned about declining total testosterone, even if it has not reached a level to warrant a clinical diagnosis.' Researchers said in the findings that obesity and a lack of exercise meant even young men were being affected by risks posed by a testosterone deficiency, something which is normally associated with growing old. What is testosterone and why do we need it? Testosterone is the male sex hormone and is mostly made in the testicles, but also in adrenal glands near the kidneys. It causes the voice to deepen, body hair to grow and the genitals to become larger during puberty. As well as affecting sex drive and sperm production, it also plays a role in developing strong bones and muscles. Women also create small amounts of the hormone in the ovaries and adrenal glands. Low testosterone in men can cause erectile dysfunction, low sex drive and muscle weakness. Advertisement Their research found that men with low testosterone were more likely to also have more than one chronic illness at once - a condition known as multimorbidity - when compared with men with normal testosterone levels. This link was even stronger among men aged under 40 or over 60. The drop in testosterone among young men could be due to lifestyle factors such as leading a sedentary lifestyle; a lack of exercise has in the past been shown to cause levels of the hormone to fall. Mr Peterson added: 'It has become evident over time that chronic disease is on the rise in older males. 'But we're also finding that a consequence of being obese and physically inactive is that men are seeing declines in testosterone even at younger ages. 'Previous research in the field has shown that total testosterone deficiency in men increases with age, and studies have shown that testosterone deficiency is also associated with obesity-related chronic diseases.' A co-author of the study and family medicine professor at Michigan, Aleksandr Belakovskiy cautioned that the findings did not prove a link and called for more research, but said it showed a 'robust association' and could change the way doctors look at testosterone. Women who use intimate-health products are more at risk of bacterial, fungal and urinary tract infections (UTIs), new research suggests. Vaginal sanitising gels raise women's risk of developing a genital bacterial infection by almost 20 times and a yeast infection, like thrush, by eight times, a study found. Intimate washes make women 3.5 times more likely to catch a bacterial infection and 2.5 times more at risk of a yeast infestation, the research adds. Vaginal wipes double the risk of a UTI, while lubricants and moisturising creams increase women's susceptibility to thrush by 2.5 times, the study found. Lead author Kieran O'Doherty, from University of Guelph, said: 'These products may be preventing the growth of the healthy bacteria required to fight off infection.' Imbalances to 'good' bacteria in the vagina may also lead to reduced fertility, cervical cancer and a higher risk of sexually transmitted infections (STIs), according to the researchers. So far this year, feminine-hygiene product sales have reached more than $2,720 million in the US alone. Women who use intimate-health products are more at risk of infections (stock) DEMAND FOR 'DESIGNER VAGINAS' IS SOARING The ever-growing desire for a 'designer vagina' has soared by almost 50 per cent over the course of a year, figures suggested in February 2018. Industry figures reveal a 45 per cent jump in the number of labiaplasties - which involves trimming back the inner lips, like Barbie - across the world. Demand for 'designer vaginas' is soaring as women want to look like Barbie Leading names in plastic surgery have said the vaginal surgery, one of the most sought-after, is officially the 'fastest growing procedure'. Dr Renato Saltz, president of the International Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgery (ISAPS), told AFP that 'vaginal rejuvenation is the new trend'. IMCAS figures also show spending on cosmetic surgery has jumped by eight per cent in a year, totalling 7.5 billion ($10.7bn). Spending on equipment and products used for nips, tucks and lifts is only expected to increase by another nine per cent next year. On the back of the IMCAS figures, Dr Saltz added the 'fastest growing procedure' was the labiaplasty, which 100,000 people underwent in 2015. He said: 'The demand for cosmetic procedures is stronger than ever.' Porn has repeatedly been blamed for the thousands of women going under the knife for a labiaplasty. Advertisement Why do women use intimate-hygiene products? Not enough women are aware of the risks of using intimate-hygiene products, according to Mr O'Doherty. He adds society views vaginas as 'impure', which leads women to clean them excessively. Mr O'Doherty said: 'Our society has constructed female genitalia as unclean and the marketing of vaginal hygiene products as something women need to attain the ideal is contributing to the problem. 'These products are viewed as a physical need rather than a choice. But the reality is, there are potential health risks to using these products.' Vaginal products may be used to relieve existing infections Mr O'Doherty said: 'The study does not establish whether it is the products causing the infections or whether women are using the products in an attempt to address the infection.' For instance, women with a yeast infection may use vaginal creams to calm any itching. Results further suggest no link between vaginal infections and the use of genital deodorant sprays, powders, oils or creams. In addition, none of the products in the study are associated with an increased risk of STIs. The researchers analysed 1,435 women who provided information on the intimate-health products they use via an online survey. The women were asked if they had used products specifically designed for the vaginal area, such as washes and wipes, or general items, like baby oil, in the past three months. They also gave their reasons for using such products, as well as if they had suffered any genital symptoms or related conditions. The findings were published in the journal BMC Women's Health. Vaginal sanitising gels raise the risk of a genital bacterial infection by almost 20 times (stock) Experts urge women not to use apple cider vinegar to tighten their vaginas This comes after experts urged women not to use trendy apple cider vinegar to 'tighten' their vaginas last October. Online blogs and forums are encouraging women to carry out this bizarre douching technique with the promise of making vaginas tighter, as well as cleaning excess menstrual residue. Aside from vinegar being completely ineffective at tightening the vagina, Professor Linda Cardozo from the Royal College of Obstetricians and Gynaecologists in London warns it could disrupt the organ's delicate 'good' bacteria, putting women at risk of irritation and infections. To maintain the vagina's strength and tone, women should perform pelvic floor exercises regularly, Professor Cardozo recommends. Vagina's are also self cleaning, with additional 'menstrual residue removal' being unnecessary. New York's highly-anticipated new 'goat yoga' fitness class has been banned by the Health Department over safety fears. The $40 45-minute classes, which are structured like a standard yoga class but with little goats crawling around and on the participants, were set to debut in Brooklyn's Bushwick neighborhood on Tuesday. The planned program, called NY Goat Yoga, was set to be the city's first offshoot of the popular goat yoga retreat in at Gilbertsville Farmhouse in South New Berlin, upstate New York. However, after consultation with health officials, the organizers have announced that they will not be able to run the classes, since there is a city ban on direct contact with certain animals, and goats are banned from all city buildings. Although the ban is subject to each case reviewer's discretion, they agency ruled that this case was not justified, pulling the program just days before it was due to launch in a warehouse with eight goats driven to the city a week from South New Berlin. Goat yoga (pictured in Toronto last year) has become hugely popular since launching in Oregon in 2016. But trendy New York will miss out on the fad, as it is banned by health laws 'The Health Department worked closely with the NY Goat Yoga, but because we prohibit direct contact with certain animals we were unable to process their application and issue a permit,' a spokesman said. The plans for New York's goat yoga class was the subject of much hype, two years after the first known class took place in Oregon, prompting hundreds to pop up all over the country. Gilbertsville Farmhouse hosts scores of visitors to its $95 'Goat Yoga and Brunch', $300 'Goat Yoga Retreat', and $200 'Goat Yoga and Glamping'. Participants are encouraged to take selfies with the goats. Sharon Boustani, the organizer of NY Goat Yoga, says they are now in the process of refunding their many ticketholders. She lamented the last-minute decision, insisting the Health Department agency workers were optimistically fighting her case. 'Unfortunately, the laws [in New York City] do not allow for anything close to what a goat yoga experience should be,' Boustani told the New York Post. She added: 'As far as I can see, goat yoga is not a possibility in New York City.' Goats can transmit a number of diseases to humans, including leptospirosis (which can affect lungs and kidneys), cryptosporidia (a parasite which causes diarrhea), Q fever (like a flu), and rabies. Thirty-seven more people have been infected with E. coli from pre-cut romaine lettuce as the outbreak has reached nine more states, new reports have revealed. There have been a total of 50 infections and 31 hospitalizations across 16 states as of Wednesday, according to an update from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Last week the bacteria was traced back to bags of chopped romaine lettuce from Yuma, Arizona. Idaho and Pennsylvania have reported the largest number of cases, with 10 and 12 respectively, but the especially nasty strain has also been found in Alaska, Arizona, California, Connecticut, Illinois, Louisiana, Michigan, Missouri, Montana, New Jersey, New York, Ohio, Virginia and Washington. The outbreak of E. coli from contaminated romaine lettuce has continued with 53 people infected and 31 hospitalized 'Before purchasing romaine lettuce at a grocery store or eating it at a restaurant, consumers should confirm with the store or restaurant that it is not chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region,' the CDC statement said. 'If you cannot confirm the source of the romaine lettuce, do not buy it or eat it.' The specific strain causing the illnesses reported beginning in mid-March has been identified as Shiga toxin-producing E. coli O157:H7. E. coli bacteria are typically found in foods such as undercooked meat or raw vegetables that have been contaminated with fecal matter. Scientists reveal patch that can detect E. coli Last week researchers in Canada published a study on a patch that could alert consumers to the presence of potentially harmful bacteria such as E. coli. When placed on food packaging, sensors in the patch can detect dangerous pathogens and send a signal to users' phones warning them it may not be safe to eat. The researchers claimed that the device would be inexpensive and easy to produce on a large scale, but it is unclear when it may be available. Advertisement It can also be transmitted if a person who is carrying the bacteria doesn't wash their after using the bathroom and then processes or prepares food. Symptoms including bloody diarrhea, severe stomach cramps and vomiting commonly appear three to four days after ingesting the harmful bacteria and usually clear up within a week. However, in five to 10 percent of cases the strain can lead to a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome. According Wednesday's CDC report, five people have reportedly developed HUS. The CDC has said these complications are is more common older adults, young children and those with weakened immune systems. Signs of HUS include fever, abdominal pain, pale skin tone, fatigue and irritability, small, unexplained bruises or bleeding from the nose and mouth, and decreased urination. In January a larger E. coli outbreak also linked to romaine lettuce was reported in 13 states, resulting in 58 hospitalizations and one death. AMERICAN BY DAY by Derek B. Miller (Doubleday 16.99) AMERICAN BY DAY by Derek B. Miller (Doubleday 16.99) Norwegian police chief inspector Sigrid Odegard is dispatched by her father to the U.S. to find out what has happened to her older brother, Marcus, who has mysteriously disappeared in upstate New York. It transpires that he is the prime suspect in the murder of a black college professor. The local sheriff, Irv Wylie, is convinced that he pushed her out of a window. Odegard sets out to prove him wrong. But Wylie is a long way from the redneck stereotype of the smalltown sheriff, just as Odegard is very far from a flatfoot Scandinavian copper. This is a subtle crime story peopled with beautifully drawn characters. Former UN worker Millers debut, Norwegian By Night, was praised as a literary novel with the body of a thriller, and this equally elegant story is not to be missed. BODY AND SOUL by John Harvey (Heinemann 14.99) BODY AND SOUL by John Harvey (Heinemann 14.99) Harveys series focusing on the dark, brooding detective Frank Elder was hugely successful before he announced his retirement. Happily, he changed his mind and wrote the story of Elders last case. Now living in retirement in Cornwall, the ex-policeman is surprised when his estranged daughter Katherine turns up on his doorstep, distraught but refusing to explain why. She disappears equally suddenly, but Elder discovers that she has been modelling for, and in a relationship with, artist Anthony Winter. When he sees paintings of his daughter, Elder is shocked and attacks the painter in London before returning home. Shortly afterwards, Winter is found dead and suspicion falls on Elder. This is wonderfully atmospheric crime writing a tribute to Harveys exceptional talent. TURN A BLIND EYE TURN A BLIND EYE by Vicky Newham (HQ 12.99) by Vicky Newham (HQ 12.99) This impressive debut from psychologist Newham, who taught in the East End of London for years, introduces spirited Detective Inspector Maya Rahman. Shes a Bangladeshi who works around Brick Lane and is mourning the loss of her brother. The headmistress of a local school is found strangled in her office on the first day of term her wrists are tied together and there is a card at the scene on which is written the ancient Buddhist precept: I shall abstain from taking the ungiven. Then a second body is discovered with another mysterious message. A serial killer is on the loose, and Rahman is faced with trying to unravel the riddles. The multicultural community of Brick Lane is sensitively evoked, and the heroine is ultra-hip. Its no surprise that she has been snapped up for television. Fidelity's new fund of funds has catapulted itself into second place on the bestsellers list over Isa season - just two months on from its launch. Inflows to the Fidelity Select 50 Balanced fund, which launched in February this year, outstripped sales of popular and more established funds including Fundsmith and Lindsell Train Global Equity through Fidelity's investment platform. It was pipped to the top spot by Fidelity Global Special Situations fund, according to data based on net sales through Fidelity from the beginning of the year to 5 April. Old Mutual Asia Pacific fund ranked third in Fidelity's bestsellers list, ahead of Rathbone Global Opportunities and Fundsmith, which came in at fourth and fifth. The Fidelity Select 50 Balanced fund, invests in around 30 funds of the fund house's favourite funds and ETFs Tom Stevenson, investment director for Personal Investing at Fidelity International, said: 'After a year of unnatural calm, we saw volatility return with a vengeance in February 2018. 'Its therefore unsurprising to see self-directed investors over the Isa season seek out investments that offered geographical or asset class diversification.' He added: 'This meant that familiar names such as Fidelity Global Special Situations, Rathbone Global Opportunities and Lindsell Train Global Equity Fund, as well as the recently launched Fidelity Select 50 Balanced Fund all saw strong flows in the final months of the last tax year. With the remainder of 2018 looking set to be defined by political volatility in the shape of Russian sanctions, trade wars between the US and China, and the ongoing tension in Syria, it would be sensible for early bird Isa investors to continue to have a wide geographic spread of investments. Fidelity's bestsellers Fidelity Global Special Situations Fidelity Select 50 Balanced Old Mutual Asia Pacific Rathbone Global Opportunities Fundsmith Fidelity Emerging Markets Lindsell Train Global Equity Baillie Gifford Japanese Invesco Perpetual European Equity Income Legg Mason IF Japan Equity Why was the Select 50 so popular? As its name suggests, the portfolio is based on Fidelity's 'Select 50' list of recommended funds and exchanged traded funds (ETFs). At least 80 per cent of the fund is invested in around 30 investment products on the list, with the remainder invested in funds outside the list or held as cash. Managed by Ayesha Akbar, the fund's asset allocation is not too dissimilar to that of a typical globally diversified balanced fund. The majority of it is split between stocks and bonds, while some alternatives offerings such as commodities funds are included, and some left as cash. The fund's top 10 holdings include a number of favourites among seasoned investors such as Schroder Tokyo and Lindsell Train UK Equity Income, run by star fund manager Nick Train. Top ten holdings in Fidelity's Select 50 fund as at 31 March 2018 Fund Portfolio weighting M&G Corporate Bond GBP I Acc 6.32 LF Lindsell Train UK Equity Acc 3.73 Matthews Asia Funds Pacific Tiger I GBP 3.55 IP European Equity Income Acc No Trail 3.52 iShares Glb Prpty Secs Eq Idx (UK) L Acc 3.46 Baillie Gifford Japanese B Acc 3.46 Colchester Global Bond GBP Hedged Acc 3.46 Majedie UK Equity X Acc 3.44 Schroder Tokyo L GBP Acc 3.32 JPM Global High Yield Bond C Grs Acc 3.21 The fund has generated a return of negative 1.15 per cent (to 17 April) since inception, however, the data is by no means an indication of future performance. The rule of thumb is to allow a fund to accumulate five years worth of returns data to give it time to iron out market volatility to generate a smoothed return. The Fidelity Select 50 Balanced fund commands ongoing charges of 1.25 per cent - which is more than double the cost of buying a vanilla active fund and considerably more than a typical market index tracker. Ben Yearsley, director at Shore Financial Planning, said: 'For a fund of funds, the OCF is pretty good. However it seems a bit over-diversified. The top ten fund positions account for only 37 per cent, which seems low in my view. 'I know its a balanced fund, but Id rather have something with more conviction. 'There is an interesting blend of funds with some household names and some lesser known boutiques - has this fund been designed by their marketing department to appeal to everyone? 'It feels like tick yes to include big funds, tick yes to include ETFs, tick yes to include boutiques. 'Its too soon to pass judgement on the fund though as it was only launched a few months ago. For investors who want to invest without any hassle I can see why it appeals. From that point of view though there are many other fund of funds doing a similar job.' AJ Bell Youinvest top 10 funds Meanwhile, six of the top ten most purchased collective investments through AJ Bell Youinvest over the Isa season were investment trusts - listed companies with shares that trade on the stock market - with the FTSE 100 listed Scottish Mortgage topping the charts. Ryan Hughes, head of active portfolios at AJ Bell,said: 'Investment trusts were clearly very popular this Isa season and can be a good option for long-term investors considering where to invest their new Isa allowances or pension contributions.' Marmite and Dove soap owner Unilever has promised to hand shareholders 5billion as it faces a backlash over plans to ditch its UK headquarters and base itself in the Netherlands. The Anglo-Dutch company, whose brands also include Domestos, Persil, Ben & Jerry's, Lynx and Knorr will start buying the shares back off investors next month. It follows the sale of the margarines business behind Flora and I Can't Believe It's Not Butter to American private equity group KKR last year for 5.9billion. Going Dutch: Marmite and Dove soap owner Unilever will start buying shares back off investors next month as it faces a backlash over plans to base itself in the Netherlands Analysts said the buyback, which comes alongside an 8 per cent rise in the dividend to 33.68p a share, would act as a 'sweetener' as it attempts to persuade investors of the merits of its decision to make Rotterdam its base instead of London. The move will see Unilever shares have a secondary listing on the stock market in London, and a full listing in Rotterdam, meaning they are likely to be removed from the FTSE 100 index. Some major investors with funds that track the Footsie fear they will be forced to sell their Unilever holdings at an unfavourable price. Graham Spooner, an analyst at The Share Centre, said: 'Unilever is facing mounting investor unrest over its UK exit. There is opposition amongst a group of shareholders whose holding may be directly affected.' The promise of cash to shareholders came as the company reported a 3.4 per cent rise in sales for the first quarter of the year. However, turnover fell 5.2 per cent to 11billion due to currency swings. The company also revealed that the price of its goods rose by just 0.1pc in the first quarter. Unilever said: 'There is a small group of shareholders whose holding may be directly affected by our proposal and we will continue to engage with them. We remain highly confident of achieving the required level of shareholder support.' Concerns: Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry Business chiefs have called for an overhaul of takeover rules to stop vulture investors repeating the fire sale of British engineering stalwart GKN. Carolyn Fairbairn, director general of the Confederation of British Industry, said deals should always be in the long-term interests of UK business rather than a chance to get rich quick. The sale of 259-year-old GKN was forced through by hedge funds which had bought 20 per cent of the shares in anticipation of a fast profit. It gave them control of enough votes to overwhelm long-standing investors who wanted the firm to remain independent. As a result, GKN is now being bought by asset-stripper Melrose and will be sold off piecemeal to enrich its new owners. Fairbairn said the rules could be reformed so that only long-term investors vote on future deals. Speaking at the University of Manchester, she said: 'I am never in favour of regulation in the heat of the moment. Now the dust is settling I think that is something worth looking at.' Former CBI director general Sir Richard Lambert, at the same event, said markets in Britain are still dominated by ruthless speculators. He said: 'The people who took the decision have no interest in GKN's affairs beyond the next two weeks. 'I can't think that was right.' Digital challenger bank, Tandem, has launched its first ever savings accounts. It has started with three competitive fixed-rate account with an easy-access deal in the pipeline. The range includes 1.8 per cent interest on a one-year fixed saver and near best-buy rates of 2.1 per cent on its year fixed saver and 2.3 per cent over three years, all accessed through its mobile app only. The accounts have been eagerly awaited since the bank acquired Harrods bank last year. Would you bank by mobile for a better savings rate? Tandem offers competitive rates but you can only sign up using its mobile app What is Tandem? Tandem is a relatively new bank aiming to offer mobile banking through its purpose-built app. Savers with Tandem are covered under the Financial Services Compensation Scheme up to the usual 85,000 limit if the bank runs into trouble. Similarly to rivals Monzo and Starling it offers special spending breakdowns via its smartphone app to help customers manage their money. Tandem also lets you link existing current accounts through the app and pull in information from other banks. The app then allows you to set budgets, see where your money is going and get balance projections based on your regular bills and spending habits. However unlike its app-bank competitors, it has focused on launching with a credit card and savings accounts putting it head-to-head with the likes of more established savings challengers such as Atom, Ikano Bank and Ford Money. Tandem first launched in 2016 having secured a banking licence the year before, but its plans were put on hold after its House of Fraser owner, China Sanpower Group, was prevented from investing in the bank further by the Chinese government. Tandem then acquired Harrods bank and launched its first credit card offering cashback on every purchase and no exchange fees when spending abroad. The bank says it plans to launch a second credit card and an easy-access savings account in the future. David Goodwin, product manager at Tandem, says: 'Were shaping a suite of products that serve as solutions to real problems that people struggle with every day. Tandem is a bank that helps customers better manage their money, and these savings accounts are a way for people to see guaranteed returns on their cash.' Ricky Knox, Tandems chief executive adds: 'Its been a long wait for us and were excited to finally share these accounts with the public. Weve got big ambitions for 2018 and are off to a fantastic start.' So how do its new rates compare? Tandem's new account line up all require a minimum 1,000, up to a maximum 2.5million. Remember though, the FSCS protection only covers the first 85,000. You can only make one deposit into your account, within the first 14 days, and interest is paid annually. One thing to bear in mind, you wont be able to withdraw funds until the end of the one, two or three-year terms. There are a few app-only banks already offering savings accounts, many of which sit at the top of This is Money's best-buy savings tables. Anna Bowes, director of independent savings advice site Savings Champion, said: Tandem Bank is entering the savings market with a bang. This is good news for savers as more competition will normally lead to increased rates. All three of these new accounts are competitive, with the two-year option - paying 2.1 per cent - sitting in second position in the best buys behind Wyelands Bank, which pays 2.15 per cent. And over three years Tandems 2.3 per cent rate is beaten by only 0.01 per cent as RCI Bank is paying 2.31 per cent. But it is worth noting that RCI Bank is not part of the UK FSCS instead deposits of up to 100,000 are protected by the French Deposit Protection Scheme. The bank's one-year deal paying 1.8 per cent is again beaten by a small margin, Al Rayan Bank and Wyelands Bank currently offer a rate of 1.85 per cent. Wyelands Bank requires a higher deposit however at 5,000. Milestone Savings pays slightly less than the market leaders at 1.82 per cent, but still beats Tandem by a 0.2 percentage point margin. This is Money's verdict While the bank may be relatively unknown, Tandem has full FSCS protection. However, one factor which may mean its accounts don't appeal to all, you can only open an account via the bank's smartphone app, online or over the phone. The bank has no physical branches. It has long been the case that the challenger banks have dominated the best-buy tables, while the big banks show little interest in savers cash, offering rates as low as 0.1 per cent. The extra competition has been good news for savers during a time of rock-bottom rates. New providers generally prefer to start with fixed-rate accounts knowing they will keep hold of saver's deposits for a set period of time which allows them to lend against it. However, it's good news the bank intends on extending its range to include an easy access account in the future as the more contenders looking to offer the most eye-catching rates the better. Advertisement From dusting a horse's flowing mane in brightly coloured corn flour to dressing dogs in frills to create a lovable version of a horror movie clown, three talented photographers have gone to great lengths to capture outstanding shots of their furry best friends. Victorian photographers Louise Sedgman, Jacinta Dal Ben and Erin King have taken out the top three prizes in the pet photography section of the Victorian Australian Institute of Professional Photography awards. Ms Sedgman's collection of horses impressed the judges so much that she took out the top prize after entering four amazing images. 'Captured up close for a client as her beautiful Friesian filly cantered towards me. The light was reflecting off the white sand of the arena and created the beautiful glow of her mane and eye, which I love,' Louise Sedgman said of her photo 'One of the best howl-o-ween dog costumes I have ever seen, how could I not do it justice and create a cover shot to illustrate 'IT',' Erin King said of this entry in the competition Jacinta Dal Ben loves taking pictures of kittens and puppies positioned as newborn babies - the kittens above are swaddled and placed in their nest The first image peeks through the doorway of a shed to capture 'Teeko', a client's horse. The second was taken at a castle during a jousting competition and shows the horse in deep concentration. In the third photo the mane of the Friesian filly pictured is highlighted by the sun and in the final image Ms Sedgman had a friend pour coloured cornflour on her daughter's horse before sending him cantering up the paddock. The huge number of entrants reflects the sudden interest in pet photography, according to the judges, who had a tough job deciding between the many images. Dal Ben was awarded the honour of becoming a finalist in the tight field - she specialises in taking photos of puppies and kittens like this amazing specimen 'Seeing as my girl, Peanut, is my main inspiration into pet photography, I have to create an image as a homage to her each year for the awards,' entrant Erin King said 'Taken at a castle during a jousting event with two beautiful horses. The grey horse particularly took my eye with his swirling mane and beautiful bridle,' Ms Sedgman said Jacinta Dal Ben was awarded the honour of becoming a finalist in the tight field - she specialises in taking photos of kittens and puppies. Ms Dal Ben positions the animals like newborns in her very cute shoots which include kittens in swaddles. The second finalist in the field was Erin King, who has been competing in the pet category for the last three years. Another of Ms Dal Ben's 'baby-inspired' kitten shots - the kitten is swaddled in a brown wrap for the photograph 'Bandit's owner sent his image to me for a recent dog model call out I posted on Facebook. But when I saw his face, the original photo idea that I was seeking models for went straight out the window and instead I wanted to create an image specifically around this dog,' Ms King said This kitten is in a wreath as well as its baby swaddle - the photographer loves to take pictures of puppies and baby cats 'I aim to show the beauty of our animals by creating photos that show us their life was special, they meant something to us and ultimately that they were loved. I believe in expressing the love we have for our animals,' Ms King said. 'I'm also an avid animal lover, crazy dog lady and proud dog mum, supporter of animal rescue and animal rights. 'My own dog and the relationship we share has attributed to my inspiration in wanting to capture this love and relationship for others.' The awards were judged on April 11. Inspired by the colour run Ms Sedgman had cornflour poured onto her daughter's pony - it created the illusion of flames This image was shot as the cover of a fundraising photobook project, telling the heartwarming stories of Melbourne rescue dogs Heartbreaking images have revealed how a huge mass of abandoned fishing nets are drifting in the Caribbean Sea, indiscriminately catching and killing dozens of sea creatures. British dive instructor Dominick Martin-Mayes discovered the shocking 'ghost net' drifting north of Grand Cayman, in the Cayman Islands, on Monday afternoon. The shocking underwater photos show a juvenile white tip shark among the countless decomposing sea creatures found trapped in the net, which measures 40 feet in depth and 40 feet around. Trapped: A juvenile white tip shark is seen entangled in the huge floating 'ghost net' that is currently drifting in the Caribbean Sea Mr Martin-Mayes, a graduate in marine biology, told MailOnline he spotted numerous shark species and fish entangled, including tripletail, ocean yellowtail, and ocean turbot. 'The size of it is mind-blowing. There are a bunch of sharks in it, I couldnt really tell what species as most were decomposing,' he said. The 25-year-old described the discovery as 'heartbreaking' and explained that while they managed to cut a few creatures out it was too dangerous to help them all. Mr Martin-Mayes predicted the enormous tangle of nets had been drifting for 'months' due to the amount of growth on it but fears it may never be found again. 'Its hard to do anything now as it's moved probably 100-150 miles, drifting east,' he warned. Countless creatures caught: British dive instructor Dominick Martin-Mayes and his dive partner Pierre Lesieur were 'heartbroken' after discovering the dozens of sharks and fish rotting in the mass of abandoned nets Paradise lost: The shocking photos have highlighted a problem beyond the surface of the idyllic Caribbean Sea. Mr Lesieur said 'just like an iceberg, 90 per cent of the [nets] mass is underneath' the water Spotted: The top of the 'ghost net' looks harmless compared to what lies beneath. Authorities are searching for the mass of nets but it's feared it has already drifted 100-150 miles He shared the photos, taken by his dive partner Pierre Lesieur of Stingray Watersports, on Facebook in the hope that it would raise awareness of the problem. 'So sad to see this so close to Cayman. 3/4 miles offshore. Such a waste. Did our best to free what we could but we were too late for most,' Mr Martin-Mayes posted. Mr. Lesieur told local news station Cayman 27 that the scale of the net's size can't be comprehended until you see it underwater. 'The surface of it was only probably about 50 feet in diameter, but just like an iceberg, 90 per cent of the mass is underneath, and they were miles and miles of netting just tangled up and embedded in themselves, below the water, just disappearing into the depths,' he explained. It is unknown where the nets were originally abandoned by fishermen. Once cast aside, old fishing nets can drift with the currents for hundreds of miles, sucking up anything in their path. Local authorities have been informed about the sighting and Cayman 27 reports the Department of Environment is asking that any further sightings be reported, along with a GPS waypoint. Laura Laine, 27, poses in her British Airways uniform before she quit as a hostess to become a webcam porn star A British Airways stewardess has quit her job to become a webcam porn star, MailOnline can reveal. Laura Laine has given her trolley duties the push and now strips off for an adult internet channel. Laura Laine performs for Studio 66 TV, a Babestation-style live strip show in which viewers can call in and speak to the girls. Ms Laine, 27, was part of BA's mixed fleet for around a year. She was with the airline for two years and graduated as full member of air crew last June. She was based at Heathrow Airport working on both long and short-haul flights. However she found the constant travelling too tiring and in February made her debut on Studio 66 TV, whose studios are in Chiswick, west London. Gone are the conservative BA uniforms and instead she now cavorts around in slinky lingerie and other skimpy outfits. A former colleague of Laura's at BA told MailOnline: 'I'm not surprised that she's gone into this line of work because it's what she's always been interested in doing. 'We were working together last year and she told me that she took a web camera and laptop with her on every flight. Ms Laine has given her trolley duties the push and now strips off for an adult internet channel called Studio 66, which has studios in Chiswick, west London 'When she got to her hotel room after work she'd connect the camera up to the laptop and start to perform. She'd do it whenever she had some free time wherever she was in the world. 'But good luck to her, being an air stewardess isn't for everyone and it can be quite exhausting work. 'If she has found something that she likes doing and she can make it work for her than fair play I say.' Ms Laineis originally from Worcester but now lives in west London. But the hostess (pictured) moaned on social media that constant flying was 'too tiring' She also strips for another website called My FreeCams.com where girls, mainly amateurs filming themselves at home, can earn money for their performances via tips or 'virtual tokens' When contacted, Ms Laine declined to make any comment on leaving BA for her new career in the adult industry. However, just before her Studio 66 TV debut, she tweeted: 'When I was just a webcam model I felt so stress free, just working on my own pace and living comfortably. 'As an air hostess I have no time to myself and it's financially draining. 'I am so done with this! Back to being a full time model I think.' And last month, having made her big breakthrough, she tweeted: 'I feel very lucky I have the best and most open minded family and friends. 'They have shown me true support. And I am so blessed to have that. 'Many girls have to keep their lives a secret or feel ashamed that they have this job. Stigma is still an issue in #sexwork.' A friend said: 'She's very open with what she does and she loves the attention. 'She is always posting about it on her social media accounts so it's not much of a secret. 'She had a boob job about two years ago and that when she started doing 'shoots', I saw her at a friend's wedding and she started telling us all about it. 'She always refers to herself as a sex worker.' British Airways said she does not work for them - but refused to confirm whether she was ever in their employment. However a series of images show her wearing a BA uniform posing with other stewardesses. Before she quit as an air stewardess, Ms Laine, tweeted: 'As an air hostess I have no time to myself and it's financially draining. 'I am so done with this! Back to being a full time model I think.' In February Ms Laine made her debut on Studio 66 TV, whose studios are in west London In 2013 the national airliner carried out an investigation into a video which appeared to show two women wearing BA uniforms washing each other in a bath tub. The eight-minute video was filmed in a hotel room during what was claimed to be a layover between flights. BA said they had no evidence the two women were or had ever been employees. A group of 11 Republican lawmakers is asking the FBI and the Justice Department to investigate Hillary Clinton, James Comey, Loretta Lynch, as well as FBI agents and other top figures who feature in the Clinton email investigation. 'Because we believe that those in positions of high authority should be treated the same as every other American, we want to be sure that the potential violations of law outlined below are vetted appropriately,' according to the letter by Florida GOP Rep. Ron DeSantis and 10 other Republicans. They complained about 'dissimilar degrees of zealousness' between how Clnton and President Trump were investigated, a reference to the Mueller probe. GOP lawmakers wrote attorney general Jeff Sessions urging criminal investigations of Hillary Clinton and others On Comey, who is in the midst of a book tour criticizing President Trump, the GOP lawmakers say he his actions suggest 'improper investigative conduct, potentially motivated by a political agenda.' On Clinton, they mention how her campaign lawyer made payments to the firm that hired Christopher Steele to produce the dossier of damaging information on Trump. Trump brought up the issue in his press conference Wednesday. For former obama Attorney General Loretta Lynch, they cite the Uranium One deal. ON TOUR: They also called for an investigation of former FBI Director James Comey LOCK HER UP? The lawmakers urged an investigation of Hillary Clinton The criminal referral doesn't have the force of law. Ordinary citizens also can urge investigations. They also accuse fired FBI deputy director Andrew McCabe with potential criminal violations, and also raise concerns with FBI lovers Peter Strzok and Lisa Page, accusing them of 'interference' in the Clinton email probe. Several of the signers of the letter also pushed a second special counsel to investigate Clinton, the Hill reported. The letter comes as former FBI director James Comey does interviews on a book tour, where he has repeatedly accused President Trump of acting like a mob boss, and urging him to life the 'cloud' of the Russia investigation. Trump said at a press conference Wednesday: 'There's been nobody tougher on Russia than President Donald Trump.' The widow of the Gov. Andrew Cuomo aide caught in the crossfire between two rival gangs during Brooklyn's J'ouvert festival, is pregnant with his child three years after his death. Trenelle Gabay, who is seven months pregnant, was in a Brooklyn court Wednesday for the pretrial hearings for the five men accused of murdering her husband Carey Gabay, 43, in 2015. Doctors were able to take sperm from Carey before he died, and his wife was artificially inseminated last year. She is planning to name her baby Carey, after his father. The widow of the Gov. Andrew Cuomo aide caught in the crossfire between two rival gangs during Brooklyn's J'ouvert festival, is pregnant with his child three years after his death Trenelle Gabay was married to Carey Gabay, 43, (pictured together) before he was shot dead in 2015 Doctors were able to take sperm from Carey before he died, and his wife was artificially inseminated last year (pictured is her ultrasound) Trenelle told CBS News she 'didn't plan on being a single mom. But here I am and I just can't wait to meet this little guy.' 'That is Carey's profile,' she added, pointing to an ultrasound of the baby. 'Definitely his mouth and his jawline and it's just God's miracle.' Her husband, a lawyer for Cuomo's Empire State Development, had been at the pre-dawn West Indian Day Parade festival at around 3.40am on September 7, 2015, when a fight broke out between rival gangs. He was shot in the head by a stray bullet and died in hospital a week later. Tranelle said that as far as she was concerned, 'he left home and never came back.' Carey Gabay (left) was shot while walking through Brooklyn before the West Indian Day Parade - he was a top aide to Gov. Andrew Cuomo (right) in 2015 Gabay and his brother were walking in the Crown Heights neighborhood during the pre-dawn festivities for the annual West Indian Day Parade, when he was shot Gabay was one of four men shot overnight along the route for the parade in 2015 which takes place every Labor Day in the Crown Heights neighborhood in the borough of Brooklyn 'I was blank,' she said. 'I was numb. I just remember praying, 'Carey's alive. Lord God, keep him alive.'' Now Carey's suspected killers are in court to face murder charges for his shooting death. Last year, Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson indicted Tyshawn Crawford, Keith Luncheon, Micah Alleyne, Stanley Elianor and Kenny Bazile on a number of charges in the death of Carey Gabay, including murder and criminal possession of a weapon. Each of them faces up to 25 years in prison. 'They took a life of a man who was giving back,' she said. 'I have, went over that in my head, over and over and over again. There's no answer to that question why.' On Wednesday, his accused killers were in court for their pretrial hearings Brooklyn District Attorney Ken Thompson indicted Tyshawn Crawford, Keith Luncheon, Micah Alleyne, Stanley Elianor and Kenny Bazile Gov. Cuomo called Gabay 'an outstanding public servant' after the shooting. 'This was a beautiful man, a sweet man, a man who was giving back to his community, a gentleman, who was involved in nothing, just walking down the street with his brother, wife...' Cuomo said of Gabay to ABC 7 . 'He was the lawyer who rewrote the rent laws that protected so many tenants. It's a reminder that the violence has to stop.' Before he was named first deputy counsel in January, Gabay held the position of assistant counsel and has worked for the governor since 2011. Trenelle told CBS News she 'didn't plan on being a single mom. But here I am and I just can't wait to meet this little guy' She still misses her husband every day and has set up a foundation in his name He was a Harvard-educated lawyer who was raised in public housing in the Bronx by Jamaican immigrant parents. He served as an assistant counsel for Cuomo starting in 2011 and was appointed first deputy counsel for New York's economic development agency in 2015. Trenelle has started the Carey Gabay Foundation in his name which she hopes will create awareness about gun violence. 'That was his goal,' his wife said. 'I am going to change this and it has to begin with me.'' President Trump opened up his press conference Wednesday with a tribute to the late former first lady Barbara Bush. He called her a 'wonderful, wonderful' person and a 'titan of American life,' but couldn't resist making a crack at her 73-year marriage to former President George H.W. Bush, who the 92-year-old first lady left behind. 'Melania and I send our prayers to Barbara''s husband of 73 years,' Trump said. 'I'll never beat that record,' the 71-year-old president added, flashing a smile. Cameras focused on Melania Trump, the current president's wife of 13 years, found her face expressionless. 'She was a tireless champion for literacy, she was a fierce advocate for the American family and she was a woman of proud patriotism and profound faith,' Trump also said. 'Our hearts are saddened by her passing but our spirits are lifted by the memories of her goodness and her face.' 'She was a good person,' the president added. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe also expressed his 'heartfelt condolences' to the Bush family during the Wednesday evening joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago. 'I'll never beat that record!' President Trump cracked at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago on Wednesday as he talked about the long marriage of Barbara Bush and George H.W. Bush. Barbara Bush passed away at age 92 on Tuesday after 73 years of marriage First lady Barbara Bush passed away on Tuesday. President Trump opened a press conference Wednesday, standing alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, with paying tribute to the late first lady, whose son was a political rival in 2016 OH, DONALD: First lady Melania Trump's expression was captured by the cameras in the room right after President Trump cracked a joke about not being able to 'beat that record' of a 73-year-long marriage Earlier Wednesday, the first lady's spokeswoman confirmed that Melania Trump will travel to Texas this weekend to attend the private funeral services for the former first lady. CNN was first to report Melania Trump's travel plans. 'Mrs. Trump intends to pay her respects to Barbara Bush and the entire family at the funeral on Saturday,' Mrs. Trump's Communications Director Stephanie Grisham told DailyMail.com. The New York Times reported that the Clintons and the Obamas would be attending the services as well. Reporters will not be allowed to attend Bush's private funeral service alongside the current first lady her spokeswoman also confirmed. 'The event will not be pooled as this is about paying tribute to Mrs. Bush,' Grisham said. Trump is following in the footsteps of her predecessors, most recently first lady Michelle Obama, who attended the funeral services for former first lady Nancy Reagan in March 2016. Hillary Clinton, in her position as first lady in 1994, attended the services held for the late Jacqueline Kennedy Onassis. President Obama did not attend Reagan's funeral, as he was already scheduled to attend a Democratic Party fundraiser in Austin held in conjunction with the South by Southwest festival. The late Barbara Bush's (left) funeral will be attended by first lady Melania Trump (right) her spokeswoman said on Wednesday But President Bill Clinton eulogized Kennedy, calling her a 'remarkable woman whose life will forever glow in the lives of her fellow Americans,' according to the New York Times' account. 'God gave her very great gifts and imposed upon her great burdens,' Clinton also said. 'She bore them all with dignity and grace and uncommon common sense.' The White House has yet to say whether President Trump will join the first lady, nor have spokespeople returned requests for comment regarding whether additional figures from the Trump administration plan to attend. The funeral will take place at St. Martin's Church in Houston, where Barbara Bush was a longtime member. On Friday, the public can pay their respects to Bush at the church from noon until midnight. In an interview Wednesday, former first lady Laura Bush hinted that first lady Melania Trump had tried to bury the hatchet between the two families by inviting her to tea at the White House And then Saturday there will be a private service with approximately 1,500 guests, including Melania Trump. The dynamic between the Bushes and the Trumps despite being members of the same political party is an awkward one, as President Trump is widely credited with killing former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush's 2016 campaign, labeling the late Barbara Bush's son 'low energy.' During the primaries, in a rare interview, Barbara Bush told CBS she didn't know how 'women can vote for someone' like Trump, pointing out comments he had made about then-Fox News Channel anchor Megyn Kelly. In an interview on Fox Business Network on Wednesday morning, former first lady Laura Bush suggested that Melania Trump had made overtures to try and bury the hatchet between the two families. 'She invited me to tea at the White House,' Laura Bush said. 'She's a beautiful woman, and very very lovely.' 'And I think she'll, I think she will do really very well,' Laura Bush said of Melania Trump's handling of the first lady's duties. President Donald Trump says he'll walk out of a meeting with Kim Jong-un if he feels that talks are unproductive. 'If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, and will continue what we're doing or whatever it is that will continue,' he said Wednesday during a news conference. Trump said he hopes the meeting with Kim will be 'very successful.' 'If I think that it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go,' he asserted. 'But something will happen. So I like always remaining flexible, and will remain flexible here.' Scroll down for video President Donald Trump says he'll walk out of a meeting with Kim Jong-un if he feels that talks are unproductive Trump this morning revealed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo met Kim in North Korea earlier this month. Trump tweeted that the 'meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed' between Kim and America's chief spy. At a luncheon in the afternoon, Trump said that Pompeo 'had a great meeting with Kim Jong un, and got along with him really well' because Pompeo 'is that kind of a guy.' Yesterday, Trump set off alarm bells when he said the United States had engaged in 'extremely high level' talks with North Korea, later hinting that they go all the way up to Kim. His comments at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday night came just before reports emerged that Pompeo had secretly visited Pyongyang to meet with Kim. Trump had strongly suggested earlier in the day that someone from the U.S. had spoken to Kim in preparation for a planned summit between the two leaders, and it might even be him. Asked by reporters as he walked into dinner with Japanese Prime Minister Abe who the senior North Korean officials are that the U.S. is speaking with and if he'd personally talked directly to Kim, Trump stopped dead in his tracks, grinned and told them, 'yes.' President Trump gave secretary of state nominee Mike Pompeo his full-throated support earlier on Wednesday as a clandestine trip he took to North Korea came under scrutiny The president confirmed in a tweet that the CIA director Mike Pompeo visited Pyongyang He rolled back the apparent confirmation a few minutes later in another encounter with press, creating confusion about what he'd originally meant. 'Well let's leave it a little bit short of that,' Trump said of direct talks with Kim the second time around. 'But we have talks at the highest level, and it's going very well, but we'll see what happens.' White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders immediately sent out a statement clarifying that the talks were not with Kim himself. 'The President said the administration has had talks at the highest levels and added that they were not with him directly,' she said. The president did not, however, tell reporters that the talks weren't with Kim. He merely said, 'Let's leave it a little bit short of that.' A half hour later, the Washington Post reported that the CIA director went on a clandestine mission to North Korea to meet with Kim over Easter weekend. President Trump, pictured on Tuesday evening having dinner with Melania, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe and his wife Akie said yesterday that the United States has engaged in 'extremely high level' talks with North Korea and hinted they go all the way up to reclusive dictator Kim Jong-un Half an hour after Trump's comments, a report said Mike Pompeo (left), the CIA director and Secretary of State nominee, had traveled to North Korea to meet with Kim Jon-un (right) over the Easter weekend Trump said during a working lunch at Mar-a-Lago with the U.S, and Japanese delegations that he expected Pomepo's nomination to pass the U.S. Senate Asked by reporters as they entered the dinner who the senior North Korean officials are that the U.S. is speaking with and if he'd spoken directly to 'him,' Trump stopped dead in his tracks, grinned and told them, 'yes', before rolling the apparent confirmation that he'd personally spoken to Kim back Sanders in a follow up statement did not deny that the trip had taken place. She simply said: 'The administration does not comment on the CIA Director's travel.' Trump overruled his press secretary this morning and confirmed the trip outright. 'Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed,' he tweeted. 'Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!' Pompeo has been paving the way for an expected meeting between Trump and Kim. The CIA director has a close relationship with the president, unlike former Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, who Trump fired last month in a tweet a few days after agreeing to an invitation from Kim to meet. Trump immediately tapped Pompeo to replace Tillerson. At a confirmation hearing last week that would have taken place after his trip to Pyongyang, Pompeo told senators on the Foreign Relations Committee that he was 'optimistic that the United States government can set the conditions for that appropriately so that the president and the North Korean leader' can have a conversation that 'will set us down the course of achieving a diplomatic outcome that...America and the world so desperately need.' Referring to the testimony on Wednesday, Sen. Bob Menendez, the top-ranking Democrat on the committee, scolded Pompeo for not being forthright with him even in their private talks about his Easter weekend tete-a-tete with Kim. 'After committing to transparency in his opening statement, he was not forthcoming when I questioned him about his involvement in the Russia investigation and I can tell you even his private conversations with me he didn't tell me about his visit to North Korea,' Menendez said at a Center for Strategic and International Studies event in Washington. The president confirmed Tuesday that a face-to-face meeting between himself and Kim was still on track to take place in the next few weeks. 'I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong-un. And hopefully that will be a success. And maybe it will be, and maybe it won't be. We don't know,' Trump said. 'But I can say this: They do respect us. We are respectful of them. And we're going to see what happens.' Unless negotiations go offer the rails, Trump said the talk wold take place in late May or early June in one of five undisclosed locations he said are under consideration. 'We have had direct talks at very high levels, extremely high levels, with North Korea. And I really believe there's a lot of good will,' the U.S. president said. 'As I always say, we'll see what happens. Because ultimately, it's the end result that counts.' Locations under discussion were thought to include Beijing, Geneva and Panmunjom, a city inside the Demilitarized Zone. Sweden has also offered to assist with a meeting, and Mongolia's former president recommended his country's summit city, Ulaanbaatar. Trump said Washington had been ruled out, affirming experts' expectations that the meeting would not take place on either of the leaders' home turf. US President Donald Trump greets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he arrives for talks at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida on Tuesday DEATH GRIP: President Trump yanked Abe in for one of his famous locked and loaded handshakes Trump said during the joint appearance that the U.S. and Japan 'are locked and we are very unified' in their approach to North Korea Trump commented on the scheduled talks with Kim on Tuesday as he hosted Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago for a two-day summit. Trump said Japan and the U.S. are 'locked and we are very unified' when it comes to North Korea. He delivered the remarks after welcoming Abe to his Palm Beach property for an afternoon meeting that both he and the Japanese leader said yielded great progress on the trade and security issues at hand. 'On those two points, we actually successfully forged a mutual understanding,' Abe said. 'So I'm very happy to see the outcome of our one-on-one discussion.' Abe commended Trump on Tuesday for having the 'courage' to meet with Kim. Still, he said he wanted to 'underscore the importance of achieving the complete, verifiable, and irreversible denuclearization, as well as the abandonment of missile programs of North Korea' in their talks. US President Donald Trump greets Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe as he arrives for talks at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach on Tuesday Conversation today with Abe centered on global security and trade will pick back up Thursday and apex with a joint press conference. Detectives from the Met Police are now actively investigating if killer cop Wayne Couzens (left) carried out any previous attacks before he murdered Sarah Everard. The Met this evening appealed for any so-far unknown victims of the sexual predator to contact them if they were targeted by him. They have yet to link any offences of the same seriousness as the kidnap, rape and murder of Sarah to Couzens, who was today told he would never be released from prison. The Met action emerged hours after criminologists told MailOnline his crime suggested 'he had done this before'. Experts say the confidence in which he carried out the abduction (main) shows he had done it before, and the way he disposed of Sarah's body by burning her remains signalled 'experienced behaviour'. A Scotland Yard spokesman said: 'We continue to make enquiries to establish whether he has been involved in other criminal offences. As these investigations are ongoing we are unable to go into further detail although, at this time, we have not identified anything that is of the same level of seriousness as the crimes he has been sentenced for. We are keen to hear from anyone who may have information about any criminality they believe Couzens was involved in.' Pictured top right the petrol can Couzens used to burn Sarah's body and bottom right his police handcuffs. A Parkland school shooting survivor who champions the Second Amdendment flew to Nebraska to go to prom with a fellow pro-gun supporter who turned to social media to land him as her dream date. Kyle Kashuv, 16, flew from Florida to Lincoln, Nebraska, to escort Fidan Ibrahimova to her prom. The pair coordinated in Navy blue as they headed out to Lincoln Southeast High School for the dance. Kashuv, a survivor of the February 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed, caught Ibrahimova's attention with his political views. Parkland school shooting survivor, Kyle Kashuv, who champions the Second Amdendment flew to Nebraska to go to prom with Fidan Ibrahimova (pictured together), a fellow pro-gun supporter Kashuv, a survivor of the February 14 massacre in Parkland, Florida, where 17 people were killed, caught Ibrahimova's attention with his political views She decided to send Kashuv a private message on Twitter requesting that he go to prom with her. But Kashuv didn't respond. She then asked how many retweets it would take to get him to say yes and he set the bar at 5,000 retweets. She was able to help from Ben Shapiro (right) While his schoolmates from Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School were leading the March for Our Lives and demanding stricter gun laws, Kashuv emerged as the voice of counter-demonstrators arguing for the Second Amendment. And as he opposed his fellow classmates, David Hogg and Emma Gonzalez, an intrigued Ibrahimova watched from her home in Nebraska. She told the Lincoln Journal Star that she thought Kashuv was brave to go against the beliefs of many of his classmates who survived the shooting. 'Their voices were really loud, but not so much the conservative side,' she said. Ibrahimova, who has described her own political views as moderate with a slight lean to the right, told the newspaper that she felt 'he never really had a chance to share his voice'. That's when she decided to send Kashuv a private message requesting that he go to prom with her. 'Sorry to bother you but prom is next Saturday, so I'm wondering if I have a chance or nah?' she wrote. But Kashuv didn't respond. She then asked how many retweets it would take to get him to say yes and he set the bar at 5,000 retweets, according to the Journal. Ibrahimova met her goal and even created a GoFundMe account to raise $1,700 for Kashuv to buy a tuxedo. Kashuv flew into Omaha on Saturday afternoon and left Sunday morning The money raised also helped with his plane ticket to Nebraska, a hotel room, limo and dinner at a sushi restaurant (left) She was able to get 2,000 retweets on her own and then conservative political commentator Ben Shapiro asked his 12 million followers to help out. Ibrahimova met her goal and even created a GoFundMe account to raise $1,700 for Kashuv to buy a tuxedo and his plane ticket to Nebraska, a hotel room, limo and dinner at a sushi restaurant. Kashuv flew into Omaha on Saturday afternoon and left Sunday morning. Before the prom, they also got to sit down with Nebraska Gov Pete Ricketts in his Omaha office. Fidan said they went to prom with a group of her friends but they did not speak of guns or school violence. 'The best date I could ever ask for! Thank you twitter for making this possible!!!!,' she tweeted on Saturday. Fidan said they went to prom with a group of her friends but they did not speak of guns or school violence Before the prom, they also got to sit down with Nebraska Gov Pete Ricketts in his Omaha office Last month, Kashuv criticized Parkland student David Hogg, one of the leading voices in the Never Again movement who spoke at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, DC. 'You can hear the people in power shaking,' Hogg said during the rally to loud applause. 'We're going to make sure the best people get in our elections to run not as politicians, but as Americans. 'Because this - this - is not cutting it,' he said, pointing at the white-domed Capitol. 'We can and we will change the world!' But Kashuv said Hogg's statements were 'egregious and inflammatory'. 'Guns aren't the issue. It's everything surrounding acquiring a weapon,' Kashuv said. 'I talked to so many marchers and they don't have a clear-cut solution. And it pains me not to see the government being held accountable for their failures. I don't see anyone blaming Sheriff Scott Israel for failing to do what he was supposed to do.' Last month, Kashuv (pictured in DC at the March for Our Lives rally) criticized Parkland student David Hogg, one of the leading voices in the Never Again movement who spoke at the March for Our Lives rally in Washington, DC Kashuv said the protest organizers failed to criticize government failures leading up to the shooting. Kashuv is pictured with President Donald Trump and First Lady Melania Trump Kashuv (right) said Hogg's (left) statements were 'egregious and inflammatory'. 'Guns aren't the issue. It's everything surrounding acquiring a weapon,' Kashuv said Kashuv said the protest organizers failed to criticize government failures leading up to the shooting. 'I don't see anyone looking at the FBI and saying, 'How come two reports weren't followed through?' I don't see anyone going, '78 reports to the Broward Sheriff's office and nothing is done.'... How come we don't hear speakers talking about this subject?' Kashuv has become a hero among conservatives on Twitter. He has posted a photo of himself alongside Charlie Kirk, a prominent right-wing activist, arguing with demonstrators in Washington, DC. 'Smashing down hypocrisy with Charlie Kirk,' read the caption of a tweet with a photo of the two debating a pro-gun control demonstrator. Kashuv has even challenged his schoolmate, Hogg, to a debate. Last month's massive demonstrations that took place from coast to coast demanded stricter gun laws, but they were met in some places with small counter-protests from Second Amendment supporters. Last month's massive demonstrations that took place from coast to coast demanded stricter gun laws, but they were met in some places with small counter-protests from Second Amendment supporters Advertisement Jennifer Riordan, 43, who died on a Southwest jet after its engine blew at 32,500 feet was killed by blunt impact trauma of head, neck and torso, according to the coroner The Wells Fargo bank executive who died on a Southwest jet after its engine blew at 32,500 feet was killed by blunt impact trauma to the head, neck and torso, according to the coroner. Jennifer Riordan, 43, was killed and seven others injured on Tuesday after the twin-engine 737 - heading from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Dallas - was showered in shrapnel from a blown engine. Riordan's upper body was sucked out of a window before being pulled back by passengers before registered school nurse Peggy Phillips tried to save her by performing CPR. James Garrow, of the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, said on Wednesday evening that her death had been ruled accidental by the coroner. Federal investigators are still trying to figure out how the window came out of the plane. National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt said Riordan, from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was wearing a seatbelt and sitting next to the window. The freak accident caused even more chaos on the already frantic flight but Phillips, firefighter Andrew Needum and Tim McGinty, a ranch hand who was traveling with his wife, snapped into action to try to save Riordan. McGinty pulled her back into her seat with Needum's help. Then he and Phillips began performing CPR as McGinty, who was dressed in a cowboy hat, tried to cover the hole. 'The window had broken and the suction, the negative pressure, had pulled her outside the plane partially. 'These two wonderful men the EMT and a passenger managed to get her back inside the plane and we lay her down and we started CPR,' Phillips told ABC. So far, investigators have been able to determine that a fan blade was missing from the CFM56 engine, and may have become separated due to metal fatigue, which happens when there is a build up of small cracks on a metal surface. Captain Tammie Jo Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor issued a statement through the airline late Wednesday in which they said their 'hearts are heavy'. They said they appreciate the outpouring of support they've received from the public and their co-workers as they 'reflect on one family's profound loss.' Scroll down for videos A harrowing photograph taken in the air shows the exposed, mangled engine after it exploded. The pilot flew like this for 12 minutes until she made her emergency landing Riordan's upper body was sucked out of this window before being pulled back by passengers before registered school nurse Peggy Phillips tried to save her by performing CPR Ranch hand Tim McGinty (left with nurse Peggy Phillips hours later once they had arrived in Dallas) ran over first to pull Riordan back into the aircraft but could not manage it alone. Firefighter Andrew Needum (right with McGinty), jumped in to help him pull her back in. Once she was inside the aircraft, Needum and Phillips performed CPR until the plane made an emergency landing McGinty was sitting across the aisle, several rows ahead of Riordan when he saw half of her body get sucked out of the window. He rushed over to pull her back in but could not manage alone because the pressure was so strong. 'We couldn't pull her in alone... a buddy helped and we got her back in. 'They tried to resuscitate her and the crew and the pilot, they got it landed, somehow,' he said in a state of shock after arriving at Dallas Airport later on Tuesday. Needum was traveling with his young son. All three of them abandoned her own oxygen mask to try to help the woman. Despite their efforts, Riordan was pronounced dead at a Philadelphia hospital after the plane made an emergency landing and she was taken away. Phillips did not go into graphic detail about her injuries but tried to offer some idea of the drastic extent of them. 'If you can possibly imagine going through the window of an airplane at about 600mph, and hitting either the fuselage or the wing with your body, with your face...I can probably tell you that there was significant trauma to the body. I couldn't pull her in alone... a buddy helped, we got her back in and they started CPR Tim McGinty who rushed over when he saw Riordan had been pulled out of the window 'Significant head trauma, facial trauma,' she said. The woman said she and the other 142 passengers thought they were going to die when the engine exploded, causing a loud noise which immediately caused the Boeing 737-700 to shake and rattle. 'All of us thought this might be it. Shortly after take-off we heard a loud noise and the plane started shaking like nothing I've ever experienced before. 'It sounded like the plane was coming apart. It was terrifying,' she said. Phillips shunned glory, hailing others who tried to help as 'heroes'. 'Andrew and I ran the CPR, he was just the most courageous young man. We had a lot of, I don't consider myself a hero by any stretch, but there were heroes on that plane. I was just doing my job. Andrew was doing his job. 'I just did what I do. I did what needed to be done, what any registered nurse would do, 'she said. Sherri Sears, who was sitting next to McGinty and his wife, said she did not look at the woman's injuries once she had been pulled back inside but confirmed that 'half' of her body had been sucked out. The engine covering which flew off the plane when it exploded was found in Penn Township, Berks County, in a field 67 miles from where the plane landed Pennsylvania Game Commission employees are pictured recovering the piece of shattered aircraft on Wednesday Investigators are working to determine how the engine exploded. A missing fan blade was also found 70 miles from Philadelphia Airport Workers recovered the piece of metal carefully with gloves on and will hand it over to investigators McGinty's wife Kristin shared her story of what happened on social media. 'Tim and Andrew pulled Jennifer back into our aircraft as it descended and Peggy gave CPR. 'They are all heroes who put others before themselves today. My husband lives his life for others every day, and today was such a strong reminder that life is so precious and that there are good people all around us. 'God bless them all and we thank God for his care in landing our plane. Southwest did a great job in what was a horrific accident. 'I pray for Jennifer's family as they mourn their loss and I thank God for His provisions and our safety,' she wrote on Facebook. After the plane landed in Philadelphia, Phillips boarded another flight to take her back to Dallas. She took a picture with McGinty, her new friend, in the airport before they parted ways. Riordan (pictured with her husband) was rushed to hospital immediately after the flight from New York to Dallas made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport at 11.27am, but authorities confirmed she later died. Her relatives paid tribute to her on Wednesday as the 'bedrock' of their family McGinty and Phillips both shunned glory as they gave interviews. Phillips gave her thoughts to the victim's family and McGinty was in a state of shock at how the skilled pilot was able to land the plane I have never been so scared in my life. Thank you all that prayed for us. I had the opportunity to witness what putting others first truly meant Passenger Sherri Sears 'The whole thing was a little surreal. This morning waking up, I can't say that I slept very well last night and I am sure most passengers did not sleep very well last night. 'I am terribly, terribly sorry for the family. My heart goes out to them but I am so proud of my fellow passengers and the flight crew and the pilot,' she said. Marty Martinez, who went on Facebook Live as the plane was going down, described his decision to reach for his laptop and buy WiFi in what he thought were his last minutes alive. 'All I could think of in that moment was I need to communicate with my loved ones. It was just very instinctual for me to think to get WiFi. 'As everyone was reaching for their oxygen masks, I was reaching for my laptop. I'm frantically looking for my credit card an trying to punch in my credit card details. 'I just thought how can I reach people on mass. I immediately thought of a Facebook live. I thought if these are my last few moments on earth, I want people to know what happened,' he said. Riordan was an executive for the bank Wells Fargo and was on her way home from a business trip when she died. Once back on another plane to Dallas, McGinty, his wife and Sherri Sears, who was sitting next to them, all held hands as they landed She was rushed to hospital immediately after Shults took the plane into a sharp descent and made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport at 11.27am. Authorities confirm that she later died while seven other people were injured. Shults, a former Navy fighter pilot and one of the first women to fly an F-18, quickly brought Flight 1380 to land having calmly told Air Traffic Control: 'So we have a part of the aircraft missing.' Asked if the plane was on fire, she said: 'No, it's not on fire but part of it's missing. 'They said there is a hole and someone went out.' She added that 'we have injured passengers' as she requested medical staff to meet them on landing. Passengers say that after landing the plane, the pilot took the time to speak to all those aboard personally. Those on board said they heard a loud 'boom' and the Boeing 737-700 immediately dropped, they said, by what felt like 100ft. Oxygen masks dropped from the ceiling and passengers said their prayers and braced for impact. The National Transportation Safety Board has said a preliminary examination of the blown jet engine shows evidence of 'metal fatigue.' Investigators have not yet determined what caused the explosion but they do know that one of the engine's fan blades had come loose as the result of metal fatigue. It was found 70 miles from where the plane eventually landed, suggesting that it fell out when the engine exploded at 32,500ft Investigators examining the damaged engine of Southwest Airlines flight 1380 after it exploded in flight sending shrapnel into the fuselage, breaking a window and causing the plane to make an emergency landing A U.S. NTSB investigator is on scene examining damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane in this image released from Philadelphia, Pennsylvania Riordan was sitting next to the smashed window and others next to her described holding her down for 12 minutes until the plane landed. Passenger Alfred Tumlinson, of Corpus Christi, Texas, said he saw a man in a cowboy hat rush forward a few rows 'to grab that lady to pull her back in. She was out of the plane. He couldn't do it by himself, so another gentleman came over and helped to get her back in the plane, and they got her'. Hero pilot Tammie Jo Shults (pictured) brought the plane down quickly but safely after the crash, saving the lives of the others on board Another passenger, Eric Zilbert, an administrator with the California Education Department, said: 'From her waist above, she was outside of the plane.' Passengers struggled to somehow plug the hole while giving the badly injured woman CPR. Those on board did 'some pretty amazing things under some pretty difficult circumstances', Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said. Amanda Bourman, of New York, said she was asleep near the back when she heard a loud noise and oxygen masks dropped. 'Everybody was crying and upset,' she said. 'You had a few passengers that were very strong, and they kept yelling to people, you know, 'It's OK! We're going to do this!'' 'I just remember holding my husband's hand, and we just prayed and prayed and prayed. And the thoughts that were going through my head of course were about my daughters, just wanting to see them again and give them a big hug so they wouldn't grow up without parents.' Annunciation Catholic School, where her two children attend school, identified Riordan as the victim on Tuesday afternoon. 'She was en route from New York when her plane experience (sic) trouble,' assistant principal Amy McCarty wrote in an email to parents, according to ABQJournal.com. 'At this point, the family needs all the prayers we can offer.' Riordan, the wife of former City of Albuquerque Chief Operations Officer Michael, was the vice president of community relations for Wells Fargo bank, New Mexico, and had been on a business trip for the bank at the time of the explosion. Passenger Marty Martinez started a Facebook Live as the plane went down because he said he wanted to reach as many of his loved ones at once as he could Riordan, a graduate from the University of New Mexico, was heavily involved with her local community and volunteering. She managed Wells Fargo's community projects and its annual United Way Community Support Campaign.The devastated family of Riordan have released a statement paying tribute to her. 'Jennifer's vibrancy, passion and love infused our community and reached across our country. Her impact on everything and everyone she touched can never be fully measured. But foremost, she is the bedrock of our family. She and Mike wrote a love story unlike any other. Her beauty and love is evident through her children. 'We are so appreciate of the outpouring of support from family, friends and our community. 'We do ask that those who seek to express their condolences and prayers as well as the media outlets respect our privacy at this time. Our family and friends need this time to both grieve and celebrate Jennifer's impact on us all. 'In her memory, please remember to always be kind, loving, caring and sharing.' Her family has also set up a fund in her memory. Causes to be supported by The Jennifer Riordan Memorial Trust have yet to be determined but are likely to share her 'caring, loving and kind' values. In a statement released to DailyMail.com, the family said: 'We appreciate the outpouring of support for our family and the love for Jennifer. 'Hearing stories of how she impacted everyone in so many meaningful ways has truly touched our hearts. 'To honor her legacy, an official memorial site has been created to fund causes that were near and dear to her heart.' Mayor of Albuquerque Tim Keller added: 'Today, Albuquerque lost a thoughtful leader who has long been part of the fabric of our community. We are asking that everyone respects the privacy of the family at this time. 'This is a tremendous and tragic loss for Jenifer's family and many others throughout our city. Her leadership and philanthropic efforts made this a better place every day and she will be terribly missed. This was the row of seats where the window was shattered. According to witnesses, passengers had to pull the woman back into the aircraft when she was sucked towards the window and some of her body was drawn through it This was the view from on board the Southwest Airlines flight of the blown-out engine after the plane made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. A piece of shrapnel from it flew backwards and shattered the window The window that was shattered was behind the engine that exploded. A piece of shrapnel flew backwards and pierced it, depressurizing the cabin and almost sucking the woman in the seat through it 'We are holding Jennifer and her family in our thoughts.' Family friend John Benavidez tweeted: 'My heart is broken with the news of my good friend Jennifer Riordan's passing. She left a lasting mark on Albuquerque, NM and UNM with her many contributions. If there was ever an angel on Earth, it was Jennifer. Our prayers go out to her family.' Before the NTSB's announcement that there was one fatality involved, the Philadelphia Fire Commissioner said she was taken to hospital in a critical condition. 'One passenger, a woman, was partially drawn out towards the out of the plane, she was pulled back in by other passengers,' Todd Bauer, the father of another passenger on board, told NBC 10. 'So we have a part of the aircraft missing': How hero ex-Navy fighter pilot with 'nerves of steel' saved more than 100 passengers The heroic pilot who calmly landed the Southwest Airlines flight has been identified as a former ex-Navy fighter pilot. Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first women to fly an F-18, quickly brought the Dallas-bound Southwest Flight 1380 to land at Philadelphia International at 11.30am after the explosion at 32,000ft. Despite the crisis on board, Schults was calm as she told Air Traffic Control: 'So we have a part of the aircraft missing.' Asked if the plane was on fire, she said: 'No, it's not on fire but part of it's missing. They said there is a hole and someone went out.' She added that 'we have injured passengers' as she requested medical staff to meet them on landing. Passengers say that after landing the plane, the pilot took the time to speak to all those aboard personally. Tammie Jo Shults (pictured left, and right on the aircraft with the rest of the crew), a former Navy fighter pilot and the first woman to fly an F-18, quickly brought the Dallas-bound Southwest Flight 1380 to land at Philadelphia International at 11.30am after the explosion at 32,000ft. 'Tammie Jo Schults, the pilot came back to speak to each of us personally,' Diana McBride Self wrote. 'This is a true American Hero. A huge thank you for her knowledge, guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation. God bless her and all the crew.' Schults was one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy and first to fly an F-18. She later became an instructor, as the Navy did not allow women to fly in combat, and she finally resigned in 1993 when she joined Southwest Airlines. A mother-of-two, originally from New Mexico, Schults now lives with her husband Dean, a fellow pilot, in Fair Oaks Ranch, Texas. 'She has nerves of steel. That lady, I applaud her,' said Alfred Tumlinson, of Corpus Christi, Texas. 'I'm going to send her a Christmas card, I'm going to tell you that, with a gift certificate for getting me on the ground. She was awesome.' Advertisement Terrified passengers shared videos and photos from on board before the plane landed as they descended at 3,000ft per minute until they leveled out at 10,000ft. One passenger filmed himself as he fitted his oxygen mask. 'Something is wrong with our plane! It appears we are going down! 'Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!!' Marty Martinez said as he broadcast live from the plane on Facebook. He paid $8 to connect to WiFi as the plane was going down, he said, in order to say his goodbyes. He is the passenger who later told CBS the woman's injuries left 'blood everywhere.' Martinez added that the plane 'smelled like ash' once the window was open. He said flight attendants rushed over in shock and pleaded with passengers to cover up the hole. Riordan, a married mother-of-two from Albuquerque (pictured with her family) was rushed to hospital after the explosion but died a short time later Riordan, the wife of former City of Albuquerque Chief Operations Officer Michael (pictured with her) was the vice president of community relations for Wells Fargo bank, New Mexico The first sign of trouble was a loud noise which happened when the engine exploded. Timothy Bourman, 37, was sitting at the back of the plane when he said he heard a loud 'boom'. 'All the sudden, it felt like we dropped 100 feet. Everybody knew something's going on. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES STATEMENT We are deeply saddened to confirm that there is one fatality resulting from this accident. The entire Southwest Airlines Family is devastated and extends its deepest, heartfelt sympathy to the Customers, Employees, Family Members, and loved ones affected by this tragic event. We have activated our emergency response team and are deploying every resource to support those affected by this tragedy. Advertisement 'This is bad, like really bad.' A lot of people started panicking and yelling, just real scared. 'We were kind of out of control for a while. It seemed like the pilot was having a hard time controlling the plane. Honestly I think we just all thought we were going down,' he told Philly.com. Bourman, who was traveling with his wife, said they thought they were about to die until the pilot managed to gain control of the aircraft. 'We're just all really thankful to be alive right now. Thankful to God, thankful to that pilot,' he added. Matt Tranchin was sitting three rows behind the window that smashed. He described the chaos and said even the flight attendants were crying in fear. 'Flight attendants rushed up. There was momentary chaos. Everyone kind of descended on where this hole was. As passengers we weren't sure if they were trying to cover up the hole, but the plane smelled like smoke. 'There was ash coming through the ventilation system. We started dropping,' he told ABC News. 'As kind of an indication of how terrifying it was, some of the crew couldn't hold back their horror. 'And some were crying as they looked out through the open window onto the engine,' he added. Passenger Marty Martinez shared photographs and videos of himself on Facebook as the plane made its descent. He and other passengers are shown terrified as they hold their oxygen masks to their faces. He later said there was 'blood everywhere' as a result of the woman's injuries Firefighters rushed onto the aircraft after it made its emergency landing at 11.30am on Tuesday As the plane made its descent towards Philadelphia, the crew warned passengers to brace for impact. When the shrapnel pierced the window, it depressurized the cabin and triggered the oxygen masks. Despite the chaos in the air, others said the emergency landing was fairly calm and smooth. One passenger told CNN: 'It was a stable landing. We started descending, made the turn back to Philadelphia. 'We were with one engine for maybe 10 minutes. Some of the crew couldn't hold back their horror... some were crying as they looked through the open window and onto the engine 'We decreased altitude from 8,000 to 5,000 and then when we finally landed it was relatively smooth, kind of a typical landing so the crew and the pilots did a fantastic job.' Passengers were taken from buses to the airport. It is not the first time the malfunction has occurred on a Southwest-operated Boeing 737-700. In August last year, a different flight from New Orleans to Orlando was forced to make an emergency landing at Pensacola Airport in Florida after the casing surrounding one of its engines tore away at a similar altitude. On Tuesday, the airline manufacturer said it was aware of the accident and was prepared to cooperate with investigations. 'Boeing is aware of an incident with Southwest Airlines flight #1380. 'We are gathering more information and stand ready to provide technical assistance,' it tweeted. The engine which exploded is a CFM56 turbofan engine which costs $10million and has a fan diameter of 68 inches. The engines are the most popular engines on single aisle commercial planes. One of the plane's engines exploded not long after it had left LaGuardia Airport in New York City on Tuesday morning. The damaged engine is visible above after the plane had landed All of the other passengers on board were evacuated after the injured woman was taken away by paramedics The plane was on its way from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Dallas when it diverted in the air and turned back on itself to go to Philadelphia. It was flying over western Pennsylvania at around 32,500ft at the time The faulty engine was almost entirely exposed after the plane had landed The last time a passenger died in an accident on a U.S. airliner was 2009 when 49 people on board and one on the ground were killed when a Continental Express plane crashed on a house near Buffalo, New York. Southwest has about 700 planes, all of them 737s, including more than 500 737-700s like the one in Tuesday's accident. It is the world's largest operator of the 737. The 737 is the best-selling jetliner in the world and has a good safety record. The National Transportation Safety Board says a preliminary examination of the blown jet engine shows evidence of 'metal fatigue.' In a late night news conference, NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said one of the engine's fan blades was separated and missing. Sumwalt says the blade was separated at the point where it would come into the hub and there was evidence of metal fatigue. He said part of the engine covering was found in Bernville, Pennsylvania, about 70 miles west of Philadelphia. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said in Dallas that there were no problems with the plane or its engine when it was inspected Sunday. The jet's CFM56-7B engines were made by CFM International, jointly owned by General Electric and Safran Aircraft Engines of France. CFM said in a statement that the CFM56-7B has had 'an outstanding safety and reliability record' since its debut in 1997, powering more than 6,700 aircraft worldwide. Last year, the engine maker and the Federal Aviation Administration instructed airlines to make ultrasonic inspections of the fan blades of engines like those on the Southwest jet. The FAA said the move was prompted by a report of a fan blade failing and hurling debris. But it was unclear whether the particular engine that failed on Tuesday was covered by the directives. 'There's a ring around the engine that's meant to contain the engine pieces when this happens,' said John Goglia, a former NTSB member. 'In this case it didn't. That's going to be a big focal point for the NTSB - why didn't (the ring) do its job?' In 2016, a Southwest Boeing 737-700 blew an engine as it flew from New Orleans to Orlando, Florida, and shrapnel tore a 5-by-16-inch hole just above the wing. The plane landed safely. The NTSB said a fan blade had broken off, apparently because of metal fatigue Thousands of teenagers may be at risk of sexual assault in Britain's charity shops because employees do not face criminal checks, a whistle-blower warned last night. Sexual exploitation of teenage volunteers in Oxfam shops was under-reported and left unchecked, the charity's former safeguarding chief said. Helen Evans revealed there were three allegations of child volunteers being abused by adult workers at Oxfam shops in January and February 2015, shortly before she resigned her position. She said she had been made aware of an allegation of physical assault on a young boy, an alleged sexual assault and a claim of inappropriate sexual conduct. Sexual exploitation of teenage volunteers in Oxfam shops was under-reported and left unchecked, the charity's former safeguarding chief said She also revealed a case from 2014 of 'sex with a child volunteer' at an Oxfam shop. It is believed the case was reported to the charity by the mother of a girl concerned that her daughter was being groomed while volunteering for Oxfam. Up to 4,000 teenagers work at Oxfam every year, many as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme. Earlier this year the Mail revealed that Oxfam alone had faced 123 alleged incidents of sexual harassment in its stores in just nine years. But Ms Evans warned that the problem was much more widespread - and that all charity shops could be affected, not just Oxfam. She told MPs on the Commons international development committee that she wanted ministers to close a loophole that means charity shops are not required to carry out criminal checks on employees and volunteers. While aid workers face such 'Disclosure and Barring Service' checks, shop workers do not because charities can claim a retail exemption. Up to 4,000 teenagers work at Oxfam every year, many as part of the Duke of Edinburgh award scheme Many leading charities have no women or people from ethnic minorities in top roles Oxfam, Save the Children, and the British Council are among those with no senior leaders from an ethnic minority background, according to research by diversity advisory firm Inclusive Boards. The report also says that leading charities, including the University of Chester and Youth Hostel Association (YHA), have no women on their senior leadership teams. Other highlights from the findings included: Almost 80 per cent of senior leadership teams lack any ethnic minority professionals Nearly 60 per cent of senior leaders are men while women make up 65 per cent of employees in the sector overall Around 62 per cent of the UK's largest charities have all-white boards And 66 per cent of trustees from the top 500 charities are men while only 34 per cent are female Advertisement Ms Evans said this exemption opened children to the risk of abuse. 'There is an exemption within the law for DBS that means shop managers in charity shops don't need to be DBS checked,' she said. 'So you could be looking after 14-year-old children on your own every Saturday and that's not deemed regulated activity because shops have a retail exemption. 'So even though parents will be thinking 'my child's safe in the shop, I trust them', there's no compulsion. 'Oxfam does now do DBS for shop managers but actually a lot of charity retail shops are unsure about what they should be doing because there is this loophole in the law and I feel very strongly that that loophole should be closed. 'It should be clear that charity shops are not subject to the retail exemption for DBS checks.' Ms Evans said she repeatedly raised concerns with Oxfam's leadership that she did not have the resources to investigate abuse and felt that the cases she knew of were 'the tip of the iceberg'. She was part of a unit made up of two part-time people, while Oxfam's counter-fraud team had five full-time investigators. She also repeatedly called for Oxfam shop managers and adult volunteers to have criminal record checks through the Disclosure and Barring Service (DBS). Ms Evans said the lack of response to her calls for action led to her leaving the aid agency. She said: 'Children aged 14-plus volunteering in Oxfam GB shops were being put at risk of abuse due to the organisation's failure to DBS check all adults routinely left alone with child volunteers. 'In failing to address these points Oxfam GB was exposing itself to increasing risk of litigation from victims, reputational damage and loss of donor funding.' Oxfam now carries out DBS checks on adult shop staff but there is no legal requirement across the charity shop sector for vetting. In written evidence to the committee, Oxfam said it had tripled the resources being dedicated to safeguarding issues since the Haiti scandal became public. It had also received 66 new reports of safeguarding cases involving its staff and projects since February. Taxpayers could be spending $500 million to expand the Australian War Memorial in Canberra so it can house helicopters and jet fighters in a new underground exhibition hall. The war museum, which opened in 1941, already receives an average of $50 million a year from the federal government as it welcomes 1.1 million visitors annually. However, cabinet ministers are set to consider a plan to spend half a billion dollars redeveloping the lower ground floor and building a new underground exhibition hall to display newly-acquired helicopters and jet fighters. Taxpayers could be spending $500 million to expand the Australian War Memorial in Canberra so it can house helicopters and jet fighters in a new underground exhibition hall The war museum, which opened in 1941, already receives an average of $50 million a year from the federal government as it welcomes 1.1 million visitors annually Neil James, the executive director of the Australian Defence Association think tank, said the Australian War Memorial needed to be well resourced so future generations understood why Australia had joined foreign conflicts. 'People get wedded to the mythology, not what actually happened and that's why you get such emotive debates now about the wars we currently fight because people are relying on a wrong memory or a wrong understanding of the past,' he told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday. 'That's the problem. So if it's going to cost $500 million to better record the past, remembering you're not just doing this for the current generation but the next 20 or 30 generations, it's money well spent.' One woman from Tasmania, Cathy Thomson, said spending $500 million on redeveloping the Australian War Memorial was 'absurd'. 'Australia spends more on commemorating the First World War than any other nation,' she tweeted. '$500m to redevelop the Australian War Memorial when we have veterans from recent conflicts that are homeless, committing suicide, PTSD, unemployed.' The Australian Defence Association said the War Memorial needed to be well resourced so future generations understood why Australia had joined foreign conflicts (Passchendaele cemetery in Belgium honouring World War I fallen soldiers pictured) Neil James said people were often 'wedded to mythology' rather than an proper understanding of the past (the Battle of Passchendaele in 1917 pictured) Author Richard Flanagan agreed, saying the money spent on honouring the war dead, with monuments around the world, had done nothing to make people more informed. 'When veterans struggle for recognition and support for war-related suffering, you begin to wonder what justifies this expense, this growing militarisation of national memory or, to be more precise, a forgetting of anything other than an official version of war as the official version of our country's history, establishing dying in other people's wars as our foundation story,' he told the National Press Club in Canberra on Wednesday. Poll Is spending $500 million on expanding the Australian War Memorial worth it? Yes No Unsure Is spending $500 million on expanding the Australian War Memorial worth it? Yes 75 votes No 45 votes Unsure 6 votes Now share your opinion The Australian War Memorial's director Brendan Nelson, a former defence minister, has described the proposed expansion as a 'national project of significance'. 'This redevelopment will largely be an underground redevelopment which necessarily means that we will have a period of disruption, but one that will be well worth it,' Dr Nelson told the ABC earlier this month without nominating a cost. The Australian War Memorial has received an average of $50 million a year from taxpayers since the Coalition came to power in 2013, with $56.4 million allocated in last year's Budget. Taxpayers have given the museum in the Canberra suburb of Campbell more than $200 million since 2014 for an institution that receives generous donations from the public to honour the war dead, who fought in campaigns from the Boer War to World War I, World War II, Vietnam, Afghanistan and Iraq. The Australian War Memorial's director Brendan Nelson, a former defence minister, has described the proposed expansion as a 'national project of significance' Sydney's disastrous light rail project is now running a whole year behind schedule, with a Spanish contractor slowing down work and holding the city to ransom. The $2billion dollar project - scheduled to open in March next year - will not be running until 2020, Transport Minister Andrew Constance confirmed. Running up George Street from Circular Quay through Central to Randwick, the project has paralysed what was once the city's busiest thoroughfare. Scroll down for video Sydney's disastrous light rail project is now running a whole year behind schedule, with a Spanish contractor refusing to work and holding the city to ransom (pictured is the light rail project) The $2billion dollar project - scheduled to open in March next year - will not be running until 2020, Transport Minister Andrew Constance confirmed (pictured is the light rail project) Mr Constance has cast the blame for the fiasco squarely on Spanish sub-contractor Acciona, which is locked in a legal battle with the New South Wales Government The consortium responsible for delivering the bungled project, ALTRAC, told the government it is now running a year late, ABC News reported. Mr Constance has cast the blame for the fiasco squarely on Spanish sub-contractor Acciona, which is demanding $1.2billion from the New South Wales Government. He accused Acciona of deliberating delaying work on the project while they demand compensation in the NSW Supreme Court. 'We will ensure as best as possible that they ramp up their activity - they are on a "go slow", anyone walking the city can quite clearly see,' Mr Constance said. Running up George Street from Circular Quay through Central to Randwick, the project has paralysed what was once the city's busiest thoroughfare (pictured is the light rail project) The consortium responsible for delivering the bungled project, ALTRAC, told the government it is now running a year late (pictured is the light rail project) 'They have construction zones where there is no workforce on the ground doing the work.' Poll Who do you think is to blame for the light rail disaster? The NSW Government The contractors Both Who do you think is to blame for the light rail disaster? The NSW Government 140 votes The contractors 111 votes Both 221 votes Now share your opinion The Transport Minister's comments were supported by workers on the project, who have dobbed in Acciona to the government. 'We were constantly asked to slow down our works,' one employee said, The Daily Telegraph reported. There have also been claims of 'constant delays on material and equipment deliberately done by our supervisors'. NSW Labor deputy leader Michael Daley said the government shares responsibility for the project's delays. 'They are going slow in this project because things are seriously wrong and they have been wrong from day one,' he said. The Transport Minister's comments were supported by workers on the project, who have dobbed in Acciona to the government (pictured is the light rail project) NSW Labor deputy leader Michael Daley said the government shares responsibility for the project's delays (pictured is the light rail project) 'The planning wasn't done properly.' Mr Constance disagreed: 'ALTRAC and Acciona need to meet the requirements of the contract, and the NSW government will not be held to ransom,' he said. Acciona has filed Supreme Court proceedings against Transport for NSW, accusing them of 'misleading and deceptive' conduct. The Spanish sub-contractor is seeking $1.2billion in compensation, claiming they entered into the contract under a 'false premise'. An inquiry has been launched into Jeremy Hunt after he admitted breaking money-laundering laws on seven flats he bought from a Tory donor. And it was claimed last night that the Health Secretary had received a bulk discount in his deal with the property developer, who is said to be a long-standing acquaintance. Last week it emerged that Mr Hunt had set up a company in September, Mare Pond Properties, to buy the luxury seaside flats in a block in Southampton, but failed to register it with Companies House an offence under money-laundering legislation that can lead to up to two years in prison. The oversight is a criminal offence punishable by a fine or up to two years in prison Mr Hunt's breaches relate to seven flats he bought in the Ocean Village complex in Southampton (pictured) in February Mr Hunt has not breached the Ministerial Code of Conduct with the Ocean Village breach, according to Cabinet Office rules, and so retains the backing of Theresa May He also failed to disclose his 50 per cent stake in Mare Pond Properties on the parliamentary register of members financial interests within the specified 28 days taking six months to do so. Mr Hunt apologised and claimed the omissions were the results of honest administrative mistakes and that he did not make any financial gain as a result. But Labour said his actions represented a serious breach of parliamentary rules and on Friday referred him to Kathryn Stone, Parliaments commissioner for standards, which confirmed last night that Mr Hunt is now under investigation. Each of the flats in the Alexandra Wharf block is thought to be worth between 450,000 and 1million, and were developed by Nicolas James Group, a property firm owned and chaired by businessman and Tory donor Nicolas James Roach. However, last night The Guardian claimed a source close to the Health Secretary said that he had received a bulk discount for buying multiple apartments. A spokesman for Mr Hunt said: The owner of the development is a long-standing acquaintance. Jeremy paid standard market rates which would have been available to anyone else making an equivalent purchase. A spokesman for Mr Roach said the sale of properties at Alexandra Wharf were made at open market value. Mr Roach has donated more than 50,000 to Mr Hunts South West Surrey constituency office since 2011, mostly in the form of complimentary venue hire. The pair were pictured together in 2011 at a party to launch a 60million hotel in Guildford, Surrey, that was developed by Mr Roachs company. A Downing Street spokesman said Theresa May regarded the matter as closed. Baffled drivers are taking to social media to share their confusion over Australia's newest road rule. The new P-turn rule was introduced at the Hoddle and Johnston Street intersection in Collingwood in Melbourne's north-east on Monday. Since the rule was announced, frustrated motorists have struggled to wrap their heads around the P-turn, branding the new manoeuvre 'a joke'. A new P-turn road rule has been introduced, aiming to improve traffic flow and reduce congestion (pictured is the P-turn for turning right onto Johnston St) 'I seriously thought P-turn stood for taking the piss. Traffic engineers must be the worst crack abusers in the world,' one critic said. The P-turn was introduced by VicRoads to help improve traffic flow and reduce congestion at the busy intersection. P-turns mean drivers wanting to turn right from Hoddle Street travel straight through the intersection and then do a U-turn before turning left onto Johnston Street. Motorists wanting to turn right from Johnston Street first turn left, then do a U-turn and travel through the intersection. One confused motorist said it took her a decade to master the 'hook turn' and now feared the P-turn would take longer. 'You will need a PHD in mathematics to do it,' she said. One man said the P-turn 'still genuinely makes no sense' a week after it was introduced. One man accused Victoria Roads of 'creating' the rule to cover up the poor state of Melbourne roads and traffic flow. 'There is no such thing as a 'P-turn'. It's just called a 'no right turn', meaning you have to make a u-turn further up, to get to your required street,' he said. 'However, thank you for creating a term to cover up how you f*** things up for us.' The new turn is now in place at the Hoddle and Johnston Street intersection in Collingwood in Melbourne's north-east (pictured is the P-turn for turning right onto Hoddle St) Motorists were not the only critics of the new rule, with roadside assistance specialists RACV also joining the conversation. 'The term itself is of US origin and makes sense if you drive on the right-hand side of the road. But we don't, which makes it confusing,' RACV said. 'It certainly doesn't look like a 'P' when you drive on the left side of the road.' The company said it referred to the turn as a 'remote right turn', because it better described the manoeuvre. While confusing, the roadside insurer said the rule did have benefits for congested traffic. 'It removes the need to provide a green light for right-turning traffic at an intersection,' they said. 'It can also reduce the width of intersections by eliminating turn lanes, reducing the width of the road to be crossed by pedestrians. This isn't the case at Frankston.' Scroll down for video Part of VicRoads Streamlining Hoddle Street project, the P-turns opened at 6am on Monday, along with new parking restrictions and clearways (pictured is the intersection) While the new manoeuvre had its critics, VicRoads praised the initiative. VicRoads' Chris Miller said Monday morning's implementation had gone smoothly. 'I've never seen Hoddle Street flowing quite so nicely,' Mr Miller told 3AW. 'We used to have people queued up in that right lane trying to turn right on Johnston. 'Invariably they'd end up blocking the right hand running lane as well, reducing Hoddle Street by one lane.' Before the P-turn system was in place drivers wanting to turn right would get stuck in long queues and block traffic wanting to travel straight through the intersection. P-turns will also be put in place at the Hoddle Street and Swan Street intersection. What is a P-turn? To go right from Hoddle Street onto Johnston Street at all times: - Travel through the intersection - Do a U-turn - Turn left To go right from Johnston Street onto Hoddle during peak times: - Turn left - Do a U-turn - Travel through the intersection You'll see signs and markings on the road to help you travel through the intersection safely Source: VicRoads Advertisement Chris Miller from VicRoads said Monday morning's implementation had gone smoothly (pictured is the new P-turn system) More than 100 students burst in on a lecture by The Office actress Jenn Fischer at DePauw University in protest over the college's handling of racist messages on campus. Fischer, who starred as Pam in the hit TV series, was giving a Q&A at the Indiana school about acting when demonstrators filled the aisles. Students were angry over a number of racist messages that had been left around the Greencastle, Ind. campus, while a woman was recently seen in blackface. Fischer, who starred as Pam in the hit TV series, was giving a Q&A at the Indiana school Protesters demanded that university officials 'stop excusing this problematic behavior,' and tackle the racism head on, while Fischer remained onstage. The actress has since tweeted that she supports the protest and plans to donate her fee from the event to the NAACP, The Anti-Defamation League and The Trevor Project, which supports young people in the LGBTQ community. 'The student protesters spoke about their experiences and about the hate they have been encountering,' Fischer wrote in a statement posted Wednesday to Twitter. She was interrupted by more than 100 demonstrators who filled the aisles Students were angry over a number of racist messages that had been left around the Greencastle, Ind. campus, while a woman was recently seen in blackface 'I could feel the pain, sadness and fear coming from these students. No student should feel at risk, or have to suffer the kinds of bigotry and hate these students have encountered. 'In my personal opinion, often times justice requires disruption and interruption of our scheduled lives,' she said. 'These students need to be heard and they need change.' The actress has since tweeted that she supports the protest and plans to donate her fee from the event to the NAACP, The Anti-Defamation League and The Trevor Project, which supports young people in the LGBTQ community DePauw President Mark McCoy said in a letter to students that the college was taking their concerns seriously and had contacted the police and mayor to investigate. Fischer, 44, was on campus to discuss her new book 'The Actor's Life: A Survival Guide.' The actress said she was told ahead of the Q&A event that protests were likely but was supportive of their choice to protest. David Copperfield yesterday took the stand to defend himself against a lawsuit from a British tourist who claims to have been seriously injured while taking part in an illusion during a performance on the Las Vegas Strip in 2013. The legendary magician is facing a negligence lawsuit from Gavin Cox that has exposed the secrets of one of his most famous tricks performed in his Las Vegas show. Copperfield, 61, refused to accept responsibility for injuries to Mr Cox, 58, who claims to have fallen and injured himself while he was ushered into a secret passage off stage and through the bowels of the MGM Grand casino. While not going into great detail, the court has heard elements of how the trick, 'Lucky #13', is performed. Copperfield throws 13 inflatable balls in to the audience with those who catch them, as Mr Cox did, randomly chosen as participants for the illusion, dubbed 'the runaround'. They are then asked to sit on chairs on a raised platform on stage which is then covered with a curtain. Copperfield talks to the audience for a few minutes before the curtain is lifted to reveal they have 'vanished'. A court in Nevada has heard some of the secrets behind one of David Copperfield's signature illusions Stage 1: Video footage of the Luck 13 trick being performed shows audience members sitting on a platform on stage after being randomly selected from the audience Stage 2: A curtain drops over the platform on stage during which time the participants are ushered through secret passageways and even outside the building Stage 3: Copperfield talks to the audience as the participants are ushered back in to the theater at the back of the MGM Grand venue with the help of stagehands Stage 4: Copperfield lifts the curtain from the platform to reveal the volunteers have 'vanished' (pictured) only to point to the back of the hall where the participants reappear He then points to the back of the hall where the participants reappear - to the astonishment of the audience. The court has heard how practiced stagehands with flashlights hurried participants off stage once the curtain came down on the platform. Benedict Morelli, an attorney for Cox, had said in his opening statement on Friday his client was told to 'stand up, come with me' and was never warned he could be injured taking part in the trick. They were then led through dark curtains, down unfamiliar passageways, around corners, outdoors, indoors and through an MGM Grand resort kitchen in time to re-enter the back of the theater for their 'reappearance' during the show finale, the court heard. Cox fell 22ft and dislocated his shoulder before re-entering the theater from outside, the court has heard. Morelli contends that before the fall, the group of audience volunteers participating in the illusion was hustled through an alley coated with what he called construction dust. Although Copperfield (left in court yesterday) said it might be his fault if an audience volunteer who was participating in an illusion got hurt, the celebrated magician didn't acknowledge responsibility for injuries Gavin Cox (right) claims to have suffered when he fell Gavin Cox is claiming lasting brain and body injuries and more than $400,000 in medical expenses. He claims to have suffered injuries to his brain, neck and shoulders Copperfield said he didn't know whether there as a powdery residue near a trash bin in an MGM Grand alley What is the Lucky #13 trick and how does it work? 1. Copperfield throws 13 inflatable balls into the audience with those who catch them asked to be participants 2. The 13 volunteers sit on chairs on a raised platform on stage before curtains descend to conceal them 3. Stage hands with torches usher them off stage and down a secret passage 4. While Copperfield talks to the audience, they are led through alleys, around corners, inside, outside and even through a kitchen before reentering the theater hall at the back 5. Copperfield raises the curtain under two minutes later to show that the participants have 'vanished' 6. Magician quickly points to the back of the hall where the volunteers have 'reappeared' Advertisement The attorney said parts of the MGM Grand were under renovation when the fall happened. After returning to Britain, Mr Cox, a 6ft 4ins chef who once cooked for the Queen Mother, During questioning on Wednesday, Copperfield, who has an estimated fortune of $850 million and who Forbes says earned $61.5 million last year, told the court: 'It depends on what happened. If I did something wrong, it would be my fault.' 'Your defense in this case is ... if they participate and someone gets hurt, it's their fault, not yours. Is that accurate?' Morelli asked. 'Yes or no?' 'It's not a simple yes-or-no answer,' Copperfield, real name David Kotkin, responded in a barely audible voice. Courtesy: KTNV The illusionist (pictured in court on Wednesday) said he passed through the same outdoor alley alone while performing another illusion about 10 minutes earlier, and didn't notice any debris The 61-year-old performer is due to return to the witness stand next Tuesday for more testimony in Clark County District Court Copperfield said he didn't know whether there as a powdery residue near a trash bin in an MGM Grand alley. He said he passed through the same outdoor alley alone while performing another illusion about 10 minutes earlier, and didn't notice any debris. 'If in fact there was construction dust, could that be your fault if someone fell and got hurt?' Morelli asked. Copperfield responded that he couldn't answer a hypothetical question before proceedings ended for the day. Copperfield's lawyers lost pretrial bids to close proceedings to the public to avoid giving away performance secrets, although Judge Mark Denton has said some portions of the illusionist's testimony might still be conducted behind closed doors. The performer is due to return to the witness stand next Tuesday for more testimony in Clark County District Court. MGM Grand's attorney Jerry Popovich told the jury that Cox simply missed a step when he fell and did not slip. He explained that the site where the accident happened, about 22 feet before reaching the door to re-enter the casino, is essentially level with only a 1-degree drop Cox, from Kent, claims lasting brain and body injuries and more than $400,000 in medical expenses. He claims to have suffered injuries to his brain, neck and shoulders. He and his wife, Minh-Hahn Cox, are seeking unspecified damages in their lawsuit, which also names as defendants the MGM Grand, show producer Backstage Employment and Referral, and construction firm Team Construction Management. Cox, who was at the show as the highlight of a dream trip to celebrate his 53rd birthday, claims negligence led to his fall. On Tuesday, the magician's friend and executive producer, Chris Kenner declined to say it was dangerous to lead people along a dark and unknown route over changing floor surfaces of linoleum, cement, carpet, sidewalk and tile. The illusion had been performed thousands of times over the last two decades, with about 55,000 taking part in the last ten years alone and none of them having had a problem, Kenner said. Earlier in the case, MGM Grand's attorney Jerry Popovich told the jury that Cox simply missed a step when he fell and did not slip. He explained that the site where the accident happened, about 22 feet before reaching the door to re-enter the casino, is essentially level with only a 1-degree drop. Popovich said that 10 minutes before Cox went down, Copperfield had walked through that same area as part of another illusion that did not involve audience participation. He said Copperfield would have notified staff if he had noticed any problem in the route. A visiting Thai monk giving mystery 'magic tattoos' has had almost all of his appointments booked out more than two months in advance. Ajarn Ohr, 35, a master of sak yant, which translates to magic tattoo, is visiting Hobart for the city's Dark Mofo festival this June. A session with Ohr costs $400 and involves a spiritual counselling prior to the traditional custom-made mystical tattoo. Ajarn Ohr, 35, a master of sak yant, which translates to magic tattoo, is visiting Hobart for the city's Dark Mofo festival this June (pictured is a sak yant tattoo by Ajarn Ohr) A visiting Thai monk giving mystery 'magic tattoos' has had almost all of his appointments booked out more than two months in advance (pictured is a sak yant tattoo by Ajarn Ohr) Ohr is a part of the event's Invisible House project, which is billed as a 'frenzied celebration of arcane knowledge, magic, science, and the occult'. 'As you discuss your life with Ajarn Ohr, he'll provide you with spiritual counsel,' his event description reads. 'He will tattoo your body with an ancient design using a large needle (traditionally, this was done with a sharpened bamboo stick). 'Ohr will create a tattoo that's right for you - a talismanic mark to guide you through life, drawing on magical knowledge, symbols and texts of Buddhism, Animism and sacred geometry.' Only two of the 61 appointments with Ohr remain, running from June 14 to June 24 at the Salamanca Arts Centre. Invisible House curator Brendan Walls said Ohr is famous for his tattooing, and people travel to Thailand for the experience, The Mercury reported. A session with Ohr costs $400 and involves a spiritual counselling prior to the traditional custom-made mystical tattoo (pictured is a sak yant tattoo by Ajarn Ohr) 'I think he has only been out of Thailand once, and is reluctant to leave for more than two weeks because it's very much his spiritual battery, where he gets his psychic charge,' said Mr Walls. 'He hasn't travelled extensively, so we're lucky to have him and be able to access him directly.' Ohr was trained at Wat Bang Phra, a Buddhist temple near Bangkok famous for its magic tattoos and amulets. In 2011 Thai Culture Minister Nipit Intarasombat called for a ban on foreigners getting Buddhist tattoos, after Angelina Jolie's back sak yant popularised the style. Visitors to Thailand's capital are greeting by large billboards lining the freeway from Suvarnabhumi Airport to Bangkok warning tourists about the tattoos. 'It's wrong to use Buddha as a decoration or tattoo. Means no respect, don't buy or sell Buddha,' is printed in large English letters on the 15-metre billboards. A supermarket has introduced a 'quiet hour' for shoppers with autism - meaning no music, softer lighting and less trolleys to jostle for position with. Countdown supermarket in Marton on New Zealand's North Island transforms once a week from 3pm until 4pm on Wednesdays. Ayesha Middleton shops at Marton Countdown with her two children Harry, 9, and Sophie, 8, who are both on the autism spectrum. She told Daily Mail Australia most shopping trips would leave her in tears. Scroll down for video Ayesha Middleton shops at Marton Countdown with her two children Harry, 9 , and Sophie, 8 (pictured), who are both on the autism spectrum She told Daily Mail Australia most shopping trips with her children would leave her in tears Countdown supermarket in Marton on New Zealand's North Island transforms once a week from 3pm until 4pm on Wednesdays Other shoppers would often stare, point or comment rudely on her son's behaviour 'When we first got out of the car, Harry would become quite tense. Then once we'd get into the shop by the second or third aisle he would yell and vocalise a lot,' she said. 'He'd be grabbing things off the shelf, and by the end I'd be in tears in the car and we'd have to leave early. It escalates his behaviour when I get tense. 'To not be able to do something that everyone else takes for granted is so hard.' Grocery shopping proved to be such a challenge that Mrs Middleton decided to do it online instead. Other shoppers would often stare, point or comment rudely on her son's behaviour. Mrs Middleton said the quiet hours have changed her life. 'Everything is so much calmer. We are able to leave on a high, without a meltdown which is very rare.' Every second light in the shop is turned off and all lights in the chillers and freezer units are also switched off which makes the fans quieter. Every second light in the shop is turned off and all lights in the chillers and freezer units are also switched off which makes the fans quieter Music is turned off and there are no staff pushing carts around the store Music is turned off and there are no staff pushing carts around the store. Mrs Middleton took to Facebook to express her gratitude at being able to shop with her son Harry. 'What a great idea, it was so quiet and my son had a great time, it was wonderful to have your store acknowledge how challenging it can be for a person with autism in such a sensory environment,' she posted. In November, Coles rolled out quiet shopping hours to help customers with autism. Mrs Middleton took to Facebook to express her gratitude at being able to shop with her son Harry Selected stores had their lights dimmed by 50 per cent and were 'judgment-free zones' between 10.30am and 11.30am. 'At Coles, we are always looking at ways we can meet the differing needs of our customers by creating a shopping environment in which our customers and team members feel comfortable,' Coles Accessibility Sponsor Peter Sheean told the publication. The quiet shopping hour will mean the selected supermarkets will lower their sensory experience for shoppers and will avoid making announcements over the PA, except in emergencies. A protester accused of manhandling former prime minister Tony Abbott's sister at a refugee rally had his charges dropped after police tendered the wrong video. Nicholas Dobrijevich, 21, allegedly pushed Christine Forster when asylum seeker activists targeted a Liberal Party fundraiser in Sydney last November. His charges were dismissed due to a prosecution bungle which saw crucial footage left out of the brief of evidence received by the defence. Scroll down for video A protester (pictured) accused of manhandling former prime minister Tony Abbott's sister at a refugee rally had his charges dropped after police tendered the wrong video Nicholas Dobrijevich, 21, allegedly pushed Christine Forster (pictured) when asylum seeker activists targeted a Liberal Party fundraiser in Sydney last November Only aerial CCTV footage could be used, in which Mr Dobrijevich was not identifiable, The Daily Telegraph reported. Magistrate Susan McIntyre said in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court she had no choice but to dismiss the charges. 'The CCTV footage is difficult to view,' Magistrate McIntyre told the court on Wednesday. 'While I might be drawn to a particular part of the footage I am at a loss to undertake an identification process comparing the person in the court today with the apparent person in the CCTV footage. Mr Dobrijevich's (pictured) charges were dismissed due to a prosecution bungle which saw crucial footage left out of the brief of evidence received by the defence Magistrate Susan McIntyre said in Sydney's Downing Centre Local Court she had no choice but to dismiss the charges (pictured is Ms Forster at the protest) 'I am unable to make a judgment on identification.' Police prosecutor Brad Scanlan, who told the court 'Physical violence is directed at her [Ms Forster] had his attempt to use a still from the clearer video rejected. Earlier the court heard Mr Dobrijevich got himself arrested after he complained to New South Wales Police for making him 'look bad' on Facebook. Police arrested five other men - aged in their 20s and 30s - over the Redfern demonstration after releasing photographs and asking for public help tracking down those responsible. Dobrijevich approached police about the CCTV stills posted on their social media page, which prompted him to be charged with common assault, Mr Scanlan said. Police prosecutor Brad Scanlan, who told the court 'Physical violence is directed at her [Ms Forster] (pictured) had his attempt to use a still from the clearer video rejected Earlier the court heard Mr Dobrijevich got himself arrested after he complained to New South Wales Police for making him 'look bad' on Facebook (pictured is the protest) Defence lawyer Anne Healey argued there wasn't a case to answer, as Ms Foster hadn't identified Dobrijevich as one of the rowdy protesters at the Australian Technology Park. 'She does not disclose any offence against my client,' Ms Healey said. Days after the event Mr Abbott criticised the 'disgraceful behaviour' of the mob protesting against the Manus Island detention centre, saying his elderly parents who were also there were shaken. 'Denying Australians' real rights to uphold the supposed rights of boat people,' one tweet said. Police arrested five other men - aged in their 20s and 30s - over the Redfern demonstration (pictured) after releasing photographs and asking for public help tracking down those responsible Dobrijevich approached police about the CCTV stills posted on their social media page, which prompted him to be charged with common assault, Mr Scanlan said (pictured is the protest) 'My sister is herself a brave campaigner for rights and should never have been assaulted.' Ms Forster later thanked the public for their concern over the 'ugly scenes' outside the fundraiser. Security footage played in court showed the Sydney councillor being roughed up as she struggled through the large crowd. 'Assaulting passers-by is not a protest, it's just plain disgraceful behaviour,' Ms Forster tweeted at the time. A Victorian cafe that made headlines last year after telling a woman to 'choke on her olives' is under fire again, this time calling a potential employee a 'monkey'. When a friend saw the 'We're Hiring' ad on the cafe's Facebook page on Wednesday they tagged Najat Idmouh, who is currently looking for part-time employment. Not wanting to work in the hospitality industry, Ms Idmouh, 22, politely responded to her friend by saying: 'Hahaha no thank you'. But what happened next left her shocked. The cafe called potential employee Najat Idmouh a 'monkey' in a shocking Facebook rant on Wednesday night (pictured) After a friend saw a 'We're Hiring' ad on the cafe's Facebook page late on Wednesday night, they tagged Najat Idmouh who is currently looking for part-time employment The owner of the cafe - which Daily Mail Australia has chosen not to name - replied to her comment: 'No monkeys allowed'. Ms Idmouh, who is of Moroccan decent, told Daily Mail Australia she was left 'upset' by the attack but said it was not the first time she'd been targetted about her race. 'A friend of mine tagged me in their post looking to hire and I replied with "no thanks" as I don't want to work in the hospitality industry,' she said. 'Then they responded with "smart arse" and another comment saying "no monkeys allowed". 'I was very angry and upset. I am Moroccan and was bullied in school for my race.' The incident comes just months after the same cafe, which is based in south-eastern Victoria, called a customer a 'c**t' and told her to 'choke on her olives'. With an event planned for Sunday, the woman ordered a platter from the cafe, but at the last minute was forced to cancel the platter after a mix-up. After being contacted by the cafe to confirm her order over Facebook, she broke the bad news to the owner - only to be left shocked when she received a vile response. Apologising for the mix-up, the woman told the cafe she would no longer be needing the platter - but what happened next was not what she had expected. Cafe: 'Yer [sic] so have I your [sic] a c**t.' Ms Idmouh (pictured), who is of Moroccan decent, told Daily Mail Australia she was left 'upset' by the attack but said it was not the first time she'd been targetted about her race The incident comes just months after the same cafe called a customer a 'c**t' and told her to 'choke on her olives' in another shocking Facebook attack (pictured) Customer: 'I'm sorry?' Cafe: 'Not good enough, I ordered stuff to [sic] I hope you choke on your olives.' Customer: 'What a disgusting way to talk to someone, I would never of ordered the platter if I had of known my mum was going to be making one.' Cafe: 'Well you can't stuff people around like that at 9(pm) you let me know [sic] just a poor excuse.' Customer: '... I can't believe a business could be so unprofessional and name call, especially when I was very apologetic and felt so horrible having to tell you.' When approached by Daily Mail Australia about the incident, the cafe declined to comment before slamming down the phone. In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, Jeff Bezos (pictured in Beverly Hills, California, on March 4) wrote of the need to maintain 'high standards' to keep pace with customers who are 'divinely discontent' Jeff Bezos has revealed Amazon Prime now has 100 million members globally - the first time he has disclosed the figure. In a letter to shareholders on Wednesday, the retail giant's CEO wrote of the need to maintain 'high standards' to keep pace with customers who are 'divinely discontent'. Amazon shipped more than five billion items through its Prime service last year, and logged an unprecedented number of new memberships, according to Bezos. Subscriptions to Prime, which launched 13 years ago, cost $99 in the US, and come with fast, free shipping as well as online access to movies and television shows. The Seattle-based company has been investing heavily in original television content, releasing shows including hit series The Man In His High Castle and Top Gear remake The Grand Tour. 'Prime Video continues to drive Prime member adoption and retention,' Bezos said in the letter. 'We've expanded our slate of programming across the globe.' In January the company raised the monthly Prime subscription price in the US to $12.99 from $10.99, but left the annual cost at $99. The scope of Prime's success stunned even the most optimistic of analysts, such as GBH Insights' Daniel Ives. He had previously estimated Amazon had 92 million Prime subscribers. Amazon shipped more than five billion items through its Prime service last year, and logged an unprecedented number of new memberships, according to Bezos 'It's a mind-boggling number that serves as a key barometer to how big Amazon's kingdom has become,' Ives said. Amazon shares were up 1.5 per cent in after-hours trading. Prime members typically spend twice as much at Amazon than non-Prime members, and have access to the site's video streaming service. It also helps spur sales of Amazon's internet-connect speaker with device makes it easier to shop online and gives the company a toehold in homes. A graph showing Amazon's changing stock price, which rose by 1.5 per cent in out of hours trading after Bezos' announcement Amazon also is leveraging Prime to spur more sales at Whole Foods, the brick-and-mortar supermarket chain that it acquired last year, by offering two-hour delivery of groceries to the service's subscribers. Prime serves as a 'competitive moat' that makes it more difficult for other retailers, online and offline, to get people to shop at their stores instead of Amazon, Ives said. 'It has become a golden ticket for Amazon,' he said. President Donald Trump attacked Amazon as an economic scourge, deriding the company as a tax dodger and an abusive customer of the US Postal Service All those factors have helped make give Amazon a market value about $740 billion. Only Apple, at about $900 billion, and Google's corporate parent, at about $745 billion, are currently worth more. Primes rabid success has attracted some negative attention of late. President Donald Trump attacked Amazon as an economic scourge, deriding the company as a tax dodger and an abusive customer of the US Postal Service. That has raised worries the Trump administration might take action that could crimp Amazon's growth. Meanwhile, Amazon still isn't the king of digital subscriptions - conceding that title to Netflix. The streaming site has 125 million worldwide subscribers who, on average, pay about $120 annually. Amazon, on the other hand, has more than 560,000 employees, and reported a profit last year of slightly more than $3 billion. The company on Wednesday also announced a collaboration with US consumer electronics retail chain Best Buy to sell Toshiba and Insignia smart 'Fire' televisions infused with Alexa. 'Amazon and Best Buy have a long history of working together, and today we take our partnership to a new level,' Bezos said in a joint statement. Costco has been selling annual memberships to get bargains on goods stocked in its warehouses for decades, and already been outdone by Amazon's Prime service. Costco has 50.4 million memberships that allow 92 million cardholders to shop in its warehouse and website. Fiona Murakamu (pictured), 45, says was forced to punch a carjacker in the head after he allegedly attacked her on Wednesday as she pulled into the driveway of her Townsville home with her children in tow A carjacker allegedly confronted a mother and her children on Wednesday night as the family pulled into the driveway of their Townsville home, which they moved into just three days prior. Fiona Murakamu, 45, said the man, who she claims was high on drugs, flung open the driver's side door of her silver Mitsubishi ASX at about 8.20pm as she paused in front of her home on Fitzroy Street in Cranbrook. The teacher told the Townsville Bulletin the man attacked her when she paused briefly and unlocked the door so her 12-year-old son could get out and open the driveway gate. Ms Murakamu said she began punching the man in the face repeatedly to give her children an opportunity to flee. 'I just had to try and buy some time to get the kids out of the car,' she told the publication. As the man began to reverse out of the driveway with the family in the car, the 45-year-old said she began yelling 'get out, get out, I've got kids'. 'He said 'yeah I've got kids too',' she said. Ms Murakamu said she continued to punch the man as she yelled for her 16-year-old daughter and her 17-year-old boyfriend to get out of the car. The teenagers were able to jump out and call for help as Ms Murakamu continued to cling onto a car door. Ms Murakamu (pictured) said she began hitting the man so her children had an opportunity to flee She fell from the car as the man allegedly fled in the vehicle, causing her to damage tissue in her shoulder and crack a rib, the Townsville Bulletin reported. Queensland police said they have charged a 36-year-old man over the alleged incident. He is facing one count of armed robbery using personal violence and one count of stealing. The silver Mitsubishi ASX was later found abandoned at the intersection of Black River Road and the Bruce Highway. The man will appear in the Townsville Magistrates Court on Friday. The father of fired National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster has died under 'suspicious circumstances' at a nursing home in Pennsylvania. H.R. McMaster, Sr died on April 13 at the Cathedral Village in the 600 E block of Cathedral Road in Roxborough. He was receiving care there after he suffered a stroke, according to ABC 6. McMaster reportedly fell and hit his head. He was put in a chair and then died. H.R. McMaster, Sr, the father of fired National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster (pictured) has died under 'suspicious circumstances' at a nursing home in Pennsylvania. He was 84 McMaster, Sr died on April 13 at the Cathedral Village (pictured) in the 600 E block of Cathedral Road in Roxborough. He was receiving care there after he suffered a stroke. McMaster reportedly fell and hit his head. He was then put in a chair and then died It was claimed that McMaster didn't receive the proper care, prompting the investigation. Now, the Philadelphia police homicide unit, the district attorney, the Attorney General's office and the health department are investigating McMaster's death as 'suspicious'. According to ABC, investigators are looking into information from staff members who informed the McMaster family that records were falsified pertaining to his death. Philadelphia Police executed a search warrant at the facility Tuesday. Cathedral Village told the station on Wednesday that they are fully cooperating with the agencies investigating McMaster's death. They say they contacted the Department of Health the same day of his death and launched an internal investigation into the allegations that were made. McMaster is the father of former National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster (right) who was fired by President Donald Trump last month A spokesperson said: 'We remain committed to the safety and welfare of all our residents and have made every effort to cooperate.' McMaster Sr is the father of former National Security Advisor General H.R. McMaster who was fired by President Donald Trump last month. Trump replaced McMaster with the current National Security Advisor John Bolton. Bolton officially replaced McMaster on April 9. A White House official said at the time that Trump and McMaster 'mutually agreed' that he would 'resign'. 'The two have been discussing this for some time,' the official added. 'The timeline was expedited as they both felt it was important to have the new team in place, instead of constant speculation.' McMaster, a three-star Army general, said at the time that he will retire from the armed forces over the summer, passing up what was thought to be a chance to land a command position with a fourth star. Advertisement Some of New York City's wealthiest residents residing along Manhattan's so-called 'Billionaires Row' are up in arms about the prospect of living just steps away from a homeless shelter that is now under construction. The city has approved a controversial plan to house 140 single men in what was once the low-cost Park Savoy Hotel on West 58th Street, a modest building right next door to the back entrance of One57, one of the half-dozen sleek new skyscrapers built along West 57th Street to accommodate the super rich. Unit owners at One57 include computer billionaire Michael Dell, who set a record for the most expensive home ever sold in New York City when he paid $100.7million for his sprawling six-bedroom, six-bath penthouse in 2014. Going to the mattresses: A city plan to build a homeless shelter at the now defunct Park Savoy Hotel has sparked a real-estate turf war on Manhattan's 'Billionaires Row,' with opponents fearing a threat to property values. Neighbors: The residential skyscraper One57, a gleaming 75-story glass high-rise on West 57th, sits behind the once low-budget Park Savoy Hotel, center, which is slated to have 140 beds to accommodate single homeless men Changing skyline: Residential skyscrapers, including One57, second from left, a gleaming 75-story glass high-rise on West 57th, make up a Manhattan neighborhood of sprouting luxury towers A year earlier, the second-most expensive residential real estate deal ever was made and it, too, was for a 13,554 square-foot duplex in One57. Billionaire hedge fund manager Bill Ackman led a group of other investors who paid a grand total of $91.5million, according to The New York Times. The placement of the shelter in such a location is in line with Mayor Bill de Blasio's campaign platform, who was first elected in 2014, and then re-elected in 2017, on the promise of fighting income inequality and reversing public policies tilted to favor the wealthy. But the proposed shelter, steps from Central Park, has been met with howls of outrage from some people who live on the surrounding blocks, many of whom are average New Yorkers, including families with small children and seniors living on fixed income. At a recent meeting about the project, dubbed the Park Savoy Rapid Re-Housing and Employment Center, angry residents, shopkeepers and restaurant owners booed and yelled, 'Not in this neighborhood!' As this map shows, the proposed shelter in the defunct Park Savoy Hotel on West 58th Street is located next door to the back entrance of One57 on West 57th Street Computer mogul Michael Dell in 2014 bought a penthouse apartment on One57 for a record-setting $100.7million A year earlier, the second-most expensive residential real estate deal ever was made and it, too, was for a 13,554 square-foot duplex in One57 The photo shows a sleek and modern dining room inside one of the units in One57 overlooking Manhattan's skyline A sitting area is pictured inside an apartment in the residential tower just steps away from Central Park 'We're completely baffled by how this shelter was planned,' said Suzanne Silverstein, president of the West 58th Street Coalition, which is fighting the hotel-to-shelter conversion. During a town hall meeting held last month to protest the planned shelter, Silverstein said she is fighting for her children, ages 10 and 12. Opponents like Silverstein say the homeless men could pose a security risk for both pricey apartment owners and residents of older, rent-controlled buildings on West 58th Street, whose sidewalks are crowded with tourists, baby carriages and dogs. 'West 58th Street is the billionaires' backyard, but it's the front yard of middle-class families with children, and senior citizens,' said David Achelis, a recording producer who has lived in the neighborhood for 40 of his 67 years. The project was started 'extremely secretively' months ago, lacking work permits or an environmental impact study, Silverstein said. A stop-work order was issued February 8 by the Department of Buildings after inspectors found ongoing construction in the century-old, nine-story building. The order remains in effect until the building is granted the necessary permits. 'The city approved this project with no notice for the community to be heard,' said the coalition's attorney, Randy Mastro, who served as deputy mayor under Rudolph Giuliani. 'The city has acted illegally under the city charter, which requires public notice when a contract is being awarded.' Bloomberg News reported last month that the coalition may pursue legal action under New York States Article 78, which allows citizens to appeal an action taken by a government agency. De Blasio has defended the project, which comes as his administration seeks to build 90 new shelters in all five boroughs over the next five years to accommodate a record number of homeless people, who are currently being housed in hotels and apartments. 'We said we were going to do it everywhere. We should be doing it in places that are the privileged parts of town as well as every other kind of community,' he said on The Brian Lehrer Show on WNYC Radio. Mayor Bill de Blasio was first elected in 2014, and then re-elected in 2017, on the promise of fighting income inequality and reversing public policies tilted to favor the wealthy Security cameras will be installed, monitored by 24-hour guards, and there will be a 10pm curfew in place for the residents, said Isaac McGinn, spokesman for the city Department of Homeless Services. Opponents also have raised concerns about the cost, noting the site will be more expensive to operate than others in the outer boroughs. To run the shelter, the city has a nine-year, $63million proposed contract with the nonprofit Westhab, which is leasing the Manhattan site from the defunct hotel's owner, New Hampton LLC, for $2.6million a year, to be reimbursed by the city. New Hampton's managing agent, John Pappas, did not respond to requests for comment, nor did Westhab. Robin Siskin, a lawyer who lives in a modest apartment across the street from the proposed shelter site, said the homeless men would not be able to afford a neighborhood where a cup of coffee can cost $6. 'My concern is that the men are being set up to fail, while somebody is lining their pockets with money at the expense of the community,' she said. 'This is a moneymaker for an LLC, pure and simple.' Not everyone in the community opposes the proposed shelter. One vocal supporter is John Sheehan, a neighborhood resident and director of outreach services for the Fifth Avenue Presbyterian Church. 'I believe in the right to housing,' he said. 'We have an enormous problem in New York City and we need places to house people.' The city's homeless population has been estimated to number more than 63,000, according to data from the Coalition for the Homeless. President Donald Trumps former legal adviser says it is virtually certain that his personal attorney, Michael Cohen, will cooperate with federal investigators and turn over damaging information about Trump if he is faced with criminal charges. Jay Goldberg, who represented Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s, said he spoke with the president on Friday and warned him that Cohen would turn on him if it meant staying out of prison. Goldberg said he told Trump that on a scale of 100 to 1, where 100 is fully protecting the president, Cohen isnt even a 1, according to The Wall Street Journal. Trump was warned by Goldberg that Cohen may even try to wear a wire and record their conversations. You have to be alert, Goldberg told Trump. I dont care what Michael says. Over two decades ago, Trump hired Goldberg to represent him on numerous occasions in divorce and real estate matters. Jay Goldberg, who represented Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s, said he spoke with the president on Friday and warned him that Michael Cohen would turn on him if it meant staying out of prison Prosecutors revealed last week they have been conducting a criminal investigation into Cohen, largely over his personal business dealings Prosecutors revealed last week they have been conducting a criminal investigation into Cohen, largely over his personal business dealings. Cohen has admitted paying $130,000 to adult film actress Stormy Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, before the 2016 election to secure her silence about a sexual relationship she said she had with Trump. Daniels has sued to end her nondisclosure agreement. Prosecutors are investigating Cohen for possible bank and tax fraud, possible campaign law violations in connection with the payment to Daniels, and perhaps other matters related to Trumps campaign, a person familiar with the probe has said. Goldberg told the Journal that he told his former client, Trump, that Cohen will never stand up [for you]. Cohen and his attorney did not comment. The White House confirmed that Trump and Goldberg did speak by phone for 15 minutes on Friday. The president has reportedly reached out to Goldberg as well as a number of other advisers to seek their counsel. Goldberg said he told Trump that the potential evidence collected by the federal government could enable prosecutors to bring massive pressure to bear on Cohen compelling him to cooperate. Goldberg said he told Trump that the potential evidence collected by the federal government could enable prosecutors to bring massive pressure to bear on Cohen compelling him to cooperate. Trump is seen right on Tuesday with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe Goldberg said that any charges brought against Cohen could spell more danger to the president than the investigation by Special Counsel Robert Mueller into alleged collusion between the Trump campaign and the Russian government during the 2016 elections. Trump and his team have denied they colluded with Russia. Goldberg said Trump told him he believes Cohen is very strong. Last month, Cohen tweeted: I will always protect our @POTUS. Goldberg, a former prosecutor, cited the example of Sammy The Bull Gravano as a precedent for confidantes who turn on their bosses. Gravano was an underboss in the Gambino crime family who turned states witness and helped the federal government bring down mob boss John Gotti in the mid-1990s. The Bull confessed to involvement in nearly two dozen murders. In exchange for his cooperation, he received a five-year prison sentence. Goldberg, a former prosecutor, cited the example of Sammy The Bull Gravano as a precedent for confidantes who turn on their bosses. Gravano (left) was an underboss in the Gambino crime family who helped the government bring down mob boss John Gotti (right) in the 1990s Gotti was convicted and given a life sentence. He died behind bars in 2002. Goldberg also said he advised Trump against talking to Muellers team. Talking is a certain trap, Goldberg told the president. Dont ever do it. Goldberg also said he recommended that Trump fire Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is overseeing the Mueller investigation after Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself. Goldberg, 85, said he recommended that Trump add a well-known New York lawyer to his legal team. That lawyer was later confirmed to be Frederick Hafetz, a former chief of the criminal division of the US attorneys office in Manhattan. Hafetz declined to join Trump. A notorious paedophile suspected of harbouring more information about child molesters has had his sentence reduced for testifying against a sex offender in Europe. Shannon McCoole, a former South Australian government child protection worker, was jailed in 2015 for a minimum of 28 years for abusing children in his care, including an 18-month-old baby and minors with disabilities. But the 35-year-old Adelaide sexual predator's minimum prison term was reduced to 26 years on Thursday despite District Court judge Paul Rice expressing concern about his failure to properly co-operate with authorities. A notorious paedophile suspected of harbouring more information about child molesters has had his sentence reduced for testifying against a sex offender in Europe 'That does not reduce your discount but shows there are matters you still keep secret,' he said. 'No doubt you harbour a lot more information about the activities of others.' Judge Rice said his evidence in the Danish case had not been the decisive factor for the prosecution, but noted he had answered all the questions put to him in court about a Norwegian paedophile. McCoole, a former SA Families carer, was jailed in 2015 for abusing young children in his care, administering a global child pornography network and for producing and disseminating child pornography. Shannon McCoole, a former South Australian child protection worker, was jailed in 2015 for a minimum of 28 years for abusing children in his care, including an 18-month-old baby The Adelaide sexual predator (wearing the cap in 2016) had his minimum prison term reduced to 26 years on Thursday despite a judge expressing concern about his failure to co-operate He received a maximum jail term of 35 years which on Thursday was reduced to 32 years. McCoole was convicted on 18 state and two federal charges committed between 2011 and 2014, with one of his victims just 18 months old. His victims also included minors with autism and a disability. The charges included persistent sexual exploitation of children, sexual intercourse with children and aggravated indecent assault. When police raided McCoole's home at Oaklands Park, in southern Adelaide, they found more than 53,000 child pornography images, with almost 600 related to his own abusive acts. When police raided McCoole's home at Oaklands Park, in southern Adelaide, they found more than 53,000 child pornography images, with almost 600 related to his own abusive acts Outside court on Thursday the father of one of his victims said McCoole should not have been given any discount. 'He's got no remorse at all. He doesn't give a s*** basically. He was sitting there with a smile on his face,' the father said. 'I suggest to McCoole and any other person who has ever hurt a child to stand up and start thinking about the children and stop thinking about themselves. 'These children live with a lifetime of hurt.' In earlier submissions on McCoole's application for a reduced sentence, defence counsel Mark Griffin said his client had given evidence in the Danish case because he regarded it as 'the right thing to do'. Mr Griffin said it was a demonstration of McCoole's remorse for his offending. But prosecutor Ian Press argued that while McCoole had been willing to co-operate, that co-operation was 'on his own terms'. Thomas Jnr, 51, who is the American actress' half-brother, claims the 36-year-old has forgotten her roots by refusing to invite close relatives as she prepare to tie the knot with Prince Harry Meghan Markle's brother has revealed that her royal wedding snub has 'torn the family apart'. Thomas Jnr, 51, who is the American actress' half-brother, claims the 36-year-old has forgotten her roots by refusing to invite close relatives as she prepare to tie the knot with Prince Harry. Mr Markle, from Oregon, accused his sibling of turning her back on the family and said she is 'falsely' trying to portray herself as the new Princess Diana. He told the Daily Mirror: 'She's clearly forgotten her roots. It's torn my entire family apart. Meg likes to portray herself as a humanitarian, a people's person and a charitable person but she is none of those things to her family. 'She is giving the greatest performance of her life. She is acting phoney. I've read that Meg wants to be like Diana. Diana was worshipped by everyone in the world. She was loved for the right reasons. 'That's what Meg wants, but I don't think that's going to happen. She's not genuine like Diana.' Mr Markle has not seen his sister since 2011 when the pair and Meghan's film producer ex Trevor Engleson, 41 attended the Los Angeles funeral of their grandmother, Doris. But speaking exclusively to DailyMailTV last month, the 51-year-old said: 'I haven't got an invite yet but I do expect to get one. It would be really nice [to get an invitation] and it would mean a lot. 'I do expect one and I'm looking forward to going. I don't see why not. It is what it is. I am family, estranged or not.' Of the letter mailed to Kensington Palace, Markle Jr added: 'I sent a letter. Just basically [saying] I'm really happy for you, congratulations, you're amazing, you're going to do well and congratulations. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle during a reception with delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre, London, yesterday Meghan attended a reception with Prince Harry and delegates from the Commonwealth Youth Forum at the Queen Elizabeth II Conference Centre in her first major event with the Royal Family Extended family: Meghan has been estranged from most of her dad's side of the family for years. Above she is pictured as a young girl with her father Thomas Markle, Thomas Markle Jr's son Thomas and Tyler Dooley, and his ex-wife Tracey Dooley 'No, I didn't hear back but I'm sure she's busy. She's got a lot on her plate right now she's in a whirlwind. She's becoming a princess. 'It's probably really hard for her to think about anything else except for her wedding and everything like that.' Meghan, 36, will marry Prince Harry, 33, at the 14th century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19. Of the 36-year-old's own family, only her mother Doria Ragland, 61, of Los Angeles, California, and her reclusive father Thomas Markle Sr, 73, are likely to be part of the 600-strong congregation. Ms Grant, pictured, uses a wheelchair after being diagnosed with multiple sclerosis Meghan is also understood to be close to her niece Ashleigh Hale, 31, and her graphic designer half-uncle Joffrey Ragland, 34, who may also travel to England for the nuptials. Half-sister Samantha Grant, 53, is not thought to have received an invitation while Markle Jr's ex-wife Tracey Dooley and son Tyler, 26, have already admitted to being left out. Yesterday Ms Grant questioned Harry's humanitarian work and accused him of being a hypocrite by 'allowing Meg to ignore the Markles'. Her tweet came as Meghan was embarking on her first major event on behalf of the Royal Family today when she joined Prince Harry for a Commonwealth reception in London. She wrote: 'It's time to 'man up' @HRHHenryWindsor. 'Shout outs' about humanitarianism, don't work when you are allowing Meg to ignore the Markles. It is s (sic) contradiction. 'Someone must point out that the "Emperor is not wearing any clothes".' However the account she was directing the message at is not actually the Prince, but a fan account pretending to be him. Samantha Grant took aim at Prince Harry on Twitter today, telling him to 'man up' and 'stop Meghan ignoring the Markles' According to Markle Jr, his uncle Frederick, 76, a self-styled bishop who runs his own tiny church in Sanford, Florida, is likely to go to Windsor, whether or not he receives an invitation. Although Meghan's brother is still hoping to make the guest list, he admitted that his and fiancee Darlene Blount's run-ins with the law could have left the former Suits star 'embarrassed'. Markle Jr was arrested in January 2017 for drunkenly holding a gun to Blount's head while his fiancee, 37, was collared on New Year's Eve for allegedly assaulting him while in a booze-fueled rage. Blount was released without charge two days after her arrest while the case against Markle Jr was dropped before it went to court. He told DailyMailTV: 'I'm a private citizen - just so happens, my sister's marrying Prince Harry so all I do now is look round the corner to see if someone with a camera is following me around. 'I'm human and mistakes happen and drinking happens and fights happen and it is what it is. If she's embarrassed about that, then I'm sorry. 'But that's why I did reach out and say, hey, let's do something about this because you should want to get along anyway.' Princess-to-be: Meghan did not respond to her half-brother's congratulatory letter, he claims Meghan, 36, will marry Prince Harry, 33, at the 14th century St George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19. The two announced their engagement in November According to Markle Jr, he contacted the Palace for help with dealing with his new-found fame late last year, only to be told that he is on his own. He said: 'I don't know if it [the email] ever got to her, I don't know if she ignored it, but she didn't reply back, I guess. 'It's not that it hurts, it goes with her schedule - she's extremely busy all day, all week. Her agenda is planned out weeks in advance, I'm sure of it. 'But it would be nice of her to drop a line and say hello once in a while.' Markle Jr, whose parents are Meghan's father Thomas and his first wife Roslyn, 72, says he hopes the upcoming wedding will lead to a family reunion and an end to the feuds that have rocked the Markle clan. Illinois-born Markle Jr is currently estranged from his son Tyler, as well as sister Samantha and half-sister Meghan. His mother Roslyn, of Albuquerque, New Mexico, does not speak to Samantha, who has also fallen out with her daughter Noel, 19, her ex-husband Scott Rasmussen, 57, and Meghan herself. Like Samantha, of Ocala, Florida, Markle Jr says he is planning a book or a movie about his famous half-sister and contributed to Diana biographer Andrew Morton's upcoming book, Meghan: A Hollywood Princess. Nonetheless, the 51-year-old says he is sure he will see Meghan again, whether on May 19 or not, and bristled at suggestions that he is a 'distant' relation. 'Gosh, I'm not that distant,' he insisted. 'But like I said before, when she took off to start her career [in Toronto], everybody becomes distant even my father got it. 'He probably got a little upset because he wasn't needed so much anymore.' Markle Jr added: 'She could never forget me. Her and I always got along really good, we spent a lot of time together before she left [Los Angeles in 2011]. 'She knows who I am and I'm not distant, I may be distant distance wise, as in 4,000 miles, but that's it.' And if he doesn't travel to London for Meghan and Harry's wedding, Markle Jr says he won't feel too bad about being left off the guest list because he's busy planning his own nuptials. 'I won't be heartbroken, it'll be OK,' he told DailyMailTV. 'I won't be upset. I've got my own wedding to plan. We haven't set a date yet but it's coming up pretty soon.' An emotional farmer has taken issue with the Australian government's plans to invest $146 million into training Vietnamese abattoir workers, claiming the money needs to be invested into the local economy instead. Brendan Farrell is the man behind the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners: an agricultural charity that delivers bales of hay to drought-stricken farmers around the country. It's an indisputably noble cause. But Farrell claims it's often an uphill slog getting supplies to more than 10,000 farmers in need. Scroll down for video Australian farmer Brendan Farrell, the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners charity, has posted a video monologue denouncing the Federal Government's plans to invest $146 million overseas 'In the last four years we've done 13 hay runs,' he says, in a video monologue uploaded to the Burrumbuttock Hay Runners Facebook page on Wednesday. 'We've tried to help as many farmers as we possibly can: 12 and a half thousand of them. 'Raising money, scraping the barrel all the time, trying to get fuels in trucks to get this hay to farmers in need through this drought that doesn't seem to go away.' Farrell, visibly upset, sits in the cab of his truck and lists no fewer than eight regional areas in New South Wales alone that are suffering the brunt of the drought. Farrell argues that the money is desperately needed in the local economy - particularly as countless farmers battle against a 'drought that doesn't seem to go away' 'But the thing that's really p***ed me off at the moment is we can just all of a sudden whack out 146 million dollars to train Vietnamese abattoir workers on killing livestock better,' he continues. The 146 million dollars he is referring to is part of the Managing Abattoirs, Training and Exchange of Skills program. Launched by Agriculture Minister David Littleproud last week, the program will invest in training abattoir and livestock workers in Vietnam over the next five years to improve animal welfare standards. And Farrell isn't the first to question the exorbitant initiative. The $146 million Farrell refers to is part of the Managing Abattoirs, Training and Exchange of Skills program, which was launched by Agricultural Minister David Littleproud last week The program will invest in the training of abattoir and livestock workers in Vietnam over the next five years 'It's got me buggered and baffled, it really has,' he says. 'I bust my balls all day to... try and raise new funds for the hay runner... [And] we can't keep spending money the way we are. 'We don't have 146 million dollars just to give away to a country we don't own.' Farrell goes on to suggest that the Federal government's 'big old fat check book' would be put to far better use investing in struggling local industries. 'Why don't we put 146 million dollars into Holden to try and keep them down in Melbourne a bit longer?' he proposed. 'Or Ford over in Geelong? 'There is that many industries over here in Australia that are hurting.' Farrell suggests that the Federal government's 'big old fat check book' would be put to far better use investing in struggling local industries such as Holden or Ford Regarded by many as a quintessential, true blue Aussie battler, Farrell clearly takes matters of Australia's agricultural future to heart. Toward the end of the video he becomes increasingly bewildered by the prospect of 'where this country's gonna be' in years to come. 'We have to make serious change now and we have to stop supporting other countries when our country is in more s**t than you can poke a stick at,' he says. 'Enough is enough. We've gotta stop doing this.' A glamour model at the centre of an 'Insta-bikies' feud says she 'still loves' her cousin but will never forgive her after the pair found themselves at the centre of a vicious social media spat. The cousins became embroiled in a public feud between their boyfriends, ex-Bandidos boss Brett 'Kaos' Pechey and former Hells Angels and Finks bikie gang member Ben 'Notorious' Geppert. The former 'bikie' friends used Instagram to take shots at each other and their Gold Coast girlfriends, Rikki Louise Jones and her cousin Allaina Vader. A glamour model at the centre of an 'Insta-bikies' feud says she 'still loves' her cousin Rikki Louise (pictured) but could never forgive her after the pair found themselves at the centre of a vicious social media spat Former Hells Angels and Finks bikie gang member, Ben Geppert's girlfriend Allaina Vader (pictured) Despite their family ties, the girls' relationship was put to the test when their boyfriends used them as collateral in the social media fight. Geppert posted a photo on social media of Pechey's girlfriend with a pig's snout on her face, and placed two police emojis with the caption 'ONION' a derogatory term for a bikie's girlfriend. Allaina Vader this week said she regretted her involvement in the feud because she was always very close to her younger cousin Rikki Jones. 'I'll always love Rikki, I was her legal guardian once I turned 17 so yeah it hurts its gone this far,' she told The Courier Mail. 'But I won't forgive her this time, it's gone too far. Allaina Vader (pictured) this week said she regretted her involvement in the feud because she was always very close to her younger cousin Rikki Jones Ben Geppert (left) and Brett Pechey (right) pose happily for a photo before their Instagram war Violent bikie brawl breaks out at Broadbeach, Queensland in 2013 Vader said the girls' relationship fell apart when they took their respective partner's sides, a move Vader said she did not regret. Her cousin Rikki Jones refused to divulge any information as to why she didn't speak to her cousin anymore, but said 'the truth will come out in court at a later date'. The relationship break-down culminated in an incident at a unit owned by Rikki-Louise's boyfriend Pechey, the former leading Bandidos enforcer. Geppert recently posted a photo on social media of Pechey's girlfriend with a pig's snout on her face, and placed two police emojis with the caption 'ONION' (pictured) Neither girls were charged in relation to the incident, but Daily Mail Australia understands Queensland police intervened in their dispute which happened in early April. Bitter fighting wasn't always the norm for the girls, with earlier photos revealing the cousins smiling as they posed side-by-side. Past photos also told stories of their old lives before tattoos, plastic surgery and social media stardom. Years earlier, the cousins - whose fathers are brothers - were almost unrecognisable, with Allaina's red hair and arm of colourful tattoos the only thing baring similarity. Australia's first Muslim woman to sit in federal parliament has revealed her ex-husband used Islam to stop her getting a divorce. Anne Aly, the Labor member for the Perth seat of Cowan, said her husband abused her during the 1990s and refused to accept her request for divorce by citing Sharia law. 'I remained married to a man that was being abusive in an abusive relationship for longer than I should have,' she said. Australia's first Muslim woman to sit in federal parliament (pictured) has revealed her ex-husband used Islam to stop her getting a divorce 'When I did finally get the courage to divorce my husband, as soon as I did start talking about divorce he suddenly found a use for religion and brought up that I couldn't get a civil divorce from him, that I would need to get a Sharia divorce.' Dr Aly, 51, told the ABC's The Drum program it took her five years to secure a civil divorce. The Egyptian-born mother-of-two met her husband in Egypt after finishing high school. The pair were living in Perth when he allegedly abused her. Dr Aly, a former counter-terrorism academic, was commenting on an ABC investigation which found Islamic imams are often unsympathetic to Muslim women caught in violent marriages. 'We need to start listening to the real, lived experiences of women who are forced to stay married to men who are abusive towards them because they cannot have access to a divorce,' she said. Anne Aly (pictured), Labor MP for Cowan in Western Australia, said her husband abused her during the 1990s and refused to accept her request for a divorce The Labor backbencher said Islamic imams were too focused on keeping marriages together, even in cases of domestic violence. 'I've had one imam brag to me that he has a 97 per cent success rate at keeping relationships together, regardless of whether they're happy marriages or abusive marriages,' Dr Aly said. Dr Aly previously told MPs that she had to raise her children with just $400 a fortnight after leaving her violent husband aged 25. 'I haven't forgotten what it's like to stand at the shopping centre counter and return half your shopping because you simply can't afford it that week,' Ms Aly said in parliament in March last year. 'I haven't forgotten what it's like to delve through my purse and pick up coins just to be able to afford essentials like milk and bread.' The decision by the Parole Board that John Worboys (pictured) was safe for release sparked a public backlash Two experts who gave evidence that almost led to the release of black cab rapist John Worboys say the public backlash against them was wrong. The psychologists were slammed by the High Court at a hearing last month for failing to probe if the the serial sex attacker was being 'open and honest.' In a letter in The Psychologist journal, the pair, who have not been named, hit out at the public approaching the case in a 'common sense fashion.' They claimed that 'sometimes common sense let us down' and hinted Worboys posed less risk because he had repeatedly denied his guilt. In the letter, The Sun reports, they cited a 2015 study of 7,000 sex offenders in the UK, which showed that 'those who took full responsibility for their offence sexually re-offended at a significantly higher rate than those who took partial or no responsibility for their offence.' The decision by the Parole Board in January that he was safe to walk free, sparked a huge backlash. Worboys, 60, was convicted of attacks on 12 women at his 2009 trial after 'sample' charges were brought by the Crown Prosecution Service. But police believe he assaulted at least 105 between 2002 and 2008. The Parole Board made its decision while taking into account his 19 convictions, and not the 100 or more offences he is suspected of carrying out. Worboys, pictured at one of his court appearances, was convicted of attacks on 12 women, but police believe he assaulted at least 105 victims Worboys' taxi where he carried out a string of sex attacks on women between 2002 and 2008 It decided he was safe for release after finding he had learned 'not to hide negative thoughts and feelings' during 'positive' treatment with psychologists. They claimed the former stripper had shown 'good insight' into his risk factors and triggers and how to manage them. But the ruling was overturned last month after a landmark legal challenge by two victims. Parole Board chairman Nick Hardwick was then forced to quit. Justice Secretary David Gauke (left) has admitted he is responsible for the Parole Board's decision, which eventually saw its chairman Nick Hardwick (right) forced to resign when the ruling was overturned The Crown Prosecution Service is facing mounting pressure to review the decision not to charge Worboys in connection with some of the 83 cases that police passed files to them on. A spokesman for the CPS said that every rape allegation which met the evidential test was prosecuted. No further charges have been brought forward and the CPS said ti would only review the cases should new evidence surface. Two weeks ago Justice Secretary David Gauke admitted he is responsible for the Parole Board decision. He told the Sun on Sunday that he did not want the serial sex attacker to be released and that he was pleased the High Court challenge by two victims to overturn ruling was successful. He said: 'Clearly, things didnt go as they should have gone. 'Look, I made the decision. I accept responsibility, so Im not hiding behind my advisers. Its my responsibility entirely.' The Justice Secretary refused to block the parole board decision as outrage mounted and instead waited for victims to launch a legal challenge. He added: 'I felt it sensible to take advice from a top barrister and I interrogated that advice and concluded it was right I dont take the action. 'I was pleased it was successful and Worboys remains behind bars I didnt want Worboys released. My focus now is ensuring we learn the lessons from the case.' Mr Gauke has also faced calls to join parole board chair Professor Nick Hardwick in quitting his position after the U-turn was finalised. Ashley Drabble arrives at Stockport Magistrates' Court, where she was given an eight-week suspended sentence A party loving nurse who would 'smash it' on white wine after her shifts was more than four times the alcohol limit when she was pulled over, a court heard. Ashley Drabble, 31, had been drinking the night before but had another glass of wine went out for lunch with her new boyfriend the next day. Police stopped her in Macclesfield, Cheshire after the couple had an argument and she provided a sample of 145 microgrammes of alcohol in 100militres of breath. Drabble, who works on a dementia ward at Macclesfield General Hospital, admitted drink driving but was spared jail as she was attending Alcoholics Anonymous. Stockport Magistrates' Court heard the incident occurred on March 24 after Drabble had two glasses of wine with her boyfriend at lunchtime during her day off. Prosecutor Miss Danielle Allinson said: 'At around 1pm she was stopped by police and whilst speaking to the defendant, officers could smell intoxicants on her breath. 'They asked her to pull over into a parking space and she drove into it without any complaints in her VW. As a result of smelling intoxicants on her breath, officers asked her to vacate that vehicle. 'She said she hadn't drunk anything since the night before and she had definitely not drunk anything in the last twenty minutes. 'A road side breath test was taken and she was immediately arrested and taken to the police station. This is her first ever appearance in court.' Drabble (pictured), who works on a dementia ward at Macclesfield General Hospital, admitted drink driving but was spared jail as she was attending Alcoholics Anonymous Robert Stewart, mitigation, said: 'It is clear from the outset she is extremely remorseful and ashamed for the situation she is in. 'This is one of the highest readings I have ever seen, it is almost off the scale. However, she was not driving erratically, she was not slumped in her seat or slurring her words. 'In fact, officers only noted she was under the influence when they smelt intoxicants on her breath. 'The consequences of the breakup of her relationship was not pleasurable. She accepts she did start drinking more and perhaps built up a tolerance to it. 'A lot of her down time whilst she was on her days out, she would start drinking to excess and she admits that. 'She would "smash it", using her words. She has made steps to visit her GP, the AA meetings and she has had the full support of her family. Drabble, from Tytherington, near Macclesfield, was sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for a year and was ordered to attend a drink-driving programme 'She has a bright future ahead of her, she is only 31, and she wants to improve things for herself. She has even been doing overtime at work. 'I believe she can be punished enough in the community.' A probation report read out to the court said: 'She had been in a previous long term relationship which ended last year. 'She believes the drinking began around this time and she has been drinking since then. 'She has noticed she has been drinking more and more. She is not dependant on it and can go for many days without drinking. 'She works unusual hours with her job as a nurse, and on her days off she'll think to herself "Oh I can have a drink". Drabble (pictured right, arriving at court) was banned from drinking, told to complete 50 hours unpaid work and pay 200 court costs 'Despite the reading she did not feel she was that drunk. She works on the dementia ward at Macclesfield Hospital. 'She has speaker to her manager about this and they have been extremely understanding. 'She has been going to AA meetings voluntarily. She has been diagnosed with depression and anxiety and accepts she has been going to work with low moods. 'She has completely abstained from alcohol since these offences. She is doing well in her career and has worked incredibly hard. 'She is a Band 4 nurse and in one more year she can become a registered nurse. 'However this is the highest reading I have ever seen whilst working in this court.' Drabble, from Tytherington, near Macclesfield, was sentenced to eight weeks jail suspended for a year and was ordered to attend a drink-driving programme. She was also banned from drinking, told to complete 50 hours unpaid work and pay 200 court costs. A former civil service chief and Labour adviser has sparked fury by claiming Theresa May's immigration policy was seen in government as 'reminiscent of Nazi Germany'. Lord Kerslake said the 'hostile environment' brought in against illegal immigrants in 2014 caused widespread anxiety among ministers. But senior Tories accused the peer of peddling 'offensive drivel' and accused him of undermining the independence of the civil service. The ex-mandarin's explosive comments came as the Prime Minister struggles to get a grip on the Windrush generation scandal. Lord Kerslake, a Labour adviser, told Newsnight the 'hostile environment' brought in against illegal immigrants in 2014 caused widespread anxiety among ministers Theresa May issued a grovelling apology to Windrush immigrants in the House of Commons yesterday after being slammed for implementing the 'disastrous' policy. Thousands of people who came to Britain from the Caribbean after the Second World War have been left struggling to prove their right to stay in the country after being caught up in a crackdown launched by the Home Office in 2014. Some individuals who have been living in the UK and paying taxes for decades have been threatened with deportation and denied medical treatment. Mrs May issued a grovelling apology for the way the cases had been handled yesterday. But she also revealed that a Home Office decision to destroy landing cards that could have helped prove when Windrush migrants arrived was taken in 2009 when Labour was in power. Crossbencher peer Lord Kerslake, who was in charge of the civil service between 2012 and 2014 and has been advising the Labour party under Jeremy Corbyn, said deep concerns about the 'hostile environment' policy were expressed across government. He told BBC2's Newsnight: 'I think it was not just a question of the home secretary being told it was a challenging policy, the prime minister was as well. 'This was a very contested piece of legislation across government departments. What is the Windrush scandal and how did the fiasco develop? June 22, 1948 - The Empire Windrush passenger ship docked at Tilbury from Jamaica. The 492 passengers were temporarily housed near Brixton in London. Over the following decades some 500,000 came to the UK. Many arrived on their parents' passports and were not formally naturalised as British citizens. 1973 - A new immigration Act comes into force putting the onus on individuals to prove they have previously been resident in the UK. 2010 - The Home Office destroyed thousands of landing card slips recording Windrush immigrants arrival dates in the UK. The move came despite staff warnings that the move would make it harder to check the records of older Caribbean-born residents experiencing residency difficulties, it was claimed 2014 - A protection that exempted Commonwealth residents from enforced removal was removed under a new law. Theresa May was Home Secretary at the time. Under a crackdown on illegals, Windrush immigrants are obliged to provide proof they were resident in the UK before 1973. July 2016 - Mrs May becomes Prime Minister. April 2018 - Allegations that Windrush immigrants are being threatened with deportation break. Theresa May issued a grovelling apology to Caribbean leaders after major backlash April 29 - Amber Rudd resigns after inadvertently misleading Parliament by wrongly claiming there were no deportation targets Advertisement 'Now, I can't say, and shouldn't say, as the former head of the civil service, precisely who gave what advice to whom. 'But, what I can tell you, it was highly contested and there were some who saw it, I shan't name them, as almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the way it's working.' Asked if he was referring to people in the civil service, Lord Kerslake said: 'No, some in the ministers were deeply unhappy.' Pressed on whether the Government could say that experts did not warn them a Windrush generation problem could be a consequence of the move, Lord Kerslake said: 'Look, I don't think they can say that really. 'You created an environment in which action was going to be taken and there was a risk, it was obvious to everyone, that you would take the rough with the smooth. 'I think it would be just quite wrong to land this on the civil service, basically. 'This was a conscious policy in order to hold on to a strong policy position that was proving very difficult to imply.' Lord Kerslake said it was 'completely ridiculous' for Home Secretary Amber Rudd to try to blame civil servants for the Windrush situation. 'You cannot create a climate and then not expect it to have consequences.' Tory backbencher Nigel Evans said: 'The impartiality of the civil service is deeply cherished but rocked to its core by the rantings of lord Kerslake. 'Theresa May has said senior mandarins and high office holders should no longer expect automatic peerages- what a shame this wasnt brought in a few years back to save us from such offensive drivel.' Environment Secretary Michael Gove also dismissed the claims from Lord Kerslake. 'I never heard anyone make the comparison before Lord Kerslake,' he told BBC Radio 4's Today programme. 'I respectfully disagree.' The remarks came as the Home Office said the number of Windrush cases being investigated had surged to 113. Windrush campaigner and prominent Labour MP David Lammy said: 'In light of this crisis and the devastating impact it has had on huge numbers of innocent people, I am calling on the Prime Minister to establish an independent review of immigration policy and the hostile environment. 'Lessons must be learnt from the Windrush crisis and a review is now a vital step in understanding how and why our immigration system treats people in this way and what reforms are needed to prevent any further cruelty and injustices.' A bride-to-be who paid 3,000 online for her dream honeymoon villa in Ibiza was left devastated after finding out she had been scammed and the property does not exist. Hairdresser Daizie Kerr, 27, who is originally from Retford, Nottinghamshire but now lives in Australia, booked the villa after seeing it advertised on holiday website HomeAway. Ms Kerr, who is set to marry her fiance, welder Thomas Myers, 27, in September, has now posted about the scam on Facebook in a bid to stop other people falling for the same tricks. Hairdresser Daizie Kerr, 27, who is originally from Retford, Nottinghamshire but now lives in Australia, booked the villa after seeing it advertised on holiday website HomeAway In it she explains that when she requested the book the villa, the 'owner' told her she was booking so far in advance she could get a discount. She then paid a direct bank transfer - and he stopped replying to her messages. HomeAway then warned her it suspected the property was a scam. She wrote: 'I know that people arent always as stupid as I have been but I just wanted to remind people to always be cautious. 'I recently went on HomeAway to search for a villa to stay at in Ibiza after our wedding. I inquired about a place and received a message from the owner, saying because I was booking so far in advance he could give us a discount and asked me to email his private email to sort his calendar. Ms Kerr said: ''The email looked legitimate and my app said the same as my other emails from this website at the head of the email. It gave me a bank account to transfer the balance to in order to complete the booking request' 'I then emailed him asking about the discount and minutes later I received a reservation request from what I believed to be HomeAway. 'The email looked legitimate and my app said the same as my other emails from this website at the head of the email. It gave me a bank account to transfer the balance to in order to complete the booking request. 'The payment was sent and happy days we had a fabulous villa booked for our honeymoon with our friends!I kept in contact with the owner who was very helpful and communicated well. 'Once the payment had left the bank two days later I emailed to see if hed received the payment and he no longer replied. 'The next day I received an email from HomeAway saying they believed a listing to be fake and that if we had made any bookings to get in touch. 'I called them straight away and they said it states somewhere on their website that no payments should be made outside their website however my fake email looked like their website so I didnt think anything of it. Ms Kerr, who is set to marry her fiance, welder Thomas Myers, 27, in September, has now posted about the scam on Facebook in a bid to stop other people falling for the same tricks 'They also said theres nothing they can do. The fraud police said they dont deal with getting the money back but they will look into the matter within 28 days. Because the money had left the bank they couldnt do anything, and the Spanish bank couldnt do anything without a police letter which we wouldnt get until they open the case so even if the money hadnt reached his account we couldnt stop it without the police. 'So please be aware of the big websites having fake listings, never personally email anyone and NEVER EVER BANK TRANSFER MONEY ONLINE, even if the place is amazing and only offers bank transfer, choose somewhere else. 'We now have to try and replace that money to pay for our wedding because I was stupid.' HomeAway said all payments should go through its website. Ms Kerr told MailOnline: 'We are still going to Ibiza as we had already booked flights and so have our friends but it will be more of a chilled holiday now. 'We were going to cancel the wedding after my partner fell of his bike but its too late now, as so many have paid for flights and hotels to come. We are just trying to find more diy ways of making it good and are staying positive.' German police have arrested a teen suspect in an anti-Semitic attack against two men who were wearing traditional Jewish skullcaps while walking central Berlin. A video of the assault, filmed by one of the victims, went viral on social media and sparked fears of a resurgence of anti-Semitic violence. Police have revealed that a 19-year-old suspect they had already identified from the footage and from witness statements had presented himself with a lawyer. He is now set to face a judge on assault charges. Shocking: Adam Armush, 21, was able to film on his mobile phone as another young man (pictured) viciously beat him with a belt while shouting 'Yahudi' - 'Jew' in Arabic in Berlin yesterday Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the assault. The video shows the attacker whipping the Israeli with a belt while shouting 'Yehudi!' or Jew, in Arabic. The man who was viciously lashed with a belt in the anti-Semitic attack says he's not actually Jewish and was wearing the skullcap as an experiment. Adam Armush, 21, was walking with a friend through an affluent Berlin neighbourhood when they were sworn at and attacked by a group when they told them to stop shouting. The video, recorded on his mobile phone and published by Bild, shows a young man beating him with a belt while shouting 'Yahudi' - 'Jew' in Arabic. Bild daily identified the suspect as a Palestinian from Syria named Knaan S. The man was registered at a refugee home in Brandenburg state, outside of Berlin but was most recently described as living 'out of a suitcase' in the capital. Mr Armush told broadcaster Deutsche Welle that he wore the Jewish kippa gifted to him by a friend to see whether it was safe to wear on the streets of his upmarket Berlin neighbourhood. He said he uploaded the video 'for the police and for the German people and even the world to see how terrible it is these days as a Jew to go through Berlin streets'. A number of high-profile incidents in recent months have raised alarm bells about a possible resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany from both the far-right and a large influx of predominantly Muslim asylum-seekers since 2015. The latest incident was described as a 'disgrace' for German democracy by a spokeswoman for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany 'bears a responsibility to protect Jewish life' more than 70 years after the end of the Holocaust in which the Nazis murdered six million European Jews. The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Joseph Schuster, told AFP he was 'shocked' by the incident, noting that it had occurred in a 'bourgeois' area and not in a 'majority Muslim quarter'. 'This case must be met with the full force of the law,' he said. The incident took place at the Helmholtzplatz, a public park in southern Berlin, near Mr Armush's home. 'We came out of our home, my friend and I, wearing our kippas, and walked down the street. We weren't talking with anyone else,' Mr Armush told Israeli broadcaster Kan, according to Times of Israel. 'When they kept cursing us, my friend asked them to stop cursing, and that got them angry. So one of them ran at me. 'I immediately felt it was important to film, because I didn't think we could catch him before police arrived. I wanted to give police something to go on.' Mr Armush later said the pair weren't Jewish, he is an Israeli raised by and Arab family, and were wearing the kippas to see what would happen. He said a friend gave him the traditional skull covering as a gift and he was told it was 'unsafe' to wear it on the street of Berlin. Victim: Mr Armush, 21, says he and a friend were attacked for wearing kippas in public in southern Berlin on Tuesday Anti-Semitic attack: The unidentified attacker can be seen swinging his belt and whipping Mr Armush and his companion 'It was an experience for me to wear the kippa yesterday and go out,' he said, surprised that the reaction they got was so violent. 'I realised I have to take a video of it. I wanted to have evidence for police and the German people and the world to see how terrible it is these days as a Jew to go through Berlin streets. 'I could not sleep at all last night, my body hurts in various places, and I just feel less safe.' Mr Armush (left) later said he and his friend (right) weren't Jewish, he is an Israeli raised by and Arab family, and were wearing the kippas to see what would happen. The video has been handed over to Berlin police, who say are investigating the incident of three unknown assailants attacking two Jewish men aged 21 and 24. 'It is incomprehensible to see a young Jewish man attacked on the street in an established area of Berlin, just because he is identified as a Jew,' said Levy Salomon, spokesman for the Jewish Forum for Democracy and Against anti-Semitism who shared the video on social media. 'It shows Jews are not safe even here. We don't need any more speeches, we need actions. A kangaroo has been killed after a vicious attack by tourists at a Chinese zoo in southeast China. It's said tourists threw rocks into the kangaroos' enclosure in an attempt to make the animals hop, according to reports. One female kangaroo died of excessive bleeding in the kidneys and one male kangaroo suffered minor injuries. A female kangaroo died after being attacked by tourists who threw stones at in a zoo in China One male kangaroo also injured just a few days after the fatal incident that happened in March The incident happened in March when zookeepers reviewed CCTV footage and found a number of tourists throwing stones into the kangaroo enclosure at Fuzhou Zoo in Fujian Province. Ms Chen, who works in the animal rescue team at the zoo, told the Strait Metropolitan Post, that a 12-year-old female kangaroo had severe injuries on the left foot. Ms Chen did not find any wounds on the kangaroo but it died the day after. An autopsy report showed the kangaroo had a fist-sized blood clot near the kidney and believed that the kangaroo died of excessive blood loss in the kidney. Ms Chen told the reporter that a few days after the female kangaroo died, workers found tourists throwing bricks into the kangaroo enclosure again. A five-year-old male kangaroo was injured and suffered minor injuries. There are only three kangaroos left in the enclosure. Carers cleared the pavement and removed the stones near the enclosure after the incident A zookeeper told the Strait Metropolitan Post that the enclosure was separated from the tourists by fences. 'We have put up signs to remind the tourists to treat the animals in a civilised way. We have also cleared the stones near the enclosure,' the zookeeper said. However, she said the tourists picked the stones from somewhere else and threw it at the kangaroos. The female kangaroo will be sent to an institute to turn into a biological specimen. This is the terrifying moment a bus almost runs over a 17-year-old girl in a prank gone horribly wrong. Footage, released by police, shows a girl falling into the road as the big red bendy bus goes past. The back wheels of the bus were only inches from her head as she fell into the road in Czechowice-Dziedzice in Poland. Luckily, the teenager remained unharmed. She got back up and was hugged by the friend who had pushed her over in the first place. A passing driver then pulls over in a white car to check on the seventeen year old. The victim only suffered minor injuries. Her friend, the girl who pushed her, was fined by the police. However, regional police commander wants to press charges against her for endangering life. If found guilty she could spend a year in prison. The near miss happened last week, on April 12. The two girls were walking down the street in Poland as the bus goes past In a prank gone wrong, one girl shoves the other, a little too hard, and she falls over The 17-year-old girl falls into the road, missing bus wheels by inches She gets up, miraculously unharmed, and continues down the street A key witness in the racist murder of Stephen Lawrence was called a 'n*****' by a detective supposed to be looking after him, according to a former policeman. Duwayne Brooks witnessed the murder 25 years ago in April 1993 when Stephen was attacked by a gang of five youths in Eltham, south east London. The gang shouted racist abuse as they began the unprovoked fatal stabbing of the A-level student. Gary Dobson and David Norris were finally jailed in 2012 but the other suspects Luke Knight and brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt have never faced trial. A police officer tasked with looking after Duwayne Brooks, right, who was with Stephen Lawrence, left, when he was stabbed in 1993, called him a 'n*****' according to a former colleague Mr Brooks, pictured in an emotional BBC documentary into Stephen's death that has been airing this week, has asked the Met to hand over witness documents from the time 1996 Gary Dobson and David Norris were finally jailed in 2012 but the other suspects Luke Knight and brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt have never faced trial In 1996 Mr Brooks was under the protection of the Met Organised Crime Group ahead of giving evidence against two of the alleged killers at a private prosecution. A detective who worked for the group, known under the alias 'Frank Matthews', told the Daily Mirror he heard colleagues joking about the witness and claimed one said: 'Duwayne? He'd have to be a n***** with a name like Duwayne'. Mr Matthews, who worked with a Muslim partner at the time, added: 'They were laughing. It was a jibe at us, trying to get us to react. It was said just as they were passing us in the corridor at Scotland Yard.' According to the paper he later accused the detective in charge of Mr Brooks of racism at an employment tribunal and also claimed the officer told him 'you don't want to work with a P***', before the case was settled for around 500,000. It comes after Mr Matthews gave a statement to a National Crime Agency team which is investigating claims of corruption around the case. Mr Brooks said he had been made aware of the claims against the officer and had asked for the Met's records from the time. Baroness Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, said she cannot forgive his killers 25 years on and revealed: 'This is my last TV interview' He told the Mirror: 'The Met still haven't given me all the documents relating to this period. I believe it is because they will prove these officers were racist.' Responding to claims by Met Police Commissioner Cressida Dick that the force is now 'open and transparent', he added: 'If they are open and transparent, why are they still refusing to give me a copy? It's my right to know what is written about me.' The detective who was allegedly racist about Mr Brooks is also said to have been responsible for protecting a second witness in the case, which collapsed due to lack of evidence. A spokesman for the Met Police said: 'We have been unable to confirm any specifics regarding this alleged incident - which is claimed to have occurred more than 20 years ago. 'We would ask that anyone with information regarding this wholly inappropriate behaviour to contact us so that it may be taken forward.' It comes as an emotional BBC documentary has aired this week marking 25 years since the brutal crime. Mr Brooks appeared on the programme, called Stephen: The Murder that Changed a Nation, and broke down on camera as he re-lived the day of his friend's death. He said Stephen kept asking him 'what's happened to me' and claimed several passers-by ignoring his cries for help, before the police later asking him if he had 'misheard his attackers saying "what, what, n*****"'. Stephen's father Neville, 76, who has previously said that he had forgiven the killers due to his Christian faith, told the programme he questioned whether his son's death was a 'punishment from god'. The five murder suspects - two of whom have since been convicted - Jamie Acourt, Luke Knight, (Gary Dobson obscured) Neil Acourt as they leave the Stephen Lawrence Murder Inquiry held at Hannibal House, Elephant and Castle Pictured: The front page of the Daily Mail on February 14 1997 that accused the five suspects in Stephen Lawrence's case of killing him He said: 'When you read the bible, it tells you that in the days of Moses and the pharaohs, one of the punishments that was dished out was that if you did something wrong you lose your first born. 'And so Im thinking, maybe I did something wrong?' Meanwhile Stephen's mother Baroness Lawrence told ITV's Loose Women she could 'never forgive' the murderers in what she described as her 'last interview' on the subject. The mother-of-three said: 'It's very difficult to forgive someone who doesn't admit they've done anything wrong. I try not to think about them'. She added: 'This is my last TV interview. 25 years is a long time to campaign. I want to spend some time with my family my children and grandchildren - and on me and I can look forward to the next chapter. Mr Lawrence's marriage to Stephen's mother Doreen - now Baroness Lawrence - collapsed in the aftermath of the murder and they are now divorced. The final part of the BBC documentary airs tonight on BBCOne at 9pm. New British ships could be built overseas in a decision that would trigger another row about exporting jobs, a major union has warned. The GMB said foreign shipyards are 'eyeing up' a 1billion order for three Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships. Because the boats needed are not warships, defence rules do not prevent them being built overseas at lower cost. But if the contract does go abroad it will have echoes of the row over Brexit blue passports, which are set to be made by a French firm. New support ships likely to be tasked to help HMS Queen Elizabeth (pictured) should not be built overseas, a major union warned today The GMB said the Government should reverse a decision to put the contract out to international tender later this month. Shipbuilding companies in Germany, Italy, Holland, Poland, South Korea and Spain attended a recent Ministry of Defence industry day on the order, according to documents the union said it obtained under the Freedom of Information Act. Up to 6,700 jobs could be created or secured in the UK if the order went to a domestic shipbuilder, while up to 4,700 could be secured in supply chain companies, said the GMB. National officer Ross Murdoch, said: 'The Government looks set to repeat the blue passports fiasco by putting another order of national significance out to tender abroad. 'Ministers are not bound by normal EU rules on competitive tendering when it comes to military ships. There really can be no excuse for sending our shipbuilding contracts overseas. Defence Secretary Gavin Williamson is under pressure to ensure only UK shipyards can get a contract for new Royal Fleet Auxiliary ships 'We have a highly skilled shipbuilding workforce in the UK that is more than capable of making these ships at a fair market price. 'We face being sold down the river if the work goes to artificially subsidised international competitor shipyards instead. 'At a time when global tensions are rising, the Government should use this order to 'buy for Britain' and rebuild our defence shipbuilding manufacturing capabilities. 'Shipbuilding workers are disillusioned by orders flowing overseas while highly skilled jobs at UK shipyards are being cut. 'It would be a gross betrayal of the spirit of the 'red, white and blue Brexit' that Theresa May promised if this crucial contract is awarded outside of the UK and jobs here are lost as a result.' An MoD spokesman said: 'All our warships are built in the UK and with the Type 26 frigates securing 4,000 Scottish jobs and 20 years of work on the Clyde, and industry preparing to bid for the new Type 31e class, we are witnessing a renaissance in British shipbuilding. 'We are launching a competition for three new Fleet Solid Support ships this year and strongly encourage British yards to take part.' Advertisement The Queen today told foreign dignitaries of her 'sincere wish' that they pick Prince Charles to take over as leader of the Commonwealth tomorrow when they meet to officially anoint her successor. Her Majesty and the heir to the throne welcomed heads of states to Buckingham Palace for this morning's formal opening of the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. In a highly unusual move, the Queen, who turns 92 on Saturday, made clear her thoughts on succession, as she said she hoped her son would be able to 'carry on the important work started by my father in 1949'. The position is not hereditary, but Prince Charles, who is also the heir to the thrones of 16 Commonwealth nations, is expected to get the nod, despite unease among ardent republicans such as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has said he agreed with the Queen's wish that her son Charles succeeds her as head of the Commonwealth. Speaking at a press conference at Canada House, in central London, he said: 'I very much agree with the wishes of Her Majesty that the Prince of Wales be the next head of the Commonwealth.' A decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as head of the Commonwealth when he becomes king is expected from the nations' leaders on Friday, with reports suggesting the Prince of Wales will get their backing. It is believed the discussion will take place during the Leaders' Retreat tomorrow, where the nations' leaders will talk frankly without aides present. Scroll down for video Her majesty and the heir to the throne (pictured together) are followed out of the ballroom by the Duchess of Cornwall, Prince Harry and Prince William The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are pictured riding in a car along The Mall in London after the formal opening in Buckingham Palace of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Heads of state and foreign dignitaries gather inside Buckingham Palace's grand ballroom today for the opening ceremony of a two-day summit Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand, and her partner Clarke Gayford are greeted by the Queen during a private audience at Buckingham Palace The Prince of Wales greets the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at Clarence House this afternoon, following an opening ceremony at Buckingham Palace Her Majesty, clutching a drink, talks to the Prime Minister of the Bahamas Hubert Minnis during a lunchtime reception today Her Majesty receives applause from all corners of the ballroom after she gave a speech in which she hinted at her support for Prince Charles in becoming the new head of the Commonwealth The Queen has told foreign dignitaries of her 'sincere wish' that they pick Prince Charles to take over as leader of the Commonwealth during a large summit at Buckingham Palace Addressing the assembled dignitaries inside the palace's ballroom, the Queen said she hoped her son would be able to 'carry on the important work started by my father in 1949' A decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as head of the Commonwealth when he becomes king is expected from the nations' leaders on Friday, with reports suggesting the prince will get their backing Her majesty (pictured) and heir to the throne have welcomed heads of states to the palace for the formal opening of the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Queen Elizabeth, who has been the group's symbolic figurehead since 1952, gave up long-haul travel in support of the biennial summit in 2013 and the 2020 gathering is set to be held in Malaysia The Queen glances towards the Prime Minister of Malta, Dr Joseph Muscat, as she prepares to give her speech at the opening of the summit How and when will we know if Prince Charles will succeed the Queen as the head of the Commonwealth? Prince Charles The Queen, who turns 92 in April, was proclaimed Head of the Commonwealth at her coronation when she was head of state in seven of its eight members, and wants Prince Charles to succeed her. But it is not a hereditary position that will pass automatically to the Prince of Wales, who will be head of state in only 15 of the 53 member nations that now make up the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Secretariat insists the leader must be chosen by Commonwealth heads of government, such as the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Canada. It is believed that the decision will take place tomorrow during the leaders' retreat at Windsor Castle - a frank discussion between the nations' leaders without aides or advisers present. Theresa May's spokesperson, when asked about the succession, said: 'This is obviously a decision that is taken later in the week, a decision taken by all the members together. 'I think that all happens on Friday.' While they are widely expected to fulfil the hopes expressed by the Queen, there was no official confirmation that Charles will be offered the role on Friday. Spokesmen could not even confirm that any decision would be announced at a press conference following the leaders' retreat at Windsor Castle. Many want an elected head to make the organisation more democratic, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Yet others, such as the former Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key, think differently. He argued in 2015 that the succession 'should just go with the crown'. In a highly unusual move the Queen made clear her thoughts today, telling the presidents and prime ministers gathered at Buckingham Palace she hopes one day they will choose Charles to carry on the important work started by her father. Advertisement Today's spectacle of pomp and pageantry saw guests from around the world welcomed with a guard of honour with flag bearers displaying the flags of the Commonwealth's 53 member states. Amid tight security, which has seen the streets around Buckingham Palace cordoned off, motorcades carried guests into the forecourt for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The royals were out in force for the opening ceremony, with the Queen and Charles joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex and the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Queen Elizabeth, who has been the group's symbolic figurehead since 1952, gave up long-haul travel in support of the biennial summit in 2013 and the 2020 gathering is set to be held in Malaysia. In her opening speech, Queen Elizabeth spoke of her own 'extraordinary journey' as head of the Commonwealth, which started under her father King George VI with the London Declaration of 1949. She said: 'When I meet the young leaders of this century I meet my own lifelong commitment made in Africa in 1947 at the age of 21. 'As another birthday approaches this week I'm reminded of the extraordinary journey I've been on and how much good has been achieved. 'It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as head of the Commonwealth and to observe with pride and satisfaction that this is a flourishing network. 'It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations - and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales will carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. 'By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities I believe we will secure a prosperous and more sustainable world for those who follow us. 'A world where the Commonwealth generosity of spirit can bring its gentle touch of healing and hope to all.' The prime minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat, outgoing chair-in-office of the Commonwealth, also backed Charles as head of the Commonwealth, seeming to confirm the prince's future role was a certainty. Prince of Wales actively participates in Commonwealth affairs and puts a strong Commonwealth dimension in his various national and global ventures,' Dr Muscat said in a speech at the ceremony. 'We are certain that, when he will be called upon to do so, he will provide solid and passionate leadership for our Commonwealth.' In the palace's ballroom, presidents and prime ministers from across the globe gathered for the launch of the two-day summit, normally held every two years, to discuss the Commonwealth's most pressing issues. Singer Emeli Sande, whose father is from the Commonwealth nation of Zambia while her mother is from the UK, began proceedings by giving a soaring rendition of the National Anthem. During the opening ceremony, Theresa May thanked the Queen for her life-long devotion to the Commonwealth, affectionately known as the family of nations. The Prime Minister addressed the gathered delegates, adding: 'This is an occasion to celebrate, with renewed pride, our remarkable Commonwealth family.' The host for the event was BBC presenter Reeta Chakrabarti and she introduced a group of singers from across the Commonwealth who performed the Natasha Bedingfield song Unwritten. A decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as head of the Commonwealth when he becomes king is expected from the nations' leaders on Friday, with reports suggesting the prince will get their backing In a highly unusual move, the Queen, who turns 92 on Saturday, made clear her thoughts on succession and her hopes that Prince Charles would take over from her as head of the Commonwealth Her Majesty is joined by Prime Minister Theresa May, Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat and Baroness Patricia Scotland Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta (left), Prime Minister Theresa May, the Queen and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland (right) The Prince of Wales (pictured) speaks during the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting During the opening ceremony, Theresa May thanked the Queen for her life-long devotion to the Commonwealth, affectionately known as the family of nations. The prime minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat (shown), outgoing chair-in-office of the Commonwealth, also backed Charles as head of the Commonwealth, seeming to confirm the prince's future role was a certainty The Queen and Theresa May took pride of place at the front of the summit, with heads of states and dignitaries from 53 Commonwealth nations sat behind them The Duke of York and the Princess Royal join other members of the royal family to attend the formal opening of the summit Theresa May said that we need to be 'proud' to be able to hand over a environmentally-friendly Commonwealth which 'tackles climate change' What is the Commonwealth? Known formally as the Commonwealth of Nations, the group is a free association of 53 member states. It dates back about 75 years and followed the decolonisation of the British Empire. As countries sought greater self-governance in the mid-20th century, a new body was set up which united members states not by any legal obligation, but instead by shared values of democracy, freedom of speech and human rights. The Commonwealth was formally constituted by the London Declaration, which established the members as 'free and equal' in 1949. The Queen remains head of state for 16 member states, she has no formal position in several other nations of the Commonwealth, such as India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Commonwealth accounts for about a third of the planet's population, or 2.4 billion people. Advertisement He added: 'I pray that this Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting will not only revitalise the bonds between our countries, but will also give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all citizens. 'By doing so, the Commonwealth can be a cornerstone for the lives of future generations, just as it has been for so many of us.' Prince Charles stressed that the family of 53 nations has been an important part of his life. 'For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember, beginning with my first visit to Malta when I was just five years old,' he said. 'I consider myself fortunate over the years to have been able to meet and talk with so many of the giants of the Commonwealth. 'Sir Robert Menzies; Kwame Nkrumah; Sir Keith Holyoake; Jomo Kenyatta; Pierre Trudeau; Kenneth Kaunda; Julius Nyerere; Lee Kuan Yew and many more. ' Speaking of the monarch, Mrs May said: 'This week you have opened your homes to us - here in London and in Windsor. More than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards are in the honour guard, wearing their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins, alongside the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards. Prince Charles also addressed the dignitaries, and said he hoped the summit would give the Commonwealth a renewed relevance to all citizens. Prime Minister of Malta Joseph Muscat makes a speech to the assembled crowd as he stands in front of the flags of 53 Commonwealth countries In the palace's ballroom, presidents and prime ministers from across the globe have gathered for the launch of the two-day summit, normally held every two years, to discuss the Commonwealth's most pressing issues Theresa May speaks at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace Prince Harry, Sophie Wessex and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson were among the royals and dignatries who gathered at Buckingham Palace for the summit today Theresa May, Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, addresses a ballroom filled with heads of state and foreign dignatries The Queen and Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull (centre, back) listen on as Theresa May (right) opens proceedings Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland speaking during the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Prime Minister Theresa May prepares to deliver a speech in front of hundreds of spectators, including several members of the British royal family The Queen and Theresa May share a moment as they both prepare to give speeches at the opening ceremony of this week's Commonwealth summit Queen Elizabeth II and the Prince of Wales arrive for the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the ballroom at Buckingham Palace Later in the day, Theresa May chaired the first executive session of the Commonwealth summit at Lancaster House in London Members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery take part in a 53 gun salute in Green Park to ceremonially mark the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting A 53 gun salute is carried out in Green Park during the opening ceremony, with each shot of the cannon signifying a Commonwealth country Hundreds of tourists watched on as members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery saluted the opening of today's summit The 53 gun salute in Green Park was among the main ceremonies held to announce the opening of today's Commonwealth summit 'Over many years you have been the Commonwealth's most steadfast and fervent champion. 'You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth - that the voice of the smallest member country is worth precisely as much as that of the largest; that the wealthiest and the most vulnerable stand shoulder to shoulder. 'You have seen us through some of our most serious challenges. And we commit to sustaining this Commonwealth, which you have so carefully nurtured.' At the end of their deliberations the leaders usually agree a communique on a major issue and the prime ministers and presidents may commit themselves to a blue charter on ocean conservation. Other topics expected to be discussed range from cyber security to trade between Commonwealth nations. Downing Street said on Monday that a decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as Commonwealth head was expected from the heads of state on Friday, and reports have stated the mood is Charles will get their backing. Green Park is filled with white smoke as cannons carry out a salute to honour the 53 Commonwealth countries in attendance for today's summit The traditional salute is a historic way of saying there is no danger anymore and was carried out in front of hundreds of spectators The number of rounds in a 'basic' Royal Gun Salute is 21 but the amount fired changes and depends on the occasion. The gun salute marks the end of the formal opening Gunners in St James' Park - just yards from Buckingham Palace - took part in a 53 gun salute to honour the members of the Commonwealth A Guard of Honour, comprised of 104 Officers and soldiers of the Coldstream Guards, accompanied by 55 Flag Bearers of Number 7 Company, Coldstream Guards and the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards at Buckingham Palace Security was heightened around Buckingham Palace (left), while tourists flocked to the area to witness the gun salute and dignitaries arriving in motorcades The Regimental Band and Corps of Drums performed outside Buckingham Palace as heads of the 53 Commonwealth member states arrived in London Amid tight security (shown), which has seen the streets around Buckingham Palace cordoned off, motorcades carried guests into the forecourt for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting The flags of Ghana, Cyprus and Cameroon are among those to be presented by flag bearers from the Coldstream Guards A Guard of Honour carrying the 53 Commonwealth flags arrives at Buckingham Palace, through the grand gates and into the forecourt More than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards are in the honour guard, wearing their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins, alongside the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards Members of the King's Troop Royal Horse Artillery ride out in front of Buckingham Palace en route to Green Park for the 53 Gun Salute The Band of the Royal Artillery parade past Buckingham Palace to mark the official opening of two-day summit this morning Topics expected to be discussed during the two-day summit range from cyber security to trade between Commonwealth nations Born out of the former British empire, the voluntary organisation, covering a third of the world's population, typically focuses on development and democracy, but is placing greater attention on boosting trade. During the two days of talks, the group is hoping to agree an ocean governance charter, an agenda for trade and investment, and a declaration on tackling cyber crime. Given its highly diverse membership, if agreements can be struck within the Commonwealth, they can likely achieve wider support. At the last Commonwealth summit in 2015, leaders struck a deal on climate change that helped pave the way for the Paris agreement days afterwards. Friday's sessions take place at Windsor Castle, west of London, where the leaders are left entirely alone to discuss whatever they wish. Justin Trudeau on plastic straws ban Asked if he would follow Theresa May and advocate a ban on plastic straws, Mr Trudeau said: 'As you know we have made protection of our oceans and specifically looking at the plastics in the ocean one of the key themes of our G7 presidency and I look forward to gathering with the other G7 leaders to discuss this issue and various solutions that they put forward. 'There is only a mild overlap between members of the Commonwealth and the G7 so I will know there will be a lot of interest in Prime Minister May's proposal and I look forward to that discussion at that time." He later added when asked again: 'As I said we are very open to a broad range of ideas and suggestions. We believe in moving forward on evidence-based policy, we know that macro-plastics like straws are a significant challenge in the ocean but we also know that both micro plastics and nano-plastics represent a real challenge to our ocean eco-systems. 'We are very much looking for approaches which are going to be both substantive and impactful in the way we move forward. 'We are going to look at a broad range of suggestions, consult a broad range of experts and scientists and move forward decisively, not just as a single country, although Canada does have the longest coastline in the world, but hopefully as a global community on doing the kinds of things that are going to keep our oceans safe for future generations.' Advertisement Heads of state, high commissioners and foreign ministers arrived at the royal residence this morning - the first time it has been held in the UK since 1997 Downing Street said on Monday that a decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as Commonwealth head was expected from the heads of state on Friday Tourists gather at Buckingham Palace today, where they were treated to stunning views of the grounds' tulips and dignitaries arriving for today's summit A spectacle of pomp and pageantry was staged to welcome dignitaries, with a guard of honour and flag bearers displaying the flags of the Commonwealth's 53 member states waiting to greet them Soldiers of the Coldstream Guards carry flags of the 53 Commonwealth countries along The Mall outside Buckingham Palace in London today Dancers make their way along The Mall in front of Buckingham Palace in London as part of celebrations for today's summit Shortly before the opening ceremony, members of the Coldstream Guards, accompanied by 55 flag bearers, marched through the palace's forecourt More than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards are in the honour guard, wearing their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins, alongside the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards An Indian man 'gifted' his daughter to two friends and joined them in locking her in a house and taking turns to rape her for 18 hours. The man in his late 50s took the 35-year-old woman to a fair in Kamlapur on Sunday where they met his friend Maan Singh, police said. They convinced her to ride on the back of a bike to the house of another friend, Meraj, in Lucknow where the father handed over his daughter to them. An Indian man 'gifted' his daughter to two friends and joined them in locking her in a house and taking turns to rape her for 18 hours (stock image) For the next 18 hours she was locked inside while the two men and her father gang raped her until she escape on Monday night to her mother's house. The woman relayed the shocking tale to her mother who immediately called the police who issued arrest warrants for the three rapists. Meraj, a fake doctor with no medical licence, was arrested but Singh and the woman's father were still on the run. The woman was married for 16 years but had a falling out with her husband and moved back in with her mother. The ordeal took place at one of them men's home in Lucknow, India (pictured) Her father was in November banished from their village amid accusations of an incestuous relationship with his daughter. 'A panchayat was called and the father was arrested. He got bail in February this year,' local police said. She then lived alone with her 14-year-old child. Shahid Ali, who was jailed for 12 years deliberately driving over a pedestrian, had a previous conviction for terror offences A driver jailed for deliberately running over a pedestrian he thought was holding up traffic has previously been convicted of terror offences. Shahid Ali sped off after driving over Patrick Colbert's head and his body in his Mercedes in Balsall Heath, Birmingham. The 43-year-old, who dumped his car after the incident on July 11 last year, was acquitted of attempting to murder Mr Colbert but was convicted of causing him grievous bodily harm with intent. But it has now emerged Ali, of Washwood Heath, Birmingham, had a previous conviction for assisting in acts of terrorism. He was jailed for 27 months in 2009 for his involvement in sending four loads of equipment between 2004 and 2006 to Pakistan to be used against British forces and their allies fighting in Afghanistan. He had previously admitted causing serious injury by dangerous driving at Birmingham Crown Court. Ali was told by Judge Paul Farrer QC: 'You have been convicted of a very serious offence by the jury, one which will inevitably carry many years of imprisonment.' Scroll down for video: The moment Shahid Ali drove over Patrick Colbert was captured on a Go Pro camera Mr Colbert lies injured at the scene as a bystander tries to help him following the incident in July last year In sentencing Ali to 12 years in jail, he said; 'You were angry and I have no doubt that you shouted and swore at Mr Colbert, in effect telling him to get out of the road.' He said the victim had suffered a severe traumatic brain injury with hemorrhaging over his brain and that the effects on him had been 'profound and continuing.' And he went on 'This offence involved the deliberate use of a car as a weapon.' It was also an aggravating feature, he said, that afterwards he had tried to remove and obscure evidence by wiping his vehicle. Mr Colbert next to Ali's Mercedes just second before he was run over The judge also banned Ali from driving for 15 and a half years. Birmingham Crown Court heard previously that the victim, an Irish national, had come to the city to celebrate his 35th birthday. He had approached a car on Brighton Road, Moseley near to the junction with Moseley Road on July 11 last year. At the time traffic was heavy and slow moving. The horrific video shows the moment Mr Colbert was dragged underneath the wheels The car then can be seen clearly driving over his body Ali was driving a Mercedes and believed the victim, who was speaking to the driver of the vehicle in front, was responsible for him not moving. He drove up along side Mr Colbert, wound down his window and shouted at him, the court heard. Ali then deliberately turned hard right knocking the pedestrian over and causing him to hit his head on the ground. But he didn't stop and continued to drive over him slowly passing over the victim's groin, chest and head. Zoe McCarthy, 23, a student at Oxford Brookes university, captured the terrifying incident on her GoPro camera as she rode home from work. She said: 'It happened so quickly. The man was standing in the street and talking to a driver through the window of his car. 'The man in the Mercedes behind was impatient and started shouting. He reversed and drove over him. 'It was shocking. I couldn't believe it was happening. The car just drove off while the man lay in the street.' The footage then captured Ali speeding off in his Mercedes as bystanders screamed at him to stop In the footage, the victim can be seen crumpled underneath the wheels of the car as Zoe immediately reacts to the brutal attack. She is heard screaming: 'Oh s***, what the f*** are you doing? Oh God. Somebody get the police. What the f***? Are you joking? Someone just f***ing run him over, the d*******.' She climbs off her bike and runs to the man's aid as he lies motionless in the street and the motorist in the Mercedes drives away. She screams after him: 'I've got you on f****** camera, you t***.' Ali then drove off from the scene and later dumped his car. Ali was one of four men from Birmingham jailed for the plot in 2009 for supplying it such as computer parts, mobile phones and camping gear to insurgents. Other members of the gang included Mohammed Nadim, of Bardsley Green, who was jailed for three years and Shabir Mohammed, who was jailed for two years, four months. Abdul Raheem, 32, pleaded guilty to failing to disclose information on terrorism and was jailed for a year. During the trial at the Old Bailey jurors were told the four were members of a terror cell run by Parviz Khan, who was jailed in 2008 for life for plotting to kidnap and behead a soldier. Nadim, Ali and Mohammed helped Khan send four shipments containing 86 boxes between April 2006 and February 2007. They were arrested in October 2008 following a 'long and painstaking investigation' by the West Midlands Counter Terrorism Unit. Members of the cell would buy items from the Argos catalogue and supermarkets such as Netto and Lidl. Balaclavas and thermal clothing would be included with computer software and night-vision binoculars, the court heard. The shipments were described as household items, relief aid and charity donations. Mr Atkinson said tens of thousands of pounds had been collected from people who were duped into thinking they were helping earthquake victims. The money was then used to buy the equipment. In a statement Mr Colbert said as a result of the injuries to his head, he struggled to say some words, had problems with his memory and may never be able to work again. He said he had to wear a special hat when he went out as protection which made him feel embarrassed and that he suffered from very bad headaches. Mary Beard has virtually vanished from the US version of her own show Civilisations after producers across the pond gave the ambitious series the Hollywood treatment. While the academic turned on-screen star, 63, has amassed a huge legion of fans in Britain, the professor is all but replaced in the Americanized version of the BBC show, by non-profit television network, PBS. Despite her internationally renowned reputation, professor Beard has claimed her age and appearance caused her to be largely cut from the show which aired this week six years after Sunday Times journalist AA Gill called her 'too ugly for television'. Simon Schama, Mary Beard and David Olusoga present BBC TWO series, Civilisations, which has been remade by PBS in the US, yet barely features Professor Beard Mary Beard took to Twitter to offer her own explanation of why she has 'disappeared' from the US version of BBC series Civilisations In Civilisations, a nine-part BBC series, Mary Beard and her co-commentators David Olusoga and Simon Schama explored the history of art, trailing the globe to examine cultural masterpieces. Yet, the Cambridge University Professor of Classics has been virtually axed from the re-make, and her religious segments given a more 'Christian' focus, she said. Professor Beard took to Twitter to reveal she was not involved in the decision making process and that she was 'sad' about what had happened on the show - spelled 'Civilizations' in the US. She wrote: 'Really hope that friends in USA realise that my Civilisations episodes on PBS are very different from original BBC versions, have been drastically changed The originals were far from 'anodyne' I promise BBC versions will be available on PBS digi channel.' Mary Beard spoke with fans on Twitter after the US version of Civilisations was aired, but she was unable to explain why PBS had replaced her with 'talking heads' When asked why they were changed, she responded: 'I wish I knew .. to make it better for an American audience, people say...???? I am rather sad about it. Hope people will look at the originals when they are available.' US actor and director Liev Schreiber was chosen for narrator parts in the US Civilisations series which almost cuts out Professor Mary Beard Professor Beard has come up with her own theory for her being largely edited out, suggesting her appearance is not suitable for the US. She wrote on Twitter: 'Can't help think that there is something about a creaky 63 year old grey haired lady that doesn't quite fit the bill. 'But I am probably smelling a rat where there isn't one!' The professor's voiceovers on human history were also cut and instead, Hollywood actor Liev Schreiber has become the narrator for many parts, she revealed. Professor Beard expressed her dismay at the use of 'talking heads' on social media, hinting she was deeply unhappy with the final result. The shunned professor urged fans to look out for her book, which she insists is much more in line with her own opinions. Professor Beard responded to outraged fans who also noted her absence from the show. She wrote: 'aruments (sic) changed, talking heads added, my religion programme was made much more Christian focussed than it was originally. 'Put it this way, if that's how I had wanted to make the programme, I wd (sic) have done it that way!' Professor Beard who has attracted a wealth of abuse over her appearance since her on-screen debut. She claimed earlier this year she is 'glad' she waited until later in life, because of the abuse television appearances brings with it. Mary Beard with her co-presenters David Olusoga, (left) and Simon Schama. Professor Beard's fans took to Twitter to express anger at how she was cut from much of the US re-make In an interview with The Times, Professor Beard said rather than being left livid over her treatment, she is more concerned with the show's content. 'I think it's a bit of a pity. Seeing a thesis being argued by one person is something that I think would go down very well in America,' she told The Times. She also told the publication she was chopped more than her co-presenters David Olusoga and Simon Schama. 'I think I'm the most striking casualty. I wonder why that was? I always try and stick up for elderly ladies with grey hair.' Advertising the show online PBS says its show features 'the world's top historians and artists' evaluating 40,000 years of 'the world's celebrated masterpieces and hidden artistic gems'. A PBS spokesman said in a statement: "From its initial stages, the PBS version of Civilizations was conceived to be distinct from the BBC version. While the series is a co-production with the BBC, our version was produced as an original piece of work; is not an adaptation. "It was produced by Nutopia in association with the Open University and was made simultaneously with the BBC version, utilizing shared resources and content. Like the BBC version, the PBS version features commentary from art historian Simon Schama, professor and author Mary Beard, and historian/writer David Olusoga who serve as the presenters and principal contributors to the series. "The PBS series intentionally broadens the perspectives presented in each episode by including a wider range of interviews with international artists, art historians and subject experts who have a direct connection to their areas of expertise. "We value Ms. Beards contributions to the series, and regret to learn of her criticism, however the PBS version was always intended to be a different presentational style from the BBC version." Advertisement These are the forgotten black cowboys who at one point made up 25 per cent of the 35,000 cowboys in the Wild West. Captured in these black and white photos, the African American cowboys were given all the worst jobs on the trail, had to ride the lamest horses but were banned from brothels because of the colour of their skin. And despite their huge numbers, they have been largely erased from most popular film and TV depictions of the American West. This photo shows an African-American cowboy proudly sitting saddled on his horse in Pocatello, Idaho, in 1903. It is part of a rare set of photos that reveal the forgotten history of black cowboys that made up a significant portion of the cowboys in the Wild West. By the 1870s and 1880s, as many as 25 per cent of the 35,000 cowboys in the Old West were in fact black This shows the famous cowboy Jesse Stahl riding a horse backwards. Jesse was an African-American cowboy and rodeo rider who was legendary for his skills in the saddle. Stahl was described as a topnotch horseman and a first-class gentleman. Conflicting sources establish Jesse Stahl's birthplace as Tennessee, Texas or California sometime between 1879 and 1883 Several legendary gunslingers are revealed in the gallery of photos. One of those pictured is famed black cowboy Jesse Stahl, whose rodeo riding skills were unparalleled in the 1800s. Another pictures is former slave turned cowboy Nat Love, who travelled the frontier befriending the likes of Billy the Kid. Ned Huddleston, left, an African-American cowboy and former slave, pictured circa 1880s. Ned was at various points a legitimate stunt rider and a horse and cattle rustler. On the right is Bill Pickett a cowboy and rodeo performer. From Texas, he became a ranch hand and invented the technique of bulldogging, a method that subdues cattle by biting their lip Jesse Stahl pictured flamboyantly riding a horse named Grave Digger, around 1916. Jesse Stahl is most famous for his performance at the Salinas Rodeo in California in 1912. Before more than 4,000 fans, Stahl stole the show in the rodeo's classic event of saddle bronc riding on the bronco named Glass Eye. The horse would buck, twist his body 180-degrees midair, and land in the exact opposite direction Nat Love, an African-American cowboy and former slave, pictured circa 1900. Nat Love was the most famous black hero of the Old West largely down to his self-reported exploits in his autobiography. Nat taught himself how to read and write he tells how he moved to Dodge City, Kansas to work as a cowboy where he fought cattle rustlers and met Pat Garrett and Billy the Kid The collection also includes images of outlaw Ned Huddleston who was gunned down in a notorious Wild West murder case. Also highlighted is the female frontier legend Mary Fields whose love of brawling, drinking and horses made her famous. Mary reportedly had a standing bet with the cowboys of the Old West saloons that she could knock any man out with a single punch. Pictured are two more famous figures. On the left is Bass Reeves, the first African-American US Deputy Marshal. Bass was recruited as a Deputy U.S. Marshal because of his knowledge of the Wild West. He is credited with arresting more than 3,000 felons, however was never shot himself. Mary Fields, pictured right in circa 1895. Although not technically a cowboy, Fields was legendary in Cascade, Montana for her love of brawling, drinking and horses and regularly dressed like a man Pictured riding again in 1916, Jess Stahl was a legend in the old West. Nothing is known about his childhood other than he had a brother named Ambrose. Both brothers joined the rodeo circuit but only Jesse went on to fame. He would thrill fans at shows and earned a reputation as a magnificent rider Pictured are two more black cowboys with a horse, although unlike the legendary Jesse Stahl, their identities are unknown. Following the Civil War, America turned its attention to settling lands in the Great Plains and many of the first settlers were freed slaves or children of former slaves who became the first black cowboys of the American Frontier Following the Civil War and Reconstruction, America turned its attention to settling lands in the Great Plains and to the West. A number of these first settlers were freed slaves or children of former slaves who travelled west - and became the first black cowboys of the American Frontier. Many former slaves had skills in cattle handling and were able to find work as 'cow hands' to white ranchers in the West. The famous rodeo performer Bill Pickett, pictured, was a visionary ranch hand that invented the technique of bulldogging. Pickett reportedly observed bulldogs wrangling cattle to the ground by biting their lips. The bulldogs would bite on the lips until the cows eventually sat still Bill Pickett, left and posing with his brothers, a cowboy and rodeo performer. After observing bulldogs wrangling cattle to the ground by biting their lips, he developed the technique himself. Showcasing it while performing at rodeos, he stunned observers. He regularly performed his bulldogging technique to adoring crowds at rodeos In fact, the term 'cowboy' is believed by some to have emerged as a derogatory word to describe Black cow hands. Initially, white ranchers referred to white workers as 'cow hands' with blacks in the same position referred to with the pejorative 'cow boy'. Over time, the term cowboy came to apply to anyone in the industry. By the 1870s and 1880s, as many as 25 per cent of the 35,000 cowboys in the Old West were black. Crawford Goldsby, a 19th-century American outlaw, better known by the alias Cherokee Bill. Cherokee Bill was responsible for the murders of eight men (including his brother-in-law), he and his gang terrorised the Indian Territory for over two years. His father had white and black parents while his mother had mixed African, Indian and white ancestry The life of the black cowboy was tougher than most. It was the black cowboy who broke the horses and herded the cattle across the rivers. They were also often expected to take on the roughest horses. Though they took on the toughest jobs, it was better to be a black cowboy on the ranch than a slave on the plantation picking cotton. Bob Lemmons of Carrizo Springs, Texas, pictured August 1936. Bob is considered one of the greatest 'mustangers' of all time because of his unique method of catching wild mustang horses. Born a slave in 1848 he gained his freedom at the end of the American Civil War and moved to Dimmit County, Texas. There he developed his techniques for capturing mustangs Despite their skills with cattle and horses, black ranch hands still faced discrimination. They got all the worst jobs, rode the lamest and the most temperamental horses, while also being banned from brothels. It was also the black cowboy who broke the horses and herded the cattle across the rivers Furthermore the cow handling industry generally treated black men similarly to white men in terms of pay and responsibilities. Black and white men shared sleeping quarters and even blankets. Discrimination persisted, though to a lesser extent than in other places in America of the time. Whereas saloons in the Wild West were typically segregated, whites and blacks could meet in the middle, although restaurants were socially regulated. Meanwhile black men were banned outright from brothels, but welcome in gambling halls. There were also black women cowboys, though their numbers are unknown, as income was provided to a common household rather than to individual women. Black cowboys at the 'Negro State Fair' in Bonham, Texas, 1913. Although they still faced discrimination, the cow handling industry was fairer to black people than others. Many former slaves had skills in cattle handling and were able to find work as 'cow hands' to white ranchers in the West A terrified woman has been savagely beaten by morality police thugs in Iran because her head scarf was deemed an 'insufficient' covering, activists said. The outrageous scene, in what appears to be a public park in broad daylight, was secretly filmed by an onlooker and has been spread online by dissident groups. The disturbing footage initially shows a woman with a red scarf pushed to the back of her head having a heated conversation with a man and another woman. Seconds later, two women wearing all-black coverings that leave only their faces visible barge onto the scene and begin grabbing and shouting at the woman. The aggressive goons - who are believed to be members of the Islamic theocracy's morality police - become increasingly violent towards their frightened victim The victim can be heard screeching in terror as the sickening abuse continues. At the end of the video, the brutal attackers can be seen pointing and shouting at members of the crowd who appear to disagree with their barbaric actions The veil has been a mandatory dress requirement for women in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. Pictured: The terrified victim is beaten by the thugs The aggressive goons - who are believed to be members of the Islamic theocracy's morality police - become increasingly violent towards their frightened victim. Other women, who do not appear to be members of the force, assist the primary attackers as an argument rages throughout. The victim can be heard screeching in terror as the sickening abuse continues. She can later be seen lying on the floor, crying in pain and without her head scarf, as a large crowd surrounds her. At the end of the video, the brutal attackers can be seen pointing and shouting at members of the crowd who appear to disagree with their barbaric actions. A Facebook group which highlights such instances of abuse, My Stealthy Freedom, uploaded the video. In a description of the footage, the activists wrote: 'This woman is savagely beaten up by morality police as punishment for her insufficient hijab. And they tell us hijab is a "small issue".' They added: 'We expose them and we resist compulsory hijab.' The group's founder - and also the founder of the anti-hijab 'White Wednesdays' movement - said to the thugs who beat the woman: 'Shame on you'. She can later be seen lying on the floor, crying in pain and without her head scarf, as a large crowd surrounds her The disturbing footage initially shows a woman with a red scarf pushed to the back of her head having a heated conversation with a man and another woman White Wednesdays encourages women to flout regulations by capturing footage and pictures of themselves without their hijabs and posting it online. The veil has been a mandatory dress requirement for women in Iran since the Islamic Revolution in 1979. The Islamic code also forbids women touching, dancing or singing with men outside their families. Women are only allowed to show their face, hands and feet in public and are supposed to wear only modest colours. Over the years, however, women have pushed back the boundaries of the law, with many wearing loose, brightly coloured headscarves far back on their heads. In November, footage emerged of women standing up to police and strangers after walking the streets without hijabs. At one point a female campaigner shouts 'spit out your insults' after being told to cover her head while a second film shows a man threatening to slap a young woman for breaking the law. Another video showed a father standing up for her daughter after a passer-by ordered her to 'observe hijab'. The father stands his ground and tells the man 'I don't believe that nonsense'. Trials are underway in Germany of paedophiles who filmed themselves raping a nine-year-old boy offered to them by his mother and her partner for cash. Christian L., 39, and his common law wife Berrin T., 47, are appearing as witnesses for the prosecution against eight men in separate trials. They will face justice for what they did - advertising the child on Dark Web Internet sites for rape - in a separate process scheduled for June. The trials of eight are taking place at Freiburg State Court. The couple who sold their child are initially giving evidence for the prosecution They are further accused of the sexual abuse of a girl of three who they sold to child predators for their enjoyment. Christian L. is also charged with raping his own stepson. In the first case against a man called Markus K., 41, being held at Freiburg State Court, prosecutors told how Christian L. met him in jail when both were serving time for child rapes and sexual assaults when they were juveniles. Years later they connected again with Markus K. asking his former cellmate if he could procure children for him to rape. Christian L. told him about his stepson with whom he had 'experience.' The court heard how the boy was to be raped by Markus K. on a dirt road in 2016 as Christian L. filmed the scene. But because he was crying and begging for mercy the video had no 'value,' in Christian L's testimony. The couple advertised their son on a Dark Web internet site for paedophiles (file picture) Later Markus K. visited him at his home in Staufen near Freiburg. The boy's mother laid bondage ropes on her son's bed for Markus K. to use to subdue him while he raped him. Christian L. said at his trial that over a two year period there were 'around sixty such acts. I didn't count them all.' He claimed one client, called The Spaniard, paid 10,000 a time to rape the boy. Asked by the judge why he had chosen to be a prosecution witness, Christian L. told the court: 'Because I have built nothing but s**t. And to drag people out of this world to where I am sitting now, in court.' The case has rocked Germany and led to questions about how the couple were able to get away with the abuse even though they were on sex offending registers. The duo are expected to be caged for upwards of 15 years when they come to court in June. Their son has been placed with foster parents and is undergoing intensive psychiatric therapy. Michael Carr, pictured, 42, has been jailed for a year for burgling a home in Hull. He was later taken to hospital after allegedly being assaulted by the householder A father who knocked out a burglar after he raided his home while his wife and baby slept upstairs could face charges over the attack. Michael Carr, 42, who was jailed for a year after breaking into the house in Hull in December, was taken to hospital hours after the crime after being found injured in the street. Now Danny Crawford, 38, could face charges after he 'went looking' and hit the intruder in a nearby street. He has arrested on suspicion of ABH by police after he knocked Carr unconscious. Mr Crawford said that he spent 14 hours in a police cell following the incident. He added his pregnant partner had woken him up in the middle of the night to say someone was in the house, where their baby daughter was sleeping upstairs. Speaking to the Mirror, he said: 'I was in my boxers and put a pair of shoes on and chased after him. He only lives on the next street. 'I shouted and he picked up the pace a bit and led me straight to his front door, which was down a little passageway. 'I shouted "give me the bag back". He tried to get down the passageway. Then he turned round and came at me with his hands up. 'There was a small altercation and he came off worst.' Mr Crawford claimed he acted in self-defence. He said: 'I threw a punch at him to defend myself, luckily it knocked him unconscious.' Danny Crawford, 38, was at his home with his partner Kate Fowler, 37, when the intruder broke into his home He said: 'I was in disbelief. I was in shock. I spent 14 hours in a cell. They locked me up about 6am and I got home at 8pm the next night. 'We didn't ask for this to happen. What I did was done in self-defence. It was 5am and I was barely clothed. 'All I wanted was to get my hard-earned possessions back. I've been constantly worrying about Kate and the baby. We're constantly worried about each other. 'It's been a horrible, horrible four months. I feel like my life's in limbo.' Prosecutor Cathrine Kioko-Gilligan said it was suspected the householder had assaulted Carr, and although it was understood 'a file is being prepared', it 'can't be said with any certainty' whether he had been charged. The court heard the householder's partner was woken by 'banging' at the home and then heard the living room door and front door being opened. She went to the top of the stairs where she saw a 'person leaving carrying a black bag over his shoulder'. The protective father went to track down the intruder, where he then struck him The woman woke her partner, who quickly gave chase to the intruder, and called police. While she was on the phone, her partner returned with the black bag, which contained a PlayStation stolen from the house. They also discovered a Samsung 4 mobile phone, jewellery, cash, a 'distinctive' wallet, a pink purse and a heart-shaped box which went missing during the raid. After becoming concerned her son had not returned, his mother went to look for him in nearby Brent Avenue, where she believed he had gone. Miss Kioko-Gilligan said: 'She saw an ambulance and a person being attended to, and that person was this defendant.' The injured burglar was taken to hospital. All the stolen property except the cash was recovered from a house in Brent Avenue where Carr was living. Summarising a victim statement on behalf of the female householder, Miss Kioko-Gilligan said she was left 'fearful about being home alone'. It had affected her sleep and 'she was concerned for the safety of her daughter, and that gives her nightmares'. She was also 'often upset and crying'. When interviewed by police, Carr initially denied any wrongdoing. But he pleaded guilty to burglary on Wednesday when his case was listed for trial. He had 80 previous offences on his record, including a burglary in 2002, but had not committed any offence between 2006 and 2016. Hull Crown Court, pictured, heard Carr was found 'in a bad way' after allegedly being attacked by the homeowner Dale Brook, mitigating, said that he had been drug-free during that period but had 'fallen back into his old ways following the death of his mother'. Mr Brook said Carr was on the 'recovery wing' in prison and had reduced his methadone dose from 30ml to 6ml, which Judge Simon Jack called 'very impressive'. Mr Brook said: 'It's clear he was badly beaten and I have no doubt many would think that was richly deserved, but it doesn't detract from the fact that was itself a form of punishment. 'He had to be taken in an ambulance to hospital and is described as being in 'not a good way' by the police officers when they found him'. Jailing Carr for a year, Judge Jack told him: 'This is a sad story - for the occupier of that house, the lady woken up in the small hours of the morning by somebody, namely you, who had entered her home with the intention to steal. 'And it's sad for you in that you had managed to break a drug-habit and stay out of trouble for ten years, and for things to get worse again when your mother died and other events.' A Humberside Police spokeswoman confirmed they were still looking into Mr Crawford's case, more than four months after the incident. She said: 'We are continuing to investigate the circumstances of this incident so it would be inappropriate to comment on any individuals involvement in that investigation or go into further detail.' She added the investigation is ongoing and appealed for anyone with further information to contact detectives. PC Rowan Huskisson, 33, is pictured arriving for his misconduct hearing at Biggleswade Town Council offices after using his car to mow down a suspect This is the shocking moment a police officer uses his car to mow down a suspect - before saying 'that's how you deal with that'. Footage shown to a police misconduct panel captured PC Rowan Huskisson, 33, mounting the pavement and driving into pedestrian Sam Whitmore. After seeing him fall to the floor, police bodycam footage caught him saying: 'That's how you deal with that'. But despite his 'utterly unacceptable' behaviour and being found guilty of misconduct, PC Huskisson has been allowed to keep his job in the force. He claimed his intention was to try and block Mr Whitmore's path and he thought he could stop in time. Reading out a statement to the panel, the officer said: 'I understand I shouldn't have attempted this manoeuvre at all, I certainly won't again. 'Being a police officer has been the greatest achievement of my life so far, I wish to continue to learn and make better decisions in the future. 'I am proud that I make a difference to the public, and wish to continue to do so. 'When I made the decision to block the path of the suspect, I thought I had assessed the risk correctly against the need of the public's expectation for me to catch a suspect of a crime. 'I will not allow myself to make this mistake again.' PC Huskisson was responding to a call from club bouncers in Cambridge city centre in May last year when the incident took place. Scroll down to view video This is the shocking moment PC Huskisson uses his car to mow down pedestrian Sam Whitmore (pictured) - before saying 'that's how you deal with that' PC Huskisson was responding to a call from club bouncers in Cambridge city centre in May last year when the incident took place Despite his 'utterly unacceptable' behaviour and being found guilty of misconduct, PC Huskisson has been allowed to keep his job in the force Mr Whitmore - who was never arrested or charged with any offence - admitted drinking for at least 12 hours before he was restrained by bouncers in Cambridge city centre. He walked away but was spotted by PC Huskisson in his marked police car who mounted the pavement and ploughed into him. Chris Griffiths - a former police officer on shift with PC Huskisson on the day - told the panel that PC Huskisson hitting Mr Whitmore was 'inadvertent' and the police car was slowing or stopping when this took place. Mr Griffiths said he remembered PC Huskisson saying something 'facetious' after hitting Mr Whitmore, but claimed it was said in the heat of the moment. Giving evidence, PC Huskisson said he remembered being in tears after the collision, and said the idea put to him that he wanted to deliberately run someone over was 'unbelievable'. He said the cobbled surface of the taxi rank in St Andrews Street caused the police car's anti-braking system to kick in - meaning he panicked and stopped the car later than he planned. He denied claims that his comment was made to 'show off to a less experienced colleague', but he was instead trying to diffuse the situation. The hearing, held at Biggleswade Town Council offices, Beds., were told PC Huskisson had served Cambridgeshire Police for 12 years. Matthew Holdcroft, representing the police, said PC Huskisson's claims about the car's faulty anti-braking system were a 'total red herring'. He claimed PC Huskisson's demeanour while speaking before the panel was 'arrogant, argumentative, lacking in insight, and vicious' - and that he had shown no remorse. Mr Holdcroft said the public's confidence in the police service would be impacted by PC Huskisson's behaviour. However Colin Banham, representing PC Huskisson, said the officer was of good character and he had been 'truthful from the outset' about a 'harrowing incident'. Mr Whitmore - who was never arrested or charged with any offence - admitted drinking for at least 12 hours before he was restrained by bouncers in Cambridge city centre PC Huskisson said the cobbled surface of the taxi rank in St Andrews Street caused the police car's anti-braking system to kick in - meaning he panicked and stopped the car later than he planned. The misconduct panel ruled PC Huskisson's actions amounted to gross misconduct in three different areas - the use of force; authority, respect and courtesy; and discreditable conduct. Despite this, a tearful PC Huskisson was handed a final written warning and allowed to keep his job in the force. This was despite a recommendation from Alan Baldwin, deputy chief constable of Cambridgeshire police, that immediate dismissal from the force was the 'only appropriate outcome'. When I made the decision to block the path of the suspect, I thought I had assessed the risk correctly against the need of the public's expectation for me to catch a suspect of a crime In a statement, DCC Baldwin said: 'It is clear to me the officer did have a range of alternative options he should, and could have, adopted in his attempts to detain a pedestrian, and questions he should have asked over the radio to establish the risk the suspect posed. 'The comment he made does not betray the high standards of care and concern for members of the public that the police force has. His behaviour and actions are utterly unacceptable.' The panel heard that PC Huskisson's father had died in July 2016 - leaving him and his mother with a significant amount of debt. It was stated that if he lost job in the force, PC Huskisson would be unable to provide or care for his mother, who has severe health difficulties. Mr Banham told the policing panel that PC Huskisson struggled with dyslexia but left school with five GCSEs. He said PC Huskisson had always wanted to be a police officer to follow in the footsteps of his grandfather - who was also awarded the Queen's commendation for bravery. Jamie Wood, 23, pictured, was jailed for almost four years after 'orchestrating' a shotgun attack on a house in Birmingham This is the shocking moment a violent thug opens fire on a gang rival's house with a shotgun. Jamie Wood, 23, was jailed for almost four years at Birmingham Crown Court for 'orchestrating the attack' after police found the footage on his mobile phone. Wood recorded the incident from a nearby car and voices can be heard in the background saying 'Go on, over to the yard - slide it back, give it a good bang lad' as the shooter jogs over to the house. The gangster can be seen jogging over to the house and taking aim before a loud bang is heard as the shotgun discharges in a flash of flames. A court heard the weapon was fired at the house in Northfield, Birmingham on February 20 last year following a long-running feud between gangs. Detectives suspected Wood - who is affiliated to the Frankley Killers gang - was involved and raided his home while he slept on March 2. Unemployed Wood's iPhone was seized and was found to contain footage of the shooting. Along with the footage, pictures and text messages were discovered linking him to gang activity. Birmingham Crown Court saw footage of the incident, pictured, in which another gang member blasts a house in the city Wood was found with the footage, pictured, on his phone and police believe he planned the incident He initially denied involvement but later admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear or violence He originally claimed he wasn't in possession of the phone on the night and denied being part of the attack on the property. But officers recovered evidence proving he was using the phone in the build-up to the shooting and he later admitted conspiracy to possess a firearm with intent to cause fear of violence. Wood was jailed for three years and eight months at Birmingham Crown Court. Sentencing, Judge Avik Mukherjee described Wood as a 'violent gang member' and added: 'You made the choice to join a gang; that was your choice alone and you knew the risks. 'You basked in violence and you knew the risks.' Wood, of Northfield, is one of 16 men in south Birmingham subject to gang injunctions that ban them from associating with each other and entering large parts of Birmingham. Detective, Sergeant Alan Teagu, from West Midlands Police's Gangs & Organised Crime Unit, said: 'Wood didn't pull the trigger but we proved he was involved in the shooting and, we suspect, orchestrated the attack. Wood, pictured with a large knife, was described as someone who 'basks in violence' during the court case Wood is pictured here obscuring his face with a bandana in a music video 'Anyone linked to gang violence and firearms needs to take note of this sentencing: we don't need to find you with a gun or show you've fired a weapon in order to secure long prison sentences. 'No-one was injured but clearly discharging a firearm in public is a hugely reckless act and one that could have fatal consequences. 'Wood is linked to gangs in Birmingham and this shooting stemmed from a conflict that had been playing out for up to two years. 'This is the latest in a series of convictions secured against people linked to gang activity in Birmingham - offenders have been put behind bars for many years. 'West Midlands Police works with partner agencies to support those who want to turn their lives around and desist from criminality - but for those who chose to remain involved in gang crime, people can rest assured that we will deal with them robustly.' Jeremy Corbyn today set out to woo Generation Rent ahead of local elections by vowing to create one million 'genuinely affordable' new homes over the next decade. The Labour leader pledged to go on a house building spree which would see construction surge to levels not seen since the 1970s. But he also vowed to put an end to the right of council house tenants to own their own property. The policy, introduced by Margaret Thatcher and continued under successive Labour and Tory governments, has allowed many to get their foot on the housing ladder. But under Labour's housing plans, launched in London today, the party says it will put a stop to the sell-off of 50,000 socially rented homes a year. Jeremy Corbyn (pictured today) today set out to woo Generation Rent ahead of local elections by vowing to create one million 'genuinely affordable' new homes over the next decade. The Labour leader pledged to go on a house building spree which would see construction surge to levels not seen since the 1970s And the party will tear up Tory rules which allow homes costing up to 450,000 to be classified as 'affordable'. Mr Corbyn said Britain's housing market is in 'crisis' and that his party will 'turn this around' by pursuing 'radical' measures. He told an audience in London that homelessness is up, luxury flats are proliferating while social housing is 'starved of investment'. Backing for nationalising water companies halves amid fears over 90bn cost A Comres poll has found that public support for Labour's plans to renationalise the water industry has plummeted Public support for Jeremy Corbyn's plans to nationalise the water industry has halved in the past six months, a new poll has found. The Labour leader has vowed to bring water back into public ownership if he is elected to No10 - costing an estimated 90billion. But a ComRes poll commissioned by four water firms found that support for nationalisation has fallen from 83 per cent to 42 per cent in the past six months. ComRes questioned 2,053 British adults online for Severn Trent, United Utilities, Anglian Water and South West Water on April 10. Advertisement He added: 'And the horror of the fire in Grenfell Tower, a fire in which people literally died because of where they lived, haunting the nations conscience. 'Today, Labour set out our plan to turn this around and it involves two simple steps: build enough housing and make sure that housing is affordable to those who need it. 'Thats why we have promised today that the next Labour Government will deliver one million genuinely affordable homes over ten years, the majority of which will be for social rent. 'And that we will dismiss the Tories farcical definition of affordable housing for the sham that it is, replacing it with a definition that understands that whether housing is affordable or not depends on how much people earn, not how much speculators have flooded property markets.' He also tore into the flagship Tory policy of right to buy - which extended the dream of home ownership to a generation of council tenants who could to afford to buy in the private sector. He said: 'Council building has been in decline since the Tories introduced the Right to Buy at the same time as shackling councils by prohibiting them from using the proceeds to replace the houses sold.' Instead Labour has laid out plans to keep this housing in the hands of the state. The Tories have also pledged to building more homes- with Theresa May (pictured at the meeting of Commonwealth heads at Buckingham Palace today) saying it is her 'personal mission' to fix the housing market Their green paper states that the party will 'stop the sell-off of 50,000 social rented homes a year by suspending the right to buy.' Mr Corbyn told the party's housing launch today that under Theresa May the Tories have 'not only failed to deliver on social housing, but made it their mission to eliminate it - cutting social housing grants time and time again, redefining affordable housing so that its no such thing, forcing councils to sell their best stock.' Britain's sky-high house prices has fuelled anger and is believed to be one of the major factors driving voters under the age of 40 to back Labour at the last election. Much of the country goes to the polls gain on May 3 and Conservative MPs have privately warned that disquiet over ballooning house prices is a major issue on the doorstep.. The Tories have also pledged to building more homes- with the PM saying it is her 'personal mission' to fix the housing market. Last year the Conservatives set out plans to build 25,000 extra social homes in the UK over two years. The Prime Minister also announced an extra 2 billion for affordable housing. HM Revenue & Customs today admitted blundering by referring to Lycamobile's donations to the Tories and a trust linked to Prince Charles as it rejected French requests for help with a money-laundering probe. An HMRC official mentioned the telecoms company's gifts as an 'aside' after being asked to carry out raids by the authorities across the Channel last year. But a spokesman insisted the request was turned down purely because there was not enough evidence to get a warrant from a judge. Labour expressed 'deep concern' and demanded guarantees that there was 'no undue pressure exerted by Conservative Party officials'. Bundles of cash were said to have been seized from Lycamobile's Paris headquarters, and a series of residential and business addresses across the city. The company has previously denied any wrongdoing HMRC admitted that the reference to the donations should not have been 'thrown in' to the letter, but dismissed the idea that the gifts were regarded as relevant to the case The news emerged nearly two years after raids were carried out in France over allegations of a multi-million pound tax and money laundering scandal. An investigation by BuzzFeed claimed to caught Lycamobile 'employing three cash couriers to drop rucksacks stuffed with hundreds of thousands of pounds twice a day at Post Offices scattered across London'. Bundles of cash were said to have been seized from Lycamobile's Paris headquarters, and a series of residential and business addresses across the city. A spokeswoman for the company said today: 'Lycamobile continue to deny all allegations being implied by BuzzFeed.' The Tories have not accepted any donations from Lycamobile since July 2016. But prior to that the firm's Sri Lankan-born founder, Subaskaran Allirajah, was a member of the exclusive Leader's Group for top donors. Buzzfeed has obtained a letter written by an HMRC official and dated March 2017 responding to a request for help from the French authorities. The official apparently described it as 'a large multinational company' with 'vast assets at their disposal' that would be 'extremely unlikely to agree to having their premises searched'. The letter, from the HMRC team that handles law enforcement requests from foreign governments, added: 'It is of note that they are the biggest corporate donor to the Conservative party led by Prime Minister Theresa May and donated 1.25m Euros to the Prince Charles Trust in 2012.' The Prince Charles trust referred to is the British Asian Trust, a charity founded by the Prince of Wales in 2007. It is a different organisation to the Prince's Trust, which has never received money from Lycamobile. The response reportedly said that a court challenge to any raids might succeed because the French request did not contain enough 'solid information'. HMRC admitted that the reference to the donations should not have been 'thrown in' to the letter, but dismissed the idea that the gifts were regarded as relevant to the case. The Tories have not accepted any donations from Lycamobile since July 2016. But prior to that the firm's Sri Lankan-born founder, Subaskaran Allirajah, was a member of the exclusive Leader's Group for top donors A spokesman said: 'HMRC always investigates suspected rule breaking professionally and objectively and is never influenced by political considerations. 'The facts speak for themselves: last year alone we secured an additional 8billion in tax from the largest businesses by tackling avoidance, evasion and non-compliance. 'The application contained insufficient detail to satisfy the legal requirements to secure a warrant. 'After the French request was rejected, HMRC continued to liaise with the French Authorities to explain the statutory requirements for a UK search warrant, and offered to meet the French Judge face to face to explain those requirements.' A Tory spokeswoman said: 'All donations to the Conservative Party are properly and transparently declared to the Electoral Commission, published by them, and comply fully with the law.' Shadow chancellor John McDonnell said: 'If true, these are deeply concerning revelations. The fact that a Tory donor could be allowed to potentially subvert the system will look bad to taxpayers who play by the rules. 'The Tories have serious questions to answer on this matter, and I hope the Chancellor immediately comes forward to explain this behaviour by HMRC and ensure there was no undue pressure exerted by Conservative Party officials.' A spokesman for the British Asian Trust said: 'In accordance with Charity Commission guidelines, prior to accepting any donations, the British Asian Trust carries out due diligence research which includes checks on companies using information available via Companies House, open source research, and other publicly available sources. 'In every case, funds donated to the Trust come via bank transfers or cheques from a registered bank account.' A tribunal heard Richard Pym, who practised at the Church Lane Dental Practice, in Harpurhey, Manchester, met the woman online in March 2015 A married dentist who had affair with a woman he met on a dating website claims he had no idea she was one of his patients, a tribunal heard. A tribunal heard that Richard Pym, who practised at the Church Lane Dental Practice, in Harpurhey, Manchester, met the woman online in March 2015. The pair exchanged texts and WhatsApp messages before he realised he had treated her in his dentists chair. But Pym carried on with the exchanges and struck up a sexual relationship while continuing to treat her, the General Dental Council heard. Andrew Kennedy, for Pym, told the panel that the dentist was going through difficulties in his family life at the time. The chances that on his first use of a dating website the first thumbnail he would chance on would turn out to be a patient must be infinitesimally small, he said. He was going through a prolonged and problematic divorce and he was running a business that was barely wiping its feet. There were issues in his private life and that led to a need, an inappropriate need I accept, for emotional support. When he renewed contact for short period the following March, the woman forwarded the messages to his wife. Pym admitted failing to maintain adequate professional boundaries between himself and the woman dubbed Patient A and that his behaviour was sexually motivated. Gemma Hobcraft, for the General Dental Council, said: This was a fundamental line that was crossed and therefore a serious departure from the standards expected. A GDC committee will decide whether Pyms fitness to practise is impaired by reason of his misconduct and what, if any, sanction to impose. The tribunal heard that Pym continued with the relationship after finding out she was a patient of his and being advised to desist. The relationship quickly turned sexual as the pair continued to trade tawdry messages through March and April of 2015. Having had a period of time where communications had paused or stopped in late 2015, Mr Pym contacted Patient A at a time when it appears he was having therapy in relation to at least some of those issues, said Ms Hobcraft. She suggested there was still a question mark about Mr Pyms ability to communicate effectively in terms of ending something. The panel was asked to consider what the position would be if a patient were to be forward with him and overt with him in those circumstances. In my submission the committee should give considerable pause for concern as to whether you are satisfied that Mr Pym will not let personal gratification trump professional obligation again, Ms Hobcraft said. Mr Kennedy conceded on Pyms behalf that the initial contact was inappropriate. But he sought to differentiate Pyms from the paradigm case of its type. The most apt way of putting it that we have heard is that its a relationship that arose from the chatroom, not from the consultation room, added Mr Kennedy. This case also differs from the paradigm case in that the motivation was not for a physical relationship. You will recall from Mr Pyms evidence that in so far as there was a physical element to the relationship, it was unsatisfactory and was not consistent with whatever else he wanted or expected from it. That is what he refers to as the fantasy element. Mr Kennedy sought to play down the imbalance of power between dentist and patient and described the relationship as between equals in which the woman was a willing, active and for a lot of the time dominant participant. That was borne out by one request for sexy photos from Pym which he refused to send, the panel heard. Similarly, many of the graphic texts emanated from her, he said. In so far as it was more than fantasy for her, it appears from the texts that she was the person pushing for the relationship to be more than fantasy, Mr Kennedy continued. Undoubtedly, she continued to text Mr Pym at times when she had recognised that the relationship may, or should, come to an end. It may well be that but for that it might have petered out. The panel was told it was not a relationship that was purely fantasy or sexual fantasy, and that there was an emotional side to it as well. Mr Kennedy described how Pym was caring for family members at the time and his personal life was unsatisfactory. Patient A forwarded the messages to Mr Pyms at that stage wife in April 2016 and so that has had understandable implications for his private life, he said. The barrister claimed erasure from the register would mark the end of a near-30-year unblemished career. The hearing continues. Syria only managed to fire two air-defence missiles during last week's chemical weapons strike and both of them missed their targets, it has been claimed. In total Syria fired 40 interceptor missiles in response to the attack but 38 of them launched after the strike was over, according to The Daily Beast. The report flatly contradicts widely-disputed Russian claims that 70 per cent of incoming weapons were shot down. Syria launched just two interceptor missiles during last week's US-led strike and both of them missed their targets, US government sources have claimed The US, France and Britain launched a total of 105 missiles into Syria including the stealthy JASSM-ER (pictured) which has never been used in combat before The US, Britain and France fired a total of 105 cruise missiles at targets they said were linked to chemical weapons in Damascus and Homs. The Pentagon previously said all of the missiles hit their targets. Two US government sources spoke to The Beast on condition of anonymity. Russian S-300 and S-400 missile defense systems did not respond to the attack, though it is not clear whether this was deliberate or because the incoming missiles were not detected. Satellite images revealed the strikes destroyed the Barzah Research and Development centre in Damascus and two smaller sites in the Homs countryside. The US-led coalition said Barzah was at the heart of the Syrian chemical weapons programme, while the other sites were being used to store weapons. The Pentagon has previously said all 105 missiles hit their intended targets, which included two chemical weapons dumps in Homs The strikes also destroyed the Barzah Scientific Research Center in Damascus, which the US said was at the heart of the Syrian chemical weapons programme America said it used the AGM-158B JASSM-ER, a stealth cruise missile designed to evade radar systems, for the first time in combat during the strike. In total 19 JASSM's were fired alongside 66 other missiles by the US. France fired 12 SCALP missiles, while Britain used eight Storm Shadows. Assad continues to deny using chemical weapons, telling visiting Russian politicians that Western air strikes against his country were accompanied by a campaign of 'lies' and misinformation at the UN. Moscow's ambassador to the US, Anatoly Antonov, said: 'A pre-designed scenario is being implemented. Again, we are being threatened. 'We warned that such actions will not be left without consequences. All responsibility for them rests with Washington, London and Paris.' Japanese workers are banned from taking the lifts for at least 45 minutes after smoking to cut the risk of exposure to second-hand smoke. The new policy at the five-storey Ikoma city hall forces staff and visitors to undergo a 'decontamination' period or take the stairs after lighting up. Local government officials said 'exhaled air from smokers could cause passive smoking, and the impact is especially serious in closed spaces'. Japanese workers are banned from taking the lifts for at least 45 minutes after smoking to cut the risk of exposure to second-hand smoke There were no actual penalties for breaching the policy but it has been strictly adhered to by workers since it began this month. Ikom'as policy was brought in based on research by University of Occupational and Environmental Health professor Hiroshi Yamato. He measured the level of total volatile organic compounds in the breath of smokers who puffed a cigarette outside and then came back in. The results found it took 45 minutes for the amount of TVOCs to come back to normal and to present a health risk in a confined space. 'Feeble people often visit public facilities, and some people feel sick when exposed to cigarette-flavored breath in small spaces like elevators,' he told the Asahi Shimbun. 'Smokers have the right to freely puff away, but they can exercise the right only if they do no harm to people around them.' Local government officials said 'exhaled air from smokers could cause passive smoking, and the impact is especially serious in closed spaces' (stock image) City officials said residents were split 50-50 of whether they supported the policy with some opposed to it questioning whether it would have any impact. 'I favorably regard the policy because I can engage in physical activity (by taking the stairs),' senior worker Okito Hidaka, who has smoked 10 cigarettes a day for the past 20 years, said. However, other workers complained about how tiring it was to walk up the stairs or thought it wouldn't be effective. Ikoma already introduced tough curbs on smoking in the city of 121,000 people, including fining anyone smoking on public roads near the train station 131. 'City officials must actively engage in countermeasures against the issue of secondhand smoke because the burden is put on the citizens,' local government policy states. An estimated 15,000 people die every year in Japan from heart attacks, lung cancer and brain and other diseases attributed to passive smoking Most other Japanese city governments ban workers from smoking in office buildings, but none were contemplating a ban on using the lift like Ikoma's. An estimated 15,000 people die every year in Japan from heart attacks, lung cancer and brain and other diseases attributed to passive smoking. Some companies took measures into their own hands, one even giving non-smokers an extra six days holiday to make up for smoking breaks they don't take. A university fraternity has been suspended after videos shared online showed its members making 'extremely racist, homophobic and sexist' oaths. The footage, filmed at Syracuse University in New York, shows members of engineering fraternity Theta Tau making a series of offensive pledges. One student, who is on his knees, can be heard pledging: 'I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n******, s**** and most importantly the f****** k****.' The videos were shared by Syracuse's independent student newspaper, The Daily Orange, after they had been posted in a secret Facebook group, called 'Tau of Theta Tau.' The suspension of the fraternity was confirmed by Syracuse University chancellor Kent Syverud. In a campus-wide email, he wrote that the fraternity members were filmed engaging in behaviors that were 'extremely racist, anti-Semitic, homophobic, sexist, and hostile to people with disabilities'. One video from the fraternity, which is six minutes long, shows members laughing as they use several racial slurs. One member can even be heard telling Jews to 'get in the shower' in reference to Nazi gas chambers. One student can be heard pledging: 'I solemnly swear to always have hatred in my heart for n******, s**** and most importantly the f****** k****.' The members, who seem to all be male, can also be seen encouraging each other to simulate several sex acts. One of the students can be seen kneeling in front of another, who asks him: 'Do you know what you signed up for today?' The man on his knees makes a series of sexually explicit motions before reciting 'the oath'. He shouts: 'F*** black people.' The shocking footage was shared on Facebook and showed the fraternity standing in an order while one member dictated from a podium Students can also be heard joking about people with mental illnesses. One says: 'He's drooling out of his mouth because he's retarded in a wheelchair.' Chancellor Kent Syverud wrote in his campus-wide email: 'I am appalled and shaken by this and deeply concerned for all members of our community. 'There is absolutely no place at Syracuse University for behavior or language that degrades any individual or group's race, ethnicity, sexuality, gender identity, disability or religious beliefs. As well as making a series of racial comments, they could be seen performing a number of simulated sex acts on each other 'Upon confirming Theta Tau's involvement, the university's Office of Student Rights and Responsibilities immediately suspended the fraternity, effectively halting all activities.' Theta Tau is a national organisation that was founded in 1904. Around 30,000 people have been initiated into the fraternity since. Michael Abraham, the executive director of the Theta Tau Central Office, confirmed the organisation are looking into the claims. According to the Daily Orange, Theta Tau is the fourth fraternity to get suspended during the 2017-18 academic school year. Sigma Alpha Mu was banned following a probe into hazing. Alpha Epsilon Pi was suspended in February for unsafe conduct involving a new member. While Delta Tau Delta was also reportedly suspended last fall for hazing. Students held a rally on campus in support of social awareness and campus unity after the video emerged on social media. The 23-year-old black men who were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks last week have broken their silence to speak out about the 'racist' incident that has angered many across the country. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, two men who became best friends in the fourth grade, were taken in handcuffs from the Starbucks in Philadelphia's tony Rittenhouse Square neighborhood on April 12, where Robinson has been a customer since he was 15. The video, recorded on a white customer's cellphone video, galvanized people around the country who saw the exchange as modern-day racism. In the week since, the men have met with Starbucks' CEO and have started pushing for lasting changes to ensure what happened to them doesn't happen to anyone else. Scroll down for video Rashon Nelson, left, and Donte Robinson, right, are the two black men who were arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks last week, in what many believe was a 'racist' incident FULL INTERVIEW: "This is something that has been going on for years...everyone is blind to it." Rashon Nelson & Donte Robinson, the 2 black men arrested at a Starbucks in Philadelphia, speak out exclusively to @GMA: https://t.co/0MwL2JMNU5 pic.twitter.com/Le3nnzbOKw World News Tonight (@ABCWorldNews) April 19, 2018 The two men spoke out for the first time in interviews with Good Morning America and the Associated Press on Thursday, saying they showed up to the Starbucks 10 minutes before a 4:45pm meeting. As soon as they arrived, Nelson went to ask to use the restroom while his friend found them a table But a manager, Holly Hylton, told him that the restrooms 'were for paying customers only,' so he decided to take his seat and wait until their meeting. 'I just left it at that at that moment,' he told Good Morning America. Soon after however, Robinson says the manager came out from behind the register to speak to them. On Thursday, Nelson, left, and Robinson, right, spoke out about the incident for the first time. The two are pictured above on Wednesday The two, friends since the fourth grade, are in mediation with Starbucks to make sure a similar incident never happens again 'We're at the table, we sit down we're just talking amongst each other. She comes from around the register and walks up to ask if she can help us with anything, can we start with some drinks or water or something like that,' Robinson says. Robinson says they declined and said they were 'just waiting for a meeting' and 'we'll be out really quick'. But about two minutes after they arrived at the cafe, the manager called 911 and said that they were 'refusing to make a purchase'. When three officers arrived not long after, the two were certain that they were coming for someone else, since they knew they hadn't done anything wrong. In fact, they pointed out that they had never even been told to leave. The officers came up to them and told them to leave immediately, not asking any questions about what had happened, Nelson said. 'As soon as they approached us they just said we have to leave. There was no question of "was there a problem here between you and the manager?"' Nelson said. The viral video that prompted the scandal showed police talking with the two black men while they were seated at a table. After several minutes they handcuffed the men and led them away Andrew Yaffe, the man they were meeting, right, showed up as the men were being handcuffed and asked what was going on Robinson said the officers didn't even explain what charges they were being arrested on. 'We wasn't read any rights. Nothing, just double lock handcuffs behind our backs and escorted out and put in a squad car,' Robinson said. Andrew Yaffe, the white local businessmen they were meeting, showed up as the men were being handcuffed. He can be seen in the video demanding an explanation for the officers' actions. Nelson and Robinson did not resist arrest, confused and unsure of what to think or what might happen next. Manager Holly Hylton (pictured) is no longer employed by Starbucks after the incident 'When you know that you did nothing wrong, how do you really react to it?' Nelson told the Associated Press. 'You can either be ignorant or you can show some type of sophistication and act like you have class. That was the choice we had.' Robinson said it didn't really hit him what was happening until he was being handcuffed. 'I was just trying to process the situation to myself at the time because I'm thinking abot my family, that I have my community, so in that moment I'm trying to process what's going on because it didn't really hit me what was going on - that it was real - until I'm being double locked and my hands are behind my back,' he said. It was hardly their first encounter with police, a rite of passage that becomes a regular occurrence for many black men their age. But neither had been arrested before, setting them apart from many of their peers in the gritty southwest Philadelphia neighborhood where they grew up. Robinson briefly wondered what he might've done to bring the moment on himself. 'I feel like I fell short,' he explained. 'I'm trying to think of something I did wrong, to put not just me but my brother, my lifelong friend ... in this situation.' Attorney Stewart Cohen, representing Nelson and Robinson, said the men were illegally profiled. He pointed to Title II of the Civil Rights Act of 1964, which prohibits discrimination on the basis of race in hotels, restaurants, theaters and other public accommodations. Seattle-based Starbucks Corp. has said the location where the arrests occurred has a policy that restrooms are for paying customers only. Starbucks founder Howard Schultz told CBS This Morning: 'I'm embarrassed, ashamed. I think what occurred was reprehensible at every single level' The incident sparked accusations of racial profiling at the coffee chain and prompted activists to start protesting at the Philadelphia store on April 16 Nelson and Robinson spent hours in a jail cell with no outside contact and no sense of what would happen next. They were released after midnight, when the district attorney declined to prosecute them for trespassing. They had no idea the video of their arrests was making the rounds on the internet. The day after their arrests, they thought about what to do next. 'You go from being someone who's just trying to be an entrepreneur, having your own dreams and aspirations, and then this happens,' Nelson said. 'How do you handle it? Do you stand up? Do you fight? Do you sit down and just watch everyone else fight for you? Do you let it slide, like we let everything else slide with injustice?' Robinson, still focused on the previous day's business deal, called Yaffe to reschedule. Yaffe told him about the video and the traction it had gotten. Nelson and Robinson are being represented by lawyer Stewart Cohen (pictured above on Wednesday) Over the weekend, attention and outrage over the video grew, prompting a protest at the local Starbucks restaurant and a national boycott. By Monday, the men were set to meet with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson to discuss what happened. Johnson has responded quickly to public outcry around the arrests, calling them 'reprehensible,' apologizing and ordering stores closed for one day to undergo mandatory training to tackle unconscious bias. Nelson and Robinson said they're looking for more lasting results and are in mediation proceedings with Starbucks to implement changes, including the posting in stores of a customer bill of rights; the adoption of new policies regarding customer ejections, racial profiling and racial discrimination; and independent investigations of complaints of profiling or discrimination from customers and employees. They do not plan to sue at this time. Robinson said he appreciates the public support the men have received but anger and boycotting Starbucks are not the solution. 'We need a different type of action ... not words,' he said. 'It's a time to pay attention and understand what's really going on. We do want a seat at the table.' Juror Catherine Leahy has been jailed for six years for taking bribes during a trial A juror who took almost 3,000 in bribes has been jailed for six years in the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland. Catherine Leahy, 62, accepted inappropriate payments while deliberating during a cocaine trafficking and money laundering trial at the High Court in Glasgow. The former classroom assistant was caught after police received a tip-off that she had broken bribery laws and bugged her home. Leahy was the spokeswoman for the jury which acquitted Graham Clark, an alleged drug dealer, and others. Prosecutors are now considering whether to try Clark again. A court that police discovered four payments of 300, 1,000, 1,200 and 330 were made into Leahy's accounts between April 19 and June 2, 2016. The prosecution against her was brought after police recorded incriminating conversations between her and her 22-year-old son Joseph, after detectives took the unusual step of bugged her home in the Springboig area of Glasgow. Her son was heard saying she had 'got bribed' while she said: 'There is nothing that can link you with them.' She was convicted of offences under the Bribery Act 2010 and jailed for six years at the High Court in Edinburgh today. Passing sentence, Lord Turnbull said: 'In my judgement to agree to accept a bribe from or on behalf of the accused while serving as a juror in that high court trial involved conduct that is such a serious breach of the public duty that forms a cornerstone of our freedom. 'It is throughly obvious that a lengthy custodial sentence is merited in such circumstances.' Leahy was prosecuted after police recorded her talking to her son, Joseph, about the bribes The judge added: 'The evidence in this case was the product of a listening device which was placed in your home. It provided overwhelming proof of your guilt in this matter. 'Your evidence to this court in which you denied your actions was quite ridiculous.' Leahy had denied the accusations and claimed the money came from a cheque for 7,446 from a British Shipbuilders pension and a savings club. Her lawyer Thomas Ross QC told the court Leahy was a woman who cared for her parents and husband before they died. Leahy served as a juror in the trial of Clarke, his wife Lindsay and others which ran from November 2015 to April 2016. All charges against Clarke were not proven. His wife was convicted of mortgage fraud. Prosecutors are now giving further consideration to the circumstances of the original trial in which Leahy served as a juror. The bribes were made during a drugs and money laundering trial at Glasgow's High Court The Crown can ask the court for authority to bring a fresh prosecution in cases where a person was previously acquitted in certain circumstances, including when an offence against the course of justice in the original trial is considered to have been committed. Liam Murphy, procurator fiscal for Specialist Casework, said: 'The role of the jury sits at the heart of our criminal justice system and is fundamental to our rule of law. 'This is the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland which shows that cases of jury interference are exceptionally rare. 'Leahy took advantage of a position of public responsibility for financial gain without any regard to the consequences. 'The prosecution against Leahy was built on a thorough and complex investigation by Police Scotland using covert surveillance to uncover the true nature of the offence.' Two people have been killed after a light aircraft crashed close to Belfast International Airport. The Cessna plane came down as it approached the airport close to the Nutts Corner roundabout. Alan Whiteside, Operations Manager at the airport confirmed the plane belonged to the Ulster Flying Club, who are based at Newtownards Airport, County Down, to the east of Belfast. He said: 'As far as I know there was no distress call. I think the aircraft just disappeared from air. 'I get the impression it was doing a bit of a fly around possibly for photography and intending to go back to Newtownards.' The wreckage of the plane lies in a field, which has been taped off by the fire service Another image of the plane's wreckage. Two people are believed to have died in the crash Police at the scene of the crash near Belfast International Airport A map showing the spot where the light aircraft went down just after 12.20pm this afternoon The plane, thought to be a Cessna, came down as it approached the airport at 12.20pm today The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said no patients were taken from the scene. It put its major incident protocols into action but the incident was stood down at 12:49. The Air Accident Investigation Branch sent a team to Crumlin. An eyewitness told the BBC the plane circled over houses and tried to land, before crashing in a field. She said the aircraft then exploded. The fire service are currently at the scene. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said it received a report of an incident just after 12.20pm. It said paramedics from three ambulance crews have been sent to the area, as well as an air ambulance. A statement from Belfast International Airport said the aircraft was not operating to or from the airport. A spokeswoman said: 'It crashed in the vicinity of Loanends, two-three miles from the airport.' The plane involved in the crash that is said to belong to the Ulster Flying Club Several emergency vehicles were pictured near the scene of the crash, close to Nutts Corner roundabout A spokesman for the ambulance service said 'the incident is ongoing' The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said in a statement: 'The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call at 12:23 this afternoon following reports that a light aircraft had come down near Nutts Corner on approach to Belfast International Airport. 'One rapid response paramedic, three emergency ambulance crews and two officers have been dispatched to the incident. 'The charity air ambulance has also been tasked to the scene. 'This is an ongoing incident and no further information is available at this time.' Police Service of Northern Ireland Superintendent Emma Bond said: 'Emergency services received a report of a crash shortly after 12.30pm this afternoon. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will examine the scene to determine the cause of the crash. 'Cordons have been placed in the area surrounding the aircraft to maintain the integrity of the scene as the investigation continues. I would ask that the cordons are respected by all and directions from officers at the scene are heeded. 'We are not in a position to confirm the identity of the deceased at this time.' The scene is expected to be held for some time as enquiries are carried out. A statement from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said: 'No patients were taken from the scene and the major incident was stood down at 12:49.' Nearby roads were closed. The NIAS spokeswoman added: 'The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call at 12:23 this afternoon following reports that a light aircraft had come down near Nutts Corner.' She added: 'NIAS implemented its major incident protocols in response to this incident and one rapid response paramedic, three emergency ambulance crews and four officers were dispatched to the incident. 'The charity air ambulance was also tasked.' Newtownards airport, where the Ulster Flying Club is based, said it would make no comment. A witness told BBC NI he tried to help. 'It was not a nice sight, my thoughts are with the families of the two guys.' President Trump heard from a former legal adviser last Friday that attorney Michael Cohen can't be trusted to remain loyal, and would turn on him instead of going to prison if he were facing criminal charges. The FBI raided the home and offices of Cohen, a longtime Trump confidant, on April 9, in part based on information gathered by Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. According to The Wall Street Journal, Jay Goldberg, who represented the president decades ago, told him that on a scale of one to 100, with 100 representing an ironclad commitment to protecting Trump, Cohen 'isn't even a 1.' 'Michael will never stand up [for you]' under the weight of potential prosecution, Goldberg said he warned Trump. 'You have to be alert. I don't care what Michael says.' Donald Trump attorney Michael Cohen's legal predicament following last week's FBI raid on his home and office is beginning to put pressure on the president's inner circle as they fear he'll turn on his longtime boss As a storm of controversy swirls around him, Trump is said to be brooding on how even his most loyal lieutenant is now the subject of speculation about 'flipping' Jay Goldberg, who represented Trump in his two divorces, warned him that Cohen is nowhere near as loyal as he seems Cohen is the subject of a lengthy probe related to potential bank fraud charges and campaign-finance violations. Investigators are looking for evidence related to, among other things, a $130,000 hugh-money payment he made to a pornographic actress who claims she slept with the president more than a decade ago. Trump has denied ever bedding the woman, Stephanie Clifford, who goes by the stage name Stormy Daniels. Cohen has said he got the funds from a home equity line of credit, prompting federal authorities to suspect that he committed bank fraud by hiding the purpose of the withdrawal. And if the payment was made specifically to help Trump get elected by burying news of the alleged affair, it could constitute an illegal campaign contribution. For a president whose personal life has been ruled for decades by loyalty, the notion of Cohen striking a deal with prosecutors could seem remote: He's a self-described legal fixer who helped make bad stories go away and was a vice president in Trump's real estate empire. Cohen tweeted on April 8 that he 'will always protect our @POTUS,' quoting novelist Joyce Maynard's semi-famous pledge that '[a] person who deserves my loyalty receives it.' But his world was turned upside down 24 hours later, and Cohen hasn't promised since then that his fierce fidelity to his former boss at the Trump Organization will hold even in the face of potential criminal charges. Those would come from the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York, which took over the matter from the Justice Department. That means even if Special Counsel Robert Mueller's probe were to end, prosecutors could keep Cohen's nightmare going. The president and his allies have hit a new level of anxiety as they fear deeper exposure for Trump, his inner circle and his adult children and more than concerned that they don't know exactly what is in the records and electronic devices the FBI seized last week. Cohen tweeted this reassuring message to the president on April 8, but the FBI knocked on his door just one day later Famed attorney Mark Geragos says Trump should be nervous at the prospect of Cohen turning on him Michael Avenatti, the flashy attorney who has turned the Stormy Daniels case into an international phenomenon, told MSNBC's 'Morning Joe' program on Tuesday that he believes Cohen will soon face a legal reckoning. 'From what I've heard, from what I've seen, there's no question that Michael Cohen is going to be charged,' Avenatti said. 'It's only a question of when. And I think it's going to happen within the next 90 days.' And the media-savvy Trump antagonist said 'the likelihood of him not rolling over is very, very slim.' 'I can't imagine he's going to go to trial or potentially face 10, 15, 20, 25 years in a federal penitentiary for anybody let alone a guy, Donald Trump, who left him behind when he went to Washington, D.C.,' he said. Attorney Mark Geragos, too, sees a potentially history-altering decision on the horizon for Cohen. One news outlet is suggesting that Cohen knows things about the president that even Ivanka Trump doesn't know because she doesn't want to On a scale from 1 to 100, where 100 represents a total commitment to protect Trump at all costs, Cohen 'isn't even a 1,' according to lawyer Jay Goldberg, who represented Trump two decades ago 'I have seen the most loyal lieutenants to clients flip when they get into this situation,' he said Tuesday on CNN's 'New Day' program. 'I mean, this is fraught with danger.' 'When youre faced with the prospect of somebody who's just executed search warrants at your home and office, and you're not so sure that a president could pardon your way out of this, somebodys going to make some calculation: "Do I do what's best for me or do I do whats best for him?"' he suggested. 'And I think, in this case, the president should be nervous.' As Trump's moods behind the scenes darken, underlings and hangers-on alike are coming to terms with what might lie ahead. 'The guys that know Trump best are the most worried,' a former Trump campaign official told the Axios news website. 'People are very, very worried. Because its Michael [effing] Cohen. Who knows what hes done?' 'People at the Trump Organization dont even really know everything he does. It's all side deals and off-the-books stuff. Trump doesn't even fully know; he knows some but not everything.' Cohen himself is better-briefed on some parts of the president's life than anyone else including his plugged-in daughter Ivanka, Axios reports, 'because some stuff, Ivanka doesn't want to know.' Adult film actress Stormy Daniels, left, and her lawyer Michael Avenatti (right) have driven much of the public angst over Cohen, since he brokered her hush-money agreement over a claimed sexual affair with the president Joseph Cammarata, the lawyer who represented Paula Jones in her sexual harassment suit against President Bill Clinton, told the Associated Press that the Cohen case is 'a huge minefield for Donald Trump and the Trump Organization. I think this is on its own track and this train is coming down the track with brute force.' The wild legal show continued to play out Monday, at a court hearing in New York before a federal judge who is considering what to do with the material that the FBI seized from Cohen. The scene was punctuated by dramatic entrances and revelations. Daniels the porn actress who alleged she had a sexual affair with the president made an appearance, stumbling on her high heels as she was swarmed by press. Cohen was forced to reveal that another one of his clients is Fox News host Sean Hannity, a high-profile confidant of the president. Trump left the White House for Florida, for a two-day summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the president's Mar-a-Lago estate. Advisers are hoping the meeting will draw attention from the legal tempest in Washington and New York. On the trip south, White House spokeswoman Sarah Huckabee Sanders sought to put distance between Trump and Cohen, saying: 'I believe they've still got some ongoing things, but the president has a large number of attorneys, as you know.' The federal raid, carried out a week ago in New York City, sought bank records, information on Cohen's dealing in the taxi industry, Cohen's communications with the Trump campaign and information on payments he made in 2016 to former Playboy model Karen McDougal and to Daniels, both of whom allege relationships with Trump. The court proceedings Monday dealt with who gets to look at Cohen's seized documents and devices before they are turned over to prosecutors. Though Cohen once said he 'would take a bullet' for Trump, he is aware of the possible outcome including potential prison time and has expressed worry about his family, said a person who has spoken to the lawyer in recent days but is not authorized to discuss private conversations. Cohen has not been charged with anything. Trump's moods have grown more dour in recent days, as he lashes out at the 'overreach' of the raid. Further angering the president is that the raid was triggered in part by a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is looking into Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election. The raid was authorized by the U.S. Attorney for the Southern District of New York. On Twitter Sunday, Trump said that all lawyers are now 'deflated and concerned' by the FBI raid on Cohen, adding that 'Attorney Client privilege is now a thing of the past.' Trump has also taken to downplaying Cohen's role. The president also inveighed further against former FBI Director James Comey, who said Monday morning that Trump was morally unfit to be president. That was a few hours after Comey said the same and worse in a highly promoted ABC interview. Many in the White House view the aftershocks of the Cohen raid as potentially more threatening than Mueller's Russia probe, fearful of what skeletons may be in the lawyer's closets, according to five officials and outside allies who all spoke on the condition of anonymity to discuss private conversations. 'I agree with the consensus forming that it's very dangerous for the president, probably the most serious thing yet,' said Sol Wisenberg, a defense attorney who was a deputy independent counsel during the Starr special counsel investigation into Clinton. 'Even if you shut Mueller down some way, how do you shut down the Southern District [federal court]?' Trump's anger at the probe has intensified, with him musing publicly about firing Mueller and the man who authorized the probe, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. Those around Trump have hoped that this week's visit to Mar-a-Lago, where he is generally happier, along with the tightly scheduled summit with Abe, would somewhat distract him from Cohen and from Comey's ongoing publicity tour. Michael Cohen, President Donald Trump's personal attorney, center, leaves federal court following a hearing on Monday But White House aides have also expressed worry that they can control Trump less at his palatial Florida estate, where he is known to seek out counsel from club members and get revved up by their at-times provocative advice. One recent presidential dinner guest was Hannity, a longtime Trump ally whose connection to Cohen shed more light on the attorney who was more than just a lawyer for Trump. Cohen has long been a key power center in the Trump Organization and a fixture along the edges of Trump's nascent political life. In Cohen's own estimation, he is Trump's Ray Donovan, the bruising television character who takes whatever steps are needed to fix problems for the tycoon he serves. He has regularly threatened lawsuits against those who pose a challenge to Trump. He has berated reporters for writing unflattering words about his boss. He has worked with tabloids, including the National Enquirer, to kill unfavorable stories about Trump. He has said he used a home-equity loan to finance a $130,000 payment to Daniels in the final days of the 2016 campaign and did so without Trump's knowledge. The president has consistently denied a relationship with Daniels, who claims the two had sex not long after first lady Melania Trump gave birth to the couple's son Barron. He has also pushed back against other claims from women. A recent Trump fundraising email praised Mrs. Trump, with the president calling her 'my rock and foundation.' A Minnesota grandmother who is wanted over the shooting deaths of her husband and a woman has been spotted in newly released surveillance footage from two Florida hotels. Lois Ann Riess, 56, has been on the run ever since her husband David Riess was found shot dead at their home in Blooming Prairie, Minnesota on March 23. Her second alleged victim, Pamela Hutchinson, was found dead at her condo in Fort Meyers Beach in Florida on April 9. Authorities believe Riess, who allegedly used the same gun in both shootings, may have targeted Hutchinson to assume her identity because they look similar. Scroll down for video Lois Riess, 56, who has been on the run after killing her husband and a woman in Minnesota and Florida has been spotted on hotel CCTV wearing her female victim's hat Riess was spotted on CCTV cameras driving up to a Hilton hotel in Ocala before calmly walking through the lobby after killing Pamela Hutchinson elsewhere in Florida The newly released surveillance videos show Riess walking away from the Marina Village in Fort Meyers Beach soon after she allegedly killed Hutchinson. Another video captured Riess driving away from the hotel in Hutchinson's 2005 white Acura TL. Riess was also spotted on CCTV cameras driving up to a Hilton hotel in Ocala before calmly walking through the lobby wearing her victim's hat. The Lee County Sheriff's Office would not reveal when the surveillance videos were captured. Authorities believe Riess then headed west through Louisiana in Hutchinson's car. The car she is thought to have been driving was last spotted in Corpus Christi, Texas. Police suspect that Riess could be headed to Mexico and that she will strike again if she runs low on money. Riess' husband was found dead after his business partner told police he hadn't shown up for work in over two weeks. Authorities believe Riess (pictured above in both shots) used the same gun to kill her husband David Riess and her second victim Pamela Hutchinson Riess was also captured leaving a Florida hotel (above) before driving away in Hutchinson's 2005 white Acura TL Lois Riess, 56, has been on the run since she allegedly killed her husband David Riess (left) in Minnesota last month and then shot Pamela Hutchinson (right) in Florida days later Officials said Riess transferred nearly $10,000 from her husband's business account and forged his signature on three checks to herself for $11,000 after his death. She then took off for Diamond Joe's Casino in Iowa. Authorities went to the casino but Riess had already left. A surveillance video released earlier this week showed a smiling Riess sitting at the Smokin' Oyster Brewery on Fort Myers Beach in Florida on April 5 as she chatted to Hutchinson - her second victim. Hutchinson was found shot dead four days later. 'Ms Hutchinson's purse was found to be in disarray and all cash, credit cards and identification appeared to be removed,' Lee County Undersheriff Carmine Marceno said. CCTV released this week showed a smiling Riess sitting at a bar in Fort Myers Beach on April 5 chatting to Pamela Hutchinson - four days before the victim was found shot dead 'Further investigation revealed that Ms Hutchinson was targeted by the suspect due to the similarities in their appearance.' Dubbed by local authorities as 'Losing Streak Lois,' Riess is known to have a gambling addiction and often frequents casinos. 'She could be anywhere at this time. Our suspect loves to gamble, she loves casinos, she could be anywhere at anytime,' Marceno said. 'She is armed, she is dangerous, she looks like anyone's mother or grandmother. She will smile, she's calculated and she's a killer on the loose.' The US Marshals Service is offering a reward of up to $5,000 for information leading to her arrest. Authorities have put up electronic billboards in at least five states including Texas, New Mexico, Arizona, California and Nevada. Authorities believe Riess then headed west through Louisiana in Hutchinson's car (above). Her last known sighting was in Corpus Christi, Texas This is the chilling moment a psychotic child killer carried a five-year-old girl's corpse to a creek after suffocating her with plastic bags and molesting her lifeless body. Tim Kosowicz killed Chloe Hoson when she came to his caravan in Lansvale, Sydney to play with his cat in 2003. He then interfered with her body, put her in a duffel bag and carried her to a creek where he dumped her. Kosowicz confessed to the crime but escaped jail after being ruled mentally ill by two medics. He was pictured this week on a holiday with his parents in Victoria. Eerie: This is the chilling moment a psychotic child killer carried a five-year-old girl's corpse to a creek after suffocating her with plastic bags and molesting her lifeless body Tim Kosowicz (pictured carrying the body) killed Chloe Hoson when she came to his caravan in Lansvale, Sydney to play with his cat in 2003 Now, the detective who worked on the case has revealed CCTV footage of the moment he carried Chloe's body. 'She was inside the bag and he walked with her to the location where he dumped her body,' Inspector Roger Best told 7News. Talking about the moment Kosowicz denied the crime during a police interview before his confession, Best said: 'It was perhaps the first time I'd realised that saying of "making your blood boil" is actually real, because that's exactly what it felt like.' 'It was like a rushing of noise in my head, an absolute physical reaction to what he was telling me.' Chloe (pictured) was killed after she ran over to her Kosowicz's caravan next door to play with his cat Chloe did not die immediately so Kosowicz (pictured in Victoria this week) covered her head in plastic bags and then interfered with her body before she was dumped into a creek Before the murder, Chloe's mother Ms Beharrell was cleaning her caravan when her daughter came bounding inside. After her mother told her to go outside to play, Chloe ran over to her Kosowicz's caravan next door to play with his cat. Kosowicz admitted he strangled Chloe after she knocked over his bowl of cannabis. Chloe did not die immediately so Kosowicz covered her head in plastic bags and then interfered with her body before she was dumped into a creek. Chloe (pictured) bounded into her caravan on a Friday afternoon in November, 2003, but her mother told her to go play while she cleaned The New South Wales Supreme Court found Kosowicz (pictured) was not guilty of murder due to mental illness 'She spilt my pot on the ground and then I lost the plot,' he said. 'Then I blacked out and next thing I was strangling her in my bedroom.' The New South Wales Supreme Court found he was not guilty of murder due to mental illness. Chloe's father Michael Hoson said at the time: 'Change the system for starters. Regardless of whether you're sane, insane, whatever, you do the crime you do the time.' Kosowicz (pictured) is believed to be living with his parents in rural Victoria Fresno State university is investigating comments made on Twitter by an English professor who called former first lady Barbara Bush an 'amazing racist' shortly after her death Tuesday at age 92. 'Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal,' Randa Jarrar wrote on Twitter. The comment sparked widespread outrage across America, which Jarra stoked while defending herself. In one tweet, she told her critics: 'I work as a tenured professor. I make 100K a year doing that. I will never be fired. I will always have people wanting to hear what I have to say.' However her social media accounts have since been made private and Fresnoe State University President Joseph Castro called Jarrar's comments disrespectful and said they went beyond free speech, the newspaper reported. 'A professor with tenure does not have blanket protection to say and do what they wish,' Castro said. 'We are all held accountable for our actions.' Jarrar, who is on leave this semester, describes herself in her Twitter messages as an Arab-American and a Muslim-American woman. Abre Conner, a staff attorney for ACLU Northern California, said Jarrar's statements fall under her First Amendment rights to express a political opinion on her own time. Just an hour after Barbara Bush's (right) death was announced Tuesday evening, Fresno State Professor Randa Jarrar (left) wrote a tweet celebrating her passing Jarrar wrote that the former first lady was an 'amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal' She added: 'Either you are against these pieces of s*** and their genocidal ways or you're part of the problem....I'm happy the witch is dead' 'If Fresno State administrators are reviewing her based on this political speech, that is troubling,' he said. Jarrar was scheduled to appear at an event titled LitHop this weekend, but the event's organizers and Fresno City College said she told them she will not participate. 'PSA: either you are against these pieces of s*** and their genocidal ways or you're part of the problem,' Jarrar added in her viral rant. 'That's actually how simple this is. I'm happy the witch is dead. Can't wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise the way 1.5 million Iraqis have.' The tweets generated controversy online, with many saying that her words against Bush were inappropriate. 'Randa Jarrar is a hate-spewing psychopath, yet she remains gainfully employed at Fresno State. This CANNOT be allowed to stand,' one user wrote. Many called Jarrar out on Twitter, but she only continued to deride Bush Another user added: 'If you're a student in one of Randa Jarrar's classes please do the right thing and boycott her until she is forced to resign. Who would want to learn English when she spews this vile crap?' But that only fueled Jarrar's rhetoric, and she continued to voice her opinion in several more tweets before eventually setting her account to private. In one tweet, she said she couldn't be fired because she has tenure, going so far as to tag the school's president in the post. The school has tried to distance itself from Jarrar, saying that her tweets were written as a 'private citizen' and they don't reflect the university. 'Professor Jarrar's expressed personal views and commentary are obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progress,' he added. 'On behalf of Fresno State, I extend my deepest condolences to the Bush family on the loss of our former First Lady, Barbara Bush. 'We share the deep concerns expressed by others over the personal comments made today by Professor Randa Jarrar, a professor in the English Department at Fresno State. He statements were made as a private citizen, not as a representative of Fresno State. 'Professor Jarrar's expressed personal views and commentary are obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progrress.' the school's president, Joseph I. Casto, said in a statement. Jarrar, a Muslim, was born in Chicago but grew up in Kuwait and Egypt, before returning to the U.S. after the first Gulf War. Her writing has appeared in The New York Times Magazine, Salon.com, The Rumpus, the Utne Reader, The Oxford American. She is the author of two books, the coming of age novel 'A Map of Home' and a story collection - 'Him, Me, Muhammad Ali'. A 15-year-old died after she took ecstasy tablets called 'Netflix' at an end-of-term party, an inquest heard. Leah Kerry had been to visit her grandmother before going to the party with her old school friends when she collapsed. Her friends then left her for a 'considerable' time on a bench to 'sleep it off' before returning to find her unresponsive and called an ambulance, the inquest was told. The ambulance that was sent then went to the wrong park with the same name 12 miles away. Leah Kerry (above), 15, died after she took ecstasy tablets called 'Netflix and Chill' at an end of term party, an inquest heard Leah, who had recently moved from Devon to Salisbury, Wiltshire, was pronounced dead after a three-hour battle to revive her in hospital. Her inquest today heard she suffered a fatal seizure. A representative from the ambulance trust apologised to Leah's family. But the hearing was told the ten minutes lost as a result of the mistake would not have made any difference to the outcome. Leah, who had recently moved from Devon to Salisbury, Wiltshire, had been to visit her grandmother before going to the party with her old school friends when she collapsed Leah's friends left her for a 'considerable' time on a bench to 'sleep it off' before returning to find her unresponsive and called an ambulance, the inquest was told. Binman Jacob Khanlarian (right) has admitted selling them the drugs and has been sentenced to three years in prison Leah's mother, Sarah Forbear, told the inquest her daughter had been excited at the prospect of seeing her friends. She added: 'She was not a habitual drug user. This was an impulsive act.' Ms Forbear told the coroner she had dropped Leah off at Newton Abbot railway station where she was met by a friend. She had 20 to buy food and a train ticket to Torquay and said 'Love you. Bye' and walked away towards Courtenay Park. But the friends went to the party at Bakers Park in Newton Abbot instead, and at 3am Leah's mother received a phone call from Torbay Hospital. Doctors said her daughter was in the emergency department having taken an 'unknown substance'. Leah, who had taken three tablets, was pronounced dead after a three-hour battle to revive her in hospital She was in cardiac arrest and despite lengthy efforts to resuscitate her, she never regained consciousness. Coroner Ian Arrow said he hoped her death would act as a warning to young people about the dangers of drugs. He confirmed that Leah died of MDMA (ecstasy) poisoning and said: 'She had taken three tablets of her own volition. This was a drugs-related death, these pills having caused a serious seizure. 'In deaths of this nature I hope there is some publicity to alert young people about the danger of taking drugs in the first place. 'Perhaps if someone had taken action earlier, she might have received help earlier, although I don't think it would have been possible to save her.' Russell Cooke of the South Western Ambulance Service Trust explained the delay in getting to Leah and apologised. He said the dispatcher had chosen the first 'Bakers Park' from a drop-down menu on his screen, and had sent an ambulance to the wrong address in Holne as a result. He said when paramedics got to the correct location, Leah's breathing was shallow and she was unresponsive. The SWAST said an investigation had been carried out into the handling of the emergency. Leah's friend, who had made the 999 call, had been given the wrong information over the phone about resuscitation, and 'inappropriate language' had been used. When Leah's friend said Leah had taken drugs, the inquest heard, the dispatcher said: 'I think you have, too.' The rise of super-strength ecstasy Super-strength ecstasy pills have been around for several years due to an increase in the availability of MDMA in Europe. The usual amount of MDMA - the psychoactive ingredient in ecstasy - is 74 milligrams in a 300 milligram tablet. However, the newer, high-potency - and professionally produced - tablets can have up to to three times that amount of MDMA - around 240mg. There has been a surge in ecstasy-related deaths in recent years - coupled with a decrease in the price of the drugs, some of which are illicitly branded with the names of tech firms, such as Netflix and Skype. Advertisement But the inquest heard that the dispatcher had been subjected to 'considerable abusive language' during the 999 call. The attitude was 'hostile', and the caller had not been forthcoming with some information because she did not want to get into trouble herself. Mr Cooke added: 'The teenagers were naturally upset and worried about their friend.' He said Leah had clearly been 'unwell for a while' when they got there, and the ten-minute delay had not been crucial. Forensic pathologist Dr Deborah Cook said Leah had taken three of the four tablets they bought from a dealer in a car park in the town centre. Binman Jacob Khanlarian has admitted selling them the drugs and has been sentenced to three years in prison. Dr Cook said: 'Leah was talking to herself and thought to be hallucinating. Her friends left her on a bench to sleep it off. When they returned, they realised that she was unwell and made the call for the ambulance. 'It was not the first time she had taken alcohol with drugs, particularly ecstasy.' Dr Cook said that by the time Leah - a 'fit, young woman' - arrived at hospital at 3.10am on July 15, some 55 minutes after the first paramedic had arrived, she was deeply unconscious, her kidneys had failed and her heart had gone into an abnormal rhythm. She died just after 6am. Blood tests showed ecstasy in her system, along with traces of cocaine and ketamine, although these could have been as a result of the 'Netflix and Chill' tablets being contaminated with other drugs. Dr Cook added: 'Leah took six times as much as her friends. The number of tablets taken was excessive. There is no safe level of ecstasy. 'When you buy a drug on the street, you have no way of knowing what is in it. You don't know if they are contaminated or not, and it is possible that those tablets were contaminated.' The parents of two New York City children who were brutally murdered by their nanny in 2012 have spoken out to thank the legal system a day after she was convicted in their deaths. Kevin Krim took to Facebook on behalf of himself and his wife Marina on Wednesday evening hours after former nanny Yoselyn Ortega was found guilty of murdering their children Lucia, six, and Leo, two, five years ago. 'Marina and I want to thank the judge and the jurors for their commitment to justice and their public service over this long and difficult trial. We are deeply indebted to the district attorneys office and the NYPD for their care for our family, and their determination and dedication over the past five and a half years to see justice done. 'This process has been very challenging for us, but it has also reaffirmed our love of New York: a city that Lulu and Leo loved dearly. 'We got through this trial because of our family, our friends, our fellow New Yorkers and the loving memory of Lulu and Leos lives,' he wrote. Scroll down for video Kevin Krim took to Facebook on Wednesday night on behalf of himself and his wife Marina after a jury convicted Yoselyn Ortega of four counts of murder In court on Wednesday, Kevin stared the nanny down as the verdict was delivered then burst into tears Kevin attended Wednesday's court hearing but his wife, who stayed away from the trial since testisying on the first day earlier this year, did not. He watched as the jury tearfully explained their verdict which was guilty on two counts of first degree murder and two counts of second degree murder. Ortega worked for the family in their Upper West Side home and had been left alone with Lucia, whose family called her Lulu, and Leo on October 25, 2012, while their mother went to collect their other sister from a swimming lesson. Marina returned home to find both her children lying dead in the bathtub covered in stab wounds. Ortega had tried to kill herself by stabbing herself in the neck but she survived. Evil: Nanny Yoselyn Ortega, 55, showed no emotion as she was convicted of four counts of murder in court in New York City on Wednesday. She will likely spend the rest of her life in prison Six-year-old Lucia and two-year-old Leo were stabbed multiple times by the nanny in October 25, 2012 The children's mother Marina returned home with their other sister Nessie (pictured left) who had been at a swimming lesson. She found Leo and Lulu lying dead in the bathtub Since the murders, Marina and Kevin have had two more sons. They have also launched the Choose Creativity program in memory of their late son and daughter. In his Facebook statement on Wednesday, Kevin Krim pointed to it and asked well wishers to support the arts in memory of the slain children. 'Marina and I believe that creativity is a positive act of defiance in the face of the destructive forces of violence and negativity. 'We want to respond with constructive energy and hope you will too,' he said. Ortega's lawyers argued diminished responsibility and said she was mentally unstable. Part of her defense was testimony from her family which included their comments that she was unwell. Ortega used a kitchen knife to stab the children multiple times then stab herself in the neck The nanny survived and is shown above in hospital not long after the heinous attack which rattled the city Pictured is the family's Upper West Side home where Ortega worked. She had complained before the children's deaths that Marina was asking her to do housework in addition to looking after the children The Krims say they are equally responsible for their children's deaths because they not only concealed her mental health problems but lied when she was applying for the job by posing as fake references. They are now campaigning to make it illegal for anyone to lie in a job application for a position in childcare. 'We were deceived and betrayed by the defendants family, who remain wholly unaccountable for their role in the murders of our children,' Kevin said on Wednesday. Juror David Curtis fought back tears on Wednesday as he explained the verdict which took them two days to reach. 'There were raised voice and a lot of tears but I think we all feel good that we addressed all of the issues and fairly weighed everything that was presented to us,' Curtis said. Juror David Curtis fought back tears as he explained the verdict on Wednesday Shortly after the guilty verdict was handed down to Ortega, Manhattan District Attorney Cyrus R. Vance, Jr released a statement. 'For the past five years, Kevin and Marina Krim have lived through the worst nightmare any parents could ever endure,' Vance said. 'Yoselyn Ortega a woman they trusted to safeguard their children, who worked for them for more than two years without incident brutally murdered two of their children in their apartment's bathroom. 'Today, a jury rightly held Yoselyn Ortega accountable for the horrific slayings of Leo and Lulu Krim, and I thank the members of that jury for their diligence throughout this incredibly difficult and heartbreaking trial. 'My heart continues to go out to Kevin and Marina Krim and the entire Krim family; as a father of two myself, I can't begin to imagine the pain they felt and continue to feel. I thank them for their strength and poise during this time of unimaginable grief and I hope that today's verdict helps to bring some measure of closure to this period for their family. Vance went on to thank his office's prosecutors for 'dedicating their lives to this case'. 'Their oath compelled them to fight for these children as if they were their own and that is exactly what they did.' The trial started on March 1 and testimony ended on Monday. Dozens of people were rescued after floodwaters swept the Hawaiian island of Kauai by legendary surfer Laird Hamilton. Several homes and businesses were damaged or destroyed after more than 28 inches of rain over the 24-hour period this past weekend. Residents and tourists alike were left stranded following landsllides or washed out roads. Among them was the Gwilliam family from Encitas, California. Jamas and Erin Gwilliam and their three children were vacationing in the town of Hanalei in a house along the river when the torrential downpour began. The family told NBC 7 that they were stranded because the rains were so strong that the nearby roads and surrounding bridge were washed away. Dozens of people were rescued after floodwaters swept the Hawaiian island of Kauai by legendary surfer Laird Hamilton including the Gwilliam family from Encitas, California (Pictured, Hamilton with the Gwilliam children) Jamas and Erin Gwilliam and their three children were vacationing in the town of Hanalei in a house along the river when the torrential downpour began (Pictured, Hamilton with the Gwilliam children) They were soon greeted by Hamilton who arrived on the North Shore in a boat. The family was taken safely across the river and to a dock where they were able to drive to the airport 'We tried not to let the kids see but I was terrified,' Erin told the station. They were soon greeted by Hamilton who arrived on the North Shore in a boat. 'He just kind of boated right up and was like: "OK, come through the mud and the slime and come throw your bags in and let's go",' Erin said. The couple says the surfer comforted the kids during the boat ride and they took many pictures and videos along the way. The family was taken safely across the river and to a dock where they were able to drive to the airport. 'Now it just confirms him as being a total legend in my book,' Jamas said. Hamilton (pictured with the Gwilliams) spent all of Saturday helping stranded visitors and residents travel via boats, paddleboards and jet skis The town of Hanalei usually receives about 78 inches of rain per year. In the 24-hour period, about a third of that fell on the town A GoFundMe page has been started to raise funds to help with rescue and relief efforts in the Hanalei and Haena area. And it turns out it wasn't just the Gwilliams that Hamilton was able to ferry off the North Shore. He spent all of Saturday helping stranded visitors and residents travel via boats, paddleboards and jet skis. Among the rescues was professional surfer Leila Hurst who was hosting a sleepover event for 15 girls, including her daughters, over the weekend when they became stranded. Hurst posted a photo on Instagram of some of the girls in Hamilton's boat as he rescues them from the shore. 'Thank you to the man @lairdhamiltonsurf you absolute animal! Saving 15 little GIRLS! Are you kidding me?' Even the experts needed rescuing. Professional surfer Leila Hurst was hosting a sleepover event for 15 girls over the weekend when the rains fell and they were left stranded. Hamilton's wife, professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece (pictured together, November 2016), has helped organize an auction of items by brands and artists who are donating their products to the cause. A GoFundMe page has been started to raise funds to help with rescue and relief efforts in the Hanalei and Haena area. So far, more than $151,000 has been raised out of a $1million goal. Hamilton's wife, professional volleyball player Gabrielle Reece, has helped organize an auction of items by brands and artists who are donating their products to the cause. The town of Hanalei usually receives about 78 inches of rain per year. In the 24-hour period, about a third of that fell on the town. Mongolia could end up as the winner of the competition to host President Trump and Kim Jong-un's historic sit down. It is one of the only countries that's been floated that is within easy traveling distance for Kim and would serve as neutral territory for both leaders. Kim is likely be confined to a 2,000 mile radius, The New York Times reported. His Soviet-era plane may not be able to fly further than that without stopping to refuel, the publication reported. The North Korean dictator's aging private jet, an IL-62, has a factory specified range of 10,000 km, or 6,215 miles - but experts said it was unclear it could actually go that far safely. SCROLL DOWN FOR VIDEO Mongolia could end up as the winner of the competition to host President Trump and Kim Jong-un's historic sit down because the dictator's Soviet-era plane could be limited in range Trump said Tuesday that a face-to-face meeting between himself and Kim is still being planned for late May or early June Kim's only known trip off the Korean Peninsula since he became North Korea's Supreme leader in 2011 was a March visit to Beijing. He arrived in Beijing by train, another mode of transportation he could utilize 'The idea that their aircraft are all very short range things is just inaccurate,' Dean Cheng, the senior research fellow at the Heritage Foundation's Asian Studies Center, told DailyMail.com. Cheng pointed out that North Korea is also in possession of two Tupolev Tu-204 planes that have ranges of up to 3,600 miles. The Tu-204 was manufactured to compete with and is similar in make to the Boeing 757. Whether Kim's plane will be able to fly thousands of miles safely or reliably, or the North Korea leader wants to make a long-distance flight, Cheng said, is another matter. 'At the end of the day I think the real question is going to be, and we don't have visibility into this, what are the constraints that Kim Jong-un has chosen to impose?' Cheng said. 'That more than anything else will probably be the deciding factor, after which is: we're not going to Pyongyang.' AIR FORCE ONE Type: Boeing VC-25A, a highly-modified Boeing 747-200B Age: The president flies on separate planes, one larger and one smaller. The first of the two was delivered in 1990. The U.S. government has commissioned new planes for the president, but that will take years. Range: 6,000 miles without refueling Number of passengers: The White House says the planes two food galleys can feed 100 people. What's on board: According to the White House, the 4,000 sq ft plane has three levels, 'including an extensive suite for the President that features a large office, lavatory, and conference room' and medical suite that is capable of functioning as an operating room.' Advertisement KIM FORCE UN Type: Soviet Ilyushin IL-62, Age: Unknown, but the first IL-62 was produced in 1962 and the last was manufactured in 1994 Range: Plane has a factory-specified range of 6,215 miles, however Kim's aging plane may not be able to travel that far. Number of passengers: Typically the IL-62 can carry 200 people but Kim's plane has been modified, photos released by the Korean Central News Agency indicate. What's on board: Little is known about Kim's plane other than the fact that it has a table flanked by two arm chairs for a discussion with aides and a desk for the Supreme Leader in front of his seat. Advertisement Given the expected restraints on Kim's travel, Ulaanbaatar has emerged as a front-runner to host the summit that the U.S. government says is likely to take place in the next six weeks. Ulaanbaatar has hosted talks between Japanese officials and the North Korean government on more than one occasion before. Mongolia's former president, Tsakhiagiin Elbegdorj, made note of those talks in a March tweet inviting Trump and Kim to his nation's capital city. 'A long waited breakthrough! Here is an offer: US President Trump and NK leader Kim meet in UB,' he said. 'Mongolia is the most suitable, neutral territory. We facilitated important meetings, including between Japan and NK.' The North Korean dictator's aging private jet, an IL-62, has a factory specified range of 10,000 km, or 6,215 miles. But whether it can reliably travel that far or Kim wants to take a flight that long is unknown Kim's only known trip off the Korean Peninsula since he became North Korea's Supreme leader in 2011 was a March visit to Beijing. He arrived in China by train, another mode of transportation he could utilize. In November, Trump landed in Beijing to great fanfare. For days, he bragged about the red carpet roll out he received at both the airport and at an event the following day at The Great Hall of the People. But Beijing is politically tricky location for Trump to travel to at the moment. He'll be under pressure if he goes there to negotiate with Chinese President Xi Jingping, as well. China and the United States are currently in a face-off over tariffs that analysts worry is the start of a trade war. Trump shed some light this week on the locations that are under consideration for the conference with Kim during two days of talks with the Japanese government in Florida. The president said five locations are being reviewed, and none of them are in the United States. It is unthinkable that Trump would travel to Pyongyang to speak with Kim, a brutal dictator who's illicit nuclear and ballistic missile tests are what prompted the summit. Panmunjom, a city inside the Demilitarized Zone between the North and the South, remains a possibility, though. It will serve as the site for a similar chat next Friday between Kim and Moon Jae-in, the president of South Korea. Given the expected restraints on Kim's travel, Ulaanbaatar has emerged as a front-runner to host the summit that the U.S. government says is likely to take place in the next six weeks Assuming Kim could leave Asia, four cities in Europe were also thought to be on the table. Geneva, Switzerland famously hosted a 1985 rendezvous between former Soviet dictator Mikhail Gorbachev and United States President Ronald Reagan. Kim went to boarding school in Switzerland under a fake name and is familiar with the terrain. Sweden has directly offered to facilitate talks with North Korea, suggesting Stockholm is under review. The European nation acts as the 'protecting' power for the U.S. in North Korea, and North Korean Foreign Minister Ri Yong Ho visited the country in March. Two other Nordic nations are thought to be dark horses for the summit: Finland and Norway. Choe Kang Il, an official with North Koreas foreign ministry, visited Helsinki in Finland March by way of Beijing. Oslo is Norway is the location where U.S. and North Korean leaders convened in May of 2017 to negotiate the release of the American student Otto Warmbier. He returned to the U.S. in a coma and died just after his release. 'North Korea is remarkably opaque. We don't know what places he would consider acceptable,' Cheng said of the short-list. President Trump on Tuesday that a face-to-face meeting between himself and Kim is still being planned for late May or early June. 'I look forward to meeting with Kim Jong-un. And hopefully that will be a success. And maybe it will be, and maybe it wont be. We dont know,' Trump said. 'But I can say this: They do respect us. We are respectful of them. And were going to see what happens.' The president said that talks between the U.S. and North Korea had already taken place at 'extremely high levels,' a comment that was later revealed to be a reference to CIA Director Mike Pompeo's clandestine trip to Pyongyang to meet with Kim in early April. Trump threatened Wednesday not to attend the talks if they did not seem they would be 'fruitful' toward achieving the end goal of North Korean denuclearization, although he remains hopeful the meeting will occur and that it will be 'very successful.' 'If I think that it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go,' he asserted. 'If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, and will continue what we're doing or whatever it is that will continue,' he added. Either way, Trump said, 'something will happen. So I like always remaining flexible, and will remain flexible here.' More than 50 dogs allegedly bred for underground dog fighting have been seized in a series of raids conducted by the RSPCA this week. RSPCA Queensland inspectors and police seized several injured canines from properties in Logan, Redlands and Richmond, according to a statement released by RSPCA Thursday. A total of 56 dogs including French bulldogs, bull-Arab cross-breeds, and mastiffs were confiscated and taken to be cared for by RSPCA. RSPCA Queensland inspectors and police seized several injured canines, including puppies (one pictured), from properties in Logan, Redlands and Richmond A total of 56 dogs including French bulldogs, bull-Arab cross-breeds, and mastiffs were confiscated and taken to be cared for by RSPCA (pictured some seized puppies) Most animals had already fought in the 'incredibly cruel' sport, according to RSPCA's Michael Beatty, who said their injuries were consistent with what was commonly seen in dog fighting. He described the significant bust as 'the first major breakthrough in over 10 years' against dog fighting in Queensland. 'We've always known it exists, but we've never had any concrete information and that's been the problem,' he told the Brisbane Times. 'We still haven't been able to execute a search warrant when a dog fight is in progress, but we're hoping the items seized will lead to charges.' Most animals had already fought in the 'incredibly cruel' sport according to RSPCA's Michael Beatty (pictured seized female dog and puppies) The bust was described as 'the first major breakthrough in over 10 years' against dog fighting in Queensland (pictured seized puppies) Mr Beatty attributed the breakthrough findings to the efforts of a special task force created specifically to investigate the 'insidious sport'. He said other items linked to dog fighting including treadmills and breaking sticks were also seized. 'Dog fighting is an insidious sport and incredibly cruel.'Sadly there's quite a lot of money involved and we'd like to stamp it out completely,' Mr Beatty said. Charges were yet to be laid against the people at the centre of Queensland's dog fighting ring. Several of the 56 dogs seized were injured and had injuries consistent to what was commonly seen in dog fighting (pictured seized dog with a notable eye injury) Arquae Daveon Kennedy, 26, is accused of pretending to be a soldier and stealing a $100k diamond from a Washington store A 26-year-old man is accused of pretending to be a soldier about to be deployed and stealing a $100,000 diamond from a Washington store. Arquae Daveon Kennedy was charged with second-degree robbery on Monday, nearly two months after he allegedly robbed Diamond Inc. in Bellevue. Authorities say Kennedy was in military uniform when he went into the jewelry store on February 22 and said he was looking for a ring because he had recently gotten engaged and wanted to give one to his fiancee before he was deployed. The accused thief said he was looking for a three to five-carat diamond ring, according to police records cited by the Seattle Times. After he was shown two rings Kennedy allegedly asked to see another with a bigger diamond. The store owner then showed Kennedy a 5.54-carat marquise diamond in 'a small jar'. Scroll down for video Kennedy allegedly told the store's owner he had recently become engaged and wanted to buy his fiancee a ring before he was deployed After the store's owner showed Kennedy a 5.54-carat marquise diamond in 'a small jar', Kennedy allegedly grabbed it and took off Then, as the owner said the stone's price, Kennedy allegedly grabbed the jar and bolted out the door and into an SUV where a female driver was waiting. The store's owner chased after Kennedy and grabbed his uniform as he was getting into the getaway car. Authorities said: 'The [owner] was dragged down the street by the vehicle a short distance, and then the suspect punched the manager in the face, causing him to fall.' According to police records the manager suffered a bloody nose, cut lip and scraped knuckles and knees. On March 7, shortly after the February 22 robbery, Kennedy posted a video of himself posing with hundred-dollar bills. A friend commented on his Facebook post with a diamond emoji The alleged female accomplice who was driving the getaway car has not been caught and the diamond is still missing Kennedy got away with the diamond, but detectives gathered fingerprints from the store's glass door that they then used to identify the suspect. The prints matched those of Kennedy, from Vancouver, Washington, who has never served in the armed forces. Moreover, one of the store's employees as well as the owner's son identified Kennedy from a police photo montage. Police have not yet identified the alleged female accomplice and the diamond is still missing. Shortly after the robbery, on March 7, Kennedy posted a video to his Facebook where he's seen posing with stacks of hundred dollar bills. One of his friends replied to it with a diamond emoji. Prince Charles dons a traditional feather headband for an Aboriginal welcome ceremony in Australia The 53 men and women who gathered in the lavish state rooms at Buckingham Palace this week knew what was coming - the Royal family has been mounting a charm offensive for months, culminating in Prince Charles touring Australia in searing heat. He even wore a white feather head dress to meet tribal elders, although he refused to remove his shoes or shed his suit on the beach. The Queen has just opened the formal meeting of the Commonwealth Heads with a heart-felt plea for her eldest son to take over her role as their leader, declaring that it was her sincere wish that they vote for Charles to succeed her. Should her wish be granted? This group of nations - from Canada to Cameroon, Australia to Antigua - is made up of countries and small islands which Britain inherited, conquered and used to advantage as we built an Empire. We used their people as slaves and cheap labour. We plundered their resources, dumped our convicts on their shores and took hundreds of years to belatedly allow them to claim independence. Theres a strong argument that- in the 21st century - the Commonwealth represents a paternalistic, outdated view of the world. Nevertheless, ever since the Queen took over as Head following the death of her father George VI, she has enchanted and beguiled the most republican of member states. Elizabeth made the Commonwealth her special project, travelling thousands of miles to visit the 53 territories and realms, and has shown huge compassion and understanding of the issues facing its disparate members. Her majesty and the heir to the throne (pictured together) are followed out of the ballroom by the Duchess of Wales following today's Commonwealth summit Now, at 92 on Saturday, shes anxious to step down, and gave up long-haul travel in 2013. Unlike most of the Commonwealth leaders, Elizabeth was born into immense privilege - she inherited wealth and far-flung places that have few ties to the United Kingdom. There are plenty of reasons why the Commonwealth should not work as a loose grouping of states - but amazingly, it continues to survive, providing a useful forum which draws countries together, rather than apart. Given that the British throne rules a diminishing number of Commonwealth nations - why should the next leader come from the House of Windsor? Would it not be fairer to let the Commonwealth Heads of Government hold a secret ballot and choose who should replace the Queen? The UKs current immigration crisis - over the British subjects who arrived to work from the Caribbean as part of the Windrush scheme, is an embarrassing disgrace during this week of Commonwealth unity. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are pictured riding in a car along The Mall in London after the formal opening in Buckingham Palace of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting The Windrush workers were invited to the UK to help rebuild Britain after the war, and are valued members of society. They were not shirkers, but newcomers who have enriched British culture. A blame game is going on, as politicians squabble over who is responsible for destroying the entry papers of over 50,000 Windrush immgrants, many of whom have been refused the right to work, to claim benefits and receive healthcare, and to obtain a British passport, all because the original documents showing their status cannot be found. Some have even been deported by mistake. This unfortunate cockup reveals how some white British politicians and the Establishment secretly view the Commonwealth. At the Commonwealth Games in Australia the other week, many of the British medal winners will be the grandchildren of Windrush families - were proud to call them British when it suits us. The Commonwealth countries need a leader who can speak out in these situations, and demand justice, not someone served by footmen in knee breeches. The Commonwealth countries need a leader who can speak out in these situations, and demand justice, not someone served by footmen in knee breeches In 2018, the Commonwealth cant re-inforce the stereotype of a Regal head, someone who dishes out patronage and attends meaningless ceremonies and military events all over the world. The Commonwealth includes countries who still enforce the death penalty, who are not receptive to gay rights and who dont think women should be allowed abortions. Navigating all that and pushing for change requires diplomacy, tact, and people skills - something which the Queen possesses in spades. To succeed her, a career politician or a charismatic leader is required. The only downside? They might not own palaces, sycophantic staff or be able to afford champagne and swanky canapes. Is Prince Charles truly the best candidate? He rarely looks at ease in these situations, his life has been spent waiting on the sidelines, being indulged and spoilt, and his relationship with his children has only recently improved. His relationship with his former wife was disastrous. Sensing that the handover might be tricky with some Commonwealth members, the Queen has been using her brand to reinforce the notion that the Royal family are willing to take on new challenges involving young people and sexual equality. Highly paid PR people and Private Secretaries are mounting a charm offensive to launch a second wave of junior Royals into key roles. Princess Eugenie - 8th in line to the throne and 15 other Commonwealth realms, according to her Dads website - turned up at a reception this week wearing a short dress and scuffed suede boots - hardly a suitable outfit for someone aspiring to lead another democracy. Prince Harry - 5th in line to the UK throne and 15 countries - has just been appointed Commonwealth Youth Ambassador by his granny. He introduced Meghan Markle, his bride to be, to the assembled youth leaders as if they were leading a world-wide crusade for gay rights. It all sounded a bit like a rehearsal for their wedding next month. The notion that Meghan Markle will be touring the world telling other countries about human rights is patronising in the extreme. I dont doubt for a moment that the couple are sincere and well-intentioned - but will any political leader be swayed by a woman from a TV soap? You might as well send Bono or Sting. Kate Middleton and Prince William are due to welcome their third child any day now. With the birth of a royal baby comes a series of traditions, most of which are still practiced to this day. They dictate everything from when the pregnancy is announced to where the child will be born and who will be the first to learn of the child's arrival. Thus far, it appears the duchess of Cambridge has adhered to most of the royal baby traditions with each of her children, including the latest one. When it comes to the birth of royal babies, there are a number of traditions the family's expected to stick to What exactly are the royal baby traditions? Keep reading you may be surprised. Royal baby traditions Royal births are usually announced 12 weeks into the pregnancy According to PopSugar, Kate Middleton's third pregnancy appears to have been announced a little before this 12-week mark, which some speculate is because she was suffering from severe morning sickness that forced her to cancel a scheduled appearance. Omg some hardcore royal fans/paparazzis are camping outside the hospital just to wait for the arrival of the new royal baby Dr. Amalina (@DrAmalinaBakri) April 13, 2018 Home births were once expected While royals used to give birth at home, this tradition is largely not practiced anymore. Princess Diana was the first to break with this, giving birth in the Lindo Wing at St. Mary's hospital in London. That has become the norm and is where two of Kate Middleton and Prince William's soon-to-be three royal children were born. It was reported that the Duchess of Cambridge was considering a home birth for her third child, but it's been confirmed that she decided against it. After the birth of a royal baby, there's a gun salute A 62-gun salute occurs at the Tower of London after the birth of a royal child. This takes about 10 minutes in total. Birth announcements are printed and displayed on an easel outside Buckingham Palace Although the royal family has evolved, announcing the birth of a royal baby on social media as soon as, if not shortly after, it happens, the tradition of printing a birth announcement and displaying it on an easel outside Buckingham Palace remains. A town crier announces the arrival of a royal baby As has been tradition since medieval times, a town crier announces the arrival of a royal baby. For Princess Charlotte's birth, Tony Appleton made the announcement. Royal babies don't get surnames Royals often have several names, but no official last name. Queen Elizabeth II chose the last name Mountbatten-Windsor in 1960 as a way of separating her lineage from that of the Windsor house, however, surnames are optional and seldom used. The royal baby's first official appearance is at his or her christening The royal christening is the first official appearance of the royal baby. It generally takes place in the days or weeks after the child is born, though there's no set amount of time. Each royal baby wears a traditional christening gown that's been in the royal family for eight generations. This tradition has evolved slightly, as in recent years it's become traditional for the royal couple to make an appearance with the royal baby outside St. Mary's Hospital. The child is not really seen during that appearance, however. Royal babies must be registered Royals they're just like us. They, too, must register their children with the government no more than 42 days after they're born. If youre a follower of royal baby news ... Its been confirmed that Duchess of Cambridge will have baby #3 in the Lindo Wing at St Marys Hospital. Prince William & Kate have chosen not to find out if theyre having a boy or girl. Due date is later this month Chris Ship (@chrisshipitv) April 9, 2018 Royal babies generally have about six godparents As a rule, royal children usually have about six godparents. Prince George has seven godparents and Princess Charlotte has five. None of those chosen can be members of the children's family. Fathers of royal babies get paternity leave After a royal baby is born, their father gets paternity leave from whatever job he does. After each of his first two children were born, Prince William received paternity leave from the Royal Air Force. This leave is unpaid, however. Royal birthing traditions In addition to the aforementioned traditions, Kate Middleton has a number of royal birthing traditions she's expected to stick to. Some have changed in recent years, but others remain. The Queen must be the first person to learn a royal baby's been born Her Majesty the Queen must be the first person informed of the arrival of a royal baby. The announcement is then printed up and placed on the easel outside Buckingham Palace and shared by the town crier. Fathers aren't welcome in the birthing room Fathers traditionally aren't allowed in the birthing room to witness the arrival of a royal baby. This rule is said to have been relaxed a bit following the birth of Prince Charles, though. Midwives are sworn to secrecy Midwives to members of the royal family must vow to keep birthing details private. They're not allowed to share any information about the arrival of a royal baby with anyone. When is Kate Middleton due to give birth? Psychic Katie Helliwell incorrectly predicted that Kate Middleton would give birth to a baby boy on Monday. 'I think she will give birth today,' she told the outlet. 'She will have a beautiful baby boy weighing 8lb 1oz.' Is the royal baby here yet? As of Thursday, April 19, 2018 the royal baby had not yet been born. Sooo, my guess for #royalbaby3 since the start has been 16th of April. Tomorrow's the day, so we'll see! #royalbaby pic.twitter.com/pxHMGBF6aT fatimamajaz (@fatima_majaz) April 15, 2018 Has Kate Middleton been rushed to hospital? Kate Middleton was not yet at St. Mary's Hospital in London on Thursday, April 19, 2018. The hospital was prepared for her arrival, whenever that should come. Locals noticed signs posted around the entrance to the Lindo Wing, where Kate will give birth to her third child. The signs prohibit parking in the area to keep it private for Kate and Prince William. When is the next royal baby due? A royal expert recently stated that Kate Middleton was due to give birth on April 23, 2018. Kensington Palace neither confirmed nor denied that speculation and will not. The palace has said only that Kate is due in April 2018. Longtime Donald Trump lawyer Michael Cohen has dropped his libel action against Buzzfeed although he still must contend with a criminal investigation and a separate lawsuit by porn star Stormy Daniels. Cohen filed suit against the online publication after it published the infamous Steele dossier, while also suing Fusion GPS, the firm that hired an ex British intelligence officer to investigate claims against Trump. But after the FBI raided Cohen's law firm office, home, and a hotel where he was staying earlier this month, he has decided to withdraw the suit citing the time and 'resources' it required. 'The decision to voluntarily discontinue these cases was a difficult one," Cohen lawyer David Schwartz said, Politico reported. Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen has dropped his libel action against Buzzfeed and Fusion GPS claiming that he was libeled through publication of the Steele dossier Cohen is also being sued by porn star Stormy Daniels, who is seeking to toss out a 'hush' agreement she inked with Cohen. She claims she had an affair with Donald Trump - and went on The View this week with her attorney Michael Avenatti to discuss her legal battle 'We believe the defendants defamed my client, and vindicating Mr. Cohens rights was and still remains important. 'But given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention, and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits.' Cohen has vigorously denied a claim in the dossier that he travelled to Prague during the campaign to meet with Russians an action that if true could play into a narrative of 'collusion.' 'I have never been to Prague in my life. #fakenews, he tweeted in early 2017, and even showed a reporter a copy of his passport, which lacked a stamp for the Czech Republic. McClatchy news reported last week that special counsel Robert Mueller has evidence Cohen was in Prague. Cohen told CNN after the report, 'No, I have never been to Prague,' and tweeted that he was with his son in Los Angeles at the time of the alleged meeting. The decision to drop the suit may boost Cohen and Trump's joint attempt to delay the lawsuit brought against them by Stormy Daniels over the $135,000 she was paid by the attorney before the election. A federal judge on Wednesday scheduled a hearing for Friday for their request for a 90-day delay, Politico reported. Analysts say that if Cohen had still been pursuing other cases himself, a request for a delay would be more difficult to request. Michael Avenatti, Daniels's attorney, said they would be opposing any delay. Cohen's suit could have exposed him some risky situations while he was fending off a criminal investigation. The defense could have been subjected to discovery questions about claims in the dossier in order to try to substantiate the document. He would likely have been questioned under oath about whether elements of the dossier was true. Fight the dossier: Michael Cohen accused Fusion GPS, whose founder Glenn Simpson was quizzes by Congress, of fake news over the Prague claim Cohen filed suit against BuzzFeed after publication of the dossier 'That's always a dodgy thing for Mr. Cohen, former federal prosecutor Renato Mariotti told CNN. 'The lawsuits against BuzzFeed over the Steele dossier have never been about the merits of our decision to publish it,' Buzzfeed said in a statement. 'If there's one thing Democrats and Republicans agree on today, it's that the dossier was an important part of the government's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. 'Its interest to the public is, and always has been, obvious. Today's news suggests that Donald Trump's personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time,' the statement concluded. Fusion GPS responded dryly: 'With his decision, it appears that Mr. Cohen can now focus on his many other legal travails.' Cohen's move does not end litigation over the dossier, however. Mikhail Fridman, Petr Aven and German Khan, the owners of a Russian bank called Alfa Bank accused in it as being part of efforts to interfere in the 2016 election, are each suing both Fusion GPS and Buzzfeed. Khan's son-in-law is so far the only person to be jailed as a result of the Robert Mueller probe. Alexander van der Zwaan, an attorney, pleaded guilty to lying to the FBI and was sentenced to 30 days in prison. House Republicans are gearing up to subpoena the Justice Department for former FBI Director James Comey's memos about his interactions with President Trump. The Hill first reported the maneuvering Wednesday night, reporting the Chairman Bob Goodlatte, a Republican from Virginia, may make the move as early as this week. Comey, who's fully immersed in his book tour, took flack from Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows Thursday morning on Fox & Friends, as the House Republican charged that there is a 'growing body of evidence' the ex-FBI head lied to Congress when he testified last year. Scroll down for video Former FBI Director James Comey is currently on a book tour, including a stop Wednesday at The View. On Capitol Hill, House Judiciary Republicans plan to subpoena the Justice Department in order to get copies of Comey's memos on his interactions with President Trump Freedom Caucus Chairman Mark Meadows charged that there's a 'growing body of evidence' that former FBI chief James Comey lied to Congress when he said there wasn't coordination between the FBI and the Department of Justice over the Hillary Clinton email probe Meadows said he believed Comey lied when he said the FBI and the Justice Department weren't coordinating on the investigation of Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's email use. Meadows, a North Carolina Republican, said his staff has more texts between the FBI lovers Peter Strzok and Lisa Page that suggest there was coordination between Loretta Lynch's Justice Department and Comey's FBI. 'We have emails that would suggest that that testimony was false and at best misled the American public, at worst was lying to Congress,' Meadows said. Meadows sent a letter to House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy outlining these concerns on Tuesday, suggesting that the retiring South Carolina congressman investigate them. The move out of the House Judiciary Committee doesn't just target Comey, but ups the ante in the confrontation between Republican lawmakers and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who is in charge of Special Counsel Robert Mueller's Russia probe. President Trump himself has complained about the Department of Justice dragging its feet in handing documents over to the House Judiciary Committee. Trump's involvement has become concerning to Democrats who fear that the document showdown will give the president, already eager to let Rosenstein go, cause to give the DOJ official the boot. 'The Comey memos are key to the special counsel's work. Pursuant a long-standing Department policy and absent any satisfactory accommodation, the Department of Justice cannot simply hand over evidence that is part of an ongoing criminal investigation,' Rep. Jerrold Nadler, the top Democrat on the Judiciary Committee, told Politico. 'If House Republicans refuse any accommodation short of the Department of Justice handing over custody of these documents which it cannot do I fear the Majority will have manufactured an excuse to hold the Deputy Attorney General in contempt of Congress,' Nadler continued. 'If they succeed in tarnishing the Deputy Attorney General, perhaps they will have given President Trump the pretext he has sought to replace Mr. Rosenstein with someone willing to do this bidding and end the Special Counsel's investigation.' Asked Wednesday at a press conference at Mar-a-Lago if he planned to ax Rosenstein and also Mueller, Trump gave a circuitous response, and then didn't really answer the question head on. 'As far as the two gentleman you told me about, they've been saying, "I'm going to get rid of them" for the last three months, four months, five months. And they're still here,' Trump eventually said. A 31-year-old Queensland man who brutally raped and sodomised a five-year-old girl who knew him as her uncle has been jailed for nine years. The man - who was a distant relative - had been drinking with the family and volunteered to look after the girl and her four-year-old brother so their parents could go nightclubbing, the Cairns District Court was told. The girl had been sleeping next to her brother when she awoken by the man and taken into another room in the house, the Cairns Post reported. A 31-year-old Queensland man brutally raped and sodomised a five-year-old girl in her home in Innisfail, 88km south of Cairns (pictured), has been jailed for nine years The man who was known to the girl as her uncle committed multiple types of rape including oral, digital and sodomy, the court heard. Judge Dean Morzone described the offences as 'persistent, sustained, determined, manipulative and grossly self indulgent,' the Cairns Post reported. Judge Morzone called it 'most vile conduct towards a young and vulnerable child' The young girl cried for the man to stop and was told not to tell anyone, the court also heard. Crown prosecutor Nicole Friedewald said the man claimed 'to have no memory of these offences' which she described as 'heinous' and a 'gross example of sexual offending on a vulnerable child', the Cairns Post said. The court was told he had been under the influence of methamphetamines at the time. Medical reports tendered to the court said the man was a low to average risk of reoffending (file picture) The court was told the man had been under the influence of methamphetamines at the time and felt 'disgusted with himself,' defence barrister James Sheridan said. However, Ms Friedewald told the court a serious violent offender declaration should be made, ensuring the man would serve at least 80 per cent of the terms before he was eligible for parole. Judge Morzone described the man's actions as the 'most vile conduct towards a young and vulnerable child' but did not find a serious violent offender declaration to be appropriate. The man pleaded guilty to three counts of rape and one count of indecent treatment of a child under 12. He has currently spent 549 days in custody and will be eligible for parole after three years. Italian police have arrested some of mafia kingpin Matteo Messina Denaro's closest aides, uncovering a network which has allowed him to control his allies during his quarter of a century on the run. Police said that 21 people were arrested in towns near the Sicilian city of Trapani, where Denaro's criminal empire is based, as part of the investigation named 'Year Zero'. The arrests have allowed authorities to uncover a system of paper notes, or 'pizzini', that Denaro uses to give orders to his underlings as he continues to control his criminal network. Mafia top boss Matteo Messina Denaro is pictured left in a photo released by police in 2006. Denaro has been on the Italian Police's most wanted list for murder and other crimes since 1993. Right: A police officer shows a computer generated image of the kingpin, in a picture taken in 2007 Matteo Messina Denaro's brother-in-law, Rosario Allegra being taken out of police headquarters in Palermo. He is alleged to be one of Denaro's closest allies Among those in custody on were Denaro's closest allies, including brothers-in-law Gaspare Como and Rosario Allegra, who are alledged to manage the boss' most important business. 'The Trapani mafia is (securely) in the hands of fugitive Matteo Messina Denaro and we can say that because its most important members are his own family,' said Pasquale Angelosanto, head of the Italian carabinieri's ROS special investigative unit. Police had previously told AFP that 22 people had been captured but clarified that the 22nd person would be Denaro himself. Denaro vanished in 1993, with the police seeking his arrest on a range of crimes including dozens of murders. Filippo Dell'Aquila is led out of the building, flanked by two police officers, after his arrest One of the 21 arrested Marco Buffa. The arrests have allowed the police to discover how Denaro controls associates while on the run Accused Denaro aide, Nicola Accardo. The arrests were made near the Sicilian city of Trapani, where Denaro's empire is based In a wiretap, one of those arrested can be heard praising the notorious January 1996 murder and dissolving in acid of Giuseppe Di Matteo (pictured) The full list of the associates of Matteo Messina Denaro arrested by police in Sicily - Nicola Accardo, cl. 1965, head of the Partanna mafia family - Gaspare Como, cl. 1968, head of the mafia mandate of Castelvetrano - Vincenzo La Cascia, cl. 1948, Mafia family from Campobello di Mazara - Dario Messina, cl. 1984, regent of the mafia mandate of Mazara del Vallo Gaspare Como is head of the mafia in Castelvetrano and is said to have run Matteo Messina Denaro's most important business - Raffaele Urso, called Cinuzzo, cl. 1959, Mafia family from Campobello di Mazara - Rosario Allegra, known as Saro, cl. 1953, mafia family of Castelvetrano - Vito Bono, cl. 1959, Mafia family from Campobello di Mazara - Marco Buffa, cl. 1973, Mafia family from Mazara del Vallo - Filippo Dell'Aquila, cl. 1964, Mafia family from Campobello di Mazara - Mario Tripoli, cl, 1972, Mafia family from Campobello di Mazara - Bruno Giacalone, cl. 1961, mafia family of Mazara del Vallo - Angelo Greco, cl. 1969, Mafia family of Campobello di Mazara - Calogero Guarino, cl. 1969, mafia family of Castelvetrano - Giovanni Mattarella, cl. 1966, mafia family of Mazara del Vallo - Leonardo Milazzo, cl. 1978, mafia family of Castelvetrano - Giuseppe Paolo Bongiorno, cl. 1988, mafia family of Castelvetrano - Vittorio Signorello, cl. 1962, mafia family of Castelvetrano - Giuseppe Tilotta, cl. 1962, a mafia family from Castelvetrano - Antonino Triolo, cl. 1970, mafia family of Castelvetrano - Andrea valenti, cl. 1952, Mafia family from Campobello di Mazara - Carlo Cattaneo, cl. 1985 Advertisement Police also arrested a businessman involved in the online gambling industry, through which it is suspected Denaro earns some of his money. Palermo's assistant public prosecutor Paolo Guido said that six of the accused were local mafia bosses. Police told reporters that despite reports of Cosa Nostra's demise, the Trapani branch was 'particularly lively and active in control of the area' and operating in the classic mafia industries of extorsion, property fraud and assignment of public works contracts. Denaro's nephew Francesco Guttadauro was sentenced to 16 years in jail for mafia related activity Police also confirmed the existence of wiretapped recordings of one of those arrested on Thursday praising the notorious January 1996 murder and dissolving in acid of Giuseppe Di Matteo. Di Matteo, the son of mafia turncoat Santino, was kidnapped in 1993 in a vain attempt to stop his father from collaborating with the authorities. 'Did he not do the right thing? He did the right thing!' news agency AGI reported the suspect as saying, apparently preferring to the perpetrators. 'It's right that we don't touch kids ... but why didn't you retract? You obviously didn't care about your kid.' Another recording has Denaro and his deceased father Francesco, once a local boss, compared to Padre Pio an Italian friar and saint who was the subject of great popular devotion in Italy. One alleged gangster says the two mafiosi should have statues dedicated to them. A former trigger man, who once reportedly boasted that he could 'fill a cemetery' with his victims, the 55-year-old Denaro is believed to have become the 'boss of bosses' following the death of Salvatore 'The Beast' Riina in November. He is suspected to have been behind the 1993 bombings in Rome, Milan and Florence that killed 10 people just months after Cosa Nostra murdered anti-mafia judges Giovanni Falcone and Paolo Borsellino in similar attacks. In 2015, police discovered that he was communicating with his closest collaborators via the pizzini system, which were being left under a rock at a farm in Sicily. Denaro is believed to have become the 'boss of bosses' following the death of Salvatore 'The Beast' Riina (pictured) in November Judge Giovanni Falcone was also killed by a car bomb, in Palermo, Sicily, in 1992 A Florida mother charged with murdering her newborn twins told a 911 dispatcher that she had only given birth to one baby, passed out and then found the little boy 'cold and blue' when she woke up. Rachael Lynn Thomas, 30, told the dispatcher that she didn't know she was pregnant until she gave birth on the toilet at her home in West Melbourne, Florida on Sunday. 'I had a baby and then I passed out, and now the baby's not responding and I don't know what to do,' Thomas said in a recording of the 911 call. 'It's not doing anything and it's cold and it's blue. Scroll down for video Rachael Lynn Thomas, 30, was charged with murder and child abuse after police found her newborn twins unresponsive in her home in West Melbourne, Florida on Sunday 'I got him wrapped in a towel. I've tried cleaning him off.' The 911 dispatcher gave Thomas instructions on how to give CPR to the newborn until first responders arrived. Thomas, who claimed that she had passed out for a few hours after the boy was born, made no mention of the baby girl she had also given birth to. The baby boy was rushed to hospital where he was pronounced dead. Thomas, who has two other children, was arrested after police returned to her home and found a baby girl's body dumped in a trash can. 'After discarding her in the trash can, Thomas threw additional trash on top of Baby Jane in an attempt to conceal her,' police said. Both babies suffered severe blunt force trauma to their heads, according to the medical examiner. Thomas had initially told police she didn't even know she was pregnant when she claimed to have given birth while on the toilet at her home in West Melbourne on Sunday The umbilical cord was also wrapped around the girl's neck and a foreign object was found lodged in her throat. Police said Thomas' story of giving birth on the toilet did not match the injuries sustained by the newborns. Both babies are believed to have been carried a full 39 week term. Police said Thomas gave birth to 'healthy twins' and then 'took their lives'. Thomas has been charged with one count of premeditated first degree murder, two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse. Her two other children, and eight-year-old boy and one-year-old boy, have both been placed in the care of other family members by the Florida Department of Children and Families. Thomas is being held in the Brevard County Jail on a no bond status. Three Australian warships were confronted by China's military while sailing through the South China Sea earlier this month, it has been revealed. The vessels - HMAS Anzac, HMAS Success and HMAS Toowoomba - were en route to Vietnam when challenged by the People's Liberation Army Navy. It is thought the encounter occurred during drills in the area said to be the largest naval exercise ever performed by the communist state. The vessels - HMAS Anzac, HMAS Success and HMAS Toowoomba (pictured) - were en route to Vietnam when challenged by the People's Liberation Army Navy It is thought the encounter occurred during drills in the area said to be the largest naval exercise ever performed by the communist state (pictured) China has been increasingly spreading its influence across the South China Sea, the majority of which is claims as its own territory (shown in red above) Earlier this month - when the encounter occurred - President Xi Jinping of China - watched huge drills in the area involving more than 10,000 seamen, 76 fighter jets and 48 warships and submarines (pictured) One official, speaking to ABC on condition of anonymity, said the exchanges between the Chinese and Australians were polite but 'robust'. China has been increasingly spreading its influence across the South China Sea, the majority of which it claims as its own territory. It currently has the world's largest armed forces, and has seen further investment in technology, equipment such as stealth fighters and troop carriers, and also training programmes. The Defence Department would not discuss the encounter, but confirmed the movements of the three ships. A spokesperson added: 'The Australian Defence Force has maintained a robust program of international engagement with countries in and around the South China Sea for decades. 'This includes bilateral and multilateral military exercises, port visits, maritime surveillance operations and ship transits. 'As they have done for many decades, Australian vessels and aircraft will continue to exercise rights under international law to freedom of navigation and overflight, including in the South China Sea.' Earlier this month - when the encounter occurred - President Xi Jinping of China - watched huge drills in the area involving more than 10,000 seamen, 76 fighter jets and 48 warships and submarines. Last month Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull met with ASEAN in Sydney, where they called for non-militarisation and a code of conduct in the contested waters of the South China Sea Taiwan's defence ministry said the exercise (pictured) was staged in light of a 'changing international and regional security situation' to test the military's combat readiness and its ability to defend Taiwanese territory Chinese state broadcaster China Central Television showed footage of the President boarding one of his destroyers which then sailed to an unnamed location in the contentious waters to watch the drills. In an impassioned address to his troops, President Xi said China's need for a world leading navy 'was never more pressing than today'. Neighbouring Taiwan expressed concern at Xi's actions as the Chinese president has set his country on the course of one of the most ambitious military development programmes ever seen. Taiwan's defence ministry said the exercise was staged in light of a 'changing international and regional security situation' to test the military's combat readiness and its ability to defend Taiwanese territory. Police in New Jersey say a decapitated goat was found in a storage bin near railroad tracks. According to the Daily Record, the goat's body was discovered on Monday night around 7.30pm on Linden Avenue near the New York Susquehanna Railroad tracks in Elmwood Park. Police Chief Michael Foligno said the carcass had been placed inside a 27-gallon plastic bin. Police in New Jersey say a decapitated goat was found on Monday night around 7.30pm on Linden Avenue near the New York Susquehanna Railroad tracks in Elmwood Park (file image) Police Chief Michael Foligno said the carcass was discovered inside a 27-gallon plastic bin along with fresh blood but no decomposition (pictured, location of where the head was found) Also found in the bin was fresh blood, but no decomposition. The Bergen County Society for the Prevention of Cruelty to Animals were called to the scene to investigate but no additional evidence was collected, reported the Daily Record. 'Preliminarily, it looks possibly like a Santeria-type ritual,' Police Chief Michael Foligno said on Tuesday. 'It's being considered as a possibility but not ruling other things out. The SPCA, through the [Bergen County] Prosecutor's Office, is investigating.' Santeria is an Afro-Cuban religion that originated in modern day West Africa. Sacrifices are important to the religion and such offerings are made to gods as a way of communication. Police are 'not ruling anything out' but believe the severed head may be a part of religious sacrifice ritual This is not the only time such a disturbing discovery has been made. Between 2014 and 2015, at least five goat heads were found on five separate occasions across Brooklyn, New York. An investigation by New York magazine in 2015 looked to see if the heads were linked to Santeria or other similar religions but no definite conclusions were drawn. Anyone with information is asked to call the Elmwood Park Police Department at 201-796-0700. A grandmother had to quickly grab her granddaughter after a brown bear was spotted running through their backyard. Missy Hawes said she noticed something was wrong when she saw her granddaughter, Blake Massie, staring off at something while they were playing on the porch Monday evening. At first, Hawes only thought she saw 'brown fluff movement' in her Altadena, California, backyard, she told KTLA 5. But then video footage shows a brown bear run by the porch, less than 10 feet away from the grandmother and her granddaughter. Missy Hawes was on her back porch with her granddaughter, Blake Massie, when a brown bear ran less than 10 feet away from them In the home security video, Hawes screams before she quickly grabs her granddaughter and pulls her inside. 'I think she was more frightened when I screamed than actually seeing the bear, because the bear made no noise whatsoever,' she said to the news station. The bear is seen running across the backyard without paying much attention to the pair on the home's porch. Hawes said this wasn't their first bear sighting of this spring. Two weeks ago, the family saw one in the driveway digging through their trash. 'We've had some summers where we've had no bear and some summers where we've had tons of bears,' she said. 'I'm thinking this might be a summer with a lot of bear activity.' According to WTHR, the bear is a frequent site in the area and some locals have named him 'Rufus.' The bear is known to enjoy digging in trash and swimming in pools. The neighborhood can experience a multitude of wildlife - including mountain lions, coyotes and deer - because it backs up to the Angeles National Forrest in California. The terrifying moment was caught on Hawes' home security camera when the bear ran across the yard An Ohio couple have been charged with killing their pet pit bull by shooting her twice in the head with a nail gun, and then lying about it to the authorities. Brandon Cooper, 24, and Sindel McWhorter, 22, were cited earlier this week for falsification. The man faces an additional count of prohibitions against companion animals. According to court documents, on April 4, Animal Control in Licking County received a tip that McWhorter and Cooper were seen digging a suspicious hole in the ground behind a shed on their property in Newark, Ohio. DIY euthanasia: This X-ray image shows the skull of a four-year-old female pit bull whose owners allegedly shot her twice in the head with a nail gun, killing her, on April 4 This images shows the slain dog after it had been dug up from the backyard An Animal Control officer acting on a tip arrived at Brandon Cooper and Sindel McWhorter's home in Newark, Ohio (pictured), and discovered the carcass of the pit bull buried behind this shed Officer Toby Wills responded to the address on North 12th Street the next day and spoke to the pair, who initially denied having any dogs in their household. Cooper and McWhorter did say they had 're-homed' a four-year-old pit bill after it had bitten their son, according to the records obtained by DailyMail.com. When Wills confronted them about the hole that had been dug in their backyard, Cooper allegedly admitted that he had buried the pit bull there after he and McWhorter had put the animal down. The young couple, who have a one-year-old together, said they could not afford going to a veterinarian, so they used a nail gun to euthanize the dog themselves. A closeup of the pit bull's head shows two wounds where the nail had entered the skull The case was brought to light after someone saw Cooper digging a hole in the yard The documents indicate that the 24-year-old then unearthed the pit bull's carcass and showed the Animal Control officer where he had shot it twice in the head. I asked Mr. Cooper how many times he shot his Pit Bull and Mr. Cooper replied twice, one to kill it and a second one to make sure it was dead, Wills wrote in his report. Dr Jodi Houser, at Newark Veterinary Hospital, later confirmed in a letter that the dog had two large nails embedded in her skull, which she said would have caused suffering to the dying animal. Houser called the couples do-it-yourself approach to euthanasia 'the least humane and most painful.' Both Cooper and McWhorter stated in their defense that the pit bull had bitten their child on multiple occasions, including on his hand, and that they saw a need to protect the boy from the dog. The parents are due back in court on April 27. If convicted of the charges against them, they could face up to six months in prison on each count and a $1,000 fine Police say a 26-year-old Michigan mother left her two infant daughters inside a suitcase next to garbage on the side of the road. The incident occurred around 6pm on Wednesday on the 500 block of West Pierson Road in Flint, reported NBC 25. Child Protective Services workers and police had gone to the house to collect the womans children although details were not given as to why. Police say a 26-year-old Flint, Michigan, mother left her two infant daughters inside a suitcase (center) next to garbage on the side of the road after CPS workers arrived to take them away According to authorities, when they arrived, they saw the woman drop luggage (center) next to the trash before fleeing from the scene. She was caught and subsequently arrested. Police have declined to release her name but say she has a history of mental illness According to authorities, when they arrived, they saw the woman drop luggage next to the trash before fleeing from the scene. She was caught and subsequently arrested. Police have declined to release her name but say she has a history of mental illness. Following the event, CPS workers went to check on the welfare of the children inside the home but found two of them missing. Following the event, CPS workers went to check on the welfare of the children inside the home but found two of them missing. After officers searched the area, they discovered two infant girls inside the suitcase that the woman had brought outside (Pictured, officers at the scene) The girls were taken to Hurley Medical Center and listed in good condition, reported MLive. There were four or five children in the home, with the youngest being just over 11 months old, police said (Pictured, officers cordon off an area of the home) After officers searched the area, they discovered two infant girls inside the suitcase that the woman had brought outside. The girls were taken to Hurley Medical Center and listed in good condition, reported MLive. There were four or five children in the home at the time, with the youngest being just over 11 months old, police said. NBC 25 reported that the other children were also taken to a local hospital. Their conditions currently remain unknown. Bikie gangs enforce a strict code of silence, treat women as property and use a secret underworld language, a court dossier reveals. A 400-page document prepared by police for court proceedings over an explosive Hunter Valley turf war between the Nomads and Finks provides a rare and detailed insight into gang life. It reveals how bikies claim 'ownership' over their wives and girlfriends who can never become gang members themselves. Revelations: Bikie gangs enforce a strict code of silence, treat women as property and use a secret underworld language, a court dossier reveals. Pictured: Members of the Finks Some are even 'branded like dogs' such as the girlfriend of a Coffin Cheaters gang member whose back bears a tattoo reading: 'The Property of Mark Hinchcliff'. One girlfriend of a Life and Death gang member wears a jacket reading: 'Property of Steve'. 'It is my experience that women are generally treated as secondary to the organisation, members and motorcycles,' Detective Sergeant Groenewegen writes in the report. There is a hierarchy among the bikie women, with an Old Lady - a wife - at the top and strict rules on when a woman can be courted after finishing a relationship with a gang member and ceasing to be 'off limits'. The report details a rife culture of domestic violence, which often goes unreported as women are too scared to speak out. A 400-page document prepared by police for court proceedings over an explosive Hunter Valley turf war between the Nomads and Finks provides a rare and detailed insight into gang life. Pictured: Bikie vests The report reveals how bikies claim 'ownership' over their wives and girlfriends who can never become gang members themselves. Pictured: Inside the Finks Riverstone clubhouse It reads: 'It is acceptable to assault or otherwise control women who are of secondary concern and status.' The document, seen by The Daily Telegraph, also details how a 'code of silence' makes shootings, murders and violent assaults extremely difficult for police to solve as members fear punishment and dishonour for talking to detectives. It then reveals how bikies use a secret underworld language when discussing illicit activities. They use the number 13 - which represents the letter M - to signify the word motorcycle or methamphetamine, the report says. Members also frequently use acronyms such as FTW - 'f*** the world' - or EFO - 'everyone f*** off'. The report explains how a new member enters a gang as a 'nominee' and has to do 'menial duties' for a senior before earning the right to wear part of the gang's 'patch.' The dossier reveals how bikies use a secret underworld language when discussing illicit activities. Pictured: Bikie jackets The Newcastle chapter of the Nomads, which is allegedly part of escalating violence between rival bikie gangs around the city, north of Sydney These can include guarding the clubhouse and checking CCTV and alarm systems in case of attacks from rivals. This process continues for up to two years before the member is voted in and can wear the full patch. Once a Finks member has signed up, he can't leave unless he 'surrenders' a motorbike or pays $10,000, according to the dossier. The report also claims that gangs have begun to stockpile more guns for upcoming 'inter-gang conflicts.' The dossier was prepared as part of a police bid to stop five high-ranking Finks and five Nomads from driving at night, entering licensed premises and using encrypted communication platforms including WhatsApp, Snapchat, Wickr and Hushmail. The intense measures - never before imposed on bikies - are part of a desperate police attempt to stave off a war between the two gangs in the Hunter region of New South Wales after a spate of recent shootings. Giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court on 29 March, Nomads national president Dylan Patrick Brittliffe (pictured) said there had been no problems between the gangs for more than a year Left leaving court: Nomads Newcastle leader Bradley Bowtell. Right: Nomads National president Dylan Patrick Brittliffe with a glamorous blonde Entering court: Nomad Kane Benjamin Tamplin leaves court with a glamorous blonde on 29 March Giving evidence in the NSW Supreme Court last month, Nomads national president Dylan Brittliffe said there had been no problems between the gangs for more than a year and that he had no idea who was behind attacks against Nomad members. The restrictions would include not being allowed to enter any licensed premises in NSW or travelling in cars at night time over the next 12 months. The group would be forced to hand their mobile phones over to police and reveal passwords upon the command of officers. The restrictions can be imposed on anyone regarded to be 'involved in serious criminal activity' - even if they have not been convicted. The orders would be obtained under similar legislation applied to suspected terrorists. Justice David Davies is expected to make his decision in the NSW Supreme Court in the coming weeks. A lesbian couple in Italy have been refused their request to register their baby unless the child's mother pretends she had sex with a man. Chiara Foglietta, from Turin, gave birth to a baby boy, Niccolo Pietro, last Friday after travelling to Denmark with partner Micaela Ghisleni last year to undergo artificial insemination treatment. To the couple's dismay, Italian law refuses to acknowledge the treatment for lesbian couples - only recognising its effects in heterosexual couples. Italy has continued to ban several fertility treatments which have long been the norm in many other EU member states. Despite legalising same-sex civil unions back in 2016 - the country is lagging far behind in its adoption of Europe-wide rights for same-sex couples. Chiara Foglietta is a municipal councillor for the city of Turin and an advocate for the rights of same-sex couples Chiara gave birth to baby Niccolo Pietro last Friday after receiving artificial insemination treatment in Denmark last year Ms Foglietta, a municipal councillor for the city of Turin, has refused to accept the condition and posted an enraged protest statement on Facebook. 'The staff [at the public records office] tell me "you should declare that you had union (sexual intercourse) with a man, to get your boy registered",' her post read. 'There is no formula allowing you to say that you had artificial insemination.' 'But to get him registered at the public records office I have to tell a lie.' She added that 'every child has the right to know his or her own story, the combination of events that created him or her'. According to current Italian law, there can be no screening or freezing of embryos; no sperm or egg donation; nor surrogacy or embryo research for same-sex couples. These treatments are reserved for 'stable heterosexual couples' shown to be clinically infertile. Turin's mayor Chiara Appendino weighed in on the case, saying: 'The law currently does not provide for recognition of the sons and daughters of homosexual couples born in Italy. 'Personally I am in favour and willing to proceed with registration, but with this current legal vacuum the rights of the parents and children cannot be guaranteed.' Italian law prevents Chiara and her partner Micaela from registering the new baby because of outdated statutes South Africa has said it 'strongly objects' to travel advice issued by the Australian government which warns of a 'high level of serious crime' in the country. In a statement, South Africa explained that the guidance could 'tarnish our country's image' and 'deter Australians from visiting'. It comes amid a row between the two countries after Home Affairs Minister Peter Dutton said persecuted white farmers in South Africa were experiencing 'horrific circumstances' and should be offered refuge in Australia. The advice, from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, tells Australians to 'exercise a high degree of caution'. South Africa's international relations minister, Lindiwe Sisulu (pictured), said she will be raising the issue with Julie Bishop, her Australian counterpart The advice (pictured), from the Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade, tells Australians to 'exercise a high degree of caution' It goes on: 'Crime, including violent crime, is a serious issue in South Africa. Most types of crime are increasing. Be alert.' Murder, rape, mugging, theft, carjacking, smash-and-grab robbery and violent assault are among the crimes Australians are warned about. The advice adds: 'Don't expect the same level of service from South African police as you would in Australia.' Sisulu promised to raise the issue with Julie Bishop (pictured in London yesterday) But the guidance, unchanged since January, prompted an angry response from South Africa yesterday. A statement from the government claimed the advice contained 'misleading information about South Africa' and misrepresented the experiences of foreign visitors to the country. It added: 'Officials from the Department of International Relations and Cooperation have in the past requested, without success, that the advisory be amended to reflect the situation in South Africa as it relates to the true experiences of foreign tourists. 'The decision to escalate the matter follows these unsuccessful attempts and indicates the seriousness with which the South African government values the contribution of the tourism sector to the economy.' South Africa's international relations minister, Lindiwe Sisulu, also said she will be raising the issue with Julie Bishop, her Australian counterpart. Relations between the countries are already strained after Dutton's vow to fast-track white South African farmer being persecuted in the country. The South African government denies white people are deliberately targeted and says farm murders are part of South Africa's wider violent crime problem. The situation has worsened since the ruling African National Congress joined with the Economic Freedom Fighters party (EFF) last month and announced a motion to confiscate white-owned land without compensation. EFF leader Julius Malema, who was previously convicted of hate speech for singing the outlawed apartheid-era song 'Shoot the Boer,' said recently: 'We are cutting the throat of whiteness.' EFF leader Julius Malema, who was previously convicted of hate speech for singing the outlawed apartheid-era song 'Shoot the Boer,' said recently: 'We are cutting the throat of whiteness' A 2017 South African government audit found white people owned 72 per cent of farmland. Pictured: White South Africans protesting against the murder of white farmers last year In racist remarks last month, Malema urged white South Africans to 'go and live in a racist country like Australia' in front of a cheering crowd during a Human Rights Day rally. 'A racist country like Australia says: ''EFF wants to kill white farmers they must come to Australia''. If they want to go, they must go. They must leave the keys of the tractors because we want to work the land. 'They must leave the keys of the houses, because we want to live in those houses. They must leave everything that they did not come with to South Africa.' A 2017 South African government audit found white people owned 72 per cent of farmland. The toddler son of a polygamist whose family was featured on a TLC reality show died on Sunday in a house fire. Adonijah Foster died of smoke inhalation, after a fire broke out in the bedroom where he was napping. The two-year-old was pronounced dead at the scene, while his mother and an older sister were taken to the hospital to be treated for smoke inhalation. They were released later that night. Adonijah Foster, age two (left), died in a house fire on Sunday in Rockland Ranch, Utah. He was the 17th of Enoch Foster's, right, 20 children Adonijah is pictured above with his mother Lillian, Foster's second wife Adonijah was the 17th of Enoch Foster's 20 children, by two wives. He was the seventh of eight children from Foster's second wife Lillian. The Foster family was recently featured on the TLC show Three Wives, One Husband - which focuses on the Fundamentalist Mormon sect that lives in Rockland Ranch, Utah. The remote ranch consists of several homes build into a mesa. The first episode of the series, which first aired in the UK on Channel 4 last year, featured the birth of Adonijah, and his father's wooing of a third wife, a 25-year-old nanny named Lydia. 'It brings his mother comfort knowing she chose to share his birth with so many that so many got the opportunity to meet him,' his father, Enoch Foster, told the Salt Lake Tribune on Wednesday. Enoch Foster is pictured with his two wives and their many kids in this undated picture. Adonijah's mother Lillian is pictured top left Foster struggled to explain his son's death, since he was out working on the ranch at the time. Adonijah's mother was also outside the house when the fire broke out, tending to some grape vines. Foster admitted that his son had been playing with matches earlier in the day, but that the boy's older sister took them away from him. 'Im unsure if maybe he still had some matches,' Foster told the Tribune. 'Maybe there was something smoldering that [his sister] didnt see. And we dont know if it was him or maybe his older brother that was playing with them.' When the fire first broke out, Adonijah's seven-year-old sister ran into the room and rescued a three-year-old brother. She tried to go back in for Adonijah but by then the fire had grown. Enoch Foster, center, and his wives Lillian, left, and Catrina, right The Foster family home is pictured above. The family lives in three apartments, one which is currently under repairs after the fire The Fosters live in the Rockland Ranch community, where about half the men are polygamists. The homes are built into the mesa A child jumps on a trampoline outside Enoch Foster's home in 2012 'She said she was able to grab Adonijahs hand but couldnt get him to come out or Im not sure,' Foster said. Another sister, age 17, ran downstairs to help but singed her eyelashes in the process. Foster says he was alerted to the situation by one of his sons. He ran back to the house, put on a paint mask and used a fire extinguisher to put out the blaze. He then went in the bedroom and found his son badly burned. A neighbor who is a nurse helped perform CPR while they waited for paramedics to arrive on the scene. A local sheriff's deputy helped with CPR as well when he arrived on the scene. By the time a medical helicopter reached the family's remote home, Adonijah was dead. Adonijah's birth was featured on the first episode of the show Enoch is seen above showing off a newborn Adonijah to his brothers and sisters Adonijah is pictured on the show a few months after his birth The Foster's home is split into three apartments. They are currently living in two of the apartments while the third that was damaged is repaired. Friends started a GoFundMe account to raise money for Adonijah's funeral, medical expenses and repairs to the home since they don't have homeowner's insurance. As of Thursday, the fund had raised more than $42,000. 'The Fosters have helped so many people, expecting nothing in return. This family can use all the support they can get and I know they will be forever grateful. Let's rally together and help them overcome a growing financial burden during this tragic time,' the page reads. Neighbors and the local Mormon ward are also helping feed the family for the time being. Adonijah's funeral is planned for this Saturday, after which his father says he plans to take the family on a getaway to grieve. The hero EMT who tried to save a woman on board a Southwest Airlines flight declined to go into detail about how he she died out of respect for her family on Thursday as he gave a harrowing description of the moments before and after her death. Andrew Needum, 34, was on board Southwest Airlines flight 1380 with his two children, his wife and his parents. They were on their way home to Texas after a family vacation to New York City where they'd celebrated his parents 39th wedding anniversary. He was in row seven and Jennifer Riordan was in row 14 when she was sucked out of the window after it was smashed by shrapnel from an exploding engine. Needum, a trained firefighter, ran back to help her after hearing a 'commotion' and after being given an approving 'look' from his wife Stephanie, he said on Thursday. He and Tim McGinty, a farm hand, were able to bring the 43-year-old's body back into the aircraft. Needum and retired nurse Peggy Phillips then performed CPR until the plane made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Needum shunned glory and said he was grieving for Riordan's family on Thursday as he gave a tearful press conference in Texas. Scroll down for video Andrew Needum, 34, spoke for the first time on Thursday since he tried to save Jennifer Riordan's life on board Southwest Airlines flight 1380 The Wells Fargo executive was wearing her seatbelt when the window smashed but the power of the suction from the 32,000ft atmosphere was too strong and she died as the result of blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso, it was revealed on Wednesday. 'We give all the glory to God just being here right now. The ability to speak before you. God put me in this position. 'There was a family that lost a loved one and I feel for her family, I feel for her two kids, her husband, the community that she lived in. 'I can't imagine what they're going through. 'It was a terrible thing happened and someone lost their life. What took place back there, out of respect for her family, I am going to leave that alone,' 'It was a terrible thing happened and someone lost their life. 'What took place back there, out of respect for her family, I am going to leave that alone,' he said at a press conference on Thursday. He did give a harrowing, detailed account of the minutes leading up to the woman's death. 'We took off from LaGuardia, there were no issues, and we got in the air. Somewhere around 32,000ft, I heard a loud pop, as we all did. The flight attendants were in the aisle. Needum was with his mother Julie and wife Stephanie at the press conference. They were on board the plane with him when the engine exploded and sent shrapnel through the passenger window next to Riordan who was sitting seven rows behind them. He fought tears as he told of the moments leading up to the emergency and stopped when he got to that point in the story Needum, a trained firefighter and EMT, rushed to help ranch hand Tim McGinty who was trying to bring Riordan's body back into the aircraft. He said McGinty was his 'back up' on the flight and that he was a 'big guy' 'I immediately looked to them and turned back around and the oxygen masks were deployed,' he said. Needum was sitting next to his father and his eight-year-old son was by the window. Jennifer Riordan, 43, died as a result of blunt force trauma to the head, neck and torso. She is pictured with her husband Michael They all got their masks on and he turned to look at his wife, mother and five-year-old daughter who were sitting directly across the aisle to ensure they too were safe. Before he went back to help Riordan, he tried to help a young mother who was sitting behind his wife with her six-month-old daughter. She was struggling to put the baby's oxygen mask on and Needum wanted to help her. 'I sat back down and looked across the aisle to my wife after we heard some commotion in the rear of the plane. 'I looked at my wife, looked in her eyes, and she gave me the approval to go back there,' he said. Like McGinty and Phillips, both of whom were hailed heroes for their efforts on board the flight, Needum said he did 'what anyone else would do.' 'I felt moved to act and as well as other people on that plane,' he said. This harrowing image taken before the plane made its emergency landing shows the state of the exploded engine 'She made a point of speaking to everyone': Pilot Tammie Jo Shults spoke to every passenger on the flight after making her emergency landing. She is seen speaking to Timothy Bourman in a picture his wife shared on Thursday Hero: Shults, 56, is seen getting off the plane after all of the passengers had disembarked. She has been praised for her 'nerves of steel' during the catastrophe Shults is pictured in 1988. At the time, she was a US Navy instructor pilot and is shown above explaining a maneuver to aviators at the Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas Shults is shown flying in squadron VT-26 near Naval Air Station Chase Field in 1988 He commended pilot Tammie Jo Shults, 56, for her professionalism and skill. 'Her crew, amazing job. Southwest is a great company and they took really good care of us. God put us on that plane for a reason. Everybody acted and everybody stayed strong 'There's no question in my mind as to who I'll be flying with again but they really took care of us. 'God put people on that plane for a reason. Everybody acted and everybody stood strong,' he said. Once the plane had landed in Philadelphia, Shults 'made a point' of speaking to every single passenger on board to comfort them before they disembarked, Needum's wife Stephanie said. She paid special attention to the children, including their five-year-old daughter. 'She took the time to stop and talk to our daughter and she was very good to her, they had small talk about the oxygen mask which, as a five-year-old was what she was most interested in, and she reassured her that in her 32 years of flying that her oxygen masks had never come down so she told our daughter that she was special to try to make it a positive. Needum and his wife Stephanie (above together) were in New York City with his parents and their son and daughter for a family vacation. They were on their way home to Texas when the engine exploded on the Southwest Airlines flight Needum said retired nurse Peggy Phillips (shown above with McGinty once they had landed back in Dallas hours later) was a 'special lady' 'She comforted everybody. She did amazing, she is an amazing person,' Stephanie Needum said. The couple's children were 'shaken' by the ordeal but are back at school with their friends, they said. Riordan's immediate family have been too distraught to speak at length. On Wednesday, her sister-in-law thanked Needum and McGinty for bringing her back into the aircraft because now they would be able to have closure with a proper burial. Investigators are still looking into what caused the engine failure. They have so far been able to determine that a fan blade separated as a result of metal fatigue at the hub and that it may have contributed to the malfunction. The Boeing 737-700 was tested three days before the flight. This was the Row 14 seat which Riordan was sitting in when she was sucked towards the window at 32,00ft Fines of up to $210million or 10 per cent of annual revenue could be issued to major banks and financial services companies in a new government scheme targeting dodgy banks. The harsh crackdown on misconduct followed the banking royal commission where a plethora of scandals within the sector were exposed, The Australian reported. Not only will banking executives and directors be hit with more hefty sentences, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission is set to be given more power to investigate dodgy dealings. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann (pictured) announced the government would consider extending the Hayne royal commission by a year Up to 10 years in prison is on the table for criminal convictions under the reforms, along with a $945,000 fine. Large corporations could be hit with fines up to $9.45million or 10 per cent of their annual turnover. A fine of $1.05million awaits individuals who commit civil offences, and $210million for corporations. The widespread clampdown came as Finance Minister Mathias Cormann announced the government would consider extending the Hayne royal commission by a year. Fresno State University professor Randa Jarrar sparked condemnation after she posted a series of controversial Twitter posts celebrating the passing of former First Lady Barbara Bush. Bush passed away at age 92 on April 17, 2018. Jarrar, a tenured English professor at Fresno State University in Fresno, California, drew harsh criticism after tweeting that Bush was an amazing racist who raised a war criminal barely an hour after Bushs death was announced. Her tweet quickly drew criticism on social media, but Jarrar continued to pillory Bush in an ensuing series of tweets, saying that shes happy the witch is dead and also expressed joy at the thought of former President George W. Bush in mourning over the passing of his mother. Fresno State University professor Randa Jarrar sparked outrage after a series of controversial tweets about former U.S. First Lady Barbara Bush shortly after her death on April 17, 2018 Jarrar was born in Chicago in 1978 to parents of Palestinian and Greek-Egyptian descent. She grew up primarily in Egypt and Kuwait before relocating back to the United States following the 1991 Persian Gulf War, living in the New York City area. She studied creative writing at Saint Lawrence College in New York State, later earning an MA in Middle Eastern Studies from the University of Texas and an MFA in Creative Writing at the University of Michigan. At Fresno State University, Jarrar reportedly taught creative writing, college writing and Arab-American literature. Jarrar, in addition to working as an English professor at Fresno State University, also authored numerous books, including 'A Map of Home', and 'Him, Me, Muahhamd Ali'. She also won several awards for her writing, including the Arab American Book Award in 2009 and the American Book Award in 2017. According to the Fresno Bee, Jarrar has been on leave all semester at the college. Barbara Bush served as the First Lady of the United States from January 1989 to January 1993 Controversial tweets about Barbara Bushs death In a series of tweets, which are no longer viewable to the public after Jarrar changed her Twitter accounts status to protected, Jarrar criticized former First Lady Barbara Bush shortly after the announcement of her death. Her tweets quickly sparked outrage and drew condemnation from many other social media users. Her initial tweet, posted at 8:27pm local time on April 17, stated: Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal. Jarrar's initial tweet quickly drew a strong backlash by other social media users on Twitter In an ensuing tweet, Jarrar condemned the Bush familys genocidal ways and proclaimed that she was happy the witch is dead and that she cant wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise After her initial tweets sparked a backlash, Jarrar, not phased by the criticism, continued to attack the Bushes and engage with her social media critics, stating she was happy that former President George W. Bush was probably really sad right now and also boasted that, due to her status as a tenured professor: I will never be fired. I will always have people wanting to hear what I have to say. Jarrar later stated that her status as a tenured professor would prevent her from termination The firestorm surrounding Jarrars controversial tweets soon forced Fresno State University Joseph Castro to issue a statement regarding the professors social media comments. Castro stated: On behalf of Fresno State, I extend my deepest condolences to the Bush family on the loss of our former First Lady, Barbara Bush. We share the deep concerns expressed by others over the personal comments made today by professor Randa Jarrar, a professor in the English Department at Fresno State. The colleges president stressed that Jarrar had expressed her personal views and that her commentary was obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progress. Fresno State University President Joseph Castro issued a statement regarding Jarrar's tweets Ultimately, Fresno State University decided to decline to take any disciplinary action against Jarrar, stating that her comments were 'insensitive, inappropriate and an embarrassment to the university' but also 'protected free speech under the First Amendment of the U.S. Constitution' and a 'private action.' Who was Barbara Bush? Barbara Bush was the wife of former President George H. W. Bush and the First Lady of the United States from 1989 to 1993. She passed away on April 17, 2018 at age 92. Bush was born in New York City on June 8, 1925. She met her future husband and President George H. W. Bush at age 16, later marrying him in 1945 while he was on leave as an officer in the U.S. Navy during World War II. She relocated to Midland, Texas in 1950 as her husband launched a new career in politics. She soon became involved in several charitable causes in Washington D.C. following Georges election as a United States Congressman in 1966. Following Georges tenure in Congress and later work as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations and Liaison to the Peoples Republic of China, Barbara Bush became Second Lady of the United States following the election of the Reagan-Bush ticket in 1980. As Second Lady, she became well-known to the American people for her charitable work promoting literacy in the United States. Following Georges election as President of the United States in 1988, she continued her work promoting universal literacy in the country and consistently enjoyed strong approval ratings from the public. Following her husbands unsuccessful reelection bid for the White House in 1992, she relocated back to Texas and continued her philanthropic work, later witnessing the election of her eldest son George W. Bush to the presidency in 2000, making her the only woman in U.S. history aside from Abigail Adams to be both the mother and wife of a president. Bush passed away in Houston on April 17, 2018 at age 92 from natural causes. She was in ill health preceding her death and declined medical treatment in the days before her passing. Tory Remain MPs have forced a Commons vote on the EU customs union next week in a bid to pile pressure on Theresa May to soften her Brexit plans. Treasury Committee chairwoman Nicky Morgan, Health Committee chairwoman Sarah Wollaston and former minister Bob Neill joined forces with opposition MPs to secure the backbench business debate. Other signatories include Labour's Hilary Benn and Yvette Cooper, the Liberal Democrats' Norman Lamb, and the Scottish National party's Angus MacNeil. The motion spells out the Remain campaign's belief that a customs union with the EU is the only way to protect existing UK-EU trade and keep open the Irish border. Treasury Committee chairwoman Nicky Morgan (left), Health Committee chairwoman Sarah Wollaston (right) and former minister Bob Neill joined forces with opposition MPs to secure the backbench business debate Mrs May has insisted Britain will leave the EU's customs union after Brexit to ensure it can sign trade deals with the rest of the world. Brexiteers insist any customs union would tie ministers' hands in future. Next week's vote would not be binding on the Government were it successful but would add huge political pressure. Mrs May must get a Customs and Trade Bill through Parliament before next March. News of the vote came a day after the Government was heavily defeated in the Lords on the customs union issue. Mrs Morgan, who chairs the Treasury select committee, and Ms Cooper, who chairs the home affairs select committee, said: 'With just six months to go before the Brexit deal needs to be concluded we are running out of time for parliament to help to shape the negotiations. 'Yet many of our backbench committees have forensically gathered evidence on different Brexit options and the practical implications. Tory Remain MPs have forced a Commons vote on the EU customs union next week in a bid to pile pressure on Theresa May to soften her Brexit plans 'That is why committee chairs at the liaison committee including those who voted leave and who voted remain, supporters and opponents of a customs union concluded that backbench MPs should get the chance of an early constructive debate and vote on this crucial issue, not bound by the party whips, but informed by committee evidence instead.' They added: 'If parliament stays silent until after the deal is done, that is just a recipe for conflict and regret later on. 'Far better for us to debate this properly now and let parliamentarians express their view before it is too late.' The shadow Brexit secretary, Keir Starmer, said: 'This is further evidence of the growing chorus of cross-party voices concerned that Theresa May's position on a customs union is wrong in principle.' Mark Thompsonr, from Rugby, is black, 6 ft 1ins tall, of medium build with cropped black hair Police on the hunt for a teenage girl who went missing four weeks ago have released a mugshot of her father in a bid to try and track her down as fears for her safety grow. Iyesha Lynch, 17, was last seen in her home town of Rugby, Warwickshire, on March 21. West Mercia Police renewed their appeal to find the young girl due to their 'growing concern for her'. Police took the unusual step of issuing a custody image of her father Mark Thompson, 45, as they believe he holds 'vital information' regarding her whereabouts. Iyesha is described as being 5ft 11in tall, slim, of mixed race and with shoulder-length, dark brown, curly hair. She was last seen wearing a short, cream coloured jacket, ripped blue jeans, black trainers with pink laces. Her father, also of Rugby, is black, 6 ft 1ins tall, of medium build with cropped black hair. Anyone with information regarding his whereabouts has been asked to contact police. Both of them have connections to Birmingham and Hounslow, west London. Detective Inspector Jon Belcher said: 'It has been more than four weeks since Iyesha went missing and we are growing increasingly concerned. 'We had a positive sighting of her near to Priory Queensway in Birmingham on Friday 13 April. We continue to follow a number of significant lines of enquiry. 'We're also keen to speak to Mark Thompson and we believe he might have information vital to our enquiries. 'We're hoping the public will be able to help us to find him.' Iyesha is described as being 5ft 11in tall, slim, of mixed race and with shoulder-length, dark brown, curly hair Constable Ruth Ramsay, of West Mercia Police, said previously: 'Iyesha hasn't been seen or heard from for days and her family are extremely worried. 'They just want to know she's safe and well. 'It's possible she may now have left Warwickshire and be in a town or city in the wider West Midlands area, so I would urge people to please share this appeal as widely as possible and get in touch if they can help us find her.' Anyone who sees Iyesha or Mark, or has any information that could help police locate them is asked to call 101. A U.S. judge expressed skepticism on Thursday toward a bid by President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman to get a raft of charges dismissed, while a prosecutor said Paul Manafort was suspected of being a campaign 'back channel' to Russia. During a hearing, U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson questioned Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing's assertion that Special Counsel Robert Mueller overstepped his authority in bringing charges that Downing said fell outside of parameters set by the Justice Department's No. 2 official Rod Rosenstein. Jackson signaled some willingness to consider whether at least one count in the indictment could be dismissed because the criminal action cited was covered by another charge. Not skipping house arrest: Paul Manafort leaves federal court in Washington D.C. after starting an attempt to get his case dismissed - only for prosecutors to say he is suspected of being a back channel to Moscow for the Trump campaign Manafort faces indictments by Mueller in Washington and Virginia, accusing him of conspiracy against the United States and other crimes. The hearing was the latest development in a special counsel investigation that could threaten Trump's presidency, looking into potential collusion between the president's 2016 campaign and Moscow. Downing asked Jackson to dismiss the Washington indictment. 'Here you have somebody who was a campaign official in the Trump campaign, where he had longstanding ties to Russia-backed politicians in the Ukraine,' Michael Dreeben, a prosecutor on Mueller's team, said of Manafort. 'What (was) the nature of those connections? Did they provide a means for surreptitious communications? Did they provide a back channel to Russia?' Downing argued that Rosenstein's order appointing Mueller in May 2017 was overly broad and violated Justice Department rules on the naming of special counsels, and that Mueller exceeded even the wide latitude Rosenstein provided. Jackson expressed doubts over arguments that Mueller should not have been able to bring charges Downing called unrelated to Russia or Moscow's potential coordination with Trump's campaign. While Manafort has pleaded not guilty, Mueller has extracted guilty pleas from other former campaign figures including Manafort's former deputy and business partner Rick Gates. Downing said the FBI in 2014 closed out an earlier investigation of Manafort's Ukraine business dealings without pursuing charges, meaning the matter cannot be covered by Mueller's probe. Dreeben said the special counsel had explicit authority from Rosenstein to probe Manafort's Ukraine dealings based on an August 2017 memo. 'It is not a blank check,' Dreeben said of Rosenstein's parameters for the probe. The memo was written a month after the FBI executed a search warrant at Manafort's home in Alexandria, Virginia. Downing said Rosenstein's memo seemed to come 'after the fact' to justify the investigation. A man who threatened to shoot a U.S. congresswoman has been sentenced to 15 months in federal prison and three years probation. Steve Martan, 58, pleaded guilty to threatening to 'assault and murder a United States official' in September after he made multiple calls to Arizona Rep. Martha McSally's office last May. 'Can't wait to f***ing pull the trigger, b****' and 'Be careful when you come back to Tucson cause we hate you here' are some of the statements the Tucson-based man made in the calls. Steve Martan, 58, pleaded guilty in September to threatening to 'assault and murder' Arizona Rep. Martha McSally McSally said Martin also 'threatened to shoot me between the eyes, said that my days were numbered and that he and others just bought the ammunition' McSally said Martin also 'threatened to shoot me between the eyes, said that my days were numbered, that he can't wait to pull the trigger and blow my brains out, and that he and others just bought the ammunition'. Martin, who was sentenced on Wednesday, was upset about the Republican legislator's votes in support of president Donald Trump and was 'venting with a buzz' when he made the calls, he told the Tucson Sentinel last May. He added: 'I just want to say sorry to Martha and the great people of Southern Arizona.' The FBI easily connected the threatening calls to Marten because his phone number was recorded by McSally's office voicemail. In a victim statement the congresswoman said she was 'deeply disturbed by what he said and the immeasurable effect on our representative government'. She also said Marten 'minimized his crimes and their impact', saying he expressed that he thought she always got threatening messages when they met as part of his plea deal. The threats were particularly alarming because former Rep. Gabby Giffords was shot in the head in 2011 when she held McSally's seat McSally, 52, is a former Air Force Colonel and is now running to replace Jeff Flake in the senate 'He blamed his behavior on being drunk (remember he left six separate messages over nine days so it wasn't a one-off), yet he had done essentially nothing to address his drinking problem or his inability to control his anger management,' McSally's victim statement continued. 'He didn't attend AA meetings or seek out any other assistance available to him. When asked how he was dealing with his anger issues, he said he doesn't watch TV anymore since the news was making him so angry.' McSally's district director C.J. Karamargin said that such threats to a congresswoman take on additional meaning in Tucson, where former representative Gabrielle Giffords was shot in the head in 2011. Giffords survived but was forced to leave her seat in congress, which was taken by McSally, 52, in 2015. McSally, a former Air Force Colonel, is now running to replace Jeff Flake in the senate. Two sex workers have accused Nevada brothel operator Dennis Hof, of HBO's Cathouse fame, of sexually assaulting and raping them nearly a decade ago. The allegations of rape, assault and battery against Hof, 71, were outlined in a police report that was made public after the Nye County District Attorney's Office declined to file charges against the Bunny Ranch owner, saying the statute of limitations had expired. Hof is currently running for state office in Nevada, seeking to unseat two-term incumbent Republican James Oscarson in Assembly District 36. Under fire: Brothel owner Dennis Hoff, of HBO fame, has been accused by two prostitutes of sexual assault and rape Jennifer O'Kane (left) claimed Hof forced her to have sex with him in 2011. Diana Grandmaison (right) said the pimp assaulted her in public two years ealrier O'Kane said that during her first week working at Hof's Love Ranch in Crystal in 2011, she was told to go to Hof's room, where he had her strip and told her she belonged to him Grandmaison said in 2009, Hof slipped his hand under her skirt and sexually assaulted her in the bar area at Moonlite Bunny Ranch in Carson City 'Its this sort of muckraking in the political cesspool that keeps so many good people from running for office,' Hof told the Las Vegas Review-Journal in response to the rape accusations. 'But it wont deter me.' One of the accusers, 47-year-old Jennifer O'Kane, said that during her first week working at Hof's Love Ranch in Crystal in 2011, she was ordered by the manager, 'Madame Diane,' to go to the owner's room. There, she claimed, Hof asked her to strip off her clothes and proceeded to have sex with her against her will after informing her that she now belonged to him, according to O'Kane. The report quoted the complainant as telling police that she was 'raped and battered daily' by the pimp. Love Ranch is the same brothel where NBA star Lamar Odom was found unconscious with cocaine in his system in 2015. O'Kane first went to the police in 2011, but there was no record of her complaint from that time. Five years later, she contacted the authorities again, this time sparking a probe No charges were brought against Hof (pictured with porn star Ron Jeremy in 2015), because the statute of limitations had expired O'Kane claimed that she first went to the police in 2011, but no number was assigned to her case and no record of her complaint was ever found. In October 2016, O'Kane attended a Nye County Commission meeting and attempted to bring up her complaint against Hof, but was told by the chairman to 'sit and relax.' Sheriff Sharon Wehrly then took the woman to a private room to fill out an incident report. Jennifer stated she was forced to have sex with Hof against her will, sheriffs detective James Brainard wrote in the report. She claimed she complained to management, but was blown off. But the detective ultimately closed the case without bringing any charges against Hof because he said there was no evidence to support O'Kane's claims. Brainard reopened the case a year later after interviewing more women, among them Diana Grandmaison who worked at Hof's Bunny Ranch in Carson City under the stage name 'Desi Foxx.' Grandmaison, who now lives in Florida, said that in June 2009, Hof put his hand under her skirt and assaulted her in the brothel's bar area. She did not report the incident to the police at the time for fear of losing her job. But when interviewed by Brainard, Grandmaison claimed that Hof 'would regularly assault' women and make girls 'sit on his lap.' Candidate: Hof is currently running for state office in Nevada, seeking to unseat two-term incumbent Republican James Oscarson in Assembly District 36 Brainard forwarded his findings to the Nye County District Attorney's Office in December 2017, but by then the four-year statute of limitations had expired. Last, month, the office announced it will not be prosecuting Hof. In response of O'Kane's claim that she was being ignored because of her profession and because Hof's brothels generate tax revenue for the county, the district attorney insisted she had no choice but to deny prosecution. Both OKane and Grandmaison have emerged as vocal critics of Hof on social media. Grandmaison describes herself on Twitter as a mother, grandmother and activist who spent 2 yrs sex trafficked by most powerful predators in America. OKane writes in her Twitter profile: I am against the abuse, sexual harassment, as well as RAPE. I was sexually harassed pushed around as well as raped without a condom. Dennis Hof. Hof has dismissed the allegations against him as unsubstantiated and nothing more than innuendo, which are now being dredged up to derail his campaign. The Republican primary in the race for the Nevada State Assembly is scheduled for June 12. Barbara Bush will be laid to rest in her home state of Texas following her death on Tuesday, April 17. She'll be buried on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum at Texas A&M University, a statement from the university confirmed. Her funeral's expected to be attended by her family, which includes husband George H.W. Bush, sons George W. Bush, Jeb Bush, Neil Bush and Marvin Bush, daughter Dorothy Bush Koch and more. Barbara Bush will be laid to rest in Texas on Saturday, April 22, 2018 after dying aged 92 According to Reuters, Melania Trump is also reported to be attending. It's unclear whether husband Donald Trump, who sent 'prayers' to the former First Lady's husband, will be there. Here's what you need to know about Barbara Bush's funeral. Barbara Bush funeral Barbara Bush will be laid to rest on Saturday, April 21, 2018. She'll be buried on the grounds of the George H.W. Bush Library and Museum at Texas A&M University. She's being buried next to Robin Bush, her daughter, who died when she was three years old. Robin had been diagnosed with leukemia. On Friday, April 20, 2018, the former First Lady's body will be on display at St. Martin's Episcopal Church in Houston, Texas. The viewing will be open to members of the public who wish to pay their respects, according to the church's website. Barbara Bush funeral televised It does not appear that Barbara Bush's funeral will be televised. Our statement on the passing of Former First Lady Barbara Bush: pic.twitter.com/MhTVYCL9Nj Barack Obama (@BarackObama) April 18, 2018 Did Barbara Bush smoke? It's been reported that before her death, Barbara Bush was battling chronic obstructive pulmonary disease. As such, many have been wondering if she may have been a smoker. While the condition is often linked to smoking, Barbara spoke openly about quitting smoking in 1968. In her book, 'Barbara Bush: A Memoir', she recalled going to the hospital for a minor surgery. She woke up groggy from the procedure and lit a cigarette in the hospital, according to her own account. 'At that very moment a tiny nurse came into the room, got me back into bed, and before charging out of the room, informed me she'd be back to talk to me in the morning,' she wrote. 'True to her word, after she got off duty, she took the time to come in and read me the riot act. She told me I was addicted and a disgrace. Addicted? Me? I couldn't forget that nurse and on New Year's Day I quit.' Barbara Bush COPD Before her death, Barbara Bush is said to have been fighting Chronic Obstructive Pulmonary Disease. The condition can be cured, but can also last for years according to Mayo Clinic. It's characterized by shortness of breath, wheezing, or a chronic cough. Sufferers may experience frequent respiratory infections, fatigue and chest tightness, among other symptoms. In addition to apparently suffering from COPD, Barbara's said to have been diagnosed with Graves' disease. Barbara Bush was a remarkable woman. She had grit & grace, brains & beauty. She was fierce & feisty in support of her family & friends, her country & her causes. She showed us what an honest, vibrant, full life looks like. Hillary and I mourn her passing and bless her memory. Bill Clinton (@BillClinton) April 17, 2018 Roger Stone Barbara Bush Controversial political consultant Roger Stone, who's been linked to Donald Trump in the past, is under fire for his nasty 'tribute' to Barbara Bush on Instagram. The 65-year-old shared a screen grab of an old quote he said, stating that the former First Lady was a heavy drinker, adding: 'Barbara Bush was a nasty drunk. When it came to drinking she made Betty Ford look like Carrie Nation #blottoBabs.' Fresno professor on Barbara Bush Roger Stone isn't the only one calling Barbara Bush out post-mortem. A Fresno, California, professor called Randa Jarrar is making headlines after calling the Bush family matriarch an 'amazing racist' who 'raised a war criminal' on Twitter. Jarrar followed her initial tweet, which has gone viral, up with the following messages: 'I will never be fired.' 'What I love about being an American professor is my right to free speech, and what I love about Fresno State is that I always feel protected and at home here. 'GO BULLDOGS!' The university's president, Joseph Castro, responded to Jarrar's tweets in a statement obtained by the Fresno Bee, which read: 'On behalf of Fresno State, I extend my deepest condolences to the Bush family on the loss of our former First Lady, Barbara Bush. 'We share the deep concerns expressed by others over the personal comments made today by professor Randa Jarrar, a professor in the English department at Fresno State.' He added: 'Her statements were made as a private citizen, not as a representative at Fresno State. 'Professor Jarrar's expressed personal views and commentary are obviously contrary to the core values of our University, which include respect and empathy for individuals with divergent points of view, and a sincere commitment to mutual understanding and progress.' Police in North Carolina say a man killed his girlfriend and two of her children, wounded three of their siblings and then turned the gun on himself in a triple murder-suicide. Asheville Police Chief Tammy Hooper announced at a press conference on Thursday that Maurice Laron Garner, 35, attacked the family Wednesday night after arguing with his girlfriend at the hospital where she worked. Hooper said 32-year-old Erica Nichelle Smith was killed, as were her 15-year-old son, Keithan Whitmire, and 13-year-old daughter, Harmony Smith. A triple murder-suicide in Asheville, North Carolina, Wednesday claimed the lives of Harmony Smith, 13 (left), her brother Keithan Whitmire, 15 (right), their mother and her boyfriend Crime scene: Gunfire erupted inside Erica Smith's home on Hansel Avenue in Asheville on Wednesday night A 10-year-old boy who was grazed by a bullet called 911 for help. An 8-year-old and 12-year-old also had non-life threatening injuries in the shooting. Erica's sixth and youngest child, a sixth-year-old boy, was not at home at the time of the shooting and was unharmed. The chief said Garner's body was found in a car nearby with a self-inflicted gunshot wound. It doesn't appear that Garner was the father of any of the children. According to the police chief, the incident began unfolding earlier in the day when Garner came to his girlfriends place of work at Mission Hospital and the couple got into an argument. Just after 10.30pm on Wednesday, police responded to the familys home on Hansel Avenue in Asheville after reports of multiple victims suffering from gunshot wounds. Police found the gunman, 35-year-old Maurice Garner, dead from a self-inflicted gunshot wound Erica Smith, a mother-of-six, was pronounced dead at the scene of the shooting Officers located Erica Smith, who succumbed to her injuries. Her wounded children were transported to Mission Hospital, where the oldest son and daughter were also pronounced dead. Smith's 12-year-old son remains hospitalized with a gunshot wound to the leg. The younger children have been released and are now being cared for by staff at the Mountain Children Advocacy Center. Harmony,was an eight-grader at Asheville Middle School where she was a track star Garner did not have a prior criminal history and the Asheville Police Department had not received calls from the Hansel Avenue address concerning domestic violence. Family member Alexis Cromer told WLOS that Erica had broken up with Garner but he wanted to get back together and was angry and jealous. Erica is survived by her twin sister and three other siblings, reported Asheville Citizen-Times. Her eldest daughter, Harmony, was an eight-grader at Asheville Middle School, where she won first place in a track and field meet just hours before her death. Her son Keithan was an honor student and a wrestler at Asheville High School. The family's long-time neighbor Kwana Bailey told the paper as the eldest boy in the family, he felt like he was the man of the house and was protective of his mother. 'He probably took the first few bullets for his mother, knowing Keithan,' she speculated. Advertisement Prince William and Harry joined the Queen and Prince Charles as they hosted a state dinner for the Commonwealth leaders at Buckingham Palace, though heavily pregnant Kate and Meghan Markle enjoyed an evening off royal duties. Her Majesty was hailed as an 'icon' of the Commonwealth tonight by an African statesman who expressed the organisation's regret that she plans to wind down her work with it. In a toast to the monarch at a Buckingham Palace dinner for leaders and foreign ministers from the Commonwealth's 53 nations, Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, offered their thanks to her. 'We're led to to understand that she'll be winding down her duties as head of the Commonwealth,' he said of the Queen. 'This toast thus takes on an added significance, for it falls upon me to express the depth of our collective regret that she will no longer automatically be present at our proceedings. 'It is my fervent hope that the deep love she has held for this association will continue to light the way for all of us.' He paid tribute to her ability to put visiting politicians at their ease and told 130 guests in the Picture Gallery: 'She will always be an icon of the Commonwealth.' The dinner, the first time that the Queen has hosted an evening meal in the Picture Gallery, had the air of a farewell party for the monarch, who will be 92 on Saturday and no longer travels abroad. Her Majesty greeting Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in a receiving line for the Queen's Dinner for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Britain's Prince Charles greets India's Prime Narendra Modi in a receiving line for the Queen's Dinner on Thursday night Queen Elizabeth II greets Jacinda Ardern, Prime Minister of New Zealand, in the Blue Drawing Room In a toast to the monarch at a Buckingham Palace dinner for leaders and foreign ministers from the Commonwealth's 53 nations, Ghana's President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo- Addo, offered their thanks to her Prime Minister Theresa May was one of the first to arrive to the dinner, wearing a dark green and black evening gown with red patent heels, and was accompanied by her husband Philip May The Queen hosted a dinner for Commonwealth leaders and their spouses tonight in the Buckingham Palace Picture Gallery. Pictured l-r: The Prince of Wales, Queen Elizabeth II, Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland and Prime Minister Theresa May in the Blue Drawing Room The Ghanaian President said: 'We're led to to understand that she'll be winding down her duties as Head of the Commonwealth. This toast thus takes on an added significance, for it falls upon me to express the depth of our collective regret that she will no longer automatically be present at proceedings. The organisation will undoubtedly be all the poorer for it. 'We will miss her inspiring presence, her calm, her steadiness and, above all, her great love and belief in the higher purpose of this Commonwealth of nations in its capacity to be a force for Good.' He praised 'Her Majesty's legendary ability to put you at ease' as well as her 'lightness, her style and the sheer joy with which she carries out her duties'. 'It is my fervent hope that the deep love she has shown for this association will continue to light the way for all of us,' he continued. 'She will always be an icon of the Commonwealth.' In an ivory white, beaded lace dress decorated with crystal daisies and designed by Angela Kelly, the Queen, wearing the Queen Mart tiara, a ruby and diamond necklace with matching earrings, and the Garter Star, welcomes her guests to her home. 'It is with great pleasure that I welcome you all here tonight. As head of the Commonwealth, I am delighted to be able to host this occasion in the United Kingdom, for the first time in many years. 'This dinner is always an opportunity for us to come together, as friends, and I am grateful that so many of you are here with us this time.' 'I know that all of my family join me in wishing you a very enjoyable evening. Thank you.' The younger royals were out in force at the dinner. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry were joined by their cousins Princess Beatrice and Eugenie as well as older members of the family. The Queen looked especially delighted to greet Canada's Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. The Queen was hailed as an 'icon' of the Commonwealth tonight by an African statesman who expressed the organisation's regret that she plans to wind down her work with it Britain's Prince Charles speaks to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May before taking part in a receiving line Britain's Prince Charles, Prince of Wales greets Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau Britain's Prince William speaks to guests during a reception at the Queen's Dinner for the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Britain's Prince Harry attends the Queen's Dinner at Buckingham Palace in the week of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Prince Harry speaks with Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau during a reception after a receiving line THE MENU FOR THE QUEEN'S DINNER COURSES Watercress Panna Cotta with quails' eggs and parmesan shortbread Filet of halibut with salmon quenelles, asparagus and truffles, selection of spring vegetables, Jersey royal potatoes, avocado and tomato salad Rhubarb and ginger mousseline WINE Windsor Great Park Vineyard 2014 English quality sparkling wine Eradus Awatere Valley sauvignon blanc 2017 Marlborough, New Zealand Mornington Peninsula pinot noir Crittenden Estate 2016 Australia Kyperounda Commandaria Pitsilia Mountains, Cyprus 2008 Advertisement And Trudeau seemed to be the man of the hour as he chatted with Prince Harry, after earlier admitting he'd be missing the royal wedding next month, saying: 'I of course wish them the very best but I have important responsibilities elsewhere.' At tonight's black tie dinner, the 130 guests enjoyed a three-course meal washed down with wines from England, New Zealand, Australia, and Cyprus. A steady stream of world leaders began arriving at Buckingham Palace shortly before 7pm. Prime Minister Theresa May was one of the first to arrive to the dinner, wearing a dark green and black evening gown with red patent heels, and was accompanied by her husband Philip May. The lavish dinner is ahead of anointing the Queen's successor on Friday, as she told foreign dignitaries earlier today of her 'sincere wish' that they pick Prince Charles to take over as leader of the Commonwealth. One-by-one luxury cars arrived to the palace, each dropping off a foreign leader in black tie attire. Representatives of each of the 53 member nations arrived in a convoy of Range Rovers, each escorted by a detective. Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull was accompanied by wife Lucy, while New Zealand's visibly pregnant Prime Minister Jacinta Ardern arrived with her partner Clarke Gayford. Trudeau smiled and waved to the cameras as he arrived alone for a drinks reception ahead of the dinner. There were plenty of colourful outfits, with many guests arriving in traditional dress for the dinner in the Palace's picture gallery. India's Narendra Modi was the last to arrive. The Queen and Prince Charles will receive Commonwealth Heads of Government and their spouses in the Blue Drawing Room, before moving to the Picture Gallery for the night's meal, followed by a speech from Her Majesty. Normally she would use the Ballroom as a banqueting venue but that was used today for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Britain's Queen Elizabeth greets Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina The younger royals were out in force at the dinner. The Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry were joined by their cousins Princess Beatrice and Eugenie as well as older members of the family Britain's Queen Elizabeth greets St Kitts and Nevis' Prime Minister Timothy Harris Guests dine in the Picture Gallery at The Queen's Dinner during The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Often the venue for royal drinks receptions, the gallery was created by John Nash as part of his transformation of Buckingham House into a palace for George IV from 1825 and designed as a setting for his art collection. The 47-metre room contains works from many periods, almost all acquired by one of four great picture collectors: George IV, his father George III and grandfather Frederick, Prince of Wales, as well as perhaps the great royal picture collector, Charles I. The first wine served, Windsor Great Park Vineyard 2014 English quality sparkling wine, is a commercial operation on the Crown Estate (ie not the Royal Family's own vineyard). Every guest had their own butter dish. Among the china used was a Green Sevres dessert service from the 1790s made of soft-paste porcelain for Louis XVI. It was purchased by George IV when he was Prince Regent and the service was used at Carlton House in the 1820s. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau (right) attended and earlier admitted he'd be missing the royal wedding next month, saying: 'I of course wish them the very best but I have important responsibilities elsewhere' New Zealand's Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern arrives with her husband. The couple are included in the 130 guests expected to attend the Queen's Dinner on Thursday night Prime Minister Theresa May was one of the first to arrive to the dinner, wearing a black evening gown with red patent heels, and was accompanied by her husband Philip May Australian PM Malcolm Turnbull was accompanied by wife Lucy. There were plenty of colourful outfits, with many guests arriving in traditional dress for the dinner in the Palace's picture gallery Jamaica's Prime Minister Andrew Holness arrives with his wife. Britain's relationship with the Commonwealth has been clouded by diplomatic missteps and the legacy of empire, including the Windrush scandal Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland arrives to attend The Queen's Dinner during The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, at Buckingham Palace Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle attended a Women's Empowerment reception hosted by the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson . Prince Harry joined the dinner later on Prince Harry and his bride-to-be Meghan Markle attended a Women's Empowerment reception hosted by the Foreign Secretary, Boris Johnson. Prince Harry is expected to join the dinner later on. The morning's spectacle of pomp and pageantry saw guests from around the world welcomed with a guard of honour with flag bearers displaying the flags of the Commonwealth's 53 member states. Before the dinner, Her Majesty, accompanied by Charles hosted a lunch reception for new Heads of Government, who have never attended CHOGM before. She chatted with the Prime Minister of the Bahamas Hubert Minnis and Jacinda Ardern, the Prime Minister of New Zealand. The Prince of Wales was seen talking with Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi. In a highly unusual move earlier in the day, the Queen, who turns 92 on Saturday, made clear her thoughts on succession, as she said she hoped her son would be able to 'carry on the important work started by my father in 1949'. The position is not hereditary, but Prince Charles, who is also the heir to the thrones of 16 Commonwealth nations, is expected to get the nod, despite unease among ardent republicans such as Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Among the china used was a Green Sevres dessert service from the 1790s made of soft-paste porcelain for Louis XVI. It was purchased by George IV when he was Prince Regent and the service was used at Carlton House in the 1820s. Pictured: Nigeria's President Muhammadu Buhari arrives to attend The Queen's Dinner Singapore's Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong arrives to attend The Queen's Dinner One-by-one luxury cars arrived to the palace, each dropping off a foreign leader in black tie attire. Pictured: Pakistan's Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi with his wife Representatives of each of the 53 member nations arrived in a convoy of Range Rovers, each escorted by a detective. Pictured: Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina What is the Commonwealth? Known formally as the Commonwealth of Nations, the group is a free association of 53 member states. It dates back about 75 years and followed the decolonisation of the British Empire. As countries sought greater self-governance in the mid-20th century, a new body was set up which united members states not by any legal obligation, but instead by shared values of democracy, freedom of speech and human rights. The Commonwealth was formally constituted by the London Declaration, which established the members as 'free and equal' in 1949. The Queen remains head of state for 16 member states, she has no formal position in several other nations of the Commonwealth, such as India, Sri Lanka and Pakistan. The Commonwealth accounts for about a third of the planet's population, or 2.4 billion people. Advertisement Downing Street said on Monday that a decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as Commonwealth head was expected from the heads of state on Friday, and reports have stated the mood is Charles will get their backing. Born out of the former British empire, the voluntary organisation, covering a third of the world's population, typically focuses on development and democracy, but is placing greater attention on boosting trade. During the two days of talks, the group is hoping to agree an ocean governance charter, an agenda for trade and investment, and a declaration on tackling cyber crime. Given its highly diverse membership, if agreements can be struck within the Commonwealth, they can likely achieve wider support. At the last Commonwealth summit in 2015, leaders struck a deal on climate change that helped pave the way for the Paris agreement days afterwards. Friday's sessions take place at Windsor Castle, west of London, where the leaders are left entirely alone to discuss whatever they wish. On Thursday morning, the streets around Buckingham Palace were cordoned off, as motorcades carried guests into the forecourt for the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. The royals were out in force for the opening ceremony, with the Queen and Charles joined by the Duchess of Cornwall, the Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, the Duke of York, the Princess Royal, the Countess of Wessex and the Duke of Kent, Prince and Princess Michael of Kent and Princess Alexandra. Queen Elizabeth, who has been the group's symbolic figurehead since 1952, gave up long-haul travel in support of the biennial summit in 2013 and the 2020 gathering is set to be held in Malaysia. In her opening speech on Thursday morning, Queen Elizabeth spoke of her own 'extraordinary journey' as head of the Commonwealth, which started under her father King George VI with the London Declaration of 1949. She said: 'When I meet the young leaders of this century I meet my own lifelong commitment made in Africa in 1947 at the age of 21. 'As another birthday approaches this week I'm reminded of the extraordinary journey I've been on and how much good has been achieved.' The lavish dinner is ahead of anointing the Queen's successor on Friday, as she told foreign dignitaries earlier today of her 'sincere wish' that they pick Prince Charles to take over as leader of the Commonwealth. Pictured: Sri Lanka's President Maithripala Sirisena Cyprus's President Nicos Anastasiades arrives to attend The Queen's Dinner during The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting at Buckingham Palace Pictured: Kenya's President Uhuru Kenyatta. The morning's spectacle of pomp and pageantry saw guests from around the world welcomed with a guard of honour with flag bearers displaying the flags of the Commonwealth's 53 member states The Queen and Prince Charles welcomed dozens of world leaders to feast at Buckingham Palace for a state dinner on Thursday evening. Pictured: The two earlier in the day Queen Elizabeth continued: 'It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as head of the Commonwealth and to observe with pride and satisfaction that this is a flourishing network. 'It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations - and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales will carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. 'By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities I believe we will secure a prosperous and more sustainable world for those who follow us. 'A world where the Commonwealth generosity of spirit can bring its gentle touch of healing and hope to all.' The biennial Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is being held in London for the first time in two decades. The Prince of Wales and the Duchess of Cornwall are pictured riding in a car along The Mall in London after the formal opening in Buckingham Palace of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Joseph Muscat, Prime Minister of Malta (left), Prime Minister Theresa May, the Queen and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia Scotland (right) The Prince of Wales greets the Prime Minister of Pakistan Shahid Khaqan Abbasi at Clarence House this afternoon, following an opening ceremony at Buckingham Palace But Britain's relationship with the Commonwealth has been clouded by diplomatic missteps and the legacy of empire. May had to apologise this week after it emerged that some people who came to the U.K. from Caribbean decades ago had been refused medical care in Britain or threatened with deportation because they could not produce paperwork to show their right to residence. The Commonwealth is officially committed to democracy and human rights, but its rights record is mixed. Many look with pride on the organisation's role in the 1970s and '80s in trying to end apartheid in South Africa. But many Commonwealth nations have been plagued by corruption or destabilised by coups. Zimbabwe's former president, Robert Mugabe, pulled his country out of the group in 2003 after it was suspended for widespread human rights abuses. Gambia quit in 2013, calling the Commonwealth a 'neocolonial institution.' It rejoined earlier this year. Still, the Commonwealth provides support for democracy and corruption-fighting, and gives its smaller members the chance to be part of an international network. Attempts to expand the club beyond former British colonies have had modest success, with Mozambique and Rwanda joining in recent years. The survival of the Commonwealth owes much to the commitment of the queen, who has visited almost every member country - often multiple times - over her 66-year-reign. The tale about Jack, Rose, and the Heart of the Ocean have become almost as well-known as the story of the Titanic itself. But there is one scene in James Cameron's iconic film that didn't make the final cut, of a boat rescuing a Chinese man still clinging to life on a wooden plank. While the scene was never seen in the Oscar winner, it depicted a real moment in history that few knew about. Filmmakers Arthur Jones and Steven Schwankert are hoping to correct that with The Six, a documentary about the Chinese men who survived the sinking of the Titanic. Scroll down for video Filmmakers Arthur Jones and Steven Schwankert have made The Six, a documentary about the six Chinese men who survived the sinking of the Titanic (pictured) Eight Chinese men boarded the Titanic, their names on a single ticket (pictured): Ah Lam, Fang Lang, Len Lam, Cheong Foo, Chang Chip, Ling Hee, Lee Bing and Lee Ling The story of the Titanic was legendary long before Cameron immortalized it in film form. About 1,500 people were killed when the RMS Titanic - nicknamed 'The Unsinkable Ship' - struck an iceberg in the Atlantic Ocean on April 14, 1912. Only around 700 people survived, most in lifeboats while a rare few managed to cling to the wreckage and wait for help to arrive in freezing waters But almost nothing is known about the eight Chinese men who boarded the Titanic, and the six of them who survived. Their names can still be found on a single ticket for third-class passengers: Ah Lam, Fang Lang, Len Lam, Cheong Foo, Chang Chip, Ling Hee, Lee Bing and Lee Ling. The filmmakers determined that it was likely all eight men, who were professional sailors working in Britain, knew each other before boarding the Titanic (pictured is one survivor) They discovered that the men were on the Titanic en route to Cuba, scheduled to dock the a freighter boat known as the Annetta in New York. (Pictured is one of the eight men) Jones and Schwankert determined that it was likely all eight men, who were professional sailors working in Britain, knew each other before boarding the Titanic. They discovered that the men were on the Titanic en route to Cuba, scheduled to board a freighter boat known as The Annetta in New York. 'The reason they were traveling on Titanic in the first place is for work,' Schwankert told The Washington Post. 'They were professional mariners, and they were being seconded from their company in the UK to go and work on the companies in North America.' The men were bunked up in the steerage, the lowest class of the cabins. Only 20 per cent of non-British men in the steerage survived the sinking. Jones and Schwankert then discovered that, despite surviving the horrific experience, none of the six men were permitted to enter the United States (pictured is one of the survivors) The men's names are seen her listed in a newspaper report of who survived the wreckage Five of the eight men escaped the ship on lifeboats, and four of them were in 'Collapsible C'. Collapsible C was a backup escape vessel and one of the last lifeboats to leave the ship. It was not full when it was found by rescuers. Also inside the lifeboat was Joseph Bruce Ismay, the chairman of the company which owned the Titanic, as well as George T Rowe, the ship's quartermaster. Both men later testified to the presence of the four Chinese men in their lifeboat. The sixth surviving man, as seen in Cameron's cut clip, was found in the sea by a lifeboat which had returned to the wreckage to search for survivors. Jones and Schwankert then discovered that, despite surviving the horrific experience, none of the six men were permitted to enter the United States. Just a day after arriving in New York, the men were forced to board the Annetta and head straight for the Caribbean to work on fruit ships. Of the six survivors, five made it onto lifeboats and one man was rescued while clinging to a wooden plank out at sea His rescue was depicted in a cut scene (pictured) from James Cameron's famous film Titanic This was due to the Chinese Exclusion Act, a law passed in 1882 by President Chester A Arthur that forbid all Chinese laborers from immigrating to the country. Unlike other survivors, the Chinese men were not allowed to bypass screening at Ellis Island and they received no medical aid. 'They were not treated humanely,' Jones said. 'We know they lost close friends on board. And yet they weren't given the option of staying.' 'Not only did they have to leave in 24 hours, they were held overnight in custody. They were detained.' Even stranger is that, after the men boarded the Annetta, they seemed to completely vanish from history. 'It really started to bother me. Like, why don't we know?' Schwankert said. Five of the eight men escaped the ship on lifeboats, and four of them were in 'Collapsible C', a backup escape vessel (depicted in The Six) Jones and Schwankert have spent more than two years trying to find the answer, traveling everywhere from the US to the UK, Cuba to China, and the Caribbean as well. The filmmakers launched a website, whoarethesix.com, to try and find tips regarding the survivors for the documentary, which is still in production. They have since found descendants of the six men, many of whom had no idea they had any connection to the Titanic. And, as the film's trailer shows, there are reveals of 'family secrets' and people who 'carried to their grave the secret of their true identity'. But for Jones and Schwankert, the documentary has not just been about solving a mystery. 'We're trying to give them that place in history,' they said. 'This is who they are.' Republican Sen. Ron Johnson kicked off Thursday in Washington by telling CNN that 'it's way too early' to say whether he'll support President Trump in the next presidential election. 'It could be a completely different world by 2020. We have a 2018 election first,' Johnson said, who then chided CNN's Chris Cuomo for asking him a 'gotcha question.' Johnson wasn't alone in his tepid response. Sen. Ron Johnson (pictured) told CNN on Thursday that it was 'too early' to say whether he would support the re-election bid of President Donald Trump Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn (left) and Sen. Bob Corker (right), both Republicans, also said it was too early to say who they would be backing for president in 2020 Sen. Lindsey Graham, a South Carolina Republican, said he believed President Trump would run for re-election and pledged his support to the current occupant of the Oval Office 'I don't know what the world is going to look like,' Senate Majority Whip John Cornyn told CNN when asked if he planned to endorse Trump's second bid for the White House. 'But let's say it's not something I've given any thought to.' When CNN's Manu Raju asked the lawmaker several days later if he'd had enough time to make a decision, Cornyn's answer was the same. 'I haven't even thought about that election,' Cornyn replied. 'I'm worried about the midterm election.' Sen. Bob Corker, who's retiring early next year and had a very public feud with Trump in October, hinted that he thought Trump may not run. 'I have no idea whether the president will run for re-election nor what the field will be on the Republican side, so I think it's way too early to weigh in on who won my support,' Corker also said Thursday morning on CNN, adding that he was 'definitely not sure if [Trump was] going to run.' When asked by the network's Alisyn Camerota if he would support Trump as the party's nominee, Corker wavered there too. 'Again, if he's the nominee, you mean he's wont the primary?' Corker asked back. 'Well I want to know who else is in the field. The Tennessee Republican said he would endorse a presidential candidate once he knew the line-up. The CNN story prompted Sen. Lindsey Graham, a political foe of Trump's in the 2016 cycle who has since warmed up to him, to pledge his support for the current POTUS. 'As to the 2020 presidential race, I believe President @RealDonaldTrump will run for reelection and I intend to support him,' Graham tweeted on Thursday. On his inauguration day, Trump filed paperwork with the Federal Election Commission to ensure he was able to raise funds toward his re-election. This February, he named Brad Parscale his campaign manager for a 2020 bid. And the president is holding campaign rallies, like the one being held a week from Saturday in Washington, Michigan, which will be counter-programming to the glitzy White House Correspondents' Dinner being held back in Washington, D.C. That being said, there's still some speculation that Trump may not run or could fall to a primary challenger, if Republicans get slaughtered in the 2018 midterm elections. The New York Times reported Tuesday that some close to the White House see Vice President Mike Pence and U.N. Amb. Nikki Haley teaming up on a 2020 ticket, though the report doesn't indicate whether that would be a scenario in which they would take on Trump, or merely take his place, if he decides not to seek re-election. Ohio Gov. John Kasich could also launch a primary bid, and is being encouraged to do so by former California Gov. Arnold Schwarzenegger, who endorsed Kasich in 2016 as well. 'John, get back to Washington and kick some butt and take care of this mess, once and for all. We can't take it anymore,' the actor said at an event for California Republicans last month. A television station tower has collapsed in Missouri, killing one and injuring five others. The sudden fall took place Thursday morning around 10am while six male workers were performing routine maintenance on the tower in Fordland. One maintenance worker died when the tower fell and he became trapped in the metal and wires, the Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District said. The five other workers were also injured with non life-threatening injuries, according to the Springfield News-Leader. A television tower in Missouri collapsed as six workers were performing routine maintenance on the 1,980ft structure, killing one and injuring the other five Six male workers were replacing crossbeams on the tower when it fell into a mangle of metal Courtesy: KYTV Three have been transported to Springfield for medical evaluation. A seventh man working in a nearby structure was not injured. As of Thursday evening the victim's next of kin was pending notification. The workers were about 105ft up when the 1,980ft tower fell. Lee Brown, who lives in the area, reported hearing the alarming sound of the tower crashing. He said it sounded like a 'car crash magnified by 500' and that it lasted for just a few seconds, to the Springfield News-Leader. The tower is owned by Missouri State University and is used to broadcast KOZK Ozarks Public Television and KSMU Ozarks Public Radio. The 1,980ft structure pictured above before the fall. It is owned by Missouri State University University spokeswoman Andrea Mostyn says the workers were contractors from Washington state and were replacing crossbeams on the tower when it took the unexpected fall. Around 50 to 60 emergency workers responded to the collapse that took place near the 905 State Highway, Assistant Chief Rob Talburt said. 'It's very lucky that we didn't have more fatalities out here,' Talburt said to the Springfield News-Leader. He said that the fallen workers were in a 'state of shock' with the accident. Missouri State University released a statement in light of the accident. 'We are shocked and saddened by the news. Our condolences go out to the victims and their families. We are also providing support and resources to the other team members affected,' the statement said. The cause of the collapse is under investigation by the Occupational Safety and Health Administration and such investigations are completed within six months. Alfie Evans' father has claimed that Pope Francis looked him in the eye and told him he was doing the right thing during his meeting yesterday. Tom Evans, 21, arrived back in the UK at 1.45pm and gave a speech outside Manchester Airports Terminal Three after landing. Mr Evans also claimed he had a letter in his suitcase from Mariella Enoc, the president of the Bambino Gesu Hospital in Rome, stating they were ready to take Alfie and that she was willing to testify in court that they could help the child. According to Mr Evans, he was shaking with nerves when he met with the pontiff during a 20-minute private audience at the Vatican but was heartened to hear words of support. He vowed to return to Alder Hey Childrens Hospital in Liverpool in a bid to secure his brain-damaged sons release and to allow him to be flown to Italy for treatment. Alder Hey has successfully argued in court that there is nothing more they can do for Alfie, but Mr Evans and Alfies mum Kate James, 20, have appealed the decision to withdraw his life support in the Supreme Court. Alfie Evans' father Tom returned from Rome today after a 20-minute private audience with Pope Francis in the Vatican Mr Evans claimed that the Pope looked him in the eye and told him he was doing the right thing during their meeting Speaking outside the airport Tom said: 'The Pope stated that he wants Alfie in his country and thats what the president of Bambino Gesu has said today. She is willing I come over and testify in court, her and the team. 'Ive met the team twice. Ive got a letter handed to me on behalf of the Pope and the hospital president showing how much they want to take Alfie on. 'Im going to go to the hospital [Alder Hey] to show them what the hospital [in Italy] can provide for him. 'If they dont listen to the Pope its going to be a diplomatic problem. 'If theyve seen how the Pope reacted Im just hopeful now that theyll shake their heads and realise that theres a lot of limelight on him [Alfie] now. 'I will do whatever it takes to get Alfie out. The Pope actually stated that I was right and to let God decide. Not Alder Hey, not the doctors here not any parents either. 'I feel like Im being listened to and the Pope praised how much courage [Alfie] has got. Hes got the strength of God and Im only doing it for Alfie, to protect Alfies safety and to protect his life. Alfie's doctors say they are 'unanimous' that any more treatment would be 'futile' - but the Catholic church is opposed 'The fact of the matter is no one decides life unless God does or the child does.' The Pope led a silent moment of prayer for Alfie and in his second appeal this week for the little boy he said the only one who can give and take life is God, adding: 'It's our duty to do everything to care for life.' Mr Evans claimed today that he had already planned to go over to Italy to gain assurance from Bambino Gesu that the hospital would treat his son. Q&A: Can Alfie be saved at the 11th hour? Can doctors end Alfie's life against his parents' wishes? Alder Hey Hospital took Alfie's case to the High Court and a judge agreed to allow them to end his treatment because it was not in his best interests. The Court of Appeal, the Supreme Court and the European Court of Human Rights all rejected appeals by his parents, who believe they should have the final say on their son's treatment. In Britain the rights of the patient override the wishes of the parents if doctors disagree. For example there are several cases where Jehovah's Witnesses are given a blood transfusion by doctors despite religious objections from parents. Can the doctors change their mind and not turn off his life support? Yes. Alder Hey could go back to the High Court to stop the order they fought for this year. The process of gaining a Consent Order could be done on an urgent basis and completed in less than two hours. Experts have told MailOnline this is the only way he could travel to Rome for treatment. Can the hospital stop his parents taking him out of the country without permission? Yes. If doctors believe that any parent will cause suffering to their child, police can be called in to arrest them using Powers of Protection legislation. In the case of young cancer sufferer Ashya King his parents faced a European Arrest Warrant after absconding with their son who was in hospital. Alfieis on a ventilator so would require a team of medical staff to move him and his equipment. If parents still refuse to accept treatment should be withdrawn, can the hospital end it anyway? Yes. Police could be called in to facilitate treatment being ended if parents were violently preventing it - although it is highly unlikely this would happen. Doctors are more likely to try to 'persuade' parents to let it happen. If the parties remain at loggerheads for a long period the hospital could go back to court for an injunction and ask a judge to set a deadline for treatment to be withdrawn. Advertisement He said: 'I was going to stand outside all day. I wasnt coming home until I had something and I come home with a personal message to me from the president, whos ready to come over to see Alfie anytime and wants to get Alfie over there. 'Shes willing to take Alfie because they do this for any child. They welcome any child with open arms. 'Im 100 per cent willing to leave this country.' Mr Evans said he hoped the letter he claimed to have in his suitcase from Bambino Gesu Hospital would convince doctors to let Alfie leave. He added: 'They need to realise if they disagree with the Pope and the hospitals president theres going to be a lot of questions asked. 'As soon as I get to the hospital Im going to be making phone calls to let them know its not over yet, Im going to search and reach out to people. 'We just hope that the hospital [Alder Hey] agree to the letter that the president has handed me which is in my luggage. 'Its far from over. Alfie will tell us when its over.' Alfie's father also asked the Pope to consider granting his son asylum and told him: 'Please help us save our innocent child and give us the grace of asylum to keep our family safe and to stop all of this. 'If your holiness helps our child you will be potentially saving the future for our children in the UK, especially the disabled. 'We pray the problem we are facing is solved peacefully and respectfully no child deserves this, especially not a child of God'. In the 20 minute meeting set up by an Italian bishop the Pope offered new support from the Vatican's secretary of state to ensure a 'decisive diplomatic channel is opened up for Alfie' and to ensure 'the dignity of his life is respected'. Tom Evans has asked the Pope to grant his son asylum. Charlie Gard, a British child who died last year, was even given legal and permanent residence in the US by Congress in order to allow him to fly to America for treatment. But legal sources said at the time that because he was the subject of a High Court order and it makes no difference what passport he holds. Pope Francis this week used his traditional Sunday blessing in St Peter's Square to say he's praying for British brain damaged toddler. He expressed hope that he would 'always be respected in dignity and cared for in a way suitable to their conditions, with the agreement of family members, doctors and health workers.' Supreme Court justices have been asked to consider the case for a second time after his parents argued he is being wrongly 'detained' by doctors they claim are keeping him prisoner. Their campaign has support from thousands across the globe, especially from within the Catholic Church, but Alfie's doctors are 'unanimous' that any more treatment would be 'futile'. Alder Hey had won the legal right to withdraw life support last week but the series of court challenges has delayed this. Alfie's parents have called on supporters to stop protesting outside the hospital where he is being treated as police investigate alleged threats against staff. The Pope met Mr Evans before his weekly audience in St Peter's Square at the Vatican Tom Evans, was also invited to the event after the Pontiff told hospital bosses that only God can take away life Hundreds of people have gathered outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool to show support, but police are investigating reports of 'verbal abuse and intimidation'. Mr Evans has now called on supporters to stand down the protests to minimise disruption to the hospital. He wrote on Facebook: 'Can I ask that after tonight I would really appreciate if everyone has a break from the protesting please? 'Me and Kate are so so so grateful for all your time you have put into it and support. We can not thank you enough. 'I will update you on where we go from here and if we get permission then that would be a good reason to demonstrate peacefully. 'Me and Kate need to focus on spending precious time with Alfie and focus on the next legal step, keeping the relationship with the staff at ease and peace and make sure no parents are being affected any more. 'Thank you all so, so much. Please, please share this so everyone gets the message.' The parents apologised over the reported threats on Tuesday. Mr Evans said in a statement: 'Deepest apologies from me and Kate James to the parents and staff effected by the protest/demonstration, it wasn't mine Kate's or anyone else intention to harm or cause conflict or upset. 'We just wanted to take our son to give him the chance he deserves.' The family lost their latest legal fight at the Court of Appeal where they were asking judges to rule Alfie should be allowed to travel to a foreign hospital. Despite the decision, Mr Evans gave a defiant speech saying they are 'stronger than ever' and will never give up on the 23-month-old boy. He said: 'We want to know they can't break us and we're never gonna back down. Alfie, the family, and all of our supporters are stronger than ever and we will keep fighting all the way. We will never give up on you Alfie.' Alfie Evans' father Tom, 21, gave an emotional speech outside the hospital yesterday. He said: 'Alfie, the family, and all of our supporters are stronger than ever and we will keep fighting all the way. We will never give up on you Alfie' After his speech (left), Tom shared a photo of Alfie with his eyes open (right). He wrote: He's fighting not dying, he's undiagnosed not terminal, HE HAS NOT GOT MITOCHONDRIAL!!!!! After his speech, Mr Evans posted the photo on Facebook with the caption: 'He's fighting not dying, he's undiagnosed not terminal, HE HAS NOT GOT MITOCHONDRIAL!!!!!' Chief Inspector Chris Gibson said officers 'recognise the sensitivities involved in this very difficult and sad situation'. 'Whilst many people have gathered to protest in a peaceful way, Merseyside Police is now investigating a small number of reports, some of which originate from social media, as well as instances of verbal abuse and acts of intimidation from those outside the hospital,' he added. 'This is extremely unhelpful for all concerned and we are investigating further to establish the full circumstances. 'We would like to remind the public that this is a hospital for sick children and it should not be forgotten that many families are going through extremely challenging and emotional times. 'We would ask protesters to respect families and staff, including the poorly children in the wards and to ensure that access to the hospital is not restricted at any time, so that services including the blood and ambulance service can run as efficiently as possible.' Alfie's parents Tom Evans and Kate James (pictured with their son) have apologised on Facebook after the police announced they were investigating reports of intimidation and verbal abuse outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool A bouncy castle and a gazebo were put up on Tuesday as protests entered a fourth day The court heard on Monday that the protest outside the hospital has caused road blockages which stopped NHS staff and the family of other sick children from accessing the hospital. Lord Justice Moylan said: 'We are told that some members of hospital of staff could not get to the hospital because of road blockage and that some staff and family members in the hospital could not gain entry. 'They said that some of the supporters had entered the paediatric intensive care ward.' The couple have already lost fights in the High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights but may ask the Supreme Court to consider the case for a second time. In February, Mr Justice Hayden ruled that doctors at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool could stop treating Alfie against the wishes of his parents following hearings in the Family Division of the High Court in London and Liverpool. Specialists at Alder Hey said life-support treatment should stop and Mr Justice Hayden said he accepted medical evidence which showed that further treatment was futile. Alfie's parents say 'the state' is wrongly interfering with their parental choice. They want to move Alfie to a hospital in Rome. The 23-month-old's parents have also shared this image on Facebook of the toddler in hospital Mr Justice Hayden said flying Alfie to a foreign hospital would be wrong and pointless and the Court of Appeal judges upheld his decisions. Supreme Court justices and European Court of Human Rights judges refused to intervene. What's next for Alfie Evans? Supreme Court justices might be asked to consider the case for a second time because his parents are using a piece of ancient English common law during the latest stage of their fight for treatment. The couple say Italian doctors are willing to treat the little boy and an air ambulance is available. They are now arguing that Alfie is being wrongly 'detained' at Alder Hey and have made a habeas corpus application. A writ of habeas corpus - Latin for 'you may have the body' - is a legal manoeuvre which requires a court to examine the legality of a detention. It is a piece of common law which probably dates back to Anglo-Saxon times. Advertisement Last week, Mr Justice Hayden endorsed a detailed plan put forward by Alder Hey doctors for withdrawing life-support treatment, after considering a number of issues at a follow-up High Court hearing. Barrister Paul Diamond, who represented Alfie's parents, on Monday asked the three appeal judges to overturn decisions made by Mr Justice Hayden last week. Alfie's parents say their son has improved in recent weeks and had asked Mr Justice Hayden to allow a new assessment. Mr Hayden refused that request. He said medical experts' unanimous view was that Alfie's brain had been eroded by disease and further assessment was pointless. They also suggested that Alfie was being unlawfully detained at Alder Hey. The judge also dismissed that suggestion. Appeal court officials said an appeal court judge had decided that Alfie should continue to receive treatment pending the outcome of Monday's Court of Appeal hearing. Judges have heard that Alfie, born on May 9 2016, is in a 'semi-vegetative state' and has a degenerative neurological condition. As news from the court filtered through to Alfie's supporters at the hospital, tears mixed with anger and police officers fanned out around the crowd, who began a chant of 'Save Alfie Evans!'. Alfie's Army has urged people to be 'respectful at all times' or face being sent away Alfie's doctors are unanimous that any treatment is 'futile' as the hospital caring for him urged protesters not to disturb other patients after a bouncy castle went up outside. Alfie's parents have also urged supporters to be 'respectful' after people visiting Alder Hey in Liverpool complained about the noise. Men on scrambler bikes have performed noisy wheelies outside the children's hospital where Alfie has been since December 2016, while there were also reports of protesters singing through a karaoke machine and even drinking alcohol. Yesterday the Pope intervened in the case of the British boy, appealing for his life to be shown 'respect' as his Vatican children's hospital offered to treat him. Lord Justice Davis, who is heading the three-strong panel of appeal judges, told lawyers that at the start of the hearing that doctors had agreed that there was 'no hope'. He said: 'We cannot have a kind of legal 'Groundhog Day' where you come back again and again and again on the same point.' A second appeal judge, Lady Justice King, said doctors' unanimous opinion was that Alfie 'could not be saved'. Alfie's parents were not at the appeal court hearing, which is expected to end in the next few hours. Alder Hey bosses have pleaded with Alfie Evans protesters not to disturb staff and patients with noisy demonstrations. The children's hospital urged campaigners backing Alfie's battle for survival to limit their noise due to the impact it was having on recovering patients. About 100 people were involved in a demonstration outside Alder Hey last night, with supporters chanting in support of the 23-month-old. Candles were lit in tribute and campaigners lined East Prescot Road as honking cars passed the gathered crowd. At one point they were addressed by Tom Evans from the roof of a nearby bus shelter. But photographs also show supporters brought a bouncy castle and gazebos Alder Hey issued a statement in which it urged protesters to keep noise 'to a minimum'. It read: 'We would like to make people aware of the impact the current protests are having on our patients, staff and services. 'Noise from recent protests has unfortunately affected our patients, so we would ask that noise levels outside the hospital are kept to a minimum. 'Loud and constant noise such as from car horns affects sleep and raises anxiety levels for our patients especially when recovering from procedures, so please bear them in mind. Boys on scrambler bikes have been tearing up the road outside the hospital as part of at times noisy protests to save Alfie 'For visitors, we have been advised to put additional measures in place so our patients and families are able to access vital services without limitation by others. 'For example tomorrow, visitors may see more security in the hospital and a more controlled approach to access to certain areas. 'This will help us maintain a flow to vital services, so please be patient. 'However, Alder Hey remains fully operational with A&E open for urgent and emergency care'. The latest demonstration comes on the eve of a court hearing over Alfie's future. The case is set to be heard in the Court of Appeal this morning after an emergency order was signed by a judge on Thursday night. Just days earlier, a date and time for the withdrawal of Alfie's medical support had been set. Pope Francis used his traditional Sunday blessing in St Peter's Square to say he's praying for British brain damaged toddler Alfie Evans. The pontiff said the situation is 'very painful and complex' as he spoke on Alfie and others who are terminally ill. He expressed hope that they're always respected in their dignity and cared for in a way suitable to their conditions, with the agreement of family members, doctors and health workers.' Monsignor Vincenzo Paglia, head of the Pontifical Academy of Life, a Vatican bioethics think tank, said yesterday that Alfie's parents and hospital officials should work together so his life isn't 'reduced to a legal dispute.' Francis' comments mark the second time in less than a year that he has intervened in the case of a terminally ill British child. Around 50 people were filmed standing outside Alder Hey hospital last night in protest at a judges ruling in favour of switching off the child's life support. In the footage the group sing Hero by Mariah Carey as cars and vans sound their horns in support of the tiny tot. Protesters including Alfie's mother and father gathered outside Alder Hey hospital The pontiffsaid the situation is 'very painful and complex' as he spoke on Alfie and others who are terminally ill Protesters gathered outside Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool to campaign against the ruling Last July he spoke out on behalf of Charlie Gard, who died of a rare genetic disease after a vicious court battle in which his parents sought treatment first in the United States and then Italy. The High Court, Court of Appeal, Supreme Court and European Court of Human Rights have previously accepted the opinion of doctors, who say Alfie's condition is irreversible. Alfie, now 23 months old, is in a 'semi-vegetative state' at Alder Hey Children's Hospital in Liverpool as the result of a degenerative neurological condition that doctors have been unable to definitively identify. Protesters gathered outside the hospital last week after a judge endorsed a plan for doctors at Alder Hey to withdraw life support. Motorbikes rode up and down the road and campaigners held signs in support of the brain damaged youngster outside of the hospital. Speaking outside the hospital on Friday, Alfie's father Tom Evans, 21, said he had chartered a jet to take the child to Italy but had been stopped by the hospital. 'If he stays here and dies, he dies,' Evans said. 'If he goes and he dies at least he has died a hero trying.' The hospital said that it would not help Alfie to subject him to further tests. 'Alfie's clinical condition is truly heart-rending, but at each stage of the legal process, which has to be followed in such cases, the courts have agreed with the treating team and the independent expert advisers instructed by the trust and the family that Alfie's condition is irreversible and untreatable,' the hospital said in a statement. New York's Fearless Girl statue is being moved from her home opposite the iconic Charging Bull to the The New York Stock Exchange later this year. The beloved statue quickly became iconic in her own right when was installed facing off against the powerful bull. She was created by artist Kristen Visbal and installed by State Street Global Advisors, on International Women's Day in March of 2017. 'Our goal is to promote the power of having women in leadership, and placing her right next to the New York Stock Exchange is really the perfect metaphor,' Cyrus Taraporevala, president and CEO of State Street, told the Daily News. The re-location is in part for the safety of the swarms of visitors the statue receives on the small Bowling Green median in the middle of the busy street. The iconic Fearless Girl statue (pictured) was a temporary installation, and has been extended over a year now facing down the Charging Bull of Wall Street, but she is on the move The city announced plans to move Fearless Girl to the New York Stock exchange in part for the safety of throngs of tourists that visit the small median on the busy Bowling Green Street City Hall and State Street Global Advisors, which installed the statue, say the NYSE (pictured) is the perfect new home for Fearless Girl Deputy Mayor Alicia Glen said that moving Fearless Girl to the NYSE is a perfect, permanent home, that maintains the integrity of the original intention behind the powerful global symbol of female can-do business spirit. 'What could be more important than the sort of epicenter of corporate power?' Glen asked. 'And clearly, the Fearless Girl was built to talk about that.' The statue, which was originally supposed to be a temporary installation, struck a chord with New Yorkers and tourists immediately. It was extended for over a year facing the bull. 'It was, to be honest, really overwhelming but overwhelming in an inspiring way,' Lynn Blake, an executive vice president at State Street, said. 'The placement was really for a very specific reason and a call to action, to holding stocks in our portfolios to increasing gender diversity because of all the research that's been done by countless organizations that shows greater gender diversity leads to better results.' 'I just think it's really important, given this time in history, that we do everything we can to raise awareness around these very serious issues confronting the lack of economic and political and financial power for women,' Glen, who is herself a veteran of Goldman Sachs, told the Daily News. 'I just think it's really important, given this time in history, that we do everything we can to raise awareness around these very serious issues confronting the lack of economic and political and financial power for women,' Glen said. State Street says Fearless Girl has had a legitimate impact on the business sector. When she was first installed, they reached out to over 700 companies in the U.S., the U.K. and Australia that were completely void of women on their boards. So far, 152 of those companies have added women, with another 34 pledging to do so. A girl poses fearlessly next to Fearless Girl: Throngs of visitors have come to see the statue staring down the Charging Bull, and the city is moving her in part for their safety The statue was only supposed to be a temporary instillation, and has already been extended over a year longer than anticipated at her current home. City Hall says she may eventually be reunited with her Charging Bull opponent But the statue was not without controversy. The bull's sculptor, Arturo Di Modica, decried its placement, and some bashed it as 'corporate feminism.' Glen said that was 'noise' compared to the statue's work in reminding people that women don't earn equal pay, or have enough spots on boards or in legislatures. The famous bull, which is a symbol of the American financial resilience in the wake of the 1987 stock market crash, will eventually be moved as well, in consideration to visitors safety on the median in the busy street. City Hall said the Fearless Girl and Charging Bull could eventually be reunited, but there are no imminent plans, or time frame to move him. So for now, Fearless Girl will stand without the Charging Bull she was created to stare down. Taraporevala said he wasn't worried the move would diminish her meaning. 'I think Fearless Girl stands on her own,' he said. Sen. Tammy Duckworth made history again, by bringing her newborn baby girl Maile onto the Senate floor with her to cast a vote. Ten days ago the Illinois Democrat earned herself a place in the history books by becoming the first sitting U.S. senator to give birth while in office. Duckworth, a double amputee and veteran, announced that she had had a daughter, baby Maile Pearl Bowlsbey, with her husband Bryan Bowlsbey, their second child together. A smiling Sen. Tammy Duckworth is wheeled around Capitol Hill Thursday with her 10-day-old daughter Maile as she heads to the Senate floor to make a historic vote Sen. Tammy Duckworth used Twitter to show off baby Maile's Senate-appropriate outfit. On Wednesday the Senate voted to allow children under one year of age to be on the floor Sen. Tammy Duckworth is greeted by her colleagues on the Senate floor as she brings baby Maile to work with her, in a historic first Sen. Tammy Duckworth (circled) makes history on the Senate floor Thursday, by casting a vote with her newborn baby at her side Then on Wednesday, the Senate voted unanimously on a resolution that would allow Duckworth or any other senator to bring a child under one year of age onto the Senate floor during votes. 'The Senate is leading by example and sending the important message that working parents everywhere deserve family-friendly workplace policies,' the Illinois Democrat said in a statement. 'These policies aren't just a women's issue, they are a common-sense economic issue,' she added. Sensing the opportunity would come on Thursday, Duckworth previewed young Maile's outfit in a tweet, explaining that it complied with Senate rules. 'I may have to vote today, so Mailes outfit is prepped,' she said. 'I made sure she has a jacket so she doesnt violate the Senate floor dress code (which requires blazers).' 'Im not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies, but I think were ready,' she added. She had paired a teal button-down baby sweater with white and yellow pajamas. On Thursday afternoon, Duckworth was spotted in her wheelchair with her baby on her lap, a light pink hat on Maile's head. Duckworth is one of only 10 lawmakers to ever give birth while serving in Congress. In January, the Illinois Democrat first told Chicago Sun-Times columnist Lynn Sweet that she was expecting. 'I've had multiple IVF cycles and a miscarriage trying to conceive again, so we're very grateful,' Duckworth told Sweet. The miscarriage occurred during Duckworth's 2016 Senate campaign. Since the birth of her first daughter, Duckworth has authored measured to better improve the lives of America's mothers, including pushing for airports to provide space where mothers to pump milk. 'Parenthood isn't just a women's issue, it's an economic issue and one that affects all parents men and women alike,' Duckworth said in a statement Monday. 'As tough as juggling the demands of motherhood and being a Senator can be, I'm hardly alone or unique as a working parent, and my children only make me more committed to doing my job and standing up for hardworking families everywhere.' An American ISIS widow whose son appeared in propaganda videos has defended buying Yazidi sex slaves in Syria and says she dreams of returning to the US with her four children to eat McDonald's. Sam El Hassani, also known as Samantha Sally, is currently in a Kurdish prison in Syria with her children after being taken into custody following ISIS's collapse in Raqqa. The 32-year-old's ISIS-fighting husband Moussa El Hassani was killed last year in a drone strike. In an interview from prison with CNN, El Hassani spoke of her life in the Caliphate as a 'prisoner' and said her husband once took her to a Yazidi slave market after suggesting they could help keep her and the children company while he was off fighting. Scroll down for video American Sam El Hassani, also known as Samantha Sally, is currently in a Kurdish prison in Syria with her children after being taken into custody following ISIS's collapse in Raqqa Over time, she said the couple bought two female teenage slaves and a young boy. The first slave was a girl named Soad, now aged 17, who El Hassani said she paid $10,000 for. El Hassani said her husband repeatedly raped the two girls but she defended her decision to purchase them because she offered them protection. 'In every house that she was in before that was the same situation, but she did not have the support of someone like me,' El Hassani told CNN. 'I would never apologize for bringing those girls to my house. They had me and I had them. 'In any other situation they would be locked in a bedroom and fed tea every day. We cooked together, we cleaned together. Drank coffee together. Slept in the same room together. I was like their mother.' Soad sent CNN a video message from an Iraqi refugee camp confirming that El Hassani rescued her. She said her children also became victims, especially her son Matthew who became the subject of ISIS propaganda videos in which he vowed revenge on US President Donald Trump. The married couple had been living in Elkhart, Indiana with two children when Sam claims her husband lured them to ISIS in Syria The first Yazidi slave El Hassani said she bought at a market for $10,000 was a 17-year-old girl named Soad (pictured above) Her son Matthew's face was seen around the world in the 2017 propaganda video where he called Trump ' a puppet of the Jews' and threatened terror attacks on the US While the family now waits for US authorities to decide their fate, El Hassani said she is desperate to get her children out. 'I will do anything to get my kids back where they belong,' she said. 'If I have to spend 15 years in prison, it's better than anything here. 'Me and my kids we talk about wanting to eat McDonald's. 'We want to live a normal life again.' In an interview for a recent Frontline documentary, El Hassani said she had no desire to go back to the US. El Hassani said that she was forced to live in the Caliphate as a 'prisoner' by her husband and that she was beaten, raped and tortured. Sam and Moussa El Hassani married in Indiana in 2011 (above). They lived there for five years before she claims she was tricked into moving to Syria for ISIS El Hassani claims her husband Moussa, pictured in the US before joining ISIS, became radicalized and tricked her into taking their children to ISIS in Syria El Hassani (above prior to moving to Syria) said once they were in Syria their marriage changed and her husband became violent. She says she feared divorcing him Sam said she and Moussa were living in Elkhart, Indiana with her son Matthew - who is from her first marriage to a US soldier - and their daughter Sarah when they started planning a new life in his native Morocco. El Hassani had two more children with Moussa while living in Raqqa. The 32-year-old claims her husband had told her they were going on a holiday to Hong Kong and Turkey to help transfer the money they would need to make the permanent move. She said they ended up on the Turkey-Syria border. El Hassani claims her husband was holding their daughter and she felt she had no choice but to follow him into Syria. El Hassani said once they were in Syria their marriage changed and her husband became violent. She says she feared divorcing him and was once held in an ISIS prison while she was pregnant for trying to escape. The judge deciding what happens to evidence seized by the FBI from Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen issued a rare public statement Thursday distancing herself from George Soros, the billionaire liberal mega-donor. Judge Kimba Wood was revealed to have conducted the 2012 marriage of Soros - the 87-year-old financier who has called Trump's administration 'a danger to the world' - and his third wife Tamiko Bolton, who is 41 years his junior. The 2012 ceremony took place in his Caramoor estate in Bedford, upstate New York, and other guests included Nancy Pelosi, the Democratic house minority leader and Gavin Newsom, then the Democratic lieutenant governor of California who is now running for governor. Wood conducted the ceremony, which was attended only by members of Soros's family, including his five children from his previous marriages, and Bolton's family. Her husband, financier Frank Richardson, once served on an investment advisory committee for a company owned by Soros. Critics had noted that Wood, a Democrat appointed to the bench by Republican President Ronald Reagan, had officiated at the wedding of a major Democratic donor. Colorful: Judge Kimba Wood, who was sketched in Monday's dramatic hearing on the Michael Cohen case, and seen in a 1995 official portrait, is one of the federal bench's longest-serving judges Happy ever after: George Soros, then 83, married his fourth wife, Tamika Bolton, then 42, at his upstate New York estate in September 2013 - with Judge Kimba Wood conducting the ceremony Quite a case: Judge Kimba Wood is now presiding over the case brought by Donald Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen, who is trying to stop the FBI accessing evidence seized in raids on his home, office, hotel room and safe deposit box Edward Friedland, the district court's top executive, said in a statement that Wood's relationship with Soros was limited. 'From time to time, but rarely, Judge Wood and her husband came across George Soros at large social gatherings that had nothing to do with politics,' he said. 'When he asked Judge Wood to perform his wedding, she did so. Judge Wood has performed over 40 marriage ceremonies during her time as a judge,' Friedland wrote. The Soros link only adds to the drama, with a colorful judge like no other to handle a colorful case like no other. Kimba Wood got her unique first name from an atlas after her mother spotted a small South Australian town. She trained for a few days to be a Playboy bunny while studying at the London School of Economics. Years later she was briefly the favorite to become the nation's first female attorney general. Now, at age 74, Wood is refereeing a legal fight over records seized by the FBI from President Donald Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen. Wood got the case by happenstance - she happened to be the judge on duty when Cohen's attorneys went to court to try to limit investigators' access to his seized files. But colleagues say she's a great pick for a legal dispute that threatens to intrude upon Trump's love life and legal affairs and could lead to a criminal fraud case against Cohen. 'This case is on steroids. This is a very difficult case, probably more difficult than any case I could ever recall,' said U.S. District Judge Richard Berman, one of Woods' colleagues at Manhattan federal court. 'Of everybody, I think she's not only able, but best able to handle that Cohen case,' he said. 'She's very smart. She's extremely gracious. He's got the moves: As many as 500 guests were at the lavish reception for George Soros's third wedding to Tamiko Bolton in 2013, after a family ceremony conducted by Judge Wood Social scene: Judge Kimba Wood was seen at a cocktail party in 2005 which was hosted by Tina Brown to celebrated a Candace Bushnell novel, and posed with Lynne Greene, the longtime Estee Lauder executive 'She's collaborative. She's unflappable and she's always prepared. And the net result of that, in my opinion, is that it's guaranteed she'll come up with a fair and reasonable resolution.' Known as a patient listener and stickler for fairness, Wood's role is deciding how to handle multitudes of documents and electronic files seized from Cohen as part of an ongoing criminal investigation into his personal business affairs. Lawyers for Cohen and Trump have argued that many of the records are protected by attorney-client privilege and should be off limits to investigators. Prosecutors haven't said publicly what crime they suspect Cohen committed, but people familiar with the probe said the search sought bank records, records on Cohen's dealings in the taxi industry, his communications with the Trump campaign and any information on payments made in 2016 to two women who say they had affairs with Trump: former Playboy model Karen McDougal and a porn actress known as Stormy Daniels. If Cohen winds up facing criminal charges, the case is almost certain to be assigned to a different judge, chosen randomly. But her decisions now over what materials prosecutors get their hands on may make a big difference if arrests follow. Conservative commentators criticized Wood after she required Cohen to disclose the name of a client who had requested anonymity. The revelation that it was Fox News personality Sean Hannity drew gasps and laughter in the courtroom. A federal judge since 1988, Woods is used to the media glare. Early in her career as a jurist, she presided over the Michael Milken securities fraud case. She sentenced him to a decade in prison, later reducing it to a two-year term after he cooperated with prosecutors. In 1993 she was under consideration by President Bill Clinton to be the first female attorney general but withdrew her name, acknowledging she had once hired an immigrant with an expired visa. While no laws were broken, she said that it was 'inappropriate' to proceed further 'in the current political environment.' Wood endured sensational headlines two years later when tabloids labeled her 'The Love Judge' after she was described in a Wall Street investment banker's gushy diary submitted in a divorce case. She later married the banker, Richardson. In 1966, Wood underwent five days of Playboy bunny training at a London club, but didn't stick with the gig, opting for law school at Harvard instead. Later, she served as chief judge of the nation's busiest federal court for several years and handled numerous notable cases. In 2010 she ordered the deportation of 10 Russian spies who had disguised themselves as ordinary Americans. In 2003 she cleared the way for the release of rapper Ricky 'Slick Rick' Walters from jail after U.S. officials tried to deport the British-born star. And she accepted the 2001 guilty plea by Steve Madden, the shoe designer, who admitted securities fraud and money laundering. All those cases made headlines, but Judge Berman said the Cohen matter is on another level. 'I'm not sure the federal courts have seen something like this before,' Berman said. 'It's sort of showbiz and politics. And it's a porn star. And very strong personalities. And the president weighs in. So that makes it quite unusual.' 'It does take a special personality to be able to deal with it and I do think she's got it.' Dangerous levels of the potentially lethal nerve agent used to target the Russian double agent and his daughter may still be present in 'hot spots' around Salisbury, Government scientists have warned. Toxic trace amounts of the Novichok poison is believed to have been administered in liquid form to target Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33. Work is underway to decontaminate nine sites across the city where experts believe the substance could still be present, in a multi-million pound operation that could take months. The Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), local council officials, police and health representatives updated locals on the progress being made on Thursday evening. Toxic trace amounts of the Novichok poison is believed to have been administered in liquid form to target Sergei Skripal, 66, and his daughter Yulia, 33 Defra today announced that there are nine sites which remain cordoned off following the nerve agent attack When quizzed as to whether the chemical remains at the same 'lethal' dosage as the day it was put on Mr Skripal's door, Defra chief scientist Ian Boyd said: ' We have to make an assumption that in certain circumstances there will be relatively high concentrations, probably in very, very specific locations, which could be at levels that could be toxic to individuals.' 'That's an assumption, it's also one we've tested in some circumstances and we do know that there are hot spots like that around, so we have to make those assumptions that some of the hot spots we've still got to find. 'But those hot spots will still be in the locations we are talking about. 'In these locations, there may well be higher concentrations that we still have to find, but we already know there are some high concentrations within those locations.' The meeting was held as work began to replace the police cordon around the Maltings area in the city centre, the nearby Zizzi restaurant and the Mill pub with more robust hoardings. Members of the emergency services in green biohazard at the scene in Salisbury It is believed liquid form of the poison was left on the door of the Skripal's flat. Pictured: Door of the flat that Yulia Skripal and Stepan Vikeev rented before Yulia traveled to UK Army officers remove the bench, where Sergei Skripal and his daughter were found in Salisbury Nine sites are STILL potentially contaminated 1. Zizzi 2. The Maltings shopping centre 3. Ashley Wood Compound 4. The Mill pub 5. Bourne Hill police station 6. Salisbury ambulance station 7. Amesbury ambulance station 8. The home of police officer Nick Bailey 9. The home of Sergei Skripal Advertisement Locals were told the Bourne Hill building, housing Salisbury's police station as well as Wiltshire council's offices will close for up to eight weeks from Friday. Decontamination work will focus on the evidence room and two lockers inside the police station, which were sealed off following the attack on March 4. The decontamination work will focus on the evidence room and two lockers inside the station, which were sealed off after the March 4 attack. Deputy Chief Constable Paul Mills from Wiltshire Police said it would be 'business as usual' as operations move to other sites in and around the city. Other areas earmarked for chemical cleaning include two ambulance stations, a car compound and the home of poisoned police officer Nick Bailey. Mr Skripal's home, which is still part of the police investigation, will be the last to be decontaminated. A 21-year-old man is accused of beating a mother and son to death with a pipe wrench for 'being weird' after they took him into their home. William Hillman has been charged with murdering Denise McFadzen, 42, and Dalton McFadzen, 21, at their home in Perham, Minnesota on Tuesday. Police responded to a 911 call at the home at about 5am and found Denise's body lying outside the trailer home, while her son was found dead inside near his bedroom. William Hillman, 21, has been charged with murdering Denise McFadzen, 42, and Dalton McFadzen, 21, at their home in Perham, Minnesota on Tuesday Both victims suffered blunt force trauma to their skulls and police recovered a bloodied pipe wrench nearby. Hillman, who has a history of mental illness and violence, allegedly told police he had done a 'bad thing' and needed to be arrested. He also allegedly told officers 'I killed two people'. Hillman said he went to bed at about 10pm the night before but when he woke up on Tuesday morning 'everything went black'. When police asked Hillman if the McFadzens, who had taken him in, had ever threatened him, he said they hadn't but they were just 'weird'. Denise McFadzen and her son Dalton both suffered blunt force trauma to their skulls. Police recovered a bloodied pipe wrench that Hillman allegedly used nearby 'I'm sorry. I'm sorry I did it,' he allegedly told the officers. Police reports indicate that Hillman had hit his own mother two years ago. He was then committed St. Peter Regional Treatment Center where he was diagnosed with schizophrenia. Denise McFadzen had been married to her husband Mark for 20 years and they had several children. 'They were the kindest, caring, loving people you would meet,' a GoFundMe page set up by a family friend said. 'They were kind enough to let someone in their lives without knowing the end result.' Illinois nurse Tina Brown, 31, allegedly paid $10,000 in bitcoin through the dark web to have her lover's wife killed by a hitman An Illinois nurse is behind bars after she allegedly tried to hire a hitman off the dark web to kill her lover's wife - only to be foiled by a CBS television show. Tina Jones, 31, has been charged with one count of solicitation of murder for hire after she paid $10,000 in bitcoin to have a woman killed, police said. Jones, of Des Plaines, allegedly went through a website called the Cosa Nostra International Network via the dark web in January. Authorities said she put a hit on a clinical social worker who was married to an anesthesiologist that had worked at her hospital. Jones has since been suspended from Loyola University Medical Center in Maywood. The registered nurse had been jilted by her lover after the affair, investigators told ABC 7 Chicago. After contacting Cosa Nostra International, Jones allegedly revealed exactly how she wanted the job to be done. 'She left specific instructions on the website as to when the woman's husband would be at work, so they would know when this woman would be alone,' DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin told ABC. 'She left instructions not to hurt the husband and also to make it look like it was an accident.' Jones has been charged with one count of solicitation of murder and faces a minimum of 20 years in prison if convicted. Pictured is her apartment It has been a far fall for Jones, who was captured on video accepting a marriage proposal in November 2015 It was later discovered that Cosa Nostra International was a scam. But the CBS newsmagazine program 48 Hours would find Jones' alleged payment three months later, according to People. CBS had been investigating online hitman businesses when it discovered one woman in Woodridge, Illinois may be in danger. The show's producers contacted local authorities, who discovered the woman was married to Jones' lover, on April 12. It has been a far fall for Jones, who was captured on video accepting a marriage proposal in November 2015, according to CBS Chicago. Jones is being held on $250,000 bond. She could be sentenced to a minimum of 20 years in prison if convicted. The nurse will not be allowed to contact her alleged intended victim or the woman's husband if she posts bail. 'The charge brought against Mrs Jones this morning is extremely serious,' DuPage County States Attorney Robert Berlin said in a statement. 'Any attempt, or perceived attempt, to bring physical harm to another individual will be met by the full force and effect of the law.' ABC/Image Group LA Just days after we learned Chris Stapleton missed Sundays ACM Awards because of the birth of his twin sons, his wife and musical partner Morgane is revealing more about the two new little ones in their lives. Thank you for all the love! she shared on Instagram, along with a photo with the newborns. Were so grateful to finally be home with our sweet family. Morgane goes on to thank the doctors and nurses at Centennial Hospital in Nashville. At more than a month early, she explains, we had a week long stay in the nicu & the incredible people there kept our boys healthy & happy. Words cannot express our gratitude for you all & what you did for our family. From the bottom of our hearts, thank you! Morgane and Chris also have two older children, a boy and a girl. So far, they haven't revealed the twins' names. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A British Airways pilot has been accused of trying to fly a packed holiday jet while four times over the alcohol limit. Julian Monaghan, 49, was hauled out of the cockpit by armed police in dramatic scenes after cabin crew feared he was drunk. Concerned staff on the 300- passenger flight called 999 shortly before take-off from Gatwick Airport on January 18. Passengers were reported to be open-mouthed as Monaghan was arrested. 'Its terrifying to think what mightve happened,' one said Julian Monaghan was hauled from the packed flight by armed police seconds from take-off after his cabin crew suspected he was drunk A British Airways spokesman said at the time of the incident in January that the company took the matter extremely seriously and was helping police with their enquiries (Gatwick terminal photographed above) The Boeing 777 was destined for Mauritius, a 12-hour flight. But Monaghan, a long-serving British Airways first officer, was allegedly drunk when he stepped into the cockpit. Stewards decided to call the police before the aeroplane left the departure gate. Monaghan was arrested and led off the aircraft in handcuffs. The incident delayed the flights departure by more than two hours. A passenger who witnessed the drama aboard BA flight 2063 said: Police rushed on to the plane and headed straight for the cockpit. The first officer was cuffed and led away. A number of passengers were open-mouthed. Its terrifying to think what mightve happened. Yesterday Sussex Police said: The Crown Prosecution Service has authorised a charge of being over the alcohol limit on board an aircraft. Julian Monaghan was arrested at Gatwick Airports north terminal on suspicion of performing an aviation function when the level of alcohol was over the prescribed limit. He is charged with having 86mg of alcohol per 100ml of blood in his system. While the drink-drive limit is 80mg, the limit for pilots is 20mg. Monaghan, who divides his time between South Africa and Harmondsworth, West London, is due to appear at Crawley Magistrates Court, in Sussex, on June 6. He has not yet been asked to enter a plea. He joined British Airways, whose motto is To fly, to serve, in 2001. First officers at the airline typically earn more than 60,000. The flight was due to leave Gatwick at 8.20pm but was delayed until 10.56pm while a replacement pilot was found. A British Airways spokesman said: We have taken this matter extremely seriously, and will continue to assist the police with their inquiries. The safety and security of our customers and crew is always our top priority. She added: Julian Monaghan no longer works for the airline. s.greenhill@dailymail.co.uk Disturbing intimidatory tactics used by students to undermine anti-terrorist measures on university campuses can be revealed today. Activists are targeting anyone connected to the Governments Prevent programme which seeks to tip off the security services about potential extremists. In one example, students at Islamic State executioner Jihadi Johns former university launched a direct action campaign to make a Muslim staff members life hell for his involvement in the scheme. Interfaith adviser Yusuf Kaplan was branded a fake Muslim and demonstrators said they hoped he would die. Thirty protesters stormed Westminster Universitys headquarters to demand his sacking. Activists are targeting anyone connected to the Governments Prevent programme which seeks to tip off the security services about potential extremists. Yusuf Kaplan (left), who works at Jihadi John's (right) former university in Westminster, was branded a fake Muslim Farah Koutteineh (pictured), the president of the Westminster University Palestine Society, orchestrated a protest calling for Mr Kaplan's sacking They also descended on Mr Kaplans office to hurl abuse through a megaphone, screaming shame and chanting say it loud, say it clear, Kaplan not welcome here. The personal intimidation is part of an orchestrated nationwide plot by hard-Left students to sabotage Prevent, which was made a legal requirement on campuses after a string of Islamist terrorists were groomed at UK universities. The protest against Mr Kaplan was supported by undergraduates across London, including student leaders from the School of Oriental and African Studies (Soas). Westminster University last night condemned the calls to fire Mr Kaplan, as a terrorism expert said it was completely unacceptable hounding of a man trying to protect students and the public. A Daily Mail investigation found: A student leader at University College London said anyone arrested campaigning against Prevent was doing something right; The anti-Prevent protest was backed online by Cage, the organisation dubbed apologists for terrorism after describing Jihadi John as a beautiful young man; Soas student union is being investigated by the Charity Commission for refusing to comply with Prevent and over concerns it is being used to promote extremists or extremist views or any other unlawful activity. Westminster students joined with the Soas student union for a three-day action against Prevent earlier this month culminating in a march through central London and the hounding of Mr Kaplan. An undercover Daily Mail reporter attended a crisis meeting about Prevent held at a Soas lecture theatre, where journalists and non-students were kicked out before a Soas Masters student warned those present not to record the speakers as they might say things that put them in danger Former public schoolboy Ayo Olatunji a third-year medical student at UCL and student union leader then urged students to disrupt Prevent even if it meant arrest. Dark side of executioners university Westminster University has educated two notorious terrorists. Islamic State executioner Mohammed Emwazi, known as Jihadi John, graduated with a degree in computer programming in 2009. He later left for Syria where he became an IS poster boy appearing in sick propaganda videos beheading captives including British aid workers David Haines and Alan Henning. Emwazi, pictured, is believed to have been killed by a joint US-British missile strike in Raqqa, Syria, in 2015. Another former student at the university, Muhammad Jakir Ali, dropped out of his law degree and volunteered as an IS suicide bomber. He was killed in January 2014 after taking part in martyrdom operation in Syria. After Emwazis identity emerged, fellow former student Avinash Tharoor, said he wasnt surprised he had attended my alma mater. The university has a dark side to its campus culture, he wrote in the Washington Post. The ideological climate feels conducive for radicalisation a place where extremism can fester. Advertisement He said: If you look at history the people who make the change are those who get arrested, or have been demonised If that sounds like you in this climate then youre doing something right. Farah Koutteineh, an international relations student and president of the Westminster University Palestine Society, told the meeting Mr Kaplan was the core of the problem. She made a number of claims against him, including that he had shredded Korans, turned Islamic prayer rooms into multifaith rooms and tried to ban most of the societys speakers. The university said that when the prayer room became a multifaith room for use by all, including Muslims, unused Korans were left in it despite several months notice to remove all items. The Korans were later disposed of according to Islamic principles after consulting religious leaders. It added that Mr Kaplan had no role in vetting external speakers. At an eight-hour protest workshop at Soas the next day, students plotted to target Mr Kaplan as they made banners denouncing him. One activist said, I hope he dies, some called him a fake Muslim and others said, lets make his life hell. Miss Koutteineh ran the workshop and was in the room when all the comments were made. Mr Olatunji was not at the workshop, but the following day he joined her and about 30 other students for a three-hour protest in central London which led to police being called as they picketed the BBCs Broadcasting House. Outside Mr Kaplans office, a protester said into a microphone: Kaplan we know you can hear us. Another waved a placard warning, This is only the beginning, while Miss Koutteineh held one saying, Kaplan is watching you, with a picture of a CCTV camera an apparent reference to her complaint that he had installed them in the universitys Islamic prayer rooms. The university said cameras were briefly installed in 2015 after someone using the rooms was attacked but they had all been removed. The march ended with an hour-long sit-in at Westminster Universitys Regent Campus calling for Mr Kaplans sacking. Deputy vice chancellor Professor Roland Dannreuther tried to reason with the activists and pointed out they were vilifying Mr Kaplan. Protestors also descended on Mr Kaplans office to hurl abuse through a megaphone, screaming shame and chanting say it loud, say it clear, Kaplan not welcome here Soas student union has boycotted Prevent since it was introduced and the union openly promoted the three days of action on social media. In November, students in Sussex, Bristol, Leicester, Manchester and London all took part in protests demanding an end to Prevent. It was part of a tour of campuses organised by the NUS. A previous tour in 2015 included events campaigning against Prevent at Birmingham, Glasgow and Swansea universities. Terrorism expert Professor Anthony Glees, of Buckingham University, said the protest targeting Mr Kaplan was totally unacceptable behaviour. Prevent is not an obligation on lecturers to spy on students, he said, adding that staff have a duty of care to prevent them being drawn into extremism. The hounding of this man is unacceptable and inconsistent with what should go on in a university. Westminster University said it supports students rights to make their voices heard through peaceful protest, but a spokesman added: The university condemns the public naming of a member of our staff and the calls for his removal. A Soas spokesman said its approach to Prevent was primarily safeguarding the welfare our students and staff but that this is balanced against our fundamental commitment to academic freedom. Mr Olatunji said: Students from different universities and a wide range of student groups organised independently and protested against the implementation of the widely discredited Prevent duty at the University of Westminster. Yusuf Kaplan has been identified as a key figurehead in pushing for draconian implementation of this policy The protest was intended to disrupt actions at the university and push for increased transparency which it has successfully done. Miss Koutteineh did not respond to requests for comment. Poor little rich kids who targeted University interfaith adviser MIDDLE CLASS STUDENT ACTIVIST AGAINST PREVENT Farah Koutteineh, an international relations student at Westminster University was one of the orchestrators in the campaign demanding the sacking of Yusuf Kaplan. The 20-year-old identified the interfaith adviser as the core problem at a meeting before the protest and led 30 demonstrators to his office where she egged them on in a chant of shame. The daughter of a charity director and a journalist, Miss Koutteineh is listed at the 530,000 family home in Twickenham, south-west London. EU ENVOYS SON LED DEMO AGAINST CHURCHILL CAFE Dimitri Cautain helped lead students who burst into a Winston Churchill themed cafe in January denouncing the wartime PM as a racist. Staff at the Blighty UK Cafe, who include Jewish and Muslim workers, were left terrified. The students were accused of behaving like fascist thugs. Mr Cautain was educated at the 18,000-a-year British International School in Thailand, where his father Jean-Francois Cautain held a European Commission post. His father is now the EU ambassador to Pakistan, based in Islamabad. The social anthropology and politics student at the School of African and Oriental Studies is a union officer and lists marching and pushing cops off campus among his interests. At the protest, Mr Cautain helped carry the giant loudspeaker through which chants of shame were made against Mr Kaplan. He did not respond to requests for comment. Dimitri Cautain, pictured with Farah Koutteineh, helped lead students who burst into a Winston Churchill themed cafe in January denouncing the wartime PM as a racist EX-PUBLIC SCHOOLBOY AND WOULD-BE REVOLUTIONARY Medical student and self-proclaimed revolutionary Ayo Olatunji urged undergraduates to disrupt Prevent even if it meant arrest. Former public schoolboy Mr Olatunji, who is the black and minority ethnic students officer at UCL, studied at the private Kings School, Rochester, where he played for the rugby first XV. The 21-year-old criticised Mr Kaplan at the demonstration and led a chant of shame against Westminster Universitys implementation of Prevent, before warning it would need more security guards to deal with the growing radical action against it. After his speech Mr Olatunji blocked the road and stopped a mother with a 15-month-old baby in her car from getting past, even as she pleaded with him. Medical student and self-proclaimed revolutionary Ayo Olatunji urged undergraduates to disrupt Prevent even if it meant arrest EX-STUDENT CHIEF SHAMED BY ANTI-SEMITISM CLAIMS Malia Bouattia, former hard-Left leader of the NUS, has been a passionate opponent of Prevent. She has taken part in videos calling for students to resist it, and attended the protest against Mr Kaplan in a T-shirt declaring the anti-Prevent slogan, students not suspects. The 31-year-old was ousted as NUS president last year amid claims of anti-Semitism and concerns over her radical views. In 2016, the Commons home affairs committee found her description of Birmingham University as a Zionist outpost smacked of outright racism. She did not respond to a request for comment. THE SERIAL PROTESTER DEVOTED TO CORBYN Nisha Phillips, Soas student union officer, helped carry a giant banner at the demonstration and joined in chants denouncing Mr Kaplan. She grew up in a middle-class suburb of Australian capital Canberra, where her mother is associate professor in human geography at the Australian National University. Miss Phillips has been pictured on social media with Jeremy Corbyn. She took part in the protest at the Churchill themed cafe. She did not respond to a request for comment. The Queen, who turns 92 tomorrow, was proclaimed Head of the Commonwealth at her coronation when she was head of state in seven of its eight members, and wantsPrince Charles to succeed her. But it is not a hereditary position that will pass automatically to the Prince of Wales, who will be head of state in only 15 of the 53 member nations that now make up the Commonwealth. The Commonwealth Secretariat insists the leader must be chosen by Commonwealth heads of government, such as the Prime Ministers of New Zealand and Canada. It is believed that the decision will take place today during the leaders' retreat at Windsor Castle - a frank discussion between the nations' leaders without aides or advisers present. It is believed a decision about whether Prince Charles will succeed the Queen as the head of the Commonwealth will take place today at the Leaders' Retreat Theresa May's spokesperson, when asked about the succession, said: 'This is obviously a decision that is taken later in the week, a decision taken by all the members together. 'I think that all happens on Friday.' While they are widely expected to fulfil the hopes expressed by the Queen, there was no official confirmation that Charles will be offered the role on Friday. Spokesmen could not even confirm that any decision would be announced at a press conference following the leaders' retreat at Windsor Castle. Many want an elected head to make the organisation more democratic, including Labour leader Jeremy Corbyn. Yet others, such as the former Prime Minister of New Zealand John Key, think differently. He argued in 2015 that the succession 'should just go with the crown'. In a highly unusual move the Queen made clear her thoughts today, telling the presidents and prime ministers gathered at Buckingham Palace she hopes one day they will choose Charles to carry on the important work started by her father. The Prince of Wales is widely expected to be given the nod. Mohammed Haydar Zammar (pictured in an undated file photo) has been arrested by Kurdish security forces in northern Syria and is now being interrogated, according to a senior commander A Syrian-born German national accused of recruiting 9/11 terrorists has been arrested while fighting in Syria, according to a senior commander. 'Mohammed Haydar Zammar has been arrested by Kurdish security forces in northern Syria and is now being interrogated,' a top Kurdish commander said, without providing further details. Zammar, a career extremist in his mid-fifties, was mentioned several times in the 9/11 Commission's report, which said he encouraged worshippers at a Hamburg mosque towards terrorism and alleged 9/11 financer Ramzi Binalshibh. The report also claimed he 'fought in Afghanistan and relished any opportunity to extol the virtues of violent jihad' and took credit for influencing Binalshibh, 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta and others in the 'Hamburg Group' following the attack. Atta hijacked American Airlines Flight 11, which crashed into the North Tower of the World Trade Center in New York. He was detained in Morocco in December 2001 in an operation involving CIA agents and was handed over to the Syrian authorities two weeks later. Zammar was mentioned several times in the 9/11 Commission's report, which said he encouraged worshippers at a Hamburg mosque towards terrorism. Pictured: The hijacked United Airlines Flight 175 flies towards the South Tower of the World Trade Center in New York The report also claimed he 'fought in Afghanistan and relished any opportunity to extol the virtues of violent jihad' and took credit for influencing Binalshibh, (left) and 9/11 ringleader Mohammed Atta (right). Both photos are undated A Syrian court sentenced Zammar to 12 years in prison in 2007 for belonging to the Muslim Brotherhood, a charge that at the time could have resulted in the death penalty. But conflict broke out in Syria four years later, and many hardline Islamist prisoners were released from jail or broke free and went on to join jihadist groups fighting in the war. Al-Qaeda operated a branch in Syria known as Al-Nusra Front, but the affiliate has since claimed to have broken off ties. The Islamic State jihadist group also rose to power in the country's north and east, but a US-backed alliance has ousted it from swathes of its onetime 'caliphate.' Binalshibh is currently imprisoned in Guantanamo Bay (pic on March 30, 2010) where he has been held since September 2006 The Syrian Democratic Forces, a coalition of Arab and Kurdish fighters, has caught several foreign members of IS in Syria in recent months, particularly since the SDF captured the northern city of Raqqa from the jihadists. The Kurdish commander who spoke to AFP on Wednesday declined to say whether Zammar had been actively fighting as a member of an extremist group in Syria. The Pentagon said it had nothing to confirm on Zammar's capture but was looking into it. It was not clear what group he had been fighting for. Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick has said the racist murder of schoolboy Stephen Lawrence 'defined her generation of policing'. Speaking in the final episode of a three part series marking the 25th anniversary of the attack, Ms Dick said she couldn't think of a more 'impactive' public inquiry in the history of British policing. 'The Stephen Lawrence inquiry has defined my generation of policing and I can't think of a more impactive public inquiry,' the first female commissioner of the Met said. Scroll down for video Scotland Yard chief Cressida Dick has said the murder of black schoolboy Stephen Lawrence 'defined her generation of policing'. Ms Dick said she couldn't think of a more 'impactive' public inquiry in the history of British policing,' in a BBC documentary into the killing 'If I speak personally I can't think of a case which has changed the way I think about policing and doing our job well as much as this one,' she added. Stephen Lawrence was murdered on April 22, 1993, as he waited for a bus with a friend in Eltham, south east London. Gary Dobson and David Norris were finally jailed in 2012 but the other suspects Luke Knight and brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt have never faced trial. Dobson was sentenced to at least 15 years in jail, while Norris was handed 14 years for his involvement in the murder of the innocent schoolboy. Describing the moment two of the five alleged killers were sent down, Ms Dick said 'When the verdict came through, not just in the Met, in police stations around the country, people told me there was cheering. People saw that as a great moment.' Gary Dobson (right) and David Norris (left) were finally jailed in 2012 but the other suspects Luke Knight and brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt have never faced trial 'The met is a completely different organisation from the one it was when Stephen Lawrence was killed. 'If someone suggested to me there's corruption in my organisation I will go after person as hard as I can. 'I think we are infinitely more open than when I first joined and the reason we are in large part is because of the Stephen Lawrence inquiry.' Baroness Lawrence, the mother of Stephen Lawrence, today said she cannot forgive his killers 25 years on and revealed: 'This is my last TV interview'. Dobson was sentenced to at least 15 years in jail, while Norris was handed 14 years for his involvement in the murder of the innocent schoolboy Stephen's father Neville Lawrence said this week he had absolved the men who murdered the 19-year-old in Eltham, south-east London in 1993 - but his ex-wife has said she cannot. When asked whether she could forgive the gang Baroness Lawrence said today: 'It's very difficult to forgive someone who doesn't admit they've done anything wrong. I try not to think about them'. The mother-of-three also revealed that her appearance on ITV's Loose Women would be her final on-screen appearance to talk about her son's murder. Mrs Lawrence said: 'Just to talk about Stephen a bit more, so people can see that he had a life not just in death but before' She said: 'This is my last TV interview. 25 years is a long time to campaign. I want to spend some time with my family my children and grandchildren - and on me and I can look forward to the next chapter. Today Baroness Lawrence admitted the revelations had a damaging affect on the family - but said she could never trust Scotland Yard. She said: I didnt know this until about five years ago and it makes you question everything that happened at the time but I never trusted the police in the first place. 'If there was somebody to trust (in the Met) they would have put Stephens killers away at the time not wait 20 years. An Oklahoma father has been charged with murder after he fatally shot his son thinking the teen was a thief. Tony Rutherford, of Jay, was checking on his older sons house on April 7 when he saw someone driving away from the home in his sons truck. Rutherford pursued the vehicle and fired his AR-15 rifle several times, killing the driver. When Rutherford approached the truck he realized the driver was his 13-year-old son, Kyle McDowell. Tony Rutherford was charged with first-degree murder for fatally shooting his 13-year-old son on April 7 The 47-year-old father was arrested after the incident and charged Tuesday with first-degree murder, Tulsa World reports. Hes currently free on $100,000 bail. His attorney, Winston Connor II, called the shooting a tragic accident. According to the outlet, the teens mother Misty McDowell initially told a Delaware County dispatcher that her husband had accidentally shot their son because he thought the teen, who was sneaking out of the family home, was a burglar. A probable cause affidavit states that neighbors had notified Rutherford about suspicious activity at the home after many vehicles were seen at the residence, which was supposed to be vacant. When sheriff deputies arrived at the scene Rutherford and McDowell were performing CPR on the teen. Facebook wants to exclude 1.5 billion users from new European laws protecting data privacy. This is despite Mark Zuckerberg's promise earlier this month that all users will benefit from the changes. 'Overall I think regulations like this are very positive. We intend to make all the same controls available everywhere, not just in Europe,' he said. The European regulations, coming into force on May 25, aim to crack down on how companies like Facebook use and sell the data they collect on users. The require companies to seek explicit opt-in consent before collecting data, and promptly disclose breaches to users. Currently, the law would require Facebook to apply these changes to 1.9 billion users. But a draft change in Facebook's terms of service - which comes as the firm faces increasing scrutiny from lawmakers - would make that number much smaller. Scroll down for video Facebook is hoping to exclude 1.5 billion of its worldwide users from new European laws protecting data privacy, it has emerged. A change in the site's terms of service (pictured) seeks to ensure that the number of people protected will be much smaller than anticipated The changes to the terms of service were uncovered by a Reuters investigation. Facebook users outside the US and Canada are currently subject to any regulations with the company's international headquarters in Dublin. But the company is planning to try and exempt all of those users outside the EU including members in Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America, Reuters said. In practice, the change means the 1.5 billion affected users will not be able to file complaints with Ireland's Data Protection Commissioner or in Irish courts. Instead they will be governed by more lenient US privacy laws, said Michael Veale, a technology policy researcher at University College London. Facebook will have more leeway in how it handles data about those users, Dr Veale said. Certain types of data such as browsing history, for instance, are considered personal data under EU law but are not as protected in the United States, he said. The company said its rationale for the change was related to the European Union's mandated privacy notices, 'because EU law requires specific language.' For example, the company said, the new EU law requires specific terminology about the legal basis for processing data which does not exist in US law. In a statement given to Reuters, Facebook says it plans to make similar privacy controls and settings that Europe will get under GDPR available to the rest of the world. However, it has yet to reveal how it will do this. The Menlo Park, California, firm released a revised terms of service in draft form two weeks ago, which is scheduled to take effect next month. Exempting users outside of the EU that would normally have protection removes a huge potential liability for Facebook, as the new EU GDPR law allows for fines of up to four per cent of global annual revenue for infractions, which in Facebook's case could cost billions. Founder Mark Zuckerberg previously told congressional panels Facebook intends to offer the same privacy protections embodied in the EU's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) for its worldwide users, but the new changes suggest this might not be the case WHAT CHANGES IS FACEBOOK MAKING TO COMPLY WITH THE EU'S GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION? The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) will enter into force on May 25, 2018 and offer greater privacy protection online. New terms of service at Facebook are designed to ensure the Menlo Park, California, firm complies with the forthcoming EU rules, with European residents seeing the measures first. Facebook is hoping to exclude 1.5 billion of its worldwide users from the new GDPR laws, arguing that only EU citizens should fall under its purview. Almost 1.9 billion non-EU international users, outside of the US and Canada, would be protected by the stricter law under current rules. Members in Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America would be excluded from the GDPR's protections if the move goes ahead. Under the new policy, Facebook users will be asked to review and make choices about ads they receive, including whether they want Facebook to use data from third parties. Facebook will begin to ask users if they want to opt in or out of its facial recognition feature, which is making a return under GDPR. They will also be asked to review and choose what to share about sensitive personal data. This will include their political and religious beliefs, as well as relationship status information on their profiles. Facebook is also taking steps to comply with rules that limit advertising and public viewing of data for teens. This will mean no use of facial recognition for anyone under age 18 and limitations on who can see certain information teens have shared. To comply with GDPR, Facebook will also limit what it shows to users between the ages of 13 and 15 unless they get permission from a parent. Advertisement The current changes to the terms of service appear to be a U-turn for the company. Earlier this month, following the shocking revelation that the firm shared the data of up to 87 million users with the political consultancy firm Cambridge Analytica, Mark Zuckerberg said European-style privacy protection will be given to all users. 'Were going to make all the same controls and settings available everywhere, not just in Europe, he said. Other multinational companies are also planning changes. European Union regulations coming into force next month will crack down on how companies like Facebook use and sell the data they collect on users. A suite of new tools is designed to inform users how the firm uses their data, including to provide targeted adverts (pictured) Almost 1.9 billion non-EU international users, outside of the US and Canada, would be protected by GDPR under current rules. This image shows privacy (left) and ad preference (right)menus added to Facebook Facebook is planning to make that the case that only European fall under GDPR, which takes effect on May 25, excluding users in Africa, Asia, Australia and Latin America. This image shows data setting review (left) and teen protection (right) menus added to Facebook LinkedIn, a unit of Microsoft, tells users in its existing terms of service that if they are outside the United States, they have a contract with LinkedIn Ireland. New terms that take effect May 8 move non-Europeans to contracts with U.S.-based LinkedIn. LinkedIn said in a statement on Wednesday that all users are entitled to the same privacy protections. 'We've simply streamlined the contract location to ensure all members understand the LinkedIn entity responsible for their personal data,' the company said. The revelations comes as news emerged about a controversial Facebook AI tool that could soon be making a return to Europe and Canada. Facial recognition, launched in 2010, suggests names for people it identifies in photos uploaded by users. A controversial AI tool could be soon be making a return to Europe and Canada, after it fell foul of privacy laws. Facial recognition, launched in 2010, suggests names for people it identifies in photos uploaded by users. This pop up will help users control its settings It was suspended for users in Europe in 2012 over privacy concerns, but still lives on in the US and other regions worldwide. Now the firm says it will make a comeback, using the new European data protection regulations as a chance to collect more information if users opt in. Facebook will begin to ask users if they want to opt in or out of the facial recognition feature under GDPR this week. Under the new policy, Facebook users will also be asked to review and make choices about ads they receive, including whether they want Facebook to use data from third parties. They will also be asked to review and choose what to share about the political, religious, and relationship information on their profiles. WHAT IS THE EU'S GENERAL DATA PROTECTION REGULATION? The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a data protection law that entered into force on May 25, 2018. It aims to strengthen and unify data protection for all individuals within the European Union (EU). This means cracking down on how companies like Google and Facebook use and sell the data they collect on their users. The law will mark the biggest overhaul of personal data privacy rules since the birth of the internet. Under GDPR, companies are required to report data breaches within 72 hours, as well as to allow customers to export their data and delete it. The European Union's General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR) is a new data protection law that entered into force on May 25 Part of the expanded rights of data subjects outlined by the GDPR is the right for data subjects to obtain from the data controller confirmation as to whether or not personal data concerning them is being processed, where and for what purpose. Further, the controller must provide a copy of the personal data, free of charge, in an electronic format. This change is a dramatic shift to data transparency and empowerment of data subjects. Under the right to be forgotten, also known as Data Erasure, are entitled to have the data controller erase their personal data, cease further dissemination of the data, and potentially have third parties halt processing of the data. The conditions for erasure include the data no longer being relevant to original purposes for processing, or a data subject withdrawing their consent. This right requires controllers to compare the subjects' rights to 'the public interest in the availability of the data' when considering such requests. Advertisement These are designed to ensure the firm complies with the forthcoming EU rules, with European residents seeing the measures first. 'Everyone - no matter where they live - will be asked to review important information about how Facebook uses data and make choices about their privacy on Facebook,' chief privacy officer Erin Egan and deputy general counsel Ashlie Beringer said in a written statement. The statement also said users will be told that facial recognition is optional, but that it could offer some benefit, such as being notified when someone is using an unauthorised picture. 'We not only want to comply with the law, but also go beyond our obligations to build new and improved privacy experiences for everyone on Facebook,' Ms Egan and Ms Beringer wrote. GPDR aims to strengthen and unify data protection for all individuals within the European Union. Facebook also announced that it will begin rolling out changes this week to how it handles private data (notification pictured). This is designed to ensure the firm complies with the forthcoming EU rules, with European residents the first to see the new measures The law will mark the biggest overhaul of personal data privacy rules since the birth of the internet. Under GDPR, companies will be required to report data breaches within 72 hours, as well as to allow customers to export their data and delete it. WHAT IS THE CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL? Communications firm Cambridge Analytica has offices in London, New York, Washington, as well as Brazil and Malaysia. The company boasts it can 'find your voters and move them to action' through data-driven campaigns and a team that includes data scientists and behavioural psychologists. 'Within the United States alone, we have played a pivotal role in winning presidential races as well as congressional and state elections,' with data on more than 230 million American voters, Cambridge Analytica claims on its website. The company profited from a feature that meant apps could ask for permission to access your own data as well as the data of all your Facebook friends. The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix (pictured), after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump This meant the company was able to mine the information of 87 million Facebook users even though just 270,000 people gave them permission to do so. This was designed to help them create software that can predict and influence voters' choices at the ballot box. The data firm suspended its chief executive, Alexander Nix, after recordings emerged of him making a series of controversial claims, including boasts that Cambridge Analytica had a pivotal role in the election of Donald Trump. This information is said to have been used to help the Brexit campaign in the UK. Advertisement A US federal judge has ruled the Zuckerberg owned social network will face a class action law suit in the wake of its privacy scandal. Allegations of privacy violations emerged when it was revealed the app used a photo-scanning tool on users' images without their explicit consent WHAT IS THE LEGAL IMPACT OF THE CAMBRIDGE ANALYTICA SCANDAL? News that Trump-affiliated company Cambridge Analytica used data mined from Facebook user's to try and influence the US presidential election may trigger a wave of lawsuits, according to experts. Vanessa Barnett, a commercial lawyer and data protection expert at Keystone Law, believes it's 'very likely' we will see a slew of legal cases against the firms in the wake of the scandal. Speaking to MailOnline, she said: 'In the UK, users can take direct action for damages caused to them by a data breach and that includes damages for distress. 'How that translates into a "pounds, shillings, pence" type number for each person would depend on the nature of the damage.' 'We have case law where the Home Office revealed personal data of asylum seekers, including potentially where they lived. Some of those individuals were awarded 12,500 ($14,000) in damages. 'It remains to be seen if the damage caused by the Cambridge Analytica scandal is comparable.' Ms Barnett says that a number of consumer rights focused groups are looking at the possibility of a class action lawsuit, a more regular feature of the US legal system than in the UK. A class action lawsuit filed against the firm in America is now seeking compensation for the roughly 70 million US users who were affected. Ms Barnett added: 'Years ago we just had Max Schrems vs Facebook, and he didnt do too bad, but now its much more in the public consciousness. 'If the mechanics to participate in a class action are easy, I can see many users joining in.' Advertisement Facebook's facial recognition tool, launched in 2010, suggests names for people it identifies in photos uploaded by users. A judge has ruled this broke Illinois state law and people could be entitled to up to $5,000 (3,500) in compensation for every image used Strange footage of a 'magical stone that melts metal' has emerged online, sending the internet into a frenzy. The clip appears to show someone placing a nail on a black rock with it transforming into a liquid state just seconds later. Uploaded onto YouTube earlier this week, the clip left viewers baffled but experts say the nail is most likely made of gallium, which melts at around 29.8C or 85.6F. Strange footage of a 'magical stone that melts metal' has emerged online, sending the internet into a frenzy. The clip appears to show someone placing a nail on a black rock with it transforming into a liquid state just seconds later The clip 'Bizarre Stone Found That Melts Metal' was uploaded by 'The Hidden Underbelly' and left viewers scratching their heads. One version of the footage racked up nearly eight million views in four days. 'This strange looking black stone was discovered by a soldier in Myanmar (Burma)', wrote the user 'The Hidden Underbelly' who posted the video. 'The soldier states that when he was next to the stone his gun started to melt. 'The stone has been taken to experts to find the truth behind origin of this stone that melts metal', the user wrote. The baffling video sparked a number of conspiracy theories, with some people saying it must have been left by an ancient civilisation. 'Ancient civilisations left behind some energised stuff', wrote user Emilis Nelius. 'You don't see that every day! Strange if real', wrote another YouTube user Spacecase7717. However, according to fact-checking website Snopes, there's a perfectly scientific explanation for this baffling phenomenon. Fact-checker Alex Kasprak who wrote the post points out that liquid iron or steel is molten red in liquid form while this metal is bright silver. The strange clip 'Bizarre Stone Found That Melts Metal' was uploaded by 'The Hidden Underbelly' and left viewers scratching their heads. However, experts say the nail is most likely made of gallium, which melts at around 29.8C or 85.6F The website also noted that the person handling the nail in the video is wearing a latex glove. This is further evidence that the nail is made of gallium 'The metal used here is almost certainly gallium, which is solid at room temperature, but melts at around 85.6F (29.8C)', he wrote. 'A black stone sitting in the sun could easily reach this temperature and cause the gallium to liquefy. 'Further, making gallium nails is both easy to do, and something for which there are directions on the internet', Mr Kasprak wrote. These comments were supported by Professor Sir Colin Humphreys from the Cambridge Centre for Gallium Nitride at Cambridge University. 'The nail could well be made of gallium', Professor Humphreys told MailOnline. 'If in fact you make an alloy made of 75 per cent gallium and 25 per cent indium that actually melts at 15 centigrade. That means you could melt it on a rock in this country', he said. WHAT IS GALLIUM? Gallium is a soft silver metal - similar to aluminium - that is primarily used in electronic circuits. It is solid at room temperature but is so soft it can be cut with a knife. It melts at around 85.6F (29.8C), meaning if it's picked up it literally melts from the warmth of the hand. However, despite a low melting point its boiling point is extremely high, at 2,204C (3,999F). In nature it is never found as a free element and only exists in various compounds, such as zinc ores and bauxite. By weight, it makes up less than 0.0019 per cent of the Earth's crust, according to PeriodicTable.com. Australia, Russia, France and Germany produce the most amount of this metal. Ninety-five per cent of all gallium is used to make gallium arsenide (GaAs) which is a compound used in microwave and infrared circuits, semiconductors and LEDs. It was first discovered in Paris in 1875 by Paul-Emile Lecoq de Boisbaudran. Advertisement Another possibility is that the nail is made of caesium. 'That melts at only 28C (82F), but it's rarer. It could be caesium, but it's more likely to be gallium', he said. Professor Humphreys said it was certainly not an iron nail as that would glow red hot before melting. 'No mystery really - science can explain it', he added. The Snopes website also noted that the person handling the nail in the video is wearing a latex glove. This is further evidence that the nail is made of gallium. 'The heat of someones hand would melt the gallium fairly quickly, and because gallium, while generally safe, can irritate the skin upon contact', Mr Kasprak wrote. 'The video most likely shows a gallium nail crafted specifically for the purpose of showing a science experiment'. Incredible text that appeared above Phoenix has left onlookers confused as to how it was created. The messages, including 'cisco #collabsummit', are a form of skywriting which has the appearance of digitally typed text. Skytyping, or digital skywriting, is a technique whereby smoke is emitted in a series of bursts, each of which can be the length of a skyscraper. These appear like the text produced by old fashioned dot matrix printers, in which characters are formed on the page by printing rows and columns of ink dots. Skytyping, or digital skywriting, is a technique whereby smoke is emitted in a series of bursts, each of which can be the length of a skyscraper. These appear like the text produced by old fashioned dot matrix printers, in which characters are formed on the page by printing rows and columns of ink dots. In skytyping, a computer generates a master plan and electronic signals control the smoke output once aircraft are in the air. Multiple planes usually take to the sky, so that the entire text of longer messages is visible at once. They are often equipped with onboard Wifi or other communications relays, which allow their computers to synchronise the release of smoke between them. Five jets worked to write a number of messages in the sky, according to news reports from AZ Family. Other text produced by the planes included 'the future of work is here' and '#futureofwork.' The writing, which appeared yesterday, was designed to attract attention to computer networking firm Cisco. The San Jose based company is today hosting the second of its two day Collaboration Summit conference, at the Arizona Grand Resort and Spa in Phoenix. 'Collaboration Summit is our marquee event for customers and partners,' Cisco spokesman Christine Johansen told AZ Central. 'The skywriting is a great way to get our attendees excited - and showcase the stunning Phoenix sky.' Keynote speakers at the conference, which has an anticipated attendance of around 1,200 people, include James Chan, a venture capitalist with Bloomberg Beta. Mysterious text that appeared above Phoenix has left onlookers confused as to where it came from and how it was created. The message, reading 'cisco #collabsummit', is actually an incredible form of skywriting that has the appearance of digitally typed text The writing was designed to attract attention to computer networking firm Cisco's annual conference. IT specialist Tony Cuevas, who was in attendance, was among those to spot the spectacular skywriting in action, capturing it in video footage Five jets worked to write a number of messages in the sky, according to local news reports, including 'the future of work is here' and '#futureofwork' HOW DOES SKYTYPING WORK? Skytyping is a form of skywriting that results in characters which look more like typed or digital text than hand written penmanship. Skywriting is often done by one plane, which can generally write up to six characters at a time. Skilled pilots may need to manoeuvre upside down and they decide when smoke is needed to produce the letters. As such, they are often secretive in discussing the exact techniques they use to produce their manually produced messages. Five to seven planes are needed for longer messages, of up to around thirty characters, so that the entire message is visible at once. Skytyping, also know as digital skywriting, is a technique whereby the smoke is emitted in a series of bursts, each of which can be the length of a skyscraper. These appear like the text produced by old fashioned dot matrix printers, in which characters were formed on the page by printing rows and columns of ink dots. In skytyping, a computer generates a master plan and electronic signals control the smoke output once the aircraft is in the air. In skytyping, it's most common for multiple planes usually take to the sky. They are often equipped with onboard Wifi or other communications relays to allow their computers to synchronise the release of smoke between them. Advertisement Rowan Trollope, senior vice president and general manager of Cisco's applications, and Michelle Chiantera, vice president for Cisco's global partner marketing are also speaking. Computer specialist Tony Cuevas, who was attending the conference, was among those to spot the spectacular skywriting in action, capturing it in video footage. The promotional stunt has generated a buzz on Twitter, with witnesses and others taking to the site to share their thoughts and images with followers. Author Sarah Viren said: 'The sky is telling me to collaborate, but with whom?' Typography artist Vivienne Lux added: 'Well played Cisco. Sky writers over Phoenix this morning. The promotional stunt has generated a buzz on Twitter, with witnesses and others taking to the site to share their thoughts and images with followers. Author Sarah Viren said: 'The sky is telling me to collaborate, but with whom?' Typography artist Vivienne Lux added: 'Well played Cisco. Sky writers over Phoenix this morning. I dropped my kid off at school and everyone was just standing there, staring at the sky (which was kind of eerie)' Lindsey Collom said: 'Anyone else seeing the sky writing in Phoenix? What are you up to, cisco ?' Jess Macias said: 'Caught part of an apparent Cisco ad that was written in the sky, #thatsneat. Hope this is not a trend...' Matthew Rhett said: 'Did Cisco know I had my migration Cisco blue shirt on today and painted Cisco in the sky for good luck?' 'I dropped my kid off at school and everyone was just standing there, staring at the sky (which was kind of eerie), but I couldnt see from inside the car. 'I pulled over to get out and look. #curiousitykilledthecat.' David Maldow joked: 'New skywriting bot for Cisco chat apps. Just do /sky and type your message and it appears in the sky.' This is not the first time that the firm has used the technique to promote itself, with messages appearing high above Las Vegas in 2015 to mark that year's International Consumer Electronics Show conference. Miniature human brains have grown successfully for months in mice - a breakthrough that could help people with neurological diseases such as strokes. The pin-sized brains were made from stem cells and placed inside the brains of the rodents. Around 80 per cent of the 200 mice tested survived the operation and within two weeks their brain implants were spawning new neurons. The host brains provided the mini brains with enough nutrients to keep them healthy for months. Researchers hope these tiny implants could be used as cortical repair kits that could replace parts of the brain that have failed to develop normally. Scroll down for video Miniature human brains have grown successfully for months in mice - a breakthrough that could help people with neurological diseases such as strokes. Human organoid tissue (pictured in green) was grafted into mouse tissue. Neurons are pictured in red Biologists have already had success growing tiny, stem-cell-based brain-like 'organoids' in dishes or test tubes. However, now researchers can develop more sophisticated organoid models by transplanting them into rodents. This means they receive sufficient oxygen and other nutrients to grow and develop properly. Researchers from the Salk Institute grafted human stem-cell-based organioids into a blood-vessel-rich area of the mouse brain. They grew human stem cells, differentiated them into brain cells and let them grow to be just a few millimetres across - a process which took around five weeks. When inside the mouse's brain it gave them everything they needed to grow normally, The organiods had been genetically engineered to produce a green protein so they could see them inside the mouse's brain. The team saw not only native blood vessels from the brain implant, but vessels with blood flowing into them - a first for organoids. 'That was a big accomplishment,' says Abed AlFattah Mansour, a Salk research associate and the paper's first author. 'We saw infiltration of blood vessels into the organoid and supplying it with blood, which was exciting because it's perhaps the ticket for organoids' long-term survival', he said. According to the report, this new development will help with stem cell research. It's 'an important technical advance,' said neuroscientist Michal Stachowiak of the State University of New York, Buffalo, who created human cerebral organoids to study schizophrenia. It's also 'an important initial step toward using organoids in regenerative medicine', he said, writes Stat news. 'Brain organoids are powerful tools for investigating human brain development and disorders,' said senior author Rusty Gage, professor of Salk's Laboratory of Genetics. 'This work brings us one step closer to a more faithful, functional representation of the human brain and could help us design better therapies for neurological and psychiatric diseases.' This is not the only research lab growing miniature human brains. Earlier this month, scientists at the University of California at Davis grew miniature human brains with their own blood vessels in a lab for the first time. A stained cross-section of a brain organoid showing that blood vessels (in red) penetrated both the outer, more organised layers and the inner core Previously bioethicists raised questions about what the implants would do to mice intelligence and consciousness. The paper, published in Nature Biotechnology, found that the mice with human brain organoids were no smarter or any different from standard mice in the lab. The organoids also reveal how human brains develop - both normally and when things go wrong. 'This work builds on a grafting technique I helped develop in 1984,' said Dr Gage. 'It is gratifying to see that it works so well with brain organoids, which have immense potential to elucidate brain function in neuropsychiatric disease.' This is not the only research lab growing miniature human brains. Earlier this month, scientists at the University of California at Davis grew miniature human brains with their own blood vessels in a lab for the first time. This image shows the shows the in vivo vascularisation of the organoid. In vivo means the organ was implanted into a living organism, in this case it was the brain of a lab mouse After implanting the mini-brain - which is only a millimetre long - into a mouse for two weeks, they found it had grown capillaries that penetrated all the way to its inner layers. In the future, researchers hope to use the artificial brain tissue to cure stroke victims. The study was inspired by research from Dr Ben Waldeu, a vascular neurosurgeon at UC Davis, that focused on a rare condition called Moyamoya disease. This is when people have blocked arteries at the base of their brain, keeping blood from reaching the rest of the organ. 'The whole idea with these organoids is to one day be able to develop a brain structure the patient has lost made with the patient's own cells,' says Dr Waldau. 'We see the injuries still there on the CT scans, but there's nothing we can do. So many of them are left behind with permanent neural deficitsparalysis, numbness, weaknesseven after surgery and physical therapy.' 'We sometimes lay a patient's own artery on top of the brain to get the blood vessels to start growing in,' says Waldau. 'When we replicated that process on a miniaturised scale we saw these vessels self-assemble.' This budding field of growing human organs has expanded rapidly, starting with groups of immature stem cells, to more complex arrangements. A major stumbling block has been replicating the blood-flow throughout the lab-grown brains. At a certain point and size, the organoid becomes too large and it dies at the centre. The vascularisation (pictured) should allow scientists to develop much larger organs in the future This budding field of growing human organs has expanded rapidly, starting with groups of immature stem cells, to more complex arrangements. Now, the organs have their own blood supply As the field develops, so do the organs themselves and a major stumbling block has been replicating the blood-flow throughout the complex organ. At a certain point and size, the organoid becomes too large and it dies at the centre. To overcome this, Dr Waldau and his colleagues combined stem cells with other human body cells to encourage the formation of blood vessels. By using endothelial cells and stem cells from the same patient who was undergoing a routine operation, it ensured their would be no rejection. As the stem cells grew into a small ball it was incubated in a specialist gel and was already coated with the endothelial cells. After a short period of incubation and growth, it was transferred from the gel to the brain of a mouse. Researchers carved out a small cavity in the brain of a mouse and the organoid was then implanted here. Two small organoids (pictured) are made from stem cells and implanted into a mouse brain. The mouse, still alive despite the brain operation, played host to the tiny human brain for two weeks The mouse, still alive despite the brain operation, then played host to the tiny human brain for two further weeks. After this 'in vitro' period was completed, the small brain had become successfully infiltrated by blood vessels. It had even created its own capillaries, which extended throughout the brain and all the way to the centre. This discovery will allow future research to be conducted on bigger organoids and therefore understand more about higher functions of the human brain. 'It's a big deal,' said Christof Koch, president of the Allen Institute for Brain Science in Seattle, 'but it's still early days.' 'The next problem will be getting these cells wired into circuits that can receive and process information.' 'The fact that I can look out at the world and see it as spatially organisedleft, right, near, far is all due to the organisation of my cortex that reflects the regularity of the world,' says Koch. 'There's nothing like that in these organoids yet.' The research was published in the journal NeuroReport. To most people, the question might seem a no-brainer: is ejaculation a rewarding experience? For biologists, however, its a bit more complicated. In effort to better understand how ejaculation fits into the motivations behind the mating process in animals, from insects to mammals, scientists have conducted a bizarre experiment. Using optogenetic tools, researchers genetically engineered fruit flies to ejaculate when exposed to red light and, perhaps unsurprisingly, the team discovered flies developed a strong preference for red light. Researchers placed the genetically engineered males in an arena in which just one side was bathed in red light. Then, they tracked their activity. And, the experiment revealed the males spent most of their time in the red light region In the study published to the journal Current Biology, researchers from Bar-Ilan University in Israel and HHMI Janelia Research USA engineered fruit flies such that exposure to red light would trigger neurons expressing the neuropeptide corazonin (CRZ). Previous studies have shown that the presence of the neurons in the fly abdomen caused the release of sperm and seminal fluid. We wanted to know which part of the mating process entails the rewarding value for flies, says Galit Shohat-Ophir of Bar-Ilan University in Israel. The actions that males perform during courtship? A females pheromones? The last step of mating, which is sperm and seminal fluid release? To find out, the team placed the genetically engineered males in an arena in which just one side was bathed in red light. Then, they tracked their activity. The experiment revealed the males spent most of their time in the red light region, suggesting ejaculation is a rewarding experience for the flies. The researchers then took the experiment a step further, and trained the flies to associate red light (and ejaculation) with a particular odor. And, they found that the flies preferred the scent theyd linked to the experience of ejaculation. According to Shohat-Ophir, Successful mating is naturally rewarding to male flies and increases the levels of a small peptide in the brain called Neuropeptide F. The researchers also found that when deprived of the sexual reward, male fruit flies turned to alcohol. The study, though somewhat offbeat, could also have implications for understanding addiction in humans. File photo Lo and behold, the researchers found that after days of repeatedly activating the CRZ neurons, the fruit flights exhibited high levels of neuropeptide F. The levels were even similar to those seen in males that had actually mated with female partners, the researchers note. And, the team found that depriving the males of their preferred experience would cause them to seek out rewards elsewhere. Male flies that are sexually deprived have increased motivation to consume alcohol as an alternative reward, Shohat-Ophir said. The males were given the choice between two types of liquid food: one spiked with alcohol, and one without. While the males with high levels of neuropeptide F in their brains chose the non-alcoholic food, those who had not been exposed to the red light preferred the alcohol. The study, though somewhat offbeat, could also have implications for understanding addiction in humans. WHY DO SOME ANIMALS BECOME AGGRESSIVE AFTER SEX? Studies have suggested that seminal fluid proteins transferred from males during intercourse can change women's behaviour - including eating and sleeping patterns. Now insect experiments have shown the receipt of sperm boosts female aggression - but only towards other females. Scientists studying fruit flies found females became more violent after mating. They put this down to chemicals found in the semen that carries a male's DNA in his swimming sperm cells. Dr Eleanor Bath and colleagues from Oxford University said similar 'ejaculate-induced female aggression may occur in mammals.' Although they investigated fruit flies the findings could in principle be applied to responses in many animals - including humans - where sperm and semen is released inside the female's body during sex. Dr Bath said: 'Although flies' nervous system is much simpler it's kind of similar in mammals. 'It's possible we could see this sort of effect in humans. It hasn't been looked at before - but perhaps it should be now.' Advertisement The principles by which the brain processes reward are extremely conserved in all animals; this is a really basic every day machinery that helps animals survive, Shohat-Ophir says. Drugs of abuse use the same systems in the brain that are used to process natural rewards. This allows us to use simple model organisms to study aspects of drug addiction, including the interplay between natural and drug rewards and the connection between experience and the mechanisms that underlie the risk to develop drug addiction. Our studies suggest that the state of the animal (i.e., undergoing successful mating or being rejected) affects the motivation to consume drug rewards, Shohat-Ophir says. Our affable Athens guide Yannis asks if I have been to the city before, and I cheerily admit I was last here in 1984. His eyes widen and he says, wistfully: 'Ahh, you were here during the Age of Innocence.' Back then, I was a nippy 19-year-old with an unimpaired mop of curly hair and the sculptured abdominal section worthy of a Greek statue. It cost 1 a night to roll out my junior sleeping bag on a hostel roof, and a litre of Amstel was 30p. I lived like a prince during five dreamy weeks of island-hopping. The only problem was Athens, where I missed my Monarch flight home, and then spent three hungry days walking its fetid, inhospitable streets and sleeping at the airport before I blagged the airfare money. It left a bad taste. Go back? I'd rather give Medusa the eye. Ancient attraction: The Acropolis, overlooking the city, will thrill the whole family But I finally returned with my wife, Emma, and our nine-year old son, Joseph, on the promise that Athens has changed. To my delight, and relief, it has. The blue-sky warmth of spring makes the city more bearable than in the height of summer, when you will be shoulder-to shoulder at every historical site. We booked private guides on two days, a luxury worth taking. Yannis, from Athens Insiders, led us around the Plaka central area, focusing his talk on mythology. We lapped it up like wannabe Athenas (goddess of wisdom). On another day, an archaeology expert called Evita (yes, really) from Greeking.me guided us through the fascinating ruins of the Ancient Agora (marketplace) and up to The Acropolis, where we were each given iPad Minis. Special software transforms whatever is before your eyes into a 3D depiction of how it would have looked 2,000 years ago. Ingenious. The strong educational aspect to Athens makes it a more meaningful break with children, but these days it is also a safe and friendly city with a young, energetic vibe. City on the up: Now emerging from its financial calamity, Athens is a vibrant destination Athens bears visible scars of the economic crisis that has engulfed Greece since 2009. There are burnt-out buildings, boarded-up businesses, and angry graffiti is splashed everywhere. However, all this generates an interesting edginess. Athens is emerging from its financial calamity as a vibrant and cosmopolitan destination. There is a great choice of hotels for all budgets. We stayed first at the New Hotel and then pushed the proverbial boat out by switching to the chic Electra Metropolis, with a spectacular terrace and pool with views of The Acropolis. There are also countless fashionable restaurants. We ate food of the gods eel, octopus and pork belly at Feedel Urban Gastronomy. Heavenly: The chic Electra Metropolis hotel offers spectacular views of The Acropolis One afternoon, we retreated from cultural overload to a pottery class at DotAhart, run by artists Athena and Voula. Joseph proudly made 'Zeus', who now rules from a kitchen shelf. Another day, we took the fast ferry (just over an hour) to admire the beauty of Hydra. An old man asked Joseph what he liked most about Athens. 'Everybody is so kind,' he shot back. The man beamed: 'This is the best advertisement for us.' Staying in a holiday apartment means you can do your own thing, when you want (within reason, of course), and live like a local instead of a tourist. It can also be more pocket-friendly if youre travelling as a group or a family. From smart pads kitted out with Smeg appliances to three-storey period-style homes, Edinburgh is spoilt for choice when it comes to homely holiday apartments. Edinburgh Castle Apartments Rating: You cant come to Edinburgh and not visit the castle, and these apartments are minutes away from it. A handful of well-appointed and luxuriously finished two-bed flats, Edinburgh Castle Apartments are spacious, bright and comfortable and are kitted out with everything you need. Two double bedrooms are big enough for four and theres a plush sofa-bed in the living area for putting up guests. Edinburgh Castle Apartments come with fully equipped kitchens if you fancy staying in and enjoying a home-cooked meal with views of the castle. Bus: Princes Street The apartments are minutes away from Edinburgh Castle Apple Apartments Edinburgh Rating: Apple Apartments in Edinburghs Old Town is housed in a period-style building on George Street, surrounded by the citys best cultural, historical and culinary attractions. Take your pick from four beautifully designed two or three-bed apartments, each with subtle period features and modern conveniences. Their fully fitted open-plan kitchens come with Smeg appliances and washer-dryers, while in the bedrooms youll find Egyptian cotton bed-linen, Bulgari toiletries and GHD hair straighteners. All of the apartments have stunning views, whether its of New Town or glimpses of the river Firth. Bus: George Street Apple apartments didn't spare any costs, the beds are laced with Egyptian cotton and they provide Bulgari toiletries The Pavilion at Lambs House Rating: The wonderful Pavilion at Lambs House is a holiday home in the port area of Leith, spread out over three floors of a pretty building in the grounds of the 17th-century Lambs House. Three characterful bedrooms and spacious living areas are furnished with antique or reproduction furnishings and original artwork. While its decor is classic, it doesnt scrimp on mod cons and has under-floor heating as well as an open fire to keep you warm in the Scottish winter. Leith is only 15 minutes by car or bus from the city centre, and for eating out locally theres the Michelin-starred restaurant Martin Wishart. Bus: The Shore Rooms at the Pavilion Hotel are spacious and the living areas are furnished with antique decor Old Town Chambers Luxury Apartments Rating: Slap bang in the heart of the Old Town, Old Town Chambers Luxury Apartments is made up of 50 gorgeous holiday lets, dripping with unique features and period charm. There are various options from townhouses to penthouses, with the biggest suitable for up to six people. They all have contemporary interiors, high-end kitchens, Bose speakers and complimentary Cowshed toiletries. The family apartments sleep four comfortably, with a lavish master bedroom and a cosy second bedroom for the kids. You can easily walk from Old Town Chambers to all the main sights, with Edinburgh Castle just five minutes away and the shops and restaurants of the Royal Mile right on your doorstep. Bus: Market Street Apartments are in central Old Town and sights such as Edinburgh Castle is only five minutes away Edinburgh Art Apartments Rating: If youre in town for the Edinburgh Fringe Festival or you just like your surroundings creative and quirky, the Edinburgh Art Apartments could be perfect for you. Theyre just around the corner from Edinburgh Waverley Station and 550 yards from Edinburgh Festival Theatre, so theyre convenient as well as stylish. With two and three-bed apartments to choose from, each one is bright and comes with a mix of modern furnishings, antique mirrors and pianos and eye-catching art. Edinburgh Art Apartments all come with well-equipped contemporary kitchens and lots of dining space. Bus: New Street Decor in Edinburgh Art Apartments are creative and quirky Grand Harbour Apartments Rating: Grand Harbour Apartments, just outside of the city centre in Leith, have plenty of wow-factor. They sit right on the waterfront at Western Harbour, so they have amazing views as well as sleek, contemporary styling. Grand Harbour Apartments come in a choice of sizes that sleep four to six, each with modern decor and some with double-height living areas. All the necessary creature comforts are there, as well as a small balcony for taking in the sea air. Leith itself has no shortage of great restaurants for when you want a night off from cooking, and its a 15-minute bus journey into the centre of Edinburgh. Bus: Terminus Advertisement Brand new aerial pictures have revealed the progress of Disney's new Star Wars attraction in California. The images show a mass of scaffolding around some of the huge buildings under construction and trucks and diggers scattered around the site. Once completed, Star Wars: Galaxys Edge at the Anaheim park will include approximately 10,000 tons of structural steel and 200,000 square feet of hand-carved rock work. New images taken by Nearmap show the progress of the new Star Wars attraction at Disneyland in California Images show a mass of scaffolding around some of the huge buildings under construction and trucks and diggers scattered around the site The ambitious new attraction is part of a $2billion (1.43billion) investment by Disney in its theme parks. The same intergalactic land also is under construction at the Walt Disney World Resort in Lake Buena Vista, Florida. Both are set to open next year. The new images of the yet-to-be completed attraction were taken in March this year by mapping service Nearmap - an international provider of high resolution aerial imagery, usually for property developers and architecture firms. MailOnline Travel ran images of the site taken by the company in January, with the latest pictures showing that progress is clearly being made on the 14-acre site. The new images of the yet-to-be completed attraction were taken by mapping service Nearmap, an international provider of high resolution aerial imagery A recent flight over Anaheim saw Nearmap capture pictures of the 14-acre site under construction under the California sun Disney has already released models, renderings and a limited number of pictures of what all of the attractions will look A picture of the site taken by Nearmap back in January. Progress is clearly being made Disney has released models, renderings and a limited number of pictures of what all of the attractions will look like when they open to the public. These authentic lands will have two signature attractions, allowing guests to lead their own adventures. The first will allow park-goers to take part an immersive battle between the Resistance and the First Order. The second will let riders take control of one of the most recognizable ships in the galaxy, the Millennium Falcon, on a customised secret mission. Disney's artist's impression on what Star Wars: Galaxy Edge will look like when it opens at Disneyland California in 2019 The Disney Parks group is continually adapting and expanding to cater to customer demand. In 2016, Shanghai Disneyland opened, while in May 2017 the new World of Avatar attraction at Disney World's Animal Kingdom in Florida was launched. Elsewhere, Disney has announced a two billion euro (1.75billion) investment in its Paris theme park that will see an extension featuring Marvel, Frozen and Star Wars attractions. The three new areas at the Walt Disney Studios Park will be rolled out in phases, starting in 2021. Advertisement The best hotel in the UK has been named as a property that used to be the headquarters of RMS Titanic's operator, White Star Line, in Liverpool. The 30 James Street Hotel was voted the best in Britain in the Travel Republic Hotel Awards 2018. Gongs were also handed out to properties around the world, with the best in Florida declared as the Hard Rock Hotel at Universal in Orlando, the Riu Plaza The Gresham, Dublin, declared the best in Ireland and Ibiza's No1, the awards say, is the Marina Playa. The spa area of the 30 James Street Hotel in Liverpool, which has been named as the best hotel in the UK in the Travel Republic Hotel Awards The hotel pays tribute to the Titanic and the restaurant at 30 James Street is called the Carpathia after the ship that rescued some of the Titanic survivors One of the luxury bedrooms at the hotel in Liverpool, which was named number one in the UK based on customer reviews The hotel is based in Albion House in Liverpool, which is the former base of White Star Line, the shipping company that operated RMS Titanic The hotel's dining rooms were redesigned based on photographs of the Titanic's original dining halls, pictured above. Designer Lawrence Kenwright said: 'I asked the public and historians for their views on the hotel and what they think should be included to do the history justice' The awards are based on Travel Republic customer reviews and ratings. The 30 James Street Hotel came top in the UK after achieving an average customer score of 9.3 out of 10. The hotel is based in Grade II listed building Albion House, which was built in 1896 by the architect Norman Shaw. It is also the former base of White Star Line - arguably the most famous shipping operator in the world - and it underwent a 5.5million renovation to become a luxury hotel that pays homage to its doomed ship, Titanic. Gone are the former offices. They have been replaced by lavish apartments, extravagant dining rooms modelled on the ships original halls and 100ft long balconies overlooking the dockside waterfront. The best hotel in Florida was named at the Hard Rock Hotel at the Universal Studios resort in Orlando, Florida, pictured The award for the best hotel in the Algarve, Portugal, went to the Pestana Alvor Park Hotel. Pictured is its pool area British holidaymakers in Egypt voted the Albatros White Beach hotel, pictured, in Hurghada as the country's best A total of 1,193 hotels across the world in 20 popular holiday destinations were given Travel Republic awards for delivering exceptional levels of service and world-class facilities. The hotels with the highest customer review score in their region were crowned 'best of the best' by British and Irish holidaymakers. Travel Republic said: 'This collection of 34 remarkable hotels left an extra special impression on UK and Ireland customers to achieve the most positive reviews in 2017.' The Riu Plaza Gresham hotel in Dublin scooped a gong from Travel Republic for the best hotel in the whole of Ireland The Marina Playa Hotel and Apartments, pictured, took the award for the best rated hotel on the Balearic island of Ibiza The Travel Republic award for Barcelona went to the boutique hotel The Mirror, which is set in the heart of the city's commercial district Best in the Netherlands in the Travel Republic awards was the Corendon Vitality Hotel in Amsterdam The best in the Netherlands was the Corendon Vitality Hotel in Amsterdam, boutique Hotel The Mirror was declared best in Barcelona while the winner on the Balearic island of Ibiza was Marina Playa. When it came to beach hotels, the Pestana Alvor Park Hotel claimed the prize for the Algarve, Portugal, and the gong for Egypt went to the Albatros White Beach Hotel. Travel Republic managing director, Ian Simmonds, said: 'We know the importance of genuine reviews to our customers, especially when making a hotel selection. 'It instils confidence and provides reassurance that they are making the right choice. 'This is why we have continued with the Travel Republic Hotel Awards, to promote the hotels that provide outstanding service and are highly rated by our customers.' Over 1.19million genuine hotel reviews have been submitted by Travel Republic customers since 2006, with customers scoring the hotel based on location, quality of room and service. She's been inundated with well wishes from her family as she celebrates her 39th birthday. And Kourtney Kardashian must have been overjoyed as she stepped out for a celebratory lunch with her little ones, Reign, Mason, and Penelope. The birthday girl held her youngest child in her arms as she guided Mason by the hand while out to lunch in Malibu on Wednesday. Birthday girl! Kourtney Kardashian must have felt overjoyed as she stepped out for a celebratory lunch with her little ones, Reign, Mason, and Penelope, in Malibu on Wednesday The reality star showcased her style credentials in a pair of ripped jeans and glossy black shoes as she wore her raven locks down straight. Sporting her trademark and trendy slanted sunglasses, the star appeared to opt for minimal makeup upon her youthful complexion. Mason wore a long-sleeve grey T-shirt, black trousers, and white sneakers. Penelope, meanwhile, was every inch the mini fashionista in her red cowboy boots, off-white sweatpants, and T-shirt. Her little one! Kourtney gently carried her youngest son Reign Off she goes! The mom-of-three rocked an olive green jacket and ripped jeans Hand in hand: Penelope held a pal's hand as they made their way to lunch Aww! Proud mom Kourtney documented her sweet birthday lunch over Instagram, posting a video of Penelope presenting her with a sweet treat as her family sang her happy birthday Proud mom Kourtney documented her sweet birthday lunch over Instagram, posting a video of Penelope presenting her with a sweet treat as her family sang her happy birthday. 'My kids made this for me,' she wrote in the caption of the sweet confection. Kourtney's children weren't the only ones to wish her a happy birthday. Just for her! Kourtney's children created the sweet confection for their mother's big day Beach babes! Kendall Jenner led the charge as she posted a throwback photo of herself with Kourtney, sunbathing in their bikinis on a yacht Aww! Khloe Kardashian gushed about her sister in a sweet photo tribute In true Kardashian fashion, the sisters posted a series of birthday tributes in honor of Kourtney. Kendall Jenner helped lead the charge as she posted a throwback photo of herself with Kourtney, sunbathing in their bikinis on a yacht. 'Happy birthday to this boss b*tch!' she wrote. 'Have the best birthday ever!' Kim Kardashian posted a sizzling throwback photo of them during their recent trip to Turks and Caicos New mom Khloe shared a gushing post in honor of Kourtney and a slew of photos of them together. 'Happy birthday @kourtneykardash!!!! In any lifetime I would have found a way to have you in my life forever! I cant imagine life without you! Have the best birthday!! You deserve everything and more! Forever and always I love you!!!' she raved. She also posted a jaw dropping snap of Kourtney in her bikini while sharing a post about her sister being 'body goals.' Ohlala: She also posted a jaw dropping snap of Kourtney in her bikini while sharing a post about her sister being 'body goals' Kim Kardashian posted a sizzling throwback photo of them during their recent trip to Turks and Caicos. 'Happy Birthday to my friend Ive had the longest in my life! Wouldnt know what to do without you! Have the best birthday ever!!!! @kourtneykardash', she wrote. Kylie Jenner showed off her new beauty collaboration with sister Kourtney, no doubt in honor of her birthday as well. And mom Kris Jenner posted a sweet photo of Kourtney as a baby girl along with a heart-melting message. Get ready! Kylie Jenner showed off her new beauty collaboration with sister Kourtney, no doubt in honor of her birthday as well That's her girl! Mom Kris Jenner posted a sweet photo of Kourtney as a baby girl along with a heart-melting message Stunner: Kylie posted this picture of her half sister to promote her cosmetics line Balloon message: Her kids gave her a sweet surprise with balloons Nicolas Cage says he'll only continue acting for 'three or four more years,' as he wants to make a permanent move behind the camera. 'In terms of producing and directing, yes, I'm getting back in production,' the 54-year-old Oscar-winner told media in Puerto Rico Tuesday, according to The Blast, as he promoted his latest movie, Primal. 'My company, Saturn Films, is involved in all the movies I'm doing now. 'Directing is something I'd look forward to down the road, because right now I'm primarily a film performer,' said Cage, who earned an Oscar in 1996 for his role as tragic alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas. 'I'm going to continue doing that for three or four more years and then I'd like to focus more on directing.' Changing: Nicolas Cage, 54, says he'll only continue acting for 'three or four more years,' as he wants to make a permanent move to behind the scenes. The Con Air star said his decision to step away from a life in front of the camera comes after he revealed he can be 'self-destructive' whenever he isn't working. 'I have multiple reasons for wanting to work,' Cage said. 'One of them is, to be blatantly honest, I can be a little self-destructive if I'm not focused on my job.' The Face/Off actor said he likes 'the structure of work' and the 'routine' and 'structure' that comes along with it. 'It's the difference between maybe having one bottle of wine versus two bottles of wine.' Out and about: The veteran entertainer was snapped last year at the Toronto International Film Festival Cage said that he's past accepted film roles in order to help 'pay the bills' as opposed to creative reasons. 'I have had to deal with mistakes of the past and I have had to dig myself up and out of a rabbit hole financially, but had to find movies that work for me in terms of performance but also like anybody else pay the bills,' Cage said. 'It is a job after all.' Although he is set to move behind the camera, Cage said his love for film hasn't faded, as he still enjoys making movies. Defining moment: Cage earned an Oscar in 1996 for his role as tragic alcoholic Ben Sanderson in Leaving Las Vegas Action hero: Cage appeared in 1996's The Rock with Sean Connery and Ed Harris 'I enjoy performing. I like the power of film and performance and I like practicing. It's kept me in touch with my craft and I feel I'm better now than I have ever been. 'I've got my emotions at my fingertips and I've got my process down.' Primal co-stars Famke Janssen and Michael Imperioli. She's the controversial former model who has never been afraid to make her opinion known. And Tziporah Malkah, 44, certainly made a statement as she brazenly puffed on an unhealthy cigarette in front of a 'no smoking' sign while attending the launch party for Mark Latham and Alan Jones' cookbook on Wednesday. Clad in a dramatic floral maxi dress, the 44-year-old was hard to miss as she smoked outside Sydney hotspot Manjits At The Wharf with a fellow partygoer. Breaking the rules! Tziporah Malkah,44, certainly made a statement as she brazenly puffed on an unhealthy cigarette in front of a 'no smoking' sign in Sydney on Wednesday The Sirens star accessorised her eye-catching ensemble with statement drop earrings, a bangle and sunglasses, as well as a pair of flat open-toe sandals. Wearing a coy expression, Tziporah appeared not to have a care in the world despite standing just centimeters away from the 'no smoking' sign. Earlier in the day, Tziporah was spotted socialising with 2GB presenter Alan Jones, even giving him a friendly kiss on the cheek during a cooking demonstration. Bold: Clad in a dramatic floral maxi dress, the 44-year-old was hard to miss as she smoked outside Sydney hotspot Manjits At The Wharf with a fellow partygoer Speaking to The Daily Telegraph at the exclusive event, Tziporah revealed her longtime friendship with Alan, explaining: 'I first met Alan when I was 10 back in the '80s through my mother.' 'He's always been very supportive of me,' she added. Tziporah rose to fame in the 1990s as one of Australia's top models and lived a life of glitz and glamour on the arm of her then-fiance James Packer. She began dating the billionaire in 1993, the same year she starred alongside Elle Macpherson, Portia de Rossi and Hugh Grant in cult film Sirens. Fashionista: The Sirens star accessorised her eye-catching ensemble with statement drop earrings, a bangle and sunglasses, as well as a pair of flat open-toe sandals She became engaged to James three years later, but the pair split in 1998. Appearing on The Kyle and Jackie O Show in 2016, Tziporah admitted that she threw half a million dollars worth of jewellery into the ocean after her split with James. It was also reported at the time that James also gave Tziporah a $2.7million Bondi apartment and 'some hundreds of thousands of dollars in spending money.' She revealed on The Project last year that after splitting with James, she moved to the US where she became engaged to a businessman - who she later discovered had a wife and child in Israel - and found herself homeless upon returning to Australia in 2010. She returned to the spotlight last year to compete on I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here!, losing out to fellow contestant Casey Donovan. Former flame: Tziporah rose to fame in the 1990s as one of Australia's top models and lived a life of glitz and glamour on the arm of her then-fiance James Packer The Secret Life of the Zoo (C4) Rating: Stephen: The Murder That Changed A Nation (BBC 1) Rating: Every camera creates a celebrity. Amateur photographers know it: as soon as the long lens appears, complete strangers appear from nowhere, wannabe stars hoping to muscle into the shot. This is even true for animals, as The Secret Life Of The Zoo (C4) demonstrates. Its only three months since the last series ended, but the fame-hungry menagerie at Chester just cant stay off the telly. Charles the two-horned chameleon was enraptured by his own image. To pump up his testosterone before mating, keepers placed him in front of a mirror and the iridescent reptile was thrilled by what he saw. The Secret Life Of The Zoo (C4) demonstrates. Its only three months since the last series ended, but the fame-hungry menagerie at Chester just cant stay off the telly First, he turned a luminous green, his most macho hue. Then, he started striking poses with his forelegs raised and clawing at the air. If you could market a selfie app for chameleons, theres a fortune to be made. Unluckily for Charles, his date night didnt go well: Ruby, the zoos two-horned female, turned grey at the sight of him and started shaking violently. You dont have to be a chameleon to know thats a bad reaction. It turned out Ruby was already pregnant by an unknown male and had been ever since she arrived at Chester. Ruby, evidently, is the kind of celeb who winds up on the Jeremy Kyle show. This documentary, filmed with dozens of hidden cameras in the pens, relies on its picture quality, which seems to have taken a leap forward with the new series. Instead of grainy night-vision shots and rain-blurred outdoor footage, we saw more high-definition images filmed with crystal clarity. The vampire crabs appeared to be monsters scuttling over boulders, until the camera pulled out to reveal they were the size of your thumb and their babies were a fifth of an inch across. The A-list celeb of the episode was Pulu, the 30-year-old Sumatran orangutan. He looked magnificent, his whole body covered in a curtain of orange dreadlocks. Every look Pulu gave the camera reeked of alpha dominance. Already the father of a clan of nine, hed now got both his mates pregnant at the same time. If you think animals arent emotionally complex enough to feel self-satisfaction, Pulu proved different. Lovebirds of the night: World War II special forces veteran Richard, born in 1921, was looking for romance on First Dates (C4). Hes what Id call old-school, said his lady friend Ruth, 79. Thats to be expected: you cant be new-fangled at 97. Advertisement But the real emotional sophistication was shown by Emma, one of the expectant mums, who calmly scooped up her newborn nephew and began suckling him after Subis, the other female ape, suffered a bad birth. While Subis recovered, Emma adopted the baby. Mother love is a superpower in more species than ours. Mother love was the irresistible force in the second part of Stephen: The Murder That Changed A Nation (BBC1), which mapped how bereaved parents Doreen and Neville Lawrence pursued their quest for justice, from a private prosecution all the way to a national inquiry. Baroness Lawrences implacable determination was a sight to behold. One policeman complained that she never smiled. He didnt seem to understand she had stopped smiling that night in April 1993 when her son was killed. Secret footage of the killers waving around a machete in their flat, acting out a fatal blow, never fails to chill in the BBC One documentary on the Stephen Lawrence murder Secret footage of the killers waving around a machete in their flat, acting out a fatal blow, never fails to chill. Neither could the scenes of the accused thugs, walking free from court and baiting the crowd. Doreen and Neville spoke frankly for the first time about how the stress and grief made them both ill and caused their marriage to fracture. We saw heartbreaking shots of the couple at Stephens graveside in Jamaica. What an intense experience this documentary is. Ant McPartlin's estranged wife Lisa Armstrong divulged she only saw the late Dale Winton last week following the sad news of his death on Wednesday. The Supermarket Sweep host passed away at the age of 62 at his home earlier on in the day, his agent confirmed in the evening. Lisa, 41, expressed her shock and grief at the tragedy as she paid tribute to the television legend on social media, with a whole host of other celebrities. 'Absolutely gutted': Ant McPartlin's estranged wife Lisa Armstrong saw late Dale Winton, 62, a week before his death as she paid tribute to the star on Wednesday She wrote: 'Absolutely gutted, only saw him last week. He was one of life's true gentleman, a heart of gold with a wicked sense of humour. RIP lovely man x.' (sic) Davina McCall, Frank Bruno, Piers Morgan and Duncan Bannatyne led the stars as they poured their all into their tributes across social media. Dale's long-term agent Jan Kennedy broke the news in a statement: 'It is with great sadness that we can confirm the passing of Dale Winton who died at home earlier today. 'Lovely man': She wrote: 'Absolutely gutted, only saw him last week. He was one of life's true gentleman, a heart of gold with a wicked sense of humour. RIP lovely man x' So sad: The Supermarket Sweep host passed away at the age of 62 at his home earlier on Wednesday, his agent confirmed (pictured in London, May 2016) 'While we know many will share this terrible loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy at this time of grief.' No other information surrounding his death has yet been released. Winton had spoken about some of his health problems which had plagued him in what would be one of his final interview, and why he had taken time away from TV. Tragedy: Dale had previously spoken about his battle with depression following a difficult break up while appearing on the Loose Women show in 2016 He told the TV Times: 'I've kept a low profile because I had about four surgeries.I had a shoulder problem and a knee problem, so I took a break to get myself sorted.' Dale had previously spoken about his battle with depression following a difficult break up while appearing on the Loose Women show in 2016. The TV star is well known for being the host of the show Dale's Supermarket Sweep and also the National Lottery's In It To Win It. Well recognised: The TV star is well known for being the host of the show Dale's Supermarket Sweep and also the National Lottery's In It To Win It They're filming the much-anticipated second season of the HBO smash, Big Little Lies. On Wednesday, Reese Witherspoon was all smiles during her lunch break with Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern on the series set in Monterey, California. The actress, 42, plays fiery, loyal yet stylish mother Madeleine, and looked every bit her character in a purple plaid coat that hit just above her knees. Lunch break: On Wednesday, Reese Witherspoon was all smiles with Nicole Kidman and Laura Dern on the series set in Monterey, California Her look was teamed up with a pale blue sweater and dark wash skinny jeans. Keeping her cellphone in hand, Reese stepped forward in brown Ugg boots and dark sunglasses. Walking behind her, Nicole Kidman donned her character's long red hair and bangs with a large blue puffer coat. The Moulin Rouge starlet plays Celeste, a mother of twins and a domestic violence victim, as well as serves as executive producer on the critically acclaimed show. Anticipation: The actress, 42, plays fiery, loyal yet stylish mother Madeleine, and looked every bit her character in a purple plaid coat that hit just above her knees The Australian beauty finished her look with knee-high black boots and threw a large tote over her shoulder as she walked alongside co-star Laura Dern. Laura, who is reprising her role as working mother Renata, was dressed in all black on set, which goes hand in hand with her character's professional life. According to Deadline, the second series will explore Bonnie's guilt as she struggles with murdering Perry after the Audrey Hepburn or Elvis Presley-themed trivia night. Return to Monterey: Nicole Kidman plays Celeste, a mother of twins and a domestic violence victim, as well as serves as executive producer on the critically acclaimed show While few details are known about the second series, Big Little Lies promises more lies that threaten to destroy friendships and marriages as well as parenting. The official log reads: 'The subversive, darkly comedic drama Big Little Lies will explore the malignancy of lies, the durability of friendships, the fragility of marriage and, of course, the vicious ferocity of sound parenting. 'Relationships will fray, loyalties will erode...the potential for emotional and bodily injury shall loom.' Coming soon: According to Deadline , the second series will explore Bonnie's guilt as she struggles with murdering Perry after the Audrey Hepburn or Elvis Presley-themed trivia night Production on season two of Big Little Lies has been underway since March 2018 and the actors got to work on shooting scenes in the spring. HBO's series Big Little Lies started out as a seven-episode series based on Liane Moriarty's book with the same title. As a result of the first season's sky-rocketing success, the producers renewed the series for a second run in December 2017. All-star cast: Production on season two of Big Little Lies has been underway since March 2018 and the actors got to work on shooting scenes in the spring While the whole cast are returning to filming, fans are particularly excited about the involvement of Meryl Streep. In mid-March, Reese appeared on Lorraine to promote the show ahead of filming the second series with her co-stars. The actress candidly confessed she felt nervous when she began working with Meryl for the first time as she said it was 'really overwhelming'. 'I got to rehearse with her (Meryl) last week it was really overwhelming. I think we are all nervous in front of her but after working with Oprah I'm not nervous,' she laughed. They have become the most talked about women in Australia since getting kicked off My Kitchen Rules for hurling vile insults and threats at their rivals Jess and Emma. And TV 'villains' Sonya Mefaddi and Hadil Faiza's secret lives can now be revealed amid the controversy - exposing Hadil's five-year stint in the navy and Sonya's decadent party girl past. Divorced mother-of-two Hadil, 30, used to be a boatswain's mate while Sonya, 34, partied with shirtless sailors and threw wild burlesque bashes while juggling a career in fashion PR. Scroll down for video EXCLUSIVE: From partying with shirtless sailors to burlesque bashes and even a stint in the navy: The secret lives of My Kitchen Rules' villains Sonya and Hadil REVEALED as they become the most talked about women in Australia. Pictured: Sonya Mefaddi at a pool party in 2010 Hadil, who cruelly compared Emma to a 'blowfish' during their showdown on Wednesday night, is a beauty therapist who lives in Cairns with her two sons. She shares her children, aged four and six, with her ex-husband - who she split from four years ago. While the reality TV star has now turned her attention to cooking, she spent five years in the navy before leaving the armed forces in 2014. 'I'm ex-navy and my ex-husband is still in the navy,' she told New Idea earlier this month. Who knew? Meanwhile, divorced mother-of-two Hadil (bottom right) served as a boatswain's mate in the navy for five years until 2014 In the past: Hadil dealt with ropes and weapons before deciding to leave the armed forces to spend more time with her two sons - aged four and six - in Cairns 'You wouldn't think it. You would think I'm a girly girl! I'm actually the biggest tomboy you'll ever meet.' Hadil dealt with ropes and weapons before deciding to leave the armed forces to spend more time with her children. 'I specialised in weapons. Definitely can shoot a 50 cal (50 caliber machine gun),' she admitted. And the acid-tongued Jordanian cook isn't the only one who has a colourful past. Strong woman! 'I specialised in weapons. Definitely can shoot a 50 cal,' Hadil told New Idea Family ties: Hadil's ex-husband, who she divorced four years ago, is still serving in the navy Rare throwback snaps have also emerged of Sonya looking utterly unrecognisable as a party girl in Sydney. She looked worlds away from her polished self as she mingled with shirtless sailors at a pool party she threw for her 27th birthday at Sydney nightspot The Ivy in 2010. Meanwhile, another photo from 2013 shows her rocking a fuchsia gown as she parties with burlesque dancers at a cabaret club. Sonya juggled her busy social life with starting fashion PR and events company Fashion Palette in 2009 while working full-time at a marketing firm. Partying it up: Meanwhile, rare throwback snaps show Sonya looking utterly unrecognisable as she parties in Sydney. Pictured at a cabaret club surrounded by burlesque dancers in 2013 Who's that girl? Sonya mingled with shirtless sailors at a pool party she threw for her 27th birthday at Sydney nightspot The Ivy in 2010 She made cold calls to designers on her lunch breaks, drew up business plans at home and took out $60,000 on a credit card to fund her new project. Sonya enticed celebrity clientele, including actress Ruby Rose and designer Peter Morrissey, to speak at her first event in 2009. She went on to showcase Australian designers at New York Fashion Week in 2012 and continued to hold shows every year - with former Bachelorette Sam Frost attending her event in 2015. Work hard, play hard! The TV 'villain' juggled her busy social life with starting fashion PR and events company Fashion Palette in 2009 while working full-time at a marketing firm Sonya's lookalike sister Nancy works alongside her as an event coordinator at Fashion Palette, while her mother Ghada works for Royal Jordanian Airlines. 'We produce runway shows in Sydney, Dubai, New York and Miami. I love fashion but no-one knows that I can cook and I love cooking,' Sonya previously said. 'Both Hadil and I are successful businesswomen because we've been very determined,' she continued. Entrepreneur: 'We produce runway shows in Sydney, Dubai, New York and Miami. I love fashion but no-one knows that I can cook and I love cooking,' Sonya previously explained On Wednesday night's episode, Sonya and Hadil were kicked off MKR after their 'bullying' reached boiling point. As guests at Suong and Kim's home restaurant, they appeared to have no respect for their rivals from the start, as they held up the first course by inciting a feud at the table. 'They must have missed the memo, the circus was down the road. They're a bunch of clowns!' Hadil said, as Jess and Emma maintained a dignified silence. Scandal: On Wednesday night's episode, Sonya and Hadil were kicked off MKR after their 'bullying' reached boiling point The arrival of Pete and Manu did little to rein in the inappropriate behavior, with Hadil whispering to Sonya: 'Keep laughing at them and then they'll explode.' As the mocking and taunting continued, the teams around the table appeared disgusted at their behaviour and expressed shock and disappointment. After Jess overheard a taunt by Hadil comparing the pair to 'a no-frills cheapo princess', she stormed out of the dining room, announcing: 'Seriously! I can't do this.' 'Sit down! You think you're a princess, but a real princess wears diamonds, not cubic zirconias,' Sonya yelled across the room. At that moment, Jess turned and asked them: 'You think you're funny?!' She's had enough! Jess stormed out of the dining room as the vile attacks continued to escalate, before turning back at Sonya and Hadil to ask pointedly, 'You think you're funny?!' Smirking as Jessica finally took the bait, Hadil taunted her by saying, 'Bye, blowfish!', as Emma finally snapped: 'You look like bubba Gump, seriously!' Refusing to acknowledge her, Hadil childishly turned to Sonya and remarked: 'Is the blowfish gasping for air?' 'I've got a really good doctor you can go to to fix your ugly face,' Hadil added, as Emma hit back: 'You need to go to a doctor, because you have serious issues!' War of words! Smirking as Jessica finally took the bait, Hadil taunted her by saying, 'Bye, blowfish!', as Emma finally snapped: 'You look like bubba Gump, seriously!' 'You have serious issues!' Emma blasted Hadil for claiming she needed a doctor 'to fix her face' The other teams then decided to intervene, with Jazzey asking Hadil to 'stop being so rude' and Josh telling them to have respect for hosts Kim and Suong. When Jess returned to the table, Hadil continued: 'They don't belong in top eight, because they can't cook!' Stella asked for Hadil to stop, which only angered her further and prompted her to shout: 'You stop talking! Why are you talking?' Emily then asked: 'Who do you think you are?' 'I'll come for all of you': Sonya and Hadil threatened other guests at the dinner party for being 'disrespectful a***holes' - which prompted the celebrity judges to intervene Josh told them to be respectful as guests in Kim and Suong's home, but Hadil responded with a threat: 'Shut up Josh! Stay out of it, don't make me come for you.' 'We'll come for you too, don't you worry!' Hadil also snarled at Stella and Jazzey. Sonya continued: 'I'll come for all of you, because you're all disrespectful a***holes!' Manu stepped in, saying: 'Enough! Things have got too out of hand, this is a cooking competition, and this behaviour is unacceptable. Sonya and Hadil, you are excused from the table!' It is unclear if Sonya and Hadil will return to the competition at a later stage. A Channel Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday: 'Last night's episode of My Kitchen Rules dealt with an unprecedented level of continued personal attacks and threats by one team against other teams. 'Despite a number of constructive conversations and second chances, this team continued to bully and attack other teams. This level of behaviour does not fit within the agreed workplace values of Channel Seven. Everyone, anywhere and at all times must feel safe and supported in their work place. This is a fundamental understanding and agreement by each and every Seven employee.' She's known for her quick wit and successful career. But Bethenny Frankel took center stage as she was honored during the Dress for Success Be Bold Gala in New York on Wednesday evening. The 47-year-old television personality rocked a skin-tight black gown for the event hosted at the Lower Manhattan haunt Cipriani Wall Street. Scroll down for video All black everything! Bethenny Frankel took center stage as she was honored during the Dress for Success Be Bold Gala in New York on Wednesday evening The Real Housewives of New York starlet seemed in her element on the red carpet as she flaunted her slender figure wearing a long black gown. Her skin-tight, long-sleeved frock featured a high neckline and was complete with a delicate train. She kept with the color scheme and painted her nails black, with a small pop of color shining through in silver drop earrings. Gorgeous: The 47-year-old television personality rocked a skin-tight black gown for the event hosted at the Lower Manhattan haunt Cipriani Wall Street Strike a pose: The Real Housewives of New York starlet seemed in her element on the red carpet as she flaunted her slender figure wearing a long black gown Frankel made sure to catch a quick photo with the CEO of the nonprofit organization, Joi Gordon. Former Bachelorette contestant Andi Dorfman also rocked an all-black ensemble for the gala benefit. The brunette bombshell paired a tight black tank top with a flowing skirt, and highlighted her slim waist with a multi-colored floral belt. Friends! She kept with the color scheme and painted her nails black, with a small pop of color shining through in silver drop earrings; pictured with Dress for Success CEO Joi Gordon Sweet: Former Bachelorette contestant Andi Dorfman also rocked an all-black ensemble for the gala benefit Cutie: The brunette bombshell paired a tight black tank top with a flowing skirt, and highlighted her slim waist with a multi-colored floral belt Over: The SkinnyGirl mogul announced her split from Dennis Shields in May last year, after one year of dating; seen in 2016 The SkinnyGirl mogul announced her split from Dennis Shields in May last year, after one year of dating. And while she hasnt given up on love, the budding real estate honcho admitted her dating life has hit a dry spell. Bethenny told Daily Mail Australia last week that she's 'not in any relationship whatsoever, I cannot even remember the last time I had sex!' When asked about rumors that she is open to dating Hollywood actor Russell Crowe, she joked: 'He would have to ask me to find out. I really dont know anything about him.' The latest season of her hit show recently premiered on the Bravo network. Channel Seven's My Kitchen Rules has been accused by viewers of promoting bullying after the show aired confronting footage of Sonya and Hadil launching a verbal attack against their rivals during Wednesday's show. After teasing the 'MKR scandal' for weeks, fans slammed the cooking program for 'celebrating', 'condoning' and 'tolerating' bullying on prime time TV to boost ratings. Twitter users told the network to 'hang your heads in shame', while others simply expressed their distaste for the episode's content, with one fan writing: 'Absolutely disgusted that My Kitchen Rules have allowed this level of bullying to be aired.' Scroll down for video 'Absolutely disgusted they allowed this on TV!' Fans have turned on Channel Seven, accusing the network of 'promoting bullying' after airing an explosive fight that resulted in Sonya and Hadil (pictured) being kicked off the show for hurling insults at Jess and Emma Before entrees were even served, Hadil and Sonya were escorted into a taxi after they deliberately tried to get rivals Jess and Emma to 'explode' at the dinner table by snickering at them and muttering insults. However, their back-and-forth fight - which included personal attacks, callous taunts and shocking threats - carried on for some time before the judges intervened. Viewers found the intense exchange unsettling, with negative tweets including: 'Wow, if the Seven Network isn't embarrassed by this they should be' and 'Two ladies just bullying others and name calling! That's disgusting behaviour to be shown on television! No one should be BULLIED!' Fans also criticised the network for exploiting the nasty dinner table conversation. 'Channel Seven cannot condone bullying like that', tweeted one irate viewer, while another wrote: 'When MKR would rather promote bullying culture than actual food on their show.' 'Channel Seven cannot condone bullying like that. There is enough bullying in schools!' Viewers found the argument unsettling and criticised the network for exploiting the behaviour 'You're excused from the table': Their back-and-forth fight - which included personal attacks, callous taunts and shocking threats - carried on for some time before the judges intervened Planning a boycott! Despite Seven enjoying season-high ratings for the episode, which saw 2.389 million metro and regional viewers tune in, not all fans were pleased by its content Despite Seven enjoying season-high ratings for the episode, which saw 2.389 million metro and regional viewers tune in, clearly not all fans were pleased by its content. One viewer user suggested a boycott, tweeting: 'Channel Seven should be ashamed for airing (and heavily promoting) blatant bullying and harassment. Register your displeasure by not tuning in. Ratings are the only language they speak.' In an interview on Sunrise with contestants Emma and Jess, who copped much of the abuse from their rivals, Samantha Armytage weighed in on the heavily-promoted feud and described the scandal as 'vile'. 'It was very hard to watch. We have a firm anti-bullying campaign going on on Sunrise': Breakfast TV host Samantha Armytage (left) weighed in on the heavily-promoted feud and described the scandal as 'vile' 'If they're not embarrassed by this, they should be': Twitter users pointed out that Seven's stance on anti-bullying was at odds with MKR's storyline Samantha took a strong stance from the start of the interview, telling Emma and Jess: 'Look, it was very hard to watch. We have a firm anti-bullying campaign going on on Sunrise. 'And we're getting a lot of feedback from our viewers that this was outright bullying by adults on prime time television.' Sunrise launched its Beat The Bullies campaign in February following a spate of recent high-profile suicides across Australia. One Twitter user pointed out that Seven's stance on anti-bullying was at odds with MKR's storyline, commenting: 'What gets me is that Sunrise and Channel Seven are all on the anti-bullying bandwagon but yet their prime time shows promoted the bullying as a something to watch.' 'This level of behaviour does not fit within the agreed workplace values of Channel Seven': A spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday that the network did not condone the behaviour on display during Wednesday's episode of MKR A Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia on Thursday: 'Last night's episode of My Kitchen Rules dealt with an unprecedented level of continued personal attacks and threats by one team against other teams. 'Despite a number of constructive conversations and second chances, this team continued to bully and attack other teams. This level of behaviour does not fit within the agreed workplace values of Channel Seven. Everyone, anywhere and at all times must feel safe and supported in their work place. This is a fundamental understanding and agreement by each and every Seven employee.' It comes after an insider told News.com.au that the televised fight was tame in comparison to what actually happened. 'You don't see the worst of it. We're a 7.30pm show and it still had to be kept suitable for families. There was certainly a lot that happened that didn't make the show...it was pretty hardcore,' the source said. 'Don't make me come for you': Sonya and Hadil were sent home for 'bullying' on Wednesday's episode after their insults and threats went too far On Wednesday night, Sonya and Hadil left MKR after their 'bullying' reached boiling point, with their unacceptable behaviour prompting judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans to unceremoniously kick them off the show. As guests at Suong and Kim's home restaurant, they appeared to have no respect for their rivals from the start, as they held up the first course by inciting a feud at the table. 'They must have missed the memo, the circus was down the road. They're a bunch of clowns!' Hadil said, as the blonde sisters maintained a dignified silence. The arrival of Pete and Manu did little to rein in the inappropriate behavior, with Hadil whispering to Sonya: 'Keep laughing at them and then they'll explode.' As the mocking and taunting continued, the teams around the table appeared disgusted at their behaviour and expressed shock and disappointment. Stirring the pot! The NSW besties deliberately tried to start a feud with rivals Jess and Emma at the table, with Hadil telling Sonya to 'keeping laughing at them and they'll explode' After Jess overheard a taunt by Hadil comparing the pair to 'a no-frills cheapo princess', she stormed out of the dining room, announcing: 'Seriously! I can't do this.' 'Sit down! You think you're a princess, but a real princess wears diamonds, not cubic zirconias,' Sonya yelled across the room. At that moment, Jess turned and asked them: 'You think you're funny?!' She's had enough! Jess stormed out of the dining room as the vile attacks continued to escalate, before turning back at Sonya and Hadil to ask pointedly, 'You think you're funny?!' War of words! Smirking as Jessica finally took the bait, Hadil taunted her by saying, 'Bye, blowfish!', as Emma finally snapped: 'You look like bubba Gump, seriously!' 'You have serious issues!' Emma blasted Hadil for claiming she needed a doctor 'to fix her face' Smirking as Jessica finally took the bait, Hadil taunted her by saying, 'Bye, blowfish!', as Emma finally snapped: 'You look like bubba Gump, seriously!' Refusing to acknowledge her, Hadil childishly turned to Sonya and remarked: 'Is the blowfish gasping for air?' 'I've got a really good doctor you can go to to fix your ugly face,' Hadil added, as Emma hit back: 'You need to go to a doctor, because you have serious issues!' The other teams then decided to intervene, with Jazzey asking Hadil to 'stop being so rude' and Josh asking them to have respect for hosts Kim and Suong. 'I'll come for all of you': Sonya and Hadil threatened other guests at the dinner party for being 'disrespectful a***holes' - which prompted the celebrity judges to intervene When Jess returned to the table, Hadil continued: 'They don't belong in top eight, because they can't cook!' Stella asked for Hadil to stop, which only angered her further and prompted her to shout: 'You stop talking! Why are you talking?' Emily then asked: 'Who do you think you are?' Josh told them to be respectful as guests in Kim and Suong's home, but Hadil responded with a threat: 'Shut up Josh! Stay out of it, don't make me come for you.' 'We'll come for you too, don't you worry!' Hadil also snarled at Stella and Jazzey. Sonya continued: 'I'll come for all of you, because you're all disrespectful a***holes!' 'You're excused from the table': Manu stepped in to end the heated argument and told Sonya and Hadil their behaviour was not welcome in the cooking competition Gone forever? It is unclear if Sonya and Hadil will return to My Kitchen Rules Manu stepped in, saying: 'Enough! Things have got too out of hand, this is a cooking competition, and this behaviour is unacceptable. Sonya and Hadil, you are excused from the table!' Manu, 44, previously told Yahoo! Be of his decision to kick off the team: 'It went too far. Pete and I felt very uncomfortable and it was time to stop and say that's enough.' The Frenchman didn't regret the decision as 'they were attacking, threatening, they kept on going under their breath with comment after comment after comment.' Ahead of the episode, Jess and Emma told The Daily Telegraph: 'We've copped so much flak for being the team that got kicked out before the show even started, but we're glad viewers can finally see it wasn't us.' My Kitchen Rules returns to Channel Seven on Sunday at 7.00pm Shane Warne has made no secret of the fact he's addicted to Love Island. And on Wednesday, the Spin Kings revealed he was 'excited' for the launch of Love Island Australia, which premieres next month. The 48-year-old expressed his interest on Twitter after a watching the latest promo featuring new host, Sophie Monk. Scroll down for video 'When does the show start?' Shane Warne has revealed he is 'excited' for the launch of Love Island Australia after previously revealing he was a fan of the racy British version 'When does the show start...so excited! Shane tweeted on Thursday. Shane's interest was piqued after watching a teaser starring Sophie, who plays the role of a sexy pilot flying the contestants to Spain. During the trailer, the genetically-blessed singletons are shown stripping down to their swimwear mid-flight. Is this the raunchiest promo ever? Shane's interest was piqued after watching a teaser starring host Sophie Monk, who plays the role of a sexy pilot flying the contestants to Spain 'When does the show start...so excited! The 48-year-old took to Twitter to share his excitement 'Welcome aboard you beautiful, sexy singles... we're heading to the hottest summer of your lives,' Sophie announces in the clip. 'Six steamy weeks in a luxury Spanish villa. Welcome to Love Island.' Love Island Australia takes place in Majorca and is based on a popular British format. Raunchy: During the Love Island Australia trailer, the genetically-blessed singletons are shown stripping down to their swimwear mid-flight Last year, Shane revealed on Twitter he is a fan of the British version of the show, which airs on ITV2 in the UK and 9Life in Australia. He tweeted in July: 'I'm so obsessed with Love Island'. Love Island Australia is set to hit screens next month on 9GO! and 9Now. In the 1970s, Susan Hannaford starred as Kitty in one of Australia's most famous soaps, The Sullivans. Though she has disappeared from the spotlight for years, the 64-year-old former actress is rumoured be in the midst of some real-life drama. In a promo for the upcoming edition of Sunday Night, Susan looks set to go head to head with journalist Matt Doran as he questions her. 'Do you have difficulty with your IQ?' The Sullivans star Susan Hannaford (pictured) warns Matt Doran to 'be careful' as they go head to head in VERY tense Sunday Night promo The promo begins with Susan issuing a warning to her interviewer, telling Matt: 'Be careful what you say'. She later insults him by questioning his IQ. In the trailer, Susan and Matt start off amicably enough as she shows her guest around a lavish Beverly Hills home - but things soon turn sour. Face off: In the tense interview, Matt bluntly tells Susan that '$14 million went missing', leaving her less than impressed Facing off in a one-on-one interview, Susan says confidently: 'Everything has worked out beautifully.' But when Matt delves a little deeper, Susan appears less than impressed. In the tense interview, Matt bluntly tells her: '$14 million went missing.' Susan laughs and then casually responds: 'Oh, I understand that - that's different.' Child star: Susan Hannaford shot to fame in the 1970s as Kitty on The Sullivans However, Matt has no time for Susan's frivolity and his serious facial expression doesn't budge as he continues with his line of questioning. 'Do you have difficulty Susan, with telling the truth?' he asks, before a stony-faced Susan hits back: 'Do you have difficulty with your IQ?' The intriguing interview comes after an unrecognisable Susan was discovered alive and well in Beverly Hills by Woman's Day earlier this year. My, how you've changed! These days, Susan looks completely unrecognisable. Pictured on The Sullivans Susan vanished without a trace after being evicted from her lavish waterfront home in Sydney, which was sold by her financiers in April 2013 for $3.15 million. And when quizzed by Woman's Day in January about what she'd be doing in the years since, Susan Hannaford was coy with her response. 'It's a big story and I'm shortly going to break it,' she told the magazine. It is believed Susan now lives in a multi-million dollar Beverly Hills mansion. Abby Lee Miller of Dance Moms fame has been with diagnosed Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The 51-year-old reality star, who was recently released from a Victorville, California prison, underwent a four-hour emergency operation Tuesday as doctors first thought she had a spinal infection, according to People. One of the Pittsburgh native's doctors, Dr. Hooman M. Melamed, told the magazine, 'It was not an infection, it was a type of a non-Hodgkins lymphoma - its a type of a cancer.' Scroll below for video Tough time: Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller, 51, has been diagnosed with Non-Hodgkins lymphoma. The reality star was snapped last week in the LA area Melamed, an orthopedic spine specialist based out of Marina Del Rey, California, said an oncologist will be brought on to 'figure out what the next steps are as far as chemotherapy or radiation or more spine surgery. 'Depending on the tumor type, depending on the sensitivity of the tumor - it just depends the type but I feel more than yes, she will undergo chemotherapy or radiation,' the doctor said. Melamed told the publication that the Dance Moms instructor initially sought treatment amid 'excruciating' and in her neck and a weak arm, leading to the immediate surgery. Melamed said that the surgery on Miller was essential, as 'she was not doing well' and 'her blood pressure was bottoming out. Distressed: Miller was clearly in an uncomfortable place when she was seen last week after leaving an area hospital amid a slew of health issues 'If we didnt do something,' the doctor said, 'she was going to die.' Melamed told People 'theres a chance this can spread to any part of the body,' as 'this is probably coming from somewhere else. 'We dont know where the source is,' he added. 'Any tumor that spreads anywhere is automatically Stage 4, but we have not determined the stage yet. Miller was 'encouraged' as she recovery in an ICU, according to her doctor. It's been a difficult few years for Miller, who had been in custody at Victorville Federal Correctional Institution from July until late last month in connection with her bankruptcy fraud conviction. She lost 100 pounds while in custody while at the penitentiary. Last month, she began staying at a Long Beach, California halfway house, where she's tentatively slated to stay until May 25. Convicted drug trafficker Schapelle Corby recently celebrated getting her Queensland driver's licence back, after spending 13 years in Bali. And the 40-year-old flaunted her brand new wheels on Thursday, proudly posing alongside her Honda HR-V on Facebook. In a photo posted to the Ozzy Tyres social media page, the former Kerobokan Prison inmate looked confident in a polka-dot frock and flip flops. 'How many body boards does the boot fit?' Schapelle Corby, 40, debuts her new wheels after celebrating getting her driver's licence back... but fans can't resist making a few jokes 'The stunning Schapelle Corby standing proud with her new Hussla Spider 20 inch wheels. Positive vibes only please,' Ozzy Tyres captioned the photo. One fan commented below the snap: 'Good to see her getting on with life, she's a good hearted woman who has a lot to offer to society.' Another cheekily wrote: 'How many body boards does the boot fit? Asking for a friend.' Criminal past: Schapelle was arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport on October 8, 2004 after customs officers found 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag 'I'm so excited to have my independence': Schapelle got her driver's licence back in March. Her licence had expired during the 13 years she spent in Bali serving out her sentence In her first interview since returning to Australia, Schapelle said last month she felt 'independent' again after getting her driver's licence renewed. She told Woman's Day: 'If your driver's licence has expired for more than five years in Queensland, then you have to do the written test and a driving test. 'I just passed both! I'm so excited to have my independence.' Legal dramas: The former beauty student, from Queensland, was sentenced to 20 years at her 2005 trial, but spent less than a decade behind bars due to receiving sentence reductions One of Bali's most famous drug runners passed her provisional licence test in March after being on a learner's licence since her return to Australia. She explained on Instagram at the time: 'I've been home since May 2017, why has it taken me so long to get my licence? 'Well, that'd be because I had a broken leg of cause.' Doesn't have to take the scenic route anymore! The 40-year-old, who got her learner's licence just weeks ago, took to Instagram to reveal she'd passed her provisional licence test Schapelle was arrested at Bali's Ngurah Rai airport on October 8, 2004 after customs officers found 4.1kg of marijuana wrapped in plastic inside her boogie board bag. She has always maintained her innocence, denying the drugs belonged to her and insisting they were planted without her knowledge. She was sentenced to 20 years at her 2005 trial, but spent less than a decade behind bars due to receiving sentence reductions. After being released on parole in February 2014, she was deported back to Australia in May 2017 amid a media frenzy. 16:21 | Lima, Apr. 19. In a document sent by his lawyer Cesar Nakazaki, Kuczynski requested the parliamentary committee to specify that he is not under investigation. Likewise, the ex-leader asked the aforementioned working group to accept that he will continue submitting the necessary documentation to the Prosecutor's Office. Given that he currently does not hold any public office, Kuczynski underscored that the investigation on an ordinary citizen for alleged links to a crime must be conducted by the MP and not by a parliamentary commission. The lawyer added his client will continue collaborating with the inquiries conducted by the Public Ministry "We will not accept two investigations. The double investigation one by Congress and the other by the Prosecutor's Office is forbidden by the Constitution and all international human rights treaties," he concluded. As is known, the Prosecutor's Office investigates Pedro Pablo Kuczynski over alleged payments by Brazilian construction company Odebrecht to Westfield Capital and First Capital, both linked to the former politician. Kuczynski resigned the Presidency of the Republic last March after 20 months of having taken office. The announcement came after the opposition alleged that the former President's allies were trying to buy votes ahead of an impeachment motion vote. Toledo - Odebrecht Last year, Peruvian Judge Richard Concepcion Carhuancho issued an 18-month pre-trial detention for ex-President Alejandro Toledo who is believed to be in the U.S. for alleged crimes of influence peddling and money laundering. They are part of the investigation into the bribes paid by Odebrecht. Toledo was accused of receiving US$20 million in bribes from the firm to secure the Inter-Oceanic Highway contract, a major infrastructure venture connecting Peru and Brazil. The construction giant admitted to having paid millions in illegal inducements to government officials in Peru in order to secure public-works contracts. The period in question involves the three previous presidencies: Alejandro Toledo (2001-2006), Alan Garcia (2006-2011) and Ollanta Humala (2011-2016), who is currently in jail (END) CVC/JAA/MVB Gwyneth Paltrow put those 'secret nuptials' rumors to rest by unveiling her brand new wedding ring at the pre-Broadway opening of Head Over Heels in San Francisco on Wednesday. The Oscar-winning actress, 45, debuted a gold signet ring engraved with criss-crossing arrows between her second husband Brad Falchuk's initials after the couple's weekend nuptials. The modest bauble was a far cry from the rare $500,00 13-carat sapphire engagement ring the Emmy winner, 47, popped the question with back in January. Scroll down for video Here comes the bride! Gwyneth Paltrow put those 'secret nuptials' rumors to rest by unveiling her brand new wedding ring at the pre-Broadway opening of Head Over Heels in San Francisco on Wednesday And his says 'GP': The 45-year-old bride's gold signet ring was engraved with criss-crossing arrows between her second husband Brad Falchuk's initials 400 guests including Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Aniston attended the 'celebration of our love' at the Los Angeles Theater on Saturday. Gwyneth has known Brad, her 'beacon,' as far back as 2010 when she filmed her first of five guest stints on Fox's Glee, which Falchuk co-created with Ryan Murphy. While at the Curran Theater, Paltrow beamed in a subdued, grey-striped jumpsuit by Retrofete and black pumps selected by stylist Elizabeth Saltzman. The Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy winner wore her flaxen straight locks down as usual along with her signature kohl-rimmed eyeliner and nude lipstick. Just married: The modest bauble was a far cry from the rare $500K, 13-carat sapphire engagement ring (R) the 47-year-old Emmy winner popped the question with back in January 'True happiness': 400 guests including Julia Roberts, Reese Witherspoon, and Jennifer Aniston attended the 'celebration of our love' at the Los Angeles Theater on Saturday 'My beacon': Gwyneth has known Brad as far back as 2010 when she filmed her first of five guest stints on Fox's Glee, which Falchuk co-created with Ryan Murphy (pictured February 15) The Goop founder produced the new musical, which features songs written by The Go-Go's original members Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, and Kathy Valentine. Also joining the preppy Brentwood blonde on the red carpet were the Curran's Carole Shorenstein Hays and co-producers Donovan Leitch, Christine Russell, and Rick Ferrari. The Broadway-bound 'Elizabethan romp about a royal family' runs through May 6 at the Curran before beginning previews June 23 at Manhattan's Hudson Theatre. Gwyneth has two children - daughter Apple, 13; and son Moses, 12 - with ex-husband Chris Martin, whom she 'consciously-uncoupled' from in 2014. Glowing: While at the Curran Theater, Paltrow beamed in a subdued, grey-striped jumpsuit by Retrofete and black pumps selected by stylist Elizabeth Saltzman Showing off her jewelry: The Oscar, Golden Globe, and Emmy winner wore her flaxen straight locks down as usual along with her signature kohl-rimmed eyeliner and nude lipstick Where's Belinda? The Goop founder produced the new musical, which features songs written by The Go-Go's (from L-R) Jane Wiedlin, Charlotte Caffey, and Kathy Valentine Crew: Also joining the preppy Brentwood blonde on the red carpet were the Curran's (from L-R) Carole Shorenstein Hays and producers Donovan Leitch, Christine Russell, and Rick Ferrari Broadway-bound! The 'Elizabethan romp about a royal family' runs through May 6 at the Curran before beginning previews June 23 at Manhattan's Hudson Theatre And Brad also has a son Brody and daughter Isabella with his first wife Suzanne Bukinik, whom he divorced in 2013. Paltrow is next slated to headline Sophia Amoruso's Girlboss Rally happening in Los Angeles April 28 where tickets range from $95-$700. Catch more of the Spider-Man: Homecoming actress as Stark Industries CEO Pepper Potts when Avengers: Infinity War hits UK theaters April 26 and US theaters April 27. Family portrait March 28: Gwyneth has two children - daughter Apple, 13; and son Moses, 12 - with ex-husband Chris Martin, whom she 'consciously-uncoupled' from in 2014 'Smoky #Montana': And Brad also has a son Brody and daughter Isabella with his first wife Suzanne Bukinik, whom he divorced in 2013 (pictured August 14) Although she only had a blink-and-you'll-miss-it stint on Bachelor in Paradise, Sasha Zhuravlyova isn't wasting any time sharing her insider theory. Following her elimination from the Channel Ten dating show, the 33-year-old told Yahoo Be that all wasn't what it seem when it came to some of her fellow intruders. In an interview with the online publication, Sasha claimed international stars Grant Kemp and Thomas Perras were actors. 'We never know which part of them was real': Bachelor in Paradise's Sasha Zhuravlyova accuses Grant Kemp and Thomas Perras of being actors She hinted Bachelor in Paradise couple Ali Oetjen and Grant may not last the distance in the real world, because he might not be on the show solely to find love. 'Maybe (Grant) was like, "Alright, thanks for a great holiday, now I'm back to America acting in another show",' Sasha claimed. 'Because he's an actor or something just like Thomas,' she continued, before adding: 'Thomas is an actor too.' Are they for real? Sasha wasn't convinced Thomas (left) and Grant (right) were on Bachelor in Paradise for the right reasons Sasha, who found notoriety after munching on a rose at an elimination ceremony during Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor in 2016, claimed the men may not have shown their real selves on the small screen. 'We never know which part of them was real and which part of them was acting,' the Russian beauty explained. The stunner has never been one not to speak her mind and as she was given the flick on Wednesday night's elimination she raged: 'I have a very limited about of f*cks to give. I am not sparing my f*cks on this sh*t.' Blooming beauty! Sasha found notoriety after munching on a rose at an elimination ceremony during Richie Strahan's season of The Bachelor In August last year, Sasha was just as feisty as she took aim at The Bachelor's leading man Richie, admitting he was never the guy for her. 'Why the hell did I end up on Richie's season?' Sasha said to Daily Mail Australia. 'I had to make myself fall in love with him. I could not, I just could not.' Former Iron Woman Lisa Curry was very much the proud mother on Thursday. The 55-year-old revealed that her son Jett Kenny is ready to compete in the National Surf Titles in Queensland. In a photo posted to Instagram, Lisa was seen embracing her 21-year-old boy, who drew attention to his incredibly ripped stomach in a pair of black board shorts. Abs-olutely ripped! Lisa Curry's son Jett Kenny [centre], 21, shows off his washboard stomach as he poses with his mother before hitting the surf, in an Instagram snap on Thursday Lisa, who shares her son Jett with ex-husband Grant Kenny, revealed to her 30,300 Instagram fans that he is set to compete in a surfing competition. 'First time in a while I haven't been to a National Surf Titles...Jett and his double ski partner @jamoporter will be racing hard over the next 3 days!! Go boys GO!!!' the athlete wrote in the caption. In the snap, Lisa wore a plunging white crochet maxi-dress, embracing Jett who showed off his six-pack abs in just a pair of black board shorts hung low on his hips. His scruffy blonde locks framed his face and he beamed at the camera next to his surfing partner Jamo. Branching out: Jett balances surfing competitions with lifesaving and a modelling career Jett is regularly seen competing in Iron Man heats on the Gold Coast. The fitness enthusiast has also branched out into modelling and is signed to Viviens. While Jett has followed in his family's footsteps, Lisa has hung up her togs, and now runs a fitness and health business, aiding people in losing weight. She has also had somewhat of a career resurgence, appearing on reality series I'm A Celebrity...Get Me Out Of Here! Fit: Jett also has a strong online presence, showing off his incredibly fit physique in a number of Instagram photos Lisa and ex-husband Grant, 54, signed divorce papers in March, with the pair having split in 2009. The couple married in 1986 and share three children together, Jaimi, Morgan and Jett. Grant is also father to daughter Trixie, four, who he shares with radio star Fifi Box. Lisa is now engaged to Elvis impersonator, Mark Andrew Tabone. Sonya and Hadil were unceremoniously booted from My Kitchen Rules on Wednesday after hurling profanities at their co-stars during a heated dinner party argument. And former contestants Georgie and Alicia have rushed to defend Sonya and Hadil amid a firestorm of public backlash. 'We want to express our love and gratitude to Sonya and Hadil; for their amazing support, love and brilliant food,' the duo wrote on Instagram this Thursday. 'These women do not deserve the vitriol!' My Kitchen Rules' Georgie and Alicia have defended Sonya and Hadil after they were eliminated from the show for hurling profanities at their co-stars during a heated dinner party argument 'Reality TV can be a prickly beast, and we have faith that truth will prevail,' they said, adding: 'These two amazingly strong women do not deserve the vitriol and cyber bullying they have received,' they continued. Georgia and Alicia went on to remind fans that Sonya and Hadil are 'real women with real lives and real families'. 'We all signed up for a cooking show with the hopes of fierce competition and comradery, and it breaks our hearts that this happened @sonyahadilau #MKR #sistersfromothermisters,' the post concluded. 'Reality TV can be a prickly beast, and we have faith that truth will prevail': Georgia and Alicia urged fans to treat Sonya and Hadil more kindly Fighting back! Sonya and Hadil made a series of explosive accusations against My Kitchen Rules after they were kicked off the show on Wednesday night It comes after Sonya and Hadil lashed out at Channel Seven with a string of explosive claims, accusing the network of 'bullying' them and using them 'for ratings'. The best friends also questioned the integrity of the cooking competition and alluded to a conspiracy to make them 'look bad' because they were 'the best cooks' on the show. 'We've been extremely disappointed with our experience and treatment by the show,' they wrote on their joint Instagram account. 'The episodes have been extremely tampered with!' The pair accused Channel Seven of twisting the truth through editing and even said they had been 'bullied' by the show 'Imagine how we feel watching the episodes back when the episodes have been extremely tampered with (the amount of editing is insane).' Sonya and Hadil said there will 'never ever be an apology from us' because 'we didn't do anything wrong,' before slamming MKR's editing methods again. '12 to 14 hours of footage... majority of airtime is on us because they want to build us up for ratings which equal $$$$ to the network.' They continued: 'I assure you people have acted a lot worse than us on the table, that hasn't been aired. 'MKR have bullied us enough': Sonya and Hadil claimed they 'were unfairly dismissed and the only way (the producers) could justify this was to make us look so bad' in the final edit 'We will both be happy when we're off air because MKR have bullied us enough, constantly targeting us because we were unfairly dismissed and the only way they could justify this was to make us look so bad!' They added: 'As for some of the other contestants who played up to the drama, they wanted us out because they knew we were the hardest team to take out in the competition. How convenient to get rid of the best cooks in the comp.' Sonya and Hadil also claimed that they only cooked 'seven times in four months of filming,' before taking another dig at MKR for prioritising drama over cooking. 'We thought we were signed up to a cooking show, boy were we wrong!' they wrote. 'We thought we were signed up to a cooking show, boy were we wrong!' The best friends made the shocking allegations on their joint Instagram account A Seven spokesperson told Daily Mail Australia: 'Last night's episode of My Kitchen Rules dealt with an unprecedented level of continued personal attacks and threats by one team against other teams.' 'Despite a number of constructive conversations and second chances, this team continued to bully and attack other teams. This level of behaviour does not fit within the agreed workplace values of Channel Seven,' they said. 'Everyone, anywhere and at all times must feel safe and supported in their work place. This is a fundamental understanding and agreement by each and every Seven employee.' 'Don't assume everything you hear to be true!' The twosome also took aim at their haters with this cryptic post On Wednesday's episode, Sonya and Hadil were asked to leave the show by judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel after they hurled a string of profanity-laced insults and threats at rivals Jess and Emma. The two women made repeated remarks about Jess and Emma's appearance, before screaming at the other contestants and calling them 'disrespectful a**holes.' Manu then stepped in, saying: 'Enough! Things have got too out of hand, this is a cooking competition, and this behaviour is unacceptable. Sonya and Hadil, you are excused from the table!' Drama! Sonya and Hadil were asked to leave the show by judges Pete Evans and Manu Feildel after they hurled a string of profanity-laced insults and threats at rivals Jess and Emma She's no stranger to flashing the flesh on the world's hottest runways. And Winnie Harlow ensured all eyes were on her once again as she opted for a rather racy ensemble while partying at West Hollywood hotspot Delilah on Wednesday night. The model, 23, bared all as she went braless in a completely sheer nude lace bustier, which left very little to the imagination. Dare to bare: Winnie Harlow ensured all eyes were on her once again as she opted for a racy ensemble while partying at West Hollywood hotspot Delilah on Wednesday night The catwalk queen teamed her raunchy underwear with eye-catching snakeskin-print flares as she strutted her stuff outside the club. Winnie - real name Chantelle Brown-Young - covered up with a PVC mac, while teetering on a pair of towering bronze strappy sandals. The former America's Next Top Model star completed her party look with kooky tinted lens glasses, a blingy gold watch and a black chain strap shoulder bag. Earlier in the evening, Winnie opted for a more demure look as she attended the Purpose x PacSun WE Day pre-party at Peppermint Club in Los Angeles. Raising the bra: The model, 23, bared all as she went braless in a completely sheer nude lace bustier, which left very little to the imagination Kooky: The catwalk queen teamed her raunchy underwear with eye-catching snakeskin-print flares as she strutted her stuff outside the club The catwalk queen commanded attention in her chic snakeskin bell-bottoms. Ensuring all eyes were on her, the supermodel teamed her ensemble with a black slogan tee, emblazoned with the name of chart-topping hip-hop band 'Migos'. The leggy star accentuated her statuesque frame in a pair of sophisticated strappy heels, and accessorised with an array of flashy jewellery - including twin crufix necklaces, oversized rings and a trendy gold watch. Putting her stunning features on full display, the former America's Next Top Model contestant wore glamorous make-up and styled her ombre tresses poker straight. Making a statement: The catwalk queen looked every inch the style maven as she attended the Purpose x PacSun WE Day pre-party at Peppermint Club earlier in the evening Bold: Ensuring all eyes were on her, Winnie teamed her ensemble with a black slogan tee, emblazoned with chart-topping hip-hop trio 'Migos' Winnie's appearance comes after the star - who has Vitiligo - discussed the changes in the modelling industry in an interview with ELLE Magazine. The Toronto native explained: 'There is a big shift happening in the fashion industry in terms of beauty standards, and I feel Im part of that shift. 'I remember on Americas Next Top Model, Tyra Banks asked me if a photographer told me to cover my skin for a shoot, would I do it? I said no. I dont care who it is, or who thinks I should. Im going to stay true to myself.' Wow-factor! The supermodel commanded attention in a pair of chic bell-bottoms, which featured eccentric snakeskin prints throughout Opulent: Winnie accessorised with an array of flashy jewellery - including twin crufix necklaces, oversized rings and a trendy gold watch She recently lashed out at being branded 'a sufferer' of pigment disease Vitiligo, as she penned on Instagram: '"I'm not a 'Vitiligo Sufferer" I'm not a 'Vitiligo model.' I am Winnie. I am a model. And I happen to have Vitiligo. Stop putting these titles on me or anyone else.' Winnie found fame on ANTM in 2014, where she was kicked out in the second week of finals, before returning to a comeback series where she finished 6th. Since then she has soared to fame in the industry and fronted campaigns for Desigual, Diesel and Swarovski atop a host of magazine covers. Trendy: The leggy star accentuated her statuesque frame in a pair of sophisticated strappy heels Striking: Putting her stunning features on full display, the former America's Next Top Model contestant wore glamorous make-up and styled her ombre tresses poker straight Red carpet vet! Adrian Grenier looked handsome in a low-key ensemble as he hit the red carpet Painting the town red: Henry Winkler and Stacey Weitzman looked sharp in complementary suits They've spent the week enjoying some quality alone time before welcoming their first child later this year. And Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews bid farewell to their 'magical' Grecian baby-moon at Domes Noruz Chania, Autograph Collection in Crete as they posted a loved-up holiday snap via Instagram on Thursday morning. The happy couple looked besotted in the sunset snap, which both uploaded just hours after Vogue took to social media to slam claims she had digitally altered pictures of her baby bump. Loved-up: Vogue Williams and Spencer Matthews bid farewell to their 'magical' Grecian baby-moon at Domes Noruz Chania in Crete as they posted a sweet holiday snap on Thursday Vogue, 32, and Spencer, 28, put on a cosy display as they posed in front of the Greek sunshine, with the Irish TV presenter shielding her growing bump in a flowing yellow maxi dress. Daddy-to-be Spencer captioned his post: 'Last night was magical... We are FAMILY... Can the Little one hurry up already @voguewilliams?' Meanwhile Vogue wrote: 'The end of our amazing holiday... there is nobody I would rather be with @spencermatthews.' Bumping along: The loved-up snap came just hours after the Irish TV presenter, 32, took to social media to slam claims she had digitally altered pictures of her baby bump The couple's sun-soaked getaway came after Spencer's multi-millionaire father David Matthews was arrested and charged with sexual assault by French Police. The 74-year-old was released on bail last month pending further investigation, and Spencer it yet to comment publicly on the news. A spokesperson for the family said: 'David Matthews categorically denies the allegation and unequivocally contests the untrue and scandalous accusation.' Vogue also took to Instagram on Wednesday to slam claims she had altered her bump snaps, announcing to fans that her stomach had finally 'popped'. Donning a mismatched red and green two-piece, Vogue - who is now five months pregnant - said how excited she was to see her body change over the next few months, with a side-on image showcasing her beautiful new shape. Gorgeous: Vogue took to Instagram on Wednesday to share a skimpy bikini snap as she hit back at claims she edits her social media snaps The Irish beauty wrote: 'These photos were taken within half an hour of each other. Front on no bump, side profile POW there he is! So glad my bump has finally popped. 'I never alter my body in any pictures, if you cant see my bump its just because of the angle although I may only take side profile shots from now on!' Spencer and Vogue have been counting down the days until the arrival of their first child, after Vogue let slip they were having a baby boy during a TV interview with RTE One's Cutting Edge last week. The couple announced their pregnancy last month, one month after confirming their engagement after Spencer proposed following a performance of The Lion King at London's Lyceum Theatre in February. They have been together since January 2017 after meeting on reality show The Jump. She enjoyed her first ever night away from beloved daughter Sophia, four, less than a year ago. But Tamara Ecclestone looked far more comfortable with the idea on Wednesday night, as she embraced some alone time with husband Jay Rutland. The Formula One heiress made a glamorous arrival at the Maddox Gallery in West London for a private view of the Keep Smiling exhibition, by Mr. Brainwash which was sponsored by CIROC. Cute couple: Jay Rutland and Tamara Ecclestone attended the Keep Smiling gallery opening by Mr. Brainwash at the Maddox Gallery on Wednesday night in London Tamara dazzled in a sparkling minidress, which featured a silver glitter top and darker, tightly fitting skirt. She made the most of her sensational legs in a thigh-skimming hemline, set off by diamante detail stilettos. The gorgeous brunette also left her plunging neckline exposed by pulling her hair up and away into a half-up 'do. Date night: The couple made quite a glamorous appearance at the red carpet event which was sponsored by CIROC A leggy look: Glamorous Tamara was showing off her tan from their recent beach break Turning heads: The pair attracted plenty of attention as they arrived at the Maddox Gallery Just around the corner: The gallery is just around the corner from their house Holiday glow: Tamara and the family have just got back from a holiday in Mexico Sixth of the year: The Formula One heiress has already been on six holidays Tamara's husband Jay is the Maddox Gallery's creative director and no doubt delighted to bring the work of contemporary artist Mr. Brainwash to the Westbourne Grove location. His work takes inspiration from the pop art era with modern twists like neon lights and graffiti details. Businessman Jay was looking suitably slick on arrival in a charcoal suit and a black fedora hat that added a stylish spin to his smart tailoring. Glamorous friends: Fashion business owner Holly Scarsella (left) and influencer Lily Fortescue (right) attended the party to support Tamara West Londonites: Jamie Laing and his girlfriend Heloise Agostinell were among the guests Stylish arrival: Model Lisa Snowden (right) was also a guest on Thursday night He displayed a very deep tan from their recent getaway in Las Ventanas Al Paraiso resort in Cabo. Jay, Sophia and their four-year-old daughter Sophia spent their sixth holiday of the year in Mexico. Previously Tamara has admitted that she is so attached to her daughter that she didn't spent a night away from the tot for the first three years of her life. Though recently, the former party girl has been more comfortable with leaving Sophia at home for nights out with her husband, or newly-divorced sister, Petra. Curator: Art expert Jay was in his element at the private viewing A work of art: Tamara was dazzling in her sparkly silver ensemble He's the lauded funnyman who has never been shy about lending his face to all manner of brands. And Dave Hughes gave a hilarious rundown on all of the products he has endorsed over the years on Tuesday's Hughesy We Have A Problem. Admitting that he had appeared in numerous adverts over the years in an effort to feed his family and promote 'some great Australian products,' Dave then shared a clip that showed him endorsing everything from cruises to potato chips. Salesman: Dave Hughes gave a hilarious rundown on all of the products he has endorsed over the years on Tuesday's Hughesy We Have A Problem . The clip began with three Daves advertising Holden cars before a mustachioed Dave stood behind a pizza counter taking orders. He then professed his love for Samboy Chips, telling Georgie Parker that trying to chose a favorite was like trying to choose a favorite child. Then it was sunblock and cruise liners before Dave appeared in drag advertising front loading washing machines. Dave times three: The clip began with three Daves advertising Holden cars before a mustachioed Dave stood behind a pizza counter taking orders Earlier in the episode, Dave revealed that his wife Holly doesn't want him to do any more advertisements as she felt it was 'hurting his brand.' However, don't expect Dave to stop endorsing products with the comedian admitting he 'loves' doing them but things don;t always go according to plan. Dave recounted a hilarious experience when he was asked to be an ambassador for a baked bean company which resulted in the comedian being accused of racism. Dave also proved that he wasn't shy about dressing up as a woman to promote washing machines 'I'm doing radio interviews talking about baked beans, having a great time, i got of the interview and she said: 'I didn't like that.' I said: 'Why not?'and she said: 'they didn't take you seriously. He continued: 'I said: 'I'm a comedian and we're talking about baked beans. strap yourself in there's going to be some fart jokes.' Continuing Dave revealed that the publicist's problem with his performance was that he failed to convey the company's ke message - that their beans were sourced locally. He also professed his love for Samboy Chips, telling Georgie Parker that trying to chose a favorite was like trying to choose a favorite child However, Dave's attempt to get the message across only resulted in the funnyman being accused of racism. While doing the interview Dave said: 'Guys you've got to remember our beans grew here their beans flew here.' He went on: 'I got off air and she [the publicist] was even angrier. She said: 'that was racist.' I said: 'They're beans.' She's most famous for starring as Carrie Bradshaw in Sex And The City. But Sarah Jessica Parker, 52, was out to support her husband Matthew Broderick, 55, at the Crompton Ale House in New York on Wednesday night. The duo have been married for more than 20 years and have three children together, son James, and twin girls, Tabitha and Marion Loretta. Cute: Sarah Jessica Parker joined husband Matthew Broderick at the party for his Off-Broadway play The Seafarer at the Crompton Ale House in New York on Wednesday night Happy: Sarah Jessica teamed her vintage polka dot dress with a pair of white court shoes They cosied up for snaps at the afterparty for his Off-Broadway theatre show, The Seafarer, an adaptation of Conor McPherson's 2006 play, set in Dublin. Sarah Jessica looked incredible in a vintage style polka dot dress which was midi in length as she supported her man. The number was cinched in at the waist with an embellished black belt and she completed her look with a pair of white court shoes. Cute: Sarah Jessica doted on her husband of more than 20 years and made sure his tie was neatly in place as they hit the red carpet together Sarah Jessica doted on her man and made sure his tie was neatly in place as they hit the red carpet together. The Seafarer is showing at the Irish Repertory theater and according to the website, tells the story of a character called Sharky. 'After losing another job, Sharky has returned home to Dublin to build a new sober existence with his cantankerous elder brother, Richard, recently blinded in a drunken accident. 'But it's Christmas Eve, and the drinks are flowing as old friends convene for an annual game of poker. 'This year, an immortal stranger from Sharky's past arrives, raising the stakes to eternal consequence.' Matthew plays the devil, disguised as Mr Lockheart in the play, to announce hes come to claim his soul for having killed a man years earlier. New role: The Seafarer is an adaptation of Conor McPherson's 2006 play, set in Dublin and appearing at the Irish Repertory theater All in the details: Sarah Jessica wore a contrasting coat over her dress for the outing She won a record $4.56 million in damages last year after Bauer Media was found to have defamed the actress by painting her as a serial liar. And now Rebel Wilson has slammed local media for their 'negative treatment' of other celebrities, claiming 'a lot' of them had 'been driven out of Australia.' Speaking on Thursday's episode of The Project, the Pitch Perfect star also confessed to feeling stressed about coming home after magazine articles had claimed she was lying about her age, childhood and name. 'A lot of celebrities have been driven out of Australia': Rebel Wilson slams media organisations for their 'negative treatment' of famous people 'I know a lot of Australian celebrities have been driven out of Australia because of negative treatment by the media,' Rebel claimed. 'I think that's sad, because Australia is an awesome country.' Rebel also told Project co-host Carrie Bickmore she had been stressed to return to Australia after Bauer Media, which owns Australian Women's Weekly and Woman's Day, published its now infamous articles about her in 2015. Took a toll: Rebel also told Project co-host Carrie Bickmore she had been stressed to return to Australia after Bauer Media published its now infamous articles about her in 2015 'Yeah I did, especially when all of the major media organisations - except for Channel 10, which was the only sensible one - tried to join in the case against me,' she said. '[They did so] purely because of corporate greed and they don't want to take responsibility when they make mistakes, and that's awful and it's kind of not a great feeling.' Rebel is back in the Supreme Court of Victoria this week as Bauer Media challenges her $4.56 million damages bill, which the company argues is 'manifestly excessive.' She is one of several celebrities who have been vocal about their dislike of the Australian media. Record payout: Rebel won $4.56 million in damages last year after Bauer Media was found to have defamed the actress by painting her as a serial liar Not happy: Russell Crowe (L) and Shane Warne (R) have lashed out on social media, blasting false magazine reports about their love lives Both Russell Crowe and Shane Warne have lashed out on social media, blasting false magazine reports about their love lives. Meanwhile Melissa George famously said she was visiting Australia for the 'last time' in 2012, citing bad treatment at the hands of the local media. 'Id rather be having a croissant in Paris or walking my French bulldog in New York City,' she told Fairfax Media. Melissa has since denied making the comments, however, the journalist who interviewed the actress has stood by the article. They're both talented actresses at the very top of their field. And Amy Adams, 43, and Rachel Weisz, 48, took a break from their busy careers to enjoy an A-list girls' dinner date at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night. The pair looked effortlessly elegant as they enjoyed a night out on the town at the upmarket Asian fusion eatery. Scroll down for video Girls' night out: Amy Adams, 43, (left) and Rachel Weisz, 48, (right) took a break from their busy careers to enjoy an A-list girls' dinner at Mr. Chow in Beverly Hills on Wednesday night Amy put on a leggy display in a black shirt dress and heels, while Rachel flaunted her trim physique in a striped pencil skirt and blazer combo. The American Hustle star kept things simple in a black shirt dress and matching cardigan as she exited the restaurant, elongating her legs in black strappy heels. The actress wore her red tresses hanging in loose waves as she highlighted her ageless complexion with low-key make-up. Amy carried her essentials in a blue cross-body bag as she made her way home with Rachel, clearly in good spirits after her girls' night out. Chic: Amy put on a leggy display in a black shirt dress and heels, keeping things simple for her night out on the town at the upmarket Asian fusion eatery Rachel went for a nautical-inspired look, teaming a yellow striped pencil skirt with a blazer featuring flared cuffs. The mother-of-one added height to the casual look with tan leather clogs, while wearing her raven bobbed tresses in loose curls. The duo both left their children and husbands at home for the low-key outing; Amy has been married to actor and artist Darren Le Gallo since 2015, and Rachel to James Bond star Daniel Craig since 2011. Amy is a mother to daughter Aviana, seven, while Rachel has son Henry, 11, with ex-partner, filmmaker Darren Aronofsky. Chic: Rachel went for a nautical-inspired look, teaming a yellow striped pencil skirt with a blazer featuring flared cuffs Amy has recently began work on a new picture, playing Dick Cheney's wife Lynne in a biopic about the former Vice President, starring her old American Hustle co-star Christian Bale. Rachel's next film is 18th Century period drama, The Favourite, in which she plays Sarah Churchill, who famously jockeyed for the top position in Queen Anne's court. The star's outing came after she attended a photocall for her latest film Disobedience, rocking the same look at the event in Beverly Hills' Four Seasons Hotel. Rachel put on an animated display as she chatted about her latest film, which tells the intimate tale of a rabbi's lesbian daughter who travels home to her Orthodox Jewish family in New York. Going the distance: Rachel switched her clogs for platform blue heels earlier in the day as she attended the photocall for her latest film Disobedience at the Four Seasons Hotel Passionate: Rachel was in attendance to speak about her new film, in which she plays a rabbi's lesbian daughter who returns to her home in New York Rachel recently waded into a debate over who should play the next 007 after her husband Daniel's departure from the long-running franchise. Speaking to the Daily Telegraph, the actress said she doesn't believe a woman should pick up where Daniel will leave off, but should instead 'get their own stories.' She said: 'Why not create your own story rather than jumping on to the shoulders and being compared to all those other male predecessors? 'Women are really fascinating and interesting and should get their own stories.' They bonded while filming Married At First Sight. And on Thursday night there was a mini-reunion of sorts, with Sean Thomsen, Tracey Jewel, Troy Delmege and Charlene Perera meeting up during a night out in Melbourne. The popular reality TV stars were joined by last year's MAFS contestants Nick Furphy and Nadia Stamp. It's a Married At First Sight Reunion! Reality TV stars Sean Thomsen, Tracey Jewel, Troy Delmege and Charlene Perera let loose during night out in Melbourne The group reunited at a skincare launch, with Charlene sharing a shot of her, Troy, Sean and Tracey. 'Such a laugh meeting up with this motley crew!!!' She captioned the photo to her 99,000 Instagram followers. Meanwhile, Nick shared videos of him and Nadia meeting up with the group to his Instagram story. Reunion! The group reunited at a skincare launch, with Charlene sharing a shot of her and Sean Fancy seeing you! Nick shared videos of him and Nadia meeting up with the group to his Instagram story Despite their TV marriages not working out, most of the Married At First Sight cast has remained fast friends. Troy is now in a relationship with Justin Fischer's 'wife' Carly Bowyer, after he split from his TV spouse Ashley Irvin. After Tracey dumped her TV husband Dean Wells, she shocked everyone by revealing she was in a relationship with Sean. Wife swap: Troy is now in a relationship with Justin Fischer's 'wife' Carly Bowyer, after he split from his TV spouse Ashley Irvin Sean had previously been paired with 'wife' Blair Rachael, but had dumped her after failing to find an emotional connection. Tracey and Sean's visit to Melbourne comes as they prepare to move to the city later this year. Last month the couple planned they would be moving from Perth to Melbourne, with Tracey's eight-year-old daughter Grace visiting on weekends and school holidays. They didn't survive the South African jungle, or find love with an eligible bachelor. But on Thursday, I'm A Celebrity... Get Me Out Of Here's Tegan Martin, and The Bachelor reject Elise Stacy proved they sure do excel when it comes to product promotion. The stunning blondes showcased their incredible physiques alongside social influencers and models at an event celebrating Blake Worrall-Thompson being named as Fitness Ambassador for the Natural Health Company. Fitting right in! Tegan Martin (L) and Bachelor reject Elise Stacy (R) showcase their impressive physiques in tight activewear alongside models and influencers at a fitness event Various personalities participated in fitness sessions run by Blake, where they were also lucky enough to get to try some of the new product being promoted. Tegan rocked up in a simple black hoodie and black T-shirt, completing her monochrome ensemble with a pair of tight, partially see-through leggings. The beauty smiled and posed at the event's photo wall, while Elise was pictured getting hot and sweaty inside. The Bachelor 2016 contestant is clearly no stranger to the gym, proving as much by opting to flaunt her toned frame in a sleeveless black top over tight, high-waisted leggings. Celebrate! The stunning blondes showcased their incredible physiques alongside social influencers and models at an event celebrating Blake Worrall-Thompson (R) being named as Fitness Ambassador for the Natural Health Company Dressed to bench press! Tegan rocked up in a simple black hoodie and black T-shirt, completing her monochrome ensemble with a pair of tight, partially see-through leggings Elise was pictured taking part in the high-octane session alongside a collection of other Instagram celebrities. Blake was seen instructing an attentive group of six women - including Elise - as they performed squats and lunges. The event was held to promote the fitness expert being honoured with the title of official Fitness ambassador for the National Health Company. Collect the whole set! Elise was pictured taking part in the high-octane session alongside a collection of other Instagram celebrities Tastings on offer at the event were from a new range of 'proteins, superfoods and fat burning coffee.' Elise was the runner-up on Matty J's season of The Bachelor. Before progressing to reality television, Tegan was a model, crowned Miss Universe Australia in 2014. Show us squat you've got! Blake was seen instructing an attentive group of six women - including Elise - as they performed squats and lunges My Kitchen Rules stars Sonya Mefaddi and Hadil Sadeq have hit back at online trolls, who sent them vile death threats after their shock exit from the Channel Seven cooking show this week. The best friends from New South Wales took to Instagram on Thursday to share screenshots of abusive messages they received. While the controversial pair thanked fans for the support they have received, they said they have also been bombarded with vile messages from trolls. Hitting back! My Kitchen Rules stars Sonya Mefaddi and Hadil Sadeq have hit back at online trolls, who sent them vile death threats after their shock exit from the Channel Seven cooking show this week 'Thank you to all of those who have sent us supportive messages,' they wrote. 'As for the people attacking and criticising us, it's time to name and shame. Enough is enough.' The worst invective came in the form of death threats, with one keyboard warrior urging the pair to: 'go k*** yourselves.' Another message read: '...I've been hearing lately how many people want to kick your f***ing head in. Maybe it will make you look better.' One vicious troll told the pair to 'k*** yourselves' twice before saying they hoped Sonya and Hadil would 'get run over by a truck and die a horrible painful death.' No more: 'Thank you to all of those who have sent us supportive messages,' they wrote. 'As for the people attacking and criticising us, it's time to name and shame. Enough is enough' Too far: Another message read: '...I've been hearing lately how many people want to kick your f***ing head in. Maybe it will make you look better' Low rent: While some took cheap shots about Sonya and Hadil's looks, others hurled racist abuse and mocked their Jordanian heritage While some took cheap shots at Sonya and Hadil's looks, others hurled racist abuse and mocked their Jordanian heritage. The troll who said they wanted Sonya and Hadil to be hit by a bus also referred to them as 'filthy Middle Eastern pigs who deserve to be hung on the street.' Not wanting to be outdone another vicious racist offered; 'ew smelly Arab moles take your turbans and get back on the boat.' Still not done with their spray, the troll continued: 'Your [sic] Arabs u have no right to have an opinion in this country.' Disgusting: One vicious troll told the pair to 'k***l themselves twice before saying they hoped Sonya and Hadil would 'get run over by a truck and die a horrible painful death' Racism: Making reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks that destroyed New York's Twin Towers in 2001, another offered; 'Shame 9/11 didn't blow you up' Making reference to the 9/11 terrorist attacks that destroyed New York's Twin Towers in 2001, one troll wrote; 'Shame 9/11 didn't blow you up.' Another user referred to the pair as terrorists and 'w**s.' 'You pair of ugly people. You u big mouthed a**hole obviously do not own a mirror,' the troll wrote. 'Even worse than your terrorist looks you are an ugly person through and through out. Get out of Australia we do not want you w**s here!' Yet another attacker, taking a swipe at Sonya and Hadil's looks, referred to the pair as terrorists and 'w**s.' Small minded: 'You pair of ugly people,' they wrote.'You u big mouthed a**hole obviously do not own a mirror. even worse than your terrorist looks you are an ugly person through and through out. get out of Australia we do not want you w**s here!' However, the pair did receive words of support from fans on a previous post, with many encouraging the pair to keep their chins up. 'Amazing cooks with an amazing personality, the episode last night didn't even make sense,' one message read. 'So disappointing!!! You both were so lovely, respectable and talented. Was happy to finally see channel 7 choose a Arab team that would represent Arabs positively.' Following a war of words on Tuesday, Sonya and Hadil hurled personal attacks, callous taunts and shocking insults across the table to rivals Jess and Emma in a spat that had been brewing since day one. Drama: Following a war of words on Tuesday, Sonya and Hadil hurled personal attacks, callous taunts and shocking insults across the table to rivals Jess and Emma (pictured) in a spat that had been brewing since day one. Their unacceptable behaviour prompted judges Manu Feildel and Pete Evans to ask them to leave. Before entrees were even served, Sonya and Hadil were escorted into a taxi after they deliberately tried to get rivals Jess and Emma to 'explode' at the dinner table by snickering at them and muttering insults. Daily Mail Australia has contacted Sonya and Hadil and Channel Seven for comment. Amy Schumer rejected the chance to be retouched in I Feel Pretty. The 36-year-old actress plays a young woman struggling with insecurities in her new movie, and Amy has revealed she insisted that her image wasn't changed in post-production. Speaking to CBS This Morning's Gail King Wednesday, Amy explained: 'I said, 'Do not retouch me in this movie. Do not retouch anything.' Scroll down for video No filter! Amy Schumer explained why she rejected the chance to be retouched in her film I Feel Pretty while sitting down with CBS This Morning Wednesday 'You see my cellulite. You see my, my rolls, whatever ... It's like, I feel great.' Amy's latest project has received criticism in some quarters, with people claiming that is has body-shamed the actress. But she's rubbished those suggestions, insisting it is intended to make people 'feel good about themselves'. Positive perspective: She shared: 'I want other women, other people to feel good about themselves. And I think walking out of this movie, you really do' All out there! The star explained there was no hiding the real her, saying: 'You see my cellulite. You see my, my rolls, whatever' She shared: 'I want other women, other people to feel good about themselves. And I think walking out of this movie, you really do.' Meanwhile, Amy previously explained that in spite of some of the negativity surrounding her new movie, she hopes it will prove to be a source of inspiration for women. The Hollywood actress revealed she wants women to feel 'empowered' when they watch I Feel Pretty, which also stars Emily Ratajkowski and Michelle Williams. Cast of characters: The Hollywood actress revealed she wants women to feel 'empowered' when they watch I Feel Pretty, which also stars Emily Ratajkowski and Michelle Williams She said: 'We want women to feel empowered, we don't want anything to hold them back. 'If you feel someone is going to insult you, call you ugly or fat, it holds you back. I don't want anything to keep women from their full potential.' I Feel Pretty arrives in theaters Friday April 20. A bag by struggling Australian accesorises brand Oroton has sold out just hours after it was worn by Meghan Markle. On Tuesday, the royal bride accompanied Prince Harry to a meeting with youth delegates at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). The 36-year-old wore the cross body Avalon zip bag, which sold out online almost immediately, despite its $295 price tag,The Daily Telegraph reported. Everything she touches turns to SOLD! $295 Oroton bag sells out just hours after Meghan Markle wore it at official Commonwealth event with Prince Harry According to the publication, 75 per cent of online purchases came from the United States and United Kingdom. Oroton chief executive Ross Lane told the Sydney Morning Herald Meghan wearing the bag had come as a surprise but was a 'huge endorsement of our new creative direction.' The struggling retail brand, which went into administration last year, was soon featuring photos of Meghan wearing the cross-body bag on their online store. The black and white version is currently sold-out but will be restocked in August this year. Being reordered:The black and white version is currently sold-out but will be restocked in August this year That was quick! The struggling retail brand was soon featuring photos of Meghan wearing the cross-body bag on their online store Meanwhile, diehard Meghan fans can get their hands on the bag now in coral and green striped shades. Oroton racked up a $14.2 million loss in 2017 before going into administration last November. But it was thrown a lifeline last month when it was given a $25 million boost to keep the brand running and transfer it into private ownership. Meghan accompanied her Oroton bag with a $2,600 pinstripe summer dress by New York label Altuzarra and a $699 Marguerite jacket by Australian designer Camilla and Marc. Meghan Markle stepped out on a 25 degree day in London wearing not one but two Australian designers (pictured with Prince Harry) The future royal completed her summery outfit - which fans are describing as her raciest royal look yet - with sleek black suede heels by British fashion designer, Tamara Mellon. She added another fashionable touch, by 'shoulder-robing' with her Camilla and Marc jacket - a style made popular by the Kardashians. The jacket appears to be from the Australian designers' winter 2018 ready-to-wear collection, and retails at $699. The future royal opted for both a jacket by Camilla and Marc, which retails for $699, and an Oroton cross-body bag, which retails for $295 (both pictured) Meghan (pictured) paired her Australian pieces with a pinstripe summer dress by New York label, Altuzarra and heels by British designer, Tamara Mellon (both pictured) This isn't the first time Meghan has turned to Australian designers to make a statement. During her engagement photo shoot, she wore designs by the Australian duo Ralph & Russo's. Priced at $98,675, her dress drew plaudits from the fashion world - who commented on the delicate nature of the silk tulle ruffles, the gown's transparent bodice and its beautiful stitching. She was also at one stage rumoured to have 'chosen' the Aussie couple for her wedding day, which will take place in a month's time. Earlier this week, Prince Harry was named by the Queen as a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador Earlier this week, Prince Harry was named by the Queen as a Commonwealth Youth Ambassador. He said that both he and Meghan were 'excited' to take on the challenge of the new role, helping young people around the world to address economic, social and environmental challenges of the future. At the Commonwealth event, the couple met about 40 young leaders, including past winners of the Queen's Young Leaders Award, as well as Commonwealth LGBT activists at the Commonwealth Youth Forum, including Australian delegate Jacob Thomas. The jacket appears to be from the Australian designers' Camilla and Marc's winter 2018 ready-to-wear collection, and costs $699 Prince Harry said that both he and Meghan were 'excited' to take on the challenge of their new role, helping young people around the world solving challenges of the future For the occasion, Prince Harry wore a smart grey suit jacket and tie. It is unusual for someone who has not yet married into the royal family to be involved in formal events such as the CHOGM summit. But the Queen, who is Head of the Commonwealth, has made clear that she sees Harry and his future bride as lynchpins of her work with the so-called 'family of nations.' The couple are due to marry at Windsor Castle on May 19, and Meghan has voiced her desire to 'hit the ground running' when it comes to her official duties and her desire to facilitate change. She intends to place a particular emphasis on women and young people. It is unusual for someone who has not yet married into the royal family to be involved in a high-profile occasion such as the Chogm summit They began dating eight years ago, after meeting on The Inbetweeners set while playing Simon Cooper and his short-lived girlfriend Tara Jones. And Joe Thomas and his fiance Hannah Tointon proved to be stronger than ever as they enjoyed a low-key date in London in the early hours of Thursday morning, where they cut low-key figures in loose-fitting jackets and tight trousers. The 34-year-old funnyman looked worlds away from his teen character, with his hair swept to one side in a dashing look, while his blonde partner, 30, was fresh-faced in a whole different look to her glam red carpet style. The Inbetweeners love lives on: Joe Thomas and his fiance Hannah Tointon proved to be stronger than ever as they enjoyed a low-key date in London in the early hours of Thursday morning, where they cut low-key figures in loose-fitting jackets and tight trousers Their love no doubt blossomed after their characters embarked on romance on the show - with the sister of Kara Tointon playing unlucky-in-love Simon's girlfriend Tara. Simon was branded 'a cross between a baby and the Statue Of Liberty' by fellow character Jay Cartwright, played by James Buckley, due to his spiky hair, yet handsome Joe looked totally different to the awkward character. Cutting a casual figure in a grey T-shirt and black jacket, the actor looked handsome as he slicked his thick mane to one side for his date night. Hannah meanwhile, whose character Tara was a demanding, music-loving sixth-former, looked stunning as she strolled along the street with a totally bare face. Happy days: The 34-year-old funnyman looked worlds away from his teen character, with his hair swept to one side in a dashing look, while his blonde partner, 30, was fresh-faced in a whole different look to her red carpet style Way back when: They began dating eight years ago, after meeting on The Inbetweeners set while playing Simon Cooper and his short-lived girlfriend Tara Jones Hapless: Their love no doubt blossomed after their characters embarked on romance on the show - with the sister of Kara Tointon playing unlucky-in-love Simon's girlfriend Tara Despite their fractious on-screen relationship, which saw an incredibly awkward scene as they prepared to lose their virginity, they are having more luck with their love off-screen as it was confirmed that the duo had moved in together in 2012. Talking at the Evening Standard British Film Awards shortly after their move, Joe did admit that their first home together was a little rough around the edges. He said: 'We live in an old-fashioned 1960s building in the Barbican and it is like stepping into a time warp. We have no dishwasher and no hot water. Now: Hannah meanwhile, whose character Tara was a demanding, music-loving sixthformer, looked stunning as she strolled along the street with a totally bare face Romantic: Despite the hiccups with their home, the Essex born actor admitted to Cosmopolitan that he is a romantic at heart, and is always looking out to 'protect' his stunning partner (Hannah pictured in 2007) 'The washing-up consumes so much of our time that Hannah has suggested we eat off paper plates.But I have drawn the line at living in a permanent children's party. 'I quite like the romance of having to boil the kettle every time we have to wash up or have a bath, but Hannah doesn't. Our list of house needs is long!' Despite the hiccups with their home, the Essex born actor admitted to Cosmopolitan that he is a romantic at heart, and is always looking out to 'protect' his stunning partner. Here come the boys! Joe (right), pictured with co-stars Blake Harrison, James Buckley, Simon Bird (left-right) While the hugely popular series The Inbetweeners wrapped in 2010, Joe went on to star in the two movie spin-offs that followed, without Hannah by his side He confessed to the magazine: 'I always try to impress my girlfriend Hannah by any means I can and I'm very protective about her. I've tended to have some serious, long-time monogamous relationships.' He continued: 'I'm such a romantic. I'd only ever have sex with one girlfriend at a time ... I've never had cojones to be a player, and I don't know any men who do. 'Some imply these lots of girls, and never see them again after one night, but I don't know that's actually true.' While the hugely popular series The Inbetweeners wrapped in 2010, Joe went on to star in the two movie spin-offs that followed, without Hannah by his side. Sophie Monk is never going to find love. That was The Bachelorette's demeanour in an interview on Thursday, where she announced an indefinite pause on her quest for to find the one. 'It is not worth the drama,' she told The Daily Telegraph, confirming she'd be 'giving love a rest,' in the wake of a string of failed romances. 'It is a lot of pressure': Fed up Sophie Monk reveals she's given up trying to find romance because it's 'too much drama' Ironically, the interview was conducted in promotion of Love Island, a new Channel Nine show she signed to when she was still dating Stu Laundy. (They split in January, after six-months together) So while the 38-year-old appears to be reeling from her own experience on a dating show, she's been tasked with guiding a cast of 'sexy singles' through their own. Sophie joked she was just glad to be a host this time around, a job she freely admitted to enjoying a lot more than The Bachelorette. '(Love Island) is no drama for me. I just sit back and watch it all. This will be emotional for them but not so much for me, which is great,' she quipped. This is your love captain speaking! Ironically, the interview was conducted in promotion of Love Island, a new Channel Nine show she signed to when she was still dating Stu Laundy Split: Sophie and Stu split in January, after six-months together The former Bardot star previously admitted to being tempted by some of the 'unapologetically attractive' contestants on Love Island. During a recent Today show interview, co-host Karl Stefanovic said he was 'worried' about her, and hoped she found love soon. 'What about Love Island, was there anyone (contestants you could have fallen for) over there?' Karl asked. 'No drama': In light of the split, Sophie joked she was just glad to be a host this time around, a job she freely admitted to enjoying a lot more than The Bachelorette She admitted: 'I was thinking about that.' 'But it would be a bit weird if I ended up in one of their beds, top and tailing!' On Thursday, she was far more assertive in her stance regarding being without a significant other. 'I am happy being single. I am finally happy just being me,' she said. She announced that she is expecting her second child with her actor husband, Hugh Dancy, on Wednesday. And on Thursday, Claire Danes was spotted walking their five-year-old son Cyrus to school in New York City. The lad looked cute in a black padded jacket with eyes all over it, dark blue and brown camouflage pants and bright yellow sneakers. Beautiful in black: Claire Danes covered her barely there baby bump under a Columbia zip up jacket when she walked son Cyrus, five, to school in NYC on Thursday Keen to keep up her fitness, the 39-year-old Homeland star jogged home after dropping Cyrus off. The actress was kitted out in athleisure wear including a black, zip-up padded jacket from Columbia, black leggings and blue sneakers with pink details. At one point she lifted the hem of the jacket to reveal a glimpse of her white T-shirt and tummy that didn't show any sign of a bump. Claire smoothed her strawberry blonde tresses back into an updo and listened to something on her cell phone that she carried in a pouch strapped around her waist as she jogged along. Peek-a-boo: At one point the 39-year-old lifted the hem of the jacket to reveal a glimpse of her white T-shirt and her still trim tummy even though she's 'deep in her second trimester' Getting a move on: The strawberry blonde took to her heels after dropping Cyrus at school Healthy star: Claire got some exercise when she was spotted jogging back to her home She broke her happy news on Howard Sterns SiriusXM show adding that she and Hugh, 42, will not be revealing the gender of the baby until the birth. The New York native has been promoting season seven Homeland but she also revealed that the hit series will end after season eight although Showtime has yet to confirm that. Claire, who came to fame with TV's My So-Called Life opposite Jared Leto, added that she is 'deep' in her second trimester. She has been married to Hugh since in 2009 after meeting three years earlier. Second time parents: The Homeland actress is expecting her second child with her husband, Hugh Dancy, 42, here seen in May 2017 The bump: She showed off her tummy in this red dress when she dropping by the Howard Stern SiriusXM radio show show on Wednesday Three months ago: The blonde covered up in a sweater at the Sundance Film Festival Claire has had a massive hit with her long running TV series. She has been leading Homeland's cast as bipolar Carrie Mathison - once a CIA agent - since its first season, which began airing in the autumn of 2011. Among the Emmys and other accolades, her work on Homeland has brought her a Screen Actors Guild Award, a Critics' Choice Award and two Golden Globes. Real Housewives Of Melbourne's Gina Liano recently added another role to her long list of active job titles. In February, to coincide with Australia's new marriage equality laws, The 51-year-old became a marriage celebrant - now, she's hosting Sydney's first 'Love is Love' expo. 'I've always advocated equality for everyone, and as such, just recently became a marriage celebrant so I can legally marry gay couples,' she told News Corp on Friday. 'I've always advocated equality': RHOM's Gina Liano speaks about being named the MC of Sydney's first 'Love is Love' expo... after revealing she's now a 'gay marriage celebrant' The Love is Love expo, she revealed, is a same-sex wedding festival masterminded by Kim Alfredi, who has branched out after running a successful heterosexual wedding festival for several years. 'Love is Love is an incredible event to check put what's on offer and to give inspiration for those organising their big day, or to just come along and celebrate the Yes vote and share in the festivities.' In February, Gina told the Herald Sun she would officiate her first ever wedding on Valentine's Day, for a long-term gay couple. Get ready! The Love is Love expo, she revealed, is a same-sex wedding festival masterminded by Kim Alfredi, who has branched out after running a successful heterosexual wedding festival for several years The popular personality explained her celebrant license was approved in October last year, but she decided to wait until the equality laws were recognised in December. She was then approached by the lovebirds in early January, who let the reality TV star know of their desire to tie the knot on Valentine's Day. 'We quickly did all the paperwork, I have met with them and we have got a rehearsal tomorrow,' she enthused. Come along: 'Love is Love is an incredible event to check put what's on offer and to give inspiration for those organising their big day' she said The Melbourne-born barrister, who has been divorced twice and is the mother of two boys, gushed over her new vocation. 'I feel like I am in my element doing this, because I love love,' she revealed. Gina adds her latest gig to a long list of current professions, including the release of her signature scent last year, to mixed reviews. Love is Love takes place at The Commune in Sydney's Waterloo on Friday April 20. She lives a jet-setting lifestyle as an international model and socialite. And Lottie Moss looked sensational as she stepped out with pals including Georgia Toffolo and Love Island's Tina Stinnes in Chelsea on Thursday. The model sister of Kate Moss, 20, flashed her enviable abs in a plunging white crop-top which featured a daring cut-out section in the centre, revealing her pert cleavage. Leggy display: Lottie Moss looked sensational as she stepped out with pals including Georgia Toffolo and Love Island's Tina Stinnes in Chelsea on Thursday Kicking back: The model sister of Kate Moss, 20, puffed away on a cigarette on the sunny afternoon The Vogue coverstar donned a thigh-skimming denim skirt which showcased her toned legs, and she added height with white stilettos. Her blonde tresses were styled sleek and straight, parted in the middle while her pretty features were enhanced with a light dusting of make-up. The star was seen soaking up the sunshine with a refreshing drink before kicking back with a cigarette. Racy: Lottie flashed her enviable abs in a plunging white crop-top which featured a daring cut-out section in the centre, revealing her pert cleavage Toned: The Vogue coverstar donned a thigh-skimming denim skirt which showcased her toned legs, and she added height with white stilettos Sleek: Her blonde tresses were styled sleek and straight, parted in the middle while her pretty features were enhanced with a light dusting of make-up Leggy display: Lottie was joined by Love Island and MIC star pal Tina Stinnes who flashed her toned legs Laugh out loud: I'm A Celeb champ and MIC star Georgia, 23, who looked suitably chic in a woolen white summer dress, paired with tan heels Shielding her eyes from the rays, she slipped on some cat eye shades. She was joined by Made In Chelsea star Georgia, 23, who looked suitably chic in a woolen white summer dress, paired with tan heels. Her caramel tresses were styled in soft waves and her pretty features were enhanced with fluttery lashes, peachy blush and a slick of rose lipgloss. Blonde beauties: Both Toff and Tina showed off their sartorial chic at the restaurant Sip: Lottie enjoyed a refreshing drink as she chatted with pals Strut: Fellow MIC star Tina, who appeared on the 2016 series of Love Island, wowed in a golden off-the-shoulder floral top which flashed her enviable abs Animated: Lottie rocked some pink eyeshadow as she chatted with her pals Looking good: Tina and Toff greeted one another as they whiled away the afternoon Hugs: Tina gave a big hug to a pal as she smiled at her friends Fellow MIC star Tina, who appeared on the 2016 series of Love Island, wowed in a golden off-the-shoulder floral top which flashed her enviable abs. She paired this with a pair of lace trimmed shorts which revealed her endless legs. The star slipped on a pair of box fresh trainers. Her platinum tresses were styled in loose waves while she sported a metallic eyeshadow, fluttery lashes and a swipe of coral lipstick. Stunning: Lottie showed off her trim midriff as she smiled and chatted Hugs: Lottie hugged a handsome pal while clutching a glass of wine Soft side: Lottie and Tina looked delighted as they stroked a cute pooch Chatty: Toff looked happy to be catching up with friends at the restaurant Drinks: Tina sipped a refreshing drink as she flashed her toned pins Trim: Tina paired her top with a pair of lace trimmed shorts which revealed her endless legs The blonde first secured the attention of scouts at the tender age of 13 with her youthful beauty, at the Croydon-born model's wedding to rocker ex-husband Jamie Hince. She has since gone on to release her own PacSun collection, and made her catwalk debut at Paris Fashion Week for Sonia Rykiel in 2015. Lottie is following in the star-studded footsteps of her supermodel half-sister Kate, who has commanded numerous runways over the years, and has worked on her own eponymous range for Topshop since 2007. The blonde is now often seen hitting London's party scene with pals from the Made In Chelsea cast. The socialite previously dated Alex Mytton from the E4 reality series, but their on and off nine-month romance came to an end last July. Gossip: The blonde beauties looked elated as they chatted over the table Chic: Lottie planted a kiss on her pal as she settled down for the afternoon Work it: Lottie is following in the star-studded footsteps of her supermodel half-sister Kate, who has commanded numerous runways over the years, and has worked on her own eponymous range for Topshop since 2007 Joanna Gaines is getting closer and closer to the birth of her fifth child. But the HGTV talent was celebrating her own birthday Thursday, taking to Instagram to share a funny message about her 40th year around the sun. The pregnant home flipper appeared caught in a moment of bliss, biting down on a donut and throwing her leg up in the photo captioned: 'This is 40. And I like it.' What a treat! Joanna Gaines celebrated her 40th birthday on Thursday, taking to Instagram to share a charming photo of the pregnant star chomping on a donut from the comfort of a fabulously decorated home Joanna appeared fresh from bed in the photo, sipping on her morning tea and nibbling on a donut with a satisfied look on her face. The wife/business partner of co-star Chip Gaines had her dark hair was pulled back into a high ponytail as the TV persona knelt her leg on a nearby chair. Of course, the Texas native's home was perfectly decorated, with charming rustic furniture and fresh flowers adorning the room. 'This is 40. And I like it... #pregnantandforty #anddoughnuts' Joanna captioned the photo. Growing family! Joanna and hubby Chip are over the moon about baby number five. Joanna's burgeoning bump is seen back in February, above Still smitten! Chip shared a sweet tweet about his wife during the early hours of Thursday, writing: 'Happy birthday sweet girl! #40neverLookedSoGood' Chip shared a sweet tweet about his wife during the early hours of Thursday, writing: 'Happy birthday sweet girl! #40neverLookedSoGood.' Joanna and her husband are over the moon about baby number five. Back in January, they announced they were expecting a little boy sometime in the summer. The couple already share kids Drake, 12, Ella, 11, Duke, 9, and Emmie Kay, seven. Screen time! Chip and Joanna's new show Fixer Upper: Behind The Design airs Tuesdays at 8pm on HGTV. The couple are seen in November 2017 above Though the family said goodbye to their show Fixer Upper this last season, fans can still get their Gaines fix on HGTV. Now, Chip and Joanna star in a spin-off of the hit called Fixer Upper: Behind The Design, which takes a deep dive into how Joanna comes up with the amazing designs seen on the show. Fixer Upper: Behind The Design premiered on April 10 2018 and airs Tuesdays at 8pm on HGTV. She is on holiday with her 24-year-old sister Chloe. But Lauryn Goodman, 27, rode the waves on her own as she splashed around in the sea, not straying far from the golden sands, in Gran Canaria on Thursday. The beauty blogger put on a sensual appearance as she showcased her gravity-defying cleavage in the plunging neckline of her orange one-piece. Loving life: Lauryn Goodman put on a busty display in a sexy swimsuit on sunny Gran Canaria getaway with her sister Chloe on Thursday With a racy tie-front design, the figure-hugging costume also had a generous cutaway to tease a further glimpse at Lauryn's curvy figure. The Goodman sister seductively ran her fingers through her wet locks, pulling them from her face, as she emerged from the sea in Baywatch fashion. As a beauty and fashion blogger, it is of little wonder she defined her features using her artistic hand and eye to enhance her natural good looks. Sizzling hot! The Goodman sister seductively ran her fingers through her wet locks, pulling them from her face, as she emerged from the sea in Baywatch fashion What a physique! With a racy tie-front design, the figure-hugging costume also had a generous cutaway to tease a further glimpse at Lauryn's curvy figure Lauryn is currently soaking up the sunshine on her girls break with her famous reality star sister Chloe, although she did not appear to be on the beach outing. They headed off across the globe without the charming company of their youngest Goodman sister Amelia. In March, Lauryn jetted off to Cape Verde while her sister Chloe headed off to Greece's Cyprus so naturally the girls wanted to go away together in April. Pout and about: As a beauty and fashion blogger, it is of little wonder she defined her features using her artistic hand and eye to enhance her natural good looks Dropped something? Lauryn seemed to be looking for something in the water when she crouched down and scoured the sea Their incredibly fond and close relationship as siblings comes as no surprise as the pair share the same good genes and reality star dreams. Despite looking the picture of confidence on the beach, Lauryn spoke honestly on social media over Easter as she confessed her fears of putting on weight. 'Right think its time to slow down on the Easter Eggs the pounds are really piling on my lower half. Ill be rolling down the street soon,' she tweeted. Just chilling: The showbiz party-goer toyed with her sunglasses which she wore on her head amid her loosely-tousled locks On the lookout! Lauryn shielded her eyes from the blazing sunshine with her hand as she flaunted her enviable curves on her beach day out On her own! Lauryn is currently soaking up the sunshine on her girls break with her famous reality star sister Chloe, although she did not appear to be on the beach outing It's all relative! Their incredibly fond and close relationship as siblings comes as no surprise as the pair share the same good genes and reality star dreams Explained: Despite looking the picture of confidence on the beach, Lauryn spoke honestly on social media over Easter as she confessed her fears of putting on weight Jennifer Aniston looked casually cute as she made an appearance at WE Day in Los Angeles on Thursday. The 49-year-old actress was photographed sporting a black wrist brace on her left arm - the same one she wore to pal Gwyneth Paltrow's wedding party last week - as she posed on the red carpet at The Forum in Inglewood. Teaming a smart black blazer with cuffed jeans, Jen looked upbeat despite her injury as she arrived at the youth empowerment event. Scroll down for video Injury: Jennifer Aniston arrived at WE Day in Los Angeles on Thursday sporting a hand brace Keeping her chin up! The 49-year-old star was upbeat despite her injured arm The outing came as the young woman spotted with her estranged husband Justin Theroux last week was identified as model Erika Cardenas, 26. Jen and Justin announced their split in February after marrying in August 2015 following four years of dating. There is quite an age difference between the two as the 46-year-old actor is twenty years the senior of the gorgeous model represented by State Management. According to a source to DailyMail.com, Cardenas met Theroux at the gym and the two are 'just friends'. The 5ft 2in stunner often takes to Instagram to share many of her gorgeous snaps from her portfolio and is a New Jersey native. On their outing in New York on Friday, Justin put on quite the gun show as he rocked a sleeveless Eazy-E T-shirt which showed off his toned biceps. Casually cute: The Friends alum wore cuffed jeans, a WE Day T-shirt and black blazer along with white sneakers Moving on? The young woman pictured spending time with Jen's ex last week has been identified as 26-year-old Cardenas Gorgeous: Erika is represented by Statement Management The duo got coffees together and sat chatting and laughing outside the cafe looking very much at ease in each other's company. Later they took a stroll with Justin pushing his bike along with him. Erika flashed her shoulders in a white blouse tied at the waist to reveal her tummy and wore her tightly curled locks up in a ponytail. Since the split Justin has been romantically linked to artist Petra Collins, 25 and actress Aubrey Plaza, 33. Relaxed: According to a source to DailyMail.com, Cardenas met Theroux at the gym and the two are 'just friends' as she posted this saucy snap on Instagram back in October However, a source insists the former Parks and Recreation co-stars are just good friends and working on a new project together. 'Aubrey is still with her boyfriend, Jeff Baena,' the insider told Page Six. 'She and Justin are talking about a film project to work on together.' Justin and Jennifer shocked fans after announcing that they were calling it quits on their two-and-a-half year marriage in February. The decision to go their separate ways 'was mutual and lovingly made at the end of last year', according to a statement released through Jennifer's publicist at the time. The couple's statement added that they would have handled their separation privately, but wanted to counter tabloid speculation and 'convey the truth directly.' Pretty: The 5ft 2in stunner often takes to Instagram to share many of her gorgeous snaps from her portfolio and is a New Jersey native According to TMZ, Jennifer was last seen at her estranged husband's New York apartment in October, with sources telling the website that she'd stopped regular visits as far back as August. It has since been reported that the actor ended their marriage because she refused to live in his West Village home, instead of her lavish Bel Air property. Justin and Jennifer would reportedly spend long periods apart, with the actor continuing his New York-based life when not with his wife in Los Angeles. And while she did stay with him at his east coast home, their different lifestyles played a part in their decision to end their marriage, according to People. 'During his relationship with Jen, Justins life in N.Y.C. was always very different from his L.A. life,' a source told the magazine. 'In N.Y.C., he acted more like a single guy. He went out with his single friends and sometimes would have very little contact with Jen for days.' She divulged she is more confident in her curves than ever before. And Kelly Brook put her curvaceous figure on display as she cosied up to Jeremy Parisi on arrival at the Cineworld Gala in Leicester Square, London on Thursday. The 38-year-old curvy model linked arms with her hunky man when they continued to flaunt their romance in the bustling city streets outside the swanky venue. Together: Kelly Brook linked arms with Jeremy Parisi as she flaunted curvy figure in a leopard print dress at Cineworld gala, in London on Thursday They appeared closer than ever, despite Jeremy turning down Kelly's proposal during their romantic break in Antigua in February just two months ago. Kelly and Jeremy have gone from strength to strength since they got together back in 2015 as they enjoyed each other's company at the A-list event. Showcasing their close emotional bond, the pair affectionately held hands when they made their way inside of the plush London venue. Bust-ing out: Kelly displayed her sensational shape in her figure-hugging dress when she posed alone without her beau at the swanky venue Going strong: Showcasing their close emotional bond, the pair affectionately held hands when they made their way inside of the plush London venue Is it love? They appeared closer than ever, despite Jeremy turning down Kelly's proposal during their romantic break in Antigua in February just two months ago Kelly displayed her hourglass figure in her leopard print dress which hugged every inch of her eye-popping curves. Cinema-goers got a good look at the model's shapely pins in her thigh-grazing dress and towering high heels. The busty pin-up let her brunette waves tumble down her shoulders and in turn seductively entice eyes to her waistline. Her wild side: Kelly displayed her hourglass figure in her leopard print dress which hugged every inch of her eye-popping curves Leggy lady: Cinema-goers got a good look at the model's shapely pins in her thigh-grazing dress and towering high heels What a figure! The busty pin-up let her brunette waves tumble down her shoulders and in turn seductively entice eyes to her waistline Despite their amorous displays, Kelly confessed her beau rejected her when she asked for his hand in marriage during one of their many holidays this year. Recalling the moment, she told OK! magazine:'When we were in Antigua and the sun was setting and we were up at Shirley Heights I said to Jeremy, "Will you marry me?" and he said, "Be quiet there are people around!" 'So I tried to propose but he said it was too busy and told me to be quiet! Ive asked him, but it wasnt private enough! Forever in love: Kelly and Jeremy have gone from strength to strength since they got together back in 2015 as they enjoyed each other's company at the A-list event Moving on: Despite their amorous displays, Kelly confessed her beau rejected her when she asked for his hand in marriage during one of their many holidays this year Inseparable: Kelly has filled up the pages in her passport with several exotic locations with handsome beau Jeremy Parisi Comforting: Kelly rested her hand tenderly on her beau's arm when they made their stunning arrival as a couple at the cinema It's April and the stunning star has already enjoyed as many as eight holidays from St Tropez to Hong Kong. Kelly has filled up the pages in her passport with several exotic locations with handsome beau Jeremy. The Kent native jetted off to Paris for a second time this year, following her romantic visit to the city of love in February. Leggy display: The star showed off her lean legs in the wild number Smitten: Kelly and Jeremy looked smitten as they walked along hand in hand Sweet: The couple looked happy as they strolled along and chatted Glowing: The star looked radiant as she walked along with a beaming smile Prior to the Paris exploration, Kelly and Jeremy visited Hong Kong, Phuket, California, Miami, Antigua and Iceland. Approaching her 40s, Kelly explained she is more confident than ever in her God given curvaceous physique. She no longer stresses about maintaining a super-slim figure as she wants to live life to the full, and instead focus on keeping fit and healthy. She explained to The Sun 'To get to an age where you go, 'This is who I am, wrinkles and all, saggy boobs and all' and think, 'Whatever', just makes you really happy. I'm more confident with my body now than I was when I was younger.' Vibrant: Kimberly dressed to impress in a white suit with lime green clutch Hitting the right style notes: Professor Green headed out in a plaid jacket as he stepped out after his split from model Fae Williams Is it Love (Island)? Jonny Mitchell and Danielle Zarb-Cousins looked cosy as the Love Island hunk wrapped his hand around her waist Vision in white! Kimberly Wyatt looked sensational in her white jumpsuit which she accessorised with her green clutch She embarked on a short-lived romance with Nick Knowles in 2016, which ended abruptly when photographs of them together appeared online and he returned to his then-wife. However, after moving on with Scott Walker, Gemma Oaten has now split with her former beau of one year, and has since been dating her pantomime co-star. The Mirror claims that the former Emmerdale actress dumped Scott and then met Stuart Earp from panto, with the two 'getting on like a house on fire' and going on a couple of dates. 'It's over': Gemma Oaten has now split with her boyfriend of 12 months Scott Walker and has got together with a handsome actor A source told the publication: 'It's very early days but she is very happy. They have been on a couple of dates. 'All her friends are delighted that she is no longer with Scott. They never took to him. Stuart is very charming and they are getting on like a house on fire.' MailOnline has contacted Gemma's representative for comment. New romance? The Mirror claims that according to her pals, the former Emmerdale actress dumped Scott 'a few months ago' and met reported new beau Stuart Earp (R) from panto 'Loved-up': A source told the publication: 'It's very early days but she is very happy. They have been on a couple of dates.' The reports come after Gemma previously spoke about being in love with film producer Scott and the two even moving in together after just three months of dating. She told OK! Magazine in June last year: 'It's weird as I've never lived with anybody before, except at drama school. I thought it was going to be a massive thing because I'm used to coming and going as I please. But now it feels like the most natural thing in the world.' 'Scott makes me realise Ive actually never been in love before,' she added. 'Hes made me realise what unconditional love is, and I dont think Id ever understood what that it.' Over?: The reports come after Gemma previously spoke about being in love with film producer Scott and the two even moving in together after just three months of dating The couple's reportedly former relationship comes after Gemma embarked on a short lived romance with Nick, who she met at the TV Choice Awards in September 2016. Nick immediately whisked her off for a romantic dinner after the glitzy award ceremony and they began dating, eight months after Nick's separation from wife Jessica Knowles. But when pictures emerged of the pair enjoying a romantic getaway in Edinburgh, the 54-year-old star abruptly broke up with Gemma. Nick returned to Jessica, 28, and supported her as she battled cervical cancer. By January 2017, they decided to separate but remained on good terms for the sake of their son, Eddie. She has been spending time with Keeping Up With The Kardashians regular Jonathan Cheban lately. But on Thursday afternoon Corinne Olympios went solo to the WE Day event in Los Angeles where Selena Gomez and Jennifer Aniston were also in attendance. The Bachelor In Paradise vet, 26, looked slender in a black crop top and matching jeans with heavy work boots. Scroll down for video Party of one: Corinne Olympios went solo to the WE Day event in Los Angeles where Selena Gomez and Jennifer Aniston were also in attendance The reality TV star from Miami belted her ensemble with a B-Low the Belt number, and wore her blonde hair down; she also had on heavy black eye makeup for added drama. Though her outfit drew attention to her slender frame, it was her unusual boots that grabbed all the attention. The pal of DeMario Jackson wore thick heeled black Gucci boots with bumble bees on them and wide red laces that are surely a conversation starter. Those boots were made for walking: The Bachelor In Paradise vet, 26, looked slender in a black crop top and matching jeans with heavy work boots and a B-Low the Belt number Glam gal: The reality TV star from Miami wore her blonde hair down and had on heavy black eye makeup for added drama Making the most of a blue carpet: The siren knew how to move her hips in order to get the best pose; she has become a fixture at the LA party circuit In 2017 she competed for the heart of Nick Viall on the popular ABC reality show Bachelor in Paradise. The show had to shutdown temporarily in June 2017 when Olympios made sexual misconduct allegations against cast member Jackson. The investigation suspended filming for two weeks and eventually the producers, Warner Bros. Television, found no misconduct and resumed filming without Olympios and DeMario. On a stroll: She has been spending time with Keeping Up With The Kardashians regular Jonathan Cheban lately Since then she has been a regular on the LA party circuit. Also at the WE Day event was Selena Gomez, who went for elegance. The songstress donned a black v-neck midi dress with tan suede heels as she hit the red carpet at the Forum in Los Angeles for her sixth appearance at the event. On the hot seat: In 2017 she competed for the heart of Nick Viall on the popular ABC reality show Bachelor in Paradise but she become involved in a scandal Adding a pop of color the 25-year-old Wolves hitmaker wore scarlet red lipstick. WE Day - the world's largest youth empowerment event - is a celebration of young people willing to make a difference. Selena and a host of other stars are set to appear alongside March for Our Lives organizers and Parkland students Jaclyn Corin and Cameron Kasky at the event. Also posing for pictures actress Jennifer Aniston, TV personality Nicole Richie and Bachelor In Paradise star Corinne Olympios. Aniston, 49, looked casual in cuffed jeans, T-shirt and a stylish black blazer and finished off the outfit with white sneakers. Demure: Selena Gomez was understated chic as she arrived at the WE Day California bash Golden girl: Jennifer Aniston kept it casual in cuffed jeans and a black blazer with white sneakers Injury: The 49-year-old Friends star looked cheerful despite wearing a wrist brace on her left arm Fashionista: Nicole Richie looked effortlessly cool in a striped bodysuit and flared jeans with crushed velvet jacket The Friends star looked upbeat despite seemingly having an injury as she displayed a black wrist support on her left arm. John Stamos will be hosting the event, with stars Dierks Bentley, DVSN, Celebrity Marauders, Jessie Reyez, Jordan Fisher and The Chainsmokers set to perform. WE Day California will bring together 16,000 students from across the state for a powerful, life-changing experience featuring renowned speakers, innovative thought leaders and celebrity performers. 'I'm constantly inspired by the determination in every single student at WE Daythe energy they bring is unforgettable,' Gomez said in a statement. Talent: Dance Moms star Maddie Ziegler teamed ripped jeans with a grey WE Day T-shirt Famous faces: Model Winnie Harlow flashed her legs while Lily Collins covered up in black pants and a cardigan over her WE Day T-shirt Star line-up: Lilly Singh, Sofia Carson and Paula Abdul all made stylish appearances at the bash So suave: John Stamos - who is hosting the event - and Martin Sheen opted for T-shirts and smart jackets for the occasion 'This is my sixth WE Day and I can't wait to share words of encouragement with thousands of young leaders who have accomplished so much worth celebrating. This generation is changing the world and I'm humbled to be a part of this special day with them.' WE Day is a series of 19 stadium-sized events that are held across the United States, Canada, the U.K. and the Caribbean. You can watch the WE Day event on ABC on August 17, 2018 at 8 pm ET. Making an appearance: Cyndi Lauper looked ready for action in black pants and a stylish red blazer Pop act: The 64-year-old star posed alongside The Chainsmokers who will be performing during the event Camera ready: Olivia Holt looked great in powder blue while Anthony Anderson kept it all black Showing support: Property Brothers star Drew Scott arrived with wife Linda Phan as his date He recently left viewers and co-star Gemma Collins shocked with his 'disgusting' behaviour towards his girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou. Yet James Lock has defended his rows on TOWIE to The Sun, after some show watchers even called for him to be sacked. Talking to the publication, he said: 'On a show like TOWIE you can become a negative character or a positive character. Fiery: James Lock has DEFENDED his foul-mouthed rows to girlfriend Yazmin Oukhellou on TOWIE to The Sun, after some show watchers even called for him to be sacked 'And I think I'm a very positive character now. 'I've been the bad guy, don't get me wrong and that's not good, but now I'm a good guy.' The 31-year-old TOWIE veteran became agitated earlier on in the series during a group trip to Barcelona, after he was confronted for his disrespectful behaviour by Yazmin's pals Chloe Lewis and Chloe Meadows following a recent dinner they had all attended. Although the girls were sticking up for their pal and attempting to calmly resolve the issue, James quickly became enraged and left Yazmin in tears as he repeatedly called her a 'spoilt brat'. Angry: The 31-year-old TOWIE veteran became agitated earlier on in the series during a group trip to Barcelona, after he was confronted for his disrespectful behaviour by Yazmin's pals Uh-oh!: Although the girls were sticking up for their pal and attempting to calmly resolve the issue, James quickly became enraged and left Yazmin in tears as he called her a 'spoilt brat' Taking a nasty turn, he shouted: 'Let me tell you something. Okay, youre gonna start doing that. Throwing that card. Listen Yaz, do not f***ing sit there and make me look like a d**k. 'Don't sit here playing the victim because you are a spoilt, f***ing brat. Alright? You're a spoilt, little f***ing brat. Do not sit here and f***ing play the victim. Dont start f***ing crying. I'm a f***ing nice boy...' In the midst of his rage, Yazmin pleaded with him to stop: 'I don't care if you do it at home but this is embarrassing'. Explosive: But James refused to stop and tensions continued to rise as he reduced Chloe L to tears after he insinuated she went on a night out without telling her boyfriend Danny Flasher But James refused to stop and tensions continued to rise as he reduced Chloe L to tears after he insinuated she went on a night out without telling her boyfriend Danny Flasher. The brunette fired back: 'I'm very much in love and my partner does not speak to me the way you do.' To which Lockie replied: 'Yeah, go and have a cry. Bore off...' Shocked by his behaviour, Chloe L made her way back inside the venue screaming: 'Gentleman? You're not a gentleman! You might want to look it up in the dictionary.' However, it's not just Lockie who has shocked fans and viewers were gobsmacked when Myles Barnett called Courtney Green 'a f**king s**g' for speaking to new boy Jordan Wright. Furious: Myles came face-to-face with new boy Jordan, who made no secret of his desire to pursue Courtney Taking to Twitter, infuriated show watchers urged producers to take action against the stars for their behaviour towards their girlfriends, with many users lashing out at the stars for 'verbally abusing' their co-stars and calling for immediate suspension. At the time, MailOnline contacted representatives for TOWIE, Myles, James, Yazmin and Courtney for comment. One user commented: 'Oh @ITVBe @OnlyWayIsEssex shame on you to allow a young lady being filmed and having abuse thrown at her like that! You should have stepped in and he @JamesLock__ should be sacked!!! Disgusting from a tv show! #TOWIE.' Hitting out: Users commented: 'The way Myles look at his gf when she was crying. NOPE HUN. He needs to go. Pure distaste on his face. I would be devo if my husband ever looked at me that way KNOW YOUR F**KING WORTH, HUN!!!! #TOWIE' A different viewer put: '@OnlyWayIsEssex About time you sacked off @JamesLock__ awful just awful the way he spoke to those women.. #TOWIE.' While a different fan added: 'Lockie and Myles should sacked.' (sic) Following the demand, it seemed all was well with Yazmin and James as they were seen putting on a romantic display during an outing with their co-stars. She celebrated her 39th birthday on Wednesday with a number of gifts from her family and friends. But on Thursday, Kourtney Kardashian took to Instagram to share a post of her enjoying yet another getaway with her beau, Younes Bendjima. In the snap, the reality star is all smiles as she poses in a bed in an Airstream trailer. Scroll down for video 'Woke up in an airstream': Kourtney Kardashian shared her latest camping getaway on Instagram on Thursday Kourtney coyly lifts up the sheets over her face in another photo, as she wrote: 'Woke up in an airstream.' The brunette beauty looks flawless as she dons a white tank top and goes make-up free for the series of photos. In another post on her Instagram Story, the Algerian model is lying under the sheets in the trailer. Playing coy: In the snap, the reality star is all smiles as she poses in a bed in an Airstream trailer 'Sweet dreams': Kourtney Kardashian shared her glitzy sleeping quarters on her Instagram story while Younes was under the sheets 'Sweet dreams,' wrote Kourtney, as Younes also flashed a picture from under the sheets. The mother-of-three wasn't seen in the snap, but her 24-year-old beau looked to be shirtless. Younes also shared some videos of their getaway on his Instagram account, which let fans see their breathtaking view. In the videos, the fashion star showed off their sleeping quarters, which includes a bed inside of a silver trailer, but the vehicle opens up on to a large wooden balcony that overlooks the mountains. Streamlining: Younes shared a video of the couple's trailer which opened up to a wooden balcony with breathtaking views Picturesque: The video also showed mattresses and pillows on the mountainside for the couple to take in their landscape Staying mobile: The reality star showed that they moved around Outdoor space: Kourtney shared a picture of herself enjoying the view with mattresses Birthday cake: The birthday cake also posted an image of her Minnie Mouse birthday cake Kourtney is enjoying her latest getaway ahead of V Magazine debuting her sizzling photo shoot. Clearly excited, the reality star shared a sneak peek of the racy collaboration on Thursday. In the video, the brunette beauty shows off her sensational figure in a black leather bra and underwear, which is teamed up with a long black coat. The Keeping Up With The Kardashians star has her hair swept back and holds two light beams in the steamy clip. In another part of the video, Kourtney dons a burgundy top that displays her ample cleavage. Steamy: Kourtney posted a sneak peek of her V Magazine shoot on Thursday, captioning the post: 'Tomorrow' Fashion forward: The mother-of-three flaunted her sensational body in the video, wearing a leather bra and underwear under a black coat In the post shared with her 62.5 million followers, the entrepreneur wrote: 'Tomorrow.' Kourtney has had a lot to celebrate lately. On Wednesday, the star was showed with love and social media posts celebrating her 39th birthday. The doting mother celebrated with her three children - Mason, Penelope, and Reign -posting a video of Penelope presenting her with a sweet treat as her family sang her happy birthday. 'My kids made this for me,' she wrote in the caption of the sweet confection. Birthday best: On Wednesday, Kourtney celebrated her 39th birthday with her three kids - Mason, Penelope and Reign Her sisters also took to social media to send their well wishes. Kim Kardashian posted a sizzling throwback photo of them during their recent trip to Turks and Caicos. 'Happy Birthday to my friend Ive had the longest in my life! Wouldnt know what to do without you! Have the best birthday ever!!!! @kourtneykardash', she wrote. New mom Khloe shared a gushing post in honor of Kourtney and a slew of photos of them together. Best wishes: Kim Kardashian took to social media to say: 'Happy Birthday to my friend Ive had the longest in my life! Wouldnt know what to do without you! Have the best birthday ever!!!! @kourtneykardash' Sisterly bond: New mom Khloe also chimed in, writing: 'Happy birthday @kourtneykardash!!!! In any lifetime I would have found a way to have you in my life forever! I cant imagine life without you! Have the best birthday!! You deserve everything and more! Forever and always I love you!!!' 'Happy birthday @kourtneykardash!!!! In any lifetime I would have found a way to have you in my life forever! I cant imagine life without you! Have the best birthday!! You deserve everything and more! Forever and always I love you!!!' she raved. Her half-sister, Kylie Jenner, used the big day to announce she would be collaborating with the birthday girl for the latest in her cosmetics line - KOURT X KYLIE, complete with three eyeshadows and three lipkits. She added a caption on the shot reading: HAPPY BIRTHDAY TO THE QUEEN! so excited to announce the KOURT X KYLIE collaboration... Coming soon: On Kourtney's birthday, Kylie Jenner announced a new makeup collection that she worked on with her older sister 'this collection gives me so much lifeeeee! 3 mini palettes & 3 of Kourtneys signature lippies launching 4/24! collaborating with you was so much fun! I love you! 'Check out my stories to see our collab @kyliecosmetics p.s. we are both wearing one of her new shades RAD in this pic!' Kourtney meanwhile posted a solo snap from the shoot, with the caption: 'KOURT X KYLIE 4/24 I am so excited to announce my collaboration with @kyliejenner... 'We have been working on this for a year...3 mini eyeshadow palettes and 3 lips..I am wearing Matcha on my eyes and RAD on my lips. Happy Birthday to me!' She always manages to turn heads wherever she goes. And Georgia May Jagger ensured all eyes would be on her as she launched her new clothing collaboration on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris on Thursday. Dazzling in a glamorous maxi dress, the 26-year-old model was a vision of beauty to celebrate her Georgia May Jagger x Morgan capsule collection. Glamorous: Georgia May Jagger ensured all eyes would be on her as she launched her new clothing collaboration on the Champs-Elysees Avenue in Paris on Thursday Flashing some flesh whilst remaining demure, the blonde bombshell donned a floor length marble print gown with bust-baring and waist flashing cut outs. Injecting some colour into her ensemble, the Rimmel model donned a pair of vibrant orange heels that complemented the slick of lipstick on her plump pout. Georgia finished off the look by styling her glossy golden locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features. Flare she goes: Dazzling in a glamorous maxi dress, the 26-year-old model was a vision of beauty to celebrate her Georgia May Jagger x Morgan capsule collection Dazzling: Flashing some flesh whilst remaining demure, the blonde bombshell donned a floor length marble print gown with bust-baring and waist flashing cut outs Georgia was on her own for the presentation, not joined by her famous parents Mick and Bianca Jagger. The catwalk queen has been getting used to having a new Jagger to contend with, after her rocker dad welcomed his eighth child. Ballet dancer Melanie Hamrick, 30, welcomed a son Deveraux Octavian Basil Jagger - - Octavian means 'born eighth' in Latin - with the Rollings Stones legend in December 2016. Lippy lady! Injecting some colour into her ensemble, the Rimmel model donned a pair of vibrant orange heels that complemented the slick of lipstick on her plump pout Blonde bombshell! Georgia finished off the look by styling her glossy golden locks in loose waves that framed her pretty features Posing up a storm: Georgia was a vision of beauty as she posed for snappers in the crowd Loving life: The star was full of giggles as she chatted away with customers at the event Sensational: Georgia was a vision of beauty as she eyed up her latest collection in the store Sir Mick has a daughter, Karis Hunt Jagger, 46, from his relationship with Marsha Hunt and a daughter Jade Jagger, now 45, with his ex-wife Bianca. He had four children with his ex-partner Jerry Hall - Elizabeth, 32, James, 31, Georgia and Gabriel, 18. He also had a son, Lucas, 17, following a brief relationship with Brazilian model Luciana Gimenez. Yet, Basil was the first name of Sir Mick's late father, who died in 2006, although he was known to others as Joe. A statement released on behalf of the couple at the time of birth said: 'Melanie Hamrick and Mick Jagger's son was born today in New York and they are both delighted. 'Mick was at the hospital for the arrival. Mother and baby are doing well and we request that the media respect their privacy at this time.' A bundle of the freshest rhizomes I've ever seen is carelessly thrown on the counter of a Parap market stall. The Thai stallholder swiftly skin, de-seeds and slices brilliant orange paw paw before tossing the chunks into a plastic container and squeezing them with fresh lime. I'm struggling to identify some of the roots and point to one. "Turmeric," she says briefly, barely lifting her gaze from the task at hand. "No, not that one," I say, pointing to the thin orange stems next to the one I indicated, "This thick white one here, what's that?" "White turmeric," she snaps, obviously labelling me a rube, but she's right - I've never seen raw white turmeric before. As I exclaim over the freshness of the turmeric, ginger and galangal all laid out on the counter, the stallholder flashes a brief smile and asks me if I want to move to Darwin and help her "dig them out of the mud". While the turmeric is tempting, the thought of grubbing it up in the 33C heat is less so. Visitors to the Northern Territory aren't always there for the food, but that's changing. The Taste of Kakadu festival in May is encouraging visitors to experience local indigenous food and any foodie worth their pink Himalayan salt will be combining their trip with some time in Darwin, where the local markets are a must-visit. Parap kicks off at 8am every Saturday and its laksas are a central feature of the local food experience, accompanied by cool lassi, shakes and juices. While there are also fashions, lotions and souvenirs to be bought, these markets centre around the food. People meet and graze, stroll and brunch, all in a relaxed atmosphere surrounded by fabulous smells, chattering voices and of course, the relentless heat. There are plenty of seats to rest in the shade and consume the delicious purchases. Asian cuisine is everywhere, with Korean fried chicken, dumplings, savoury crepes, roti wraps and green paw paw salad in pick-your-own degrees of hotness all on offer. But there are also health foods, jams and Nutella pancakes (available in buckwheat for those avoiding gluten) to tempt your palate. My tip is to go with a friend (or two or three) so you can share your selections and also to ensure you scout all the stalls beforehand, as going solo meant I could only gaze at some of the delicious offerings, including the glutinous and brightly-coloured Thai sweets with coconut sugar. If you've overdone it on Friday night at one of Darwin's watering holes you could do worse than to start with a Detox Drink (watermelon, ginger, lime and ice blended together) or for those who need a caffeine kick to start the day, there is a coffee stall in the market and Campos coffee available nearby at Laneway Specialty Coffee. A warning for coffee snobs - Darwin's baristas can be a bit hit or miss. Do your research. For those keen to reduce their ecological footprint, most of the stallholders are happy to fill your own containers, and there are also loaner forks and knives at no charge from Parap Plastic Free. Another market worth visiting, especially for those who've chosen to stay in an apartment rather than a hotel, is at Rapid Creek on Sundays. Here the stalls are all about the fruit and vegetables, although there are still plenty of food stalls to tempt your palate. While there are plenty of selections just about anyone would recognise, I'm stumped by the June Plums, green-skinned ovals bigger than olives but much smaller than the stone fruit they're named for. The stallholder encourages me to bite in, and the tart white flesh is tangy and fresh, but a little bland. A quick check with Google reveals these are the unripe fruit, which when golden-yellow in colour have a pineapple-mango flavour. I'm scouring the stalls at Rapid Creek for a beer snack I've promised to bring home, and while the combination of fried anchovy and peanuts is nauseating to me, my husband was drooling when a friend mentioned it. After a quick text exchange with her, I locate it alongside my own snack, curly shards of fried pork rind seasoned with salt and chilli. Not that my husband will leave me much, so I buy a second bag. It's pushing time for me to head to the nearby airport so I struggle out of the crowds and fall into a blessedly air conditioned taxi, whose driver tells me I should also have taken in the Nightcliff markets today. Oh well, more markets to discover the next time I'm in Darwin. IF YOU GO GETTING THERE: Virgin, Jetstar and Qantas all fly into Darwin from around Australia daily with fares from Sydney beginning at about $A300 one-way. STAYING THERE: A range of accommodation is available in Darwin's CBD including the Vibe Hotel on the waterfront, with rooms from $A100 per night. PLAYING THERE: Around Darwin's Waterfront area you can splash in the Wave Lagoon from $A7 for adults and $A5 for children. There are many restaurants, including the spicy Vietnamese tastes at CHOW (www.chowdarwin.com.au/), and both food and local brews at the Precinct Tavern (https://www.theprecincttavern.com.au/). For more info on Darwin's markets and food scene, and for general tips, visit www.parapvillagemarkets.com.au/; https://rapidcreekmarkets.com.au/ and https://northernterritory.com The Taste of Kakadu festival runs from May 18-27 and details are available at: https://parksaustralia.gov.au/kakadu/taste/program/ The writer travelled to Darwin with assistance from Tourism NT, Kakadu Tourism and Parks Australia. A Queensland councillor who opened and photographed the mail of another councillor without permission has been fined more than $1000 and ordered to apologise. The Regional Conduct Review Panel upheld three allegations against Fraser Coast councillor Denis Chapman and fined him $1,261.50, and ordered him to apologise at the next council meeting, as well as undergo training so the misconduct isn't repeated. A Department of Local Government, Racing and Multicultural Affairs spokeswoman said on Thursday it had also been recommended Mr Chapman be monitored to ensure he doesn't breach the rules again. Notorious South Australian pedophile Shannon McCoole is harbouring more information about the abuse of children but is entitled to a reduced sentence for testifying against another offender in Europe, a judge has ruled. McCoole came before the District Court on Thursday where Judge Paul Rice cut two years from his minimum jail term, reducing it to 26 years. Judge Rice said McCoole's evidence in the Danish case was important but not decisive and his co-operation with authorities was not complete, particularly in relation to his own offending. "That does not reduce your discount but shows there are matters you still keep secret," the judge said. "No doubt you harbour a lot more information about the activities of others." But Judge Rice said McCoole had answered all the questions asked of him by the Danish court. McCoole was jailed in 2015 over his administration of a global child pornography network for abusing young children in his care and for the production and dissemination of child pornography. He was convicted on 18 state and two federal charges committed between 2011 and 2014, with one of his victims just 18 months old. The charges included persistent sexual exploitation of children, sexual intercourse with children and aggravated indecent assault. When police raided McCoole's home they found more than 53,000 child pornography images, with almost 600 related to his own abusive acts. Outside court on Thursday the father of one of his victims said McCoole should not have been given any discount. "He's got no remorse at all. He doesn't give a s*** basically. He was sitting there with a smile on his face," the father said. "I suggest to McCoole and any other person who has ever hurt a child to stand up and start thinking about the children and stop thinking about themselves. "These children live with a lifetime of hurt." In earlier submissions on McCoole's application for a reduced sentence, defence counsel Mark Griffin said his client had given evidence in the Danish case because he regarded it as "the right thing to do". Mr Griffin said it was a demonstration of McCoole's remorse for his offending. But prosecutor Ian Press argued that while McCoole had been willing to co-operate, that co-operation was "on his own terms". Northern Territory chief minister Michael Gunner says the removal of a ban on fracking should mean extra commonwealth funding, given the federal government is threatening to penalise states that don't develop their gas reserves. Mr Gunner has written to the prime minister, saying the NT government should benefit from an estimated $4.6 billion in tax revenue and $11.9 billion in real income from its onshore gas over 25 years. It was important the NT "harness the economic and social benefits" of a new gas industry to tackle significant, ongoing Aboriginal disadvantage in the NT, he told Malcolm Turnbull. The Gunner Labor government wishlist includes matching funding to implement the recommendations of the youth justice royal commission, the $1.1 billion remote housing program, the already-signed Darwin Cities infrastructure deal and regional royalties fund. "We've now made our decision, they haven't followed through so I think they're very good questions to direct to Australian government ministers," he told reporters. Federal Minister for Resources and Northern Australia Matt Canavan said on Thursday he agreed that the current GST allocation system for sharing the tax unfairly penalised states such as Queensland and WA that appropriately developed their resources. He repeated the view of other federal politicians, such as Finance Minister Mathias Cormann, that states which are locking up gas reserves, such as Victoria and NSW, should be penalised in terms of GST. However Mr Canavan stopped short of committing anything specific to the NT, saying the long-awaited decision to open up the Territory's vast gas reserves had just happened and was yet to create one job or one investment dollar. He said people should also be excited about cheap onshore natural gas and possibly oil sparking activity in other industries such as manufacturing and helping Australia's national security. "A lot of countries around the world are looking at investing in Darwin if this kicks off," Mr Canavan told Darwin's Mix FM radio. Former NSW premier Morris Iemma allegedly branded a Sydney councillor "corrupt" after being told he was part of an attempt to bribe the council's long-time boss. Pierre Azzi admitted to Mr Iemma he and fellow councillor Michael Hawatt had made an offer to Canterbury City's general manager to quit, a corruption inquiry heard on Thursday. The deal included a "gratuity payout" but hinged on general manager Jim Montague recommitting to the man they wanted - Spiro Stavis - as the council's new director of planning. Mr Montague initially appointed Mr Stavis despite concerns he lacked experience and against the advice of an external recruiter. But he later withdrew the offer. Incensed, Mr Azzi and Mr Hawatt visited the home of the then-mayor Brian Robson on Christmas Eve in 2014 to call an extraordinary general meeting to sack Mr Montague. Mr Robson on Thursday told the NSW Independent Commission Against Corruption he was "angry" and "disgusted" by the visit and told them to "f*** off". A few days later, the pair met with Mr Montague and said they would cancel the extraordinary meeting if he offered his resignation, the inquiry was told. "They also offered some financial incentives to sweeten the deal and he would have to hire Spiro," Mr Robson told ICAC. "It was above and beyond what was contractual." Mr Robson discussed the matter with Mr Iemma - whom he described as a close friend and neighbour - at the ex-premier's home. Mr Iemma advised him to report it to ICAC. The mayor said both he and Mr Montague had already attempted to do so. On January 6, 2015, Mr Iemma received a phone call from Mr Azzi, who allegedly admitted to making the offer to the general manager. Mr Iemma then rang Mr Robson. Council assisting the inquiry read out a written statement by Mr Robson in which he said:"I clearly recollect that Iemma said 'Azzi is a f***wit' during our conversation". "He said 'I told Azzi this was corrupt behaviour'." Asked if that was still his recollection, Mr Robson told the inquiry "yes". The inquiry heard that the two councillors later put the offer in an email to Mr Montague who rejected it. "My first reaction was that it was a totally crazy move for Hawatt," Mr Robson said. "You can only describe it as a 'gotcha' moment, where he was stupid enough to put possibly corrupt offers in paper." In his statement to ICAC, Mr Iemma said he could not recall if an offer, including a gratuity payout, was made to Mr Montague to resign but it would be "inappropriate" if it had been. The general manager eventually agreed in early February 2015 to honour the original offer of employment to Mr Stavis. ICAC is investigating allegations Mr Hawatt, Mr Azzi, Mr Stavis and Mr Montague dishonestly exercised their official functions. The inquiry continues. An HIV-positive Victorian former pig farmer who planned to travel to Thailand for "extremely depraved sexual activity" with a two-year-old child has been jailed. In early 2017, Howard John Hawke, 69, repeatedly phoned a woman in Thailand and talked about sexual activity with her toddler granddaughter. He asked the woman to whip the child before he arrived, as he liked "to see young ones hurt". The Kangaroo Flat man had two years earlier made a video of the woman's 16-year-old daughter in Thailand, in which he was shown whipping the naked, bound and screaming teenager who was wearing a dog collar. Hawke pleaded guilty to a raft of sex offences including possessing, producing and transmitting child abuse material, planning sexual activity with a child outside Australia, encouraging another person to engage in sexual activity with a child, procuring a child for sexual activity and indecent assault. However, he also argued his numerous phone calls to the Thai woman were mere phone sex "fantasy" and that he was just "a bit of a pervert". On Thursday in the County Court of Victoria, Judge Trevor Wraight said although Hawke may have been sexually gratified by the conversations they were not "mere fantasy". "They involved real people and involved a child you had already abused and her own daughter," Judge Wraight said. Hawke had transmitted three payments of $60 to the grandmother via Western Union and had also asked her to procure an eight-year-old child. "The conversations are very disturbing," Judge Wraight said. "Offences of this nature are difficult to detect and involve sexually motivated exploitation of children. Such conduct must be denounced by the court in clear terms." Hawke made $1 million selling his West Australian piggery in 2006, which he used to fund his retirement and travel extensively throughout South East Asia. When he was raided in March 2017 police found scores of child pornography images and videos on his electronic devices, including some in the most extreme category. His arrest also came just months after he had sexually assaulted an intellectually-disabled 23-year-old woman. Judge Wraight added Hawke had not shown any genuine remorse over and above his guilty plea. He was jailed for 10 years and three months, with a non-parole period of seven-and-a-half years. Tarata: Imagenes del atentado terrorista que acabo con la vida de 25 personas en 1992 https://t.co/fmfYd2FU0m pic.twitter.com/T34SMsdyqh A man has been tasered by police on a Sydney bus with the graphic footage shared on social media. The video, obtained by the Nine Network and shared on Twitter, shows a police officer on Thursday afternoon asking a 37-year-old male passenger to get off the bus, but the man resists, prompting the officer to draw his Taser. Passengers are seen moving away as the man screams while police try to detain him. The officers were performing stationary random breath tests on Anzac Parade at Moore Park on Thursday afternoon when the bus stopped nearby and the driver signalled for police assistance, a NSW Police spokesman told AAP. Police were told the man allegedly assaulted two other bus passengers and when they attempted to speak to him, he refused to co-operate and resisted police, the spokesman said. He was tasered after allegedly assaulting a police officer. The 37-year-old has been arrested and taken to Surry Hills Police Station. The RSPCA has raided four Queensland properties allegedly linked to dog fighting rings and has seized more than 50 dogs allegedly used for fighting. RSPCA Queensland inspectors and Queensland Police searched two properties in Logan, one in Redlands and one near Richmond in northwest Queensland in relation to the alleged dog fighting rings, the RSPCA said in a statement on Thursday. A total of 56 dogs were seized including several which the RSPCA held welfare concerns for and are now under the care of the animal authority. Several items related to dog fighting such as treadmills and breaking sticks were also allegedly seized. Queensland Police has confirmed its involvement in the operation which the RSPCA is calling the "first major breakthrough" in 10 years. A patch of burnt grassland off Victoria's Great Ocean Road will be searched for clues over the execution of a young Melbourne man. It follows a burn-off conducted in grassland at Eastern View Beach on Thursday, more than 150km from where 22-year-old Muhamed Yucel was shot in the chest in May last year. The young man was killed while playing computer games in a Keysborough garage, in southeast Melbourne, in what police believed was a case of mistaken identity linked to bikies. The firearm used in the shooting was later found in grassland around Eastern View Beach, where thick vegetation and undergrowth was burnt away ahead of a scheduled police search on Friday. "It's clear that the firearm used to kill Muhamed has been discarded at this location," Detective Inspector Tim Day told ABC radio on Thursday. "So we work on the assumption or we ask ourselves the question, 'has anything else been dumped at this location?'" The area was searched previously but detectives wanted to double-check they did not miss anything. They said a a Toyota Corolla was spotted in the area the day after the May 2 shooting, and believed its occupants discarded the used firearm in the scrub. Another vehicle, a dark-coloured Jeep Cherokee, was thought to be involved in the shooting. "We believe it to have been a case of mistaken identity and the shots were fired by a gunman at the wrong property on the street," Insp Day said. Ten helicopters and a Challenger jet will continue searching central Queensland for a 78-year-old pilot and his gyrocopter which have been missing for more than 24 hours. The search will resume at first light on Friday and will focus on an area south of Baffle Creek, after an unconfirmed sighting was reported to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority by a member of the public on Thursday. The aircraft left the Booyan Airstrip north of Bundaberg around 1.45pm on Wednesday and was due to arrive at a Farnborough property near Yeppoon that afternoon. The gyrocopter was reported missing to the Australian Maritime Safety Authority on Wednesday night and a search began. Queensland Police will conduct a ground search of the area south of Baffle Creek on Friday. AMSA is urging anyone who may have seen or heard the gyrocopter between 1pm and 6pm on Wednesday, between Bundaberg and Yeppoon, to contact 1800 815 257. Barnaby Joyce says banks misled the government to avoid a royal commission, admitting he was wrong to oppose the inquiry. The former deputy prime minister also believes the banking royal commission has produced enough damning evidence for the Turnbull government to act before the final findings are handed down. Mr Joyce said he formed the view an inquiry wasn't needed based on advice from banks. "The weight of evidence is they have (misled the government)," the Nationals MP told ABC radio. "The information that they have so readily at their availability right now - that is being delivered as evidence - was not delivered to us before." Mr Joyce said there had been enough concerning evidence of deep cultural issues within the sector for the government to act. "I don't think you can wait to sit on this," he said. "You have to say 'OK, well I think I've got enough to make my decision and we'll make the changes required'." Commonwealth Bank of Australia has been under the spotlight, with the commission hearing one of its units had been extracting fees from dead people, in one case, for more than a decade. The horrifying revelation comes after the inquiry heard earlier this week that wealth manager AMP had charged clients for advice they never received and repeatedly lied to the corporate watchdog. Mr Joyce said institutions had breached the faith of the Australian people. "It wasn't a case of a couple rogue employees or a couple of rogue agents," Mr Joyce said. "What seems to be coming to light is that there is a culture of 'well if we can get away with it, we can get away it'. "That takes it to a completely different level." Treasurer Scott Morrison has warned the "despicable behaviour" recently uncovered by the royal commission carries jail sentences under federal law. Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman and New Zealand Prime Minister Jacinda Ardern have made Time's list of 2018's 100 most influential people alongside an eclectic group including US President Donald Trump, North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, soon-to-be member of the British royal family Meghan Markle and Black Panther's Chadwick Boseman. Time describes its list as not a measure of power or past achievements but a gauge of "individuals whose time, in our estimation, is now". The publication also asked an equally high-powered group to write brief stories about its top 100, with former US president Barack Obama penning a tribute to the Parkland, Florida high school students who suddenly became the vanguard for gun control in America. "They see the NRA and its allies - whether mealy-mouthed politicians or mendacious commentators peddling conspiracy theories - as mere shills for those who make money selling weapons of war to whoever can pay," Obama wrote. Naomi Watts wrote the blurb accompanying her longtime friend and fellow Australian actress Kidman. "Dead Calm was released in 1989," Watts wrote. "Big Little Lies was released in 2017. "In the interim, Nicole Kidman has never once left our consciousness. And even after decades, she continues to break new ground." Jackman's Les Miserables co-star Anne Hathaway described the Australian actor as "deeply egoless". "I've never stopped and analysed why I love Hugh Jackman," Hathaway wrote. "For me, it's like loving chocolate or puppies or rainbows: effortless." Facebook chief operating officer Sheryl Sandberg detailed Ardern's rise from political prodigy to the youngest female prime minister in the world. "In a world that too often tells women to stay small, keep quiet - and that we can't have both motherhood and a career - Jacinda Ardern proves how wrong and outdated those notions of womanhood are," Sandberg wrote. "She's not just leading a country. "She's changing the game. "And women and girls around the world will be the better for it." Actress Priyanka Chopra described her friend Markle as a "strong, free spirit" who "found her prince, fell in love and in turn made a cynical world believe in fairy tales again". Markle and Prince Harry, who also made the list, will wed next month. It seemed to be another disaster in the making, a counter-attack launched at short notice at night across unfamiliar ground against an entrenched enemy force armed to the teeth with machine guns. Yet Australian troops overcame these odds to achieve one of the truly significant victories of their four years of war on the Western Front. This was at Villers-Bretonneux, a town in north-western France seized by German forces at the high point of their 1918 Spring Offensive, then speedily recaptured by Australian troops in some of the most brutal fighting of a savage war. Villers-Bretonneux is now home to the main Australian Memorial of the Western Front - since the victory there was, after all, a notable triumph and achieved at modest cost by Great War standards. It also happened on the third anniversary of Anzac Day, in 1918. This impressive stone memorial stemmed from a design competition open only to veterans and families. It was built in 1936 and 1937 and opened in 1938, just in time for the next great war. The Australian National Memorial displays the names of almost 11,000 Australians killed in France who have no known grave. Close by is the new Sir John Monash visitor interpretive centre, explaining Australia's role in the events of 1918, certainly the only time when Australian forces have contributed significantly to victory against the main enemy on the main battleground in a global conflict. It is due to be officially opened just before the centenary of the battle this Anzac Day. It is also due to host the main Australian commemoration marking 100 years since Armistice Day on November 11. The Aussie victory at Villers-Bretonneux was all the more notable as it followed appalling losses in fighting in the battle of Passchendaele in Belgium the previous year. By the time the five battered Australian divisions withdrew from the line in November 1917, they had suffered 38,000 casualties, including 12,000 dead, and there were doubts they could ever again be a significant fighting force. Yet they did recover. Following Passchendaele, the Australians had been recuperating and rebuilding in the relatively quiet area around Messines in French Flanders when the Germans launched their offensive on March 21. This proved devastating. Supported by massed artillery fire and poison gas, German shock troops overwhelmed thinly spread British forces in days, pushing them steadily back from territory seized at such enormous cost during the previous three years. But this was really Germany's last throw of the dice - to try and win the war before American troops arrived by using forces released from the Eastern Front after Russia withdrew from the fighting. The front was quickly in crisis and Australian troops marched south to plug gaps in the defences. For the Germans, capturing Villers-Bretonneux would open the way to Amiens, an important road and rail hub. The town was fought over for much of April but finally fell to a strong German attack on a weak British division at dawn on April 24. That attack involved four infantry divisions, massed artillery fire, poison gas and Germany's first use of tanks. They couldn't be allowed to stay and a counter-attack, involving some British but mostly Australian troops, was organised, so hurriedly that official correspondent Charles Bean believed it would fail disastrously. Yet it succeeded so spectacularly that British Brigadier General George Grogan VC described it as perhaps the greatest individual feat of the war. Two Australian units - the 13th Brigade of the 4th Division and the 15th Brigade of the 5th division - were set the main task of retaking Villers-Bretonneux, now well defended by large numbers of entrenched German troops with machine guns. They kicked off at 10pm and, battling intense enemy fire, encircled the town in a pincer movement. They then set about clearing after dawn on April 25. The attack was so ferocious that initially few German prisoners were taken. Australian War Memorial senior historian Ashley Ekins said this was ruthless and bloody battle, fought with rifle, bayonet and bombs up close and personal, with no quarter given. In his official history, Bean quotes some of the participants as follows: "With a ferocious roar and the cry of 'into the bastards boys' we were down on them before the Boche realised what had happened. "The Boche was at our mercy. They screamed for mercy but there were too many machine-guns about to show them any consideration as we were moving forward. "Each man was in his glee and old scores were wiped out two or three times over." Bean wrote that later, as the men tired of killing, prisoners came back in droves. This victory wasn't achieved without significant casualties - 1464 dead and wounded - but it established the Australians as a premier fighting force on the Western Front. Allied commanders heaped praise on the diggers and historian Joan Beaumont said that with such accolades Villers-Bretonneux rapidly assumed a central place in Australian memories of the war in France. "More than nine decades later it remains a, possibly the, dominant (Australian) site of commemoration of the Western Front, overshadowing even Pozieres and Fromelles," she wrote in her history of Australians in the Great War "Broken Nation." Malcolm Turnbull called the banking royal commission "regrettable" when it was set up, but now he's cracking down on dodgy bankers after shocking revelations of financial crime. The commission on Thursday heard the Commonwealth Bank had been extracting fees from dead people, in one case for more than a decade. The horrifying revelation comes after the inquiry heard earlier this week that wealth manager AMP charged clients for advice they never received and repeatedly lied to the corporate watchdog. Treasurer Scott Morrison warned the "despicable behaviour" carries jail sentences under federal law, while Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer on Friday revealed significantly higher penalties for companies and individuals who break the laws. Dodgy bankers and insurers could get a decade in jail and millions of dollars in fines, with big companies potentially fined 10 per cent of their annual turnover. "This is work that has been ongoing for some time. We have taken the view that it's important for the government to get on with the job of financial reform," Mr Turnbull told reporters in London on the sidelines of the CHOGM meeting. "We've strengthened ASIC, we've introduced one tranche of stronger financial regulation legislation after another to protect consumers. "All of that work will be informed by the work of the royal commission and we'll look forward to the completion of that inquiry." Opposition Leader Bill Shorten wants Mr Turnbull to apologise for opposing a royal commission for two years. "Even when he finally relented and allowed it to go ahead, Mr Turnbull called the royal commission 'regrettable'," Mr Shorten told AAP. "The only thing 'regrettable' about all of this is that this disgraceful behaviour has gone on for so long and that this royal commission didn't start sooner." Mr Turnbull said the commission was set up with broad terms of reference to go further than what Labor and the Greens had originally called for. "The commissioner is undertaking his work and I think we should allow that work to continue," Mr Turnbull said. Finance Minister Mathias Cormann is open to extending the inquiry beyond its current deadline, which is to provide a final report by February 1 next year, if commissioner Justice Kenneth Hayne wants more time. The United Kingdom has shown "real interest" in joining Australia in the Trans-Pacific Partnership once Brexit is finalised. Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull said the UK has had preliminary discussions about joining the 11-nation free trade deal. "You can see the attraction of it to the UK, because if they were to join the TPP they would be entering into a high quality trade agreement with 11 other countries in one hit," he told reporters in London on Thursday local time. "Of course it would have to be negotiated with all those 11 other countries, including Australia. "But nonetheless, it is impressive I think to see the strong interest shown by the UK." Mr Turnbull said the UK has announced three new diplomatic postings in the Pacific, and joining the TPP would be another way to spread its influence in the region after it leaves the European Union. United States President Donald Trump also had talks with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe this week and he dangled the prospect to joining the TPP after he pulled out of it. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal I can't refuse on behalf of the US I would do it," Mr Trump told reporters after two days of talks with Mr Abe. "I like bilateral deals." Mr Abe, a main architect of the revived TPP with Australia, on Wednesday emphasised Japan's preference the US joined TPP. "Our country's position is TPP is the best for both of the countries and based on that position we shall be dealing with the talks," Mr Abe said. Malcolm Turnbull wants an Australian republic, but still supports staying in the Commonwealth under future monarch Prince Charles. Leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London are expected on Friday to confirm the Prince of Wales will take over as head of the organisation after the death of Queen Elizabeth. "Australia, as you know, strongly supports the continuation of the king or queen of the United Kingdom as the head of the Commonwealth," Mr Turnbull told reporters in London on Thursday. "Prince Charles in time will succeed his mother." While Mr Turnbull once led the campaign for Australia to become a republic, he said there was no inconsistency with wanting a British monarch to run the Commonwealth. "Most countries in the Commonwealth are in fact republics," he said. Instead he said there was strong support for the ceremonial role Queen Elizabeth has played as head of the Commonwealth since 1952. "She's provided that leadership for nearly 70 years, it has been remarkable," he said. "Spanning so many decades, so many leaders, so many chapters of history. "The head of the Commonwealth, which is a ceremonial role, a role of honour rather than one of political authority, that role I think should continue, and this is the very widespread view, with the Queen's successor." The Queen used her speech at the official opening of the meeting on Thursday to ask leaders to recommend Charles for the CHOGM leadership. WHAT THE NATIONAL ENERGY GUARANTEE PROMISES: The battle cry of the federal government has been that the guarantee will deliver cleaner, cheaper and more reliable power for Australians. It also brings Australia's energy and climate policies together for the first time. HOW IT WILL WORK: * It would legislate a 26 per cent by 2030 emissions reduction target for the electricity sector to be reviewed every five years. * States and territories wouldn't be stopped from having their own more ambitious emissions targets, but they won't change the national target. * It's technology neutral so there won't be subsidies or incentives for renewables, but also not for coal. * Retailers would be required to buy a share of their electricity from "dispatchable" sources - generation from coal, gas, batteries and pumped hydro - that can be controlled to balance supply and demand. * It also proposes to allow retailers to use external offsets to meet their emissions guarantees. * The states and territories have so far only received a highly technical design document from the Energy Security Board and another from the federal government. A more detailed framework isn't expected until July. WHAT HOUSEHOLDS WILL SAVE * Household power bills could be reduced by around $120 a year between 2020 and 2030, according to the Energy Security Board. WHEN WILL IT START: * The reliability guarantee is due to be implemented in 2019 and the emissions target would replace the Renewable Energy Target from 2020. WHAT'S NEXT: * The country's energy ministers will meet in Melbourne on Friday to debate the changes they want. * The next opportunity for sign-off is an Energy Council meeting in August, which is the deadline Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg has given to allow federal parliament to pass legislation by the end of the year. US President Donald Trump plans to hold a summit meeting with North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un within the next two months US President Donald Trump voiced hope Wednesday that North and South Korea, technically still at war, can pave the way to a lasting peace at a series of upcoming summits. Trump made the comments amid a flurry of diplomatic activity that has fuelled hopes of a major breakthrough in the standoff with Pyongyang. "We hope to see the day when the whole Korean peninsula can live together in safety, prosperity and peace," the US president told a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. "As I've said before, there is a bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearization in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way," Trump said. "It will be a great day for them and a great day for the world," added Trump, who is planning to meet North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in the next two months. Earlier Wednesday, the US leader confirmed a clandestine meeting had already taken place between his CIA chief and the North's reclusive leader. News of the talks between Kim and Mike Pompeo, Trump's pick to be the next secretary of state, comes with hopes riding high on a pair of upcoming and potentially historic summits. Kim is expected to meet South Korea's President Moon Jae-in next week for landmark talks at which discussion of a formal peace declaration is now on the cards. Trump's talks with Kim would then follow. Trump earlier said that the inter-Korean summit could, with his "blessing," explore a peace treaty to formally end the conflict. But reaching any final treaty would be fraught with complications: while the US-led United Nations command, China and North Korea are signatories to the decades-old armistice, South Korea is not. "This is the destiny of the Korean people who deserve and have gone through so much over the years," the president said, as he reiterated his hope for a lasting peace agreement. "We hope it all works out. We'll be trying very hard." Trump and Kim have not yet spoken directly, the White House said, but the president revealed Tuesday that there had been contact at "very high levels" to prepare for the historic meeting -- an apparent reference to Pompeo's visit. US officials say that no decision has yet been made on a meeting venue, but China, North Korea, South Korea, and Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone are seen as possible locations. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has thanked his US host Donald Trump for his pledge of support as Tokoyo seeks to bring home from North Korea citizens abducted in the 1970s and 1980s US President Donald Trump said Wednesday he would work to help Tokyo bring home from North Korea Japanese citizens who were abducted in the 1970s and 1980s to help Pyongyang train its spies. Trump, who was addressing reporters with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his side, said: "We will work very hard on that issue and we will work hard to try and bring those folks back -- very, very hard." The issue sours already strained relations between Japan and North Korea, and Abe often wears a blue ribbon to remind himself of their abduction. As he headed to the United States earlier this week, the Japanese premier said the abduction issue would be high on his agenda -- and at Wednesday's press conference, he thanked Trump profusely for his support on the matter. In 2002, North Korea admitted to the kidnapping of 13 Japanese civilians, dating back to the 1970s, but Tokyo believes the true number to be higher. The Japanese government has officially listed 17 people as abductees, but there are strong suspicions that dozens more citizens were snatched to train Pyongyang's spies in the Japanese language and culture. Japanese police have said there are 800 missing people for whom the possibility of being kidnapped by the hermit state cannot be ruled out. Under an agreement brokered in Stockholm in May 2014, North Korea undertook to reinvestigate all abductions of Japanese citizens in what appeared to be a significant breakthrough. But there has been almost no progress since then, as relations between the North and the international community deteriorated amid a protracted crisis over Pyongyang's nuclear and ballistic missile programs. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has faced pressure from US President Donald Trump for fairer trade Facing US pressure, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that Tokyo was ready to begin talks about "trade deals" with the United States, but was careful not to commit to a bilateral deal. After rising demands for fairer trade from his US host President Donald Trump, Abe said "we have agreed to start talks for free, fair and reciprocal trade deals." But he would not be drawn on whether that path would lead to a US-Japan pact, or a broader trans-Pacific pact, which Trump currently opposes. Abe said aides would discuss possible solutions and report back, buying some time to bring Trump back on side with the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership -- a regional agreement inked by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. Trump would like to see a bilateral deal that is likely to much more sharply target sensitive political issues for Tokyo -- including access to agricultural and auto markets. And Trump notably did not exempt Japan from steel and aluminum tariffs, as he did for Washington's other allies and partners. On aluminum, Abe insisted: "Japan's steel and aluminum industries are contributing massively to US industries and jobs, without being a threat to US security." The US president has repeatedly seen trade as a zero-sum game, with trade deficits -- like the $60-plus billion deficit with Japan -- being bad and trade surpluses being good. Skeptical of multilateral institutions and agreements, the Republican businessman-turned-president has preferred a trade strategy of divide and conquer, although that has yet to bear fruit. "The media has not covered the TPP correctly," Trump complained, standing next to Abe after their talks in Florida. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse on behalf of the United States, I would do it." "But I like bilateral better. I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers and I much would prefer a bilateral deal." Abe meanwhile said: "We think the TPP is best for Japan and the US, and we'll have talks with this idea in mind." - 'Free, fair and reciprocal' - For months, Abe has repelled Trump's demands to start bilateral talks, but the dispute spilled into public earlier Wednesday. US President Donald Trump and Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe take part in a working lunch at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida During an earlier sit-down meeting, Trump issued a blunt face-to-face challenge to Abe in full view of the cameras, demanding more favorable terms on trade. "As the prime minister knows, they have done very well with the United States. We have a very big deficit," Trump said as they sat across the table from each other at Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. Insisting the "relationship is a very good one," Trump nonetheless broke with the usual diplomatic niceties, urging Abe do more to make trade "free, fair and reciprocal." "We have a massive deficit with Japan," he said, pointing to passenger plane and fighter jet orders that could plug the gap before railing about unfair practices. "The word 'reciprocal' is that when you have a car come in, we charge you a tax. When we have a car go through Japan, which aren't allowed to go there, we have to take down the barriers and we have to pay the same tax," Trump said. "But that goes for other countries too," he said, vowing to "weed" the deficit down. The blunt talk will appeal to Trump's domestic political base, which was promised a better economic deal and a tougher "America First" stance under his administration. "This is a very exciting meeting for me, because I like this maybe the best. I love the world of finance and the world of economics, and probably, it's where I do the best," Trump said, playing up his business credentials. But his comments may have made for an uneasy moment for the visiting leader and ally. Abe is struggling with languishing approval ratings and, while keen to stress a good relationship with Trump, must avoid being seen as a lap dog. Stripy and Jake are bear cubs fed by bottle, who frisk around happily. Other bear orphans perch in the trees when Ben Kilham ventures into their enclosure. Meet the American bear whisperer, who lives in the woods of New Hampshire and whose life work is understanding black bears, winning him not just international stature but greater insight into humankind. From the bear photos and paintings on the wall, to the three little wooden bears bidding visitors 'welcome' at the entrance, everything in his renovated barn home exudes his passion. So does the nearby, three-hectare (7.5-acre) enclosure, where he cares for orphan cubs entrusted to him each year by the New Hampshire fish and game department. With their mothers perhaps shot dead or knocked down by a car, the six-foot-four (1.93 meter) Kilham makes sure they grow up safe and well, before releasing them back into the wild aged 18 months. Independent Wildlife Biologist Ben Kilham talks about black bears at his home on March 29, 2018 in Lyme, New Hampshire. Kilham, with help from his sister Phoebe and his wife Debbie, takes in orphaned bear cubs until they're old enough to fend for themselves Kilham takes in orphaned bear cubs until they are old enough to fend for themselves A black bear roams the property of wildlife biologist Ben Kilham in Lyme, New Hampshire In addition he observes adult bears in the wild, including Squirty, who is now 22 years old and has had 11 litters. His dedication to black bears -- the most common in North America with a population of around 750,000 -- has made him such an expert that China asked for his help with the giant panda, a collaboration that inspired the recently released documentary 'Pandas.' After a quarter of a century of study, Kilham has no doubt that bears are as close to humans as great apes, even if as he says, apes 'were our closest genetic relative.' He quickly realized that female bears were capable, like humans, of 'reciprocal altruism' -- or in other words looking after each other for the greater good. Squirty provided early proof of that. Shortly after releasing her into the wild, Kilham says another wild female false-charged him in a bid to protect Squirty, despite never having seen her before. After a quarter of a century of study, Kilham has no doubt that bears are as close to humans as great apes, even if as he says, apes 'were our closest genetic relative' - 'Reciprocal altruism' - 'I was like 'Wow, what's going on?'' the 65-year-old recalls. 'She is unrelated! That's pure altruism!' he explains. 'She is taking a huge risk, encountering a human which is her greatest foe, to defend unrelated cubs from me.' Since then, Squirty has shared her resources with this wild female, and shows more aggression toward her own family members than she does from this unrelated female, he says. These are parallels that many scientists are still reluctant to draw, convinced that man is more capable than animal. 'We are learning more and more,' says Kilham. 'Language is probably the one thing that has brought humans where we are.' But if language has allowed humans to develop to such an extent, Kilham also believes it has corrupted their behavior. 'Squirty takes in real information,' he says. Bears 'learn first-hand information and experience,' he says. 'Whereas humans, we are all over the place. The quality of information as soon as the word came out became disruptive. There is air in almost everything we read. It is especially prevalent today with the internet and fake news.' Kilham says he is fascinated by the impact of language on human behavior, especially since he discovered -- at age 40 -- that he was dyslexic. - Revenge of a dyslexic - Wildlife biologist Kilham has released 165 bears back into the wild over the past 25 years Dyslexia lay at the heart of his difficulties at school and, for a long time prevented him from pursuing graduate studies in wildlife that he had dreamt of since childhood. He grew up surrounded by animals collected by his virologist father. He studied birds and for a while the family even kept a baby crocodile, brought back from a year in Uganda, in a shower in the basement. After working as a gunsmith, Kilham's dream took off when the department of fish and game -- tipped off to his interest by a biologist friend -- entrusted him with the first bear cubs, opening the way to the first bear rehab center in New Hampshire. Twenty-five years later, Kilham has released 165 bears back into the wild and documented more than 1,500 bear interactions in nature. His work led recently to a PhD in environmental sciences, not bad for someone not great at school, whose work has been looked down on by the scientific community. He has enjoyed quite the following nonetheless, thanks to articles in National Geographic and the popularity of his book, 'Among the Bears,' which came out in 2002. His commitment is to raising awareness about bears, still feared and hunted in the United States. Around 10-15 percent of New Hampshire's 5,000 to 6,000 bears are killed every year in hunting season. 'Bears are not interested in people. Zero,' he says. 'They are afraid of us.' Despite advice to the contrary everywhere, people still leave food out or fail to secure chicken coops, attracting an animal that needs to fatten up before hibernation and again in early spring. In human-bear situations, the bear is always the loser. 'We can live very easily with bears, it's a matter of educating the public,' says Kilham. 'Unfortunately educating the public is like herding cats. They don't take in information very well.' UNAIDS head Michel Sidibe has been criticised for his handling of sexual assault claims against a former top official in the organisation It started with sexual assault allegations against a male UNAIDS executive and a heavily-criticised internal investigation that exonerated the accused. Now the crisis involving accusations against former deputy executive director Luiz Loures has spread, raising pressure on the overall head of the organisation. Michel Sidibe, a Malian national who took charge of UNAIDS in 2009, is under fire from current and former colleagues as well as civil society groups, who have raised questions about his leadership. He faces allegations of sheltering powerful men accused of wrongdoing, including Loures, whom two women have publicly accused of sexual assault. The AIDS Healthcare Foundation (AHF), the world's largest HIV/AIDS organisation, has called for Sidibe's resignation and said that without substantive reform, UNAIDS should be disbanded. "He sits on his throne in Geneva... and is not accountable to anyone," AHF president Michael Weinstein told AFP. "He wants everything to be adulation." UNAIDS did not answer a detailed set of questions submitted by AFP. In an email, agency spokeswoman Sophie Barton-Knott noted that Sidibe had put in place a "five point plan to prevent and address all forms of harassment within UNAIDS". The plan is one of several initiatives launched by the UN, including a new hotline, to address sexual harassment amid the global #metoo movement. - Death threats and promotions - Loures left the agency last month. Luiz Loures left UNAIDS after two women accused him of sexual assault As well as the two women to accuse him publicly, others have spoken anonymously about him to multiple media outlets. AFP is not aware of any legal proceedings under way in support of any of the accusations. One accuser is Malayah Harper, who worked at the agency for a decade and is now the general secretary of the World Young Women's Christian Association. In an interview with AFP in Geneva, she said the problems extended far beyond Loures. "It comes down to leadership and what you allow to happen, which sets the culture of the organisation," said Harper, who held country director posts in Africa as well as a senior headquarters role. She became visibly distressed as she recounted an ordeal in an African country during which a male colleague bullied and intimidated her and other women, including publicly and by using sexually-demeaning language. She said she informed senior management and the head of Sidibe's executive office about the situation but received "no answer" or action. Then, Harper said, the individual threatened to kill her, which triggered a UNAIDS internal investigation and increased security at her residence. "It essentially takes someone saying they've taken a contract out to kill you for a response," Harper told AFP. She said she never saw the outcome of the probe and that the individual was transferred and promoted to a country director position elsewhere on the continent. "Whether it's bullying and intimidation or sexual harassment... I can think of many cases where women have raised alarm, but I can't think of a single case where any action was taken," Harper said. "To change the culture of an organisation, it's not enough to say you have zero tolerance. You have to prove you have zero tolerance." She added, however, that she does not support calls for UNAIDS to be closed as she believes "very strongly" in its mandate. - Taking the 'high road'? - The other woman to publicly accuse Loures of assault is Martina Brostrom, who remains a UNAIDS employee on medical leave. Critics doubt the sincerity of Sidibe's commitment to reform UNAIDS and prevent further harassment cases The World Health Organization's Office of Internal Oversight Services (IOS) investigated the alleged 2015 assault and cleared Loures, but the probe has been severely criticised by civil society groups and legal experts. Brostrom told CNN that after she filed a complaint against Loures, Sidibe waged "a moral and professional assault" against her. Her case was made public by the campaign group Code Blue. The group has published a recording of Sidibe's comments during a staff meeting after Loures' resignation during which he appeared to suggest that whistleblowers lack "ethics". Sidibe promised staff his "full commitment to zero tolerance for any kind of harassment and abuse", but activists have questioned his sincerity. Code Blue said that if UNAIDS was serious about reform, it could start with an honest reckoning of the Loures case. Instead, the agency has provided arguably misleading information about Loures' reasons for departure. In announcing the resignation, UNAIDS communications director Mahesh Mahalingam praised Loures' "distinguished service" and categorically denied the departure was linked to the allegations. Mahalingam said that Loures decided it was time "to move on". But Sidibe, in the staff meeting, tied the resignation to Brostrom's allegations. Loures took the "high road" so UNAIDS would not be "taken hostage by public opinion courts", Sidibe said, praising Loures' "courageous decision". - Reform? - Sidibe has called for an independent panel to provide reform recommendations. But even the UN's top official in Geneva has conceded that reform can be tricky at the United Nations. "We have an organisation where the word accountability sometimes disappears from the vocabulary," the director-general of the UN's Geneva office, Michael Moller, told reporters, in comments that were not specific to any agency. Code Blue has called for all sexual harassment investigations to be handled externally and adjudicated by people with no stake in the UN system, a proposal Moller backed. But AHF's Weinstein said Sidibe cannot lead a reform effort. In a statement, he said Sidibe had damaged UNAIDS' reputation and is "incapable of leading it". Unless the agency "undergoes a comprehensive restructuring and leadership transition, it should be disbanded", he added. Three South African civil society groups -- TAC, Section27 and Sonke Gender Justice -- have also called for an independent probe focused on Sidibe's role in the Loures case. Most of the young people arriving in Iraq's only coastal oil province hoped to secure high-paying jobs with foreign companies From his small home nestled alongside train tracks in the southern Iraqi province of Basra, Sultan Nayef looks out at plumes of smoke billowing across an expanse of oil fields. Like thousands of others, the unemployed 25-year-old moved to oil-rich Basra in the hope of finding work in the energy industry, Iraq's primary source of wealth. Instead, he and many others like him live in cramped and chaotic shanty towns in a province already suffering from a lack of infrastructure. Absent of any urban planning or public services, Basra's informal settlements are an anarchic clutter of breeze-block homes and ad-hoc electricity wires. "All we get from oil is pollution," said Sultan who, along with his four brothers, still relies on his parents for living expenses. A small stone wall is the only thing keeping cows and sheep grazing in a grassy field behind him from wandering into oil fields where burning gas flares emit thick black smoke. Most of the young people arriving in Iraq's only coastal oil province hoped to secure high-paying jobs with foreign companies. "But most companies import their employees from abroad," said Nayef, a resident of the Zoubeir district south of Basra city. At least 18 percent of Iraqi youth are unemployed, with rates even higher among college graduates. - 'Can't buy a centimetre' - According to the UN, Iraq's oil sector accounts for 65 percent of the country's gross domestic product but only one percent of its labour force. Even for those who work, buying a home is often only a dream. "My husband is a civil servant, but with his salary we can't even buy a centimetre of land," said Umm Ahmed. Even though they are against "the idea of squatting", she and her family were forced to build a makeshift home on government land. The municipality has already destroyed their home once. Informal housing settlements are flourishing in Iraq's oil-rich province of Basra "We had to completely rebuild it," the 48-year-old told AFP, her face framed by a long black veil. Local authorities say the land belongs to the state, denouncing the illegal structures and the theft of water and electricity. The last study on Basra's informal settlements was completed in 2014, just a few months before the Islamic State jihadist group swept across Iraq seizing nearly a third of the country. At the time, there were more than 48,500 informal homes in the province, said Zahra al-Jebari, head of urban planning at Basra's provincial council. Today "there are many more, but there is no figure," she told AFP. - Illegal construction - Many internal refugees displaced by IS fled to Basra, untouched by the jihadist takeover, often finding homes in shanty towns. Nearly 10 percent of Iraqis live in informal settlements, one fifth of them in Basra, according to the ministry of planning. The only other province hit harder by illegal construction is Baghdad. Nearly 10 percent of Iraqis live in informal settlements, one fifth of them in Basra, according to the ministry of planning Basra authorities say they lose money every time a home is built illegally, as Baghdad bases provincial budgets on the number of officially registered residents. Taxes in informal settlements are also left unpaid, said Jebari, adding the budget deficit was acutely felt in "allocations to education, health and other services". For Wissam Maher, it feels like authorities are "only interested in destroying our homes". "We live under power lines without any services," said the 32-year-old metal worker. "This area is huge and it doesn't belong to anyone," he said, pointing down a narrow sandy street lined with ramshackle houses and abandoned cars. China announces it will impose temporary anti-dumping measures on synthetic rubber imported from the United States, the European Union and Singapore China announced on Thursday it would impose temporary anti-dumping measures on synthetic rubber imported from the United States, the European Union and Singapore. The case could stoke the simmering tit-for-tat trade tiff between Beijing and Washington, with each side having made threats of more duties on billions of dollars worth of goods. China's commerce ministry repeated that the two sides were not negotiating on the issue -- appearing to contradict US President Donald Trump's claim last week that the two sides were having "great discussions" on trade. "The two sides have not conducted any bilateral negotiations on the US's section 301 investigation or the US's proposed list of Chinese products to tax," ministry spokesman Gao Feng told a regular press briefing. The US section 301 investigation focuses on what Washington describes as Beijing's intellectual property breaches, including a failure to respect foreign patent holders. When asked if China had underestimated the Trump administration's resolve on trade, Gao shot back: "We hope the US will not underestimate China's resolve." He warned that Beijing would fight back against any "erroneous scheme" by the US that would attempt to "contain China's development and force China to yield". "On the surface the US's actions are targeting China, but actually it is harming itself," Gao said. The anti-dumping measures on rubber come after an initial investigation by China's commerce ministry found evidence the countries were dumping the halo-isobutene-isoprene rubber. Importers were directed to place deposits with China's customs department ranging in amount from 26 percent to 66.5 percent of the goods' cost -- to be applied against the imposed tariffs if the ministry finds dumping in its final ruling. The dumping did "substantial damage" to China's domestic industry, the commerce ministry said in a statement. The US and Singapore are China's main foreign sources of the synthetic rubber, with imports from the two countries respectively totalling $153 million and $115 million last year. It follows a similar case from Tuesday when China decided to slap provisional anti-dumping duties on imports of US sorghum. A picture taken on October 20, 2017, shows Islamic State group slogans on a wall in the Syrian town of Mayadeen The Islamic State group launched a surprise attack near a town in eastern Syria they had lost six months ago, killing at least 25 regime forces, a monitor said Thursday. At least 13 jihadists were also killed in the attack which IS carried out near Mayadeen on Wednesday afternoon, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. Mayadeen lies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the western bank of the Euphrates River and is flanked by the vast Badia desert to its west and south. A military source on Thursday however denied any attack against positions of the Syrian army along the western bank of the Euphrates. But intermittent bombardment on army positions from its eastern bank had prompted retaliation with suitable weapons, the source said. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, control most of the territory to the east of the Euphrates, where a few villages are still under IS control. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said Thursday morning "IS attempts to advance in the direction of the town of Mayadeen are ongoing" from the Badia desert. He said it was the "largest IS attack since they were expelled from the town" by regime forces and their allies in October 2017. IS swept across large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in areas they controlled. At its height their pseudo state covered an area the size of Italy, but IS has since lost most of it to a Russia-backed regime assault and a US-backed SDF offensive. IS now control around five percent of Syria, according to Syria expert Fabrice Balanche. But the jihadists have retained their ability to carry out deadly attacks. They hold pockets in Deir Ezzor and are present in the southern districts of the capital. Since regaining full control of Eastern Ghouta to the northeast of Damascus from rebels last week, the regime has turned its attention to jihadist-held districts in the capital's south. More than 350,000 people have been killed since Syria's war started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. Police have recovered the Nigerian Senate's ceremonial mace from under a flyover after it was stolen by a group of men who burst into the chamber. Video shows the moment the mace was snatched by one of the group, who lifted its above his head in triumph as he made his way out of the senate, with what appears to be three officials in suits pursuing him. In the footage, a group of men can then be seen bursting out of the doors of the chamber and heading outside the building. A group of intruders got into the Senate chamber and made their way to the mace One of the intruders then grabs the mace and begins to make off with it The man then lifts the mace above his head in triumph as he makes his way out of the chamber What appear to be officials giving chase to the group of men who stole the mace Senate officials chasing the men who stole the mace across the concourse of the National Assembly Ovie Omo-Agege, a senator from the oil-rich southern Delta state who allegedly led the intruders into the upper chamber was arrested for questioning on Wednesday but was later released after denying his involvement. Omo-Agege is a senator who was suspended last week after a disagreement with other lawmakers. Seizing the mace has been a long-established tactic to express discontent with proceedings in the Senate and the lower House of Representatives, as well as state legislatures. The Senate described the theft in the capital Abuja as an 'act of treason' and gave police 24 hours to retrieve the mace. Nigeria' National Assembly cannot convene without the mace, the three-foot long metal rod traditionally carried by the Senate speaker upon entering and leaving the chamber. A man running out of the National Assembly holding the mace, which was later recovered under a flyover An official trying to wrestle the mace off one of the intruders. The Nigerian Senate described the theft of the ceremonial mace as an 'act of treason'. A giant statue of a fist holding a golden mace stands outside the parliament building, making it one of Nigeria's most potent government symbols. Deputy police spokesman Aremu Adeniran said a massive search operation was launched, forcing the suspects to abandon the mace under an Abuja flyover, 'where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the police'. He said an investigation into the theft was ongoing. 'Today, some hoodlums led by suspended senator Ovie Omo-Agege walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the upper legislative chamber, the mace,' said Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, spokesman for the upper house, in a statement. 'This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such. 'All security agencies must stand on the side of due process and immediately mobilize their personnel to retrieve the mace and apprehend the mastermind and the perpetrators of this act.' In 2000, then-Senate speaker Cuba Okadigbo allegedly removed the mace from the chamber and took it to his hometown in a dispute with his deputy over when to resume parliament after recess Malema, known for his fiery rhetoric, founded the radical leftist EFF after being kicked out of the ruling party A South African lobby group said Thursday that it plans to privately prosecute opposition leader Julius Malema for alleged corruption linked to a multi-million-dollar government contract. Malema, the outspoken founder of the Economic Freedom Fighters (EFF) party, was accused of fraud, money-laundering and racketeering over $4.4-million government contract in 2009 when he was still head of the ruling ANC party's youth league. The case was dropped in August 2015 after three years of delay. But AfriForum, a campaign group which advocates for its largely white membership, vowed to launch a private prosecution. Both EFF and AfriForum style themselves as anti-corruption fighters waging a battle against graft that has tainted the African National Congress (ANC) party that has ruled since the end of apartheid. "We are planning to prosecute Mr Julius Malema on charges of corruption and fraud," said Kallie Kriel, AfriForum's head. "If somebody portrays themselves as somebody that's fighting for the poor... (and) goes ahead and steals taxpayers money, we believe such a person should be held accountable." Malema immediately said he welcomed a court battle. "Bring it on bloody racists, you don't scare me at all. I'm born ready! No white man will decide my destiny," he tweeted. Malema founded the radical leftist EFF after he was expelled from the ANC in 2012. His party now has the third largest number of lawmakers in parliament. A Bahraini demonstrator walks through teargas fired by security forces during clashes following a demonstration against the government in the village of Sitra, south of Manama, on January 1, 2016 A Bahrain court sentenced 24 Shiite citizens to prison and stripped them of their nationality after finding them guilty of forming a "terrorist group", a Bahraini judicial source said Thursday. Other charges included travelling to Iraq and Iran for "weapons and explosives training" and attempted murder of police officers. The High Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced 10 of the defendants to life in prison, 10 to a decade behind bars and the other four to jail terms ranging from three to five years. The Sunni-ruled, Shiite-majority kingdom has stripped hundreds of its citizens of their nationality and jailed dozens of high-profile activists and religious clerics since protests demanding an elected government erupted in early 2011. The Bahraini government has accused Shiite Iran of backing the protests and attempting to overthrow the government. Tehran denies involvement. Authorities on Wednesday also referred to trial seven Bahrainis accused of attacking an oil pipeline to Saudi Arabia in November. That trial is set for May 10. The blast cut off the pipeline linking Bahrain's Bapco refinery with oil giant Aramco's main pumping station in neighbouring Saudi Arabia's Dhahran province. Manama in February said it had arrested four men suspected of attacking the pipeline, accusing Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran of training and arming two of them, which Tehran denied. Under Bahrain's citizenship law, amended after political protests broke out in 2011, the authorities can revoke the nationality of individuals who engage in acts deemed "disloyal" to the state. Human Rights Watch in February accused the kingdom of "stripping away the citizenships of people whom they find undesirable". Bahrain earlier this year deported eight people to war-torn Iraq after revoking their citizenship and making them stateless. A Libyan official points at oil onboard a tanker seized off the coastal city of Zuwara for fuel smuggling, on April 29, 2017 Fuel smuggling is costing Libya more than $750 million each year and harming its economy and society, the head of the National Oil Company in the conflict-riddled country said. "The impact of fuel smuggling is destroying the fabric of the country," NOC president Mustafa Sanalla said according to the text of a speech delivered on Wednesday at a conference on oil and fuel theft in Geneva. "The fuel smugglers and thieves have permeated not only the militias which control much of Libya, but also the fuel distribution companies which are supposed to bring cheap fuel to Libyan citizens," he said. "The huge sums of money available from smuggling have corrupted large parts of Libyan society," he added. The backbone of the North African country's economy, Libya's oil sector collapsed in the wake of the 2011 NATO-backed uprising that toppled longtime dictator Moamer Kadhafi. Before the revolt Libya, with estimated oil reserves of 48 billion barrels, used to produce 1.6 million barrels per day (bpd). But output fell to less than 500,000 bpd between 2014 and 2016 due to violence around production facilities and export terminals as rival militias fought for control of Africa's largest crude reserves. No oil was exported from Libya's main ports until September 2016 with the reopening of the Ras Lanuf terminal in the country's so-called oil crescent. The recovery of oil production and exports is key to restoring Libya's moribund economy. Sanalla urged Libya's "friends, neighbours but above all the Libyan people themselves... to do everything they can... to eradicate the scourge of fuel theft and fuel smuggling". A member of the Afghan security forces keeps watch near the site of a recent attack by Taliban militants Five people kidnapped from a voter registration centre in a largely Taliban-controlled area of Afghanistan were freed on Thursday, officials said. Gunmen attacked the facility in the central province of Ghor on Tuesday, abducting three employees of the Independent Election Commission and two policemen. Provincial police spokesman Iqbal Nizami blamed the Taliban for the attack -- the first on a voter registration centre since the process began last Saturday. Local elders negotiated with the Taliban for the release of the hostages, Nizami told AFP, adding "no ransom was paid". Provincial IEC chief Fazlullah Jalali confirmed the employees and police had been released. Voter registration in the area will resume only after security officials give the green light, he said. The attack underscored concerns about security in the lead-up to the war-torn country's long-delayed legislative elections scheduled for October 20. Afghanistan last weekend began registering voters as it seeks to ensure that the parliamentary and district council elections -- which are a test-run for the presidential poll next year -- are seen as credible and fraud-free. In an operation that will last for two months, authorities hope to register up to 14 million adults at more than 7,000 polling centres -- an ambitious goal in a country where militants control or contest much of the territory. President Ghani on Thursday urged religious leaders to use Friday prayers to encourage worshippers to register. He also called on provincial governors to tell their employees to register themselves and family members. Guinea-Bissau has been in the grip of a power struggle since August 2015, when President Jose Mario Vaz sacked his then prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira Guinea-Bissau lawmakers met for the first time in nearly two years on Thursday, voting to extend their mandate until November elections in a key step towards ending a long-running political crisis in the poor West African country. The former Portuguese colony has been in the grip of a power struggle since August 2015, when President Jose Mario Vaz sacked his then prime minister Domingos Simoes Pereira. Vaz has since nominated several prime ministers yet he failed to gain the support of political parties. But this week he appointed Aristide Gomes as premier, whom he described as a "consensus" candidate. Gomes is tasked with leading Guinea-Bissau, one of the world's poorest countries, until the legislative elections, set for November 18. The MPs, whose mandate was to have expired next Monday, also elected Jose Pedro Sambu to head the electoral commission. The parliamentary session was held amid tight security and with an impassioned call for a return to normalcy in a country which has also been wracked by coups. "We must now bury the hatchet and turn towards the future. We must work for the well-being of our people who have suffered. We must turn towards the future. Enough is enough!" said parliament speaker Cipriano Cassama ahead of the session. UN chief Antonio Guterres had on Tuesday urged the government to quickly form an inclusive government and reopen parliament in line with an accord brokered in October by the ECOWAS West African regional bloc. Timeline of the Iran nuclear deal About 500 lawmakers from Germany, France and Britain on Thursday urged the US Congress to support the Iran nuclear deal which President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon. "It is the US's and Europe's interest to prevent nuclear proliferation in a volatile region and to maintain the transatlantic partnership as a reliable and credible driving force of world politics," the MPs wrote. The MPs from the parliaments of the three European signatory countries said the landmark 2015 deal was a "major diplomatic breakthrough" that had halted the imminent threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. "We were able to impose unprecedented scrutiny on the Iranian nuclear programme, dismantle most of their nuclear enrichment facilities and drastically diminish the danger of a nuclear arms race," they wrote. "Not a drop of blood was spilt." Scrapping the agreement would result "in another source of devastating conflict in the Middle East and beyond," they warned in an open letter published in several newspapers. Trump has derided the deal as a capitulation to Tehran and has declared it no longer is in the US interest to maintain the sanctions relief his predecessor Barack Obama granted Iran in return for controls on its nuclear programme. He has demanded that US lawmakers and European allies fix "disastrous flaws" in the deal or face a US exit, possibly as early as next month. The MPs warned that ending the deal would spell "lasting damage to our credibility as international partners in negotiation, and more generally, to diplomacy as a tool to achieve peace and ensure security." French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will both travel to Washington next week on separate official visits, in part to lobby Trump on the Iran issue. A Bajau diver of Indonesia hunts underwater using a traditional spear in this photo provided by researcher Melissa Llardo Researchers have discovered the first evidence that people can genetically adapt to deep diving, as shown by the unusually large spleens in indigenous people of Indonesia known as the "Sea Nomads," a study said Thursday. The spear-fishing Bajau people regularly free-dive to depths of up to 230 feet (70 meters), with only weights and a wooden mask. They spend up to 60 percent of their work day diving for fish, spearing octopus and gathering crustaceans -- an amount of time rivaled only by sea otters -- and can stay underwater up to 13 minutes at a time, said the report in the journal Cell. Intrigued by this unusual ability, American researcher Melissa Ilardo, then a post doctoral candidate at the Centre for GeoGenetics at the University of Copenhagen, wondered if they had genetically adapted somehow to be able to spend more time underwater than other people. She spent several months in Jaya Bakti, Indonesia, with the help of a translator, getting to know the Bajau and another nearby group that did not dive, the Saluan. "I spent my whole first visit to Jaya Bakti introducing myself, the project, and the underlying science," she told AFP. "I wanted to be sure that they understood exactly what I was asking of them so they could help to direct the project to reflect their interests. They were very curious and excited about the research." Before her second visit, she learned some Indonesian in order to be able to communicate directly with the Bajau. - Scans and gene tests - She took genetic samples and did ultrasound scans, which showed that Bajau had spleens about 50 percent larger than the Saluan. Spleens are important in diving -- and are also enlarged in some seals -- because they release more oxygen into the blood when the body is under stress, or a person is holding their breath underwater. Spleens were larger in the Balau people whether they were regular divers or not, and further analysis of their DNA revealed why. Comparing the genomes of the Bajau to two different populations, the Saluan and the Han Chinese, scientists found 25 sites that differed significantly. Among them was one site on a gene known as PDE10A, which was determined to be linked to the Bajau's larger spleen size. In mice, "PDE10A is known for regulating a thyroid hormone that controls spleen size, lending support for the idea that the Bajau might have evolved the spleen size necessary to sustain their long and frequent dives,' said the study. More research is needed to understand how thyroid hormone affects human spleen size. The findings could boost research in medicine by helping researchers understand how the body reacts to a loss of oxygen in various contexts, from diving to high-latitude climbing to surgery and lung disease. "This really tells us how valuable and important indigenous populations are around the world that are living extreme lifestyles," said co-author Eske Willerslev, a professor at the University of Copenhagen. Willerslev admitted he initially urged Ilardo not to pursue the research for her PhD thesis, believing it was too risky and that she may find nothing. "She said she wanted to do it anyway and that paid off. Melissa was right and our concerns were wrong." Ilardo said she was aware of the risks but "believed so strongly in this project," that she had to push on. "The Bajau and other Sea Nomads are simply extraordinary and I wanted to be able to prove that to the world," said Ilardo, now a US National Institutes of Health postdoctoral scholar at the department of Molecular Medicine at the University of Utah. Chuck Hatt Burns Park principal by Eve Silberman From the April, 2018 issue No matter the weather, Burns Park Elementary School principal Chuck Hatt is outside every morning to welcome his students. Treading carefully on ice patches, I try to keep up with him on a February morning after a heavy snowfall. Hatt, sixty-two, has owlish glasses and a wisp of a beard. As the kids arrive, he greets them all by name, teasingly asking several "Are you sorry it's not a snow day?" The buses that bring children from other neighborhoods used to unload in the school's parking lot. When Hatt became principal five years ago, he moved the drop-off point to Wells St. Now the bus riders walk to school through Burns Park, like everyone else, "and it's really a connection," says parent Laurel Schroeder. That seemingly small detail, she says, exemplifies how Hatt "makes it feel like everyone's school." When Hatt gets to his office on the second floor of the stately, 100-year-old building, a young boy is waiting for the principal--and bawling. As I step away, I hear Hatt say soothingly, "Do you want to take the little [stuffed] puppy dog with you? That could be arranged." While they talk, I listen to a P.A. announcement that ends with a problem for the kids to ponder: How many teeth did a woolly mammoth have? When the boy exits, looking calmer, Hatt hurries off too. It's National Reading Month, and he's volunteered to be a "mystery reader" in a second-grade class. We pass walls of student art and postings of some intriguing assignments. (Asked to "write a future letter to yourself," one child prints, "I hope I can write the alphabet in cursive," and "I hope I have lots of new friends.") In the classroom, Hatt reads from The Ice Horse, a historical story about harvesting ice on the Hudson River. He stops often to ask questions, and when the same four or five children keep raising their hands, he has the students pair off to discuss their answers ...continued below... with one another."Kids in the class who are introverts have equal intellectual capacity," he explains, but aren't comfortable speaking in front of the entire group. The pairings make sure everyone gets a chance to talk--and "language is the creation of thought."Burns Park is one of the district's wealthiest schools, but some 15 percent of the kids qualify for free lunches. It is also ethnically diverse: 11 percent Asian, 9 percent each biracial and African American, and 6 percent Hispanic."A good school understands that we don't sort students into 'good' and 'bad' learners," Hatt says. The tensions of teaching the have-nots with the have-lots are real and complex, but he believes that "children have a tendency to grow into the intellectual life that surrounds them."---Hatt previously taught at Pattengill and Bryant, then was the district's literacy coordinator for a dozen years. He says he applied for the principal's job, his first, because he wanted to "work directly with teachers, children, and parents on a day-to-day basis."Nestled in a tree-lined neighborhood popular with U-M faculty, Burns Park has long been a jewel of the Ann Arbor district. Its famously active PTO has stepped in when funding falls short. A couple of years ago, it spent $37,000 to buy more Chromebooks and iPads, and it makes sure that no child misses a special activity because of cost. The Burns Park Players' popular musicals, performed mainly by school parents and students, are another honeypot. And the school tries to make the kids aware and proud of the school's long history--helped by children who are second or third generation "Penguins" (the school mascot).But, Hatt points out, all that history has a downside. "What do you do with a 100-year-old building whose plumbing needs to be replaced, whose electricity needs to be replaced?" he asks, adding that the school board will have some tough decisions to make. The aging infrastructure takes on added urgency because the school's enrollment has jumped during Hatt's tenure from 390 to 535 today, with most of the new faces in the new "Young Fives" program for pre-K children. To accommodate everyone, Burns Park had to bring in portable classrooms, which no one likes. "It's hard to imagine a way to expand," says Schroeder.And there's the shadow cast by the recent school shooting in Florida. On March 14, when older students in Ann Arbor walked out to support curbs on gun violence, Hatt and the Burns Park community decided to emphasize the school's self-definition as a community of kindness He gave every teacher the picture book What Does It Mean to Be Kind? by Rana DiOrio to read aloud. Everyone was encouraged to wear Burns Park T-shirts to emphasize that they are part of a caring community.---The son of a Baptist preacher father and an English teacher mother, Hatt heard a lot about kindness and fairness growing up. The family moved around often because of his dad's job; Hatt spent his kindergarten year in an otherwise all-black class in Chicago. He sometimes asks Burns Park kids if they can identify him in the class picture--and they "never say, 'You were the only Caucasian,'" he says. "They say 'You have big ears.'"He graduated from high school in Allen Park in 1974--and then flunked out of Central Michigan. He partied a lot, he admits, and "I went to each class once or twice. I wasn't ready."He wound up in Houston, where he met his wife, Vickie Stern Hatt, through a religious group. He got a B.A. in history from the University of Houston, later adding an M.A. in English and elementary education from EMU.Hatt sometimes wakes up at night worrying about a school issue. But on the job, "he's unfailingly outgoing, friendly, and responsive," says Burns Park dad Bill Zirinsky. He adds it's "very satisfying" to have a principal "who is enjoying himself as much as he is."---The Hatts--Vickie is now retired after her own teaching career in Taylor--have four grown sons: Chuck III, Brendan, and Nathan Hatt, and Michael Bun, a survivor of the Cambodian "killing fields" who joined the family at age twelve. Bun now lives in Oakland County and has four children; the other boys, who all live in Ann Arbor, have given them two more grandkids, with a third expected in May.When he was young, Hatt "wanted to be an Episcopal priest, but at that time we had too many white males, [so the church said], 'No thanks.' That was a good call on their part."Instead, Hatt tried a sales job in Houston. "Not very happily," he recalls. "I was supposed to be selling exotic metals and steels and bolting materials to the nuclear industry. I found out from that that you have to have a passion for what you're selling."He's found that passion in teaching. "I can sell you on reading books," he says. "I can sell you on public education." [Originally published in April, 2018.] Palestinian and Arab Israeli protesters wave Palestinian flags as they march for the right of return for Palestinian refugees who fled their homes or were expelled during the 1948 war that accompanied the creation of the state of Israel Thousands of Israeli Arabs rallied Thursday near the northern city of Haifa in a protest on the 70th anniversary of Israeli statehood, seen by Palestinians as a catastrophe, or Nakba in Arabic. Under the slogan "Your Independence Day is the day of our Nakba," they gathered in the town of Atlit, about 12 kilometres (seven miles) south of Haifa. Palestinians say that the 174 residents of an Arab village at the site were forced out by Israel in the war that accompanied its foundation in 1948, leaving only an Islamic cemetery. An Israeli town of the same name now stands there. Demonstrators carried Palestinian flags and called for the right of refugees to return to the homes that their families fled or were expelled from in 1948. Demonstrators said they would not give up the refugees' "right of return". The United Nations supported that right in a 1948 resolution, but it has never been implemented. "I am an Arab and I want to preserve my culture and identity regardless of the name of the country," said 21-year-old Wassal Kanana. Israel says an influx of millions of Palestinian refugees and their descendants to their historic homeland would destroy the concept of a Jewish state, which was established on May 14. On Thursday, Israel celebrated the anniversary of Israel's founding according to the Hebrew calendar. Israeli warplanes staged aerial displays over Haifa and other major cities. Arab Israelis are descendants of Palestinians who remained on their land following the creation of Israel. Today they account for some 17.5 percent of Israel's population and complain of discrimination, especially in the areas of jobs and housing. President Joao Lourenco promised an "economic miracle" in Angola after the nation was badly hit by the drop in oil prices Angola on Thursday passed a law scrapping rules that previously forced foreign investors to partner with local firms, as President Joao Lourenco tries to revive the oil-dependant economy. Lourenco has vowed to pull in foreign investment after he succeeded Jose Eduardo dos Santos, who had ruled Angola for 38 years, in September. The new law ended a minimum investment level of 50 million kwanza (180,000 euros, $230,000), and the requirement that at least 35 percent of the capital had to come from Angolan partners. "The law effectively eliminates the obligation on national citizens participating" in private investment, Finance Minister Pedro Luis da Fonseca told lawmakers. The law was passed unanimously by parliament with the backing of opposition parties. Lourenco promised an "economic miracle" in Angola after the nation was badly hit by the drop in oil prices. During the country's oil boom, Dos Santos was accused of corruption and enriching a small elite, including his own family, while millions of Angolans remained in dire poverty. Lourenco, a veteran of the ruling MPLA party and previously a loyal minister under Dos Santos, has moved to tackle state corruption and nepotism since taking over. Former first lady Barbara Bush (L), shown here in 1990 with Raisa Gorbachev, the wife of Soviet President Mikhail Gorbachev, had an utter lack of pretense that some US lawmakers acknowledge is lacking in Washington today In an era of hyper-partisan feuding and noxious personal attacks, the life and lengthy marriage of former first lady Barbara Bush serve as poignant reminders in power-obsessed Washington that decency and grace can win out. Bush's death Tuesday at age 92 triggered an outpouring of affection for the snowy-haired matriarch of one of America's storied political dynasties. Smart, tough and quick-witted, Bush had a no-frills style, a focus on family, and a willingness to engage across the political aisle that endeared her to millions. And her 73-year marriage to George H.W. Bush -- the longest presidential marriage in US history -- only heightened her reputation as a fiercely loyal and honest partner in a city full of two-faced politicians. Politics has always been a brutal game in Washington. But Bush, the wife and mother of two Republican presidents, exemplified a comity that has steadily evaporated in the posturing, intense partisanship and even name-calling that has come to dominate the US capital. "It's important for people to reflect on the dignity, civility and grace that she brought to public life," said John Cornyn, the Senate's number two Republican and one of several senior lawmakers who discussed Bush's legacy with AFP. "I know today we think everything's a food fight, and there don't seem to be any sort of prevailing standards when it comes to public life. And that's really our loss," he added. "So it is reassuring to remember that there are people like her and her husband and that family who really set a very high standard, and one that I think we should aspire to." Today's discourse in Washington often fails to clear such a high bar. President Donald Trump himself launches attacks on Twitter, using slurs to demean opponents or critics. Lawmakers routinely lob their own verbal hand grenades at Trump and one another. Senate Democrat Patrick Leahy, who has served in the chamber since George H.W. Bush was US ambassador to China in 1975, often opposed Bush policy -- but said the quality of character in the Bush White House shone through. "Both my wife and I think the world of them," he said. "A lot of people like to talk about family values and all that, and don't practice it," he said of today's politicians. "They practice it." - 'Tribalism' - After leaving the White House, Barbara Bush aimed to downplay the differences between Democrats and Republicans, telling National Public Radio in 1994 that party platforms "should be very broad-based and inclusive, not exclusive." A longtime Bush friend, former congresswoman Connie Morella, said Barbara's "unpretentious" nature, candid but diplomatic approach, willingness to compromise and mutual respect are missing in today's Congress. "It's like tribalism right now," Morella, who was picked by George W. Bush in 2003 to be US envoy to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said in an interview Thursday. "They don't know each other, so there's not a chance for them to respect each other." Morella, now 87 and an ambassador in residence at American University, said Bush "is a reminder to all of us, members of Congress and voters, that this is what we admire and want." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who entered Congress when Barbara Bush's husband was president, said the late first lady "brought dignity, civility, and spirit -- we all know that -- to everything she did." Bush's civility would likely clash with much of today's abrasive, even caustic, tone in Washington. Retiring Republican Senator Bob Corker, who has been the target of wicked Trump tweet storms in the past, fondly recalled a visit by George and Barbara Bush to his Tennessee home in 2000. "There was no fanfare, a lot of humility.... There was just no airs," he said. But can that approach succeed in today's overheated, partisan Washington? "Oh gosh yeah," Corker said. "John Doe" is the only known American alleged "foreign fighter" currently being held in Iraq or Syria A judge in Washington was expected to rule Thursday on whether the US government can hand over a US-Saudi dual citizen who allegedly supported the Islamic State group to Riyadh, rather than try him in US courts. In a test case on how Donald Trump's administration will deal with American "foreign fighters" for the jihadist group, federal judge Tanya Chutkan has until around 8:00 pm (0000 GMT Friday) to decide whether or not to block the transfer of the unnamed man, now held by US forces in Iraq for seven months. Dubbed "John Doe" in court documents, the man was detained in Syria last September and has been interrogated by US military and FBI officials, who have labelled him an "enemy combatant." He was transferred to Iraq shortly after his arrest. But they have not accused him of fighting for the Islamic State, and he has not been charged by the Department of Justice or the US military with any crime. On Monday, the Justice Department gave a required 72-hour notice saying they planned to hand him over to an unnamed country, which has agreed to accept him. Though the country has not been officially identified, multiple court document references point to Saudi Arabia, and lawyers for both sides have not disputed media reports naming the country. Lawyers from the American Civil Liberties Union, which is representing the man, asked the court Wednesday to block the transfer, and demanded that he be charged under US law or freed. "Forcibly rendering him to another country would be an unconscionable violation of his constitutional rights," said ACLU attorney Jonathan Hafetz. - American 'foreign fighter' - "John Doe" is the only known American alleged "foreign fighter" currently being held in Iraq or Syria, and his case has posed a challenge for the administration of Trump, who has pledged to be tougher on Americans who support designated terror groups like IS or Al-Qaeda. The government could have a hard time proving in a US court that the citizen had joined the IS group, and could face questions about whether his rights were violated when he was interrogated. But the decision to hand him over to Riyadh raised tougher questions of his rights in a court hearing Thursday. The government maintains that handing him to Saudi Arabia is important for bilateral relations. Chutkan compared the planned move to the legally questionable CIA "renditions" of alleged Al-Qaeda detainees in the early 2000s to the US military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba after the 9/11 attacks. "John Doe is a US citizen and that cannot be emphasized enough," she said. "They have had seven months to charge him and they have not." "He is being forcibly taken from US custody and given to the custody of a foreign country" without being charged with anything by either government, she added. A picture released on Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's Facebook page shows a foreign affairs official giving France's Legion d'Honneur Grand Croix award to a representative from the embassy of Romania, which represents French interests in Syria Syria returned to France the prestigious Legion d'Honneur it gave to President Bashar al-Assad, saying Thursday he would not wear the award of a "slave" to America. Assad was decorated with the Legion's highest rank of Grand Croix, or Great Cross, by former president Jacques Chirac in 2001, shortly after taking power following the death of his father Hafez al-Assad. The office of French President Emmanuel Macron said on Monday that "a disciplinary procedure for withdrawing the Legion d'Honneur (Legion of Honour) is underway". Syria said it had returned the award after France took part in air strikes at the weekend against regime targets over an alleged chemical weapons attack. "The ministry of foreign affairs... has returned to the French republic... the decoration of the Grand Croix of the Legion d'Honneur awarded to President Assad," said the Syrian foreign ministry. It said in a statement that the award was returned to France via the Romanian embassy in Damascus, which represents French interests in Syria. A source close to the presidency, quoted in the statement, said the decision comes after the "participation of France in the tripartite aggression alongside the United States and the United Kingdom against Syria on April 14". "It is no honour for President Assad to wear a decoration attributed by a slave country and follower of the United States that supports terrorists," the statement said. France grants the Legion d'Honneur to around 3,000 people a year, including 400 foreigners recognised for their "services rendered to France" or for defending human rights, press freedom or other causes. Assad has been accused of a series of chemical attacks on his own people during the brutal civil war which has torn Syria apart since 2011. He has become a pariah for Western powers while maintaining the support of Russian President Vladimir Putin, whose military intervention in the conflict gave Assad the upper hand against rebel opposition groups. Putin himself is also a recipient of the Legion's Grand Croix, decorated by Chirac in 2006. It is not the first time Macron has stripped a foreigner of France's highest honour, having moved to withdraw the award from Hollywood mogul Harvey Weinstein after a series of accusations of sexual harassment and rape. Philadelphia's police chief Richard Ross, widely criticized over the arrest of two black men at a Starbucks, now says his force needs to do better Philadelphia's police chief publicly apologized Thursday after the arrest of two black men in a Starbucks store triggered uproar in the United States, admitting he "failed miserably" with his initial response. After the coffee chain moved to repair the damage to its image in the wake of a series of protests at Starbucks outlets, the city's police commissioner Richard Ross told reporters his force also needed to do better. "It starts at the top and that starts with me," Ross, who is himself African-American, told a press conference in the East Coast city. "Messaging is important and I failed miserably in this regard. It is obvious the issue of race is indicative of a larger problem in our society and I should not at all be the person that is a party to making anything worse relative to race relations." Ross was widely criticized after he initially said his "officers did absolutely nothing wrong" during the arrests which followed a 911 call from a Starbucks worker who said the men were trespassing, after refusing to buy anything. Police said officers had "politely" asked Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson to leave before finally arresting them. They reportedly asked first to use the bathroom, but were told it was only for paying customers. A video, which went viral after being posted on social media by a customer, showed several uniformed police officers questioning and then handcuffing the pair despite offering no resistance. Ross said he himself had "to do better" and that his force now had new policy guidelines over how to deal with a similar situation in the future. "Previously we did not have such a policy... but we have a policy now," he said. "I'm not going into it at this point in time but we will be pushing that out at a later date." Speaking for the first time about the arrest, Nelson told the ABC network on Thursday that he and Robinson had never been given a chance to explain themselves when the police arrived in the downtown store last Thursday. "As soon as the officers approached us, they said we have to leave. There was no question of 'was there a problem here between you and the manager (or) what happened?'" The two men's lawyer Lauren Wimmer has told a CBS affiliate in Philadelphia that they had been waiting for a third man to arrive for a business meeting. The chain's CEO Kevin Johnson has already apologized and has ordered that all Starbucks stores and corporate offices across the United States close for an afternoon next month to conduct "racial-bias education." Pittsburgh Post-Gazette A frayed safety net More than a quarter of the hospitals in the Pittsburgh area closed in the first decade of the 21s century, drastically reducing the amount of charitable care available to the poor. The failure of the remaining hospitals to provide adequate care to low-income patients and the inability of free and government-funded clinics to fill the gap has left the region's health safety net badly frayed. Wells Fargo is close to paying $1 billion to settle a US probe over its risk management policies in another blow to the banking giant, US media reported on Thursday. The settlement, which could come as soon as Friday, would cover problems uncovered in the mortgage and auto lending businesses, according to The Wall Street Journal, which cited people familiar with the matter. The New York Times and The Washington Post also reported that a $1 billion settlement was close at hand. Wells Fargo itself said last Friday in its earnings press release that regulators from the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and Office of the Comptroller of the Currency have proposed $1billion in penalties to resolve the investigations but that there was not yet a final resolution. Wells Fargo is close to paying $1 billion to settle a US probe over its risk management policies in another blow to the banking giant, US media reported on Thursday The penalty is the latest regulatory problem to befall Wells Fargo, which also came under fire from investors and lawmakers over a fake account scandal. The Federal Reserve, in an unprecedented move, in February ordered the bank to halt its expansion until it improves governance, following 'persistent misconduct.' The bank, once the world's largest by market capitalization, will face its own shareholders on Tuesday at an annual meeting in Iowa. Bank executives were on the receiving end of blistering criticism at last year's annual meeting at which several board members scraped to re-election. Four board members announced in March they would resign after this year's meeting. In the fall of 2016, it was learned that Wells Fargo employees under pressure to meet aggressive sales targets had opened 2.1 million accounts that customers might not have even been aware existed. Last August, the bank revised the estimate, saying that between 2009 and 2016 about 3.5 million such accounts were opened. Wells Fargo said last summer that about half a million of the newly discovered accounts were missed during the original review, which covered the years 2011 to 2015. After Wells Fargo acknowledged the fake accounts last year, evidence quickly appeared that the sales practices problems dated back even further. So Wells Fargo hired an outside consulting firm to analyze 165 million retail bank accounts opened between 2009 and 2016. Wells said the firm found that, along with the 2.1 million accounts originally disclosed, 981,000 more accounts were found in the expanded timeline. And roughly 450,000 accounts were found in the original window. The scandal was the biggest in Wells Fargo's history. It cost then-CEO John Stumpf his job, and the bank's once-sterling industry reputation was in tatters. The company ended up paying $185 million to regulators and settled a class-action suit for $142 million. New managers have been trying to amends with customers, politicians and the public. But it's been tough, as new revelations keep coming. Wells Fargo said last year that roughly 570,000 customers were signed up for and billed for car insurance that they didn't need or necessarily know about. Many couldn't afford the extra costs and fell behind in their payments, and in about 20,000 cases, cars were repossessed. Other customers have filed lawsuits against Wells Fargo saying they were victims of unfair overdraft practices. Wells Fargo said that of the 3.5 million accounts potentially opened without permission, 190,000 of those incurred fees and charges. That's up from 130,000 that the bank originally said. Wells Fargo pledged to refund $2.8million to customers, in addition to the $3.3million it already agreed to pay. In addition, San Francisco-based Wells admitted that 528,000 customers were likely signed up for online bill payment without authorization. It promised to refund $910,000 in fees to those customers. Since the fall of 2016, Wells has changed its sales practices, ousted other executives and called tens of millions of customers to check on whether they truly opened the accounts. HELENA, Mont. (AP) - Runoff from a winter that approached or exceeded record snowfall across much of Montana is washing out roads, flooding fields and spilling rivers and streams over their banks much of the northern part of the state. The spring runoff and recent rain has caused the National Weather Service to issue flood warnings and advisories and city and county leaders are warning residents to prepare for the rising waters. The mayor of Harlem, a town of 800 people near the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, ordered the evacuation of several homes threatened by water overflowing from a nearby creek. "Right now, there's water totally around some of the homes," said Mayor K.M. Hansen. "I just wanted people to have the opportunity to get out while they can." Ben Miller looks at the sand bags around the house he owns as water runs over South Main Street in Harlem, Mont., Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The sand bags, all 235 of them, go around the house he rents to Jeff Werk who was also helping lay the bags. The water was overflowing from Thirtymile Creek which runs north of Harlem and connects to the Milk River a couple miles south. (Ryan Welch/Havre Daily News via AP) Gov. Steve Bullock declared a flooding emergency Wednesday in seven counties, the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation and the town of Chester. The declaration will allow the use of state government services and equipment, and let the U.S. Army Corp of Engineers help protect infrastructure. "We are doing everything necessary at the state level to protect health and safety, and to preserve lives, property, and resources," Bullock said in a statement. Chinook Mayor Keith Hanson told residents Tuesday night to prepare for major flooding in and around that city of about 1,200 residents. Commissioners in Chinook's Blaine County and neighboring Hill County have issued their own disaster declarations with multiple roads washed out and farmland covered by water. Blaine County emergency officials said in a Facebook post that residents should be ready to evacuate on short notice and that they should move livestock immediately. Larry Johnson, a 66-year-old farmer from the tiny community of Kremlin, said the roads are so damaged by floodwaters that it may take years to fix them. He and other farmers are concerned all the water will delay spring planting of wheat in May, he said. "I've never seen anything approach this in my lifetime," Johnson said. The flooding isn't likely to go away anytime soon. Swollen tributaries are gushing into the Milk River, which is expected to be in flood stage in most locations until the beginning of May, weather service forecasters said. The Milk River was flooding in the town of Dodson and in the community of Tampico and was expected to flood on Wednesday downstream near the town of Saco and the city of Glasgow. The Montana Department of Transportation reported that water covered several stretches of U.S. Highway 2, forcing drivers to slow down. Near the city of Havre, the Big Sandy Creek has crested but major flooding was still expected on Wednesday, according to the National Weather Service. Some residents saw an opportunity to explore their changed landscape in a different way. "It's a great time, if you can, to break out a canoe or kayak and take advantage for a couple of days," Josh Danreuther told KULR-TV . Justin Miller moves gates from a flooded pasture via his tractor Monday at Gildford. The gates will be used to help hold cows that had to be moved late Friday early Saturday as rising water hit his pastures. The town of Gildford has had to make a dirt barrier to protect their sewage systems and has also seen two dams fail. (Ryan Welch/Havre Daily News via AP) Lanay Kapperud, left, and Donald Miller use hoes Monday, April 16, 2018 to move dirt on a flood barrier that the town of Gildford constructed Sunday to protect their sewage systems and pump as rising water levels have threatened to reach it. The area saw most of the water form over the weekend. A bad mix of warm weather and large amounts of yet to melt snow have effected many parts of the Hi-Line. (Ryan Welch/Havre Daily News via AP) Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Thursday: 1. 'A FEW PASSENGERS WERE VERY STRONG' The terrifying string of events on Southwest Flight 1380 brought out acts of bravery among passengers and crew - and drew praise for the pilot who guided the plane safely to the ground. A poster of Fidel Castro and Cuba's President Raul Castro stands in Havana, Cuba, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The Cuban government on Wednesday selected 57-year-old First Vice President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez as the sole candidate to succeed Raul Castro in a transition aimed at ensuring that the country's single-party system outlasts the aging revolutionaries who created it. (AP Photo/Ramon Espinosa) 2. WHO'LL FOLLOW RAUL CASTRO AS CUBAN PRESIDENT With the Castro era closing, 57-seven-year-old First Vice President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez is picked as the sole candidate for the post. 3. ONCE AGAIN, ISLAND GOES DARK An island-wide blackout hits Puerto Rico, which is struggling with an increasingly unstable power grid nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria. 4. WHY FACT-FINDING MISSION HAS BEEN DELAYED Assailants open fire at a U.N. security team visiting the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria, forcing it to return to its base. 5. BUSH FAMILY EXPRESSES THANKS Former President George H.W. Bush says the outpouring of love and friendship toward Barbara Bush following her death "is lifting us all up." 6. WITNESS SAYS COSBY ACCUSER SPOKE OF PLOT The chief accuser at the comedian's sexual assault retrial talked about framing a celebrity before going to police with her allegations, a key defense witness testifies. 7. MAKER OF BUMP STOCKS GOING OUT OF BUSINESS The announcement by industry leader Slide Fire comes after Trump said his administration would ban the devices that allow semi-automatic rifles to shoot continuously. 8. WHAT'S FRESH REMINDER OF 'RETAIL RACISM' The handcuffed arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks is the latest example of the different treatment that African-Americans and minorities frequently face at stores and restaurants. 9. PLANET-HUNTING SPACECRAFT LAUNCHED NASA's Tess spacecraft embarks on a quest to find planets around neighboring stars that might support life. 10. HOLLYWOOD BLOCKBUSTER ARRIVES IN RIYADH Saudi Arabia holds a private screening of "Black Panther" to herald the launch of movie theaters in the kingdom. Angel Rodriguez Negron fills his gasoline container at a gas station while others line up behind him, after a general power outage in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Officials say it will take 24 to 36 hours to restore power after a Island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) OAKLAND, Iowa (AP) - The parents of a 16-year-old girl who died in a school bus fire in western Iowa last year are suing the school district. The Des Moines Register reports that Glen and Natalie Klindt accuse Riverside Community School District in the wrongful death lawsuit of negligent hiring, training and supervision of 74-year-old bus driver Donald Hendricks, who also died in the fire. The Klindts say the Dec. 12 death of their daughter, Megan Klindt, caused them severe emotional distress, and they're seeking an unspecified amount in damages. The Klindts' lawsuit also says they and Megan had complained about Hendricks' driving before the fire. Hendricks used a walker and had back surgery scheduled the week of the fire. Federal investigators have said the fire began in the engine compartment after Hendricks backed the bus into a ditch and became stuck. ___ Information from: The Des Moines Register, http://www.desmoinesregister.com COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - The South Carolina Senate approved a proposal Wednesday to significantly cut the amount a private utility can charge customers to pay for two nuclear plants that were never finished. But the Senate's plan to cut the 18 percent SCANA Corp. is charging customers to pay for the failed project down to 5 percent won't be immediate. The House earlier this year passed its own bill eliminating the charge, which costs the average South Carolina Electric & Gas customer $27 a month. Gov. Henry McMaster has said he would veto a bill that leaves any of the charges. And the Senate's vote could doom a proposed merger offer from Dominion Energy. The Virginia utility is offering SCE&G customers a rebate of around $1,000 to an average customer, a smaller cut in rates and a promise not to raise rates for three years. It has a website and is running commercials on TV stations in several cities touting the one-time payments. Dominion CEO Tom Farrell has said the merger offer was likely dependent on being able to keep charging the $37 million a month SCE&G is getting for the unfinished reactors at V.C. Summer plant, which were abandoned last summer without even generating a watt of power after a decade of planning and construction. Sen. Brad Hutto spent much of the past two days urging the Senate not to cut rates, saying most SCE&G customers would rather have cash in their hands than a promise of a better deal from politicians. "You know who is in the wings to make the next offer? Nobody," the Orangeburg Democrat said. Democratic Sen. Mike Fanning, whose district includes the site of the failed plants in Fairfield County, said SCE&G customers should not be held hostage by a single merger offer and said it was time for them to stop paying for the plants. Fanning and others have suggested using the money SCANA pays in dividends to pay debts instead of continuing to charge ratepayers. SCE&G customers have already paid $2 billion toward the plants. The bill does not affect rates paid by state-owned utility Santee Cooper, which owned 45 percent of the plants and has about $8 billion in debt. McMaster has urged the state sell the utility, and the House passed a bill creating a committee to study the move. Both supporters and opponents of the rate cut predicted a lawsuit from SCANA or others saying lawmakers have no legal right to set utility rates without the approval of the state Public Service Commission. Supporters think they can win, but opponents like Hutto said if the state loses the lawsuit, it will be a double blow for customers who lose the benefits of the Dominion merger and then the rate cut. He compared the action of the General Assembly to a mad scientist. "We're experimenting without even knowing what we're doing," Hutto said. ___ Follow Jeffrey Collins on Twitter. See his work at apnews.com SAN DIEGO (AP) - The Volvo Ocean Race keeps knocking down Vestas 11th Hour Racing, and the joint American-Danish team keeps figuring out ways to make its way around the world. Vestas 11th Hour Racing replaced its broken mast on Wednesday, two days after the 65-foot sloop arrived in Itajai, Brazil, following a journey of 1,200 nautical miles from the remote Falkland Islands under a jury rig. The crew hopes to be back on water Thursday for a shakedown sail. It might not be ready for the in-port race on Friday, but it intends to be on the line Sunday for the start of Leg 8. There will be added motivation because the destination, Newport, Rhode Island, is the team's home port. "It's certainly a frustrating experience," skipper Charlie Enright said Wednesday. "We feel when we've been sailing, we've done a pretty good job. Things out of our control have kept us from being competitively relevant on the overall leaderboard, but that hasn't shaken our resolve. There's a lot of race left to go and we're keen to make sure this unbelievable story ends on a good note." Vestas 11th Hour Racing dismasted on March 30 some 100 miles off the Falkland Islands while it was in second place on Leg 7. The crew had to cut away the rigging, including the mainsail, to keep the broken mast from damaging the hull. It motored to the Falkland Islands to regroup and figure out a way to get the boat to Itajai. The boat arrived in Brazil on Monday, giving the shore team enough time to replace the rigging. "The Falkland Islands are one of the most remote places in the world," team leader Mark Towill said. "It really was a heroic effort by so many people and illustrates our collective resolve to continue to keep pushing despite the adversity we've faced." This was the second major setback for the team led by Towill and Enright, both graduates of Brown University. In late January, Vestas 11th Hour Racing collided with a fishing boat in the dark off Hong Kong near the end of Leg 4, killing one fisherman, sinking the fishing boat and damaging the yacht. Vestas 11th Hour Racing had to ship the boat to New Zealand to repair a big hole in its port bow, forcing it to miss two legs. Then came the dismasting in rough conditions after a perilous transit through the harsh Southern Ocean. Once in Port Stanley, Towill and Enright got the last two seats on the once-weekly flight from the Falkland Islands to the mainland to begin working on logistics for the repair once the boat was in Itajai. The shore team arrived in Port Stanley and began working on essentially turning the 65-foot sloop into a motor boat. The boat still needed a rig for both power and stability, and the team found an old lamp post that had been repurposed as a mast for an Antarctica expedition boat. The jury rig was completed with two storm jibs and an upside down trysail. The improvised mast was only 26 feet. The regular masts for the VOR 65s are just less than 100 feet. The three sails allowed the delivery crew of five sailors to get to Itajai without refueling. "It was amazing work by the sailors who were in the Falklands who prepared the boat," Enright said. Caring for the world's oceans is one of the teams' major goals, so it has pledged to remove more debris from the water and beaches than the weight of the rig and sails it had to cut away. The two mishaps have left Vestas in sixth place in the seven-boat fleet. Now the goal is to be first into Newport. "It would be absolutely incredible," Towill said. "It's been such a collaborative team effort to get where we are." ___ Follow Bernie Wilson on Twitter at http://twitter.com/berniewilson The Danakil Depression in Ethiopia is a spectacular, hostile environment that may resemble conditions encountered on Mars and Titan -- as well as in sites containing nuclear waste. From 20 to 28 January 2018, five teams of researchers and more than 30 support staff visited two locations in the region to study the microbiology, geology, and chemistry at the Dallol hydrothermal outcrop and the saline Lake Afrera. The research trip was supported by the EU-funded Europlanet 2020 Research Infrastructure (RI), which has organised a series of field campaigns over the past two years to characterise the site as an analogue for other planetary surfaces and for astrobiological studies. Dallol is a uniquely hostile place for life due to the combination of its extreme salinity, high temperature, and acidity. It is one of the hottest places on Earth, at more than 100 metres below sea level. Upwelling water, rich in many different salts and heated by magma close to the surface, forms brightly-coloured, highly acidic pools. Toxic gases, including chlorine and sulphur vapour, hang in the air. Karen Olsson-Francis and Vincent Rennie from the Open University are studying how microbiology is affected by variation in the physical and chemical conditions at Dallol, and where pockets of habitability might be found. They focused on two channels of highly acidic, saline water with temperatures ranging from 40 to 70C. The pair took measurements on-site and collected samples for further analysis in the laboratory. "Our initial findings showed that microbes may be present, despite the extreme salinity and acidity," said Rennie. The team will now undertake further geological and microbial analysis in the coming months and hope to have preliminary results of the outflow channel study by early September. Hugo Moors and Mieke De Craen of SCK-CEN also studied microbiology in the context of the geology and the chemistry of the water at a number of locations, and successfully tested a range of new sampling techniques and sample preservation systems. In addition to their astrobiology research related to exoplanets, the pair are using Danakil as an analogue for nuclear waste. "The extreme conditions in the Danakil Depression might resemble some of the conditions encountered in the disposal of waste from nuclear reactors. We will now try to cultivate microbes and chemically analyse samples of the water from Danakil to attempt to understand what might be able to survive in nuclear waste," said Moors. Next summer, the ExoMars Trace Gas Orbiter will begin a study of rift zones on Mars, which are characterised by salt deposits and ancient magma systems and have strong similarities to the Afar rift currently forming between the Erta Ale and Dallol volcanoes. To support the upcoming mission observations, Daniel Mege of the Polish Academy of Sciences and Ernst Hauber of DLR carried out a preliminary study of the structure of hydrothermal systems and took soil samples from several centimetres below the surface to determine microbial life present. "We need to analyse our findings, but some of the preliminary results look very exciting," said Mege. "We've also carried out reconnaissance work for a ground magnetic survey next year, in which we aim to characterise intrusive magmatic activity in the rift. We look forward to returning in 2019." Jani Radebaugh of Brigham Young University, with Ralph Lorenz of the Johns Hopkins University Applied Physics Laboratory, used a handheld digital camera and 'kite-cam', a kite-lofted GoPro, to create image-derived Digital Elevation Models (DEMs) at a variety of locations across the playas and other regions in the Afar. They have gathered 15 different image datasets at a variety of locations, which they will then compare to RADAR data on the roughness of the terrain. "This region is absolutely spectacular for field work from a planetary perspective, as there are so many unusual and extreme environments that have strong planetary analogues," said Radebaugh. "The comparison of our datasets gathered on the ground with RADAR images taken from space, which quantify roughness in a different way, will help us interpret data from space missions on the roughness of surfaces at Titan and Mars." David Vaz and Lourenco Bandeira of the Centre for Earth and Space Research of the University of Coimbra surveyed the shape, subsurface geometry and ages of fault scarps on a rift located south of Lake Afrera. Understanding how erosion degrades these volcanic structures in very arid environments on Earth will enable them to interpret similar features on Mars and infer erosion rates throughout the Red Planet's geological history. Vaz said: "When you spend several years at a computer, looking at images from the surface of Mars and trying to understand what happened there, it's easy to lose the sense of scale. Going to the field, and actually seeing things with your own eyes gives you a more real perspective on what you are dealing with. To achieve our purpose of using fault scarps as paleo-environmental markers on Mars, it would be great to survey other faults, with different ages and presenting different states of preservation. On this trip, the geophysical instruments that should give a perspective on the underground fault geometry did not work, but that's the price we pay when working in such remote and difficult conditions. We hope to return to the site to carry out further studies." Felipe Gomez, Nuria Rodriguez and Beatriz Flores of CAB-INTA worked on the preparation of the Danakil site as a planetary analogue for Europlanet 2020 RI's transnational access programme, which provides funding for researchers to visit the site and carry out experiments. "The diversity of the research carried out by these five teams shows the versatility of this exotic landscape for planetary research," said Gomez. "We have already had interesting findings about the preservation of organic matter under such harsh conditions, which gives important clues about martian habitability. Any scientist can now apply to carry out planetary experiments at Danakil. We look forward to seeing the results!" "In visiting Danakil, we have purposely brought together people from different parts of the world to encourage the sharing of ideas across institutions, countries and continental boundaries," said Gian Gabriele Ori of the International Research School of Planetary Sciences in Pescara, who led the expedition. "Seasoned researchers have worked side by side and shared their experience with young scientists. It has been a very successful trip." The expedition was supported by Monica Bufill and Daniela D'Alleva of the International Research School of Planetary Sciences in Pescara, Italy, Miruts Hagos from Mekelle University and Mikael Tamrat and Zablon Beyene of Zab Tours Ethiopia. The team was accompanied by the photographer, Alex Pritz. Please follow Astrobiology on Twitter. UNITED NATIONS (AP) - The U.N. Security Council is heading to a remote Swedish estate this weekend for its annual retreat with the secretary-general after one of its most contentious weeks in years that saw ambassadors accusing each other of lying about a suspected chemical attack in Syria. Sweden's deputy U.N. ambassador, Carl Skau, whose country is serving a two-year term on the council and is hosting the retreat, told reporters Wednesday that the meeting is taking place "at a critical time for the United Nations but also at a very difficult moment for the life of the Security Council." The U.N.'s most powerful body has been paralyzed in dealing with the seven-year Syrian conflict, and the six council meetings since the suspected poison gas attack in the Damascus suburb of Douma on April 7 have again put an almost daily spotlight on its deep divisions. The United Nations Security Council meets on the situation between Britain and Russia, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) The United States, France and Britain blamed Syrian President Bashar Assad for the attack that reportedly killed at least 40 people, and they conducted airstrikes Friday on Syrian chemical sites. Russia and close ally Syria vehemently deny any involvement, while Russia accuses the Western allies of trying to tarnish its global image. The retreat is coming on the heels of "one of our probably most divisive weeks in the council," Skau said. But he expressed hope the 15 council ambassadors will be able to put aside their differences during the gathering at the newly renovated private estate of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, a Swede who was killed in a mysterious 1961 plane crash on a peace mission to Congo. "The nature of conflicts are changing or shifting, and the drivers of conflicts are changing," Skau said. "So it's important council members and the secretary-general have this time to step back to reflect on how to respond to these immense challenges - but also, of course, on how to prevent further crises to erupt." He hopes that Hammarskjold's legacy and the relaxed atmosphere at his estate in southern Sweden, called Backakra, will inspire council ambassadors during meetings with Secretary-General Antonio Guterres to find a way forward in Syria. It's also important that divisions over Syria don't negatively influence discussions on other urgent global issues, Skau said. Russia's U.N. ambassador, Vassily Nebenzia, was asked whether the retreat would be awkward because he would be spending lots of time with the U.S., British and French ambassadors. "I will see how they feel about dealing with me after all what happened," he said. Asked if the retreat might improve her relations with Nebenzia, British Ambassador Karen Pierce replied, "I would like to think that the United Kingdom is a good partner for everyone on the Security Council, including Russia." "But we will push back on malign behavior wherever we find it," she quickly added. Nonetheless, she said Britain wants to work with Russia and Nebenzia to try to make progress on getting back to a political process that can lead to peace in Syria. "That's the most important thing," Pierce said. "So I do hope that the retreat will be able to make progress on that. We will be trying very hard." British Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce listen as Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation between Britain and Russia, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia speaks during a Security Council meeting on the situation between Britain and Russia, Wednesday, April 18, 2018 at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) Russian Ambassador to the United Nations Vassily Nebenzia, left, and Swedish Deputy Ambassador to the United Nations Carl Skau, center, listen to British Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce, right, as she speaks during a Security Council meeting on Britain and Russia, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, at United Nations headquarters. (AP Photo/Mary Altaffer) TOKYO (AP) - Imagine a national budget that reflects steady growth, gives a healthy boost to science and technology while reserving big slices of the overall pie to defense and social spending. It's generous with infrastructure improvements, and is certain of unquestioning, unanimous approval in parliament. Congratulations. You are now thinking like a North Korean economist. North Korea's Supreme People's Assembly passed a budget with all of those features last week in an annual ritual reflecting the country's conflicting desires to keep up appearances, especially for potential foreign investors, while obscuring even the most basic statistics needed to gauge its economic health. FILE - In this April 13, 2017, file photo, North Korean men, women and soldiers walk past apartment blocks along Ryomyong street, a collection of more than a dozen apartment buildings in Pyongyang, North Korea. North Korea under leader Kim Jong Un has been on a spending spree, evidenced in projects like the new Ryomyong Street residential district. But outside economists looking for clues of the country's fiscal health say its latest budget reveals conflicting desires to keep up appearances, especially for potential foreign investors, while obscuring even the most basic economic indicators. (AP Photo/Wong Maye-E, File) The mysterious manner in which North Korea reports its budgets - and generally hides other economic indicators - is particularly frustrating as experts are now carefully scrutinizing whatever information they can get in an effort to understand the motives of leader Kim Jong Un as he prepares to hold his first summit with South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week and U.S. President Donald Trump in late May or early June. "North Korea really is unique in this regard," said Benjamin Silberstein, an associate scholar with the Foreign Policy Research Institute and co-editor of the North Korean Economy Watch website. "Going back to the 1960s, even Soviet bloc diplomats recorded their frustrations at how not even basic legal documents were made public." The budget's typically rosy outlook contrasts sharply with a slew of economic challenges facing leader Kim Jong Un. The country has logged significant growth since Kim assumed power in 2011, but is now operating under the toughest set of international trade sanctions it has ever had to endure. Beijing's apparent decision toward the end of last year to tighten restrictions even beyond those mandated by the United Nations is squeezing it further. "No matter the actual state of the economy during the last year, it would have been politically difficult to recognize too much of a loss from economic sanctions and the like," Silberstein said. "Over the years, Pyongyang's economic reporting has gotten much closer to being somewhat credible, but regardless of actual performance, it would have likely been difficult to publicize any losses for last year in particular." North Korea is notoriously reluctant to provide transparency on just about anything. It stopped revealing its actual budget numbers in 2001, opting instead for percentages of growth or of the total, as it did again this year. It hasn't published macroeconomic performance indicators since 1965. Most foreign experts rely instead on data compiled by the South Korean government. Because of the way it's reported, it's not even entirely clear if the budget is balanced. That said, the budget's highlights include: - Revenues are rising. For fiscal 2017, North Korea forecast a 3.1 percent revenue increase, which it later revised up, to 4.9 percent. The increase this year is forecast to be about the same, 3.2 percent. Total expenditures are expected to grow 5.1 percent, down in percentage terms at least, from 5.4 percent for last year's budget. To Silberstein, this has a somewhat realistic ring to it. "Historically, communist economies would often claim that plans had been over-fulfilled by factors far too high to be realistic and that is clearly not the case here." - Despite its official claim of having a centrally planned socialist economy, Pyongyang relies heavily on local governments for nearly a quarter of the funds it needs to pay for itself. Revenues collected by the central government now account for 73.9 percent of the total - and the remainder, many North Korea watchers suspect, may boil down to profits made on the quasi-official market economy that has flourished under Kim. - Sanctions notwithstanding, North Korea is hoping to reap revenues from its special economic and trade zones, which often depend on investment or joint venture arrangements from Chinese and, to a lesser degree, Russian partners. On the flip side, it expects to earn less from its cooperatives, real estate rental income and sales of properties. - Defense spending stays at 15.8 percent, roughly the same as last year. - A big umbrella category called "the development of the national economy" now accounts for a 47.7 percent share, presumably reflecting Kim's vow to improve the people's standard of living. "The state budget for this year will be successfully carried out through meticulous organization of economic operation and command and thus financially back the building of a powerful socialist country," North Korea's finance minister, Ki Kwang Ho, said in announcing the budget to parliament. What's not in the budget is often more important than what is. "It's laughable they have the audacity to put out a budget report that doesn't reference the shocking drop in trade, at least as announced officially by China," said William Brown, a retired U.S. government economist who has worked for the Commerce Department and the CIA and is now at Georgetown University. "From this data it doesn't look like anything is happening. I had hoped to see a big rise in property sales - privatization - but that doesn't show up here." Brown noted North Korea's use of percentages makes the budget all the more opaque. "One thing that always catches people is the translation of growth terminology," he said. "The Koreans, like the Chinese, include the base and say growth was 100.8 or so, meaning a 0.8 percent increase. But without the actual numbers, and no references to price changes, it's impossible to know what it means." To those North Korean economists, that's undoubtedly a feature, not a bug. ___ Talmadge is the AP's Pyongyang bureau chief. Follow him on Instagram and Twitter: @EricTalmadge ___ This story has been corrected to show that last budget numbers were published in 2001, not 1981. SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - Gov. Jerry Brown said Wednesday he reached an agreement with the federal government that California's National Guard troops will deploy to the border to focus on fighting transnational gangs as well as drug and gun smugglers. The announcement comes after a week of uncertainty in which President Donald Trump bashed the governor's insistence that troops avoid immigration-related work. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote on Twitter that final details were still being worked out "but we are looking forward to the support." Brown said he secured federal funding for terms similar to those outlined in last week's proposed contract: The Guard cannot handle custody duties for anyone accused of immigration violations, build border barriers or have anything to do with immigration enforcement. FILE - In this June 21, 2006 file photo, members of the California National Guard work next to the U.S.-Mexico border fence near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego. President Donald Trump slammed California Gov. Jerry Brown's posture on sending National Guard troops to the Mexican border Tuesday, April 17, 2018, even as Brown said he was nearing agreement on joining the president's mission and that his troops were "chomping at the bit ready to go." (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File) Federal officials refused to sign the proposal because they said it was outside established protocol for the Guard. Brown's office said Wednesday that the previous contract was unnecessary after he secured federal funding for his goals. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said the exact cost hasn't been determined. Some troops may be deployed this month and are expected to stay until at least Sept. 30, Brown said. They will be assigned to all parts of the state, not just the border. Brown elicited rare and effusive praise from Trump last week when he pledged 400 troops, which helped put the president above the lower end of his threshold of marshaling 2,000 to 4,000 troops for his border mission. Federal officials said Monday that Brown refused to commit California Guard troops to some initial jobs that were similar to assignments in the three other border states - Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - all governed by Republicans. Trump bashed Brown's position two days in a row, even as the governor said a deal was near. "There's been a little bit of back and forth, as you always get with bureaucrats but I think we can find common understanding here," Brown said Tuesday in Washington. "There's enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do - and we're willing to do it." Nielsen, appearing alongside Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to thank him for contributing 440 troops, said Wednesday there were 1,000 troops deployed on the border mission and that number is growing. She said they were performing aerial surveillance and vehicle repairs. ATMORE, Ala. (AP) - An Alabama inmate convicted of the mail-bomb slaying of a federal judge during a wave of Southern terror in 1989 was executed by lethal injection Thursday, becoming the oldest prisoner put to death in the U.S. in modern times. Walter Leroy Moody Jr., 83, was pronounced dead at 8:42 p.m. following an injection at the Alabama prison at Atmore. He had no last statement and did not respond when an official asked if he had any last words shortly before the chemicals began flowing. Authorities said Moody sent out four mail bombs in December of 1989, killing Judge Robert S. Vance, a member of the Atlanta-based 11th U.S. Circuit Court of Appeals, in Alabama and Robert E. Robinson, a black civil rights attorney from Savannah, Georgia. Two other bombs, including one mailed to the NAACP office in Jacksonville, Florida, were intercepted and did not explode. This photo provided by the Alabama Department of Corrections shows Walter Leroy Moody. A federal appeals court has rejected the death row inmate's argument that Moody must serve out his federal sentence before Alabama can put him to death for the 1989 killing of a federal judge. He is scheduled to be executed Thursday, April 19, 2018, for killing 11th Circuit Judge Robert Vance with a bomb mailed to his home. (Alabama Department of Corrections via AP) At his 1996 trial, prosecutors described Moody as a meticulous coward who killed Vance with murder by mail because of his obsession with getting revenge on the legal system, and then committed additional package bombings to make it look like the Ku Klux Klan was behind the judge's murder. Moody became the oldest U.S. inmate put to death since executions resumed in the U.S. in the 1970s, according to the non-profit Death Penalty Information Center. His attorneys argued in court filings and a clemency petition to Alabama Gov. Kay Ivey that his age and vein condition would make lethal injection more difficult. The U.S. Supreme Court temporarily stayed execution plans Thursday evening to consider Moody's late appeals, but later lifted the stay without comment, allowing the execution to go forward. Vance was at his kitchen table in Mountain Brook, Alabama, on Dec. 16, 1989, when he opened a package after a morning of errands and yard work. The explosion ripped through the home near Birmingham, killing Vance instantly and severely injuring his wife, Helen. Prosecutors said Moody, who had attended law school, had a grudge against the legal system because the 11th Circuit refused to overturn a 1972 pipe-bomb possession conviction that prevented him from practicing law. Moody was first convicted in 1991 in federal court and sentenced to seven life terms plus 400 years. He was later convicted in state court in 1996 and sentenced to death for Vance's murder. Vance's son, Robert Vance Jr., now a circuit judge in Jefferson County and Democratic candidate for chief justice in Alabama, said it's important that people remember how his father lived, not just how he died. "He was a great judge, a great lawyer before that, and a great father," he said earlier as the execution loomed. As chairman of the Alabama Democratic Party in the 1960s and 1970s, Vance worked to bring African Americans into the party and often "butted heads" with segregationist Gov. George Wallace, his son said. Friends said the senior Vance quietly fought for the rights of underprivileged as both a jurist and a politician. Moody had always maintained his innocence. In recent weeks, Moody had sent a letter to the younger Vance claiming he was the innocent victim of a government conspiracy. "Had my Dad been murdered, I would want to know who had done it," Moody wrote. The younger Vance said he put the letter in the trash. Vance said he had to make peace with his father's death, but said he has no doubt that Moody is guilty. He did not witness the execution. The lethal injection procedure began at 8:16 p.m. Moody did not open his eyes or respond as the warden read his death warrant and asked him if he had any last words. Moody's attorney, Spencer Hahn, said he wanted to know what the prison system "gave him before to knock him out and prevent him from getting to give his last words. There was no dignity in that room. This dishonored the memory of Judge Vance and Mr. Robinson," Hahn said. Corrections Commissioner Jeff Dunn said Moody was not given any sedatives. In last-hour appeals, Moody's attorneys had asked the U.S. Supreme Court to stay his execution in order to review whether his federal sentence, which was handed down first, could be interrupted. They also argued that the aggravating factors used to impose a death sentence were improper. The nation's high court had no comment on those last-minute appeals Thursday. Moody's attorneys, in their unsuccessful clemency petition argued that his victim was opposed to the death penalty, and halting the execution would honor Vance's beliefs. Vance's son said his father opposed the death penalty personally, but also believed in following the law. Alabama Attorney General Steve Marshall said Thursday night that after nearly 30 years, "Tonight, Mr. Moody's appeals finally came to a rightful end. Justice has been served." ___ Associated Press writer Jay Reeves in Birmingham, Alabama, contributed to this report. HELENA, Mont. (AP) - A Microsoft co-founder's mission to locate sunken warships in the South Pacific has chalked up another victory with the discovery of the USS Helena nearly 75 years after it was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands, reviving stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival of 165 of the crewmen. Paul Allen's team searches for the ships to "bring the history back into a relevant conversation," said Janet Greenlee, a spokeswoman for Allen's Vulcan Inc. "He wants to honor those that have served and are serving." The wreckage of the Helena was found March 23, about a half mile (860 meters) below the surface of the New Georgia Sound. The team identified the light cruiser by the number 50 on its side and by comparing the wreck to the USS Helena's schematics. This March 24, 2018 photo provided by Paul G. Allen shows part of the stern section on the light cruiser USS Helena. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage. The March 23, 2018 discovery revives stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival story of 165 of the crewmen. In all, 732 of the 900 crew survived its July 5, 1943 sinking. (Paul G. Allen via AP) In all, more than 730 of the Helena's crew of 900 survived the July 5, 1943, sinking during the Battle of Kula Gulf. Most of the crew was rescued out of the water and another group was picked up nearby the next day. But a third group spent nearly five days adrift in life rafts, during which some of the injured died, before the sunburned, dehydrated and emaciated men decided their best chance of survival was to take shelter on Vella Lavella Island. The shoeless sailors had to walk across a sharp coral reef to get to the jungle island, which they knew was occupied by Japanese troops, Navy gunner's mate Frank P. Cellozzi of Ohio wrote in a 1984 account. They crawled into the jungle and fell asleep before being awakened by a group of natives wearing loin cloths and carrying spears, Cellozzi wrote. One spoke enough broken English to make it clear they would help. The natives in some cases carried the Americans into the jungle for miles, stopping occasionally to pick coconuts. The survivors built a latrine and a shelter and the natives escorted them to a freshwater stream where they could bathe, Cellozzi wrote. An Australian Methodist missionary named A.W.E. Silvester and two other Coastwatchers aided in their care and helped arrange for their middle-of-the-night rescue 12 days after their ship sank. Coastwatchers were intelligence operatives stationed on remote Pacific islands during World War II to observe enemy movements and help rescue stranded troops. "One of the remarkable stories, not just about the crew and the ship's service, is the tenacity of the crew after the sinking and being separated," said Allen's spokeswoman, Greenlee. "It really does sound like a movie script." The USS Helena was the third World War II discovery in less than three weeks by Allen's R/V Petrel team. The aircraft carrier the USS Lexington was discovered March 4 and the USS Juneau, another light cruiser, was located March 17. The USS Helena was the second of five vessels named for Montana's capital city, and was the first ship to receive the Navy Unit Commendation for its role in the World War II battles. It survived a torpedo strike during the Japanese bombing of Pearl Harbor and sunk Japanese vessels in other battles. A memorial to the USS Helena ships is located in Anchor Park in downtown Helena. FILE- In this July 1943 file photo, oil-smeared crew members of the Navy's light cruiser, USS Helena, "report in" during the battle of Kula Gulf when the Helena was sunk by enemy action. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage. The March 23, 2018 discovery revives stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival story of 165 of the crewmen. In all, 732 of the 900 crew survived its July 5, 1943 sinking. (AP Photo/File) FILE - In this Aug. 14, 1943 file photo, a survivor of the USS Helena is transferred on a gangplank from the rescuing destroyer, left, to a U.S. battleship. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage. The March 23, 2018 discovery revives stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival story of 165 of the crewmen. In all, 732 of the 900 crew survived its July 5, 1943 sinking. (AP Photo/File) This March 24, 2018 photo provided by Paul G. Allen shows a 5 inch port side turret on the light cruiser USS Helena. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage. The March 23, 2018 discovery revives stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival story of 165 of the crewmen. In all, 732 of the 900 crew survived its July 5, 1943 sinking. (Paul G. Allen via AP) This Monday, April 16, 2018 photo, shows a memorial honoring the history of the USS Helena at Anchor Park in Helena, Mont. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition team backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage.(Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP) This Monday, April 16, 2018 photo, shows a memorial honoring the history of the USS Helena at Anchor Park in Helena, Mont. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition team backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage.(Thom Bridge/Independent Record via AP) This March 24, 2018 photo provided by Paul G. Allen shows the starboard stern quarter of the light cruiser USS Helena. Nearly 75 years after the USS Helena was sunk by Japanese torpedoes in the waters off the Solomon Islands in the South Pacific, an expedition backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen reported finding its wreckage. The March 23, 2018 discovery revives stories of the battle-tested ship's endurance and the nearly unbelievable survival story of 165 of the crewmen. In all, 732 of the 900 crew survived its July 5, 1943 sinking. (Paul G. Allen via AP) MEXICO CITY (AP) - The remnants of a migrant caravan of Central Americans that angered President Donald Trump were continuing their journey north through Mexico toward the U.S. border Wednesday. Organizer Irineo Mujica, speaking from the western Mexico city of Guadalajara, said about 500 migrants had been riding trains north since departing Mexico City last weekend. The caravan that left the Guatemala-Mexico border in late March grew to more than 1,000 migrants who found safety travelling in numbers. In Mexico City, Mujica had said the capital was the caravan's last official stop, but many of the migrants feared going solo on the dangerous final leg north and decided to keep travelling en masse. Some who had split off to press on alone reported back about kidnappings and having their papers for safe passage torn up. Central American migrants who attended the annual Migrants Stations of the Cross caravan for migrants' rights, rest at a shelter in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The remnants of the migrant caravan that drew the ire of President Donald Trump were continuing their journey north through Mexico toward the U.S. border on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz) "That caused the group to regroup," he said. Mujica said they were headed for Tijuana, where about half planned to go to the border to request asylum in the U.S. Trump had railed against the caravan, even threatening the renegotiation of the North American Free Trade Agreement if Mexico did not stop its progress. The majority were Hondurans fleeing gang violence and the instability that followed the contested re-election of President Juan Orlando Hernandez. Trump also threatened U.S. aid to Honduras in a tweet and announced that he was calling for a deployment of the National Guard to the border. When the caravan shrank, Trump struck a more conciliatory tone crediting the Mexican government's enforcement of immigration laws. For the most part, Mexican authorities issued transit papers to those migrants who wished to request asylum in the U.S. and started paperwork for those who wanted to stay in Mexico. The caravan is an annual, symbolic event held around Easter each year to raise awareness about the plight of migrants. It historically does not go all the way to the border and that was not the original plan this year, Mujica said. Honduran family Nolvia Luja, left, Willian Bonilla, and their son Wilmer Bonilla, who attended the annual Migrants Stations of the Cross caravan for migrants' rights, rest at a shelter in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The remnants of the migrant caravan that drew the ire of President Donald Trump were continuing their journey north through Mexico toward the U.S. border on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz) Central American migrants who attended the annual Migrants Stations of the Cross caravan for migrants' rights walk towards the train tracks, to wait for a northern-bound train, in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The remnants of the migrant caravan that drew the ire of President Donald Trump were continuing their journey north through Mexico toward the U.S. border on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz) Central American migrants who attended the annual Migrants Stations of the Cross caravan for migrants' rights, receive food at a shelter in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The remnants of the migrant caravan that drew the ire of President Donald Trump were continuing their journey north through Mexico toward the U.S. border on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz) Central American migrants who attended the annual Migrants Stations of the Cross caravan for migrants' rights, stand outside at a shelter in Tlaquepaque, Jalisco state, Mexico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. The remnants of the migrant caravan that drew the ire of President Donald Trump were continuing their journey north through Mexico toward the U.S. border on Wednesday. (AP Photo/Refugio Ruiz) Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez was named President of Cuba on Thursday - becoming the first person outside the Castro family to hold the position in 60 years. Bermudez, 57, vowed to defend Cuba's socialist revolution as he replaced Raul Castro at the top of the country's government. An 86-year-old Castro vowed to remain head of the Communist Party until 2021, however, meaning he will remain the most powerful man in Cuba for the time being. 'My second and final mandate (as party head) will expire in 2021,' Castro told delegates at the National Assembly. 'From then on, I will be soldier alongside the people, defending the revolution.' Canel has been rising through party ranks for more than 30 years and had a reputation as a meek, orderly man, until last year when footage 'leaked' of him launching a ruthless verbal assault on dissident Cubans and the US. Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez was sworn in as President of Cuba on Thursday, taking over from Raul Castro and vowing to continue his socialist legacy In his first speech as President, Canel promised to overhaul the country's struggling economy but said there would be no return to capitalism 'The mandate given by the people to this house is to give continuity to the Cuban revolution in a crucial historic moment, Diaz-Canel said after being sworn in. He delivered a long homage to Raul Castro, calling him the best student of his brother Fidel, praising him as a fighter and for the reforms he ushered in during his decade as president. His speech laid out a course for his own five-year term, saying the transition would not herald sweeping changes and adding there would be no return to capitalism. Diaz-Canel, who has risen the ranks of the Communist Party over three decades, said the new period would also be characterized by 'modernization of the economic and social model.' He said there would be no compromise in Cuba's foreign policy, which is marked by volatile relations with the United States. In a repetition of a long-held stance by Havana, he said he would hold dialogue with anybody who treated Cuba as an equal. Castro's departure from the presidency is a symbolic moment for a country that has been under the absolute rule of one family since its revolution ended in 1959. Castro is stepping down as president in an effort to guarantee that new leaders can maintain the government's grip on power in the face of economic stagnation, an aging population and increasing disenchantment among younger generations. 'I like sticking with the ideas of President Fidel Castro because he did a lot for the people of Cuba, but we need rejuvenation, above all in the economy,' said Melissa Mederos, a 21-year-old schoolteacher. 'Diaz-Canel needs to work hard on the economy, because people need to live better.' Most Cubans know their first vice president as an uncharismatic figure who until recently maintained a public profile so low it was virtually nonexistent. 'We're building a relationship between the government and the people here,' he said then after casting a ballot for members of the National Assembly. Diaz-Canel would be the first non-Castro to hold Cuba's top government office since the 1959 revolution led by Fidel Castro (pictured), who died in November 2016 While older Cubans still support socialism and the one-party system, younger generations are demanding improvements in their living conditions Canel has been rising through Communist Party ranks in Cuba for 30 years but was relatively unknown on the public stage until last year 'The lives of those who will be elected have to be focused on relating to the people, listening to the people, investigating their problems and encouraging debate.' Diaz-Canel gained prominence in central Villa Clara province as the top Communist Party official, a post equivalent to governor. People there describe him as a hard-working, modest-living technocrat dedicated to improving public services. He became higher education minister in 2009 before moving to the vice presidency. In a video of a Communist Party meeting that inexplicably leaked to the public last year, Diaz-Canel expressed a series of orthodox positions that included somberly pledging to shutter some independent media and labeling some European embassies as outposts of foreign subversion. But he has also defended academics and bloggers who became targets of hardliners, leading some to describe him a potential advocate for greater openness in a system intolerant of virtually any criticism or dissent. International observers and Cubans alike will be scrutinizing every move he makes after he officially takes office on Thursday. Two years after taking over from his ailing brother in 2006, Castro launched a series of reforms that expanded Cuba's private sector to nearly 600,000 people and allowed citizens greater freedom to travel and access to information. He has failed to fix the unproductive and highly subsidized state-run businesses that, along with a Soviet-model bureaucracy, employ three of every four Cubans. State salaries average $30 a month, leaving workers struggling to feed their families, and often dependent on corruption or remittances from relatives overseas. Castro's moves to open the economy have largely been frozen or reversed as soon as they began to generate conspicuous shows of wealth by the new entrepreneurial class in a country officially dedicated to equality among its citizens. 'I don't want to see a capitalist system, hopefully that doesn't come here, but we have to fix the economy,' said Roberto Sanchez, a 41-year-old construction worker. Members of Cuba's National Assembly voted 603-1 in favour of putting forward Canel as the sole candidate for the Presidency, before he was sworn in Despite stepping down as President, Raul Castro will remain as head of the Communist Party, keeping him in place as Cuba's most powerful man (pictured, a billboard which reads 'it was, it is and will be done') 'I'd like to have more opportunity, to buy a car, and have a few possessions.' As in Cuba's legislative elections, all of the leaders selected Wednesday were picked by a government-appointed commission. Ballots offer only the option of approval or disapproval and candidates generally receive more than 95 percent of the votes in their favor. The Candidacy Commission also nominated another six vice presidents of the Council of State, Cuba's highest government body. Only one, 85-year-old Ramiro Valdez, was among the revolutionaries who fought with the Castros in the late 1950s in the eastern Sierra Maestra mountains. State media went into overdrive Wednesday with a single message: Cuba's system is continuing in the face of change. Commentators on state television and online offered lengthy explanations of why Cuba's single-party politics and socialist economy are superior to multi-party democracy and free markets. They also assured Cubans that no fundamental changes were occurring, despite some new faces at the top. 'It falls on our generation to give continuity to the revolutionary process,' said assembly member Jorge Luis Torres, a municipal councilman from central Artemisa province who appeared to be in his 40s. 'We're a generation born after the revolution, whose responsibility is driving the destiny of the nation.' The reign of the Castros: How brothers Fidel and Raul led a revolution and controlled Cuba for decades As Raul Castro passes the presidency on to his mentee, Miguel Diaz-Canel, it marks the end of the reign of Castros at the helm of politics in Cuba. Raul became president in 2008 when his older brother, Fidel Castro, formally handed over power as his health deteriorated. Fidel died in 2016 aged 90. The brothers overcame imprisonment at the hands of dictator Fulgencio Batista, were exiled in Mexico and survived a disastrous start to their rebellion before triumphantly riding into Havana on January 1959. Brothers Fidel (left) and Raul (right) Castro overcame imprisonment at the hands of dictator Fulgencio Batista, were exiled in Mexico and survived a disastrous start to their rebellion before triumphantly riding into Havana on January 1959 Despite initial setbacks, the bearded guerrillas operating in the eastern mountains steadily gained support across the country. Pictured: Fidel is seen with his brother Raul Castro (left) and Camilo Cienfuegos while operating in the Mountains of Eastern Cuba in 1957 At age 32, Fidel became the youngest leader in Latin America and put his younger brother Raul in charge of the armed forces. Despite initial setbacks, the bearded guerrillas, operating in the eastern mountains, steadily gained support across the country. On January 1, 1959, Batista fled and Fidel became the unquestioned leader of Cuba, with his younger brother put in charge of the armed forces. Fidel's government initially executed or imprisoned many foes, and veered to Soviet-backed socialism in the early 1960s. Cuba backed revolutions across Latin America, and while most of those failed, the Castros' resistance to U.S. domination inspired millions across the continent and beyond. Fidel's control survived repeated U.S. plots to overthrow or kill him, and even the hardships that followed the 1991 collapse of the Soviet Union, which had kept the island's economy afloat. But illness finally forced Fidel to turn over power in 2006 to Raul, who formally became president two years later. Raul announced that he will step aside as president in April - though he plans to remain in what is probably a more important position: head of Cuba's lone permitted party, the Communist Party. If the state doesn't repeal the APPR, Mannion said if he's elected to the state Senate he will introduce legislation to end the review system and work to ensure any tests "are meaningful and developmentally appropriate." "The state testing breakdown caused by the rush to computer-based testing has impacted students all across New York state," Mannion said. "I've heard horrific stories about the negative impact the tests have on our students with special needs. It's abusive. These tests have no educational value and you don't need to be a biology teacher to know that they are a failed experiment." Mannion is one of two Democrats vying for the party's nomination in the 50th Senate District. The other is Joe Chiarenza, a DeWitt town councilor. The district includes most of Onondaga County and a portion of Cayuga County. The district's current representative is state Sen. John DeFrancisco, who has been in office since 1993. He is seeking the Republican gubernatorial nomination and has said it's unlikely he will run another term in the state Senate. The Onondaga County Democratic Committee is scheduled to meet Saturday, April 28 to designate a candidate in the 50th Senate District race. Love 4 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 2 SACRAMENTO, Calif. (AP) - California reached an agreement with the federal government that the state's National Guard troops will deploy to the border to focus on fighting transnational gangs as well as drug and gun smugglers, Gov. Jerry Brown said. The announcement comes after a week of uncertainty in which President Donald Trump bashed the governor's insistence that troops avoid immigration-related work. Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen wrote on Twitter that final details were still being worked out "but we are looking forward to the support." Brown said Wednesday he secured federal funding for terms similar to those outlined in last week's proposed contract: The Guard cannot handle custody duties for anyone accused of immigration violations, build border barriers or have anything to do with immigration enforcement. FILE - In this June 21, 2006 file photo, members of the California National Guard work next to the U.S.-Mexico border fence near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego. President Donald Trump slammed California Gov. Jerry Brown's posture on sending National Guard troops to the Mexican border Tuesday, April 17, 2018, even as Brown said he was nearing agreement on joining the president's mission and that his troops were "chomping at the bit ready to go." (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File) Federal officials refused to sign the proposal because they said it was outside established protocol for the Guard. Brown's office said Wednesday that the previous contract was unnecessary after he secured federal funding for his goals. Brown spokesman Evan Westrup said the exact cost hasn't been determined. Some troops may be deployed this month and are expected to stay until at least Sept. 30, Brown said. They will be assigned to all parts of the state, not just the border. Brown elicited rare and effusive praise from Trump last week when he pledged 400 troops, which helped put the president above the lower end of his threshold of marshaling 2,000 to 4,000 troops for his border mission. Federal officials said Monday that Brown refused to commit California Guard troops to some initial jobs that were similar to assignments in the three other border states - Arizona, New Mexico and Texas - all governed by Republicans. Trump bashed Brown's position two days in a row, even as the governor said a deal was near. "There's been a little bit of back and forth, as you always get with bureaucrats but I think we can find common understanding here," Brown said Tuesday in Washington. "There's enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do - and we're willing to do it." Nielsen, appearing alongside Arizona Gov. Doug Ducey to thank him for contributing 440 troops, said Wednesday there were 1,000 troops deployed on the border mission and that number is growing. She said they were performing aerial surveillance and vehicle repairs. MADRID (AP) - A regional public broadcaster says the Basque militant group ETA is ready to announce its final dissolution early next month, putting an end to decades of violent campaign for independence from Spain. ETA killed more than 800 people including police, politicians and entrepreneurs before giving up its armed campaign for Basque independence in 2011 and getting rid of its arsenal one year ago. Both France and Spain, where the group committed most of its deadly actions over more than 40 years, have demanded it take a further step and disband. The Basque regional broadcaster ETB reported late on Wednesday that ETA will announce that step on the first weekend of May. ETB said that an event to mark the end of ETA will be held in southern France before the final announcement by the group. THE HAGUE, Netherlands (AP) - Unilever, the consumer goods multinational whose brands include Dove, Knorr and Ben & Jerry's, says it is planning a share buyback worth up to 6 billion euros ($7.4 billion) later this year. Unilever said Thursday that sales in the first quarter were hit by unfavorable currency exchange rates and fell 5.2 percent to 12.6 billion euros ($15.6 billion) compared with the same period last year. However, the company added that underlying sales growth was 3.4 percent. Unilever, which last month announced plans to consolidate its global headquarters in Rotterdam instead of London, also raised its quarterly dividend by 8 percent. CEO Paul Polman says the first quarter "demonstrates another good volume-driven performance" at its Beauty & Personal Care, Home Care, and Foods & Refreshment divisions. MELBOURNE, Australia (AP) - Financial advisers working for Australia's largest bank continued charging clients service fees after they died - in one case for more than a decade - a government inquiry heard on Thursday. The Commonwealth Bank had been receiving complaints from clients of being charged for services that had not been provided since 2002, according to documents presented to the inquiry into misbehavior in Australia's financial sector. But the bank did not report the illegal behavior under the Corporations Act to the industry regulator, the Australian Securities and Investments Commission, until August 2014. The bank's subsidiary, Count Financial, discovered a financial adviser knew his client had died in January 2004, but was still reaping 1,000 Australian dollars ($780) a year in service fees in late 2015. "When asked, he said he didn't know what to do and he had tried to contact the public trustee and had not heard back," a Count Financial document said. Count Financial's internal investigation revealed other examples of financial planners charging for services that customers never received. The bank has refunded AU$118.5 million to customers of its financial advice businesses who were charged fees for no service, mainly between July 2007 and June 2015. Bank executive Marianne Perkovic told the inquiry that management had known for years they had a "fees-for-no-service problem." Perkovic said the bank had not realized the problem was "systemic" until 2014, when the breach was reported to the regulator. The government announced in November the inquiry into banking, pension and financial services industries, following a series of scandals. Treasurer Scott Morrison told reporters on Thursday that evidence from the inquiry was "deeply disturbing" and "despicable." He said breaches of the Corporations Act can be punished with prison sentences. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump said that although he's looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un he could still pull out if he feels it's "not going to be fruitful." Trump said that CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Kim "got along really well" in their recent secret meeting, and he declared, "We've never been in a position like this" to address worldwide concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons. But speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, after the allies met at Trump's Florida resort, he made clear that he'd still be ready to pull the plug on what is being billed as an extraordinary meeting between the leaders of longtime adversaries. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a working lunch with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) "If I think that if it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful we're not going to go. If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful I will respectfully leave the meeting," Trump told a news conference. He also said that a U.S.-led "maximum pressure" campaign of tough economic sanctions on North Korea would continue until the isolated nation "denuclearizes." Abe echoed the sentiment. "Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained," he said. Trump has said his summit with Kim, with whom he traded bitter insults and threats last year as North Korea conducted nuclear and missile tests, could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. South Korean President Moon Jae-in, who meets with the North Korean leader next week, said Thursday that Kim isn't asking for the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the Korean Peninsula as a precondition for abandoning his nuclear weapons. If true, this would seem to remove a major sticking point to a potential nuclear disarmament deal. Moon said the North still wants the United States to end its "hostile" policy and offer security guarantees. When North Korea has previously talked about "hostility" it has been linked to the U.S. troops in South Korea, so Kim's intentions remain unclear. Other than the threat posed to by North Korea's weapons of mass destruction, another issue overhanging the summit plans is the fate of three Americans detained there. Trump said that was under negotiation and there was a "good chance" of winning their release, but he wouldn't say whether that was a precondition for sitting down with Kim. Pompeo raised the question of the three Americans in his meeting with Kim, a U.S. official said. Trump also said he had promised Abe he would work hard for the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says at least a dozen Japanese said to have been taken in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. News of Pompeo's trip to North Korea, which took place more than two weeks ago, emerged on Tuesday, as lawmakers weighed whether he should be confirmed to become secretary of state. Trump and Republican senators held up his highly unusual, secret mission as sign of Pompeo's diplomatic ability. But the prospect of his confirmation hung in the balance as Democrats lined up against him. Sen. Robert Menendez, top-ranking Democrat on the committee that will have the first vote on confirmation, expressed frustration that the CIA chief had not briefed him on the visit that took place more than a week before Pompeo's public hearing last Thursday. He is the most senior U.S. official to meet with a North Korean leader since Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kim's father in Pyongyang in 2000. "Now I don't expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit," Menendez said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to vote on the nomination next week. Pompeo, whose hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities have raised Democratic hackles, would replace Rex Tillerson, who was pushed out by Trump last month. In the U.S. Senate, Republicans have a single-vote advantage on the 21-member panel that will have the first say on Pompeo's nomination. With nine of the 10 Democrats already declaring they will oppose Pompeo, and at least one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, also opposed, the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favorable recommendation. Trump said Wednesday he expects Paul to come through on Pompeo. The president called Paul and the senator agreed to meet with Pompeo, but Paul's spokesman said, "Nothing else has changed." As for opposition by Democrats, Republican Cory Gardner, who chairs an Asia subcommittee, said in an interview that they "want to play partisan politics." Despite meeting Pompeo on Tuesday, Gardner said he hadn't been briefed on the trip and was awaiting more information about it. Still, he said the fact that the meeting happened gave weight to Pompeo's testimony last week that the administration was committed to the "complete and verifiable denuclearization" of North Korea and sustaining sanctions pressure. It is not unprecedented for U.S. intelligence officials to serve as conduits for communication with Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-director of U.S. national intelligence, James Clapper, secretly visited North Korea to bring back two American detainees. Clapper did not, however, meet with Kim, who has only in recent weeks emerged from international seclusion after taking power six years ago and super-charging North Korea's push to become a nuclear power. Kim met last month with China's president and is to meet South Korea's leader April 27. ___ Associated Press writers Zeke Miller in Palm Beach, Florida, Lisa Mascaro, Deb Riechmann and Matthew Lee in Washington, Gillian Wong in Beijing and Foster Klug in Seoul, South Korea, contributed to this report. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) A South Korean army soldier passes by a TV screen showing file footage of CIA Director Mike Pompeo, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, a highly unusual, secret visit undertaken as the enemy nations prepare for a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The signs read: " Mike Pompeo meets with Kim Jong Un." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this April 12, 2018, photo CIA Director Mike Pompeo testifies on his nomination to be the next secretary of state on Capitol Hill in Washington. Two U.S. officials say Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un. Pompeo's trip to the isolated communist nation came in advance of a potential summit between Kim and President Donald Trump. The officials spoke anonymously about Pompeo's trip because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer wants more federal support for grape research in the Finger Lakes region. Schumer, D-N.Y, wrote a letter to Dr. Chavonda Jacobs-Young, administrator of the U.S. Department of Agriculture's Agricultural Research Service, requesting funding for the Grape Genetics Research Unit located in Geneva. The Grape Genetics Research Unit is located at the New York State Agriculture Experiment Station and is a program within the Agricultural Research Service. The unit recently moved into a new location at the campus, but needs updated equipment to continue its work. The Agricultural Research Service approved the unit's plan for a new facility in 2003-04, according to Schumer. But only half of the nearly $15 million needed for construction was appropriated. Schumer said Congress halted funding for the project in 2011. There is a backlog of construction projects that would improve the Agricultural Research Service's facilities. The grape research lab is included in that list. KATHMANDU, Nepal (AP) - Nepal's government on Thursday honored two climbers who were the first to scale Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen 40 years ago. Minister for Tourism Rabindra Adhikari praised the climbers at a ceremony in the capital, Kathmandu. Italian Reinhold Messner and Austrian Peter Habeler reached the summit without use of supplementary oxygen, while others on their team used bottled oxygen. Until then, all climbers carried oxygen cylinders to aid them at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. Italian mountaineer Reinhold Messner gives a speech after being felicitated by Nepal's government in Kathmandu, Nepal, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Nepal's government on Thursday honored two climbers who were the first to scale Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen 40 years ago. Messner and Austrian Peter Habeler reached the summit without use of supplementary oxygen, while others on their team used bottled oxygen. (AP Photo/Niranjan Shrestha) Since Everest was first scaled in 1953, thousands of climbers have reached the summit and hundreds more make attempts every year. This year nearly 350 foreign climbers have already been issued climbing permits. Most climbers still use supplementary oxygen. Messner has been a strong critic of the large number of people climbing Everest. He suggested many years back that Nepal give the mountain a rest to allow it to recover, but Nepal did not listen. "They decided like this, I cannot change it," he said Thursday, while acknowledging that the climbing has been good for Nepal economically because many people stay for weeks and spend large amounts of money. Messner said climbing Everest is no longer an adventure and instead has become a tourism activity. "Today mountaineering is tourism. Mountaineering is where people are going without infrastructure, but on Everest there is huge infrastructure," he said. "The Sherpas prepare everything and clients pay to trek to the summit." The debate about Everest climbing was revived in 2014 when 16 Sherpa guides were killed by an avalanche just above the base camp while preparing the route for clients. A year later, an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake killed another 19 people at the base camp. Each climber pays the government $11,000 for a permit. Various expedition outfitters offer climbing gear, cooks and guides, which can cost many thousands of dollars. No mountaineering experience is required to get an Everest permit. FORT POLK, La. (AP) - The U.S. Army's Criminal Investigation Command is investigating the killing of an 18-year-old soldier at Fort Polk in Louisiana. News outlets report Private Jacob S. Malcolm of Hedgesville, West Virginia, was fatally shot on April 12 in a residence at the base. Spokeswoman Kim Reischling tells The American Free Press that Malcolm was pronounced dead by the Vernon Parish deputy coroner, and that the gunshot wound was not self-inflicted. Malcolm enlisted in Feb. 2017 and was serving as an infantry rifleman assigned to the 2nd Battalion, 2nd Infantry Regiment, 3rd Brigade Team, 10th Mountain Division. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Latest on the United States and North Korea (all times local): 8:05 a.m. A U.S. ambassador says his country is maintaining a "maximum pressure campaign" to convince North Korea to denuclearize even as Washington prepares a summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. US ambassador to the UN, Robert Wood, speaks at the UN in Geneva, Switzerland, Thursday, April 19, 2018. The U.S. ambassador says his country is maintaining a "maximum pressure campaign" to convince North Korea to denuclearize even as Washington prepares a summit between President Donald Trump and Kim Jong Un. Robert Wood, the top U.S. envoy to the U.N.-hosted Conference on Disarmament, says the U.S. believes the ongoing pressure campaign "has had an important impact in the North's decision to return to the table." (AP Photo/Jamey Keaten) Robert Wood is the top U.S. envoy to the U.N.-hosted Conference on Disarmament. Wood says the U.S. believes the ongoing pressure campaign "has had an important impact in the North's decision to return to the table." At a news conference Thursday ahead of a meeting next week on nuclear nonproliferation, Wood said the U.S. welcomed Pyongyang's willingness to talk about denuclearization. He called the summit planned for late May or early June a "momentous time." Asked by a reporter, Wood said he has received "absolutely no instructions" about possibly easing the pressure on Pyongyang so as not to scuttle the summit. ___ 12:45 a.m. President Donald Trump says a meeting with North Korea's Kim Jong Un is not a sure thing. He says he could still pull out of a meeting if he feels it's "not going to be fruitful." Trump says a summit with Kim could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. CIA Director Mike Pompeo and Kim secretly met more than two weeks ago. President Donald Trump speaks to members of the media during a working lunch with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, left, listens as President Donald Trump speaks during a news conference at Trump's private Mar-a-Lago club, Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in Palm Beach, Fla. (AP Photo/Lynne Sladky) A South Korean army soldier passes by a TV screen showing file footage of CIA Director Mike Pompeo, left, and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during a news program at the Seoul Railway Station in Seoul, South Korea, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un, a highly unusual, secret visit undertaken as the enemy nations prepare for a meeting between President Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong Un. The signs read: " Mike Pompeo meets with Kim Jong Un." (AP Photo/Ahn Young-joon) In this April 12, 2018, photo CIA Director Mike Pompeo testifies on his nomination to be the next secretary of state on Capitol Hill in Washington. Two U.S. officials say Pompeo recently traveled to North Korea to meet with leader Kim Jong Un. Pompeo's trip to the isolated communist nation came in advance of a potential summit between Kim and President Donald Trump. The officials spoke anonymously about Pompeo's trip because they were not authorized to discuss it publicly. (AP Photo/Jacquelyn Martin) FRANKFURT, Germany (AP) - German pharmaceutical and chemical company Merck says it has agreed to sell its global consumer health business to Procter & Gamble for 3.4 billion euros ($4.2 billion) in cash. The deal means Cincinnati-based Procter & Gamble, whose over-the-counter brands include Pepto-Bismol and NyQuil, acquires a business that saw 6 percent organic sales growth in 2015-2017. P&G CEO David Taylor said that the company "liked the steady, broad-based growth" of the over-the-counter health care market and that the acquisition would bolster the company's geographic reach and product portfolio. Products include nutritional supplements for pregnant women, cod liver oil capsules and back pain balm. Merck, based in Darmstadt, Germany, said it would use the money from the sale to reduce debt. Germany's Merck is different from U.S-based Merck & Company, Inc. ATLANTA (AP) - The last train car full of New York City sewage sludge that has stunk up a small Alabama community for more than two months has finally been emptied, the town's mayor said this week. For more than two months, the sludge has blown an unbearable stench throughout the tiny town of Parrish, Alabama, population 982. All of the containers have now been emptied from the so-called Poop Train, Parrish Mayor Heather Hall said on social media Wednesday. Some of the containers are still at the site, awaiting shipment back to the northeast U.S., she said. This April 12, 2018 photo shows containers that were loaded with tons of sewage sludge in Parrish, Ala. More than two months after the so-called "Poop Train" rolled in from New York City, Hall says her small town smells like rotting corpses. Some say the trainloads of New Yorkers' excrement is turning Alabama into a dumping ground for other states' waste. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves) The sludge is a byproduct of New Yorkers' excrement. It was shipped to the nearby Big Sky landfill. Hall said after a public outcry, the Norfolk Southern railroad required Big Sky to hire more truck drivers so the sludge could be removed from the train cars more quickly. "Other towns and cities have been fighting this material in their towns for years," Hall said in announcing the end of what she described as a nightmare. "While what happened in Parrish was, to our understanding, an unprecedented event, there are still small towns like Parrish fighting this situation on a smaller scale." Experts say some cities send their waste to Alabama and other Southern states due to low landfill fees and lax zoning laws. New York has discontinued shipments to Alabama for now. New York City has a goal of sending "zero waste" to landfills by 2030, according to its long-term strategy "One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City." Environmental advocates say there's nothing just about a city dumping waste in poor communities that lack the political clout to stop it. In Alabama, residents of tiny Parrish say they felt blindsided by the sudden horrid smells that enveloped their town in late January. "Would New York City like for us to send all our poop up there forever?" said Sherleen Pike, who lives about a half-mile from the railroad track in Parrish. She's been dabbing peppermint oil under her nose because the smell is so bad. It has become more challenging and costly for New York City to dispose of its sewage sludge in recent years, city documents show. New York was forced to find new methods after the federal government in 1988 banned the city's longtime practice of dumping it in the ocean. In recent years, New York City contractors had dumped the waste at landfills relatively close to the city, but those landfills have significantly reduced the amount of waste they will accept, according to a city budget document. Sending it to other communities also has prompted complaints about the smell. Two landfills in Pennsylvania, for instance, quit accepting sludge from New York City after odor complaints and violations, according to the documents. New York City projects higher disposal costs through fiscal year 2020, partly because the waste will have to be transported farther away from the city. In her Facebook post announcing that the last container of sludge had been removed, Hall remarked, "This material does not need to be in a populated area ... period." "It greatly diminishes the quality of life for those who live anywhere near it." ___ The fifth paragraph of this story has been edited to correct the name to Hall, not Parrish. ___ Associated Press Writer Jay Reeves contributed to this report. This April 12, 2018 photo shows containers that were loaded with tons of sewage sludge in Parrish, Ala. More than two months after the so-called "Poop Train" rolled in from New York City, Hall says her small town smells like rotting corpses. Some say the trainloads of New Yorkers' excrement is turning Alabama into a dumping ground for other states' waste. (AP Photo/Jay Reeves) NORRISTOWN, Pa. (AP) - The Latest on Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial (all times local): 6:35 p.m. A defense drug expert says he doesn't know of any small blue pill that could have produced the symptoms that Bill Cosby's chief accuser described on the night she says the comedian gave her pills and molested her. Bill Cosby, left, arrives for his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 19, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Cosby says he gave Andrea Constand the over-the-counter cold and allergy medicine Benadryl before their sexual encounter at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. Constand says he gave her three small blue pills that knocked her out and left her unable to resist as he molested her. Defense drug expert Harry Milman echoed prosecution expert Dr. Timothy Rohrig's testimony that paralysis is "not really" a side effect of Benadryl. The Associated Press doesn't typically identify people who say they're victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done. ___ 6:20 p.m. Bill Cosby's lawyers want jurors to hear deposition testimony from an uncooperative witness they say sheds light on Andrea Constand's motive for accusing the comedian of drugging and molesting her. Cosby's lawyers said in court papers Thursday that the woman who gave the testimony, Constand's good friend Sheri Williams, has not responded to attempts to subpoena her to testify at Cosby's retrial. The defense says it wanted to put Williams on the stand to show that Constand "could not have been the unwitting victim" prosecutors have portrayed. Williams gave the deposition testimony as part of Constand's 2005 lawsuit against Cosby. The TV star wound up settling with Constand for nearly $3.4 million. The defense has accused Constand of falsely accusing Cosby so she could file suit against him. The Associated Press doesn't typically identify people who say they're victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done. ___ 6:05 p.m. The judge in Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial says jurors should have the case next week. Judge Steven O'Neill said in court Thursday there are only a few more days of testimony in the case that pits Cosby against a woman who says he drugged and molested her at his home outside Philadelphia. The 80-year-old comedian says his 2004 encounter with Andrea Constand was consensual. His first trial ended with a hung jury. A pair of drug experts - one for the prosecution and one for the defense - testified Thursday. The Associated Press doesn't typically identify people who say they're victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done. ___ 4:05 p.m. Bill Cosby's lawyers have lost another bid to cut his sex assault retrial short. Judge Steven O'Neill rejected a defense motion that he acquit Cosby and send jurors home. The defense asked the judge to clear the 80-year-old comedian after prosecutors rested their case Thursday afternoon. Cosby's lawyers say prosecutors haven't proved charges he drugged and molested a woman at his suburban Philadelphia mansion more than a dozen years ago. Cosby has said his sexual encounter with the woman was consensual. The defense also says there's no evidence to prove the alleged assault happened within the 12-year statute of limitations. Prosecutors say the accuser and Cosby have both said the encounter was in 2004. Prosecutors point out Cosby was arrested in 2015, just before the deadline to charge him. ___ 12:10 p.m. A prosecution drug expert is telling jurors that Bill Cosby's chief accuser could have been made woozy by either the cold and allergy medicine Benadryl or by quaaludes. Dr. Timothy Rohrig, a forensic toxicologist, testified at Cosby's sexual assault retrial on Thursday. Andrea Constand says Cosby gave her three unidentified blue pills that knocked her out and then sexually assaulted her at his suburban Philadelphia home in 2004. Cosby says he gave her Benadryl to help her relax and that she consented to a sexual encounter. He has previously acknowledged giving quaaludes, a now-banned sedative, to women before sex back in the 1970s. Rohrig says Benadryl's main ingredient can cause sedation, muscle weakness and clumsiness. He says quaaludes also have a tendency to make people sleepy. The Associated Press doesn't typically identify people who say they're victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done. ___ 9:45 a.m. The judge in Bill Cosby's sexual assault retrial is rejecting the defense's fifth bid for a mistrial. Cosby's lawyers argued on Thursday that prosecutors were out of line for implying they were wrong to help star defense witness Marguerite Jackson write a statement outlining how she says Cosby's chief accuser mused about framing a celebrity. Prosecutor Stewart Ryan irked Cosby's lawyers during Jackson's cross-examination by repeatedly saying they "created" her affidavit. The judge says there is "simply no grounds for a mistrial" and that Cosby's lawyers are raising the issue too late. Judge Steven O'Neill is also slamming the comedian's lawyers for dragging out the trial by having just one witness ready to testify Thursday. Cosby is charged with drugging and molesting a woman in 2004. He says it was consensual. ___ 8:35 a.m. Bill Cosby has arrived for the ninth day of his sexual assault retrial. The 80-year-old comedian arrived at a suburban Philadelphia courthouse Thursday morning where the jury is expected to hear from a pair of drug experts. The prosecution's expert, Dr. Timothy Rohrig, testified at Cosby's last trial that wooziness and other effects chief accuser Andrea Constand described could have been caused by quaaludes or over-the-counter Benadryl. The Associated Press doesn't typically identify people who say they're victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done. ___ 12:40 a.m. Bill Cosby's lawyers have turned to their star witness in the comedian's sexual assault retrial. Temple University academic adviser Marguerite Jackson testified on Wednesday that chief accuser Andrea Constand spoke about fabricating sexual assault allegations against a high-profile person so she could "get that money" from a lawsuit. Jackson took the witness stand the same day jurors heard Cosby's explosive deposition testimony about giving quaaludes to women before sex. The jury is expected to hear from a pair of drug experts on Thursday. The prosecution's expert, Dr. Timothy Rohrig, testified at Cosby's last trial that wooziness and other effects Constand described could have been caused by quaaludes or over-the-counter Benadryl. The Associated Press doesn't typically identify people who say they're victims of sexual assault unless they grant permission, which Constand has done. Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 19, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 19, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 19, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) Bill Cosby, center, arrives for his sexual assault trial, Thursday, April 19, 2018, at the Montgomery County Courthouse in Norristown, Pa. (AP Photo/Matt Slocum) BERLIN (AP) - A 19-year-old Syrian asylum-seeker turned himself in to police Thursday after his violent attack on a man wearing a Jewish skullcap in Berlin caused outrage across Germany. The young Syrian showed up with his lawyer at a police precinct, police spokesman Winfrid Wenzel said. The 21-year-old victim, an Arab Israeli, caught Tuesday's assault on video. It quickly went viral and reopened a debate about anti-Semitism in the country. Even Chancellor Angela Merkel condemned the assault sharply. The video shows the attacker whipping the Israeli with a belt while shouting "Yehudi!" or Jew, in Arabic. The victim, Adam Armoush, said he's not Jewish but wore the skullcap as an experiment because he didn't believe a friend who told him it's too dangerous to wear one in public in Germany. Following the attack, Merkel vowed Wednesday that the government would respond "with full force and resolve" against anti-Semitism in Germany. The incident comes at a time of increased fears of anti-Semitism and indications that attacks against Jews are on the rise. The RIAS group that tracks discrimination of Jews said Berlin last year had 947 anti-Semitic incidents, including 18 attacks and 23 threats. Several Jewish students have reported anti-Semitic bullying in schools in recent months and Israeli flags were burnt during a recent protest in Berlin. Last week, a rap band that included lighthearted references to inmates of the Nazis' Auschwitz death camp in its lyrics won the country's most important music prize - drawing strong criticism from other artists and government officials. The band's record company, BMG, said Thursday it would donate 100,000 euros ($123,880) toward projects to fight anti-Semitism in schools, but added it believes in "artistic freedom, creativity and diversity." Part-time students at Cayuga Community College are encouraged to apply for a new state scholarship. Launched with the 2017-2018 school year, the New York State Part-time Scholarship Award offers financial aid to SUNY and CUNY community college students taking between six and 12 credits per semester. They are eligible for the tuition awards for a maximum of four consecutive semesters. The New York State Part-time Scholarship Award is a great program that offers part-time students an opportunity for help with tuition as they continue their education and pursue a college degree, Cayuga Community College Vice President of Student Affairs Jeffrey Rosenthal said in a news release. I urge eligible students at Cayuga Community College or any community college in the SUNY and CUNY system to consider applying to this program. Recipients are determined based on financial need, and tuition awards cover the cost of six credit hours or $1,500 per semester, whichever is less. Students must reside in New York, have graduated high school or earned an equivalency diploma, and maintain a minimum cumulative GPA of 2.0 or higher. For more information, visit hesc.ny.gov. Love 0 Funny 0 Wow 0 Sad 0 Angry 0 PODGORICA, Montenegro (AP) - The European Union foreign policy chief on Thursday hailed efforts by nations in Western Balkans to advance toward membership in the bloc, ending a tour of the volatile region where Russia is also vying for influence. Federica Mogherini spoke in Serbian capital Belgrade, the last stop of her trip that also included Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. The region remains tense following the wars of the 1990s and the prospect of EU membership has proved an important driving force at reform. "Let me say that I am impressed by the energy, the commitment, the ambitions and the willingness everywhere ... to move forward on the reform path toward the European Union membership," Mogherini said at a joint news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini talks to the media during a news conference with Macedonian Prime Minister Zoran Zaev, following their meeting at the government building in Skopje, Macedonia, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. A senior European Union official has praised Macedonia's progress in efforts to join the EU, but warned the Balkan country needs to successfully implement its promised reforms if it is to join the bloc.(AP Photo/Boris Grdanoski) The prospect of EU membership is "credible, real and tangible," Mogherini insisted. EU officials have told Balkan countries they must resolve problems stemming from the breakup of the former Yugoslavia and implement a vast array of reforms in order to join. Macedonia has been locked in a name dispute with EU member Greece, while Serbia must normalize relations with the former province of Kosovo, whose 2008 declaration of independence it doesn't recognize. In the latest illustration of regional tensions, a Croatian parliamentary delegation cut short a visit to Serbia on Wednesday after far-right Serbian leader and convicted war criminal Vojislav Seselj reportedly trampled on the Croatian national flag and insulted officials. Mogherini condemned the incident as "inappropriate in democratic institutions" noting that it was "not rendering good service to the image of Serbia." Earlier Thursday in Montenegro, Mogherini praised the Adriatic country's role in encouraging other Balkan countries on the EU path and because its policies were fully in line with those of the EU. Montenegro, along with neighboring Serbia, has been tipped as the next in line to join the EU, after becoming a member of NATO last year despite strong opposition from Moscow. Mogherini says Montenegro must work to improve the rule of law and media freedom. She was the first foreign official to meet Montenegrin President Milo Djukanovic since he swept the election last weekend, promising to stay on the EU path. Russia has sought to increase its sway in the Balkans, which Moscow considers a traditional area of interest, particularly in Serbia. Belgrade has maintained close ties to Moscow, despite formally seeking EU membership. European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini speaks during a news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Mogherini is on a one day trip to meet with Serbian officials. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini speaks during a news conference with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Mogherini is on a one day trip to meet with Serbian officials. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic, centre, welcomes European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Mogherini is on a one day trip to meet with Serbian officials. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) European Union High Representative for Foreign Affairs and Security Policy Federica Mogherini, left, speaks with Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic after a news conference in Belgrade, Serbia, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Mogherini is on a one day trip to meet with Serbian officials. (AP Photo/Darko Vojinovic) NEW YORK (AP) - Roughly seven out of every 10 adults worldwide now have some form of a bank account, the World Bank said Thursday, largely due to the proliferation of cell phone-based bank accounts and other simple bank account programs in places like India and Sub-Saharan Africa. The finding is a sign of the improved financial wellbeing of those living in developing countries and particularly women, who increasingly have a safe place to store their savings and are able to participate in the growing digitalization of the global economy. But women still lag behind their male counterparts in bank account ownership, the World Bank report said. FILE- In this Dec. 2, 2016, file photo, Indians stand in a queue outside a bank to withdraw cash in Ahmadabad, India. Roughly seven out of every 10 adults worldwide now has some form of a bank account, the World Bank said Thursday, April 19, 2018, fueled largely by the proliferation of cell phone-based bank accounts and other simple bank account programs in places like India and Sub-Saharan Africa. (AP Photo/Ajit Solanki, File) An estimated 69 percent of adults had some sort of bank account in 2017, up from an estimated 51 percent in 2011 and up from 62 percent in 2014. The figures were released as part of the World Bank's Global Findex Report, a study on financial inclusion released every three years that involves interviews or surveys of 150,000 people covering 144 countries representing 98 percent of the world's population. A chunk of the growth came from India, the world's second-most populous country, where bank account ownership has more than doubled from 40 percent to 80 percent in six years. Since 2014, the Indian government has been pushing a program to sign up individuals for simple, no-fee accounts tied to government biometric identification cards. Sub-Saharan Africa saw big growth as well, fueled by mobile phone-based accounts. These "mobile money" accounts, as they are sometimes known, are tied to a person's cell phone account instead of a bank, and allow users to transfer money to family or businesses. In countries such as Kenya, roughly three quarters of Kenyans have a mobile money account, and other Sub-Saharan countries like Zimbabwe and Uganda also saw jumps in mobile phone account usage in the last few years. Mobile money accounts also appear to be gaining popularity in other parts of the continent as well, not just East Africa, to places like West Africa. World Bank experts expect that mobile money accounts will be the primary way to drive the remaining 1.7 billion people without a bank account into financial services. The bank estimates that 1.1 billion of those 1.7 billion punbanked adults have a mobile phone, and could be more easily brought into the financial system. While nearly every demographic and continent saw increased usage of bank accounts and other forms of savings, the gender gap among those using financial services remains high, according to the World Bank. Women are nine percentage points less likely to have a bank or mobile money account, a gap that hasn't changed since the 2014 report. The poor also remain much less likely to have a bank or mobile money account, largely due to the lack of savings the poor have to store in it. FILE- In this March 1, 2016, file photo, two women stand outside a building used by South Africa's ABSA bank in Cape Town, South Africa. Roughly seven out of every 10 adults worldwide now has some form of a bank account, the World Bank said Thursday, April 19, fueled largely by the proliferation of cell phone-based bank accounts and other simple bank account programs in places like India and Sub-Saharan Africa. (AP Photo/Schalk van Zuydam, File) FILE- In this Feb. 15, 2018, file photo, pedestrians walk past a sign board of Punjab National Bank in New Delhi, India. Roughly seven out of every 10 adults worldwide now has some form of a bank account, the World Bank said Thursday, April 19, fueled largely by the proliferation of cell phone-based bank accounts and other simple bank account programs in places like India and Sub-Saharan Africa. (AP Photo/Altaf Qadri, File) INDEPDENCE, Mo. (AP) - Authorities say a man shot by suburban Kansas City police in January has died, but they are refusing to say when he died or to release his name. The shooting happened when officers responded to reports of an armed suspect outside a Dollar General store in Independence, The Kansas City Star reports. Jackson County Prosecutor's Office spokesman Mike Mansur said Tuesday that he won't name the man or discuss the shooting while the case remains open. Missouri prosecutors aren't required to release many details at this point in the investigation, though open government and police accountability advocates said they should anyway. Earlier this month, Mansur told The Kanas City Star only that no charges had been filed against the man before he died. "This is the kind of thing where we need to know what's happening, that's first and foremost," said Lora McDonald, executive director of MORE2 (Metro Organization for Racial and Economic Equity). The Independence Police Department also has refused to release the man's name or date of death. The agency also isn't answering other questions about the shooting, which also wounded a second man. That man, Mike Becker, told reporters that an officer shot him in the hip with a rifle when he rushed to the store to protect his wife and 4-year-old daughter who were inside. Becker hasn't been charged. Usually the names of people shot by law enforcement in Missouri are released within a few days. However, Missouri law doesn't require departments to identify people shot by police in incident reports, which must be released shortly after a shooting, said Jean Maneke, an attorney for the Missouri Press Association who deals with open records law. An investigative report with more information eventually becomes public when the case is closed, but it can take months for police shooting cases to work their way through the legal system. Maneke criticized the reluctance to release the dead man's name, saying the intent of withholding a person's identity usually is to protect them from harm. "I fail to see what benefit is gained by law enforcement in protecting the name of this victim," she said. "He's dead. He's not at risk." ___ Information from: The Kansas City Star, http://www.kcstar.com SAN JUAN, Puerto Rico (AP) - Puerto Rico's power company said Thursday that it has restored electricity to more than 80 percent of customers affected by an island-wide blackout that was caused by an excavator hitting a transmission line, but tens of thousands of families still remain without normal service seven months after hurricanes Maria and Irma. Officials said that power had been restored to more than 1.1 million of its clients following Wednesday's blackout, and that they expected to restore power to the remaining 326,000 customers by noon. The outage marked the first time Puerto Rico was hit by an island-wide blackout since Hurricane Maria struck on Sept. 20 and wiped out as much as 75 percent of the power distribution lines. The blackout snarled traffic, forced businesses and schools to close and sparked long lines at gas stations. Angel Rodriguez Negron fills his gasoline container at a gas station while others line up behind him, after a general power outage in San Juan, Puerto Rico, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Officials say it will take 24 to 36 hours to restore power after a Island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico nearly seven months after Hurricane Maria. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti) Prior to the blackout on the U.S. territory of 3.3 million people, more than 44,000 customers were still without normal electric service lost with Hurricane Maria. Some have been without power even longer, hit when Hurricane Irma brushed past Puerto Rico's northeast coast as a Category 5 storm on Sept. 7, leaving 1 million customers without power, including university student Jonathan Rodriguez and his family. "I knew we'd be without power for some time, but not this long," the 22-year-old told The Associated Press by phone. Rodriguez lives in the central mountain town of Corozal with two relatives, both of whom need electricity to survive. His grandmother depends on insulin and his aunt on equipment to prevent sleep apnea. Nearly every day after work, Rodriguez drives 20 minutes to the nearest gas station to buy fuel that keeps a donated generator running all day and night. The main road near their house is already lit up, as are homes surrounding theirs, but they still don't have power. "They haven't given us any information," he said of power restoration crews. "All we're missing is one post and a transformer." The U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, which is overseeing federal power restoration efforts, said it expects the entire island to be energized by late May, just weeks before the Atlantic hurricane season starts on June 1. But many believe it will take longer, and a group of federal legislators has asked the U.S. Federal Emergency Management Agency to extend the Corps' assignment past May 18 to ensure all Puerto Ricans are once again connected to the island's fragile power grid. Meanwhile, some legislators also have called on the U.S. Senate's Energy and Natural Resources Committee to hold an oversight hearing on federal efforts to restore power on the island. "Puerto Ricans are still dealing with constant setbacks and unreliable power," said Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat from Florida. "This is just simply unacceptable." The blackout comes as Puerto Rico legislators debate whether to private the island's Electric Power Authority, which is $14 billion in debt and relies on infrastructure nearly three times older than the industry average. Conventional wisdom about credit cards is often black and white, from whether you should use cards at all to which types deserve a slot in your wallet. But personal finance is just that - personal, experts say. "Financial advice is best when it is not one-size-fits-all," said Bruce McClary, spokesman for the National Foundation for Credit Counseling . "Everybody is different in the way they set priorities and manage budget decisions, so it makes sense that some advice may not be a perfect fit for all people." FILE- In this Jan. 21, 2018, file photo, a credit card advertisement decorates a bank's window in Atlanta. Credit card tips might be easier to understand when they're binary, do this, don't do that, but that advice usually doesn't apply to everybody. In fact, some advice could hurt more than help. (AP Photo/David Goldman, File) Credit card tips might be easier to understand when they're binary - do this, don't do that - but that advice usually doesn't apply to everybody. In fact, some advice could hurt more than help. Here's a sampling of conventional wisdom on credit cards and why it might not apply to you. -"Never use credit cards." Cardholders can get in trouble by charging too much, then paying finance charges. That downside is real and important, but this advice ignores the majority of cardholders, who pay off balances monthly. Credit cards have many benefits, including convenience, building credit, rewards and fraud protections. "There is a stigma associated with credit cards, but they can be effective money-management tools as long as you use them correctly," said Paul Golden, spokesman for the National Endowment for Financial Education . "Much of the bad reputation originates from irresponsible use, overspending and using a product that isn't quite right for you." -"Always use credit cards." For those who regularly incur credit card debt or know they can't trust themselves not to overspend with plastic, credit cards can be a lousy idea. Instead, cash and debit cards can help to curb spending. Besides, not everyone can qualify for credit cards. -"Never pay an annual fee." Plenty of good credit cards charge nothing. But cards with annual fees typically offer rewards and benefits. They might include sign-up bonuses, airport lounge access and hundreds of dollars in travel credits. "Not paying an annual fee is good advice in general, but there are some circumstances when the value of earned rewards might outweigh the cost of using the card," McClary said. -"Don't transfer balances from card to card." The idea behind this is that moving debt to different cards doesn't address the problem of paying it off. In fact, it could add to debt because balance-transfer cards often charge a fee of 3 to 5 percent of the amount transferred. But the upside is, balance-transfer cards can provide breathing room for carrying balances without finance charges - often more than a year. That's useful when you can't pay now but likely could pay later. -"Always use a rewards card." If you use a card as a payment tool and pay the balance in full every month, a rewards card is ideal. But for those who carry balances and pay finance charges, the interest would be more than the rewards. A low-interest card or one with an introductory zero percent offer is better for those cardholders. -"Never close a credit card account." Closing an account can hurt your credit rating, because scoring formulas like to see that you aren't using more than 30 percent of your available credit (less is better) and a lengthy credit history, both of which suffer with a closure. Still, you might want to cancel an unwanted card to avoid paying an annual fee - if the issuer won't let you downgrade to a no-fee card. "If you've had an account for a few years and it has a decent limit and is in good standing, then keep it," Golden said. "However, if you're paying a hefty annual fee, you will have to decide if it's worth the credit-score hit to close the account." -"Always pay your bill in full." You should pay off your credit card bill monthly to avoid paying finance charges. An exception might be during times of hardship, when paying for a necessity, such as rent or food, trumps paying the credit card bill in full. Or you might be within a zero percent interest period on your card and decide to use cash to address a different financial priority. "Carrying a balance can be a costly proposition, so if it becomes difficult to manage the debt you owe, it is best to have a conversation with your creditor and consider getting help from a nonprofit credit counseling agency before things get worse," McClary said. _______ This article was provided to The Associated Press by the personal finance website NerdWallet . Gregory Karp is a writer at NerdWallet. Email: gkarp@nerdwallet.com . Twitter: @spendingsmart. RELATED LINKS: NerdWallet: What makes up your credit score? https://nerd.me/what-makes-up-credit-score National Foundation for Credit Counseling https://www.nfcc.org/ National Endowment for Financial Education https://www.nefe.org/ ANKARA, Turkey (AP) - Turkey's weak opposition is scrambling to mount a meaningful challenge against strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with just nine weeks to prepare for snap elections. One party leader is in jail. Another doesn't have a candidate. A third might face eligibility issues for her party. Erdogan set the presidential and parliamentary elections for June 24, in a move that will usher in a new system cementing the president's grip on power more than a year ahead of schedule. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system after a narrowly approved referendum last year, in the wake of a failed 2016 coup attempt. FILE - In this Sunday, July 9, 2017 file photo, Kemal Kilicdaroglu, the leader of Turkey's main opposition Republican People's Party, talks during a rally following his 425-kilometer (265-mile) 'March for Justice' in Istanbul. Turkey's weak opposition is scrambling to try and mount a strong challenge against strongman Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with just nine weeks to prepare for snap elections, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system that will concentrate increased powers in the hands of the president, following a narrowly approved referendum last year. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) The changes take effect with the next election, which had originally been set for November 2019. FILE - In this Sunday, May 17, 2015 file photo, a Turkish police officer uses binoculars to scan the area from a platform, backdropped by posters of Turkish Republic founder Mustafa Kemal Ataturk, left, and Turkey's current President Recep Tayyip Erdogan, right, during a political rally of AKP, The Justice and Development Party in Istanbul. Turkey's weak opposition is scrambling to try and mount a strong challenge against Turkey's strongman President Erdogan with just nine weeks to prepare for snap elections, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system that will concentrate increased powers in the hands of the president, following a narrowly approved referendum last year. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, file) FILE - In this Wednesday, March 21, 2018 file photo, a woman holds a photograph of former co-leader of pro-Kurdish Peoples' Democratic Party, or HDP, Selahattin Demirtas, during the Newroz celebrations, marking the start of spring, in Istanbul. Demirtas has been behind bars in Turkey pending trial since November 2016 for alleged terror charges, accused of links to outlawed Kurdish militants.Turkey's weak opposition is scrambling to try and mount a strong challenge against Turkey's strongman President Recep Tayyip Erdogan with just nine weeks to prepare for snap elections, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system that will concentrate increased powers in the hands of the president, following a narrowly approved referendum last year. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) FILE - In this Wednesday, April 18, 2018 file photo, Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan walks before announcing early presidential and parliamentary elections, at the Presidential Palace, in Ankara, Turkey. Turkey's weak opposition is scrambling to try and mount a strong challenge against strongman President Erdogan with just nine weeks to prepare for snap elections, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system that will concentrate increased powers in the hands of the president, following a narrowly approved referendum last year. (Pool Photo via AP, File) FILE - In this Sunday, Aug. 9, 2015 file photo, Selahattin Demirtas, then leader of the pro Kurdish Democratic Party of Peoples (HDP) waves to people gathered for a pro-peace rally in Istanbul. Demirtas, who has been behind bars since November 2016, is in prison accused of links to outlawed Kurdish rebels and is facing a 142-year sentence on charges of leading a terror organisation. Turkey's weak opposition is scrambling to try and mount a strong challenge against strongman Turkey's President with just nine weeks to prepare for snap elections, scheduled for June 24, 2018. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to an executive presidential system that will concentrate increased powers in the hands of the president, following a narrowly approved referendum last year. (AP Photo/Lefteris Pitarakis, File) A Jordan-Elbridge Central School District student faces charges for claiming he placed a bomb under one of the district buses Thursday, according to state police. The call from the school district came in around 3:15 p.m. Police said a 17-year-old male on a school bus told other students he had put a bomb on a bus, but not on that particular bus. Students informed district officials, who then called police. The district then sent the buses back to the bus garage. An investigation was conducted along with state police K-9 units. No device was found. Police said the student was located and cooperated. The student told police there was no device and that it was a joke. After an investigation and advisement from the Onondaga County District Attorney's Office, the student was charged with third-degree falsely reporting an incident, a class A misdemeanor, police said. The student was given an May 7 appearance ticket for town of Elbridge court. GAZA CITY, Gaza Strip (AP) - Gaza protest organizers moved sit-in tents closer to the Israeli border fence Thursday, a day before a fourth planned mass demonstration, raising fears of more bloodshed. The protests, largely led by Gaza's Hamas rulers, began March 30. Organizers said they'll gradually move the camps toward the fence until May 15, but made conflicting comments about a possible breach. Hamas says the protests are aimed at breaking a crippling border blockade that was imposed by Israel and Egypt after the Islamic militant group overran the territory in 2007, a year after winning Palestinian parliament elections. The marches also press for the return of the descendants of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians who fled or were forced from homes in the 1948 war over Israel's creation. Palestinians watch a bulldozer raises protective sand berms around the tents at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Palestinian activists are moving protest encampments closer to Israel's fence ahead of mass demonstration. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) While some organizers portray the protests as peaceful, Hamas and representatives of other factions have made it clear that a border breach is being considered. "We will cross the border," said Daoud Shehab, a member of the organizing committee from the smaller Islamic Jihad group, adding that Israel "should feel really jittery as a result of these marches." Israeli military officials have warned that they will not tolerate a mass border breach or permit protesters to get close to the fence. Israel's military said Thursday that it is ready for all scenarios and is "prepared to prevent any breach of Israeli sovereignty or damage to the border fence." Several Israeli communities are close to the border. Rights groups have branded Israel's open-fire regulations as unlawful, saying they permit soldiers to use potentially lethal force against unarmed protesters. In the past three weeks, Israeli troops firing from across the border fence have killed 28 protesters and wounded more than 1,500, according to Gaza health officials. During the weekly Friday marches, most protesters have remained in the five sit-in tent camps, but smaller groups have moved toward the fence, throwing stones, hurling firebombs or burning tires. On Thursday, organizers moved tent camps several dozen meters closer to the fence. In a camp east of Gaza City, five tents were moved to within 300 meters (328 yards) of the border, just in range of tear gas volleys. Bulldozers also raised protective sand berms around the new tents. In another protest site in southeastern Gaza, earth mounds were created to define the camp's new boundary. Meanwhile, activists were testing new means of confronting Israel - kites with burning rags dangling from their tails. The aim is to set ablaze drying wheat fields on the Israeli side. In the camp near Gaza City, activists flew two kites Thursday. One fell short in Gaza. The other reached its destination but failed to start a fire. Several fires have been started in wheat fields on the Israeli side of the border by such contraptions in recent days, according to the Times of Israel news website. The Facebook page of the Gaza protest organizers published images Wednesday of Israeli fields behind the fence, taken from a small camera attached to a kite. Thursday's development came as Israel was celebrating 70 years since the modern Jewish state was established. Festivities began the night before when in sharp contrast, Israel abruptly crossed over from its melancholy Memorial Day for fallen soldiers and terrorism victims. The grouping of the two days is intentional, to show the link between the costly wars Israel has fought and the establishment and survival of the Jewish state. Palestinian protesters set up tents at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Palestinian activists are moving protest encampments closer to Israel's fence ahead of mass demonstration. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Palestinians watch a bulldozer raises protective sand berms around the tents at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Palestinian activists are moving protest encampments closer to Israel's fence ahead of mass demonstration. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) GAUHATI, India (AP) - Indian police say they have arrested 18 Rohingya Muslims in a remote northeastern region as they prepared to board a train for New Delhi after entering illegally from Bangladesh. Police say the 11 men, four women and three children came from Chittagong in Bangladesh and were arrested Thursday in Khowai district in India's Tripura state. Police officer Krishnendu Chakravertty said they were looking for jobs and going to New Delhi where other Rohingya live. About 700,000 Rohingya Muslims have fled from Myanmar to Bangladesh to escape military-led violence against the minority group at home. An estimated 40,000 Rohingya Muslims have taken refuge in various parts of India. Less than 15,000 are registered with the U.N. High Commissioner for Refugees. TRENTON, N.J. (AP) - Former New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's official portrait will cost $85,000, which is more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three predecessors combined. The Record reports that Australian artist Paul Newton will paint the portrait of the Republican who left office after eight years in January. The cost detail was obtained through an open records request. FILE - In this Dec. 13, 2013, file photo, New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie reacts to a question after announcing Deborah Gramiccioni is replacing Bill Baroni as deputy executive director of The Port Authority of New York & New Jersey during a news conference at the Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. The former two-term Republican governor's official portrait by Australian artist Paul Newton will cost $85,000, The Record reported Thursday, April 19, 2018, more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three Democratic predecessors combined. Jon Corzine, Richard Codey and Jim McGreevey spent a combined $74,500 for theirs. None served two terms. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) Democrats Jon Corzine, Richard Codey and Jim McGreevey spent a combined $74,500 for theirs. None served for two terms. The Christie painting will likely be more formal than one of his best known images of him after he was photographed sitting on a beach closed to the public due to a budget stalemate last year. Christie appreciated luxury, watching the Dallas Cowboys from owner Jerry Jones' box and going to Jordan on the King Abdullah II's dime. FILE - In this July 11, 2011, file photo, former New Jersey governors James Florio, left, Brendan Byrne, second from left, and Richard Codey, third from left, look on as former New Jersey Gov. Jon Corzine with his wife Sharon, right, unveil Corzine's official portrait in Princeton, N.J. Former two-term Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's official portrait by Australian artist Paul Newton will cost $85,000, The Record reported Thursday, April 19, 2018, more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three Democratic predecessors combined. Corzine, Codey and Jim McGreevey spent a combined $74,500 for theirs. None served two terms. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) FILE - In this Jan. 29, 2007, file photo, New Jersey Senate President and former Gov. Richard J. Codey, second from right, stands next to his official portrait with his sons Kevin, left, and Christopher, second from left, and his wife, Mary Jo, right, during the portrait's unveiling in the Senate chambers of the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. Former two-term Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's official portrait by Australian artist Paul Newton will cost $85,000, The Record reported Thursday, April 19, 2018, more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three Democratic predecessors combined. Jon Corzine, Codey and Jim McGreevey spent a combined $74,500 for theirs. None served two terms. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) FILE - In this Jan. 2, 2007, file photo, the portrait of former New Jersey Gov. James E. McGreevey hangs in the governor's outer office after a private unveiling at the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. Former two-term Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's official portrait by Australian artist Paul Newton will cost $85,000, The Record reported Thursday, April 19, 2018, more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three Democratic predecessors combined. Jon Corzine, Richard Codey and McGreevey spent a combined $74,500 for theirs. None served two terms. (AP Photo/Mel Evans, File) FILE - In this June 8, 2001, file photo, U.S. Environmental Protection Agency Administrator and former New Jersey Gov. Christie Whitman, left, unveils her portrait with her husband John and daughter Kate in the New Jersey Statehouse in Trenton, N.J. Former two-term Republican New Jersey Gov. Chris Christie's official portrait by Australian artist Paul Newton will cost $85,000, The Record reported Thursday, April 19, 2018, more than taxpayers shelled out for paintings of his three Democratic predecessors combined. Jon Corzine, Richard Codey and Jim McGreevey spent a combined $74,500 for theirs. None served two terms. (AP Photo/Brian Branch-Price, File) PROVIDENCE, R.I. (AP) - The house where Rosa Parks sought refuge after she fled the South will be displayed in Rhode Island for at least a month after all because several groups have provided money. The future of the rebuilt house from Detroit was uncertain after it was taken on a trans-Atlantic journey and Brown University reneged on plans to exhibit it. A nonprofit arts organization, WaterFire Providence, said Thursday that it will put the house on display within two weeks. File - In this Sunday, April 1, 2018 file photo Cheryl Galloway, of Providence, R.I., front, uses a mobile phone to take a photo with family members in front of the rebuilt house of Rosa Parks at the WaterFire Arts Center, in Providence. The house will be displayed in Rhode Island for at least a month because several groups, including NAACP Providence, have provided money. The house was supposed to be the centerpiece of a weeks long exhibition this spring at Brown University, which the Ivy league school abruptly canceled. Rosa Parks moved to the house in Detroit in 1957, two years after refusing to give up her bus seat. (AP Photo/Steven Senne, File) WaterFire is receiving money from the Nash Family Foundation, one of the original exhibit sponsors, NAACP Providence, and others. Brown still will pay for the dismantling and transportation after the exhibit ends, according to WaterFire. The exhibit will run through at least June 3. The house where Parks lived after sparking the Montgomery bus boycott in the 1950s was on a demolition list in Detroit until it was saved by Parks' niece and a Berlin-based artist. The artist, Ryan Mendoza, moved it to Germany and reassembled it in his yard, piece by piece. It was supposed to be the centerpiece of a weekslong exhibition this spring at Brown University, which the Ivy league school abruptly canceled. Brown cited an unspecified dispute involving the Rosa and Raymond Parks Institute for Self Development, which Parks co-founded but which has feuded with relatives for years. A lawyer for the institute has questioned whether Parks spent any significant time in the house. Volunteers partially assembled the house, and it was displayed for a weekend in Providence. Mendoza said he jumped for joy when he learned funding came through for a longer exhibit. "I had really feared that it would be shipped back to Berlin," he said. "I feared that the importance of this house would not be recognized." When Brown's exhibit was canceled, the house was mostly reconstructed, but the roof wasn't finished, Mendoza said. Mendoza, who has returned to Berlin, said he'd like to finish it at some point. He said the house can be seen as a snapshot of civil rights in America - "unfinished business." Parks' niece, Rhea McCauley, said the house is now more of a community project, the way it should be. "It's much better," she said. "It's the way, I believe, Rosa would've wanted it." Jim Vincent, NAACP Providence branch president, said the exhibit can help teach people about civil disobedience, why it was needed at the time and its effect. "It's timely, especially now at this point in our history here in America, that we tell these stories of civil rights heroines like Rosa Parks," he said. WaterFire hopes to extend the exhibit at its arts center in Providence if additional funding becomes available. BAGHDAD (AP) - Iran's defense minister has visited a joint intelligence center in the Iraqi capital operated by Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia. Iran's official IRNA news agency says Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami met with Iraq's interior minister and other officials, and praised their victory over the Islamic State group. Gen. Saad al-Alak, head of Iraq's military intelligence, who met with Hatami, called the four-nation alliance "a distinguished example for international relations, especially in the field of military and security cooperation." Iran has maintained close ties to the Iraqi government since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. It sponsors a number of state-sanctioned militias, which helped Iraqi forces in the fight against IS. Iran, along with Russia, is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. WASHINGTON (AP) - The Pentagon said Thursday a "preponderance of the evidence" indicates there were chemical weapons, including "elements" of sarin nerve gas, at the three Syrian sites bombed by the U.S. and its allies last week. Any definitive conclusion probably will remain an open question for some time. Marine Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie said at a Pentagon briefing that the United States believes the Syrian government, six days after the strikes, can still mount "limited attacks" but its ability to conduct research or improve chemical weapons has been degraded. He said its remaining chemical capabilities are "probably spread throughout the country at a variety of sites." McKenzie said if Syrian forces were considering possible future attacks, "they've got to look over their shoulder and be worried that we're looking at them, and we'll have the ability to strike them again." The American assessment underscored the difficulty in getting additional or more conclusive evidence about the Syrians' suspected use of chemical weapons and verifying the allies' success in destroying any large caches of chlorine gas or sarin. "We believe the absolute preponderance of the evidence is that there were chemical weapons" at the targeted sites, including "elements of sarin particularly" at the Barzah research and development center in the Damascus area, said McKenzie, director of the Joint Chiefs of Staff. That was the mostly heavily attacked of the three sites targeted in the missile barrage. He said it was unlikely that the U.S. or allies would gain much access to the sites where the Syrian government reportedly conducted chemical attacks on its own people. The U.S. and France say they have evidence that poison gas was used in Douma, east of the capital, where dozens of people died, and that President Bashar Assad's military was behind it, but the two countries have not made that evidence public. Syria and its ally Russia deny any such attack took place. McKenzie said that plume analysis from the allies' missile strikes and the lack of civilian casualties in the area suggest that no chemical gas escaped into the atmosphere during the strikes that hit their targets early Saturday (Syrian time). The U.S. military has said there was "probably" chlorine and "possibly" sarin at "possibly" all the sites. Pentagon spokeswoman Dana W. White said there are no indications Syria is preparing to use chemical weapons again and there have been no reports of civilian casualties from the allied missile strikes. McKenzie was asked about reports that the Syrians had turned two unexploded cruise missiles over to the Russians. He said he hadn't heard anything about that. DALLAS (AP) - Southwest Airlines sought more time last year to inspect fan blades like the one that snapped off during one of its flights Tuesday in an engine failure that left a passenger dead. The airline opposed a recommendation by the engine manufacturer to require ultrasonic inspections of certain fan blades within 12 months, saying it needed more time to conduct the work. Southwest made the comments last year after U.S. regulators proposed making the inspections mandatory. The Federal Aviation Administration has not yet required airlines to conduct the inspections but said late Wednesday that it would do so in the next two weeks. National Transportation Safety Board investigators examine damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The Southwest Airlines jet blew the engine at 32,000 feet and got hit by shrapnel that smashed a window, setting off a desperate scramble by passengers to save a woman from getting sucked out. She later died, and seven others were injured. (NTSB via AP) The manufacturer's recommendation for more inspections followed an engine blowup on a 2016 Southwest flight. On Tuesday, an engine on another Southwest jet exploded over Pennsylvania, and debris hit the plane. A woman was sucked partway out of the jet when a window shattered. She died later from her injuries. The plane, a Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Passenger Andrew Needum, a Texas firefighter, said Thursday that he was helping his family and other passengers with their oxygen masks when he heard a commotion behind him. His wife nodded that it was OK for Needum to leave his family to help the injured woman. Texas rancher Tim McGinty, of Hillsboro, said Tuesday that he and Needum struggled to pull 43-year-old Jennifer Riordan back into the plane. Needum and retired school nurse Peggy Phillips began administering CPR for about 20 minutes, until the plane landed. Needum on Thursday declined to detail his rescue efforts out of respect for Riordan's family. "I feel for her family. I feel for her two kids, her husband, the community that they lived in," an emotional Needum told reporters. "I can't imagine what they're going through." Federal investigators are still trying to determine how the window came out of the plane. Riordan, who was in a window seat in Row 14, was wearing a seat belt. Philadelphia's medical examiner said the banking executive and mother of two from Albuquerque, New Mexico, died from blunt-impact injuries to her head, neck and torso. Investigators said the blade that broke off mid-flight and triggered the fatal accident was showing signs of metal fatigue - microscopic cracks from repeated use. The National Transportation Safety Board also blamed metal fatigue for the engine failure on a Southwest plane in Florida in 2016 that was able to land safely. That incident led manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and France's Safran SA, to recommend in June 2017 that airlines conduct ultrasonic inspections of fan blades on many Boeing 737s. The FAA proposed making the recommendation mandatory in August but never issued a final decision. On Wednesday, the FAA said it would issue a directive in the next two weeks to require the ultrasonic inspections of fan blades on some CFM56-7B engines after they reach a certain number of takeoffs and landings. Blades that fail inspection would need to be replaced. It was not immediately clear how many planes would be affected. Last year, the FAA estimated that an order would cover 220 engines on U.S. airlines. That number could be higher now because more engines have hit the number of flights triggering an inspection. Southwest announced its own program for similar inspections of its 700-plane fleet over the next month. United Airlines said Wednesday it has begun inspecting some of its planes. American Airlines has about 300 planes with that type of engine, and Delta has about 185. It will not be clear until the FAA issues its rule how many will need inspections. Tuesday's emergency broke a string of eight straight years without a fatal accident involving a U.S. airliner. "Engine failures like this should not occur," Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the NTSB, said Wednesday. Sumwalt expressed concern about such a destructive engine failure but said it was too soon to draw any conclusions about the safety of CFM56 engines or the entire fleet of Boeing 737s, the most popular airliner ever built. It is unknown whether the FAA's original directive would have forced Southwest to quickly inspect the engine that blew up. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said the plane was inspected on Sunday and nothing appeared out of order. A spokeswoman said it was a visual inspection. The NTSB's Sumwalt said, however, that the kind of wear seen where the missing fan blade broke off would not have been visible just by looking at the engine. ___ AP Airlines Writer David Koenig reported from Dallas. In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018 photo, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator examines damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. A preliminary examination of the blown jet engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that set off a terrifying chain of events and left a businesswoman hanging half outside a shattered window showed evidence of "metal fatigue," according to the National Transportation Safety Board. (NTSB via AP) This April 17, 2018 photo provided by Marty Martinez shows the window that was shattered after a jet engine of a Southwest Airlines airplane blew out at altitude, resulting in the death of a woman who was nearly sucked from the window during the flight of the Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, shown after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. (Marty Martinez via AP) This April 17, 2018 photo provided by Marty Martinez shows the window that was shattered after a jet engine of a Southwest Airlines airplane blew out at altitude, resulting in the death of a woman who was nearly sucked from the window during the flight of the Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. (Marty Martinez via AP) In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018 frame from video, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator examines damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. A preliminary examination of the blown jet engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that set off a terrifying chain of events and left a businesswoman hanging half outside a shattered window showed evidence of "metal fatigue," according to the National Transportation Safety Board. (NTSB via AP) In this 2017 photo, Jennifer Riordan, of Albuquerque, N.M., poses for a photo in Albuquerque. Family, friends and community leaders are mourning the death of Riordan, a bank executive on a Southwest Airlines jet that blew an engine as she was flying home from a business trip to New York. (Marla Brose/The Albuquerque Journal via AP) The engine on a Southwest Airlines plane is inspected as it sits on the runway at the Philadelphia International Airport after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (Amanda Bourman via AP) A Southwest Airlines plane sits on the runway at the Philadelphia International Airport after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (David Maialetti/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018 frame from video, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator examines damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. A preliminary examination of the blown jet engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that set off a terrifying chain of events and left a businesswoman hanging half outside a shattered window showed evidence of "metal fatigue," according to the National Transportation Safety Board. (NTSB via AP) In this Tuesday, April 17, 2018 frame from video, a National Transportation Safety Board investigator examines damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia. A preliminary examination of the blown jet engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that set off a terrifying chain of events and left a businesswoman hanging half outside a shattered window showed evidence of "metal fatigue," according to the National Transportation Safety Board. (NTSB via AP) In this April 17, 2018 photo provided by Marty Martinez, Martinez appears with other passengers after a jet engine blew out on the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737 plane he was flying in from New York to Dallas, resulting in the death of a woman who was nearly sucked from a window during the flight with 149 people aboard. A preliminary examination of the blown jet engine that set off a terrifying chain of events showed evidence of "metal fatigue," according to the National Transportation Safety Board. (Marty Martinez via AP) HAVANA (AP) - The Latest on Raul Castro's handover of Cuba's presidency (all times local): 6:45 p.m. Vice President Mike Pence is responding to outgoing Cuban leader Raul Castro, telling him on Twitter that "we're here standing with the Cuban people." Outgoing President Raul Castro raises his arms in celebration after Miguel Diaz-Canel was elected as the island nation's new president, at the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Castro passed Cuba's presidency to Diaz-Canel, putting the island's government in the hands of someone outside the Castro family for the first time in nearly six decades. He remains head of the powerful Communist Party that oversees political and social activities. (Adalberto Roque/Pool via AP) Pence tweeted in response to a quote from Castro, who said Pence "couldn't take it and left" during his appearance last weekend at an international summit in Peru. Pence responds, "looks like you're the one leaving," and says the U.S. won't rest until Cuba "has free & fair elections, political prisoners are released & the people of Cuba are finally free! (hashtag)CubaLibre" The vice president walked out of the Summit of the Americas when Cuba's foreign minister was recognized to speak after him. Pence slammed Cuba as a "tired communist regime" in his speech. ___ 4:30 p.m. Cuban-Americans in Miami aren't expecting much change as President Miguel Diaz-Canel takes over from Raul Castro. Many in South Florida who either fled the Cuban Revolution themselves or are related to people who did, have long been hostile to the government. But this latest development isn't the kind of change they wanted. Sixty-five-year-old Lourdes Diaz tells The Associated Press she sees nothing to distinguish the 57-year-old new president from his predecessor. The political adviser who left the island with her mother before Fidel Castro says life on the island will be "exactly" the same under the new leader. Julio Cesar Alfonso, president of Solidarity Without Borders, calls the change of leadership a "farce." Attorney Wilfredo Allen who left Cuba in 1961 notes that Raul Castro will still control the Communist Party. Still, he says, "sometimes a cosmetic change becomes real." ___ 4 p.m. Russia and China are among the countries sending congratulations to Cuba as a new president takes office on the island while the U.S. expressed "disappointment" over the event. Cuban-state media said Russian President Vladimir Putin congratulated President Miguel Diaz-Canel and thanked the outgoing President Raul Castro for the many years of cooperation between the two countries. Official media also said Chinese President Xi Jinping reaffirmed his country's friendship with Cuba expressed interest in deeper ties. But the U.S. State Department said Cuban citizens "had no real power to affect the outcome" of what spokeswoman Heather Nauert called an "undemocratic transition" that brought Diaz-Canal to the presidency. The spokeswoman said the U.S. was not surprised by the outcome but "nevertheless disappointed." ___ 1:55 p.m. Raul Castro's retirement from the presidency of Cuba has its own theme song. Cuban state media are enthusiastically promoting "The Last Mambi," a tribute to Castro posted online by renowned trova singer Raul Torres. Torres also wrote a tribute to Fidel Castro that was widely played in Cuba after the revolutionary leader's death in November 2016. Addressing Raul Castro, the new song says, "Now you can be happy/confident that you won't be the last mambi/confident that there will be millions of arms/with their machetes at the ready." The mambis were machete-toting Cuban rebels against Spanish rule in the 19th century who become icons of Cuban nationalism for future governments, including the current communist administration. ___ 1:25 p.m. One of the fiercest congressional critics of Cuba's government says the island's new president is a "thug" who is just the "same as the old boss." Florida Republican Rep. Ileana Ros-Lehtinen says Congress sees Thursday's transition as "business as usual" and doesn't expect diplomatic relations to improve under new President Miguel Diaz-Canel. Raul Castro stepped down as president Thursday, ending 60 years of Castros holding the island's top government position. But he remains head of the Communist Party, the country's ultimate authority. The Cuban-born lawmaker told The Associated Press Thursday that as long as Raul Castro remains, "There are really no changes." She said "It's the whole system that is corrupt. It's the communist, authoritarian, totalitarian regime." ___ 11 a.m. Raul Castro says he sees new Cuban President Miguel Diaz-Canel as his eventual successor as head of the island's powerful Communist Party. Castro is making his first speech since handing the presidency over to Diaz-Canel, and used the opportunity to give his vision of the future. He told members of the National Assembly Thursday that he expects Diaz-Canel to serve two five-year terms and can become head of the party once Castro leaves that position in 2021. Castro praised Diaz-Canel's leadership as a Communist Party official dating back to the "special period" of the 1990s when Cuba faced a deep economic crisis following the loss of subsidies because of the collapse of the Soviet Union. Raul Castro served as president for two terms since 2008. ___ 10:10 a.m. President Mario Diaz-Canel has made his first speech as Cuba's new head of state with a pledge to continue the socialist revolution led by his predecessors Fidel and Raul Castro. Diaz-Canel says in the nationally televised speech before the National Assembly that his first thoughts upon taking office are for the "historic generation" that has led the country since the triumph of the Cuban Revolution in 1959. The 57-year-old president says the country's leadership cannot forget "for a second" its commitment to the people of Cuba. Raul Castro sat in the front row of the assembly, gently rocking back and forth in his chair and occasionally seeming to nod in approval. ___ 9 a.m. Raul Castro has passed Cuba's presidency to Miguel Diaz-Canel, putting the island's government in the hands of someone outside the Castro family for the first time in nearly six decades. He remains head of the powerful Communist Party that oversees political and social activities. Francisco Cazanas sells roasted peanuts to tourists in the Little Havana neighborhood of Miami, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Cazanas does not believe real change will come to Cuba until its citizens are able to democratically elect their government. The Cuban government selected 57-year-old First Vice President Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez as the sole candidate to succeed President Raul Castro in a transition aimed at ensuring the country's single-party system outlasts the aging revolutionaries who created it. (AP Photo/Marta Lavandier) Cuba's former president Raul Castro acknowledges the crowd of legistors at the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Castro left the presidency after 12 years in office when the National Assembly approved Miguel Diaz-Canel's nomination as the candidate for the top government position. Diaz-Canel told the nation that Castro, 86, would remain the country's ultimate authority as head of the Communist Party. (Irene Perez/Cubadebate via AP) Miguel Diaz-Canel, center, and President Raul Castro, right, arrive at the National Assembly in Havana, Cuba, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Castro left the presidency 12 years in office when the National Assembly approved Diaz-Canel's nomination as the candidate for the top government position. Diaz-Canel told the nation that Castro, 86, would remain the country's ultimate authority as head of the Communist Party. (Irene Perez/Cubadebate via AP) MILWAUKEE (AP) - The case of British cybersecurity expert once heralded as a hero for stopping the WannaCry worldwide computer virus was delayed Thursday to allow his attorneys more time to prepare arguments on why a judge should suppress statements he made after his arrest for allegedly creating software to steal banking passwords. Marcus Hutchins, 23, pleaded not guilty after his arrest last year in Las Vegas before he boarded a flight home to England. U.S. prosecutors say Hutchins created and distributed malware known as Kronos and made incriminating statements to FBI agents after his arrest and in two jailhouse phone calls. Federal prosecutors publicly revealed details of those phone calls for the first time in court filings Wednesday night, and provided Hutchins' defense with new transcripts of the conversations. Hutchins' attorney, Brian Klein, told a federal magistrate judge that prosecutors intended to present those calls in court Thursday to "make assertions about what he said and the significance of those" conversations. FILE - This Monday, May 15, 2017, file photo shows Marcus Hutchins, a British cybersecurity expert during an interview in Ilfracombe, England. Hutchins once hailed as a hero for stopping the WannaCry computer virus that crippled computers worldwide will be in federal court in Milwaukee, Thursday, April 19, 2018, to try to weaken a criminal case against him by having his post-arrest statements tossed. Prosecutors filed charges against Hutchins last year, alleging he distributed a malicious software called Kronos to steal banking passwords from unsuspecting computer users. Hutchins pleaded not guilty to the charges in August. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File) The hearing was rescheduled for May 16. Hutchins' August arrest came as a shock, as four months earlier, he was lauded as a cybercrime-fighting hero for finding a "kill switch" to slow the outbreak of the WannaCry virus, which crippled computers worldwide, encrypting files and making them inaccessible unless people paid a ransom ranging from $300 to $600. Details of Hutchins' arrest and the crimes he's accused of committing have been sparse, but the court documents prosecutors filed Wednesday included new revelations. For example, prosecutors say Hutchins signed a consent form allowing the FBI to search his backpack, phones, and laptops and that he "was lucid and answered many detailed questions" during a nearly two-hour interview with agents. Hutchins' defense attorneys are trying to get those statements suppressed, saying he was sleep-deprived after a week of partying in Las Vegas, where he had attended a cybersecurity convention, and that he didn't fully understand Miranda warnings because he's a foreigner. Klein said FBI agents didn't immediately start recording their interview with Hutchins and what happened before the interrogation is significant, but he didn't explain why in court. In the new court filings, prosecutors also say Hutchins knew he was being recorded when he made two phone calls in which he "made multiple incriminating statements ... including writing the code for the banking Trojan and compiling malware binaries and sending to someone." Prosecutors also said in the new court filings that Hutchins is suspected to have sold the Kronos software to someone in Wisconsin. He also "personally delivered" the software to someone in California, prosecutors say. The indictment says the crimes happened between July 2014 and July 2015, but prosecutors have still not offered any details about the number of victims. In addition to computer fraud, the indictment lists five other charges, including attempting to intercept electronic communications and trying to access a computer without authorization. Hutchins faces decades in prison if convicted of all the charges. He has been barred from returning home and has been living in California, where he works as a cybersecurity consultant while he awaits trial. ___ Follow Ivan Moreno on Twitter: https://twitter.com/IvanJourno COLUMBIA, S.C. (AP) - A handful of South Carolina lawmakers told state officials Thursday that they want to see firsthand the conditions inside a maximum-security state prison where a riot killed seven inmates. In a letter obtained by The Associated Press, five Democratic lawmakers told Gov. Henry McMaster and Corrections Director Bryan Stirling that they want to tour Lee Correctional Institution "as soon as possible." The legislators also requested information on how inmates have been treated since the riots, including whether mental health counseling has been made available since the deadly riots that began Sunday night. "We do not believe such violence is inevitable," wrote state Reps. Justin Bamberg, John King, Todd Rutherford, James Smith and Will Wheeler. "Rather, we believe it is preventable. Lack of action now to stop an incident from occurring in the future would be an inexcusable failure of leadership." South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling addresses the media during a press conference following a prison riot at the Lee Correctional Institution Monday, April 16, 2018, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) Seven inmates were killed and 22 were injured in a seven-hour riot that began Sunday night at Lee, 40 miles (64 km) east of Columbia. State police are still investigating, and no charges have been filed. Also Thursday, state prison officials announced they'd contracted with an independent group that's doing a "thorough review" of the riot. Stirling and McMaster have said the riot was a gang fight over territory and contraband, including cellphones. For years, they and other state officials have long denounced cellphones - which agency policy prohibits inmates from having - as the No. 1 security threat behind bars, saying the state wants the ability to utilize technology that will jam cell signals behind bars. Current federal law prohibits state entities from being able to use that technology. South Carolina has previously sought waivers to test it, and Stirling has testified multiple times before federal officials about how he feels his institutions need it. But the lawmakers took issue with the pronouncement that cellphones are to blame. "While access to cellphones within prisons is a problem that must be addressed, it is inaccurate to blame a riot that lasted more than seven hours, involved three dormitories, and left seven inmates dead on this," they wrote. For the past few months, AP has been communicating with a Lee prisoner who used a contraband cellphone to offer insight into life behind bars. Describing frequent gang fights with inmates using homemade weapons, he said inmates roam freely, have easy access to cellphones and drugs, and are often left to police themselves. "ALL of the doors to the cells are broken," wrote the inmate, who spoke to AP on the condition of anonymity because his cellphone is illegal and he fears retribution from other prisoners. "At any time, I can let myself out of my cell, to do whatever it is that I would want to do." ___ Kinnard can be reached at http://twitter.com/MegKinnardAP . Read more of her work at https://apnews.com/search/meg%20kinnard . These undated photos provided by the South Carolina Department of Corrections shows, from top row from left, Corey Scott, Eddie Casey Gaskins, Raymond Angelo Scott and Damonte Rivera; bottom row from left, Michael Milledge, Cornelius McClary and Joshua Jenkins. The seven inmates were killed, and at least 17 prisoners wounded, in a riot at the Lee Correctional Institution on early Monday, April 16, 2018, in Bishopville, S.C. (South Carolina Department of Corrections via AP) A police vehicle sits outside the Lee Correctional Institution on Monday, April 16, 2018, in Bishopville, S.C. Multiple inmates were killed and others seriously injured amid fighting between prisoners inside the maximum security prison in South Carolina. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) A fence surrounds the Lee Correctional Institution on Monday, April 16, 2018, in Bishopville, S.C. Multiple inmates were killed and others seriously injured amid fighting between prisoners inside the maximum security prison in South Carolina. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) FILE - In this Feb. 9, 2016, file photo, razor wire protects a perimeter of the Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville, S.C. A South Carolina prisons spokesman says several inmates are dead and others required outside medical attention after hours of fighting inside the maximum security prison. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford, File) This shows the Lee Correctional Institution on Monday, April 16, 2018, in Bishopville, S.C. Multiple inmates were killed and others seriously injured amid fighting between prisoners inside the maximum security prison in South Carolina. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) This shows the Lee Correctional Institution on Monday, April 16, 2018, in Bishopville, S.C. Multiple inmates were killed and others seriously injured amid fighting between prisoners inside the maximum security prison in South Carolina. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) South Carolina Law Enforcement Division Chief Mark Keel, left, addresses the media during a press conference following a prison riot at the Lee Correctional Institution Monday, April 16, 2018, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, left, address the media during a press conference following a prison riot at the Lee Correctional Institution Monday, April 16, 2018, in Columbia, S.C. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) South Carolina Gov. Henry McMaster, left, and South Carolina Department of Corrections Director Bryan Stirling address the media at a press conference Monday, April 16, 2018, in Columbia, S.C., regarding a deadly prison riot at the Lee Correctional Institution. (AP Photo/Sean Rayford) "Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece" (Simon & Schuster), by Michael Benson Fifty years ago, moviegoers had their minds blown by director Stanley Kubrick's "2001: A Space Odyssey." To this day some of them still aren't quite sure what it all means. Was an alien intelligence behind the monolith? What went wrong with the computer known as HAL? Does the way station in the afterlife really look like a Louis XIV hotel suite? Did Dr. Floyd's daughter get her bush baby? This cover image released by Simon & Schuster shows "Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece," by Michael Benson. (Simon & Schuster via AP) Seriously, part of Kubrick's genius - and that of his co-screenwriter, Arthur C. Clarke - was not to spell out everything, thus challenging people to ponder the futuristic mythology unspooling before them. "If anyone understands it on the first viewing," Clarke said at the time, "we've failed in our intention." Failure? Not when many consider "2001" the greatest science-fiction movie ever made and one of the landmarks of cinema, period. Whether you've not seen "2001" recently or not seen it at all, do so before tackling Michael Benson's exhaustive account of its creation. "Space Odyssey: Stanley Kubrick, Arthur C. Clarke, and the Making of a Masterpiece" is a movie wonk's dream, launching its rich narrative with the written invitation from Kubrick to Clarke in 1964 to create what Kubrick hoped would be the first "really good" science-fiction film. Scores of books and videos about "2001" and its director have appeared over the half-century since its premiere, yet it would be difficult to envision anything offering the abundance of telling anecdotes, technical detail and keen insight that fills Benson's "Space Odyssey." Kubrick was riding a critical and popular wave with the nuclear nightmare satire "Dr. Strangelove" when Clarke, a renowned writer and futurist, responded favorably to his entreaty. This unlikely pair of intellectuals - Kubrick was living in his native New York City with his wife and daughters while the British-born Clarke led an ex-pat's life in Sri Lanka with his male partner - bonded over the challenge of writing a filmable story about aliens and mankind that centered on ideas instead of monsters and ray guns. While Clarke's previous writings were foundational to "2001," both the writer and the filmmaker scoured scientific books and journals and discussed all kinds of subjects with experts as they fine-tuned their story of human contact with an alien intelligence. Benson explains in great detail the narrative hurdles Kubrick and Clarke faced as they tried to stay true to what might be possible in space exploration three-plus decades in the future. For example, they didn't settle on astronaut Dave Bowman's helmetless jump from spacecraft to spacecraft without assurances that a human being could actually survive several seconds in a deep-space vacuum. There were all kinds of technical issues for Kubrick and company to surmount, too, such as how to shoot the interior of a ship supposedly traveling in zero gravity (they designed a rotating set) and how to present the organic, yet otherworldly, shapes that Bowman encounters while traveling "beyond the infinite" (they filmed drops of paint in various liquids and turned Scottish and American landscapes shot by helicopter into psychedelic images). Benson's chapter-long description of the "Dawn of Man" sequence offers a microcosm of Kubrickian moviemaking: studying paleo history, creating specialized makeup, utilizing a unique front-screen photographic process, employing a mime to study and replicate simian movement and demanding that a leopard and other live animals mix with the early humans. While Benson gives Clarke, the movie's cast and various members of the production team their well-deserved places in the creation of "2001," the maddeningly brilliant, obsessed Kubrick remains its star. He is presented as a flawed genius, at least in the eyes of his collaborators, a man at times cold and cruel and at other moments empathetic and generous. Kubrick cultivated creative people, encouraged them and gave them room to come up with ideas, yet he was exceedingly stingy when it came to sharing credit. Kubrick, who died in 1999 and never saw the actual year 2001, remains as enigmatic as his movie monolith, a cinematic touchstone for future generations of filmmakers. ___ Douglass K. Daniel is the author of "Anne Bancroft: A Life" (University Press of Kentucky). BOERNE, Texas (AP) - Tammie Jo Shults was determined to "break into the club" of male military aviators. One of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy, Shults flew training missions as an enemy pilot during Operation Desert Storm, while working with other women to see a rule excluding them from combat flights repealed. Twenty-five years later, Shults was at the controls of the Dallas-bound Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 Tuesday when it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after one of the engines on the Boeing 737 exploded while the plane was traveling 500 mph (800 kph) at 30,000 feet (9144 m) with 149 people on board. In this April 27, 1988 photo provided by Rob "Shack" Bennett, LCDR USN (ret), U.S. Navy instructor pilot, Tammie Jo Shults explains a flight maneuver to aviators at Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas, with squadron VT-26. Shults is being lauded as a hero in a harrowing emergency landing on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 after a passenger was partially blown out of her airliner's damaged fuselage. She is also being hailed for her pioneering role in a career where she has been one of the few women at the controls. (Rob Bennett via AP) Shrapnel hit the plane and passengers said they had to rescue a woman who was being blown out of a damaged window. The woman later died of blunt force trauma to her head, neck and torso. Shults calmly relayed details about the crisis to air traffic controllers, and passengers commended her handling of the situation. "Everybody is talking about Tammie Jo and how cool and calm she was in a crisis, and that's just Tammie Jo," said Rachel Russo, a friend from Shults' church in Boerne, Texas, about 30 miles (48 km) northwest of San Antonio. "That's how she's wired." Shults and the other pilot on board, First Officer Darren Ellisor, said in a statement Wednesday that they were simply doing their jobs. "On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss," the two pilots said, adding that their "hearts are heavy." Shults was commissioned into the Navy in 1985 and reached the rank of lieutenant commander, said Commander Ron Flanders, spokesman for Naval Air Forces in San Diego. She was among the few to learn to fly the F/A-18 Hornet, a single-seat jet and the Navy's premier strike fighter aircraft, a privilege reserved for elite pilots, according to retired Navy helicopter pilot Andi Sue Phillips. "When you pull those g's, you can actually feel your organs slamming on the inside of your ribs," Phillips said. "It's exhausting to put your body through those maneuvers." Phillips said that that there was a lot of resistance for women to fly jets and for Shults "to fly a fighter aircraft when nobody even wanted her there is pretty amazing." Women aviators were excluded from combat missions until the month after Shults got off active duty in March 1993. Flanders said Shults flew during Operation Desert Storm trainings as an aggressor enemy pilot, helping "male pilots hone their skills." "Obviously it was frustrating," said Veteran Navy combat aviator Linda Maloney, who became among the first women to join a combat military flying squadron and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf. "We go through the same training that the guys do, and our hope was the Navy would allow us to fly in combat at some point." Maloney featured Shults in her book, "Military Fly Moms," along with the stories and photos of 69 other women U.S. military veterans. Shults wrote in the book about her determination to "break into the club" of male military aviators. "There did not seem to be a demand for women pilots," she said, adding that her Hornet flight training squadron did not share her commander's "open-mindedness about flying with women." Russo and Staci Thompson, who has known Shults for about 20 years and was nanny to her two children when they were small, said she "loved" her military career but has alluded to frustrations and challenges that came with it. They also said she embraced those experiences to make her stronger and guide her into a role as a mentor to young female pilots or girls thinking about a military career. "She learned a lot about overcoming things as a woman in a male-dominated field," Russo said. Shults grew up in a New Mexico ranch near Holloman Air Force Base, and was a 1983 graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, where she earned degrees in biology and agribusiness. Her husband, Dean Shults, also is a Southwest pilot. "She's a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack," said Gary Shults, a dentist in San Antonio. "My brother says she's the best pilot he knows." ___ Schmall reported from Fort Worth, Texas. Associated Press writers Adam Kealoha Causey in Oklahoma City, Ben Finley in Norfolk, Virginia, and Terry Wallace and business writer David Koenig in Dallas contributed to this story. In this April 27, 1988 photo provided by Rob "Shack" Bennett, LCDR USN (ret), U.S. Navy instructor pilot, Tammie Jo Shults, background, flies next to another aircraft in squadron VT-26 near Naval Air Station Chase Field, in Beeville, Texas. Shults is being lauded as a hero in a harrowing emergency landing on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 after a passenger was partially blown out of her airliner's damaged fuselage. She is also being hailed for her pioneering role in a career where she has been one of the few women at the controls.. (Rob Bennett via AP) In this image provided by the U.S. Navy, Lt. Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first women to fly Navy tactical aircraft, poses in front of an F/A-18A with Tactical Electronics Warfare Squadron (VAQ) 34 in 1992. After leaving active duty in early 1993, Shults served in the Navy Reserve until 2001. Shults was the pilot of the Southwest plane that made an emergency landing on April 17, 2018, after an engine explosion. (Thomas P. Milne/U.S. Navy via AP) This March 20, 2017 photo provided by Kevin Garber at MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kan., shows Tammie Jo Shults, one of the pilots of a Southwest Airlines twin-engine Boeing 737 bound from New York to Dallas that made an emergency landing at the Philadelphia International Airport after the aircraft blew one of its engines Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (Kevin Garber/MidAmerica Nazarene University via AP) National Transportation Safety Board investigators examine damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport in Philadelphia on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The Southwest Airlines jet blew the engine at 32,000 feet and got hit by shrapnel that smashed a window, setting off a desperate scramble by passengers to save a woman from getting sucked out. She later died, and seven others were injured. (NTSB via AP) National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt briefs reporters at National Airport in in Arlington, Va., Tuesday, April 17, 2018, on the Southwest Airlines plane incident in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt briefs reporters at National Airport in Arlington, Va., Tuesday, April 17, 2018, about the Southwest Airlines plane incident in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Susan Walsh) A Southwest Airlines plane sits on the runway at the Philadelphia International Airport after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, on Tuesday, April 17, 2018. The Federal Aviation Administration says the flight from New York to Dallas made an emergency landing after the crew reported damage to one of the engines, as well as the fuselage and at least one window. (AP Photo/Corey Perrine) It has long been held in New York that when a defendant receives a final sentence of incarceration, that sentence defines the defendant's debt to society, and upon completion of that sentence his debt to us is paid. For this reason, the state Court of Appeals has held in several different contexts that once a sentence is complete, a new crime is necessary for new time. This is nothing new, and I cannot conceive of any "tweak" to Leandra's law that would allow the Legislature to override this Constitutional mandate. Courts often use "shock probation" sentences to give defendants a "taste" of jail, but the statutes provide clear limits on how much jail (and it's always local jail) that a defendant may serve before he crosses the line into the final sentence range. The post-incarceration probation on felony DWI charges is not meaningless; it provides the necessary basis to maintain the ignition interlock requirement. This requirement cannot be placed on an individual's license without a supervising agency, and in many cases that agency is probation. If the individual fails to cooperate with probation, then when caught driving he will be charged with a new misdemeanor and face up to a year in jail on his new crime. This is not a bug in the law, but rather working as intended. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump has endorsed Marsha Blackburn in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee. Trump tweeted Thursday that the sitting congresswoman is a "wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her." Trump said she's great on his key issues of the military, border security and crime and "loves and works hard for the people of Tennessee." Trump said, "I will be there to campaign with her!" He did not announce any dates. FILE - In this Oct. 26, 2017, file photo, Rep. Marsha Blackburn, R-Tenn., leaves the House chamber on Capitol Hill in Washington. President Donald Trump has endorsed Blackburn in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee. Trump tweeted April 19, 2018, that the sitting congresswoman is a "wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her." (AP Photo/J. Scott Applewhite, File) Blackburn faces former Republican U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher in the August GOP primary. The seat became open when incumbent Sen. Bob Corker, a Trump critic, announced his retirement. Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is the Democratic candidate. Republicans hold a slim 51-49 advantage in the U.S. Senate. PITTSBURGH (AP) - Former "Dance Moms" reality TV star Abby Lee Miller has been diagnosed with cancer. Doctor Hooman Melamed tells People.com she contracted what they thought was a rare spinal infection and nearly died this week. The doctor says Miller went to a California emergency room, where her condition deteriorated and she became "paralyzed from the neck down." He says Miller underwent spinal surgery Tuesday and parts of some vertebrae were removed. FILE - In this May 9, 2017, file photo, TV personality Abby Lee Miller arrives at court in downtown Pittsburgh, for the second day of her sentencing hearing. The former "Dance Moms" reality TV star has been diagnosed with cancer. Her doctor Hooman Melamed tells People.com that Miller nearly died this week after contracting what they initially thought was a rare spinal infection. She's now recovering but Melamed and they are discussing next steps for treatment. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File) It was determined Miller had non-Hodgkin's lymphoma. Miller is recovering and discussing treatment with her doctor. Miller ran Abby Lee Dance Company outside Pittsburgh. She was sentenced to a year in prison for hiding income from a bankruptcy judge. She transferred to a California halfway house in March and is to be released in May. Her attorney says she was "ill-equipped to deal with the brand that she became." TOLEDO, Ohio (AP) - A judge in Ohio says she needs more information before deciding whether to release a man who confessed to a string of rapes and murders under a decades-old plea deal. The judge in Toledo said Thursday she wants Nathaniel Cook to undergo another evaluation that looks at whether he's likely to commit any more crimes. Another hearing is set for May 31. FILE - In this March 8, 2018, file photo, convicted killer Nathaniel Cook leaves Lucas County Common Pleas Court in Toledo, Ohio. A judge plans to hold a hearing in Toledo on Thursday, April 19, when she could decide whether to release Cook. (Dave Zapotosky/The Blade via AP, File) Cooks attorneys say a plea deal signed nearly 20 years ago says the court is bound to order his release this year. The agreement forced Cook to confess to killing three people with his brother, who also admitted to killing five others in the 1980s. Families of the victims say the confessions gave them needed answers, but they want the judge to keep the 59-year-old Cook in prison. JEFFERSON CITY, Mo. (AP) - A mysterious green substance sent to a Missouri lawmaker who was censured by the Legislature last year for a Facebook post hoping for President Donald Trump's assassination appears to pose no danger, officials said Thursday, and it's not yet clear whether the package was intended as a threat. Authorities are investigating after an assistant of Sen. Maria Chappelle-Nadal spotted the granular substance Thursday morning leaking from an envelope that was sent to the Statehouse and addressed to the St. Louis-area Democrat. The assistant then took it and showed it to someone else in the senate administrator's office, and Capitol police were called. Three firefighters in protective gear spent about 10 minutes in the offices of Chappelle-Nadal and the senate administrator and left with several sealed plastic bags. A Cole County hazmat team that accompanied the Jefferson City firefighters and the Capitol police never suited up, according to Missouri Department of Public Safety spokesman Mike O'Connell. The source and intention of the package aren't yet known, although Chappelle-Nadal later tweeted that the postmark was from Springfield, in southwest Missouri. The senator said she has received many death threats since the August Facebook post, which was later deleted. Chappelle-Nadal has also apologized. Senate Majority Floor Leader Mike Kehoe, a Republican from Jefferson City, said on the Senate floor that Chappelle-Nadal's office and the senate administrator's office would remain closed until lab results came back. The mailroom was also briefly closed. Eight staffers were examined by medical personnel, but showed no problematic symptoms and were released from quarantine. Patrick Baker, the senate administrator, said it was not ideal that the staffer who originally spotted the envelope didn't immediately contact Capitol police. He said staffers had been trained for this type of situation, and he hopes the frequency of the training would increase in the future. He also said an app was being developed in-house to alert staffers to possible threats. "We wish to thank local first responders and members of law enforcement for their quick reaction to the issue," Kehoe and Senate President Pro Tem Ron Richard, a Republican from Joplin, said in a written statement. WASHINGTON (AP) - President Donald Trump isn't getting the facts straight when it comes to how he won the 2016 election. He's denouncing special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election as a hoax, saying Democrats are unhappy after blowing a win in an Electoral College system in which they have a "tremendous advantage." It's not true as to the Electoral College - some Democrats in fact would prefer to get rid of it. President Donald Trump waves as he boards Air Force One before his departure from Naval Air Station Key West in Key West, Fla., Thursday, April 19, 2018. Trump was visiting Joint Interagency Task Force South anti-smuggling center in Key West Fla., and flying back to nearby Palm Beach, Fla., to spend the weekend at this private Mar-a-Lago club. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Trump wouldn't have won the presidency without the Electoral College system in which the votes of smaller rural states that tend to vote Republican are weighted more heavily than big, Democratic-leaning states like New York and California. He also glosses over the fact that his own Justice Department appointed Mueller to conduct the special investigation into Russia's role in the election, including contacts with the Trump campaign. A look at Trump's claim: TRUMP on Democrats: "This was a - really a hoax created largely by the Democrats as a way of softening the blow of a loss, which is a loss that, frankly, they shouldn't have had from the standpoint that it's very easy for them. They have a tremendous advantage in the Electoral College. And this is what it is, and this is where it came from." - remarks Wednesday. THE FACTS: He's misguided to assert that Democrats have a "tremendous advantage" in the Electoral College, as he often does. In fact, its unique system of electing presidents is a big reason why Trump won the presidency. Four candidates in history have won a majority of the popular vote only to be denied the presidency by the Electoral College. All were Democrats. Democrat Hillary Clinton received nearly 2.9 million more votes than Trump in the 2016 election, after racking up more lopsided wins in big states like New York and California, according to election data compiled by The Associated Press. But she lost the presidency due to Trump's winning margin in the Electoral College, which came after he pulled out narrow victories in lesser populated Midwestern states like Michigan and Wisconsin. (Trump did win Texas, a big state that has traditionally voted Republican.) Unlike the popular vote, Electoral College votes are set equal to the number of U.S. representatives in each state plus its two senators. That means more weight is given to a single vote in a small state than the vote of someone in a large state. In recent elections, smaller rural states and working-class whites in the slower-growing Midwest have often tilted Republican. That's in contrast to bigger states like California and New York with faster-growing non-white populations, who tend to vote Democrat. In the aftermath of Clinton's loss in 2016, some Democrats urged a switch to the popular vote as the method of picking the president. That's because they feel disadvantaged by the Electoral College. A switch would require a constitutional amendment and is unlikely to succeed. Clinton is the fifth U.S. presidential candidate to come out ahead in the popular vote but fail to win the Electoral College, and therefore lose the presidency. Democrat Al Gore in 2000 suffered the same fate. The other three who fell short were Democrats Samuel Tilden and Grover Cleveland. Andrew Jackson of the Democratic-Republican Party won a plurality of the popular and Electoral College votes in 1824, short of a majority. He was passed over in favor of John Quincy Adams in the House of Representatives' ultimate selection of the president. Jackson later joined a new Democratic party after his supporters blamed his loss on a rigged election system. ___ Find AP Fact Checks at http://apne.ws/2kbx8bd Follow @APFactCheck on Twitter: https://twitter.com/APFactCheck MILWAUKEE (AP) - The Latest on the criminal case of a British cybersecurity expert once heralded as a hero for stopping the WannaCry worldwide computer virus (all times local): 3:25 p.m. Attorneys for a British cybersecurity expert credited with stopping a computer virus have been given more time to prepare for arguments on whether to suppress statements he made to the FBI after his arrest on criminal indictment. FILE - This Monday, May 15, 2017, file photo shows Marcus Hutchins, a British cybersecurity expert during an interview in Ilfracombe, England. Hutchins once hailed as a hero for stopping the WannaCry computer virus that crippled computers worldwide will be in federal court in Milwaukee, Thursday, April 19, 2018, to try to weaken a criminal case against him by having his post-arrest statements tossed. Prosecutors filed charges against Hutchins last year, alleging he distributed a malicious software called Kronos to steal banking passwords from unsuspecting computer users. Hutchins pleaded not guilty to the charges in August. (AP Photo/Frank Augstein, File) Attorneys for Marcus Hutchins asked for a continuance Thursday because prosecutors alerted them Wednesday night that they planned to present details of jailhouse phone calls they say are incriminating. Prosecutors filed charges against 23-year-old Marcus Hutchins last year, alleging he distributed a malicious software called Kronos to steal banking passwords from unsuspecting computer users. Hutchins pleaded not guilty to the charges in August. Prosecutors say the crimes happened between July 2014 and July 2015, long before Hutchins won acclaim for curbing the outbreak of the WannaCry virus that crippled computers worldwide last year. ___ 12:45 p.m. A British cybersecurity expert once hailed as a hero for stopping a computer virus will be in federal court in Milwaukee to try to weaken a criminal case against him by having his post-arrest statements tossed. Prosecutors filed charges against 23-year-old Marcus Hutchins last year , alleging he distributed a malicious software called Kronos to steal banking passwords from unsuspecting computer users. Hutchins pleaded not guilty to the charges in August. Prosecutors say the crimes happened between July 2014 and July 2015, long before Hutchins won acclaim for curbing the outbreak of the WannaCry virus that crippled computers worldwide last year. Hutchins' defense is trying to convince a judge Thursday to suppress what prosecutors say are incriminating statements he made to the FBI. The defense argues he was sleep-deprived and he didn't understand his Miranda warnings. President Donald Trump asked his then-FBI Director James Comey last year if he believed his deputy at the time, Andrew McCabe, was out to get him. In Comeys personal memos that he wrote after his interactions with Trump, he writes that the two had dinner at the White House in late January last year just days after the inauguration. In the 80-minute meeting, Comey writes that Trump needed loyalty and expected loyalty presumably from the FBI. After a conversation about the investigation into Hillary Clintons private email server, Trump is said to have asked Comey about your guy McCabe and whether he has a problem with me. Trump told Comey that I was pretty rough on him and his wife during the campaign. McCabes wife, Jill McCabe, a doctor who ran for Virginias state Senate seat in 2015 as a Democrat. A report from the watchdog office released last week concluded that McCabe (above) had misled investigators and his own boss, then-Director Comey, about his role in an October 2016 Wall Street Journal article on an FBI investigation into the Clinton Foundation She lost the election, but her political affiliation has led conservatives, including Trump, to question her husbands impartiality. Comey writes that he told Trump Andy was a true professional and had no problem at all. During another encounter between Comey and Trump at the White House on February 8, the president once again brought up McCabe and whether he had a problem with him. Trump reminded Comey that during the campaign he alleged that the number 2 guy at the FBI took a million dollars from the Clintons. According to the memo, Trump asked Comey if McCabe mentioned the presidents attacks on him during the campaign. Comey answered: Never. Comey again explained [McCabe] was a true pro and [Trump] would come to value him, according to the memo. I said if he had it to do over again Im sure he would urge his wife not to run, but that the guy put everything aside and did his job well, Comey writes. Before the memos became public, Trump tweeted on Thursday that Comey threw McCabe 'under the bus.' 'James Comey just threw Andrew McCabe "under the bus." Inspector Generals Report on McCabe is a disaster for both of them! Getting a little (lot) of their own medicine?' Trump tweeted. The president's tweet was posted hours after the Justice Department's inspector general sent a criminal referral about McCabe to federal prosecutors in Washington, his lawyer said Thursday. The referral to the US attorney's office for the District of Columbia does not mean McCabe will ever be charged, but it does raise the prospect that the longtime law enforcement official could face a criminal investigation into whether he illegally misled officials about his authorization of a news media disclosure. President Donald Trump tweeted on Thursday that fired FBI Director James Comey threw his recently removed former deputy, Andrew McCabe, 'under the bus' Prosecutors could decide to charge him if they conclude he intentionally lied. McCabe's lawyer, Michael Bromwich, said the standard for an inspector general referral is very low and he expected McCabe to avoid prosecution. 'We are confident that, unless there is inappropriate pressure from high levels of the administration, the US Attorney's Office will conclude that it should decline to prosecute,' Bromwich said in a statement. Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired McCabe last month, two days before his scheduled retirement, on the recommendation of FBI disciplinary officials who said McCabe had been dishonest in interviews with investigators. Justice Department officials declined to comment Thursday. A report from the watchdog office released last week concluded that McCabe had misled investigators and his own boss, then-Director Comey, about his role in an October 2016 Wall Street Journal article on an FBI investigation into the Clinton Foundation. The report said McCabe authorized FBI officials to share nonpublic information with a reporter and then denied having done so when questioned about it under oath. McCabe has denied misleading anyone. He said that as FBI deputy director, he had the authority to share information with the media and that he permitted subordinates to do so in this case to correct a false narrative that he had tried to stymie an FBI probe into the Clinton Foundation. He said that when he thought his answers had been misunderstood, he went back and tried to correct them. Meanwhile, The Associated Press has obtained 15 pages of memos that Comey (seen above) drafted about his interactions with Trump McCabe told the inspector general's office that he told Comey after the article was published that he had allowed the officials to share the information and that Comey thought it was a 'good' idea to rebut a one-sided narrative. But Comey is quoted in the report as saying McCabe never told him he had approved sharing details of the call and, in fact, had left him with the opposite impression. 'I don't remember exactly how, but I remember some form or fashion and it could have been like "Can you believe this crap? How does this stuff get out" kind of thing?' Comey is quoted as saying in the report. 'But I took from whatever communication we had that he wasn't involved in it.' Comey said in an interview on CNN on Thursday that he felt 'conflicted' about the inspector general's findings that McCabe had lied. 'I like him very much as a person, but sometimes even good people do things they shouldn't do,' Comey said. 'I've read the report. I'm not the judge in the case. I'm not the discipline decision-maker in the case. I think it is accountability mechanisms working, and they should work because it's not acceptable in the FBI or the Justice Department for people to lack candor.' Shanghai (Gasgoo)- According to local media, Geely Auto may accomplish the annual sales target of 2 million vehicles one year in advance to 2019, Gui Shengyue, Geely Auto's CEO, said to Hong Kong stocks investors. In the meantime, he thought that it wont take too long time for Geely Auto to attain the annual sales of 3 million units or 4 million units. According to the data released by the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China's vehicle deliveries in March were up 4.67% year on year to 2.6563 million units and the Q1 sales nationwide reached 7.183 million units, edging up 2.8% from a year ago. In March, Geely Auto delivered a total of 121 thousand vehicles, soaring 38.8% over the previous year. Meanwhile, for the first three months this year, its cumulative sales had reached 386.3 thousand units with a year-on-year surge of 38.5%, ranking first among China's self-owned automakers. Although the sales of Geely Auto were 126.7 thousand units less than the sales champion SAIC VW in the first quarter, its sales growth rate was 36.7 percentage points higher than that of SAIC VW. Gui Shengyue even said that Geely Auto has the potential to challenge VW and General Motors in China sales. Gui attributed its outstanding sales performance to the technology improvement, shorter product development cycle and lower cost after Geely acquired Volvo Cars. Since Geely Auto took that step, its market shares have increased quickly from 10% to 15%. Particularly, the cumulative deliveries of the Lynk & Co 01, the first SUV model of Sino-Swedish auto brand Lynk & Co, reached some 25 thousand units in the past four months. In March, 8,500 units of the Lynk & Co 01 were handed over, setting a new monthly sales record. Gui Shengyue is optimistic about Lynk & Co's future and boldly predicted that the annual sales of Lynk & Co will reach 1 million units within a few years. Reportedly, the orders of the Lynk & Co 01 have been up to 30 thousand units during a recent period. According to Lynk & Co's planning, the 02 model will hit the market in March this year and the 03 model, 01 PHEV (plug-in electric vehicle), 02 PHEV and 03 PHEV will be put into market in the second half of 2018. According to relevant reports, the models 04 to 09 have been under research and development, among which the 04 and 05 models are expected to go on sale in 2019. Gui Shengyue showed that since product portfolios have become more and more rich, he has confidence in the accomplishment of 150 thousand units sales volume of Lynk & Co-branded models this year. China will eliminate foreign ownership limits of passenger vehicle (PV) JVs and also remove the JV number limits of no more than two in 2022, according to the official news released by China's National Development and Reform Commission. Gui Shengyue considered that the relaxation of JV ownership restriction will have effect on the sales of high-end models, while wont affect Geely Auto a lot. He said the automakers from inland cities had already gained a foothold in mid- and low-end market. Thus, Geely can earn a considerable profit even from a RMB 70,000-to-RMB 80,000 model. However, it is very difficult for JVs. SAO PAULO (AP) - Brazil's first black Supreme Court justice said Thursday he is considering a run for president, which could be a significant turn since the widely known retired justice appeals to both supporters and detractors of the current front-runner, jailed former President Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva. Many people had floated former justice Joaquim Barbosa's name as a contender for October's election, but he had never publicly spoken about it before. But, though he raised the possibility of being a candidate, Barbosa added, "I still haven't managed to convince myself." Former Supreme Court President Joaquim Barbosa, the first black member of the country's top court, arrives for a meeting with the leaders of the Brazilian Socialist Party to be named one of their candidates for president in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 19, 2018. The Socialist Party will nominate their candidate in August, ahead of October presidential elections. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) The comments came as Barbosa talked with journalists during a meeting in Brasilia of the Brazilian Socialist Party, which he joined early in April to give himself a base for a campaign. The 63-year-old Barbosa, who retired from the Supreme Court in 2014, has never run for office. Da Silva, a popular leftist who still leads preference polls after being imprisoned this month on a corruption conviction, won't likely be allowed to run by the electoral court. On Sunday, a Datafolha institute poll gave Barbosa at least 8 percent support. He called that figure "very good." Brazil's presidential election is expected to draw up to 16 candidates, splintering the vote. It was unclear whether the Brazilian Socialist Party can gather enough support for Barbosa to qualify as a presidential candidate. If not, Barbosa could run for a different position as the party focused on gubernatorial and legislative races instead. One of the key members of the party, Sao Paulo state Gov. Marcio Franca, said after the meeting that right-leaning candidate Geraldo Alckmin should get its support instead. Franca was Alckmin's deputy until April 7 and will run for re-election in Brazil's most populous and richest state. Barbosa has voiced support for social programs identified with the left, but he also gave harsh convictions for corruption to high members of da Silva's administration, something that won him support among conservatives. Judges, prosecutors and police investigators have become more popular in Brazil since the unfolding of the "Car Wash" corruption probe in 2014, investigating overpriced contracts signed by state-owned oil giant Petrobras and major constructors. But with Da Silva's graft conviction coming out of that investigation, his supporters contend he was railroaded to keep him out of the presidential race and say judicial overreach is interfering with Brazil's political matters. Brazilian Socialist Party members welcome former Supreme Court President Joaquim Barbosa, the first black member of the country's top court, as he arrives for a meeting with the leaders of the Brazilian Socialist Party to be named one of their candidates for president in Brasilia, Brazil, Thursday, April 19, 2018. The Socialist Party will nominate their final candidate in August, ahead of October presidential elections. (AP Photo/Eraldo Peres) LOS ANGELES (AP) - A stuntman who was pinned beneath an SUV driven by Tom Sizemore on a TV production has settled a lawsuit with the actor and Paramount Pictures. Court papers show that a notice of settlement was filed March 29, and the sides are scheduled to appear in court in July to finalize it. No terms of the deal were disclosed. The stuntman, Steve de Castro, alleged Sizemore was intoxicated at a remote desert airport north of Los Angeles in July 2016 while filming the Paramount-produced USA Network show "Shooter" when he pinned and dragged de Castro. FILE - In this Aug. 11, 2014 file photo, actor Tom Sizemore arrives at the premiere of "The Expendables 3" in Los Angeles. A stuntman who was pinned beneath an SUV driven by Tom Sizemore on a TV production has settled a lawsuit with the actor and Paramount Pictures. Court papers show a notice of settlement was filed March 29. No terms were disclosed. (Photo by Jordan Strauss/Invision/AP, File) De Castro had to be airlifted from the set and left with broken bones and other serious injuries that he said have hurt his ability to work. State records obtained by The Associated Press showed that Sizemore, 56, was only supposed to be sitting in the unmoving SUV for the scene. "When, after rehearsals, the scenes were filmed for live action, Mr. Sizemore improvised at the end of the scene and drove away in his car," said a Paramount investigative report given to the workplace safety agency Cal/OSHA. "Mr. Sizemore's decision to drive was not in the script, and not expected to occur." The agency issued no citations over the accident after determining it didn't have jurisdiction because the stuntman was an independent contractor, not a studio employee. Lawrence B. Castro, attorney for the defendants, declined comment. Lawrence Grassini, attorney for de Castro, did not immediately reply to a message. Sizemore, whose addiction struggles have plagued his career and derailed comeback attempts, was fired from the show before the suit was filed. ___ Follow Andrew Dalton on Twitter: https://twitter.com/andyjamesdalton DETROIT (AP) - A student who led a two-day demonstration outside of his central Michigan high school this week said it was in response to the unpunished theft of a Confederate battle flag from his pickup truck. Cameron Myers, an 18-year-old senior at Bay City Western High School, an overwhelmingly white high school about 100 miles (160 kilometers) northwest of Detroit in Auburn, told The Associated Press on Thursday that he complained to school officials that someone had cut the large Confederate flag from a pole on his truck, but no one was disciplined. He then took to friends on social media, asking them to fly their own flags outside the school. "It all started because my flag was destroyed and nothing was done about it," said Myers. "I said to 'fly whatever flag you have at home.' Everybody here has the Confederate flag. It's a country boy thing where it's in their garages, bedrooms, windows." Student demonstrators park trucks bearing Confederate flags and other banners and signs along the outer drive of Bay City Western High School in support of a Bay City Western High School student, who claims his Confederate flag was torn from his truck last week, Wednesday, April 18 2018, in Auburn, Mich. (Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times via AP) On Tuesday, about five to eight trucks with Confederate flags parked across from the school, where only about seven of the roughly 1,200 students are black. There were about 20 parked vehicles on Wednesday, and they were met by students who staged a counter-demonstration by waving rainbow flags and placards with messages including "Black Lives Matter" and "Hate Not Heritage." Although Myers says he's not racist and that his protest shouldn't be seen as such, some students at the school, where more than 94 percent of students are white, saw it otherwise. "We're a white-majority school," Kendrix Szilagyi told the Bay City Times on Wednesday. "It's making some of the students and people feel uncomfortable and unwelcome." School officials said most of the pro-Confederate flag demonstrators weren't students at the school, but Myers disagreed, saying all but one went to Bay City Western. Administrators canceled classes Thursday at the high school and an adjoining middle school due to reported threats. But Bay County Sheriff Troy Cunningham said the reports apparently started with "one student hearing from another student and passed around on social media." Eventually, the information that "people were coming over to Bay City Western to confront students" made its way to the high school's principal, said the school district superintendent, Stephen Bigelow. He said both schools planned to reopen Friday. Efforts to remove Confederate flags from public places as symbols of national division and black oppression accelerated after violence during a white supremacist rally last year in Charlottesville, Virginia. Myers said he's not racist and that his demonstration shouldn't be seen as such. He also said he hasn't received any threats due to the flag demonstrations. "I didn't think it would go this far," he added, saying that in hindsight he might have taken a different approach. Myers' grandmother, Lynn Boyce, said everything has been "blown out of proportion." "These boys are rednecks," Boyce said of Cameron and his friends. "The Confederate flag does not mean anything racist to them. We're not racists." She believes whoever stole Myers' flag from his truck is really to blame for the trouble. She also said her grandson and his friends weren't planning on protesting again on Friday. Cunningham said his department is investigating the theft of Myers' flag. "We believe his flag was taken down or his truck might have been keyed," he said. "We're just monitoring the situation closely, working with other law enforcement, making sure nothing turns violent, nobody gets hurt and education isn't disrupted." Bigelow said the school district is also trying to get to the bottom of it. "High school students sometimes make terrible decisions," he said. __ News researcher Rhonda Shafner contributed from New York City. Students demonstrate in support of a Bay City Western High School student, who claims his Confederate flag was torn from his truck last week, Wednesday, April 18 2018, in Auburn, Mich. (Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times via AP) Counter-protesters display rainbow flags and signs as a caravan of Confederate-flag-bearing trucks park along the outer drive of Bay City Western High School in Auburn, Mich., Wednesday, April 18, 2018. "We have such a small minority population of students and we're in a conservative area" said Kendrix Szilagyi, pictured at center left with a sign. "If they went to Saginaw or Bay City Central they wouldn't let this happen"(Jacob Hamilton/The Bay City Times via AP) WASHINGTON (AP) - Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani, an outspoken supporter of Donald Trump since the early days of his campaign, is joining the team of lawyers representing the president in the special counsel's Russia investigation. With the addition of Giuliani, Trump gains a former U.S. attorney, a past presidential candidate and a TV-savvy defender at a time when the White House is looking for ways to bring the president's involvement with special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation to a close. The president has been weighing whether to sit for questioning by Mueller's team, and his legal team has repeatedly met with investigators to define the scope of the questions he would face. Giuliani will enter those negotiations, filling the void left by attorney John Dowd, who resigned last month. FILE - In this Nov. 20, 2016, file photo, then-President-elect Donald Trump, right, and former New York Mayor Rudy Giuliani pose for photographs as Giuliani arrives at the Trump National Golf Club Bedminster clubhouse in Bedminster, N.J. Giuliani is joining the legal team defending President Donald Trump in the special counsel's Russia investigation. That's according to a statement from Trump personal attorney Jay Sekulow. (AP Photo/Carolyn Kaster, File) It's a precarious time for Trump. His legal team has been told by Mueller that the president is not a target of the investigation, suggesting he's not in imminent criminal jeopardy. But he is currently a subject of the probe - a designation that could change at any time. Trump personal attorney Jay Sekulow told The Associated Press that Giuliani will be focusing on the Mueller investigation - not the legal matters raised by the ongoing investigation into Trump attorney Michael Cohen. That probe is being led by the U.S. attorney in Manhattan, an office that Giuliani headed in the mid- to late 1980s. Cohen's office, home and hotel room were raided last week by the FBI, who are investigating the lawyer's business dealings, including suspected bank fraud. They also sought records related to payments to porn actress Stormy Daniels and former Playboy model Karen McDougal, who both claim to have had sexual encounters with Trump several years ago. The White House has denied the claims. The raids enraged Trump, prompting him to publicly weigh whether to fire Mueller or Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein. He also intensified his public attacks on the Mueller investigation, calling it "an attack on our country." In a statement announcing Giuliani's hire, Trump expressed his wish that the investigation wrap up soon and praised Giuliani, a fellow New Yorker, confidant and Mar-a-Lago regular. "Rudy is great," Trump said. "He has been my friend for a long time and wants to get this matter quickly resolved for the good of the country." Giuliani will be joining Sekulow on Trump's personal legal team but will be working closely with White House lawyer Ty Cobb, who has also been handling the administration's cooperation with the Mueller investigation. "It is an honor to be a part of such an important legal team, and I look forward to not only working with the President but with Jay, Ty and their colleagues," Giuliani said in a statement. In addition to Giuliani, two other former federal prosecutors - Jane Serene Raskin and Marty Raskin - will be joining Trump's legal team. The two, who are married and run a law firm together, are based in Florida but handle cases across the United States. Both have extensive experience prosecuting organized crime and representing defendants in complex white-collar and fraud investigations. Giuliani, who was New York mayor during the Sept. 11 attacks, has known Trump for decades and his aggressive, hard-charging rhetorical style can at times mirror that of the president. He had widely been expected to join Trump's administration. But Giuliani rejected the idea of becoming attorney general, lobbying Trump to name him secretary of state. Trump picked Rex Tillerson and Giuliani was left without a Cabinet post. The two men share similar policy ideals, publicly supporting law enforcement in ways that have alienated minorities, and taking bullish stances on immigration enforcement. In 2016, for instance, Giuliani fiercely criticized the Black Lives Matter movement, saying it encouraged violence against police. More recently, he has said he was consulted by Trump on how to implement the travel ban put in place last year against Muslim-majority nations. Giuliani has been working at the influential law firm Greenberg Traurig, where he has been a senior adviser and head of the firm's cybersecurity, privacy and crisis management practice. On Thursday, the firm's executive chairman Richard A. Rosenbaum released a statement saying Giuliani would be taking a leave of absence "for an unspecified period of time to handle matters unrelated to the law firm or its clients." Giuliani's addition to the Trump legal team puts a renewed spotlight on his past legal and consulting work. His flirtation with becoming Trump's secretary of state was thwarted, in part, because of growing concerns about his overseas business ties. After leaving office as mayor, Giuliani advised foreign political figures and worked for lobbying and security firms whose clients have had complicated relationships with the U.S. government. While not personally involved in lobbying, Giuliani spent years at firms that represented foreign governments and multinational companies, some of which had interests that diverged from those of the United States. That included a trip Giuliani took to Belgrade to meet with leaders of a Serbian political party once allied with Serbian strongman Slobodan Milosevic. His consulting firm also did work in the Persian Gulf monarchy of Qatar and received money for supporting the Mujahedin-e Khalq, the Iranian dissident group, even as it was a U.S.-designated foreign terrorist organization. More recently, Giuliani's work for Greenberg Traurig, who is a registered foreign agent for the government of Turkey, has drawn attention for his involvement in a high-profile case with foreign policy implications for the U.S-Turkey relationship. Last year, Giuliani joined former Bush administration attorney general Michael Mukasey in working to resolve the case of Reza Zarrab, a Turkish-Iranian businessman who was accused of participating in a scheme to help Iran evade U.S. sanctions. The case also focused on allegations of corruption against Turkish officials, including Turkey's president, Recep Tayyip Erdogan. Erdogan's government had pressured the U.S. government to drop the case, and in early 2017, Giuliani met with Erdogan to discuss whether the case could be resolved outside of court. Despite Giuliani's intervention, Zarrab later pleaded guilty and testified for U.S. prosecutors against a former Turkish bank official who was himself later convicted. Zarrab later said the failure of Giuliani's effort led him to cooperate with prosecutors. __ Associated Press writers Eric Tucker, Stephen Braun and Jill Colvin in Washington and Jonathan Lemire in New York contributed to this report. President Donald Trump told former FBI Director James Comey that Vladimir Putin told him Russia had 'the most beautiful hookers in the world,' that he was bothered by allegations he had sex with Russian prostitutes, and that he had serious concerns about the judgment of his first national security adviser, Michael Flynn. The 15 pages of documents contain new details about a series of interactions with Trump that Comey found so unnerving that he documented them in writing. Those encounters in the weeks before Comey's May 2017 firing include a Trump Tower discussion involving allegations of prostitutes and Russia, a White House dinner at which Comey says Trump asked him for his loyalty and a private Oval Office discussion where the ex-FBI head says the president asked him to end an investigation into Flynn. Comey recalls conversations about about prostitutes as he reveals awkward talks where President Trump vigorously disputed the idea he would ever consort with Russian sex workers. During one exchange, Comey writes that Putin bragged to Trump that his country has the most attractive prostitutes. Putin told Trump 'We have some of the most beautiful hookers in the world,' Comey writes. President Donald Trump (left) told fired FBI director James Comey that his wife, First Lady Melania Trump (right), was hurt by rumors that he slept with Russian hookers in Moscow, according to memos released on Thursday The fired FBI director recounts each time he claims the topic came up during briefings, phone calls, and meetings with Trump. According to Comeys memo, the then-FBI director received a telephone call from Trump on March 30, 2017. In the 11-minute call, Comey said Trump told him he wanted to life the cloud of this Russia business was making it difficult to run the country. Comey said the president denied having anything to do with Russia. Trump then told Comey that he would never get involved in hookers in Russia. Can you imagine me, hookers? Comey writes in the memo as he recalls the conversations with Trump. I have a beautiful wife, Trump told Comey, according to the memo. And it has been very painful. Trump also told Comey that he was suing Christopher Steele, the former British spy who compiled the so-called dossier which first contained the allegation that the president was filmed cavorting with prostitutes in a Moscow hotel. The dossier alleges that Trump asked the prostitutes to perform a golden showers routine. Trump has denied these claims. In Comeys memo, Trump says he always advised people that they were being recorded whenever they were in Russia. Comey, who is on a book tour promoting A Higher Loyalty, wrote the memos because he was bothered by the nature of his conversations with Trump Trump is also said to have told Comey that he wanted the FBI and the Department of Justice to make a public statement indicating that the president was not under investigation. According to memos maintained by Comey and obtained by The Associated Press, Trump and his chief of staff asked days later if Flynn's communications were being monitored under a secret surveillance warrant. The documents had been eagerly anticipated since their existence was first revealed last year, especially since Comey's interactions with Trump are part of special counsel Robert Mueller's investigation into whether the president sought to obstruct justice. The memos have been turned over to Mueller. Comey has said publicly that, 'I knew there might come a day when I would need a record of what had happened, not just to defend myself, but to defend the FBI and our integrity as an institution and the independence of our investigative function.' According to one memo, Trump complained about Flynn at a private January 2017 dinner with Comey, saying 'the guy has serious judgment issues.' He then blamed Flynn for a delay in returning the congratulatory call of an international leader, telling Comey he would be upset if he had to wait six days for a returned phone call. 'I did not comment at any point during this topic and there was no mention or acknowledgment of any FBI interest in or contact with General Flynn,' Comey wrote. At that point, the FBI had already interviewed Flynn about his contacts with the Russian ambassador, Sergey Kislyak, and the Justice Department had already warned White House officials that they were concerned Flynn was vulnerable to blackmail. Flynn was fired February 13, 2017, after White House officials said he had misled them about his Russian contacts during the transition period. In a separate memo, Comey says Trump cleared the Oval Office of other officials, encouraged him to let the investigation into Flynn go and called him a good guy. The memos reveal that days before Flynn's firing, then-White House chief of staff Reince Priebus asked Comey if Flynn's communications were being monitored under a secret surveillance warrant. 'Do you have a FISA order on Mike Flynn?' Priebus asked Comey, according to the memos, referring to an order under the Foreign Intelligence Surveillance Act. Comey said he 'paused for a few seconds and then said that I would answer here, but that this illustrated the kind of question that had been asked and answered through established channels.' Comey's response is redacted on the unclassified memos. The memos were provided to Congress earlier Thursday as House Republicans escalated criticism of the Justice Department, threatening to subpoena the documents and questioning officials. In a letter sent to three Republican House committee chairmen Thursday evening, Assistant Attorney General Stephen Boyd wrote that the department was sending a classified version of the memos and an unclassified version. The department released Boyd's letter publicly but did not release the memos. Justice officials had allowed some lawmakers to view the memos but had never provided copies to Congress. Boyd wrote that the department had also provided the memos to several Senate committees. Comey is on a publicity tour to promote his new book, A Higher Loyalty. He revealed last year that he had written the memos after conversations with Trump. Boyd wrote in the letter that the department 'consulted the relevant parties' and concluded that releasing the memos would not adversely affect any ongoing investigations. Mueller is investigating potential ties between Russia and Trump's 2016 campaign as well as possible obstruction of justice by the president. Boyd said the decision to allow the release of the memos 'does not alter the department's traditional obligation to protect from public disclosure witness statements and other documents obtained during an ongoing investigation.' Comey said in an interview Thursday with CNN that he's 'fine' with the Justice Department turning his memos over to Congress. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte (left), House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy (center), and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes (right) all demanded that Comey's memo be released House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi tweeted on Thursday that the memos 'are further proof of [Trump's] contempt for the rule of law 'I think what folks will see if they get to see the memos is I've been consistent since the very beginning, right after my encounters with President Trump, and I'm consistent in the book and tried to be transparent in the book as well,' he said. Last week, the GOP chairmen of three House committees demanded the memos by Monday. The Justice Department asked for more time, and the lawmakers agreed. The three senior Republican lawmakers who demanded the memos be released - House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte; House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy; and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes - released a statement saying that the memos 'show the President made clear he wanted allegations of collusion, coordination, and conspiracy between his campaign and Russia fully investigated. 'The memos also made clear the "cloud" President Trump wanted lifted was not the Russian interference in the 2016 election cloud, rather it was the salacious, unsubstantiated allegations related to personal conduct leveled in the dossier' by former British spy Christopher Steele, the statement read. But House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, a Democrat from California, differs. She tweeted on Thursday that the memos 'are further proof of [Trump's] contempt for the rule of law. 'His attempts to intimidate, circumvent the law & undermine integrity of law enforcement investigations demand immediate action to protect the Mueller investigation,' Pelosi said. WASHINGTON (AP) - Tiny Maile Pearl made Senate history Thursday without making a sound. The tightly wrapped 10-day-old baby, brought to the well of the chamber by her mother, Sen. Tammy Duckworth, became the first newborn to appear there, just one day after the Senate approved a new rule permitting it. "It's about time," the Illinois Democrat and Iraq War veteran told reporters on the way in to vote. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., carries her baby Maile Pearl Bowlsbey after they went to the Senate floor to vote, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) The rule had passed without objection - but there had been plenty of grumbling about babies threatening the Senate's cherished decorum. But when it actually happened, even stern Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to beam. In fact, he left a Senate vote open to allow Duckworth time to get there with little Maile Pearl Bowlsbey. "Thank you very much," Duckworth said to the Kentucky Republican. The double amputee, in a wheelchair with Maile, pronounced "Miley," in her lap, was on the floor for less than three minutes before they took off. Like newborns, the Senate can be unpredictable. The first sign that the two would meet Thursday was a tweet by Duckworth that she might vote on the nomination of Rep. James Bridenstine to run NASA. "May have to vote today. Maile's outfit is prepped," she tweeted, with a photo of baby clothes. "Made sure she has a jacket so she doesn't violate the Senate floor dress code requiring blazers. Not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies but I think we're ready." The idea was for Duckworth to vote only if she was needed to break a tie. Vice President Mike Pence arrived for the same reason. In the end, it was unnecessary and Bridenstine was confirmed. Duckworth cast a thumbs-down anyway, before her colleagues descended to coo over the wee baby. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer inquired about the well-being of Maile's sister and wished them a safe trip home. When Duckworth wheeled around to leave, reporters in the press gallery above got their first glimpse of the baby's face, and a loud "aww" could be heard. The senators on the floor laughed, and Schumer called up to the gallery: "The press is finally interested in something worthwhile." Senators of both parties had been interested, too, for the past two months. But many of their concerns revolved around whether babies would disrupt "decorum," the relatively civil style of discourse practiced in the Senate over the nation's business. Even a day earlier, they were fairly open about that. "I'm not going to object to anything like that, not in this day and age," said Sen. Pat Roberts, R-Kan., father of three and grandfather of six. He then noted that a person could stand in the door of the cloakroom, a lounge just off the chamber, and vote. "I've done it," he said. Allowing babies on the Senate floor, he said, "I don't think is necessary." Sen. Orrin Hatch, the father of six, grandfather of 14 and great-grandfather of 23, said he had "no problem" with such a rules change, but he hoped the parents of newborns would use "discretion" in bringing them. "What if there are 10 babies on the floor of the Senate?" he wondered. On Thursday, there was only Maile, wearing a little pink cap and getting all the attention without a sound. Sen. Amy Klobuchar, D-Minn., who had done some of the negotiating and behind-the-scenes reassuring of senators, clapped and gave Duckworth a hug when she arrived. With a big smile, Duckworth cast her "no" vote. ___ Associated Press Writers Padmananda Rama, Mary Clare Jalonick and Andrew Taylor contributed to this report. ___ Follow Kellman on Twitter at http://www.twitter.com/APLaurieKellman ___ This story has been corrected to correct pronunciation of Maile. Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., carries her baby Maile Pearl Bowlsbey after they went to the Senate floor to vote, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) Sen. Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., left, carries her baby Maile Pearl Bowlsbey as she heads to the Senate floor to vote, and is greeted by Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., at right, on Capitol Hill, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Washington. (AP Photo/Alex Brandon) SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - In a story April 19 about an Illinois bill concerning school resource officers, The Associated Press misstated the name of a poverty advocacy group. It is the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, not the Sargent Shriver Center on Poverty Law. The AP also misspelled the name of one the center's employees. Her name is Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, not Michelle Mbekani-Wiley. A corrected version of the story is below: Illinois plan: Replace armed school officers with therapists Some Illinois lawmakers want to give extra money to schools that replace armed security officers with unarmed social workers and behavior therapists By SARAH ZIMMERMAN Associated Press SPRINGFIELD, Ill. (AP) - Some Illinois lawmakers want to give extra money to schools that replace armed security officers with unarmed social workers and behavior therapists, an approach to safety that's far different than a national push to add police or arm teachers following a mass shooting at a Florida high school. Rep. Emanuel "Chris" Welch, a Hillside Democrat, said he proposed the plan after hearing from advocates who argue that investing in mental health resources is the best way of treating the epidemic of violence. His plan, which is backed by 16 other Democrats in the House, would allow schools to apply to an optional grant if they promise to reallocate funding for school-based law enforcement to mental health services, including social workers or other practices "designed to promote school safety and healthy environments." But the measure could be a tough sell, especially amid a widespread effort to employ more of what's known as school resource officers - fully armed law enforcement officers often paid for by schools. As of early April, 200 bills or resolutions have been introduced in 39 states regarding school safety, according to the National Conference of State Legislatures. More than half of these measures were introduced following the shooting massacre in Parkland, Florida. Thirty-four bills in 19 states address regulations and training for school resource officers. U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions proposed a school safety plan in March that included a measure prioritizing grants to states that agree to use the money to put more law enforcement in schools. Michelle Mbekeani-Wiley, from the Sargent Shriver National Center on Poverty Law, said this approach is wrongheaded and that police are unequipped to recognize or respond to mental health issues. She adds that many minority students within the Chicago Public School system are arrested by school resource officers for non-serious offenses, which could jeopardize their chances of applying to jobs and colleges in the future. "This increased presence of law enforcement in schools does not necessarily enhance school safety," said Mbekeani-Wiley. "Instead it dramatically increases the likelihood that students will be unnecessarily swept into the criminal justice system often for mere adolescent or disruptive behavior." However, advocates for school resource officers argue their role is essential to keep students safe, especially in the event of a school shooting. After Parkland, Deputy Kip Heinle, former president of the Illinois School Resource Officers Association, said he was "fielding two to three phone calls a day" from school districts asking how they can add more patrolling officers. While there's no official count on how many school resource officers are employed in Illinois, he puts the estimate at around 500. Heinle, who works as a school resource officer in an Illinois suburb of St. Louis, says he believes that the officers are "the best line of defense to keep students safe in school." He adds that, beyond preserving law and order in schools, many officers act like mentors and informal counselors to many of their students, with the goal of "shaping them to be successful adults someday." School resource officers are not required to be trained in Illinois, but they can pay to take part in an optional annual training session each summer in Bloomington. Around 85 to 100 officers from around the state typically attend, said Heinle. No Chicago Public School officers have ever attended, he added. __ The bill is HB4208 __ Follow Sarah Zimmerman at http://twitter.com/sarahzimm95 TRENTON, Fla. (AP) - Authorities say someone fired through the window of a restaurant and fatally shot two Florida deputies. Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz said during a news conference that Sgt. Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey were killed Thursday afternoon in Trenton. Schultz says the deputies were getting food at the Ace China restaurant when the shooter walked up to the building and fired at them through a window. Fellow deputies responding to the scene found the shooter dead outside the business. Schultz wouldn't say how the suspect died, adding that state law enforcement officials were investigating. Authorities say there's no apparent motive for the shooting. Schultz called Ramirez and Lindsey "the best of the best." The shooter's name wasn't immediately released. Trenton is in northern Florida, about 35 miles (56 kilometers) west of Gainesville. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Chongqing issued its first batch of licenses to 7 automakers and tech companies on April 18 that allow autonomous vehicles to be tested on roads, including Chongqing Changan, Baidu, FAW Group, Dongfeng, GAC Group, Geely and Foton Auto. Besides, the autonomous vehicle road test in Chongqing was officially initiated at the same day. Reportedly, Baidu was the first company to pass the test of Chongqing to obtain the license that permits its autonomous vehicle to be tested on public roads. In many testing scenarios, Baidu's autonomous vehicles successfully completed the task on the first try. In March, the Chinese Internet giant had already got Beijing's license to conduct open road tests for its autonomous driving vehicles in designated areas of the city. This is the second autonomous road test license for Chongqing Changan since it received a similar permit from the California Department of Motor Vehicles in November 2017. As early as April 2016, the automaker had completed a 2000-km test drive from Chongqing to Beijing. In March this year, Chongqing Changan launched the L2 autonomous driving technology dubbed IACC (integrated adapted cruise control). According to the company's introduction, the IACC, integrating millimeter-wave radar, multifunctional cameras and navigation map, is able to perceive the driving environments and keep the vehicle within the correct lane or following the track left by the front target vehicle through a series of operations such as brake, automatic acceleration or deceleration and veer, etc. As the first commercial vehicle (CV) marker that got autonomous vehicle road test license in China, Foton Auto had quite nice performance during the qualification test. Purportedly, the CV maker passed all of six items at one shot, including lane-keeping, automatic brake as well as lane-changing and overtaking, etc. Xie Fei, vice general manager of China Automotive Technology & Research Center (CATARC), said that Chongqing has advantages over timing, terrain and human resource to carry out autonomous vehicle road test. In the middle of March this year, Chongqing became the third city in China that issued regulations to allow road test for autonomous vehicles. Compared to Beijing and Shanghai, Chongqing's regulations contain more abundant road testing items than the other two cities. Besides, Chongqing possesses affluent traffic scenarios and terrains, such as high-speed loop, long tunnel, rampway, curve, bridge. Moreover, it also owns some unique scenarios like 3D city and 5D interchange. In addition, Chongqing designated CATARC as the third party testing institute who not only owns the most comprehensive ICV testing facilities nationwide, but also has China's first operational autonomous driving monitoring center. Meanwhile, it possesses commendable strengths in talent pool, management and procedure control, etc. ALBUQUERQUE, N.M. (AP) - The morning a homeless man was shot and killed in Albuquerque, police say surveillance videos showed him running down a street before sunrise, and then gunfire flash in the dark. Ronnie Ross, a 50-year-old from the Navajo Nation town of Shiprock, had been shot a dozen times, including once in the forehead and temple, and four times in the back, according to a criminal complaint. Police say the two teenage suspects charged with murder this week apparently shot him "for fun" as they came and went from a hotel party nearby. The homicide marked the latest in a series of brazen killings and assaults of homeless Native Americans in the city. In Albuquerque, Native Americans make up only 4 percent of the population, but account for 44 percent of people living on the streets, raising the likelihood they will be victimized when there is an attack on the homeless. FILE--In this Monday, July 21, 2014, file photo, bedding, clothing and broken glass litter a homeless encampment in Albuquerque, N. M., where authorities say three teenagers fatally beat two homeless Navajo men in a crime so alarming it led to the creation of a city task force on Native American homelessness. The recent March 2018 killing in Albuquerque of another homeless man who also was from the Navajo Nation is again exposing the heightened dangers many say Native Americans coping with homelessness often face. (AP Photo/Jeri Clausing, file) A 2014 survey showed 75 percent of homeless Native Americans in Albuquerque had been physically assaulted. "Just being harassed is part of everyday life, but it's not as much harassment as it is overgrown bullying," said Gordon Yawakia, who works at the Albuquerque Indian Center and was once homeless himself. "What do you do when people are against you and then the authorities are against you and you've got nobody, you know?" In 2014, Allison Gorman and Kee Thompson, both Navajo, were beaten to death as they slept in a vacant lot. While authorities did not say the men were targeted because they were Native American, activists disagreed and the deaths spurred the creation of a city task force to address Native American homelessness that now-former Mayor Richard Berry said could set the stage for changes for the population across the Southwest. Now, Ross' death is underscoring how difficult it may be to protect and find solutions for the city's Native American homeless population. "When I hear a story like this it adds fuel to the fire," said Dawn Begay, who is the city's tribal liaison, and works with the homeless through a local nonprofit. "Where we're headed is a good direction but it has to happen faster." Ross' killing in March came three months after the body of Audra Willis was found decapitated in an area not far from the Sandia Mountains that line the city's east side. The 39-year-old had come from To'hajiilee, a tiny Navajo community west of Albuquerque, and records show she had multiple addresses during her time in the city, including at the Albuquerque Indian Center. Willis' especially grisly death sent shockwaves through Albuquerque, just as the beatings of Thompson and Gorman had three years earlier. The two men had been killed on a July 2014 night when authorities say three boys - ages 15, 16 and 18_returned home from a night of drinking and decided to attack them as they slept on a mattress. The men were beaten with a wooden table leg, cinder blocks, and other objects, police said. One young suspect later told authorities that the teens had beaten dozens of homeless people, though apparently none others fatally. In Ross' death, the complaint filed against the 15- and 17-year-old suspects does not identify a motive, but says the two teenagers bragged to friends about the shooting. According to police, friends and acquaintances of the boys - whom The Associated Press is not naming because of their ages - said the suspects had been showing off a gun at the party, and had said to others that they had shot a man. At one point, the younger boy also said to a close friend at the party that he shot a "hobo" in the back. The boys made one more stop at the scene to find Ross still alive, prompting the older boy to shoot him multiple times, according to the complaint. "It's completely disturbing," said Officer Simon Drobik, an Albuquerque police spokesman, said Tuesday. "They just shot this guy for fun." LOS ANGELES (AP) - An acrid stink of petroleum sent Santa Barbara County firefighters scrambling three years ago in a search of a possible spill. When they arrived at Refugio State Beach, oil was staining the pristine sands and seeping into the surf. Uphill they discovered oil gushing like a fire hose "without a nozzle." It would turn out to be the worst California coastal spill in 25 years, spreading a shimmering sheen out to sea that eventually deposited tar balls on beaches more than 100 miles (160 kilometers) away. But were they looking at a crime scene? FILE - In this May 21, 2015, file photo, David Ledig, a national monument manager from the Bureau of Land Management, walks past rocks covered in oil at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif. A Texas company that owns an oil pipeline that spilled 140,000 gallons of crude along the Santa Barbara coast faces a criminal trial three years after the disaster. (AP Photo/Jae Hong, File) Jurors being selected Thursday in Santa Barbara County Superior Court will determine if the company that operated the pipeline that ruptured, spilling at least 123,000 gallons (465,000 liters) of crude May 19, 2015, broke any laws. Plains All American Pipeline, based in Houston, is charged with three felonies for spilling oil on land and in state and federal waters, along with a dozen misdemeanors, including violations of fish and game laws for killing sea lions, pelicans, a loon and a dolphin. Plains apologized for the spill and paid cleanup costs. But it has insisted the spill was an accident and not a crime. In addition to pleading not guilty, the company put out a statement when charges were filed two years ago blaming the state attorney general and Santa Barbara district attorney for inappropriately attempting to "criminalize an unfortunate accident." A Plains spokeswoman this week said the company doesn't discuss pending legal matters. Prosecutors also refused to comment on the trial that could take months. Two-thirds of the original 46 counts, mostly misdemeanors charging animal deaths, have been dismissed against the company. Charges were dropped against a Plains employee accused of failing to report the spill quickly enough - a misdemeanor the company still faces for not calling a federal response center within an hour of discovering the spill. By the time employee James Buchanan phoned the center, it had known about the spill for more than two hours from another report and had already activated a cleanup response. Because the company, and not a person, is charged, Plains would only face fines if convicted. It wasn't clear how steep those penalties could be. For an unrelated incident five months after the spill, the Southern California Gas Co. agreed to a $4 million settlement with Los Angeles prosecutors after pleading no contest to a single misdemeanor of failing to notify state authorities about is massive natural gas well blowout in Aliso Canyon in October 2015. The Plains spill occurred when a severely corroded pipe ruptured several miles inland from the beach, federal inspectors found. The Pipeline and Hazardous Materials Safety Administration cited a number of preventable errors by the company, finding it failed to prevent corrosion, didn't initially detect the rupture and responded too slowly as oil flowed toward the ocean. Plains operators working from a Texas control room more than 1,000 miles (1,609 kilometers) away had turned off an alarm that would have signaled a leak and, unaware a spill had occurred, restarted the hemorrhaging line after it had shut down, which only made matters worse, inspectors found. Estimates of the spill by Plains reached as much as 142,000 gallons (537,000 liters). In a final investigation report, federal regulators put the figure at 123,000 gallons (465,000 liters). Prosecutors have listed the figure at 140,000 gallons (530,000 liters). The spill, two weeks shy of Memorial Day, closed beaches with popular campgrounds for two months and put a crimp in the local tourist economy and fishing industry. It also crippled the local oil business because the pipeline was used to transport crude to refineries from seven offshore rigs, including three owned by Exxon Mobil, that have been idle since the spill. Last year, Denver-based Venoco, declared bankruptcy, in part because it wasn't able to operate its platform. The state is now responsible for plugging and decommissioning Veneco's wells at an estimated cost of $58 million. That doesn't include the eventual cost to remove the enormous structure. Plains faces a federal class-action lawsuit by fishing boat operators, the petroleum industry and oil workers who lost jobs because of the spill; and owners of beachfront properties. In its 2017 annual report, Plains estimated costs from the spill at $335 million. That doesn't include lost revenues. It is seeking approval to repair or rebuild its corroded pipelines. The company still faces possible fines from the U.S. government for regulatory lapses and the spill remains under investigation by federal prosecutors. FILE - In this May 21, 2015, file photo, workers prepare an oil containment boom at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif., two days after a ruptured pipeline created the largest coastal oil spill in California in 25 years. A Texas company that owns an oil pipeline that spilled 140,000 gallons of crude along the Santa Barbara coast faces a criminal trial three years after the disaster. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) In this May 21, 2015, file photo, an oil-covered bird flaps its wings amid at Refugio State Beach, north of Goleta, Calif. A Texas company that owns an oil pipeline that spilled 140,000 gallons of crude along the Santa Barbara coast faces a criminal trial three years after the disaster. (AP Photo/Jae C. Hong, File) LAS VEGAS (AP) - A disgruntled casino employee accused of shooting two executives at a company picnic in Las Vegas planned an escape and spent days on the run before a sheriff's deputy happened upon him sleeping in a car Thursday near a small Texas Panhandle town, authorities said. A deputy on routine patrol checked the license plate of a car parked at a highway rest stop not far from the New Mexico state line and found it was stolen from Utah. When confronted by Oldham County deputies, Anthony J. Wrobel initially reached for a 9mm handgun but then surrendered without incident, authorities said. Police did not provide details about Wrobel's issues at work and were trying to find out where he was going. But officials said police found a note at the casino dealer's home "that talked about his displeasure with The Venetian and management at the corporation." This Thursday, April 19, 2018, photo provided by the Oldham County Sheriff's Office shows Anthony J. Wrobel, after his arrest near Vega, Texas. Wroble, a former Las Vegas Strip casino dealer, had been on the run for days after authorities say he opened fire on a picnic for a group of fellow employees, killing one. Investigators have described Wrobel as a disgruntled employee and said he planned the attack on Sunday and targeted an executive of The Venetian casino-resort and a co-worker. A motive is not clear. (Oldham County Sheriff's Office via AP) "This awful crime occurred because of a disgruntled employee who decided to take out his anger by using violence," Las Vegas police Capt. Robert Plummer told reporters. Authorities say Wrobel, 42, planned Sunday's attack, leaving a second getaway vehicle in a parking structure at the busy Las Vegas airport three days before shooting the executives at close range while they sat at a table at a nearby park, Plummer said. Mia Banks was killed, and Hector Rodriguez was critically wounded. Wrobel fled in his distinctive black and purple Dodge Charger, which police quickly found parked at the airport. He drove in the second car north some 170 miles (275 kilometers) to Cedar City, Utah, where he stole a Utah license plate from another vehicle, according to a brief chronology that Plummer provided. He was arrested hundreds of miles away in Texas, where deputies found two high-capacity magazines in his vehicle. Police said they don't believe he had help in his escape. Wrobel was being held in Texas pending his transfer to Nevada to face charges of murder, attempted murder and armed battery. He also was named in a federal complaint Tuesday as a fugitive from justice. Investigators have said they believe the victims were targeted but have not said why. Las Vegas Sands Corp., which operates The Venetian, said Banks was vice president of casino operations and Rodriguez was executive director of table games. Both worked at the resort since it opened in 1999. Wrobel, who worked at the casino for 14 years, has been fired, Sands spokesman Ron Reese said. The company had offered a $50,000 reward for information about Wrobel's whereabouts and will now donate the money to the National Law Enforcement Officers Memorial Fund, Reese said. ___ Associated Press writer David Warren in Dallas contributed to this report. Las Vegas police Capt. Robert Plummer speaks during a news conference on the arrest of Anthony Wrobel, Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Las Vegas. Wrobel, a suspect in the fatal shooting of a casino executive and the wounding of another, was arrested Thursday in Texas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Las Vegas police Capt. Robert Plummer speaks during a news conference on the arrest of Anthony Wrobel, Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Las Vegas. Wrobel, a suspect in the fatal shooting of a casino executive and the wounding of another, was arrested Thursday in Texas. (AP Photo/John Locher) This undated photo provided by the Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Department shows Anthony Wrobel. Wrobel is accused of opening fire on a picnic for a group of employees of a Las Vegas Strip casino-resort, killing a woman and critically injuring a man on Sunday, April 15, in what investigators called workplace violence. (AP Photo/Las Vegas Metropolitan Police Dept.) Your daily look at late-breaking news, upcoming events and the stories that will be talked about Friday: 1. AFTER STRIKES, US IN HOLDING PATTERN The drama of U.S. and allied missiles strikes on Syria obscures the fact that the U.S.-led campaign to eliminate the Islamic State group from Syria has stalled. FILE - This undated file frame from video shows Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg. Schlenberg, a Minnesota doctor accused of illegally prescribing an opioid painkiller for Prince a week before the musician died April 21, 2016, from a fentanyl overdose has agreed to pay $30,000 to settle a federal civil violation, according to documents made public Thursday, April 19, 2018. The settlement between the U.S. Attorney's Office and Schulenberg comes as state prosecutors prepared to announce whether they'll file any criminal charges stemming from their two-year investigation into Prince's death. (AP Photo/File) 2. WHY NO CHARGES ARE PLANNED IN PRINCE'S DEATH The pop star was taking a common painkiller but instead ingested a counterfeit pill that he probably did not know contained fentanyl, a Minnesota prosecutor says. Nor is it clear where he got the drug. 3. RUDY GIULIANI SIGNING ON TO HELP TRUMP The former New York City joins the legal team defending the president in the Russia probe. 4. HOW POWER IS SHIFTING IN HAVANA Raul Castro hands over Cuba's presidency to a hand-picked 57-year-old successor who is expected to hold office until 2031. 5. PROGRESS SEEN IN OPIOID FIGHT The number of prescriptions for opioid painkillers filled in the U.S. fell dramatically last year, showing their biggest drop in 25 years. 6. WHO'S WORKING TO STOP 'RETAIL RACISM' Two black men whose arrest at a Starbucks in Philadelphia set off a furor over racial profiling say they are pushing for changes to make sure no one else endures what they did. 7. 'WE WILL CROSS THE BORDER' Organizers of mass marches on Gaza's boundary with Israel move protest tent camps closer to the border fence, heightening the risk of more bloodshed. 8. WELLS FARGO FACING RECORD FINE Federal regulators reportedly plan to penalize the bank as much as $1 billion for abuses tied to its auto lending and mortgage businesses. 9. WHAT'S A FIRST FOR THE SENATE Sen. Tammy Duckworth and daughter Maile make history when the Illinois Democrat brings the 10-day-old baby onto the Senate floor under new rules that permit it. 10. LANCE ARMSTRONG AGREES TO PAY GOVERNMENT $5M The former cyclist, whose sponsors included the U.S. Postal Service, reaches a settlement in a lawsuit that could have sought as much as $100 million in damages. Palestinian protesters set up tents at the Gaza Strip's border with Israel, Thursday, April 19, 2018. Palestinian activists are moving protest encampments closer to Israel's fence ahead of mass demonstration. (AP Photo/ Khalil Hamra) Dale Winton, who has died at the age of 62, became a household name through hosting a variety of gameshows. He started his career as a DJ but soon made the jump to TV and went on to enjoy a successful career on primetime television. From Supermarket Sweep to the National Lotterys In It To Win It, here is a round-up of Wintons gameshows. Dale Winton doing a `Supermarket Sweep in Brent Cross, London, to promote the midweek National Lottery. The presenter has died at the age of 62, his agent has said (Tony Harris/PA) Supermarket Sweep Supermarket Sweep was perhaps Wintons most famous show and catapulted him to fame. It saw contestants split into three teams of two, each starting with a clock with 60 seconds on it. The teams then attempted to add as much time as possible to the clock by answering questions posed by Winton. This was followed by the Big Sweep round, which saw contestants racing around a supermarket collecting shopping items. Whoever filled their trolley with items of the most value won the chance to enter the Super Sweep round. Supermarket Sweep originally ran from 1993 to 2001 before a 2007 reboot. Touch The Truck In 2001, Winton fronted Channel 5s Touch The Truck, which tasked a group of 20 contestants with staying in contact with a stationary vehicle. Whoever kept hold of the truck the longest, won it. The endurance show was filmed at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex. National Lottery: In It To Win It Winton hosted the National Lotterys In It To Win It for 18 series between 2002 and 2016. The programme saw five contestants battle it out for the chance to win up to 100,000. The show included the Saturday night Thunderball and Lotto draws. Show Me What Youve Got Dutch production company Endemol chose Winton to host their programme Show Me What Youve Got in 2006. The programme did not receive a full series. Hole In The Wall Winton returned to the BBC in 2008 to present Hole In The Wall. The show saw players trying to manoeuvre themselves through cutout holes of varying shapes in a large wall moving towards them as they stood in front of a swimming pool. Hole in the Wall had two teams made up of celebrities and they competed for 10,000 prize money which they donated to their chosen charity. Winton hosted the first series but was replaced by Strictly Come Dancings Anton du Beke for the second series. Dales Great Getaway In 2012 Winton hosted the one-off Dales Great Getaway on ITV. It featured three families competing in a series challenges to try to win up to 15,000 and a holiday. US President Donald Trump has said that although he is looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he could still pull out if he feels it is not going to be fruitful. Mr Trump said CIA director Mike Pompeo and Mr Kim got along really well in their recent secret meeting, and declared weve never been in a position like this to address worldwide concerns over North Koreas nuclear weapons. But speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after the allies met at Mr Trumps Florida resort, he made clear that he would still be ready to pull the plug on what is being billed as an extraordinary meeting between the leaders of longtime adversaries. If I think that if its a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, were not going to go. If the meeting when Im there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, Mr Trump told a news conference. He also said that a US-led maximum pressure campaign of tough economic sanctions on North Korea would continue until the isolated nation denuclearises. Mr Abe echoed the sentiment. Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained, he said. Mr Trump has said his summit with Mr Kim, with whom he traded bitter insults and threats last year as North Korea conducted nuclear and missile tests, could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. US President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe before dinner at Trumps private Mar-a-Lago club (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) Other than the threat posed to by North Koreas weapons of mass destruction, another issue overhanging the summit plans is the fate of three Americans detained there. Mr Trump said that was under negotiation and there was a good chance of winning their release, but he would not say whether that was a precondition for sitting down with Mr Kim. Mr Pompeo raised the question of the three Americans in his meeting with Mr Kim, a US official said. Mr Trump also said he had promised Mr Abe he would work hard for the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says at least a dozen Japanese said to have been taken in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. News of Mr Pompeos trip to North Korea, which took place more than two weeks ago, emerged on Tuesday, as politicians weighed whether he should be confirmed to become secretary of state. Mr Trump and Republican senators held up his highly unusual, secret mission as sign of Mr Pompeos diplomatic ability. But the prospect of his confirmation hung in the balance as Democrats lined up against him. Senator Robert Menendez, top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which will have the first vote on confirmation, expressed frustration that the CIA chief had not briefed him on the visit that took place more than a week before Mr Pompeos public hearing last Thursday. He is the most senior US official to meet a North Korean leader since Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Mr Kims father in Pyongyang in 2000. Now I dont expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit, Mr Menendez said at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The committee is expected to vote on the nomination next week. Mr Pompeo, whose hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities have raised Democratic hackles, would replace Rex Tillerson, who was pushed out by Mr Trump last month. In the US Senate, Republicans have a single-vote advantage on the 21-member panel that will have the first say on Mr Pompeos nomination. With nine of the 10 Democrats already declaring they will oppose Mr Pompeo, and at least one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, also opposed, the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favourable recommendation. Mr Trump said on Wednesday that he expects Mr Paul to come through on Mr Pompeo. The president called Mr Paul and the senator agreed to meet Mr Pompeo, but Mr Pauls spokesman said, Nothing else has changed. As for opposition by Democrats, Republican Cory Gardner, who chairs an Asia subcommittee, said in an interview that they want to play partisan politics. Despite meeting Mr Pompeo on Tuesday, Mr Gardner said he had not been briefed on the trip and was awaiting more information about it. Nevertheless, he said the fact that the meeting happened gave weight to Mr Pompeos testimony last week that the administration was committed to the complete and verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea and sustaining sanctions pressure. It is not unprecedented for US intelligence officials to serve as conduits for communication with Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-director of US national intelligence, James Clapper, secretly visited North Korea to bring back two American detainees. MR Clapper did not, however, meet Mr Kim, who has only in recent weeks emerged from international seclusion after taking power six years ago and super-charging North Koreas push to become a nuclear power. Mr Kim met Chinas president last month and is to meet South Koreas leader April 27. The Southwest Airlines pilot being lauded as a hero in a harrowing emergency landing after a passenger was partially blown out of the jets damaged fuselage is also being hailed for her pioneering role in a career where she has been one of the few women at the controls. Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, was the captain and piloting the Dallas-bound Flight 1380 when it made an emergency landing on Tuesday in Philadelphia, according to her husband, Dean Shults. One of the engines on the Boeing 737 exploded while the plane was travelling 500 mph at 30,000ft with 149 people on board. Tammie Jo Shults, the pilot of the Southwest plane that made an emergency landing after an engine explosion.(Thomas P Milne/US Navy via AP) Shrapnel hit the plane and passengers said they had to rescue a woman who was being blown out of a damaged window. The woman later died of blunt force trauma to her head, neck and torso. Captain Shults calmly relayed details about the crisis to air traffic controllers, and passengers commended her handling of the situation. Please see below a statement from the Captain and First Officer of Flight 1380. pic.twitter.com/RjoCpucGGS Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) April 19, 2018 In a statement late Wednesday, Mrs Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor said they felt like they were simply doing their jobs. On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one familys profound loss, the two pilots said in the statement, adding that their hearts are heavy. Friends at Mrs Shults church in Boerne, Texas, about 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, said they were not surprised after listening to the recording and reading media reports about her actions. Everybody is talking about Tammie Jo and how cool and calm she was in a crisis, and thats just Tammie Jo, Rachel Russo said. Thats how shes wired. Mrs Shults was commissioned into the Navy in 1985 and reached the rank of lieutenant commander, said Commander Ron Flanders, the spokesman for Naval Air Forces in San Diego. Women aviators were excluded from combat missions until the month after Mrs Shults got off active duty in March 1993, but Mr Flanders said Mrs Shults flew during Operation Desert Storm trainings as an aggressor enemy pilot. While we at that time had an exclusion, she was in fact helping male pilots hone their skills, Flanders said. Southwest Airlines confirms accident; our Hearts are with those affected: https://t.co/COJ6wR1GFe pic.twitter.com/Gr1xEN8nhc Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) April 17, 2018 Veteran Navy combat aviator Linda Maloney said that she and Mrs Shults were among a small group of women who worked to see the combat exclusion rule repealed. Obviously it was frustrating, said Ms Maloney, who became among the first women to join a combat military flying squadron and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf. We go through the same training that the guys do, and our hope was the Navy would allow us to fly in combat at some point. Mrs Shults was featured in Maloneys book Military Fly Moms along with the stories and photos of 69 other women US military veterans. Ms Russo and Staci Thompson, who has known Mrs Shults for about 20 years and was nanny to her two children when they were small, said she loved her military career but has alluded to frustrations and challenges that came with it. They also said she embraced those experiences to make her stronger and guide her into a role as a mentor to young female pilots or girls thinking about a military career. She learned a lot about overcoming things as a woman in a male-dominated field, Ms Russo said. Mrs Shults is from New Mexico, according to a personnel file from the Navy, and was a 1983 graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, where she earned degrees in biology and agribusiness. Mrs Shults brother-in-law, Gary Shults, said her husband also is a Southwest pilot and told him she made the emergency landing. Shes a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack, said Gary Shults, a dentist in San Antonio. My brother says shes the best pilot he knows. Debenhams saw its half-year profits plunge nearly 85% after extreme weather brought in by the Beast from the East gouged earnings. The retailer said its bottom-line pre-tax profits fell from 87.8 million to just 13.5 million over the 26 weeks to March 3, having taken a major hit during the final days of the trading period when bad weather forced Debenhams to temporarily close around 100 stores. On an underlying basis having been stripped of 28.7 million in exceptional costs linked to its strategic review and restructuring pre-tax profits slumped 51.9% to 42.2 million. That was below analysts forecasts, which had placed pre-tax profits at around 44 million. Debenhams also blamed a disappointing Christmas season for increasing competitor discounting and ultimately hitting underlying earnings for the UK, which fell 39.3% over the half-year. Like-for-like sales, meanwhile, dropped 2.2%, with the retailer citing a challenging UK market background. Difficult trading over Christmas prompted a profit warning by the retailer back in January, sending shares down 20%. It is now forecasting full-year pre-tax profits at the lower end of the current range of forecasts of between 50 million to 61 million. Debenhams of chief executive Sergio Bucher (Debenhams/PA) Chief executive Sergio Bucher said: It has not been an easy first half and the extreme weather in the final week of the half had a material impact on our results. But I am hugely encouraged by the progress we are making to transform Debenhams for our customers. He added: We are holding share in a difficult fashion market, and, in other categories such as furniture, exciting new partnerships have the potential to transform our offer. We approach the remainder of the year mindful of the very challenging market conditions, but with confidence that we have a strong team and the right plan to navigate them and return Debenhams to profitable growth. Debenhams and other retailers are facing severe structural pressures and the firm has started shifting its focus away from fashion towards beauty products and gifts. Under chief executive Mr Bucher, who joined the retailer in 2016, the chain has also been refurbishing stores as part of his turnaround strategy. The retailer also announced on Thursday that its chief financial officer, Matt Smith, is leaving to take up a post as finance director at Selfridges. A search for his replacement is currently under way. Debenhams shares tumbled as much as 10% at the start of trading. Russ Mould, an investment director at AJ Bell, said Debenhams full-year profit forecast amounts to a mild profit warning, given prior management guidance of 55 million to 65 million range. And that excludes the 28.7 million in additional costs and charges relating to the acceleration of the Redesigned strategy. This latest drop in annual profits will only add to a grim sequence of declines which makes it clear just how serious Debenhams competitive position really is. The retailer has closed two stores since October in a bid to reduce costs associated with rent and business rates, and has identified a further 10 across the country that could be shut down in due course. However, the company is tied into long-term leases in many of its stores, meaning it must shed staff to save on costs. In February, 320 staff were made redundant in a shake-up of middle-management. Heads of state, high commissioners and foreign ministers have begun arriving at Buckingham Palace ahead of the Queens opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). A spectacle of pomp and pageantry is being staged to welcome the dignitaries, with a guard of honour and flag bearers displaying the flags of the Commonwealths 53 member states waiting to greet them. A Guard of Honour turns out on the forecourt of Buckingham Palace (Gareth Fuller/PA) Amid tight security, which has seen the streets around the Queens official London home cordoned off, motorcades began to drive into the palace forecourt. More than 100 officers and soldiers from the Coldstream Guards are in the honour guard, wearing their famous scarlet tunics and bearskins, alongside the Band and Corps of Drums of the Coldstream Guards. Today at the formal opening of #CHOGM2018 we are welcoming heads of government from across the Commonwealth with a guard of honour from @ColdstreamGds and music from @ColdstreamBand outside Buckingham Palace.@RoyalFamily pic.twitter.com/yxCgidovHA Commonwealth Chair-In-Office (@Commonwealth18) April 19, 2018 During the opening ceremony Theresa May is expected to thank the Queen for her life-long devotion to the Commonwealth affectionately known as the family of nations. Later in the palaces ballroom presidents and prime ministers from across the globe will gather for the launch of the two-day summit, normally held every two years, to discuss the Commonwealths most pressing issues. The Prime Minister will address the gathered delegates, as will the Queen and Prince of Wales, and she is expected to say about the Queen: This week you have opened your homes to us here in London and in Windsor. Over many years you have been the Commonwealths most steadfast and fervent champion. You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth that the voice of the smallest member country is worth precisely as much as that of the largest; that the wealthiest and the most vulnerable stand shoulder to shoulder. You have seen us through some of our most serious challenges. And we commit to sustaining this Commonwealth, which you have so carefully nurtured. At the end of their deliberations the leaders usually agree a communique on a major issue and the prime ministers and presidents may commit themselves to a blue charter on ocean conservation. Other topics expected to be discussed range from cyber security to trade between Commonwealth nations. Downing Street said on Monday that a decision on whether Charles should succeed his mother as Commonwealth head was expected from the heads of state on Friday, and reports have stated the mood is Charles will get their backing. Members of the royal family who will attend the opening ceremony include the Duchess of Cornwall, Duke of Cambridge, Prince Harry, Duke of York, Princess Royal, Countess of Wessex and minor members of the royal family Baroness Scotland, the Commonwealth Secretary-General, and Maltas Prime Minister Joseph Muscat, the out-going Commonwealth chair-in-office, will also address the guests who will include High Commissioners, Foreign Ministers, representatives from Commonwealth organisations, faith leaders and CHOGM forum delegates. Shanghai (Gasgoo)- Dongfeng Motor Company Limited (Dongfeng Motor) will pay a RMB 6,044,584.33 fine for illegal construction of 15,177.28 square meters in Guangzhou, Guangdong Province according to a notice from the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong. The illegal construction is the experiment workshop of Dongfeng Nissan's technology center. According to the notice, the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong investigated Dongfeng Motor's illegal construction on Mar. 13, 2018. The investigation found that Dongfeng Motor arbitrarily constructed the experiment workshop of Dongfeng Nissan's technology center, which covers an area of 15,177.28 square meters, at NO.12, Fengshen Avenue, Huadu District, Guangzhou in March, 2015 without any construction project planning permit, and finished construction in March, 2017. The notice pointed out that Dongfeng's illegal construction has violated the 41th item of the Urban and Rural Planning Law of the People's Republic of China. According to the 41th item, one unit or person who wants to construct a building must get approval from local government or the relevant department. If not, they will get punishment from the government or the relevant department. What's more, if the illegal construction covers an area of more than 10,000 square meters, the illegal construction would be defined as a severe violation of laws. Luckily, the 64th item of the Urban and Rural Planning Law provides a remedy for Dongfeng's violation. Therefore, the Department of Housing and Urban-Rural Development of Guangdong decided to impose a RMB 6,044,585.53 fine on Dongfeng's illegal construction, and requested Dongfeng Motor to pay off the fine within fifteen days. If Dongfeng Motor has any delays, the fine will increase 3% per day after 15days. People in the Polish capital are holding a day of commemorations on the 75th anniversary of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. People stopped in the street and officials stood at attention as sirens wailed and church bells tolled at noon in a sign of mourning for the Jews who died fighting, as well as the millions of other Jews murdered in the Holocaust. The daffodils tradition comes from Marek Edelman, the last surviving commander of the uprising, who on every anniversary used to lay the spring flowers at the monument to the fighters before his death in 2009. President Andrzej Duda spoke during official commemorations at the Monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes and pay homage to the hundreds of Jewish fighters who took up arms in the 1943 rebellion against the German forces that occupied Poland during the Second World War. Polands President Andrzej Duda speaks during state ceremonies (Czarek Sokolowski/AP) The revolt ended in death for most of the fighters, yet left behind an enduring symbol of resistance. At a ceremony at Warsaws Town Hall, three Holocaust survivors, Helena Birenbaum, Krystyna Budnicka and Marian Turski, were given honorary citizenship of the city. Hundreds attended an independent gathering by Poles furious at a government that sometimes seems to tolerate or even support anti-Semitic views despite its official denunciations of anti-Semitism. Open Republic, an association that fights anti-Semitism and xenophobia, said it was organising its ceremony in opposition to what it called the hollow nationalist pomp of the government, recalling how the prime minister earlier this year paid tribute to a Polish wartime insurgency unit that had collaborated with the Nazis. Their observances began with Yiddish singing at the monument to a Jewish envoy in London, Szmul Zygielbojm, who committed suicide after the revolt was crushed, in protest at the worlds indifference to the Holocaust. The signs of rising nationalism have also strengthened the resolve of those seeking reconciliation, and this year a record 2,000 volunteers are handing out the paper daffodils. They have become a moving symbol of Christian Poles expressing their sorrow at the loss of a Jewish community that was Europes largest before the Holocaust. I feel this is my responsibility and do it with all my heart, said Barbara Sekulska, 76, who joined mostly younger volunteers. Police officers hold daffodils (Czarek Sokolowski/AP) The Warsaw Ghetto uprising broke out on April 19 1943, when about 750 young Jewish fighters armed with just pistols and fuel bottles attacked a much larger and heavily armed German force. In their last testaments they said they knew they were doomed but wanted to die at a time and place of their own choosing. In the end, the fighters held out nearly a month, longer than some German-invaded countries did. The Germans razed the ghetto and killed most of the fighters, except for a few dozen who managed to escape the ghetto through sewage canals to the Aryan side of the city, Mr Edelman among them. Israeli dignitaries usually attend the major ghetto commemorations, but mostly remained home because the Warsaw anniversary this year coincides with major celebrations in Israel marking the 70th anniversary of the founding of that nation in 1948. Britains financial sector would have a seat at the table under a radical and intervening Labour government, John McDonnell has said. The shadow chancellor said that he wanted a new start between the party and the fiscal sector, but warned that it would not like all of his policies if Labour was in Government. Speaking at a conference organised by the party, he attacked how he was portrayed in the media as a raving extremist who is about to nationalise their company, but also criticised what he said was the light touch approach of recent decades. Shadow chancellor John McDonnell addressed city leaders in London (PA) Addressing Labours Future of the Financial Sector conference at Bloombergs UK headquarters in London on Thursday, Mr McDonnell said the City had a role to play in the transformative programme he would seek to introduce if his party won the next election. He told delegates: The lesson of recent decades including the global financial crisis has been that a hands off approach will not deliver the sustainable, broad-based growth which we need and expect. In the last few years, the prevailing economic orthodoxy has led to wages lower today than they were eight years ago, and the slowest decade of productivity growth since the Napoleonic Wars. Though there were clearly other factors, I think few people now dispute that actually these economic failures also contributed to the vote for Brexit in 2016, which we deeply regret. Mr McDonnell said that the financial sector would have a seat at the policy-making table under Labour, alongside manufacturers and trade unions. Offering business a clear and straightforward approach from a Labour government, he added that he would not apologise for believing in the need for finance to serve the wider economy rather than becoming the over-powerful master of everything else. Mr McDonnell added: What we are offering is a new start in the relationship between Labour and the finance sector. A relationship in which we recognise the potential of a transformed British financial system, at the leading edge of technology, fulfilling a clear, socially necessary role. Labour will not just rebuild our economy after the damage of almost a decade of austerity, but we will modernise it. And you in the City will not only get a good return from the investment you will make in our programme but what we will also deliver for you is a society you can be proud to live in and will provide the quality of life your families desire. Mr McDonnells speech heavily looked forward at the challenges facing the economy in the future, including climate change and the impacts of the digital economy. He revealed that former shadow minister Clive Lewis had joined his team to focus on environmental economics. Former shadow defence and business secretary Mr Lewis, who quit Labours front bench in February 2015 in a row over the Brexit vote, will have a remit to drive the climate change issue into the heart of Treasury policy making, and therefore into the centre of government policy making. The Norwich South MP will also undertake a countrywide policy tour on the issue, Mr McDonnell added, saying a Labour government would take an active lead in managing the economic risks of climate change. Hundreds of rebels fighters in a Syrian town northeast of Damascus have handed in their weapons and started to leave under an evacuation deal, Syrian government media reported. Under the agreement, the rebels are allowed to move with their families to opposition-held areas in the countrys north, effectively surrendering their turf to Syrian government forces. The state Sana news agency says the Army of Islam fighters and their families are leaving the town of Dumayr on Thursday. Russian soldiers and Syrian government forces monitor the evacuation (Sana/AP) The report says 1,500 rebels and 3,500 of their next of kin are to leave Dumayr for the town of Jarablus, near the Turkish border. Dumayr is in the Qalamoun mountains, near the eastern Ghouta region which came under full government control last week after a weeks-long offensive and an alleged chemical weapons attack. The BBC faces a huge challenge with the smartphone generation, the corporations chairman Sir David Clementi has said. Sir David said more work had to be done to capture the 16 to 34-year-old audience as he warned that the broadcasters ability to fund original British content has diminished. This age group represents our biggest challenge, he told the Voice Of The Listener And Viewer spring conference. Broadcasting House, as BBC chairman Sir David Clementi explained some of the challenges ahead for the corporation (Anthony Devlin/PA) They watch less TV than older people and listen to less radio. They are the smartphone generation and their view of the world is shaped by social media. It is a generation with which we have to work hard to remain relevant. He said of younger viewers: This is the generation for whom the one thing they cant afford to lose is their smartphone. Their whole life revolves around it. But Sir David said the BBC was not neglecting our older audiences. He also warned that as our income has fallen in real terms over the past decade, the BBCs ability to fund original British content had lessened. As commercial broadcasters were hit by dwindling advertising revenues the volume and breadth of British content that British audiences rely upon is now under real threat, he said. It is not limited to drama. It is about home-made content across all genres, he said, adding that there are some serious challenges ahead. Sir David also said he welcomed the attention that gender and equality issues have recently received, and the scrutiny the BBC has been under. He added: We have been working tremendously hard as an organisation to address the issues raised, and to meet the truly ambitious goals we have set ourselves. He said: Our gender pay gap is smaller than ITVs, Channel 4s, Skys and ITNs. He added: The BBCs public service mission has become more important than ever but it has also become harder than ever. Nepals government has honoured two climbers who were the first to scale Mount Everest without oxygen supplies. Minister for Tourism Rabindra Adhikari praised the climbers at a ceremony in the capital, Kathmandu, 40 years after the historic feat. Italian Reinhold Messner and Austrian Peter Habeler reached the summit without use of supplementary oxygen, while others on their team used bottled oxygen. Reinhold Messner has suggested Mount Everest be given a break from climbers (Niranjan Shrestha/AP) Until then, all climbers carried oxygen cylinders to aid them at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. Since Everest was first scaled in 1953, thousands of climbers have reached the summit and hundreds more make attempts every year. General view of Mount Everest and the Himalayas (Dominic Lipinski/PA) This year nearly 350 foreign climbers have already been issued climbing permits. Most climbers still use supplementary oxygen. Mr Messner has been a strong critic of the large number of people climbing Everest. He suggested many years back that Nepal give the mountain a rest to allow it to recover, but Nepal did not listen. They decided like this, I cannot change it, he said on Thursday. However, he acknowledged climbing has been good for Nepal economically because many people stay for weeks and spend large amounts of money. Mr Messner said climbing Everest is no longer an adventure and instead has become a tourism activity. Today mountaineering is tourism. Mountaineering is where people are going without infrastructure, but on Everest there is huge infrastructure, he said. The Sherpas prepare everything and clients pay to trek to the summit. Everest conquerors Sir Edmund Hillary (left), Sherpa Tensing Norgay (right), pictured with Colonel John Hunt, the expedition leader, needed oxygen supplies when they scaled it in 1953 (AP) The debate about Everest climbing was revived in 2014 when 16 Sherpa guides were killed by an avalanche just above the base camp while preparing the route for clients. A year later, an avalanche triggered by a massive earthquake killed another 19 people at the base camp. Each climber pays the government 11,000 US dollars for a permit. Various expedition outfitters offer climbing gear, cooks and guides, which can cost many thousands of dollars. No mountaineering experience is required to get an Everest permit. Anita Anand will present this years Reith Lectures on BBC Radio 4, taking over from long-running host Sue Lawley. Lawley, who previously hosted Desert Island Discs, announced she was stepping down last month after 17 years at the helm of the BBCs annual radio lectures. Anand, who presents Radio 4s Any Answers, said it was a great honour to be stepping into Lawleys shoes. She added: The Reith Lectures embody all that is best about the BBC bringing the brightest ideas from the greatest minds to the largest audiences all around the world. Sue Lawley announced she was stepping down last month (PA) I cant wait to get started. I know I will learn a lot. Anand has also guest presented Radio 4 programmes including Womans Hour and Saturday Live, and has appeared on TVs Newsnight and the Daily Politics on BBC Two, among other shows. This years lectures will be recorded in June by historian Professor Margaret MacMillan, who will address the theme of war and humanity in her lectures entitled The Mark of Cain. Prof MacMillan, a Professor of History at the University of Toronto and of International History at Oxford University, will record her first lecture in London on June 4 at the BBCs Radio Theatre. She will then head to York University, Beiruts Sursock Museum and Stormont, Belfast to record her lectures, before delivering her final one at The Canadian War Museum in Ottawa, Canada. Gwyneth Williams, controller of BBC Radio 4, said: I can promise our audience a notable Reith 2018 series from the eminent historian Professor Margaret MacMillan as she considers the idea of war, a topic that has fascinated her since she was a young woman. Williams added: I am delighted now to welcome Anita as our new presenter. I am confident that the Reiths will be in safe hands with Anita in the chair. She brings intelligence, wit and experience to this most significant part of Radio 4s calendar and I look forward to working with her this year. The lectures were introduced 70 years ago by the BBC to mark the historic contribution made to public service broadcasting by the corporations first director-general, Lord Reith. The Reith Lectures will broadcast on Radio 4 and the World Service weekly from Tuesday June 26 at 9am. The Queen has lobbied world leaders on behalf of the Prince of Wales suggesting they one day choose Charles to succeed her as head of the Commonwealth. The Queens public endorsement of her son is an unprecedented move and came as she officially opened a major Commonwealth summit attended by presidents and prime ministers from across the globe. Speaking about her wishes is likely to end years of speculation about who will take over as head of the institution her father King George VI first led in the aftermath of the Second World War. The leaders are due to discuss the issue of Commonwealth succession during the two-day Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm), which will also see leaders debate topics ranging from a blue charter on ocean conservation to cyber security and trade. With Charles and other senior royals sat in front of her in Buckingham Palaces ballroom, the Queen told the delegates who included Prime Minister Theresa May: It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as Head of the Commonwealth and to observe, with pride and satisfaction, that this is a flourishing network. The Queen, accompanied by the Prince of Wales, arrives at the opening ceremony of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in Buckingham Palace, with the Duchess of Cornwall and Duke of Cambridge in the background. (Yui Mok/PA) It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. By continuing to treasure and reinvigorate our associations and activities, I believe we will secure a safer, more prosperous and sustainable world for those who follow us: a world where the Commonwealths generosity of spirit can bring its gentle touch of healing and hope to all. The prime minister of Malta Dr Joseph Muscat, outgoing chair-in-office of the Commonwealth, also backed Charles as head of the Commonwealth, seeming to confirm the princes future role was a certainty. We are equally elated by the vigour with which His Royal Highness the Prince of Wales actively participates in Commonwealth affairs and puts a strong Commonwealth dimension in his various national and global ventures, Dr Muscat said in a speech at the ceremony. The Queens endorsement of her son for the role of Commonwealth head is likely to end speculation about who will one day take on the role. (Dominic Lipinski/PA) We are certain that, when he will be called upon to do so, he will provide solid and passionate leadership for our Commonwealth. It has been widely assumed that the Queen, who celebrates her 92nd birthday on Saturday, is probably presiding over her last Chogm in person as she has not taken a long-haul flight for a number of years and the venue for the biennial summit moves around the globe, with the UK only hosting it three times in the last 32 years. The Queen has been head of the Commonwealth since coming to the throne in 1952, but the position is not automatically held by the British monarch. Downing Street said on Monday that a decision on whether the prince should succeed his mother as Commonwealth head was expected from the presidents and prime ministers on Friday, and reports have stated the mood is Charles will get their backing. With the UK leaving the European Union the Commonwealth a collection of former states that were once part of the British Empire is likely to become increasingly important in terms of trade opportunities for Britain. The world leaders and the Queen pose for the traditional Commonwealth "family" photo. (Jonathan Brady/PA) Charles has been highlighting his affinity with the Commonwealth in recent years and in his words of welcome to the leaders said: For my part, the Commonwealth has been a fundamental feature of my life for as long as I can remember, beginning with my first visit to Malta when I was just five years old. He went on to mention Commonwealth giants he had met and talked to like Kenneth Kaunda, the first president of Zambia, and Canadas former prime minister Pierre Trudeau, whose son Justin Trudeau now holds the post and was among the guests. The prince added: On the foundations they laid, the modern Commonwealth has a vital role to play in building bridges between our countries, fairer societies within them and a more secure world around them. Later Dr Keith Mitchell, the prime minister of Grenada, said he had no difficulty with Charles taking over as head of the Commonwealth. He told the BBCs World At One: It would be good news, the Queen herself does very well and certainly we have been fortunate to have her leadership of stable leadership over this period. But having the Prince of Wales would certainly not be an unhelpful act at this point in time. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The Government supports the Prince of Wales as the next head of the Commonwealth. Mrs Mays spokesman added. He has been a proud supporter of the Commonwealth for more than four decades and has spoken passionately about the organisations unique diversity. Succession is a matter for the Commonwealth as a whole to determine. Any discussion that did take place would take place at the leaders retreat at Windsor Castle on Friday. Decisions in the Commonwealth are made by consensus. The new president of Cuba has been confirmed as Miguel Diaz-Canel, ending nearly six decades at the helm for the Castro family. Raul Castros departure from the role launches a new political era for a country trying to survive as one of the worlds last communist states. The new head of state, full name Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, had been approved as the sole candidate for president. The 86-year-old Mr Castro, brother of late former leader Fidel, will remain head of the Communist Party. Members of the National Assembly opened the crucial session a day after voting on Mr Diaz-Canels nomination. Mr Castros departure from the presidency is nonetheless a symbolically charged moment for a country that has been under the absolute rule of one family since the revolution. Revolutionary leader Fidel Castro ruled the nation before, for the last decade, his younger brother filled his shoes. Facing biological reality but still active and apparently healthy, Mr Castro is stepping down as president in an effort to guarantee that new leaders can maintain the governments grip on power in the face of economic stagnation, an ageing population and increasing disenchantment among younger generations. I like sticking with the ideas of President Fidel Castro because he did a lot for the people of Cuba, but we need rejuvenation, above all in the economy, said Melissa Mederos, a 21-year-old schoolteacher. Diaz-Canel needs to work hard on the economy, because people need to live a little better. Most Cubans know their first vice president as an uncharismatic figure who until recently maintained a public profile so low it was virtually non-existent. That image changed slightly this year as state media placed an increasing spotlight on Mr Diaz-Canels public appearances, including remarks to the press last month that included his promise to make Cubas government more responsive to its people. Were building a relationship between the government and the people here, he said then after casting a ballot for members of the National Assembly. The lives of those who will be elected have to be focused on relating to the people, listening to the people, investigating their problems and encouraging debate. Mr Castro, top right, observes a monitor the day before he was replaced by Mr Diaz-Canel, second left (Ramon Espinosa/AP) Mr Diaz-Canel gained prominence in central Villa Clara province as the top Communist Party official, a post equivalent to governor. People there describe him as a hard-working, modest-living technocrat dedicated to improving public services. He became higher education minister in 2009 before moving into the vice presidency. In a video of a Communist Party meeting that inexplicably leaked to the public last year, Mr Diaz-Canel expressed a series of orthodox positions that included sombrely pledging to shutter some independent media and labelling some European embassies as outposts of foreign subversion. But he has also defended academics and bloggers who became targets of hardliners, leading some to describe him a potential advocate for greater openness in a system intolerant of virtually any criticism or dissent. International observers and Cubans alike will be scrutinising every move he makes after he officially takes office on Thursday. PPI complaints surged in the second half of 2017 to their highest levels in over four years, the City regulator has said. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) said complaints about PPI (payment protection insurance) rose by 40% to 1.55 million compared with 1.11 million in the first half of 2017. This was the highest level of complaints about PPI since there were 1.79 million PPI complaints in the first half of 2013. The upswing follows the launch of the FCAs media campaign in August 2017 to raise awareness about the deadline for complaining about the sale of PPI, which is August 29 2019. A publicity drive featuring the animatronic head of Arnold Schwarzenegger has been reminding people to decide whether or not to make a complaint. A new ad by the FCA raising awareness fo the deadline for PPI claims (FCA/PA) In January 2018 firms paid out 415.8 million in compensation to customers who complained about PPI. The FCA said this was the highest figure since March 2016 and takes the amount paid since January 2011 to 30 billion. Overall during the second half of 2017 a total of 3.76 million complaints were received by financial firms, an increase of 427,032 on the first half of the year. Excluding PPI the number of complaints received by firms was 2.21 million, around 13,000 fewer than the previous six months. After PPI, the next most complained about products were current accounts, with 509,047 complaints, followed by credit cards with 314,586 complaints. #PPI customers received 415.8 million redress in January 2018. Total is now 30 billion since January 2011. https://t.co/OwIBH7utQT Financial Conduct Authority (@TheFCA) April 19, 2018 Christopher Woolard, executive director of strategy and competition at the FCA, said: Having set a deadline for PPI complaints, we are encouraging consumers to decide whether they want to claim, and if they do, to make their complaint as soon as possible, as many already have. We are continuing to monitor and challenge all firms to ensure they maintain the expected standards and are delivering on their commitments to make it easy for people to complain about PPI. When PPI is taken out of the mix, the numbers of complaints firms are receiving has remained stable. Firms should be doing all they can to reduce complaints and ensure they are treating customers fairly. PPI was designed to cover repayments in certain circumstances such as if someone lost their job, had an accident or became ill but it was often mis-sold to people who did not want or need the product. It was added onto products such as mortgages, credit cards, store cards and other finance agreements. Shares in Shire raced to the top of the FTSE 100 on Thursday after the pharmaceutical giant looked set to become the centre of a takeover tussle between Botox maker Allergan and Japans Takeda. The Irish drug-maker said on Thursday that it had rebuffed three offers from Takeda, the latest worth 44 billion, because they significantly undervalued the company, its growth prospects and pipeline. Shortly after, fellow Irish firm Allergan disclosed that it is also weighing up a bid for Shire. Shares in Shire raced to the top of the FTSE 100 (PA) The Botox maker said that it is in the early stages of considering a possible offer for Shire. The disclosures sent shares in London-listed Shire soaring, with the stock ending the day up 221p to 3,975p. David Madden, market analyst at CMC Markets, said: Shire is popular today after it rejected an offer from Japans Takeda, and now there is talk that Allergan are interested in Shire too. This sort of play is common in the pharmaceutical sector as Takeda are keen to expand, seeing as patent expires are approaching. Allergan is relatively light in cash and heavily indebted, so there are no guarantees this will transpire. Shires share performance helped the FTSE 100 close up 11.58 points higher on the day, or 0.16%, at 7,328.92p. At the other end of the top flight, Unilever shares fell 85.5p to 3,861p after the consumer goods giant reported a 5% slump in first quarter sales. That was despite the firm upping its dividend and announcing a 6 billion euro (5.2 billion) share buyback programme. Its results come amid investor opposition to basing its headquarters in Rotterdam. Unilever last month announced it had chosen Rotterdam over London as its new legal headquarters, sparking a backlash by top-10 shareholder Columbia Threadneedle over a lack of engagement regarding its decision. On the FTSE 250, Ultra Electronics shares ended at the bottom of the index after the Serious Fraud Office launched an investigation into the group over suspected corruption in Algeria. Ultra, which makes electronics for the defence sector, referred itself to the authorities, and said it was co-operating with the inquiry. Shares were down 65p to 1,323p. The FTSE 250 ended up 0.68%, or 135.15 points, at 20,147.16. In stocks, Debenhams shares ended the day down over 5%, or 1.32p, at 22p after the embattled retailer saw its half-year profits plunge nearly 85% in the face of extreme weather brought in by the Beast from the East. The pound ended the day broadly flat against the US dollar at 1.419, while it edged up 0.3% against the euro at 1.150. Oil was on the up again, with Brent Crude rising over 1% to 74.5 US dollars a barrel. In Europe, Germanys DAX ended down 0.2% and Frances CAC was up 0.24%. The biggest risers on the FTSE 100 were Shire up 221p to 3,975p, Rentokil up 12.3p to 285.2p, WPP up 40p to 1,156p and NMC Health up 96p to 3,596p. The biggest fallers on the FTSE 100 were British American Tobacco down 209.5p to 3,650p, Standard Life Aberdeen down 13.8p to 367p, Imperial Brands down 70p to 2,355p and Lloyds Banking Group down 1.53p to 66.1p. Two people have died after a light aircraft crashed in Co Antrim, sources said. Paramedics, firefighters and an air ambulance helicopter attended the site near Nutts Corner after the Cessna plane caught fire. The incident happened close to a wooded area shortly after noon on Thursday, two or three miles from Belfast International Airport. A spokeswoman said the aircraft was not operating to or from there. The Police Service of Northern Ireland attended a light aircraft crash in Co Antrim (Paul Faith/PA) The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said no patients were taken from the scene. It put its major incident protocols into action but the incident was stood down at 12:49. Fire Crews, along with Police and Ambulance are attending the scene of a light aircraft crash near Nutts Corner, Crumlin. The call was received at 12.22pm today and 3 Fire Appliances are at the scene. The incident is ongoing. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) April 19, 2018 The Air Accident Investigation Branch sent a team to Crumlin. The plane ended up sitting in a grassy area in the middle of a wood. Part of it was covered by what appeared to be a blue tarpaulin. A statement from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said: No patients were taken from the scene and the major incident was stood down at 12:49. Nearby roads were closed. The NIAS spokeswoman added: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call at 12:23 this afternoon following reports that a light aircraft had come down near Nutts Corner. She added: NIAS implemented its major incident protocols in response to this incident and one rapid response paramedic, three emergency ambulance crews and four officers were dispatched to the incident. The charity air ambulance was also tasked. Police and other emergency services are currently in attendance at the scene of a light aircraft crash in the vicinity of Nutts Corner, Crumlin. There are no further details at this stage. Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 19, 2018 A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement confirmed the emergency services were in attendance. The flight was not connected to either of the two Belfast airports or an airfield in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, spokesmen confirmed. Newtownards airport, where the Ulster Flying Club is based, said it would make no comment. A witness told BBC NI he tried to help. It was not a nice sight, my thoughts are with the families of the two guys. Raul Castro said he expected 57-year-old Miguel Diaz-Canel to serve two five-year terms as president and eventually take his place as head of the Communist Party. It was the first time Mr Castro has laid out a clear vision for the nations power structure after his retirement or death, a vision in which Mr Diaz-Canel, full name Mario Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez, is Mr Castros true successor as total leader of Cuba. Mr Castro left the presidency after 12 years in office when the National Assembly approved 57-year-old Mr Diaz-Canels nomination as the candidate for the top government position. Mr Diaz-Canel told the nation that Mr Castro, 86, would remain the countrys ultimate authority as head of the Communist Party. Speaking after Mr Diaz-Canel, Mr Castro said he expected the younger man to become first secretary of the party after Mr Castro retires from the position in 2021. From that point on, I will be just another soldier defending this revolution, Mr Castro said. Mr Castro indicated that he expected Mr Diaz-Canel to serve two five-year terms as head of the party, saying he envisioned Mr Diaz-Canel guiding his own successor for three years after leaving the presidency in 2028. In his half-hour speech to the nation, the new president pledged to preserve the islands communist system while gradually reforming the economy and making the government more responsive to the people. The people have given this assembly the mandate to provide continuity to the Cuban Revolution during a crucial, historic moment that will be defined by all that we achieve in the advance of the modernisation of our social and economic model, Mr Diaz-Canel said. He said Cuba was, as always, prepared to negotiate with the United States but unwilling to cede to any of Washingtons demands for internal change. He emphasised that reforms would follow a 12-year-plan laid out by the National Assembly and Communist Party that would allow moderate growth of private enterprise while maintaining the important sectors of the economy in the hands of the state. Mr Castro, top right, observes a monitor the day before he was replaced by Mr Diaz-Canel, second left (Ramon Espinosa/AP) With Mr Castro watching from the audience, Mr Diaz-Canel made clear he would defer to the man who, along with his brother Fidel, founded and ruled for six decades what has become of one of the worlds last communist governments. I confirm to this assembly that Raul Castro, as first secretary of the Communist Party, will lead the decisions about the future of the country, Mr Diaz-Canel said. Cuba needs him, providing ideas and proposals for the revolutionary cause, orienting and alerting us about any error or deficiency, teaching us, and always ready to confront imperialism. Facing biological reality but still active and apparently healthy, Raul Castro is stepping down as president in an effort to guarantee that new leaders can maintain the governments grip on power in the face of economic stagnation, an ageing population and increasing disenchantment among younger generations. Mr Diaz-Canels half-hour speech offered most Cubans by far their greatest exposure to the man long expected to assume the presidency. Most Cubans know their first vice president as an uncharismatic figure who until recently maintained a public profile so low it was virtually nonexistent. That image changed slightly this year as state media placed an increasing spotlight on Mr Diaz-Canels public appearances, including remarks to the press last month that included his promise to make Cubas government more responsive to its people, language he echoed on Thursday. A poster featuring Raul Castro on the outskirts of Havana (Desmond Boylan/AP) Mr Diaz-Canel gained prominence in central Villa Clara province as the top Communist Party official, a post equivalent to governor. People there describe him as a hard-working, modest-living technocrat dedicated to improving public services. He became higher education minister in 2009 before moving into the vice presidency. In a video of a Communist Party meeting that inexplicably leaked to the public last year, Mr Diaz-Canel expressed a series of orthodox positions that included sombrely pledging to shut some independent media and labelling some European embassies as outposts of foreign subversion. But he has also defended academics and bloggers who became targets of hardliners, leading some to describe him a potential advocate for greater openness in a system intolerant of virtually any criticism or dissent. International observers and Cubans alike will be scrutinising every move he makes after he officially takes office on Thursday. Two years after taking over from his ailing brother in 2006, Mr Castro launched a series of reforms that expanded Cubas private sector to nearly 600,000 people and allowed citizens greater freedom to travel and access to information. A poster of Fidel Castro and Cubas President Raul Castro stands in Havana (Ramon Espinosa/AP) He has failed to fix the generally unproductive and highly subsidised state-run businesses that, along with a Soviet-model bureaucracy, employ three of every four Cubans. State salaries average 30 dollars a month, leaving workers struggling to feed their families, and often dependent on corruption or remittances from relatives overseas. Mr Castros moves to open the economy have largely been frozen or reversed as soon as they began to generate conspicuous shows of wealth by the new entrepreneurial class in a country officially dedicated to equality among its citizens. As in Cubas legislative elections, all of the leaders selected Wednesday were picked by a government-appointed commission. Ballots offer only the option of approval or disapproval and candidates generally receive more than 95% of the votes in their favour. The assembly also approved another six vice-presidents of the Council of State, Cubas highest government body. Only one, 85-year-old Ramiro Valdez, was among the revolutionaries who fought with the Castros in the late 1950s in the eastern Sierra Maestra mountains. A US couple have welcomed a 14th male child into the world as a daughter continues to prove elusive. The Grand Rapids Press reported Jay and Kateri Schwandts latest addition was born on Wednesday evening. The birth came five days before the babys expected due date. Wood-TV reports the boy weighs 8lb 4oz and is 21 inches long. Brothers Francisco, two, Tucker, four, Luke, six, Charlie, eight, Gabe, 11, Wesley, nine, Calvin, 13, Drew, 20, Tommy, 16, Zach, 22, Vinny, 15, and Ty Schwandt, 25, pose for a portrait (Casey Sykes/AP) Mr Schwandt was happy that his wife and baby, who is yet to be named, had a safe delivery. Kateri Schwandt has said she is used to large families, as one of 14 children herself. As with their last few children, the couple decided against learning the babys sex before the birth. The Schwandts live in Rockford, north of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and their eldest son is in his 20s. Jeremy Corbyn would be a better prime minister than Theresa May, leading author Lee Child has said. The writer, best known for his Jack Reacher series of books which were made into Hollywood films starring Tom Cruise, also claimed Brexit was being handled by fourth-rate idiots. Child was born in Coventry but now lives in New York and admitted he gets fed-up of returning home after about 35 minutes at Heathrow. Lee Child was born in Coventry but now lives in New York (Ian West/PA) He blamed the UKs regulations for making him feel nagged to death but said he keeps an eye on British politics and believes Mr Corbyn would be an upgrade on Mrs May. Child painted the Labour leader as a throwback to the 1970s, a decade he loved, but added: Britains problems are so huge that I dont think any particular politician is going to solve them. I wouldnt mind Corbyn as prime minister, for me he would be better than Theresa May but I wouldnt expect him to be a giant figure in world history. Child, 63, said Britain risked being another Zimbabwe in five years due to Brexit, blaming ignorant people for Britains decision to leave the European Union. He also criticised US president Donald Trump and argued both the UK and United States are being run by complete incompetents. The author, whose real name is James Grant, was speaking as he prepared to launch the 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, which will attract some of the genres biggest names to Harrogate, North Yorkshire. Writer Lee Child believes Jeremy Corbyn would make a better prime minister than Theresa May (Yui Mok/PA) John Grisham, the best-selling American writer, will be one of those in attendance and Child was full of praise for his contemporary. He said: The real appeal of Harrogate is its about the readers. A lot of these festivals, at least some strands, are about writing advice, or business advice, but theres none of that here. Its all for the readers. So a guy like Grisham, he is an exceptionally good writer. You dont really see that in his books, overtly, but underneath he is really an experimental writer who is testing things in each book. I find that fascinating. For the readers he has one of the broadest appeals I have ever known. He has had a long career, hes got millions of fans, hes a major A-list star like Stephen King. Its going to be great to have him there. The gender pay gap is one of the biggest political issues today, especially in Hollywood, where Child established himself with the success of the Jack Reacher film adaptions. Tom Cruise stars as Jack Reacher in films based on the books (Ian West/PA) But the author does not believe the literary world is guilty of the same unequal pay between men and women. He said: If you look at the sales, all the great, huge sellers are women. Tongue in cheek I would say if theres an equality issue in crime fiction generally or probably books of any kind, its men who are in the minority. I think actually the book world is one of the most equal of all worlds and women are proving that by having tremendous success in every generation. The big, huge sensations tend to be women and publishing is run almost exclusively by women. Certainly in all the operational roles. So actually I think its one of the most open and equal arenas that weve got at the moment. The 2018 Theakston Old Peculier Crime Writing Festival, takes place between the 19 and 22 July at The Old Swan Hotel, Harrogate. A juror who accepted a bribe has been jailed for six years in the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland. Catherine Leahy, 62, served on a jury in a drug trafficking and money laundering trial at the High Court in Glasgow which returned a not proven verdict in April 2016 following three days of deliberation. A police investigation was launched after information was passed to Crown Office staff regarding an alleged bribe to a juror. Police Scotland undated handout photo of juror Catherine Leahy who has been jailed at the High Court in Glasgow for six years in the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland after she accepted a bribe. Police then used covert audio surveillance to capture recordings of Leahy talking with a family member at her Glasgow home about the allegations against her. Her trial at the High Court in Glasgow heard Leahy had nearly 3,000 paid in four instalments into her bank account between April and June 2016, the Crown Office said. Prosecutors linked the bank payments to the charge against Leahy, described as a serious breach of public duty. At the High Court in Glasgow last month, she was found guilty of agreeing to receive money for not properly carrying out her role as a juror. Leahy was sentenced to six years in jail at the High Court in Edinburgh on Thursday, the Crown Office said. In his sentencing statement, later released by the Judiciary of Scotland, Lord Turnbull said: In my judgement, to agree to accept a bribe, from or on behalf of the accused, whilst serving as a juror in a High Court trial, involves conduct which reflects such a serious breach of the public duty which forms the cornerstone of justice in our society, as to constitute conduct at the most serious end of that contemplated by the provisions of the Bribery Act. The nature and seriousness of the lengthy trial in which you served as a juror, and accepted the position of spokesperson, aggravates the offence even further. It is obvious that a very lengthy custodial sentence is merited by such conduct. Leahy is the first juror to be prosecuted under the Bribery Act 2010. Lord Turnbull said the maximum sentence for the offence is ten years but he took into account mitigating factors including her very lengthy history of employment and the fact she has never previously offended. Prosecutors are now giving further consideration to the circumstances of the original trial in which Leahy served as a juror. The Crown can ask the court for authority to bring a fresh prosecution in cases where a person was previously acquitted in certain circumstances, including when an offence against the course of justice in the original trial is considered to have been committed. Liam Murphy, procurator fiscal for Specialist Casework, said: The role of the jury sits at the heart of our criminal justice system and is fundamental to our rule of law. This is the first prosecution of its kind in Scotland which shows that cases of jury interference are exceptionally rare. Leahy took advantage of a position of public responsibility for financial gain without any regard to the consequences. The prosecution against Leahy was built on a thorough and complex investigation by Police Scotland using covert surveillance to uncover the true nature of the offence. Tessa Jowell urged MPs to keep fighting the good fight to improve cancer treatment during an emotional Commons debate. Tears were shed and applause rang out in the chamber for the former cabinet minister following more than two hours of praise from all sides over her campaigning to help people with brain tumours live better lives for longer. Baroness Jowell, who has brain cancer, was accompanied by her family as she watched on from one of the galleries reserved for visitors. Baroness Jowell and her family look on as MPs debate cancer treatment (PA) Health Secretary Jeremy Hunt commended the Labour peer on behalf of Prime Minister Theresa May and the whole Cabinet, adding she had left two legacies via her amazing achievements with the London 2012 Olympics and her amazing campaigning on cancer. He said: Its our privilege to take part in this debate and our duty to act on what shes saying. Shadow health secretary Jon Ashworth also described Lady Jowell as an inspiration to all of us, telling the Commons: I hope all members of the House find her bravery extraordinary she has achieved so much and I just wanted to put on record that we will work constructively with Government to implement many of the recommendations that (Sarah Jones MP) is outlining. A real privilege to take part in todays #cancer debate in the House of Commons sponsored by @LabourSJ on brain tumours & cancer research & to recognise the incredible contribution of @TessaJowell in securing positive change & giving hope. Great Tessa was there to hear it. pic.twitter.com/zanEPRnelc James Brokenshire (@JBrokenshire) April 19, 2018 Labours Sarah Jones (Croydon Central), who used to work for Lady Jowell, had tabled a motion which praised her campaigning and called for greater sharing of health data and more adaptive clinical trials to improve outcomes for brain tumour patients. Ms Jones concluded the debate by reading out part of a note from Lady Jowell, which drew inspiration from murdered Labour MP Jo Cox. Lady Jowell wrote: Living with cancer has taught me so much. Ive been so lucky to be surrounded by such love from family, friends and fellow cancer patients. Today hearing so many of you talk about your own fights reminds me why I love this Palace of Westminster and the people who work here. An absolute pleasure to welcome @TessaJowell back to Westminster ahead of the debate on datasharing and cancer treatment shortly #CancerTreatment pic.twitter.com/rKmLn3yjcB Sarah Jones MP (@LabourSJ) April 19, 2018 It was a brilliant member of this House who spent far too short a time here who said We have far more in common than that which divides us and today shows how much we can do when we all put our shoulders to the wheel. It was the honour of my life to be one of you and I shall cheer on from the sidelines as you keep fighting the good fight. So remember our battle cry living with, not dying of cancer, for more people, for longer. Lady Jowell received a standing ovation in the House of Lords in January after making an emotional plea for more cancer treatments to be made available through the NHS. Labours Helen Hayes, who succeeded Lady Jowell as MP for Dulwich and West Norwood, earlier said it was extremely brave but no surprise to see her working to help others. Emotional scenes in the Commons as Labour's Siobhain McDonagh speaks during the cancer debate, which pays tribute to Tessa Jowell - who is watching on from one of the viewing galleries with her family pic.twitter.com/WXU69ToaSB Richard Wheeler (@richard_kaputt) April 19, 2018 Siobhain McDonagh, Labour MP for Mitcham and Morden, fought back tears as she paid tribute to Lady Jowell and told her: We are with you. Her voice cracked with emotion as she added: Politics is a rough old trade and sometimes you fall out with people, people that you think the most of. I just wanted to be here to say to Tessa whatever arguments or disagreements, it counts for nothing in comparison to my admiration and my determination to do anything to support her in her campaign. Tory MP James Brokenshire, who stepped down as Northern Ireland secretary in January after revealing he required lung surgery, said Lady Jowells speech struck a particular chord with him given it came a week or so after his surgery. Just met the amazing, strong Tessa Jowell in Parliament today for the Commons cancer debate she literally never stops campaigning to make things better and is rightly making us look much harder at improving brain cancer treatments pic.twitter.com/nC6idoQeLd Jeremy Hunt (@Jeremy_Hunt) April 19, 2018 Tory MP Eleanor Laing, a Deputy Speaker, and Labour former shadow cabinet minister Owen Smith went over and embraced Lady Jowell during the course of the proceedings. Commons Speaker John Bercow said he hoped Lady Jowell had experienced the warmth of that embrace of parliamentary love before adding: (Ms Jones) said that, in quoting from your letter, you loved this place. I hope it is blindingly obvious to you, Tessa, that we love you. The debate follows a landmark summit on brain tumours in London in February, triggered by Lady Jowells experience following her own diagnosis last year. President Donald Trump said he received a great education during an anti-drug trafficking briefing that underscored the need for the wall he has promised to build along the US-Mexico border. Drugs are flowing into our country, President Trump said in the Florida Keys. We need border protection. We need the wall. We have to have the wall. People along the motorcade route in Key West (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) The president travelled from Palm Beach, where he is spending the week, to the tourist haven of Key West for the update from the Joint Interagency Task Force South. The agency is responsible for monitoring drug trafficking by sea, by air and online. Last year, it helped disrupt a record 283 metric tons of cocaine and detained nearly 900 suspected members of drug trafficking organisation. President Trump said drugs are coming into the US through the Pacific and the Caribbean. He said human trafficking is another big problem. The president has made it a priority to crack down on the flow of illegal drugs but has spoken less often about illicit substances that arrive via US ports and the mail system. He has instead focused on the big, beautiful wall he made one of his signature campaign promises. In Key West, President Trump marvelled at the size of the crowds that lined the streets as his motorcade snaked through the island city. .@POTUS in Key West, Florida visiting Joint Interagency Task Force South pic.twitter.com/5KhycCanda Fox News (@FoxNews) April 19, 2018 Many people waved colourful signs that commended or insulted him, including Youre fired, Thanks for saving our country, and Slimeball go home. The president, a former reality TV star, relished the attention. I hope you saw the crowds in Key West. Theyve never seen anything like that. It was really very inspirational, he told reporters between stops. And what we just witnessed was incredible. But those crowds coming in, I think even the media will have to say that was quite something. Meghan Markle highlighted the rippling effect of female empowerment as she and Prince Harry backed a campaign to get some of the worlds poorest girls into education. With a month to go until their royal wedding, the American former actress and Harry were continuing their Commonwealth duties in London. They joined Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at a Womens Empowerment reception, where Mr Johnson launched his Platform for Girls Education. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, Prince Harry and Meghan Markle speak to guests (Chris Jackson/PA) The campaign calls on global leaders to sign up to ensuring 12 years of quality education to girls missing out on schooling. The event formed part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting being staged in London and Windsor this week. Hope, an 18-year-old from Kenya who campaigns on achieving equal rights for girls, said Ms Markle spoke to her about the long-lasting effect of getting girls into education. Meghan Markle attended the event during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chris Jackson/PA) Meghan Markle was talking about how it is a rippling effect when you empower girls, they empower the next generation, she said. The Suits star is known for her commitment to gender equality, previously being a Womens Advocate for the UN. She was dressed in a chic black fitted cowl-neck belted Jackie O cocktail dress by Black Halo and stylish stilettos Aquazzura Milano cutout suede pumps. Her hair was styled in a relaxed up-do. Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are looking forward to their wedding (Chris Jackson/PA) Harry praised the campaign, telling guests: What youre doing is absolutely amazing. He added: It starts from here. You have already done amazing stuff. Now you have to energise. Britain is providing 212m in UK aid money to help one million vulnerable girls across the Commonwealth to receive 12 years of quality education by 2030. More than 130 million girls around the world are not in school and girls in conflict zones are twice as likely to be out of school compared to boys. The prince and Ms Markle were introduced to Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founder of the Malala Fund and the father of Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by militants for daring to go to school in north-west Pakistan. Education activist Kiki James, a British-Nigerian Malala Fund champion, asked Harry for a fist bump and also managed to persuade the prince and Ms Markle to pose for a picture with her, taken by a colleague. I asked him to fist bump. He did it twice and he did it perfectly, she said. Mr Johnson, in a speech after the couple had left, called for an end to sexism surrounding education. Im here to appeal to all the corpulent, middle aged, suited men, in the world, of whom there are quite a few, very powerful, a lot of them at this summit today, he said. Im here to appeal to them to end this sexism. Mr Johnson congratulated Harry and Ms Markle on their wedding, telling guests: Shouldnt we all raise a glass to them for their impending wedding? Bill Cosbys lawyers have lost another bid to cut his sex assault retrial short. Judge Steven ONeill rejected a defence motion that he acquit Cosby and send jurors home. The defence asked the judge to clear the 80-year-old comedian after prosecutors rested their case on Thursday afternoon. Bill Cosby arrives for his sexual assault trial (Matt Slocum/AP) Cosbys lawyers say prosecutors have not proved charges he drugged and molested a woman at his Philadelphia mansion more than a dozen years ago. Cosby has said his sexual encounter with the woman was consensual. The defence also says there is no evidence to prove the alleged assault happened within the 12-year statute of limitations. Prosecutors say the accuser and Cosby have both said the encounter was in 2004. Prosecutors point out Cosby was arrested in 2015, just before the deadline to charge him. Leaders of the Commonwealth will discuss whether the Prince of Wales should succeed his mother as head of the 53-nation body when they meet behind closed doors at Windsor Castle. Prince Charless hopes were given a massive boost on Thursday, when the Queen publicly endorsed his future leadership at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Chogm) in London. The unprecedented move was thought likely to end years of speculation about who will take over as head of the institution her father King George VI first led in the aftermath of the Second World War. Officially opening the summit at a ceremony in the Buckingham Palace ballroom, the Queen said it was her sincere wish that the Commonwealth will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. And the organisations outgoing chair-in-office, Maltese prime minister Joseph Muscat, appeared to take Charless future role for granted when he told delegates: We are certain that, when he will be called upon to do so, he will provide solid and passionate leadership for our Commonwealth. But the succession is not automatic, with the decision in the hands of the heads of government of the 53 Commonwealth states. While they are widely expected to fulfil the hopes expressed by the Queen, there was no official confirmation that Charles will be offered the role on Friday. Spokesmen could not even confirm that any decision would be announced at a press conference following the leaders retreat at Windsor Castle. Prime Minister Theresa May has already given her backing to Prince Charles, with her official spokesman saying: The Government supports the Prince of Wales as the next head of the Commonwealth. He has been a proud supporter of the Commonwealth for more than four decades. Canadian PM Justin Trudeau said on Thursday: I very much agree with the wishes of Her Majesty that the Prince of Wales be the next head of the Commonwealth. Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau gave his backing to Charles as Commonwealth head (Matt Dunham/PA) And Keith Mitchell, the prime minister of Grenada, told the BBC: It would be good news, the Queen herself does very well and certainly we have been fortunate to have her leadership of stable leadership over this period. But having the Prince of Wales would certainly not be an unhelpful act at this point in time. It has been widely assumed that the Queen, who celebrates her 92nd birthday on Saturday, is probably presiding over her last Chogm in person as she has not taken a long-haul flight for a number of years and the venue for the biennial summit moves around the globe, with the UK only hosting it three times in the last 32 years. The Queen has been head of the Commonwealth since coming to the throne in 1952, but the position is not automatically held by the British monarch. Leaders were also debating topics ranging from a blue charter on ocean conservation to cyber security and trade. The Queen hosted a state dinner for the leaders and foreign ministers of 53 Commonwealth nations. They gathered at Buckingham Palace, along with other members of the royal family, including Prince Charles, and his sons William and Harry, and Prince Andrew, and his daughters Beatrice and Eugenie. The event was held in the Picture Gallery at the palace after the guests had gathered in the Blue Drawing Room. Prince Harry and Canadas prime minister Justin Trudeau (Toby Melville/PA) The president of Ghana has claimed the Queen is winding down her Commonwealth duties hours after she said it was her sincere wish the Prince of Wales succeeded her as the institutions head. Nana Akufo-Addos comment was made as he proposed a toast in honour of the Queen during a Buckingham Palace banquet that followed the opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). During the opening ceremony the Queen launched the two-day summit but also lobbied the prime ministers and presidents from the Commonwealths member states to choose Charles as their next head in future years. Ghanas president told the dinner guests, who included world leaders, Theresa May, Charles, the Duke of Cambridge and Prince Harry: Weve been made to understand shell be winding down her duties as head of the Commonwealth. My toast thus takes on an added significance, for it falls upon me to express the depth of our collective regret that she will no longer automatically be present at our proceedings. The organisation will undoubtedly be the poorer for it we shall miss her inspiring presence, her calm. It is not thought the Queen is planning to relinquish her involvement with the family of nations, an important institution that she famously pledged to serve, when aged 21 in 1947, for the rest of her life. But it has been widely assumed that the Queen, who celebrates her 92nd birthday on Saturday, is probably presiding over her last CHOGM in person as she has not taken a long-haul flight for a number of years and the venue for the biennial summit moves around the globe, with the UK only hosting it three times in the last 32 years. Buckingham Palace has emphasised during CHOGM week how the Queen is as active as ever in Commonwealth projects and its people. The monarch also recently appeared in a television documentary with Sir David Attenborough, promoting the forest conservation project known as the Queens Commonwealth Canopy. The Queen greets guests as she hosts a dinner during the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (Victoria Jones/PA) Earlier during the CHOGM opening ceremony, the Queen publicly endorsed Charles as the next head of the Commonwealth. She told the 46 heads of government and six foreign ministers gathered at the palace: It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day the Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949. The Queen has been head of the Commonwealth since coming to the throne in 1952, but the position is not automatically held by the British monarch. Speaking about her wishes is likely to end years of speculation about who will take over as head of the institution her father King George VI first led in the aftermath of the Second World War. The leaders are due to discuss the issue of Commonwealth succession on Friday at their retreat at Windsor Castle, which will also see leaders debate topics ranging from a blue charter on ocean conservation to cyber security and trade. The Prime Ministers official spokesman said: The Government supports the Prince of Wales as the next head of the Commonwealth. Mrs Mays spokesman added. He has been a proud supporter of the Commonwealth for more than four decades and has spoken passionately about the organisations unique diversity. A group of LTTE supporters staged a protest outside the Commonwealth Summit premises in London today against President Maithripala Sirisena. Carrying placards and LTTE flags, the protesters demanded President Sirisena to go back to Sri Lanka. Some of the slogans read, Go back Maithri! and We dont want a Constitution, final solution is Tamil Eelam, The protest was held near the Buckingham Palace. Fifteen people including 12 Sri Lankans were injured when a bus carrying a group of Sri Lankan tourists crashed with two trucks on a Swiss highway near Zurich on Wednesday, the Channel News Asia reports said. The tourist bus carrying 40 passengers collided with two trucks near the Winterthur-Wulflingen exit on a motorway not far from the northern city of Zurich, Swiss police said. "Fifteen people were injured, one of them seriously," Zurich's cantonal police said in a statement adding that the cause of the accident remained unclear. According to the ATS news agency, the bus was carrying tourists from Sri Lanka. The driver of the bus and a female travel companion riding up front were stuck and needed to be extracted by rescue workers, police said. The driver suffered moderate injuries, while the woman was seriously injured, they said. Twelve of the tourists were meanwhile slightly injured, as was the driver of one of the trucks, police said. The Sinhala Hindu New Year is in all probability the only main traditional festival that is commonly observed by the Sinhalese and Tamils, and celebrated by Buddhists and Hindus in the country. Traditional astrologers believe that the sun completes a circle across the twelve subdivisions of the zodiac in the course of one year, taking one month to go across each group called a constellation. It is significant for Buddhists and Hindus who commemorate the commencement of the solar new-year to observe the age-old rituals that ends with the oil anointing ceremony. Oil Anointing and Pachyderms I was confused after seeing an elephant receiving a lot of attention at a temple, visiting my cousins in the village a couple of decades ago. What is the rationale behind the temple authorities ordering a pachyderm for the annual ritual during the festive season, I inquired. Yes, he said, May be an unusual experience, but it is customary for the she elephant owned by a well-connected businessman from the area to be anointed with oil. My cousin replied. The much publicized ceremony got underway at the temple the priest on this occasion playing an insignificant role, leaving it to the Prabhu clan [elite] and a few prominent elements who dominates the Dhayaka sabhawa. The gaily decorated entrance with traditional gokkola and punkalas added extra glamour. The arrangements were colourful and impressive. The traditional oil lamp was receiving its floral arrangements with jasmine flowers by a few jacket and cloth clad charming damsels from the area This giant platform? I asked him pointing to the specially built stage and a ramp. That is to match the height of the ten footer tusker Hasthi-Rajaya, doesnt she look majestic, and its presence enhances the standing and value of the ceremony. Can we get your Tommya anointed as well? I proposed. Dont create a scene here, this is a village he warned me. The Sinhala/Hindu Avurudu festival reach a climax with an anointing ceremony followed by the first bath for the New Year. Oil is mixed with herbal paste for the family elder to rub on the heads of other members while reciting the famous verse, a pali/Sinhala rhyme. People sit with a white cloth under their feet. While some go to the nearest temple in the village seeking the blessings of the Loku Hamuduruwo others visit the elderly indigenous physician, or the vedamahattaya who attends on every villager who walks in to his chamber. Anointing oil and Nanu (Herbal mixture) is performed just before taking the ceremonial bath. The observance has its roots in Kandyan era, where it was performed as a religious ritual by the Royal Nekath Mohottala, who would directly supervise it, while the royal physician prepares the oil as well as Nanu. The oil is made out of herbs such as, Sevendara, Gorochana, beli-mal, kalanduru-ala, kohomba-kola, sandalwood, iriveriya, kumkumappu, and sathsanda. The Nanu is a concoction made using ingredients agreed by astrologers and differ each year; usually, leaves from Bo, Nuga, Divul, Kohomba, Karadana, or Kumbuk are used, but according to the Almanac of the year. It is the same therapeutic leaves as prescribed that is held over the head and laid on the ground for the feet, during the ceremony. The traditional oil lamp was receiving its floral arrangements with jasmine flowers by a few jacket and cloth clad charming damsels from the area. Prabhu dayakes would light it; that included the local government member, the businessmen and the Bhandagarika, [treasurer ] of the Dhayake sabha. I noticed one mischievous young man attempting to decorate the hair-do of a pretty girl with a bunch of jasmines. He cannot do that My cousin objected. Let them have a little fun, dont be jealous. Kiribath, and many a varieties of oil cakes and plantains were arranged on the white cloth-covered the table in the dana salawa. Inquired by my cousin, the Abiththaya [acolite] said, Dhanapala Mudalali, the businessmen spent a lot on the function, while ladies from Kulangana Samitiya collected the balance by visiting every house. That is how it happens, a precedence had been created; on the orders of Bandagarika, the abittiya make a special one to give priority for the elite, friends of Businessmen and the Prabhu clan With few more minutes to go for the much awaited nekatha, special guests arrived with family kith and kin at the scene. The organisers garlanded and ushered them to the inner chamber, where the oil lamp was to be lighted. While hundreds of people; young mothers carrying their new-born babies; elderly and the sick standing in hot sun for their turn, the treasurer signaled to the mahout to get the animal near the ramp to have its head auspiciously anointed on priority. As the time approached the CD played Karaneeya metta sutta. The queue was getting longer as people started walking in numbers. I observed with astonishment a second queue being hurriedly arranged by the abittaya. That is how it happens, a precedence had been created; on the orders of Bandagarika, the abittiya make a special one to give priority for the elite, friends of Businessmen and the Prabhu clan. He cannot do that I objected. Let them have a little fun, dont be so discourteous. The matter was getting unusually delayed, its well past the nekathabeing worried over the delay we walked up to the central area through curiosity; and soon realized the folly; the organisers were in a quandary; they were arguing which direction to face; almanac says South, but the ramp has been constructed facing the opposite direction. The elephants head cannot be reached and the next nearest spot accessible was the tail, the Nayaka priest obviously was not happy, he vehemently opposed. No way, I will apply oil only on the head of the tusker, like in previous occasions, he was adamant. However the businessman, the owner of the proboscidean reluctantly agreed, no options but the never-say-die Bandagarika would attend to the task. Kalu kaputa sudu venaturuMolgahe dalu enaturu, Hal essa pela venaturuEkasiya vissata desiya vissak ayu bo weva (Until the black crow turns white--until the rice pounder sprouts buds-- until the rice seeds germinates-may your life be as long as two hundred and twenty, instead of the hundred and twenty) He recited the verse reading a note prepared by a student and applied Nanu just above the giants tailabittaya inviting the devotees for cries of Sadhu..Sadhu. In fact some very old ladies were seen worshipping the tusker who carries the relics casket during annual perahera of the temple. A village octogenarian said, in the good old days the Nanu was prepared in the temple ten days prior to the Avurudu while the monks recited Pirith throughout the long process. Are they following these traditions now? Do they use the correct ingredients to say the least? Oil Anointing is an age-old avurudu ritual, the last, and an integral part of the Sinhala and Hindu New Year, which is gradually diminishing in value, hijacked by temple politics? However, I was relieved, on our return to see Tomiya relaxing at home. Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. ( CCBSL) recently hosted its annual Distributor Partner Convention, recognizing its longstanding distributors and rewarding top performances at a gala event of fellowship. The event took place at the Waters Edge, Battaramulla and was attended by over 100 distributors and Coca-Cola associates. Apart from giving out awards for outstanding contributions, the event provided a fitting platform to congregate with CCBSL distributors and to hear their amazing success stories. Mayank Arora, Managing Director of Coca-Cola Beverages Sri Lanka Ltd. commented: It gives me great pleasure to congratulate our valued distributors for their ongoing commitment and tireless efforts to ensure our success in Sri Lanka. Each one of our distributors has played a key role in driving our business growth in the market. We are proud of our distributors contribution and look forward to working together and serve all consumers in Sri Lanka with great tasting and refreshing beverages. The crisis of the present Government is nothing but one of its own making The two incidents have thrown the country into utter confusion The SLFP led by President Sirisena is in disarray divided over Unity Government The UNP has temporarily suppressed a rebellion against it with a promise to reorganise the party The retreat by the politicians into their family life during the Sinhala and Hindu New Year and President Maithripala Sirisenas absence from the country to attend the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London, had obscured the political mess prevailing in the country. The February 10 Local Government Elections and the No-Confidence Motion (NCM) presented by the Joint Opposition against Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghe were the immediate causes that transformed an already simmering conflict in the Government into chaos. The two incidents have thrown, the country in general and the ruling coalition in particular, into utter confusion. The two main parties in the ruling coalition, the United National Party (UNP) and the Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) have been bewildered as to whether and how they should continue with their coalition. The SLFP led by President Maithripala Sirisena is in disarray and divided over the continuation of the so-called National Unity Government with the UNP and a split seems to be imminent. On the other hand, the UNP leadership has temporarily suppressed a rebellion against it with a promise to reorganise the party. The President is increasingly being isolated by his coalition partner as well as the members of his own party. It was against this backdrop that he prorogued the Parliament on April 12, on the eve of the New Year holidays. The statement by Minister Lakshman Kiriella this week that there was no specific reason for the prorogation of Parliament and it was only a tradition was an insult to the peoples intellect. Had it been done according to tradition it wouldnt have been a surprise move. Here, even the top leaders of the two main parties in the ruling coalition were caught off-guard by the Presidents move. There is no doubt that the President prorogued Parliament in order to buy time to decide and prepare for his next move in his desperate attempt to bolster his sagging grip over his party as well as the Government. This reminds us of two similar incidents where a Prime Minister and a President had prorogued Parliament to save them from an apparent threat of ouster. It would have been embarrassing for the UNP as the ministries that had been tasked to take action against corruption were held by UNP Ministers In February 1977 Prime Minister Sirimavo Bandaranaike, threatened by a No-Confidence Motion by her one-time coalition partner Lanka Sama Samaja Party with the assistance of the main Opposition UNP, prorogued the National State Assembly (NSA), the then Parliament. And she dissolved the Assembly on May 18 the same year without reconvening it. President Ranasinghe Premadasa, who had been threatened with an impeachment motion by the dissidents of his party, the former ministers Lalith Athulathmudali and Gamini Dissanayake in 1991 also prorogued the Parliament in order to buy time to decide on his next move to scuttle the motion. However, the motion was dismissed by Speaker M.H. Mohamed on the grounds of insufficient signatures in it, when the House was reconvened. Despite the Local Government Elections in February and the No-Confidence Motion against the Prime Minister being seen as the immediate cause for the present crisis in the government and in its two main parties, the conflicts within the Government has been festering since 2016. And interestingly the large-scale corruption allegedly committed by the leaders of the former as well as the present administrations seems to be the chief contributing factor for the conflicts within the Government as well as for the present political crisis in the country. It must be recalled that President Sirisena in an unexpected turn of events in October 2016 launched a scathing attack on the Bribery Commission, Criminal Investigation De partment (CID) and the Financial Crimes Investigating Division (FCID) of the Police claiming that the three institutions had been politicized. Later he and Minister Rajitha Senaratne justified his controversial statement by saying that the three institutions were very slow in looking into the high-profile acts of corruption committed by the leaders of the former regime. However, it would have been an embarrassing situation for the UNP as the ministries that had been tasked to take action against corruption were held by UNP Ministers. The President again in July last year accused the UNP, this time directly, for delaying and even stalling investigations against the leaders of the previous Government. During a Cabinet meeting, he had reportedly challenged to catch the thieves within three months if the Police and the Attorney Generals Department were brought under him. Then he was critical of the UNPs apparent connivance in the Central Bank bond scam and appointed a Presidential Commission of inquiry to probe the highly controversial transaction. The local council elections became a turning point in the relationship between the SLFP and the UNP and it has apparently marked the beginning of the downfall of the yahapalanaya government The proceedings of the commission led to the resignation of UNP Assistant Leader Ravi Karunanayake from his ministerial portfolio on August 10, last year which in turn led to Justice and Buddha Sasana Minister Wijeyadasa Rajapakshe stepping down from his post 13 days later. The President, who went public with allegations of corruption against the UNP during the recent local elections, called for the resignation of the Prime Minister after the humiliating defeat of the election. In fact the local council election defeat of the UNP can be attributed to the bond scam, among others, as 1.5 million out of 5 million voters who voted for the UNP in August 2015 had rejected the party this time while the SLFP and the UPFA had received the same number of votes (1.5 million). The local council elections became a turning point in the relationship between the SLFP and the UNP and have apparently marked the beginning of the downfall of the Yahapalanaya Government. While heightening the strife between the two parties in the Government it also gave a huge morale boost to the Mahinda Rajapaksa camp which instilled fear in the minds of many members of SLFP on their survival. Despite the defeat of the NCM against the Prime Minister on April 4 being a temporary setback for the former President and his loyalists, it has yielded to them by way of dividing the SLFP and further antagonizing the two ruling parties. A shortsighted UNP demanded the resignation of the SLFP members who voted in favour of the NCM from their posts. Rajapaksa promptly responded by an open invitation for them to join his camp. In the face of the political trend created by the local elections in the country, the 16 MPs would happily accept the invitation. Former Minister S.B. Dissanayake, a well-known turncoat had already stated that those who voted for the NCM would form an alliance with the Joint Opposition. The President seems to have prorogued the Parliament to prevent or delay this crossover. The crisis of the present Government is nothing but one of its own making. Had it been honest in its promise to take action against corruption, the Rajapaksa camp would have now been in disarray. But the UNP seems to have wanted to divide the SLFP by not weakening the Rajapaksa faction of the SLFP. Had the Government also prevented the bond fraud or taken the culprits to task at its initial stage and had they been honest in their promise to create one million job opportunities in five years, there wouldnt have been such an erosion in the UNP vote base. When the results of the much-awaited Ordinary Level Examination were released last week there were very many new aspirations among the students, teachers and administrators in the education sector. Several years ago there was criticism levelled against officials of the education sector that all resources- both physical and human- were granted to those schools from the Colombo centric western province and not to the regions. There is a popular slogan used by school and university students KOLAMBATA KIRI APITA KEKIRI which means while Colombo students get milk the students of schools in the remote parts or regions receive pumpkins. From a broader perspective what this means is that there is a very wide discrepancy between the regions and the centre when it comes to the distribution of resources, especially in the education sector. However as the years rolled by the timely education reforms introduced, during the past few years, should be commended, irrespective of the government in power. Be it blue or green the tangible fact is that there has been a remarkable improvement in the education sector both in quantity and the quality. MATHS, SCIENCE AND ENGLISH pass rate increases while FAIL rate declines G.C.E.(O.L.) ( See table ) Needless to say the O/L results of 2017 provide testimony more than any other year. Table at the end of the article provides an analysis of the performance from 2010 to 2017 at the G.C.E. O/L Examination by the school candidates. It clearly signifies the steady and stable progress made. If you consider the percentage of students that has qualified to study for the Advanced Level Examination since 2010 there is a growth from 60.57% to 73.05% in 2017. The Principals of the schools that produced the top six students say that the new systematic developmental tools introduced to the education sector by the Ministry of Education during the past two to three years have contributed to the results emanating from their student communities If you even analyze from the previous results in 2016 it shows a growth of 3.11% in 2017. Also when you take the number of students who have obtained 9 A passes in 2010 the figure read 3057 which is 1.13% of those who passed the O/L exam. In 2017 the total number of students who received 9 A passes were 9960 which is 3.36% of those who passed. Moreover there has been a remarkable decrease in the failures at the O/L Exam. The data shows those who had failed in all subjects. Those who appeared for more than 6 or more subjects stood as 14411 in 2010 while in 2017 it has dropped to 7308 which is 50% less compared with the data available for 2010. Performance of School Candidates (1st Attempt) by Province arranged in Descending Order of Qualified Percentage Meanwhile those who have passed Mathematics, Science and English too have increased compared with the previous years results. The pass rate for Mathematics has increased to 67.24% in 2017, up from 62.24% which was the reading for the previous year. Similarly the pass rate in Science too rose to 73.465 in 2017 compared to 66.33% the previous year. The pass rate in English too has risen to 51.12%, up from 47.90% which was the reading for 2016. Incidentally, Southern Province recorded the highest percentage (79.41) of students who qualified to study for the A/L Exam. North Western Province recorded the second highest percentage (74.60) of students who qualified to study for the A/L Exam. Western Province came third with 74.58%. Southern, NWP, WP, and Sabaragamuwa (74.33%) provinces have a higher qualifying rate to study for the A/L Exam compared to the national average which is 73.05% . G.C.E. (O.L) Examinations 2016 - 2017 Province 2017 Number Sat for 5 or more subjects Qualified for G.C.E.(A/L) Failed in All Subjects (Appeared for 6 or more Subjects) More interestingly, when you view the best performers list at the 2017 GCE O/L Examination the top six students who have got the same aggregate comes from Gampaha, Kandy, Matara and Ratnapura districts. What is the scientific meaning for this? It shows the benefits of the education trickle down to regional level from its epic centre which is Colombo. What is the bigger approach for this? The Principals of the schools that produced the top six students say that the new systematic developmental tools introduced to the education sector by the Ministry of Education during the past two to three years have contributed to the results emanating from their student communities. They commended the new teacher training methods which are on par with overseas training and modernized teacher training techniques used in other developed countries. The infrastructure for these schools was provided under the concept NEAREST SCHOOL IS THE BEST SCHOOL. In this concept the focus was on the development of infrastructure in over 10,000 schools in the country which included 283 national level schools. The rest of the schools were in the provinces. Currently over 18000 individual projects are being implemented under this scheme. Spending over 64 billion rupees the focus was on introducing mobile science labs to schools with weaker laboratory facilities. As many as 3000 schools were provided with mobile labs apart from training being provided to more science and math teachers. Modern teaching techniques were used so as to have more qualified teachers. The teacher ecosystem too has contributed to the improvement in results. The intention of NSBS projects is to minimize the congestion in popular schools and provide all basic facilities to the nearest school and attract students to those institutes instead of overcrowding popular schools. Moreover the human capital injected to the system is quite remarkable. Shuffling the teachers after 10 years of service in one school to another is quite a bold decision taken by education officials to supply quality experienced teachers to the peripheries as well. More importantly the 13 years of compulsory education that encourages the students to continue studying in schools even after the O/L Exam regardless of whether they pass the exam or not has given more hope to our younger generation. Annually approximately 120,000 students drop out after the O/L Examination and their fate goes unattended, some times by their parents who are both employed. And those who dont receive the attention of parents may get attracted to dubious forces. Such dropouts may engage in crimes, get addicted to drugs and find employed as social sex workers. A sizeable percentage of these dropouts also take to driving three-wheeler taxis. Annually approximately 120,000 students drop out after the O/L Examination and their fate goes unattended, some times by their parents who are both employed. And those who dont receive the attention of parents may get attracted to dubious forces. Such dropouts may engage in crimes, get addicted to drugs and find employed as social sex workers. A sizeable percentage of these dropouts also take to driving three-wheeler taxis. The main objectives of the 13 years of education Under the proposal of 13 years of continuous education by the present Government, it is intended to allow each learner to continue his or her studies till the end of Grade 13 regardless of whether they pass or fail the GCE O/L Exam. To provide an opportunity to select vocational subjects of their choice and allow them either to join the world of work or pursue higher education through flexible learning opportunities The introduction of vocational subjects that are in high demand for local and foreign employment. (26 such subjects will be introduced). These subjects are: Child psychology and care Food processing Health and social care Aquatic resource studies Physical education Plantation studies Performing arts Construction studies Event management Automobile studies Arts and crafts Electrical and electronics Interior designing Textile and apparel Fashion designing Metal fabrication Graphic designing Aluminum fabrication Art and designing Software development Landscaping Web development Applied horticulture Tourism and hospitality Livestock studies Environmental studies More Applied Subjects are expected to be introduced depending on future industry demand A student is expected to choose three of those Applied Subjects according to his/her liking and study them up to the introductory and intermediate levels during second and third terms of Grade 12. Then in the first term of Grade 13, every student would choose one particular Applied Subject out of those three and continue his/her advanced studies in that area throughout the three terms during Grade 13. That subject is called students Main Applied Subject. Industrial Skills Training (or On the Job Training OJT) is related to the Main Applied Subject chosen by a student. Those activities are embedded into Grade 13. Vocational Curriculum would be delivered as per the Vocational Education Standards. Learners would be assessed and evaluated as per the Vocational Education Standards. Vocational Curriculum would allow students to achieve NVQ level 4 in the chosen Main Subject Area A qualification designed by the Ministry of Education and recognized by the country would be awarded to suitably qualified students in the Vocational Stream Students in this stream would be able to find jobs, or start self-employment or to continue their tertiary education in vocation-friendly universities and higher education institutes, institutes in the TVET sector upon leaving the school at the end of Grade 13. In conclusion it is very important for the public to understand that improving the quality of education in the country means eventual betterment of the standards of the students and therefore the recently released O/L exam results tells us that success story. Delivering the keynote speech at the Commonwealth Business Forum held in London, President Maithripala Sirisena highlighted that all stakeholders must work together to eradicate poverty, address climate change and to build peaceful inclusive societies. I call upon everyone present here to join hands with the Commonwealth countries as well as others to bring prosperity with best business practices that will promote social responsibility and ensure social inclusiveness, he said. President Sirisena said good business practices would be a catalyst for peace and good governance and it should reflect social responsibilities and uphold the rule of law with zero tolerance on corruption. In the speech themed Delivering Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs): Aligning Businesses, Societies and Governments, President Sirisena said in 2015, the world came together and agreed upon a common vision for a sustainable future in adopting the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development. The Plan of Action we agreed upon is inspiring. Therefore, it is very important that we give life to this ambitious development plan all the way through its successful implementation. In order to eradicate poverty, to address climate change and to build peaceful inclusive societies, it is agreed that key stakeholders must come together, he said. He said the Sri Lankan Government created a special ministry for sustainable development, integrating the SDGs to the overall national policies. Our governments Blue-Green economic plan will ensure the full utilization of the ocean and other natural resources of Sri Lanka in an eco-friendly and sustainable manner. Through this economic strategy, Sri Lanka hopes to become a role model for addressing the best practices. The primary responsibility of policy implementation lies with the governments and in many countries, like in Sri Lanka, Heads of State and government are personally leading these efforts. The world today is united in its efforts to create a cleaner, greener and sustainable energy and there is no standard approach for implementing SDGs, and each country decides its own path. However the approach led by our countries should be people-centred, he said. (Sunil Jayasiri reporting from London) Education Minister Akila Viraj Kariyawasam has offered national school admission to the schoolgirl from Ganemulla who was allegedly afflicted with a stigmatized disease. Issuing a statement, the Education Ministry said this matter was taken up after Social Empowerment Deputy Minister Ranjan Ramanayake brought it to light. It said studies of the victim had been disturbed due to stigma. Several media reports uncovered that the schoolgirl was insulted by school authorities solely due to her health condition and that she was likely to lose her school over the issue. Furthermore, Minister Kariyawasam has taken steps to provide employment to the victims father, the statement said. However, the minister pledged to appoint an independent supervisory board to resolve matters similar to this depressing incident and to regulate the functions of all government and international schools. (Kalathma Jayawardhane) The British doctor who was performing heart surgeries at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital was suspended from work , pending the determination of the Sri Lanka Medical Council (SLMC) on his practicing licence, Hospital Director Dr. Jayampathy Senanayake said today. Dr. Senanayake told the Daily Mirror that the issue had been taken up after several doctors attached to the Government Medical Officers Association (GMOA) had stressed on the fact that this British doctor did not have the practicing licence in the United Kingdom (UK) which was needed to be renewed from time to time. He said the British doctor had assumed work at the Karapitiya Teaching Hospital following an approval letter issued by the SLMC and added that the SLMC had the sole authority to decide on it. Those doctors attached to the GMOA were threatening to take trade union actions if the authorities would not take any action against this doctor. In UK, doctors should have the registration of its Medical Council and there is also a practicing licence which is needed to be renewed. However, unlike in the UK, only the SLMCs registration is needed to practice as a doctor in Sri Lanka, he said. Another claim of the GMOA is that the said British doctor was old in age, he added. He said accordingly, they were waiting for a determination of the SLMC and added that till then the British doctor was suspended from his work for a few days. Meanwhile, an official of the Health Ministry said this elderly British doctor was performing heart surgeries especially in complicated cases for children. However, GMOA Secretary Dr. Haritha Aluthge told the Daily Mirror that when they inquired about the qualifications of this doctor, they had found out that he only had the registration of General Medical Council (GMC) in UK and not practicing rights. He was deprived of practicing rights in UK in 2015 due to some reason and he had concealed it while he was producing his documents to the SLMC. This 67-year-old British Cardiothoracic surgeon has started working at Karapitiya Teaching Hospital in 2016, he said. He said the GMOA was waiting for the determination of the inquiry with regard to this matter and added that it was not appropriate to let a doctor who does not have practicing rights in his own country to practice in Sri Lanka. (Kalathma Jayawardhane) The Trade Unions which have grouped together argue that May 1 is the International Workers Day or labour day It is reported that a group of Trade Unions, offended by the decision to declare May 7 as Workers Day, had decided to protest. This decision to change the date had apparently been taken by President Maitripala Sirisena on the advice of the Maha Nayake Theras who had pointed out that the week following Vesak Poya, which falls on April 29 and 30 will be one of religious observances and therefore, not opportune to have May Day rallies on May 1, immediately after the two Vesak holidays. The Trade Unions which have grouped together argue that May 1 is the International Workers Day or Labour Day popularly known as May Day which according to them is universally celebrated as the day on which the workers highlight their woes and voice their legitimate demands and as such it was against international norms and rules to annul the May 1 holiday and instead declare May 7 as the day to mark workers day. The Unions argue that this decision violates the Constitution of Sri Lanka too and say that there were a few occasions in the past, when May Day was celebrated just before or just after Vesak Day. They go on to highlight the historical significance of May Day and that almost all countries have declared May 1 as workers day or labour day. The trade unions have declared that they would defy the Governments decision and hold rallies on May 1. It is worthwhile pondering on the historical background of May Day. In early pagan culture of Europe, May 1 was celebrated as the first day of summer and over the centuries, the day was associated with various religious and cultural festivities and celebrations. This day was observed as a spring holiday in the northern hemisphere with varied cultural and religious activities. In the late 19th century, May Day was chosen as International Workers Day by the Socialists and Communist movements of the Second Internationale to commemorate the bombing on May 4, 1886 of a demonstration by workers conducted in support of an eight-hour workday in Chicago known as the Haymarket Affair. Due to the bombing, seven police officers and four workers lost their lives. This celebration also combined with the anti-capitalist movement of that time in England. Since then, the working classes of many countries celebrated May 1 as International Workers Day and several governments recognized the day and declared it as a holiday. However, some countries celebrate workers day on different dates which are significant to them such as in the United States labour day is celebrated on the first Monday of September. This year in England, the May Day holiday has been fixed on May 7, which is aMonday, since May 1 falls on Tuesday. It had been the practice in England over the years that May Day was recognized as a holiday if it fell on a Monday and if not, on another day, usually a Monday was chosen as the May Day holiday. Now one may wonder why the trade unions are irked by the decision to declare May 7 as May Day. If the workers wish to highlight the issues that affect them directly or of concern to them, why is it not possible for them to hold their rallies on any holiday in May? The message will be effectively put across to the respective authorities if unity among workers is firmly displayed. But what happens in Sri Lanka is that a majority of the unions are affiliated to the major political parties and they participate in May Day rallies organized by the parent political parties who make use of the May Day rallies to demonstrate their strength. There is more disunity than unity among workers when it comes to highlighting their woes. The only unions with sufficient numbers is the plantation workers unions, which too has become aligned to political parties of their choosing. As a result, it is not the aspirations of the workers that are highlighted on May Day but the slogans prepared by political parties. Therefore it is a moot point whether the trade unions have their workers day on May 1 or any other day in May or even for that matter any day in the year. The trade unions are responsible to their members to effectively present the workers grievances and make representations against the policies or practices of the employers that affect them adversely. Instead what we currently see is that the Unions mobilize workers or members against totally unrelated issues and more often than not, missing the woods for the trees where their main issues are not highlighted but the workers are made to respond to the May Day slogans of the political parties they are affiliated to. The May Day rallies of the so called socialist countries are also farcical demonstrations where such rallies are used to demonstrate their economic and military might to the world and hardly any worker-grievances are highlighted The May Day rallies of the so called socialist countries are also farcical demonstrations where such rallies are used to demonstrate their economic and military might to the world and hardly any worker-grievances are highlighted. Due to the shrouded nature of worker conditions, the world hardly gets to know the plight of the workers in those countries because the Unions are State controlled, as are the media. The government and the President cannot obviously ignore the advice of the Maha Nayake Theras in respect of religious observances connected with Vesak and the President quite rightly got the Cabinet to approve the shifting of May Day celebrations to May 7. What is the position if Vesak Poya fell on May 1 itself? In such a scenario would the trade unions want the Poya Day shifted to some other day to enable them to celebrate May Day? In this instance, the rights of the workers and trade unions have not been suppressed and merely allowed another day to conveniently exercise their rights. The unions claim that this rescheduling of May Day is a violation of international norms and our constitution. As explained in previous paragraphs, celebrating May Day on May 1 is not an international norm though prevalent in many countries. The claimed that the Constitution was being violated, maybe hinting at the favoured treatment meted out to Buddhists but there is no discrimination against other faiths in this exercise. Hypothetically, if workers day falls on Christmas day itself, there is no other option for the Government but to reschedule the workers day to some other time. Have the Trade Unions lost their marbles or is there a more sinister motive underlying their agitation? Only time will tell. In order to maintain this blog I have to pay for its upkeep including a hosting company, support services, virus and other malicious hackers. If you appreciate what I write please make a donation. Birthday wishes Call 281-422-8302 or email david.bloom@baytownsun.com to wish someone a happy birthday. We will print your birthday wish on Page 2 of The Sun. Happy Birthday Wishes https://travel.state.gov/content/travel/en/legal/travel-legal-considerations/Advice-about-Possible-Loss-of-US-Nationality-Dual-Nationality/Dual-Nationality.html Dual Nationality Section 101(a)(22) of the Immigration and Nationality Act (INA) states that the term national of the United States means (A) a citizen of the United States, or (B) a person who, though not a citizen of the United States, owes permanent allegiance to the United States. Therefore, U.S. citizens are also U.S. nationals. Non-citizen nationality status refers only individuals who were born either in American Samoa or on Swains Island to parents who are not citizens of the United States. The concept of dual nationality means that a person is a national of two countries at the same time. Each country has its own nationality laws based on its own policy. Persons may have dual nationality by automatic operation of different laws rather than by choice. For example, a child born in a foreign country to U.S. national parents may be both a U.S. national and a national of the country of birth. Or, an individual having one nationality at birth may naturalize at a later date in another country and become a dual national. U.S. law does not mention dual nationality or require a person to choose one nationality or another. A U.S. citizen may naturalize in a foreign state without any risk to his or her U.S. citizenship. However, persons who acquire a foreign nationality after age 18 by applying for it may relinquish their U.S. nationality if they wish to do so. In order to relinquish U.S. nationality by virtue of naturalization as a citizen of a foreign state, the law requires that the person must apply for the foreign nationality voluntarily and with the intention to relinquish U.S. nationality. Intent may be shown by the persons statements and conduct. Dual nationals owe allegiance to both the United States and the foreign country. They are required to obey the laws of both countries, and either country has the right to enforce its laws. It is important to note the problems attendant to dual nationality. Claims of other countries upon U.S. dual-nationals often place them in situations where their obligations to one country are in conflict with the laws of the other. In addition, their dual nationality may hamper efforts of the U.S. Government to provide consular protection to them when they are abroad, especially when they are in the country of their second nationality. U.S. nationals, including dual nationals, must use a U.S. passport to enter and leave the United States. Dual nationals may also be required by the foreign country to use its passport to enter and leave that country. Use of the foreign passport to travel to or from a country other than the United States is not inconsistent with U.S. law. RAF Goes to Washington to Reform Dambusters Squadron The page you requested is only available to subscribers. 1. If you are a Premium Service subscriber, please log in here to access this story: Log-in : Password : 2. If you are not a subcriber, you can: -- buy access to this page: unlimited access for seven days costs 3.00 EUR + VAT (at 19.6%) if applicable. Clicking on the "Ok" button below will place the item in your shopping cart and return you to our home page, where you will be able to select additional stories. -- select additional stories and services from our home page and pay for them at the same time. -- see your shopping cart. You can also see the contents of your shopping cart at any time by clicking on the "Order" tab on the navigation bar at the top of any page, or by clicking on the "Your order" light blue link in the top right-hand corner of our home page, immediately under the log-on box. By Arelis R. Hernandez 18 April 2018 (The Washington Post) An island-wide blackout struck Puerto Rico on Wednesday, plunging the U.S. territory of more than 3 million citizens back into darkness more than seven months after Hurricane Maria demolished its fragile power grid.The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority said the blackout, which began about 11:30 a.m., could last from 24 to 36 hours. About 5 p.m., the local utility said more than 51,000 customers had power.The local utility said it detected a failure on a prominent distribution line that connects a major generating station in the south of the island to substations in the north, where most of the population lives.Maria Mayita Melendez of Ponce, a large city on Puerto Ricos southern coast, said PREPA told her that workers for Cobra Energy were moving a tower near Aguirre, one of the islands major generating plants, when an excavator struck a major distribution line, causing a change in voltage that created a chain reaction.In a video statement Wednesday afternoon, PREPA interim director Justo Gonzalez said that when the line failed, the central generating plant in the south stopped functioning and seven major plants along the southern coast collapsed one by one. The agency said its priority is to restore service to critical structures such as hospitals, the airport, water pumps and banks. PREPA tweeted that several hospitals and medical centers had power by midafternoon.The power outage comes two days after PREPA published an online video celebrating the restoration of electric service to 97 percent of its customers.Wednesdays blackout was the first island-wide power outage since the storm.[]In his city, Perez Otero said a few businesses were operating only because their generators were still working. The backup power failed at a shopping center, but people continued to shop and use cash. Others rushed to gas pumps anticipating that they would close early and leave them without fuel.But other parts of the city were paralyzed, he said.The systems fragility is especially concerning with the beginning of hurricane season only a couple of months away, giving federal and local officials little time to begin strengthening the decades-old and unkempt power grid in Puerto Rico.Sadly, this is the reality we will have to endure if another storm comes, he said. Theres no time to improve the system. [ more ] Puerto Rico back in darkness after island-wide blackout SAN JUAN, P.R. (The New York Times) After seven months and close to $2.5 billion, almost everybody in hurricane-ravaged Puerto Rico had their lights back on until a freak accident on Wednesday plunged the entire island once again into darkness. The Puerto Rico Electric Power Authority had boasted Wednesday morning that less than 3 percent of its customers remained without power, substantially concluding what some estimates called the biggest power failure in United States history. The island of 3.4 million residents was open for business again, government officials said. It was only a few hours later that an excavator working near a fallen 140-foot transmission tower on the southern part of the island got too close to a high-voltage line. The resulting electrical fault knocked out power to nearly every home and business across the storm-battered American territory, authorities said, a catastrophic failure that could take up to 36 hours to restore. It was the first time since Hurricane Maria left the islands power grid in ruins on Sept. 20 that nearly all of the electric companys 1.5 million customers found themselves in the dark, although another failure less than a week ago had cut power to 870,000 users. Only small pockets generated by microgrids were spared by the latest power loss. Im angry. This is the second time in a row, Justo Gonzalez, the electric companys chief operating officer, said in a telephone interview. I give the people of Puerto Rico my word: we are going to restore power to every last house. []Leo Del Valle, 54, who lives and works in Caguas, said he went three months without power after Maria. He went home briefly after work on Wednesday and took an ice-cold shower. If the blackout lasts longer than a two days, he said, the food in his refrigerator will go to waste. Your day-to-day changes completely, he said. This wears on you psychologically. During his power loss at his home after the hurricane, he said, he probably spent thousands on generators and fuel. His father-in-law spent over $5,000. Mr. Del Valle was more judicious and limited himself to only nine hours a day of generator use. If we get hit again, itll be a disaster, he said. Total chaos.Hurricane season starts June 1. [more] By Brian Resnick 19 April 2018 (Vox) The US Senate on Thursday confirmed Jim Bridenstine, a Republican Congress member from Oklahoma, to be the next administrator of NASA. The post has remained vacant since January 2017, when Charles Bolden, the space agencys leader under President Barack Obama, stepped down. Bridenstine, 42, brings some odd qualifications to the job, and some controversy.Typically, NASA administrators are chosen from within NASAs ranks, come up through the military, or have a background in science. Bridenstine has none of that. His qualifications: Hes former Navy pilot who once ran the Air and Space Museum in Tulsa. He also sits on the House Committee that oversees NASA. The third-term representative is now the first member of Congress to hold the administrator job.Even members of Bridenstines own party have voiced concerns over what putting a politician in charge could mean for the future of the agency.As a politician, Bridenstine has hedged on climate change, an issue NASA scientists study and track in many different ways. During his confirmation hearing in November, Bridenstine agreed that humans are the driving force behind climate change, but he would not agree with the assertion that human activity is the primary cause of it. Its an odd position to hold as the leader of an agency that provides some of the most comprehensive data on climate change in the world.NASA has a staff of 17,000 and a budget of nearly $19 billion (not to mention the numerous contractors it works with). Bridenstines experience of managing a museum in Tulsa pales in comparison to the enormous complexity of NASA. Plus, there are new questions, raised by reporting from the Daily Beast, about whether Bridenstein used funds from the Tulsa Air and Space Museum to prop up a private venture. He reportedly ran the museum into a financial loss.Bridenstine will also be controversial because hes been outspoken against LGBTQ rights. In 2013, he called the Supreme Court decision to legalize same-sex marriage a disappointment. He has also spoken out on the House floor criticizing the Boy Scouts of Americas decision to allowed LGBTQ members. In a speech, he charged that the left wing in the US wants to reshape organizations like the Boy Scouts into instruments for social change. []NASA is the one federal mission which has largely been free of politics, Rubio said in September, echoing the same concerns as his Florida colleague Sen. Bill Nelson, a former astronaut and the top Democrat on the Commerce Committee. I just think it could be devastating for the space program, Rubio said.Rubio ultimately voted Thursday in favor of Bridenstines nomination. The day before, he citied concerns that NASAs acting administrator, Robert Lightfoot, is set to retire at the end of the month. While I wish the president would have nominated a space professional to run NASA, Rubio said in a statement, he wanted to avoid a gaping leadership void. [more] Save my User ID and Password Some subscribers prefer to save their log-in information so they do not have to enter their User ID and Password each time they visit the site. To activate this function, check the 'Save my User ID and Password' box in the log-in section. This will save the password on the computer you're using to access the site. Note: If you choose to use the log-out feature, you will lose your saved information. This means you will be required to log-in the next time you visit our site. Stuart Oles: A pioneer in construction law field Oles As young child, Stuart Oles posted a sign on his bedroom door that read, S. Gregory Oles, Attorney at Law. Oles followed through on that ambition, becoming one of the most well-known construction attorneys in Seattle. Oles, age 93, died April 8, surrounded by his family. A news release from Oles Morrison Rinker & Baker, where he worked most of his career, said Stuart Oles volunteered for the Marine Corps' officer training program during WWII. He was injured and discharged for medical reasons in 1945, and his mother enrolled him in law school at the University of Washington. During law school, Oles spent a summer working for construction attorney Gerald DeGarmo at the firm of Allen, Hilen, Froude and DeGarmo a predecessor to Oles Morrison. Oles graduated third in his class and joined King County Prosecutor's office, where he rose to chief civil deputy before returning to work with DeGarmo in 1950. Oles became senior partner in 1977 and the firm added his name. Stuart Oles will be remembered for his contributions to our firm, to the construction industry, to his community, and to the legal profession, said Angelia Wesch, managing partner of Oles Morrison. He was instrumental in not only solidifying our firm's reputation as a leader in construction law but in developing the practice of construction law as an area of specialty nationwide. Oles litigated a number of high-profile cases over his career, including the landmark Teamsters v. Lucas Flour Co. labor law case that was heard by the U.S. Supreme Court, termination-related claims on the Kingdome, and many heavy construction claims across the West and Alaska. He managed the firm's construction practice until he retired in 1992. Oles also was active in the community, working pro bono for the Episcopal Church and various civic groups. He wrote a professional memoir entitled On Behalf of My Clients, and published a book of lay sermons. Oles is survived by his wife, Ilse, and three sons, one of whom (Douglas) is a partner at Oles Morrison. Memorial contributions can be sent in his name to Grace Episcopal Church, P.O. Box 324, Lopez Island, WA 98261. (Update: A memorial service will be held at 2 p.m. April 29 at the church on Lopez Island.) Subscriber content preview BOISE, Idaho (AP) Idaho officials have approved an agreement allowing a utility company's $216.5 million in relicensing expenses for a three-dam hydroelectric project on the Snake River on the Idaho-Oregon border. The Idaho Public Utilities Commission issued the order on Friday that allows Boise-based Idaho Power to include the costs involving the Hells Canyon Complex in customer rates at a future time. That rate increase would take a separate request from Idaho Power. . . . A Federal Government review of auDA the not-for-profit organisation responsible for administering the .au domain has found its management framework is no longer fit-for-purpose and requires urgent reforms to meet the needs of Australias internet community. The review, undertaken by the Department of Communications and the Arts, outlines 29 recommendations for the auDA to implement within the next 24 months, with a view to modernising its management framework, last reviewed 17 years ago, and fostering greater trust and confidence in the .au namespace. Recommendations include an overhaul of auDAs membership model to ensure its membership base better reflects Australias diverse and evolving internet community, and new processes for appointing Board directors. Specifically, the Board would be selected to ensure an appropriate skills mix, and structured so that the majority of the Board is independent of the auDA membership. Minister for Communications, Mitch Fifield said the government had accepted all of the reforms and that they were necessary to ensure auDA is fit-for-purpose and supports the interests of Australias internet users, including businesses and organisations for whom the au. domain is an intrinsic part of [their] identity. The Government has issued modernised terms of endorsement to auDA, reflecting changes to the digital landscape, Minister Fifield said. These terms of endorsement outline the Governments expectations and provide auDA with the mandate to make the necessary reforms to its governance arrangements. The government expects to see significant progress within the next 3 to 6 months from auDA in implementing these changes. Cameron Boardman, CEO of auDA, welcomed the findings of the review, adding his organisation had already begun working on the implementation plan for reform. We are committed to working with members and other stakeholders to transform auDA into an organisation that is better equipped to meet the challenges of a vibrant and evolving namespace, he said. It is a vitally important public asset that needs to be administered in the best interests of Australias 21 million internet users and the wider community. 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The incubation base is guided by the Taiwan affairs office of the Guangzhou municipal government and the Yuexiu district government, and is supported by the management committee of Huanghuagang Technology Park and an incubator company. It aims to be an innovation service platform for Taiwan's young entrepreneurs, offering entrepreneurship incubation, business matching, and resource-sharing. According to the Yuexiu authorities, the incubation base will follow Guangzhou's development strategy on IAB industries (the next generation of companies in information technology, artificial intelligence and biological medicine) and take into account Huanghuagang Technology Park's growth orientation in cultural creativity, health & medicine, and high-tech industries. It will provide Taiwan's young entrepreneurs with low-cost offices, internet services, social spaces, and financing opportunities and improve their abilities in applying the latest technologies, developing new products, expanding markets, and coming up with new business ideas. The incubation base has set an annual goal of introducing at least three IAB industrial investment projects, incubating at least two startups, hosting five cross-strait exchange activities, and attracting more than 50 entrepreneurs and employees from Taiwan. The opening ceremony of the Taiwan Youth Entrepreneurship Incubation Base at Huanghuagang Technology Park in Yuexiu district on April 17 [Photo/ycwb.com] To build the largest and most complete Amateur Radio community site on the Internet - a "portal" that hams think of as the first place to go for information, to exchange ideas, and be part of whats happening with ham radio on the Internet. eHam.net provides recognition and enjoyment to the people who use, contribute, and build the site. This project involves a management team of volunteers who each take a topic of interest and manage it with passion. The site will stand above all other ham radio sites by employing the latest technology and professional design/programming standards, developed by a team of community programmers who contribute their skills to the effort. The site will be something of which everyone involved can be proud to say they were a part. We welcome your comments. The eHam.net Team, Revision 07/2020. By ABC News , April 17, 2018 DHAHRAN, Saudi Arabia (AP) Saudi Arabia used its perch as host of an annual gathering of Arab leaders on Sunday to push for a unified stance against rival Iran as the regional powerhouses vie for the upper hand in wars in Syria and Yemen. Saudi King Salman told leaders from across the 22-member Arab League that Iran was to blame for instability and meddling in the region. He said Yemeni rebel Houthis, backed by Iran, had fired 116 missiles at the kingdom since Saudi Arabia went to war in Yemen three years ago to try and roll back Houthi gains there. Read More: Join us - become an Elderado today at: LarryElder.com Follow Larry Elder on Follow Larry Elder on Twitter "Like" Larry Elder on Facebook The Guardian denigrates Turkeys snap elections President Erdogans statements over Turkeys snap elections will be held in June, had a broad repercussion in international press. President Erdogan on Wednesday announced that Turkey will have snap elections on June 24, 2018, after a meeting with opposition Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) chairman Devlet Bahceli at the presidential complex. Simon Tisdall has caried his uncomfortableness to his column in The Guardian. Tisdall has stated that Erdogan will guarantee his place in the elected dictators club. He mentioned that Erdogan is one of a crop of present-day political leaders who value the respectability an ostensibly democratic election confers but dont want to risk actually losing the vote. Turkeys president is no different from Russias Vladimir Putin and Egypts Abdel Fatah al-Sisi. Their shared idea of democracy can be summed up by the motto: You vote, I win. he wrote. Tisdall indicates that Erdogan and his ruling Justice and Development partys losing the snap presidential and parliamentary polls is extremely unlikely: The AKP won a clear majority of seats in parliament in 2015 and is already assured of the support, should it need it, of the Nationalist Movement party (MHP). By bringing the polls forward, Erdogan is finally set to gain full, personal control of all key aspects of domestic and foreign policy. He will become a dictator in all but name, more powerful perhaps than even Kemal Ataturk, modern, secular Turkeys founding father. the columnist also added. The end of the road is near for Homeland. After a successful eight-season run in Showtime, Claire Danes confirms the hit series is wrapping up. Since the series premiered in 2011, Homeland has been a major player in Showtime's lineup. However, there has long been speculation that its successful run is nearing its conclusion with the eighth season. E! News reports that in an interview on Sirius XM with Howard Stern, Homeland star Danes puts an end to speculation and says season eight really is goodbye. Danes On The End Of 'Homeland' Danes confirms the reports when Stern asks her about the speculation on the eighth season being the last one, adding that she's conflicted over her feelings on the end of the long-running show. On one hand, the actress is ready to move on. "She's a lot, this Carrie-freakin-Mathison," she says. "I mean, she's under constant duress. It's a workout, so I'll be ready for a reprieve from that." However, the star of the show also explains that Homeland's eventual end is going to be a major change for her after the show has been such a big part of her life for so long. "But, you know, I've never done anything for this long," Danes points out. "I mean, I've been married for as long, maybe a year longer." The actress may be closing this chapter of her life, but another one is set to begin, as she's expecting a bundle of joy soon. Danes is "deep into" her second trimester, so it won't be long until she's welcoming her second child with husband Hugh Dancy. The couple are already parents to a five-year-old son Cyrus Michael Christopher, and the actress says they've been trying for a while to get pregnant again. Showrunner Weighs In On 'Homeland' Final Season It's not just Danes who is ready to move on from the hit Showtime drama. Showrunner and cocreator Alex Gansa has also opened up about stepping away from the show after the eighth season, although he was vague about the future of Homeland in general. "It's definitely going to be my last year," Gansa revealed to The Hollywood Reporter in February. "I can't speak for Claire or [costar] Mandy [Patinkin], but it will be my final year and it will be designed to be the end of an eight-season story." The executive is not confirming the end of the show, though, leaving the possibility of the network continuing on without him with a different showrunner at the helm. According to him, if the other parties involved in Homeland want to, they could go on. The current team will be leaving room for the possibility "if there's an appetite," says Gansa. Sources tell The Hollywood Reporter that Showtime is exploring the possibility of keeping the show going after Gansa's reign. Homeland season seven is currently ongoing. The finale is slated to air on Sunday, April 29. Prince Harry is definitely learning to familiarize himself with the American language and he sampled a famous American expression during his visit to the Commonwealth Youth Forum with fiancee, Meghan Markle, on Wednesday. Band-Aids vs Plasters Prince Harry used a term distinct to the American people while in a conversation with the youth leaders at the Commonwealth Youth Forum reception. Harry used the word "Band-Aid" as an expression during a discussion about finding long-term solutions to issues such as climate change and women's rights. "Don't get sucked into the system of putting on a Band-Aid," he said then explained, "American-style." There was laughter when Harry turned to Markle, who is from Los Angeles, to explain the cultural difference. The prince said that British people do not call small bandages as Band-Aids. Instead, they call them plasters. The Suits star just laughed off the situation, as seen in the video shared by The Evening Standard. pic.twitter.com/1tre7CfAnM Delegates tell Prince Harry, who opened the forum earlier this week, and Ms. Markle what they have learnt from each other over the course of the last few days. #CHOGM2018 Kensington Palace (@KensingtonRoyal) April 18, 2018 Commonwealth Youth Ambassador Wednesday's meeting with the youth leaders marks an important part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting week. The high-profile event is usually only joined by members of the Royal Family and it was an unusual move when Markle joined her fiance. Regardless, Queen Elizabeth II has appointed her grandson as Commonwealth Youth Ambassador and his role will be an important part of the couple's work once they are married. "Harry hopes to encourage young people to use Commonwealth platforms to address the social, economic, and environmental challenges of their generation," a Buckingham Palace representative said of the prince's goal as ambassador. Delegates from the representing 53-member countries traveled to London to meet Markle and Prince Harry. The couple met with officials and activists, including LGBT rights activists. They also met with former winners of the Queen's Young Leaders Award. Markle's American Influence Apparently, the use of the word Band-Aid is not the only American influence from Markle. Prince Harry has learned to assimilate with some of the American practices and traditions, including the preference of their wedding cake. It is a tradition in British weddings to have fruitcake served at the reception. However, the couple opted to have the American-style lemon elderflower cake instead. Likewise, their wedding invitations had an American touch to it. The invites may have been from a British printer. However, the ink used reportedly came from the United States. Prince Harry and Markle are set to wed at St. George's Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19. Robert De Niro is clearly not a fan of the U.S. President Donald Trump, and he made his feelings known during his opening speech at the Tribeca Film Festival on Wednesday. 'Lowlife-in-Chief' De Niro is never going to change his negative perception of the U.S. president, and he once again made Trump a punching bag in his speech. Talking to a room full of journalists at Thalassa Restaurant, the actor directed his ire at the president and blamed him for all the rampant fake news coming out. De Niro, who is the cofounder of the annual New York film festival, called Trump a "lowlife-in-chief" who has shown disregard for news items that do not align with his worldview and called them fake news instead. He also described Trump as a "madman" president. "The country has had a bad year, and you the press have taken a lot of hits. America is being run by a madman who wouldn't recognize the truth if it came inside a bucket of his beloved Colonel Sanders Fried Chicken," the actor exclaimed. "When he doesn't like what he hears, he dismisses it by saying it's un-American and damning it as 'fake news'. But we know the truth. All thinking people do," De Niro continued. In his opening speech at the festival's press luncheon, the 74-year-old veteran actor also praised the journalists for an "admirable job this past year." He referred to them as saviors, although in his opening dialogue, he joked about them being fake news writers. Outspoken De Niro The Godfather star has long been outspoken when it comes to the U.S. president. His kickoff speech at the Tribeca Film Festival proves that he has no plans to mellow down any time soon. He recently expressed his interest to see Trump in jail in an appearance on the Today show. "I hope there's a couple where I interrogate him then I arrest him and then I escort him to jail," De Niro said. Just last week, De Niro pointed out the increasing number of people who have left Trump's administration. He alluded to the president as the cause of all the bad things that are happing in the country. The Goodfellas actor also called Trump a "bulls**t" during his acceptance speech for the prestigious Chaplin Award. De Niro also made headlines ahead of the 2016 presidential election when he expressed his desire to punch Trump in the face. India has built a regular school-based decentralised data collection system investing much time and resources. However, all the data has not helped in determining how far the country has progressed on the goal of Education for All given the varied and often contradictory evidence. The quality of the data collected is highly suspect, as different sources provide vastly different estimates and the processes of verification and validation, are not in use. It would appear then that despite the fact that the coverage and scope of data collection has increased enormously with many more indicators added, and technology has enabled better management of data, some nagging questions remain about the quality, utility and purpose of the data, with obvious implications for planning and policymaking. Two decades ago, in the mid-1990s, I was part of a survey of primary education across five north Indian states, known as the Public Report on Basic Education (PROBE) survey.1 It was one of the first field-based studies of its kind, which explored the quality of government elementary schools using multiple perspectives like that of the teachers, the parents and the students. The study collected primary evidence on school quality from each of the states, and questioned the prevailing wisdom that centred around poverty and demand factors as the main predictors of educational deprivation. In highlighting the abysmal quality of government schools and the push-out factors the report shifted the debate away from poverty, busting several myths about parental motivation, income poverty, and the quality of public schooling. While it went on to be a very influential report, as researchers we struggled to ensure its authenticity in the light of existing data and information. The primary constraint we faced at that time was the difficulty of finding disaggregated secondary data on schools. All that was available by way of educational statistics were the annually published Selected Educational Statistics (SES) and the different rounds of All India Education Surveys (AIES). The SES data was available only at the state level and even then after a lag of three to four years. The AIES, while more detailed, was also available only after a gap of several years. There were no national level household surveys, which collected information on education regularly, and we had to depend on the census and the education rounds of the National Sample Survey (NSS) (both with decennial time frames) and the International Institute of Population Sciences (IIPS), National Family Health Survey (NFHS-2, 199899), for validation and comparability. But, while our efforts to align our own data with existing sources were largely for research purposes, we wondered how policymakers were managing without an annual time series and any of the details one might expect from a comprehensive and dedicated education data set. This was especially puzzling because the planning process and budget allocations followed, and still do, an annual cycle! The customary rights of indigenous forest-dwelling communities over their forests were first constitutionally recognised under the Forest Rights Act, 2006. However, mainly individual rights have been recognised under this act, while community rightsits main strengthhave been neglected. The act impacts, among other communities, the Tharu Adivasis living in forest villages of Uttar Pradesh, but how far has it been successful in addressing their needs? The Scheduled Tribes and Other Traditional Forest Dwellers (Recognition of Forest Rights) Act (FRA), 2006 recognises a range of individual and communal rights of Scheduled Tribes (STs) and other traditional forest-dwelling communities on forest resources, neglected since British rule. The act is an attempt to correct historical wrongs and ensure social protection to affected communities by providing access to hitherto forbidden rights in the very forests they have lived in for ages (Bandi 2013, 2014). After more than eight years of implementation, the act does not have universal acceptance by the different stakeholder groups that have fought for their interests over a long period of time (Menon 2007; Saravanan 2009). The major highlights of the act are that it ensures forest ownership rights to indigenous forest-dwelling communities who do not have proper documents despite having lived in the forests for more than three generations, and stipulates for the conversion of all forest villages, old habitation, unsurveyed villages, and other villages in the forestwhether recorded or notinto revenue villages. This brought relief to the lakhs of forest villagers who were living in the hope of realising these changes for a long time. The main objective of this article is to understand how far the FRA has been successful in providing land and forest rights to the Tharu Adivasis of Uttar Pradesh (UP), especially those living in forest villages. The two districts Lakhimpur Kheri and Balrampur were selected for the present study as the FRA covers the Tharu community only in these two districts. Also, in these districts, the Tharu people live in both revenue villages as well as forest villages. The district Lakhimpur Kheri has 41 Tharu villages, out of which twoSurma and Golbojhiare forest villages situated within Dudhwa National Park. The district Balrampur has 46 Tharu villages; five of thoseNarihawa, Badka Bhukurwa, Chotka Bhukurwa, Kanchanpur, and Akalgharwaare forest villages situated deep within the Suhelwa Wildlife Sanctuary on the IndoNepal border (field data from district social welfare department, district Lakhimpur Kheri and district social welfare department, district Balrampur 2015). All seven Tharu forest villages are covered under the study. This Page Is Under Construction - Coming Soon! Why am I seeing this 'Under Construction' page? JavaScript is disabled. For a better experience, please enable JavaScript in your browser before proceeding. There can be lots of things at play here. But from what you have indicated here, there is a potential issue about the status of your husband and his job. If he's non-EU and you're EU (Polish, I guess), then his ability to remain in France depends on your having a "statut" for living in France. And it's generally up to the bank to determine the stability of the family income, so if you're not working it could pose problems. Obviously, I don't know exactly what the bank was thinking, but this tends to be how the banks here evaluate credit. Cheers, Bev Danman said: Asian Spirit, I see that you stated that you serve in the Barangay Police/ Tanod, as it was my understanding of the Philippine Law that no foreigner or Dual Citizen can serve as a Barangay Official, that only a Philippine Citizens can hold any Government Position in the Philippines.. Click to expand... As in many things, there are exceptions to rules and with "pull" in the right places things happen. I served for about seven years in one Brgy and then again in another. Basically it started with serving in the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency and they got approval for the Brgy placement. Only difference between me and the locals on the Brgy Police is that I do not collect a salary or allowance. I refuse that as it is not needed and I would be in violation of Philippine labor law if I did. Been a lot of fun and was a great way to learn of the culture and the people as a whole.I'll add a photo (sorry not good quality) of my wife on the Brgy Police too. This is one evening when she was set to go with the PNP on a night patrol. Note the guy behind her sitting down with the handcuffs on. This is a guy she had just arrested. Got to love her as she works so hard trying to help. Here because she serves on PDEA as well, she has her M-16.A person could move to the Philippines and live here 50 years or more and never really learn all I was able to by volunteer service with the Brgy, PDEA, PNP. and the Philippine Army. I'm too old now and health does not permit me to chase the bad guys anymore. But still feels good to serve and hope to for years to come. ezhejiang.gov.cn The opening ceremony for the 34th China Orchid Pavilion International Calligraphy Festival is held in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo/China Daily] The 34th China Orchid Pavilion International Calligraphy Festival opened in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. The festival includes the Sixth China Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Awards the most prestigious awards for Chinese calligraphy. The festival got its name from a gathering of 42 calligraphers at Orchid Pavilion during the East Jin Dynasty in 353 AD. The gathering led to the creation of Lanting Xu (Preface to the Poems Composed at the Orchid Pavilion) the best-known work in the history of Chinese calligraphy. Initially, the festival was a calligraphy activity used for memorizing the "Orchid Pavilion Preface" of calligrapher Wang Xizhi. But it has since become a platform to carry forward the art of calligraphy and promote Shaoxing's cultural attractions. A series of activities such as exhibitions of the calligraphy works of the Sixth China Orchid Pavilion Awards, China Orchid Calligraphy Summit and exhibitions of the Shaoxing Calligraphy Contest will also be held during the festival. Prize winners of the Sixth China Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Awards pose for a group photo at an awards ceremony held in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo/China Daily] Gao Shixiong, the winner of the Lifetime Achievement Award at the China Orchid Pavilion Calligraphy Awards waves during an awards ceremony held in Shaoxing, East China's Zhejiang province on April 18. [Photo/China Daily] STATEMENT FROM PRESIDENT DUANE AISTROPE ON JAPAN ALLOWING U.S. ETHANOL The U.S. Grains Council confirmed yesterday that Japan has finalized a change in the countrys biofuels policy allowing for imports of the oxygenate ETBE made from U.S. corn-based ethanol. As farmers, we welcome this news as we know that U.S. ethanol can meet Japans need for a high octane, low-carbon fuel source in reducing greenhouse gas (GHG) emissions and improving air quality. The best way to enhance farmer profitability is to create new demand for corn through value-added products such as ethanol. With more than $1.2 billion in U.S. ethanol exported last year, ethanol exports have become extremely important to Iowa farmers profitability. Japan will now allow U.S. ethanol to meet up to 44 percent of a total estimated demand of 217 million gallons of ethanol used to make ETBE, or potentially 95.5 million gallons of U.S.-produced ethanol annually. Japan imports nearly all its ETBE from ethanol. This decision by the Japanese government is based on its evaluation and life cycle assessment update of U.S. corn-based ethanol. The U.S. industrys efforts to maximize production efficiency through technological innovations that lead to higher GHG emission reductions for corn-based ethanol and the emergence of co-products like distillers dried grains with solubles (DDGS) have supported this new access to the Japanese market while positively contributing to the feed and energy value chains. The Council and its partners, Renewable Fuels Association, Growth Energy and the U.S. Department of Agriculture, have been engaging with the Japanese fuel industry and Japanese policymakers to showcase U.S. corn ethanol. USGC also funded a study that helped to dispel myths about U.S. ethanol helping to make the case for opening the door to the Japanese market. Click here to see more... FARMERS about to spray paddocks prior to sowing this seasons crops may find bargain prices for some herbicides have dried up. Assistant Minister for Science, Jobs and Innovation Zed Seselja last month approved an anti-dumping notice which imposed an interim dumping duty rate of 35.3 per cent on dichlorophenoxy-acetic acid (2,4-D) in all its forms imported from China. An exception is 2,4-D exported by Shandong Weifang Rainbow Chemical Co Ltd, Chinas largest exporter by volume of agricultural herbicides to Australia and the only Chinese exporter to respond to an Anti-Dumping Commission (ADC) request for information. Importers of 2,4-D sourced from Rainbow Chemical now pay 25.6pc duty to the Department of Home Affairs. The amount of duty owing is calculated by multiplying the 2,4-D free-on-board export price invoiced by the Chinese exporter by the applicable new rate. An ADC report acknowledged Chinese-sourced 2,4-D is the price setter for the chemical in Australia and its market analysis has indicated it was being dumped in Australia last financial year by Chinese manufacturers. Active constituent in a range of selective broad-leaf herbicides marketed in Australia by at least 16 agriculture chemical suppliers, 2,4-D and formulations containing it are widely used in WAs broadacre cropping programs as pre-sowing and post-emergent weed sprays. The ADC began its latest review of 2,4-D imports from China last July after an application by Nufarm Ltd, Australias only fully-integrated 2,4-D producer. According to the Commission, the chemical is imported in several forms including as raw materials acid, intermediate salts and esters products and fully-formulated ready-to-use herbicides. The ADC report and recommendations approved by Mr Seselja do not clearly spell out how the duties are calculated on fully-formulated imports. The duties came into effect without fanfare on March 24 and, at this stage, will continue to apply for five years. Some anti-dumping measures have applied to Chinese 2,4-D imports since an initial investigation in 2003 and two previous reviews before the latest one. No fixed duties applied to imported Chinese 2,4-D prior to March 24, but there were penalties for companies which charged below a confidential ascertained export price a notional fair price supposed to prevent dumping. The low-key ADC review and imposition of import duties caught WA-based agchemicals producer, importer and supplier 4Farmers Australia Pty Ltd, along with WAFarmers and the Grains Industry Association WA (GIWA), unawares. A formal notice was signed by Mr Seselja on March 5 and public notification of the 2,4-D duties appeared as a two-line notification one of 50 similar notifications on the ADC website. At the time Farm Weekly went to press it had not yet appeared under customs notices on the Department of Home Affairs website which lists changes to tariffs and other matters to do with imports and exports, but after some searching, could be cross referenced to the notice on the ADC website. A 30-day period in which interested parties could seek a review of the duties decision had expired before 4Farmers, WAFarmers and GIWA were aware they had been imposed. 4Farmers general manager Neil Mortimore said he only became aware of the duties about a week ago when completing paperwork to bring a new shipment of 2,4-D from China to Perth. WAFarmers said it was not made aware of the review (of 2,4-D anti-dumping measures) until after the feedback period had closed. The organisation was informed about the issue only after 4Farmers called to enquire whether WAFarmers had been contacted by the Anti-Dumping Commission regarding the impacts of the tariff on farming businesses, a spokesperson said. Given the tariff will result in additional costs for farmers, WAFarmers considers the lack of communication by the Anti-Dumping Commission to industry to be concerning. The ADC said it based its review findings and recommendations on information provided by Nufarm and submissions received from chemicals importer Agrichem Manufacturing Industries Pty Ltd and exporter Rainbow. It also looked at the Australian Border Force (ABF) import database and financial data from the Australian chemicals industry between July 1, 2014, and June 30, 2017. It said it sent questionnaires to two 2,4-D importers identified from ABF data and posted the questionnaire on its website, but did not directly contact other chemical importers. Its report acknowledged about 15 companies, apart from Nufarm, produce or market herbicides in Australia manufactured from imported 2,4-D. It also sent questionnaires to five Chinese companies which export 2,4-D to customers in Australia. Only Rainbow responded and the ADC said it considered the others unco-operative exporters. It estimated Nufarm, which produces 2,4-D acid from a chemical reaction involving chlorine, phenol, sodium monochloracetate acid and hydrochloric acid at its Laverton North manufacturing facility near Melbourne, Victoria, had 60pc of the Australian 2,4-D herbicide market. Competitor companies formulating agricultural herbicides from imported 2,4-D supplied about 40pc of the Australian market and 80pc of that imported 2,4-D came from China, it said. The rest is mainly from India and Poland. Australias 2,4-D market size increased by 85pc since 2014 but the growth of imported 2,4-D volumes outstripped market growth, particularly during last financial year when dumping occurred, the ADC said. As the major producer of 2,4-D herbicides in Australia, Nufarm was concerned any lapse in anti-dumping measures would potentially damage its market share, profits and profitability through prices being depressed by increasing volumes of cheaper imported 2,4-D, the ADC said in its report. Significant surplus capacity exists in the Chinese 2,4-D manufacturing sector which is likely to be a motivator to price goods at dumped levels in order to secure an increasing share of the Australian market, it said. As a result, the commission considers that, if the anti-dumping measures are not continued, the dumping of 2,4-D from China is likely to continue or reoccur. Nufarm Australia New Zealand regional general manager Peter OKeeffe said it made its application following analysis of import data indicating Chinese exporters had continued to dump 2,4-D product on the Australian market. Nufarm firmly believes that dumping is unsustainable and in the medium to long-term would impact farmers through increased costs and reduced reliability of supply, Mr OKeeffe said. He said it was critical the local industry was protected from dumped product. History has demonstrated across a range of industries that if local manufacturing does not survive because competing products are imported and sold at dumped prices then ultimately prices rise and consumers suffer in the long run, Mr OKeeffe said. He played down fears of a price rise in 2,4-D products at a retail level. Australian growers have the choice of 2,4-D product originating from more than 20 countries including Europe, India, China and United States, with China the only country subject to these measures, he said. The Fauquier Times is honored to serve as your community companion. To say thank you, we are excited to offer 4 weeks FREE Digital & Print access to all subscribers new and returning alike. We are dedicated to continuing providing reliable, high quality journalism. This is possible with the trust and support of our subscribers in the community we are proud to serve. My name is Nimrod and Im a sellout in a world full of sold-outs. A flaccid man trying to get access. An unfollower of old friends, a click farmer. The tips below will teach you how to inject yourself deep into other peoples calendars. Getting ahead in todays egosystem requires you to develop a sense disesteem and disrepute. Dignity aside, allow yourself be blacklisted once in awhile. Social climbing isnt crass or rude, its a form of class warfare and redistribution of likes. Nimrod Kamer Walk in backwards Guest lists are hard to overcome - if the doorman can see your face. They will eject you faster than you can say Jack Guinness. Wait for a moment of disarray at reception and quickly moonwalk inside, smooth, like MJ, no one will notice you. Some may assume youre coming back in reverse from the smoking area. Dont look ahead until you are in. Turn your face forward - you lose. Carry on moving backwards and hit the bar. Slam your back on it. Order a drink without looking. When the drink arrives glance up and say thank you. If you hold a drink youre safe. Keep your JOMO going - joy of missing out. Till debt do us part Members clubs have a soft spot for those who owe them money. Arrive in the morning with $250 in cash and demand entry to pay your bill from last night. There is no bill. You then insist, its at the bar upstairs. Last night was tumultuous. Tinder is the night. God is debt. When youre upstairs keep on looking for your tab. Order sparkling water and allow them to check everywhere, no rush. On your way out leave a scarf in the cloakroom permanently. Use the cloakroom ticket to get in the following day. Now youre pretty much a member. Start talking to various other members and offer them your services, such as Wikipedia editing and iCloud tips. Mutual Friends Go into any wedding if you have more than 20 mutual friends with the bride or groom. Present your social media accounts at the door. Show how much you have liked the couples posts over the years. Do not require a table, just a chair by the altar. When inside hit the dancefloor the hardest. If asked which side youre on, return the question and say youre from the opposite side. After five hours retire to the lavatory, leaving the booths door unlocked, so no one suspects youre there. Just like on a train. Click Farmers Buy fake followers, fake comments, fake likes, fake dislikes (on Youtube). Youll create much needed employment in Bangladesh. Most click farms are located in Asia. Why pay Facebook for an ad to promote your content when you can pay directly to farmers? Some of your real friends are fake anyway, so whats the difference. Drop 1,000 followers on your loved ones account as a gift. Press Your Credentials Live and eat out of PR gift bags. If you need more dog food: email a dog food PR company and ask to write about their dog food. They'll send you loads. If you need a place to stay try living in a sample flat to save rent. Sample flats are a facade of a flat in a newly built luxury apartment bloc. The coffee machine doesnt really work and walls are made of wallpaper. Ethically you better not write about these products without declaring your writing is sponsored. It is okay to disappoint PR people and not deliver on the write up. The entire PR business is based on false promises. Fashion Frow Arrive early in fashion shows. Namedrop Vogues deputy editor at the door. Notable guests have their names printed on the bench at the front row. Sit next to a name you fancy. When the show is about to begin youd be asked to move. Say theres no time for you to move, because the show is about to begin. Talk to the person you chose to sit next to, mistaking them for another notable individual. Name-flopping is much more powerful than name-dropping. Getting a name wrong is a conversation upper mixed with durable shock. Get in with them in all the pictures. Wear pink Crocs and spread your legs forward. Hold scoreboards with numbers - rate the outfits 5.7, 7.9, 8.4 just like in the Olympics. When the show ends go to where the models came from and crash the backstage area. Minus one Throw your own party. Put everyone on the guest list as minus 1, minus 2, minus 3. Meaning: When they arrive someone has to leave for them to get in. This will create healthy tension and chaos at the door. Ask guests to show their Instagram profile to prove they have more followers than pictures. Ratios matter. If they post too many pics they should go back and delete a few, then try again to gain entry. The queue is more fun than any party. Design the interior of the club like a street. Tell the DJ to play car ambience. Usher everyone in to stand in an orderly line inside so they can leave. Hotel Hiatus Book an Airbnb opposite the resort in which the party is at. Arrive in a bathing suit and towel only. Dress codes do not apply to hotel guests. Check on Instagram: whos sitting next you in the lobby or pool. People always upload. Refresh the feed. Do a location search to see everyones names. Approach them and offer your services. Ask the concierge to print some plane tickets and manuscripts. PDF your way in. High-end locations offer these services to anyone. Theyre happy to provide umbrellas, pens and towels. When asked for a room number - say you checked out 5 minutes ago. An espresso would grant you an unlimited amount of cookies. Art Ruzzle Go to every Art Basel around the world. Hong Kong, Miami, Basel. Youre a collector, not a journalist. Arrive with a canvas of your own to make the impression that you just bought a work. No one is allowed to take their purchases home. Except you. Go into the UBS bank lounge using someone elses guest pass. VIPs can get unlimited guest passes if they claim to have lost them. Ask to rent art rather than buying it. Art = Property. Say you have an art vault in Switzerland for tax purposes. Art is a commodity made of money. Some canvases have coins inside of them. Share Your Receipts The happiness effect. Everyone is posting sexy pictures relentlessly at any cost. Your body is your battleground. Your followers know every trench. Being naked isnt risky anymore. Money is. Be brave and share all your dining receipts on Instagram. Dont post a picture by a pool without showing the price, or the mental toll of sneaking in. Share all of your bills, overdraft and mortgage on Twitter. Happiness must be broken down to the invoice level otherwise its unaccountable joy. Name Only Business cards should contain your full name only. No email, no website, no address, no phone. Whos gonna call? Nobody. Finding you should be a problem. An online escapade. When handing your card pull out scissors and cut it in two. Take the surname. Leave the first name. A name remembered is a job done. Anyone can use Messenger and direct message you. Carpe DM. For more get The Social Climber's Handbook https://amazon.co.uk/gp/aw/d/9063694830/ Category Select Category Apparel/Garments Textiles Fashion Technical Textiles Information Technology E-commerce Retail Corporate Association Press Release SubCategory Select Sub-Category NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Global Patron of the Arts Franklin Eugene takes the stage at the Tribeca International Film Festival as producer for the film Love, Gilda As a kindred spirit in international pop culture, it comes as no surprise that Franklin Eugene seeks to bring to life the brave and astounding story of comedian Gilda Radner. The documentary Love, Gilda promises to be a powerful opening to the prestigious International Tribeca Film Festival held in New York City. As a leader in the arts, Gilda's comedic wisdom has been a resounding source of inspiration for women's voices everywhere. By partnering with the leading director Lisa D'Apolito and a team of like-minded talents, Franklin Eugene is humbled to attend this festival as a producer of Love, Gilda. "It was a tremendous joy to join forces with the director early on. It is an honor to be associated with this project that brings life to Gilda Radner's iconic impact on popular culture."-Franklin Eugene, film producer for Love, Gilda The documentary is told from the remaining voices of the comedian herself. Through a compilation of various personal effects including home movies, diary entries, interviews and more, the audience will have the opportunity to hear Gilda Radner's story in person. Her story is a tale of healing, love, and laughter in the face of adversity as she fights a battle against ovarian cancer. Radner is best known as one of the original cast members on Saturday Night Live during the mid-to-late 70's. Most might remember her for many of her comedic personas including Roseanne Roseannadanna, Emily Litella, or Lisa Loopner. All were and are great successes that brought Radner fast recognition in the world of comedy. She later passed in 1989. Franklin Eugene's history as a business professional, internationally acclaimed fashion designer, film producer, Global Patron of the Arts and humanitarian attracted him to this opportunity to share Gilda Radner's story with the world. A man of many talents, Mr. Eugene seeks to continue bringing influential stories to the big screen. Love, Gilda is being shown tonight, April 18, 2018, at the Tribeca Film Festival. To learn more about Franklin Eugene check out http://www.imdb.com/name/nm7524286/ and visit the fashion platform's website at www.franklineugene.com. LONDON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- BenevolentAI today announced that it has raised $115 million from new and existing investors at a pre-money valuation of $2 billion in one of the largest funding rounds in the AI pharmaceutical sector. The majority of investors are from the United States, expanding the Company's global investor footprint. The balance of raised funds came from existing investors, including Woodford Investment Management. To date, the company has raised more than $200m of funding since 2013. Credit Suisse acted as the sole placement agent. About BenevolentAI BenevolentAI is applying artificial intelligence to develop new medicines for hard to treat diseases. It is the first fully integrated AI company with pharmaceutical discovery and clinical development capabilities. BenevolentAI's advanced technology is disrupting the pharmaceutical industry by lowering costs, decreasing failure rates and increasing the speed at which medicines are delivered to patients. The company's advanced technology has been shown to outperform human scientists in understanding the cause of disease and is capable of quickly generating drug candidates at scale. The technology is also able to decipher the molecular process of disease and link these disease signatures within patients to ensure that the best drug candidate is given to the best patient responders - the 'right drugs in the right patients'. BenevolentAI's current drug development portfolio demonstrates that it can cut early stage drug discovery by four years and potentially deliver efficiencies in the entire drug development process of 60% against pharmaceutical industry averages - significantly disrupting an industry that spends $180bn a year on R&D. To achieve this, BenevolentAI has created a bioscience machine brain, purpose-built to discover new medicines and cures for disease. Proprietary algorithms perform sophisticated reasoning on over 50 billion ingested and contextualised facts to extract knowledge and generate complex insights into the cause of diseases that have, until now, eluded human understanding. The company's AI technology is being used to develop treatments to unmet patients' needs across a wide range of diseases, including Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinson's Disease, Glioblastoma and Sarcopenia. Semi-automatic novel drug molecules are generated and then advanced in BenevolentAI's newly acquired Cambridge (UK) research facility. BenevolentAI currently employs 165 people who work in a unique, cross functional environment that incorporates leading edge data scientists, computer scientists, mathematicians and drug development R&D scientists working side by side. The company is headquartered in London with further offices in New York and Belgium. BenevolentAI's research facility is located in Babraham Science Park, Cambridge (UK). Use of Funds BenevolentAI has already made significant progress in accelerating drug development, including the initiation of over 20 drug programmes to date. The company will use the funds to significantly scale its drug development activities, broaden the disease areas on which it focuses, and extend its AI platform capabilities even further. A portion of the funds will be used to extend BenevolentAI's capabilities into other science-based industries underpinning many of the world's most valuable markets such as advanced materials, agriculture, and energy storage. Ken Mulvany, Founder and Chairman of BenevolentAI commented: "We are very pleased with the response to the fundraising. It reflects the rapidly growing global interest in the AI pharmaceutical sector and the recognition of our place as the dominant player within it. We have come a very long way since we founded the business in 2013. The capabilities of our technology didn't exist 6 years ago. We are pioneering this sector and have evolved into a fully integrated, AI enabled drug development company with the ability to deliver better medicines at previously unimaginable speeds - this ultimately means patients will receive the right medicines, at a lower cost, in less time." Washington D.C.--(Newsfile Corp. - April 18, 2018) - The Securities and Exchange Commission today voted to propose a package of rulemakings and interpretations designed to enhance the quality and transparency of investors' relationships with investment advisers and broker-dealers while preserving access to a variety of types of advice relationships and investment products. Under proposed Regulation Best Interest, a broker-dealer would be required to act in the best interest of a retail customer when making a recommendation of any securities transaction or investment strategy involving securities to a retail customer. Regulation Best Interest is designed to make it clear that a broker-dealer may not put its financial interests ahead of the interests of a retail customer in making recommendations. In addition to the proposed enhancements to the standard of conduct for broker-dealers in Regulation Best Interest, the Commission proposed an interpretation to reaffirm and, in some cases, clarify the Commission's views of the fiduciary duty that investment advisers owe to their clients. By highlighting principles relevant to the fiduciary duty, investment advisers and their clients would have greater clarity about advisers' legal obligations. Next, the Commission proposed to help address investor confusion about the nature of their relationships with investment professionals through a new short-form disclosure document - a customer or client relationship summary. Form CRS would provide retail investors with simple, easy-to-understand information about the nature of their relationship with their investment professional, and would supplement other more detailed disclosures. For advisers, additional information can be found in Form ADV. For broker-dealers, disclosures of the material facts relating to the scope and terms of the relationship would be required under Regulation Best Interest. Finally, the Commission proposed to restrict certain broker-dealers and their financial professionals from using the terms "adviser" or "advisor" as part of their name or title with retail investors. Investment advisers and broker-dealers would also need to disclose their registration status with the Commission in certain retail investor communications. Taken as a whole, the proposed rules and interpretations would enhance investor protection by applying consistent principles to investment advisers and broker-dealers: provide clear disclosures, exercise due care, and address conflicts of interest. The specific obligations of investment advisers and broker-dealers would be, however, tailored to the differences in the types of advice relationships that they offer. SEC Chairman Jay Clayton stated, "The tireless work of the SEC staff has proven to me that we can increase investor protection and the quality of investment services by enhancing investor understanding and strengthening required standards of conduct. Importantly, I believe we can achieve these objectives while simultaneously preserving investors' access to a range of products and services at a reasonable cost. The package of rules and guidance that the Commission proposed today is a significant step to achieving these objectives on behalf of our Main Street investors." The public comment period will remain open for 90 days following publication of the documents in the Federal Register. * * * FACT SHEET SEC Open Meeting Apr. 18, 2018 The Commission proposed two rules and an interpretation to address retail investor confusion about the relationships that they have with investment professionals and the harm that may result from that confusion. Evidence indicates that retail investors do not fully understand the differences between investment advisers and broker-dealers, which could lead them to choose the wrong kind of investment professional for their particular needs, or to receive advice that is not in their best interest. The Commission will therefore consider strengthening the standard of conduct that broker-dealers owe to their customers, reaffirming and, in some cases, clarifying the standard of conduct that investment advisers owe to their clients, and providing additional transparency and clarity for investors through enhanced disclosure designed to help them understand who they are dealing with, and why that matters. The rulemaking package seeks to enhance investor protections while preserving retail customer access to transaction-based brokerage accounts and a broad range of investment products. Proposal's Highlights Regulation Best Interest A broker-dealer making a recommendation to a retail customer would have a duty to act in the best interest of the retail customer at the time the recommendation is made, without putting the financial or other interest of the broker-dealer ahead of the retail customer. A broker-dealer would discharge this duty by complying with each of three specific obligations: Disclosure obligation: disclose to the retail customer the key facts about the relationship, including material conflicts of interest. Care obligation: exercise reasonable diligence, care, skill, and prudence, to (i) understand the product; (ii) have a reasonable basis to believe that the product is in the retail customer's best interest; and (iii) have a reasonable basis to believe that a series of transactions is in the retail customer's best interest. Conflict of interest obligation: establish, maintain and enforce policies and procedures reasonably designed to identify and then at a minimum to disclose and mitigate, or eliminate, material conflicts of interest arising from financial incentives; other material conflicts of interest must be at least disclosed. Investment Adviser Interpretation An investment adviser owes a fiduciary duty to its clients - a duty that the Supreme Court found exists within the Advisers Act. The proposed interpretation reaffirms, and in some cases clarifies, certain aspects of the fiduciary duty that an investment adviser owes to its clients. Form CRS - Relationship Summary Investment advisers and broker-dealers, and their respective associated persons, would be required to provide retail investors a relationship summary. This standardized, short-form (4 page maximum) disclosure would highlight key differences in the principal types of services offered, the legal standards of conduct that apply to each, the fees a customer might pay, and certain conflicts of interest that may exist. Investment advisers and broker-dealers, and the financial professionals who work for them, would be required to be direct and clear about their registration status in communications with investors and prospective investors. Certain broker-dealers, and their associated persons, would be restricted from using, as part of their name or title, the terms "adviser" and "advisor" - which are so similar to "investment adviser" that their use may mislead retail customers into believing their firm or professional is a registered investment adviser. Background The Commission has been considering issues relating to changes in the market for investment advice, retail investor understanding of their advice relationships, and broker-dealer conflicts of interest, since the mid-1990s. The staff studied these matters further pursuant to the Dodd-Frank Act's mandate in Section 913. Most recently, in June 2017, Chairman Jay Clayton sought public input on a variety of issues associated with standards of conduct for investment professionals. Today's proposed rules and interpretations are the outcome of the Commission and the staff's extensive experience in and consideration of these issues. What's Next? The Commission will seek public comment on the proposed rules and interpretations for 90 days. This extended comment period will permit retail investors and other interested parties the opportunity to review the extensive material, and potentially to gather relevant data for submission in the comment file. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Silver One Resources Inc. (TSXV: SVE) (OTC Pink: SLVRF) (FSE: BRK1) ("Silver One" or the "Company") has received encouraging assay results from the previously announced sonic drilling conducted on the leach pads, stockpiles and dumps on its 100% controlled Candelaria project in Nevada (see news release from November 28, 2017). Additionally, Silver One has submitted samples for metallurgical testing to evaluate the economics for recovery of silver and gold, based on the positive analytical results received. Greg Crowe, President and CEO of Silver One Resources commented, "The results to date are encouraging as the head grade of the leach pads, estimated at 43 g/t, is over 3 times greater than the head grades currently being mined at the Rochester Mine held by Coeur Mining approximately 220 kilometres north of Candelaria. Further, an average cyanide silver content of 56% for leach pad material and 64% for fresh material in stockpiles, combined with their respective silver grades reported, provide a very promising outlook for the project. Historic silver recoveries at Candelaria ranged from 42% to 51% of the total silver through the heap leaching ores crushed at sizes below 1 inch. We believe that such recoveries may be improved by milling prior to leaching. The next step is to conduct metallurgical testing and the composite samples are now in the lab. We look forward to receiving metallurgical results to evaluate the economics for recovering silver and gold at Candelaria." Candelaria Drill Program Highlights: A total of 27 holes were drilled on two historic leach-pads (LP1 and LP2), 16 holes on stockpiles and two holes on dumps. Assays were done on 730 samples, including 590 core samples and 140 standards, duplicates and blanks. All holes were sampled in their entirety. Samples average 1.88 metres in length representing a total of 1,110 metres drilled. Total silver assays in leach pads range from 16 g/t to 111 g/t (41 g/t average). Cyanide soluble silver in leach pads range from 35% to 77% (56% average). Total gold assays in leach pads range from 0.017 g/t to 0.75 g/t (0.09 g/t average). Cyanide soluble gold in leach pads range from 3% to 100% (37% average). Total silver and gold in stockpiles averages 22.2 g/t and 0.08 g/t respectively. Cyanide soluble silver and gold in stockpiles average 64% and 89% respectively. Total silver in dumps varies from 1 g/t to 27 g/t (5 g/t average). The results above are consistent with previous averages reported for the leach pads, which range between 39 g/t and 48 g/t Ag. The first average, is the average of samples collected on shallow pits dug on the surface of the leach pads by Silver One in December 2017 and the second, obtained from SSR Mining Inc. ("SSR" formerly Silver Standard Resources Inc.) by re-assaying pulps of 10 drill holes drilled by Kinross Gold Corp. in 1992. Similarly, the average silver grade of 25 g/t in stockpiles reported by the National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report filed by SSR in 2001 titled "Candelaria Project Technical Report", is in line and statistically similar to the average of 22.2 g/t Ag obtained by the results of the Silver One sonic drill program. Additional Assay Results and Drilling Details A summary of relevant average results of the assays of sonic drill holes are shown below in Table 1. All samples of each drill hole are included in the average. Additional assay results showing individual samples are included in Appendix A. Table 1:Candelaria - Summary of Results Au (ppm) Au sol (ppm) Ag (ppm) Ag sol (ppm) Pct of Ag s ol Average drill holes 1 - 17 (LP1) 0.08 0.03 39.3 21.6 55% Average drill holes 18 - 27 (LP2) 0.10 0.03 43.4 24.5 56% Average drill holes 1 - 27 (LP1 & LP2) 0.09 0.03 41.0 22.8 56% Average drill holes 30 - 34 (Stockpile 1) 0.08 0.07 20.5 14.04 68.3% Average drill holes 35 - 45 (Other Stockpiles) 0.10 0.09 23.4 14.1 60.5% Average drill holes 30 - 45 (All Stockpiles) 0.09 0.08 22.2 14.1 63.7% Drilling was conducted on a 200-metre spacing rectangular grid with a hole in the center (providing a nominal spacing of 141 metres to 200 metres between drill holes) on LP1, on a 100 metre grid in LP2, and on a 50 to 75 metre spacing grid on the stockpiles as shown in the figure set forth in Appendix B. All drill holes are 6-inch core holes drilled with a sonic rig and are vertical with variable depth between 1.5 metres to 96.6 metres. Sample intervals average 1.88 metres. Individual samples range from 0.6 metres to 3.96 metres all being true widths. Quality Control and Quality Assurance ("QA/QC") Silver One follows a systematic and rigorous QA/QC program overseen by Greg Crowe, President & CEO and a Director of Silver One. The Company inserts certified standards, duplicates and blanks for 20% of the total samples submitted to the laboratory for analysis. All samples collected were dried, split and assayed by Skyline Labs in Tucson, Arizona, USA (ISO 17025 Laboratory Competence Certification: 2005) for cyanide soluble silver, total silver, multi-element assay and fire assay gold as follows: FA-01-50 - Silver by atomic absorption "AA" with aqua regia digestion, 50 gram sample. CN-2H-60 - Gold-silver cyanide soluble with 2-hour cyanide shake and AA assay, 60 gram sample. FA-1-50 - Gold fire assay with AA finish, 50 gram sample. TE-5 - Multi-element assay, 4-acid digestion. Over limits of silver and gold were further analyzed by fire assay - gravimetric, 50 gram sample. As part of its standard operating procedures, the laboratory also inserts certified blanks, standards and includes duplicate analyses. Metallurgical Testing Seven composite samples have been prepared and sent to McClelland Laboratories, Inc. in Reno, Nevada for metallurgical testing. The metallurgical results will assist in determining the best methods to potentially recover silver from the heap leach pads, stockpiles and dumps. Extensive metallurgical work was conducted by SSR between 1998 and 2001 which tested recovering silver in leach pads by cyanidation or flotation alone, and flotation combined with cyanidation among others. The conclusion was that the best cost/benefit alternative was the optimization of cyanidation conditions of the cyanide leach process. Results of preliminary cyanide bottle-roll tests conducted by the Company in December 2017 on samples collected near-surface on the leach pads, show recoveries between 15% to 20% of the total silver for material crushed to 1.7 millimetres (10 mesh). Reagents consumption was very low indicating that the cost of leaching the crushed material would be relatively inexpensive. Recoveries however, may be improved by milling prior to leaching. Therefore, current metallurgical testing is focused on evaluating milling-leaching scenarios. Further analyses of the samples will consist of additional bottle-roll tests at various finer fractions (-10, -65 and -200 mesh) using cyanide and ammonium thiosulfate. Results are expected by Q3 2018. Resource Update Silver One has engaged Jim McCrea, an independent consultant to prepare a current NI 43-101 resource estimate on the leach-pads and stockpiles. The Company anticipates that the resource estimate will be completed by the end of Q3 2018. Candelaria was historically the highest-grade silver producer in the state of Nevada, averaging over 1,200 g/T AgEq (40 oz/t AgEq) from high-grade vein mining between the mid-1800s and the mid-1900s. Open pit mining operations were undertaken in the 1970s through 1998 by several companies, including Nerco, Inc. and Kinross. Kinross closed the open pit and leach operation in 1998 due to low silver prices. Leaching of the historic pads was not completed leaving a substantial amount of silver unprocessed. It is estimated that the property has produced over 68 million ounces of silver. Historical information was obtained from "Geology of the Candelaria Mining District, Mineral County, Nevada, 1959, Nevada Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 56", and the SSR Mining Inc. technical report titled "Candelaria Project Technical Report" dated May 24, 2001 (filed on SEDAR June 20, 2002), prepared by Pincock Allen & Holt. Historical Resource Estimate - Candelaria Project, Nevada SSR Mining Inc. acquired the Candelaria Project in 2001 and reported in a technical report titled "Candelaria Project Technical Report" dated May 24, 2001 (filed on SEDAR on June 20, 2002), prepared by Pincock Allen & Holt, the historical mineral resource estimate shown in the table below. Candelaria Project Historical Resource Estimate Area/Type Classification Tons Factored Ag Grade (opt Ag total ) Sol. Au Grade (opt Au soluble ) AqEq Grade (opt AgEq total ) Ag Ounces (Ag total ) Aq Equiv. Ounces (AqEq total ) Mount Diablo Measured 3,391,000 4.44 0.004 4.67 15,054,000 15,838,000 Indicated 10,231,185 2.84 0.003 3.01 29,005,000 30,796,000 Subtotal, Measured + Indicated 13,623,000 3.23 0.003 3.42 44,060,000 46,633,000 Mount Diablo Inferred 5,191,000 2.12 0.003 2.30 11,015,000 11,939,000 Northern Belle 9,162,000 2.26 0.002 2.37 20,661,000 21,714,000 Leach Pads 37,328,000 1.29 --- 1.29 48,153,000 48,153,000 L.G. Stockpiles 4,000,000 0.75 --- 0.75 3,000,000 3,000,000 Subtotal. Inferred 55,681,000 1.49 0.002 1.52 82,829,000 84,806,000 Notes: 1) Lode resources tabulated at a 0.5 opt Ag soluble cut-off grades, with only Ag total shown in this table 2) Leach pads and low-grade stockpile resources tabulated for entire accumulation of material. 3) Total silver grades factored from soluble silver grades using regression formulas developed by Snowden. 4) Silver equivalent grade includes the contribution from the gold grade (soluble) using an Ag:Au equivalency ratio of 57.8:1. The historical mineral resource estimate used "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", which are categories set out in NI 43-101. Accordingly, Silver One considers these historical estimates reliable as well as relevant as it represents key targets for exploration work by Silver One. The data base for the historical resource estimate: (1) Mount Diablo Deposit - Consisted of 538 drill holes by previous owners and 10 drill holes by SSR. For drill holes that were twinned, the author used the lower of the two values assigned to the original holes. The mineral resource estimate used a kriging estimation method to establish ore zones with a cut-off grade of 0.5 opt Ag. Ordinary kriging was used to interpolate grades in the block model. The block models were set up with block dimensions of 25 feet by 25 feet in plan and 10 feet in height. The maximum search range used in the higher-grade zone was 235 feet, in the lower grade zone it was 1,000 feet and in the background zone it was 350 feet. Block models more than 300 feet from the nearest composite only constituted 3 percent of the total number of estimated blocks and were assigned to an inferred category; (2) Northern Belle Deposit - Consisted of 226 drill holes by previous owners, of which a portion of these holes were duplicated for the Mount Diablo Deposit database. The mineral resource estimate used a kriging estimation method to establish ore zones with a cut-off grade of 0.5 opt Ag. The mineral resource estimate used multiple indicator kriging to interpolate grades in the block model. Block models were set up with block dimensions of 50 feet by 50 feet in plan and 20 feet in height. The maximum search range used in the higher-grade zone was 85 feet, in the intermediate-grade zone was 120 feet and the lower-grade zone was 140 feet and in the lower undifferentiated material below the current pit topography was 260 feet. Block models more than 300 feet from the nearest composite only constituted 3 percent of the total number of estimated blocks and were assigned to an inferred category; (3) Leach Pads - Consisted of 24,633,000 tons located on Leach Pad 1 and 12,695,000 tons on Leach Pad 2. The estimate for Leach Pad 1 is based on silver production indicates 51.5% of total silver was recovered by heap leaching operation, while 81.2% of the soluble silver contact was recovered. Further, the estimate for Leach Pad 2 is based on silver production indicates 42.4% of total silver was recovered by heap leaching operation, while 71.3% of the soluble silver content was recovered; (4) Low-Grade Stockpile - Based on limited and incomplete data and documentation. Material placed on the stock piles ranged from 0.5 to 0.65 opt Ag. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Silver One is not treating this historical estimate as current mineral resources. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Greg Crowe, P.Geo, President and CEO of Silver One, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 About Silver One Silver One is a silver-focused exploration company that holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the past producing Candelaria Silver Mine Project, located in Nevada, from SSR Mining Inc. and a 100% interest in three significant silver assets located in Mexico: Penasco Quemado in the State of Sonora, La Frazada in the State of Nayarit, and Pluton in the State of Durango. The mining assets in Mexico were acquired from First Mining Gold, which is a key shareholder of Silver One resulting from the transaction. For more information, please contact: Silver One Resources Inc. Monica Hamm VP, Investor Relations Phone: (604) 974-5274 Email: mhamm@silverone.com Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on the Candelaria Project, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Appendix A - Assay results of selected sonic drill holes drilled on leach pads at the Candelaria project Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Sample Au total FA01 (50g) ppb Au soluble CN2-H2-60g (ppm) Ag total FA08 (50g) g/t Ag soluble CN2-H2-60g (ppm) Pct Au Sol Pct Ag Sol SO-C-17-001 0.00 1.83 1.83 202029 197 0.015 46.6 26.5 7.6% 56.9% SO-C-17-001 1.83 3.66 1.83 202030 316 0.04 57.3 34.4 12.7% 60.0% SO-C-17-001 3.66 6.25 2.59 202031 242 0.015 84.7 53.5 6.2% 63.2% SO-C-17-001 6.25 8.53 2.29 202032 64 0.015 43.9 28.7 23.4% 65.4% SO-C-17-001 8.53 10.36 1.83 202033 127 0.015 70 46.9 11.8% 67.0% SO-C-17-001 10.36 12.19 1.83 202034 77 0.015 39.5 22.9 19.5% 58.0% SO-C-17-001 12.19 14.02 1.83 202036 70 0.015 42.6 25.1 21.4% 58.9% SO-C-17-001 14.02 15.85 1.83 202037 48 0.015 29.8 17.7 31.3% 59.4% SO-C-17-001 15.85 17.68 1.83 202038 37 0.015 31.8 15.5 40.5% 48.7% SO-C-17-001 17.68 19.51 1.83 202040 27 0.015 31.9 16.2 55.6% 50.8% SO-C-17-001 19.51 21.34 1.83 202041 35 0.015 31.9 16.5 42.9% 51.7% SO-C-17-001 21.34 23.17 1.83 202042 35 0.015 33.7 17.7 42.9% 52.5% SO-C-17-001 23.17 24.99 1.83 202043 69 0.04 44 23.6 58.0% 53.6% SO-C-17-001 24.99 26.82 1.83 202044 84 0.05 64.1 32.4 59.5% 50.5% SO-C-17-001 26.82 28.65 1.83 202045 70 0.04 29 17.6 57.1% 60.7% SO-C-17-001 28.65 30.48 1.83 202047 42 0.015 17.5 10.5 35.7% 60.0% SO-C-17-001 30.48 32.31 1.83 202048 93 0.07 29.4 14 75.3% 47.6% SO-C-17-001 32.31 33.83 1.52 202049 78 0.04 59.1 21.7 51.3% 36.7% SO-C-17-003 0.00 1.68 1.68 202072 234 0.06 54.4 30.6 25.6% 56.3% SO-C-17-003 1.68 2.68 1.01 202073 301 0.05 46.1 26.9 16.6% 58.4% SO-C-17-003 2.68 3.35 0.67 202074 84 0.015 60 26.7 17.9% 44.5% SO-C-17-003 3.35 5.49 2.13 202076 68 0.03 34.8 19 44.1% 54.6% SO-C-17-003 5.49 7.01 1.52 202077 42 0.04 19.8 13.1 95.2% 66.2% SO-C-17-003 7.01 9.30 2.29 202078 89 0.015 29.9 21.1 16.9% 70.6% SO-C-17-003 9.30 11.58 2.29 202079 77 0.04 39.7 26 51.9% 65.5% SO-C-17-003 11.58 13.11 1.52 202080 80 0.015 37.1 21.8 18.8% 58.8% SO-C-17-003 13.11 15.39 2.29 202081 77 0.015 50.1 28.7 19.5% 57.3% SO-C-17-003 15.39 17.68 2.29 202082 65 0.015 76.2 41.1 23.1% 53.9% SO-C-17-003 17.68 19.81 2.13 202084 134 0.015 90.6 52.6 11.2% 58.1% SO-C-17-003 19.81 21.95 2.13 202085 106 0.015 87.9 41.6 14.2% 47.3% SO-C-17-003 21.95 23.77 1.83 202086 61 0.04 53.3 26.3 65.6% 49.3% SO-C-17-003 23.77 25.60 1.83 202088 59 0.03 53.8 30.2 50.8% 56.1% SO-C-17-003 25.60 27.43 1.83 202089 55 0.015 45.2 25 27.3% 55.3% SO-C-17-003 27.43 29.26 1.83 202090 49 0.015 21.3 11.7 30.6% 54.9% SO-C-17-003 29.26 31.09 1.83 202091 47 0.05 16 7.5 106.4% 46.9% SO-C-17-003 31.09 32.00 0.91 202092 13 0.015 53.5 24.1 115.4% 45.0% SO-C-17-013 0.00 1.68 1.68 202230 84 0.04 31.9 11.8 47.6% 37.0% SO-C-17-013 1.68 3.51 1.83 202231 119 0.06 51 26.5 50.4% 52.0% SO-C-17-013 3.51 6.10 2.59 202233 125 0.07 74.6 51 56.0% 68.4% SO-C-17-013 6.10 7.92 1.83 202234 123 0.06 79.1 41.1 48.8% 52.0% SO-C-17-013 7.92 9.75 1.83 202235 114 0.07 86.1 45.6 61.4% 53.0% SO-C-17-013 9.75 11.58 1.83 202237 78 0.03 38.9 20.8 38.5% 53.5% SO-C-17-013 11.58 13.41 1.83 202238 114 0.08 78.9 42.6 70.2% 54.0% SO-C-17-013 13.41 15.24 1.83 202239 66 0.015 41.1 21.5 22.7% 52.3% SO-C-17-013 15.24 17.07 1.83 202241 65 0.04 48.2 27.9 61.5% 57.9% SO-C-17-013 17.07 18.90 1.83 202242 46 0.04 37.9 20.1 87.0% 53.0% SO-C-17-013 18.90 20.73 1.83 202243 61 0.03 38.4 22.5 49.2% 58.6% SO-C-17-013 20.73 22.25 1.52 202244 45 0.015 33.9 20.2 33.3% 59.6% SO-C-17-019 0.00 1.83 1.83 202309 122 0.04 56.6 25.9 32.8% 45.8% SO-C-17-019 1.83 3.96 2.13 202310 123 0.05 79.1 36.4 40.7% 46.0% SO-C-17-019 3.96 6.10 2.13 202312 116 0.015 87.4 36.6 12.9% 41.9% SO-C-17-019 6.10 7.92 1.83 202313 281 0.1 63.6 35.6 35.6% 56.0% SO-C-17-019 7.92 9.75 1.83 202314 414 0.05 81.1 40.9 12.1% 50.4% SO-C-17-019 9.75 11.58 1.83 202315 191 0.05 73.8 38.2 26.2% 51.8% SO-C-17-019 11.58 13.41 1.83 202316 258 0.05 67.7 40.1 19.4% 59.2% SO-C-17-019 13.41 15.24 1.83 202318 248 0.11 52 28.5 44.4% 54.8% SO-C-17-019 15.24 17.07 1.83 202319 343 0.07 76.3 49.8 20.4% 65.3% SO-C-17-019 17.07 18.59 1.52 202320 144 0.015 40.7 23.2 10.4% 57.0% SO-C-17-019 18.59 20.73 2.13 202321 141 0.05 48.7 30 35.5% 61.6% SO-C-17-019 20.73 22.56 1.83 202322 93 0.015 33.2 16.9 16.1% 50.9% SO-C-17-019 22.56 24.38 1.83 202324 112 0.04 32.5 19.8 35.7% 60.9% SO-C-17-019 24.38 26.21 1.83 202325 65 0.015 29.8 16.5 23.1% 55.4% SO-C-17-019 26.21 28.04 1.83 202326 72 0.015 26.2 15.7 20.8% 59.9% SO-C-17-022 0.00 1.83 1.83 202385 76 0.05 59.8 34.4 65.8% 57.5% SO-C-17-022 1.83 3.35 1.52 202386 80 0.015 51.8 28.9 18.8% 55.8% SO-C-17-022 3.35 4.88 1.52 202388 74 0.03 60 34.4 40.5% 57.3% SO-C-17-022 4.88 6.40 1.52 202389 95 0.04 55.1 34.5 42.1% 62.6% SO-C-17-022 6.40 8.23 1.83 202390 63 0.015 39.2 25.2 23.8% 64.3% SO-C-17-022 8.23 9.75 1.52 202392 67 0.03 56.4 35 44.8% 62.1% SO-C-17-022 9.75 11.58 1.83 202393 75 0.015 54.8 32.1 20.0% 58.6% SO-C-17-022 11.58 13.41 1.83 202394 87 0.015 56.5 35.1 17.2% 62.1% SO-C-17-022 13.41 15.24 1.83 202395 74 0.015 41.9 25.8 20.3% 61.6% SO-C-17-022 15.24 17.07 1.83 202396 103 0.04 38 20.5 38.8% 53.9% SO-C-17-022 17.07 18.90 1.83 202397 74 0.015 34.6 20.9 20.3% 60.4% SO-C-17-022 18.90 20.73 1.83 202398 65 0.015 26 14.3 23.1% 55.0% SO-C-17-022 20.73 22.56 1.83 202399 67 0.04 34.7 19.5 59.7% 56.2% SO-C-17-022 22.56 24.38 1.83 202400 59 0.015 33.8 18.3 25.4% 54.1% SO-C-17-022 24.38 26.21 1.83 202402 55 0.05 36.5 21.3 90.9% 58.4% SO-C-17-022 26.21 27.74 1.52 202403 84 0.12 30.6 16.2 142.9% 52.9% SO-C-17-022 27.74 29.26 1.52 202404 96 0.12 33 17.2 125.0% 52.1% SO-C-17-023 0.00 1.83 1.83 202406 84 0.05 65.5 33.7 59.5% 51.5% SO-C-17-023 1.83 3.66 1.83 202407 85 0.05 67.9 30.7 58.8% 45.2% SO-C-17-023 3.66 5.49 1.83 202408 90 0.05 61.9 34.2 55.6% 55.3% SO-C-17-023 5.49 7.77 2.29 202410 72 0.04 53.7 25 55.6% 46.6% SO-C-17-023 7.77 10.06 2.29 202411 52 0.04 45.9 25.1 76.9% 54.7% SO-C-17-023 10.06 11.58 1.52 202412 56 0.03 35.1 21 53.6% 59.8% SO-C-17-023 11.58 13.41 1.83 202413 57 0.015 39.7 21.8 26.3% 54.9% SO-C-17-023 13.41 15.24 1.83 202415 95 0.05 36.5 20.2 52.6% 55.3% SO-C-17-023 15.24 17.07 1.83 202416 338 0.015 73.2 39.1 4.4% 53.4% SO-C-17-023 17.07 18.90 1.83 202417 125 0.015 59.9 35.6 12.0% 59.4% SO-C-17-023 18.90 20.73 1.83 202418 153 0.06 52.8 30.5 39.2% 57.8% SO-C-17-023 20.73 22.56 1.83 202419 185 0.015 59.8 35.6 8.1% 59.5% SO-C-17-023 22.56 24.38 1.83 202421 141 0.015 50 27.8 10.6% 55.6% SO-C-17-023 24.38 26.21 1.83 202422 139 0.015 76.7 47.1 10.8% 61.4% SO-C-17-023 26.21 27.74 1.52 202423 49 0.015 60 21.2 30.6% 35.3% SO-C-17-024 0.00 1.83 1.83 202425 79 0.06 55.5 24.7 75.9% 44.5% SO-C-17-024 1.83 3.66 1.83 202426 167 0.12 37.7 16.9 71.9% 44.8% SO-C-17-024 3.66 5.64 1.98 202428 70 0.06 31.3 14.8 85.7% 47.3% SO-C-17-024 5.64 7.16 1.52 202429 66 0.06 18.1 10.2 90.9% 56.4% SO-C-17-024 7.16 9.14 1.98 202430 76 0.04 20.9 12.2 52.6% 58.4% SO-C-17-024 9.14 10.97 1.83 202431 86 0.04 20.4 10.9 46.5% 53.4% SO-C-17-024 10.97 12.80 1.83 202433 87 0.03 23.5 16.4 34.5% 69.8% SO-C-17-024 12.80 14.63 1.83 202434 146 0.05 26.8 16.4 34.2% 61.2% SO-C-17-024 14.63 16.46 1.83 202435 144 0.05 35.1 20.2 34.7% 57.5% SO-C-17-024 16.46 18.29 1.83 202436 280 0.06 50.2 26.6 21.4% 53.0% SO-C-17-024 18.29 20.12 1.83 202437 69 0.015 50.5 24.5 21.7% 48.5% SO-C-17-024 20.12 21.95 1.83 202439 84 0.015 41.9 20.8 17.9% 49.6% SO-C-17-024 21.95 23.77 1.83 202440 67 0.04 35.8 19.3 59.7% 53.9% SO-C-17-024 23.77 25.60 1.83 202441 60 0.03 35.1 19.6 50.0% 55.8% SO-C-17-024 25.60 27.13 1.52 202442 40 0.015 21.3 11.3 37.5% 53.1% SO-C-17-025 0.00 1.83 1.83 202328 56 0.015 46.5 30.8 26.8% 66.2% SO-C-17-025 1.83 3.66 1.83 202329 61 0.03 39.4 22.4 49.2% 56.9% SO-C-17-025 3.66 5.49 1.83 202331 41 0.015 48.8 33 36.6% 67.6% SO-C-17-025 5.49 7.77 2.29 202332 63 0.015 39.1 25.2 23.8% 64.5% SO-C-17-025 7.77 9.75 1.98 202333 40 0.015 39.2 27.5 37.5% 70.2% SO-C-17-025 9.75 11.58 1.83 202334 73 0.015 26.7 16.7 20.5% 62.5% SO-C-17-025 11.58 13.41 1.83 202336 40 0.015 39.5 28.3 37.5% 71.6% SO-C-17-025 13.41 15.24 1.83 202337 49 0.015 29.5 18.1 30.6% 61.4% SO-C-17-025 15.24 17.07 1.83 202338 44 0.015 25.9 17.4 34.1% 67.2% SO-C-17-025 17.07 18.90 1.83 202339 45 0.015 24.5 16 33.3% 65.3% SO-C-17-025 18.90 20.73 1.83 202340 46 0.015 31.2 22.5 32.6% 72.1% SO-C-17-025 20.73 22.56 1.83 202342 98 0.015 36.5 20.7 15.3% 56.7% SO-C-17-025 22.56 24.38 1.83 202343 114 0.05 46.8 26.1 43.9% 55.8% SO-C-17-025 24.38 26.21 1.83 202344 121 0.04 58.3 32.5 33.1% 55.7% SO-C-17-025 26.21 28.35 2.13 202345 323 0.25 51.4 28.7 77.4% 55.8% Appendix B - Location of sonic drill holes on Candelaria project To view an enhanced version of Appendix B, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/4730/34124_appendixb.jpg Strong sales dynamic in first-quarter 2018, with sales up 12.5% at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation: 587 million in sales Up 3.4% as reported Growth driven by molecular biology in the context of an intense flu season in the United States, and by buoyant business in the Asia-Pacific region Alexandre Merieux, Chairman and Chief Executive Officer, said: "In the first quarter, bioMerieux delivered a sound commercial performance. The recent acquisition of Astute Medical will strengthen bioMerieux's commitment and position in immunoassays and is a perfect fit with our strategy of developing high medical value tests in order to improve patient care. Regulatory News: bioMerieux (Paris:BIM), a world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics, today released its business review for the three months ended March 31, 2018. SALES Consolidated sales rose to 587 million in the first quarter of 2018, up from 568 million in the yearearlier period. Sales advanced 12.5% at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation. On a reported basis in euros, sales moved up 3.4% year-on-year, hit as anticipated by a negative currency impact of 52 million resulting from the appreciation in the euro against a number of currencies, notably the U.S. dollar. Analysis of sales In million SALES THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2017 568 Currency effect -52 -9.2% Changes in scope of consolidation 0 0.0% Organic growth (at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation) +71 +12.5% SALES THREE MONTHS ENDED MARCH 31, 2018 587 +3.4% NB: A definition of the currency effect and of changes in the scope of consolidation is provided at the end of this press release. ANALYSIS OF SALES BY REGION Sales by Region In million Q1 2018 Q1 2017 change as reported % change at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation Europe(1) 222.1 218.7 +1.6% +2.8% Americas 270.6 267.7 +1.1% +16.5% North America 240.5 231.1 +4.1% +19.9% Latin America 30.1 36.6 -17.7% -4.8% Asia-Pacific 94.2 81.6 +15.6% +25.3% TOTAL CONSOLIDATED SALES 587.0 568.0 +3.4% +12.5% (1)Including the Middle East and Africa. In the Americas (46% of the consolidated total), sales rose by 16.5% year-on-year, to 271 million. In North America (41% of the consolidated total), the intense flu season drove up sales of BIOFIRE FILMARRAY respiratory panels in the first two months of the year. Sales growth was also spurred by the performance of the BACT/ALERT blood culture line, which more than offset the slowdown in VIDAS immunoassays. In Latin America , growth was affected by a temporary downturn in Brazil, due mainly to the change in the subsidiary's ERP software. Excluding Brazil, business in the region was upbeat, with like-for-like sales rising almost 14% on the back of advances in all other Latin American subsidiaries. (46% of the consolidated total), sales rose by 16.5% year-on-year, to 271 million. Sales in the Europe Middle East Africa region (38% of the consolidated total) came to 222 million for the first quarter, up 2.8% year-on-year. In Europe (32% of the consolidated total), sales were buoyed by a strong performance in industrial applications, particularly in France, and by the positive impact of the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY line for clinical applications in the United Kingdom, Germany and Scandinavian countries. The Russia Middle East Africa region posted double-digit sales growth on the back of fast-increasing sales in Turkey and a number of African countries. region (38% of the consolidated total) came to 222 million for the first quarter, up 2.8% year-on-year. In the Asia-Pacific region (16% of the consolidated total), sales came to 94 million in the first quarter, up 25.3% year-on-year. China, India and South-East Asia all put in a strong performance, led mainly by sales of reagents for all portfolio lines. ANALYSIS OF SALES BY APPLICATION Sales by Application In million Q1 2018 Q1 2017 % change as reported % change at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation Clinical Applications 486.3 467.7 +4.0% +13.5% Microbiology 222.7 229.2 -2.8% +4.6% Immunoassays 107.9 111.7 -3.4% +3.3% Molecular biology 148.2 118.6 +24.9% +41.3% Other lines(1) 7.5 8.1 -7.8% -1.1% Industrial Applications(2) 100.8 100.3 +0.5% +7.9% TOTAL CONSOLIDATED SALES 587.0 568.0 +3.4% +12.5% (1) Including Applied Maths, BioFire Defense, and R&D-related revenue arising on clinical applications. (2) Including R&D-related revenue arising on industrial applications. Sales of clinical applications , which account for approximately 83% of the consolidated total, rose by 13.5% year-on-year to 486 million for the quarter. Microbiology benefited from robust sales of the BACT/ALERT blood culture line in all of the Group's regions and from the rise in sales of VITEK reagents, especially in Asia-Pacific. In immunoassays , VIDAS sales posted satisfactory first-quarter growth. The increase in sales of high medical value markers in Asia-Pacific more than offset price pressure on procalcitonin tests in the United States, where volumes nevertheless remained on an upward trend. In molecular biology , a particularly intense flu season fueled another impressive performance from the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY line during the quarter. An excellent showing from the other BIOFIRE menu panels also confirmed the success of our comprehensive range on the FILMARRAY system. BIOFIRE FILMARRAY sales totaled 130 million in the quarter, a rise of 47% year-on-year. , which account for approximately 83% of the consolidated total, rose by 13.5% year-on-year to 486 million for the quarter. Sales of industrial applications , which account for around 17% of the consolidated total, increased 7.9% year-on-year to 101 million in first-quarter 2018. Sales of products for pharmaceutical clients were up sharply, driven notably by microbiology lines, while sales of products for food applications were mainly led by molecular biology solutions. , which account for around 17% of the consolidated total, increased 7.9% year-on-year to 101 million in first-quarter 2018. Sales of products for pharmaceutical clients were up sharply, driven notably by microbiology lines, while sales of products for food applications were mainly led by molecular biology solutions. Sales of reagents and services climbed 13.5% year-on-year and account for approximately 91% of the consolidated total. This percentage of consolidated sales takes into account the reclassification of approximately 3.5 million of reagents within instruments to reflect the implicit rentals recognized on instrument placement contracts following the first-time application of IFRS 15 on revenue recognition. OTHER INFORMATION Net debt Net debt amounted to 84 million at March 31, 2018, versus 156 million at December 31, 2017. Net debt amounted to 84 million at March 31, 2018, versus 156 million at December 31, 2017. Human resources At March 31, 2018, the Group had around 10,550 full-time-equivalent employees and temporary staff versus 10,400 at December 31, 2017. SUBSEQUENT EVENTS bioMerieux reinforces its offering of high medical value immunoassay biomarkers with the acquisition of Astute Medical On April 4, 2018, bioMerieux announced that it had acquired Astute Medical Inc. for U.S. $90 million. Based in San Diego, Astute Medical notably developed NEPHROCHECK , an FDA-cleared test for the early assessment of acute kidney injury risk based on the level of two biomarkers, IGFBP-7 ( Insulin-like Growth Factor-Binding Protein-7 ) and TIMP-2 ( Tissue Inhibitor Metalloproteinases-2 On April 4, 2018, bioMerieux announced that it had acquired Astute Medical Inc. for U.S. $90 million. Based in San Diego, Astute Medical notably developed NEPHROCHECK , an FDA-cleared test for the early assessment of acute kidney injury risk based on the level of two biomarkers, IGFBP-7 ( ) and TIMP-2 ( bioMerieux submits the BIOFIREFILMARRAY Pneumonia Panel for FDA Clearance bioMerieux announced that BioFire Diagnostics has submitted to the Food and Drug Administration for 510(k) clearance of the BIOFIRE FILMARRAY Pneumonia Panel. The BIOFIRE Pneumonia Panel will aid in the diagnosis of specific agents that cause infections of the lower respiratory tract. The BIOFIRE Pneumonia Panel seeks authorization from the FDA to identify 33 targets in Sputum (including endotracheal aspirate) and Bronchoalveolar Lavage (including mini-BAL) sample types. The target list includes: 18 bacteria, 8 viruses and 7 antibiotic resistance genes. Fifteen of the bacterial targets will be reported with information about the abundance of organism in a given sample. This is a novel feature for a molecular diagnostic panel and is analogous to the semi-quantitative reporting that is traditionally done with culture in the clinical laboratory. The BIOFIRE Pneumonia Panel is compatible with all existing instrumentation including the FILMARRAY 1.5, FILMARRAY 2.0, and FILMARRAY TORCH systems. INVESTOR CALENDAR Annual General Meeting: May 17, 2018 Second-quarter sales: July 19, 2018, before start of trading First-half 2018 results: September 5, 2018, before start of trading Third-quarter sales: October 18, 2018, before start of trading Notes and definitions The above forward-looking statements are based, entirely or partially, on assessments or judgments that may change or be modified, due to uncertainties and risks related to the Company's economic, financial, regulatory and competitive environment, notably those described in the 2017 Registration Document. Accordingly, the Company cannot give any assurance nor make any representation as to whether the objectives will be met. The Company does not undertake to update or otherwise revise any forecasts or objectives presented herein, except in compliance with the disclosure obligations applicable to companies whose shares are listed on a stock exchange. Currency effect: this is established by converting actual numbers at the average rates of year y-1. In practice, those rates are either average rates communicated by the ECB, or hedged rates if hedging instruments have been set up. Changes in scope of consolidation: these are determined: for acquisitions in the period, by deducting from sales for the period the amount of sales generated during the period by acquired entities as from the date they entered the consolidated reporting scope; - for acquisitions in the previous period, by deducting from sales for the period the amount of sales generated in the months in the previous period during which the acquired entities were not consolidated; - for disposals in the period, by adding to sales for the period the amount of sales generated by entities sold during the previous period in the months of the current period during which these entities were no longer consolidated; - for disposals in the previous period, by adding to sales for the period the amount of sales generated during the previous period by the entities sold. ABOUT BIOMERIEUX Pioneering Diagnostics A world leader in the field of in vitro diagnostics for over 50 years, bioMerieux is present in more than 150 countries through 43 subsidiaries and a large network of distributors. In 2017, revenues reached 2.3 billion, with over 90% of sales outside of France. bioMerieux provides diagnostic solutions (systems, reagents, software) which determine the source of disease and contamination to improve patient health and ensure consumer safety. Its products are mainly used for diagnosing infectious diseases. They are also used for detecting microorganisms in agri-food, pharmaceutical and cosmetic products. bioMerieux is listed on the Euronext Paris stock market. Symbol: BIM ISIN Code: FR0013280286 Reuters: BIOX.PA/Bloomberg: BIM.FP Corporate website: www.biomerieux.com. Investor website: www.biomerieux-finance.com Note: Unless otherwise stated, growth is expressed year-on-year at constant exchange rates and scope of consolidation (like-for-like). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006575/en/ Contacts: Investor Relations bioMerieux Sylvain Morgeau, +33 (0)4 78 87 22 37 investor.relations@biomerieux.com or Media Relations bioMerieux Aurore Sergeant, +33 (0)4 78 87 20 53 media@biomerieux.com or Image Sept Laurence Heilbronn, +33 (0)1 53 70 74 64 lheilbronn@image7.fr or Claire Doligez, +33 (0)1 53 70 74 48 cdoligez@image7.fr DUBAI, UAE, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Partnershipexpected to fuel e-commerce growth inthe Kingdom Checkout.com is the first payment solutions provider (PSP) to accept payments via mada, Saudi Arabia's domestic payment network. The partnership will enable all mada cardholders and merchants to complete transactions online. With over one billion transactions routed through the mada network every year, this is expected to fuel e-commerce growth across Saudi Arabia. The mada network connects all merchant and card issuer banks to transactions from automated teller machines (ATMs) and point-of-sale (POS) terminals in Saudi Arabia. To demonstrate how online merchants in the Kingdom can easily accept mada cards as a primary payment method, the Saudi Arabian Monetary authority presented a live mada payment for Flyin.com - processed on Checkout.com's platform. Mohammad Al-Ansari, VP at Flyin.com says: "Accepting mada will help us build trust amongst consumers in the region. Furthermore, allowing people to pay with mada will help strengthen the e-commerce industry and bolster the adoption of online payments." This partnership is another significant milestone in Checkout.com's service to businesses in the Middle East. It will further establish Checkout.com's reputation for helping merchants grow by accepting local payment methods and ensuring that businesses can meet the demands of their customers. Remo Giovanni Abbondandolo, VP of Business Development for Checkout.com in MENA says: "mada is one of the fastest growing payment systems in the region and our partnership will help drive the already strong growth of e-commerce in the Kingdom. Incorporating the mada network into the Checkout.com platform allows Flyin.com - and other businesses that operate in the region - to offer consumers a more diverse and convenient range of payment choices." Checkout.com works directly with businesses to handle payments in any country, via a single integration. Checkout.com solutions connect e-commerce businesses seamlessly with all credit and debit cards and major alternative payment methods using entirely proprietary payment technology. Checkout.com processes payments in over 150 currencies for major global brands. GCC customers include Talabat, The ENTERTAINER, Wadi.com, Sharaf DG, Tajawal, Dubizzle and Samsung. About Checkout.com Launched in 2012, Checkout.com is a leading provider of international online payment solutions. Checkout.com is built on 100% proprietary technology and handles every part of the payment process, providing complete transparency across the entire payment value chain. We currently process 150+ currencies. In addition, we give you the ability to accept all international cards, plus popular alternative and local payments through one integration. With customers like Flyin.com, Wadi.com, Talabat, Elabelz and Dubizzle, we're proud of the company we keep. Our mission is to partner with smart businesses of all sizes to optimize their payments, increase revenues, and meet the dynamic needs of their customers. For more information, comment or interview opportunities, please contact: TopLine Comms checkout@toplinecomms.com +44(0)207-580-6502 - African Palm Corp.'s operations will mean considerable investment in local economies and GDPs for the cluster of participating West African countries. - With the goal to minimize the environmental impact of its operations in Guinea-Bissau, African Palm Corp. signed working agreements with local ethnic groups to collaborate in harvesting the fruit from the African palm tree. MIAMI, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- African Palm Corp. (APC), based in the United States, is dedicated to the sustainable extraction, processing, and commercialization of products derived from African palm trees (mainly palm oil). The company announced today that it will launch its operations in Guinea-Bissau in May 2018 where it has access to a total of 1.5 million hectares dedicated to African palm trees and plans to expand to seven million hectares across West Africa in the next five years. The installation of African Palm Corp.'s operations means a considerable investment for numerous West African countries and creates a regional cluster that competes with Indonesian and Malaysian palm oil which currently dominates the industry. The income generated from the operations of each African country will contribute to the annual growth of their Gross Domestic Product (GDP). In the case of Guinea-Bissau, it is projected that the operation of African Palm Corp. will result in a 50 percent increase in its GDP, a reduction of 4.3 percent in its unemployment rate, 39,000 new direct and indirect jobs, and an increase in its public budget from a deficit of 2.4 percent to a surplus of 2 percent. "We are pleased to enter the Palm Oil industry with a sustainable business model that will not only provide economic growth for our partners, but also generate high returns for our investors," said Oscar Faria, President and CEO of African Palm Corp. "Our palm oil will be certified by a series of principles equivalent to those of the Roundtable for Sustainable Palm Oil, which means consumers can enjoy a high-quality product that respects the local traditions and cultures of the farmers harvesting the fruit." Globally, the demand for palm oil has increased drastically in the last 20 years, going from 15 million metric tons per year in 1995 to over 65 million in 2015. As the demand has made substantial growth around the world, buyers have also become more conscious to high quality products that support sustainable farming methods and the local communities that will be impacted by the new business. African Palm Corp., with support from UK based insurance broker and Lloyds of London, has designed and implemented a solid business model that guarantees investors the viability and profitability of the business. APC's A-Grade ranking from Lloyds ensures total annual profits, regardless of any political changes or climatic conditions that could affect the production and sales of the oil. Commitment to local communities This native West African plant grows naturally in the wild, as opposed to Indonesian and Malaysian palm trees, making the company's impact on the environment minimal. Prior to the start of its operations, African Palm Corp. signed working agreements with local ethnic groups to collaborate in harvesting the fruit from the African palm tree. In addition to commercial transactions, 10 percent of African Palm Corp.'s annual net profit will be directly invested in social infrastructure projects such as schools, medical centers, and roads, reflecting the specific needs of each local community. Additionally, all the technical infrastructure that African Palm Corp. develops as part of the company's logistical needs, such as electricity, access to potable water, roads, and docks, will be available and accessible to the local communities. Lastly, most of the direct and indirect jobs created as a result of APC's operation will be assigned to local community members and leaders. ABOUT AFRICAN PALM CORP. African Palm Corp.is a company dedicated to the extraction, processing and commercialization in international markets of derivative products of African Palm (mostly Palm Oil). The operations of the company will be based in a cluster of West African countries in partnership with members of the local communities. To learn more, visit http://africanpalmcorp.com/. 19 April 2018 Results for the 3 months ended 31 March 2018 (Unaudited) Based on IFRS and expressed in US Dollars (US$) Acacia Mining plc ("Acacia'') reports first quarter results "Acacia continued to demonstrate resilience during the first quarter, delivering solid production of 120,981 ounces at all-in sustaining costs ("AISC") of US$976 per ounce sold," said Peter Geleta, Interim Chief Executive Officer. "Production at all three of our assets was in line with our mine plans and puts us in a good position to deliver against our full year guidance of 435,000-475,000 ounces at an AISC of US$935-985 per ounce. The switch to stockpile processing at Buzwagi and the move to reduced operations at Bulyanhulu in late-2017 were effectively executed and we are pleased to report an increase in our cash balance to US$107 million. This was driven by the delivery of our operational plans and the sale of a non-core royalty that completed in January 2018. We continue to take measures to further stabilise our balance sheet and continue to provide support to Barrick in its on-going discussions with the Government of Tanzania." Operational Highlights Production tracked full-year guidance whilst all three operations delivered in line with their respective mine plans Gold production of 120,981 ounces, 45% lower than Q1 2017, primarily due to Bulyanhulu being transitioned to reduced operations in September 2017 , and Buzwagi's production being sourced primarily from lower grade ore stockpiles , and Buzwagi's production being sourced primarily from lower grade ore stockpiles Gold sales of 116,955 ounces, 37% lower than Q1 2017, slightly below gold produced for the quarter due to the timing of shipments AISC1 of US$976 per ounce sold, 4% above Q1 2017 and cash costs1 of US$715 per ounce sold, 24% higher than Q1 2017 Financial Highlights Q1 revenue of US$157 million , 33% lower than Q1 2017 due to lower sales, offset slightly by higher realised gold prices , 33% lower than Q1 2017 due to lower sales, offset slightly by higher realised gold prices Q1 EBITDA 1 of US$86 million , 4% higher than Q1 2017, primarily due to the sale of a non-core royalty asset for US$45 million which completed in January 2018 . Q1 2018 Adjusted EBITDA of US$44 million of , 4% higher than Q1 2017, primarily due to the sale of a non-core royalty asset for which completed in . Q1 2018 Adjusted EBITDA of Net earnings of US$50 million (US12.2 cents per share), up from US$27 million in Q1 2017, with adjusted net earnings1 of US$7 million (US1.7 cents per share), 73% lower than Q1 2017 Cash on hand of US$107 million as of 31 March, an increase of US$26 million from 2017 year end with net cash of US$50 million as of 31 March, an increase of from 2017 year end with net cash of Entered into option agreements to provide a floor price of at least US$1,320 per ounce for majority of H1 2018 production per ounce for majority of H1 2018 production In response to a number of expressions of potential interest, commenced a process during the quarter with a small number of Chinese investors to explore the value to the Company of selling a stake in its Tanzanian operations. Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Gold production (ounces) 120,981 219,670 767,883 Gold sold (ounces) 116,955 184,744 592,861 Cash cost (US$/ounce)1 715 577 587 AISC (US$/ounce)1 976 934 875 Net average realised gold price (US$/ounce)1 1,332 1,221 1,260 (in US$'000) Revenue 156,517 233,901 751,515 EBITDA 1 85,774 82,193 257,180 Adjusted EBITDA1 43,804 82,193 310,527 Net earnings/(loss) 49,995 26,827 (707,394) Basic earnings/(loss) per share (EPS) (cents) 12.2 6.5 (172.5) Adjusted net earnings1 7,116 26,827 146,218 Adjusted net earnings per share (AEPS) (cents)1 1.7 6.5 35.7 Cash generated from/(used in) operating activities 23,954 25,224 (22,972) Capital expenditure2 25,779 46,828 149,376 Cash balance 106,557 281,442 80,513 Total borrowings 56,800 85,200 71,000 1 These are non-IFRS measures. Refer to page 14 for definitions 2 Excludes non-cash capital adjustments (reclamation asset adjustments) and include land purchases recognised as long term prepayments Other Developments Update on Discussions between Barrick Gold Corporation ("Barrick") and the Government of Tanzania Barrick and the Tanzanian Government continued their discussions during the quarter, aimed at agreeing and documenting in H1 2018 the details of the framework announced in 2017. Acacia continues to support Barrick in its discussions with the Government as the two parties work towards identifying a possible negotiated resolution. Acacia is not directly involved in the on-going discussions and awaits a detailed agreed proposal and documented final agreements for a comprehensive settlement in the coming months. This will then be reviewed by an Independent Committee formed of the Company's Directors. Asset Level Discussions with Interested Parties As previously announced, in response to a number of expressions of potential interest from Chinese counterparties, the Company is engaging with a small number of potential investors to explore the value to the Company of the sale of a stake in one or more of its Tanzanian assets. There is currently no certainty as to whether any agreement will be reached with any of the potential investors. Acacia remains committed to shareholder value and evaluates all opportunities against strict strategic and financial criteria. Any transaction will be pursued only if it is determined by Acacia's Board to be in the best interests of all shareholders. Buzwagi Flotation Circuit In September 2017 Buzwagi took the decision to cease operating the flotation circuit which had previously been planned to run into the first part of 2018. The mine continues to operate the existing gravity and CIL circuits which means that all gold production is now in dore form. Buzwagi engaged extensively with relevant government agencies prior to and at the time of the implementation of this decision, although it did not require prior regulatory approvals and did not involve additional or new process plant or processing technology. During the first quarter and subsequent to the shutdown of the flotation circuit, Buzwagi received correspondence from the Ministry of Minerals requiring the restoration of operation of the flotation circuit and seeking further explanations from Buzwagi on the Government's position regarding potentially applicable regulatory approvals. Buzwagi continues to engage closely with Government agencies on this matter. Indirect Taxation During the first quarter, Acacia incurred a further US$14 million of VAT outflows and received no cash VAT refunds. We have also declared our first provisional corporate tax payment for 2018 relating to North Mara, amounting to approximately US$10 million. This payment has been offset against indirect tax receivables in line with an existing agreement with the Tanzanian Revenue Authority. As a result, the net increase in our indirect tax receivable amounted to approximately US$4 million, with our total indirect tax receivables increasing to approximately US$174 million as at 31 March 2018. As previously disclosed, Tanzania's new mining legislation includes an Amendment to the VAT Act 2015 to the effect that no input tax credit can be claimed for the exportation of "raw minerals", with effect from 20 July 2017. Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi and North Mara have each now received notices from the Tanzania Revenue Authority that they are not eligible for any VAT relief from July 2017 onwards on the basis that all production (both dore and concentrate) constitutes "raw minerals". The total VAT claims submitted since July 2017 amount to approximately US$50 million. We have disputed this interpretation of the legislation as a matter of Tanzanian law, while this is also a matter that is in contravention of the relevant terms of our MDAs with the Government of Tanzania. Entry into Gold Price Protection Measures As previously reported, in January 2018, as part of on-going measures to mitigate cash outflows, Acacia bought put options covering 120,000 ounces of gold at a strike price of US$1,320 per ounce. The total cost of the options was US$2.0 million and they provide a minimum price for the majority of Acacia's planned dore production until June 2018 above our budgeted gold price of US$1,200 per ounce, with full upside exposure should the gold price trade above US$1,320 per ounce. The options will expire in equal instalments of 30,000 ounces per month over the period. Contribution to Tanzania Since the inception of its businesses, over 15 years ago, the Acacia Group, and its predecessors, have invested over US$4 billion into Tanzania and paid over US$1 billion of taxes and royalties and we remain committed to supporting efforts towards Tanzania's socio-economic advancement and, in particular, the realisation of the Government's Development Vision 2025. In the first quarter of 2018, Acacia has incurred a total of US$30.3 million to the Tanzanian Government in taxes and royalties. This includes royalties and clearing taxes of US$12.2 million, corporate tax of US$9.6 million, payroll taxes of US$7.6 million, and US$0.9 million in import duties. We have also paid US$1.1 million in local service levies due on H2 2017 revenues. During the first quarter Acacia continued to implement its strategy to develop local talent within its workforce, furthering its commitment to localisation. In March 2018, 105 of our first line leaders graduated from the Acacia Rainbow Leadership Development Programme which is aimed at developing our future leaders. Through its Sustainable Communities programme Acacia has completed projects during Q1 2018 which increase the accessibility of clean and safe water in rural areas and contribute to resolving challenges identified in Tanzania's education sector. In February, Acacia completed a water infrastructure project in Msalala District near Bulyanhulu where we investedUS$84,000 in the installation of an electric water pump and water tower. The facility, which has been linked to the national grid, channels clean water to the local Kakola village and provides safe drinking water to 3,000 residents. Further to the above investment Acacia is currently collaborating with the Ministry of Water and Irrigation, three local District Councils, the Kahama Shinyanga Water Supply and Sanitation Authority (KASHWASA) to tackle water scarcity on behalf of residents around Bulyanhulu. The Company has committed almost US$2 million to fund an extension of a transmission pipeline from Lake Victoria to 14 villages spanning four districts. Once complete, the pipeline will deliver clean water to approximately 100,000 people living around the mine. We have also continued our library refurbishment project in partnership with the NGO, Read International Tanzania. During the quarter we officially opened four new libraries in Tarime, Shinyanga and Kahama districts. Local Content Rules Post period-end Acacia submitted preliminary local content plans to the Tanzanian Government in line with the new local content regulations that came into force on April 10, 2018. These preliminary plans build on the work undertaken by Acacia over the past years to enhance and develop our local supply chain and increase local employment in the workforce. Under Acacia's existing Mineral Development Agreements, Acacia is protected from changes to laws that govern our operations including the introduction of the local content regulations, but as part of our commitment to development in the country, the Company intends to work with the Government to clarify the requirements of the new local content regulations and to practically meet these requirements where possible. We continue to seek advice on clarification of specific points around these regulations and the practical implications thereof. Key Statistics Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Tonnes mined Kt 4,027 9,481 31,917 Ore tonnes mined Kt 838 3,216 13,707 Ore tonnes processed Kt 2,159 2,420 8,719 Process recovery rate exc. tailings reclaim % 91.0% 93.4% 92.4% Head grade exc. tailings reclaim g/t 2.2 3.5 3.3 Process recovery rate inc. tailings reclaim % 86.5% 89.8% 90.0% Head grade inc. tailings reclaim g/t 2.0 3.1 3.0 Gold production oz 120,981 219,670 767,883 Gold sold oz 116,955 184,744 592,861 Copper production Klbs - 4,656 12,897 Copper sold Klbs - 2,487 1,341 Cash cost per tonne milled exc. tailings reclaim1 US$/t 47 51 43 Cash cost per tonne milled inc. tailings reclaim1 US$/t 39 44 40 Per ounce data Average spot gold price2 US$/oz 1,329 1,219 1,257 Net average realised gold price1 US$/oz 1,332 1,221 1,260 Total cash cost1 US$/oz 715 577 587 All-in sustaining cost1 US$/oz 976 934 875 Average realised copper price US$/lbs - 2.79 2.98 Financial results Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited, in US$'000 unless otherwise stated) 2018 2017 2017 Revenue 156,517 233,901 751,515 Cost of sales (108,400) (149,396) (458,447) Gross profit 48,117 84,505 293,068 Corporate administration (5,458) (6,642) (26,913) Share based payments 1,527 (10,424) 8,236 Exploration and evaluation costs (3,623) (6,778) (24,829) Corporate social responsibility expenses (1,546) (2,195) (8,213) Impairment charge - - (850,182) Other income/(charges) 22,767 (10,815) (90,370) Profit before net finance expense and taxation 61,784 47,651 (699,203) Finance income 132 597 1,944 Finance expense (3,836) (2,238) (12,407) Profit before taxation 58,080 46,010 (709,666) Tax expense (8,085) (19,183) 2,272 Net profit for the period 49,995 26,827 (707,394) 1 These are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS. Refer to "Non IFRS measures" on page 14 for definitions. 2 Reflect the London PM fix price. For further information, please visit our website: http://www.acaciamining.com/ or contact: Acacia Mining plc +44 (0) 207 129 7150 Peter Geleta, Interim Chief Executive Officer Jaco Maritz, Chief Financial Officer Giles Blackham, Head of Investor Relations and Corporate Development Camarco +44 (0) 20 3757 4980 Gordon Poole / Nick Hennis About Acacia Mining plc Acacia Mining plc (LSE: ACA) is Tanzania's largest gold miner and one of the largest producers of gold in Africa. We have three mines, all located in north-west Tanzania: Bulyanhulu, Buzwagi, and North Mara, and a portfolio of exploration projects in Kenya, Burkina Faso and Mali. Acacia is a UK public company headquartered in London. We are listed on the Main Market of the London Stock Exchange with a secondary listing on the Dar es Salaam Stock Exchange. Barrick Gold Corporation is our majority shareholder. Acacia reports in US dollars and in accordance with IFRS as adopted by the European Union, unless otherwise stated in this report. Conference call A conference call will be held for analysts and investors on 19 April 2018 at 08:30 BST. The access details for the conference call are as follows: Participant dial in: +44 020 3936 2999 Password: 88 94 64 A recording of the conference call will be made available on the Company's website, http://www.acaciamining.com/, after the call. FORWARD- LOOKING STATEMENTS This report includes "forward-looking statements" that express or imply expectations of future events or results. Forward-looking statements are statements that are not historical facts. These statements include, without limitation, financial projections and estimates and their underlying assumptions, statements regarding plans, objectives and expectations with respect to future production, operations, costs, projects, and statements regarding future performance. Forward-looking statements are generally identified by the words "plans," "expects," "anticipates," "believes," "intends," "estimates" and other similar expressions. All forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Acacia, which could cause actual results and developments to differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, the forward-looking statements contained in this report. Factors that could cause or contribute to differences between the actual results, performance and achievements of Acacia include, but are not limited to, changes or developments in political, economic or business conditions or national or local legislation or regulation in countries in which Acacia conducts - or may in the future conduct - business, industry trends, competition, fluctuations in the spot and forward price of gold or certain other commodity prices (such as copper and diesel), currency fluctuations (including the US dollar, South African rand, Kenyan shilling and Tanzanian shilling exchange rates), Acacia's ability to successfully integrate acquisitions, Acacia's ability to recover its reserves or develop new reserves, including its ability to convert its resources into reserves and its mineral potential into resources or reserves, and to process its mineral reserves successfully and in a timely manner, Acacia's ability to complete land acquisitions required to support its mining activities, operational or technical difficulties which may occur in the context of mining activities, delays and technical challenges associated with the completion of projects, risk of trespass, theft and vandalism, changes in Acacia's business strategy including, the ongoing implementation of operational reviews, as well as risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development, mining and production and risks and factors affecting the gold mining industry in general. Although Acacia's management believes that the expectations reflected in such forward-looking statements are reasonable, Acacia cannot give assurances that such statements will prove to be correct. Accordingly, investors should not place reliance on forward-looking statements contained in this report. Any forward-looking statements in this report only reflect information available at the time of preparation. Save as required under the Market Abuse Regulation or otherwise under applicable law, Acaciaexplicitly disclaims any obligation or undertaking publicly to update or revise any forward-looking statements in this report, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. Nothing in this report should be construed as a profit forecast or estimate and no statement made should be interpreted to mean that Acacia's profits or earnings per share for any future period will necessarily match or exceed the historical published profits or earnings per share of Acacia. Operating Review Acacia delivered production of 120,981 ounces in Q1 2018, a decrease of 45% compared to the prior year quarter, whilst AISC of US$976 per ounce sold was 4% higher than Q1 2017. Cash costs of US$715 per ounce sold were 24% higher than the prior year period. North Mara achieved gold production of 76,769 ounces for the quarter, 20% lower than in Q1 2017. This was a result of lower average grades at the Gokona underground mine on account of a higher proportion of mining taking place in the lower-grade West Zone. The grade was also negatively impacted by lower grades received from the Nyabirama pit. Gold sold of 74,955 ounces for the quarter was 20% lower than the prior year quarter due to the lower production base but broadly in line with production. AISC of US$950 per ounce sold was 32% higher than Q1 2017 (US$717/oz) as a result of higher cash costs and lower sales volumes. Buzwagi produced 35,685 ounces of gold in the quarter, 40% lower than in Q1 2017 due to the mine transitioning to the processing of lower grade stockpiles compared to run-of-mine ore from open pit. Gold sold for the quarter of 32,460 ounces was 9% lower than production and 13% behind Q1 2017, due to the timing of shipments at quarter end and the lower production base, respectively. Buzwagi will continue to solely produce dore until the end of its life of mine. AISC per ounce sold of US$1,052 was 36% higher than Q1 2017 (US$773/oz), mainly driven by the transition to processing lower grade stockpiles which drove higher cash costs. At Bulyanhulu, gold production of 8,527 ounces was 87% lower than Q1 2017 as a result of the decision to place the underground mine on reduced operations. All production resulted from the reprocessing of tailings which was 6% lower compared to the prior year quarter due to lower feed grades. Gold sold for the quarter of 9,540 ounces was 12% higher than production due to the selling of gold ounces on hand at the end of 2017 and 87% lower than Q1 2017 mainly as a result of the lower production base. AISC per ounce sold for the quarter of US$923 was 25% lower than Q1 2017 (US$1,229/oz) driven by reduced operating and capital spend. Total tonnes mined during the quarter amounted to 4.0 million tonnes, 58% lower than Q1 2017, mainly as a result of the transition to a stockpile processing operation at Buzwagi and the halting of all underground mining at Bulyanhulu. Total tonnes mined at North Mara were in line with Q1 2017. Total ore tonnes mined of 0.8 million tonnes were 74% lower than Q1 2017 mainly due to the cessation of mining at Buzwagi and Bulyanhulu. Ore tonnes mined at North Mara were 12% lower than Q1 2017, mainly due to higher rainfall towards the end of the quarter which resulted in mining delays at the Nyabirama open pit. Ore tonnes processed amounted to 2.2 million tonnes, a decrease of 11% on Q1 2017, mainly driven by the halting of run-of mine processing at Bulyanhulu and a 7% reduction in ore tonnes processed at Buzwagi due to an extended planned plant shutdown during the quarter. North Mara ore tonnes processed were in line with Q1 2017. Cash costs of US$715 per ounce sold for the quarter were 24% higher than in Q1 2017, primarily due to: A decreased build-up in finished gold inventory compared to Q1 2017 ( US$103 /oz), given Q1 2017 was impacted by the imposition of the concentrate export ban, resulting in a build- up of finished gold inventory in Q1 2017 of approximately 35,000 ounces; /oz), given Q1 2017 was impacted by the imposition of the concentrate export ban, resulting in a build- up of finished gold inventory in Q1 2017 of approximately 35,000 ounces; Increased drawdown of ore stockpiles at Buzwagi ( US$133 /oz) partially offset by stockpile increases at North Mara ( US$37 /oz); and /oz) partially offset by stockpile increases at North Mara ( /oz); and Lower co-product revenue compared to Q1 2017 as a result of the concentrate export ban ( US$64 /oz). This was offset by: Savings in direct mining costs at Buzwagi and Bulyanhulu as a result of ceased mining activities partly offset by higher direct mining costs at North Mara mainly driven by increased maintenance costs, offset in part to the impact of the lower production base on unit costs ( US$105 /oz); and Lower selling related costs driven by lower sales volumes ( US$22 /oz). All-in sustaining cost of US$976 per ounce sold for the quarter was 4% higher than Q1 2017, mainly due to the impact of lower sales volumes on individual cost items (US$207/oz) and higher cash costs (refer to above) (US$207/oz). This was partly offset by lower capitalised expenditure relating to North Mara and Bulyanhulu (US$154/oz), lower shared based payment charges (US$102/oz) and lower sustaining capital spend mainly driven by Bulyanhulu being on reduced operations (US$24/oz). Cash generated from operating activities was an inflow of US$24.0 million which was a decrease of US$1.2 million from Q1 2017 (US$25.2 million). Adjusted EBITDA of US$44 million was offset by working capital outflows of US$7 million, provisional corporate tax payments of US$10 million, finance costs of US$3 million and other non-cash items of US$7 million. Working capital outflows mainly relate to an increase in indirect tax receivables of US$5 million. Capital expenditure amounted to US$25.8 million compared to US$46.8 million in Q1 2017. The decrease was mainly driven by lower capitalised development costs. Capital expenditure primarily comprised capitalised development and stripping (US$15.6 million), investment in mobile equipment and component change-outs mainly relating to North Mara (US$3.9 million), capitalised drilling for resource and reserve development at North Mara's Gokona underground (US$1.5 million). Mine Site Review Bulyanhulu Key statistics Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Key operational information: Ounces produced oz 8,527 63,346 175,491 Ounces sold oz 9,540 53,805 107,855 Cash cost per ounce sold1 US$/oz 713 786 840 AISC per ounce sold1 US$/oz 923 1,229 1,373 Copper production Klbs - 1,498 3,906 Copper sold Klbs - 956 588 Run-of-mine: Underground ore tonnes hoisted Kt - 205 596 Ore milled Kt - 221 612 Head grade g/t - 8.4 8.6 Mill recovery % - 91.4% 90.1% Ounces produced oz - 54,256 153,279 Cash cost per tonne milled1 US$/t - 171 126 Reprocessed tailings: Ore milled Kt 450 413 1,010 Head grade g/t 1.1 1.4 1.4 Mill recovery % 52.6% 47.5% 48.0% Ounces produced oz 8,527 9,089 22,212 Capital Expenditure - Sustaining capital US$('000) 1,355 4,212 9,033 - Capitalised development US$('000) - 16,070 39,543 - Expansionary capital US$('000) 274 478 1,190 1,629 20,760 49,766 - Non-cash reclamation asset adjustments US$('000) (1,732) 1,042 (4,158) Total capital expenditure US$('000) (103) 21,802 45,608 1These are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS. Refer to 'Non-IFRS measures" on page 14 for definitions. Operating performance Gold production amounted to 8,527 ounces, which was 87% lower than Q1 2017 as a result of the decision taken in September 2017 to transition to reduced operations at Bulyanhulu. Production consisted of the reprocessing of tailings which was 6% lower compared to the prior year quarter due to lower feed grades. Gold sold for the quarter of 9,540 ounces was 12% higher than production due to the selling of gold ounces on hand at the end of 2017 and 87% lower than Q1 2017 mainly as a result of the lower production base. AISC per ounce sold for the quarter of US$923 was 25% lower than Q1 2017 (US$1,229/oz) driven by reduced operating and capital spend, partly offset by lower sales. No copper production or sales for the quarter as a result of Bulyanhulu being on reduced operations since the end of Q3 2017, resulting in no concentrate production. No underground ore tonnes hoisted during the quarter due to the mine's reduced operational state and cessation of all underground mining activity. Cash costs of US$713 per ounce sold were 9% lower than Q1 2017 (US$786/oz), mainly due to lower direct mining costs compared to the prior year period as a result of Bulyanhulu being on reduced operations and lower sales related costs driven by lower sales volumes. This was partly offset by the lower production base and lower co-product revenue. AISC per ounce sold for the quarter of US$923 was 25% lower than Q1 2017 (US$1,229/oz) driven by the impact of lower capitalised development due to the ceased underground development activities and lower corporate administration charges. This was partly offset by the impact of lower sales ounces on individual cost items. Capital expenditure for the quarter before reclamation adjustments amounted to US$1.6 million, significantly lower than Q1 2017 (US$20.8 million), mainly driven by lower capitalised development due to Bulyanhulu being on reduced operations, resulting in lower sustaining capital spend due to projects being deferred or cancelled. Capital expenditure consisted primarily of investment in mobile equipment and component change-outs (US$0.8 million), costs relating to the completion of underground ventilation raise borings (US$0.3 million), expansionary capital relating to the Bulyanhulu feasibility studies (US$0.3 million) and TSF wall raise (US$0.1 million). During the quarter, reduced operating costs amounted to US$8.2 million and mainly consisted of site overhead costs including labour, power and camp related costs, security costs associated with protecting the site and surrounding infrastructure and ongoing maintenance related work. Buzwagi Key statistics Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Key operational information: Ounces produced oz 35,685 59,856 268,785 Ounces sold oz 32,460 37,199 160,552 Cash cost per ounce sold1 US$/oz 964 694 594 AISC per ounce sold1 US$/oz 1,052 773 667 Copper production Klbs - 3,158 8,991 Copper sold Klbs - 1,531 752 Mining information: Tonnes mined Kt - 5,267 15,368 Ore tonnes mined Kt - 2,053 9,309 Processing information: Ore milled Kt 1,001 1,076 4,256 Head grade g/t 1.3 1.8 2.1 Mill recovery % 88.3% 96.7% 94.3% Cash cost per tonne milled1 US$/t 31 24 22 Capital Expenditure - Sustaining capital US$('000) 1,300 141 4,338 - Capitalised development US$('000) - - - 1,300 141 4,338 - Non-cash reclamation asset adjustments US$('000) 133 (78) (1,978) Total capital expenditure US$('000) 1,433 63 2,360 1These are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS. Refer to "Non-IFRS measures" on page 14 for definitions. Operating performance Gold production for the quarter of 35,685 ounces was 40% lower than in Q1 2017 due to Buzwagi transitioning to a low-grade stockpile processing operation compared to the processing of run-of-mine ore in the previous period. Gold sold for the quarter of 32,460 ounces was 9% lower than production due to the timing of shipments at quarter end. Sales were 13% lower than the prior year period due to the lower production base. Buzwagi will continue to solely produce dore until the end of its life of mine. AISC per ounce sold of US$1,052 was 36% higher than Q1 2017 (US$773/oz), mainly driven by the impact of the processing of lower grade stockpiles. Following Buzwagi's transition to a stockpile processing operation there was no copper production and therefore no copper sales during the quarter. Recoveries of 88.3% were lower than the previous year period due to lower grades and the bypassing of the flotation circuit due to the low copper content of the stockpiles. There were no tonnes mined for the quarter, but we plan to mine the last ore blocks from the main zone in the open pit in late Q2 2018 once the wet season has concluded. These tonnes have been deferred from Q4 2017 due to flooding of the bottom of the pit. Cash costs for the quarter of US$964 per ounce sold were 39% higher than Q1 2017 (US$694/oz) mainly due to a drawdown in ore inventory as a result of ceased mining activities (US$133/oz), lower co-product revenue (US$134/oz) and the lower production base, offset by lower direct mining costs as a result of Buzwagi transitioning to a stockpile processing operation (US$34/oz). AISC per ounce sold of US$1,052 was 36% higher than Q1 2017 (US$773/oz). This was driven by the higher cash costs as discussed above (US$270/oz) and higher sustaining capital spend relating to the expansion of the tailings storage facility (US$36/oz). Capital expenditure before reclamation adjustments amounted to US$1.3 million, significantly higher than in Q1 2017 (US$0.1 million), mainly consisting of the expansion of the tailings storage facility (US$1.0 million) which started in late 2017. North Mara Key statistics Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Key operational information: Ounces produced oz 76,769 96,468 323,607 Ounces sold oz 74,955 93,740 324,455 Cash cost per ounce sold1 US$/oz 607 410 498 AISC per ounce sold1 US$/oz 950 717 803 Open pit: Tonnes mined Kt 3,840 3,854 15,299 Ore tonnes mined Kt 651 803 3,147 Mine grade g/t 1.7 2.8 1.7 Underground: Ore tonnes trammed Kt 187 154 654 Mine grade g/t 7.8 11.3 8.7 Processing information: Ore milled Kt 709 710 2,841 Head grade g/t 3.7 4.6 3.9 Mill recovery % 92.3% 92.6% 92.0% Cash cost per tonne milled1 US$/t 64 54 57 Capital Expenditure - Sustaining capital2 US$('000) 5,688 6,256 22,563 - Capitalised development US$('000) 15,568 17,797 61,066 - Expansionary capital US$('000) 1,525 1,536 10,270 22,781 25,589 93,899 - Non-cash reclamation asset adjustments US$('000) (491) 124 (2,951) Total capital expenditure US$('000) 22,290 25,713 90,948 1These are non-IFRS financial performance measures with no standard meaning under IFRS. Refer to 'Non-IFRS measures" on page 17 for definitions. 2 Includes land purchases recognised as long term prepayments. Operating performance Gold production for the quarter of 76,769 ounces was 20% lower than in Q1 2017. The reduction stemmed from lower average grades at the Gokona underground mine on account of a higher proportion of mining taking place in the lower-grade West Zone, with the reconciled grade of 7.8g/t (declared ore mined of 7.0g/t), compared to 11.3g/t in the previous period. The grade was also negatively impacted by lower grades received from the Nyabirama pit. Gold ounces sold for the quarter of 74,955 ounces were 20% lower than the prior year quarter due to the lower production base but were broadly in line with production. Cash costs of US$607 per ounce sold were 48% higher than Q1 2017 (US$410), mainly driven by increased direct operating costs (US$117/oz) mainly relating to increased maintenance costs and a lower proportion of mining costs being capitalised as a result of a lower stripping ratio, the lower production base (US$51/oz) and higher sales related costs driven by the increase in royalties and clearance fees (US$31/oz). AISC of US$950 per ounce sold was 32% higher than Q1 2017 (US$717/oz) as a result of higher cash costs discussed above (US$197/oz) and the impact of lower sales volumes on individual cost items (US$77/oz), partly offset by lower capitalised development costs (US$30/oz). Capital expenditure for the quarter before reclamation adjustments amounted to US$22.8 million, 11% lower than in Q1 2017 (US$25.6 million). Key capital expenditure included capitalised stripping costs (US$10.6 million), capitalised underground development costs (US$5.0 million), capitalised drilling mainly for resource and reserve development at Gokona underground (US$1.5 million), investment in mobile equipment and component change-outs (US$3.9 million). Exploration Review Brownfield Exploration North Mara Gokona Underground A total of 9,215 metres of extension and infill drilling were completed by four rigs at Gokona Underground during Q1 2018, with a further 76 holes for 8,851 metres of grade control drilling also undertaken. Drilling continued to define the Upper Central zone beneath the open pit; with further significant intercepts returned during the quarter including: UGKD453 15.0m @ 13.2 g/t Au from 176m UGKD457 7.0m @ 53.1 g/t Au from 193m; and 17.0m @ 6.3 g/t Au from 225m UGKD458 14.6m @ 8.1 g/t Au from 190m and 26.0m @ 4.1 g/t Au from 222m UGKD463 10.0m @ 7.7 g/t Au from 174m UGKD472 10.0m @ 14.3 g/t Au from 174m UGKD448 20.0m @ 8.7 g/t Au from 157m Drilling of the Central zone between the base of the open pit and the 1,000mRL elevation has now been completed, and results will be incorporated into an updated Mineral Resource model during the year. The mine development design and schedule will then be revised in accordance with the defined economic mineralisation. The drilling activity in the Central zone is currently restricted to two drill rigs that will now test the mineralisation below 1,000m RL down to the projected position of the Banana Fault. The drilling programme testing the base of the second and top of the third panels of mineralisation in the West zone continued. Drilling has confirmed a low grade zone between the 1,000mRL and 970mRL elevations; which can be left as a pillar between the second and third West mining panels. Planned drilling for the third mining panel of the West zone is scheduled for the next six months, with the Mineral Resource model due to be updated subsequent to this. Greenfield Exploration Kenya West Kenya Project During Q1 2018 the focus of the exploration was on testing for structures within the Liranda Corridor, parallel to Isulu, within five kilometres of the existing inferred resources in order to expand the current inferred resource of 1.17Moz at 12.6g/t. We are also progressing a scoping study, which commenced in Q4 2017, with results expected in H2 2018. We continue to believe that 2Moz is a resource target for the Liranda Corridor Project. During Q1 2018 two diamond rigs were active across the West Kenya Project with 11 holes drilled for 3,590 metres. In addition, prospect focused geological mapping and multi-element soil geochemical surveys were underway. In the Liranda Corridor, nine diamond holes for 3,400 metres were completed on the Isulu South East Prospect. These holes intersected multiple shear zones with disseminated sulfides, quartz veining, carbonate and sericite alteration. Results for two holes were received during Q1 2018 with low grade mineralisation within shears of similar orientation and composition to the Isulu prospect. Detailed structural analysis is presently underway to assist with defining high grade shoots along these shears. In the Lake Zone Camp geological mapping and soil geochemical surveys were undertaken across the historic colonial mine workings at Ramba Lumba and Rambi Aila to assist with drill targeting. This has confirmed gold bearing quartz veins within several kilometre zones of altered and sheared mafic to intermediate volcanics. Drilling commenced in Q1 2018 with six holes totalling 2,000 metres to be finalised in Q2 2018. The first hole drilled at Rumba Lumba intersected a wide, strongly altered shear zone hosting visible gold. Burkina Faso During Q1 2018 exploration work on the Hounde Belt in southwest Burkina Faso, where Acacia currently manages four joint ventures covering approximately 2,700km of prospective greenstone belt, comprised air-core drilling on the Tankoro corridor and field mapping, geochemistry sampling and IP surveys on the regional targets. South Hounde JV (Sarama Resources Limited) Tankoro Corridor Air-core drilling was conducted at the Djimbake zone (south-western extension of the Tankoro Corridor) to test the continuity of mineralisation along strike. 3,668 metres were drilled during the quarter out of a programme total of 4,900 metres. First results include 6m @ 2.63g/t Au from surface (including 2m @ 7.25g/t Au) in AC3664 and 6m @ 4.01g/t Au from 36m (including 4m @ 5.6g/t Au) in AC3665. An IP geophysical survey, comprising 38 line kilometres, was conducted on the Ben target (West of the resource area). Infill soil geochemistry sampling and detailed field mapping was also done at Ben. SRK Consulting (UK) Limited has been contracted to update the mineral resource estimation, based on the new 3D geology model. Preliminary results are expected in Q2 2018. The programme for the year on the Tankoro Corridor includes 7,000 metres of diamond drilling to test high-grade shoots at depth and 22,000 metres of combined air-core and reverse circulation drilling to outline additional high grade mineralisation. This programme may be revised depending on the results of the new mineral resource estimation. Ouangoro Corridor An IP survey comprising 120 line kilometres, was conducted over the five kilometre-long Yankadi zone. Detailed geology and regolith mapping, associated with rock-chip and termite mound sampling, continued at Yankadi. The programme for the year on the Ouangoro Corridor comprises 7,400 metres of air-core drilling and 2,250 metres of reverse circulation drilling to test the continuity of the gold mineralisation along strike and at depth. Central Hounde JV (Thor Explorations Limited) Detailed field geological mapping and rock-chip sampling continued on the Legue-Bongui Corridor and on the Ouere gold soil anomaly. An IP geophysical survey, comprising 40 line kilometres, was conducted on the Legue South-West target. The programme for the year on the Central Hounde project comprises 11,500 metres of air-core drilling to test the continuity of the gold mineralisation along strike and to test soil anomalies. The drilling will be converted to RC where ground conditions are not suitable. Pinarello & Konkolikan JV (Canyon Resources Limited) An IP geophysical survey, comprising 53 line kilometres, was conducted on the Tangolobe target. The programme for the year on the Pinarello & Konkolikan project comprises 30,000 metres of air-core drilling to test the continuity of the gold mineralisation along strike on the priority targets (Tankoro Corridor South, Tangolobe and Gagnhy). The drilling will start in Q2 2018. Frontier JV (Metallor SA) No field work was conducted on the Frontier project in Q1 2018. The programme for the year comprises 6,000 metres of air-core. Mali Acacia currently manages two joint ventures and holds one permit covering 191km. Tintinba-Bane Project JV (Demba Camara and Cadem Gold) The last results from the Q4 2017 reverse circulation drilling programme were disappointing. At Tribala, only one significant result was returned: 2m @ 3.01g/t Au from 19m in TIRC0136. The original drilling programme planned for Q1 2018 has been put on hold until a more detailed interpretation of the targets has been finalised. Boubou JV (Mande Empire) & Gourbassi Est - 100% Acacia (ABG Exploration Mali SARL) No field work was conducted on either the Boubou JV or Gourbassi Est in Q1 2018. A soil geochemistry survey will be conducted on both projects in Q2 2018 before running a reconnaissance drilling programme. Non-IFRS Measures Acacia has identified certain measures in this report that are not measures defined under IFRS. Non-IFRS financial measures disclosed by management are provided as additional information to investors in order to provide them with an alternative method for assessing Acacia's financial condition and operating results, and reflects more relevant measures for the industry in which Acacia operates. These measures are not in accordance with, or a substitute for, IFRS, and may be different from or inconsistent with non-IFRS financial measures used by other companies. These measures are explained further below. Net average realised gold price per ounce sold is a non-IFRS financial measure which excludes from gold revenue: - Unrealised gains and losses on non-hedge derivative contracts; and - Export duties It also includes realised gains and losses on gold hedge contracts reported as part of cost of sales. Net average realised gold price per ounce sold have been calculated as follow: (US$000) Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Gold revenue 155,746 225,628 744,294 Less: Realised gold hedge losses - - 2,693 Net gold revenue 155,746 225,628 746,987 Gold sold (ounces) 116,955 184,744 592,861 Net average realised gold price (US$/ounce) 1,332 1,221 1,260 Cash cost per ounce sold is a non-IFRS financial measure. Cash costs include all costs absorbed into inventory, as well as royalties, and production taxes, and exclude capitalised production stripping costs, inventory purchase accounting adjustments, unrealised gains/losses from non-hedge currency and commodity contracts, depreciation and amortisation, reduced operation costs and corporate social responsibility charges. Cash cost is calculated net of co-product revenue. Cash cost per ounce sold is calculated by dividing the aggregate of these costs by total ounces sold. The presentation of these statistics in this manner allows Acacia to monitor and manage those factors that impact production costs on a monthly basis. Cash costs and cash cost per ounce sold are calculated on a consistent basis for the periods presented. The table below provides a reconciliation between cost of sales and total cash cost to calculate the cash cost per ounce sold. (US$'000) Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Cost of Sales Direct mining costs 70,990 98,783 299,591 Third party smelting and refining fees 1,269 5,321 9,675 Realised losses on economic hedges - 108 743 Realised losses on gold hedges - - (2,693) Royalty expense 12,151 10,642 44,930 Depreciation and amortisation* 23,990 34,542 106,201 Total 108,400 149,396 458,447 Total cost of sales 108,400 149,396 458,447 Deduct: Depreciation and amortisation* (23,990) (34,542) (106,201) Deduct: Realised losses on gold hedges - - 2,693 Deduct: Co-product revenue (771) (8,273) (7,221) Total cash cost 83,639 106,581 347,718 Total ounces sold 116,955 184,744 592,861 Total cash cost per ounce sold 715 577 587 *Depreciation and amortisation includes the depreciation component of the cost of inventory sold All-in sustaining cost (AISC) is a non-IFRS financial measure. The measure is in accordance with the World Gold Council's guidance issued in June 2013. It is calculated by taking cash cost per ounce sold and adding corporate administration costs, share-based payments, reclamation and remediation costs for operating mines, corporate social responsibility expenses, mine exploration and study costs, realised gains and/or losses on operating hedges, capitalised stripping and underground development costs and sustaining capital expenditure. This is then divided by the total ounces sold. A reconciliation between cash cost per ounce sold and AISC for the key business segments is presented below: (Unaudited) Three months ended 31 March 2018 Three months ended 31 March 2017 (US$/oz sold) Bulyanhulu North Mara Buzwagi Group Bulyanhulu North Mara Buzwagi Group* Cash cost per ounce sold 713 607 964 715 786 410 694 577 Corporate administration 51 43 42 47 32 26 34 36 Share based payments (43) (3) (7) (13) 13 8 25 56 Rehabilitation 29 8 6 9 12 10 5 10 CSR expenses 32 11 6 13 8 6 12 12 Capitalised development 27 208 - 135 299 190 - 183 Sustaining capital 114 76 41 70 79 67 3 60 Total AISC 923 950 1,052 976 1,229 717 773 934 * The group total includes a cost of US$56/oz in Q1 2017 mainly related to corporate costs incurred. AISC is intended to provide additional information on the total sustaining cost for each ounce sold, taking into account expenditure incurred in addition to direct mining costs and selling costs. Where reference is made to AISC per ounce produced, this is calculated in a similar manner as set out above, but adjusted for the impact of the change in inventory charge/credit relating to finished gold inventory. This recalculated number is then divided by ounces produced. Cash cost per tonne milled is a non-IFRS financial measure. Cash costs include all costs absorbed into inventory, as well as royalties, co-product credits, and production taxes, and exclude capitalised production stripping costs, inventory purchase accounting adjustments, unrealised gains/losses from non-hedge currency and commodity contracts, depreciation and amortisation and corporate social responsibility charges. Cash cost is calculated net of co-product revenue. Cash cost per tonne milled is calculated by dividing the aggregate of these costs by total tonnes milled. EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. Acacia calculates EBITDA as net profit or loss for the period excluding: Income tax expense; Finance expense; Finance income; Depreciation and amortisation; and Impairment charges of goodwill and other long-lived assets. EBITDA is intended to provide additional information to investors and analysts. It does not have any standardised meaning prescribed by IFRS and should not be considered in isolation or as a substitute for measures of performance prepared in accordance with IFRS. EBITDA excludes the impact of cash costs of financing activities and taxes, and the effects of changes in operating working capital balances, and therefore is not necessarily indicative of operating profit or cash flow from operations as determined under IFRS. Other companies may calculate EBITDA differently. Adjusted EBITDA is a non-IFRS financial measure. It is calculated by excluding one-off costs or credits relating to non-routine transactions from EBITDA. It excludes other credits and charges that, individually or in aggregate, if of a similar type, are of a nature or size that requires explanation in order to provide additional insight into the underlying business performance. A reconciliation between net profit for the period and EBITDA, and between EBITDA and adjusted EBITDA is presented below: (US$000) Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Net profit for the period 49,995 26,827 (707,394) Plus income tax expense 8,085 19,183 (2,272) Plus depreciation and amortisation* 23,990 34,542 106,201 Plus: impairment charges1 - - 850,182 Plus finance expense 3,836 2,238 12,407 Less finance income (132) (597) (1,944) EBITDA 85,774 82,193 257,180 Adjusted for: Restructuring costs - - 23,577 Profit on sale of non-core mineral royalty (45,000) - - One off legal settlements 3,030 - 5,083 Reduced operational costs - - 11,411 Discounting of indirect taxes - - 13,276 Adjusted EBITDA 43,804 82,193 310,527 1 For the year ended 31 December 2017, US$850.2 million represents the gross impairment charge (net US$644.3 million) following the carrying review conducted in light of changes in the operating environment in Tanzania, and by reference to the terms of the Framework announcements by Barrick and the GoT, US$838 million relating to Bulyanhulu and US$12.2 million relating to Nyanzaga. *Depreciation and amortisation includes the depreciation component of the cost of inventory sold. EBIT is a non-IFRS financial measure and reflects EBITDA adjusted for depreciation and amortisation and goodwill impairment charges. Adjusted net earnings is a non-IFRS financial measure. It is calculated by excluding certain costs or credits relating to non-routine transactions from net profit attributed to owners of the parent. It includes other credit and charges that, individually or in aggregate, if of a similar type, are of a nature or size that requires explanation in order to provide additional insight into the underlying business performance. Adjusted net earnings and adjusted earnings per share have been calculated as follows: (US$000) Three months ended 31 March Year ended 31 December (Unaudited) 2018 2017 2017 Net earnings 49,995 26,827 (707,394) Adjusted for: Restructuring costs1 - - 23,577 Profit on sale of non-core mineral royalty (45,000) - - One off legal settlements2 3,030 - 5,083 Reduced operational costs3 - - 11,411 Discounting of indirect taxes - - 13,276 Impairment charges/write-offs4 - - 850,182 - Provision for uncertain tax positions5 - - 172,000 Tax impact of the above (909) - (221,917) Adjusted net earnings 7,116 26,827 146,218 1 Restructuring costs for the year ending 31 December 2017 mainly relate to Bulyanhulu (US$16.9 million) as a result of the transitioning to reduced operations and other sites (US$8.2 million). 2 One off legal settlements relates to the North Mara royalty settlement. 3 Reduced operations costs not part of Bulyanhulu's AISC cost and includes stock obsolescence costs (US$6 million) and contractor exit costs (US$4.9 million) for 2017. 4 For the year ended 31 December 2017, US$850.2 million represents the gross impairment charge (net US$644.3 million) following the carrying review conducted in light of changes in the operating environment in Tanzania, and by reference to the terms of the Framework announcements by Barrick and the GoT, US$838 million relating to Bulyanhulu and US$12.2 million relating to Nyanzaga. 5 Includes a tax provision raised in 2017 of US$172.0 million for uncertain tax positions, based on an estimate of the impact of a comprehensive settlement reflecting the key terms of the Framework announcements made by Barrick and the GoT in October 2017. Adjusted net earnings per share is a non-IFRS financial measure and is calculated by dividing adjusted net earnings by the weighted average number of Ordinary Shares in issue. Free cash flow is a non-IFRS measure and represents the change in cash and cash equivalents in a given period. Net cash is a non-IFRS measure and is calculated by deducting total borrowings from cash and cash equivalents. Mining statistical information - the following describes certain line items used in Acacia's discussion of key performance indicators: Free-to-air channels' advertising revenue: 203.2 m (up 3.4%) Consolidated revenue: 359.2 m (up 11.0%) Regulatory News: M6 Metropole Television (Paris:MMT): 1st Quarter ( millions) 1 2018 2017 change Group advertising revenue 252.2 210.2 +20.0% - of which FTA channels' advertising revenue 203.2 196.6 +3.4% - of which cab-sat channels and other media advertising revenue 49.1 13.6 +259.6% Non advertising revenue 107.0 113.5 -5.7% Consolidated revenue 359.2 323.7 +11.0% Over the 1st quarter of the 2018 financial year, M6 Group posted consolidated revenue of 359.2 million, an increase of 11.0% in comparison with the 1st quarter of 2017. The Group's advertising revenue for the first 3 months of the year (free-to-air and pay-TV channels, radio and internet) grew significantly (up 20,0%), reflecting the integration of the Radio division, solid free-to-air channel audience figures and buoyant internet audience figures Non-advertising revenue fell by 5.7%, primarily due to a less powerful line-up of films distributed by SND. Consolidated profit from recurring operations (EBITA)2 reached 44.6 million,compared with 47.1 million in the 1st quarter of 2017, adversely affected by F.C.G.B.'s losses which increased by 12.8 million as a result of the technical staff being replaced and the transfers of players not taking place, with these expected to be completed over the 2nd half of the year. M6 Group has adapted its operational organisation following the acquisition of RTL's radio division and the merging of the teams in charge of the live and the on-demand broadcasting of the television channels. As a result, the Group has altered the structure of the segments included in its segment reporting. Pursuant to IFRS 8, 2017 data for each of the segments has been restated in the information provided hereafter. TELEVISION ( millions) 1st Quarter 2018 2017 r change Consolidated revenue 235.3 220.7 +6.6% o.w. FTA channels' advertising revenue 203.2 196.6 +3.4% Within a context of growth for publicly-funded channels, notably supported by the broadcast of the Winter Olympics in February, M6 Group's free-to-air channels achieved an average audience share of 13.6% across all audiences in the 1st quarter of 2018 (down 0.3 pps, source Mediametrie) and 21.6% (down 0.6 pps, source Mediametrie) on the commercial target of women under 50 responsible for purchases. 1 The information provided is intended to highlight the breakdown of consolidated revenue between advertising and non-advertising revenue. Group advertising revenue includes the advertising revenue of the free-to-air channels M6, W9 and 6ter and the 6play platform, the share of advertising revenue from the pay-TV channels, the advertising revenue of the radio stations RTL, RTL2 and Fun, and the share of advertising revenue generated by diversification activities (mainly Internet). 2 Profit from recurring operations (EBITA) is defined as operating profit (EBIT) before amortisation and impairment of intangible assets (excluding audiovisual rights) related to acquisitions and capital gains and losses on the disposal of financial assets and subsidiaries. With an audience share of 6.4% on the commercial target (down 0.2 pps, source - Mediametrie), Puissance TNT consolidated its position as the leading DTT advertising service and extended its lead on its main competitors, TMC (4.0%, down 0.5 pps) and C8 (3.5%, down 1.1 pps). Thanks to solid audience figures in strategic slots, M6 Group's free-to-air channels proved increasingly attractive to advertisers. As such, they continued to gain market share and recorded a 3.4% increase in their advertising revenues. Moreover, M6 Group's pay channels consolidated their positions amongst the leading pay channels. With 10.5 million viewers each month, Paris Premiere was the most watched pay channel. Teva was the top-ranked pay channel on the commercial target for the 14th consecutive wave (source Mediametrie Mediamat Thematik, from 4 September 2017 to 18 February 2018 6play's advertising revenue continued to grow, driven by the momentum of the platform, which currently has more than 21 million registered users. Lastly, the start of the year was notable for the renewal of M6 Group's distribution contracts with its main partners Altice-SFR, Bouygues Telecom, Canal+ Group, Free and Orange. The agreements signed will secure the broadcast of the pay-TV channels, mainly Paris Premiere and Teva, and remunerate the channels and related services M6, W9 and 6ter. RADIO ( millions) 1st Quarter 2018 2017 r change Consolidated revenue 34.8 The entire Radio division has now been relocated to its new offices in Neuilly. RTL's Radio Division confirmed its position as the leading private radio group in France for the period January-March 2018, with an audience share of 19.8% amongst listeners aged 13 and above (up 1 pp year-on-year, source Mediametrie RTL , France's leading radio station, achieved an audience share of 13.2%, up 0.6 points year-on-year, representing a 10-year high across all stations. With 6,644,000 listeners a day, these are the highest audience figures achieved by RTL over a January-March wave for 15 years. , France's leading radio station, achieved an audience share of 13.2%, up 0.6 points year-on-year, representing a 10-year high across all stations. With 6,644,000 listeners a day, these are the highest audience figures achieved by RTL over a January-March wave for 15 years. Fun Radio maintained an audience share of 3.7% across the entire day and achieved record levels in the morning slot with a 4.9% audience share. maintained an audience share of 3.7% across the entire day and achieved record levels in the morning slot with a 4.9% audience share. RTL2 achieved an audience share of 2.9%, an increase of 16% year-on-year and consolidated its position amongst listeners aged 25-49 with a 5.1% audience share (up 31% year-on-year). Over the first three months of the year, Radio revenue totalled 34.8 million. In a market with low visibility, RTL, Fun Radio and RTL2 maintained a stable advertising performance over the quarter. PRODUCTION DISTRIBUTION OF AUDIOVISUAL RIGHTS ( millions) 1st Quarter 2018 2017 r change Consolidated revenue 17.7 29.8 -40.6% Revenue from the Production and Audiovisual Rights business declined by 12.1 million to 17.7 million (down 40.6%) due to a significantly less favourable cinema release schedule for SND than during the 1st quarter of 2017 (1.7 million admissions compared with 4.6 million). DIVERSIFICATION ( millions) 1st Quarter 2018 2017 r change Consolidated revenue 71.3 73.1 -2.5% Revenue from Diversification activities was 71.3 million, a slight decline of 2.5% year-on-year: M6 Web 's revenue grew, benefiting in particular from iGraal's momentum; 's revenue grew, benefiting in particular from iGraal's momentum; Ventadis maintained stable sales in a market that remained challenging; maintained stable sales in a market that remained challenging; F.C.G.B's revenue declined due to the team's poorer performance in national cup competitions. FINANCIAL POSITION At 31 March 2018, Group equity totalled 691.4 million (662.3 million at 31 December 2017) with a net cash position of 39.0 million (net debt of 28.3 million at 31 December 2017). DIVIDEND AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING The Combined General Meeting convened today will notably be asked to approve the payment3 of a dividend of 0.95 per share in respect of the 2017 financial year. The increase of 0.10 in relation to the dividend paid for 2016 reflects the Group's solid financial performance over recent years, with a yield of 4.4% based on the 2017 closing price. The Combined General Meeting will also vote on: the appointment of 3 new members: Bert Habets, CEO of RTL Group, to replace Guillaume de Posch, who has resigned; Marie Cheval, Executive Director Customers, Services and Digital Transformation of Carrefour Group, as an independent member and to replace Delphine Arnault; Nicolas Houze, CEO of Galeries Lafayette and BHV Marais, as an independent member and to replace Guy de Panafieu; the reappointments of Vincent de Dorlodot, General Counsel of RTL Group, and Anke Schaferkordt, CEO of Mediengruppe RTL Deutschland; the ratification of the appointment of Cecile Frot-Coutaz, CEO of FremantleMedia, to replace Christopher Baldelli, now Vice-Chairman of the Executive Board in charge of Radio and News (excl. magazines). The Supervisory Board will therefore be made up of 42% independent members and 50% female members, making the Group compliant with the AFEP-MEDEF Code and the provisions relative to the "balanced representation of men and women on boards of directors and supervisory boards and gender equality in the workplace" provided for by Article L.225-69-1 of the French Commercial Code. Neuilly sur Seine, 19 April 2018 Next release: Half-year financial information on 24 July 2018 after close of trading M6 Metropole Television is listed on Euronext Paris, Compartment A Ticker: MMT, ISIN Code: FR0000053225 3 Last trading day with dividend rights: 15 May 2018 Ex-dividend date: 16 May 2018 Payment date: 18 May 2018 APPENDIX CHANGES TO M6 GROUP'S SEGMENT REPORTING The main changes to M6 Group's segment reporting are as follows: Creation of a Radio segment, Integration of M6 Web's "Channels/New Media" (6play) branch into the Television segment, Strengthening of the Production and Distribution of Audiovisual Rights segment with the two TV production companies (Studio 89 and C Productions) and the online content production subsidiary (Golden Network), Going forward, the Group will solely publish revenue and EBITA figures for the following 4 segments: Television (free-to-air channels M6, W9 and 6ter; pay-TV channels Paris Premiere, Teva, etc.; on-demand TV 6play); Radio (radio stations RTL, RTL2 and FUN RADIO; on-demand radio podcasts); Production Distribution of Audiovisual Rights (film production, TV production, web production and distribution of audiovisual rights); Diversification (distance selling, other online revenues, interaction division, M6 Creations and Girondins de Bordeaux). View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006458/en/ Contacts: M6 Metropole Television INVESTOR RELATIONS Eric Ghestemme, +33 (0)1 41 92 59 53 eric.ghestemme@m6.fr or PRESS Anne-Sophie Aubree, +33 1 41 92 66 22 asaubree@m6.fr Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: MC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that results from rock and soil samples taken as part of the initial phase of the work program recently launched on its exploration licenses ("Els") at Bujagali have resulted in the discovery of a new Cobalt ("Co") and Copper ("Cu") anomaly delineated by both soil and rock samples (named the 'Waragi Target'). The results of soil and rock samples collected from the Waragi Target have delineated a well-defined cobalt and copper anomaly which is at present approximately 750 metres by 550 metres and open to the North East. Both infill sampling and a grid extension have been completed to better define the anomaly, and to delineate its full extent, with results anticipated shortly. Following which, the Company will move into large-scale trenching and targeted drilling to test mineralization at depth. Soil samples which form the anomaly comprise: 56 samples with more than 100 parts per million cobalt ("ppm Co") including six samples with between 212 and 626 ppm Co; and, 37 samples with more than 100 ppm copper including seven samples with between 160 and 547 ppm Cu. In addition to the soil samples, 23 rock grab samples contain anomalous cobalt (0.11 percent ("%") Co to 1.24% Co) and, 19 rock samples contain anomalous copper (0.1% to 0.4% Cu). Anomalous rock samples are hydrothermal breccias and altered meta-sediments. Maps providing more details on the results can be found on the Company's web site: www.m2cobalt.com/index.php/projects/bujagali. Table 1 below shows the rock grab sample highlights. Table 1 - Rock Grab Sample Highlights - Waragi Target Rock Grab Sample ID Cobalt (%)* Copper (%)* P869122 1.24% 0.4% P870617 0.66% 0.28% P869142 0.54% 0.38% P869817 0.54% 0.31% P869132 0.52% 0.34% P869134 0.52% 0.24% P871126 0.48% 0.33% P869131 0.48% 0.27% P869818 0.40% 0.25% P869143 0.39% 0.27% P869138 0.38% 0.19% P869822 0.30% 0.13% *Rock grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. All samples were sent to ALS Chemex South Africa (Pty) Ltd., an independent and fully accredited laboratory in South Africa ("ALS") for analysis for gold multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy ("ICP"). The Company also has a regimented Quality Assurance, Quality Control ("QA/QC") program where at least 10% duplicates and blanks are inserted into each sample shipment. Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Company's Technical Advisor and exploration program manager stated, "With this discovery, we now have multiple targets to advance with trenching and drilling, in addition to our ongoing property-scale exploration within our other Licenses at Bujagali and our Kilembe area properties. These are very positive results at this stage of our program and we look forward to taking the next steps towards fully understanding the extent of these opportunities." Simon Clarke, CEO stated, "We are very pleased with the size of our early discoveries and the grades of cobalt and associated metals that we are defining at our Bujagali properties. We look to advance these discoveries to the next stage as expeditiously as possible." About M2Cobalt M2 Cobalt Corp. is focused on discovering and developing world class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. The Company has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. The Company has a highly experienced management team and board of directors which has been involved in funding and advancing resource projects globally. The Company also owns licenses over 2,800 hectares of land in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. Further information on the Company and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For further information, contact Simon Clarke at sclarke@m2cobalt.com or Andy Edelmeier at andy@m2cobalt.com. On behalf of the Board, M2 COBALT CORP. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to exploration work to be undertaken in Uganda, the reliability of third party information, and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. NEW YORK CITY (dpa-AFX) - Checkout the few notable companies that are scheduled to release quarterly financial results on Thursday, April 19, 2018. KeyCorp. (KEY) is slated to release its Q1 financial results before the bell today. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect earnings of $0.38 per share on revenue of $1.56 billion for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude certain special items. Year-Ago Numbers: * Net income from cont. ops. - $296 mln * EPS from cont. ops. - $0.27 * Adj. EPS - $0.32 * Total revenue - $1.51 bln. Recently, KeyBank said it has entered into a definitive agreement to sell Key Insurance & Benefits Services Inc. to USI Insurance Services. KeyBank acquired Key Insurance & Benefits Services Inc. as part of the 2016 merger with First Niagara Financial Group. ** Nucor Corp. (NUE) is due to release its Q1 results before the bell on Thursday, April 19. Analysts polled by Thomson Reuters expect earnings of $1.09 per share on revenue of $5.44 billion for the quarter. Analysts' estimates typically exclude certain special items. Q1 Guidance * Sees Q1 EPS of $1.00 - $1.05. * Expects adj. Results to be better than the previous year. * Expects steel mills segment earnings to be improved versus Q4 of 2017. * Expects decreased earnings in steel products segment in Q1 versus Q4 of 2017 due to typical seasonality. * Expects Q1 earnings in raw materials segment to improve over Q4 of 2017. Year-Ago Numbers: * Net income - $356.9 mln * EPS - $1.11 * Net sales - $4.82 bln. ** Philip Morris International Inc. (PM) intends to release its Q1 financial results before the bell today, with Wall Street analysts projecting earnings of $0.90 per share on revenue of $7.04 billion for the quarter. Q1 Guidance * Still sees Q1 EPS of about $0.87. Year-Ago Numbers: * Net income - $1.59 bln * EPS - $1.02. * Adj. EPS - $0.98 * Net revenues - $16.6 bln. Reaffirms FY18 Outlook * Still sees FY18 EPS of $5.20 - $5.35, versus $3.88 in 2017. * Still projects adj. EPS of about $0.16 versus $4.72 in 2017; Consensus - $5.27/Shr. ** Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Dr. Stephen Campbell, Principal Scientist at Nano One (TSXV: NNO) (OTC Pink: NNOMF) (FSE: LBMB), announced today that Nano One has developed coating technology that stabilizes cathodes for use in advanced lithium ion batteries and has applied for patent protection related to this coating technique. "The innovation applies a coating to particles of cathode material without adding steps to our process," explained Dr. Campbell, "and this reduces degradation and resistance between the cathode and the electrolyte in lithium ion batteries. We are encouraged by the preliminary results of our findings as this could help solve long-standing degradation mechanisms, enable energy dense battery designs, and increase the number of times that a battery can be recharged over its lifetime." Figure 1: Nano One Coating Process To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: https://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3606/34129_a1524110455273_13.jpg "The improvements are pronounced under warmer operating conditions, such as those seen in electric vehicles," added Dr. Campbell. "This is particularly suited to the commercialization of high energy and high voltage cathode materials, where the elimination or reduction of cobalt requires alternatives to enhance stability and durability." These advances have now enabled Nano One to increase its collaborative work with European and Asian commercial interests in the automotive supply chain, with the aim of developing materials for next generation solid state batteries. A detailed and technical explanation of the opportunity is provided below. A stable, ion conducting coating on the surface of Nano One's High Voltage Spinel (HVS) could solve interfacial problems for both liquid and solid ceramic electrolytes by inhibiting manganese dissolution in liquids and increasing conductivity with solid state electrolytes. Nano One has developed two types of coatings that stabilize the cathode when cycled at 55C which could improve durability and stability without impacting capacity. HVS has attracted attention in the lithium battery supply chain for two reasons. Firstly, the material contains no cobalt and based on cobalt supply constraints, HVS could reduce supply risk. The material contains primarily manganese and a small portion of nickel, and thereby measurably lower costs. Secondly, HVS has the highest and one of the most constant discharge voltages, measuring 4.7 volts which offsets its lower capacity. HVS also has high rate capability, which means that it can be charged and discharged rapidly without losing capacity. On its own, HVS degrades rapidly when cycled at 55C which is a design criterion for electric vehicles. Also, charging and discharging at 4.7 volts may cause the degradation of common liquid electrolytes which are considered unstable above 4.2 volts. One solution to the electrolyte issue is to replace the liquid electrolyte with a solid polymer, glass or ceramic fast ion conductor. The Solid-State Electrolyte (SSE) makes dendritic cell failure and fire unlikely, and so enables the use of a lithium metal anode, replacing the bulky graphite with an ultra-thin anode and increasing the energy density of the cell. This solid-state design opens the opportunity for a safer, denser and high voltage lithium ion cell. Ceramic fast ion conductors such as Li 3.25 Ge 0.25 P 0.75 S 4 (ref Kanno and Murayama J. Electrochem. Soc.;148(2001) A742) can have lithium conductivities as high as current liquid electrolyte. Unfortunately, the physics of the HVS/SSE interface creates a highly resistive layer and high ionic conductivity is not realized when cells are constructed. Nano One has developed a coating that could increase ion conductivity with SSE's and passivate manganese dissolution in liquid electrolytes while reducing electrolyte instability above 4.2 volts. This innovation has led Nano One to apply for patent protection. CEO Dan Blondal added "We are encouraged by this innovation and we believe this technology could be of similar value to nickel-rich low-cobalt NMC's where instabilities, voltage limitations and degradation are preventing commercial adoption in lithium ion batteries. Work initiated with commercial interests is growing and will focus on the integration of these materials with other advances in high energy and solid-state batteries. We look forward to sharing progress on these initiatives as they develop in the future." Nano One Materials Corp. Dan Blondal, CEO For information with respect to Nano One or the contents of this news release, please contact John Lando (President) at (604) 669-2701 or visit the website at www.nanoone.ca. About Nano One: Nano One Materials Corp ("Nano One" or "the Company") is developing patented technology for the low-cost production of high performance battery materials used in electric vehicles, energy storage, consumer electronics and next generation batteries. The processing technology addresses fundamental supply chain constraints by enabling wider raw materials specifications for use in lithium ion batteries. The process can be configured for a range of different nanostructured materials and has the flexibility to shift with emerging and future battery market trends and a diverse range of other growth opportunities. The novel three-stage process uses equipment common to industry and Nano One has built a pilot plant to demonstrate high volume production and has preliminary engineering plans in place for full scale production of a range of cathode materials. This pilot plant program is being funded with the assistance and support of the Government of Canada through Sustainable Development Technology Canada (SDTC) and the Automotive Supplier Innovation Program (ASIP) a program of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canada (ISED). Nano One also receives financial support from the National Research Council of Canada Industrial Research Assistance Program (NRC-IRAP). Nano One's mission is to establish its patented technology as a leading platform for the global production of a new generation of nanostructured composite materials. For more information, please visit www.nanoone.ca Certain information contained herein may constitute "forward-looking information" under Canadian securities legislation. Forward-looking information includes, but is not limited to, statements with respect to the actual receipt of the grant monies, the execution of the Company's plans which are contingent on the receipt of such monies and the commercialization of the Company's technology and patents. Generally, forward-looking information can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as 'believe', 'expect', 'anticipate', 'plan', 'intend', 'continue', 'estimate', 'may', 'will', 'should', 'ongoing', or variations of such words and phrases or statements that certain actions, events or results "will" occur. Forward-looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management as of the date such statements are made and they are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause the actual results, level of activity, performance or achievements of the Company to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements or forward-looking information. Although management of the Company has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements or forward-looking information, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that is incorporated by reference herein, except as required by applicable securities laws. NEITHER THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS NEWS RELEASE LONDON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Excellent design and technical innovations: Istanbul New Airport announces modernistic hotel, to enhance passenger experience IGA, the constructer and operator of Istanbul New Airport (INA) for 25 years, and YOTEL, the London based hotel group, have signed an exclusive hotel management contract. The hotel will be one of the biggest airport hotels in the world with both airside and landside access to 451 rooms. Located conveniently inside the main terminal building, it will be easily accessible to business and leisure travellers, airline crew and businesses within the airport and local environment. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678765/YOTEL_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678764/IGA_Logo.jpg ) "We are delighted to have chosen YOTEL as our new airport's exclusive air and landside hotel operator," says Kadri Samsunlu, CEO of IGA Airport Operation. "We are making history with Istanbul New Airport. Already in its construction phase, the multiple-world record breaking project is likely to change the transportation and aviation dynamics of a tri-continent region covering Europe, Asia and Africa. In this connection, Istanbul New Airport will accelerate the growth of Turkish Airlines, the flag carrier airline of the Republic of Turkey which flies to the most countries in the world. Our focus is to bring an unprecedented passenger experience that is efficient and stress-free, cutting waiting time and paper processing. YOTEL will contribute to our perfect passenger experience approach with unique innovative, elemental luxury and technologically decked space. I am very confident that Istanbul New Airport will be a global showcase, not only for the world-renowned Turkish hospitality, but also a brand-new bridge, which connects people and continents.The inauguration of the New Airport is scheduled for October 29 this year and we look forward to hosting the world!" The capacity of INA will be expanded to cater up to 200 million people once all four phases are completed and will have a total of six runways and three terminals. INA will connect over 350 destinations from Istanbul and host nearly 100 airlines. Commenting on the brand's first investment in Turkey, Hubert Viriot, YOTEL's CEO says: "We've witnessed Turkey's, and particularly Istanbul's remarkable economic and urban development, transformation and its noticeably increased popularity over the past few years. Istanbul New Airport will only further increase Istanbul's ever-expanding popularity and economy, and YOTEL is delighted to be a part of it. The prevailing ambitious vision to make Istanbul New Airport the largest transit hub in the world made it very attractive for us to be there, and we are extremely honoured to be chosen for this exciting project. This city aspires to high growth success, just like YOTEL, so we are a perfect match." Continuing, Viriot says, "Istanbul is an unbelievably vibrant city. As a UNESCO World Heritage Site, it touts a surplus of historical and cultural offerings, rendering Istanbul the fifth most visited city in the world. What is more, it has one of the fastest-growing metropolitan economies in the world, a solid reason to open even more hotels there in the future." YOTEL will introduce its clever design and use of technology in two zones - one airside (102 rooms) and one landside (349 rooms). Both parts of the new hotel will feature public spaces including YOTEL's signature Club Lounge concept with smart vending, co-working and relaxing areas, wellness centres and planted glazed atriums to connect people with nature. In addition, the landside zone will include a restaurant, bar and 24/7 gym. The new hotel will also feature flexible meeting spaces with seamless technology, ideal for small or large, formal and casual meetings, conveniently located for airport businesses and passengers alike. Founded on the values of quality, innovation and culture, Grundig is proud to announce it's partnership with world renowned chef, Massimo Bottura Grundig, Europe's leading full range manufacturer of home electronics, is pleased to announce Michelin star chef and gastronomic leader, Massimo Bottura, as its inaugural brand ambassador. In his new role as Grundig's official brand ambassador, Bottura will be working closely with the company to further their shared vision around quality, innovation and culture helping make homes and the world a better place. The chef and patron of Osteria Francescana, who is recognised as one of the world's most influential creative geniuses by The New York Times, will be putting his knowledge of food and the arts to use, collaborating with Grundig to design a range of home and consumer appliances. Taking influence from his passion for music and art, the bespoke products will be launched later in the year and will utilise the latest in technology and innovation, coupled with the refined design Grundig is known for. The ambassadorship was announced at Grundig's Respect Food event supporting the cultural association, Food for Soul, founded by Bottura. Food for Soul aims to empower communities, through their community kitchens, known as refretterios to help raise awarenes of the global issue of food waste. The event, held in the exclusive Castello Sforzesco in Milan, helped raise awareness of Food Soul and funds to support future projects. Lending their support and providing a live cooking demonstration at the event included renowned chefs, Andrea Berton (Berton, Milan), Enrico Cerea (Da Vittorio, Bergamo), Carlo Cracco (Cracco in Galleria, Milan), Antonio Guida (Silk, Mandarin Oriental Hotel Milano), Giancarlo Morelli (Pomiroeu, Monza), Matias Perdomo (Contraste, Milan) and Viviana Varese (Alice Eataly, Milan Hakan Bulgurlu, CEO of Arcelik parent company of Grundig, commented on the partnership: "Social responsibility and sustainability go hand-in-hand for us at Grundig and is at the heart of our business. We are driven by enhancing people's lives and making home and the world a better place to be through our products and projects. Having a world-renowned chef, such as Massimo, who also shares this passion and ethos, makes him the ideal fit to be our brand ambassador. Our team of engineers are looking forward to working closely with Massimo to develop high quality and innovative products." Massimo Bottura, Michelin star chef and founder of cultural association, Food for Soul, said: "I'm looking forward to working side-by-side with Grundig on new ideas to develop projects and products that are able to really make a difference and find solutions to make our homes and our world a better place" About Food for Soul Food for Soul is a cultural organisation founded by chef Massimo Bottura that fights against food waste in support of social inclusion and individual well-being. The organisation began with the Refettorio Ambrosiano in Milan during Expo2015 with subsequent projects launched in Brazil (Refettorio Gastromotiva) as well as Modena (Social Tables Ghirlandina) and Bologna (Social Tables Antoniano) in Italy and recently in Paris (Refettorio Paris). Each unique project shares the common themes of using surplus food, working with artists to create engaging dining spaces and serving dishes to vulnerable local communities. www.foodforsoul.it About Grundig Grundig is part of Arcelik A.S, the leading home appliances manufacturer of Koc Group, a Fortune Global 500 company. With over 70 years experience in the home electronics market, Grundig has become known for its high-quality products and a customer-focused approach. Upon entering the white goods market, Grundig became one of Europe's sole full-range manufacturer of home electronics. The brand remains true to its brand attributes including its German heritage, user-friendly and elegant design, eco-consciousness, high standards and quality control. With a portfolio of more than 500 different products ranging from OLED TVs, mobile audio devices, hair styling devices, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances to ovens, dishwashers and washing machines the brand offers a solution for every room in the modern home. Accolades received by Grundig include the Product Design, Red Dot Design and Plus X Awards. The brand has won critical acclaim from Stiftung Warentest, a leading global testing institute in Germany and the Trusted Reviews, an independent UK testing organization. Grundig products are mainly produced in own production sites in Europe and marketed in more than 65 countries around the world. About Respect Food At Grundig, we feel that it's our responsibility to lead the fight against food waste. To remind the world not to take food for granted, but to treat it with care. Because respecting food is the only way to make our earth the best home to be. As a global brand with a strong eco conscience, by adopting Respect Food initiative, we champion the cause of reducing the food waste. Our Respect Food initiative aims to inspire everyone to fight with food waste, to instruct how to tackle the waste in the kitchens with innovative products. Respect Food supports and develops several projects focused on sustainability, engaging internationally to increase awareness and fight against food waste. Everyone should respect the food resources available to be able to enjoy it responsibly: this is the reason why Grundig is committed to design products with innovative technologies, able to extend the shelf-life of food while ensuring a lower waste of resources. www.respectfood.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005533/en/ Contacts: Text100 Hanna Kilpin, +44 (0) 7834 439926 Hanna.Kilpin@text100.com On April 12, 2018 Terrada Music Score Co., Ltd. ("Terrada Music Score") launched its online GVIDO Music Score Store, compatible with its GVIDO dual-screen e-paper music score device (the "digital music score device"), for the European market. This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005544/en/ DMS-W1 (Photo: Business Wire) Discussing the GVIDO released in December 2017, Fujio Noguchi, president of Terrada Music Score said, "GVIDO has already received feedback from many musicians and is constantly working to expand its services to meet their expectations through improvements in functionality, through device version updates and through retail sales of digital music scores in cooperation with music score publishers." GVIDO has also garnered strong reviews not only for its technical specifications, but for design as well, and on April 9 was named a recipient of Germany's globally prestigious Red Dot Design Award. Participating publishers in the European iteration of the GVIDO Music Score Store being launched this time include, in addition to Hal Leonard, Schott Music, AMA and IEU, which will make more digital music scores available for purchase. "We're happy to add GVIDO to our increasing number of digital distribution channels" said Dr. Peter Hanser-Strecker, President of Schott Music. "It is a wonderful music score device for fans of our catalogue all around the world." DETLEF KESSLER, President of AMA commented that, "We are looking forward to taking this step into the digital future together with Terrada Music Score. The GVIDO tablet makes it even easier for many musicians to play our music". Pricing for the GVIDO is 1,700. The optional GVIDO Foot Switch is 320 and the GVIDO Genuine Leather Case is 320 (Exclusive of VAT) Please update the software to latest version 1.2.0. Follow this link for detailed GVIDO specifications: https://www.gvido.tokyo/ Digital music scores purchased in the music score store are stored in the online My Library and can be transferred to the GVIDO digital music score device via wireless LAN. Notes and bookmarks added to the score via the digital music score device can also be stored and shared via My Library. GVIDO will continue to add more publishers providing digital music scores in the Music Score Store moving forward. *Sharing function is slated for introduction with the mid-2018 software update. Some functions are fee-based. *Be sure to keep your software updated to the newest version. Follow the links below to purchase the GVIDO device and access the GVIDO Music Score Service. https://fr.gvidoscore.com/, https://de.gvidoscore.com/, https://it.gvidoscore.com/, https://es.gvidoscore.com/, https://uk.gvidoscore.com/. GVIDO was named as a mark of respect to Guido d'Arezzo, who devised the foundations of musical notation in the early 11th century. About Terrada Music Score Terrada Music Score Co., Ltd. is a technology startup established in 2015 and based in Tokyo, Japan. Terrada Music Score is dedicated to providing musicians with the latest innovations in the digital music score market. About AMA Verlag GmbH Uhlstrae 19-23, D-50321 Bruhl Germany https://www.ama-verlag.de/index.php/language/en/ For more than 25 years, the publishing house AMA has been producing teaching literature of the highest quality together with world-class musicians. Whether guitar or piano, flute or drums, rock, pop, jazz or classical, beginners or already advanced with us you will find the suitable textbook for countless instruments, many musical styles and every level! About Faber Music Ltd Bloomsbury House 74-77 Great Russell Street UK London WC1B 3DA http://www.fabermusic.com/ Faber Music was founded in 1965, as a sister company to the distinguished book publisher Faber Faber, for the principal purpose of publishing the music of Benjamin Britten. It now enjoys a world-wide reputation as one of the leading independent British publishers of classical, contemporary, educational and media music. Since 2005 Faber Music has moved into Rock Pop, releasing top selling album songbooks by artists such as Amy Winehouse, Arctic Monkeys, Muse, Radiohead, Kasabian and Robbie Williams. About IEU(Edition Impronta UG) Feldbergstrae 18, D-68163 Mannheim, Germany http://edition-impronta.com "Impronta Edition UG is a young publishing house for contemporary music and arrangements. Our vision is a fair publishing market in which composer, publisher and musician act as partners to regain the cultural and personality-building relevance of contemporary music. We believe that our high quality sheet music, honest teamwork with the composers and our customer-oriented flexibility can shake up the market, free it from outdated structures, and modernise it. The collaboration with GVIDO is one big step towards the future of music performance." SCHOTT MUSIC GmbH Co. KG Weihergarten 5 55116 Mainz Germany https://en.schott-music.com/ Schott Music is one of the world's leading music publishers with subsidiaries in ten countries. Family-owned since 1770, the company, including its own printing house and the largest music distribution centre in Europe, offers products and services covering all aspects of music. The product range of Schott Music, comprising performance and teaching literature, urtext editions, concert and opera literature, study scores, complete editions, books on music, specialist magazines, audio recordings and multimedia products, influences all areas of musical life. One of the focal points of the publishing programme of Schott Music is the publication of works by contemporary composers of the 20th and 21st centuries. For more information, visitwww.schott-music.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005544/en/ Contacts: For Sales and Media Inquiries, contact TRANSCOSMOS (UK) LIMITED for Terrada Music Score Marco Bensa cs-uk@gvidoscore.com MUNICH, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ipan group, one of the leading providers of IP management services and software announced today that Lenovo has selected ipan group for its patent annuity maintenance. Commenting on the announcement, Charles Dixon, Global Legal Systems Patent Project Manager at Lenovo, said, "We are delighted to work together with ipan group. We needed a trusted and reliable partner for our patent annuities that offered flexibility, transparency and extremely competitive fees". "While the decision to migrate from our previous supplier was primarily driven by cost, the seamless integration with our IPfolio IPMS tool was another key argument for Lenovo to go hand in hand with ipan," continued Dixon. Jens Lutcke, CEO ipan group, said, "Announcing Lenovo as a client really endorses the compelling value that ipan brings to the market with its combined software and services proposition, with full integration of ipan services into IPfolio through our recently launched ip-x-change platform. Lenovo is another excellent example of a major global brand trusting ipan." About ipan group ipan group (Intellectual Property Associates Network), is a leading provider of IP management services and software, supporting the largest IP owners around the globe. Founded in 2004, ipan is a strategic alliance of renowned IP experts committed to providing clients a level of quality, transparency and cost savings not available through any other source in the IP market. In 2016, ipan became ipan group with the acquisition of IPMS provider Unycom, followed by IPSS in early 2017. In late 2017, ipan group announced it had acquired a significant minority stake in U.S.-based IPfolio, the provider of next-generation IP management software. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, with offices in Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Serbiaand the United States, the company's disruptive approach to optimizing process and cost has made it the solution of choice for the largest IP owners and one of the world's fastest growing IP service and software companies. For more information on ipan group, please visit www.ipan-services.com For more information on the ip-x-change, please visit www.ip-x-change.com For more information on IPfolio, please visit www.ipfolio.com Godfrey Ryan Global Head of Sales & Marketing Email: GRyan@ipan.eu Phone: +44 7495 38 66 77 About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a U.S. $43 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode YOGA brands), workstations, servers, storage, smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Moto brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Lenovo) or visit us at www.lenovo.com. Disclaimer This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In most cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of such terms or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve significant assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. Animals are all over the internet in many different forms such as cute photos, memes, news stories and so on. We love these furry hair balls SO much that... 4 years ago Grundig, Europe's sole full range manufacturer of home electronics, continues to redefine kitchen design, with its latest range combining cutting edge kitchen technology and breath-taking design. UNLEASH YOUR GOURMET CAPABILITIES WITH GRUNDIG'S GOURMET CHEF OVEN This press release features multimedia. View the full release here: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005580/en/ (Photo: Grundig) Grundig's Gourmet Chef Oven makes cooking elaborate, delicious meals easier than ever before. The oven's intuitive design and innovative technology combine to simplify cooking and cleaning processes, inspire culinary creativity, and produce exquisite results. Equipped with advanced connected technologies and sensors, it allows users to precisely control the temperature of their food as it cooks to ensure the best results. This includes a high temperature moisture sensor, a temperature control sensor and BLDC motor, an integrated camera and a multipoint meat probe. Cleaning up after your culinary creation couldn't be easier for users, with the oven fitted with advanced automatic self cleaning, including water and high-pressure steam cleaning, The Gourmet Chef elegant and sophisticated design goes hand-in-hand with advanced cooking technology, including 7" Touch TFT Display that allows users to control the in-oven smart functions, for easy monitoring and adjustments to the cooking process. Users can take advantage of the full range of the Gourmet Chef Oven's features, through recipe ideas and 75 automatic programmes tailored to specific dishes, all developed by professional chefs. GRUNDIG FLEXISMART YOUR PERSONAL SOUS-DE-CHEF CUISINE Grundig's FlexiSmart Induction Hob has the power to take over cooking using sensor technology. Fitted with the latest sensor technology and housed within a ceramic glass exterior, the 80cm FlexiSmart Induction Hob is designed to help users recreate restaurant worthy dishes at home. Users can browse an autocook menu on the intuitive-to-use touchscreen TFT providing easy access to a range of recipes and step-by-step guides. With the ability to recognise the exact temperature and adjust to help users see better cooking results and preventing accidents such as spilling over or burning food. Known as the world's first sous-vide cooking induction hob, users are left to focus on the joy of cooking while the FlexiSmart Induction Hob takes care of the details. GRUNDIG'S VIRTUAL USER EXPERIENCE TECHNOLOGY (VUX) HUB Virtual User Experience Technology (VUX) Hub is set to completely revolutionise kitchens. Relaunched last year with the latest in cutting edge technology, the system transforms an ordinary countertop into an interactive and stylish control making it a must for any modern home. Using a projector, displayed onto the kitchen counter by a projector in the hood, the highly sophisticated control panel blends seamlessly into the worktop, removing any physical knobs and buttons to provide a more hygienic and easy to clean surface, as well as appealing to the style conscious. Grundig's latest generation VUX Hub now features a brighter, higher resolution interface, hidden induction hood, wireless control of smaller kitchen appliances and more cooking zones than ever FRESHNESS AND COOLING DESIGNED TO FIT Freshness has a new home, with Grundig's Professional Design Built-In Refrigerators. Featuring a stainless-steel interior, Grundig's professional refrigerator range takes the concept of symphony and harmony and combines it with the flawless elegance that Grundig is known for. Fitted with CustomFresh+ technology, Grundig's Professional Design Refrigerator has special compartments with an adjustable temperature range that enables food to remain fresh for three times longer than standard refrigerators. Users who enjoy entertaining will also benefit from the refrigerators' large capacity and built-in wine cooler. Grundig's Professional Design Refrigerator complements the brand's new built-in refrigerator range, designed to complement the kitchen aesthetic. GRUNDIG BUILT-IN HOODS RANGE Elegant in design, Grundig's premium hood range features the unique Induction Air System, a space saving innovation combining an induction hob and a hood together, in a single appliance. Allowing kitchen designers not to be confined to the traditional hood over hob model, this innovation provides users with a cleaner, modern aesthetic for their kitchen. Grundig's built-in hood range boosts an impressive A+ energy rating and helps to control energy consumption in the home by offering outstanding ventilation solutions. Eliminating food odour the ranges use a touch sensitive control LED display, with a unique feature that minimises noise, awarding the product with an A sound quality certificate. A WASHING SYSTEM TO REACH EVERY CORNER Grundig's latest dishwashing technology,the innovative Corner Wash system, ensures that every surface of the dishwasher's contents is cleaned until spotless. Powered by a three-spray arm and specially designed nozzles, the Corner Wash system ensures that, corners are never missed and all food is thoroughly cleaned off each dish perfectly, even stubborn stains. Grundig's latest dishwashing range also features the unique odour removal dishwasher. Fitted with Grundig's IonFresh technology, bad odours are removed without harmful gases or chemicals, enabling users to have a healthy, happy home. CONNECTED TO YOUR SMART HOME Taking strength from its innovation capabilities, Grundig is committed to leaving behind a smart and sustainable future for next generations. Grundig has partnership with Amazon in order to provide consumers with the household goods they need, when they need them. Partnership includes participation in Amazon's Dash Replacement Service (DRS), which means that Grundig's connected dishwashers are now able to automatically reorder detergent and rinse aid supplies as consumers need. Users will be able to control their Grundig HomeWhiz appliances through Amazon Alexa, turning these appliances on and off, pre-heating the oven and monitoring the progress of washing simply by asking. Grundig's HomeWhiz app allows users to control the Grundig products from a tablet, phone or Smart TV, meaning that users can monitor and manage their appliances no matter where they are. HomeWhiz allows users to remotely change and monitor things such as their washing programmes or hood ranges settings, as well as receiving alerts. Users can also develop customised settings, creating a digital ecosystem that fits around lifestyles and through Program Download can download many programs in line with their needs. ENDS Press Contacts For more information, please visit the Grundig press centre here. ABOUT GRUNDIG Grundig is part of Arcelik A.S, the leading home appliances manufacturer of Koc Group, a Fortune Global 500 company. Being on the market for over 70 years, Grundig enjoys over 90% brand awareness in the German market with its high-quality products and a customer-focused approach. Upon entering the German white goods market in 2013, Grundig has become one of Europe's sole full-range manufacturer of home electronics. The brand remains true to its brand attributes including its German heritage, user-friendly and elegant design, eco-consciousness, high standards and quality control. With a portfolio of more than 500 different products ranging from OLED TVs, mobile audio devices, hair styling devices, vacuum cleaners and kitchen appliances to ovens, dishwashers and washing machines the brand offers a solution for every room in the modern home. Accolades received by Grundig include the Product Design, Red Dot Design and Plus X Awards. The brand has won critical acclaim from Stiftung Warentest, a leading global testing institute in Germany and the Trusted Reviews, an independent UK testing organization. Grundig products are mainly produced in own production sites in Europe and marketed in more than 65 countries around the world. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005580/en/ Contacts: Grundig Hanna Kilpin, +44 (0) 7834 439926 Hanna.Kilpin@text100.com BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - French stocks were marginally higher on Thursday as investors digested a slew of earnings reports and looked ahead to the 2018 Spring Meetings of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank Group (WBG). Warning of rising threats to world financial system, the IMF said that markets are exposed to a sharp tightening in financial conditions, which could lead to a sudden unwinding of risk premiums and a repricing of risky assets. The benchmark CAC 40 index was little changed with a positive bias after rising half a percent on Wednesday. AccorHotels rose half a percent after reporting a rise in first-quarter revenue and sounding upbeat about 2018 prospects. Pernod Ricard shares declined half a percent. The spirts maker reported a drop in third-quarter net sales due to difficulties in Spain and France and unfavorable shipment phasing in Russia. Advertising group Publicis soared nearly 7 percent after its Q1 revenue growth topped forecasts. Schneider Electric rallied 2 percent after reaffirming its FY objectives. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Now Available For Download from Apple Store and Google Play Store and Installed with Leading U.S. Hospital System SANTA MONICA, CA / ACCESSWIRE / April 19, 2018 / Parallax Health Sciences, Inc. ("Parallax" or the "Company") (OTC PINK: PRLX), is an integrated digital healthcare company, focused on connected health technology-enabled, integrated care delivery products and services, on a proprietary platform, that allows for remote communication, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients. The Company is pleased to announce today that its wholly-owned subsidiary, Parallax Health Management, Inc. ("PHM"), has launched "FOTODIGM" powered mobile applications as part of its Good Health Outcomes Platform, the patented remote patient care ("RPC") and Telehealth technology platform that provides its clients with a solution to remote care's two biggest challenges; cost and patient adoption. To download the application visit: www.goodhealthoutcomes.com/good-health-outcomes "The recipe for remote patient monitoring success extends well beyond strategy and creative applications," stated Nathaniel Bradley, President and Chief Technology Officer of Parallax Health Management, Inc. "Parallax's FOTODIGM powered mobile applications are now available for IoS and Android phones and is a mobile application deployment of its Good Health Outcomes Platform and serves as the first mobile offering to deliver cross-platform and device agnostic secure point of care capture of patients' biometric and health data. FOTODIGM connects with core enterprise systems for the delivery of secure mobile patient data content; manages communications with patients, doctors and hospitals, as well as healthcare professionals. FOTODIGM mobile-enabled applications represent a core data capture and user adoption process used in the measurement, refinement, and interpretation of what is expected to quickly become millions of data points across multiple healthcare channels." FOTODIGM is founded on an application programming interface ("API") architecture and designed to be compatible with all electronic health record (EHR) systems. Additionally, FOTODIGM has been developed on architecture that captures data that is processed and presented to Parallax's behavioral augmented intelligence engine now known as the Intrinsic Code, Parallax's proprietary and central mechanism for aggregating and understanding patient behaviors across treatments, therapies and health-related regimens with the purpose of customizing contextual mobile user experiences and providing the information real-time to patients and their authorized caregivers. The new FOTODIGM mobile application and Parallax's patented Good Health Outcomes platform has been adopted and developed on customized specifications and has been contracted with and will be launched within one of the nations largest hospital groups in April of 2018. "We are proud of our team and the technologies we've created for Parallax as we begin to win key contracts with leading companies within healthcare. We will be announcing further details as we continue to prove out our technologies and product lines in the marketplace," added Paul Arena Chief Executive Officer of Parallax Health Sciences. "FOTODIGM is built for scale and will guide healthcare enterprise clients through the changing technology landscape while ensuring relevancy in the mobile remote patient monitoring (RPM) market. The connectivity with our Good Health Outcomes platform enables our applications to perform in a manner that is game-changing in our service delivery and at a price point that increases how much Telehealth and Remote Patient Care our customers can now afford to deploy in scale." Mr. Arena added, "Our market entrance comes at a time when the acceptance by healthcare insurance, Medicare, and Medicaid reimbursements for the procurement of telehealth and remote patient care solutions is increasing. Our pipeline of proprietary technology solutions we control and those we are developing at Parallax include our patented human diagnostics systems, Intrinsic Code behavioral augmented intelligence, our previously announced Blockchain initiative that will provide a secure architecture for our forthcoming digital health data marketplace and an industry first health data currency. These capabilities and features are precisely and specifically designed for our customers and are all capabilities that, with our very talented and proven team, have begun to propel our service and technology offerings well above and apart from all of our competitors' offerings. We will continue to develop and manage our lead in innovative new and comprehensive remote patient care systems with a focus on patient population management and further focal effort on solving for comprehensive remote patient care technologies for the use in chronic disease management to effectuate good health outcomes." The FOTODIGM Mobile Healthcare Platform industry-first combination of features and functions include: Appliance SaaS and Managed Service Models Machine Face Recognition - data capture from any approved device. API/Web Service Architecture Device Detection and Content Rendering Secure Mobile User Authentication Mobile Web Mobile Apps Tracking & Analytics -- Potential access to millions of consumer records for data mining and health industry corroboration while maintaining HIPPA compliance EMR and EHR - Electronic Medical Record Management System Integration HTML5 CSS3 Location Awareness Sampling Co-Pay Solutions & Reimbursement Solutions Medicine Prescription Compliance Tracking Patent Pending Behavioral Augmented Intelligence - Intrinsic Code HIPAA Compliance Additionally, the board of directors of the Company has determined that the previously contemplated spin-off of the wholly-owned subsidiary, RoxSan Pharmacy operations is not in the best interests of the shareholders at this time. Technologies processes and methods discussed herein are protected all or in part by patents and patents pending in the United States and Internationally. US Patents and Applications US9573990,US9588114, US8920725, US9170258, US12/769036, US14/492641, US14/979742, US14/979889, US14/212429, Granted Foreign Assets: CN Z200780039901.X, HK 1137813, IN 279743, MO J001298 and all those but not limited to those patents and trademarks listed at www.goodhealthoutcomes.com/patents About Parallax Health Sciences, Inc. Parallax Health Sciences, Inc. ("Parallax" or the "Company") (OTC-Pink: PRLX), is an integrated digital healthcare company, focused on connected health technology-enabled, integrated care delivery products and services, on a proprietary platform, that allows for remote communication, diagnosis, treatment, and monitoring of patients. Parallax's novel applications patented interoperable point of care testing platforms, tests and devises, Augmented Reality driven data analytic information systems and a patent-pending patient monitoring platform is designed for the evolving needs of today's healthcare system stakeholders; patients, payers and providers. The Company is focused on personalized patient healthcare through its wholly owned subsidiaries, Parallax Health Management, Parallax Behavioral Health and Parallax Diagnostics. Please visit www.parallaxhealthsciences.com, www.parallaxhealthmanagement.com, www.parallaxdiagnostics.com, www.parallaxhealth.net Forward-Looking Statements This release includes forward-looking statements contained within Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements regarding Parallax's expected future financial position, results of operations, cash flows, financing plans, business strategy, products and services, competitive positions, growth opportunities, plans and objectives of management for future operations, as well as statements that include words such as "anticipate," "if," 'believe," "plan," "estimate," "expect," "intend," "may," "could," "should," "will," and other similar expressions, are forward-looking statements. All forward-looking statements involve risks, uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Parallax's control, which may cause actual results, performance, or achievements to differ materially from anticipated results, performance, or achievements. Factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include those set forth in Parallax's Form 10-K and other report filings with the SEC. Parallax is under no obligation to (and expressly disclaims any such obligation to) update or alter its forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. For more information email investorrelations@parallaxhealthsciences.com SOURCE: Parallax Health Sciences, Inc. GENEVA, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Former President of the World Hepatitis Alliance brings two decades of experience in public health, patient advocacy and coalition-building to the organisation The Medicines Patent Pool (MPP) Governance Board today announced the appointment of Charles Gore, founder and former President of the World Hepatitis Alliance, as new MPP Executive Director. Mr. Gore succeeds Greg Perry, Executive Director of the organisation from 2013-2017. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/492480/MPP_Logo.jpg ) Mr. Gore brings to the MPP two decades of work as an advocate for hepatitis C patients and better treatment alternatives. He established the World Hepatitis Alliance in 2007 to raise awareness of viral hepatitis and, under his leadership, it worked with key countries on three World Health Assembly resolutions, culminating in the global agreement to eliminate viral hepatitis by 2030. The World Hepatitis Alliance has become the largest membership-based hepatitis patient group globally, with 250 member patient organisations from more than 90 nations. Mr. Gore also worked closely with the World Health Organization (WHO) as well as with HIV and tuberculosis constituencies and programmes. "We are pleased to welcome Charles to the MPP," said Marie-Paule Kieny, Chair of the MPP Governance Board. "With his strong leadership and management skills, Charles was a perfect choice to lead the MPP at this point in its history. With his support, we are confident that the MPP will succeed in its overall mission of improving access to medicines for millions of people in low- and middle-income nations." Mr. Gore was the first president of the European Liver Patients Association from 2004 to 2006. As a former hepatitis C patient, he co-founded The Hepatitis C Trust, the first United Kingdom-based charity for people living with hepatitis C and has been its Chief Executive Officer for the last 17 years. There, his advocacy with the National Health Service and government ministries on behalf of underserved and marginalized communities led the government to commit, in January 2018, to making England the first country in the world to eliminate hepatitis C. "We look forward to a strong partnership between Unitaid and the MPP under Charles Gore's leadership," said Unitaid's Executive Director Lelio Marmora. "Charles' courage, determination and vision will bring new energy to the MPP as it steps up its efforts to ensure access to new medicines." The MPP was founded and is funded by Unitaid. "I have been enormously impressed by the MPP's role in supporting efforts to make HIV, tuberculosis and hepatitis C medicines available in developing countries," said Mr. Gore. "So, I am delighted to be given the opportunity of working with the Board and staff to continue and grow that role." Mr. Gore takes the reins of the MPP at a crucial juncture. The MPP will announce its five-year strategic plan next month on the sidelines of the World Health Assembly. It will also release findings from its feasibility study on the potential expansion of its model to include patent medicines on the WHO Model List of Essential Medicines. The MPP has now signed licensing agreements with nine patent holders and 20 generic companies and product developers. Its generic partners have distributed 5.3 billion doses of medicines to 127 developing countries. About the Medicines Patent Pool The Medicines Patent Pool is a United Nations-backed public health organisation working to increase access to HIV, hepatitis C and tuberculosis treatments in low- and middle-income countries. Through its innovative business model, the MPP partners with industry, civil society, international organisations, patient groups and other stakeholders to prioritise, forecast and license needed medicines and pool intellectual property to encourage generic manufacture and the development of new formulations. To date, the MPP has signed agreements with nine patent holders for thirteen HIV antiretrovirals, two hepatitis C antivirals and a tuberculosis treatment. http://www.medicinespatentpool.org Hamburg (ots) - Being unavailable during a crisis situation is the greatest career ender for a communication professional. The second place is reserved for journalists who talk backhandedly about their superior. Those who prematurely release balance sheets also run the risk of endangering their PR career. This is the result of a survey performed by the dpa subsidiary news aktuell and Faktenkontor. Professionals and managerial representatives of German press offices and PR agencies were asked which factors can constitute a potential career ender. Nearly 990 communicators have participated in the PR-Trendmonitor.PR representatives who are unavailable during a corporate crisis can quickly bring their careers to an abrupt end. This was the opinion shared by over two thirds of the participants (68 percent).Another ill-advised career move: criticizing your own superior in front of media representatives (57 percent).One in three participants believed that the premature publication of balance sheets posed a threat to their career (32 percent).However, there are also factors, unrelated to personal misconduct, which can thwart one's career. As a result one third of the participants stated that part-time employment hampers potential career advancement (29 percent).Interestingly enough, only a slightly smaller portion of the participants believed that insisting on a full-time position could pose a threat to potential career advancement (29 percent).In comparison, only one in five participants believed paternal leave will effectively end one's career: 19 percent of the participants viewed paternal leave as a career ender.Equally Encouraging: Adopting a strong personal position hardly effects prospective career opportunities. Only every seventh communication professional feared displaying a clear position in front of colleagues, clients (15 percent) or their executives (14 percent).The greatest career enders in PR:1. Being unavailable during a crisis (68%) 2. Talking backhandedly about the boss with journalists (57%) 3. Publishing balance sheets prematurely (32%) 4. Working part-time (29%) 5. Accidentally releasing press materials prematurely (28%) 6. Insisting on the 40-hour working week (28%) 7. Taking paternity leave (19%) 8. Presenting oneself as the successor of the PR manager (17%) 9. Taking a clear stand against colleagues and customers (15%) 10. Excessively voicing one's own opinion as the management advisor (14%)Source: PR-Trendmonitor 2018 Data pool: 987 professionals and managerial representatives of press offices and PR agencies Method: Online survey, multiple choice Survey period: February 2018 Initiators of the survey: www.newsaktuell.de www.faktenkontor.deAbout news aktuell: With the help of its three strong brands ots, zimpel and studio, the dpa subsidary news aktuell is making the communication of companies and organisations increasingly efficient and successful. The network ots provides coverage and visibility for PR content. The PR software zimpel offers premium contacts for the direct correspondence with journalists. The production service studio creates engaging content and makes company stories tangible. news aktuell has been on the market since 1989 and currently employs over 185 people. The company is based in Hamburg. Additional offices are located in Berlin, Frankfurt, Munich and Dusseldorf.Contact: news aktuell GmbH Janina von Jhering Stellvertretende Leiterin Konzernkommunikation Telefon: +49 40/4113 - 32598 vonjhering@newsaktuell.de https://twitter.com/JvJhering DUBAI, UAE, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The Region's First Design Concept Hotel Partners with and Enters the Design Hotels Collection Smartotels Hospitality International is delighted to announce its partnership and membership with Design Hotels for its flagship property FORM Hotel Dubai, the only hotel in the Middle East certified in the Design Hotels collection. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678523/Form_Hotel.jpg ) (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679318/FORM_Hotel_Dubai.jpg ) Design Hotels is an exclusive portfolio of hand-selected privately owned and operated hotels around the globe, each with a unique character, personality and distinctive creative expression. Design Hotels unites properties that reflect the vision of independent hoteliers such as FORM Hotel Dubai. Representing the determination for genuine, culturally rooted hospitality, cutting-edge design and architecture, every chosen hotel is iconic and provides individual hotel experiences reflective of the passion of an independent hotelier. Serdar Kutucu, Executive Vice President Brand & Strategy at Design Hotels comments "We are thrilled to welcome FORM Hotel Dubai to our Design Hotels community. FORM is a member who will add incredible value to the imaginative spirit that shapes our brand. FORM embodies a local flavour that permeates the hotel landscape in Dubai and the Middle East and helps form the core of a long-term vision to provide unique hotel experiences for the design-savvy traveler of the 21st century. Its opening will pioneer the way in which design properties in the region can be independent, diverse and provide curated personal experiences for the hybrid traveler." FORM Hotel Dubai, the region's first upscale hotel designed by globally-renowned Architecture Studio, is an innovative and novel hospitality project for the Middle East aimed at providing all that a guest values, nothing they don't. With a strong visual art and design narrative, FORM Hotel Dubai presents a timeless environment built around brand essentials and customised add-ons, developed within the up-and-coming neighbourhood of Al Jadaf and Culture Village. Tarek M. Daouk, Founder and Managing Partner of Smartotels Hospitality adds, "It is an incredible honour to be recognized and accepted as a Design Hotels member. Design was at the core of FORM's concept, and was born out the need and demand for unique hotels providing distinctive experiences in Dubai. We strive to offer a niche product which is incomparable from a design and experience perspective. Design Hotels will provide us with the platform to engage with a global community of followers who seek original and personalized journeys." Instagram: form_hotel/ Facebook: @FORMHotelDubai -HERBS (Health Education and Research into Botanical Sciences), has announced the launch of a cannabis startup in Jamaica. -Why has it chosen to launch in Jamaica? KINGSTONG, JAMAICA / ACCESSWIRE / April 19, 2018 / has long been the global capital of cannabis culture, but the island is only beginning to enact decriminalization. With a hugely profitable worldwide market developing, it wants in on the economic benefits. Jamaica is working to support the first wave of legal cannabis producers and retailers. Many have expressed concerns that the country could be left behind the international legalization movement as most global investment has gone to home-grown startups. Anthony Bailey, a Canadian of Jamaican descent, is the CEO of HERBS says the company will be seed-to-sale integrated operation and already has plans to export. The company reports that Bailey has put in place a global growth plan and gained important tax incentives from the government. Property in Westmoreland region The Westmoreland region in Jamaica is well known for its Orange Hill area, where the climate, elevation and nutrient-rich soil help farmers to grow the highest quality cannabis in Jamaica. Savanna-la-Mar is the capital, and this is where the startup is located. It consists of many acres of land with reservoirs and canals for irrigation and access to the second largest river in the country. As a Special Economic Zone, it is a tax-free investment. The property will be protected with a perimeter wall, and CCTV will be installed. The first building to be constructed is a hybrid greenhouse, and the aim is to purchase an extraction machine later this year. A retail facility, Herb House, will accommodate about a hundred clients, who will be able to choose products and use them in a social setting. Great profits for startups and local economies Cannabis production is proving to be a highly profitable startup in other countries where net revenues of $500 million and profits of about $35 million are being reported with 7M grams to start per month. The new operation will create attractive new employment options and a chance for locals to earn higher wages. There are some challenges facing startups in Jamaica, but with the government relaxing laws, there is less red tape than there was before. The opportunity is also available to scale up as growth takes place and can be done in such a way that consistency isn't be compromised. Construction, cultivation and product creation The aim is to spend most of this year on construction and then to get the plants into the ground. Perfect Plant in Holland will provide the first tissue cultures to ensure crops of high quality are consistently grown. Jamaica may be regarded as a mecca for cannabis, but in recent decades many of the country's classic strains have faded as local breeders mixed genetics. After the plants are grown and harvested, 12-14 weeks will be spent on creating products for retail or export. Orange Hill trademarks will be used on the products. Import and export Plans are to export cannabis in the future and HERBS is already in possession of an LOI (Letter of Intent) with a First Nation minister to import and export that includes tax incentives. The potential in the Canada group is to import 720 million grams a year but getting a license will be key. International demand growing The owner of HERBs, David Berry, is putting together a capable, highly motivated board of directors. He is also in the process of establishing strategic connections with other businesses and entrepreneurs in the industry. Medical cannabis is likely to be the biggest driving force of growth, and one of the roles of HERBS will be to help educating people about its many health benefits. The illegal nature of cannabis restricted research for many years but recent clinical trials are beginning to show its great promise in the treatment of many serious conditions. With the international demand for high-quality products growing all the time due to changes in legislation, the booming cannabis industry shows no signs of slowing down. The operation in Jamaica is sure to benefit from the increasing use of medical cannabis worldwide. License approval The company is waiting for approval of a license. It will give it the right to cultivate, process, transport and sell cannabis products. It will also be able to do research and development. The Cannabis Licensing Authority has simplified applications for licenses because it realizes the benefits that operations like HERBS will bring to the economy. Contact Anthony Bailey Founder - Ceo http://herbsjm.com/ 4168358886 8765766629 Abailey@herbsjm.com SOURCE: HERBS Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Coro Mining Corp. (TSX: COP) ("Coro" or the "Company") is pleased to announce that it has concluded its strategic review which has identified a funding solution for SCM Berta and a decision to focus its strategy on advancing its flagship Marimaca project. Highlights Coro to focus on its flagship Marimaca project. With the objective of minimising future value dilution for Coro shareholders in relation to Marimaca, future funding for SCM Berta to be raised at the SCM Berta level, not the Coro corporate level. Binding term sheet agreed with Greenstone Resources to provide US$12 million financing to SCM Berta. Coro to retain a minimum 25% equity interest in SCM Berta following a further Greenstone investment. US$2 million convertible loan to Coro from Greenstone Resources to provide working capital for the Marimaca development strategy. Luis Tondo President and CEO of Coro, commented: "The strategic review has concluded that the Marimaca project offers significant upside potential and represents the greatest opportunity to create value for Coro shareholders. Consequently, the Board of Directors has agreed to focus on the exploration, further development and financing of this flagship project. The Company has agreed US$12m financing with Greenstone that will provide a long-term funding solution and future for the SCM Berta operations without financial recourse to Coro. Coro will retain an interest in the existing SCM Berta operation and will have the opportunity to participate in the future capital development of the project as it is further de-risked. With a renewed focus, we now look forward to completing the Feasibility Study and finalising the additional exploration plan for Marimaca, and will provide further updates to shareholders in the coming weeks." SCM Berta Strategic Review The strategic review, previously announced on February 27, 2017 has been concluded. The review considered a variety of short and long-term options for SCM Berta with the following objectives: Reducing operating costs and risks. Minimising Coro's ongoing funding exposure to SCM Berta. Securing upside exposure in the future of the Berta mine ("Berta") and Nora SX-EW plant ("Nora") for Coro shareholders. Significant operational improvements have been achieved at SCM Berta over the last 9 months, with production for the month of March 2018 at 335 tonnes of copper cathode, the highest monthly production to date (production for the first quarter 2018 of 828 tonnes). Additional operational improvements have been identified through the strategic review that could potentially increase monthly production to 400 tonnes per month, at an approximate capital cost of US$2 million over a minimum three-month period. Notwithstanding the achieved and potential operational improvements, it is expected that SCM Berta will remain a higher cost and higher risk operation due to the requirement to haul Pregnant Leach Solution ("PLS") 60-kilometres from Berta to Nora by truck. It is the view of the Board that SCM Berta will not receive environmental approval for the construction of the earlier proposed pipeline to transport PLS between Berta and Nora. Consequently, one of the major outcomes of the strategic review is that the optimal technical and financial solution for SCM Berta is likely to be the installation of a new 5,000 tonne per year SX-EW circuit at Berta, which would provide the following benefits: Remove the need to truck PLS and ore between Berta and Nora. Allow the project to leach ore conventionally to 4g/L improving recoveries to an estimated 75%. Reduce operating cash costs. Reduce operational safety and environmental risk. A new SX-EW plant at Berta is expected to cost approximately US$8 million and take approximately eight months to construct once detailed engineering has been completed and an environmental permit obtained, which is expected to take between eight and twelve months. With the deployment of the additional capital, SCM Berta intends to continue its current operations while the permitting regime and timetable for the proposed new Berta SX-EW plant is confirmed. However, depending on the operational performance and the copper price, a decision may be taken to put the operation on care and maintenance while the permit is obtained to build the new SX-EW plant at Berta. This would require a further injection of funding to suspend operations and settle outstanding creditors, maintain the core senior operational team and ensure ongoing regulatory compliance. As detailed below, participation in any further funding will be solely at Coro's discretion. Once the new Berta SX-EW plant is operational, the strategic review identified the potential for Nora to process copper from the El Jote deposit. The El Jote concession was optioned by SCM Berta in May 2016 and is located 30-kilometers north west of Nora. It is anticipated that it should be possible to construct and operate a pipeline between El Jote and Nora without the permitting challenges associated with the current SCM Berta operations. Further work is required to confirm this potential option including a 43-101 compliant resource and feasibility study. Conclusion of Strategic Review Coro's original strategy was to utilize the cash flows from the SCM Berta operations to finance the development of Marimaca. The Board realizes that the value creation for shareholders will be greatest with the further exploration and exploitation of the Marimaca project which continues to increase in scale and potential. Recently, the company has announced an increase of 103% in the Measured and Indicated NI43-101 compliant resources at Marimaca (see news release April 12, 2018). The ongoing operational challenges at SCM Berta and their associated funding requirements have challenged the original strategy and risk diluting the potential value creation at Marimaca for Coro shareholders going forward. Consequently, the Strategic Review has concluded that Coro will now focus on its flagship Marimaca project, and that all financing for the SCM Berta operations will be at the SCM Berta project level. A consequence of this decision is that Coro's interest in the SCM Berta operations will be diluted. SCM Berta Financing Coro has agreed a binding term sheet with Greenstone Resources II, L.P. ("Greenstone"), an affiliate of Coro's largest shareholder Greenstone Resources LP ("Greenstone"), whereby it will invest up to US$12 million directly in SCM Berta ("Greenstone Investment"). Use of Proceeds This Greenstone Investment will provide the necessary capital to secure the future of the SCM Berta operation and minimize Coro's ongoing financial exposure, while allowing Coro to focus its attention and financial resources on its flagship Marimaca project. The Greenstone Investment will be used for the following: Reduction in creditors to achieve a normal operating l working capital level. Capital expenditure for decreasing operating costs and increasing efficiencies, notably, to replace anode and cathode plates, increase acid storage, install additional control systems, purchase critical spares and other sustaining capital projects. Payment of environmental bonds. Engineering and permitting for the new Berta SX-EW plant. Drilling, test work and option payments at El Jote. Initial upfront payment as part of an agreement to acquire the 35% interest in SCM Berta held by ProPipe. Greenstone Investment Terms The Greenstone Investment will be structured as a secured convertible loan into Coro's 100% owned subsidiary Minera Coro Chile Limitada ("MCC") which currently holds a 65% shareholding in SCM Berta. Of the US$12 million Greenstone Investment, an initial US$9 million will be advanced immediately, with a maturity date of 125 days. A further US$3 million is available for drawdown during this period. MCC Reorganisation & ProPipe Acquisition The Greenstone Investment was conditional on acquiring ProPipe's 35% shareholding in SCM Berta ("ProPipe Acquisition") for an initial upfront payment of US$0.75 million, with three future instalments of US$0.5 million falling 12, 18 and 24 months after the initial payment. The initial upfront payment of US$0.75 million will be funded by Greenstone as part of the initial US$9 million Greenstone Investment. Following the ProPipe Acquisition, a restructuring of debt owing to and from Coro, MCC and SCM Berta and the possible creation of a newly incorporated entity to hold the shares of MCC (the "MCC Reorganisation") and conversion of the full US$12 million Greenstone Investment (the "Conversion"), Coro would own 25% and Greenstone 75% of MCC, which in turn would own 100% of SCM Berta. The MCC Reorganisation must be completed within 60 days ("MCC Reorganisation Deadline") following the initial drawdown of US$9 million convertible loan. The loan will be secured against the shares directly in MCC, SCM Berta and the shareholder loan claim against SCM Berta and not at the Coro corporate level. Security for the convertible loan must be registered within 10-days of the drawdown of the convertible loan. Upon the occurrence of an event of default (as defined in the binding term sheet and which includes failure to obtain disinterested shareholder approval, as discussed in more detail below), MCC would be required to repay the loan, failing which Greenstone would have the option to enforce its security. Interest will accrue monthly at the MCC level at a rate of 15% per annum only from the MCC Reorganisation Deadline until either conversion or the maturity date in the event that the MCC Reorganisation Deadline is not met and is payable in cash by MCC. As part of the Greenstone Investment, Coro has agreed to provide management services to MCC and SCM Berta through a services agreement which will in time allow for a reduction in operating overheads for the Company by allocating resources between the Marimaca and the SCM Berta operations. The Greenstone Investment considered the valuation of Coro's existing loans and equity in SCMB as being US$4m. Coro Funding Option As part of the Greenstone Investment, Coro has also retained an option to fund US$4 million into MCC for a period of 120 days. During this period the Company will be able to further assess the operational performance of SCM Berta and the progress with the Berta SX-EW plant permitting. To the extent that Coro funds the US$4 million, US$3 million would be used instead of the US$3 million undrawn Greenstone Investment, and US$1million would be used to repay Greenstone such that the outstanding Greenstone Investment would be reduced from US$9 million to US$8 million. If this option is exercised, this would result post Conversion, in the shareholding of MCC being 50% Coro and 50% Greenstone. Coro retains the option to fund MCC going forward in the event of the construction of the new SX-EW plant at Berta or the care and maintenance scenario. The valuation for Coro's share in MCC in a future fundraising would be a pre-money valuation of US$4 million plus any funding advanced by Coro to MCC following the Greenstone Investment. Related Party Matters The proposed Greenstone Investment represents a related party transaction and conversion of the Greenstone Investment into an equity interest in MCC requires disinterested shareholder approval (being shareholders other than Greenstone). Irrevocable written consents to support the Greenstone investment have been received from shareholders representing 32% of the disinterested shareholders. Evans and Evans has provided an opinion to the Committee of Independent Directors at Coro in relation to the proposed Greenstone Investment that states that the investment is fair, from a financial point of view, to the disinterested shareholders. Greenstone US$2 million convertible Loan to Coro In addition to the Greenstone Investment, Coro has signed a convertible loan agreement with Greenstone for a US$2 million convertible loan to Coro at the corporate level to cover ongoing working capital requirements including Marimaca project costs and associated corporate costs. The convertible loan has a maturity date of the earlier of an equity raising by Coro of not less than US$5 million and 30 January 2019. The US$2 million is convertible into common shares of Coro at a price equal to the greater of: $0.0895 (the volume-weighted average price of the Coro shares over the 5 trading days prior to this announcement) and the Coro common share price of any equity raising by Coro of not less than US$5 million. The convertible loan will attract interest of 12% for the first 6 months and 15% interest thereafter. The convertible loan agreement contains standard conditions and events of default. Conditions Precedent and Timetable The Company will call an annual general and special shareholders' meeting to, among other things, seek disinterested shareholder approval for the conversion of the Greenstone Investment into an equity interest in MCC. Information will be sent to shareholders in due course. It is anticipated that the annual general and special shareholders' meeting will be held towards the end of June 2018. With a new focus on the Marimaca project, the Board recognises that new members with the right balance of skills and experience are needed to take the Company forward. The Nominating Committee of the Board is leading a search for new candidates and shareholders will be informed of progress in due course. For further information please visit www.coromining.com or contact: Nicholas Bias, VP Corporate Development & Investor Relations +1 604 682 5546 x202 / +44 (0)7771 450 679 | nbias@coromining.com This news release includes certain "forward-looking statements" under applicable Canadian securities legislation. Such forward-looking statements or information, include but are not limited to completion of the Greenstone Investment, including the conversion of such investment into an equity interest in MCC, completion of the ProPipe Acquisition, completion of the MCC Reorganization, the use of proceeds of the Greenstone Investment, any additional funding by Coro into MCC and the construction and operation of a new SX-EW plant at Berta. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which are beyond Coro's ability to predict or control and may cause Coro's actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from any of its future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and other factors include, but are not limited to, satisfaction of the conditions precedent set out in the documents governing the Greenstone Investment, the ability of Coro to raise additional funds to complete an additional investment into MCC, Coro's discretion (with the prior approval of Greenstone) to reallocate the proceeds of the Greenstone Investment, the occurrence of unexpected financial obligations, fluctuations in the price of commodities; fluctuations in the currency markets; changes in national and local government, legislation, taxation, controls, regulations and political or economic developments; risks and hazards associated with the business of mineral exploration, development and mining (including environmental hazards, industrial accidents, unusual or unexpected formations, pressures, cave-ins and flooding); the presence of laws and regulations that may impose restrictions on mining and employee relations. . Such forward-looking statements are also based on a number of assumptions which may prove to be incorrect, changes in project parameters as plans continue to be evaluated, as well as those factors disclosed in the Company's documents filed from time to time with the securities regulators in the Provinces of British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan, Manitoba, Ontario, New Brunswick, Nova Scotia, Prince Edward Island and Newfoundland and Labrador. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Coro undertakes no obligation to update publicly or otherwise revise any forward-looking statements contained herein whether as a result of new information or future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. ALBANY, New York, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- A research study by TMR predicts the global point-of-care diagnostics market to rise at a steady 6.9% over the course of the forecast period starting from 2016 and ending in 2024. Rising at this pace, the market which was valued at US$6.8 bn, in 2016 is projected to become around US$11.7 bn by 2024-end. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Point-of-care diagnostics is majorly finding application is disease testing. This is because of the alarming rise in cases of HIV/AIDS, swine flu, and Ebola. From a geographical perspective, North America leads the market both in terms of revenue and volume. Increasing popularity of portable testing equipment, overall low price of such devices, and increasing instances of substance abuse, have stoked growth in the market in the region. The U.S. is said to be mainly powering the market in North America which accounted for 40.0% share in 2015. Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=1128 Surging Chronic and Interminable Diseases Stoke Point-of-care Diagnostics Market At the forefront of driving the global market for point-of-care diagnostics is the rising instances of various chronic and interminable diseases. Besides, rise in cases of lifestyle-related diseases, namely diabetes, hypertension, and cardiovascular diseases (CVD), both in developed and developing economies, are also stoking growth in the market. A burgeoning population of elderly, highly susceptible to different types of ailments, is driving up sales of devices too. Adding to list of growth drivers in the market, the lead analyst our report states: "The surging demand for diagnostic devices to enable enhanced maternity care in numerous developing nations of the world has strongly underpinned demand for point-of-care diagnostic devices. In addition, the pressing requirement of the devices for the location of tumor biomarkers is generating demand in the market, as well." Request a Custom Report athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=1128 Laboratory Testing Pose Challenge to Market Owing to its Greater Reliability The point-of-care diagnostic devices, however, are facing stiff challenge from laboratory testing which is considered much more reliable and accurate. "The potential danger of misdiagnosis in point-of-care testing due to the lack of dependable screening procedures for various health conditions has ensured greater preference for lab testing facilities. This is a key challenge which point-of-care testing needs to overcome," explains our analyst. With the help of lateral flow assay that allows clinicians to examine wide ranging biological samples from different angles in just one strip, the current drawback of point-of-care diagnostics can be overcome to a great extent. And this is opening up new growth avenues for its market. Request For Discount On This Report:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=1128 F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd., Abbott Inc., Becton Dickinson and Co., and Alere Inc. are to name a few of the leading companies in the global market for point-of-care diagnostics. With their constant thrust on product development to gain an edge over one another, they are contributing big time to the market's growth. They are seen heavily banking upon technology to create more innovative products. In their quest for domestic and international expansion, they are also seen tapping into partnerships and collaborations. Currently, the market for point-of-care diagnostics is somewhat consolidated in nature with the top four players already holding an outsized share in it. In 2015, their total share came to around 78.8%. Popular Research Reports by TMR: Gynecological Devices Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/gynecological-devices-market.html https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/gynecological-devices-market.html Wound Closure Products Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/wound-closure-products.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ Today is Patriots Day, an annual observance of the anniversary of when the American colonies first took up arms against the British Crown on April 19, 1775. Patriots Day has become a forgotten holiday, due in part to the fact we Americans have a peculiar relationship to the term patriot. To question someones patriotism is considered an insult, while to praise their patriotism is (usually) a compliment. Yet strangely, the only people who refer to themselves, completely without irony or qualification, as patriots are old veterans, old conservatives, and certain pro athletes in New England. Of course, people who do not fit into those three categories sometimes self-identify with that label. But when they do its almost always accompanied by an asterisk, denotingwhether expressed or impliedthat the use of the word comes with a qualifier: * Sure, I love my country but I that doesnt mean I support ________. (the President, Congress, the government, the latest military action, etc.) * I am a patriotic, but that doesnt mean I think America is better than other countries. * Of course Im a patriotic as they comethough I would never, ever serve innor let my child enlist inthe U.S. military. * Im a patriot but Im nothing like those Bible-thumping, flag-fetishizing, NASCAR-loving, types of patriots. However, some people are more straightforward about their mixed feelings. A Japanese reporter once inquired of the leftist filmmaker Michael Moore, You do not seem to like the U.S., do you? Moores response sums up the sentiment behind the patriots asterisk: I like America to some extent. Unfortunately, the asterisk isnt completely without warrant since the co-opting of the term by nativists, xenophobes, and domestic terrorists has caused some Americans to distance themselves from the label. It is also true the term patriot has to compete with other terms we might rightfully believe take precedence. American Christians, for example, not only owe allegiance to our country but also, and more importantly, to the Kingdom of God. Even if we consider ourselves loyal citizens of the U.S. we also embrace a form of universal cosmopolitanism in cleaving to the invisible, catholic Church. Whatever unique and individual allegiances we might have, we corporately share a divided loyalty between America as our birthplace (or adopted home) and America as an ideal, a set of principles embodied in such documents as the U.S. Constitution and the Declaration of Independence. While our bifurcated loyalty can make patriotic sentiments complex and dissonant, it can also prevent a love of America from devolving into blind nationalism. This tension sets Americaand our identity as a nationapart in a peculiar way. As historian Walter Berns notes, The late Martin Diamond had this in mind when, in an American government textbook, he points out that the terms Americanism, Americanization, and un-American have no counterparts in any other country or language. This is not by chance, or a matter of phoneticsSwissism? Englishization?or mere habit. (What would a Frenchman have to do or believe in order to justify being labeled un-French?) The fact is, and it was first noted by the Englishman, G.K. Chesterton, the term Americanism reflects a unique phenomenon; as Diamond puts it, It expresses the conviction that American life is uniquely founded on a set of political principles. Most Americans have so internalized this concept of America as both a geographic place and an abstract ideal that we sometimes forget how radical it must appear to the rest of the world. Consider, for example, the tiny minority of Mexicans and Mexican-Americans who support reconquista, the reconquering and return of California, New Mexico, and other parts of the United States to Mexico. If their dream were realized it would simply make Mexico a much larger but still underdeveloped nation. You can move the border northward but without the culture, ideals, laws, and principles of America, San Diego is just another Tijuana. The beauty and genius of our principles is that there is nothing that makes them exclusively American. They include idealssuch as universal religious libertythat are not only available to all people but also, as American political philosophers since Thomas Jefferson have contentiously argued, likely to eventually be adopted by the majority of nations on Earth. In the truest and best sense, to be a American patriot then is to align oneself with all generations of Americanspast, present, and futurewho claim that all men are endowed by their Creator with certain inalienable rights. (When we truly believe and peacefully promote this claim without regard to race or creed, we become more genuinely and consistently patriotic than even our Founding Fathers.) Abraham Lincoln gave expression to what should be an applicable description of all American patriots in his eulogy for the Kentucky politician Henry Clay: He loved his country partly because it was his own country, but mostly because it was a free country; and he burned with a zeal for its advancement, prosperity and glory, because he saw in such, the advancement, prosperity and glory, of human liberty, human right and human nature. He desired the prosperity of his countrymen partly because they were his countrymen, but chiefly to show to the world that freemen could be prosperous. Berns says that for Clay (and Lincoln), country and principle were one and the same. Perhaps in Clay we can find a useful model for ourselves; a way to be a patriot without the need for either an asterisk or apology. Image source: Pixabay Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Labrador Gold Corp. (TSXV: LAB) ("Labrador Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to provide an update on plans for the upcoming field season to follow up on the successful first stage exploration of its Labrador projects. The district scale gold anomalies found on the Hopedale and Ashuanipi Projects last year will be the main focus of the work during 2018. The Hopedale project covers approximately eighty percent of two Archean aged greenstone belts that have been significantly underexplored for gold compared to greenstone belts elsewhere in the world. During 2017, soil and lake sediment sampling demonstrated the potential for gold mineralization along the entire length of the Florence Lake greenstone belt, with anomalous gold in soil samples found over an approximately 40 kilometre strike length of the belt (see News Release dated January 25, 2018). Follow up work during 2018 will include more detailed soil sampling as well as geological mapping and rock sampling of the Florence Lake belt. Specifically, work will target apparent offsets of stratigraphy, potential cross cutting structures apparent from magnetic data and fold hinges, all of which are known to be sites of gold mineralization in greenstone belts. In addition to the regional work in the belt, detailed exploration will be undertaken in the Thurber Dog area. A compilation of results of historical work and those of Labrador Gold from 2017 show a trend of gold anomalies in rock and soil over a 3km strike length in this northern portion of the belt (see News Release dated March 1, 2018). Results of exploration over the Ashuanipi Project indicate gold anomalies in soils and lake sediments over a 15 kilometre long by 2 to 6 kilometre wide north-south trend and over a 14 kilometre long by 2 to 4 kilometre wide east-west trend on the northern claim block (see New Release dated January 18, 2018). The anomalies appear to be broadly associated with magnetic highs and do not show any correlation with specific rock types on a regional scale. This suggests a possible structural control on the localization of the gold anomalies and interpretation is ongoing to define structural targets for follow up. As with the Hopedale project, exploration during 2018 will initially comprise detailed soil sampling, geological mapping and rock sampling in areas of anomalous gold and will also cover potential extensions of the anomalies on recently staked ground in Quebec. "We are looking forward to getting back on the ground in Labrador" said Roger Moss, Chief Executive Officer of Labrador Gold. "Based on the targets we have generated from our own work and from compilation of historical information we will be able to quickly identify the areas of best gold potential. It should be an exciting year for the Company." Roger Moss, PhD., P.Geo., is the qualified person responsible for all technical information in this release. About Labrador Gold: Labrador Gold is a Canadian based mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition and exploration of prospective gold projects in the Americas. Labrador Gold recently signed a Letter of Intent under which the Company has the option to acquire 100% of the 896 square kilometre (km2) Ashuanipi property in northwest Labrador and the Nain (503 km2) and Hopedale Greenstone (458 km2) properties in central Labrador. The Ashuanipi gold project is located just 35 km from the historical iron ore mining community of Schefferville, which is linked by rail to the port of Sept Iles, Quebec in the south. The claim blocks cover large lake sediment gold anomalies that, with the exception of local prospecting, have not seen a systematic modern day exploration program. Recent regional geological mapping in the area by the Newfoundland and Labrador Geological Survey has highlighted the gold potential of the region and historical work 30 km north on the Quebec side led to gold intersections of up to 2.23 grams per tonne (g/t) Au over 19.55 metres (not true width) (Source: IOS Services Geoscientifiques, 2012, Exploration and geological reconnaissance work in the Goodwood River Area, Sheffor Project, Summer Field Season 2011). Gold in both areas appears to be associated with metamorphosed iron formation. The Nain gold project comprises three claim blocks, two of which lie along the Nain-Churchill terrane boundary. One of the claim blocks, Sneegamook, has the largest and most intense gold in lake sediment anomaly in Labrador, but no known gold exploration has taken place in the area. The Hopedale greenstone properties cover much of the Hunt River and Florence Lake greenstone belts that stretch over 80 km. The belts are typical of greenstone belts around the world, but have been underexplored by comparison. Historical exploration did result in a gold showing of up to 7.5 g/t Au (Source: Cornerstone Resources Inc. 2003, Eastern Analytical Limited Assay certificate) but no significant gold exploration has been undertaken since the discovery. The company has 37,054,225 shares issued and outstanding and trades on the TSX Venture Exchange under the symbol LAB. For more information please contact: Roger Moss, President and CEO Tel: 416-704-8291 Or visit our website at: www.labradorgold.com @LabGoldCorp Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Therma Bright Inc. (TSXV: THRM), ("Therma Bright" or the "Company"), a progressive medical device technology company, provides the following updates: Therma Bright to conduct further testing of TherOZap technology at inhibiting Zika and other mosquito borne diseases Therma Bright announces that further to its press release on January 8, 2018 outlining results indicating effectiveness of its TherOZap technology in inhibiting the Zika virus, that the Company will continue testing of the TherOZap technology against the Zika virus and other mosquito borne diseases. After consultation with various research laboratories specialized in studying mosquito borne disease, Therma Bright intends to test the TherOZap technology against the Zika and Dengue viruses. According to the World Health Organization: "Dengue effects a much larger percentage of the world population with about half of the world's population now at risk. Dengue is found in tropical and sub-tropical climates worldwide, mostly in urban and semi-urban areas. Severe dengue is a leading cause of serious illness and death among children in some Asian and Latin American countries." The Dengue, Zika and West Nile viruses are spread by the same mosquito which is known as the Aedes Aegypti mosquito. The Aedes Aegypti mosquito is known as a prolific daytime biter which often makes it harder for people to protect themselves after an infectious bite. Therma Bright intends to test its TherOZap technology and hopes to prove the technology will be effective as a second line of defense after someone has been bitten. Therma Bright looks forward to reporting back to shareholders in the near future as the next round of research begins. Mr. Rob Fia, CEO, commented: "We are excited to continue testing our patent pending TherOZap technology to inhibit the Zika virus and now potentially the Dengue virus. We've learned a lot about the Zika virus through consultation with research groups and it is interesting to learn that the Zika and Dengue viruses may be susceptible to die-off with the use of our TherOZap technology." Equity Private Placement Therma Bright announces it intends to offer, by way of a non-brokered private placement (the "Equity Financing"), units of the Company ("Units") at a price of $0.05 per Unit, subject to approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). Each Unit will consist of one common share and one common share purchase warrant. Each warrant will entitle the holder to purchase one common share for three years at a price of $0.05/share in the first year and thereafter at $0.10/share, subject to acceleration, at the option of the Company, in the event that its common shares trade at or above $0.13/share for 10 consecutive trading days following the date which is four months and one day from the closing date, and the Company has provided warrant holders with 30 days prior written notice of the accelerated warrant exercise date. It is anticipated that insiders of Therma Bright will subscribe for up to 5,000,000 Units for gross proceeds of up to $250,000 under this Equity Financing. In connection with this Equity Financing, Mr. Rob Fia, President and Chief Executive Officer of the Company has agreed to sell up to $250,000 worth of common shares from his personal shareholdings to a private investor(s) at current market prices. Mr. Fia intends to use all of the proceeds from the sale of these shares to purchase Units under the Equity Financing. The issuance of Units to Mr. Fia and other insiders under the Equity Financing is considered to be a related party transaction subject to TSXV Policy 5.9 and Multilateral Instrument 61-101 - Protection of Minority Security Holders in Special Transactions. The Company intends to rely on exemptions from the formal valuation and minority shareholder approval requirements provided under sections 5.5(a) and 5.7(a) of Multilateral Instrument 61-101 on the basis that the value of securities to be purchased by Mr. Fia and other insiders under this financing will not exceed 25% of the fair market value of the Company's market capitalization. In connection with Units sold to non-insiders, the Company may pay a finder's fee in cash, shares or warrants, or a combination thereof, to eligible persons, subject to and in compliance with regulatory policies. Proceeds received from the Equity Financing may be used to pay any initial payment that may be due under the asset purchase agreement if new terms are negotiated (see below) and for general working capital. In the event the asset purchase transaction does not proceed, all funds raised in this financing will be used for general working capital. Debenture Financing In addition to the Equity Financing, Therma Bright also intends to offer convertible debentures ("Debentures") to eligible investors, subject to TSXV approval. Three-year Debentures will be offered in principal amounts of $1,000 per Debenture, with 8% interest payable thereon. A minimum of 12 months' interest on the full principal amount will be payable, regardless of whether the Debenture is converted prior to such time. Subject to prior TSXV approval, interest may be paid in shares at the market price of the Company's common shares at the time of conversion. The Debentures will be convertible into units of the Company at a conversion price of $0.05/unit if converted in the first year and thereafter at $0.10/unit. Each unit will be comprised of one common share and one-fifth (1/5) of one common share purchase warrant. Each whole warrant will be exercisable for one common share for a period of two years from the date of issue of the warrant at an exercise price of $0.05 if exercised on or before the date that is one year from the date of issuance of the Debenture or thereafter at an exercise price of $0.10. No fractional warrants will be issued, and such fraction will instead be rounded up or down to the nearest whole warrant, with 0.5 of a warrant being rounded up. The subscriber may convert the Debenture at any time until the maturity date. The Company may convert the Debenture on the earlier of, and at any time thereafter: (a) at any time after the date that is 12 months after the date of issue of the Debentures until the maturity date; and (b) the 16th day after the closing price of the Company's common shares on the TSXV exceeds $0.075 for fifteen (15) consecutive trading days, provided such conversion date is at least six (6) months after the date of issue of the Debentures. Therma Bright may, at its option, subject to providing not more than 60 and not less than 30 days prior notice, redeem the Debentures in whole or in part. Proceeds received from this Debenture financing may be used to pay any initial payment that may be due under the asset purchase agreement if new terms are negotiated (see below) and for general working capital. In the event the asset purchase transaction does not proceed, all funds raised in this financing will be used for general working capital. Status of Asset Purchase Agreement Therma Bright announces that further to its news releases of March 14, 2018 and April 3, 2018, it is still in negotiations to amend the terms of the asset purchase agreement relating to the Company's proposed acquisition of the ClearTouch nail phototherapy device (the "Nail Product") and the no!no! skin phototherapy acne device (the "Acne Product", and together with the Nail Product, the "Purchased Products"), together with certain assets relating to the Purchased Products, but excluding any liabilities related thereto. At this time, the parties have not reached agreement on amended terms and although the Company is optimistic it will reach an agreement it cannot provide assurances that the transaction will proceed. Therma Bright will provide further updates on this transaction when available. About Therma Bright Inc.: Therma Bright is a progressive medical device technology company focused on providing consumers with quality medical devices that address their dermatological needs. Clear and healthy skin for all is at the core of the Company's philosophy as is the belief that such outcomes should not be a privilege for only those who can afford costly procedures and treatments. The Company's breakthrough proprietary technology delivers effective, non-invasive and pain free skin care. Therma Bright received a Class II medical device status from the FDA for its platform technology that is indicated for the relief of the pain, itch, and inflammation from over 20,000 different insect stings and bites, (including bees, wasps, hornets, mosquitoes, black flies and jellyfish). The Company received approval for the above claims from FDA (United States) in 1997. Therma Bright Inc. trades on the TSXV (TSXV: THRM). For more information visit: www.thejenexcorporation.com or www.therozap.com. For further information please contact: Therma Bright Inc. Rob Fia CEO rfia@thejenexcorporation.com FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS Certain statements in this news release constitute "forward-looking" statements. These statements relate to future events or the Company's future performance and include the proposed acquisition of the Purchased Products, the closing of the Equity Financing and the Debenture financing, and the extension of testing of other existing products, all as described in the news release. All such statements involve substantial known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results to vary from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. In addition to other risks, the Company may not complete all or any of the transactions as described in this news on the timelines described. Forward-looking statements involve significant risks and uncertainties, they should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results, and they will not necessarily be accurate indications of whether or not such results will be achieved. Actual results could differ materially from those anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Although the forward-looking statements contained in this news release are based upon what management of the Company believes are reasonable assumptions on the date of this news release, the Company cannot assure investors that actual results will be consistent with these forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements contained in this press release are made as of the date hereof and the Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required under applicable securities regulations. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. NOT FOR DISSEMINATION OR DISTRIBUTION IN THE UNITED STATES PALM BEACH, Florida, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- MarketNewsUpdates.com News Commentary The Global demand and renewed interest for lithium is growing again, thanks to advancements in battery technology and the rapid expansion of renewable energy, which uses lithium batteries to store power and improve efficiency. In addition it is believed that future demand for lithium will be driven by the continued expansion in electric vehicles (EV) which depend on lithium batteries. A single Tesla Model S uses more lithium than 10,000 smartphones. According to data from INN Daily, the global lithium demand is projected to triple by 2025 as electronic vehicles become more prevalent and mainstream. According to Statista, over 200,000 million metric tons of lithium was consumed in 2017. As demand continues to rise, industry leaders are competing for promising locations for mining operations while also maximizing current mining operations. Active companies in the mining markets today include: NRG Metals Inc. (TSX-V: NGZ) (OTC: NRGMF), Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) (TSX: LAC), Nemaska Lithium Inc. (TSX: NMX) (OTC: NMKEF), Lithium Corporation (OTC: LTUM), Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX: LUN.TO) (OTC: LUNMF). NRG Metals Inc. (TSX-V: NGZ) (OTCQB: NRGMF) (Frankfurt OGPN) BREAKING NEWS: NRG Metals is pleased to announce that drilling on a second test well is progressing at the Salar Escondido Lithium Project, comprised of 29,180 hectares (72,100 acres), and located in Catamarca Province, Argentina. A rotary drill operated by drilling contractor Water Drilling ( "WD ") had completed 87 meters as of Tuesday, April 17th. The hard basaltic layer encountered in the previous hole was not encountered in this well. It is expected to reach the target depth of approximately 110 meters in the next day or two. WD is contracted to drill an 8.5-inch diameter rotary hole up to a depth of 400 m. This second hole is located approximately one kilometer south of the Company's initial diamond drill hole, which was completed to a depth of 307 meters in December 2017. The objective is to further quantify and confirm to depth, lithium values encountered in the top of the first test well, which was not completed to depth due to hole instability. Mr. Jose de Castro, Chief Operating Officer is quoted: "I am very pleased the second well at Salar Escondido is progressing, and am excited to determine lithium values at this very large basin". During 2017, NRG's drilling at the comprised of 29,180 hectares (72,100 acres) project, confirmed the presence of a buried brine zone beneath the alluvial cover on the surface of the basin. Brine was intersected at a depth of 140 m, and as reported in the Company's press release dated December 7, 2017, sampling from 183 to 198 meters returned an average grade of 229 mg Li/liter in a porous, weakly consolidated sandstone horizon. A Vertical Electrical Sounding ("VES") geophysical survey conducted by the Company suggests that the brine zone occurs at an even shallower depth where the upcoming hole will be drilled. The Salar Escondido project is located approximately 280 kilometers northwest of Catamarca, Argentina. Further details are available at the company website at http://www.nrgmetalsinc.com , and a National Instrument 43-101 Technical Report was filed on SEDAR in December 2016.See a table of values and read more news for NRG Metals athttp://www.marketnewsupdates.com/news/nrg.html In other mining industry news and developments: Lithium Americas Corp. (NYSE: LAC) (TSX: LAC.TO) recently announced an updated mineral resource estimate on the Thacker Pass deposit (previously Zone 1) of the Lithium Nevada Project located in the McDermitt Caldera, Nevada, USA. The Resource Estimate was prepared pursuant to National Instrument 43-101 - Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects. At a cut-off of 2,000 parts per million lithium, the updated Resource Estimate consists of a Measured and Indicated Resource of 385 million tonnes grading 2,917 ppm Li for 6.0 million tonnes of lithium carbonate equivalent ("LCE") and an Inferred Resource of 147 million tonnes grading 2,932 ppm Li for 2.3 million tonnes of LCE. The updated Resource Estimate will be incorporated into a Preliminary Feasibility Study on the Lithium Nevada Project with results on track to be released by the end of Q2 2018. Nemaska Lithium Inc. (TSX: NMX.TO) (OTCQX: NMKEF) recently announced an update to its project financing plans and confirmed that it has entered into a USD 150M streaming agreement with Orion Mine Finance II LP. In a press release dated March 28, 2018, Nemaska Lithium outlined the components of its overall USD 775 - 825M financing structure to fund the construction, commissioning, working capital and reserve funds for its Whabouchi lithium mine and Shawinigan electrochemical plant and also for general corporate working capital. "We have made solid progress in our project financing endeavours over the past couple of weeks, firstly with a private placement with SoftBank, a global technology leader, and now with the signing of this agreement with Orion, a leading and well-regarded financier in the mining industry," said Guy Bourassa, President & C.E.O. of Nemaska Lithium. "This Streaming Agreement is a financing tool which limits shareholder dilution, lowers Nemaska Lithium's cost of capital, and is under terms which are both competitive and flexible," Bourassa continued. Lithium Corporation (OTCQB: LTUM) closed Wednesday up over 7.9% with a volume just north of 200,000 shares traded by the market close. Lithium Corporation is an exploration company based in Nevada devoted to the exploration for energy storage related resources throughout North America, and looking to capitalize on opportunities within the ever expanding next generation energy storage markets. The Company maintains a strategic alliance with Altura Mining, an ASX listed natural resource development company that is currently developing its 100% owned world-class Pilgangoora lithium pegmatite property in Western Australia. Lundin Mining Corporation (TSX: LUN.TO) (OTC: LUNMF) recently announced that the report for the first quarter period ended March 31, 2018 will be published on Wednesday April 25, 2018. The Company will hold a telephone conference call and webcast at 08:00am ET, 14:00 CET on Thursday, April 26, 2018. Lundin Mining is a diversified Canadian base metals mining company with operations in Chile, the United States of America, Portugal, and Sweden, primarily producing copper, nickel and zinc. In addition, Lundin Mining holds an indirect 24% equity stake in the Freeport Cobalt Oy business, which includes a cobalt refinery located in Kokkola, Finland. DISCLAIMER: MarketNewsUpdates.com (MNU) is a third party publisher and news dissemination service provider, which disseminates electronic information through multiple online media channels. MNU is NOT affiliated in any manner with any company mentioned herein. MNU and its affiliated companies are a news dissemination solutions provider and are NOT a registered broker/dealer/analyst/adviser, holds no investment licenses and may NOT sell, offer to sell or offer to buy any security. MNU's market updates, news alerts and corporate profiles are NOT a solicitation or recommendation to buy, sell or hold securities. 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Media Contact: email: info@marketnewsupdates.com +1(561)325-8757 Western Nevada Basin Project Potential to be Significant in the U.S. Lithium Sector INCLINE VILLAGE, NV / ACCESSWIRE / April 19, 2018 / LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net) (the "Company"), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), a lithium resource exploration and development company, today announced that it has identified several zones indicative of a lithium brine aquifer at its Western Nevada Basin project in Railroad Valley, Nevada, USA. LithiumOre Chairman and CEO Doug Cole, commented, "We believe this is the start of something potentially very big for the U.S. lithium sector and are excited about the results of the early studies that show several zones interpreted as potential brine. This reinforces the potential for our project to host lithium brines as suggested by a large geochemical shallow soils lithium anomaly in lake sediments that was previously reported in the area. The Railroad Valley has geological attributes that closely match the Clayton Valley, which hosts North America's only producing lithium mine, Albemarle's Silver Peak Lithium Mine." Western Nevada Basin - Geological Setting Railroad Valley is a large topographically closed playa (dry Salt Lake bed) basin located in East-Central Nevada. The basin is fault bounded with numerous active thermal springs (anomalous in lithium) emerging along the faults. The fault sets have strike lengths of 25 - 30 miles (42 - 50 km) and are parallel to each other, about 8-12 miles apart. The faults that bound the basin form an elongate rectangular shaped basin of about 300 square miles (830 square km) in size. Numerous thermal springs emerge along the basin bounding fault systems, which form the North-West and South-East flanks of the playa basin. Thermal waters, which discharge from the springs carry moderately anomalous values of Lithium. The mountains that abut the western boundary of the claims contain outcropping rhyolitic volcanic rock units, which are anomalous in lithium. This geology, closely matches the geologic criteria for the United States Geological Survey ("USGS") deposit model for Clayton Valley type lithium brine deposits. The Railroad Valley has been explored for many years by several oil and gas companies. Multiple abandoned and operational oil wells exist across the playa including 17 on, or in close proximity to, LithiumOre's Western Nevada Basin project. Western Nevada Basin Project Railroad Valley is a large topographically closed playa basin (dry salt lake bed). The basin is fault bounded with numerous active thermal springs (anomalous in lithium) emerging along the faults. The fault sets have strike lengths of 25 - 30 miles (42 - 50 km) and are parallel to each other, about 8-12 miles apart (13-19 km). The faults that bound the basin form an elongate rectangular shaped basin of about 300 square miles (777 km2) in size. Numerous thermal springs emerge along the basin bounding fault systems, which form the North-West and South-East flanks of the playa basin. Thermal waters, which discharge from the springs carry moderately anomalous values of Lithium. The mountains that surround the basin contain outcropping rock units also anomalous in lithium. This closely matches the geologic criteria for the United State Geological Survey ("USGS") ore deposit model for Clayton Valley type lithium brine deposits. LithiumOre holds 260 accepted lithium mineral claims, totaling 5,200 acres, located in the Western Nevada Basin, situated in Railroad Valley in Nye County, Nevada. Railroad Valley is approximately 112 miles northeast of Clayton Valley and can be accessed by paved highway directly from U.S. Route 6. Railroad Valley is one of Nevada's largest trapped basins and is noted to hold all the necessary commercial and engineering prerequisites for a massive lithium brine deposit. The Company's claims have been evaluated by experts and the BLM and are targeted for planned on-site exploration expected to begin by mid-2018. LithiumOre, Corp. LithiumOre (http://lithiumore.net), a wholly-owned subsidiary of Oroplata Resources, Inc. (OTCQB: ORRP), is a lithium resource exploration and development company, whose primary focus is the establishment of a low cost production base to supply the rapidly growing lithium-ion battery industry for both mobile devises and laptops, as well as the burgeoning EV (electronic vehicle) industry. LithiumOre is focused on becoming a substantial, profitable lithium producer via the timely development of valuable production-grade lithium brine deposits in Nevada. For more information, please visit: http://lithiumore.net Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of the safe harbor provisions of the U.S. Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, including those with respect to the expected project economics for Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), including estimates of life of mine, average production, cash costs, AISC, initial CAPEX, sustaining CAPEX, pre-tax IRR, pre-tax NPV, net cash flows and recovery rates, the impact of self-mining versus contract mining, the timing to obtain necessary permits, the submission of the project for final investment approval and the timing of initial gold production after investment approval and full financing, metallurgy and processing expectations, the mineral resource estimate, expectations regarding the ability to expand the mineral resource through future drilling, ongoing work to be conducted at the Western Nevada Basin (Railroad Valley), and the potential results of such efforts, the potential commissioning of a Pre-Feasibility study and the effects on timing of the project, are "forward-looking statements." Although the Company's management believes that such forward-looking statements are reasonable, it cannot guarantee that such expectations are, or will be, correct. These forward-looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, which could cause the Company's future results to differ materially from those anticipated. Potential risks and uncertainties include, among others, interpretations or reinterpretations of geologic information, unfavorable exploration results, inability to obtain permits required for future exploration, development or production, general economic conditions and conditions affecting the industries in which the Company operates; the uncertainty of regulatory requirements and approvals; fluctuating mineral and commodity prices, final investment approval and the ability to obtain necessary financing on acceptable terms or at all. Additional information regarding the factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from these forward-looking statements is available in the Company's filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission, including the Annual Report on Form 10-K for the year ended September 30, 2016. The Company assumes no obligation to update any of the information contained or referenced in this press release. Contact Information Hayden IR Stephen Hart (917) 658-7878 hart@haydenir.com SOURCE: Oroplata Resources, Inc. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Rise Gold Corp. (CSE: RISE) (OTC Pink: RYES) ("Rise Gold" or the "Company") announces that, in conjunction with the participation of Southern Arc Minerals Inc. (TSXV: SA) ("Southern Arc") in the recently closed private placement, Mr. John Proust, Chairman and CEO of Southern Arc, has been appointed to the board of directors of the Company. J. Proust and Associates Ltd. ("JPA"), a company owned by Mr. Proust, has entered into an agreement with the Company pursuant to which it will provide managerial services to the Company. The Company announces that Mr. Cale Thomas has resigned from the board of directors but will remain as Chief Financial Officer of the Company until May 1, 2018, in order to facilitate the transition of administrative services to JPA. Mr. Vince Boon will become Chief Financial Officer and Ms. Eileen Au will be appointed as Corporate Secretary and Treasurer effective as of May 1, 2018. Mr. Boon and Ms. Au are both officers of Southern Arc. Technical Advisors The Company is also pleased to announce the engagement of certain technical advisers to assist with the advancement of the Company's Idaho-Maryland Gold Project, located in Nevada County, California. The advisors are as follows: Mr. Bob Gallagher has more than 40 years of experience in the mining industry and is a Mineral Engineer with a specialty in mineral processing. Currently Mr. Gallagher is a director for Yamana Gold Inc., Japan Gold Corp., Southern Arc Minerals Inc., Capstone Mining Corp., and BC Hydro. Most recently, he held the position of President and Chief Executive Officer at New Gold Inc. Previously, Mr. Gallagher held increasingly senior management roles at Newmont Mining Corporation over a seven-year period, including Vice President Operations, Asia Pacific; Vice President, Indonesian Operations; and General Manager, Batu Hijau. Earlier in his career, Mr. Gallagher worked at a number of operating mines located throughout the Americas and Asia in various engineering, metallurgical, and mine management roles, including most notably 15 years at Placer Dome Inc. Mr. Gallagher has considerable project development and operational experience. He has been recognized by industry associations for his contributions throughout his career, most notably in 2013 he accepted the Prospector & Developer Association of Canada's Viola R. MacMillan Award for Company or Mine Development on behalf of New Gold Inc., and in 2014 he was jointly recognized by the Association for Mineral Exploration British Columbia with the E.A. Scholz Award for excellence in mine development. Dr. Mike Andrews is a geologist with more than 30 years of research and mining industry experience in gold, copper, coal and iron. He holds an honours degree in Geology from the University of Reading, and a doctorate in exploration geochemistry from the University of Wales. Dr. Andrews is currently President & COO and a director of Southern Arc Minerals Inc., President & COO and a director of Japan Gold Corp., a Non-Executive Director of Tethyan Resources plc and a director of Q Investments Ltd. He was a founding director of Kingsrose Mining Limited and played an instrumental role in the discovery, exploration, feasibility and development of its Way Linggo Gold Mine in Indonesia. Dr. Andrews also held the positions of Executive Director and Chief Geologist of AuIron Energy Ltd., Director of Gold Operations for Meekatharra Minerals Ltd., and managed the Teck-MM Gold Indonesian Joint Venture, an exploration portfolio of thirteen gold and copper projects in Indonesia. He also held senior exploration positions with Ashton Mining Ltd, Aurora Gold Ltd., and Muswellbrook Energy and Minerals. Mr. John Carlile is a geologist with more than 35 years of experience in the resource industry. Mr. Carlile has held senior executive and director positions with both major and junior resource companies, including President of Indonesian and Philippines subsidiaries of Newcrest Mining Limited. As a geologist, Mr. Carlile has a proven track record of mineral discovery and business building in Asia, most notably as Exploration Manager, Asia for Newcrest Mining Limited when it discovered its Gosowong mine. Mr. Carlile has served on the boards of several resource companies, and currently holds the position of director of Southern Arc Minerals Inc., Equator Gold Ltd. and Arc Exploration Limited. He holds a BSc in Geology from University of Reading, England, and an MSc in Mineral Exploration from the Royal School of Mines, Imperial College, University of London. Mr. Carlile is a Fellow of the AusIMM and a Fellow of the Geological Society of London. Alan Edwards, Chairman of Rise Gold commented "We welcome John Proust to the board of directors and Southern Arc as significant shareholder of Rise Gold. We believe strongly in the potential of the Idaho-Maryland Gold Project and appreciate the confidence that John and Southern Arc have shown in our business plan to advance the project." John Proust, Chairman & CEO of Southern Arc commented "The Southern Arc team conducted comprehensive due diligence on Rise Gold and the Idaho-Maryland Gold Project. We were very impressed with the potential of this project and are excited to be a part of Rise Gold and the Idaho-Maryland Gold Project as part of Southern Arc's strategy to invest early in outstanding gold projects with excellent management and great potential." Benjamin Mossman, CEO of Rise Gold commented "It is a privilege to have a group with this breadth of experience and knowledge as advisors to Rise Gold. The involvement of such accomplished professionals speaks to the potential of the Idaho-Maryland Mine. This is a tremendous opportunity as we seek to make a significant discovery at the Idaho-Maryland Mine." Hybrid Financial Ltd. The Company also announces it has retained the services of Hybrid Financial Ltd. ("Hybrid") to provide it with investor relations services, including marketing, distribution and branding of the Company to investment advisors and other registrants. Founded in 2003, Hybrid is a high impact sales and marketing company working on behalf of clients in the financial services industry. Under the terms of the agreement with Hybrid, the Company will pay a monthly fee of $20,000 and the initial term of the agreement is for a period of 12 months. Stock Option Grant The Company announces the grant of 6,381,000 stock options to employees, consultants, and directors of the Company pursuant to the terms of the Company's Stock Option Plan. The options are exercisable at $0.12 per share for a period of five (5) years and expire on April 18, 2023. About Southern Arc Minerals Inc. Southern Arc is a Canadian company incorporated in British Columbia in 2004 and listed on the TSX Venture Exchange. Southern Arc is focused on enhancing shareholder value through strategic investments in mineral resource companies with a focus on gold and copper-gold. Southern Arc's management team identifies highly prospective assets in politically safe jurisdictions and seeks to unlock their value by providing strategic investments, proven technical skills, global knowledge, and increased access to industry relationships. About Rise Gold Corp. Rise Gold is an exploration-stage mining company. The Company's principal asset is the historic past producing Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine located in Nevada County, California, USA. The Idaho-Maryland Gold Mine is one of the United States' greatest past producing gold mines with total past production of 2,414,000 oz of gold from 1866-1955. Rise Gold is a US corporation incorporated in Nevada, USA and maintains its head office in Vancouver, British Columbia, Canada. On behalf of the Board of Directors: Benjamin Mossman President, CEO and Director Rise Gold Corp. For further information, please contact: RISE GOLD CORP Suite 650, 669 Howe Street Vancouver, BC V6C 0B4 T: 604.260.4577 info@risegoldcorp.com www.risegoldcorp.com The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the contents of this news release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking statements are frequently characterized by words such as "plan", "expect", "project", "intend", "believe", "anticipate", "estimate" and other similar words or statements that certain events or conditions "may" or "will" occur. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking statements are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks, uncertainties and assumptions related to certain factors including, without limitation, the exercise of warrants of Rise Gold Corp. and the appointment of certain directors, officers and technical advisors. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information contained in this release. Rise Gold undertakes no obligation to update forward-looking statements or information except as required by law. Blockchain Protocol For Digital Advertising Exceeds Transaction Volume Requirements GRAND CAYMAN, Cayman Islands, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Kochava Labs SEZC, a research and development subsidiary of Kochava Inc., announces its second round of strategic partners to participate in OnXCHNG, the partnership program for the industry's open source blockchain framework for the digital advertising ecosystem, XCHNG. New OnXCHNG partners include supply-side exchanges, mediation and networks, PeerStream, Inc. (OTCQB: PEER), Receptiv, EQ Works (TSXV: EQ), FeedMob, Heart Media, Instal, Zedge, Sulvo, and Mobidays. Data provider, Datastream Group, Inc., is also now part of the OnXCHNG Partner Program. Kochava CEO Charles Manning, said, "We are thrilled about the growing participation and buy-in from industry partners. OnXCHNG partner participation is crucial for us as we fulfill our vision of building a unified framework for digital advertising on the blockchain. While almost every industry vertical is excited about blockchain's potential, brands and advertisers are most interested in the applicability of blockchain to digital advertising. More importantly, they want to know whether blockchain will address some of the most pressing issues facing the industry today, including brand safety, fraud, and lack of transparency. With XCHNG, we have the potential to shift the paradigm and deliver on the operational value of blockchain for marketers. In the early stages of the project, the emphasis for XCHNG has been to onboard publishers in an effort to build up inventory. In our discussions with advertisers, they are universally enthusiastic about the opportunity to access such a broad range of inventory sources in one place via a standardized, efficient framework." XCHNG is being built as a base layer infrastructure for the digital advertising ecosystem and is designed to provide the benefits of blockchain to both buyers and sellers of digital advertising. For all players within the ecosystem, limited changes will be required in order to participate in the advantages of blockchain. By becoming an OnXCHNG partner, publishers and advertisers will be given an opportunity to be directly involved with the protocol's development from the beginning as the infrastructure is completed. Partners will be given access to the codebase so they may be one of the first to build applications on the protocol. They will also be given insight into and influence over the development roadmap and other incentives. XCHNG leverages smart contract technology and enables market-driven payment providers to facilitate escrow, fiat conversion, or payment depending on the needs of the participants in an insertion order (IO). The digitization and tokenization of IOs will thereby treat digital ads as a true asset class. During the Kochava Mobile Summit in February, attendees witnessed a live demo of XCHNG, which demonstrated the ability to handle 180,000 transactions per smart contract IO. Through a combination of sharding (in which consensus work is split through different branches of the blockchain), side chain architecture, a daily rolling chain, Proof of Stake, and other innovative technologies, this live test translates to millions of digital ads serviced per second, making XCHNG one of the fastest blockchain protocols in existence. "Brands and advertisers across the board have very serious concerns that need to be addressed. Recently, the Wall Street Journal reported that PG&E, the world's largest advertiser, had cut approximately $200 million in digital ad spending in 2017, partly because data showed a large portion of their ad spend was wasted. The same article stated that advertisers are disappointed in publishers' ability to deliver what they promise, and have taken to policing their ad placements themselves," Manning continued. "It's been a challenge for the industry to find a solution that will improve the ecosystem as a whole. The XCHNG platform is centered around the next generation insertion order. Along with the benefits of transparency and security that comes with blockchain technology, we want to create a space where advertisers can receive a trustworthy record of placement and service of their ads." Since its inception in 2011, Kochava Inc. has aimed to better understand the feedback loop between user acquisition, engagement, and lifetime value throughout the digital ecosystem. Their clientele includes the world's top advertisers and Fortune 100 companies, which depend on Kochava to measure over $6 billion in ad spend annually. Through their industry-leading technology, Kochava sheds light on the effectiveness of ad spend on all connected devices and is uniquely positioned to deliver this blockchain solution to the industry. For more information about XCHNG visit https://www.xchng.io/. Kochava CEO Charles Manning is available for interview About XCHNG XCHNG is an open and unified blockchain-based framework for the digital advertising ecosystem. Designed and deployed by Kochava Labs SEZC, a research and development subsidiary of Kochava Inc., the XCHNG framework is centered around a common Ricardian Smart Contract with an open blockchain implementation to persist transactional history and provide supporting utilities required for maximizing efficiency through the lifecycle of the IO. XCHNG enables the related targeting and activation of audiences, bolsters ad-spend efficiency and transparency, establishes a next-generation system of record for all participants, and provides the opportunity to tokenize the framework to treat digital as a true asset class, standardizing the valuation of ads. For more information, visit https://xchng.io/. About Kochava Inc. Kochava Inc. offers a unique, holistic and unbiased analytics platform to plan, target, engage, measure and optimize media spend. The Kochava Platform for mobile and connected devices combines potent features and global coverage with thousands of network and publisher integrations, allowing advertisers to target audiences and measure campaign performance with precision. Real-time customizable visualizations give users fluid access to a full spectrum of data points, providing robust segmentation capabilities and real-time actionability. Yielding the most powerful tools in the ecosystem, Kochava Inc. is chosen by brands across industry verticals to measure the largest and most sophisticated ad campaigns. For more information, visit https://www.kochava.com/. Media Contact: Gaby Hui Wachsman gaby@wachsman.com (917) 602-1681 Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/618836/Kochava_XCHNG_Logo.jpg LOS ANGELES, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- FN Media Group Presents USA News Group News Commentary USA News Group - Canada's largest retail pharmacy chain, Shoppers Drug Mart continues to lend possibly the most important voice of credibility to the emerging legal cannabis market-so far, having signed supplier deals with three of Canada's largest cannabis growers, and leaving the door open for more to come. With over 1,250 stores across Canada, the chain owned by Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) (OTC: LBLCF) is a national retail heavyweight. So when Shoppers Drug Martsigned its latest supply deal with cannabis giant Aurora Cannabis (TSX: ACB) (OTC: ACBFF), it marked the fourth supplier deal the retailer has inked, and the third with a Canadian major. Two of the other companies that have already inked agreements with the retailer were Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), and MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF), late last year. The retail vote of confidence for the emerging cannabis sector started early-Parent company Loblaw Companies Ltd. applied in October 2016 for a license to dispense medical marijuana. Other pharmacies such as Lovell Drugs and PharmaChoice have already signed deals with other cannabis suppliers; However it's the intensity of the spotlight that Shoppers Drug Mart casts that lends to speculation of which company will be the next to garner the retailer's favorable access to mainstream consumers. One potential new cannabis supplier for Shoppers Drug Mart could be up-and-comer MYM Nutraceuticals (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF), which is in line to have Canada's largest cannabis greenhouse facility in Weedon, Quebec, and is partnered on Australia's largest in New South Wales. How many suppliers that Shoppers Drug Mart will carry is still yet to be determined. Should an MYM Nutraceuticals (CSE: MYM) (OTC: MYMMF) or another outfit join the ranks of Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF), MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF), and now Aurora Cannabis (TSX: ACB) (OTC:ACBFF), it would be yet another significant stamp of approval given by a leading retailer in the leadup to legalization. SHOPPERS LIKES BIG GROWERS The addition of Aurora Cannabis to the Shoppers Drug Mart portfolio was another signal that bigger is better to the retailer. Primary to the deal is the expectation that Aurora's products will be sold online, according to the press release. "The Shoppers and Aurora brands are trusted to deliver high-quality products and excellent customer service," said Terry Booth, CEO of Aurora Cannabis. "Partnering with Shoppers Drug Mart, Canada's largest pharmacy retailer, is yet another validation of the scale and maturity of our company, and of the demand for Aurora's medical cannabis. With its massive facility located adjacent to the Edmonton International Airport, Aurora is one of the largest producers in the country operating today. Not to be outdone, fellow Shoppers Drug Mart supplier, MedReleaf recently announced the purchase of 164-acre property in Exeter, Ontario, which includes 1 million square feet of existing greenhouse. The property adds 105,000 kilograms of cannabis production capacity annually to MedReleaf's balance sheet. However, it's the upcoming 1.5 million square feet of growing space planned by MYM Nutraceuticals in Weedon, Quebec that stands to be the largest project in the country once completed. Once coupled with the company's primary facility in Laval, Quebec, and with its international ventures in Australia, and Colombia, MYM should have a line of suitors that could very well include Shoppers Drug Mart in the coming months. MYM'S MASSIVE FOOTPRINTS In the lead-up to construction on its massive 1.5 million square-foot facility at Weedon, MYM Nutraceuticals received a boost of confidence and cash from a recent $10,000,000 financing that will move the company closer to its goals in 2018. "All of us at MYM are very excited about the future of our company," said Rob Gietl, CEO of MYM in the accompanying press release. "This excitement extends to our family and friends who have participated in this non-brokered financing. We have many major milestones to achieve this year that will shape MYM for years to come. Continued global expansion and leveraging the relationships we have built, will ensure that MYM and its shareholders have a bright future." The net proceeds are intended to be used towards general working capital and corporate purposes as the company pursues development on its two Quebec production projects, and its partnered 1.2 million square foot production facility dubbed the Northern Rivers Project in New South Wales, Australia. At the Weedon, Quebec project, MYM currently owns 75% (which goes up to 90% upon completion), and is set to help the municipality become the official cannabis capital of Canada. While there are other mega-greenhouse projects in other provinces in Canada, MYM's decision to house their operations in Quebec was very strategic- From an economic perspective, it can't be ignored how cheap Quebec's costs are. Quebec labor costs on average 34% less than in the US, and 16% less than in G7 countries. Electricity is 36% cheaper than in the US, and 49% lower, on average, than in the G7 countries. Quebec's taxes on investment are the lowest in Canada, and more importantly lower than the average of the US, G7 countries, and the OECD countries. The province offers an investment tax credit that covers up to 24% of the cost of newly purchased manufacturing and processing equipment, and reimburses sales tax on capital goods. Once MYM's Weedon location is opened, there's a possibility that it can provide MYM with a quantity-, and location-based cost advantage that could benefit them to the point of making a deal with a retail giant such as Shoppers Drug Mart. With cash in hand, and a steady momentum, it could be a good year for MYM Nutraceuticals. POTENTIAL COMPARABLES Aurora Cannabis (TSX: ACB) (OTC:ACBFF) Aurora Cannabis boasts the second highest square footage approved for cannabis production in Canada. Together with its subsidiaries, Aurora produces and distributes medical marijuana products in Canada. The company's products consist of dried cannabis and cannabis oil. Aurora is the only cannabis producer located in the province of Alberta, giving the company a cost advantage through its free use of fresh mountain-fed water used on site, and housed under the lowest corporate tax rates and power rates in Canada. Capitalizing on numerous farm credit programs provided by the province, Aurora has positioned itself as arguably the lowest cost-per-gram licensed producer in Canada. Aurora became a licensed producer in 2015, and is based in Edmonton, Alberta. Aphria Inc. (TSX: APH) (OTC: APHQF) Aphria is one of Canada's lowest cost licensed cannabis producers, specializing in the production, suppy, and sale of medical cannabis. The company offers sativa, indica, and hybrid medical marijuana products, as well as cannabis oils. It also provides support services in the form of medical consultations, group therapies, and rehabilitation to veteran and first responders. The company sells its products through its online store or phones, as well as engages in the wholesale shipping of medical marijuana plant cuttings and dried buds to other licensed producers. Aphria Inc. is headquartered in Leamington, Canada. MedReleaf Corp. (TSX: LEAF) (OTC: MEDFF) MedReleaf produces and sells cannabis-based pharmaceutical products in Canada. It offers dried cannabis, cannabis oils, and cannabis oil capsules; and various accessories, including grinders, vaporizers, and lockable containers. MedReleaf was Canada's first and only ISO 9001 and ICH-GMP certified producer of medical cannabis. It recently announced a joint venture with an Australian partner for cultivation and production of medical cannabis in Australia. The company was incorporated in 2013 and is headquartered in Markham, Canada. OTHER COMPANIES MENTIONED Loblaw Companies Limited (TSX: L) (OTC: LBLCF) Loblaw is a food and pharmacy company, which provides grocery, pharmacy, health and beauty, apparel, general merchandise, credit card, insurance brokerage, gift card, and telecommunication services in Canada. It operates through three segments: Retail, Financial Services, and Choice Properties. The Retail segment operates corporate and franchise-owned retail food and associate-owned drug stores, including instore pharmacies, other health and beauty products, apparel, and other general merchandise. Loblaw Companies Limited was founded in 1919 and is headquartered in Brampton, Canada. For a more in-depth look into MYM Nutraceuticals you can view the in-depth report at American News Group: http://americannewsgroup.com/2017/12/06/meet-the-biggest-money-making-industry-of-2017-and-beyond/ Article Source: USA News Group http://usanewsgroup.com info@usanewsgroup.com Legal Disclaimer/Disclosure: This piece is an advertorial and has been paid for. This document is not and should not be construed as an offer to sell or the solicitation of an offer to purchase or subscribe for any investment. No information in this Report should be construed as individualized investment advice. A licensed financial advisor should be consulted prior to making any investment decision. We make no guarantee, representation or warranty and accept no responsibility or liability as to its accuracy or completeness. Expressions of opinion are those of USA News Group only and are subject to change without notice. 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This release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward-looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbor provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. "Forward-looking statements" describe future expectations, plans, results, or strategies and are generally preceded by words such as "may", "future", "plan" or "planned", "will" or "should", "expected," "anticipates", "draft", "eventually" or "projected". You are cautioned that such statements are subject to a multitude of risks and uncertainties that could cause future circumstances, events, or results to differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements, including the risks that actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements as a result of various factors, and other risks identified in a company's annual report on Form 10-K or 10-KSB and other filings made by such company with the Securities and Exchange Commission. You should consider these factors in evaluating the forward-looking statements included herein, and not place undue reliance on such statements. The forward-looking statements in this release are made as of the date hereof and FNM undertakes no obligation to update such statements. Media Contact Information: FN Media Group, LLC e-mail: editor@financialnewsmedia.com U.S. Phone: +1(954)345-0611 LONDON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CoinGeek.com is committed to building Bitcoin BCH (also known as Bitcoin Cash) into a global, low-fee peer-to-peer digital currency and there are many strands that need enhancing for that to become a reality. The first is merchant adoption which is happening as we speak and CoinGeek are hosting a bComm conference to showcase BCH to merchants in Hong Kong on May 18th. Another important need is to train more developers to work in blockchain technology, because experienced blockchain developers are in short supply. CoinGeek.com and its own Calvin Ayre are doing their part by contributing over USD $150,000 to fund a blockchain developer training program in the Philippines, the world's second largest IT outsourcing destination. CoinGeek are partnering on the venture with StackLab (a StackTrek Enterprises' company), the on-the-ground operator for the training program. StackLab seeks to create technology hubs in next-generation cities of the Philippines, and the first of its blockchain training programs will be in the city of Iloilo. A minimum of 50 developers will be trained on developments skills focusing on the Bitcoin BCH blockchain. Trainees will be selected at a coding tournament using a the world's most unbiased programmer capability evaluation test, which was funded by the World Bank and is recognized by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers (IEEE); only participants testing in the top two levels (top 2% and 11%) will qualify for the StackLab program. After the complete the 6-month training program, the developer trainees will receive support from StackLab to find employment - with the aim of transforming developing cities such as Iloilo into new technology centers for the Philippines. Also joining the program will be nChain, the global leader in blockchain research and development based in London, United Kingdom. nChain will help shape the training program curriculum, and provide projects for the trainees to work on. The training programs will be focused on coding on the Bitcoin BCH chain, the one true public blockchain. This initiative is another of Calvin Ayre's many social initiatives for the Philippines. LONDON, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Leading Companies, Trends and Developments in the Growing Theranostics Market Report Details What can be expected from the Companion Diagnostics market? Which areas are going to grow at the fastest rates? This visiongain report shows you potential revenues to 2028, assessing data, trends, opportunities and prospects there. (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/523989/Visiongain_Logo.jpg ) Our 183-page report provides 127 tables, charts, and graphs. Discover the most lucrative areas in the industry and the future market prospects. Our new study lets you assess forecasted sales across the whole companion diagnostics market. You will see financial results, trends, opportunities, and revenue predictions. There is much opportunity in this fast moving market. Forecasts from 2018-2028 and other analyses show you commercial prospects Besides revenue forecasting to 2028, our new study provides you with recent results, growth rates, and market shares. Discover qualitative analyses (including SWOT and Porter's Five Forces analysis) and commercial developments. The report also includes will find revenue forecasts to 2028 for the following submarkets in the companion diagnostics market: Theranostics Other Companion Diagnostics Additionally, this report includes a forecast to 2026 for the global in vitro diagnostics market. The report also includes will find revenue forecasts to 2028 for the following national and regional markets for companion diagnostics: US Germany France Italy Spain UK Japan China India Russia Brazil South Korea The report provides detailed profiles of key companies operating within the companion diagnostics market: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Qiagen N.V. Abbott Laboratories Agilent Technologies Myriad Genetics bioMerieux Thermo Fisher Scientific Leading companies and potential for market growth Overall revenue for the Companion Diagnostics market will reach $14.60n in 2023, our work forecasts. We predict strong revenue growth through to 2028. Advances in cellular and tissue research, an improving regulatory landscape, strong support from governments in multiple regions and the launch of several new therapies in areas of unmet clinical need will drive sales to 2028. Our work analyses the key companies in the market. See visiongain's analysis of 7 leading companies, including these: F. Hoffmann-La Roche Ltd Qiagen N.V. Abbott Laboratories Agilent Technologies Myriad Genetics bioMerieux Thermo Fisher Scientific A company profile gives you the following information where available: Discussion of a company's activities and outlook Historic revenue, analysis and discussion of company performance over the past 5 years Analysis of major products currently on the market Acquisitions and strategic partnerships Discover capabilities, progress, and commercial prospects, helping you stay ahead. What issues will affect the companion diagnostics industry? Our new report discusses issues and events affecting the companion diagnostics market. You will find discussions, including qualitative analyses: Highly diverse market needing strong knowledge of key therapeutic indications Changing regulatory landscape challenging new entrants and major market players alike Emerging therapies with the potential to reshape the market You will see discussions of technological, commercial, and economic matters, with emphasis on the competitive landscape and business outlooks. How the Companion Diagnostics: Market Forecast 2018-2028 report helps you In summary, our 183-page report gives you the following knowledge: Revenue forecasts to 2028 for the Companion Diagnostics market - discover the industry's prospects, finding promising places for investments and revenues Revenue forecasts to 2028 for each major submarket - discover prospects for leading companion diagnostics products in the following areas: theranostics and other companion diagnostics. Revenue forecasts to 2028 for twelve leading national markets - US, Germany, France, Italy, Spain, UK, Japan, China, India, Russia, Brazil and South Korea Assessment of 7 leading companies - analysis of products, revenue, mergers & acquisitions, sales by region and products Discussion of what stimulates and restrains companies and the market Prospects for established firms and those seeking to enter the market You will find quantitative and qualitative analyses with independent predictions. You will receive information that only our report contains, staying informed with this invaluable business intelligence. Information found nowhere else With our survey you are less likely to fall behind in knowledge or miss opportunities. See how you could benefit your research, analyses, and decisions. Also see how you can save time and receive recognition for commercial insight. Visiongain's study is for everybody needing commercial analyses for the companion diagnostics market and leading companies. You will find data, trends and predictions. Please order our report now. To request a report overview of this report please email Sara Peerun at sara.peerun@visiongain.com or call Tel: +44-(0)-20-7336-6100 Or click on: https://www.visiongain.com/Report/2168/The-Companion-Diagnostics-(CDx)-Market-Forecast-2018-2028 Companies and Organisations Mentioned 20/20 Gene Systems Abbott Diagnostics Abbott Molecular Affymetrix Agilent (Dako) Almac Ambry Genetics Amgen Arca bipharma Arno Astellas Pharma AstraZeneca Asuragen Bayer Biogenex Laboratories, Inc. bioMerieux Biomonitor Boehringer Ingelheim Brain Resource Company Bristol-Myers Squibb Cancer Research UK CancerGuide Diagnostics Caprion Proteomics Caris Life Sciences Celera (acquired by Quest Diagnostics) Celgene Cepheid ChemGenex Pharmaceuticals Clarient Clinical Reference Laboratory Clovis College of American Pathology (CAP) CompanDx Crescendo Bioscience Curidium Medica Dako (Agilent) Deloitte DiagnoCure Dx assays DxS Eli Lilly Endocyte European Medicines Agency (EMA) Exosome Diagnostics Ferring Flagship Biosciences FlowMetric Diagnostics Foundation Medical Foundation Medicine Genentech Genfit Genia Technologies Genmab GenMark Diagnostics Gilead Sciences GlaxoSmithKline GSK Hexie Health HistologiX Idera Illumina ImmunoGen Incyte InDex Pharmaceuticals IntegraGen Inverness Medical Innovations (now known as Alere) Invivoscribe Technologies Ipsen Ipsogen IQuum Janssen Pharmaceutical Kimball Genetics (a division of LabCorp) Kunlun Health Insurance Lab Corp Lab21 Laboratory for Personalized Molecular Medicine Leica Leica Biosystems Leica Micosystems Life Technologies Medical Research Council Medicare MedImmune (AstraZeneca) Merck Merck Serono MolecularMD Monogram Biosciences Myriad Genetics Myriad RBM Nanosphere Nanostring NanoString Technologies National Health Insurance (NHI) (South Korea) NIH Northern Institute for Cancer Research Novartis Oxford BioTherapeutics (earlier Oxford Genome Sciences) Pacific Diagnostics Clinical Laboratory (ResearchDx) Pfizer PICC Health Insurance Ping An Insurance Group Prionics Progenika Biopharma Prometheus Protagen Protagen Diagnostics Qiagen Quintiles Quintiles Transnational Corporation Randox Pharma Services ResearchDx Resonance Health Resonance Health Analysis Services RiboMed Biotechnologies Roche Rule-Based Medicine Saladax Biomedical ServizioSanitarioNazionale (SSN) Siemens Siemens Healthcare Signal Genetics Sirius Genomics Sistema Unico de Saude (SUS) Skyline Diagnostics Solvay Innogenetics Sysmex Inostics Takeda's Millennium unit Target Discovery TcLand Expression TESARO The Association of British Pharmaceutical Industries The Food and Drug Administration (FDA) The Haute Autorite de sante (HAS) The National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE) Theranostics (NZ) Theranostics Health Thermo Fisher Thermo Fisher Scientific Third Wave Technologies (Hologic) TIB MolBiol Tocagen Tragara Pharmaceuticals Transgenomic TRICARE TrimGen Corporation Tufts Center for the Study of Drug Development Unilabs University of Newcastle Ventana Medical Systems (a subsidiary of Roche) ViiV Healthcare Weisenthal Cancer Group To see a report overview please email Sara Peerun on sara.peerun@visiongain.com Amanda Benfell PR Manager +44 20 7467 8125 amanda.benfell@warc.com LONDON, Apr 19, 2018 - (ACN Newswire) - WARC, the global marketing intelligence service, has today released 'Lessons from the world's top effectiveness campaigns' to uncover shared creative, media and measurement strategies. The report analyses the results of the latest WARC 100, an annual ranking of campaigns based on their performance in effectiveness awards from around the world.The four lessons from the 2018 WARC 100 analysis are:1. Effective campaigns increasingly have PR 'baked in'Analysis of campaigns in this year's WARC 100 reveal the increasing use of PR in their channel strategies. This reflects the rise of creative ideas built to gain press coverage and other earned media. Several ideas at the top of the ranking centre around a highly PR-able stunt or concept, like the Transport Accident Association's 'Graham', that can generate content across channels and media.2. TV-led and video-led - two different modelsThis year a dominance of video - both online and TV - is evident in the winning campaigns. Analysis of campaigns led by TV and campaigns led by online video show they are key to emotional creative strategies. Budgets tend to be higher for TV-led campaigns, and the media mix differs between the two groups as a result. Though social media is the most common support channel regardless of lead media, OOH and print are more commonly present in the mix of TV-led campaigns, with word-of-mouth and PR supporting a higher proportion of online video-led strategies.3. The use of partnerships is on the riseOver the past two years, the use of partnerships as a creative strategy has increased in WARC 100 campaigns. Utilising the reach or credibility of partner organisations was an effective strategy for four of the top 10 campaigns this year, with both expected and unusual partnerships seeing success. Though seen across the whole WARC 100, partnerships saw particular use in campaigns targeting millennials, like Burger King's 'The McWhopper Proposal'.4. Brands are looking for multi-year platformsLong-term ideas are a growing feature of the WARC 100 as brands look to squeeze more out of their platforms. The continuing presence of the John Lewis Christmas campaigns in the WARC 100 provides a great case for the success of long-term campaigns. John Lewis has taken the Christmas period and turned it into an advertising event, annually driving huge amounts of publicity, engagement and ultimately return on their investment. Two further top 10 campaigns for Ariel and Snickers have reworked or evolved ongoing campaign themes with success over the past year, using the power of association to grow and reinforce the memory's perception of brands over time.David Tiltman, Head of Content, WARC, says: "This year's analysis of the WARC 100 reveals some major long-term trends in effective advertising. Brands are increasingly looking for ideas with high PR impact, and marketing platforms with potential to run across multiple years - and with budgets under pressure in many markets, those trends are set to continue."The WARC 100 is now part of the Gunn Report, which tracks the winners' lists from all the most important advertising award contests, globally. The results of 70+ effectiveness competitions are used to compile the WARC 100, which now in its fifth year, is built on a rigorous methodology, developed in consultation with King's College London. The methodology is applied consistently across all global, regional and national competitions tracked.More information on the WARC 100 ranking on www.warc.com/gunnreport/warc100 and its analysis report is available on www.warc.com/gunnreport.About WARC 100 & MethodologyThe WARC 100 is an annual ranking of the world's effective advertising and marketing campaigns - and the companies behind them. In 2018, the WARC 100 became one of Gunn Report's rankings, complementing the Gunn 100 ranking for creativity in advertising.To compile the WARC 100, WARC and Gunn Report track over 70 different advertising competitions around the world - all of them require entrants to show the impact of a campaign. Campaigns, (and the brands and agencies behind them, are awarded points based on the level of award they win and each competition is weighted based on how rigorous and prestigious it is.The WARC 100 methodology was developed in consultation with Douglas West, Professor of Marketing at Kings College, London. The awards shows tracked will remain confidential to avoid prejudicing entries to competitions.About WARC - your global authority on advertising and media effectivenesswarc.com is an online service offering advertising best practice, evidence, insights and data from the world's leading brands. WARC helps clients grow their businesses by using proven approaches to maximise advertising effectiveness. WARC's clients include the world's largest advertising and media agencies, research companies, universities and advertisers.WARC publishes three global rankings of advertising excellence: Gunn 100 (creativity), WARC 100 (effectiveness), Gunn Media 100 (media innovation). Additionally WARC runs two global and two regional case study competitions: WARC Awards, WARC Media Awards, WARC Prize for Asian Strategy and WARC Prize for MENA Strategy. In addition to its own content, WARC features advertising case studies and best practices from more than 50 respected industry sources, including: ARF, Effies, Cannes Lions, ESOMAR and IPA.Founded in 1985, WARC is privately owned and has offices in the UK, U.S. and Singapore.About Gunn Report- The global index of creative, effective and media excellence in advertisingGunn Report celebrates award-winning qualities in advertising. It ranks the world's best creative, effective and media ideas as well as companies and countries based on their performance in the most important international, regional and national creative, media, effective and strategy awards contests to produce Gunn 100, WARC 100 and Gunn Media 100.The campaigns it showcases have the power to produce an immediate impact on sales and a longer-term impact on brand building. The Gunn Report's research articles further demonstrate the commercial power of creativity.As well as the various rankings, Gunn Report offers a library of more than 3,500 award-winning creative campaigns and a series of research studies. The Gunn Report was founded by Donald Gunn in 1999 and was acquired by WARC in 2016. Gunn Report is available online by subscription.Source: Gunn ReportContact:Copyright 2018 ACN Newswire . All rights reserved. Top Tiger Program Recognizes Fastest Growing Companies Run by Auburn University Alumni HUNTSVILLE, Ala., April 16, 2018 - MartinFederal was recognized as a 2018 Top Tiger nominee by Auburn University at an awards luncheon on Friday, April 6. The Top Tiger program identifies, awards, and celebrates the top fastest growing companies led by Auburn University alumni. Corey Martin is the founder, CEO, and president of MartinFederal. He earned his Bachelor of Science and Master of Science degrees, both in Computer Science, from the university. Founded in 2006, MartinFederal provides support to the federal government in the areas of cyber and systems security, enterprise and IT support, intelligence services, and programmatics. Corey Martin said, "It's an honor for our team to be recognized with such an outstanding group of small to medium size businesses. Auburn's creed says, 'we believe in work, hard work,' and I think it is that foundation that creates opportunities for growth. Auburn has influenced our team in many ways, and it's humbling to be recognized in such a way." The awards ceremony was presented by Auburn University's Raymond J. Harbert College of Business, in partnership with Business Alabama magazine and Warren Averett CPAs and Advisors. Top Tigers were determined by Warren Averett and are categorized by company size - small, medium, and large. To qualify for consideration, companies must be founded, owned, or led by an Auburn University alumnus; be in business for at least four years; have revenues of at least $500,000 by the end of the evaluation period (FY 2016); and operate in a manner consistent with the Auburn Creed. Approximately 300 nominations were submitted for this year's program. MartinFederal was recognized in the medium company category ($5 million to $35 million in revenue). ### About MartinFederal: Headquartered in Huntsville, AL, MartinFederal is an 8(a) minority, certified Service-Disabled Veteran-Owned Small Business (SDVOSB) and Small Disadvantaged Business (SDB). Currently celebrating its 10th year in business, the company provides professional services including advanced IT and system integration, mission and space operations, training and development, and laboratory and technical support to customers in the DoD, DoE, DOJ, and NASA. MartinFederal has employees located in nine states, Kuwait, and Iraq. For more information, contact: Elizabeth Griffith PR Manager, BID Comms (256) 489-2815 elizabeth.griffith@bidcomms.com Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - PowerBand Solutions Inc. (TSXV: PBX) ("PowerBand" or the "Company") announces, further to its news release of April 11, 2018, that the Company has received TSX Venture Exchange approval to consolidate the Company's issued share capital on a ratio of four (4) old common shares for every one (1) new post-consolidated common share (the "Consolidation"). The Consolidation will be effective at the opening of trading on Friday, April 20, 2018. The Company will keep the same name and stock symbol. The Company's CUSIP and ISIN numbers will be changed to 73934B400 and CA73934B4001, respectively. About PowerBand Solutions Inc. PowerBand Solutions Inc. is a technology provider listed on the TSX Venture Exchange that is developing solutions for automotive and other industries that drive efficiency and transparency in the marketplace. PowerBand has developed and commercialized a leading-edge Software-as-a-Service auction and finance portal platform that increases revenues and profit margins for its automotive dealership, Original Equipment Manufacturer, commercial fleet and rental company customers. PowerBand's auction platform, the PowerBand Exchange, incorporates the industry's latest auction technologies, market intelligence, and appraisal processes to increase its customers' control and productivity. For further information, please contact: Richard Goldman, Vice President, Finance (866) 768-7653 rgoldman@powerbandsolutions.com FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This news release contains forward-looking statements relating to the Company and other statements that are not historical facts. Forward-looking statements are often identified by terms such as "will", "may", "should", "anticipate", "expects" and similar expressions. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this release, including, without limitation, statements regarding future plans and objectives of the Company, are forward looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate and actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The reader is cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of any forward-looking information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted, as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. As a result, we cannot guarantee that any forward-looking statement will materialize and the reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on any forward-looking information. Such information, although considered reasonable by management at the time of preparation, may prove to be incorrect and actual results may differ materially from those anticipated. Forward-looking statements contained in this news release are expressly qualified by this cautionary statement. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as at the date of this news release, and the Company does not undertake any obligation to update publicly or to revise any of the included forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as expressly required by Canadian securities law. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this news release. Toronto, Ontario--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Generic Gold Corp. (CSE: GGC) ("Generic Gold" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the acquisition of the Summit gold property ("Summit" or "the Project") from Goldstrike Resources Ltd ("Goldstrike"). Summit was staked by Nevada Zinc Corp. (parent company to Generic Gold) in 2010 and has been under option to Goldstrike since 2011. Goldstrike explored the Project over three field seasons, consisting of soil sampling, prospecting, ground geophysics, and mechanical trenching, and returned the property to Generic Gold on April 10, 2018. Summit is located in the Watson Lake mining district, approximately 200 kilometres east of the village of Faro, Yukon, and straddles the border of Yukon and Northwest Territories. The Project comprises 86 contiguous mineral claims consisting of approximately 1,800 hectares. The Project is accessible by helicopter and float plane from a base station on Nahanni Range road, approximately 50 kilometres to the southeast. President and CEO, Kelly Malcolm commented: "I am very happy to report on the acquisition of the highly prospective Summit property. This non-dilutive acquisition adds another significant gold-focused Yukon project to the Generic Gold property portfolio. Goldstrike had great success in moving the property to the near drill-ready state with significant trenching, prospecting, and soil sampling results, including trench results of 2.74 g/t Au over 5 metres and grab samples up to 11.41 g/t Au. This project has been sitting dormant since 2013 due to Goldstrike's successes on its Plateau and Lucky Strike projects and we look forward to continued exploration and advancement of this underexplored gold discovery." The Summit property is located within the Selwyn Basin geological province and underlain by Precambrian to Lower Cambrian Hyland Group rocks within a regional northwest plunging anticlinorium. The property was staked to cover the inferred source of a 99th percentile regional gold-arsenic-antimony stream sediment anomaly taken by the Geological Survey of Canada and because of the property's similarities in geology and geochemistry to Atac Resources' Osiris discovery. In 2011, a reconnaissance program consisting of prospecting, mapping, soil, silt, and rock sampling was completed, resulting in three Au-As-Sb soil anomalies and rock samples grading up to 5.3 g/t Au. In 2012, a focussed follow-up program was completed with grab samples reaching up to 9.9 g/t Au. In 2013, Goldstrike completed a trenching program resulting in trench samples grading up to 2.74 g/t Au over 5 metres and individual grab samples reaching up to 11.4 g/t Au. A summary of exploration highlights is included in figure 1. Figure 1: Summit Exploration Highlights To view an enhanced version of Figure 1, please visit: http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3923/34112_a1524083021635_15.jpg The two most robust anomalies identified on the Summit project include: The Everest Zone; consisting of a north-trending 800 m by 300 m Au-As-Sb soil anomaly that overlaps with a north-south steeply dipping strike-slip fault. A bedrock trench sample assaying 2.74 g/t Au over 5 m, including 7.47 g/t Au over 1 m, was taken at the southern edge of the soil anomaly and is hosted by highly oxidized and fracture quartz breccia and vein material. Twelve rock grab samples of mineralized quartz vein and breccia float returned values ranging from 0.39 to 11.41 g/t Au. Fresh (i.e., unoxidized) samples of quartz breccia show that the gold is associated with arsenopyrite veinlets and disseminated pyrite that decompose to hematite or limonite. The K2 Zone; consisting of a 400 m by 800 m north-east trending Au-As-Sb soil anomaly and remains open to the north-east. Four rock grab samples of mineralized quartz breccia were taken, similar to the Everest Zone, with grades ranging from 0.66 to 7.1 g/t Au. The Summit Project displays similarities to many gold occurrences located southeast and northwest of the Project. The Rackla Gold project (ATAC Resources), 3 Aces project (Golden Predator), and the Hyland project (Banyan Gold) discoveries are prime examples of these gold occurrences and are collectively located in the Hyland gold belt. These gold occurrences are all underlain by similar Hyland group sedimentary rocks and situated along the same or similar regional-scale Little Owls Anticlinorium and March thrust fault. These properties all share similar Au-As-Sb geochemical soil signatures associated with north-south faulting and host gold mineralization in quartz breccia/veins associated with arsenopyrite similar to the Summit Property. The mineralization seen at the Summit Property is believed to be derived from an orogenic source and represents an extreme extension of the Hyland Gold Trend. Kelly Malcolm, P.Geo, President and CEO of Generic Gold, a Qualified Person as that term is defined by Canadian regulatory guidelines under National Instrument 43-101, has read and approved the technical information contained in this press release. The historical results discussed above have not been verified by the Company, however the samples were analyzed with industry standard methods and subjected to a rigorous QA/QC protocal which was reviewed by Goldstrike's Qualified Person and are thus considered relevant and valid. About Generic Gold Generic Gold is a Canadian mineral exploration company focused on gold projects in the Tintina Gold Belt in the Yukon Territory of Canada. The Company's exploration portfolio consists of ten projects with a total land position of 39,820 hectares, all of which are 100% owned by Generic Gold. Several of these projects are in close proximity to significant gold deposits with multi-million ounce NI 43-101-compliant resources, including Goldcorp's Coffee project, Victoria Gold's Eagle Gold project, White Gold's Golden Saddle project, and Western Copper & Gold's Casino project. Generic Gold's board of directors and management team is led by experienced mining industry professionals, with expertise in exploration, finance, capital markets, and mine development. For information on the Company's property portfolio, visit the Company's website at genericgold.ca. For further information contact: Kelly Malcolm, President and CEO Tel: 647-299-1153 kmalcolm@genericgold.ca NEITHER THE CANADIAN SECURITIES EXCHANGE NOR THEIR REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDERS ACCEPT RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Certain statements in this press release are "forward-looking" statements within the meaning of Canadian securities legislation. All statements, other than statements of historical fact, included herein are forward-looking information. Forward-looking statements are necessarily based upon the current belief, opinions and expectations of management that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to business, economic, competitive, political and social uncertainties and other contingencies. Many factors could cause the Company's actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and forward-looking information. The Company does not undertake to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information that are incorporated by reference herein, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. Investors are cautioned not to put undue reliance on forward-looking statements due to the inherent uncertainty therein. We seek safe harbour. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - good natured Products Inc. ("good naturedTM") (TSXV: GDNP), is pleased to be celebrating Earth Day this year through its growing partnership and product assortment with sustainably-minded Western Canada retailer, London Drugs. Cannot view this image? Please visit http://orders.newsfilecorp.com/files/3674/34119_a1524089568724_62.jpg to view this image From responsible sourcing to packaging take-back, London Drugs has a range of initiatives in place focused on doing what's right for the planet and its communities. "The environment is at the forefront of everything we do at London Drugs, from operations to our product assortment," said Cliff Fong, General Merchandise Buyer, London Drugs. "Through our Earth Month promotions, we're helping to raise awareness of earth-friendly products and the companies and brands that are committed to making a difference." Cliff continued that: "London Drugs has been a supporter of good natured from its inception. Over the years, we have continued to increase our good natured product assortment and are looking forward to introducing additional good natured plant-based alternatives to our customers in the coming months." London Drugs currently offers all four of good natured's Recyclers which include the most popular shapes and sizes from the versatile Handy Recycler for use in any room to the largest Curbside Recycler for garage and outdoor use. All good natured products look and perform as well or better than traditional plastics, but instead are made with 90% plant-based material and contain no BPAs, phthalates or other nasty chemicals. Paul Antoniadis, CEO of good natured added: "We're very excited to be celebrating two years with London Drugs. We're thrilled to see one of our local retailers embracing initiatives to bring social and environmental responsibility to their consumers and the wider community. Having a like-minded partner like London Drugs means we're able to continue to develop and launch new products that incorporate the features and designs that their customers want." To celebrate Earth Day 2018, good natured and London Drugs are running a special offer on good natured plant-based everyday products. All good natured products will include special promotions online and in store. To find out more about promotions and good natured products, please visit: https://www.londondrugs.com/home-and-lifestyle/hardware-and-home-accessories/home-accessories/ About good natured Products Inc. With over 100 plant-based food packaging designs, 10 grades of bioplastic rollstock sheets, 30 home & business organizational products and a world class team of scientists, business builders and retailers, good naturedTM is producing and distributing one of North America's widest assortments of consumer products and packaging made from the highest possible percentage of renewable, plant-based materials and no BPAs, phthalates or other chemicals of concern. Committed to doing what's right for the planet and right for business, good naturedTM is creating better everyday productsTM that combine cutting-edge bioplastic technology and the latest sustainable design features that not only look good, but maximize shelf space, drive incremental sales, enhance logistics and boost environmental benefits, all bundled up in a fresh and friendly brand. For more information: goodnatured.ca About London Drugs Founded in 1945, B.C.-based London Drugs has 81 stores in more than 35 major markets throughout British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba including its online store www.LondonDrugs.com. London Drugs offers consumers a range of products from digital cameras and cosmetics to computers and televisions. Renowned for its creative approach to retailing, the company employs more than 7,500 people with pharmacy and health care services being the heart of its business. Committed to innovation and superior customer service, London Drugs has established itself as a reputable and caring company and continues to position itself for future growth and development. Twitter: @LondonDrugs For more information: londondrugs.com On behalf of the Company: Paul Antoniadis - Chief Executive Officer Contact: 1-604-566-8466 Investor Contact: Caleb Jeffries Kin Communications 1-866-684-6730 GDNP@kincommunications.com Capital Markets Advisor: Nicole Marchand 1-416-428-3533 Nicole@nm-ir.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibilities for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. New York, New York--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - NetworkNewsAudio announces the Audio Press Release (APR) titled "Soaring Demand for Lithium Fuels Exploration and Production Race," featuring QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. (TSXV: QMC) (FSE: 3LQ) (OTC PINK: QMCQF). To hear the NetworkNewsAudio version, visit: http://nnw.fm/R6hb8 To read the original editorial, visit: http://nnw.fm/uko3M Previous lithogeochemical survey work at Irgon - looking for tantalum and tin that was done on the dikes south of Cat Lake by Tantalum Mining Corporation of Canada ("TANCO") in the late 1970s - has given Quantum Minerals one particularly choice data point to follow up on during the company's 2018 field program. A 3,609-foot anomaly, which is 328 feet wide on the east end and nearly 1,150 feet wide on the west end, was never assayed by TANCO for lithium due to a lack of demand for the metal at that time, even though the exploration report indicated it was a good idea to check it out (http://nnw.fm/Zu94n). This massive anomaly could be a big win for QMC Quantum Minerals, adding considerable value to an already impressive project, and the company looks eager to sink its teeth into what may be a heavily mineralized region. In addition to the extremely promising Irgon Lithium Mine Project, Quantum Minerals has roughly 57,000 acres, known as the Namew Lake District property, up in northwestern Manitoba's world-class Flin Flon/Snow Lake VMS (volcanic massive sulfide) district. A 43-101 report released in 2013 - after the company's 2012 drilling program and VTEM (versatile time domain electromagnetic) survey, which yielded 41 targets - recommended a work and exploration program to further delineate the 100 percent-owned project's properties as an economic mineral resource. This project is proximal to Hudbay's (NYSE: HBM) currently producing copper, zinc, gold and silver bearing 777 Mine and is only 6.8 miles southwest of the Namew Lake mine that previously produced 2.57 million tonnes of copper, nickel, gold, silver, palladium and platinum. The Namew Lake District property has the potential to host several distinct VMS bodies and represents a potential ace in the hole for Quantum Minerals that investors should be aware of. About QMC Quantum Minerals Corp. QMC is a British Columbia based company engaged in the business of acquisition, exploration and development of resource properties. Its objective is to locate and develop economic precious, base, rare metal and resource properties of merit. The Company's properties include the Irgon Lithium Mine project two VMS properties, the Rocky Lake and Rocky-Namew known collectively as the Namew Lake District Project. Currently, all of the company's properties are located in Manitoba. For more information, visit the company's website at www.QMCMinerals.com. About NetworkNewsAudio NetworkNewsAudio (NNA) , a NetworkNewsWire (NNW) Solution, allows you to sit back and listen to market updates, CEO interviews and a Company AudioPressRelease (APR). These audio clips provide snapshots of position, opportunity and momentum. NetworkNewsAudio (NNA) is another NetworkNewsWire (NNW) Solution that can assist your company by cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNA brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is where news, content and information converge. NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a comprehensive provider of news aggregation and syndication, enhanced press release services and a full array of social communication solutions. As a multifaceted financial news and distribution company with an extensive team of journalists and writers, NNW has the unparalleled ability to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public with an ever-growing distribution network of more than 5,000 key syndication outlets across the nation. For more information, visit: www.NetworkNewsAudio.com About NetworkNewsWire NetworkNewsWire (NNW) is a financial news and content distribution company that provides (1) access to a network of wire services via NetworkWire to reach all target markets, industries and demographics in the most effective manner possible, (2) article and editorial syndication to 5,000+ news outlets, (3) enhanced press release services to ensure maximum impact, (4) social media distribution via the Investor Brand Network (IBN) to nearly 2 million followers, (5) a full array of corporate communications solutions, and (6) a total news coverage solution with NNW Prime. As a multifaceted organization with an extensive team of contributing journalists and writers, NNW is uniquely positioned to best serve private and public companies that desire to reach a wide audience of investors, consumers, journalists and the general public. By cutting through the overload of information in today's market, NNW brings its clients unparalleled visibility, recognition and brand awareness. NNW is where news, content and information converge. For more information, please visit https://www.NetworkNewsWire.com. Please see full terms of use and disclaimers on the NetworkNewsWire website applicable to all content provided by NNW, wherever published or re-published: http://NNW.fm/Disclaimer. Forward-Looking Statements This release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All forward-looking statements are inherently uncertain as they are based on current expectations and assumptions concerning future events or future performance of the company. Readers are cautioned not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements, which are only predictions and speak only as of the date hereof. In evaluating such statements, prospective investors should review carefully various risks and uncertainties identified in this release and matters set in the company's SEC filings. These risks and uncertainties could cause the company's actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward-looking statements. Corporate Communications Contact: NetworkNewsWire (NNW) New York, New York www.NetworkNewsWire.com 212.418.1217 Office Editor@NetworkNewsWire.com CANBERA (dpa-AFX) - The Canadian dollar advanced against its major counterparts in the European session on Thursday, as oil prices climbed on falling U.S. inventories and Saudi Arabia's remarks that it is contended with prices rising upto $100 a barrel. Crude for June delivery rose $1.02 to $69.48 per barrel. Investors continued to cheer Saudi Arabia's push to see crude rising to US$80 or even US$100 a barrel. The kingdom's backing was seen as a signal that it is willing to extend the supply cut deal, which will expire at the end of 2018. OPEC's ministerial committee and the Russia-led producing countries is set to meet in Saudi Arabia tomorrow to discuss oil production cut deal. Official data from the Energy Information Administration showed Wednesday that U.S. crude supplies fell by 1.1 million barrels for the week ended April 13, about twice the forecast decline. The loonie has been trading higher against its most major rivals in the Asian session, as Asian shares rose on optimism about global economic growth. The loonie advanced to 1.2586 against the greenback, from a low of 1.2645 hit at 9:45 pm ET. The loonie is seen finding resistance around the 1.24 level. The loonie climbed to 1.5580 against the euro, after advancing to 1.5643 at 10:30 pm ET. If the loonie rises further, 1.52 is possibly seen as its resistance level. Data from the European Central Bank showed that the euro area current account surplus declined in February. The current account surplus fell to a seasonally adjusted EUR 35.1 billion in February from EUR 39 billion in January. The loonie strengthened to 85.30 against the yen and 0.9795 against the aussie, from its early low of 84.86 and a new 2-week low of 0.9857, respectively. The loonie is seen finding resistance around 87.00 against the yen and 0.96 against the aussie. Looking ahead, U.S. leading index for March is scheduled for release shortly. Federal Reserve Governor Randal Quarles testifies on supervision and regulation before the Senate Banking Committee in Washington DC at 9:30 am ET. The Bank of England Deputy Governor Jon Cunliffe will speak at the Global Finance Forum in Washington DC at 12:30 pm ET. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Bayhorse Silver Inc. (TSXV: BHS) (the "Company" or "Bayhorse") is pleased to report that Fundamental Research Corp., (Fundamental) has initiated coverage of Bayhorse Silver Inc. Their report can be viewed at Fundamental Research www.researchfrc.com and third party websites. Bayhorse has a 100% Leasehold Interest in the recently opened Bayhorse Silver Mine, where mining and processing officially commenced in January 2018. During the past three months the Company has continued underground development both in the historic Big Dog Zone, that was last mined in 1984, and in the newly accessed Legend Zone. In March, after two months running mineralized material through the Ore-Sorter, and based upon the data developed, the Company and Steinert modified the Ore-Sorting algorithms. The new sorting algorithm has been implemented to ensure the Ore-Sorter captures as much mineralized material as possible between 8mm and 25mm, while still rejecting the maximum amount of waste. The new algorithms are now upgrading the mineralization through the Ore Sorter between 5 and 7 times, in line with the Company's expectations. The Company is producing two grades of mineralization from mining and initial processing. One is the targeted direct shipping grade over 100 oz/t Ag and the other a milling grade under 100 oz/t Ag. The milling grade is undergoing secondary upgrading at the mine to direct shipping grade. Ore-Sorted inventory is being held at the Mine. Due to the fine grained nature of the mineralization, blasting during the mining process creates a substantial amount of mineralized fines that fall below the 8mm lower processing size limit of the Ore Sorter. These fines, constituting 15% of the amount mined, have been stockpiled during the past three months ready for upgrading. While the mining process has been relatively trouble free, the Company has been identifying and correcting mainly weather related processing bottlenecks. To process the fines for recovery of metal values, the Company recently installed a Ball-Mill, expected to be fully operational by the end of April. Additionally, the mud and clay content of the mineralization clogged the screens, requiring installation of a washing circuit to clean the mined material for more effective processing. The washing circuit, that will also presort the mineralized material to +/- 8mm, is expected to be complete my mid May to effectively capture all the fines. With the identification of Scandium values at the Bayhorse Mine, the Company immediately did testing to determine if the Scandium and other minerals could be recovered separately. Mineralized material was submitted to Metals US, of Missoula, Montana, for leach testing to establish whether the minor minerals (copper, zinc, antimony, lead and scandium) can be recovered more economically than via flotation by using their Total Metals Recovery Process. Initial results are that recoveries with the Metals US process are comparable to flotation recoveries, at substantially less processing costs. Additionally, the tests have shown the Metals US column process can effectively separate the individual minerals. Recovery tests to date also indicate good recoverability of the Scandium, that is currently priced at $6,600 kg. Final detailed test results from Metals US will be announced when received. Bayhorse CEO Graeme O'Neill comments: "As a "Start Up" Mining Company we must make every effort to maximize our projected revenue stream. We will take advantage of both newly available, and proven technologies to make processing more cost effective and reliable to generate revenues not only from Conflict Free silver but also the ancillary metals." He also comments that, "Over the past months, newsletter writers such as Adam Hamilton, Gronwegen, and Hoye, among others, have expressed their opinion that the silver/gold ratio of over 80 oz/t Ag to 1oz/t Au is too high and will soon correct. We believe that with the recent increase to over $17.20 an ounce, the correction has now started and the ratio should revert to a more normal range of 55-65 to 1. If maintained, increased silver prices should be good for the future of the Company." The Company has settled $3,354.85 of debt, being interest incurred on the conversion of US$40,000.00 of the Company's convertible debentures through the issuance of 15,975 common shares of the Company at a price of 21 cents per share, being the closing price of the Company's stock on the settlement date of April 18, 2018. The issuance of the debt settlement shares is subject to TSX Venture Exchange approval. Fundamental Research has been paid a $20,000 fee to issue the report and it will be carried on Fundamental's website for 12 months from date of issue. This press release has been prepared by, prepared under the supervision of, or has been approved by Dr. Stewart Jackson, PGeo., a Qualified Person under National Instrument 43-101. The Company advises it is not basing any decision to produce on a feasibility study of mineral reserves demonstrating economic and technical viability and also advises there is increased uncertainty and specific economic and technical risks of failure associated with any production decision. **************************************************************************************** This News Release has been prepared on behalf of the Bayhorse Silver Inc. Board of Directors, which accepts full responsibility for its contents. On Behalf of the Board. Graeme O'Neill, CEO 604-684-3394 Bayhorse Silver Inc., a junior exploration company, has earned a 100% interest in the historic Bayhorse Silver Mine, Oregon, USA. The Company has an experienced management and technical team with extensive exploration and mining expertise. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. ALBANY, New York, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The global optical microscopes market was valued at around US$ 1.5 Bn in 2016 and is anticipated to expand at a CAGR of around 6% from 2017 to 2025, according to a new report published by Transparency Market Research (TMR) titled 'Optical Microscope Market - Global Industry Analysis, Size, Share, Growth, Trends, and Forecast, 2017-2025.' Expansion of the global optical microscope market is driven by increase in investment in research and development activities. The optical microscope market in Asia Pacific is expected to expand at a CAGR of around 6.5% during the forecast period. Innovations in microscopy sciences and rise in usage of microscopes in the life sciences and health care industries are likely to propel the optical microscopes market in the region. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/664869/Transparency_Market_Research_Logo.jpg ) Get PDF Brochure for Research Insights at https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=B&rep_id=42638 Increase in Investment in R&D Activities Rise in investments in R&D activities in the industries and academia and government support for research activities are likely to propel the optical microscopes market. Nowadays, extensive research is being carried out, mostly in the field of cell biology and histology. Developments in the field of fluorescence microscopy and software technology related to microscopes are driving the optical microscopes market. However, technical limitations of optical microscopy as compared to electron microscopy is the main restraint for the optical microscopes market. Benefits of Digital Microscopy as Compared to Traditional Microscopy is Amplifying the Demand for Digital Microscopes A digital microscope is an optical microscope equipped with a digital camera that provides an image to a monitor. Digital microscopes offer several benefits over conventional microscopes, as images can be stored or printed for close examination. The applications and adoption of digital microscopes have increased owing to advances in technology. Digital microscopes are equipped with sensors that are used to convert analog information from incoming light into digital images. Digital still images and videos can be produced, saved, and shared by using digital microscopes, which makes them useful in applications such as industry and medical diagnostics. Request a Custom Report athttps://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=CR&rep_id=42638 Rise in Pharmaceutical Product Development Expenditure to Fuel Growth of Pharmaceutical & Biotechnology Companies In terms of end-use industry, the market can be divided into hospitals & clinics, pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies, diagnostics laboratories, academic & research institutes, and others. The pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment dominated the optical microscope market in 2016. The trend is expected to continue during the forecast period. The hospitals & clinics segment is likely to be followed by the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies segment in terms of market share during the forecast period. Large Customer Base in Developing Countries of Asia Pacific to Create Opportunities In terms of region, the global optical microscopes market can be categorized into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, Latin America, and Middle East & Africa. North America and Asia Pacific hold a prominent share of the optical microscope market, as most of the pharmaceutical & biotechnology companies are well established in these regions. North America also constitutes a significant share of the market. The market in Asia Pacific is estimated to expand at a rapid pace due to development in microscopy science and research in emerging economies such as China and India. The market in Middle East & Africa and Latin America is expected to expand at a slow pace during the forecast period. Request For Discount On This Report:https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/sample/sample.php?flag=D&rep_id=42638 Key players operating in the optical microscope market include market include Carl Zeiss AG, Leica Microsystems, Meiji Techno, Nikon Instruments Inc., Olympus Corporation, Labomed, Inc., Oxford Instruments Asylum Research, Inc., Bruker, and CAMECA. Carl Zeiss AG, Nikon Instruments Inc., and Olympus Corporation constitute a major share of the market. Companies are heavily investing in the technology and digitalization of the optical microscope. For instance, in 2017, Carl Zeiss AG announced the development of its platform with machine learning capabilities, which enables researchers to perform advanced analysis of their imaging samples across multiple microscopy methods. Popular Research Reports by TMR: Cell Separation Technologies Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/cell-separation-technologies.html Blood Pressure Monitoring Devices and Accessories Market: https://www.transparencymarketresearch.com/blood-pressure-monitoring-market.html About Us Transparency Market Research (TMR) is a global market intelligence company providing business information reports and services. The company's exclusive blend of quantitative forecasting and trend analysis provides forward-looking insight for thousands of decision makers. TMR's experienced team of analysts, researchers, and consultants use proprietary data sources and various tools and techniques to gather and analyze information. TMR's data repository is continuously updated and revised by a team of research experts so that it always reflects the latest trends and information. With extensive research and analysis capabilities, Transparency Market Research employs rigorous primary and secondary research techniques to develop distinctive data sets and research material for business reports. Contact Transparency Market Research State Tower, 90 State Street, Suite 700, Albany NY - 12207 United States Tel: +1-518-618-1030 USA - Canada Toll Free: 866-552-3453 Email: sales@transparencymarketresearch.com Website: http://www.transparencymarketresearch.com Research Blog: https://theglobalhealthnews.com/ OTTAWA (dpa-AFX) - As Canada prepares to legalize marijuana nationwide later this year, a national survey by Statistics Canada has thrown up some interesting facts - including that legal marijuana is not a temptation for most Canadians. Regardless of cannabis use, over three quarters, or 79 percent of Canadians surveyed said they would not be more likely to try or increase their cannabis consumption just because it is legalized. Statistics Canada collaborated with partners within Health Canada, Public Safety Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop the new survey, entitled the National Cannabis Survey or NCS. Canada plans to legalize adult use of cannabis later this year. In April 2017, the Cannabis Act, also known as Bill C-45, was introduced to Canadian Parliament as a means to legalize access to cannabis for non-medical purposes. It would legally allow for individuals 18 and over to purchase marijuana for personal use. The National Cannabis Survey found that about 4.2 million, or 14 percent of Canadians aged 15 years and older, reported having used cannabis products for medical or non-medical use in the past three months. More than half of the users, or 56 percent, indicated that were 'daily' or 'weekly' users. The survey also found that one third of cannabis users obtain their supply from family or friends. 31 percent reported receiving the cannabis they used from a family member or friend, while 22 percent reported sharing among a group of friends. While there can be more than one source from which cannabis is obtained, 72 percent of the cannabis consumers, said they received their product from a single source. Of the Canadians who did not use cannabis in the past three months, only 6 percent said they planned to increase their use or try it for the first time. In turn, 24 percent of current cannabis users said they would likely increase their use after cannabis is legalized. One-third of cannabis consumers reported that they did not spend any money on the product they consumed. Almost one in four cannabis users reported spending more than $250 over the past three months, the survey found. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de The Presbyterian Church USA Is Obsessed With Israel | Main | Iran Has Sleeper Cells in the U.S.And the Media is Fast Asleep April 19, 2018 Wheres the Coverage? Iranian Drone Shot Down by Israel Was Armed Israeli officials have recently disclosed that an Iranian drone shot down by the Israeli Defense Force (IDF) on Feb. 10, 2018 was armed. However, many major U.S. news outlets have failed to provide readers with the update. The Iranian-made unmanned aerial vehicle (UAV), or drone, was shot down thirty seconds after it entered Israeli airspace. The IDF also responded by carrying out airstrikes on the T-4 base in Syria where the drone was launched. An Israeli aircraft was downed in the incident, which received extensiveif often flawedmedia coverage. As CAMERA detailed, several major U.S. press outlets carried headlines that confused the order of events and/or minimized Irans role in provoking the incident. The Washington Post, for example, initially filed a report with a misleading caption that falsely claimed that Israel used the Iranian drone attack as a pretext? for its response. Following intervention by CAMERA, The Post corrected (Updated: The Washington Post Corrects Claim That Israel Used Iranian Drone as Pretext for Attack,? CAMERA, Feb. 11, 2018). On April 13, 2018, the IDF revealed that the drone was armed with explosives. The IDF stated: An analysis of the flight path and operational and intelligence research performed on parts of the Iranian UAV that entered our territory on February 10 shows it carried explosive material and its mission was to carry out a destructive operation.? Israeli officials said that they did not know the drones precise intended target in Israel. The Times of Israel noted that the IDFs statement, came after the airstrike in Syria this week blamed on Israel by Syria, Iran and Russia reportedly killed 14 people, including seven Iranian military advisers, one of whom was a colonel in the Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps air force.? Israels admission, and its recent targeting of Iranian bases in Syria, is seen as evidence of increasing tensions between Tehran and its proxies and Jerusalem. Irans rulers routinely call for the destruction of the Jewish state. Yet, many U.S. news outlets have failed to update readers with the IDFs important disclosure. USA Today, The Baltimore Sun, and others who covered the February 10th incident, did not note that the drone was armed when it violated Israeli airspace. The Washington Post, which provided several reports at the time of the drone attack, merely reprinted an Associated Press dispatch (Israel Says Iran Drone Downed In Feb Was on Attack Mission,? Feb. 13, 2018). Those who count on the media for balanced coverage of the Middle East and Israel deserve the full storyand too many in the press arent providing it. Posted by SD at April 19, 2018 01:45 PM Guidelines for posting This is a moderated blog. We will not post comments that include racism, bigotry, threats, or factually inaccurate material. Post a comment SAINT HELIER (dpa-AFX) - Responding to recent press speculation, Allergan Plc. confirmed Thursday that it is in the early stages of considering a possible offer for Shire plc (SHP.L, SHPG). No offer has been made. There can be no certainty an offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any such offer would be made. As per the U.K rules Allergan is now required, by not later than 5:00 pm on 17 May 2018, to either announce a firm intention to make an offer for Shire or announce that it does not intend to make an offer for Shire. This deadline will only be extended with the consent of the Takeover Panel. Earlier today, Japan's Takeda Pharmaceutical Co. Ltd. (TKPYY.PK) said it had offered 46.50 pounds per share in cash and stock for Shire. But Shire said its board found the Takeda offer 'significantly undervalue the company and Shire's growth prospects and pipeline,' though it's willing to keep negotiating. Separately, Shire confirmed that it has received three conditional proposals from Takeda regarding a possible offer for the Company, on 29 March 2018 , 11 April 2018 and 13 April 2018. The First Proposal comprised 28 pounds per share in new Takeda shares, to be listed in Japan and in the US through an ADR listing, and 16 pounds per share in cash, representing a potential value of 44 pounds per share and approximately 41 billion pounds for the total issued and to be issued share capital of the Company. Based on Takeda's current market capitalisation, Shire shareholders would own approximately 50 per cent. of the enlarged Takeda. Following a thorough review of the First Proposal with its advisers and a Board meeting on 8 April 2018, the Board unanimously rejected the First Proposal, concluding that it significantly undervalued the Company, its growth prospects and pipeline, Shire said. The Second Proposal comprised 28.75 pounds per share in new Takeda shares, to be listed in Japan and in the US through an ADR listing, and 16.75 pounds per share in cash, representing a potential value of 45.50 pounds per share, only a marginal increase to the First Proposal, and approximately 43 billion pounds for the total issued and to be issued share capital of the Company. Based on Takeda's current market capitalisation, Shire shareholders would own approximately 51 per cent. of the enlarged Takeda. The Third Proposal also comprised 28.75 pounds per share in new Takeda shares, to be listed in Japan and in the US through an ADR listing, and 17.75 pounds per share in cash, representing a potential value of 46.50 pounds per share and approximately 44 billion pounds for the total issued and to be issued share capital of the Company. Based on Takeda's current market capitalisation, Shire shareholders would own approximately 51 per cent. of the enlarged Takeda. Shire said its Board met again and thoroughly considered the Third Proposal with its advisers and unanimously rejected it, concluding that it continues to significantly undervalue the Company and Shire's growth prospects and pipeline. Following the Board meeting on 14 April 2018 which rejected the Third Proposal, at the Board's request Shire's advisers entered into a dialogue with Takeda's advisers to discuss whether a further, more attractive, proposal may be forthcoming and to understand the basis on which such a proposal would be made, Shire said. Shire said, 'The Board and management of Shire remain committed to enhancing shareholder value and are focused on fully evaluating internal and external opportunities to maximise value for shareholders, including any further proposals from Takeda.' Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Iraqi security forces and Syrian Democratic Forces continue to contain Islamic State of Iraq and Syria fighters in areas of the middle Euphrates River valley, a top US defense officer in charge of the U.S. military campaign against the dreaded terorist group said Wednesday. Army Col. Ryan Dillon briefed reporters at the Pentagon from Baghdad and said that SDF forces, with coalition support, 'continue to look for opportunities to exploit ISIS weaknesses and conduct strikes and attacks against these remaining terrorists.' He said Syrian forces are continuing to secure areas they have liberated, especially in and around Raqqa, which was the capital of the self-proclaimed ISIS caliphate. Syrian internal security forces are removing thousands of improvised explosive devices and weapons caches the terror group planted, Dillon added. In Iraq, security and stability operations continue, and Iraqi security forces continue to search for ISIS terrorists. Dillon warned that while ISIS has gone underground in an attempt to regroup, it is still a threat in the country. The ISF is planning and implementing security measures with coalition support in this critical period leading up to parliamentary elections in May. More work remains to be done in Iraq, Dillon said. ISIS is an adaptive and determined enemy, according to him. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. Karlie to Debut in Fall Campaigns, Partner with Estee Lauder on Digital Beauty Content and Kode With Klossy NEW YORK, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Estee Lauder today announced that it has signed Karlie Kloss, model, entrepreneur and philanthropist, as its newest Global Spokesmodel and Brand Ambassador. Karlie joins the current roster of Estee Lauder spokesmodels Carolyn Murphy, Fei Fei Sun, Gabriella Wilde, Hilary Rhoda, Joan Smalls, Kendall Jenner, Misty Copeland and Yang Mi. Karlie's first campaigns will debut beginning in July 2018 across digital, social, TV, in-store and print to support Estee Lauder's iconic products including Pure Color Envy Sculpting Lipstick, Double Wear Stay-in-Place Makeup and Revitalizing Supreme+ Global Anti-Aging Cell Power Creme. These campaigns were shot by Josh Olins in Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Karlie's production company, Klossy productions, will also partner with Estee Lauder to create Karlie's own beauty content to share with over 16 million followers across her social and digital platforms. Karlie's first video launches today, featuring founder Estee Lauder's great granddaughter, actress Danielle Lauder. In a humorous, behind-the-scenes sketch, Danielle oversees Karlie during her first day working at Estee Lauder's New York City headquarters. This is the first in a series of videos produced by Karlie that will debut on her YouTube channel, Klossy, as well as on both Karlie's and Estee Lauder's digital and social channels. To leverage Karlie's commitment to educating and building confidence in the next generation of young women, Estee Lauder will also support Kode With Klossy through coding camp scholarships and events. Kode With Klossy is a philanthropic initiative founded by Karlie in 2015 which hosts free, two-week coding summer camps for girls aged 13-18 and fosters a national community focused on furthering career opportunities for girls in tech. "Karlie is the modern-day Estee and we are thrilled to welcome her to the Estee Lauder brand," said Stephane de La Faverie, Global Brand President, Estee Lauder. "Karlie has achieved tremendous success in her career through hard work, first taking the fashion world by storm, then becoming a media and television personality, and now empowering young women to become future leaders in tech. Her passion for beauty, unique voice and global social media presence will help us continue to inspire and connect with women around the world." "Karlie is perfect for Estee Lauder," said Aerin Lauder, Style and Image Director, Estee Lauder. "As a successful model, entrepreneur and founder of Kode With Klossy, Karlie is both beautiful and accomplished. I am so excited she is joining the brand." "It is a dream come true to join the Estee Lauder family," said Karlie Kloss. "I am so inspired by the brand's legacy and values -from the entrepreneurial spirit of Estee herself to the company's unparalleled commitment to creating best in class products for women around the world. I could not be more proud and honored to be part of such an iconic brand." About Karlie Kloss Karlie Kloss is an American supermodel, 36-time Vogue cover girl, entrepreneur and philanthropist. Raised in St. Louis, Missouri, Karlie was discovered at a local charity fashion show in 2006. Her career quickly took off, walking for top designers including Christian Dior, Alexander McQueen and Versace, among dozens of others, and starring in several major global campaigns including adidas, Calvin Klein, Carolina Herrera and Swarovski. Karlie launched Kode With Klossy in 2015 to empower girls to learn to code and become leaders in tech. Karlie was recognized on the TIME 100 list for her philanthropic work as the founder of Kode With Klossy and was featured on the covers of Fast Company and Forbes for her work to scale the organization. Karlie recently forayed into media and television, hosting Freeform's six-part series 'Movie Night With Karlie Kloss' and premiering as a correspondent in season one and two of the Netflix original series 'Bill Nye Saves The World.' Karlie launched her YouTube channel, Klossy in 2015, which has garnered over 690,000 subscribers and over 33 million views. Through her combined content platforms, Karlie has amassed over 16.8 million followers to date. Karlie also sits on the board of Oath serving as an advisor alongside Oath chair Serena Williams and other industry leaders. About Estee Lauder Estee Lauder is the flagship brand of The Estee Lauder Companies Inc. Founded by Estee Lauder, one of the world's first female entrepreneurs, the brand today continues her legacy of creating the most innovative, sophisticated, high-performance skincare and makeup products and iconic fragrances - all infused with a deep understanding of women's needs and desires. Today, Estee Lauder engages with women in over 150 countries around the world and at dozens of touch points - from in-store to digital. And each of these relationships consistently reflects Estee's powerful and authentic woman-to-woman point of view. Follow @esteelauder Follow @karliekloss Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679424/Estee_Lauder_Karlie_Kloss.jpg BRUSSELS/FRANKFURT/PARIS (dpa-AFX) - The European markets were stuck in a sideways trend throughout Thursday's session and ended the day with mixed results. Traders sifted through a large number of corporate earnings both at home and in the United States. Investors are also keeping a close eye on the spring meetings of both the IMF and the World Bank, which kicked off today in Washington. The pan-European Stoxx Europe 600 index weakened by 0.00 percent. The Euro Stoxx 50 index of eurozone bluechip stocks decreased 0.12 percent, while the Stoxx Europe 50 index, which includes some major U.K. companies, lost 0.26 percent. The DAX of Germany dropped 0.19 percent, but the CAC 40 of France rose 0.21 percent. The FTSE 100 of the U.K. gained 0.16 percent and the SMI of Switzerland finished higher by 0.01 percent. In Frankfurt, GEA Group jumped 3.32 percent. The company said that it is seeking to appoint a new CEO and a CFO in the near future to ensure an orderly overall transition of leadership. MorphoSys declined 1.39 percent after announcing the pricing of its American Depository shares. In Paris, advertising group Publicis soared 7.37 percent after its Q1 revenue growth topped forecasts. Schneider Electric rallied 1.81 percent after reaffirming its FY objectives. In London, Shire leaped 5.89 percent after it rejected a takeover offer from Takeda Pharmaceuticals. Unilever dropped 2.17 percent after its Q1 revenue fell over 5 percent due to adverse currency movements. Department store group Debenhams sank 5.66 percent. The company lowered expectations for annual profits after reporting another slide in sales and profits. Engineering firm Weir Group jumped 6.23 percent. The company has unveiled plans to acquire U.S. competitor Esco Corp. after reporting Q1 revenues in line with expectations. Acacia Mining plunged 13.21 percent after its first-quarter revenue fell 33 percent. Engineering firm ABB jumped 4.56 percent in Zurich after its Q1 profit topped forecasts. Drug major Novartis dropped 1.93 percent after a sharp slump in sales by its U.S. generics unit. Nutrition, health and wellness giant Nestle rose 0.21 percent after confirming its 2018 guidance. UK retail sales declined more-than-expected in March on unusually cold and adverse weather, official data revealed Thursday. Retail sales including auto fuel, dropped 1.2 percent month-on-month in March, in contrast to a 0.8 percent rise in February, the Office for National Statistics reported. Sales were forecast to fall 0.6 percent. A report released by the Labor Department on Thursday showed a modest decrease in first-time claims for U.S. unemployment benefits in the week ended April 14th. The report said initial jobless claims edged down to 232,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 233,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to dip to 230,000. Philadelphia-area manufacturing activity unexpectedly saw a modestly faster rate of growth in the month of April, according to a report released by the Federal Reserve Bank of Philadelphia on Thursday. The Philly Fed said its diffusion index for current general activity inched up to 23.2 in April from 22.3 in March, with a positive reading indicating growth in regional manufacturing activity. Economists had expected the index to dip to 20.1. A report released by the Conference Board on Thursday showed its index of leading U.S. economic indicators increased in line with economist estimates in the month of March. The Conference Board said its leading economic index rose by 0.3 percent in March after climbing by an upwardly revised 0.7 percent in February. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Kostenloser Wertpapierhandel auf Smartbroker.de AMSTERDAM, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Yesterday , 1 8 th April 2018 , exhibition organisers UBM and NurnbergMesse received formal approval from the German Federal Cartel Office for their proposed Joint Venture and will now move forward with the launch of a new medical technology exhibition, MedtecLIVE. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679510/Nuenberg_Messe_Logo.jpg ) (Logo: http://mma.prnewswire.com/media/583011/UBM_Logo.jpg ) This approval cements the partnership between UBM and NurnbergMesse and confirms that MedtecLIVE will be held in Nuremberg from 21-23 May 2019. The new exhibition will replace the organisers' previous formats, Medtec Europe and MT-CONNECT. Strategically located in the heart of two of the strongest medical device manufacturing hubs in Europe and Germany, Baden Wurttemberg and Bavaria, MedtecLIVE will provide a solid European platform for the medical device industry, at the scale needed to drive business development and innovation. The new format will build upon the existing strengths of both Medtec Europe and MT-CONNECT, offering combined event registration numbers of 8,300+, 650+ combined exhibitors, a 130,000-strong database and the engagement of more than 175+ industry experts to advise on and deliver high-level content.[1] In addition, MedtecLIVE will offer a strategic advantage through capitalising on the expertise of both organisers. The combined efforts of UBM and NurnbergMesse will engage a network of both German speaking and wider European attendees, delivering a truly European event. Furthermore, NurnbergMesse will provide an improved experience for all participants by taking the lead on full-scale operational management. Combining the strongest elements of both events, the MedtecLIVE exhibition will span the supply chain of medical device technology, showcasing solutions from prototyping to full-scale manufacturing and post-manufacturing. This European focused event will also offer high-quality scientific content, through the renowned MedTech Summit. The response from the market on the launch of MedtecLIVE has been overwhelmingly positive, with multiple Medtec Europe exhibitors already looking to secure exhibition space in Nuremberg. Anke Rosemann, Country Manager - Germany & Netherlands at Brainport Industries Medizintechnik Holland said "We see the cooperation of MT-CONNECT and Medtec Europe as a constructive and sound decision for the whole medical technology industry.From 2019 onwards, we anticipate a high-quality exhibition which will engage a large number of visitors and exhibitors from the forefront of the industry." Declan Costello, Senior Engineering Program Manager at Medtronic said "MedtecLIVE will take Medtec Europe to the next level, providing all key players in themedical technology space with an exceptional experience and opportunity." Dr. Andreas Herrmann of VDI said "...we are delighted to hear of the partnership between Medtec Europe and MT Connect. In the interest of our members and the medical technology industry, we wholeheartedly support this new trade show concept and look forward to working together." Nicole Kasischke, Director of New Business Development at BYTEC Medizintechnik GmbH said "We are excited that these two exhibitionswill join forces, combining their individual strengths and experience. One standalone exhibition featuring an interesting conference program will have clear benefits for both visitors and exhibitors." John van der Valk, Managing Director of UBM EMEA Amsterdam said "This week, at Medtec Europe 2018 we have already seenmore content and learning opportunities than ever before, 15 innovative Start-Ups present new solutions at our Start-Up Academy, live product demos on the show floor and for the first time -a forum for young professionals in Med Tech. All opportunities currently offered to our attendees will grow and develop through creating an expanded MedtecLIVE in Nuremberg, building on 21 years of success and expertise." About Medtec Through exhibitions, conferences and online communities, Medtec brings together more than 50,000 medical professionals each year to network, identify business opportunities and expand the global market. Medtec hosts events in Europe, Japan, China and USA. Medtec also provides an online buyer & supplier directory at qmed.com. For more information visit: http://www.medteceurope.com About UBM EMEA UBM EMEA connects people and creates opportunities for companies across five continents to develop new business, meet customers, launch new products, promote their brands, and expand their market. Through premier brands such as Medtec, CPhI, TFM, Internet World, IFSEC, MD&M, Cruise Shipping Miami, the Concrete Show, and many others, UBM EMEA exhibitions, conferences, awards programs, publications, Websites, and training and certification programs are an integral part of the marketing plans of companies across more than 20 industry sectors. The UBM plc. annual schedule of medical events includes: MD&M West (06 - 08 February 2018) Medtec Europe (17 - 19 April, 2018) Medtec Japan (18 - 20 April 2018) BIOMED Boston (18 - 19 April 2018) Medtec China (26 - 27 September 2018) About the NurnbergMesse Group NurnbergMesse is one of the 15 largest exhibition companies in the world. Its portfolio covers some 120 national and international exhibitions and congresses and approximately 40 sponsored pavilions at the Nuremberg location and worldwide. Every year, over 30,000 exhibitors (international share: 41%) and up to 1.4 million visitors (international share of trade visitors: 24%) participate in the own, partner and guest events. NurnbergMesse has subsidiaries in China, North America, Brazil, Italy and India. The group also has a network of about 50 representatives operating in over 100 countries. UBM EMEA is committed to the continual improvement of sustainability To ensure long term profitability, UBM EMEA aims to be a leader in sustainable business, aligning all key business decisions with our sustainability strategy. UBM EMEA sees it as fundamental that we are conscious of the impact that our actions have on the environment and the communities in which we operate. UBM EMEA strives to manage its impact by ensuring that the principles of sustainability are at the core of all our activities. A corner stone to our journey towards sustainability is our certification to the ISO 20121 Sustainable Event Management System. UBM EMEA is one of the first major organisers to successfully implement and certify our sustainable event management system against the International Standard ISO 20121. -------------------------------------------------- 1. Based on combined 2018 figures from Medtec Europe and MTConnect Progress of CER-209's clinical development in NASH/NAFLD Solid cash position of 14.1 million at March 31, 2018 Progress of CER-209's clinical development in NASH/NAFLD: enrollment of the first patients in the Phase 1 Study assessing repeated and increasing doses Regulatory News: CERENIS Therapeutics (Paris:CEREN) (FR0012616852 CEREN PEA-PME eligible), an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of HDL-based innovative therapies for treating cardiovascular and metabolic diseases, as well as new HDL-based vectors for targeted drug delivery in the field of oncology, today announces its cash position at March 31, 2018, as well as the enrollment of the first patients in the Phase I Study to assess CER-209 in Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis (NASH) and/or Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) following the administration of repeated and increasing doses of this drug candidate. Solid cash position of 14.1 million at March 31, 2018 Cash and cash equivalents totaled 14.1 million at March 31, 2018. In line with expectations, CERENIS Therapeutics did not generate any revenue during the 1st quarter of 2018, the Company's products being at the Research and Development stage. Progress of CER-209's clinical development in NASH/NAFLD: enrollment of the first patients in the Phase I Study assessing repeated and increasing doses On April 19, 2018, the first patients in the Phase I study of repeated and increasing doses to assess CER-209 in NASH/NAFLD received the first doses. This progress follows the granting of regulatory authority approval to begin the study, as announced at the 2nd annual H.C. Wainwright NASH Investor Conference, held on March 19, 2018 in New York. CER-209 is a selective P2Y13 receptor agonist that has shown regression of atherosclerosis and liver steatosis in preclinical models. In June 2017, the first part of this phase I study assessing a single dose of CER-209 has shown no safety and tolerance issues as well as pharmacokinetics observations supporting once-daily doses of this drug candidate. Daily administration of repeated and increasing doses of CER-209 over a 28-day period in patients with a high risk of NAFLD/NASH The primary endpoints concern safety and tolerance following the administration of multiple doses of CER-209. Pharmacokinetic and pharmacodynamic endpoints will also be studied in order to define the optimal dose for the next studies. The subjects included in the study have large waist circumferences and high triglyceride levels, parameters associated with a high risk of subsequently developing metabolic diseases such as NAFLD and NASH. The protocol for this randomized, double blind and placebo controlled trial foresees the enrollment of 6 cohorts of subjects. Multiple doses of CER-209 will be administered in 6 cohorts of 5 subjects each. Daily doses of 10, 30, and 60 mg of CER-209 will be given for 28 days. In all cohorts 4 subjects will receive active drug. First clinical assessment of the mechanism of action associated with the P2Y13 receptor The profile of the study's subjects will enable assessment of two parameters associated with the mechanism of action of CER-209: Changes in the level of lipids in the liver, measured using magnetic resonance imaging (MRI-PDFF); The rate of fecal elimination of cholesterol and bile acids. Positive efficacy signals, demonstrating improvement in these parameters, would enable validation of previous findings, and would strengthen CER-209's therapeutic potential, already highlighted in preclinical studies. The mechanism of action of CER-209, an agonist of the P2Y13 receptor In preclinical models, CER-209 results in a marked reduction in steatohepatitis as determined by a reduction in the levels of cholesterol, triglycerides and fatty acids in the liver compared with the placebo, as well as a reduction in atherosclerosis. Furthermore, CER-209 produces significant decreases in liver enzymes (ALT and AST) in the plasma. These effects suggest the restoration of liver integrity and indicate CER-209's strong potential for treating NAFLD and NASH while reducing the risks associated with cardiovascular disease. About CERENIS: www.cerenis.com CERENIS Therapeutics is an international biopharmaceutical company dedicated to the discovery and development of innovative therapies for the treatment of cardiovascular and metabolic diseases. HDL is the primary mediator of the reverse lipid transport, or RLT, the only natural pathway by which excess lipids is removed from arteries and is transported to the liver for elimination from the body. CERENIS is developing a portfolio of lipid metabolism therapies, including HDL mimetics for patients with genetic HDL deficiency, as well as drugs which increase HDL for patients with a low number of HDL particles to treat atherosclerosis and associated metabolic diseases including Non-Alcoholic Fatty Liver Disease (NAFLD) and Non-Alcoholic Steato-Hepatitis (NASH). Capitalizing on its expertise, Cerenis is developing the first HDL-based targeting drug delivery platform dedicated to the oncology field (immuno-oncology and chemotherapy). CERENIS is well positioned to become one of the leaders in the HDL therapeutic market, with a broad portfolio of programs in development. About CER-001 CER-001 is an engineered complex of recombinant human apoA-I, the major structural protein of HDL, and phospholipids. It has been designed to mimic the structure and function of natural, nascent HDL, also known as pre-beta HDL. Its mechanism of action is to increase apoA-I and the number of HDL particles transiently, to stimulate the removal of excess cholesterol and other lipids from tissues including the arterial wall and to transport them to the liver for elimination through a process called Reverse Lipid Transport. SAMBA, the clinical Phase 2 study in patients with hypoalphalipoproteinemia due to genetic defects, has provided important data demonstrating the efficacy of CER-001 in regressing atherosclerosis in several distinct vascular beds, and leading to the TANGO study. The totality of the data to date indicates that CER-001 performs all of the functions of natural pre-beta HDL particles and has the potential to be the best-in-class HDL mimetic on the market. About CER-209 CER-209 is the first drug candidate in the category of oral P2Y13 receptor agonists. The P2Y13 receptor is a member of the P2Y receptor family, well-known receptors including the P2Y12 receptor which is the target of successful drugs such as the anti-platelet agent Clopidogrel (Plavix). CER-209 is a specific agonist of P2Y13 receptor and does not interact with the P2Y12 receptor. In preclinical studies CER-209 promotes HDL recognition by the liver and increase the activity of Reverse Lipid Transport (RLT), and thus has an impact on atherosclerosis regression as well as liver fat. Thus the favorable metabolic effects of CER-209 in the liver offers a new mechanism for the treatment of non-alcoholic fatty liver disease (NAFLD) and non-alcoholic steato-hepatitis (NASH). About Targeted HDL Drug Delivery HDL particles, loaded with an active agent, hold the promise to target and selectively kill malignant cells while sparing healthy ones. A wide variety of drugs can be embedded in these particles targeting markers specific to cancer cells and bring these potent drugs to their intended site of action, with lowered systemic toxicity. Cerenis intends to develop the first HDL-based targeting drug delivery platform dedicated to the oncology market, including immuno-oncology and chemotherapy. Financial Agenda: Cash position and revenue for Q2 2018: July 26, 2018 View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419006167/en/ Contacts: Cerenis Jean-Louis Dasseux, +33 (0)5 62 24 09 49 CEO info@cerenis.com or NewCap Investors relations Emmanuel Huynh Louis-Victor Delouvrier, +33 (0)1 44 71 98 53 cerenis@newcap.eu or NewCap Media relations Nicolas Merigeau, +33 (0)1 44 71 94 98 cerenis@newcap.eu WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Crude oil futures pulled back Thursday after hitting multi-year highs, even as OPEC bragged that the global oil glut is all but gone. Reuters reports that OPEC officials claim their supply quota plan with Russia has had the intended effect of re-balancing the global oil market. Still, the cartel and Kremlin want to drive prices even higher and offset the U.S. shale oil boom, so they are likely to extend the supply quota plan beyond this year. OPEC is meeting in the Middle East this week to discuss the issue. WTI light sweet oil jumped to a nearly 4-year high around $70 a barrel this morning, but profit taking took hold. May oil settled lower by 18 cents, or about 0.3%, at $68.29/bbl. Friday is final day of the May contract. In economic news, U.S. initial jobless claims edged down to 232,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 233,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to dip to 230,000. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. WASHINGTON (dpa-AFX) - Clearwater Paper Corporation (CLW) announced a profit for first quarter that declined from last year. The company's bottom line totaled $2.60 million, or $0.16 per share. This compares with $7.51 million, or $0.45 per share, in last year's first quarter. Excluding items, Clearwater Paper Corporation reported adjusted earnings of $5.22 million or $0.31 per share for the period. Analysts had expected the company to earn $0.67 per share, according to figures compiled by Thomson Reuters. Analysts' estimates typically exclude special items. The company's revenue for the quarter fell 0.1% to $436.95 million from $437.52 million last year. Clearwater Paper Corporation earnings at a glance: -Earnings (Q1): $5.22 Mln. vs. $10.73 Mln. last year. -EPS (Q1): $0.31 vs. $0.64 last year. -Analysts Estimate: $0.67 -Revenue (Q1): $436.95 Mln vs. $437.52 Mln last year. Copyright RTT News/dpa-AFX Werbehinweise: Die Billigung des Basisprospekts durch die BaFin ist nicht als ihre Befurwortung der angebotenen Wertpapiere zu verstehen. Wir empfehlen Interessenten und potenziellen Anlegern den Basisprospekt und die Endgultigen Bedingungen zu lesen, bevor sie eine Anlageentscheidung treffen, um sich moglichst umfassend zu informieren, insbesondere uber die potenziellen Risiken und Chancen des Wertpapiers. Sie sind im Begriff, ein Produkt zu erwerben, das nicht einfach ist und schwer zu verstehen sein kann. CORALVILLE, Iowa, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- CIVCO Radiotherapy, the leading global provider of high quality, innovative, patient-centric radiotherapy solutions, will exhibit several new solutions and collaborative partnerships at the European Society for Radiotherapy & Oncology (ESTRO) Congress in Barcelona, Spain. CIVCO's booth (#2100) will showcase recent partnerships with several mission compatible companies who deliver customized, tailored and innovative solutions that support clinicians and improve patient outcomes throughout the entire radiotherapy journey, from planning to post-treatment. "CIVCO is thrilled to be partnering with companies whose innovative solutions further our focus on improving the patient experience and outcomes worldwide," said Nat Geissel, president of CIVCO Radiotherapy. CIVCO's newest partnerships include: Dr. Elizabeth Chabner Thompson has partnered with CIVCO to offer the Chabner XRT Radiation Bra which provides optimal breast support, customization and reproducibility for patient setup. Just as importantly, the Chabner XRT Radiation Bra provides dignity and comfort for patients during treatment. ESSEBI MEDICAL Srl , has partnered with CIVCO to be the exclusive global* provider of TOTIM Patient Cushions. TOTIM is a polyurethane foam cushion, available in different sizes for all body parts, and forms to the patient's anatomy to ensure reproducibility of position during all simulation, planning and treatment. Stratpharma AG , who specializes in innovative topical medical products to improve post-procedure outcomes, has joined forces with CIVCO to distribute a novel, flexible wound dressing for the treatment of radiation dermatitis. CIVCO will be the exclusive U.S provider of the StrataXRT product. Adaptiiv Medical Technologies Inc. (formerly 3D Bolus) specializes in commercializing software to design personalized 3D printed accessories used during radiotherapy to improve treatment accuracy and patient comfort. Adaptiiv has partnered with CIVCO for worldwide*** distribution of this disruptive technology. Medical Precision BV has partnered with CIVCO to distribute (to CE approved countries) their innovative marking system that applies patient reference points exactly, easily and painlessly. These reference points for radiotherapy are applied in a shallow manner to the patient's upper dermis which results in less pain for the patient. The reference point(s) will either completely fade over time or can be removed easily with a permanent make-up laser. CIVCO will also feature many innovative products including the Solstice Immobilization System**, providing corrective pitch capability and positioning flexibility with non-invasive, head and neck immobilization. Hand grips** and head thermoplastic attachment options for the Monarch Overhead Arm Positioner will be demonstrated to improve patient positioning and immobilization during breast setups. CIVCO's Universal Couchtop Long Extension is now available for use with IBA***, the market leader in proton therapy. Universal Couchtop contains no rails or junctions in the treatment area and is specifically designed to answer the demands of proton therapy and is compatible with major Linac and CT models. For more information or to schedule a demo, visit CIVCO at Booth #2100 during ESTRO 37 or visit www.CivcoRT.com. *Currently not available in the United States **Coming soon ***510k pending About CIVCO Radiotherapy CIVCO Radiotherapy has over 35 years' experience developing, manufacturing and providing high-quality, innovative, patient-centric solutions in radiotherapy. These solutions include: advanced patient immobilization and positioning hardware and consumables, fiducial markers, couchtops and overlays, software, patient care products and advanced 6DOF robotic patient positioning. Corporate information is available at www.CivcoRT.com. For further information, please contact: Shelli Locklear Sr. Marketing Manager CIVCO Radiotherapy Tel: 319-248-6619 Shelli.Locklear@CivcoRT.com COPYRIGHT 2018. CIVCO IS A REGISTERED TRADEMARK OF CIVCO MEDICAL SOLUTIONS. CHABNER XRT, MONARCH, SOLSTICE IMMOBILIZATION SYSTEM AND UNIVERSAL COUCHOTP ARE TRADEMARKS OF CIVCO. ALL OTHER TRADEMARKS ARE PROPERTY OF THEIR RESPECTIVE OWNERS. ALL PRODUCTS MAY NOT BE LICENSED IN ACCORDANCE WITH CANADIAN LAW. 2018C1393 REV. A BenevolentAI, a London, UK-based AI pharmaceutical company, raised $115m in funding at a pre-money valuation of $2 billion. The majority of investors are from the United States, with the balance of raised funds coming from existing investors, including Woodford Investment Management. To date, the company has raised more than $200m of funding since 2013. The company will use the funds to scale its drug development activities, broaden the disease areas on which it focuses, and extend its AI platform capabilities into other science-based industries such as advanced materials, agriculture, and energy storage. Led by Ken Mulvany, Founder and Chairman, BenevolentAI is applying artificial intelligence to develop new medicines for hard to treat diseases. The companys proprietary algorithms perform sophisticated reasoning on over 50 billion ingested and contextualised facts to extract knowledge and generate complex insights into the cause of diseases that have, until now, eluded human understanding. Its AI technology is being used to develop treatments to unmet patients needs across a wide range of diseases, including Motor Neuron Disease, Parkinsons Disease, Glioblastoma and Sarcopenia. BenevolentAI is headquartered in London with offices in New York and Belgium, a research facility located in Babraham Science Park, Cambridge (UK), and in total currently employs 165 people. FinSMEs 19/04/2018 Emboline, Inc., a Santa Cruz, CA-based medical device company, completed a Series B funding round totaling over $10m. The funding included $3m in new equity financing from multiple investors led by SV Tech Ventures and Shangbay Capital, and over $7m in conversion of previously-issued convertible notes. As part of the financing, ShangBay Capitals William Dai will join SV Techs Peng Cheng on the Emboline board of directors. Led by Scott Russell, President & CEO, Emboline is advancing a device for total embolic protection during transcatheter aortic valve replacement (TAVR) procedures. The novel Emboliner device is intended to protect the cerebral system, while also capturing non-cerebral debris. The companys technologies are derived from intellectual property invented by Amir Belson, MD, founder of Neoguide Systems, Vascular Pathways, Zipline Medical, Qool Therapeutics, and others. The capital will be used to fund the SafePass Clinical trial for the Emboliner Embolic Protection Catheter, the subsequent European CE Mark submission and initial commercial launch. FinSMEs 19/04/2018 Plaid, Inc., the Japanese company that provides the CX platform KARTE for digital marketers, raised 2.7 billion JPY in funding. Backers included existing shareholders Femto Partners LLP, Eight Roads Ventures Japan, new investors Mitsui & CO., Ltd, Mitsui Sumitomo Insurance Venture Capital Co., SMBC Venture Capital Co., Mizuho Capital Co.,Ltd., Mitsubishi UFJ Capital Co., Ltd., in addition to loans from Mizuho Bank and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation. The company intends to use the funds: 1) to begin a full-scale marketing investment 2) to strengthen hiring activity in all profession in association with expansion of business area such as mobile applications 3) to construct a scalable development framework to handle increasing data along with the business spread into non-EC categories (such as real-estate, financial industry) Launched in March 2015 and led by CEO Kenta Kurahashi, Karte provides an analysis and a real time visualization of web site visitors behavioral data on a per-person level, to allow marketers to make appropriate communications with each and one of their customers. Within three years, the companys platform has analyzed an accumulated total of 2.2 billion users, and up to 548 billion JPY of total annual sales for EC clients, which accounts for approximately half of our clients. FinSMEs 19/04/2018 . , 3:1 7 . ... PASCAGOULA, Miss. -- The Environmental Protection Agency administrator Scott Pruitt signed an Action Memorandum for $107.6 million on Wednesday, accelerating the cleanup of the former Mississippi Phosphates Corporation (MPC) Site in Pascagoula. In January, Pruitt and his team added MPC to its Superfund Priorities List after the agency announced in August 2017 their intentions to recommend the site for the list because of the environmental hazard it posed to marine and human life in the City of Pascagoula. The Action Memorandum signed Wednesday selects a $71.6 million cleanup that will take place from 2018 through 2020, plus $36 million for ongoing wastewater treatment during the three-year cleanup period. "In just over a year, EPA has taken multiple important actions to accelerate the remediation of the Mississippi Phosphates Superfund Site," Pruitt said. "This memo reflects my commitment to addressing Superfund sites as quickly and safely as possible to ensure human health and economic activity in the surrounding areas are fully protected." The cleanup plan identified in the Action Memorandum focuses on the closure of the East Gypsum Stack and the North Ponds at the West Gypsum Stack. The cleanup will eliminate storage of more than 500 million gallons of contaminated water on site and reduce the volume of water requiring treatment by an estimated 98 percent. Design of the closure system is underway. EPA is evaluating the possible use of local dredge spoil to cap and close the East Gypsum Stack. In response to comments received during the public comment period, EPA is also evaluating the use of engineered geosynthetic turf products as an alternative cap/cover system in its design. The MPC Site is a former diammonium phosphate fertilizer plant that began operation in the 1950s. The facility ceased operations in December 2014 under Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection, leaving more than 700,000,000 gallons of acidic, nutrient-rich wastewater stored at the facility. The wastewater--if improperly discharged--may be toxic to fish and other forms of marine life and can also cause algal blooms. Previous releases of untreated wastewater from the site (before EPA took over wastewater treatment operations) resulted in fish kills. EPA currently oversees wastewater treatment at a rate of approximately 2-4 million gallons per day--at a cost of over $1 million per month--due to the high volume of wastewater requiring treatment. EPA has expended approximately $17 million to treat wastewater at the site. EPA assumed control of wastewater treatment operations at the former MPC fertilizer facility once the MPC Environmental Trust, which owns the property, ran out of funds in February 2017. "Pascagoula has lived with this catastrophic issue for years with no response," Mayor Dane Maxwell said. "Since President Trump took office and under Administrator Pruitt not only have we had a response, but it has been from the highest levels. Making Mississippi Phosphates cleanup a priority is very important for the entire Gulf Coast." Unigroup Spreadtrum & RDA today announced that its high-performance mobile chip platform Spreadtrum SC9850 and SC7731E fully support Googles Android 8.1 (Go version). The companys collaboration with Google for Android Go will provide devices with robust security and a better performance experience. The company also mentioned that support for more SoC platforms is coming very soon. Smart devices based on Spreadtrum SC7731E Android 8.1 (Go version) results in smooth performance and excellent user experience even with 512 MB of RAM. Unigroup Spreadtrum & RDA SoC platforms have already passed Android Go Certification. The company is now eligible to provide mobile device manufacturers with pre-tested, pre-certified and fully compatible Android software, which also includes Google Mobile Service (GMS), Google Compatibility Test Suite (CTS), and monthly security updates. Qualcomm and MediaTek have already announced their support, and we have already started seeing Android Oreo (Go edition) compatible phones. Adam Zeng, Global Executive Vice President of Unigroup and CEO of Unigroup Spreadtrum & RDA, said: OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- A man critically injured in a crash on U.S. 90 in Ocean Springs Tuesday afternoon remains in a medically-induced coma in Mobile, Ala., Ocean Springs Police Capt. Chuck Jackson said Thursday afternoon. The man suffered a broken spine and neck injuries in the accident, in which the truck he and a female passenger were riding rolled over after being struck by another vehicle at the intersection of U.S. 90 and Hanshaw Road. The Jaws of Life were used to extract the injured couple from the vehicle, after which they were transported to Ocean Springs Hospital before being airlifted to the University of South Alabama Medical Center, where the woman had surgery on her right arm, Jackson said. The female driver of the other vehicle was uninjured. Jackson said the vehicle in which the injured parties were riding was traveling east on U.S. 90 when the other vehicle began to turn south onto Hanshaw. The driver of the other vehicle could not see the oncoming truck due to traffic and struck the injured people's vehicle on the driver's side door, causing the truck to roll over. The accident remains under investigation, and Jackson said he could not rule out the possibility of charges being filed. The Ocean Springs Fire Department and Acadian Ambulance assisted at the crash site. Biloxi police helped with reconstructing the crash. OCEAN SPRINGS, Mississippi -- As of mid-afternoon Thursday, Ocean Springs was running in second place in voting for USA Today's 'Best Coastal Small Town' award. One of 20 coastal towns across the U.S. nominated for the award, Ocean Springs was ranked second in up-to-the-minute voting, behind Pismo Beach, Calif. "Ocean Springs appeals with its white sand beaches and freshly caught Gulf seafood you'd expect from a Gulf coast community," USA Today editor's wrote, "but it also boasts a thriving artistic community and a calendar full of cultural festivals, including the Peter Anderson Arts and Crafts Festival." USA Today writes that the 20 nominees "offer uncrowded, unpretentious and affordable seaside fun in small packages that prove bigger isn't always better." Ocean Springs is the only Mississippi town nominated. Nearby Gulf Shores, Ala., was nominated and was running in fifth place as of Thursday afternoon. "With its quaint, eclectic charm, we are delighted to have Ocean Springs nominated for this award," said Cynthia Sutton, Executive Director of the Ocean Springs Chamber of Commerce. "Ocean Springs is a tourist favorite and we encourage the entire coastal community and those throughout the state to promote Ocean Springs for this award." Other towns nominated are Southport, N.C.; Vermilion, Ohio; Georgetown, S.C.; Bayfield, Wis.; Mystic, Conn.; Port Townsend, Wash.; Mackinac Island, Mich.; Eastport, Maine; Carmel-by-the-Sea, Calif.; Cape May, N.J.; St. Simons Island, Ga.; Kennebunkport, Maine; Hanalei Town, Hawaii; Westerly, R.I.; Mexico Beach, Fla.; Sausalito, Calif.; and Essex, Conn. "Ocean Springs is an exceptional beach town that boasts a whole host of things to do, see and experience," said Ocean Springs Mayor Shea Dobson, "with over 200 independent shops, galleries, restaurants, and nightlife, our Coastal community captures the small-town charm with its walkability and year-round activity." Milton Segarra, CEO of Visit Mississippi Gulf Coast, noted USA Today's 36 million online readers each month, adding that nationwide exposure for Ocean Springs can only help the entire coastal community. "This is a phenomenal opportunity to showcase everything that Ocean Springs has to offer," Segarra said, "which will in turn benefit the entire Mississippi Gulf Coast as a destination." The Best Coastal Small Town contest is part of USA Today's annual "Reader's Choice" awards, which includes contests in a variety of categories. Voting (one vote per day) will remain open on the USA Today website through 11 a.m. on May 14. The winner will be announced on Friday, May 18. Former Rhode Island police sergeant Derrick Levasseur and forensic psychologist Kris Mohandie are teaming up to take on cold cases across the nation. The pair is answering the pleas of desperate families seeking answers about the unsolved murders of their loved ones in a new six-part series on Investigation Discovery (ID) titled Breaking Homicide. Investigation Discovery Group president Henry Schleiff told Fox News in a statement the show was created after the network, which televises documentary-style programming on true crime subjects, received numerous letters from grieving families. Over the last 10 years, Investigation Discovery has received countless calls and emails from viewers about local cold cases that have never been solved, he wrote. Breaking Homicide is our answer to those requests for help. Derrick and Kris use their decades of experience and fiery tenacity to shine a new light on these tragic crimes where the killers remain at-large and communities have yet to find the closure they need. According to a 2016 report, out of nearly 2 million violent crimes committed nationwide, only 46 percent were cleared by an arrest or exceptional means. Mohandie previously partnered up with Levasseur in IDs 2017 docuseries Is O.J. Innocent? The bottom line is that cases are solved because people come forward with new information, Mohandie said. And, proactively seeking public help, using the media as a way of getting the questions out there, beating the bushes, if you will, to get people to come forward, is an effective method of answering questions. "And, I believe people know that. Theyve seen it happen It is a natural thing to reach out and say, Somebody please help me. And, attention to a case, particularly when its cold, will often cause a shift and the case gets solved or resolved. Levasseur said the duo shared their unearthed leads with local law enforcement. They said members of law enforcement have also participated in Breaking Homicide, along with family members of victims being profiled. We have to be careful what we say, but I will tell you that we take every case as far as we can based on the evidence were presented with [and] the witnesses that were able to speak to, he explained. If theres a potential person of interest who may have some knowledge about the case, whether its their personal involvement or they know someone else who was involved... "We go and approach those individuals if the opportunity presents itself, and then at the end of the day, we turn over everything we have to the agencies involved with solving these cases Were in constant communication with them Levasseur, who retired in October, is no stranger to cameras. In addition to investigating the Simpson case for ID, hes also the winner of Big Brother 16. The Hollywood Reporter previously revealed Levasseur participated in the CBS reality competition series while serving as a sergeant. The 13-year veteran told the publication he received support from the law enforcement community for his involvement. But these days, hes more interested in solving cases. And Breaking Homicide hits close to home. The duo first took on the case of Michelle Norris, a child from Central Falls, Rhode Island who went missing from her local playground in 1988 and was later found dead in a nearby wooded area. Levasseur grew up just streets away from Norris. Levasseur and Mohandie not only uncovered sickening, tragic details of Norris death, but they claimed to have narrowed down a suspect. Nothing was off limits, said Levasseur. If we felt that we could contribute something to the case that may assist the agency working that investigation, we were going there... Although we started with these six, we intend on doing this as long as were capable of doing it, because the gratification you get from sitting down with these families, at the end of these independent investigations, and telling them information that theyve never heard before." He added, "I cant explain what that's like in words. But, its one of the most rewarding things Ive had done in my career." And Levasseur hopes Breaking Homicide will solve cases. Thats the goal, he said. The truth of the matter is, Kris and I are not in a position to put handcuffs on anyone, but we presented some information that we found through our interviews we conducted with certain persons of interest. "Also, we supplemented that with corroborating statements from other witnesses. We believe there are a few different individuals who [needed] to be spoken to by police department, and whatever decision is, we support it. Were in constant communication with them, but ultimately, they will be the ones to make that decision. But based on the work weve done, we think we pushed it in a direction that maybe some of these cases havent been looked at in a way before. And were hoping that down the road we do hear that one of these cases, or even multiple cases, finally get the closure they need for these families." Mohandie, who has over 20 years of experience in the assessment of violent behavior and has worked in investigations for local, state and federal law enforcement organizations, said he was pleasantly surprised by the six cases. Mohandie was also grateful for the families willing to come forward to share their painful experiences. Id say one of the things that I never ceased to be amazed by is the triumph of the human spirit to endure through... unfathomable pain, he said. What families live with when they have these kinds of unanswered questions. "Even though Ive seen it throughout my career, theres never a time when Im not amazed by the people that survive and endure I do believe we will have helped answer some very significant questions throughout these different investigations. Mohandie added his work with Levasseur for the series is far from over. I think its our hope that we will inspire those that are involved with other cases that are not part of our show, to maybe bring new information forward, to breathe new life independent of this show, he said. [I hope] this show will be an inspiration to others whose cases were not featured in this investigative effort. "Breaking Homicide" airs Sundays on ID. Jenna Fischer said she would be donating money to the NAACP, Trevor Project and the Anti-Defamation League in the name of the protesters who interrupted her speech Tuesday night at DePauw University. Fischer, 44, was at the university Indiana to promote her book The Actors Life: A Survival Guide when protesters said blew a whistle and had students scatter across the room. The students stood up staying, I am not safe and some held a banner, which read: #DePauwKKK. The demonstration came after a string of racial incidents on campus. One of the incidents occurred before Fischer was slated to speak. Fischer, an Indiana native, was interrupted several times during her speech and expressed empathy to the protesters. JENNA FISCHER EVENT AT DEPAUW UNIVERSITY INTERRUPTED BY PROTESTERS "In my personal opinion, oftentimes justice requires disruption and interruption of our scheduled lives," she told the audience, according to the Indy Star. "I don't know what to say except that I'm so sorry. "The Office" star tweeted Wednesday that she would be donating her speaking fee to the organizations in the name of the protesters. In light of last nights events, using the full amount I was paid by the university, I will be making equal donations to the NAACP, the Anti-Defamation League and the Trevor Project in the name of the students at DePauw University, Fischer tweeted. My hope is for all people to be respected, accepted and loved for their individuality and uniqueness. And, above all, to be safe. CLAIRE DANES SAYS HOMELAND WILL END AFTER SEASON 8 The student protestors spoke about their experiences and about the hate they have been encountering. I could feel the pain, sadness, and fear coming from these students, she continued. No student should feel at risk, or have to suffer the kinds of bigotry and hate these students have encountered. These students need to be heard and they need change. Fox News Ryan Gaydos contributed to this reported. A writer for "The Late Show With Stephen Colbert" has found herself in hot water over a tweet she wrote about the death of former first lady Barbara Bush. "RIP Barbara Bush, the only woman who was 92 for 30 years," Jen Spyra tweeted shortly after news broke of Bush's passing. Spyra quickly garnered a negative reaction for the tweet from her followers. "Wow! That is incredibly insensitive and rude," one user wrote. "Quite sickening!" another one said. One person chimed in, "This is the tolerance and acceptance we hear so much about on the left. Way to lift up your fellow women." "A family just lost a love one and you have jokes about said person...let alone a joke thats not funny. Then again, neither is Colbert!" a user tweeted. FYI: Sometimes it's better not to _try_ to be funny. Sometimes saying nothing is better. Anne Choat (@annie7265) April 18, 2018 Cruel and not funny. Miss Norma Jeane (@rosanthony3) April 18, 2018 A rep for the "Late Show" did not immediately return Fox News' request for comment. However, Spyra's tweet did receive a positive reaction from comedian Jake Weisman who simply replied, "Awesome" to her tweet. She answered the "Corporate" star, "We all do our part." It's not the first time a CBS employee has raised eyebrows on social media. Top CBS lawyer Hayley Geftman-Gold was axed in October 2017 after she said she was "not even sympathetic" to victims of the Las Vegas shooting because "country music fans often are Republican." A @CBS legal exec thought the Las Vegas victims had it coming. pic.twitter.com/YjeSyAox59 Brandon Morse (@TheBrandonMorse) October 2, 2017 Geftman-Gold later issued an apology, but it was too late. CBS told Fox News at the time that the network let her go because she "violated the standards of our company." Samantha Grant has some harsh words for her half-sisters soon-to-be husband Prince Harry. Grant sounded off on Twitter about the royal, who will be marrying American actress Meghan Markle on May 19. She has previously accused the 33-year-old, who is fifth in line to the throne, of excluding several family members from the upcoming wedding. Its time to man up @HRHHenryWindsor, she tweeted Wednesday. Shout outs about humanitarianism, dont work when you are allowing Meg to ignore the Markles. It is contradiction. Someone must point out that the Emperor is not wearing any clothes. This isnt the first time Grant has slammed Harry. Earlier this month, she slammed 36-year-old half-sibling and her beau for excluding relatives from attending the high-profile celebration. Grant also claimed that she and Markle are 15th cousins with Harry. And its not only Meg who is 15th cousin to Harry, she tweeted. My brother and I are also. I was the first born Markle to my father. Exclude the [Markles] from this wedding would be highly inappropriate. Grant also shared a family tree which she claimed proved the Markles are related to the royal family. At issue is not a matter of closeness as more than 1000 complete strangers are invited, she said. Family is family. I have an uncle I have only seen once but I would never say he is not family because we are not close. Humanitarians move forward with love and kindness especially to Family. Grant followed up her tweet by saying, Smoke and mirrors cannot hide the elephant in the room. Out of respect, tradition, and humanitarianism, the #Markles should be invited if 2000 complete strangers are invited. Our uncle who got her the internship, brother, me, best friend of 30 years Nikki Priddy, nephews. Fact. However, Grant isnt the only relative coming forward. Markles half-brother Thomas Markle Jr. told UKs Mirror the family is deeply hurt by the royal wedding snub. Shes clearly forgotten her roots, said the 51-year-old. Its torn my entire family apart. Meg likes to portray herself as a humanitarian, a peoples person and a charitable person, but she is none of those things to her family. "She is giving the greatest performance of her life. She is acting phony. Once she got into Hollywood she turned into a different person. Shes clearly forgotten her roots and her family. Thomas added, Maybe the normal American family she has is embarrassing to her because were not producers and executive producers. Theres a whole different side of her that has started to surface and its ugly to see. Thomas went on to claim Markle is attempting to emulate Harrys mother, the late Princess Diana. Ive read that Meg wants to be like Diana, he said. Diana was worshipped by everyone in the world. She was loved for the right reasons. Thats what Meg wants, but I dont think thats going to happen. She is not genuine like Diana. Thomas said he is hurt over not receiving an invitation to the royal wedding. Im not bitter, just baffled, he said. Its hurtful given how close we once were. Im confused and a little distraught because here is a person knowing the position shes in and knowing the scrutiny shes under and yet she has forgotten her flesh and blood. "We were so close back then, but when our grandmother died, she moved to Toronto to start filming Suits and I didnt see her. I havent seen her since late 2011. Thomas said he has come forward to defend Markle after sister Samantha claimed in October the Hollywood star had ambitions to become a royal long before Harry came along. All I can say is it all started with Samantha, he said. Thats how I got involved in this, coming to Meghans defense. But trying to put a lid on Samantha and get her to be quiet backfired and started a rift of insults. "It has torn my entire family apart. None of us has heard a word from Meg and what with all that has been said no longer do I speak to Samantha or my two sons. I had hoped Meg might have appreciated the support I gave, but its meant nothing to her, it would seem. Thomas believes a recent domestic incident with fiancee Darlene Blount, 37, might be to blame for Markle not reaching out. The Mirror revealed he was detained after a drunken altercation led police to be called, but the matter was dropped without charges. No family is perfect, he said. All families have their disputes and troubles Harry has not exactly been perfect in the past. Back in January, Grant told Fox News her brother has been speaking to the media without the familys consent. My brother is out there acting like hes the spokesman of the family, she said. He is estranged from my dad because he sold my dad out to photographers from my uncles house and tried to get my fragile uncle to talk. "He gave up my dads whereabouts. In other words, all those rumors out there started by my brother. He claimed he would walk Meg down the aisle. Thats more malarkey than I could even imagine to articulate. Grant also denied a report made by People magazine claiming her younger sister had no contact with her and hasnt for more than a decade. We spoke in 2014, she explained. That doesnt make us estranged by a decade When you got someone in the family who is family, just because they jet-set and have a busy, distracting life, it doesnt mean anyone in the family is estranged Our families have always been very much in touch. And certainly growing up, we were very close. I dont think speaking with my sister last in 2014 and her saying, I love you babe, lets keep in touch makes us estranged. I think that makes her busy. There are geographical differences between us. It became difficult. Grant added she and her family are new to the spotlight and it can be difficult to cope with the worldwide interest in their personal lives. As much as I love and respect Meg, shes got security and a publicist and can be protected from all that, she said. She and Harry can tell the media to stop. The rest of the family doesnt have that luxury. I love her, [but] she may not want me saying anything. I refuse to be a victim of the media. Im not going to let them disparage me, embarrass me personally and professionally and not defend myself I can only hope she would respect and understand that In fact, if I were Meg, I would probably put something out there so that there was some sort of protective mechanism in place where the family couldnt be tortured as much. The reboot of "Roseanne" is noticeably missing the late Glenn Quinn. Quinn, who died of a heroin overdose in 2002 at age 33, played Becky's handsome but not very smart boyfriend-turned-husband, Mark Healy, in the original series. Now, Quinn's cast members pay tribute to the late actor in a variety of ways, In Touch reports. "Not only is Darlene's (Sara Gilbert) son named after Uncle Mark," a "Roseanne" insider told the magazine. "But Roseanne has a photo of Glenn on the set that the entire cast touches before they take their opening bows." 'Roseanne' reveals why Darlene and David broke up -- and if they'll ever get back together The Irish-born actor was also known for his role on "Angel." The "Roseanne" reboot has been a huge ratings success for ABC. It has gained a lot of attention for featuring a pro-Trump character. The show's star Roseanne Barr revealed to reporters back in January it was important to her to showcase her character as a pro-Trump American. Its just realistic, she explained. I have always attempted to portray a realistic portrait of the American people and working class people. And, in fact, it was working class people that elected Trump so I felt that was very real and something that needed to be discussed." Happy Days star Scott Baio and his wife Renee announced they have finished training with the Los Angeles Police Department and are allowed to help victims of disasters. Baio, 57, told The Blast he and his wife decided to go through with the training after their daughters school was threatened by wildfires in Santa Barbara, last year. The actors homeowners' association also ruled that a few people should receive CERT training in case a disaster occurs in their Woodland Hills community. SCOTT BAIO DENIES SEXUAL ASSAULT ALLEGATIONS BY CHARLES IN CHARGE CO-STAR NICOLE EGGERT The training consisted of seven classes at the LAPDs Topanga Division. The couple said their daughter, Bailey, also attended the classes. Baio said the classes focused on what to do in an active shooter situation, terrorist attacks and how to perform medical practices in case of an emergency. On Tuesday, Baio and Renee graduated at the station and became certified. The ceremony included a potluck with the officers at the station. The Charles in Charge star told The Blast he shook the hands of the officer, telling them he really appreciates law enforcement for all that they do. MICHAEL PHELPS SAYS HIS DEPRESSION ALMOST LED HIM TO SUICIDE AFTER 2012 OLYMPICS Anytime that we can thank them in person, especially with our daughter who weve raised to respect people in uniform, Baio said. Recently, Baio made headlines after he was accused by his former Charles in Charge co-star Nicole Eggert that he molested her. Eggert claimed she was molested repeatedly from the time she was 14 until she was 17. Another former co-star Alexander Polinsky accused Baio of sexual harassment. He is currently under investigation by the LAPD due to Eggerts allegations. Baio has denied the allegations. Fox News Travis Fedschun contributed to this report. Coffee is an unquestionable must-have for tens of millions of Americans so what better occasion to celebrate than to delve into the origins of the drink on National Coffee Day? In the recent interview, Richard Nieto, owner of Sweetleaf Coffee Roasters in New York City, discussed the dramatic history of the ubiquitous drink with Fox News. "The story of coffee is really interesting. It goes back over a thousand years to the ancient coffee forest of Ethiopia," Nieto explains. "The legend goes that there was a goat herder named Kaldi, and upon noticing that when his goats would eat berries from these particular trees, they would become very energized." STARBUCKS CLOSING 8,000 STORES ON MAY 29 TO CONDUCT 'RACIAL BIAS TRAINING' News of the berries made it back to a local monastery, where the monks made a drink out of it, and they found it made them very energized as well, PBS reports. Then, as Nieto explains, word of this energizing beverage quickly spread across the Arabian Peninsula and eventually to Europe. The "magical powers" of coffee apparently began to scare people so much, that by the sixteenth century, Pope Clemente VIII debated banning the drink altogether. MCDONALDS MANAGER APOLOGIZES FOR SLAPPING CUSTOMER, SAYS WOMAN THREW COFFEE AT HER FIRST He said, "First, I need to try it," and thank the lord above, he loved it, and he gave it papal approval, Nieto says. Nieto adds that it wasnt until the seventeenth century that coffee made its way into New Amsterdam, which we now know as New York. Tea remained the beverage of choice in the New World, however, for around a hundred years until 1773, when King George III put a heavy tax on tea. "The tax led to the huge revolt that we know as the Boston Tea Party, a revolt that would forever make coffee the number one choice in America," Nieto revealed. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS For more, check out the complete interview with Nieto above. Philadelphias police commissioner is apologizing to two black men who were arrested at a Starbucks in the city following backlash over the language he used in a previous statement. "Im here to discuss the unfortunate incident that has been in the news about this great city an incident that I fully acknowledge that I played a significant role in making worse," said Commissioner Richard Ross at a press conference held Thursday. "For starters, I should have said the officers acted within the scope of the law, and not that they didn't do anything wrong, he said. STARBUCKS CLOSING 8,000 US STORES ON MAY 29 TO CONDUCT 'RACIAL BIAS TRAINING' Immediately after the Starbucks incident, Commissioner Richard Ross had originally said the responding police officers did absolutely nothing wrong and were following policy in a Facebook video. The police did not just happen upon this event," he said in the original video. "They did not just walk into Starbucks to get a coffee They were called there, for a service, and that service had to do with quelling a disturbance, a disturbance that had to do with trespassing." Since his post, Ross, who is black, apologized for his previous choice of wording and for not being aware of the "Starbucks business model, or the well-known fact [that] people spend long hours at Starbucks and are not necessarily expected to make a purchase. "It is also reasonable to believe that the officers didn't know it either," he added. Ross went on to say the department is enacting a new policy for officers to "deal with similar situations." Ross added that he "failed miserably" in the messaging around the arrests. He says that the issue of race is not lost on him and he shouldn't be the person making things worse. Mayor Jim Kenney of Philadelphia also released a lengthy statement on Twitter supporting Commissioner Ross' apology. Sometimes courage is as simple as a willingness to evaluate your own words and actions, and to account for them. Today we saw such courage with the words of Police Commissioner Richard Ross. I applaud his ability to reflect on this very difficult week, and to articular his changed perspective, the statement read. The current realities of race relations and bias in 2018 warrant ongoing re-evaluations by each and every one of us, Kenney continued. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were at a Starbucks in Philadelphias Rittenhouse Square location waiting for a business colleague when they were arrested for trespassing. Video footage of the arrest went viral on social media prompting boycotts of Starbucks and galvanizing people around the country who saw the exchange as modern-day slavery. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Nelson and Robinson have met with the CEO of Starbucks and are pushing for meaningful change. We need a different type of action ... not words, Robinson said. Its a time to pay attention and understand whats really going on. We do want a seat at the table. Since the incident, Starbucks has promised to train employees about unconscious bias. The company later announced it would be closing 8,000 company-owned stores on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct "racial bias training." The Associated Press contributed to this report. Pope Francis knows his bourbon. Last week, Father Jim Sichko of Lexington, Ky., visited the Vatican for a private audience with Pope Francis, Food & Wine reports. The priest brought along a fitting gift from the Bluegrass state: a bottle of 23-year-old Pappy Van Winkle Bourbon. TACO BELL FRANCHISE SUING WISCONSIN TOWN, MAYOR FOR DISCRIMINATION AFTER LIQUOR LICENSE DENIED Father Sichko said that Pope Francis immediately spotted the quality product when he saw it. He knew I was from Kentucky, so when I handed it to him, he immediately said 'bourbon' and I said yes, and then he said, 'very good bourbon. Father Sichko told the Lexington Herald Leader. According to Fortune, a 23-year-old bottle of the spirit retails for around $2,700. MAN ASKS CLERK ABOUT STEALING BEER BEFORE STEALING BEER, GETS ARRESTED JUST LIKE SHE SAID The 81-year-old Argentinian pope wasnt the only one who got gifted that day, as Father Sichko brought more bottles to hand out for Pope Francis' security team. All the PAPPYS, 4 ROSES and WOODFORD RESERVE made it to give to Pope Francis and his security detail! Thanks Be to God! he tweeted. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS This wouldn't be the first time that Pope Francis has happily accepted a bottle of whiskey. When Queen Elizabeth met the pope for the first time, she gave him a hamper of food with a bottle of the booze, ABC News reports. A large chain of British supermarkets is aiming to curb its customers unhealthier habits with the aid of healthy eating specialists. Waitrose, which operates more than 350 locations throughout the U.K., announced Thursday that the company will have 100 such specialists in select stores by the end of 2018, where they will direct customers to healthier alternatives, suggests recipes, and generally be available to advise shoppers. WALMART RATES BETTER THAN MOST OTHER SUPERMARKETS WHEN IT COMES TO FOOD WASTE "Many shoppers have the best intentions to be healthier but busy lives get in the way. We know that small steps, top tips and nuggets of good advice can help them get started and importantly stay on track, said Moira Howie, the nutrition and health manager for Waitrose, in a press release. Since news of Waitroses plans was announced, British media outlets including The Telegraph and The Daily Mail have already dubbed the in-store specialists health food police and nutrition nannies, respectively. The former added that Waitroses initiative comes as the chain expands its line of Good Health offerings, or store-brand items that meet certain nutritional guidelines. MAYOCHUP MAY CHANGE ITS NAME FOR THE US MARKET A few critics on Twitter have already blasted the supermarkets move as virtue signaling, or attempting to provide chaperones for the middle class, but Waitrose has responded by saying the specialists will not interfere with shoppers activities, and will only provide advice upon request. Waitrose also announced a number of other health initiatives for 2018, including the expanded testing of its personal nutrition consultation services; the launch of a new Waitrose health magazine; and the launch of a recipe program. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS The company says it decided to ramp up efforts to aid with consumer choices following in-house research that found about half of the chains customers didnt feel on top of their health. A Canadian naturopath has come under fire from health officials after she claimed she gave a 4-year-old boy saliva from a rabid dog to cure his behavioral issues. Anke Zimmermann, of Victoria, wrote on her blog that she gave a 4-year-old boy identified as only Jonah a unique homeopathic remedy after he was aggressive toward his classmates in preschool and had sleeping issues, the Washington Post reported. His preschool is complaining that he hides under tables and growls at people, she wrote in the blog. Zimmermann said she believed Jonahs behavior issues occurred after he was bit by a dog. She said she gave the boy Lyssinum (also called Hydrophobinum), a homeopathic remedy, to help with his aggression. People who need Lyssinum, also known as Hydrophobinum, are often afraid of the dark, of dogs, even of water, have trouble falling asleep and are overly excitable. Aggression can also be a strong feature as can dreams of dogs, wolves and being attacked. This can even develop into full psychosis, she wrote. BOY HIT BY FOUL BALL AT BASEBALL GAME APPEARS TO HAVE BRAIN INJURY Lyssinum is considered a legitimate homeopathic product by the Canadian government and was approved. Zimmermann claimed Jonah was completely different after he took the remedy. Within a minute or two of giving him the remedy Jonah smiled at me very broadly and beautifully, as if all the lights had just gone on, Zimmermann wrote. We said our goodbyes, and I felt a warm feeling of hope for this boy. However, Canadian health officials were worried upon hearing the news because Lyssinum could pose as a health risk. There is no evidence that I am aware of that shows Lyssin has any therapeutic benefit, Bonnie Henry, British Columbia provincial health officer, said. More importantly, I am concerned that if a product did actually contain what is suggested, saliva from a rabid dog, that would put the patient at risk of contracting rabies, a serious, fatal illness. Henry said rabies is a serious reportable communicable disease that is almost universally fatal in humans and in dogs, and it can be spread through saliva from an infected dog. The naturopath said she prescribed Johan the homeopathic remedy produced from rabies because the boy was bitten by a dog in the past. Zimmermann explained that homeopathy can work wonders for children with behavioral disorders if the remedy can be clearly perceived. WHY DID THE WHITE OF THIS MANS EYES TURN BLUE? Phillipa Stanaway, the deputy registrar at College of Naturopathic Physicians in British Columbia, said Zimmermann is a licensed naturopath and the remedy is an accepted treatment. Lyssinum is not excluded from the pharmacopeia for naturopathic doctors in B.C., Stanaway told the Huffington Post. Homeopathy, which includes the use of substances such as lyssinum, is a traditional modality with a long history in the naturopathic scope of practice; it is still used by some naturopathic doctors today. Zimmermann posted on her blog that she was receiving hundreds of hateful messages, including threats of injury following her blog post. Unfortunately the public in North America is ill-informed about homeopathy and the media is engaging in a relentless attack against homeopathy for the most part, usually claiming it's just a placebo but now suddenly up in rage because the remedy in this case was made from rabies, Zimmermann wrote. I have news for you people, homeopathy either works or it doesn't. If it doesn't, what does it matter what it's made of, dog saliva, elephant's dung or badger's pubic hair, it's so diluted that it's only water after all, or a placebo, a sugar pill. Washington A school safety forum on Capitol Hill hosted by Floridas U.S. senators focused on how to help students head off threats from their peers, and on improving security measures for schools, among other topics. Sen. Bill Nelson, a Democrat, and Sen. Marco Rubio, a Republican, also used the event here on Wednesday to tout their support for having the federal government offer states incentives to adopt red flag laws that prevent those who represent a threat to themselves or others from accessing or purchasing firearms, while preserving legal protetions for those individuals. Rubio and Nelson introduced a bill to this effect, the Extreme Risk Protection Order and Violence Prevention Act , last month, after the school shooting in Parkland, Fla. Advocates and public officials also emphasized the importance of communication at various stages to help address school violence, from making it easier for students to share their concerns with adults, to helping law enforcement respond to violent incidents more quickly. Nicole Hockley, whose son was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary School in Newtown, Conn., in 2012, highlighted the Start With Hello training program that helps children communicate with each other about their difficulties. The program is run by Sandy Hook Promise, a nonprofit group led by Hockley that works to prevent children from violence. It sounds so simple. But the best programs are, Hockley said. And Indiana officials attending the session pointed to a school thats become a model for new security measures , from bullet-resistant classroom doors to smoke bombs that can fill a hallway and disorient a school shooter. (The latter clocks in at a cost of $400,000.) Indiana Attorney General Curtis Hill said the state has emphasized what we can do to harden our schools, but not make them a prison. In expressing interest in creating national school safety standards, Rubio pointed to the Americans With Disabilities Act that created national building standards to address the needs of people with disabilities. While he said the analogy to gun violence and school safety isnt perfect, Its an indication of where federal policy could help over time. He also expressed an interest in making it easier somehow for school leaders to discover best practices for safety, so that they can hear from one another about what other places are doing. Meanwhile, Nelson praised the courageous students and other activists who have pushed for new gun-control measures and safer schools. He said he was focused on trying to get stuff done that we can get done in a bipartisan way. We remain hopeful that Congress wil continue to respond to this movement that has come out of this great tragedy, Nelson said of the Parkland shooting. Where Rubio and Nelson Stand Nelson and Rubio have taken different approaches to addressing gun violence and school safety since the Parkland shooting. Rubio was a vocal supporter of the STOP School Violence Act, which provides competitive grants to districts for crisis-intervention services, anonymous reporting services, and more. The legislation was rolled into the fiscal 2018 federal spending bill signed last month by President Donald Trump. Hes also criticized Broward County schools approach to discipline. (Broward County is where the Parkland shooting occurred.) In a letter to U.S. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and Attorney General Jeff Sessions, he questioned the Obama-era guidance on school discipline and its potential impact on the Parkland shooting, though the guidance was released a year after the Broward school system revamped its discipline policies. And earlier this week, he highlighted a story by Real Clear Investigations that painted a picture of a Broward district that ignored dangerous and violent incidents: I dont want high school students unnecessarily arrested for school misconduct & support goal of eliminating racial disparities in school discipline. But not addressing repeated violence & threats is not the answer. Read this in-depth investigation: https://t.co/dEMekh5JN3 Marco Rubio (@marcorubio) April 17, 2018 Nelson, meanwhile, has been an advocate for stricter gun-control measures since the Parkland shooting. Earlier this month, he held a community roundtable in West Palm Beach, Fla., on school safety and gun violence . Lets get to the root cause ... lets get these assault weapons off our streets, Nelson said on the Senate floor in the immediate aftermath of the shooting at Majory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland that left 17 students and school staff dead. He also joined a host of Democratic senators in calling for additional money for school safety last month, before the STOP Act was included in the most recent federal spending bill. A Little Bit of Magic Like Hockley, Utah Attorney General Sean Reyes stressed that officials must ensure students have outlets to share their concerns with people in authority so that ultimatey law enforcement can respond quickly. Students in Utah can use the Safe UT app, commissioned by the University of Utah, to report possible threats to themselves or others. The app is monitored around the clock by mental-health professionals, who can then triage the reports and notify police when appropiate. In February, more than two dozen tips about potential threats were reported using the app, the Salt Lake Tribune reported. There is a little bit of magic in this, Reyes said, given how and how often students use their phones. Additional changes to federal practice were also discussed. Rep. Elizabeth Esty, D-Conn., said that the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention should be able to research gun-violence prevention and not just gun violence itself, which Rubio signaled he agreed with. (In the recent federal spending bill signed by President Donald Trump, restrictions on the CDC for gun-violence research were loosened , although theres no accompanying funding to back up new research.) Others, however, spoke about the need for broader cultural changes to help children feel supported. Ryan Petty, whose daughter Alaina was murdered at Stoneman Douglas, spoke about the contagion effect that can lead one school shooting to lead to further violent incidents. I think we can put an antibiotic together to help stop this, said Petty. He added that helping students contemplating suicide would be especially useful in keeping children and their school peers safe. And Mo Canady, the executive director of the National Association of School Resource Officers, cautioned against the temptation to simply stick police officers who arent a right for educational environments into schoolsnot all police officers are cut out to be school resource officers, he stressed. The number one goal of school resource officers is to bridge the gap between law enforcement and youth, Canady said. Photo: Nicole Hockley, left, whose son Dylan was murdered at Sandy Hook Elementary in Newtown, Conn., in 2012, greets Fred Guttenberg, whose daughter Jamie was killed at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., in February, before a U.S. Senate forum on school safety on April 18. Follow us on Twitter at @PoliticsK12 . Nicole Kaspar has walked many runways during her career as a model, but shell certainly never forget her boyfriend popping the question in the midst of one very special fashion show. Last weekend, the Texan-born beauty closed Wtoo by Watters Spring 2019 show during New York Bridal Fashion Week, and probably didnt anticipate being surprised with the life-changing question by her boyfriend Chad Stapleton. Instructed to walk down the catwalk a second time under the premise that more photos needed to be taken of her dress, she found instead her partner of two years waiting. TEEN TAKES MOM TO PROM BECAUSE SHE MISSED HER OWN Nicole, Ive wanted to do this for a long time, and I wanted the moment to be as special as you are to me, Stapleton says in the now-viral clip, Huffington Post reports. And I figured, what better way to do this than on a runway, doing what you love. Stapleton launched into a speech about how much Kaspar means to him. Kaspar says yes when he formally asked for her hand in marriage, and the two embraced to the delight of the crowd. We met in Las Vegas through mutual friends," Kaspar told The Knot of meeting Stapleton, who works as a dentist. "My tooth had cracked and part of it fell out, and so at lunch they were asking Chad to look at it, Kaspar told The Knot of their first meeting. I was so embarrassed because he was so cute. STRANGER COMFORTS HYSTERICAL TODDLER ON FLIGHT, GOES VIRAL He wrote me on Instagram while I was living in Paris, the bride-to-be further divulged, and we went on our first date the day I came back. The rest is history. Flooded with well wishes and support in the days since, the lovebirds now look forward to tying the knot. All I can say is WOW!!! IM ENGAGED to the love of my life. Thank you for making my every dream come true @thefittestdentist and I cannot wait to spend forever together. A very special thank you to @watters for helping Chad make this day so phenomenal, the bride-to-be wrote on Instagram. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS And when her wedding day finally arrives, Kaspar says shes sure shell sport a dress by Watters. "I wouldn't be caught dead in anything else," she told Inside Edition NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! Following the death Tuesday of former first lady Barbara Bush, it didnt take long before a radical and heartless university professor started spewing unbelievably vile, hate-filled rhetoric actually celebrating Mrs. Bushs death from behind the safety of a social media account. Randa Jarrar, an English professor at California State Universitys Fresno campus, launched into an obscenity-filled Twitter tirade that began: "Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal. F--- outta here with your nice words. Here is more of Jarrars euphoric excitement and nasty name-calling that she splashed across Twitter like a garbage truck spilling it contents: "PSA: either you are against these pieces of s--- and their genocidal ways or you're part of the problem. That's actually how simple this is. I'm happy the witch is dead. Can't wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise the way 1.5 million Iraqis have. byyyeeeeeeee. Classy and such a talented writer! Does this English professor assign her students to write filth like this this, and give them bonus points for swearing? How on Earth did she get to be an English professor, anyway? And what kind of sick, twisted individual gleefully celebrates the death of a human being? Unless the death youre celebrating is that of someone like Adolf Hitler or Usama Bin Laden. Jarrar continued her tweet storm, expressing her joy that former President George W. Bush was probably very sad his mother was dead. She became even more brazen and full of herself in her tweets, flaunting her salary and saying there was no way she could ever be fired because she has tenure. She even tagged the universitys president, and practically dared her critics to do the same if they didnt like what she was saying. The Fresno Bee reported: The backlash on Twitter was immense on Tuesday night, with thousands of comments pouring in to condemn Jarrar for what she had said. Jarrar eventually made her social media accounts private. It initially looked as though the university was going to stand behind Jarrar and her hate speech. Fresno State President Joseph Castro released a statement Tuesday saying that while the school didnt condone her comments, her views werent made as a representative of the university, but rather as a private citizen. Really, President Castro? That argument doesnt work when shes citing her tenure and six-figure university salary. At first the university was trying to have it both ways, distancing itself from Jarrars comments, while attempting to avoid holding her accountable for her speech. However, amid a growing backlash, Lynnette Zelezny, the universitys provost, said Wednesday that tenure does not in fact protect Jarrar from being fired. And after his initial comments, Castro said: A professor with tenure does not have blanket protection to say and do what they wish. We are all held accountable for our actions. Far too often lately weve watched as conservatives have been invited to speak at universities by legitimate campus organizations only to be subjected to protests, heckling and even violence More often than not, the school administration appears to turn a blind eye to it all. Is rejoicing at the death of Mrs. Bush the step too far? Have we finally seen a far-left extremist, whos come completely unhinged, cross a line in the sand or is this just wishful thinking? The university provost said Jarrar can be fired. So why not fire her and make her the example all academia so desperately needs? Jarrar talks about having the right to free speech in one of her tweets. This is the glaring ignorance we often hear from supposedly intelligent people who throw around the First Amendment to justify their hateful rants. What they dont seem to get is that the First Amendment protects them from the government suppressing their speech. What it does not protect them from is an employers freedom to decide they are bad for their brand. If an employee chooses to publicly use vulgar, hateful language, or wish someone dead, an employer can decide thats not somebody they want associated with their institution, organization or company. Individuals still have the freedom to say all of those abhorrent things, but their speech has consequences. In addition to being a professor, Jarrar is, according to her bio, is an award-winning novelist, short story writer, essayist, and translator. By societys measuring stick, shes successful. Ironically, however, it was Mrs. Bush herself who said: "Never lose sight of the fact that the most important yardstick of your success will be how you treat other people your family, friends, and co-workers, and even strangers you meet along the way." By that account, Jarrar still has a long way to go to succeed. Mrs. Bush was the picture of class and dignity, and a glowing example of how to treat other people. She was admired and respected across the political spectrum as the flood of tributes since her death has shown. Jarrar is the polar opposite. She may be educated in the classroom, but in life the professor has lot to learn, and who better for her to learn it from than the late first lady? NEW You can now listen to Fox News articles! As fired FBI Director James Comey continues his self-centered, self-abasing book tour, its clear that hes on a path to self-destruction as well destroying his own reputation. Hillary Clinton supporters hate Comey more than ever as he digs deeper into the hole he made for himself in the 2016 election. And President Trumps supporters are becoming ever more incensed by Comeys spectacularly unbecoming tirade of petty and in the perfectly apt words of NBCs Savannah Guthrie, catty insults directed at the president. With each passing day of this ill-advised public therapy session, Comeys narcissistic personality disorder becomes more apparent. Who cares? Comey is just another pompous bureaucrat with the arrogant impulse to lord it (or should I say, Lordy it) over democratically elected officials in a self-appointed role as guardian of the public interest. Ive seen plenty of those. But theres something much bigger at stake than Comeys reputation. Its the reputation of our most important institutions and foundational principles. You hear President Trumps critics complain the whole time that he is undermining the rule of law and subverting democratic norms. Everyone is innocent until proven guilty in a court of law, and Comey has not been convicted of anything at this point. But what, exactly, could be more undermining of the rule of law than a senior law enforcement official who may have broken the law, who is publicly glorying in the fact of his own possible lawlessness, and who is using it to enrich himself? What, exactly, could be more undermining of democratic norms than half the country believing on the basis of ample circumstantial evidence that Americas ruling political establishment conspired with the security services and law enforcement at the highest levels to try to prevent an outsider from being elected president? And when that failed, to try to render him illegitimate and ineffective? There are several charges that could be investigated involving Comey and others including former CIA Director John Brennan, former Director of National Intelligence James Clapper (who himself may have broken the law by lying to Congress over government spying), and various FBI and Department of Justice officials. We examined Comeys potential crimes in our special edition of The Next Revolution, titled The Trial of James Comey last Sunday. But what potential charges could Comey could face? Obstruction of justice over the handling of the Clinton email investigation; lying to Congress over the conclusion of that investigation; theft of government property, in the form of his leaked memos; and abuse of power over the infamous Steele dossier. These are among the crimes that there are strong grounds to argue James Comey committed. Worse even than that, the more that we learn from Comey and others about the conduct of the Obama administration and its senior officials during the late stages of the 2016 presidential election, and in the transition period before President Trumps inauguration, the more it appears that a truly frightening usurpation of the democratic process might have been attempted. Any fair-minded person would acknowledge that there is at least as much reason to suspect that the FBI, Department of Justice and others in the federal bureaucracy colluded with the Obama administration and Clinton campaign to influence the 2016 election as there are reasons to suspect that Donald Trump and his associates colluded with the Russians in similar vein. And yet in this 50-50 swamp of suspicion and confusion one that is so darkly emblematic of our deeply divided country 100 percent of the investigative and prosecutorial energy is going in one direction only. This is not just obviously absurd and unfair. It is: making Americas divisions deeper by the day. If we want to truly understand what happened in the 2016 presidential election, and if we want to somehow move beyond this viciously polarized and angry political moment, then we have to see equal justice done. James Comey, John Brennan, James Clapper, Hillary Clinton, President Obama and former Attorney General Loretta Lynch all must be investigated and if justified by evidence turned up in investigations prosecuted. And these investigations must be undertaken with exactly the same intensity that we are seeing applied to President Trump, his presidential campaign, and his associates. Anything less than that will leave America as divided and angry as it is today for at least a generation if not longer. For the sake of our democracy, the rule of law and faith in Americas institutions, we need fair treatment for all the potential crimes associated with the 2016 election, not just half of them. New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo, a New York City native, raised eyebrows last week after he claimed that he was an illegal immigrant and taunted officials to deport him. Im undocumented. You want to deport an undocumented person, start with me because Im an undocumented person, Cuomo, 60, said during a bill signing. During the bizarre speech, the New York governor criticized the "extreme conservative movement" for being "anti-immigrant." He said his family, who emigrated to the U.S. from Italy, was constantly ridiculed with a racial slur that he said meant without papers. Im an Italian-American. I came from poor Italian-Americans who came here. You know what they called Italian-Americans back in the day? They called them wops, Cuomo said, referring to the pejorative slur for Italians. You know what wop stood for? Without papers. Im undocumented. You want to deport an undocumented person, start with me because Im an undocumented person." Andrew Cuomo According to the Online Etymology dictionary, the slur originated from southern Italian dialect guappo, which means dandy, dude, stud. The dictionary said its not an acronym. A day earlier, Cuomo addressed a group of union workers and said he was raised by poor immigrants from South Jamaica, a neighborhood in Queens, New York. His father Mario, a three-term governor of New York, was born in Queens to Italian immigrant parents. His mother, Matilda, was also born in Queens. Immigrant advocacy group Make the Road Action has called on Cuomo to apologize for the comments. To Dreamer and immigrants like me, these fabrications are offensive, Make the Road Action member Antonio Alarcon said in a statement, adding that the governor has no idea what its like to live as an undocumented person. For those of us who came to this country with our parents to find a better life, and have struggled daily to get by and faced the threat of being torn from our family, its unbelievable that the governor would try to claim to have shared our experience, he said. Cuomo received condemnation for his false comments on social media, as well, including from Dictionary.com which tweeted the definition of the word "undocumented" along with the hashtag #Cuomo. Cuomo is facing a primary opponent this year in Cynthia Nixon, an actress and activist. He's currently ahead of Nixon by a significant amount, but the lead has dwindled over recent weeks. Cuomo's office did not respond to a request for comment from Fox News Thursday afternoon. The Senate has voted 55 to 43 to confirm Carlos Muniz as the U.S. Department of Educations lead attorney. Muniz was nominated by President Donald Trump last year to be the departments general counsel. He was previously deputy state attorney general and chief of staff for Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi, and deputy general counsel under former Florida Gov. Jeb Bush. Hes also been an attorney in private practice. The Senate confirmed Muniz on Wednesday. During floor debate, Sen. Lamar Alexander, R-Tenn., lamented that Munizs nomination had languished. He noted that Muniz was nominated last June, and confirmed by the Senate education committee in October. Hes been waiting six months following his approval by the relevant committee for the Senate to consider his nomination. So its time to confirm him. Its time to give Secretary DeVos an attorney and a general counsel, Alexander said. But Sen. Patty Murray, D-Wash., expressed big concerns about whether Muniz can be a independent counselor to DeVos. Murray said DeVos has watered down protections for vulnerable students and approved state plans that flout the Every Student Succeeds Act. Its clear Secretary DeVos needs an independent General Counsel who will stand up to her when laws are being bent or broken. But I am afraid Mr. Muniz has failed to convince me that is the kind of General Counsel he would be, Murray said. During his confirmation hearing before the Senate education committee last September, Muniz said he would be scrupulous in telling Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos and others to abide by ESSA: My advice to states would be to follow the law. ... My job would be to advise her as to what the law requires, advise her as to what her discretion might be. After the vote, DeVos issued a statement saying shes glad to have Muniz aboard. We are pleased to finally have Carlos on the team, said Secretary DeVos. After a protracted confirmation process, Carlos can at last get to work on behalf of our nations students. He has dedicated his career to upholding the law, and his insight and expertise will be invaluable as we work to advance educational opportunities for all students. Muniz is the fifth Trump political nominee to the Education Department to be approved by the Senate. The other four are: Johnny Collett, assistant secretary of the Office of Special Education and Rehabilitative Services; Peter Oppenheim, assistant secretary for legislation and congressional affairs; Mark Schneider, director of the Institute of Education Sciences; Doug Webster, chief financial officer. However, there are still several nominees awaiting confirmation by the full Senate, including Jim Blew for assistant secretary for planning, evaluation, and policy analysis; Kenneth L. Marcus for assistant secretary for civil rights; and Mick Zais for deputy secretary. DeVos has previously complained that the Senate has not been fast enough in approving nominees for her department. Last fall, we determined that for several positions, the Trump team was months behind the Obama administration in nominating people for them. Cant get enough of Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos? Check out some of our best coverage: Image: Screen capture of Muniz from his September 2017 confirmation hearing before the Senate education committee CIA Director Mike Pompeo and dictator Kim Jong Un reportedly discussed the three Americans currently held in North Korea when the two met over Easter weekend. President Donald Trump hopes the Americans would be released soon, a senior White House official told the Associated Press on Wednesday on condition of anonymity. Trump-- who was alongside Japanese President Shinzo Abe-- said at a press conference the U.S. and North Korea were negotiating their release. Trump had said he thinks theres a good chance of doing it around his potential summit with Kim. We are doing out very best, Trump said. Kim Dong Chul, a South Korean-born businessman and naturalized U.S. citizen, has been held in North Korea since October 2015 over alleged espionage, according to BBC. Kim Sang-duk, also known as Tony Kim, has been held since April 2017 and was arrested before boarding a flight from Pyongyang for allegedly trying to undermine the countrys government, according to Reuters. Kim Hak-song was arrested in May 2017 over alleged hostile acts against the country, according to BBC. Trump also pledged to free Japanese citizens who have been abducted and held captive by North Korea, saying that he had made a promise to Abe and knew the issue was one of the truly most important things on Shinzos mind. North Korea released American Otto Warmbier in June 2017 while he was in a coma. He died shortly after returning to the U.S. Warmbier's parents said their 22-year-old son had mangled teeth and was jerking violently on a stretcher with a feeding tube coming from his nose when they saw him. A coronor's report released in September 2017 said that Warmbier had at least 10 "small scars" on his body and his death was caused by a head injury. Trump said he would not hesitate to walk out of a planned summit meeting with Kim if I think its a meeting that is not going to be fruitful. "If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it. If I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go. If the meeting when Im there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, he said. Trump spoke one day after it was revealed Pompeo had met with Kim in an effort to lay the groundwork for a potential meeting between the two. Trump has said it could take place by early June. Fox News' Samuel Chamerlain and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Top congressional Democrats used this weeks IRS filing deadline to ramp up calls to repeal GOP tax cuts -- drawing jeers from Republicans who say the package is helping working Americans, and putting some rank-and-file members in a difficult spot. Sen. Claire McCaskill, D-Mo., who is in a tough reelection race, told the St. Louis Post-Dispatch that while she'd vote to nix tax cuts for the wealthy, she would never vote to repeal the parts that help middle-class families. [T]here are parts of it that I would look at, but I would never touch the parts that are actually delivering savings to the majority of the people in my state," she said. The party brass' laser focus on overhauling the tax law has created some tension for Democrats in swing districts and states, though Democrats still are seen as having a solid shot at winning the House majority in November. Any amount of money, more than what you have, is good, Missouri Democratic Rep. Emanuel Cleaver told Fox Business Network on Tuesday, regarding efforts to downplay tax bill-tied bonuses and cuts. When you downplay somebodys increase ... theyre not going to be quite happy. He still maintained the polling is "not good" for the tax cut, but described as a "dilemma" the risk of downplaying pay increases. The polling indeed shows a mixed picture, and suggests Republicans might not want to pin their midterm hopes on the tax package either. The latest NBC News/Wall Street Journal poll showed support at 27 percent, and opposition at 36 percent. However, a whopping 34 percent had no opinion and independents were evenly split. So there are risks as well as rewards for either party in building a midterm message so heavily focused on the tax plan. Cleaver, like every other House colleague, surely remembers his partys underwhelming results in the last election cycle, when the Democratic platform seemed more about opposing Republican Donald Trumps presidential bid than delivering a clear economic message to Middle America voters. Still, Democratic leaders made the tax law repeal a focus during a tax march rally on Capitol Hill on Tuesday. When we take back the House, we will repeal and we will replace this bill, New York Democratic Rep. Joe Crowley, the chambers No. 4 Democrat, said Tuesday. He was followed by House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, D-Calif., calling the GOP plan a scam and saying 83 percent of the tax cuts are going to the top 1 percent of American earners. Pelosi previously faced criticism for calling tax law-tied bonuses "crumbs." The tax law opposition was also a key part of the party's broader messaging this week, and shows party leaders now embracing a repeal and replace platform, like Republicans did with ObamaCare. While the call might indeed rally the party base, Senate Democrats running for 2018 reelection in states that Trump won -- including Missouris McCaskill and Indianas Joe Donnelly -- are getting hit with multi-million-dollar TV and digital ad campaigns for voting against the tax cuts that Trump signed into law last December. McCaskill's conciliatory approach could be an attempt to strike back against those campaigns. Meanwhile, Nevada Democratic Rep. Jacky Rosen, whos trying to take the seat of incumbent GOP Sen. Dean Heller, on Tuesday repeated her opposition to the GOP plan because, she says, it favors corporations and the super wealthy. But Rosen also made clear that shes never backed calls by Washington Democrats to repeal the cuts entirely. I've never supported repealing middle class tax cuts they should be bigger and permanent, tweeted Rosen, competing in a state Trump narrowly lost in 2016 to Democrat Hillary Clinton. National Republican Senatorial Committee spokesman Michael McAdams responded to Rosens tweet by saying her desperate lie shows the political disaster she has created for herself by opposing the tax cuts. No matter how much she twists the truth, voters wont forget that instead of fighting to let them keep more of their hard-earned money, Rosen chose to back the wishes of her puppet master (House Democratic leader) Nancy Pelosi and Washington liberals. The National Republican Congressional Committee also said in response to the tax march: "Massive tax increases in 2019? Not an ideal message on Tax Day!" Democrats, though, were emboldened by the WSJ/NBC poll. Following its release, the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committee touted a digital Tax Day video titled Diamond Teeth, in which a group of actors posing as executives talk in a boardroom about how theyll spend their tax cut while waiting for the big boss. Sorry Im late. These teeth diamonds took forever, the boss says upon arriving and flashing a new, glinted smile. The DCCC said of congressional Republicans continuing to tout the cuts on the campaign trail: The question now is how much effort GOP candidates sink into improving their stance on the tax-cut issue. They retain some advantages: Men still favor the tax cuts, although less strongly than women oppose it; so do rural residents, older men, and men without college degrees. A bipartisan U.S. Senate bill designed to shield Special Counsel Robert Mueller from being fired by President Donald Trump isnt dead, U.S. Sen. Cory Booker said Wednesday, despite Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell previously shutting down any hope of a vote on the measure. Bookers comments came a day after McConnell told Fox News Neil Cavuto on Your World that there was no indication that Mueller would be fired. As a result, Well not be having this on the floor of the Senate," McConnell said, referring to the shield proposal. Booker, a New Jersey Democrat, told NJ.com he was disappointed by McConnell's remarks, but remained hopeful for the bill's success. "McConnell's changed his mind before and he might change his mind again if we show enough bipartisan support and momentum," Booker told NJ.com. "I'm encouraged with the progress and I'm hoping that we can convince McConnell to change his mind." The proposed legislation would allow the special counsels firing only for good cause by a senior Justice Department official. The Senate Judiciary Committee is set to consider the proposal later this month. In addition to Booker, other senators supporting the bill include Republicans Lindsey Graham of South Carolina and Thom Tillis of North Carolina, and Democrat Chris Coons of Delaware. All four senators serve on the judiciary committee. "I don't think he's going to fire Mueller, but I think institutionally it would be nice to have some protections," Graham said Tuesday. McConnell, R-Ky., told Cavuto that he would be shocked if Trump fired the special counsel, who is investigating contacts between Russian officials and Trump's campaign. "I don't think the president's going to do that, and just as a practical matter, even if we passed [the bill], why would he sign it? "Im the one who decides what [legislation] we take to the floor," McConnell said. "That's my responsibility as the majority leader." Fox News Sam Chamberlain and the Associated Press contributed to this report. The Justice Department on Thursday gave lawmakers redacted versions of five memos kept by former FBI Director James Comey to document meetings with President Trump, a congressional source told Fox News. The source told Fox News the memos were turned over to the House Judiciary, Oversight and Intelligence Committees following threats from Judiciary Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va., to subpoena Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein for failing to meet the deadline to submit the documents. In a statement to lawmakers, the Justice Department said it had redacted classified information in the memos, but would provide an unredacted version on Friday. Goodlatte, House Oversight Committee Chairman Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and House Intelligence Committee Chairman Devin Nunes, R-Calif., had set a Monday deadline for the Justice Department to turn over the Comey memos. In a joint statement, the committee chairmen said the memos "are significant for both what is in them and what is not. "Former Director Comey's memos show the President made clear he wanted allegations of collusion, coordination, and conspiracy between his campaign and Russia fully investigated," they said. "The memos also made clear the 'cloud' President Trump wanted lifted was not the Russian interference in the 2016 election cloud, rather it was the salacious, unsubstantiated allegations related to personal conduct leveled in the [Steele] dossier. "The memos also show former Director Comey never wrote that he felt obstructed or threatened," Goodlatte, Gowdy and Nunes went on. "While former Director Comey went to great lengths to set dining room scenes, discuss height requirements, describe the multiple times he felt complimented, and myriad other extraneous facts, he never once mentioned the most relevant fact of all, which was whether he felt obstructed in his investigation." In an interview with CNN earlier Thursday, Comey said it was "fine by me" if Congress and the public sees the memos. "I don't care. I don't have any views on it. I'm totally fine with transparency," Comey said. "I've tried to be transparent throughout this, and I think what folks will see if they get to see the memos is I've been consistent since the very beginning, right after my encounters with President Trump." The memos were written by Comey in early 2017 and dated Jan. 7, Jan. 28, Feb. 8, Feb. 14, March 30, and April 11. The document cache also included a March 1 email from Comey to his then-chief of staff James Rybicki in which Comey discussed a brief phone call with Trump that did not touch on any aspect of the Russia investigation. Fox News has reported that Comey penned seven memos to memorialize conversations with Trump, with four of the memos marked classified at the Secret or Confidential levels, according to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley, R-Iowa, who viewed the memos with his staff in a Sensitive Compartmented Information Facility (SCIF) at the FBI and the Senate because the FBI deemed the majority of the memos to be classified. Comey told CNN that he had written "somewhere between five and ten" memos of his conversations with Trump, before adding that "there may be seven, there may be eight, I don't remember." The former FBI Director also confirmed that some of the memos were classified "when I created them," but he was not sure how many fit that description. Grassley, in January, pressed Rosenstein over whether the memo Comey shared with Richman contained classified information. "According to press reports, Professor Daniel Richman of Columbia Law School stated that Mr. Comey provided him four of the seven memoranda and encouraged him to 'detail [Comeys] memos to the press,'" Grassley wrote. "If its true that Professor Richman had four of the seven memos, then in light of the fact that four of the seven memos the Committee reviewed are classified, it would appear that at least one memo the former FBI director gave Professor Richman contained classified information," the letter continued. The release of the memos came in the midst of Comeys media blitz to promote his new book, A Higher Loyalty, which was released this week. Comey has appeared on multiple networks for high-profile interviews and media appearances, where he has discussed the book and slammed former Obama administration colleagues, including former President Barack Obama. GOP REPS REFER COMEY, MCCABE, CLINTON FOR CRIMINAL INVESTIGATION Also this week, nearly a dozen House Republicans sent a criminal referral to Attorney General Jeff Sessions, FBI Director Christopher Wray and U.S. Attorney John Huber for Comey, former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe, Hillary Clinton, former Attorney General Loretta Lynch and other Justice Department officials over their handling of the Clinton email probe and the early stages of the investigation into Russian meddling and potential collusion with Trump campaign associates in the 2016 presidential election. Comey said he learned of that criminal referral in an appearance on ABCs The View on Wednesday. The accusations are not true, Comey said. Lets let the institution do its work. Fox News' Samuel Chamberlain and Jake Gibson contributed to this report. The words queen of the hill and discharge petition may not mean a lot to those outside of Washington seeking a DACA fix. But they could be the key to a burgeoning coalition of House Republicans and Democrats anxious to at least have a debate on immigration policy and the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals (dreamers) program. Rep. Jeff Denham, R-Calif., is spearheading an effort to convince the House GOP leadership to put a series of immigration plans on the floor for a debate and vote. Denham says more than 50 Republicans and 190-plus Democrats back his gambit for the House to debate four unique approaches to immigration policy. The maneuver would allow the House to consider a conservative immigration plan drafted by House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte, R-Va.; the Democrats DREAM Act, backed by Rep. Lucille Roybal-Allard, D-Calif.; a plan from the House Republican leadership; and a bill by Reps. Will Hurd, R-Texas, and Pete Aguilar, D-Calif. The Hurd/Aguilar measure would grant legal status to many DACA recipients, the young illegal immigrants who came to the U.S. as children and whose status is now threatened by a combination of Trump action and congressional inaction. Under Denhams plan, the House would debate and vote on each proposal. The one securing the most votes would be designated the queen of the hill. The House would later take an additional vote on the queen bill. If the House approved the measure a second time, it would truly emerge as king of the hill, earning passage by the House. That said, just because a measure won at the queen level doesnt mean it will win overall. In other words, passage of anything is far from guaranteed under this process. The biggest issue were having today is actually having the debate in front of the American public, said Denham. It allows us to show the American people the will of the House. Its also an effort to show the Republican leadership that a majority of the House more than 240 members support a debate and vote on an immigration/DACA plan. The hope is that the GOP brass picks up on the cue and schedules a debate and vote on the four bills. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., opposes the queen of the hill effort. I dont think thats the right way to go, said Ryan. I dont want to bring up legislation that wont get signed into law. I dont think it makes any sense to bring a bill through a process that would produce a bill that will get a presidential veto. I just dont think thats in anyones interest. However, Denham and others have a pathway to go over the speaker and deposit their four-bill buffet on the House floor. The House has a process known as a discharge petition. Thats where lawmakers can sidestep the leadership and put an issue on the floor, provided 218 lawmakers signed onto the effort. In this case, Denham and others wouldnt advocate prying loose just a single bill, but a circumstance where the House would consider all four bills via queen of the hill. They would have to collect 218 signatures to initiate the discharge petition. Discharge petitions usually arent successful in the House. Denham may have around 240 supporters now. But its not clear that 240 backers for the current effort translate to signatories on a discharge petition. For now, Denhams trying to use the co-sponsors as a wedge to force action from leadership rather than going the discharge petition route. Its something wed talk about, said Denham when asked about the possibility of a discharge petition. Theres a lot of things you can ignore here. But the will of the House becomes very difficult. Ryans right that the president could veto something which emerges from the queen of the hill approach. Theres also no guarantee the Senate would consider any bill. The problem for some Republicans is that Denhams approach puts them on the record voting for and against a nettlesome issue like immigration and DACA policy months before the midterm election. Theres a reason only about 50 Republicans support Denhams plan. And its unclear what President Trump would sign. And theres another problem with discharge petitions. The House will only consider discharge petitions on the second and fourth Mondays of every month. So, lets say Denham decides to force a discharge petition and collect the requisite 218 signatures. The current House schedule only has the body meeting on a second or fourth Monday of a month five times the rest of the year: May 21, June 11, June 25, July 23 and Dec. 10. Its unclear if any of those dates would be politically advantageous to Denhams push. One could make the case for Dec. 10, as its after the election. But its also close to the end of the Congress. Such a plan would have to get through the Senate as well. They could run out of time. So for now, this is just a show of force. An effort by Denham and others to catch the attention of the leadership that they have the votes. So no discharge petition yet to get to queen of the hill on DACA. That may be the wild card Denham and others hold in their hip pocket. But the question remains whether theyll ever play that card. Capitol Attitude is a weekly column written by members of the Fox News Capitol Hill team. Their articles take you inside the halls of Congress, and cover the spectrum of policy issues being introduced, debated and voted on there. Florida is embroiled in a debate that could have serious ramifications for the midterm elections, and for 2020, with a federal judge ordering the governor to revamp a "fatally flawed" voting rights restoration process for convicted felons. Nearly 1.5 million felons -- a big chunk of the state's roughly 21 million people -- have been disenfranchised in Florida. Under the current system, felons must wait five years after completing their sentences before applying to have their civil rights restored, and the process following that initial application can take years to complete. Florida is one of only four states that leave their felons completely disenfranchised, or deprived of their right to vote after their time has been served. The stringent law has prompted many to join the fight to restore voting rights. In addition to a recent court order to revamp the current system, a new amendment to the Florida Constitution will be up for a public vote in November, with a win at the ballot box heralding the return of most disenfranchised felons' voting rights. We know at the core of most Americans is that concept of forgiveness, redemption, and restoration, Desmond Meade, president of the Florida Rights Restoration Coalition (FRRC), said to Fox News. At the core, we know that once a debt is paid, it's paid. And the American citizen should be allowed to move on with their life. Meade, a convicted felon who turned his life around and earned a law degree after serving his sentence, is leading the charge in Florida to have the public there vote in a new amendment that would allow Floridas felon class to participate in the democratic process immediately after paying the debt to society. Amendment 4 would automatically restore the right to vote for people with prior felony convictions -- except those convicted of murder or a felony sexual offense. Under the current law, felons have to wait five to seven years just to start the application process to regain the right to vote. At the core, we know that once a debt is paid, it's paid. And the American citizen should be allowed to move on with their life. Desmond Meade, Florida Rights Restoration Coalition Meade and the FRRC have been some of the largest campaigners in the state for Amendment 4, saying that a large number of Floridas residents are in favor of restoring voting rights for disenfranchised felons. They recently garnered over a million signatures on a petition. Never before has Florida seen such a huge grass-roots movement, and we did, Meade says. These people rallied from all political spectrums, all walks of life, they rallied around this and said, We, as citizens of Florida, are going bring sunshine back to this state." According to polling experts, Amendment 4 is tracking high among voters. Polling from early February indicates that about 71 percent of voters are in favor of this, Josh Altic, project director for the Ballot Measures Projects at Ballotpedia, told Fox News. In Florida, the threshold is 60 percent, so it's one of the few states that has a supermajority requirement that's pretty high. [It] looks like they have a good 11-point margin. While Amendment 4 looks to be favored among voters, there are those in Florida who feel that the campaign for a yes vote would swing a historical battleground state in favor of Democrats in 2020. Critics say easing voting laws could open the floodgates. Richard A. Harrison, a Tampa-based attorney who also heads Floridians for a Sensible Voting Rights Policy, said that an automatic restoration goes to the complete opposite end of the spectrum of the current clemency system, with restoration taking discretion out of the process. We're no longer going to consider, for example, are we talking about a nonviolent felon versus -- a career violent criminal, Harrison said. Are we talking about a first-time felon or somebody who's had a 20-year life of crime? Are we talking about somebody who committed, maybe, a property crime, or something that you might consider a less serious felony? The amendment "takes all felons, other than the murderers and the rapists, and says, We're not going to ask any of those questions, you're just going to get your right to vote back. I don't really think that's the approach that most reasonable people would take. The campaign for Amendment 4 is occurring at the same time that a federal district court judge ordered Gov. Rick Scott and his cabinet to revamp the state system. Scotts administration has already filed an appeal, insisting that Florida clemency rules should be determined by the people elected by Floridians and not federal judges. During his two terms in office, Scott has had his fair share of voting controversies according to a recent article in the Tampa Bay Times. They include: Ordering Pinellas County to stop the use of remote sites as a convenience for voting submitting mail ballots. The states supervisor of elections went against the order and Scotts administration backed down. In 2014, Scotts Division of Elections blocked a request by city officials in Gainesville to use the student union building at the University of Florida, claiming that it was not a government-owned community center. The building was never used as a result. Scott also refused to extend the deadline for voter registration in 2016 after forced evacuations due to Hurricane Matthew. A six-day extension was finally given after the Democratic Party filed a lawsuit. The governor's office pushed back. Under the Governors leadership, Florida has become one of the most voter-friendly states in the nation. This includes landmark legislation signed by the Governor in 2013 that gives Floridians more voting days, hours and sites so they can have plenty of options to vote. Also, Governor Scott led the implementation of online voter registration and the investment of $19 million in federal money to increase security and aid locally elected supervisors of elections in the performance their duties, Scott's spokesman McKinley Lewis told Fox News. As the midterm elections grow closer, the state of Florida could see both parties campaigning for or against amendment 4 respectively, Ballotpedias Altic says, adding that it could become a hot-button issue with national implications in 2020 and beyond. You have people on the Democratic side saying, We need to get these rights to everyone. Everyone should be able to vote," Altic says. So I think it's going to be interesting to watch as a national issue-- and people will be watching it from all over the country. There's been a lot of effort and a lot of signature gathering going into this, and a lot of money spent on it. So now we're just sitting back and watching the campaign, which is the interesting part. A text chosen for a new African-American history course in Bridgeport, Conn., high schools has kicked up a debate because it doesnt cover the era before slavery, reports the Connecticut Post . Last October, Bridgeports school board unanimously approved adding an ethnic studies course as a graduation requirement . Public high school students will be required to take either African-American Studies, Latin American Studies or Perspectives on Race to earn a diploma. The courses will be offered beginning in the fall. The text initially proposed for the African-American studies course, The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross by Henry Louis Gates, Jr. and Donald Yacovone, spans 500 years of black history, from the origins of slavery in Africa up to the election of President Barack Obama for a second term. Gates is the director of Harvards Hutchins Center for African American Research, and Yacovone is an associate there. But the text was scrapped after the school board found itself debating a question that will likely resurface as the ethnic studies movement grows and more educators push for making African-American studies as a graduation requirement: How far back into African history should courses go? David Canton, an associate professor of history and the director of the Africana Studies Program at Connecticut College, was hired by Bridgeport Public Schools to vet the text choices and train educators who will teach the new African American studies class. He said the course should at least touch upon the early history in Africa, so that students understand that black people didnt start as slaves. They created civilizations where there was trade and art and culture like any other, he said in an interview. Students should be introduced to this history so they can start to move beyond the basic interpretation of African-American history. In Philadelphia, which in 2005 became the first major city to require that high schoolers take a black history class in order to graduate, the course begins with lessons about African civilizations. It now appears that Bridgeport, only the second school district to require such a course, will follow suit. According to Canton, the board will consider From Slavery to Freedom by John Hope Franklin, a book that does begin its history in early Africa. Sauda Baraka, a former board member and long-time champion of the African-American course, made the recommendation. Canton, who first took up From Slavery to Freedom during his studies at Morehouse College, called the book a good choice. The question of where the Bridgeport course should begin has been debated in the past couple of school board meetings. Baraka had argued against using The African Americans in a written response to the board. This particular book only speaks to our collective history at the onset of chattel slavery, but it is necessary to provide a perspective that predates the worst period in world history, the African-American Holocaust. Community member JoAnn Kennedy called the choice of The African Americans totally unacceptable in a recent meeting of the school boards teaching and learning committee. This book starts here in America, she said, echoing the concerns of both Baraka and Canton. We have history before starting here as slaves. She argued the course should trace the past as far back as Egypt and Africa. At the time, school board member Ben Walker countered that the course is meant to be introductory, and that while he respected Kennedys opinion, he didnt think schools could teach the entire history of African Americans in one semester. Walker has since agreed to put the new proposed text to a vote. Assistant Superintendent Deborah Santacapita, who led the committee that chose The African Americans, defended the choice in the meeting saying that it covers a 500-year span to the present day and that it encompasses many continents, and is transnational, including the experiences of all black people. She also pointed out that the book comes with a companion documentary on DVD and that the resources cost very little money. The price tag for the book on Amazon is $15.46, and the DVD costs $17.77. The latest edition of the new proposed text, From Freedom to Slavery, is $116. On April 19, the teaching and learning committee will again discuss the text choice, this time focusing on From Freedom to Slavery, and send its final recommendation to the regular board of education meeting scheduled for April 23, where it will be voted on. Ultimately Canton waved off the idea that the debate over a text should be seen as a controversy. What people have to remember, he urged, is this is an introductory course meant to give students a taste of the history, so that they know there is more to explore in college and even in graduate school. You can only learn so much in a semester, he said. What we should focus on is the victory here. This is only the second school district to require a course like this. These students will graduate from high school knowing more about black history than 90 percent of their peers. Image: DVD cover of the PBS documentary series The African Americans: Many Rivers to Cross Related stories: An Arizona man "venting with a buzz" was sentenced Wednesday to more than a year in federal prison, plus three years probation, after being convicted of leaving threatening phone messages for U.S. Rep. Martha McSally, R-Ariz. The defendant, Steve Martan, 58, of Tucson, was charged last year in federal court with threatening to assault and murder a United States official after multiple calls to McSally's office, the Tucson Sentinel reported. Can't wait to f---ing pull the trigger, b----, one message said, according to authorities. Martan pleaded guilty in September, and faced up to two years in prison under a plea deal. He was sentenced Wednesday morning by U.S. District Court Judge Cindy Jorgenson. He admitted making the calls, saying he was frustrated by McSallys votes in support of President Donald Trump, Tucsons KVOA-TV reported. Last year, Martan told the Sentinel he was venting with a buzz and just want(ed) to say sorry to Martha and the great people of Southern Arizona. Threats against public officials have taken on added urgency in Arizona since Jan. 8, 2011, when former U.S. Rep. Gabrielle Giffords, D-Ariz., was shot in the head in an attack in a supermarket parking lot in Casas Adobes, Ariz., that left six people dead and 13 injured. Giffords survived, but suffered a serious brain injury and was forced to leave Congress. She and her husband, retired astronaut Mark Kelly, have been staunch gun control advocates ever since. McSally, 52, has been a member of Congress since 2015. She is currently running for a U.S. Senate seat, in a bid to replace retiring U.S. Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz. President Trumps personal attorney Michael Cohen on Wednesday dropped his libel suits against BuzzFeed and Fusion GPS, as he faces a grand jury probe into his personal and business dealings. Cohen had filed suits against the news outlet and political research firm over the publication of the so-called Trump dossier, which detailed what former FBI Director James Comey described as salacious and unverified allegations about Trump ties to Russia. The dossier included a claim that Cohen traveled to Prague in 2016, where he is alleged to have met with Russian operatives. Cohen has denied such a meeting. Fusion GPS hired former British spy Christopher Steele to compile the dossier, while it was Buzzfeed that made the decision to publish the document in January 2017. In the suit, Cohen accused BuzzFeed News Editor-in-Chief Ben Smith of publishing the document "in spite of his awareness that the Dossier was ... not intended to be part of public discourse or to make an argument in a public debate and that the Dossier's content also bore multiple hallmarks of its irresponsible collection and compilation." Cohens team said the decision to discontinue the case was a difficult one. "We believe the defendants defamed my client, and vindicating Mr. Cohens rights was and still remains important, Cohen's attorney David Schwartz told Politico. But given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention, and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits." The lawsuits against BuzzFeed over the Steele dossier have never been about the merits of our decision to publish it," Matt Mittenthal, Director of Communications for BuzzFeed said in a statement. "If there's one thing Democrats and Republicans agree on today, it's that the dossier was an important part of the government's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. Its interest to the public is, and always has been, obvious." "Today's news suggests that Donald Trump's personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time," he added. Cohen is under investigation for his dealings, including a $130,000 payment to adult film actress Stormy Daniels in exchange for silence about an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006. A federal judge on Monday denied Cohens request to review the documents seized from the lawyer's home and office last week before prosecutors see them. JUDGE WON'T LET TRUMP ATTORNEY COHEN REVIEW SEIZED FILES BEFORE THE FEDS While the Trump campaign is paying for Cohens legal costs relating to FBI Special Counsel Robert Muellers Russia probe, paying the law firm representing him over $214,000 in the last three months of 2017, it was not paying his costs related to the libel suit. Fox News Lissa Kaplan, Jon Decker and Samuel Chamberlain contributed to this report. An overwhelming majority of Californians want to deport more illegal immigrants, and nearly half support President Trump's travel ban aimed at reducing terrorism, according to a new survey from the University of California at Berkeley's Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society. But in reporting the findings of the statewide December 2017 survey, the Haas Institute on Wednesday appeared to put a liberal spin on some of the results. For example, the headline of its news release reads, "Majority of Californians oppose border wall, support racial inclusion." But the actual data say that in California, "66 percent reject the idea that the U.S.-Mexico border wall is an important immigration policy priority" -- not that they oppose the wall entirely. And results also demonstrate that only 54 percent -- or slightly more than half -- of Californians "have positive views of Muslims," and only 51 percent "oppose banning people from majority-Muslim countries from entering the United States." Meanwhile, "59 percent find it important to increase deportations of those here without documentation." Nearly 80 percent, however, support a pathway to citizenship for so-called Dreamers, and "67 percent think undocumented immigrants should be able to purchase health insurance on the California state exchange." The Haas Institute concedes in its news release that "Californians hold some contradictory and troubling views." Its suggested fix: "[O]utreach and information campaigns anchored in narratives that point Californians towards their shared progressive values and identity." PROFESSOR CALLS BARBARA BUSH 'AMAZING RACIST,' SAYS SHE'S HAPPY 'WITCH IS DEAD' But the results show that many Californians already have a sense of identity and values, outreach campaign or not. For example, 45 pecent of Californians said that being Christian is an "important part of being American," and nearly 40 percent don't want to limit law enforcement cooperation with U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement officials, according to the survey. The survey comes as several California cities and counties back the Trump administration's lawsuit against the state's pro-illegal immigration sanctuary policies. "Californians hold some contradictory and troubling views." The Haas Institute for a Fair and Inclusive Society at UC Berkeley On Wednesday, California Gov. Jerry Brown announced plans to deploy up to 400 members of the state's National Guard troops to combat criminal activity along the U.S.-Mexico border after President Donald Trump slammed the Democratic leader a day earlier for trying to back out of an earlier pledge to do so. CALIFORNIA HAS WORST QUALITY OF LIFE IN THE US, REPORT FINDS Brown issued an order that the National Guard be sent to help combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers within the state, along the coast and at the U.S.-Mexico border. But the governor sent military personnel on the condition that the California National Guard will not enforce immigration laws or participate in the construction of any new border barrier. Brown's office also said the Trump administration would pick up the tab for the California deployment, the Los Angeles Times reported. For his part, Trump tweeted Wednesday that Californians are tiring of their government. "There is a Revolution going on in California," he wrote. "Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW!" The complete Haas Institute survey is available by clicking here. Cracks are beginning to show in the wall of Democratic opposition to secretary of state pick Mike Pompeo, even as the CIA director contends with rare turbulence on the key Senate panel considering his nomination. Indiana Sen. Joe Donnelly was the latest Democrat to announce his support, saying Monday on Twitter that Pompeo is capable of advancing U.S. interests and leading the State Department. He follows Democratic Sens. Joe Manchin of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota, who both are facing tough reelection battles, in backing Pompeo. But President Trumps pick for Americas chief diplomat nevertheless faces the prospect of a rare rebuke Monday afternoon from the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, where every Democrat and Republican Sen. Rand Paul has expressed opposition to him. Given that Republicans have only a one-seat majority on the panel, this means the committee could either narrowly recommend against Pompeo or not issue a recommendation at all to the full Senate which is expected to consider his nomination later this week regardless of the committee decision. Such a snub from the panel would be historically rare the first time since 1925, when the committee began keeping open records about confirmation action, that a secretary of state nominee has received an unfavorable committee vote. Trump and his allies have slammed Democrats for suddenly lining up against Pompeo. Those who would not vote for Pompeo are just playing politics, House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy, R-Calif., told Fox News. A majority of Democrats continue their pointless obstruction to score cheap political points, White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said Monday. Still, Sanders touted the three Democrats who have committed to support Pompeo. That support puts Pompeo in solid position to eventually win confirmation from the full Senate, where he needs a simple majority to succeed Rex Tillerson, who was ousted in March. With Pauls opposition and Sen. John McCains ailing health, Pompeo was likely to need a few Democratic supporters. We certainly hope some members will change their minds, Sanders told Fox News earlier Monday. At some point Democrats have to decide whether they love this country more than they hate this president, and they have to decide if they want to put the safety and security and the diplomacy of our country ahead of their own political games. But so far, at least four Democrats who voted to confirm Pompeo as CIA director have indicated they will not do so for secretary of state: Sens. Dianne Feinstein of California, Tim Kaine of Virginia, Brian Schatz of Hawaii and Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire. Trump already sees the former Kansas congressman as the nations chief diplomat, White House counselor Kellyanne Conway recently said on a conference call. Trump sent Pompeo to North Korea over Easter weekend to meet with the rogue nations leader, Kim Jong Un, according to the White House. Trump said on social media a good relationship was formed during the meeting, and the two men reportedly discussed the release of three Americans being held in the Asian nation. Sen. Bob Menendez, the foreign relations committees ranking member, said he opposes Pompeo and criticized an apparent lack of transparency regarding the North Korea visit. I dont expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit, Menendez recently said. While he was confirmed to lead the CIA with a 66-32 vote last year, Pompeo has faced new challenges in the Senate, with lawmakers decrying a lack of diplomacy they say is needed to act as the nations top diplomat. Those opposed to Pompeo have pointed to his hawkish foreign policy positions and comments about minorities, particularly Muslims and gay people. Paul, the libertarian-leaning senator from Kentucky, was the only Republican to vote against Pompeo during his CIA confirmation hearing. The Secretary of State is a very different role than CIA director, and its not the kind of position you learn on the job, Feinstein said in a statement. I sense a certain disdain for diplomacy in Mike Pompeo that I believe disqualifies him from being our next senior diplomat. Schatz said he is voting against confirming Pompeo because he has an alarming tendency towards military provocation and brinkmanship. Fox News Chad Pergram and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Former New York City mayor and U.S. attorney Rudy Giuliani is joining President Trumps legal team, Fox News confirmed on Thursday. Giuliani, who has been close friends with Trump for years and reportedly was under consideration for a cabinet post, told The Washington Post that he joined the team with the intent of bringing Special Counsel Robert Muellers probe to a conclusion. Im doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller, Giuliani told the outlet. Mueller, Giuliani told The Post, should be left to complete his investigation. "My advice on Mueller has been this: He should be allowed to do his job, hes entitled to do his job. Before he was the mayor of New York City from 1994 to 2001, Giuliani served as U.S. attorney for the Southern District of New York from 1983 to 1999. "The President said, Rudy is great. He has been my friend for a long time and wants to get this matter quickly resolved for the good of the country," Trump lawyer Jay Sekulow said in a statement. "I have had the privilege of working with Mayor Giuliani for many years, and we welcome his expertise," Sekulow added. "Mayor Giuliani expressed his deep appreciation to the President for allowing him to assist in this important matter. In a statement, Mayor Giuliani said, It is an honor to be a part of such an important legal team, and I look forward to not only working with the President but with Jay, Ty, and their colleagues." Giuliani made the decision to join Trump's legal team in the past few days following a dinner with the president ealier this month at Trumps Mar-a-Lago resort, the Post reported. The former mayor, a vocal advocate for Trump during the 2016 presidential campaign, was reportedly being considered for secretary of state following Trump's victory. Giuliani, at the time, said he wasn't interested in becoming Trump's attorney general. Ultimately, the president picked Rex Tillerson for the State Department and Jeff Sessions for attorney general. Fox News' John Roberts contributed to this report. Cynthia Nixon, known as Miranda Hobbes by fans of HBOs Sex and the City series, officially is challenging incumbent Gov. Andrew Cuomo in New York's Democratic primary. New York is my home. Ive never lived anywhere else, Nixon said in a campaign video. New York is where I was raised and where Im raising my kids. Im a proud public school graduate and a prouder public school parent. I love New York. Ive never wanted to live anywhere else, but something has to change, Nixon said, adding that the government should fix the states problems with healthcare, mass incarceration and the subway system. Nixon, 52, is no stranger to politics. Shes often butted heads with Cuomo over issues pertaining to public education. Shes advocated for an increase in funding for public schools, breast cancer awareness and gay rights, among other things. Shes protested President Trump and campaigned for former President Barack Obama. Nixon also received the endorsement of the Working Families Party (WFP), an influential, progressive third party in New York. In the primary, Nixon has been credited with pushing Cuomo to the left on some issues, including his executive order granting paroled felons the right to vote in the state. Heres a look at Nixons political advocacy and some of the issues shes passionate about. Public schools Along with her wife, Nixon has championed causes related to New York Citys public schools, including an effort to reduce public school classroom sizes. It was during this campaign that Nixon met her future spouse Christine Marinoni, according to a profile in The Advocate. Nixon was once arrested during a protest at City Hall aimed at increasing funding to public schools. We marched on up, sat down and blocked the entrance, she told The New York Times. The police very politely asked us to move, and we declined. They pulled up the police van and put us in. The Tony Award winner is also a spokeswoman for the Alliance for Quality Education, a New York-based organization that advocates for high quality academic opportunities. Cynthia is a public school mom who is extremely sincere and knowledgeable and has consistently been outspoken on the need for fair and adequate funding for our public schools. Billy Easton, executive director of Alliance for Quality Education Cynthia is a public school mom who is extremely sincere and knowledgeable and has consistently been outspoken on the need for fair and adequate funding for our public schools, Billy Easton, executive director of AQE, told Fox News. Shes been a very clear advocate, not just in a sort of self-interested, Im just trying to take care of my kids [way], but more from the standpoint of every kid deserves a great opportunity, he said. In an op-ed for The Journal News, a New York newspaper, Nixon criticized the Trump administrations support for charter schools and implored New York to put more resources into public schools. Gay rights Nixon was honored with the Human Rights Campaigns Visibility Award in February 2018 because she is a fearless and outspoken advocate for all LGBTQ people, HRC President Chad Griffin said. Cynthia uses her talent and public platform to speak out for equality in this country and around the globe, and in the process, she is changing countless hearts and minds, Griffin said in a statement. CYNTHIA NIXON RELEASES MIRANDA-THEMED CAMPAIGN GEAR ON SHOW'S 20TH ANNIVERSARY A year before she was awarded the honor, Nixon protested Trumps immigration ban at a rally held outside New York Citys Stonewall Inn, an important historical site for gay rights. She criticized Vice President Mike Pence, calling him the poster boy for anti-LGBT rhetoric, legislation and conversion therapy. As LGBT people, we know how important coming out is, but I would argue that our coming out has never been more important than it is right now, Nixon said. Nixon has been married to activist Marinoni since 2012. The pair lobbied to legalize gay marriage in Washington, where Marinoni is from. Breast cancer awareness After battling breast cancer herself, Nixon became a spokeswoman for the Susan G. Komen for the Cure Foundation. Nixon kept her own diagnosis quiet while she received treatment, telling ABC News she didnt want paparazzi at the hospital. After hearing the news from her doctor, she said she felt scared and didnt want this to be happening. The cancer was found early, in 2006, and Nixon was able to beat it. She also had some prior experience with breast cancer; her mother successfully battled it when Nixon was a child, according to ABC News. To treat it, Nixon had a lumpectomy and underwent more than six weeks of radiation, Fox News previously reported. Access to abortion Nixon has long been a supporter of Planned Parenthood and abortion rights, attending protests in Washington, D.C., and penning editorials in support of the reproductive health organization. I am convinced that abortion rights are human rights not only because of compassion for my mother but also because I am a mother of three, Nixon wrote in an op-ed for Time, detailing her mothers own abortion. Many of us who made the decision to become parents have experienced a unique desire for parenthood. But that in no way mutes our desire for abortion to be safe, legal and available. Women must have the right to determine whether and when to have children. That is what reproductive rights are all about, she continued. Abortion, like parenthood, is a deeply personal and sometimes complex decision for a woman, and no one can make that decision for her. Decisions about whether to choose adoption, end a pregnancy or raise a child must be left to the woman and her family to determine based on their faith with the counsel of their medical provider. CYNTHIA NIXON EMBRACES 'UNQUALIFIED LESBIAN' LABEL IN NEW YORK GUBERNATORIAL RUN Nixon was a keynote speaker at Planned Parenthood of Greater Texas awards luncheon in Dallas in March. And shes also participated in the Womens March, a nationwide women-led rally that advocates for women's rights, as well as other hot button issues such as immigration reform and LGBTQ rights Mayor de Blasios campaign Nixon was able to get another big-name celebrity to endorse Bill de Blasio in the Democratic primary when he ran for mayor in 2013: Alec Baldwin. According to a New York Times profile, Nixon sent Baldwin an email, encouraging him to publicly pick de Blasio over Christine Quinn, then the speaker of the City Council. Baldwin responded to Nixons email, ensuring her that he would support de Blasio and apologizing for lamely assuming that she was supporting Quinn as both women are lesbians, according to The Times. She would also get other celebrities on board with de Blasio including fellow Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker and organized a fundraiser for him. She is listed as one of de Blasios advisors. And for her own campaign, she's assembled a staff that includes veteran operatives who have worked for de Blasio, according to NY1. The Associated Press contributed to this report. House Judiciary Committee Chairman Bob Goodlatte is considering a subpoena to obtain the controversial memos James Comey used to document conversations with President Trump, after the Justice Department missed a deadline to hand them over. Goodlatte, R-Va., along with Reps. Trey Gowdy, R-S.C., and Devin Nunes, R-Calif., had set a Monday deadline. But Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein responded that officials still need to consult further, citing an ongoing investigation and concerns about classified material. He said they are proceeding as quickly as we can and hoped to have a response by mid-week. Yet as talks continue, the committee's ranking Democrat Jerry Nadler confirmed that Goodlatte signaled "his intent to issue a unilateral subpoena to the Department of Justice to obtain memos written by former FBI Director James Comey." Nadler said the subpoena would be intended for Rosenstein, while panning the potential move as "theater" because Special Counsel Robert Mueller cannot "simply hand over evidence that is part of an ongoing criminal investigation." Republicans contend there is no legal basis for withholding these materials from Congress. There are believed to be seven memos in total written by the fired FBI director and, according to Senate Judiciary Committee Chairman Chuck Grassley's investigators, four contain classified information. In February, a judge ruled that Comey's Trump memos need to remain hidden from public view to preserve the integrity of the ongoing Russia probe. In January, Grassley sent a letter to Rosenstein inquiring whether Comey had improperly leaked classified memos to a professor friend. "According to press reports, Professor Daniel Richman of Columbia Law School stated that Mr. Comey provided him four of the seven memoranda and encouraged him to detail [Comeys] memos to the press,'" Grassley wrote. "If its true that Professor Richman had four of the seven memos, then in light of the fact that four of the seven memos the Committee reviewed are classified, it would appear that at least one memo the former FBI director gave Professor Richman contained classified information," the letter continued. Fox News' Gregg Re and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Editors Note: Mark Gudgel, an English, Humanities, and World Religions teacher at Omaha North High Magnet School , traveled to the United Kingdom in 2013 to do research as part of the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching program. Here he shares how what he learned about Holocaust education there has impacted his school in Nebraska. By guest blogger Mark Gudgel Dr. Nicola Wetherall (who goes by Nic informally) is a champion of Holocaust education at University College London s Centre for Holocaust Education and the Royal Wootton Bassett Academy in Swindon, where she has set up a unique program of Holocaust and genocide education. When I moved to the UK, I had the opportunity to partner with Nic and observe Holocaust education masterfully integrated throughout the academy with schoolwide buy-in. While living in the UK and partnered with the University of Londons (today the University College of Londons) Centre for Holocaust Education, I had the opportunity to spend substantial time in Royal Wootton Bassett Academy studying what makes it a Beacon School and a model for Holocaust education around the globe. Comparing the UK and the US The Royal Wootton Bassett Academy (RWBA) faces many of the same pressures that American secondary institutions face. As Nic once told me, Informing, engaging, inspiring, and empowering young people to change the world is difficult to quantify; it certainly doesnt speak to the data-driven policies prevailing in UK education. Like all U.S. states, Nebraska has numerous grueling, often repetitive state assessments across core subject areas, to say nothing of the now-mandated ACT and countless other exams. Similarly, my friends in the UK are always mindful of demands put upon them by Ofsted, the Office for Standards in Education, in addition to A-level exams and the usual rigors of teaching. Unfortunately, passing exams, graduation rates, and similar considerations can have the ability to interfere with those subject areas that are considered elective, such as the study of the Holocaust. And this, I discovered, is where RWBAs fully integrated approach is so effective. At Lincoln Southwest High School in Lincoln, Nebraska, where I spent the first ten years of my career in education, there were two distinct courses offered on the Holocaustone in history, and one in literature, the latter of which I had the privilege of teaching. From time to time, we would also bring in speakers on subjects related to human rights, often inviting the entire student body. All of this, of course, in addition to any place where the Diary of Anne Frank, World War II, and other related topics might appear in the curriculum. In teaching a term-long course on the Holocaust, I quickly found that after ten or eleven years of formal education, the knowledge that students would arrive with about the Holocaust varied widely, from knowing next to nothing, to deeper knowledge of the subject matter than my own. What set RWBA apart was an inclusive and systematic approach to the study of the Holocaust. There, I met math teachers, science teachers, special education teachers, physical education teachers, and administrators, all of whom seemed fully vested in the notion that the lessons of the Holocaust included civic engagement, humanitarian activism, pursuant scholarship, and that these lessons could and should be a part of the greater school community, and not simply relegated to a few, isolated learning opportunities. Applying Lessons to the American Context A year after my experience at RWBA concluded, I took a job at Omaha North High Magnet School, which has a renowned STEM magnet program and a wonderfully diverse student body. What I found upon arriving was that North already had in place many of the structures I had admired at RWBA. For example, RWBA regularly invited guest speakers that included Holocaust survivors, politicians, and activists; similarly, Omaha North had years ago launched A Week of Understanding and did the same. Fellow Omaha North teacher Laura Geiger spoke of the impact of this week: I have seen the impact of bringing survivors to speak to my students. Every year, students are enlightened and inspired by these amazing men and women. I cherish every year that we are able to bring history into my school. Today, the Week of Understanding is a citywide annual occurrence that reaches deep into the Omaha community. The year before I arrived at North, the theater department had produced The Diary of Anne Frank and sought outside assistance from the Institute for Holocaust Education. My own contributions to Omaha North have thus served only to complement that which was already in place. I have been able to offer an Honors Humanities course focused on 20th-century genocide, followed by an Honors Introduction to World Religions class. I have also organized travel opportunities focused on such studies and sponsored an Aegis Students chapter that has since morphed to include a fledgling Model United Nations chapter. Incorporating Experiential Learning and the Whole Community In addition, Ive been supported in providing meaningful experiential learning opportunities for my students. Working with staff from multiple departments, we have offered trips to Washington, DC to visit the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum, the Embassy of the Republic of Rwanda, the Armenian National Committee of America offices, and much more. Similarly, we have visited Chicago, where we visit the Illinois Holocaust Museum and Education Center, in addition to the Cambodian Association of Illinoiscurrently the only memorial to the Cambodian Genocide in the United States. We also take the opportunity to visit local synagogues, mosques, and temples, and have begun a tradition of attending Passover Seder at Beth El, a local synagogue. Most importantly, Omaha North has seen the same schoolwide buy-in that made RWBAs model such a success. Senior English teachers often teach Elie Wiesels Night, and Rwandas genocide is taught in varying classes. Numerous Omaha North colleagues have attended the Arthur and Rochelle Belfer Conference for Holocaust Educators at the United States Holocaust Memorial Museum or have become fellows of that museum, or both; and fellow teacher Laura Geiger has recently begun helping to facilitate statewide workshops on Holocaust education. In essence, I would say that Omaha North is fertile ground for Holocaust education, still working diligently toward something that looks like what I saw modeled at RWBA. This summer, with a grant from the Fulbright Distinguished Awards in Teaching program, I will return to RWBA to put on a series of workshops with Nic, one for students and one for educators and scholars, on teaching about genocide in the Balkan States in the early to mid 1990s. As Nic put it once: The work is never over, arguably in global context, never more needed. Connect with Heather and the Center for Global Education on Twitter. Quote image created on Pablo . The Austrian doctor for whom Asperger syndrome is named helped the Nazis kill disabled children during World War II, according to a study published Thursday. Hans Asperger, a pediatrician who first identified the syndrome in 1944, made good with the Nazis by referring children to one of their notorious euthanasia clinics, Medical University of Vienna medical historian Herwig Czech revealed in the journal Molecular Autism. Nearly 800 children who didnt fit into the Third Reichs criteria of worthy to live meaning they lacked racial purity and hereditary worthiness died at the Am Spiegelgrund clinic in Vienna between 1940 and 1945. Asperger frequently referred disabled children to the clinic, according to previously untouched documents from state archives including Aspergers personnel files and patient case records unearthed by Czech, the Guardian UK reported. The children, who had physical or psychological defects, were deemed undesirable and were killed through starvation and lethal injection though their cause of death was reported as pneumonia. While Asperger touted himself as having shielded his patients from the Nazi regime, he was a cog in its killing machine and was rewarded for his loyalty with career opportunities, Czech found. He was responsible for depriving of their liberty many children whom he deemed incapable of existing outside institutions, Czech told The Guardian. Among Czechs findings is a photo of Herta Schreiber, a 3-year-old girl who suffered from encephalitis and died three months after being admitted to the clinic on Aspergers orders. The doctor had transferred her because she must be an unbearable burden to her mother, he wrote, and she was deemed incurable. A specimen of the toddlers brain was found in the basement of the clinic in the late 1990s and was buried in 2002. Asperger also often deemed sexually abused children to be responsible for what happened to them and anti-Semitic stereotypes often crept into his diagnoses, Czech wrote. The doctor never acknowledged that Jews had been targeted by the Nazis, even after the end of the war. Asperger was not just doing his best to survive in intolerable conditions but was also complicit with his Nazi superiors in targeting societys most vulnerable people, the editors of Molecular Autism wrote in an editorial. Asperger continued to work as a doctor for more than three decades after the collapse of the Nazi regime and died in 1980. This article originally appeared in the New York Post. Authorities in Florida are asking for help after a gopher tortoise was found earlier this week covered in red spray paint and with concrete on its limbs. The Florida Fish and Wildlife Conservation Commission said in a news release on Wednesday that two people came across the tortoise on County Road 455 in the town of Montverde, located about 30 miles west of Orlando. The pair then took it to a wildlife rehabber. Its just very upsetting, Kim Titterington, who runs Swamp Girl Adventures, told FOX35. Titterington said volunteers have been able to get the tortoise about 70 percent cleaned up after gently chipping away concrete and attempting to get the red paint off. There is still a significant amount of paint on the face and skin of the reptile, and the concrete is still causing issues on its underside. She's since named the tortoise Raphael, and said that painting reptiles such as tortoises is actually a common problem she and other wildlife experts see. Sometimes it can be children decorating the animal's shell or someone marking a crack on it, which can be very dangerous for the animal. "Applying substances like paint on tortoises can inhibit their ability to absorb vitamins from the suns UV rays through their shells, has the potential to cause respiratory problems and can lead to harmful chemicals being absorbed into their bloodstream," according to the FFWCC. THE NEXT NINJA TURTLE? GREEN-HAIRED TURTLE WITH UNIQUE ABILITY ADDED TO ENDANGERED SPECIES LIST Titterington told FOX35 she hopes to rehab Raphael completely and will eventually be able to release him back into the wild. While its not certain that the abuse to Raphael was intentional, she said shes struggling to find other possible explanations. "Even if he was like in the line of fire, if they were painting something or marking something there should just be like a strip or a splatter, Titterington said. The amount he had and the thickness of it was just incredible." Gopher Tortoises are considered threatened and are protected in Florida. The wildlife agency is now offering a reward for information that could help them find who did this to Raphael. "If you have any information about who may have applied the paint and concrete on the tortoise, please call our Wildlife Alert Hotline at 888-404-FWCC (3922), #FWC or *FWC on a cellphone, or text/email Tip@MyFWC.com," the agency said in a Facebook post. Enemies of the United States will soon have to face a new devastating missile in the nations arsenal - a destroyer of enemy warships. This new missile can penetrate deep into enemy space to sink their warships. Loaded with tech to make it smart, it both detects and destroys targets. An enemy could try to unleash electronic warfare to protect their warships, but these unstoppable missiles will still strike and destroy. The Long Range Anti-Surface Missile (LRASM) is a missile that takes firepower in naval battles to a whole other level. In future naval encounters, the U.S. military can unleash LRASMs to strike enemy warships from both the air and the sea. Stealth bombers, fighter jets and destroyers will deliver more than 1,000 pounds of explosive, destructive power to the deck of an enemy warship. DARPA and the U.S. Navy funded the LRASM concept. Ultimately, Lockheed Martin won the contract to provide the LRASMs with their state-of-the art design. FUTURISTIC NAVY SEAL BOAT DUBBED 'BATMOBILE' LRASM detects a threat, identifies it, tracks the moving enemy warship and then precisely strikes with devastating power. With its advanced tech, it can even zero in on a specific ship within a group of ships, steadfastly undeterred by the enemys electronic warfare capabilities. Russia and China have armed their navies to the teeth fully loaded to attack U.S. forces if ordered to do so. But with the LRASM, the destructive power, range and precision of U.S. missile strikes in future naval battles will be significantly ramped up no navy on Earth would want to face this warship killer. The distance advantage It is expected that this new missile will be able to strike enemy warships as far away as 500 nautical miles. Distance is crucial. If the U.S. Navy can strike farther away than any enemy can reach, then it keeps sailors out of enemy strike range while lobbing staggering, incapacitating blows with the LRASMs. Immensely powerful warhead Enemy warships will be struck with immense destructive power. The LRASM delivers a massive 1,000 pound penetrator and blast fragmentation warhead. Defeats electronic warfare The LRASM also possesses advanced tech - an enhanced digital anti-jam Global Positioning System means it cant be confused or lose its target even when confronted with electronic attempts to stop the missile. PODCAST: HEAR THIS MARINES FASCINATING JOURNEY FROM FIREFIGHTS IN AFRICA TO SPECIAL OPERATIONS MAXIMUM PERFORMANCE FUEL IN BROOKLYN What will fire these missiles? This new missile will be used by the U.S. Navy and Air Force. In fact, it can be launched by both aircraft and warships to destroy enemy naval threats anywhere in the world. NEW FOAM ARMOR FOR TANKS CAN PULVERIZE ENEMIES Someday soon ships will be armed with LRASMs and protected by this decisively powerful missile. The first phase of rollout will be to provide attack capabilities and fleet protection from the air. The current plan is to arm the USAF B1 bombers with them. Recent tests with these stealth bombers have proven very promising indeed. Next, the U.S. Navy Super hornets, the F/A-18E/F, will ramp up their firepower with LRASMs. Super Hornets can launch off of aircraft carriers, which makes them an excellent choice for supporting a U.S. naval offensive. It also means they can be ready to scramble to protect the fleet within moments, if need be. With their fighter jet speed, they could launch LRASMs to destroy incoming enemy warships before they are within range to attack the fleet. Eventually, the LRASM could be deck-launched on Navy destroyers. How does it work? With a Weapon Data Link, the LRASM can receive in-flight targeting updates after it is launched. MARINES' ULTRA-POWERFUL HEAVILY-ARMED MEGA-DRONE WILL DEVASTATE ENEMIES OF THE US When the LRASM transitions to autonomous guidance, it then carries out and completes its mission on its own. The onboard sensors gather continuous information on the target. LRASM uses the data to identify the target. As the missile approaches the enemy warship, it verifies it has zeroed in on the right target. Finally, the missile strikes the target with gigantic power - enough to sink many types of enemy warships. PODCAST: LIFE INSIDE THE COVERT WORLDS OF MARINE RECON, SPECIAL FORCES + DELTA WITH WARRIORS WARRIOR MIKE PANNONE Defeating invisible threats Today missiles need to successfully penetrate heavily aggressive electronic-warfare environments. One method of electronic warfare that is familiar to most folks is jamming. An enemy can launch an attack that would stop signals the missile needs to pass through to strike. In simplified terms, an enemy can launch jamming to prevent a missile from receiving its GPS directions. This is similar to when the GPS suddenly stops working when driving a car to reach a destination so the directions to your target destination are suddenly no longer available. AMAZING MILITARY ATVS ARMED WITH LASER WEAPONS WILL BLAST DRONES OUT OF THE SKY Similarly, some missiles in military arsenals around the world can get confused without GPS and no longer know how to find their targets. LRASMs smarts mean that no matter what sort of invisible electronic warfare weapons, like denying GPS, are thrown at it the enemy cannot confuse or stop the missile from striking its target. Why does it matter? The LRASM is vital. Countries like Russia and China have been aggressively ramping up their naval fleets across the board on everything from submarines through to surface missiles. Many would argue tensions between these countries and the United States have intensified of late. While adversaries have been advancing their missiles for naval battles, the United States has arguably not been as focused on this area. The Navy relies on missiles like the Harpoon that date back nearly 50 years. US MILITARY EYES FUTURISTIC 'BIONIC ARM' FOR TROOPS The Harpoon has a maximum range of about 67 nautical miles the LRASM will now provide a range of more than 7 times the Harpoons maximum. The SM-6s are a more recent missile model also designed to strike enemy warships. Publicly, this missile is reported to deliver about 200 nautical miles, but the warhead is smaller and less powerful than the Harpoon. The LRASM will provide approximately more than twice the distance of the SM-6s and with significantly more overwhelming impact too. Whats next? LRASMs have already been successfully tested with B1-B stealth bombers. The missiles are expected to be integrated with F/A-18 Super Hornets for testing this year. In 2019, LRASMs will hopefully reach Naval destroyers and prove just as precise and devastating launched when launched from military platforms on the water. Navy developers of the new high-tech, stealthy USS Zumwalt destroyer are widening the mission envelope for the ship, exploring new ammunition for its guns and preparing to fire its first missiles next year. The US Navys stealthy destroyer will fire an Evolved Sea Sparrow Missile and SM-2 in 2019 from its Mk 57 Vertical Launch Systems, marking the first time the new ship will fire weapons as part of its ongoing combat activation process. The Navy is exploring a new range of weapons for its stealthy USS Zumwalt destroyer to better prepare the ship for future warfare against technically advanced enemies. The Navy is in the process of updating required documents to support new surface strike requirements, according to Navy statements briefed at the services Sea Air and Space Annual Symposium by Zumwalt program manager Capt. Kevin Smith. The new ship, engineered with a sleek, radar-evading design, was initially conceived of in terms of primarily engineering a shallow-water land attack platform. While the ship was envisioned as a multi-mission platform at its inception, current emerging threats and new technology have led Navy strategists to scope a wider strategic view for the ship. Click on Warrior Maven for more. This is a rush transcript from "Your World," April 18, 2018. This copy may not be in its final form and may be updated. (BEGIN VIDEO CLIP) DONALD TRUMP, PRESIDENT OF THE UNITED STATES: I think Mike Pompeo is extraordinary. He was number one at West Point. He was top at Harvard. He's a great gentleman. I think he will go down as truly a great secretary of state. (END VIDEO CLIP) NEIL CAVUTO, HOST: Well, that's pretty powerful support. The president very confident that his secretary of nominee, Michael Pompeo, will have enough Senate votes for confirmation, this on the heels of a meeting between Mike Pompeo and of course Kim Jong-un, the North Korean leader. Now what happens? Arizona Republican Congresswoman Martha McSally serves on the House Armed Services Committee. Congresswoman, thank you very much for taking the time. REP. MARTHA MCSALLY, R-ARIZONA: Thank you. CAVUTO: Is it your sense that this nomination will go through, first off? I mean, there's all sorts of parliamentarian efforts, I know, to bypass the committee in case there are problems there. But one way or the other, Pompeo is our next secretary of state? What do you think? MCSALLY: Absolutely, Neil. I wholeheartedly agree with the president's statement. Mike Pompeo is a patriot. He's brilliant. You look at his record. And with the world burning right now and everything we're dealing with, he had a strong bipartisan vote for CIA director. The Democrats need to stop holding this up. We need a secretary of state more than ever. He's already acting like a strong diplomat, looking at how he spent his Easter. So, I think it will go through. Unfortunately, they're blocking it in committee. But I think it needs to go through, and they will do whatever it takes in order to get him in that role. CAVUTO: All right, now, not just Democrats, too, a number of Republicans, Rand Paul among them, very concerned about the aggressive posture Pompeo has taken in the past when it comes to foreign incursions and the like. And he wouldn't have his vote. Now, we learn, maybe after a little bit of pressure from the president, that Rand Paul is going to meet Pompeo. I don't know what the full skinny is on that. But what do you think of that? MCSALLY: Yes. Well, everybody is entitled to their own vote. I would just tell you they have advice and consent in the Senate. And I think it's important to look at whether somebody is qualified and capable, and then support the president's selection for his Cabinet. I mean, if you look at Mike Pompeo, look at his background, look at his experience, he's an extraordinary patriot. And we need him right now in these roles, if you see what's going on with North Korea, Iran, China, Russia. We can't be playing politics with this. CAVUTO: What did you think of that meeting in North Korea, that Pompeo was there meeting with him in Pyongyang? MCSALLY: Yes. CAVUTO: Caught a lot of people off-guard, by surprise. MCSALLY: Yes. CAVUTO: But what do you think? MCSALLY: I think it's pretty extraordinary. I think it shows, again, bold leadership. The president is willing to crank up the pressure economically, to keep military options on the table, and to send Mike Pompeo into North Korea in order to have a precursor to the talks. We have got to ensure that North Korea is -- the peninsula is denuclearized, that they stop their -- other malevolent activity with their missile programs and their exporting of terror and other things. But it just -- I think it shows bold leadership. Insanity is doing the same thing over and over again expecting a different result. The weakness of the past in the Obama administration is behind us. And so I really applaud this move. CAVUTO: Where do you think that meeting ultimately between the North Korean leader and our president should take place? It seems to be increasingly looking like the demilitarized zone between South and North Korea. Others have suggested different venues. What do you think? MCSALLY: Yes, well, I know the administration is working through that. And, you know, even North Korea I guess doesn't even have an airplane that can make it to some of the places. This is how weak they are as a country. So they will pick the right spot. Again, I'm extremely skeptical. We have seen this before where they try to use talks as a stalling mechanism. But I know President Trump and his leadership team know that that has been used in the past and they are not going to let them get away with it. So, it does need to happen. I'm actually heading over there next month myself to the DMZ and to visit the troops and to see firsthand what's going on. CAVUTO: All right. MCSALLY: And, again, I applaud the efforts. But we have got to make sure we keep cranking up the pressure, don't let it off, while we work the diplomatic angles. CAVUTO: Congresswoman, thank you very, very much. Very good seeing you. MCSALLY: Thanks, Neil. CAVUTO: All right. END Content and Programming Copyright 2018 Fox News Network, LLC. ALL RIGHTS RESERVED. Copyright 2018 CQ-Roll Call, Inc. All materials herein are protected by United States copyright law and may not be reproduced, distributed, transmitted, displayed, published or broadcast without the prior written permission of CQ-Roll Call. You may not alter or remove any trademark, copyright or other notice from copies of the content. A cargo trailer containing 8,000 Disneyland tickets was stolen early Wednesday morning in California, prompting California police to warn park-goers about buying passes from third-party dealers. The trailer, belonging to the Future Farmers of America, was meant to be heading from Elk Grove to Southern California for the 90th Annual State FFA Leadership Conference. In addition to the tickets, it also contained audio/visual equipment, awards and registration materials, Fox 40 reports. UK SUPERMARKET EMPLOYING HEALTH FOOD POLICE TO MONITOR SHOPPERS' CARTS California Highway Patrol is looking for the white, double-axle, enclosed Wells Cargo trailer with license plate number 4KJ1127. Security footage shows the vehicle that stole the trailer, which officials have described as a dark-colored, long-bed pickup truck with an extended cab, according to The Sacramento Bee. Disneyland has digitally cancelled the tickets, rendering them useless, and will issue replacements to the FFA. The CHP is also warning the public to be cautious when purchasing tickets to the park from a private seller. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Officials are asking anyone with information call the CHP's South Sacramento office at 916-681-2300. Don't wait till the last minute to book Travel agent Marni Becker, Director of Cruise Sales for Protravel International in New York City, says that depending upon where you wish to travelAlaska? Mediterranean? Caribbean? Baltic?there is still some availability, but that the most popular itineraries, ships, and cabin categories fill up early. You'll want to act fast if you want to book for travel this June through August. You still have time to book a summer cruise, she says, but, depending on the line, "you may not get that mid-ship verandah or suite." Think outside the box with these little-known cruises even better than the Bahamas. Don't fly in the same day you set sail "Get your vacation started at least one day before your cruise by booking a hotel room near the ship," suggests Christy Scannell, a Dream Vacations franchise owner from California. "That way you don't have to sweat out possible flight delays or traffic jams that could hamper getting to the pier on time. Instead, you can enjoy a restful morning and then make your way to the ship refreshed, relaxed and ready to enjoy your cruise." Avoid these other 16 airport mistakes to know before your next flight. Plan your excursions in advance You have only one day to see most ports, even if, like Florence and Rome, they're incredibly rich and interesting. That means you won't want to waste time coming up with a game plan on the ground. Instead, pick up guide books or do some online research to determine the options and what you'd be most excited about seeing. "Figure out what you want to see in each port before you leave home," Becker advises. "That will save you time and hassle during your cruise." It will also ensure that you get to hit the highlights at each destination. Here are tips for picking the best cruise based on your travel goals. Plan your sea days as well as your port days Cruise ship decks can really fill up on sunny sea days, but many ships have serene alternative spaces that you can book. "You are likely to see a lot of children on summer cruises, says Scannell. "For a more peaceful day on deck, look for the ship's adults-only areas. For example, Princess Cruises has The Sanctuary, where for a nominal fee you get a luxury lounge chair, beverage service, and soothing music." Bring everything you need for the first day in your carry-on On the first day of a cruise, you never know exactly what time your luggage will be delivered to your room. "Be sure to pack your flip-flops and bathing suit in your carry-on bag," suggets Madson. "This way, as soon as you board the ship, you can start enjoying the pool even before your cabin is ready or your luggage gets delivered." Don't miss these other 17 travel hacks that make cruises easier. For more tips to kinow before your cruuise, head to Reader's Digest. More than two months after the Valentines Day mass murder of 17 students and educators at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla., fear and rage continues to grip a school system still reeling from the incidents aftermath. During a public safety forum held Wednesday in the Broward County school district, shaken students and enraged parents and educators appealed to school leaders to protect campuses from violence, demanding fixes for what they consider lax security, the districts indifference, and failure to act to stop the former student who brought an AR-15 onto campus and killed and injured dozens. But many of those who spoke out had vastly different solutions for what should be done, turning the often emotional forum into a microcosm of the polarizing national debate on gun regulations, school security provisions, and mental health services designed to prevent mass shootings. But a number of those who addressed school leaders did share a common concern: a district program designed to help troubled students has not lived up to its promise. The diversionary program, called PROMISE, created by the district as part of a 2013 agreement with law enforcement agencies to clarify when to involve officers in student discipline came under fire along with the districts behavior intervention program, for students who return to district alternative school campuses after committing crimes. While two former students stood to speak about the programs benefits, many parents and educators argued that PROMISE, and other district programs, have created a pipeline for troubled students to re-enter schools often without proper intervention from law enforcement or mental health services. Broward County Superintendent Robert Runcie pushed back against criticism of the districts discipline plan, which has become a major focus of debate in Washington as the Trump administration weighs whether it will revise or revoke Obama-era rules on school discipline. That guidancejointly issued by the U.S. Departments of Education and Justicewarned schools that they may violate federal civil rights laws if they enforce intentionally discriminatory rules or if their policies lead to disproportionately higher rates of discipline for students in one racial group, even if those policies were written without discriminatory intent. Runcie told those in the audience that there was much misinformation circulating about the PROMISE program. Runcie plans to address questions about the program during a May 7 public forum. During the forum Wednesday night, district leaders provided information and updates regarding school safety measures, state funding, counseling and support services for students and employees, and how the district plans to spend funds from a 2014 school board referendum to upgrade school security. But at the forum, students, parents, and teachers argued that the steps taken now have come too little, too late and that they still dont feel safe. From a Stoneman Douglas student who said his school now subject to extra law enforcement presence and security measures feels like a prison to a student who said she bypassed those security checks, dozens of people with ties to the school shared stories of how the shooting has shattered their innocence and sense of security. Wednesdays meeting marked the first of several forums the district plans to host as it looks to gather community feedback and suggestions on how to secure its schools and help students and families feel safe again. Runcie told audience members that safety begins with a focus on the well-being of students, families and employees and how survivors from similar incidents at Columbine High and Sandy Hook Elementary schools have lent support to Broward County. The superintendent disclosed a personal and painful story of how his mother was shot in a hate crime when he was 8 years old and how he struggled in the aftermath of that incident without counseling. He acknowledged that, in a rush to protect the students still at Stoneman Douglas, the district didnt attend to the needs of families who either lost loves ones or had loved ones suffer serious injuries in the rampage. Responding to dozens of questions, Runcie asked for understanding and grace, as the district continues to search for solutions and responses to the shooting. Photo: Concerned parents, teachers and other members of the community stand in line to ask questions of the Broward County School Board during a school safety meeting held at Plantation High School in Plantation, Fla., on April 18. --Jim Rassol/South Florida Sun-Sentinel via AP Related reading about school discipline policies, safety, and Parkland: Lawmakers Question Obama-Era Discipline Policy at Hearing on Parkland Shooting Civil Rights Groups Sound the Alarm About Safety Plans After Parkland Shooting After Parkland Shooting, Sen. Rubio Questions Obama-Era Guidance on School Arrests Rep. Scott Urges DeVos, to Keep Obama-Era Discipline Guidance School Discipline Debate Centers of Benefits, Consequences of Federal Guidance A woman is claiming Southwest Airlines lost her luggage, which held her 97-year-old mothers new prosthetic foot. Margaret Crawford was traveling to Belize from Florida to visit her mother on March 30, WFLA reported. Crawford paid $75 to check her bag at Tampa International Airport, and when she landed, she says her luggage did not arrive. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PASSENGERS WEREN'T WEARING LIFESAVING OXYGEN MASKS PROPERLY Crawford told WFLA she was going to Belize to bring her mother the new foot, since her mom is currently using an old prosthesis, which is held together by duct tape. My fear is that when she is walking in the [one] duct-taped to a shoe that she can fall, and if she falls at 97, that is like saying [it's] the end she said to WFLA. During her stay in Belize, Crawford said she repeatedly contacted the airline and was told they could not locate her bag with the foot. I wanted to witness my mom putting on that shoe, I wanted to dance with her, just to hold her and see that excitement and listen to her laughter, Crawford told WFLA. Crawford was not reunited with her bag until two weeks later, when she was back in the United States. The bag was reportedly tracked down in Atlanta and returned to Crawford in Florida, though she says she has no way of getting back to Belize to deliver the foot. I feel like they robbed me and its the principle. In todays technology, they should not lose luggage for two weeks, she said to WFLA. I made a lot of sacrifice to make that trip, and I am expecting Southwest to do the right thing for them to get me back there with my luggage so I can see my mom with her foot and I would like it while she is still alive, she added. FOLLOW US ON FACEBOOK FOR MORE FOX LIFESTYLE NEWS Crawford said Southwest offered to refund half of her ticket which cost her more than $500 but would not give her a full refund. In a statement to Fox News, the airline says it has apologized to Crawford, and confirmed that her original ticket price has since been refunded. Southwest says it also provided Crawford with additional compensation to cover her unforseen fees, as well as a travel voucher equal to her original fare to Belize. "Our Baggage Service Office has been working directly with Ms. Crawford to resolve this situation and we hope to welcome her back onboard soon," the airline stated. Authorities in Pennsylvania are reportedly looking into the "suspicious" death of the father of former National Security Adviser Gen. H.R. McMaster. The Philadelphia Police Department told Fox 29 it is investigating the incident surrounding the April 13 death of H.R. McMaster, Sr. The Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office confirmed its involvement in the investigtion to Fox News. The Philadelphia District Attorneys Office is also linked to the probe of the death, which was deemed "suspicious" by authorities, WPVI reported. The elder McMaster, 84, was at Cathedral Village in Roxborough after having a stroke, the outlet said. It was there, WPVI reported, that he allegedly received ill care and ultimately died after allegedly falling, hitting his head and then placed in a chair. Police searched Cathedral Village on Tuesday after obtaining a warrant, WPVI said. James Garrow, a spokesperson for the Philadelphia Department of Public Health, told Fox News that an autopsy of McMaster Sr. determined the cause of death to be blunt impact head trauma and the manner was listed as accidental. WPVI reported that employees at the facility notified McMasters family about alleged incorrect records that were filed in relation to the 84-year-olds death. In a statement to Fox News, Cathedral Village said they are working with authorities in the investigation and added, "The safety and well-being of every Cathedral Village resident is our top priority." "After immediately notifying the family and appropriate authorities of the resident's death, we began our own internal investigation, which is ongoing," the statement said. "We offer the family our prayers and condolences for their loss. Out of respect for their privacy and due to the ongoing inquiries, however, it is inappropriate for us to share any further details." "We are working closely with the Philadelphia police department to thoroughly and carefully review this tragic incident. The investigation is in the very early stages," Joe Grace, a spokesperson for the Office of Attorney General Josh Shapiro. The Philadelphia Police Department and the Philadelphia district attorney's office did not immediately respond to Fox News request for comment. Late last month President Trump announced that he would be replacing the younger McMaster as national security adviser with former United Nations Ambassador John Bolton. More than two dozen students and adult chaperones have been taken to Houston-area hospitals following a traffic collision involving two school buses carrying fifth-graders. The Navasota Independent School District says in a statement that three buses were carrying about 95 students and staff Wednesday to a Houston museum from an elementary school in Navasota, northwest of Houston. A dump truck rear-ended one of the buses, pushing it into the back of a second bus. Officials say 25 students and five adults were taken to hospitals with injuries described as minor. Another bus was dispatched to return the rest of the group to Navasota. A Florida mother told police she thought she was suffering from heartburn, before she birthed stillborn twins over a toilet at her home, according to court documents. However, authorities said results of an autopsy report indicate that the newborns were deliberately killed immediately after their births. Rachael Lynn Thomas, 30, of West Melbourne, now faces upgraded charges including: two counts of felony murder and two counts of aggravated child abuse in the deaths of the newborns, as well as one count of premeditated murder in the death of the newborn daughter. The twins were found dead at her duplex on Sunday. Police say Thomas told them she went to her job at 9 a.m. but left sick a half hour later. According to her arrest warrant, the mother told police she went to the bathroom, but ended up birthing twin babies. Police say they weren't called until several hours later, and when they arrived, the mother only showed first responders one dead infant. Police say the newborn's twin was later found in the outdoor trash can by crime scene investigators. When detectives asked the mother about it, they say she claimed the twins were stillborn, causing her to panic. Click for more from Fox 35. The Southwest Airlines pilot and first officer who safely made an emergency landing at a Pennsylvania airport Tuesday after one of the plane's engines blew mid-flight said their heroic actions were them "simply doing our jobs." "As Captain and First Officer of the Crew of five who worked to serve our Customers aboard Flight 1380 yesterday, we all feel we were simply doing our jobs," Captain Tammie Jo Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor wrote in a statement. "Our hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss," the duo continued, adding they interviewed with investigators on Wednesday. Shults, 56, and Ellisor said they won't be partaking in any interviews, and "ask that the public and the media respect our focus." FORMER ACE NAVY PILOT ID'D AS HERO WHO LANDED DAMAGED SOUTHWEST FLIGHT The pair is credited with managing to safely land a Boeing 737 at the Philadelphia International Airport on Tuesday after the jet's left engine exploded in mid-air over Pennsylvania. Shults was quickly hailed a hero as reports of her emergency call to air traffic controllers began to circulate following the incident. One of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. military, Shults' calm demeanor and "nerves of steel" earned her the praise of being an American "hero." National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters at a news conference Wednesday that the jet's pilots "seemed very calm and assured of what they were doing," and said Shults and Ellisor "behaved in a manner that their training would prepare them for." "My hat is off to them," Sumwalt said. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT HEROES DESPERATELY TRIED TO SAVE MOM One of Flight 1380's passengers, Alfred Tumlinson, told The Associated Press that everything Shults, Ellisor and the crew did "was immaculate." "They were so professional in what they did to get us on the ground," Tumlinson said. "She has nerves of steel. That lady, I applaud her. Im going to send her a Christmas card Im going to tell you that with a gift certificate for getting me on the ground. She was awesome." Shults' brother-in-law, Gary Shults, shared similar sentiments -- calling the pilot "a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack." My brother says shes the best pilot he knows. Shes a very caring, giving person who takes care of lots of people," Gary Shults said. Passengers said Shults walked through the aisle and talked with them to make sure they were OK after the plane touched down. Southwest Airlines said in a statement the company was "devastated" by Tuesday's event, which left passenger Jennifer Riordan, a mother of two, dead. The series of events that unfolded on a Southwest airliner on Tuesday after one of the jet's engines exploded mid-flight may have been triggered by a broken fan blade, investigators said Wednesday. A preliminary investigation found that a fan blade one of 24 inside of the Boeing 737's left engine snapped while Flight 1380 was flying at 500 mph above Pennsylvania. "This fan blade was broken right at the hub, and our preliminary examination of this was there is evidence of metal fatigue where the blade separated," National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) Chairman Robert Sumwalt said at a news conference. Metal fatigue microscopic cracks that can splinter open under the kind of stress placed on jetliners and their engines was blamed for an engine failure on a Southwest plane in Florida in 2016. Both that plane and Tuesday's jet were powered by CFM56 engines. Manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and France's Safran SA, recommended last June that airlines using certain CFM56 engines conduct ultrasonic inspections to look for cracks. The Federal Aviation Administration said late Wednesday it'll begin to issue a directive in the next two weeks to require inspections of certain CFM56-7B engines. While Sumwalt said the investigation is in its early stages and could take up to 15 months, he detailed more information about the flight, which left one passenger dead but was safely landed at Philadelphia International Airport. The plane landed at a high speed 190 mph, rather than a usual 155 mph because the pilots were concerned about losing control if they flew any slower. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES PASSENGER MOURNED AS PLANE ENGINE THAT EXPLODED SHOWED EVIDENCE OF 'METAL FATIGUE' Investigators also found that the leading edge of the left wing was damaged by the shrapnel produced by the explosion, which killed passenger Jennifer Riordan. Riordan, according to passengers, was partially pulled out of the row 14 window, which was damaged by shrapnel. Officials said the mother of two and Wells Fargo executive was wearing a seatbelt. James Garrow, of the Philadelphia Department of Health, said Riordan's death was ruled accidental and she died from blunt impact trauma to her head, neck and torso. Federal investigators are still trying to determine how the window came out of the plane. No plastic material from the window was found inside the 737. Officials said that part of the engine's exterior, the cowling, was found in Bernville, Pennsylvania, roughly 70 miles from Philadelphia's airport. The NTSB said it's received multiple reports from people finding other pieces of the cowling in other areas. Fox News' Kathleen Joyce and The Associated Press contributed to this report. Three former American soldiers were found guilty Wednesday for the murder-for-hire of a female real estate agent in the Philippines whom an international crime boss accused of cheating him in a land deal. Joseph Hunter, a 52-year-old former U.S. Army sniper and a onetime sergeant with a Special Forces background, was working as a security chief for weapons and drug trafficker Paul Le Roux when he recruited two former soldiers for what was called ninja work. In 2012, he contacted Adam Samia, 43, and Carl David Stillwell, 50, and had them travel from their homes in Roxboro, North Carolina after Le Roux promised to pay them $35,000 a piece for the hit job. Prosecutors said Samia and Stillwell pretended to be potential real estate clients for a property in the countryside outside of Manila. On their return trip to the capital city, Samia pulled out a .22-caliber gun and killed the broker by shooting her twice in the face as she sat in the back seat of a van. After being paid, the killers were ordered back to the United States, where they were subsequently arrested in 2015. This horrifying real-life murder-for-hire case included details usually seen in action movies, U.S. Attorney General Geoffrey S. Berman said in a statement. Hunter, Samia and Stillwell conspired to end the lives of people overseas whom they had never met. The three men had denied they planned the execution-style hit. During their hearing, defense attorneys argued the case lacked eyewitness, forensic and other conclusive evidence needed to convict. They also said government witnesses such as Le Roux should not be trusted. All three men face up to life in prison. Hunter is already serving 20 years over a plot to kill a federal agent. Le Roux has pleaded guilty in the murder-for-hire plot and was cooperating, prosecutors said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Military officials announced disciplinary actions Wednesday against three Tennessee Air National Guard airmen after filming a re-enlistment ceremony in which an officer recited her oath using a dinosaur hand puppet. An unidentified colonel in the Guard was demoted and retired after leading the disrespectful ceremony last week in which Master Sgt. Robin Brown wore the puppet as she recited her oath. Brown, a senior noncommissioned officer, was removed from her full-time position with the Tennessee Joint Public Affairs Office, with other administrative actions pending, officials said. Another senior noncommissioned officer, responsible for filming the video that sparked the uproar, received an official reprimand and was removed from his job as unit first sergeant, but will remain in the Guard. Army Maj. Gen. Terry Haston announced the disciplinary measures in a Facebook post and criticized the airmen. I am absolutely embarrassed that a senior officer and a senior NCO took such liberties with a time-honored military tradition, Haston wrote. Not taking this oath solemnly and with the utmost respect is firmly against the traditions and sanctity of our military family and will not be tolerated. The Tennessee National Guard leadership as a whole is appalled by the actions of these individuals which do not represent our nations service members nor the Airmen and Soldiers of Tennessee, he added. The controversial video of the ceremony spread on social media like wildfire, with the original footage watched more than 2.6 million times on Facebook, and immediately caught the attention of military officials and civilians alike. Many said the use of the hand puppet, in addition to the colonel not raising his own right hand and not remembering the oath, was disrespectful. Some suggested that perhaps the video was unofficial and made merely for Browns children to watch later. But William Jones, a spokesman for the joint public affairs office for the Tennessee National Guard, told the Washington Post that the ceremony was official and claims to the contrary were incorrect. Lt. Gen. Scott Rice, director of the Air National Guard, issued a Facebook statement on Monday slamming the airmen in the video. Im equally shocked and dismayed by this event that mocks such a cherished and honorable occasion, Rice said. This action goes against our very foundation. An LA Fitness gym in New Jersey says it has fired a manager and two other employees after an online video showed them calling police on two black customers -- one a club member and the other a guest with a pass, a report said. The customers allege they had a right to be at the club, but instead were racially profiled. Customer Tshyrad Oates says he signed in at the Secaucus gym under a four-day guest pass, while his friend was already a member. Oates says an employee -- whom Oates claims was unaware that her manager had already signed in his friend -- approached them as they were working out and told them to either pay or leave. Ive been having multiple problems with this club, his friend says in one of the videos. Ive been a member here for at least eight years. They told the employee that his friend was an active and current member and had left his gym tag in a locker before starting their workout again. But police officers arrived shortly afterward and questioned them, Oates wrote. We explained to them about our guest pass and re-scanned my friends member tag and it resulted in 'current active' status. (The LA Fitness employee did look at the computer screen that showed current member status and said nothing), Oates wrote. They again started their workout, but about 10 minutes later an LA Fitness manager told the men to leave without providing a reason and threatened to ban them and terminate his friend's membership, Oates wrote. Moments later five officers surrounded them and asked them to leave. Oates wrote that his friend felt racially profiled and embarrassed by the staffs treatment of them in front of the other gym patrons. An employee at the Secaucus gym told NJ.com that the manager and two female workers were removed from the company. "Regrettably, our staff unnecessarily escalated the situation and called the police rather than work through it," LA Fitness told the news outlet in a statement Wednesday. "Clearly, this is a long time member with a current, valid membership, the statement read. We want to clarify that no membership was cancelled and no one, including the member's guest, was banned from the club. We have spoken to the member to apologize and assured him that he and his guests are welcome in our clubs at all times." The incident followed a similar situation at a Philadelphia Starbucks last week, where two black men were arrested for refusing to leave when a store employee denied them access to the restroom. The alleged crime boss of the notorious MS-13 gang in charge of operations across the East Coast will answer to murder and drug trafficking charges in New York. Prosecutors said Thursday that Miguel Angel Corea Diaz whose street name was Reaper was extradited from Maryland and held without bail after an arraignment on Long Island, where authorities blame MS-13 for a wave of violence that's left dozens dead. Corea Diaz, who was jailed in Marlyand on local felony drug charges, was included as one of the 17 suspects previously cited in a 21-count indictment by Nassau County. Prosecutors said Corea Diaz allegedly ordered beatings and killings as well as directed the gangs drug operations in New York, New Jersey, Maryland and Texas. He has been referred to as the alleged kingpin of MS-13 for the entire Eastern region of the United States. In 2017, Corea Diaz, 35, directed two of the other defendants to kill a rival in Elizabeth, New Jersey. There's evidence that the defendants discussed where to dispose the victim's body and how deep to dig the hole before law enforcement thwarted them, Nassau County prosecutors said. Law enforcement officials have said MS-13 is the largest gang in Long Island and has thousands of members across the country. The majority of the gang members are Central American immigrants. The Department of Homeland Security recently revealed that dozens of gang members, some of whom belong to MS-13, were shielded from deportation and released due to sanctuary policies last year. From October 2016 to June 2017, sanctuary jurisdictions refused to honor Immigration and Customs Enforcement [ICE] detainers on 142 suspected gang members. The DHS said the numbers may also be on the conservative side as jurisdictions that do not allow officials into jails make it more challenging to identify gang members. Fox News' Adam Shaw and the Associated Press contributed to this report. Crossing the border illegally could cost a person their life. Thats the message the Border Patrol and Mexican Federal Police are sending to people considering the journey, in an effort to dissuade them from doing so. Sadly, every year people die while trying to cross into the United States illegally, said Aaron Hull, Chief of the El Pasos Border Patrol sector. Border Patrol agents have tried many strategies to prevent immigrants from crossing the border. The latest approach is very direct showing border crossers in stark terms how treacherous and deadly the journey actually is. The desert may look easy to hike and the river may seem calm, but the Border Patrol promises its much more dangerous than it appears. In 2005, 28 immigrants died illegally crossing the border in the El Paso sector. The numbers have since improved with continued safety initiatives. In 2017, there were 61 rescues and eight deaths. This year, there have been 18 rescues and zero deaths. However, the summer has yet to arrive, when temperatures on the southern border can soar well over 100. People think it might be easy, but it aint worth risking your life, said Mario Mata, a Supervisory Border Patrol Agent who performs search and rescues. To reach as many people as they can, the Border Patrol is airing a PSA throughout Central and South America. The video shows immigrants making their way through the desert when one falls. A fellow traveler tries to help him get up but is pulled away and told they need to keep moving. The screen goes black and says Vale la pena? or Was it worth it? The agent who rides with the immigrants in the rescue helicopter said after the initial shock of the rescue wears off, many immigrants say it was not. The very first thing they do of course is thank you, and then the second thing they do is obviously, admittedly tell you had I known it was going to be this way I would have never tried it. Its unforgiving, said Fabian Cardiel, an El Paso Air and Marine (AMO) aviation enforcement agent. During a recent demonstration, Border Patrol agents and two actors showed what its like for immigrants who break a leg and get dehydrated on the journey. Actors portrayed immigrants in severe pain. Another had to be found using a search dog. The message was meant to be blunt: your journey will be very dangerous and can turn very bad, very quickly. But they also made it clear that if immigrants still come, despite the warning, law enforcement on both sides of the border will make every effort to rescue them. Theyre committed first to save lives and protect the dignity of the people. It doesnt matter who they are or how theyve been found, said Ricardo Hernandez Lecanda, Deputy Consular for the Mexican Consulate Office in El Paso. But after the rescue is made and the illegal immigrant is recovering, the Border Patrol must fulfill its obligation to enforce immigration law. The immigrant will be subject to a hearing and deportation. One of President Donald Trumps longtime legal advisers said he warned the president in a phone call Friday that Michael Cohen, Trumps personal lawyer and close friend, would turn against the president and cooperate with federal prosecutors if faced with criminal charges. Trump made the call seeking advice from Jay Goldberg, who represented Trump in the 1990s and early 2000s. Goldberg said he cautioned the president not to trust Cohen. On a scale of 100 to 1, where 100 is fully protecting the president, Cohen isnt even a 1, he said he told Trump. Cohen is under criminal investigation for potential bank fraud and campaign-finance violations. FBI agents raided Cohens home, hotel and office last week, seeking documents about, among other things, a $130,000 payment he made in October 2016 to a former adult-film actress to prevent her from publicly discussing an alleged sexual encounter with Trump in 2006, The Wall Street Journal previously reported, citing people familiar with the matter. Trump and Cohen deny such an encounter occurred. Investigators are examining whether Cohen committed bank fraud in using a home-equity line of credit to pay the former porn star for her silence, as well as potential campaign-finance violations related to the payment, the people said. Michael will never stand up [for you] if charged by the government, Goldberg said he cautioned the president. Neither Cohen, who hasnt been charged, nor his lawyer responded to requests for comment. The White House confirmed the phone call of Trump and Goldberg. The 15-minute discussion between the two men provides an inside peek at the presidents efforts to seek guidance amid the rapidly escalating developments involving Cohen. Goldberg is one of several longtime advisers Trump has reached out to as he and his legal team try to assess the potential fallout from the criminal investigation of Cohen and devise a response. Goldberg said the volume of correspondence taken and the potential pressure the government can bring to bear on Cohen to testify put the president in more potential peril from the Cohen matter than from special counsel Robert Muellers investigation. Mueller is examining whether members of Trumps campaign team colluded with Russians to affect the 2016 election. Russia officials have denied meddling in the election, and Trump has denied any collusion took place. Click for more from The Wall Street Journal Welcome to Fox News First. Not signed up yet? Click here. Developing now, Thursday, April 19, 2018 President Trump says he would walk away from a historic summit with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un if he felt the talks were not going to be successful Trump says the U.S. will punish Russia with new sanctions 'as soon as they very much deserve it' The hero Southwest Airlines pilot and first officer who safely landed a jet after an engine blew out say they were only doing their jobs Calif. Gov. Jerry Brown says hell deploy up to 400 members of the states National Guard to combat crime at the U.S.-Mexico border -- but not enforce immigration laws or help build a border wall New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo grants voting rights to 35,000 paroled felons, sparking outrage from Republicans who accuse him of a 'power grab' THE LEAD STORY - TRUMP'S GREAT EXPECTATIONS: President Donald Trump told reporters he would not hesitate to walk out of a planned summit meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un "if I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful." ... "I hope to have a very successful meeting," Trump said at a joint news conference alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it. If I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go. If the meeting when Im there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting." Trump said that he planned to discuss the denuclearization of North Korea when he meets with Kim, possibly by early June, vowing: "We will not repeat the mistakes of previous administrations [and] our campaign of maximum pressure will continue until North Korea denuclearizes." NOBODY TOUGHER THAN TRUMP: President Trump told reporters Wednesday evening that the U.S. would levy new sanctions against the Russian government "as soon as they very much deserve it" ... Trump was responding to a shouted question as he posed for photos with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe following a joint news conference. The president then returned to the microphone to restate his claim that "there has been nobody tougher on Russia than President Donald Trump." "With the media, no matter what I did, its never tough enough because thats their narrative," Trump lamented. "But Russia will tell you there has been nobody tougher than Donald Trump." The president spoke one day after an intra-administration quarrel over sanctions erupted in public. 'SIMPLY DOING OUR JOBS': The Southwest Airlines pilot and first officer who safely made an emergency landing in Philadelphia on Tuesday after one of the plane's engines blew mid-flight downplayed their heroism, saying they were "simply doing our jobs" ... "As Captain and First Officer of the Crew of five who worked to serve our Customers aboard Flight 1380 yesterday, we all feel we were simply doing our jobs," Capt. Tammie Jo Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor wrote in a statement. "Our hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss." Shults and Ellisor said they had talked with federal safety investigators. However, they won't be giving any interviews to reporters and "ask that the public and the media respect our focus." Southwest jet's broken fan blade triggered chain reaction of disaster, investigators say CALIFORNIA COMPLIES WITH CONDITIONS: California Gov. Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 members of the states National Guard to combat criminal activity after President Trump slammed him for trying to back out of an earlier pledge ... Brown issued an order that the National Guard be sent to help combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers within the state, along the coast and at the U.S.-Mexico border. However, the governor sent military personnel on the condition that the California National Guard will not enforce immigration laws or participate in the construction of any new border barrier. 'OUTRAGEOUS POWER GRAB': In an executive order signed Wednesday, New York Gov. Andrew Cuomo granted some 35,000 paroled felons the right to vote ... The move by the second-term Democrat came after state Republicans blocked a bill in the state Senate. Im unwilling to take no for an answer, Cuomo said at the annual convention of the Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network in New York City. Im going to make it law by executive order. Outraged Republicans immediately blasted Cuomo's directive. Republican Senate Leader John Flanagan called the order bad public policy that could potentially be illegal because the governor ignored the Legislature. Ed Cox, chairman of the state Republican Party, in a statement, called the directive an outrageous power grab in a bid to appeal to radical primary voters, according to the New York Times. Cuomo blasts 'Anti-American' Trump administration, questions voters' true support AS SEEN ON FOX NEWS FIRST LADYS CHARM AND WIT: "She and I were needling each other. The doctor came in and she turned to the doctor and said, 'You want to know why George W. is the way he is?' The doctor looked somewhat surprised and she said, 'Because I drank and smoked while I was pregnant with him.' ... She's funny." Former President George W. Bush on "Mornings with Maria," revealing that his mother Barbara Bush flashed her trademark sense of humor until her death on Tuesday. WATCH COMEY THE KARDASHIAN: "Many career people at the Justice Department must really find this [situation] quite repulsive." Jonathan Turley, Georgetown University law professor, on "The Story with Martha MacCallum," explaining why he believes fired FBI Director James Comey is "selling himself with the vigor of a Kardashian and the viciousness of a Trump." WATCH TRENDING Death of H.R. McMaster's father reportedly under investigation over 'suspicious' circumstances. GOP lawmakers refer Comey, Clinton, McCabe for criminal investigation. Poll: Hillary Clinton's popularity has plunged since election. Ex-Playboy model settles National Enquirer suit that had silenced her on alleged Trump affair. THE SWAMP Homeland Security reveals dozens of MS-13, other gang members released by 'sanctuary' policies. Comey says McCabe lied, confirms he kick-started probe that led to his firing. Eric Holder hints at 2020 presidential run with important New Hampshire appearance. ACROSS THE NATION Fresno State says Barbara Bush-bashing professor can be fired despite tenure. Florida sheriff ordered by judge to release additional Parkland response video, report says. 911 operator who hung up on emergency calls is sentenced to jail. MINDING YOUR BUSINESS Starbucks CEO apologizes for unfair treatment of black customers | Ingraham: Starbucks in black and white P&G acquires German Merck's consumer health business for about $4.21 billion. Nikes executive exodus continues. Surging gas prices unlikely to dent SUV boom. Elon Musk: Tesla delivering power in Puerto Rico amid blackout. FOX NEWS OPINION Judge Andrew Napolitano: Trump and the attorney-client privilege. Todd Starnes: Army chaplain faces punishment for following religious beliefs. Sen. David Perdue: Trump's North Korea policy is succeeding. HOLLYWOOD SQUARED 'The Simpsons' showrunner shares Barbara Bush's 1990 letter to Marge Simpson. Robert De Niro says he'd return to 'SNL' as Robert Mueller, hopes to throw Trump in jail. Bernie Sanders says rapper Cardi B is 'right' on Social Security. DID YOU HEAR ABOUT THIS? Google Maps is using fast food chains for directions. WWII wreck USS Helena discovered by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen's crew. Giant group of octopus 'moms' discovered during deep sea expedition: 'It's suicide.' STAY TUNED On Fox News: Fox & Friends, 6 a.m. ET: Jamiel Shaw Sr., whose son was killed by an illegal immigrant, responds to California Gov. Jerry Brown's comments about Americans killed by illegal immigrants; Judge Andrew Napolitano on James Comey's potential legal jeopardy; Kevin Jackson, executive director of the Blacksphere, weighs in on Starbucks' plan to provide race discrimination training to employees; this week's "Cooking with Friends" segment features Melissa Francis and her spiced chicken Hannity, 9 p.m. ET: Guests include: Mark Levin, Alan Dershowitz, Kellyanne Conway and more! On Fox Business: Mornings with Maria, 6 a.m. ET: Guests include: Former President George W. Bush and former first lady Laura Bush; RNC Chair Ronna Romney McDaniel; Rep. Lee Zelden; former U.S. Sen. Jim DeMint; Andy Cunningham, former Apple executive; Art Laffer, former economic adviser under President Reagan. Cavuto: Coast to Coast, Noon ET: Sen. John Thune. The Intelligence Report, 2 p.m. ET: Los Alamitos, Calif., Mayor Troy Edgar; Retired Navy Capt. Chuck Nash; Ari Fleischer Countdown to the Closing Bell, 3 p.m. ET: U.S. Treasury Secretary Steven Mnuchin; Christine Lagarde, IMF managing director Lou Dobbs Tonight, 7 p.m. ET: Rep. Claudia Tenney. On Fox News Radio: The Fox News Rundown podcast: Barbara Bush, who died Tuesday at age 92, will be remembered as an advocate for literacy. Doug Wead, a presidential historian and former special assistant to President George H.W. Bush, reflects on the late first lady's legacy. International inspectors are in Syria investigating the possible chemical attack. FOX's Jennifer Griffin provides details from the Pentagon. Plus, commentary by Fox News medical correspondent Dr. Marc Siegel. Want the Fox News Rundown sent straight to your mobile device? Subscribe through Apple Podcasts, Google Play, and Stitcher. #OnThisDay 1995: A truck bomb destroys the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Okla., killing 168 people. (Bomber Timothy McVeigh, who prosecutors said planned the attack as revenge for the Waco, Texas, siege two years earlier, would be convicted of federal murder charges and executed in 2001.) 1993: The 51-day siege at the Branch Davidian compound near Waco, Texas, ends when a fire destroys the structure after federal agents begin smashing their way in; about 80 people, including two dozen children and sect leader David Koresh, are killed. 1775: The American Revolutionary War begins with the battles of Lexington and Concord. Fox News First is compiled by Fox News' Bryan Robinson. Thank you for joining us! Enjoy your day! We'll see you in your inbox first thing Friday morning. In a rare Title IX ruling, a federal judge blocked Ohio State University from expelling a female student accused of two separate instances of sexual misconduct -- fondling and kissing a drunk student and having nonconsensual group sex. U.S. District Judge Edmund Sargus, a Clinton appointee, ruled Tuesday that OSU violated Jane Roes constitutional right to cross-examine her accusers. The incidents occurred in 2016. The public university in Columbus, Ohio is one of the first schools to be on the losing end of a due-process challenge by an accused female student, The College Fix reported. OSU suspended Roe for two years as a result of the first incident of alleged sexual misconduct, and two months later, it changed the action to an expulsion for a second, independent charge. In court documents, Roe said because she was unable to cross-examine witnesses during the disciplinary hearings, OSU violated her Sixth Amendment right to due process. Sargus agreed with Roe and said cross-examination plays a central role as a truth-seeking device in our justice system. In the first case, Roe was accused of sexually touching her accuser at the movies. Both had been heavily intoxicated, according to the report, and eyewitnesses claimed the alleged victim said she was felt up by [Roe] while floating in and out of consciousness. Roe testified she did not remember kissing or touching her. OSUs hearing officer found Roes statements not plausible or credible but said the alleged victim and other witnesses presented a consistent and credible accountand together outweighed the contradictory information Sargus rejected OSUs claim that two absent witnesses were duplicative of in-person testimony by the accuser, who refused to answer questions at the hearing. In the second incident, two new accusers alleged, after drinks and dancing, they went to Roes house and had nonconsensual group sex, but Roe said she obtained consent from them for every sexual act she performed after they took her clothes off and that none them were substantially impaired. In statements made to the hearing officer, one of the accusers said she agreed to intercourse but was too drunk to consent, while the other was forced to perform oral sex on Roe while severely intoxicated. Unlike Roes first proceeding, the accusers did not attend or testify at the hearing, but a witness who wasnt present that night did. The result was the same the officers found the accusers had credible statements, whereas Roe did not. According to the universitys Title IX office, Roe shouldve noticed the alleged victims impaired state and obtained clear, knowing, and expressed consent before and during each sexual act. Sargus rejected Ohio States claims for a refusal to give Roe her right to cross-examine, adding if the school wants to discipline her, they need to start a new proceeding that includes her constitutional due process but are not obligated to let Roe back on campus. A Rhode Island woman accused of funneling lottery scam money between the U.S. and Jamaica through her airline job has lost her battle in federal court in North Dakota to have evidence suppressed. Melinda Bulgin argued that her rights to have an attorney present and to not incriminate herself were violated during questioning by authorities in both countries in 2015. But Judge Daniel Hovland said in an order Wednesday that it's doubtful Bulgin was confused about her rights. What's believed to be the first large-scale Jamaican lottery scam tried in U.S. courts began with an investigation in North Dakota in 2011. Authorities say at least 90 Americans lost a total of more than $5.7 million. Twenty-seven people were indicted. All but three have pleaded guilty or been convicted. Surfing legend Laird Hamilton helped rescue several people Monday, including a group of 15 girls, from the devastating floods that ravaged a Hawaiian island. Hamilton was credited with saving girls who were at a sleepover camp on Kauai hosted by professional surfer Lelia Hurst. She posted a photo on Instagram of Hamilton in the rescue boat with some of the girls, according to FOX5 San Diego. Thank you to the man @lairdhamiltonsurf you absolute animal! Saving 15 little GIRLS! Are you kidding me? Hurst wrote in her photo caption. Erin Gwilliam was on vacation when the floods trapped her, her husband and their three kids inside their rental home, according to CBS News. "He just said, 'You know what? As long as I can get people out, I'm going to get people out' because nobody else could," Gwilliam told CBS. "He just said, 'Pass the kids down, and pass the luggage down, and let's go.'" Hamilton, who lived nearby, said he was stunned by how much it rained. "It's hard to conceive that that much water could come from the sky. And I mean it was like an ocean back there," Hamilton said. At least 2 feet of rain was dumped on Hanalei on Kauais north shore during a 24-hour period over the weekend. The rain damaged homes, washed out foundations and left people stranded in a shelter that became surrounded by water. Kauai residents were bracing for another round of intense rain and the possibility of more flooding. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2018 8:56 pm Southwest Baptist University students in the Multi-Media for Non-Profit Organizations class recently received four awards, including two first-place honors, in the 2018 Missouri Broadcast Educators Association Media Contest. SBU competed against schools from across the state, including Missouri State University, Evangel University, Drury University, Central Methodist University, University of Central Missouri, Missouri Southern State University, Truman State University, Northwest Missouri State University, College of the Ozarks and Missouri Valley College. Audio and video projects are judged by professionals in the industry. In the video category, Sarah Fletcher and Kaylee Ricketts won first place in Video PSA for their Greater Polk County Farmers Market PSA. SBU swept the Audio PSA category with Madison Hall and Sierrah Ballard placing first with the Esquire Youth Radio PSA; Fletcher and Ricketts finishing second with the Greater Polk County Farmers Market Radio PSA; and Jessica Tankersley and Cheyanne Broyles taking honorable mention for their KLIFE Radio PSA. A Liberian warlord who allegedly murdered his enemies and had their hearts cooked and eaten was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison for lying about his murderous past while seeking asylum to the United States. Mohammed Jabbateh, 51 known as feared commander Jungle Jabbah received asylum to the U.S. in 1998. He settled into a life in East Lansdowne, Pennsylvania, where he started a business and a family, all the while lying about the atrocities he committed during Liberias multi-faction civil war that ravaged the West African nation between 1989 and 1997. He committed various acts of shocking brutality including rapes, sexual enslavement, slave labor, murder, mutilation and ritual cannibalism, the U.S. Attorneys Office said in a press release on Thursday. Jabbateh, who built an international shipping business and is the father of 13 children in the U.S. and Africa, was found guilty in October of two counts of fraud in immigration documents and two counts of perjury. He was the first person found guilty of crimes connected to the documented atrocities during the civil war. Prosecutors said Jabbateh was not truthful during his asylum application nor when seeking permanent legal residency about his membership in the group called the United Liberation Movement of Liberia for Democracy, and later ULIMO-K, rebel groups that battled for control of Liberia. During his trial last year, two dozen witnesses, including 17 Liberian victims, testified against Jabbateh. One said the former warlord sliced a baby from a pregnant womans stomach and strung her intestines up as rope. One woman testified that she had been captured and turned into a sex slave at 13 and was raped daily for weeks until she managed to escape. This defendant committed acts of such violence and depravity that they are almost beyond belief, U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said, according to the Philadelphia Inquirer. For his surviving victims and the family members of those he brutally murdered, we hope this sentence offers some measure of comfort. Perhaps the most gut-wrenching testimony came from the wife of a village chief who said Jabbateh, in 1994, ordered his soldiers to kill her husband -- whose heart was then boiled and eaten by his soldiers. U.S. District Judge Paul Diamond said Thursday those accusations factored into his decision to veer from the federal sentencing guidelines of 15 to 21 months for perjury and fraud. "I am departing not based on the horror of the atrocities the defendant committed abroad," he said, according to The Philadelphia Inquirer. "Rather, I am departing based on the egregiousness of his liesand their effect on our asylum laws and the immigration system." When Jabbateh had the opportunity to speak to the judge he said: "Your honor, sir, I have nothing to say." Jabbateh has acknowledged that he was called Jungle Jabbah and disclosed that he was assigned to a security detail for a rebel leader, but he maintained that he never committed the violent acts described. His attorney, Gregory Pagano, said during the trial that prosecutors were "hoodwinked" by "tall tales" that weren't backed up by forensic evidence. These are tall tales of enemies settling old scores not because they had personal experiences with him but because of what group hes identified with, Pagano said at the trial, according to a posting on his website. There is no greater motive than revenge. But the prosecution denied that. The case represented one of a handful of legal efforts to track down people accused of committing atrocities during the civil wars that began in 1989 and devastated Liberia through most of the 1990s and early 2000s, experts said. In 2008, the son of former Liberian President Charles Taylor was convicted in a federal court in Florida of torturing or ordering the torture of dozens of his father's political opponents. Charles McArthur Emmanuel, who is better known as Chuckie Taylor, was sentenced to 97 years in prison. He also was sued by five torture victims who were awarded $22.4 million in damages. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A man is accused of impersonating a soldier, fabricating a story about an engagement and stealing a $100,000 diamond from a store in Washington state, authorities said Wednesday. The suspect, identified as Arquae Daveon Kennedy, 26, was charged Monday with second-degree robbery and never served in the armed forces, the Seattle Times reported. Police in Bellevue, Wash., said Kennedy, dressed in a military uniform, went into Diamond Inc. on Feb. 22, claiming he recently became engaged to be married and wished to purchase a diamond ring for his fiancee before being deployed, Fox 13 Seattle reported. He said he was shopping for a 3- to 5-carat diamond wedding ring and was shown two rings, officials said. But then he asked to see a bigger diamond, for which the store owner showed him a loose stone in a small jar, the newspaper reported, citing the charges. As the owner explained the price for the stone, which was a 5.54 carat marquise diamond, the man grabbed the $100,000 crystal jewel, bolted out the door and made his way toward an SUV driven by a female alleged accomplice, police told the Times. Detectives said the store manager then chased after the suspect. The store manager grabbed onto the suspects uniform as he was getting into the getaway vehicle, detectives said. The manager was dragged down the street by the vehicle a short distance, and then the suspect punched the manager in the face, causing him to fall. The suspect fled the scene, and the manager suffered non-life-threatening injuries, which included a bloody nose, cut lip, scraped knuckles and knees, the Times reported. Crime scene investigators gathered fingerprints from the stores glass door, the report said. The Bellevue Police Crime Lab then found that the fingerprints matched those of 26-year-old man from Vancouver, Wash., who is not a member of the armed forces, Fox 13 reported. Charges said the store employee and the owners son independently identified Kennedy from a police photo montage, the Times reported. Bellevue police arrested Kennedy in Vancouver on Friday. He was booked into the Clark County Jail and transported to the King County Jail, where he is set for $150,000 bail, the report said. Kennedys alleged accomplice has not been identified, and police have reportedly not yet recovered the stolen diamond. A group of Massachusetts police officers who traveled to Cape Cod Tuesday to attend the wake of a cop killed in the line of duty are hailing an anonymous woman who picked up their dinner bill on the way home. The officers from Chelsea said the act of kindness happened at Mama Mias restaurant in Plymouth. When we went to pay the check we were presented with a bill marked PAID and a note saying Thanks, my brother is a detective in Miami, one of the officers, Paul John, posted on Facebook. What an amazing gesture of gratitude, respect and kindness, he added. I do not know who you are but I hope that someone shares this Post with you so that you know how important your kindness was to all of us. God Bless You. Thousands of police officers and other mourners attended the wake of Officer Sean Gannon, 32, on Tuesday at the St. Pius X Church in Yarmouth. Women, children, men and boys, every one of them was quiet, respectful. The first time I think I could I think hear a pin drop and you could hear it on Route 28, Yarmouth Police Chief Frank Frederickson told Fox 25 Boston. Gannon was shot last Thursday while he and other officers were serving an arrest warrant at a home in Barnstable. The suspect in the shooting, identified as Tom Latanowich, 29, of Somerville, Mass. -- who is described by police as a career criminal -- is being held without bail after pleading not guilty to murder. Gannon's Belgian malinois dog, Nero, also was shot but underwent surgery and is recovering. The officer, who was posthumously promoted to sergeant, leaves behind a wife, parents, a brother and a sister. The New Bedford native was a graduate of Bishop Stang High School in Dartmouth and Westfield State University. He had a master's degree from the Massachusetts Maritime Academy. At his funeral Wednesday, a line of blue created by uniformed officers marched from the local high school to the church before the service started. It was made up by representatives from departments across Massachusetts and New England, from New York City and Chicago, and from as far away as Texas and California. "We give him back to you without a murmur, but our hearts are wrung with sorrow," the Rev. Paul Caron said during a short service without a eulogy. "So now we come together and mourn his death, but we also give thanks that he lived, that we knew him on some level," Caron said. The Associated Press contributed to this report. At least one person was dead and three others were injured after a nearly 2,000-foot TV station tower collapsed in Missouri on Thursday. Fire and emergency crews raced to the scene of the morning collapse in Fordland. It was not immediately clear why the tower fell. The Webster County Sheriff's Office said it was investigating the incident for "any possible criminal activity." The Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District confirmed the fatality. Crews were working on the tower when it fell, KTTS reported. The workers were about 105 feet up at the time of the collapse. One of the workers became trapped under the tower and was killed while three others were injured. None of the injuries were said to be life-threatening, the Springfield News-Leader reported. "It's very lucky that we didn't have more fatalities out here," Logan-Rogersville Fire Protection District Assistant Chief Rob Talburt said. The tower, which was said to be 1,891 feet tall, lay crumpled on the ground, pictures of the scene showed. The tower was used by KSMU and Ozarks Public Television for broadcasting, the Springfield News-Leader reported. The structure is owned by Missouri State University. We were conducting some tower enforcement modifications to comply with some FCC changes to channels, Andrea Mostyn, a Missouri State University spokeswoman said. Lee Brown, a Webster County resident, said he heard the tower collapsed and described the sound like a "car crash magnified by 500." It was not immediately clear which company employed the workers. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A security forum for parents and students at a Florida school, planned in the wake of the Parkland school shooting, went off the rails Wednesday as audience members shouted each other down and complained about the district's enforcement of policies. The event, at Plantation High in Broward County, was called to assess the school districts response to the Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in which a former student killed 17 people. But things quickly became unruly as audience members shouted over each other and the event dragged an hour longer than originally planned, South Floridas Sun-Sentimental reported. Many in the audience were displeased with what they regarded as the school districts ineffective policies. In particular, Stoneman Douglas policy of having students wear clear backpacks was the subject of criticism. Parents say students have been able to circumvent the policy by putting non-clear bags inside the backpacks. Why do we have clear backpacks if they arent being enforced? asked one senior. Some parents invoked the memory of 1999s Columbine High School shooting in Colorado that left 13 people dead, arguing that school administrators failed to learn the lessons. Many suggested that Browards school board members need to be replaced and that disciplinary measures for students are too lenient. Superintendent Robert Runcie pleaded with students and parents alike for patients. The grief, the recovery, the anger its going to be a journey were going to go through and its not going to happen overnight. I ask for your patience, your collaboration, your input and your grace as we go through this process. A couple arrested in central California in the torture and killing of a 70-year-old Vietnam War veteran made their children watch as they burned the man's body, authorities said. Stacie Mendoza and Jose Mendoza tortured Kenneth Coyle on April 5 to get him to reveal his bank account details and passwords. After torturing him, the Mendozas allegedly beat and suffocated him to death in his house in the small city of Hanford, said Police Capt. Karl Anderson. A few days later the couple and their three children drove the body to nearby Madera County, where they burned it while their children watched, the San Francisco Chronicle reported Wednesday. "We know the children were taken to where the body was burned and watched the body burn," Anderson said. Anderson said Coyle, a retired contractor for Naval Air Station Lemoore, first met Stacie Mendoza at a Hanford restaurant where she worked as a waitress. As their relationship developed, she started getting access to his bank account and getting money from him, authorities said. The couple then went to his house and tortured him to get more money out of him. "They restrained him on a bed and beat him to get access to his bank account information, passwords and other account information," Anderson said. Coyle died of "blunt force trauma and suffocation," he said. After getting rid of Coyle's body, the Mendozas returned to his house last week to steal more things and were spotted by property managers, who called police. Officers tracked Coyle's cellphone to the couple's home in Fresno. Police later arrested them at a restaurant near Los Angeles International Airport. Jose Mendoza had Coyle's credit card and a plane ticket to his native El Salvador when he was arrested, officials said. The Mendozas are being held without bail. Their children are in the custody of Child Protective Services. ___ Information from: San Francisco Chronicle, http://www.sfgate.com A Texas prosecutor says an imprisoned former nurse who authorities believe could be responsible for the deaths of up to 60 children has confessed in the past to killing children in her care. Bexar (bayr) County prosecutor Jason Goss revealed the confessions Wednesday during a court hearing for 67-year-old Genene Jones. Goss says Jones told a parole board in 1998 that she injected children. He says Jones in another instance told a board member that, "I really did kill those babies." Jones has served decades in prison following her murder conviction in 1984. She was scheduled to be released last month, but prosecutors filed additional murder charges, citing new evidence. She has pleaded not guilty to those charges. Her attorney, Cornelius Cox, wasn't immediately available Thursday to comment on Goss' claims. The Southwest Airlines pilot hailed as a hero for her efforts to land a damaged aircraft after a deadly engine explosion texted a brief, but powerful message to a friend upon touching down: "God is good." Veteran Navy combat aviator Linda Maloney told the Dallas Morning News when she heard her friend Tammie Jo Shults was behind the controls she texted her News travels fast. Praying for you. Shults replied: "Thanks. God is good." Maloney told the newspaper she met Shults at a Navy training event and kept in touch even as they were based on opposite coasts in Florida and California. Shults was commissioned into the Navy in 1985 and reached the rank of lieutenant commander, according to Commander Ron Flanders, the spokesman for Naval Air Forces in San Diego. We became fast friends, she said. We had a small group of girlfriends who were all aviators. When theres very few women, you tend to form strong relationships. Shults, 56, was featured in Maloney's book "Military Fly Moms" along with the stories and photos of 69 other women U.S. military veterans, and even sang at Maloneys wedding. Maloney told the Dallas Morning News she hopes her friend's heroic act will inspire other young people, especially women, to consider aviation careers. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT HEROES DESPERATELY TRIED TO SAVE MOM In a statement late Wednesday, Shults and the other pilot on board, First Officer Darren Ellisor, said they felt like they were simply doing their jobs. "On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss," the two pilots said in the statement, adding that their "hearts are heavy." Shults and Ellisor said they won't be partaking in any interviews, and "ask that the public and the media respect our focus." HERO SOUTHWEST PILOT SPEAKS OUT: 'WE WERE SIMPLY DOING OUR JOBS' Passengers said Shults walked through the aisle and talked with them to make sure they were OK after the plane touched down. I specifically said to her, Do I get a hug too? Benjamin Goldstein told the Dallas Morning News. She said, Of course. I wouldn't let you by without a hug." National Transportation Safety Board Chairman Robert Sumwalt told reporters at a news conference Wednesday that the jet's pilots "seemed very calm and assured of what they were doing," and said Shults and Ellisor "behaved in a manner that their training would prepare them for." "My hat is off to them," Sumwalt said. Fox News' Nicole Darrah and The Associated Press contributed to this report. A fan blade snapped on a Southwest Airlines plane, forcing an emergency landing -- in 2016. The two-year-old incident was revealed following Tuesday's deadly incident that killed a mother of two aboard a Southwest flight. In both incidents, there were signs of metal fatigue at the location where the 24 titanium alloy fan blade detached. On Tuesday, the Dallas-bound Southwest flight 1380 was 32,500 feet over Pennsylvania when the planes engine fan blade broke off, causing debris to fly off. Shrapnel shattered a window, causing passenger Jennifer Riordan to be partially sucked out of the aircraft, ultimately killing her. The plane made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Investigators found the blade that detached showed signs of "metal fatigue" microscopic cracks that can splinter open under the kind of stress placed on jetliners and their engines. SOUTHWEST AIRLINES FLIGHT HEROES DESPERATELY TRIED TO SAVE MOM The description of Tuesday's tragedy eerily mirrored a similar incident that occurred on Southwest Airlines flight 3472 on Aug. 27, 2016. In that incident, the Boeing 737-700 from New Orleans was heading to Orlando, Fla. when the fan blade separated from the fan disk, according to a 2016 National Transportation Safety Board news release. The plane made an emergency landing in Pensacola, Fla. and no passengers were injured. The fracture surface of the missing blade showed curving crack arrest lines consistent with fatigue crack growth. The fatigue crack region was 1.14-inches long and 0.217-inch deep, initial findings revealed in 2016. The center of the fatigue origin area was about 2.1 inches aft of the forward face of the blade root. The left engine inlet separated from the engine during the flight. A hole was found in the left fuselage just above the left wing, the news release said. "Engine failures like this should not occur," NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said about Tuesday's incident. That led manufacturer CFM International, a joint venture of General Electric Co. and France's Safran SA, to recommend last June that airlines conduct the inspections of fan blades on many Boeing 737s. HERO SOUTHWEST PILOT SPEAKS OUT: 'WE WERE SIMPLY DOING OUR JOBS' The FAA proposed making the recommendation mandatory in August but never issued a final decision. The Federal Aviation Administration announced inspections have been ordered on engine fan blades after Tuesdays deadly accident. It added that ultrasonic inspections would be conducted on fan blades on some CFM56-7B engines after they reach a certain number of takeoffs and landings. Blades that fail inspection would need to be replaced. It was not immediately clear how many planes would be affected. Last year, the FAA estimated that an order would cover 220 engines on U.S. airlines. That number could be higher now because more engines have hit the number of flights triggering an inspection. The Associated Press contributed to this report. A New Jersey State Police trooper accused of repeatedly pulling over women to ask them out on dates has been indicted. The state attorney general's office announced Thursday that 32-year-old Eric Richardson faces charges including official misconduct, criminal coercion and tampering with records. Prosecutors allege Richardson pulled over female drivers and threatened to arrest them unless they handed over their phone numbers. They allege in one case he pulled a woman over three times, the last time to ask her if she'd been getting his texts. They say he logged that stop as "aiding a motorist." Among other things, he's accused of turning off his patrol car's dashboard camera is some of the stops. Richardson was suspended from his trooper's position after being charged in May 2017. His lawyer Andaiye Al-Uqdah says she can't comment. President Donald Trump has endorsed Marsha Blackburn in the Republican primary for a U.S. Senate seat from Tennessee. Trump tweeted Thursday that the sitting congresswoman is a "wonderful woman who has always been there when we have needed her." Trump added that she's great on his key issues of the military, border security and crime and works hard for the people of Tennessee. Trump said, "I will be there to campaign with her!" He did not announce any dates. Blackburn initially faced a challenge from former Republican U.S. Rep. Stephen Fincher in the August GOP primary, but he left the race earlier this year. Blackburn currently faces token GOP opposition. The seat became open when incumbent Sen. Bob Corker, a Trump critic, announced his retirement. Former Tennessee Gov. Phil Bredesen is the Democratic candidate. Republicans hold a slim 51-49 advantage in the U.S. Senate. ___ This story has been corrected to reflect that Fincher has dropped out of the Senate race in Tennessee. Two sheriffs deputies were shot and killed Thursday in a restaurant in Trenton, Florida, in what appeared to be an ambush, officials said. The shooting occurred at 3 p.m. at the Ace China restaurant when a man walked past a window and shot both through the glass, the Alachua County Sheriff's Office said in a statement made on behalf of the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office. "As fellow deputies responded to the scene, they found the shooter deceased outside the business," the statement read. Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz said Thursday night it was unclear if the gunman had killed himself. A motive for the shooting wasn't immediately revealed. The deceased deputies were identified as Sgt. Noel Ramirez, 30, and Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey, 25. The gunman was John Hubert Highnote, 59. Ramirez and Lindsay "were the best of the best," Schultz said. "They don't need to be remembered strictly for their untimely death but they need to be remembered for the type of people that they are," he added. "And that's good individuals, good deputy sheriffs." Schultz said he knew both men personally and said he "loved them." The department will grieve and be upset, Schultz said, but the department will "honor these men by doing our jobs. We will honor them by doing what we're supposed to do." Trenton is about two hours southwest of Jacksonville. Florida Attorney General Pam Bondi issued a statement saying, My heart breaks with the tragic news of two Gilchrist County deputies that were senselessly killed today while in the line of duty. The daily risk that law enforcement officers take to protect our communities is overwhelming, Bondis statement continued. My deepest condolences and prayers are with their families as they mourn the devastating loss of their loved ones. May their families, friends and fellow officers find peace and comfort during this very difficult time. The Gilchrist County Sheriffs Office tweeted it had suffered a terrible tragedy. The office said there were no suspects at large and asked the public to stay away from the area. Gov. Rick Scott in a statement said he and his wife "are heartbroken by the loss of the two law enforcement officers in Trenton." "It is a true evil for anyone to hurt a law enforcement officer, and in Florida, we have zero tolerance for violence, especially against police," he continued. "Tonight, I ask every Floridian to honor these law enforcement officers, their brothers and sisters in uniform and their families. May God bless those who work to keep our communities safe." President Trump offered his condolences to "the families, friends and colleagues of the two @GCSOFlorida deputies (HEROES) who lost their lives in the line of duty today." Fox News' Edmund DeMarche contributed to this report. A video shows a behind-the-scenes look in the control room of a 7,000 ton nuclear-powered attack submarine as it breaks through a thick layer of polar ice in the Beaufort Sea, Popular Mechanics reported Tuesday. The USS Hartford surfaced north of the Canadian mainland to participate in the U.S. Militarys ICEX 2018, a biennal ice exercise designed to maintain artic navigation and survival skills among U.S. forces, the report said. A graphic also shows the submarines angle of descent. From a military, geographic, and scientific perspective, the Arctic Ocean is truly unique, and remains one of the most challenging ocean environments on earth, Navy Rear Admiral James Pitts, commander of the Undersea Warfighting Development Center, said on the Department of Defense's website. Along with the USS Hartford, the USS Connecticut also surfaced in the Arctic Circle north of Alaska during the multinational maritime Ice Exercise on March 10, the Defense Department reported. It is reportedly a hazardous mission for submarines to travel under ice, only smashing through it when they need to surface. The submarine must navigate around constantly shifting underwater ice formations, the report said. But a well-trained crew can make it happen. Popular Mechanics compared the USS Hartford breeaking through several feet of ice to a hot knife cutting though butter. U.S. nuclear submarines have been transiting through polar waters for sixty years, the report said. In August 1958, the first nuclear-powered sub passed under the North Pole. The U.N. Security Council is heading to a remote Swedish estate this weekend for its annual retreat with the secretary-general after one of its most contentious weeks in years that saw ambassadors accusing each other of lying about a suspected chemical attack in Syria. Sweden is serving a two-year term on the council and is hosting the retreat. Its deputy U.N. ambassador told reporters Wednesday that the meeting comes "at a critical time for the United Nations" and "a very difficult moment for the life of the Security Council." Carl Skau expresses hope the meeting will enable the 15 council ambassadors to put aside their differences. It is being held at the newly renovated private estate of former Secretary-General Dag Hammarskjold, a Swede killed in a mysterious 1961 plane crash. Could not establish database connection. DB: bostonimc and SQL: --> The administrator has been notified and will resolve the problem ASAP. A regional public broadcaster says the Basque militant group ETA is ready to announce its final dissolution early next month, putting an end to decades of violent campaign for independence from Spain. ETA killed more than 800 people including police, politicians and entrepreneurs before giving up its armed campaign for Basque independence in 2011 and getting rid of its arsenal one year ago. Both France and Spain, where the group committed most of its deadly actions over more than 40 years, have demanded it take a further step and disband. The Basque regional broadcaster ETB reported late on Wednesday that ETA will announce that step on the first weekend of May. ETB said that an event to mark the end of ETA will be held in southern France before the final announcement by the group. The European Union foreign policy chief has praised Montenegro's role in the volatile Balkans region, where Russia is also vying for influence. Federica Mogherini said Thursday that Montenegro has played an "excellent" role in encouraging other Balkan countries on the EU path. She also says Montenegro's foreign policy is fully in line with the EU. Montenegro, along with neighboring Serbia, has been tipped as the next in line to join the EU, after becoming a member of NATO last year despite strong opposition from Moscow. Mogherini says Montenegro must work to improve the rule of law and media freedom. Mogherini is the first foreign official to meet Montenegro's President Milo Djukanovic since he swept the election last weekend. She previously visited Albania and Macedonia, and travels to Serbia next. Iran's defense minister has visited a joint intelligence center in the Iraqi capital operated by Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia. Iran's official IRNA news agency says Brig. Gen. Amir Hatami met with Iraq's interior minister and other officials, and praised their victory over the Islamic State group. Gen. Saad al-Alak, head of Iraq's military intelligence, who met with Hatami, called the four-nation alliance "a distinguished example for international relations, especially in the field of military and security cooperation." Iran has maintained close ties to the Iraqi government since the 2003 U.S.-led invasion. It sponsors a number of state-sanctioned militias, which helped Iraqi forces in the fight against IS. Iran, along with Russia, is a close ally of Syrian President Bashar Assad. ISIS released a new propaganda photo Wednesday depicting President Trump as a prisoner, while threatening more attacks on the West. The photo is similar to one released in December, which depicted Trump and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as prisoners of ISIS, warning the terror group will enact the scene "soon in your country," according to SITE intel group. In another photo, the terror group warns "we swear to break your necks and shed your blood," adding that "the coming will be the most terrible and bitter." Another image shows Trump being held at gunpoint, as the skyline of what appears to be Seattle burns in the background. The terror group also warned of ISIS-style executions to come in the West, posting a video of a man shooting at a pickup truck. US DROPS MORE BOMBS IN AFGHANISTAN AS WAR AGAINST ISIS WINDS DOWN The rhetoric from the terror group comes as the White House said this week that Trumps still wants U.S. troops to exit Syria as soon as possible. White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said in a statement Sunday night: "The U.S. mission has not changed the President has been clear that he wants U.S. forces to come home as quickly as possible." Sanders added that the U.S. still wants to "crush ISIS" and expects regional allies to help secure the region. The Associated Press contributed to this report. Nepal's government has honored two climbers who were the first to scale Mount Everest without supplementary oxygen 40 years ago. Minister for Tourism Rabindra Adhikari praised the climbers at a ceremony Thursday in the capital, Kathmandu. Italian Reinhold Messner and Austrian Peter Habeler reached the summit without the use of supplementary oxygen, while others on their team used bottled oxygen. Until then, all climbers carried oxygen cylinders to aid them at high altitudes where oxygen levels are low. Since Everest was first scaled in 1953, thousands of climbers have reached the summit and hundreds more make an attempt every year. This year nearly 350 foreign climbers have already been issued climbing permits. Most climbers continue to use supplementary oxygen. The State Department announced Thursday that it has credible information that Russian officials are working with the Syrian government to delay a U.S. investigation into chemical attack sites in order to sanitize and remove incriminating evidence. Spokeswoman Heather Nauert confirmed that officials from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) have yet to be allowed into Douma to inspect the area where they say a poison gas attack hit on April 7. We can confirm that the OPCW team has still not been able to enter Douma in Syria. It is now 12 days since the attack took place on men, women and children and those innocent civilians in Syria. She also said that evidence is pointing towards Russia and Syria for the delay, adding that they may be trying to conduct a staged investigation. We have credible information that indicates that Russian officials are working with the Syrian regime to deny and to delay these inspectors from gaining access to Douma, Nauert said. Russian officials have worked with the Syrian regime, we believe, to sanitize the location of those suspected attacks and remove incriminating evidence of chemical weapons used. The State Department also confirmed that individuals have been pressured by the two governments to change their stories so that it doesnt appear that Russia and Syria are responsible for those attacks. The longer that those sites are not able to be investigated by the OPCW fact finding mission experts, the more that the evidence can certainly deteriorate and thats a great concern to us. We also believe that it gives them additional time to try and clean up and sanitize those sites. The State Department could not say if those attempts to sanitize were successful, but it did say that there is a chance that the investigation could be compromised by the time officials get to those sites. U.S. and French authorities say that the poison gas attack, which killed at least 40 people and injured more than 500, was the work of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. In response to the attack, President Trump, along with the U.K. and France, launched a series of military strikes that successfully targeted three locations that made up the heart of Assads weapons program. Syrian and Russian officials have denied any such attacks and have even claimed that evidence of a chemical weapons attack was fabricated by the West. We certainly know that Syria is responsible for those attacks, Nauret said. Fox News Nicole Darrah contributed to this report. Anti-ISIS forces in Syria have detained a Syrian-born German man suspected of recruiting some of the 9/11 hijackers to Al Qaeda, the Pentagon said Thursday. Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF) captured the detainee, identified as Mohammed Haydar Zammar, more than a month ago, Pentagon spokesman Eric Pahon said. Zammar, who is his mid-fifties, was apprehended in northern Syria and was being interrogated, a senior Kurdish commander told Agence France-Presse on Wednesday. Zammar's fate remained unclear. The SDF is a predominantly Kurdish network of fighters. The jihadist is known for allegedly helping plan the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks in the U.S., including recruiting some of the hijackers to the terror group. As the Pentagon noted, the official 9/11 Commission Report described him as an "outspoken, flamboyant Islamist" who extolled "the virtues of violent jihad." Zammar fled Germany after the attacks and relocated to Morocco, where he soon was arrested in an operation involving CIA agents. He later was handed to Syrian authorities who, in 2007, sentenced him to 12 years in prison for being a member of the Muslim Brotherhood, according to German state broadcaster Deutsche Welle. He was released from prison after the Syrian civil war broke out in the region and most hardline jihadists and Islamists were released. Zammar, among many others, was believed to have joined the Islamic State terror group. The Kurdish official didnt say if Zammar has been actively engaged in fighting for the terror group in Syria. Fox News' Jennifer Griffin contributed to this report. Imitation may indeed be the highest form of flattery, but one Syrian-Kurdish father here has taken that concept to a whole new level. My son is 'Trump,' Rezgar Ramadan, 40, a pharmacy drug representative, proudly told Fox News this week. He likes his name so much, everywhere we go people always ask us, How is little Trump? Ramadan said he thought of renaming the boy, originally named Mustafa, back in 2016, after Donald Trump won the presidential election. Part of Ramadan's reasoning was easy to understand, he said: He thought the fair-headed, cheeky-smiling boy bore a strong resemblance to pictures of a very young Trump. The day Mr. Trump won the elections, I went to the pharmacy and people there had found a photo of him from when he was a little boy, and kept saying how similar his looks were to my son, Ramadan recalled. So I went home and discussed with wife about renaming, and she was fully supportive. The boy has become a celebrity of sorts in the village of Kobane, in the nation's north, his dad said. "Everyone knows him now. I am teaching him about America. He is already so smart, and wants to lead his brother and sister. At work with his father, young Trump shyly said he was learning English, and he embraced being named after our president. He said: People know I have a strange name at school. They like it. Ramadan said Trump started school this year at the age of 5 -- two years earlier than most of his classmates -- after a local teacher convinced an administrator to let the bright boy in early. Meanwhile, Ramadan and his wife, Newroz, are in the process of making the name switch official in the Rojava region record-keeping system. The couple are also parents to 8-year-old twins Muhammed and Rula, and are planning to expand their family in the very near future. The names are already picked out. If it's a boy, it will be 'Rex Tillerson,' Ramadan declared. And if it a girl, she will be 'Nikki Haley.' I like Rex Tillerson because I like his character, Ramadan said, unfazed by the fact that Tillerson had recently lost his job as U.S. secretary of state. And Nikki Haley fights a lot for the human rights, and speaking out against Russia, who have been committing a lot of crimes here in Syria. Naming children after foreign leaders is no longer so unusual in parts of the Middle East. Some supporters of the Syrian regime have named their babies Putin, in honor of the Russian president. And "Bush" became a popular name after the 2003 toppling of Saddam Hussein in Iraq under the administration of George W. Bush. Ramadan insisted he hasnt received any backlash over his decision to name his son after the U.S. president. But he does fear what could come if American forces exit the region, as Trump himself suggested before the recent airstrikes. Once under the control of the Islamic State -- with some areas still razed in a bitter battle to take back what was lost -- Kobane is still struggling to rebuild. Without peace," Ramadan said, "I dont know if good things are possible for ordinary people like us. Syrian state media say hundreds of rebels fighters in a town northeast of Damascus have handed in their weapons and started to leave under an evacuation deal. Under the agreement, the rebels are allowed to move with their families to opposition-held areas in the country's north, effectively surrendering their turf to Syrian government forces. The state SANA news agency says the Army of Islam fighters and their families are leaving the town of Dumayr on Thursday. The report says 1,500 rebels and 3,500 of their next of kin are to leave Dumayr for the town of Jarablus, near the Turkish border. Dumayr is in the Qalamoun mountains, near the eastern Ghouta region which came under full government control last week after a weeks-long offensive and an alleged chemical weapons attack. Free Freightnet Membership List your company in the Freightnet directory. It's Free, it's Easy and your company can be displayed in front of potential freight buyers within 24 hours. Posted 4/18/18 Approximately 30 people showed up at Urbana City Hall on Wednesday, April 11, to complain about, or defend, Police Chief Jeremy Gann. He has been accused, by some, of inappropriate behavior or Posted 4/19/18 A couple of unusual events took place last week that caused a big stir around these parts. One is that Terry Lane, Dallas County emergency management director, accidentally sent out a freeze alert at Gravity, Gleam and Dunston are among the top varieties cereal growers should be considering for second wheat drilling this autumn, according to an arable expert. A number of arable growers across the UK choose to grow a second successive wheat crop, as the crop generally has a higher yield potential and disease resistance than any other cereal crop. Last harvest, however, second wheats performed poorly and delivered disappointing results, which could mean some growers will be re-evaluating their variety choices and looking at other options. See also: Switching barley varieties leads to better profits in Norfolk Clare Leaman, cereal variety specialist at crop consultant Niab, said that despite limited data regarding second wheats, Gravity, Gleam and Dunston were the varieties most likely to be the top performers. Unfortunately, there is much less data available for second wheats, but we believe these three varieties will perform well, she said. The Recommended List is hugely beneficial in helping identify the characteristics of each variety. Having said that, there can sometimes be a big variation between the information from the list and the true reflection of on-farm performance. Pull of Gravity Gravity is a relatively new variety, so the experience of growing it and subsequent data is restricted. However, early signs show that it is yielding well and has decent disease resistance. Mrs Leaman highlighted that as a second wheat, it had been performing well in trials, had impressive yield statistics and showed reasonably good disease resistance. One of Gravitys drawbacks is its low rating of 4 for eyespot, a common disease among intensive cereal rotations, although figures across the board are relatively low. Gleam is another recently established variety, which again has performed well, but with limited data available. Among its extensive attractive traits are high yield, strong disease resistance and good straw strength, with early indications suggesting it is a consistent performer. Dunston was the third variety identified by Mrs Leaman as a second wheat. A more recognised option for growers, Dunston may not be as high-yielding as Gravity or Gleam, but has one of the highest resistances of all feed wheats to both eyespot and septoria. Furthermore, with a figure of 77.2kg/hl, Dunston has a decent specific weight for a hard feed wheat. Clare Leamans top tips for choosing varieties: Look at what has performed well in the past. If its working, why change it? On the other hand, its important to look forward and to trial and error If changing to a new variety, dont put it all in. Maybe just a field or two Pick first wheat varieties which mitigate second wheat problems and offset risks Most varieties dont differ much in terms of their performance as first or second wheat, she said. Dunston, however, is an exception. As a first, its ranking is well down the list, but as a second, its within the top 10. As well as these three main varieties, Kerrin and Shabras are identified as varieties that growers should consider. Disease resistance Mrs Leaman explained that growers now look at disease resistance as a priority when making a choice on wheat varieties. Disease resistance has come up the agenda massively when choosing varieties. Priorities have noticeably shifted, as it was yields which used to be very important, she said. Another factor identified by Mrs Leaman is consistency of performance. Consistency is key. If farmers can put a variety in their budget sheet, knowing what they think it will yield, and it does, thats going to go down well. In some cases, farmers will now accept a slightly lower yield in exchange for consistency and no surprise results, she said. Galveston, TX (77553) Today Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 77F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%.. Tonight Cloudy this evening with showers after midnight. Low 77F. Winds SE at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 40%. Not all who wander are lost If youre a fan of the Lord of the Rings trilogy (like I am), then youre probably familiar with one... Remember When How America was settled is a passion of mine, since part of my family got here in the 1600s from... Implications of population decline The recent U.S. 2020 Census Count revealed that Flint and Genesee County experienced a decline in population over the past... In Southern California, the largest protest is in Los Angeles, a gathering that has typically drawn thousands of people. But demonstrations are planned throughout the region, from Orange County to the Inland Empire, from Redondo Beach to the San Gabriel Valley. Unusual flavors : Trendy ice cream flavors in Bonn and the region BONN/REGION It doesnt always have to be chocolate, vanilla or strawberry. New varieties of ice cream are also very popular in Bonn and the region. Which ones are the most unusual? Teilen Teilen Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Tweeten Tweeten Weiterleiten Weiterleiten Drucken As soon as the sun starts shining, long lines begin to form at ice cream parlors in the region. Classic flavors such as chocolate, vanilla and strawberry have been working extremely well for decades. But what novelties will inspire ice cream fans in Bonn and the region this year? At the ice cream parlor Granatella in Poppelsdorf, flavors such as yogurt mandarin and cassis have recently been added to the selection. Both are selling well, according to Fabio Granatella, the owners son. Visitors in Poppelsdorf are also open to creative varieties like Nutella or Limoncello. Although the classic ice creams are selling well, the demand for fruity ice creams, like banana ice cream is somewhat in decline. A similar development has been observed by Francesco Sabatella from the Sabatella ice cream parlor in Sankt Augustin. Guests are becoming more curious, says the son of the owner. Although classics such as nutty or vanilla ice cream remained popular, the general public was interested in creative ice cream flavors. New flavors at Sabatella include cheesecake, Rocher and dark chocolate. Black licorice and dragons blood ice cream Self-invented creations such as black licorice, cookies and salted caramel sell well in the ice cream parlor "Ghirardi" in Mehlem. The owners Valerio and Lydia Ghirardi also have created their own ice cream for children, which is called seahorses. "The exact recipe is secret," explains Lydia Ghirardi, laughing. She will only reveal that it tastes like mango. Ice cream flavor Drachenblut (dragons blood) at Bruno ice cream shop in Konigswinter is also made from a secret recipe. Owner Francesca Napol merely indicates that the ice cream consists of amaretto biscuits and brittle. "Once they have tasted it, our guests want this flavor again and again," says the Italian. The same applies to the in-house ice cream called Cassata Siciliana, which is modeled after a Sicilian cake of the same name and tastes of pistachio and roasted almonds. Vegan ice cream is trendy Unique varieties seem to be particularly popular this year. Katja Volkner, owner of the Eis-Atelier in Bad Honnef can confirm this. Some of the best sold flavors in their shop are lime meringue, sesame and one called Funky, made from malty chocolate. She also offers a vegan cappuccino sorbet. What they dont offer is flavors with artificial coloring. Thats why she doesnt think very much of the latest trend of black ice cream, whose dark color is often only possible with the help of activated charcoal. It quickly becomes clear that the variety of flavors in Bonn and the region is as diverse as the taste of the audience. Interest in unusual ice creams is high. So who knows what will happen in the next few years? The ice cream shops in the surrounding area are certainly open to creative suggestions. Orig. text: Judith Nikula Southern Lit Alliance is welcoming New York Times bestselling author Karen White to speak at the FocusLit fundraiser on Thursday, June 24, at 5:30 p.m. The event will take at the Peyton venue on Broad Street. Ms. White will be reading from her new novel, Dreams of Falling, to be released on June 5. In addition to the discussion and book signing, event guests will enjoy special low country hors d'oeuvres and treats by Events for Taste, wine and Ms. Whites own special drink she calls the Queen Bee. Tickets for the event are $60 per person. VIP tickets are $125 and include an intimate dinner with Ms. White after the main event. FocusLit is presented by First Tennessee Bank. After playing hooky one day in the seventh grade to read Gone With the Wind, Ms. White knew she wanted to be a writeror become Scarlett O'Hara. In spite of these aspirations, Ms. White pursued a degree in business and graduated cum laude with a BS in Management from Tulane University. Ten years later, after leaving the business world, she fulfilled her dream of becoming a writer and wrote her first book. In the Shadow of the Moon was published in August, 2000. Ms. White has been nominated for numerous national contests including the SIBA (Southeastern Booksellers Alliance) Fiction Book of the Year, and has twice won the National Readers Choice Award. Many of her 24 novels have appeared on various bestseller lists; the most recent The Guests on South Battery and The Night the Lights Went Out were New York Times bestsellers in 2017, along with receiving top rankings on the New York Times ebook list, Bookscan, and USA Today. Tinged with Southern Gothic, her new book Dreams of Falling is "an emotionally fraught story surrounding friends, mothers and daughters, and the dark mysteries of the past waiting to be uncovered." Ms. White hails from a long line of Southerners but spent most of her growing up years in London, England and is a graduate of the American School in London. When not writing, she spends her time reading, scrapbooking, playing piano, and avoiding cooking. She currently lives near Atlanta with her husband and two children, and two spoiled Havanese dogs. Southern Lit Alliance is a longstanding literary arts organization in Chattanooga, founded in 1952. The mission is to deliver literary arts experiences that encourage people to read and write. The organization engages audiences through innovative literary arts experiences and educational enrichment in local schools and underserved communities in Chattanooga. For more information about Southern Lit Alliance and FocusLit, please visit www.southernlitalliance.org or call 777-4221. Southern Lit Alliance is funded by a grant from the Tennessee Arts Commission. felicilin at 19-04-2018 03:29 PM (3 years ago) (f) A mother of two, Amina has recounted her horrific ordeal after falling into the hands of Libyan traffickers. After more than a year of relentless beatings and electric shocks, she is now broken and unable to walk.When I arrived in Libya, I was walking, nobody had to help me but look at me now, she says, holding up her badly broken arms in despair, her legs paralyzed The 42-year-old woman from Somali is among thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from across Africa who set out on desperate journeys in search of safety, who all too often end up the captives of ruthless human traffickers in Libya. A mother of two, Amina has recounted her horrific ordeal after falling into the hands of Libyan traffickers. After more than a year of relentless beatings and electric shocks, she is now broken and unable to walk.she says, holding up her badly broken arms in despair, her legs paralyzedThe 42-year-old woman from Somali is among thousands of refugees and asylum seekers from across Africa who set out on desperate journeys in search of safety, who all too often end up the captives of ruthless human traffickers in Libya. Held for ransom for months in dire conditions, many are subjected to abuse and torture that marks them for life. She was given electric shocks and beaten, she says. They always tied my hands behind my back, and afterwards, they would leave me outside, tied up in the cold. Her ordeal began in 2015 when her home in the capital, Mogadishu, was destroyed by a bomb that killed her husband and brother. Without access to education and with limited resources, her sons Ahmed and Mohamed, aged 13 and 14 at the time, were in danger of forced recruitment by the armed group Al-Shabab, like so many boys their age. With few options, the brothers set out in secret with a female cousin in 2016 on a quest for safety that would take them to Yemen, Sudan and then Libya. Once Amina learned they had left, she set out for war-ravaged Yemen to try to find the boys. She eventually caught up with them five months later in Sudan, but little did they know what lay ahead of them in Libya. After initially negotiating with traffickers, they set off north over the Sahara, with little or no water or food for days, in unyielding heat. Amina grew weak and the traffickers wanted to abandon her in the desert but her sons refused to leave her. When they reached the western Libyan city of Bani Walid, the real horror began. The traffickers demanded US$10,000 for each of the four family members. Amina did not have the means to pay, or family to ask for help. They tortured me so badly. I begged them not to torture my family, says Amina, who volunteered to take all the abuse to spare her sons and niece. After seven months her body began to shut down from the abuse. She could no longer stand and her hands did not function. So the smugglers began torturing the children. After 15 months in captivity, Amina was on the brink of death. The smugglers did not want to deal with a corpse and realized that they would not get the money they demanded, so they finally let them go. He knew I would die, and he didnt want that, so he finally let us go, recalls Amina. Another niece was also held captive in the same location, so the whole family left together. All five were transported to the coast as part of a larger group. They were among the lucky ones. They were herded on to an inflatable boat bound for Europe. They knew it was overloaded, with more than 100 people, but were powerless and unable to get away. Panic hit several hours later, when the boat began to sink. However a Libyan Coast Guard vessel brought them back to the coast. At the harbour, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was waiting for them. Amina was in a critical state and was rushed to hospital. Authorities took the boys and their cousins to a detention centre, where UNHCR informed them they would be flown to Niger. Held for ransom for months in dire conditions, many are subjected to abuse and torture that marks them for life.She was given electric shocks and beaten, she says.Her ordeal began in 2015 when her home in the capital, Mogadishu, was destroyed by a bomb that killed her husband and brother.Without access to education and with limited resources, her sons Ahmed and Mohamed, aged 13 and 14 at the time, were in danger of forced recruitment by the armed group Al-Shabab, like so many boys their age.With few options, the brothers set out in secret with a female cousin in 2016 on a quest for safety that would take them to Yemen, Sudan and then Libya.Once Amina learned they had left, she set out for war-ravaged Yemen to try to find the boys. She eventually caught up with them five months later in Sudan, but little did they know what lay ahead of them in Libya.After initially negotiating with traffickers, they set off north over the Sahara, with little or no water or food for days, in unyielding heat. Amina grew weak and the traffickers wanted to abandon her in the desert but her sons refused to leave her.When they reached the western Libyan city of Bani Walid, the real horror began. The traffickers demanded US$10,000 for each of the four family members. Amina did not have the means to pay, or family to ask for help.says Amina, who volunteered to take all the abuse to spare her sons and niece.After seven months her body began to shut down from the abuse. She could no longer stand and her hands did not function. So the smugglers began torturing the children.After 15 months in captivity, Amina was on the brink of death. The smugglers did not want to deal with a corpse and realized that they would not get the money they demanded, so they finally let them go.recalls Amina. Another niece was also held captive in the same location, so the whole family left together. All five were transported to the coast as part of a larger group. They were among the lucky ones.They were herded on to an inflatable boat bound for Europe. They knew it was overloaded, with more than 100 people, but were powerless and unable to get away. Panic hit several hours later, when the boat began to sink. However a Libyan Coast Guard vessel brought them back to the coast.At the harbour, UNHCR, the UN Refugee Agency, was waiting for them. Amina was in a critical state and was rushed to hospital. Authorities took the boys and their cousins to a detention centre, where UNHCR informed them they would be flown to Niger. Post Reply Posted: at 19-04-2018 03:29 PM (3 years ago) | Hero clarajancita at 19-04-2018 04:58 PM (3 years ago) (f) A popular Ghanaian millionaire, Ibrahim Daouda has been arrested by the police for crime bordering on money laundering. Popularly known as Ibrah 1, he got arrested after a tip off from a friend whom he duped off the sum of $400, 000. Ibrah 1 is alleged to have received a bank transfer on behalf of one Heloo and has refused to give the money to the owner. A popular Ghanaian millionaire, Ibrahim Daouda has been arrested by the police for crime bordering on money laundering. Popularly known as Ibrah 1, he got arrested after a tip off from a friend whom he duped off the sum of $400, 000. Ibrah 1 is alleged to have received a bank transfer on behalf of one Heloo and has refused to give the money to the owner. Ghanaian millionaire, Ibrahim Daouda arrested for money laundry The Ghanaian big boy who has a thing for luxury cars has been on Interpols wanted list before his arrest. He is set to be extradited to the United States after he was picked up at his East Legon Mansion. According to a US website, WKBN.com, an ongoing money laundering investigation has led to the arrest of Kwabena M. Bonsu, Kwasi A. Oppong, Kwame Ansah, John Y Amoah, Samuel Antwi, King Faisal Hamidu, Nkosiyoxoxo Msuthu, and Cynthia Appiagyei. However, Daouda has threatened to expose his accomplices in the money laundering business. Via Snapchat, Ibrah 1 said he will expose all the money launderers in Ghana if he goes down alone. He also requested for an audience with the president after mentioning the name of firebrand NPP MP, Kennedy Agyapong. Ghanaian millionaire, Ibrahim Daouda arrested for money laundryThe Ghanaian big boy who has a thing for luxury cars has been on Interpols wanted list before his arrest. He is set to be extradited to the United States after he was picked up at his East Legon Mansion.According to a US website, WKBN.com, an ongoing money laundering investigation has led to the arrest of Kwabena M. Bonsu, Kwasi A. Oppong, Kwame Ansah, John Y Amoah, Samuel Antwi, King Faisal Hamidu, Nkosiyoxoxo Msuthu, and Cynthia Appiagyei.However, Daouda has threatened to expose his accomplices in the money laundering business. Via Snapchat, Ibrah 1 said he will expose all the money launderers in Ghana if he goes down alone. He also requested for an audience with the president after mentioning the name of firebrand NPP MP, Kennedy Agyapong. Post Reply I am a metro reporter on Gistmania, I have been publishing news materials for over 5 years Posted: at 19-04-2018 04:58 PM (3 years ago) | Hero Senate health committee Chairman Lamar Alexander Wednesday announced Tennessee will receive a nearly $14 million grant from the Department of Health and Human Services in the states fight against the opioid crisis. The state received nearly $14 million last year as well both grants were funded by the 21st Century Cures Act that Senator Alexander authored and President Obama signed into law in 2016. The devastation of the opioid crisis has touched nearly every community in our state, and todays announcement that Tennessee is set to receive another nearly $14 million to fight its ongoing opioid epidemic will provide a major boost to Tennesseans on the front lines of a battle that is being waged county by county and doctors office by doctors office, Senator Alexander said. Leader McConnell called the 21st Century Cures the most important legislation of the year, and this funding is just another example of the real help this bill is delivering to Tennessee families. The 21st Century Cures Act that was signed into law in December of 2016 by President Obama provided $1 billion in grants to states to help fight the opioid epidemic. Senator Alexander was the chief Senate sponsor of the 21st Century Cures Act. Last April, the Department of Health and Human Services announced the first round of funding to be delivered to all 50 states, the District of Columbia, and six U.S. territories of which Tennessee received $14 million. Today, Secretary Azar released the second year of funding which is $485 million in total and Tennessee again received $14 million. States can use the federal grants to improve prescription drug monitoring programs, implement prevention activities, and train health care providers on overdose prevention and recognizing potential cases of substance abuse. An additional $1 billion was also funded in this years government spending bill, and the additional funding will be available starting September 2018. Senator Alexander this week introduced bipartisan legislation the Opioid Crisis Response Act of 2018 with Senator Patty Murray (D-Wash.) that includes 40 proposals to help bring an end to the opioid crisis. Senator Alexander announced the Senate health committee will consider and vote on the legislation on Tuesday. The legislation would extend authorization for the Opioid State Targeted Response grants like the one Tennessee is receiving today -- for the next three years. More information on the legislation is available here. Lee Universitys Kellen Gifford, a junior digital media studies major with a cinema emphasis, is spending eight months in the Disney College Program, based at Walt Disney World in Orlando, Fl. The DCP provides students the chance to take personal and career development courses, network with leaders, and build communication and teamwork skills. Mr. Gifford is a part of the 14 percent of applicants who are accepted into the program each year. Walt Disney Companys rigorous application process starts with an online application and questionnaire and ends with a phone interview. I've always loved Disney and have wanted to work for the company since I was a child, said Mr. Gifford. I would love to eventually work for them professionally on some type of creative team, so this program is an incredibly valuable experience for me. I am excited to bring the experiences and knowledge I am gaining with the DCP back to Lee as I finish my degree. Mr. Giffords classes at the DCP are centered around leadership, communication, and creativity. This experience will help me in my future career in the film industry, said Mr. Gifford. I am surrounded by creativity and have had the opportunity to build relationships and make contacts with people from all over the world. For more information on Lees digital media program, contact the Communication Arts department at communicationarts@leeuniversity.edu. Chinese President Xi Jinping has "particular animosity" against Christians in the Communist country, but "persecution will only help accelerate the growth" of the faithful, the head of a persecution watchdog has revealed. During a discussion on religious oppression sponsored by the Heritage Foundation, Bob Fu, the founder and president of the U.S.-based Christian human rights group China Aid, said Xi views Christianity's rise in China as a threat to his rule, as there are now more than 38 million Protestants in China. Just in the last year, the number of persecuted Christians in China has "dramatically increased," he said. "The number of people we documented who are persecuted among just Christians alone last year reached 223,000 compared to these 48,000 in 2016," he said, according to Breitbart News. In efforts to better control religion, Beijing has "forced" churches to install "face recognition systems," Fu revealed. "Every church [in China] is forced to install face recognition systems and every church building ... is forced to put a sign [up] banning children, students, civil servants, military personnel, and communist party members from entering," he said. "They use the face recognition systems to record the image and try to purge the communist party member who dared enter the church." Still, persecution will only "accelerate the growth," he added, noting that even the number of Christians "who worship at the government churches had dramatically increased." "You can see that he [Xi] has particular animosity against Christianity in particular," Fu said, acknowledging that the communist regime has identified "underground churches" as a "severe national security threat," along with political dissidents and human rights lawyers. Kristina Arriaga, the vice chairwoman of the U.S. Commission on International Religious Freedom (USCIRF), said that China's persecution of Christians has intensified in recent years. "A lot of things have happened in the last few months that are very troubling for the future of Christianity in China," she said. "The situation for Christians there is dire. ... One thing we know for sure is that the persecution [against] Christians has doubled in intensity." As reported, Xi previously asserted that "that all religions must be 'Chinese-oriented,' as part of his effort to 'Sinicize religion,' or make it more Chinese, by instilling socialist core values." Recently, Communist authorities demolished the Golden Lampstand Church in addition to taking down crosses and religious iconography from various other worshipping centers. Earlier this year, the Chinese government banned the sale of Bibles at online bookstores across the country, also as part of renewed regulations. Also this year, a Chinese Christian woman was arrested by public security bureau officers and criminally detained after she attempted to share the gospel with President Xi. Persecution watchdog Open Doors USA ranks the country 43rd on its World Watch List of 50 countries where Christians face the most difficulties. SAN ANTONIO - The NCAA has released figures reflecting the impact of the 2018 NCAA Men's Final Four. Their numbers cover attendance, broadcast viewers, social media impressions, live video watched and community event attendance and program numbers. "We are thrilled that hosting the Final Four provided an opportunity for San Antonio to shine in front of tens of thousands of visitors and millions of television viewers," said Jenny Carnes, executive director of the San Antonio Local Organizing Committee. "We know our community will reap the benefits for years to come." Locals also participated in the weekend's events as demonstrated by those who took advantage of VIA Park & Ride service. VIA Metropolitan Transit, the public transportation provider for the San Antonio region, partnered with NCAA Final Four to move thousands of fans, safely and efficiently, to and from downtown fan festivities. Nearly 12,000 people used VIA's convenient Park & Ride service to the 2018 NCAA March Madness Music Festival at Hemisfair and the Final Four Fan Fest at the Henry B. Gonzalez Convention Center. The busiest day of Park & Ride Service was Saturday, March 31, when 6,134 fans rode with VIA. On Sunday, 4,399 passengers took advantage of VIA's free parking and $5 roundtrip service. Another 1,292 rode VIA on Friday as festivities were kicking off. VIA's Special Event Park & Ride Service connects thousands of fans and festivalgoers to major sporting events, concerts and festivals in Downtown San Antonio. The NCAA Final Four partnership with VIA included convenient planning and ticketing, through the Final Four app and VIA's online tools. San Antonio's bike share program, SWell Cycle, also moved fans in and around the downtown area. In four days, 2,310 trips were taken, 13,530 miles were ridden, off-setting 13,000 pounds of carbon and burning 539,000 calories. Tweet #BirdsUp The marine environment is critical to Grenadas economy and closely linked to the islands income generating tourism sector. Grenadas tri-island ocean state is not just a hub of maritime activity, but also home to unique marine biodiversity On this episode: The government gets more feedback than it can handle.In part, that's because public-sector leaders have asked for it. Public officials want increased citizen engagement.But part of the overload comes from advocacy groups that have launched campaigns to swamp elected officials with calls and emails. Social media has also made it so much easier for amplifying voices vying for the attention of politicians and public officials.Enter the OpenGov Foundation, a nonpolitical nonprofit that's working with Congress to explore open-source solutions for getting its arms around overwhelming constituent communication. The answers to date are incomplete and solutions inadequate, but the lessons from the research have implications for state and local legislators.On this episode of "Go Public,"'s Noelle Knell and Zack Quaintance take stock of public engagement today and the prospects for creating satisfying experiences between citizens and their government. Chattanoogas indoor volleyball team competed in South Carolina for the first time this season and the match was one to remember. After dropping the first two sets in Alley Gymnasium, the Mocs battled back, winning the next three, and took the match in five (25-27, 17-25, 25-16, 25-18, 15-11) for their first Southern Conference win of the season on Friday night. SET 1 FUR ... (click for more) People run for office for all sorts of reasons. Some are motivated by a particular issue. Others are hungry for power. Then there are those who view elective office as a noble form of public service.But sometimes, they're just out for revenge.Eryn Gilchrist decided to run for a Maine House seat after reading a candidate's tweets last month about some of the Parkland high school shooting survivors. Leslie Gibson called Emma Gonzalez a "skinhead lesbian" and David Hogg a "moron" and a "baldfaced liar.""I never thought I would run for office, and I was perfectly content with just remaining a member of the community, but after reading Mr. Gibsons comments, I thought that the people of Greene and Sabattus deserved a representative who will respect people and try to work through their differences to make our lives better," says Gilchrist.Gibson quickly dropped out of the race, but other candidates angered by incumbents have had the pleasure of running against them personally.In November, a political rookie named Ashley Bennett defeated Atlantic County Freeholder John Carman in New Jersey. Carman had mocked the Women's March that took place the day after President Trump's inauguration, sharing a meme that asked whether the protest would be "over in time for them to cook dinner."That sparked protests locally, as well as Bennett's candidacy."I just wanted to push back against that hurtful rhetoric, those archaic ideals, and speak for those who feel they don't really have a voice anymore," Bennett told Last fall, Danica Roem became one of the nation's first openly transgender legislators, defeating veteran Virginia Del. Robert Marshall, who sponsored a bill that would have blocked transgender people from using bathrooms that correspond with their gender identity. Marshall had described himself as the state's "chief homophobe" and routinely referred to Roem, a transgender woman, using masculine pronouns.Roem received considerable financial support from LGBTQ groups and individuals around the country. Her victory drew national attention, landing her on the cover of. But Roem insists that she ran on issues of local concern, such as traffic and teachers' salaries, not identity politics.Regardless of their motivations, record numbers of LGBTQ people and women have been inspired to run for office in the last couple of years. Immigrants and refugees -- some upset by the Trump administration's hardline immigration policies -- are also running, as are large numbers of teachers , angry about education funding cuts."The catalyst was the November 2016 election, and just not liking that Donald Trump was elected president," says Schuyler T. VanValkenburg, a teacher who won a Virginia House seat last fall.Rachel Crooks, one of the women who has accused Trump of sexual misconduct, is seeking an Ohio House seat as a Democrat. Crooks says she wants to offer voters in a GOP-leaning district a progressive choice and has been inspired by women in the #MeToo movement.Approximately 300 veterans are running for Congress this year. In a switch from past cycles, more of them are running as Democrats than Republicans."The candidates are presenting themselves both as a moral rebuke to what they see as Donald Trumps self-promoting divisiveness," reports , "and also as a practical solution to the failure of the nation's highest legislative body to get anything done."Trump is also inspiring many Republicans to run.Ohio state Rep. Christina Hagan, for instance, says she is seeking a congressional seat primarily so she can support his agenda."There's a different type of Republican who is motivated by President Trump," says Patrick Hynes, a spokesman for the New Hampshire GOP, referring to candidates with blue-collar or non-establishment backgrounds. "It's the mirror image of what's driving enthusiasm among the Democrats."Perhaps no candidate this year is seeking revenge quite so directly as David Ermold.Ermold and his husband were among the couples denied marriage licenses in 2015 by Kim Davis, the county clerk in Rowan County, Ky., who became a folk hero among social conservatives after spending five days in jail for defying the U.S. Supreme Court's ruling on same-sex marriage. Ermold is now running to unseat her -- while also suing her.Ermold and his husband have a case pending against Davis. His lawyer is confident they will win, but Ermold hopes for a more certain taste of revenge -- personally driving Davis from office. Charlotte City Council Member LaWana Mayfield's Facebook post Monday questioning whether the 9/11 attacks were an act of terrorism has sparked a national backlash and a petition for her to resign.Within minutes of the news getting out, Mayfield was being called "ridiculous," "a disgrace" and "unfit for public office."Among those who responded were people who said they survived the attacks or knew people who died when the World Trade Center towers collapsed and the Pentagon was struck by a plane."Here's a little Freedom of Speech for you," posted Pete Panuccio of New York, who identified himself as a former New York City cop. "I am an eyewitness to this event. I was there. Anytime you feel like debating the finer points, I challenge you to refute my eyewitness testimony...Shame on you and shame on the people that elect irresponsible public officials.""So what plane did my husband see that morning as he drove into the Pentagon parking lot?" asked Kathy Bischoff Nolan on Mayfield's Facebook page. "It really disturbs me when people say it never happened! And to have a council woman say this is even worse!"Facebook commenter Geri Rosman says she knew people who died in the attacks and she feels Mayfield has insulted them. "I demand she resign because of the depth of her insensitivity and complete lack of humanity toward those who lived through the nightmare of 9/11. I hope others -- especially those here from NY/NJ will join me in demanding her resignation."Mayfield ignited the controversy with a Monday Facebook post that noted she is "still waiting for someone to produce pieces of the alleged plane." She then linked to an article on the website Awarenessact.com that stated: "It's Official: European Scientific Journal Concludes 9/11 Was A Controlled Demolition."On Tuesday night, she abridged the comments, but didn't delete them or apologize: "So ... if I delete this all the comments will also be deleted. This was NOT shared to cause controversy yet it has. Freedom of speech allows you to share your thoughts and many have done that below."Mayfield's additional comments seemed only to worsen the backlash, with some accusing her of using freedom of speech to shield herself from legitimate criticism.A petition launched on Change.org demanded her resignation: "By giving her imprimatur to this conspiracy theory, Mayfield has brought shame and disgrace upon herself, her district, her city, and her state. It is simply not acceptable for an elected official to use his or her platform to promote such claptrap. Mayfield needs to spare herself, the people of Charlotte, and the people of North Carolina further embarrassment by resigning. "The Mecklenburg County Republican Party echoed that sentiment late Tuesday, but stopped short of calling for her resignation."This is not acceptable," the party posted on its Facebook page. "We cannot reasonably believe that Ms. Mayfield should be setting policy for this great City when she thinks and says such vitriolic things about the most tragic US event in generations. Democrats in this County should say enough is enough and do something about it!"Lawana Mayfield has lost her pea picking mind-- Leslie Warlick (@WarlickLeslie) April 17, 2018Mayfield's Facebook page exploded with similar criticism overnight and through out the day Wednesday:"Your misinformed and ignorant post just causes pain," posted Gary Parks on Mayfield's Facebook page. "You should resign as any true politician and person would not have posted this. Do you even remember that day or was it too far north for you to care. I for one will never forget.""The evidence (and "airplane parts") are readily available," posted Pat Hogan of Carrboro, N.C. "Your willingness to revisit this issue calls into question not only your fitness for re-election, but your qualifications to hold the office in the first place."You might want to invite LaWana Mayfield over to expound on 9-11 to make Charlotte better known as nut city-- sam 2 (@srollinsontc) April 17, 2018"How embarrassing that people like you are running the city," posted Erin Litaker. "I feel sure this will end your political career and hopefully it will follow you. That's the problem with free speech, you can say whatever you want, but that doesn't mean there are no repercussions. Hope you have some deeply hidden skill to fall back on." A federal judge on Wednesday found Secretary of State Kris Kobach in contempt of court in a case involving Kansas voting laws, her latest rebuke of the Republican candidate for governor.Kobach is considered a GOP frontrunner despite his constant court battles involving voter fraud and strict voting requirements that he has pushed while in office as the state's top election official.In her ruling, U.S. District Judge Julie Robinson in Kansas City, Kan., referred repeatedly to Kobach as acting "disingenuously."She chastised him for failing to treat the voters affected by the ongoing court case the same as all other registered voters in accordance with a previous court order."The term 'register' is not ambiguous, nor should there have been any question that these voters were to be treated just like any other registered voter," Robinson said in her order.Instead of a fine in the contempt matter, Robinson ordered Kobach to pay attorneys fees for the plaintiffs in the case."The Court is troubled by Defendant's failure to take responsibility for violating this Court's orders, and for failing to ensure compliance over an issue that he explicitly represented to the Court had been accomplished," Robinson wrote.Kobach spokesman Moriah Day said the secretary of state's office would be appealing Robinson's decision.In 2016, Robinson ordered Kobach to fully register thousands of Kansas voters who had registered at the DMV but had failed to provide proof of citizenship, such as a birth certificate or passport, as required by a Kansas law that Kobach crafted.Robinson had earlier scolded Kobach for initially informing the voters covered by her order that they were registered only for the 2016 election and for failing to ensure that they receive the same postcard notifications about their registration as other voters.Robinson told Kobach during a 2016 telephone conference that she would hold him responsible for directing counties to send out these postcards. He promised to do his best and narrowly dodged a contempt hearing in 2016 because of this agreement."He admitted several times during the hearing that he understood the Court's order meant he was to treat those covered by the preliminary injunction the same as all other registered voters, which included sending the standard postcard upon registration," Robinson said in Wednesday'sorder.The American Civil Liberties Union filed a motion in January asking the judge to hold Kobach in contempt and to impose sanctions for failing to send the postcards and failing to update the state's election manual."(Kobach) was in contempt of the court order, but he also has just demonstrated this pattern of non-compliance with the federal law and disregard for the very idea that citizens have a right to participate in their democracy," said Micah Kubic, executive director of the ACLU of Kansas.Robinson later added in Wednesday's ruling that "Defendant is now in the process of sending the standard postcards to all registered voters."Kobach is running against Gov. Jeff Colyer and two others for the GOP gubernatorial nomination this year. Kobach has greater name recognition than Colyer, who for the past seven years had been Gov. Sam Brownback's lieutenant, but he has struggled to raise money.Colyer's spokesman declined to comment on the ruling Wednesday.Kobach has advised President Donald Trump on potential changes to federal voting laws. He also has the support of the president's son, Donald Trump Jr., who campaigned for Kobach late last year.Kobach was frequently chastised in court last month by Robinson, a George W. Bush appointee.Kobach was previously fined $1,000 by the court last year after Robinson had concluded he had tried to mislead the court about documents related to a 2016 meeting with Trump.Robinson noted in Wednesday's order Kobach narrowly escaped being held in contempt two years ago after he initially flouted her order to register the voters impacted by the case."Defendant has a history of noncompliance with the preliminary injunction order. He not only willfully failed to comply with the preliminary injunction for five months, but then only partially complied in October 2016 upon the threat of contempt," Robinson wrote.Kansas Democratic Party Executive Director Ethan Corson said in a statement Wednesday that "Kobach has become an embarrassment to the state, and Kansas voters deserve better.""Kris Kobach's costly voter suppression crusade is finally catching up with him," Corson said. "Kobach's steady string of self-promotional partisan maneuvers and costly taxpayer funded lawsuits illustrate his overwhelming unfitness to be the next governor of Kansas."Rep. Keith Esau, an Olathe Republican who is running for secretary of state, defended Kobach."I believe that Kobach did what he could do within the office," Esau said. "I think the judge expected him to do things that were beyond what the office normally does."An important part of the court case tied to Wednesday's contempt order has yet to be decided.Robinson has yet to separately rule on the overall case involving Kobach, which will determine whether thousands can cast ballots this November when Kansas elects a new governor. Gov. Cuomo on Wednesday signed an executive order granting parolees the right to vote in New York.Cuomo announced the signing at the annual convention of Rev. Al Sharpton's National Action Network. He decried the state's current law blocking those who have been released from prison but are still on parole from voting, saying it didn't square with the goals of parole and re-entry."At the same time, we're saying we want you a part of society, we want you to get back into the community," he said.Cuomo said he had proposed legislation to grant voting rights to parolees, but it was shot down by the State Senate -- leading him to argue the state needs a new Legislature. But Cuomo said he wouldn't wait that long."I'm unwilling to take no for an answer," he said. "I'm going to make it law by executive order and I announce that here today."Cuomo signed the executive order later Wednesday afternoon. There are about 35,000 New Yorkers on parole who could not vote, the governor's office said. The executive order will restore the right to vote upon release from incarceration, his office said, citing a disproportionate impact of disenfranchisement on communities of color and links between civic engagement and reduced recidivism.Fourteen other states and the District of Columbia restore voting rights upon release.Frequent Cuomo foe Mayor de Blasio tweeted it was "a great move."Cynthia Nixon, the actress and activist challenging Cuomo from his left in the Democratic primary, wasted little time in taking credit for Cuomo's action."For eight years, Cuomo governed like a Republican -- handing control of our state to his ultra-rich donors and the party of Trump," she said in a statement. "Now he's scared of communities all across New York who want to replace him with a real Democrat. We don't buy the Governor's new song-and-dance routine. Voter suppression in New York should have ended eight years ago, from the rights of parolees to access to early voting and automatic registration."Cuomo's office pointed to other criminal justice reforms he's enacted, including raising the age of criminal responsibility and naming the attorney general as a special prosecutor for police-related deaths, arguing he's long cared about the issue.Republicans, meanwhile, ripped the order. A "dumbfounded" Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) blasted it as "illegal and horrific public policy.""It circumvents the law," Flanagan told reporters at the state Capitol. "It basically says there's no need for a Legislature whatsoever. It's unilateral dictates by an executive."He maintained the governor never raised the issue during recent high-level budget negotiations.Flanagan said that those on parole, including murderers and rapists, are still serving out their sentences and should not be entitled to their voting rights. He said he would not be surprised if a lawsuit is filed seeking to block the order and accused Cuomo of trying to "expand the universe of people who are eligible to vote."He singled out Herman Bell, a cop killer who was recently granted parole -- as did Dutchess County Executive Marcus Molinaro, the front-runner for the GOP gubernatorial nomination, who accused Cuomo of being a dictator."Just months before an election, with the stroke of his pen, Andrew Cuomo, plans to restore the voting rights for cop killer Herman Bell and Palm Sunday killer Chris Thomas and calls it 'justice'," he said. "But if the dictator of a third world nation threw open it's prison doors and granted voting rights to the criminals right before a reelection, we all would be appalled."He argued even those who agree with the policy "should be alarmed by a Governor who systematically fails to abide by the limits of his office."Patrolmen's Benevolent Association President Pat Lynch said Cuomo should worry about "the failure of a parole system that could set free a remorseless, three-time cop-killer like Herman Bell" rather than the rights of parolees. And GOP Chairman Ed Cox, too, mentioned Bell, calling the order "an outrageous power grab" meant to "appeal to radical primary voters and satisfy his presidential ambitions."The New York Civil Liberties Union praised the executive order, but also said Albany should push forward with legislation on same-day voter registration and early voting.The order even became a flashpoint in a Republican congressional primary on Staten Island -- with Congressman Dan Donovan using it to remind voters that his opponent, Michael Grimm, is not just an ex-congressman but an ex-con.Donovan campaign spokeswoman Jessica Proud said Cuomo was seeking to "appeal to national Democrats so he can run against President Trump.""Convicted felons like Michael Grimm lost their rights as a price for their crimes," she said in a statement that also noted Grimm couldn't vote for president in 2016, but would have been able to under Cuomo's order.Grimm's camp said his rights had not been restored in time for the presidential election, but that he was able to vote -- for Nicole Malliotakis -- in the 2017 election. Asked to respond to Donovan's campaign, Grimm in a statement first bashed "the media's hypocrisy" surrounding his conviction in a statement."All I'll say is that I fought in battle to defend Dan Donovan's right to support John Kasich for president and to then vote against every single one of President Trump's major initiatives," he said, arguing Donovan was trying to deflect from his voting record. New York Attorney General Eric Schneiderman is urging state lawmakers to quickly close a loophole in state law that could prevent him from bringing charges against anyone pardoned by President Trump."We are disturbed by reports that the president is considering pardons of individuals who may have committed serious federal financial, tax, and other crimes-acts that may also violate New York law," Schneiderman said."We must ensure that if the president, or any president, issues such pardons, we can use the full force of New York's laws to bring such individuals to justice," Schneiderman continued.In a letter to Gov. Cuomo and legislative leaders, Schneiderman said a quirk in New York's double jeopardy law shields anyone who's pleaded guilty to a federal crime or who had a jury sworn in from facing state charges based on the same act or transaction."Thus, if a federal defendant pleads guilty to a federal crime, or if a jury is sworn in a federal criminal trial against that defendant, and then the president pardons that individual, this New York statute could be invoked to argue that a subsequent state prosecution is barred," the attorney general wrote in the letter."Simply put, a defendant pardoned by the president for a serious federal crime could be freed from all accountability under federal and state criminal law, even though the president has no authority under the U.S. Constitution to pardon state crimes," he added.Schneiderman urged Cuomo and the Legislature to swiftly add an exception to New York's double jeopardy law that ensures a state prosecution would not be "barred by a proceeding that the president annulled by issuing a pardon."Assembly Speaker Carl Heastie (D-Bronx) said Schneiderman "has raised this serious issue and we will take a close look at it."Cuomo press secretary Dani Lever said the governor "believes that the federal legal system should not provide a basis for any wrong doers to escape justice. To that end, we are reviewing the proposal and look forward to working with the Attorney General on the issue."Senate Majority Leader John Flanagan (R-Suffolk County) did not immediately comment on Schneiderman's request.State Sen. Todd Kaminsky (D-Nassau County) said he would introduce legislation to close the loophole."The writers of our state's strict double jeopardy statute did not take into account the president's pardon power, and certainly did not contemplate the capricious use of that power to undermine the rule of law," Kaminsky said in a statement.Schneiderman said there is precedent for the Legislature to provide exceptions to the double jeopardy protections. After a court ruled that certain state tax charges against Leona Helmsley were barred because of a prior federal prosecution, the Legislature amended the law to enable the state tax fraud prosecution, he said. Last month, Sacramento police fired 20 rounds at Stephon Clark in his grandmothers backyard, fatally striking the unarmed, black 22-year-old eight times.According to the officers, they mistook the cellphone in Clarks hand for a gun and fired after they said he advanced toward them with the item outstretched. The body camera video does not confirm or deny whether Clark advanced on them because Clark's body is not visible until he is shown laying on the ground.The young mans death has sparked protests in Sacramento, as well as nationwide accusations of racist and overzealous policing. The county District Attorney, with oversight from the state , is investigating the matter.In most cases where police are responsible for the death of citizens, which disproportionately involve black men, officers are either cleared of criminal charges or not charged at all.In California, though, cops in similar situations could soon find themselves subject to a new legal standard -- the strictest in the country. If passed, it could provide a model for other progressive states that have followed California's lead on other issues, including immigration and the environment.In 1989, the Supreme Court set the minimum standard for police using deadly force as one of objective reasonableness -- that is, the officers actions must be reasonable to an objective observer, taking into account only what the officer knew at the time he or she decided to use force. Within this framework, any reasonably perceived threat to the officer or the public justifies the use of deadly force.But after Clarks death, California Assemblymembers Shirley Weber and Kevin McCarty introduced legislation that would change the legal standard for lethal force in their state to only be used when necessary" and after every other nonlethal option has been exhausted.The bill says lethal force should only be used when its necessary, and that necessity is only when the public or an officer is in imminent danger. If an officer [or member of the public] is not about to be hurt, officers should use other [de-escalation] strategies, such as verbal warnings, tasers and pepper spray, says Weber.The bill would also require investigations to assess whether officersa situation resulting in the necessity to use lethal force.Under current law, if an officer jumps in front of a moving vehicle, they can legally kill the driver because now theyre suddenly in harms way, Lizzie Buchen of the American Civil Liberties Union told the New Republic . What this law would say is that that officer needs to be held accountable for creating the necessity of killing the driver.Two other states -- Delaware and Tennessee -- have laws on the books requiring officers to exhaust all other options before resorting to deadly force. Broadly, though, states use the Supreme Court's "objective reasonableness standard" when assessing officers actions in the field.According to Joanna Schwartz, a professor of law at UCLA, the ideas behind the legislation are not new -- they're just not yet reflected in the law. Many police departments across the country require officers to use de-escalation techniques. Campaign Zero, the policy arm of Black Lives Matter, assessed large police departments with these kinds of policies and found that stronger de-escalation policies led to fewer police killings. Although the California law would be the strictest statewide legislation of its kind, it doesn't mention criminal penalties. The decision about whether to prosecute would still be at the discretion of prosecutors, says Weber.Because of that, legal experts say it wouldn't necessarily result in jailtime for police found in violation of the standard.Theres no reason this standard would have anything to do with what counts as a crime. Some courts have imported constitutional standards about use-of-force into criminal law, but the two dont necessarily belong together, says Brandon Garrett, a professor at the University of Virginia School of Law who has researched the benefits of reducing police discretion.But some think the new standard would make it easier to prosecute police anyway -- or at least instill fear among officers.This is a giant invitation to prosecute law officers where they have not been prosecuted before, says Eugene ODonnell, a professor at John Jay College of Criminal Justice and a former NYPD officer. I dont understand the reason or the point to engage in this kind of lawmaking if its not to threaten officers that if they make a mistake they could end up being criminally prosecuted.To be clear, ODonnell believes the standards and strategies outlined in the bill are widely beneficial to policing -- but he believes they should be adopted by departments as policies, not legislated by politicians.Law enforcement organizations have come out in strong opposition to the legislation. The California Police Chiefs Association last week held a meeting to denounce it. David Swing, president of the association, told the Mercury News that evaluating the use of deadly force from the perspective of hindsight and narrowing the justifiable homicide defense will lead to officers pulling back on proactive policing, resulting in increased crime throughout the state.Stephon Clark's family, as well as advocacy organizations like Black Lives Matter and the ACLU, support the bill.It has a decent chance of passage, given that Democrats control the state's assembly, senate and governor's office. The Second Amendment protects civilians possessing stun guns and tasers, the highest court in Massachusetts said Tuesday.The ruling from the Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court stated that the prohibition in Massachusetts state law is a violation of the Second Amendment. The law allowed for law enforcement to possess the weapons.The ruling came in a case in which a defendant was charged with possession. The court ruled that the complaint against him be dismissed and that the state law is struck down.The court is giving the Massachusetts legislature 60 days to revise the statute behind the prohibition so it meets constitutional muster."Therefore, under the Second Amendment, the possession of stun guns may be regulated, but not absolutely banned," said the Supreme Judicial Court ruling issued Tuesday. "Restrictions may be placed on the categories of persons who may possess them, licenses may be required for their possession, and those licensed to possess them may be barred from carrying them in sensitive places, such as schools and government buildings."The court's ruling was a reversal after the US Supreme Court provided some guidance: In a 2015 case, the Supreme Judicial Court ruled that the Second Amendment did not cover stun guns.The leaders of the Massachusetts House and Senate, Speaker Robert DeLeo and President Harriette Chandler, said they were reviewing the latest court decision."We are currently reviewing the decision and legislative options," a spokeswoman for DeLeo's office said. "The Speaker intends to file legislation within 60 days." Photo of police car courtesy of Pixabay The Hawaii Police Department is looking to purchase its first patrol vehicles in 10 years to replace a fleet that averages 200,000 miles, the Hawaii Tribune Harold reported. A decade ago, the department bought its first marked patrol cars to supplement its officer-owned vehicles, purchasing 35 2008-MY vehicles for $2 million. Those vehicles are now so aged they present a liability issue. The PD has $600,000 in this years budget to purchase 10 new vehicles, the newspaper reported. Description GIS 19 April, 2018: Women are an important pillar of the Mauritian economy and have contributed massively in the advancement of Mauritius even before our country acceded to Independence and are still continuing to do so, said the Minister of Gender Equality, Child Development and Family Welfare, Mrs Roubina Jadoo-Jaunbocus, today at the National Women Development Centre, in Phoenix. The Minister was speaking at the launching of an entrepreneurship workshop, LAtelier de LEntrepreneuriat au Feminin, organised to sensitise existing and aspiring women entrepreneurs on the services and facilities offered by different supporting institutions to help them ensure the growth of their enterprises or set up new ones. In her address, Minister Jadoo-Jaunbocus indicated that the contribution to the economy brought by women entrepreneurs and entrepreneurs in general should be given due recognition. It is necessary to understand that while the work market itself per se will not be able to absorb all people yet there exists certain slots on the market that need to be filled and it is where entrepreneurs come into play, she stated. For the Minister, the necessary mentoring is therefore crucial to accompany those women wishing to set up an enterprise and become entrepreneurs. It is indeed challenging to start up a business even if the aspiring entrepreneur already has the initial idea as there are indeed numerous procedures that precede the creation of an enterprise and this is where the National Women Entrepreneur Council (NWEC) comes into play, she highlighted. Moreover, Mrs Jadoo-Jaunbocus emphasised the role of the NWEC in providing the appropriate support to women entrepreneurs to enable them to have a profitable business on the long-run. We want women to become economically independent and be empowered, she added. LAtelier de LEntrepreneuriat au Feminin Some 100 women entrepreneurs are attending the workshop organised by the NWEC. Resource persons are from MauBank, SME Mauritius, Registrar of Companies and Municipal Councils. Presentations are focusing on: Procedures for Business Registration; Permits and Licences required for the setting up of a business; Schemes available at SME Mauritius; and Financial Schemes available at MauBank. The NWEC offers several services to support the economic empowerment of women such as: business counselling, marketing assistance, skills development, business incubators, entrepreneurship development, workshops and seminars. Mike O'Hare, FEMA Administrator for Region X, gave some brief remarks at the conference I'm attending. See below:He has been in emergency management for 10 years. Both director and deputy director in Alaska.He is loving his four months on the job and living here in Washington state.He believes in building partnerships.FEMA has learned a lot from the disasters of 2017.Helping people before, during and after disasters. This is FEMAs vision/mission statementThree critical components of strategy: Building a culture of preparedness Readying the nation for catastrophic disasters Reduce the complexity of FEMACitizens need to be ready to help one another. We need to know how to help others. Dont wait for someone else to do the work.The real first responders are citizens helping others. Government will come to assist eventually.We need to engage our kids. Children are 25 percent of population and 100 percent of our future.There is a huge gap in insurance in this nation. Insurance is resilience.We have to reduce all the issues of duplication that exist in FEMA recovery processes.Brock Long is an emergency manager and he brings that knowledge to his position as the FEMA Administrator. We have nothing to fear but fear itself. This famous phrase had its genesis in President Franklin D. Roosevelts first inaugural address in 1933. As FDR uttered these words, several people at the event reportedly muttered, I was afraid he would say that. Fear is a funny world in the English language, conjuring up many images. For children, fear can mean apprehension the boogeyman might suddenly pop out of a closet or from under the bed. Or that mommy or daddy might abandon them at the mall. As we get older, an expanding array of other fears supplant the boogeyman. Its a word we attribute to a dog cowering in a corner, tail between its legs, hoping to avoid another blow from its abusive owner. Or employees who arrive at work wary of their tyrannical bosss unpredictable behavior. We use a convenient word of Greek and Latin origin phobia to describe fears, often irrational, of virtually everything, including heights, spiders, snakes, crowds, enclosed places, flying, specific colors, black cats, the number 13, and red-headed people. (Is there a phobia of red-headed woodpeckers?) Politically correctness has led to the creation of new terms, like homophobia and Islamophobia. But when you hear the phrase, fearing God, what comes to mind? Thats a legitimate question, since numerous verses talk about the fear of the Lord. The book of Proverbs, for instance, gives an admonition, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of knowledge, but fools despise wisdom and instruction (Proverbs 1:7). Similarly, Psalm 111:10 states, The fear of the Lord is the beginning of wisdom. For some, to fear God suggests being prepared to duck, hoping to dodge a bolt from Heaven the Lord might choose to throw down if He catches us doing something wrong. Is that what it really means to fear God anticipating divine zapping when He feels inclined to do so? Tame that down a notch, and some people regard fearing God as always being at risk of becoming the object of His displeasure and impatience as we repeatedly fail to meet His perfect, righteous, never-changing standards. However, not long ago I talked with someone who expressed an opposite opinion. He posited theres no reason to fear God at all, since Hes so loving that Hell accept whatever we do. This makes Him sound like the parent who never corrects or disciplines her child, or the grandparent who delights in doting on the grandkids, knowing before long theyll be going home with their parents to deal with the fruit of their spoiling. Tsk, tsk, tsk. Kids do the darnedest things! A definition of the fear of God favored by many is reverent awe or admiring submission. This involves understanding that while He is accessible Let us then approach God's throne of grace with confidence, so that we may receive mercy and find grace to help us in our time of need (Hebrews 4:16) the Lord is, after all, Creator not only of this planet but also the entire universe. Thats not something we should take lightly, with a casual shrug. He made everything and can do whatever He chooses with what Hes made. The foreboding image of the Lord lurking nearby, poised to yell, Gotcha! I knew it! is unfortunate and stands at odds with the concept of grace Gods unconditional favor we could never merit or earn. Were told, For it is by grace you have been saved, through faith and this not from yourselves, it is the gift of God not by works, so that no one can boast (Ephesians 2:8-9). Titus 3:5 seconds this motion by declaring, he saved us, not because of righteous things we have done, but because of his mercy. Nevertheless, this doesnt justify an attitude by which we might regard God as Bro, or as our good buddy. We fear law enforcement officers, not because we suspect they might harm us, but because they have the power to enforce laws if we break them. I remember when I was in school, we also feared the teacher, knowing she or he had authority to discipline us or reduce our grades if we misbehaved or violated classroom rules. God is Creator of all we see as well as everything we cant. It reminds me of the parent who, in a peak of frustration, said, Son, I brought you into this world and I can take you out! In most cases, because of His love, grace and mercy, God doesnt act in a similar way. However, we know He can, and sometimes has done so. Think of those who perished in The Flood except for Noah and his family, or the residents of the sin-riddled cities of Sodom and Gomorrah, or the Egyptian army as they pursued the Israelites crossing the Red Sea. Ananias and Sapphira, members of the early Church, thought they could get away with misrepresenting their generosity. They greatly underestimated how much God values integrity. So we worship a God fully capable of doing fearsome things. But If we truly know Him, and have an accurate, honest appraisal of ourselves, He deserves our reverent awe and wholehearted worship, praise and gratitude. As Psalm 34:9-10 tells us, Oh, fear the Lord, you His saints! There is no want to those who fear Himthose who seek the Lord shall not lack any good thing. - - - - Robert J. Tamasy is a veteran journalist, former newspaper editor and magazine editor. Bob has written hundreds of magazine articles, and authored, co-authored and edited more than 15 books. These include the newly re-published, Business At Its Best, Tufting Legacies, The Heart of Mentoring, and Pursuing Life With a Shepherds Heart. He edits a weekly business meditation, Monday Manna, which is translated into more than 20 languages and distributed via email around the world by CBMC International. To read more of Bob Tamasys writings, you can visit his blog, www.bobtamasy.blogspot.com , or his website (now being completed), www.bobtamasy-readywriterink.com . He can be emailed at btamasy@comcast.net. The Regulations PennDOT is asking AV testing companies to file a Notice of Testing, which would include: Name of the company, address, phone number, email; identify principal point of contact for the testing. Verification attesting that the AVs meet all federal and state safety standards and meet the policies adopted by PennDOT. Proof of a driver/operator training program. (PennDOT strongly recommends clean driving records for HAV (highly automated vehicle) operators). Certification that all drivers have met/passed program requirements. Name of approved drivers, with valid DL (driver's license) numbers. List of vehicles that will be involved in the testing and their VIN (vehicle identification number) and/or plate number. Routes or geographic location for testing. Basic overview of Operational Design Domain (ODD) including constraints. The ODD describes the specific conditions under which a given HAV is intended to operate, including where (such as what roadway types and speeds) and when (under what conditions, such as day/night, weather limits, etc.). Proof of insurance. Immediately halt testing of any HAV that knowingly shares hardware or software with a vehicle that is part of a National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) investigation. The commonwealth of Pennsylvania has drafted guidelines for autonomous vehicle testing, but its unclear whether car manufacturers will comply. Without legislative action, theres still no requirement beyond having a licensed driver behind the wheel of a self-driving car.The law currently is silent on vehicle automation, said Roger Cohen, senior adviser to the secretary of the Department of Transportation, who is coordinating the states direction on autonomous vehicles. And by its silence, it is permissive as long as the provision is met that there is a licensed driver at the steering wheel and is in control of the vehicle, he said.In light of recent AV accidents like the one in Arizona that resulted in the death of a pedestrian, the Pennsylvania Department of Transportation drafted a new set of guidelines earlier this month. The guidelines marked an added level of safety oversight the state would like to take.For now, guidelines such as having testers submit the geographic location of testing, proof of insurance or providing an overview of the operational design of the vehicle are just recommendations, with the expectation that the Legislature will soon take up the issue and formalize these policies through state law.Were going to review those testing policies and update them. And were going to call all the testers who are currently doing testing in Pittsburgh and elsewhere in the Commonwealth, to come together, and we are going to ask them and we expect them to pledge voluntarily with the updated polices, said Cohen.In the event the Legislature does not take up AV legislation, the guidelines would remain in their current advisory and voluntary state.For its part, Uber has been deeply involved in AV testing in Pennsylvania and has said it intends to work closely with PennDOT in developing the updated policies and participate in stakeholder meetings. The ride-sharing company was operating the self-driving car in Arizona that struck and killed a pedestrian in March.In the wake of the accident, car companies and policymakers are understandably skittish on rolling out AVs, slowing down the process. Prior to the death of the pedestrian, California was set to roll out its permitting process for driverless AV testing in the state on April 2. To date, the California Department of Motor Vehicles has not yet issued any driverless testing permits, said Jessica Gonzalez, a spokeswoman for the California DMV, in an email. However, two companies have applied for permits to test driverless autonomous vehicles on California roadways. The DMV did not disclose who the two applicants are.Once a permit is issued, that information will be available on the website, Gonzalez added.The Nebraska Legislature recently passed a law authorizing autonomous vehicles. The bill, LB989 , is awaiting the governors signature. The state is set to join 22 states and the District of Columbia to have enacted legislation related to autonomous vehicles.When it comes to new AV policies, government should explore how to handle accidents, and open the door to interacting better with the public, said Thom Rickert, vice president and emerging risks specialist for Trident Public Risk Solutions in an interview withlast month.You should expect that something could go wrong. And when it does, what is your protocol for handling it, he said.Where Pennsylvania has been a leader, said Cohen, has been in its willingness to engage the public about its concerns related to autonomous vehicles. I think what were doing is building a very strong foundation among public influencers, public officials, collaborations between local leaders, state and the industry. And a forum for airing concerns and issues, he said.There are directions which we dont know things will take, added Cohen. There is the possibility of unintended consequences at various times; there are concerns about environment, about workforce, as well as safety. All of these are things were trying to engage our leadership of the commonwealth.We hope that this process will provide a better understanding of the benefits, as well as the complex questions, and lead the way for a public acceptance for a sound, balanced policy, Cohen continued. (TNS) CENTERVILLE "If at first you don't succeed, try, try again" could be the rallying cry of Centerville Concerned Citizens, the group of residents formed earlier this month to oppose installation of cell antennas in the South Congregational Church steeple.Told by Barnstable officials that the church met zoning regulations for installation of the T-Mobile equipment, the group remains committed to stopping the antennas from powering on later this spring.Nearly 75 people attended an organizational meeting at the Centerville Public Library on Tuesday evening, vowing to continue generating awareness of potential dangers health, environmental, fire and even decreased property values associated with the antennas."We are only as strong as our collective voice," Sarah Burns, a leader of the group, told meeting attendees. "Let the church know how concerned we are."Burns reiterated what she has said publicly in recent weeks: The group, upset that there was no public input on the project, is not anti-church and would even support it with fundraising events to make up revenue if the T-Mobile contract is broken, which they estimated to be $30,000 annually.Burns fears the church may be struggling financially and was a vulnerable target for T-Mobile."That's troubling," she said.During the hourlong meeting, many residents expressed concern about health and wellness effects the antennas could have on the community."I find it despicable what they (the church) are doing," said Tony Day, of Centerville, who attended with his young son. "Putting people in danger is not Christian."One Centerville resident urged the group to take caution, saying he could not live without his cellphone and parts of the village are in need of better coverage."Just a thought before you shoot the goose who lays the golden egg," he said.Corrine Whitaker, a seasonal Centerville resident, has successfully fought installation of cell tower equipment in her home town of Sherborn. Even though the Sherborn project was not as far along as that at South Congregational, she doesn't think it's too late to put the brakes on the local project."The tide is turning and people understand the dangers more," she said. "If the church gets the message and they are smart and can get out of the contract, then they should."Leaders of the Centerville-Osterville-Marstons Mills Fire District planned on attending the meeting to answer fire- and safety-related questions, but were at the wake of Yarmouth Police Officer Sean Gannon.There were no church officials in attendance at the meeting, but two members of the Centerville Concerned Citizens organization are scheduled to meet privately on Wednesday with church leaders and a T-Mobile representative.The South Congregational Church Building and Grounds Committee issued a statement saying it takes the health and safety of the community seriously, but pointed out that other churches on Cape Cod have cell antennas and there has been no community backlash."This relationship with T-Mobile enables the Church to continue and expand its vital mission to those in need in our local community and beyond, while improving cell service in the Centerville and Craigville Beach vicinity," the statement read. "This cell service is vital to first responders and those seeking to contact police and first responders in emergency situations and reflects our commitment to the well-being of our community."After Wednesday's meeting, the next move by Centerville Concerned Citizens is unclear, but some village residents say they may start picketing the church as soon as this Sunday.Legal action against the church does not appear off the table, either.Centerville Concerned Citizens has started working with local attorney Paul Revere III, according to Janet Davis, a group leader whose family owns the 1856 Country Store located directly next door to the church.A call to Revere had not been returned as of late Tuesday."Whatever it takes, we're ready to fight it," Day said. (TNS) With the help of a statewide grant, a pocket of about 280 homes in north-central Walworth County, Wis., is poised to receive high-speed Internet by the end of the year. Edge Broadband , a Whitewater-based Internet services provider, secured a $116,395 grant from the state last week. Brian Madl, the companys owner and president, said the grant will bolster a fiber-optic expansion project in parts of the town of Sugar Creek, a region that significantly lacks access to broadband Internet.The grant from the state Public Service Commission will fund about 40 percent of Phase 2 of the companys project, servicing the 100-home neighborhood north of County A just south of Lake Wandawega, Madl said.Construction on those fiber-optic lines will begin as soon as the (grant) check is in our shop. The goal is to have that area completed this season and to have customers up and running, Madl said.The companys Phase 1 began in November, and its already nearing completion. About 109 homes just north of Silver Lake are poised to begin service in the next few weeks, Madl said. Another 40 homes just east of County ES are expected to have service soon.Gary Beckett, who lives on Aspen Road in the Phase 1 area, said he is served by TDS Telecom and pays $80 a month for a package that includes Internet speeds of five megabits per second.By contrast, Spectrums lowest Internet speed offered in Janesville is 100 Mbps 20 times faster than what Beckett gets from TDS.Thats pathetic by todays standards, Beckett said. Its annoying. Other than searching the Internet and checking emails, you cant really do anything.According the state Public Service Commission, about 16 percent of rural Walworth County doesn't have access to high-speed Internet, which the Federal Communication's Commission classifies as 24 Mbps.In the town of Sugar Creek, some residents have been confined to Internet provided by TDS for years. Those interviewed by The Gazette all expressed frustration with their Internet speeds.Julie Riese, who lives in the Phase 2 area of the project, said shes a TDS customer. As a personal trainer, shes often unable to access her training videos, she said, and many people in the area have been looking for faster Internet for a while.Over the last seven years, TDS is just not upgrading anything to come up with the faster times. And sometimes my service will go down, and I cant reconnect until the next day, Riese said. All I know is, I have multiple problems with it.While Madl said the companys prices arent set in stone, hes looking to offer monthly packages between $45 and $100 with speeds up to 1,000 Mbps. The fiber-optic lines, which are widely considered the fastest form of broadband Internet, will connect to centers in Chicago, which Madl touted as a bonus.Phase 1 of the project totaled about $150,000, and Madl said the company paid for all costs out of pocket. Phase 2 will total about $290,000, with the company footing 60 percent of the bill and the state grant providing the rest, Madl said.Once Phase 2 is completed, Madl said the company plans to continue expanding its fiber-optic presence throughout the region. In the next phase, theyll install lines north toward the Lauderdale Lakes region, eventually crossing to the east side of Highway 12.Several businesses and Tibbets Elementary School also fall within the companys service zone for Phase 2, but they could not be reached for comment.This is going to be a 30- to 50-year product. Its expensive, but its a long-term product, Madl said. The demand is there. As a long as our doors are open, there will be no problem in making this work. Read by opinion leaders, policy makers, the vendor community and government IT workforce, Techwire.net has a well-defined audience focused on the public-sector technology industry in California. Our goal is to gather and publish news and information related to this community, and to document the efforts of those working to modernize Californias digital infrastructure and access to information. (TNS) The Hull McKnight Georgia Cyber Training and Innovation Center is taking shape on Reynolds Street.But what is it, really? What will it do? And what will it do for Augusta?Answering those questions requires drilling down to the basics.Though "cyber" is derived from the word cybernetics the study of human and machine interactions the term in Augusta most often refers to cybersecurity, which is the protection of computers and data from unauthorized or criminal use. The word gained currency in the 1990s amid society's increasing dependence on computers for communication, shopping and banking.The broad mission of Augusta's $100 million facility is to promote cybersecurity innovation through collaboration by government organizations, private-sector businesses, academia and the military.The Georgia Technology Authority-owned center has many partners, but the biggest locally are Fort Gordon and Augusta University.Fort Gordon is home to the Army's Cyber Center of Excellence, the military's largest communications and cybersecurity training center. It also houses a National Security Agency cryptological center, which monitors electronically intercepted intelligence from Europe, the Middle East and northern Africa. By 2020, the post will house the Army's Cyber Command, currently located at Fort Belvoir, Va.The military says cyberwarfare is the newest, and increasingly important, theater of battle. It relies not on numerical or physical strength, but the most tactically effective use of technology. State officials cited proximity to Fort Gordon as the reason it chose to build the center at AU's Riverfront Campus.AU founded its Cyber Institute in 2015 to develop research, new curricula and outreach opportunities in cybersecurity. In July, AU launched its School of Computer and Cyber Sciences to improve and expand the university's computer science and information technology programs. That school moves in when the first phase of 332,000-square-foot project is completed in July.Michael Shaffer, AU's executive vice president of strategic partnerships and economic development, said construction is on schedule thanks to contractors and other project partners, including the city of Augusta, which he says has "been exceptional in making sure that the process moves along.""Everyone had to agree to this aggressive timeline," he said.AU President Dr. Brooks Keel said a ribbon-cutting is scheduled the evening of July 10. The first meeting in the center's 340-seat auditorium a GTA conference is scheduled the following day."We will start moving our faculty into the building just as quick as we can, and have it up and functioning by the time that fall semester starts," Keel said.The second-phase, which is architecturally identical to the first, is scheduled to be completed by the end of the year.Other tenants in the five-story center include Augusta Technical College, the Georgia National Guard and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation's Cyber Crime Unit.AU will oversee the center's day-to-day operations through a memorandum of understanding with the GTA.For the center's education and training mission, there will be classrooms, faculty offices, conference rooms and the auditorium. Networking labs specially equipped spaces where technology professionals can collaborate and test ideas are designed to foster cybersecurity research and economic development.One of the more intriguing parts of the facility is its "cyber range" a virtual environment where students, government employees and industry partners can hone their training and tactics in the way a marksman might use a rifle range. A high-security data center will store and process massive amounts of digital information through a large group of connected servers.An entire floor will be reserved for private partners wanting to lease space to take advantage of the "incubator business startup and innovation area," said Paula Calhoun, GTA communications director. She said those tenants have yet to be determined, and that the space will not be built out until after the facility opens.Shaffer also wouldn't specify private-sector tenants, but said interest in the space has been high."There's a lot of great energy around that, I can tell you that," he said.Calhoun said the inclusion of an incubator for cybersecurity start-ups is what differentiates the center from the typical state building."We're not aware of any other facility with the same scope," Calhoun said. "Partnerships among academia; local, state and federal agencies; the military; the private sector; and the inclusion of a cybercrime unit truly make Georgia's center unique."Keel also uses the word "unique" to describe the center."The concept here is that you have a place where a student can walk out the classroom directly across the hall to do an internship. That is extremely powerful when you start talking to business and industry about coming to an environment," Keel said. "All businesses will tell you they want to be located near a university, but what they really mean is that they want to be on the campus, rubbing elbows with the students."Kenneth Ferderer, a managing partner of InnoVacient, a Silicon Valley-based consultancy, said facilities such as the Hull McKnight center are one of the few ways governments can help encourage private-sector innovation. But he said entrepreneurism can be stifled by micromanagement or by allowing the facility to lose focus."If it's just kind of a one-time shot, it's probably going to be a nice building that will get re-purposed into something else," said Ferderer, whose firm advises governments and corporations on innovation and commercialization strategies.His partner, Jeffrey Wells, former director of cyber development for the state of Maryland, said it can take many years for an innovation center to create an "ecosystem.""Just because you build it immediately doesn't mean everybody is going to want to have an office there," Wells said. "Eventually, over time, people will set up shop, but it doesn't immediately mean everybody is going to want to be right next door. In cyber, you don't have to be right next door."But proximity to Augusta's booming downtown is what AU experts are counting on. Dr. William Hatcher, director of AU's Master of Public Administration program, said he believes the new campus "will have a significant and positive effect on" the downtown economy.He said the facility "will house professionals who will spend large portions of their days in the downtown. They will shop and eat. They will spend money in the downtown contributing to local businesses and the community's tax base."Dr. Richard Franza, dean of AU's James M. Hull College of Business, also expects the center to spur growth."I haven't seen any direct economic impact studies, but here's the way I rationalize it: My sense is, because of that facility, you're going to have a lot more new businesses and existing businesses here in town. There are probably some already here based on the work at Fort Gordon," he said.Franza took several economic development trips to study incubators and accelerators in cities such as Dallas, Chicago and Denver when he was senior associate dean of the Michael J. Coles College of Business at Kennesaw State University.He said the advantage Augusta's center has is its narrow focus and diverse tenant mix. He said the impact will be felt throughout the metro area; "not just downtown but in the surrounding communities."Keel agrees, adding that the business and industry the facility attracts will spur additional commercial development."Think of hotels and restaurants and shops, all the conveniences that, when people work, they want to have near them," Keel said. "So we can easily see that once you have this campus start to develop."Shaffer said the important thing to remember about the center is that it is "not an Augusta thing.""This is a statewide initiative," Shaffer said. "It just happens to be located in Augusta. And we're the recipients of that. And that's huge."2018 The Augusta Chronicle (Augusta, Ga.) Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. (TNS) The company handling Tennessee's statewide grade school testing might have experienced "a deliberate attack," according to state education officials.Hamilton County Schools stopped TNReady testing for the day when students began experiencing issues logging in to the platform and will most likely not resume today, according to Tim Hensley, spokesman for the district."It appears Questar's data center may have experienced a deliberate attack this morning based on the way traffic is presenting itself. They are currently resetting the system. However, the attacker may take these same steps again, and Questar is actively working on further reinforcements, including notifying authorities," according to an email that Education Commissioner Candice McQueen sent to directors of schools across the state Tuesday morning.Student data was not compromised, according to McQueen's update, but today's testing problems come after a day of login issues after the testing period began Monday.According to thestudents in Shelby, Williamson and Knox County schools have experienced issues with the testing platform.In Hamilton County, nine schools were affected Monday morning between 9:30 and 10:30 a.m. when students were unable to access Questar's online platform, Nextera.Testing historically has been a problem for the state. Last year, state officials announced nearly 10,000 assessments were scored incorrectly by Questar. At the time, school officials said three Hamilton County schools were affected In 2016, Tennessee terminated its contract with Measurement Inc. after the North Carolina company's online platform failed in a number of districts. After the failure, Education Commissioner Candice McQueen directed districts to stop testing online.The state then was forced to suspend testing for grades 3 through 8 after the company was unable to get backup paper tests to a number of schools.After yesterday's incident, House Government Operations Chairman Jeremy Faison, R-Cosby, toldhe will request if the committee meets Tuesday that McQueen or an education department representative appear before the group."It's on the commissioner's shoulders at this point. And we're tired of it," said Rep. Ron Lollar, R-Bartlett, during the committee's Monday meeting.At this time, it is unclear if the committee will meet with education department officials today.McQueen's morning update urged schools to continue testing if students were able to do so."If you are testing, please continue. When a student is finished, please pause the test and note which student has used which machine, as students' tests are stored on that specific device. Again, the software is designed to save students' work, so if their testing session is disrupted, they can resume and submit their answers later. We will notify you when the system is back up, and the students can return to that device and submit," the statement read. "New students will likely not be able to log-in this morning, but we anticipate they will be able to do so this afternoon. We will be in touch as soon as possible with an update." Healthcare providers are invited to attend the annual Childrens Educational Potpourri conference presented by Childrens Hospital at Erlanger on Friday, May 4, at The Colonnade in Ringgold. Among the many topics covered at this years North Georgia conference are sleep apnea in children, behavioral health disorders and illicit drug use. The conference is designed specifically for healthcare and emergency medicine professionals who specialize in the care of pediatric and neonatal patients. Other topics include Inhibitor Insight and the treatment of Hemophilia. Pediatric simulation stations will also be available for training during breakout sessions. We are extremely fortunate to once again host this conference at The Colonnade this year, said Darwin Koller, MD, Emergency Department medical director for Childrens Hospital at Erlanger. Our goal is to deliver excellence in pediatric medical care while providing vital services to those in need. That also includes providing continuing education and training to health professionals throughout the region. Physicians, nurse practitioners, nurses, respiratory therapists, emergency management services professionals, students and other medical associates are encouraged to register to network with peers, obtain CNE credit and receive updates in the latest medical advancements not only in the region but also nationwide. Tammuella Singleton, MD from Tulane University Pediatric Hematology/Oncology will be the conferences key note speaker. Other speakers include Childrens Hospital physicians Drs. Michael Carr, M.C. Culbertson III, Katherine Goudelocke, Alan Kohrt, and David Suhrbier as well as associates Joel Dishroon, Marisa Moyers, and Jill Rimmer. Christy Phillips from Pediatrix, April E. Morris from Shire Pharmaceuticals, and Grundy County Sheriff Clint Shrum will also speak. Registration is required for the conference either by calling 706-935-9000 or visiting ColonnadeCenter.Tix.com. Registration fees range from $60 to $75. For more information about the conference, visit ChildrensatErlanger.org/cpc, call 778-2681 or email Carol.Mayo@erlanger.org. Haas boss Gunther Steiner has given a strong indication that Kevin Magnussen will stay in 2019. Many pundits believe the Dane has the upper hand over Romain Grosjean this year. Magnussen's fixed contract runs out in 2018, but the American team Haas has an option to extend it for another season. "We do not comment on the status of contracts," team boss Steiner told BT newspaper. "That applies whether it's a driver or a partner. "Having said that, we are very happy with both of our drivers. We are continuing to focus on this season and scoring as many points as possible." (GMM) Union Hill Missionary Baptist will host a Women's Day Weekend on Saturday and Sunday. A Prayer Social will be at 6:30 p.m. on Saturday, with Veronica Ryan speaking. Joyce Taylor will be the speaker on Sunday at 9:45 a.m. The church is at 1800 North Chamberlain Ave. Japan-based NTN, a leading global supplier of hub bearings and driveshafts, will supply in-wheel motor technology to EV startup Changchun Fawsn Auto Tech (FSAT), established in October 2017 by FAW Group. FSAT will exhibit a prototype vehicle at the upcoming Beijing Motor Show. NTNs latest in-wheel motor NTN began work on in-wheel motors in 2003, deploying and testing successive iterations on different types of compact, lightweight EVs. In 2016, NTN provided five prototypes of converted EVs with its latest in-wheel motor drive system to both Mie Prefecture and Kuwana City in Japan. NTNs newest in-wheel system features a combination of parallel axial reduction gear and outer ring rotating hub for lighter and more compact design compared to the conventional product. The thickness of the 30 kW in-wheel motor part was reduced by using a motor shaft with an offset layout to the vehicle shaft and by keeping its width within the wheel, allowing it to be mounted without changing the vehicles suspension or steering structure. This can be expected to enable reduction in cost and time of development. A 2010 version of NTNs in-wheel motor. According to a report in the Nikkei, in 2019, FSAT plans to manufacture vehicles equipped with in-wheel motors with a range of 450 km (280 miles). The company is targeting annual production of 300,000 vehicles in 2023. The car will be the first mass-produced electric vehicle equipped with an in-wheel motor, according to NTN. With an increasing focus on the electric vehicle market, NTN has also developed a two motor e-axle that consists of motor drive units with an inverter. NTN two-motor e-axle. The University of Bristol is leading a US$1.4-million (947,336) project NanoComposites for Active Gas Encapsulation (nanoCAGE) which will deliver smart composite materials to address the problem of safe and efficient hydrogen storage. A low-density gas, hydrogen is challenging to store on-board a vehicle. Nanoporous materials (materials containing holes only a few nanometers in diameter) have been shown to adsorb hydrogen spontaneously so that it can be stored at exceedingly high densities under the right conditions. However, storage of industrially relevant amounts of hydrogen (i.e. at levels approaching US Department of Energy technical targets) via adsorption in porous materials necessitates storage at very high pressures (typically >350 bar) or very low temperatures (e.g. 77 K / -196.15 C). The nanoCAGE project will challenge conventional approaches to the development of porous materials for storage of hydrogen which rely on simple adsorption of gases onto materials surfaces, and instead will change the mechanism by which the hydrogen is stored. These new composites will be based on encapsulating existing nanoporous adsorbents in a continuous matrix of an active material that can control when gases are allowed in or out of the pores of the adsorbent. The novel approach is that the active components will be triggered to undergo a reversible change in structure to induce controlled and reversible pore blocking to either allow or obstruct the movement of gases to or from the pores of the adsorbent, allowing these materials to act as a nanocage for gas molecules. Another key innovation of the nanoCAGE project is the introduction of control over the trapping and release mechanisms using changes in external conditions such as light, heat or application of a magnetic field to change the structure of the active phase. This approach, building upon Principal Investigator Dr. Valeska Tings expertise in hydrogen densification in nanoporous materials, could increase the amount of hydrogen stored in these materials at room temperature by ten times, making economical storage of hydrogen possible and providing a gateway to use of hydrogen for sustainable energy applications. These composite materials could furthermore find application in many other fields of research (for example in carbon dioxide capture, controllable drug delivery and smart packaging) and will allow the PI to develop a new research area in active gas trapping composites. Green Rivers residents can expect to see the countys 2018 Notice of Value statements this week. The statements, according to Sweetwater County Assessor David Divis, are what are used to determine property tax statements, which will be mailed in September. A release from Divis states residents who have signed up for the eNotice program will receive their statements Wednesday. According to the release, home values are set by calculating the new replacement cost, subtracting the depreciation and then trending for sales. The Wyoming Department of Revenue provides the cost data to the 23 county assessors in the state, which was collected during the 2017 calendar year. Divis release states a slight increase in the cost tables took place during the year. There was an increase in residential sales prices which will contribute to an increase in values for the coming year, Divis release states. In Sweetwater County, there were 492 valid residential sales with a median sale price of $257,721. Commercial properties also saw a small increase in value over the past few years. Residents disagreeing with their property assessments can discuss the issue with Divis up to 30 days after the sent date on their assessment. Residents receiving the veterans exemption who do not have a value on the lower right hand corner of the notice should contact the assessors office by May 22 to receive the exception for 2018. Taxes on the notice dont reflect the exemption. Anyone with questions or concerns can call the assessors office at 872-3700 or stop by the office, located at the Sweetwater County Courthouse. Cleveland was featured in the March/April 2018 edition of Business View Magazine based on Clevelands economic development and community spirit. Business View Magazine is one of the nations top sources of news for executives, entrepreneurs, small business owners, franchisees and those interested in best practices and industry trends. This digital magazine is available online and the article about Cleveland is on the citys website. Print copies are also available at the Cleveland Municipal Building at 190 Church Street NE, Cleveland, Tn. 37311. Business View is a leader in public sector reporting with a focus on municipal infrastructure projects, green initiatives and college sustainability programs. Over 400,000 subscribers currently receive this publication. The magazine is digitally published monthly and is promoted through various web and social media platforms for peak search engine optimization. The online publication is also smart phone and tablet friendly. Earlier today, company officials announced plans to construct a new Food City at 540 Highway US-41 in Ringgold/Ft. Oglethorpe. The 49,700+ square foot supermarket is expected to open fall of 2018 and will serve as the areas second location.The area residents in both Tennessee and Georgia have certainly been supportive of our company and were extremely excited to have the opportunity to provide our loyal customers with a new, state-of-the-art Food City, says Steven C.Smith, Food City president and chief executive officer.The location includes an in-store bakery/deli, complete with a hot food bar, large cafe seating area, pizzeria and deluxe fresh food bar, featuring a wide variety of soup, wings, salad and fruit selections. Full service meat and seafood departments offer pre-marinated and seasoned oven ready products, plus a complete selection of top quality meats that are all-natural with no solutions added, including Certified Angus Beef and fresh sushi. In-house meat cutters hand cut steaks and fresh meat to order. Expanded grocery, frozen food and produce departments go well beyond the normal fare with a huge selection of gourmet, international and specialty items. The Food City Floral Boutique is staffed with a designer seven days per week, offering a full assortment of fresh-cut floral arrangements, bouquets, gift items and more. Rapid checkout service is provided by six traditional check-out lanes and four self-check-outs."For added convenience, Food City is proud to continue its relationship with Tennessee Valley Federal Credit Union (TVFCU), who will offer an in-store branch banking option, Food City Pharmacy offering a full range of services, and a Food City Gas N Go, featuring a large five pump station, including diesel fuel. The new location also features several award winning energy saving concepts, ranging from energy efficient glass cooler doors, parking lot lights and refrigeration systems to motion sensors and 100 percent LED lighting, as well as an open rafter ceiling design," officials said.Our customers will find the same exceptional customer service, top quality products and competitive pricing they have come to expect from Food City, housed in a more energy efficient model, along with some exciting new features and conveniences, says Mr. Smith.Headquartered in Abingdon, Va., K-VA-T Food Stores (Food Citys parent company) operates 132 retail outlets throughout southeast Kentucky, southwest Virginia, east Tennessee, Chattanooga and north Georgia. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson talking about their horrible Starbucks experience. Photo: Jacqueline Larma/AP/REX/Shutterstock The two men whose Philadelphia Starbucks visit last week concluded with an evening in jail have spoken to the press about the incident. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson lifelong Philadelphians and childhood friends who are both 23 showed up at the store on Thursday afternoon for a business meeting, and within minutes, things had gone south. They got arrested for trespassing, as other customers looked on in shock, and Starbuckss own CEO has called what transpired reprehensible. In the duos first media interview since being arrested, Nelson tells the Associated Press that he initially brushed off hearing that he couldnt use the bathroom unless he bought something, and didnt think much, either, of an employee approaching to ask if they needed help. The two said no, and that theyd just keep waiting at their table until their business associate arrived. A couple of minutes later, three police officers showed up and arrested them. The reason they were there was to meet a local businessman (Andrew Yaffe, whos white) in order to discuss a potential real-estate deal. The three of them initially chose a Starbucks across town, but later it got changed to this cafe located in Phillys Rittenhouse Square, a posh neighborhood thats richer (by average household income, anyway) than Manhattans Soho. Nelson and Robinson grew up in a gritty southwest Philadelphia neighborhood, the AP reports, but this Starbucks visit occasioned their first-ever arrest. Police Commissioner Richard Ross has argued that Nelson and Robinson were both disrespectful to the officers, but they argue that they didnt resist arrest. Although Robinson says he did push back at first: We were there for a real reason, a real deal that we were working on, he tells the AP. We put in a lot of time, energy, effort We were at a moment that could have a positive impact on a whole ladder of people, lives, families. So I was like, No, youre not stopping that right now. Robinson continues: When you know that you did nothing wrong, how do you really react to it? You can either be ignorant or you can show some type of sophistication and act like you have class. That was the choice we had. The incident made Robinson think about his loved ones, and how, as he was being handcuffed and transported to jail, things had taken such a screwed-up turn. Nelson, meanwhile, wondered if hed make it home alive. Anytime Im encountered by cops, I can honestly say its a thought that runs through my mind, he tells the wire service. You never know whats going to happen. The two men also appeared on todays Good Morning America, where they told anchor Robin Roberts that the incident at Starbucks crossed the line to whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong. This was the right time, his restaurant group says. Photo: Boot & Shoe Service via Facebook The 30-plus women who say they were sexually harassed by chef Charlie Hallowell, one of the Bay Area food worlds most prominent names, scored a major victory this week: Hell be the first big-time restaurateur accused of misconduct to sell one of his places. The San Francisco Chronicle reports that Hallowell is selling Boot & Shoe Service, one of three Oakland restaurants he runs, to Jen Cramer, an employee who used to manage Pizzaiolo (another of Hallowells spots), and her husband Richard Clark, a former manager at baking savant Chad Robertsons Tartine Manufactory. Theyre expected to assume 100 percent ownership within two months, the Chronicle reports enough time to get the financials figured out. Theyre applying for a small-business loan and taking investments from family and friends. The name and concept (upscale pizzeria) wont be changed, they say. Were trying to make the transition very seamless, Cramer explains. Were trying to preserve everything that makes the restaurant great. This means the current chef, Bradley Ceynowa, and menu will stay as is. Boot & Shoe Service was the restaurant that saw seven managers resign en masse last January after Hallowell took a leave of absence, but refused to relinquish ownership of his company. Cramer says its been a bumpy road since (A lot of the staff is new, and were focusing on training). Hallowells restaurant group hired a female COO in March, and now in a press release says its the right time to hand Boot & Shoe over. She adds that their focus will simply shift to our other two restaurants, Pizzaiolo and Penrose, as well as our future expansion plans. Earlier this month, the New York Times reported that Mario Batali was starting to look for ways to divest from his restaurants, so as to create a post-Mario world at Batali & Bastianich Restaurant Group. But so far, he hasnt. John Besh, Ken Friedman, Mike Isabella, and other men accused of misconduct are also presumably still making money off of their restaurants. The only other ousted food-industry owner at this point is Jeremy Tooker, founder of San Franciscos Four Barrel Coffee. After employees accused him of various kinds of sexual misconduct, he divested the following day. There was even talk of making the third-wave roastery employee-owned and rebranding it as the Tide. (Tres San Francisco, but the name ultimately stayed intact.) Either way, #MeToo backers can cheer the news that at least one other culinary VIP will no longer benefit financially from the businesses where he abused his power. An array of lawsuits accuses the chef of fraud. Photo: Matt Rourke/AP/REX/Shutterstock The news hasnt been great lately for Jose Garces, the award-winning Iron Chef and TV personality whos run dozens of restaurants in cities coast to coast. Financial troubles have reportedly now cascaded into some much larger legal issues: Reports in recent days chronicle a rash of litigation that hes facing from suppliers and investors who accuse him of essentially running a hospitality-focused Ponzi scheme. A chef whos among the culinary worlds fastest-ever rising stars he went from operating no restaurants in 2005 to 29 in less than a decade, while racking up constant Food Network appearances, hotel and casino partnerships, and even a James Beard Award Garces now looks to be presiding over an empire thats crumbling. In statements this week to press, he promises steps are underway to fix these financial challenges, and says hes working to recapitalize the company. Heres a quick chronology of the major pieces that, together, seem to have suddenly made Garcess situation so dire. In 2005, Garces needed capital to get his first spot Amada, the Philly restaurant that would put Garces on the culinary map off the ground, just like any green restaurateur. A lawsuit filed by a New Jersey couple who invested in that restaurant claims he squandered their $2.5 million, took out a multi-million-dollar line of credit to pay off other debts, then circled back to them for more money with no real intention of paying it back. They argue that his business tactics amount to massive, self-interested and continuing fraud in substance and operation a Ponzi scheme at the expense of his investors. Garcess attorney dismisses the suit as frivolous litigation filed by a disgruntled investor. But its one of six lawsuits Garces has faced in just the last eight months. For example, four separate Philly-area suppliers have gone after him as well, alleging that he owes over a million dollars in food bills for everything from cilantro to kale. The top complaint belongs to another of Garcess original investors, Jim Sorkin, who claims his familys wholesale food-distribution company is out $848,000 for ingredients it provided to six of Garcess restaurants. Garces was hit hard by some bad business breaks: In 2014, four of his top-earning restaurants were wiped out in a single blow. Revel Casinos Atlantic City bankruptcy knocked out Village Whiskey, the A.C. outpost of Amada, Garcess hotel taco truck, and a Japanese noodle bar called Yuboka. Three weeks ago, he also, with little explanation, closed his New York location of Amada, a conspicuous 7,000-square-foot space beside the Hudson River in Battery Park City. And his Philadelphia taqueria Buena Onda is down for the count, too. Together, they amount to the 10th and 11th restaurants hes had to close. In the past year, Garces also let his CEO and CFO go for undisclosed reasons. Garces took out a $7 million line of credit from M&T Bank, which has reportedly put Garcess entire restaurant group into a quasi-receivership situation where an outside turnaround specialist can now make financial decisions for the company. Its unclear what this sagas next chapter will look like, although an in-depth report in Philadelphia magazine describes Garces as having become more self-aware in recent weeks about the potential problems of such rapid expansion. The most recent news is that hes in talks with a restaurant company called Ballard Brands, whose portfolio includes chains youve never heard of, like Wow Cafe, PJs Coffee, and Boardhouse Serious Sandwiches. Titus Andronicus performs for free for Record Store Day. Photo: Pedro Gomes/Redferns Events to check out this weekend, April 19 to 22. 1. Chase some legal highs. High five, 4/20 falls on Friday and weve got ten places to get your CBD fix, including an infused sundae from Van Leeuwen and CBD cocktails at 5th&Mad. Or go old-school at one of two Cheech & Chong Up in Smoke comedy concerts at 5:30 and 9 p.m. at the Capitol Theatre, and inhale deeply. At midnight, finish the holiday with a special edition of puppeteer and MacArthur Fellow Basil Twists spectacular Symphonie Fantastique. Its trippy on its own, so imagine what it must be like after a little help. 2. Hit a film festival. The 17th annual Tribeca Film Festival began Wednesday, and our critics have kindly picked out the films to see, including a documentary about Gilda Radner and the Sundance hit The Miseducation of Cameron Post, starring Chloe Grace Moretz. Fans of surfing will also want to hang ten with Momentum Generation, which uses archival footage and interviews with legends like Kelly Slater to follow a ragtag bunch of surfers in Oahu in the 80s who eventually become the most influential the sport has ever seen. 3. Feed your brain. The PEN America World Voices Festival continues through the 22nd, with this years theme of Resist and Reimagine bringing in writers from around the world. Highlights include an evening with Roxanne Gay on Friday, a discussion with Salman Rushdie and Paul Auster on creating New York characters on Saturday, a talk with Hasan Minhaj about religion on Sunday, and Hillary Rodham Clinton on the role of free speech the same evening. 4. Support independent music. This Saturday is Record Store Day, a grand event where you can stop by music purveyors for special releases and rare goodies from artists, including AC/DC, Arcade Fire, Courtney Barnett, and Prince. We suggest hitting up Rough Trade, which will also have free performances by the Shacks, Chris Stamey, Titus Andronicus, Bambara, and a DJ set by Sinkane throughout the day; or Threes Brewing, which will host an NYC independent-label-focused record-store pop-up in collaboration with Names You Can Trust, with a live performance by Combo Lulo and DJ sets from Little Dynasty and Sonido Chichadelico. Plus, beer. 5. Learn about Chinese restaurants in America. Last weekend, the Museum of Food and Drink (MOFAD) reopened with the exhibition Chow, which celebrates the birth and evolution of Chinese-American restaurants. Stop by tonight for the talk Why Chopsticks? Their Culture, History, and Sphere from historian and professor Q. Edward Wang. A book signing follows. 6. Explore raw cheese. On Saturday, which is apparently National Raw Milk Cheese Appreciation Day, learn all about the unpasteurized stuff at RAW: An American Artisan Cheese Celebration, with cheesy pairings and a panel talk with producers, including the Cellars at Jasper Hill, Hawthorne Valley Farm, and Consider Bardwell. Moderated by Jessica Sennett, the founder of Cheese Grotto and co-founder of Call Me Caramel. 7. Go punk or glam. Or both. Its a night of histrionics when Brit rockers the Darkness shows you just how much they believe in a thing called love, Friday at Brooklyn Steel. Come for the opener, Tennessee grunge punks Diarrhea Planet. They are very good despite their name. 8. Get an album advance from an indie-rock troubadour. Okkervil River lead Will Sheff stops by the Strand on Saturday, in advance of the release of the bands new record, In the Rainbow Rain (which is currently streaming). Hell discuss the album with A.C. Newman of the New Pornographers, sign a few copies, and perform an acoustic set. Entry is free with the purchase of a vinyl edition of the new album. 9. Celebrate Mothers Day early at the theater. Mothers Day is right around the corner, and you can score points now by taking your No. 1 to the musical Miss You Like Hell at the Public. By Pulitzer-winning playwright Quiara Alegria Hudes, its a tale of an undocumented immigrant in danger of deportation, which also spotlights a fierce mother-daughter relationship. One that merits lots of tissues. While youre there, make it a doubleheader with another Pulitzer winners play, Lynn Nottages stunning Mlimas Tale, an elephants-eye view of the illegal ivory trade. 10. Finally, do your part to save the world. Sunday is Earth Day. Astoria Park is hosting a free nature-themed event with sustainability demos like bee-keeping and how to build a solar oven, dance performances, and environmental education, while Prospect Park has catch-and-release-fishing lessons and gets you up close and personal with birds of prey. Bike along the Brooklyn waterfront on a mobile lecture with environmental experts, clean up the beach with Coney Island Brewery, or have your sustainable sushi and eat it, too, when Mayanoki partners with the Safina Center for an 18-course dinner of locally harvested fish, vegetable sushi from their upcoming vegetarian omakase, and cider. There are two seatings, at 6 p.m. and 8:30 p.m. Top it off with a visit to the new rooftop bar Ophelia, an Art Deco former favorite of Sinatra. Make it a date night: On Earth Day, theyll be lighting the space with only candles, and 10 percent of the nights proceeds will go to GreenHomeNYC, which helps buildings go green. Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission, delivers a speech at a gathering celebrating the 30th anniversary of the founding of Hainan province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone in South China's Hainan province, April 13, 2018. [Photo: Xinhua] The speech by Chinese President Xi Jinping at the celebration of the 30th anniversary of the founding of Hainan Province and the Hainan Special Economic Zone has been published. The booklet, published by the People's Publishing House, is available at Xinhua Bookstore outlets across the country. Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on Thursday to further promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two sides. Chinese President Xi Jinping (R) and British Prime Minister Theresa May. [File Photo: China Plus] In a telephone conversation, Xi pointed out that during May's visit to China earlier this year, a significant consensus was reached to further boost the "Golden Era" for China-Britain ties. The two sides agreed on pushing the bilateral relations to a more strategic, practical, globalized and inclusive level, and making joint efforts to constantly lead the relationship between the two countries to move forward. Xi said that China is willing to work with Britain to strengthen communication and coordination on macro policy, maintain high-level exchanges and institutional communication, promote practical cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and provide more opportunities to upgrade and accelerate the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties. Xi further expressed the hope that the British side would fill more positive energy into the development of China-Britain relations. He noted that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the two countries should continue to deepen international cooperation and make greater contributions to building a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. The British prime minister said she was delighted that the two sides reconfirmed to further deepen the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties, and welcomed the forthcoming London-Shanghai stock connect program, which would allow investors on one bourse to invest in the other. May also hailed the pledges made by Xi to further open up China's economy in a keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 held in China's southern island province of Hainan. She added that the British side is willing to join hands with China to maintain intensive high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in various fields, continue to explore the Belt and Road construction, and actively promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two countries. The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Syria and global trade, with Xi emphasizing that China has been greatly concerned over Syria's situation, and has always disapproved of the use of force in international relations. Instead, Beijing insists that the sovereign independence and territorial integrity should be respected and actions should be taken on the basis of the accepted rules of the international community, Xi added. He told May that the alleged chemical attack in Syria needs a comprehensive, just and objective investigation, whose results should withstand the test of history, so as to solve the Syrian crisis through political means as soon as possible. Xi further noted that both China and Britain are the beneficiaries and supporters of economic globalization, and expressed China's willingness to make concerted efforts with Britain as well as all parties concerned to continue to support free trade and build an open world economy. May said the British side also supports free trade and an open economy, and would like to maintain communication with China on relevant international and regional issues. Tupolas Hawaiian Language Resolution Unanimously Supported at the Capitol News Release from Tupola Campaign, April 18, 2018 HONOLULU, Hawaii - House Resolution 110 (HR110) relating to Hawaiian Language, Places, and Geographic Features was unanimously adopted in the Hawaii State House of Representatives on April 5, 2018, and House Concurrent Resolution 160 (HCR160) passed unanimously in the Senate on April 17, 2018. State House Minority Leader, Rep. Andria Tupola, introduced the resolutions with the help of Hawaiian language professors, educators, and advocates. The resolutions urge the correct usage of Hawaiian names when referring to places and geographical features in Hawaii. Signs, maps, and promotional material issued by the State, schools, and tourism entities should include the correct Hawaiian spelling and punctuation for geographical locations. Tupola stated, Im committed to recognizing Hawaiian as the official language of the state, and I hope these resolutions will be a step in the right direction to preserve and honor the Hawaiian language. Tupola rose to prominence in 2014 when she gained 56% of the votes in her House District, beating out the State House Majority Floor Leader by an astonishing 14% spread. She was re-elected in 2016, and became the State House Minority Leader in 2017. She is a top contender and the only Republican legislator in the 2018 Hawaii State Governors race. Tupola's resolutions gained wide support from the community and state departments such as, the Office of Planning, the Department of Education, and the Hawaii Tourism Authority. The Office of Hawaiian Affairs testified, This measure will enable the State and its people to further the constitutional provision recognizing Olelo Hawaii as an official language of the State, and assist in the revitalization and normalization of Olelo Hawaii. A community member also testified gratefully that, HCR 160 will help enhance the revival of the Hawaiian Language Our Kupunas stories will be able to live on thanks to HCR 160. More than 4 in 10 Americans Live with Unhealthy Air According to 2018 'State of the Air' Report American Lung Association's 19th annual air quality report finds ozone pollution worsened significantly, 133.9 million people at risk from air pollution News Release from American Lung Association (April 17, 2018) - WASHINGTON, D.C.The American Lung Association's 2018 "State of the Air" report found ozone pollution worsened significantly due to warmer temperatures, while particle pollution generally continued to improve in 2014-2016. The 19th annual national air quality "report card" found that 133.9 million Americansmore than four in 10 (41.4 percent)lived in counties with unhealthful levels of either ozone or particle pollution in 2014-2016, placing them at risk for premature death and other serious health effects such as lung cancer, asthma attacks, cardiovascular damage, and developmental and reproductive harm. "Near record-setting heat from our changing climate has resulted in dangerous levels of ozone in many cities across the country, making ozone an urgent health threat for millions of Americans," said American Lung Association National President and CEO Harold P. Wimmer. "Far too many Americans are living with unhealthy air, placing their health and lives at risk. The 'State of the Air' report should serve as a wake-up call for residents and representatives alike. Everyone deserves to breathe healthy air, and we must do more to protect the air we breathe by upholding and enforcing the Clean Air Act." Each year, "State of the Air" reports on the two most widespread outdoor air pollutants, ozone pollution and particle pollution. The report analyzes particle pollution in two ways: through average annual particle pollution levels and short-term spikes in particle pollution. Both ozone and particle pollution are dangerous to public health and can be lethal. But the trends reported in this year's report, which covers data collected by states, cities, counties, tribes and federal agencies in 2014-2016, reflect the ongoing challenges to reduce each pollutant in the changing political and outdoor climate. Ozone Pollution Inhaling ozone pollution is like getting a sunburn on the lung. It can trigger coughing and asthma attacks and may even shorten life. Warmer temperatures make ozone more likely to form and harder to clean up. Compared to the previous year, the 2018 report finds that far more people suffered from unhealthy ozone pollution, with approximately 128.9 million people living in 185 counties that earned an F grade for ozone. Of the 10 most polluted cities, seven cities did worse, including Los Angeles and the New York City metro area. Top 10 Most Ozone-Polluted Cities: Los Angeles-Long Beach, California Bakersfield, California Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, California Fresno-Madera, California Sacramento-Roseville, California San Diego-Carlsbad, California Modesto-Merced, California Phoenix-Mesa-Scottsdale, Arizona Redding-Red Bluff, California New York-Newark, New YorkNew Jersey-Connecticut-Pennsylvania Particle Pollution Unhealthy particles in the air emanate from wildfires, wood-burning devices, coal-fired power plants and diesel engines. Technically known as PM2.5, these microscopic particles lodge deep in the lungs and trigger asthma attacks, heart attacks and strokes, cause lung cancer and shorten life. The 2018 report covers 2014-2016 data, the most recent data available, and includes the significant wildfires and resulting smoke that swept across the nation in 2016, but not those occurring in 2017. The report grades both daily spikes, called "short-term" particle pollution, and the annual average or "year-round" level that represents the concentration of particles day-in and day-out in each location. The report finds that during 2014-2016, the year-round particle pollution levels continued to drop, maintaining a long-term trend, with a few notable exceptions, including Fairbanks, Alaska, where expanded monitoring newly identified the highest average levels in the nation. After spiking to record high levels in last year's report, days with high short-term particle levels also dropped in most locations. Short-term Particle Pollution In the 2018 "State of the Air" report, most cities experienced fewer days of spikes in particle pollution, yet 35.1 million people lived in the 53 counties with too many days when particle pollution peaked at unhealthy levels. Bakersfield, California remained the city with the greatest short-term particle pollution levels. Increased heat, changes in climate patterns, drought and wildfiresmany related to climate changecontributed to the high number of days with unhealthy particulate matter. Top 10 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Short-Term Particle Pollution (24-hour PM2.5): Bakersfield, California Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, California Fresno-Madera, California Fairbanks, Alaska Modesto-Merced, California San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California Los Angeles-Long Beach, California Salt Lake City-Provo-Orem, Utah El Centro, California Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, Pennsylvania-Ohio-West Virginia Year-round Particle Pollution The data available for the 2018 report show year-round particle pollution levels have dropped across much of the nation, some to their lowest levels yet. However, missing data from areas with invalid monitoring resulted in incomplete estimates of how many people nationwide are at risk from air pollution. According to EPA records, no complete data have been available for the entire state of Illinois since the 2014 report covering 2010-2012. In addition, the entire state of Mississippi and Los Angeles County and San Bernardino County in California lacked valid data for year-round particle pollution. The 2018 report, based on available but incomplete data, found that 9.8 million people lived in 16 counties where the annual average concentration of particle pollution was too high. But according to the Lung Association, as a result of the missing data, this likely vastly underestimates the people who are breathing unhealthy levels. The importance of monitoring became particularly clear in the new ranking of Fairbanks, Alaska. Previously the metro area lacked sufficient monitoring data to provide year-round information. Now, improved monitoring, data revealed the dangerous levels of particle pollution year-round. In fact, Fairbanks is now the city with the highest year-round particle pollution in the 2018 report, up from number 17 in the 2017 report. "The people of Fairbanks, Alaska, and all Americans have the right to know if the air they are breathing is dangerous. Improved monitoring is a critical step toward clean-up efforts that will save lives," Wimmer said. "Greater monitoring of air quality nationwide may also identify additional health risks in other locations in the United States." Most cities continue to reduce their year-round particle pollution levels, some to their lowest levels yet. This continues a more than decade-long trend, as a result of steps taken under the Clean Air Act to reduce emissions. Despite these advancements, the 11 most polluted cities each violate the Clean Air Act's U.S. National Ambient Air Quality Standards designed to protect public health. Top 11 U.S. Cities Most Polluted by Year-Round Particle Pollution (Annual PM2.5): 1. Fairbanks, Alaska 2. Visalia-Porterville-Hanford, California 3. Bakersfield, California 4. Los Angeles-Long Beach, California 5. Fresno-Madera, California 6. Modesto-Merced, California 7. El Centro, California 8. Pittsburgh-New Castle-Weirton, Pennsylvania-Ohio-West Virginia 8. Lancaster, Pennsylvania 10. San Jose-San Francisco-Oakland, California 10. Cleveland-Akron-Canton, Ohio "More must be done to clean up the air so that everyone has healthy air to breathe," Wimmer said. "We need essential pollution monitoring information to safeguard the health of those most at risk of the effects of air pollution, including children, the elderly and those living with a lung disease." Cleanest Cities The "State of the Air" also recognizes the nation's cleanest cities, and again this year, only six cities qualified for that status. To rank as one of the nation's cleanest, each city must experience no high ozone or high particle pollution days and must rank among the 25 cities with the lowest year-round particle pollution levels during 2014-2016. Cities new to the list include Bellingham, Washington and Casper, Wyoming. Cleanest U.S. Cities (listed in alphabetical order) Bellingham, Washington Burlington-South Burlington, Vermont Casper, Wyoming Honolulu, Hawaii Palm Bay-Melbourne-Titusville, Florida Wilmington, North Carolina With this report, the Lung Association calls out Congress and the U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) for six ongoing threats to the nation's air quality, including steps to roll back or weaken enforcement of key safeguards required under the Clean Air Act. Those threats include changes to weaken the Clean Air Act itself, undercut the agency's reliance on health science to inform policy making, and roll back existing cleanup requirements for cars, trucks, oil and gas operations and power plants, including the Clean Power Plan to limit carbon pollution and address climate change. "The Clean Air Act has saved lives and improved lung health for nearly 50 years," Wimmer said. "Congress and the EPA are tasked with protecting Americansincluding protecting the right to breathe air that doesn't make people sick or die prematurely. We call on President Trump, EPA Administrator Scott Pruitt and members of Congress to fully fund, implement and enforce the Clean Air Act for all pollutantsincluding those that drive climate change and make it harder to achieve healthy air for all." Report Card: Hawaii LINK: Cleanest Cities Compare Your Air: Urban Honolulu vs Kahului, Maui KHON: Honolulu amongst top cities in nation with cleanest air Dave J Hogan/Getty Images for The Rolling StonesRolling Stones fans in Ireland are in for a treat this coming summer. The opening show of the European leg of the Band's No Filter tour, in Dublin's Croke Park, will likely be one the longest sets of the outing. "I haven't gotten length yet. It will be their longest set because they will try out different things. We figure two hours to two-and-a-half hours," the Stones' longtime production manager, Dale Skjerseth, tells Ireland's Independent newspaper. "They don't have a permanent set yet. There are always the favourites and then they will add in. They keep themselves fit," Skjerseth adds. The May 17 show at Croke Park will be the Rolling Stones' first performance in Ireland since a 2007 show at Slane Castle before 68,000 people. "We start rehearsals next week and we are getting ready," Skjerseth tells the Independent. "It's a big show, we have 25 production trucks and we're around two hundred people touring with the entourage. All the excitement is around the beginning, especially the guys." For the latest news on the Stones' No Filter tour, check out their official website. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. In secret, behind locked gates, our Nation's Oldest City dumped a landfill in a lake (Old City Reservoir), while emitting sewage in our rivers and salt marsh. Organized citizens exposed and defeated pollution, racism and cronyism. We elected a new Mayor. We're transforming our City -- advanced citizenship. Ask questions. Make disclosures. Demand answers. Be involved. Expect democracy. Report and expose corruption. Smile! Help enact a St. Augustine National Park and Seashore. We shall overcome! (CNN) If the first photos are any indication, Emma Stone and Jonah Hill are headed for a crazy adventure in their new Netflix series, "Maniac." Netflix on Wednesday unveiled a few images from the upcoming series, directed by "True Detective" helmer Cary Fukunaga. "Maniac" is a remake of a Norwegian dark-comedy about "an institutionalized man who lives a fantasy life in his dreams," according to Netflix. In the Stone-Hill version of the series, they play a pair of strangers who find themselves caught up in a mind-bending pharmaceutical trial gone awry. The first-look photos tee up a crazy ride, with Hill and Stone seen dressed in standard-issue medical jumpsuits and, in another photo, strapped into highly intimidating chairs with head devices. The series, which does not yet have a premiere date, also stars Sally Field. Netflix released the photos along with news about some of its other shows. The streaming network announced that Jake Busey and Cary Elwes will join the cast of "Stranger Things" in the third season. Elwes will be playing the mayor of Hawkins, Indiana, where the show is set, and Busey will play a journalist with "questionable morals" named Bruce, Netflix said. It was also announced that the second season of wrestling comedy "Glow" will premiere on Friday, June 29. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Emma Stone and Jonah Hill's Netflix series 'Maniac' looks like a head trip" Manila (CNN Philippines Life) Im sitting next to the monument. The text on my phone reads. In the heart of Manila, across a distinguished baroque church, I walk past a busy street buzzing with colorful jeepneys. I arrive to find my friend sitting under the angular sculpture of Rajah Sulayman. The statue was sculpted by Eduardo Castrillo in 1976. It was erected in honor of the brave and princely ruler of 16th century Manila who died fighting the Spaniards. You do know Im named after him. He points to the statue. I laugh in amusement as we head towards the boulevard together. The bay is calm during this time of day; however, the humidity is stifling. It is the first time in two years that I cruise the stretch of Roxas Boulevard since moving north. The surrounding area of Pasay was my home for close to a decade. The face of Soliman Cruz is a common fixture to this side of town. He is known to many as an extraordinary actor who has been featured in award-winning films, plays, and television series. To the creative and bohemian folk of Malate, we know him simply as Sol. Buti bumalik ka! a street vendor exclaims. The elderly gentleman sits in a stall filled with an array of snacks and bottled drinks. Sol holds his arm out and takes the mans hand in his. The people in the area are genuinely happy to see him and proud of his newfound sobriety. I never went hungry when I slept here. Sol points to the grass below the tall palm trees of the bay. People who live in the open are too busy trying to survive. There was never time to be sad. Kapwa or togetherness is the core aspect of Filipino psychology. His time spent homeless on the boulevard was by choice to further his craft. It is the belief that all beings should ideally operate and coexist interdependently, with harmony; not only towards others but with the environment. It is similar to the Sikh philosophy of sewa or selfless service to advance spirituality. Sol washing pots and pans inside a Hindu or Sikh Temple in Manila baffled others, but I understood his intentions. The media has taken advantage of his eccentricity and has been quick to label his life as one big social experiment. Soliman Cruz first acted in the 8mm short film Kwentong Barbero in 1991 by Jon Red. It was his appearance in the 2005 The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros as the father of Maxi that earned him renown. A year later he starred as Judy Ann Santos' father in Star Cinemas Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, which was a commercial hit at the Metro Manila Film Festival. Photo by SHIRIN BHANDARI In the years that I have been Sols friend, if one wanted to find him, he was always close to the Cultural Center of the Philippines and Manila Bay. He has a long-standing love affair with the ocean. It serves as a peaceful reminder of his father who served in the Philippine Navy as part of the Coast Guard. His father spent time on RPS Rajah Soliman (D-66), a destroyer that was sold to the Philippine government by the United States in the 1960s. The boat was originally used in the Second World War. It sank four years later during a storm surge and was sold for scrap shortly after. At the tender age of 11, Sol lost his father who battled depression to an apparent suicide. During a trip to China in 1975, then President Ferdinand Marcos and first lady Imelda were received by a well-rehearsed group of Chinese children dancing in unison. It made an impression on Mrs. Marcos. She returned to the Philippines and organized a batch of military and navy children to greet foreign visitors and delegates at the Nayong Pilipino the same way. Sol was part of the group of dancers. The Nayong Pilipino was constructed in 1969 adjacent to the Manila International Airport to serve as a one-stop destination for visitors to experience the diverse cultural features and landscapes of the country. Renowned Ateneo drama teacher Dr. Onofre Pagsanghan, who conducted youth workshops at the time, saw great promise in Sol. He advised Sols mother to enroll him in the new form of high school which had just opened along a dormant volcano called Mt. Makiling. The Philippine High School for the Arts, the first of its kind in Asia, was inaugurated by Mrs. Marcos at the National Arts Center in 1977. It served as the Educational Arm of the Cultural Center of the country. Balang araw, titingalain ang anak mo. Sol coyly repeats the words his beloved mentor, Dr. Onofre, said to his mom, as we sit on the concrete ledge overlooking the sea. We laugh together at the thought. In some ways, the vision has pulled through. I joined drama class because of the pretty girls, he says. Sol beams as we watch the sunset. His smile is infectious. He has tried to rekindle his friendship with his old teacher who is now in his late 80s. Art is a part of the healing process, Sol says as he opens the door. People are being killed because of their addiction. We can change. There is hope and redemption for everyone. Sol first acted in the 8mm short film Kwentong Barbero in 1991 by Jon Red. It was his appearance in the 2005 The Blossoming of Maximo Oliveros as the father of Maxi that earned him renown. A year later, he starred as Judy Ann Santos' father in Star Cinemas Kasal, Kasali, Kasalo, which was a commercial hit at the Metro Manila Film Festival. Sols characters on set are brilliant and endearing they have often reached cult status among independent film viewers. He has worked with critically acclaimed directors like Raymond Red in Manila Skies (2009) and as Wawak in Lav Diazs four-hour epic Norte: Hangganan ng Kasaysayan (2013). Sol is also one of Diaz's go-to actors. It is rare for an actor to be able to transition from theatre, T.V., and on to film. However, life has dealt him a few bad cards. His battle with methamphetamine took charge of his career over the past decade. Addiction is a disease, Sol says. It is the first time Ive ever heard him own up to it. It was always the big elephant in the room that no one addressed completely. Experimenting with recreational drugs is normal for people in the creative industry. Neither is it frowned or looked down upon. The goal is to allegedly heighten creativity or mask depression. Continuous use alters the brain and judgment. Quitting takes a lot more than a strong will or good intentions. People who have a loved one battling addiction can become enablers. Sol and I would regularly meet on Sundays at a 100-year-old church on Vasquez Street in Malate. Weve all been responsible for giving him a buck or two. Like the rest of us who value his friendship and well-being, there is a substantial amount of guilt involved. Before moving, he wanted to come to my apartment in Pasay to have his suit cleaned for an event. It was an option of getting the chore done or giving him money. Cash in the hands of an addict is not a good thing. It was a relief he did not show. Sol landed in another artists house and was lucky to receive the help he so desperately needed. He has been living in a rehab facility to this day through a kind sponsor who chooses to remain anonymous. He also conducts acting workshops with those confined with him. Soliman Cruz is sober. He has learned to love himself and his craft again. It is close to a year since he auditioned for a part in the annual festival of unique one-act plays at the Cultural Center of the Philippines. Sol has been offered a steady stream of work since, including appearances on GMA-7's News and Public Affairs show about overseas Filipino workers, Tadhana. We reach the end of the bay and stop at a pedestrian crossing. His phone rings. His agent gives him a booking for a television series for the day after. At a small cafe a few blocks away, we travel to gather and celebrate another friends birthday. He tells me about his plans to attend an Open University with his eldest daughter Tala to finally earn a degree. Ive always wanted to teach children. I want them to learn everything I know, he says as we stand outside the cafe. Art is a part of the healing process, Sol says as he opens the door. People are being killed because of their addiction. We can change. There is hope and redemption for everyone. *** Soliman Cruz stars in the upcoming films Gusto Kita with All My Hypothalamus, directed by Dwein Baltazar and "Hitboy" directed by Bor Ocampo. Both entries are in the 3rd CineFilipino Film Festival 2018 which will run from May 9 to May 15. For more information visit the Cinefilipino Facebook page. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) Grab Philippines on Tuesday said it is willing to comply with a possible order from regulators to refund the alleged illegal fare collection subject to making sure figures are correct. "Kailangan muna i-ascertain 'yung figures," Grab's Country Head Brian Cu said in a media briefing Wednesday. "We're ready to comply with the LTFRB and their regulations. We'll wait for the order, we'll see what will happen." The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) summoned Grab Tuesday over pricing structures, particularly a 2 per minute charge during the drive. PBA party-list representative Jericho Nograles, who was also present at the hearing, had said Grab collected around 1.8 million in hidden "illegal" charges. But Cu defended the regularity of the pricing scheme, adding the per-minute charge goes to the drivers. "Ano pong ibabalik natin? Nasa driver po napunta 'yung 2," he said. [Translation: What will we return? The driver has the 2.] Miguel Aguila, Grab lawyer, said a Transport Department order in 2015 allowed transport network companies (TNCs) to set pricing schemes, with the LTFRB having oversight. But Nograles, in an interview on CNN Philippines' Balitaan, said the LTFRB still needs to approve the pricing scheme. "Wala talagang may alam kung anong pinaggagawa nila, at ang gusto nila, hindi alam ng taumbayan kung anong pinaggagawa nila," Nograles said. [Translation: No one knows what they're doing, and what Grab wants, is the public not knowing what they're doing.] But Nograles said Congress will not yet exercise its oversight function over the LTFRB and the supposed illegal charges of Grab. Alamin naman natin ang saloobin ng naghain ng reklamo laban sa Grab hinggil sa dalawang pisong singil kada minuto. Nasa linya ng telepono si PBA-Party list Representative Jericho Nograles | https://t.co/sDo55hwVGt #CNNPHBalitaan pic.twitter.com/X4MCCY4fsi CNN Philippines (@cnnphilippines) April 18, 2018 The LTFRB and Grab will meet again on May 29 to address this concern. Cancellations, fares down Grab also said that since their acquisition of Uber's Philippine operations on March 26, their supply base rose by 40 percent. However, Cu said they are still unable to meet passenger service demand. But he said passenger and driver cancellations have gone down, as well as fares in the top 20 pick-up and drop-off points. The fares have dipped to 2 percent on average. "It's improving, because of the actions that we are taking," Cu said. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) Online job portal Jobstreet.com says there are more jobs this year for fresh graduates, but competition will remain stiff. The number of jobs went up from 47,339 thousand in 2016 to 52,149 thousand in the last quarter of 2017, according to the portal's report released Wednesday. Despite this, Jobstreet said getting a job will be difficult especially since there are more candidates. Some 600 to 800 thousand college graduates join the work force in any given year. But that number doubled this year as K-12 graduates are expected to seek employment. "If you have 1.2 million graduates, I don't think we have enough jobs for that," Jobstreet Country Manager Philip Gioca said. Jobstreet conducted a survey in February covering 500 company representatives. The survey showed K-12 graduates will have a harder time getting a job. Only about 24 percent of employers say they are willing to hire K-12 graduates. Majority of companies still prefer applicants armed with college degrees. When asked if K-12 graduates can compete at all, Gioca had this to say: "Not in the space of probably of the white collar jobs but other vocational jobs like service, blue collar." Highest paying jobs for fresh grads The top three highest paying positions for fresh graduates are in the fields of law services (PhP 27,355), public relations or communications (PhP 24,675)and journalism (PhP 22,446). For these positions, Jobstreet says employers put great importance on academic backgrounds. The top three preferred schools are the Ateneo de Manila University, University of the Philippines, and Polytechnic University of the Philippines Good grades are also not enough. Jobstreet says some employers are starting to pay more attention to a candidate's interpersonal skills. Apart from academic excellence, employers put a premium on attitude. Qualities such as a willingness to learn, competence and a team spirit can be deciding factors in getting hired. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 18) Various law groups are urging the United Nations to investigate President Rodrigo Duterte's "attacks" against Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno. In a 16-page communication sent to United Nations Special Rapporteur on the Independence of Judges and Lawyers Diego Garcia-Sayan, the groups said an attack against the Chief Justice is an attack against the judiciary. "The systematic attack to remove the sitting chief justice would show how the executive department would like to influence all judges down from the Supreme Court to the lower courts," Arpee Santiago, Executive Director of the Ateneo Human Rights Center, said in a press briefing Wednesday. The National Union of People's Lawyers (NUPL) said the President's tirades against Sereno should not be taken lightly. "It is as dangerous as the quo warranto and the impeachment proceedings sa punto na ang atake ni President Duterte sa Chief Justice will have a chilling effect on all judges and justices all over the country," said former congressman and NUPL chair Neri Colmenares. The country's principal lawyer, Solicitor General Jose Calida, filed an ouster petition against Sereno at the Supreme Court. This comes on top of an impeachment case at the House of Representatives, which is expected to bring the case to Senate for trial. Malacanang on Wednesday reiterated the President had no hand in any move to unseat Sereno, whom he had declared his enemy. It added that Duterte's harsh words against Sereno were a response to her allegations that he is behind efforts to remove her from office. Duterte had described the Chief Justice as "ignorant" and "dumb" in an April 13 press conference when he arrived from a visit to China. Noting that Sereno's term is until 2030, Duterte said this was "too long for an ignorant Chief Justice." "And so talagang dapat paalisin ka noon pa. B*** ka Kung ano pinagsasabi mo (You should have been removed even before. You are dumb, saying nonsense)," the President said. The groups also asked the UN to investigate the rise in the number of lawyers, prosecutors and judges being murdered in the country. Sereno's camp praised the lawyers' initiative, calling it a "courageous effort" to uphold judicial independence and protect the legal profession. What happens next? The groups expect the special rapporteur to conduct an investigation based on their information, which would involve country visits. The findings and recommendations will then be sent to the government and the UN Human Rights Council, and may later be used in a separate communication before the International Criminal Court (ICC), the groups said. "Malakas ang evidentiary value yan sa ICC kasi findings na yan ng isang UN agency (The evidentiary value is strong for the ICC because these are findings of a UN agency)," Colmenares said. The ICC is conducting a preliminary examination on the government's bloody war on drugs. Duterte and his officials have said the government is open to being investigated by the UN as long as it is not by UN Special Rapporteur for extrajudicial killings Agnes Callamard. Duterte has repeatedly lashed out at Callamard for her alleged bias against his anti-drug campaign. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) President Rodrigo Duterte will leave the issue of the contentious hiring practice known as "endo" to Congress, his spokesman said Thursday. Presidential Spokesperson Harry Roque told a press conference that the chief executive shares the stance of Labor Secretary Silvestre Bello Jr. regarding "endo". "Endo" refers to the practice of companies to let go of employees before they complete six months of service, after which they are entiled to regular employment benefits. "I've had the occasion to find out that number one the position of Secretary Bello is it is better to leave the matter of 'endo' to Congress," Spokesperson Roque said. "The position of Secretary Bello now, which is the position of Malacanang, is let's see what kind of legislation Congress will finally approve noting that the matter is now pending at the Senate alone." READ: Labor groups lose hope on 'endo' EO A bill to end "endo "has been passed at the House of Representatives while the counterpart bill is still pending in the Senate. This should not mean, Roque said, that President Duterte has reneged on his campaign promise to end endo. "I have been informed by the Department of Trade and Industry that the President had fulfilled his election promise to do away with '555 endo'" Roque said, referring to the practice of firing employees on their fifth month of service so they do not get entitled to benefits. The labor department earlier issued an order imposing stricter regulations on labor contracting arrangements but still allowing some form of contractual work. Roque said the department has beefed up the number of labor inspectors from 200 to 500 "and that is why they have effectively cracked down (on) those resorting to prohibited endo." Secretary Bello, in a separate press conference this morning said Duterte will no longer issue an executive order against endo. This was decided after a meeting Friday between the labor secretary and Executive Secretary Salvador Medialdea, where they went through the three draft executive orders (EOs) to be signed by the President. READ: Bello: Duterte promised to sign EO on contractualization by March "[The President] will instead certify as a priority bill the bill that is currently pending on the Senate on security of tenure," Bello said. This site uses cookies from Google to deliver its services, to personalize ads and to analyze traffic. Information about your use of this site is shared with Google. By using this site, you agree to its use of cookies. Learn more here *Cindy* 1) $10 Amazon Gift Card: Deb Gramie Burgess 2) The Cowboys: Dawn LeGros 3) Rescuing Her Heart: Cindy Klemm *Denise* Audio Codes for The Witness Tree: Marilyn Ridgway and Licha Hanley *Mary* 1) Audio code for The Damsel's Intent: Danielle Grandinetti Owen 2) Reader's Choice: Brenda Walters *Linda* 1) Gold Rush Bride Hannah: Lisa Turley and Jennifer Devon Hibdon 2) $5.00 Gift card to retailer of their choice (Kobo, B&N, AppleBooks, Amazon): Tami le Roux *Grand Prize*: Bonnie Yepsen Weinman *Blog Winners*: 1) Spies & Sweethearts: Sheila64 2) Bent Tree Bride: Roxanne Cruz 3) Rescuing Her Heart: Natalya Lakhno 4) The Debutante's Secret: Connie Porter Saunders GIVEAWAY RULES Winners must leave their email address and will be notified by email and the winners name will be announced in the days comments. No one under 18 can enter our giveaways. No purchase is necessary. All winners have one week to claim their prize. USA shipping only. Offer void where prohibited. Odds of winning vary due to the number of entrants. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) President Rodrigo Duterte stands firm against the divorce bill making its way through Congress, citing that his daughter Davao City Mayor Sara Duterte is also against it. In a speech during the Armed Forces of the Philippines' Change of Command ceremony at Camp Aguinaldo Wednesday, President Duterte addressed House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, who was one of the co-authors of the bill. "House Speaker Pantaleon Alvarez, the exponent or the proponent of the divorce law. I am sorry but I cannot follow your My daughter is not happy with that. Really. She mag-usap na lang kayo ni Sara [You and Sara should talk it over]," Duterte told the House Speaker. The Palace earlier said President Duterte would not support legalizing divorce in the country, saying the welfare of the children will suffer. However, Alvarez said he is hoping the President will keep an "open mind" on the Absolute Divorce Bill, which was approved by the the House of Representatives in March. The Absolute Divorce Bill, or House Bill 7303, gives the opportunity for spouses in "irremediably failed marriages" to secure absolute divorce under limited grounds, to save children from stresses caused by parent's marital clashes and grant divorced individuals the right to marry again. The first daughter was previously engaged in a word war with Alvarez, who supposedly called her a member of the opposition after forming a regional political party Hugpong ng Pagbabago (HNP). Alvarez denied Sara's claims. READ: Sara Duterte lashes out at House Speaker Alvarez The Prince of Hades introduced a terrifying new weapon to World War I battlefields. The small groups of gray-clad soldiers dismounted from wagons on February 26, 1915, and trudged under cover of darkness across the shell-cratered battlefield, just behind the front at Malancourt, near Verdun, France. They lugged unfamiliar equipment: heavy iron tanks, apparatus, and hoses. Upon reaching the rear trench, they continued lumbering to the front lines through communication trenches. The men were members of an experimental unit called the Flammenwerfer-Abteilung Reddemann, and they were about to test a frightful new weapon, the Flammenwerfer, or flame thrower, for the first time in combat. In this area of the front, the French trenches were only about 15 to 30 yards from the German forward trenchjust within the 30-yard range of the heavy flamethrowers fire stream. Along a 750- yard section of the German trench, and at the ends of some saps (specially dug extensions toward the French line), the men quietly set up 10 large experimental Flammenwerfer with hand pumps, and two with gas projection. The operators then remained out of sight and waited for orders to attack. At exactly 1200 hours, the Germans unleashed hissing streams of liquid fire, accompanied by great clouds of black smoke, on the unsuspecting French troops. In the first terrifying seconds, the streams of fire turned many French soldiers into gruesome flaming torches, and caused injured men to run, shrieking in agony, into dugouts and bunkers. According to a German account, the surprise attack with this fearsome new weapon sent survivors fleeing head over heels to the rear in complete panic. Some terrified survivors immediately surrendered. A battalion of German troops charged forward and easily captured the French position, but since this was merely a test, no larger force was on hand to exploit the collapse of the forward defensive line. Even seasoned veterans were shocked by the results of the flame attack as they viewed the victims, still sizzling and smoldering in grotesque positions, and gagged at the nauseating stench. The remarkable success of this test led to German assault troops immediately adopting the flamethrower as an important weapon. The apparatus required modifications, but soon two types, a heavy and a portable version, were placed in production. Allied authorities denounced the use of liquid fire as inhuman, and included it in their propaganda campaign against the barbaric Hun. However, the Allies immediately ordered their troops to obtain one of the devices. When one was eventually captured, the French army produced a modified version, the Schilt, for its own use. The British followed in 1916. In the decades since, nearly every major army has employed some version of the flamethrower to kill, flush out, and terrorize enemies. Humans have long used fire as an offensive and defensive weapon. Ancient cultures used torches and fire arrows; early armies, including those of Greece and Rome, used catapults and ballistas to hurl pots of burning pitch and oil over the walls of towns and fortresses. So-called Greek fire, which probably included naphtha as well as pitch and sulfur, was reportedly used to destroy the Saracen fleet that attacked Constantinople around 678 AD. The flaming concoction is said to have been discharged by using large bellows to shoot flames that set fire to the sails and wooden hulls of the enemy ships. Since ancient times and as recently as the Russo-Japanese War of 19041905, armies employed devices to squirt flaming liquid during sieges, though with limited success. Richard Fiedler, a German pyrotechnics expert, is credited with the basic design of the modern flamethrower. He first proposed this radical new weapon to the German war ministry in 1900. He demonstrated a crude prototype in 1905 as a possible weapon for attacking fortresses in the event of another war with France. In 1907 during army maneuvers at the fortress at Posen, Bernhard Reddemann, a reserve officer in an engineer company who also happened to be the local fire chief, was defending the fort in a mock battle. As a last resort, and to everyones surprise, he turned fire hoses on the attacking troops. When Kaiser Wilhelm II, who was observing the training exercise, inquired about the tactic, Reddemann explained that in a real battle he would have sprayed flaming oil on the attackers. The kaiser asked his staff if this would be possible and when he learned that, in theory, it could work, he arranged funding for experiments using fire to attack and defend fortresses. Reddemann began by experimenting with flammable substances and devices for projecting flaming liquid. He determined that gasoline alone was too thin and required a thickening agent such as graded oil. The fuel developed included hydrocarbon, tar oil, and carbon disulfide. Reddemann did not meet Fiedler until just before the outbreak of war, but by 1914 the two had tested a practical flame thrower prototype and formed a small experimental unit from 48 volunteers. Most, ironically, were professional firefighters. After the war began in August 1914, Germany sent the Flammenwerfer-Abteilung Reddemann, with several large prototype flamethrowers, to the front in France. The success of the initial flamethrower attack in February 1915 impressed the German high command. A battle-ready flamethrower unit, the 3rd Guard Engineer Battalion, was organized with four companies, and Reddemann, commissioned as a reserve captain, was appointed its commander. After intensive training with the new equipment, the battalion went into action in support of army units. By the end of 1915, detachments had successfully made more than 32 small attacks against strongpoints and trenches. Among the lessons learned was that the splattering fire could penetrate viewing slits and air ducts in bunkers and even kill around corners, and that wind increased the effectiveness by spreading the fire. Furthermore, the surprise use of the flamethrower had a remarkable shock effect. The Germans developed three flame thrower variants. The Grosserflammenwerfer (large flamethrower) consisted of a four-and-a-half-foot-tall tank with the mechanism on top, a flexible hose up to 20 feet long, and a tube with a nozzle at the end. The tank had two compartments: one for fuel and one for nitrogen gas, compressed at 15 atmospheres. The flame had a range of about 30 to 40 yards and duration of about one minute. Three men worked the large flame thrower as a team. One man carried a firebrand on a short pole to ignite the fuel being expelled under pressure. (A device for automatic ignition was later introduced.) One aimed the hose. Combat experience showed that this heavy apparatus was best suited for use in static positions, such as defending trenches and strongpoints. The KleifapparateKleiner Flammenwerfer (smaller flamethrowers, various modifications), or Kleif, was a portable backpack apparatus introduced in 1915. It consisted of a two-and-a-half-foot-tall tank with carrying straps on the back and an operating mechanism on top. It could shoot flame effectively 20 to 25 yards. Originally, the jet of fuel was ignited by holding a firebrand at the nozzle, but later models were fitted with a pressure gauge and an electric battery with an induction coil. Two wires ran to the nozzle, with a spark gap between the ends, and when the compressed nitrogen forced out the fuel under high pressure, the sparker ignited it. Two men normally operated the Kleif as a team, with one man carrying the tank and the second holding the nozzle and directing the stream of fire. The flame could be projected in one long burst or several short ones for up to a minute. The Wexapparate, short for Wechselapparate (alternative apparatus), or Wex, was an even lighter and more portable flamethrower introduced in 1917. It was shaped like a round life preserver with a spherical gas container in the center of the ring that held the fuel. The Wex was ignited automatically like the Kleif, but had a range of only 15 to 20 yards. Carried on the back, it was designed to be fielded by one man, but as with the other German flamethrower types, two or three men usually operated it as a team. The continued success of the Guard Engineer Battalion during 1915 resulted in its expansion into a regiment, the Guard Reserve Engineer Regiment. Three thousand men were organized in three battalions, led by 80 officers. Since a regiment was usually commanded by a colonel and Reddemann was just a reserve captain, a lieutenant colonel from the combat engineers was assigned as commanding officer and Reddemann was appointed technical officer. The popular Reddemann retained considerable authority, however, and it was during this time that he earned his nickname, Der Prinz von Hades (the Prince of Hades). Unlike most regiments, the Guard Reserve Engineer Regiment did not enter combat as a unit, but served mainly as a training and testing organization. Instead, detachments of various sizes joined assault battalions and units on the western front, the Russian front, and in Romania, Macedonia, and Italy. In a typical flamethrower assault on an enemy strongpoint, two combat engineers cautiously worked their way across the battlefield, through gaps blown in the belts of barbed wire. Artillery would lay down a smoke screen to conceal their movements. Their objective was to get within 20 yards of a concrete blockhouse and attack it with the portable Kleif flamethrower. It didnt take the Allied soldiers in the fortification long to learn that the artillery barrage and smoke screen meant an attack was imminent. Typically, they would defend by firing short bursts from a Hotchkiss machine gun in one embrasure into the murk. Moving quickly from the cover of one shell hole to another, the Germans reached a position within range of their objective and then took cover until the designated assault time. The first man had the flamethrower tank strapped to his back and the second man, armed with a carbine and hand grenades, helped him with the heavy cylinder and took over if anything happened to his partner. It was usually his job to hold the nozzle and direct the stream of fire on the target. Time seemed to drag as the two men crouched in the shell hole beside what was in effect an incendiary bomb capable of a massive explosion that could incinerate them. The German attack on the Allied blockhouse would typically begin with a barrage of shells from heavy trench mortars. When the barrage ceased, the flamethrower operator would stand up, aim the nozzle of his hose, and send a stream of liquid fire into the machine gun embrasure. The searing flame would burst into the interior of the casemate and swirl around, setting fire to the hapless Allied soldiers and cooking off the 8mm machine gun cartridges. The German operator might then direct a stream of fire at the muzzle of a 75mm field gun protruding from a second embrasure. Again the flames and intense heat would engulf the inside of the casemate, the artillerymen suffering an agonizing death. Any men able to take cover suffocated, as the flames immediately exhausted the oxygen in the closed concrete chamber. Their fuel expended, the combat engineers then took cover until their tank could be refilled, or they withdrew while German assault troops attacked the fortification. By 1916 flamethrowers were also being used successfully against Allied tanks, and sometimes in concert with poison gas attacks. But flamethrower operators soon learned that theirs was a truly dangerous occupation. In addition to the dangers from the occasional accident, such as a blowback, every flamethrower unit learned that every enemy soldier at the front was on the lookout for flamethrower teams, and immediately directed a hail of gunfire at any they spied. After the Guard Reserve Engineer Regiments 150th flame attack, on July 28, 1916, its members received special Totenkopf (deaths head) insignias, worn on field gray ovals on the left arms of their uniform coats. They were often called the Totenkopfpioniere (deaths head engineers). Captain Reddemann and the other officers learned that not everyone had the steady nerves and strong stomach required of a flamethrower operator. Unlike aviators flying high above the enemy and dropping incendiary or explosive bombs, flamethrower troops were up close and personal with the enemy and could see, hear, and smell the horrific results of the conflagrations they caused. Many suffered from what at the time was called shell shock, with lasting psychological effects. The Prince of Hades and his men participated in 653 flame attacks during World War I300 in the final 10 months. Rushing back and forth to crisis points at the front, they were in essence a fire department, always on call but igniting fires instead of extinguishing them. When hostilities ceased in November 1918, the Treaty of Versailles prohibited Germany from possessing most offensive weapons, including flamethrowers. After Adolf Hitler came to power in January 1933, Germany ignored the treaty. The Flammenwerfer 35 was among the many new weapons developed for the German war machine. Similar to the Kleif, it weighed a hefty 79 pounds and its flame had a range of about 25 yards. A single trigger valve on top of the flame gun both released the fuel and ignited it for a burst of up to 10 seconds. Germany followed that with a succession of improved models. Introduced in 1940, the Flammenwerfer klein verbessert 40 was very similar to the old Wex of 1917. It carried less fuel but weighed only about 50 pounds. Yet another model, the Flammenwerfer 41, mounted two tanks horizontally, the smaller above holding the propellant gas. The Flammenwerfer 42, a modified version introduced in late 1942, used a flash cartridge ignition system with 10 incendiary cartridges. Each flame thrower weighed about 42 pounds and had a range of just over 30 yards. In 1944 the Germans introduced one last portable flamethrower, the Einstossflammenwerfer 46, a lightweight cylindrical tube with a trigger device near the front end, firing an explosive cartridge to provide gas pressure. It projected a single burst of flame for less than a second to a distance of about 30 yards. (Today, the German army is equipped with a similar, disposable, one-shot flamethrower.) The Germans also developed larger flamethrowers, such as the mittlerer Flammenwerfer, a 30-liter tank mounted on a low-wheeled cart. Two soldiers were needed to tow it, by means of a double harness. Its lack of portability proved impractical and most of the units manufactured were installed as beach defenses along the English Channel. They copied a more practical defensive one-shot flamethrower from the Soviets. The Abwehrflammenwerfer 42 had a range of more than 50 yards and the flame a duration of up to 10 seconds. Many were installed on the seacoast, in harbors, and at other key locations. They were operated by tripwires or by remote control. The last specialized flamethrower in the Wehrmacht arsenal, the Flammenwerfer Anhaenger consisted of a 180-liter tank on a two-wheeled, vehicle-drawn armored trailer. It could project a jet of fire more than 40 yards for 24 seconds. It was seldom used, though, perhaps due to its high fuel consumption and vulnerability in combat. However, both the Germans and the Allies employed tanks equipped with flame throwers. The Japanese army used flamethrowers against the Chinese in the 1930s and in April 1942 against the U.S. Army defenders of Corregidor. The Soviet Red Army fielded both portable and static types, and British forces were among the Allied armies that used portable flame throwers of conventional design. The U.S. Army tested foreign static and portable flamethrowers in 1917 1918. They designed experimental models, tested three, and approved a backpack type, the Mark I, on December 9, 1918. With World War I ended, however, the army never placed it in production. The U.S. military did not field a flamethrower until World War II. U.S. Army leaders were impressed by the Germans successful use of flame throwers against Belgian and French forts in May 1940, and Secretary of War Henry Stimson ordered immediate development of the weapon for use by the army and marine corps. The result was the E1R1, standardized as the M1 in August 1941. The M1 held five gallons of fuel in two tanks, enough for about five two-second bursts. It had a smaller tank for nitrogen propellant, a battery-powered electric ignition system, and was similar in operation to the German Flammenwerfer 35. The M1 weighed about 68 pounds and had an effective range of 40 yards. An improved model, the M1A1, was standardized in June 1943, with an increased range using thickened fuel of the napalm type. Marines used the M1A1 extensively in the Pacific theater against Japanese lurking in bunkers and cavesthe image most often associated with the flame thrower. It was eventually superseded by the advanced M2-2, with a waterproof, chemically operated ignition system. The M2-2 saw action during the Korean War and was followed in the 1950s by the improved M2A1 and M2A2 versions. In Vietnam, American troops frequently used the updated M2A1-7, along with napalm, with horrifying results. Due to humanitarian concerns, the army placed these lethal weapons in reserve status and eventually retired them in 1978. Using napalm has also been discontinued, with the last stocks destroyed by the navy in 2001. Today, along with other incendiary weapons, the U.S. military fields the lightweight M202A1 Flame Assault Shoulder Weapon, or FLASH, which fires four M74 66mm rockets containing a powerful incendiary similar to white phosphorus. The FLASH delivers a more precise effect on the target at much longer range, without the collateral damage of conventional flamethrowers. The device first fielded by Bernhard Reddemann and his fellow combat engineers opened a grisly, perhaps endless, chapter in the history of modern warfare as even more destructive weapons of fire continue to be invented and used to the present day. This article originally appeared in the Summer 2009 issue (Vol. 21, No. 4) of MHQThe Quarterly Journal of Military History with the headline: Flammenwerfer! Want to have the lavishly illustrated, premium-quality print edition of MHQ delivered directly to you four times a year? Subscribe now at special savings! Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) The public will soon know the breakdown of fares of rides hailed through apps. This, after transport network companies (TNC) agreed to disclose their fare structures. Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board chairman Martin Delgra told CNN Philippines Thursday fare structures will be disclosed to both transport regulators as well as commuters as agreed upon during a meeting earlier in the day. "We have gathered all the TNCs those who were already given accreditation and even those whose accreditations are still in process, so that we'd have a common understanding. Among other things, we discussed about fare structures. There would be full disclosure not only among the TNCs but also to the riding public na ganito ang fare structure ng isang TNC [that this is the fare structure of a TNC]," Delgra said. He added, "We made a full disclosure na based on their submission, these are the fare structures that I had and the rates that they have proposed. We made it clear to them that this is it. So that when the riding public would ask us, these are the rates of TNCs, and that gives more choices to the riding public." Companies present at the meeting were Grab, HirNa, Hype, U-Hop, Golag, MiCab, and Owto. App-based taxi-haling service HirNa is the latest transport network company approved by regulators. The agreement on full disclosure comes after the LTFRB ordered Grab to suspend its P2/minute charge. Grab's legal counsel Miguel Aguila told CNN Philippines they would follow the order which the LTFRB said was effective "immediately." Delgra: Arcade City a TNC Also on Thursday, Arcade City Founder & CEO Christopher David said, "We are not a TNVS or a TNC yet...we're kind of a network of users self-identifying themselves and being able to connect peer-to-peer. We hope for this network, this platform that we've launched, to get people in communication with each other." From that, David said, people could form guilds which David said were like "driver cooperatives" based on a model working in Austin, Texas. He said these groups "can, and potentially should work" in the country. "It's not that we are, ourselves, a TNC or that we're trying to encourage people to be illegal TNCs, that was never the point. The point is that we want actual Filipinos to organize using our platform which has unique advantages. Drivers can set their own rates, riders can choose their drivers, but more flexibility in our model compared to more corporate ride share companies, " David added. He said he was aware of the order saying Arcade City could not operate as a transport network vehicle services (TNVS) in the country, but that he hoped to talk to authorities and explain that they are not. David said he believes models like Arcade City were the future of ride sharing transport. In response, Delgra said David was right in saying that Arcade City was not a TNVS, but rather a TNC. "A TNC is a transport network corporation which develops and manages a mobile application. When you refer to the TNVS, you refer to the transport network vehicle service meaning the operator which owns the vehicle who is required to secure a franchise from the LTFRB," Delgra explained. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) The Land Transportation Franchising and Regulatory Board (LTFRB) suspended transport network company Grab's charge of 2 per minute on rides. The order, dated April 18, was released "pending extensive review and resolution" of the contested additional fare. It was signed by Chairman Martin Delgra and Board Member Ronaldo Corpuz. Grab's legal counsel Miguel Aguila told CNN Philippines Thursday evening they would follow the order which the LTFRB said was effective "immediately." The transport network company added a 2 per minute charge to its riders in June last year. In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source, PBA Partylist Rep. Jericho Nograles slammed this amount as illegal, and accused the company of owing riders an accumulation of over 1 billion in such fares. Citing a department order, Grab maintained it could set its own fees and the LTFRB had been duly informed of this raise. It also maintained it was transparent with its riders. Transport regulators denied any knowledge of the charge and issued a show cause order for the company last week. Related: Grab claims LTFRB knew about 2 per minute charge Nograles on Thursday welcomed the suspension and maintained the 2 fare was "kept secret from the operators, drivers, and riders." "I hope that (a) refund for these hidden charges will be ordered soon... and that the drivers are spared from paying his refund," said Nograles. Grab Philippines Country Head Brian Cu maintained on Wednesday that the extra money actually went to the drivers. "Ano pong ibabalik natin? Nasa driver po napunta 'yung 2 [What will we return? The driver has the 2]," he said. However, Cu also said they were willing to comply if the government ordered a refund. Related: Grab 'ready to comply' if regulators ask for refund CNN Philippines correspondent Xianne Arcangel and digital producer Ver Marcelo contributed to this report. I love Elton. We could use more pop stars in Donald Duck outfits with window wipers on their spectacles, and theres no arguing with the records he put out from Elton John (1970) up until about Rock Of The Westies (1975) either. So its hard to begrudge this two album tribute, ahead of his first final tour. Hard, that is, until you press play. Disc 1, Revamp, features some of contemporary musics most vital talents. If The Hague dealt with crimes against music, this lot would be on the next plane to Holland. Bennie And The Jets starts with a sadly fleeting Elton sample before P!nk (exclamation mark intentional) stomps all the feeling out of it, helped by rapper Logic. This car crash is merely the first song. The country music of Disc 2, Restoration, is a better fit, but then classics like Tumbleweed Connection were pretty country in the first place. Willie Nelson, Rosanne Cash with Emmylou Harris, Rhonda Vincent with Dolly Parton, and Chris Stapleton all acquit themselves well, although Stapleton deserves a better song than I Want Love. Chancers like Don Henley and Little Big Town, who appear to be channelling The Flying Pickets, should have stayed at home. This story was updated to include excerpts from The Source's interview with Manny Mogato. Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) After winning a 2018 Pulitzer Prize, Filipino journalist Manny Mogato of Reuters weighed in on the country's campaign against illegal drugs. "Ipaglaban natin ang tama. Kung saan yung pinaniniwalaan nating tama, yung katotohanan, di ba?" Mogato told CNN Philippines. [Translation: We fight for what's right, what we believe is right and true.] Mogato, Reuters' Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall, recently won the Pulitzer Prize for International Reporting for their series "Duterte's War," which looks into the "bloody drug crackdown" in the country. He credited the award to team effort and dedicated it to other Filipino journalists. "The whole Reuters Manila Bureau helped in introducing those stories," said Mogato. "I would like to pay tribute to all Filipino journalists who covered the drug war -- especially sa gabi [those on night shift.]" Reuters' series combines digital writing with data and multimedia graphics to show discrepancies in police operations. Among the stories are "Dead on Arrival," a report on a police modus that covers up deaths during operations by bringing dead bodies to hospitals; "Caught on Camera," a report using CCTV footage that went against a police account of a raid; and "The Davao Boys," about how the deadliest police station in Quezon City employs cops from Davao. "Parang na-jolt 'yung mundo e [The world was jolted]... Hundreds of people are dying because of the anti-drug campaign of President Duterte. Why is this happening?" Mogato said. "So to us, it is an important story na hindi mo pwedeng palampasin [that you can't let pass]. You really have to look into this, dig deeper, and find-out kung sino ba ang nasa likod [who is behind this]?" But publishing these stories did not come easy for Mogato and his colleagues, as data from the Philippine National Police (PNP) was now harder to acquire even for those as simple incident reports. "Lately nga, because of the order of General Bato (Dela Rosa), na yung documents, nagta-title sila na you have to go to Malacanang to get clearance," Mogato explained. "(Because) if you will look into the documents, madali mong mache-check kung ang namatay ay nakipagbarilan ba o hindi [you can easily check if those killed fired at the police or not]." Mogato's team also had to endure online bashing, as well as receive thousands of hate messages every time they publish stories critical of the Duterte administration's drug campaign. The Pulitzer winner added he had to change his name on Facebook to get rid of online attackers and trolls. He added he even received death threats, but dismissed it as "hazards of the trade." "Sabi nga nila [They say], fake news, biased, bad journalism. But our evidence will speak for itself," Mogato said. The face of the drug war After heading the PNP for almost two years, outgoing PNP Chief Ronald Dela Rosa boasted of unprecedented numbers as a result of its anti-illegal drugs operations from July 1, 2016 to March 20, 2018, with123,648 drug suspects arrested and more than 2,600 kilos of shabu worth 13.46 billion pesos confiscated. But government data also show 4,075 drug suspects were killed in law enforcement operations, with 2,476 deaths recorded outside of police mission, many of them victims of vigilante-style killings. Human rights groups say the death toll is higher than official numbers, voicing concerns especially with the alleged extrajudicial killings. Amid the outcry, the PNP was pulled out from the drug war in October 2017 and an investigation was launched on the spate of drug-related killings some of them involving children. However, the PNP was ordered back into the illegal drug campaign on December 2017, with the Philippine Drug Enforcement Agency still taking lead. International group Human Rights Watch said Dela Rosa should answer to the drug-related deaths. They say the war on drugs targeted mainly "urban slum dwellers and resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 men, women, and children by police and police-backed vigilantes." In an interview with CNN Philippines' The Source, Dela Rosa said he is prepared to face possible charges after he retires on Thursday. "I have the balls to face anything that you are going to charge against me. Bakit ko tatakbuhan ang responsibilidad na 'yan [Why will I run from the responsibility]?" Dela Rosa said. But with incoming PNP Chief Oscar Albayalde about to head the police force, Mogato is not expecting much to change under Albayalde's leadership. CNN Philippines' multi-platform writer Regine Cabato contributed to this report. As an existing print subscriber it is easy to get FREE access to all our online content. When you click get started below it will walk you through creating an online account to attach your print subscription number to. After your account is created it will ask you to either add a subscription for online access or click on the print subscriber button. Click the print subscriber button header and it will open a dropdown, now click on get started. 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Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) Newly-installed Philippine National Police (PNP) chief Dir. Gen. Oscar Albayalde vowed to focus on the discipline of the police force under his watch. "We will focus on imposing strict discipline, reform, and internal cleansing, intensified campaign against criminality and illegal drugs, practical programs for crime prevention and suppression, and strengthen public engagement," Albayalde said during the change of command ceremony of the PNP at the Camp Crame on Thursday. "Today, as I humbly accept this new responsibility to lead the PNP, I shall commit to continue my low-key but stern kind of leadership," he added. Albayalde, who was the former chief of the National Capital Region Police Office (NCRPO), wanted to scale up the thrust of his former office to a national level. He said the Special Action Force training will become the basic training for new police recruits. Provincial and Regional Directors of the PNP were also tasked to carry-out surprise inspections to keep policemen on their toes at all times. In the past year, the PNP was hounded by various issues, including alleged human rights violations during operations, and the death of Korean businessmen Jee Ick-joo in the hands of police officers. War on drugs to continue The new PNP chief also said he will continue the programs started by his predecessor, Dir. Gen. Ronald Dela Rosa, including the Oplan Double Barrel. President Rodrigo Duterte revealed Dela Rosa will be the new chief of the Bureau of Corrections. "To my mistah...thank you for trusting me to continue what you have started. I may not be able to fill your big shoes, but I can assure you that I will do my best to carry on your advocacies...Continuity is important to maintain the momentum of our accomplishments and gains," Albayalde said. Oplan Double Barrel is the PNP's primary program on President Rodrigo Duterte's war against drugs. Dela Rosa said from July 1, 2016 to March 21, 2018, Oplan Double Barrel has led to the arrest of 130,271 drug offenders and the death of 4,128 suspects. The police has also visited over 8.8 million houses, and over 1.2 million drug personalities have surrendered. However, the operations resulted in the death of 131 police officers, while 346 were wounded in action. Albayalde also said he will recognize and reward deserving policemen, and assist those who are facing legal cases over duty-related issues. After a short executive session Wednesday, the BIC board approved the draft agreements. PEDA Working Through Minutiae to Get BIC Up and Running PITTSFIELD, Mass. The PEDA board approved a series of agreements on Wednesday that are hoped to tie up the legal documentation required for the Berkshire Innovation Center. The Pittsfield Economic Development Authority has long had a ground lease in place for the Berkshire Innovation Center. But as the project has evolved, the roles of various parties have altered -- thus the required paperwork changes were needed to align. "There really hasn't been any changes other than all of the name changes and re-writing," Executive Director Corydon Thurston said. The agreements include a ground lease for the parcel at the William Stanley Business Park, a grant from PEDA to BIC, and acceptance of the Massachusetts Life Science Center's contribution to the project. The news isn't so much groundbreaking, but rather steps toward groundbreaking. The Berkshire Innovation Center was set to be constructed a few years ago but the bids for the project came in too high. The city agreed to chip in $1 million to help close that gap for construction, PEDA agreed to chip in $300,000 more for operations, and then the Massachusetts Life Science Center upped its contribution. That brings the total project up to $13.7 million. Part of closing that gap also comes with the transferring of the grant from the city -- which had the first earmark because there was no Berkshire Innovation Center Inc. at the time -- into the hands of the private nonprofit. With those changes, PEDA essentially had to craft new legal agreements surrounding the project. Meanwhile, BIC has to ramp up its efforts to get construction set to begin. Once all is in place, a groundbreaking can be held. "The big change was that PEDA is now a signatory in the Mass Life Sciences grant," said Beth Goodman, PEDA's attorney who has been working on the legalese of the project. The provision that if Berkshire Innovation Center Inc. does not live up to the grant's requirements, "PEDA agrees to evict the BIC Company as set forth in the lease and operate the BIC in accordance with the purposes stated in the MLSC grant," according to the agreement. The agreements could still change should the other parties involved require substantial modifications. But PEDA's vote to give Thurston credit to sign the newly crafted agreements is a step toward clearing the red tape for construction to begin. "This has been a long time coming. We are excited about the opportunity to continue our partnership," said Chairman Mick Callahan. "We're still doing the good work on behalf of our board, our park, and our partnership." Another step toward a groundbreaking has also been initiated with the re-formation of a Design Review Committee. For projects at the William Stanley Business Park, a committee consisting of a PEDA board member, the city's director of community development, and another tenant of the park must first review all of the design specifications. Callahan said the process will likely be short-lived and take place over a couple meetings in the next few months. A groundbreaking for the Berkshire Innovation Center is still expected to take place in the fall. The School Committee begins four scheduled interviews with superintendent finalists. Taconic High School Principal John Vosburgh went first. Superintendent Candidate Vosburgh Says Adams-Cheshire 'Perfect Fit' Vosburgh says he believes he could improve the school district's state level and status. CHESHIRE, Mass. School officials scheduled interviews with four finalist candidates for superintendent of the Adams-Cheshire Regional School District. The School Committee is searching for a replacement for Superintendent Robert Putnam, who is retiring at the end of the school year. At the same time, it is in talks with North Adams about possibly sharing a top administrator. The interviews began Wednesday night with two interviews, the first being with Taconic High School Principal John Vosburgh. Also making the finalist cut are Ellen Retelle, director of teaching and learning at Connecticut's Capitol Region Education Council; Maria Geryk, former superintendent of the Amherst-Pelham Regional Schools; and William Bazyk, superintendent of the Battenkill Valley Supervisory Union in Vermont. The interview with Vosburgh is below; the other interviews will be reported separately. The committee may make its determination after the final interview on Monday night. Vosburgh has been principal of the Pittsfield vocational high school since 2009, after two years as vice principal at Reid Middle School. He was recently one of two finalists for the superintendent post at Mount Greylock Regional School District, losing out to the interim superintendent who had been in place for more than a year. He received his bachelor's degree from Saint Anselm College in New Hampshire, his master of education degree from the University of Massachusetts at Amherst and his doctorate in educational leadership from Nova Southeastern University in the state of Florida. Vosburgh said Pittsfield has a similar population and faces many of the same issues as Adams-Cheshire, despite its larger size. "I have really seen the full gambit of education in Pittsfield, which to me is very similar to Adams-Cheshire. Our populations mirror each other," he said. "I think this is a good fit for me and I think that you have a community that has a lot of pride, history and culture that goes way back ... and it is a community like that that goes above and beyond for their kids." He was told about the challenges the district has faced, most notably the closing of Cheshire School and asked how he would overcome the tension between the two communities and move the district out of a Level 3 status. "Clearly the closing of a school is a wound that goes deep and one that will take some time to heal but I think at the end of the day when people think about the schools and the need to move from Level 3 the focus has to be on the kids," he said. "It is not the bricks and mortar that ultimately form the education of the students." He went on to say he would use data to help inform the district on the best ways to improve scores and that it was important to share that information with stakeholders. "You have to know what the needs are and gaps. What are we doing well and where do we need some help?" Vosburgh said. "I am a data person and ... I do think that data tells us a story and give us information on how well our students are doing." Vosburgh said he would make sure teachers are aligning with state standards and set up benchmarks to improve student learning. He added that he would track every student, pinpoint their strengths and weaknesses and help them improve. "My goal coming in here is to become a Level 1 district and to me the size of the district allows us to really focus on individual student needs," he said. "I think it is very doable." Vosburgh said he was confident if the school could pull out of Level 3 the students choicing out of the district would return. "As we improve our scores and status I think that the school choice issue will take care of itself," he said. "I think students want to stay in their home school and I think that we need to just provide them with the best opportunities." He was in favor of sharing professional development and support with other districts but was hesitant to go beyond that if it wasn't a benefit to the district. "When it fits, I think collaborative efforts can work. I am very much a team player ... but I feel like we have to be careful," he said. "If you hire me I am working for Adams and Cheshire and if collaboration makes sense to our district than that's wonderful but if it doesn't it doesn't. I think we have to take care of ourselves first and then maybe look outside." More specifically with North Adams, Vosburgh said the communities have different needs and it may be difficult for one person to oversee two school systems. In response to how he could improve programming, Vosburgh went over an "Academy Model" implemented at Taconic that allows students to sign up for electives that follow a specific career path. "It just better prepares our students for college and the workplace and when they are sitting across from the admission counselor ... they see that these kids really focused on a certain field," he said. He asked if the district ever reached out to McCann Technical School about allowing students to take classes at Hoosac Valley but participate in shops at McCann. He said this is practiced at Taconic. Vosburgh concluded and said if hired, he would likely retire from Adams-Cheshire. "I love the Berkshires, and I have lived here my entire life .. this is not a stepping stone for me," he said. "I see myself retiring in 8-10 years and if I am fortunate enough to be chosen, I would stay here for that time. I think this is a perfect fit for me." iciHaiti - Social : The factors determining the identity of the Haitian Diaspora Wednesday, as part of the activities preceding the celebration of the National Day of the Diaspora (JND 2018) on Friday 20 April https://www.haitilibre.com/en/news-24132-haiti-diaspora-message-from-the-consul-of-chicago-and-program-of-the-jnd-2018.html , a conference-debate was organized at the local Ministry of Haitians Living Abroad (MHAVE) on "The scientific, academic and intellectual contributions of the Diaspora. Issues and perspectives" given by the former rector of the Campus of the University of Limonade, Professor Jean Marie Theodat. Jean Marie Theodat, recalled that the term "diaspora" dates back to Greek antiquity (more than 2000 years with the dispersion of Jews) and that today, the term is used by all communities in the world experiencing exile and migration. According to Professor Theodat, the diaspora doesn't exist, without distance or displacement, emphasizing that this distance gives rise to a space of time and to the acculturation of immigrants emphasizing "[...] what characterizes the Haitians of the diaspora is their attachment to their roots despite their multiple anchors. Thus, language, religion and morals are among others, the factors determining their identity." IH/ iciHaiti Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) The Supreme Court will decide the fate of Chief Justice Maria Lourdes Sereno before the end of May, Acting Chief Justice Antonio Carpio said Thursday. Sources told CNN Philippines the justices will vote on May 17. A majority vote - or eight out of 14 if all justices are present would grant the quo warranto petition to oust Sereno. The high court held oral arguments on the quo warranto petition seeking Sereno's ouster last April 10. The quo warranto, a legal proceeding where an individual's right to hold office is challenged, was filed by the government's top lawyer, Solicitor General Jose Calida. He wanted the Supreme Court to unseat Sereno over her alleged failure to file Statements of Assets, Liabilities, and Net Worth (SALNs) for ten years, before she applied for the Chief Justice post in 2012. During the ouster proceedings, Sereno argued her case before her colleagues and figured in multiple heated exchanges with one of her harshest critics, Associate Justice Teresita Leonardo-de Castro. Sereno earlier sought the inhibition of de Castro and four other justices Diosdado Peralta, Lucas Bersamin, Francis Jardeleza, and Noel Tijam from the case, saying they all "manifested actual bias" against her. The five justices denied Sereno's plea. They had all testified against Sereno in the impeachment proceedings of the House Committee on Justice. The committee had voted to impeach the Chief Justice and is expected to bring the matter for approval to the plenary when session resumes next month. If the entire House approve Sereno's impeachment, a trial will take place in the Senate. With the full bench participating in the quo warranto case, it could mean five votes against the Chief Justice. A majority vote of the justices - or eight out of 14 would grant the petition to oust Sereno. The embattled chief justice, who has been on leave at the request of her colleagues, had asked the high court to dismiss the quo warranto petition. She stressed that impeachment is the only way to remove a chief justice from office, asking lawmakers to "give me my day in the Senate impeachment court." CNN Philippines' Xianne Arcangel contributed to this report. (CNN) A former US soldier described as a "ringleader of trained assassins" is facing life in jail after being found guilty Wednesday of organizing the killing of a woman in the Philippines in 2012 for cash. Former US sniper instructor Joseph Hunter, nicknamed "Rambo," was convicted along with two other men in a New York court Wednesday of conspiring to kidnap and murder as part of a murder-for-hire scheme following a 12-day trial. Hunter, who for years worked as a soldier of fortune, is already serving a 20-year sentence over a range of charges, including the attempted murder of a US drug enforcement agent. Speaking after the verdict, US Attorney Geoffrey Berman described the case in a statement as "horrifying," with details "usually seen in action movies." "(These men) conspired to end the lives of people overseas whom they had never met. Today a unanimous jury convicted them for their craven indifference to human life," he said. Sentencing for the three men, US citizens Hunter, 52, Adam Samia, 43, and Carl David Stillwell, 50, will take place in September, with a maximum penalty of life in prison. Hunter was a former US army sergeant who left the armed forces in 2004 after more than 20 years, while Samia has previously claimed to have worked as a "contractor" for clients in the Philippines, China, Papua New Guinea and the Democratic Republic of the Congo. All three men had extensive firearms training. According to a statement by the United States Attorney's Office, the three men agreed in 2011 and 2012 to commit a number of murders across the world in exchange for a salary, including "bonus payments" for each victim. In early 2012, Samia and Stillwell traveled to the Philippines where Hunter gave them information on their victims and weapons to use in the killing. After watching their female Filipino target for months, the two men murdered her by shooting her in the face multiple times then dumped her body on a pile of garbage. She was found there later by local authorities. Both Samia and Stillwell were paid $35,000 by Hunter for killing the woman. The investigation into the three men was an international effort, bringing together US law enforcement agencies with the Royal Thai Police and the Philippines National Police. This prosecution is being handled by the US Attorney's office Terrorism and International Narcotics Unit. 'Ringleader of trained assassins' It isn't Hunter's first time in a US court -- the former US soldier was sentenced to 20 years in February 2015 over the planned killing of a US Drug Enforcement Agency (DEA) agent, as well as a DEA informant. In statement released following the trial, US Attorney Preet Bharara described Hunter as "an admitted contract killer, convicted drug trafficker, and ringleader of trained assassins." "Hunter and his cohorts turned from serving their countries as soldiers to becoming mercenaries for hire, plotting to kill a DEA agent and informant and trafficking in massive quantities of cocaine," the attorney said. In 2013, Hunter hired a group of four former soldiers from the US, German and Polish armed forces to act as bodyguards and hitmen for what they thought were a Colombian drug cartel, according to the US Attorney's Department. In fact, the men who recruited the former US soldier to protect their cartel were "confidential sources for the DEA," the indictment said at the time. In March 2013, Hunter described his work to one of his teams of contractors as "like a military mission," according to the US Attorney's Office. "You know, you see everything. You see James Bond in the movie and you're saying, 'Oh, I can do that.' Well, you're gonna do it now," he told the team. In a recorded meeting, Hunter claimed he'd taken part in weapons trafficking and used grenades to carry out an attack. This story was first published on CNN.com, "Three US men face life in jail over murder-for-hire killing of Filipino woman." This content is from: Capital Markets The NYSE's head of equities told attendees at a Sifma event that despite a possible drop in companies desire to go public, all is not lost Support for the Trump Administrations Approval of Opportunity Zones Washington, DC - Support for the Trump Administrations Approval of Opportunity Zones: enate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell (R-KY): Todays Opportunity Zones announcement is another reason why tax reform is good for Kentucky families and our states economy. Opportunity Zones will breathe new life into struggling communities left behind by Obama-era policies. From coal country to farming communities and everywhere in between, overregulation was holding our economy and our workers short of their full potential. We are getting the governments foot off the brake and letting the economy flourish. Sen. Cory Gardner (R-CO): Now that this legislation has been signed into law and the state of Colorado has submitted its Opportunity Zone proposals, we are close to seeing this major benefit from the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act begin to encourage needed growth in areas that have gone too long without it. Soon the United States Treasury Department will certify the Opportunity Zones and then investors will begin using the new tax provisions to invest in underserved communities and create opportunities for more Coloradans. This could mean a new timber plant in the San Luis Valley, a new small business on the Western Slope, or an agriculture processing plant on the Eastern Plains. Struggling communities in both urban and rural parts of the state will benefit. Sen. Rand Paul (R-KY): As a leading voice and long-time advocate for lowering the tax rate in low-income communities to spur economic development, I am pleased that Kentucky will be benefiting from the newly created Opportunity Zones. I look forward to the positive results of this initiative to incentivize more business investments to locate in these areas and provide more jobs and opportunities. Sen. Roy Blunt (RMO): The Opportunity Zones program will help spur new investments in communities where theyre needed most. By bringing investment incentives to underserved areas, the program will help create more jobs, drive economic growth, and improve the quality of life for families across our state. The Opportunity Zones program is another example of how tax reform is directly benefitting Missourians, and turning the page on years of slow growth and stagnant wages. Im proud to support this program, and Ill keep working to advance pro-growth policies that will help more hardworking families get ahead. Sen. Deb Fischer (R-NE): For the past two weeks, Ive been traveling across Nebraska and hearing about the positive proceeds from tax reform. Nebraskans are excited; they have more money in their pockets and many businesses are raising wages and giving workers bonuses. The designation of these 44 opportunity zones is another good result of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which helps continue the pattern of economic growth in our local communities. Sen. Ben Sasse (R-NE): Nebraskans believe in dignity and in community. We want to see every neighborhood succeed and we want to tackle poverty with opportunity. Washington has a long way to go but Congress took an important step by including Opportunity Zones in the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. Its simple: we want to celebrate the American Dream in every zip code by expanding investments in economically distressed communities. Governors Governor Doug Ducey (R-AZ): We applaud this federal initiative to stimulate economic development in low-income areas. Ensuring opportunity for all Arizonans has been a focus of my administration. Arizonas economy is thriving, and we are excited to see how Opportunity Zones will build on our effort. Governor John Hickenlooper (D-CO): Colorados opportunity zones can help create momentum in communities that need a little boost in their economic recovery efforts. We owe it to these areas of the state to take advantage of every potential incentive. Hopefully we will see significant dividends in the future. Governor C.L. Butch Otter (R-ID): This is a great way to drive more capital investment toward Idaho neighborhoods and communities that arent benefiting as they should from our statewide economic growth. There are no real strings attached to this market-driven tax treatment by the feds. Nobody is dictating the kind of investments the locals should pursue to promote their own prosperity. Governor Matt Bevin (R-KY): The Opportunity Zones approved today by the U.S. Department of the Treasury provide one more reason for companies and businesses to consider locating in Kentucky. Kentucky will maximize this golden chance to attract economic development projects to communities most in need across the commonwealth, and the Kentucky Opportunity Zone Initiative will strengthen and rebuild both rural and urban areas. Whether along the Mississippi River in West Kentucky, throughout West Louisvilles neighborhoods, or in the heart of Appalachia, these zones will spur investment, growth and community development. Governor Charlie Baker (R-MA): Our administration is committed to helping cities and towns in Massachusetts unlock opportunity for private investments and economic growth. This program will allow municipalities across the Commonwealth to work collaboratively with investors to pursue developments that address their individual and community needs. Governor Rick Snyder (R-MI): These zones have the potential to help Michiganders take advantage of the full economic development potential in all corners of the state. This is a unique opportunity for investors and promising news for eligible communities. Governor Phil Bryant (R-MS): Opportunity Zones in Mississippi will attract significant private sector investment, help grow our states economy and create new jobs. This program is another business advantage existing industries and new companies will find in our state. Governor Pete Ricketts (R-NE): Thanks to the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, 20 communities across Nebraska now have another tool to help attract new investment and job opportunities. This announcement builds on the positive news weve seen from companies from Nelnet to Wal-Mart, who are reinvesting their tax cuts into their workforce through higher wages and bonuses. None of this would have been possible without the great work of Nebraskas federal delegation, which unanimously supported the tax relief bill. Governor Phil Murphy (D-NJ): Im pleased the Treasury Department has accepted all 169 sites I proposed last month for designation as Opportunity Zones. Now, these cities and towns will have additional means to generate economic growth throughout their respective communities and, more importantly, create economic opportunities for their residents. Governor Mary Fallin (R-OK): I appreciate our partnership with the U.S. Department of Treasury in making these designations. The creation of federal opportunity zones will bring new and unique opportunities to both investors and Oklahoma communities. Investors have different projects in which they are willing to invest their capital, and it is our intent to provide them with a range of opportunities. With the potential investments in these areas, we hope that poverty will be reduced, our communities will see revitalization, and that the investments will spur job creation. I also want to acknowledge the Oklahoma Department of Commerce for its work in coordinating this effort. Governor Scott Walker (R-WI): With our newly designated Economic Opportunity Zones, Wisconsins thriving businesses will have a new opportunity to invest in their neighbors and help our local communities. Right now, more people are employed in our state than ever before in our history, and Wisconsin is at near record lows for unemployment. These recommendations reach communities across our state urban, rural, and tribal that are positioned for strong and sustained growth. Governor Ricardo Rossello (D-PR): These zones are created to foster investment in the nations disadvantaged communities. New investments in Opportunity Zones can receive preferential tax treatment, which will, in turn, be a boost to our economy. Governor Kenneth Mapp (I-VI): These new incentives can help us attract new investments in hotel development, retail businesses and industry in our most underserved communities and can also help those looking to rebuild after the hurricanes. State Leaders & Officials Colorado Department of Local Affairs Executive Director Irv Halter: The Department of Local Affairs was eager to be a part of the Opportunity Zone program promoting economic development and assistance in distressed communities. The ability to provide affordable housing and economic growth to underserved populations, allows us to strengthen Colorado communities. Colorado Office of Economic Development and International Trade Director of Business Funding and Incentives Jeff Kraft: By working closely with local communities and investors and balancing need along with potential opportunity, weve selected areas of the state that are ripe for meaningful investment. Idaho Department of Commerce Director Bobbi-Jo Meuleman: As the lead economic development agency for the State, I am excited about the potential this program could have in stimulating new investments across all areas of Idaho. Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Secretary Terry Gill: Through the Kentucky Opportunity Zone Initiative, we want to bring all our cabinets resources and knowledge to the table and partner with communities to take full advantage of these designations. Success in this initiative will improve the long-term economic wellbeing of individuals and communities within these zones across the commonwealth. Kentucky Cabinet for Economic Development Executive Officer Vivek Sarin: We see unparalleled prospects that can develop from this initiative, so were working to ensure Kentuckys Opportunity Zones stand out as the most competitive and attractive in the nation. Kentucky Senate President Robert Stivers (R): With the designation of these new Opportunity Zones, communities most in need across our commonwealth will have a means to attract investments that create jobs, build infrastructure and increase both tax local revenue and overall economic prosperity. The Kentucky Opportunity Zone Initiative holds the promise of creating a significant and widespread positive impact for Kentuckians. I look forward to the development of these Opportunity Zones and the long-term prosperity they will bring to our state. Kentucky House Speaker Pro Tempore David Osborne (R): Through these federal designations, the Kentucky Opportunity Zone Initiative can attract capital investments for a broad range of development projects. What this means is lower-income and distressed communities in Opportunity Zones across Kentucky stand to see new jobs created and their economies significantly improved through a variety of potential commercial, industrial, housing, infrastructure and other investment projects. Michigan State Housing Development Authority Executive Director Earl Poleski: The benefits can be combined with other incentives such as New Market Tax Credits (NMTC), Low-Income Housing Tax Credit (LIHTC) and historic rehabilitation tax credit, adding a valuable tool for economic and community development. Mississippi Development Authority Executive Director Glenn McCullough, Jr.: Global companies know the advantages of the states productive workforce coupled with our superior business climate. By adding Qualified Opportunity Zones, investing in Mississippi becomes an even more logical business decision for companies looking to locate or expand in our state. Nebraska Department of Economic Development Director Dave Rippe: We would like to thank our federal delegation for their work in passing the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act, which made the opportunity zones program a reality. Were eager to begin working with our communities to harness this program to its full potential to grow Nebraska. We also appreciate the support of the numerous local leaders who submitted program applications. Their commitment to the economic well-being of their communities is an invaluable asset to our state. Oklahoma Native American Affairs Secretary Chris Benge: We are pleased with the representation in the tribal nations. These tracts will provide a range of opportunities for investors to collaborate with many of the tribal nations and the state of Oklahoma. Oklahoma Department of Commerce and Tourism Secretary Deby Snodgrass: Our expectation is that the benefit from these designations will spill over into other census tracts, and will impact development and incomes in nearby neighborhoods as well. NIST Issues First Call for Lightweight Cryptography to Protect Small Electronics Washington, DC - Cryptography experts at the National Institute of Standards and Technology (NIST) are kicking off an effort to protect the data created by innumerable tiny networked devices such as those in the internet of things (IoT), which will need a new class of cryptographic defenses against cyberattacks. Creating these defenses is the goal of NISTs lightweight cryptography initiative, which aims to develop cryptographic algorithm standards that can work within the confines of a simple electronic device. Many of the sensors, actuators and other micromachines that will function as eyes, ears and hands in IoT networks will work on scant electrical power and use circuitry far more limited than the chips found in even the simplest cell phone. Similar small electronics exist in the keyless entry fobs to newer-model cars and the Radio Frequency Identification (RFID) tags used to locate boxes in vast warehouses. All of these gadgets are inexpensive to make and will fit nearly anywhere, but common encryption methods may demand more electronic resources than they possess. Today, NIST is launching an effort to create worthy solutions to the problem of securing data in this sort of constrained environment. As an initial step, it seeks assistance in developing requirements and guidelines for these solutions. The Draft Submission Requirements and Evaluation Criteria for the Lightweight Cryptography Standardization Process is the first draft of this request, written with the software development community in mind and aimed at ensuring that the formal requestslated for release later this springwill produce the sort of encryption algorithms that developers agree will help. The draft document is available now on the NIST website. A Federal Register Notice will soon announce a public comment period so that the community can weigh in on the draft submission guidelines. The ultimate goal is to develop lightweight encryption standards that benefit the entire marketplace. According to NIST computer scientist Kerry McKay, effective standards must bring a well-defined solution that applies to a wide class of situationsand that made the wording of the request tricky. The IoT is exploding, but there are tons of devices that have nothing for security, McKay said. Theres such a diversity of devices and use cases that its hard to nail them all down. There are certain classes of attacks to consider, lots of variations. Our thinking had to be broad for that reason. Many of the manufacturers who create these small devices say that the time is right for establishing effective standards. As industries adopt authentication apps for things like flu-shot syringes and baby formula, its important that there is agreement on security practices, said Matt Robshaw, a technical fellow at Impinj, a company that develops RAIN RFID (link is external) technology used to keep track of these kinds of objects. Its a good time to begin to establish guidance about which of these techniques will be most appropriate. To ensure they were getting off to the right start, McKay and the team members spent four years consulting with industry groups ranging from smart power grid experts to auto manufacturers. Their advice led the team to stipulate that submitted algorithms must have been published previously and been analyzed (though not necessarily adopted) by a third party. We feel its a fair request because people have been working on crypto for constrained environments for several years now, McKay said. We want to see things that the world has looked at already. These solutions typically use symmetric cryptographythe less resource-intensive form, in which both the sender and recipient have an advance copy of a digital key that can encrypt and decrypt messages. The NIST team specifies that these algorithms should provide one useful tool in symmetric crypto applications: authenticated encryption with associated data, or AEAD, which allows a recipient to check the integrity of both the encrypted and unencrypted information in a message. They also stipulate that if a hash function is used to create a digital fingerprint of the data, the function should share resources with the AEAD to reduce the cost of implementation. McKay said that while the AEAD and hash tools should cover nearly everything that a developer would want to do with symmetric cryptography, she and the team are looking forward to comments from the public on whether the drafts requirements are sufficient. We will be relying on community feedback to determine what other use cases we should include in subsequent editions of the pub, she said. We want the entire lightweight crypto standards development process to be open and transparent, with the public involved at every step. After the Federal Register notice appears, NIST will be accepting comments on the draft for 45 days, and will consider these comments before releasing the formal submissions guideline document. Following its release, NIST anticipates a 6-month submission window for lightweight cryptographic algorithms. On the Occasion of Israel's National Day Washington, DC - Acting Secretary of State John J. Sullivan: "On behalf of President Trump and the American people, I offer best wishes and congratulations to all Israelis as you mark the 70th anniversary of Israels independence on April 19. "The State of Israel has prevailed over every challenge it has faced over the past 70 years. In just a short time, the people of Israel have created a successful nation that has flourished and continues to thrive. The United States established our diplomatic presence in Jerusalem well before the State of Israel was born, over 170 years ago. This year, we look forward to opening the new Embassy of the United States in Jerusalem on May 14 which coincides with the 70th anniversary of President Truman recognizing the nascent State of Israel. "Israel and the United States have an unshakeable bond that has endured and grown even stronger over the past seven decades. As President Trump said in Jerusalem last May, let us never forget that the bond between our two nations is woven together in the hearts of our people and their love of freedom, hope, and dignity for all. The United States will continue to be a steadfast ally of Israel and will stand together with you today, and always. "Yom Haatzmaut Sameach." Metro Manila (CNN Philippines, April 19) Vice President Leni Robredo trooped to the Supreme Court Thursday to file her motion for reconsideration asking the Presidential Electoral Tribunal (PET) to consider as valid ballots with at least 25 percent of its oval space shaded in the "revision, recount, and re-appreciation" of votes cast for the 2016 vice presidential race. "Hinihingi po natin sa Korte na ireconsider yung kanyang naging desisyon at hinihingi lamang naman po natin bigyan tayo ng patas na laban," she said, adding that the guidelines for the vote count for all candidates during the election should also be the basis of the recount of her votes. [Translation: We're asking the court to reconsider its decision and to give us a fair chance.] Robredo said the fight is bigger than the poll recount between her and former Senator Bongbong Marcos. Marcos, her closest rival in the race, earlier filed an election protest and pushed for a recount of votes. In its resolution last April 10, the PET denied Robredo's motion, saying it's not aware of any Commission on Elections (Comelec) resolution that states the applicability of a 25 percent threshold. It added it cannot treat the Random Manual Audit Guidelines and Report as proof of the threshold used by the Comelec. The tribunal claimed that it has no basis to impose a 25 percent threshold in determining whether a vote is valid. But in her urgent motion, Robredo said as early as September 6, 2016, Comelec informed the PET by way of a letter to then Clerk of the Tribunal Felipa Anama of the 25 percent threshold used in the May 9, 2016 national and local elections. "Although the voters are told through the voter information efforts of the Commission to shade the ballots fully, the shading threshold was set at about 25 percent of the oval space," Robredo added, quoting the Comelec letter addressed to the PET. She said the letter noted that "this is to help ensure that votes are not wasted due to inadequate shading or that no accidental or unintended small marks are counted as votes." "In other words, when a mark covers at least 25 percent of the oval, said mark is supposed to be considered a vote by the system," she added. Robredo said the fight she is waging goes beyond her rivalry with Marcos but also to fulfill her election promises and ensure voters' ballots are counted correctly. "With due respect, the Letter dated 06 September 2016 of COMELEC on the use of the twenty five percent (25%) threshold percentage gives the Honorable Tribunal the legal basis to "impose a twenty five percent (25%) threshold percentage in determining whether a vote is valid," Robredo said. Marcos' lawyer Vic Rodriguez, meanwhile, said rules for the revision should not be changed as the process has already started. "You do not change the rule in the middle of the game, midstream po tayo ng manual recount and judicial revision," Rodriguez said. He also said Robredo's camp was citing the wrong Comelec resolution, as he said the applicable rules are the PET revisors' guide issued by the Supreme Court on February 2018, the 2010 PET rules of procedure, and the Constitutional mandate of the tribunal. "Yung pinasa po nilang Comelec resolution is meant to cure whatever defects that the Comelec then, under the auspices of the impeached chairman Andy Bautista, and na-foresee na nilang sasabit sila kaya ginagamot nila yung pagkakamali nila," Rodriguez said. [Translation:The Comelec resolution they submitted is meant to cure the defects of the Comelec then, when it was still under now impeached Chairman Andy Bautista, because they foresaw that they'll be in a tight spot.] In a separate statement, Rodriguez also called on Robredo to "stop accusing the PET of systematically reducing her votes and casting aspersions meant to debase its integrity." In its April 10 resolution, the PET also said that Robredo's claim of a systematic reduction of her votes "is without any basis and shows a misunderstanding of the revision process." But the vice president argued the application of the 50 percent threshold gives the head revisors authority to "reject" her valid votes. Robredo explained that in the Municipality of Balatan, Barangay Laganac, Clustered Precinct No. 16 Robredo received 358 votes while Marcos got 17 votes. However, she pointed out, due to the application of the 50 percent threshold, the votes for Robredo decreased by 12 votes while the votes for Marcos was maintained. "The wrong impression brought on by the application of the fifty percent (50%) threshold percentage gives the wrong impression and greatly prejudices not only protestee Robredo but legitimate voters who are now being disenfranchised," Robredo said. Indiana residents are strongly encouraged to vote in the primary election on May 8 so that they will be satisfied with their options in November. The primary gives you a voice in the process, Byron Ratcliffe of the Greater Indianapolis Branch of the NAACP said. If you dont vote in the primary, then you dont get to choose who runs in the general election. Indianapolis residents can vote early at the Marion County Clerks Office inside the City-County Building downtown. They can also vote by mail. Most local offices have no contest this primary. However, there are a few competitive races on the ballot. Whats hot? Republicans will nominate businessman Mike Braun, Congressman Luke Messer or Congressman Todd Rokita to take on Democratic Sen. Joe Donnelly in November. The campaign could help determine which party will win control of the U.S. Senate this year. Five Democrats and six Republicans are running for their partys nomination in the 7th Congressional District, which covers most of Indianapolis. Local Democrats have competitive races in Center Township, located in the heart of Indianapolis. Incumbent Constable Mark Tony Duncan has a vigorous challenge from Denise Paul Hatch, and Trustee Eugene Akers faces Kris Owens. Congressional conflict Democrat Andre Carson has represented the 7th Congressional District since 2008, when he succeeded his grandmother, Julia Carson. The Congressman said he is motivated by the belief that anyone who works hard should be able to raise a family, retire with security and build a better life for their children. Unfortunately, this is not the reality for most Hoosiers, Carson said. Which is why if re-elected, I will continue to fight for hard-working Hoosiers by combating income inequality, strengthening the middle class and protecting those who have fallen on difficult times. Carson said he is proud to offerbi-weekly meetings with constituents, and he responds to thousands of residents letters. He also helped secure hundreds of millions of dollars for transit, education, renewable energyand medical research to help create jobs and rebuild neighborhoods. He touted the success of his annual job fair and the annual Youth Opportunities Fair, which connects youth with internships, summer jobs, and volunteer opportunities. Carson is also happy with the recent passage of his bill designating Martin Luther King Park as a National Commemorative Site. Carson usually receives more than 80 percent of the vote during the Democratic primary in a city where that party controls most political offices. However, he is taking nothing for granted. Four other candidates are also running for the Democratic nomination, including Curtis Godfrey, Bob Kern, Pierre Pullins and Sue Spicer. They all believe a decade is enough for Carson and are calling for fresh solutions to old problems. Godfrey is making his third run in the 7th District. His goal is to help restore direction and integrity in federal government, and he believes in term limits. Congress should not be a long-term retirement plan, he said. An elected official should be a servant of the people. A U.S. Army veteran, Godfrey is also passionate about improving medical care and services for his fellow veterans after seeing one of them wait decades for compensation. Kern won the hotly contested Democratic primary in the 6th Congressional District in 1998, before losing to Republican Dan Burton. After 20 years, he has not given up on his dream of making a difference in Congress. The constituents must have a voice, Kern said. I am ready to listen to the people, do what the people want and stand up for them. Pullins is making his seventh run for Congress, and could not be reached by press time. Spicer worked in the national office of presidential candidate Bernie Sanders, who won the Indiana Democratic primary in 2016. She is running to represent the Vermont senators progressive ideas on health care and addressing shortages of quality food in certain areas. I didnt see anybody else with the Sanders branding, Spicer said. She would like to stay connected to residents of the district by holding at least two town hall meetings each year and interacting with citizens via Skype when she is in Washington. Instead of calling corporate donors in the afternoon, I will have constituent access time, Spicer said. We have to get money out of politics. Challenge from the right The current 7th District has not sent a Republican to Congress since 1972. Still, several candidates will slug it out on the ballot for the GOP nomination. They include John Couch, J. Jason Davis, Donald Eason, Jr, Wayne Harmon, J.D. Miniear and Tony Van Pelt. Couch previously ran for the Indiana House in District 92. He is concerned about the ugly tone in politics and wants to present legislation that can benefit all sectors of society. Citizens, businesses and government are all important, Couch said in a statement. Davis, a corporate fire and safety specialist, wants to promote faith-based and vocational solutions to community problems. Education is our most critical issue, because it shapes our culture, Davis said. Eason could become the first African-American Republican to run in the district since Marvin Scott in 2010. He has worked as an administrator at Hillsdale College, Hillsdale, Michigan, and operated inner-city outreach ministries as an associate minister at Fall Creek Parkway Church of Christ. Economic growth, improving education and promoting healthy families will take care of many of the issues we face including rising crime rates, rising unemployment and declining graduation rates, Eason said. Harmon, a parole agent and Marine combat veteran, is making his fourth bid for Congress. His top issues of concern are national security, improving veteran services and balancing the federal budget. We need to reduce everyones tax rate and give the citizens back their buying power for this economy, Harmon said. Miniear, a financial advisor and conservative radio show host, is also making his fourth run in the 7th District. He describes himself as pro economic growth and constitutional, and a Christian conservative defender of freedom. Van Pelts platform calls for defense of the Bill of Rights, a return to gold backing U.S. currency, vocational programs for ex-prisoners and citizen defense training courses. He wants the removal of Carson and Islamic extremists from Congress. Contact Brandon Perry at (317) 924-5143 ext. 308. Follow him on Twitter @BrandonPerry117. Their Vote, Their Voice To each is a goal to which Allah turns him; then strive together (as in a race) towards all that is good. Wheresoever ye are, Allah will bring you together. For Allah has power over all things. [Quran 2:148] Accusations have been hurled against African-American Christians that they follow a white mans religion. Similarly, African-American Muslims have been charged as being people following an Arab religion. The Black Jew is often considered an outsider in their faith especially as they try to make a life for themselves in Israel. In each of these cited examples the African-American Muslim, Christian or Jew is accused of adopting the religion of the slave master. Whether these accusations are fully true or not these charges do obligate religious African-Americans to seriously study our respective religiosities to see if our expressions of faith are truly independent and not merely copy-cat versions with an Afrocentric tinge of the religious mores and values of white Americans? Rather one is a Muslim, Christian, Jewish or otherwise, if you are an African-American who descends from American slavery, you have an obligation to review the originality and development of your religiosity. Religion is a major part of the African-American socio-religious life. It is a strong G_d-consciousness that continues to resonate throughout most areas of the African-American life, but the point of this writing is to ask the question. Have we discussed the importance of having independent religious thought and thinking? The ugliness of slavery created a marvelous brand new people on Earth commonly called African-Americans or Blacks. This new group of people even while oppressed, and to much greater degrees as they acquired more and more freedom, gave to humankind many inventions too numerous to mention in this writing; creations such as the lawn mower, stoplight, gas mask and myriad benefits from the peanut, and the list goes on. Oppression creates in the oppressed strong human appetites for new inventions and expressions that hence before were unknown to mankind. Allah made all human beings to naturally resist oppression and also to strive to have an independent mind, culture and religiosity. Have we followed the better religious thinkers that our African-American struggle has produced, men such as Dr. Howard Thurman, Imam W. Deen Mohammed and his father the Honorable Elijah Muhammad? Dr. Benjamin Mays and many others both male and female thinkers have contributed to the creation of an independent African-American religiosity. Women such as Dr. Mary McCloud Bethune built institutions of higher learning. All of the noble efforts are powerful contributing factors to African-Americans having an independent religiosity that is a composite of our struggles to be free and independent of being mere followers of the hegemony of other peoples religious thought, cultures and values. Once we have our own identifiable independent religiosity we can as a people truly engage the world on an equal religious footing. Never should we seek independence to be segregated or isolated. Those two negative qualities rob all people of having G_ds Kingdom here on earth. African-Americans having an independent religiosity must be done because of a debt we owe to our Creator; a debt derived from acknowledging that we too are created with certain inalienable rights. Natural G_d-given rights that we do not need to ask any man for, not even the highly respected Abraham Lincoln. Then and only then can we sit at the table of humanity in the spirit of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. who boldly reminded us in his famous last sermon, Im not fearing any man! Mine eyes have seen the glory of the coming of the Lord! We have to pass this type of independence on to our next generation who will inherit the mantle of African-American leadership. We have not yet arrived as a people. Still too many African-American religious folks seem to labor under the burden of living mentally and religiously in the shadows of another peoples religious development while denying our own religious development according to the teachings and guidance of our best leaders from the past. The Quran says, To each is a goal to which Allah turns him The individual person as well as each individual community is first given an independent focus or purpose from our Creator so that we can strive, compete for a good life. After that independent competitive spirit is well established then Allah says that He will bring us all together as one human family Applying the Moses method the development of Islam among many African-Americans included a mental and spiritual exodus that allowed the establishment of independent thinking. This exodus was initiated by a public denouncement of every remnant of slavery that could be condemned. Other African-American religious groups to various degrees made similar rejections in their development. These rejections of a negative past are no more than what the English done when pursuing the socio-religious freedom from the British Crown and the Church of England. Surely we, the descendants of slaves have every right to do the same. To pursue an independent African-American religiosity is a debt we owe to our Creator, our ancestors and our individual souls. Filmmaker Karan Johars figure will not just be launched in one city but will simultaneously head out on tour across Asia to give his many fans across the world a chance to experience him being waxed. (IANS photo) Their timing could not be worse. America faces two combustible nuclear threats. North Korea is imminent; Iran must be managed. Both require sound judgment, skilled diplomacy, careful planning, and a sophisticated sense of consequence the antithesis of the blinkered belligerence that characterizes Trumps selections. This aggressiveness both toward the world, and as bureaucratic infighters will likely overwhelm the ability of the remaining voice of moderation, James Mattis, to reason with a president for whom reason is psychologically inimical. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Michael A. Cohen takes on the absurdities and hypocrisies of the current political moment. Pompeo is a political animal who used his post as CIA director to insinuate himself with Trump by echoing his worldview. He upholds the use of torture by our intelligence services. He dismisses the Paris climate change agreement as a costly burden. He shares the paranoid fantasies of anti-Muslim extremists that an Islamic fifth column is planning to overthrow our government. With Cheney-esque sangfroid, he advocates regime change in North Korea and Iran. After all, he opines, destroying Irans nuclear program is not an insurmountable task. Bolton is worse. By custom, the national security adviser is an honest broker charged with ensuring that the president receives a range of advice. But according to Carl W. Ford Jr., a former assistant secretary of state, Bolton is a kiss-up, kick-down sort of guy an abusive screamer who stifles or purges those who do not share his views. Particularly reminiscent of Cheney is a tendency to twist intelligence to suit his preconceptions in Boltons case, by threatening and bullying subordinates. Little wonder that he has started firing staffers hired by McMaster. These corrosive character defects serve the stunted prism of a think-tank uber-hawk who equates his airless D.C. echo chamber with the real world. As Peter Beinart points out in The Atlantic, Bolton has never served in the military, or immersed himself in studying world history or any region on the globe. His stints on Fox News were a study in the ferocity of ignorance. And its persistence. Many credible people supported the Iraq war. But Bolton is unique in his insistence, despite the disastrous evidence of 15 years, that invading Iraq was a splendid idea. Now, like Pompeo, he wants to repeat this triumphal chapter by bombing Iran and North Korea in pursuit of regime change. What could possibly go wrong? In Boltons world, nothing. Like Trump, he believes all that matters is what America wants or, more precisely, what goes on within his own head. So what happens if the ambitious Pompeo and the manipulative Bolton urge Trump to follow his impulse to scrap the Iran deal scorning the pusillanimity of Barack Obama and our European allies? Nothing good. Despite contrary evidence of international inspections, Bolton imagines that Iran is cheating on the deal. This facilitates Pompeos and Boltons dearest wish that America bomb Iran. Who, then, will persuade Trump that such an action would metastasize roiling hatreds and create the next generation of jihadists? But this is nothing compared to the risks of miscalculation in North Korea. Pompeo and Bolton imagine deposing Kim Jong Un without any realistic notion of how. This bodes ill for negotiations. Bolton sees them as an occasion for shock and awe threatening North Korea with dire consequences unless it agrees to total denuclearization. But this is a crack smokers pipe dream the ruthless Kim believes that a nuclear arsenal is essential to his own survival. Instead, Kim is probably commencing talks in hopes of negotiating the removal of US troops from the Korean Peninsula and an end to our alliance with South Korea. In this scenario, denuclearization is a vague and distant carrot. This clash of perceptions can be managed, if at all, only through skilled and patient diplomacy well beyond Trumps ken. Boltons alternative is simple a preemptive strike on nuclear North Korea. But one North Korean nuclear weapon could decimate South Korea or Tokyo and Kims conventional weapons could kill hundreds of thousands of people in Seoul. We are left to hope that Pompeo recoils from the prospect. And, God help us, Donald Trump. "I Am Not In The Guessing Business" - Sergei Lavrov Watch Russian Minister Of Foreign Affairs Gave An Interview To BBC host Stephen Sackur. Posted April 19, 2018 The footage is made by the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter ===== Join the Discussion It is not necessary for ICH readers to register before placing a comment. We ask that you treat others with respect. Take a moment to read the following - Comment Policy - What Or Who is Information Clearing House and Purpose and Intent of this website: It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. April 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Reading first reports that American CIA chief Mike Pompeo held secret talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un on April 1, one might be forgiven for thinking it an April Fool prank. But no, the meeting did take, confirmed by none other than US President Donald Trump. In a tweet this week, Trump wrote: Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Pompeo, who is awaiting confirmation of his new post as Secretary of State before the Senate later this month, is known for his hawkish foreign policy views. As CIA chief, he notoriously said that he wanted to make the feared quasi-paramilitary organization even more vicious. Now Pompeo is serving as a peace tribune to North Korea, which until recently he has taken a confrontational stance towards. When he was nominated last month to take over from outgoing Rex Tillerson at the State Department, some observers expected the surprise rapprochement between the Trump White House and the North Korean leader would be subsequently nixed. Pompeo, and the advent of John Bolton as Trumps National Security Advisor, personify the neocon faction in Washington. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter The emerging fact that Pompeo met in person with Kim Jong-Un in Pyongyang and that the pair apparently formed a good relationship seems a rather dizzying revelation. It was the highest level meeting between a senior American official and a North Korean leader since 2000 when then Secretary of State Madeleine Albright, from the Bill Clinton administration, met with Kim Jong-Il the father of the states current leader. Not only that, but Pompeo and Kim Jong-Un reportedly discussed making preparations for a forthcoming face-to-face summit between Kim and Trump. That encounter could take place in June, although a venue has not yet been finalized. It would be an unprecedented breakthrough and the first time a sitting American president has ever met a North Korean leader. Trump took his inner circle aback last month when he impulsively accepted an invitation from North Koreas Kim to hold a one-on-one summit. Trump jumped at the chance even before his national security team had been consulted. It appears that the president is very much still on board for the tete-a-tete. This is a startling turnaround in bilateral communications. During Trumps first year in office, he frequently used incendiary rhetoric towards North Korea, disparaging Kim as little rocket man, and threatening to use overwhelming military force against the northeast Asian nation over its clandestine nuclear-weapons program. For his part, Kim was none too shy about firing back the rhetoric at Trump, mocking the American leader as an old dotard and threatening to strike the US mainland with nuclear ballistic missiles. It is not confirmed if North Korea has reached the capability to hit North America with nuclear warheads. But it seems that Kims newfound willingness to engage in diplomacy with the US may be prompted by a sense of strength from having achieved that nuclear threshold. Others would say that the ratcheting of US-led economic sanctions under Trump has forced Pyongyang to the negotiating table. Whatever the exact motive force, the upshot is that the American and North Korean leaders are willing to talk. That outcome of jaw-jaw is better than war-war, as Winston Churchill once said. The diplomatic path of dialogue has also been consistently urged by Russia and China. If one hasnt already been overwhelmed with positive development, then heres one more thing. Next week, the South Korean President Moon Jae-In is due to hold a summit with Kim in which the two leaders are prepared to explore the signing of a full peace treaty to mark the end of the Korean War (1950-53). That meeting will the first of its kind between two Korean leaders in more than a decade. Never before has a full peace treaty been broached at such a senior Korean government level. For the past 65 years since the end of the war, the two Koreas have coexisted in a technical state of war, restrained only by an armistice or truce. That situation has been historically fraught with concerns of a return to full-blown war. Furthermore, President Trump has said he gives my blessing to the inter-Korean talks next week aimed at negotiating a definitive peace treaty. No sitting American president over the past six decades has acknowledged the issue of signing a peace treaty, let alone endorsing it. The US was a main belligerent in that war, siding with its ally South Korea against the Communist North. Any peace treaty would involve the US signing up to it, along with South and North Korea, as well as China which backed the latter in the war. Unfortunately, this is where the goodwill on display so far may become unstuck. Trump says he welcomes North Koreas offer of engaging in talks for denuclearization that is, to dismantle its nuclear weapons program. But North Korea will want proper exchange for such a momentous move. A full peace treaty over the Korean War is one such reasonable demand. That could then pave the way for the eventual unification of the two Koreas, which many people on the Peninsula have long desired, including the present leaders on both sides of the Demilitarized Zone. But a peace treaty also implies that the US withdraws all its forces from the Korean Peninsula. Currently, there are some 30,000 US troops stationed in South Korea. There has been an American military presence on the peninsula since the end of the Second World War. Every year, the US conducts large-scale military maneuvers with South Korean forces in the air and waters around the peninsula. This has long been a cause of animus in North Korea which views the war games as rehearsals for the resumption of war. The fundamental issue is that American strategy for power and influence in Asia-Pacific towards perceived chief rivals Russia and China depends on the US military having a foothold on the Korean Peninsula. It therefore seems deeply counter-intuitive that US geopolitical planners would be prepared to surrender their Korean power-projection point. President Trump has so far, surprisingly, shown goodwill to talks with North Korea and the search for peace. But when Washington realizes that a genuine peace settlement involves the complete withdrawal of American military forces from Korea, Trumps thumbs-up is likely to become inverted. [ Prefatory Note: This post is an assessment of the recent Syrian missile attack by the armed forces of the U.S., UK, and France from a variety of perspectives. It is a modified and expanded version of a text earlier published in The Wire (Delhi) and Il Manifesto(Rome). I intend to write two further posts suggested by the controversy generated by the airstrikes of April 14, 2018 against sites associated with Syrias alleged chemical weapons capabilities. These strikes raise questions of international law, domestic constitutional authorization for international uses of force, strategic logic, and moral imperatives and rationalizations. Each of these issues is capable of multiple interpretations raising further concerns about the appropriate location of the authority to decide given the nature of world order in the 21stcentury.] Preliminary Reflections April 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - At this stage it seems reasonable to wonder whether Syria was attacked because it didnt use chemical weapons rather than because it did. That may seem strange until we remember rather weighty suspicions surrounding the main accusers, especially the White Helmets with their long standing links to the U.S. Government, and past skepticism about their inflammatory accusations that critics claim reflect fabricated evidence conveniently available at crisis moments. A second irreverent puzzle is whether the dominant motive for the attack was not really about what was happening in Syria, but rather what was not happening in the domestic politics of the attacking countries. Every student of world politics knows that when the leadership of strong states feel stressed or cornered, they look outside their borders for enemies to blame and slay, counting on transcendent feelings of national pride and patriotic unity associated with international displays of military prowess to distract the discontented folks at home, at least for awhile. All three leaders of the attacking coalition were beset by rather severe tremors of domestic discontent, making attractive the occasion for a cheap shot at Syria at the expense of international law and the UN, just to strike a responsive populist chord with their own citizenryabove all, to show the world that the West remains willing and able to strike violently at Islamic countries without fearing retaliation. Beleaguered Trump, unpopular Macron, and post-Brexit May all have low approval ratings among their own voters, and seem in free fall as leaders making them particularly dangerous internationally. Of course, this last point requires clarification, and some qualification to explain the strictly limited nature of the military strike. Although the attackers wanted to claim the high moral ground as defenders of civilized limits on military actions in wartime, itself an oxymoron, they wanted even more crucially (and sensibly) to avoid escalation, carrying risks of a dangerous military encounter with Russia, and possibly Iran. As Syrian pro-interventionists have angrily pointed out in their disappointment, the attack was more in the nature of a gesture than a credible effort to influence the future behavior of the Bashar al-Assad government, much less tip the balance in the Syrian struggle against the government. As such, it strengthens the argument of those who interpret the attack as more about domestic crises of legitimacy unfolding in these illiberal democraciesthan it is about any reshaping of the Syrian ordeal, or a commitment to upholding the Chemical Weapons Convention. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter A third line of interpretation insisting that what was said in public by the leaders and representatives of the three attacking Western powers was not the real reason that the attack was undertaken. In this optic, it is pressure from Israel to mute President Trumps feared slide toward disengagement from Syria as a prelude to a wider strategic withdrawal from the Middle East as a whole, a region that Trump in his speech justifying the attack calls troubled beyond the capacity of the United States to fix. At least temporarily, from Israels point of view, the air strikes sent a signal to Moscow that the United States was not ready to accept Syria becoming a geopolitical pawn of Russia and Iran. Supposedly, the Netanyahu entourage, although pleased by the Jerusalem move, the challenge to the Iran Nuclear Agreement, and silence about the IDF lethal responses to the Gaza Great Return March, have new worries that when it comes to regional belligerence and overall military engagement, Trump will be no more help than Obama, who quite irrationally became their nightmare American president. And if that is not enough to ponder, consider that Iraq was savagely attacked in 2003 by a U.S./UK coalition under similar circumstances, that is, without either an international law justification or authorization by the UN Security Council, the only two ways that international force can be lawfully employed, and even then only as a last resort after sanctions and diplomatic avenues have been tried and failed. It turned out that the political rationale for recourse to aggressive war against Iraq, its alleged possession of weapons of mass destruction was totally false, either building the case for war on the elaborately orchestrated presentation of false evidence or more generously, as awkwardly victimized by a hugely embarrassing intelligence lapse. To be fair, this Syrian military caper could have turned out far worse from the perspective of world peace and regional security. The 105 missile attack war over in 3 minutes, no civilian casualties have been reported, and thankfully, any challenge to the Russian and Iranian military presence in Syria was deliberately excluded from the targeting plan, or to the Syrian government, thus taking precautions to avoidT setting in motion the rightly feared retaliation and escalation cycle. This was not an idle worry. More than at any time since the end of the Cold War sober concerns abounded preceding the attack that a clash of political wills or an accidental targeting mistake could cause geopolitical stumbles culminating in World War III. Historically minded observers pointed out alarming parallels with the confusions and exaggerated responses that led directly to the prolonged horror of World War I. The relevant restraint of the April 14thmissile attacks seems to be the work of the Pentagon, and certainly not the hawk-infested White House. Military planners designed the attack to minimize risks of escalation, and possibly even reaching behind the scenes an undisclosed negotiated understanding with the Russians. In effect, Trumps red line on chemical weapons was supposedly defended, and redrawn at the UN as a warning to Damascus, but as suggested above this was the public face of the attack, not its principal motivations, which remain unacknowledged. Doubting the Facts Yet can we sure at this stage that at least the factual basis of this aggressive move accurately portrayed Syria as having launched a lethal chlorine and likely nerve gas attack on the people of Douma, killing at least 40? On the basis of available evidence, the facts have not yet been established beyond reasonable doubt. We have been fooled too often in the past by the confident claims of the intelligence services working for these same countries that sent this last wave of missiles to Syria. International maneuvering for instant support of a punitive response to Douma seemed a rush to judgment amid an array of strident, yet credible, voices of doubt, including from UN sources. The most cynical observers are suggesting that the timing of the attack, if not its real purpose other than the vindication of Trumps red line, is to destroy evidence that might incriminate others than the Syrian government as the responsible party. Such suspicions are fueled by the refusal to wait until the factual claims could be validated. As matters stand, the airstrike seem hastened to make sure that the respected Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW), when finally carrying out its fact finding mission would have nothing to find. To allay reactions that these are ideologically driven criticisms, it is notable that the Wall Street Journal, never a voice for peace and moderation, put forward its view that it was not clear who carried out the attack on Douma, a view shared by several mainstream media outlets including the Associated Press. Blaming Syria, much less attacking, was definitely premature, and quite possibly altogether false, undermining the essential factual foundation of the coalition claim without even reaching the formidable doubts associated with issues of the unlawfulness and illegitimacy of an international use of non-defensive force without authorization by the United Nations. Remnants of Colonialism Less noticed, but starkly relevant, is the intriguing reality that the identity of the three states responsible for this aggressive act share strong colonialist credentials that expose the deep roots of the turmoil afflicting in different ways the entire Middle East. It is relevant to recall that it was British and French colonial ambitions in 1916 that established the blueprint for carving up the collapsed Ottoman Empire, imposing artificial political communities with borders reflecting European priorities not natural affinities, and taking no account of the preferences of the resident population. This colonial plot foiled Woodrow Wilsons more positive proposal to implement self-determination based on affinities of ethnicity, tradition, and religion of those formerly living under Ottoman rule. The United States fully supplanted this colonial duopoly as the colonial sun was setting around the world, especially after the Europeans faltered in the 1956 Suez Crisis. At the same time the U.S. quickly made its own heavy footprint known, feared, and resented throughout the region with an updated imperial agenda featuring Soviet containment, oil geopolitics, and untethered support for Israel. Even earlier in 1953 the Truman Doctrine and CIA support for the overthrow of the democratically elected and nationalist government of Mohammad Mosaddegh disclosed the extent of U.S. involvement in the region. These strategic priorities were later supplemented by worries after 1979 about the spread of Islam and fears after 2001 that nuclear weaponry could fall into the wrong political hands. After a century of exploitation, intervention, and betrayal by the West, it should come as no surprise that anti-Western extremist movements have surfaced throughout the Arab World, and engendered some populist sympathies despite their barbaric tactics. Violating International Law, Undermining the UN It is helpful to recall the Kosovo War (1999) and the Libyan War (2011), both managed as NATO operations carried out in defiance of international law and the UN Charter. Because of an anticipated Russian veto, NATO, with strong regional backing in Europe launched a punishing air attack that drove Serbia out of Kosovo. Despite the presence of a strong case for humanitarian intervention within the Kosovo context it set a dangerous precedent, which advocates of a regime-changing intervention in Iraq found convenient to invoke a few years later. In effect the U.S. found itself backed into insisting on an absurd position, to the effect, that the veto should be respected without any questioning when the West uses it, most arbitrarily and frequently to protect Israel from much more trivial, yet justifiable, challenges than what this missile attack on the basic sovereign rights of the internationally legitimate government of Syria signifies. American diplomats do not try to justify, or even explain, their inconsistent attitudes toward the authority of the UN veto, despite the starkness of the contradiction. Perhaps, it is a textbook example of what psychologists call cognitive dissonance. More accessibly, it is a prime instance of a continued reliance on the benefits of American exceptionalism. As the self-anointed guarantor of virtue and perpetual innocence in world politics the United States is not bound by the rules and standards by which its leaders judge the conduct of others, especially adversaries. As a personal aside, with some apologies owed, I was the main author of the section of the report in my role as a member of the Independent International Commission on Kosovo, which put forth the rationale of illegal but legitimate with respect to the Kosovo intervention. I had misgivings at the time, but was swayed by the shadow of Srebrenica and the difficulties of finding a consensus among the members of the Commission to put forth this line of argument, qualified to an extent in the text of the report, by invoking the exceptional facts and expressing what turned out to be the vain hope that the UNSC would itself create greater flexibility in responding to humanitarian crises of this kind and overcome what seemed at the time giving credibility to a pattern of justification for war making that could in the future be twisted out of shape by geopolitical opportunism. My fears have been realized, and I would now be very reluctant to endorse my own formulations that seemed, on balance the right way to go back in the year 2000. Now I lose sleep whenever I recall that I was responsible for what has become an insidious conceptual innovation, illegal but legitimate, which in unscrupulous geopolitical hands operates as an open Sesame rendering irrelevant Charter constraints. The Libyan precedent is also relevant, although in a different way, to the marginalization of the UN and international law to which this latest Syrian action is a grim addition. Because the people of the Libyan city of Benghazi truly faced an imminent humanitarian emergency in March of 2011 the argument for lending UN protection seemed strong. Russia and China, permanent members of the UNSC, and other skeptical members, were persuaded to suspend their suspicions about Western motives and abstained from a resolution specifically authorizing the establishment of a No Fly Zone to protect Benghazi. It didnt take long to disabuse Russia and China, mocking their trust in assurances by the NATO states that their objective were limited and strictly humanitarian. They were quickly shocked into the realization that actual NATO mission in Libya was regime change, not humanitarian relief. In other words, these same Western powers who are currently claiming at the UN that international law is on their side with regard to Syria, have themselves a terrible record of flouting and manipulating UN authority whenever convenient and insisting on their full panoply of obstructive rights under the Charter when Israels wrongdoing is under review. Ambassador Nikki Haley, Trumps flamethrower at the UN, arrogantly reminded members of the Security Council that the U.S. would carry out a military strike against Syria whether or not it was permitted by the Organization. In effect, even the veto as a shield is not sufficient to quench Washingtons geopolitical thirst. It also claims the disruptive option of the sword of American exceptionalism to circumvent the veto when it anticipates being blocked by the veto of an adversary. Such duplicity with respect to legal procedures at the UN puts the world back on square one when it comes to restraining the international use of force by geopolitical actors. Imagine the indignation that the U.S. would muster if Russia or China proposed at the Security Council a long overdue peacekeeping (R2P) mission to protect the multiply abused population of Gaza. And if these countries went further, and had the geopolitical gall to act outside the UN because of an expected veto by NATO members of the Security Council and the urgency of the humanitarian justification, the world would almost certainly experience the bitter taste of apocalyptic warfare. The Charter Framework is Not Obsolete The Charter framework makes as much sense, or more, than when crafted in 1945. Recourse to force is only permissible as an act of self-defense against a prior armed attack, and then only until the Security Council has time to act. In non-defensive situations, such as the Syrian case, the Charter makes clear beyond reasonable doubt that the Security Council alone possesses the authority to mandate the use of force, including even in response to an ongoing humanitarian emergency. The breakthrough idea in the Charter is to limit as much as language can, discretion by states to decide on their own when to have recourse to acts of war. Syria is the latest indication that this hopeful idea has been crudely cast in the geopolitical wastebasket. It will be up to the multitudes to challenge these developments, and use their mobilized influence to reverse the decline of international law and the authority of the UN. Most members of the UN are themselves so beholden to the realist premises of the system that they will never do more than squawk from time to time. Ending Trumps boastful tweet about the Syrian airstrike with the words mission accomplished unwittingly reminds us of the time in 2003 when the same phrase was on a banner behind George W. Bush as he spoke of victory in Iraq from the deck of an aircraft carrier with the sun setting behind him. Those words soon came back to haunt Bush, and if Trump were capable of irony, he might have realized that he is likely to endure an even more humbling fate, while lacking Bushs willingness to later acknowledge his laughable mistake. Fudging Constitutional Authorization Each of the attacking countries claims impeccable democratic credentials, except when their effect is to impede war lust. Each purports to give its legislative branch the option of withholding approval for any contemplated recourse to military action, except in the case that the homeland is under attack. Yet here, where there was no attack by Syria and no imminent security threat of any kind each of these governments joined in an internationallyunlawful attack without even bothering to seek domesticlegislative approval, claiming only that the undertaking served the national interest of their governments by enforcing the norms of prohibition contained in the Chemical Weapons Convention. The American attempts to supply flimsy domestic justifications are decisively refuted by two widely respected international jurists, including one, Jack Goldsmith, who was a leading neoconservative legal advisor in the early years of the George W. Bush presidency. [Jack Goldsmith & Oona Hathaway, Bad Legal Arguments for the Syria Airstrikes, Lawfare website, Aprile 14, 2018] Their article rejects arguments based on theAuthorization for the Use of Military Force, which in 2001 gave broad authority to use military force in response to the 9/11 attacks, but has no bearing here as Syria has never been accused of any link. The other legal claim that has been brought forward argues that the airstrikes are expressions of the presidents authority under Article II of the Constitution to serve as Commander in Chief, but any freshman law student knows, or should know, that this authority is available only if the use of force has been previously validated by Congress or is in response to an attack or a plausible argument of the perceived imminence of such an attack. Revealingly, the internal justification for Trumps authority has not been disclosed as yet, and has been heavily classified, showing once again that government secrets in wartime are not primarily kept to prevent adversaries from finding things out, but as with the Pentagon Papers, are useful mainly to keep Americans in the dark about policies that affect their wellbeing and possibly their survival. It also gives the leadership more space for deception and outright lies. It has been reliably reported that the Trump White House preferred to act without seeking Congressional approval, presumably to uphold the trend toward establishing an executive presidency when it comes to war/peace issues, thereby effectively negating a principal objective of the U.S. Constitution to apply the separation of powers doctrine to any recourse to war. This also marginalizes the War Powers Act enacted into law in the aftermath of the Vietnam War in the vain attempt to restore the Constitutional arrangement after a period during which the President arrogated power to wage war and the policy acted upon produced the worst foreign policy failure in all of American history. Where Does This Leave Us? There are several levels of response: with respect to Syria, nothing has changed. with respect to the UN and international law, a damaging blow was struck. with respect to constitutionalism, a further move away from respect for separation of powers, thus marginalizing the legislative branch with respect to war/peace policies. with respect to oppositional politics, citizen protest, and media reactions, an apathetic atmosphere of acquiescence, with debate shifting to questions of purpose and effectiveness without virtually no reference to legality, and quite little, even to legitimacy (that is, moral and political justifications). Richard Falk is an international law and international relations scholar who taught at Princeton University for forty years. Since 2002 he has lived in Santa Barbara, California, and taught at the local campus of the University of California in Global and International Studies and since 2005 chaired the Board of the Nuclear Age Peace Foundation. https://richardfalk.wordpress.com Exposed: Staged Suffering? Watch Interview with boy in Douma video raises more doubts over chem attack Posted April 19, 2018 Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter Former UK ambassador to Syria Peter Ford tells @TuckerCarlson: We have been deluded. Its not certain by any means that it was a chemical attack. There are reports from Western journalists who were in Douma yesterday, & who spoke to doctors who said there was no chemical attack. pic.twitter.com/tvOdVZhgOv Sarah Abdallah (@sahouraxo) April 18, 2018 ===== Join the Discussion It is not necessary for ICH readers to register before placing a comment. We ask that you treat others with respect. Take a moment to read the following - Comment Policy - What Or Who is Information Clearing House and Purpose and Intent of this website: It is unacceptable to slander, smear or engage in personal attacks on authors of articles posted on ICH. Those engaging in that behavior will be banned from the comment section. By Moon Of Alabama April 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Why has the fact finding mission (FFM)of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) not visited Douma? The OPCW inspectors are held up by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) which has a say about any movement of UN aligned organizations in areas that might be dangerous. The UNDSS is led by an Australian police / intelligence officer. The holdup seems to be intended. On Sunday April 8 videos were published of an alleged 'chemical attack' in Douma near Damascus. At that time the area was under control of Jaish al-Islam, a Salafi terrorist organization financed by Saudi Arabia. The various videos from terrorist supporters like the 'White Helmets' were unconvincing. They showed obviously arranged scenes of an alleged 'barrel bomb' and manipulated bodies of dead children that had been moved and decorated with shaving foam to superficially fit the claims of a 'chemical incident'. Another video showed people in a hospital being doused with water for no apparent reason. An often quoted opposition news outlet, the Syrian Observatory in Britain, denied that a 'chemical attack' had happened. It reported on April 8 of suffocation after a shelter collapsed due to bombing: [I]n among the casualties there are 21 civilians including 9 children and 3 women were killed as a result of suffocation caused by the shelling which destroyed basements of houses as a result of the violence bombardment that stopped about an hour ago on Douma area. The 'chemical incident' was likely faked. It suspiciously happened just a few days after U.S. President Trump had announced the he wanted the U.S. military to leave Syria. A year earlier a similar incident was claimed to have happened after a similar announcement by Trump. The U.S. had responded to the 2017 incident by bombing an empty Syrian airfield. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter A day after the incident the Salafi terrorists of Jaish al-Islam gave up and left the area under a ceasefire deal arranged with the help of the Russian military in Syria. The ceasefire deal does not allow the Syrian army to enter the area, only the Russian military police is allowed. Russian military police immediately entered the area and investigated the house where, allegedly, people were killed by 'chemical weapons'. They found no evidence that such an event had taken place. The Syrian government asked the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical aWeapons (OPCW) to investigate the case. Many international news teams have since visited the area where the incident allegedly took place. The also visited the field hospital shown in one of the opposition videos. Doctors at that hospital deny (vid) that any patient of theirs had been affected by a chemical attack. The cases they had seen had breathing difficulties caused by the inhalation of dust thrown up through exploding bombs and artillery. Alleged 'victims' shown in the hospital video claim (vid) they were paid to perform. The regime-change shills are denying that any claims of the hospital staff working in the now government controlled Douma could be true. Medics are liars, unless they are controlled by Jihadis. See for example this shoddy propaganda piece by the Guardian: Syrian medics 'subjected to extreme intimidation' after Douma attack by Martin Chulov in Beirut and Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul. The piece begins: The head of the largest medical relief agency in Syria claims that medics who responded to the suspected gas attack in Douma have been subjected to extreme intimidation by Syrian officials who seized biological samples, forced them to abandon patients and demanded their silence. Now look at the picture. It shows Syrian Red Crescent personal. The caption is false. It says: "Medics take a wounded man into hospital in Damascus after rockets were fired in Douma on 7 April." The picture is actually from a series published by the Syrian news agency SANA. The SANA series is headlined: "Injuries among civilians in Jaish al-Islam mortar attacks on Damascus". The attack was FROM the terrorists in Douma on civilians in Damascus, not IN Douma as the Guardian insinuates. The pictured Red Crescent in Syria, founded in 1942, has 1,592 staff and some 6,000 volunteers. It is indeed the "the largest medical relief agency in Syria". But it is not the one the Guardian describes and quotes: Dr Ghanem Tayara, the director of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations (UOSSM) said doctors responsible for treating patients in the hours after the 7 April attack have been told that their families will be at risk if they offer public testimonies about what took place. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations was founded in 2012, works from Reyhanli in Turkey and claims to have 600 staff. It consists of the Syrian American Medial Society (SAMS), which is funded by the CIA front USAID and lobbies for regime change in Syria, the British-Syrian Medical Society which only works in 'rebel' held areas, as well as British and U.S. p.o.-box 'charities' which collect donations. SAMS and UOSSM are said to be Muslim Brotherhood fronts. The Guardian shows a Syrian Red Crescent/Red Cross picture in the context of ridiculous claims made by an organization on the side of the Jihadis. The Syrian Red Crescent has no relation to that organization. UOSSM is misidentified as the largest relief organization in Syria. Its claims are repeated without doubts by Guardian 'journalists' in Turkey and Lebanon to counter interviews and observations made by real journalists on the ground in Douma. The piece and its presentation is bottom fishing by a once reasonable paper. Jonathan Cook has more to say about that shoddy Guardian piece. On Friday April 13 the OPCW fact finding mission arrived in Damascus. On Saturday France, the U.K and the United States, (FUKUS), bombed an agricultural and medical research center in Damascus as well as two Syrian army depots. The attack missed its other targets, a failure the U.S. military attempts to cover up. The attack came despite doubts in the Pentagon and elsewhere about what actually happened. High ranking British military generals have publicly doubted the claims of a Syrian 'chemical attack'. The suburb where the alleged incident happened is only a few miles away from the center of Damascus. Journalists and camera teams walk all over the place without any protection and freely interview hospital personal. The OPCW has yet to reach the area. It claims that the security is insufficient. Like other organizations aligned with the United Nations the OPCW is relying on the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) for intelligence and protection. Yesterday the Director General of the OPCW Ahmet Uzumcu, a Turkish career diplomat who was earlier Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO, issued a statement: On 16 April, we received confirmation from the National Authority of the Syrian Arab Republic that, under agreements reached to allow the evacuation of the population in Ghouta, the Syrian military were unable to enter Douma. The security for the sites where the FFM plans to deploy was under the control of the Russian Military Police. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has made the necessary arrangements with the Syrian authorities to escort the team to a certain point and then for the escort to be taken over by the Russian Military Police. However, the UNDSS preferred to first conduct a reconnaissance visit to the sites, which took place yesterday. FFM team members did not participate in this visit. On arrival at Site 1, a large crowd gathered and the advice provided by the UNDSS was that the reconnaissance team should withdraw. At Site 2, the team came under small arms fire and an explosive was detonated. The reconnaissance team returned to Damascus. (Note: Only about 10% of the population of the Ghouta area to which Douma belongs, the terrorist and their families, were evacuated. Other people have stayed or returned to the now liberated areas.) No other organization reported of recent shots or explosions in Douma. Even the New York Times, a staunch defender of the 'opposition' in Syria, wonders about the hold-up but does not bother to answer the question: [T]he fact that journalists had been able to wander around Douma unmolested raised questions about why it was not deemed safe enough for the investigators to visit. Why were, allegedly, shots fired at the UN Security team but not on anyone else visiting the area? If, as the terrorist supporters claim, Chlorine was used in the 'chemical attack', the OSCE investigators are unlikely to find any physical evidence of it. Chlorine dissipates and leaves no unique traces in the dead body. Interviews with local witnesses though could be of value. One gets the impression that certain circles fear the the OPCW could reach the area, talk to witnesses and confirm the claims made by doctors in the hospital as well as by many journalists that no 'chemical attack' took place. It would expose the attack on Syria as a reckless and unjustified war crime. The leader of the UNDSS is an Australian police commander: Mr. Drennan, who from 2009 served as Deputy Commissioner National Security with the Australian Federal Police, brings to the position an extensive career in policing and law enforcement at the community, national and international levels. Is it possible that a distinguished Australian police commander delays or prevents the OPCW investigation to protect the British and U.S. allies? April 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - Heres how a free press, one owned by a handful of corporations, uses its freedom. It simply tells you what it is good for its business interests, or more generally for the political and business environment it operates in. Its not interested in truth or airing all sides, or even necessarily basic facts. The only restraint preventing the corporate media from outright lying to promote its material interests is the fear of being found out, of readers starting to suspect that they are not being told the whole truth. If that sounds like conspiratorial nonsense to you, consider this single example (there are lots more if you trawl through my past blog posts). Lets take the matter of veteran Middle East reporter Robert Fisk arriving in Douma this week, the first western correspondent to get there. Fisk is like some relic from a bygone era, when journalists really sought to arrive at the truth, often at great personal danger, not simply win followers on Twitter. Until his arrival, all the information we were receiving about Douma in the west originated not with on-the-ground reporters, but with jihadist groups or those living under their Islamist reign of terror. That was true of the Youtube videos, the accounts from western reporters based far off in other countries, the human rights organisations, the World Health Organisation, and so on. The fog of war in this case was truly impenetrable. Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter So Fisks arrival was a significant event. He was clearly aware of the journalistic burden on his shoulders. Those still in Douma, after the jihadists fled, we can assume, are mostly supporters of the Syrian government. Even if they are not, they may be fearful of retaliation from the Syrian army if they speak out against it. So Fisk, a very experienced reporter who has won many awards, was careful in the way he handled the story. Unlike many reporters, he is prepared to add context to his reports, such as the manner or tone of the person he talked to clues to help him and us decode what they might really be thinking or meaning, rather than just what they are saying. But the content of what he reported was incendiary. Just a few days after the US, UK and France had bombed Syria, in violation of all principles of international law, on the grounds that the Syrian government had used chemical weapons in Douma, Fisk interviewed a doctor at the clinic where the victims were treated. The doctor said no chemical attack occurred. The video footage from last week was genuine, the doctor added, but it showed civilians who had inhaled dust after a Syrian bombing attack, not gas. Fisks account is clearly honest about what he was told. And the doctors account clearly is plausible it could fit what the video shows. So, whether right or wrong, it is a vital piece of the jigsaw as we, ordinary citizens, decide whether our governments were justified before United Nations inspectors had even arrived in acts of aggression against another sovereign nation, and whether, in the case of the UK, Theresa May was entitled to act without reference to parliament. These are matters Jeremy Corbyn, the leader of the UKs opposition Labour party, has been trying to raise in the face of a solid media consensus in favour of bombing. Given this context, the UK media ought to have been putting Fisks report at the centre of their Syria coverage yesterday and today, especially the liberal Guardian, the paper that Labour party members have relied on for decades. So how did the Guardian fare? The Guardian now has an enormous output of articles, not least its Comment is Free section. So it would be foolhardy of me to say with absolute conviction that the Guardian made no reference anywhere in its pages to Fisk. But if it did so, it was extremely well concealed. A Google search of Fisk, Guardian and Douma throws up nothing. I can locate nothing in searching the Syria news articles and the op-eds published in the physical newspaper either. So the Guardian appears to have intentionally blocked its readers from learning about the Fisk report, even though it is highly relevant to an informed debate about western actions in Syria, actions that are themselves part of a political debate being led by Corbyn. Denying this information to its readers means the Guardian is actually helping to weaken Corbyn in his battle to hold May to account. But it does not end there. The Guardian does briefly reference Fisk, it just does so without naming him. At the same time, the Guardian seeks to discredit his reporting using the very same, highly compromised sources that have been relied on till now from Douma. In short, the Guardian appears to be carrying out a damage limitation operation, refusing to report transparently Fisks revelations in an attempt to shore up the existing narrative rather than test it against the new narrative offered by Fisk. Buried away in two lines in an article by Patrick Wintour and Julian Borger, we get this in todays Guardian: A group of reporters, many favoured by Moscow, were taken to the site on Monday. They either reported that no weapon attack had occurred or that the victims had been misled by the White Helmets civilian defence force into mistaking a choking effect caused by dust clouds for a chemical attack. So Fisk, Britains most famous and respected Middle East correspondent (can you name another one?), is not only not identified but dismissed generically as one of a group of reporters favoured by Moscow. A second report, headlined Syrian medics subjected to extreme intimidation after Douma attack, by Martin Chulov and Kareem Shahin, far away in Beirut and Istanbul respectively, confidently denigrates Fisks account, again without identifying him or mentioning that he was there. Again, it merely alludes to the content of Fisks account and only in so far as it is necessary to undermine it. Instead, it gives top billing to unchallenged claims by Dr Ghanem Tayara, a Birmingham-based doctor now in Turkey who is the director of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations, which favours the overthrow of the Syrian goverment. After many paragraphs of Dr Tayaras allegations against Bashar Assads government, Fisks account is given this cursory and hostile treatment near the end of the article: Medics and survivors who have remained in Douma, and others who have fled for northern Syria, ridiculed competing claims that the attack either did not take place, or did not use gas. Some doctors have appeared on Syrian television to deny that anything took place in Douma. A doctor who spoke to the Guardian said: Our colleagues who appeared on television were coerced, because some hadnt served in the military or completed their degree, and for other reasons, some had family in Damascus. They decided to stay in exchange for being reconciled with the regime. But the regime used them. Another medic who treated victims said: Anyone who has knowledge of what happened cannot testify. What was being said is that the medical centres would be destroyed on top of those working in it. These countervailing voices are important. They are another piece of the jigsaw, as we try to work out what is really going in places like Douma. But publications like the Guardian are consistently presenting them as the only pieces their readers need to know about. That isnt journalism. There are good reasons to be suspicious of everything that comes out of the Syria war arena, where all sides are treating the outcome as a zero-sum battle. But western corporate media are clearly not fulfilling their self-declared role either as an impartial messenger of news, or as a watchdog on power. They have taken a side that of the governments of the US, UK and France, their regional partners Saudi Arabia and Israel, and what are by now mostly proxy jihadi fighters in Syria. The Guardian failed the most elementary test of honest journalism in its treatment of Fisks report. It may be an egregious example but after many years of the Syria war it is very far from being unique. Jonathan Cook is a Nazareth- based journalist and winner of the Martha Gellhorn Special Prize for Journalism. https://www.jonathan-cook.net/blog April 19, 2018 " Information Clearing House " - While conflict theories and resolution processes advanced dramatically during the second half of the 20th century, particularly thanks to the important work of several key scholars such as Professor Johan Galtung see Conflict Transformation by Peaceful Means (the Transcend Method) significant gaps remain in the conflict literature on how to deal with particular conflict configurations. Notably, these include the following four. First, existing conflict theory does not adequately explain, emphasize and teach how to respond in those circumstances in which parties cannot be brought to the table to deeply consider a conflict and the measures necessary to resolve it. This particularly applies in cases where one or more parties is violently defending (often using a combination of direct and structural violence) substantial interrelated (material and non-material) interests. The conflict between China and Tibet over the Chinese-occupied Tibetan plateau, the many conflicts between western corporations and indigenous peoples over exploitation of the natural environment, and the conflict between the global elite and ordinary people over resource allocation in the global economy are obvious examples of a vast number of conflicts in this category. As one of the rare conflict theorists who addresses this question, Galtung notes that structural violence is not only evil, it is obstinate and must be fought, and his preferred strategy is nonviolent revolution. See The True Worlds: A Transnational Perspective p. 140. But how? Second, existing conflict theory does not explain how to respond in those circumstances in which one or more parties to the conflict are insane. The conflict between Israel and Palestine over Israeli-occupied Palestine classically illustrates this problem, particularly notable in the insanity of Israeli Prime Minister Binjamin Netanyahu, Defense Minister Avigdor Lieberman and Justice Minister Ayelet Shaked. But it is also readily illustrated by the insanity of the current political/military leadership in the USA and the insanity of the political, military and Buddhist leaders in Myanmar engaged in a genocidal assault on the Rohingya. For a brief discussion of the meaning and cause of this insanity see The Global Elite is Insane Revisited . Are You Tired Of The Lies And Non-Stop Propaganda? Get Your FREE Daily Newsletter As an aside, there is little point deluding ourselves that insanity is not a problem or even diplomatically not mentioning the insanity (if this is indeed the case) of certain parties in particular conflicts. The truth enables us to fully understand a conflict so that we can develop and implement a strategy to deal with all aspects of that truth. Any conflict strategy that fails to accurately identify and address all key aspects of the conflict, including the insanity of any of the parties, will virtually certainly fail. Third, and more fundamentally, existing conflict theory does not take adequate account of the critical role that several unconscious emotions play in driving conflict in virtually all contexts, often preventing its resolution. This particularly applies in the case of (but is not limited to) suppressed terror, self-hatred and anger which are often unconsciously projected as fear of, hatred for and anger at an opponent or even an innocent third-party (essentially because this individual/group feels safe to the person who is projecting). See The Psychology of Projection in Conflict . While any significant ongoing conflict would illustrate this point adequately, the incredibly complex and interrelated conflicts being conducted in the Middle East, the prevalent Islamophobia in some western countries, and the conflicts over governance and exploitation of resources in the Democratic Republic of Congo are superlative examples. Ignoring suppressed (and projected) emotions can stymie conflict resolution in any context, interpersonally and geopolitically, and it does so frequently. Fourth, existing conflict theory pays little attention to the extinction-causing conflict being ongoingly generated by human over-consumption in the finite planetary biosphere (and currently resulting in 200 species extinctions daily) which is sometimes inadequately identified as a conflict caused by capitalisms drive for unending economic growth in a finite environment. So what can we do? Well, to begin, in all four categories of cases mentioned above, I would use Gandhian nonviolent strategy to compel violent opponents to participate in a conflict transformation process such as Galtungs. Why nonviolent and why Gandhian? Nonviolent because our intention is to process the conflict to achieve a higher level of need satisfaction for all parties and violence against any or all participants is inconsistent with that intention. But Gandhian nonviolence because only Gandhis version of nonviolence has this conflict intention built into it. See Conception of Nonviolence . But isnt this nonviolent strategy simply coercion by another name? you might ask. Well, according to the Norwegian philosopher, Professor Arne Naess, it is not. In his view, if a change of will follows the scrutiny of norms in the context of new information while one is in a state of full mental and bodily powers, this is an act of personal freedom under optimal conditions. Naess highlights this point with the following example: Suppose that one person carries another against their will into the streets where there is a riot and, as a result of what they see, the carried person changes some of their attitudes and opinions. Was the change coerced? According to Naess, while the person was coerced into seeing something that caused the change, the change itself was not coerced. The distinction is important, Naess argues, because satyagraha (Gandhian nonviolent struggle) is incompatible with changes of attitudes or opinions that are coerced. See Gandhi and Group Conflict: An Exploration of Satyagraha pp. 91-92. To elaborate this point: Unlike other conceptions of nonviolence, Gandhis nonviolence is based on certain premises, including the importance of the truth, the sanctity and unity of all life, and the unity of means and end, so his strategy is always conducted within the framework of his desired political, social, economic and ecological vision for society as a whole and not limited to the purpose of any immediate campaign. It is for this reason that Gandhis approach to strategy is so important. He is always taking into account the ultimate end of all nonviolent struggle a just, peaceful and ecologically sustainable society of self-realized human beings not just the outcome of this campaign. He wants each campaign to contribute to the ultimate aim, not undermine vital elements of the long-term and overarching struggle to create a world without violence. Consequently, given his conception of nonviolence, Gandhis intention is to reach a conflict outcome that recognizes the sanctity and unity of all life which, obviously, includes the lives (but also the physical and emotional well-being) of his opponents. His nonviolent strategy is designed to compel participation in a conflict process but not to impose his preferred outcome unilaterally. See Nonviolent Campaign Strategy and Nonviolent Defense/Liberation Strategy . This can apply in the geopolitical context or in relation to ordinary individuals merely participating in the violence of overconsumption. Using nonviolent strategy to campaign on the climate catastrophe or other environmental issues can include mobilizing individuals and communities to emulate Gandhis asceticism in a modest way by participating in the fifteen-year strategy outlined in The Flame Tree Project to Save Life on Earth which he inspired. But even if we can use nonviolent strategy effectively to get the conflicting parties together, the reality is that suppressed and projected emotions particularly fear, self-hatred and anger as mentioned above or even outright insanity on the part of one or more parties may still make efforts to effectively transform the conflict impossible. So for conflict resolution to occur, we need individuals who are willing and able to participate with at least minimal goodwill in designing a superior conflict outcome beneficial to everyone concerned. Hence, I would do one more thing in connection with this process. Prior to, and then also in parallel with, the formal conflict process, I would provide opportunities for all individuals engaged in the process (or otherwise critical to it because of their background role, perhaps as a leader not personally present at the formal conflict process) to explore in a private setting with a skilled nisteler (who is outside the conflict process), the unconscious emotions that are driving their particular approach to the conflict. See Nisteling: The Art of Deep Listening . The purpose of this nisteling is to allow each participant in the conflict process to bring a higher level of self-awareness to it. See Human Intelligence or Human Awareness? I am not going to pretend that this would necessarily be possible, quick, easy or even work in every context. Insane individuals are obviously the last to know they have a psychological problem and the least likely to participate in a process designed to uncover and remove the roots of their insanity. However, those who are trapped in a dysfunctional psychological state short of insanity may be willing to avail themselves of the opportunity. In time, the value of this aspect of the conflict resolution process should become apparent, particularly because delusions and projections are exposed by the person themself (as an outcome of the expertise of the person nisteling). Obviously, I am emphasizing the psychological aspects of the conflict process because my own considerable experience as a nonviolent activist together with my research convinces me that understanding violence requires an understanding of the psychology that drives it. If you are interested, you can read about the psychology of violence, including the 23 psychological characteristics in the emotional profile of archetype perpetrators of violence, in the documents Why Violence? and Fearless Psychology and Fearful Psychology: Principles and Practice . Ideally, I would like to see the concept of nistelers operating prior to, and then parallel with, focused attention on the conflict itself normalized as an inherent part of the conflict resolution process. Clearly, we need teams of people equipped to perform this service, a challenge in itself in the short-term. If, however, conflicting parties cannot be convinced to participate in this process with reasonable goodwill, we can always revert to using nonviolent strategy to compel them to do so. And, if all attempts to conduct a reasonable conflict process fail (particularly in a circumstance in which insanity is the cause of this failure), to impose a nonviolent solution which nevertheless takes account of the insanes partys legitimate needs. (Yes, on just that one detail, I diverge from Gandhi.) Having stated that, however, I acknowledge that only a rare individual has the capacity to think, plan and act strategically in tackling a violent conflict nonviolently, so considerable education in nonviolent strategy will be necessary and is a priority. Given what is at stake, however a superior strategy for tackling and resolving violent geopolitical conflicts including those (such as the threat of nuclear war, the climate catastrophe and decimation of the biosphere) that threaten human extinction any resources devoted to improving our capacity to deliver this outcome would be well spent. Provided, of course, that reducing (and ultimately eliminating) violence and resolving conflict is your aim. In addition to the above, I would do something else more generally (that is, outside the conflict process). Given that dysfunctional parenting is ultimately responsible for the behaviour of those individuals who generate and perpetuate violent conflicts, I would encourage all parents to consider making My Promise to Children so that we start to produce a higher proportion of functional individuals who know how to powerfully resolve conflicts in their lives without resort to violence. If any parent feels unable to make this promise, then they have the option of tackling this problem at its source by Putting Feelings First . If we do not dramatically and quickly improve our individual and collective capacity to resolve conflicts nonviolently, including when we are dealing with individuals who are insane, then one day relatively soon we will share the fate of those 200 species of life we drove to extinction today. A mere three-year-old girl who was playing with her fathers handgun accidentally shot her pregnant mother in Indiana, a report by The Times has shown. The toddler was on the back seat of the familys car, which was parked outside a shop in Merrillville, when the gun went off. The mother, Shanique Thomas, 21, was shot in the stomach, witnesses said. She was thought to be about five weeks pregnant. The father, Menzo Brazien, was taken into police custody on a preliminary charge of child endangerment. Joe Petruch, the police chief, told a local TV station: A loaded weapon with children in the back seat real careless act. I hope she survives the gunshot wound. Former Big brother Africa housemate, actor and media personality, Uti Nwachukwu has just given the most objective view on Cee-c verbal abuse on Fellow housemate Tobi. While many Nigerian celebrities with the exception of Dabota Lawson, have been bashing the drama queen, Utis submission on the issue seems to be the most complete as he condemned her actions and also spoke the hard truth that she is just human like the rest of us. Here is what he wrote; Kai!! CEEEECCC!!! U for Calm down na aa Firstly, There is no excuse for her behaviour yesterday.I will never support speaking to anyone that way. It was a sad situation & I hope people hav learned the true value of Respect for Another Human Being. That being Said, CeeC We see YOUR flaws,we see your weaknesses. NO BODY HOLY PASS! A lot OF us have had to go thru horrid experiences to learn self control. I for one was extremely Brash in BBA2008 but came back a lot better in BBA 2010! EVEN after winning my temper was still at dangerous levels and i knew there was a problem. Does this mean that i was a Bad horrible person? HECK NO! I grew and i am still growing! Most of us that wear our emotions on our sleeves find it hard to conceal Love, Loyalty, Excitement and of corse the worst emotion-RAGE! No one is perfect! Again, I am NOT JUSTIFYING HER BEHAVIOUR FROM YESTERDAY..no matter the poking or deliberate provocation,No one should react that way in public or in private..BUT THIS CAN ONLY BE LEARNED THROUGH EXPERIENCE. (trust me..i know) We try to be better versions of ourselves daily but during this process sadly, we might still fall. The ability to rise is what makes us victors. Cee C we see you struggling to do better and in the process you fell..its all part of the process..its UR JOURNEY.. What saddens me more is the trolling/insults.A lot of u say she needs psychological help..so is this how u treat someone that needs help? With abuses/ridicule? COME ON!! WE CAN DO BETTER. FROWN UPON IT BUT DONT TROLL!! Its dehumanizing.Temper justice with mercy.Dont act like what you have been condemning(Hypocrisy) Well to everyone reading this Im pleading on her behalf for ur understanding,forgiveness and mercy. Abeeg..SHE HAS APOLOGISED If U are a true fan..U stand for who U love especially in their weakest moments..weak support is just is just as futile as a shaky foundation. For those of you that claim u love her. Please be there for her and show Love..why? LOVE CONQUERS ALL (2 wrongs=0 right)shalom #BBnaija #CeeC #Mercy #Forgiveness #Abeg #Love A few days ago, Tanzanian artist Diamond Platnumz was arrested in Tanzania for allegedly posting indecent content on social media. The video clip he shared on Instagram, which has been taken down now, showed him playfully kissing a woman. According to BBC Africa, the award-winning star issued an apology saying: Ive had a long conversation with the authorities and I have learnt that what I did was not right.As a role model to many young people, not just in Tanzania but across the continent, posting a private moment was irresponsible of me. Source 36NG The Chairman of GAVI board, Dr. Ngozi Okonjo-Iweala, has revealed that for every dollar spent on childhood immunisation, nations will save $16 in healthcare costs, lost wages and lost productivity due to illness. She said if governments take into account the full value people place on living longer, there would be a further increased return on investment to as much as $44. Okonjo-Iweala who is Nigerias former Coordinating Minister for Economy and Minister of Finance in Nigeria, stated this during an interview with a Japanese radio station, NHK, saying with more than 30 vaccine doses administered worldwide every second, immunisation was already recognised as one of the most cost-effective health interventions. According to her, over 1.5 million children are still dying from vaccine preventable diseases because of lack of political will, particularly from finance ministers, and because of lack of understanding within governments that vaccines arent just good value for money, but are an investment. In addition, there is a widespread assumption within governments and beyond that childhood mortality is a matter only for health ministers. In reality, it has implications for just about every aspect of government. Preventing illness through immunisation can have a huge impact in helping to contribute to the social and economic well-being of individuals, families, communities and countries, she added. While stating that the bulk shouldnt stop with health ministers alone, she said protection of child health needs to be a concern for all governments. After all, children are not just the most vulnerable members of society, they are also a nations future. And, if this alone werent enough to make childhood disease prevention a national priority, compelling new evidence suggests it also makes sound economic sense, too, she stressed. Okonjo-Iweala, who became the head of GAVI board in September last year, explained that strong routine immunisation programmes form a vital part of robust universal health systems, which are themselves critical to helping national leaders achieve economic and development targets. She said to put a figure to the narrative, a new study published recently in the Journal Health Affairs looked at 94 low and middle-income countries, and predicted that between 2011 and 2020, childhood immunisation stands to offer up to $1.43 trillion in economic benefits. However, if we wish to harness these benefits, as well as further economic returns beyond 2020, then we need to see greater long-term domestic commitment towards immunisation. Since 1990 we have seen childhood mortality more than halve and since 2000 witnessed more than 500million additional children receive vaccines, thanks to organisations like UNICEF, the World Health Organisation and Gavi, the Vaccine Alliance, of which I am the board chair. But if this kind of progress is to be sustained then we need to see strong immunisation policy backed up by long-term health spending allocation. This means we need to stop preaching to the choir by focussing only on health ministers, and instead engage all aspects of government, in particular finance ministers. As former finance minister of Nigeria, Africas largest economy, I know how important it is for health ministers to make a better case for immunisation to finance ministers when it comes to defending their health budget. They need to make finance ministers understand the critical role that reducing infectious disease has in boosting the economy, and the role they have to play in making that happen, she stressed. Speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, President Muhammadu Buhari said many Nigerian youths just want to sit down and do nothing, banking on the belief that Nigerian is an oil-rich nation. Buhari said a lot of Nigerian youths have not been to school and they want everything free. In his word About the economy, we have a very young population, our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. This is a very conservative one, Buhari said. More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them havent been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free. Angry Nigerians upon hearing the statement fired hot shots at him saying the president had no right insulting the youths, who struggle under very hard circumstances to make end meet. See reactions below At 19, President Buhari left Secondary School to join the Army. At age 21,he was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Where can our youths get such opportunity today? Peter Ayodele Fayose (@GovAyoFayose) April 18, 2018 Nigerian youths want to sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare-Buhari He is describing himself. He sits and does nothing at Aso Rock. He gets free housing at the Presidential Villa. He spends 103 days in London and we pay for it! Joblessness makes him talk anyhow! Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 18, 2018 President Buhari GOOFED on his statements on Nigerian Youths in London. It is actually impossible for one to believe a president would say that about his own citizens, especially without isolating those who work hard and are helping the country shine across different disciplines. JJ. Omojuwa (@Omojuwa) April 18, 2018 Buhari unscripted is a PR disaster for Nigeria. He told them abroad were not welcome because of our crimes, here he told us were an impatient people, and now he told them Nigerian youths are lazy. Its like your Dad telling your potential in-laws youre an irresponsible person. Gimba Kakanda (@gimbakakanda) April 18, 2018 Imagine Buhari saying Nigeria's youth are not educated! Between Buhari and Nigeria's youth who hired 13 SANs to prevent from showing his WAEC certificate? Its Buhari's education that is dubious and not that of Nigeria's youth who love education enough to seek it home and abroad! Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 19, 2018 Once Buhari puts on this his away jersey, just know hes about to become a global inept clown. pic.twitter.com/mGZTRh3DDx lion. (@TheGreyHunter) April 18, 2018 President Buhari is not just socio-politically tone deaf, he's also an incurable loose lip. AYO SOGUNRO (@ayosogunro) April 18, 2018 How can you in one breath say that your country's youth are lazy and don't want to work and in the next you appeal to foreign investors to come and invest in Nigeria? Someone please explain to Buhari that a father who calls his daughter a prostitute should not expect suitors! Reno Omokri (@renoomokri) April 19, 2018 "President" Buhari said Nigerian youth do not go to school but want free basic necessities of life. Commonwealth should choose a place and time, Nigerian youth will bring their school certificates and our president should bring his too. Josh I (@sire_liljosh) April 19, 2018 Buhari supervises a govt that engages in secretive, illegal employment of d children and relatives of high-ranking political elites while millions of brilliant, hardworking but underprivileged pple vegetate in misery, yet he goes 2 London & calls young Nigerians lazy & uneducated Farooq Kperogi, Ph.D (@farooqkperogi) April 18, 2018 President Buhari doing what he knows how to do best.. Disgracing Nigerians since the days of John The Baptist. This is what you get when you elect someone with a NEPA bill certificate. A mistake that needs to be corrected. We are not #LazyNigerianYouths Elvis Tunde (@Tunnyking) April 19, 2018 April 19, 2018 (Investorideas.com Newswire) Mental illness is one of the toughest health issues, and Ron Struthers, editor of Struthers Report profiles a company that is using blockchain technology to improve patient record access. I discovered a unique company that will use blockchain technology to help resolve one of the toughest health issues facing Canada, the U.S. and for that matter around the developed world. When I invest in this company, I also get a good feeling that I am helping some on this issue. I am talking about mental illness and I am sure, like me, you know close friends or family affected. Here are some of the facts from Canada Mental Health Association: Mental illness indirectly affects all Canadians at some time through a family member, friend or colleague. In any given year, 1 in 5 people in Canada will personally experience a mental health problem or illness. Mental illness affects people of all ages, education, income levels, and cultures. Approximately 8% of adults will experience major depression at some time in their lives. About 1% of Canadians will experience bipolar disorder (or "manic depression"). How common is it? By age 40, about 50% of the population will have or have had a mental illness. Schizophrenia affects 1% of the Canadian population. Anxiety disorders affect 5% of the household population, causing mild to severe impairment. Suicide accounts for 24% of all deaths among 15-24 year olds and 16% among 25-44 year olds. Suicide is one of the leading causes of death in both men and women from adolescence to middle age. The mortality rate due to suicide among men is four times the rate among women. What is very troublesome is this problem is increasing at a rate faster than any other common diseases or illness. Last year a Toronto Star Article was headlined "Demand for youth mental health service is exploding." Here are a couple tidbits from this article and from a Star/Ryerson survey of 15 Universities and Colleges. "We have lineups out the door and down the hall," said McMaster University psychiatrist Dr. Catharine Munn. "Despite hiring more counsellors, we're drowning." Mental health budgets at universities have increased by an average of 35%. There has been a 344% increase in calls to the Mental Health Helpline run by Connex Ontario (a toll-free mental health services information line) since 2010 by people 25 or younger. A major survey of 25,164 Ontario university students by the American College Health Association showed that between 2013 and 2016, there was a 50% increase in anxiety, a 47% increase in depression and an 86% increase in substance abuse. Suicide attempts also rose 47 per cent during that period. The causes are still a matter of debate and I have some of my own theories too and some were highlighted in the Star article. However, experts agree the problem is becoming overwhelming. I encourage you to read the complete Star article; the problem is simply staggering. And this report from Global News:A staggering 63% of Canadian millennials are at "high risk" for mental health issues, according to a new Ipsos report released exclusively to Global News. Across the board, 41% of Canadians from all ages fell into the "high-risk" category. That's up from 35% last year and 33% from the year before. One of the difficulties and it is unique to this problem is diagnosis and patient record access. You cannot simply take blood tests and scans, etc., to find the problem. Patients will hide and lie about their real symptoms because they are ashamed, confused, scared and anxious, among other symptoms brought on by their condition. In many cases they cannot communicate very effectively at all about their condition. Then if a proper diagnosis gets done and the patient ends up another time at a different hospital or clinic another problem arises. There is poor or no ability for care providers to gain access to different platforms to get patient records. In the healthcare industry patient record privacy and security is the utmost important yet the there is a strong need for the interoperability of records. I believe health care will be the biggest benefactor to blockchain technologies and I have invested in some private deals not public yet. I am not alone with this opinion. Blockchain solutions for financial services have received the maximum investments. Healthcare has the most aggressive plans to deploy blockchain-based applications across multiple use cases during 2017. Blockchain technologies hold the promise to unite the disparate processes in health care, increase data flow and liquidity, reduce costs, and improve patient experience and outcomes. I have invested in another company in this space but the stock will be halted several months for the exchange to qualify the transaction. That stock is poised to open three or four times the price of VitalHub Corp.'s (VHI:TSX.V) current price. Blockchain has a huge potential to become the next big technology innovation engine. Blockchain will be most disruptive in the financial transaction sector and health care. Blockchain applications for patient-data portability, interoperability, care delivery management, and administration can provide the answers to many challenges facing the industry. In the past I have described Blockchain as simple transaction or accounting method. The technology behind it is not that simple but this graphic might help you get a better grasp of it. Schumacher produced a 50 page report on Blockchain and Healthcare. The two paragraphs below are how they described it. "In a nutshell, a blockchain is a distributed tamper proof database, shared and maintained by multiple parties that secures all records that are added to it. Each record contains a time stamp and secure links to the previous record. Records can only be added to the database, never removed, with each new record cryptographically linked to all previous records in time. New records can only be added based on synchronous agreement or "distributed consensus" of the parties maintaining the database. By cryptographically linking the records it is impossible for one party to manipulate previous records without breaking the overall consistency of the database. Such a process eliminates the need for trust because participants in the blockchain can have mathematical certainty for every digital asset that constitutes the system you want to protect. When storing healthcare data in a blockchain, cryptography is used for encrypting the contents of a message or transaction, so that only intended users can open and read its contents. The encryption process works via 'Public Key Cryptography' or asymmetric cryptography, an encryption system that uses pairs of keys. First, a "public key" may be disseminated widely to everyone and a "private key" that is known only to its holder. Either key may be used to encrypt a message, but the other key must decrypt the message. Practically speaking, there are two use cases involving public and private keys. A patient can encode her health data with a public key and be sure that only the holder of the private key can decrypt it. Second, the data can be encrypted with a private key. If the data, e.g., a hospital discharge letter, makes sense when it is decrypted using the corresponding public key, it is guaranteed that the holder of the private key is the party that encrypted the data. Such a process is equivalent to "signing" a message because it is analogous to someone putting her unique signature on a document." The potential uses of blockchain technology in healthcare are multiple: blockchain technologies have advanced and have matured to hold the promise to unite the disparate processes in the pharmaceutical industry and health care ecosystem, reduce costs, improve regulatory compliance, increase data flow, and improve patient experience and outcomes. Slowly but steadily, life science organizations are getting interested in this new technology. Even the FDA started to think seriously about it by partnering with IBM Watson to work on a secure, efficient and scalable system. HIMSS "Blockchain technologies hold the promise to unite the disparate processes in healthcare, increase data flow and liquidity, reduce costs, and improve patient experience and outcomes." Capgemini "We believe Blockchain has a huge potential to become the next big technology innovation engine. Blockchain applications for patient-data portability, interoperability, care delivery management, and administration can provide the answers to make challenges facing the industry." This chart is from the January 2017 Hyperledger Healthcare Working Group Survey and predicts that blockchain technology will see very quick adoption in health care. VitalHub uses Blockchain, mobile, and web-based technology to create disruptive SaaS healthcare applications that solve industry-wide problems. VitalHub's aim is to create high-value, secured solutions that enable broad interoperability among existing health data systems. VitalHub is primarily focused on working with organizations in the mental health and long-term care spaces, to further extend organization's applications across the continuum of care, powered by the security, efficiency, and trust of blockchain technology. I have met with VitalHub in Toronto to understand its business plan further and its strategy going forward. VitalHub TSXV:VHI Frankfurt:60V Recent Price $0.14 Shares outstanding: 125 million; Management/insiders own 40% approx. This is a new growth story and about being in the right market segment with the right solutions. The stock only started trading last October and went up to 25 cents before dropping down to 11 cents in the recent correction. It is starting to move back up again, but still a cheap entry point. VitalHub uses Web, mobile and blockchain technology to create disruptive software-as-a-service-based health care applications that solve industry-wide problems. The company currently has around 200 clients using its technology solutions. Revenue for the 1st 9 months of 2017 was just over $400,000 but so much has happened since then with acquisitions that these revenue numbers will increase many fold from this level. In early 2018 VitalHub acquired H.I. Next, a growing company that has historical revenues of $2,695,000, $3,329,000 and $3,572,000 for the previous three fiscal years (2015, 2016 and 2017), respectively. H.I. Next offers a complete suite of industry-proven, peer-reviewed tools to identify and address the full range of behavioral, medical and social problems affecting the seriously mental ill. Providers can document, share and collaborate patient results, care plans and progress notes with peer providers in real time. H.I. Next owns Treat, a Web-based EHR (electronic health record) and care co-ordination platform built for health care providers. On January 19, 2017, VitalHub announced the acquisition Clarity Healthcare Solutions and other selected assets of Clarity Health Inc., such assets having previously represented approximately $200,000 in revenue for Clarity in its last fiscal year pursuant to an acquisition agreement dated Jan. 17, 2018. And very significantly, VitalHub announced its Blockchain solution WellLinc on February 7, 2018. The company has a strong management team, well experienced in the health care space. President & CEO, Dan Matlow has over 20 years of experience in software management, with expertise in sales, marketing, and software development. He is a strategic thinker with a history of expanding Canadian operations globally through acquisition and organic growth. He has a proven track record of building outstanding teams while maintaining strong control on financial operations. He most recently served as President & CEO of Medworxx Solutions Inc. from 2004 to 2015 where he drove the company's growth and an ultimate successful sale at of Medworxx at $0.56 per share to Aptean Software, a Vista Equity Partners company. At the time, Medworxx software was used at hospitals in Canada, France, the United States and the United Kingdom. Prior to Medworxx, Dan held sales leadership roles with a variety of software and technology companies, mostly focused on health care. Dan holds a Bachelor of Arts from York University in Toronto. Peter Catford (Co-Founder and CEO of HInext Inc.) has over 30 years of experience in health care information systems development. He developed EHR software system installed in 85 organizations across North America. Peter is Adjunct Faculty UofT; informatics in the Masters of Health Admin program (MHSc) and Past Chair of Ontario's Health Informatics Standards Council (OHISC). Vijit Coomara (Co-Founder and CTO, B Sharp) has over 30 years of experience in development of innovative and disruptive technology solutions. He has managed technological and architectural software development of multiple projects across North America and Europe, including establishment of dev. hub in Sri Lanka. The board of directors includes Dan Matlow and five other directors with diverse experience in software, health care, public companies and finance. New Blockchain solution WellLinc is a proprietary electronic health record (EHR) interoperability solution powered by blockchain technology. WellLinc leverages blockchain technology to address multiple challenges associated with the exchange of health information across the continuum of care. A major problem exists wherein segregated records, lack of interoperability, and various security constraints prevent care providers from accessing critical information required to ensure informed and appropriate delivery of care. It is estimated that 46% of U.S. clinicians do not have a complete view of their patients' health history/ records. Further, individuals cannot view a unified medical record or pass it on to clinicians. High Error Rates with Centralized Health IT Systems: Error rates for successfully identification or integration of a file are 25% for hospitals and health systems and as high as 50%60% outside hospitals. VitalHub's WellLinc solution targets this problem directly, using blockchain technology. Blockchain offers the potential of a shared platform that decentralizes health data ensuring access control, authenticity, and integrity of protected health information. The company has chosen the mental health space as an initial area of focus, both due to the sheer size of the market opportunity and having identified serious gaps in mental health care delivery that result from inadequate access to available patient health information. VitalHub has significant domain expertise building solutions for mental health care and has numerous existing customers in need of such solutions. This graphic from its presentation shows how the platform would work to share records. WellLinc Blockchain features access to historical and real-time patient data on blockchain, cryptographically secure and irrevocable or immutable. Identity management with predefined user access rules peer-to-peer network and multi-party collaboration health bank for remunerative commons. Storage of genomics and user- generated data securely with access control. VitalHub's platform is being built on the Hyperledger Technology Set. Hyperledger is an open-source collaborative effort created to advance cross-industry blockchain technologies. It is a global collaboration, hosted by the Linux Foundation, including leaders in finance, banking, Internet of Things, supply chain, manufacturing and technology. Recently 185+ members and eight ongoing projects. The recent collaboration between Guardtime, the data-centric security company, and the Estonian eHealth Foundation to secure the health records of one million Estonian citizens using its proprietary Keyless Signature Infrastructure (KSI) is a classic example of blockchain technology. The potential for this blockchain solution is enormous and to this end VitalHub will take advantage of its experience working with system integrators to enable much wider reach in the market. VitalHub will charge one time consulting fees to implement WellLinc, and it will continue to generate recurring revenues with SaaS-based long term annual use contracts. There would also be annual fees based on usage and amount of data. Financial Last financials at September 30, 2017, reveal $2.1 million in cash with another $1 million financing proceeds in escrow and no long-term debt. Since that time, VitalHub closed a non-brokered private placement (the "Offering") of units (the "Units") at a price of $0.115 per Unit, for total gross proceeds of $2,000,000. Each Unit consisted of one common share (each, a "Common Share") and one half of one Common Share purchase warrant (each a "Warrant"). Each Warrant is exercisable into one Common Share at an exercise price of $0.18 per Common Share, for a period of two (2) years from the date of issuance. Summary Various research exists on the impact and cost of mental health conditions, such that "the global cost of illness for mental health conditions in 2010 was estimated at $2.5-trillion (U.S.), with the cost projected to surge to $6.0-trillion (U.S.) by 2030." (See "The Global Economic Burden of Non-Communicable Diseases," World Economic Forum and the Harvard School of Public Health.) VitalHub's blockchain solutions such as WellLinc hold the potential to significantly improve many of the challenges health care providers are currently facing across the mental health landscape, and digital health more broadly. WellLinc Blockchain has a lot of potential for future revenue growth, but we should not forget about VitalHub's other growing markets. VitalHub Corp.'s subsidiary H.I. Next Inc. just recently obtained 16 new customers in New York State, through the BH-IT funding program for adult behavioral health home and community-based services (BH HCBS) providers. This brings the total in the state to 21 and marks the beginning of the company's expansion into U.S. markets. Recent acquisitions will have a significant impact on revenues in 2018 and we should also factor in a number of new acquisitions. This is a major part of VitalHub's growth strategy and highlighted in this slide of its presentation. VitalHub is targeting companies with at least 60% of their revenue recurring and owner operated with little outside investment. Ideally target company's expense is mostly R&D compared to sales and marketing. VitalHub can then leverage their sales expertise and strategies to increase revenues. I expect we will see a number of new acquisitions in 2018 and this with new revenues from their WellLinc Blockchain products will propel revenues much higher and re rate the stock with a higher growth multiple. Year over year, I am expecting triple digit revenue growth. With recent acquisitions, I estimate VitalHub is around a $5 million annual revenue run rate, so I am expecting this to be over $10 million by end of 2018. This is considering small revenue from its WellLinc product this year, which should kick in with much higher revenue in 2019. This product will just begin introduction to its customer base this year. However, keep in mind that there is potential for some large sales agreements that could occur before year end. VitalHub is in a high growth market with the right solution that can make quite a difference for its customers and VitalHub's bottom line. There is only six-month trading history on the chart that shows strong support between 10 and 15 cents with resistance at 25 cents. Therefore, it's a good buy near this support level. The other thing of significance is that there has been strong accumulation (On Balance Volume) since mid February and some of that might be ourselves from my early March alert. If you did not buy then, it is a little better price now. For 27 years, Ron Struthers, founder and editor of Struthers' Resource Stock Report and Playstocks.net, has consistently beat the comparable benchmarks selecting stocks in the precious metals, oil and gas, clean-tech and disruptive technology sectors. In 2017, 35 stocks in the precious metals sector saw an average gain of 62% and energy clean-tech an average gain of 65%. In disruptive technology, 16 picks saw an average gain of 55%. Past performance is no guarantee of future gains. Struthers leverages his vast network of contacts, approaches investments from a value perspective seeking several 100% gain potential and uses technical analysis to aid in buy and sell levels. Disclosure: 1) Ron Struthers: I, or members of my immediate household or family, own shares of the following companies mentioned in this article: VitalHub. I personally am, or members of my immediate household or family are, paid by the following companies mentioned in this article: None. My company has a financial relationship with the following companies mentioned in this article: Vitalhub is an advertiser on playstocks.net. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp Vancouver, British Columbia - April 19, 2018 (Newsfile Corp.) (Investorideas.com Newswire) CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV: CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) ("CanAlaska" or the "Company") is pleased to report results from Cameco's winter drill program at the 5 kilometre long Grid 5 target area at the West McArthur uranium project. Cameco's drilling concentrated on developing an overall view of the geology and alteration between hole WMA047, located 1.4 kilometres to the southwest of the uranium mineralization in hole WMA042, through to hole WMA050 located 800 metres to the northeast, see Figure1. Key Points: New TDEM conductor along holes WMA048 and WMA050 in large magnetic embayment Two other graphitic conductors to the south, with complex basement offsets Large offset near mineralized holes WMA042 and WMA42-2 not yet intersected. New uranium mineralization in WMA045 and anomalous values in WMA048 The follow-up drill hole to mineralization intersected in drill hole WMA042 targeted the unconformity 100 metres to the southeast, but did not intersect the structural offset, however the next drill hole 300 metres to the northeast intercepted further uranium mineralization. Additional drill holes over a two kilometre trend also intercepted encouraging alteration and additional graphitic horizons. Of the seven drill holes completed this winter, six had significant faulting and alteration and one was mineralized (WMA045) see Table 1. Drill location and technical details are available with tables and maps at www.canalaska.com Table 1: WMA045 U3O8 Assay Grades (0.1% U3O8 cut-off) Elevation changes: The drilling outlines a broadly curving graphitic rock package, with basement elevations of -165 to - 178 metres ASL in the north, separated from elevations of -193 to -201 metres ASL elevation in the south. More detailed correlation of the surface geophysics with drill information is underway. The targets are associated with a large magnetic embayment and a strong ZTEM conductive anomaly. figure 1 The "offset" in the basement rocks is thought to represent a major cross structure. At the current time CanAlaska would interpret the mineralization in holes WMA042 and WMA042-2 to be associated with an east-west trending structure located south of drill hole WMA044 see Figure 1. This is the area where basement elevations change by 15 metres. There is insufficient drilling to detail the exact location and trace of the faults, but this will be the subject on ongoing interpretation. Extensive sandstone alteration: The sandstone horizons are fractured and with high and low angle faults which show extensive hydrothermal alteration extending to the medial sandstone. Figure 2 shows two sections with examples of the complex structures observed in this area. Drill hole WMA048 includes a zone of pyrite alteration with increased radioactivity from the gamma survey at 554 to 578 metres depth below a fault zone at 381-383 metres. The Company is very encouraged that there is now direct evidence of mineralizing solutions pervading the medial sandstone in the areas where the surface and airborne geophysics had indicated the potential for an extensive mineralizing system. figure 2 President Peter Dasler commented, "We are starting to understand the geology, but more detail is needed to trace uranium mineralized zones in drill holes WMA042 and WMA042-2. The fifteen holes drilled to date have revealed multiple zones of alteration, locally intense, in the sandstone and the trace of at least three graphitic conductors in the basement rocks. These are associated with the strongest parts of the three kilometre long northern ZTEM electromagnetic anomaly. We are very encouraged by the extent of the mineralized area and believe that there is significant room for us to find a large mineral deposit in this area." Other current events: CanAlaska Uranium president, Peter Dasler, will be presenting the Company during the Canadian Mining Symposium in London, UK, April 24-25, 2018. The Symposium, by invitation-only to delegates, brings together leading Canadian companies with top investment professionals, high-net investors, and executives from mining firms domiciled in the U.K. and Europe. See detail at: http://www.northernminer.com/canadian-mining-symposium/ An additional presentation of the Company will be made at the Mining Capital Conference in London, UK, on 3rd May 2018. Shareholders and interested investors are welcome, and are invited to register for this conference at: http://www.miningcapital.com/conferences The qualified technical person for this news release is Dr Karl Schimann, P. Geo, CanAlaska director and VP Exploration. About CanAlaska Uranium CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. (TSXV:CVV) (OTCQB: CVVUF) (FSE: DH7N) holds interests in approximately 102,870 hectares (254,000 acres), one of the largest land positions in Canada's Athabasca Basin the "Saudi Arabia of Uranium." CanAlaska's strategic holdings have attracted major international mining companies. CanAlaska is currently working with Cameco and Denison at two of the Company's properties in the Eastern Athabasca Basin. CanAlaska is a project generator positioned for discovery success in the world's richest uranium district. For further information visit www.canalaska.com. On behalf of the Board of Directors "Peter Dasler" Peter Dasler, M.Sc., P.Geo. President & CEO CanAlaska Uranium Ltd. Contacts: Peter Dasler, President Tel: +1.604.688.3211 x 138 Email: info@canalaska.com John Gomez, Corporate Development Email: jgomez@canalaska.com Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-looking information All statements included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that the Company expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements involve numerous assumptions made by the Company based on its experience, perception of historical trends, current conditions, expected future developments and other factors it believes are appropriate in the circumstances. In addition, these statements involve substantial known and unknown risks and uncertainties that contribute to the possibility that the predictions, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will prove inaccurate, certain of which are beyond the Company's control. Readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements. Except as required by law, the Company does not intend to revise or update these forward-looking statements after the date hereof or revise them to reflect the occurrence of future unanticipated events. More Info: This news is published on the Investorideas.com Newswire - a global digital news source for investors and business leaders Disclaimer/Disclosure: Investorideas.com is a digital publisher of third party sourced news, articles and equity research as well as creates original content, including video, interviews and articles. Original content created by investorideas is protected by copyright laws other than syndication rights. 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Please read Investorideas.com privacy policy: https://www.investorideas.com/About/Private_Policy.asp 1. U.S. acceptance of coexistence as the only alternative to atomic war. 2. U.S. willingness to capitulate in preference to engaging in atomic war. 3. Develop the illusion that total disarmament of the United States would be a demonstration of moral strength. 4. Permit free trade between all nations regardless of Communist affiliation and regardless of whether or not items could be used for war. 5. Extension of long-term loans to Russia and Soviet satellites. 6. Provide American aid to all nations regardless of Communist domination. 7. Grant recognition of Red China. Admission of Red China to the U.N. 8. Set up East and West Germany as separate states in spite of Khrushchev's promise in 1955 to settle the German question by free elections under supervision of the U.N. 9. Prolong the conferences to ban atomic tests because the United States has agreed to suspend tests as long as negotiations are in progress. 10. Allow all Soviet satellites individual representation in the U.N. 11. Promote the U.N. as the only hope for mankind. If its charter is rewritten, demand that it be set up as a one-world government with its own independent armed forces. (Some Communist leaders believe the world can be taken over as easily by the U.N. as by Moscow. Sometimes these two centers compete with each other as they are now doing in the Congo.) 12. Resist any attempt to outlaw the Communist Party. 13. Do away with all loyalty oaths. 14. Continue giving Russia access to the U.S. Patent Office. 15. Capture one or both of the political parties in the United States. 16. Use technical decisions of the courts to weaken basic American institutions by claiming their activities violate civil rights. 17. Get control of the schools. Use them as transmission belts for socialism and current Communist propaganda. Soften the curriculum. Get control of teachers' associations. Put the party line in textbooks. 18. Gain control of all student newspapers. 19. Use student riots to foment public protests against programs or organizations which are under Communist attack. 20. Infiltrate the press. Get control of book-review assignments, editorial writing, policymaking positions. 21. Gain control of key positions in radio, TV, and motion pictures. 22. Continue discrediting American culture by degrading all forms of artistic expression. An American Communist cell was told to "eliminate all good sculpture from parks and buildings, substitute shapeless, awkward and meaningless forms." 23. Control art critics and directors of art museums. "Our plan is to promote ugliness, repulsive, meaningless art." 24. Eliminate all laws governing obscenity by calling them "censorship" and a violation of free speech and free press. 25. Break down cultural standards of morality by promoting pornography and obscenity in books, magazines, motion pictures, radio, and TV. 26. Present homosexuality, degeneracy and promiscuity as "normal, natural, healthy." 27. Infiltrate the churches and replace revealed religion with "social" religion. Discredit the Bible and emphasize the need for intellectual maturity which does not need a "religious crutch." 28. Eliminate prayer or any phase of religious expression in the schools on the ground that it violates the principle of "separation of church and state." 29. Discredit the American Constitution by calling it inadequate, old-fashioned, out of step with modern needs, a hindrance to cooperation between nations on a worldwide basis. 30. Discredit the American Founding Fathers. Present them as selfish aristocrats who had no concern for the "common man." 31. Belittle all forms of American culture and discourage the teaching of American history on the ground that it was only a minor part of the "big picture." Give more emphasis to Russian history since the Communists took over. 32. Support any socialist movement to give centralized control over any part of the culture--education, social agencies, welfare programs, mental health clinics, etc. 33. Eliminate all laws or procedures which interfere with the operation of the Communist apparatus. 34. Eliminate the House Committee on Un-American Activities. 35. Discredit and eventually dismantle the FBI. 36. Infiltrate and gain control of more unions. 37. Infiltrate and gain control of big business. 38. Transfer some of the powers of arrest from the police to social agencies. Treat all behavioral problems as psychiatric disorders which no one but psychiatrists can understand. 39. Dominate the psychiatric profession and use mental health laws as a means of gaining coercive control over those who oppose Communist goals. 40. Discredit the family as an institution. Encourage promiscuity and easy divorce. 41. Emphasize the need to raise children away from the negative influence of parents. Attribute prejudices, mental blocks and retarding of children to suppressive influence of parents. 42. Create the impression that violence and insurrection are legitimate aspects of the American tradition; that students and special-interest groups should rise up and use united force to solve economic, political or social problems. 43. Overthrow all colonial governments before native populations are ready for self-government. 44. Internationalize the Panama Canal. 45. Repeal the Connally reservation so the United States cannot prevent the World Court from seizing jurisdiction over nations and individuals alike. Close Get email notifications on {{subject}} daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. {{description}} Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. The Ames Main Street Farmers Market is a local market that has been a staple of downtown Ames for the past eight years. The market Here are the unofficial results of the June 2 primaries. The candidates will go head to head in the November elections. Biddeford-Saco-OOB Courier Two new restaurants and a record store are on the way, and a cheese shop, and a clothing retailer are already calling the downtown street home. FROM THEIR HOME TO YOURS Although one of the newest businesses in Jamestown will not open for a couple more weeks, the owners already are seeing curious passersby at their soon-to-be former location in North... Rental rules still in limbo A subcommittee has been formed to incorporate suggestions from the town councilors into a proposed ordinance to govern short-term rentals. The council formed the panel at its Sept. 20 meeting.... Agreement pending for Simpatico There is an apparent deal in place for the sale of Simpatico Jamestown, but the principals are being tight-lipped until its finalized. If it does happen, it will reunite a... 04/19/2018 As soon as news spread throughout the state and nation on March 19 that Jacksonville State and the City of Jacksonville had been hit by a destructive tornado, there was an outpouring of support from those wanting to volunteer with cleanup and recovery. For the first three weeks following the storm, a Volunteer Reception Center was operated by the United Way at the Jacksonville Community Center. More than 5,000 individuals volunteered, many of them on multiple days, through this center. Once the university reopened, the Volunteer Reception Center began sending trained volunteers to help with cleanup efforts on campus. In addition to the thousands of volunteers in the community, JSU has had more than 500 volunteers working nearly 6,000 hours so far on campus. The university would like to thank all of those who have volunteered to help rebuild our beautiful campus and our beloved city. We have had volunteer groups from the following community partners so far: Abba's House All State All Walks of Life AmeriCorps Cleburne County Youth Leadership Leadership Calhoun County Lowes Matrix MedMark MDA Professional Group The Regenerate Society Regions Bank Triplett Turner Wells Fargo Advisors - Anniston JSU also had an outpouring of support from our peers in higher education. Auburn University and the University of Alabama stepped up to help right away. Auburn sent its emergency management professionals and police officers to assist while Alabama sent an entire delegation from its administration to share knowledge and expertise gained from the April 27, 2011 tornado that struck its campus. There were numerous other colleges and universities that volunteered or donated to the recovery efforts, including: Appalachian State University Athens State University Auburn University Auburn University at Montgomery Austin Peay State University Belmont University Berry College Faulkner University Ferris State University Gadsden State Community College Georgia Highlands College Kennesaw State University Murray State University Samford University School of the Art Institute of Chicago Skidmore College State University of New York - Plattsburgh Tennessee State University Texas Christian University Troy University Washington and Jefferson College University of Alabama University of Alabama at Birmingham University of Montevallo University of North Alabama University of South Alabama University of West Alabama Ohio Valley Conference JSU students, faculty and staff many of them storm victims themselves also volunteered to clean up the campus. While many individuals gave back, JSU volunteer groups included: GO! Leaders Center for Economic Development JSU Athletics JSU Fraternity & Sorority Life JSU SGA Dont see your group on the list of volunteers? We are so sorry we didnt write down your name during the frenzy of activity following the storm. Please just send an email to jsunews@jsu.edu and well get your hours recorded and added to the list. Still want to volunteer? Contact Andy Green, Director of Community Engagement, at green@jsu.edu. Thanks for all your help! With friends like these, we continue to be JSU Strong, Gamecock Strong and Jacksonville Strong! The Fourth Federal Regional Court [official website, in Portuguese] in Brazil on Wednesday denied [order, in Portuguese] another appeal from former president Lula da Silva [CNN profile]. Lula was jailed earlier this month after losing an appeal [JURIST report] to the Supreme Court of Brazil. This failed appeal is year another setback for Lula and his supporters who hope to see him run for president in the elections later this year in October. There is a clean slate law in Brazil that usually prohibits someone with a conviction that was upheld on appeal from running for office for eight years. Nevertheless, Lula vows to continue running and he currently leads in the polls. The denied appeal can further be appealed to Brazils twohighest courts, the Supreme Court of Justice and the Federal Supreme Court. Lula must be cleared of charges prior to August 15th, the filing deadline in order to be able to run. The Supreme Court of Ohio ruled [opinion PDF] on Wednesday that the states death penalty statute does not violate the Sixth Amendments [text] guarantee of the right to a speedy and public trial, by an impartial jury[.] Maurice Mason, a former death row inmate, unsuccessfully challenged the role given to the judge during the sentencing phase of capital punishment cases. The court unanimously upheld Ohios law as being in line with the requirements laid out by the US Supreme Court [official website] in Hurst v. Florida [opinion]. In Ohio, the jury must first come to a guilty verdict [ORC 2929.03]. Next, the jury determines the presence of aggravating and mitigating factors [ORC 2929.04]. Then, the jury itself must make a finding that the aggravating factors outweigh the mitigating ones. Only after this finding has resulted in a recommendation of the death penalty does the judges sentencing discretion come into play. If the judge agrees with the jurys weighing of the relevant factors, the judge may sentence the defendant to death. In the absence of a unanimous jury verdict on any of these questions, or if the judge disagrees with the jurys weighing of the factors, the judge can only hand down a life sentence. The US Supreme Court has interpreted the Sixth Amendment as requiring every fact necessary for imposition of capital punishment to be determined by the jury. Most recently, in Hurst, the court struck down Floridas capital punishment sentencing scheme. Under the invalidated law, after a jury rendered a guilty verdict, the judge determined whether aggravating factors counseling in favor of the death penalty outweighed mitigating factors counseling against. Noting the differences between the Florida statute at issue in Hurst and the Ohio statute, the court rejected Masons interpretation of the Sixth Amendment. Ohio trial judges may weigh aggravating circumstances against mitigating factors and impose a death sentence only after the jury itself has made the critical findings and recommended that sentence. Thus, the judges authority to sentence derives wholly from the jurys verdict. Under Ohios death-penalty scheme, therefore, trial judges function squarely within the framework of the Sixth Amendment. Because all of the elements needed for a capital punishment sentence are determined by the jury, the Ohio Supreme Court found the law to be in accordance with Hurst and with the US Constitution. Videos Sorry, there are no recent results for popular videos. Jonas Cullwick, a former General Manager of VBTC is now a Senior Journalist with the Daily Post. Contact: [email protected]. Cell # 678 5460922 Members of the Public Accounts Committee made up of members of parliament with their secretary and Clerk of Parliament. Everyone eligible should be vaccinated against COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. Vaccination should be voluntary but those who don't get vaccinated should be frequently tested for COVID-19 as a condition of long-distance travel and employment. Both vaccination and testing should be voluntary and not required as a condition of long-distance travel or employment. I defer to the judgment of lawmakers as long as they base their decisions on a consensus of medical professionals. Vote View Results Las Vegas police Capt. Robert Plummer speaks during a news conference on the arrest of Anthony Wrobel, Thursday, April 19, 2018, in Las Vegas. Wrobel, a suspect in the fatal shooting of a casino executive and the wounding of another, was arrested Thursday in Texas. (AP Photo/John Locher) Mine workers are shown in a handout photo from Acacia Mining. Acacia Mining says gold production at its Tanzanian operations plunged 45 per cent last quarter as the company continues to grapple with export restrictions from the country.THE CANADIAN PRESS/HO-Acacia Mining MANDATORY CREDIT The engine on a Southwest Airlines plane is inspected as it sits on the runway at the Philadelphia International Airport after it made an emergency landing in Philadelphia, Tuesday, April 17, 2018. (Amanda Bourman via AP) Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross speaks to the media during a news conference, Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Philadelphia. Ross apologized to the two black men who were arrested at a Starbucks, saying that the issue of race is not lost on him and he shouldn't be the person making things worse. (David Swanson/The Philadelphia Inquirer via AP) The cottonwood tree sculpture that has resided in Towne Centre Mall since 1999 has been moved into storage and is in need of a new home. An Air Canada flight prepares to land at Pearson International Airport in Toronto, Thursday, September 30, 2004. Canadian airline profits expected to fall in 2018 from 20-year peak, because of higher fuel and labour costs. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld A photo of hockey great Gordie Howe was unveiled at the announcement that the Detroit River International Crossing will be named the Gordie Howe International Bridge, on the waterfront, in Windsor, Ontario, Thursday May 14, 2015. The federal government ordered a budget review of a new bridge between Canada the United States to finds savings over concerns that costs were headed above the Liberals' spending target, newly released documents show. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Dave Chidley Liberal MP Scott Simms rises in the House of Commons on Parliament Hill in Ottawa, Wednesday Sept. 22, 2010. Liberal MP Scott Simms says he does not regret voting with the Conservatives over a controversial change to the summer jobs program, even though it ended up costing him his job as chair of the fisheries committee.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Adrian Wyld This image released by ABC shows adult film actress Stormy Daniels during an appearance on the daytime talk show "The View," Tuesday, April 17, 2018, in New York. Daniels released a composite sketch Tuesday of the man she says threatened her in a Las Vegas parking lot to stay quiet about her past sexual tryst with President Donald Trump. (Heidi Gutman/ABC via AP) FILE - In this Aug. 30, 2017 file photo, a man holds a Puerto Rican flag to protest austerity measures as demonstrators march to the offices of a federal control board created by U.S. Congress last year, in San Juan, Puerto Rico. New austerity measures announced on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 call for a 10 percent average cut to pensions, seeks the closure of prisons, the consolidation of dozens of state agencies and significant reductions in government subsidies. (AP Photo/Carlos Giusti, File) This image released by CBSNews/60Minutes shows Mike Daly, from left, his wife Carol Daly, social worker Dan Cohen and CBS News chief medical correspondent Dr. Jon LaPook. LaPook followed AlzheimerAos patient Carol Daly and her caregiver husband for 10 years in an unprecedented report that shows future sufferers and their caregivers what they may face on "60 Minutes," airing Sunday, April 22, on CBS. (CBSNews/60Minutes via AP) Demonstrators occupy the Starbucks that has become the center of protests Monday, April 16, 2018, in Philadelphia. The CEO of Starbucks arrived in Philadelphia hoping to meet with two black men who were arrested when the coffee chain's employees called 911 and said they were trespassing. Meanwhile, protesters took over the shop Monday. (AP Photo/Jacqueline Larma) People lay wreaths and flowers during state ceremonies in homage to the victims and fighters of the 1943 Warsaw Ghetto Uprising, on the 75th anniversary of the start of the revolt, in front of the Monument to the Warsaw Ghetto Heroes, in Warsaw, Poland, Thursday, April 19, 2018. (AP Photo/Czarek Sokolowski) Turkey's President Recep Tayyip Erdogan announces early presidential and parliamentary elections for June 24, 2018, at the Presidential Palace, in Ankara, Turkey, Wednesday, April 18, 2018. Erdogan announced the snap elections, originally scheduled for November 2019, in a move that will usher in a new political system increasing the powers of the president. He said the new system needed to be implemented quickly in order to deal with a slew of challenges ahead, including Turkey's fight against Kurdish insurgents in Syria and Iraq. (Pool Photo via AP) FILE - In this May 9, 2017, file photo, TV personality Abby Lee Miller arrives at court in downtown Pittsburgh, for the second day of her sentencing hearing. The former "Dance Moms" reality TV star has been diagnosed with cancer. Her doctor Hooman Melamed tells People.com that Miller nearly died this week after contracting what they initially thought was a rare spinal infection. SheAos now recovering but Melamed and they are discussing next steps for treatment. (Darrell Sapp/Pittsburgh Post-Gazette via AP, File) In this April 16, 2018, photo, President Donald Trump speaks at an event to promote his tax cut package in Hialeah, Fla. Trump will play host to JapanAos Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago on Tuesday amid growing strain between the two countries over the presidentAos planned meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un and his push for new tariffs. (AP Photo/Pablo Martinez Monsivais) Political prisoner, activist, journalist, hymn-writer, emerging think tanker, aspiring novelist, hanger on of academia, parliamentary candidate for North West Durham, Shadow Leader of the Opposition, Speedboat, proudly banned from Twitter so officially more dangerous than the Taliban, eagerly awaiting the second (or possibly third) attempt to murder me. LEABURG, Ore. -- Some fishermen are worried they won't be able to find enough trout in certain areas on the McKenzie River after changes were made to who stocks it with hatchery trout. Steve Mealey, president of the McKenzie River Guides Association, said they have been the ones releasing hatchery trout into the McKenzie River for about 70 years, working as volunteers with the Oregon Department of Fish and Wildlife. However, he said he found out Tuesday, they weren't going to be doing it this year. Instead, the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers, who controls the hatchery, contracted the job to a new company. Rick Hargrave with the Corps of Engineers said they have had an agreement with ODFW for years, but decided to make it a contract this year, hoping to make the process more clear. He said ODFW did bid on the contract, but Desert Springs Trout Farm was awarded it. "It should be a bidding process, and that's what it was, and we came out on top," Thomas MacDonald, the owner of Desert Springs Trout Farm, said. Macdonald said the contract is worth $1.3 million a year, for four years. Mealey said the new contract is problematic because instead of evenly distributing the fish along a 10-mile stretch of river, the fish are just being put by the Leaburg, Deerhorn, and Taylor Landings. Mealey said they will stay concentrated in those areas because they won't travel far down the river themselves. "That means that all the fish are going to be here at these three landings," Mealey said. "(Fishermen) will be elbow to elbow with other people, sanitation problems, garbage problems, poaching problems and there are six miles of river with no fish." He said this could hurt recreational fishing in the area. Hargrave said they now realize the problem in the contract and are working with ODFW and the McKenzie River Guides to fix it. "I'm confident we will get it fixed so that next time a stocking occurs it can go back to the way it was previously," Hargrave said. ALBERT LEA -- Two Verizon stores in Mason City and Forest City were burglarized Tuesday night. Cerro Gordo County warned the Albert Lea Police Department, as they suspected the burglars could be headed in their direction. The Albert Lea P. D. and the Freeborn County Sheriff's Office conducted surveillance at the three Verizon stores in the city. Around 5 A.M., an officer watching the BeMobile Verizon on North Bridge Avenue store from across the street in the Raleigh's Ace Hardware parking lot spotted a white vehicle matching the description provided by Cerro Gordo County. Raleigh's Ace Hardware service manager Layne Davis says he his glad the police caught the suspects before they completed the burglary, and they are welcome to use the business's parking lot to catch criminals any time. "More power to them. If they want to do it, they can do it any time, " says Davis. The suspects backed the vehicle up to the front door of the store and had a large rock with them when the officer approached the them. The four male suspects are being transported to a secure facility. One of the suspects gave the police a false name and age, identifying himself as an adult, but has been determined to also be a minor. Two are from Minneapolis, one is from Eagan, and one is believed to be from Richfield. The juveniles are currently facing 2 felony charges each for attempted burglary and posession of stolen property. The Albert Lea Police suspect the vehicle may be a stolen rental car. They are currently in contact with the rental company and hope to add additional charges for the posession of a stolen vehicle. They are expected to have their first court appearance tomorrow. A Rochester Verizon store was also burglarized last Thursday. The Albert Lea Police say they will know more about if the attempted burglary is connected to the Mason City and Forest City burglaries once they receive a warrant to search the vehicle. While Iowa and Minnesota law enforcement partnered to catch the suspected burglars, Minnesota will lead the investigation at this time. "That's somewhat the difficulty right now; Doing state relations. So we're going to have first dibs on the individuals since we made the arrest... and everybody else will have to wait on our court process. So I'm sure Cerro Gordo and Mason City will be interested to see what happens with our process," says Albert Lea deputy director of police J.D. Carlson. MASON CITY, Iowa A man is now facing two trials in two different North Iowa counties. Joshua Teeter, 20 of Mason City, has now pleaded not guilty in Cerro Gordo County to two counts of 1st degree theft of a motor vehicle, conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony, two counts of 3rd degree burglary, and one count of 2nd degree theft. Hes accused of breaking into a trailer on February 14 and stealing more than $3,500 worth of items, then working with two other men to steal two snowmobiles in Mason City on February 24. His trial is set to begin on May 22 in Mason City. Thats one day before Teeter is also due to stand trial in Worth County on charges of 3rd degree burglary and conspiracy to commit a non-forcible felony. Hes accused of working with two other men in that case to steal a safe from a Worth County home. MASON CITY, Iowa A man accused of sexually abusing a 17-year-old boy has again been found guilty. This was the third trial for Doug Lindaman, 62 of Charles City, man after his conviction in the first one was overturned by the Iowa Supreme Court and the second, which was moved to Franklin County, ended in a mistrial when a witness mentioned Lindamans criminal history. The third trial was moved to Cerro Gordo County and concluded with the jury returning a guilty verdict Wednesday. Lindaman was convicted of assault with intent to commit sexual abuse, an aggravated misdemeanor. Authorities say the abuse happened in 2011. This trial began on April 9. For previous stories about this case, click here, here, and here. CRESCO, Iowa A Howard County woman is being accused of stealing thousands of dollars from a hospital auxiliary account. Rebecca Sue Creger of Cresco is charged with 1st degree theft and ongoing criminal conduct. Authorities say she committed those crimes while serving as the treasurer of the Regional Health Services of Howard County Hospital Auxiliary during 2017. Court documents state that Creger wrote out 26 checks to cash to herself, totaling $20,727. Law enforcement says Creger admitted to stealing the money because of medical bills and said she wanted to pay it back. MASON CITY, Iowa A woman charged with intimidation with a dangerous weapon is changing her plea. Aerial Jeanne Miller, 24 of Mason City, pleaded guilty Wednesday and her sentencing was set for June 6. Mason City police said Miller waved a pistol at two people during a road rage incident on January 5 in the 00 block of South Taft Avenue. MASON CITY, Iowa - For a 4-hour period Wednesday morning and the early part of the afternoon, if your vehicle slid off into the ditch or just got stuck, you were out of luck. A tow ban was issued by Iowa State Patrol Sergeant Mindy Coe around 9:45 a.m., but as conditions slightly improved, the ban was lifted around 1:40 in the afternoon. Mason City resident Mike Anderson recognizes the importance of the ban, and knows it's implementation is meant for a good reason. "If the plows are pulled off the roads and it's bad enough that the cars should be off the road," Anderson says. In addition, Anderson says the public should limit travel when a ban is in effect to reduce headaches. "It would be smart for people to stay off the road, if they're not able to get themselves out of the ditch, and just wait until it's nicer out," Anderson adds. Iowa State Patrol also issued a tow ban for 12 counties in Northwest Iowa on Wednesday due to the storm, which has also since been lifted. MASON CITY, Iowa - Due to Wednesday morning's snowstorm, some districts in North Iowa and Southern Minnesota chose to cancel classes for the day. But there may be a catch: school years could be extended. Mason City Community Schools, Charles City Community Schools and Albert Lea Area Schools all called off classes, but they are approaching making up days. Mason City students will not be making up any days, though teachers will have to make up one day on June 6th. Albert Lea chose to use an 'e-Learning' day to avoid having to extend their calendar. Charles City, on the other hand, will be extending their year to make up three days: students will be required to come in May 25th, 29th and 30th. REYKJAVIK (Reuters) - An Icelandic man arrested on suspicion of stealing about 600 computers used to mine the cryptocurrency Bitcoin escaped prison and fled the country on a commercial flight to Sweden, Icelandic state broadcaster RUV said on Wednesday. The same Icelandair flight was also taking Icelandic Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir to a meeting with Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in Stockholm, RUV reported, without specifying its sources. The escapee was among 11 people arrested on Feb. 2 on suspicion of taking the computers with an estimated value of 200 million Icelandic crowns ($2 million), Icelandic police said at the time. No criminal case in Iceland has ever involved larger sums of money. RUV, quoting Pall Winkel, director of Icelands Prison and Probation Administration, said the man escaped from an open, minimum-security prison early on Tuesday and boarded the Icelandair flight the same morning to Stockholm. It said the heist suspect remained at large and Icelandic police had asked their Swedish counterparts for help in apprehending him. Swedish police have, as have other European countries, been informed by Iceland about a detained man who has escaped, Swedish national police spokeswoman Malin Nafver said, declining to comment further. Officials at Icelands prison and probation administration could not be reached for comment. The stolen computers were specially programmed to mine Bitcoin. Police have yet to locate the computers. Reporting by Elias Thorson in Reykavik and Anna Ringstrom in Stockholm; editing Jacob Gronholt-Pedersen and Mark Heinrich WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The United States hopes to reach a deal on the revamped North American Free Trade Agreement with Mexico and Canada over the next three weeks, CNBC reported on Wednesday. Congressional aides and industry executives who have been briefed by the Trump administration told the cable news channel there was a targeted timeline. Top officials from the three countries were holding meetinGs Thursday and Friday. Reporting by Doina Chiacu; Editing by Chizu Nomiyama Disclaimer: The views expressed in this article are those of the author and may not reflect those of Kitco Metals Inc. The author has made every effort to ensure accuracy of information provided; however, neither Kitco Metals Inc. nor the author can guarantee such accuracy. This article is strictly for informational purposes only. It is not a solicitation to make any exchange in commodities, securities or other financial instruments. Kitco Metals Inc. and the author of this article do not accept culpability for losses and/ or damages arising from the use of this publication. Tommy Wilkes LONDON (Reuters) - Foreign exchange trading volumes rose to a record high in the first three months of the year, data showed on Thursday, as a rise in volatility from multi-year lows encouraged more buying and selling of currencies. The numbers released by CLS, a major settler of trades in the foreign exchange market, follows a huge surge in trading on Thomson Reuters trading platforms, with its March volumes up 28 percent on last year and narrowly below Februarys, its best ever month. The rise in FX volumes will be welcomed by trading platforms and banks that have struggled with calm financial markets squeezing their profits in recent years. Wall Street banks Goldman Sachs and Morgan Stanley this week reported a jump in first-quarter profits thanks to a surge in trading activity, although Morgan Stanley executives warned results through the rest of the year may not be quite as strong. After volatility spiked during a sudden sell-off across financial markets in January and February, price swings have returned to lower levels, with price moves in the biggest currencies notably small. Market participants say April has been a quiet month so far, with currencies mostly shrugging off rising geopolitical tensions, concerns about a possible U.S.-China trade war and the prospect a global economic growth boom is nearing its peak. Key currency pairs remain stuck in narrow price ranges. FX markets are in a wait-and-see mode, Thu Lan, an FX analyst at Commerzbank in Frankfurt said. Everyone is waiting to see the first (monetary policy) normalization steps from central banks. Trading of emerging market FX, particularly the Russian rouble after the announcement of new U.S. sanctions targeting Russian companies and oligarchs, may have held up better in April but these currencies are traded in far lower volumes than the G10 currencies like the U.S. dollar, euro and Japanese yen. CLS said in a statement that the average daily traded FX volumes submitted to it reached $1.87 trillion between January and March, surpassing a previous high of $1.67 trillion in the first quarter of 2013. Daily volumes in March reached $1.855 trillion, down 4.8 percent on February but up on a year earlier. As well as volatility, CLS attributed the rise in volumes to a trend of more buy-side firms like asset managers using its services. Average daily volumes of spot and derivatives currency trading touched $461 billion in March, slightly lower than the record month of February when volumes hit $463 billion, Thomson Reuters said. NEX Group, which owns another big FX trading platform, saw average daily foreign exchange spot trading volumes rise 7 percent to $92.7 billion in March from the previous year. Trading of fixed income products rose even more. Reporting by Tommy Wilkes; Editing by Toby Chopra BERLIN (Reuters) - Chancellor Angela Merkel called for a spirit of compromise on reforming the euro zone at a meeting on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pressed for solidarity among members of the currency union. Before starting talks, the two leaders said they would present a united front at June meeting of European Union leaders on reforming the 19-member euro zone, which Merkel said they agreed was not yet sufficiently crisis-proof. Their meeting took place against a backdrop of grumbling by lawmakers from Merkels conservative bloc, who are wary that Macrons call for more solidarity in the euro zone could see German taxpayers money used to fund profligate member states. No monetary union can exist without elements of convergence, the French leader told a news conference with Merkel in the German capital before their talks. The most important thing is not to react on such and such instrument at this stage, but to be sure that we share the same goals and to have a joint political objective, he added. Macrons vision includes turning Europes existing bailout fund into a European Monetary Fund (EMF), to act as a buffer in any future financial crises in the bloc, which was nearly torn apart in a debt crisis that took hold in 2009. He has also suggested the euro zone have its own finance minister and, at one point, floated the idea of a budget for the currency bloc worth hundreds of billions of euros. Germanys Social Democrats (SPD), Merkels junior coalition partner, sympathize with Macrons call for solidarity. They want him to be rewarded for efforts to reform the French economy, well aware that a big chunk of French voters remain susceptible to far-right and far-left populists skeptical about the EU. But Merkels larger conservative bloc insists on what they call the principle of liability, whereby individual member states carry responsibility for their own economic risks. Stressing the need for compromise, Merkel said solidarity and liability must be linked: We need debates, open debates, and in the end we also need the ability to compromise. France and Germany, which account for around 50 percent of euro zone output, are essential to the reform drive. But while they often put on a strong show of political unity and shared intent, the devil is frequently in the detail. Underlining a sense of urgency for reform among EU officials, European Commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs Pierre Moscovici said time is running out for deepening the integration of the euro zone. We are some way from reaching a consensus on the priorities and method for moving the euro area forward, and time is running out, Moscovici said in a speech at the Peterson Institute for International Economics in Washington. If the June Euro Summit fails to take the necessary decisions, I fear the momentum will be lost, he said. * LME/ShFE arb: (Adds official midday prices, details) By Maytaal Angel LONDON, April 19 (Reuters) - Nickel soared 9 percent to a three-year high on Thursday, extending the previous session's blistering rally on fears the metal could become ensnared in U.S. sanctions on Russian firms, although analysts say gains could be short-lived. The United States last week slapped sanctions on major Russian aluminium producer Rusal and traders fear the move may be broadened to hit Russia's Nornickel , the world's second largest producer of the metal. Nornickel is linked with both Rusal and sanctioned Russian oligarch Oleg Deripaska. Three-month nickel on the London Metal Exchange rallied 9.3 percent to $16,690 a tonne overnight, the highest since December 2014. The metal was last bid up 3.3 percent at $15,780 in official midday rings, adding to Wednesday's 7.5-percent spike. "The U.S. can't afford to (impose sanctions on) Nornickel because they are so heavily reliant on (its) palladium. The question is how the situation will evolve if tensions tighten between Russia and the U.S., that's what the market is currently playing," said Julius Baer analyst Carsten Menke. But he added: "If any commodity moves more than 10 percent in two days, its either a severe disruption to supplies, which we don't have in this case, or its speculators. In case of nickel it's the latter, the rally is absolutely overdone." Russian news agencies reported on Wednesday the U.S. administration had informed the Russian embassy in Washington that it had no immediate plans to impose new sanctions. NICKEL DEFICIT: The global nickel market deficit narrowed to 2,500 tonnes in February from a revised deficit of 15,800 tonnes in the previous month. ALUMINIUM PRICE: Aluminium hit its highest level in almost seven years at $2,718 a tonne and later traded up 1.9 percent in rings at $2,585. The light metal has risen by nearly a third since the April 6 sanctions imposed on Rusal, the world's No. 2 aluminium producer. NATIONALISATION: A temporary nationalisation of Rusal is one of the options for helping the company, a Kremlin spokesman said on Thursday. RUSAL STOCKPILING: Rusal is stockpiling large quantities of aluminium at one of its plants in Siberia because U.S. sanctions have prevented it from selling the metal to customers, five sources close to the company said. NOVELIS: Novelis Corp, the world's biggest producer of rolled aluminium products, said it would no longer purchase metal produced by Rusal. SHANGHAI NICKEL TRADING FEES: China's Shanghai Futures Exchange will adjust its intraday transaction fee for July nickel futures after they rose 4.3 percent on Thursday. OTHER METALS: Copper traded down 0.6 percent in rings at $6,980 a tonne, zinc was last bid down 0.7 percent at $3,243, lead traded down 1.1 percent at $2,350 while tin traded up 0.4 percent at $21,550. <^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^ Top Base and Precious Metals Analysis - GFMS ^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^^> (Additional reporting by Manolo Serapio Jr. Editing by Edmund Blair and Adrian Croft) Messaging: maytaal.angel.thomsonreuters.com@reuters.net) ))LME price overview COMEX copper futures Base metals news All metals news All commodities news Metals diary Foreign exchange rates SPEED GUIDES )) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration does not see the Cuban people gaining greater freedoms under Cubas newly installed president and has no intention of softening its policy toward the islands Communist government, a White House official said on Thursday. The United States has no expectation that the Cuban people will see any greater freedoms under Castros handpicked successor, the official said after the Miguel Diaz-Canel was sworn in to replace Raul Castro as president. Castro will retain the powerful post of Communist Party head. We will continue to stand in solidarity with the Cuban people as they call for freedom and prosperity, the official said. In support of this, our stated policy to channel funds toward the Cuban people and away from Cubas military, security and intelligence services is not expected to change. Shenandoah, IA (51601) Today Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. Low 54F. Winds NNW at 5 to 10 mph. Michael Cohen abruptly drops lawsuit claiming Steele dossier is a lie Trumps longtime personal attorney, Michael Cohen, has abruptly dropped a defamation lawsuit he filed against BuzzFeed for publishing an unverified intelligence dossier put together by former British spy Christopher Steele that details the Trump campaigns alleged links with the Putin regime The timing of Cohens move to drop the lawsuit is interesting, for at least a couple reasons. First, it comes the week after FBI agents acting on a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller raided Cohens home, office, and hotel room. Cohens decision to drop the lawsuit suggests agents may have seized evidence that will make it hard to him to maintain that the dossier is fake and a lie filled document, as he claimed on Twitter when he announced the defamation action in January. Second, Cohens move to drop the lawsuit comes less than a week after McClatchy reported that Mueller possesses evidence that Cohen secretly made a late-summer trip to Prague during the 2016 presidential campaign a claim that, if true, would verify an explosive claim in the dossier about Cohen traveling to Europe to meet with Russian officials and Eastern European hackers shortly after Paul Manafort left the Trump campaign The agenda comprised questions on how deniable cash payments were to be made to hackers who had worked in Europe under Kremlin direction against the CLINTON campaign and various contingencies for covering up these operations and Moscows secret liaison with the TRUMP team more generally, the dossier says. ThinkProgress @thinkprogress 1h1 hour agoMichael Cohen abruptly drops lawsuit claiming Steele dossier is a lie https://thinkprogress.org/michael-cohen-abruptly-drops-lawsuit-claiming-steele-dossier-is-a-lie-57e0cc661dfb/ Think Progress:read more: https://thinkprogress.org/michael-cohen-abruptly-drops-lawsuit-claiming-steele-dossier-is-a-lie-57e0cc661dfb/ The Justice Department inspector general referred its finding that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe repeatedly misled investigators who were examining a media disclosure to the top federal prosecutor in D.C. to determine whether McCabe should be charged with a crime, according to people familiar with the matter. The referral to the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office occurred some time ago, after the inspector general concluded McCabe had lied to investigators or his own boss, then-FBI Director James B. Comey, on four occasions, three of them under oath. It was not immediately clear how the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office responded to the referral, or whether prosecutors there are conducting their own investigation or believe criminal charges are appropriate. A referral to federal prosecutors does not necessarily mean McCabe will be charged with a crime. The Justice Department, the D.C. U.S. Attorneys Office and a spokeswoman for McCabe declined to comment Thursday. Last week, Inspector General Michael Horowitz sent to Congress a report blasting McCabe. It says he inappropriately authorized the disclosure of sensitive information to the media, then lied repeatedly to investigators examining the matter. The report which quickly became public, though it was not released by the inspector general laid out in stunning detail allegations McCabe had deceived investigators about his role in approving the disclosure, even as he lashed out at others in the FBI for leaks. McCabe, though, disputes many of the reports findings and has said he never meant to mislead anyone. Lying to federal investigators is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, and some legal analysts speculated in the wake of the report that the inspector general seemed to be laying out a case for accusing McCabe of such conduct. The report alleged that one of McCabes lies was done knowingly and intentionally which is a key aspect of the federal crime. Shinhan Financial Group Chairman Cho Yong-byoung, right, poses with Werner Vogels, chief technology officer of Amazon, on the sidelines of his participation in this year's AWS Global Summit Seoul held at the COEX Convention Center, Wednesday. Courtesy of Shinhan Financial Group By Kim Yoo-chul Shinhan Financial Group, the country's top financial holding group, said Thursday it has signed with U.S. retail giant Amazon to jointly develop online financial services using Amazon's latest technologies. The Korean banking group, which has Shinhan Bank and Shinhan Card as its top affiliates, stated the agreement is a part of group-wide efforts to deliver a better experience on digital channels. "Shinhan Financial Group has tentatively agreed with Amazon to establish non-physical financial branches much like Amazon Go using Amazon's in-house artificial intelligence (AI), face recognition and voice recognition technologies. Discussions to narrow conditions are underway and we can figure them out soon," the statement said. Building on an early foundation that focused more on cost saving than customer experience, Shinhan said it has realized the banking group must improve its delivery of financial services on digital channels to keep pace with tech leaders such as Apple, Facebook, Google and Amazon. Amazon Go is Amazon's new grocery store which is now operational in the United States. Instead of swiping plastic or handing over cash, customers scan their Amazon Go account when they walk into the store, grab whatever they want and walk out. Their account is automatically charged when they leave, according to Amazon. "Shinhan will be developing financial products which have a wow factor that could be called a 'customer recommendation system' applying Amazon's AI and big data technologies by partnering with Amazon's online commercial business units. These will be a huge plus for Shinhan to improve digital banking services," said the statement. In return for the Amazon help, the banking group was in talks with the American retail giant to purchase more of Amazon's cloud computing software packages which will eventually be incorporated with the group affiliates. Still it is important for banks to have labor-intensive physical branches; however, in the future, "branches" could refer to sophisticated ATMs or a small office providing virtual capabilities since the frequency of visits have dropped from "a few times a month" to a "few times a year," a market researcher PwC said in a report, adding that financial organizations need to take into account the higher cost of conducting business in a bricks and mortar facility. Summary of U.S. President Donald Trump's remarks on Korea during a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Palm Beach, Florida, Wednesday (local time). - Trump vows to do everything possible to make his meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un "worldwide success." - "We hope to see the day when the whole Korean peninsula can live together in safety, prosperity and peace." - "It will be a great day for them and a great day for the world." - Trump vows not to repeat mistakes of past administrations, continue maximum pressure campaign against North Korea. - "As I've said before, there is a bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearization in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way." - Trump says he hopes to have a successful meeting with Kim, but he'll cancel if he doesn't think it will be successful. - Trump also said he will "respectfully leave" the meeting after it starts if he feels it won't be fruitful. - Trump says the U.S. is "fighting very diligently" to win freedom for three Americans detained in North Korea. ------------------------------------------- U.S. President Donald Trump said Wednesday he is doing everything possible to have a "very successful" meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, but added he will walk away from the summit if it is unlikely to bear fruit. Peace House / Korea Times photo by Park Si-soo By Park Si-soo PANMUNJEOM The historic April 27 inter-Korean summit is just around the corner. And the renovation of Peace House _ the venue for the meeting on the southern side of Panmunjeom, also called the Joint Security Area (JSA), inside the demilitarized zone (DMZ) that bisects the two Koreas _ is coming to a close. If the political showdown takes place as planned, North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will cross the military demarcation line (MDL) in the JSA on the morning of April 27 _ walking or by car _ to the building and sit at a negotiation table with his South Korean counterpart Moon Jae-in. If that happens, Kim will be the first leader of the isolated state to visit his southern rival since the end of the Korean War. Renovations started early March, aimed at offering Kim the best meeting conditions in terms of security, communication and protocol. The two previous inter-Korean summits _ in 2000 and 2007 _ were in the North's capital Pyongyang. Seoul doesn't want this summit to be a one-off, but the first in a series aimed at ushering in permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. When this reporter visited the JSA on Wednesday, the ivory-colored three-story Peace House was undergoing last-minute renovations. It was off-limits to unauthorized people, its main entrance sealed with plywood, its windows shut. Armed soldiers kept visiting reporters at bay. Photos were allowed _ but only from a distance and from designated angles. What's going on inside the building was kept secret. Peace House's main entrance is sealed with plywood on Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Park Si-soo "I have nothing to tell you," a sunglasses-wearing military policeman said bluntly when asked about the work. A spokesman from the United Nations Command also refused to answer. Instead, the spokesman gave a briefing on the function of each floor during the summit. A meeting table will be set up on the second floor and the third floor will be reserved for a possible post-summit banquet for the two leaders. He didn't give further details. "It (renovation) has continued for a long time," the spokesman said, asking not to be named. "Almost done." When the renovation is done, a North Korean delegation will inspect the building and discuss security and protocol issues with South Korean officials. A rehearsal for the summit is also planned. South Korea is playing its role to make the summit a success. Live TV broadcasting of parts of the meeting is one of the ideas the two Koreas agreed on in the latest working-level talks at the JSA on Wednesday. Seoul's presidential office said live coverage will include "important moments such as when the leaders meet for the first time." It didn't specify other parts of the meeting that will be broadcast live. For live broadcasting from the JSA, the military plans to lift electronic jamming in the area during the summit. Armed soldiers stand guard at the Joint Security Area of Panmunjeom in the demilitarized zone, Wednesday. / Korea Times photo by Park Si-soo President Moon Jae-in speaks during a meeting with media CEOs at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Yonhap President backs peace treaty with North Korea By Kim Rahn President Moon Jae-in said Thursday he was optimistic about signing a denuclearization deal with North Korea and establishing peace by formally ending the Korean War. He said it may not be so difficult for the two Koreas and the United States to reach an agreement on these, implying the three nations were already nearing an agreement on the issues. A hotline between Moon and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un will be set up today and working-level staffers will make a test call, according to Cheong Wa Dae. When the two leaders will have their first phone conversation has not been decided on yet. The hotline connects the presidential office in the South and the State Affairs Commission in the North, with Kim being chairman of the commission. "The ultimate goal of the denuclearization and peace deals is the co-prosperity of the two Koreas," Moon said during a meeting with CEOs of media outlets at Cheong Wa Dae. This came a day after the presidential office confirmed the two Koreas and the U.S. would discuss signing a peace treaty to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War during next week's inter-Korean summit, and the following summit between Washington and Pyongyang. The two Koreas technically remain at war as the conflict ended in an armistice. Days shaking the world D-8: Moon-Kim summit prep 'almost done' NK party to hold key meeting ahead of summit Koreas could declare end of war next week Moon and Kim will have bilateral talks April 27, and Kim and U.S. President Donald Trump will meet in late May or early June. Moon said the North is committed to completely removing its nuclear weapons, without unacceptable conditions such as the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the peninsula, only demanding a guarantee of safety for its regime. "That's why I don't think there will be major difficulty for Seoul, Pyongyang and Washington to make general agreements in principle on denuclearizing the North as well as on establishing peace, normalizing Pyongyang-Washington relations and seeking international support for the North's economic development if the country is denuclearized," he said. President Moon Jae-in shakes hands with The Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon in a meeting with media CEOs at Cheong Wa Dae, Thursday. / Korea Times photo by Koh Young-gwon Heads of 48 newspaper and broadcasting companies, including The Korea Times President and Publisher Lee Byeong-eon, took part in the meeting and provided advice on Korean Peninsula issues. President Moon said, however, the difficult parts were about "how" to achieve the goal, adding "audacious imagination and creative solutions" were required to make the two summits successful. "We can't repeat the past; we have to find new ways and all involved parties have to agree on them. Moreover, the method is not what the two Koreas alone can decide, but requires agreement between the North and the United States." He said what the South can do is help the North and the U.S. narrow the gap between them and suggest practical ways, which both sides can accept. The President said the goal of the summits and the talks is the co-prosperity of the two Koreas. "What we seek through denuclearization and peace is co-prosperity. And it requires Pyongyang's development of relations with Washington and Tokyo as well as support from China. Inter-Korean cooperation alone cannot help North Korea's economic development, and the international community's participation is a must." He said the summits will open a new era, but will be only the beginning and may not solve everything at once, along with many limitations including international sanctions against the North. Oh Kyung-hyun, head of Korean Institute of Tuberculosis' program cooperation department FOCUS ON DEFENSE CAPABILITY DEVELOPMENT IN SOUTHEAST ASIA AND OCEANIA A South Korean man died of a cardiovascular problem while trekking last week on a long-distance route in the western United States, the South Korean Consulate General in Los Angeles said Thursday, urging people to refrain from extreme exertion. The 65-year-old man, whose name was not released, collapsed on Friday while walking on a mountain road in the vicinity of San Diego, California, on the Pacific Crest Trail, which runs 2,663 miles from the U.S.-Mexico border through California, Oregon and Washington, according to the South Korean diplomatic mission. The trail, which reaches its northern terminus at the U.S.-Canada border, is known as a challenging through-hiking and backpacking route through some of the country's most spectacular wilderness ranges. "Trips in an extreme situation can be lethal to those who have high blood pressure or other chronic illnesses," the consul general said. Together, the Pacific Crest Trail, the Appalachian Trail and the Continental Divide Trail are known as the Triple Crown of long-distance hiking in the United States. An increasing number of South Korean hikers has been visiting the trail since the popularity of the 2015 U.S. film "Wild" that has it as the backdrop. (Yonhap) By Jung Min-ho Police searched the headquarters of Korean Air Thursday as part of their investigation of allegations that senior vice president Cho Hyun-min (Emily Cho) splashed water in the face of an advertising agency employee. The Seoul Gangseo Police Station said it sent six officers to the main building of the country's largest airline in western Seoul to gather evidence. Cho, the sister of Cho Hyun-ah (Heather Cho), who made world headlines for the 2014 "nut rage" aircraft incident, is accused of throwing a cup of water into the face of the manager of Korean Air's advertising agency, HS AD, at a recent meeting in her Seoul office. Police searched her office and the office of the marketing department, which she had headed until the issue emerged, to discover whether there was any attempt to cover up the incident or appease the victim or the advertising agency. If the accusation is true, she could be prosecuted for assault. But Cho has denied the allegation, insisting she did not throw the cup at the manager. Police said they are also seeking a travel ban on Emily Cho, who is an American national. The Supreme Court on Thursday upheld a four-year prison term for former National Intelligence Service (NIS) Director Won Sei-hoon on his conviction for political interference and election meddling. The close confidante of former President Lee Myung-bak was indicted in 2013 for running an illicit smear campaign to sway voters in favor of then-ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye ahead of the 2012 presidential election. Won headed the NIS from 2009-2013. NIS officials hired hundreds of civilians and retirees of the agency to post Internet comments against her liberal rival Moon Jae-in. Park won the 2012 election and was ousted in March 2017 over a corruption scandal. Moon became her successor after winning a snap election last May. The trial dragged on as court verdicts differed on whether he was guilty of violating election law, a crime punishable by a much heavier penalty than that for breaching NIS law. He was first found not guilty of the charge in the lowest court ruling in July 2014 and given a suspended term. But the appellate court overturned the verdict in February 2015 and had him serve about eight months behind bars before he was released on bail. The granting of bail came after the top court sent his case back to the lower court, saying the evidence was not sufficient to prove his charge on violation of election law. In August of last year, the Seoul High Court found the 67-year-old guilty with regard to election law and sentenced him to four years in prison. Prosecutors submitted more evidence to the court after an internal probe by the spy agency found documents and other materials backing up Won's charges. Thursday's ruling came in response to Won's appeal against the August ruling. The 67-year-old has been additionally indicted for spending taxpayers' money to cover costs for the online maneuvers and for initiating a plan to have a public broadcaster under government control. He is also implicated in other bribery and embezzlement probes linked to a former aide of ex-president Lee and his private spending. (Yonhap) By Park Si-soo A news magazine's managing editor was arrested for embezzling part of advertisement money wired from companies and public offices to head off damaging articles, the prosecution said Thursday. The editor has pocketed tens of millions of won since 2012, the Jeonju Prosecutors' Office said. Prosecutors said he threatened companies and government offices in North Jeolla Province that he would publish damaging articles if they did not run advertisements. Many organizations bowed to the threat and sent money for ads. But he spent part of it on personal purposes and did not publish some ads. Police search Korean Air in Seoul to collect evidence of Cho Hyun-min's alleged assault on an advertising company official Thursday. Yonhap By Kim Hyun-bin Police searched the headquarters of Korean Air Thursday, as part of the probe into Cho Hyun-min, who allegedly assaulted an advertising company worker during a meeting. Six police officers went to the airline's office to confiscate evidence related to the case, police said. Cho Hyun-min, the youngest daughter of Korean Air Chairman Cho Yang-ho, is accused of yelling and throwing a cup of water in the face of the manager of HS AD, an ad agency. Cho has denied the allegation saying she only pushed the manager. The police plan to confiscate Cho's smartphone through her lawyer, and could start questioning her next week. A travel ban has been issued against her. Strengthened investigation The police searched Cho's office to find if there was any evidence of a cover up of the incident or to appease the victim or the ad firm. A day earlier, they went to the ad company and secured smartphone recordings of people that took part in the meeting. "No one mentioned the scope of the search," an official from Korean Air said. "We plan to counter accordingly as the investigation progresses." Cho allegedly threw water in the face of the ad company executive, but police believe she could have thrown a cup. If so, she could be charged with aggravated assault. The Korea Customs Service (KCS) have also started looking into the Cho family, whether they have evaded paying taxes on luxury products they bought overseas. The KCS has currently obtained the overseas credit card transactions of Cho Yang-ho, and his wife and three children Cho Hyun-ah, Hyun-min and Won-tae. The Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport is also trying to find out whether Cho Hyun-min illegally served as a board member of Hanjin's low-cost carrier Jin Air. She is a U.S. citizen. Cho held the position for six years. Under the aviation security law, foreigners are not allowed to be on the board of directors of a flag carrier. By Kim Jae-heun The Seoul Administrative Court ruled Tuesday that an Ethiopian anti-government activist should be recognized as a refugee here. He filed a case against the Seoul Immigration Office over its decision not to approve his application for refugee status. "Given that the person is an ethnic Amhara, he could be further oppressed by his country for his acts against the government there. Therefore, it is valid to recognize him as a refugee," the court said. "He testified specifically and persuasively how he was beaten and arrested during an investigation." The Refugee Law here accepts refugees who are exposed to persecution for their race, religion or political views. The Ethiopian came to Korea in March 2016 and extended his stay until October the same year on a student visa. He applied for refugee status in July last year, but the immigration center denied the application. He said his father was imprisoned for 11 years for working with the country's former government, adding if he returns to Ethiopia, he will also be persecuted. By Kim Jae-heun The National Policy Agency's special investigation team has searched its local police agencies in Seoul and Gyeonggi Province to search for evidence following allegations they were involved in rigging online comments in support of former President Lee Myung-bak's administration. The special team, consisting of 20 investigators, arrived at the Seoul Metropolitan Police Agency and Gyeonggi Nambu Provincial Police Agency on Tuesday. The team has taken equipment including the local agencies' computers and hard drives. The police agencies allegedly posted comments on the internet supporting the Lee government's policies from 2011 to 2012. The investigation team also seized equipment from police agencies in Busan and Gwangju. The national agency said it will analyze the equipment seized and question anyone related to the case. Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the Democratic Party of Korea holds a press meeting at the National Assembly, Monday, to give his views on the opinion-rigging allegations made against him. / Korea Times photo by Oh Dae-keun By Lee Suh-yoon The country's election overseer has launched an app to monitor and prevent the spread of fake news before local elections in June. Inspectors will use the app to collect digital evidence of fake news and other potential illegal campaign activities, according to the National Election Commission (NEC). This comes after an online smear campaign allegedly involving a member of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea fueled concerns about how online misinformation can manipulate public opinion. After submitting screenshots or photos of potential fake news stories to the app, their digital identification codes will be transferred to the National Forensics Service (NFS). If they are suspected of being modified after the image is captured, the ID code stored in the NFS server can be used to check its authenticity. "Storing the initial digital fingerprint (of the photos) in the NFS database means they can be verified anytime," said Son Min-ha, an NEC official. With this evidence-collecting app, people who have spread fake news can be held accountable even after they have deleted "problematic" online posts. NEC officials will use this evidence to request platforms such as Naver and Facebook to delete certain posts or user accounts. For more serious cases, the evidence will be submitted to the law enforcement agencies. Fighting fake news globally Governments around the world are stepping up efforts to curb fake news to ensure fair electoral outcomes. Malaysia recently passed a law where creators and spreaders of fake news can be imprisoned for up to six years. Brazil also created a taskforce to crack down on fake news before its presidential elections. However, critics said such strict measures could give governments "excessive control" over information flow. This may also allow them to influence electoral results. The NEC said it will follow specific standards when analyzing and deciding what counts as fake news. "Slanderous and false comments against candidates will be subject to scrutiny," Son said. "Our main focus, however, is not punishing individual cases, but preventing the spread of online campaigns using fake news." Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling DPK was allegedly behind an online smear campaign against his own party. Kim admitted he met several times with "druking," the leader of an online community responsible for the smear campaign. He has denied his involvement in the activity. The DPK has also defended Kim, saying Kim could not have attacked his own party. A legal proposal to punish spreaders of fake news with up to seven years of imprisonment or a 50 million won fine is currently pending at the National Assembly. By Kim Jae-heun The Ministry of Justice said Thursday it will improve conditions at immigration detention centers in Hwaseong, Gyeonggi Province, and Cheongju, North Chungcheong Province. The move comes after the National Human Rights Commission recommended the justice ministry to improve the human rights of foreign detainees. The ministry will first remove iron bars and replace them with reinforced plastic. It will also set up "protection rooms" for sick people, pregnant women and the elderly. "The centers have recently started replacing iron bars with plastic," the ministry said in a press statement. "We will further do so at other detention centers." The ministry has decided to extend exercise time for foreign detainees from three times a week to five times. The commission suggested providing three desktop computers at the center in Hwaseong, and one each at centers in Cheongju and Yeosu. The justice ministry will order the centers to give notices in multiple languages, including Korean, English and Chinese to deliver accurate information. Foreign detainees can also express their opinions. By Lee Min-hyung North Korea will hold a key meeting on Friday when its leader Kim Jong-un is expected to make public the hosting of the upcoming summits with President Moon Jae-in and United States President Donald Trump. According to the Korea Central New Agency (KCNA), Thursday, the regime will hold a plenary session of the Workers' Party of Korea to make pending policy decisions. "The regime decided to hold the session on Friday to discuss key policy issues at a key historical juncture," the regime's mouthpiece reported. The KCNA, however, did not give details. All eyes are on whether the young dictator will comment on the regime's upcoming summits. The latest in a series of the sessions came on October last year when Kim called for the regime to enhance its science and technology capability. By Kang Seung-woo The nation's top court confirmed a four-year prison sentence for a former spy agency chief, Thursday, for election interference and political meddling. The Supreme Court decision came five years after Won Sei-hoon, who headed the National Intelligence Service (NIS) from 2009 to 2013 under President Lee Myung-bak, was first indicted in June 2013 for operating cyber teams to sway public opinion in favor of the then-ruling party candidate Park Geun-hye in the 2012 presidential election. Park won the election by a small margin. Last August, an appeals court ruled the 67-year-old meddled in the 2012 vote through a covert cyber operation and engaged in political activities in violation of laws governing the election and of the NIS. "The NIS cyber teams' operations can be seen as activities in an election campaign, abusing their status as civil servants," the Supreme Court said. "It means that Won ordered the agency to get involved in politics and interfering with the election campaign, both of which are illegal." Previous rulings had given mixed views about whether the cyber operations he ordered constituted illegal interference in the election. A violation of the Election Law faces heavier punishment than that of the NIS Law. At the first trial in 2014, Won was handed a suspended sentence. He claimed he was only accountable for intervening in politics, not guilty of election meddling, but the appeals court overturned the verdict in 2015, sentencing the former NIS chief to three years in prison. However, later that year, the Supreme Court threw out some of the evidence against him and returned the case to the high court. Last August, the Seoul High Court found Won, a close confidant of former President Lee, guilty of violating the Election Law and sentenced him to four years in prison. Following the verdict, Won's lawyers appealed. According to the prosecution, the Won-led spy agency hired hundreds of civilians to post internet comments to criticize those who were opposed to the Lee administration, and expressed liberal views in the run-up to the presidential election. The case first came to light after a female NIS official was found to have engaged in a suspected smear campaign against opposition candidate Moon Jae-in in December 2012, less than a week before the presidential vote. At that time, then-main opposition lawmakers visited her residence but she refused for hours to open the door. Those lawmakers were indicted in 2014 for harassing her, but all of them were cleared in March. Along with the election meddling case, Won has additionally been charged for misusing 6.5 billion won ($6.12 million) to finance the online smear campaign. By Kim Bo-eun Questions are being raised over how the upcoming inter-Korean summit will pave the way for a declaration ending the Korean War, after a reference to the subject was made by the White House this week. The 1950-1953 War ended in an armistice, leaving the Koreas still at war. U.S. President Donald Trump's statement that the Koreas will discuss the matter in their summit, and Cheong Wa Dae's confirmation of the agenda has drawn attention to how South and North Korea and involved states will address it. Ending of the Korean War is directly related to the main agendas of the inter-Korean summit which are North Korea's denuclearization, achieving peace on the Korean Peninsula and developing inter-Korean relations. Cheong Wa Dae said earlier this week the likely scenario is that South and North Korea reach an agreement on putting an end to the war at their summit, and conclude the deal in the North's summit with the U.S. Trump's statement that he "gives his blessing" to South and North Korea's discussions of the matter is viewed as the U.S. supporting the idea of ending the war on the Korean Peninsula. Leaders of the Koreas and the U.S. may meet after the Pyongyang-Washington summit an idea South Korean President Moon Jae-in proposed earlier. Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea announces a bid for the gubernatorial election in South Gyeongsang Province at the National Assembly, Thursday. / Yonhap By Choi Ha-young Rep. Kim Kyoung-soo of the ruling Democratic Party of Korea (DPK) announced his bid for the gubernatorial race in South Gyeongsang Province, Thursday, despite opinion-rigging allegations against him. "From now on, I will unwaveringly carry out the election campaigns," Kim said in a press conference held at the National Assembly. "If any kind of independent counsel investigation is needed to halt political offensives raised by opposition parties, I will accept any investigations. Please thoroughly look into speculations and normalize government affairs as rapidly as possible." Earlier in the day, he canceled a press conference in which he was supposed to announce his bid for the gubernatorial race. This raised speculation that Kim, a loyalist of President Moon Jae-in, may not run. However, Kim claimed innocence, saying he will cooperate with investigators. The DPK has already chosen Kim as its candidate for the election, and he has been leading opinion polls in the province by about 10 percentage points despite the scandal. Still, the scandal may hit the popular President as well, since the lawmaker has been a core loyalist of President Moon Jae-in. Kim accompanied Moon throughout the presidential campaign last May. Some critics have predicted Kim as the next presidential contender of the DPK. The scandal erupted April 14 when a news report alleged the lawmaker orchestrated opinion-rigging led by a liberal-minded blogger known as "druking" and his followers. The online community, originally aimed at studying economics, left online comments in favor of President Moon Jae-in, before they turned hostile toward Moon a few months ago. On Monday, Kim admitted to meeting druking a few times and delivering his recommendation for a consulate position to Cheong Wa Dae. Conservative opposition parties suspect Kim accepted druking's recommendation in exchange for the netizen's online activities. It was after the recommendation fell apart when druking and his followers launched an online smear campaign against President Moon which led to the DPK's request for investigation. An interparty conflict regarding the druking case is swirling after the minor conservative Bareun Mirae Party (BMP) exposed a document that it exchanged with the DPK after the presidential election in May. After the election, the DPK and the People's Party, a predecessor to the BMP, withdrew legal cases against each other, and druking was one of 14 individuals accused of violating the election law. Based on the document, the BMP lawmakers claimed the DPK was aware of druking's role and made efforts for the netizen's impunity. The DPK, however, refuted the document, Thursday. "When the two parties signed on the document, we agreed to include all legal suits, only except the case of President Moon's son Jun-yong," said Rep. Song Ki-hun, the party's legal committee chief. Two conservative parties the Liberty Korea Party and the BMP have called for an independent counsel to look into the case, as well as summoning relevant figures to the National Assembly for inspections and hearings. The DPK has reiterated druking was one of numerous supporters of Moon, and Rep. Kim and the party are "victims" of their plots. The ruling party said the case is different from government-sponsored opinion-rigging cases under conservative administrations. Reportedly, druking-led communities were pseudo-religious groups, which believed some ancient prophets. By Cary Huang On the surface, the ongoing trade dispute between the United States and China is all about economics and business. But underpinning the conflict which looks to be of uncertain escalation and duration lies a more consequential struggle over ideology and global security. It pits the world's leading free economy against the leading example of state-directed capitalism; the world's leading liberal democracy against its last major communist-ruled state. In fact, a host of bilateral disputes has been simmering in the five years since China's strongman leader Xi Jinping came to power. Under Xi, China has moved away from Deng Xiaoping's "low-key" diplomacy and embraced a high-profile and increasingly assertive diplomatic and defense policy, in an effort to compete for global leadership. That was why former U.S. President Barack Obama, in his second term, reshaped U.S. policy with his "pivot to Asia" and the now abandoned Trans-Pacific Partnership, as two main tools to contain what America sees as China's wild rise. For years since Richard Nixon's overture, the U.S.-China relationship has been built on the pursuit of shared interests and a belief that an engagement policy would inevitably help China evolve, as a result of its embrace of global capitalism and the consequent greater interaction with the international community. Relations were also built on the confidence that China's rising power would be moderated by perpetual American superiority and primacy in many areas. However, the U.S., and others in the West, are getting increasingly uneasy about China's political development and the nature of Chinese influence abroad. Ideology once again defines the terms of the U.S.-China relationship. Washington sees China's recent developments as a major political setback in the one-party authoritarian state, as Beijing began to embrace some elements of orthodox Leninist-Stalinist philosophy and Maoist politics. This is seen in its intensified crackdown on dissent, its suppression of freedom, more draconian censorship on the internet and social media, and tighter social control in recent years. Externally, China is challenging an established global order of governance built on the Bretton Woods institutions and led by the U.S. For instance, Xi's brainchild, the "Belt and Road Initiative," will build a China-centered communication and trade network that will connect China by infrastructural links to more than 65 percent of the world's population. Beijing has also become increasingly assertive in its foreign and defense policy, whether on Taiwan or territorial and maritime disputes with its neighbors. Xi has called on China to become a nation of global influence by 2050. China is also promoting its development model as a substitute to the Western model. With its success in lifting masses of people out of poverty faster than any other society in history, the Chinese development model is being touted as a new option for other countries. To be sure, China is a long way from overtaking the U.S. economically, militarily, diplomatically and politically, in view of U.S. superiority and primacy in the areas of science, technology, education, culture and soft power. But China's recent developments have convinced policymakers in Washington that they are witnessing the revival of a new Soviet empire in the cold-war era, which should be contained before it is too late. Joseph Nye, the Harvard Kennedy School political scientist who coined the term "soft power," has begun to describe Chinese global influence as "sharp power," and says "we must resist it." Kurt Campbell, Obama's top China expert, in a lengthy paper he co-authored titled "The China Reckoning," concluded that America's nearly half a century of China policy since Nixon has failed. For these reasons, President Donald Trump recently redefined Washington's China policy to label the Middle Kingdom a strategic rival, which, like a rogue regime or terrorist organ, seeks to undermine the "U.S. economy, interests and values." Thus, the ongoing trade dispute is just one episode in a long-running contest between the world's key economic rivals and political adversaries, in a seemingly new cold-war era. Cary Huang, a senior writer with the South China Morning Post, has been a senior editor and veteran China affairs columnist since the early 1990s. Copyright belongs to the South China Morning Post. By Wayne Finley All great teachers have a burning passion inside them. They don't just want to improve their students' skills. They want to change minds. Change the way things are done. Change the world, one lesson at a time. This year, those teachers meet at Yongin on May 12. Why? It's the Korea TESOL National Conference. One of the great jewels in the crown of KOTESOL, the National Conference attracts teachers from all over the Korean peninsula. The 2018 edition is no exception. The theme of the conference is, "Crossing Borders: Korean ELT in the Modern World," giving teachers the bravery to cross into new territories and live new lives. Two plenary speakers are lined up to embody that message: Barbara Hoskins-Sakamoto and Dr. Yeum Kyung-sook. Hoskins-Sakamoto seizes the day as the co-author of one of the most successful course book series ever published. The "Let's Go" series remains a worldwide bestseller to this day. Dr. Yeum is no stranger to success either: she is the director of TESOL at Sookmyung Women's University. As one of the leading lights in the field of English teaching, she passes on that torch to other teachers. She shows them the path to cross-cultural leadership and self-empowerment. Everyday teachers, often unsung for their efforts, offer research presentations, practical workshops and passionate discussions. May 12 is the day the spotlight is off the students and on the teachers. It is a day for everyone associated with education in Korea to be proud of the people who care so much about it. The best way to sign up for the conference is by visiting the Korea TESOL website. Pre-registration saves money, but those interested can still sign up on the day. There is expected to be a huge turnout, so book your transportation quickly and guarantee your spot. It is not to be missed. Wayne Finley (waynejfinley@gmail.com) is the associate director of admissions and enrollment strategy at Sol International School and Endicott College of International Studies in Daejeon. By Juan Pablo Cardenal HONG KONG At the beginning of this century, when China launched its "going out" policy focused on using foreign-exchange reserves to support overseas expansion and acquisitions by Chinese companies few expected the country quickly to emerge as a leading economic player in Latin America. Yet that is exactly what has happened. The question is whether this is good for Latin America. In less than 15 years, China has gone from playing a rather marginal economic role in Latin America to being among the top investors and trading partners for most countries in the region, as well as its foremost lender and infrastructure builder. With its economic plans in Latin America cruising along smoothly a trend that seems unlikely to change anytime soon China has now set its sights on another goal: expanding its political influence in the region and beyond. Of course, China's status as an economic heavyweight already affords it a significant degree of political clout. But the Chinese state and its ruling Communist Party of China (CPC) are also pursuing a more direct, coordinated, and far-reaching strategy to expand its soft power. That strategy more "sharp" than "soft" in practice focuses largely on promoting personal and institutional engagement, cooperation, and exchanges with Latin American elites in four main areas: media, culture, academia, and politics. For example, China produces free media content to be shared locally, provides scholarships to Latin American students and professionals to be "trained" in China, creates partnerships with local universities and think tanks, and opens and operates Confucius Institutes, among other initiatives. But the single most powerful tool China employs is people-to-people exchange, whereby China seeks to build strong personal relationships with influential individuals from a variety of fields. To that end, Chinese leaders bring Latin American political figures, academics, journalists, high-ranking government officials, ex-diplomats, and others to China to participate in weeks-long trainings, academic events, or ad hoc exchange programs, and meet their Chinese counterparts. This "elite capture" is not insignificant. According to President Xi Jinping, China w ill train 10,000 prominent Latin Americans by 2020. Moreover, the CPC has committed itself to inviting 15,000 members of foreign political parties to China for exchanges in the next five years initiatives in which many Latin American political representatives are already engaged. The primary goal of these efforts is to ensure that prominent figures, including current and future leaders of Latin America typically handpicked by the Chinese leadership are on China's side. To put it bluntly, China's authoritarian regime is subtly and gradually buying Latin America's elites. And the plan is working. The luxurious five-star hotels, over-the-top hospitality, and carefully crafted narrative and agendas make a powerful, even hypnotic, impression on China's foreign guests. Many of them return home believing that China is a fundamentally benign actor, and thus that they have nothing to fear from its engagement in their countries. Many go so far as to become cheerleaders for China. Their praise for China expressed through published work, public remarks, or private comments often, and understandably, focuses on the country's perceived economic success. They speak with admiration about the economy's transition from Maoism to "red capitalism," its resilience in the face of the 2008 global financial crisis, and its emergence as perhaps the main winner of globalization. And they celebrate China as a valuable source of investments, loans, and market opportunities. China's experience proves, according to many of the regime's newfound friends, that development without democracy is possible. That assessment is almost never qualified by recognition of the potential dangers of becoming too dependent on China, much less any reference to its authoritarian political system or poor human-rights record. These enthusiasts probably would not want a China-style regime in their own countries. Yet, by accepting and even propagating the CPC-endorsed narrative and abjuring any critical analysis, they are contributing to a worryingly inaccurate image of China across Latin America. With little knowledge about China, many in the region are getting their information from their local elites the very people whom China's leaders are trying to attract. The public, in Latin America and elsewhere, deserves to hear the whole story. They should learn about China's asymmetric relationships with many of its trading partners, and the stark terms of Chinese loans, which have left many borrowers mired in a debt trap. They should also know the truth about labor conditions at China's overseas projects, not to mention their environmental and social impact. And they should know about intensifying domestic repression in the age of Xi. There is no doubt that Chinese engagement has brought major opportunities to Latin America. But the risks cannot and should not be ignored. The journalists, academics, politicians, and other influential people whom China is courting have a responsibility to avoid being swept up in the charm offensive, and to provide a clear-eyed assessment of the potential pitfalls of engagement. Otherwise, Latin America may soon find itself paying a high price for its blurred vision. Juan Pablo Cardenal is a researcher at the Center for the Opening and Development of Latin America (CADAL). Copyright belongs to Project Syndicate ( www.project-syndicate.org ). During Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg's ballyhooed two days of congressional testimony last week, two things quickly became clear: One, Congress is interested in regulating Facebook, and two, it is woefully unprepared for the task. But Facebook along with Google and Apple have become so powerful, and user privacy so compromised, that lawmakers have no choice. They must educate themselves, and fast, before these giants become uncontrollable. Facebook's drive to vacuum up data and conquer the online market is relentless. Most members of Congress who questioned Zuckerberg last Tuesday and Wednesday showed themselves to be just as clueless about the potential privacy dangers as most of the 68 percent of American adults who have Facebook accounts. Facebook acknowledges that 87 million users had data improperly acquired in 2016 by the British research firm Cambridge Analytica. The data played into the Trump campaign's effort to build voter profiles and target users ahead of the 2016 election. That disclosure, along with earlier revelations that Russian hackers had used Facebook accounts to sow division among voters before the election, made even some regulation-averse Republicans realize that big internet firms have grown too powerful. In the hearing Tuesday, Sens. Dick Durbin, D-Ill., and Lindsey Graham, R-S.C., got closest to the heart of the matter. Durbin got Zuckerberg to admit he'd prefer not to disclose personal information such as the hotel he stayed in the night before and to whom he'd sent messages information that Facebook routinely collects from its users. Graham suggested that Facebook was a monopoly and had spent a lot of money buying out its competition. The government traditionally regulates monopolies, he warned. Zuckerberg responded, "I think the real question ... is what's the right regulation? Not whether there should be or not." With something called the Honest Ads Act, Congress would require Facebook to disclose, as broadcasters must, who pays for political ads. With the proposed Consent Act introduced last week, Congress would require Facebook users to explicitly consent to having personal information shared with third parties. The Federal Trade Commission would enforce the rules. Zuckerberg would rather Facebook police itself and voluntarily enforce disclosure rules similar to those in the Honest Ads Act. In Europe, it supports consent rules similar to those proposed in Congress. In principle, Zuckerberg said, he'd support the same rules in the United States, "but details matter a lot." Some tech experts believe the simplest and most effective way to address the issue would be to impose a fiduciary responsibility on internet companies to act in the user's best interests. States could do this on their own, with courts deciding when ethical requirements have been breached. Congress is a dysfunctional place these days. A complicated subject like internet regulation might be beyond its abilities. So perhaps the simplest solution is best, and quickest. The above article appeared in the St. Louis Post-Dispatch. It was distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. By John J. Metzler UNITED NATIONS Cold War winds swirled throughout the week at the United Nations where a series of emergency meetings brought the 15 member Security Council into a dangerously confrontational mode in the aftermath of the Syrian regime's alleged use of chemical weapons killing 48. Accusations, allegations, and condemnations punctuated meetings, amidst emotional discussions following the civilian carnage in Syria's ongoing civil war. The crescendo came when the United States, France and the United Kingdom launched surgical military strikes on Syria's chemical weapons sites, producing deadly chlorine and sarin gas, jolting the Damascus regime's smug impunity, and serving as a clear warning to Assad's allies in both Russia and the Islamic Republic of Iran. When U.S. President Trump announced the surgical military strikes on Syria, the mood appeared both anticlimactic and conflicted. Yet beyond America's righteous retribution to the use of chemical weapons by the Assad regime, the president as importantly underlined the historic precedent, that of WWI, as not to allow the genie of these ghoulish weapons to reappear in global conflicts. Lost in the flurry of Security Council discussions was a largely overlooked statement by U.N. Secretary General Antonio Guterres, "The Cold War is back, with a vengeance but with a difference. The mechanisms and the safeguards to manage the risks of escalation that existed in the past no longer seem to be present." Syria's combustible situation has witnessed a horrible carnage where over 500,000 people have been killed; overwhelmingly most have died from conventional weapons. But as French Ambassador Francois Delattre stated, "The latest escalation of violence revealed the madness of a Machiavellian regime that sought to destroy its enemies." U.S. U.N. Ambassador Nikki Haley spoke of the "collective outrage" in the aftermath of the Douma attacks. Russian delegate Vassily Nebenzia denied the Syrian government's involvement. Multinational military strikes on Syria are justified for many reasons morally, politically and tactically. First there is a credibility problem for the U.S., Britain and France on the Security Council. Tough talk from Washington starting during the Obama administration's feckless "red line" fiasco, came to naught in Syria until last year's American cruise missile attack on Assad after similar chemical weapons use. Russia and Islamic Iran have since redoubled their military support for the Syrian regime. U.S. threats to the contrary were sounding hollow. Yet the attacks were tactically focused on chemical production capabilities and thus proportionate to the crime. Second Sweden's U.N. Ambassador Olaf Skoog warned that the use of chemical weapons had become a litmus test of the Security Council's credibility. He called for accountability for those using illegal chemical weapons. Indeed for seven bloody years, the Syrian conflict has witnessed a deadlocked Security Council where Russia has blatantly supported its ally Syria through the unrestricted use of the veto which Moscow has used on 12 occasions, and specifically six regarding chemical weapons resolutions. Third there's a clear lesson for North Korea. Ironically part of the wider credibility narrative is focused not only on Syria in the Middle East but on North Korea in the Far East. Summit negotiations between Pyongyang and both Seoul and later Washington will soon begin regarding Kim Jong-un's nuclear weapons and missile proliferation program. The Trump administration wishes to make the case crystal clear that puts its adversaries on notice. Ambassador Nikki Haley warned, "It is Russia alone that has stopped at nothing to defend the Syrian regime's multiple uses of chemical weapons. It is Russia alone that killed the Joint Investigative Mechanism which allowed the world to ensure accountability for chemical weapons use in Syria." Earlier in the week American diplomacy called for an international mission of inquiry to visit Syria and establish the facts on the ground. "Silence and impunity are not an option," implored the Netherlands delegate. Significantly the U.N. must reestablish a working mechanism to monitor and cease chemical weapons use. President Donald Trump warned Syria and its allies that the U.S. is "locked and loaded" to strike again if it carries out further chemical attacks. The White House actions came less than a week after the president spoke about possible America disengagement in the Syrian civil war. The attacks however were wisely not aimed at regime change but a change in regime behavior. Despite the brutal nature of the Syrian ruler Assad, it's tragically true that some of the jihadi terrorist groups opposing him would create even wider carnage. British Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson said the multinational attacks on Syria were about saying "Enough is enough," in regarding the use of the prohibited weapons. John J. Metzler is a United Nations correspondent covering diplomatic and defense issues. He is the author of "Divided Dynamism The Diplomacy of Separated Nations: Germany, Korea, China." Contact him at jjmcolumn@earthlink.net. Trump gives nod for two Koreas to discuss peace treaty Ahead of the April 27 inter-Korean summit, some positive developments have come from the U.S., signaling a possible breakthrough in security on the Korean Peninsula, with the two Koreas still technically at war since the 1950-53 Korean War. U.S. President Donald Trump publicly supported the suggestion to replace the 1953 armistice with a peace treaty. "People don't realize the Korean War has not ended. It's going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war. They do have my blessing to discuss that," Trump said at a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida this week. Cheong Wa Dae also confirmed peace treaty talks are underway. The armistice, which terminated combat, was signed July 27, 1953, by the United Nations Command, North Korea and China. Replacing it with a peace treaty is the first step toward ending the war and securing permanent peace on the Korean Peninsula. Therefore, many Koreans welcome President Trump's support of a peace treaty. It should be a core topic during the inter-Korean summit between President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un, which will be the third since the first in 2000 and second in 2007. Although peace treaty talks are a positive development, Trump's "blessing" alone will not be enough to realize it. China also has a crucial role in the peace process. It is a good sign that China expressed an intention to play an active role, as a signatory to the 1953 armistice, during a regular foreign ministry briefing Wednesday. The U.S. and North Korea have differing standpoints on denuclearization, but so far, prospects for the U.S.-North Korea summit, which is expected in May or June, are also looking good. Trump revealed he had sent his Secretary of State nominee Mike Pompeo to North Korea over the Easter weekend to meet with Kim. "Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed," Trump tweeted. "Details of summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!" The peace treaty will be a complex issue that contains many points of contention, such as the status of U.S. troops in South Korea. It is important to pursue the peace process while making progress in denuclearizing North Korea. Seoul should continue to push for the right conditions for a peace treaty in cooperation with the U.S. and other relevant parties. By Park Jae-hyuk Hyundai Motor Group said Thursday it will create 3,000 new jobs for youth, women who left their careers to raise their children, early retirees and other minorities including North Korean defectors, children from single-parent families and multiracial family members. It will invest 34 billion won ($32 million) in this project to achieve the goal by the end of 2022. According to the nation's largest automotive group, it will provide 1,600 new jobs to the young without jobs through expansion of its support for social enterprises. Hyundai and the Chung Mong-Koo Foundation will foster 150 social enterprises until 2022 to create 1,250 new jobs. The group will also push forward partnerships between its affiliates and social enterprises to create 350 additional jobs for youth. For women who left their jobs because of pregnancy and childcare, the automotive group will begin new businesses with Easy Life, a social enterprise specializing in caring for elderly people. Hyundai and Easy Life will create 300 jobs for women until 2022 by offering home care services and opening a farm to help senior citizens with Alzheimer's and disabled people. To provide 500 jobs to early retirees in their 50s and 60s within the next five years, Hyundai said it will cooperate with social enterprises, as well as central and local governments. The group will provide training for middle-aged retirees so they can get new jobs. Plus, it will connect retirees with expertise to social enterprises seeking specialists with their experience. Not only providing jobs at social enterprises, Hyundai will also help minorities start their own businesses through its Gift Car Campaign, the group's renowned corporate social responsibility activity that has offered vehicles and financial support for start-ups. Over the next five years, Hyundai will offer 250 vehicles to North Korean defectors, children from single-parent families and multiracial family members if they are planning to start their own businesses. "Through collaboration with social enterprises creating social values, we will create new jobs and alleviate the polarization of wealth," a Hyundai official said. "We will continue to fulfill our social responsibilities with activities for many people in our society." By Nam Hyun-woo Oh In-hwan Chang In-hwa Choi Jeong-woo Hwang Eun-yeon IKEA Group CEO Jesper Brodin points at the bookshelf in a children's room in an apartment in Goyang, Gyeonggi Province, Thursday. / Courtesy of IKEA Group By Park Jae-hyuk GOYANG, Gyeonggi Province IKEA Group CEO Jesper Brodin said his visit to an ordinary Korean family living in an apartment was the most interesting experience during his first official business trip here this week. Brodin, who was appointed as the head of the Swedish home furnishing company last May, told Korean reporters Thursday what he learned from apartments in Korea. He visited a Korean family comprised of parents and two children and spoke with them about better ways of living in their apartment near IKEA's Goyang store in Gyeonggi Province earlier that day. According to the CEO, the family wanted more space to store their belongings and better ways of storing food longer, just as other households worldwide want. He said most people are similar all around the world regarding sleeping, bathing, cooking and eating. Brodin, however, mentioned difficulty in using the walls, different ways of using balconies and a children-oriented lifestyle as three distinctive features found in Korean apartments. Although the chief executive felt that families living in rental houses were at a disadvantage because they can't use the walls as easily, he regarded Korean families' use of balconies as fantastic, given they are not using their balconies as outdoor spaces, but integrating them into their living spaces. Brodin also expects that Koreans who design their living spaces for children will have positive effects in other countries. He promised IKEA will come up with good products for the nation's lifestyle. The Goyang store, which opened last October, has already featured room-sets for teenagers, as IKEA Korea discovered the region has children of all ages during its visits to more than 100 households. During the press conference, Brodin also reiterated the opening of city center stores. In several interviews with foreign news outlets last November, the CEO unveiled his company's plan to shift its focus to city center stores to attract more customers. IKEA is considering opening smaller stores in the center of Seoul and offering home delivery, installation and assembling services, according to the CEO. By Nam Hyun-woo Hanssem Chairman Choi Yang-ha The heyday of home furniture manufacturers and housing material firms seem to have passed, amid a cooldown in the country's real estate market. Despite April being a traditional "earning month" for them, analysts are casting a grim outlook on such firms citing negative indexes in the housing market. According to an auditory filing of Hanssem on Thursday, the domestic furniture, kitchen and bath cabinet manufacturer logged 467.5 billion won ($434 million) in sales in the first quarter of this year, down 5.5 percent from a year earlier. The company contained the sales drop to a certain level, but couldn't resist its operating profit contracting by a huge margin, down a whopping 56.3 percent to 17.8 billion won during the same period. Kendallville, IN (46755) Today Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch.. Tonight Rain showers early will evolve into a more steady rain overnight. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Rainfall near a quarter of an inch. Rome, April 19 - Senate Speaker Maria Elisabetta Casellati will hold a second round of talks on Thursday as part of a mandate handed her by President Sergio Mattarella to see if it is possible for her to break Italy's post-election political deadlock. Her 'exploratory' mandate involves verifying the possibility of seeing if it possible to form a government made up of the centre right, the coalition that came first in last month's inconclusive general election, and the anti-establishment 5-Star Movement (M5S), the biggest single party in the new parliament. The first round of talks with Casellati on Wednesday hit a brick wall when M5S leader Luigi Di Maio reiterated his refusal to form a government with the centre right as a whole and said he would only strike a deal with the anti-migrant, Euroskeptic League. Di Maio also gave League leader Matteo Salvini a one-week deadline to decide whether to dump his alliance partner, ex-premier Silvio Berlusconi's centre-right Forza Italia, to make a deal possible. Casellati will hold talks with the leaders of the centre right, who will come together on Thursday after going separately as individual parties in Wednesday consultations, at 14:30. The Speaker, an FI member, is set to meet an M5S delegation at 17:30. Casellati must report back to Mattarella on Friday. League leader Matteo Salvini appealed for an end to bickering between political parties ahead of the talks. "Italy cannot wait," Salvini said in Catania on the fringes of meeting with workers for supermarket chain Auchan. "There are no developments. If everyone sticks to their positions, situations that there is no response to come about. "I'll see if I can cook up something on top of the lots that has already been given by the League. "We have contemplated being part of a government, overcoming the nos, the quarrels and the squabbles. "I don't lay down any ultimatums. Let's see if I can convince the others". Milan, April 19 - Astrophysicist Marica Branchesi was the only Italian in Time's list of the 100 most influential people in the world, which was released by the American magazine on Thursday. Branchesi was part of the Virgo collaboration that made the Nobel-prize winning breakthrough of managing to detect gravitational waves. In December Nature put her among the 10 top scientific personalities of 2017. Branchesi is professor for the Gran Sasso Science Institute (GSSI) and works at the Gran Sasso laboratory of the National Institute of Nuclear Physics (INFN). "It took Albert Einstein to predict the existence of gravitational waves-ripples in space-time that occur when objects like black holes collide. It took Marica Branchesi to make sure we actually saw the evidence of such a crack-up," Time's profile said. "Branchesi, an astrophysicist, works at the Virgo gravitational-wave detector in Italy. Detectors in the U.S. had recorded waves three times since 2015 but only as physical ripples, never optically. "Branchesi got the astronomers and physicists working together so that the next time waves were picked up, telescopes all over the world could swing into position. "Last August her work paid off, when a collision between two neutron stars was detected. Thanks to her, 70 telescopes jumped into action, yielding dozens of scientific papers, one with 3,500 co-authors. Her name is listed among the B's - modest credit for a monumental achievement. Rome, April 19 - The Italian authorities further closed in on Matteo Messina Denaro on Thursday, detaining 22 people suspected of being part of a network linked to the fugitive Cosa Nostra boss. Those arrested included Messina Denaro's two brothers-in-law, sources said. They are suspected members of Mafia families in Castelvetrano, Campobello di Mazara and Partanna in the area of the Sicilian city of Trapani. They are accused of crimes including mafia association, extortion, criminal damage and illegal possession of arms. The probe made it possible to identify a system used for the sorting of pizzini notes for Mafia communications. Investigators believe Messina Denaro and his relatives had a lead role. Bosses arrested Thursday likened Messina Denaro to Padre Pio and said he had spent some of his time on the run in Calabria, where the Cosa Nostra's younger and now more powerful cousin 'Ndrangheta holds sway. Thursday's operation followed a similar one a month ago as prosecutors said they were continuing to "drain the pool Messina Denaro swims in". On March 18 over 100 officers served arrest warrants for 12 people considered to have links with Messina Denaro. The suspects are accused of mafia association and extortion, among other felonies. The operation was related to a probe that started in 2014 into the Vita and Salemi families, who are suspected of helping the fugitive mobster. Prosecutors said the Messina Denaro faction managed to get its hands on vast sums of money once handled by the late and notorious Mafia-linked tax-collector cousins Nino and Ignazio Salvo. As well as helping to support Messina Denaro's life as a fugitive, much of this money was ploughed into the wind-farm business, prosecutors said. Messina Denaro, 55, has been on the run since 1993 and is considered a candidate to be Cosa Nostra's boss of bosses following the deaths of Bernardo Provenzano in 2016 and Salvatore Riina in 2017. He is on Europol's list of Europe's most wanted fugitives. He has not been seen in public in over 20 years. An informant in 2014 helped authorities update their facial composite of him. This weekend, Ill be flying to California to attend the Los Angeles Times Festival of Books. Ive been writing for The Times for three and a half years now, but this will be my first time at the festival I have no good excuse for missing the previous ones, except for my fear of flying and my suspicion of any event with the word festival in its name. (I grew up in Texas, so I associate festivals with heatstroke, loud noises and foods that have been deep-fried for no godly reason.) My social anxiety and aversion to crowds aside, Im looking forward to the Festival of Books for several reasons. For one, the odds of having to watch people holding corn dogs while dancing the Cotton-Eye Joe are relatively low. Also, the fact that hundreds of authors and poets will be attending means that I might not be the most socially awkward person there. But mostly, Im looking forward to meeting writers Ive admired for years, whom I will inevitably greet by saying something stupid like, Hows it doing? or the like. The lineup at this years festival is spectacular here are just a few of the panels I cant wait to see. Advertisement Saturday, April 21, 10:30 a.m.: American Cultural Icons, Conversation 1011. Journalist Elizabeth Taylor will be talking to the authors of three fascinating books newly minted Pulitzer Prize winner Caroline Fraser (Prairie Fires: The American Dreams of Laura Ingalls Wilder), Vanda Krefft (The Man Who Made the Movies: The Meteoric Rise and Tragic Fall of William Fox) and Isaac Butler and Dan Kois (The World Only Spins Forward: The Ascent of Angels in America). Saturday, April 21, noon: Lawrence Wright in Conversation with Scott Kraft, Conversation 1032. My fellow Austinite Lawrence Wright will be discussing his latest book, God Save Texas: A Journey Into the Soul of the Lone Star State, with Times deputy managing editor Scott Kraft. I talked to Wright about his book, and our shared love of our home state, for The Times last week. Saturday, April 21, 1:30 p.m.: Fiction: Damage Done: Conversation 1053. Author and USC professor Dana Johnson moderates a panel of four of the most exciting authors working today: Lisa Ko (The Leavers), Edan Lepucki (Woman No. 17"), Claire Messud (The Burning Girl) and Gabriel Tallent (My Absolute Darling). Sunday, April 22, noon: Badass Women Changing Culture, Conversation 2052. Times television critic Lorraine Ali talks to three writers who Ive admired for a long time: Michelle Dean (Sharp: The Women Who Made an Art of Having an Opinion), Carina Chocano (You Play the Girl: On Playboy Bunnies, Stepford Wives, Train Wrecks, & Other Mixed Messages) and Joy Press (Stealing the Show: How Women Are Revolutionizing Television). (Joy, a former Times books editor, originally hired me to write for The Times, so you have her to blame.) Sunday, April 22, 2 p.m.: Victoria Chang, Reading from Barbie Chang. Changs poetry collection Barbie Chang was one of my favorite books last year shes one of the most innovative and exciting poets working today. Id be remiss if I didnt plug my own panel. On Sunday at 10:30 a.m., Ill be talking to three authors whose books I absolutely love: Leni Zumas (Red Clocks), Paul La Farge (The Night Ocean) and Hector Abad (The Farm). Id love for everyone to get the chance to hear these amazing writers discuss their works and answer my questions, which fair warning I will probably be stammering my way through. (In the words of Homer Simpson, If I could just say a few words, Id be a better public speaker.) I couldnt be more excited about my first Festival of Books, and I hope to see a ton of Angeleno book fans there. I think its going to be, as the kids these days say, lit. (Get it? Because thats also short for literature? I promise not to make any dumb dad jokes like this one at my panel. I dont want to get fired.) California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has ordered three California hospitals to pay out millions of dollars to local nonprofits, declining their requests to be freed from charity obligations required under state law. The hospitals, based in the Central Valley and Los Angeles, argued that there isnt as much need to support charity care because millions more people have health insurance under the Affordable Care Act, and therefore dont need as much financial help to pay medical bills. Becerras refusal signals his agreement with health consumer advocates who argue that patients still are struggling to pay their bills, even when they have insurance. Although it applies to just a few hospitals, the decision sends a message to hospitals around the state, some of which want similar relief. The California Hospital Assn. sent a letter to Becerra in September, saying that 32 hospitals wanted more flexibility in their charity care obligations. Advertisement Two hospitals, Saint Agnes Medical Center in Fresno and PIH Health Hospital in Downey, had also requested to reduce their charity care obligation but withdrew their proposals before Becerra made a decision. We were thrilled by the attorney generals decisions, said Jen Flory, a policy advocate with the Western Center on Law & Poverty, which advocates for healthcare for low-income Californians. Flory said the letters show that Becerra understands there are still unmet needs for financial assistance for people who have high-deductible plans or cant afford their out-of-pocket costs, Flory said. Many of them may not be presenting in the emergency room, but that doesnt mean that theres not additional outreach that hospitals could do to help these patients afford their care. The three hospitals were issued denial letters by the attorney generals office on Friday. As a result, petitioner Mission Community Hospital in Los Angeles is required to pay about $1.7 million to at least one local nonprofit organization providing medical services for low-income and homeless residents, for failure to meet its charity care requirement in fiscal year 2016. Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock is to pay about $1.9 million for the poor to meet its 2016 requirement. And the University of Southern Californias Verdugo Hills Hospital must donate almost $1.7 million to local medical service providers to meet its 2017 requirement. A spokesperson for the USC hospital said the lump sum mandated by the attorney general is on top of what it is already spending on free care and services to the community, such as health seminars and screenings. Advertisement Under state law, Californias attorney general can set specific charity care requirements for hospitals when a nonprofit hospital merges or is acquired by another nonprofit or for-profit company. Separately, federal law requires nonprofit hospitals to provide an unspecified amount of free or discounted care or other charity, such as donations to community groups in exchange for tax breaks. Bartolone is a correspondent for Kaiser Health News, an editorially independent publication of the Kaiser Family Foundation. Lyft Inc. drivers will be permitted to revise a lawsuit alleging Uber Technologies Inc. spied on them using a software called Hell as part of a scheme to gain a competitive edge. A San Francisco federal magistrate judge dismissed most of the lawsuit Wednesday, but allowed the drivers to file an amended complaint, leaving the door open for them to pursue the case. The suit seeks to represent drivers nationwide who were targeted. The drivers alleged violations of privacy and wiretapping laws, as well as unfair competition. U.S. Magistrate Judge Jacqueline Scott Corley preserved a claim under Californias unfair competition law and said that the driver who filed the suit, Michael Gonzales, has sufficiently alleged that he lost revenue as a result of Ubers programs to decrease the supply of Lyft drivers. According to the lawsuit, the Hell spyware, used from about 2014 to 2016, enabled Uber employees or its contractors to pose as Lyft customers and access the locations of drivers through their unique Lyft IDs. The goal was to identify drivers who worked for both companies so they could be targeted with incentives to primarily work for Uber, according to the complaint. Advertisement Federal prosecutors in New York have also been looking into the spyware allegations. Lawyers for Uber didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on Wednesdays ruling. During the 15 months that it took to reinstall the collection of ancient art at the Getty Villa, roughly half the galleries remained open at any given time. Bits and pieces of the ongoing transformation could be glimpsed, but not the whole story the museum wanted to tell. Now that the, uh, herculean task of rethinking the presentation of Greek and Roman art is done, the museum emerges refreshed, renewed and looking at least as good as it ever has. But it also comes with one major surprise, plus one big disappointment. Unexpectedly, the Getty kouros, a controversial sculpture even before the museum acquired it more than 30 years ago, has been removed from public view. The work is now in museum storage. For decades, the life-size carving of a standing nude youth carried one of the most distinctive labels of any work of art in an American museum: Greece (?) about 530 B.C. or modern forgery. The label encapsulated puzzling issues about the work, whose questionable status as dating from the archaic dawn of Western civilization had been the focus of scholarly and scientific research, debate and international symposiums for years. It was oddly refreshing to see a museum frankly acknowledge the difficulty even the most knowledgeable among us can face around a work of art. Now, with nary a word of explanation from the Getty, the kouros is gone. According to the museums director, Timothy Potts, the kouros has not been downgraded to the status of a forgery or definitively determined to be a fake. The distinctive labeling, also appended to the sculpture on the museums collection website, still stands. Potts said only that the consensus of art historical study, once divided, now leans against its authenticity. Papers regarding its history of ownership have long been known to have been faked, so where it came from is unknown. But the sculpture has always been a puzzlement for its pastiche of myriad stylistic details, which bring together features recognized from different artistic centers at different times in a work unlike any other known to exist. To many trained eyes, the Getty kouros just doesnt look right. Scientific analysis, meanwhile, is now ambiguous. Science is what had kept hopes alive that the kouros might be genuine. The surface of the marble shows a type of weathering once thought possible only through the passage of centuries and impossible to fabricate artificially. But that determination has since been proved wrong. For much of the last year, Potts added, an antiquities conservator has been conducting further tests, but they arent yet complete. Coupled with the apparent consensus of historians of ancient Greek art, the scientific ambiguity seems to have tipped the scales against including the kouros in the reinstalled galleries. That might be a reasonable decision, but it leaves the public in the dark. Transparency is key. One easy option would be to simply include a didactic text in the appropriate gallery of other archaic Greek art explaining the status of one of the Villas most famous works, now conspicuously missing. Another, more elaborate possibility would be a small show in the Villas temporary exhibition gallery. The Getty could even have fun with it: In 2000, artist Martin Kersels made a marvelous series of photographs of himself clutching a full-scale replica of the kouros and leaping into the void with it a witty celebration of risk, passionate obsession and the madness of art. Martin Kersels' disarming photographs of himself doing pratfalls with a kouros mock-up were installed with the Getty's actual sculpture in a 2000 exhibition at the Brentwood museum. Genaro Molina / Los Angeles Times Theres certainly plenty of room for such a presentation. It could replace the Villas dreary inaugural exhibition, which is the disappointment of the debut. Plato in L.A.: Contemporary Artists Visions is one of those shows that end up doing the opposite of what was planned. It turns out that Plato, the classical Greek philosopher and founder of the Academy, is of next to no pressing concern for artists working today. Thats not to say some dont read him, as philosophically minded artists like Adrian Piper and Joseph Kosuth do. Its not that the concept of Platos allegory of the cave, with its shadowy mysteries of reality and representation, were not important to an artist such as Mike Kelley, whose marvelous 1985 cave drawing is here. And then there is Jeff Koons big, colorful pile of modeling compound, Play-Doh. Its at least a pretty good pun lampooning the Platonic contemplation of ideal form in todays art. Jeff Koons, "Play-doh," 1994-2014, polychromed aluminum Christopher Knight / Los Angeles Times Yet, Plato, as a foundational figure in Western thought, can be traced as ancestor to just about anything. The show feels flimsy and forced. The effect is further heightened by guest curator Donatien Graus decision to invite new works to be made specially for the show by six of the 11 artists. Thats one sure-fire way to guarantee that contemporary artists engage with and respond to Platos ideas. The handsome, well-considered reinstallation of the permanent collection, on the other hand, marks a significant turning point. Before, the collection was displayed according to thematic categories, such as the concept of heroism as an aspirational social good or the diverse roles women played in ancient life. Now, social history has been replaced by art history. In general, Greek art is on the first floor, Roman art on the second. Galleries unfold the historical evolution of classical art. Side trips are made to the Iberian Peninsula and modern-day Iran and Afghanistan, depending on whats available in the collection. Art from Neolithic and Bronze Age Greece is on the first floor of the Getty Villa. Getty Museum Roman sculpture is on the second floor of the Getty Villa. Getty Museum Rarely shown before now, 1st century frescoes from a Roman villa near Pompeii are newly prominent in their own gallery. Getty Museum Funerary sculpture from ancient Syria is on loan from a museum in Copenhagen. Getty Museum The Statue of a Victorious Youth the famous Getty bronze, one of the greatest classical sculptures in the United States is no longer in an isolation chamber. Now it is installed with other objects of its period, 300-100 BC, including a magnificent marble head of Alexander the Great. Both look smashing, the brilliance of one amplifying the other. One room is reserved for long-term loans currently, funerary portrait sculptures from Palmyra, the ancient caravan city that has been so tragically marred by the ongoing Syrian civil war. They will be on view for at least a year, borrowed from the Ny Carlsberg Glyptotek in Copenhagen. The highly individualized Palmyran portraits display naturalistic Greco-Roman elements merged with lavish Persian stylization, a testament to the cosmopolitan character of a wealthy oasis on a developing trade route. Artistic crosscurrents like that are also a focal point of Beyond the Nile: Egypt and the Classical World, a 2,000-year survey of Egypts interactions with the entire Mediterranean region, organized by Getty director Potts and antiquities curator Jeffrey Spier and on view at the main museum in Brentwood. (If you have a hankering to see an authentic 6th century BC kouros, the sumptuous show includes one from Athens National Archaeological Museum.) Plainly the exhibition has been timed to magnify the unveiling of the re-conceived Villa: Where else in the Western U.S. is the depth and breadth of ancient art on such abundant display? The fashion in museum permanent collection displays in recent decades has been to put social history ahead of art history. Two goals seemed paramount. One was an apparent belief that art is simply too arcane a matter for general audiences whom museums crave while the lived experience of social history might make art more relatable. Everyone can understand religious yearning or relationships between mothers and daughters, right? The other function was to disguise weaknesses in a collection say, late-Roman art, poorly represented at the Getty. A thematic focus on gods or daily life could hide it. The Getty Villa does a U-turn on that and Im glad to see it. Ancient art is the centerpiece. The antiquities collection is what it is, and often its marvelous. The savvy reinstallation represents a step forward in the museums confidence. Getty Villa Where: 17985 Pacific Coast Highway, Pacific Palisades When: Closed Tuesdays christopher.knight@latimes.com @KnightLAT MORE REVIEWS: Teotihuacan: An ancient Mexican city's remarkable art comes to life How good is the King Tut exhibition? Olafur Eliassons L.A. 'Reality projector' A rich, immersive contemplation of the emotional battery life of revolutions, Brazilian filmmaker Joao Moreira Salles remarkable, deeply felt essay film In the Intense Now examines 1968s turbulence in four countries through the prism of what its amateur documentarians filmed. Spurred by curiously ecstatic travel footage his aesthetic-driven mother shot in 1966 of a Mao-saturated China she found vital and beautiful rather than politically antagonistic, Salles examines archival footage of the student protests in France, the Soviet invasion following Czechoslovakias Prague Spring, and his own childhood split between France and an increasingly militarized Brazil. (Salles brother is filmmaker Walter Salles.) His interest is twofold: what filmmakers chose to record and what the images show, sometimes unwittingly. Psychologically, Salles, who narrates in the hushed tones of a mournful detective, finds something inexorably meaningful and powerfully human in the spark and ecstatic burn of revolutionary fervor the dispossessed heard, the powerful knocked back even as countermeasures ensure the reactive pullback toward ordinary, unheroic existence. The combination of archival bounty with Salles touching analysis has a hypnotic effect, serving up the past plus reflection, garnished with a resonant melancholy about the ebb and flow of uprisings. Through it all, Salles shows abiding respect for these forgotten and anonymous chroniclers of the momentous, whether captured in ecstasy, obliviousness, fear or wounded resignation. It brought to mind Stephen Sondheims exquisite lyrics from Someone In a Tree about witnessing history: Im a fragment of the day/If I werent whos to say/Things would happen here the way/That they happened here? Advertisement ------------- In the Intense Now In Portuguese, French and Czech with English subtitles Not rated Running time: 2 hours, 7 minutes Playing: Laemmle Music Hall, Beverly Hills See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Sky Bergmans documentary Lives Well Lived offering positive snapshots of a variety of functioning, happy seniors is less a film than an upbeat birthday video, which isnt surprising given the project was inspired by Bergmans perky, ever-smiling, Italian Bronx grandmother Evelyn turning 100, and showing no signs of slowing down. The subtitle is Celebrating the Secrets, Wit and Wisdom of Age, which again suggests less a movie than, in this case, a positivity tract for anyone who needs their dismissive attitude about the elderly reconfigured. The interstitial talking-head responses to generically posed questions produce unsurprising tips for longevity stay curious, have passions, goals and friends, be yourself, take chances (or, conversely, ease up a bit) which leaves the individual stories, augmented by photos and music cues, to get the most traction emotionally. There are compelling hardship tales (a Japanese American nonagenarians World War II internment saga, a married couple who met in San Francisco and learned they were both saved by Britains Kindertransport rescue program as children). There are also plenty of gently affirming instances of new skills learned, evergreen joys continued and dreams still nurtured. Lives Well Lived isnt exactly artful moviemaking, but its a heartfelt reminder that for many, age is just a number. ------------- Advertisement Lives Well Lived Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 12 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Laemmle Town Center 5, Encino; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com I Feel Pretty is how to put this? better than it looks. A mildly raunchy yukfest by way of an aspirational fairy tale, the movie stars Amy Schumer as Renee, an ordinary New Yorker who dreams of being a knockout or, barring that, of being able to squeeze into shoes smaller than a double-wide 9 1/2. Renees dreams come true (sort of) when she suffers a bump on the noggin and, studying herself in the mirror, sees the gorgeous face and slim, toned body shes always wanted a development that works wonders for her self-esteem, and subsequently her career and love life. Based on that summary, you might be tempted to dismiss I Feel Pretty sight unseen, and not merely because the past work of writer-directors Abby Kohn and Marc Silverstein (who together wrote the screenplays for How to Be Single and Hes Just Not That Into You) doesnt inspire confidence. In 2018, the logic goes, do we really need a movie about a woman so warped by societys impossible standards that she has to endure a belabored epiphany about the importance of inner beauty? And even if so, should that woman be played by Amy Schumer, who, for all the mockery that has been directed at her weight and appearance some but hardly all of it self-inflicted is no sane persons idea of forgettable or average-looking? If the idea was to feature a woman marginalized by her appearance, wouldnt a bolder, more progressive version of this story have cast a relative unknown, perhaps even a woman of color, someone without Schumers distracting white-feminist baggage and celebrity profile? All valid questions, even if answering some of them would force us to consider a different picture altogether, rather than the goofy, uneven and surprisingly thoughtful one in front of us. Not unlike the recent Blockers, which poked fun at the spectacle of hysterical parents trying to safeguard their teenage daughters chastity, I Feel Pretty will almost certainly be dismissed by those who assume it embodies, rather than examines, a sexist, reductive worldview. Advertisement And to be sure, there are moments when you cant be entirely sure if its doing one, the other or both, which strikes me as indicative of not the movies awfulness, but its integrity. With a conviction that can seem by turns foolish and inspired, I Feel Pretty hurls itself into its initially strained, increasingly wacky premise. Its a sweet, klutzy charmer, with moments of wit, insight and, yes, beauty, some of which it seems to stumble upon by accident. The lessons Renee must learn are fairly obvious, and at nearly two leisurely paced hours, the whole thing could do with (ahem) a nip and a tuck. But its a sweet, klutzy charmer, with moments of wit, insight and, yes, beauty, some of which it seems to stumble upon by accident. Theres nothing accidental of course about the casting of Schumer. Her more controversial sketches may have inspired much abuse of the word problematic, but she turns out to be less this movies problem than its solution. I would gladly watch a version of I Feel Pretty with a less privileged celebrity in the lead, but I cant deny the sweet-and-salty verve that Schumer brings to this one. She plays Renee as an ugly duckling whos gotten awfully good, maybe too good, at letting the water roll off her back. There is nothing inherently funny or affecting about a scene in which, say, Renee finds herself publicly embarrassed by a Soul Cycle employee (Saturday Night Live veteran Sasheer Zamata), or stands idly by while a man chats up the model (Emily Ratajkowski) next to her. But Schumer registers these microaggressions, and occasional macroaggressions, with just the right mix of indignation, envy and thick-skinned restraint. She gets you to laugh, but in between those laughs her characters woundedness leaves a sharp little sting. At first glance, Renee might suggest one of Schumers regulation girls gone wild, a screwball screw-up who blots out her disappointments with men and booze. But while Renee has no problem partaking of both, her main problem turns out to be her stunted belief that being supermodel-gorgeous is the key to personal happiness. If she were undeniably pretty, as she puts it, maybe she wouldnt be stuck trying out a group-dating service with her girlfriends (Busy Philipps and Aidy Bryant), or languishing with an unhappy colleague (Adrian Martinez) in the online division of Lily LeClaire, the high-end cosmetics giant where she works. But after Renee falls off her Soul Cycle bike and sustains a fateful blow to the head, beauty is suddenly very much in the eye of the beholder. Crucially, because Renees magical makeover takes place entirely inside her head, we never see what her new-and-ostensibly-improved self looks like. (Think of it as the opposite of the Shallow Hal effect.) That makes for a few amusing deadpan sequences as Renee exults in a newfound hotness that only she can see, whether shes chatting up a sensitive guy, Ethan (Rory Scovel), whom she mistakenly assumes is hitting on her, or breezing her way through a job interview with her future boss, Avery LeClaire (Michelle Williams, hijacking the movie brilliantly). Rory Scovel and Amy Schumer in the comedy I Feel Pretty. (Mark Schafer / STXfilms ) Advertisement I Feel Pretty doesnt try to escape formula. The script acknowledges its roots in the comic subgenre of bodily transformation (at one point, Renee watches Big), and its executive-suite drama plays like a thinner, blander version of Working Girl, The Devil Wears Prada and other satires of Manhattan upward mobility. The laughs dont fly as fast or thick as they did in the superior Trainwreck, which Schumer wrote, but theyre also more plentiful and less assaultive than they were in her hapless 2017 vehicle, Snatched. Even when a gag doesnt work, it simply slips gently to the side rather than stopping the movie in its tracks. But Renees brazen displays of confidence are consistently funny and emotionally revealing, especially when she leaps into a dive-bar bikini contest for the ages, turning the whole sorry, demeaning spectacle on its head. The movies conceit might have quickly turned tiresome or mean-spirited, encouraging us to laugh at a woman obliviously making a fool of herself except that she isnt doing that at all. Leaving Renees transformation to the imagination was a small masterstroke: Our willingness to suspend disbelief rests entirely on Schumers shoulders, and she carries it with aplomb. Its a pleasure to see her come to life as Renee, turning misunderstandings into happy accidents and, just when we think we may be overestimating her, surprising us with how wrong we are. Advertisement Theres something curiously intuitive at work here, and also something sneakily profound. On the simplest level, Schumers performance asks: What if the source of your deepest self-doubts was suddenly gone, but you were the only one who knew it? What if you were so oblivious to the perceptions of those around you that it really and truly didnt matter what everyone else thought? Its a question borne out by the movies generosity toward nearly all its characters, especially Ethan, who shyly punctures Renees assumptions that men are single-minded horndogs, and Avery, whom Williams, playing terrifically against type, gives the kind of vocal inflections that suggest an anemic Betty Boop. She makes this haughty peripheral figure a sweetly touching reminder that our worst insecurities are always more than skin-deep. ------------ I Feel Pretty Advertisement Rated: PG-13, for sexual content, some partial nudity and language Running time: 1 hour, 50 minutes Playing: In general release See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Advertisement Movie Trailers justin.chang@latimes.com @JustinCChang Writer-director Courtney Moorehead Balaker taps a pair of powerful actresses to face off in her film Little Pink House, which depicts a real-life battle surrounding eminent domain laws. Catherine Keener stars as Susette Kelo, a paramedic who returns to her Connecticut hometown of New London, renovates her little pink house, and finds love with the local handyman and junk dealer. But soon, shes fighting to keep her home from being seized by the government. Her foe is Charlotte Ward (Jeanne Tripplehorn), a college president tapped by the governor to woo Pfizer in order to revitalize struggling New London, and shine up the governors resume. Little Pink House has the potential to be an Erin Brockovich for Keener, a wonderfully grounded performer. However, shes unmoored in this film, which cant decide if its a small-town indie romance, a political corruption thriller or a courtroom drama. It meanders wildly before stuffing all of the meaty parts, including the Supreme Court case, into the last 15 minutes of the film. Its confusing and inconsistent, and no amount of Keener can truly anchor it. Advertisement The case of Kelo v. New London is an important one, and the film doesnt end the way you might expect. Little Pink House shines a light on this issue but isnt entirely successful in its execution. ------------- Little Pink House Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 38 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica; Laemmle Playhouse 7, Pasadena; Edwards Westpark 8, Irvine See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers calendar@latimes.com Ones attention tends to wander while taking in Wanderland, a music-laced trifle concerning an uptight New Yorkers surreal adventures in the hippie-dippy Hamptons that treads a shaky line between quirky and laborious. A stressed-out, straight-laced millennial, Alex (likable Tate Ellington), is looking forward to a change of scenery after he responds to an email request for a sitter for a womans rural Long Island home. However, he quickly discovers that his definition of R&R at Enchanted Forest is going to be challenged by a succession of eccentrics he encounters over the course of a wacky evening, a number of whom manage to break into song, accompanying themselves on various stringed instruments. Although the prospect of watching a mash-up of La La Land and Martin Scorseses After Hours holds promise, director-writer Josh Klausner, in a departure from his screenplays for Shrek Forever After and Date Night, opts instead for offbeat spiritual enlightenment, but is unable to sustain a delicate tone that becomes increasingly twee as it goes along. Advertisement After a while, the parade of oddball characters played by the likes of Austin Pendleton, Harris Yulin and Tara Summers, grows tiresome. Not helping matters are the bland songs (most cowritten by Klausner), none of which will be mistaken for City of Stars. The notable exception is Atarah Valentines lovely acoustic rendition of the Modern English hit, I Melt With You, performed during an inspirational seaside sunrise. ------------- Wanderland Not rated Running time: 1 hour, 30 minutes Playing: Laemmle Monica Film Center, Santa Monica See the most-read stories in Entertainment this hour Movie Trailers Advertisement calendar@latimes.com If a sampling of some classical music aesthetes on social media is to be believed, April 16 marked the day the music died. A rapper a rapper! named Kendrick Lamar was placed on a pedestal as the recipient of the Pulitzer Prize in music, joining geniuses of American composition including Aaron Copland, George Crumb, Elliott Carter and dozens of other classically trained artists. Lamar, 30, did so without studying in a conservatory, mastering an acoustic instrument other than his vocal cords -- or composing a single opera. As if pop doesnt have enough awards already, groused one Facebook commenter in a post-announcement conversation started by Pulitzer Prize-winning music critic, USC professor and former Pulitzer juror Tim Page. Another detractor replied that, despite first thinking that the news was written for parody site the Onion, he decided to give Lamars Damn a chance. His verdict: Its incoherent, nasal yakking over a migraine inducing throb. The Pulitzer has lost all meaning. Advertisement Yet social media are ground zero for griping, and plenty more, however, applauded the decision by Pulitzer jurors to acknowledge what is the dominant musical art form today in America. In 2017, the combined genres of R&B and hip-hop proved to be the most consumed music in the U.S. for the first time in history, according to Nielsen Music. Ultimately, this years prize for music has sparked a vibrant conversation about aesthetics, class, the division between so-called high and low art and whether giving one of the most esteemed prizes in American music to one of its most popular musicians represents a long-overdue corrective or an insult to non-commercial, so-called serious music. I wouldnt describe it as a shift, said Dana Canedy, the new administrator of the Pulitzer Prizes, when asked how she thinks this will affect the music prize going forward. I think that is a big moment for both hip-hop and for the Pulitzer Prizes, one that were very proud of. She added: Obviously this is not a genre weve seen celebrated before, so that in that sense its historical, and were glad to have made that happen. Canedy hopes that the move sheds a whole different light on hip-hop. For his part, Page, former classical music critic for the New York Times and the Washington Post who is now a professor at USCs Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism, sparked his online conversation when he wryly noted that there was outrage over Lamars achievement among some friends. Maybe Im just getting old, but I dont believe that any single prize will bring on the Decline of the West or that the choice of a genre necessarily limits the brilliance that a composer can bring to it, he wrote in a post, which he has given The Times permission to publish. The responses included enthusiasm, skepticism and hostility. One even suggested that Lamar likely didnt care about the win. Nonsense, replied others. (Lamar, as of press time, has yet to give a statement or an interview about the Pulitzer.) Writer and 2018 Pulitzer music juror David Hajdu was with his four fellow jurors as they discussed whether Lamars album should be given the prize. He said that he was encouraged by the jurys decision to honor Damn. Advertisement Noting that the award is not a prize for the best classical music or the best jazz -- its a prize for the best music, Hajdu said that genre or style isnt considered as part of the process. Its a prize for achievement in music, and there is high-level achievements in music across forms and across styles. Added Hajdu: To the degree that this is a corrective, I think its a positive one. The Pulitzer Prize in music has long struggled to define what work it considers worthy of consideration. It first awarded a non-classical artist in 1997 when jazz trumpeter and composer Wynton Marsalis won for his work Blood on the Fields. A decade later jazz composer Ornette Coleman won, as did avant-garde jazz composer Henry Threadgill in 2016. But popular music has mostly been ignored, aside from the Pulitzers retroactively recognizing what Hajdu described as disreputable forms and popular forms including Hank Williams and Bob Dylan. Advertisement The Pulitzers have certainly experienced growing pains over the decades. Most famously, in 1965, the Pulitzer advisory board nixed the recommendation of a jury that had pushed for Duke Ellington to be given a special citation for the vitality and originality of his total production. According to a Times article at the time, Ellington responded to the slight in his usual aristocratic fashion offering the comment, Fate is being kind to me. Fate doesnt want me to be famous too young. He was 66 at the time and died in 1974. Hajdu said he hopes Lamars honor marks a turn. To the degree that this might open the door to consider the quality of contemporary country music, or for that matter contemporary rock or contemporary pop, I think thats great. It is not a lifetime achievement award and its not an award for body of work, he added. Its an award for high achievement in new works. Advertisement One Lamar defender in Pages conversation was the writer and physician Jeremy Faust, who serves as the board president for vocal group Roomful of Teeth. Composer Caroline Shaws Pulitzer-winning piece, Partita for 8 Voices, was written for the group. Nothing here has changed, Faust keenly observed of Lamars Pulitzer. Using classical composition jargon, he noted: Its just that when Kendrick sprechstimmes in small pitch class cells, over minimalism background, people call that rap. For tips, records, snapshots and stories on Los Angeles music culture, follow Randall Roberts on Twitter and Instagram: @liledit. Email: randall.roberts@latimes.com. UPDATES: Advertisement 11:30 a.m. This article was updated to clarify that the Pulitzer-winning composer Caroline Shaw wrote her composition Partita for 8 Voices for vocal group Roomful of Teeth, which also premiered it. This article was originally published at 4:20 p.m. on April 18. Survivors of the mass shooting in Parkland, Fla., will be featured in a new documentary, For Our Lives: Parkland, airing April 30, Freeform and ABC News Nightline announced Thursday. The Feb. 14 massacre at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School resulted in 17 deaths and spurred a youth-led movement for gun regulation in the U.S. The suspect, 19-year-old Nikolas Cruz, is in custody and has been charged with 17 counts of premeditated murder. The documentary will follow surviving students, including a key member of the #NeverAgain movement, David Hogg. The program will feature footage by ABC News of the high school students attending meetings with state lawmakers, returning to class and participating in the March for Our Lives protest. Elaine Welteroth, former Teen Vogue editor in chief, will host the one-hour special. The program will also feature explainers by media company ATTN: about gun legislation, policy and activism. Advertisement The project is the first partnership between ABC News and Freeform, a Disney-owned cable and streaming network that targets young-adult audiences. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra Mary Beth Lacey, meet Murphy Brown. Tyne Daly, who played Lacey in CBS groundbreaking Cagney and Lacey, about two female police detectives, is joining the cast of the planned reboot of Murphy Brown. CBS announced that Daly will play the role of Phyllis, the sister of the deceased bar owner Phil from the original series. As the new bar owner, Phyllis will be a friend and confidant to Murphy Brown (Candice Bergen) and her colleagues. The network has ordered 13 episodes of the series as it approaches its 30th anniversary. The 80s sitcom focused on Brown, a news anchor and investigative journalist for FYI, a television newsmagazine, and her colleagues. The original series had a 10-year run and received 18 Emmys. Advertisement In the revival, Brown will grapple with the news industry in the current universe of cable news, social media and fake news. Bergen will be joined by original cast members Faith Ford, Joe Regalbuto and Grant Shaud. New cast members include Jake McDorman and Nik Dodani. Murphy Brown joins Roseanne, which returned to ABC in March with high ratings, and Will & Grace, which returned to NBC in 2017. Both have been renewed for second seasons. alejandra.reyesvelarde@latimes.com Twitter: @r_valejandra Introduced in the early 2000s, the Proenza Schouler label has gone on to win awards and critical acclaim for its fashion and accessories collections, which are sold at retailers including Barneys New York, Neiman Marcus, Saks Fifth Avenue and Net-a-Porter. The New York-based brand also has dressed its share of celebrities, among them Charlize Theron and Selena Gomez as well as the actress and soon-to-be royal Meghan Markle. However, there was one thing that eluded Jack McCollough and Lazaro Hernandez, the couple behind the Proenza Schouler label, and that was having a fragrance deal. Its every designers dream to launch a fragrance, said Hernandez, sitting in a Beverly Hills living room filled with priceless art on a rainy afternoon last month during a luncheon celebrating the launch of the new fragrance. (The luncheon was co-hosted by Vanity Fair, and guests included Emma Roberts, Karolina Kurkova and Nina Dobrev.) And we were told that if we were ever going to do it, it should be with LOreal. But we had to wait for them to call us. A couple of years ago that call finally came. Arizona is the first fragrance from New York-based brand Proenza Schouler, which is celebrating its 15th anniversary. Proenza Schouler Fast forward to the March launch of Arizona, a fragrance contained in a hefty crystal bottle the color of a pallid-pink sunset. The designers settled on the look, feel and scent of the product, which is available in two sizes for $100 and $130 at Saks and on the labels website, while road-tripping from Los Angeles to Marfa, Texas, on a mission to study land art. After every show, we go on vacation for inspiration and to disconnect and detox, McCollough said. During that trip through the great Southwest, we lost reception. There was no internet. It felt like such a blissful and romantic experience like we were off the grid and disconnected from the world. The concept of the perfume stemmed from that. The name of the fragrance, he said, is about that state of mind, of getting back in touch with some core important things. It has been a watershed year for the brand. In commemoration of its 15th anniversary, Proenza Schouler also launched its Re Edition Collection of 15 reissued runway pieces based on the labels signature designs over the past years. Pieces available in the collection include high-waisted black culottes for $895 and a cobalt blue and black animal print long-sleeve tee at $325. The luxury and exclusivity that imbues the Proenza Schouler name must-have dresses are in the $3,000 range informs the notes in Arizona; the fragrance is accompanied by shower oil, dry hair and body oil and body lotion. The designers are said to be the first to use Trichocereus (called the torch cactus) as the base of the fragrance. Turns out the cactus blooms briefly just one night a year. Other notes come from orris root blended with patchouli; its inherent headiness is tempered by the freshness of jasmine. The designers said they approached the creation of the fragrance, which is made in France, as they do their collections. So much of what we do is about innovation, craft, nature, Hernandez said. We wanted to bring that experience to the fragrance. Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. image@latimes.com For fashion news, follow us at @latimesimage on Twitter. Barbara Demick is a former foreign correspondent for the Los Angeles Times who previously headed bureaus in Beijing and Seoul, as well as New York. She is the author of Nothing to Envy: Ordinary Lives in North Korea and Logavina Street: Life and Death in a Sarajevo Neighborhood. Demick has won Britains Samuel Johnson Award for best nonfiction; the George Polk Award; the Robert F. Kennedy Award; the Osborn Elliott Prize for Journalism from the Asia Society; the Overseas Press Clubs Joe and Laurie Dine Award for human rights reporting; the American Academy of Diplomacys Arthur Ross Award; and Stanford Universitys Shorenstein Award for best Asia reporting. She has been a finalist for the Pulitzer Prize and the National Book Award. She was a fellow at the Council on Foreign Relations. USC names retired aerospace executive Wanda Austin as acting president, announces Nikias departure By Harriet Ryan USC appointed a retired aerospace executive as interim president and laid out a detailed plan for selecting a permanent leader Tuesday, ending speculation about whether outgoing President C.L. Max Nikias might remain in the post. Nikias, embattled over his administrations handling of a campus gynecologist accused of sexually abusing patients, relinquished his duties after a meeting of USCs board. The trustees tapped one of their own, Wanda Austin, an alumna and former president of the Aerospace Corp., to temporarily run the university. The trustees also approved the formation of a search committee and the hiring of firm Isaacson, Miller to coordinate the selection of a successor. A second search company, Heidrick & Struggles, will also advise trustees. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ex-student sues elite Brentwood School after teacher is charged with sexually abusing him By Richard Winton A former student sued the elite Brentwood School on Monday in the wake of a female teacher being charged with repeatedly having sex with the minor, alleging that other faculty members encouraged the unlawful behavior and failed to report it to authorities. The lawsuit accuses the private school, whose students include the children of many of Hollywoods elite and L.A.s powerful, of acting negligently and allowing Aimee Palmitessa to abuse and batter the teenager sexually. The suit alleges that the student was abused in summer 2017 after one of the schools counselors offered words of encouragement to the then-17-year-old, identified in the suit as only John Doe, to engage in an illegal relationship with the teacher. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Civil jury vindicates fired Montebello school executives in whistleblower case By Howard Blume The Montebello school district is in dire straits at risk of insolvency and under apparent criminal investigation. An outside audit in July found some teachers earning more than $200,000 a year, as well as improper raises, excess paid vacation time and inappropriate overtime, sick leave and car allowances. Fixing the district and pinpointing blame could take time. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. schools fall short on safety measures, new report warns By Howard Blume After the mass shooting at Floridas Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February, Los Angeles school officials reassured parents that much had been done to keep local schools safe. California had tougher gun laws, after all, and the school district paid close attention to students mental health. But a new report issued Monday by a panel convened to take a close look offers some cause for concern, flagging inconsistent campus safety measures, thinly spread mental health staff and inadequate coordination between the school district and other public agencies. With the stakes this high, we must strive to do better, said L.A. City Atty. Mike Feuer, who assembled the panel. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. school district says more are graduating, but rate may not show it By Howard Blume The L.A. Unified School District has hopes of continuing its winning streak this year with another record graduation rate, but the official numbers may not show it. A senior district administrator warned the board Tuesday that graduation rates were likely to decline 2% to 3% across the state, even though L.A. Unified is likely doing better than ever in producing graduates, he said. The issue is that the state will now count high school students who transfer to adult school as dropouts, said Oscar Lafarga, who heads the districts office of data and accountability. Previously, schools treated these students as though they had simply enrolled in another high school, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Betsy DeVos to California: Not so fast on that federal education plan By Joy Resmovits Education Secretary Betsy DeVos (Erik Lesser / European Pressphoto Agency) In April, Californias top education officials breathed a sigh of relief. After months of debate and back-and-forth with Betsy DeVos staff, they had finalized a plan to satisfy a major education law that aims to make sure all students get a decent education. The state focused on aligning its plan to fulfill the requirements of the federal Every Student Succeeds Act with Californias Local Control Funding Formula, which gives extra money to districts to help students who come from low-income families, are in the foster system or are English learners. But this week, DeVos team said not so fast. Jason Botel, the U.S. Department of Educations principal deputy assistant secretary, sent California education officials a letter asking for more information in such areas as measuring student progress, graduation rates and English learners. In an unsigned statement, the California Department of Education declared itself surprised and disappointed because officials thought after a meeting with federal officials in Washington that they were on the right track to get approval. Now the Every Student Succeeds Act plan will be up for discussion once again at the July meeting of the State Board of Education. The U.S. Department of Education has already approved most state plans. Every Student Succeeds is the Obama administrations 2015 replacement for the No Child Left Behind Act. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board sets a new goal: prepare every grad to be eligible to apply for Cal State or UC By Sonali Kohli Last month, Los Angeles school board president proposed a spate of highly ambitious mandates aimed at ensuring that every district graduate be eligible to apply to one of the states public four-year universities by 2023. By the time the L.A. Unified school board unanimously approved the resolution Tuesday, the original language had been watered down. The goal is no longer that in five years 100% of students meet the long list of benchmarks, which include not just college eligibility for graduates but first-grade reading proficiency and English fluency by sixth grade for all students who enter the district in kindergarten or first grade speaking another language. The original college-readiness goal, for example, called for 100% of all high school students to be eligible to apply to one of the states four-year universities. Now the goal seems to offer more wiggle room: Prepare all high school graduates to be eligible to apply to a California four-year university. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement We have been hurt. More women say they were mistreated by USC gynecologist By Richard Winton USC student Anika Narayanan says she vividly recalls her first appointment with Dr. George Tyndall at the campus health center, alleging that he made several explicit comments during an examination she felt was inappropriate and invasive. When she came back for a second visit in 2016 after a nonconsensual sexual encounter, he allegedly chastised her, she said in a civil lawsuit and at a press conference Tuesday. He asked me if I had forgotten to use a condom again, said Narayanan, 21. At one point, she said, Tyndall asked if I did a lot of doggy style, she said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. Unified gives inspector general brief contract extension By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school board on Tuesday extended the contract of Ken Bramlett, its inspector general, by three months, though his job is far from secure and questions remain about the future direction of his watchdog office. Board members also unanimously promoted Vivian Ekchian, who had been the runner-up for the superintendents job, to deputy superintendent the districts No. 2 position. Both moves had elements of peacemaking between different factions on the board. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USCs handling of complaints about campus gynecologist is being investigated by federal government By Harriet Ryan The U.S. Department of Education announced Monday that it has launched an investigation into how the University of Southern California handled misconduct complaints against a campus gynecologist, the latest fallout in a scandal that has prompted the resignation of USCs president, two law enforcement investigations and dozens of lawsuits. In revealing the inquiry by the departments Office of Civil Rights, officials rebuked USC for what they alleged was improper withholding of information about Dr. George Tyndall during a previous federal investigation. Secretary of Education Betsy DeVos, who has been criticized for taking a less vigorous approach to examining sexual misconduct than predecessors, called for a systemic examination of USC and urged administrators to fully cooperate. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Judge to sentence woman and her boyfriend for the murder of an 8-year-old that led to L.A. child welfare reforms By Marisa Gerber A woman and her boyfriend are expected to be sentenced Thursday for the torture and murder of an 8-year-old boy whose killing in 2013 provoked public outrage, prompted sweeping reform of Los Angeles Countys child welfare system, and led to unprecedented criminal charges against social workers who handled the childs case. Pearl Sinthia Fernandez, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole for her role in the death of her son, Gabriel. A jury decided last year that her boyfriend, Isauro Aguirre, 37, should be executed. When paramedics arrived at the boys Palmdale home in May 2013, Gabriel had slipped out of consciousness. He had a fractured skull, broken ribs, burned skin, missing teeth and BB pellets embedded in his groin. A paramedic would later testify that every inch of the boys small body had been abused. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. Unifieds spending out of step with similar school systems, task force says By Howard Blume The Los Angeles school district is out of step with similar school systems, spending more on teachers pay and health benefits and less on activities that could enhance student learning, according to a new report by an outside task force. The L.A. Unified School District Advisory Task Force did not make specific recommendations, but instead posed a series of questions it said the district needs to answer to make sure its funding is aimed at providing a full opportunity for all students to succeed. What were trying to say is: Lets put the data on the table. Lets look at the truth. Lets be transparent and here are the numbers, said task force member Renata Simril. This is not to say that we should cut teachers salaries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Top USC medical school official feared dean was doing drugs and alerted administration, he testifies By Paul Pringle A former vice dean of USCs Keck School of Medicine testified Tuesday that he feared the schools then-dean, Dr. Carmen A. Puliafito, could be doing drugs and expressed concerns about his general well-being to the universitys No. 2 administrator before Puliafito abruptly left his job in 2016. Dr. Henri Fords testimony at a hearing of the state Medical Board marks the first suggestion that any USC administrator had suspicions about Puliafitos possible drug use before he stepped down. A Times investigation in 2017 found Puliafito led a secret second life of using illegal drugs with a circle of young criminals and addicts. Puliafito testified about his behavior at the hearing Tuesday, saying he took drugs with one young woman on a weekly basis. Ford said that he decided to alert USC Provost Michael Quick after receiving reports in early 2016 that Puliafito was partying in hotels with people of questionable reputation, and that he came to worry about his mental stability. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Why L.A. Unified may face financial crisis even with a giant surplus this year By Jessica Calefati With more than half a billion dollars socked away for next school year, the Los Angeles Unified School District hardly seems just two years from financial ruin. Its a scenario that is especially tough to swallow if youre a low-wage worker seeking a raise or a teacher who wants smaller classes. But budget documents show that todays $548-million surplus cannot be sustained and that even basic services face steep, seemingly unavoidable cuts because of massive problems barreling the districts way. Theres a disconnect between the rosy short-term picture and what we know is coming, said board member Kelly Gonez. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print We have failed: Top USC officials try to reassure students amid gynecologist scandal By Joy Resmovits Top administrators at USC are reaching out to students in the wake of misconduct allegations against the universitys longtime gynecologist, acknowledging failings and vowing reforms as they try to address growing outrage over the revelations. Several USC deans have sent out messages trying to reassure students and faculty that the university is committed to changing. We have failed, wrote Jack H. Knott, dean of USCs Sol Price School of Public Policy, in a May 24 letter. What happened is antithetical to everything we know is right. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Rick Caruso is named chair of USCs trustees, vows swift investigation of gynecologist scandal By Thomas Curwen The University of Southern Californias board of trustees has elected mall magnate Rick Caruso to be the new chair of the board, giving fresh leadership as the university navigates a widening scandal involving a longtime campus gynecologist. The move marks the latest effort by USC to address the case, which has sparked a criminal investigation by the Los Angeles Police Department and dozens of civil lawsuits. More than 400 people have contacted a hotline that the university established for patients to make reports about their experience with Dr. George Tyndall. In his first act as chairman, Caruso announced that the white-shoe L.A. law firm OMelveny & Myers would conduct a thorough and independent investigation into the gynecologists conduct and reporting failures at the clinic. He set an ambitious timeline for the review, pledging it would conclude before students return for the fall semester. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC Berkeley students persistence helps win more liberal rules for in-state tuition By Teresa Watanabe Ifechukwu Okeke thought shed be a shoo-in for in-state tuition when she was admitted to UC Berkeley for fall 2016. She had moved to the United States from Nigeria in 2012 to go to Chaffey College in Rancho Cucamonga. By the time she got her acceptance to transfer to UC to study molecular and cell biology, she had lived in California four years. She had a California drivers license, bank account and rental records as proof. UC Berkeley, however, ruled she was a nonresident which meant she would have to pay nearly $27,000 more. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement State medical board calls former County-USC doctor a sexual predator, suspends his license By Matt Hamilton A UCLA cardiologist has been temporarily stripped of his medical license after state regulators described him as a sexual predator who assaulted three female colleagues when he was working and training at L.A. County-USC Medical Center. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Global California 2030' aims to get more students learning more languages By Joy Resmovits Tom Torlakson (Andrew Seng / Associated Press) Outgoing state Supt. of Public Instruction Tom Torlakson on Wednesday announced a new statewide effort to encourage students to learn more languages. Called Global California 2030, its goal is to help more students become fluent in multiple tongues. Torlakson said that by 2030, he wants half of the states 6.2 million K-12 students to participate in classes or programs that lead to proficiency in two or more languages. By 2040, he wants three out of four students to be proficient enough to earn the State Seal of Biliteracy. Torlakson announced the initiative at Cahuenga Elementary School, which offers a dual-language immersion program in English and Korean. Californias public school students speak more than 60 languages at home, and 40% come to school with knowledge of a language other than English. Torlakson called his plan a call to action that invites parents, legislators, educators and community members to pool resources to expand language offerings in schools and get more bilingual teachers trained. He said the state already is working with Mexico and Spain to expand a teacher-exchange program. Fluency, the plan argues, can help students succeed economically and language acquisition can help their overall critical thinking. The initiative builds on Proposition 58, a ballot initiative passed in 2016 that undid an earlier requirement that English learners be taught in English-immersion classes unless their parents signed waivers. Torlakson recently visited Mexico and met with that countrys education secretary. They later signed a pact to increase collaboration, particularly in language education. This [Global California 2030] is great follow-through on Toms part and very important, Patricia Gandara, a UCLA education professor who hosted the Mexico meeting, said in an email. It hands over a plan to move forward in an area in which California has a unique advantage, but must seize the opportunity. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Jury convicts man of murder in 2015 slaying of UCLA student found inside her burning apartment By Marisa Gerber A jury on Tuesday convicted a man in the 2015 slaying of a UCLA student found dead inside her burning apartment a gruesome stabbing case that led to a fierce rebuke of the police response amid concerns that the killing could have been prevented. The panel deliberated for about six hours before finding Alberto Medina, 24, guilty of murder, arson, burglary and animal cruelty. On Sept. 21, 2015, firefighters found the charred body of Andrea DelVesco inside her apartment after responding to the complex a block from campus. The 21-year-old student an Austin, Texas, native known to her sorority sisters as a fearless giver who befriended others with ease was stabbed at least 19 times, authorities said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print LAPD begins sweeping criminal probe of former USC gynecologist while urging patients to come forward By Adam Elmahrek The Los Angeles Police Department said Tuesday it is investigating 52 complaints of misconduct filed by former patients of USCs longtime campus gynecologist as detectives launch a sweeping criminal probe into the scandal that has rocked the university. LAPD detectives also made an appeal for other patients who feel mistreated to come forward, noting that thousands of students were examined by Dr. George Tyndall during his nearly 30-year career at USC. More than 410 people have contacted a university hotline about the physician since The Times revealed the allegations this month. Tyndalls behavior and practices appear to go beyond the norms of the medical profession and gynecological examinations, said Asst. Chief Beatrice Girmala. We sincerely realize that victims may have difficulty recounting such details to investigators. We are empathetic and ready to listen. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At L.A.'s only school for the deaf, parents want leaders who speak the same language By Anna M. Phillips Ever since her son was 6 months old, Juliet Hidalgo has been bringing him to the Marlton School, a low-slung building in Baldwin Hills that for generations has been a second home for deaf and hard-of-hearing students in Los Angeles. Marlton staff taught Hidalgos brother and sister, both of whom are deaf. The school was where her deaf son learned to make the signs for milk and food. Hidalgo had planned to enroll her daughter, taking advantage of a popular program that allows hearing children to learn American Sign Language alongside their deaf siblings. But after more than a decade of involvement, she and other family members are considering withdrawing their children. They are not alone. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Fueled by unlimited donations, independent groups play their biggest role yet in a California primary for governor By Ryan Menezes An unprecedented amount of money from wealthy donors, unions and corporations is flowing into the California governors race, giving independent groups unrestricted by contribution limits a greater say in picking the states chief executive than ever before. The groups have already spent more than $26 million through Thursday, the most ever spent by noncandidate committees in a gubernatorial primary, according to a Times analysis of campaign finance reports. California elections have always been expensive, and the future is even more expensive, said Jack Pitney, a political science professor at Claremont McKenna College and a former state Republican leader. The stakes are very real. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement 2 hurt in Indiana middle school shooting; suspect in custody, authorities say By Associated Press Authorities say two victims in a shooting at a suburban Indianapolis school are being taken to a hospital and the lone suspect is in custody. Bryant Orem, a spokesman for the Hamilton County Sheriffs Office, said in a news release that the victims in Friday mornings attack at Noblesville West Middle School are being taken to Methodist Hospital in Indianapolis and their families have been notified. He says no other information is available about the victims. Orem said the suspect is believed to have acted alone and was taken into custody. No additional information about the suspect was made public. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print For new L.A. schools chief Austin Beutner, some key unions are giving no honeymoon period By Howard Blume In the less than two weeks since Austin Beutner took charge of Los Angeles schools, unions representing teachers and administrators have staged a job action and a protest. Theyve made it clear that they will not give the new superintendent the traditional honeymoon period, and they are bashing him for his wealth and lack of experience running either a school or a school district. Beutner is a billionaire investment banker with zero qualifications, local teachers union President Alex Caputo-Pearl told members in a phone alert urging them to participate in a Thursday afternoon rally in Grand Park. The board is saying that billionaires who made their money blowing institutions up and making money off it know best not the education professionals who have dedicated our careers to working with students. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Pressure grows on Board of Trustees amid USC gynecologist scandal By Paul Pringle USCs large and powerful Board of Trustees is coming under growing pressure to provide a stronger hand as the university faces a crisis over misconduct allegations against the campus longtime gynecologist that has prompted calls for President C.L. Max Nikias to step down. Allegations that Dr. George Tyndall mistreated students during his nearly 30 years at USC have roiled the campus, with about 300 people coming forward to make reports to the university and the Los Angeles Police Department launching a criminal investigation. USC is already beginning to face what is expected to be costly litigation by women who say they were victimized by the physician. So far, the trustees to whom Nikias reports have expressed sympathy for the women who have come forward and launched an independent investigation while also publicly backing the president. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC regents approve leaner budget for Janet Napolitano By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents on Thursday unanimously approved a leaner, more transparent budget for President Janet Napolitano, moving to address political criticism over the systems central office operations. The $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 reflects spending cuts of 2%, including reductions in staffing, travel and such systemwide programs as public service law fellowships, carbon neutrality and food security. Napolitano shifted $30 million to campuses for housing needs and $10 million to UC Riverside to support its five-year-old medical school. She also permanently redirected $8.5 million annually to help enroll more California students, as required by the state. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USCs Academic Senate calls on university president to resign after a series of scandals By Matt Hamilton The body that represents USCs faculty called on President C.L. Max Nikias to resign Wednesday in the wake of relevations that the universitys longtime gynecologist faced years of accusations of misconduct by students and colleagues at the campus health clinic. The Academic Senate took the vote late Wednesday afternoon after a fiery town hall meeting attended by more than 100 faculty members, many of whom voiced outrage over Nikias and the Board of Trustees leadership. The vote came a day after the trustees executive committee stood firmly behind Nikias, saying it has full confidence in his leadership, ethics and values. At the town hall meeting, Senate President Paul Rosenbloom said he did not think Nikias or Provost Michael Quick committed wrongdoing but that the university president deserved criticism for a lack of transparency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias public universities on the way to getting a big longed-for boost in funding By Teresa Watanabe The University of California and California State University systems are poised to get major funding boosts that will help them enroll thousands of additional state students and eliminate the need for tuition increases in the coming school year. A key Assembly budget panel on Wednesday approved $117.5 million in new funds for the UC. A Senate panel approved a similar sum last week. The same committees recently approved even more funding for the Cal State system. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement UC regents to scrutinize Janet Napolitanos office budget in a step toward stronger oversight By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents this week plan to scrutinize the budget of President Janet Napolitano, whose office came under political fire last year for questionable spending and murky accounting. Regents will vote on the proposed $876.4-million budget for 2018-19 during their two-day meeting, which starts Wednesday, at UC San Francisco. They also will discuss state funding, financial aid, online education and transfer student policies. Board Chairman George Kieffer said regents are stepping up to exert stronger oversight of the presidents office after a blistering state audit last year found financial problems including an unreported $175 million budget reserve. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print State legislative panels approve major funding boost for Cal State By Teresa Watanabe Cal State students protest against a tuition increase outside the chancellors office (Irfan Khan) After months of intensive lobbying, Cal State University has convinced two key legislative panels to approve funding to enroll nearly 11,000 more students, hire more faculty and expand housing aid to those without shelter this fall. An Assembly budget panel on Tuesday approved $215.7 million more for Cal State, adding to Gov. Jerry Browns proposed $92.1 million general fund increase. A Senate budget panel approved a similar increase last week. The extra funding which went beyond Cal States own request to the Legislature of $171 million is still subject to final budget negotiations with Brown. But the actions by the Senate and Assembly panels amount to a demand from Democrats that the governor hike higher education spending. Cal State University is the workhorse undergraduate university serving hundreds of thousands of Californians, said Assemblyman Kevin McCarty (D-Sacramento), who heads the Assembly Budget Subcommittee on Education Finance. We need more graduates for the California workforce and higher education is the ticket to the middle class. Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White hailed the actions, but said it was too soon to celebrate. The CSU has a singular focus on helping students earn high-quality degrees sooner, and the entire university community has rallied to reinforce that message to our states lawmakers, he said in a statement. The actions taken thus far by the Assembly and Senate are promising and show that our message is being received, but there is still work to be done. Funding for the University of California was not taken up Tuesday as originally scheduled. McCarty would not comment on sticking points but said he was confident that a resolution would be reached this week. Were looking to provide resources above whats in the governors budget, but negotiations are ongoing, he said in an interview. State per-student funding is not what it once was, leaving both Cal State and the UC in a tough financial squeeze. Both systems raised tuition last year after a six-year freeze on higher costs. For this year, Cal State had asked for funding to enroll an additional 3,621 students, but both the Senate and Assembly panels approved three times that amount. Cal State, the largest public university system in the nation, turned away 32,000 eligible students last year because its campuses werent able to accommodate them. The panels asked that at least $50 million of the extra funding be used to hire more tenure-track faculty to help boost graduation rates. The Assembly panel also approved one-time funding of $5 million to ease hunger on campuses and $14 million for rapid rehousing pilot projects at three campuses, offering needy students rental support and short-term case management. Other items approved include $5 million to support the CSU Long Beach Shark Labs research on sharks and beach safety and $2 million for equal employment opportunity practices. This post has been updated to include comments from Assemblyman Kevin McCarty and Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Faculty members call for USC president to step down: He has lost the moral authority to lead By Matt Hamilton Two hundred USC professors on Tuesday demanded the resignation of university President C. L. Max Nikias, saying he had lost the moral authority to lead in the wake of revelations that a campus gynecologist was kept on staff for decades despite repeated complaints of misconduct. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gun battle, negotiations lasted 15 minutes before Texas school shooter was apprehended, sheriff says By Molly Hennessy-Fiske Minutes after a school shooter opened fire in an art class last week, killing 10 people and wounding 13, including a local police officer, fellow officers returned fire in a protracted gun battle before isolating the suspect, the local sheriff said Monday. Galveston County Sheriff Henry Trochesset praised first responders as well as Santa Fe Police Officer John Barnes, who was working as a resource officer at the school the day of the shooting. Their actions, he said, prevented the attack from spreading to other classrooms and potentially claiming additional victims. As officials continue to probe last Fridays shooting at Santa Fe High School, students are worried about returning to the scene of the attack when classes resume next week. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print 6 women sue USC, alleging they were victimized by campus gynecologist By Richard Winton Six women filed civil lawsuits Monday alleging that a longtime gynecologist at the University of Southern California sexually victimized them under the pretext of medical care and that USC failed to address complaints from clinic staff about the doctors behavior. One woman alleged Dr. George Tyndall forced his entire ungloved hand into her vagina during an appointment in 2003 while making vulgar remarks about her genitalia, according to one of the lawsuits. Another woman alleged that Tyndall groped her breasts in a 2008 visit and that later he falsely told her she likely had AIDS. A third woman accused the doctor of grazing his ungloved fingers over her nude body and leering at her during a purported skin exam, the lawsuit states. The wave of litigation comes as USC continues to grapple with the scandal, which legal experts said could prove costly to the university as scores of former patients come forward about their experiences with the gynecologist. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Fatalities reported in Texas high school shooting; suspect arrested, officials say By Associated Press Houston-area media citing unnamed law enforcement officials are reporting that there are fatalities following a shooting at a local high school Friday morning. Television station KHOU and the Houston Chronicle are citing unnamed federal, county and police officials following the shooting at Santa Fe High School, which went on lockdown around 8 a.m. The Associated Press has not been able to confirm the reports. The school district has confirmed an unspecified number of injuries but said it wouldnt immediately release further details. Assistant Principal Cris Richardson said a suspect has been arrested and secured. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print This student followed the new L.A. schools chief on his first-day tour L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner is greeted by Van Nuys High School principal Yolanda Gardea. (Melissa Barales-Lopez) Melissa Barales-Lopez, a senior at Garfield High School followed Supt. Austin Beutner on his first day on the job, as he toured a variety of programs around the Los Angeles Unified School District. Heres what she took from the experience. LAUSD students and staff alike are looking for a personal champion, someone who will address and improve the difficulties afflicting their education. What LAUSD students need is someone whos willing to listen and learn, someone who can understand the current issues affecting their schools and act to efficiently amend them, someone who can unlock the full potential of LAUSD students and enable them to reach their goals. During the entirety of his first day, superintendent Austin Beutner did indeed demonstrate a willingness to learn. Posing questions to teachers and students, Beutner engaged with the student communities he encountered to gain a better comprehension of the minutiae and nuances that distinguish each school inside an overwhelmingly large district. From inquiries about Grand View Boulevard Elementary Schools dual language program to questions regarding the services of LAUSDs after-school program, Beyond the Bell, Beutner revealed he has a lot to learn about the system. But, Beutner also showcased a willingness to tackle challenges head-on on his first day. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print USC let a gynecologist continue treating students despite years of misconduct allegations By Matt Hamilton For nearly 30 years, the University of Southern Californias student health clinic had one full-time gynecologist: Dr. George Tyndall. Tall and garrulous with distinctive jet black hair, he treated tens of thousands of female students, many of them teenagers seeing a gynecologist for the first time. Few who lay down on Tyndalls exam table at the Engemann Student Health Center knew that he had been accused repeatedly of misconduct toward young patients. The complaints began in the 1990s, when co-workers alleged he was improperly photographing students genitals. In the years that followed, patients and nursing staff accused him again and again of creepy behavior, including touching women inappropriately during pelvic exams and making sexually suggestive remarks about their bodies. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print On his first day as L.A. schools chief, Beutner plans a day of visits across the district By Howard Blume L.A. Unifieds new superintendent, Austin Beutner, will kick off his first day of work on Tuesday with a choreographed tour of the nations second-largest school district, from the San Fernando Valley to Carson. His day is scheduled to begin at 5:15 a.m. at a school bus depot and end more than 12 hours later at a parent meeting at Garfield High School. Along the way, Beutner is expected to be joined by school district administrators, L.A. Unified board members and the vice president of the union that represents school bus drivers. Though he will be covering a lot of ground, Beutners tour has him skipping Tuesdays school board meeting, when board members are expected to discuss labor negotiations in closed session. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cal State trustees to discuss Browns latest budget proposal, which they say still falls $171 million short By Joy Resmovits Just how much money does California State University need to serve its students? In recent years, this question has been front and center for the nations largest public university system. Cal States leaders say that to keep their campuses quality from slipping, they need much more money than the state is giving them. This year, theyre also at odds with Gov. Jerry Brown on the question of whether any extra money should come in one-time bursts or be ongoing. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Why a handful of rich charter school supporters are spending millions to elect Antonio Villaraigosa as governor By Ryan Menezes California voters have seen a barrage of sunny television ads in recent weeks touting former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosas record on finances, crime and education, aired by Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018. But the group is, in fact, largely funded by a handful of wealthy charter-school supporters. Together they have spent more than $13 million in less than a month to boost Villaraigosas chances in the June 5 primary at a time when his fundraising and poll numbers are lagging. Reed Hastings, the founder of Netflix, jump-started the group with a $7-million check, by far the largest donation to support any candidate in the election. Their efforts are part of a broader proxy war among Democrats between teachers unions longtime stalwarts of the party and those who argue that the groups have failed low-income and minority schoolchildren. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Talking schools with L.A. Unifieds new superintendent By Anna M. Phillips Al Seib / Los Angeles Times ( Incoming L.A. schools Supt. Austin Beutner talks to students at Belmont High School.) Austin Beutner, who officially starts Tuesday as the new superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, is taking on a famously difficult job at a particularly difficult time. The school board is divided and did not back him unanimously. The nations second-largest school district has deep-seated problems, including declining enrollment, lagging academic achievement and rising pension and healthcare costs that eat away at its budget. The 58-year-old former investment banker and former L.A. Times publisher has years of experience in the financial world but none as an educator. Earlier this week, he sat down with the Times education team to discuss the challenges facing the district, which has about 60,000 employees and 500,000 students in traditional public schools. He did not talk about his plans saying repeatedly, stay tuned but he spoke in broad terms about his mindset in approaching the tough decisions ahead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Suspect detained, authorities search campus after reports of armed man at Palmdale high school By James Queally One person has been detained after a report of an armed man at a Palmdale high school sparked a massive law enforcement response Friday morning. The suspect was spotted at 7:05 a.m. on the campus of Highland High School in Palmdale, according to Sheriffs Department spokeswoman Nicole Nishida. The person was detained in a nearby parking lot, according to Nishida, who did not know whether that person was an adult or juvenile. Deputies at the scene are clearing the school methodically, and students will be transported home via school buses once the campus is deemed safe, Nishida said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The education of Bertha Perez: How a UC Merced custodians disenchantment led to a political awakening By Robin Abcarian Its the third day of a three-day strike, and UC Merced custodian Bertha Perez is taking a break from a picket line at the universitys unremarkable entrance, an intersection with stop lights. Photos from other UC campuses this week have shown big crowds of striking service workers members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees marching and chanting pro-labor slogans as they try to force the University of California back to the negotiating table. But here, at UC Merced, whose handful of big buildings rise from a flat expanse of farmland, the picket line is tiny, maybe two dozen workers and a few students. Its not a big-city-style show of force. Then again, a union sympathizer is banging relentlessly on a snare drum, so its noisier than youd expect. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Ref Rodriguez resigns from teacher credentialing commission By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez appears during a court appearance. (Al Seib/Los Angeles Times) Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez has resigned from the states Commission on Teacher Credentialing, which oversees the integrity and quality of Californias teachers. Rodriguez faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. Separately, his former employer, a charter school organization, has accused him of improperly authorizing checks to a nonprofit under his control. Rodriguez has denied wrongdoing. Rodriguezs resignation from the state body was effective May 4, days after he cast a crucial vote as part of a narrow majority that voted to authorize contract negotiations with Austin Beutner to become superintendent of the L.A. Unified School District. Beutners first official day on the job is Tuesday. Rodriguez remains in his $125,000-a-year position on the Los Angeles Board of Education. The mission of the state body is to ensure integrity, relevance, and high quality in the preparation, certification, and discipline of Californias teachers. Critics had questioned Rodriguezs continued service on the commission, given that teachers can be suspended from work if they face criminal charges. They also can lose their jobs for lapses in personal behavior, such as excessive drinking, with the potential to affect their performance. Police in Pasadena arrested Rodriguez on a Friday afternoon in March for public drunkenness. He was not charged in the incident and has apologized. The state commission reviews teacher discipline cases and can take action to remove a teachers credential to work in a California classroom. The commission has 15 members. Rodriguezs departure was disclosed in a one-sentence announcement on the agencys website. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print School board members request for restraining order against blogger is rejected By Priscella Vega An Orange County Superior Court judge on Wednesday denied a school board members petition for a permanent restraining order against a Huntington Beach blogger. Attorney Jeffrey W. Shields filed the petition on behalf of Ocean View School District trustee Gina Clayton-Tarvin, 46, who alleged in court documents that Charles Keeler Johnson, 56, has threatened her on social media and at school board meetings, causing her to fear for my own safety and for that of my immediate family members. Johnson, who goes by Chuck and publishes HBSledgehammer.com, said the trustee tried to stifle his freedom of speech. He also contended that Clayton-Tarvin took his blog posts and Facebook comments too seriously and out of context, saying anyone who is afraid of metaphors has serious issues. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Deal with workers averts one-day strike that could have shut down L.A. schools By Howard Blume Los Angeles school district and union officials announced a contract agreement Tuesday night that averted a one-day strike planned for next week. The pact, which runs through June 2020, removes one labor problem from the desk of incoming Supt. Austin Beutner whose first day on the job would have coincided with the strike. Plenty of other challenges remain. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC labor strike expands with show of support from more unions By Teresa Watanabe Fong Chuu is a registered nurse who has assisted with countless liver transplants, kidney surgeries and gastric bypasses during 34 years at UCLA. Working with her are scrub technicians who sterilize equipment, hand medical instruments to the surgeon and dress patient wounds. They are a team, Chuu says, which is why she walked off her job Tuesday in support of those technicians and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299. The 25,000 member AFSCME local, the University of Californias largest employee union, launched a three-day strike Monday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print We are humans too: Voices of UCLAs striking custodians, hospital aides and imaging technicians By Joy Resmovits Demonstrators parade in front of Ronald Reagan UCLA Medical Center. (Robert Gauthier / Los Angeles Times) This week, thousands of UC employees are staging a three-day strike for better pay and working conditions. On Monday, more than 20,000 custodians, cooks, lab technicians, nurse aides and other members of the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299 walked off their jobs. By Tuesday, two more unions joined in sympathy strikes. The union and UC reached a bargaining impasse last year. The university has said it wont meet the workers demands. The strikers said they wanted better pay, more equity in the allocation of work, stable healthcare premiums and an end to the universitys use of contract workers. These are their stories. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Massive UC workers strike disrupts dining, classes and medical services By Joy Resmovits A massive labor strike across the University of California on Monday forced medical centers to reschedule more than 12,000 surgeries, cancer treatments and appointments, and campuses to cancel some classes and limit dining services. More than 20,000 members of UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, walked off their jobs on the first day of a three-day strike. They include custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Two altercations involving protesters and people driving near the rallies were reported at UCLA and UC Santa Cruz. At UCLA, police took a man into custody Monday after he drove his vehicle into a crowd, hitting three staff members. They were treated for minor injuries at the scene and released, said Lt. Kevin Kilgore of the UCLA Police Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Kamala Harris to skip UC Berkeley commencement in support of striking workers By Teresa Watanabe Sen. Kamala Harris (Chris Dekmas) California Sen. Kamala Harris has canceled plans to deliver UC Berkeleys commencement address this weekend in support of UC workers who are on strike over wages and health benefits. Due to the ongoing labor dispute, Sen. Harris regretfully cannot attend and speak at this years commencement ceremony at UC Berkeley, said a statement from Harris office issued Monday. She wishes the graduates and their families a joyous commencement weekend and success for the future. They are bright young leaders and our country is counting on them. UCs largest employee union, the 25,000-member American Federation of County, State and Municipal Employees Local 3299, launched a three-day strike Monday and had earlier called for a speakers boycott. The union and university reached a bargaining impasse last year and subsequent mediation efforts have failed to produce an agreement. The union is asking for a multiyear contract with a 6% annual pay increase while the university is offering 3% annual increases over four years. UC Berkeley Chancellor Carol Christ will deliver the keynote address instead, the university announced. About 5,800 students are expected to participate in the ceremony Saturday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement School mural depicting Trumps bloody, severed head sparks controversy By Gary Warth A Chula Vista school mural that depicts the bloody, severed head of President Trump on a spear sparked a controversy that prompted officials to cover it and issue a response distancing themselves from the work. The statement also said the artist will alter the painting. We understand that there was a mural painted at the event this past weekend that does not align with our schools philosophy of non-violence, read the statement from MAAC Community Charter School director Tommy Ramirez. We have been in communication with the artist who has agreed to modify the artwork to better align with the schools philosophy. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New blackface incident at Cal Poly prompts calls for state investigation By Kim Christensen Cal Poly San Luis Obispo officials have asked the state attorney generals office to investigate after a new photo of a white student in blackface surfaced on a fraternity groups private Snapchat. I am outraged, Cal Poly President Jeffrey D. Armstrong said in a video address Friday to the campus. These vile and absolutely unacceptable acts cannot continue. We must not allow these acts to define us as an institution. Armstrong said the latest photo was intended to imitate an incident last month in which a white member of the Lambda Chi Alpha fraternity was photographed at a party wearing blackface. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print More than 50,000 UC workers set to strike this week but campuses will remain open By Teresa Watanabe More than 50,000 workers across the University of California are set to strike this week, causing potential disruptions to surgery schedules, food preparation and campus maintenance. The systems 10 campuses and five medical centers are to remain open, with classes scheduled as planned. UCs largest employee union, the American Federation of State, County and Municipal Employees Local 3299, plans to begin a three-day strike Monday involving 25,000 workers, including custodians, gardeners, cooks, truck drivers, lab technicians and nurse aides. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement New L.A. schools chief Beutner pledges to listen, learn and take action By Howard Blume New Los Angeles schools Supt. Austin Beutner proved Wednesday that hes a quick learner even without an education background. Like countless public officials before him, he appeared at an important event his first speech and news conference with a photogenic background of students. His message that he would put those students first seemed heartfelt if hardly original. Nor was it a huge surprise that he pledged to push cooperatively but unflinchingly to improve the districts academic performance and stabilize its finances. As an introduction, Beutner, a former investment banker who made a fortune on Wall Street, offered little flash, but that was partly the point. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print In a school lockdown, one student takes stock of the stressful scene (Phalaen Chang) At the beginning of lunch one day late last month, Duarte High School, Northview Middle School, and California School of the Arts-San Gabriel Valley were advised by the Los Angeles Sheriffs Department to go into lockdown mode due to police activity in the immediate area. Phalaen Chang, a junior at the California School of the Arts, wrote a series of notes on her iPhone while she sat in a room with her classmates. By the time the lockdown ended an hour later, she wrote, she knew which of her friends would hold open the door for others, be the ones calming others down, be the ones barricading the doors. She knew that all of them have the potential to be such strong people. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tale as old as time: L.A. Unified superintendent pick follows a historical pattern of outside-the-box choices By Joy Resmovits Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, superintendent from 2006-2008. (L.A. Times file photo) L.A. Unified has long gone back and forth between picking insiders and outsiders to run the nations second largest school district. The choice of Austin Beutner, announced Tuesday, places the district squarely back in the outsider camp months after a consummate insider, Supt. Michelle King, announced that she had cancer and would not return to the job. Check out this timeline of former L.A. superintendents to see how the school board members have changed their minds, sometimes favoring leaders who come from the world of education and sometimes executives from elsewhere, recruited to shock the system into change. At one point, the district hired someone from the military retired Navy Vice Adm. David L. Brewer III, who served as superintendent from 2006-2008. In hiring Brewer, board members had opted for a non-educator largely because they sought a fresh thinker, unwedded to the bureaucracy, unafraid to make bold, even unorthodox moves, reads a 2008 Times story. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Austin Beutner named superintendent of Los Angeles schools By Howard Blume Austin Beutner, a philanthropist and former investment banker, on Tuesday was named superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District, the nations second-largest school system. His selection was the biggest move yet by a Los Angeles school board majority elected with major support from charter school advocates. The decision came after lengthy public testimony, most of it in support of the other remaining finalist, interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian, who is well known within the school system. Beutner, 58, has no background leading a school or school district. Less than 2 years ago, a school board with a very different balance of power named Michelle King, a former teacher who rose through the district throughout her career, to L.A. Unifieds top job. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Hearing delay gives both sides more time in Ref Rodriguezs potential trial By Howard Blume Ref Rodriguez and his attorneys will have more time to prepare their defense against charges of political money laundering, a judge ruled Monday. The preliminary hearing in the case had been scheduled to begin May 9, but that date will now be pushed back to July 23 per the ruling from L.A. Superior Court Judge Deborah S. Brazil. Rodriguez, 46, faces three felony charges of conspiracy, perjury and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. school board poised to name Beutner as superintendent By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education is poised to select philanthropist and former investment banker Austin Beutner to be the next superintendent of the nations second-largest school system. Barring a last-minute development, the only mystery is whether Beutner emerges with four or five votes from the boards seven members. Terms of his contract already have been under discussion, according to sources close to the process who requested anonymity because they are not authorized to speak. The selection of Beutner, 58, who has no experience managing a school or a school district, would be a signal that the board majority that took control nearly a year ago wants to rely on business management skills instead of insider educational expertise. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Teacher walkouts in Arizona and Colorado continue national debate on money for schools By Michael Livingston Following the lead of teachers who walked off the job in other states in recent weeks, thousands of teachers and their supporters took to the streets in Arizona and Colorado for the second day in a row to demand better pay and more funding for education. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Three decades before the #MeToo movement, UC San Diego led the way against sexual assault By Teresa Watanabe When Nancy Wahlig first started her fight against sexual assault, one company was marketing a capsule for women to stash in their bras and then smash to release a vile odor. Because of the very nature of society, the only person who can prevent rape is the woman herself, read a 1981 advertisement for the Repulse rape deterrent. Ideas about how to prevent sexual violence have come a long way since then, and Wahlig has helped lead that evolution on college campuses. In 1988, she started UC San Diegos Sexual Assault Resource Center (SARC), the first stand-alone program at the University of California. Today, she remains the systems most senior specialist. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Andres Alonso withdraws from consideration for L.A. schools job By Howard Blume Andres Alonso, believed to be one of three remaining finalists to lead the Los Angeles school system, has withdrawn from consideration. The remaining known candidates in the confidential search are former investment banker Austin Beutner and interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian. Alonso, 60, announced his decision on Twitter on Thursday night, saying he had notified the L.A. Unified School District on Monday. The exit of Alonso, the former Baltimore schools chief, seems to solidify the front-runner status of Beutner, who also was a former L.A. Times publisher and a Los Angeles deputy mayor. He held each of those positions for about a year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Heres why the apparent increase in autism spectrum disorders may be good for U.S. children By Karen Kaplan The prevalence of autism spectrum disorder among American children continues to rise, new government data suggest. And that may be a good thing. Among 11 sites across the U.S. where records of 8-year-olds are scrutinized in detail, 1 in 59 kids was deemed to have ASD in 2014. Thats up from 1 in 68 in 2012. Normally, health officials would prefer to see less of a disease, not more of it. But in this case, the higher number is probably a sign that more children of color who are on the autism spectrum are being recognized as such and getting services to help them, according to a report published Thursday by the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print UC shelves tuition increase for now, in hopes of getting more state funding By Teresa Watanabe University of California regents will not vote on a tuition increase next month, shelving the plan for now in hopes that state lawmakers will come through with more funding. Raising tuition is always a last resort and one we take very seriously, UC President Janet Napolitano said Thursday in a statement. We will continue to advocate with our students who are doing a tremendous job of educating legislators about the necessity of adequately funding the university to ensure UC remains a world-class institution and engine of economic growth for our state. Last week, Cal State Chancellor Timothy P. White said the 23-campus system no longer would consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year. But unlike Cal State, UC officials have not taken a tuition increase off the table entirely. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement A chemical spill, unchecked eyewash stations, poor training: Audit details Cal States lax lab safety By Joy Resmovits In May 2016, two bottles tumbled off a poorly supported shelf and broke, leading to a chemical spill in a Sacramento State University lab. The liquid got onto one students legs and soaked anothers feet. Five employees cleaned up the mess, even though no one knew for sure what it was and whether it was dangerous. They called fellow employee Kim Harrington, their union representative, to let her know what happened. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print After blackface incident, minority students at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo say they dont feel welcome By Hailey Branson-Potts Aaliyah Ramos was walking through the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus last year when a prospective student approached her. Ramos was the only black person, the young woman said, that she and her mother had seen that day. They asked about the quality of education and the diversity of the student body. Ramos, a mechanical engineering student, didnt want to sugarcoat the truth: Cal Poly long has been predominantly white. But she told the young woman who also was black that she didnt want to discourage her from applying, because that wouldnt help with diversity at a school where only 0.7% of students are African American the lowest percentage of any university in the California State system. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills wins the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon By Carlos Lozano El Camino Real Charter High School in Woodland Hills has won the 2018 U.S. Academic Decathlon, officials said. The winner was announced early Saturday at a ceremony in Frisco, Texas. More than 600 students from the U.S., Canada, China and the United Kingdom gathered there over the last three days to compete in the 37th annual U.S. Academic Decathlon. Congratulations to El Camino Real Charter High School for another impressive victory, said Vivian Ekchian, interim superintendent of the Los Angeles Unified School District. Your academic stamina and competitive spirit to win is remarkable. The entire L.A. Unified family is so proud of you. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Anticipation mounts as L.A. school board meets over superintendent selection By Howard Blume L.A. schools superintendent candidate Andres Alonso got an endorsement Friday, but Austin Beutner and Vivian Ekchian also have supporters. (Elizabeth Malby) The Los Angeles Board of Education is reconvening in closed session Friday at noon as anticipation mounts about the choice of the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. The presumed front-runner is former investment banker and philanthropist Austin Beutner, but interim Supt. Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore Supt. Andres Alonso also are in the running. Most district insiders appear to be rooting for Ekchian, who has spent her entire career in education within the school system. After her 10 years as a teacher, her roles have included head of human resources, chief labor negotiator and regional administrator for campuses in the west San Fernando Valley. Shes managed the district since September, when then-Supt. Michelle King went on medical leave and chose Ekchian to fill in for her. King, who is battling cancer, never returned and announced her retirement in January. Numerous influential civic leaders have urged and pressured the board to select Beutner. Also lending their weight have been advocates for charter schools, which are independently operated, growing in number and competing for students with district-operated campuses. Four of the seven board members enough to control the outcome were elected with major financial support from charter supporters. Beutner has two ongoing connections with the L.A. Unified School District. The first is his leadership of an outside task force that is making recommendations on how to improve the school system. The second is his charity, Vision to Learn, which supplies glasses to low-income students. The charity and the school system are in a dispute at the moment over who is responsible for delays in providing services to students as part of a $6 million contract, half of which is paid for by L.A. Unified. Unlike Ekchian and Buetner, Alonso, who currently teaches at the Harvard Graduate School of Education, has no deep-seated local constituency, but the prospect of his selection has generated some excitement. While in Baltimore, Alonso was recognized for pushing for progress at low-performing schools, and for being willing to take strong action. While in Baltimore, he also weathered a test-score cheating scandal and occasionally rocky relations with the teachers union. But by the time he resigned, after six years, he and union leaders seemed to be working together without rancor. Leaders of some community groups have split from the pro-Beutner camp. They worry that Beutners approach to confronting the districts financial problems could shut out their voices or involve severe economic cutbacks that would undermine programs that are helping students. Some prefer Ekchian; some Alonso. Theyve been reluctant to speak out publicly because theyll have to work with whoever is selected, but they have tried to get the ear of board members. On Friday morning, one leader of a community group decided to come out in favor of Alonso. L.A. Unified has the opportunity to bring in an instructional leader of color with a history of success, said Alberto Retana, president and chief executive of Community Coalition, which works on behalf of low-income students and families in South Los Angeles. If we have a shot at that, we should go for it because its in the best interests of our kids and of our community. Retana said his statement was not meant to criticize Beutner or Ekchian but to alert board members that there also is community support for Alonso. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Cal State leader shelves proposed tuition hike: Its the right thing to do, but its not without risk By Joy Resmovits Cal State, the nations largest public university system, will no longer consider a plan to raise tuition for the 2018-19 academic year, Chancellor Timothy P. White announced Friday. The decision is a bet that Sacramento will come through in the end. If Cal State loses that bet, it could mean cuts to campus programs. White said in an interview that Californias economy is strong enough that families should not be shouldering the burden of higher college costs. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. students to participate in national walkout activities on Friday By Joy Resmovits (Los Angeles Times) Students are taking to the streets again Friday to protest gun violence on the 19th anniversary of the Columbine school shooting. Starting at 10 a.m., students at many schools will spend 13 seconds honoring the 13 people 12 students and one teacher killed on that day in Littleton, Colo. After that, theyll participate in a host of different activities. Within L.A. Unified, one school is having an open-mic event for students to talk about school violence, and lawmakers are visiting campuses to hear students thoughts. According to a central hub for organizing the protests written by the students of Ridgefield High School in Connecticut the walkouts are intended to drive the political change necessary to curb school violence. The day is also a time for students to interact on an elevated platform they have never had before, the site states. It is a day of discourse and thoughtful sharing. Bringing together communities and students to get a national discussion rolling. Organizers have suggested using the event to convey the importance of curbing gun violence to legislators. They are encouraging students to push legislation that would ban assault weapons and tighten up rules around who can buy guns and how. Over 2,500 schools nationwide are expected to participate. In L.A., some students at campuses including Eagle Rock High School, the Ramon C. Cortines School of Visual and Performing Arts and Bravo Medical Magnet plan to walk out. Students from various schools expect to join area marches, including those in Santa Monica and Huntington Park. Other schools are hosting career days and voter registration drives. At 1 p.m., students plan to start a rally in front of L.A. Unified headquarters. For the record: An earlier version of this article stated that 12 teachers and one student were killed in the Columbine shooting. The opposite is true: twelve students and one teacher died. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Stabbing of popular student devastates South El Monte High School; teen friend suspected in slaying By Sonali Kohli When administrators at South El Monte High School called Jeremy Sanchezs parents to say he never showed up for class Wednesday, his father began to worry. It was unusual for the 17-year-old junior to miss school, so his father filed a missing persons report and assembled two of Jeremys close friends to look for the popular student-athlete. Their search took them to a scenic stretch of the San Gabriel River Trail, where one of the friends a 16-year-old boy made a tragic discovery. Among the bushes in the riverbed near Thienes Avenue and Parkway Drive was Jeremys body, punctured with stab wounds, according to Lt. John Corina of the Los Angeles County Sheriffs Department. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Racist fliers spark outrage at Cal Poly San Luis Obispo By Alene Tchekmedyian Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus which the president said is less than 55% white that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement The superintendent waiting game, paying for L.A.'s College Promise, Princetons slave history: Whats new in education By Joy Resmovits Acting LAUSD superintendent Vivian Ekchian is a finalist for the permanent job. (Gary Coronado / Los Angeles Times) In and around Los Angeles: The L.A. Unified school board spent 10 hours interviewing and discussing candidates for superintendent. When they adjourned after 10 p.m., they said they would reconvene on Friday. Who is paying for Mayor Eric Garcettis much-touted College Promise, a program that promises two years of community college for LAUSD grads? In California: The Legislature is considering a proposal that would boost K-12 education funding for black students. When the cost of living is taken into account, California has the highest rate of child poverty. Nationwide: The families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School are suing Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never occurred. Princeton will name two spaces an arch and a garden after slaves who lived or worked on the campus. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board meets privately with finalists and debates choice for school district leader By Howard Blume The Los Angeles Board of Education adjourned late Tuesday after spending more than 10 hours interviewing candidates and trying to reach a decision on who would be the next leader of the nations second-largest school system. When the meeting finally recessed at 10:11 p.m., a spokesman announced only that the school board would reconvene Friday at noon. Going into the days meetings, there were apparently four finalists, according to sources who could not be named because they were unauthorized to speak. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Two Sandy Hook families sue Alex Jones and Infowars for saying the school massacre never happened By David Altimari Families of two children killed at Sandy Hook Elementary School have filed lawsuits in Texas against controversial radio host Alex Jones for continually claiming the massacre never happened. Neil Heslin, the father of Jesse Lewis, and Leonard Pozner and Veronique De La Rosa, whose son Noah Pozner died in the massacre, filed separate lawsuits late Monday in Travis County, Texas. The lawsuits allege that Jones defamed the parents by constantly calling them crisis actors and insisting the shooting was a false flag operation; they also claim Jones accusations have led to death threats against the Sandy Hook families by Jones followers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Beutner emerges as a top pick for L.A. schools superintendent amid last-minute jockeying By Howard Blume Austin Beutner has emerged as a leading contender to run the Los Angeles school district, with backers saying he is smart enough and tough enough to confront its financial and academic struggles. Though he does not have a background in education, the former investment banker has in the last year examined some of the districts intractable problems, serving as co-chair of an outside task force with the support of then-Supt. Michelle King. Sources inside and outside the school district said Beutner appears to have more support on the seven-member board than other finalists, and his name could come up for a vote as early as Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Challenge at Chicago school construction site: Watch for 38,000 unmarked graves By Nereida Moreno A 15-year effort to build a school in Chicagos Dunning neighborhood is underway with an unusual complication: Construction workers are taking careful steps to avoid disturbing human remains that may lie beneath the soil. The $70-million school is to be built on the grounds of a former Cook County Poor House, where an estimated 38,000 people were buried in unmarked graves. Among the dead are residents who were too poor to afford funeral costs, unclaimed bodies and patients from the countys insane asylum. There can be and there have been bodies found all over the place, said Barry Fleig, a genealogist and cemetery researcher who began investigating the site in 1989. Its a spooky, scary place. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Oklahoma teacher walkout winds down despite lawmakers failure to meet demands By Washington Post Oklahomas largest teachers union has announced an end to a walkout that has drawn thousands of educators out of classrooms and to the state Capitol demanding greater investment in the states schools, which have endured the nations steepest funding cuts. The announcement Thursday from the Oklahoma Education Assn. does not necessarily end the protests at the Capitol, as teachers not affiliated with the union vowed to stay longer. Instead of a walkout, the union and school districts across the state have said they plan to send delegations of teachers to Oklahoma City to keep the pressure on lawmakers. Teachers and their supporters have also promised to push education issues to the forefront of November elections, when the state chooses a new governor. As school districts begin to reopen, the protests may lose steam. The Legislature is not in session Friday, and observers are waiting to see what happens Monday, when lawmakers return. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Most Californians are worried about school shooting threats and oppose arming teachers, survey finds By Joy Resmovits Hamilton High School student Aiyana Dabriel holds a sign during a March 14 walkout in support of the Parkland shooting victims. (Brian van der Brug / Los Angeles Times) Most Californians are worried that a school shooting like the one that occurred in Parkland, Fla., in February could shed blood closer to home, a new survey found. Some 73% percent of adults and 82% of public school parents said they were very concerned or somewhat concerned about school shootings. The Public Policy Institute of California surveyed 1,704 adults in the state by phone just after the March for Our Lives protest against gun violence. Latino and black respondents were significantly more likely to be concerned about school violence than white or Asian respondents, the institute found. Two-thirds of adults and public school parents said they opposed letting more educators carry weapons in school. The response differed across party lines, with 86% of Democrats and 69% of independents voicing their opposition, while 60% percent of Republicans said they would support a measure to arm educators. The poll, which had a margin of error of 3.2% in either direction, also asked Californians about school funding, educational issues in the governors race and the impact of immigration enforcement on students. You can find the full results here. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias largest virtual charter school network agrees to contract with its teachers By Anna M. Phillips Nearly four years after teachers at Californias largest online charter school voted to unionize, they have reached a deal to increase pay and create job protections, according to a spokesman for the California Teachers Assn. The contract, which is still tentative and subject to ratification, is a victory for the teachers union. Although charter schools are publicly funded, most are privately managed and their employees arent protected by labor contracts. Under the terms of the contract the result of years of negotiation and legal wrangling approximately 500 teachers working for California Virtual Academies will no longer be at-will employees who can be dismissed for almost any reason. Their average salary will rise to just over $45,000, according to union estimates, a figure that remains far below the norm for traditional public school teachers. Still, it is an improvement over the previous average of $38,000. The accord also places a limit on the number of students each teacher is responsible for monitoring in online homeroom classes. Were very satisfied with the gains we made, said teacher Brianna Carroll, president of California Virtual Educators United. I think were going to see some extraordinary changes in our schools. According to Carroll, teachers at California Virtual Academies better known as CAVA had grown frustrated with the organizations foot-dragging and were making preparations to go on strike when CAVAs leadership agreed to the deal. CAVA and K12, the Virginia-based for-profit company linked to its schools, did not immediately respond to an email Tuesday asking for comment. The network currently operates nine virtual charter schools across California. In 2016, the charter network agreed to pay $8.5 million to settle claims of false advertising, misleading parents and inadequate instruction. The state attorney generals office had also accused K12 of controlling the charters for its own financial benefit. Neither CAVA nor K12 admitted to wrongdoing in the settlement. A year later, the state imposed a $2-million fine on CAVA after an audit found that it had misspent public funds. The network disputed the findings. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement School board approves a new formula for funding high-need schools By Sonali Kohli L.A. schools will soon get more money if they are located in neighborhoods with such problems as high levels of gun violence and asthma. The Los Angeles Unified school board voted unanimously Tuesday to adopt a new formula to determine how to dole out some funding to schools, based not only on the characteristics of the student populations but on the traumas that affect the communities around campuses. The new formula will be applied to $25 million in funding next fiscal year and about $263 million annually in future years a small part of the districts $7.5 billion annual budget. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Protesters demand Ref Rodriguez resignation outside school board meeting By Sonali Kohli Students, parents, teachers and UTLA marching outside the board meeting chanting "Ref resign" pic.twitter.com/W0LRWZSIXY Sonali Kohli (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 A few dozen parents, students and teachers marched outside the Los Angeles Unified School Board meeting Tuesday, some calling for board member Ref Rodriguez to resign the week after news broke that he was taken into custody on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena bar and restaurant. Rodriguez was not cited or charged in that incident, but was held for more than five and a half hours before being released. The school board member faces felony and misdemeanor charges for political money laundering. He is accused of getting more than two dozen people people to donate to his campaign for his school board seat with the understanding that he would reimburse them. He stepped down from his post as school board president after he was charged last fall, but he did not give up his seat on the board. He has pleaded not guilty to three felony counts of conspiracy, perjury, and procuring and offering a false or forged instrument, as well as 25 misdemeanor counts related to the alleged campaign money laundering. A preliminary hearing is scheduled for May. He cant give his full focus to our students, said Rebecca LaFond, a Highland Park parent whose three children marched with her as she chanted, Ref resign. One daughter marched in front of her, using a drum stick to hit the bottom of a gallon-size empty water jug. Our kids deserve someone who has the utmost ethical standards representing them, LaFond said. The protests continued into the board meeting, where some addressed Rodriguez directly, calling on him to step down during public comment portions of the meeting. Rodriguez, through his chief of staff, declined to comment. Some parents outside the board meeting did not know about the charges against Rodriguez but came out to protest the possibility of sharing their school campuses with charter schools. Protesters also oppose colocation not all of the parents are here to ask Ref Rodriguez to step down pic.twitter.com/1Co8zQ9zSi Sonali Kohli (@Sonali_Kohli) April 10, 2018 Cynthia Martinez said her son, who goes to Christopher Dena Elementary School in Boyle Heights, has been bullied in the past by students from a charter school sharing the campus. She said she didnt know who Rodriguez was. Some parents and teachers are worried about losing computer labs, robotics rooms and fitness centers if they are required to share their campus with charter schools, said Ilse Escobar, a parent community organizer for United Teachers Los Angeles. The issues of Rodriguez and colocation are related, Escobar said. Rodriguez is part of a majority on the school board elected with financial backing from charter school supporters, and many parents, she said, feel that the school board is compromised if he is a part of it. Staff reporter Howard Blume contributed to this post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Delaine Eastin tries to gain momentum in the California governors race, one voter at a time By Seema Mehta Delaine Eastin was a sophomore in high school when a drama teacher urged her to try out for a part in The Man Who Came to Dinner. She hesitated until he told her: This is a metaphor for your whole life. If you never try out, you will never get the part. Eastin auditioned and won the role. Decades later, the advice sticks with the former state schools chief, this time in her unlikely run for governor. Despite calls for more women in leadership roles in state politics following sexual misconduct allegations in Sacramento, Eastin has been largely overlooked in the race, lagging far behind her Democratic rivals in fundraising and the polls. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Arizona high court rejects in-state tuition for DACA recipients By Associated Press Young immigrants granted deferred deportation status under a program started by President Obama are not eligible for lower in-state college tuition, the Arizona Supreme Court ruled Monday. The unanimous ruling will affect at least 2,000 students attending the states largest community college district and hundreds more at other colleges and the states three public universities. The Maricopa County Community Colleges District and state universities said they would begin raising tuition immediately for the coming school year. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New York high school students injured when bus strikes overpass By Associated Press A charter bus carrying teenagers returning from a spring break trip Sunday night struck a bridge overpass on Long Island, seriously injuring six passengers and mangling the entire length of the top of the bus. The crash happened shortly after 9 p.m. Sunday on the Southern State Parkway in Lakeview, according to New York State Police. One of the six injured passengers had very serious injuries, said State Police Maj. David Candelaria. Thirty-seven other passengers suffered minor injuries. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Some good news for California in national student test scores By Joy Resmovits National test scores for fourth- and eighth-graders were generally flat from 2015, but eighth-grade reading scores showed some improvement. Every two years, the nations fourth- and eighth-graders are tested in math and reading and newly released results from last years tests give California at least a little reason to be pleased. The 2017 results out Monday night were mostly flat nationwide compared with 2015, though the average score in eighth-grade reading went up. But while that improvement largely came from the increased scores of the highest-performing students, California eighth-graders showed some reading progress from the lowest levels to the highest. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Under state control, Inglewood school districts financial picture worsened By Anna M. Phillips When Eugenio Villa agreed to return to the Inglewood schools for a second tour last summer, he knew the district remained one of Californias most troubled. Inglewood Unified had been nearly insolvent when it was taken over by the state Department of Education in 2012. Six years later, its enrollment was still declining. Its school buildings were tired some edging into decrepitude. Its test scores and graduation rates were still below the state average. And the public was out of patience. Still, Villa, who had signed back on as the districts chief business official, was shocked at what he found when he arrived in June 2017. Two years earlier, he had left the school system on what he thought was firm ground. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Charter school group drops two lawsuits against L.A. Unified By Howard Blume A charter schools advocacy group last week announced that it would end two long-running lawsuits in which it was seeking more classroom space and construction money from the Los Angeles school district. The decision, the California Charter Schools Assn. said, reflects better relations between charter schools and the L.A. Unified School District. But the move also suggests that the litigation, which already contributed to significant gains for area charters, was unlikely to produce much more. It takes time, money and effort to litigate, said Ricardo Soto, general counsel for the charter group. Maybe its better to see if we can find the time and opportunity for collaboration. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print L.A. school board member Ref Rodriguez is arrested on suspicion of public intoxication By Richard Winton Los Angeles school board member Ref Rodriguez was arrested recently on suspicion of being drunk in public at a Pasadena restaurant, the latest trouble for an elected official who faces political money-laundering charges. Pasadena police took Rodriguez into custody on March 16, according to city spokeswoman Lisa Derderian. Officers arrested Rodriguez at about 4:30 p.m. at the Yard House restaurant and bar at the Paseo Mall and held him in jail for more than five-and-a-half hours. Rodriguez was ultimately released without being cited or charged, Derderian told The Times. Other details about the arrest were not available, she LIVE. Day 7: Participants of march have rest in park called "Komaygi" (video) 14.51 Leader of My Step initiative, and Civil Contract party Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters still are having rest rest in park called Komaygi. Young people dance folk dances from time to time. 14.20 The demonstrators decided not to stop at the Yerevan Municipality and continued the march next to the park called "Komaygi" where they would have a rest. Young activists also dance after a little rest, under the sounds of the zurna. 14.05 Synopsys Armenia employees go out to watch the march At the moment the participants of the march reached the building of the municipality, where policemen are armed with helmets. Nikol Pashinyan asked for a little rest in the park. Meanwhile, the demonstrators passed by Synopsys Armenia. The company employees went out and in their words not to strike, but to watch the march. 13.05 Isakov Avenue is closed by the demonstrators until all detainees are released Head of the "My Step" initiative Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters closed the Isakov avenues two lines. Nikol Pashinyan announced: "As the police take those who were in the last raws of the march, our march continues and closes Isakov's two lanes until they are released." 12.31 33 citizens were taken to police stations Nikol Pashinyan, who did not reach the Hayrenik cinema, asked for a break for a moment and sat down on the ground. The march is currently in the pause. Police informs A1 + that 33 citizents have been brought to police stations at the moment. 12.25 At Yerevan Mall, the protesters were welcomed by the chain of the police special forces The demonstrators continue to walk on Arshakunyats street, closing it on both sides. The march is accompanied by police. They came to the Yerevan Mall shopping center. The protesters were welcomed by the chain of the special police forces. After staying for a few minutes, the demonstrators moved to the Hayrenik cinema. 11.59 Movement participants while blowing vuvuzels The number of participants in the movement is increasing. Vuvuzels have also been added to the gifted drums. At a Walmart parking lot in Barstow this month, shoppers ducked for cover as police opened fire on a black man inside a car. When the confrontation ended, Diante Yarber was dead in a fusillade of what some witnesses counted as 30 shots from officers. Now, his family is saying the gunfire was excessive, and the case is generating national interest. A grainy cellphone video captured the sound of the barrage of gunfire as police officers rounds pierced the black Ford Mustang being driven by the 26-year-old man. But the video does not show the full incident. Advertisement Authorities said Yarber was shot dead after he reversed his vehicle, striking a police car, then accelerated toward officers. Police say he then reversed again toward officers, hitting a second cruiser. Family members and attorneys dispute the scenario and point to a part of the video that appears to show the Mustang moving slowly backward as officers fired. They dont have a justification for stopping this car. They saw a car full of black people in front of a Walmart and that was suspicious, said S. Lee Merritt, a nationally known civil rights attorney now representing Yarbers family. I dont believe I have seen a more brutal shooting. They just began pouring bullets into the car in broad daylight. The car was barely rolling backward. You can walk faster than that. Attorneys and family members of Diante Yarber said video captured by a witness seems to show that Yarbers Ford Mustang was moving slowly backward as Barstow police officers repeatedly shot into the vehicle. Yarber was shot dead by police while at t The April 5 killing of the man known as Butchie spawned a march by about 100 protesters to City Hall and police headquarters. The incident came a month after the high-profile killing of another African American young man, Stephon Clark, by police in Sacramento. The Yarber case is now under investigation by San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department homicide detectives. San Bernardino County will review that probe and decide whether to file charges. The killing in the community of about 23,000, where 14.6% of the population is black, is adding fuel to the growing concern about race relations and police tactics. We have not heard one word from the city, said Aleta Yarber, Diante Yarbers aunt, whose son was in the back seat of the Mustang, which he owns. Thank God he wasnt hit too. Advertisement Barstow city officials Wednesday refused to answer further questions about the shooting. The city police department continues to stand firm in its commitment of full cooperation with the County Sheriffs Department in this matter, wrote Anthony Riley, a city spokesman. The city of Barstow and San Bernardino County Sheriffs Department earlier offed a narrative of what happened. Sheriffs officials said Barstow officers responded to a report of a suspicious vehicle. Officers believed the driver was a subject wanted for questioning in a recent crime involving a stolen vehicle. Officials wont say whether Yarber was the person wanted. Sheriffs officials said that after the officers attempted a traffic stop on the Mustang, Yarber tried to flee, first reversing into one police cruiser before accelerating again toward officers and hitting a second patrol vehicle. At that point, officers opened fire. Officials declined to state how many times officers fired. Two officers have been placed on paid administrative leave. Advertisement Yarber had prior convictions for escaping the police and misdemeanor domestic violence and was on three years probation at the time of the shooting. Court records show he was charged in March with violating his community supervision. But authorities have not said whether officers knew the drivers identity. He was pronounced dead at the scene while a 23-year-old female passenger was airlifted to a trauma center with multiple gunshot wounds. He is the father of three girls, ages 9, 7 and 1. Two other young men fled from the car during the incident, officials said. Aleta Yarber said that the official statement isnt credible and that her son was in the back of the car throughout the entire shooting: Its a two-door car. He couldnt get out. When her son eventually did climb from the car, he was held at the police station until 11 p.m. for questions, she said. Yarber said that police would not tell her what happened and that for a while, all she knew was the driver of her family car had been shot dead. Advertisement Jaenya, the 9-year-old daughter of Diante Yarber, in a photo provided by the familys attorney. (S. Lee Merritt ) Dale Galipo, an attorney for the wounded female passenger, said she suffered serious injuries two gunshot wounds that while no longer life-threatening are life-altering. The shooting was unjustified, and the police version of events contradicts information in the video and given by eyewitnesses, said Galipo, who also represents the family of Clark in Sacramento. Galipo added that even if it were the case that officers were in the path of the vehicle, training and policies dictate that officers not fire at a moving car. Advertisement You dont shoot the driver because killing him sends the vehicle out of control. You have passengers who you can hit, he said. Naliyah, the 9-year-old daughter of Diante Yarber, in a photo provided by the familys attorney. (S. Lee Merritt ) Barstow police since 2014 have worn body cameras, but so far the city has not released any footage or said whether the incident was recorded. I will be very interested to see the videos and hear the suspicious vehicle call, said attorney Merritt, who notes the shooting echoes that of 15-year-old Jordan Edwards in 2017 in Texas, which led to charges against an officer. Were getting our own autopsy done. Advertisement Many major police departments and international police organizations direct officers not to fire their weapons into moving cars unless under the most extreme circumstances. The LAPD 13 years ago prohibited its officers from firing at moving vehicles unless another deadly threat exists. The tightening of policy came after the fatal shooting of 13-year-old Devin Brown, who had led police on a short car chase. The Police Executive Research Forum has also advised departments to add bans on shooting at vehicles to their policies. But such shootings have continued. Last year a Texas police officer was indicted in Dallas for murder and aggravated assault in the shooting death of Edwards. The African American teenager was shot in the head by a white officer as he drove away from police after leaving a party. But Ed Obayashi, a Plumas County deputy and legal advisor who is a police shooting expert, said despite these tightened policies, it remains permissible for officers to fire on moving cars if they perceive the vehicle as a threat to life. Advertisement The video shows the tail end of the incident from a cellphone perspective with a car seemingly moving slower, he said. But it doesnt show you what happened with the car before. It does not show anything resembling an unreasonable shooting at this stage, Obayashi added. He said the number of shots fired at Yarber is not unusual when officers are dealing with a moving target. richard.winton@latimes.com Twitter: @lacrimes Advertisement UPDATES: 3:30 p.m.: This article was updated with quotes from experts and information on use of force policies. This article was originally published at 7:20 a.m. Elon Musks vision for a tunnel network that could whisk people across Los Angeles County in minutes hints at a future where commuting in Southern California could be easier, or even seamless. His companys efforts to fast-track construction for a tunnel where that technology could be tested has been relatively seamless, too so far. On Wednesday, the Los Angeles City Councils public works committee unanimously approved an environmental review exemption for a tunnel that could run 2.7 miles through West Los Angeles, providing a space for Musks Boring Co. engineers to hone digging techniques and test their proposed transportation technology. City Councilmen Paul Koretz and Joe Buscaino said they wanted to quickly approve any proposal that could help untangle L.A.s infamous traffic. If the full City Council approves the California Environmental Quality Act exemption, it would shave months, or even years, off the Boring Co.s construction time. Advertisement We cannot continue an item thats going to delay innovation to our city, said Buscaino, whose district includes San Pedro, Harbor Gateway and the port of Los Angeles, where Musk plans to build a rocket to Mars. But transportation advocates and transit riders have questioned whether the city is rushing through the exemption process for a new form of technology. Digging through one of Southern Californias densest areas should require full analysis, they said, particularly for a project that will use untested technology in the public right of way, and could eventually carry passengers. This feels rushed. If the city doesnt grant an exception today, theres nothing stopping them from granting it three months from now, once they have more information, Marlon Boarnet, the chair of the USC urban planning department, said in an interview before the vote. Rescinding something is much more difficult. One concern, he said, is whether the test tunnel and the eventual transportation network that Musk envisions across the county could interfere with the Metropolitan Transportation Authoritys plans to build a subway through the Sepulveda Pass. In a letter sent Tuesday to Musk, Metro Chief Executive Phil Washington said state law gives the agency the authority to approve all plans proposed for the design, construction, and implementation of public mass transit systems. To address those concerns, the public works committee recommended Wednesday that the Boring Co. seek approval from Metro before digging can start. A Boring Co. spokesman, who declined to be named, said the company believes the exemption is appropriate and that the tunnel will be used only for testing. But there is a chance the route could someday carry passengers, if the company secures the proper permits, deputy city engineer Ted Allen told The Times. Advertisement The Boring Co. said employees would complete an environmental impact report and secure all the necessary permits before any passenger service could begin. Theres pushback on just about every project, regardless of its validity, Koretz said in an interview. I think theyve taken enough steps and analysis to at least allow them to get into the earth from private property, and to begin digging. At Wednesdays meeting at City Hall, Allen told City Council members that a 1,561-page memorandum prepared by a consultant for the Boring Co. found no foreseeable significant impacts from tunneling. The tunnels proposed route runs parallel to Sepulveda Boulevard, starting at Pico Boulevard in the city of Los Angeles and running as far south as Washington Boulevard in Culver City. The only entrance to the tunnel would be located in what is currently a lumber yard and welding area, the company said. Advertisement The tunnel would be 30 to 70 feet below ground, and would not have any stations along the way, which would help avoid major utility lines and other underground hazards that can slow or complicate construction, the company said. The exemption the Boring Co. is pursuing, called a class 32 categorical exemption, allows developments to skip an environmental impact report if they can be built on less than five acres of land, using existing zoning laws, public services and utility lines. A tunnel diameter of 12 feet, about half as wide as the typical Metro subway tunnel, would bring the projects total area just under the CEQA exemption size limit. The project almost seems tailor-made to shoehorn in, said Juan Matute, a UCLA lecturer in urban planning. I never in my wildest dreams expected that anyone would propose to use this exemption for this project. Advertisement The Boring Co. has posted maps online showing potential tunnels to Sherman Oaks, Long Beach Airport, Santa Monica, Dodger Stadium and USC. Those plans could make it easier for opponents to challenge the Boring Co.s CEQA exemption in court, Matute said, because the law does not allow developers to build segments of projects without studying the overall effect of any possible future network. At the Wednesday committee meeting, Metro rider Robert Rieth, 58, of Sherman Oaks described the CEQA exemption as a speed-to-market subsidy that could provide an unfair advantage to the private sector, disadvantaging Metro. The last great public good, the ground beneath our feet, needs to be more responsibly managed than this giveaway, Rieth said. The technology the Boring Co. is pursuing would be zero-emission, and could carry passengers through a network of tunnels at speeds of up to 130 mph. Advertisement A video released by the firm last year shows a driver steering onto a car-sized platform on the street, parallel to the curb. The platform sinks downward like an elevator, then whisks laterally through the tunnel. Pedestrians and cyclists could use the system by boarding a capsule that could carry eight to 16 people. Last month, the citys Board of Building and Safety Commissioners approved the companys application to truck away 80,000 cubic yards of dirt from the excavation site, which could create up to 66 daily truck trips. The Boring Co. said the disruptive work that residents associate with tunneling, including hauling dirt away, occurs largely at the surface. Tunneling itself is quiet, and often even imperceptible, because it occurs so far below ground. The minimal noise would allow crews to work underground for up to 20 hours a day, finishing the 2.7-mile route in about nine months, consultants for the Boring Co. wrote in their memo to city engineering officials. Advertisement laura.nelson@latimes.com For more transportation news, follow @laura_nelson on Twitter. Soon after Neal MacDougall arrived on the Cal Poly San Luis Obispo campus Tuesday, the professor noticed university police standing outside a restroom near his office. A racial slur against African Americans had been scrawled in red marker on a stall wall. Later, he discovered a series of racist fliers pinned up next to his door. Someone had also slashed posters hed hung outside his office supporting students in the country illegally. The discovery was the latest controversy on the prestigious campus which the president said is less than 55% white that MacDougall said demonstrates a culture of racism at the university. Last week, photographs emerged of white fraternity members, including one in blackface, flashing gang signs. That same weekend, minority students had hosted a diversity event for high school students. Advertisement A lot of African American, Latino, Asian students felt they were perpetrating a fraud, said MacDougall, who has been teaching in the universitys agribusiness department for about two decades. They just told all these high school students this was a good place to be. In a statement Tuesday, university President Jeffrey Armstrong announced an indefinite suspension of all Panhellenic and Interfraternity Council fraternities and sororities. We are also seeking to meet with our underrepresented students to address their concerns and discuss the actions we are taking to support them and diversity and inclusion on our campus, Armstrong wrote. University spokesman Matt Lazier called the latest postings of hateful and racist comments desperate acts of a few who aim to spread hate and divide our community. He said any actions that violate university policy or 1st Amendment rights, including threats of physical violence or expression that constitutes harassment, will result in discipline, up to expulsion and possibly even criminal charges. In no uncertain terms, the university abhors and denounces hateful and racist speech and actions they are inconsistent with our values at Cal Poly, Lazier said. We must use this time to reject hate and come together as a community to foster a constructive dialogue and begin the healing process. MacDougall posted photos to Facebook of the fliers he found outside his office. One suggested that skin tone was correlated with homicide and rape rates, along with IQ numbers. Another listed the number of species and subspecies of gorillas, chimpanzees and other animals. The flier then went on to say: Advertisement So now you tell me, are all groups of humans the same subspecies or even the same species? Do we have one set of rules for humans, and another set of rules for all other organisms? Is that scientific? Do you honestly believe that there is only one species of human, and one subspecies at that??? Two of MacDougalls own posters were slashed through with an X. One said, I am an unafraid educator! As a professor/instructor I work with an for undocumented students and families at Cal Poly-SLO. The other was a photo of a woman in an American flag hijab, with the message: We the people are greater than fear. That I found even more disturbing because, you know, theres this undertone of violence to that act, MacDougall said. Advertisement He called the police but they didnt show up, he said, and he was advised to just take the fliers down. He said the universitys weak response, which he believes is more focused on damage control rather than solving underlying issues, reinforces that this behavior is OK. A lot of the response is this kind of crisis response that we see corporations do: What do we say to not make the things worse, MacDougall said. We have to be honest with each other about what has happened. alene.tchekmedyian@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @AleneTchek A series of controversial tweets a Cal State Fresno English professor posted Tuesday evening mocking the death of former First Lady Barbara Bush has sparked intense backlash online as well as a university inquiry. Randa Jarrar, an author and associate professor who teaches creative writing at the school, stirred outrage with tweets she sent within an hour of the announcement that Bush the wife of President George H.W. Bush and mother of George W. Bush had died. Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who, along with her husband, raised a war criminal, Jarrar wrote on Twitter. Im happy the witch is dead. cant wait for the rest of her family to fall to their demise the way 1.5 million iraqis have. byyyeeeeeeee, she wrote. Advertisement As Twitter users began to criticize her en masse she wrote that she was dancing happily on the grave of someone I despise. Its SO FUN. As the whirlwind of anger kicked up, Jarrar taunted her critics, bragging about her $100,000 salary as a tenured professor. She also shared the phone number of a suicide hotline at Arizona State University, claiming it was her own number. She also declared: I will never be fired. University leaders Wednesday pushed back at Jarrars comments, which came about a year after another professor at the campus was placed on paid leave after writing on Twitter that President Trump must hang to save American democracy. A professor with tenure does not have blanket protection to say and do what they wish, Cal State Fresno President Joseph Castro told the Fresno Bee. We are all held accountable for our actions. This was beyond free speech. This was disrespectful, Castro told the newspaper. Provost Lynnette Zelezny said at a news conference Wednesday that Jarrar has been on leave this semester but is expected to return in the fall. She said that the university was beginning a review of Jarrars tweets but could not discuss any aspects of the professors employment, calling the issue a personnel matter. Zelezny said the review would be thorough and would involve the university systems lawyers, union representatives and Jarrar. Advertisement Does tenure mean that you, technically, cannot be fired? The answer to that is no, Zelezny said. We are a community where we respect diverse opinions and diverse thoughts, she said. We very much do want to hear the voices of others we again want it to be in a climate of respect. Jarrar canceled a planned appearance at a literary gathering at Fresno City College set for this weekend and has turned her Twitter feed private. A statement on her website says: I do not read or respond to messages about Barbara Bush and concludes with a red heart emoji. The nonprofit Foundation for Individual Rights in Education, which advocates for free speech rights on college campuses fired back at Cal State Fresno, calling the universitys review of Jarrars tweets unfortunate and unwise. Advertisement Fresno State correctly acknowledges that Jarrars tweets were made as a private citizen. As such, and because they touched upon a matter of public concern, Jarrars tweets are unquestionably protected speech under the First Amendment and Fresno State has no power to censor, punish, or terminate Jarrar for them, wrote Adam Steinbaugh, a commentator for the nonprofit. Jarrar is the American-born daughter of Palestinian and Egyptian parents, and grew up in the Persian Gulf, in Cairo and on the East Coast. Her 2008 novel A Map of Home chronicles the life of a girl growing up between the Middle East and the U.S. A Los Angeles Times review of her 2017 collection of short stories Him, Me, Muhammad Ali called Jarrars work sharp and irreverent, sometimes even unapologetically crude. Jarrar referenced 2005 comments Bush made about her sons administrations slow response to Hurricane Katrina. Advertisement While touring the Houston Astrodome, which was used as a relocation center for New Orleans residents, Bush commented: Many of the people in the arena here, you know, were underprivileged anyway, so this is working very well for them, she said. The administration defended the remark as a personal observation based on her conversations with people who were grateful for the help Texas gave them. Flush with revenue from a strong economy, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti is looking to ramp up efforts to fix buckled sidewalks, rebuild the citys most damaged roads and reduce the number of traffic deaths. The mayors $9.9-billion budget, which was released Thursday, relies on a 5.6% increase in key revenues, such as property, sales and hotel bed taxes, according to city budget analysts. The spending plan, which covers the fiscal year that starts July 1, will also experience a boost in revenue from Airbnb and marijuana sales. And it will depend on an influx of extra money from a state gas tax $67 million over the coming year as well as from Measure M, a voter-approved tax hike to pay for transportation projects. Garcetti aides say those and other revenues will allow the city to expand an array of services, providing: Advertisement $41 million for sidewalk repairs, up from $31 million this year $73 million for reconstruction of the citys worst streets, up from $30 million this year $90 million for projects aimed at improving street safety, including new crosswalks, improved traffic signals and curb extensions projects that extend a sidewalk deeper into an intersection. The city had budgeted $78 million this year, according to mayoral aides. Garcetti billed his upcoming budget as the citys most stable financial plan in years, the latest sign of a decadelong recovery from a crushing recession. Weve made prudent decisions. Weve secured new revenues. And now were in a position to fund new programs and grow the ones that we know work, he said. Part of the mayors new spending plan includes $73 million for reconstruction of the citys worst streets. Crane Boulevard in Mount Washington is a deeply rutted street that lacks sidewalks. (Luis Sinco / Los Angeles Times ) The City Council is expected to take up Garcettis proposal this month. So far, it is drawing praise from Councilman Mike Bonin, who was a pointed critic of the mayors previous spending plan. Last year, Bonin argued that Garcetti had allocated too few resources for Vision Zero, a city initiative aimed at eliminating traffic deaths by 2025. This time, Bonin said he is happy to see plans for additional street safety measures, arguing that the city is experiencing an epidemic of death on local streets. South Los Angeles experienced four fatal crashes in the span of a week, three of them hit-and-runs. The number of pedestrians killed has jumped 82% since 2015. This is a good investment, and a bigger investment, and Im happy about it, said Bonin, who represents coastal neighborhoods. Its never going to be everything I want, but Im glad with the direction were going in. Garcetti laid out his strategy for addressing homelessness earlier this week, promising to put $20 million into emergency shelters. Since then, he has announced plans to beef up the number of cleanup and outreach teams that respond to encampments, taking the number of staff from 74 to 140 in January. Advertisement Mayor Eric Garcetti is releases his $9.9-billion budget. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times ) Garcetti also wants to use this years budget to hire an additional 58 firefighters and reduce wait times for 311, the citys hotline for reporting graffiti, abandoned couches and other neighborhood-level issues. Although tax revenues are growing in a variety of ways, the city also is facing increased workforce costs. For example, budget officials are expecting to spend $38 million to cover a one-year salary agreement negotiated by the Los Angeles Police Protective League, the rank-and-file officers union. That agreement, which is heading to the council for a final vote, is expected to provide raises of up to 5% for police officers and up to 4.5% for detectives at the Los Angeles Police Department. Still unclear is how much the city will need to allocate for a new salary agreement with the Coalition of L.A. City Unions, which represents civilian city workers and has a contract expiring this summer. Advertisement Los Angeles is also on track to spend $1.2 billion on employee pensions and retiree healthcare, an increase of more than 8%, Garcetti aides said. Retirement costs are projected to make up more than 19% of the citys general fund next year, which pays for such core services as police patrols and paramedics. Those costs are up $92 million compared with the prior fiscal year, city officials said. Even though Los Angeles is in the midst of a renaissance, the citys elected leaders need to confront some serious financial challenges, said Christopher Thornberg, founding partner of the research firm Beacon Economics. The city still has an enormous backlog of infrastructure repairs, due in part to work halted during the recession. Meanwhile, retirement costs are continuing to consume a huge share of the budget, he said. Advertisement When the economy slows down again, things could get ugly at City Hall, Thornberg added. Theres really almost no conversation whatsoever about how were going to get through the next slowdown, and that to me is a problem, he said. Were not facing up to the problems we have. Garcetti, appearing at a news conference on the budget, argued that the city is already taking steps to weather the next downturn, by ensuring that next years reserve is equal to about 5.5% of the general fund budget, which pays for core services. Today were in a much stronger and much more stable place, he said. Advertisement david.zahniser@latimes.com Twitter: @DavidZahniser dakota.smith@latimes.com Twitter: @dakotacdsmith Advertisement UPDATES: 5:05 p.m.: This article was updated with reaction and additional details from the budget. 12:05 p.m.: This article was updated with a comment from Mayor Eric Garcetti. This article was originally published at 10 a.m. Kathleen Dursts former medical school mentor testified Wednesday that during a conversation in 1981 she told him she lived in fear of her husband, New York real estate tycoon Robert Durst, who she said had a homicidal side. Kathleen vanished in 1982 and her body has never been recovered. No one has been charged in connection with her disappearance. But Robert Durst was charged in the 2000 slaying of best friend Susan Berman, a killing prosecutors contend was to prevent her from telling authorities what she knew about Kathleens disappearance. Prosecutors and Kathleens family members believe the real estate magnate also murdered his wife. Durst, 75, has denied killing either woman. Advertisement Wednesdays testimony in a Los Angeles courtroom came during a preliminary hearing to determine if there is enough evidence to hold Durst over for trial in the murder of Berman, 55, an author and the daughter of a Las Vegas mob boss. The multimillionaire was taken into custody by federal agents in a New Orleans hotel March 14, 2015. A day later, the finale of a six-part HBO documentary about his life, The Jinx, aired, including an audio segment of Durst mumbling what some interpreted as a confession to multiple murders those of Berman, his wife and Morris Black, a neighbor in Texas. Durst said he shot Black in self-defense while trying to defend himself in a struggle and admitted to dismembering the body. He was ultimately acquitted. His defense team has argued that his arrest in connection with Bermans slaying wasnt based on facts, but on hype surrounding the documentary. Peter Wilk the now-retired surgeon who mentored Kathleen years ago said that of the hundreds of young medical students hed met, she stood out as mature and poised. But something else about her struck him as well: She was terrified. After Kathleen fell behind in school, he met with the extremely emotional student who told him that she was divorcing her husband. Wilk testified that she then used a chilling phrase that has always stayed with him: She said there was a homicidal side to him. During his testimony, prosecutors displayed notes Wilk said he took during the 1981 meeting that included the phrases in the midst of divorce not very pleasant, assaulted and homicidal side. Despite Kathleens struggles, Wilk said she managed to make up the work and he ultimately wrote her a passing grade for her surgical clerkship. Since learning of her disappearance, Wilk said, hes harbored guilt. Advertisement She had told me she thought she was in danger, she told me she thought her husband might kill her, the doctor said. I wonder now, if I couldve done more to protect her. During cross-examination, a member of Dursts defense team, Chip Lewis, said that divorce papers hadnt been filed at the time Kathleen spoke with Wilk. The attorney also seemed to suggest that Kathleens shaking during the conversation might be attributed to cocaine use rather than her emotions. On Tuesday, Los Angeles Police Officer Rashad Sharif testified that on December 24, 2000, he and his partner responded to a home on Benedict Canyon Drive for a welfare check after a concerned neighbor called 911 to report Bermans backdoor had been left open. Sharif testified that he, his partner and two other officers who arrived before them discovered a body splayed on the floor near the doorway of a bedroom. Advertisement Prosecutors showed crime scene photos of Berman, who was barefoot and dressed in blue pajama bottoms and a white shirt, lying on her back with her arms outstretched. Blood had dried on her face. Nearby, two of Bermans dogs had left several bloody paw prints on the hardwood floors. The officer testified that there were no signs of a burglary no shattered windows, no overturned furniture and both a computer and a purse had been left in plain sight. Sharif also testified that although Bermans home is in the city of Los Angeles, many people mistake the area for Beverly Hills. Prosecutors will probably argue at trial that Durst made that geographical mix-up. At an earlier hearing, Deputy Dist. Atty. John Lewin displayed an envelope addressed with a misspelling to Beverley Hills Police. Inside the envelope, prosecutors say, was an anonymous note sent to authorities around the time of Bermans death, alerting them to a cadaver inside her home. A longtime friend of the multimillionaire testified that the handwriting looked like Dursts. During cross-examination, Dursts lead attorney, Dick DeGuerin, seemed to suggest the crime scene may have been contaminated. When asked if he or any of the other officers inside the home were wearing protective gear such as shoe covers when they discovered the body, Sharif said no. Advertisement Bermans friend Daniel Goldberg testified Tuesday that during his last conversation with her, Berman said that she was expecting to see Durst during the holidays. She also told him, Goldberg said, that Durst feared authorities would reinvestigate Kathleens disappearance. In a 2015 recording of a call with authorities, which was played in court, Goldberg recalled asking Berman what she thought happened to Kathleen. She said, You know, Im a gangsters daughter so I have different standards for friends. But I think he probably, he he he killed her, Goldberg said on the recording. But on the stand, Goldberg said he now believed Berman was telling him that even if Durst had killed Kathleen, shed still be his friend. Advertisement Another friend, Ricki Ring, testified that after Bermans death, she made an anonymous call to police. I just said, Susan was not killed because of anything to do with the mob. Bob Durst killed her, Ring said, adding that she couldnt recall if she spoke to an officer or left a voicemail. Durst will return to court Thursday as prosecutors gather testimony from conditional witnesses who may be unavailable during the trial. The preliminary hearing will resume in October. marisa.gerber@latimes.com Advertisement For more news from the Los Angeles County courts, follow me on Twitter: @marisagerber The brother of a man who was shot to death by Sacramento police an episode that sparked widespread community protest has been arrested on suspicion of making threats and annoying or harassing calls to 911, according to county jail records. Stevante Ralonzo Clark, 25, was arrested by Sacramento police just after noon Thursday on suspicion of threatening to commit crime resulting in death or great bodily injury, a felony, according to jail records. He was also arrested on suspicion of calling a 911 emergency line with intent to annoy or harass, a misdemeanor. He is being held without bail, according to the Sacramento County Sheriff Department website. Records show he is scheduled to appear in court Friday afternoon. Clarks brother, Stephon Clark, was shot to death by police in his grandmothers backyard on March 18. The officers had responded to reports of a vandal in the area. Advertisement Body camera footage from the incident showed that an officer yelled that Clark had a gun before they opened fire. Clark was not armed he was carrying a cellphone. The city has seen widespread protests since the shooting, which demonstrators say was another example of excessive force by law enforcement against black men. joseph.serna@latimes.com For breaking California news, follow @JosephSerna on Twitter. Californias top auditor Thursday sharply criticized the states response to homelessness, recommending more spending and a stronger state role. California should do more to address homelessness, the audit concluded. California has more people experiencing homelessness than any other state in the nation, and it does a poor job of sheltering this vulnerable population. Other states with large homeless populations spend more per capita to shelter them and have single statewide entities dedicated to addressing homelessness, it said. The audit was ordered last year in response to complaints from state Sen. Scott Wilk (R-Santa Clarita) that the Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority was shortchanging the Antelope Valley in shelter funding. Advertisement Only mildly faulting the homeless authority for not developing adequate procedures to ensure all areas receive a fair share of resources, the audit broadened into a sweeping statewide analysis. Until recently, California lacked a single statewide entity for addressing homelessness and had no mechanism for coordinating the many homeless programs that the state funds, it said. The entity recently created for that purpose, the Homeless Coordinating and Financing Council, has no permanent staff. The audit recommended that the Legislature provide funds for a staff, including an executive director, and direct the agency to develop and implement a statewide strategic plan by next April. That plan should identify additional funding sources and include objectives and timelines for addressing homelessness, it said. A spokeswoman for State Auditor Elaine Howle said the reports scope expanded as auditors pursued their charge to explore best practices and assess any other significant issues. Wilk praised the audit for highlighting what is obvious to many Californians. In a statement released by his office, he said, Years of bureaucratic malaise and inefficiencies have to be addressed if we are to get a handle on this problem and find a path that gets services and housing to the people that need it. While not recommending specific funding amounts, the audit contrasted spending in Los Angeles County with New York City. Advertisement New Yorks Department of Homeless Services budgets about $17,000 annually per homeless person in local, state and federal funds and shelters all but about 5% of the citys homeless population. In Los Angeles, the audit estimated, annual spending is only about $5,000 per person and three-quarters of the homeless population has no shelter. Much of the audit focused on other parts of the state, especially rural areas where resources are spread so thin that agencies have a hard time meeting basic federal requirements such as conducting annual homeless counts and maintaining databases of homeless people. The beefed-up state council should assist those agencies, it said. The state audit comes two weeks after a fiscal review by Los Angeles County auditors found weaknesses in the homeless authoritys finance operation including understaffing and lack of management oversight. Advertisement In response, Los Angeles County Supervisor Mark Ridley-Thomas called for the countys chief executive, assisted by the auditor-controller and the county counsel, to recommend immediate and long-term structural improvements. Examining Wilks complaint, the state auditor found significant funding variations among service areas in Los Angeles County, with the smallest amount going to areas outside the city of Los Angeles. But it said the homeless authority had a reasonable process to evaluate funding applications. Disparities were partly the result of some areas lacking service providers to apply for funds. But the audit added that the authority did a poor job of identifying barriers faced by potential service providers and helping them make successful applications. Advertisement doug.smith@latimes.com @LATDoug San Diego officials scrambled Wednesday to respond to backlash from the public over 35 parking citations the city gave to people trying to honor a fallen Marine on Tuesday morning. Criticism on social media quickly prompted Mayor Kevin Faulconer to announce the tickets would be rescinded, but city officials were unsure exactly how to handle that. Two vehicle owners had already paid their $65 fines online. The backlash focused on why the city would ticket people waving American flags and lining the funeral route of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Derik Holley, who died April 3 in a helicopter crash near El Centro. City officials defended the parking enforcement agents who issued the tickets, explaining they were unaware of the funeral procession, which traveled from Miramar National Cemetery through La Jolla and Clairemont. Advertisement So the agents ticketed 35 vehicles parked on Balboa Arms Drive in Clairemont, which is located near where the route ended at Clairemont Mortuary on Mount Abernathy Avenue. If there was an informal notification on the part of the mortuary, the organizers or the procession, we would have worked to accommodate that and been sensitive to it, said city spokesman Anthony Santacroce. This wasnt a draconian thing where they were going to get a ticket either way. Santacroce said criticism on social media was the first city officials heard of the situation, and the mayor immediately posted on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon that the citations would be voided. San Diego supports its heroes, Faulconer tweeted. Due to the special circumstances of todays memorial service, those who received parking citations this morning on Balboa Arms Dr. will have their tickets rescinded. The City of San Diego salutes Marine Gunnery Sgt. Derik Holley and his family. Santacroce said the two people who already paid their fines would get refunds. City officials also made sure Wednesday that none of the people ticketed would receive citations in the mail. Officials were also exploring whether to send letters explaining the situation to all 35 people who were cited, he said. Some might wonder why they never got a mail citation after finding one on their car. We dont want there to be any prolonged confusion or stress on the parts of the participants, Santacroce said. The initial criticism on Twitter evolved into a debate about which types of events are significant enough to warrant suspension of parking restrictions and significant enough to warrant criticism of the city if tickets end up getting issued. Advertisement What if just as a thought experiment the event was a memorial for a man shot by police, like Alfred Olango in El Cajon, and tickets were given out, asked Twitter user John Sepulvado. Or say a memorial for a homeless man attacked and killed. Santacroce said he doubted the procession for Holley would have qualified for a city special event permit, characterizing it as more of an informal exercise of free speech. But he said those involved could still have given the city a heads up about the procession, which lasted from roughly 10 to 11 a.m. Santacroce said the tickets, which were for street sweeping violations, were also the result of unfortunate timing. Advertisement The south side of Balboa Arms gets swept once a month, on each third Thursday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Before the sweeping vehicle comes through, a parking enforcement officer from the citys Transportation and Stormwater Department comes through the area and tickets any cars parked there. Those agents, who drive pickup trucks, are different than the parking enforcement agents that ticket vehicles for meter violations and other offenses, who drive small vehicles sometimes called jitneys. If the city had been notified about the procession and alerted street sweeping crews, they could have adjusted their route, and they certainly wouldnt have written any tickets, Santacroce said. Advertisement Garrick writes for the San Diego Union-Tribune. No criminal charges will be filed against the doctor and other associates who gave pain pills to Prince before the music megastar died of an accidental opioid overdose, officials announced Thursday. The doctor, who maintains his innocence and continues to practice, agreed to pay a $30,000 civil fine as part of settlement with the U.S. attorney of Minnesota. Prince Rogers Nelson died at his estate in Chanhassen, Minn., on April 21, 2016, after unknowingly taking a counterfeit Vicodin pill that actually contained the far more potent opioid fentanyl, Carver County Atty. Mark Metz said at a televised news conference, marking the end of a two-year investigation into Princes death. Prince thought he was taking Vicodin and not fentanyl, Metz said, saying the fentanyl-laced pills Prince took were an exact imitation of Vicodin pills. Metz said officials had found no evidence of a sinister motive or intent to kill Prince. Advertisement Princes death is a tragic example, Metz said, that opioids do not discriminate. The investigation, which remained cloaked in secrecy until this week, was a striking examination of the life of an acclaimed celebrity who was felled at the age of 57 by an increasingly familiar culprit in the deaths of thousands of Americans. Paisley Park, Princes private estate and production complex, is illuminated with purple light at night. (Michael S. Williamson / Washington Post ) Prince, beloved for his energetic performances since his rise to worldwide stardom in the 1980s, had become addicted to opioids after suffering from chronic pain, Metz said. Notoriously private Prince didnt even own a cellphone he never got a prescription in his own name and instead obtained pain pills illegally through associates. Shortly before his death, at least one doctor illegally gave Prince pills, though not the drug that killed the artist, officials said. On April 7, 2016, at the request of Kirk Johnson, a close Prince associate, Dr. Michael Todd Schulenberg examined Prince at a local clinic after the star complained of vomiting and some numbness and tingling, Metz said. Schulenberg gave Prince intravenous fluids along with a prescription for Vitamin D and another noncontrolled medication to control nausea except the doctor agreed to put the prescriptions in Johnsons name to protect Princes privacy, Metz said, a violation of the federal Controlled Substances Act. Soon after, Johnson asked the doctor to prescribe Prince pain medication when the star apparently hurt his back while lifting equipment, Metz said. The doctor agreed to prescribe 15 Percocet pain pills in Johnsons name, Metz said. Advertisement Schulenberg has denied intentionally prescribing drugs to Johnson that were actually intended for Prince. Johnson, who was not charged, also has denied that he had anything to do with the death of his close friend, his attorney, F. Clayton Tyler, said in a statement. On April 14, 2016, while flying back to Minnesota from a concert in Atlanta, investigators think Prince suffered an opioid overdose after unwittingly taking a counterfeit Vicodin pill that was laced with fentanyl. He was resuscitated with Narcan at an airport in Illinois, Metz said. On April 18, Johnson told Schulenberg that he was worried about Princes opioid use, and Schulenberg again examined Prince, who asked about opioid withdrawal, Metz said. Schulenberg gave Prince prescriptions for clonidine, a drug sometimes used to treat opioid withdrawal symptoms, as well as an antihistamine similar to Benadryl, Metz said. Advertisement Schulenberg also referred Prince for opioid dependency treatment, which led Princes staff to contact a treatment center, Recovery Without Walls, in Mill Valley, Calif., which sent a staff member a doctors son to Minnesota to assess Prince for treatment. On April 21, Schulenberg contacted Johnson to tell the aide that he had test results from examining Prince. But when Schulenberg arrived at Princes Paisley Park estate that morning to discuss the results, the star was already dead. Metz said Prince did not die as a result of the Percocet pills Schulenberg prescribed. The performers body was discovered by Johnson, Princes assistant Meron Bekure and Andrew Kornfeld, the Recovery Without Walls staffer, who called 911. My client, Kirk Johnson, is relieved that no charges have been filed against him by state or federal authorities, Tyler said Thursday. Princes death was a tragedy that few could experience more deeply than Kirk Johnson. Todays decision affirms his innocence, and he will continue to mourn and honor his friend every day. Advertisement In a tribute to Prince, the Los Angeles County Museum of Art decided that the water in the popular Rain Room installation would be turned purple. (Barbara Davidson / Los Angeles Times ) Schulenbergs presence at Paisley Park that morning and his treatment of the star was not initially disclosed by investigators and instead was revealed in a sealed search warrant that was accidentally released to the Los Angeles Times. In the investigation that followed, officials were unable to discover who had given the fentanyl-laced pills to Prince, and investigators think none of his close associates knew the pills contained fentanyl. Investigators found pills scattered around Princes estate; 10 of Schulenbergs Percocet pills were found in one of Princes suitcases. The pills had to come from some source, Metz said. He added that while Princes associates might come under criticism for their actions, suspicions and innuendo are categorically insufficient to file criminal charges for the stars death. Advertisement Schulenberg agreed to a $30,000 civil settlement announced Thursday by the U.S. attorneys office, to be paid within 30 days. The agreement in which Schulenberg did not admit any liability also came with stricter monitoring requirements for any further prescribing over the next two years. Dr. Schulenberg decided to settle with the United States regarding alleged civil claims in order to avoid the expense, delay, and unknown outcome of litigation, his attorney, Amy Connors, said in a statement. Connors added: In his nearly 20 years of practice, Dr. Schulenberg has provided the highest level of care to his many patients and has earned a reputation for being a caring and responsible physician. He has never sought public attention or celebrity, and will continue to make the well being of his family and his patients his first priority. Schulenberg remains in good standing as a doctor in Minnesota and has no disciplinary or corrective actions against him, according to Minnesota Board of Medical Practice records reviewed Thursday. Advertisement He works at a New Brighton, Minn., clinic, where a spokeswoman declined to comment to The Times. We are pleased the doctor is being held accountable for illegally prescribing pills, Metz said. With the investigation closed, investigators are expected to make their files on the case public in the coming days. UPDATES: Advertisement 2:20 p.m.: This article was updated throughout with Times staff reporting. This article was originally published at 9:15 a.m. For the White House, the conundrum of Cuba began in 1959, when a six-year revolution led by Fidel Castro and Che Guevara finally convinced Cubas president and despotic ruler Fulgencio Batista it was time to pack a bag and flee. Decade after decade the Castro brothers Fidel and Raul held onto power on the communist island. In that time, 11 U.S. presidents came and went and a 12th is occupying the Oval Office this week, when Raul Castro finally stepped aside as the countrys ruler. With the aid of the superb electronic collection called the American Presidency Project at UC Santa Barbara, here are memorable highlights about interactions between a dozen presidencies and one small Caribbean island: Dwight D. Eisenhower A year after Batista fled Cuba, Eisenhower was asked about Castros Marxist-Leninist beliefs and what to expect from a suddenly unfriendly nation 90 miles away. At first, he opted to be diplomatic. Ill just say this, the president responded. I am certain this government and all the American people hope that his government will be truly representative of the Cuban people, and that his government will achieve the ability to reflect their views, their aspirations, and to encourage and help their progress. Three months later, after Castro challenged the U.S. on trade issues and its capitalist policies, an irritated Eisenhower said: You would think they would want good relationships. I don't know exactly what the difficulty is. By January 1960, a year into the Castro takeover, the president was asked again whether he was going to do anything about the dictator. We are concerned, Eisenhower said, and, more than that, we are perplexed. Later presidents would understand. John F. Kennedy Secretly, with Kennedys approval, the Central Intelligence Agency financed and trained an exile force of 1,500 Cuban mercenaries called Brigade 2506 to retake Cuba from the communists. The result was the botched Bay of Pigs invasion of April 17, 1961. More than 100 invaders were killed by Castros forces at the coastal inlet, with almost 1,100 taken as prisoners. (They were later handed back to the U.S. in a swap for $50 million in food and medicine.) At a news conference just a few weeks before the invasion, Kennedy was asked, Is it your view that Fidel Castro is personally a communist? He replied, I would not want to characterize Mr. Castro except to say that by his own words he has indicated his hostility to democratic rule in this hemisphere, to democratic liberal leaders in many of the countries of the hemisphere who are attempting to improve the life of their people, and has associated himself most intimately with the Sino-Soviet bloc, and has indicated his desire to spread the influence of that bloc throughout this hemisphere. Lyndon B. Johnson Following Kennedys 1963 assassination by Lee Harvey Oswald, Johnson was quick to strike a Kennedyesque stance on Cuba. We have to live on the same planet with the Soviet Union, but we do not have to accept Communist subversion in this hemisphere or indeed in any free country that can use our help effectively, he said about two weeks after the shooting. But especially in this hemisphere I think we should let no day pass without asking what more can we do against Communist subversion and against subversion of the Castro government in particular. Richard Nixon Nixon didnt spend a lot of time focusing on Cuba, but when he did speak of it he sounded like his predecessors. As long as Castro is adopting an antagonistic, anti-American line, we are certainly not going to normalize our relations with Castro, he said in 1971. As soon as he changes his line toward us, we might consider it. But it is his move. A year later, in the midst of an expanding Vietnam War, Watergate and rising talk of impeachment, a reporter asked: Mr. President, sir, you have sort of a pattern of making peace with enemies around the world. Are you next going to see Fidel Castro? No, Nixon said. I have not been invited. End of Cuba questions. Gerald Ford Though he did push for a 1976 speed-up of immigration by Cubans hoping to enter the U.S., Ford took a similar Nixon approach to Cuba. Recounting a discussion about Cuba with international officials in 1974, he said, I indicated that we had not seen any change in the attitude of Mr. Castro or any of the other individuals in the Cuban government, and inasmuch as there had been no change, no attitude that was different regarding the United States, it was not expected that our attitude would change toward Cuba. Jimmy Carter When asked about a 1,500-member brigade the Soviet Union maintained in Cuba, Carter said its presence was unacceptable. He said the brigade served no practical military purpose so was probably stationed in Cuba for another reason: The brigade has no offensive capability that could threaten us. It has no missiles that could reach our shores. It has no ships or amphibious forces that could launch an attack against the United States. It has no airplanes, nothing that could reach us. It's there primarily, I believe, for two reasons. One is to make sure that Castro, who receives several million dollars worth of aid from the Soviet Union every day, is watched by the Soviets in Cuba. And secondly, I think it's there, maybe from the beginning of Castros administration, his regime, to support Castro if his people started to turn against him. Ronald Reagan The 40th president wasnt shy about forcefully denouncing Castros government, but he also made Cuba a regular target of cutting humor. At various stops on his 1984 reelection bid, he noted that his Democratic opponent, former Vice President Walter Mondale, failed to repudiate the Rev. Jesse Jackson when Jesse Jackson went to Havana, stood with Fidel Castro and said, Long live President Fidel Castro and Che Guevara! That always won boos from the audience. He also once told a gathering of Cuban Americans they should urge Congress to provide funds, tax relief and other perks to Castros opponents, including arms to Cubas neighbors for self-defense. This led to another Cuba joke: You know, they say there are only two places where communism works: in heaven, where they don't need it and in hell, where they've already got it. That remark got laughs. George H.W. Bush, Bill Clinton and George W. Bush As Fidel Castro aged and fell into poor health, the next three presidents kept tabs on Cuba but had little direct involvement, other than to remind Castro what they thought of his government. As George W. Bush put it at the start of 2009, As much of the world celebrates the dawning of a new year, Cuba marks 50 years of one of the cruelest dictatorships this hemisphere has witnessed. Castros failing health finally forced him to hand over power to Raul in 2006. Barack Obama In 2015, Obama and Raul Castro met at the Summit of the Americas in Panama and pledged to restore diplomatic ties and break from the nations Cold War past. It was the first time the leaders of the two countries had met in more than half a century. The following year, Obama visited Havana, and though he and Raul Castro acknowledged the countries remained divided on political issues, they cited many areas of accord, such as ocean conversation, drug interdiction and commercial projects. Cubas destiny will not be decided by the United States or any other nation, Obama said. Donald Trump In 2017, a year after Fidel Castros death, the 45th president promised further trade and economic crackdowns on Cuba. Last year, I promised to be a voice against repression in our region remember, tremendous repression and a voice for the freedom of the Cuban people, Trump told a crowd. You heard that pledge. You exercised the right you have to vote. You went out and you voted. And here I am like I promised. Like I promised. I promise you, I keep my promises. Sometimes, in politics, they take a little bit longer, but we get there. We get there. Don't we get there? The audience chanted, Four more years! Four more years! Four more years! Support our journalism Please consider subscribing today to support stories like this one. Get full access to our signature journalism for just 99 cents for the first four weeks. Already a subscriber? Your support makes our work possible. Thank you. To read the article in Spanish, click here Anderson is a special correspondent. The Justice Department inspector general referred its finding that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe repeatedly misled investigators who were examining a media disclosure to the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia to determine whether McCabe should be charged with a crime, according to people familiar with the matter. The referral to the D.C. U.S. attorneys office occurred some time ago, after the inspector general concluded McCabe had lied to investigators or his own boss, then-FBI Director James Comey, on four occasions, three of them under oath. It was not immediately clear how the D.C. U.S. attorneys office responded to the referral, or whether prosecutors there are conducting their own investigation or believe criminal charges are appropriate. A referral to federal prosecutors does not necessarily mean McCabe will be charged with a crime. The Justice Department, the D.C. U.S. attorneys office and a spokeswoman for McCabe declined to comment Thursday. Advertisement Last week, Inspector General Michael Horowitz sent to Congress a report blasting McCabe. It says he inappropriately authorized the disclosure of sensitive information to the media, then lied repeatedly to investigators examining the matter. The report which quickly became public, though it was not released by the inspector general laid out in stunning detail allegations McCabe had deceived investigators about his role in approving the disclosure, even as he lashed out at others in the FBI for leaks. McCabe, though, disputes many of the reports findings and has said he never meant to mislead anyone. Lying to federal investigators is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, and some legal analysts speculated in the wake of the report that the inspector general seemed to be laying out a case for accusing McCabe of such conduct. The report alleged that one of McCabes lies was done knowingly and intentionally which is a key aspect of the federal crime. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions fired McCabe from the FBI last month, just 26 hours before McCabe could retire, denying McCabe some of his retirement benefits and reigniting the political firestorm that has long surrounded the former FBI official. President Trump had repeatedly and publicly attacked McCabe, and McCabe alleged his termination was politically motivated. This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals more generally, McCabe said in a statement on the night he was removed from the FBI. It is part of this administrations ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the special counsel investigation, which continue to this day. Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the special counsels work. McCabe would later raise more than a half-million dollars for a legal defense fund through a GoFundMe page. His firing was recommended by the FBIs Office of Professional Responsibility, based on the inspector generals findings. Separately this week, a group of 11 House Republicans asked Sessions, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Utah U.S. Attorney John Huber to explore whether McCabe along with a host of other Justice Department officials committed any crimes in their handling of the investigation of Hillary Clintons private email server, the probe into Russia interference in the 2016 election and other matters. Sessions has tasked Huber with looking into a range of GOP concerns. The referral from the inspector general to the D.C. U.S. attorneys office is thought to be far more serious, as inspector general investigators are nonpartisan lawyers and agents who probe wrongdoing for a living. Advertisement Comey who appointed McCabe to his post as the No. 2 official in the FBI stressed in his book released this week the importance of telling the truth to federal investigators and holding accountable those who do not. Comey wrote that as he weighed whether to charge Martha Stewart with such an offense in the early 2000s, he asked his deputy how many people in the U.S. had been indicted on charges of lying to federal investigators in the previous year. The deputy told him the answer was 2,000. Comey wrote that he told his staff to indict Stewart. People must fear the consequences of lying in the justice system or the system cant work, he wrote. The disclosure of which McCabe was accused of authorizing came in October 2016, around the time Comey would announce the FBI was resuming its probe of Hillary Clintons use of a private email server. At the time, Devlin Barrett then a reporter at the Wall Street Journal was preparing a story on the bureaus handling of that case and another investigation into the Clinton family foundation. McCabe felt the story would portray him and the FBI unfairly, so he authorized two other FBI officials to give Barrett his account. Barrett now works for The Washington Post. Advertisement Background conversations with reporters in Washington are commonplace, and McCabe had the authority, as the FBIs deputy director, to authorize them. But the inspector general came to conclude he was acting out of self interest, and that violated FBI policy. Of particular concern was that McCabe effectively authorized the FBI to confirm an ongoing investigation into the Clinton Foundation, by revealing a phone call in which he pushed back against a Justice Department official who warned that the bureau should not be taking overt steps in the case close to an election. McCabe asked the official: Are you telling me that I need to shut down a validly predicated investigation? The inspector general wrote Comey inquired with his deputy about the disclosure, and McCabe led him to believe he did not know who was responsible. McCabes team, though, disputes that, and says emails between the two clearly show that Mr. McCabe specifically advised Director Comey that he was working with colleagues at the FBI to correct inaccuracies in the story before it was published, and that they remained in contact through the weekend while the work was taking place. Inspector general investigators came to believe Comey, and they alleged McCabe lied on three other occasions to them and the FBIs inspection division. Comey said in an appearance on The View this week: I still believe Andrew McCabe is a good person, but the inspector general found that he lied, and theres severe consequences in the Justice Department for lying as there should be throughout the government. In 45 states, pulling out your wallet and buying something is (with some exceptions) a taxable event. No matter where you buy that book, tool or toy, you owe an additional sum to your state and, in many cases, to your local government as well. Thanks to decades-old Supreme Court decisions regarding mail-order catalogs, however, only a retailer with employees or offices in your state has to collect that sales tax from you. Those rulings have now given many online shoppers and out-of-state retailers an unfair advantage: They can ignore taxes when the sale is made, while consumers who buy locally and the stores who serve them cannot. Sure, online shoppers are legally required to pay the tax when they file their annual income-tax returns, but the vast majority dont bother because states and cities cant easily track online sales. This week, the Supreme Court heard arguments in a case that gives the justices an opportunity to overturn those earlier decisions, and they should seize it. The concern underlying the Supreme Courts mail-order rulings in 1967 and 1992 that the burden on retailers of complying with a panoply of differing state and local sales tax rates was too great has been alleviated by technology. The goal now should be restoring fairness, which means treating all consumers in a state and all retailers who do business with them equally. As long as governments rely on sales taxes, the levies need to be applied with an even hand. Advertisement At issue in the case is a law enacted in 2016 by South Dakota, which relies heavily on sales taxes because it has no income tax. Concerned that the rise of online shopping would make it increasingly difficult to balance the states budget, lawmakers required online retailers with 200 or more transactions in the state per year or annual sales there of more than $100,000 to collect taxes on sales to South Dakota residents and remit the revenues to the state. Three online retailers Wayfair, Overstock and Newegg challenged the law in state courts and won, setting the stage for South Dakotas appeal to the Supreme Court. The justices heard arguments in the case Tuesday, with Deputy U.S. Solicitor General Malcolm L. Stewart joining South Dakotas attorney general urging the court to overturn both the lower court rulings and its own earlier decisions. The online companies argue that the U.S. Constitution bars states from requiring out-of-state retailers to act as tax collectors because that would impede interstate commerce something only Congress is allowed to do. The impediment, they contend, is the burden on retailers of having to comply with a dizzying array of state and local sales tax systems, each with unique rates and exemptions. It would be excruciating for online retailers to keep up with all those tax schemes if not for two important developments. First, software vendors have developed programs that automate the collection and remittance of state and local sales taxes. And second, a growing number of states (currently 23) have streamlined their state and local sales taxes to eliminate intrastate variations, make it simple and inexpensive for retailers to submit the taxes they collect, and shield retailers from liability for errors. Defenders of the status quo often argue that a state has no right to tax retailers who have no employees or offices there. But retailers arent the ones paying the tax consumers are. And theres no reason to treat a shopper who buys a book online differently from one who visits a bookstore down the street. Beyond that, the Supreme Courts original decisions defined far too narrowly what it meant for a merchant to have a presence in a state. Its not just where the merchants employees and offices are located its where it advertises, where it hires people to deliver goods, where its packing materials wind up in landfills, and where it is obligated to provide repairs or replacements for defective products. At Tuesdays arguments, several justices worried that overturning the earlier rulings would leave important questions unanswered, such as whether there should be a minimum number of sales into a state before a retailer would have to collect taxes, and whether states could require retailers to go back and collect taxes from prior years customers. Ideally, Congress would answer those questions in a law permitting states to require out-of-state vendors to collect sales taxes from their residents. But Congress hasnt done so despite repeated efforts in recent years, and lawmakers may be more likely to act after the court overturns its previous rulings than before. No shopper likes paying taxes, and no retailer likes to collect them. But as long as governments rely on sales taxes, the levies need to be applied with an even hand. The Supreme Court should level the playing field that it warped with its two earlier rulings and treat those who buy and sell goods in the virtual world no differently from those who buy them in the real one. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinionand Facebook Finally, the shipping industry will be asked to do its part to fight climate change. The United Nations International Maritime Organization, which regulates the industry, agreed in London last week to set a 2050 goal of reducing emissions from oceangoing cargo ships to 50% below the 2008 level. Its an ambitious goal, and the details on how it is to be achieved are still being worked out, but climate experts say the sector still needs to do more if the world is to meet the 2015 Paris agreement goal of limiting global warming to 2 degrees Celsius above pre-industrial levels. In other words, the shipping pact is a nice, if late, start, but the global shipping industry needs to keep working toward the ultimate goal of phasing out fossil fuels entirely. Does it matter? Is shipping really an important front in the war against global warming? Surprisingly, international maritime shipping emits levels of greenhouse gases that collectively are on par with Germany, which has the worlds sixth-highest level of emissions. Driving the maritime emissions has been the sectors reliance on heavy fuel oil, a cheap but dirty-burning energy source that spews high levels of sulfur and other gases and particulates into the atmosphere. The industry, which moves at least four-fifths of the worlds cargo, has been shifting from heavy fuel oil to liquid natural gas and other alternatives, and the International Maritime Organization will require all new ships added to fleets after 2025 to be 30% more efficient than those built under current construction designs. Advertisement Maritime shipping is economically efficient, but its carbon footprint is outsized. But more needs to be done, as increasingly globalized trade means more ships sailing more miles. The European Union estimated that maritime emissions could rise from 2.2% of global emissions to 17% if left unchecked. The nature of maritime shipping (as with international aviation) makes it hard to regulate. Although individual countries have adopted national emissions caps under the Paris agreement, it is hard to know how to count shipping emissions. Much of the pollution is emitted in international territory, and the ships themselves are predominately registered in small nations with limited regulation; Panama, Liberia and the Marshall Islands are the three most common. Meanwhile, the bulk of shipping is moving among the nations with the largest economies and highest carbon emissions. That makes it difficult to assign the emissions to specific countries, and thats why international shipping and aviation were left out of the historic Paris agreement that (eventually) led every nation on the planet to agree to reduce carbon emissions in an effort to cap global warming. President Trump since has pledged to withdraw the U.S. from that supposed bad deal, evidence that he neither knows what makes a good deal nor what the implications are for the American people if global warming is not reined in. The International Maritime Organization now must come up with a muscular and workable plan to hold individual nations responsible for enforcing global regulations on emissions. That could be good news for the ports of Los Angeles and Long Beach, which, to their credit, have pledged to slash greenhouse gas emissions and diesel pollution from the shipping and freight industries, but face intense competitive pressure from other U.S. ports with less stringent environmental policies. This will not be an easy transition. Maritime shipping is economically efficient when you measure the price and amount of heavy fuel oil used against the amount of cargo moved, but its carbon footprint is outsized. The sector needs to find and adopt more climate-friendly ways. International aviation regulators and companies also are looking at technologies and approaches to offset or reduce emissions under a pact reached in 2016 through the U.N.s International Civil Aviation Organization. But they, too, need to do more, and faster. Unfortunately, the U.S. an integral part of the international shipping and aviation worlds has under the current administration abdicated its responsibility to be a global leader in fighting climate change. The current (and maddening) deregulatory push by the Environmental Protection Agency, and the rush by the Department of the Interior to sell oil and gas leases, are being slowed by legal challenges and market forces, thank goodness. Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that the Trump administration poses a momentary deviation in the United States fight to control global warming. We hope hes right. But even those at the forefront of the fight still need to do more. And reducing ship emissions is a significant piece of that. Advertisement Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook Raul Castro is expected to step down as president of Cuba on Thursday. His handpicked successor, Miguel Diaz-Canel, is likely to be appointed by the National Assembly of Peoples Power soon afterward. For the first time in more than half a century, the island will be led by someone not named Castro. Cuban Americans have long believed this would be the moment when our two countries would finally kiss and make up, but that is not the case. President Trump has reversed many of President Obamas efforts to normalize relations with Cuba, citing the countrys poor human rights record and lack of democracy. A number of the business and travel restrictions that were loosened in 2014 and 2015 have been reinstated, the consular section has closed, and the new American Embassy in Havana has been reduced to 10 diplomats. Conservatives in the U.S. now seem intent on continuing, even strengthening, the trade embargo on Cuba and tightening American travel to the island even further. This is wrongheaded. The 50-year trade embargo against Cuba has failed. It has not influenced the countrys leadership to change its communist government or to improve human rights on the island. Quite the opposite is true: When the U.S. tightens its stranglehold on Cuba, the Cuban government slows reforms and restricts dissent. Ever since Trump announced his decision to reverse Obamas U.S.-Cuba thaw, Castro has halted necessary economic changes. Advertisement Nowhere else in the world does the U.S. maintain a unilateral embargo; not even against rogue nations like Syria. Moreover, we are harming Cubas people much more than we are the Cuban government. Fewer American visitors mean less income for private citizens, who make their living by renting rooms, serving meals and selling souvenirs. Under the influence of his recent nominees Mike Pompeo for secretary of State and John Bolton for national security advisor Trump is likely to clamp down on Cuba even more. Pompeo once accused Obama of promoting dictators by visiting Cuba, and Bolton tried to sabotage former President Carters 2002 visit to the island by falsely blaming Cuba for having a developmental biological weapons program and providing assistance to rogue nations. Bolton failed to derail Carters visit, but he and other conservatives did convince President George W. Bush to significantly restrict American travel to Cuba. Bushs tightened travel ban remained in place until Obama revised the regulations, allowing Americans to travel to Cuba for educational and cultural purposes. Trumps Cuba rollback is not in the best interests of the U.S., either. The more we alienate Cuba, the closer it moves to Russia and China. Russia recently initialed a deal to manage the Cienfuegos oil refinery, and it is now considering reopening a communications base that intercepts satellite communications. China is Cubas largest trading partner. Both China and Russia are major advisors and arms suppliers to the Cuban military. This weeks transition of power in Cuba represents an opportunity for the U.S. to re-engage. Born two years after Fidel Castro claimed power, Diaz-Canel comes from a younger, more technologically savvy generation that wants Cuba to become part of the interconnected world. Diaz-Canel has personally championed the expansion of the internet in Cuba and called for more government transparency. Trump should seize the moment and meet with Cubas new leader. The U.S. should also remove all sanctions that harm the Cuban people and opt instead for targeted sanctions, which can be levied against individuals for specific abuses, or particular policies. Under the embargo, all Cubans are punished. Its a blunt weapon, not a precision instrument. Nowhere else in the world does the U.S. maintain a unilateral embargo; not even against rogue nations like Syria, which has used chemical weapons against its own people, or North Korea, which threatens to make use of its nuclear program. Most importantly, the Trump administration should work with Latin American governments to determine a regional consensus on policy toward Cuba. Cuban leaders look to Latin American governments for legitimacy and financial support. These governments are unwilling to pressure Cuba as long as the U.S. maintains a comprehensive trade embargo, which they consider unfair and counterproductive. If the U.S. ended the embargo, the region would be more willing to pressure Cuba to improve human rights and permit dissent. Advertisement Our flawed policy is shattering Cubans hope for change. But there is another reason Trump may want to rethink his position: Six in 10 Americans support normalizing relations with Cuba, and most favor ending the embargo. Ambassador Vicki Huddleston was chief of the United States Interests Section in Cuba from 1999 to 2002. She is the author of Our Woman in Havana: A Diplomats Chronicle of our Long Struggle with Castros Cuba. Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion or Facebook To the editor: David L. Ulin omits a primary reason that Cali is so obnoxious in reference to California. (Dont call us Cali. Were California, thank you, Opinion, April 17) The real Cali is a gorgeous city of 2.4 million in Colombia. How arrogant of Californians to usurp this name. I wonder how many of the young Californians sporting Cali T-shirts even realize that Cali represents a major international city. Please leave Cali to the Colombians, where it rightfully belongs. Bob Lentz, Sylmar Advertisement .. To the editor: The other day I was checking out at the hair salon when I heard a woman complaining about how high the sales tax was. I cant wait to get out of California, she said. I have a response: Please go and leave more room for the people who appreciate the culture, the diversity, the size, the weather and the unbelievable natural beauty that surrounds us in this amazing state. As Ulin said, we should stop trying to make California seem like less than it is. As a born and raised New Englander, I can tell you it doesnt get much better than this. Cindy Nexon, Agoura Hills Follow the Opinion section on Twitter @latimesopinion and Facebook Gavin Newsom releases ad that highlights his push to allow same-sex couples to marry By Phil Willon A new ad from Democratic gubernatorial candidate Gavin Newsom features Phyllis Lyon, who with her partner, Del Martin, received the first marriage license after Newsom vowed to allow same-sex couples to marry when he was mayor of San Francisco in 2004. The current lieutenant governors push for marriage equality thrust him into the national spotlight and he has emphasized that effort to portray himself as a bold, progressive leader. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Failed California housing bill was not a bad idea, Gov. Jerry Brown says By Liam Dillon Gov. Jerry Brown (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Earlier this month, high-profile housing legislation that would have allowed for four- to five-story apartments and condominiums near transit stops failed to advance in the state Legislature. But had it reached his desk, would Gov. Jerry Brown have signed it? Maybe. I think that was not a bad idea, Brown said of Senate Bill 827 at a meeting with business leaders from the Bay Area Council on Monday afternoon. The bill, written by Sen. Scott Wiener (D-San Francisco), attracted national attention and a maelstrom of opposition in part because it would have eliminated single-family zoning near transit stops in favor of apartments or condominiums. Brown said that a relative of his who lives in West Portal, a low-density neighborhood in San Francisco, told the governor he was horrified by the bill. Brown also lamented dramatically rising housing costs. He said he bought his first house in Los Angeles in 1973 for $75,000 at a time when his salary as secretary of state was $35,000. Now, he said, buying a house for a little over twice ones annual salary is virtually impossible anywhere in the state. FOR THE RECORD May 1, 9:32 a.m.: This post originally misstated the year Brown purchased his house as 1970. It was 1973. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print John Cox begins California barnstorm with the delivery of gas tax repeal signatures By Javier Panzar Gubernatorial candidate John Cox, left, and Assembly candidate Bill Essayli load boxes of signatures for the gas tax repeal initiative. (Francine Orr) GOP gubernatorial candidate John Cox strolled up to the stack of 12 boxes in front of the Los Angeles County registrar-recorders offices in Norwalk on Monday and placed his hands on top of his partys hope for success in 2018. The boxes, stacked four across and three high, contained 211,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees. Cox says the effort has gathered more than 940,000 signatures from registered voters to put the measure on the ballot far more than the 585,407 signatures that are required. The aim: to bring out the partys base to the polls this November and help candidates in tough congressional and legislative races down the ticket. A USC Dornsife/Los Angeles Times poll in November found 54.2% of registered voters surveyed said they would repeal the tax and fee hike, but a survey a month earlier by another group said a majority would vote to keep the higher taxes. Cox was flanked by Bill Essayli, a former federal prosecutor who is challenging Democratic Assemblywoman Sabrina Cervantes of Riverside in the June primary. Cervantes voted for the gas tax and Essayli plans to use that vote against her. He even launched his campaign at a 76 gas station in Norco. This is a central issue in my campaign, he said. Cox also submitted signatures in San Diego on Monday and is headed to Bakersfield, Fresno and Sacramento, as well as Shasta and Butte counties in coming days. We are going all across the state, Cox said. The whole state is paying this tax and the whole state wants it gone. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print All Californians would be able to serve on state boards even people in the U.S. illegally under new bill By Jazmine Ulloa Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) State lawmakers on Monday introduced legislation that would allow all Californians to serve on state boards and commissions regardless of immigration status. Senate Bill 174, by Sen. Ricardo Lara (D-Bell Gardens) and Assemblywoman Wendy Carrillo (D-Los Angeles), comes as the state is locked in a broader legal battle with the Trump administration over state immigration laws and his call for mass deportations. Lawmakers point to what they say is the states own discriminatory history as their basis for introducing the legislation. The proposal would amend an 1872 provision that was first adopted to exclude Chinese immigrants and other transient aliens from holding appointed civil positions. At the time, antipathy toward the Chinese had been building in California, though, Chinese immigrants opened hundreds of businesses across the state and would play a critical role in building the transcontinental railroad. The Senate bill would delete the phrase transient aliens from the government code and make clear that any person, regardless of citizenship or immigration status, can hold an appointed civil office if they are at least 18 years old and a resident of the state. That would allow any Californian to serve on hundreds of boards and commissions that advice in an array of policy areas, including farm labor, history and employment development. Californias two million undocumented immigrants are a source of energy for our state, Lara said in a statement. It is shocking to read the words of fear and exclusion that are still in California law but belong in historys trash can. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Tony Mendozas fundraising dries up after resignation amid harassment inquiry By Patrick McGreevy Former state Sen. Tony Mendoza (D-Artesia). (Steve Yeater / Associated Press) Political contributions to Tony Mendoza, who resigned from the state Senate under pressure amid sexual harassment allegations, have nearly dried up. New documents he filed with the state in his bid to reclaim the seat he once held show that his support has eroded. As a result, five other candidates for the 32nd District senate seat in the June 5 election have raised more than Mendoza so far this year. With the June 5 election approaching, Mendoza has reported raising just $7,750 in cash from six supporters during the nearly four-month period from Jan. 1 to April 21. Mendoza, a Democrat from Artesia, went on a leave of absence from the Senate Jan. 3 and resigned a month later under the threat of expulsion from colleagues. An investigation ordered by the Senate found a pattern of unwanted flirtatious or sexually suggestive behavior based on testimony from six women. Mendoza has denied wrongdoing. Last year, Mendozas reelection campaign raised $412,600, or an average of about $34,000 per month, from more than 350 supporters. Most of Mendozas 2018 total was contributed by the political arm of the Southern California Pipe Trades District Council 16 on Jan. 22, a month before Mendoza resigned. Mendoza also reported that his campaign loaned $125,000 this year to his legal defense fund. That left him with $446,600 in his campaign account at the end of April. Mendoza is running against eight Democrats and two Republicans. Democrat Bob J. Archuleta, a Pico Rivera city councilman, raised the most, $210,000, during the period. On Monday, Mendoza suffered another setback when the State Legislative Womens Caucus endorsed Democrat Vicky Santana, a member of the Rio Hondo College Board. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newsom and Villaraigosa affairs coming to TV ads in California By Phil Willon An independent political committee backing Republican John Cox for governor released an ad blasting both Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa for their past sexual affairs. The California Deserves Better ad, which was first reported by Politico, criticizes Newsom for having an affair with a woman on his staff in 2005 while he served as mayor of San Francisco. It also goes after Villaraigosa for having an extramarital affair with a television reporter in 2007 while he was mayor of Los Angeles. The ad, which begins airing on Fox stations in the states top media markets Monday, links Newsom and Villaraigosa to the men accused of sexual impropriety in the #MeToo movement, including movie mogul Harvey Weinstein and disgraced Today show veteran Matt Lauer. Powerful men are finally being held to account, punished for inappropriate sexual conduct with women over whom they exercise power, the ad begins. Newsom and Villaraigosa think the rules shouldnt apply to them. The independent campaign committee, called Restore Our Values, already has raised more than $100,000, said Leigh Teece of Emeryville in Northern California, co-founder of the group. Teece, the CEO of a nonprofit that helps line up students with professional mentors, said the campaign will actively support Cox. She called him a true conservative and noted that he supports cutting taxes and opposes Californias sanctuary state policy. John is a business person who has demonstrated integrity, Teece said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Was that Cisneros in the voicemail? Dispute is latest espisode of Democratic infighting in crowded primary races By Christine Mai-Duc Gil Cisneros speaks during a forum at Fullerton College in January. (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) With less than five weeks to go before Californias primary, insults and accusations are flying with abandon in the most crowded races Democrats hope to ultimately win. The latest example of this is in the 39th Congressional District, where a half dozen Democrats are vying for a chance to replace Rep. Ed Royce, whos retiring. Its one of several California contests where Democratic leaders are already worried that divisions could ultimately split votes and shut Democrats out of key pickup opportunities. In that race, millionaires Gil Cisneros and Andy Thorburn are going negative about going negative. Cisneros was recently elevated to the Democratic Congressional Campaign Committees Red to Blue program in hopes it would serve as a signal to Democratic activists and donors that his campaign was the most viable. But both Cisneros and Thorburn have poured millions into the race, which promises to be a knock down, drag out fight through June 5. At the center of the latest controversy is a voicemail, allegedly left by Cisneros on Thorburns home answering machine earlier this month. The recording, which the Thorburn campaign turned over to media outlet The Intercept, lasts less than 10 seconds. Hi Andy, its Gil Cisneros. Im gonna go negative on you, a mans voice is heard saying. Cisneros campaign manager Orrin Evans denied the candidate made the call, posting a cease and desist letter to The Intercept on Twitter. The letter, sent by a Cisneros campaign attorney, called the voicemail fabricated and demanded that the story be taken down, calling it defamatory. It gave the publication until 3 p.m. Friday to take down the story before they pursue all legal rights and remedies. An attorney for The Intercept, in a letter to Cisneros, said the publication confirmed with multiple sources familiar with Mr. Cisneros that his voice was on the recording, and that it stands by its reporting. Thorburns camp says it flatly rejects Cisneros denial, and that the timing of a negative website filled with unflattering background on Thorburn, released three days later, suggests it was him. Track the California races that could flip the House According to The Intercepts report, Cisneros campaign manager did not respond to initial inquiries about the voicemail, calling its questions ridiculous. In a follow-up statement Friday, Evans said called the episode a dirty, desperate trick by the Thorburn campaign and said they are readying to pursue legal action for defamation and false light against both him and the publication. It sounded like him to me! said Thorburns wife, Karen, in a statement released by the campaign. She was the one who first heard the voicemail, they said. Thorburn campaign manager Nancy Leeds called Cisneros threats Trump-like tactics and accused the candidate of trying to harass and intimidate anyone who stands in his way. Its not the first time candidates from the same party have clashed in the lead-up to the June 5 primary, and its all but certain to not be the last. Cisneros sued two of his opponents, Thorburn and Sam Jammal, over their ballot descriptions until they had to change them. Earlier this month, Democrat Bryan Caforio asked his opponent, Katie Hill, to sign a pledge rejecting the use of independent expenditure committees, entities that neither of them can legally coordinate with, in the race to unseat Rep. Steve Knight (R-Lancaster). Hill refused and called the attempt hollow and likened it to political theater, while Caforio accused her of empty campaign promises. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California Politics Podcast: The money raised in the race for governor hints at a race thats now red hot By John Myers With less than six weeks before election day, the cash raised in the California governors race mirrors the overall dynamics: one major front-runner and a heated race for second place. This weeks podcast episode offers a glimpse into those cash reports and how the Republican field seems more settled in a new statewide poll than the battle between Democrats. We also examine the reasons why a nationally talked-about housing bill in Sacramento was killed by the Democratic authors own allies. Im joined by Times staff writers Melanie Mason and Liam Dillon. You can subscribe to the podcast on iTunes, SoundCloud and Stitcher. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement L.A. County politician sexually assaulted woman when she was 16, lawsuit claims By Dakota Smith A woman sued an unnamed politician in Los Angeles County on Friday, alleging the man sexually assaulted her when she was a teenager after he gave her an unusual-tasting drink. The politician, identified as John Doe, was in his early 40s and a public figure at the time of the 2007 assault, according to the lawsuit filed in Los Angeles Superior Court. The man is an elected official today and lives in Los Angeles, said attorney Lisa Bloom, who is representing the woman identified in the lawsuit as Jane Doe. Bloom declined to say what branch of government the man represents. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Villaraigosa touts his working-class upbringing, accomplishments as mayor in first TV ad By Phil Willon Democrat Antonio Villaraigosa released his first TV ad in the governors race Friday, touting his record and accomplishments as mayor of Los Angeles when up against the economic downturn during the recession. The 30-second television spot opens with a sweeping shot of Los Angeles and cuts to Villaraigosa sitting on a bus. In kindergarten, my sister and I took three buses to get to school. As mayor, I remembered that, Villaraigosa says into the camera. And despite the recession, we built more new schools and rail lines than any city in America, added 200,000 living wage jobs, built 20,000 units of affordable housing and nearly doubled graduation rates. Campaign spokesman Luis Vizcaino said the ad will air statewide over the next week at a cost of approximately $1 million. The commercial will being airing Saturday. Two Democratic rivals in Californias race for governor, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and state Treasurer John Chiang, also launched ads this week, signaling the biggest ramp-up of the campaign as the June 5 primary approaches. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican John Cox. One recent poll has Villaraigosa trailing both Cox and Republican Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach. Chiang has been stuck in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. Last week, an independent expenditure group called Families and Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor, funded largely by a trio of wealthy charter school backers, launched a spot in support of the former mayor of Los Angeles. That ad campaign is focused on increasing Villaraigosas chances of coming in second in the June 5 primary and moving on to the general election. Villaraigosas ad, titled Three Buses, emphasizes the struggles he faced growing up in East Los Angeles and addresses one of his central campaign themes that hes the candidate best suited to help working-class Californians. I know how far a bus can take you, Villaraigosa says in the ad. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sen. Dianne Feinstein wont participate in pre-primary debate By Sarah D. Wire (Tom Williams / CQ Roll Call) California Sen. Dianne Feinstein will not participate in a proposed pre-primary debate because there are too many candidates in the race, her campaign spokesman said Thursday. Political activists with the group Indivisible Los Angeles said they had a venue and date May 5 reserved for a debate with four of the Senate candidates. But they said if Feinstein does not participate, it will be canceled. Feinstein faces 31 primary opponents in her bid for a fifth full term representing California in the Senate. Feinstein staffers initially said she had a prior commitment on May 5 in San Francisco. When organizers offered to let her campaign pick another date, her campaign said it wasnt fair for the group to invite only some of the candidates when there is such a big field, said Tudor Popescu, volunteer community organizer with Indivisible Los Angeles. The invited candidates, all Democrats, were Feinstein, state Sen. Kevin de Leon, political action committee director Alison Hartson and lawyer Pat Harris. They were selected based on fundraising and poll numbers. There are 11 Republicans, 10 Democrats, nine independents and 2 third-party candidates running for Senate on the June ballot. Indivisible Los Angeles is still hoping Feinstein will pick another date, Popescu said. Feinstein spokesman Jeff Millman pointed to a San Francisco Chronicle endorsement of Feinstein, which indicates that she told the editorial board she would be willing to have a debate ahead of Novembers general election. Senator Feinstein looks forward to debating her opponent in the general election, Millman said in an email. Feinstein holds a substantial lead in both fundraising and in the polls. Front-runners in statewide races have routinely declined to debate their challengers, knowing that its free publicity for candidates who dont have the cash to increase their name recognition on their own. De Leon spokesman Jonathan Underland said the state senator has done candidate forums before, but planned to attend the May 5 debate only if Feinstein did. We basically said well clear his calendar 100%, well clear his calendar if Feinstein shows up, Underland said. Wed love to make it happen, but we want her to be there. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement NRA, Olympic shooter sue California over its restrictions on ammunition sales By Patrick McGreevy Olympian Kim Rhode is a plaintiff in a lawsuit filed by the NRA and its state affiliate against California. (Jay L. Clendenin / Los Angeles Times) The National Rifle Assn. and its state affiliate have filed a fourth lawsuit against California over its gun control laws, this time challenging new restrictions on the sale and transfer of ammunition. The NRA and the California Rifle and Pistol Assn. filed a challenge in federal court to a requirement that ammunition sales and transfers be conducted face to face with California firearms dealers or licensed vendors, ending purchases made directly from out-of-state sellers on the internet. The lawsuit in the United States District Court for the Southern District of California also challenged a requirement starting next year for background checks for people buying ammunition. The lawsuit was filed in the name of Kim Rhode, a six-time Olympic medal-winning shooter, and others. It challenges Californias new ammunition sales restrictions as a violation of the 2nd Amendment and the commerce clause of the United States Constitution. Restrictions on ammunition purchases were included in Proposition 63, approved by voters in 2016, and in bills approved by the Legislature. As a result of these laws, millions of constitutionally protected ammunition transfers are banned in California, Chris W. Cox, executive director of the NRAs Institute for Legislative Action, said in a statement. Californias law-abiding gun owners are sick of being treated like criminals and the NRA is proud to assist in this fight. Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, who is running for governor, defended his initiative and vowed to fight the NRA lawsuit. We wrote Proposition 63 on solid legal ground and principle: If youre a felon banned from possessing guns in California, then you should not be able to purchase the ammunition that makes a firearm deadly, Newsom said in a statement. California voters said loudly and clearly that guns and ammunition do not belong in the hands of dangerous individuals but once again, the NRA has prioritized gun industry profits over the lives of law-abiding Californians. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans hope to ride a gas-tax repeal to victory By Patrick McGreevy In a Central Valley barn decked out in red, white and blue, dairyman and state Senate candidate Johnny Tacherra drew cheers from a crowd of fellow farmers when he said he opposes the California Legislatures hike on gas taxes and vehicle fees. I would not have voted for that. It is not the time to be voting on (raising) the gas tax, said Tacherra, a Republican running against Democratic Assemblywoman Anna Caballero, who voted for the tax increase last year. Three hundred miles away the same week, a campaign mailer arrived at homes in Orange County from an Assembly candidate with a message blaring from the cover in bold type: Republican Greg Haskin tough enough to stand up to Jerry Brown and repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Treasurer John Chiang launches ad in governors race touting his record as a fiscal steward By Seema Mehta In his first television ad in the governors race, state Treasurer John Chiang touts his record on fiscal issues as California faced the recession. Some thought we were done, Chiang says in a voiceover in the 30-second spot he released Thursday, with images of him standing seriously at a lectern and complimentary headlines about his work as controller and treasurer. But I knew better. I made the tough calls. And brought California back from the brink of financial disaster because you trusted me to manage our economy. Chiangs campaign is spending about $500,000 to air the ad in Los Angeles and San Diego in coming days. That buy is dwarfed by seven-figure purchases for ads supporting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. Newsom is the front-runner, while Villaraigosa is battling for second place with Republican businessman John Cox. Chiang has been mired in the single digits in almost all polling in the race. His ad, called Quiet Storm, tries to portray Chiang as a progressive who is effective and can move policy in Sacramento. Chiang points to his work challenging Wells Fargo before arguing that he could accomplish what doubters say is impossible to improve the states healthcare, housing and schools. I say, we got this, Chiang concludes. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Been ignoring the race for California governor? Thats OK, in some ways its just starting By Mark Z. Barabak On a recent trip to Iowa, Eric Garcetti the mayor of Los Angeles and a possible 2020 White House contestant raised eyebrows with a bit of exuberant outreach. Los Angeles and Iowa, Garcetti insisted, have a ton in common, and he didnt simply mean both are inhabited by carbon-based life forms needing oxygen to survive. Urban or rural, farmer or fashion plate, all of us harbor the same hopes and dreams, the mayor suggested, and if it wasnt a terribly original thought it also wasnt the most egregious sort of political pandering like, say, ordering that every home in Los Angeles be powered by Iowa-produced ethanol. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters should expect to decide on an $8.9-billion water bond in November By Liam Dillon (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) A proposal to borrow $8.9 billion for improvements to Californias water quality systems and watersheds and protection of natural habitats is eligible for the statewide ballot in November, Secretary of State Alex Padilla announced in a press release Wednesday. Padilla said the measure, which is backed by agricultural interests, had exceeded the 365,800 valid signatures it needed to qualify for the general election ballot. The bond measure will appear on the ballot unless proponents withdraw it by June 28, the release said. The bond is one of many voters could decide on in 2018. A $4-billion bond for parks and water infrastructure improvements will appear on the June 5 ballot. State lawmakers approved it last year. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print They came for Darrell Issa. They stayed with their inflatable chicken, blue wall and signs for political therapy By Christine Mai-Duc (John Gibbins / San Diego Union-Tribune) A mother of two turned ringleader of the resistance and more than a hundred of her faithful followers gathered on Tuesday morning outside Rep. Darrell Issas office in a northern San Diego County suburb. Across the street was her foil, a wedding DJ in a red Make American Great Again cap, setting up hefty speakers for an upcoming war of words. For about 65 weeks the deep divide in America played out along this 100-yard stretch of road in Vista. Here, at 10 a.m. every Tuesday, passersby found signs, chants, songs and, if they were lucky, sometimes a 20-foot-tall inflatable chicken with a Trump-esque coif. Theyd also glimpse the state of the body politic in 2018, a time when shock has turned to anger and post-2016 calls for reconciliation have morphed into grudging acceptance that each side might be better off in their respective corners. Or in this case, their sides of the street. On Tuesday, the anti-Issa, anti-Trump contingent fought this particular battle for the last time, declaring it their final protest at the congressmans office. They said they planned to use their energy to knock on doors and get out the vote, with an occasional protest on the side. Their pro-Trump rivals vowed to show up wherever they do. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Efforts to regulate bail companies have some unlikely allies: bail agents By Jazmine Ulloa Jane Un, chief executive and founder of Abba Bail Bonds, works with a client. ( Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) In recent years, the seriousness and number of official complaints related to the bail industry in California have significantly increased while bail agents and bounty hunters face limited oversight, putting vulnerable communities at risk of fraud, embezzlement and other forms of victimization. This year, as Gov. Jerry Brown has pledged to work with lawmakers in a push to overhaul how courts assign defendants bail and to better regulate bail agencies, even some who profit from the court practice admit its time for regulation. These bail and bail-recovery agents could become unlikely allies, saying they advocate for change because theyve seen the system abuse the poor. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California voters: Get ready for an onslaught of television ads By Seema Mehta After a sleepy campaign, California voters are now being bombarded with television advertisements in the governors race, an onslaught that is expected to ramp up in coming weeks. The ads most frequently seen on television are those promoting Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, the front-runner in the race, and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, who is trying to secure the second spot in the June primary. Newsoms campaign and an outside group backing Villaraigosa are spending seven figures weekly on these efforts, according to filings with the California secretary of states office and a media buyer who asked not to be identified in order to freely discuss the ads. Other gubernatorial candidates are expected to hit the airwaves soon, the media buyer said. State Treasurer John Chiang has reserved a half-million dollars in the coming days in the Los Angeles and San Diego markets, and Villaraigosas campaign has requested availability in at least five of the states biggest TV markets. The GOP candidates in the race, who will be seeking the state Republican Partys endorsement at its convention next weekend, have been much less active. Businessman John Cox in recent weeks has been spending about $90,000 per week, but doubled that this week in Los Angeles and added small buys on KFI-AM radio and cable in markets including Fresno, Bakersfield and Salinas. State Assemblyman Travis Allen of Huntington Beach, who has been scooping up Republican Party endorsements across the state, has yet to make a notable television or radio buy, though he and Cox have received some attention as commentators on Fox News. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republicans ready to turn in signatures for ballot measure to repeal California gas-tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A Chevron gas station in Sacramento shows prices last year. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) Republican activists said Tuesday that they have collected at least 830,000 signatures for an initiative to repeal recent increases in Californias gas tax and vehicle fees, more than enough to qualify the measure for the November ballot. The activists need 585,407 signatures of registered voters to qualify the ballot measure. Because signatures are still being processed and counted by the campaign, backers hope to have 900,000 by the time they begin turning them in to the counties on Friday, according to Carl DeMaio, a former San Diego City Council member and organizer of the drive. The breadth and depth of voter anger over the car and gas tax hikes is just amazing, said DeMaio, who hosts a radio talk show. We are seeing Democrats, independents and Republicans sign the petition and volunteering to carry the petition, people from all walks of life. The initiative targets a law approved in April 2017 by the Legislature and Gov. Jerry Brown that is expected to raise $5.4 billion annually for road and bridge repairs and improvements to mass transit. The money comes from a recent 12-cents-per-gallon increase in the gas tax, a 20-cent increase in the diesel fuel excise tax and a new annual vehicle fee ranging from $25 for cars valued at under $5,000, to $175 for cars worth $60,000 or more. The petition drive raised more than $2 million with significant contributions from the California Republican Party and Republican members of Congress from California, including House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy of Bakersfield and Reps. Ken Calvert of Corona and Mimi Walters of Irvine. Republicans hope the issue will help their candidates for office in this years election and hurt Democrats who support the higher taxes. I think this is going to put Democrats in real bad spot, DeMaio said. A spokesman for Brown declined to comment until the signatures are filed. DeMaio said there were approximately 20,000 volunteer petition circulators who brought in more than 250,000 signatures, with the rest collected by paid circulators who received $1 to $2.50 per signature. Its a pretty comfortable margin [of signatures] that we have been able to hit here, DeMaio said. Opposition will grow, he said, as more Californians get their annual vehicle registration notice. The repeal campaign hopes to raise $5 million for the campaign to pass the constitutional amendment, which would not only repeal the increase in the gas tax and vehicle fees but require future increases to be submitted to voters. We know that Gov. Brown and his cohorts are going to spend an amazing amount of money to mislead voters, DeMaio said. But I feel pretty confident that we will repeal the gas tax. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rep. Duncan Hunter sets up trust to raise money for legal expenses amid ongoing criminal investigation By Morgan Cook Rep. Duncan Hunter, R-Alpine, has filed paperwork to establish a legal expense fund amid an ongoing federal criminal investigation into misused campaign cash. Hunter filed the required paperwork March 27, seeking a rarely granted Legal Expense Fund through which members of Congress under investigation or being sued in connection with doing their jobs or running for office can raise money for their legal expenses. Such funds are administered by an independent trustee and allow donors to give above the maximum amount they can contribute a candidates campaign. Hunter has spent more than $600,000 of campaign money on lawyers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Kamala Harris says she wont take corporate donations anymore By Sarah D. Wire (Jose Luis Magana / Associated Press) California Sen. Kamala Harris says she will no longer accept money from corporate political action committees. In an interview with WWPM-FMs The Breakfast Club, in New York that aired Monday, the senator said she wasnt expecting a question at a town hall this month about whether she would accept money for corporations or corporate lobbyists. At the time, Harris said it depends, but she said on Monday that she had reflected on the matter and changed her mind. Money has had such an outside influence on politics, and especially with the Supreme Court determining Citizens United, which basically means that big corporations can spend unlimited amounts of money influencing a campaign, right? Harris said. Were all supposed to have an equal vote, but money has now really tipped the balance between an individual having equal power in an election to a corporation. So Ive actually made a decision since I had that conversation that Im not going to accept corporate PAC checks. I just Im not. You can watch the video of the interview here. (Harris corporate money comments come about 30 minutes in.) Harris wouldnt be on the ballot for a second Senate term until 2022, though its widely believed that she is planning a presidential bid in 2020. Other potential 2020 presidential candidates, including Sens. Bernie Sanders (I-Vt.), Cory Booker (D-N.J.) and Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), have also ruled out taking corporate PAC money. Soon after Mondays show aired, Harris campaign sent out a fundraising request noting her new stance. As corporate PACs continue to corrupt our politics and twist Congress priorities at your expense, were going to focus on raising money from small-dollar, individual donors like you, the email says. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement With money tied up in court, California lawmakers try again with new plan to spend $2 billion on homeless housing By Liam Dillon A man sleeps on the sidewalk in front of the Union Rescue Mission in the skid row neighborhood of Los Angeles. (Francine Orr / Los Angeles Times) A measure to spend $2 billion on housing homeless Californians could be on the November statewide ballot. State Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles) is pushing the idea to deal with what he said was a burgeoning humanitarian crisis whose epicenter is here in California. De Leons new measure is a do-over for a 2016 plan passed by the Legislature to redirect $2 billion toward building homeless housing from a voter-approved 1% income tax surcharge on millionaires that funds mental health services. A Sacramento attorney sued over that decision, arguing that the move violated constitutional rules on approving loans without a public vote and that lawmakers shouldnt take money away from mental health treatment. The case remains active in Sacramento Superior Court and its unclear when, or if, the state will be able to spend the $2 billion. De Leons Senate Bill 1206 would put the $2-billion loan on the ballot in November, freeing up the money if voters approve the measure. De Leon said had he been able to predict the 2016 plan would end up in court, he would have sought a ballot measure at the time. We thought this was like apple pie and baseball and puppies, De Leon said. Who would oppose the idea of repurposing the dollars to build immediate housing as a permanent solution for homelessness? Obviously with a crystal ball, had I anticipated the litigation, I would have worked to place it on the ballot. De Leon noted that the 2016 plan had bipartisan supermajority support in the Legislature, something his new bill also will need to get on the ballot. Sen. John Moorlach (R-Costa Mesa) is a coauthor of the plan. SB 1206 is scheduled for its first hearing in the Legislature on Wednesday. Should De Leons measure be approved, it will join a crowded list of housing issues before voters in November. Californians will decide on a separate $4-billion bond to help finance new low-income housing and home loans for veterans. De Leon said hes not worried those two measures will compete against each other because voters are aware of the scale of the states housing problems and the proposed homeless housing bond redirects existing dollars instead of raising taxes. Once [voters] know that the impact on their pocketbook is not existent, Im confident that theyll join me and my colleague John Moorlach in support of this measure, De Leon said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California lawmakers say too many former felons are being denied professional licenses By John Myers Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco) along with supporters of bills to allow more former felons to receive professional licenses. (John Myers/Los Angeles Times) A trio of California Assembly members urged colleagues on Monday to pass legislation that would prohibit state commissions and agencies from rejecting a professional license for those who were once convicted of less serious crimes. We cant say we want to rehabilitate people, and then block them from getting the jobs that they need when theyre released, said Assemblyman David Chiu (D-San Francisco). That leads to more recidivism and to more crime. The bills, scheduled to be heard in Assembly committees Tuesday, would ban the use of arrest or conviction records as the reason for denying a professional license. The bill would not apply to Californians who served time for any of the offenses on the states list of violent crimes. The authors, all Democrats, said that a government-issued professional license is required for some 30% of all jobs in the state. Their bills would change the licensing process at the California departments of Consumer Affairs and Social Services and agencies that certify emergency medical technicians. The bills would block prior convictions from leading to the delay or denial of a license unless that crime is directly related to the profession the person intends to pursue. Two of the bills also specifically say convictions less than 5 years old could continue to play a role in licensing decisions. Last year, Gov. Jerry Brown signed a law that keeps private sector employers from inquiring about a job applicants conviction history prior to an offer of employment. Advocates joined the lawmakers at a press conference in Sacramento to point out that limits on awarding licenses should focus only on those whose prior criminal activity could pose a threat to consumers. Continuing to hold people back for crimes that are 6, 7, 8, 10, 20 years old does not actually make sense if youre looking at public safety, said Jael Myrick of the East Bay Community Law Center. One of the proposals, Assembly Bill 2293, seeks to make it easier for ex-felons to get a license allowing a job with the California Department of Forestry and Fire Protection the same agency that often uses prison inmates to battle blazes around the state. If a person is good enough to risk their life fighting fires for the state of California as an inmate, said Assemblywoman Eloise Gomez Reyes (D-Grand Terrace), their previous actions should not prevent from having a job utilizing the skill set that they learned. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Assembly speaker rebukes building trades union after it targets Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia By John Myers ( (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press)) The decision by a politically powerful labor group to openly campaign against an embattled Los Angeles-area lawmaker drew a sharp rebuke on Friday from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon. The Lakewood Democrat lashed out hours after the State Building and Construction Trades Council of California filed paperwork for a political action committee to defeat Assemblywoman Cristina Garcia (D-Bell Gardens). Garcia, whos seeking her fourth term, took an unpaid leave of absence in February following allegations of sexual misconduct. She has denied the reports and an Assembly investigation remains underway. Rendon didnt criticize the labor group by name, insisting instead that the decision was driven by oil and gas industry interests. This is a thinly veiled attempt by Big Oil and polluters to intimidate me and my members. It is an affront to my speakership, Rendon said in a statement. We are proud of the work that the Assembly has done to increase jobs and wages while defending our environment. We will vigorously defend the members of our caucus from any ill-advised political attack. A statement from the labor group, which sparred with Garcia last year on her effort to link new climate change policies with a crackdown on air pollution, said it had decided to reverse past support for her. The Trades have thousands of hard working members in Garcias district, and we look forward to lifting up another Democrat in the 58th Assembly to better represent them and their families, said the statement. The political action committees campaign finance filing on Friday listed nonmonetary in kind contributions from Erin Lehane, a public affairs consultant aligned with the building labor group. Lehane said she had begun researching Garcia in November. In January, a former legislative staffer accused her of groping him in 2014. Lehane, who identified herself as a spokesperson for the labor groups political action committee, said on Friday that she believed Garcias hypocrisy threatened a movement that will dictate how much harassment and abuse my daughter will face in her work life. Garcia, who has been an outspoken advocate for women in the #MeToo movement, has complained that her political opponents helped fan the flames of the accusations. Through a campaign consultant, she declined to comment on Friday. Rendons critique came on the heels of a full-page ad in The Times on Friday, partly paid for by the Trades Council, that criticized well-funded ivory tower elites who push proposals that hurt the oil and gas industry. We are the real jobs that fuel the real California economy, read the advertisement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Legal tiff breaks out over independent committees ad backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor By Phil Willon An attorney representing Gavin Newsoms campaign for governor is demanding that California television stations cease airing an ad by an independent political committee supporting his Democratic rival Antonio Villaraigosa. Attorney Thomas A. Willis, in a letter to the stations, said the ad is false and misleading and violates California law because it uses snippets of video footage from Villaraigosas own campaign ads. Willis called that illegal coordination between the campaign and PAC. Under California law, advertisements made by entities other than a candidate are presumed to be coordinated and thus not independent expenditures when the advertisement replicates, reproduces or disseminates substantial parts of a communication, including video footage, created and paid for by the candidate, the letter states. A representative for the independent expenditure committee Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor fired back. Attorney Brian T. Hildreth says those allegations have no merit and accused the Newsom campaign of being misleading. Hildreth sent a letter to the television stations in response, urging them to ignore the Newsom campaigns accusations. He said the Newsom camp appears to intentionally misrepresent the law and that the video use was permissible. He said only six seconds of video from Villaraigosas campaign ads was used, which is well within the legal limits. The independent committee is sponsored by the group California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The ad is airing on broadcast and cable stations statewide. The committees ad is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and as mayor of Los Angeles when there was a drop in crime. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Governors race snapshot: Californians are generally upbeat but not focused on the campaign By Mark Z. Barabak Armand Werden, a 29-year-old community college student who works the taps at Dust Bowl Brewery in Turlock, said the state is on the upswing. (Phil Willon / Los Angeles Times) As California chooses a new governor one of just a handful in the last 40 years not named Jerry Brown the state seems to be enjoying something unusual in these tumultuous political times: a feeling of relative contentment. Not to say things are perfect. Still, more than 100 random interviews conducted over the length and breadth of the state from Redding in the north to Santee in the south, from the Pacific coastline to the edge of the Sierra Nevada found most saying things are looking up, at least so far as Californias direction is concerned. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Sierra Club backs Gavin Newsom for California governor By Phil Willon Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom speaks with members of the public following a debate at USC in January. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) The Sierra Club endorsed Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom in the race for California governor, with officials in the established environmental group praising the Democrats record on climate change and clean energy. He has a proven record for leading on environmental protection, public health and clean energy, Kathryn Phillips, director of Sierra Club California, said in a statement released by the Newsom campaign. He understands that we are feeling the effects of climate change and that California must reduce carbon emissions and reach 100% renewable energy to achieve our climate goals. Phillips said the Sierra Clubs extensive network of volunteers will campaign for Newsom as the June 5 primary approaches. Sierra Club executive director Michael Brune also praised the Democrat, saying he will protect California from Donald Trumps attacks on our clean air and water. The Sierra Club joins a series of other influential groups in California that have backed Newsom. The California Medical Assn., the powerful state doctors lobby, announced its endorsement of Newsom on Thursday. The California Nurses Assn. and the Service Employees International Union, one of the most powerful labor unions in the state, also support Newsom. Newsom is the races front-runner in polls and fundraising. A poll released earlier this month by the nonpartisan Public Policy Institute of California found that 26% of likely voters backed Newsom. John Cox, a Republican from Rancho Santa Fe, was favored by 15% of likely voters and former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa, a Democrat, by 13%. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Californias GOP House members are taking their challengers more seriously and the numbers show it By Christine Mai-Duc For much of last year, consultants and campaign managers for some of Californias most vulnerable Republican incumbents maintained a bullish tone on the prospect that the GOP would hold the House in this years midterms. The National Republican Congressional Committee insisted that longtime Republican incumbents in California had built up reputations as effective champions of local issues that would help them weather a flood of Democratic enthusiasm. Since then Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) and Rep. Darrell Issa (R-Vista) have decided not to seek reelection and the NRCC has opened a West Coast headquarters in Orange County. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California officials say Pentagon has confirmed National Guard funding despite Trump threat By John Myers (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) The awkward dance between Gov. Jerry Brown and the federal government over the National Guard jerked back toward discord on Thursday, when Trump said he would refuse to pay for a new deployment of troops just hours after his administration said otherwise. And a few hours later, California officials said they had received written confirmation from the Pentagon that the mission would indeed be funded. Trump had earlier called Browns decision to approve 400 troops for a mission focused on combating transnational crime and drug smuggling a charade in a tweet. We need border security and action, not words! the president wrote. Governor Jerry Brown announced he will deploy up to 400 National Guard Troops to do nothing. The crime rate in California is high enough, and the Federal Government will not be paying for Governor Browns charade. We need border security and action, not words! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 19, 2018 A spokesman for Brown pointed to a tweet written Wednesday night by Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen, thanking the California governor for his efforts. Trump was meeting on Thursday with Nielsen at his Mar-a-Lago estate not long after his tweet was posted. A tweet later posted by the California National Guard said that almost three hours after Trumps comment, the state received written confirmation from the Pentagon to fund the mission as outlined by Brown the day before. In short, nothing has changed today, said a subsequent Guard tweet. Just spoke w @JerryBrownGov about deploying the @USNationalGuard in California. Final details are being worked out but we are looking forward to the support. Thank you Gov Brown! Secretary Kirstjen M. Nielsen (@SecNielsen) April 19, 2018 Brown was the last of the nations border governors to respond to Trumps insistence earlier this month that National Guard troops were needed to assist with immigration-related duties at the U.S.-Mexico border. And he has consistently refused to allow California troops to engage in any mission related to federal immigration law. This will not be a mission to build a new wall, Brown wrote last week to Nielsen and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis. It will not be a mission to round up women and children or detain people escaping violence and seeking a better life. Exactly what the California operations will cost remains unclear, as state officials have said it will depend on decisions made once the mission begins. The funds would not be transferred to the state, but instead would be paid directly by the Department of Defense. Trump has critiqued California several times over the past few days, often writing tweets that embrace the actions by some cities and counties to join his administrations lawsuit against the states sanctuary immigration law. He made similar comments to reporters on Thursday afternoon. If you look at whats happening in California with sanctuary cities people are really going the opposite way, Trump said. They dont want sanctuary cities. Theres a little bit of a revolution going on in California. 2:26 p.m.:This article was updated with additional information from the California National Guard and with remarks from Trump. This article was originally published at 9:51 a.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gay conversion therapy services would be banned under measure advancing in California By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The California Assembly voted Thursday to add gay conversion therapy to the states list of deceptive business practices, following a debate that focused on the personal experiences of several lawmakers and hinted at potential lawsuits to come. It is harmful and it is unnecessary, Assemblyman Evan Low (D-Campbell), the bills author and one of the Legislatures most vocal LGBTQ members, said of the practice. Low, who told Assembly members that he explored conversion therapy as a teenager and suffered depression over his sexual orientation, insisted that the bill would be limited to efforts that involve the exchange of money. Theres nothing wrong with me, he said in an emotional speech on the Assembly floor. Theres nothing that needs to be changed. The bill, which now heads to the Senate, has become the focal point of intense debate on social media. Some religious groups have said that such a law would be a violation of their constitutional rights, while advocates insist the provisions are narrow and theres no credible evidence that the services work. One key part of the debate centers on whether Assembly Bill 2943 would stretch beyond businesses that charge for these programs and extend to printed documents, even Bibles. An analysis by the Assembly Judiciary Committee says the bill would apply only to services that purport to change a persons sexual orientation and offered on a commercial basis, as well as the advertising and offering of such services. Lawmakers who spoke in support of AB 2943 also made clear that they believe those kinds of services have been discredited. This is fraudulent, it should not be occurring, said Assemblywoman Susan Eggman (D-Stockton). But you can still try to pray the gay away, if you like. Assemblyman James Gallagher (R-Yuba City), who said the bill addresses a difficult issue, nonetheless said that its important to ensure laws dont tamper with religious freedom. We have to think about the legitimate experience of people who have gone through conversion therapy and said this was a good thing for them, Gallagher told his colleagues. California law already bans the use of conversion therapy by mental health professionals on those under age 18. Lows bill would expand the states efforts beyond minors. It would join a list of commercial activities deemed unfair or deceptive acts or practices and therefore banned under state law. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gavin Newsom gets backing from doctors group, despite differences over single-payer healthcare By Melanie Mason Gavin Newsom speaks at the California Democrats State Convention in San Diego on Feb. 24. (Kent Nishimura) Californias doctors are siding with Gavin Newsom in the governors race, even though they dont see eye-to-eye on a defining issue of the campaign: single-payer healthcare. The California Medical Assn., the state doctors lobby and a political heavyweight, announced its endorsement of the lieutenant governor on Thursday. Gavin is a lifelong champion for health care in California, and we know he will continue to fight for pragmatic solutions to our most crucial health care challenges, including working to achieve universal access and tackling our states physician shortage, CMA President Theodore M. Mazer said in a statement. Newsom has made his support for state-financed healthcare a centerpiece of his campaign, and he earned the early backing of the most ardent single-payer supporters, the state nurses union. The doctors, meanwhile, oppose the nurses bill, SB 562, which emerged as a flashpoint in the healthcare debate last year. The CMA said the bill would dismantle the healthcare marketplace and destabilize Californias economy. Newsom has said SB 562 should advance in the Legislature, but also said it has open-ended issues that still need to be addressed. The doctors group is also battling with another prominent Newsom endorser, the Service Employees International Union, over a new measure that would impose price caps on an array of medical services paid for by commercial health insurers in the state. The SEIU is a leading sponsor of the proposal; the doctors fiercely oppose it. Newsom and the physicians group have a history of political alignment. Newsom was the first statewide official to support Proposition 56, a 2016 tobacco tax pushed by the CMA that raised revenue in part to increase money for doctors who saw Medi-Cal patients. That year, the association also endorsed two initiatives championed by Newsom: Proposition 63, which imposed new gun control measures, and Proposition 64, which legalized recreational marijuana. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosa for governor hits the airwaves with first ad By Phil Willon Antonio Villaraigosa speaks at the 2018 California Democratic Party Convention in San Diego in February.. (Denis Poroy / Associated Press) A well-financed independent committee backing Antonio Villaraigosas bid to be Californias next governor released its first television ad Thursday, praising his record for working with Republicans and as a candidate for all of California. The ad, which is to air statewide on broadcast and cable stations, is focused on Villaraigosas record as Assembly speaker and mayor of Los Angeles, including on education and a drop in crime while he was at City Hall. To move California forward, we need to help more Californians get ahead, the ad says. Thats why Antonio Villaraigosa brought both parties together to balance the state budget with record investments in public schools and new career training programs. The independent expenditure committee behind the ad campaign, Families & Teachers for Antonio Villaraigosa for Governor 2018, is sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. Advocates, according to the California secretary of states office. The committee is spending seven figures per week on the ad buy, said Josh Pulliam, a political consultant for the committee. As mayor of Los Angeles, Villaraigosa clashed with teachers unions, starting with his failed attempt to take political control of the Los Angeles Unified School District. His fight with those unions continued after he left office in 2013. Money has poured into the committee this month from wealthy charter schools supporters: Reed Hastings, chief executive of Netflix, donated $7 million, and Los Angeles billionaire and philanthropist Eli Broad donated $1.5 million. On Wednesday, former Los Angeles Mayor Richard Riordan donated $1 million. The independent expenditure committee is expected to provide a boost to Villaraigosas campaign. Democratic front-runner Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom has a major advantage in fundraising over all other candidates in the race and has received the backing of the California Teachers Assn. and other education unions. A recent Public Policy Institute of California poll also showed Villaraigosa lagging in third place in the race, trailing Newsom and Republican businessman John Cox. The candidates who finish in the top two in the June 5 primary will advance to the November general election, regardless of their party affiliation. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown says Trump administration will fund his National Guard mission without immigration duties By John Myers (Alex Wong / Getty Images) Gov. Jerry Brown formally mobilized 400 California National Guard members Wednesday for transnational crime-fighting duties, thus preventing any effort by President Trump to have the troops focus on immigration enforcement on the Mexican border. The governor announced that federal officials have agreed to fund the plan he announced last week a mission to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in locations around California, including near the border. The order Brown signed makes clear that the troops will not be allowed to perform a broader set of duties as envisioned by Trumps recent comments. California National Guard service members shall not engage in any direct law enforcement role nor enforce immigration laws, arrest people for immigration law violations, guard people taken into custody for alleged immigration violations, or support immigration law enforcement activities, the order read. The cost of the mission, a spokesman for Brown said, will be paid directly by the federal government. No initial estimate has been made, as the exact amount will depend on exactly how the troops will be used. Though the duties of California Guard members were outlined last week, the state had been waiting for an agreement by federal officials to pay for the operations. Since that time, the president has taken Brown and the state to task over its decision to avoid any immigration-related duties at the border. On Wednesday morning, Trump tweeted, Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! There is a Revolution going on in California. Soooo many Sanctuary areas want OUT of this ridiculous, crime infested & breeding concept. Jerry Brown is trying to back out of the National Guard at the Border, but the people of the State are not happy. Want Security & Safety NOW! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border, Trump tweeted Tuesday. There was no immediate reaction from the White House to Browns announcement. On Tuesday, Brown told reporters in Washington that his plan was consistent with a safer border. That sounds to me like fighting crime, the governor said. Trying to catch some desperate mothers and children, or unaccompanied minors coming from Central America, that sounds like something else. The order Brown issued Wednesday after returning from a brief trip to talk climate change in Toronto and to speak to a national trade union and visit with reporters in Washington is set to expire at the end of September. It specifically says no Guard service member may participate in a mission that would exceed the mission scope and limitations related to transnational crime activity. It also says troops cannot help build any new border barrier. 5:27 p.m.: This article was updated with information related to the cost of the Guard mission and Browns trip to Washington. This article was originally published at 5:13 p.m. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement California bill aims to end practice that keeps workplace misconduct cases out of court By Melanie Mason A California bill would prohibit employers from requiring workers to use private arbitration to settle disputes, a practice that critics say shields improper workplace conduct from public view. The bill by Assemblywoman Lorena Gonzalez Fletcher (D-San Diego) would bar businesses from making employees, when they are hired, waive their future rights to take any harassment, discrimination or other claims to court. Arbitration can be a highly effective dispute resolution method when both parties can choose it freely, when both parties are equal, Gonzalez Fletcher said at a news conference on Wednesday. It is far less successful when the more powerful party forces the other to accept those terms, especially as a condition of employment. Forced arbitration has come under increasing scrutiny since the #MeToo movement, with high-profile figures such as former Fox News anchor Gretchen Carlson pointing to the practice as shielding workplace abusers from public disclosure because arbitration resolutions often include nondisclosure agreements. Last year, a bipartisan bill was introduced in Congress to end mandatory arbitration in employment agreements. Gonzalez Fletcher said she was pursuing an unusual tool to draw attention to the issue a subpoena issued by the Legislature to compel testimony from a worker bound by a nondisclosure agreement as a result of arbitration. The Legislature has subpoena power but it is rarely used. The bills sponsors believe lawmakers last issued a subpoena in 2001 while investigating price manipulation by Enron. Gonzalez Fletcher said she has requested Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon (D-Lakewood) to issue the subpoena to require Tara Zoumer, who sued the company WeWork in 2016 for overtime pay, to testify before the Assembly Judiciary Committee next week. Zoumers suit was moved to arbitration and resolved. She is now subject to a nondisclosure agreement and could face a financial penalty for speaking publicly about her case. A spokesman for Rendon said the subpoena request is under consideration. Business groups oppose the bill, AB 3080. The California Chamber of Commerce has dubbed it a job biller, claiming it would dramatically increase legal costs for businesses. Banning such agreements benefits the trial attorneys, not the employer or employee, the group said. The bill must first advance from the Assembly Labor Committee on Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print At least 240 House lawmakers want a vote on immigration. California supporters say they arent ready to force one By Sarah D. Wire Rep. Jeff Denham (R-Turlock), flanked by Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands) and Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) speak about DACA legislation (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Rep. Jeff Denham says at least 240 of the 430 current House members have signed onto his resolution to hold votes on four immigration bills, and he hopes House Speaker Paul D. Ryan (R-Wis.) and President Trump are paying attention to the show of support. But, the Republican from Turlock and his allies said Wednesday that they are not yet willing to commit to forcing Ryans hand through a little-used procedural move called a discharge petition; they acknowledged theres no guarantee that all of 47 Republicans and 193 Democrats House co-signers will back them up if they try to force the issue. Im sure that it is something that will be discussed in the coming weeks. You should not need a discharge petition. When you can show the overwhelming majority of the House, the support of it, you should not need a discharge petition, but it is something we would talk about in the future, Denham said. It is far too early to talk about next steps. Ryan said last week that he opposes Denhams effort, saying its a waste of time for the House to vote on bills the president might veto. Denhams resolution would prompt debate and votes on four very different immigration bills: one favored by the Trump administration, one preferred by Democrats, one bipartisan proposal and another immigration bill of Ryans choice. Whichever got the most votes would move forward to the Senate. All four bills would help Dreamers to differing degrees and include varying levels of border security or immigration enforcement. For example, the Trump-backed bill would also dramatically reduce legal immigration, while the Democrats would only deal with legal status for Dreamers. Democrats say they dont expect the show of support will sway Ryan. Congressional Hispanic Caucus Chairwoman Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said Tuesday night she expects Ryan will have to be forced into allowing a vote. It doesnt matter how many signatures we get. We could have every signature, technically, except his, on the floor of the House and... if he doesnt want to, it doesnt happen, Lujan Grisham (D-N.M.) said. Rep. Pete Aguilar (D-Redlands), who gathered the Democratic co-sponsors for Denham, also wouldnt give a deadline for House leaders to act, but said the co-sponsors are only willing to wait weeks not months. We do want to give them an opportunity to bring up the rule and to use whatever process they want, Aguilar said. They do have options, but I think they need to understand that we have options too. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer endorses Kevin de Leon in his insurgent bid against Sen. Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta Tom Steyer, left, and California state Sen. Kevin de Leon (D-Los Angeles). (Getty Images; Los Angeles Times) Billionaire Democratic activist Tom Steyer is endorsing state Sen. Kevin de Leon in his insurgent challenge to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, and did not rule out funding an outside effort to boost De Leons chances. I think hes the kind of young progressive that reflects California and would be a very strong advocate for our state nationally, Steyer said in an interview on Tuesday, pointing to De Leons efforts on issues such as immigration, climate change and gun control while he was the state Senate leader. I know him well and hes a friend. We share a lot of values. Steyer, who flirted with running for the Senate seat, did not criticize Feinstein as he has in the past. Sen. Feinstein has been an outstanding public servant who has dedicated the bulk of her adult life to the service of our state and the country, he said. These are two strong, very good Democrats. I just believe Kevin is the true progressive and he reflects something we need representing California going forward. I have nothing bad to say about Dianne Feinstein. I have a lot of good to say about Kevin de Leon. De Leon faces enormous odds as he tries to oust Feinstein, who has served in the Senate for a quarter-century, is well known to the states voters and has daunting leads in polls and fundraising. But De Leon has gained notable endorsements, most recently from the 2.1-million-member California Labor Federation last week. Campaign finance reports released this week show that Feinstein has more than $10 million in the bank, while De Leon has just more than $670,000. Feinstein, a multimillionaire and one of the wealthiest members of the Senate, has already lent her campaign $5 million and could easily write another check. But Steyer, a billionaire former hedge fund manager, could write a larger one. He is among the largest Democratic donors in the nation and has already committed more than $50 million to push for the impeachment of President Trump and to register young voters. He was noncommittal when asked if he would fund an independent expenditure group on behalf of De Leon. I dont have any concrete plans for that, he said. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Californias largest pension fund sends next years invoice to state government: $6.3 billion By John Myers The California Public Employees Retirement System building (Max Whittaker / Getty Images) As part of a shift toward less optimistic expectations for investment returns to pay for government worker pensions, board members of the California Public Employees Retirement System voted Tuesday to require an almost $6.3-billion payment from the state budget in the fiscal year that begins on July 1. The action, which could receive final approval on Wednesday, reflects a gradually higher annual contribution to public employee pensions by the state and from local governments across California. In 2016, CalPERS approved a half-percentage point decrease in its official estimate of the long-term investment return on its $353.3-billion portfolio. That shift was designed to happen over several years, in hopes it would lessen the financial shock of shifting more of the costs onto government employers. The highest costs are also, in part, a reflection of increases in the size of the states payroll. The states CalPERS payment will be about $450 million more than the total paid in the current fiscal year and more than double what it was only a decade ago. CalPERS board members voted on Tuesdays staff proposal with little discussion, save for a question about the increase in contributions also required from workers hired after a pension overhaul that took effect in June. It seems like it will be a ding on peoples salaries, said Theresa Taylor, the chairwoman of CalPERS finance committee and a member of SEIU Local 1000, the union that represents some 96,000 state employees. The $6.299-billion payment required from Californias state government must now be factored into the budget crafted by the Legislature and signed into law by Gov. Jerry Brown in late June. Brown had already assumed a similarly sized payment in his budget proposal unveiled in January. In February, a coalition representing city governments warned about the effects of rising pension costs under the expectations of less money from Wall Street investments. The report issued by the League of California Cities projected an average increase of more than 50% in annual pension payments made by the states largest cities over the next seven years. A CalPERS staff report notes that the net return on all of the funds investments for the fiscal year that ended in July was 11.2%. But expectations on profits over the next 30 years remain significantly more modest, and theres long been a robust debate about how to properly set those future expectations. The lower the rate of projected investment return, the larger the share of pension costs that must be covered by taxpayers and some employees. Overall, CalPERS officials believe the system has assets to cover 71% of its long-term obligations. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California warns legal pot sellers not to participate in unlicensed 4/20 events By Patrick McGreevy Marijuana on display at a dispensary in Los Angeles. ( (Frederic J. Brown / AFP/Getty Images)) The state issued a warning Tuesday that businesses holding licenses to sell marijuana could face penalties if they participate in unlicensed temporary events away from their stores, including on Friday, April 20, which has become an annual celebration for counterculture groups. The warning was issued ahead of 4/20 by the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Since Jan. 1, the bureau has issued more than 700 state licenses to sell marijuana for medical or recreational use. The bureau has issued 47 temporary event licenses to groups that are limited to holding the marijuana celebrations on county fairgrounds that have authorized such events with city approval. Any bureau licensee participating in an unlicensed cannabis event may be subject to disciplinary action, the warning said, adding that lawful participation by bureau licensees in any temporary cannabis event that allows sales and/or consumption is dependent upon issuance of the appropriate licenses from the bureau. While many Californians have been issued medical approval to sell or use marijuana, the law does not allow them to participate in unlicensed events, also referred to as Proposition 215 events after the ballot measure that legalized medical pot two decades ago in the state. Participation in such events may lead to civil penalties for unlicensed commercial cannabis activity, the warning said. Meanwhile, a survey of some 1,000 marijuana users that was released Tuesday by the firm LendEDU found that the average 4/20 participant plans to spend $71 on marijuana to celebrate the unofficial holiday, and about 35% of respondents are planning to take off work Friday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California police groups shift position on officer discipline records, now consider support for making some of them public By Liam Dillon Los Angeles Police Department recruits at a graduation ceremony in April (Al Seib / Los Angeles Times) Some major law enforcement groups signaled Tuesday they are willing to support making part of police officer disciplinary records public, a dramatic departure from their past positions. Local and national attention on police shootings and misconduct has led law enforcement organizations to reconsider their blanket opposition to proposals that would give public access to some internal disciplinary investigations of officers. Were going to be open to supporting efforts that would allow for some records to be released, said Ryan Sherman, a lobbyist with the Riverside Sheriffs Assn. Debate over secrecy provisions in officer disciplinary files came during a legislative hearing on Senate Bill 1421 from Sen. Nancy Skinner (D-Berkeley). Skinners bill, which advanced out of the Senate Public Safety Committee on Tuesday, would require public disclosure of all internal officer shooting investigations and confirmed cases of sexual assault and lying while on duty. Currently, all police discipline information is confidential outside of a courtroom in California, which has some of the nations strictest standards against public disclosure. Unfortunately, the fact that we have such strict restrictions on any access to public records has affected certain communities trust towards our law enforcement, Skinner said during the hearing. Prior to Skinners effort, other have tried to loosen these rules, some of which date back 40 years. Most recently in 2016, a bid by then-Sen. Mark Leno (D-San Francisco) failed in a Senate committee. In debate two years ago, no major law enforcement groups indicated they would accept changes to state laws that would make individual internal investigations public, saying they were essential to protect officer privacy and safety. But Tuesday, Sherman and other lobbyists including those representing the states largest police labor organization, signaled they might be willing to entertain changes. They said they were negotiating with Skinner on the bills details. Law enforcement groups still have major concerns about SB 1421 as written. Ed Fishman, an attorney for the Police Officers Research Assn., told legislators that the bill would wrongfully expose police officers who acted within departmental policy to invasions of their privacy. It has unintended consequences that are extreme and will hurt the public, Fishman said. Tuesdays hearing featured testimony from many who have had relatives killed by police officers in recent years advocating for the bill. Senators on the Public Safety Committee also gave public rebukes to law enforcement lobbyists, criticizing them for a lack of diversity and insensitivity to concerns raised by communities of color. I think that you are completely and utterly out of touch with the realities of how those you are representing are perceived by major segments of California, said Sen. Holly Mitchell (D-Los Angeles). You are not going to be able to continue to lobby your way out of it. The bill faces at least one more committee hearing in the Senate before reaching the floor. It will have to pass both houses of the Legislature by the end of August. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Newest member of the California Assembly arrives ready to work on criminal justice issues By John Myers Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove prepares for the oath of office from Assembly Speaker Anthony Rendon with her husband, Austin Dove. (California Assembly Democrats) Two weeks after winning a Los Angeles special election, the newest member of the California Assembly says she hopes to focus on reforms to the states criminal justice system during her time in Sacramento. Assemblywoman Sydney Kamlager-Dove (D-Los Angeles) took the oath of office on Monday, filling one of three vacant seats representing Los Angeles County in the lower house. The Democrat, a former community college trustee and legislative staffer, thanked her mentors in remarks from the Assembly rostrum. So many women, and in my life so many black women, have paid in giving me the kind of morals and integrity and grit that is required to fight on behalf of people that you know, and people that you dont know, she said. Kamlager-Dove won handily on April 3, receiving 70% of the votes cast in the 54th Assembly District which encompasses communities west of downtown Los Angeles, from Crenshaw to Culver City and as far north as Westwood. She will serve the remaining eight months of the term of former Assemblyman Sebastian Ridley-Thomas, who resigned last year citing health concerns. She has said she hopes to focus her attention on poverty issues and on reform of the states criminal justice system. I think we have an opportunity to really push the needle in terms of how we look at rehabilitation, how we look at incarceration, and how we look at changing the lives oftentimes of poor men and women of color, Kamalager-Dove said on Monday in a video released by Assembly Democrats. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Survivors of violent crime raise their voices in California to call for a new approach to criminal justice By Jazmine Ulloa Aaliyah Smith marches with her cousins. (Jazmine Ulloa / Los Angeles Times) Her father, uncle, a cousin and two older brothers. Those are some of the family members 16-year-old Aaliyah Smith has lost to gun violence. Then there are her friends. Jermaine Jackson Jr., 27, was shot and killed in 2016 while he painted over graffiti in San Francisco. Toriano Tito Adger, 18, was shot there a year later at a bus stop. He called Smith, who was nearby, and warned her to run. She made it inside a library moments before the crack of gunfire. Last week, Smith was among hundreds who gathered in Sacramento for annual National Crime Victims Rights Week events, where calls were issued for a new approach to criminal justice and public safety in California, one that puts survivors at the center of policy. But a debate is brewing over what that entails. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California expects $14 billion in tax payments this month By John Myers State workers handle income tax returns at the California Franchise Tax Board offices. (Laura Morton / For The Times) Gov. Jerry Browns proposed state budget is built on what taxpayers might find an audacious assumption: almost $14 billion in tax payments in the month of April, an average of $83 million collected per hour on every business day of the month. Most of that money will come from the taxes Californians pay in advance of Tuesday nights filing deadline for income tax returns. If history is any guide, the rate of payment could quadruple by weeks end. While tax rules have shifted some of the payment schedules to other months, April remains a vitally important month to the fiscal health of state government. The state controllers office reports more than 15% of all personal income tax revenues in 2017 were collected in April. In the recession years of a decade ago, tax revenue predictions were frequently off the mark by hundreds of millions of dollars. The last two state budgets have seen significant windfalls of personal income tax revenue, thanks in part both to an improving economy and to the continuation of a temporary surcharge on the wealthiest taxpayers extended by voters in 2016. In the budget plan he sent to lawmakers in January, Brown projected a $6.1-billion windfall and proposed using a sizable amount to top off Californias rainy-day fund ahead of schedule. The independent Legislative Analysts Office reports that through the end of last week, the months income tax tally stood at $3 billion, slightly ahead of projections. By the end of the current week, a single days total could be almost that large. Lawmakers began reviewing the governors $190.3-billion spending plan during the winter, but few decisions are made until they get a look at Aprils tax revenues. The governor will release a revised plan based on the new data next month; lawmakers are required to send him a completed budget no later than June 15. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Feinstein war chest tops $10 million while Kevin de Leon struggles to keep pace By Sarah D. Wire Sen. Dianne Feinstein widened her already-massive fundraising advantage in the run-up to Junes primary, raising twice as much in the first quarter than her strongest Senate challenger has sitting in the bank. Feinstein raised $1.3 million between January and March, bringing her war chest to just over $10 million as Californias U.S. Senate race begins in earnest, according Federal Election Commission reports. Former state Senate leader Kevin De Leon, the best known of the more than 30 people who will appear with Feinstein on the June primary ballot, raised just $575,991 in that same period, bringing his cash on hand to $672,331, according to his quarterly FEC report. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump has met his match, says Gov. Jerry Brown in promoting climate action on a quick trip to Canada By John Myers (Rich Pedroncelli/Associated Press) Gov. Jerry Brown told a Canadian audience Monday that he believes President Trumps efforts to reverse course on climate change policy are a momentary deviation as others in the United States seek limits on greenhouse gas emissions. Thats very temporary, I can assure you, Brown said at a joint event in Toronto with Ontario Premier Kathleen Wynne. The governors quick international trip, announced only late last week, comes as Wynnes Liberal Party faces a stiff challenge in Junes election from the Progressive Conservative Party of Ontario and its leader, Doug Ford. Critics of Wynnes party have called for Ontario to pull out of the Western Climate Initiative, a cooperative agreement between three Canadian provinces and California on efforts to limit greenhouse gases. Brown sought to link the efforts of Canadian conservatives with Republicans in the United States who oppose existing climate change programs. In contrast, he told the audience, several GOP lawmakers voted last summer to renew Californias cap-and-trade program. I would say to the conservatives of Canada, wake up and see what your friends in California are doing, he said. The Democrat took particular notice of Trumps efforts to shift away from climate change policies from the administration of former President Obama, as well as a push by the Environmental Protection Agency to cancel Californias strict limits on automobile emissions. If Trump tries to change that, well have litigation well beyond his term in office, Brown said while also noting Chinese government efforts to produce more low-emissions vehicles. Between California and China, Trump has met his match. What hes saying is not going to happen. Many of the governors remarks, though, were aimed at the tough political situation in which Wynne finds herself with seven weeks to go before Ontarios parliamentary elections. Dangers abound, but success is right in our hands, Brown said. So dont blow it! Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print California voters are getting to know the states attorney general through his aggressive stance challenging Trump By Patrick McGreevy Less than two months from his first statewide election, California Atty. Gen. Xavier Becerra has become adept not only at challenging President Trump but at using the bully pulpit of his office to raise his profile with voters. The aggressive effort may help boost the former Los Angeles congressmans chances at winning a full term in office this fall, almost two years after he was appointed to replace Sen. Kamala Harris in 2017. Appointed by Gov. Jerry Brown, Becerra took office as attorney general four days after Trumps inauguration. Thats afforded him an opportunity to get in front of Californians and potential voters on an array of issues including immigration, healthcare and the environment. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gov. Jerry Brown forms commission for 2020 census outreach By Melanie Mason In an effort to make sure California has a strong showing in the next national census, Gov. Jerry Brown on Friday established a state commission to prepare outreach for the decennial count. It is vitally important for California to do everything it can to ensure that every Californian is counted in the upcoming census, Brown said in a prepared statement. The commissions formation comes on the heels of a Trump administration plan to ask about citizenship status as a part of the census. State officials fear that such a question, which has not been asked in a census since 1950, could chill participation among California residents. That could result in the state losing billions of dollars in federal funds and a seat in Congress. The 23-member panel, appointed largely by Brown as well as picks by legislative leaders, comes from private- and public-sector backgrounds, including civil rights groups, religious institutions and educational institutions. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Garcetti kicks off Iowa visit with 2020 on his mind and a hardhat on his head LA Mayor - and 2020 prospect - Eric Garcetti makes his Iowa debut at the Carpenters Union Training Center. Fearlessly flaunts the never be photographed in head gear/safety glasses rule. pic.twitter.com/14bUOPXMvF Mark Z. Barabak (@markzbarabak) April 13, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Asm. Rocky Chavez takes the lead in race to replace Issa, while Doug Applegate slips By Joshua Stewart A new poll shows that Republican Assemblyman Rocky Chavez has taken a clear lead over 15 other candidates running to replace Rep. Darrell Issa in Congress and has overtaken Democrat Doug Applegate, the previous frontrunner. In a SurveyUSA poll by 10News and The San Diego Union-Tribune, Chavez, R-Oceanside, has support of 16 percent of likely voters, putting him ahead of Applegate, a lawyer, who was favored by 12 percent of voters and is in second place. The top two vote-getters in June, regardless of party, will proceed to a November runoff election. Competing with Applegate for the No. 2 spot is Democrat Mike Levin, also a lawyer, with support of 9 percent of voters. Several other candidates were right at his heels. Democratic Businessman Paul Kerr and Board of Equalization Member Diane Harkey, R-Dana Point, were tied for fourth at 8 percent each. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pro-Kevin de Leon group launches ad castigating Dianne Feinstein By Seema Mehta A group that is supporting Kevin de Leons bid for the U.S. Senate launched a blistering ad against Sen. Dianne Feinstein on Thursday, questioning her progressive principles and tying her to President Trump. The ad buy from A Progressive California is minuscule $10,000 to air it in Los Angeles for one day on CNN and MSNBC during programming such as The Rachel Maddow Show, Hardball with Chris Matthews and Anderson Cooper 360. The minute-long ad features news clips about Feinstein not getting the California Democratic Party endorsement earlier this year, as well as footage of Feinstein saying that Trump can be a good president and appearing to share a laugh with Trump. That moment actually came during a White House meeting in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting when the president suggested an assault weapons ban should be included in a bipartisan bill to expand gun background checks. It also features extensive clips of de Leons speech at the state partys convention. De Leon, who just ended his final term as leader of the state Senate, announced last year he would run against fellow Democrat Feinstein as she seeks her fifth full term. Feinsteins longtime political advisor dismissed the ad, noting the size of the buy. Its not really a buy, said Bill Carrick. Ten thousand dollars in cable in L.A. Poof, its gone. Still, he said he planned to have the campaigns lawyers review the ad to see if it violates campaign law that limits what outside groups like A Progressive California can do. Such groups cannot coordinate with campaigns or candidates, and are limited in how much their messages can support a candidate. Ann Ravel, the former chair of the Federal Election Commission and the California Fair Political Practices Commission, said if the ad was in a state race, she is certain that the state commission would open an investigation into potential coordination with de Leons campaign because of the messaging and the types of footage in the ad. But the bipartisan federal commission cant agree on how to enforce the federal regulations, she said. The problem is [outside groups] understand that given the lack of very strong enforcement at the federal level, theres the ability to stretch the law, she said. A spokeswoman for the FEC declined to comment. Dave Jacobson, a spokesman for A Progressive California, disputed the suggestion that the ad violated campaign law. This frivolous allegation shows that Sen. Feinstein is afraid of the public seeing an ad which showcases her own words, that Donald Trump can be a good president, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Dispute over money emerges in campaign to repeal Californias gas tax increase By Patrick McGreevy A motorist prepares to gas up her vehicle in San Rafael, Calif., in 2015. (Justin Sullivan / Getty Images) A proposed initiative to repeal hikes to Californias gas tax has been caught in the middle of a dispute involving Republican rivals in the governors race. Assemblyman Travis Allen, a Republican candidate for governor, decided in January to drop plans for his own initiative and said he would urge supporters to sign a separate petition being supported by several Republican members of Congress. Then last week, the committee Allen formed to finance his ballot measure reported a $300,000 contribution from PISF Inc., a Novato, Calif., real estate firm. Now, an organizer of the still active Give Voters a Voice committee is urging the Allen committee to immediately donate their funds in support of the ongoing signature gathering efforts. There is only one gas tax repeal measure currently in circulation and that is the measure sponsored by the Give Voters a Voice Committee, said Dave Gilliard, a consultant to the group. PISF Inc., he said, gave to repeal taxes a The 20-episode Bloody bet thriller to be broadcast on Ucom's Armenia Premium TV channel Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group UCOM offers affordable gadgets at bigger discount Foreign Minister of Armenia Ararat Mirzoyan will pay a working visit to New York Google Ad Governments preventing publication of Haykakan Zhamanak newspaper during state of emergency UCOM prolongs the unlimited internet offer for the level up 4700 and level up 5500 subscribers Ucom employees received recognition for their services to the homeland Karen Vardanyan has allocated 105 million AMD to rescue the Yerevan Botanical Garden. 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Artak Hanesyan UCOMS LEVEL UP 1700 REGIONAL TARIFF PLAN USERS TO RECEIVE MORE THAN THOSE IN YEREVAN Google Ad Joint statement Statement by the Co-Chairs of the OSCE Minsk Group Covid-19: 163 new cases in Armenia Armenia: Remarks by Commissioner Oliver Varhelyi at the press point with Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mher Grigoryan The United States Welcomes Azerbaijans Release of Armenian Detainees and Armenias Actions to Facilitate Demining The Coronavirus-Related Situation in Armenia International aviation: Council greenlights signing of major agreements with four countries With UCOMs level up tariff plans subscribers have unlimited access to Netflix, Duolingo and Zoom Armenia: Statement by the Spokesperson on the early parliamentary elections Armenias Parliamentary Elections PRESS STATEMENT COVID19:77 new cases Armenias early parliamentary elections were competitive and well run, but polarized and marred by aggressive rhetoric, international observers say International election observers to Armenias early parliamentary elections held press conference Allies balk at Trump administration bid to block Chinese firm from cutting-edge telecom markets By David S. Cloud Britain and Germany are balking at the Trump administrations call for a ban on equipment from Chinese telecommunications giant Huawei, threatening a global U.S. campaign to thwart Chinas involvement in future mobile networks. Both countries are expected to limit Huawei and other Chinese companies from providing core components including routers. But other types of Chinese equipment for next-generation, high-speed communications could still be installed on British and German networks, officials and analysts say. The U.S. push to ban Huawei has provoked a global dispute in recent weeks, with senior U.S. officials, including Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo, publicly urging NATO allies in Europe to exclude the company and warning that the United States might limit its military presence in countries that did not do so. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Confucius Institutes: Do they improve U.S.-China ties or harbor spies? By Don Lee Hanging red lanterns welcome visitors to the University of Marylands Confucius Institute, the oldest of about 100 Chinese language and cultural centers that have popped up over the last 15 years on American campuses, subsidized by millions of dollars from Chinas central government. But last fall, when four U.S. Senate investigators walked into the Confucius offices in Maryland and spent hours questioning staff, they werent looking for an educational exchange. The committee has been seeking detailed information from the university about the program, including contracts, email exchanges and financial arrangements that school administrators have kept under wraps since it started in 2004. American colleges once viewed these jointly funded institutes as an economical way to expand their language offerings one that could also bring warmer ties with China and, importantly, an influx of Chinese international students paying full tuition. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch Live: White House holds surprise news briefing amid government shutdown Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. policy toward China shifts from engagement to confrontation By David S. Cloud For decades, China had no closer American friend than Dianne Feinstein. As San Francisco mayor in the 1970s, she forged a sister-city relationship with Shanghai, the first between American and Chinese communities. As U.S. senator, she dined with Chinese leaders at Mao Tse-tungs old Beijing residence. And in the 1990s, she championed a trade policy change that opened a floodgate of Western investment into China. Today the Democratic senator sees China as a growing threat, joining a broad array of Trump administration officials, national security strategists and business executives who once favored engagement with Beijing and now advocate a confrontational approach instead. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Mnuchins attempt to calm markets backfires as Trump takes another shot at the Federal Reserve By Jim Puzzanghera An attempt by Treasury Secretary Steven T. Mnuchin to calm plunging financial markets backfired Monday, further rattling investors with new fears about whether major U.S. banks have enough cash on top of worries about interest rates, political instability in Washington and a slowing global economy. Adding to the volatile mix was a fresh attack on the Federal Reserve by President Trump, who declared that the central bank was the U.S. economys only problem and that it didnt have a feel for the market. The Fed is like a powerful golfer who cant score because he has no touch -- he cant putt! Trump said on Twitter. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print He speaks to Democratic hearts. But is Beto ORourke a serious White House contender? By Mark Z. Barabak Hes a failed U.S. Senate candidate with an undistinguished congressional record who, for the moment, is a blazing-hot 2020 presidential prospect despite the fact that he may not run and faces long odds if he does. Beto ORourke suggests the will-he-or-wont-he speculation is something he himself cant quite fathom. I think thats a great question, he responded in a Dallas Morning News interview when asked whether his unsuccessful November Senate bid merited a promotion to the White House. I ask that question myself. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Russian disinformation teams targeted Robert S. Mueller III, says report prepared for Senate By Craig Timberg, Tony Romm, Elizabeth Dwoskin Special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. (Associated Press) Months after President Trump took office, Russias disinformation teams trained their sites on a new target: special counsel Robert S. Mueller III. Having worked to help get Trump into the White House, they now worked to neutralize the biggest threat to his staying there. The Russian operatives unloaded on Mueller through fake accounts on Facebook, Twitter and beyond, falsely claiming that the former FBI director was corrupt and that the allegations of Russian interference in the 2016 election were crackpot conspiracies. One post on Instagram which emerged as an especially potent weapon in the Russian social media arsenal claimed that Mueller had worked in the past with radical Islamic groups. Such tactics exemplified how Russian teams ranged nimbly across social media platforms in a shrewd online influence operation aimed squarely at American voters. The effort started earlier than commonly understood and lasted longer while relying on the strengths of different sites to manipulate distinct slices of the electorate, according to a pair of comprehensive new reports prepared for the Senate Intelligence Committee and released Monday. Read more Timberg, Romm and Dwoskin report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement President Trump announces Mick Mulvaney as acting White House chief of staff By Associated Press President Trump says budget director Mick Mulvaney will serve as acting chief of staff, replacing John F. Kelly in the new year. I am pleased to announce that Mick Mulvaney, Director of the Office of Management & Budget, will be named Acting White House Chief of Staff, replacing General John Kelly, who has served our Country with distinction. Mick has done an outstanding job while in the Administration.... Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) December 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print It aint over when its over: In Michigan, Wisconsin and elsewhere, losers seek to undermine election results By Mark Z. Barabak Democrat Gavin Newsom has yet to become California governor, but already a candidate for state Republican Party chairman is promoting a recall effort. In Michigan and Wisconsin, GOP lawmakers have rushed through legislation to thwart their incoming Democratic governors and hamper others in the opposing party from doing the jobs voters chose them to do. In Congress, GOP leaders have echoed President Trump and sought to undermine the legitimacy of Democrats strong midterm performance, raising unsubstantiated allegations of fraud and political malfeasance. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print New CFPB Director Kathy Kraninger says she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera On her first full day leading the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau, Kathy Kraninger said she wont be a puppet of Mick Mulvaney, the controversial acting director whom she replaced in the powerful regulatory position. To underscore that point, the former White House aide said she would even reconsider a Mulvaney action that critics saw as a gratuitous jab at Democrats who championed the agencys creation: changing its name to the Bureau of Consumer Financial Protection. Kraningers declaration during a meeting with reporters Tuesday addressed one of the main criticisms of her selection. She is considered a protege of Mulvaney, her boss at the White House Office of Management and Budget who has executed a dramatic, industry-friendly shift at the watchdog agency. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trumps pick for chief of staff, Nick Ayers, out of running By Associated Press Nick Ayers, right, with Supreme Court Justice Neil Gorsuch, at the funeral service for George H.W. Bush on Dec. 3. (Jabin Botsford/The Washington Post via Associated Press) President Trumps top pick to replace John F. Kelly as chief of staff, Nick Ayers, is no longer expected to fill that role. Thats according to a White House official who is not authorized to discuss the personnel issue by name and spoke on condition of anonymity. Ayers is Vice President Mike Pences chief of staff. The official says that Trump and Ayers could not agree on Ayers length of service. The father of young children, Ayers had agreed to serve in an interim capacity though the spring, but Trump wanted a two-year commitment. The official says that Ayers will instead assist the president from outside the administration. Trump announced Saturday that Kelly would be departing the White House around the end of the year. Thank you @realDonaldTrump, @VP, and my great colleagues for the honor to serve our Nation at The White House. I will be departing at the end of the year but will work with the #MAGA team to advance the cause. #Georgia Nick Ayers (@nick_ayers) December 9, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement U.S. hiring slows to 155,000 jobs, unemployment rate holds at 3.7% By Jim Puzzanghera Job growth slowed significantly in November but still was solid, indicating the economy remains in good shape but not expanding so quickly that it will lead to sharply higher interest rates. U.S. employers added 155,000 jobs last month, well below analyst expectations and a steep decline from Octobers strong 237,000 figure, the Labor Department reported Friday. Still, monthly job gains are averaging 206,000 this year, the best since 2015. Even the slower pace of 170,000 over the last three months is close to last years average of 182,000 and well above the amount needed to keep up with population growth. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump is expected to pick State Department spokeswoman for U.N. ambassador By Associated Press Heather Nauert at a briefing at the State Department on Aug. 9, 2017. (Alex Brandon / Associated Press) President Trump is expected to nominate State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert to be the next U.S. ambassador to the United Nations. Two administration officials confirmed Trumps plans. A Republican congressional aide said the president was expected to announce his decision by tweet on Friday morning. The officials were not authorized to speak publicly before Trumps announcement. Trump has previously said Nauert was under serious consideration to replace Nikki Haley, who announced in October that she would step down at the end of this year. Trump has been known to change course on staffing decisions in the past. Nauert was a reporter for Fox News Channel before she became State Department spokeswoman under former Secretary Rex Tillerson. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Senate confirms new consumer financial protection chief: Kathy Kraninger, protege of industry-friendly Mick Mulvaney By Jim Puzzanghera The Senate, in a party-line vote Thursday, confirmed White House aide Kathy Kraninger to head the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau and experts predicted a continuation of the industry-friendly shift it has taken since President Trump installed an acting director last year. Kraninger is a protege of acting director and White House budget chief Mick Mulvaney, an outspoken critic of the agency that was created in the aftermath of the 2008 financial crisis to prevent predatory lending and other abuses that led to it. Democrats and consumer advocates have denounced him for sharply departing from the aggressive watchdog role the bureau had pursued under its first director, Obama-appointee Richard Cordray, including scaling back enforcement and moving to reassess tough new rules on payday loans and narrow the definition of abusive practices by banks and other firms. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Shutdown postponed by two weeks under plan approved by Congress By Erik Wasson Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.), shown at the Capitol on Tuesday, says President Trumps border wall is a waste of money. (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Congress passed a two-week stopgap spending bill that will delay the chance of a partial government shutdown until Dec. 22 as lawmakers and President Donald Trump negotiate over his demands to pay for a wall on the southern border. The House and Senate passed the measure Thursday without dissent, and Trump has indicated hell sign the bill before the current shutdown deadline of midnight Friday. Negotiations were delayed by memorial services this week for former President George H.W. Bush. The temporary measure gives Democrats and Republicans more time to find a resolution to their biggest hurdle: funding a wall on the U.S. Mexico border wall. Trump says he wants $5 billion for parts of a concrete wall on the southern border and is willing to shut down the government if he doesnt get it. Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer of New York has said Democrats will provide no more than $1.6 billion for border security, because the wall is a waste of money. The presidents demands for wall funding from Congress come after he said during the campaign that Mexico would pay for it. This week he said on Twitter that a $25 billion border wall would pay for itself in two months, without providing evidence. Most of the U.S. governments $1.2 trillion discretionary budget has been appropriated already by Congress for the fiscal year that began on Oct. 1. Departments at a risk of a partial shutdown late this month include the departments of State, Interior, Agriculture, Commerce, Justice, Treasury and Homeland Security. Talks to resolve the differences have been on hold since a meeting among Trump, Schumer and House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi of California originally slated for Dec. 4 was postponed due to Bush memorial events. The three are scheduled to meet on Tuesday, according to a person familiar with the matter. Senate Appropriations Chairman Richard Shelby of Alabama told reporters the rest of the seven-bill spending package being negotiated is basically done. Shelby in recent weeks had tried to broker a compromise in which Trumps $5 billion request would be split over two years, but Schumer has rejected that. Some Democrats have been willing to trade border wall funding for deportation protections for young undocumented immigrants. Pelosi ruled out such a deal in remarks to reporters Thursday. The stopgap government funding measure also would extend the National Flood Insurance Program, which provides subsidized coverage for homes in flood-prone areas, to Dec. 21. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Bipartisan Senate group wants to formally blame Saudi crown prince for journalists killing By Karoun Demirjian Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman at the G-20 summit in Buenos Aires. (Associated Press) A bipartisan group of senators filed a resolution Wednesday condemning Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman as responsible for the killing of journalist Jamal Khashoggi, directly challenging President Trump to do the same. This resolution -- without equivocation -- definitively states that the crown prince of Saudi Arabia was complicit in the murder of Mr. [Jamal] Khashoggi and has been a wrecking ball to the region jeopardizing our national security interests on multiple fronts, Sen. Lindsey Graham (R-S.C.) said in a statement accompanying the release of the resolution. It will be up to Saudi Arabia as to how to deal with this matter. But it is up to the United States to firmly stand for who we are and what we believe. The resolution put forward by Graham and Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who are expected to lead the Judiciary Committee together next year, comes just one day after CIA Director Gina Haspel briefed leading senators about the details of the agencys assessment that Mohammed ordered and monitored the killing and dismemberment of Khashoggi in the Saudi Consulate in Istanbul, Turkey. Senators emerged from that closed-door briefing furious not only with Saudi Arabia, but Trump as well for dismissing the heft of the CIAs findings. You have to be willfully blind not to come to the conclusion that this was orchestrated and organized by people under the command of MBS and that he was intricately involved in the demise of Mr. Khashoggi, Graham said following the briefing, referring to Mohammed by his initials. He added that Secretary of State Michael R. Pompeo and Defense Secretary James N. Mattis, who briefed senators last week, were at best being good soldiers and at worst were in the pocket of Saudi Arabia for presenting the evidence of Mohammeds involvement as inconclusive. The release of the resolution condemning Mohammed also comes as the Senate is preparing to move ahead with debate on a resolution to curtail U.S. support for the Saudi-led military campaign in Yemen. Though the Yemen resolution does not directly address Khashoggis murder, its popularity is a sign of how strained the United States patience with Saudi Arabia is on multiple fronts, including its role in worsening the civilian cost of the war in Yemen, cited by the United Nations as the worlds worst humanitarian crisis. Last week, the Senate voted 63 to 37 to advance the Yemen resolution past an opening procedural hurdle. But Graham and Feinsteins resolution on the crown prince has the potential of drawing broader support, especially from Republicans, who are deeply divided about how fiercely to punish Saudi Arabia over Khashoggis killing. Sen. Marco Rubio (R-Fla.), who has been an outspoken advocate for human rights and is seen as one of the more influential foreign policy voices in the GOP, did not vote for the Yemen resolution last week or sign on to a bipartisan measure last month to sanction Saudi officials and cease weapons transfers to the kingdom. But he is an original co-sponsor of the resolution condemning Mohammed over Khashoggis death. So is Sen. Todd Young (R-Ind.), who represents the other end of the GOP spectrum in terms of recent Saudi-related votes and endorsements. Young was an initial co-sponsor of the bill Graham wrote with Sen. Robert Menendez (D-N.J.) to sanction Saudi officials deemed responsible for Khashoggis killing and stop the sale of anything but exclusively defensive weapons to the kingdom until it ceased hostilities in Yemen. Young also voted to advance the Yemen resolution something Graham did as well, though Graham has signaled he will not be lending any similar support to the measure, fearing it may establish a precedent of invoking the War Powers Act too broadly. Sens. Edward J. Markey (D-Mass.) and Chris Coons (D-Del.) are listed as original co-sponsors of the resolution condemning Mohammed, which also urges Saudi Arabia to negotiate with Houthi rebels to end the Yemen war, work out a political solution to its standoff with Qatar and release political prisoners. But how much sway the resolution has probably comes down to how forcefully the administration decides to heed it -- and thus far, Trump has not shown any interest in condemning the crown prince the way the senators hope he will. Demirjian reports for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Los Angeles County offices and U.S. Postal Service closed Wednesday in honor of George H.W. Bush By Brian Park The Honor Guard carries the casket of former U.S. President George H. W. Bush following his funeral on Dec. 5 in Washington, DC. (Doug Mills - Pool/Getty Images) The U.S. Postal Service will suspend regular mail delivery Wednesday, which President Trump has declared a national day of mourning in honor of former President George H.W. Bush. All retail postal outlets will be closed, and package delivery will be limited. In Los Angeles, all nonessential county departments, offices and libraries will be closed for the day, L.A. County officials said. The Los Angeles County Library said no overdue fines will be assessed for books, and due dates will be moved forward one week. Los Angeles County Department of Public Health offices also are closed Wednesday. The Sheriffs Department, Fire Department, clinics and hospitals will continue to operate, the county said. The Los Angeles County Department of Mental Health clinics are being operated with reduced staffing, and the department asked patients to confirm or reschedule any appointments. All county courts and the disaster recovery centers for the Woolsey fire in Malibu and Agoura Hills will remain open. Larger federal government operations will be closed Wednesday. To honor the life and legacy of President Bush, the Postal Service will observe the National Day of Mourning. Learn how Postal operations will be affected. https://t.co/Mffch7bPCh pic.twitter.com/vG46BsIOpm U.S. Postal Service (@USPS) December 4, 2018 L.A. County offices and libraries will be closed tomorrow (Dec 5) in observance of the #NationalDayOfMourning for President George H. W. Bush. The Countys Disaster Recovery Centers in Malibu & Agoura Hills will remain open from 10 a.m. - 8 p.m. pic.twitter.com/Sv1J7GoJ7T Los Angeles County (@CountyofLA) December 4, 2018 @LAPublicHealth offices will be closed tomorrow December 5 in observance of the national Day of Mourning for President George H. W. Bush. Essential Services including clinics and other services will remain open: https://t.co/tZGoGGHRlg pic.twitter.com/ypXsV6vlYY LA Public Health (@lapublichealth) December 4, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick to skip 2020 White House race, sources say By Associated Press Massachusetts Gov. Deval Patrick speaks during an interview in Boston on Dec. 15, 2014. (Elise Amendola / Associated Press) Former Gov. Deval Patrick of Massachusetts will soon announce he wont launch a 2020 presidential campaign, according to three sources familiar with his plans. They did not say why the Democrat decided against a run. A formal announcement was delayed as the country observed a day of mourning for President George H.W. Bush, one source said. News of Patricks plans was first reported by Politico. Patrick, 62, served two terms as governor, from 2007 to 2015, was assistant attorney general for civil rights in the Clinton administration and since leaving the governors office has been a managing director for Bain Capital. Patrick traveled the country in support of Democratic candidates in the recent midterm election. Earlier this year, some of Patricks supporters and close advisors started the Reason to Believe political action committee, a grassroots organization dedicated to advancing a positive, progressive vision for our nation in 2018 and 2020. Reason to Believe PAC had been holding meetups across the country, including in early presidential primary states. While Patrick is opting against a 2020 run, dozens of Democrats are considering jumping in, including nearly a half-dozen members of the Senate, several House members, and other Massachusetts politicians. On Tuesday, Michael Avenatti, the attorney for adult film star Stormy Daniels and a vocal critic of President Trump, said in a statement that he would run. Patrick had previously expressed some concerns about breaking through if he sought the nomination, telling David Axelrod, a former advisor to President Obama, that he wasnt sure he could stand out in such a large field. Its hard to see how you even get noticed in such a big, broad field without being shrill, sensational or a celebrity, and Im none of those things and Im never going to be any of those things, Patrick said in a September interview with Axelrod. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Former Trump adviser Roger Stone invokes 5th Amendment right and wont testify before Senate Judiciary Committee By Associated Press Roger Stone in 2017. (Joe Raedle / Getty Images) Roger Stone, an associate of President Trump, says he wont provide testimony or documents to the Senate Judiciary Committee. An attorney for Stone said in a letter to Sen. Dianne Feinstein, the committees top Democrat, that Stone was invoking his 5th Amendment right against self-incrimination in refusing to produce documents or appear for an interview. Stone has been entangled in investigations by Congress and special counsel Robert S. Mueller III about whether Trump aides had advance knowledge of Democratic emails published by WikiLeaks during the 2016 election. Stone has not been charged and has said he had no knowledge of the timing or specifics of WikiLeaks plans. In the letter to Feinstein, Stone said the committees requests were far too overbroad, far too overreaching and far too wide-ranging. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: Vice President Pence and lawmakers honor George H.W. Bush at the U.S. Capitol before he lies in state Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Rebuilding crumbling infrastructure has bipartisan support. But who gets to pay for it? By Jim Puzzanghera The grades for major U.S. infrastructure would give any parent indigestion if they were on a childs report card. Roads: D; bridges: C+; dams: D; ports: C+: railways: B; airports: D; schools: D+; public transit: D-. The nations overall grade: D+, which translates to being in fair to poor condition and mostly below standards with significant deterioration and a strong risk of failure, according to an evaluation last year by the American Society of Civil Engineers. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump calls former lawyer Michael Cohen a weak person who is lying By Associated Press President Trump says his former lawyer Michael Cohen is lying to get a reduced sentence. The president is reacting to Cohens guilty plea Thursday to lying to Congress about work he did on a Trump real estate project in Russia. During a surprise court hearing, Cohen admitted to lying in testimony to the Senate Intelligence Committee about a plan to build a Trump Tower in Moscow. Cohen in his guilty plea said he made the false statements to be consistent with Trumps political message. Cohens lawyer says he continues to cooperate with special counsel Robert S. Mueller IIIs investigation into Russian election interference and possible coordination with Trump associates. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Mark Z. Barabak When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print As California Republicans confront a congressional wipeout, GOP leader Kevin McCarthy faces a reckoning By Sarah D. Wire When the House voted to repeal the Affordable Care Act, Kevin McCarthy trooped with other Republican lawmakers to a splashy Rose Garden celebration, smiling alongside President Trump as they celebrated the moment. As majority leader, McCarthy had helped round up the votes to narrowly pass the hard-fought legislation, convincing 13 other California Republicans to go along, even though several faced tough reelection fights. Fewer than half will be returning in January. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Michael Cohen, President Trumps ex-lawyer, pleads guilty to lying to Congress about Trump real estate project in Russia By Associated Press Michael Cohen, President Trumps former personal lawyer, pursued a Russian real estate project on candidate Trumps behalf well into the 2016 campaign, he said Thursday while pleading guilty to lying to Congress. Cohen had previously said that the project was abandoned in January 2016, but he now admits he continued to pursue a deal and says he updated Trump and members of his family about the negotiations, according to a new court document. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement James Comey says acting Atty. Gen. Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer By John Wagner Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker speaks at the Justice Department in Washington on Nov. 14. (Pablo Martinez Monsivais / Associated Press) Former FBI Director James B. Comey apparently isnt too impressed with the mental prowess of President Trumps acting attorney general. Matthew Whitaker may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, Comey said during a radio interview on Monday night in which he sized up the man Trump installed this month to replace ousted Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions. Comey was asked by WGBH News in Boston if he thinks Whitaker could derail the investigation of special counsel Robert S. Mueller III into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. Whitaker has spoken critically of the probe, and Trump as recently as Tuesday continues to call it a witch hunt. I think its a worry, but to my mind not a serious worry, Comey said. The institution is too strong, and [Whitaker], frankly, is not strong enough to have that kind of impact. He may not be the sharpest knife in our drawer, but he can see his future and knows that if he acted in an extralegal way, he would go down in history for the wrong reasons, and Im sure he doesnt want that, added Comey, who was fired by Trump last year and later wrote a book that portrays the president as an ego-driven congenital liar. Whitaker, a former U.S. attorney in Iowa, was Sessions chief of staff before being picked by Trump to lead the Justice Department. Trump has called Whitaker a very smart man. Earlier this year, Trump called Comey an untruthful slime ball. Wagner writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Interior Department watchdog clears Zinke in investigation of Utah national monument By Juliet Eilperin Secretary of the Interior Ryan Zinke, third from the left, and Gov. Jerry Brown tour fire damage in Paradise, Calif., on Nov. 14. (Rich Pedroncelli / Associated Press) The Interior Departments Office of Inspector General has cleared Secretary Ryan Zinke in a probe of whether he redrew boundaries of a national monument in Utah to aid the financial interests of a Republican state lawmaker and stalwart supporter of President Trump. In a Nov. 21 letter to Zinkes deputy, David Bernhardt, Deputy Inspector General Mary Kendall wrote that her office found no evidence that the secretary or his aides changed the boundaries of Utahs Grand Staircase-Escalante National Monument in an effort to help former Utah state representative Mike Noel, who serves as executive director of the Kane County Water Conservancy District. Last December, Trump shrank the monument, first established by President Clinton in 1996, by 46% based on Zinkes recommendation. Noel owns 40 acres that had been surrounded by the monument, but now lies outside its boundaries. The new boundaries also would make it easier to construct the proposed Lake Powell Pipeline, which would deliver water to sites in Kane County that include Noels property. Earlier this year, the Interior Department had proposed selling off 120 acres of federal land from the former monument that lay adjacent to some of Noels land holdings, but later reversed the plan. We found no evidence that Noel influenced the DOIs proposed revisions to the [monuments] boundaries, that Zinke or other DOI staff involved in the project were aware of Noels financial interest in the revised boundaries, or that they gave Noel any preferential treatment in the resulting proposed boundaries, Kendall wrote. Neither the Interior Department nor the inspector generals office would release the actual investigative report. In the letter, Kendall writes that her office will provide the report to Congress no sooner than 31 days from Nov. 21, when it is provided it to Zinkes office. The Associated Press first reported the inspector generals conclusions Monday night, but did not provide details from the report itself. Noel emailed Zinke about the effort to alter Grand Staircase-Escalante, according to emails released by Interior under the Freedom of Informational Act. But those emails do not make references to Noels land holdings. Noel also pushed to rename a Utah highway in honor of Trump, but abandoned that effort in March after some of his fellow Republicans objected to the idea. Noel did not respond to requests for comment Tuesday. The inspector generals office still has at least two ongoing probes of the secretary, including one focused on his real estate dealings in Whitefish, Mont., and another regarding his decision to deny a permit to two Connecticut tribes who were hoping to jointly run a casino after MGM Resorts International lobbied against it. Interior Department spokeswoman Heather Swift welcomed the watchdogs conclusions. The report shows exactly what the secretarys office has known all along that the monument boundaries were adjusted in accordance with all rules, regulations and laws, she said in an email. This report is also the latest example of opponents and special interest groups ginning up fake and misleading stories, only to be proven false after expensive and time consuming inquiries by the IGs office. But Kendalls spokeswoman, Nancy DiPaolo, defended the inquiry, even though she said the report has not been publicly released and we will not be speaking specifically about the matter at this time. The OIG opens investigations based on credible allegations and reports our findings objectively and independently, DiPaolo added. Any time or resources spent investigating conduct or activity that may be a violation of law, regulation or policy is a service to the public, Congress and the Department. Rep. Raul Grijalva of Arizona, the top Democrat on the House Natural Resources Committee, said in a statement that he still intended to investigate the way Zinke and his colleague redrew the boundaries for Grand Staircase-Escalante and another Utah national monument, Bears Ears, next year. I have great respect for the inspector general, and I accept these findings, but Secretary Zinke should have known the people he listened to while destroying our national monuments had disqualifying conflicts of interest, he said. Should I chair the Natural Resources Committee in the next Congress, the process he and President Trump used to destroy Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante will be front and center in our oversight and investigations efforts. We need to know why they ignored overwhelming public expressions of support for both Bears Ears and Grand Staircase-Escalante, why they ignored Native American tribes throughout their decision-making, and why they removed protections on parcels of land with known mineral deposits. Eilperin and Rein report for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump advisor Larry Kudlow says China must do more to end trade war By Jim Puzzanghera Larry Kudlow, President Trumps top economic advisor, said Tuesday that Chinas response to U.S. efforts to rework the two economic superpowers trade relationship has been extremely disappointing but the planned meeting this weekend between the nations leaders is an opportunity for a breakthrough. They have to do more. They must do more, Larry Kudlow, director of the White House National Economic Council, told reporters ahead of a Saturday dinner between Trump and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Group of 20 Summit in Argentina. I think the president is exactly right to show strong backbone when prior administrations did not, to break through these Chinese walls, Kudlow said. Theyre so resistant to change. We have to protect the country. We have to protect our technology, our inventiveness, our innovation. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Watch live: White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders holds a media briefing amid tensions at the border By Los Angeles Times Staff Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Democrat TJ Cox grabs lead over Republican David Valadao in nations last remaining undecided House race By Maya Sweedler Democrat TJ Cox slipped past Republican incumbent David Valadao on Monday to take the lead in the countrys sole remaining undecided congressional race, positioning Democrats to pick up their seventh House seat in California and 40th nationwide. Cox, who trailed by nearly 4,400 votes on election night, has steadily gained as ballot counting continues nearly three weeks after the Nov. 6 election, a pattern consistent with the states recent voting history. On Monday, he pulled ahead by 438 votes after Kern County updated its results. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former CIA director Michael Hayden hospitalized after suffering a stroke By Deanna Paul Then-CIA Director Michael Hayden testifies before a Senate committee in 2008. (Saul Loeb / Getty Images) Former CIA Director and retired Air Force Gen. Michael Hayden has been hospitalized after suffering a stroke, his family said Friday. He is receiving expert medical care for which the family is grateful, according to a statement issued by his namesake organization. The General and his family greatly appreciate the warm wishes and prayers of his friends, colleagues, and supporters. Hayden, 73, served as director of the CIA and National Security Agency during the George W. Bush and Obama administrations. He retired from the CIA in 2009. Hayden has been a vocal critic of Donald Trumps campaign and presidency. Earlier this year, after Trump decided to revoke the security clearance of former CIA director John Brennan, Hayden was one of several former intelligence leaders who signed a statement in opposition. Criticizing the president for crossing a line, he quickly became one of the individuals whose security clearance Trump threatened to review. Deanna Paul writes for the Washington Post. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump tells troops hes thankful for what hes done for the U.S. and rails against courts and migrants By Associated Press President Trump talks with troops via teleconference from his estate in Palm Beach, Fla., on Thanksgiving. (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump used his Thanksgiving Day call to troops deployed overseas to pat himself on the back and air grievances about the courts, trade and migrants heading to the U.S.-Mexico border. Trumps call, made from his opulent private Mar-a-Lago club in Palm Beach, Fla., struck an unusually political tone as he spoke with members of all five branches of the military to wish them happy holidays. Its a disgrace, Trump said of judges who have blocked his attempts to overhaul U.S. immigration law, as he linked his efforts to secure the border with military missions overseas. Trump later threatened to close the U.S. border with Mexico for an undisclosed period of time if his administration determines Mexico has lost control on its side. The call was a uniquely Trump blend of boasting, peppered questions and off-the-cuff observations as his comments veered from venting about slights to praising troops You really are our heroes, he said as club waiters worked to set Thanksgiving dinner tables on the outdoor terrace behind him. It was yet another show of how Trump has dramatically transformed the presidency, erasing the traditional divisions between domestic policy and military matters and efforts to keep the troops clear of politics. You probably see over the news whats happening on our southern border, Trump told one Air Force brigadier general stationed at Bagram Airfield in Afghanistan, adding: I dont have to even ask you. I know what you want to do, you want to make sure that you know who were letting in. Later, Trump asked a U.S. Coast Guard commander about trade, which he noted was a very big subject for him personally. Weve been taken advantage of for many, many years by bad trade deals, Trump told the commander, who sheepishly replied, Mr. President, from our perspective on the water we dont see any issues in terms of trade right now. And throughout, Trump congratulated himself, telling the officers that the country is doing exceptionally well on his watch. I hope that youll take solace in knowing that all of the American families you hold so close to your heart are all doing well, he said. The nations doing well economically, better than anybody in the world. He later told reporters, Nobodys done more for the military than me. Indeed, asked what he was thankful for this Thanksgiving, Trump cited his great family as well as himself. I made a tremendous difference in this country, he said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump contradicts CIA assessment that Saudi crown prince ordered Jamal Khashoggi killing By Josh Dawsey | Washington Post (Susan Walsh / Associated Press) President Trump on Thursday contradicted the CIAs assessment that Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman had ordered the killing of Washington Post columnist Jamal Khashoggi, insisting that the agency had feelings but did not firmly place blame for the death. Trump, in defiant remarks to reporters from his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, defended his continued support for Mohammed in the face of a CIA assessment that the crown prince had ordered the killing. He denies it vehemently, Trump said. He said his own conclusion was that maybe he did, maybe he didnt. I hate the crime .... I hate the cover-up. I will tell you this: The crown prince hates it more than I do, Trump said. Asked who should be held accountable for the death of Khashoggi, who was killed at the Saudi Consulate in Turkey, Trump refused to place blame. Maybe the world should be held accountable because the world is a very, very vicious place, the president said. He also seemed to suggest that all U.S. allies were guilty of the same behavior, declaring that if the others were held to the standard that critics have held Saudi Arabia to in recent days, we wouldnt be able to have anyone for an ally. Trumps remarks came after he held a conference call with U.S. military officers overseas, during which he repeatedly praised his administration and sought to draw the officers into discussions of domestic policy. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Former FBI Director James Comey gets subpoena from House Republicans By Bloomberg Former FBI Director James B. Comey said he has received a subpoena from House Republicans, according to a Twitter post on Thursday. Bloomberg News reported last week that Comey would be receiving a subpoena alongside former Atty. Gen. Loretta Lynch as part of continuing probes into their handling of investigations into Hillary Clinton and Russian election meddling, according to a top House Democrat. Happy Thanksgiving. Got a subpoena from House Republicans. Im still happy to sit in the light and answer all questions. But I will resist a closed door thing because Ive seen enough of their selective leaking and distortion. Lets have a hearing and invite everyone to see. James Comey (@Comey) November 22, 2018 Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Republican David Valadaos lead slips to 447 votes over Democrat TJ Cox in still-undecided Central Valley House race By Mark Z. Barabak Rep. David Valadao (R-Hanford), right, finds himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox. (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) On election night, it looked like Rep. David Valadao had survived a close shave and was destined to return to Washington for his fourth term. But on Wednesday, when Fresno County announced its latest vote totals, the Hanford Republican found himself in an increasingly harrowing cliffhanger against Democrat TJ Cox, with his lead in the Central Valley district shrunken to 447 votes. Thousands remain to be counted. Valadao, a repeated Democratic target, finished election night with a lead of nearly 4,440 votes. Cox, an engineer and a business owner who unsuccessfully ran for Congress in 2006, has steadily gained ground in the 21st Congressional District ever since. The trend is consistent with historic patterns showing Republicans in California tend to vote early and Democrats later, meaning their mail ballots continue to stream in past election day. Under California law, ballots postmarked up to midnight on Nov. 6 will be counted. Democrats have already picked up six House seats in California. They ousted Reps. Dana Rohrabacher, Mimi Walters, Steve Knight and Jeff Denham and won the seats of retiring Reps. Ed Royce and Darrell Issa. All six represented districts that backed Hillary Clinton over Donald Trump in 2016. Valadao was the seventh California Republican in a district Clinton won, though his previous successes he last won reelection by a 14-point margin suggested his ouster was a longer shot for Democrats. If Cox prevails, it would give Democrats a 40-seat gain nationwide, far more than the 23 seats needed to take control when Congress reconvenes in January. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump says no new punishments against Saudi Arabia in Jamal Khashoggi murder By Eli Stokols In this Oct. 25 photo, candles are lit in front of a photo of Saudi journalist Jamal Khashoggi. (Lefteris Pitarakis) President Trump made it clear on Tuesday that he does not intend to punish Saudi Arabia or Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for the murder of dissident journalist Jamal Khashoggi, an American resident killed by Saudi officials in Turkey in October. In a remarkable statement replete with exclamation points, Trump cast doubt on the CIAs reported conclusions that it has a high degree of confidence that the crown prince ordered Khashoggis murder and sent his closest allies to Saudi Arabias consulate in Istanbul to carry it out. Read MoreThis article has been updated with staff. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Sixteen House Democrats vow to oppose Nancy Pelosi as next speaker By Mike DeBonis | Washington Post House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi (J. Scott Applewhite / Associated Press) Sixteen House Democrats said Monday that they will vote to deny Rep. Nancy Pelosi another stint as House speaker, a show of defiance that puts her opponents on the cusp of forcing a seismic leadership shake-up as their party prepares to take the majority. Their pledge to oppose Pelosi (D-San Francisco), both in an internal caucus election and a Jan. 3 floor vote, delivered in a letter sent to Democratic colleagues, comes as Pelosi has marshaled a legion of supporters on and off Capitol Hill to make her case. But her opponents said Monday they are convinced it is time to select a new leader. We are thankful to Leader Pelosi for her years of service to our Country and to our Caucus, they wrote. However, we also recognize that in this recent election, Democrats ran on and won on a message of change. Pelosi has expressed complete confidence that she will retake the speakers gavel in January eight years after she lost it following massive Republican gains in the 2010 midterms and 16 years after she was first elevated to the top Democratic leadership post in the House. Come on in, the waters fine, she said Friday about a potential leadership challenge. The signers might not be able to force Pelosi out themselves. The size of the Democratic majority remains in flux, but Democrats have already won 232 seats, according to the Associated Press, with five races still undecided. All those races have Republican incumbents, but the Democratic challenger is ahead in only one of them. If the leads hold in the uncalled races, Democrats would have won 233 seats, a 16-seat majority. That means Pelosi could lose as many as 15 Democratic votes when she stands for election as speaker on Jan. 3. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democratic senators sue over Whitakers appointment as acting attorney general By Associated Press Acting U.S. Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitaker (Nicholas Kamm / AFP/Getty Images) Three Senate Democrats filed a lawsuit Monday arguing that Acting Atty. Gen. Matthew Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and asking a federal judge to remove him. The suit, filed by Sens. Richard Blumenthal of Connecticut, Mazie Hirono of Hawaii and Sheldon Whitehouse of Rhode Island, argues that Whitakers appointment violates the Constitution because he has not been confirmed by the Senate. Whitaker was chief of staff to Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions and was elevated to the top job after Sessions was ousted by President Trump on Nov. 7. The Constitutions Appointments Clause requires that the Senate confirm all principal officials before they can serve in their office. The Justice Department released a legal opinion last week that said Whitakers appointment would not violate the clause because he is serving in an acting capacity. The opinion concluded that Whitaker, even without Senate confirmation, may serve in an acting capacity because he has been at the department for more than a year at a sufficiently senior pay level. President Trump is denying senators our constitutional obligation and opportunity to do our job: scrutinizing the nomination of our nations top law enforcement official, Blumenthal said in a statement. The reason is simple: Whitaker would never pass the advice and consent test. In selecting a so-called constitutional nobody and thwarting every senators constitutional duty, Trump leaves us no choice but to seek recourse through the courts. The lawsuit comes days after a Washington lawyer challenged Whitakers appointment in a pending Supreme Court case dealing with gun rights. The attorney, Thomas Goldstein, asked the high court to find that Whitakers appointment is unconstitutional and replace him with Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Rosenstein, the second-ranking Justice Department official, has been confirmed by the Senate and had been overseeing special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker is now overseeing the investigation. The Justice Department issued a statement Monday defending Whitakers appointment as lawful and said it comports with the Appointments Clause, the Federal Vacancies Reform Act and legal precedent. There are over 160 instances in American history in which non-Senate confirmed persons performed, on a temporary basis, the duties of a Senate-confirmed position, Justice Department spokeswoman Kerri Kupec said. To suggest otherwise is to ignore centuries of practice and precedent. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Gov. Rick Scott says Sen. Bill Nelson concedes Florida Senate race By Associated Press Republican Senate candidate Rick Scott speaks with his wife, Ann, by his side at an election watch party in Naples, Fla., on Nov. 7. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas Republican Gov. Rick Scott says incumbent Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson called him to concede defeat in their extremely tight race. Scott issued a statement Sunday saying Nelson graciously conceded their Senate race shortly after the states recount ended. The final results show Scott defeated Nelson by just over 10,000 votes out of 8 million cast. Nelson is scheduled to release a videotaped statement later Sunday. The defeat ends Nelsons lengthy political career. The three-term incumbent was first elected to the U.S. Senate in 2000. Before that he served six terms in the U.S. House and as state treasurer and insurance commissioner for six years. Scott spent more than $60 million of his own money on ads that portrayed Nelson as out-of-touch and ineffective. Nelson responded by questioning Scotts ethics and saying he would be under the sway of President Trump. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Orange County goes blue, as Democrats complete historic sweep of its seven congressional seats By Michael Finnegan Gil Cisneros defeated Republican Young Kim on Saturday in the last of Orange Countys undecided House races, giving Democrats a clean sweep of the states six most fiercely fought congressional contests and marking an epochal shift in a region long synonymous with political conservatism. With Cisneros victory, Democrats will constitute the entirety of Orange Countys seven-member congressional delegation, the first time since the 1930s that the birthplace of Richard Nixon, home of John Wayne and spiritual center of the Republican Party will have no GOP representative in the House. Sitting back in the 1960s, I would never have believed this would happen, said Stuart K. Spencer, a party strategist who spent more than half a century ushering Republicans, including President Reagan, into office. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Going, going ... with midterm wipeout, California Republican Party drifts closer to irrelevance By Michael Finnegan For a party in freefall the last two decades, California Republicans learned that its possible to plunge even further. The GOP not only lost every statewide office in the midterm election again, in blowout fashion but Democrats reestablished their supermajority in Sacramento, allowing them to legislate however they see fit After major defeats in Orange County and the Central Valley, two longtime strongholds, Republicans will have a significantly smaller footprint on Capitol Hill. (Democrats hold both Senate seats.) When the vote-counting is finished, the GOP may not even have enough lawmakers in Californias 53-member House delegation to field a nine-person softball team. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter says she will support Rep. Nancy Pelosi for speaker By Maya Sweedler Democratic Rep.-elect Katie Porter is congratulated by volunteers at her campaign headquarters in Irvine. (Allen J. Schaben / Los Angeles Times) Congresswoman-elect Katie Porter said she plans to support Rep. Nancy Pelosis bid for speaker of the House and will make campaign finance reform her top priority when she enters the chamber in January. Im going to continue to have conversations, but so far I feel like Leader Pelosi is definitely making the things that were a priority to the families that elected me her priorities, including announcing her support for campaign finance reform and anti-corruption as HR1, Porter said in her first public appearance since being declared the winner in Californias 45th Congressional District on Thursday evening. It means a lot to me that she is a Californian. She understands our state, Porter added. When we talk about environmental protections, this is a person who understands as a Californian how fragile our environment is and whats at risk in things like drilling off our coasts. Porter, a law professor at UC Irvine, defeated two-term Republican Rep. Mimi Walters. The 45th District, covering inland Orange County, has never been represented by a Democrat. Porter became the third Democrat to claim a Republican-held seat in Orange County, following the victories of Harley Rouda in the 48th District and Mike Levin in the 49th. A fourth, Gil Cisneros, is running slightly ahead of his Republican opponent in the race for the open seat in the 39th District, which extends into Los Angeles and San Bernardino counties. Porter attributed the massive political shift in the county, for decades a conservative stronghold, to increased levels of political engagement. Folks here care about education, they care about the environment, they believe climate change is real, they want healthcare that protects preexisting conditions, they want a tax system that doesnt punish California, they want our schools and places of worship to be safe from gun violence, she said. Those are the issues we campaigned on, and to the extent that Donald Trump and Mimi Walters were on the wrong side of those issues, the voters have made clear what direction they want us to go. Porter was flying back from the East Coast when her race was called, she said. She turned on her phone to find 167 text messages from friends and supporters. Among them was Sen. Elizabeth Warren (D-Mass.), who was one of Porters teachers in law school and with whom she has remained close. The pair spoke via FaceTime this morning, she said. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Bitter battle for Senate seat in Florida goes to hand recount By Associated Press Employees look through damaged ballots during a recount Thursday in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee / Associated Press) Floridas acrimonious battle for the U.S. Senate headed Thursday to a legally required hand recount after an initial review by ballot-counting machines showed Republican Gov. Rick Scott and Democratic Sen. Bill Nelson separated by less than 13,000 votes. But the highly watched contest for governor between Republican Ron DeSantis and Democrat Andrew Gillum appeared to be over, with a machine recount showing DeSantis with a large enough advantage over Gillum to avoid a hand recount in that race. Gillum, who conceded the contest on election night only to retract his concession later, said in a statement that it is not over until every legally casted vote is counted. The recount so far has been fraught with problems. One large Democratic stronghold in South Florida was unable to finish its machine recount by the Thursday deadline due to machines breaking down. A federal judge rejected a request to extend the recount deadline. We gave a heroic effort, said Palm Beach County Supervisor of Elections Susan Bucher. If the county had three or four more hours, it would have made the deadline to recount ballots in the Senate race, she said. Meanwhile, election officials in another urban county in the Tampa Bay area decided against turning in the results of their machine recount, which came up with 846 fewer votes than originally counted. Media in South Florida reported that Broward County finished its machine recount but missed the deadline by a few minutes. Counties were ordered last weekend to do a machine recount of three statewide races because the margins were so tight. The next stage is a manual review of ballots that were not counted by machines to see whether there is a way to figure out voter intent. Scott called on Nelson to end the recount battle. Its time for Nelson to respect the will of the voters and graciously bring this process to an end rather than proceed with yet another count of the votes which will yield the same result and bring more embarrassment to the state that we both love and have served, the governor said in a statement. The recount has triggered multiple lawsuits, many of them filed by Nelson and Democrats. The legal battles drew the ire of U.S. District Judge Mark E. Walker, who slammed the state for repeatedly failing to anticipate election problems. He also said the state law on recounts appears to violate the U.S. Supreme Court ruling that decided the presidency in 2000. We have been the laughingstock of the world, election after election, and we chose not to fix this, Walker said during a morning hearing. Walker vented his anger at state lawmakers and Palm Beach County officials, saying they should have made sure they had enough equipment in place to handle this kind of a recount. But he said he could not extend the recount deadline because he did not know when Palm Beach County would finish its work. This court must be able to craft a remedy with knowledge that it will not prove futile, Walker wrote in his ruling turning down the request from Democrats. It cannot do so on this record. This court does not and will not fashion a remedy in the dark. The overarching problem was created by the Florida Legislature, which Walker said passed a recount law that appears to run afoul of the 2000 Bush vs. Gore decision by locking in procedures that do not allow for potential problems. A total of six election-related lawsuits are pending in federal court in Tallahassee as well at least one lawsuit filed in state court. Walker also ordered that voters be given until 5 p.m. Saturday to show a valid identification and fix their ballots if they have not been counted due to mismatched signatures. Republicans appealed the ruling, but an appeals court turned down the request. State officials testified that nearly 4,000 mailed-in ballots were set aside because local officials decided the signatures on the envelopes did not match the signatures on file. If those voters can prove their identity, their votes will be counted and included in final official returns due from each county by noon Sunday. Walker was asked by Democrats to require local officials to provide a list of people whose ballots were rejected. But the judge appointed by President Obama refused the request, calling it inappropriate. Under state law, a hand review is required with races that have a margin of 0.25 percentage points or less. A state website put the unofficial results showing Scott ahead of Nelson by 0.15 percentage points. The margin between DeSantis and Gillum was at 0.41 points. The margin between Scott and Nelson had not changed much in the last few days, conceded Marc Elias, an attorney working for Nelsons campaign. But he said that he expected the vote tally to shrink due to the hand recount and the ruling on signatures. The developments fueled frustrations among Democrats and Republicans alike. Democrats want state officials to do whatever it takes to make sure every eligible vote is counted. Republicans, including President Trump, have argued without evidence that voter fraud threatens to steal races from the GOP. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Gil Cisneros pulls ahead of Republican Young Kim as more votes are tallied in Orange and San Bernardino counties By Michael Finnegan Congressional candidate Gil Cisneros (Kent Nishimura / Los Angeles Times) Democrat Gil Cisneros pulled ahead of Republican Young Kim in one of Californias undecided congressional races Thursday, an ominous sign for a GOP already reeling from its loss of four House seats in the state. In updated vote counts released by the registrars for Orange and San Bernardino counties, Kim fell 941 votes behind Cisneros in the contest to succeed Republican Rep. Ed Royce in Californias 39th Congressional District. The 39th straddles Los Angeles, San Bernardino and Orange counties. In another unresolved House race, Democrat Katie Porter pulled further ahead of Republican incumbent Mimi Walters in the 45th District, which includes Mission Viejo, Tustin, Irvine, Rancho Santa Margarita and Laguna Hills. Porter, a consumer attorney and UC Irvine law professor, is now 6,203 votes ahead. The Nov. 6 midterm election has been devastating to Republicans in California. If Cisneros and Porter win, the party will have lost six of its 14 House seats in the state, essentially a wipeout in every contest that both parties spent heavily to win. The three Republicans already bounced from Congress are Reps. Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa, Steve Knight of Palmdale and Jeff Denham of Turlock in the San Joaquin Valley. Democrat Mike Levin won the seat of retiring GOP Rep. Darrell Issa of Vista in the fourth district flipped so far. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Florida Senate race likely headed to second recount By Associated Press A Palm Beach County Sheriffs deputy walks past boxes of ballots before a recount on Nov. 15 in West Palm Beach, Fla. (Wilfredo Lee) Unofficial Florida election results show that the governors race seems to be settled after a machine recount but the U.S. Senate race is likely headed to a hand recount. Republican Ron DeSantis is virtually assured of winning the nationally watched governors race over Democrat Andrew Gillum. Florida finished a machine recount Thursday that showed Gillum without enough votes to force a manual recount. Unofficial results posted on a state website show the margin between U.S. Sen. Bill Nelson and Gov. Rick Scott is still thin enough to trigger a second review. State law requires a hand recount of races with a margin of 0.25 percentage point or less. Counties have until Sunday to inspect the ballots that did not record a vote when put through the machines. Those ballots are re-examined to see whether the voter skipped the race or marked the ballot in a way that the machines cannot read but can be deciphered. The election will be certified Tuesday. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Pelosi says she has the votes to become the next House speaker By John Wagner Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi speaks during a news conference in Washington on Nov. 14. (Susan Walsh) House Democratic leader Nancy Pelosi insisted Thursday that she has the votes to become the chambers speaker despite solid opposition from more than a dozen Democrats who want fresh leadership when the party takes control next year. I have overwhelming support in my caucus to be speaker of the House, the San Francisco lawmaker told reporters. I happen to think at this point, Im the best person for that. A vote within the Democratic caucus is scheduled for Nov. 28. The full House votes on Jan. 3 to elect a new speaker. During her remarks, Pelosi touted the size of the Democratic victory in the midterms, which she called almost a tsunami. With a few races still to be decided, Democrats are poised to pick up close to 40 seats in the chamber. Pelosi called that the biggest victory for the Democrats since 1974, when the Watergate babies came in. Pelosis comments come as she faces solid opposition from at least 17 Democrats, setting the stage for a battle over who will ascend to one of the most powerful positions in Washington. After a campaign in which some Democrats prevailed in competitive districts by promising to oppose her, a coalition of incumbents and newly elected members has denied her a smooth path to the speakership. The defections, if they stand, would leave Pelosi, who has led the Democrats for more than 15 years, several votes short of the 218 she would need when the full House votes for speaker Jan. 3. However, no Democrat has stepped forward to run against her for a job she held from 2007 through 2010. Rep. Marcia Fudge (D-Ohio) told reporters Wednesday that shes being encouraged to stand for speaker if Pelosi doesnt have the votes. In an interview with the Washington Post on Thursday, she said she has been overwhelmed by the support from many of her colleagues for her possible entry into the race for House speaker. Over the last 12 hours, Ive been overwhelmed by the amount of support Ive received, Fudge said, adding that there are probably closer to 30" Democrats who have privately signaled that they are willing to oppose Pelosi. Things could change rapidly, Fudge said. Fudge, 66, a former chair of the Congressional Black Caucus, said she is building a diverse coalition as she mulls a speaker run, talking with allies in the caucus, moderate Democrats and newly elected members. To this point, Pelosi has enjoyed the strong backing of the Congressional Black Caucus. On Thursday, Rep. Bobby Rush (D-Ill.), one of its members, wrote a letter to colleagues praising her insight, fortitude and strategic thinking and urging support for her speakership bid. Former Atty. Gen. Eric H. Holder Jr., an African American who is contemplating a 2020 presidential bid, also voiced support for Pelosi, praising her in a tweet as an architect of the recent midterm success. Rep. Seth Moulton (D-Mass.), a leader of the resistance to Pelosi, said during an interview on CNN on Thursday that Fudge is the kind of new leader that we need in this party. Shes in touch with middle America. She understands what the American people want. Shes a next-generation leader that people will look to and say, Thats the future of our party, thats the future of our country, and thats exactly the kind of leader that I want to see as our next speaker. Wagner reports for the Washington Post. The Posts Robert Costa, Erica Werner, Mike DeBonis, Paul Kane and Elise Viebeck contributed to this report. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement GOP Rep. Jeff Denham concedes to Democrat Josh Harder in Central Valley race By Maya Sweedler Rep. Jeff Denham (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) Republican Rep. Jeff Denham has conceded to Democrat Josh Harder in the race to represent Californias 10th Congressional District in the San Joaquin Valley. It has been an absolute honor to serve our community and represent the Central Valley in Congress over the past eight years, the 51-year-old congressman said. The enormity of the responsibility was never lost on me. My wife Sonia and I look forward to starting the next chapter of our lives. Harder said he had spoken with Denham and the two were committed to a productive transition. Denham, an Air Force veteran, previously represented the region in the state Senate for eight years and founded a company specializing in plastic packaging used in agriculture. While a member of Congress, he sat on the Transportation and Infrastructure, Veterans Affairs and Agriculture committees. First-time candidate Harder was born and raised in the district. After graduating from Stanford University, he served as vice president of a Silicon Valley venture capital firm. Since moving back, he has been teaching at Modesto Junior College. Denhams House seat is one of four in California that Republicans lost in the Nov. 6 election, with two contests in Orange County still undecided as of Thursday morning. Jeff Denham called me this morning and we had a very productive conversation. I'm honored that I've been chosen to serve our community in Congress, and we're both looking forward to a productive transition that best serves the people of District 10. Josh Harder (@JoshHarder) November 14, 2018 Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Democrat Katie Porter now nearly 3,800 votes ahead of GOP Rep. Mimi Walters By Maya Sweedler Rep. Mimi Walters thanks all of her supporters as she watches election results in Irvine on Nov. 7, 2018. (Alex Gallardo / Associated Press) Democrat Katie Porter opened a 3,797-vote lead Wednesday over Republican Rep. Mimi Walters in Orange Countys 45th Congressional District. In the neighboring 39th, Democrat Gil Cisneros has nearly tied the race against Republican Young Kim. Cisneros now trails Kim by a razor-thin margin of 122 votes. The 39th District straddles Los Angeles, Orange and San Bernardino counties; Wednesdays updated ballot counts came from the latter two. There are more than 202,000 ballots left to count in Orange County, which includes parts of seven congressional districts. The 45th is entirely in inland Orange County. In California, the ballots counted first tend to lean Republican and those tallied later skew Democratic. In the Central Valleys 21st Congressional District, Democratic challenger TJ Cox has pulled within 2 percentage points of Rep. David Valadao, who is serving his third term. The Associated Press had projected a win for Valadao on election night, but his 4,839-vote advantage has shrunk to 2,090. Back in CA-21, Valadao (R) wins a batch of ballots from his stronghold in Kings Co., but by a considerably smaller margin (14 points) than his previous ~30-point margin in the county. We're moving to Lean R from Likely R; today a bit scary for Valadao.https://t.co/WqJVUVkqGW Nate Silver (@NateSilver538) November 15, 2018 A spokesman for Valadao told the Fresno Bee that the changes were expected and that [s]tatistically, David Valadao has won this race. Democrats in California have already flipped four House seats, defeating three Republican incumbents and claiming an open seat previously held by the GOP. Reps. Steve Knight of Palmdale, Dana Rohrabacher of Costa Mesa and Jeff Denham of Turlock have already lost their races, and retiring Rep. Darrell Issas San Diego County seat was claimed by Democrat Mike Levin. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump aide departs West Wing after rebuke from Melania Trump By Associated Press First Lady Melania Trump. (Alain Jocard / AFP-Getty Images) Deputy national security advisor Mira Ricardel is leaving the White House, one day after First Lady Melania Trumps office issued an extraordinary statement calling for her dismissal. No replacement was named. Aides said Ricardel clashed with the first ladys staff over her visit to Africa last month. Yet it is highly unusual for a first lady or her office to weigh in on personnel matters, especially the presidents national security staff. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said Ricardel would have a new role in the administration. On Tuesday, Stephanie Grisham, the first ladys spokeswoman, released a statement saying, It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House. President Trumps White House has set records for administration turnover. Ricardel was the third person to hold the post under Trump. An ally of national security advisor John Bolton, Ricardel began her service in the Trump administration as associate director in the White House Office of Presidential Personnel, then moved to the Commerce Department last year. Bolton brought her into the West Wing shortly after taking the job in April. He is traveling in Asia this week alongside Vice President Mike Pence. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Race for House Minority Leader is Kevin McCarthys to lose By Associated Press (Bill Clark / CQ Roll Call) House Majority Leader Kevin McCarthy is running to take over next years shrunken caucus in closed-door elections that will set the tone for the new Congress. The race for minority leader is McCarthys to lose Wednesday. But the California Republican, who is an ally of President Trump, must fend off a challenge from conservative Jim Jordan of Ohio. Jordan is a leader of the House Freedom Caucus. The two encountered questions and finger-pointing during a private meeting with lawmakers Tuesday night as the GOP sorted through the midterm defeat that put Democrats in the majority next year. Elections Wednesday will also determine party leadership in the Senate. Voting for the biggest race, Nancy Pelosis bid to return as the Democrats nominee for speaker, is later this month. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Melania Trump calls for the firing of deputy national security advisor By Justin Sink First Lady Melania Trump arrives at the Chateau de Versailles outside Paris on Nov. 11. (Alain Jocard / AFP/Getty Images ) First Lady Melania Trumps office said she wants Mira Ricardel, the deputy national security advisor, ousted from the White House. It is the position of the Office of the First Lady that she no longer deserves the honor of serving in this White House, Trumps spokeswoman, Stephanie Grisham, said in a statement in response to a question about reports the first lady had sought Ricardels removal. Ricardel is the top deputy to national security advisor John Bolton. She drew the first ladys wrath after threatening to withhold National Security Council resources during Melania Trumps trip to Africa last month unless Ricardel was included in her entourage, one person familiar with the matter said. Grishams statement comes as several media outlets have reported that President Trump is considering a broader shakeup of his administration, including ousting Homeland Security Secretary Kirstjen Nielsen. Sink and Jacobs report for Bloomberg. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print CNN sues Trump over the suspension of Jim Acostas White House press credentials By Jim Puzzanghera CNN said Tuesday that it is suing President Trump and other administration officials over the decision to suspend the White House press credentials of correspondent Jim Acosta after a conflict at a news conference last week. The suit, to be filed in U.S. District Court for the District of Columbia, escalates an ongoing battle between Trump and the cable news outlet that he frequently accuses of disseminating fake news for its aggressive coverage of him and his administration. The wrongful revocation of these credentials violates CNN and Acostas 1st Amendment rights of freedom of the press, and their 5th Amendment rights to due process, CNN said in a written statement. If left unchallenged, the actions of the White House would create a dangerous chilling effect for any journalist who covers our elected officials. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Maxine Waters to take aim at Wells Fargo and Deutsche Bank as new head of House Financial Services Committee By Jim Puzzanghera Rep. Maxine Waters plans to zero in on two big banks Wells Fargo & Co. and Deutsche Bank when she becomes head of the powerful House Financial Services Committee. The Los Angeles congresswoman, now the committees top Democrat, is widely expected to gain the gavel after her party won control of the House in last weeks elections. While Waters has outlined a wide-ranging agenda, she said her focus on bank oversight will target two large institutions she has been tangling with for a while including one, Deutsche Bank, that spills into her bitter feud with President Trump. With Trump in the White House, I know that our fight for Americas consumers and investors will continue to be challenging. But I am more than up to that fight, Waters wrote in a letter last week to her Democratic colleagues on the committee that was obtained by The Times. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Heres how a controversial voting system will decide a congressional race in Maine By Kurtis Lee For the first time in U.S. history, a controversial voting system known as ranked choice is being used to decide a federal election. Its happening in Maine, which adopted the system in 2016. Rather than marking a single candidate, each voter ranks them all, assigning a first-place vote, a second-place vote and so on down the ballot. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print ACLU files suit to stop Trumps new asylum limits By Associated Press A group of Central American migrants march to the office of the U.N.'s humans rights body in Mexico City on Nov. 8. (Rebecca Blackwell / Associated Press) The American Civil Liberties Union has filed a legal challenge to President Trumps order denying asylum to migrants if they cross the U.S.-Mexico border illegally. The lawsuit was filed Friday in federal court in San Francisco and argues the new rules are against the law. Attorney Lee Gelernt said the regulations will put families in danger. The suit seeks to declare the regulations invalid and wants a judge to stop the rules from going into effect while the litigation is pending. The new rules were spurred in part by caravans of Central American migrants slowly moving north on foot, but officials say they will apply to anyone caught crossing illegally. Officials say about 70,000 people who enter the country illegally claim asylum. The order invoked the same national security powers Trump used to push through his travel ban. Read More Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Trump on new acting AG: I dont know Matt Whitaker By Associated Press President Trump talks with reporters before departing for France on the South Lawn of the White House on Nov. 9. (Evan Vucci / Associated Press) President Trump is moving to distance himself from Matthew Whitaker as he faces criticism over his choice for acting attorney general. Trump told reporters Friday that I dont know Matt Whitaker and said he didnt speak with Whitaker about special counsel Robert Muellers Russia investigation. Whitaker has made public comments critical of Muellers investigation, and critics have called on Whitaker to recuse himself from oversight of the inquiry. Under former Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions, the investigation was overseen by Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein. Of the scrutiny Whitaker is facing, Trump said: Its a shame that no matter who I put in they go after. He also called Whitaker a very highly respected man. Whitaker was Sessions chief of staff before Trump made him Sessions interim replacement. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg out of hospital after fall By Associated Press The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is home after being released from the hospital. She had been admitted for treatment and observation after fracturing three ribs in a fall. The court said Ginsburg was released Friday. Supreme Court spokeswoman Kathy Arberg says she is doing well and working from home. The court had previously said the justice fell in her office at the court on Wednesday evening and went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Gun-control activist Lucy McBath defeats GOP Rep. Karen Handel in Georgia By Associated Press Lucy McBath speaks during a rally for Democratic gubernatorial candidate Stacey Abrams on Nov. 2 at Morehouse College in Atlanta. (Alyssa Pointer / Atlanta Journal-Constitution via AP) Democratic gun-control activist Lucy McBath has defeated Republican Rep. Karen Handel of Georgia in a suburban congressional district long considered safe for the GOP. Handel had to seek reelection after winning her seat last year in a close special election race against Democrat Jon Ossoff. McBath became an advocate for stricter gun laws after her son, Jordan Davis, was fatally shot at a Florida gas station in 2012 by a man angry over loud music the teenager and his friends were playing in a car. McBaths margin of victory was narrow enough for Handel to have requested a recount. The Associated Press declared McBath the winner Thursday after Handel conceded. Handel conceded in a statement Thursday morning, stating that after reviewing all of the election data, its clear she came up a bit short in Tuesdays vote. Handel congratulated McBath, offering good thoughts and much prayer for the journey that lies ahead for her. McBath, who is African American, declared victory Wednesday. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg hospitalized after fracturing 3 ribs in fall By Associated Press Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg (Jacquelyn Martin / Associated Press) The Supreme Court says 85-year-old Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg fractured three ribs in a fall in her office at the court and is in the hospital. The court says the justice went to George Washington University Hospital in Washington early Thursday after experiencing discomfort overnight. The court says the fall occurred Wednesday evening. Ginsburg was admitted to the hospital for treatment and observation after tests showed she fractured three ribs. Ginsburg broke two ribs in a fall in 2012. She has had two prior bouts with cancer and had a stent implanted to open a blocked artery in 2014. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print White House suspends press pass of CNNs Jim Acosta after heated exchange with Trump By Associated Press The White House on Wednesday suspended the press pass of CNN correspondent Jim Acosta after he and President Trump had a heated confrontation during a news conference. They began sparring after Acosta asked Trump about the caravan of migrants heading from Latin America to the southern U.S. border. When Acosta tried to follow up with another question, Trump said, Thats enough! and a female White House aide unsuccessfully tried to grab the microphone from Acosta. White House Press Secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders released a statement accusing Acosta of placing his hands on a young woman just trying to do her job as a White House intern, calling it absolutely unacceptable. The interaction between Acosta and the intern was brief, and Acosta appeared to brush her arm as she reached for the microphone and he tried to hold onto it. Pardon me, maam, he told her. Acosta tweeted that Sanders statement that he put his hands on the aide was a lie. CNN said in a statement that the White House revoked Acostas press pass in retaliation for his challenging questions Wednesday, and the network accused Sanders of lying about Acostas actions. This conduct is absolutely unacceptable. It is also completely disrespectful to the reporters colleagues not to allow them an opportunity to ask a question. President Trump has given the press more access than any President in history. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Contrary to CNNs assertions there is no greater demonstration of the Presidents support for a free press than the event he held today. Only they would attack the President for not supporting a free press in the midst of him taking 68 questions from 35 different reporters... Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 As a result of todays incident, the White House is suspending the hard pass of the reporter involved until further notice. Stephanie Grisham (@PressSec) November 8, 2018 Sanders provided fraudulent accusations and cited an incident that never happened. This unprecedented decision is a threat to our democracy and the country deserves better, CNN said. Jim Acosta has our full support. Journalists assigned to cover the White House apply for passes that allow them daily access to press areas in the West Wing. White House staffers decide whether journalists are eligible, though the Secret Service determines whether their applications are approved. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Trump spars with reporters at post-election news briefing, ordering several to sit down By Associated Press President Trump assails CNNs Jim Acosta at a White House news conference. President Trump sparred with reporters at his post-election news conference, ordering several to sit down and telling another hes a rude, terrible person. He told another reporter hes not a fan of yours, either. The presidents mood turned sour Wednesday after reporters pressed him on why he referred to a migrant caravan making its way to the U.S. on foot through Mexico as an invasion. Trump ramped up his anti-immigrant rhetoric against the caravan in the final days of the midterm elections. Trump was also pressed on why his campaign aired an ad featuring a Mexican immigrant convicted of killing American police officers and linking the mans actions to the caravan. Several television networks pulled the ad after airing it or declined to air it at all. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Im living one hour at a time at this point By Christine Mai-Duc Republican congressional candidate Young Kim and gubernatorial candidate John Cox campaign in Rowland Heights. (Irfan Khan / Los Angeles Times) Republican congressional candidate Young Kim greeted gubernatorial candidate John Coxs giant campaign bus, the words HELP IS ON THE WAY emblazoned across it, as it rolled into the parking lot outside her Rowland Heights field office. Standing beside Cox on Saturday, Kim predicted that a string of GOP victories Tuesday would start with voters repealing the gas tax hike. Can you imagine Gavin Newsom being our governor? Can you imagine Gil Cisneros being your representative? Kim asked the crowd, to loud boos and cries of Nooo! The former state assemblywoman who worked for retiring Rep. Ed Royce (R-Fullerton) is vying for his seat with Democrat Gil Cisneros. She led the crowd in chants of Enough is enough! and, though short-lived, Drain the swamp! Ive served you in Sacramento and Ive seen dysfunction personally, Kim continued. We cannot continue that route. She urged her supporters to stay and help make phone calls or walk neighborhoods. Lets get out there the 72 hours is really critical. Its all going to come down to a few votes, it could be your vote, she said pointing to her left, then pivoting right, it could be your vote. So dont sit back and do nothing. Every night I go to sleep thinking, OK, how many more votes can I get or how many more people can I call tomorrow? Kim said. It can be physically exhausting but Im mentally, emotionally very energized. She listed off her events so far that day and the next one she was heading to. Thats just what I can remember, she said. Im living one hour at a time at this point. Kims campaign invited press to two of her events on Saturday. After she was whisked away to her next event a high tea fundraiser in Walnut, a couple dozen volunteers remained. John Freeman, a statewide field manager for the state Republican Party, tried to pump them up. This is the Super Bowl. Were not in an NFL stadium, were not getting paid millions of dollars, but you know what? Freeman said. Were walking on the field right now. This is that high-stakes-level game. Facebook Twitter Show more sharing options Share Close extra sharing options Facebook Twitter LinkedIn Email Copy Link URL Copied! Print Advertisement Its going to be tough out there Democratic candidate Katie Porter speaks to volunteers in Mission Viejo. Jon Bauman, Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na, is in the background. (Victoria Kim / Los Angeles Times ) Judging from the cheers in the crowd, about half those assembled at Katie Porters campaign headquarters in Mission Viejo Sunday morning were old enough to remember 70s rock n roll star Bowzer from the band Sha Na Na. Jon Bauman, as Bowzer is known off stage, said it was her position on senior issues including retirement and social security that has him out supporting Porter over her opponent, incumbent Rep. Mimi Walters. I want you to make sure every phone is called and every door is knocked, he told the crowd of about 80 volunteers. There has never been a more important election. Both Bauman and his nephew, California Democratic Party Chairman Eric Bauman, were interrupted by yells from Trump supporters coming from an adjoining hillside. We love Trump, the voice cried out. We love him too, he makes great fodder, the younger Bauman retorted, before introducing Porter. Porter, a UC Irvine law professor and first-time candidate, acknowledged the uphill battle some of her canvassers might face in this more conservative end of the long-red Orange County district. I know its going to be tough out there, she said, motioning to the hillside. But she said the attacks meant the other side viewed her campaign as a significant threat. This election is going to be close, she said. If we dont fight all the way to the finish line, until 8 oclock on Tuesday, this could slip away. Bowzer then took to a keyboard piano to lead the crowd in a reworded rendition of the song Good Night Sweetheart: Good night, Mimi Walters, he crooned. A woman in a black tank top, jeans and flip flops holding a cup of coffee later joined the crowd with her two sons, 17 and 14, the younger one wearing a Trump 2016 T-shirt. She declined to give her name, saying she was concerned about being attacked, but said she lived up the hill and said she had been the one yelling. She said she was encouraging her sons to talk to people on both sides and make up their own minds. We need to have a government that runs the way government teachers are telling kids its supposed to be run, said the woman, a retired registered dental assistant who voted early for Mimi Walters. Referring to Democrats, she said: Theyve had control over all these years and Californias gone to crap. Among those canvassing was Stacie Campbell, 37, who was at the launch with her husband Jerome and three children, the youngest of whom was 2 months old. Campbell, a Mission Viejo resident who runs a business, had never canvassed or volunteered for campaigns before, and her husband is a French citizen and unable to vote. She said they had been talking to their children the older ones are 5 and 2 about the presidency and the government since Trumps election. Together, they worked on homemade Katie Porter lawn signs and put them up around town. This is the first time its felt like a big deal and there isnt a president up for election, she said. Because her city is a mix of conservatives and liberals her next-door neighbor is an NRA-supporting Republican she the race felt m Activists seeking to derail President Trumps nomination of Gina Haspel to lead the CIA are looking to Sen. John McCain to cast the deciding vote against her assuming he is well enough to return to Washington. The 81-year-old Republican was diagnosed with brain cancer in July and last cast a vote in the Senate on early December before he returned home to Arizona for treatment. He underwent surgery in Phoenix for an intestinal infection on April 15. Haspels critics are counting on McCain to speak out against her nomination, even if he cant cast a vote on the Senate floor, cementing his legacy as the countrys most prominent critic of torture as he faces the twilight of his career. Sen. McCain is essential, said Matt Hawthorne, policy director for the National Religious Campaign Against Torture. He has more moral leadership on the issue of torture than anyone. Advertisement McCain was tortured as a prisoner of war during the Vietnam War, and he helped lead denunciations of the CIAs harsh interrogations of terrorism suspects in a secret network of overseas prisons after the 2001 Al Qaeda attacks on New York and the Pentagon. Haspel ran one of the so-called black sites, in Thailand in 2002, and in 2005 she helped authorize the shredding of videotapes made of waterboarding and other abusive treatment of detainees at the facility. Haspel has won wide respect in the intelligence community for her other work at the CIA, serving overseas and undercover for most of her 33 years in the agency. She is now deputy director. The Obama administration decided not to prosecute anyone for the CIAs harsh interrogation program, and Haspels supporters note that at least some members of Congress gave their blessings to it. It is truly the height of political hypocrisy for Congress to raise objections to someone who participated in a program that they were briefed on and they approved, said Hank Crumpton, a former CIA officer. Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.) announces his opposition to Gina Haspels nomination on March 14. (Win McNamee / Getty Images ) More than 50 former intelligence officials and lawmakers sent a letter supporting Haspel to the leaders of the Senate Intelligence Committee. The committee has scheduled Haspels confirmation hearing for May 9. She is a true intelligence professional who brings care, integrity and a commitment to the rule of law to her work every day, the letter said. Among the signatories were former CIA Directors John Brennan, Leon E. Panetta, Michael Hayden and George Tenet, as well as Michael Morell, who served twice as acting director. Advertisement McCain, who is serving his sixth term in the Senate, has expressed skepticism of Haspel but hasnt said whether he will oppose her nomination. His office says he remains engaged in his work in the Senate, where he heads the Armed Services Committee, during his illness. A Navy pilot in the Vietnam War, McCain was shot down over Hanoi in 1967 and imprisoned for 5 years. As the son of the Navy admiral who commanded U.S. forces in the Pacific, McCain was offered early release, but he refused to jump the line ahead of POWs who were captured years earlier. He was beaten and held in solitary confinement, exacerbating injuries he suffered when he ejected from his fighter jet. McCains relations with Trump have been strained since 2015 when Trump who received multiple draft deferments during the war appeared to mock McCains sacrifice. Hes not a war hero, Trump said at a Republican Party candidates forum in Iowa. Hes a war hero because he was captured. I like people who werent captured. Advertisement Last July, McCains cast the decisive and dramatic no vote that blocked Republican attempts to repeal parts of Obamacare, which Trump had called a priority. McCain might relish a chance to torpedo Trumps CIA nominee as well. Haspel was working at the CIAs Counterterrorism Center in 2001 when the agency approved what it called enhanced interrogation techniques for terrorism suspects it had captured overseas. During the next five years, some were subjected to mock drowning, forced to go without sleep, slammed against walls, given rectal feeding and confined in coffin-size boxes. Read our deep look at Gina Haspels career as an undercover CIA operative Advertisement Haspel reportedly ran the CIA prison in Thailand when Abd al Rahim al Nashiri was waterboarded. The Saudi was accused of helping to mastermind the suicide bombing of the Cole, a U.S. warship at anchor in Yemen, that killed 17 American sailors in 2000. Nashiri ultimately was taken to the U.S. military prison at Guantanamo Bay, Cuba. His long-delayed trial before a military commission there finally was set to start this year but was suspended again last month after his civilian lawyers quit over fears the government had been spying on them. According to his military lawyer, Lt. Alaric Piette, a Boston University medical professor who examined Nashiri said hes the most traumatized torture victim shes ever seen, and shes treated and observed hundreds, including those whove been tortured by brutal regimes and warlords. Piette, a former Navy SEAL, described Nashiris treatment as disgusting. He added, That was a time when we needed professionalism and leadership, and we got torture instead. Advertisement Haspels role in the episode remains classified, frustrating advocacy groups concerned about the nomination. Its not publicly known whether she ordered waterboarding and other harsh tactics, or opposed them. Its not an easy process. Shes been undercover for so long, said Raha Wala, a lawyer at Human Rights First. Memoirs by former CIA officials have described Haspels role in the CIA shredding of the interrogation videos. Haspel advocated destroying the tapes and drafted the cable directing CIA officers in Thailand to do so. Her boss, Jose Rodriguez, then the director of clandestine operations, gave the order. The CIA has promised to disclose more about Haspels background for her confirmation hearing. Advertisement Through the confirmation process, the American public will get to know Ms. Haspel for the first time, said Jonathan Liu, an agency spokesman. When they do, we are confident America will be proud to have her as the next CIA director. Even before the full scope of the CIA interrogation program was revealed, McCain was a regular critic. We cant torture or treat inhumanely suspected terrorists we have captured, McCain said during his failed presidential campaign in 2008, when he was the Republican nominee. Sen. John McCain and daughter Meghan in Sedona, Ariz., on March 18, 2018. Meghan McCain has posted the photo on social media, saying theres no place I would rather be. (Meghan McCain ) Advertisement Last November, McCain nearly killed Trumps nomination of Stephen Bradbury for general counsel of the Transportation Department. During the Bush administration, Bradbury had helped prepare secret Justice Department memos approving the use of waterboarding and other harsh interrogation tactics. Sen. Joe Manchin III (D-W.Va.) planned to vote for Bradbury but didnt after McCain phoned him. Manchin later told Politico that he opposed Bradbury because of Johns service to our country, my respect and admiration for John. In the end, Bradbury was confirmed by a 50-47 vote. But the Senate math isnt as favorable for Haspel. The Republican majority has slipped to 51 to 49 and Sen. Rand Paul (R-Ky.), another vocal critic of torture, already has pledged to vote no. If he is the only Republican defection, Haspel can squeak through. Advertisement But if McCain opposes her as well, her nomination could be doomed because his stance would increase chances that all Democrats will oppose her. Senate Minority Leader Charles E. Schumer (D-N.Y.) has not directed his caucus to vote one way or another. McCains office declined to answer questions involving his thoughts on Haspels nomination. The senator has receded from public view during his cancer treatment. His latest memoir, The Restless Wave, is scheduled for release on May 22, but he has skipped recent events in his honor in Arizona. McCain isnt the only senator to watch. The other is Sen. Dianne Feinstein (D-Calif.), who spearheaded a scathing 6,000-page report on abuses in the CIA interrogation program when she headed the Senate Intelligence Committee. A heavily redacted version was released to the public in December 2014. Advertisement If both of them weigh in against Gina Haspel, I think its over for the nomination, said Christopher Anders of the American Civil Liberties Union. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington McCain and Feinstein worked together in 2015 to pass legislation banning torture, reinforcing an earlier executive order from President Obama. Feinstein has not said how she will vote on Haspels nomination. Advertisement Im very wary of confirming as CIA director someone so heavily involved in the torture program, she said in a recent statement. Trump nominated Haspel to replace Mike Pompeo, who has headed the CIA since early last year and made a secret trip to North Korea over Easter weekend this year to help arrange a proposed summit between Trump and that countrys ruler, Kim Jong Un. Trump has nominated Pompeo to be secretary of State. To read this article in Spanish, click here chris.megerian@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @chrismegerian UPDATES: 7:09 a.m.: This article was updated with the date of the Senate confirmation hearing. This article was originally posted at 3 a.m. Paul Manafort, President Trumps former campaign chairman, came under scrutiny by the special counsel because prosecutors suspected he might be a back channel between the Trump campaign and Russian efforts to interfere in the U.S. election, a Justice Department lawyer said Thursday. The disclosure came as lawyers for Manafort tried to convince a federal judge to throw out one of two federal cases against him, arguing that special counsel Robert S. Mueller III had no authority to hit him with criminal charges unrelated to the Russian meddling. An attorney for Muellers office, Michael Dreeben, told the court that the prosecution of Manaforts alleged financial crimes arose because Manafort had long-standing ties to Russians, and investigators wanted to know if those connections provided a back channel to Russia. An investigation will naturally look at these things, he said. Advertisement Manafort, once a prominent Washington lobbyist and Republican power broker, was indicted in Washington and Virginia after he declined a government offer to have the cases combined. He has pleaded not guilty to nearly two dozen charges of money laundering, tax evasion and bank fraud. Manaforts lawyers say the Justice Department memo appointing Mueller last May didnt authorize a wide-ranging pursuit of other crimes. They want the government to release other communications between Mueller and Deputy Atty. Gen. Rod Rosenstein, who made the appointment and is continuing to supervise Muellers work. I think were entitled to see the record, said Manaforts attorney, Kevin Downing. He said Mueller did not have a blank check. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson did not make an immediate ruling, but she pressed Manaforts attorneys to explain why they thought Muellers power to prosecute crimes was limited. Rosensteins initial memo gave Mueller authority to investigate any links and/or coordination between the Russian government and individuals associated with the campaign of President Donald Trump, along with any matters that arose or may arise directly from the investigation. Rosenstein has allowed Mueller to aggressively expand the investigation and pursue other crimes, in the process becoming the target of vehement attacks from Trump and his supporters. In August, after the FBI already had raided Manaforts home in Virginia with a court-approved search warrant, Rosenstein wrote a follow-up memo. It specified that the special counsel could pursue crimes that arose from Manaforts lobbying work in the Ukraine for pro-Kremlin politicians before he joined the Trump campaign. Its that work, and the tens of millions of dollars that flowed from it, that formed the basis for the criminal charges against Manafort and his former deputy, Richard Gates. Gates subsequently pleaded guilty to two charges in a plea deal and agreed to cooperate with prosecutors. Advertisement Mr. Manaforts work in the Ukraine has nothing to do with the campaign, or any collusion with the Russian government, Downing said. In separate motions, Manaforts attorneys also moved to attack individual charges that he lied about his Ukraine work and failed to properly register as a foreign agent. Manaforts attorneys argue that two of the counts amount to the same thing, and they argue that Mueller has improperly stretched the meaning of the Foreign Agent Registration Act. Manafort is scheduled to face trial in September in Virginia unless he succeeds in getting the case tossed out. His trial in Washington is scheduled for September. Advertisement joseph.tanfani@latimes.com Twitter: @jtanfani President Trump confirmed Wednesday that CIA Director Mike Pompeo held a secret summit-planning meeting with North Koreas Kim Jong Un, an assignment the White House hoped would boost Pompeos standing ahead of what is expected to be a close Senate vote to confirm him as secretary of State. Pompeo just left North Korea, had a great meeting with Kim Jong Un and got along with him really well, really great, Trump told reporters amid his two-day summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Palm Beach, Fla. He is that kind of a guy he is very smart but he gets along with people. Trump tweeted earlier Wednesday that the meeting in North Korea was a prelude to a summit between himself and Kim by early June, confirming published reports and providing the clearest sign to date that planning is underway to make a conference between Trump and Kim a reality. A White House official confirmed separately that Pompeo and Kim met over Easter weekend, though Trump mistakenly said in his tweet that it occurred last week. It was the highest-level meeting between a U.S. official and a North Korean leader since 2000, when President Clintons secretary of State, Madeleine Albright, met with Kims father and predecessor, Kim Jong Il. In 2014, President Obamas CIA director, James R. Clapper, traveled to North Korea to win the release of two prisoners held by the regime, but he did not meet with Kim. Advertisement The developments underscore the dramatic turn in Trumps approach toward North Korea, which has unnerved Japan. The president has derided Kim as Little Rocket Man and had warned Rex Tillerson, the previous secretary of State whom he later fired, against negotiating with North Korea. Since he abruptly decided last month to pursue talks himself, however, his rhetoric has become more hopeful and conciliatory. Trump did not appear to have won any concessions from Kim in exchange for the visit from Pompeo. At a news conference with Abe at the close of their summit Wednesday evening, Trump acknowledged North Korea was still holding three Americans after releasing the dying Otto Warmbier last year, but he didnt answer when asked whether he would meet with Kim if they remained in detention. North Korea, a pariah nation seeking legitimacy on the world stage, mostly through its nuclear arms program, covets such visits from foreign leaders and has released political prisoners or made other promises when they occur. Trump did say he would not meet with Kim if we dont think its going to be successful. If the meeting, when Im there, is not fruitful I will respectfully leave and continue the administrations maximum pressure strategy of sanctions against the regime, he said. The discussion of North Korea came during the getaway with Japans Abe at Mar-a-Lago, intended to reassure a key ally, though it was hardly clear that was the outcome. Japan had been blindsided by Trumps announcement that he would meet with Kim, and it fears a deal in which Americans agree to reduce their military presence in the region, which has been Japans shield since World War II. The country is also frustrated that, unlike other major U.S. allies, it has not been exempted from steel and aluminum tariffs that Trump recently proposed. Trump indicated that he had given Japan no relief from the tariffs. Instead, he emphasized the size of the U.S. trade deficit with Japan, saying, If we can come to an agreement to alleviate that, I would look forward to taking them off. Advertisement And he may have further embarrassed Abe, who already is in political trouble at home, on another trade issue: With a late-night tweet Tuesday after dinner with Abe, and again at the news conference, Trump all but dashed hopes that he would have the United States reenter a Pacific trade pact as Abe has urged. Trump had said only a week ago that he would reconsider his decision, just after taking office, to withdraw from the Trans-Pacific Partnership. It was unclear whether Trump offered Abe any other trade concessions during their meetings, which appeared to be dominated by the North Korea discussion. In dispatching Pompeo to North Korea early this month, Trump avoided officially sending a diplomat to a country with which the United States has no diplomatic relations. Still, the assignment was unusual given that Pompeo is awaiting Senate confirmation vote to be secretary of State next week. Sending him showed that he is, in some ways, already taking on some of the duties of the job. Advertisement Pompeos trip also underscores the thin ranks of the presidents national security and diplomatic teams. His new national security advisor, John Bolton, has been pushing out National Security Council aides, and Trump still lacks an ambassador to South Korea. Pompeo is expected to win Senate confirmation next week, but the vote is likely to be close and he will probably need the support of some Democrats. A divided Senate Foreign Relations Committee is expected to decline to recommend his confirmation. Several Democrats have come out against the nomination, including the minority partys top two members of Foreign Relations, Sens. Robert Menendez of New Jersey and Benjamin L. Cardin of Maryland. Menendez complained about being kept in the dark about Pompeos meeting with Kim as the panel was weighing Pompeos nomination. Even in my private conversations with him, he didnt tell me about his visit to North Korea, Menendez said in a statement. Now I dont expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be Secretary of State, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit. Advertisement Republicans hold 51 votes in the Senate, but Sen. John McCain of Arizona has been undergoing cancer treatment and Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky has announced he will oppose Pompeos nomination, citing the CIA chiefs support for the war in Iraq. Trump is working to persuade Paul to change his mind. He called Paul and on Wednesday spoke about him publicly during lunch with Abe, in his brief remarks to reporters. I will say this about Rand Paul: Hes never let me down, Trump said. Rand Paul is a very special guy, as far as Im concerned. Hes never let me down. And I dont think hell let us down again. So lets see what happens. Trump lauded Paul for voting yes on the Obamacare repeal, which ultimately failed, while taking a shot at McCain, who opposed the measure. Advertisement Paul voted for healthcare and he did us a big favor, Trump said. It was somebody else that voted against it that hurt us, he added, referring to McCain. A spokesman for Paul said the senator had agreed to meet with Trump to discuss Pompeo, but added, Nothing else has changed. A time for the meeting has not been set. Pompeo allies mounted a separate campaign on his behalf. Presidential counselor Kellyanne Conway and Republican Sen. Tom Cotton of Arkansas held an unusual conference call with reporters, mixing confidence about Pompeos fate with warnings to senators about the dangers of thwarting his nomination. They pointed out that Pompeo was approved as head of the CIA on a bipartisan vote just last year. Advertisement His record of accomplishment speaks for itself, Conway said, adding, He has been part of the team that kept America safe. Cotton noted that more than a dozen Democrats voted for Pompeo last year. If they do not follow suit now, he added, the only reason theyre not is because of their blind partisanship. The senator singled out three Democrats up for reelection this year in states that strongly supported Trump in 2016 Joe Donnelly of Indiana, Joe Manchin III of West Virginia and Heidi Heitkamp of North Dakota warning them against voting against Pompeos confirmation. If they do so and they are up for reelection, they may suffer the consequences, Cotton said. He also cited Democratic Sen. Doug Jones of Alabama, who won office in a special election in December, as a potential vote for Pompeo. Advertisement Several senators from both parties, including those cited by Cotton, have said they are undecided. Follow the latest news of the Trump administration on Essential Washington noah.bierman@latimes.com Twitter: @noahbierman Trying to find its way out of a legal thicket, the Trump administration wants to send to Saudi Arabia a U.S. citizen who was captured on the battlefield in Syria last fall and is suspected of supporting Islamic State. Lawyers for the American, who is identified only as John Doe in court papers, claim that would violate his constitutional rights and asked a federal judge to order the government either to charge him with a crime or to release him from U.S. military custody in Iraq. On Thursday evening, U.S. District Judge Tanya S. Chutkan barred the government from transferring him, just before the deadline. During a court hearing Thursday, Chutkan seemed skeptical of government arguments that the transfer should be approved quickly. I have a U.S. citizen here that has rights that have to be considered carefully, Chutkan said, adding that the right to challenge detention by the government is the bedrock of our legal system. Advertisement James M. Burnham, senior counsel at the Justice Department, argued that handing over the suspect would amount to a release from U.S. custody, and therefore would end his legal case in U.S. courts. Its not release if youre simply giving him over to another jailer, Chutkan told him. The strange case of the mystery American could set new legal and diplomatic boundaries for the U.S. war on terrorism. Although dozens of Americans were charged and convicted of seeking to join or providing material support to terrorist groups in recent years, only a handful were designated enemy combatants. Courts ruled they still had their rights as U.S. citizens. In September, the man surrendered to a Syrian Kurdish militia backed by the United States and was delivered to the U.S. military, which declared him an enemy combatant and put him in a military prison in Iraq. U.S. authorities allege that the man supported Islamic State but they have been unable to produce enough evidence to charge him with a crime. He claimed that he went to Syria in early 2015 to report on the militants as a freelance journalist, and then was kidnapped by them. Unwilling to release him, the government told the court this week that it plans to transfer the prisoner to a third country that had agreed to take him after extensive diplomatic discussions and as a demonstration of its commitment to the United States. In a court filing, the government called it imperative that the transfer occur quickly and smoothly. Blocking the transfer would undermine the U.S. credibility with an important foreign partner, it added. Advertisement A separate court filing identified the country as Saudi Arabia, and the New York Times has reported that the man holds U.S. and Saudi citizenship. The American Civil Liberties Union, which fought in court to gain access to the detainee while he was being held in secret last year, argues that the government cannot deliver a U.S. citizen to another country particularly if he has not been charged with a crime in that country. The ACLU says the man tried to escape from Islamic State and denies fighting alongside the militants. He went to Syria to understand firsthand and report about the conflict there, according to his attorneys. Jonathan Hafetz, an ACLU attorney, says the forced transfer would be an unconscionable violation of his constitutional rights. Advertisement The government has no legal authority to detain this U.S. citizen in the first place, and it clearly lacks any legal authority to transfer him to the custody of another government, Hafetz said. When it comes to the rights of a citizen, its not Lets Make a Deal, he said. The man talked to U.S. intelligence officers after he was taken into custody, but that evidence cant be used in court against him. After federal agents read him his Miranda rights last year, the man asked to be provided with a defense lawyer and has not been questioned since. joseph.tanfani@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @jtanfani UPDATES: 5:15 p.m.: This article was updated to report the judges decision. 2:05 p.m.: This story was updated with details from the court hearing. Advertisement This story posted at 6 a.m. For most of us, the notion of someone spending $7 million to help another person run for governor is beyond comprehension. Even if you had that much spare change, what could possibly justify such a huge personal investment? Netflix co-founder and Chief Executive Reed Hastings last week donated $7 million to bolster the financially struggling gubernatorial bid of former Los Angeles Mayor Antonio Villaraigosa. An additional $1.5 million was kicked in by L.A. developer and philanthropist Eli Broad. They like Villaraigosas history of championing charter schools. Advertisement It is a rather jaw-dropping amount of money, the races front-runner, Lt. Gov. Gavin Newsom, told me. But these are the rules of engagement, and theyre playing by the rules. I dont begrudge Antonio and dont condemn the contributors. But it does make a mockery of official campaign contribution limits, which increasingly have become ineffective in controlling special interest influence on politicians public policy decisions. The legal limit on how much an individual can donate directly to a California gubernatorial candidate is $29,200 per election. Double that to $58,400 for the primary and general elections combined. But theres a huge loophole for the super-rich and special interests. They can give an unlimited amount to an independent expenditure committee that supports a candidate. The only condition is that the independent committee is not allowed to coordinate its strategy with the candidates campaign. Hastings and Broad gave their millions to an independent committee sponsored by the California Charter Schools Assn. In the race to become Californias next governor, fundraising favors one candidate The independent expenditure loophole was sanctioned in a landmark 2010 U.S. Supreme Court decision written by Justice Anthony M. Kennedy, who grew up in Sacramento as the son of a powerful Capitol lobbyist. He wrote, Independent expenditures, including those made by corporations, do not give rise to corruption or the appearance of corruption. Thats pretty naive, especially for a lobbyists kid. Advertisement What do you think? If Villaraigosa is elected governor, will he answer the phone whenever Hastings calls? You bet, and when Broad calls, too. Maybe its time to junk all the ineffective campaign contribution limits. Give up the pretense. Just let people donate whatever they want directly to a candidate and require that the contribution be reported immediately to the public. One thing seems certain: These donations are just the beginning of large-scale independent expenditures in this years California elections. Villaraigosa has a lot of catching up to do. He ended 2017 with $5.9 million in the bank. Newsom had $19.5 million. Theres talk of Villaraigosa backers trying to raise many millions more in so-called I.E. money under no constraints. Hes battling two Republicans for second place in the primary. Finishing runner-up would qualify him for the November runoff, presumably against fellow Democrat Newsom. Advertisement Hastings, 57, who once taught high school math in the Peace Corps, has been promoting charter schools for many years. When Villaraigosa was state Assembly speaker in 1998, Hastings led a high-tech coalition that spent $3 million collecting signatures to qualify a ballot measure that would have greatly expanded charter schools. More from George Skelton It never reached the ballot because Villaraigosa, Hastings, the California Teachers Assn. and then-Gov. Pete Wilson compromised on legislation. Everyone was spared a costly campaign fight. Villaraigosa was a real catalyst, Hastings told me back then. Instead of being angry with us for promoting an initiative, he took the attitude that, You guys must really be frustrated with public schools. Advertisement How Antonio Villaraigosa went from a union organizer to a union target Villaraigosa began his political career as a teachers union organizer. But after being elected mayor in 2005, he called the union the largest obstacle to creating quality schools. He unsuccessfully tried to seize control of the Los Angeles Unified School District, arguing a dramatic overhaul was needed. He eventually gained control of 18 struggling schools through a nonprofit he founded. He also shaped district policy by helping elect school board allies. When he became mayor, Villaraigosa told me, there was a 36% graduation rate in the schools he oversaw. When he left, the rate was up to 72%, he added. Advertisement What Im big on is improving all schools, traditional and chartered, he said. I asked Hastings whos worth $3.2 billion, according to Forbes why he thinks Villaraigosa warrants a $7-million donation. Coverage of California politics Advertisement Most [California] mayors never get that involved in education because it might go wrong and be bad politics, Hastings replied. Thats what made me convinced he would be the best education governor. Its about trying to figure out how to make all public schools more flexible, more relevant, a stimulating environment for children. Many are, but many schools are just focused on testing. How much are unions to blame? I was surprised at his answer. Not much, he said. Look at nonunion states. Theyre not much better. Unions are not the problem. Advertisement Newsom, who has been endorsed by the teachers union, said hes getting a bum rap from charter school enthusiasts. For 20 years Ive been supporting high-quality, nonprofit charter schools, the former San Francisco mayor insisted. But I believe in accountability and transparency. He was upset that Gov. Jerry Brown vetoed a bill that would have required charter schools to be more transparent. The biggest issue in education now is recruiting and retaining quality teachers, he said. Teachers are demoralized. Its going to be my top priority. Advertisement Hastings and Broad have pumped new life into Villaraigosas campaign. And, despite the current cautious rhetoric, the race has become a proxy fight between teachers unions and their charter school critics. george.skelton@latimes.com Follow @LATimesSkelton on Twitter California would license special banks to handle billions of dollars generated by the legal marijuana market under legislation buoyed by recent comments from the Trump administration and given initial approval by state lawmakers Wednesday. The measure gained momentum just days after President Trump indicated that his administration would not crack down on recreational marijuana in states that have voted to make it legal. Selling and growing marijuana for recreational use was legalized by California voters under a state licensing system that began Jan. 1. Sen. Bob Hertzberg (D-Van Nuys), who introduced the bill, said the presidents policy shift makes it more likely that state-chartered banks would be used by the burgeoning cannabis market, which is projected to grow to $7 billion annually by 2020 in California. Ive spoken to these companies about the problems their businesses face, and until last week, many were under constant threat of getting busted by the feds, Hertzberg said. If the risk of federal intervention is eliminated, cannabis businesses will feel more confident about opening an account with our limited state charter. Advertisement Trump administration abandons crackdown on legal marijuana The banking industry is federally regulated, and financial institutions have so far been reluctant to handle money from the sale of marijuana because it remains an illegal drug under federal law. The bill, SB 930, which was recommended Wednesday by the Senate Banking and Financial Institutions Committee, would create a new, limited-purpose state charter for privately financed banks under a program that would be overseen by the state Department of Business Oversight. The measure would allow cannabis firms to deposit money in state-licensed banks, which would issue checks to the businesses for use in paying rent and state and local taxes and fees, as well as for paying vendors for goods and services provided to their businesses. The pot firms could also buy state and local bonds. State officials estimate they will collect $600 million in cannabis taxes in the upcoming year, raising a public safety issue, including the possibility of robberies, as business owners carry duffel bags stuffed with cash to state offices. The use of cash also makes it hard for the state to account for and audit transactions, Hertzberg said. John Chiang explores creating a state bank for the marijuana industry >> The question becomes, With that amount of cash, what do you do? because you cant deposit in a bank, Hertzberg said during a legislative hearing Wednesday. We are faced with a significant public safety challenge. The measure was also backed by Lindsay Robinson, executive director of the California Cannabis Industry Assn. One member of Robinsons group has an $800,000 tax bill due next month and plans to pay it in cash, she told lawmakers. Advertisement The threat of violence and theft is extremely real for our members, Robinson said. Coverage of California politics The legislation, which is supported by the Los Angeles City Council, would also allow banks to be privately insured in lieu of insurance provided to federally chartered banks by the Federal Deposit Insurance Corp. Hertzberg has proposed an advisory board that includes the state treasurer, controller and chief of the state Bureau of Cannabis Control. Advertisement The measure is one of a handful of proposals to address the lack of banking services for the pot industry, which has been left with security problems as it holds and transports large sums of cash to pay vendors and state taxes. State Treasurer John Chiang has launched a study to look at the possibility of creating a state bank to serve the cannabis industry, while Gov. Jerry Browns administration has been talking to banks about setting up a network of financial institutions that would guarantee federal banking regulators that the money is subjected to special tracking, oversight and transparency. California considers green banking as it transitions to fully legal pot All of the proposals had been put under a cloud by recent threats from U.S. Atty. Gen. Jeff Sessions that his office would begin enforcing federal laws against marijuana in states where voters had acted to make it legal. Advertisement But last week, Trump personally directed a retreat from that position after discussions with Republican Sen. Cory Gardner of Colorado, a state that has also legalized cannabis. Gardner had been angered by Sessions shift to a more aggressive posture and had held up Justice Department nominees in retaliation, but he agreed to unblock the confirmation process after Trump relented on the policy. Still, the California Bankers Assn. has been skeptical of any state solution and has said changes in federal law reclassifying marijuana might be needed to alleviate concerns about banks handling money from cannabis businesses. patrick.mcgreevy@latimes.com Advertisement Twitter: @mcgreevy99 Authorities have released the identity of two of the three men who were found dead in a parked car along a secluded Burbank street on Tuesday as detectives continue to investigate the possible events that led to the grim discovery. Jan Carlos Amiama, 21, and his 23-year-old brother Lucas Josh Amiama were reported missing from the Bakersfield area over the weekend. Their family said the brothers were traveling to a Riverside home with a friend, Carlos Lopez. A positive identification of the third body is pending, and a cause of death has yet to be determined, according to Ed Winter, a spokesman with the Los Angeles County coroners office. Their deaths are being investigated as homicides. Authorities have identified Jan Amiama as one of the three bodies found in a car in Burbank on Tuesday. He was last seen with his brother Lucas and a friend, Carlos Lopez. The other two bodies have yet to be identified. pic.twitter.com/hPavJXU8tA Andy Nguyen (@Andy_Truc) April 19, 2018 Sgt. Derek Green, a spokesman with the Burbank Police Department, said detectives are working in concert with the Riverside County Sheriffs Department in investigating a home in the 5200 block of Stone Avenue where the three were said to have gone. A search warrant for the property was issued Wednesday evening because it is a location of interest, according to Green. By Thursday afternoon Green said enough evidence was found at the home to suggest a crime had taken place and the three men found in Burbank were the victims. Riverside [County Sheriffs Department] is taking over, he said. They have enough to suggest the crime occurred in their jurisdiction. The bodies were discovered in the 1300 block of South Varney Street just after 7 a.m. on Tuesday after a parking officer responded to a report about a Jeep Patriot that hadnt been moved in a while. The officer noticed an odor emitting from the vehicle and saw a person inside who appeared to be dead. When paramedics arrived, two more bodies were found. The car the bodies were in, a maroon Jeep Patriot with Tennessee license plates, matches the one the three were using to travel. At the time of the discovery, Green said the bodies had no obvious signs of trauma, but the deaths were highly suspicious based on the streets secluded location and proximity to the 5 Freeway. andy.nguyen@latimes.com Twitter: @Andy_Truc UPDATES: 4:40 p.m.: This article was updated with additional comments from Sgt. Derek Green. 2:50 p.m.: This article was updated with the identity of the second body. This article was originally published at 9:20 a.m. The dispute over Costa Mesa Mayor Pro Tem Allan Mansoors residency is in the hands of the state attorney generals office, which will decide whether to allow further legal action to determine if hes lawfully entitled to remain in office. In the weeks since the filing of a complaint alleging that the councilman lived in Newport Beach for part of last year, supporting documents have been filed by each side. The accusers claim Mansoor has admitted he has not lived in Costa Mesa throughout his term, while Mansoors attorney says the allegations read more like a political hit piece than a serious lawsuit. California Attorney General Xavier Becerras office will review the filings to determine whether the accusers can proceed with a quo warranto action in Orange County Superior Court. Such an action requires a person to show what authority he or she has to hold an office. Mansoor was elected to the City Council for a third time in 2016; his current term runs through 2020. At the heart of the residency issue is an allegation that Mansoor and his family lived for a time in a house owned by his in-laws in the 1600 block of Pegasus Street in Newport Beach. Last months complaint signed by Art Perry, a local resident who serves on the Costa Mesa Sanitary District board claims that in doing so, Mansoor violated state law. According to state government code, if a city council member moves his or her place of residence outside the city limits or ceases to be an elector of the city while in office, his or her office shall immediately become vacant. I, like many of the other citizens that were concerned about it, think we have to get a remedy to the situation, Perry said Wednesday. If hes valid, then its fine, Perry said of Mansoor. But if hes not, then he should step down. Mansoors attorney, Chad Morgan, dismissed the allegations in a statement Wednesday. Mayor Pro Tem Mansoor has been a consistent resident of Costa Mesa for more than 20 years and expects the attorney general to see through the politically motivated attack that tries to claim otherwise, Morgan said. Perry said he anticipates it will take several months for the attorney generals office to decide the matter. In legal documents, Mansoor stated that he lived in the Enclave complex near South Coast Plaza in Costa Mesa from about 2010 until June 2017, when his last lease expired. Mansoor said he determined the apartment no longer met the needs of his family, so he began looking for a new home and worked with a real estate agent in the search. From April 2017 through our June move-out, we looked at many properties, Mansoor said in statement submitted to the attorney generals office. But everything we looked at had a waiting list. Around Aug. 1, Mansoor said, he found an apartment for rent on Canyon Drive in Costa Mesas Westside. He secured it but wasnt able to move in until Oct. 17 because it needed some extensive remodeling. During the time between Enclave and Canyon, there was never a moment that I ... intended to live anywhere other than Costa Mesa, which has been my home for most of my life, according to his statement. He did not disclose where he and his family lived between apartments. In an email this week, he directed that question to Morgan, who also didnt answer. Perrys attorney, Brett Murdock, believes that by not answering, Mansoor implicitly admits he moved out of Costa Mesa. He obfuscates as to where he lived from June to late October, but clearly moved out of the Enclave apartment, Murdock said in a statement Wednesday. Murdock, who is running for Orange County district attorney this year, said he thinks the city should place Mr. Mansoor on an unpaid leave of absence until this matter is decided. He is illegally holding that seat and should not be allowed to vote on any matters before the city, nor collect taxpayer compensation until there is a court ruling, he said. In his response to Perrys original complaint, Morgan argued that Mansoor always intended to maintain his Costa Mesa residency and could only have changed his residency if there was a union of act and intent. Morgan pointed out that Mansoor never registered to vote in Newport Beach, for example something he would have done if he meant to make that his permanent residence. While Perry is free to cast judgment in the course of a political campaign, his allegations fail to properly allege, let alone show a probability of success, that Mansoor changed his residency as a matter of law, Morgan wrote. It should be clear that Mansoor did not give up his Costa Mesa residency during his move from the Enclave apartment to the Canyon apartment. Murdock disputes that interpretation and says a court should be allowed to resolve the issue. Without some limitation on the scope of legal residency, the statutes requiring public officials to live in their respective districts would be categorically neutered of their legislative intent, he wrote in a filing. Allowing a vague and overbroad notion of residency would effectively permit elected officials to subvert public policy by simply saying that they intend to return to the district someday. luke.money@latimes.com Twitter @LukeMMoney Sunday marks the 48th anniversary of Earth Day, a worldwide event to promote environmental protection. Several local Earth Day commemorations are scheduled for this weekend, including: Nature walks in Fairview Park The Fairview Park Alliance is sponsoring a series of nature walks in Costa Mesas Fairview Park. A biologist and naturalist will help lead the walks, which are scheduled for 9 and 11 a.m. Saturday and 9 a.m. Sunday. Fairview Park is at 2501 Placentia Ave. For more information, visit FairviewParkAlliance.org. Santa Ana River cleanup Orange County and the Newport Beach chapter of the Surfrider Foundation will hold a Santa Ana River cleanup Saturday. The event will be from 9 a.m. to noon, beginning at the entrance to the Santa Ana River trail south of Talbert Avenue between Harbor Boulevard and South Euclid Street in Fountain Valley. All ages are welcome, though children 12 and younger must be accompanied by an adult. For more information, email dferguson@newportbeach.surfrider.org. Free gas for hybrids in Costa Mesa SoCal Honda will provide free gas to hybrid drivers at an undisclosed gas station in Costa Mesa from 9:30 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday. The company has been doing the same at locations throughout Southern California since April 13. Earth Day at the Bay Orange County Parks and the Newport Bay Conservancy will present Earth Day at the Bay on Sunday at the Peter and Mary Muth Interpretive Center at Upper Newport Bay. The free event, from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. at 2301 University Drive in Newport Beach, will offer family-friendly attractions including live animal presentations, arts and crafts, science activities, food trucks, a scavenger hunt, prize drawings and music from Danny Maika. The California Department of Fish and Wildlife, the Orange County Health Care Agency and many other organizations will participate. All proceeds from the drawings will benefit the protection and preservation of Upper Newport Bay, organizers say. For more information, visit newportbay.org or call (949) 923-2290. Huntington State Beach cleanup Costa Mesa-based Orange County Coastkeeper and Huntington Beach reggae band Dirty Heads will partner for a public volunteer cleanup at Huntington State Beach. The event will run from 10 a.m. to noon Sunday, beginning at lifeguard Tower 2 at 22355 Pacific Coast Hwy. Parking is free with a mention of the cleanup. For more information, visit coastkeeper.nationbuilder.com/april_huntington_beach_monthly_cleanup. SeaLegs hosts cleanup at Bolsa Chica State Beach SeaLegs at the Beach will host a cleanup Sunday at Bolsa Chica State Beach in Huntington Beach. The event check-in will begin at 9:30 a.m., followed by yoga presented by Equinox Huntington Beach and the cleanup from 11 a.m. to noon. Afterward, there will be an open bar and barbecue presented by Corona and musical performances by the Wheeland Brothers and Cali Conscious. The event is free, but RSVPs are required at bit.ly/2J3G3U4. Lisa Wittenberg can recall with photographic detail each moment her body began to fail. It started with mild back pain in spring 2016, but Wittenberg figured shed just tweaked something. She began seeing a physical therapist and stopped working out. Then in early 2017 came the limp what the therapist termed drop foot. The next several months were filled with doctor visits, nerve tests, a broken leg and further weakening of Wittenbergs limbs. By March of that year, the mother of two could no longer open a pickle jar. Then on Aug. 28, Wittenberg, 47, of Trabuco Canyon received an official diagnosis: she had amyotrophic lateral sclerosis, also known as ALS or Lou Gehrigs disease. It was unbelievable to get that answer, Wittenberg said. But Wittenbergs knowledge of the disease was minimal, so she had to consult Google, where she found out its a neurodegenerative disorder in which muscular regions of the body slowly begin to shut down until patients lose the ability to move, speak or swallow. The afflicted usually die within two to five years. Wittenberg also learned there isnt really a way to treat the disease. In the wake of the diagnosis, Wittenberg and her husband, Joel, were left confused and craving answers. Wittenberg hadnt so much as broken a bone before the onset of the disease. She now was in a wheelchair. I kept feeling like I was going to wake up and it would all be a bad dream, Wittenberg said. In the midst of all that emotional chaos, Wittenberg did have one point of hope a medical trial conducted by UC Irvines Alpha Stem Cell Clinic and Department of Neurology concerning a potential treatment for ALS. Me and my family latched onto that clinical trial hook, line and sinker, Wittenberg said. She focused on this glint of hope when telling her boys, Tommy, 16, and Andrew, 13, about her diagnosis. I didnt say its a cure, but its a chance to fight, Wittenberg said. She enrolled in the medical trial in December. Dr. Namita Goyal, a UC Irvine neurologist, and patient Lisa Wittenberg work through a series of reflex tests. Wittenberg and Goyal are part of a nationwide study on ALS with UC Irvine. (Don Leach / Staff Photographer ) The study extracts patients stem cells, which will be treated with NurOwn a cell therapy for the treatment of neurodegenerative diseases and then injected back into patients bodies three times over six months. Dr. Namita Goyal, a UC Irvine Health neurologist and the trials principal investigator, said the studies facilitator and creator of NurOwn, biotechnology company Brainstorm Cell Therapeutics, is aiming to enroll 200 patients. One hundred will get a placebo and the rest will get the treatment. Goyal said the treated stem cells reduce inflammation and are thought to secrete growth factors that promote motor cell regeneration. In a way, they help clean up the bodily environment. These motor neurons die because they are in a sick environment, Goyal said. The treatment tries to rescue the existing motor cells to prevent them from dying. The study also will be conducted at Massachusetts General Hospital, University of Massachusetts Medical School, Mayo Clinic in Minnesota, California Pacific Medical Center Research Institute and Cedars-Sinai Medical Center in Los Angeles. Each location is recruiting patients. UC Irvine started treating patients in October. Wittenberg received her first treatment on Feb. 27. Goyal said theyre hoping to finish enrollment by December and complete the study by July 2019. Goyal said shes excited about the prospects of the treatment because it is the only ongoing ALS stem cell treatment in a phase three study. A drug undergoes a series of testing phases before the Federal Drug Administration approves it for marketing. According to the FDA, clinical trials generally scale from small phase one studies to larger phase three studies. Goyal said the phase two study of the treatment which had 48 patients showed that the drug might slow the progression of ALS. Patients were only injected with the treatment one time in that study. Wittenberg said she feels better in some respects but the disease is still progressing. She still cant walk but has some better movement in her legs while seated and the bicep strength in her right arm seems stronger. Initially, not knowing if she was a placebo recipient tormented Wittenberg, but she learned to tame her thoughts. Goyal also doesnt know if patients received a placebo or the treatment. You dont realize how much thats going to mess with you, Wittenberg said. I came to grips with it being a placebo. If I have a placebo theres nothing I can do about it. But, knowing its working for somebody else can only be a good thing. It doesnt have to work for me right now, as long as I know it will work for me a year from now. Despite the inevitable hurdles for Wittenberg, the medical trial has been a deliverance from the despair that plagues so many who receive an ALS diagnosis. The timing of everything was not lost on me, Wittenberg said. Yes, its devastating and life-altering, but from day one, I had hope. Not a lot of people who get diagnosed with ALS can say that. People with ALS who want to enroll in the study at UC Irvine may call (949) 824-3990 or email stemcell@uci.edu. Patients must be under 60 and have had symptoms for less than two years. For more information, visit bit.ly/2HbTLDP. benjamin.brazil@latimes.com Twitter:@benbrazilpilot Members of the La Canada Flintridge City Council took issue with the Planning Department Tuesday night when, during the latest study session on the citys draft historic preservation ordinance, they learned that staff is still using an age threshold in determining the historical significance of structures in the city. After more than an hour of discussion, the council agreed to come back next month with a resolution to address the original list of already historically designated properties before further codifying the ordinance. They also expect to learn at the time new estimates for a consultant to do an in-depth windshield survey of all the potential historic properties in the city. A major incentive for property owners to preserve historic structures is the possibility of receiving Mills Act designation and taking advantage of the state incentives program designed to encourage the restoration and preservation of such properties. Qualifying properties approved by the City Council pay reduced property taxes. In 2015, city officials approved increasing tax breaks for homeowners who registered their historic property under the Mills Act, providing property tax deductions. The city has considered Mills Act applications on a case-by-case basis, requiring owners to conduct a historical analysis for all properties over 50 years of age when a permit for construction is sought. Given that there are thousands of such properties in a city where a post-World War II building boom took place, the 50-year threshold is considered by some to be overly broad, forcing unwanted delays in remodeling. The city has grappled with historic preservation since a March 2014 preservation report card issued by the Los Angeles Conservancy gave La Canada and 50 other cities in Los Angeles County a failing grade, in part, for its lack of an established preservation program. Last October, a mayors subcommittee was formed to create an inventory of historic places in La Canada and adopt regulations that would catch and potentially preserve valuable homes before they were demolished. According to Planning Department staff, they prepared a mitigation monitoring plan in conjunction with the citys forthcoming general plan update, which requires action be taken to mitigate the potential loss of a possible historic resource in the city. Due to concerns about the 50-year trigger for determining if a structure is historically significant which encompasses approximately 5,500 structures in the city staff and the subcommittee considered increasing the commonly used age threshold. According to their most recent report, there are approximately 80 properties already recognized as historic. A second potential historic properties list was created of approximately 100 homes, and more could be added as they are discovered. Mayor Terry Walker took issue with the draft ordinance, noticing the language in the penalties section stood out more than any incentives available to homeowners for historic designation. Walker called the draft ordinance very restrictive, citing a previously packed council meeting where people voiced strong opposition to penalties. I thought we were making a list to notify them and build incentives. I dont like direction were going in. Director of Community Development Robert Stanley said his department is taking the past direction of the City Council, and for every home coming into the Planning Department, they are preparing a historical report. This was trying to take us away from that process, he said about the staff and subcommittees work on the mitigation monitoring plan. Then once we decided on this ordinance, we can amend the general plan with it. While City Atty. Mark Steres said he did not see any complaints from property owners whose projects have been delayed while a historic review is underway, Councilmen Greg Brown and Jon Curtis maintained there have been some. Theyre scared to talk to staff because they think the staff may do something against them if they come back, Curtis said. Lanterman House annual report received Also at Tuesdays meeting, the council agenda listed in its consent calendar to receive and file the Lanterman House Museum annual report. The conditional use permit governing the museums operation requires annual review by the city to determine that conditions of approval are still being met. The report indicates 428 fewer visitors than last year and cites a combination of a loss of a partner in events, the recently folded Jewel City Choir, and lower overall attendance attributed to hot summer and fall months. Stanley to retire, Koleda to step in In other news, it was announced it was Stanleys final City Council meeting as director of community development. He plans to retire on April 30 after more than 21 years serving the community. Deputy Director of Community Development Susan Koleda accepted an offer to take over for Stanleys position, beginning May 1. Matt Sanderson is a contributing writer to Times Community News. The Four Seasons Resort Lanai has launched a new private plane service designed to make it easier for guests to get from Honolulu to the lesser-known Hawaiian island. Lanai Air meets guests from the U.S. mainland at Daniel K. Inouye International Airport in Honolulu and whisks them onto turboprop planes for a private, 35-minute flight to Lanai Airport. The single-engine planes seat up to eight passengers. As few as two people can reserve a one-way flight. Fares start at $500 for a couple (not per person) and climb to a maximum of $1,100 for a group of eight. Perched just above the Pacific Ocean, the Four Seasons Resort Lanai offers five-star accommodations in a secluded location. (Four Seasons Resort Lanai ) Advertisement Room prices in early May start at $725 to $1,150 a night, excluding taxes and fees, depending on what dates you choose, according to the resorts website. The airlines two dedicated planes are owned and operated by Mokulele Airlines. Ground transportation from the airport to the upscale, oceanfront resort is included. Lodging is extremely limited on Lanai. The Hotel Lanai offers more modest accommodations in Lanai City. The Four Seasons is the luxury option; its Lodge at Koele currently is closed indefinitely for renovations. Situated closer to the airport but much farther from the ocean, the modest Hotel Lanai is situated in downtown Lanai City, the only community on the island. (Lanai Hospitality Partners/Hawaii Tourism Authority ) Nearly all of Lanai, including the Four Seasons Resort, is owned by Oracle Chief Executive Larry Ellison. He purchased an estimated 97% of the island and its buildings in 2012. Ellison pumped $450 million into upgrading the resort in 2016. For decades, pineapple plantations covered the island before the fruits production moved overseas. Info: Lanai Air, (833) 486-8397 Advertisement ALSO In Kauai, where to eat for cheap: 20 places to chow down for $20 If youre looking for authentic Hawaii, away from neon lights and crowds, look to Lanai Former ocean liner Queen Elizabeth 2 opening as luxury hotel in Dubai Advertisement travel@latimes.com @latimestravel South Koreas president Thursday expressed fresh optimism about a resolution to the nations decades-long conflict with North Korea, saying the North might be willing to denuclearize even if the U.S. keeps its troops on the Korean peninsula. President Moon Jae-in, who came to office last year seeking to renew dialogue with North Korea, said leader Kim Jong Un appears serious about denuclearization. Moon also said the North, which sparked worldwide alarm with its repeated ballistic missile tests last year, might be willing to accept complete denuclearization without conditions that would upset the United States. U.S. troops have remained in South Korea since an armistice ended the fighting in the Korean War in 1953, and North Koreas oft-repeated demands that they withdraw long have been seen as a deal-breaker in negotiations. There are about 28,000 U.S. troops in South Korea. Advertisement The North Koreans did not present any conditions that the United States could not accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops in South Korea, Moon told a group of news executives in Seoul. [North Korea] is only asking for an end to a hostile policy toward North Korea and for a security guarantee. North Korean officials did not immediately respond to Moons comments. The South Korean presidents statements come a week before his planned summit with Kim, which would be only the third top-level summit between the two nations since an armistice in 1953 ended Korean War hostilities. The pair plan to meet April 27 on the South Korean side of Panmunjom, a diplomatic outpost inside the heavily fortified border separating the two countries. Working-level talks about that meeting are still progressing, though Moons government said ceremonial portions of it could be livestreamed to the world. The summit is expected to focus on denuclearization the North claims it can strike the United States with a long-range, nuclear-armed missile but also on improving inter-Korean relations, which have been especially strained in recent years, and establishing a peace deal that could formally end the war. A peace deal could require the involvement of the United States and China, which were involved in the original armistice. But an agreement between the North and South could propel those countries to sign off, experts say. The Moon-Kim meeting is expected to be followed by another with President Trump, perhaps in May or June, though the details about the location and agenda arent fully known. Trump this week said CIA Director Mike Pompeo had visited the North Korean capital, Pyongyang, to meet with Kim over the Easter weekend to discuss the summit. Moon told the group in his speech that the Trump-Kim summit would only be possible because the North has decided to change its course. Advertisement North Korean propagandists like to demand the withdrawal of U.S. troops from the peninsula it is one of their major talking points but former diplomats say that they have not been so insistent in private since the 1990s. It is their public stance that U.S. troops have to go, but sometimes in private they say otherwise, said Joel S. Wit, a senior fellow at the U.S.-Korea Institute at Johns Hopkins University who has attended back-channel negotiations with the North Koreans. The late Kim Jong Il, father of the current North Korean leader, told South Korean officials during a landmark summit in Pyongyang in 2000 that U.S. troops could be a stabilizing force on the peninsula implying that the troops could be deterrent in case of hostilities by China or Japan, according to Wit. If the U.S. is no longer our enemy, there is no reason for the U.S. troops to go, is how Leon V. Sigal, director of the Northeast Asia Cooperative Security Project at the Social Science Research Council in New York, summarized the North Korean attitude. Advertisement For months, experts on the region have been skeptical that the North would ever agree to drop its nuclear pursuits, which give the nation leverage in the region and Kim a third-generation dynastic leader legitimacy at home. Kim spent much of 2017 test-launching ballistic missiles alarming key United States allies, including Japan and conducting an underground nuclear test. He did so while also trading insults with Trump, calling the president last summer a dotard. Trump has called Kim Little Rocket Man. In a New Years Day speech, Kim also proclaimed his countrys ability though not an offensive willingness to strike the United States mainland with a nuclear-armed missile. Some experts question whether the North is yet capable of that, but many also recognize the nations rapid progress in that direction. Despite the developments in 2017, Kim also signaled a willingness to accept Moons overtures for participation in the Winter Olympics, held in Pyeongchang, South Korea, this year. After historic talks, the North sent nearly two dozen athletes to the Games and helped field a combined Korean womens hockey team. The two nations also marched together at the opening ceremony under a unification flag. Advertisement Many details remain unknown, and the North has made few public statements about its recent diplomatic efforts. The proposed meeting between Trump and Kim would be a first for a sitting American president and a North Korean leader. Trump suggested this week that he might abandon the talks it they didnt appear fruitful. Moon acknowledged in his speech that the United States and its interests remain a key component of all the planned talks. He also said the results during the summits might not solve the tensions on the issue, but that the talks sparked by the Olympics could drive more dialogue in the future. It would be best to reach an agreement on the big picture through the two planned summits, he said. But even if we fail, it is clearly important to continue the dialogue. We will try to maintain the momentum. Advertisement Special correspondent Stiles reported from Seoul and Times staff writer Demick from New York. UPDATES: 2:50 p.m.: This article was updated with additional reaction, analysis and background. 10:05 a.m.: This article was updated throughout with Times reporting. Advertisement This article was originally published at 8:05 a.m. In many ways, it seemed a day like any other in the Western Hemispheres only communist nation. Young Cubans gathered at wireless hot spots here in the capital to connect their smartphones. Taxis vintage Chevrolets and Buicks and other classics lined up outside hotels catering to Europeans and Canadians. As the sun set, families strolled along the seaside Malecon, dodging the spray from waves pounding the signature sea wall. But the overriding sense of normality here Wednesday belied the historic significance of the moment. Advertisement Cuba is about to embark on its most momentous political transition since 1959, when Fidel Castro and his bearded co-revolutionaries seized power in Havana, ousting the U.S.-backed dictator Fulgencio Batista and triggering an almost unbroken era of enmity between Havana and Washington. For the first time in almost six decades, the man leading Cuba will not be named Castro. Raul Castro, the 86-year-old president whose brother Fidel died in 2016, is expected to step down Thursday after a decade in power. The 605-member Cuban legislature is expected to name First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel, a relatively little-known Communist Party functionary, as his successor. The president is believed to have handpicked him. Diaz-Canel, 57, an electronics engineer by training, also represents a generational shift in leadership. He is destined to become the first Cuban leader born after the revolution. He will be tasked with meeting the demands of a population of more than 11 million Cubans, most of whom are far removed from the khaki-clad Castro and other octogenarian veterans of the storied revolution. The new president will face daunting challenges, starting with the prospects of economic and, possibly, political reform in a one-party state lumbering under a stagnant economy. He will also have to navigate a deteriorating relationship with Washington. The Trump administration has signaled a retreat from the policies of President Obama, who moved to improve U.S.-Cuban relations Raul Castro steps down at a difficult moment for Cuba and at a time when U.S. relations are likely to further fray following President Trumps partial rollback of the U.S. opening, said Jason Marzcak, director of the Adrienne Arsht Latin American Center at the Atlantic Council in Washington. The very notion of a president who is not a Castro has generated considerable buzz and some apprehension here. Still, Diaz-Canels ascension is widely seen as a well-choreographed transition meant to perpetuate the rule of the Communist Party. No one seems to expect a major transformation in how the country is run. Advertisement There is great uncertainty among Cubans as to what will happen, but not great expectation of change, said Frank Abel Garcia, an independent Cuban journalist and blogger. Theres the curiosity of what will happen with a president not named Castro. But there are no expectations that there will be a change in the politics of the country. Its the same. Its the Communist Party. In fact, Raul Castro will remain for three more years as first secretary of the Communist Party, a powerful post from which to assess the actions of his successor. The legacy of the Castro brothers includes free education and healthcare, but also political repression, desultory growth, a lack of social mobility and average monthly wages of about $30 for state workers the majority of employees here. The younger Castros 10-year rule was a time of considerable reform and change, including an expansion of private industry; an economic outreach to the vast Cuban diaspora, which now has more opportunities to invest in its homeland; an explosion in access to cellphones and computers; and increased freedom for travel from Cuba. Advertisement But last year, under the sway of hard-liners opposed to such reforms, the government slowed the trend toward gradual capitalism, reducing approvals for new businesses in the hospitality industry and other fields. The island was also hard hit by Hurricane Irma, which was especially destructive to the sugar cane industry and other agriculture. And Cubas longtime benefactor, the left-wing government of Venezuela, is hard-pressed to curtail its own economic free fall. Many here voice hope that the new president will reinvigorate private-sector initiatives. Experts said that economic reform was likely, and that one possible target is the countrys confused dual-currency system, which was created to protect state-run enterprises and domestic consumers and uses one kind of peso for Cubans and another for foreign visitors and investors. Advertisement A big question is what the handover of power will mean for U.S.-Cuba relations. When Obama was president, Cubans had high hopes for an economic boom fueled by U.S. investment and tourism. That optimism has faded as the Trump administration has tightened the reins on U.S.-Cuban commerce and made it harder for U.S. citizens to visit the island. The election of Trump also appears to have killed any chance of ending the U.S. trade embargo against Cuba. Elevating tensions is the fallout from unexplained illnesses among U.S. diplomatic personnel in Havana, including hearing loss and brain injuries. Cuba has denied any effort to target U.S. diplomats in the alleged sonic attacks. But the U.S. has drastically reduced its diplomatic staff here. And, as Cubas economic woes continue to fuel an exodus of people, especially the young, the cutback in the U.S. diplomatic presence on the island has had another effect slowing the processing of U.S. visas for Cubans seeking to visit the U.S. or emigrate. Many Cubans have opted to leave for Europe and elsewhere. Advertisement The new president is likely to face many demands from the islands technologically savvy youth. Young Cubans, especially those who have grown up with the technological revolution of the 21st century, seek more autonomy, liberty of movement, access to the internet, an end to censorship and repression, facilities to start up businesses, protection of the environment and respect of the sexual orientation of each person, Cuban historian Rafael Rojas wrote in a column in Spains El Pais newspaper. On Wednesday, the Cuban legislature formally the National Assembly of Peoples Power opened a session slated to result in a vote for the new president. A formal announcement is expected on Thursday that Diaz-Canel has been voted in. In anticipation of the handover, official Cuban TV, radio and social media have been broadcasting a steady stream of spots with a succinct message: Despite the impending shift in leadership, the core values of the Cuban Revolution will not be compromised. Advertisement Continuity has been the recurring theme in the official word emanating from Havana. #SomosContinuidad (We are Continuity) is the dominant hashtag in tweets from the government. The people support the revolution completely, said one young man who was among a number of Cubans interviewed on state TV. Changes are necessary and we will support them. On the streets here, there was little sense of major impending change. Many people complained privately about low salaries, the high cost of living and poor chances for advancement. But, in a nation where many fear police retribution, few voice such opinions publicly, especially to foreign media. Still, a sense of hope came through in several interviews. Advertisement I think all Cubans hope things will get better, that there will be more opportunities, especially for the young, said Jose E. Chavez, who has turned a flaming red 1959 Plymouth Fury into a taxi. Lets hope thats the case with the new president. But its also true, we dont want go back on the gains of the revolution. Cecilia Sanchez of The Times Mexico City bureau and Times staff writer Tracy Wilkinson in Washington contributed to this report. patrick.mcdonnell@latimes.com Twitter: @PmcdonnellLAT We deliver the local news you need in these turbulent times on weekdays at 3 p.m. We deliver the local news you need on weekdays at 3 p.m. Sign up now> Lehigh University has kicked a fraternity off campus for two years following numerous violations of the university's code of conduct, the school reports. Pi Kappa Alpha Fraternity was already under investigation for hazing when it violated multiple Lehigh University alcohol policies on March 3, according to the Bethlehem school. On March 22, the frat was found responsible for hazing and related offenses and put on notice that any further violations of the code of conduct would result in the chapter being shut down. Pi Kappa Alpha accepted responsibility for all of the alcohol-related charges brought against the chapter. At an April 17 sanctions-only hearing, the university found the group guilty of several violations and recommended closing the chapter. "Once again we do appreciate that the chapter accepts responsibility for the violations it was charged with. Unfortunately at this point it's too late," the university said on its Greek community blog. "Just in this past academic year, Pi Kappa Alpha has been involved in every single educational sanction that Lehigh University offers through the conduct process. The conduct process is supposed to be educational, however we have no more methods to educate this chapter." University officials said it was especially disappointing that while under investigating for hazing the frat still violated university policies during a Founder's Day event. From April 17, 2018, until Aug. 1, 2020, the frat will not be recognized by Lehigh and it won't be able to use university equipment or facilities, including group housing. Students will be able to remain in their frat house until the end of the semester, but then they must move out. "The chapter will be eligible to return to Lehigh at the end of the dissolution period, provided the campus is open to expansion and is subject to recognition processes in place at that time," according to the Lehigh Greeks blog. "Should affiliated students fail to comply with sanctions and operate as an underground or unrecognized group without university recognition, oversight, and approval, this would jeopardize and further delay the chapter's ability to return to campus." Lehigh is committed to continuing the university's long-standing tradition of Greek life on campus, but the university encourages students to use sound judgment "making decisions that impact their organization, its membership, and continued legacy on campus." "We recognize that losing a chapter certainly has an impact across our fraternity and sorority community and that this year has been particularly difficult," the university said. "No organization nor its membership are invincible and immune to consequences." Alpha Chi Omega's Theta Chi chapter lost its Lehigh campus recognition for two years after it organized a scavenger hunt a university disciplinary panel called "a significant and reprehensible event." Sara K. Satullo may be reached at ssatullo@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @sarasatullo and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Tim Wynkoop | For lehighvalleylive.com By Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com Nineteen years ago Friday, two gunmen rampaged through Columbine High School in Colorado, killing 13 people and taking their own lives. It happened before most of todays high school students were born. Yet on Friday, students across the country are supposedly planning to leave class in protest of gun violence, continuing a surge of public demonstrations calling for stricter gun laws and school-safety measures since 17 were killed in a February shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida. Dubbed the National School Walkout, demonstrations are planned at more than 2,600 locations nationwide, at least according to the website's official listing. This would be the third national protest in two months: The first school walkout was held March 14, one month after the Florida shooting. Then came the March for Our Lives on March 24, with the main march in Washington, D.C., and satellite protests in hundreds of cities around the country. However, things seem to be a little different this time. Don't Edit A protester holds a sign during the March for Our Lives in Easton's Centre Square. Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com There are fewer Lehigh Valley schools registered to participate on Friday than in last month's walkout. Administrators at several of the local schools listed say that contrary to their inclusion on the walkout's website, no walkouts are planned. Some are holding alternative events instead. One reason, The Washington Post notes, some schools are administering national standardized tests this week. Another: Current and former Columbine administrators are asking that students all over the country consider service projects over a walkout. Don't Edit The idea for Friday's walkout came from a group of students far from Washington, D.C. https://t.co/nxhafk80RB NPR (@NPR) April 19, 2018 Don't Edit Is your school on the list? Below are the local schools where walkouts have been planned, at least according to NationalSchoolWalkout.net. Responses from administrators or school organizers are included where available. If you know of other planned demonstrations, let us know in the comments. Don't Edit Bangor Area High School When: 10 a.m. Don't Edit Don't Edit MORE: Local scenes from the March 14 walkout Don't Edit Alfredo Suarez, a sophomore at Freedom High School, bows his head during the March 14 walkout. Kurt Bresswein | For lehighvalleylive.com Bethlehem Area high schools When: 10 a.m. Freedom and Liberty high schools are on the walkout website list. However, Superintendent Joseph Roy says that the building principals are not expecting any walkouts. Other activities are planned instead. Don't Edit Easton Area High School students participate in a national walkout on March 14, 2018, to raise awareness of gun violence in schools. Tim Wynkoop | For lehighvalleylive.com Easton Area High School When: 10:30 a.m. There will actually be two demonstrations planned at the same time: A walkout for school safety, and a rally for gun owners' rights. Both are organized by students. Andrew Oliviera is leading the gun owners rally because he said his opinion wasn't represented the last time. Sidney Haisley, one of the student organizers of the walkout, said thats OK, that the point of the walkout is to engage in dialogue about how to make schools safe. "It's really about whatever needs to be done to create safer schools," she said. "That's what we're advocating for." The school district says students will assemble 17 empty desks symbolizing the 17 victims of the Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School shooting this year in Parkland, Florida. The district expects that all students will return to class at 11:30 a.m., and that there will be no walkouts at other district buildings. Don't Edit Emmaus students: this is a day to use our voices to achieve change! Make sure to get a pass at the table during lunch periods to come down to the MMR this Friday. Cant wait to see you all there! pic.twitter.com/pmDybvJaoG Emmaus High School Activism (@EHSactivism) April 19, 2018 Emmaus High School When: 10 a.m. The high school is registered on the National Walkout website. However, an East Penn School District spokeswoman said no walkout is planned. A tweet by student activists suggests they are pursuing other methods. Don't Edit Lehigh Valley Charter School for the Arts When: 10 a.m. The school is registered as a walkout site on the protest's national website. However, a spokeswoman says no walkout is planned. Don't Edit Don't Edit MORE: Hundreds 'March for Our Lives' in Easton Don't Edit Moravian Academy When: 10 a.m. The school is listed on the National Walkout website, but school administrators say no walkout is planned. Don't Edit Northampton Area High School When: 10 a.m. Don't Edit Students gather quietly outside Warren Hills Regional High School in Washington during the March 14 walkout. Steve Novak | For lehighvalleylive.com Warren Hills Regional High School When: 10 a.m. A walkout was originally planned for Friday, and some students may still do that, but the official plan for the day has changed, according to a student organizer. They now plan to present a student-made video "spreading awareness and positivity," said freshman Samantha Lewis, one of the students who organized the March 14 walkout. Granted this is not ideal since we feel a protest is important, she said, however we feel like building up our community will make a difference, too. Don't Edit Don't Edit Don't Edit EDITOR'S NOTE: This post has been updated to reflect information from school districts disputing plans for walkouts. Don't Edit Steve Novak may be reached at snovak@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow him on Twitter @type2supernovak and Facebook. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. A Slate Belt woman is accused of biting two of her three kids during an attack. Michelle Pope, 53, is charged with three counts of child endangerment, and two counts each of simple assault and harassment. She is free after posting 10 percent of $50,000 bail on Monday. An attorney has not yet entered an appearance for Pope. Slate Belt Regional Police said they were called a little before midnight Friday to Pope's home in the 500 block of Arch Street in Pen Argyl by Pope's 12-year-old daughter. The girl told officers her mother had been harassing the girl's 16-year-old brother. When the girl intervened, Pope allegedly attacked her daughter by scratching her, biting her and pulling her hair. Police said they saw a bite mark on the girl's back and a scratch on her leg that drew blood. The older brother reported that when he tried to pull his mother off the girl, Pope bit him on the arm and slapped him on the face. Police said they could see the bite mark and bruising around it on the older boy. The siblings' younger brother told an officer he was afraid during the attack and that "his mother was more drunk than normal," according to police. The 11-year-old was ready to barricade himself with a chair in his room to keep his mother out, police said. Pope reportedly said she drank three glasses of wine that night. Sarah Cassi may be reached at scassi@lehighvalleylive.com. Follow her on Twitter @SarahCassi. Find lehighvalleylive.com on Facebook. Stock Market News Barclays heads for bust-up with Sherborne's Bramson over trading arm 19-04-2018 12:32 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News Broker tips: HSBC, Hammerson, Debenhams 19-04-2018 15:27 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. 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They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News MPs to vote on customs union proposal by committee chairs 19-04-2018 14:03 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News Sector movers: Miners move up en masse as commodity index peaks 18-04-2018 13:29 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk Stock Market News Shire surges as Allergan confirms interest after Takeda rejected 19-04-2018 11:39 Stock News headlines are gathered from financial news sources around the web. Views and opinions on each item are from their respective authors and website. They are not opinions of LiveCharts.co.uk The beginning of the school year when you got to show off your new duds, new cars, new looks! Sports! Playing, cheering, watching high school athletics. The arts: Dramatic arts, musical groups and shows, graphic arts groups, debate, etc. The prom! No dancing the night away or punch bowl antics. The daily interactions. Just being with the group, hanging with friends and classmates. Access to college recruiters and advisors its harder to line up higher education. Walking onstage to get a diploma while all the family is watching with everyone elses family. Vote View Results Style / Fashion CEO Frederic de Narp proven right as Bally profits rise on strong Asia performance as well as capsule collections featuring hip hop culturally relevant accessories and garments have encouraged sales in the U.S. Apr 19, 2018 | By Jonathan Ho When Chinese textile company Shandong Ruyi Group inked a deal in February 2018 to purchase a controlling stake in Swiss luxury shoes and leather company Bally from Luxembourg-based JAB Holding, all indications was that Bally was on the path of profitability but there was some nagging concerns on whether the increasing number of Chinese luxury producers buying up famous European brands at a frantic rate would come with the requisite management and distribution skills to cement the brand positions of their new acquisitions with consumers. Yesterday, Bally Chief Executive Officer Frederic de Narp told Reuters that Bally made its biggest underlying profit in a decade in end 2017, supported largely by growing US and Japanese markets. Business of Luxury: Bally CEO Frederic de Narp Proven Right as Profits Rise on US and Japanese Growth This is an important milestone for Shandong Ruyi Group to become a global leader in the fashion apparel sector, Qiu Yafu, chairman of Shandong Ruyi Group, to sohu.com. Beginning late 2016 to early 2017, Bally CEO Frederic de Narp began streamlining the Swiss label to create speed and agility in the business, and thus more reactive to market trends. Consolidating operations in Milan and Caslano, Switzerland, it moved creative and communications teams out of London and centralised them in-house within a collective of designers while creating a strategy which put customers front and centre at everything they produced. Whether this was precipitated by the departure of Ballys design director Pablo Coppola was uncertain, what is certain was that de Narp retained Coppolas design team while crediting Coppolas creative work as instrumental. However, de Narp quickly realised that merchandising, creative, press and marketing operations based in London far from production in Milan and Caslano, created a situation far from ideal. Notably, Bally only moved to London after previous owners, Luxemborg-based JAB operated out of 10 Howick Place. According to de Narp, it was during this time that the Swiss brand would start dealing with days lost as samples travelled inter-Europe between Ballys historic home is in Caslano and London. Furthermore, prompted by fast-moving, often unpredictable market conditions (affected mainly by the uptick in European terror attacks), currency fluctuations and customs regulations, Bally was in essence, fighting with an arm tied behind its back. At the time, though de Narp declined to discuss Ballys 2016 profit figures, he let on that Ballys revenue advanced 4% in fiscal 2016, with earnings before interest, taxes, depreciation and amortization doubling. JAB purchased Bally from Texas Pacific Group in 2008 for an estimated CHF 600 million to 700 million (US$558 million to $650 million) and Bally CEO Frederic de Narp declared a revenue target of $1 billion by 2021. How? By tripling Ballys US business, beginning with a 4,320 square feet Madison Avenue flagship while developing China and consolidating Chinas 58 stores to just 45. Sales at the privately-held company have grown over the past two years and the company booked its biggest core profit (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) in ten years in 2017. CEO Frederic de Narp to Reuters Ballys Growth Picks Up Pace, 2017 and on.. De Narp, joined Bally in 2011, from high jeweller Harry Winston, and is largely credited for reviving the once ailing Swiss brand after years of less than appealing collections which lead to stagnant sales. High turnover of designers and management also failed to produced any coherent direction for the brand. Six years on, the company moved to a bigger 15,120 square feet facility in Tuscany, Italy in March 2017, catering to the new CEOs lofty vision. In a recent 18 April 2018 interview with Reuters, CEO Frederic de Narp announced that Sales at the privately-held company have grown over the past two years and the company booked its biggest core profit (earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) in ten years in 2017. He added that the United States is Ballys fastest-growing market, buoyed by collaborations with rappers like U.S. hip hop recording artist Swizz Beatz (who previously worked with Audemars Piguet) and street artists like Ricardo Cavolo. The resulting capsule collections featuring hip hop culturally relevant accessories and garments have encouraged sales in the U.S. by more than 20% in 2018, bigger than the 14% growth in 2017. Chinese Shandong Ruyi Group bought Swiss Bally from Luxemborg JAB in February 2018. The Chinese textile maker had growing its network of luxury clothing and accessories; acquiring 41% of Japanese apparel maker Renown for about US$36.8 million in 2010, later, they took over French fashion company SMCP in 2016.A year after, Ruyi bought a controlling stake in Hong Kong-based menswear group Trinity for US$284.62 million. Bally is the Groups latest addition to a stable already consisting of British suit maker Gieves & Hawkes, and menswear designer and fragrance house Cerruti 1881. China is Ballys strongest market, a position which can be attributed to the brands early entry into the territory in the 1980s when the country opened up to foreign investment. That said, the critical element is that as more and more Chinese firms buy famous brands in overseas markets to improve their own local luxury catchet, industry insiders are concerned about whether the new owners can properly maintain the value of the brands they have bought. Chinese-made luxury goods do not carry the best reputations compared to Swiss counterparts and when Shandong Ruyi made a play for Bally, there were misgivings on whether Bally might be devalued after being acquired, undoing de Narps hard work. Under terms of the acquisition agreement, de Narp and his team are contractually committed to stay at Bally for more than five years. According to a February 2018 report released by McKinsey & Co: Chinese consumers spent 166 billion yuan ($26 billion) on luxury goods in the domestic market in 2016. Thus, it is predicting that following current trends, spending will continue to rise to 441 billion yuan by 2025. Furthermore, the same report postulates that consumption of luxury products by Chinese consumers will account for 44 percent of the total consumption in the sector across the world by the same year. Bally will open its first Chinese flagship store in Beijings luxury shopping destination China World shopping mall later this year with popular local actress Tiffany Tang helping with the brands promotional campaigns in the market. The October Revolution radically changed the situation for homosexuals in Russia, as it did for women. In 1922 the first criminal code of the Russian Soviet Federative Socialist Republic (RSFSR) was passed as law. In 1918 all the old Tsarist laws were suspended and when finally, after a few years of debate, the new constitution was adopted, homosexuality or sodomy as it was called, was decriminalised. This was an enormous advance for homosexuals, who under the Tsar could be arrested and sentenced to years of imprisonment or sent to labour camps. Some reactionary historians, with the clear intent of denying the Bolsheviks recognition for such advanced legislation, claim that this was an oversight rather than a conscious decision. This claim does not stand up to a close examination of how the 1922 Penal Code was drafted, which reveals discussion and debate over the question and a conscious decision to decriminalise homosexuality. This was the case until 1933-34, when the Stalinist regime decided to recriminalize homosexuality and impose severe sentences on homosexuals. However, it is also true that much mystification and mythology has been introduced in left-wing accounts, which depict post-revolutionary Russia as some kind of gay paradise. This rewriting of events, through the lens of contemporary attitudes, fails to situate the matter historically. We will attempt to outline the real context in which the Bolsheviks decriminalised homosexuality. [Note: the terms gay or homosexual are used here rather than LGBT, as the term did not exist in that period. Also, we are dealing here mainly with the specific decriminalisation of male same-sex activity. Same-sex relations between women had never been criminalised and were therefore not decriminalised either. We will deal with this in another article.] Homosexuality under the Tsars Under the Tsarist regime, homosexuality had been considered a crime for almost a century. The first prohibition of male same-sex relations in the army was imposed by Peter the Great in 1716. In 1835, under Nicholas I, this was extended to the civilian population. Consensual homosexual relations became punishable with exile to Siberia and this legislation remained in place until the October Revolution in 1917. Homosexuality was criminalised for Russian civilians by Tsar Nicholas I in 1835 / Image: public domain Despite the wishes of Nicholas I, homosexuality obviously could not be legislated out of existence. Being a natural variant of human sexual relations, it could be repressed but not removed from society. It thus remained a half-hidden phenomenon, with several places where it could find expression. Among these were the public bath-houses, where male prostitution was common. The irony of the situation was that many men belonging to the upper and middle classes were homosexual or bisexual. Some would marry and live an apparently normal family life but seek same-sex love in places like the public bath-houses. Towards the end of the 19th century, as capitalism began to develop in Russia, the major cities began to expand, and with this there also came an urban homosexual subculture. And while homosexuality continued to be criminalised, psychiatrists began to look at the phenomenon from a medical point of view rather than a moral one, influenced by developments in this field in Europe. Some sections of the scientific community believed homosexuality should be treated as a psychopathological or biological illness the rather than a crime. Homosexuality was not regarded as a natural variant of human sexual activity, but this nevertheless represented a shift away from criminalisation. Psychiatrists began to develop the idea that homosexuality could be explained as a perversion, due to a deformed sexual development provoked by inadequate upbringing. Flowing from this, the idea developed that homosexuality could be cured through psychotherapy and even hypnosis. A corollary to this was the idea that paying careful attention to the development of children could avoid the emergence of homosexual deviations. There was a gay subculture in Russia prior to the revolution, congregated around bathhouses like this one in Saint Petersburg (photographed in 1910). There was a lot of class bias in the application of the law / Image: public domain A small minority went much further and began to see homosexuality indeed as a natural variant. Ushakovsky apparently a pseudonym in a text published in 1908, People of the Intermediate Sex, stated: The law should protect children and the insane and forbid all manner of assaults. But that which two adult persons, in their own room, do with their bodies by mutual consent and causing no harm does not concern the state. This idea, which at the time was held only by a small minority (also reflected in the anonymity of the author, considering the then illegal status of homosexuals) was to emerge after the October Revolution in Bolshevik policy concerning same-sex relations. In the last period of the Tsarist regime, there was a significant increase in the number of homosexuals being convicted by the courts. There was also much hypocrisy in the application of the law, with members of the upper classes receiving much more lenient treatment. Those in high places who knew the right people could get strings pulled to have their cases ignored. Several homosexual members of the royal family, for example, had proceedings against them halted. The effect of revolution The 1905 Revolution had an impact on the way homosexuality was dealt with. And despite the increased number of convictions of homosexuals, there was a certain softening on the question. There was less censorship after 1905, and in these conditions figures like Mikhail Kuzmin (an openly gay writer and poet) could emerge. Kuzmin is considered the first novelist to depict a gay man coming out, in Krylia (Wings), published in 1906. There are also Kuzmins diaries which, among other things, depict the everyday life in a gay household, both under the Tsarist regime and later under Soviet rule. There was in fact a flourishing of sex-themed literature after the 1905 Revolution. In the same period, Lidiya Zinovyeva-Annibal published her Thirty-three Monsters, which is a story of lesbian love. Kuzmin viewed the October Revolution with sympathy, as did many writers and artists. He became a member of the Presidium of the Association of Artists in Petrograd, together with writers such as Alexander Blok and Vladimir Mayakovsky. He also worked as a translator under Maxim Gorky and was one of the founders of a new daily publication, The Life of Art, in 1918, working as one of its editors. These are not unimportant details. Here was an individual who lived as an openly gay man, who was highly respected in the early period of the Soviet Union that is, before the Stalinist counter-revolution consolidated its grip on society. Bourgeois historians lies and distortions Many historians writing about feminism and homosexuality have attempted to play down the freedoms Soviet law granted homosexuals and women in the 1920s. The reason for this is quite evident. They cannot reconcile themselves to admitting that the Communist Russian Revolution of 1917 could be so progressive in matters concerning women and gay rights. That is because their aim is to depict the revolution as a monstrous aberration of history. In this they are loyally serving their paymasters: the capitalist class that wishes to bury the truth about the revolution. We find an example of such distortions in Sexual minorities: the status of gays and lesbians in Russian-Soviet-Russian Society by James Riordan, in the book Women in Russia and the Ukraine, edited by Rosalind Marsh, (Cambridge University Press, 1996). 17 pages are dedicated to the question, and in just two short paragraphs Riordan deals with an almost 20-year period, which included the Russian Revolution, the Civil War that followed, the drafting of the 1922 and 1926 constitutions, the process of bureaucratic degeneration, the battle between the rising Stalinist bureaucracy and the Left Opposition, the gradual consolidation of the bureaucracys grip on power with the consequent destruction of the genuine Soviet democracy brought into being by the revolution and, finally, the destruction of many of the gains of the revolution, embodied in the reactionary laws passed in the 1930s. This is a convenient way of looking at the historical process, for it allows the writer to fuse the repressive Stalinist regime, as it had become by the 1930s, with the earlier flourishing of workers democracy after 1917, and into the early 1920s. Riordan presents a picture of the pre-1917 situation as one where the fascist-type right wing and the revolutionary socialists had the same view when he states that: The logic of left and right was, therefore, one and the same: sex and homosexuality were dangerous instruments of the class/national enemy through which it was undermining the spiritual and physical health of 'our side'. The new regime after 1917 inherited both deep-stated attitudes. It is true that some on the left at that time considered homosexuality a perversion or depravity. Considering the period, this is not surprising. However, what is missed here is that, whatever the views of individual socialists may have been, the Soviet regime acted consciously to legalise homosexuality, and no amount of rewriting history can deny this fact. Under a subheading Sexual minorities after 1917, in which Riordan plays down the role of the Bolsheviks in decriminalising homosexuality, he states: The initiative for revoking the anti-homosexual Tsarist legislation lay, following the February 1917 Revolution, not with the Bolsheviks, but with the Constitutional Democrats we have already seen how one Cadet leader, Vladimir Nabokov, had proposed precisely that and the Anarchists. Thus, according to Riordan, the credit for legalising homosexuality after the revolution lies with a Cadet who by then had gone into exile and the Anarchists who were not in power! Nabokov was a prominent member of the Constitutional Democratic Party (or the Cadets as they were known): a party that played an openly counter-revolutionary role during 1917. He also served as Minister of Justice in the first Crimean Regional Government that was established in June 1918 under German protection, clearly collaborating with the reactionary White armies. To present this reactionary individual as the real promoter of the decriminalisation of homosexuality in Russia beggars belief. Then without an ounce of embarrassment, Riordan continues: Once the old Punishment Code had been repealed after the October Revolution, Article 516 also ceased to be valid. The implication here is that in abolishing the old Tsarist code, the Bolsheviks once in power, inadvertently also abolished the article that banned homosexual acts. But how could the Cadets have had anything to do with Bolshevik legislation once Soviet power had been established? It is a very crude attempt to depict the Bolsheviks as being against the decriminalisation of homosexuality, in spite of their real action to decriminalise. It is true that Nabokov was a liberal in matters of same-sex relations, but he was a bourgeois liberal. This meant that he defended the property relations upon which the oppression of women, and homosexuals, was based. He fought against the socialist revolution, as his position on the Crimea in 1918 amply demonstrates. He also sat on a commission set up by the Provisional Government after February 1917 to review the 1903 Tsarist Penal Code. That commission achieved nothing of substance. So, while reactionary historians play down the Bolsheviks intentions to decriminalise homosexuality (which is precisely what they did in 1922) bourgeois liberals who did nothing but talk are credited with having liberated the gays of Russia! In spite of Riordans attempts to distort reality, he has to admit the following: During the 1920s, the situation for Soviet homosexuals was relatively bearable and many gays and lesbians (such as Kuz'min, Kliuev and Pamok) played a major role in Soviet culture However, after having made a brief concession to historical truth, he then very quickly fast forwards to 1934: The government [under Stalin] brought out a bill which became law on 7 March 1934. Accordingly, 'buggery' once more became a criminal offence and this item was inserted into the criminal codes of all the Soviet republics. The method here is clear: mention very briefly what was achieved once the Bolsheviks were in power and then move on equally quickly to the repressive regime under Stalin and present this as real Bolshevik policy. In the History of Homosexuality in Europe and America edited by Wayne R. Dynes and Stephen Donaldson, (Garland Publishing Inc., 1992) there is another blatant attempt to falsify history. We are told that, yes, the Bolsheviks abolished the old Tsarist penal code after coming to power in 1917, thereby abolishing all the old laws, but they did not consciously remove the criminalisation of homosexuality. We are meant to believe that the Bolsheviks were just a little forgetful in this matter. With this small trick the claim is made that the Bolsheviks were not responsible for the decriminalisation of homosexuality. But in spite of all these attempts, this author, like Riordan, has to show some respect for historical truth: When the civil war ended, a new Soviet Criminal Code was promulgated in 1922 and amended in 1926. In the sexual sphere, this code prohibited sex with minors under the age of sixteen, male and female prostitution, and pandering. It did not mention sexual contacts between consenting adults, which meant that adult male homosexuality was legal. [my emphasis] Thus, after besmirching the Bolsheviks, he has to admit that, when they were in power, homosexuality was legalised. Simon Karlinsky, a UC Berkeley professor who died in 2009, in his 1976 work, Russias Gay Literature and Culture: The Impact of the October Revolution, also claims that the Bolsheviks simply forgot to include homosexuality as a crime in the 1922 constitution. Karlinsky was openly anti-Communist, which explains his inability to recount the truth about what actually happened. He plays down the repression of gays under the Tsarist regime in an attempt to portray things as being worse once the Bolsheviks were in power. Again, this is done by highlighting later Stalinist policy on same-sex relations and skipping over what was achieved in the early years of the revolution. Decriminalisation a conscious act A more recent work by Dan Healey, Homosexual Desire in Revolutionary Russia (2001) is based on material already available in the West and subsequent access to archival material after the collapse of the Soviet Union in 1991. On whether the 1922 decriminalisation of homosexuality was a conscious decision or not, Healey states: While these documents do not discuss the sodomy statute in detail, they do demonstrate a principled intent to decriminalize the act between consenting adults, expressed from the earliest efforts to write a socialist criminal code in 1918 to the eventual adoption of legislation in 1922. [My emphasis] In the first elaboration of a draft penal code in 1918 much was taken from the 1903 code. However, there was a conscious decision in that draft to decriminalise consensual same-sex acts, while at the same time criminalising same-sex acts with minors or when violence or coercion were involved. This would then provide the basis for the elaboration of the 1922 Penal Code. Kozlovsky, the Commissar of Justice in 1920 made a series of comments on the drafts as they were, which indicate that his policy was to remove consensual same-sex activity between adults from the statutes. Homosexuality was deliberately and consciously decriminalised after the October Revolution / Image: public domain Eventually, the new Penal Code became law on 1 June 1922. When, in 1926 the code was redrafted, homosexuality continued to be legal, which indicates that there was no oversight or forgetfulness involved. This meant that Russia, of the major countries in the world, became the second after France following the 1789 Revolution to render homosexuality legal. We will look at how the law was applied and how homosexuality was viewed in 1920s Russia in a future article. On Tuesday 28 April in what protestors are coining the night of the molotov working people streamed into the streets of Lebanon in an open show of force against the government. The masses are once more in the streets calling for a solution to the dire economic situation that the country faces. WESTFIELD -- The going-out-of-business sale at The Bon-Ton department store in the Westfield Shops begins Friday, according to staffers there Thursday preparing for the end. The store will continue to accept Bon-Ton gift cards during the liquidation, but is no longer accepting credit cards branded in the Bon-Ton name. Bankrupt Bon-Ton Stores Inc. sold itself Thursday to liquidators who are closing all its stores, including the one in Westfield, the company's sole Massachusetts location. Industry insiders have said the total liquidation process for the 250-store chain may take 10 to 12 weeks. Bon-Ton had been searching for a buyer who would save the business. None emerged. The Milwaukee-based chain has stores under various brand names in 23 states and traces its history back 160 years. The Westfield store opened in 1998 and is actually two stores in the Westfield Shops on East Main Street, otherwise known as Route 20. While Bon-Ton closes, the state attorney general's office has tips for people with gift cards or certificates for businesses that close or go into bankruptcy. They may be able to receive some reimbursement. Consumers have some options if the retailer does not file for bankruptcy, but simply closes. Some businesses file in state court for an "assignment for the benefit of creditors," and that procedure may also provide for an orderly distribution of assets. Some businesses may otherwise provide a way to transfer the value of a gift certificate to another location or to someone who buys the customer list. If a business unfairly took advantage of consumers, the attorney general's office may also bring a legal action seeking recovery of the value of unredeemed gift certificates or gift cards. Consumers are asked to contact the Consumer Advocacy & Response Division (CARD). If the retailer files for bakruptcy protection, consumers should file a document called a "proof of claim" with the court. Include whatever information is available about the value of the certificate, and a photocopy of the certificate or gift card. Bankruptcy allows for the payment of claims depending on assets available. If a company has announced that it has filed for Chapter 11 bankruptcy protection and is "reorganizing," the company may ask the court for the ability to honor gift certificates. If a company plans to liquidate through Chapter 7 bankruptcy, there may not be assets available to pay off all or even some of the value of consumer gift certificates, the attorney general's office said. Some bankruptcy courts give holders of gift cards priority as unsecured creditors, but not all courts follow that practice. The Boston and Washington, D.C. metro areas are the "most likely candidates" to win Amazon.com Inc.'s proposed second headquarters, a study from New York-based The Conference Board concludes, based on real-time labor demand and advertised online job vacancies among the 20 cities vying to land HQ2. The e-commerce giant second headquarters campus could house 50,000 high-paying jobs in an 8 million-square-foot campus and generate $5 billion in investment. The Conference Board, a New York-based business membership and research group, studied online job advertisements for Amazon using its proprietary Help Wanted OnLine data between December 2016 and December 2017. The group studied the four job types that are most common in Amazon's existing headquarters in Seattle -- computer occupations, advertising and marketing, business operations and operations managers -- positing that the future second headquarters will likely generate similar job demand. "Given the relatively large number of ads for headquarter caliber occupations and the growth rate in those ads, the Washington, D.C. metro area and Boston seem the most likely candidates for a second headquarters," the Conference Board report states. Amazon is already on a hiring binge in Boston, and could hire close to 5,000 workers within the Fort Point and Seaport District neighborhoods in the next few years. But Amazon's large existing talent pool doesn't disqualify the Boston region from HQ2, The Conference Board argues. Rather, having a large local workforce "can ease the challenge of attracting such talent from elsewhere, especially in a tight labor market," the Conference Board study states. "Amazon's current footprint in these cities could ease the hiring of 50,000 new employees and growing demand signals their desire to increase their presence. This is potentially indicative of a labor market suitable for a second Amazon headquarters," the Conference Board report states. Indeed, Amazon's local workforce will swell in the coming years. The company last year confirmed plans to hire 900 workers for a Boston office at 253 Summer St., which should open this spring. The Boston Business Journal was also first to report last year that Amazon was seeking up to 1 million square feet of office space in Boston's Seaport District separate from the HQ2 search, which the company confirmed this February. Amazon could hire up to 4,000 workers for two future offices in Boston's Seaport District. However, those positions aren't required to be created within the city of Boston. Rather, Amazon -- one of the world's richest companies -- was approved to receive up to $10 million in property-tax breaks from the city to create 4,000 jobs "in or within 25 miles" of Boston. Communities on the 20-city shortlist that ultimately do not win the $5 billion economic-development prize can still market themselves as tech-friendly cities, The Conference Board report states. "All cities on the shortlist likely possess many of the key attributes Amazon seeks," the report concludes. "Win or lose, they are able to promote and advertise themselves as a good location for start-ups and technology companies looking to expand or relocate." MONTAGUE -- This is how a building becomes abandoned. Southworth Co. -- the 178-year-old paper maker that shut down abruptly in August 2017 -- lays it out in a document filed earlier this month in U.S. Bankruptcy Court. Expenses at its 146,000-square-foot paper mill in the village of Turners Falls, including payroll, utilities, insurance and other operating expenses, exceed $100,000 a month. The company doesn't have money to keep up with those expenses for long, according to the bankruptcy papers. Exhausting the company's dwindling cash means, to quote court papers, "utility service will be terminated, the boilers will fail, the pipes will freeze and the fire suppression system will fail." There will be no money to insure the building at 36 Canal St. And that could lead to what Turners Falls boosters and the town of Montague don't want: another vacant mill building adjacent to the 10-building Strathmore Paper Mill complex. Strathmore closed in 1994. The town took ownership of the property due to nonpayment of taxes, but has been unable to redevelop it. "I know the town has tried valiantly for years to do anything to try and save that string of buildings," Montague Building Commissioner Christopher Rice said. But Rice fears that soon the town will be scrambling to save, and redevelop, the Southworth building along with the rest of the derelict industrial properties that inhabit a spit of land between the Connecticut River and the village's industrial hydropower canal. There are some going businesses in the neighborhood. One of them is an active hydropower station surrounded by the old Strathmore site, Rice said. Potential buyers for the Southworth property have come forward, but Rice said he can't identify them. "We have a good plan. We've had developers looking at those buildings," Rice said. But for the most part the mill complex is empty and unused. "You see it all over the U.S. and certainly all over Massachusetts," Rice said. "Orange, Athol, Ware, Lowell. You see these big mills and no one has the money to maintain them so they deteriorate." Bankruptcy paperwork doesn't lay out how much money Southworth owes associated with the building. But Rice said he's already been contacted by electric utilities collecting past-due bills and looking for contacts. A check of the Franklin County Registry of Deeds shows Anchor Insulation of Tewksbury obtained a $47,000 lien on the property for work it performed. Elm Electrical of Westfield filed for a $3,600 judgment. And here is the big one: Southworth owes the town of Montague $322,309 in taxes and water use fees as of April 9, said Tax Collector Eileen M. Seymour. Southworth CEO John S. Leness couldn't be reached at his home in Seattle. Attorney Joseph B. Collins of Springfield, who represented Southworth in its bnakruptcy case, said the Turners Falls property is in the company's hands. So, he said, is the fate of Southworth's pension plan. The shutdown last year threw 120 employees out of work. When it filed for bankruptcy protection, Southworth told the court it had a $9 million in underfunded pension liability. The federal Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. has already been in discussions with Southworth, said spokeswoman Nidia Yanez in an emailed response to questions. "PBGC has been and continues to monitor the pension plan. Unless the company can close out its plan by providing for payment of full benefits to its participants, PBGC would step in and begin to pay retirees benefits up to the legal limits," she said. The Pension Benefit Guarantee Corp. - which came about after the collapse of the Studebaker car company in the 1960s - doesn't always pay retirees all the money they expected. But in most cases the single-employer guarantee is larger than the pension earned by people in such plans. According to a 2006 study, almost 85 percent of retirees receiving PBGC benefits received the full amount of their earned benefit, Yanez said. The mill, which sits on a half-acre of land, was built in 1896 to make onionskin paper for what was then a new technology, the typewriter. Southworth bought the mill in 2006. The company worked to bring in business as the paper industry shrank. Southworth sold off its brand of resume-style typing paper and envelopes to Neenah Paper of Wisconsin in 2013. This winter, Southworth told the bankruptcy court that it had offers from buyers interested in both its Massachusetts properties. In March it sold its Agawam plant and warehouse to group of investors from Adams for $1.9 million. Southworth said in court papers that its Seattle property - a greeting card operation - will be lost to foreclosure. In December Southworth said it had a buyer lined up for the Turners Falls property. But the $4 million deal with SBD Greentech, a Maine manufacturer, fell apart. That deal would have included a federal permit to draw hydropower from the canal. An auction scheduled at the Turners Falls property in March never happened. It's unclear when it might take place. Rice said auctions can be bad for buildings like the Southworth mill. "The contents have the value. The copper alone in a place like that is worth thousands," he said. "Someone goes in and gets all the good stuff and leaves us the junk." It's especially frustrating because all the equipment needed to make paper is in place. "You could press a button and make it run," he said. "It's got everything but people and money." EAST LONGMEADOW - Fresh-made pasta will be the focus at a restaurant expected to replace Pasquale's Restaurant and Tavern. The East Longmeadow Town Council recently approved a liquor license transfer from Pasquale's Associates, LLC to Redstone Pasta Company, Inc., and council President Kevin Manley said in an interview the town is supportive of the proposed Redstone Pasta Company opening at the location of the shuttered Pasquale's on 642 North Main St. "I think the council's trying to be receptive to new businesses opening in town," Manley said. "(Redstone Pasta Company is) a specific type of business that's obviously going to contribute to our community." George Akkouris, owner and operator of Golden Irene's Restaurant in East Windsor, Connecticut, told East Longmeadow town councilors at the hearing regarding the liquor license transfer that he'd been experimenting with serving pasta dishes strictly made from scratch at Golden Irene's, and wants to operate an eatery with more pasta dishes on the menu. "What I want to do is a concept that incorporates that to the next level," Akkouris said. "My idea is just open up a restaurant concept that's not in East Longmeadow; actually a concept that's not really pretty much anywhere in the Western Mass. or northern Connecticut area." Akkouris has been in the restaurant industry for 20 years, and has owned Golden Irene's -which has a full bar- for the past 15 years with no alcohol violations, Joel Castleman, an attorney representing Akkouris, said in a Town Council meeting. With a deal pending with Pasquale's Associates, LLC to buy the restaurant, Akkouris has been in contact with health and safety inspectors in town, and is working with an interior designer to plan renovations of the inside, Castleman said. There would also be improvements to the parking lot. The restaurant would likely employ two or three managers, eight bartenders and 14 servers, Castleman said. The hours of operation are tentatively be set at 11 a.m. to 1 a.m. seven days per week, Castleman said, but that could be pared back if they see little business later at night. "George has been on top of it, which I think is a great sign for the town," Castleman said. "He runs a very, very strict operation." Pasquale's is currently listed by Springfield-based real estate firm MacMillan Group as for sale at a cost of $749,000. At a public hearing, East Longmeadow Planning Board Chairman George Kingston pointed out that zoning laws require any restaurant operating in that location to offer a full menu at all times the bar is open -which runs contrary to an idea Castleman floated that Redstone Pasta Company may offer a limited menu after 10 p.m. But Manley said he thinks the outlook for new restaurant in progress is bright. "We're hoping to see (Akkouris) open pretty soon," Manley said. In an interview Thursday, Akkouris said he is glad with the Town Council's reception of the proposed restaurant, and hopes for smooth sailing moving forward. "I'm pretty excited, I'm happy with how things went," Akkouris said. "I'm looking forward to finalizing the paper work and getting everything going." By ROSALIND S. HELDERMAN and JOHN WAGNER The Washington Post Lawyers for President Donald Trump's attorney Michael Cohen withdrew defamation lawsuits late Wednesday against BuzzFeed and the political research firm Fusion GPS related to a dossier that included claims Cohen helped organize Russian interference into the 2016 presidential election. The lawsuits would have required Cohen to submit to an evidence discovery process, forcing him to produce documentation and sworn testimony about his activities before the closely contested election. Among other things, the dossier alleged that Cohen had traveled to Prague and met with Russian operatives. Cohen has repeatedly denied the allegation, including in a text message Thursday morning. The assertion came from research conducted by former British spy Christopher Steele, who was working for Fusion GPS. Cohen filed a pair of lawsuits in January, one in federal court and one in state court in New York, claiming he could prove that the allegation was false and had harmed his reputation. BuzzFeed was the first to publish the dossier. In a statement, Cohen's lawyer said he continues to deny the allegations but had to concentrate on other legal matters after FBI raids last week on his office, home and hotel room. On Friday, the Justice Department said Cohen has been "under criminal investigation" over his business dealings. "The decision to voluntarily discontinue these cases was a difficult one," Cohen's attorney David Schwartz said. "We believe the defendants defamed my client, and vindicating Mr. Cohen's rights was - and still remains - important. But given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits." Earlier this month, FBI agents raided Cohen's Manhattan office, home and hotel room as part of the investigation, seizing records about Cohen's clients and personal finances. Among the records taken were those related to a 2016 payment Cohen made to adult-film star Stormy Daniels, who claims to have had a sexual encounter with Trump. In a statement, Fusion GPS said the firm was not surprised by Cohen's decision to withdraw what it called a "meritless complaint." Pursuing it, the firm said, would require Cohen to "face a discovery process that would have forced him to defend his reputation and address the allegations of the Steele dossier under penalty of perjury." BuzzFeed said in a statement that the withdrawal of the lawsuits suggests that "Donald Trump's personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time." BuzzFeed also defended its publication of the dossier, saying it was "an important part of the government's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia. Its interest to the public is, and always have been, obvious." While most Northampton restaurants seat their patrons behind storefront windows, Moshi Moshi Japanese Restaurant offers a different sort of dining experience. Located on the corner of Main Street and Strong Avenue, Moshi Moshi is distinguished by an over-under floor plan that incorporates a street level sushi bar and a second floor dining space accessed by a tiny spiral staircase. The dining agenda at Moshi Moshi features most of the better-known Japanese specialties. A full array of sushi bar options is available, with choices ranging from Tuna ($7.95) and Yellowtail ($6.75) to Egg Custard ($4.50) and Quail Egg ($2.50). Specialty rolls, as typified by the Moshi Moshi Roll (snow crab or beef with veggies -- $15.95), are offered, as are various main course sushi and sashimi assortments. Kitchen entrees like Shrimp Tempura ($22) and Spicy Garlic Salmon ($24) can be ordered, as can Beef Teriyaki ($20) and Chicken Yakisoba ($17). Starter choices for those who aren't sushi fans include the likes of Yakitori (grilled chicken skewers -- $9), Chicken and Pork Gyoza ($7), and Edamame ($6). We began our meal with a Northampton Roll ($15.95), an uramaki (rice on the outside) roll that featured cuts of tuna, salmon, yellowtail, and white fish in its center along with avocado and matchstick cuts of cucumber. A garnish of tobiko (flying fish roe) and black sesame seeds added color, flavor, and a hint of crunch to the rice that coated the roll. Though the Northampton roll was attractively presented, we did note that its overall dimensions were smaller than we're used to seeing. Bowls are a menu "big idea" in 2018; typically built on a generous helping of grain, a bowl is usually finished off with veggies and a plant or protein garnish. Moshi Moshi offers bowl-style donburi compositions, each of which begins with a bed of steamed rice that's in turn topped with wok-fried veggies and a marquee ingredient. Oyako don ($17), for instance, is topped with sauteed chicken and egg, while a Salmon Teriyaki don ($19) features grilled salmon. The Katsu don ($16) we enjoyed took its name from an iconic Japanese preparation. Katsu is a panko-crusted, deep-fried cutlet, most often pork (but in this case chicken), that's served with a brown, ketchup-like sauce. In the donburi bowl, the cut-into-strips katsu cutlet represented the garnish, while a medley of onion, carrot strips, sliced mushrooms, and pearl-sized broccoli florets served as the bowl's vegetable component. Katsu sauce was drizzled over all, contributing a sweet, soy-and-caramel-inflected flavor note. A Sushi Bento Box ($20) provided a further exploration of Moshi-Moshi's sushi handiwork. The prelude to the bento lunch was a good-quality miso soup, while the bento box itself offered an additional pair of starter experiences. Three tender shumai dumplings were filled with a mild-flavored minced shrimp filling, while two vegetable gyoza (Japanese potstickers) were encased in a thin but tender crust. A portion of wakame (seaweed salad) was dressed with a light vinaigrette; the seaweed itself had a texture and flavor that we guessed takes some getting used to. Three sushi rolls rounded out the box's inventory -- a traditional California roll generously garnished with tobiko, a spicy tuna roll that was dressed with a fairly high voltage tuna-mayonnaise sauce, and three pieces of nori-wrapped tuna roll. All the sushi was certainly tasty enough, although the spicy tuna roll's flavor profile involved more heat than we were prepared to tolerate. Moshi Moshi is licensed for the sale of beer and wine, an endorsement that additionally permits the establishment to offer sake, which is stocked in both domestic and imported versions. For dessert, Moshi Moshi's repertoire is limited to Banana or Mango Tempura ($6). The restaurant offers rice-dough-wrapped ice cream confections (mochi) as well. Offering a treetop perspective on downtown Northampton, Moshi Moshi is an interesting space in which to enjoy sushi and other Japanese restaurant favorites. Name: Moshi Moshi Japanese Restaurant Address: 4 Main Street, Northampton Telephone: (413) 586-5865 Website: moshimoshisam.com Hours: Lunch - Monday through Saturday, 11:30 a.m. to 2:30 p.m.; Dinner - Monday through Saturday, 5 to 10 p.m.; closed Sunday Entree prices: $14 to $29 Credit cards: American Express, Discover, MasterCard, Visa Handicapped access: Accessible from street level; rest room up one flight Reservations: Not normally taken Officials in Danvers are investigating after 13 empty shell casings were discovered in a bathroom at Essex Technical High School on Wednesday. Essex Tech Principal Brad Morgan sent an e-mail home to parents Wednesday evening, in which he said 13 shell casings had been found in a boys' restroom near the high school's stadium area that day, according to NBC Boston. The high school hosted two lacrosse games and a track meet the day someone found the shell casings, or the larger ammunition mechanisms loaded into the chamber of guns. Danvers Police are working with the school to investigate the report. This is a developing story. Braintree police are searching for a person who, while wearing a ski mask and carrying a gun, robbed a gas station Wednesday night. CBS Boston reports that the suspect made off with an unspecified amount of money from the Circle K after threatening a clerk with the weapon. The store manager says no one was hurt and that surveillance cameras captured the incident, the news station reports. Police have not offered a description of the alleged robber Dozens of Boston firefighters rescued a woman who sought shelter inside a manhole overnight on Thursday. According to a report by WHDH, firefighters responded to the report in the areas of Court and School Streets shortly before 4 a.m. Boston Fire Deputy Chief Stephen McNeil told the station he believed that the woman had moved a dumpster to get into the manhole, which she climbed into due to the cold. She was transported to a local hospital, WHDH reports. Deputy Chief McNeil also reportedly said it appears other people had been down there, including evidence of needles. He warned that going below ground is a health hazard due to various gases that move underground. The owners of a business tagged with "White Lives Matter" Wednesday blame their persistent graffiti on the gentrification of the Boston neighborhood. "As our community gets more and more gentrified. It is proof that it is getting more difficult to stay culturally-rooted and grounded in our own Roxbury neighborhood," the owners of Black Market, a pop-up market in Dudley Square, wrote on Facebook. The market was established as a way to promote black entrepreneurs and provide a place for them to sell their products. Days before the spring opening of the market, an employee saw the back wall was "littered with hate speech," according to the Facebook post. "White Lives Matter" is written prominently. Mayor Marty Walsh told CBS Boston that the city is working to clean the graffiti and police are investigating whether it was a hate crime. The vandalism is a persistent problem at the business, owners wrote on Facebook. They have been "battling with graffiti outside on the fencing beside our business for 2 months." They said they have been discussing possible solutions with the city's Roxbury contact Josh McFadden. "What this egocentric, evil person does not understand is how resilient we are as a people and community. WE SHALL NOT BE MOVED. We are blessed with the strength of our ancestors who have gone through a million times worse and WE WILL NOT BE SHAKEN," the business owners wrote on Facebook. Afghan women's rights advocate Shabana Basij-Rasikh will speak before at the Springfield Public Forum on Wednesday, delivering a talk on her efforts to educate girls in her home country. Basij-Rasikh was born in Kabul and lived there under the Taliban, which had banned girls from attending school. To receive an education, she dressed as a boy to go to classes, the Springfield Public Forum said in a press release. She eventually left Afghanistan on an exchange program to attend high school in Wisconsin. She was accepted to Middlebury College, where she founded the School of Leadership, Afghanistan, or SOLA -- the only all-girls boarding school in Afghanistan. She is also the founder of HELA, Inc., an NGO dedicated to empowering women through education. Her talk will take place at Springfield Symphony Hall at 6 p.m. on April 25, and is sponsored by Bay Path University. A day after news broke of an allegation against the payroll director for the State Police, the chair of the Massachusetts Democratic Party called for an independent investigation into the law enforcement agency. Denise Ezekiel, the director of payroll, has been on unpaid leave since November, a fact uncovered by MassLive after a list of State Police suspensions was obtained through a public records request. Charges against her were announced Wednesday. Gus Bickford, the Mass. Democratic Party chairman, pointed to a series of scandals inside the State Police and took aim at Gov. Charlie Baker, a Republican running for re-election this year. One of three Democrats jockeying to take on Baker this fall, former Newton Mayor Setti Warren, has also called for an independent investigation. "When senior command staff at the scandal-ridden State Police are given a way out through retirement in the wake of serious allegations and the Governor turns around and says it's a 'good thing' when charges are brought against a middle manager in the payroll department, it's time for an independent investigation," Bickford said in a statement. After MassLive on Wednesday reported on Ezekiel's unpaid leave, Baker told reporters that the allegation is a sign the agency is seeking fixes after the series of scandals. "When the leadership of the State Police is cleaning up its own house and doing the investigation that develops a baseline for criminal investigation, that's a good thing, not a bad thing," Baker said. The top Democrats in the Massachusetts House and state Senate, who closely work with Baker, did not immediately respond to requests for comment on Bickford's statement. Baker, along with new State Police Col. Kerry Gilpin, proposed a number of reforms earlier this month, including the elimination of Troop E, after the troubled law enforcement agency has seen alleged overtime abuses and exhibited a deep-seated lack of transparency. Some of the proposed reforms have to go through the State Police union. At the press conference announcing the reforms, Baker said if it were up to him, he would take away the accused troopers' pensions. The state retirement board has authority over pension benefits, though it is limited in taking action on revoking a pension until after a criminal conviction tied to the public employee's job. Warren, the Baker challenger and former Newton mayor, noted that Ezekiel has been charged by the Middlesex District Attorney's office after a "secret" investigation that lasted six months. "When the first story broke last November about how the State Police handled the arrest of a judge's daughter I called for an independent and impartial investigation. Charlie Baker refused," Warren said in a statement. "Now it turns out at the same time that Gov. Baker was swearing up and down that the problems in that agency were limited to a few bad apples, another investigation of more corruption was already starting." EASTHAMPTON -- A private investigation into whether Mayor Nicole LaChapelle created a "hostile work environment" at City Hall has been closed. LaChapelle addressed the City Council Wednesday night and said no hostile work environment or individual complaint was found by investigator and lawyer Terri Pastori of Concord, New Hampshire. Pastori conducted her investigation starting April 2 and released her report April 18. LaChapelle distributed copies to the City Council. LaChapelle hired Pastori following a March 27 open letter from former mayor Michael Tautznik where Tautznik criticized LaChapelle for failing to adhere to the city charter in making sudden staff changes. Tautznik charged that the new mayor had damaged employee morale and created a "hostile work environment." The letter was addressed to the City Council. LaChapelle said Wednesday that an independent investigation had been warranted because Tautznik wrote "a specific letter that went to a specific department in city hall," with the phrase "hostile work environment," words which are "a trigger for a potential harassment claim." Councilors Daniel Rist, Owen Zaret, and James "J.P." Kwiecinski asked several questions of Lachapelle. In reponse to Rist, LaChapelle said she does not yet know what the investigation will cost. She said it's not clear if the city's insurer will pay for it. Pastori charges $350 per hour, according to the lawyer's written communication with the city. Rist also asked if an investigation would have been launched if a private citizen, and not a former mayor, had lodged such a complaint, and the mayor nodded and said yes. "It was a specific complaint using trigger language," LaChapelle said. Pastori was one of several names recommended by the Massachusetts Interlocal Insurance Association, or MIIA, the city's insurance risk carrier, LaChapelle said. The investigation was coordinated by city personnel director Monica Kane. Pastori interviewed Tautznik on April 9, Pastori wrote in her report. Tautznik reportedly told Pastori that the investigation was an "overreaction" on the part of LaChapelle. He said city workers had reached out to him to complain. Staffers felt nervous that "the rules are being thrown out the window" with LaChapelle's sudden staffing changes, Tautznik reportedly said. Pastori concluded that Tautznik's complaints were related to alleged violations of the city charter, and "not based upon any legally protected class" such as "race, color, religion, age, familial status, national origin, immigration, gender, gender identity or expression, sexual orientation, genetics, ancestry, disability, or veteran status." Tautznik encouraged the investigator to interview all city employees at 50 Payson Ave., but the interviews were not warranted, Pastori concluded. "In fact, where Mr. Tautznik's allegations do not relate to membership in a protected class, I do not believe any further interviews are necessary to investigate the claims, as they stem from an alleged concern that the Charter was not followed, which is being handled by others," Pastori wrote. "As a result, I consider my investigation complete." Council president Joseph McCoy said councilors could have more to say after they get a chance to read the document. on Scribd Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker said he takes responsibility for the State Police scandals that have repeatedly erupted over the last five months. Baker's comment came after he was asked whether he should have known about the problems within the law enforcement agency, ranging from alleged overtime abuse to changes to the arrest report of a judge's daughter. "Should you have known some of the things that you apparently didn't know about until they were disclosed?" Jim Braude, co-host of WGBH's "Boston Public Radio" show. "Look, I've said many times that I don't think blame serves a lot of purposes," Baker said during an appearance on Thursday as part of a monthly "Ask the Governor" segment. "I mean, there were a lot of things that we fixed since we took office, and I got asked a lot, 'Well, you know, whose fault is that?' And I've tried pretty hard not to get into that business," he added. The Massachusetts state government is a $40 billion "enterprise," and there are tens of thousands of employees within the executive branch, according to Baker, a Republican who came into office in 2015 pledging to bring a fix-it mentality to the branch. "Stuff that goes on, on my watch, belongs to me," Baker said Thursday. "And what I would hope people would do, [is] respect the fact that I can't possibly know everything about everything, but that once issues are raised, we will do whatever we can to fix them and address them. But yeah, stuff that goes on, on my watch, belongs to me." His comments came as MassLive reported on new details surrounding the State Police's payroll director Denise Ezekiel. Ezekiel allegedly filed 29 fraudulent reimbursements over 15 months before the agency suspended her and launched an investigation, according to court documents. She was suspended in November 2017 and charged earlier this year, but the allegations didn't surface until after a public records request from MassLive. Baker and Kerry Gilpin, the new State Police colonel, have proposed a series of reforms amid allegations of overtime abuse within Troop E, which was tasked with patrolling the Massachusetts Turnpike. Information on the alleged overtime abuse has been turned over to Attorney General Maura Healey's office for potential criminal charges. The accused troopers have been suspended without pay. Troop E is being dissolved, while Baker and Gilpin are seeking to activate GPS monitoring systems in police cruisers and implement a body camera program. The Baker administration faces working with the State Police union to bring the GPS and body camera proposals to fruition. The head of the Massachusetts Democratic Party, Gus Bickford, on Thursday said there should be an independent investigation into the State Police, echoing a repeated call of former Newton Mayor Setti Warren, one of three Democrats looking to run against Baker in November 2018. SPRINGFIELD -- Mayor Domenic Sarno on Wednesday released a series of emails that indicate the recent spat between city negotiators and the police union is apparently based on what Sarno described as unprofessional and threatening behavior by a union official toward members of the Community Police Hearing Board. Sarno charges that an unnamed union official who is also a Springfield police detective acted inappropriately during a March 13 meeting of the review board, and as a result, the mayor has suspended contract negotiations. The incident apparently left a number of members on the board rattled to the point of fearing for their own safety, and Sarno said that is intolerable. "I will not tolerate unprofessional behavior. The incident that occurred before our Community Police Hearing Board is unacceptable," he said. The city demanded the union apologize and the union refused, Sarno said. "This is the reason negotiations were suspended," the mayor said. The announcement by Sarno comes after a week of silence on the issue beyond an initial statement that referenced "unprofessional behavior" before the Community Police Hearing Board. The emails from separate members of the board outline an incident where the unnamed union official pounded on a table and spoke loudly in what was described as "the clear intent to bully and intimidate the board." The union member's name was included in the emails but redacted in copies provided by the mayor's office. The Community Police Hearing Board is a volunteer board staffed by city residents selected by the mayor. Members review cases involving police misconduct and then make recommendations for any discipline or penalties to Police Commissioner John Barbieri. A union officer present at the review board meeting would be there as representative of an officer under review. The police union, Local 364 of the International Brotherhood, has filed an unfair labor practice against the city. And last week, more than 100 off-duty police officers staged an informational picket at State and Main streets to call attention to the issue as a way to force the city back to the bargaining table. Joseph Gentile, president of the local, in a guest commentary published Wednesday morning on Masslive.com, denied that anyone with the union acted unprofessionally and wrote that Sarno's reasons for ending negotiations after 20 months were not sufficient. He wrote that no one from the mayor's office or the city has offered a formal request to discuss what the point of contention is. Gentile was not available Tuesday afternoon for a comment in response to Sarno's statement. Sarno said both the commentary and the union's public comments to date have "misrepresented material facts." "Through our bargaining efforts I have supported increases in the number of police officers and assured police are provided fair salaries as well all the equipment they need to carry out their law enforcement duties. However, I will not stand for strong arm tactics directed towards the volunteers serving on the CPHB," Sarno said. Sarno's office released an email authored by his chief of staff, Denise Jordan, which references two telephone conversations, a face-to-face conversation and two emails from people present at the March 13 meeting of the review board. She cites board chairman Ernesto Castillo and members Rev. Gail Hill and Paul Phaneuf and city attorney Alesia Days, who represents the city at meetings of the board. Each offers a similar account of the unnamed union officer acting in a threatening manner toward board members at the conclusion of the meeting. Hill, a retired police officer, wrote, "His face is red and he was very agitated. He started pointing his finger at us and states in a demeaning tone, he personally invites us to come to the Citizens Police Academy, he was quite sure we could learn something." The Citizen Police Academy is a program offered by the police to show citizens how police officers operate from day to day. Castillo's email notes the same union representative "walked up to the counsel's table with the clear intent to bully and intimidate the board." Castillo also referenced the Citizen Police Academy, and described the detective leaning on the table and "pointing his finger directly at me" and other board members. "His clear intent to unnerve and intimidate me and members of the board was, unfortunately, successful." The action showed either "a brazen disregard for civilian oversight, or his belief that ... he is entitled to conduct himself as he pleases with no fear of consequences," Castillo wrote. Days relayed to Jordan that she felt the behavior was threatening and inappropriate, and that one member of the board wanted to resign "as they were fearful that their family would be in danger." Jordan also said Phaneuf told her that he considered the behavior was "way out of line and very intimidating" and that he didn't appreciate the man's demeanor or posturing. Jordan in her letter to Sarno said she is familiar with Days and with members of the board, and said none of them are what she would classify as "easily shaken." Based on their tone, body language and descriptions of the exchange, Jordan concluded, "I don't think they overreacted." Sarno in his statement indicates he will not allow the city to return to contract negotiations until members of the review commission get an apology. "To assure that the union is bargaining in good faith, I need resolution so that the citizens of this community will be treated with the respect they deserve," he said. "I will not condone threatening tactics from union officials either on or off the streets." Emails concerning Springfield Community Police Hearing Board by The Republican/MassLive.com on Scribd Twenty janitors are marching to Mount Ida President Barry Brown's office on Thursday to register their frustration as the college barrels towards closure. The march also comes as the Boston Business Journal reported that Mount Ida executives saw pay increases at college finances worsened. Under an agreement announced by UMass and Mount Ida officials earlier this month, the small private college in Newton, Mass., will close, while UMass Amherst will acquire its land and buildings. Mount Ida students are getting sent to the various UMass campuses, though they are being primarily funneled to UMass Dartmouth. The union representing the Mount Ida janitors, 32BJ of the Service Employees International Union, says the janitors "have all but been forgotten" as most Mount Ida students have received automatic admission to UMass Dartmouth and the college's in-house maintenance crew has been offered severance pay. All 280 faculty and staff are being laid off as the college gets ready to close. The Massachusetts board of higher education is reviewing the Mount Ida/UMass deal. UMass officials are defending the planned purchase, saying a campus in the Newton and Needham area will give UMass Amherst students access to internships and co-ops to technology companies. The union says janitors were told their last work day is May 24, though the cleaning crew could see cuts next week, from 20 janitors to four. "Our entire school community is worried about the closure of Mount Ida College, but as often happens, the workers on campus have been left out of the conversation," Iris Baez, who has worked as a clean for more than a decade, said in a statement. "I'm a single mom and I'm paying for my son's college with this job. My coworkers and I have given our lives to this school and we deserve to be included in the transition process," she added. A spokeswoman for Mount Ida did not respond to a request for comment. SPRINGFIELD -- After speaking with Puerto Rican evacuee families during a conference call set up by the Pioneer Valley Project this morning, U.S. Sens. Ed Markey and Elizabeth Warren have sent a letter to the Federal Emergency Management Agency requesting an extension of temporary shelter assistance for families being asked to leave hotels tomorrow by 11 a.m. "Power outages like the one last night make it so that evacuees face additional difficulties learning the habitability status of their former homes, and plans to travel -- if possible -- back to Puerto Rico," the letter reads. Power outages have been widespread on Puerto Rico since Hurricane Maria last fall, and restoration efforts were set back Wednesday when a private contractor operating an excavator hit a major transmission line and knocked out electricity across the island. The senators are asking that FEMA extend the benefits for families based on the "unique challenges," they are facing due to the continued power outages. "The federal government is failing the Puerto Rican people, including those displaced by the devastating hurricanes," Markey and Warren said in a joint statement. "For months, we have been fighting for our fellow U.S. citizens, who deserve much better. We hear the urgent concerns of many in the local community about the upcoming shelter assistance deadline, and we are continuing to press FEMA both for immediate relief and for a longer-term solution." The request to FEMA comes after Markey's state director, James Cantwell, spent about an hour on the phone with evacuees hearing their stories. Some of them are facing a deadline Friday and have nowhere to go. "We were told to go back to Puerto Rico or to make a line at the shelter to see if we can get in," said Aliz Mitchell, 13, who is fluent in English and arrived from the island with her family in December. Mitchell and Yaliz Rolon, 15, never met on the island, but they struck up a friendship at the hotel in West Springfield where both have been living for months. They are among the evacuees being given an extension until May 14, but the teens said life in a hotel is starting to become difficult to bear. "For the first few days it felt like a little vacation, but when you are there for months in the hotel, you don't have your (extended) family with you. You have to follow a lot of rules at the hotel, so you don't feel at home," said Rolon, who also speaks English fluently and attends the Springfield Conservatory of the Arts. Mitchell said many of the hotel rooms have only a small microwave and a tiny fridge with no freezer. Their main meals for the day are whatever they get to eat at school. "It's very difficult and in a few weeks we don't know where we will be able to go, where we will sleep," Mitchell said. On Monday, FEMA informed Markey's office that 445 families have applied for additional transitional shelter assistance and 481 hotel rooms are currently occupied. It is unclear how many Puerto Ricans have moved to Massachusetts since the hurricane because many came to live with relatives. It is estimated that thousands are now living in the state. Massachusetts schools accepted 3,000 students from Puerto Rico and the U.S. Virgin Islands between October and March. Around 2,400 of those students remain in Massachusetts today, officials said. Zuleika Figueroa and her husband, Daniel Rios, are desperately looking for an apartment that is accessible for their young daughter Sophia, 5, who is disabled. "My husband got a job, but we cannot find (an affordable apartment) that is accessible for the needs of my daughter," she said. The couple also have an 8-year-old son, Daniel Rios Jr., who needs heart surgery. Ivette Colon arrived here in November with her daughter and her three grandchildren. She said the conditions in the hotel are getting worse. She said she developed a skin infection after getting bitten by bed bugs. "We are American citizens and we are in need of help. We just want to find permanent places to live and rebuild our lives after losing everything," she said. HOLYOKE -- Scott Tower above Community Field and the former H.H. Richardson train station were among possible projects that could be funded with Community Preservation Act money as discussed at a public forum Wednesday. The forum held by the Community Preservation Act Committee drew about 50 people to the Senior Center, 291 Pine St. Voters adopted the Massachusetts Community Preservation Act (CPA) by approving a ballot question on Nov. 8, 2016. The CPA surcharge adds 1.5 percent of a property owner's bill, but exemptions of the first $100,000 of a property's value and for elderly and poor property owners would reduce the surcharge. Taxpayers received the first CPA surcharges since the ballot question was approved in property tax bills early this month. Adoption of the CPA is a way to raise additional revenue in the form of the money from the surcharge and, with adoption of the CPA, triggering of access to a state fund. The money can be used only for projects in three areas: open space and recreation, affordable housing and historic restoration and preservation. The committee will make recommendations about spending the CPA money, which will be about $500,000, and the decision lies with the City Council. Consultant Roberta Cameron of Community Opportunities Group Inc., of Boston, led Wednesday's meeting. Check back with The Republican and MassLive.com for more about the CPA public forum, including video and a consultant's slide-show presentation. Massachusetts State Police payroll director Denise Ezekiel allegedly filed 29 fraudulent reimbursements over 15 months before the agency suspended her and launched a criminal investigation, according to court records reviewed by MassLive. Ezekiel, who is facing a charge of larceny over $250 for allegedly stealing over $23,000 from the department using her position as payroll director, was suspended on Nov. 1, 2017 -- the same day Maj. John Lannon was assigned to investigate her alleged misuse of payroll funds. But according to Lannon's criminal complaint, Ezekiel's alleged thefts had been going on since July 23, 2016 and continued until four days before her suspension. "An examination of payroll records revealed that an employee, identified as [Ezekiel,] working as the Agency's Payroll Director, had been receiving unauthorized fund transfers to her personal bank accounts in the form of travel/training reimbursements," Lannon wrote. The Massachusetts State Police declined to answer questions about the agency's financial control policies and whether those controls were followed in Ezekiel's case, citing the ongoing nature of the prosecution. "As soon as MSP became aware of certain irregularities, we launched an investigation that led to the discovery of the thefts and the pending criminal charges. The evidence gathered during the course of our investigation indicated that no other State Police employee participated in, or was aware of, her alleged scheme," Massachusetts State Police spokesman David Procopio wrote in an email. "Because the prosecution of this case is pending, we cannot at this time publicly discuss such details as payroll unit procedures, as those are relevant to the ongoing prosecution." Ezekiel has been on indefinite unpaid leave for over five months. The scheme worked like this, according to the criminal complaint: Ezekiel would allegedly file unauthorized reimbursements for travel or training, valued between $500 and $950. She allegedly did so 29 times, with the funds deposited into her personal bank account on her biweekly pay days. Part of her job responsibilities including being the final auditor of travel and training reimbursements, Lannon wrote. Lannon was assigned to investigate after a financial discrepancy was discovered and reported to the agency's Director of Finance and its CHief Administrative Officer. Lannon reviewed Ezekiel's bank account records and confirmed the reimbursements were deposited in her personal account. "Further search of state police payroll reimbursement records was conducted and no documentation existed to support these specific reimbursements payments to Ms. Ezekiel," Lannon wrote. Ezekiel, a 49-year-old Holbrook resident, allegedly acknowledged that she was not entitled to the reimbursements in an investigative interview. Lannon's criminal complaint was filed on March 6, with an arraignment scheduled for April 10. But the arraignment was pushed back to April 23, with the Middlesex District Attorney's Office writing in a motion to continue that a "resolution of the matter" is expected on that date. Ezekiel's attorney Amanda Sheehan did not return a request for comment prior to publication. The Middlesex DA's Office said it could not comment on the case prior to Ezekiel's arraignment when asked why she was charged with one count of larceny for all 29 unauthorized reimbursements. In comments to reporters Wednesday evening, Gov. Charlie Baker praised the state police agency's response to the alleged thefts and said he expects a "full blown investigation." "This is good news, folks," Baker said in response to reporters' questions. "When the leadership of the State Police is cleaning up its own house and doing the investigation that develops a baseline for criminal investigation, that's a good thing, not a bad thing." Ezekiel has worked as a civilian payroll director for the state police since at least 2013 and before that was an accounts payable manager for the state Department of Revenue, according to state payroll records. Her annual salary in 2017 was $95,031. The state police are also in the midst of two other payroll controversies. At least 30 troopers have been implicated in an alleged scheme to get paid for no-show overtime shifts on the Massachusetts Turnpike. And payroll information for the agency's Troop F, which is funded by MassPort and patrols Logan International Airport, had been kept secret for years until a Boston Globe report exposed the issue last month. AMHERST -- The off-campus death of first-year University of Massachusetts Amherst student Scott Erlandson is not suspicious, police in his eastern Massachusetts hometown said Wednesday. Georgetown Police Chief Donald Cudmore said Erlandson's body was found in a wooded area. There is no ongoing investigation, Cudmore said. Dean of Students Cara Appel-Silbaugh sent an email Wednesday saying it "is with great sadness that I write today to inform you of the death of Scott Erlandson." Erlandson was enrolled in the exploratory track in the college of information and computer sciences. "On behalf of UMass, we extend our sincere condolences to Scott's family and friends who are mourning his untimely death," Appel-Silbaugh said in the email. Appel-Silbaugh added that "in keeping with the wishes of Scott's family," she has no other information to share. The email did not include a cause of death. Erlandson was on the honor roll at St. John's Preparatory School in Danvers, where he graduated last year. He is the third UMass Amherst student to die this semester. First-year student Caleb Martin of Franklin died four days after being in a car crash on spring break. According to a YouCaring fundraising page, which has raised more than $35,000 for his ministry in Senegal, Martin was driving back to campus March 18 when he hit a deer. In February, junior Gabrielle Bryan a junior died on campus. The cause of her death has not been released. By any reasonable measure, the airline industry's safety record had been remarkable: nine years without a single accident-related fatality on a domestic flight, totaling nearly 100 million flights and billions of passengers safely transported. The record of Southwest Airlines had been particularly flawless. In its 47-year history, Southwest had never suffered a fatality while flying, a glittering safety record marred only in 2005, when a jet skidded off a snowy runway in Chicago and onto a road, killing a 6-year-old boy in a car. Those record-setting streaks ended tragically on Tuesday when an engine on Southwest Flight 1380 exploded, killing a passenger who was sucked partly out of the plane. An emergency landing in Philadelphia averted a greater catastrophe, and now inspectors at not only Southwest but other airlines are checking their engines to see if this accident was a fluke - as industry spokesmen are saying - or a warning of failing systems. The in-air crisis is producing heroes, among them pilot Tammie Jo Shults, who had previously been one of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. military. Shults brought down the damaged plane with no further loss of life, but no one was able to save New Mexico native Jennifer Riordan, who died despite heroic efforts by fellow passengers who saw her being sucked out of the plane and dragged her back. Southwest and the airline industry were still reeling from the tragedy when a bird strike forced another Southwest flight to make an emergency landing in Nashville, Tennessee. Reassuring words from airline executives will not entirely soothe the unease of passengers whose sense of security has been jarred. What industry spokesmen are saying is true: flying has never been safer. The nine-year domestic streak without fatalities is by far the longest in the history of aviation. There have been deaths on commercial charters in that time, but the Southwest accident ends an unprecedented run of safe flying. One calamity will not likely change the flying habits of Americans. What it will do is cause mechanical experts for all airlines to examine their equipment and make sure the Southwest explosion was as much a fluke as industry analysts are describing, and not a harbinger of failing systems on other planes. It reminds passengers and airline officials alike that even if the odds of an in-flight accident are 100-million-to-1, the "1" is still there and so is the risk, however tiny. This is even true with Southwest, which has withstood the various challenges to the airline industry as well or better than any other brand, and was justly proud of the flawless in-flight safety record that was marred on Tuesday. Southwest flight crews have a long tradition of interjecting humor to amuse and relax the passengers. Over its history, the light-hearted banter has been known to filter into the safety messages, a custom that produced occasional criticism but was more often cheered as a welcome respite to normally staid, repetitive announcements that barely get many passengers' attention. In the early 1990s, newspaper columnist Bob Greene chided Southwest for treating the safety instructions like stand-up comedy. According to the New York Times in 1994, the Federal Aviation Administration asked Southwest to tone it down, and it did to a great degree - but even in recent years, some passengers have said Southwest's breezy style actually made them pay more attention than usual to the instructions. The airline had reason for its self-assurance: a perfect 47-year safety record that spoke for itself. The tradition helped make Southwest the "people's airline" to many customers but for now, any light-heartedness should be shelved in the name of good taste while Southwest and all airlines do some mechanical recognizance. Industry officials, meanwhile are urging Americans to keep flying. They will, but a thorough inventory of all flight systems is the only way passengers will be reassured that the tragedy of Flight 1380 is not repeated again, and that a new and long unbroken streak can begin in its aftermath. BOSTON -- Massachusetts Gov. Charlie Baker has recommended that Springfield and several other communities across the state be deemed "opportunity zones" -- a designation created under the GOP tax law to open municipalities to private, tax-free investments. Baker, in paperwork submitted to the U.S. Treasury Department on Thursday, suggested that a total of 138 communities -- the maximum amount allowed for Massachusetts -- be considered for the "Opportunity Zone" program, according to officials. The Republican governor touted the new designation, which offers federal tax incentives for those who reinvest unrealized capital gains into "Opportunity Funds," or specialized vehicles dedicated to investing in low-income areas, known as "Opportunity Zones." Baker argued that it could help "leverage private investment in Massachusetts cities and towns, and ... be a catalyst for job creation and economic activity." "I look forward to working with our congressional delegation and local officials to support these new economic development opportunities across the commonwealth," he said in a statement. Lt. Gov. Karyn Polito noted that municipalities recommended for the "Opportunity Zone" designation "range from small rural towns to Gateway Cities and large urban centers, representing a wealth of opportunities for new investment in the commonwealth." State Housing and Economic Development Secretary Jay Ash, meanwhile, offered that Massachusetts "communities have proven that planning, site readiness and community engagement are major factors in successful development." "The tracts identified by the nominating communities reflect these characteristics and are worthy of consideration by the federal government," he said. Officials noted that "Opportunity Zones" must be comprised of low-income community census tracts and designated by governors. The Treasury Department found 581 of Massachusetts' 1,478 census tracts eligible to be considered for the "Opportunity Zone" designation, according to the governor's office. The Baker administration noted that it worked with municipal leaders and other stakeholders in developing the state designation process, which opened to applicants in early March. Massachusetts' recommended "Opportunity Zones" include 32 census tracts in the 10 communities with the lowest median family income in the state, as well as several from "Gateway Cities" and rural communities, officials said. In Western Massachusetts, Baker asked that federal officials consider Springfield, Chicopee, Easthampton, Holyoke, North Adams, Pittsfield, Northampton, Westfield and West Springfield for the "Opportunity Zone" designation, among others. The governor also recommended the designation for: Boston, Lawrence, Lowell, Quincy, Provincetown and Worcester. The Treasury Department is expected to respond to state submissions within 30 days, officials said. A dispute between neighbors has the potential to derail Massachusetts' entire marijuana industry. Cambridge neighbors of the medical marijuana dispensary Healthy Pharms have sued the dispensary in federal court. The neighbors, led by Crimson Galeria, argue that federal law, under which marijuana is illegal, should pre-empt state law, which allows it. They are using the RICO statute, a law crafted to address mob-related racketeering, to argue that Healthy Pharms and the businesses that support it are involved in illegal marijuana crimes, which are lowering neighborhood property values. If a judge agrees with their argument, Massachusetts could have to reconsider its medical and recreational marijuana programs. "This case certainly has broad and far-reaching implications for the marijuana industry in general," said Scott Schlager, lead counsel for Crimson Galeria and an attorney with Nathanson and Goldberg. Emma Quinn-Judge, a partner at Zalkind, Duncan and Bernstein who represents Healthy Pharms, agreed that the consequences could be significant. "It should be concerning to the citizens of Massachusetts that you could have a case in federal court that completely undermines something Massachusetts voters voted on repeatedly and various levels of state government have put a lot of work into figuring out," Quinn-Judge said. Healthy Pharms opened in late December in the high-rent Harvard Square neighborhood. It closed temporarily in February after a pesticide was found in its product, and it remains closed today while under investigation by the Department of Public Health. Several commercial real estate businesses that own neighboring properties brought two lawsuits to keep Healthy Pharms out. The first is a zoning appeal, which is pending in state court. The second is the federal RICO suit filed in U.S. District Court in Massachusetts. RICO, the Racketeer Influenced and Corrupt Organizations Act, is a federal law that provides increased penalties for crimes committed as part of a criminal organization. It was written to deal with mob crime, but has since been expanded to a wide range of uses. RICO has been used in only a handful of other cases involving state-licensed marijuana businesses, in Oregon and Colorado. Those cases either settled or are still pending. So far, the only major judicial ruling came out of Colorado, where neighbors claimed they were harmed by the odor of a marijuana grow facility. A U.S. District Court judge ruled that it was not appropriate to use the RICO statute to prosecute a state-licensed marijuana business. But the 10th Circuit Court of Appeals reversed that, deciding that RICO can be used. The case is continuing in U.S. District Court. It is possible that once these cases make it through the judicial process, one of them could end up before the U.S. Supreme Court. In Massachusetts, neighbors sued Healthy Pharms, its top officials, real estate company, advisers and insurers, as well as the state, the city of Cambridge and the town of Georgetown, which licensed Healthy Pharms. The neighbors argue that their properties will lose $27 million in value due to Healthy Pharms' operations. "Extensive evidence shows that marijuana retail sale is an odorous and stigmatized activity and that foul smelling, stigmatized activities reduce nearby property values," the neighbors wrote in their complaint. Brian Barnes, a partner at Cooper and Kirk in Washington, D.C, who is consulting with Crimson Galeria and was involved with both Colorado cases, said the advantage to the plaintiffs of using RICO is it lets someone sue a business owner personally, not only the corporation. It also allows for stiff penalties - triple damages and attorneys' fees. This can lead to settlements from someone eager to avoid legal risk. Before one of the Colorado cases settled, an accountant and insurer both paid settlement money to get the plaintiffs to dismiss them from the case. The potential for a RICO suit could also scare off other businesses - such as insurers or banks - from getting involved with marijuana. Former Massachusetts Supreme Judicial Court Justice Robert Cordy, now an attorney at McDermott, Will and Emery, represents Century Bank in the case. Century Bank was sued because it provides banking services to Healthy Pharms. "A lot of banks are watching this case," Cordy said. Banks don't want the liability of a potential federal marijuana lawsuit, Cordy said, but banking services are needed for the marijuana industry. Cordy said if a judge rules that banks can face federal liability for providing services to state-sanctioned marijuana companies, the result would be a lack of banking services that would leave millions of dollars in cash flowing through the industry. "I'm very hopeful the federal court will act on this and make it clear that to the extent there are residual issues here, they really are political issues that Congress needs to resolve," Cordy said. "Abuse of the civil RICO statute is an unacceptable method of trying to tear apart or upset the medical marijuana regime which has been fully enacted and regulated by the state." Healthy Pharms and other defendants have filed motions to dismiss the suit. U.S. District Court Judge Allison Burroughs, who is presiding over the case, has not yet ruled. Quinn-Judge, representing Healthy Pharms, said she believes the use of the RICO statute is "a stretch," and she does not believe the neighbors will be able to prove that property values in Harvard Square are tanking due to the dispensary. "The ambition of the case is to shut down the entire licensing scheme as well as my clients' particular dispensary," Quinn-Judge said. But Barnes and Schlager, representing the neighbors, said it is not about ideology but location. "This isn't really an ideological fight," Barnes said. "If they had located a marijuana store someplace else that wouldn't have this dramatic adverse affect on surrounding property values, we wouldn't be where we are." Schlager said marijuana dispensaries have an obligation to evaluate where they choose to open facilities. "When you site them next to valuable properties or in populated areas, there's always a risk that you're going to offend or harm your neighbors," Schlager said. Massachusetts' highest court will let state prisons continue using dogs to search visitors, even though state officials implemented the practice improperly. The Supreme Judicial Court, in a decision written by Justice Kimberly Budd, ruled that the Department of Correction did not follow proper administrative procedures when it first rolled out the searches in 2014. But the court gave the department a 180-day window to adopt the regulation again, during which time the searches can continue. "In light of the security concerns and risks involved, the department may continue to enforce the regulation in the interim," Budd wrote. "The DOC is pleased that the Supreme Judicial Court ruled in favor of the Department's continued use of canines to alert correction officers to the presence of drugs on visitors to state correctional facilities, noting that the policy is not prohibited by DOC's existing regulations," said Department of Correction spokesman Chris Fallon. "The use of canine searches of visitors and others entering DOC facilities is an important tool in combating the introduction of contraband that may be used to derail inmate reentry efforts." The Massachusetts Department of Correction in 2013 announced that visitors to state prisons would be subject to a canine search. The goal was to prevent visitors from sneaking drugs into prisons. The plan was met with controversy, with opponents arguing it discouraged visits from family and friends by subjecting anyone who was identified by the dog as potentially carrying drugs to an invasive pat or strip search. The dog searches went into effect in 2014. There are alternative procedures for anyone who is afraid of or allergic to dogs. Three attorneys and three citizens filed suit, and the case went up to the Supreme Judicial Court. The issue was not whether the dog searches themselves were problematic, but whether the Department of Correction properly followed the Administrative Procedure Act, which lays out the process a state agency has to follow when it adopts a new regulation. Budd found that nothing in the department's regulations prevents the use of dog searches to detect contraband. But she wrote that the department was required to follow the Administrative Procedure Act and did not do so. She rejected claims by the department that the implementation of dog searches was solely about internal management, which would have exempted it from the Administrative Procedure Act. "This change could have a potentially significant impact on the visiting public's experience, including increased wait times, increased anxiety due to a fear of dogs or of false positives, and concerns in connection with allergies," Budd wrote. The annual Bill & Lynn Foggle Great Issues Lecture Series will launch at Temple Beth El, 979 Dickinson Street in Springfield, on Sunday, April 29, featuring Jeffrey Goldberg, a leading journalist on international relations, and an expert on geopolitics and the Middle East. His topic is "The United States' New and Controversial Role in the World: The Good, Bad, and the Ugly." The event, which is free and open to the public, will begin at 4 p.m. with a reception, followed by Goldberg's lecture, a "Question & Answer" session, and a book signing. One of America's leading commentators on foreign policy, national security and the Middle East, Goldberg is editor-in-chief at The Atlantic and a columnist for Bloomberg View. He is the recipient of numerous awards, including the National Magazine Award for Reporting, for his coverage of Islamist terrorism, and the Daniel Pearl Prize for Reporting. Jeffrey Goldberg is a former Middle East correspondent and former Washington correspondent of The New Yorker, and a former contributing editor at The New York Times Magazine. Earlier, he covered the Mafia for New York magazine, and began his career at The Washington Post. Goldberg's reporting has taken him across the Middle East, Africa and South Asia. He has reported from Gaza, the West Bank, Israel, Lebanon, Syria, Iraq, Saudi Arabia, Iran, Sudan, Afghanistan and Pakistan. In his travels, he has interviewed leaders of Hezbollah, Hamas, al Qaeda, the Taliban, and the Islamic Jihad. He has been kidnapped twice while reporting on terrorism, and has covered numerous wars. In safer circumstances, he has also interviewed the leaders of the U.S., Great Britain, Israel, Egypt, Jordan, Sudan, Pakistan and Afghanistan, among other places. He appears frequently on such shows as "Meet the Press," "This Week," "Face the Nation," and others, to discuss foreign affairs. "Washington's Most Pugnacious Journalist" is how the Washingtonian described Jeffrey Goldberg. No matter what your views are, Goldberg is sure to challenge them with wit, charm, and controversial statements. Through the Foggles' generous gift, the lecture series will attract a world-class speaker annually who will stimulate thought and lively exploration of ideas about today's most challenging global issues. Chairing the first event of the Bill & Lynn Foggle Great Issues Lecture Series is Josh Weiss, Ph.D., an active Temple Beth El member. Dr. Weiss is also the co-founder of the Global Negotiation Initiative at Harvard University and Director of the MS in Leadership and Negotiation at Bay Path University. Temple Beth El is the largest Conservative synagogue in Western Massachusetts. It was founded in 1913, and in 2008 merged with Congregation B'nai Jacob. For more information, call 413-733-4149. The SkyRider 2.0 airline seats may open the doors to cheaper travel as their design will allow for more passengers to be squeezed into each plane. By Jessica Miley https://interestingengineering.com/these-standing-up-airplane-seats-are-designed-to-make-flying-cheaper?_source=newsletter&_campaign=jkzyeMRy34jzV&_uid=nXe0N3Xbxr&_h=64cc3b5d9718727b8670189a16e07bec629326aa&utm_source=newsletter&utm_medium=mailing&utm_campaign=Newsletter-18-04-2018 Now is the time for the campus, and the broader community to say what they think. University of Montana President Seth Bodnar is encouraging not only faculty, staff and students to weigh in on the proposed plan http://www.umt.edu/president/UM%20Strategy%20for%20Distinction%20/StrategyforDistinctionDRAFT_4.17.18-2.pdf to trim $10 million in spending, but also Missoula and the broader Western Montana community as a whole https://umt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeqkmppXE7OO11P . The University Planning Committee has come up with recommendations to dramatically re-align UMs course offerings, administration and staff to compensate for whats called a "strategic deficit" in on-going operations costs. And Bodnar says now is the time for the campus, and the broader community to say what they think https://umt.co1.qualtrics.com/jfe/form/SV_eeqkmppXE7OO11P. http://www.kbzk.com/story/37990055/campus-and-community-encouraged-to-comment-on-um-budget-changes Good news for thousands of California community college students hoping to transfer into the University of California: Succeed in a rigorous set of courses, and your UC admission is guaranteed. Students who begin community college in fall 2019 and do well in courses that UC faculty helped develop the required grade-point average is still to be determined will win admission into a UC campus under an agreement announced Wednesday by the two higher education systems. By Nanette Asimov https://www.sfgate.com/education/article/California-community-college-students-will-be-12826640.php Idaho Department of Commerce exhibited at the IWA Outdoor Classics in Nuremberg, Germany March 9-12 to assist seven Idaho-based outdoor recreation companies specializing in the production of guns, outdoor gear, and accessories. Idaho companies 2A Armament, Alien Gear, Integrity Ballistics, KCarry, NEMO Arms, Riverman Gun Works, and Odin Works were showcased alongside Idaho Commerce within the U.S. Pavilion at the trade show. "Expanding on the success of 2018 Shot Show in Las Vegas in January, participating in IWA Outdoor Classics was a logical next step in our continued commitment to showcase and promote Idahos outdoor recreation industry," said Idaho Commerce Director Bobbi-Jo Meuleman. https://commerce.idaho.gov/press-releases/european-trade-show-yields-significant-results-seven-idaho-outdoor-recreation-companies/ The opening ceremony of the training course. (Photo: CPV) This is part of a cooperative program between the Ministry of Industry and Trade and Samsung Vietnam, launched on April 17in Hanoi. The program will include eight courses, each lasting 12 weeks. The trained experts will provide their knowledge to supply enterprises in the supporting industry, helping them improve their competitive capacity to grasp opportunities to join the global supply chain. Speaking the launching ceremony, Minister of Industry and Trade Tran Tuan Anh hailed the cooperative program between Samsung and the Vietnamese government and affirmed it as very significant for Vietnamese enterprises. The program plans to give consultants to 38 Vietnamese firms by the end of 2018. Over the past time, with the contribution of Samsung to the supporting industry development goal, 29 Vietnamese enterprises have now become suppliers (level 1) of the group and the figure is expected to expand to 50 in 2020. Hailing the trade cooperation between the Republic of Korea and Vietnam, Deputy Prime Minister Trinh Dinh Dung stressed the contributions of the group to Vietnams economy. The RoK is one of the top economic partners of Vietnam, while Vietnam is also one of the major partners of RoK firms. More and more Korean businesses are operating in Vietnam and making important contributions to the countrys economic development, he said. He added that Samsungs investment makes significant contribution to the countrys State budget, creating many jobs while the groups export turnover also makes a large proportion of Vietnams total annual export value./. Williams' Lance Stroll says his team's current depressed form is masking any signs of his personal improvement, but he's confident there are some who will look beyond the lack of results. After an opening three-race run in which he finished P14 in Melbourne, Bahrain and Shanghai, Stroll moves on to Azerbaijan where last year the 19-year-old followed up his maiden points-scoring finish in Montreal with an impressive podium finish in Baku. Unfortunately, the Canadian will be hard pressed to repeat that performance next week given Williams' current struggles with its 2018 car. Stroll insists however that the people around him who matter will see past his team's troubles and discern his improvement as a driver. "The people that need to know, know" Stroll said. "To the general public its the nature of the sport that its a car-dominant sport. Its not a secret. "You look at any driver out there. Look at Fernando Alonso as a perfect example: two-time world champion, one of the best drivers of the grid [but] hes not in the best car, hes not getting into Q3, hes not winning races. "Thats the nature of the sport, thats how it works. I cant change that." Stroll has vowed to keep his down and focus on doing his best in an environment where there are many aspects that are beyond his control. "All I can do is get more out of myself every weekend, every time I get in the car, work on my weaknesses, build on my strengths and, like I said, the people who need to know, the people in my little group that I work with, thats ultimately what matters. "The rest is out of my control." Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter Carlos Sainz is enjoying working and racing with Renault, and believes his future could be with the promising French outfit rather than with Red Bull. After almost a three-year stint with Toro Rosso where he served his F1 apprenticeship, the Spaniard took a step up the ladder when Red Bull agreed to loan its driver to the works Renault outfit for the last four races of 2017 and for the entire 2018 season. Sainz therefore remains contracted to the energy drinks company and could potentially be called back into the bull pen next year. But the 23-year-old appreciates his current working environment and casts a positive view on the prospects of a team that is slowly but surely growing stronger. "Definitely the future could be with Renault and I'm ready for it if it comes," Sainz told Sky F1's Simon Lazenby. "I'm loving it, especially because the team is just moving forward. Investment is coming, all the mechanics and engineers just feel this vibe." Renault advisor and four-time world champion Alain Prost, who pushed the French manufacturer to secure the services of Sainz, believes the team made the right decision. Pairing the Spaniard with Nico Hulkenberg has brought Renault one of the most solid and consistent driver lineups on the grid. The German driver has scored points in every race so far this year while Sainz only missed out on a top-ten finish in Bahrain. "We knew that it was a risk [taking Sainz]," said Prost. "But it's better to take this kind of risk. "It's important for the team to make a progression. It was a decision that was good for the team and good for Nico because you can see that it made his level even higher now." In the Constructors' standings, Renault is currently fifth behind the top three out of reach front-runner, and three points adrift from mid-field rival McLaren. Gallery: The beautiful wives and girlfriends of F1 drivers Keep up to date with all the F1 news via Facebook and Twitter The conference gathered the leaders of Bac Giang, Hai Duong, Hung Yen and Son La provinces where most of northern Vietnams lychee and longan orchards are located. According to the MARD, this years favourable weather conditions are expected to produce a bumper crop of lychees and longans, whose respective yields are estimated at 217,000 tonnes and 80,000 tonnes. Specifically, Bac Giang and Hai Duong provinces are projected to produce 150,000 tonnes and 55,000 tonnes of lychees respectively, while the longan yield of Hung Yen province is forecast to reach 41,000 tonnes. Bac Giangs Deputy Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Thu Ha said the province plans to hold lychee promotion events in Chinas Pingxiang in May and in her home province in June, as well as a lychee week in Hanoi. For his part, Hai Duongs Deputy Chairman Nguyen Anh Cuong said that the province will help local lychee farmers export their produce but called for assistance to preserve the fruit for longer since radiation costs remain high. A lychee festival is also planned in the province in May. According to Nguyen Hong Son, director of the MARDs Department of Cultivation, more than half of Vietnams lychees and longans are consumed at home and that proportion is still increasing. The main markets are Hanoi and Ho Chi Minh City, therefore, it is necessary to boost sales in these two cities by cooperating with major supermarket chains such, as Metro, Co-opMart, Hapro, BigC and VinMart. Regarding China, one of Vietnams key export markets, the MARD advised local exporters to pay attention to packaging in order to meet the rules on origin. Meanwhile MARD Minister Nguyen Xuan Cuong urged Son La province to soon complete two fruit processing plants so as to reduce the pressure on farmers to sell fresh produce during the peak harvest time. While in Vietnam, Speaker Ali Ardeshir Larijani held talks with NA Chairwoman Nguyen Thi Kim Ngan; paid courtesy visits to Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong and Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc; and met with Secretary of the Ho Chi Minh City Party Committee Nguyen Thien Nhan and President of the Vietnam Fatherland Front Central Committee Tran Thanh Man. The Speaker received leaders of the Vietnam-Iran Friendship Association and attended the Vietnam-Iran Business Forum. On this occasion, he also laid a wreath in tribute to President Ho Chi Minh at his mausoleum, and visited Uncle Hos stilt house and several historical and cultural relic sites. During the talks and meetings with the Vietnamese leaders, the two sides discussed and agreed on a wide range of measures to step up cooperation in the fields of agriculture, fishery, energy, mining, oil and gas, telecommunications and banking. The two sides agreed to further boost cooperation in spheres in which Iran has potential such as pharmaceuticals, medical equipment, banking, tourism-culture, broadcasting and exchange of lecturers and students. Regarding parliamentary cooperation, the two sides consented to increase the exchange of delegations at all levels, especially between the parliaments committees to share experiences in legislation and supervision. The two sides agreed to strengthen the role of supervision and accelerate the effective implementation of deals and agreements signed between the two nations, including those reached by the Inter-governmental Committee of Vietnam and Iran. They also concurred to coordinate together more closely at regional and international forums, including the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU). The Speakers successful visit contributed to the enhancement and development of friendship and cooperation between the Vietnamese and Iranian people. Binh, who is also Head of the Central Economic Commission, made the statement during a meeting on April 18 with Li Qiang, Secretary of Shanghai. At the meeting, Binh briefed his host on Vietnams socio-economic development over the past years and hailed Shanghais achievements during its reform and development process. Vietnam will create optimal conditions for Shanghai businesses to invest in large-scale projects applying high technology in line with the countrys sustainable development needs, he said. For his part, Li introduced the citys socio-economic situation and reform experiences and cooperative relations between Vietnam and Shanghai, as well as measures to bolster bilateral cooperation in the coming time. During its stay in Shanghai, the CPV delegation paid fact-finding trips to Shanghais new economic development model in Pudong, along with the citys free-trade zone and businesses. Binh is leading a CPV delegation on a working visit to China from April 15-19. She is accompanied by Minister of Transport and Communications Thant Sin Maung, Deputy Minister of the Presidents Office U Min Thu, and Deputy Minister of Planning and Finance U Set Aung, among others. Born in 1945 in Yangon, Aung San Suu Kyi graduated from the University of Delhi in 1964 and the University of Oxford in 1968, she worked at the United Nations for three years. She was General Secretary of the National League for Democracy from 19882011 and she has also been the President of the National League for Democracy from 2012 to the present. She has held the position as Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Presidents Office since March, 2016 and has been Myanmar State Counsellor since April, 2016. The Muskegon Board of Education sits during a regular meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2018, at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) MUSKEGON, MI - The public had lots of questions about potential school closings for the Muskegon school board Tuesday. While the board backed off the closings, plenty of questions remain about how the district will address this year's $1.3 million budget deficit and how the 2018-19 budget will be balanced. Other questions include how the board will address a lack of confidence community members have expressed, what to do about the superintendent's "minimally effective" performance and their own futures leading the district. Don't Edit An audience member holds a sign during a Muskegon Board of Education budget meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) Will the board take from the rainy-day fund to balance this year's budget? The final 2017-18 budget must be approved by the close of the fiscal year in June. An amendment adopted in February put the budget $1.3 million in the red. If the budget stands, the shortfall will have to be drawn from the district's fund balance, or "rainy-day fund," which would drop below the state-mandated 5 percent of expenditures. In that situation, the fund balance would be reduced to $1.86 million which is below 4 percent of expenditures. That's enough for about two weeks of operations. Spending on administrative salaries increased by more than $500,000 this year compared to last year - due to additional positions and raises - when there was a deficit of $105,500 in the original 2017-18 budget. The 2016-17 school year ended with a budget surplus that added $1.17 million to fund balance, bringing it to $3.6 million at the beginning of this fiscal year. Find the budget here. Don't Edit Audience members hold signs during a Muskegon Public Schools budget meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) How will the district reduce spending by about $1 million in next year's budget? The regular board meeting on Tuesday began with a motion to remove controversial 2018-19 budget proposals from the agenda. The board voted unanimously to remove a proposal from administration to close two to four buildings and possibly transition the district to grade-level elementary schools rather than community ones. Those proposals would have saved the district $1 million to $2 million. With them now "off the table" according to Superintendent Justin Jennings, the question remains, how will the board balance the 2018-19 budget, which it must approve by the start of the next fiscal year on July 1? Don't Edit Muskegon Board of Education secretary Lynnette Marks speaks on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) Much of the district's money is tied up in personnel expenditures, including salaries, insurance, unemployment and other benefits. In 2017, total personnel expenditures were $33.7 million, or 73 percent, of the district's $46.1 million budget, according to transparency reporting on its website. Options to balance the budget include cutting administrative and teaching positions and administrative salaries, Jennings said after the meeting Tuesday. During the meeting, the board voted unanimously to approve non-renewal of all administrator contracts and layoff notices to all MPS teachers. "There is no intention to actually lay off all teachers," Secretary Lynnette Marks said during the meeting. The resolution is approved annually in anticipation of any layoffs, which depend on student counts and teacher evaluations. Don't Edit What will the board require from Superintendent Justin Jennings to improve his performance? Two months after rating the performance of Jennings as "minimally effective," the board has not implemented an "individual development plan" for him as required by state law. The board announced at its regular meeting in February that it had given Jennings a 2 on a scale of 1 to 5 after a performance evaluation conducted over three months in nine closed sessions. It cited low student test scores that showed "less-than-desirable" student achievement. Jennings became the district's superintendent in January 2017, after previously serving as an assistant superintendent for the district. At the time it released his performance review result, the board indicated Jennings' plan of improvement would address hiring practices, financial planning, transparency and accountability and individualized instruction. However, an improvement plan has not been presented to or voted on by the board, or discussed at a public meeting since February. Don't Edit Don't Edit People watch a Muskegon Public Schools budget meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) How will the board win back the trust of parents and stem the exodus of students? The Muskegon Big Red motto is "Strong Schools, Stronger Communities." Despite the fact that the board removed school closings from the agenda, parents and alumni who spoke at Tuesday's meeting -- some of them third- and fourth-generation Big Reds -- did not trust that the idea wouldn't come up at a future meeting. They were angered that the board did not bring the idea for school closings to the community for input. And some believe administrators are more interested in their own salaries than strengthening the schools. Some of the distrust stems from Open Meetings Act violations by six board members in which they deliberated on official business via text messages. View the text messages here. An attorney who lives in the district vowed to file a civil lawsuit against the board. Don't Edit Jamie Lynn Green speaks during a Muskegon Public Schools budget meeting on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. Green teaches fifth grade at Nelson Elementary School. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) This year, the district lost more than $3 million in state funding due to the loss of nearly 400 full-time equivalent (FTE) students, Jennings said previously. Over the past five years, the district's full-time enrollment has declined by 19 percent, taking it from the largest district in the county to the third largest, according to Muskegon Area Intermediate School District reports. It went from 4,623 students in 2013-14 to 3,744 students this year, a loss of 879. Much of the decline came after the district closed several school buildings in 2012. This year, about 920 would-be Muskegon students are enrolled in charter schools and 245 left the district to attend other districts, especially Orchard View Schools and Mona Shores Public Schools, according to the MAISD. This year, Muskegon gained about 100 students through school of choice, mostly from Muskegon Heights Public Schools. That means for the current school year, the district had a net loss of 145 students due to school of choice, according to the MAISD. In 2016-17, the net loss was 169 students. In 2015-16, there was a net loss of 31 students. Don't Edit Will trustees run for re-election? Several commenters on Tuesday called for board members to resign or face voter recall. People specifically called for Vice President Louis Churchwell to step down. In December, Churchwell relinquished the president's office. Then-Vice President Cindy Larson became president at that time and Churchwell became a trustee. At the organizational meeting in January, the board voted Churchwell into the position of vice president. Board members serve six-year terms. Don't Edit Muskegon Public Schools superintendent Justin Jennings listens to public comments on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) Treasurer Tasha Bibbs-Oakes and Secretary Lynnette Marks will have to run for re-election this year to retain their seats. Board members whose terms expire in 2020 are Trustee Zachary Anderson, Secretary Pro-Tem Billie Bruce and Churchwell. The terms of President Cindy Larson and Trustee Earl "Bill" O'Brien don't expire until 2022. School board elections are held in November, and new members are seated in January. In the event of a successful recall, an election would be held to fill the seat. Don't Edit Muskegon Board of Education Trustee Zachary Anderson listens to public comments on Tuesday, April 17, 2018 at Muskegon High School in Muskegon, Michigan. (Mike Krebs | MLive.com) Muskegon Public Schools coverage Muskegon school board tables school closings, hears 2 hours of comment 4 school board members skip meeting, avoid outcry Muskegon Middle School, other schools could close in 2018-19 Muskegon schools superintendent rated minimally effective Majority of Muskegon-area schools plan deficit spending for 2017-18 Muskegon schools gives administrators big pay raises in face of deficit $12K raise given to Muskegon Public Schools finance director Muskegon schools trustees violate Open Meetings Act by texting See Muskegon school board members' text violating Open Meetings Act Muskegon schools paid for non-employee to attend conference Muskegon school board member calls for superintendent's dismissal Don't Edit WHITMORE LAKE, MI - Police say alcohol was a factor in an April 8 wrong-way crash that killed two people on U.S. 23 north of Ann Arbor. Police believe Edwin Brown, 74, of Chelsea was driving a Chevrolet Bolt in the wrong direction about 2:48 p.m. Sunday, April 8 when he struck a Ford Fusion on southbound U.S. 23 near Six Mile Road and Whitmore Lake. Two passengers in the Fusion - Debbie Pinson, 51, and Cathy Kretzschmer, 56, of Ohio - were killed. A total of four cars were involved in the crash and four people were hospitalized. Alcohol has now been determined to be a factor in the crash and police plan to submit the case to prosecutors Thursday, said Michigan State Police Lt. Mario Gonzales on Thursday, April 19. Officials will seek two counts of operating under the influence causing death, but Brown may face other charges as well, Gonzales said. That will be up to the prosecutor's office. Brown remained hospitalized in stable condition Thursday, said Tracy McLean, Michigan Medicine spokeswoman. He was originally hospitalized in serious but stable condition. All others hospitalized after the crash had been released as of Thursday, April 12, Gonzales previously said. ANN ARBOR, MI - As of 3:30 p.m. Wednesday, April 18, DTE Energy says has restored power to 95 percent of the 390,000 customers impacted during the ice storm Sunday in southeast Michigan. About 20,000 customers remained without power. DTE says it has 1,600 employees working to solve the issue and has already installed 250 miles of new power lines to help. The company focused on restoring critical health and safety facilities first before moving to smaller, more complex jobs, DTE said. Crews will continue to work around the clock until all impacted customers are restored. DTE is asking the public to watch out for utility crews in there area and to report suspicious activity to police. "We are asking everyone in our community to check on their neighbors and loved ones - especially seniors and those with disabilities or medical needs," the company said in a press release. "Those who need help can call United Way's 2-1-1 crisis hotline to find local services." ANN ARBOR, MI - A man serving up to 30 years in prison for a gang-related attempted murder had a few years added to his sentence Wednesday, April 18 for assaulting jail officers. Deshawn Vawters, 24, told a judge to "eat my b**ls" in court and later spit, clawed and kicked at jail officers following his sentencing March 8, 2017, in two cases, according to witness testimony. The testimony is contained in court transcripts of a June 20 preliminary examination. Vawters was sentenced Wednesday to 22 months to 25 years in prison on one count of assault of a prison employee. He pleaded no contest to the charge on March 21 and, on Wednesday, three other counts of assault of a prison employee were dropped. The day of the 2017 sentencing, Vawters also said, "Since I'm going to prison, I'm going to stab somebody," and he'd be in the maximum-security housing unit by the end of the night, the officer tasked with transporting him to the jail testified. Vawters threatened to flood his cell and threatened an officer, according to testimony. Back at the jail, Vawters refused to move initially and then lunged at officers before going "deadweight," corrections officers testified. They carried him to his cell - a maximum-security one based on the threats - while he struggled and spit. The four officers initially listed as victims in the assault testified to being scratched by Vawters' nails or handcuffs, according to the transcripts. One also suffered an injury to his knee and back. The officer in charge of his transport denied pulling Vawters' hair or seeing anyone else do so when questioned by Vawters' attorney, transcripts show. Vawters requested a change of venue because he said the sheriff's office had a conspiracy against him and Washtenaw County Trial Court Judge Archie Brown would be biased because of name-calling, according to transcripts. The request was denied. At the sentencing Wednesday, Vawters apologized to Brown and his attorney, public defender Robin Stephens. However, Vawters said he wouldn't apologize to the transport officer in the courtroom, who was a victim in the assault. Vawters said he'd felt he was being treated unjustly at his first sentencing and said the officers said "all types of mean things" before the assault. Now, however, Vawters said he just wants to serve his time. "It's my fault for bringing other issues to what's happening here now," he said. "I'm sorry... I can't be different to nobody, man." Vawters is serving 15 to 30 years in prison for the gang-related shooting, for which he pleaded no contest to four counts of assault with intent to murder, one count of conspiracy to assault with intent to murder and a felony firearm charge. Vawters, along with two others, were accused of shooting two men in a parked car at a March 2016 party celebrating the life of Keandre Duff, who was killed in a gang-related shooting at a party almost a year earlier. One man was shot in the head and the other was shot in the buttocks. Vawters also was sentenced on March 8, 2017, in connection with a Jan. 25, 2015 incident. Vawters pleaded no contest to assault with intent to commit bodily harm less than murder in the incident and was sentenced to prison time concurrent with his other sentence. His sentence for the assault on the officers will be served consecutive to those sentences. Vawters previously testified to being shot five times in two different occurrences, once by a cousin at a barbecue. ANN ARBOR, MI - Ann Arbor officials are considering extending downtown parking meter enforcement hours into the evening and business owners are concerned about it. Members of the Main Street Area Association discussed the issue during a meeting at Conor O'Neill's on Thursday, April 19, suggesting evening parking enforcement could hurt the downtown. It's currently free to park at metered on-street spaces after 6 p.m. Monday through Saturday. Parking is free downtown on Sundays. The city is considering extending enforcement until 9 p.m. Monday through Thursday and until midnight Friday and Saturday, doing away with 24 hours per week of free on-street parking that exist now. Business owners said they already hear complaints from customers about it being difficult to park downtown and even just the discussion of increased parking enforcement hurts the downtown, as it reinforces the idea that it's a pain to go there. Conor O'Neill's owner Tom Murray recalled when the idea of evening parking enforcement came up about nine years ago. "And during the course of that, we sort of rallied the troops and we said it doesn't make sense," he said, arguing it would severely impact businesses and be detrimental for the downtown. "I think what's disheartening now is again it's nine years later and we're back in the same boat." At a city budget work session in March, Tom Crawford, the city's chief financial officer, mentioned two ideas: increasing parking meter enforcement hours and increasing penalty fines for parking tickets. Fines for tickets could go up from $20 to $35, with the discount rate for paying within 24 hours going from $10 to $15. Sandra Andrade, MSAA executive director, spoke out at the City Council's meeting Monday night, April 16, telling city officials the association, which represents many downtown businesses, opposes any increases in parking enforcement hours. She said downtown merchants are concerned that extended enforcement hours would hurt businesses in an already challenging environment. If there is going to be extended enforcement hours, she said, it's critical that such a change be paired with offering free evening parking in downtown garages or something to counter the potential negative impacts on businesses. "Just throwing it in the budget would be damaging to our downtown," she told city officials. City Administrator Howard Lazarus presented his fiscal year 2018-19 budget recommendations to the City Council Monday night, identifying parking meter hours of enforcement and parking fines as "uncertainties" at the moment, though he indicated staff will be bringing some adjustments to council for consideration. Lazarus said on Thursday the parking agreement between the city and the Downtown Development Authority requires the city to adjust the fine structure to stay in alignment with parking fee rates, and he expects that to go to council within the next few months. "We are still exploring whether or not to expand hours of enforcement," he said. "Our intent is to engage with DDA to lead a public input process prior to any recommendations being brought to council." Lazarus said the goal for now is to enable a discussion at a joint meeting of the City Council and DDA this fall. The DDA is an arm of city government that manages the downtown parking system but does not handle parking enforcement. That's done by the community standards division of the police department. Lazarus' draft city budget for the fiscal year starting July 1 shows a $302,510 increase in expected revenue under the "fines and forfeits" section of the police budget, going up from $2.4 million to $2.7 million, relating to a change in accounting for parking ticket fees. The budget includes two additional full-time police officer positions and shows expenses for the community standards division of the police department, which includes parking enforcement and other code enforcement, increasing from $1.2 million to $1.7 million. Asked if those figures should be interpreted to mean increased parking enforcement through community standards is anticipated in the budget, Lazarus said the budget is still subject to council approval, but the intent is to "provide for the initiative but not execute until we engage with the public and then obtain council approval." The City Council is expected to finalize and adopt the new budget on May 21, following a public hearing on May 7. Business owners on Thursday said they were still trying to figure out what's driving the city's consideration of evening enforcement. Along with trash in alleys, parking is a hot-button issue, said MSAA President Ed Shaffran, who owns several downtown properties, including buildings that house businesses and residents. "Parking is an essential part of our lives down here every day," he said, indicating the downtown isn't as fortunate as other business districts such as Briarwood Mall that have extensive free parking. "I don't know what the impetus is for the enforcement and I'm hoping we can get to the bottom of why," Shaffran said. "If it's a good reason, then we should support it, but if it's not a good reason, just help us out." Maura Thomson, former MSAA executive director and now DDA communications manager, said the issue of evening enforcement hasn't come up at the DDA for a while. Thomson said the DDA board in February 2017 considered a resolution to increase the city's share of downtown parking revenue from 17 percent to 20 percent, along with some parking rate increases, and evening enforcement was part of the resolution. She said the MSAA reached out to the DDA and spoke at the meeting, and DDA officials took out the evening enforcement part of the resolution. She said that was the last time the DDA addressed the issue and it hasn't come up at the DDA since. Thomson said the first time the DDA heard about the city's current consideration of evening enforcement was after it was presented at the City Council budget work session in March. "So, the origination point for bringing this issue to the table again has come from the city," Thomson said. "I do know that the city did reach out to the DDA about this and asked that, if they move forward with it, would we help communicate it. Which of course, we're a willing partner and we'll work to make things happen as smooth as possible if they happen, but that is the extent of the DDA's involvement." City Council Member Anne Bannister, D-1st Ward, attended Thursday's meeting. She sympathized with the concerns raised by business owners and said their opinions carry a lot of weight. MSAA leaders said they've asked the city why evening enforcement is being proposed and the answer they've gotten is that it's to improve parking efficiency and management. "Those are beautiful words and they probably rhyme and they go well in a song, all that kind of good stuff, but what the F does it mean?" Shaffran said. "I mean, that's all I want to know." Others said they understand it's to try to increase the frequency of turnover with prime on-street parking spaces in front of businesses and shift more people in parking garages. "I think the school of thought is you want to direct longer-term parkers to structures and you want more street spaces to be for people who want to like run in and grab a quick cup of coffee," Thomson said. "I think that's the idea behind it. It's better parking management." If it has to happen and if there are valid reasons for it, Murray said, it should be done as part of a more encompassing plan to change parking, and there has to be a free component to incentivize people. Shaffran noted there's no parking meters or city enforcement at other business districts outside the downtown area. "So, you're penalizing, by its nature, those who visit and frequent the downtown," he said. The DDA uses downtown parking revenues primarily to maintain and operate the downtown parking system. The proposed budget for the upcoming year shows the DDA is anticipating $21.2 million in parking revenue, about $4.2 million of which is a pass-through to the city's general fund. That leaves the DDA with just under $17 million in net parking revenue, $13.6 million of which is slated to go directly back into parking system operations and maintenance. Other revenues help fund transit programs to get people in and out of downtown without cars. In order to extend the hours of parking enforcement downtown, Crawford told the City Council last month the city is considering adding three community standards officers at a cost of $200,000. His budget presentation last month indicated the positions could be self-funded from ticket revenue. "That also allows us to not only address the hours of enforcement, but gives us a little capacity to deal with non-parking violations," he said, indicating the new officers could help with other code enforcement, including ticketing property owners for not shoveling sidewalks. AUBURN, MI -- For the third straight day, some Bay City Western High School students and some adults gathered to publicly wave Confederate flags, as the controversy that has sparked racial tension in the small town of Auburn receives national attention. This time, the demonstration took place in Auburn City Park off US-10. Bay City Western High School, where the protests have taken place the past two days, was closed Thursday, April 19, due to rumors people were coming to the high school to confront other students. Bay City Western Middle School, which is connected to the high school, was also closed. Several pickup trucks flying the Confederate flag were arranged in a semicircle at the public park on Thursday. Those in attendance were holding a cookout. The students and their parents expressed hostility to MLive reporters at the scene, saying they've been painted as racist. Student Cameron Myers, insisting he's not racist, reiterated he and his friends are flying the flag as "a country thing." He did not define what "a country thing" meant. Myers said he and his friends began flying the flags this week in response to a previous flag of his being removed from his truck while parked on school property by a black female classmate. "We're flying the flag because of injustice," Myers said. He declined to specify why he was motivated to have initially flown the flag from his truck the prior week. "It looks cool in the mirror," he said. His friends argued the flag is "part of American history." In a Snapchat video taken by a Western student acquired by MLive, footage depicts at least three males in a vehicle recording the flags' demonstration. At one point, one of the males can be heard swearing and using a racial slur as text appears on screen stating "Fly em high boys." The teens who were gathered in the park on Thursday said they are not associated with the students who recorded that video. The demonstrations have garnered national attention. The Washington Post, The New York Times and Fox News have all published articles on the demonstrations. Leaders in Bay County and the Great Lakes Bay Region have expressed disdain over the protests and do not feel the teens' perceptions of the flag transcends the wider historical and cultural contexts associated with the symbol. In a public Facebook post, the YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region denounced the flags' display. YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region is #OnAMission to eliminate racism. Posted by YWCA Great Lakes Bay Region on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 The YWCA's mission is to "eliminate racism, empower women, promote peace, justice, freedom, and dignity for all." Matthew Felan, president and CEO of Great Lakes Bay Regional Alliance, previously told The Bay City Times-MLive he found the flag's display disconcerting. In a Facebook post Thursday, he said: "Let's be clear. Students have the Constitutional right to fly a Confederate Flag, an ISIS Flag, a Nazi Flag, to burn the U.S. Flag, or to kneel during the national anthem. "But there are consequences for taking those actions! (Ask Colin Kaepernick) "This is going to follow these students to every single job interview, background check, college application, and beyond for the rest of their lives. "Is it really worth it?" School officials are investigating if the demonstrations were racially motivated. School board members have called for swift action. The owners of Northville Downs are exploring potential new sites in hopes of continuing operations after the racetrack is sold to a homebuilder. Hunter Pasteur Homes is purchasing the Downtown Northville site to build 500 to 600 high-end rental apartments, for-sale townhomes and single-family homes, along with commercial developments. Mike Carlo, operations manager, said on Tuesday that the development plan was in the works for three years, and was signed back in January. "But this is not the end for horse racing," said Carlo, whose great uncle built Northville Downs in 1944. "We're going to continue at Northville Downs through 2020," unless they find a new site sooner, Carlo said. Carlo did not disclose potential sites he's eyeing. He said the owners are hoping to find a modern facility nearby. "It's a very strange feeling," Carlo said. "I treat this building like my home. I'm excited to see where we are in three years." Development plans for the site will require further approvals from the city. "This project is in the preliminary stages, and we're eager to continue working with the city of Northville and our partners to iron out the numerous details that come with a project of this scale," said Randy Wertheimer, CEO of Hunter Pasteur Homes, in a Tuesday announcement. "We expect to have all entitlements in place in 2019. As more details become available, we will share them with the community." The developers plans to build on the unused parts of the site while Northville Downs continues to operate, potentially through 2020. Live horse racing has been taking place in Northville for more than 100 years. The development marks the second sale of a Detroit-area horse racing facility this month. Hazel Park Raceway announced its closure in early April after operating for nearly 70 years. "Over the past 25 years, the gaming industry has dramatically changed throughout the country," Hazel Park Raceway previously announced. "Clearly, this has had a significant impact on the proud tradition of horseracing throughout Michigan." FLINT, MI-- The Flint City Council passed a resolution April 18 asking the state to hand over $6.1 million to fund water and sewer credits. The money would come from the state's emergency reserve fund for the city's water crisis, money appropriated by the legislature but unspent so far. Councilmembers voter 8-1 in favor of the resolution with only Councilman Eric Mays voting against it. The fund became an issue when Flint Mayor Karen Weaver and Gov. Rick Snyder met earlier this week. Weaver spoke at the Wednesday council meeting about her concerns of how the fund would be used by the state. "I asked him for the $6.1 million for the Flint Water Fund and he told me he wanted to use the money for the state school Board of Education, those were his words," Weaver said of her meeting with Snyder. Both Weaver and Snyder said the reserve fund was discussed when the two met Monday, April 16, shortly before the meeting ended after about 35 minutes. The Governor's Office has said Snyder told the mayor that $4.1 million from the fund could be used to settle a lawsuit against the state, Genesee Intermediate School District, and Flint Community Schools. The lawsuit was filed by the American Civil Liberties Union and others, and representatives for the plaintiffs last week announced they had reached the settlement with the state, which had agreed to pay part of the cost of a registry for Flint children affected by the water crisis. However, any spending of the fund would have to be approved by the legislature. "We just want to get that fund back from Lansing," said Allan Griggs, Eighth Ward councilman. "If that's what this resolution will do, then I think we need to pass it." Concerns about mismanagement of the fund by the state were brought up by residents during public comment and council members during the meeting. "The state hasn't been transparent with us about the spending of the fund," said Eva Worthing, councilwoman for the Ninth Ward. "We've been kept in the dark about how the fund has been spent and we need to take control of it now." The Governor's Office responded by saying how the fund is being spent can be seen online. Anna Heaton, press secretary for Gov. Rick Snyder, previously told MLive-The Flint Journal the fund was established in 2016. Heaton said $25 million was deposited into the fund for the current fiscal year. There was also $28.9 million added to the fund for fiscal years 2016 and 2017. The money was added through the normal budgeting process with the legislature, meaning it has to be disbursed in certain ways outlined in the enacted bill, according to Heaton. Heaton previously said in an email most of the money has been used already for service line replacement as well as bottled water distribution. Most recently, $9 million was disbursed for service line replacement pursuant to the Concerned Pastors v. State of Michigan lawsuit settlement. The budget office at the state shows a fund balance of $6.1 million at this time. The remaining balance is likely to be used for continued service line replacement. The Governor's Office said it is not the city's discretion on how to spend the fund, that is up to the state's discretion because the money is provided by state taxpayers. Mays wanted to split the allocation in two and use part of the fund for a water bottling factory. He said that it costs far more than $6.1 million to provide water credits for the residents. "I think that $4.1 million, if we can get it from Snyder, which I don't he'll budget, should go towards water credits and the remaining should go to a water bottling company in Flint," Mays said. "People trust bottled water." The substitute motion to split the funds didn't have the support to be voted on and was dismissed. BURTON, MI -- A 79-year-old Flint man received five years of probation in connection with an embezzlement case over charitable gaming funds involving a Flint Township church and school. David Lee Thiese Sr. was sentenced April 16 in Genesee Circuit Court after pleading guilty to one count of embezzlement of $20,000 to $50,000 in exchange for three counts of embezzlement of $1,000 but less than $20,000 being dropped by the state. He previously agreed to repay $36,862 kept for personal use from charitable gaming profits through events held to raise money for St. Pius X Catholic Church and School. Circuit Court Judge Judith A. Fullerton ordered Thiese to begin paying the restitution, fines, court costs and an additional $600 in probation supervision fees on May 16. Thiese was accused of depositing profits from charitable gaming events licensed as benefits for the St. Pius X Catholic Church, its school and affiliated organizations held between 2012 and 2014, into a personal bank account. He served as the event chairperson for 28 gatherings during that time span. Of the $60,000 in profit from the events, only $22,900 in proceeds were given to the church, with the remaining funds placed into the account maintained by Thiese for his own personal use. Michigan law requires the entire net proceeds of a charitable gaming event be devoted exclusively to the charity's purposes. The charges against Thiese came following a joint investigation by the Michigan Gaming Control Board and the Michigan Attorney General's Office of charitable gaming events held at the former Palace Poker Room in Burton, Lucky's Poker Room in Genesee Township and Pocket Aces Poker Room in Flint Township. Operations at all three gaming sites were suspended between October and November 2013 after the investigation and have since closed despite some discussions of potentially reopening. "It's so important for charities to maintain proper oversight and accounting practices to prevent financial crime," said Richard Kalm, MGCB executive director, in a release. "It's unfortunate when MGCB investigators review event results and discover fraud, but we are here to help charities when a crime happens." Thiese is the 15th person to plead guilty in connection to charitable gaming charges associated with the three Genesee County locations since 2014. FLINT, MI -- The lawsuit that Flint officials are threatening against the state of Michigan involves more than just no-cost bottled water, Mayor Karen Weaver has told MSNBC's Rachel Maddow Show. Appearing on the program Wednesday, April 18, Weaver said the city has suffered damages because of actions by the state that are related to the water crisis, including lost population, a damaged reputation and lower property values. "We need fixtures in the home. We need in-home plumbing. We need hot water heaters," the mayor said. "These things have been damaged." Weaver threatened to sue the state on Monday, April 16, after meeting with Gov. Rick Snyder in Lansing to discuss issues including the state having ended free bottled water for distribution in the city this month. The mayor has said bottled water isn't the city's only grievance with the state, but she provided more detail about some of the potential causes of action during her appearance on the Maddow show. The Flint water crisis bloomed while the city was in a state-declared financial emergency, being run by state-appointed emergency managers, and while city water officials answered to the Michigan Department of Environmental Quality. Weaver had filed a notice of intent to sue the state in a March 24, 2016, filing with the Michigan Court of Claims, which has jurisdiction over lawsuits against the state and its agencies. In that initial filing, the state, the DEQ, and four DEQ employees were named as potential defendants. Four current and former DEQ employees currently face charges of criminal wrongdoing as well for their roles in the city's water crisis. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by Aung San Suu Kyi, taking place in the context of increased political trust and cooperation between the two nations, especially when the two countries elevated their ties to a comprehensive cooperative partnership during the State visit to Myanmar by General Secretary of the Communist Party of Vietnam Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017. Located in Southeast Asia with an area of 676,577 square metres, Myanmar is very rich in natural resources. With more than half of its area covered by forest, Myanmar provides the world with about 40 million cubic meters of timber each year, of which 30% is teak. Myanmar has 135 ethnic groups and tribes, of which the Burmese make up 68% of the population. Over the past few years, Myanmar has achieved encouraging achievements in promoting national reconciliation, national development and international integration. In economic terms, Myanmar has undertaken strong reform measures to boost investment and trade. Measures to promote economic growth have brought positive results. Specifically, Myanmar maintained a GDP growth rate of over 7% per year from 2012 to 2015, and roughly 8% in the 2016-2017 period. As a member of ASEAN and the United Nations, Myanmar firmly pursues its foreign policy of independence, activeness, and establishing friendly political relations with all countries around the world, particularly the neighbouring countries in the region. Vietnam and Myanmar share many similarities in terms of history and culture and soon established diplomatic ties. The friendly relations and cooperation between the two countries have been marked by high-level visits by the leaders of the two countries. In particular, during the state visit to Myanmar by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017, the two sides issued a joint statement on their comprehensive cooperative partnership, opening up a new page in the cooperative relations between the two countries. The two countries also carried out many practical activities to commemorate the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations in 2015. The Vietnamese people always remember the warm support and assistance of the Government and people of Myanmar towards the countrys revolutionary cause and construction. Economic cooperation, trade and investment between Vietnam and Myanmar have seen dynamic development. By 2017, two-way trade reached US$828.3 million, up 51% compared to 2016. Vietnam is Myanmar's seventh largest investor with 70 projects and a total registered capital of nearly US$2 billion. During the state visit to Myanmar by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017, the two sides signed a Memorandum of Understanding on Trade Cooperation between the Ministry of Industry and Trade of Vietnam and the Ministry of Trade of Myanmar. The two countries also set up a joint commission on economic cooperation and annual political consultation between the two ministries of foreign affairs, to regularly exchange specific measures to promote cooperation in such areas as agriculture and forestry, aquaculture, husbandry, banking and finance, telecommunications, and transportation, etc. Vietnam and Myanmar have closely cooperated in international forums, such as the United Nations, ASEAN, and other cooperative mechanisms such as the Greater Mekong Sub-region (GMS), and the cooperation among Cambodia, Laos, Myanmar and Vietnam (CLMV). The two countries also regularly coordinate and support each other in regional and international forums. Taking place in the context that the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Vietnam and Myanmar has been increasingly strengthened in a deep and effective manner, the official visit to Vietnam by Myanmar State Counsellor, Minister for Foreign Affairs and Minister of the Presidents Office Aung San Suu Kyi aims to foster the bilateral cooperation in all fields, contributing to deepening the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Vietnam and Myanmar, for peace, stability, cooperation and development in the region and around the world. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- A resident-led group hoping to bring licensed and properly regulated medicinal marijuana facilities to Grand Rapids is attempting to push the conversation forward with a November 2018 ballot proposal. The "Smart & Safe GR" campaign favors a proposal that would advocate for Grand Rapids to opt in to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. To get the proposal on the ballot, the group hopes to collect 10,000 signatures from city residents. They are in the process of finalizing petition language and seeking approval from the city clerk's office before circulating the petitions. "Voters have said they want it," said Tami Vandenberg, a local business owner and activist who supports the campaign. "Now our leaders need to take action." In 2016, state legislators passed a law that gave local governments of all sizes the option to opt in to the Michigan Medical Marihuana Facilities Licensing Act. The law allows municipalities to determine which businesses can take part in the medical marijuana industry. Grand Rapids has yet to join the more than 75 Michigan municipalities that have opted to allow medical marijuana facilities, including Kalamazoo, East Lansing, Lansing, Ypsilanti and Bay City. Grand Rapids decriminalized marijuana by public vote in 2012. The city's lack of dispensaries creates challenges for people with low income or disabilities, who are unable to conveniently travel to secure cannabis for medical treatment, according to MILegalize board member Michael Tuffelmire. Tuffelmire said the "Smart & Safe GR" campaign promotes a highly regulated industry that improves safety and access for users while also benefiting the local economy. "I'm not talking about lawlessness," he said. "But we need access here for patients." Vandenberg agreed. She said Grand Rapids is missing out on a tremendous economic opportunity, and added that city initiatives t support small business and promote equity would both be achieved by opting in. The city commission has not made allowing medical marijuana facilities a priority, but First Ward Commissioner Jon O'Connor said he'd be in favor of having the discussion. O'Connor was in attendance Thursday, April 19, supporting a community rally that introduced the 2018 "Smart & Safe GR" campaign. In 2008, Michigan voters approved a ballot issue allowing for the use of medical marijuana in the state. In the meantime, a statewide November 2018 ballot campaign is underway -- to add a proposal to legalize recreational use and possession of marijuana for people 21 years old or older. The initiative would also enact a tax on marijuana sales, and limit the number of marijuana plants an individual can have. The state is still vetting signatures collected by The Coalition to Regulate Marijuana Like Alcohol to determine if there are enough valid signatures to earn the proposal a spot on the ballot. The Grand Rapids Chamber of Commerce has voiced its opposition to the statewide marijuana proposal, calling it a "step back" for the state if it's voted on and passed. SAUGATUCK TWP, MI - An environmental group is continuing its fight against a proposed marina and development on a piece of Lake Michigan dune land at the mouth of the Kalamazoo River. The Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance announced developments in the group's attempts to stop the proposed marina and housing development at a recent press conference in Saugatuck. David Swan, the group's president, outlined the progress on two lawsuits tied to the project and announced two area Native American tribes have joined in the fight. The grassy dunes between the Kalamazoo River and Lake Michigan north of Saugatuck has been the site of activity since the early 1800s, but within the past century a land use dispute has kindled and continued to flare up as the private property has changed owners with deep pockets and big plans. The property's current owners, Jeff and Peg Padnos, are working with Holland-based developer Cottage Home on a development that would dig out a large boat basin off the river and line it with homes. The following are four points discussed at the press conference held by the Saugatuck Dunes Coastal Alliance: The Coastal Alliance sued Padnos's NorthShore of Saugatuck, alleging they knowingly broke local zoning laws. After an Allegan County judge ruled the group did not have standing to intervene, the organization has appealed to the Michigan Court of Appeals. The Coastal Alliance has been joined by two Native American tribes in an effort to appeal a Department of Environmental Quality decision allowing the proposed marina to move forward. Swan said they filed the appeal March 22. NorthShore of Saugatuck recently lost a legal claim over whether the Coastal Alliance had basis to appeal the approval of the proposed marina to the Zoning Board of Appeals, Circuit Court and the DEQ that sought damages totaling nearly $10,000. The Coastal Alliance created a fundraising William Brooks, chief legal counsel for he Nottawaseppi Huron Band of the Potawatomi, said via email the tribe has joined the Coastal Alliance as a party in the contested case hearing on the NorthShore marina. Brooks said the tribe does not generally comment on ongoing litigation, particularly at this stage of the proceedings. The Match-E-Be-Nash-She-Wish Band of Pottawatomi Indians, also known as the Gun Lake Tribe, is also listed as a petitioner in the petition for the contested case of the NorthShore permit. A spokesperson from the tribe declined to comment on the situation. The organization's lawsuit against NorthShore of Saugatuck, Swan said, is based on a local ordinance that states: "In no event shall a canal or channel be excavated for the purpose of increasing the Water Frontage required by this section." Carl Gabrielse, the Holland lawyer representing the property owners, said in a statement that the township's attorney, an outside land use specialist hired specifically to review NorthShore's plans, and the planning commission reviewed the issue and concluded the proposed boat basin complies with the ordinance. NorthShore of Saugatuck is proposing to add 3,400 feet of water access to the current property's 1,400 feet of Kalamazoo River frontage, Swan said. He said the appeal of the DEQ permit is based on state laws defining sand dune mining as the removal of sand from sand dune areas for commercial purposes, industrial purposes or both. Gabrielse disagrees with Swan's interpretation of the law. "Digging one hole and filling in another, all on the same property, does not constitute sand mining," he said. The NorthShore of Saugatuck development would remove more than 200,000 cubic yards of sand in order to build the marina. Plans call for 33 boat slips and 23 homes to be built around the marina -- with more home sites along Lake Michigan and the river. However, the developers are still awaiting a permit from the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers for the marina, Swan said. The Army Corps had requested the developers conduct an archaeological survey of the property, which was once home to the 1800s lumber town of Singapore. The archaeological field survey is not yet complete. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - A former licensed-practical nurse has been indicted on federal tampering charges for removing Valium from a bottle and diluting it before it was provided to a child in her care. Kristie Mollohan of Kalamazoo is facing three charges of tampering with a consumer product, a potential 10-year felony. Investigators determined that one of the children in her care, a 4-year-old boy, died of seizures after his medication was diluted, Allegan Police Chief Rick Hoyer said. He said Allegan police conducted a "significant" investigation into the death and worked with federal authorities before the tampering indictments were handed down by a grand jury. The indictments were filed this week in U.S. District Court in Grand Rapids. Mollohan, who worked for a Wyoming company, was a home-health nurse caring for two children in Allegan and another in Barry County, records showed. The indictment said the alleged crimes happened in August 2016. "Kristie Ann Mollohan, with reckless disregard for the risk that another person would be placed in danger of death or bodily injury and under circumstances manifesting extreme indifference to such risk, did tamper with a consumer product ...," Assistant U.S. Attorney Raymond Beckering III wrote in the indictment. "Specifically, the defendant, working as a home health nurse, tampered with a bottle of liquid diazepam (valium) prescribed to a minor, R.M., by removing the diazepam from the bottle and replacing it with another liquid, knowing that the diluted diazepam was to be dispensed to R.M." The initials stand for Ryley Maue, 4, who died Aug. 26, 2016, at his Allegan home. Indictments involving the other children contain similar allegations. Mollohan's nursing license was suspended then revoked last year, state records showed. No court hearing dates have been set. GRAND RAPIDS, MI -- The wait is over. The well-known Kent County couple with 13 sons has welcomed another baby into the family and -- you guessed it -- it's another son. Jay and Kateri Schwandt on Wednesday, April 18 announced the birth of a baby boy weighing 8 pounds, 4 ounces and 21 inches long. The baby was born shortly before 6 p.m. and came early, five days before Kateri Schwandt's expected due date. The Schwandt family, of Rockford, has been chronicled far and wide by media for their large family of boys. The oldest is 25 and the youngest is 2. A genetics counselor earlier -- when they were expecting their 13th child -- calculated the chance of giving birth to 12 sons in a row at .02 percent. Whatever the odds, Jay Schwandt is simply happy for a safe delivery for mom and baby. He said they expect to work on choosing a name for the baby as soon as Wednesday evening. ALPINE TOWNSHIP, MI - Kenowa Hills Public Schools is being highlighted by the state for raising the bar and expectations for all students by ensuring true proficiency of key concepts and skills through competency-based education. What is it? A form of personalized learning in which instruction is more student-focused and customized, according to Michigan Department of Education (MDE). "Credits and grades are based on proficiency and content standards and skills rather than on participation, seat time, tests or homework alone,'' said Sheila Alles, Chief Deputy Superintendent for the Michigan Department of Education, in a recent podcast. "Student progress is assessed in multiple ways, including activities that occur outside the classroom and is reported based on learning targets and competencies, rather than just letter grades reported over a period of time.'' Alles said Kenowa Hills, Fraser, Oakland and Dexter Community Schools, are at the cutting edge of this innovative approach. MDE recently awarded Kenowa Hills a grant for $147,550 to support its efforts in competency-based education, which the district calls Personal Mastery. By not ensuring mastery, Kenowa Hills school leaders say critical gaps in learning occur in the traditional grade-based approach to student advancement by pushing kids forward. For example, passing a test with 80, means some important knowledge was still missed. "We have been working hard to rethink and redesign what the optimal educational experience should look like for our learners and these grant resources will be a significant boost in helping our team make this vision a reality,'' said Kenowa Hills Superintendent Gerald Hopkins. Working with their teacher, students set individual learning goals in addition to the learning targets for their class. Personal Mastery approach allows teachers to interact with students individually or in small groups to work on areas of weaknesses. The 3,092-student district also places a focus on collaboration. Students are encouraged to work together to increase their understanding of the subject matter, including through group discussion and problem solving. Hopkins said the traditional model for education was never designed for the success of all students. He said their staff has worked tirelessly to redesign the traditional educational system. Alles said personalized learning is one of the state's focus areas for realizing its goal of becoming a Top 10 education state in 10 years. "We want to thank these districts for their pioneering work in this area and encourage all educators to begin to explore these efforts in all of the other innovations identified in the goals and strategies in Michigan's top 10 in 10 strategic plan,'' she said. In her podcast, Alles said that leaders in business and industry say that they need employees who are collaborative problem solvers and who has strong critical thinking and communication skills. She said competency-based education confirms those skills have been mastered. The district plans to use the grant to hire a specialist to provide ongoing and consistent professional development to instructional and leadership staff and refine building action plans. The other six schools receiving grants totaling $500,000 were: GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Kenowa Hills High School beat out three other schools to win the first 2018 Prom of the Week for the Grand Rapids area. In a poll on MLive.com that closed at noon today, Kenowa Hills garnered 40.5 percent of the 3,709 votes cast to win what was a competitive contest that also included Hudsonville, Grandville and Jenison schools. As the winner, Kenowa Hills has ensured MLive's The Grand Rapids Press will be present to create of photo gallery of students celebrating their prom Friday, April 20, at the Grand Rapids Downtown Market. The theme is "Enchanted Evening.'' The voting went back and forth with three different schools having the edge. Grandville was in striking distance at the wire with 33.4 percent of the vote. Prom season kicked off this month in West Michigan. MLive cover as many as possible through the end of May. Log into MLive this weekend for pictures of Kenowa Hills and other schools. Check out MLive Tuesday, April 24, to see the Kent and Ottawa high schools competing in the second Prom of the Week. Anyone can vote in the prom poll - students, parents, teachers, community members, and alumni. LANSING, MI - A Kent County resident was killed in a three-vehicle crash near Lansing Wednesday night. The crash is still being investigated by police. At this point, police are not naming the person killed in the crash. Michigan State Police Sgt. Barry Schrader said troopers were dispatched to a crash involving a semitrailer at 4:47 p.m. on April 18 in Clinton County. Schrader said an eastbound van driven by a Kent County resident collided with the back of a semitrailer on Grand River Avenue west of Lansing. The impact with the semitrailer caused the van to hit another eastbound vehicle, a Ford sedan, police said. The Kent County resident was pronounced dead at the scene, Schrader said. He said the semitrailer driver was not injured and the Ford sedan driver was treated for non-life-threatening injuries at a local hospital. It is unknown if drugs or alcohol were contributing factors in the crash at this time, police said. State troopers were assisted at the scene by the Clinton County Sheriff's Office, Delta Township Fire Department, Michigan State Police 6th District Accident Reconstructionist and the Michigan Department of Transportation. WYOMING, MI -- A person was found dead in a bedroom of a Wyoming house as firefighters worked to extinguish a fire at the residence. Wyoming police said firefighters responded at 8:54 a.m. Thursday, April 19 to 1263 Rathbone St. SW on a report of a fire. Firefighters arrived to find an electric meter on fire on the home's exterior, but there also was evidence of fire inside the house. Firefighters went inside to extinguish the flames, located in a rear bedroom, and found a person dead inside the room. A Wyoming fire inspector is working to determine the cause of the fire. Wyoming police said the state police and state fire marshal's office are assisting in the investigation. The name of the person who died has not been released. GRAND RAPIDS, MI - Police arrested two suspects in an armed robbery at Independent Bank this week. The robbery happened around 10:05 a.m. Tuesday at Independent Bank at 3090 Plainfield Avenue NE. Police said that bank workers, witnesses and a Grand Rapids police fugitive task force member led to the discovery of a getaway vehicle within 24 hours of the holdup. Detectives then arrested the suspects. Grand Rapids police are investigating with the FBI. Bank robbed in Northeast Grand Rapids 9 Gallery: Bank robbed in Northeast Grand Rapids The suspects are held in the Kent County Jail while local and federal officials determine where charges will be filed. Police said that one of the alleged robbers, armed with a handgun, demanded money from a bank teller. After obtaining an undisclosed amount of money, the robber got into an awaiting vehicle, a black BMW. The vehicle was seen headed north. Police asked anyone with additional information to call 456-4600, or Silent Observer at 774-2345 or www.silentobserver.org ST. IGNACE, MI -- The shipping company recently named as the party responsible for damage to underwater power lines and the controversial Line 5 oil and gas pipeline in the Straits of Mackinac has been tied to maritime hazards at least once before. State officials filed a lawsuit against VanEnkevort Tug and Barge Inc., based in Escanaba, on Thursday, April 19, in Ingham County Circuit Court. A VanEnkevort tugboat, the Clyde S. VanEnkevort, dragged its anchor through the straits on April 1, resulting in damage to American Transmission Company's high-voltage power cables and the twin Line 5 pipelines, according to a press release from Michigan Attorney General Bill Schuette's office. "This incident raises red flags as to how an anchor drag like this could happen," Schuette said. "We must hold VanEnkevort responsible for the clear violations of state law." The company is "actively engaged with the Coast Guard" in its ongoing investigation, a spokesperson says, though VankEnkevort has stopped short of admitting responsibility for the damage to the underwater crossings or the resulting spill. The incident in the Straits of Mackinac was not the first time the company faced an accusation of negligence. A federal lawsuit settled in 2012 centered around a December 2005 incident involving the company's tugboat, Joyce L. VanEnkevort, which ran aground and lost a rudder in Marquette's Lake Superior harbor. A diver, who was also a Marquette police officer, confirmed the damage to the boat and searched unsuccessfully for the broken rudder in the harbor, according to court documents. The company never reported the loss of the boat's rudder to either the Coast Guard or the Marquette Board of Light and Power, which operated the dock the boat was using. The broken rudder remained a hidden hazard in Marquette's Lake Superior harbor until another tugboat ran into it in April 2008, damaging the boat owned by Interlake Steamship Co., according to court documents. The damage to Interlake Steamship's tugboat resulted in an oil spill, and the company later reported in court documents that repairs and cleanup costs associated with the spill totaled more than $1.4 million. VanEnkevort's failure to report the incident, said to be "the fifth time the Joyce had lost a rudder," was highlighted in from U.S. Magistrate Judge Timothy Greeley. "It is undisputed that defendant VanEnkevort did not notify the Coast Guard or MBLP (Marquette Board of Light and Power) about the lost rudder and that the position of the lost rudder was not properly marked to prevent a maritime accident," Greeley wrote. A spokesperson for VanEnkevort Tug and Barge pointed to changes that have occurred since the 2005, declining to answer further questions about the incident. "In reference to the 2005 rudder incident, the company is under completely new management now and we're not going to speculate about what happened in the past," company spokesperson Darrell Wilson said in a statement. In between the two shipping companies, VanEnkevort agreed to pay $1.4 million to Interlake Steamship Co. American Transmission Company, a Wisconsin-based utility, has been working with the U.S. Coast Guard and other authorities to clean up an estimated 600 gallons of dielectric fluid that leaked into the water from the ruptured power lines. Enbridge claims its Line 5 pipeline maintained its structural integrity, though both Enbridge and ATC are still in the process of conducting inspections of the damage. A tugboat equipped with sonar scanning equipment was deployed Tuesday, April 17, and continued its work Wednesday surveying the ATC lines to locate the damaged areas, according to a statement from U.S. Coast Guard Lt. j.g. Sean Murphy. Once that process is complete, Murphy said, a remote-operated underwater vehicle will be sent down to obtain images of the damage to the power cables. An Enbridge Energy spokesperson said the company will use a similar process to confirm and assess damage to the Line 5 pipelines. Though VanEnkevort Tug and Barge has not admitted responsibility, Wilson did confirm one of its tugboats and one of its barges were among the boats passing through the straits on April 1. "We are fully participating with all relevant authorities as they conduct the investigation," company spokesperson Darrell Wilson said in a statement. "Due to the ongoing investigation it would be inappropriate for us to comment further at this time." On the company's website, VanEnkevort Tug and Barge refers to itself as a "privately owned, U.S. flag bulk transport company servicing the mining, steel and construction industries on the Great Lakes." The company was named the responsible party in a press release issued by the attorney general's office Tuesday morning, April 17. Schuette was previously asked to take action by the governor's office on Wednesday, April 11. The governor's office was the first to confirm, in a press release from Lt. Gov. Brian Calley, an "anchor strike" as the cause of the damage to the underwater power cables. The same press release confirmed Line 5 had been damaged in the incident, something neither Enbridge nor the Coast Guard had previously confirmed. The Coast Guard has also not confirmed VanEnkevort's involvement, declining to release any details about its ongoing investigation into the cause of the dielectric fluid spill. A spokesperson for the governor's office also declined to confirm VanEnkevort's involvement as stated by Schuette's office. The attorney general's office explained they worked with investigators from the Department of Environmental Quality and Department of Natural Resources to determine the Clyde S. VanEnkevort was passing through at the same time American Transmission Company's cables were damaged -- pointing to the boat as the apparent cause of the damage. The attorney general's civil lawsuit is brought to enforce the water resources protection portion of the Michigan Natural Resources and Environmental Protection Act (NREPA), which forbids the direct or indirect discharge of substances into water that are potentially damaging to, among other things, fish and other aquatic life, according to a press release from Schuette's office. Each discharge is punishable by a civil fine of up to $25,000 per day of violation, as well as damages for harm to natural resources, surveillance and enforcement costs, attorney's fees and court costs. The lawsuit seeks several outcomes, according to the release: * Require VanEnkevort to implement protective measures to ensure this sort of event does not happen again. Such protective measures include, but are not limited to, installing specific safety equipment on its vessels and training its employees. * Require the company pay a civil fine for causing the release of hazardous fluid into the Straits of Mackinac. * Require the company compensate the public for potential damages related to violations of law. * Repay the costs of inspection, surveillance and enforcement incurred by the state, plus attorney fees and court costs. This civil action against Van Enkevort only applies to state civil violations, and does not address any federal law claims, criminal culpability or liability of individuals who may be responsible. CHARLEVOIX COUNTY, MI - A Charlevoix man died last week after he was shot in what police called a "very rare" firearm accident at an apartment in Charlevoix. Gregory Van Stedum died Saturday, April 14, at McLaren Northern Michigan Hospital in Petoskey. Van Stedum, who family members said experienced a miraculous recovery from a painful nervous system disorder several years ago, was 36 at the time of his death. Police said the accident occurred shortly after 4 p.m. at an apartment on May Street. A friend of Van Stedum's brought a newly purchased .45 caliber handgun to the apartment to show it off. Charlevoix Police Chief Gerard Doan said the gun owner unloaded the firearm and handed it to his friend. When he got it back, he put the magazine in, pulled the slide back and let it go. "Somehow it went off and struck his friend," Doan said. Van Stedum was shot in the side. He was transported to the hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Police called the shooting an accident and said the gun was legally owned. The case was forwarded by police to the county prosecutor's office to determine if charges would be filed as a result. Emily Van Stedum said her husband will be remembered as a "caring, compassionate and gentle man" who put everyone around him in a good mood. She called him an "amazing dad" to their 1-year-old daughter, Violet. "He was the love of my life," she said. "He touched a lot of people." The couple met in high school and dated for almost 18 years. At some point during the first half of their relationship, Greg Van Stedum was diagnosed with Reflex Sympathetic Dystrophy Syndrome -- a progressive nervous system disease characterized by severe burning pain. His wife said he was bedridden for seven years with hypersensitivity in his legs. Medical experts around the country weren't able to provide him much relief. Then one day, shortly before his 30th birthday, his wife said she witnessed a miracle. Greg Van Stedum's family laid their hands on him and prayed for his health, she recalled. Afterward, the pain subsided and he began a three-year process of physical therapy to eventually return to walking on his own. "Doctors said he wouldn't be able to walk again," Emily Van Stedum said. "He was healed by God. He was the miracle man." Greg Van Stedum was interested in military history, and enjoyed cooking, playing cards, "airsofting," deer hunting, shooting guns and having family outings in the backyard. He was his daughter's primary caregiver while his wife went to school to become a nurse. She is now less than two weeks away from graduation. "We're just in shock," Emily Van Stedum said. "I have moments where I just bawl my eyes out and the next I'm OK. He was my other half." A funeral service is scheduled for 4 p.m. Saturday, April 21, at Center Point Assembly Church, 05291 M-66 in Charlevoix. A visitation will be held 4-8 p.m. Friday, April 20, at the Winchester Chapel of Mortensen Funeral Homes. In lieu of flowers, Van Stedum's family asks that memorial contributions be made to the "Violet and Emily VanStedum Fund" through Charlevoix State Bank. A GoFundMe account was been created by the family to raise funds to assist his wife and daughter. Michigan's official job creation numbers give a glimpse into how employment options are changing for the state's residents. The overall picture from 2017 is one with $7.8 billion of private investment and 45,000 new jobs promised to the state, based on incentive programs funded by the public-private partnership at the Michigan Economic Development Corporation. Of those jobs, 16,690 were tied to state incentives, including tax breaks, according to MEDC mapping of the job creation from 850 projects. Public support for all projects totaled $657,519,383. A closer look at the incentive job growth in Michigan shows that many are still tied to manufacturing and the automotive industry. At the same time, most of the positions are headed to the southern Lower Peninsula, creating a geographic divide in opportunity at the same time the state is battling to increase its skilled workforce. "The vast majority of Michigan (job growth) is south of a line from Saginaw to Ludington," said Charles Ballard, economist at Michigan State University. "I don't see that changing any time soon." The geographic clustering mirrors what researchers are seeing nationally, with higher-skilled job growth taking place in metro areas. It's a phenomenon made obvious by Amazon's recent search for a new second headquarters in a city of one million people or more with access to technology talent, higher education and public transportation. In Michigan, residents see it as businesses and the workforce expand in Detroit, Ann Arbor and Grand Rapids, creating spikes in housing costs and increased services business in their wake. But it's also playing out as Michigan's economic developers battle regionally and nationally to bring high-paying jobs to a state that already is struggling to fill its available jobs requiring skilled labor. "Our biggest challenge is in the talent space," said Jeff Mason, CEO of the MEDC. Michigan Economic Development Council projects map This map from MEDC data shows all sponsored projects in 2017, and which ones included new jobs and required specific private funding. Mason cited forecasts that call for 811,000 jobs paying at least $60,000 per year that will need to be filled in the state by 2024. Those jobs won't be low-skilled manufacturing positions that built Michigan's middle class. Instead, they'll be the types of jobs the state needs to preserve its middle earners - software developers, health care workers, people capable of programming and running advanced manufacturing equipment. "How we fill those jobs is pretty important in term of the trajectory of the state," Mason said. The MEDC is under Michigan's Department of Talent & Economic Development. The agency also operates the Talent Investment Agency, which tackles workforce development and other issues related to job skills. It's the MEDC's role, as a public-private entity with a $53.7 million budget, to focus on "business development and attraction, community development, providing access to capital and improving Michigan's image and brand." The jobs promised to Michigan through the MEDC in 2017, Mason's first year as CEO, represent about 50 percent more than the 30,300 annual goal. The year-end report card compiled by the agency showed that it significantly exceeded other goals like private investment, business starts, revitalized building square footage and reactivated public spaces. Yet the state found that in the 2017 fiscal year, many of the incentivized jobs paid less than the $2 per hour average wage increase sought. Last year's new jobs supported by tax incentives paid, on average, less than regional wages in 6 of the 9 regions that gained state-supported jobs. Officials say that gap is closing so far in 2018. The wage disparity reached $4.21 per hour in the Upper Peninsula, where new jobs paid on average $14.09, and Metro Detroit, where the incentivized jobs paid $25.77 per hour, compared to the average regional wage that was $2.21 higher. New jobs paid more in southwest Michigan, east central Michigan, and southeast Michigan outside of Metro Detroit. The situation is improving so far in 2018, Mason said. "We've seen a pretty big swing back the other way there," he said of the current fiscal year. Overall, the incentivized jobs are tracking at $5.50 per hour above regional wages. "Certainly, we are interested in bringing better than average or average wages in terms of projects that we are incenting." The wage disparity by region is only part of the geographic difference. "What we're trying to do is make sure all areas of the state are able to fully participate in the economy," Mason said. But in practice, the state-supported jobs are flowing into Metro Detroit and, to a lesser degree, the Flint/Saginaw area and greater Grand Rapids. Of the 16,690 jobs supported by the MEDC in the 2017 fiscal year, 13,934 - or 84 percent - were located in those areas. Another 1,612 were along the I-94 corridor communities. Yet in some of the areas of the state experiencing the highest unemployment and steepest per-capita income drops, it's a reminder that all job-creation is not equal in Michigan. In 2017, only 2.5 percent of jobs receiving state tax incentives were created in Northern Michigan or the Upper Peninsula. In the case of the Northeast region, zero jobs were committed among seven projects passing through the MEDC's programs in the region that includes cities like Alpena, West Branch and Cheboygan. Searchable database: MEDC 2017 projects Search by cities, companies or industries to find detailed lists of the funding, programs and jobs committed for each communtiy Mason said he wouldn't call that type of jobs clustering a concern. Divisions of the MEDC are working with nearly 200 communities, many of them small, "to really help them plan for and identify what their assets are, and how those communities ... participate in the economy and be really successful." But the numbers show that isn't likely to mean that a small town in upper Michigan will land enough significant numbers of new manufacturing jobs, like the 145 promised by Zhongding USA in Cadillac last year. More likely scenarios for larger commitments will be the 118 jobs coming to Traverse City with a new hotel on a former brownfield. And the number of automotive related jobs still coming to Michigan will be increasingly focused on high-tech advanced manufacturing, including in the corridor from Detroit to Ann Arbor to East Lansing, Ballard said. "A lot of that has to do with research," he said. "... It's not easy. We all wish that we could snap our fingers and bring a whole bunch of $30-an-hour jobs. "But it's not easy to do that," Ballard said. "It's going to take time." Over the course of the next several months, MLive will explore issues of economy, education and infrastructure, and what Michigan leaders need to do to create a better future. We'd love to hear from you, about your struggles and your wins, as you navigate Michigan's economic landscape. We want to use your voice and your questions to frame the conversation with candidates as we head into midterm elections. Have a story to share, send us an email to michiganbeyond@mlive.com LANSING, MI - A bill taking aim at deer sterilization programs like the city of Ann Arbor's passed the House 69-40 this week. Most Michigan cities manage deer populations through culling and controlled hunts. But the Department of Natural Resources made an exception for Ann Arbor, which is using a mix of lethal and non-lethal deer management techniques - namely capturing and sterilizing the deer -- under a DNR research permit. When it was originally introduced, House Bill 5321 would have stopped the issuance of any sterilization permits altogether and put an end to Ann Arbor's program. But sponsor Rep. Triston Cole, R-Mancelona, said the city's research could continue under the bill as it passed the House. "It stops the future permits. It allows Ann Arbor to continue forward with this permit and then there's a two-year timeframe where there would be a moratorium on permits being issued while the data is scrutinized," Cole said. As it passed the House prohibits the Department of Natural Resources from issuing new sterilization permits until April 1, 2022. After studying the results of Ann Arbor's research permit, the DNR has to submit a report to the legislature and make a recommendation as to whether or not sterilization of deer should be allowed in the future. Ann Arbor Democrats Rep. Adam Zemke and Rep. Yousef Rabhi were two of the represetnatives who voted against the bill. Rabhi said he saw it as a matter of local control, and Ann Arbor was examining what worked best in it community. "I think a big part of it for me was, you know, the issue of why was the state meddling in this issue," Rabhi said. He said the initial legislation that would have ended the program altogether was worse, in his opinion. But the sterilization issue fits into a larger picture where the legislature has moved to preempt local governments, and specifically Ann Arbor, on other issues like plastic bag bans and soda taxes. "I think it's part of a trend that we're seeing and I do think it is targeted. And it's unfortunate. This is not what the state is supposed to be doing," Rabhi said. Cole said he brought up the legislation after speaking with sportsmen who disapproved of the method. "This is something that there was a major, loud outcry from the sportsmen's community that were very frustrated that sportsmen, who are supposed to be the tool used for population management by the Department of Natural Resources were not used in this instance. And hence, the bill came forward," Cole said. The bill heads now to the full Senate. It would need to pass the Senate and be signed by Gov. Rick Snyder to become law. (UPDATED 4:50 P.M.) JACKSON, MI - Jackson High School was put on lockdown Thursday afternoon after bullets struck the building. The lockdown was put into effect at 1:44 p.m., April 19, after shots were fired from outside the school building at 544 Wildwood Ave., Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Beal said. Jackson police responded immediately, he said. Two bullets entered two separate classrooms through windows on the lower level of the building, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said. Both classrooms were occupied by students and teachers at the time, Beal said. No students or staff were injured in the incident, he said. Police believe the shots were fired from somewhere near the Renaissance Apartments, 720 W. Michigan Ave., across the street from the school, Hitt said. Police are still working to determine if the school was shot at intentionally, Hitt said. The lockdown was lifted after about 30 minutes, following an all-clear from police, which allowed students to dismiss for the day at their regular time, Beal said. There was heavy police supervision at the school assisting with student departure. "We are grateful to JPD being on site to secure our facility and help students exit the building," Beal said. "Officers helped get our walkers home and helped with transportation and busing. We are extremely grateful to JPD." No arrests have been made yet. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Jackson Police Det. Brett Stiles at 517-768-8722 or anonymously leave a tip with Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at 855-840-7867. JACKSON, MI - Classes are being canceled in Jackson Public Schools on Friday in the wake of an incident in which two occupied high school classrooms were struck by bullets. Jackson High School, 544 Wildwood Ave., was the "unfortunate victim of neighborhood violence," Jackson Public Schools Superintendent Jeff Beal said of the shooting that occurred at about 1:44 p.m. Thursday, April 19. Two bullets that police say likely came from somewhere near the Renaissance Apartments across the street from the high school entered two separate classrooms through windows on the lower level. Though both rooms were occupied at the time, no staff members or students were injured, Beal said. Police are still working to determine if the school was shot at intentionally, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said. The decision to cancel school on Friday, April 20, is based on the unsettling nature of the incident and to allow the district to provide specialized support for staff members and students in the affected classrooms, Beal said. JPS is partnering with the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services and its Crisis Intervention Stress Management Team to provide that counseling on Friday, Beal said. In addition, counselors will be available for all Jackson High School students when classes resume on Monday, April 23, Beal said. All extracurricular activities on Friday are going on as planned, Beal said. The shooting still is under investigation. No arrests have yet been made. Anyone with information about this incident is asked to contact Jackson Police Det. Brett Stiles at 517-768-8722 or anonymously leave a tip with Crime Stoppers of Mid-Michigan at 855-840-7867. JACKSON, MI - An intoxicated motorist was arrested Wednesday night after he crashed into a home near N. West Avenue. Police and rescue crews were called at 11:25 p.m., April 18, to the home in the 600 block of Dewey Avenue, Jackson Director of Police and Fire Services Elmer Hitt said. Officers discovered an intoxicated 27-year-old man behind the wheel of a pickup parked in the front lawn of the home, Hitt said. The truck's airbags were deployed in the crash and the man appeared to be uninjured, Hitt said. He was the only occupant in the truck, he said. The man was arrested and is currently lodged in the Jackson County Jail awaiting arraignment for his second operating while intoxicated offense, Hitt said. The truck hit the southeast side of the home. The damage to the home did not appear to be significant, Hitt said. The incident is still under investigation. JACKSON, MI - Michigan State Police investigated an allegation Jackson County Sheriff Steven Rand misappropriated money from the Jackson County Jail commissary fund to purchase a $32,300 take-home work SUV exclusively for his use. Sheriff's Lt. Tommy Schuette made the complaint and a detective began a "public integrity" investigation in late January, according to a police report. This was weeks before Schuette sued Rand and Jackson County, alleging Rand created a hostile work environment and the county retaliated against him for reporting Rand's conduct. In May, the sheriff's office bought the 2017 Ford Explorer for $30,359 plus $1,952 in "trim level or options." The money for the vehicle came from the general fund, capital improvement budget designated for sheriff vehicles, Undersheriff Chris Kuhl has said, and provided documentation. The documents, which Kuhl earlier gave to the Citizen Patriot/MLive, are included in the police report, obtained this week through a Freedom of Information Act request. The police report shows state police Detective Sgt. Christopher Corriveau asked Kuhl whether money was transferred from the commissary account into the general fund to purchase the Explorer, but Kuhl's response is redacted. Whole sections of the report are blank. No accounts of statements made by Kuhl or Schuette are included. Information on the conclusions or status of the investigation also is removed. Detective 1st Lt. Tom DeClercq of the Lansing-based First District Special Investigation Section said he took the report to the attorney general's office in March. When asked about the case last week, Megan Hawthorne, a spokeswoman for Attorney General Bill Schuette, wrote in an email: "We do not comment on open or pending investigations." An effort to again contact Hawthorne on Wednesday was not successful. "We are confident that upon review, the attorney general will find that expenditures were appropriate and well within the standards of accepted accounting practices. Furthermore, any allegation that we used Commissary Account funds to purchase a vehicle is simply ridiculous," Kuhl wrote in a Wednesday email. In the police report, there are commissary records from February 2017 to May 2017. At that time, the fund took in about $99,000; about $72,000 was spent and none of it appears to have been transferred to the general fund. During same period, the county Personnel and Finance Committee approved in February 2017 the purchase of seven sheriff's vehicles, including a $26,944 SUV "investigative vehicle" with a "street appearance" to replace a 2008 Chevy Impala with a failed engine. The information presented to the committee did not specify that the vehicle was for Rand, a fact that has since invited scrutiny. A memo on the agenda item is included in the state police report. In December, $96,500 was transferred from the commissary account to the general fund, records obtained from the sheriff's office show. "The check went back to the general fund as revenue to the County of Jackson to offset the costs of county jail operations," Kuhl wrote. In December 2016, $51,226 went to the general fund from the commissary account. "That was the whole intent of commissary, to provide revenue to the county and reduce costs to the taxpayers while enhancing the security of the facility," Kuhl wrote. "As we continued to reduce our budgets over the last several years we were challenged by the county administrator in our budget meetings to find new inventive ways to raise revenue and reduce costs. "The sale of commissary like this is fairly common practice throughout the state." Grand Rapids-based Canteen Services Inc., which contracts with the sheriff's office, sells snacks, pop, soup, select magazines, games, coffee and other such items to inmates, who pay from their individual accounts. Purchases are made through the commissary system - using kiosks; there is no exchange of cash - and the provider issues the sheriff's office checks for the profits. This money goes toward building maintenance, equipment and protection for corrections deputies, inmate education/recreation/religious services and jail facility needs, Kuhl wrote. "Commissary can be used for anything, to my knowledge there are no stringent requirements...," Kuhl wrote He used these examples of expenses: TVs for inmate quarters, barrack door replacements, digital cameras, computer monitors for the jail education program, mat runners for public lobbies, bus tickets for indigent inmates to return home, food for trustees who miss meals while working on projects, basketballs for inmate recreation time and bullet proof/cut resistant vests for transport officers. A three-year record of transactions, obtained from Kuhl through the Freedom of Information Act, shows mostly smaller purchases, such as $15.85 for Spanish bibles, $224 for vacuum bags, $554 for USB flashdrives, $500 for a clergy dinner, $409 for White's Chicken for trustees, $515 for "shakedown cameras." In 2016, about $11,000 was spent on new mattresses. "Each year for the counties annual audit all the bank statements are supplied along with any further requested supporting documentation for expenditures," Kuhl wrote. Last year, "total inflows" were about $289,341, according to records from the sheriff office. Outflows exceeded this by about $47,800. In 2017, the commissary took in about $254,800. About $258,900 was spent. Bank documents, however, show the fund maintains a positive balance. In January, the most recent month provided, there was a total balance of $62,239, documents provided by Kuhl show. As of Dec. 15, there was nearly $154,000 in the account. Extortion inquiry The report also mentions an extortion investigation involving Tommy Schuette. DeClercq earlier confirmed such an inquiry, but did not name the lieutenant as the subject. Jackson County Administrator Michael Overton contacted DeClercq and informed him "Schuette had met with him and played recordings of the Jackson County sheriff making inappropriate statements," the report states. "Additionally, Overton alleged that Lt. Schuette had demanded money or he would release the aforementioned recordings." On Feb. 5, Corriveau met with Overton and Human Resources Director Richard Martonchik. Information about their interviews and their written statements are deleted from the police report. The detective talked to Schuette at the state police Lansing post on Feb. 27. Details of this also are redacted. A March 1 letter from Schuette's lawyer, Jim Fett, is quoted in the report. "I understand that you interviewed (Schuette)... I further understand that you began inquiring on topics that can only be related to his civil litigation. Accordingly, he will not be answering any further questions regarding the lawsuit or what his demands are with regard to the county and Sheriff Rand," Fett wrote to Corriveau. In an answers to Schuette's lawsuit, both the sheriff and county accuse Schuette of attempted extortion. County officials allege Schuette told Overton and Martonchik he wanted three years of salary as though he were in a deferred retirement option plan program, the county to fund three years of additional service for his pension and the county to terminate Rand, an elected official. Fett has called extortion a wild claim. He said there would be no basis for criminal charges. "I've seen this many times over, where, instead of taking responsibility for their actions, the person, the aggrieved person is all of a sudden a bad guy. It is just a way of shifting responsibility for what went on." Fett said Schuette did not use the tapes to get what he wanted. "Rather he released them so people would believe him, and people could verify the horrendous things that that sheriff said." In mid-February Fett provided hours of recordings to MLive. The sheriff is heard making offensive comments, mostly about women. He calls Chief Circuit Judge Susan Jordan a "scatter-brained c---" and discusses the creation of a pornographic murder film involving a female court employee. Rand had admitted his voice is on the tapes and repeatedly apologized. When Schuette went to the state police about the alleged financial improprieties, he "also made allegations against the Jackson County sheriff reference racial and sexual bias," according to the state police report. JACKSON, MI - Babies and domestic migration are to credit, as Jackson County saw its population increase in 2017 for the first since 2012. Population estimates from the U.S. Census Bureau show Jackson County had roughly 158,640 residents as of July 1, 2017. That number is up 0.3 percent - or about 425 people - from 2016. Here's the breakdown in Jackson County estimates since the last Census was taken in 2010. 2010: 160,119 2011: 159,625 2012: 159,908 2013: 159,558 2014: 159,343 2015: 159,191 2016: 158,215 2017: 158,640 Most of the increase is due to domestic migration - which includes people moving to the county from anywhere in the United States - Census data shows. The county had a net gain of 251 residents last year in that category. Jackson County also had a net gain of 72 for international migration. More births than deaths also helped the numbers. Census estimates from July 1, 2017 marked 1,711 births and 1,599 deaths since the previous year. Counties surrounding Jackson saw similar increases in population, with the exception of Calhoun County. Here's the 2016 to 2017 change for neighboring counties. Hillsdale: 45,767 to 45,879 (0.2 percent increase) Lenawee: 98,510 to 98,623 (0.1 percent increase) Washtenaw: 364,752 to 367,627 (0.8 percent increase) Ingham: 287,933 to 290,186 (0.8 percent increase) Calhoun: 134,178 to 134,128 (0.0 percent decrease) The state of Michigan grew in population for the sixth straight year. Michigan's population went from 9,933,445 to 9,962,311 in 2017, also a 0.3 percent increase. BROOKLYN, MI - One of Michigan International Speedway's final sponsorship gaps has been filled, as Consumers Energy has signed a multi-year agreement to sponsor the August NASCAR Cup Series races at the track. Consumers, a public utility based in Jackson, provides natural gas or electricity to two-thirds of the Lower Peninsula's roughly 10 million people. The Consumers Energy 400 is scheduled for 2:30 p.m. on Sunday, Aug. 12. Tickets start at $35. All four NASCAR races for 2018 at MIS now have title sponsors. Battle Creek's FireKeepers Casino signed a multi-year agreement earlier this year to sponsor the June Cup Series races. Sturgis-based LTi Printing and Brighton-based Corrigan Oil are sponsoring the Xfinity Series and Truck Series races, respectively. The Consumers-MIS pairing isn't a new one. Past partnerships include Consumers working with MIS in 2014 to help the track and its fans save energy and promote environmental sustainability. "Consumers Energy is proud to support a great family tradition for Michiganders who enjoy seeing NASCAR come to Michigan year after year at MIS," Consumers President and CEO Patti Poppe said in a press release. "We look forward to powering this event and MIS, spurring economic growth for our hometowns." Financial terms for the deal weren't disclosed, however Pure Michigan paid $725,000 to sponsor the race in 2017. The Travel Michigan campaign ended it's seven-year run of sponsoring the race this year as it shifts its marketing strategy to a more targeted approach through digital campaigns, said Dave Lorenz, vice president of Travel Michigan. Only the June 8 ARCA Racing Series 200-mile event is without a sponsor for 2018, at MIS. This series is not affiliated with NASCAR and often features young drivers looking to work their way up through the ranks. Here's a look at the racing schedule for the track in 2018. ARCA Racing Series race: Friday, June 8, 5:30 p.m. LTi Printing 250 Xfinity Series race: Saturday, June 9, 1:30 p.m. FireKeepers Casino 400 Cup Series race: Sunday, June 10, 2 p.m. Corrigan Oil 200 Truck Series race: Saturday, Aug. 11, 1 p.m. Consumers Energy 400 Cup Series race: Sunday, Aug. 12, 2:30 p.m. Through the agreement, Consumers will use television, radio and social mediums to promote the advantages of clean energy, per the MIS release. The sponsorship is funded through shareholder dollars, not customer dollars, according to Consumers officials. "We strive to work with Michigan-based companies like Consumers Energy who continue to give back to the community," MIS President Rick Brenner said in the release. "We are looking forward to working together to provide our guests an awesome experience each August for many years to come." * Deepening the comprehensive cooperative partnership between Vietnam and Myanmar * Myanmar State Counsellor begins official visit to Vietnam The Myanmar State Counsellor is on her official visit to Vietnam from April 19-20 at the invitation of the Vietnamese PM. This is the first official visit to Vietnam by Aung San Suu Kyi as State Counsellor, in the context of the two sides have set up the bilateral comprehensive cooperative partnership in August 2017. At the talks, PM Phuc expressed his support for Myanmar during the national reconciliation and construction. Aung San Suu Kyi congratulated Vietnam on obtaining important achievements over the past 30 years of renovation, especially in ensuring social welfare and sustainable development. Both sides shared the view that the upgrade of bilateral ties to comprehensive strategic partnership during Myanmar visit by Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in August 2017 has opened up a new chapter in bilateral ties. Political, national defence-security, economic-trade-investment ties have been growing. Vietnam is now the ninth largest trade partner and the seventh foreign investor of Myanmar. They vowed to further boost political and diplomatic collaboration via facilitating all-level visits through the Party, Government, State, National Assembly channels and people-to-people exchange, accelerate the organisation of the ninth Vietnam - Myanmar Joint Commission, soon approve the Action Programme to realise the bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership for 2018-2023. They agreed to further deepen bilateral trade and investment on win-win basis towards achieving US$1 billion or higher in two-way trade. After the welcoming ceremony, PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc holds talks with Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai) Speaking highly of Vietnams projects in Myanmar and the PMs sharing of experience in renovation and economic integration, the guest said Myanmar will build trade and investment policies to create favourable conditions for foreign investors, including those from Vietnam. Host and guest highly valued the development of cooperation in defence-security. They pledged to extend collaboration into training, military medicine, search and rescue, sport exchange, and agreed to hold the deputy ministerial-level defence policy dialogue in 2018 as well as step up negotiations to soon sign the agreement on anti-crime and others such as the Agreement on Extradition and Agreement on the Transfer of Sentenced Persons. The two leaders expressed their wish to further uphold other important cooperation fields, including finance, telecommunications, energy, agro-forestry-fisheries, people-to-people exchange. They welcomed the strengthening of coordination across transport, tourism, justice, education, and culture and agreed to soon sign deals that lay legal foundation for specific fields. On regional and global issues of shared concern, they pledged to work closely together at regional and global forums such as ASEAN, the Non-Aligned Movement, the United Nations, jointly work to successfully build the ASEAN Community which plays a central role in regional security architecture, sustainably and effectively use Mekong River water resources, especially within the framework of the Greater Mekong Sub-region cooperation mechanisms. PM Phuc expressed his support for Myanmars bid for the official membership of the Mekong River Commission. They highlighted the importance of maintaining peace and stability in the region, maritime and aviation freedom in the East Sea, the peaceful settlement of disputes based on respect of international law, the 1982 United Nations Convention on the Law of the Sea, without use of force or threat to use of force, and committed to the full and effective implementation of the Declaration on the Conduct of Parties in the East Sea and working towards reaching a Code of Conduct in the East Sea. Following the talks, they witnessed the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding on cooperation in telecommunications and information technology, and another on information cooperation. PM Nguyen Xuan Phuc and Myanmar State Counsellor Aung San Suu Kyi witness the signing of cooperative documents between Vietnam and Myanmar. (Photo: NDO/Tran Hai) The same day, Aung San Suu Kyi laid a wreath at the monument dedicated to martyrs. PAVILION TOWNSHIP, MI -- A makeshift wooden cross with "RIP Gino" written across it was propped up Thursday outside a trailer in the Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Park, near where David Gino Teneyuque was shot to death by police after pointing a gun in their direction. Authorities on Thursday afternoon identified Teneyuque 48, as the man killed by officers Wednesday, April 18 in Kalamazoo County's Pavilion Township. Deputies were called to Pavilion Estates at about 11:45 a.m. after a manager there said a man and woman were parked in a van at 6522 Kingsville Drive and refused to leave. The van was occupied by Teneyuque and Chrystal Courtney, according to a news release from the sheriff's office. Teneyuque had a handgun and became hostile. Deputies took cover and officers from the Kalamazoo Metropolitan SWAT Team and Michigan State Police also responded as police negotiated with Teneyuque for about an hour to try to get him to surrender. Teneyuque pointed his handgun and "sheriff deputies, SWAT members and the MSP discharged their firearms at Teneyuque based on the threat of the firearm," the news release said. Teneyuque was taken to Bronson Methodist Hospital, where he was pronounced dead. Courtney was taken to the Kalamazoo County Jail, where she was being held on outstanding warrants for third-degree retail fraud and possession of methamphetamine out of Allegan County, the sheriff's office said. Kalamazoo County Undersheriff James VanDyken said Thursday at least four officers fired shots. Michigan State Police Sixth District in Rockford will investigate the officer-involved shooting. Thursday morning, Pavilion Estates Mobile Home Park was relatively quiet with an occasional car passing through. Gerald Bowen was walking his dog, the same thing he was doing when saw police outside his residence Wednesday afternoon. When he walked up to the scene, officers asked him to stay out of the way, so he went inside his home. "That's when the cops came in and asked me if I would leave," he said. Teneyuque's girlfriend was friends with Bowen's niece, which is how Bowen got to know him. Bowen said Thursday that he had offered in March to let Teneyuque park his van, which had two flat tires, in his driveway. The mobile home park's management, however, told Bowen the van needed to be moved, or he would be evicted, he said. Teneyuque refused to move it. "I told them, 'He won't get the van out of there, and I can't afford to get evicted,'" Bowen said. "Then yesterday, (the police) came." Coming out from the side of the mobile home was a green cord, which Bowen said Teneyuque used for power, without his permission. He said Teneyuque was living in the van with his girlfriend and had a heater inside. "In the morning when he'd get up, he'd roll the cord up and stick it back where it's supposed to be," Bowen said. "I didn't know he was doing that." Bowen said he hasn't heard of any trouble like what happened Wednesday in the 13 years he has lived in Pavilion Estates. Kalamazoo County court records show a warrant had been issued for Teneyuque's arrest in March for felony possession of methampetamine. Michigan Department of Correction records show Teneyuque has served prison time for convictions of breaking and entering a building with intent, second-degree home invasion, obstruction of justice and assaulting, resisting or obstructing a police officer, all out of Saginaw County. MUSKEGON COUNTY, MI - Running for office isn't the only way Muskegon County residents can get involved with local politics. The Muskegon County Clerk's Office is issuing a call for precinct delegates, and the deadline to run is quickly approaching. Interested residents have until 4 p.m. on May 8 to file paperwork to run in their precincts. Precinct delegates help their party win elections in their voting district and act as a connection between residents and their political parties, according to delegate information provided by the clerk's office. They also represent their voting districts during party meetings. Precinct delegates are elected for two-year terms and must run as either a Republican, Democrat or Libertarian. Their jobs include: Informing voters in their precincts about issues and candidates. Registering voters for their party. Recruiting new party members. Encouraging registered voters to vote on Election Day. Communicating voter concerns to party leaders. Leading campaigns for their party in the precinct. Choosing new party officers every two years. Interested residents must fill out an Affidavit of Identity form and return it to the county clerk's office with a photo ID. The affidavit must remain unsigned. You can find the form online at http://co.muskegon.mi.us/clerk. Residents must also be registered to vote in the precinct they are applying for. Click here to find your precinct. Delegate elections will occur at the August primary election on Tuesday, Aug. 7. If elected, a new precinct delegate will be contacted by the clerk's office with information about attending their party's fall county convention. The clerk's office is open 8 a.m. to 4:45 p.m. Monday through Friday, and is located on the first floor of the Michael E. Kozba Hall of Justice, 900 Terrace St. SAGINAW, MI -- Police have arrested a suspect in a recent spate of bank robberies. Saginaw police announced Thursday, April 19, that Michigan State Police had conducted a routine traffic stop on East Holland near 20th Street in Saginaw and ended up arresting a 61-year-old man in connection with the holdups. Authorities on April 9 had issued a warrant for the man on one count of bank robbery. The first robbery occurred about 9 a.m. on April 6 at the Chemical Bank at 100 S. Michigan Ave. The second happened about 11:40 a.m. on April 13 at Saginaw County Employees Credit Union at 1700 Court St., with the third happening three days later at 3:40 p.m. at Family First Credit Union, 1011 N. Michigan Ave. The robber obtained money in the first two robberies, but left empty-handed in the third, police have said. Police have said the man is not a suspect in the Friday, April 13, robbery of the Frankenmuth Credit Union Branch at 2796 Ema Drive in Saginaw Township. The suspect has a lengthy criminal history including at least 10 felony convictions. The Michigan Department of Corrections discharged him on April 15, 2016. MLive is not disclosing the man's name until his arraignment in Saginaw County District Court. In a bizarre affidavit, police in Louisiana report a woman was arrested after she was found taking a bath while eating Cheetos in a stranger's home. The Monroe Police Department reports that 29-year-old Evelyn Washington has been arrested and charged with burglary and property damage. In the affidavit, the homeowner claims Washington told her that an unknown man told her to break into the house when confronted. A responding officer wrote in the report that they discovered a bathtub "full of water and a plate of food along with half-eaten Cheetos belonging to the victim on the toilet next to the bathtub." The Fort Worth Star-Telegram reports Washington was taken to the Ouachita Correctional Center, and remained in jail as of Wednesday, April 18. Police believe the 29-year-old gained entry to the stranger's home using a "tall ice chest" placed beneath a broken window. The Associated Press reports that it is unknown at the time if Washington has a lawyer. NASA reports that its Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite successfully launched Wednesday evening, April 18 and is on its way to orbit in a "first-of-its-kind mission." The satellite -- TESS -- is the U.S. space agency's newest planet-hunting spacecraft that will hunt for undiscovered planets outside of Earth's solar system. It lifted off for orbit aboard a SpaceX Falcon 9 rocket from Space Launch Complex 40 at Cape Canaveral Air Force Station in Florida. NASA says TESS will fly in an orbit that "completes two circuits around Earth every time the Moon orbits once." The space agency says this unique orbit will allow the satellite's cameras to monitor each patch of sky continuously for as long as a month at a time. To get into this special orbit, NASA says TESS will make a series of loops in the hopes of creating a lunar gravity assist to "give it the final push it needs." "We are thrilled TESS is on its way to help us discover worlds we have yet to imagine, worlds that could possibly be habitable, or harbor life," Thomas Zurbuchen, associate administrator of NASA's Science Mission Directorate, said in the release. "With missions like the James Webb Space Telescope to help us study the details of these planets, we are ever the closer to discovering whether we are alone in the universe." The mission is expected to create a database of thousands of new planet candidates that could increase the space agency's current figure of exoplanets. NASA says the mission will last for two years, and that TESS will use its four unique wide-field cameras to map 85 percent of the sky. As for what's next, the space agency says TESS will fire six thruster burns "in a series of progressively elongated orbits to reach the moon" and undergo 60 days of testing before its mission officially starts. The planned launch of TESS comes on the heels of NASA delaying the liftoff of its hotly-anticipated James Webb Space Telescope. Once it launches in 2020, the Webb telescope will serve as the "premier observatory" for the next decade as it will aim to serve thousands of astronomers around the world. While TESS is an additional attempt to add more exoplanet candidates to its catalogue, NASA's Kepler space telescope has observed more than 300,000 stars and found more than 4,000 exoplanet candidates since it launched in 2009. After the longest tenure in agency history without a permanent leader, the U.S. Senate confirmed President Donald Trump's pick to lead NASA on Thursday, April 19 in Jim Bridenstine. Bridenstine is a Republican Oklahoma congressman, and was originally nominated to lead the U.S. space agency nearly eight months ago. The position opened when Charles Bolden Jr. stepped down on the first day of Trump's presidency, and has been filled by longtime NASA official Robert Lightfoot Jr. Today, the U.S. Senate voted to confirm Jim Bridenstine as our 13th administrator. Once sworn in, he will oversee our ongoing mission of exploration and discovery. Welcome to the NASA family! pic.twitter.com/r1Eiyb13PY NASA (@NASA) April 19, 2018 The New York Times reports Bridenstine was confirmed with a 50-49 party-line vote on Thursday. This makes him the first elected official to be confirmed to serve as NASA administrator. His nomination was opposed by many due to the fact that he was a politician, and a partisan one at that. One of the main critics of his confirmation was Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Florida, who said that Bridenstine was too political to run the space agency. "I think what's not right for NASA, is an administrator who is politically divisive and who is not prepared to be that last in line to make that fateful decision on 'go' or 'no-go' for launch," the Times reports Nelson said during a speech on Wednesday. The NASA administrator a scientist or official with the space agency who is not such a partisan figure, as the agency has operated as a nonpartisan government entity. The Houston Chronicle reports that even the picks of former presidents Barack Obama and George W. Bush were unanimously approved. Under Trump's presidency, the nomination expired, had to be resubmitted and skirted through on a 50-49 party-line vote. "I am deeply concerned that his nomination is further evidence of a deeper problem," U.S. Senator Gary Peters, D-Michigan, said in an emailed statement. "I am concerned that this Administration does not respect science, especially science in government institutions. A White House that does not respect science will hold our nation back." Bridenstine has been accused as a climate change denier but later added that humans "absolutely" played a hand in it, and has stated clearly he supports "traditional marriage." Before being elected to Congress in Oklahoma, Bridenstine served as an active-duty pilot in the U.S. Navy for nine years, then four years in the Navy Reserve. He also served as executive director of the Tulsa Air and Space Museum and Planetarium. "It is an honor to be nominated to serve our nation as NASA Administrator. I am humbled by this opportunity, and I thank President Donald Trump and Vice President Mike Pence for their confidence," the new NASA administrator said in a statement when he was first nominated. "Should I be confirmed by the United States Senate, I will work with all diligence to achieve the President's vision for America's leadership in space." As Bridenstine takes over, the Trump administration has made it clear that it wants to add in more of a commercial feel to NASA as it aims at a return to Moon before setting its sights on Mars. Vice President Mike Pence, who also serves as chairman of the National Space Council, said during a meeting that the "convoluted maze of bureaucratic obstacles" and "outdated regulatory processes" were holding the space industry and our technological capabilities back. The National Space Council will reportedly look into ways it can streamline and encourage more commercial missions. As for Trump, his 2019 NASA budget was highlighted by sending astronauts back to space and ending federal funding of the International Space Station. Trump set aside $10.5 billion of the $19.9 billion budget to kick off a mission that will return humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and eventually push missions on to Mars. "Lead an innovative and sustainable program of exploration with commercial and international partners to enable human expansion across the solar system and to bring back to Earth new knowledge and opportunities," Trump said when he signed NASA's new policy directive in late 2017. "Beginning with missions beyond low-Earth orbit, the United States will lead the return of humans to the Moon for long-term exploration and utilization, followed by human missions to Mars and other destinations." The U.S. Navy officially christened the fourth vessel to bear the USS Indianapolis name in the Fincantieri Marinette Marine Shipyard in Marinette, Wisconsin on the border of Michigan's Upper Peninsula. The new combat ship was reportedly christened on Saturday and launched into the Menominee River on Wednesday morning, April 18. Lockheed Martin hosted the christening ceremony, and Jill Donnelly, wife of Indiana U.S. Senator Joe Donnelly, is the ship's sponsor and handled the breaking of a bottle across its bow. USS Indianapolis LCS 17 Launching It's been twenty years since the last USS Indianapolis SSN 697 was in the water. No more the last. The Newest USS Indianapolis LCS 17 was launched at 0900 April 18th by Ships Sponsor Mrs. Jill Donnelly. Posted by USS Indianapolis Association on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 "The future USS Indianapolis honors more than a city, it pays tribute to the legacy of those who served during the final days of World War II on board USS Indianapolis," Secretary of the Navy Richard V. Spencer said in a news release. "This ship will continue the proud legacy of service embodied in the name Indianapolis, and is a testament to the true partnership between the Navy and industry." The second ship to bear the USS Indianapolis name was sunk by a Japanese submarine on July 30, 1945, as it was returning from delivering key components for the atomic bomb to a Pacific island. The Navy says the ship with 1,196 sailors on board sank in about 12 minutes, and only 317 crewmen survived the attack, sinking and days spend in shark-infested waters. In its release, the Department of Defense calls the new USS Indianapolis LCS 17 is a "fast, agile, focused-mission platform designed for operation in near-shore environments yet capable of open-ocean operation." The vessel is designed to take down threats such as mines, quiet submarines and fast surface crafts. Today we launched the @USNavy's Littoral Combat Ship 17, the future USS Indianapolis! pic.twitter.com/ISMNUYAhjS Lockheed Martin (@LockheedMartin) April 18, 2018 "Using an open architecture design, modular weapons, sensor systems and a variety of manned and unmanned vehicles to gain, sustain and exploit littoral maritime supremacy, LCS provides U.S. joint force access to critical areas in multiple theaters," the Department of Defense reports. Since the new Indianapolis is an odd-numbered LCS class, the DoD says it is a Freedom variant led by a team from Lockheed Martin. In a news release of its own, Lockheed Martin reports the USS Indianapolis LCS 17 will undergo further testing in the marine "before her anticipated delivery next year." Lockheed Martin says that the USS Indianapolis is one of eight vessels currently in a stage of construction with another in "long-lead" production at the marine in Marinette. It calls the LCS class the Navy's "most affordable surface combatant shipbuilding program." "The Freedom-variant LCS is flexible and capable, and plays a critical role in the U.S. Navy's fleet," Joe DePietro, a vice president at Lockheed Martin, said in the release. "With an active production and testing, we are committed to delivering INDIANAPOLIS and her highly capable sister ships into combatant commanders' hands quickly." TROY, MI - A North Carolina man learned a harsh lesson about stealing a police dog's toy when officers came looking to get it back. Troy Police said they were doing K-9 training work in the field behind a Holiday Inn Express on the evening of April 5 when the theft occurred. They officers were laying scent tracks for the police dogs to follow, and an officer left one dog's toy at the end of the scent track for the canine to find when his tracking work was done. "While leaving the area, an unknown subject from the hotel was yelling at the officer from his hotel room through an open window, demanding to know what he was doing. The K-9 officer explained that he was training police canines and advised him not to touch the police property he left behind in the field," police said in a department post on Facebook today. The officer started the dog on his tracking exercise. The K-9 did a good job following the scent trail, but when the dog got to the end, the toy was gone. The officer did a little digging and learned the upset hotel guest was a 40-year-old man from High Point, N.C. When the officer found the man's white Ford Econoline van in the parking lot, the police dog's toy could be seen sitting in the van's cup holder. "While the vehicle was being impounded, the 40-year-old male suspect came out, inquiring as to what was occurring. The suspect was issued a Misdemeanor Citation for Larceny of Police Property and Police Canine Eli got his toy ball back." Troy Police say Eli was happy to get his ball back. Good boy, Eli. Addressing the event, VNFFD President Dang Huynh Mai said that 2018 is the eighth year since Vietnam implemented the Law on Persons with Disabilities, and the fourth year since the country adopted the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities. Vietnams Law on Persons with Disabilities stipulates that the disabled have the right to participate on an equal basis in social activities, and to be provided with healthcare, functional rehabilitation, education, vocational training, employment, legal assistance, access to public facilities, means of transport, information technology and cultural, sports, tourism and other services suitable to their forms and degrees of disability. Furthermore, the International Convention on the Rights of Persons with Disabilities also clarifies its purpose of promoting, protecting and ensuring the disabled peoples equal and full access to the basic rights and freedoms of all human beings. According to Mai, over the past years, the Party and State have built and promulgated many policies enabling organisations and individuals to support people with disabilities in exercising their rights and civic obligations. The issues concerning persons with disabilities are not only the purely social activities but also hold a political meaning, enabling countries to increase their responsibilities in facilitating the disableds access to education and healthcare services, as well as labour and employment. Thus, many disadvantaged and unlucky people have been able to rise above difficulties to create their own independent lives and in turn support many others with disabilities. The VNFFD was established in 2010 to serve the purpose of protecting and supporting people with disabilities in exercising their rights and obligations under the law. Since its inception, the federation has increased its size to 62 members, focusing on the fields of capacity building, the provision of legal assistance, the introduction of employment opportunities, and the attraction of projects to develop the grassroots network and to facilitate the disableds connectivity and engagement in social activities. Speaking at the ceremony, Phan Bich Diep, standing vice president of the Hanoi Disabled People Association, emphasised that the Vietnam Day of Persons with Disabilities is of special significance to nearly seven million people with disabilities across the country, offering an occasion for the disabled to strongly show their wishes and aspirations for equal integration into the community in every aspect of social life, thus contributing to developing the country. Princess Hitachi, spouse of Japanese Foreign Minister Toro Noko and other wives of high-ranking Japanese officials attended the event. Speaking at the opening ceremony, head of the organising board Haruko Komura said the annual event aims to raise funds in support of women and children in ALFS member countries, towards strengthening their friendship and exchange. On the occasion, participants displayed handicrafts and traditional cuisines of their countries. The Vietnamese Embassy introduced Vietnamese silk, gemstone and silk paintings, pearl products and traditional food to visitors. Hoang Thi Minh Ha, spouse of the Vietnamese Ambassador to Japan, said ALFS allocated nearly VND200 million (US$8,900) to the embassys Women Association to buy breeding cows for poor households and Agent Orange/dioxin victims in the central province of Quang Nam and build water purification systems for two elementary schools in polluted areas in the central province of Ha Tinh. This years proceeds will continue to be used for children living in disadvantaged areas, she said. Ha added that as a major people-to-people diplomatic activity, the event has been held annually under the auspices of the Japanese Foreign Ministry, royal family and many embassies in Tokyo, helping to promote Vietnams images and people to international friends. ALFS now groups nearly 400 members, mostly spouses of politicians and business leaders, female ambassadors and staff of 25 embassies of Asian-Pacific nations in Tokyo. TOKYO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Chinese State Councilor and Foreign Minister Wang Yi on Tuesday wrapped up a three-day official visit to Japan, during which he co-chaired the fourth high-level economic dialogue between China and Japan with Japanese Foreign Minister Taro Kono. Wang's visit, as well as the dialogue which was held after an eight-year hiatus, are expected to further consolidate the warming-up trend in bilateral ties and open up new space for cooperation, experts said. TIES' WARMING-UP ACCLAIMED "The momentum of improvement in Japan-China bilateral ties has been gathering steam recently following a number of high-level talks, and we are really pleased to see that," said Kaoru Imori, a senior research fellow at a private university in Tokyo. The latest of such high-level talks was between Wang and Kono, he added. China-Japan relations have gone through some twists and turns in recent years, which have affected bilateral communication and cooperation in various areas. Since last year, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe has sent positive messages on a number of occasions on enhancing bilateral relationship, which have been noted and welcomed by China. Thanks to joint efforts, bilateral relationship has showed signs of recovery. Bilateral trade rallied to some 300 billion U.S. dollars in 2017, and the number of tourists going to Japan from Chinese mainland reached 7.3 million, up 15 percent year-on-year. "The improvement in ties, marked by Wang's visit, is in the interests of both China and Japan who are close economic partners, and will also have a positive impact on the region's stability and prosperity," said Imori. Jin Jianmin, a senior fellow at Fujitsu Research Institute in Tokyo, said that the improvement is particularly significant under the current circumstances with turbulence continuing and trade protectionism on the rise worldwide. Dr. Shin Chiba, a professor specializing in political theory at International Christian University, said that "strengthening the current Japan-China bilateral ties is indeed good for both countries not only in terms of economic relationships but also other aspects, including political relations, for the present and the future." Liu Di, a professor at Kyorin University in Tokyo, has a similar view,saying enhancing ties with China at such a time also has political significance for Japan. "With destabilizing factors and uncertainties in the world, the Japanese government and the public have increasingly realized the importance of having a good relationship with China in order to adapt to the new circumstances," he said. NEW HISTORICAL OPPORTUNITIES The warming of bilateral ties will also open up a new scope for bilateral and multilateral cooperation, especially with China's plans to expand reform and opening up and its Belt and Road Initiative, experts pointed out. Chinese President Xi Jinping announced new measures for expanding China's reform and opening-up at the 2018 annual conference of Boao Forum for Asia, which will surely provide new opportunities for cooperation between China and Japan, experts noted. Meanwhile, the Japanese economic circle has also been stepping up calls for joining China's Belt and Road Initiative so as to share China's development fruits. Jin said that China and Japan reaffirmed in the economic dialogue the importance of free trade under the multilateral framework of World Trade Organization (WTO), discussed issues about Belt and Road cooperation as well as efforts to promote regional free trade such as the building of China-Japan-South Korea Free Trade Area (FTA). "As the United States, under U.S. President Donald Trump, is very unstable, I believe that China-Japan economic and political relationships will become all the more important," said Chiba. "Such coordination in trade and investment liberalization policies between the two countries will help curb trade protectionism in the world while providing a stable and predictable policy environment for cooperation between enterprises," said Jin. Besides traditional areas, Jin said that the two countries also pledged to expand cooperation in new economic areas, such as the sharing economy, medical and elderly care, which will bring bilateral economic cooperation to a higher level. "The economic dialogue, covering not only bilateral economic ties, but also Asian economic integration and world free trade, will set a positive example for maintaining and developing global economic order," said Liu. FURTHER EFFORTS NEEDED Experts also noted that current China-Japan ties are still disturbed by various complicated and sensitive factors, including historical and territorial issues. During his visit, Wang called on the Japanese side to work with China to strictly abide by the principles established in the four important political documents between China and Japan. The two sides should properly handle sensitive issues related to the political foundation of bilateral relations, and fully implement the consensus of treating each other as a cooperative partner, Wang said. Hiroshi Onishi, a professor of economics at Keio University in Tokyo, noted that there are still some ultra-rightists in Japan. He called for more people-to-people and cultural exchanges to promote mutual trust and understanding. It's a long-term and challenging task to overcome disturbances and interferences to improve bilateral relationship, and would need the joint efforts of the governments and people of both countries, Liu said. Imori is optimistic about the future of China-Japan relationship. "Personally, I think this (recent improvement in ties) is the direction that Japan and China should always be heading in, even if there might be a few bumps in the roads ahead -- this also underscores the importance of always maintaining open and honest dialogue," he said. Of All Things: How to keep your brain busy April 19, 2018 Syria - Who Is Stalling The OPCW Investigation In Douma? Why has the fact finding mission (FFM)of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) not visited Douma? The OPCW inspectors are held up by the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) which has a say about any movement of UN aligned organizations in areas that might be dangerous. The UNDSS is led by an Australian police / intelligence officer. The holdup seems to be intended. On Sunday April 8 videos were published of an alleged 'chemical attack' in Douma near Damascus. At that time the area was under control of Jaish al-Islam, a Salafi terrorist organization financed by Saudi Arabia. The various videos from terrorist supporters like the 'White Helmets' were unconvincing. They showed obviously arranged scenes of an alleged 'barrel bomb' and manipulated bodies of dead children that had been moved and decorated with shaving foam to superficially fit the claims of a 'chemical incident'. Another video showed people in a hospital being doused with water for no apparent reason. An often quoted opposition news outlet, the Syrian Observatory in Britain, denied that a 'chemical attack' had happened. It reported on April 8 of suffocation after a shelter collapsed due to bombing: [I]n among the casualties there are 21 civilians including 9 children and 3 women were killed as a result of suffocation caused by the shelling which destroyed basements of houses as a result of the violence bombardment that stopped about an hour ago on Douma area. The 'chemical incident' was likely faked. It suspiciously happened just a few days after U.S. President Trump had announced the he wanted the U.S. military to leave Syria. A year earlier a similar incident was claimed to have happened after a similar announcement by Trump. The U.S. had responded to the 2017 incident by bombing an empty Syrian airfield. A day after the incident the Salafi terrorists of Jaish al-Islam gave up and left the area under a ceasefire deal arranged with the help of the Russian military in Syria. The ceasefire deal does not allow the Syrian army to enter the area, only the Russian military police is allowed. Russian military police immediately entered the area and investigated the house where, allegedly, people were killed by 'chemical weapons'. They found no evidence that such an event had taken place. The Syrian government asked the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical aWeapons (OPCW) to investigate the case. Many international news teams have since visited the area where the incident allegedly took place. The also visited the field hospital shown in one of the opposition videos. Doctors at that hospital deny (vid) that any patient of theirs had been affected by a chemical attack. The cases they had seen had breathing difficulties caused by the inhalation of dust thrown up through exploding bombs and artillery. Alleged 'victims' shown in the hospital video claim (vid) they were paid to perform. The regime-change shills are denying that any claims of the hospital staff working in the now government controlled Douma could be true. Medics are liars, unless they are controlled by Jihadis. See for example this shoddy propaganda piece by the Guardian: Syrian medics 'subjected to extreme intimidation' after Douma attack by Martin Chulov in Beirut and Kareem Shaheen in Istanbul. The piece begins: The head of the largest medical relief agency in Syria claims that medics who responded to the suspected gas attack in Douma have been subjected to extreme intimidation by Syrian officials who seized biological samples, forced them to abandon patients and demanded their silence. Now look at the picture. It shows Syrian Red Crescent personal. The caption is false. It says: "Medics take a wounded man into hospital in Damascus after rockets were fired in Douma on 7 April." The picture is actually from a series published by the Syrian news agency SANA. The SANA series is headlined: "Injuries among civilians in Jaish al-Islam mortar attacks on Damascus". The attack was FROM the terrorists in Douma on civilians in Damascus, not IN Douma as the Guardian insinuates. The pictured Red Crescent in Syria, founded in 1942, has 1,592 staff and some 6,000 volunteers. It is indeed the "the largest medical relief agency in Syria". But it is not the one the Guardian describes and quotes: Dr Ghanem Tayara, the director of the Union of Medical Care and Relief Organisations (UOSSM) said doctors responsible for treating patients in the hours after the 7 April attack have been told that their families will be at risk if they offer public testimonies about what took place. The Union of Medical Care and Relief Organizations was founded in 2012, works from Reyhanli in Turkey and claims to have 600 staff. It consists of the Syrian American Medial Society (SAMS), which is funded by the CIA front USAID and lobbies for regime change in Syria, the British-Syrian Medical Society which only works in 'rebel' held areas, as well as British and U.S. p.o.-box 'charities' which collect donations. SAMS and UOSSM are said to be Muslim Brotherhood fronts. The Guardian shows a Syrian Red Crescent/Red Cross picture in the context of ridiculous claims made by an organization on the side of the Jihadis. The Syrian Red Crescent has no relation to that organization. UOSSM is misidentified as the largest relief organization in Syria. Its claims are repeated without doubts by Guardian 'journalists' in Turkey and Lebanon to counter interviews and observations made by real journalists on the ground in Douma. The piece and its presentation is bottom fishing by a once reasonable paper. Jonathan Cook has more to say about that shoddy Guardian piece. On Friday April 13 the OPCW fact finding mission arrived in Damascus. On Saturday France, the U.K and the United States, (FUKUS), bombed an agricultural and medical research center in Damascus as well as two Syrian army depots. The attack missed its other targets, a failure the U.S. military attempts to cover up. The attack came despite doubts in the Pentagon and elsewhere about what actually happened. High ranking British military generals have publicly doubted the claims of a Syrian 'chemical attack'. The suburb where the alleged incident happened is only a few miles away from the center of Damascus. Journalists and camera teams walk all over the place without any protection and freely interview hospital personal. The OPCW has yet to reach the area. It claims that the security is insufficient. Like other organizations aligned with the United Nations the OPCW is relying on the United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) for intelligence and protection. Yesterday the Director General of the OPCW Ahmet Uzumcu, a Turkish career diplomat who was earlier Turkey's Permanent Representative to NATO, issued a statement: On 16 April, we received confirmation from the National Authority of the Syrian Arab Republic that, under agreements reached to allow the evacuation of the population in Ghouta, the Syrian military were unable to enter Douma. The security for the sites where the FFM plans to deploy was under the control of the Russian Military Police. The United Nations Department of Safety and Security (UNDSS) has made the necessary arrangements with the Syrian authorities to escort the team to a certain point and then for the escort to be taken over by the Russian Military Police. However, the UNDSS preferred to first conduct a reconnaissance visit to the sites, which took place yesterday. FFM team members did not participate in this visit. On arrival at Site 1, a large crowd gathered and the advice provided by the UNDSS was that the reconnaissance team should withdraw. At Site 2, the team came under small arms fire and an explosive was detonated. The reconnaissance team returned to Damascus. (Note: Only about 10% of the population of the Ghouta area to which Douma belongs, the terrorist and their families, were evacuated. Other people have stayed or returned to the now liberated areas.) No other organization reported of recent shots or explosions in Douma. Even the New York Times, a staunch defender of the 'opposition' in Syria, wonders about the hold-up but does not bother to answer the question: [T]he fact that journalists had been able to wander around Douma unmolested raised questions about why it was not deemed safe enough for the investigators to visit. Why were, allegedly, shots fired at the UN Security team but not on anyone else visiting the area? If, as the terrorist supporters claim, Chlorine was used in the 'chemical attack', the OSCE investigators are unlikely to find any physical evidence of it. Chlorine dissipates and leaves no unique traces in the dead body. Interviews with local witnesses though could be of value. One gets the impression that certain circles fear the the OPCW could reach the area, talk to witnesses and confirm the claims made by doctors in the hospital as well as by many journalists that no 'chemical attack' took place. It would expose the attack on Syria as a reckless and unjustified war crime. The leader of the UNDSS is an Australian police commander: Mr. Drennan, who from 2009 served as Deputy Commissioner National Security with the Australian Federal Police, brings to the position an extensive career in policing and law enforcement at the community, national and international levels. Is it possible that a distinguished Australian police commander delays or prevents the OPCW investigation to protect the British and U.S. allies? --- Previous Moon of Alabama posts on the 'chemical attack' in Douma and its consequences. Posted by b on April 19, 2018 at 4:46 UTC | Permalink Comments next page BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- China on Wednesday refuted a U.S. research group report on the Belt and Road Initiative, reiterating that the initiative aims to achieve win-win economic cooperation. According to the Associated Press, after analyzing 15 Chinese-funded port projects, a research institute called C4ADS concluded that the projects were not driven by win-win economic development, but intended to expand China's "political influence and military presence." Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying stressed at a daily press briefing that the Belt and Road Initiative is essentially about economic cooperation, and the core concept of the initiative is to promote common development by advancing connectivity in infrastructure and other fields. The initiative has gained support from more than 100 countries and international organizations, with more than 80 of them signing cooperation agreements with China. She noted this worldwide support would never have been impossible were the initiative not adapted to the trend of the times and beneficial to people of various countries. The spokesperson emphasized that the initiative has been open and transparent, with all participants involved in consultations in both planning and project implementation. "China has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and imposes no business deals on others," she said. "Belt and Road is a mutually beneficial and win-win initiative," Hua said, adding that it will allow other countries to share opportunities from China's development and help solve development problems facing the world. "During the Belt and Road construction, the Chinese side sticks to market rules and takes all parties's interests and concerns into consideration," Hua said.. She added that a large number of relevant cooperation projects are being carried out, and they have bettered the local economy and benefited the local people. Welcome to Morningstar.co.uk! You have been redirected here from Hemscott.com as we are merging our websites to provide you with a one-stop shop for all your investment research needs.To search for a security, type the name or ticker in the search box at the top of the page and select from the dropdown results.Registered Hemscott users can log in to Morningstar using the same login details. 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WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed on Wednesday morning that CIA chief Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), in a secret visit to Pyongyang last week. "Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea (the DPRK) last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed," Trump tweeted. Trump's words came one day after reports, citing anonymous officials of the White House, revealed Pempeo's top-secret visit as Trump's envoy in recent weeks. The trip made by Pompeo, who was also Trump's pick for the state secretary to replace Rex Tillerson, was seen as an effort to lay the groundwork for direct talks between the leaders of the two countries expected in May or early June. "Details of Summit are being worked out now," Trump said. On Tuesday afternoon, Trump, during his meeting with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, said that Washington and Pyongyang have already started direct talks at "very high levels." Tension on the Korean Peninsula has thawed in recent months. Seoul and Pyongyang have agreed to hold a summit on April 27, the first meeting between the leaders of the two sides in 11 years. This is not just another tool to image cancer. The probe is a two-for-one: detect cancer and distinguish one type from another. Together, they develop a cancer fingerprint. Determining the presence of cancer, as well as its type and malignancy, is a stressful process for patients that can take up to two weeks to get a diagnosis. With a new bit of technologya sugar-transporting biosensorresearchers at Michigan Technological University hope to reduce that timeframe down to minutes. A collaborative team of chemists and engineers from Michigan Tech lays the groundwork for this vision in two new papers. In the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Chemical Communication (DOI: 10.1039/c7cc09809j), the team explains the basic science behind multicolor probes that enable targeting of a cancer-relevant fructose transporter, delving into the image-based detection of cancer cells. In the journal Biosensors (DOI: 10.3390/bios8020039), the team addresses applications for breast cancer detection and differentiating nonmalignant, pre-malignant and malignant cancer cells. GLUT5 transports fructose and cancer loves sugar Two Michigan Tech researchers collaborated on the studies. Marina Tanasova, assistant professor of chemistry, and Smitha Rao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, turned a 10-minute office meeting into a two-year collaboration built on a tiny fluorescent probe that seeks out the fructose transporter named GLUT5. Cells need carbohydrates; facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) bring nutrients in and out of cells. When metabolic swings kick insay, from cancer developmentthe overall make-up of GLUTs change so that more or less GLUTs are active. Fructose transporters like GLUT5 are of particular interest because of the direct connection between fructose uptake and cancer development, which also changes as cancer progresses and becomes malignant. The ManCou multicolored fluorescent probe glows different colors and intensities depending on a cancer cell's type and malignancy. By understanding the increase or decrease of GLUT5 activity, Tanasova and Rao's team can fingerprint cancer and delve into the metabolic signatures of different types and malignancies. In their Chemical Communications paper, Tanasova and Rao's team report on the design and validation of the fluorescent probes, called ManCous, to observe GLUT5 activity in a cell. They document the multicolored fluorescence that distinguishes GLUT5-rich cells from those deficient in GLUT5. The follow up Biosensors paper provides a proof-of-principle use of these probes as tools to assess and compare GLUT5 and metabolic activity of different cell types, including normal cells and different cancer subtypes. "We came closer to a basic screening of cells GLUT compositionone that both detects cancer and distinguishes type," Tanasova says, adding that while the concept is elegant, developing the technology is not easy. "From basic science to application, there is a lot of transformation that has to happen." Engineering better cancer detection takes collaboration By better understanding the science behind sugar transporters, the team is more equipped to build technology that captures an accurate and precise GLUT fingerprint of cancerous cells. "This probe is like a Swiss army knife," Rao says, explaining that cancer detection is not the only use for the probe. "The more we learn about cancer through these probes, the more opportunities we have to apply themwhich means more chances to treat different cancers, hopefully cure them, and at least prevent their spread and maximize drug delivery." Like a Swiss army knife, Rao and Tanasova's work use their fluorescent probe to detect cancer, delve into its metabolic secrets, and differentiate between malignant and nonmalignant cells, as well as different cancer types. What makes the probe so versatile is its ability to not only seek out and highlight cancer cells, but also to reveal the metabolic nuances of different stages of cancer development. While cancer generally gobbles up fructose, the GLUT5 and metabolic activity of nonmalignant, pre-malignant and malignant breast cancer cells do vary, which is what Rao, Tanasova and their team explored in the Biosensors paper. They found that ManCou probes allow for parallel analysis and quantification of GLUT5 and metabolic activity of cells just after a 10-minute incubation period. The notable differences in fluorescence intensity observed between normal cells and cancer cells, as well as different cancer types, provide important points of differentiation between different cell types and make these probes promising tools for cancer detection and diagnostics. Create the future of point-of-care devices The research is still early on, but Tanasova and Rao have a clear vision for the project's next steps. The work is highly collaborative and built alongside the efforts of their co-authors including doctoral students Srinivas Kannan and Vagarshak Begoyan, research scientist ukasz J. Weselinski along with graduate students Joseph Fedie, Shuai Xia and undergraduate Alexis Ferrier. The collaboration is ongoing. The team of chemistsTanasova, Begoyan and Weselinskiplans to delve deeper into the world of fructose transporters to expand on what they've determined about GLUT5 and provide access to probes specifically targeting other GLUTs. There is plenty of material to cover to visualize and quantify every GLUT transporter in the cellular membrane. The team of biomedical engineersRao and Kannanfocus on assessing numerous applications of these probes, including standard biopsy analysis and pushing the technology into clinical practice through the development of a point-of-care cancer detection device. As Rao puts it, the team is shaping their Lego blocks so they can build down the road. Refining disease detection and treatment remains the driving force behind this interdisciplinary collaboration. The overarching idea continues to focus on taking sugar transporters and using them as a gateway to better understand the nature of cancer. Grants and Funding Research Excellence Fund (REF), Michigan Technological University and Portage Health Foundation under Award Number R01563 Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. In a student-led study, one hour of mindfulness meditation shown to reduce anxiety and some cardiovascular risk markers. It sounds like a late-night commercial: In just one hour you can reduce your anxiety levels and some heart health risk factors. But a recent study with 14 participants shows preliminary data that even a single session of meditation can have cardiovascular and psychological benefits for adults with mild to moderate anxiety. John Durocher, assistant professor of biological sciences, is presenting the work of a team of Michigan Technological University researchers about mindfulness meditation and its ability to reduce anxiety at the 2018 Experimental Biology meeting April 21-25 in San Diego, which is attended by approximately 14,000 people. In Mindfulness Meditation Reduces Aortic Pulsatile Load and Anxiety in Mild to Moderately Anxious Adults, Durocher, along with fellow researchers Hannah Marti, a recent Michigan Tech graduate, Brigitte Morin, lecturer in biological science and Travis Wakeham, a graduate student, explains the finding that 60 minutes after meditating the 14 study participants showed lower resting heart rates and reduction in aortic pulsatile loadthe amount of change in blood pressure between diastole and systole of each heartbeat multiplied by heart rate. Additionally, shortly after meditating, and even one week later, the group reported anxiety levels were lower than pre-meditation levels. Even a single hour of meditation appears to reduce anxiety and some of the markers for cardiovascular risk, Durocher says. While its well-documented that meditation over the course of several weeks reduces anxiety, there have been few comprehensive research studies on the benefits of a single meditation session. Durochers team wanted to understand the effect of acute mindfulness on cognition and the cardiovascular system to improve how anti-anxiety therapies and interventions are designed. Studying the physiological effects of mindfulness meditation Durocher said the study hinged on a research design proposed by recent graduate Hannah Marti 17. Marti, who graduated from Michigan Tech with a bachelor's degree in Biomedical Engineering, will begin medical school in July at the Medical College of Wisconsin. Marti designed the mindfulness study to include three sessions: An orientation session during which researchers measured anxiety using the Beck Anxiety Inventory (BAI) and conducted cardiovascular testing by measuring heart rate variability, resting blood pressure and pulse wave analysis; A meditation session that included repetition of the cardiovascular testing plus the mindfulness meditation20 minutes introductory meditation, 30 minutes body scan and 10 minutes self-guided meditationas well as repeating cardiovascular measurements immediately following meditation and 60 minutes after; A post-meditation anxiety test one week later. During a body scan, the participant is asked to focus intensely on one part of the body at a time, beginning with the toes. By focusing on individual parts of the body, a person can train his or her mind to pivot from detailed attention to a wider awareness from one moment to the next. "The point of a body scan is that if you can focus on one single part of your body, just your big toe, it can make it much easier for you to deal with something stressful in your life. You can learn to focus on one part of it rather than stressing about everything else in your life." Hannah Marti One participant in the study commented that following the session they were the least stressed theyd been in a decade. Durocher says Marti was capable of designing such a study because of her experiences with research during her undergraduate studies at Michigan Tech and by securing support through two Pavlis Honors College and Portage Health Foundation internships. She had some experience during the first internship so she could propose her own study for the second one, he says. I helped to make minor adjustments, but Hannah did much of this project on her own. New avenues of research in the health sciences at Michigan Tech The single session mindfulness meditation study and the NIH-funded study to come (see sidebar), are excellent examples of the emphasis on student participation in research at Michigans northern-most public university. In Michigan Techs health science research programs, I want our students to get hands-on experience that they can carry into their futures, gaining experiences to advance their educational careers or their professional careers, Durocher says. When they go for an interview, they have something real to talk about, theres substance. Marti says this has been her experience. I had so much to talk about in my medical school interviews, she says. I didnt have to say I just helped the professor do this, because with Dr. Durochers help, I was able to do most of the research myself. Case in point, Durocher notes that nearly 20 former students who participated in laboratory research with him have gone on to physical therapy programs, medical school or to pursue a research doctorate. And just as important, after students move on to the next chapter of their lives, there remains the legacy of their involvement in research: research designs are used in future projects and upcoming students will carry the research forward. Grants and Funding This research was funded by the Portage Health Foundation, the College of Sciences and Arts and the Department of Biological Sciences. Mindfulness and Neural Cardiovascular Control in Humans Understanding the effects of mindfulness meditation on the body wont stop with a single study. Durocher is the recipient of a $465,854 research and development grant from the US Department of Health and Human ServicesNational Institutes of Health. Jason Carter (KIP) and Min Wang (Math) are Co-PIs on the project "Mindfulness and Neural Cardiovascular Control in Humans." We know a little bit about mindfulness and blood pressure, but very little about blood pressure patterns or the mechanisms for how mindfulness may reduce blood pressure, Durocher says. The NIH grant is a three-year project that utilizes an eight-week mindfulness meditation intervention for 60 participants30 of whom will serve as a control group. Michigan Technological University is a public research university, home to more than 7,000 students from 54 countries. Founded in 1885, the University offers more than 120 undergraduate and graduate degree programs in science and technology, engineering, forestry, business and economics, health professions, humanities, mathematics, and social sciences. Our campus in Michigans Upper Peninsula overlooks the Keweenaw Waterway and is just a few miles from Lake Superior. Warning signal to Taiwan independence groups, US The People's Liberation Army (PLA) conducted live-fire military exercises in the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday, with experts saying that the exercises are a clear and tough signal to "Taiwan independence groups" and the US who are damaging cross-Straits ties. Chinese mainland's Fujian Maritime Safety Administration (MSA) issued a notice on April 12, stating that the PLA's live-fire drills in the Taiwan Straits were from 8:00 am to midnight on Wednesday, and that civilian vessels were forbidden from entering the relevant waters. Mainland's military drills not only send a tough message to "Taiwan independence groups" but also deliver a warning to the US, which recently boosted communication and ties with Taiwan, Yu Keli, director of the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences' Institute of Taiwan Studies, told the Global Times on Wednesday. The duration and location, which was relatively closer to Fujian Province than Taiwan, and scale of the drills were limited, according to information released by the Fujian MSA, so it shows that the mainland doesn't want to create too much tension to cross-Straits relations, Yu noted. Cui Tiankai, Chinese ambassador to the US, said that the message delivered by the military exercises is clear: "China will firmly safeguard its national sovereignty and territorial integrity, and will realize reunification." "We still hope we can realize it peacefully, but if anyone tries to separate Taiwan, we will do everything we can to safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity." Cui made the remarks at an event at Harvard University's Fairbank Center for Chinese Studies on Tuesday, the China Review News Agency reported. The US has already made a mistake by legalizing official exchanges with Taiwan, and if it keeps making more mistakes to harm China's sovereignty, the possibility of more military drills and diplomatic retaliation cannot be ruled out, Xu Guangyu, a retired major general of the People's Liberation Army and senior adviser to the China Arms Control and Disarmament Association, told the Global Times. Not just a deterrent The drills follow recent pro-independence activities on the island, especially the high-profile advocacy for independence by the head of Taiwan's administrative authority, Lai Ching-te. Liu Jieyi, director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council, said on Monday that Lai is a "Taiwan independence separatist," and "the drills are meant to safeguard our sovereignty and territorial integrity," Taiwan-based media chinatimes.com reported. If the mainland wants to effectively deter "Taiwan independence separatist forces," the drills should include "amphibious landings, island seizing, air domination and island blockade combat," said Song Zhongping, a military expert and TV commentator. But this time, since the drill area is not big with a shorter duration, the drills could not include too many areas of training. So, aside from live-fire drills by artillery units, the drills might also include logistical preparations for landing combat, said a military expert from a Beijing-based military academy. "The military drills are not just meant to deter, so areas like combat preparation and logistics affairs were also included," he said. "This means the PLA is preparing for a massive military operation to re-take Taiwan in the future. If Taiwan and the US merely treat the PLA's action as a sign of deterrence, they are making a serious mistake." Taiwan also conducted military exercises on Friday, and Taiwan's regional leader Tsai Ing-wen watched the exercises. Reuters reported that Taiwan's drills did not involve live-fire exercises. Xu said Taiwan's military exercises are meaningless because there is no chance for Taiwan's military to change anything once the mainland decides to solve the Taiwan question militarily. The PLA did not release updated information on its drills on Wednesday as of press time. FORT DIX, N.J. (AP) The pharmaceutical-industry entrepreneur vilified for jacking up the price of a life-saving drug was moved Tuesday to a low-security federal prison in New Jersey. Martin Shkreli was sent from the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center in New York to the Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix. Shkreli, who was dubbed "Pharma Bro" for his loutish behavior, was sentenced last month to seven years in prison for securities fraud and fined $75,000. According to the prison's handbook , there are no bars, towers or locks on rooms. Inmates must demonstrate a high degree of responsibility, and "the expectations are that each inmate will comply." Amenities at the prison complex about 40 miles (64 kilometers) from Philadelphia include racquetball courts, pool tables and a music room. The 35-year-old Shkreli was found guilty in August of lying to investors in two failed hedge funds and cheating them out of millions. He had been charged with eight separate counts of securities fraud, conspiracy to commit securities fraud and wire fraud, for his role managing MSMB Capital Management and MSMB Healthcare between 2009 and 2014. The case was unrelated to the 2015 furor Shkreli caused when he raised the price of a drug used to treat AIDS, malaria and cancer patients by more than 5,000 percent. Shkreli's attorney, Benjamin Brafman, had argued that Shkreli deserved 18 months in prison or less. Judge Kiyo Matsumoto ruled earlier that Shkreli would have to forfeit more than $7.3 million in a brokerage account and personal assets that included a one-of-a-kind Wu-Tang Clan album that he boasted of buying for $2 million. Shkreli was initially free on bail but was jailed in September after he offered $5,000 for a strand of Hillary Clinton's hair. Copyright 2018 The Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. In the wake of the Florida Constitution Revision Commission's approval this week of a ballot amendment to ban greyhound racing, the organization representing the state's greyhound tracks is preparing a lawsuit to invalidate the measure. PREVIOUS STORY: Florida voters to decide whether to keep greyhound racing Suit claims false information used to secure CRC vote Supreme Court has limited ability to strike down CRC-approved amendments Attorneys for the Florida Greyhound Association began drafting the suit Tuesday, hours after the commission voted to place the ban on the November ballot. It will ask the Florida Supreme Court to strike down the amendment, arguing the measure's supporters used false information to secure its passage. "Lying to the CRC is very sad - that can't be done in front of the courts," said the association's chief lobbyist, Jack Cory. "This is going to cost 3,000 direct jobs, 10,000 indirect jobs, but equally as important is the lives of those 8,000 animals. There is no way to absorb eight thousand animals over the next two years into the adoption program." During a Monday night debate on the amendment, Attorney General Pam Bondi - a member of the CRC - assured her fellow commissioners that greyhounds forced to retire if racing in the state were to end would be adopted, not euthanized. She also cited state-confirmed cases of racing greyhounds that have tested positive for steroids and cocaine. "We all know these dogs end up with broken legs, serious injuries and they're shipped from track to track until they're either dead or can no longer race at all," Bondi said. But the FGA disputes claims that dogs at the state's 12 tracks have been mistreated. The arguments made in support of the amendment were disingenuous, Cory said, violating established rules. "We feel there are standard grounds within the Constitution that the proposal is incorrect, should not have been adopted by the CRC. It is easy to tell lies to the CRC and sell an issue. You can't do that in front of a court of law without severe penalties." The Supreme Court has an active history of invalidating ballot amendments passed by the Republican-controlled Florida Legislature, often deeming them misleading. It has limited power to strike down amendments that have cleared the CRC, however, which would appear to stymie the FGA lawsuit before it's even filed. But Cory is optimistic. "Our legal team is very confident and we have trust in them," he said. Social media condolences are pouring in after two deputies were shot and killed in Gilchrist County, Fla. We've compiled some of them below. The Sheriffs of Florida stand united with @GCSOFlorida, Sheriff Bobby Schultz & his team today with the tragic news that two of his deputies were ambushed and murdered. We are humbled by the countless offers of assistance and we grieve together as one family. - @SheriffAdkinson Florida Sheriffs (@FLSheriffs) April 19, 2018 Sending thoughts and prayers to Gilchrist County Sheriffs Office. Kissimmee Police Department stands with you during this heartbreaking time. #FallenHeroes. Kissimmee Police (@kissimmeepolice) April 19, 2018 Anything you need @GCSOFlorida, your FL law enforcement family is here for you. My prayers are with the fallen deputies and their loved ones, and I continue to pray for the safety of all our men & women protecting our communities Mike Chitwood (@SheriffChitwood) April 19, 2018 Our hearts are broken as we have learned two Gilchrist County Sheriff Deputies were killed in line of duty today. We are here for you Gilchrist County. Thoughts and prayers are with their families. #Fallenheroes Osceola Sheriff (@OsceolaSheriff) April 19, 2018 We extend our deepest condolences to the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office. This senseless act sends shockwaves throughout the law enforcement community and is a reminder of the risk officers take daily in order to live a life of service. Praying for all who are suffering. #GCSO pic.twitter.com/nn8bexqW8y Ocala Police Dept (@ocalapd) April 19, 2018 Terrible news today from Gilchrist County. Our deepest condolences go out to the two Gilchrist County officers shot and killed in the line of duty this afternoon. Our thoughts and prayers are with the family and friends of the deputies as well as the GCSO Sheriffs Office. pic.twitter.com/jM7ayZWQeD Pasco Sheriff (@PascoSheriff) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> We wish to offer our deepest condolences to the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office, and the families of the deputies lost today. You are all in our thoughts and prayers. Sumter Sheriff FL (@SCSOFL) April 19, 2018 Two Deputies with the Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office were shot and killed in a suspected ambush approximately one hour ago. Please keep the friends and families of these Deputies and the Gilchrist County SO Family and our Law Enforcement Family in your thoughts and prayers. pic.twitter.com/bCUaNS9FV0 Team South Florida (@TmSouthFlorida) April 19, 2018 We are absolutely horrified to hear the news that two Gilchrist County deputies were killed in the line of duty today. We are ready to send resources there and assist however needed - Sheriff Schultz, the GCSO, and the deputies' families are in our prayers. Polk County Sheriff (@PolkCoSheriff) April 19, 2018 I was just briefed by @GCSOFlorida Sheriff Bobby Schultz on todays shooting. I know @FDLEPIO is on scene and Ive offered any state support they may need. Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> We are heartbroken to learn that two Gilchrist County Sheriffs Office deputies were killed in the line of duty today. OPD stands in grief with their families and fellow deputies. Orlando Police (@OrlandoPolice) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> We are saddened to hear about the death of two Gilchrist County Sheriffs deputies fatally shot this afternoon in Trenton, FL. Our hearts are with you. Daytona Beach Police (@DBCops1) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> Two heroes died today in Trenton. They were killed in the line of duty. Trenton is wonderful, close knit community that needs to be lifted up in prayer right now. Please join me in prayer for the families and friends of the fallen. Rob Bradley (@Rob_Bradley) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> WASHINGTON, D.C. Senators Marco Rubio and Bill Nelson hosted a school safety roundtable in Washington. Families impacted by gun violence, government officials and experts weighed in on how to prevent another tragedy from happening again. "What has happened in this tragedy in Parkland is igniting something out there in the country," said Sen. Bill Nelson. "If there is anything the federal government can do to act as a clearinghouse for best practice, a funding source for the implementation of those best practices, those are all things that we are going to leave here today and try to achieve, said Sen. Marco Rubio. During the four-hour roundtable, participants shared ideas about how to better respond to attacks, identifying signs of threats before they happen and hardening schools. After this happened I was just infuriated, because Alex would still be here if we had bulletproof glass windows in his classroom doors, said Max Schacter, father of a Parkland shooting victim. Max Schacters 14-year old son Alex was one of the first students to be killed during the Parkland shooting. He says hes turning his grief into action, pushing for the creation of a commission that will identify state-of the art school safety guidelines that can be implemented nationwide. He thinks that will make it more affordable. To create best practices, standards, minimum standards for schools to create and make them safe, then we will have vendors coming to us. It will push the price down, Schacter said. There was not a lot of discussion about stricter gun laws at the forum. Parents and advocates say this is something they want, but school safety initiatives are a more tangible approach. When you bring in the whole gun aspect of it, it becomes very polarizing and everybody takes sides. But schools safety, we can all agree to come together to make our schools safe, said Lori Alhadeff, mother of Parkland shooting victim. Alhadeffs daughter Alyssa was also killed in the Parkland high school shooting. She and other parents at the roundtable acknowledged that Congress recently passed legislation that allocates $1.2 billion in resources toward improving school security and putting preventative measures in place, like metal detectors. But they want more. Our schools are still unsafe. Its not enough. We are trying to keep the message going, and were trying to keep having a voice, Alhadeff said. This is my life mission, Im not going to stop until this is done, Schacter said. iStock/Thinkstock (NEW YORK) -- The self-described "nephew" of former New York Yankees third baseman Alex Rodriguez was briefly held against his will in a New York City hotel, according to New York Police Department police sources. Norberto Susini, 29, met with two men at the Mariott Marquis hotel in Times Square on Wednesday to facilitate the sale of a Lamborghini, NYPD police sources told ABC News. Susini is a distant relative of Rodriguez's, but likes to call himself Rodriguez's nephew. The prospective buyers -- Lamin Vucetovic, 33, and Anthony Gilkes, 30 -- demanded their $30,000 deposit back from Susini, according to police sources. When Susini hesitated, the men held him in his hotel room against his will, police sources said. Vucetovic and Gilkes then attempted to ransom Susini's business partners, who instead called police. Susini was identified by police sources as Rodriguez's nephew. Vucetovic and Gilkes were arrested and were expected to be arraigned Thursday afternoon, police sources said. Vucetovic is charged with kidnapping, while Gilkes is charged with unlawful imprisonment. The Manhattan District Attorneys Office will now determine if they will prosecute this case. Further details were not immediately available. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. The Chinese navy is conducting large scale live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait. The Chinese navy is conducting large scale live-fire military drills in the Taiwan Strait. [Photo: CCTV] The move comes in the wake of the largest-ever military exercises by the Chinese navy in South China Sea over the weekend. Yang Baowei, deputy brigade commander of an army aviation brigade, says the drill aims to enhance the actual combat capabilities of the military in all aspects. "In this round of live drills at sea, the key is to highlight various combat environments like the night, sea, and complex electromagnetic environments in accordance with the requirements of truth, hardship, strictness, and solidity. In terms of operation tactics, it highlights long-range attacks, coordinated attacks, and multi-bullet continuous attacks." The director of the Taiwan Affairs Office of the State Council warned on Tuesday that adhering to the "1992 Consensus" and opposing "Taiwan independence" are crucial to peace and stability across the Strait. In a related development, the United States has recently decided to sell military hardware to Taiwan and boost official ties between the two sides through the Taiwan Travel Act, running the risk of escalating tensions in the region. TRENTON, Fla. Two Gilchrist County, Fla. deputies were killed in the line of duty Thursday in what the Florida Sheriff's Association called an "ambush." Florida AG: 2 deputies killed in line of duty Deputies from Gilchrist County in north central Florida RELATED: Florida law enforcement responds to shooting The Gilchrist County Sheriff's Office said the gunman walked up to the Ace China restaurant in downtown Trenton at around 3 p.m. and shot both deputies through the window. The agency said deputies responding to the scene found the shooter, identified late Thursday as John Hubert Highnote, 59, dead outside the business. The sheriff's office says there is no apparent motive at this time. The Sheriff's Office tweeted that it had suffered "a terrible tragedy." GILCHRIST COUNTY SHERIFF'S OFFICE has suffered a terrible tragedy. Please avoid the area of SR 26 from the red light to the area of subway. No suspects are at large. Further updates will be posted later. Gilchrist Co Sheriff (@GCSOFlorida) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> Sheriff Bobby Schultz identified the fallen deputies as Sgt. Noel Ramirez, a seven-year law enforcement veteran who had been recently promoted, and Deputy Taylor Lindsey. Speaking to the media Thursday evening, Schultz called both men the best of the best, and said he was better for having known them. Schultz also said that law enforcement officers from around the state where in the county to help out while the staff of the sheriff's office grieves, but he said they would continue to do their jobs, because it was the best way to honor them. Attorney General Pam Bondi issued the following statement: My heart breaks with the tragic news of two Gilchrist County deputies that were senselessly killed today while in the line of duty. The daily risk that law enforcement officers take to protect our communities is overwhelming. My deepest condolences and prayers are with their families as they mourn the devastating loss of their loved ones. May their families, friends and fellow officers find peace and comfort during this very difficult time. The Florida Sheriff's Association called the shooting an "ambush": The Sheriffs of Florida stand united with @GCSOFlorida, Sheriff Bobby Schultz & his team today with the tragic news that two of his deputies were ambushed and murdered. We are humbled by the countless offers of assistance and we grieve together as one family. - @SheriffAdkinson Florida Sheriffs (@FLSheriffs) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> Gov. Scott says he spoke to the county's sheriff: I was just briefed by @GCSOFlorida Sheriff Bobby Schultz on todays shooting. I know @FDLEPIO is on scene and Ive offered any state support they may need. Rick Scott (@FLGovScott) April 19, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> Trenton, Fla. is west of Gainesville in north central Florida. This is a developing story; check back with the latest. ORLANDO, Fla. A jury recommended a life sentence Thursday for Sanel Saint Simon, the man accused of murdering his ex-girlfriend's daughter in 2014. This is a developing story. Check back for the latest. Saint Simon was convicted of murdering his longtime ex-girlfriend's daughter, Alexandria Chery in 2014. For the last three days, the jury heard from Saint Simon's family, Chery's family and other witnesses. Closing arguments will begin Thursday morning and then the jury will begin deliberations. Judge Marshall Kest told jurors Wednesday that if they cannot reach a verdict by Thursday, they will need to extend into Friday or further and that they will need to be sequestered. The jury must choose between life behind bars without parole or death. Orlando-area schools are preparing for another possible walkout on Friday by students protesting gun violence and demanding changes to gun laws. Students across the country plan to walk out of class on Friday at 9:50 a.m. At 10 a.m., there is supposed to be a 1 minute and 13 second moment of silence for those killed in the mass shooting at Columbine High School in Colorado on April 20, 1999. Stand up to the NRA and members of Congress who refuse to take action against gun violenceon April 20, walk out for our lives at an event near you: https://t.co/tUuIDnxaQr #NationalSchoolWalkout pic.twitter.com/3purKQCmBx March For Our Lives (@AMarch4OurLives) April 17, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> The walkouts are meant to keep the discussion going on guns in America, and keep up the pressure on lawmakers. In addition to a walkout, the students are supposed to register participants to vote. Interestingly, Columbine High School itself is approaching the day differently. Every year students take part in a day of service in honor of the Columbine victims. Not sure what Day of Service is? Want to know more about Columbine HS and the Rebel Pride? Check out the story on JPS-TV here https://t.co/bhAwJBi82t @chsrebelsenate @chsrebelations #JeffcoSchools Jeffco Public Schools (@JeffcoSchoolsCo) April 18, 2018 <_script charset="utf-8" src="https://platform.twitter.com/widgets.js"> Spectrum News 13 reached out to the nine school districts in the Orlando area regarding how they plan to handle this new round of walkouts. Here are the responses we've gotten so far: BREVARD COUNTY We are waiting for a response from the school district. FLAGLER COUNTY "Flagler Schools has worked with student leaders in addressing their concerns. Should students opt to join the latest round of nationwide protests, our faculty and staff will encourage our students to respect and honor the memories of the 17 souls lost in Parkland." LAKE COUNTY "Last month, we worked with our students to plan demonstrations of support for the students who lost their lives at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School. This month we are heavily into our testing season, and we want to minimize disruptions, but we continue to work with students to hear and address their concerns. We've established a student advisory council, with representatives from each high school, and we're circulating a safety survey so students can tell us what steps they'd like us to take next. Students who participate in peaceful, non-disruptive demonstrations will not be punished, but we strongly encourage them to use the advisory council and survey as an alternative way to make their voices heard." MARION COUNTY "This Friday, public high school students in Marion County have the opportunity to exchange ideas and opinions when it comes to school safety. These trades of philosophies are structured around citizenship and responsible civic participation. "Instead of walking out of class, Marion County students will constructively use a 30-minute time period to exchange ideas, discuss differing opinions, and offer hard-thought solutions on how our community should address school tragedies like the Parkland, Florida shooting in February. "Just days after that shooting, Marion County Superintendent Dr. Heidi Maier announced April 20 would offer students a civic opportunity and student-led activities to openly discuss and safely voice their concerns for school safety in todays world. "Marion Countys seven traditional public high school principals have worked with student leaders to tailor activities for their respective campuses, realizing what one campus wants is different than what another campus wants. Schools and students will recognize the difference of opinions in their student bodies during events and activities closed to the public. For safety reasons, students will not be permitted to leave campus during these specific times." ORANGE COUNTY Orange County Public Schools is neither encouraging nor discouraging student activities related to proposed walkouts at schools throughout the country on Fri., Apr. 20. Each school will handle their student requests on an individual basis. There are no plans to discipline students for mutually-agreed upon activities. OSCEOLA COUNTY "Student walk-outs happened at numerous Osceola middle and high schools in the weeks after the horrible tragedy in South Florida, with no consequence to students who peacefully assembled. On March 13, Osceola students and parents received a call-out message from Superintendent Pace reminding them of the importance of being in class to ensure that learning continues, and that no additional walk-outs will be permitted for the remainder of the school year. "If students make the choice to leave class on April 20, administrators and teachers will not confront students. Teachers will continue to teach and educate students. Students will be directed to return to class. "Our schools are encouraging students to remain focused on learning while knowing that the School Board has been and continues to keep student safety as a top priority. While we respect the students opinions and encourage respectful use of their voices to advocate for positions which they feel strongly about, student learning is our number one priority. School principals in Osceola County have been and will continue to meet with their student leaders to discuss appropriate avenues to communicate their messages with influential leaders instead of activities that take away instructional time." SEMINOLE COUNTY "We'll be handling the same way we have been since the Parkland tragedy. These types of events are student led and student organized. They are not endorsed by the schools or district. Students that choose to participate will not be disciplined as long as they do so in the agreed upon area where they will be supervised by school staff/administration and as long as they do not extend past the agreed upon duration. School and class activities will occur as normal for any student that chooses to not participate. In addition, students that choose to participate must obviously weigh any information they may miss as a result since instruction will continue to occur in their classes. "We do not anticipate large participation as seen in the past due to the fact many of our students are in the midst of testing as the school year is winding down." SUMTER COUNTY We are waiting for a response from the school district. VOLUSIA COUNTY "This is a student-led event and each Volusia high school has a plan based on their students interest in participating. Our student leaders are working in concert with administration to make sure what they are planning is organized, appropriate and safe for the students who wish to participate. "Some schools have been planning their events for weeks; others do not have students planning anything more elaborate than a moment of silence. Students will be required to follow proper procedures if they intend to walk off campus." At the invitation of the International Affairs Department of the Workers' Party of Korea (WPK), a Chinese art troupe led by Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, paid a visit to the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK) from April 13 to 18 for the attendance of the "Spring of April" International Friendship Art Festival held in Pyongyang. The visit was made after the historic meeting between Xi Jinping, general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and Kim Jong Un, chairman of the WPK and chairman of the State Affairs Commission of the DPRK. It is an important cultural exchange activity that implements the consensus reached by the two top leaders in Beijing last month. Carrying forward the traditional friendship between China and the DPRK accords with the common interests of both sides, and is the common strategic choice of both sides, Xi said to Kim last month, adding that the decision was made based on history and reality, the international and regional structure and the general situation of China-DPRK ties. Xi made four proposals concerning the development of China-DPRK relations: continue giving play to the guiding role of high-level exchanges; make full play of the time-tested valuable practices of strategic communication; actively advance peaceful development and cement the popular will foundation for China-DPRK friendship. This cultural visit to the DPRK aims at implementing the important consensus reached by Xi and Kim, carrying forward China-DPRK friendship, pushing exchanges and cooperation between the two parties, and propelling cultural and art exchanges. Appointing head of the International Department of the CPC Central Committee as leader of the troupe has reflected the political leading role of party-to-party exchanges in China-DPRK relations, and such arrangement is the first ever in the history of party-to-party exchanges between the two countries. At the moment when the DPRK-China friendly relations are moving towards a new and higher stage, General Secretary Xi sent a high-level and large-scale troupe to the DPRK, showing that Xi highly values the implementation of the consensus and revealing his friendly feelings of the DPRK people, Kim said to Song. Kim said he hopes that the two countries will take this opportunity to consolidate the basis of friendship between the two peoples and jointly write a new chapter of the DPRK-China friendship. For a long time, high-level and party-to-party exchanges have been playing an irreplaceable guiding and pushing role for developing China-DPRK relations. As witness and promoter of the evolvement of China-DPRK relations, Xi led delegations to visit the DPRK in June 2008 and July 2005, respectively as member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Vice President of China, and member of the CPC Central Committee and Secretary of CPC Zhejiang Provincial Committee. It is an unswerving strategic principle of the CPC and the Chinese government to maintain, consolidate and develop good relations with the DPRK, Xi said during a meeting with Kim Jong Il, the then General Secretary of the WPK in Pyongyang on June 18, 2008. Under new circumstances in the new era, giving bigger play to the important role of high-level and party-to-party exchanges will help promote China-DPRK exchanges and cooperation in various aspects, deepen mutual understanding and mutual trust between the two peoples and seek common security and prosperity for countries in the region. Conducting in-depth exchanges of views on major issues is a glorious tradition of the two parties. During Songs visit to the DPRK, the two sides also exchanged views on international and regional issues of common concerns. On the Korean Peninsula issue, China sticks to the goal of denuclearization of the peninsula, safeguarding peace and stability on the peninsula and solving problems through dialogue and consultation. Facts have proved that Chinas stance has played an important role in alleviating the tensions on the Korean Peninsula. China plays a central role and the role will become bigger, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres told Peoples Daily. The comment is a high praise of Chinas sincere and unremitting efforts to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula. Under the care and promotion of top leaders of China and the DPRK, as well as the joint efforts of the two peoples, the China-DPRK relations will definitely inject warmth into and play a constructive role in improving the situation on the Korean Peninsula. China is willing to work with relevant parties, including the DPRK, to solve the nuclear issue on the Korean Peninsula through dialogues and consultation, safeguard peace and stability of the peninsula and promote regional prosperity and development. China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday that the US action against China's leading telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp will damage itself. "The action targets China, however, it will ultimately undermine the United States itself," MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a press conference. The United States will lose tens of thousands of job opportunities, while hundreds of related US enterprises will also be affected, he said. The act has fueled widespread concerns over US investment and the business environment, Gao said. "We hope the United States doesn't fancy itself clever, or it will only reap the bitter fruits from what it has sown." The US Department of Commerce has imposed a denial of export privileges against ZTE Corp for alleged violations of the Export Administration Regulations. Gao said the US side should not underestimate China's determination. "If the United States attempts to curb China's development and force China to make concessions by sticking to its unilateral protectionism at the cost of harming the interests of Chinese and American enterprises, it miscalculates," he said. China's resolute determination and confidence in defending the interests of China and its people will not swerve, he said. "We will fight resolutely." National Geographic WILD is home to a big family of animal caretakers and rescuers. In these special episodes, check out how the Men of WILD are helping all kinds of creatures one case at a time. Fridays from 8:30pm AEDT. The new sigh of China Media Group is shown in this photo taken on Thursday, April 19, 2018. [Photo: VCG] China Thursday officially inaugurated the China Media Group as part of its wide-ranging institutional reshuffle. China Media Group is a new broadcasting platform made up of China Central Television (CCTV), China National Radio (CNR) and China Radio International (CRI). BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Trade frictions with the United States have a limited and controllable impact on the Chinese economy, an official from China's top economic planner said Wednesday. "China has prepared multi-level response plans and backup policies for the US-initiated trade frictions," Yan Pengcheng, spokesperson of the National Development and Reform Commission, told a press conference. Supply-side structural reform and new growth momentum have laid a solid foundation to prepare China for the external impact, he said, citing the reassuring performance of China's economy in the first quarter. China's economy demonstrated its resilience by delivering a solid start to the year with GDP expanding 6.8 percent year on year at comparable prices in the first quarter, official data showed. "China, with a population of nearly 1.4 billion, has a huge domestic market, and even if the east goes dark, the west still shines," he said. "We are confident and capable of sustaining the stable development of our economy," he said. While certain sectors of Chinese exports will be affected to some extent, consumers and related manufacturers in the United States will pay the price of U.S. protectionism, Yan said. "We hope to work together with other countries to conform to the trend of the times and create a more favorable environment for globalization and cross-border investment," he said. Manish Anand And Fayaz Wani By Express News Service NEW DELHI/SRINAGAR: Amid national outrage and possible cracks in BJP-PDP ties in Jammu and Kashmir over the Kathua rape incident, the Centre went into damage control on Friday evening, with Prime Minister Narendra Modi declaring no culprits will be spared, complete justice will be done. Our daughters will definitely get justice. Parallelly, the BJP sacked two J&K ministers who had taken part in the rally in support of Kathua rape accused. In a seemingly coordinated move, Modis sharp condemnation of Kathua and Unnao incidents at the inauguration of Babasaheb Bhimrao Ambedkar memorial here was followed by BJPs two ministers Lal Singh and Chander Prakash submitting their resignations to the state unit party chief Sat Sharma. ALSO READ | Kerala journalist's Facebook post goes viral as he names daughter Asifa after Kathua girl Both of them had taken part in a rally in support of the accused involved in the Kathua gang-rape case involving an eight-year-old girl. Earlier, Home Minister Rajnath Singh, in an interview to a news channel, had stated that the culprits in both Kathua and Unnao would be punished and justice done to the victims. BJP MP Meenakshi Lekhi too was fielded by party in the day to distance the saffron outfit from the two ministers in J&K for defending the accused. Breaking his silence, Modi said: Incidents being discussed for the past couple of days cannot be part of a civilised society. As a country, as a society we all are ashamed of it. I want to assure the country that no culprit will be spared, complete justice will be done. Our daughters will definitely get justice. Modis unequivocal statement came a day after senior ministers and party leaders were seen evading questions on the gang-rapes. The crisis-manager for BJP-PDP alliance in Jammu and Kashmir Ram Madhav on Thursday evening had dropped hints of an impending face-saver for Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti, who had apparently been facing political heat to revisit ties with the saffron outfit. Madhav said, such crimes (Kathua) are inhuman and any attempt to communalise them needs to be condemned unequivocally. BJP chief spokesman Sunil Sethi confirmed to The New Indian Express that the two BJP ministers - Forest Minister Chaudhary Lal Singh and Minister for Commerce and Industries Chander Prakash Ganga have submitted their resignation to the State party president. They resigned not on account of guilt but because of a negative campaign against them, he said. By IANS LONDON: In a veiled message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that antics of those exporting terror and trying to backstab will not be tolerated and they will be answered in language they understand. He said Islamabad had been informed of the 2016 surgical strikes before these were announced to the media. Modi termed the surgical strikes of September 29, 2016 an answer to the exporters of terrorism. Referring to the Uri terror strike, Modi said: "We will not tolerate those who like to export terror and those who try to stab at the back. We know how to give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Some cowards come and kill our jawans. Do you want me to stay quiet? Shouldn't they be replied in the same coin?" "The surgical strike was an answer to the exporters of terrorism, sending message (to Pakistan) that India has changed and their antics will never be tolerated. I am proud of my soldiers. The soldiers executed the surgical strike without making a single mistake and with 100 per cent perfection. And they returned before sunrise," Modi said. ALSO READ | Demonstrators chanting slogans against 'atrocities' in India, greet Prime Minister Narendra Modi in UK Taking part in an interactive session 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' at the historic Central Hall Westminster here, Modi referred to the outrage over multiple rape cases of minor girls in India and said such incidents cannot be tolerated. He said he had told the Army to announce the strikes to media after informing Pakistan. He said Pakistani authorities were initially hesitant to take the calls but came on line around 12 noon the next day after which the media was informed about them. "...And look at our good intention. I told the army officer in-charge that before announcing the news in India, he should inform the Pakistan army first about the strike and they may remove the bodies if they want to," he added. Pakistan has maintained that no surgical strikes were carried out by India. New Delhi has been accusing Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism. e took several digs at the opposition, particularly the Congress, and said that the pace of work of his government was much faster than of the previous UPA government. The interaction, which lasted for more than two hours, saw Modi highlighting achievements of his government in the past about four years to build electoral momentum for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Referring to the foreign policy, Modi said India was dealing with all countries in the world on equal terms and was taking independent decisions in its dealings with countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said India has made its place in international fora and was setting the agenda. Referring to outrage over rape incidents, Modi said: "A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters?" He said comparing statistics of rapes in different governments was a worse way to deal with the issue and referred to his speech from the Red Fort where he said people need to teach their sons to treat girls with respect. Modi took veiled potshots at Congress President Rahul Gandhi. "I do not need to read books to understand poverty. I have lived in poverty, I know what it is to be poor and belong to the backward sections of society. I want to work for the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden," he said. Modi said a wrong tendency had developed over the years of people getting overly dependent on the government. "Mahatma Gandhi made the struggle of freedom a people's movement. I am making development a people's movement," he said. He said people have more expectations from the BJP-led government as they have faith that it can deliver. Modi also accused the Congress of promoting legacy of one family and said many people of the country were not aware of contribution of Lord Basaveshwara. Lord Basaveshwara hailed from Karnataka where assembly polls will be held next month. Modi said he welcomes criticism as it makes democracy strong. Modi referred to his government's initiatives including Ayushman Bharat and doubling farmers income by 2022. He said he was not born with an aim to be in history books and that 125 crore people of India were his family. "I am like any common citizen." Referring to his personal life, Modi said: My life at the Railway Station taught me so much. It was about my personal struggles. When you said Royal Palace, it is not about me but about the 125 crore people of India," he said. By Express News Service NEW DELHI: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed PIL seeking inquiry into death of judicial officer B H Loya in December 2014, at a time when he was trying Sohrabuddin fake encounter case in which BJP leader Amit Shah was an accused. The judgement was delivered by a three judge bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud. Justice D Y Chandrachud, who has penned down the judgement says the PIL was barest of any truth and was an attempt to malign the judiciary. Holding that there is no merit in the petition, the court said that, Judge Loya died a natural death and there was not a shred of doubt about it. READ | Judge Loya case: A timeline SC said petitioners launched a frontal attack on judiciary by telling the court to disbelieve four judicial officers who accompanied Loya to Nagpur, stayed with him at a guest house and said Loya died of an heart attack. Supreme Court rules that the death of Judge Loya was due to natural causes and there is no reason to doubt the statements of 4 judicial officers who corroborated this fact @NewIndianXpress kanusarda (@sardakanu_TNIE) April 19, 2018 Refraining itself from issuing contempt notice to petitioners, the bench said, It would have been ideal to initiate contempt proceedings against petitioner in such a case where a political rivalry is brought to court to malign judiciary. Courts are not the place to settle business or political rivalry, which should be fought in markets or in elections. PILs, which were meant to provide succour to downtrodden and voiceless, have now become an industry to settle business and political rivalry, the bench observed. The judgement said even two judges of the Supreme Court bench which heard the petitions were not spared by the petitioners and serious attacks were also made on the credibility of two Bombay High Court judges. Maharashtra-based journalist B S Lone and activist Tehseen Poonavala had filed independent pleas seeking a fair probe into the death of Judge Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, involving various police officers and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Judge Loyas son Anuj Loya has said the family no longer has any suspicion about the death. There was some suspicion before due to emotional turmoil, but now it is clear, Anuj Loya told reporters in January. On 8 March 2018, the Supreme Court had taken exception to a remark by senior lawyer Dushyant Dave that the judges were posing searching questions only to those who brought the B H Loya death case before it and not to the Maharashtra government. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said that judges were guided by their conscience and heart in delivering justice and they did not need any certificate from anyone. The Maharashtra government told the top court that the petitions that sought an independent probe are motivated. The case had become a rallying point for Opposition parties, which said that there was a threat to democracy when lawyers and judges working on important cases were targeted. Congress president Rahul Gandhi met President Ram Nath Kovind with a group of lawmakers, asking for an independent investigation into judge Loyas death. (With inputs from agencies) By PTI LONDON: Some groups protesting against atrocities in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modi's visit here have turned violent after a tricolour was torn down from one of the official flagpoles set up for all 53 Commonwealth countries. Modi, who is in the UK for bilateral talks and the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), was greeted by protesters as he met his British counterpart Theresa May. Some of the protesters at Parliament Square yesterday turned aggressive after the Indian tricolour was torn down from the flagpole. A senior broadcast journalist from one of the leading Indian media channels covering the protests was caught in a violent scrum with some of the more aggressive pro-Khalistani protesters and Scotland Yard officers on duty had to step in to the rescue. The group is planning to file a complaint with the Metropolitan Police on the incident. ALSO READ | Pakistan was informed of 2016 surgical strikes before announcing to Indian media, says PM Modi in London "We have expressed our concerns with the British authorities and they have apologised for the incident. We have been warning against some of these elements out to make trouble and they have assured us of action. The Indian flag has now been replaced," a senior Indian official associated with the PM's visit said. The pro-Khalistani demonstrators from Sikh Federation UK and demonstrators from the so-called "Minorities Against Modi" group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Lord Ahmed, were among nearly 500 protesters who descended upon Parliament Square. These included groups led by some Kashmiri separatist groups and at one point, some of them had surrounded the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the square with their banners and flags. Officials involved with the prime ministerial visit to the UK had said that protests and demonstrations are "part and parcel of any democratic society" as long as they remain peaceful. There are now concerns that some of the more aggressive elements hijacked the tone of the protests. Earlier on Wednesday, flash mob of sari-clad women with dhols set the tone for the pro-Modi crowds opposite 10 Downing Street as the Indian PM arrived for his breakfast meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May. They were joined by the Friends of India Society International (FISI) group, which spearheaded a crowd of Indian diaspora from across the UK waving banners such as 'Chak De India' and 'Jai Hind' outside Downing Street and nearby Parliament Square. "We want to welcome the Indian PM to the UK and show him the diaspora support he enjoys," said one of the members of the gathering. On the other side, the anti-Modi protesters from Caste Watch UK and South Asia Solidarity group waved banners such as 'Modi, you have blood on your hands' and 'Modi Not Welcome'. "Hindu nationalism must be curtailed to avert India sliding towards wholesale dictatorship threatening democratic fabric, rule of law and the unity of India," a Caste Watch UK spokesperson said. They were joined by other protestors carrying images the eight-year-old rape victim from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and Gauri Lankesh, the Indian journalist who was shot at her doorstep last year. The group also included representatives of several Indian women's groups in the UK, wearing white as part of their silent protest against 'atrocities that are taking place in India'. "I am Hindustan, I am ashamed," read their placards alongside banners such as 'Beti Bachao' and 'Politics minus rape'. China's Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) announced Thursday that China will ban imports of 32 types of solid waste in its latest move to reduce environmental pollution. Sixteen types of solid waste, including compressed car scraps and scrapped ships, will be banned from import beginning from Dec. 31, 2018, MEE said in an online announcement. Thousands of tons of imported solid wastes were found in Shenzhen customs in February 2013. [Photo: customs.gov.cn] Another sixteen types, including stainless steel scraps, will be banned beginning from Dec. 31, 2019. China began importing solid waste as a source of raw materials in the 1980s, and has for years been the world's largest importer of recyclable materials. Solid waste often contains harmful elements if not properly disposed of. China has decided to phase out imports of solid waste that can be replaced by domestic resources before the end of 2019. Families irked by lack of upkeep at cemetery take it upon themselves Health-oriented urban development, also known as healthy cities, should be highlighted on the agenda of Chinas urban strategy, given that the urbanization rate in China is predicted to reach 71% by 2030, according to a report issued on Wednesday. The report, jointly conducted by Tsinghua University and the worlds most prestigious medical journal, Lancet, was issued at a seminar in Beijing. Building healthy cities should be well integrated into the plan for healthy China, Gong Peng, the leader of the report and a professor at the Center for Earth System Science at Tsinghua University, said at the seminar. (Gong Peng, a professor at the Center for Earth System Science of Tsinghua University, addresses the seminar in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua University) True to the national goal in eco-civilization previously declared by Chinese President Xi Jinping, we have observed radical responsibility from the government as the key to accelerate the current reform in the urban design, said Paige Snide, a representative from the World Health Organization China Representative Office. Echoing the Healthy China 2030 plan adopted by the Central Government in 2016 and the Worlds Banks estimation that there will be 221 cities in China with one million inhabitants each, the report addressed healthy cities as a core pillar to combat urban health challenges under the unique contexts of Chinas accelerated and dynamic urban development. As expounded by World Health Organization, a healthy city is one that emphasizes healthy physical and social collaboration across multiple aspects that ensure house quality, ecosystem, well-being, public health, access to natural resources, and connectedness to the cultural heritage, and so on. The action to raise the healthy cities policy and the health of our planet is now the leading element that shows Chinas commitment to high-quality and environmentally sustainable development, as well as Chinas important contribution to world health, according to Dr. Richard Horton, the editor-in-chief of the Lancet. (Richard Horton, editor-in-chief of the Lancet, addresses the seminar in Beijing on Wednesday. Photo courtesy of Tsinghua University) City planners should integrate health in all policies by starting from urban planning, increase public participation, set up suitable local goals, assess progress periodically, and enhance research and education on healthy cities, the report advocated. Titled Healthy Cities: Unlocking the Power of Cities for a Healthy China, the report was compiled by a committee of 45 experts from Tsinghua University, the National Health Commission, the World Health Organization, the University of California at Berkeley, and other organizations. Champaign, IL (61820) Today Thunderstorms likely early, then mainly cloudy overnight with light rain possible. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected.. Tonight Thunderstorms likely early, then mainly cloudy overnight with light rain possible. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 10 to 15 mph. Chance of rain 80%. 1 to 2 inches of rain expected. The US should not start strategic competition with China, an industry insider has said. He explained that the national financial distribution of the US will be affected by transferring resources for improving peoples lives to national defense. Stephen Orlins, president of the National Committee on U.S.-China Relations (NCUSCR), said strategic competition with China will hurt the long-term interests of the US. While funding a strategic plan, the country will have to cut down on resources otherwise allocated to key sectors such as innovation, education and infrastructure. According to a report released together by the NCUSCR and the Rhodium Group last week, two-way investment between China and the US fell by $43 billion in 2017, a drop of 28 percent from the previous year. The report said this drop was due to China's outbound investment regulation and the USs tightened scrutiny of Chinese investment due to national security that has restricted businesses of Chinese companies, Xinhua stated. Daniel Rosen, a founding partner of Rhodium Group, said on Tuesday that perhaps the China-US frictions are unavoidable in the days to come. However, he added that the two countries are actually in a complementary relationship in the economy. He believes economy will continue to be a ballast stone that serves welfare of the two nations. Orlins said despite the drop in two-way investment, the rapid development of China-US investment is still impressive. He pointed out that when he first came to Shanghai 40 years ago, it never occurred to him that such enormous investment could be exchanged between the two countries 40 years later. If the US rejects a Chinese enterprise which has won the bid for a public project and lets other bidders win with a lower price, that will devalue US pension funds used to support the public project. Eventually, this will reduce the pensions distributed to retired US teachers, firemen and police, he pointed out. The US has been competing with China for years, just like it has been doing with the UK, France, Canada and Mexico. Although this is of course normal, the competition should not be lifted to a strategic level as it will hurt both countries, Orlins explained. On Monday, the US Commerce Department banned American companies from selling components to China's telecommunications-gear maker ZTE Corp. This triggered in-depth discussions focused on the urgency for China to support development of its own core technologies in the telecommunications industry. China's telecommunications industry has been developing rapidly with the percentage of self-made chips on the rise. However, in higher-end areas such as military telecommunications, domestically-made chips still have a long way to go before they catch up with their foreign counterparts in terms of stability and reliability. Data has shown that in 2016, China spent $230 billion on chip imports, almost double the money used to import crude oil. That makes the industry realize that core technologies are a weak point, and conceding to others in this industry is the biggest hidden danger. Faced with this gap, instead of losing faith in the development of our high-tech industry, we should be motivated, striving to master core technologies through self-reliance. It is foreseeable that from now on China will increase input to develop chips regardless of the costs and create a historic opportunity to the whole industry, an investor said. The government should foster a friendlier system and environment for innovation-driven development, such as creating more opportunity for scientific research and overcoming issues with chip design. China has managed to develop a high-tech industry from scratch, so it should be confident enough to tackle core technology bottlenecks going forward. China, as a large country, has a broad space to act in international trading system. The country is able to stand shoulder to shoulder with global telecommunications tycoons and its leading role in 5G era is by no means a result of self-isolation. Self-isolation will only lead to a dead end, while cooperation will make the way easier. The US ban on exports has made shares of ZTE's US suppliers fall sharply and so the companies have suffered heavy losses, a result of self-isolation. China will continue to reform and open up further. By making good use of technological resources both domestically and internationally, it will achieve independent innovation while benefiting the world. Chinese President Xi Jinping has said that we cannot always decorate our tomorrow with others' yesterdays, and we should master our own crucial technologies to compete with other countries as well as to safeguard our national security. Money cannot buy us core technology. The next step for Chinas economy is to strive for high-quality development and achieve independent innovation of core technologies. The road is long, but the goal is attainable under diligent efforts. In an interview with Al-Ahram Al-Arabi weekly magazine, President Nicos Anastasiades talked about his strong friendship with Sisi, Egypt's hopes in natural gas field, its war on terrorism; and tensions between Cyprus with Turkey In an interview with Al-Ahram Al-Arabi weekly magazine, Cypriot President Nicos Anastasiades praised Egyptian-Cypriot relations and his deep ties with President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi. President Anastasiades said that Cyprus will continue its gas exploration projects, and blamed Turkey for the failure of the Cyprus reunification negotiations held in Switzerland last July. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: How would you describe your relationship with Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah El-Sisi? President Anastasiades: In recent years, President El-Sisi and I have formed a relationship of deep friendship, mutual trust and respect. This has helped us to further enhance the relations between our countries, both at a bilateral but also at a trilateral level (with Greece), building on the solid foundations that our relation is already based on. This strengthening of our relations is marked by the increasing record of bilateral visits at the highest level, including President El-Sisis visit in November 2017, the first ever official visit of an Egyptian president to Cyprus since the establishment of our diplomatic relations. I look forward to continuing working closely with President El-Sisi, during this second term in office, to further broaden and deepen our cooperation, as well as in advancing our common goals for prosperity, peace and stability in our region. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: What are the prospects for further cooperation between Egypt and Cyprus in the coming period? President Anastasiades: As I mentioned, in recent years we have given increased momentum to our cooperation, and this is something reflected both at the bilateral and the trilateral level. In fact, we have successfully expanded the legal framework of our bilateral relations by concluding important agreements that bolster the backbone of our cooperation. And I can gladly state that we have now started reaping the reward of the enhancement of our relations in various fields of common interest, such as energy, economy and trade, and security and defence. Cyprus has always supported the strategic importance of the partnership between Egypt and the Union and we will continue to do so. Furthermore, the current trilateral partnership between Cyprus, Egypt and Greece serves as a model for furthering dialogue and promoting a broader regional cooperation. We are ready to expand, deepen and enrich this partnership, and continue working closely on issues of mutual interest beneficial for our countries and the wider region, and towards promoting peace, stability and prosperity in the Mediterranean. Given the opportunity, it is worth mentioning that on 30 April I will attend the inauguration of the Nostos, the Return programme in Alexandria, an excellent Egyptian initiative towards our joint efforts to build ties on diaspora issues that will provide a great opportunity to further broaden our tripartite cooperation. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: How do you view Egypt's war on terrorism? President Anastasiades: Terrorism is an international scourge whose purpose is to cause chaos and instability and disrupt the normal functioning of state. This can never be tolerated. In this regard, the Republic of Cyprus has steadfastly expressed its support to the Arab Republic of Egypt on the countrys war against terrorism. Egypt has indeed suffered greatly as a result of terrorism and in this regard we support the Egyptian efforts to contain and expunge this scourge from its soil. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: Do you support Egypts transformation into a gas trading centre in the southern Mediterranean? President Anastasiades: Recently, the European Union and Egypt agreed on the text of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) on energy cooperation that is going to be signed among the two sides in April 2018. The purpose of the Memorandum is for the EU and Egypt to further develop their relations and cooperation in the energy sector during the following years. There are a number of areas of cooperation, including further assistance to the development of the oil and gas sector and the development of an energy hub. The European Union supports Egypts role in becoming an oil and gas hub in the Mediterranean. Such a development would have significant importance for Europes security of gas supply and would facilitate the diversification of gas supplies to Europe. Cyprus fully supports this deepening of relations between the EU and Egypt. Furthermore, bilaterally we are working closely with our Egyptian counterparts on a number of projects in the energy and electricity sectors that will contribute to the achievement of the goals of the MoU between the Union and Egypt. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: Are there any current efforts to resume the reunification negotiations with Turkey after the failure of the last round of negotiations in July? President Anastasiades: I believe that you share my assessment, also taking into account Turkeys recent actions in our immediate region, of how justified our position in Crans Montana was to end the Turkish guarantees and intervention rights, as well as the permanent presence of Turkish troops in the re-united Cyprus. Unfortunately, due to Turkeys intransigence on the above-mentioned issues, the Conference in Cyprus at Crans Montana in July 2017 was unsuccessful. Since then, on numerous occasions, I reiterated my commitment to the UN secretary-general to continue negotiations based on the framework he had set. My determination, however, to continue the negotiations and resume the efforts for the reunification of Cyprus can only yield results if it is reciprocated by the other parties, namely Turkey and the Turkish Cypriot side. To this end, what is yet again unfortunate, is the fact that following my re-election to the presidency and while deliberations were underway with the UN in order to resume negotiations, Turkey, adopting gun-boat diplomacy, violated our sovereign rights to explore and exploit our natural resources, hindering our energy policy and programming. What I would like to stress is that if Turkeys illegal actions cease, and if the unacceptable positions and demands put forward by the Turkish Cypriot side are withdrawn, I would be ready to immediately engage in a new dialogue as regards the internal aspects of the Cyprus Problem and also to take part in a new Conference on Cyprus, provided that the necessary preparation has taken place and that the five permanent members of the Security Council and the EU will assume an active role. The steps forward will be discussed and assessed during an informal social dinner, without agenda, with the Turkish Cypriot leader, to be hosted by the UN on April 16. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: What do you think about Turkey's recent blocking of an ENI excavator off the Cypriot coast? President Anastasiades: The illegal actions and provocations by Turkey in the Republic of Cyprus maritime zones constitute a flagrant violation of international and EU law, including UNCLOS, and of the sovereign rights of the Republic of Cyprus within its exclusive economic zone. These acts physically obstructed the Italian energy firm ENI from reaching its planned drilling area in Exploration Block 3 of our exclusive economic zone. These actions undermine the interests and objectives of the European Unions policy for energy security and diversification of sources and routes, and are completely contrary to Turkeys outstanding obligations towards the EU as a candidate country. Furthermore, Turkeys actions in our maritime zones have nothing to do with the interests of the Turkish Cypriots, while they have everything to do with advancing Turkeys own interests in the Eastern Mediterranean. Turkeys claim that it is acting to protect the interests of the Turkish Cypriots is completely unfounded, since: - There is a convergence from the previous round of negotiations on the issue of exploration and exploitation of natural resources that decisions with regard to the maritime areas will be a federal competence in reunited Cyprus. This convergence was never challenged by the Turkish Cypriot side. - We have submitted for approval to the House of Representatives a bill which creates a sovereign fund for the management of any future hydrocarbon resources, safeguarding the interests of current and future generations of all Cypriots. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: Could Cyprus possibly change its plans to explore gas and oil because of this Turkish threat? President Anastasiades: Over the past few years, we have made some remarkable steps towards the realisation of our exploration program, which we aspire to soon consolidate Cyprus as a natural gas producer and a transit country. Our goal is to fully explore and exploit, in the best terms possible, the hydrocarbon potential in our exclusive economic zone, and successfully implement our ambitious exploration program, based on the overall hydrocarbons development strategy of the Republic. At present, the competent Ministry of Energy and the 'Aphrodite' consortium are engaged in advanced discussions to establish, at the soonest possible time, the Development and Production Plan of the Aphrodite gas field. At the same time, there has been much progress regarding the exploration activities in the Exclusive Economic Zone of the Republic of Cyprus. Following the Republics 3rd Licensing Round and the decision to grant hydrocarbon exploration licenses for Blocks 6, 8 and 10 to ENI/TOTAL, ENI and ExxonMobil/Qatar Petroleum respectively, we anticipate with eagerness the completion of the exploration program of all licensed companies. At the same time, no one can deny that Turkeys actions are aimed at achieving the countrys long-term goal of becoming an exclusive energy supply hub for the European Union, or even, as we can conclude from recent events, to control the natural gas supply from the Eastern Mediterranean to Europe. The continuous Turkish threats will not prevent us from exercising our rights as an independent and fully integrated member state of the European Union, to proceed with our program as planned. I do hope that Turkey will finally adopt the realistic approach of changing tactics and behaviour, in line with international law and European standards, principles and values, in order to achieve progress in what matters to both the EU and all of us. This would be to the benefit of all, including our immediate region. Al-Ahram Al-Arabi: Are you satisfied with European reactions over the gas issue? President Anastasiades: The EU strongly condemned Turkeys illegal actions and collectively conveyed a strong message to the Turkish leadership, both at the recent European Council and the leaders meeting in Varna. Specifically in the European Council Conclusions of March 2018, there was an unprecedented strong condemnation of Turkeys continuing illegal activity in the Eastern Mediterranean, which of course includes the Exclusive Economic Zone of Cyprus. Furthermore, the European Council urgently called on Turkey to cease these actions and respect the sovereign rights of Cyprus to explore and exploit its natural resources in accordance with EU and International Law. It also recalled Turkey's obligation to respect International Law and good neighbourly relations, and normalize relations with all EU member states including the Republic of Cyprus. Lastly, the European Council affirmed that it will continue to monitor these matters. This is a principled position and a stance of solidarity that serves the overall best interest of the Union despite the continuous Turkish threats on the gas issue. As a Union, we have the obligation to protect and preserve our founding principles and values, the respect for rule of law, democracy, human rights and the fundamental freedoms. Search Keywords: Short link: The Seventh Day Adventist Church-run Solusi High School has allegedly fired 12 teachers directly employed by the school before re-advertising vacancies for the same posts. The teachers contracts were allegedly terminated at the end of last Term. A parent who spoke on condition of anonymity said it is unclear why the teachers have been fired. Some of the teachers have been employed by the school for nearly 10 years. They were dismissed at the end of March without justification. What is even surprising is that the teachers are part of the team that won the Ministry of Primary and Secondary Education Secretarys Bell last year, said one of the parents. He said the sudden change of teachers could affect the learners, especially those preparing for public examinations. The vacancies that have been advertised are for subjects that include Mathematics, Geography, Economics and Business Studies, Music and Ndebele. South Zimbabwe Conference Seventh-Day Adventists executive secretary Mr Canaan Mkombe declined to respond to questions sent to him. He said the church was in the process of gathering details on the matter. We thank you for the questions which you have asked. It appears they are pertinent. However, we are unable at this point to answer comprehensively to the questions or make any comments. The church needs to get full details regarding the issue before responding, he said. Solusi High Schools School Development Committee chairman, Mr Dumisani Ncube, said the school did not terminate the contracts as they had already expired. What I know is that their contracts expired on March 31 at the end of the schools term. We did not terminate their contracts. We have submitted the list of vacancies to Government so that it provides us with replacement teachers, said Mr Ncube. He said the school was covering its back by re-advertising the vacant posts. We re- advertised the posts because as an astute leader you have to take precautionary measures so that in the event that the Government does not give us the teachers, we should be in a position to have suitable candidates to fill the vacant posts, he said. Chronicle 'We're Going to Get This Done,' Biden Says After Hill Meeting Egypt's Administrative Control Authority (ACA) on Wednesday arrested a number customs officials at Cairo International Airport and employees of an EgyptAir holding company for alleged involvement in a drug and illegal medication smuggling ring. The defendants have also been accused of receiving bribes from private pharmacies and pharmaceutical companies. The arrested employees include the head of the assignment department at the EgyptAir Maintenance and Engineering company, a database officer and a head steward. Also arrested were the head officer at Cairo International Airport's passenger search department and the airport's customs warden. The ACA further arrested twelve other officials in the same network and seized EGP 6 million worth of illegal drugs and banned medications. The detained have been referred to prosecution. Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) A former Playboy model who says she slept with President Trump can now say it all she wantsin even greater detail. Karen McDougal settled her lawsuit Wednesday with the tabloid company American Media Inc. on terms that let her fully discuss the alleged affair, the New York Times reports. "It's a total win," says her lawyer Peter Stris. "We got everything we were fighting forshe got out of the contract, gets the life rights back and owes AMI nothing more." An elated McDougal says she's doing a "victory dance" but has no immediate plans. "I am relieved to be able to tell the truth about my story when asked," she says in a statement per CBS News. story continues below McDougal sold her Trump-story rights to AMI for $150,000 in 2016, but later sued the company, saying chairman David Pecker misled her and Trump personal lawyer Michael Cohen got inappropriately involved. AMI appeared ready to fight McDougal until the feds raided Cohen's office earlier this month and seized information on her lawsuit and AMI, per insiders in the case. Wednesday's settlement grants AMI up to $75,000 in future profits from McDougal's story and protects Trump from legal responsibility regarding attempts to buy women's stories during the presidential campaign. Trump still denies having had an affair with McDougal. (Read more President Trump stories.) (Newser) Attorney Michael Cohen is seen as a fiercely loyal ally to President Trump. Indeed, he tweeted this month, "I will always protect our @POTUS." But when Trump called another longtime legal adviser last week, that adviser gave the president a clear warning: Don't trust Cohen, because he will almost certainly flip for prosecutors, reports the Wall Street Journal. On a scale of 1 to 100, with 100 being the most loyal, Cohen "isn't even a 1," Jay Goldberg says he told the president in a phone call on Friday. He also warned Trump that Cohen might wear a wire in conversations with the president. "Anyone who is facing 30 years doesn't stand up," said Goldberg, per CNN. Cohen could indeed face serious jail time on charges of bank fraud and campaign finance fraud following the unprecedented FBI raid on his offices. story continues below Politico also reports that Trump and his allies are growing more and more concerned about the possibility of Cohen flipping. "Theyre going to threaten him with a long prison term and try to turn him into a canary that sings," says Alan Dershowitz. The story notes that the White House found it a little worrisome that Cohen referred to the raiding agents as "courteous and respectful" instead of being his usual bombastic self, and it also notes that spokesperson Sarah Huckabee Sanders seemed to create a bit of distance between the two men by pointing out that Trump has many attorneys. One other point: While the White House insists Trump's pardon of Scooter Libby was not meant to send a message to Cohen, it "could go a long way toward reassuring" him, write Darren Samuelsohn and Andrew Restuccia at Politico. (Read more Michael Cohen stories.) (Newser) Nikki Haley is getting a lot of attention for her not-so-subtle rejoinder to the White House. It all began when the UN ambassador declared that the US would be imposing new sanctions on Russia, only to have President Trump change his mind about them. When Trump economics adviser Larry Kudlow said Haley had suffered from "momentary confusion," she shot back that she doesn't "get confused." Kudlow quickly apologized, but Haley's response is resonating. Coverage: Unusual: At CNN, Jeremy Diamond found Haley's defiance "stunning" given that "public humiliation is a rite of passage for many top officials in the Trump administration." Most, including Rex Tillerson and John Kelly, have gone along with the presidential contradictions in silence. story continues below Similar note: Haley's statement made clear she won't tolerate such public humiliations, per an analysis at Politico that sees it a "red line" she has drawn. The story also notes that Haley's influence in the administration is generally on the upswing, given that she routinely clashed with the now-ousted Tillerson on foreign policy but is more in sync with his likely successor, Mike Pompeo. Haley's statement made clear she won't tolerate such public humiliations, per an analysis at Politico that sees it a "red line" she has drawn. The story also notes that Haley's influence in the administration is generally on the upswing, given that she routinely clashed with the now-ousted Tillerson on foreign policy but is more in sync with his likely successor, Mike Pompeo. Note of caution: Trump allies are worried that Haley, who is just 46, is putting her own "political brand" ahead of the president's, reports the Hill. "Clearly she has machinations for higher office and will do anything to continue rising, even if it eventually means throwing President Trump and his administration under the bus," says one former White House official. Trump allies are worried that Haley, who is just 46, is putting her own "political brand" ahead of the president's, reports the Hill. "Clearly she has machinations for higher office and will do anything to continue rising, even if it eventually means throwing President Trump and his administration under the bus," says one former White House official. 2020 whispers: One hot rumor in regard to Haley's political future is that she and VP Mike Pence might form a 2020 ticket, reports the New York Times. "Aides to both scoff at such suggestions, but the slightest hint of such a pairing would be likely to enrage" Trump, who has made clear he intends to run again, per the story. The narrative got some legs recently when Pence tried to hire Haley deputy Jon Lerner to simultaneously serve as his national security adviser. Trump reportedly squelched the move upon learning that Lerner had once made anti-Trump ads. One hot rumor in regard to Haley's political future is that she and VP Mike Pence might form a 2020 ticket, reports the New York Times. "Aides to both scoff at such suggestions, but the slightest hint of such a pairing would be likely to enrage" Trump, who has made clear he intends to run again, per the story. The narrative got some legs recently when Pence tried to hire Haley deputy Jon Lerner to simultaneously serve as his national security adviser. Trump reportedly squelched the move upon learning that Lerner had once made anti-Trump ads. Another clash: Haley isn't the only Cabinet member Trump crossed on foreign policy in recent days: He also overruled defense chief Jim Mattis about getting congressional approval for the strike on Syria, reports the New York Times. "These conflicts with top aidesone of them unfolding in the openshow that, in the end, the president will govern how he wants," observes a post at Axios. Haley isn't the only Cabinet member Trump crossed on foreign policy in recent days: He also overruled defense chief Jim Mattis about getting congressional approval for the strike on Syria, reports the New York Times. "These conflicts with top aidesone of them unfolding in the openshow that, in the end, the president will govern how he wants," observes a post at Axios. Colbert weighs in: Stephen Colbert took note of the public spat with Haley. Referring to coverage that the president once heard Haley speaking on TV and angrily demanded, "Who wrote that for her?," Colbert took aim: "Fun fact, Mr. President, not all women are under legally binding agreements about what they can say," he said, per Mediaite. "Some of them just get to talk!" (Read more Nikki Haley stories.) (Newser) Kansas Secretary of State Kris Kobach violated a court order that required his office to inform certain people they were eligible to vote while a lawsuit challenging a state law requiring proof of US citizenship worked its way through the courts, a federal judge ruled Wednesday. US District Judge Julie Robinson found Kobach, a conservative Republican running for Kansas governor, in contempt of court. She did not fine Kobach but ordered him to pay court costs, including attorney fees for the American Civil Liberties Union, which sought the contempt ruling. Moriah Day, a spokeswoman for Kobach's campaign for governor, said the secretary of state's office would appeal the decision and would have no other comment, per the AP. story continues below The ACLU sought the contempt ruling after Kobach refused to update his office's website or ensure that county officials sent postcards to residents who registered at drivers' licensing offices without providing citizenship documents. The postcards contain basic voting information such as a voter's polling place. "The judge found that Kris Kobach disobeyed the court's orders by failing to provide registered voters with consistent information," says the ACLU. The decision revolves around a law in Kansas that went into effect in 2013 and is now being challenged, notes NPR. It requires that voters show some kind of document proving they are US citizens, but critics say it unfairly prevents thousands of people from voting simply because they don't have such documents. (Kobach helped lead President Trump's commission on voter fraud.) (Newser) Before his death in 1980, Dr. Hans Asperger said he kept his adolescent patients safe from the Nazis, a claim repeated years later by autism experts. The pediatricianfor whom Asperger's Syndrome was named in 1981even went so far as to say he'd become a target of the Nazis himself for those actions, reports the BBC. All that has been upended by a study of his personnel files and patient records, published Thursday in Molecular Autism. Medical historian Herwig Czech writes that Asperger not only "publicly legitimized race hygiene policies" and signed his diagnostic reports with "Heil Hitler," per the Local, but also sent several children to the Am Spiegelgrund euthanasia clinic, where the Guardian reports 789 children were killed between 1940 and 1945. story continues below Czech says "there is no evidence to show his contributions to autism research were tainted" or that he deliberately earmarked kids for euthanasia. But he found that Asperger in 1939 wrote it was necessary to "carry out restrictive measures" to stop "the diseased ... from transmitting their diseased hereditary material." In one case, Asperger ordered a 2-year-old with acute inflammation of the brain be sent to Spiegelgrund on the basis that "she must be an unbearable burden to her mother." The girl died there three months later. Czech argues Asperger was "rewarded for his affirmations of loyalty [to the Nazis] with career opportunities" and concludes that "the narrative of Asperger as a principled opponent of National Socialism and a courageous defender of his patients ... does not hold up in the face of the historical evidence." (Read more Nazism stories.) (Newser) There's never been a better time to buy weed in Oregon, or a worse time to be a small grower or dispensary owner. Across the state, marijuana dispensaries have slashed weed prices in half to $700 per pound, or about $4 or $5 per gram, simply to get the stuff off shelves, and some are still struggling. The problem, reports the Willamette Week, is there are too many recreational cannabis growers963 as of this month, with another 910 awaiting approval by the Oregon Liquor Control Commissionwho are too good at their jobs. Last year, Oregon growers produced 1.1 million pounds of cannabis flower, three times what was consumed. As a result, a man who invested $250,000 in an indoor marijuana farm, dreaming of returns of $1,500 per pound, was forced to sell his bud at an auction. Buyer's price: $100 per pound. story continues below "Currently, we're operating at a $15,000-per-month loss," the man says. It's a trend seen across the state, leaving small growers with few options. They can cut their losses (a federal ban on weed means bankruptcy is out of the question), sell to out-of-state investors or large operations, or sell their product illegally across state lines. Two dozen people in the industry told the Week that legalizing such sales would solve everything. Others believe the OLCC should limit grower licensesit says it doesn't have that authorityor crop size. A third option is to let commercialism do its thing. That's not the choice of Oregon's top federal prosecutor, though. "We have an identifiable and formidable marijuana overproduction and diversion problem" and "we're going to do something about it," US Attorney Billy Williams said earlier this year, per the AP. (Read more marijuana stories.) Is the seven-old tragedy in Syria any closer to an end after this weeks missile strikes? While Arab leaders ended their annual summit this week with vague calls for a political settlement in Syria world leaders, including the heads of the three states that carried out missile strikes against Syrian regime targets on Saturday, were mired in a debate over whether their mission in Syria had been accomplished. According to an international diplomat who spoke to Al-Ahram Weekly from New York on condition of anonymity, the debate in the US, France and the UK over the timing, scope and the targets of the strikes was raging well before the first missile was fired. On 14 April the three Western states launched missile attacks against what they said were sites the Syrian regime was using to manufacture chemical weapons. Earlier this month they accused the Syrian regime of using chemical weapons against civilians in Douma. The strikes were announced on Saturday by US officials. Moscow, which backs the Syrian regime and has a major military presence in Syria, received advance notice after threatening to intercept any missiles. The Russians did not intercept the missiles. The Americans cannot agree on what needs to be done next. The French want to build on the joint military/political momentum while the UK is unsure about its next move, the diplomat said. The Arab Summit in Saudi Arabia on Sunday similarly failed to reach any agreement on Syria, with Saudi Arabia and most other members of the Gulf Cooperation Council openly supporting the Western strikes while the United Arab Emirates, Egypt, Iraq and Algeria were reservedly opposed. Al-Assad is part of the equation. The Saudis might have to accept he will remain but for the time being they are unwilling to let go of any chance to remove him if one appears. Abu Dhabi and Cairo, meanwhile, are very keen to keep him in office even if they are not in full agreement with his choices, said an Arab diplomat. Its unclear what will happen next but there seems little possibility of a serious political solution given the regional and international divisions over Syria. The military option is certainly not going to work. It is too late now to try to force Al-Assad out. The conflict on the ground has become too complicated during the last seven years. So what comes next? International and Arab diplomats who spoke to the Weekly say meetings and consultations will now ensue what might lead to a new political process, a limited cease-fire across Syria and better management of the huge and growing humanitarian crisis. France, whose president insists the mission in Syria is far from accomplished, is preparing to host a limited meeting with the French foreign minister and his counterparts from the US, the UK, Saudi Arabia and Jordan. The meeting, which could take place today, will assess the possibility of assembling a Syrian opposition coalition capable of agreeing on an agenda for the launch of a political settlement. France is also trying to build a consensus with its allies, especially the US where President Donald Trump was offended when French President Emmanuel Macron suggested pressure from Paris had been successful in persuading the White House to keep troops in Syria. Last month Trump stated publicly he would end the US military presence in Syria. In a tweet earlier this week he announced that the mission in Syria was accomplished, only to backtrack in a subsequent post. I dont think Trump or the American administration has made up its mind. The Americans are talking to their allies in the region, especially Israel which has a serious stake in the file. They are also weighing the impact their next moves on Syria could have on Iran and its regional allies. These consultations will take time, says a Cairo-based European diplomat. It is unlikely, says the diplomat, such consultations will produce a decision to remove Al-Assad by force. That is rejected by some of Washingtons closest regional allies and it is also not clear whether Israel wants Al-Assad out of the picture now or would rather keep the weakened Syrian president in place while forcing a reduced Iranian presence in Syria. In its own strike against Syrian targets ahead of the Western strikes Israel killed four Iranian advisers at an Iranian controlled air base in Syria. Israel is also pressing Moscow to curtail any deal that would allow the transfer of sophisticated Russian weapons systems to Syria. Tehran, meanwhile, is openly saying it will retaliate against Israel. It is a complicated and very volatile situation. Nobody wants an explosion of tensions in a country that is so strategically positioned and that has already generated an appalling refugee crisis, says the Cairo-based European diplomat. The next moves were far from obvious before the strikes, and they remain so now. As a result of Russian and Iranian military backing the balance on the ground clearly favours Al-Assad, making the chances of hammering out a political agreement acceptable to both the regime and its widely diverse opposition an almost impossible task. According to a diplomat who has served on the UN mission on Syria, it was always going to be difficult to forge an agreement given the conflicting agendas of regional and international powers. Today the problem has, if anything, worsened. Diplomats working on Syria say the most likely scenario is that the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) will be allowed access to Douma early next week. Russia and Syria have so far blocked OPCW access to the area of the regimes suspected chemical attack, prompting Western accusations that the Syrian regime and Russia were colluding to cover up the use of chemical weapons that left 75 people, many of them children, dead. Allowing the entry of the OPCW team would reduce the level of international tension. In addition, the UN Security Council might adopt a vague resolution, similar to the one adopted by the Arab Summit on Sunday, condemning the use of chemical weapons against civilians and calling for a political process to end the conflict in Syria. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: (Newser) An Illinois nurse hired a dark web company to kill the wife of a male doctor with whom she had an affair, police say. Woodridge police say that last Thursday, the CBS show 48 Hours reached out to them to say an area woman was allegedly involved in a murder-for-hire plot; the show had been investigating contract killing via the dark web, reports the Chicago Daily Herald. Authorities acting on that tip now allege 31-year-old Tina Jones of Des Plaines had in January paid more than $10,000 in Bitcoin to the Cosa Nostra International Network. Though they suspect that outfit scammed her, per the Chicago Tribune, police say Jones' goal was the murder of a clinical social worker from Woodridge, the wife of an anesthesiologist who completed his residency at a Maywood hospital where Jones works as a registered nurse. story continues below Jones' exact relationship with the doctor isn't clear, but ABC7 reports she had been "jilted" by him. Even so, "she left instructions not to hurt the husband and also to make it look like it was an accident," DuPage County State's Attorney Robert Berlin says of the alleged plot. "She left specific instructions on the website as to when the woman's husband would be at work, so they would know when this woman would be alone." After submitting to an interview with Woodbridge police, Jones was arrested Tuesday on a charge solicitation of murder for hire, which carries a minimum sentence of 20 years in prison. Bail was set at $250,000 on Wednesday. Jones, who's also been suspended from her job pending an investigation, is due to be arraigned on May 15. (Read more Illinois stories.) (Newser) Former New York City nanny Yoselyn Ortega was on Wednesday found guilty of murder in the Oct. 25, 2012, deaths of Lucia and Leo Krim, ages 6 and 2. Rich Juzwiak attended nearly the entirety of the trial, and he writes for Jezebel about its odd nature: "alternately straightforward and mind-twisting, unbearably sad, and then farcically bizarre." As for the straightforward part, Juzwiak explains the trial was largely void of suspense: That Ortega killed the children she had cared for for over two years while mom Marina Krim took the kids' sister Nessie to her swim lesson was not in dispute, nor was the fact that Ortega would either end up in prison or a mental hospital. "The question was what was going on in her head when she did it," Juzwiak writes. But since Ortega didn't take the stand, that question was never definitively answered. story continues below Juzwiak tracks the more mind-twisting elements of the trial: Jurors were only allowed to consider the English translations of the many Spanish-speaking witnesses, so even if they understood the language, they were supposed shut their brains off to it. Ortega never visibly shed a tear during any of the testimony about "Lulu" and Leo's murders; she cried when a psychologist testified about her own prior comments about missing her own family. As for Ortega's attorney, Valerie Van Leer-Greenberg, her "methods were mysterious, if I'm being generous," writes Juzwiak. Her language was packed with obtuse and unusual phrases; she cried "objection" with the frequency of a "cartoon lawyer"; and she referred to Ortega in five ways, including "Yo-sie," and "Yossie," nicknames he never heard anyone else use. And that's not the half of it. Read his full account here. (Read more Yoselyn Ortega stories.) (Newser) Sen. Tammy Duckworth and daughter Maile have made Senate history, the AP reports. The Illinois Democrat brought her daughter, in a pink hat, onto the Senate floor Thursday under new rules that permitted it. Duckworth already is the only senator to have given birth while serving in the Senate. Maile, born April 9, is the first senator's baby to be allowed on the chamber floor. The history was made under a new rule passed a day earlier that permitted newborns of senators on the floor during votes. The Daily Beast says the vote was to confirm Jim Bridenstine as NASA administrator. story continues below Duckworth, an Iraq war veteran and double-amputee, arrived in a wheelchair with Maile on her lap, voted no with a downturned thumb, and laughed. Her colleagues crowded around to see. (The "tea party congressman," a divisive appointee by President Trump, was confirmed narrowly in an unprecedented party-line vote, the AP reports.) Duckworth had previously tweeted a picture of Maile's outfit for the occasion, noting that she chose a jacket for the baby "so she doesnt violate the Senate floor dress code requiring blazers." (Read more Tammy Duckworth stories.) Sorry! This content is not available in your region Egypt's Minister of Defence Sedky Sobhy discussed on Thursday recent developments in the Middle East with his Greek counterpart Panos Kammenos in Cairo, the Egyptian Armed Forces said in a statement. Minister Sobhy praised the current level of coordination and consultation between Egypt and Greece in defence and security, expressing his aspiration to boost cooperation between the two countries' armed forces. Minister Panos asserted that Egypt and Greece share the same vision concerning a number of issues and files that threaten international peace and security efforts. The meeting between Sobhi and Kammenos was attended by a number of Egyptian and Greek military officials, as well as the Greek ambassador to Cairo and the Greek military attache in Cairo. Search Keywords: Short link: Fairbanks, AK (99707) Today Cloudy with snow. Temps nearly steady in the mid 30s. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 80%. Snow accumulations less than one inch.. Tonight Variably cloudy with snow showers. Low 31F. Winds light and variable. Chance of snow 70%. Snowfall around one inch. The Daily News-Miner encourages residents to make themselves heard through the Opinion pages. Readers' letters and columns also appear online at newsminer.com. Contact the editor with questions at letters@newsminer.com or call 459-7574. Community Perspective Send Community Perspective submissions by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Submissions must be 500 to 750 words. Columns are welcome on a wide range of issues and should be well-written and well-researched with attribution of sources. Include a full name, email address, daytime telephone number and headshot photograph suitable for publication (email jpg or tiff files at 150 dpi.) You may also schedule a photo to be taken at the News-Miner office. The News-Miner reserves the right to edit submissions or to reject those of poor quality or taste without consulting the writer. Letters to the editor Send letters to the editor by mail (P.O. Box 70710, Fairbanks AK 99707), by fax (907-452-7917) or via email (letters@newsminer.com). Writers are limited to one letter every two weeks (14 days.) All letters must contain no more than 350 words and include a full name (no abbreviation), daytime and evening phone numbers and physical address. (If no phone, then provide a mailing address or email address.) The Daily News-Miner reserves the right to edit or reject letters without consulting the writer. Will tomorrows meeting in Cairo between the FMs of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia achieve the so far elusive breakthrough in talks over the Grand Renaissance Dam? Egypts Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukri is scheduled to meet his Ethiopian and Sudanese counterparts in Cairo tomorrow for another round of negotiations on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD). The meeting, the second this month, will also include the ministers of irrigation and the heads of the intelligence agencies of each country. Convening a second round of negotiations in the same month demonstrates the determination of all three parties to reach agreement, says former deputy foreign minister Mohamed Hegazi. Ethiopia, Sudan and Egypt committed themselves to overcoming the negotiating impasse during Januarys African Union summit. We will continue to comply with the instructions of our political leaders to break this deadlock between 5 April and 5 May, Shoukri told the media last week. The ministers have been given a month to reach agreement. Hegazi stresses that water negotiations are an extended process and failure to agree in one round does not mean the whole process has failed. A difference on one or two issues does not translate into deadlock, says Mohamed Ezz, chairman of the Nile Foundation for African and Strategic Studies (NFASS). It only suggests the viewpoints of the three parties need more time to coalesce into a consensus. The three countries agree in principle the dam should not harm any party. They should therefore be able to eventually reach a formula that will not cause harm, adds Ezz. The last round of talks, held earlier this month in Khartoum, ended without any outstanding differences being resolved. Shoukri described the Khartoum talks as transparent. Though they addressed many issues in the end they bore no fruit, he said. His Sudanese counterpart Ibrahim Al-Ghandour described the meetings as constructive, detailed and important, adding that controversial issues need patience and political will to be resolved. The most contentious issues remain the timetable for filling the dams reservoir and the operating protocols of the dam, both of which have been referred to the Cairo tripartite technical meeting. The building of the dam started in April 2011. It is now more than 60 per cent complete and is scheduled to begin partial operation later this year. Egypt has repeatedly expressed its fears the dam would negatively impact its water quota. Ethiopia, in turn, has repeatedly emphasised the dam will cause no harm to Egypt but has yet to produce any studies in support of the assertion. The filling period is not a one-off process, says Hegazi. Synchronising the filling process in line with the water needs of all three countries, he argues, will pave the way for closer political and economic ties that will create stability in the region. Extending the filling time to seven or even 10 years is a relatively simple way to meet Egyptian demands and counter any negative impacts of the dam, he says. The Khartoum meeting was the first to be held after Ethiopian Prime Minister Abiy Ahmed came to power after his predecessor Hailemarian Desalegns sudden resignation in February. Hopes are pinned on the change in the leadership of Ethiopia leading to a change in Addis Ababas position on technical negotiations. In November 2017 the 17th round of tripartite talks was held in Cairo. Egypt endorsed the preliminary consultative report but Sudan and Ethiopia demanded changes. The negotiations reached a deadlock and Egypts minister of irrigation declared they had failed. New life was injected into the negotiation when the leaders of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia met on the sidelines of the African Union (AU) Summit in Addis Ababa in January and agreed to remove all obstacles in the way of tripartite negotiations. Despite the meandering course hopes are strong a compromise will be reached. Hegazi believes all parties must now work on reaching a consensus over the management of the dam and a wider agreement covering water storage for all dams in the three countries. Water can become part of an overall cooperation process between the three states, he says. The minister of electricitys visit to Sudan earlier this month to discuss establishing a 220,000-voltage-capacity electricity linkage could, he argues, be the start of bilateral and trilateral agreements covering joint power grids and railway lines. Ezz points to the role popular diplomacy is playing in easing differences. Nile Basin countries are linked by cultural and social ties and share a common civilisation and history. NGOs seek to cast the spotlight on these common factors for the good of all. * This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: New Delhi: The International Monetary Fund on Thursday said that India is using the right economic policies to lower its "quite a high" debt to GDP ratio. India's general government debt remained relatively high, at 70 per cent of the GDP in 2017, Abdel Senhadji, Deputy Director, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, told reporters at a news conference here. "The debt level is relatively high (in India), but the authorities are planning to bring it down over the medium term with the right policies," Senhadji said. In fiscal year 2017-18, India is planning to continue with the consolidation in the current fiscal year and over the medium term, the top IMF official said. "They are, in fact, targeting their federal deficit of three percent over the medium term, and they are targeting also a debt ratio of 40 per cent over the medium term at the federal level, which corresponds to about 60 per cent at the general government level. And we believe that those targets are appropriate," the IMF official said. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: To catch manipulators, The Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI), a market regulator has started hunting for Facebook accounts of suspected persons, with friends and likes for posts being scanned in insider trading cases. The watchdog is checking the profiles to ascertain whether they are connected in any case related to violation of insider trading norms. SEBI, after going through an intensive check related to Deep Industries has found that entities involved in insider trading were friends on Facebook and they liked photos and posts on the platform. "The profiles of these persons were having restricted access and the photos posted by them can be 'liked' only by select persons whom they have added as their 'friends' on Facebook," the regulator said in an order dated April 16. The regulator board has ordered impounding of unlawful gains worth over Rs 2.4 crore from three entities involved in the case, after gathering evidence about violations. The three entities Rupeshbhai Katilal Savla, Sujay Ajitkumar Hamlai and V Techweb India Pvt Ltd, were allegedly connected entities and had traded in Deep Insustries Ltd (DIL) shares while possessing price-sensitive information. According to SEBI, DILs Managing Director Rupeshbhai Kantilal Savla and his wife Sheetal Rupesh Savla were aquainted to the two directors of V Techweb Ajay Ajitkumar Hamlai and Sujay Ajitkumar Hamlai via Facebook. "... they had social relationship which also can confer access to UPSI as envisaged in Sebi's PIT (Prohibition of Insider Trading) regulations," the order said. Under SEBI guidelines, a person or an entity is considered an insider on the basis of different aspects, including by way of their association in any capacity with the company concerned and has access to unpublished price sensitive information. Even those who are constantly involved in communication with officers through likes on social media of the company concerned can also be considered as insiders. For all the Latest Business News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Bollywood actor Abhishek Bachchan certainly knows how to handle the social media trolls. The Dhoom actor, who is known for his witty replies, has never shied away from replying to trolls who bring his family in between. A Twitter user tried to mock Abhishek for living with his parents, in what we call as a distasteful tweet. The user, never in his dreams, would have thought that Abhishek would reply back to him. The Guru actor, who is currently busy with the shooting of his much-awaited film Manmarziyaan,A had the most dignified response for the troll. Abhishek said that it was the proudest moment for him to live with his parents and be there for them. His reply was loud and clear and was especially for those who believed that living with parents is a thing to be ashamed of. Don't feel bad about your life. Just remember @juniorbachchan still lives with his parents. Keep hustling everyone! a Ybn (@stillyoungest) April 17, 2018 Yes! And itas the proudest moment for me to be able to be there for them, as they have for me. Try it sometime, you might feel better about yourself. a Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) April 17, 2018 Another social media user asked the Bunty Aur Babli actor to not pay heed to such trolls, who are only there to seek attention. Abhishek, replied to the suggestion, and said that sometimes these people need to be put to their place. Why would you even reply mr bachchan?? That's what they need "attention".. a Aryendra Parashar (@ap_aryendra) April 17, 2018 Sometimes they need to be put in place. a Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) April 17, 2018 Interestingly, Abhishekas wife Aishwarya Rai Bachchan was also asked a question on the same lines on a leading television show. Popular Hollywood comedian and host David Letterman had questioned the former Miss World if she stayed with her parents and if it was normal in India. The Devdas actress gave a perfect answer to the question and said that it was fine to live with parents and one doesnat take appointments to meet their parents for dinner in India. The audience sitting at the studio applauded the Jodha Akbar star for her wonderful reply. For all the Latest Entertainment News, Bollywood News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Prabhasa much-awaited movie Saaho has become the talk of the town, ever since the first look poster was unveiled. Fans have been eagerly waiting to see their favourite Prabhas back on the silver screen, post Baahubali: The Conclusion. UV Creations, the makers of Saaho, have left no stone unturned to bring on-board some of the best actors from Hindi, Tamil and Malayam cinema. The producers have now roped a popular actress for the upcoming spy-thriller. Evelyn Sharma, who wooed the audience with her performance in Yeh Jawaani Hai Deewani,A is the latest addition to Saaho star cast. The Bollywood diva will play a pivotal role in the Sujeeth directorial. The Yaariyan actress took to Twitter to share the good news with her fans. A She thanked Sujeeth, Prabhas and the entire team of Saaho for giving her the opportunity. Interestingly, Evelyn who makes her debut in South Indian cinema with Saaho, will be seen in an-action packed role. Speechless and humbled... This is the best life I could be living and I'm deeply grateful for it. I dreamt of doing an action role and now I couldn't be more excited to join this mega film #Saaho! Thk you #Sujeeth #Prabhas and team for making me a part of your journey! ai pic.twitter.com/lnqY05QZTN a Evelyn Sharma (@evelyn_sharma) April 18, 2018 The cast and crew of the film are currently busy shooting the high-octane action sequences in Dubai. The Indo-German actress has joined the team in the Arabian city, a report in DNA said. The report in the leading daily also suggested that Evelyn had lost ten kilos for her role in the movie. Itas an action-packed role and Evelyn will be seen doing heavy-duty stunts. For that, she has changed her gym routine and is gaining strengthaa, a source told DNA. Neil Nitin Mukesh, who is also part of Saaho, welcomed Evelyn on-board for the film on social media. The New York actor played around with words and wrote, ''Hope your martial art training for the film doesnat land people in troubleaa. Welcome on board girl. Your a Rockstar YYY. Hope your martial art training for the film doesnat land people in trouble. https://t.co/ZaxKjjOTtD a Neil Nitin Mukesh (@NeilNMukesh) April 18, 2018 The From Syndey with Love actress had a witty response and said that she would try to control herself. New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday attended the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) at the Buckingham Palace. He joined the Heads of Government from 52 other Commonwealth countries at a dinner hosted by the British Prime Minister Theresa May as a formal welcome to CHOGM. The first one-hour Executive Session was held at the Lancaster House at 12:15 p.m. (Local time) followed by the second executive session at 2:30 p.m. (local time). There were various bilateral meetings held between Commonwealth leaders on the sidelines of the Executive sessions. Further, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni conducted a bilateral meeting. Later, President Adama Barrow of the Gambia, Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull of Australia, Prime Minister Keith Rowley of Trinidad and Tobago, Prime Minister Pravind Jugnauth of Mauritius, Prime Minister Danny Faure of Seychelles and Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina also met in the evening. This was followed by the executive session of the heads in London before they headed to Windsor for the CHOGM retreat, where the world leaders interacted on an informal basis. This concluded Modi's UK visit after which he will leave for India. In a two-hour long interactive session 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' at the historic Central Hall Westminster, PM Modi expressed his views on a range of topics from the recent Kathua and Unnao incidents, 2016 surgical strikes to the current state of democracy.A HIGHLIGHTS: # 11:31 PM:A Youth is the future of all our countries & sports helps in bringing people together & build the future generation. So with that objective, with the help of BCCI, we would be organising training for 30 boys and 30 girls under 16 age group in cricket: Ruchi Ghanashyam # 11:30 PM:A We're deeply anguished with the incident involving our national flag. Matter was taken up strongly with the UK side. They have regretted the incident. The flag was immediately replaced. We expect legal action against the people who were involved in this: Raveesh Kumar # 11:15 PM:A No meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister took place. There is no plan to have any meeting with him: Raveesh Kumar # 11:04 PM:A The overall objective of PM's participation at CHOGM 2018 signals our stepped up engagement with Commonwealth countries & India's desire to focus on development of commonwealth countries: Ruchi Ghanashyam # 09:14 PM:A PM Narendra Modi holds a meeting with his Australian counterpart Malcolm Turnbull Strength in similar values of democracy, pluralism and Commonwealth traditions! PM @narendramodi met with Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018 and discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. pic.twitter.com/Oyben3G5BY a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 08:47 PM:A PM Narendra Modi meets PM of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 in London. Neighbourhood first! Connecting with a neighbour and a close friend, PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mrs. Sheikh Hasina had a productive exchange of views on various issues of bilateral interest on the sidelines of #CHOGM18. pic.twitter.com/xbQcBxPtCs a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07:46 PM: PM Modi meets Mauritius PM Pravind Jugnauth and Gambia President Adama Barrow on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 in London Cementing our historic and close friendship with Mauritius! On the sidelines of #CHOGM18, PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. pic.twitter.com/0GJoTX0t8J a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07: 45 PM:A PM Modi and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Keith C. Rowley had a useful exchange of views on deepening bilateral relations Bridging distance connecting with history! PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Keith C. Rowley had a useful exchange of views on deepening bilateral relations on the sidelines of the #CHOGM18 in London. pic.twitter.com/IwdYz5TJ1I a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07: 39 PM: PM Modi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 Friend in an extended neighbourhood! PM @narendramodi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues. pic.twitter.com/REUhbyZXtV a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07:35 PM:A PM ModiA and President of Gambia, Adama Barrow met on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 and discussed steps to deepen partnership. Relations in upward trajectory! PM @narendramodi and President of Gambia, Adama Barrow met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed steps to deepen partnership. pic.twitter.com/uEqbCZgzw9 a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07:30 PM: PM Modi meets Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of St. Lucia Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 Sharing coffee, laughter and a vision! Pull-aside meetings with Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of St. Lucia Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018. pic.twitter.com/z8XR9sMul8 a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07: 27 PM: PM Modi meets President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 Meeting between friends! Keeping up with the traditional of frequent high level interactions, PM @narendramodi and President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni met on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018. pic.twitter.com/JF6m5WL3L2 a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07:25 PM: PM Modi meets President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda Gaston Browne on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 in London Shared vision common dreams! PM @narendramodi interacting with President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda Gaston Browne on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 in #London. pic.twitter.com/KApA4oLhPw a Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 # 07:22 PM:A Her Majesty and His Royal Highness meet the New Head of Government for Pakistan, Seychelles, Sierra Leone, Solomon Islands, South Africa, St Lucia, Tonga and Vanuatu # 07:21 PM:A The Queen and The Prince meet Heads of Government for The Bahamas, Botswana, The Gambia, Ghana, Jamaica, Kiribati, Mauritius and New Zealand # 05:43 PM:A PM Modi meets Uganda President Yoweri Museveni on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018 # 04:37 PM:A Commonwealth leaders joins The Queen and Patricia ScotlandA at the formal opening of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting 2018 at Buckingham Palace # 03:50 PM:A Maltese Prime Minister Joseph MuscatA speaks at the opening of CHOGM 2018 as Malta passes over the chair-in-office of the Commonwealth to the UK. # 03:30 PM:A UK Prime Minister Theresa MayA and Commonwealth Secretary-General Patricia ScotlandA address leaders and members of The Royal Family at the formal opening # 03:20 PM: Prince of Wales formally opens the meeting, saying "The modern Commonwealth has a vital role to play in building bridges between our countries, fairer societies within them and a more secure world around them." # 03:00 PM: PM Narendra Modi arrives for CHOGM 2018, received by PM Theresa May and Commonwealth Secretary-General Baroness Patricia Scotland For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: The Andhra Pradesh and Telangana High Court on Thursday rejected the resignation of the Special National Investigation Agency (NIA) judge Ravindra Reddy. Reddy, who delivered the verdict on the blast case on Monday, resigned hours after giving the judgment in the 2007 Hyderabad blast case. Reddy had submitted his resignation to the Chief Justice of Hyderabad High Court. However, the court rejected his plea of resignation and Reddy resumed work on Thursday and reported to the Fourth Additional Metropolitan Session Court in Hyderabad, reported The Hindu. Reddy, after resigning from his position, had gone on a 15-day leave, but the Acting Chief Justice Ramesh Ranganathan, however, cancelled his leave and asked him to report to work immediately, reported The Indian Express. Reddy had written a letter to the metropolitan sessions judge and the chief justice of the high court citing personal reasons behind his resignation. Reddy is also under the scrutiny of the High Courts Vigilance Department following a complaint filed against him by a petitioner in a land dispute case. Also Read| Mecca Masjid Blast Case: After verdict, NIA judge Ravindra Reddy resigns On Wednesday, Asaduddin Owaisi, the chief of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen (AIMIM) accused the NIA for failing to prosecute the accused in the 2007 Mecca Masjid Blast case. News agency ANI quoted Owaisi saying, People call the National Investigation Agency a caged parrot, but I will say that it is blind and deaf also. The Mecca Masjid blast case pertains to the bomb blast at Hyderabads Mecca Masjid on May 18, 2007, during the time of Friday prayers. The blast killed nine people and injured 58 others. Five of the nine were killed in police firing. The case, which was initially investigated by the Hyderabad Police was later handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI), charged 10 people as accused. Some of the accused belonged to radical Hindu organisation Abhinav Bharat. The accused in the case were Swamy Aseemanand, Lokesh Sharma, Rajendra Chowdhary, Tejram Parmar, Amith Chowhan and former RSS workers Sandeep Dange, Ramchandra Kalsangra, Devendra Gupta and Sunil Joshi. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. New Delhi: Pakistan-backed Khalistani and PoK supporters pulled down and burnt the Indian National Flag in Central London in the presence of London Metropolitan Police as Prime Minister Narendra Modi was addressing the Indian community at Westminster on Wednesday. A video making rounds on the social media shows Pakistan-backed PoK and Khalistani supporters, who now live in London, pulling down the Indian National Flag from one of the official flag-poles set up for all 53 Commonwealth countries and replacing it with a PoK-Khalistan flag. Soon after the incident, a video was uploaded on aA non-verified account of a Khalistan supporter with Twitter handle Khalistan Zindabad. A tweet by the handle read, aThe Indian Flag Was Taken Off, Shredded And Burnt, In Joint Efforts By Khalistanias and Kashmirias, The Khalistan Flag Was Raised High.a Indian External Affairs Ministry sources said that India expressed concern over the incident. The official further said that the British authorities had responded to the concern raised and sought apology for the failure of its police from preventing the pulling down of the Indian National Flag. British authorities have pulled down the PoK-Khalistan flag and replaced it with the Indian National Flag after Indian officials raised the issue with democrats of UK. Indians staying in London have also expressed their annoyance over the incidence. A few Indian activists reminded the Metropolitan Police words of former US Secretary of State Hillary Clinton where she had said that Pakistan was harbouring snakes in its backyard a grave warning to UK authorities. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had a series of bilateral meetings, including discussions with his Bangladesh counterpart Sheikh Hasina and Seychelles President Danny Faure on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London. "Neighbourhood first! Connecting with a neighbour and a close friend, PM Narendra Modi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina had a productive exchange of views on various issues of bilateral interest on the sidelines of CHOGM 2018," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. This marked their first meeting since the Bangladeshi leader's visit to New Delhi last year and ahead of her proposed visit to India in the coming months. The Ministry of External Affairs later said the two leaders discussed the developmental cooperation between India and Bangladesh, and also ways to implement decisions taken during earlier meetings between the two prime ministers. Modi also met Seychelles President Faure and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues, he said. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assumes significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises. Cementing close friendship with Mauritius, Modi met his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. The "pull-aside meetings" with world leaders included an interaction with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Rick Houenipwela. Modi also interacted with President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda Gaston Browne and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago Keith C Rowley. Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with Modi during the summit include South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades, and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness. "The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues," a senior official said. Officials had earlier indicated that no meeting has been requested or scheduled with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and later confirmed there was no interaction between the two. The bilateral talks took place as the formal heads of government meeting got underway in London today, following a formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Prime Minister Modi was scheduled to address the second plenary meeting of the heads of government during the closed-door executive session of CHOGM. At the launch of the CHOGM executive session at Lancaster House open to the media, British Prime Minister Theresa May said: "The great strength of the Commonwealth is that all our members have equal status, an equal voice, and an equal right to make that voice heard. So, as we tackle these challenges, I want to hear from everyone, and everyone will have chance to speak. "We face many challenges in the world today. But the Commonwealth is a unique organisation and, at this summit, we have an opportunity to deliver lasting change that benefits all of our 2.4 billion people." Later in the evening, the 91-year-old monarch will host a dinner for all 53 heads of government at the palace later on Thursday evening. "I had not been able to visit the last summit and this time, it was an honour that Prince Charles came personally to India last year to invite me for it. The Queen herself wrote a personal letter to me, a matter of great pride for India," Modi had said during his Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath diaspora event in London last evening. An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. The Indian government has said that this symbolises the country's wider efforts to step up its role across global forums. The executive session of the summit today will be followed by a retreat at Windsor Castle tomorrow, when the leaders get together in an informal setting without any pre-set agenda or being accompanied by their usual coterie of civil servants and advisers. The summit concludes tomorrow, when leaders will issue their communique and a leaders' statement after their retreat. CHOGM takes place every two years in different Commonwealth countries, with the next host country also to be announced at the end of this summit. Following the retreat, Modi will head back to India after a brief stop for his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. For all the Latest India News, Download News Nation Android and iOS Mobile Apps. Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry said on Thursday in a TV interview that Egypt regrets that Ethiopia and Sudan have failed to respond to an invitation by Cairo to meet on Friday to continue talks on the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. In an interview with Egyptian TV channel CBC Extra on the sidelines of an official visit to Burundi, Minister Shoukry said that during the last round of talks in Khartoum, Egypt negotiated in good faith and with appreciation for the interests of Ethiopia and Sudan. The minister said that Egypt has made proposals that meet everyones interests, adding that Cairo presents a vision that benefits everyone, and not one that only serves its own interests. Egypt had invited the ministers of foreign affairs and irrigation, as well as the heads of the intelligence agencies of Ethiopia and Sudan, for another round talks on the impact technical studies being conducted on Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam. In January, the leaders of Egypt, Sudan and Ethiopia set a timeline of one month -- from 5 April to 5 May -- during which the three countries would reach an agreement on technical issues regarding the construction of the dam. "Losing more time will make it more difficult to reach a solution to these technical problems, we only have 15 days left," Shoukry said. The minister also said that Egypt has approved the initial report presented by the consultancy firm tasked with studying the potential impact of the dam on downstream countries, but that Ethiopia has rejected the report. Shoukry said that Ethiopias position is stalling progress on the matter. Despite all our efforts, we do not see a reciprocal effort from the other side so, we will wait until there is a desire from our partners to raise the matter once more, the minister said. Shoukry also stressed that everybody should know that Egypt will not be forced to accept a situation where one party is forcing its will on another. The Egyptian government will continue to defend the rights of the Egyptian people to the water of the Nile by numerous means at its disposal, he said. The minister also dismissed any claim that Egypt is the reason behind the lack of progress during the last round of talks, which took place earlier in April in Khartoum. Egypt has been flexible in meeting the demands of the Ethiopia and Sudan during the technical negotiations even when these demands were not mandated by the text of the 2015 agreement, Shoukry explained. "Egypt has nothing to fear and nothing to hide," he added. Egypt is conducting itself with transparency, and any claim to the contrary is an attempt to confuse the issue and distract from the reality of the situation and from who it is that is actually obstructing progress on the issue. Egypt has repeatedly expressed concern that the Ethiopian dam would reduce its share of Nile water. However, Ethiopia has insisted that the dam will cause no harm to Egypt. Search Keywords: Short link: Public prosecutors demanded 24 years in prison on Wednesday for a former Japan Broadcasting Corp. (NHK) reporter, blaming him for raping and injuring multiple women. The defendant, Yasutaka Tsurumoto, 29, has been indicted on charges that between December 2012 and February 2016 he broke into the homes of three women in their 20s in Yamagata and Yamanashi prefectures and raped them. In their closing arguments at Yamagata District Court, the prosecutors claimed that Tsurumoto committed malicious and habitual crimes but has shown no signs of remorse. Chances cannot be ruled out that he will repeat the crime, they stressed. Meanwhile, Tsurumoto denied the charges, saying, "I'm not a criminal." The prosecutors said DNA samples found at the crime scenes matched Tsurumoto's. But a defense lawyer argued that the samples may have included those of someone other than him. Tokyo Metropolitan Police have arrested a 29-year-old male doctor over the alleged possession of marijuana in Shibuya Ward earlier this month, reports the Asahi Shimbun. At just past 10:00 p.m. on April 13, police found Tadashi Yasutake at National Shimoshizu Hospital, located in Yotsukaido City, Chiba Prefecture, to be in possession of 1 gram of marijuana while behind the wheel of a vehicle a traffic stop. Yasutake admits to the allegations, according to the Yoyogi Police Station. Prior to the discovery, an officer saw Yasutake suddenly accelerate and pulled him over for questioning. The marijuana was inside the vehicle, police said. A representative of the hospital said that they were in the process of aconfirming all of the facts of the case.a Last weeks Western air strikes on Syria only benefited the regime and its allies, being all the more ineffective because they were not part of a comprehensive strategy, writes Bassel Oudat in Damascus The US, backed by allies France and the UK, was more serious this time in its threats against the regime led by Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, though in the event these threats only culminated in a handful of missile strikes on alleged chemical weapons targets lasting less than one hour. Many commentators had thought Washington and its European allies were planning to punish the regime more severely and hurt its Russian and Iranian allies. The US said the goal of the strikes had not been to overthrow the regime but to curb its ability to produce chemical weapons. In the event, the air strikes were more like fireworks to entertain the regime and its supporters on the streets of Damascus. US goals are uncertain since the strikes did not do much to impact the regime. It seems a deal may have been made with or through Russia at the eleventh hour similar to what happened in 2013 when the regime used chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta and killed some 2,500 civilians. On this occasion, the US made a deal with Russia to disarm Syria of its chemical weapons, and Moscow was able to halt the military operations the then Obama administration had been planning. Something similar may have happened this time too, and Washington likely wanted to put pressure on Tehran rather than on the Syrian regime. The possibly major military moves likely forced Russia to intervene and force Iran to reduce its military presence in Syria, halting the supply of fighters and military equipment. The US missile strikes could now partially weaken the regimes military capabilities, but they will not change the reality on the ground. Russia wants to weaken Iran in Syria, and it may have used the US pressure as an excuse to make this easier. The US must also take into consideration Israels interests before and after any military strike. A strong strike targeting the regime would not benefit Israel, which has had covert ties with the regime for decades, but striking Iran would be of benefit to it as it would lessen the Iranian threat. Before the US strikes there were rumours that the regime and Moscow had proposed removing Iran and its militias from Syria as part of a settlement to prevent the strikes from taking place and starting a new political process. The rumours are likely to be untrue because neither Russia nor the regime have any credibility with the US. In the wake of the chemical weapons attacks in Douma outside Damascus, Russia, Iran and the regime made up a story that the opposition had carried out the attacks itself and then insisted that the UN investigate the matter. In general, the US wants to weaken Iran in and through Syria and create a better climate for a solution to the crisis, while at the same time weakening Irans hand in the wider region and ending Tehrans machinations. However, the Syrian regime alone is unable to end the Iranian influence or remove the Iranian Revolutionary Guard or sectarian militias from Syria. Syria is important for Iran because leaving the country would end the countrys ambitions in the Middle East. Tehran has transformed Syria into a frontline state with Israel and a way of threatening Lebanon and Iraq. It wants to make Syria loyal to Iran and to use the Revolutionary Guard as a launching pad to neighbouring areas. Current US policy in Syria lacks vision and apparently also knowledge of how far Iran has penetrated the Syrian state, army, economy and society. Contradictory statements by US officials are evidence of this haphazard policy, including statements by US President Donald Trump. While the US acted forcefully in response to the deaths of those who died in Douma in Eastern Ghouta as a result of chemical weapons, it did not take such forceful action east of the Euphrates River, which is already under its control. The Syrian regime has emerged elated from the US strikes because they had a negligible impact on it and boosted its ability to block US aggression. Official media outlets have mocked the weakness of the US and promised that the Syrian army will stand up to America and halt it in its tracks. The regime has loudly protested in the Arab League and the UN against the strikes, calling on the world to condemn the tripartite attacks by France, Britain and the US. Syrian opposition figure Sobhi Hadidi said that what the US has done is all PR to save the face of the leaders of France, Britain and the US in this seven-year tragedy. A war criminal like Bashar Al-Assad has been met with silence by the Western democracies or empty words about fighting terrorism. Meanwhile, forces from across the board, including from Tehran, Moscow and Ankara, continue to pound the Syrian people and transform the country into occupied territory. The US strikes were an indirect message to Russia that it is not the only power on the Syrian scene and that the US can take action unilaterally without waiting for a UN Security Council Resolution, he added. They had also redirected the Syrian crisis to the political track and to negotiations that are essential even though Russia, Iran and the regime had thought they could avoid them. Washington had reminded all the players on the ground that it has the firepower not to be intimidated by Russias improvised positions and that a political solution must move forward. One positive outcome of the US strikes would be if they could force those involved to return to the negotiating table, especially the Geneva track which is the only one that has international support. The Geneva I Declaration stipulates forming an interim governing body in Syria with a full mandate. If this were to happen, it would mean the demise of the regime. The Syrian opposition did not welcome the US strikes because they were superficial and ineffective. It mocked the US by saying that Washington had not targeted the regime but had instead targeted a handful of facilities believed to be developing chemical weapons. The problem is not so much the regimes chemical weapons but its artillery and snipers, however. Chemical weapons are not at the core of the crisis, and it is unlikely that the regime will be able to use them again in the near future. Yet, it will continue to displace people from their homes to serve Irans goal of changing Syrias demography. Accordingly, no strikes against Syria will be effective unless they are part of a comprehensive strategy aiming to lead to a transitional phase in which Al-Assad is no longer president of Syria. Anything else simply benefits the regime. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: With French President Emmanuel Macrons announcement on 15 April that he had convinced US President Donald Trump to renounce his previously declared plans to withdraw from Syria as soon as possible, two interrelated questions loomed. The first is what was the real purpose of the tripartite US-French-British attacks (or strikes as the Western media prefers to call them) against Syria? Was it really to punish the Al-Assad regime for the crime, as yet uncorroborated by concrete evidence, of having used chemical weapons against Douma in Eastern Ghouta, as the US president, French president and British prime minister claim? Or were there other ends that motivated the strikes? The second question is related to the first and may help to answer it. Is there a connection between the hasty US-French-British attacks on Syria, launched on the very morning that the Fact Finding Mission (FFM) team of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) was due to arrive in Damascus, and the outcomes of the Russian-Iranian-Turkish summit in Ankara on 4 April? A few days before this meeting on 29 March, Trump told supporters in Ohio of his resolve to withdraw US forces from Syria very soon. These had done their job in the war against the Islamic State (IS) group, he said, so it was time to bring them home. He said that the US had spent $7 trillion on wars in the Middle East and got nothing out of it. However, apparently this was a personal decision taken outside the framework of the institutions concerned with foreign policy decisions, and Trump quickly backtracked after a meeting of the US National Security Council attended by new national security adviser John Bolton and the US secretaries of defence and state. The results of the meeting give one the impression that the US president was searching for a way to save face while justifying his reversal on the withdrawal. The pretext was expressed by White House Spokesperson Sarah Sanders in a clarification at a press briefing. While the military mission to eradicate IS in Syria is coming to a rapid end the US and our partners remain committed to eliminating the small IS presence in Syria that our forces have not already eradicated, she said. Once again the White House used the Islamic State group to justify the US intervention and continued presence of its forces in Syria. As for the reference to the small IS presence remaining in Syria, that was to cover Trumps claim over recent months that IS had been defeated. Sanders therefore stressed that the ultimate aim remained the total defeat of IS and that only when this was accomplished could responsibility be handed to domestic forces and US forces withdrawn. The statement threw into relief the unprecedented confusion that reigns in the White House and the desperate scrambling to come up with smokescreens to conceal the real motives for the reversal of the decision to withdraw US forces. Other members of the administration then chimed in. Secretary of state Mike Pompeo cautioned against a rapid withdrawal from Syria. Secretary of defence James Mattis and other senior officials agreed. A complete withdrawal would jeopardise the gains the US had achieved in the fight against IS, they said. Regardless of how members of his administration attempt to cover up for his off-the-cuff remarks, Trump could not conceal the reasons behind his determination to withdraw from Syria and his subsequent U-turn. It is clear that Trump is looking for a new agent in Syria. Trump is a businessman forever on the lookout for deals. He draws no distinction between the world of business and the world of politics. In Syria, he is looking for a financier not just to pay for the continued presence of US forces there, but also to ensure the US reaps gains in return. This is why he has agreed to keep US forces in Syria for a longer period, as long as other countries in the region chip in to ensure that IS does not return and to fund the reconstruction of Syria. Trump apparently reversed his position on the withdrawal after having received funding pledges on the part of regional powers with an interest in keeping the US in Syria. According to news reports, he spoke with a number of regional leaders to urge them to commit $4 billion to Syrian reconstruction. However, the French presidents announcement, coming only 24 hours after the US-French-British attacks against Syria on 14 April, that he had succeeded in persuading Trump to keep US forces in Syria for a long time and the support this received from Britain plus the confirmation furnished by US Ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley indicate that Washington has other reasons for remaining in Syria that may outweigh the deal that Trump won from regional powers keen to keep the US in Syria and prevent the expansion of Iranian influence. As Haley put it, the US would not pull its troops out of Syria until its goals were accomplished. These included ensuring that chemical weapons were not used in a way that could jeopardise US interests, that IS was defeated, and that the US was in a good position to monitor Iranian activities. Other Reasons It is clear that it is difficult to separate Trumps reversal on the US troop withdrawal from Syria from the results of the summit meeting between Russian President Vladimir Putin, Iranian President Hassan Rouhani and Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan in Ankara. The idea is to outmanoeuvre them through what was framed as making progress in the political process. In the aftermath of the tripartite strikes, French officials said that the time has now come to revive diplomatic activity aimed at reaching a political solution in Syria with the help of all the parties, including Russia. The position was translated into a UN Security Council Resolution calling for the creation of a new mechanism to investigate the use of chemical weapons, deliver humanitarian aid, and restart Syrian peace talks under UN sponsorship. The position is consistent with the hardliners outlook in Washington. They hope to use the results of the strikes to promote US projects in Syria by engineering a strategic shift in the US role. It was little wonder, therefore, that discussion of the first UN Security Council Resolution after the strikes was preceded by new US sanctions against Russia on the grounds of Moscows continued support for the Syrian regime. Further expressing this outlook, Haley said in an interview with the US channel Fox News that the US would not enter into direct negotiations with the Syrian regime and that it would not withdraw its troops from Syria until it had achieved all its goals. She reiterated the three mentioned above and added that [our goal is] to see American troops come home, but we are not going to leave until we know we have accomplished those things. It is here that we find the connection between the possibly new US outlook on Syria and European (French and British above all) and perhaps US anxieties over the results of the Ankara summit. They fear that this may lay the groundwork for a new strategic alliance in the Middle East led by Russia, Iran and Turkey and that may in future include Iraq and Syria. The summit addressed three issues, the first of which was countering secessionist agendas (the Kurds) that threaten the unity and territorial integrity of Syria and that could jeopardise the national security of Syrias neighbours (Turkey, Iran and Iraq). The second was countering attempts to impose a new reality in Syria behind the guise of fighting terrorism. The reference here is to the US military presence east of the Euphrates River and its alliance with the predominantly Kurdish Syrian Democratic Forces that Turkey brands as terrorists. It also alludes to the US bases in the Syrian provinces of Raqqa, Hasakah and Deir Al-Zor. These are located near the Syrian border with Iraq and in oil rich areas. The implication is that the US seeks to promote an autonomous Kurdish region that includes these provinces and advances partition. The third issue addressed by the summit was the commitment to the sovereignty and stability of Syria and to the resolutions of the Sochi Conference as a basis for any political solution to the crisis. For the West, this alliance, which includes Turkey, a NATO member, is deeply worrying, especially as it comes in tandem with Russias hasty conclusion of the S-400 missile deal with Turkey that NATO members regard as tantamount to an act of aggression. This has required rapid countermeasures, which have taken form in the creation of the US-French-British partnership launched through the military strikes against Syria and intended to contain the tripartite alliance that Moscow seeks to forge with Tehran and Ankara. The idea was voiced by Nicholas Burns, former US under-secretary of state for political affairs, who called for an American-European diplomatic alliance to counter the negative influence of the Russian-Iranian-Turkish trio in Syria. However, to make this possible, pressure needs to be brought to bear to ensure that US troops remain in Syria over the long term, as the hardliners in Washington want. US Difficulties However, this outlook faces a number of difficulties, the first being that it does not have the full backing of the US administration. There is another camp that does not believe that the tripartite strikes against Syria mark, or should mark, a change in US policy. Indications to this effect can be found in leaked information from the US administration to Syrian opposition factions regarding the strikes that state they were not preliminary to a drive to topple the Syrian regime, as the opposition factions had hoped, or even to impose an alternative political course to the one that Moscow has spearheaded in Syria. As one message reportedly transmitted from the US Embassy in Jordan to factions of the Southern Front of the Free Syrian Army (FSA) put it, the strikes do not in any way signify an end to the de-escalation agreement in southern Syria signed between the US, Russia and Jordan. Nor do they signify any change in US policy towards Syria. The US Embassy in Amman also took pains to make it clear to the Syrian opposition that the recent strikes were a reaction to the Syrian regimes use of chemical weapons and that the US cannot condone the use of such weapons. US Foreign Relations Council chair Richard Haas reiterated the message in a tweet by saying that there is no visible change in US policy towards Syria, i.e., the US did not act to weaken the regime. Secondly, the political escalation in the aftermath of the tripartite strikes is an essentially French and British trend. It was Macron above all who took the initiative to telephone Trump in order to persuade him to keep US troops in Syria, and the French ambassador has been the most active promoter of the latest UN Security Council Resolution on Syria. After the strikes, it is now for the United Nations Security Council to take the initiative again on political, chemical and humanitarian questions in Syria, Macron said. French Foreign Minister Jean-Yves Le Drian said that Paris wanted to restore the initiative to the Security Council in order to ensure progress towards a peaceful settlement to the Syrian crisis. British Prime Minister Theresa May seconded that view by saying that the military operations were not sufficient. The political solution remains the best hope for the Syrian people, she said. Thirdly, Syria and its Russian and Iranian allies now appear to have adopted tougher views since what they have referred to as the Western aggression. The Syrian regime has sought to leverage the strikes towards a shift in tack from the war against terror to the war for liberation and independence from the US occupation in eastern and southern Syria. Now that the regime has completed the liberation of Eastern Ghouta, it has turned to the task of liberating the southern outskirts of the capital and the Yarmuk Refugee Camp, after which it will move to the outskirts of Homs and Idlib. But its latest stance is that eventually it plans to take on the American occupation in the east and south of the country. The Russians and Iranians support this approach. Both Moscow and Tehran are convinced that they need to strengthen their cooperation over Syria, as can be read in Rouhanis message to Putin expressing Irans readiness to accelerate steps for cooperation with Russia in a bilateral [Iranian-Russian] or trilateral [Iranian-Russian-Turkish] framework to resolve the Syrian crisis. Rouhani added that the Western nations do not want the situation in Syria to stabilise easily. Russia, whose foreign minister stressed that the tripartite strikes will not rest without consequences, may not readily respond to French, US and British pressures to return to the Geneva track at the expense of what it has accomplished at Astana and Sochi. It may back the Syrian regimes ambitions to expand its control over areas where Syrian opposition forces are still located, thereby reducing the influence of the opposition and its allies in reaching a solution to the Syrian crisis. These challenges not only stand in the way of Washingtons ambitions to remain in Syria for a long period, but they also shed light on the nature of the risks that jeopardise the hoped-for political solution in Syria. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: There were clashes in the UK parliament this week over British involvement in the air strikes on Syria, reports Manal Lotfy from London The showdown between UK Prime Minister Theresa May and the leader of the opposition Labour Party Jeremy Corbyn on the morality, legality and effectiveness of the military strikes led by the US, Britain and France against Syria this week was a reflection of a clash of two visions. The first was the endorsement of the use of crude military power regardless of its legality under the United Nations charter and was argued for by May. The second was for seeking the approval of the UN and abiding by international law even if there was apparent deadlock ahead, as argued for by Corbyn. May won the argument in the UK parliament, making the case for realpolitik in real time and emphasising that she could not have waited for UN approval to respond to what she called a stain on our humanity and referring to the alleged chemical weapons attacks on Douma near Damascus. She insisted that the UK had had to act rapidly to prevent more attacks. In defence of her decision to strike alleged Syrian chemical weapons facilities, she warned that waiting for the UN to authorise military action would have effectively given Russia a veto on British foreign policy. The leader of the opposition has said that he can only countenance involvement in Syria if there is UN authority behind it. The House should be clear that would mean a Russian veto on our foreign policy, she said. In putting her case in front of British MPs, May accused Moscow of preventing previous UN Security Council Resolutions allowing international inspectors to investigate other alleged chemical weapons attacks in Syria, which she argued meant that the UK and its allies had had no option but to take military action. During the six-hour debate in parliament where May answered almost 150 questions, she faced criticisms for launching the air strikes before consulting the legislative body. However, the majority of MPs admitted that they would have approved military strikes against Syria if they had been asked. May replied by suggesting that the security of the operation could have been compromised. I am absolutely clear that it is parliaments responsibility to hold me to account for such decisions and parliament will do so, she told MPs. But it is my responsibility as prime minister to make these decisions. And I will make them. This was a limited, targeted strike on a legal basis that has been used before [a humanitarian basis]. And it was a decision that required the evaluation of intelligence and information, much of which was of a nature that could not be shared with parliament, she said. Luckily for May, it was not too difficult to make the case for the strikes. They were short, precise and effective as the three countries involved have said, though it is difficult to know how effective they were. Many politicians and commentators have called the strikes merely a gesture not a message. On very different legal, moral and political grounds Corbyn criticised the strikes, calling them legally questionable. The military action was legally questionable. The governments own justification, which relies heavily on the strongly contested doctrine of humanitarian intervention, does not even meet its own tests. Without UN authority it was again a matter of the US and British governments arrogating to themselves an authority to act unilaterally which they do not possess, he wrote in an article in the UK Guardian newspaper. The fact that the prime minister ordered the attacks without seeking authorisation from parliament only underlines the weakness of a government that was in reality simply waiting for authorisation from a bellicose and unstable US president. Thats why we are pressing for parliament to have the final say on planned military action in future in a new war powers act, Corbyn argued. Although many MPs might agree with Corbyns rhetoric, his belief in the UN system and international law left some MPs cold. The UN does not operate in vacuum, and the new cold war between Russia and the West, the deadlock in Syria, and the Russian veto power in the Security Council make the international organisation unable to act when it matters. Although Corbyns language could have found support in the UK, Mays action found more, with a UK Sky News TV channel survey showing almost 49 per cent of the British public supported the military strikes in Syria. However, the latest military intervention is unlikely to change much, and the situation is at a deadlock, especially after the advances of Turkish troops in northern Syria and the increased US presence in eastern Syria. The resumption of peace talks is urgent, with the EU leading the calls. In her latest intervention, Federica Mogherini, the EU foreign policy chief, said that the EU understands the recent air strikes but demands action on the political front to end the civil war or it could turn into a global conflict. The European Council understands that the targeted US, French and UK air strikes on chemical weapons facilities in Syria were specific measures having been taken with the sole objective to prevent further use of chemical weapons and chemical substances as weapons by the Syrian regime to kill its own people, she said. However, I believe it is evident to all that the only way to put an end to the suffering and the dying of so many Syrians, and the only way to avoid the Syrian crisis further spiralling into a wider regional or global confrontation is to put pressure on the parties and namely on the Syrian regime to come to Geneva with meaningful intentions for negotiations, she added. Mogherini said the EU member states had shown full unity on the issue and called for a summit in Brussels scheduled for next week to be used as a stepping stone to more peace talks. There was an unequivocal and strong wish from all member states to use the Brussels conference next week as the opportunity to relaunch, together with the United Nations, the political process to solve the Syrian crisis, Mogherini told reporters in Luxembourg after a meeting mid-week. Conditions today are not better than last year. Actually, they are deteriorating, and we are seeing more violence and more destruction. We are seeing more people dying, and it is true that the solution to the conflict seems to be more far away than ever in the last seven years of conflict, she said. Although Mays decision did not cost her politically because the strikes were short and no British or Russian military personal lost their lives, in themselves they changed nothing in the course of the war. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: TYRE, NY -- Cooking enthusiasts in the Finger Lakes area will have two opportunities next month to learn the secrets of "Old World" cooking from celebrity chef Fabio Viviani. Viviani will host one cooking class May 24 at his Portico by Fabio Viviani restaurant in the del Lago Resort & Casino in Tyre. The next night, May 25, he'll conduct a second class at the recently renamed and rebranded New York Kitchen in Canandaigua (formerly the New York Wine & Culinary Center). Viviani gained fame on Bravo's "Top Chef" reality TV series in the 2008-2009 season, and has since built a food business that includes restaurants across the country, multiple TV appearances, cookbooks and a line of cookware. His Italian steakhouse, Portico, made its debut as a centerpiece of del Lago when the casino opened in February 2017. Highlights of the two cooking classes: * When: 4:30 p.m. May 24 Where: Portico by Fabio Viviani, at del Lago Resort & Casino, off New York State Thuway Exit 41. Details: Viviani will lead the class in making his "grandma's meatballs," fresh pasta from scratch and chicken piccata. Seating is limited and tickets may be purchased for $50, which includes the cooking class, dinner and drinks. Tickets: $50 per person. Available at Open Table or by calling 315-946-1780. Guests must be 21 to attend the cooking class. * When: 6 to 8 p.m. May 25 Where: New York Kitchen, 800 S. Main St., Canandaigua (formerly the New York Wine & Culinary Center). Details: The chef teaches guests how to prepare fresh homemade orecchiette with pesto sauce, grandma's meatballs with tomato sugo and ricotta fritters. There will also be a wine tasting. Tickets are $65 and may be purchased for $65 online at New York Kitchen or by calling call 585-394-7070. Don Cazentre writes about craft beer, wine, spirits and beverages, plus casinos, for NYup.com, syracuse.com and The Post-Standard. Reach him at dcazentre@nyup.com, or follow him at NYup.com, on Twitter or Facebook. The statewide spring turkey hunting season opens May 1, with the annual Youth Wild Turkey Hunt weekend set for this Saturday and Sunday (April 21-22). The annual Youth Hunt is for junior hunters, ages 12-15. Last year, nearly 6,000 junior hunters got out, shooting an estimated 1,600 birds, according to the state Department of Environmental Conservation. "The Youth Wild Turkey Hunt is an excellent opportunity for junior hunters to spend time afield with experienced adult hunters gaining the necessary knowledge and skills to become safe and responsible members of the hunting community," according to the DEC. Important facts about this weekend's Youth Hunt: * Hunters 12-15 years of age are eligible and must hold a hunting license and a turkey permit. *Youth 12-13 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult over 21 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Youth 14-15 years of age must be accompanied by a parent, legal guardian or adult over 18 years of age with written permission from their parent or legal guardian. Kalin Watts, of Syracuse, was hunting with his grandfather Thomas Ruggieri in the New Bremen, NY area when he shot his first turkey uring the 2017 Spring Turkey Youth Hunt weekend. The turkey weighed in at 21 lbs 8 ounces and had an 8- inch beard. *The accompanying adult must have a current hunting license and turkey permit. The adult may assist the youth hunter, including calling, but may not carry a firearm, bow, or crossbow, or kill or attempt to kill a wild turkey during the youth hunt. *Shooting hours are from one-half hour before sunrise to noon each day. *The bag limit for the youth weekend is one bearded bird. This bird becomes part of the youth's regular spring season bag limit of two bearded birds. *Crossbows may only be used by hunters age 14 or older. Meanwhile, what's the overall picture for this year's season? Let's look at what happened last year. The DEC noted in its annual turkey harvest report that last year's spring gobbler season saw 17,942 birds harvested statewide - the lowest since the early 1990s and lower than the 2016 tally of 18,422. The top three counties for the largest number of birds taken last year were Chautauqua (713), followed by Steuben (661) and Oswego (607). Wet weather in many areas of the state contributed to poor hunter turnout last year, as well as poor reproductive success of the birds, DEC said. Wet, cold young turkeys (poults) have less of a chance of surviving due to hypothermia. Also, when the poults are wet, they can be more easily smelled and detected by predators, particularly coyotes. And this spring? The DEC is predicting the following: "With reproductive success below the long-term average in 2016 and 2017, coupled with harsh winter conditions this year, it is anticipated that the spring harvest will be down from last year." Regardless, DEC wildlife biologist Mike Schivavone pointed out in a story in New York Outdoor News that there is still a lot of birds out there "and relatively speaking, it's still a good time to be a turkey hunter in New York." Important point: Junior and regular season hunters are required to report taking a turkey within 7 days via the DECALS online harvest reporting system or by calling 866-426-3778. Failure to do so could result in a ticket. See the 2017-18 DEC hunting and trapping guide or the DEC website for more on regulations during the regular season, which lasts from May 1 to May 31. And while you're out turkey hunting... The DEC is asking turkey hunters to help with its Ruffed Grouse Drumming Survey. "Turkey hunters in pursuit of that wary gobbler in the spring are ideally suited for monitoring ruffed grouse during their breeding season," DEC said. Hunters are asked to record the number of grouse they hear drumming while afield to help DEC track the distribution and abundance of this game bird. To get a survey form, go to the DEC website or call 518-402-8883. SEND US YOUR TURKEY PHOTOS: Send your photos to outdoors writer David Figura at dfigura@NYup.com. Be sure and include the hunter's full name, where he or see lives and when and where the bird was shot. In the case of Youth Hunt photos, including the youngster's age, where he or she lives, along the name of the adult hunter who mentored the outing. The air strikes ordered by US President Donald Trump on Syria last week have failed to distract Americans from his many pending scandals The US, British and French limited bombing campaign of three Syrian facilities that allegedly produced chemical weapons hardly stayed in Americas news cycle for 24 hours, as the worst case scenario was avoided and the missiles of the three Western countries did not hit either Russian or Iranian targets as punishment for their backing of Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad over the past seven years. Instead, what have been making the headlines are quotations from former FBI director James Comey, both in his newly released book A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies and Leadership and in a lengthy television interview in which he charged that the president was morally unfit to stay in his job and may have obstructed justice. In a primetime television interview that preceded his books publication on Tuesday, Comey also said the Russians may have compromising information on Trump. The book likens Trump to a mob boss and gives details of claims that he consorted with prostitutes in Moscow. In an interview aired on ABC Television on Sunday night hardly 24 hours after the tripartite missile attack against Syria, the former FBI director said he did not believe claims about Trumps mental health, but did see him as being morally unfit to be president. A person who sees moral equivalence in Charlottesville, who talks about and treats women like theyre pieces of meat, who lies constantly about matters big and small and insists the American people believe it, that persons not fit to be president of the United States, Comey said. He was referring to Trumps argument that both sides were at fault for white supremacist violence in Charlottesville, Virginia, last year. Trump meanwhile ramped up his tweets on the former prosecutor he fired last year. On Friday, he called Comey an untruthful slime ball in a tweet, and in a Sunday tweet said that slippery James Comey would go down as the WORST FBI director in history, by far! Another major distraction from the Syria military campaign took place on 16 April, when Trumps long-term lawyer and personal confidante Michael Cohen appeared in federal court on a request to protect files seized by the FBI after raiding his office a few days before. US porn star Stormy Daniels, who claims she had a sexual encounter with Trump, also attended the hearing. Trump has raged about the raids on Cohens files, in which FBI agents seized documents related to an alleged payout to Daniels in exchange for her silence about the purported affair. Trumps tweet a week ago warning Russia to get ready because US missiles will be coming, nice and new and smart! to Syria kept the world on tiptoe, with many wondering whether Syria could spark World War Three, leading to the clash between the US and Russia that never happened during the height of the Cold War. The US president, who has been undergoing investigation since the day of taking office more than a year ago over allegations that he colluded with Russia to defeat his Democratic Party rival Hillary Clinton, also advised Moscow that you shouldnt be partners with a gas-killing animal who kills his people and enjoys it, in a reference to Al-Assad. However, Trump was obviously restrained by defence department and intelligence officials who opposed such an escalation and made it clear that they had no intention of going to war either against Russia or Iran. US Defence Secretary Jim Mattis and General Joseph Dunford confirmed in a news conference a few hours after the missiles hit targets in Damascus and Homs that this was a one-time shot adventure. They acknowledged the strikes were designed to degrade Syrias chemical weapons capabilities without killing civilians or the many foreign fighters in Syrias multi-sided civil war, particularly those from Russia. We specifically identified these targets to mitigate the risk of Russian forces being involved, Dunford told reporters, adding that the US military had advised Russia of airspace that would be used in the strikes but did not pre-notify them. Mattis acknowledged that the United States waged the attacks only with conclusive evidence that chlorine gas was used in the alleged 7 April attack in Syria against the rebel stronghold of Douma close to the capital Damascus. Syria and Russia strongly denied any chemical weapons were used, arguing that such charges made no sense as the Islamist fighters in Douma were on the verge of collapse and were negotiating to evacuate the town. Russian and Syrian officials went as far as to claim that the images the world saw of dead bodies piled on top of each other with foam coming out of their mouths were staged by the Syrian opposition groups and even British intelligence. Britain, the United States and several key European countries took part in the worst ever campaign of expelling diplomats after London claimed Moscow had been involved in poisoning a former Russian spy who was living in the UK using a chemical agent. Mattis also characterised the strikes on early Saturday as more significant than the one waged last year, saying double the number of weapons were used this time. We were very precise and proportionate, Mattis said. But at the same time, it was a heavy strike. Last year, 59 Tomahawk cruise missiles fired from the guided-missile destroyers USS Porter and the USS Ross struck Syrias Shayrat air base to retaliate against another alleged chemical attack by the Syrian army in Khan Shaykhoun. Meanwhile, Democrats and Republicans in Congress were divided in their support for the American, British and French strikes. Even advocates of a more aggressive approach towards Syria, Russia and Iran said the attacks would mean little in the long run without a clear and comprehensive approach. US lawmakers were also clearly confused by Trumps contradictory statements on Syria, one day calling for the removal of 2,000 US troops based in the north to provide support for Kurdish militias fighting against the Islamic State (IS) group and then a day later warning of a possible confrontation against Russia and animal Assad. The president needs to lay out our goals, not just with regard to IS, but also the ongoing conflict in Syria and malign Russian and Iranian influence in the region, said John McCain, chairman of the Senate Armed Services Committee. Air strikes disconnected from a broader strategy may be necessary, but they alone will not achieve US objectives in the Middle East, he added. Representative Ed Royce, chairman of the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he expected the Trump administration to begin clarifying its views. Military force cannot be the only means of responding to these atrocities, he said. Democrats, meanwhile, offered narrower praise, with some denouncing the strikes as illegal. Chuck Schumer of New York, the Democratic leader, described a pinpointed, limited action as appropriate but warned the United States against being drawn into a larger war with the Syrian government. Eliot Engel of New York, the top Democrat on the House Foreign Affairs Committee, said he held little hope that the administration would succeed in deterring Syria from using chemical weapons. A year ago when our military struck targets in Syria in response to another chemical weapons attack, I warned that such an action with no strategy to back it up would fail, he said. Tonights announcement seems like history repeating itself, and theres no reason to expect a different result absent a broader Syria strategy. Tim Kaine, Democrat of Virginia, who sits on both the Senate Foreign Relations and Armed Services Committees, said that Trump had seriously erred in not seeking Congresss consent. President Trumps decision to launch air strikes against the Syrian government without Congresss approval is illegal and absent a broader strategy its reckless, he said. Today, its a strike on Syria whats going to stop him from bombing Iran or North Korea next? Failures to speak the same language on Syria among members of the Trump administration also surfaced on Monday after the US president rejected, for now at least, a fresh round of sanctions set to be imposed against Russia. The presidents ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley had announced on Sunday that the administration would place sanctions on Russian companies found to be assisting Syrias chemical weapons programme. The sanctions were listed as further punishment over Russias support for the Syrian president. But the White House contradicted her on Monday, saying that Trump had not approved additional measures. We are considering additional sanctions on Russia and a decision will be made in the near future, Sarah Huckabee Sanders, the White House press secretary, said in a statement. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: Thirteen soldiers have died in Operation Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) in Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Taraba and Kaduna States, Defence Headquarter... Thirteen soldiers have died in Operation Ayem Akpatuma (Cat Race) in Nasarawa, Benue, Kogi, Taraba and Kaduna States, Defence Headquarters has said.Seven were injured.Director of Defence Information Brig.-Gen. John Agim, who addressed reporters yesterday, said 147 herdsmen were arrested and handed over to the police.Gen. Agim said there should be more understanding and support for the military, adding that because of enormous work, the military is over stretched.He said: We have a situation at hand; there is military presence in all the 36 states, particularly in some state capitals, to support the police to maintain peace and attract investors.But the truth is that we dont have barracks in some places and in the hinterlands. If there is trouble in parts of the hinterlands, it would be difficult to move soldiers there because of distance. So largely we depend on intelligence reports to respond to situations. So some things happened in some places and people asked where the military was. We cannot be everywhere given the limited resources.Agim added that due to logistic problems, Operation Ayem Akpatuma could not be extended in some states, except for Taraba, though there are pockets of security threats and clashes in some of the communities.According to him, the operation was largely successful as 183 criminals were arrested in Benue and Taraba States.He said: In Benue State, 147 herdsmen, six cultists, five rustlers and six armed bandits were arrested, while 15 were arrested in Taraba State.In 1 Division Area of Responsibility, 13 bandits were arrested and have been handed over to the police for further action.Several arms and ammunitions were also recovered. In Benue State, one AK-47 rifle, one FN rifle; three AK-47 rifle magazines; nine rounds of 7.62mm special; 23 rounds of 7.62mm NATO; 13 Dane guns; 38 machetes, several spears/axes and assorted charms, 18 motorcycles and 15 mobile phones were recovered.In Taraba state, four AK-47 riffles with three magazines; 96 rounds of 7.62mm special; eight rounds of 9mm, and 19 locally-made guns were recovered.Others include five locally-made pistols, one Shot gun and 27 live cartridges. In 1 Div Area of Responsibility, 16 assorted arms were recovered and some ammunitions. Imo state governor, Rochas Okorocha, Thursday said his son-in-law, Mr Uche Nwosu, was qualified under the constitution to be the next governor of Imo State.Okorocha stated this while fielding questions from newsmen at the government House, Owerri.He also revealed he is aware of the political gang up by members of his party both at the state and National level against the endorsement of Nwosu for 2019.The governor went further to say that, the controversy surrounding pension payment in the state, has been resolved 90 percent.He claimed that the success was recorded after fraudulent activities were exposed in the system.As a result of which he said: The total payment of pension in the state has gone down from N1.4billion to between N600 to N650million.Okorocha among other things announced that the Vice President, Yemi Osibajo, will visit Imo state to commission, some of his projects which included the newly constructed building for the Imo state, Nigeria Union of Journalists, NUJ, Nigeria labour Congress, NLC, and others.According to Okorocha, The problem in Imo state is no longer the issue of zoning. It is now the issue of son-in-law, you can see that the zoning campaign has gone down.I know what is paining my political opponent is the issue of son-in-law including Archbishop Obinna. Let me tell you, favour has found the young man. It is God and not me.There is no place in the constitution of the Federal Republic of Nigeria that says that an in-law cannot be governor.Nwosu has not done anything wrong to contravene the constitution as to say he is not qualified to be the next governor of Imo State. I remember the Tinubus in Lagos State and the Sarakis in Kwara state.On the issue of alleged political gang up, against his son-in-law succeeding him in 2019.Okorocha said: I am aware that they are using people like Senator Ifeanyi Araraume, Deputy governor, Prince Eze Madumere, Senator Benjamin Uwajumogu to fight me for 2019 and 2023.I know those using them. Put them together they cant defeat me. I want to tell you that they will soon break. Who among them will drop his ambition to be governor. Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, over his comments on the young people in Nigeria. Governor of Ekiti state, Ayodele Fayose, has attacked President Muhammadu Buhari, over his comments on the young people in Nigeria. Fayose, writing on his Twitter page, stated that the future of youths in the country was mortgaged by past leaders like President Buhari. He wrote: Nigerian youths are hardworking, intelligent and enterprising. Their future was mortgaged by past leaders like President Buhari, who had everything at their beck and call as youths. I imagine the youths of today having half of the opportunities available in the 50s and 60s. At 19, President Buhari left Secondary School to join the Army. At age 21,he was commissioned a second lieutenant and appointed Platoon Commander of the Second Infantry Battalion in Abeokuta, Nigeria. Where can our youths get such opportunity today? Buhari, speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, said youths prefer to do nothing because they feel Nigeria is an oil-rich nation. President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attack over his comment about young people in Nigeria . President Muhammadu Buhari has come under attack over his comment about young people in Nigeria . Buhari, speaking at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, said youths prefer to do nothing because they feel Nigeria is an oil-rich nation. According to Buhari, a lot of Nigerian youths have not been to school, yet they want everything free. This did not go down well with some Nigerians on social media as they are of the opinion the the president should not be re-elected in 2019. Here are some comments gathered from Twitter: @sirlilijosh, President Buhari said Nigerian youth do not go to school but want free basic necessities of life. Commonwealth should choose a place and time, Nigerian youth will bring their school certificates and our president should bring his too. @Onblood_ Buhari doesnt have a university degree or even Waec certificate and education was almost free and top quality back then and he has the nerve to talk about Nigerians being lazy. @Chydee Buhari is right. Nigerian youths are lazy. If you think hes wrong, make sure he does not return in 2019. @crowtherajayi We have gone through rigorous training both online and physical. They initially promised to fund our businesses but they now want to back out calling us lazy. We are not LAZY! @pstgospelLinus Dont worry come 2019, the same youths that are lazy and not educated will vote you out. @Smartemuobor Come to Lagos traffic and see youths Hawking in hot sun and rain just to live. What do your children do for living? Governor Yahaya Bello of Kogi State has assured the Nigerian youths that President Muhammadu Buhari has faith and confidence in them, saying the statement credited to the President was not targeted at millions of highly industrious youth across the nation.Bello, who stated this in a statement by his Director General of Media and Publicity, Kingsley Fanwo said the administration of President Muhammadu Buhari has done more for the unemployed but promising youth more than any administration before him.Today, hundreds of thousands of Nigerian youths are proud beneficiaries of the N-Power program and other Social Investment Program of the President Muhammadu Buhari administration. Previous governments abandoned the youths to their fate. In Kogi State, the administration before my own got a loan of 2 billion Naira meant for Youth Entrepreneurship Development through SMSE but shared the money among politicians.Under President Muhammadu Buharis leadership, youths were not only given prominent roles to play in Government, but were given hope of a brighter future, providing a soft gap between unemployment and full, rewarding employment.Bello urged Nigerian youths to avoid being incited against the President by those who stole our billions that would have gone into developing our industries that are capable of employing many of our youths, saying the Buhari administration has shown unparalleled support for the youth population of the Nigeria.The efforts of the Ministry of Commerce and Industries at reviving the moribund Textile and Print Industries is a clear demonstration of the President Muhammadu Buhari administrations dedication to create lasting jobs for the youths of our great nation. Also, the commitment of the administration at the Center and the states towards agricultural renaissance is a manifestation of the commitment to the covenant of our great party to provide jobs for the youth.For this nation to grow, our youths must embrace education and industry as the best pathways to economic rediscovery and greatness. The youth population is the best resource of our nation as the bulwark against unemployment and economic stagnation. The message of Mr President is for our youth to own Nigeria and continue to support the drive of his administration to make the nation a better place for us all.The Governor assured the youth of the nation of the continued support of the system to make them achieve their individual dreams which will translate into the bigger dream of a better Nigeria. The timing of the US-led air strikes on Syria could not have been worse for Iraq, presenting it with the dilemma of whether the conflict could slide beyond the point of no return Nothing about Iraqs response to the US, UK and French airstrikes in Syria suggests that the government of Prime Minister Haidar Al-Abadi is about to find a clear and effective strategy in the war-torn neighbouring country. Far from backing away from the embattled Syrian President Bashar Al-Assad, Iraqs Shia-dominated government instead continued its rhetoric in support of his regime and slammed the Western bombardment as foolish and very dangerous. Yet, Iraqs sharply divided political factions seem to be failing to realise the dangers of the situation in Syria, which is increasingly raising the stakes for the region to the maximum and presenting Iraq with a daunting challenge. The controversy over the latest confrontation in Syria underscores a far deeper dilemma about the seven-year catastrophe in Iraqs western Arab neighbour and the regional and international struggle over its future. Iraqs geopolitical quandary over Syria goes back to the two countries independence following the First World War and efforts by different external actors to establish hegemony in the Middle East. Successive Iraqi regimes sought to influence the Syrian state, while its Arab rivals and world powers have fought to frustrate these efforts in order to minimise or deny Iraqs contemplated regional leverage. Todays politically inexperienced and sect-centred Iraqi elites, with their scarce governing and leadership experience, may fail to grasp the tough odds presented by the Syrian crisis even as it keeps haunting Iraqi politics. The recent escalation will reinforce this basic dynamic in the Iraqi-Syrian relationship because of the geopolitics of post-conflict Syria that will reshape the entire Middle East landscape. The United States, United Kingdom and France bombed three government sites in Syria on 14 April, targeting alleged chemical weapons facilities. The countries said the move was a response to a suspected chemical weapons attack on the town of Douma two weeks ago. The Russian military, which controls Syrias skies, said that altogether more than 100 cruise and air-to-ground missiles were launched by US, British and French aircraft and navy ships. The Russian Defence Ministry said that Syrias Soviet-made air-defence systems had shot down 12 cruise missiles aimed at one of the Syrian air bases. In response, Iraq warned that the Western airstrikes on Syria were a very dangerous development that could fuel a jihadist resurgence in the region. A statement by a Foreign Ministry spokesman said the strikes consequences threaten the security and stability of the region. He said the raids were a very dangerous development... that will provide an opportunity for the expansion of terrorism after it was destroyed in Iraq and largely pushed back in Syria. Earlier, Iraqs foreign minister signalled his alarm about the consequences of the US hits against the Syrian regime, saying any missile attack against Damascus would be foolish. An airstrike on Syria would be horrendous and regrettable and a catastrophic defeat in the real sense of the word, Ibrahim Al-Jaafari warned after a meeting of Arab foreign ministers in the Saudi capital Riyadh on Friday. It will put all world countries in jeopardy, he said, adding that Iraq would not allow such a foolish move. In their reactions to the attack, leaders of Iran-backed Shia militias warned that their forces were ready to fight American troops in Syria and threatened US troops in Iraq. Meanwhile, Al-Abadi announced that his government would distance itself from the conflict in Syria and focus on policing the joint border to prevent Islamic State (IS) group forces from returning to Iraq. In leading the neutrality brigade, Al-Abadi was trying to maintain a careful balance by upholding close ties with Washington without crossing Tehrans red lines against toppling the Al-Assad regime or targeting its proxy forces in Syria. The two immediate problems that bedevil Al-Abadi are his need for US support in next months crucial elections in Iraq in order to secure a second term and pressure from Iran and its proxies in Iraq. These are the main reasons behind Al-Abadis juggling of Iraqi policy towards the stand-off in Syria. But even with the immediate threat of confrontation out of the way, the war in Syria is not over, and the proximity of the conflict leaves plenty of room for worry for Iraq about its western neighbours future. Iraq will continue to face daunting challenges in Syria, especially if Baghdad fails to formulate its strategic and political objectives in the country and with regard to the emerging Middle East conundrums that are reshaping the troubled region. Iraq, which shares a 375 mile (600 km) border with Syria, has repeatedly cautioned that the crisis in Syria could spill over into other regional and neighbouring states if is not contained. Its public arguments have been based on the premise that there is only a political solution to the crisis in Syria in order to end the conflict that could pitch it up against regional rivals. Recently, Al-Abadi has been proclaiming that Iraq should distance itself from what is happening in Syria as a strategy for survival against all the odds in the troubled neighbouring country. But with Syrias seven-year crisis degenerating into a regional and international showdown that strategy of inaction is being questioned as dysfunctional and self-defeating. Over the years of relentless turmoil and foreign interference, the hands of regional and world powers have been wedged firmly into Syrias politics and could ultimately reshape the countrys future. A map of Syria shows that forces from Iran, Russia, Turkey, the US-led international coalition and a galaxy of foreign militias are now in control of most of the country after seven years of fighting. These foreign powers are cementing their influence in preparation for the outcome of the conflict and isolating Syrias neighbours, such as Iraq, from finding solutions to Syrias crisis. The tension is building in Syria as the latest airstrikes have shown, with growing signs that key players are increasingly taking sides in the crisis and accelerating an already rapid scramble for influence and territory and threatening a new cold war in the region. As the new confrontation has shown, a direct military collision between the multiple foreign armed forces on the ground could have invited local actors, such as the Lebanese group Hizbullah, the Iraqi Iranian-backed militias and the Turkish PKK Kurdish guerrillas, to join the fighting, risking devastating fallout for Iraq. A troubled environment in Syria thanks to the presence of foreign troops and their competition over influence and territory could encourage IS militants to make a comeback and challenge the Iraqi security forces. Iraqs strategy of inaction in Syria and its rhetoric of calling for a political solution cannot play well for long, and therefore should not become an excuse for tolerating diplomatic dysfunction. Of course, the ability to deal with the situation in Syria has been constrained by the weak Iraqi state, its lack of hard capabilities in the tumultuous region, and the divergent interests of its communities vis-a-vis Syria. But a large part of the explanation behind Iraqs inaction in Syria has been diplomatic and political and due to the failure of Iraqs political class to take steps to influence the course of the conflict in the country. One of the long-overdue steps that should be taken is the establishment of independent, neutral and pro-active Iraqi diplomacy and policy-making to deal with the Syrian crisis away from the foreign forces in Syria and if necessary to undermine their policies. Unfortunately, Iraqs policy towards Syria has long reflected something less than that, being an essential lack of vision and initiative that has been alternately fragmented, dependent on foreign powers, and impelled by top-down sectarianism. *This story was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: There were at least 250 security men on duty at the National Assembly yesterday when five unknown persons barged into a senate session, p... Multiple sources including senior security officers and staff last night confirmed that there are over 500 security men attached to National Assembly and that half the number is on duty on working days.They are made up the policemen, agents of the Department of State Service (DSS) and sergeant at- arms staff.Findings revealed that there are over 100 policemen attached to the National Assembly police division, 300 Sergeant -at- arms (NASS local security), about 50 official of the Nigeria Security and Civil Defence Corps (NSCDC) and almost same number of operatives of the DSS.The five thugs arrived at the main entrance of the National Assembly in a black Range Rover SUV and reportedly told the security that they were together with Senator Ovie Omo-Agege (APC, Delta) who was entering the premises at the same time.Oma-Agege who was suspended last Thursday arrived the Senate chamber around 11.15am, same time when the five unknown intruders moved into the complex.Since his suspension, Oma-Agege had not attended the plenary session until yesterday.He was suspended over his remark that the amendment to the sequence of elections was targeted at President Muhamamdu Buhari.While Omo-Agege went straight to his seat at the chamber, the thugs walked for about 30 metres through the aisle to the table where the mace was kept.One of them seized the mace and turned back with the others in tow, while the Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who was presiding over the plenary session, watched aghast.There were attempts to stop them but they forced their way through the main entry point and jumped into a waiting black SUV and zoomed off. Attempt by two Sergeants-at-arms to stop them was unsuccessful.After the confusion subsided the senators went into a closed door session where the issue was discussed.Sources at the closed session revealed that the senators weighed two options.We had the option to either adjourn sitting or continue without the mace. It was at this point that I placed my waist belt on the table. The debate continued but later the Sergeant -at-arms intimated us that there is a spare mace, Senator Shehu Sani (APC, Kaduna) said.At 12.07pm, the closed session ended and the senators resumed plenary session. They continued with legislative activities lined up on the order paper. Nigerian forces battling Boko Haram jihadists need a change of mindset to overcome an evolving guerrilla threat, US military officials said this week on the sidelines of an African security summit.Boko Harams tactics from improvised explosive devices to hiding within the local population necessitate a shift away from conventional strategies, said Lt. Col. Sean McClure, the US defence attache in Abuja.We havent necessarily seen that kind of adaptation cycle, he told AFP. Theyre trying to figure out how to do this. How they think in terms of combat, in my opinion, is still thinking of things as conventional warfare.As the United States steps up its military presence in Africa, it hopes to share lessons learned in the Middle East with Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel fighting extremist groups.The Sahel region is host to a string of Islamist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb in Mali and Boko Haram in Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad area.Nigeria, Africas most populous country with more than 180 million people, has been fighting Boko Haram since 2009 and has repeatedly claimed to have defeated the group.Nigerias Chief of Army Staff, Lt. Gen. Tukur Buratai, declared on Tuesday there was no doubt Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated, they dont have the capacity.But persistent attacks against soldiers and civilians, including a brazen new kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls from Dapchi on February 19, suggest otherwise.Meanwhile, the emergence of an IS-allied faction of Boko Haram, whose strategy is to provide an alternative government for people living in the impoverished region, poses a new threat.It starts to become a very wicked problem, McClure said.At a military demonstration in Gwagwalada, a town on the outskirts of Abuja, the Nigerian special forces performed a battle drill in front of Africas senior commanders.Nigerian special forces stormed a building complex to liberate mock hostages.Soldiers rappelled from helicopters as the midday sun blazed over the savannah, then the infantry moved in to liberate mock hostages from a compound.But with Borno State, the centre of the Boko Haram conflict nearly twice the size of Belgium, Nigeria cannot rely on soldiers alone.It also needs the support of the local population.Buratai told the summit that winning the hearts and minds of people in the North-East has been a big challenge. Human intelligence has long been seen as vital to winning the war.But rights groups have accused Nigerias military of killing, torturing and arbitrarily arresting thousands of civilians on suspicion of being Boko Haram members or sympathisers.That has stoked tensions in a region already wary of the government and made people in hard-to-reach rural areas particularly reluctant to cooperate with the authorities.People thought the military action was aggressive to them, so this brought acrimony, admitted Buratai but he added, We have done a lot since then and the perception has changed. The World Bank has raised the alarm over rising debts in African countries, including Nigeria. While releasing Africas Pulse, a bia... The World Bank has raised the alarm over rising debts in African countries, including Nigeria.While releasing Africas Pulse, a biannual analysis of African economies in Washington on Wednesday, the World Banks Chief Economist Africa, Albert Zeufack; Lead Economist, Africa, Punam Chuhan-Pole; and Research Manager, Michael Toman, said the continent had been showing positive growth but warned that its debt was increasing in at a very high rate.The World Bank team spoke to journalists across African countries through video conference.According to the team, the rising debt is led by some oil exporting nations, which have seen more than 50 per cent rise in debts recently.Zeufack stated that the problem of Africas debt was not concessional loans secured from the World Bank, but commercial loans that countries in the region had gone ahead to secure.According to him, such commercial loans come with exchange rate risks, global financial condition risks and commodity price risks.Speaking specifically on Nigeria, Chuhan-Pole said although the countrys debt remained low going by the debt to Gross Domestic Product ratio, interest payment had been high.Interest payment as a share of government revenue is quite high. It raises issue of sustainability, she stated.Generally on the continent, she said, The rate at which countries are accumulating debts is very high. Our countries need to pay attention to the rate at which debts are rising.The Debt Management Office recently put the countrys debt profile at N21.73tn as of December 31, 2017, up from N12.2tn as of June 30, 2015.Our correspondent reported that the Federal Government had spent a total of N3.72tn to service local debt in the past three years.The Federal Government spent a total of N1.48tn on actual debt servicing in 2017.With a total of N1.23tn and N1.02tn spent in 2016 and 2015, respectively, on domestic debt servicing, these add to a total of N3.72tn spent on domestic debt servicing in the last three years.According to the World Bank, Sub-Saharan Africas growth is projected to reach 3.1 per cent in 2018, and to average 3.6 per cent in 2019 to 2020.The growth forecasts are premised on expectations that oil and metals prices will remain stable and that governments in the region will implement reforms to address macroeconomic imbalances and boost investment.Zeufack said, Growth has rebounded in Sub-Saharan Africa, but not fast enough. We are still far from pre-crisis growth levels.African governments must speed up and deepen macroeconomic and structural reforms to achieve high and sustained levels of growth.The report stated that it was necessary for African countries to embrace new technologies in order to address access to electricity, which is needed for production on the continent.The World Bank said a combination of solutions, including national grid, mini-grid and off-grid technologies, were needed to address both availability and affordability of electricity in the region.Welcoming Nigerian participants to the conference, the Acting Head of the World Bank Office in Nigeria, Mr. Khairy Al-Jamal, said the global financial institution would continue to work with the country and other development partners on a range of critical reforms for restoring macroeconomic resilience to further strengthen economic growth.He noted, The World Bank is committed, through a varied range of the Nigeria portfolio, to support the Federal Government with programmes aimed at improving infrastructure, both physical and economic; improving human capital; and enacting social policies that will increase opportunities for the poor and the vulnerable.Particularly, through a Country Partnership Framework, we continue to support the government in implementing reforms to tackle macroeconomic imbalances and boost investment in agriculture, power, water, transport, education and health sectors.Nigeria continues to take strides in economic and regulatory reforms; for instance, the implementation of the Economic Growth and Recovery Plan. The report recognises Nigeria as one of the few Sub-Saharan countries, which are undertaking significant regulatory reforms to lower barriers in mini-grid investment.Al-Jamal said the bank would continue to work with the Nigerian government to enable it to collect sufficient revenue, spend its resources well, adopt the policies that would enable private sector investments and improve governance overall. Pagans motorcycle gang member and the surviving defendant charged with murder in the 2012 shooting death of radio host April Kauffman entered a not guilty plea Thursday before Superior Court Judge Bernard DeLury in an Atlantic County courtroom. Ferdinand Augello, 61, of Petersburg, is accused of hiring a hitman to kill Kauffman after she threatened to go to the police about a prescription drug dealing operation her husband was allegedly running out of his Linwood office. Prosecutors say her husband, endocrinologist Dr. James Kauffman, conspired with Augello and other members and associates of the Pagans to peddle pills. When his wife got wind of the scheme, her husband allegedly asked Augello to find someone to kill her. The man who carried out the deed died of a drug overdose a year later, prosecutors have said. Soon after Dr. Kauffman was charged with masterminding his wife's murder and running the prescription drug ring, investigators learned someone might try to kill him in Atlantic County's jail. He was transferred to Hudson County for his own safety. A faraway jail couldn't save him. Weeks later, Kauffman killed himself in his cell. Atlantic County Prosecutor Damon Tyner said Thursday after Augello's hearing that he stood by his decision to move Kauffman, but said it wasn't up to him whether the doctor should have been placed on suicide watch. "That's not my decision. I'm not the warden," Tyner said. "I have a couple of other things I have to worry about besides the operation of the jail." A Hudson County spokesman said written instructions sent when Kauffman was transferred to their jail indicated he was not experiencing suicidal thoughts. In fact, a letter sent on behalf of Atlantic County warden Geraldine Cohen to her Hudson counterparts states, "Inmate Kauffman has no medical or mental health issues." Kauffman was originally jailed in June of last year after he held investigators at bay with a handgun when they came to his office with a search warrant. The doctor threatened to kill himself during that 45-minute standoff. When Kauffman arrived at the Atlantic County jail following that arrest, he was placed on suicide watch, with checks every 15 minutes, an Atlantic County spokeswoman said. The next day, following an evaluation by a medical professional, he was cleared for placement in general population and remained there until he was moved to Hudson County. Tyner also said his decision to move Kauffman from Atlantic County was because it reportedly had the smallest population of Pagans in the state. "I do not have any reservations about that decision," the prosecutor said. Augello, described by prosecutors as a one-time president of the Pagans' Cape May County chapter, is also charged with attempted murder for allegedly trying to have Kauffman killed in jail to keep him from talking about their crimes. Augello and his co-defendants were indicted earlier this month. The state is offering Augello the opportunity to plead "open" to his charges, meaning he could plead guilty and the judge would determine his sentence. The defense and prosecution would have the opportunity to argue in favor of a tougher or lighter sentence. The others defendants in the case, who are charged with racketeering and drug offenses, are: Joseph Mulholland, 52, of Villas Beverly Augello, 47, of Summerland Keys, Florida Glenn Seeler, 37, of Sanford, North Carolina Paul Pagano, 61, of Egg Harbor Township Tabitha Chapman, 35, of Absecon Cheryl Pizza, 36 of Murrells Inlet, South Carolina Beverly Augello, Ferdinand's ex-wife, entered a not-guilty plea during her arraignment on Tuesday. Seeler, Chapman and Mulholland also appeared in court Thursday and all entered not guilty pleas. All are slated to return to court June 14 for status conferences. They have also been offered to opportunity to plead open to their charges. Pagano and Pizza will be arraigned on April 26. Ferdinand Augello remains jailed, while his co-defendants are free pending their next court appearances. April Kauffman's daughter, Kim Pack, attended Thursday's arraignments and said she is looking forward to seeing justice for her mother. "I think that this is just a terribly sad situation. It started tragic, it's ending tragic," Pack said. "Obviously, I'm here to champion the prosecutor's office moving forward for a conviction for my mother's murder." Her stepfather's suicide was another tragedy, she said. "I think that everybody assumes that when it's done you're going to be jumping for joy and that you're going to be happy, but I think we have to remember that somebody lost their life. It's very sad for me," she said. "This man was in my life for a long period of time. I'm just looking forward to being able to have closure and putting everything behind me." Matt Gray may be reached at mgray@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @MattGraySJT. Find the South Jersey Times on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us: nj.com/tips. Kenya Robinson said she already felt like an outsider when she moved to Mount Holly recently, from Penns Grove in Salem County where she knew everyone. But the 24-year-old was shocked when just two weeks after moving to the apartment in Burlington County with her two young sons, she found her car's tire flattened. Next to the wheel was a note that called her a terrorist, used a racial slur and said she should "go home" because she was "not wanted here." "I thought it was just trash and then I saw that my tire was flat," she said of the note she found April 11. "It was a 'go home' letter -- I'm from New Jersey." The note left on Kenya Robinson's tire April 11, redacted to remove profanities. (Provided photo) Robinson said that although the note included the n-word, she believes she was targeted mostly because she wears a hijab and other clothing that makes it obvious that she is Muslim. She said she never had anything like this happen before, and now she feels that people in the area are looking at her differently because of her attire. "In Salem County everyone knows me, but here I feel uncomfortable. I feel like they don't know me because I'm an an outsider, plus the way I dress," she said. Still, she said she can't believe that in 2018, some people still call any Muslim person a terrorist. "I tell people all the time: Just talk to me, I'll tell you about my religion," she said. Mount Holly Police Capt. Rich Spitler said officers determined that someone had let the air out of the tire, and they refilled it for Robinson. He said the department is taking the bias incident very seriously but he could not say much more without compromising the investigation. "It's ongoing. We're not anywhere near done with it," he said. Kenya Robinson, 24, poses for a selfie with her daughter, Suhaylah, 4, left, and her son, Ibn'Anthony, 5, right. (Kenya Robinson photo) Robinson said she moved to the second-floor apartment on Cherry Street March 28. While she didn't know anyone and felt kind of isolated, she had heard the public schools in Mount Holly were good. She has a daughter, Suhaylah, 4, and a son, Ibn'Anthony, 5. She was heading to the grocery store on the afternoon of April 11 when she noticed her car's front driver's side tire was flat and saw the note. She called police, who asked her who she thought could have done it. In a Facebook Live video she posted of her talking with police, she told them that she kept to herself and doesn't know anyone. Police took the note, she said, and assured her they'd do extra patrols in the area. But later that night, around midnight, someone started banging on a door at the apartment complex. Robinson said she believed it was her door, but Spitler said it was a communal, external door to the apartment building. Robinson said the banging had her children "screaming and hollering" in fear. It stopped after about 10 minutes, when she yelled that she had called the cops. Robinson said she hasn't had any trouble since then, but she's still shaken by everything. "Every night I'm pacing. I feel paranoid," she said, suspicious that anyone who looks at her could be the one who left the note. "I put a chair under my doorknob so nobody can open my door." She said she doesn't want to "let anyone run me from my home," but the experience does make her want to leave Mount Holly, especially if she continues to worry about her kids' safety. In the Facebook Live video, her son Ibn'Anthony is seen scooting around the driveway on a plastic car and Suhaylah on a Thomas the Tank Engine. Now, Robinson said, she doesn't feel comfortable going outside. "I don't walk outside, I don't do anything," she said. Anyone with information about the incident can call the Mount Holly Police Department at (609) 267-0170. Rebecca Everett may be reached at reverett@njadvancemedia.com. Follow her on Twitter @rebeccajeverett. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips "Pharma bro" Martin Shkreli, infamous for hiking the price of a life-saving AIDS drug, was moved Tuesday to the low security federal prison at Fort Dix to serve time for a multi-million dollar fraud. Life at the 4,266-inmate Burlington County lockup will likely be a step-up compared to Shkreli's former housing at the Brooklyn Metropolitan Detention Center, which has housed terrorism and mob defendants. "There are no bars, towers, or locks on rooms within the community units. Inmates must demonstrate a high degree of responsibility, and the expectations are that each inmate will comply," according to a Federal Bureau of Prisons handbook for Fort Dix inmates. Amenities at the prison complex include a range of gym equipment, racquetball courts, horseshoe pits, volleyball, bocce ball lanes, intramural sports, a music room, pool tables as well as hobby crafts, according to the document. Fort Dix, a low security federal correctional institution, features a music room and sports programs for inmates. A bureau of prisons representative confirmed Shkreli was housed in the "low security" Federal Correctional Institution at Fort Dix and not an adjacent minimum security camp. Shkreli's request to serve his sentence at a prison camp was denied, according to CNBC. The facility once housed Real Housewives of New Jersey cast member Joe Giudice and is known for an inmates imprisoned for white collar crimes. The 35-year-old former CEO quipped that he would be playing video games at a so-called "Club Fed" prison after his August conviction for securities fraud, the New York Post reported. Shkreli was jailed in September in a bizarre stunt when he offered $5,000 for a strand of Hillary Clinton's hair while he was free on bail. Before his legal woes, Shkreli gained stirred widespread rage when he boosted the price of Daraprim by more than 5,000 percent. Defense attorney Benjamin Brafman declined to comment Wednesday. Noah Cohen may be reached at ncohen@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @noahyc. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The night Karamoko Fatiga died, he called his mosque to make his monthly contribution. Half an hour later, his father-in-law told reporters Thursday, the 41-year-old was gunned down on the streets of East Orange as he was delivering Chinese food. "He was a happy man," Imam Souleimane Konate said, surrounded by microphones in a narrow hallway following a press conference at the city's police headquarters. His children "don't know yet what happened, but they kept asking, 'When is my father coming back? Where is my father?'" On Thursday afternoon, East Orange officials announced a 17-year-old boy had been arrested in Fatiga's April 2 killing. The Essex County Prosecutor's office said Fatiga was shot in the 100 block of Shepherd Avenue around 8:57 p.m. that night while attempting to make a delivery. Fatiga was East Orange's first homicide victim of 2018. Konate told reporters Fatiga came from a large family of immigrants from Africa's Ivory Coast. Dozens of his family members filed into the department's command briefing room Thursday escorted by department staff. The teenager, whom Public Safety Director Sheilah Coley said had previously lived in the city, has been charged with murder, felony murder, robbery and weapons offenses. Authorities are withholding his name because he is a juvenile. Whether Fatiga's death was connected to the attempted delivery remains unclear, and Coley said she couldn't speak to the teenager's motive in the shooting, which is still under investigation. "We just know that this was a senseless act, and how we got from point A to point B we don't know," she said. Family members said they wanted the boy tried as an adult. City officials said a decision on whether to seek the boy's prosecution as an adult in state Superior Court will ultimately be up to the prosecutor's office. Thomas Moriarty may be reached at tmoriarty@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter at @ThomasDMoriarty. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips "Mail fishing" thieves used water bottles, the adhesive from mouse traps and shoe string to steal more than $115,000 in checks from United States Postal Service drop boxes in several towns across North Jersey, police said. Five men have been arrested this month in the scheme and another 10 to 15 arrests are expected within the next month as Glen Ridge police investigate whether they are part of a larger theft ring that steals checks and fraudulently deposits them. The thieves have been particularly active this time of year because many of the checks stolen were tax payments bound for the Internal Revenue Service, according to Capt. Sean Quinn. Glen Ridge police made two more arrests Tuesday after pulling over a car at 2:30 a.m. near the intersection of Ridgewood Avenue and Glen Ridge Parkway and finding 24 stolen parcels. The two Paterson men in the vehicle were charged with theft, trafficking in personal identification information and possession of burglary tools. Both were sent to the Essex County jail. The thieves applied adhesive from mouse or rat traps to string, tie the string around a water bottle and then "fish" the mail out of the mailbox, police explained. On April 2 at around 3 a.m., a Paterson man and a Garfield man were arrested after being found with a similar homemade device as they were preparing to steal mail, police said. Later that week, a Passaic man whose account was used to deposit stolen checks was arrested. All five arrested range in age from 19 and 24, police said. Police declined to release their identities, citing the ongoing investigation. Police said they have been investigating reports of stolen checks for more than a year-and-a-half. Other mail boxes hit in Glen Ridge include those at these intersections: Bay Avenue and Sherman Avenue Ridgewood Avenue and Baldwin Street. Glen Ridge police said the Essex County Prosecutor's Office and the U.S. Postal Inspectors Office is also involved in the investigation. Other towns where mail was stolen include Bloomfield and Wayne, according to News12.com. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. A New York City man has been charged with possession of $14,000 in heroin after a short, joint investigation by the Hudson County Prosecutor's Office Narcotics Task Force and the Newark Division of the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA). Hingino Ventura, 32, of Brooklyn, was arrested on April 13 and charged with possession of a controlled dangerous substance (CDS) with intent to distribute and possession of CDS with intent to distribute within 1,000 feet of a school, Hudson County Prosecutor Esther Suarez announced. Authorities say 200 grams of heroin were found in a vehicle in which Ventura was seated. The street value of the total quantity of heroin seized was estimated at $14,000. Suarez credited the Newark Division of the DEA and Hudson County Sheriff's Office K-9 Unit for assisting with the arrests. JERSEY CITY -- Jersey City police officers responding on a report of shots fired Sunday arrested a Newark man on what was his 35th birthday after they caught him concealing a handgun, authorities said. Officers responding to Stegman Street off Ocean Avenue found David B. McFadden leaving the area and arrested him after finding he had a gun hidden on his lower right leg, according to a criminal complaint charging him. He was charged with several weapons offenses, including possession of a firearm by a felon, possession of hollow point bullets, and aggravated assault for allegedly firing the gun in an unknown direction, the complaint states. The court document also charges him with resisting arrest, obstructing a government function by providing false information and possession of marijuana. McFadden made his first appearance on the charges Monday in Criminal Justice Reform Court in Jersey City via video link from Hudson County jail in Kearny. At the hearing, the state moved to detain him through the course of his prosecution and a detention hearing is scheduled for today. I first heard of the Academy Award-winning film "Babette's Feast" when the Rev. Thomas Iwanowski preached on it for Holy Thursday years ago at Our Lady of Czestochowa, Jersey City. More recently, Pope Francis mentioned it as his favorite movie in his apostolic exhortation "Amoris Laetitia," making it the first mention of a movie in a papal document. I did things in reverse and trekked over to St. Clement's Theatre on Restaurant Row - how appropriate -- in Manhattan last week to see an innovative stage adaptation of the movie. I then watched the film and finally read the short story by Isak Dinesen, who I learned from Beth Henderson, director of the Howell Public Library, is actually a pseudonym for Karen Blixen. Henderson also found the 22-page short story available online. You need to know the storyline to appreciate and understand the stage production. A bleak Norway seacoast town is home to a Puritan sect whose lives are drab. They are led by a strict religious leader who has two beautiful daughters, Martine and Philippa, named after Martin Luther and his collaborator, Philip Melanchthon. Long after the leader is gone, a French refugee shows up on the women's doorstep and the two spinster sisters take her in. In exchange for room and board, Babette -- played by Michelle Hurst, famous for the role of Miss Claudette in the Netflix series "Orange Is the New Black'' -- helps them feed the elderly of the village as part of their religious ministry. She enlivens the bland and consistent menu. On what would have been the 100th birthday of their father, they want to host a simple dinner. Babette comes into some good fortune and decides to throw a sumptuous dinner for 12 guests. Her meal is exquisite, to say the least. The stage drama is true to the story with creative staging that captures the bleakness of their lives and village. It is spartan with wooden tables and a cast dressed in dark attire. It is a bit confusing, though, when some of the cast alternate between genders; a man plays a woman and then a man again by adding some wardrobe piece. Except for the sisters and Babette, who enters midway into the performance, it's hard to follow who's who. The glaring difference between the play and movie is that there is no real food on stage for the dinner. You miss the cooking, ingredients and intensity that you see in the movie. There, you see the transformation of the diners as they enter into a new reality intoxicated by the wonderful food and drink. They then see life differently and let go of their inhibitions. It's obvious what Francis sees in Babette - a selfless person who gives all she has to entertain and transform the villagers and sisters whose prudishness has prevented them from enjoying earthly pleasures all their lives. It's kind of a Eucharistic feast and a sign of what heaven portends. The play, however, accents more that Babette was a refugee fleeing France and could have been executed if she stayed. That the strict Christian villagers welcome her might be a moral lesson for our time. The current nationalistic xenophobia of our president runs against all that is historic and true about what our Statue of Liberty stands for. That wonderful Frenchwoman in the Hudson River represents the hospitality and abundance of Babette. EDITOR'S NOTE: The Rev. Alexander Santora is the pastor of Our Lady of Grace and St. Joseph, 400 Willow Ave., Hoboken, 07030, FAX: 201-659-5833; Email: padrealex@yahoo.com; Twitter: @padrehoboken. If you go ... WHAT: "Babette's Feast," starring Michelle Hurst ("Orange Is the New Black") WHEN: 7 p.m. Monday, Wednesday and Thursday; 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Wednesday and Saturday; and 3 p.m. Sunday WHERE: St. Clement's Theatre, 423 W. 46th St., between Ninth and 10th avenues, New York. DETAILS: Tickets are $39.50 to $79.50, with premium seats available for $99. For more information, visit babettesfeastonstage.com. Antonio and Becky Rivera say the 2006 Jeep Commander they bought last November served them just fine. Each morning for two months, Becky Rivera drove her children to school before heading to her job in Kenilworth. But a routine trip in January to get the Jeep cleaned at the Country Sudser Car Wash on Cedar Bridge Avenue near their Brick home left the SUV a mangled mess. "I was sitting there with the kids watching the car get washed and all of a sudden I hear the receptionist scream, 'Oh my God!'" Antonio Rivera said. The SUV raced out of the facility, crossed the street and crashed into trees, according to Brick Township Police. "When the car wash attendant got into (the vehicle) to drive it further into the lot, he said the vehicle accelerated at a high rate of speed," police wrote in a crash investigation report. "(The attendant) added that he was unable to control the vehicle as it sped out of control, through the lot, across Aurora Place and into the wooded area across the street," the report said. Within minutes, the local fire department and police were on the scene. The 22-year-old attendant refused medical treatment, police said. With an attendant behind the wheel, the Riveras SUV left the car wash at a high rate of speed, crossed Aurora Place and crashed into the woods, police said. (Google Maps) "I don't know how it got stuck, it just kept going," Antonio said the attendant told him. A tow truck driver from Brick Performance who removed the badly damaged SUV from the woods said he had a similar problem with the accelerator, police said in the report. "He explained he merely tapped the accelerator and the vehicle took off on him," the report said. "He added that he was trying to brake but the car kept going until he was finally able to stop it." No tickets were issued. The Rivera family's 2006 Jeep Commander, which they had for two months, was totaled. (Photo courtesy of Becky Rivera) Antonio Rivera said the car was a total loss and that police advised him to contact his insurance company. "I'm thinking, 'What are we going to do? My wife just started a new job and she needs a car,'" Antonio said. Geico later paid the Riveras $9,250, which was the value of the car minus the couple's $750 deductible. An insurance rep advised Antonio to get the deductible back from the car wash, he said. But Rivera said the car wash has refused to give him their insurance information and lately has not been returning calls. "When I went there to discuss it recently, (the manager) looked at me like I had something to do with it," Rivera said. Manager Tony Pignataro told NJ Advance Media on Tuesday his car wash attendant did nothing to cause the accident and says the police report backs him up. "This was a throttle-box sensor issue," Pignataro said. "He was trying to brake but the car wouldn't stop. How is that our fault?" The throttle-position sensor transmits information about the car's speed to the engine, according to carsdirect.com. A worn-out sensor could result in "unexplainable bucking and jerking" and "sudden idle surges," the website says. The Riveras insist there was nothing wrong with their vehicle before they brought it to Country Sudser Car Wash. Though they bought the SUV used, the family had recently driven to see family in Vermont without a problem, Becky said. If there had been a safety issue, they wouldn't have placed their 5-year-old twins ride in the vehicle to the car wash that day, the couple said. Antonio said the insurance money he received was used as down payment on a more expensive 2012 Jeep Cherokee. He said the Jeep Commander, which was fully loaded, had been paid for in full. The Commander has been discontinued and Antonio said he was unable to find another used one. The Riveras are adamant they at least want their insurance deductible back. "I don't think it's fair I have to pay anything," Becky said. "We bring my car to the car wash to get washed and we get a totaled car back. How is that fair?" So this is what happens when you go to get your car washed at Country Sudser Car Wash in Brick!! They pull your car... Posted by Becky Lind Rivera on Monday, April 16, 2018 Anthony G. Attrino may be reached at tattrino@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @TonyAttrino. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Drug Enforcement Administration agents have brought the alleged East Coast crime boss of the notorious street gang MS-13 to New York to face murder conspiracy and drug-trafficking charges. Miguel Angel Corea Diaz had been jailed in Maryland in a separate drug case. He was expected to be arraigned Thursday on Long Island, where authorities blame MS-13 for a wave of violence. Prosecutors say Diaz ordered beatings and killings and directed the gang's drug operations in New York, New Jersey, Maryland, Texas and elsewhere. They say his street name was "Reaper." There was no immediate information on an attorney who could comment on his behalf. Federal prosecutors believe MS-13, or the Mara Salvatrucha, has thousands of members across the country, mostly Central American immigrants. Investigators found dog blood spattered on the basement walls. There was dog-fighting equipment including a modified treadmill used to force dogs to run. And the 18 animals seized by investigators from Mario Atkinson's house in Asbury Park in June 2016 had signs they had been involved in illegal dog fights. Authorities say Atkinson, 42, was part of a dog-fighting ring that spanned multiple states. He was one of nine people in the ring charged by federal authorities and on Wednesday became the fifth to be sent to prison. Atkinson, who had previously been fined for 10 counts of animal cruelty in a separate case, will spend two years behind bars. "Animal cruelty like the conduct in this case has no place in a civilized society," acting Assistant Attorney General Jeffrey Wood said. "(Wednesday's) sentencing sends a strong message that we are bringing to justice those who engage in illegal dog fighting and that anyone who engages in this conduct does so at the risk of significant jail time." During one of the dog fights in Virginia in 2016, one of Atkinson's animals was so badly injured that it died on the return trip home, authorities said. Atkinson tossed the carcass in the garbage, authorities said. Atkinson's first conviction for animal cruelty came two years earlier in Neptune Township. As part of his sentence he was barred from having additional pets. Four of the other nine alleged members of the ring have been convicted and sentenced. The remaining four are set to go on trial beginning Oct. 8. The dog-fighting ring began around October 2015, authorities said. In all, 66 dogs were rescued and dog-fighting paraphernalia seized at properties in New Jersey, Illinois, Indiana, New Mexico and Washington, D.C. Jeff Goldman may be reached at jeff_goldman@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JeffSGoldman. Find NJ.com on Facebook. The theme for my 1977 senior prom was "Harbor Lights." And, for decades I've thought how great it would have been if Boz Scaggs had performed. Well, before you scoff, it's not so farfetched. After all, famous rock bands have played at high schools. During a short period in the late 1960s, classic groups that performed in Union Catholic High School's gym in Scotch Plains included The Who, Black Sabbath and Cream. And UCHS appears to have had a counterpart in Staples High School in Westport, Conn., around the same time, hosting bands like the Doors, Sly and the Family Stone and the Animals. And in the 1960s and '70s, Cherry Hill East High School would regularly hold its proms at the Latin Casino in Cherry hill, a venue played by just about every major musical solo act of the time. Thus, the Class of 1963 got to see Andy Williams perform. MORE: Vintage photos around New Jersey Our gallery shows a photo of the Tokens, who had a #1 hit with 'The Lion Sleeps Tonight' in 1961, playing at an East Brunswick prom in 1969; no information is available on how and why that came about. The Yardbirds played the St. Xavier High School prom in Cincinnati, Ohio, in 1968, though it should be noted that the school was large enough that the event was held at the Cincinnati Convention Center; the band was paid $2,000. But this photo is my favorite. A band known as "Zee Zee Top" played the Little Cypress-Mauriceville High School prom in 1970. The band released its first album, removing four 'e's' in the interim, in 1971 and had their first chart single ("Francine") in 1972. ZZTop played a high school prom. Enjoy this collection of prom photos from the past in New Jersey, as well as these links to previous prom galleries. Greg Hatala may be reached at ghatala@starledger.com. Follow him on Twitter @GregHatala. Find Greg Hatala on Facebook. Before proffering the obligatory cheers for the motor-voter registration bill signed Tuesday by Gov. Murphy, it helps to recount a few deflating statistics. Voter turnout in New Jersey for the 2017 election, which placed Murphy in office, was a record-low 38.5 percent - and it was the same year Virginia cranked out 47 percent for its own gubernatorial race. Voter turnout in 2015 - another non-presidential year - was an abysmal 22 percent, the lowest turnout we've had since Hoboken was a prairie. Actually, since 1924. Statewide turnout has declined steadily for the last two decades. And the last time Pew Research did its state-by-state comparisons, our state was 39th in the percentage of eligible voters registered, and 39th in voter turnout. So yes, we can celebrate that 600,000 more New Jerseyans may now automatically register to vote when they renew their drivers licenses. But it's not enough, because if there is a state that needs a sweeping voting modernization package, it is New Jersey. No doubt, the Automatic Voter Registration (AVR) law is at the core of any such package. Besides boosting registration rates, it cleans up the rolls, makes voting more convenient, curbs the potential for fraud, and saves money, according to studies cited by the Brennan Center for Justice. Yet so much more can be done, specifically with measures that were included in the Democracy Act vetoed by Gov. Christie in November 2015. The final version of that bill included early voting access, online voter registration, pre-registration for 17-year-olds, expanded access to overseas and military workers, and sample ballots printed in more languages. An earlier version also included same-day registration (SDR), but it was scrubbed from the bill by Sen. Ron Rice, D-Essex, who believed it exposed the system to fraud - and as someone who claims to have had elections stolen from him, he was inflexible on that provision. It's time to bring them all back - one at a time, if necessary. Or, if Rice or another lawmaker attempt to jam the machinery of democracy, legislators could get all these measures on the ballot as a constitutional amendment, which was widely discussed in 2015. While they are at it, they can restore voting rights for the 58,000 people on probation in our state, and the 15,000 parolees who have already paid their debt to society, because our felony disenfranchisement laws date back to 1844. But these components have broad support, with the early voting option favored by 67 percent of New Jersey's voters. AVR is a good first step, a legitimate paradigm shift in registration and for turnout rates. Oregon was the first to implement it in 2015, and the new registration rate quadrupled, while the overall rate jumped 10 percent. In 2016, more than 98,000 votes were cast by new voters signed up through Oregon's AVR. New Jersey's version allows other public service agencies to play a role by automatically registering voters if they present proof of age, citizenship, and residence as they conduct business with that agency - but only after the Secretary of State assesses that it is collecting the right information. This is a proud step for our state, only the 12th to embrace AVR, because helping people exercise their most fundamental right reinforces a commitment to democracy. But we can still take a few more inclusive steps that will allow more of our neighbors to help shape New Jersey's future. Bookmark NJ.com/Opinion. Follow on Twitter @NJ_Opinion and find NJ.com Opinion on Facebook. The Syrian government stepped up its efforts on Thursday to retake the opposition's last besieged enclaves, as rebels prepared to withdraw from one and a newspaper reported an ultimatum against another. President Bashar al-Assad scored a major victory this month by retaking eastern Ghouta, the biggest rebel stronghold near Damascus, putting his forces in by far their strongest position since the early months of the seven-year-old civil war. The United States, Britain and France launched a volley of air strikes on Saturday against three Syrian targets in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons strike during the Ghouta assault. But the limited Western intervention, far from any contested battlefront, has shown no sign of having any impact on the ground, where Assad's forces have pressed on with his offensive. The last rebels withdrew from eastern Ghouta hours after the Western bombing. Since then, the government has focused on regaining four less populous encircled enclaves. Their capture would leave the opposition holding only its two main strongholds, located in the northwest and southwest along Syria's international borders. Diplomacy this week has focused on the accusations of poison gas use in Douma, the last town to hold out against the government advance in eastern Ghouta. Western countries say scores of people were gassed to death in the April 7 chemical attack. Syria and its ally Russia deny it. Now that the rebels have surrendered, the area is under government control, and a team of international inspectors has so far been unable to reach it. The inspectors have delayed their visit to Douma after their security team were shot at during a reconnaissance trip on Tuesday, the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons said. The Western countries say Moscow and Damascus are preventing the inspectors from reaching the site and may be destroying evidence. Russia and Assad's government deny this. Meanwhile, the Western intervention has had no measurable impact on the wider war, with rebels continuing to surrender under deals that allow them to withdraw to the opposition pocket in the northwest in return for abandoning territory. SURRENDER State television showed live footage of buses entering the town of Dumayr, northeast of Damascus, to bring out fighters and their families, while soldiers stood by the roadside. Twenty buses would be used to transfer about 5,000 people, including 1,500 rebels, to north Syria after they surrendered their heavy weapons, Syrian state TV said. Dumayr has been covered by an informal ceasefire for years, but its recovery is important for the government because it makes it possible to guarantee the safety of vehicles travelling on the Damascus-Baghdad highway. Said Saif, a senior official with one of the rebel groups in the area, said his group had no choice but to go along with a Russian-backed deal to leave the town, because there were no other outside forces that could guarantee their safety. "We hope the Russians keep their promises, even though we have no trust in them," he said. In the nearby enclave of Eastern Qalamoun, which consists of several towns and an area of hills and has also been covered by an informal ceasefire, rebels said they were also negotiating a withdrawal deal with Russia. The army has put military pressure on rebels in Eastern Qalamoun to start negotiations to withdraw, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights war monitoring group said. A military news service run by the government's Lebanese ally Hezbollah reported on Thursday that the army had moved into positions inside the enclave to entirely encircle one of its towns, al-Ruhayba. The Observatory said there were also talks under way between Russia and rebels over the fate of an enclave in central Syria around the town of Rastan. Separately, the pro-government al-Watan newspaper reported on Thursday that Islamic State militants had been given 48 hours to agree to withdraw from an enclave centered around the Yarmouk camp for Palestinian refugee south of Damascus. "If they refuse, the army and supporting forces are ready to launch a military operation to end the presence of the organisation in the area," al-Watan said. Most residents have fled the camp, once Syria's largest for Palestinian refugees, but thousands of civilians are still inside. Christopher Gunness, a spokesman for the United Nations Relief and Works Agency (UNRWA) which looks after Palestinian refugees said it was deeply concerned for their safety. A commander in the regional military alliance that backs the Syrian government said the Syrian army had begun shelling the jihadist enclave on Tuesday in preparation for an assault. Islamic State lost most of its territory last year, but it still holds small areas of desert in eastern Syria on either side of the Euphrates river. On Thursday neighbouring Iraq carried out air strikes against the jihadist group in Syria in coordination with Damascus, the Iraqi military said. Search Keywords: Short link: When I called Dave Sciarra of the Education Law Center yesterday, we began with a pleasant conversation. It was not about the big issue in the Statehouse these days, the fight over education spending. It was about surfing. Sciarra and I both attended the University of Hawaii in our younger years. Discussing the difference between surfing Waikiki and Sunset Beach was fun. Talking about school funding? Not so much. Just to get in on the ground floor of such a discussion you need to understand terms like "hold-harmless provisions" and "adjustment aid" and "growth caps." All those terms came up frequently in a Tuesday hearing of the Senate Budget Committee on the Department of Education budget. The Democratic Senate President, Steve Sweeney, recently told the new Democratic governor, Phil Murphy, that his formula for handing out state aid to local school districts was unacceptable. In his budget, Murphy decided to distribute the aid the same way it was distributed after the School Funding Reform Act was adopted in 2008. But that meant that school districts with booming enrollment numbers were being starved of aid while those with shrinking enrollments were getting more than they deserved. And since several of the most adversely affected school districts are in Sweeney's own Gloucester County, that proposal was not going to make it out of the Senate. Sweeney won that fight. That became apparent when Murphy's nominee to head the Department of Education told the committee that the two sides will work out new state-aid numbers in the next six to eight weeks. The nominee, former Asbury Park school superintendent Lamont Repollet, made a quick exit after the hearing, ignoring a pack of journalists who had a lot of questions for him. I can't blame him for beating a quick retreat. The questions Repollet will face between now and the June 30 budget deadline budget will not be easy to answer. That was why I'd called Sciarra. I asked him what may be the most important question of all: If he and his fellow lawyers at the ELC don't like the result, will they sue? "I'm not gonna say that," Sciarra replied. But the ELC has a long history of going to court whenever the interests of the 31 "Abbott districts" are affected. The districts are named after a series of decisions in the Abbott v. Burke cases that, like Super Bowls, are denoted in Roman numerals. We're now up to Abbott XXII. Will there be an Abbott XXIII? Sciarra laid down what sounded like a "red line," if I may borrow a cliche from the foreign policy field. The Murphy-Sweeney fight is over $700 million in "adjustment aid." This is funding that subsidizes districts that would otherwise lose aid if the formula were strictly followed, with up-to-date enrollment numbers plugged in. Several senators said they want to eliminate adjustment aid altogether and spread the money around according to the SFRA formula. But that presents a problem, said Sciarra. There are about 40 school districts receiving adjustment aid that need it to reach the level of adequacy funding set in the SFRA. At the time the SFRA was passed, the idea was that they could make up the lost state aid by raising property taxes. However the 2 percent cap on property-tax hikes imposed in 2010 makes that impossible, said Sciarra. That creates a "constitutional problem," he said. And constitutional problems are the ELC's raison d'etre, if I may employ my high-school French. If it comes to that point, I suspect Murphy might regret ever having run for governor. Acting Education Commissioner Lamont Repollet testifies at a Senate Budget Committee hearing Tuesday. He came into office promising voters lots of goodies in the education field, such as universal preschool and tuition-free community colleges. Now he's in a food fight with his fellow Democrats in which he is about to learn he can't even fund current education programs adequately. It is Sciarra's considered opinion that Murphy would need another $2 billion to reach his stated goal of fully funding the SFRA. But he would also needs an extra $2 billion to make the full Actuarially Required Contribution to fund pensions for current employees, most of whom are teachers. Murphy proposes to "ramp up" both payments over four years. But if he can't afford to fund current programs until then, how can he afford the approximately $600 million in new programs he's proposing in this budget? I put that question to a guy who stuck around after the hearing, Budget Committee chairman Paul Sarlo. "He can propose whatever he would like," the Bergen County Democrat replied. Me too. I propose Sciarra and I go ride 30-foot waves at Waimea Bay. I suspect that would work out about as well as this budget will. PLUS - STRANGE BEHAVIOR FROM THE ADMINISTRATION: I think I can say without fear of contradiction that I am the only conservative pundit on the Trenton scene. So I could understand why a guy like acting education commissioner Repollet might want to avoid my questions. But I can't see what justified his reaction to my fellow members of the media after the hearing. Typically when a hearing like this wraps up, reporters go to the participants and ask some follow-up questions. Most participants welcome this as an opportunity to present their talking points to the media. Repollet simply ignored all the journalists trying to ask him questions. He didn't even bother to say "No comment" or "Thanks for asking. I'll address this at a later date." He simply stonewalled the media as if he had something to hide. Meanwhile Murphy himself has been ducking questions from the press. It's a little early in the administration for the Murphy team to go into a bunker mentality. If the new governor's budget is so good, then he should be in Trenton defending it. Instead he was at an event in Manhattan Wednesday morning, at the 2018 National Action Network Convention ribbon-cutting. I have no idea what that is. But it's not national action the governor needs. It's New Jersey action. And he'd better get going on it if he wants to have a budget by June 30. He's the current governor of New Jersey. He's not the next president. Whole Foods will be opening a store at the former A&P site in Wayne. The Texas-based supermarket chain has not announced an opening date and the company said it typically takes a few years to develop individual stores. Whole Foods in Metuchen "We are excited to bring our natural and organic foods to Wayne," said Tina Clabbers Feigley, a public relations coordinator for Whole Foods. A long-awaited Whole Foods in Newark opened on March 1. Once the nation's dominant retailer, Montvale-based A&P filed for bankruptcy in 2015 after 156 years in business and closed or sold off its 90 stores in New Jersey. The former A&P site on Valley Road in Wayne was initially slated to become a natural food market, but remained vacant. Rob Jennings may be reached at rjennings@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @RobJenningsNJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Gov. Phil Murphy said Wednesday he has "simple" notion about higher education. "No one should be shut out of the dream of going to college because they can't afford it," the Democrat said during a roundtable on the issue at New Jersey City University That, Murphy explained, is why he's proposed pumping in millions more taxpayer dollars toward aid to help thousands more New Jersey students pay for college. Murphy was at the Jersey City college to tout how his first state budget proposal includes a $7 million increase for Tuition Aid Grants and a $1.5 million increase for the Education Opportunity Fund. "Education is often referred to as the great equalizer," Murphy said. "I wouldn't have gotten anywhere without it." "We're not going to solve everything overnight," he added. "But this increase is moving the needle." Of course, Murphy's plans to increase taxes will help pay for it. The governor -- who took office in January -- has proposed a $37.4 billion state budget plan featuring more than $1.6 billion in new taxes and moves to close loopholes. That includes a new tax on millionaire residents and increasing the state sales tax from 6.625 percent to 7 percent. The increases, Murphy says, will go toward more funding for education, transportation, and public-worker pensions. In all, Murphy's budget proposal allocates $2.4 billion for higher education -- an increase of $29.9 million from the current state budget. That also includes $50 million toward community college tuition-- part of a proposed three-year ramp up to make community college free for all residents. The plan allocates $432.9 million toward Tuition Aid Grants, which Murphy's office says will help more than 67,500 students -- an increase of 3,500 from the current fiscal year. And the $1.5 million more money toward the Education Opportunity Fund is in addition to the $5 million the state Legislature included in the current state budget. The fund helps students with "disadvantaged backgrounds" pay for college. "Everything about going to college should be easy -- except learning," Zakiya Smith Ellis, the state's acting secretary of higher education, said during Wednesday's roundtable. "We are going to make that a reality." Still, Murphy and the Democrat-controlled state Legislature must enact a budget by June 30, and so far, Democratic leaders have not fully embraced the governor's tax hike proposals. Murphy said Wednesday he's not worried. He argued that the state is digging out of a fiscal "mess" and that it will take time. He also noted that the sales tax increase will cost New Jersey families $85 a year on average. "I don't make list of any one of those 85 dollars," Murphy said. "But we're gonna deliver multiples of that back into that same family, through education, transportation, and other investments." "At the end of the day, this is not radical," he continued. "This is common sense. This is undoing a lot of damage. And it's setting forward a vision for how we're gonna get there." "I'm very optimistic we're gonna find common ground," the governor concluded. Brent Johnson may be reached at bjohnson@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @johnsb01. Find NJ.com Politics on Facebook. A man who previously served state prison time on child pornography charges has been charged again with the same crime. Marc Panchenko, 46, of Linden, was charged Wednesday with distribution of child pornography and possession of child pornography, the Union County Prosecutor's Office announced. Marc Panchenko Investigators arrested Panchenko after the Internet Crimes Against Children Task Force indicated to authorities that they suspected Panchenko of possessing the material. Detectives from the county's Special Prosecutions Unit got a search warrant for Panchenko's home and seized computers, cell phones and hard drives. Panchenko was then taken into custody. Panchenko previously served three years in prison on child pornography charges, starting in 2009. The New Jersey State Police had investigated him in 2006 after U.S. Immigrations and Customs Enforcement (ICE) in Portland, Oregon, found illicit material on a computer linked to Panchenko. If convicted, Panchenko could face another five to 10 years in prison. He is currently being held in the Union County Jail before a first appearance and detention hearing. Joe Brandt can be reached at jbrandt@njadvancemedia.com. Follow him on Twitter @JBrandt_NJ. Find NJ.com on Facebook. Have a tip? Tell us. nj.com/tips The NOPD have arrested a 19-year-old man has been in connection with an armed carjacking in Leonidas that occurred Tuesday (April 17), according to a police news release. A 47-year-old woman left her Subaru Forester unattended with the keys inside and driver side door ajar in the 1800 block of Dante Street. When she returned, a man was in the driver seat. The woman demanded he get out of her car before the man pulled out a handgun and drove away in the vehicle with Louisiana plate #WWP942, according to police. On Wednesday, Jefferson Parish authorities received word of a suspicious person loitering in a car parked in the 400 block of Rye Street in Metairie. Officers connected the vehicle to carjacking in Leonidas and notified NOPD. In an interview with detectives, the driver, Payton Jacobs, admitted to the Leonidas carjacking. JPSO officers booked Jacobs on illegal possession of stolen property, according to court records. A man was found shot to death Wednesday night (April 18) at a self-storage business on Behrman Highway in Algiers, New Orleans police reported. About 9:18 p.m., officers were called to a shooting and found the man, who had been shot in the chest, lying in the open-air loading area between two rows of units at CubeSmart self-storage in the 3500 block of Behrman Highway, said NOPD spokesman Aaron Looney. The victim was pronounced dead at the scene. Late Wednesday, police vehicles lined a narrow roadway running between CubeSmart and a neighboring gas station and Wal-Mart Supercenter. As the investigation continued, more police vehicles pulled up, filling a section of parking lot at a nearby gas station, where curious onlookers watched investigators work. Police cordoned off part of CubeSmart's parking lot with yellow tape, and officers could be seen gathered in the wide concrete loading area between rows of storage units. There, a man's body could be seen lying on the ground, partially hidden by a screen used to conceal bodies from public view. Investigators placed several bright green evidence cones nearby. About 10:40 p.m., a woman arrived at the scene and opened the door to the office building for the storage business. Several officers trailed her inside. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Minutes earlier, an Orleans Parish Coroner's Office van pulled up to the scene and stopped near the storage unit business. The fatal shooting in Algiers was the third killing reported in New Orleans within 24 hours. Shortly before 5 a.m. Wednesday, a double shooting in the 2600 block of S. Roman Street, in the Broadmoor area, killed a man and injured a woman. Wednesday afternoon, a man was gunned down on the neutral ground at S. Claiborne Avenue and First Street in Central City, police said. NOPD Homicide Detective Theo Kent is in charge of the ongoing investigation and can be reached at 504-658-5300 with any information on the killing. To submit an anonymous tip, call Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP. A man is suspected of stealing a woman's wallet at the Whole Foods Market on Magazine Street after striking up a conversation in the produce aisle, according to the New Orleans Police Department. The woman was shopping at the store Wednesday (April 18) when the suspected thief approached her and asked her a question, police said. The man then leaned over her. When the victim went to the register to make her purchases, she discovered her wallet missing from her purse, the NOPD said. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to call NOPD 2nd District detectives at 504-658-6020 or Crimestoppers at 504-822-1111 or toll-free at 1-877-903-STOP. Hayley Vanvleet, the opening chef at the French Quarter bistro Curio, has left the restaurant. Vanvleet said she was working on a new project, but she was not yet able to give any details. "In the thick of the tourist throng, Vanvleet is proving to be a chef to watch," wrote our critic Brett Anderson in February, "with a menu that balances clever upgrades to the French-Creole playbook (coriander blackened Gulf fish, chicken Clemenceau brightened with sweet pea puree) with crave-worthy New American bar fare like crisp-sweet fried pork ribs, cheddar grit tots and mussels steamed in coconut ginger broth." Vanvleet, an Illinois native, had previously cooked at Peche Seafood Grill and Cochon Butcher. The new executive chef at Curio is Brody LeBlanc, who most recently worked at Borgne, La Provence and the event space Pigeon and Prince. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Curio is owned by Creole Cuisine Restaurant Concepts, which also operates Kingfish, Tommy's Cuisine and Broussard's. Curio: 301 Royal St., New Orleans, 504.717.4198 *** Got a tip? Know some restaurant news? Email Todd A. Price at TPrice@NOLA.com or call 504.826.3445. Follow him on Twitter (@TPrice504) or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/groups/wherenolaeats. The Iraqi air force on Thursday carried out a "deadly raid" against positions of the Islamic State group in neighbouring Syria, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadi's office said. Abadi ordered the strike against the jihadists "because of the danger they pose to Iraqi territory," a statement said. A video released by the air force showed two F-16 fighter jets in action. "These raids demonstrate the growing capacity of our armed forces to hunt down and liquidate terrorists," it added. The US-led coalition fighting IS said the air strike targeted an area of eastern Syria's Deir Ezzor province near Hajin, around 50 kilometres (30 miles) from the border with Iraq. The strike, carried out with intelligence support from the coalition, "demonstrates Iraq's commitment to destroy Daesh (IS) remnants who continue to threaten their citizens", said Brigadier General Robert B. Sofge, deputy commander of coalition operations. Iraq declared victory in December against IS, which launched a sweeping offensive in 2014 and at one point controlled a third of the country. The jihadists still control pockets of desert along the border with Syria, where Iraq had already carried out limited raids against IS before Thursday's strike. Search Keywords: Short link: The new restaurant's name, Luvi, combines the names of chef Hao Gong's two children, Lulu and Violet. The dumplings, filled with pork, ginger and cabbage and served in a simple soy broth, are the same ones Gong's mother cooked in Shanghai. Before immigrating, Gong went to cooking school in China, and Luvi's menu has flavors from his birthplace, like the crab and pork Lion's Head meatballs, spicy dan dan noodles, and the thinly sliced beef shank with chili oil. In America, Gong has focused on Japanese cuisine, first in California and then, for many years, as the head chef at Sake Cafe. At Luvi, there is no sushi. But there is a raw bar, where Gong can play. For the Monkey Snack, he wraps sesame crusted bananas in salmon, a dish that was inspired by a vacation in Jamaica. Ceviche is served with fried garlic and Rice Krispies. And the Million Dollar Baby includes both raw and seared tuna along with masago, or salmon roe. For now, Luvi is practically a one-man show. Gong is working the raw bar, overseeing the kitchen and bantering with the customers. "Everything is me," Gong said. Food and restaurant news in your inbox Every Thursday we give you the scoop on NOLA dining. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Opened: April 17 On the menu: Snow White ceviche with white fish ($11); Monkey Snack ($12); Mala Holla spicy beef ($11); Dan Dan noodles ($10); Mama's Dumpling in soy broth ($10); Happy Meal caramelized ginger soy chicken ($9) (See the full menu online) Need to know: The $45 "feed me" is a five-course, omakase menu with both on- and off-menu items. Hours: Lunch Tuesday through Saturday from 11 a.m. to 2:30 p.m., dinner Tuesday through Thursday from 5 to 9 p.m and Friday and Saturday from 5 to 10 p.m. Luvi: 5236 Tchoupitoulas St., New Orleans, 504.605.3340 *** Got a tip? Know some restaurant news? Email Todd A. Price at TPrice@NOLA.com or call 504.826.3445. Follow him on Twitter (@TPrice504) or join the conversation at www.facebook.com/groups/wherenolaeats. With flood-prone Louisiana planning to spend about $40 million on "resiliency" projects in six parishes, Gov. John Bel Edwards travels to Gretna on Friday (April 20) to announce where the money will go. A state official said the news conference will take place in Gretna City Park, a sign that money might be directed there for recreation and drainage improvements across 78 acres. Jefferson Parish competed with Lafourche, Plaquemines, St. John the Baptist, St. Tammany and Terrebonne parishes for federal funding under the Strategic Adaptations for Future Environments Program, known as LA SAFE. State officials have now selected 10 projects for funding, and two of them are in Jefferson, Marvin McGraw, communications director for the Louisiana Office of Community Development, said Thursday. 6 Jefferson Parish projects seek state 'resilience' money Gretna has been working for months with the Tulane Regional Urban Design Center on the City Park and 25th Street Canal proposal. The goal is to decrease flooding and enhance recreation. "Improvements to the park include greater stormwater retention, enhanced entryways, pathways, and signage, additional seating and pavilions and the installation of a tiered dock that will connect visitors to the water," the proposal says. "The canal improvements include green infrastructure features to increase capacity and conveyance of stormwater in an area with a high concentration of repetitively flooded homes and businesses. In addition, the canal enhancements include the creation of recreational amenities for biking, walking, and interactive community spaces." The work is estimated to cost $11.5 million. Under the proposal, Louisiana would put up as much as $6 million. Others helping would be the Federal Emergency Management Agency, Jefferson Parish government, the Jefferson Parish Public School System and Tulane. Environmental news in your inbox Stay up-to-date on the latest on Louisiana's coast and the environment. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Gretna Mayor Belinda Constant was out of town Thursday and could immediately be reached for comment. Mark Morgan, who is Gretna's city attorney and a School Board member, said schools Superintendent Cade Brumley plans to attend Friday's news conference. Other Jefferson Parish projects competing for LA SAFE money are in: . . . . . . . Drew Broach covers Jefferson Parish politics and Louisiana interests in Congress, plus other odds and ends, for NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. Email: dbroach@nola.com. Facebook: Drew Broach TP. Twitter: drewbroach1. Google+: Drew Broach. Starting with $40 and a suitcase, former inmate built Arabi thrift store to help others Louisiana has been awarded an $8.16 million federal funding to fight the opioid epidemic in the state. The grant is part of a total of $485 million that has been made available to all 50 states through the Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration (SAMHSA) to fund resources to help Americans battling opioid addiction. "These funds will help support evidence-based efforts at the state level to prevent misuse of opioids in the first place, expand access to effective treatment options for people in need, and support recovery for those who have prevailed," U.S. Health and Human Services Secretary Alex Azar said in a statement. The agency will be releasing details over the next few months about another $1 billion in grant funding its plans to make available to states, territories and tribes hit hardest by the opioid crisis. Those grants will be awarded in September. "To solve the opioid crisis in Louisiana, we need a strong, sustained, 'do everything' response. These resources will support safer families and healthier communities, and I'm glad we were able to get these funds to our state," said U.S. Senator Bill Cassidy in a statement. Cassidy helped write the Cures law, which included his mental health reform legislation creating an HHS Assistant Secretary for Mental Health and Substance Use responsible for overseeing grants and promoting best practices Louisiana has implemented several measures to reduce the number of opioid prescriptions and dosage amounts handed out in the state. The state Department of Health reported in November that since Medicaid expansion in 2015, the state has reduced the number of opioid prescriptions by 109,675, or a 2.08 percent decrease. Similarly, the state has reduced the number of pills per opioid prescription made, with total doses prescribed falling by more than 10 million, or 3 percent. The health department's Louisiana Opioid Surveillance Initiative counted 531 opioid deaths in Louisiana in 2016, up from 217 in 2014. Total overdose deaths in Louisiana may be even higher than that. Accurately counting overdose deaths related to a specific drug is a challenge because of the nature of drug overdoses, the use of multiple drugs at one time, and difference in cause of death determinations across jurisdictions, according to a report by the initiative. Maria Clark writes about health, doctors, patients and healthcare in Louisiana for NOLA.com | The Times Picayune and NOLA Mundo. Reach her at mclark@nola.com or 504.258.5306. Or follow her on Twitter at @MariaPClark1. Here's something that might surprise you about De'Jeune' Richardson, Louisiana's two-time poetry-reciting champ: Until a few a years ago, she really wasn't very interested in poetry. "Singing is my first love,'' she said with a laugh one recent morning. But Gary Mendoza, who teaches talent theatre classes at Covington High School, requires his students to recite poetry. Richardson was forced to dip a toe in the water. As she pored over the poets' words, speaking them over and over, adding her own interpretation, something clicked. Richardson, a senior at Covington High, had tapped into a new talent. Now, the 17-year-old from Folsom is preparing for a trip to Washington, D.C., for the "Poetry Out Loud National Finals'' competition that begins Wednesday (April 25). "I'm very interested in it (poetry) now,'' she said. "This competition really opens people up to it. We're trying to bring the fire back to poetry. It's an art that people need to be aware of.'' Poetry Out Loud is a program that encourages high school students to learn and love poetry through dramatic recitation. The program is a partnership between the Poetry Foundation, National Endowment for the Arts and state arts agencies. The winners of the various state programs advance to the nationals. Mind you, these aren't just students reading poems. To watch Richardson is to see a competitor who has spent countless hours working on her delivery, putting her personal interpretation on the poets' work and stressing over each line and detail and a facial expression. "Practice and practice and practice,'' she said. "(Covington High talented theater teacher) Mr. Mendoza really pushes us.'' So does her mom, Deanna Mingo, who'll make the trip to D.C. with her. "Everywhere we go, my mom says, 'De'Jeune', do the poem.''' St. Tammany top stories in your inbox A weekly guide to the biggest news in St. Tammany. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Mendoza said it's been wonderful to watch Richardson grow as a student. As the talented theater teacher, he has students for all four years, so watching them progress each year is very rewarding. "She had talent, no doubt about that,'' he said. "Her first two years, she was just kind of there. But there was a change -- she became much more dedicated. "It's been so great to see.'' Richardson, who will begin pre-med studies at Xavier University in New Orleans in August, became a two-time Louisiana "Poetry Out Loud'' champion last month, winning the state competition in Baton Rouge and a second trip to Washington, D.C. Last year, Richardson finished in the top 8. This year, armed with a better choice for a third poem, Richardson hopes to bring home first place. Competitors recite two poems in rounds 1 and 2. Those making the cut present another poem in the third and final round. "Last year, I think my third poem hurt me,'' Richardson said. "It was a good poem, it just didn't fit me.'' That poem, Aphra Behn's "Epitaph on the Tombstone of a Child, the Last of Seven that Died Before,'' has been replaced this year with "Invitation to Love,'' by Paul Laurence Dunbar. For rounds 1 and 2, Richardson said, she'll rely on her "go-to'' poems: "Ballad of Birmingham'' by Dudley Randall and "American Smooth'' by Rita Dove. Mendoza helped her pick out "Ballad of Birmingham." "He said people would cry,'' Richardson said. "It really seems to leave an impact. I love it.'' A Slidell man died Thursday (April 19) of injuries he suffered after crashing his SUV into a large tree alongside Interstate 12 near Robert, State Police said. Nathan Daniel Irby, 32, was westbound on I-12 around 7:30 a.m. when the vehicle, a 2003 Ford Expedition, left the right side of the roadway and crashed into the tree line, State Police said. Irby, who was wearing a seat belt, had severe injuries and was taken by helicopter to a Hammond hospital, where he later died, State Police said. Investigators do not know why Irby's vehicle ran off the road, the State Police news release said. As part of the investigation, blood samples were taken and will be sent to the Louisiana State Police Crime Lab for analysis, the release said. Traffic congestion stretched for several miles on I-12 as State Police investigated the crash. Troops loyal to former president Ali Abdullah Saleh on Thursday launched an attack backed by Saudi-led coalition forces against Yemen's Shia Houthi rebels, their former allies, military sources said. They said the attack was launched under the command of Tareq Mohammed Abdullah Saleh, a nephew of the late president, in a region of southwest Yemen between the port city of Mokha and Taez province. There were casualties on both sides, according to medical sources, but no figures were available. Saleh's forces had been allied with the Huthis since the outset of Yemen's war in 2014, assisting in their capture of the capital Sanaa. But the Houthis killed Saleh in December 2017 after accusing him of betrayal and holding secret talks with Riyadh, which heads an Arab coalition fighting the rebels to restore Yemen's internationally recognised government. Nearly 10,000 people have been killed in Yemen since the coalition intervened in March 2015. The Yemeni army has since splintered, with factions in Sanaa maintaining loyalty to the Houthis, other brigades allied with the coalition and some troops in southern Yemen standing by separatists. Search Keywords: Short link: Opinion by Armando Varricchio On the 300th anniversary of New Orleans's founding, and as the United States and the world celebrate the city's rich and diverse history, I am reminded of the many links that join the Big Easy to Italy. New Orleans has a unique and impressive Italian tradition that has blended into the city's broad cultural tableau and has become a key feature of today's Crescent City. The early explorations of Italian-born Henri de Tonti; the stories of the many Italians, mainly from Sicily, who moved here in search of a better future, and the origins of jazz, going back to the performances of Nick La Rocca with the Original Dixieland Jazz Band, testify to the intense and deep impression that Italy and Italian culture have left on the city. New Orleans, it's fascinating and colorful culture, tracing back to Africa, Acadia, Spain and France would simply not be the same without that Italian touch. It goes without saying that this deep connection, fostered back in the day also by our Italian Consulate in New Orleans, has brought Italians closer to the Big Easy. Tennessee Williams' "A Streetcar Named Desire," since its first rendition in Italy by Luchino Visconti and Franco Zeffirelli, and the warm sound of Satchmo's trumpet, have enchanted Italians from all walks of life. As I represent my country in the international celebrations for the foundation of the city, at the invitation of Mayor Mitch Landrieu, I feel particularly proud of this heritage. But this legacy, as precious as it is, is just a part of the multifaceted, broad and lively bond that connects the United States and Italy today and that benefits from the contribution of the great state of Louisiana, and of its friendly and warm people. First and foremost, we are allies and friends. Together, as G7 countries and members of NATO we share values and principles and great responsibilities towards the world we live in, our people, our youth and future generations. We work hand in hand to protect and uphold the core values and principles that define us. We strongly believe in democracy, freedom and human rights, in the creativity and ingenuity of our people, in free and fair trade as a means to promote prosperity and economic growth, and in the strength of our rich and diverse cultures. This is why Italy rushed to Louisiana's side in solidarity when Hurricane Katrina struck in 2005, with a military plane carrying supplies and food for the affected population. This is why our men and women are deployed side by side in Afghanistan, in Kosovo, in Africa and Iraq. This explains our tremendous cooperation on all of today's most pressing matters, from the fight against terrorism to advancing peace and the rule of law, to promoting prosperity and fighting inequalities. Our nations also enjoy a robust trade and economic relationship. The United States is the first non-European Union market for Italian goods. Italian cutting-edge technology companies are investing in this country, helping to shape the future and creating many jobs, to include in Louisiana and New Orleans. Naturally, economic cooperation is facilitated and reinforced by the strong cultural bonds between our two countries. Millions of Americans have Italian ancestors, and there is an ever-growing interest towards our language, art, literature and -- more broadly -- the Italian way of life. This is true throughout the United States, but particularly in New Orleans. Furthermore, whether it is a fascination with all things Cajun -- from the language to the colorful culture -- or the warmth of the people who, like most Southerners, treasure friendship, love for family and have a naturally open disposition, Italians feel at home in the Big Easy and in Louisiana. I am confident that on these solid basis, the relations between our two great countries, between Italy and Louisiana, and New Orleans in particular, will continue to grow stronger. Buon compleanno, New Orleans -- Happy Birthday! And see y'all soon. Armando Varricchio is ambassador of Italy to the United States. We use the terms mostly as pejoratives these days, but socialism and capitalism are not just ideological labels used to divide liberal and conservative positions in policy debates. They are distinctive ways of life and governance that shape how we view ourselves as individuals, how we function in communities and the choices we make to best ensure that society can thrive and flourish. The debate about socialism and capitalism, in other words, is not academic, it is existential. And the better we understand the strengths and flaws of each system, the better we can discuss and discover the best solutions to our current problems. A good place to start is "The End of Socialism," a book by Wake Forest University professor of economics James Otteson that is anything but a dry college textbook. With a clear and accessible style, Otteson delves into the philosophical and moral underpinnings of each system. This his economics but also history and ethics. And even better, Otteson will be in New Orleans next week as part of the Free Market Speaker series sponsored by Metairie Park Country Day School and Isidore Newman School and supported by the families of Greg Rusovich and Jay Lapeyre. Otteson will talk to various groups at different venues during the week including a presentation Tuesday (April 24) at the Weinmann Auditorium at Country Day that is free and open to the public. Doors open at 6 p.m. with the program beginning at 6:15 p.m. at the school, 300 Park Road in Metairie. The title of Otteson's book and his participation in the Free Market series should be a tip-off as to where he lands on the spectrum between socialism and capitalism. But he approaches the topic generously with understanding and empathy for the altruistic lure of socialism. "My first goal is definitional," Otteson said in an interview last week. "Capitalism and socialism are used in a lot of different ways. I want to clarify what each looks like, the distinctions. And then, how do they match up with the moral values we desire? You're not just talking about economics, you're talking about equality and fairness." Otteson examines whether the self-sacrificing approach of socialism really is morally superior to the self-interested focus of capitalism. At the initial level, socialism certainly sounds better, especially for those who hear daily about the issues of income inequality and are more removed from the real world failures of socialism in the last century. Otteson provides powerful evidence through logic and history as to why the highly centralized economic control dictated by socialism is doomed to collapse in trying to predict the complicated and sometimes irrational actions of millions of human beings living far from the center of government planning. But that doesn't always overcome the belief that socialism's failures can be corrected with a few tweaks in the system. An honest desire to improve the lot of many is often used to argue for government intervention with little or no understanding of its consequences, intended or otherwise. The move toward socialism requires a surrender of some individualism and liberty. Otteson concedes that the desire for material equality is "perhaps the single strongest motivation driving socialist inclination" these days, especially among the students that he encounters in his classes and at speaking engagements. And he does not doubt their sincerity or their compassion. "But if you have your choice between solving the problem of material equality and the problem of poverty, which would you choose?" he asked. "I would choose to solve the problem of poverty. You can have people who are equal but equally poor." And in the historic comparison between centralized planning and free markets, the free-market system has been overwhelmingly more successful in creating wealth that lifts the quality of life across the board. The economies produced through socialism do not compare. "We have a skewed perspective in the U.S.," Otteson said. "But in places like China and India and other parts of the world, inequality is shrinking as more people are rising out of poverty. And the status of the poor in the United States is much better than for poor people historically." And a state that was shaped by the "Share Our Wealth" policies of Huey Long might benefit from a reminder of why socialism is something that only sounds good in theory. It didn't work then, it doesn't work now. Tim Morris is an opinions columnist at NOLA.com | The Times-Picayune. He can be reached at tmorris@nola.com. Follow him on Twitter @tmorris504. The state will soon be pushing the locally elected officials of Powhatan out of the way to administer the finances of the northwest Louisiana village that in mid-July had only $105 in its general fund and is hiring a cop to drum up some money from Cuba's new President Miguel Diaz-Canel, who was on Thursday named as Raul Castro's successor, vowed to keep the Caribbean island on the path of "revolution" but also on the path of economic reform. "The mandate given by the people to this legislature is to continue the Cuban revolution at this crucial historic moment, which will be marked by what we must do to implement the economic model" put in place by Castro, he said. "I have come to work, and not to make promises," he told the National Assembly, whose 605 delegates elected him in a vote on Wednesday, pledging to remain "loyal to the legacy of comandante Fidel Castro, but also to the example, the values and the teachings of General Raul Castro." Castro, who remains head of the all-powerful Communist Party, would "preside over the most important decisions for the present and future of our nation." The 57-year-old, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency on Wednesday and was formally named on Thursday to a five-year term, taking the helm a day before his 58th birthday. Cuba, he said, would remain "olive green" in honor of the military fatigues worn by the victorious revolutionaries of 1959. And he noted he would have Raul Castro as a guide -- a nod to those veterans of the revolution with concerns that their socialist legacy may be buried by the tide of reform. Search Keywords: Short link: The head of Russia's military general staff and NATO's supreme allied commander held a rare face-to-face meeting on Thursday to try to ease the worst East-West tensions since the Cold War. U.S. Army General Curtis Scaparrotti and Valery Gerasimov met in Baku, Azerbaijan, less than a week after the United States, Britain and France staged missile strikes on Syria in retaliation for a suspected chemical weapons attack by the forces of President Bashar al-Assad - a close ally of Russia. In separate statements, NATO and the Russian defence ministry said the meeting discussed military exercises and troop movements, as both sides accuse the other of risky deployments in the Baltic states and eastern Europe. Scaparrotti and Gerasimov - who Western military officials say is a proponent of Russia's strategy of mixing military weaponry with cyber warfare and disinformation - discussed "questions concerning NATO and Russian military activity in the European region", the Russian defence ministry said. NATO said the meeting "focused on issues related to military posture and exercises" - defence parlance for how to avoid military accidents that might lead to war. "The two military leaders used the ... channel to foster predictability and transparency." The Russian side said the pair also talked about the seven-year-long civil war in Syria, where Moscow and the West back opposing sides, and combating Islamic militants. Russian President Vladimir Putin has warned that further Western attacks on Syria would bring chaos to world affairs. Already bridling at NATO's expansion eastwards into its old Soviet sphere of influence, the Kremlin sees the U.S.-led alliance's new deterrents in the Baltics and eastern Europe as a threat to its security. NATO says it is modernising to defend itself against an assertive Russia. The alliance believes Moscow's annexation of Crimea from Ukraine in 2014, as well as drills like last September's large-scale Russian exercises along NATO's eastern flank, put European stability at risk. As both sides hold exercises and strengthen their militaries, the risk of accidents between rival ships, missiles and aircraft grows, with unintended and potentially devastating consequences between the two nuclear-armed powers, military analysts say. Earlier this month Russia tested missiles with live munitions in the Baltic Sea, alarming Latvia and neutral Sweden. The meeting between Scaparrotti and Gerasimov follows over a year of diplomacy between senior military figures in Russia and the West to try to reestablish formal communication links that broke down following Russia's seizure of Crimea. "General Scaparrotti and General Gerasimov agreed to continue using the military lines of communication in the future," NATO said in its statement. In early 2017, Czech General Petr Pavel, who heads the NATO's military committee, had his first telephone call in more than two years with Gerasimov, paving the way for them to meet last September in Baku. Search Keywords: Short link: Apr 19, 2018 JB Santhoshathil Kalavaram is the name of an upcoming thriller, directed by debutant Kranthi Prasad. The film features technicians and artistes from seven different industries, including cinematographer Paulius Kontijevas from Hollywood. Talking about the film, the Vijayawada-based martial arts trainer-turned-filmmaker says, I learnt Tamil to make this film. I genuinely believe that this is the only industry that celebrates new talent. Santhoshathil Kalavaram cant be slotted under single genre; the film is a fight between good and evil. Its about a story of a road trip taken by a bunch of college friends and the unexpected turn of events during their journey. A major portion of the film happens in the forest and we wanted to capture the sounds of nature in its purest form; so we have roped in English Vinglish and Dhrishyam-fame sound designer, Arun Varma. The makers of the film had initially planned to release the film in April, but had to stall due to the TFPC strike. With the strike called off now, Santhoshathil Kalavaram is expected to hit the screens in May. Click the Movie button below for more info: Santhoshathil Kalavaram Apr 19, 2018 JB The 47 day strike in the Tamil film industry had come to end and the shootings have resumed from yesterday the 18th April. As the President of Tamil Film Producer Council, Vishal had addressed a press meet wherein he had explained about the outcome of the tripartite meeting that was held recently. When asked about the release of Kamals Vishwaroopam and Rajinikanths Kaala, the Vedi actor said, As far as I heard, Kamal sir had planned to release Vishwaroopam 2 in the month of May. Now, we will decide with the producer and the release regulation committee and decide on the release date. Regarding Kaala, the producer will decide on the release date, and since they have co-operated to all our demands, we will see that the film gets released on the date the makers are planning for. Later, Vishal tweeted about the first film that would be released after the strike. He said, "Here we go. Our first Tamil film release after the revamp is gonna be #MercuryMovie in a grand scale.looking fwd to this lovely venture from @karthiksubbaraj.all da best. #Tfpc will assure a huge and grand release wit all support. God bless." Click the Movie button below for more info: Kaala Vishal Pictures Day one of the inaugural event celebrated much more than just the country's ancient past At 11am on Wednesday at the Egyptian National Arts Academys High Institute for Folk Arts (HIFA), a breakfast buffet of traditional Egyptian food kicked off the countrys first nationwide heritage week. In collaboration with 14 culture- and heritage-affiliated government organizations, the ministry of culture has organized this inaugural week in celebration of World Heritage Day. Previous heritage celebrations in Egypt have rarely extended to heritage beyond the countrys historical past. The ministry of antiquities has usually opened all national museums for free on World Heritage Day, but this year, the celebrations extend to the countrys non-tangible heritage, explained Nahla Emam, professor of traditions at the HIFA -- and the woman behind this years event. The idea is to reproduce folk heritage as well, to bring it to the people, like we did inside the institute today. The foul vendors were not so sure if faculty members would appreciate them as traditional foul makers, but they did. You see that's what Egyptians usually do during the month of Ramadan: we revive our heritage. Today we did the same thing," she explained to Ahram Online. The mornings celebration included a hand full of artistic events. It started out with a Tahteeb (stick art) performance by the talented Sabri Mahmoud and his troupe from the International Center for Stick Arts in Sohag, first established in 2012. "The celebration includes a photography exhibition of the students of the HIFA, as well as several performances that includes folk arts and music," explained Mohamed Shabana, professor of folk music and one of the days organizers. For regular passersby, stick dancing to the rhythms of folk music was a celebration of its own. The academys students then came to watch Am Saber Egypt's oldest Aragouz player. Among the audience were prominent faculty professors as well as Ahlam Younis, director of the National Arts Academy. "Egypts National Arts Academy greets the world on Heritage Day and shall add this day to its annual calendar from now on," she told Ahram Online. Concluding the mornings celebration was an enchanting performance by Al-Tanboura folk troupe. That evening, at 6:30pm, the head of the National Organisation for Urban Harmony Mohamed Abu Seida and the governor of Cairo launched Cairos first Art Street at the Al-Borsa Street. Young musicians chanted folk songs by Said Darwish and Om Kalthoum against the backdrop of the old National Broadcast building, invoking memories of a golden era that is still celebrated by the new youth generation quite a sight. The pedestrian area the subject of a joint project to transform it into a free art space for young Egyptian talent, explained Tarek Atia, member of the Cairo heritage development committee that was created by a presidential decree in 2016. The committee aims to revive Cairos heritage districts with a holistic approach. And the celebration continues: For more information of events of the National Heritage week pls click here. Search Keywords: Short link: The ceremony will take place during a conference organised by the Tunisian Association of Innovative Arab Women The Tunisian Association of Innovative Arab Women (Mobdeat Arabiyyat) has invited prominent Egyptian actress Yasmin Raeis and Egyptian writer Nawal El-Saadawi to be honored during its 22nd conference, which will be held between 26 and 28 April in Sousse, Tunisia. This years conference is running under the theme of Self-Representation in the Creativity of Arab Women. The Innovative Arab Women Forum was established in 1996 "with the aim of introducing the creativity of Arab women in all human fields, facilitating the exchange of experiences between Arab creators and strengthening the bonds between them," writes MAD Solutions, a Cairo-based company that specialises in public relations and marketing in the cinema field. Raeis, the first young star honored by the conference, will receive this recognition due to her role in Factory Girl (2014), while the established writer El-Saadawi will be honoured for her pioneering role in defending women's rights in the Arab world. Raeis, the star of Looking For Umm Kulthum, Hepta and other well-known cinematic works, has garnered many awards for her role in Factory Girl, including the best actress award from the Dubai International Film Festival, best actress from the Malmo Arabic Film Festival in Sweden, as well as other local and international awards. Factory Girl has also won the director and other cast members a large number of awards at international festivals. El-Saadawi is a renowned Egyptian feminist who has authored more than 60 books, including novels, plays, short stories, and feminist critiques. Her works have been translated to many languages. Her latest book Mufakirat Tifla fi Al-Khamisa wa Al-Thamaneen (A Notebook of an 85-year-old Girl), released in 2017, is based on excerpts from her journal, where she addresses issues faced by women like herself as well as the general concerns of a country experiencing a series of crises and tribulations. For more arts and culture news and updates, follow Ahram Online Arts and Culture on Twitter at @AhramOnlineArtsand on Facebook at Ahram Online: Arts & Culture Search Keywords: Short link: Last weeks Western attacks on Syria were meant as a warning that the West is still capable of weighing in on the future of Syria and the Middle East region US Secretary of Defence James Mattis spoke before the House of Representatives Armed Services Committee on 12 April, telling it that the US administration had not decided on a response to the presumed chemical weapons attack in Eastern Ghouta, a suburb of Damascus. A few days earlier, US President Donald Trump had warned Russia that US missiles could be fired at Syria and will be coming nice and new and smart. Mattis assured the committee that the administration was weighing a response to the attack that would both prevent an escalation in the Middle East and send a strong message to the Syrian government that the United States would not tolerate the use of chemical weapons against civilian populations. He said that strategically speaking the administration would avoid any response, when and if it happened, from escalating out of control. After the hearing, Mattis went to the White House to attend a meeting of the National Security Council. According to a statement released after the meeting, the US administration announced that no final decision has been made [on attacking Syria] and that it was continuing to assess intelligence and is engaged in conversations with our partners and allies. The statement added that Trump would be speaking with French President Emmanuel Macron and British Prime Minister Theresa May. Fewer than 36 hours after the release of this statement, the United States, France and Great Britain launched military attacks against military targets in Syria, one day after the arrival of a delegation from the International Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in Damascus at the request of the Syrian government to investigate the suspected use of chemical weapons in Eastern Ghouta on 7 April. Whether or not by coincidence, the coordinated military attacks against Syria took place 24 hours before the convening of the 29th Arab Summit Meeting in Saudi Arabia on 15 April. A few days earlier, some Arab Gulf rulers had expressed their support for any American attacks against the Al-Assad regime in Syria. When the three Western powers launched their attacks, the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC), a regional grouping, expressed its support for the strikes. The timing of the coordinated attacks against Syria was meant as a serious warning, not only to Damascus and Moscow, but also to Arab governments that the West was still capable of weighing in on the future of the Middle East despite the strategic gains that Russia under President Vladimir Putin has scored in the region, particularly Syria, since September 2015 when it decided to intervene militarily in the Syrian conflict. In other words, the strategic message inherent in the coordinated Western strikes in the heart of the Middle East was not to depend on Russia in the future. That message was received. Going over the remarks of the Arab heads of state before the inaugural session of the Arab Summit, it is quite clear that most of them steered away from the Syrian question save in very general terms, emphasising the need for a political solution in the light of UN Security Council Resolution 2254 of December 2015. No criticism or condemnation whatsoever of the violation of Syrian sovereignty was made, and there was no reference to the fact that the use of force by the three Western powers is in violation of the United Nations Charter. On the contrary, some Arab countries went as far as to lay the responsibility for the attacks on the Syrian government, which they accused, without verifiable evidence, of using chemical weapons against the Syrian people. This probably explains why the emphasis in the inaugural remarks at the summit was on the Palestinian question. The host country, Saudi Arabia, which became president-in-exercise of the Arab Summit until next year, called the 29th summit the Al-Quds Summit in a reference to Jerusalem. This was an intelligent move meant to divert attention away from the Syrian question. The other question that concentrated minds at the summit was the situation in Yemen and the all-out Arab support for Saudi Arabia in dealing with missile threats from the Houthis in Yemen. Another related matter of grave concern at the summit was Iranian meddling in Arab affairs. There was a near-consensus among the Arab delegates that something must be done to contain this meddling in Syria, Yemen, Lebanon and the Gulf, according to the point of view of most of the Gulf countries and their Arab allies. In this assessment, the position elaborated by these delegations is aligned with the positions of the United States concerning Iran and the need to contain its tentacular influence in the Middle East and the Gulf. In the light of the above, it is safe to assume that the Arab Summit provided a certain amount of political cover for the military strikes against Syria on 14 April, and that this support would extend to any similar attacks in the future on the mere suspicion, however unfounded and unverified, of the utilisation by the Syrian government of chemical weapons. In this context, it is interesting to note the US preliminary assessment of the results of the attacks against the alleged chemical weapons sites in Syria. Kenneth McKenzie, director of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, told reporters after the end of the attacks that the strikes had been to the heart of Syrias chemical weapons programme. However, Syria still retained a residual chemical weapons capability, he said. The United States has warned that it could strike again if the Syrian army continues to employ chemical weapons on civilians. Nikki Haley, the US ambassador to the UN, said after the attacks that the United States was locked and loaded to attack again. How many times? Only time will tell. The 29th Arab Summit has given carte blanche to Washington, London and Paris to strike again in Syria. This is a highly regrettable outcome, all the more so before the official results of the investigation by the International Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons are released. Many Arabs would have liked to see another name for this Arab Summit Meeting rather than associating the name of Al-Quds with it. The writer is former assistant foreign minister. *This article was first published in Al-Ahram Weekly Search Keywords: Short link: A resourceful driver in Suzhou, China, found the perfect way of avoiding a parking ticket. When leaving her car in a no-parking zone, she would simply leave a fake parking ticket in her window so that policemen would think one of their colleagues had already fined her. It was the perfect crime! Most policemen would only check if the date was correct and move one, and if one of them actually paid enough attention to figure out that the parking ticket was fake, the woman would simply say that she had no idea, that she was the victim of a prank. Genius and safe, I tell you! Unless someone actually saw her putting the ticket in the window, there was no way to prove she was guilty. Theres no way to know how long the woman had used this method to avoid parking tickets for, but she was finally caught in the act earlier this month. In what can only be described as sheer bad luck, the woman parked her car right next to that of an undercover police car, which, to make matters worse, also had the dash-cam turned on. Dash cam footage shows the woman exiting the car and casually slapping the fake parking ticket on her windshield before heading off take care of her business, confident that she wouldnt get an actual ticket. Unfortunately for her, a police officer arrives to check the ticket almost immediately. According to Knews, the fake ticket looked like a real one and was dated correctly, but a careful examination revealed that all the other details were phony. Upon returning to her car, the woman most likely denied any wrongdoing, but only because she didnt know about the video evidence. The police lectured her about illegal documents and forging official documents, between issuing her the thing she dreaded most a real parking ticket. Isobel Coney U.K. PR pro Isobel Coney has crossed the pond for an executive post at FleishmanHillard. The Omnicom PR unit has named her senior vice president and partner of the global PR agency's Southern California operations. Coney joins FH from London-based consumer agency The Red Consultancy, which she joined in 2001 and most recently served as managing director for its consumer group. Coney will lead FleishmanHillards brand marketing portfolio across the Southern California region. Shell also join the agencys global business development team. Shell be stationed in FHs Los Angeles office. FleishmanHillard Southern California includes outposts in Los Angeles, Orange County and San Diego. Arthur Sadoun Publicis Groupe today reported an 8.2 percent slide in net revenues to $2.6B due to unfavorable currency exchange rates. At constant rates, Publicis revenues advanced 1.6 percent. CEO Arthur Sadoun said the French ad/PR conglom posted a solid performance, during the quarter, which reflected a positive swing from last year. He played up the good news from North American business that grew at a 2.8 percent clip. Europe, up 0.3 percent, against a very difficult comparable period," was another source of satisfaction for Sadoun. Publicis enjoyed an unprecedented track record of wins in the industry, according to Sadoun, who pointed to global pick-ups of Mercedes Benz, Carrefour, Campbells and Marriott plus Red Bull in the US and Kraft Heinz in China. He touted Publicis as the only company in the world that can connect data, content and technology to deliver one-to-one consumer engagement at scale. Sadoun expects the Q1 account wins will drive Publicis to higher growth in 2018 than last years results. He is shooting for four percent organic growth by 2020. Gloria Story Dittus The achievements of female journalists in the nations capital will be celebrated at the 5th annual Washington Women in Journalism Awards on April 26. Hosted by Story Partners and Washingtonian magazine, the awards are meant to honor women who have contributed greatly to our society through their dedicated journalism work, said Story Partners chairman Gloria Story Dittus. Amanda Bennett Amanda Bennett, director of the Voice of America, will be taking home the award for Lifetime Achievement. Bennetts career includes stints as executive editor at Bloomberg News, editor of both the Philadelphia Inquirer and the Herald-Leader in Lexington, KY, and a reporter for the Wall Street Journal. Amy Walter Amy Walter, national editor of The Cook Political Report, is being recognized for her work in Broadcast Journalism. The former political director at ABC News, Walter is also a political analyst for "PBS NewsHour" (where she appears weekly on Politics Monday) and is a key member of their election and convention night coverage team. Audie Cornish Audie Cornish, the co-host of NPRs All Things Considered, is being honored for her work in Broadcast Radio. She was previously the host of NPRs Weekend Edition Sunday, and has served as a Capitol Hill reporter for the network. Lynn Sweet Lynn Sweet, Washington, D.C. bureau chief and a columnist at the Chicago Sun-Times, is the honoree in the Print category. Sweet, who has covered politics and government from Chicago's precincts to the White House, appears frequently on CNN and other outlets. The award winners were selected from an advisory committee made up of public affairs and government relations professionals and congressional press secretaries. In todays changing media landscape, even some of the most respected journalists have concerns over how reporting standards are challenged, said Dittus. During the White House Correspondents' Dinner, we recognize reporters commitment to solid journalism. It looks like Donald Trump, who believes the Northeast US could use a little global warming, is gaining support for his belief that everything is just fine with the environment. Thats one takeaway from the latest version of Ketchum Purposes Causes Americans Care About survey released today. It finds that concern for the environment has dropped from the Top Five causes that Americans care about. The Omnicom unit found that only twenty-four percent of respondents rated concern for the environment as important, down 10 points from the 2017 survey. Environmental concern fell to sixth place in Ketchums cause landscape, trailing animal welfare (No. 1 on the list at 41 percent), childrens education, hunger, disease research and disaster relief. The poll comes on the same day that the Associated Press reported that the Trump Administration is moving forward on its plan to drill for oil and gas in Alaskas Arctic National Wildlife Refuge. That process will kick off tomorrow with a notice published in the Federal Register, which is entirely fitting for Team Trump. April 22 is Earth Day. Drill, baby, drill. The New York Times also gave major play today to a report in Nature that global warming has caused irreversible damage to the Great Barrier Relief, imperiling wildlife, billions of dollars in tourism and 70K jobs in Australia. Scientists warn that if countries fail to adhere to the emission reduction goals of the Paris climate accord, the Great Barrier Reef will be gone 50 years from now. Team Trump, meanwhile, may be playing a winning hand when it comes to scaling back environmental protection. Its constant repetition that regulations are job-killing burdens on the economy appears to have numbed people into submission. The president will eventually leave the White House. His policies will have a long-term effect on the global environment. The best breweries in the Columbia River Gorge are, without much debate, found in Hood River. But to find the best beer tour in the gorge, you'll need to leave that city behind -- and Oregon completely. As it turns out, Washington State Route 14 on the north side of the Columbia River boasts an excellent group of breweries, all ripe for a road trip through the stunningly beautiful Columbia River Gorge. Make it a day trip (or two) and drive by Beacon Rock, Cape Horn and Table Mountain on your way through some top-quality flights of beer. Check out our video for information and signature beers from all seven breweries: Grains of Wrath and Mill City Brew Werks in Camas; Doomsday Brewing and 54deg40' Brewing Company in Washougal; Walking Man Brewing in Stevenson; Backwoods Brewing in Carson; and Everybody's Brewing in White Salmon. An important note before we begin: BE SAFE and bring along a designated driver. Deadly accidents are common along route 14, with or without alcohol. Also be sure to eat as you go - all seven breweries serve food. -- The Oregonian Employees of a second Burgerville restaurant are looking to unionize. Workers from the regional chain's Gladstone-area store are filing for a union election Wednesday, according to campaign spokesman Emmett Schlenz. He said there's very strong support of a union among store employees. Employees of the chain's Southeast 92nd Avenue and Powell Boulevard location have also moved to unionize, and they will vote to unionize Sunday and Monday. A victory at either store would make it the first federally recognized fast-food workers union in the U.S., organizers said. Organizers in a news release Wednesday said employees at the Gladstone shop "have undergone a particularly intense union busting campaign" since they announced their membership in the Burgerville Workers Union in December. The campaign, they said, includes "threats of disciplinary action for union activity, a suspicious firing of a union supporter, and retaliatory scheduling practices." Beth Brewer, a senior vice president for the company, said "Burgerville has not and will not retaliate against any employee." "No one will get in trouble, be treated differently, or be retaliated against by Burgerville in any way for having signed an authorization card or having supported or not supported the formation of a union," she said in a statement. Burgerville, she said, "respects the right of every employee to support or not support the organization of a union." Schlenz, the campaign spokesman, disagrees. He said the chain "has a long history -- well beyond the Gladstone location -- of retaliatory firings and selective discipline based on union involvement." "Since January 2017, as many as seven workers from four separate stores have been fired for supporting the union, and an eighth was harassed and intimidated into quitting after she reported a manager for sexual harassment," he said in an email. Brewer said that, "Once Burgerville has been notified by the National Labor Relations Board (NLRB) that a petition for an election has been filed, Burgerville will abide by the NLRB's decision and guidance." Burgerville, owned by Holland Inc., has about 1,500 employees in Oregon and southern Washington, the company said. -- Jim Ryan Shane Dixon Kavanaugh of The Oregonian/OregonLive staff contributed to this report Oregonian file photo by Beth Nakamura, 2015 By EDER CAMPUZANO The Oregonian/OregonLive A in Parkland, Florida, that killed 17 on Feb. 14 is expected to draw thousands of students from high schools across the country Friday. April 20 will mark the 19th anniversary of the shooting at Columbine High School, at the time the deadliest event of its kind in modern U.S. history. Over the last 25 years, Oregon and Washington have witnessed seven school shootings, according to and . Each event is detailed below in chronological order. (The shootings listed are included because they contain at least three injuries caused by a firearm -- either via direct gunshot wounds or debris -- as documented by authorities.) --Eder Campuzano @edercampuzano 503.221.4344 Don't Edit Oregonian file photo by Ross William Hamilton, 1999 Frontier Junior High School Moses Lake, Washington Feb. 2, 1996 Fatalities: 3 Total victims: 4 A 14-year-old student entered his algebra class, shooting and killing his teacher and two students. The gunman held the class hostage but was eventually tackled by a teacher and held in the classroom until he was arrested. Barry Loukaitis was tried as an adult and a judge ruled for him to serve two life sentences. When the U.S. Supreme Court ruled in 2012 that a person younger than 16 could not be sentenced to life without parole, Loukaitis was retried. A Washington judge . Don't Edit Oregonian file photo by Robert Kaiser, 1998 Thurston High School Springfield, Oregon May 20, 1998 Fatalities: 4 Total victims: 29 The day after killing his parents, a 15-year-old arrived at Thurston High and began shooting. He killed two people and wounded 25 more before he was arrested. The event happened nearly a full year before the tragedy at Columbine High School in Colorado and was then considered one of the worst school shootings in modern U.S. history. Kip Kinkle was sentenced to nearly 112 years in prison, a sentence that was in the Oregon Court of Appeals in 2016. Don't Edit Oregonian file photo by Stu Tomlinson, 2007 Springwater Trail High School Gresham, Oregon April 11, 2007 Fatalities: 0 Total victims: 10 A 15-year-old Springwater Trail High student shot at the windows of two classrooms with a high-powered rifle from outside the building, shattering the glass and injuring 10. Chad Antonio Escobedo was indicted by a Multnomah County grand jury on one count of attempted murder, two counts of second-degree assault and other charges and sentenced to six years in prison. Don't Edit AP file photo by Ted S. Warren, 2014 Seattle Pacific University A 27-year-old man shot and killed Seattle Pacific student Paul Lee . Pellets from the gunshot also struck Thomas Fowler, who was standing nearby. The gunman then entered Otto Miller Hall, where he ran into another student, Sarah Williams. He shot her in the upper torso. As he tried to reload, the gunman was pepper-sprayed and tackled by a student security guard: Jon Meis. Aaron Ybarra was . Don't Edit Don't Edit Oregonian file photo by Thomas Boyd, 2014 Reynolds High School Troutdale, Oregon June 10, 2014 Fatalities: 2 Total victims: 3 On June 10, 2014, a in the locker room and wounded a teacher who escaped and initiated a school lockdown. Jared Padgett, 15, shot and killed himself with the same rifle he used on Emilio Hoffman, 14, and Todd Rispler. Don't Edit AP file photo by Elaine Thompson, 2014 Marysville-Pilchuck High School Marysville, Washington Oct. 24, 2014 Fatalities: 5 Total victims: 5 A 15-year-old Marysville-Pilchuck freshman texted five friends, asking them to meet him in the cafeteria. Once they all gathered, the gunman . Jaylen Fryberg then shot and killed himself. Three of the students injured at the table later died in the hospital. Don't Edit Oregonian file photo by Randy L. Rasmussen, 2015 Umpqua Community College A 26-year-old man entered Snyder Hall on the on the first week of the school's fall term, killing nine people and wounding another eight. Chris Harper Mercer died in a firefight with local authorities. Snyder Hall was . Oregon Health & Science University is now short a president and one CEO. Mitch Wasden, executive vice president and chief executive officer of OHSU Healthcare, started his job March 1, 2017. On April 11, OHSU officials announced he resigned. Mitch Wasden Wasden came from the University of Missouri Health Care system, where he served as chief executive. OHSU said that Wasden was supposed to manage daily operations at OHSU hospitals and clinics along with executing the strategy, vision and goals of OHSU Partners, a management company that oversees clinical programs of OHSU Health Care, Salem Health and Tuality Healthcare. A spokeswoman for OHSU said that Wasden resigned for "personal and family reasons." He is supposed to help Dr. John Hunter, former chief clinical officer and current CEO of OHSU's Health System, take over his duties until June 30. OHSU lost its president, Dr. Joe Robertson, last year and is in the final stretches of a hunt for a new president. Three candidates, all from out of the state and OHSU system, will be interviewing and visiting campus in the coming weeks. Robertson retired last October from the position he held for more than a decade shortly after he was diagnosed with a mild form of multiple sclerosis. -- Molly Harbarger mharbarger@oregonian.com 503-294-5923 @MollyHarbarger Gov. Kate Brown is bringing in an outside investigator to look into allegations the state's economic development agency, Business Oregon, has created a hostile work environment for women and older employees, as well as accusations of program and budgetary abuses. The allegations, first reported by Willamette Week, were contained earlier this month by Dana Sullivan, a Portland labor attorney representing the employees. The letter writers are anonymous. Business Oregon, officially the Oregon Business Development Department, oversees various incentive programs that support community development and infrastructure financing; business retention, expansion and recruitment; export promotion and international trade development. The agency website lists about 120 employees. In the current two-year cycle, the agency's total funds budget is $828 million, with $165 million coming from general and lottery funds. Sullivan's cover letter outlined a slew of employee concerns, some of them focused on the agency's director Chris Harder, who was hired by Brown in March 2016. Chris Harder They included "poor stewardship of public funds; disregard for state procurement rules; the use of layoffs and restructuring to get rid of older workers and female employees at a disproportionate rate; the absences of competitive hiring practices for filling numerous vacancies which promotes cronyism; and the maintenance of a generally hostile work environment that is extremely harmful to employee morale and well-being." In their own letter, employees said the agency was "no longer the same efficient, effective, and productive agency that was built on teamwork, transparency, trust and being community and customer focused. We have experienced the highest employee turnover in our history due to the caustic work environment and blatant discriminatory behaviors and practices. In the past 24 months, more than 27 career employees have left the agency." They added that the agency was "encouraging a young/male "bro club" environment." Sullivan shared a list of specific complaints from employees. In many cases, the employees said their concerns were dismissed or ignored by Harder, other executives or the agency's human resources staff. They also allege that some of them were then subjected to retribution. Sullivan also forwarded a June 2017 resignation letter from a former industrial lands specialist at the agency. In her letter to Harder, the ex-employee said the agency had "laid off or pushed out some of the most talented women in public service in Oregon." She also said women were expected to be "exceptional while men were allowed to be mediocre or non-performing." She also alleged the agency systematically offered opportunities to men "by passing-up highly qualified existing female candidates." Bryan Hockaday, a spokesman for Brown, said the governor is taking the concerns seriously. "Business Oregon is hiring an investigator, and that retainer agreement is being finalized now," he said. The Department of Justice will supervise the investigator, who will report the findings to Brown's office and Harder. Many of the allegations target Harder, who was hired by Brown from the Portland Development Commission. Harder, in a statement, said he was "surprised and disheartened at the issues raised in the letter." He offered something of a statistical rebuttal to the complaints, saying the agency's staff is 53 percent women, and that its 20 supervisors were evenly split between male and female employees. "We look forward to any advice an outside investigator may have about what, if any, changes should be made going forward to enhance the agency," Harder's statement said. "I want every member of our team to know they are greatly valued and can share constructive criticism with me, that's how we can improve as an organization." In addition to the discrimination and hostile work environment complaints, the employee letter went into some detail about functional problems at Business Oregon. They included: * State procurement rules being circumvented in the hiring of consultants and purchases. * Statute, administrative rules and guidelines being abused or ignored when project awards are approved. * Excessive expenditures on outside consultants, double-filled high salary positions, and other non-essential expenses that strapped the agency's budget. * Program funds being used for administrative purposes and to cover budget shortfalls. * Lack of understanding of staff's work and the work required to maintain financial and program accountability. * With high employee turnover, appropriate financial and program records are not being kept. - Ted Sickinger 503-913-4211; @tedsickinger A federal judge Thursday directed lawyers for the city and U.S. Department of Justice to return to court in six months to update him on how the city's new approach is working to involve the community in overseeing police reforms. U.S. District Judge Michael H. Simon noted that the city has flouted terms of a settlement designed to reduce police use of force against people with mental illness for nearly a year and a half because it hasn't had a way for the public to monitor the fixes. "I think we all realize the city is not, and has not been for some time, in compliance,'' he said. The settlement, adopted by the judge in 2014, followed a federal investigation that found Portland officers too often used stun guns or excessive force with people having a mental health crisis. It called for significant changes to police policies, training and oversight, including offering more extensive crisis intervention training to officers. The judge approved other amendments to the settlement agreement that include new protocol on how to hold parallel administrative and criminal investigations into police shootings or deaths in police custody. The amendments also give the city's Independent Police Review office more time to investigate citizen complaints. But the judge gave only "conditional'' approval to the most controversial change, which calls for the creation of a new Portland Committee on Community-Engaged Policing. It would be made up of volunteers chosen by the mayor and replace the Community Oversight Advisory Board, which was disbanded in January 2017. "I do not know whether that will be sufficient to solve this problem,'' Simon said at the end of a daylong hearing. He said he's willing to give deference to the city and Justice Department lawyers who worked to address the gap in community involvement. "So let's give that a try.'' But he wants to get an update Oct. 4. The Revs. Leroy Haynes and T. Allen Bethel of the Albina Ministerial Alliance's Coalition for Justice and Police Reform said they support the amendments only as a "path forward'' and somewhat out of frustration. The coalition, a party to the settlement, and other community members cited concerns that the new community group will have a narrower focus and won't be as dedicated to monitoring police reforms required under the settlement. It also will hold some of its meetings behind closed doors. Others, including Jo Ann Hardesty, president of the Portland chapter of the NAACP, expressed deep cynicism that changes to the settlement will make any difference. Some demanded a court-ordered monitor take over the case and several blasted the work of the city-hired compliance team, Rosenbaum & Associates of Chicago. "Whether or not you accept these proposed amendments, I think we have to be honest and say this experiment was a colossal failure,'' Hardesty said. "It failed to protect community members. It failed to address racial profiling. It failed to hold police accountable for how they interact with community members.'' Several people questioned how officials could cite any progress made in light of the recent fatal police shooting of John A. Elifritz, a carjacking suspect armed with a knife. Elifritz appeared to be suffering from a mental health crisis or drug-induced psychosis when police shot him inside a homeless shelter April 7. Witnesses videotaped parts of the police encounter and shooting. "What that video showed was chaos, a man in mental health distress stabbing himself in the neck ... police officers came in yelling and screaming and demanding someone in mental health crisis respond like a reasonable person would do,'' Hardesty told the judge. "Nothing in that video showed any de-escalation tactics at all.'' Mayor Ted Wheeler referenced the recent "tragic shooting'' at the shelter but urged the public to understand that he can't speak about it further without jeopardizing the ongoing criminal investigation. The bureau's new protocols requiring simultaneous but separate internal affairs and criminal investigations are guiding the Elifritz shooting inquiries. Officers involved were interviewed within 48 hours, Wheeler said. "The community has a right to expect constitutional and community-focused policing,'' he said. "These amendments, I believe, will foster the city's intention to meet both of these objectives.'' Lawyers from the Justice Department and city defended the plans for the new community group and the amendments, approved earlier by the City Council. The first advisory board "as conceived and executed simply didn't work,'' Assistant U.S. Attorney Jared Hager said. The new committee will have more flexibility to set its own agenda and will outlive the settlement agreement. The city is working to get the new group formed by August. Applications for volunteers will be available Friday and due back by June 21. Deputy City Attorney Denis M. Vannier said the new community group isn't intended to be a "watered-down version'' of the original board. It will be a smaller, more nimble and trained group that will act separately from the compliance team of Chicago academics. It will hold regular public meetings yet can conduct some of its work in private if it chooses. Minutes of the closed sessions will be made public. Police Chief Danielle Outlaw, taking notes throughout from her seat in the jury box, was invited by the judge to address him. "It pains me that there's so much dissonance right now in the community. But I'm hopeful and optimistic,'' Outlaw said. She now has the "right people in the right seats to get the job done,'' she said. The Police Bureau is committed to the reforms "not only because it's in the settlement agreement, but because it's the right thing to do,'' she said. Dennis Rosenbaum, the city-hired compliance officer, said the bureau hasn't done enough to train officers to calm a tense situation. "Today, the time and quality (of de-escalation training) has been insufficient,'' he said. If no one is in immediate danger, officers must do less shouting of orders and instead take steps to communicate calmly, be polite, show empathy and listen to what a person is saying, he said. The bureau has agreed to send its specially trained Enhanced Crisis Intervention Team officers to more mental health-related calls, but their critical skills are needed on many other calls, Rosenbaum said. "The ECIT training has been quite excellent, but that mentality doesn't just apply to a person having a mental health crisis...People are drunk, high, whatever, they're in alterated states, they don't respond to commands that well,'' he said. "All human beings want to be treated with respect and dignity no matter what their state of mind. When officers are listening to people, rather than talking, they get much more respect. The person is more likely to cooperate than engage in resistance.'' Justice Department lawyer Jonas Geissler and Hager said the city overall has made significant progress in revising its policies on use of force and stun guns and altering its training. In early May, outside experts from the Police Executive Research Forum will be in Portland to train police instructors on new de-escalation techniques. The bureau trainers will then provide the training to officers in mid-May. Geissler cautioned it will take time to see "the effects of those trainings in officer interactions on the street.'' Unlike other settlements or consent decrees involving police around the nation, the judge reminded people that his role is limited in Portland's unique agreement. He can request that the parties to the settlement return to court for periodic status hearings and take public testimony, but that's about it. The judge said he could take further action only if the Justice Department seeks a finding that the city has violated the agreement and requests a penalty. "My hands are tied unless there is such a motion,'' Simon said. "If you want to ask (the U.S. Department of Justice) why there wasn't a motion brought, you have every right to do that.'' Simon's 15th-floor courtroom was full. Outlaw, her new Deputy Chief Bob Day, the mayor, city auditor and other city leaders sat in the jury box, as lawyers for the city, the Justice Department and Albina Ministerial Alliance sat at tables in the well of the courtroom. Oregon's U.S. Attorney Billy J. Williams also was in court. Members of the public approached a podium to address the judge. -- Maxine Bernstein mbernstein@oregonian.com 503-221-8212 @maxoregonian Starting next year, Oregonians will have a new license plate option at the Department of Motor Vehicles. The "Coastal Playground" plate features a gray whale mother and calf swimming off the Oregon coast with a tiny lighthouse spotted above rolling waves. Oregon State University's Marine Mammal Institute backed the special plate and sold 3,000 vouchers at $40 per plate, to interested drivers. The institute will receive $35 from every voucher sold and proceeds will help pay for research and education at the center. It's the first license plate that's successfully navigated the state guidelines outlined in July 2016 that created a specific process for approving custom license plates for higher education institutions, nonprofits or other public bodies. "There has been a great deal of enthusiasm from Oregonians for the new plates - not only because of how striking they are, but also because they will help fund whale conservation efforts," Bruce Mate, the mammal institute's director, said in a statement. A state transportation official said the institute hadn't submitted the revenue to the DMV yet, but the state expects to have the plates available by the first quarter of 2019. Pieter Folkens, a wildlife illustrator, designed the plate. David House, a state transportation spokesman, said other groups are considering special plates as well. "The only other group that has gone through pre-approval and is selling vouchers is U of O with their U of O Alumni plate," House said in an email. He declined to offer other organizations that are considering special plates, saying some have contacted the state but not submitted paperwork yet. -- Andrew Theen atheen@oregonian.com 503-294-4026 @andrewtheen Community invited to share their memories of Barbara Bush at Houston Public Library The Houston Public Library joins Mayor Sylvester Turner and our fellow Houstonians in expressing our sorrow on the passing of First Lady Barbara Bush. The entire HPL team expresses our heartfelt condolences to Former President George H.W. Bush and their family. Barbara Bushs kindness and dedication to literacy will continue to touch lives and influence change for years to come. The First Lady has been a staunch advocate and champion for literacy across the nation, particularly for our youth. HPL stands alongside Mayor Sylvester Turner in celebrating Mrs. Bush's accomplishments and legacy; and reaffirming the Citys commitment to creating a lasting tribute. The City, with her blessing, envisioned a vibrant and inspiring tribute to Mrs. Bush through the creation of the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza, located at the Houston Public Librarys downtown Central Library. We knew the space between the Julia Ideson Building and the Central Library needed to be vibrant and inspiring. It was in envisioning this enriching space for people of all ages, that we thought of Mrs. Bush and asked to name it in her honor. I cannot think of anyone who is more deserving of this honor," stated Mayor Sylvester Turner. The Houston community is invited to the Barbara Bush Literacy Plaza to pay tribute and share their memories of the First Lady. HPL's Houston Metropolitan Research Center will preserve these memories in a memory book and posters and through recordings in its archives. The tribute will be available through Monday, April 30. Photo credit to David Valdez, Library of Congress. Metsa Board's SkinCare 2.0 Gift Box Design Wins 'in green' Award at Shanghai Luxe Pack 2018 Created by Metsa Board's packaging design team, the new SkinCare 2.0 gift box design uses fibre-based materials to replace plastic. April 19, 2018 - Metsa Board announced that it has won the 2018 Luxe Pack Shanghai 'in green' Award with its SkinCare 2.0 gift box design. Created by Metsa Board's packaging design team, the new SkinCare 2.0 gift box design uses fibre-based materials to replace plastic. The outer rigid box is made with a new pulp moulding process. Each of the three inner cartons are made of lightweight paperboard and offer a unique opening and reclosing experience combined with maximum runnability performance on automated packaging lines. We are extremely pleased with the recognition that the SkinCare 2.0 gift box design is currently getting globally, said Cyril Drouet, Design and Innovation Director at Metsa Board. It is a great example of how we want to inspire packaging designers and brand owners with new innovative solutions in packaging design and using renewable materials. Metsa Board's Packaging Services team develops, together with its customers, lighter, more environmentally friendly and more efficient packaging and helps to use the potential of lightweight fresh fibre paperboards in innovative ways. SkinCare 2.0 also received recognition at the 29th Hong Kong Print Awards where it was named 'Champion of Packaging Printing, Paper Packaging' as well as winning a Merit Award for 'Best Creative Printing' and a further Merit Award for 'Best Crafted Book'. Metsa Board is a leading European producer of premium paperboards including folding boxboards, food service boards and white kraftliners. To learn more, please visit: www.metsaboard.com . SOURCE: Metsa Board Back in January Patently Apple posted a report titled "Word from CES 2018 is that the Race for AR Glasses is on." Intel was in the race under the radar. Intel owned a company called Recon. Intel and Recon worked with Flex to create a video calling AR/VR glasses as noted in the graphic below. Now we're learning that Intel confirmed that they've chosen to close its New Devices Group, which has worked on augmented reality glasses and other consumer products. With the move to leave the wearables market, Intel will remain focused on delivering chips for PCs, servers and other hardware, while also looking at emerging technologies, reports CNBC. The Information blog first reported the plans on Wednesday. An Intel spokesperson told CNBC in an email that "Intel is continuously working on new technologies and experiences. Not all of these develop into a product we choose to take to market. The Superlight project is a great example where Intel developed truly differentiated, consumer augmented reality glasses. We are going to take a disciplined approach as we keep inventing and exploring new technologies, which will sometimes require tough choices when market dynamics don't support further investment." The "Superlight" project is an internal code name for Vaunt, the augmented-reality glasses Intel's New Devices Group unveiled earlier this year. The product had certain shortcomings, as CNBC reported. Patently Apple's January report noted that "Mike Dennison, president of Flex's consumer electronics group acknowledges that producing a viable AR device is taking longer than his partners anticipated, and much work needs to be done." Obviously Intel saw that this project would take too long to become viable and commercially successful. Knowing that certain Chinese OEMs, Google, Apple and others were investing more aggressively in the future AR glasses, it was time to exit. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. Patently Apple posted a report on Tuesday titled "U.S. Bans American Firms from Selling Components to ZTE, Qualcomm Directly Hit." Late yesterday Bloomberg reported that Qualcomm has begun slashing jobs, with estimates as high as 1,500. Qualcomm Inc. has begun cutting about 1,500 jobs in California as part of a broader workforce reduction aimed at meeting a commitment to investors to pare costs by $1 billion, according to people familiar with the process. The layoffs in California represent the bulk of the cuts, though some positions will be eliminated in other locations, one person said. Globally, San Diego-based Qualcomm employs about 34,000 people. Qualcomm confirmed it is reducing its full-time and temporary workforce in an emailed statement, without specifying the locations or numbers. "We first evaluated non-headcount expense reductions, but we concluded that a workforce reduction is needed to support long-term growth and success, which will ultimately benefit all our stakeholders," Qualcomm said in the statement. The company said it will offer severance payments to those affected. For more on this read the full Bloomberg report here. Part of Qualcomm's reduction in workforce may also be due to their focus on acquiring NXP which represents "long-term growth and success" as Qualcomm noted in their statement above. On April 13 Qualcomm posted a press release titled "Qualcomm Extends Cash Tender Offer for All Outstanding Shares of NXP." In January the EU commission approved Qualcomm's acquisition of NXP. NXP will allow Qualcomm to enter key next-gen markets including smart cars, smart cities, smart transportation systems and more. NXP said it was the fifth-largest non-memory semiconductor supplier in 2016, and the leading semiconductor supplier for the secure identification, automotive and digital networking industries. NXP Semiconductors N.V. is a Dutch global semiconductor manufacturer headquartered in Eindhoven, Netherlands. The company employs approximately 45,000 people in more than 35 countries, including 11,200 engineers in 23 countries. In that light, cutting 1,500 jobs in the U.S. is likely cutting Jobs that will be covered by NXPs employees. Large acquisitions usually result in job cuts of one kind or another. The cuts have no direct connection to their legal battle with Apple as some blogs have suggested. However, Qualcomm did state last year that their battle with Apple took a toll on one quarter. About Making Comments on our Site: Patently Apple reserves the right to post, dismiss or edit any comments. Those using abusive language or negative behavior will result in being blacklisted on Disqus. News and commentary on organized crime, street crime, white collar crime, cyber crime, sex crime, crime fiction, crime prevention, espionage and terrorism. Paxton, IL (60957) Today Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%.. Tonight Scattered thunderstorms this evening followed by occasional showers overnight. Low 64F. Winds SSW at 5 to 10 mph. Chance of rain 70%. Why Isn't Fugitive Ex-Prosecutor In Prison? Asks Iranian Lawmaker 04/19/18 Source: RFE/RL A reformist lawmaker in Iran has demanded answers over why a former prosecutor remains free, more than four months after he was sentenced to prison over the death of a protester. Former Tehran prosecutor Said Mortazavi (cartoon by Bozorgmehr Hosseinpur , Iranian daily Sazandegi) The member of parliament, Fateme Saidi, has submitted a request to question the interior and justice ministers to find out "quite simply whether any action has been taken to arrest Said Mortazavi," the semiofficial ILNA news agency reported on April 18. Mortazavi, former chief prosecutor for the capital, Tehran, was sentenced to two years in prison in November 2017 for complicity in the death of a person arrested during Iran's 2009 antigovernment protests. Last week, judiciary spokesman Gholamhossein Mohseni-Ejei said that while a warrant has been issued for Mortazavi's arrest, the authorities had "not been successful in getting [their] hands on him." "Considering Iran's abysmal record prosecuting human rights abusers, it would not be surprising that certain authorities want to shield Mortazavi from facing justice," Human Rights Watch Iran researcher Tara Sepehrifar wrote on April 14. Satire by Iman Khaksar, Iranian daily Ghanoon During his six years as Tehran's prosecutor and before that as a judge, Mortazavi was linked to the closure of dozens of reformist publications and the jailing of dozens of journalists. He is blacklisted by the United States and the European Union for "grave violations of human rights." These violations included the arrest of "hundreds of activists, journalists, and students" during the 2009 mass protests against the disputed reelection of former President Mahmud Ahmadinejad. Mortazavi was suspended by the judiciary in 2014 in connection with the 2009 deaths of three protesters in a detention center in Tehran. Based on reporting by AFP and ILNA The World Bank is predicting a drop in Ghanas Gross Domestic Product (GDP) growth by end of 2018. This was contained in the 2018 Africa Pulse report by the World Bank. The bi-annual analysis on the state of the African economies including Ghana indicates that growth in the non-resource-industrial sectors in oil and metal exporters has yet to pick up underscoring the slow structural transformation in the country. Ghana's GDP for 2017 hit 8.5 percent, the highest growth in five years with the oil and gas sector is one of the largest contributors. The report further explains how the availability of good jobs has not kept pace with the number of entrants in the labour force; rising public debt burdens, fueling debt sustainability risks among others continue to affect the GDP growth of the Ghanaian economy. Speaking to JoyBusiness, Chief Economist for World Bank Ghana, Kobina Gyan Kwakye, projects that the decline of oil production by 2025 will be indicators to look out for. We expect 2018 growth to be lower than what was achieved in 2017. So essentially, growth is going to normalise more or less in subsequent years. Now you want to link it with oil and what we experienced with oil production in 2017 more or less was higher than what we projected for. The projection for oil is going to go down unless more fields are added because if you look at the recent number of fields it has been overexploited, he said. Meanwhile, the World Bank is urging the government to deal with the rising debt levels which currently stands at 69.8 percent of GDP. In its recent Africa Pulse report, the World Bank warns that a continuous rise in the countrys debt to GDP will not only leave Ghana a debt distressed economy but also have the debt levels unsustainable. The Bank is calling for more prudent public spending and increase in revenue. In fact, the report shows that issues of rising public debts are a challenge for economies in the region. It explains that public debt levels in the region have been rising from 2013 following a period of declining and stable debt levels resulting from debt relief under the Heavily Indebted Poor Country and Multilateral Debt Relief Initiatives. Debt sustainability risks in the region have increased significantly over the past few years with 18 countries at high risk of debt distress by March 2018, compared with eight in 2013. The composition of public debt has changed away from traditional toward new sources of financing. The share of concessional and multilateral lending is on clear downward trend and by 2016 the bulk of bilateral lending was provided by non-Paris Club creditors. Source: Joy News Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video The Akim-Oda Police have arrested 10 university students who were allegedly contracted to write the ongoing West Africa Senior School Certificate Examinations (WASSCE) for some candidates of the Placid International School at Oda in the Eastern Region. The suspects are said to be students of the University of Ghana, Legon, University of Cape Coast, Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST) and University of Professional Studies, Accra. Three others from a private institution, Star International School, were also arrested for the same offence. They were arrested after the West Africa Examination Council (WAEC) examiner at the centre suspected them of not being students of the school. According to the Eastern Regional Police Public Relations Office, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, the 13 suspects have been charged with impersonation and would be processed for court. Source: Graphic.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video More than 4,500 newly recruited primary school teachers in Nigerias northern state of Kaduna have been sacked for incompetence. Lawal Danjuma, an aide to the state commissioner of education, told BBC Pidgin: There is no place for teachers who dont know how to write simple acceptance letters in our primary schools, sacking them is best for childrens education." Kaduna state has just recruited 15,897 teachers after sacking about 22,000 others last year for failing a test set for their six-year-old pupils. He said the names of those who have just been fired must have been smuggled in during the recruitment process. Source: BBC Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Three persons suspected to be Ghanaians have been arrested in Britain for being part of a 13-member drug syndicate that smuggled 32 million (GH203,001,958.59) worth of cocaine and cannabis into the country. The three, Felicia Kufour, Mark Agoro, 52 and Wilfred Owusu, 30 were arrested in separate raids across the southern part of England with other members of the gang in 2016. Mark Agoro has been sentenced to 14 years and 6 months in prison whilst Wilfred Owusu received a 20-year sentence. Felicia Kufour however, is still awaiting her sentence. Felicia was arrested when she went to the Heathrow Airport to pick up a drug-laden bag from a Rio flight. According to a report by dailymail.co.uk, she was waiting in arrivals to pick up the bag, but staff of the British Airways noticed the Rio suitcase should not be there and rolled it away. Upon sensing danger, Kufour tried to flee but was seized by border force officers. The report further indicated that Mark Agoro and Wilfred Owusu were part of the wholesalers with international contacts who raked cash in for the gang. Owusu organised couriers to fly in and collect the luggage and walk away without any customs checks, Southwark Crown Court heard. Over 100 kilograms of cocaine, which had an average of 78.5% purity, was seized during the 15-month scam. The drug smugglers were led by two corrupt British Airways baggage handlers. The syndicate stuffed suitcases with the restricted and prohibited items from Brazil from the international arrivals carousel at Heathrow Airport to the domestic arrivals hall to avoid security checks and were being aided by baggage handlers to sneak the cases out of the airport. Security agents used CCTV footage at the airport to close down on them. Video- Source: ghanaweb.com Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. The Criminal Investigations Department (CID) of the Ghana Police Service has granted police enquiry bail to some former ministers in the erstwhile National Democratic Congress (NDC) government and Members of Parliament (MPs), who have been caught in an alleged double-salary scandal. The formal arrest and the grant of bail are said to have started last Thursday when some of the appointees honoured the CID invitation. It is unclear the number of the former appointees who honoured the police invitation, but Emmanuel Armah-Kofi Buah, MP for Ellembelle and Nii Laryea Afotey Agbo, MP for Kpone Katamanso, are said to have been interrogated by the police. More of the appointees are expected at the Financial Forensic Unit at the CID headquarters this week, with Inusah Fuseini who served as Minister of Roads and Highways under President Mahama indicating during a number of radio interviews that he is reporting today. As at press time yesterday, another NDC MP, whose name could not be disclosed, was said to have arrived at the CID office to be interrogated. A certain Bashir Fuseini Alhassan, who is believed to be ABA Fuseini, NDC MP for Sagnerigu and former deputy minister for the Northern Region, was also there last week and was made to write a statement before being admitted to bail. All those who have been to the CID headquarters and are said to be technically under arrest were made to write statements before they were granted bail. They all honoured the invitations with their lawyers. According to sources, the police had already written to the accounts department of parliament for more information concerning the double salary saga. The affected people have also been asked to submit their bank statements. Frantic Efforts Over the weekend, some of the former NDC appointees being investigated were said to be making frantic efforts to submit their bank statements to the CID. It emerged that a number of them sent their bank statements for scrutiny by the CID, despite the claim by top-notch members of the party that the move to investigate them was a case of political witch-hunt. Anomaly Detection DAILY GUIDE learnt that some of the former ministers cum MPs, who allegedly drew salaries as MPs and ministers of state, detected the double salary anomaly and notified the authorities for the right thing to be done. However, it is unclear whether the monies that had already been credited to the accounts of such people were returned to chest. Bernard Allotey Jacobs, NDC Central Regional Chairman, who conceded that some of the ex-ministers who were MPs actually received double salaries, said they were ready to use their ex-gratia to offset them. Its not clear if they had ever been paid double from 2013 to 2016 as being alleged. In all, about 48 names are on the list spanning five years from 2012. Inside Job Mr Bagbin, the second deputy speaker of parliament and NDC MP for Nadowli/Kaleo, has already confirmed that he had been contacted by the CID. On his Twitter handle on Wednesday, April 11 after the minoritys press conference Mr Bagbin alleged that some selfish individuals who want to lead the opposition party might have leaked the names to the CID. If anybody thinks that leaking our names to the police CID thwarts our chances and advances their selfish claim to leadership in our party, then my brother, think again because when we go down, we go down together. A word to the wise, according to the tweet. Haruna Iddrisu had also been contacted and is likely to meet the CID on Thursday, April 19, having told the police that he was out of the country. Specific Charge The police have said that the alleged double salary saga is contrary to Section 124 (1) of the Criminal and other Offences Act 1960 (Act 29) as amended in 2012 (Act 849). Section 124 relates to the offence of stealing. The list appears to show that a good number of the ministers, who served under former President John Mahama, took double salaries for four years, whilst others received double salaries for two and three years, probably because they were reshuffled. Salary Permutation In 2012, four of the ministers, who reportedly took double salaries, are currently not serving in parliament, but by 2013 the double salaried appointees had increased to 22 while in 2014 about 18 were said to have been involved. For 2015 and 2016, 15 and 12 appointees purportedly took double salaries respectively. This list showed that the appointees received double salaries at least once a month, whilst others received them monthly throughout the years. Clear Target In the ensuing heat, one of the affected MPs, Inusah Fuseini, said on Peace FM yesterday that the NPP government was targeting them, saying, There is some level of criminal targeting of former appointees. It appears that the value of fairness, equity and justice is not being followed. If a public servant has been given a double salary, they are not reported to CID. The person is called to refund the money and if that is not done, that is when you report the person to an investigative authority. But this was not done why the discrimination? Source: Daily Guide Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video Deputy General Secretary of the National Democratic Congress [NDC], Koku Anyidoho says Ghanaians should wait for President Nana Addo Dankwa Akufo-Addos reply to UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays supplication on homosexuality acceptance in Ghana before they react. Koku, who said his former boss Late President Prof. John Evans Atta Mills was courageous enough to snub similar request from former UK Prime Minster David Cameron, is however, doubtful the President's responses will be what Ghanaians. Late President Mills was bold enough to reject their advances because he is against gayness. I knew his [Mills] stance on gay issues. But now, I cannot think and speak for the current president, he said. UK Prime Minister Theresa May is reported to have told President Akufo-Addo and other African leaders attending the Commonwealth heads of government meeting in London that it is wrong for homosexuals to be persecuted for their sexual orientation. She said her country is therefore ready to help African countries to reform their laws to accommodate the interest of homosexuals. While acknowledging efforts being made by member countries to improve conditions of homosexuals, she noted: Yet there remains much to doNobody should face discrimination and persecution because of who they are or who they love. The UK stands ready to support any Commonwealth nation wanting to reform outdated legislation that makes such discrimination possible. President Nana Addo is yet to respond to Theresa Mays request, but Koku Anyidoho, speaking in an interview on NEAT FMs morning show Ghana Montie hopes the president will be straight forward to the citizenry. Lets give the president the benefit of the doubt, when he returns home, I am hoping he will tell us something positive, he told sit in host, Mc-Jerry Osei Agyemang. Source: King Edward Ambrose Washman Addo/Peacefmonline.com/ Twitter: @Washman5/ Instagram: Ambrose_wash Disclaimer : Opinions expressed here are those of the writers and do not reflect those of Peacefmonline.com. Peacefmonline.com accepts no responsibility legal or otherwise for their accuracy of content. Please report any inappropriate content to us, and we will evaluate it as a matter of priority. Featured Video As the state of Minnesota ends its investigation into Prince's death without criminal charges, federal authorities say they haven't gotten any credible evidence to support charges, either. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz announced Thursday that state investigators had found no evidence to charge anyone in the case. He says Prince thought he was taking Vicodin pills, not the fentanyl that killed him. Carver County Attorney Mark Metz, right, announces at a press conference Thursday, April 19, 2018 in Chaska, Minn., that no criminal charges will be filed in the death of musician Prince in 2016. The decision effectively ends the state's two-year investigation into how Prince got the fentanyl that killed him. On the left are Chief Deputy Jason Kamerud and Carver County Sheriff Jim Olson. After Metz's announcement, the U.S. Attorney's Office in Minneapolis issued a statement saying it hasn't received any credible evidence that would support federal criminal charges. The office said it wouldn't comment further. A law enforcement official close to the investigation told The Associated Press that the federal investigation is now inactive unless new information comes forward. The official spoke on condition of anonymity because the case remains open. Metz detailed a two-year investigation, saying there's no evidence any of the people surrounding Prince gave him counterfeit Vicodin or knew he had it. Prince died April 21, 2016, at his Paisley Park compound. A doctor who was accused of illegally prescribing a pain medication to Prince shortly before he died agreed Thursday to pay a fine as part of a civil settlement. But that pain medication wasn't what killed Prince. On the morning of Wednesday, April 19, 1995, a former Army soldier parked a rented Ryder truck in front of the Alfred P. Murrah Federal Building in Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. He got out, locked it and ignited two fuses. At 9:02 a.m. the explosion ripped through the building where 500 people worked and children attended America's Kids day care. The building housed the Social Security Administration, Secret Service, Drug Enforcement Agency, ATF and recruiters for the U.S. military. The truck was loaded with almost 5,000 pounds of explosives - a mixture of fertilizer, diesel fuel and other chemicals. The "bombing in the heartland" killed 168 people including 19 children younger than 6 years old. More than 500 people were injured. The bomb destroyed or damaged 324 buildings within a 16-mile radius. The next day police had a suspect and discovered he was already in jail. Just 90 minutes after the explosion Timothy McVeigh had been stopped 90 miles north of Oklahoma City for driving a car without a license plate and carrying a concealed weapon. On April 21, his co-conspirator, Terry Nichols, surrendered. Both men were charged. McVeigh was convicted of murder and other charges. Nicholas was convicted of involuntary manslaughter and other charges. McVeigh was sentenced to death and executed on June 11, 2001. Nichols is serving life in prison. It was the worst act of terrorism in the United States until the Sept. 11, 2001, attacks. McVeigh and Nichols were members of a radical survivalist group. According to history.com, the men "were deeply radicalized by such events as the August 1992 shoot-out between federal agents and survivalist Randy Weaver at his Idaho cabin, in which Weaver's wife and son were killed, and the April 19, 1993, inferno near Waco, Texas, in which 75 members of a Branch Davidian religious sect died. McVeigh planned the attack on the Murrah Building, which housed regional offices of such federal agencies as the Drug Enforcement Agency, the Secret Service and the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco and Firearms and Explosives, the agency that had launched the initial raid on the Branch Davidian compound." McVeigh claimed that he chose the building and the date to avenge the raid on Waco. In May 1995, the Murrah Building was demolished. The Oklahoma City National Memorial & Museum is located on that site. Editor's note: This story was updated to clarify the legal status of Alexander Curtis Parker. Immigration and Customs Enforcement has been going around arresting undocumented immigrants who have no criminal history at far higher rates in Pennsylvania than in other parts of the country, a recent investigation by ProPublica and the Philadelphia Inquirer found. The report found numerous examples of state and local police who appear to be assisting ICE by, for example, detaining people stopped for traffic violations until ICE can confirm their status. One of the more unusual examples of locals trying to assist ICE was a case of a Cumberland County district judge who twice called ICE about couples who came before her to be married, according to the report. The district judge, Elizabeth Beckley, did not respond to numerous attempts from PennLive this week get her side of the story. ProPublica said Beckley first preempted the wedding of a Tajik couple by calling ICE on the groom and his best man, who were led away in handcuffs. She also called ICE, ProPublica said, when Alexander Curtis Parker and Krisha Amber Schmick showed up at her courthouse last May asking to be wed. According to the account from ProPublica, the couple was stunned when the constable announced he would be detaining Parker for ICE. Though Parker, 21, was born in Guatemala, he had been adopted by American parents when he was eight months old and does not speak Spanish or consider himself an immigrant. At the moment he was detained, his green card -- proof of his status as a lawful permanent resident -- was in the process of being renewed. ProPublica further reports: "Philadelphia ICE was in the midst of its second big enforcement operation of 2017, and federal agents rushed to the courthouse with their biometric identification device. At about the time Parker had hoped to be slipping a ring onto his wife's finger, he was reluctantly putting his own hand into a fingerprint machine. "But in this case, as rarely happened last year, ICE backed off. The judge, who did not respond to calls, emails, or visits to her courthouse, apologized and offered to proceed with the nuptials. Having already paid the $45 fee, Parker and Schmick uncomfortably allowed the judge to marry them, and celebrated afterward at a LongHorn Steakhouse." According to the account, the Parkers moved from Pennsylvania to Kissimmee, Fla. Parker said he felt he was safer there "from people like the judge the would try to do anything to have me deported." Investigators credit quick collaboration between local law enforcement in the 48 hours following the shooting death of Aaron Wollman. The incident, however, is still under investigation as police work to determine if anyone else was involved in the incident Wollman, 25, of Denver, was found around 7 a.m. Monday at Bare and Furnace roads in Lower Chanceford Township, York County, with apparent gunshot wounds. "Over the next 48 hours, troopers from both York and Lancaster counties conducted a tireless investigation running down multiple leads in an attempt to identify the persons responsible," said Lt. Brandon Daniels, criminal investigation section commander for state police in York. "Through the diligent efforts of these troopers, and with the assistance with our local law enforcement partners in both York and Lancaster counties ... we were able to identify Mr. Lleland Wade as the actor in this homicide." LIVE: State Police in York hold a news conference on the recent homicide of Aaron Wollman. Posted by PennLive.com on Thursday, April 19, 2018 Wade, 32, no fixed address, was arrested at approximately 3:30 pm. Tuesday at a hotel in East Lampeter Township and charged with homicide. Officers with East Lampeter Township and state police evacuated guests at the Days Inn where Wade was found, and another nearby hotel, and established a perimeter. The whole evacuation was done in about 30 minutes, Daniels said. Undercover surveillance teams were also placed in and around the hotel. Wade was then taken into custody without incident. Court documents indicate Wollman was shot 7 times total - four times in the back, and three times in the head. Officers also discovered numerous 9mm casings around his body. Wollman's death was ruled a homicide, said Pamela Gay, York County coroner. Officers discovered a phone in Wollman's possession, and upon obtaining a search warrant, they saw text messages between Wollman and Wade. Known associates of Wollman were interviewed by police, and said Wade and Wollman knew each other. One witness told investigators Wade tried to give a black handgun to him -- when asked why he was trying to get rid of the gun, Wade replied "that he had killed 'Aaron' with it,'" according to the criminal complaint. Another witness told investigators that Wade told her Wollman stole money from him in the days leading up to the shooting. When asked if drugs somehow played a factor, Daniels said drugs were found "at multiple scenes" during the course of the investigation, but declined to comment further. Anyone with information on the incident is asked to contact Pennsylvania State Police's York station at 717-428-1011. A teacher at Lebanon Middle School is facing charges after police say he brought a handgun to the school. Chad Thomas, 41, brought the legally-owned handgun to the school in his backpack on April 12, according to police. A school custodian discovered the handgun later that day when cleaning Thomas' office. Police don't believe faculty or students were targeted, and Thomas told police he forgot the firearm was in his backpack. Thomas is charged with possession of a weapon on school property. Lebanon School District released the following statement on its website: "Last Thursday, on April 12, 2018, a gun was found on our middle school property after school hours when our custodial team cleaned the building. This weapon belonged to a teacher, who mistakenly brought it on school property and had it stored within a protective case. Once found, proper protocols were followed and it was immediately reported to local authorities for investigation. "We were fully cooperative with local authorities to maintain the integrity of the investigation, which meant we have been unable to comment on the investigation. Now that charges have been filed, the District will continue to cooperate with the process if and when called upon. "Most importantly, it should be known that at no time were staff or students in harm's way. The safety of our staff and students is of paramount importance to us. We will continue to monitor our schools to ensure we have the safest environments to educate our students. "We do not condone this teachers' behavior, and we will continue to work with local authorities, comply with State reporting requirements, and the teacher will remain removed from all District buildings indefinitely until the District has a better understanding of how legal proceedings may conclude." The Hershey Company filed a federal lawsuit Thursday against a Ukrainian chocolate maker it claims is "cybersquatting" on its most famous trademark. It is not surprising that AnyKiss is the target of that attack in U.S. Middle District Court. The Ukrainian firm's name alone is a red cape for the enraged bull Hershey becomes when it believes one of its cherished trademarks is being infringed. This time around, Hershey is insisting its most precious commodity, the KISSES trademark, is being hijacked. KISSES has been Hershey's intellectual property since 1907, 13 years after Milton Hershey founded the firm, Hershey contends in its suit. It claims AnyKiss began infringing on that trademark only about three years ago. The cybersquatting involves AnyKiss' used of the domain name 'kisschocalaterie.com,' Hershey insists. Cybersquatting occurs when one business tries to capitalize on the good name of another by using a domain name is so close to that of the victim that customers are confused. That is prohibited under the federal Anticybersquatting Consumer Protection Act. Hershey notes in its suit that it owns the hersheykisses.com domain name, which redirects consumers to the company's main web site. The KISSES mark is a valuable commodity. Hershey claims sales of KISSES products in the U.S. alone total more than $480 million annually. The firm's annual worldwide sales top $7 billion, it notes. Hershey claims AnyKiss tried unsuccessfully to register its KISS Chocolaterie mark with the U.S. Patent Office in 2016. That filing was rejected "based on confusion with the KISSES marks" Hershey already holds, according to the suit. AnyKiss "has reached out to Hershey representatives in an effort to 'partner' with Hershey by selling authorized Hershey products in its shop," the suit states. "Hershey declined to accept the invitation and does not wish to partner with (AnyKiss) in any capacity." What Hershey wants is for Judge Yvette Kane to find that AnyKiss has intentionally and illegally infringed on its KISSES mark. It wants her to order AnyKiss to surrender its domain name to Hershey and to demand that AnyKiss "disgorge all ill-gotten gains" from the alleged infringement. Pennsylvania lawmakers are being asked to set an ambitious goal of transitioning to 100 percent renewable energy sources by 2050 in order for the state to do its part in saving the planet. A coalition of nearly 150 groups are urging the House and Senate to consider bills that have been introduced setting that as a goal for environmental, economic, and public health reasons. "Pennsylvania is one of the largest producers of global warming emissions, not just in the United States but in the world," said the Rev. Sandra Strauss of the Pennsylvania Council of Churches at a Capitol news conference on the legislation. "By passing this legislation, we can change that legacy and establish our commonwealth as a shining example of what can be done to change the deadly path we've been on." Her organization signed the letter along with others from environmental, civic and business groups, academics, elected municipal officials, and health professionals. Similar proposals have been introduced in other states. Hawaii has actually enacted a law that sets an even more ambitious goal of reaching the 100 percent threshold by 2045. But what makes Pennsylvania's effort unique is that the proposed Senate bill is being sponsored by a Republican, Sen. Chuck McIlhinney of Bucks County. "Clean, renewable energy holds the key to promoting a healthier environment, a stronger economy and a brighter future for future generations," McIlhinney said in a statement. The measure that treads into the controversial climate change issue naturally has some opposition from the natural gas industry as well as the Pennsylvania Chamber of Business and Industry. They are not against renewable energy so much as they don't see it as a reliable source that can fully meet Pennsylvanians' energy needs barring some significant technological breakthrough. "It's a mistake for elected officials to pick winners and losers when it comes to Pennsylvania's electricity," said Erica Clayton Wright, a spokeswoman for the Marcellus Shale coalition. "While some discount the environmental, economic, and national security progress tied to local, affordable natural gas, our members are proud of the energy they're producing that's delivering clean air progress, good-paying jobs, consumer savings and affordable, around-the-clock energy to all Pennsylvanians." Rep. Chris Rabb, D-Philadelphia, who is sponsoring the 100 percent renewable energy bill in the House, however, pointed to the extreme weather in recent history he blamed on climate change and lamented the dangers that he said fossil fuels pose. "Extracting them can put workers and communities at risk. We've seen too many mining tragedies, too many polluted rivers and streams, too many spills," he said. Then pausing to inject some humor into his remarks, he added, "You know what you call a solar energy spill? A sunny day." Despite the push for action on either bill coming from civic groups, business and religious leaders, academics, public health officials and others, the chance of them gaining any traction in the House of Representatives in the current legislative session is non-existent. House Energy and Environmental Resources Committee Chairman John Maher, R-Allegheny County, said he has no intention of bringing the bill up for consideration by the committee and questioned why the proposal was even newsworthy. "I intend to keep the lights on in Pennsylvania," he said. "Show-and-tell bumper sticker legislation doesn't contribute to constructive decision-making. It's a symptom of the political paralysis that creeps upon us when absurd extreme views become the center of attention." The chamber's President and CEO Gene Barr added: "There is no 'silver bullet' for energy. All sources have their pros and cons in terms of economics, efficiency, and economic performance. Having government dictate which technologies we ought to use rather than set standards and let the market determine the best method of reaching those standards is highly problematic." While getting this legislation to the governor's desk is going to be a heavy lift for its backers, they undoubtedly will point to polls that indicate the public generally stands in their corner on this one. A recent Franklin & Marshall poll found that more than two-thirds of respondents say the state should do more to address problems associated with climate change and 62 percent believe climate change is causing problems now. Further, it found 69 percent favored the state pursuing energy policies that prioritize renewable energy sources while 18 percent favored prioritizing fossil fuel extraction from coal and natural gas. "Poll after poll shows that Pennsylvanians expect our elected officials to tackle climate change and to change and promote clean energy" said David Masur, PennEnvironment executive director. While others will disagree with this statement, he said, "The science is clear if we do not eliminate global-warming pollution by 2050, the scientific communities predict we will pass a tipping point from which we cannot turn back in the fight against climate change." Beer is on display inside a store in Drummondville, Que., on Thursday, July 23, 2015. A New Brunswick man, whose beer run to Quebec in 2012 sparked a Constitutional question over cross-border liquor sales, says Thursday's court decision will mean an end to his beer runs from now on. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Ryan Remiorz Infrastructure Minister Amarjeet Sohi arrives at a press conference to give an update on the implementation of the "Investing in Canada" plan in Ottawa on Thursday, April 19, 2018. THE CANADIAN PRESS/ Patrick Doyle Pallbearers carry the casket of Victoria Police Const. Ian Jordan during a funeral service at Christ Church Cathedral in Victoria, B.C., on Thursday, April 19, 2018. Jordan recently passed away while in an unresponsive state for 30 years after his police cruiser crashed into another police vehicle en route to the same emergency.THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chad Hipolito A spill response boat monitors a boom placed around the bulk carrier cargo ship Marathassa after a bunker fuel spill on Burrard Inlet in Vancouver, B.C., on Thursday April 9, 2015. Despite "polluter pay" laws in Canada, local governments and agencies are still waiting to recover costs incurred during two significant fuel spills off British Columbia's coast in recent years. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck Beatrice Janyk, 95, donates blood at Canada Blood Services in Vancouver, B.C., on Wednesday April 18, 2018. According to the organization, Janyk, who began donating blood after her late husband was involved in a sawmill accident in 1947, is Canada's oldest blood donor. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Darryl Dyck FILE - In this Thursday, March 1, 2018 file image from video, Yoselyn Ortega, a trusted nanny to a well-to-do family, listens to court proceedings during the first day of her trial, in New York. Jurors on Wednesday, April 18 found that Yoselyn Ortega killed 6-year-old Lucia Krim and 2-year-old Leo Krim in October 2012 and understood the consequences of her actions when she did it. They said she was guilty of murder. (WYNY-TV/Pool Photo via AP, File) FILE - In this June 21, 2006 file photo, members of the California National Guard work next to the U.S.-Mexico border fence near the San Ysidro Port of Entry in San Diego. President Donald Trump slammed California Gov. Jerry Brown's posture on sending National Guard troops to the Mexican border Tuesday, April 17, 2018, even as Brown said he was nearing agreement on joining the president's mission and that his troops were "chomping at the bit ready to go." (AP Photo/Denis Poroy, File) Perryville soccer coach Jerry Fulton has been approached about how good his team is, because according to the results, they have to be pretty good.Perryville claimed first place in the Hillsboro The St. Vincent cross country teams made a statement. The boys finished first, while the girls took second place at the Perryville High School Invitational on Tuesday in the Perryville City Park.It St. Vincent football has asserted itself the past few years when it comes to matchups with their crosstown rival Perryville. The Indians had won three straight contests against the Pirates. St. Roth to help raise money for cancer society During last years Perryville homecoming game, the football coaches donned pink hats and pink pants in honor of a noble cause. They hope to do so again this year.Perryville football head coach Pirates play to win against Blackcats Perryville football has had a flair for the dramatic this season. This past week was no different as they held on late for a 21-14 victory over Fredericktown on Friday at Pirate Stadium. Perryville St. Vincent keeps foot on the gas in victory St. Vincent made quick work of Herculaneum in week four. The Indians got off to a quick start and kept it rolling as they dispatched of the Blackcats 49-0 on Friday at Herculaneum High School. That Click Here For Our Local Sports Page Guyana's Ambassador to the U.S. inundated' with expressions of interest for oil & gas and conected industries By Kaieter News GEORGETOWN Petroleumworld 04 19 2018 Guyana's Ambassador to the United States, Dr Riyad Insanally, told the Department of Public Information (DPI) that his office is almost inundated by expressions of interest in the areas of infrastructure, oil and gas and downstream industries in the oil and gas industry. At the moment, I'm playing the role of official facilitator. Expressions of interests are related to the government. We try to see how we can help interested parties who are reputable who we think are people who can help us navigate our system, meet the right people and do things the right way, Ambassador Insanally said. Guyana's oil and gas industry was born when a world-class discovery was made by ExxonMobil and its partners in 2015. To date, there have been seven oil discoveries made in the Stabroek Block located offshore Guyana. The Stabroek Block is now estimated to contain 3.2B recoverable barrels of oil. Guyana will pump its first oil in 2020. The Ministry of Natural Resources is continuing to work with all relevant partners in the exploration and development of the burgeoning oil and gas sector while keeping the citizens and stakeholders of the country apprised of preparations for petroleum production and all related activities. Hit your target - Advertise with us Story from Kaieter News Kaieteurnewsonline.com 04 19 2018 Copyright 1999-2018 Petroleumworld or respective author or news agency. All rights reserved. We welcome the use of Petroleumworld (PW) stories by anyone provided it mentions Petroleumworld.com as the source. Other stories you have to get authorization by its authors. Internet web links to http://www.petroleumworld.com are appreciated. Petroleumworld welcomes your feedback and comments, share your thoughts on this article, your feedback is important to us! We invite all our readers to share with us their views and comments about this article. Write to editor@petroleumworld.com By using this link, you agree to allow PW to publish your comments on our letters page. Any question or suggestions, please write to: editor@petroleumworld.com Best Viewed with IE 5.01+ Windows NT 4.0, '95, '98,ME,XP, Vista, Windows 7,8,10 +/ 800x600 pixels Gas finds will go to TT - Grenada's Acting PM By TT Newsday PORT SPAIN Petroleumworld 04 19 2018 Grenada's acting Prime Minister (PM) Gregory Bowen says his country will "push all the gas, if Trinidad will buy it." He was responding on Tuesday to a question from a Grenadian reporter about the National Gas Company of TT Ltd's (NGC) recent announcement of a commercial agreement with Global Petroleum Group (GPG) to have first right of refusal for any natural gas the Russian oil and gas company finds in Grenada. "A test well was done and it shows great potential. GPG and NGC (have decided) that gas is the most likely thing that we've seen and that we'll push all the gas if Trinidad will buy it. We have reached the stage where Trinidad has indicated that they will buy it." Bowen also revealed the Grenada government played a role in helping GPG secure the TT market, via NGC, for its future gas exports. "Grenada played a significant role with the government of TT in finding that particular market...We worked with the government of TT to ensure we could get a market." Bowen was addressing members of Grenada's media on April 17 during the first post-Cabinet press conference since the Dr Keith Mitchell administration was re-elected on March 13. The Minister of Infrastructure Development, Public Utilities, Energy, Transport, and Implementation was appointed acting PM while Mitchell is attending the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London this week. Hit your target - Advertise with us World economy at risk from proliferating barriers on trade and investment -Kemp By John Kemp LONDON Petroleumworld 04 19 2018 Trade and investment restrictions are proliferating around the world, driven by a combination of security concerns and protectionist pressures. In each instance, policymakers can usually cite a justification of why trade and investment restrictions are necessary. But taken together, a thickening web of restrictions on cross-border transactions is imposing a growing burden on business as well as complicating supply chains. The United States and China have threatened to hit each other with tariffs covering up to $300 billion of bilateral trade in a dispute over intellectual property and technology transfers. The United States has already imposed anti-dumping and countervailing duties on imports of steel, aluminium and solar panels from China, citing concerns about unfair trade. China has responded with its own anti-dumping duties on imported sorghum from the United States and is investigating other products. U.S. officials have raised security concerns about telecommunications switch gear from Chinese firm Huawei and sought to exclude it from the United States market. The United States has also suspended export licences linked to Chinese telecoms company ZTE, while Britain has warned companies not to install any more ZTE equipment on the country's network. ZTE is accused of violating secondary sanctions on the supply of equipment to Iran and North Korea, but there are also broader concerns about its equipment being used for spying and cyber-warfare. The U.S. government has pledged to restrict Chinese investment and acquisitions in sensitive high-technology sectors. The Committee on Foreign Investment in the United States (CFIUS) has already been applying heightened scrutiny to transactions involving Chinese firms. In turn, China's antitrust authorities have started to slow down merger approvals involving western companies operating in the Chinese market. The United States has also hit Russian companies and individuals with multiple rounds of sanctions in a dispute over Ukraine. In many cases, the United States has imposed secondary sanctions, which apply extraterritorially and aim to catch businesses for transactions that occur wholly outside the country. The European Union has implemented its own sanctions on Russia, though it has generally refrained from extraterritorial application. The United States and the EU are both readying further sanctions on Iran in response to its ballistic missile programme and regional activities. The United States, the EU, China and other nations are enforcing sanctions on North Korea (including secondary sanctions) for nuclear-related activities. The United States also appears to be preparing sanctions on Venezuela. Enthusiasm for sanctions is spreading, with Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates imposing an economic boycott on Qatar (including a secondary boycott). Sanctions represent a relatively low-cost way of inflicting economic pain on an adversary and have become the instrument of choice for foreign policymakers (The art of sanctions: a view from the field, Nephew, 2018). The result is a rapidly growing sanctions-industrial complex led by the U.S. Treasury's Office of Foreign Assets Control, security services and financial regulators in the United States and the European Union. The sanctions-industrial complex also includes a growing army of specialist compliance firms and compliance officers embedded within businesses. In addition to the sanctions-industrial complex, a growing number of regulators and trade authorities show an increasing propensity to favour greater restrictions. The Office of the United States Trade Representative, the U.S. Department of Commerce, CFIUS, and the departments responsible for antitrust policy all show a rising preference for protection rather than openness. HIGH-WATER MARK? For most of the period since 1945 and especially since the end of the Soviet Union, the main thrust has been towards greater openness on trade and investment. The dismantling of trade and investment barriers was embodied by eight rounds of successful trade negotiations under the General Agreement on Tariffs and Trade culminating in the ambitious Uruguay Round (1986-1994). But the liberalisation thrust has stalled in recent years with the failure to conclude any new multilateral trade agreement for almost a quarter of a century. The high-water mark of globalisation may have passed. Now trade and investment barriers are rising, rather than falling. Liberalisation, openness to trade and cross-border investment have few defenders within the U.S. and European political class. Left-wing politicians and labour unions blame trade liberalisation for stagnating wages and incomes in the advanced economies. Right-wing politicians and security hawks fear liberalisation, investment and technology transfer is strengthening potential adversaries. Sanctions experts, financial regulators, intelligence agencies and foreign policy specialists all increasingly employ trade and investment restrictions as their first-choice policy instrument. Traditional mechanisms for resolving trade and investment disputes through the GATT/WTO are ill-equipped to handle the new round of restrictions citing national security and foreign policy concerns. Complying with the ever-increasing number of restrictions is becoming increasingly difficult for businesses operating across national frontiers and is causing a growing number of distortions. ECONOMIC IMPACT Setting aside the question of whether restrictions are justified in individual cases, there are broader questions about the economic impact of the proliferating barriers: (1) If increasing openness to trade and investment was a major driver of improved efficiency and living standards in the post-1945 period, does its retreat threaten to slow economic growth? (2) Can the spreading web of trade and investment restrictions, often imposed at short notice, be consistent with a rules-based and predictable trading system that facilitates cross-border transactions? (3) If the global trade and investment regime becomes less predictable, will the growth in international trade and investment slow or even go into reverse? (4) Sanctions are generally treated as an extension of foreign policy, a traditional area reserved for executive authority, with minimal legislative and judicial oversight: does that raise concerns about due process? Policymakers are rapidly embracing trade and investment restrictions for a range of reasons, ranging from trying to raise wages to protect strategic sectors and national security concerns. But their enthusiasm for trade and investment barriers arguably threatens the foundations of the post-1945 international economic system and could end up doing more harm than good. Hit your target - Advertise with us Oil highest since 2014, U.S. stocks shrinking and OPEC cuts compliance strong Withdrawal from biggest U.S. hub was first in six weeks: EIA. Joint ministerial monitoring committee meeting set for Friday By Jessica Summers NEW YORK Petroleumworld 04 19 2018 Crude climbed to the highest since 2014 after across-the-board declines in U.S. stockpiles of oil, gasoline, diesel and jet fuel signaled increasing tightness in supplies. Futures in New York rose 2.9 percent on Wednesday. An Energy Information Administration report showed shrinking American petroleum surpluses and the first crude withdrawal from the largest U.S. storage complex in six weeks. The U.S. draw-downs underlined optimism that an OPEC-led effort to curb global supplies will be reinforced later this week when the cartel and allied producers gather in Saudi Arabia. We continue to see extremely strong compliance by OPEC nations to self-imposed supply limits, said Nick Holmes, an analyst at Tortoise in Leawood, Kansas, which manages $16 billion in energy-related assets. It's a multitude of factors that are contributing to that tighter inventory picture. Globally, we are seeing strong crude demand. Crude is trading at levels last seen more than three years ago ahead of an April 20 meeting of major oil producers in the Saudi city of Jeddah to discuss market cooperation. OPEC wants to lure more producers to join the output-reduction deal, U.A.E. Energy Minister Suhail Al Mazrouei said in a Bloomberg Television interview. Fundamentals definitely look better than they have at any point recently, said Brad Hunnewell, senior equity analyst at Rockefeller & Co. The fact that OPEC compliance is at the highest levels that it's been at since really the start of this deal adds to a certain level of optimism. West Texas Intermediate for May delivery advanced $1.95 to settle at $68.47 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange. Total volume traded was about 21 percent above the 100-day average. Brent for June settlement climbed $1.90 to end the session at $73.48 on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark crude traded at a $5.01 premium to June WTI. The EIA reported U.S. crude stockpiles dropped 1.07 million barrels last week, while supplies at the Cushing, Oklahoma, pipeline hub dropped by 1.12 million. Gasoline supplies fell 2.97 million barrels and distillate stocks slid 3.11 million barrels to the lowest level since November. Hit your target - Advertise with us Petrobras working on a deal with CNPC to swap refinery investment for oil Bruno Domingos/Reuters The deal highlight rising Chinese interest in the Brazilian oil sector By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO Petroleumworld 04 19 2018 Brazil's state-run oil company is nearing a deal in which China National Petroleum Corp Ltd (CNPC) would invest in an oil refinery in exchange for crude oil, two people with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, potentially giving China its first refining capacity in the Americas. Petroleo Brasileiro SA ( PETR4.SA ), or Petrobras, may give the state-owned Chinese firm stakes in oil fields it operates in the Campos basin, off the Rio de Janeiro coast, along with the right to use the new Comperj refinery, the sources added. We are going to have a deal, but it is complex. We should have an integrated solution, said one of the sources, who requested anonymity because the negotiations are private. The second source said talks with the Chinese intensified recently and a deal could be only a few weeks away. Two other people familiar with the matter said the refinery needed about $3 billion of investment to reach an initial capacity of 165,000 barrels per day, adding that it was not clear if Petrobras would foot part of the bill. Petrobras declined to comment. CNPC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The talks highlight rising Chinese interest in the Brazilian oil sector, which has attracted billions of dollars from oil majors over the past year for rights to new exploration blocs as the government lowers barriers to foreigners. The Comperj deal would not be the first in which Petrobras offered oil to attract Chinese funding. In 2016, it renewed a $10 billion credit line with China Development Bank, originally opened in 2009, that was guaranteed by Brazilian oil exports. CNPC and Petrobras signed a memorandum of understanding last year to reach a strategic partnership in oil exploration and production. CNPC has already partnered with Petrobras in the Libra field of the Santos basin, one of the largest discoveries in Brazil's prolific pre-salt oil area. The investment at Comperj would help to offset Brazil's fuel imports and resolve a long-running headache at the complex, where Petrobras has little to show for some $13.5 billion in investments over the past decade. The project was caught up in a corruption probe in recent years and Petrobras has booked some 6.5 billion reais ($1.92 billion) in writedowns there linked to overpriced works and services. The company said it wants to finish Comperj, but preferably without pouring in any more money, so it is talking to potential partners. Petrobras Chief Executive Pedro Parente said last year that CNPC was in talks to invest in the refinery. Separately, Petrobras awarded a contract last month worth 1.95 billion reais to China's Shandong Kerui Petroleum Equipment Co to build a natural gas processing unit at the Comperj complex. The privately run Kerui Group partnered with mid-sized Brazilian engineering company Metodo Potencial Engenharia SA to build the plant in Itaborai, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Rio. ($1 = 3.38 reais) Hit your target - Advertise with us Justin Wroblewski, Former student athlete now in recovery from opiod additiction, speaks at a press conference to announce that Camden County is suing those responsible for the manufacturing and distribution of opioids, stating that they share responsibility for the epidemic gripping the nation, at the Camden County Courthouse, in Camden, New Jersey, Wednesday, Feb. 21, 2018. JESSICA GRIFFIN / Staff Photographer Read more American pharmacies' opioid prescriptions fell in 2017 for the fifth straight year, marking the largest annual decline yet, after 20 consecutive years of rapid increases, according to a national study by IQVIA Institute for Human Data Science, based in Parsippany, N.J. Overall dispensed opioid prescriptions fell 10.2 percent. "Patients receiving high doses [of more than] 90 morphine milligram equivalents a day declined by 16.1 percent," the institute said in a statement. The company tracks dispensed prescriptions through data feeds from wholesale, retail and hospital pharmacies and insurance claims data, said Tor Constantino, spokesman for IQVIA, formerly IMS Health, which also has offices in Plymouth Meeting and Collegeville. Among the factors driving the downturn were "major clinical guideline shifts, payer reimbursement controls, intensive medical education efforts by state/specialty medical societies, as well as regulatory and legislative restrictions," the institute said in a statement. Opioid painkiller prescriptions had increased in every year from 1992 to 2011, the institute noted. That corresponds to the years in which a new generation of drug marketers backed by scientists at Perdue Pharmaceuticals, Johnson & Johnson's Janssen division, DuPont Merck spin-off Endo Pharmaceuticals, Cephalon (now part of Teva), and other drugmakers were able to persuade more doctors to boost opioid prescriptions. Those efforts were fueled by previous decades of drug company opioid marketing followed by waves of addictions, abuse and deaths. In the 2010s, the renewed awareness of U.S. opioid painkiller abuse and overdose deaths provoked government lawsuits, criminal investigations, and medical society calls for renewed restraint in recommending opioid painkillers. "A series of regulatory and legislative prescriptions combined with tighter clinical prescribing guidelines and greater reimbursement controls resulted in average 4 percent per year declines from 2012 through 2016," the institute report said, accelerating in 2017 to the biggest drop "in more than 25 years of measurement." As legal opioid prescriptions finally began to decline, there has been an increase in deaths from illegal heroin and synthetic fentanyl since 2015, the Centers for Disease Control has reported. People who got hooked on drug company painkillers couldn't get new prescriptions of their own, and were buying less reliable drugs illegally to feed their habits. In contrast to opioids, "spending on all U.S. medicines increased 0.6 percent to $324 billion" last year, the institute noted. The total would have been higher, but patients bought more low-cost generic drugs as an alternative to high-priced brand-name drugs; and some manufacturers have been offering discounts and coupons in an effort to boost slumping drug sales. The big drop in high-dosage prescriptions, which the institute says are more closely tied to dependency and overdoses, "suggests that health-care professionals are prescribing opioids less often for pain treatment," Murray Aitken, director of the institute, said in a statement. He added that new opioid prescriptions fell nearly 8 percent last year to 2.9 million a month, while medication-assisted therapies for opioid-use dependence nearly doubled, to 82,000 prescriptions a month. An unusual pair showed up in the pre-dawn hours at Fire Station 82 in Wayne Township, Ind., last week. Repeatedly pressing the doorbell was a frantic woman. In her arms was a furry, masked animal that firefighters later described as "lethargic," fire department spokesman Michael Pruitt said. Through her panic, the woman divulged that it was a pet raccoon and that it was severely stoned. "We typically love to help, especially when it comes to animals. We have a lot of animal lovers in the fire service," Pruitt said in an interview. "But in this case, they just recommended, 'Hey, the raccoon is going to have to sleep it off.' " The woman, whose name the firefighters did not take, said the raccoon had gotten into someone else's pot. Marijuana use is not legal in any form in Indiana, leading Pruitt to joke that the animal had, perhaps, "moved from Colorado, and he didn't know." While a baked raccoon at a fire station is unusual, pets on pot hardly are. As more states legalize marijuana and tantalizing edible forms become more available, veterinarians say they are seeing major increases in patients that have ingested it. These are most often dogs, and their trips are very rarely fatal. In most cases, veterinarians say, the firefighters' advice is sound: Animals must simply wait it out. The Wayne Township Fire Department's 2 a.m. experience with the raccoon, which it posted about on Facebook, drew national attention as well as notice from the Indiana Department of Natural Resources, Pruitt said. It wanted to know whether the woman had a permit to keep the critter, as is required by state law. (Regulations also state that raccoon-keepers must provide their pets with creature comforts including a "nest box or sheltered retreat," branches for climbing and a wading pool or water container.) The firefighters did not have that information. "We're not in the business of policing who has permits for their animals and who does not," Pruitt said, adding, "We do not expect her or the raccoon to come out of the woodwork to claim credit for the story." Raccoons can be purchased from exotic-animal dealers, and some pet raccoons have become Instagram stars. But wildlife and veterinary experts warn that they do not typically make great companions. They can carry diseases, they are not easily house-trained, and their dexterous little hands are excellent at breaking into things like, say, a stash of weed. Calling it "disruptive" and "unlawful," a group of Pennsylvania marijuana growers and retailers wants to snuff out the state's pioneering research program before it is launched. The first of its kind in the nation, the research program would allow eight of the state's teaching hospitals to contract with a cannabis producer. Each contract is estimated to be worth tens of millions of dollars. The agreements grant the producers a "super-permit" to operate an indoor grow facility and to open six retail dispensaries that can sell medical marijuana to any approved patient. But the group of commercial growers and retailers filed a petition last week in Commonwealth Court, saying the research program would give the hospital-affiliated producers an unfair advantage, "flood the market with medical marijuana," and kill their businesses. The complaint asks a judge to review the regulations and declare them invalid. A hearing is scheduled for May 2 in Harrisburg. If the court agrees, it would effectively shut down the state's institutional research ambitions. "We are in no way trying to bring down the Department of Health or the entire medical marijuana program," said Judith Cassel, a lawyer with Harrisburg law firm Hawke McKeon & Sniscak, which is representing the group of six growers and nine dispensary owners. "But the regulations don't match the law or put the right emphasis on research," Cassel said. A spokeswoman for the Department of Health declined to comment on the suit. A spokesman for Solterra Care, an aspiring grower paired with Jefferson Health, also declined to comment. Executives for the current growers and dispensaries would not speak on the record, saying they feared retribution from the health department. Several executives complained that they had spent millions to win their permits in the first phase of a grueling and competitive process. There were 177 companies that applied for the first 12 grower permits. The applications were reviewed and scored by anonymous teams of state-appointed experts. The state is preparing to accept applications for another round of commercial growers and dispensaries that will be similarly scored. When Phase 2 of the process is over, the state will host 25 commercial growers and a total of 150 commercial dispensaries. The research component would add an additional eight growers and 48 dispensaries. But many of the research producers that strike contracts with the teaching hospitals won't have to go through the competitive ordeal. That makes the current growers irate. The complaint maintains that only the state and not the research hospitals should have the power to decide who can participate. Under the current regulations, the teaching hospitals would choose their own marijuana partners. Many already have paired up. Lake Erie College of Osteopathic Medicine is linked with Franklin Labs, whose Chairman of the Board John Hanger was once a gubernatorial candidate and adviser to Gov. Wolf. Drexel University is said to have signed an agreement with Prime Wellness of Pennsylvania, whose parent company, Acreage Holdings recently added former U.S. Rep. John Boehner and former Massachusetts Gov. William Weld to its board of directors. Franklin Labs and Prime Wellness were top scorers during Phase 1 and were granted permits to grow medical marijuana by the state. But other aspiring research producers either didn't compete in Phase 1 or scored poorly and were eliminated. Jefferson Health has partnered with Solterra Care LLC, which did not apply in the first round. Solterra is backed by Main Line Investment Partners, run by Jefferson's former board chairman, William Landman. Temple University is paired with Laurel Harvest Labs. The company, which also did not participate in Phase 1, is headed by Nick Karalis, CEO and president of Delaware County-based Elwyn Specialty Pharmacy Group. The University of Pennsylvania has reportedly matched with Palliatech, a Massachusetts-based grower, which scored 105th out of a field of 164 aspirants. On an October 2017 company fund-raising prospectus, Palliatech claimed it was "selected by a leading medical university" in Pennsylvania and would "receive 1 of 8 super licenses for medical cannabis for 2017." None of the arrangements is officially a done deal. The state hasn't granted a single permit to the hospitals or the research growers. And the complaint seeks to stop the process before it begins. The state is accepting applications from the teaching hospitals until May 24. The Department of Health is accepting applications from the aspiring research growers until July 12. Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell, R-Ky., flanked by Sen. Cory Gardner, R-Colo., left rear, and Sen. John Barrasso, R-Wyo., right rear, says to reporters on Tuesday that hes seen no clear indication that Congress needs to step in and pass legislation that would prevent the firing of special counsel Robert Mueller after President Donald Trump called Muellers investigation an attack on our country, Read more It's kind of trivial, perhaps, but one of my favorite odd facts about the 1963 March on Washington for Jobs and Freedom the epic event that produced Dr. Martin Luther King's "I Have a Dream" speech is that not one but two college kids in the bobbing sea of faces crammed around the Reflecting Pool listening to King's immortal words would grow up to become U.S. senators many years later. One future senator would over the course of his 50-year-long, 1000-1-shot rise to political prominence remain remarkable true to the expansive vision of that 1963 march, with an almost annoyingly loud but consistent, laser-like focus on expanding economic opportunity and fighting for the working classes. The other young man in the shadows of MLK grew up to become Mitch McConnell. Unlike the young Bernie Sanders, McConnell must have been taking a dip in the Reflecting Pool or even dozing off when King said that "with this faith we will be able to transform the jangling discords of our nation into a beautiful symphony of brotherhood." To the contrary, the Kentucky Republican has risen to the pinnacle of U.S. power, as Senate majority leader, by turning up those "jangling discords" to a nearly deafening level with no moral or ideological compass other than following the Big Money that promises political power in our warped 21st century, with a win-at-all costs mentality that crushes norms of basic democracy that had survived for a couple of centuries. It is Mitch McConnell, more than anyone else in Washington, who has turned the notion of comity into comedy. The latest episode in McConnell's sad odyssey came this week, when senators from both parties started circulating a bill that would curb the power of the executive branch now in the person of one Donald John Trump to fire a Justice Department special counsel such as Robert Mueller, who is probing the events surrounding Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and the possible role of all the president's men and women, including perhaps Trump himself. The fire alarms for democracy are clanging all across America. The notion that a president can arbitrarily fire the prosecutor looking at possible criminality in that president's campaign is the power reserved for a dictator, not the leader of a democratic republic. The public gets that literally hundreds of thousands have pledged to hit the streets if Trump makes a move on Mueller or the deputy attorney general overseeing him, Rod Rosenstein. (Police brass in Pittsburgh even told cops to bring their riot gear to work an overreaction, but it does speak to the gravity of the potential constitutional crisis.) Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell doesn't take the threat to our democracy as seriously as the Pittsburgh police. Indeed, the only threat he sees from the tangled politics of Trump and Mueller is the threat to the only thing that matters to McConnell anymore his 51-49 hold on the Senate majority. He is dead set on using his considerable power over the legislative process to make sure that protecting Mueller and averting this crisis never comes up for a vote, even though it seems that a majority of lawmakers in his upper chamber currently support it. "We'll not be having this on the floor of the Senate," McConnell told Fox News on Tuesday. His logic is that the bill isn't necessary because he doesn't believe that Trump is planning to fire Mueller. As one of my astute Twitter followers pointed out, the majority leader's stance is akin to refusing to buy car insurance because you have no plans to get into an auto accident anytime in the future. But trying to apply common sense to virtually anything that happens in Congress these days is a waste of time. I've followed politics closely for all of McConnell's career in Washington, and I'm hard pressed to think of anything the Kentuckian stands for beyond self-preservation. And yet despite this profile in cowardice because of it, really McConnell has cut a swatch of destruction through the now quaint idea that things might happen on Capitol Hill can actually help the American people, rather than helping the 51 or so people who work instead for billionaires and their lobbyists survive the next Election Day. McConnell was still in the Senate minority and the GOP's overall prospects looked dim with Barack Obama's sweeping 2008 victory when a group of key Capitol Hill Republicans gathered in a pricey D.C. steakhouse on the night of the new president's inauguration, January 20, 2009. They mapped out a strategy to use the Senate's filibuster power the only effective tool Republicans had left to block any and all legislation, regardless of the merits, and then blame the ensuing gridlock on Obama. The fact that the U.S. economy was in shambles at that very moment, with millions out of work and looking to Washington for help, merely amplified the cruelty. McConnell wasn't at that meeting, but he quickly became the biggest proponent of this party-above-principle Big Idea. That same year, 2009, in the depths of the economic crisis, McConnell was asked about the top priorities for Senate Republicans. "The single most important thing we want to achieve is for President Obama to be a one-term president," the Kentuckian said, maybe the worst instance of a politician saying the quiet part out loud, at least until Trump arrived at center stage. Obstruction worked. Republicans gained control of the House in 2011, the Senate in 2015 (making McConnell majority leader) and the White House in 2017. The success of the GOP's cynical gridlock scheme helped inspire the next downward dive for democracy, the torpedoing of Obama's nomination of Merrick Garland to the Supreme Court in 2016. Confirming Garland would have given the High Court a center-left tilt, to be sure but American voters had empowered Obama to pick new justices when they re-elected him in 2012. McConnell's refusal to give Garland even a hearing let alone an up-or-down vote was an unconstitutional power grab. But he got away with it. Yet McConnell's machinations to keep the Supreme Court in conservative hands would have been all for naught if Trump had lost the 2016 election. And a Trump defeat certainly would have been more likely if American voters had known when they went to the polls on November 8, 2016 how alarmed Obama and other officials were at the extent of Russian interference in the election, or that the FBI had launched a full-blown investigation. But one man stood up and used his power to block that information from coming out that fateful autumn. Mitch McConnell. That September, top officials including then-FBI director James Comey and Homeland Security secretary Jeh Johnson went to Capitol Hill pleading for a bipartisan statement about the Russian interference, but McConnell led the opposition, expressing skepticism about both the intelligence and the utility of voters having this information. Most of what we know now about the Russian scheme to aid Trump didn't come out until after Trump had secured 304 electoral votes. And the man you can thank for that is Mitch McConnell. And so now McConnell is tripling down with his refusal to protect Mueller. It's a reminder that Trump didn't start the fire, that alarming as his corrupt and autocratic tendencies are the threat now posed by the 45th president didn't begin in 2015. Rather, it's the culmination of more than a generation of immoral divide-and-conquer politics, incubated in the toxic echo chamber of Fox News and talk radio, and surfed by shallow opportunists like McConnell. It's just a shame that MLK's words merely went in one of McConnell's ears and out the other on that fateful day, 55 years ago. Because history will judge this senator not by the longevity of his stint on office, but by the content of character. And it will not be kind. It was hailed as the dawn of a new generation of student activism when tens of thousands of kids streamed out of their classrooms last month for a National School Walkout to protest mass shootings but Cheltenham High School senior Eve Glazier and some of her friends thought something was still missing. "A lot of people just feel excluded by the movement," said Glazier, one of about 500 Cheltenham kids who'd walked out on March 14 in the aftermath of the Parkland, Fla., school shooting that left 17 people dead. "It's not the fault of the people leading it. It's just the way society is." When Glazier learned of a second National School Walkout slated for this Friday, on the anniversary of the infamous 1999 shooting at Colorado's Columbine High School she and two other student activists talked about Cheltenham taking part in a big way, but with some major differences. "We're saying our focus is on gun violence in general, " said Glazier. "Every day gun violence is affecting people of color. For a lot of our students it's hard for them to be concerned with big mass shootings when their everyday reality is urban gun violence." Friday's next wave of protests in which a patchwork network of hundreds of schools from coast-to-coast plan to participate marks something of a crossroads for the anti-gun-violence movement that exploded under the leadership of students from Parkland's Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School and brought out hundreds of thousands for a March 24 March for Our Lives in D.C. and elsewhere. The upcoming walkout seeks a broader focus on gun control, including gun violence in urban neighborhoods, and has drawn a mixed reaction from Cheltenham administrators who were more tolerant toward March's first walkout, which at most schools had lasted just 17 minutes. "I'm very proud of the kids for their civic mindedness and how they organized and their commitment to a social cause," said Ray McFall, Cheltenham High School principal. "Yet we're responsible for them during the course of the day. We have a legal obligation, a moral obligation. " Glazier and two other organizers Eryn Banton and Arianna Wallace worked ahead of Friday's protest to forge an inclusive coalition with not only the Black Student Union and Black Scholars but also groups representing Asians, Muslims, LGBT students, and others. They planned a more ambitious event that would take protesters down to Philadelphia City Hall to rally with kids from other high schools. And they endorsed civil disobedience when Cheltenham school leaders said kids who leave school without parental notes will face punishment. "We wanted to make sure that everyone in our community's voices are equally heard in regards to gun violence," said Banton. The daughter of a civil rights activist who fought for equal pay for black teachers in Florida, Banton said: "Some kids understand we might be subject to detention, and that's OK." The 19th anniversary of the Columbine shootings the Littleton, Colo., rampage by two male students that killed 13 kids and first focused national attention on mass killings in schools particularly resonates with students like 17-year-old Mikayla Joffe from Wissahickon High School, a leader of that school's walkout. "I think one of the reasons why this generation has become so vocal, we haven't lived a day where school shootings aren't normal," Joffe said. "We've grown up where this is a thing that has happened and it shouldn't be. It should have stopped after Columbine." The protesters from her Montgomery County high school are planning to meet up with the kids from Cheltenham and several other schools such as Germantown Friends at the City Hall rally. Some 15 to 20 speakers there are planning to call for new gun laws such as stricter background checks for purchasers while also decrying the frequent but isolated violence that plagues kids in lower-income communities and fails to get as much attention as mass shootings. Wissahickon school officials told organizers that students can't leave their campus for the Philadelphia protest without a note from a parent or guardian, and Cheltenham leaders have taken a similar stance. They said permission is needed not because they differ with the goals of the protest but because they cannot guarantee the safety of students who leave school grounds. In an email to Cheltenham stakeholders, Superintendent Wagner Marseille warned that "leaving school without parental permission will result in a violation of our student code of conduct which will lead to disciplinary actions." Glazier said the Cheltenham protest organizers are not planning to ask their parents for excuse notes "because we want it to be all or nothing." She added that "it's an act of civil disobedience and we acknowledge it and we're proud to take it," referring to any punishment. Meanwhile, as the movement becomes more overtly political and confrontational, it is also gaining support in new places such as college campuses. At the University of Pennsylvania, students are planning a solidarity event for Friday morning in front of College Hall where there will be speeches, a moment of silence, and a voter-registration push. "It's a way for the movement to not lose momentum," said Rachel Steinig, an 18-year-old freshman from Philadelphia who organized the Penn event. Like others planning to protest Friday, Steinig agrees there should be more focus on urban shootings, noting that "gun violence is an issue that affects a lot of different communities, that can be across the class divide, or racial divide." In Cheltenham, the calls to bridge racial gaps resonates with organizers like Glazier who's also been filming a documentary on race relations at the high school and Wallace, who said "people didn't feel emotionally attached" to the March walkout." Then added, "We all have the same goal, which is gun control in all of our communities." But nationally, some schools that took part in the March rallies and memorials won't be participating in Friday's walkout. One, perhaps ironically, is Columbine High School, where officials said they do not want protests to interfere with a scheduled Day of Service the school annually holds in memorial to the 1999 victims. Experts say the safest place for a child on a airplane is in a safety seat and not on a lap. Read more When booking flights for family vacations, many parents of infants and toddlers will do the opposite of what international and domestic airline regulatory agencies, transportation safety agencies, and many safety experts recommend. They will plan to hold their children in their laps, unrestrained. But, if anything should reinforce the need for child restraint seats on airplanes, the recent emergency landing of Southwest Flight 1380 should, said Jan Brown, a former flight attendant who survived the 1989 crash landing of Philadelphia-bound United Flight 232, which killed 111 passengers in Sioux City, Iowa. On Tuesday, metal fragments from an exploding engine shot into the Southwest plane, which was cruising at 32,500 feet. The force from the dramatic change in cabin pressure partially sucked passenger Jennifer Riordan, 43, headfirst through a broken window. Riordan, who had been wearing a seatbelt, died from blunt trauma to her head, neck, and torso. The plane, on a scheduled flight from New York to Dallas, made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. "If there had been a lap child anywhere in the area, that lap child would have gone out that window," said Brown, 77, in a phone interview from her Chicago-area home. For 28 years, Brown has been fighting to make child restraint seats mandatory on all flights but has seen little support from the airline industry. In 1989, Brown was working on a DC-10 airplane carrying 285 passengers when a broken fan blade in a rear engine disintegrated, causing a catastrophic engine failure. When it came time to land the crippled aircraft, flight attendants instructed passengers to adopt the crash position. Four parents, including Sylvia Tsao, were instructed to put their lap children on the floor, the protocol at the time. Tsao's 22-month-old son, Evan, got separated from his mother as the plane somersaulted down the runway. He died of smoke inhalation, according to reports from the National Transportation Safety Board. "Everybody in his area survived," said Brown. "If he had been in a seat he would have survived." What upsets Brown most is that parents are given a false impression of safety by the fact that children under 2 are allowed to fly free and unrestrained. While the Federal Aviation Administration, NTSB, International Civil Aviation Organization and most airlines, including Southwest, strongly recommend that infants and small children be secured in a proper safety seat, none require it. Families generally decide to carry children instead of buy them their own seats because of the cost of another seat, said Flaura Koplin Winston, director of the Center for Child Injury Prevention Studies at Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. What a lot of parents don't realize is that a child who doesn't have a dedicated airline seat also doesn't have a dedicated oxygen mask, she said. But, flying is still far safer than driving a far more common mode of transportation than air travel, especially for kids. Though safety seats are mandated in cars, the leading cause of death for children is motor-vehicle accidents, she said. One alternative to hauling a cumbersome child restraint seat through airport security and onto a plane is a harness-like restraint, called CARES. The restraint, made by AmSafe, a manufacturer of safety restraint products, is FAA-approved for children weighing 22 to 44 pounds. "We believe that the safest place for a child under the age of 2 is in its own car seat, strapped in," said Taylor Garland, spokeswoman for the Association of Flight Attendants. That group has maintained that position since the United crash in 1989, she said. Garland said the organization is working with ICAO to improve safety standards for child restraint seats across the globe. So far, no country mandates their use on airplanes, she said. Garland pointed to Emma Tourtellotte, whose life likely was saved by a child safety seat. After the 1997 engine explosion of Delta Air Lines Flight 1288, debris flew through the fuselage into the cabin, killing two passengers. A section of the plane's paneling hit the wings of Tourtellotte's child seat. David Tourtellotte, the child's father, testified in a 1997 congressional hearing that he initially balked at wife Kathleen's wish to buy an extra seat. "I thank the Lord that I had the good sense to listen to Kathleen," Toutellotte testified. "Otherwise we might not have Emma with us today." Matt Lykins, an aviation safety investigator with Robson Forensic experts, said engine explosions like the one this week on Southwest Flight 1380 are "extremely rare." Not all decompression events will equate to what happened on Tuesday, he said. "Turbulence is a much more common event than what they experienced with Southwest," he said. Lykins, a parent, said he would buy a seat for a child under 2 years. "I see the aftermath of bad days in aviation," he said. Ron Israel, an attorney with the law firm of Chiesa, Shahinian and Giantomasi, at a court hearing in which the state was seeking permission to cut Atlantic City fire fighters salaries 11.3 percent. Israels share of the $4.8 million in billings by the West Orange law firm running Atlantic City for the state topped $300,000. Read more ATLANTIC CITY By the time former U.S. Sen. Jeffrey Chiesa's role overseeing Atlantic City under a state takeover was terminated by the new governor, his North Jersey law firm had submitted more than $4.86 million in billing invoices to the state, according to records released Thursday by the New Jersey Department of Law. Chiesa, a longtime ally of former Gov. Chris Christie, was named the "designee" in charge of the legislated state takeover of the financially troubled city, and he negotiated a contract that allowed his law firm to bill at rates ranging from his $400 an hour to $90 an hour for paralegals. A spreadsheet summary released under an Open Public Records Request filed by the Inquirer and Daily News showed an additional 50 invoices filed since an earlier release Jan. 12. These invoices total $859,415.14, on top of previously released billings that totaled $4 million. Gov. Murphy took office Jan. 16, a day many in Atlantic City anticipated would lead to a return to local control. Lt. Gov. Sheila Oliver, who now runs the state Department of Community Affairs (DCA), has indicated that she supports a return to local control. The announcement that ended Chiesa's role still leaves the state with authority over Atlantic City's operations, budget, payroll, and assets. In an e-mailed comment, Oliver said the law firm's cost "was of concern to us and was relevant in our decision to bring Atlantic City oversight responsibilities back into DCA. "The fact is DCA historically has had the responsibility of overseeing financially distressed municipalities and has well-qualified professionals who can manage Atlantic City's finances and supervise day-to-day decision-making," she said. "Also, DCA is better equipped than an outside law firm to build and maintain relationships with community-based organizations and civic groups to address such issues as unemployment, underemployment, homelessness, housing foreclosure, and affordable housing, which are all challenges facing the city. " The state takeover remains in place, and the DCA will take over the oversight role. Tim Cunningham, the department's director of Local Government Services, has already been performing many of the oversight functions as part of his state duties. The outside law firm, Chiesa Shahinian & Giantomasi, will continue to handle some litigation, according to the governor's office. The law firm has been in court battling the city's Firefighters Union and other challenges to the law that set up a Payment in Lieu of Taxes (PILOT) for casinos. Murphy gave the ax to Chiesa's role on April 16. The new invoices, which predate that announcement, mostly cover general legal services related to "the stabilization and recovery of Atlantic City." The actual invoices, typically released with heavy redactions, were not made available with the spreadsheet because the invoices had not been officially approved, according to records custodian Octavia L. Frias. John Varallo Jr., the president of Local 198 of the International Association of Firefighters, described the time since November 2016, when the state takeover took effect and Chiesa was appointed as designee, as "a bad dream." It's unclear if the position of the state, which had sought drastic cuts to firefighter staffing levels, will change under the new governor. Linda Watson covers her nose because she cant stand the smell after sewage backed up into the basement of the house she is renting in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Watsons landlord sent her an eviction notice after she withheld rent due to the conditions. Read more The rowhouse in Port Richmond looked promising, with three bedrooms, new floors, and a small white porch out front. After having moved three times in 15 months, Linda Watson hoped she'd found some stability there with her 21-year-old daughter and 12-year-old son. But come late October, the heat didn't work. It wasn't fixed for three cold months this winter, despite her repeated calls to the property managers for GoodHomes215 LLC, Watson said. (An attorney for the landlord did not return calls for this article, though court records show both parties later agreed to address the described repairs.) Watson bought four space heaters, driving her electricity bill up over $1,000. Then, sewer water started seeping into the basement. The family stopped paying rent. The eviction notice arrived in February. Watson is one of more than 20,000 people who will have eviction proceedings filed against them in Philadelphia in a typical year. That's nearly 1 in 14 renters. About half of them will be put out of their homes. With aging housing stock, rising rental costs, and a lack of affordable units, evictions have become a national crisis, more widely acknowledged since the publication of the 2017 Pulitzer Prize-winning book Evicted: Poverty and Profit in the American City, by Princeton University sociologist Matthew Desmond. "I'm sure I'm not the only one going through this," Watson said this week, still in her home as her case is pending in court. "I stopped paying to get him to pay attention to me. But then he turns around and says: 'You're living there and you're not paying. You can't stay for free.' " This month, Desmond's Eviction Lab released the first national evictions database. Until then, evictions weren't tracked in any meaningful way. Now cities including Philadelphia have started looking at their own numbers, which in some cases are startling. Philadelphia ranks fourth in total number of evictions. While it ranks 81st out of the 100 biggest cities for its eviction rate, according to the Eviction Lab, in some low-income neighborhoods as many as 15 percent of residents will have proceedings filed against them. Nationally, about 70 percent of eviction notices go to women of color. A study by the Reinvestment Fund found a high correlation between African American neighborhoods and evictions here. The Philadelphia numbers represent only evictions filed in court, not illegal lockouts. Within the last year, the city has changed requirements for landlords looking to remove their tenants, proposed legislation to make it harder for landlords to discriminate against tenants, and created a task force, which just this week released 17 recommendations for Philadelphia. "There's been a definite sea change," said Emily Dowdall of the Philadelphia Reinvestment Fund. "Before this data was available, people thought of evictions as stories that boiled down to bad tenants or bad landlords. But once you begin to see the scale of it, once you see it's happening nationally, you see it's not just some individual conflict but something structural or societal." Nearly half 47 percent of Philadelphians live in rental properties. Families are paying more for housing while money coming in remains largely flat. Landlords, meanwhile, often operate on slim economic margins and struggle to make building repairs. Watson left an apartment in Port Richmond that was infested with rats. She moved into a shelter with her son to save money for a new place. Because Watson's credit score was so low, the lease on the Port Richmond house is in the name of her daughter, Zakia Merrell. They pooled Social Security and Merrell's salary at a day-care center to cover the $1,000 monthly rent. Now Watson's fighting to stay in the home with the help of an attorney from the Legal Help Center. Michele Cohen, who's worked with more than 3,000 families, most of them facing evictions, over 15 years, said this case "is not an uncommon experience for tenants who live at or near the poverty level." "Many people believe that low-income tenants do not pay their rent because of the lack of money," Cohen said. "While this is often the case in many of the families that I assist, the family legally withholds their rent because the landlord is refusing to make repairs." Watson is in the minority of tenants about 8 percent represented in the city's landlord tenant court. Landlords have counsel about 81 percent of the time. One in three cases end in judgments for the landlord because the tenant doesn't show up. Regardless of the outcome of a proceeding, the filing stays on the Municipal Court docket, searchable by landlords, for the rest of a tenant's life. The city's Eviction Task Force has recommended all fillings and judgments be expunged after three years except for those cases in which there is no judgment against tenants. Those should be expunged immediately, they wrote. More legal aid The city in January announced a $500,000. six-month commitment to improve access to legal representation to tenants. It's modest compared with the $155 million New York City spends to provide counsel for any renter whose income falls at less than 200 percent of the poverty line. A court navigator circulates courtrooms to answer questions about the legal process. An attorney and a paralegal from Community Legal Services staff a Landlord/Tenant Help Center from 9:30 a.m. to 2 p.m., Mondays through Thursdays. They can accommodate nine people a day. A separate lawyer-for-a-day can advise five more people each day. There is usually a long waiting list for both. These programs might not continue past July. The money, which city spokeswoman Ajeenah Amir described as a one-time increase, is not in next year's budget. "We look forward to working with City Council through this year's budget process," she said. Councilwoman Helen Gym, who pushed for the initiative, said she's hoping the money is restored. "This is something that needs to be expanded, not just re-upped," she said. Changes to court procedures In January, landlord tenant court started asking landlords to attach a proof of rental license and certificate of rental suitability to any eviction filing. Landlords who can't prove that their dwelling is up to code or that they have a license to rent now have a tougher time evicting tenants or collecting back rent. There is some evidence that the procedural change has cut down the number of evictions filed. In the first three months of 2018, such actions were down about 300 each month compared with the same months in 2016 and 2017, according to court data compiled by Philadelphia Legal Assistance. Legislation Landlords don't need a reason to tell a tenant to leave once the lease has expired, and since so many people live on month-to-month leases, that can mean short notice for renters. City Council is considering a "just cause" eviction bill, which would require landlords to demonstrate why they are not renewing a lease or are evicting a tenant. It would not protect people who are priced out of their apartments after a landlord chooses to renovate and raise the rent or sell the building. The Homeowners Association of Philadelphia (HAPCO), which represents landlords, opposes the bill. "The majority of the evictions that are done in landlord tenant court are done for nonpayment of rent," said Victor Pinckney, vice president of the organization. "People don't have jobs. They need money, and the city is trying to turn landlords into a social service. The bottom line is, most of us who are in this business are in it to feed our families." Looking ahead The draft report from the city Eviction Task Force this week makes 17 recommendations, including: Low-interest loans for small landlords to make repairs. A pre-complaint resolution process for tenants and landlords to come to agreements before an eviction is filed. Increased legal representation for low-income tenants. Working with the state legislature and Municipal Court to expunge eviction filings and judgments. "If we're evicting people in our city for less than $500 or $600 for rent and instead absorbing thousands and thousands of dollars in expending services to support these individuals, we have to know we can do it better," said Gym, a task force member. Watson and her daughter agreed in court to start paying rent, once the landlord makes the repairs. Meanwhile, the place is sparsely furnished, the walls mostly blank. "When you move into a property, you don't really know the situation," she said. "We don't know if the water's going to leak, is the heat going to work? You can't go stand on top of the roof. So you move in, and then things start to happen." Philadelphia Media Network is one of 19 news organizations producing "Broke in Philly," a collaborative reporting project on solutions to poverty and the city's push toward economic justice. Follow us at @BrokeInPhilly. City Council members are so skeptical about new property assessments across Philadelphia that they are looking to hire a real estate appraising firm to audit the city office that made the calculations. A request for proposals was issued Thursday for a vendor to examine the process used in determining the 2019 property values, which skyrocketed in some neighborhoods, as well as the accuracy of those assessments. Rising values will lead to tax hikes for many homeowners even before the mayor's proposed 4.1 percent increase in the property-tax rate is considered. "From our cursory review there are significant inconsistencies in the assessments, literally block to block," Council President Darrell Clarke said in an interview. "Normally it may not raise so much concern, but when there is a request for a tax increase on top of inconsistent and dramatic swings of value, we want to make sure there is a process that people can feel that was done in a way that is consistent." The median market value of single-family homes increased 10.5 percent from 2018 assessments, from $112,800 to $124,600, according to an Inquirer and Daily News analysis of the city's assessment data. The median tax bill would increase $165, excluding any homestead exemption or the proposed rate increase. But homeowners in neighborhoods such as South Philadelphia, Fishtown, and Chestnut Hill are seeing higher increases in value and taxes. Overall, market values for all types of properties increased nearly 8 percent to $162 billion, according to city data. City spokesman Mike Dunn said Thursday that the city is "confident" in its assessments and welcomes the audit. "The Office of Property Assessment has greatly improved the accuracy of assessments, using nationally recognized methodologies, since the implementation of the Actual Value Initiative in 2014," he said, adding that the administration believes an audit will "alleviate the concerns of Council members and residents." During the assessment office's budget hearing this month, council members grilled City Chief Assessment Officer Michael Piper over how property values could jump so much in one year. The idea of introducing AVI was assessments would be done annually so people would only see 2 to 3 percent increases each year and be able to adjust more easily to higher tax bills. Councilwoman Helen Gym asked that the algorithm used for the 2019 assessments be made public. On Thursday, Gym said: "We need our assessments to be regular, consistent, efficient, and predictable, and when we don't do that we risk losing the public trust." For his part, Piper has said that the city housing market was hot last year, and the assessments reflect recent sales. If all goes according to plan, the audit would be done by early September. That timeline, however, could delay a vote on the mayor's proposed tax-rate increase for schools; a vote typically would take place in June, when Council considers the budget. Councilwoman Maria Quinones-Sanchez said Thursday that she was not prepared to vote on a tax increase until she had a full grasp of the new property values. Before we ask people for more money in the increase that's requested by the mayor, we have a responsibility to assure them that our numbers are accurate," she said. National Transportation Safety Board investigators examine damage to the engine of the Southwest Airlines plane that made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. Read more A commercial airplane's engine failure over Pennsylvania on Tuesday bears similarities to problems on another plane less than two years ago, but federal investigators declined to say there was cause to worry about a class of engine shared by both aircraft and used by hundreds of airlines around the world. "We are very concerned about this particular event," said Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the National Transportation Safety Board. "Engine failures like this should not occur, obviously. To be able to extrapolate that to the entire 737 fleet if we feel this is a deeper issue, we have the ability to issue an urgent safety recommendation." The NTSB was not taking that step Wednesday, he said in Philadelphia, adding that it needed more information. The planes, both Boeing 737s flown by Southwest Airlines, had fan blades that broke inside the engine. NTSB investigators have found evidence of fatigue cracks in both broken blades. Sumwalt did not rule out a manufacturing problem as a cause. On Wednesday evening, however, the FAA said it "will issue an Airworthiness Directive (AD) within the next two weeks that will require inspections of certain CFM56-7B engines. The directive will require an ultrasonic inspection of fan blades when they reach a certain number of takeoffs and landings. Any blades that fail the inspection will have to be replaced." Southwest Flight 1380, flying from LaGuardia Airport in New York City to Love Field in Dallas on Tuesday morning, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after its left engine experienced an uncontained failure that appeared to be caused by a fan blade's breaking. The debris that blew out of the engine struck the fuselage, breaking a window and leading to the death of Jennifer Riordan of Albuquerque, N.M, who was sitting in the 14th row, Sumwalt said. Riordan died from "blunt impact trauma of the head, neck, and torso," according to the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office. She was wearing her seat belt at the time of the engine failure, Sumwalt said, but witnesses said the force of the plane's pressurized air escaping the cabin pulled her partially out of the window before fellow passengers were able to pull her back in. The flight carried five crew members and 144 passengers. The titanium blade is one of 24 attached to a hub at the front of the engine. It broke in two places, Sumwalt said, at mid-span and near its connection to the hub, but it appears the break near the hub happened first. The fatigue crack investigators found on the broken blade was inside of it and not visible to the naked eye, he said. The NTSB will perform metallurgical tests on the area, he said. On Wednesday, investigators were still collecting pieces of metal that surrounded the engine from as far as 65 miles away from Philadelphia. The cowl around the engine includes a containment ring a band of durable material such as Kevlar, the material used to make bulletproof vests, said David Brookstein, a Temple University professor of mechanical engineering. "It's the bulletproof vest of the engine," he said. Trying to contain something moving as fast as a turbine blade that's broken loose is difficult for almost any material, experts said. "We're pushing the limits of technology to contain those fan blades," said John Goglia, a former NTSB member. "We don't have a material strong enough to contain it all [at] that high speed." Less than a year ago, both the engine's manufacturer, CFM International, and the Federal Aviation Administration expressed concern about fatigue on blades in the CFM56 engine series. They focused on the benefits of a more robust inspection protocol, but limited the recommendations to planes with 15,000 cycles, or about four years, of service without time in a maintenance shop. A spokeswoman for Southwest said Wednesday that a maintenance recommendation from the manufacturer of the plane's engine that addressed problems with fan blades would not have applied to the engine involved in Tuesday's incident. "The engine was not subject to the bulletin released last year," said Brandy King, the Southwest spokeswoman. The NTSB would not confirm that in a news conference Wednesday. The agency will track the history of each of the 24 fan blades in the engine, Sumwalt said. King did not specify why the bulletin didn't apply. She declined to provide information about the engine's maintenance history. A review of FAA repair data records on the plane involved Tuesday showed no previous significant engine problems. Southwest said Tuesday that it would subject all its engines to an accelerated maintenance regimen, including ultrasonic inspection of fan blades, that should be completed in 30 days CFM, a partnership between General Electric and the French company Safran Aircraft Engines, was working with the NTSB on the investigation, a spokeswoman said Wednesday. She and other experts described the CFM56 series as workhorses, with a good record and used by 300 airlines. The initial bulletin advising airlines to give special attention to fan blades came from CFM, but the company would not say whether another would be forthcoming after Tuesday's accident. "I can't rule it in or rule it out in general," said CFM spokeswoman Jamie Jewell. The FAA declined to say Wednesday whether the engine failure over Pennsylvania would prompt any additional actions or changes to its proposed directive. In August of last year, the FAA proposed a directive to mandate the testing the CFM bulletin recommended, an ultrasonic inspection that would reveal flaws in metal parts. That proposal is still going through the FAA's approval process. Ultrasonic inspections operate on the same principle as an ultrasound, said R. John Hansman Jr., a professor of aeronautics and astronautics at Massachusetts Institute of Technology. "It's the same general idea, except now you put it on the blade, and instead of looking for baby pictures you're looking for holes or cracks," he said. Routine maintenance of blades, which can be swapped out of an engine, includes removing them every 3,000 hours of flight and looking for nicks, Sumwalt said. Those nicks could be caused by flying debris, experts said, and could increase stress on the metal, making it more likely that fatigue cracks could develop. The CFM bulletin, and a subsequent FAA proposal, was prompted by an August 2016 incident similar to the one that happened Tuesday. An engine identical to the one that failed Tuesday lost a fan blade, causing an uncontained engine failure that threw debris into the fuselage, though in that case none entered the passenger cabin. The damage depressurized the cabin and forced the plane to make an emergency landing in Pensacola, Fla. That incident remains under investigation by the NTSB, but in both Tuesday's accident and the one in 2016, the NTSB observed evidence of metal fatigue where the fan blade broke. Fan blades, typically made of titanium, bear a heavy load on planes like a 737. "When you design the airplane or the engine, this is probably the highest-stressed piece in the airplane," Hansman said. When a jet turbine is spinning, the tips move nearly at the speed of sound. The blades draw 2,500 pounds of air per second into the engine, according to a 2013 review in Progress in Aerospace Sciences. They also must withstand significant heat variances. The air coming in is as cold as minus-75 degrees, while the air being vented from the rear of a jet turbine is hot. Depending on wind currents, that hot air can be blown back toward the engine's interior, increasing temperature changes that cause metal to expand and contract. Fatigue in fan blades is often caused by the blade's vibrating over a long period, eventually causing little cracks to develop. But such cracks are more likely to be caused by a nick, as could happen if the blade is struck by flying debris, or by defects in the metal, experts said. Though experts didn't rule it out, several said it was unlikely there was a widespread problem with manufacturing or materials on CFM56 engines. The scrutiny on the fan blades is intense, they said. "What it says to me is we're starting to discover some events with the engine that were not obvious before," Goglia said. He described aviation as a relatively young technology. Knowledge has grown substantially, and the maintenance demands of aircraft are well understood, but the two incidents involving fan blades could hint at an area where engineers need to be more conservative in their estimates of how often parts need to be maintained or replaced, Goglia said. The NTSB investigation into the 2016 engine failure is still open, he said, because the investigators have yet to figure out why it happened. Tuesday's event might shed more light on what caused the blades to break, and how to prevent that from happening again. "They don't have the cause," he said. "They have all the circumstances around it, but they can't pinpoint what happened. Maybe the missing link could be here." In the Philadelphia situation, the NTSB has a year to 15 months of work ahead. Interviews with the pilots and crew were underway, Sumwalt said, and investigators were reviewing the recordings of the flight crew during the incident. They will look at the broken window to determine what caused that damage, he said. And the NTSB has removed the side wall in Row 14 to see how the plane was dented. Staff writer Michael Boren contributed to this article. Will Wawa be the hoagie hero of this movie? Read more In Pennsylvania, residents must pick a side. Philadelphia or Pittsburgh? The Flyers or the Penguins? The Eagles or the Steelers? But perhaps no statewide rivalry ignites the passion in Pennsylvanians' stomachs quite like that of Wawa vs. Sheetz. Now, one Pennsylvania filmmaker is developing a documentary called Sheetz Vs. Wawa about the beloved convenience store chains and the rivalry that's developed between their fanatical fan bases. In promotional material for his film, documentarian Matthew Fridg makes a lofty and, frankly, a dangerous claim: that his movie will decide, once and for all, whether Wawa or Sheetz is better. "We settle this here. We settle this now," reads the film's tagline. Even though Fridg, 37, has a Pittsburgh area code and grew up in Sheetz country, i.e, the western half of the state, he claims he can be unbiased. "I've been exposed to both and while the Sheetz love is homegrown, I also like Wawa," he tried to convince us. And failed miserably. >>READ MORE: Wawa Day: 'Flagship' store coming to Center City and 9 more Philly moments But that doesn't mean we're not interested in seeing his documentary, which is still in development, come to light. He hopes to release the film in 2019, but the timetable is dependent on funding. Before pursuing his documentary, Fridg wanted to see if there would be interest in the topic, so he created a Facebook page called Sheetz Vs. Wawa in November. Today, the page has 8,000 likes, and a promotional preview video for the documentary has been viewed more than 17,000 times. "I thought I should see if people wanted to see this first," he said. "I would say yes yes, they really do want this." Fridg said he's received messages from devotees who tell him they eat a hot dog at Sheetz every morning or that they got married at a Wawa. He hopes to add some of those stories into the feature-length documentary, which will include the history of the two chains, the culture of each business, and notable employees. "We'll also delve into the people that are the fans, the lovers of the brands," he said. "Because actually the stores are not rivals; it's the fans who created the rivalry." He said he hopes other businesses will watch his film "and take notes on how Sheetz and Wawa have done things." We know. Fridg keeps putting Sheetz before Wawa, whenever he speaks and in the title of his movie. It's making us very suspicious, too. Aside from following fans of the stores and delving into the brands' cultures, Fridg said his movie will have "some sort of test" to determine which convenience store is better. "So we will go on a journey, we may do a coffee taste test, we may do a side-by-side hoagie test, or we just may end up having a big tug of war between Sheetz and Wawa employees," he said. "We want to make the movie fun and serious but more fun than serious." Fridg, who works for a production company in Pittsburgh, urged those interested in seeing his Sheetz Vs. Wawa film to sign up for the movie's email list (where you can choose your side, Wawa or Sheetz) and to share their stories at his movie's website. Finally, Philly at dawn, we must ride! For Fridg has a Wawa vs. Sheetz poll on his movie's Facebook page and somehow, Wawa is not winning. Yet. "Philly has to get on that poll and represent," Fridg said. Dani Jo, 31, of Kensington, with Black Lives Matter, holds her sign as she joins protesters organized by the interfaith group POWER outside City Hall April 19, 2018, rallying against the decision of officers to arrest two black men at a Center City Starbucks last week. Read more Protesters convened outside Philadelphia police headquarters and marched to City Hall late Thursday afternoon to rally against the decision of officers to arrest two black men at a Center City Starbucks last week, an incident that has sparked national outrage. The march was organized by POWER, an interfaith group that helped lead Monday's sit-in at the 18th and Spruce Streets location where the incident occurred last Thursday. Earlier this week, members of the group met with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson and chairman Howard Schultz about the incident. Thursday's protest came hours after Philadelphia Police Commissioner Richard Ross publicly apologized to the men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, who were arrested for sitting in the store without making a purchase. Ross initially said "officers did absolutely nothing wrong," a comment that drew outrage from activists and stirred POWER to hold Thursday's march. Here is a recap of the event. At City Hall, protesters call for meeting with Mayor Kenney Kenney issues apology to men and praises Ross on Twitter "I want to commit our city to healing together," Kenney wrote while the march was underway. Protesters chant and march toward City Hall Weve had enough of getting accosted while black Some activists demanded a sit-down meeting with police. Commissioner Ross showed his true colors when he defended police, marchers say Ross' apology was too little too late to some activists. Others protested how many officers responded to the Starbucks last Thursday. >>READ MORE: Philly looking into other incidents at same Starbucks where two black men were arrested >>READ MORE: Men arrested at Philadelphia Starbucks appear on GMA: 'It's not just a black people thing, this is a people thing' Senate Majority Leader Jake Corman (R., Centre) has introduced a bill designed to stem fraternity hazing and make college campuses safer. The measure which unanimously passed the Senate on Wednesday and is in the House for consideration would require Pennsylvania colleges and universities to create anti-hazing policies and publish online a partial account of all hazing incidents. It would also add stiffer penalties for individuals and organizations accused of hazing, and offer legal protections to those who call 911 to report an incident. Too many students have died from senseless hazing incidents on college campuses across the country, including the 2017 tragic death of Pennsylvania State University sophomore Timothy Piazza, 19, for whom Sen. Corman's bill is named. Tim died after a fraternity hazing ritual called the "gauntlet," in which he was forced to down 18 drinks in less than 90 minutes. He sustained fatal injuries after a headfirst fall down a set of stairs. This is not an isolated incident. In this academic year alone, a Louisiana State University student died after a hazing ritual called "Bible study," in which pledges were forced to drink if they answered incorrectly to questions about the fraternity. A junior pledging a fraternity at Florida State University died after he drank a bottle of bourbon during a "big brother" ritual. A Texas State University sophomore died after an initiation for his fraternity. This is not to single out any college or university, but to show that such tragedies are all too common. In the last decade alone, more than 40 students have died from hazing-related accidents in the United States, according to data compiled by Hank Nuwer, a journalism professor at Franklin College in Indiana. To be sure, Drexel University is not immune and has had its sharing of fraternity drinking incidents. We have policies in place that prohibit hazing in any form. Since 2008, we have been active participants in the national Hazing Prevention Awareness Week, which is designed to raise awareness of the negative effects of hazing and focus on constructive team-building exercises. To further ensure safety and best practices, we recently retained an outside expert to conduct a qualitative and quantitative analysis of our fraternity and sorority community. Despite extensive efforts here and on other campuses, students do make bad decisions from time to time especially when alcohol is involved. Sometimes those decisions turn deadly. It is not just the hazing victims and their families who are affected. In January, four former fraternity members at Baruch College in New York were sentenced to up to two years in prison stemming from the 2013 death of a pledge from Pennsylvania. Those students now have a painful memory of their role in a tragedy, and a legal record that will follow them forever. Hazing deaths tend to attract widespread media coverage. However, we shouldn't forget that fraternities and sororities contribute immensely to the richness of college campuses throughout the year. Drexel has an active and engaged Greek community that includes 35 recognized fraternities and sororities with an undergraduate membership of 1,700 students. Members of Greek organizations excel in the classroom (3.2 average GPA) and are engaged in the local community, with 84 percent participating in one to 15 hours of community service per month. Despite the positive contributions, the safety of our students is paramount. I reviewed the 70-page grand jury report last year that detailed the heart-wrenching circumstances surrounding Tim Piazza's death at a Penn State fraternity house. The report was harrowing, and still weighs on me. As a father of three, including one in college and another getting ready to attend, I cannot imagine what Tim's parents have endured. As president of Drexel, the biggest concern that keeps me awake at night is the safety of our students. We must do everything we can to prevent reckless hazing incidents from happening again. This includes increased public awareness, constant vigilance, and tougher regulations. If Sen. Corman's bill is adopted, Pennsylvania would be at the forefront of making college campuses and fraternity life safer. The Timothy J. Piazza Law could be a model for other states. I applaud the efforts of Tim's parents to turn their personal tragedy into a public good. Higher education leaders and lawmakers owe it to students and their families to do everything we can to ensure our college campuses are as safe as possible. I hope other university leaders will join me in supporting Sen. Corman's bill. John Fry is president of Drexel University. Television producer Tina Fey attends the Tribeca Film Festival opening night world premiere of "Love, Gilda" at the Beacon Theatre on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, in New York. Read more Upper Darby's Tina Fey will return to Saturday Night Live as host next month for the show's season 43 finale. Fey will host SNL's final episode this season on May 19, with Nicki Minaj serving as musical guest, the show announced via social media on Wednesday. The appearance marks Fey's sixth time hosting SNL since she left the show's cast in 2006 to star in 30 Rock, which was inspired by her time at the show. Previously, Fey performed as a cast member for six years, and joined the show as a member of the writing staff in 1997. Most recently, she appeared as a colonial Philadelphian in SNL's pre-Super Bowl LII episode on Feb. 3. Fey's musical adaptation of her hit 2004 movie Mean Girls opened on Broadway at the August Wilson Theater this month to generally positive reviews. Following the show's premiere, the Hollywood Reporter wrote that the musical is "a surprisingly enjoyable and genuinely funny sugar treat with a lot of heart." A recent SNL sketch, featuring host (and former writer) John Mulaney, name-checked the musical Leading up to Fey's appearance, SNL will feature hosting duties by actor Donald Glover on May 5 and comedian Amy Schumer on May 12 in her second time as host. Glover's rap alter-ego Childish Gambino will perform during his episode, and country star Kacey Musgraves is scheduled to perform during Schumer's episode. Earlier this week, Fey spoke at the premiere of documentary Love, Gilda at the Beacon Theater in New York. The film details the life of late comedian Gilda Radner, an original SNL cast member who appeared on the show from 1975 to 1980. As Fey said this week Radner inspired her to pursue a career in comedy. "I can personally attest, and I feel comfortable speaking for Amy Poehler, Maya Rudolph, and Rachel Dratch when I say that seeing Gilda as a kid [inspired me]," she said, according to USA Today. "She was who she was on the TV, and we all knew that and said, 'I want to do that.'" SNL airs Saturdays at 11:30 p.m. on NBC. Local Black Lives Matter activist Asa Khalif (left), stands inside the Starbucks at 18th and Spruce on Sunday, and over a bullhorn, demands the firing of the manager that called police, that resulted in two black men being arrested. Read more Asa Khalif, an ever-present local activist, was in court on trespassing and harassment charges Wednesday, the same day two prominent racial-justice groups released a statement labeling him "a detriment to local Black organizing." The court appearance stemmed from his November arrest after a loud and profane protest he staged at the Pennsylvania Attorney General's Office in Center City over a police-involved shooting that the office had been investigating. Instead of proceeding to trial, Khalif will be admitted into Accelerated Rehabilitative Disposition, a diversionary court program for nonviolent offenders. He had been charged under the name Earl Pittman, 47, with misdemeanor offenses of institutional vandalism, defiant trespass, harassment, and disorderly conduct. Municipal Court Judge Sharon Williams-Losier assigned him to non-reporting probation for one year. If he completes the program, he will have his arrest record expunged. "I thank God," Khalif said Thursday. "I give him all the praise and the honor." But acrimony toward Khalif from some fellow activists continues to simmer. "Asa Khalif is a major problem in the Philadelphia activist community," read a joint release from the Black and Brown Workers Cooperative and Philly for REAL Justice. "He has proven to be an opportunist, an informant and a farcical ambulance chasing joke. Activists and community members have labored too long and too hard to allow someone like Asa to continue to operate unchecked." The statement goes on to accuse Khalif of conspiring with the police, taking credit for other organizers' successes, and mistreating groups with women and LGBTQ leadership, among other grievances. Reached by phone Thursday, he said he hadn't read the release. "I needed to decompress myself spiritually" after his court date, he explained. After reading the statement, Khalif declined to respond to the criticism, and wrote a statement of his own. It read: "Just to reiterate. The problems facing black, brown and poor people are greater than one person or group. As I have stated before I will not participate in these destructive discussions that are counterproductive. Let's put aside egos and create a choir of voices united in the battle for change." In the past, Khalif has worked alongside demonstrators from both groups. But the Black and Brown Workers Cooperative decided to cut ties with him, according to Shani Akilah, an organizer with the cooperative, after hearing him call police officers homophobic slurs at protests. Deandra Jefferson, an organizer with Philly for REAL Justice, said Khalif has publicly misrepresented that group's goals. Khalif has stated that Black Lives Matter is "not antipolice" and supports body cameras, she noted. But Philly for REAL Justice actually is antipolice, Jefferson explained, and confusion on the matter threatens to stifle their aims for a community-led model of keeping the peace. Khalif has become one of the most quoted demonstrators on racial justice in Philadelphia. Along the way, local activists were rankled, arguing that a media-savvy Khalif was consistently given a platform by reporters who assumed he represented all protesters. Khalif later clarified that he spoke for Black Lives Matter Pennsylvania, rather than the official chapter of the national organization, Black Lives Matter Philadelphia. In September, Khalif told the Inquirer and Daily News that Black Lives Matter Pennsylvania had 75 members. Regularly at protests, Khalif can be seen working with a small group of peers. He declined to share his group's current numbers, but noted that their name has been changed to the Coalition for Black Lives. He became the face of the Starbucks protest this week after an Inquirer and Daily News photograph of him addressing the crowd with a bullhorn went viral. Akilah said their groups began planning the statement before the arrests of two black men in a Center City Starbucks who were waiting to meet a business partner. "Frankly, we've been trying to get this statement [written] for a very long time." Former Philadelphia Sheriff John Green leaves federal court on April 3, the day a jury cleared him of some charges and deadlocked on others. He now faces a retrial. Read more Federal prosecutors will retry former Philadelphia Sheriff John Green on corruption charges, following a jury's decision this month to acquit him on three charges but deadlock on two others. Green must again defend himself on charges that he defrauded taxpayers of honest services and engaged in a criminal conspiracy by accepting a $258,000, no-interest loan in 2010 from a businessman whom prosecutors said he had showered with millions of dollars in government contracts. The lender, James Davis, was in the dock with Green, a Democrat, at the earlier trial. The jury convicted the businessman of conspiracy, with a role in filing a false Green campaign-finance report, and five tax offenses. Peter Scuderi, Green's lawyer, strongly disagreed with the U.S. Attorney's Office's decision. "I am extremely disappointed," he said Thursday. "I think it's just vindictive." Pointing to the deadlock and the three not-guilty votes, Scuderi said prosecutors should not have pursued the matter further. Scuderi said prosecutors may have been encouraged to refile after conversations with jurors. He said federal prosecutors, citing such conversations, told him after the first trial that the jury would have convicted Green on the deadlocked counts except for one holdout on the 12-member panel. Assistant U.S. Attorney Christopher Diviny, who brought the case with prosecutors Sarah Grieb and Jennifer Clarke, declined to comment on their decision, which was made public in a filing last week. Green, 70, a former Philadelphia police officer who campaigned for office as a reformer, served as sheriff from 1988 until 2010, the longest tenure of any sheriff in city history. The sheriff's job is one of five citywide elected positions, along with the register of wills, city controller, district attorney, and mayor. The office's 400 employees escort prisoners to court and oversee sales for foreclosures or back taxes. Prosecutors and the defense agreed during the trial that Green essentially turned over its non-law-enforcement functions to Davis, who earned much of his income via a 15 percent commission from the office's heavy spending to advertise sheriff's sales. Defense lawyers said Green and Davis became close friends as they worked to reform a moribund agency. Prosecutors said Davis, 67, plied the sheriff with kickbacks, bribes and illegal campaign contributions to keep the money flowing. Among other allegations, the government said that Davis pumped more than $200,000 into Green's campaigns, even though city law barred donations greater than a few thousand dollars. Most of the spending was never in Green's campaign-finance reports. The prosecutors also noted that Davis hired Green's wife, Michelle, and renovated a home for him. They said his financial generosity included giving Green $86,000 in "loans" in 2008, 2010, and 2011 that were not repaid. In addition, prosecutors said, the businessman lent Green the $258,000 in 2010 to buy a house near Orlando days before Green quit office late in the year. Green paid him back three months later after he received a $386,000 payment from the city's DROP retirement program. State and local law enforcement officials are investigating the death of H.R. McMaster Sr., the father of former national security adviser H.R. McMaster Jr., at Cathedral Village, in the Upper Roxborough section of Philadelphia. The elder McMaster died Friday of "blunt impact head trauma," according to James Garrow, spokesman for the Philadelphia Medical Examiner's Office. "We are working closely with the Philadelphia Police Department to thoroughly and carefully review this tragic incident. This investigation is in the very early stages," Joe Grace, spokesman for Pennsylvania Attorney General Josh Shapiro, said Wednesday. Philadelphia police did not respond to requests for information. According to a 6abc news report, the 84-year-old McMaster was admitted to Cathedral Village's nursing home for care after a stroke. When reached Wednesday evening, officials at Cathedral Village did not respond to a request for information. Army Lt. Gen. H.R. McMaster, who grew up in Roxborough and is a graduate of Valley Forge Military Academy and College in Radnor, was appointed President Trump's national security adviser last February, after the departure of Michael Flynn. McMaster resigned last month. Cathedral Village is a continuing care retirement community on 33 acres near the Montgomery County line at 600 E Cathedral Rd. It opened in 1979 with the support of the Episcopal Diocese of Pennsylvania. Now owned by Presbyterian Senior Living, it has apartments 282 apartments and a 133-bed nursing facility that accepts patients who do not live in the retirement community, which attracts many well-off residents from Northwest Philadelphia. Two people, including a toddler, were critically wounded in a street shooting Wednesday night in Southwest Philadelphia, police said. The shooting happened around 8:30 p.m. near 67th and Trinity Streets in the Mount Moriah section. Wounded were a 21-year-old man who was shot at least nine times and taken to Penn Presbyterian Medical Center, and his 18-month-old son, who was wounded twice, in the chest and in the leg, according to Lt. John Walker of Southwest Detectives. The toddler was taken to Children's Hospital of Philadelphia. Both were in critical condition. The two victims were inside a black Dodge Charger when at least one gunman walked up to the driver's door and opened fire, Walker said. After being shot, the 21-year-old man drove off, with additional shots continuing from behind the vehicle. Walker said the gunman apparently had been waiting for his target and had to know there was a child in the car when he fired at the fleeing car. The father drove two blocks to the police station at 65th Street and Woodland Avenue. Fire medics attached to that station transported the 18-month-old to CHOP, and police took his father to Penn Presbyterian. The police said they were not aware of a motive for the shootings. Federal prosecutors say that Mohammed Jabateh of Delaware County committed murder, rape, and cannibalism under the nickname Jungle Jabbah during Liberias first civil war. Read more A Delaware County man convicted of hiding his past as the murderous Liberian warlord "Jungle Jabbah" was sentenced to 30 years in federal prison Thursday a historic punishment that prosecutors touted Thursday as one of the longest ever given to an accused war criminal convicted of immigration fraud in the United States. Before then, no one had even been prosecuted in connection with the conflict that left more than 250,000 dead and a generation of survivors both in Liberia and Philadelphia's sizable expat community clamoring for justice. Although Jabateh's sentence Thursday was not specifically tied to any of the dozens of acts of murder, rape, enslavement, and cannibalism that prosecutors attributed to him, U.S. District Judge Paul S. Diamond said those deeds factored heavily into his decision to dramatically depart from the traditional federal sentencing guidelines for perjury and immigration fraud, the charges on which Jabateh was convicted last year. In handing down the sentence, Diamond described the prison term suggested by those guidelines 15 to 21 months as not only "unreasonable but outrageously offensive" in light of Jabateh's wartime conduct. However, "I want to be clear," Diamond cautioned. "I am departing not based on the horror of the atrocities the defendant committed abroad. Rather, I am departing based on the egregiousness of his lies and their effect on our asylum laws and immigration system." For his part, Jabateh the owner of an international shipping business and the father of 13 children in the United States and Africa said nothing throughout the hearing, staring blankly ahead as Diamond ticked off a list of his misdeeds. When it came time to address the judge, he leaned forward slightly and spoke softly into the microphone: "Your Honor, sir, I have nothing to say." Within minutes of his removal from the courtroom in handcuffs, reactions poured in from the Philadelphia region and from across the Atlantic. "The atrocities committed by Mohammed Jabateh are so horrific that they are almost beyond belief," U.S. Attorney William M. McSwain said. "For his surviving victims and the family members of those he brutally murdered, we hope this sentence offers some measure of comfort." In Liberia's capital, Monrovia, Hassan Bility, director of the Monrovia-based nonprofit Global Justice and Research Project, echoed that sentiment. "Liberian victims have been waiting for more than 15 years to see their perpetrators held accountable," he said in a statement, calling Jabateh's conviction and sentence "a testament to the unwavering commitment and resilience of the victims who are making their voices heard not only within Liberia but also globally." None of the 17 Liberians whom the U.S. Justice Department flew in from Africa to testify against Jabateh last fall attended Thursday's proceedings. But their presence was keenly felt. When asked at trial to identify the man responsible for their torment, each offered the same answer, identifying Jabateh by his nom de guerre, "Jungle Jabbah." One woman testified she had been captured and turned into a sex slave at 13, being raped daily for weeks until she managed to escape. A farmer from Liberia's northwest mining country detailed how he had been forced into slavery and ordered to dig for diamonds on threat of death, to fund Jabateh's war effort. And in perhaps the most wrenching testimony of the trial, the wife of a village chieftain alleged that Jabateh's soldiers killed her husband and then delivered his heart to her on a platter with orders to cook it for Jabateh and his men. "When one tries to describe the atrocities the horror and the terror and the brutality committed by Mohammed Jabateh, it's tempting, almost unavoidable, to resort to phrases like indescribable," Assistant U.S. Attorney Nelson S.T. Thayer said in court Thursday. "But we know that [those] shocking atrocities can be described. We heard them because of the incredible courage of those Liberian witnesses." Coverage in Liberian newspapers has described the case in totemic terms that extend beyond Jabateh and the crimes he committed, wondering if it might signal an end to the impunity the nation's war criminals have enjoyed for many years. The nation's former president, Charles Taylor, was convicted of war crimes by an international court in 2012 but for actions tied to a civil war in neighboring Sierra Leone. It took a U.S. court to sentence his son known as "Chuckie" Taylor to prison in 2009 for his own barbaric behavior in a second civil war that roiled Liberia between 1999 and 2003. Some former rebel leaders still hold positions of power in the government in Monrovia, and the ethnic divisions that fueled the wars still divide the nation. Jabateh maintained that he, too, was a victim of Taylor's autocratic regime. After fleeing to the U.S. in 1998, he obtained political asylum, claiming he had been imprisoned and tortured by the president's forces. It was in filling out forms for that immigration process that Jabateh told the lies about his wartime past that ultimately landed him in court. His lawyer, Greg Pagano, argued Thursday that even though a jury convicted Jabateh for that deception, the judge should not conclude that the panel was necessarily convinced that he had committed all of the atrocities of which he was accused. But Linwood C. Wright Jr., Thayer's co-counsel, said that no matter what the jurors intended, their verdict meant much to those who suffered at Jabateh's hands. "It's true that he was sentenced for the crimes that he committed in this country, but it's not lost on [his victims] that accountability is accountability," Wright said Thursday. As for the chance for Liberians to one day obtain justice in their native country for war crimes committed there, Thayer said: "That reckoning must be left to another court and another day." Charito Morales, right, speaks as part of a group of activists advocating for Puerto Rican families who came to Philadelphia following Hurricane Maria protest in front of FEMA's Philadelphia office in Philadelphia, PA on April 18, 2018. DAVID MAIALETTI / Staff Photographer Read more An activist who has been helping Puerto Ricans get back on their feet following Hurricane Maria had a message Wednesday for islanders considering Philadelphia: Don't come here. "There's no long-term solution from the government," Charito Morales, a nurse and advocate, said at a morning news conference outside of the Federal Emergency Management Agency's Philadelphia office. "We want the city to tell the truth," she said. "They don't have services. Stop coming to Philadelphia or Pennsylvania. They don't have resources. They don't have a place for you to live. Stay home, ask people to help you on the island." Morales' frustration stems from the experience of hundreds of families who came to Philadelphia looking for jobs and housing after losing nearly everything in September's Category 5 hurricane. Some got FEMA assistance for temporary housing, but many others have complained about not being able to get any aid from the local, state or federal governments. The lack of available public and subsidized housing has forced some evacuees into relatives' basements and cramped apartments. The homeless shelters are operating at capacity most days. On Friday, FEMA will stop paying to house some of the evacuee families at hotels. FEMA spokesman Daniel Llargues couldn't say how many of the 116 families currently in Pennsylvania hotels will be allowed to remain after Friday's cuts. But even they won't get much more help: FEMA plans to end the hotel subsidies nationwide by May 14. Morales said the agency told her and other activists that 21 families in Philadelphia-area hotels will lose their housing aid this week. Flanked by several of the evacuees at the event, she said she wants FEMA to extend the hotel stays. One of the evacuees who received a letter telling him FEMA would no longer pay for his hotel room was Jesus Campos. He has been staying at the Center City Holiday Inn since arriving in December with his wife and 12-year-old daughter. Campos soon found work with a moving company. But with five-hour work days at $11 an hour, it's not enough for a rental deposit and continued rent. He's applied for rental assistance from another FEMA program, but every time he checks on his application status, he said, he gets a different answer including that the agency has yet to receive required paperwork. "It's been agonizing," Campos said. His wife and daughter have returned to Puerto Rico. He promised them he would persevere until he found a better opportunity for them here. Moving back home is not really an option, he said. "We don't have power, the water is bad, there are rats in the river, there are dead cows and other dead animals," he said. "We lost everything. What we're looking for is opportunity. We're not looking to live off the government. Just that the government help us." The Philadelphia Housing Authority has two programs designed to help people like Campos and the other evacuees in the wake of a natural disaster. One is supposed to move victims of federally declared disasters to the top of the agency's public housing wait list and another is supposed to provide immediate housing for up to 40 families based on referrals from the mayor. Mayor Kenney, however, has only agreed to refer five evacuee families for public housing. The administration has said that it isn't fair to allow newly arrived evacuees to skip the line for public housing when poor Philadelphia families have been waiting for years. The city charged the Asociacion Puertorriquenos en Marcha (APM) and the Tenant Union Representative Network (TURN) with the selection process. The group focused on families that had individuals with mental or physical disabilities. Rick Olmos, spokesman for APM, said 32 families were interviewed and five were chosen. He declined to name the five families. Sandra Martinez said that about a month ago she was interviewed by a housing counselor at TURN. Neither she nor her husband are working. He has a pending disability benefits application based on liver and leg problems. Martinez said she was told that once she was approved, she would get to select from three potential homes, and she would get one by May 1. Yet Martinez, who has three school-age boys, is still waiting for a call. The Housing Authority is already settling the five selected families. Three need wheelchair-accessible units and will be accommodated, authority spokeswoman Nichole Tillman said. "As soon as the families' information has been verified and completely processed, they will be able to move into their homes," she said. A city spokeswoman said Wednesday that various agencies were working to find housing options for those who will be kicked out of hotels Friday, but didn't elaborate. Marty Martinez, left, with other passengers after a jet engine blew out on the Southwest Airlines Boeing 737. Read more Anna Montie, a passenger aboard Southwest Flight 1380, was watching an episode of It's Always Sunny in Philadelphia on her laptop when she heard a loud thud. The plane rocked like it had hit a giant pothole in the sky. A man behind her screamed. The takeoff Tuesday had been uneventful, the Boeing jet flying out of New York City's LaGuardia Airport, rising toward 32,500 feet, heading to Love Field in Dallas carrying 144 passengers and a crew of five. Then the left engine blew apart, firing metal fragments into the plane and punching out a window, passengers said. The two-engine 737 lurched down and hard to the left, its left wing nearly pointing at the ground. Smoke and debris blew in through the hole. Oxygen masks dropped as the cabin lost pressure. People began to scream. And weep. "This is bad, like really bad," thought passenger Timothy Bourman, a 37-year-old pastor from New York City. Some passengers heard the commotion, but couldn't see what was happening: In Row 14, Jennifer Riordan, 43, had been sucked partially through the now-open window headfirst. Desperate passengers clung to her, trying to drag her back. Riordan, a Wells Fargo bank executive and mother of two, had been making her way home to New Mexico. Passenger Tim McGinty, in a cowboy hat, wouldn't let go of Riordan, USA Today reported. But he also wasn't able to move her. Andrew Needum, a firefighter from Celina, Texas, grabbed hold and helped to pull Riordan back inside, this time successfully. Blood was everywhere. A flight attendant started to cry. Needum and passenger Peggy Phillips, a retired nurse from Dallas, pulled off their oxygen masks and began performing CPR on Riordan. "It just wasn't going to be enough," Phillips later told the newspaper. Montie, 23, who was heading home to Dallas, sat three rows in front of the shattered window. She knew her life was over. "I wasn't praying for the plane to land safely. We were past that. I was praying to be accepted into heaven." Anna Montie, passenger "I wasn't praying for the plane to land safely," she said by phone. "We were past that. I was praying to be accepted into heaven." It was so loud inside the plane, like white noise on steroids. The cabin smelled like fire. A woman two rows in front of Montie was becoming hysterical. A crew member grabbed her: "Look at me," she told the woman. "You are going to be fine. I promise you." Montie thought of her mother's face and how it would look when she learned her daughter was dead. She thought of her friends attending her funeral. And of her nephew, not yet 2, who would never know her. In the cockpit, multiple alerts and warnings sounded around the pilot, Tammie Jo Shults. As one of the Navy's first female fighter pilots, she had served in a tactical electronic warfare squadron out of Point Mugu, Calif., that helped train ship crews to respond to Soviet missile threats. Now, she talked to air traffic control about what was happening inside on the plane and to prepare for an emergency landing. Her tone was as calm and flat as a pond. No one yet knew it, but the No. 13 fan blade out of 24 total had separated from the hub at the base. Investigators would find evidence of metal fatigue. Falling to Earth Now parts of its broken engine were falling to Earth. Investigators would find a cowl, a piece that surrounds the engine, in Berks County, about 70 miles north of Philadelphia. Kathy Farnan, 77, had been looking forward to getting home to the high desert of Santa Fe, N.M. the name means "Holy Faith" as she sat on the aisle in Row Three. As the extent of the danger became clear, Farnan stayed calm. She held the hand of a younger woman in the next seat, trying to reassure her. A passenger stood with his lower back pressed against the jagged window. It made no difference, but the pressure inside and outside soon equalized. You do not panic. You are trained for this. No transcript has been released that describes Shults' first steps after the explosion. But Robert Hulse, a retired Continental Airlines pilot and former Navy pilot, has lost engines twice before. He explained by phone: Both pilot and co-pilot would have felt a jolt, then automatically checked their dials. "You do not panic. You are trained for this." The priority, he said, is to get the plane level, contact air-traffic control, and divert to an airport. On board, three rows in front of the missing window, Jim Demetros texted his wife, Cindy, in Stamford, Conn: "There was an emergency, problems with the plane, and I love you and the kids." Matt Tranchin, 34, of Dallas, carefully considered what would be his last words to his wife, pregnant with their first child, and to his parents. The simplest phrasing seemed best. He told them goodbye, and that he loved them. For those on board the peril would play out for what felt like hours. Only that morning, passenger Marty Martinez, 29, had taken to Facebook to celebrate the contacts he'd made on a quick business trip and how that would help Social Revolt, his Dallas-based digital marketing agency. "I'd say this 24-hour trip to NYC was successful," he wrote at 10:33 a.m. At 11:03, the plane was cruising at 32,580 feet when the engine came apart. One minute later, it had dropped to 29,300. Two minutes later, at 11:06, it was at 21,500 feet. The yellow cup of an oxygen mask covering his mouth, Martinez took out his cellphone, purchased WiFi service, and went live on Facebook certain this was the end. "Something is wrong with our plane!" he typed. "It appears we are going down! Emergency landing!! Southwest flight from NYC to Dallas!!" A grainy, intermittent Facebook video shows him looking stricken. At 11:14, with the plane now diverting to Philadelphia, air traffic control and the pilot talked out what was happening: ATC: Southwest 1380, you'll be landing 2 7 left, 2 7 left today, and you just let me know when you need to turn base. Right now, I only have one person in front of you, which is a Southwest, but I'm sure he'll pull off if you need to go right in. Shults: OK. A minute later: ATC: Southwest 1380, I understand your emergency. Let me know when you want to go in. Shults: Yeah, we have, uh, part of the aircraft missing, so we're going to need to slow down a bit. ATC: Southwest 1380, speed is your discretion. Maintain any altitude above 3,000 feet, and you let me know when you want to turn base. Shults: All right, down to 3,000 [inaudible]. ATC: Absolutely, you just let me know anything you need. At 11:16: ATC: Southwest 1380, turn, uh, just turn southbound there. Start looking for the airport, it's off to your right and slightly behind you there and, uh, altitude is your discretion. At 11:17: Shults: OK, could you have the medical meet us there on the runway as well? We've got, uh, injured passengers. ATC: Injured passengers, OK. And are you is your airplane physically on fire? Shults: No, it's not on fire, but part of it's missing. They said there was a hole and, uh, someone went out." The controller's voice catches for a half-second. ATC: Um, I'm sorry, you said there was a hole and somebody went out? So the airport's just off to your right, report it in sight, please. Shults: Southwest 1380, airport's in sight. The cabin was now largely silent. Everyone wore oxygen masks. Flight attendants ordered passengers to brace for impact. People could see water below. We are almost there "Everybody breathe!" a crew member yelled, in a video posted by a passenger. "We are almost landing. Everybody breathe. We are almost there." The plane, shaking hard, rushed toward the runway. "Brace! Brace!" some shouted. Others hollered encouragement. Over the sound system: "Heads down! Stay down!" The plane came in fast, about 165 knots, or 190 mph, instead of the typical 135 knots. The wheels touched and rolled. Emergency vehicles surrounded the aircraft. Riordan, the Albuquerque bank executive, would soon be pronounced dead killed, according to the Philadelphia medical examiner, by "blunt impact trauma of the head, neck, and torso." Others were treated for minor injuries. "I didn't even feel the landing," Montie said. "I heard someone clapping, and I looked up and we were on a tarmac." She immediately called her mother. "Where are you?" her mother asked. "I don't know," Montie responded. "But we're fine. That's the thing. We're fine." Staff writers Mari A. Schaefer, Jan Hefler, Erin McCarthy, Jason Laughlin, and Tauhid Chappell contributed to this article. Protesters gathered outside the Starbucks on 18th & Spruce Streets. Two black men were arrested in a video incident that went viral. Read more It has been a month since the arrest of two black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks spun the Seattle-based coffee chain into a whirlwind of controversy and sparked a national discussion about racial bias. A lot has happened since then customers have called for boycotts, protests ensued, apologies and criticisms poured in, and racial bias training is scheduled for Starbucks employees later this month. It all started with a short video shared on Twitter of the pair Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, both 23 being taken out of the store at 18th and Spruce Streets in handcuffs after the manager called police. They had been asked to leave because they hadn't bought anything, and refused. Here's a rundown of events since April 12. Friday, May 11 Starbucks' bathrooms will be open to everyone, executive chairman Howard Schultz said during the Atlantic Council, a think tank in Washington. "In terms of the bathroom, we're going to have to make sure that we don't want to become a public bathroom, but we're going to make the right decision 100 percent of the time and give people the key, because we don't want anyone at Starbucks to feel as if we are not giving access to you to the bathroom because you are less than," he said according to a transcript of the conversation on the Atlantic Council's website. "We want you to be more than." Thursday, May 3 Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson appeared on Good Morning America for the second time since the video of their arrest went viral. The both wish to focus on the positivity that has come out of the incident, including the program they plan to start for young entrepreneurs. "Looking at how we took a negative and turned it into a positive, that's really all we want," Robinson told anchor Robin Roberts. "Not to focus on the negative, but just to focus on positive outcome." Wednesday, May 2 Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson have reached separate agreements with the city and Starbucks following the mid-April incident. The city has agreed to pay them $1 each and set up a $200,000 program for young entrepreneurs at their request. They also reached an agreement with the Seattle-based coffee chain that "will include a financial settlement as well as continued listening and dialogue between the parties," Starbucks announced in a statement. Sunday, April 22 Another protest was held outside of the Starbucks at 18th and Spruce Streets, this time including more than 100 members of Omega Psi Psi ' the fraternity Rashon Nelson belonged to while attending Bloomsberg University from across the nation. "My skin color is not a crime," Terrance Jenkins, president of the graduate chapter of Omega Psi Phi, which advises the undergraduate chapter at Bloomsburg, said during the event. Thursday, April 19 Police Commissioner Richard Ross said he made the situation surrounding the arrests worse, by saying his officers did nothing wrong. He said he would have used different words had he known Starbucks allowed people to stay in its cafes for hours without making a purchase. The officers also did not know that, he said, but asserted that they acted within the scope of the law and were respectful to the two men. "They were put in an untenable position," said Ross, who apologized to the men and announced the department had drawn up new guidelines on handling future calls. He did not identify the officers. Still angered by Ross' initial response to the arrests, dozens of people on protested outside police headquarters and marched to City Hall, chanting, "Police Department, you can't hide, we can see your dirty side." One protester said Ross "showed his true colors" when he defended the officers. The two men spoke publicly, taking their stories nationally by giving interviews to both the Associated Press and ABC's Good Morning America. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, friends since elementary school, are hoping it won't happen again. Robinson noted that he's not sure why he was arrested. Nelson said he looks at the incident as a "stepping stone" for change. "I want to make sure that this situation doesn't happen again," Robinson said on GMA. "So what I want is for a young man or young men to not be traumatized by this and instead motivated, inspired." Wednesday, April 18 Executive Chairman Howard Schultz appeared on CBS This Morning, saying he was both "ashamed" and "embarrassed." POWER, an interfaith group, announced a rally and march for police accountability to be held Thursday, partially in response to Police Commissioner Richard Ross' comments that the arresting officers acted properly. Inquirer and Daily News reporters spoke to Rashon Nelson's neighbors in Southwest Philly. Those who know Nelson portrayed the former Bloomsburg University fraternity brother and father in favorable light. "Rashon is a good kid, he's a good father, and he's not a thug," said John Gossett, 48. Tuesday, April 17 Starbucks announced it would close all of its U.S. stores for the afternoon of May 29 while its employees undergo "racial-bias education." "Closing our stores for racial-bias training is just one step in a journey that requires dedication from every level of our company and partnerships in our local communities," Starbucks chief executive Kevin Johnson said in a statement. The Philadelphia Police Department released recordings of the original 20-second 911 call from Starbucks and radio traffic between officers who responded and dispatchers. In the 911 call, a woman said there were "two gentlemen" in the "cafe who are refusing to make a purchase or leave." In the subsequent radio traffic, a man reported a "group of males" was "causing a disturbance" before calling for backup and a supervisor. The police incident report, obtained Tuesday by the Inquirer and Daily News, notes that the two men cursed at the store manager and refused to leave even though officers asked "multiple times." It also accused the men of insulting police by saying, "Cops don't know the laws," and "Y'all make 45G a year," remarks to which Police Commissioner Richard Ross alluded in his explanation of the events, released in a Facebook video Saturday. The city announced it would look into other incidents at the same Starbucks location. Monday, April 16 Protests at the store on 18th and Market Streets continued, while CEO Kevin Johnson appeared on ABC's Good Morning America to issue a public apology. Johnson also flew to Philadelphia meet with the two men as well as government officials and community leaders. Mayor Kenney and the Police Advisory Commission both said the officers who responded to the Starbucks followed procedures. Sunday, April 15 Black Lives Matter protester Asa Khalif led a protest at the Starbucks at 18th and Spruce Streets where many demanded the firing of the employee who called police. About 75 people attended. "I know the question has come up in terms of whether or not the manager should be fired, and we take full responsibility," Starbucks regional vice president Camille Hymes said. "We put her in a position that did not allow her to be set up for success or those two men." A photo of Khalif armed with a bullhorn inside of the store, taken by Inquirer photographer Michael Bryant, would later be widely used on Twitter as a meme. Friday, April 13 Saturday, April 14 National outrage over the viral video began to mount. Many took to social media to call the incident racist, while the hashtags @boycottStarbucks and #StarbucksWhileBlack become widely used. Police Commissioner Richard Ross took to Facebook to stress that the arresting officers did nothing wrong. Later that night, CEO Kevin Johnson penned a letter to the company's "partners and customers," noting that the "disheartening situation" "led to a reprehensible outcome." "I am heartbroken to see Philadelphia in the headlines for an incident that at least based on what we know at this point appears to exemplify what racial discrimination looks like in 2018," Mayor Kenney said in his own statement. "For many, Starbucks is not just a place to buy a cup of coffee, but a place to meet up with friends or family members, or to get some work done. Like all retail establishments in our city, Starbucks should be a place where everyone is treated the same, no matter the color of their skin." Police and the company began separate investigations. Thursday, April 12 Linda Watson covers her nose because she cant stand the smell after sewage backed up into the basement of the house she is renting in the Port Richmond section of Philadelphia. Watsons landlord sent her an eviction notice after she withheld rent due to the conditions. Read more Good morning, Philly. To start your day, we've just released a new report on the city's eviction crisis to launch a new reporting project called BROKE in Philly, which focuses on economic justice. It's brought to you by the same group of news organizations that created last year's Reentry Project on prisoner reentry in Philly. Plus, details from passengers and investigators have emerged to reconstruct the 20 minutes between the engine failure and the emergency landing of a Southwest airlines flight this week in Philadelphia. Their tales are distressing to say the least. Read on for the latest on this, the Starbucks arrests, and more. Reading this online? Sign up here to get this newsletter delivered to your inbox every morning. Aubrey Nagle (@aubsn, morningnewsletter@philly.com) READ MORE: Why do 1 in 14 renters in Philadelphia face eviction every year? Thousands of Philadelphians are handed eviction notices each year and many of them are forced out of their homes. Evictions have become a nationwide crisis, and now a new national database has shed light on the city's startling numbers. The scale of the problem has already stirred some action at City Hall. The city has funneled more money to legal representation for tenants, for example. But, according to the city's own Eviction Task Force, it's not nearly enough. This new report on the city's eviction crisis is the Inquirer and Daily News' first contribution to BROKE in Philly, a new year-long collaborative reporting initiative on economic justice and solutions to poverty in Philadelphia. READ MORE: Twenty minutes of terror: the emergency landing of Southwest Flight 1380 Engineers have said the engine failure which caused a Southwest Airlines plane to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia Tuesday likely started with the metal fatigue of a fan blade. Federal investigators have so far declined to say there was cause to worry about this popular type of engine. One passenger died after the incident and the pilot, former U.S. Navy flyer Tammie Jo Shults, was able to land the plane safely. Passengers have since said the victim was partially pulled through a plane window when debris from the engine hit the fuselage. An audio recording of Shults' messages to air traffic control sheds light on the harrowing twenty minutes between the failure and the plane's landing. READ MORE: Puerto Ricans in Philly tell others on the island Dont come here Activists gathered outside of FEMA's Philadelphia office Wednesday to protest the end of another round of federal assistance for Puerto Rican evacuees, telling their friends and families, "Stop coming to Philadelphia or Pennsylvania. They don't have resources." More than 2,000 evacuees came to Philly following the September hurricane. Some evacuees say they've received no help from the government since arriving after Hurricane Maria. The city has only referred five families to subsidized housing, 10 percent of what Housing Authority rules allow them to refer. Meanwhile, an island-wide blackout hit Puerto Rico Wednesday. Officials said it could take 24 to 36 hours to fully restore power. What you need to know today Through Your Eyes | #OurPhilly We want to see what our community looks like through your eyes. Show us the park that your family walks through every weekend with the dog, the block party in your neighborhood or the historic stretch you see every morning on your commute to work. Tag your Instagram posts or tweets with #OurPhilly and we'll pick our favorite each day to feature in this newsletter and give you a shout out! Thats Interesting Opinions "But in 2018, we have a quarter-century of evidence proving needle exchanges save lives. It's demoralizing to have to even trot it all out again and shameful to litigate arguments that already have won." Columnist Mike Newall Columnist Mike Newall on the lack of a needle exchange in Camden, where hundreds died of fatal overdoses last year. Dava Guerin worked with the late Barbara Bush on multiple literacy projects and Bush even wrote a foreword to the book she co-authored on wounded warriors. Working with the former first lady taught her not to take herself too seriously, Guerin writes. Corporate diversity champion and author Sophia A. Nelson is skeptical of Starbucks' plan to fix its culture issues with one afternoon of training. She suggests the company follows six extra steps to really deal with their problem. What were reading Your Daily Dose of | Science The Philadelphia Science Festival begins Friday! From family-friendly activities to beer-friendly bar crawls, don't miss our guide to the week's best events. Philadelphia City Councilman, Kenyatta Johnson, center, flanked by two fellow members, speaks at the podium during a press conference outside the Starbucks on 18th and Spruce Streets. Read more Just a few days after six Philadelphia police officers arrested two black Starbucks patrons who were waiting for a friend before ordering, after the store manager called police, Philly politicians made it clear whom they blame for this mess: Starbucks. During a news conference, City Councilman Kenyatta Johnson said that he and other Council members were there to "denounce the actions of Starbucks." Johnson also called his meeting with Starbucks' CEO "all lip service." In a separate statement, Mayor Kenney wrote that he was "heartbroken" by the incident and that "Starbucks has issued an apology, but that is not enough." The mayor promised that the city would "examine the firm's policies and procedures." Instead of railing against Starbucks, our city officials should work on their own mess: the Philadelphia Police Department Make no mistake, Starbucks is a villain in this story, and I support those who call for a boycott of the chain. I also support firing the employee who called the police. Starbucks, however, did not arrest anyone. Philly police officers, instead of using discretion to make clear that the two men did nothing wrong, made the decision to handcuff the clients and hold them for eight hours. I agree with the Rev. Mark Kelly Tyler of Mother Bethel A.M.E. Church, who said, "This isn't about one Starbucks and those six cops." Context matters here. The now-infamous Starbucks is located in a police service area in which 67 percent of all stops by police in the first half of 2017 were of black pedestrians, while only 3 percent of the residents are black, according to the American Civil Liberties Union's most recent report on stop-and-frisk. It's also worth noting that the Police Department is mandated to serve and protect the population of the poorest of the 10 largest cities in America. While of the 1.5 million residents of our city, 41 percent are black and only 35 percent are non-Hispanic white, more than half of the police force (53 percent) is white. The Starbucks arrest is what happens when racist policing and racial segregation meets demands of a corporate entity. It happens every day. The only difference is that this time it was caught on camera. The racist arrest is also consistent with past behavior of Philly's police department. Last year six black police officers filed complaints against their white supervisors as being racist and corrupt. The department still employs a police officer with a Nazi tattoo on his arm. This is also the police department whose officers shot and killed two black men in the last year: unarmed, 25-year-old Dennis Plowden Jr. and 30-year-old David Jones, who was shot in his back while fleeing. Neither officer has been charged with a crime. Finally, this is the department that is entering its eighth year of a consent decree following the settlement of the stop-and-frisk discrimination case from 2011. With years to implement meaningful reform, with a court order, and after a campaign promise by Kenney that if elected mayor, "stop-and-frisk will end in Philadelphia, no question," the Police Department still disproportionately stops people of color and continues to conduct unconstitutional stops. Reggie Shuford, the executive director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania, connected the incident in Starbucks to stop-and-frisk in his statement, "For seven years, the city has tracked the data on racial disparities in stops and frisks by the police. Despite the fact that these disparities remain, it seems that there is no price to pay for officers who continue to mistreat black Philadelphians." Unwarranted stops, racial profiling, and lack of accountability are nothing new for the Philadelphia Police Department. Thus it is not surprising that Police Commissioner Richard Ross declared that the "officers did absolutely nothing wrong." I am unimpressed by the calls of the mayor and Council members to demand a review of Starbucks' corporate policies and require "implicit bias" training (there is literally no evidence that it changes behavior). An overhaul of the Police Department is overdue, and it is time that someone starts to pay the price of racist policing. As long as city officials talk about Starbucks without root transformation of policing in the city, I agree with Councilman Johnson: It's "all lip service." Abraham Gutman is an Israeli independent writer and economist based in Philadelphia. He currently works as a senior data and policy analyst at the Center for Public Health Law Research at Temple University. @abgutman Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg testified before a joint hearing of the Commerce and Judiciary Committees on Capitol Hill. Read more Congressional lawmakers tried to put on a good show while grilling Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg about the misappropriation of detailed personal data from as many as 87 million users by Cambridge Analytica, the political consulting firm linked to the Trump campaign. But after 10 hours of testimony by Zuckerberg spread over two days last week, it seemed clear that many graying members of Congress are unprepared to regulate Facebook or any other social-media or data-driven companies even if they wanted to. Sen. Lindsey Graham (R., S.C.), who is 62, asked Zuckerberg if Twitter was "the same as what you do," while Sen. Orrin Hatch (R., Utah), who is 84, asked how Facebook made money. Zuckerberg, 33, said, "Senator, we run ads." As lawmakers struggled to understand how Facebook works, the social-media giant's share price increased, as investors quickly understood the hearings were likely to result in what Shakespeare described as "sound and fury, signifying nothing." Zuckerberg apologized for the data breach, just as he has done repeatedly over the years for previous screw-ups. He also dodged lawmakers' questions nearly two dozen times. Meanwhile, the senators were roasted on Twitter. But allowing Facebook to resume business as usual is not an option. With more than two billion users around the world, Facebook wields enormous power through the vast amount of private data it collects. During the hearing, Zuckerberg said some regulation was "inevitable," but he did not commit to any sweeping privacy changes. Instead, Zuckerberg said it was important to get the "right regulation." Translation: Facebook lobbyists may be willing to help clueless lawmakers craft watered-down regulations. But even as Zuckerberg promised that Facebook would do a better job of protecting users' privacy, the company was actively fighting privacy measures in California and Illinois. In February, Facebook along with Comcast, Google, Verizon, and AT&T together contributed more than $1 million to a political action committee set up to oppose a ballot measure in California called the Consumer Right to Privacy Act of 2018. If approved, the measure would allow Californians to prohibit companies from selling or sharing their personal data. Shortly after Zuckerberg finished testifying in Washington, Facebook said it would no longer contribute to the PAC. Last fall, Facebook began bulking up its army of roughly 40 lobbyists in Washington after revelations that Russians exploited its network to help elect President Trump. The social-media behemoth spent $11.5 million on lobbying last year, a 32 percent increase from 2016. That lobbying offensive is sure to shape any efforts to protect users. Not to mention that the Republican-controlled Congress is more focused on stripping away many regulations, ranging from the environment to the financial industry. In March, Congress scrapped online privacy rules imposed by the Federal Communications Commission last year, a victory for telecommunications and cable giants such as AT&T, Comcast, and Verizon. In contrast, the European Union is implementing data privacy regulations next month that will make it easier for users to approve or withhold use of their data. Zuckerberg said Facebook is complying with the European rules and will extend those safeguards to its users around the world. That should offer Facebook users some protection as Congress dawdles. But eventually America's lawmakers must act. Opportunities to export beef and pork to the Philippines are being explored this week as part of a two-day British Meat Trade Mission. The Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board (AHDB) and Quality Meat Scotland (QMS) are leading the visit in Manila, alongside eight processors from the UK who will meet with key importers and distributors. The aim is to gain a better understanding of the needs of the marketplace and opportunities that exist for UK meat exports. During the visit, the UK delegation has the chance to speak to the Philippine Association of Meat Importers, discuss production protocols and food safety standards as well as engage in a question and answer session with the Philippine authorities. The mission follows an announcement last summer that UK beef would be back on dinner plates in the Philippines after export approval was agreed, estimated to be worth 34 million over the next five years. Defra and AHDB worked with UKECP, the Animal and Plant Health Agency (APHA), the Food Standards Agency (FSA), the Scottish Government together with QMS, and other UK levy boards and Government departments to secure the deal. AHDB Exports Head of Asia Pacific Jonathan Eckley said: This two-day mission is an important part of an ongoing process to identify opportunities and increase our meat exports to the Philippine market. The Philippines is the largest food and drink market in south east Asia with meat consumption expected to grow by ten per cent over the next five years. The mission has allowed us to not only find opportunities for UK beef exports, but also to increase our offering of pork a market we already enjoy a great deal of success with. Laurent Vernet, Director of Strategic Engagement with QMS, is one of those attending the Manila visit and said the market could offer an important opportunity for Scotch Beef and Scotch Lamb sales growth in the coming years. He added: The Philippines offers a significant future market, particularly for parts of the beef and pork carcass which are not typically in strong demand on the home market. This offers the potential for Scottish exporters to maximise their potential return from the whole carcass. The country first opened its doors to UK pork more than a decade ago, with the UKs market share increasing substantially over that period. UK pork shipments grew four times between 2015 and 2016, with pork offal shipments rising by 40 per cent in the same period. Get Our E-Newsletter - Pig World's best stories in your in-box twice a week See e-newsletter example Will be used in accordance with our Privacy Policy A Cheyenne woman faces more than a dozen charges after she was arrested following a high-speed pursuit that ended near Egbert last week. According to a Wyoming Highway Patrol press release, Natsha Jo Dawn Patnode, 29, was arrested late Tuesday night following a pursuit that originated in Cheyenne. The previous night, Patnode was observed traveling 104 mph in a posted 75 mph zone on Interstate 25. When troopers attempted to stop her, she fled into Colorado before the chase was terminated, the patrol alleges. Tuesday night, Patnode was observed speeding in a 30 mph zone in Cheyenne. Patnode allegedly fled eastbound on Interstate 80 with the highway patrol in pursuit. When the pursuit was near Egbert, Patnode crashed her vehicle and sustained injuries, but she was able to flee on foot. She was arrested following a short foot chase, according to the patrol. An unidentified state troopers vehicle was damaged and the trooper sustained minor injuries. Patnode was treated at Cheyenne Regional Medical Center before being booked into the Laramie County Detention Facility. She is charged with 12 traffic related charges including fleeing, interference with a peace officer, speeding, reckless driving, driving the wrong direction, no insurance among other charges. According to her booking sheet, Patnode had an active Laramie County arrest warrant for four counts of child endangerment. She was booked on $10,000 cash bond. The Pine Bluffs Recreation Department has been awarded the opportunity to host the upcoming 2018 WRPA (Wyoming Recreation Parks Association) quarterly board meeting and Spring Workshop here in Pine Bluffs. The WRPA Board Meeting will be held at the Diamond Bar O Ranch on Wednesday afternoon and then a welcoming social will begin Wednesday evening at Wyoming Malting Company and Pine Bluffs Distilling. The workshop will be Thursday in the Community Center. Each year the larger municipalities throughout Wyoming are given the opportunity to host an annual week long WRPA Conference, and in doing so, it allows each city to showcase their departments, parks, facilities and cities. The smaller towns in Wyoming, such as Pine Bluffs, do not have the facilities or amenities to host a week-long conference but most have the capacity to host a one-day workshop. With that in mind, Pine Bluffs Recreation submitted to the WRPA Board of Directors a proposal to be the first small town to host the annual WRPA Spring Workshop that is usually held in Casper. The Pine Bluffs proposal was accepted, and the Town of Pine Bluffs will be welcoming recreation and parks professionals from across the state of Wyoming to meet, attend educational sessions and network with each other. This opportunity will allow Pine Bluffs to showcase our town, businesses, our recreation department, parks and facilities that we are so fortunate to have for a town of our size. When Pine Bluffs Recreation was awarded the opportunity to host the 2018 Spring Workshop at the 2017 Fall WRPA Conference in Cody, we encouraged other small towns to participate in the proposal process for the workshop opportunity. It is our hope that the workshop will continue to be held in small towns across Wyoming from now on and we are happy to be the first to start the tradition! WRPA is made up of professionals and vendors from across the state and region and exists to provide professional support in promoting quality parks and recreation services through education and leadership and is the recognized voice of advocacy on behalf of parks and recreation and leisure services in Wyoming. The WRPA goal is to represent the needs of our professionals and work with policy-makers as a resource of information and advice regarding issues impacting our profession. Like many law enforcement agencies, the Utah Highway Patrol has lots of vacancies to fill as officers leave for higher-paying jobs. It also has a lot of competition. Salt Lake City recently announced plans to hire 50 additional officers for its police force. This prompted the city council in nearby Ogden to approve pay raises and extra bonuses for many of its officers as a preemptive measure to thwart departures to the larger department in Salt Lake. Highway Patrol Col. Mike Rapich has observed what he calls a wage war among agencies competing for personnel. Were in a really aggressive recruiting effort, he says, probably more so than Ive seen in the 25 years Ive been with the agency. Law enforcement officials across the country say theyre struggling to fill vacancies, largely due to retirements and moves to the private sector. A national survey by the Center for State and Local Government Excellence found last year that governments are having more trouble hiring police than any other category of personnel. Agencies are scrambling to attract and retain talent, often by boosting compensation packages or ramping up recruitment, Governing reports. Chicago Mayor Rahm Emanuels latest attempt to get Chicago police officers and firefighters to spread out into the citys struggling neighborhoods has yet to draw much interest. Six months after the mayor dangled a monetary carrot to try to get public safety professionals to purchase homes in high-crime parts of the South and West sides, just two police officers have taken advantage, according to the city Department of Planning and Development. And both closed on houses in the South Side Chatham neighborhood thats already known as a favorite landing spot for first responders and other city workers, the Chicago Tribune reports. Emanuels program offers $30,000 loans to police officers and firefighters to buy a home in certain more violent areas of the city. If they stay for at least 10 years, they dont have to pay the city back. Its an idea employed by former Mayor Richard M. Daley in previous decades that Emanuel restarted last year. Because of the low participation so far, some aldermen are suggesting changes. But the mayors administration wants to see if the program gains steam as the weather warms up and more young officers enter the homebuying market. A man entered the Douglas County (GA) Sheriff's Office Tuesday night seeking shelter, but several hours later a deputy was forced to shoot him inside the facility, officials said. According to the sheriff and the Georgia Bureau of Investigation, 32-year-old Justin Oakes first entered the lobby of the sheriff's office about 10:25 p.m., where he was offered some water. At some point, Oakes started making "numerous" 911 calls from the bathroom, according to the GBI. He said someone poisoned him, he gave a false name, and he said Im about to be killed, reports the Atlanta Journal-Constitution. When two deputies went to check on him about 2:15 a.m. Wednesday, Oakes, authorities said, was barricaded in the restroom. The deputies pushed their way inside, only to discover he had a knife, authorities said. Deputies deployed a Taser, but Oakes continued moving in their direction with the knife, according to the GBI. One deputy shot him. Oakes, who had a history of mental illness and was on parole from state prison, died on the scene. The deputy was stabbed at least twice in the process. The other deputy was also injured during the confrontation. Both were taken to a local hospital and later released. "The deputy (did) what he was trained to do," Sheriff Tim Pounds said during a morning news conference. The school resource officer (SRO) who quickly ended a shooting at Marylands Great Mills High School last month will receive the National Award of Valor from the National Association of School Resource Officers (NASRO). The organization announced today that it will present the award to Deputy First Class Blaine Gaskill of the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office during NASROs annual School Safety Conference in Reno, Nevada, June 2429. Deputy Blaine Gaskill, who quickly ended a shooting at Marylands Great Mills High School, will receive the National Award of Valor from NASRO. NASRO President Don Bridges of the Baltimore County Police Department and NASRO executive director Mo Canady announced the award today, during the 2018 Maryland Center for School Safety Summit in Annapolis. Without hesitation or regard for his own safety, Deputy Gaskill reacted immediately upon hearing a gunshot, Canady said. By responding directly to and confronting the threat, he eliminated the potential for far greater loss of life. Deputy Gaskills actions exemplified NASRO best practices and our organization will be proud to recognize him at our annual conference. According to information published by the St. Mary's County Sheriff's Office, a 17-year-old male student fired one shot in a school hallway early in the morning of March 20. That shot struck two other students, one of whom eventually died of her injuries. The gunman then moved down a connecting hallway, where Gaskill confronted him. Gaskill fired one shot, striking the gunmans hand as the gunman simultaneously fatally shot himself. Gaskill is a nine-year veteran of the St. Marys County Sheriffs Office who is in his first year as an SRO. He is also a member of his agencys emergency services (special weapons and tactics) team. NASRO bestows its National Award of Valor for a single act of courage and valor through which an SRO or school staff member risked his or her own life to protect others. It is one of several awards NASRO presents at its annual conference. Last year, more than 900 people attended the annual NASRO school safety conference. It offers attendees an opportunity to complete on-site NASRO training courses at no additional charge; receive in-service training; visit an exhibit hall with the latest in products, technologies and innovations; and interact with SROs, school administrators, sheriffs and chiefs of police from throughout the country and world. Available training includes NASROs Basic SRO Course, ideal for law enforcement officers who are newly assigned to work in schools. More information about the conference, including a complete agenda and online registration, is available at www.nasro.org/conference/. For more information about NASRO, visit www.nasro.org. The Rochester International Film Festival stretches over two weekends this year for the first time in its 23-year history. The festival opens Friday and continues through April 28 at Marcus Wehrenberg Cinema, 4340 Maine Ave. SE. An opening reception is at 6 p.m. Friday, followed by the first two of 30 films to be shown during the festival. The opening night selections are " The Cakemaker"(Israel/Germany) and " The Gold Seekers"(Paraguay). "We have more films than ever before," said Alan Hoffman of the Rochester Independent Film Group, which organizes the festival. The additional days of the festival will allow for seven of the films to be shown twice. One of the festivals biggest attractions is "A Fantastic Woman"(Chile), this years Oscar winner for Best Foreign Film, which will be shown at 7 p.m. Saturday and at 4:50 p.m. April 24. "In the Fade"(Germany/Turkey), the Golden Globe winner for Best Foreign Film, will be shown at 9:30 p.m. Sunday and 4:50 p.m. April 26. Oscar-nominated films to be shown are "Loveless"(Russia), "The Square"(Sweden), and "The Breadwinner"(Canada/Ireland/Luxembourg). Maya Washington, the director of the Minnesota-made film "Through the Banks of the Red Cedar,"will host a Q&A session at 7 p.m. April 26 at the screening. The film is about her father, former Michigan State and Vikings receiver Gene Washington, who will also attend. A closing reception will be held at 6 p.m. on April 28, and will include a performance by an improv comedy troupe, as well as an announcement of awards. Admission is $8 for adults, $6.50 for seniors and students with ID, $5.50 for children. A complete schedule of films is at rifg.org. By the time rehearsals for any play enter the home stretch, directors have usually stopped laughing at the shows jokes. For Rochester Community and Technical College s production of the heart-warming comedy "Leaving Iowa," thats not the case. "Im still laughing at stuff, and trust me, at this point, I kind of dont laugh anymore, because Im going, Ehh, yeah, yeah, weve seen it," said RCTC drama director Jerry Casper. Thats a good sign, since "Leaving Iowa" is a comedy. It follows a writer who travels from Boston to his hometown of Winterset, Iowa, to visit his family. Three years before the play starts, his father passed away, and the family has yet to do anything with his ashes. The writer convinces his family to allow him to find a final resting place for the remains, then embarks on a journey that retraces the steps of family vacations past. "Its not as sad as it sounds," said Casper. "It is a feel-good show. Its a comedy about family and about vacations and about memories. Theres nothing about it that doesnt either make you laugh or touch you." Many of the laughs are mined from family vacation memories that seem to have happened to everyone: mismatched enthusiasm for tourist-traps, a fathers temper lost on the freeway, and other troubles brought on by roadway malaise. The father was a history teacher who liked to impart random facts, visit odd places, and converse with the strange characters populating the road. In RCTCs production, the character is brought to life by local theater legend Greg Miller. This isnt the first time Miller and Casper have worked together: Casper has directed Miller before, and vice-versa. The addition of Miller to the cast, according to Casper, has given everyone reason to exceed expectations. "Whats great about having somebody of his level working with my students is they rise up. They dont want to look stupid against him and it makes the whole show better," said Casper. "The better the people are you work with, the better you are. You feed off of each other. So I love having him in this show because Ive seen people who probably would do good work doing exceptional work because of him." This years Go Red Gala wont be the typical luncheoninstead, the American Heart Association is renting the Civic Center for a night at the Kentucky Derby in Minnesota. May 4 is the day before the Most Exciting Two Minutes in Sports, so naturally, its a great time to recreate the southern festivities in Rochester. "We have the most wonderful causes and fantastic events for each of them in Rochester," says Sara Clausen, a regional director for the American Heart Association. "Thats why we wanted to do something different." In years past, the Go Red luncheon was well-attended, but professionalsmany of them in medicinehad trouble taking time off work to attend. "Come learn about heart disease, which affects everyone and is 80 percent avoidable," Clausen says. "Its really a unique opportunity for Rochester." Not everythings changing. The Open Your Heart donations will still be the main fundraiser at the gala. Clausens augmenting it with lawn games, traditional derby decor, and catering by Pinnacle Catering and the Civic Center. Heres a rundown of the Kentucky Derby staples youll find at this years Go Red Gala: The Hats:Wear your heart on your brim? You should definitely still dress in red for this Gala. Raise awareness for heart disease and match the horses rose garlands all at once! However, you might be a little less prepared for one classic derby convention: the hat. While you can certainly shop ahead for something showstopping, consider grabbing a hat at the gala. Clausen says she found a bunch of plain, black derby hats on sale, which she and the rest of the team will jazz up in fine style before the event. "I foresee a lot of red on them," she says. "We have jeweled brooches, ribbons, and scarves." The Drink:Super Bowl and beer, New Years and champagne, date nights and wine some events are better faced with a special drink in hand. At the derby, that drink is a Mint Julep. The best cocktails use real Kentucky bourbon. Sip one as you hobnob with the other viewers. Mmm, refreshing. And, of course, The Race: Nothings been finalized, but Clausen is looking for a way to hold a virtual horse race at the Civic Center. Bring some cash for a ticket, and cheer for your favorite courser! {{tncms-inline alignment="left" content="

The 2018 Go Red Gala begins at 4:30 p.m. on May 4 at the Mayo Civic Center. Tickets are $75 online at ahanationalchapter164.ejoinme.org. Sales will end about two days before the event—and you’ll need time to plan your derby attire, as well—so grab one soon!

" id="b6b9a392-2d61-4067-aa34-76ff1edf0b2b" style-type="question" title=" " type="relcontent" width="full"}} Weve written several times about Amy Wax, the distinguished professor at University of Pennsylvania Law School who has spoken truth to political correctness in the face of threats to her livelihood and attacks on her character. Penn law dean Ted Ruger has now succumbed to demands that Professor Wax be barred from teaching the required first year course on civil procedure. This past Thursday the National Association of Scholars honored Professor Wax with its Peter Shaw Memorial Award for academic courage at the office of First Things in Manhattan. The NAS has posted video of the event along with much else here. Through the courtesies of NAS director of communications Keli Carender we obtained an embeddable copy of the video that I posted over the weekend. NAS has now uploaded the video to YouTube. For those who may have missed it or found the original NAS video format uncongenial, Im posting it below via YouTube and cued to skip the introductions. Here we go straight to Professor Waxs remarks. Professor Waxs ordeal is almost unbelievable. In her speech she chronicles in telling detail the disgraceful conduct to which she has been subject at Penn all for uttering a few home truths and for speaking to her experience with the effects of affirmative action at the law school. Despite the technical imperfections of the video, it is rewarding and highly recommended (by me). There was an interesting clash yesterday between Justice Neil Gorsuch and the other conservative Supreme Court Justices. In the case of Sessions v. Dimaya, the Court held that the government could not deport a legal resident who was twice convicted of first-degree burglary. The majority consisted of the four liberal Justices plus Justice Gorsuch, who wrote a separate concurrence. Chief Justice Roberts and Justice Thomas wrote separate dissents. The Immigration and Nationality Act lets the government deport any immigrant convicted of a crime of violence. Its definition of a crime of violence, after enumerating some such crimes, encompasses any other offense that is a felony and that, by its nature, involves a substantial risk that physical force against the person or property of another may be used in the course of committing the offense. To me, it is obvious that burglary, by its nature, ordinarily involves a substantial risk of physical force against its victims. However, Justice Kagan, in an opinion joined by the three other liberal Justices, held that the statutes definition of crime of violence is impermissibly vague. She relied on Johnson v. United States, in which the Court, in an opinion by Justice Scalia, held that the Armed Career Criminal Acts definition of violent felony was impermissibly vague. In his concurrence yesterday, Justice Gorsuch explained why the void for vagueness doctrine is a legitimate basis for finding criminal laws unconstitutional. He did so in response to Justice Thomas who, in his dissent in Johnson and in this case, questioned whether that doctrine can fairly claim roots in the Constitution as originally understood. Gorsuch wrote: Vague laws invite arbitrary power. Before the Revolution, the crime of treason in English law was capaciously construed that the mere expression of disfavored opinions could invite transportation or death. The founders cited the crowns abuse of pretended crimes like this as one of their reasons for revolution. See Declaration of Independence 21. Todays vague laws may not be as invidious, but they can invite the exercise of arbitrary power all the sameby leaving the people in the dark about what the law demands and allowing prosecutors and courts to make it up. . . . I am persuaded. . .that void for vagueness doctrine, at least properly conceived, serves as a faithful expression of ancient due process and separation of powers principles the framers recognized as vital to ordered liberty under our Constitution. I agree. However, I also agree with Chief Justice Roberts who, in a dissent joined by Justices Kennedy, Thomas and Alito, argued that the statutory language in question is not unconstitutionally vague. Roberts noted that the term crime of violence, defined exactly as it is in the Immigration and Nationality Act, appears repeatedly throughout the Federal Criminal Code (such that the Courts decision will call into question convictions under oft-prosecuted offenses including ones involving firearms). The inquiry the language mandates is whether the elements of the crime naturally carry with them a substantial risk that the offender will use violence in committing it. In Roberts view (and in mine, though there is room for good faith disagreement) this inquiry does not engender an intolerable uncertainty about whether a crime carries with it the consequence of deportation. Roberts spends considerable effort distinguishing this case from Johnson in which, as noted, the Court found similar but slightly different language otherwise involves conduct that presents a serious potential risk of physical injury to another impermissibly vague. I think Roberts succeeds, though one can reasonably disagree, as Justice Gorsuch did. In a portion of his dissent joined by no other Justice, Justice Thomas continues to doubt that the practice of striking down statutes as unconstitutionally vague is consistent with the original meaning of the Due Process Clause. He notes, among things, that the void for vagueness doctrine can be a tool for open-ended judicial authority to oversee legislative choices. Thomas is right. I assume thats why Justice Gorsuch was careful to say that the doctrine, at least properly conceived, faithfully serves due process and separation of powers principles. And it is probably why Chief Justice Roberts applied a stringent analysis in determining whether the language at issue is impermissibly vague. Justice Thomas dissent also argues that that even assuming the Due Process Clause prohibits vague laws, this prohibition might not apply to laws governing the removal of aliens. This portion of the dissent delves into the debate the founding generation had, less than a decade after ratification of the Bill of Rights, about the relationship between the Constitution and federal removal statutes a debate prompted by the Aliens Act adopted by Congress during John Adams administration. This discussion is beyond the scope of my already over-length post. However, its well worth reading, especially if youre an American history buff. So too is the final part of Thomas dissent (joined by Justices Kennedy and Alito), arguing that a challenger invoking void for vagueness must show that the statute is vague as applied to him. In this case, when the deportee committed his burglaries in 2007 and 2009, he had plenty of warning that the statutory consequence is deportation because courts had unanimously concluded that residential burglary is a crime of violence. Indeed, all three opinions those of Gorsuch, Roberts, and Thomas are worth examining, as the Courts conservatives divide at least three ways. It was the Germans' intention and plan to destroy the Jewish nation, Polish President Andrzej Duda said in Warsaw on Thursday during state observances marking the 75th anniversary of the outbreak of the Warsaw Ghetto Uprising. "The Germans' intention and plan was to destroy the Jewish nation, and they also consistently tried to destroy all artefacts of the Jewish people," President Duda told the gathering at Warsaw's Ghetto Heroes Memorial. "The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising broke out when most of the Jews who used to be kept there were either killed or taken out to the Treblinka death camp by the Nazi Germans," President Duda emphasised. "We bow our heads to the heroism of the Warsaw Ghetto insurgents, to their bravery, determination and courage. They were killed while fighting for dignity and freedom, while also fighting for Poland as they were Polish citizens," the Polish head of state stressed. "I am convinced that when someone is speaking about the responsibility of the Polish State for the Holocaust, it not only hurts Poles but also Jews, Polish citizens, and the memory of those who died under the Polish and Jewish flags," President Duda emphasised. At noon, alarm sirens were turned on for a minute in Warsaw to mark the anniversary. The Warsaw ghetto was the biggest in German-occupied Poland, housing as many as 460,000 Jews during its peak period between January and March, 1941. The Warsaw Ghetto Uprising broke out on April 19, 1943, in the final phase of the ghetto's liquidation. The insurgency, which lasted until May 16, was a symbolic act with little or no chance of success. In an uneven, almost one-month-long struggle, the poorly-armed fighters of the Jewish Combat Organisation (ZOB) and the Jewish Military Union (ZZW) stood up to overwhelming SS and Wehrmacht forces, the Security Police and auxiliaries. It is presumed that about 6,000 insurgents died in the fighting. Survivors were mostly deported to concentration camps. What remained of the Warsaw ghetto was razed to the ground by German troops led by SS General Juergen Stroop. Stroop was tried, convicted, and hanged for crimes against humanity in Poland on March 6, 1952. (PAP) AHMEDABAD,India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Amrut Mody School of Management & Rady School of Management to work closely on academic research, teaching and capacity development programmes Ahmedabad University's Amrut Mody School of Management has signed a broad-ranging Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) with University of California San Diego's Rady School of Management, to promote academic cooperation. The strategic association between the two universities is intended to promote close cooperation across various areas in joint R&D and educational capacity building. Specific areas for cooperation envisaged in the medium term includes domain specialized executive education programs, exchange of faculty, research scholars and students under various mobility programmes, as well as jointly conducting academic research projects. This MOU between Ahmedabad University and University of California San Diego will also pave the way for seamless exchange of technological and scientific information including publications, teaching materials, data and library resources. The two universities will also cooperate to jointly organize lectures, symposia, international conferences and developmental workshops. The MOU was signed by Professor Bibek Banerjee and Professor Robert S. Sullivan, at the University of California San Diego campus. Sharing details about the collaboration, Professor Banerjee, Senior Dean of Strategic Initiatives and Planning at the Ahmedabad University, said on the occasion, "The two universities have great congruence in their respective vision on how they wish to contribute to society. We at Ahmedabad University are delighted to partner with UCSD's phenomenal intellectual depth in promoting high quality education and interdisciplinary research." Sharing his views on the partnership with Ahmedabad University, Professor Robert S. Sullivan, Dean of Rady School of Management, University of California San Diego, said, "We are happy to partner with Ahmedabad University's Amrut Mody School of Management to promote our combined intellectual agenda. UCSD's Rady School of Management has distinguished itself as a pioneer in newer models of business education. The school's concentration in innovation, entrepreneurship and collaboration has led to its rapid rise in international rankings - backed by outstanding achievements of its students, faculty and alumni. Together, with Ahmedabad University, we aim to enhance our reach within India and strengthen our academic aspirations." Professor Banerjee also added, "Ahmedabad University aspires to offer global exposure to its students and faculty through collaborations with leading and top-ranking international universities. Our partners, some of the most well respected innovative in their fields of specialisation, are assisting us in developing distinctive strengths within our local context to meet the challenges of a globalising India. UCSD is a stellar addition to that distinguished community of strategic partners." About Ahmedabad University : Ahmedabad University is a private, non-profit university dedicated to rigorous academic pursuit with a focus on building enquiry as a value through interdisciplinary learning. The institution has a unique mind-set to develop cultural and entrepreneurial sensitivity in our graduates. Established in 2009 by the Ahmedabad Education Society, Ahmedabad University is located in one of India's most vibrant cities which has recently been elected as UNESCO's Heritage City. The University offers programmes across its four schools and three centers at bachelors, masters and doctoral levels. Its unique learning process is mediated by experiential learning, field work and a belief that good theory leads to good practice. About University of California San Diego : The University of California San Diego is a public research university located in the La Jolla neighbourhood of San Diego, California, near the coast of the Pacific Ocean in the United States of America. Established in 1960 near the pre-existing Scripps Institution of Oceanography, UC San Diego is the seventh oldest of the 10 University of California campuses and offers over 200 undergraduate and graduate degree programs, enrolling about 28,000 undergraduate and 7,000 graduate students. UC San Diego is organized into five academic divisions: Arts and Humanities, Biological Sciences, Jacobs School of Engineering, Physical Sciences and Social Sciences and five graduate and professional schools Rady School of Management, Scripps Institution of Oceanography, School of Global Policy and Strategy, UC San Diego School of Medicine and Skaggs School of Pharmacy and Pharmaceutical Sciences. Media Contact: Siddharth Baad [email protected] +91-9620213300 Head - Communications Ahmedabad University SOURCE Ahmedabad University "Alternate Health's blockchain EMR/EHR is the first of its kind and completes our comprehensive integration of blockchain technology into all aspects of our software systems," says Dr. Michael Murphy, Chairman and CEO of Alternate Health. "Along with the deployment of our Zi App Blockchain Mobile Payment System and our CanaPass blockchain transaction ledger, Alternate Health is leading the paradigm shift in emerging healthcare data and medical cannabis technology." How the CanaPass Blockchain EMR works: Based on Ethereum's platform, CanaPass' HIPAA and PIPEDA-compliant system records key medical data in blocks on a distributed ledger. Each patient's CanaPass account includes its own private cryptographic key that is used to identify and decrypt the associated private information from the distributed ledger. This is similar to the way a blockchain wallet works, but instead of keeping track of tokens or digital assets, it is used to track and store data such as the patient's lab results, medical reports, etc. Key Advantages of Alternate Health's Blockchain EMR/EHR: Reliability : The use of decentralized, cloud-based storage ensures maximum reliability and prevents data loss through regular automated backups of all data. : The use of decentralized, cloud-based storage ensures maximum reliability and prevents data loss through regular automated backups of all data. Security : All sensitive patient data storage exceeds HIPAA and PIPEDA requirements; Since only the hash value of sensitive data is stored on the blockchain, data can only be decrypted with the private key of that account. : All sensitive patient data storage exceeds HIPAA and PIPEDA requirements; Since only the hash value of sensitive data is stored on the blockchain, data can only be decrypted with the private key of that account. Transparency: The use of a distributed ledger ensures data is tamper-proof, preventing cyber-attacks on the system itself since previous transaction data cannot be changed or overwritten. Alternate Health developed the CanaPass Blockchain EMR/EHR in conjunction with Support Your Buds LLC ('SYB'), a leader in custom Blockchain and Smart Contract solutions. Previously, Alternate Health and SYB have collaborated in the development of the Zi App Blockchain Payment system. For more information on the CanaPass Blockchain EMR/EHR system, download the technical description at supportyourbuds.com/blockchain-EMR-Tech.pdf. Technical information for Zi App can also be downloaded from supportyourbuds.com/Zi-App-Tech.pdf. Additional Expansion in the U.S. and Canada Alternate Health also indicated that the Company has begun expanding its presence in the Florida medical cannabis market with the rollout of FlorPass, its Florida-focused adaptation of CanaPass, at all Florida Compassionate Care Clinics of America ('CCCofA') locations. CCCofA operates three medical clinics in Florida and is poised for significant growth with an additional four locations slated to open in 2018. "I am impressed with the ease of use and reporting ability, and the willingness of the Alternate Health staff to quickly and easily modify their setup and templates to suit our needs as a medical marijuana evaluation clinic," says Debbie Mendez-Vigo, a managing partner at CCCofA. "Their support has been outstanding! I look forward to working with Alternate Health on their FlorPass system to expand our research capabilities and future development as well as serve the needs of the cannabis community." About Alternate Health Alternate Health Corp. (CSE: AHG, OTCQB: AHGIF) Alternate Health has established multiple arms-length operations within the medical cannabis industry, each of which drives consumers, data and strategic opportunities to the company's other verticals. This sophisticated cross-integration of the company's enterprises has positioned Alternate Health as one of the only cannabis companies that delivers consistent revenue and intellectual property without growing, manufacturing or distributing the cannabis plant. Through its software solutions, data analytics, and patented delivery systems, Alternate Health's goal is to be the global authority on scientific and clinical support for cannabis in regulated markets. Alternate Health is well positioned to reinvest internal operating cash flow in its platform over the long term, creating an attractive investment profile for its shareholders. Alternate Health resides in the cannabis sector along with companies like GW Pharmaceuticals, AXIM Biotechnologies Inc., Canopy Growth Corporation, and Aphria Inc. Alternate Health is differentiated from other cannabis companies by its focus on ancillary services for patients, healthcare professionals and regulatory providers rather than selling a commodity. For more information about Alternate Health Corp., visit www.alternatehealth.ca. Neither the CSE nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Statements included in this announcement, including statements concerning our plans, intentions and expectations, which are not historical in nature are intended to be, and are hereby identified as "forward-looking statements". Forward-looking statements may be identified by words including "anticipates", "believes", "intends", "estimates", "expects" and similar expressions. The Company cautions readers that forward-looking statements, including without limitation those relating to the Company's future operations, business prospects and financing plans, are subject to certain risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those indicated in the forward looking statements. CONTACT: Investor Relations Contact: Nancy Goertzen, CPIR, 1.604.512.7122 | [email protected]; Jim Griffiths, Director, 1.416.607.5757 | [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679263/Alternate_Health_Corp__Alternate_Health_Launches_First_Complete.jpg SOURCE Alternate Health Corp. PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Angiographic Catheters Market by Application (Coronary, Endovascular, Neurology and Oncology), Geography (North America, Europe, Asia Pacific and Row), End-User Analysis (Reusage Scenario, Purchase Pattern) and Competitive Scenario - Global Forecast to 2022", the global market is projected to reach USD 1,402.8 Million by 2022 from USD 980.9 Million in 2017, at a CAGR of 7.4%. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 76 market data Tables and 34 Figures spread through 113 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Angiographic Catheters Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/angiographic-catheter-market-1219487.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report The Angiographic Catheters Market is primarily driven by the rising incidence of coronary artery diseases across the globe. Further, increasing demand for angiographic catheters in various applications such as chemoembolization, awareness regarding various diseases such as CVDs, and preference for minimally invasive surgeries are also driving the growth of this market. Based on application, the coronary segment is projected to register the highest growth rate during the forecast period Based on application, the market is segmented into coronary, endovascular, neurology, oncology and other applications (such as lungs, urology, and gastroenterology). The coronary segment is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Factors driving the growth of this segment include the increasing incidence of cardiovascular disease, demand for catheter-based angiography in coronary treatments and awareness regarding various diseases mainly in developing countries. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=1219487 Europe commanded the largest share of the market during the forecast period Based on region, the Angiographic Catheters Market is segmented into North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and the Rest of the World (RoW). Europe dominated the Angiographic Catheters Market in 2017. This is mainly due to the large patient population throughout the region. The growing demand for minimally invasive surgeries is also driving the growth of this market Key players operating in the Angiographic Catheters Market include Medtronic (US), Boston Scientific (US), Terumo Medical (Japan), Cardinal Health (US), and Merit Medical System (US). Know more about the Angiographic Catheters Market https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/angiographic-catheter-market-1219487.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850-fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: 1-888-600-6441 [email protected] Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- The report "Benzoic Acid Market by Application (Benzoates, Benzoate Plasticizers, Alkyd Resins, Benzoyl Chloride, Animal Feed Additive), End-Use Industry (Food & Beverages, Chemical, Pharmaceutical), and Region - Global Forecast to 2023" published by MarketsandMarkets, the global market is projected to grow from USD 1,009.9 Million in 2018 to USD 1,313.5 Million by 2023, at a CAGR of 5.4% from 2018 to 2023. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 113 market data Tables and 25 Figures spread through 137 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Benzoic Acid Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/benzoic-acid-market-89927653.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. The growth of the Benzoic Acid Market is driven by the rising demand for benzoic acid from the food & beverages industry; the ongoing urbanization and changing consumer lifestyle, particularly in the Asia Pacific region; and the increasing demand for processed food & beverages. The benzoates segment is estimated to account for the largest share of the Benzoic Acid Market, by application for the forecast period. Based on application, the benzoates segment which includes sodium benzoate and potassium benzoate is estimated to account for the largest share of the Benzoic Acid Market in 2018. The growth of this segment of the market can be attributed to increased use of benzoates in processed food items in emerging economies. Get PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=89927653 The pharmaceutical segment is estimated to be the fastest-growing end-use industry segment of the Benzoic Acid Market during the forecast period. Based on end-use industry, the pharmaceutical segment is expected to grow at the highest rate, due to the growing demand from emerging economies of the Asia Pacific and South American regions. Benzoic acid is very effective in the prevention of bacterial infection. It is used as an antimicrobial preservative, an antifungal agent, and as a tablet & capsule lubricant. Asia Pacific is expected to hold the largest share of the Benzoic Acid Market during the forecast period. China is the largest market for benzoic acid in the Asia Pacific region. The growth in power and chemical industries is projected to be the key driving factor for the benzoic acid in the Asia Pacific region. The growing consumption of frozen food items in China is also leading to the growth of the Benzoic Acid Market in the country. Increased demand for phthalate-free plasticizers from the country is another factor driving the consumption of benzoic acid in China. China is the largest consumer of non-phthalate plasticizers in the Asia Pacific region Key players in the Benzoic Acid Market include Emerald Performance Materials (US), Wuhan Youji Industries Co. (China), Tianjin Dongda Chemical Group (China), and Liao Ning Huayi Chemical Industry & Commerce Co. (China), among others. Know more about Benzoic Acid Market Research Report: https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/benzoic-acid-market-89927653.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Data Governance Market by Application (Incident Management, Process Management, Compliance Management, Risk Management), Business Function, Component, Deployment Model, Organization Size, Industry Vertical, and Region - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets, the market size is expected to grow from USD 1.31 Billion in 2018 to USD 3.53 Billion by 2023, at a Compound Annual Growth Rate (CAGR) of 22.0% during the forecast period. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 87 market data Tables and 47 Figures spread through 180 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Data Governance Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/data-governance-market-108243043.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report Due to the rapidly increasing growth in data volumes, rising regulatory and compliance mandates, and enhancing strategic risk management and decision-making with the increasing business collaborations are expected to drive the growth of the Data Governance Market. The risk management application segment is expected to have the largest market share during the forecast period. The solution providers of the risk management application deliver significant value to businesses by ensuring their important financial data assets are formally managed throughout enterprises. These vendors provide automated risk management solutions to mitigate risks and align critical-business processes with the help of functions, such as managing IT security-based compliance mandates, including ISO 27001, and providing automated risk notifications. Risk management application and solution providers have the potential to deliver significant outcomes and reshape organizations' businesses by providing automated solutions across multiple industry verticals. The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industry vertical is expected to dominate the market, whereas the retail and eCommerce industry vertical is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The Banking, Financial Services, and Insurance (BFSI) industry vertical has realized the significance of data management and governance, which help govern and secure multiple transactions in organizations. Financial institutions constantly face challenges, such as data quality and accessibility, and data security. Data governance solutions help these institutions and banks handle such challenges with effective data management solutions that can prevent data duplication and data loss. Moreover, data governance solutions help BFSI firms maintain an edge in the market, with constant updates to their policies and procedures. Moreover, the ongoing transformations in the retail and eCommerce industry vertical generates large volumes of data, which is ultimately driving the need for efficient data governance solutions. High-quality, properly managed data is crucial for decision-making across the retail and eCommerce industry vertical, as it helps decision makers with product pricing, campaign management, sales optimization, risk management, and product management. Speak to Analyst @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/speaktoanalyst.asp?id=108243043 North America is expected to hold the largest market share, while Asia Pacific (APAC) is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. The global Data Governance Market has been segmented on the basis of regions that include North America, Europe, Asia Pacific (APAC), Middle East and Africa (MEA), and Latin America. North America is expected to hold the largest market size and continues to dominate the global market from 2018 to 2023, due to the significant adoption of data governance and management solutions and the presence of a large number of vendors in the US. Enterprises in this region have quite well-established processes and the high-levels of technology awareness. The risk management and data management capabilities of these organizations are also high as compared to that of organizations in other regions. The increasing penetration rate in multiple industry verticals, such as BFSI, retail and eCommerce, IT and Telecommunications, and healthcare and life sciences, are expected to drive the market growth. APAC offers significant growth opportunities, owing to the growing technology expenditures in major countries, such as China, India, Singapore, and Australia, and the demand for cost-effective data management and governance solutions and services among Small and Medium-sized Enterprises (SMEs). These factors are expected to drive the market growth during the forecast period. The major vendors of data governance solutions and services include Alation (US), Ataccama (Canada), Collibra (Belgium), DATUM LLC (US), Data Advantage Group (US), Denodo Technologies (US), erwin, Inc. (US), Global Data Excellence (Switzerland), Global IDs (US), IBM Corporation (US), Infogix (US), Informatica LLC (US), Information Builders (US), IRI (Australia), Magnitude Software (US), Oracle Corporation (US), Orchestra Networks (France), Reltio (US), SAP SE (Germany), SAS Institute (US), Syncsort (US), Talend (US), TIBCO Software (US), TopQuadrant (US), and Varonis Systems (US). Know more about the Mobile Data Governance Market https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/data-governance-market-108243043.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA: +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to a new market research report "Electric Commercial Vehicle Market by Propulsion (BEV, HEV, PHEV & FCEV), Vehicle Type (Bus, Truck, Pick-Up Truck and Van), Component, Range, Autonomous Vehicle, Charging Infrastructure, and Region - Global Forecast to 2025" published by MarketsandMarkets, the market is projected to grow at a CAGR of 39.85% during the forecast period to reach 1,831,865 Units by 2025 from an estimated 125,212 Units in 2017. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 63 market data Tables and 56 Figures spread through 164 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Electric Commercial Vehicle Market' https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/electric-commercial-vehicle-market-16430819.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Increasing awareness of the pollution menace, government policies and mandates to restrict pollution, reduction in battery prices, and rapid adoption of electric vehicles such as buses and vans are some of the major factors driving the growth of Electric Commercial Vehicle Market. A key driver for the increase in adoption of Electric Commercial Vehicle in recent years is the changing consumer preference. Strategies to minimize the dependence on fossil fuel in developing economies are propelling the Electric Commercial Vehicle Market. Whereas, Electric Commercial Vehicles are used extensively by transportation companies in countries such as China, The Netherlands, and Sweden. All these factors are driving the market for Electric Commercial Vehicle Market. Asia Pacific: the largest market for Electric Commercial Vehicle Asia Pacific is projected to be the largest market for Electric Commercial Vehicles from 2017 to 2025. The market growth, in terms of volume, in the region can be attributed to numerous factors such as adoption of more electric buses, government policies to restrict urban pollution, engagement of OEMs to develop electric vehicles of different propulsion system. Ask for PDF Brochure @https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=16430819 Bus is estimated to hold the largest market share in terms of volume during the forecast period The market share for bus in Electric Commercial Vehicle Market is estimated to be the highest in 2017 and is projected to remain predominant during the forecast period. The share, in terms of volume, of bus in Electric Commercial Vehicle Market is estimated to be the highest followed by the share of van, pick-up truck, and truck. Countries such as China and US have witnessed significant sales of electric bus bus due to rapid economic growth and favorable government policies to curb down emission. Battery Electric Vehicle (BEV) segment of the Electric Commercial Vehicle Market is estimated to be the largest segment by propulsion from 2017 to 2025 BEV is expected to be the largest segment, by propulsion, of the Electric Commercial Vehicle Market, as BEV finds great application in Electric Commercial Vehicles such as buses and vans. The growth of BEV in Electric Commercial Vehicle Market is mainly due to two factors-advancement in battery capacity which fulfills the power requirement in Electric Commercial Vehicle and the decrease of the price of EV battery. The price of EV battery is expected to reach US$ 109/kWh in few years. The Electric Commercial Vehicle Market is dominated by a few globally established players such as Daimler (Germany), Tesla (US), BYD (China), NISSAN (Japan), Proterra (US). Know more about the Electric Commercial Vehicle Market https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/electric-commercial-vehicle-market-16430819.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets's flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA : +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Connect with us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Chief technology officer recognized for decade of innovation benefitting food and beverage logistics worldwide MINNEAPOLIS, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- HighJump, a global provider of supply chain solutions, announces the appointment of Chief Technology Officer Sean Elliott to the Food Logistics Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain. Under Elliott's leadership, food and beverage companies across the globe are revolutionizing their workflows with innovative solutions propelling them into the supply chain of future. "Food logistics is a critical component of the global infrastructure, and we have a social responsibility to provide sustainable logistics capabilities that overcome the complexities of the dynamic supply chain landscape," said Chad Collins, CEO at HighJump. "At the end of the day, this comes back to solutions that meet the unique needs of food and beverage companies worldwide. Sean Elliott has a passion for creating innovative technologies focused on solving today's problems and empowering businesses to adapt to the opportunities of tomorrow." During Elliott's 10 years in leadership at HighJump, he has brought key features to market to help food and beverage companies differentiate themselves and take customer experiences to a new level. This includes 3PL specific functionality to address cold storage, track and trace functionality for warehousing, and TMS products to comply with constantly changing and strict FDA recall standards. Additionally, Elliott designed the next-generation of handheld enablement for HighJump's Direct Store Delivery solution, enhancing both labor management and productivity. Elliott also had a hand in designing vertical solutions adapted to unique industry needs, such as craft brewing and specialty food. "This year's recipients of the Food Logistics Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain award reflect the changing demographics, talent and expertise in our industry," notes Lara L. Sowinski, editorial director at Food Logistics. "At this same time, these changes usher in new perspectives and energy to an industry that is equally diverse and dynamic." Food Logistics is the only publication exclusively dedicated to covering the movement of product through the global food supply chain. The Food Logistics Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain recognizes influential individuals in the industry whose achievements, hard work, and vision have shaped and attained milestones in safety, efficiency, productivity and innovation. From early pioneers and entrepreneurs to non-conformist thinkers and executive standouts, this award aims to honor these leaders and their contributions to the industry. Many of today's best-known food and beverage brands trust HighJump for supply chain management and visibility. This includes regional grocer Lowes Foods, South African supermarket chain Checkout, and frozen and refrigerated logistics services company Nova Cold Logistics. Further information on these and additional customers is available here. A full list of recipients of the 2018 Food Logistics Champions: Rock Stars of the Supply Chain is available here. About Food Logistics Food Logistics is published by AC Business Media, a business-to-business media company that provides targeted content and comprehensive, integrated advertising and promotion opportunities for some of the world's most recognized B2B brands. Its diverse portfolio serves the construction, logistics, supply chain and other industries with print, digital and custom products, events and social media. About HighJump HighJump is a global provider of supply chain management software that streamlines the flow of inventory and information from supplier to store shelf. Named to the Inc. 5000 Fastest Growing Companies list for 3 years running, HighJump employs more than 440 team members worldwide, and supports more than 4,000 customers in 66 countries, ranging from SME business to global enterprises. HighJump's functionally rich and highly adaptable end-to-end solutions help users achieve new levels of supply chain responsiveness, performance and profitability, from the warehouse to the storefront, from the desktop to the driver's cab. HighJump's suite of warehousing, manufacturing, transportation, distribution, mobile delivery and retail solutions allow users to seamlessly drive growth, customer satisfaction and revenue by delivering goods faster and more profitably. HighJump: supply chain accelerated. For more information, visit http://www.highjump.com. HighJump is a trademark of HighJump Software Inc., registered in the U.S. and other countries. Media Contact Heather K. Smith HighJump 1-800-328-3271 x 2717 [email protected] Logo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/653598/HighJump_logo_2_Logo.jpg Related Links https://www.highjump.com SOURCE HighJump Started in 2011 by Stanford biochemistry professor and former pediatrician Dr. Patrick O. Brown, Impossible Foods makes meat, fish and dairy directly from plants with a much smaller environmental footprint than those from animals. The company uses modern science and technology to create wholesome food, restore natural ecosystems and sustainably feed a growing global population. Ranked one of the world's top culinary hotspots by Conde Nast Traveler, Hong Kong is the first place outside of the United States to feature the Impossible Burger, which cooks, smells and tastes like ground beef from cows but is made entirely from plants. The Impossible Burger is served in more than 1,400 outlets in the United States -- from award-winning restaurants to mom-and-pop diners to the nation's original fast-food chain, White Castle. The vast majority of these restaurants serve the Impossible Burger on a bun with traditional condiments and sides. Starting tomorrow in Hong Kong, diners will be able to try the product as a traditional burger -- and as the central filling of savory street food. "We're humbled to launch with spectacular chefs in one of the world's most dynamic restaurant hotspots," said Brown, CEO and Founder of Impossible Foods. "We're confident that Hong Kong -- Asia's crossroads of ideas and influences, both modern and traditional -- will be home to the most innovative Impossible recipes yet." TOP CHEFS IN WORLD-CLASS RESTAURANTS Chef May Chow, named Asia's Best Female Chef in 2017 by The World's 50 Best Restaurant awards, heads Little Bao and Happy Paradise -- 21st century takes on traditional Cantonese diners. Chow is a Toronto native who trained and worked in Bangkok, Los Angeles and Boston. She gained fame in Hong Kong's renowned street food markets and helped to transform Hong Kong into a foodie destination. Chow has also represented Hong Kong at food festivals such as "Omnivore" in Paris and Shanghai. Starting tomorrow at Little Bao, Chow and her team will serve the "Impossible Bao," a traditional sandwich made with Impossible meat, black pepper teriyaki sauce, salted lemon kombu salad, and fermented tofu sauce, between two house-made steamed buns -- on menu for 118 HK$. The "Impossible XinJiang Hot Pocket" -- another popular Chinese street snack -- will debut at Happy Paradise, served with pickled daikon and XinJiang spices, for 88 HK$. "Hong Kongers demand to be on the bleeding edge of global culinary trends," Chow said. "The Impossible Burger is delicious, versatile and perfectly timed to take this city's world-class restaurant scene by storm." Another award-winning chef in Hong Kong, Uwe Opocensky earned his culinary reputation working in restaurants such as Spain's El Bulli, voted the best restaurant in the world. He recently spent a decade as Executive Chef at Hong Kong's Mandarin Oriental -- considered one of the city's finest establishments -- overseeing 10 restaurants and bars and collecting Michelin Stars in three of the venues. He left the hotel in 2016 to join Beef & Liberty as Group Executive Chef, now lauded as Hong Kong and Shanghai's best hamburger, and is also chef at his own restaurant Uwe. The seven restaurant group is a modern homage to 18th century "beefsteak clubs," reincarnated for modern tastes with a focus on natural ingredients and sustainable operations. Popular with both natives and expats, Beef & Liberty uses only hormone- and antibiotic-free beef from the Scottish Highlands -- ground in-house -- and also purifies and carbonates its own drinking water to reduce the amount of water imported (and glass bottles wasted) into Hong Kong. Beef & Liberty will serve the "Impossible Thai Burger," with chilli, coriander, mint, basil, spring onion, soya mayonnaise, crispy shallots and garlic, for 135 HK$. The restaurant group will also feature "Impossible Chili Cheese Fries," with chili, cheddar cheese, spring onion and sour cream over their "Liberty" fries, for 62 HK$. "We are obsessed, in a good way, with burgers and doing what we can for the environment. We love the way that the Impossible Burger has created new excitement in the global burger scene and opportunities to be more sustainable," said Beef & Liberty's Executive Chef, Uwe Opocensky. "We're positive that our guests are going to love the Impossible and feel good about eating it at the same time." Starting today, the Impossible will be available in Hong Kong on a limited and exclusive basis through Classic Fine Foods -- Asia's leading importer and distributor of fine foods. The group specialises in sourcing, importation, storage, marketing and distribution, and has been operating throughout Asia and Europe since 2001. BIG TASTE, SMALL FOOTPRINT In development since 2011, the Impossible Burger debuted in July 2016 at Chef David Chang's Momofuku Nishi in Manhattan. The Impossible Burger is the only plant-based burger to win a 2017 Tasty Award and a 2018 Fabi Award from the National Restaurant Association. In addition to the American fast-food chain White Castle, The Impossible Burger is the only plant-based burger featured in America's most beloved "better burger" concepts Fatburger, Umami Burger, Hopdoddy, The Counter, Gott's and B Spot, the Midwest burger restaurant owned by Chef Michael Symon. The Impossible Burger is made from simple ingredients, including water, wheat protein, potato protein and coconut oil. One special ingredient heme contributes to the characteristic taste of meat and is the essential catalyst for all the other flavors when meat is cooked. Heme is an essential molecular building block of life, one of nature's most ubiquitous molecules. Although it's found in all living things and in virtually all the food we eat, it's especially abundant in animal tissues. Impossible scientists discovered that it's the abundance of heme in animal tissues that makes meat taste like meat. To satisfy the global demand for meat at a fraction of the environmental impact, Impossible Foods developed a far more sustainable, scalable and affordable way to make heme and therefore meat, without the catastrophic environmental impact of livestock. The company genetically engineers and ferments yeast to produce a heme protein naturally found in plants, called soy leghemoglobin. The heme in the Impossible Burger is identical to the essential heme humans have been consuming for hundreds of thousands of years in meat and while it delivers all the craveable depth of beef, it uses far fewer resources. The Impossible Burger is produced without slaughterhouses, hormones, antibiotics, cholesterol or artificial flavors. It uses about 75% less water, generates about 87% fewer greenhouse gases, and requires around 95% less land than conventional ground beef from cows. ABOUT IMPOSSIBLE FOODS Based in Redwood City, California, Impossible Foods makes delicious, nutritious meat and dairy products directly from plants with a much smaller environmental footprint than meat from animals. The privately held company was founded in 2011 by Patrick O. Brown, M.D., Ph.D., formerly a biochemistry professor and Howard Hughes Medical Institute investigator at Stanford University. Investors include Khosla Ventures, Bill Gates, Google Ventures, Horizons Ventures, UBS, Viking Global Investors, Temasek, Sailing Capital and Open Philanthropy Project. More information: www.impossiblefoods.com www.twitter.com/impossiblefoods www.facebook.com/impossiblefoods www.instagram.com/impossible_foods Press kit: https://impossiblefoods.app.box.com/v/presskit Media Contacts: International (English Contact): Ashley Geo, [email protected] Hong Kong (Chinese Contact): Jessi Ng, [email protected] Impossible Foods: [email protected] Other Inquiries: [email protected] Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679085/Impossible_Foods___Chef_May_Chow.jpg Photo - https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679084/Impossible_Foods___Chef_Uwe_Opocensky.jpg Related Links impossiblefoods.com SOURCE Impossible Foods PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Mobisoft Infotech, a leading logistics, and on-demand technology solutions provider, has launched Truck Pulse, a white label truck aggregator platform solution for logistics startups and businesses. Through Truck Pulse, Mobisoft strives to be the preferred technology development partner for anyone planning to build their own on-demand truck marketplace platform that connects shippers and nearby truck drivers at the push of a button. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678710/Truck_Pulse_Logo.jpg ) The trucking industry across the globe faces numerous challenges like inefficient fleet utilization, high brokerage fees, lost freight opportunities and cumbersome manual operations. By embracing on-demand technology, trucking businesses can smartly automate, streamline and grow their operations. Truck Pulse has been designed and developed to tackle such challenges faced by the logistics and freight industry with a mobile-first technology approach. It provides an end-to-end technology solution to build and scale on-demand trucking platforms that seamlessly connect shippers and carriers. Overview and Features Watch solution video Truck Pulse offers a comprehensive truck dispatch software solution that includes native mobile apps (iOS and Android ) for shippers and truck drivers plus a powerful web-based panel to control the entire dispatch and fleet management operations from a central hub. Key Highlights - Shipper App Quick load posting Feature to request and compare quotes from multiple drivers/carriers Simple, secure online payments Real-time tracking of shipments on a map Key Highlights - Truck Driver App Browse load listings and place bids Receive instant job confirmation alerts Upload proof of delivery with signed receipts Location sharing for real-time tracking View payment reports and actionable analytics Key Highlights - Admin Panel Real-time fleet tracking Shipper management Auto and manual dispatch modes Actionable reports powered by built-in analytics Benefits of using Truck Pulse platform for on-demand truck app development Pre-built base solution to speed up the time to market and reduce development costs significantly. Open to customization for new features, enhancements, and integrations. Robust technology stack for high scalability and performance. Multi-currency and multi-language support to cater to regional markets. How will Truck Pulse help trucking and logistics startups and businesses? "With Truck Pulse, Mobisoft aims to expand, automate, optimize and grow logistics and transportation businesses, plus empower shippers and drivers," said Nitin Lahoti, Co-founder, Mobisoft Infotech. The Truck Pulse platform makes it possible for any entrepreneur/business with an on-demand logistics startup idea to get access to state-of-the-art technology in a single place and launch their own aggregator app in a timely and cost-effective manner. The platform has been designed to support multiple use cases around connecting logistics and transportation providers to service seekers whether it be B2B, B2C or P2P. About Mobisoft Infotech Mobisoft Infotech is a global software product development company, headquartered in Pune, India. The company has built deep domain expertise in on-demand app development technology by successfully shipping 30+ solutions for a diversified client base of startups and businesses across the globe. Key Clients: Samsung, Tata Motors, Hyundai, GHSA, Avis, TaxiJet. Some of their core strengths in the logistics, transportation and automotive domains include: Fleet management solution Telematics & infotainment integration White label taxi app development Connected car solution Android Auto and Apple CarPlay integration Auto sales enablement solution for car dealers Car accessories integration Car diagnosis solution (OBD integration) Driver behavior and safety solutions Vehicle recall solution Regulatory compliances implementation Custom GPS driven app implementation CR-3 crash reporting system Follow Us On: LinkedIn Facebook Twitter Google Plus Youtube Media Contact: Ravindra Waghmare [email protected] +91-858-600-8627 Mobisoft Infotech SOURCE Mobisoft Infotech BENGALURU, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Motherhood Hospitals has been at the forefront of mother and child care in India since its inception. Specialising in fertility and neonatal care, its team of renowned experts have treated innumerable cases of high-risk pregnancies in mothers with successful outcomes. A high-risk pregnancy is one where both the mother and the baby need special medical attention and care throughout the gestation period. Getting diagnosed with a high-risk pregnancy can be very stressful for any couple, but knowing the risk factors and treatment options available can help them understand their experience better. Based on their collective years of experience handling such cases, Motherhood Hospitals has highlighted a few factors that can be the causes of a high-risk pregnancy. Causes of a High Risk Pregnancy Mothers who are already suffering from a pre-existing chronic health condition can face serious complications during their pregnancy. Even mothers who are perfectly healthy can experience sudden issues during their pregnancy which can put their health and the health of their baby at risk. Sometimes, if a mother has faced complications during her first pregnancy, it might increase her chances of having a high-risk pregnancy the next time as well. Some pre-existing conditions which can lead to a high-risk pregnancy include: Kidney disease: Pregnancy can exacerbate a chronic kidney condition by putting extra pressure on the kidneys. Having a pre-existing kidney condition can increase the chances of miscarriage, premature delivery and preeclampsia. High blood pressure: It is possible to have a completely healthy pregnancy while experiencing high blood pressure. However, chronically high blood pressure can also delay foetal development, lead to preeclampsia or placental abruption. Diabetes: Both type 1 and type 2 diabetes are conditions which cause a high-risk pregnancy. Unless it is monitored very closely, diabetes can lead to complications with the baby like respiratory issues, jaundice and being born too large, a condition called macrosomia. It can also lead to problems with the mother like high blood pressure and premature delivery. Age of the mother: If the mother is above 35 at the time of her first pregnancy, it automatically increases her chances of developing complications during her pregnancy and birth defects in the foetus. Pregnancy at too early an age can also cause complications. Obesity: Being overweight can cause several issues during pregnancy. Mothers with a BMI over 30 are always screened for gestational diabetes throughout their pregnancy. Obesity can also increase the risk of miscarriage, macrosomia, birth defects and premature delivery. Mothers who are classified as obese should also be prepared for a caesarean delivery since natural deliveries are rare for this type of pregnancy. HIV/AIDS: Mothers with HIV or AIDS might pass on the infection to their baby during pregnancy, at the time of delivery or through breastfeeding. There are many advanced medications, however, which can bring down the risk of transmission. Healthy mothers can also experience complications which arise during their pregnancy. Some of these factors include: Preeclampsia: This is a condition which develops in the later stages of a pregnancy. It results in hypertension in the mother and excess protein in the urine. Preeclampsia can be very dangerous for the mother, which is why an early caesarean is almost always recommended. Multiple births: Pregnancies involving more than one baby are monitored very closely because they can place a lot of stress on the mother. These pregnancies can also lead to a caesarean and premature delivery. Developmental issues in the foetus: Early screening can detect any birth defects in the fetus. If abnormalities are detected, the pregnancy and delivery will be monitored very closely in the presence of specialists. Caring for a High-Risk Pregnancy A high-risk pregnancy will naturally make parents very concerned about the health of their child. With proper prenatal care by a team of specialists, however, it is completely possible to have a normal, healthy baby. One of the most important factors moms should focus on while undergoing a high-risk pregnancy is choosing a renowned hospital to help them through this journey. Multi-specialty care, advanced technology and a state-of-the-art NICU are essential to tackle every challenge that arises during a high-risk pregnancy. Motherhood Hospitals provides the advanced specialty care every mother and baby needs along with cutting-edge infrastructure. The team of expert doctors have a wealth of knowledge accumulated over their years of experience to provide every mother and baby the best care. To know more, visit their website https://www.motherhoodindia.com. About Motherhood Hospitals: Motherhood is a comprehensive women & child care hospital, committed to providing a gamut of services to women, new-born babies and children. Our comprehensive and personalised specialties include obstetrics, gynaecology, neonatology, paediatrics, fetal medicine, radiology and specialty outpatient clinics. Currently, we have 5 centres located in Bangalore and Chennai with upcoming centres in Mumbai, Pune and Indore. Media Contact: Kiran R [email protected] +91-9620251306 Sr. Executive Digital Marketing, Corporate, Motherhood India SOURCE Motherhood Hospitals Legrand, a leader in electrical and digital building infrastructures, has just launched its new corporate website, now available in French and English at http://www.legrand.com. As part of the revolution now happening in building connectivity, this new website will help bolster the Group's digital presence. It will enhance the user experience with a greater focus on its target audiences, improved content and a more social-driven approach. To view the Multimedia News Release, please click: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8310651-legrand-dynamic-digital-user-experience/ The improved content strengthens Legrand's editorial positioning on key topics, particularly with a view to making financial information more accessible, highlighting our Corporate Social Responsibility actions, and showcasing our drive for innovation. The new, dynamic content is also available through new communication channels (YouTube, Twitter, Instagram, LinkedIn) in innovative formats, such as the social media wall. Additionally, the information architecture by priority target simplifies every user's experience. Finally, from a purely technical point of view, the new website incorporates the best practices and latest technologies on the market. The fully responsive design makes the site much easier to use on the go. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/678049/Legrand.jpg ) Video: https://www.multivu.com/players/uk/8310651-legrand-dynamic-digital-user-experience/ SOURCE Legrand PUNE, India, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- According to the new market research report "Optical Measurement Market by Offerings (Hardware, Software, and Services), Equipment (Autocollimator, Measuring Microscope, Profile Projector, ODS, CMM, and VMM), Vertical (Industrial, Automotive), and Geography - Global Forecast to 2023", published by MarketsandMarkets , is projected to grow from USD 3.68 Billion in 2018 to USD 5.14 Billion by 2023, at a CAGR of 6.87% between 2018 and 2023. (Logo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/660509/MarketsandMarkets_Logo.jpg ) Browse 65 market data Tables and 40 Figures spread through 156 Pages and in-depth TOC on "Optical Measurement Market" https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/optical-measurement-market-138961460.html Early buyers will receive 10% customization on this report. Growing demand for 3D metrology services is driving the growth of the optical measurement market. Video measuring machine (VMM) is expected to grow at highest rate between 2018 and 2023 The market for video measuring machines (VMMs) is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023. VMM is an emerging measurement solution among industries as it enables manufacturers to monitor the quality and efficiency of components required to build desired industrial products. This system has gained tremendous popularity in recent years because of its features such as improved speed, greater accuracy, and the availability of customization based on application. Industrial vertical is expected to grow at highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023 The market for industrial vertical is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023. Manufacturing industry continues to focus on delivering machinery parts with high quality on time. Optical measurement solutions are used to inspect and measure integrate data in production processes, enabling smarter decision-making, quality control, and ensuring complete maintenance for productions in general manufacturing and precision machining. Ask for PDF Brochure @ https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/pdfdownload.asp?id=138961460 Optical measurement market in APAC to grow at highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023 The optical measurement market in APAC is expected to grow at the highest CAGR between 2018 and 2023. The wide-scale adoption of optical measurement technologies for industrial applications is the key factor supporting the growth of the market in this region. The increasing adoption of precision measurement advanced technology by manufacturers with a focus on accuracy and reliability of the manufactured products is further expected to propel the growth of the optical measurement market in APAC. Key players in the ecosystem of the optical measurement market profiled in this report are Hexagon (Sweden), Faro Technologies (US), Jenoptik (Germany), Keyence (Japan), Mitutoyo (Japan), Nikon (Japan), Vision Engineering (UK), Zygo Corporation (US), GOM (Germany), and Carl Zeiss (Germany). Know more about the Optical Measurement Market https://www.marketsandmarkets.com/Market-Reports/optical-measurement-market-138961460.html About MarketsandMarkets MarketsandMarkets provides quantified B2B research on 30,000 high growth niche opportunities/threats which will impact 70% to 80% of worldwide companies' revenues. Currently servicing 5000 customers worldwide including 80% of global Fortune 1000 companies as clients. Almost 75,000 top officers across eight industries worldwide approach MarketsandMarkets for their painpoints around revenues decisions. Our 850 fulltime analyst and SMEs at MarketsandMarkets are tracking global high growth markets following the "Growth Engagement Model - GEM". The GEM aims at proactive collaboration with the clients to identify new opportunities, identify most important customers, write "Attack, avoid and defend" strategies, identify sources of incremental revenues for both the company and its competitors. MarketsandMarkets now coming up with 1,500 MicroQuadrants (Positioning top players across leaders, emerging companies, innovators, strategic players) annually in high growth emerging segments. MarketsandMarkets is determined to benefit more than 10,000 companies this year for their revenue planning and help them take their innovations/disruptions early to the market by providing them research ahead of the curve. MarketsandMarkets' flagship competitive intelligence and market research platform, "RT" connects over 200,000 markets and entire value chains for deeper understanding of the unmet insights along with market sizing and forecasts of niche markets. Contact: Mr. Salgarkar MarketsandMarkets INC. 630 Dundee Road Suite 430 Northbrook, IL 60062 USA : +1-888-600-6441 Email: [email protected] Connect us on LinkedIn @ http://www.linkedin.com/company/marketsandmarkets SOURCE MarketsandMarkets Test will expand the range of diagnostic options available to guide treatment of Plasmodium vivax SEATTLE, April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PATH and United Kingdom-based test developer Mologic have entered an agreement to advance a new rapid diagnostic test to support treatment and elimination of Plasmodium vivax, or relapsing, malaria. More than 2.5 billion people worldwide are at risk of infection with P. vivax malaria, mainly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. P. vivax is especially difficult to eliminate because the parasite can lie dormant in the liver and re-emerge, causing periods of relapsing illness. With each relapse, patients become progressively sicker, and can continue to spread the disease through mosquitoes to other members of the community. Treatment with 8-aminoquinolines, a class of drugs that includes primaquine, is currently the only means to kill the liver form of the P. vivax parasite and prevent the cycle of relapse and transmission. However, 8-aminoquinolines can cause serious side effects in patients with severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a hereditary condition common to areas where malaria is found. Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends testing patients for the condition before administering treatment with primaquine. Critically, diagnostic tests currently on the market for G6PD deficiency are neither simple enough to support their widespread use in low-resource areas nor robust enough to be used in the hot, humid areas where malaria is endemic. PATH is advancing a portfolio of tests for G6PD deficiency that meet requirements for use in settings where P. vivax malaria is close to elimination. As part of this effort, PATH is working with Mologic to develop a novel qualitative point-of-care G6PD rapid diagnostic test (RDT). This new RDT has the potential to improve access to G6PD testing to support appropriate administration of primaquine. PATH and Mologic optimized the Mologic RDT for use in environmental conditions typical in malaria-endemic countries, resulting in a test that is designed for use including at the community level, where malaria is commonly diagnosed and treated. It provides simple results (i.e., positive or negative) that can be easily interpreted by test users to determine if a patient has severe G6PD deficiency and is therefore at increased risk for side effects if treated with primaquine. This qualitative G6PD RDT can provide a simple and affordable alternative to quantitative tests, which provide a numerical readout of G6PD levels but may be more expensive. "This test will be a significant addition to the G6PD testing options available to health care providers to inform case management of patients with P. vivax malaria," says Dr. Gonzalo Domingo, scientific director and malaria diagnostics lead at PATH. "It will help to fill critical gaps in G6PD testing experienced by elimination programs, and will complement quantitative tests for G6PD deficiency being advanced by PATH and partners." "We are honored to have developed this new rapid diagnostic test technology for G6PD deficiency that combines the direct measurement of enzyme activity into the simple lateral flow line format similar to that used in home pregnancy testing, based on Mologic's enzyme activity detection format," said Paul Davis, Mologic cofounder and chief scientific officer. "We would like to thank PATH for driving the development of this key test to support malaria treatment and leading efforts to bring the test to market. Mologic looks forward to continuing this partnership with PATH in advancing essential diagnostic technology to address important health issues." The first product variant is expected to come to market in 2019. PATH is supporting Mologic to commercialize the RDT and obtain key regulatory approvals. Funding to PATH to support advancement of new G6PD diagnostic tools has been provided by UKAid from the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. About PATH PATH is the leader in global health innovation. An international nonprofit organization, PATH saves lives and improves health, especially among women and children. PATH accelerates innovation across five platformsvaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovationsthat harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, PATH takes innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. With these key partners, PATH delivers measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health. Learn more at www.path.org. We are part of the battle to control and eliminate malaria nationally and regionally, and ultimately to eradicate it worldwide. With our unparalleled portfolio of malaria projects, we are partnering with countries and organizations around the world to make malaria history. To learn more about PATH's work in malaria, visit https://www.path.org/our-work/malaria.php. About Mologic Mologic is a proven innovator in the design and development of rapid diagnostic products and technology. Having re-established its independence in 2014, the company has advanced an 11-product portfolio to pre-market evaluation, with BVPro and PERiPLEX products receiving CE mark approval in 2017. The remaining products are destined for launch in 2018 and 2019, including (but not limited to) the delivery of the world's first respiratory disease exacerbation monitor. The company's interests extend beyond human health care, with active programs in animal and fish disease diagnostics, agriculture diagnostics, and non-human vaccine innovation, collectively exploiting the advances in technology developed within the human sector. Underpinning the new product development pathway, Mologic delivers high-value contract partnering programs for a range of national and international clients. Its broad range of skills and experience, including a unique low-volume manufacturing facility (ISO 13485 certified) and product assembly partnership with Adreco, enable the business to take on almost any project challenge, irrespective of complexity or stage. In 2017, Mologic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation established the Centre for Advanced Rapid Diagnostics (CARD) to invent and develop the next-generation point-of-care diagnostic technology platform for high sensitivity measurements. Prototype product formats are currently being validated that achieve 1 pg/mL sensitivity, yet cost less than US$1 at volume to manufacture. Mologic is the ideal product development partner, providing the best reagents, products, and innovation, and offering fully harmonized service extending from idea through to initial product volumes. Through our trusted professional partnerships, successful products are transferred to high-volume manufacturing and distribution across the globe. Contact: Kate Davidson | PATH Media Relations | [email protected] | PATH Media Relations | Mark Davis | Mologic | [email protected] Related Links http://www.path.org SOURCE PATH MUMBAI and DUBAI, UAE, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- YES BANK awarded 'Golden Peacock National Training Award' 2018 in Dubai Award identifies organizations/training programs that offer tangible benefits to business or community YES BANK has been felicitated with the coveted 'Golden Peacock National Training Award' at the '28th World Congress on Leadership for Business Excellence & Innovation' & Golden Peacock Awards, organized by Institute of Directors (IOD) in Dubai. YES BANK was recognized for Best Practices in institutionalizing innovative training programs aimed at equipping the workforce with 'Future-Ready' skills. The Award was presented by H.E. Mr. Vipul (Consul General of India in Dubai), Dr. Tayab Kamali (Chairman IOD India UAE Chapter Director General Education and Training Development Ministry of Interior USE) Lt. Gen. J.S Ahluwalia (President, Institute of Directors India) and H.E. Sultan Al Habtoor (President of Al Habtoor Group). (Logo: http://photos.prnewswire.com/prnh/20151012/769006 ) The Golden Peacock National Training Award evaluates applications basis organizational needs, training objectives, training design, delivery, outcomes and eventually organisational benefits. Golden Peacock Awards Framework is designed to help explore organizational beliefs and strategy, to look for linkages and measurable activity to test results for long-term success. The Framework is based on IOD Business Excellence Model and is comparable with similar frameworks around the globe (including the Baldrige and European models) and contains all of the requirements of the ISO 9001:2000 standard series. Commenting on this achievement, Deodutta Kurane, Group President, Human Capital Management at YES BANK, said, "With the onset of an ever-changing, fast-paced and tech-focused work environment, it has become increasingly critical to empower, stimulate and action employees with latest tech and non-tech skills to create a workforce that is 'Future-Ready'. The award is a testament of YES BANK's relentless efforts to proactively develop and implement new-age sustainable talent development programs via interactive training sessions and workshops, aimed at accelerating a Future Ready work environment." YES BANK focuses on building a high quality robust Human Capital talent pool by adopting a Knowledge & hands-on Training driven approach for giving the bank a sustained competitive advantage. Training initiatives such as YES D.I.C.E Workshop (Design Thinking, Innovation, Creativity led Entrepreneurship) for senior leaders aimed at reinforcing and reiterating the value addition of DICE; Mobile Gamification learning modules; Professional Certifications for workforce across business units; Role-based certifications and most importantly 'Future-Ready' skilling initiatives including new-age tech skills that let employees skill-up at an organizational level. YES SCHOOL OF BANKING (YSB), the Learning & Development function of YES BANK, ensures conceptualization and deployment of learning solutions that meet business, employee and customer requirements through continued improvement in employee skillset, tech and service quality. Key Human Capital, Organizational Development and Learning initiatives at YES BANK are domiciled under the aegis of YES SCHOOL OF BANKING (YSB), institutionalized in 2007 with a vision to build the Capacity, Capability and Confidence of our Human Capital for making YES BANK the 'Finest Quality Large Bank in India by 2020'. About IOD The Golden Peacock Awards, instituted by the Institute of Directors, India in 1991, are regarded as a benchmark of Corporate Excellence worldwide. The Golden Peacock Awards Secretariat receives over 1,000 entries per year for various National and Global awards, from India and over 25 countries worldwide. Justice PN Bhagwati, former Chief Justice of India, is the Chairman Emeritus of Golden Peacock Awards, and Hon'ble Justice MN Venkatachaliah, Chairman, Institute of Directors and former Chief Justice, Supreme Court of India is the Chairman of the Awards. The awardees are adjudged basis assessment by a jury comprising of CSR, sustainability and human resources professionals spearheaded by jury Chairman, Justice (Dr.) Arijit Pasayat, former Judge, Supreme Court of India. About YES BANK YES BANK, India's fourth largest private sector Bank with a pan India presence across all 29 states and 7 Union Territories of India, headquartered in the Lower Parel Innovation District (LPID) of Mumbai, is the outcome of the professional & entrepreneurial commitment of its Founder Rana Kapoor and its Top Management team, to establish a high quality, customer centric, service driven, private Indian Bank catering to the future businesses of India. YES BANK has adopted international best practices, the highest standards of service quality and operational excellence, and offers comprehensive banking and financial solutions to all its valued customers. YES BANK has a knowledge-driven approach to banking, and offers a superior customer experience for its retail, corporate and emerging corporate banking clients. YES BANK is steadily evolving as the Professionals' Bank of India with the long term mission of "Building India's Finest Quality Large Bank". Media Contact: Alisha Prakash, [email protected], +91-7042662323 YES BANK SOURCE YES BANK Test will expand the range of diagnostic options available to guide treatment of Plasmodium vivax SEATTLE, April 18, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- PATH and United Kingdom-based test developer Mologic have entered an agreement to advance a new rapid diagnostic test to support treatment and elimination of Plasmodium vivax, or relapsing, malaria. More than 2.5 billion people worldwide are at risk of infection with P. vivax malaria, mainly in Southeast Asia and Latin America. P. vivax is especially difficult to eliminate because the parasite can lie dormant in the liver and re-emerge, causing periods of relapsing illness. With each relapse, patients become progressively sicker, and can continue to spread the disease through mosquitoes to other members of the community. Treatment with 8-aminoquinolines, a class of drugs that includes primaquine, is currently the only means to kill the liver form of the P. vivax parasite and prevent the cycle of relapse and transmission. However, 8-aminoquinolines can cause serious side effects in patients with severe glucose-6-phosphate dehydrogenase (G6PD) deficiency, a hereditary condition common to areas where malaria is found. Therefore, the World Health Organization recommends testing patients for the condition before administering treatment with primaquine. Critically, diagnostic tests currently on the market for G6PD deficiency are neither simple enough to support their widespread use in low-resource areas nor robust enough to be used in the hot, humid areas where malaria is endemic. PATH is advancing a portfolio of tests for G6PD deficiency that meet requirements for use in settings where P. vivax malaria is close to elimination. As part of this effort, PATH is working with Mologic to develop a novel qualitative point-of-care G6PD rapid diagnostic test (RDT). This new RDT has the potential to improve access to G6PD testing to support appropriate administration of primaquine. PATH and Mologic optimized the Mologic RDT for use in environmental conditions typical in malaria-endemic countries, resulting in a test that is designed for use including at the community level, where malaria is commonly diagnosed and treated. It provides simple results (i.e., positive or negative) that can be easily interpreted by test users to determine if a patient has severe G6PD deficiency and is therefore at increased risk for side effects if treated with primaquine. This qualitative G6PD RDT can provide a simple and affordable alternative to quantitative tests, which provide a numerical readout of G6PD levels but may be more expensive. "This test will be a significant addition to the G6PD testing options available to health care providers to inform case management of patients with P. vivax malaria," says Dr. Gonzalo Domingo, scientific director and malaria diagnostics lead at PATH. "It will help to fill critical gaps in G6PD testing experienced by elimination programs, and will complement quantitative tests for G6PD deficiency being advanced by PATH and partners." "We are honored to have developed this new rapid diagnostic test technology for G6PD deficiency that combines the direct measurement of enzyme activity into the simple lateral flow line format similar to that used in home pregnancy testing, based on Mologic's enzyme activity detection format," said Paul Davis, Mologic cofounder and chief scientific officer. "We would like to thank PATH for driving the development of this key test to support malaria treatment and leading efforts to bring the test to market. Mologic looks forward to continuing this partnership with PATH in advancing essential diagnostic technology to address important health issues." The first product variant is expected to come to market in 2019. PATH is supporting Mologic to commercialize the RDT and obtain key regulatory approvals. Funding to PATH to support advancement of new G6PD diagnostic tools has been provided by UKAid from the United Kingdom Department for International Development and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation. About PATH PATH is the leader in global health innovation. An international nonprofit organization, PATH saves lives and improves health, especially among women and children. PATH accelerates innovation across five platformsvaccines, drugs, diagnostics, devices, and system and service innovationsthat harness our entrepreneurial insight, scientific and public health expertise, and passion for health equity. By mobilizing partners around the world, PATH takes innovation to scale, working alongside countries primarily in Africa and Asia to tackle their greatest health needs. With these key partners, PATH delivers measurable results that disrupt the cycle of poor health. Learn more at www.path.org. We are part of the battle to control and eliminate malaria nationally and regionally, and ultimately to eradicate it worldwide. With our unparalleled portfolio of malaria projects, we are partnering with countries and organizations around the world to make malaria history. To learn more about PATH's work in malaria, visit https://www.path.org/our-work/malaria.php. About Mologic Mologic is a proven innovator in the design and development of rapid diagnostic products and technology. Having re-established its independence in 2014, the company has advanced an 11-product portfolio to pre-market evaluation, with BVPro and PERiPLEX products receiving CE mark approval in 2017. The remaining products are destined for launch in 2018 and 2019, including (but not limited to) the delivery of the world's first respiratory disease exacerbation monitor. The company's interests extend beyond human health care, with active programs in animal and fish disease diagnostics, agriculture diagnostics, and non-human vaccine innovation, collectively exploiting the advances in technology developed within the human sector. Underpinning the new product development pathway, Mologic delivers high-value contract partnering programs for a range of national and international clients. Its broad range of skills and experience, including a unique low-volume manufacturing facility (ISO 13485 certified) and product assembly partnership with Adreco, enable the business to take on almost any project challenge, irrespective of complexity or stage. In 2017, Mologic and the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation established the Centre for Advanced Rapid Diagnostics (CARD) to invent and develop the next-generation point-of-care diagnostic technology platform for high sensitivity measurements. Prototype product formats are currently being validated that achieve 1 pg/mL sensitivity, yet cost less than US$1 at volume to manufacture. Mologic is the ideal product development partner, providing the best reagents, products, and innovation, and offering fully harmonized service extending from idea through to initial product volumes. Through our trusted professional partnerships, successful products are transferred to high-volume manufacturing and distribution across the globe. Contact: Kate Davidson | PATH Media Relations | media@path.org | PATH Media Relations | media@path.org Mark Davis | Mologic | mark.davis@mologic.co.uk Related Links http://www.path.org SOURCE PATH ZenMate (https://zenmate.com), the leading VPN service provider owned by the Internet Security company ZenGuard GmbH, announces a major change in its Management Team. Andrei Mochola, former global VP-level Executive at multinational cybersecurity company Kaspersky Lab, will step into the role as CEO. In March, the company appointed Jorn Stampehl, who has been with ZenMate since 2016, as CTO. (Photo: https://mma.prnewswire.com/media/679291/ZenMate_Management_Team.jpg ) Mochola will lead the execution of the company business strategy, specifically focusing on revenue and user base growth, expansion of the product portfolio for both consumer and business clients, as well as increasing the number of countries where ZenMate is the market leader. Together with Jorn Stampehl, he will orchestrate the company's smooth transition from a VPN service provider to a comprehensive privacy company with a wide range of products and services that ensure a safe, free, democratic web for people all over the world. This is the moral core which has shaped the company since the very beginning. With Mochola's expertise, the ambition to break down barriers for every internet user will be fortified. "I'm extremely happy to join ZenMate - an agile team of success-driven professionals who are passionate about the privacy and security of our digital lives. I strongly believe that the brand and privacy service that ZenMate provides will guarantee its success in the industry, as well as the support of its trusting customers. I share the brand's core values and stand behind the company's solid principles. With the combination of passion and dedication of the team, nothing is impossible," says Andrei Mochola, ZenMate's new CEO. Andrei Mochola, PhD, brings over fifteen years of corporate experience in the consumer business to the company. He is an expert on business strategies and development, consumer marketing and e-commerce. In his previous role as the VP of Consumer Business at Kaspersky Lab, together with his team he successfully introduced Kaspersky Free Antivirus and the first Adaptive Security solution for consumers to the market. Prior to this he held various digital business roles at AVG Technologies and Creative Labs. After five years with ZenMate, Co-founder Simon Specka steps down as Managing Director and CEO. He will remain on the board of directors as a major shareholder and continue to support company in strategic matters as an active advisor. Specka founded the company together with Markus Hanel in 2013 and played a leading role in its development and technical orientation. Together with the team, he successfully established a well-organized infrastructure and pushed the development of several security and privacy products now used by over 45 million people worldwide. "After five intense and rewarding years building up the company, it's time for me to start something new. As a serial entrepreneur and company builder at heart, there are many exciting business opportunities that I'd like to realize and scale. Unfortunately, they have little to do with ZenMate' s core business. After a long and careful search, I am now confident to have found the perfect leadership team with Andrei and Jorn, who will lead the company to new heights as CEO and CTO in conjunction with the rest of the executive team and the help of our entire, exceptional team." About ZenGuard GmbH and ZenMate Founded in 2013 in Berlin, ZenGuard GmbH (https://www.zenmate.com) provides a multi-platform security software that encrypts and secures user's internet connection and protects their privacy while browsing. With its ZenMate VPN flagship privacy service, ZenGuard prevents snoopers, hackers, governments, and ISPs from spying on user's web browsing activities, downloads, credit card information, and more. In addition to a slimmed-down free version, ZenMate is also available as a subscription based Premium model. With over 30 global server locations and more than 45 million users, ZenMate is one of the world's leading VPNs. For further Press inquiries: ZenGuard GmbH Ritterstrae 12-14 10969 Berlin, Germany +49-30-29009404 press@zenguard.org SOURCE ZenGuard GmbH If you were looking for the Charlestown Democratic Town Committee website and ended up here, try this Got news tips, gossip, suggestions, complaints?E-mail us: progressivecharlestown@gmail.com We strive to avoid errors in our articles. Our correction policy can be found here "Great things in business are never done by one person. They are done by a team of people." Steve Jobs The partnership with Dewetron is an ideal fit for FLW Southeast.... DEWETRONs long standing reputation and superior products will allow FLW Southeast to expand our offering to better support our existing customer base, as well as grow into new areas. Michael Calbert, President FLW Southeast, Inc. In the last few years DEWETRON has separated itself from the crowd and has emerged as a market leader with The Measurable Difference. As we continuously raise the standards of excellence for power analyzers and data acquisition system solutions, we realize the need to be surrounded by representatives who are also different, leading the crowd, not moving as part of it. It is with pleasure that we announce Elotek Systems, Inc and FLW Southeast, Inc. have been as approved Manufacturers Representatives for DEWETRON for the Western and Southeastern United States. MEET ELOTEK Elotek is the leading technical manufacturers representative in the Western United States providing Products, Solutions and Technical Support. With 37 years experience, Elotek Systems is a solutions provider committed to the selling and marketing of technical solutions and products, which include sensing, measuring, conditioning, telemetering, recording and processing of data. Markets supported include aerospace, industrial, medical and military markets, research and development labs as well as OEMs, systems integrators, VARs, engineers and end-users. We maintain a careful balance of top quality product lines from leading manufacturers. Elotek provides their principals and customers with a professional and highly technical sales team who utilizes the most sophisticated tools designed to maximize their time in front of their customers. Sales people are CSP (Certified Sales Professional) Certified and the Management Team has completed their CPMR (Certified Professional Manufacturers Representative) accreditation from Arizona State University. Elotek offers services throughout the Western United States, Alaska and Hawaii. http://www.elotek.com MEET FLW SOUTHEAST FLW Southeast is a Leading Supplier of Measurement Instruments and Control Systems in the South Eastern United States. With over 40 years experience, FLW Southeast is a leading supplier of measurement instruments and data acquisition systems to manufacturers in a wide range of industries. By combining world- class products, application expertise and unsurpassed customer service, FLW Southeast enables its clients to increase manufacturing efficiency, reduce production costs and improve product quality and value. We will be the most responsive and professional company in our market to both our customers and our principals. FLW Southeasts direct sales engineers work closely with clients to identify application needs and identify the best products to meet those needs. Post-sale and delivery, FLWs Sales and Technical personnel are available to fully support the implementation of the measurement The partnership with Dewetron is an ideal fit for FLW Southeasts growing Test & Measurement business. DEWETRONs long standing reputation and superior products will allow FLW Southeast to expand our offering to better support our existing customer base, as well as grow into new areas. Michael Calbert, President FLW Southeast Inc http://www.flwse.com MEET DEWETRON Inspired to make the world more efficient and safe, DEWETRON develops and manufactures Mixed Signal Power Analyzers and precision Data Acquisition Systems featuring innovative, easy to use OXYGEN Software for real time analysis of data. DEWETRON Systems are designed to record from one to thousands of vastly different signal sources, gaplessly and in perfect sync, at one locations or distributed across locations up to 100 meters apart. The Measurable Difference http://www.dewetron.us Words From God's Own Heart: a collection of Christian poems and songs to encourage, uplift, and reveal Gods great love for His children. Words From God's Own Heart is the creation of published author, Eunice Fudge Burnham. Throughout her own personal struggles, which include cancer, she was drawn deeper into the Word of God. In turn, He revealed His words to her. It was through these bad times that she could feel Gods presence assuring her that He was always in control. He showed her that she would make it to the other side, which she always did. Her faith continues to grow stronger as she leans more on His timing and the inner strength He provides. At the age of seventy-eight, Eunice has finally fulfilled her dream to publish words God gave her. She only writes Christian poems glorifying God in praises and worship. She always keeps a pad and pen near, so she can write down what is given to her by God. Always look to God above For wisdom, faith, hope, and love Let no one come between you No matter what the cause For true love is a mighty bond Stand firm and strong in Gods laws Peace and forever love I wish for you Listen to each others heart Cling on to one another And your love will not depart. --Eunice Fudge Burnham Published by Christian Faith Publishing, Eunice Fudge Burnhams new book offers the blessings of hope, peace, and love. Today, the world seems so empty, dark, and hopeless. People are fulfilling Biblical prophecies. There is widespread lawlessness, murder, and every other kind of sin known to man. Witnessing these things, Author Eunice Fudge Burnham wanted to write a book that would offer hope and forgiveness. She wanted to give people a reason to wake up in the morning with the knowledge that they have a God who loves them and promises never to leave or forsake them. She wanted to remind people there is a God who gives peace and tranquility to those who believe in Him and follow His laws. The Christian poems and songs within the pages of Words From God's Own Heart are meant to do just that. They are poems and songs given to Eunice Fudge Burnham to pass on to readers from Gods own heart. May each word encourage, uplift, and reveal Gods great love for His children. May each verse provide hope, instill peace in the hearts of readers, and inspire love for all creation through a deeper love for Him. May readers be blessed by reading His words as Eunice Fudge Burnham was blessed while writing them. View a synopsis of Words From God's Own Heart on YouTube. Consumers can purchase Words From God's Own Heart at traditional brick & mortar bookstores, or online at Amazon.com, Apple iTunes store, or Barnes and Noble. For additional information or inquiries about Words From God's Own Heart, contact the Christian Faith Publishing media department at 866-554-0919. With a compassionate heart for people, Theile McVey has dedicated her entire legal career to representing plaintiffs - individuals and their family members who have been seriously injured or who have lost their lives due to the negligence of others. Theile McVey, partner of the law firm Kassel McVey, a personal injury law practice based in Columbia SC, was recently inducted into the American Board of Trial Advocates. Established in 1958, The American Board of Trial Advocates (ABOTA), is a national organization comprised of skilled trial lawyers and judges devoted to preserving and promoting the right to civil jury trial as stipulated in the Seventh Amendment of the United States Constitution. The Association seeks attorneys with integrity, skill, and civility who can help younger attorneys to develop a higher level of trial advocacy and to educate the general public about the Seventh Amendments significance. Membership to ABOTA is by invitation only. Once a trial lawyer has been nominated and elected, the individual may become a member if he or she is of honorable reputation, high personal character, and a member of the Bar in the location in which they practice. The applicant must also have tried a minimum of ten civil jury trials serving as lead counsel to a jury verdict or at least a hung jury, and must list these jury trials on his or her application. Theile satisfied all requirements for membership in ABOTA. With a compassionate heart for people, Theile has dedicated her entire legal career to representing plaintiffs - individuals and their family members who have been seriously injured or who have lost their lives due to the negligence of others. She handles cases such as auto accidents, nursing home negligence, medical malpractice, mesothelioma and asbestos injuries, premises liability, product liability and more. Theile McVey graduated with honors from Columbia College and obtained her law degree from the University of South Carolina School of Law. After briefly practicing law in her hometown of Charleston, South Carolina, she partnered with John Kassel to form personal injury litigation firm Kassel McVey Personal Injury Lawyers. Her excellent legal work has earned the respect of the legal community and has led to her acquiring favorable results for her clients. These include mesothelioma cases with verdicts of $14 Million Dollars and $38 Million Dollars, as well as nursing home cases with verdicts of $382,000 and $450,000. She has received several awards and accolades from various legal bodies and organizations, such as South Carolina Super Lawyer (2013-2018), 2017 Gold Compleat Lawyer from the USC School of Law, and Legal Elite of the Midlands (2011 to 2017). Theile has dedicated many hours towards developing the legal profession, She is currently President-Elect of the South Carolina Association of Justice. She previously served as the SCAJ Vice-President, Secretary/Treasurer, chair of the Public Relations Committee as well as the chair their discovery abuse committee. She is also a member of the South Carolina Bar, the Richland County Bar Association, and the American Association for Justice. She gives back to the community as well by serving at various ministries of the Trinity Episcopal Cathedral with her husband. John Kassel, Theiles partner at the firm, is also a member of ABOTA. John was selected to be part of the annual ABOTA Masters in Trial Program held at the University of South Carolina School of Law in February 2018. The Masters in Trial Program involves presenting a mock trial to a jury, complete with opening statements, direct and cross examination of witnesses, closing arguments, and jury deliberations. The program, open to practicing attorneys from across the state who attend both in person and online. Those who sign up receive Continuing Legal Education credits needed to maintain their law licenses. The program allows the audience to see up close the style, skills, and strategy of leading trial lawyers applying their craft. This year the program involved the trial of a products liability case. John Kassel was selected captain of the plaintiffs team and cross-examined the defense expert. Kassel McVey is a personal injury and accident law firm headquartered in Columbia, South Carolina. John and Theile started their practice in 2001, representing exclusively individuals and not insurance companies. They practice in courtrooms across South Carolina at both the state and federal level, as well as in the appellate courts. For more information or to schedule a consultation visit https://www.kasselmcvey.com/ or call (803) 256-4242. Kassel McVey Personal Injury Lawyers 1330 Laurel St Columbia, SC 29201 (803) 256-4242 An air unit of the People's Liberation Army (PLA) ground force Wednesday held a live-fire exercise off China's southeast coast, the ground force said Thursday. The exercise, which involved the coordination of various types of armed helicopters, was an annual routine arrangement and tested the force's all-weather combat capability, it said. At around 9 a.m., helicopters carrying a variety of ammunition were ready to fly to designated waters. After taking off, pilots set their own courses and detected targets on the water, then assaulted floating targets and simulated ships with missiles and rocket projectiles. The exercise was conducted throughout a complex electromagnetic environment and ended at around 11 p.m. with the landing of the last helicopter. Sun Yongfu, deputy commander of the exercise, said the exercise was carried out in line with real combat standards, and has effectively improved the force's capabilities to fulfill missions and tasks. Private jet charter company, LVOYAGE, officially launched its ultra-exclusive travel curation services under the LVOYAGE Travel brand today. LVOYAGE estimates there are currently about 100 families in China, Hong Kong and Taiwan that charter private jets for holidays annually. Unlike those who travel on first class, these groups of ultra-high net worth holiday makers expect highly customised experiences the minute they step out of their homes, from the drinks they are served in their chauffeured vehicles to their preferred in-flight stewards. Meals are pre-ordered from Michelin-starred restaurants, while high-grade organic meals are prepared for the pets that they bring on holiday with them. They are also widening their holiday interests, from hunting and mountaineering to seeking spiritual meaning. Ultra-exclusive curated group holidays can cost US$1million upwards, inclusive of chartered private jets per trip. This segment of travellers may be small in terms of their number, but they are fast growing. A new billionaire emerges every other day in Asia, according to a joint report by UBS and PricewaterhouseCoopers. In China, two billionaires are created every week. Unlike the previous generation of travelers with family wealth, Greater Chinas emerging ultra-wealthy are predominantly self-made. As the first-movers in the industries where they made their extraordinary wealth, they also seek travel experiences that are first-of-its-kind. LVOYAGE for example, chartered a Boeing BBJ 787 VIP Dreamliner for eight travelers from Hong Kong in 2017, the first private jet charter arrangement of its kind in the world. Travel preferences amongst the ultra-high net worth individuals have grown more sophisticated and demanding. It is no longer just about flying to exotic locations like Cuba, Madagascar and Tahiti by private jet. Demand is growing for experiences that are out-of-the-reach, even for other peer billionaires. Money is not an issue, as long as they trust their service providers. Over the years, we have gotten to know some of our regular private jet clients well. Based on this, we have acted as a first point of contact to refer holiday destinations and bespoke travel specialists. LVOYAGE Travel is just a natural next step for us to cater more fully to their needs by tapping on our global network of ultra-exclusive travel specialists and curating one-of-a-kind experiences for our clients. Everything is taken care of, both on and off the aircraft, said LVOYAGE founder and chairman, Diana Chou. LVOYAGE was named Best Charter Broker by industry peers at the Asian Business Aviation Association IoA 2017 aviation awards. About LVOYAGE http://www.lvoyage.aero LVOYAGE is a bespoke private jet chartering company based in Hong Kong with a long heritage in serving discerning corporate travelers and jet-setters. Part of a specialist business aviation group that began in 1999, LVOYAGE offers unrivalled access to aircraft options and landing destinations, coupled with highly personalised hospitality. Its Travel arm curates high exclusive travel experiences that are one-of-a-kind. LVOYAGE is also the first Wyvern approved broker in Asia, making its safety intelligence of the highest accredited standards within the region. "The partnership between Acquia and Newscycle brings a unique combination of skills and technology required to deliver a content management platform that puts audiences squarely at the center of a media companys digital strategy." NEWSCYCLE Solutions, the largest provider of software technologies for the global media industry, today announced its selection of Acquia Cloud Site Factory to serve as the foundation of Newscycles ONSET Web content management channel solution. The Acquia Platform allows organizations to build, manage and activate ambitious digital experiences at scale. Thousands of organizations around the globe rely on the Acquia Platform to power the customer experience across channels. Global companies across industries use Acquia Cloud Site Factory (https://www.acquia.com/products-services/acquia-cloud-site-factory) to launch and manage hundreds of sites at breakthrough speed without compromising brand or creating chaos. Newscycle and Acquia will collaborate on delivering transformative digital content management and audience engagement solutions for the media industry. Combining Acquia Cloud Site Factory with Amazon Web Services and the Newscycle ONSET applications suite, the new solution will provide the Web development, delivery and management for Newscycles ONSET Web channel. The media content platform brings together Newscycles authoring, editing, workflow, planning and channel publishing tools, coupled with Acquias expertise in high availability, scalable and secure cloud deployments for the Web. The integrated solution will build upon the cumulative strength of Newscycles and Acquias audience experience processes required by deadline-driven, multi-channel media organizations. Media organizations need to be ever-present for audiences across every channel, said Jairo Romero, Acquia chief revenue officer. Acquias multisite technology is built for speed and scale, providing the technical edge to accelerate Newscycles innovation. As newsrooms consolidate platforms and streamline content delivery, Newscycle is helping media companies move beyond website delivery to delivering immersive experiences at every touchpoint that will lead to greater revenue. The partnership between Acquia and Newscycle brings a unique combination of skills and technology required to deliver a content management platform that puts audiences squarely at the center of a media companys digital strategy, said Bob Mason, Newscycles executive vice president of cloud operations and IT. Acquia is recognized by analysts like Gartner, Forrester and IDC as a leading provider of cloud-based digital experience management solutions. Newscycles expertise in developing digital and print authoring, editing and workflow tools enables us to provide our customers with a best-of-breed platform designed specifically to meet the needs of the news media industry. For additional information, please write to info@newscycle.com or visit http://newscycle.com/contact to contact your nearest regional office. About Acquia Acquia provides a cloud platform and data-driven journey technology to build, manage and activate digital experiences at scale. Thousands of organizations rely on Acquias digital factory to power customer experiences at every channel and touchpoint. Acquia liberates its customers by giving them the freedom to build tomorrow on their terms. To learn more, visit https://www.acquia.com. About NEWSCYCLE Solutions Newscycle develops and delivers software technology that empowers the global news media industry. Our editorial, advertising, circulation and mobile solutions enable publishers to drive profitability, accelerate digital business models and optimize core print operations. We help our clients create stronger, better-informed communities while safeguarding the integrity of news, advertising and customer information. Newscycle is a trusted partner serving over 1,200 media companies with 3,000 properties producing more than 8,000 titles in 30 countries. Our company is headquartered in Bloomington, MN and has U.S. offices in Florida, Michigan and Utah; with international offices in Denmark, Germany, Malaysia, Australia, Sweden, Norway, Canada and the United Kingdom. Please visit http://newscycle.com for more information or write to us at info@newscycle.com. Dawn Nielsen, Chief Operating Officer, Kolache Factory I think we have a unique product that hasnt even scratched the surface of what its potential can be. Kolache Factory, one of the nations fastest growing franchises and one of the top 50 food service bakeries in the United States, has announced the promotion of Dawn Nielsen from Vice-President to Chief Operating Officer effective immediately. The 44 -year-old daughter of Kolache Factory co-founders, John and Jerri Banks, Nielsen has been groomed for this position for 36 years, ever since her parents popularized the kolache - a Czech pastry filled with fruits, meats and cheeses in West Texas by opening the first Kolache Factory store in Houston in 1982. I am so proud of what my parents built. Its not easy to go into the restaurant industry with a totally new concept and make it. They blazed a path and I am excited and honored to move it forward and continue building on their amazing legacy with an aggressive nationwide franchise expansion, said Nielsen. Nielsen started out sweeping floors at the first Kolache Factory store when she was nine years old. As a teenager she worked behind the counter and as a kolache baker. After graduating from Houston Baptist University with degrees in Business Administration and Art, she began working in marketing and advertising, and was instrumental in marketing the Kolache Factorys transition to a franchise company in 2000. Her role expanded upon her mothers death ten years ago and she became Vice President. Now she is ready to step up again to lead the successful franchise her parents built from scratch as chief operating officer. In overseeing the companys 175 corporate employees and 31 franchised stores, Nielsen is heavily focused on using new technologies to educate franchisees, boost revenue, and build customer loyalty. Kolache Factory President/CEO and co-founder John Banks said his daughter has hit the ground running in her new position. Dawn has literally grown up with the Kolache Factory and has continually added the knowledge and skills necessary to help grow the brand. She has already brought great things to the family franchise and I am excited to see where we can take this company together in the future, said Banks. Making Kolache a Household Name The kolache has a rich history dating back centuries in Eastern Europe and to the 1850s in the Czech belt of Texas. Still, there are places around the country and world that have never heard of a kolache and Nielsens goal is to bring the fresh, high quality breakfast food created by master bakers, to the masses. I think we have a unique product that hasnt even scratched the surface of what its potential can be. There are still markets that dont know what we are. Expansion is the goal. John and I share the vision of making kolache a household name, said Nielsen. The fresh doughy pastry that started out stuffed with fruits has evolved to include all sorts of savory and spicy meat and cheese fillings, and in many communities, the kolache has a cult following. Today, Czech- Americans hold kolache festivals all over the country, adding to the pastrys rising popularity. Bon Appetit Magazine predicted the kolache would be the new breakfast trend and entrepreneurs now praise it as the new generation of donut. The breakfast day part is growing, and according to a Mintel report, breakfast sales are expected to increase by more than 20 percent over a two-year period. To capitalize on that growth and take the company to the next level, Nielsen is focusing on creating strategic partnerships that will benefit the whole system. She has already invested in a customer relationship management (CRM) platform to use new technology to improve business relationships and has partnered with a leading content marketing firm, social media firm and franchise development firm, to drive brand recognition. I am focused on building the most efficient systems and processes with our partners so that both our corporate stores and franchisees will benefit. The better our system, the more attractive we will be to future franchisees, said Nielsen. There are currently 27 corporate stores and 31 franchise stores with three more stores slated to open this year. When she is not overseeing the strategic growth of the Kolache Factory, Nielsen and her husband Aaron, Director of Franchise Sales for the company, and daughters Sabrina and Paige, enjoy going to the lake and spending time at their ranch in East Texas. She also enjoys keeping up with her menagerie of horses and chickens. About the Kolache Factory Kolache Factory was founded in 1982 in Houston, Texas, by John and Jerri Banks, who identified a need for a fresh, high-quality breakfast that could be eaten on the run. The Banks encouraged consumers to try the high-quality, fresh pastries filled with fruits, meat and cheeses and soon they were in high demand for business meetings, family breakfasts, on-the-go lunches and afternoon snacks. Kolache Factory has been recognized as one of the Top 5 Drive-Thrus in America by Food Network, one of the fastest growing companies in Houston and one of the top 50 food service bakeries in the United States by Modern Baking magazine. In addition, Franchise Times magazine recently named Kolache Factory one of the 300 biggest brands in franchising by worldwide sales in 2017. In addition, Entrepreneur magazine named it among the top 200 food-based franchises in 2017. Kolache Factory is privately owned and operated and headquartered in Katy, Texas. For more information please visit http://www.kolachefactory.com. "We must continue to give emphasis to the critical importance of training both prevention and recovery equally or we shall learn this lesson again with continuing and unnecessary fatal Loss of Control In-flight tragedies." Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS), the global leader in Upset Prevention and Recovery Training (UPRT), announced today at the World Aviation Training Summit (WATS) the release of a new white paper on the Airplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Aid. Written by industry recognized experts in UPRT, the white paper evaluates the changes made between the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid - Revision 2 (AURTA - Rev 2) and the Airplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Aid - Revision 3 (AUPRTA - Rev 3) and analyzes the respective strengths and weaknesses of both documents. The AUPRTA - Rev 2 is an airline industry resource focused on pilot training information and techniques which can help to mitigate the threat of Loss of Control In-flight (LOC-I), the number one cause of fatalities across all sectors of aviation. AURTA - Rev 2 was updated to the Airline Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Aid - Revision 3 (AUPRTA - Rev 3) in an attempt to expand the scope to include regional jets and turboprop aircraft. At the same time, an effort was made to streamline the content and emphasize prevention of upsets in addition to recovery. Certain essential elements pertaining to airline UPRT instructor training and maneuvering exercises were eliminated in AUPRTA - Rev 3. While the additions in the AUPRTA - Rev 3 contribute important additional information in the comprehensive training needed to fully mitigate the risk of LOC-I, the attempt to streamline resulted in the loss of key elements regarding the importance of airplane upset recovery. The Airplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Aid - Revision 3 has significant deficiencies that should be highlighted," says Capt. John Cox, CEO of Safety Operating Systems, We have seen this ill-advised push to focus on prevention at the exclusion of recovery in the past. As was done back then, and must be done again with Revision 3, we must continue to give emphasis to the critical importance of training both prevention and recovery equally or we shall learn this lesson again with continuing and unnecessary fatal Loss of Control In-flight tragedies. Get the full Airplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training Aid White Paper here: apstraining.com/auprta_rev_3 ABOUT AVIATION PERFORMANCE SOLUTIONS Aviation Performance Solutions LLC (APS), headquartered at the Phoenix-Mesa Gateway Airport in Mesa, Arizona, trains thousands of professional pilots and instructors in comprehensive Upset Prevention and Recovery Training skill development. APS provides integrated LOC-I solutions via industry-leading computer-based, on-aircraft (jet and piston), and full-flight simulator Upset Prevention & Recovery Training (UPRT). All training is in full compliance with the Airplane Upset Recovery Training Aid, FAA Advisory Circular 120-109A on Stall Training, ICAO Manual on Aeroplane Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, IATA Guidance Material and Best Practices for the Implementation of Upset Prevention and Recovery Training, and the FAA Advisory Circular 120-111 on Upset Prevention and Recovery Training. APS is the only Part 141 Flight School certified in the delivery of complete upset prevention & recovery, stall/spin and instrument upset recovery training courses worldwide. With additional training locations in Texas (USA), The Netherlands (Europe), and military division in Alabama (USA), APS provides global access to the highest quality Upset Prevention and Recovery Training available. http://www.apstraining.com We invite precision parts manufacturers in the area to pay a visit during our grand opening, states Corey B. Johnson, President, Morris Midwest. Morris Midwest, a leading supplier of CNC machine tools and related products and services in the Upper Midwest, will hold a grand opening celebration and open house for area manufacturers at its new headquarters and technical center in Waukesha, Wisconsin on May 2-3, 2018. The new Waukesha facility, conveniently located near the intersection of routes 59 and 164, offers a total of 16,400 square feet of which nearly 12,000 square feet are dedicated to show room, warehouse and technical center space. We invite precision parts manufacturers in the area to pay a visit during our grand opening, states Corey B. Johnson, President, Morris Midwest. We're pleased to provide an easily accessible location and welcome area manufacturers interested in learning about the latest advancements in manufacturing technology. We can accommodate large machinery installations and set up complete manufacturing cells in our fully equipped technical center with dedicated space reserved for engineering projects and part runoffs, custom turnkey development, and customer training programs, adds Craig Hahne, Vice President of Sales, Morris Midwest. On display during the grand opening will be several variations of Okuma vertical machining centers including the popular GENOS M560V and five-axis models: the new, affordably priced GENOS M460V-5AX and the high-powered MU6300V. Rounding out the Okuma technology display will be several turning centers from the LB-EX, LT-EX and LU-EX series plus the 2SP-150HM dual spindle lathe and newly released, powerful V920EX vertical lathe. Tsugami/Rem Sales will display 12 mm, 32 mm and 38 mm maximum turning diameter models from the B0 Series of opposed gang tool CNC lathes, some with automatic bar feeders, in addition to the BW129Z split-slide CNC automatic lathe and the rigid construction S206 opposed gang tool CNC lathe. Other technology to be displayed at Morris Midwests grand opening in Waukesha includes the Seibu M35B wire EDM from KGK International; TRUMPF TruMark 5020 laser marking system, and new Desktop Metal Studio System metal 3D printing solution. More than 30 leading tooling, accessories and software suppliers will participate in Morris Midwests grand opening. Caron Engineering, Edge Technologies, Hydromat, Kennametal, Iscar, MasterCAM, MP Systems, Renishaw, Royal Products, Sandvik and SMW Autoblok are a small representation of companies whose products and services are slated to be integrated into live cutting demos and exhibited at the event. Formerly headquartered at West Heather Avenue in Milwaukee, Morris Midwest has served the manufacturing industry since 2006 and is the exclusive distributor of Okuma, Tsugami and other leading brands of CNC machinery in the Upper Midwest. In addition to its new facility in Waukesha, Morris Midwest serves manufacturers in Wisconsin, Minnesota, Illinois, North Dakota and South Dakota from regional sales offices in Maple Grove, Minnesota and Roselle, Illinois. For more information, please visit http://www.morrismidwest.com/grandopening or call toll-free at 866-797-4410. About Morris Midwest Morris Midwest (http://www.morrismidwest.com), a division of Morris Group, Inc., is the exclusive distributor of Okuma, Tsugami, and other leading brands of CNC machine tools in northern Illinois, Wisconsin, Michigans UP, Minnesota, North Dakota and South Dakota. In addition to new machine tools, Morris Midwest provides engineered solutions, replacement parts, service, preventive maintenance and more. Services also include customer consultation, financing, installation, training, service and disposition of retired machines. In 2017, Morris Midwest became a Diamond Level supplier of Desktop Metal's innovative metal 3D printing technology. About Morris Group, Inc. Morris Group, Inc. (http://www.morrisgroupinc.com), one of North Americas largest machine tool supply networks, owns fifteen independently operated business units. It supplies CNC machine tools and related technology and services to manufacturers representing virtually every industry segment. Morris Group, Inc. is headquartered in Windsor, Connecticut, home of its founding company, The Robert E. Morris Company, which has served the manufacturing industry since 1941. LeisureTees.com There are so many great causes to support, but we have always been moved by the work at Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital and their longstanding commitment to provide advanced pediatric health care services for children and families, said LeisureTees Co-Founder, Tori Gerbig. Leading online fashion retailer, Pink Lily, announced the launch today of sister e-commerce company, LeisureTees. Inspired by the popularity of Pink Lilys signature graphic tees, LeisureTees will sell an expanded selection of graphic t-shirts designed and created in-house for men, women and children. For every item purchased, LeisureTees will donate $1 to Monroe Carell Jr. Childrens Hospital at Vanderbilt, a national leader in pediatric health care. LeisureTees Co-Founders Chris and Tori Gerbig saw an opportunity to bring their humor, wit and sarcasm to a greater range of graphic tees, with styles that pushed beyond the Pink Lily brand aesthetic. When we looked at the data and demand for Pink Lilys graphic tees, we saw an opportunity for a new business venture that focused solely on our popular t-shirt designs, bringing them to a wider range of ages and style preferences, said LeisureTees Co-Founder, Chris Gerbig. Whats more, we believe it is a purchase people can feel good about, knowing that it will help support the great work of Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital. With close ties to Nashville, a place where Chris and Tori previously lived and now consider a home away from home, Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital was at the top of their list when the couple decided to incorporate a philanthropic element to this new business. There are so many great causes to support, but we have always been moved by the work at Vanderbilt Childrens Hospital and their longstanding commitment to provide advanced pediatric health care services for children and families, said LeisureTees Co-Founder, Tori Gerbig. As parents of two young children ourselves, were excited to bring designs that we can share with our own children, while supporting an organization that helps so many families. For more information and all the latest from LeisureTees, please visit LeisureTees.com or follow @LeisureTees on Instagram. All social media updates will be tagged #LeisureTees. About Pink Lily: Pink Lily is one of the fastest-growing online fashion retailers in America, featuring a wide assortment of colorful and trend-driven womens clothing, shoes, swimwear and accessories. Pink Lily ships more than 1,000 orders each day and has delivered more than 1.5 million products to customers since the shop opened in 2014. In 2017 the company opened its first brick-and-mortar retail location in Bowling Green, KY where Pink Lily is based and led by husband and wife co-founders Chris and Tori Gerbig. Visit PinkLily.com, @ThePinkLilyBoutique and @ToriGerbig where Pink Lily discloses additional information about the Company, its business and its results of operations. Today, Chowbotics appointed Warren Manzer Vice President of Foodservice Sales. In his role, Warren will be responsible for selling the companys products to cafeterias, convenience stores, and restaurants. Im excited to begin a new chapter of my career at Chowbotics, says Warren. Over the next few years, I believe automation will be an important trend in foodservice. Chowbotics has launched a revolutionary product for the space, in the form of Sally the Salad Robot. Im excited to take it to market. Warren brings more than 25 years of sales management experience in foodservice, commercial, and consumer products channels to his new position at Chowbotics. He most recently served as President of Foodservice at Clipper, a smallwares and uniform supply company, where he worked with major national customers including Burger King, Darden, and Dennys. Prior to Clipper, Warren served as a Senior Vice President of Sales at Crown Brands. Warren spent the early part of his career at Panasonic, where he acted as National Accounts Manager for its commercial foodservice and hospitality divisions. Were thrilled to welcome Warren to the Chowbotics team, says Dr. Deepak Sekar, founder and CEO. He is an experienced sales professional with a wealth of knowledge, contacts, and expertise in the foodservice industry. Warren has led big sales organizations that generated revenues from $10-200 million. We look forward to his leadership as we grow our sales. Recently selected as a finalist for Fast Companys 2018 World Changing Ideas Awards, Sally delivers precise portions and serves up vibrant, forward-thinking salads in places where fresh, made-to-order food might not otherwise exist. Cafeterias, convenience stores, restaurants and hotels, among other commercial venues, are locations that can use Sally to bring healthy, delicious food to consumers. Sallys key differentiator is that it offers more than 10,000 custom salad options. Salads are created in approximately a minute with any combination of up to 22 ingredients. Users can fine tune the calorie total by adding or subtracting ingredients via a touchscreen. The technology used in Sally can be adapted for customizable fruits, yogurt, breakfast, Asian bowls and more in the future. Chowbotics has been recognized by The New York Times, Food & Wine, Bloomberg Pursuits, CNN, CNBC, WIRED, TechCrunch and many more influential national publications for its creation of Sally and the robots impact on the foodservice industry. Fast Company named Sally as part of its feature story titled 10 Restaurant Innovations Changing the Way We Eat. The San Francisco Business Times named Chowbotics as one of Five Companies Reinventing the Way Restaurants and Consumers Do Business. This event maintained our position at the nexus of building industry education and technology. Texas A&M University's Construction Science Department offered their Francis Hall building to host The ConTech Roadshow on March 8th. The event series features traveling one-day tradeshows packed with demonstrations, vendors, educational presentations, and networking opportunities for the construction industry. Presented by College Station-based company JBKnowledge, the 2018 ConTech Roadshow made its first stop at Texas A&M to offer a special event tailored to students. Students were treated to a day of interactive demonstrations of the top technology transforming the AEC industry, and the opportunity to learn from and network with some of the top names in the industry. Among the companies present were leading tech vendors such as Project Atlas, STACK Estimating Technologies, SmartBid, Milwaukee Tools, Faro Technologies, Procore, DroneDeploy, Assemble, and Pix4D. This event maintained our position at the nexus of building industry education and technology, said Patrick Suermann, head of the country's largest construction science department at Texas A&M University in College Station, Texas. More than ever, constructions newest workers are expected to be tech proficient, explained Dr. Suermann. At the event, students gained valuable insights for their upcoming careers from leading construction technologists. The ConTechCrew Podcast hosts led discussions on career development and adopting technology such as BIM, AI, and drones. Other special guest presenters included Kelsey Stein of SKANSKA USA, Todd Wynne of Rogers-O'Brien Construction, David Epps from Winter Construction, Darren Roos of Bernards, and more who discussed topics from Drones on Every Jobsite and Techniques for Technology Adoption, to Leveraging Technology for Innovation in Construction, and Driving Innovation at Complacent Companies. Christina Pham of DroneDeploy described her experience as a presenter and vendor at The ConTech Roadshow: Aggieland as a pleasant experience from start-to-finish; "The Aggies were some of the most polite, engaging, and genuinely interested set of folks I've had the pleasure of meeting and discussing our product with." The ConTech Roadshow by JBKnowledge has four more stops planned for 2018 in Seattle, Kansas City, Boston, and Oakland. Each Roadshow features a superstar line-up of presenters and vendors with the latest tools, software, apps, and technology powering the construction industry. Learn more about the ConTech Roadshows at jbknowledge.com/roadshow. About JBKnowledge, Inc. JBKnowledge develops technology solutions for construction and insurance, including: IT Staff Augmentation; Strategic Consulting; Enterprise Application and Software Development; Mobile and Wearable Applications; and Research and Development Outsourcing. JBKnowledge is headquartered in Bryan/College Station, TX and serves construction clients around the world. Learn more at jbknowledge.com or listen to the ConTechCrew weekly construction technology podcast. Like JBKnowledge on Facebook, https://www.facebook.com/JBKnowledge/ Follow JBKnowledge on Twitter, https://twitter.com/jbknowledge Connect with JBKnowledge on LinkedIn, https://www.linkedin.com/company/jbknowledge "Truth-Transparency-Accountability- Change, the future for wildland firefighter safety is now." -The Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute Mission Statement On June 30, 2013, the Granite Mountain Hotshot firefighter crew went out to fight the Yarnell Hill Fire. Nineteen members of the Granite Mountain Hotshots perished in the fire due to being trapped in a canyon in the area. This was the greatest loss of a group of firefighters since 9/11, and is a devastating tragedy. The deaths of these men were due to the hand-me-down equipment that the Granite Mountain Hotshots used, as well as the lack of education and awareness that was provided to these firefighters. To prevent this from happening ever again, two women came together and created the Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute. Deborah Pfingston, who lost her son in the incident, and Roxanne Preston, who lost her husband, wanted to provide a way for these wildland firefighters to receive the proper equipment and education that they need in order to be prepared for the intense brutality that is their career. Their mission, is that "Wildland Firefighter safety is of the utmost importance to our organization. We will champion firefighter safety through independent investigations, education, and real life support for firefighters, families, and the fire community. Truth-Transparency-Accountability- Change, the future for wildland firefighter safety is now." The Granite Mountain Hotshot Memorial State Park was the first memorial state park in Arizona, and is located around the area of the Yarnell Hill Fire. There is a trail that goes along the memorial park that is 7 miles roundtrip. The people who cannot hike the trail needed a way to honor and memorialize the 19 fallen firefighters at the trailhead. That is where Big Statues came in. Mike Rowe and his team at Returning the Favor, a Facebook series that gives back to organizations such as the Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute, came in and wanted to create an episode featuring the organization that Deborah and Roxanne created. In addition, they inquired of Big Statues to create a bronze statue that would capture all 19 firefighters and would accurately portray and honor each of them for their service. The statue was revealed during the filming of the episode, and the statue will continue to inspire its viewers as well as honor the 19 fallen firefighters for hundreds of years to come. To find out more about the Wildland Firefighter Guardian Institute and how you can help raise awareness, visit their website at http://www.wfgi.org New integration automatically pulls in BREEAM certifications to Measurabl's platform. We have made it easier and more accurate for multinational portfolios to measure, manage, act upon, and promote the successes theyve achieved through excellent ESG performance. BRE has today announced the launch of its integration of BREEAM, the worlds leading sustainability assessment method for master planning projects, infrastructure and buildings, with Measurabl, the worlds most widely adopted sustainability software for real estate. The integration automatically syncs BREEAMs GreenBookLive - a registry of BREEAM certifications - with Measurabls platform to improve the accuracy of sustainability reporting to protocols like GRESB and CDP and simplify the tracking and maintaining of sustainability certifications for building owners and operators. The integration is available at no cost to buildings worldwide registered with Measurabl and certified with BREEAM. Integrating with Measurabl is a significant milestone in our tech-forward approach to building sustainability certification, said Barry Giles, CEO of BRE America. Our joint clients can benefit from seamless data sharing, making it easier than ever to implement sustainable practices by keeping all the data in one place. Were excited our clients will be able to focus on improving building performance rather than keeping track of data. BREEAM was developed in 1990 by BRE, a world leading, multi-disciplinary building science organization, and today has more certifications than any other green rating system with over 2,250,000 registered projects and over 550,000 certified buildings worldwide across more than 70 countries. Based on scientific research funded by BRE, the BREEAM In-Use standard is available to every commercial existing building no matter the size, age or condition. Real estate owners depend on accurate and timely data to confirm and communicate to investors, lenders and occupiers the ROI from improved performance through operational efficiencies and increased market value that BREEAM certified buildings offer, said Gary Thomas, Senior Director, Global Energy & Sustainability at CBRE. BREEAMs leadership on green building certification and Measurabls innovative sustainability software will make it easier to leverage sustainability and deliver superior financial performance to owners around the world. The BREEAM-Measurabl integration was timed for release just as many companies are compiling their annual investor disclosures on sustainability. Most real estate companies must issue multiple reports both internal and public facing in various formats so capturing and mapping the data to different standards compounds the time investment and risk of inaccuracies. With more than 5 billion square feet of commercial real estate across 67 countries using Measurabl, vast time savings and accuracy improvements have been created. BREEAM certification is one of the most prestigious hallmarks of a sustainable building, and has been widely adopted in Europe, but tracking and reporting certification status across large real estate portfolios is tedious and prone to manual error, said Matt Ellis, Measurabls Founder and CEO. Through this partnership, we have made it easier and more accurate for multinational portfolios to measure, manage, act upon, and promote the successes theyve achieved through excellent ESG performance. About BRE America & BREEAM USA BRE America is partnership between BRE Group, the worlds leading authority on all aspects of the built environment, and BuildingWise. BREEAM USA was established to provide a sustainability certification and improvement solution to the 5.6 million existing buildings in the United States not covered by existing green building programs. For more information, please visit http://www.breeamusa.com About Measurabl Measurabl is the worlds most widely adopted sustainability software for the built environment. More than 5 billion square feet of commercial property valued in excess of USD $1 trillion spread across 67 countries use our software to manage, benchmark, and report sustainability performance. Learn more at http://www.measurabl.com. For more information or to schedule an interview, please contact: Susan Giles (BREEAM USA) at susan.giles(at)breamerica(dot)com Kelia Cowan (Measurabl) at kelia(at)measurabl(dot)com ### Revised military regulation aims to safeguard state secrets in an increasingly connected world. A revised regulation on the internal affairs of the Peoples Liberation Army (PLA) will introduce new provisions for soldiers online and offline habits. Posted Tuesday to China Military Online, the official news website of the PLA, the guideline will come into effect on May 1. Heres a list of its key provisions. 1. E-commerce Soldiers shall be barred from engaging in online marketing, including the sale and promotion of products or services. They should also take care not to disclose state secrets or identifying information about their military units when making online purchases. Any deliveries including food takeout must be received off military grounds. 2. Personal transport In February 2016, the PLA warned soldiers of the risks of using ride-hailing apps while on base, as doing so reveals the users GPS location. The new regulation goes a step further, denying hired cars being entry to military facilities. In addition, the brightly colored bicycles of Mobike, Ofo, and other bike-sharing companies will be banned from bases. 3. Online identity Under the revised regulation, soldiers may not create chat groups or online forums that incorporate the name or code name of their military unit, nor may they engage in activity through online platforms like Weibo, Baidu Tieba, Toutiao, Zhihu, or WeChat public accounts that is deemed to be against the rules though said rules are not defined. Military personnel must use their real names when registering accounts on social messaging services like WeChat and QQ. They should not post ads seeking jobs, friends, or romantic partners on mass media, nor should they use the internet to conduct any activity that might damage the PLAs image. In addition, soldiers should not have improper or unnecessary relations with local civilians. 4. Livestreaming While the PLA in August 2016 reminded soldiers with a penchant for livestreaming an increasingly popular hobby in China not to divulge state secrets, the new revision bars military personnel from creating livestreaming accounts that violate rules. 5. Cellphone use All mobile phones must be registered under soldiers real identities. While staff are on duty, their phones shall be collected and kept stowed away: They may not use electronic devices to access the internet except after hours, on weekends, and on holidays. While these policies have long been enforced at military sites, this marks the first time they have been included in an overarching regulation. 6. Manners Soldiers are allowed to smoke, eat, and fan themselves but only while stationary. Doing any of these things while walking is forbidden. (This requirement has long been enforced and is not unique to the revised regulation.) 7. Uniforms In an unexpected loosening of the law, the PLAs new guideline allows soldiers to wear their uniforms at some nonmilitary functions, such as weddings, award ceremonies, and class reunions a freedom previously forbidden. But with uniforms come responsibilities. Soldiers in full dress must hold their umbrellas in their left hands, and only when it is raining or snowing. Uniformed soldiers are also forbidden from wearing gold bracelets, prayer beads, and other jewelry or accessories. Online, the new revision has elicited a wide range of responses. My husbands a soldier! wrote one enthusiastic netizen on microblog platform Weibo. Ive always dreamed of taking wedding photos with him in his military uniform! Even though its allowed now, I wouldnt wear [a military uniform in a casual setting], wrote another user. It wouldnt be at all easy to go on holiday one dare not slack off when in uniform, he explained, referring to the higher moral standard often applied to soldiers. An unnamed military official told PLA Daily, the official publication of Chinas armed forces, that once the new guideline takes effect, the army will step up efforts to root out impostors who masquerade in military dress to receive special treatment and privileges, to ensure that the Chinese militarys reputation is not tarnished by charlatans. Muscle Shoals Studio A visit to Muscle Shoals is an immersion in music history, culture and innovation cultivated from a rich diversity of people and place. You dont have to travel very far in the Tennessee River Valley to understand that this is a place that revers its music and musical heritage. The region is linked by state music trails such as the Crooked Trail in Southwest Virginia and the American Music Triangle which features the legendary studios of Muscle Shoals, AL. One of the most influential exports of the Tennessee River Valley is Appalachian music and the musicians who influenced the modern music genres of Bluegrass, Country, Americana, Folk, Rock and Roll, Jazz, Blues, and Pop. Exploring the music heritage of the region is best experienced through the festivals, theaters, and historic studios that were the creative venues for this music evolution. The history of Appalachian music begins with people. Native Americans used music to preserve stories and to celebrate their cultural traditions. As the settlers moved into the Valley, they also brought their instruments and songs. Traditional hill music blended the ballads, hymns, fiddle tunes and blues of the European, Scot- Irish, Black Dutch, and African Slaves who settled the region. Appalachian music instruments also reflected these people who now called the Valley home. The fiddle, dulcimer, guitar, and African banjo blended together to create the sound that is Appalachian Music. As this sound was heard beyond the hollers of the region at festivals, settler schools, and from early studio recordings such as the famous Bristol Recordings of 1927, the world sat up and listened. Here are 5 must stops to learn about the heritage of Appalachian music in the Tennessee River Valley: The rugged highlands of East Tennessee have a reputation for fast cars, illegal stills, and legendary country music. Follow the White Lightning driving trail as it takes you through the hills and valleys that produced legendary musicians- Dolly Parton, Chet Atkins, Jimmy Martin, and Roy Acuff. Dont miss a mid-day music performance broadcast live world-wide at the WDVX studios in Knoxville. Stroll the city streets following the Cradle of Country Music Trail. Knoxville has a rich history of promoting young talent and that continues today. On every corner, you will discover a place or a venue that is featuring live music. Down river in Chattanooga, the Bessie Smith Cultural Center is a tribute to the classic Blues and Jazz movement that was evolving in the late 1920s. The Empress of Blues, Bessie Smiths talent led to enormous popular appeal for the emerging mass radio broadcast technology and for the niche marketing of recordings. Nearby is the Historic Tivoli Theatre which was built to host both live performances and the silent movies of the 1920s. In 1926, the Tivoli became the first theater in the nation to have air conditioning installed. Today, the Tivoli offers a wide variety of performances from blues to bluegrass and classical to country; plus dance, opera and Broadway shows. The Singing River appellation for the Tennessee River is often ascribed to the lore surrounding the flowing water and to the sounds that flowed from the studios of Muscle Shoals. The Yuchie Tribe called the Tennessee the singing river as the water sounded like a woman singing. Alternatively, legend has it that a young native girl sang as she fetched water, and her voice carried far down river in the 20 mile shallow canyon. What is known is that this area of the Tennessee River has been a source of distinctive music named the Muscle Shoals Sound. A visit to Muscle Shoals is an immersion in music history, culture and innovation cultivated from a rich diversity of people and place. Muscle Shoals Sound Studio, with its quartet of session musicians affectionately called the swampers, was a much sought-after recording location for some of the world's best-known musical acts including Mick Jagger, Aretha Franklin, Wilson Pickett, Willie Nelson, Percy Sledge, Rod Stewart, Bob Seger and Lynyrd Skynyrd. The Rolling Stones recorded "Brown Sugar" and "Wild Horses" here for their "Sticky Fingers" album. In nearby Sheffield, the Cypress Moon Studios is the former location of the second Muscle Shoals Sound Studio from 1978 to 2005 where such artists as Bob Dylan, Etta James, The Commodores, , Percy Sledge, Melissa Etheridge, Jimmy Buffett and hundreds of others recorded. Both locations have scheduled hours open to the public. Embracing the diversity of music and people living in the Tennessee River Valley, the Shoals area annually pays to tribute to native son, W. C. Handy. Known as the Father of Blues, Handy gifted the world with the sounds of rhythm-and-blues, jazz, and soul with famous tunes such as St. Louis Blues, Memphis Blues, and Beale Street Blues. Every July, live performances of Jazz and Blues music can be heard throughout the Shoals at local eateries, malls, parks and other establishments. The event runs 10 days, offering visitors over 200 performances to choose from. As the Tennessee River turns northward, the sprawling Loretta Lynn Ranch is a popular destination for visitors interested in the legacy of the Coal Miners daughters history and famed career. Her talent for songwriting comes from personal storytelling and societal themes that were not generally discussed in polite company. The Ranch hosts events throughout the year including the annual Labor Day weekend Gospel Fest. The onsite campground and horse trails provide guests additional activities to enjoy while listening to some great music. Learn more by exploring the Tennessee River Valley Geotourism MapGuide and find out what makes this region a National Geographic Destination. With the interactive travel map, you can save trip ideas and create your own trip plans to see places around the region. It's time for you to share your stories and start some new ones! Together, the LRW and Kelton capabilities will enable us to deliver even bigger impact for our clients and create exciting opportunities for growth and development for our employees. LRW announced today it has completed the acquisition of Kelton Global, an award-winning insights and strategy firm. This is LRWs fifth in a planned series of acquisitions in support of its long term vision of building a leading consultative data analytics firm to help clients solve complex business and marketing challenges. Kelton is known for utilizing a full suite of insights tools to solve branding, innovation, and marketing communications challenges for clients. Kelton built its reputation by delivering fully integrated, mixed-method insights work with a journalists flair for storytelling. Kelton has focused on developing its innovation, branding, and marketing communications teams to turn best-in-class consumer insights work into game-changing strategies for its clients. Tom Bernthal and Gareth Schweitzer will continue as CEO and President of the Kelton Division, respectively. David Sackman, Chairman and CEO of the LRW group of companies, said, Kelton is a truly special company that shares our vision and cultural values, yet also has some areas of expertise that truly complement our key strengths. Together, the LRW and Kelton capabilities will enable us to deliver even bigger impact for our clients and create exciting opportunities for growth and development for our employees. Bernthal said, Like us, LRW believes putting the customer first drives the most innovative, game-changing solutions. Both companies believe the future of insights-based consulting is method-agnostic, and winners in this space will combine sophisticated data analytics with downstream application. Its that shared vision combined with a deeply held belief in creating best-in-class workplaces that brought us together. LRW and Kelton have complementary skills and capabilities. What LRW has accomplished in marketing science, behavioral science, and global tracking is remarkable, Schweitzer said. Were excited to bring these new capabilities to our clients. LRWs scale, operational excellence and deep client relationships made LRW the best partner to help us achieve our growth goals. ### About LRW LRW is a globally-minded group of data-driven companies best known for its ability to translate deep human understanding and sophisticated data analytics into business success for its clients. LRW has been advising top global brands on issues of strategy, branding, communications, innovation, product development and customer experience since 1973 and is recognized among the 10 most innovative and 20 largest market research consultancies in the world. http://www.LRWonline.com About Kelton Global Kelton Global is a strategic consultancy rooted in the belief that it takes the combination of insight and imagination to fundamentally impact brands for the better. With a journalists eye for the human story, Kelton utilizes the best insights engine in the business to solve branding, marketing communications, and innovation challenges for clients. Kelton is proud to work with more than 100 of the Fortune 500 companies and countless innovative startups and challenger brands. http://www.keltonglobal.com. About Tailwind Capital Tailwind Capital is a leading middle market private equity firm focused on growth-oriented investments in targeted sectors within business services, healthcare, and industrial services. Tailwind partners with experienced management teams and entrepreneurs to transform businesses through organic growth initiatives, acquisitions, and operational and strategic improvements. Tailwind manages over $3 billion of committed equity capital and has invested in 35 portfolio companies and over 55 add-on acquisitions. For more information, contact Joan Cassidy at jcassidy(at)LRWonline.com. PaceMySpace.com It's a true win-win, the environment is greener and customers usually see an immediate energy bill savings with upgraded features that also add value to their home. Commercial properties in Broward, Dade, Hernando, Hillsborough, and Manatee counties now have new options for financing improvements to meet Green Initiatives. New legislation was approved in early 2018 to allow nonprofit, industrial, commercial and multifamily property owners to finance upgrades to improve their energy usage and comply with new more environmentally-friendly regulations. Financing is to come from a private provider in the Property Assessed Clean Energy (PACE) program. The PACE program originated from the Office of Energy Efficiency and Renewable Energy (EERE), which was created by the U.S. Department of Energy to help property owners transition to clean energy. Since its inception, more than 31 states have passed legislation to permit PACE funding, including California, Kentucky, Missouri and Florida. The Florida PACE program enables property owners to receive 100% funding based on home equity, not personal credit score, to incorporate energy-efficient heating/cooling systems, LED lighting, solar panels and water conservation tools into their new or existing structure. Once the renovations are completed, the property owner repays the loan through a small increase in their assessed property taxes until the loan is paid off. Because it is a relatively low interest loan, business and property owners have the advantage of splitting the cost of the improvements over multiple years, up to twenty-five. The Tampa Bay region is not the first southern Florida area to pass legislation implementing PACE funding. Twelve local governments, including Ft. Lauderdale, Hollywood, Delray Beach and others have created districts for the PACE program. The funding has been used by local residents and business owners to install solar panels, hurricane windows and insulation. It can also be used to replace old-fashioned heating/cooling systems with more energy-efficient varieties that utilize solar, water or geothermal power. Finally, property owners can use funding to purchase ENERGY STAR appliances, doors and windows, which promises to save hundreds of dollars a year in utility costs and repairs. To qualify for funding through the PACE program, applicants have to own the property they are applying to renovate, and have no recorded bankruptcies against their name or involuntary liens placed on the property. In addition, they must be current in their property taxes and mortgage payments, with no late or missed payments within the past three years (or since assuming ownership of the company, whichever is less). Contractors who work on PACE-funded improvements must be licensed, and must meet the necessary building and energy code standards as required by federal, state and local organizations. It is the responsibility of the builder and property owner to ensure that all building permits are obtained before starting on the renovation. Property owners can apply for financing from the PACE district located in their county or region. Residents of central and Southern Florida can visit the Pace My Space website to inquire about utilizing PACE funding for their building renovations. Once accepted, commercial property owners can learn more by talking to the local PACE office representatives about the best products and styles to use to fit their individual needs. Such an attitude can have significant consequences. Parents pull their children out of dysfunctional schools. Teachers either quit the teaching profession or transfer to a school district that is supportive and professional. John D. Osinga, founder of Osinga Law Offices, S.C., in an effort to help parents obtain information and documents from their childrens schools, is offering a free guide to the Open Records Law. The guide, which contains practical strategies, is entitled Tips for Public School Open Record Requests. The Wisconsin Open Records Law is intended to make it relatively easy for anyone to acquire public records, said Osinga. However, public school officials often choose to create obstacles that make it more difficult than necessary. The numerous tips in Osingas guide come from his experiences with public records litigation involving a Milwaukee area school district. The litigation enlightened him about the frustration parents experience when they are kept in the dark about their schools. I found that parents pose legitimate questions, such as Why is the enforcement of student bullying policies lax or inconsistent? Why arent public schools more willing to share information? Why do school districts spend so much money on things unrelated to student learning? Why is my childs teacher leaving the district? Why do students, parents and teachers become targets of retaliation when they point out school dysfunction? noted Osinga. Osinga Law Offices has a Public Schools page containing examples of public records that school districts would prefer not become public. These records often illustrate how district employees exhibit an indifferent attitude toward the concerns of parents and teachers. Such an attitude can have significant consequences, concluded Osinga. Parents pull their children out of dysfunctional schools. Teachers either quit the teaching profession or transfer to a school district that is supportive and professional. To request a free copy of Tips for Public School Open Record Requests, call Osinga Law Offices at (262) 717-9020, or visit http://www.osingalawoffice.com/contact-us. About John D. Osinga, Osinga Law Offices, S.C. John D. Osinga is a member of the Wisconsin State Bar and its sections on real property, probate and trust, litigation and elder law. For more information, please call (262) 717-9020, or visit http://www.osingalawoffice.com. The law office is located at 13500 Capitol Drive, Suite 201, Brookfield, WI 53005. About the NALA The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361. Panorama Education and AASA, the School Superintendents Association, announced a new partnership today to help schools and districts across the country measure and support each student toward readiness for college, career, and life. The partnership was created as part of AASAs Redefining Ready! campaign, a national initiative launched in 2016 to introduce research-backed college and career readiness indicators that portray the complete picture of a students progress. Today, more than 400 school systems partner with Panorama Education to measure and understand their students social-emotional learning, as well as to collect information about school climate, family engagement, and school safety. As an official Redefining Ready! partner, Panorama will further its work with AASA and school districts nationally to help educators assess students social-emotional learning aligned to the Redefining Ready! indicators. Panoramas newest tool, Panorama Student Success, combines academic, attendance, behavior, and social-emotional learning data to help schools and districts identify whether students are on track to graduate. The tool also monitors the progress of students receiving special services, and helps educators monitor early warning indicators for every student. We are excited to partner with Panorama Education, a technology platform that is aligned with our Redefining Ready! initiativea national campaign to redefine college and career readiness on behalf of the next generation of our nations leading innovators, said Daniel A. Domenech, executive director, AASA. Our students are more than just a test score. Its imperative we do all we can for them so that they become college ready, career ready and life ready. As a component of the new partnership, Panorama will participate in AASAs Redefining Ready! Cohort, a convening of forward-thinking district leaders who will work together to review the research, practices, and policies that are most promising to help students succeed both in and out of the classroom. The first cohort meeting of the year will be next week, April 23-24, in Virginia Beach, Virginia. To learn more about how Panorama Education and AASA are partnering to ensure that our nations 14 million high school students are ready for college, career, and life, visit https://www.redefiningready.org/. About Panorama: Panorama Education partners with K-12 schools and districts across the country to collect and analyze data about social-emotional learning, school climate, family engagement, and more. With research-backed surveys and a leading technology platform, Panorama helps educators act on data and improve student outcomes. Panorama has supported more than 6 million students in 6,500 schools across 40 states, including those in the New York City Department of Education, Dallas Independent School District, Seattle Public Schools, and San Francisco Unified School District. To learn more about Panorama Education, visit https://www.panoramaed.com/. About AASA: AASA, The School Superintendents Association, founded in 1865, is the professional organization for more than 13,000 educational leaders in the United States and throughout the world. AASAs mission is to support and develop effective school system leaders who are dedicated to the highest quality public education for all children. For more information, visit http://www.aasa.org. Woggly Square is a phrase that comes from the mind of a 12-year old, non-verbal autistic boy. Through the passionate efforts of his proud father and uncle, Woggly Square has now become the most exciting new concept in craft brewing. Last weekend Woggly Square launched with the official release of its signature beer Flaming Golden Hawk. The beer was sold out at both launch venues in a matter of hours. These 2 events were held in Chicago suburbs Mokena and Romeoville, and were jam packed with Woggly Square supporters. The release was timed to coincide with a Kickstarter campaign which began on Friday night. Woggly Square hopes to raise $35k to help expand its capacity, and get its beer out to more people. The company will be contributing 10% of its proceeds to autistic charities, and also hopes to employ autistic adults as it grows. In early sales 100% of proceeds have been given to charity. According to Woggly Square founder John Newton: As a father of an autistic child I am always concerned about what will happen once my son Matthew ages out of the system. I had been having a lot of fun with craft brewing on the side, and even had won some awards. I realized that it would be a great way to tie these two sides of my life together to create a craft brewery that supported autism, and why not let my son name it. Whats crazy is that people seem to absolutely love the name and it attracts them to the beer and concept. Matthew repeats this phrase Woggly Square all the time, and we still dont know what it means. But how cool is it that it has resonated so much, with so many people! Woggly Square has been able to raise nearly $10k for autistic charities in only its first couple months. This has been achieved through amazing grass roots efforts and support in the familys Chicago south-suburban community. To help support Woggly Square or for more information please visit our Kickstarter: https://www.kickstarter.com/projects/1304492445/woggly-square-craft-brewery-battling-autism https://www.wogglysquare.com Monterey College of Law (MCL) has announced a new hybrid online J.D. law degree that will allow students to complete up to 70% of their law school curriculum online. As an accredited law school, MCL received approval from the State Bar of California Committee of Bar Examiners to initiate the new degree program for Fall 2018. The innovative new degree program will be one of the first hybrid law degree programs offered in California. MCL has been working with the Committee of Bar Examiners for many years to develop appropriate standards and guidelines for distance education, said Mitchel L. Winick, President and Dean of MCL. By adding this degree option to our traditional residential J.D. program, we are providing students with a valuable new learning opportunity, said Winick. MCL will initially offer the part-time hybrid online degree program starting Fall 2018 through its Santa Cruz satellite campus. Students will complete their first year of classes in a traditional classroom setting and then participate in upper division courses utilizing distance education technology. Although it has taken years to develop this program and have it accepted by the State Bar, we knew that it was critical to demonstrate that the course content and delivery are equally as rigorous and comprehensive as a traditional J.D. program, said Elizabeth Xyr, MCLs academic dean in charge of the new program. It is not surprising that MCL is one of the first accredited law schools to integrate distance education into their curriculum. MCL has been known as an innovator in legal education, being the first U.S. law school to issue iPads to students and faculty (2010), the first California law school to require mediation certification as a requirement for the J.D. degree (2011), and the first California accredited law school to offer a concurrent Master of Legal Studies and J.D. degree program (2013). MCL is currently accepting applications for the Fall 2018 inaugural class of the hybrid J.D. For more information, contact Dean of Admissions Wendy LaRiviere at wlariviere(at)montereylaw(dot)edu, call 831-582-4000 ext. 1012, or go to http://www.montereylaw.edu. Potential applicants who wish to pre-qualify for admissions can go to http://montereylaw.edu/fast-track-pre-qualifier/ to submit their information. About Monterey College of Law: Monterey College of Law was founded more than 45 years ago by a group of lawyers and judges who wanted to bring quality local legal education to the California Central Coast. The institution has grown from its main Monterey College of Law campus in Seaside, California to now include two accredited branch campuses San Luis Obispo College of Law and Kern County College of Law and a satellite MCL campus in Santa Cruz. Under California law, as a state-accredited law school, qualified applicants are not required to have a bachelors degree and may apply with an A.A. degree or at least 60-units of undergraduate studies. Our regular students are also not required to take and pass the California First Year Law Student Exam, otherwise known as the Baby Bar. For more information, go to http://www.montereylaw.edu or contact Wendy LaRiviere, Dean of Admissions, wlariviere(at)montereylaw(dot)edu or 831-582-4000 ext. 1012. Are you a frequent flier who is looking for a better and more convenient way to do your dry cleaning & laundry? EcoClean has got you covered! Ecoclean is excited to announce an innovative partnership with ABIA Valet Parking that will make getting your dry cleaning & laundry done as convenient as possible! EcoClean is a dry cleaner in Austin, TX that offers an array of innovative green dry cleaning services as well as free delivery and pickup. Austin Bergstrom-International Airport (ABIA) has announced a strategic partnership between the two entities. EcoClean and ABIA will join forces to provide drop-off and pick-up dry cleaning services for fliers through ABIAs valet parking service! The partnership will allow travelers to have easy access to EcoCleans environmentally friendly garment cleaning services at the same price that they would be in the store or thru their pick-up/delivery program. The process is simple and convenient. Heres how it works: 1. Fill out a short form at the valet drop off. 2. Put clothes in the nearby laundry drop box. 3. Expect clean clothes in your car when you pick it up! Even if your trip is expected to be short, EcoClean and ABIA have got you covered. All garments left in the drop box before 6pm will be cleaned and returned to your vehicle before 6pm the next business day. If you would prefer your laundry delivered somewhere else and not left in your car, you can always request that your garments be picked up from the airport and delivered back to your home or office. Check our site to search the 30+ zip codes that EcoClean services in the Austin area. Do you need a convenient way to check your EcoClean account or keep track of your drop & fly garments? EcoClean has an app for that! You can download EcoCleans app on any iOS or Android device to pay your bill, check your account, schedule a pick-up, and more. This hassle-free service works perfectly for families and business travelers alike. Just drop-off your dirty garments when you park your car and return home to freshly cleaned and pressed clothes that are ready to wear! If you have more questions about this service or any of EcoCleans other fantastic services like their free home or office pick-up and delivery, visit http://www.EcoCleanAustin.com or contact their team here. "EcoClean is very excited to announce our partnership with Austin-Bergstrom International Airport Valet Parking. They have an outstanding reputation of excellence in customer service and accommodation that we respect and relate to as a local business. We believe that ABIA is the perfect partner to help us expand on our mission to bring quality, affordable, and convenient dry cleaning to Austin and those who frequent our fine city. Making dry cleaning and laundry as easy as possible while caring for the environment and our customers has always been our mission and we believe that our partnership with ABIA is the logical next step to better serve our community." said Mark Hess, Executive Manager of EcoClean in Austin, TX About EcoClean EcoClean is an innovative garment cleaner who specializes in a dry cleaning process that is not toxic for the human body and is friendly toward the environment. They are based in Austin, Texas and offer many great services including free pickup and delivery at your home or office. EcoClean even offers a full wash and fold service along with their premiere services and excellent customer service. Convenience and quality for the customer are at the center of EcoCleans business mission. Theres a reason that EcoClean has won Best Dry Cleaner in 4 out of the last 5 years. No detail goes unnoticed! For more information about EcoClean and their services, please visit https://ecocleanaustin.com/. About Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) Austin-Bergstrom International Airport (ABIA) is located in the capital city of Texas and is the 34th busiest airport in the United States and serviced almost 14 million passengers in 2017. Only 2 airports in Texas service more passengers than ABIA. ABIA boasts many impressive accolades including recognition as one of the Worlds Best Airports for Customer Service in 2016 and Travel + Leisures Worlds Best Airport in 2015. You can learn more about ABIA at http://www.austintexas.gov/airport. RMail integrated into MindCentric RPost, a leader in email cybersecurity software services, and MindCentric, one of the largest Zimbra and Microsoft business email hosting providers in the United States, announce one of the largest instant business email encryption deployments at Channel Partners Conference (Learn more at RPost booth #3079). RPost made it easy to turn on its RMail secure messaging services for all of our business customers. Simple and elegant; as RMail provides users one uniform experience across all of the main email platforms, whether our customers are using Zimbra, Microsoft Outlook, Microsoft Exchange/Office365, or some combination, states John Ewart, Partner of MindCentric. Our customers enjoy all of the new security benefits as well as all of the RMail productivity tools, all-in-one, one click away. In phase one, MindCentric deployed RMail to more than 50,000 users with a free-to-premium service arrangement permitting all users a cost-effective way to use RMail services at their desired level. RMail adds a suite of security, compliance and productivity tools into the Microsoft Outlook and Zimbra user interface, providing senders with simple-to-use email open tracking, Registered Email certified e-delivery proof, compliant email encryption, electronic signatures, secure large file transfers, auditable proof of compliance, email imposter protection, and more. Powered by patented Registered Email technology, RMail returns a Registered Receipt record for every message sent, providing and proving important e-delivery details and data privacy compliance. Users that install RMail are auto-enrolled with a base service plan for RSign. We are excited to provide both RMail and RSign to our customers. RMail secures, tracks and certifies proof of delivery of email content and attachments. RSign is a document management and e-signature platform, adds John Ewart at MindCentric. Both are so simple to use and provide more advanced features than their competitors which we evaluated. And, its a lower cost. Its a real win, win for everyone. RSign is a simple to use, full featured, web-based e-signature service that makes it easy for signers to complete and sign documents electronically using any web browser, in an intuitive, self-guided signing process. RSign includes reminders & notification automation and rules, real-time delivery and signoff audit trail and history, as well as encryption, templates, advanced form features, signer authentication, and more. MindCentric took the right approach. Make RMail available for all users. Once users Send RMail for the first time, they are thrilled to see all of the new business tools MindCentric has brought to them, helping them do more, faster, from inside their current email interface, adds Zafar Khan, CEO of RPost. RMail simply makes Microsoft and Zimbra email better for business. About RPost: RPost is a leading cyber security company providing email security, compliance, and productivity services to more than 25 million users worldwide over more than a decade. RPost has set the global standard for secure and certified electronic communications, with more than 50 patents granted on its core Registered Email technologies, used to track and prove email delivery, encrypt email, protect from imposter email, secure large file transfers, and manage e-signature transactions. Recipient of the World Mail Award for Best in Security, Best Innovation in IT Award in Germany, and voted Top Choice for GDPR Email Data Privacy Compliance in Europe, RPost services are in use in nearly every country in the world, within Global Fortune 500 companies, and endorsed by the most influential industry associations including The Florida Bar. https://www.rpost.com/ About MindCentric: MindCentric has partnered with businesses that require sophisticated, high-touch managed hosting since 1999. With thousands of clients in production today, MindCentric clients enjoy many cloud-based services such as: Cloud Hosting, Managed Services, Managed Security, Compliance, Disaster Recovery, Virtual Desktop, Hosted Email, Cloud Storage/Drive, Cloud Consulting, and Hybrid Services and Support with AWS and Azure. http://www.mindcentric.com Remod X Band The watch strap industry has barely changed for a century... SteelConnect, one of the worlds most innovative watch strap companies, follows few successful Kickstarter campaigns the SteelConnect 1.0 lug adapter for Pebble Steel, SteelConnect M lug adapter for Moto360 and Quarter Dock for iPad Pro with a fifth crowdfunding campaign for its latest design, the inventive and stylish Remod X. Even by SteelConnect standards, the Remod X Band is creative in the extreme. The line of watch straps, geared towards Apple Watch wearers, is completely reversible with a sophisticated Reversible Twist Link (simply pull, twist, lock) that allows wearers to change up their style in seconds. In addition, the universal Dual Clasp enables the tightening of straps on either side. No matter how you twist it, the straps pin lock moves in lock-step, commented SteelConnect Co-founder Jason, Inside or out, left-handed or right Remod X is made for everyone. We make the kind of watch straps that your watch deserves. The Remod X watch strap comes in a variety of looks; combining materials to push the boundaries of style even further. Thanks to a collaboration with Swiss company, Braloba, Remod X straps mix together a variety of distinct, premium materials including Horween Leather, Italian Leather, Japan Kurabo Mill Denim, Ligneah Wood Fabric, Cordura Engineered Fabric and Fluoroelastomer rubber. The watch strap industry has barely changed for a century, continues Jason, We thought it was time for a unique twist. From the combination of stylish materials to the innovative functionality our team has considered every detail to create a watch strap that is as advanced as the watches they connect to. The first phase of the Remod X watch strap line is designed specifically for Apple Watch wearers and other 22mm lug watches. The Remod X Kickstarter campaign launches on 2nd May 2018 at http://www.remodwatchband.co Learn more about Remod X Band, please visit the link as above. About SteelConnect SteelConnect was established in 2013 to create Smart Watch accessories that drastically improve upon the style and functionality of the default offerings. The companys first product was the SteelConnect 1.0 lug adapter for Pebble Steel, which launched successfully on Kickstarter more than doubling its campaign goal. The companys second Kickstarter campaign, for the Moto360 lug adapter, was similarly successful. ### If you would like further information, materials, or an interview about Remod X, please contact: PRESS OFFICER CONTACT INFO Suzie Lim pr(at)steelconnect.co An attack helicopter fires rockets during a live-fire exercise off the country's southeastern coast on April 18, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] An aviation brigade of the People's Liberation Army Ground Force held a live-fire exercise off the country's southeastern coast on Wednesday, according to a statement from the PLA Ground Force. The statement, which was released on Thursday morning, said multiple types of armed helicopters took part in the drill that lasted until late night at sea and verified the brigade's all-day combat capability on the sea. An attack helicopter takes part in a live-fire exercise off the country's southeastern coast on April 18, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] WZ-19 and Z-9 attack helicopters fired rockets and missiles during the drill, which began around 9 am and concluded around 11 pm, and practiced a host of tactic maneuvers such as sea-skimming assault and joint strike. Yang Baowei, deputy commander of the brigade, was quoted in the statement as saying that the exercise was aimed at honing the unit's operational capability at sea, at night and against sophisticated electronic countermeasures. The event also tested pilots' ability to respond to rapidly changing situations in action, he added. A soldier checks an attack helicopter during a live-fire exercise off the country's southeastern coast on April 18, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] The Fujian Provincial Bureau of Maritime Safety published a navigational alert on April 12, saying that the military would perform a live-fire drill in the Taiwan Straits on Wednesday. The administration released the coordinates of the drill zone-a rectangular area off the province's eastern coast-on its website, asking ships to stay out of the area. Whether this was a reference to Wednesday's drill remains unknown. An attack helicopter fires rockets during a live-fire exercise off the country's southeastern coast on April 18, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] In another development, Japan's Joint Staff on Wednesday published an announcement on its website, claiming that two H-6K long-range bombers of the PLA flew over the Miyako Strait and then made a sharp turn toward a direction to the southeast of the Taiwan Island. The PLA has yet to confirm the information by Thursday morning. An attack helicopter takes part in a live-fire exercise off the country's southeastern coast on April 18, 2018. [Photo provided to chinadaily.com.cn] Katapult Demo Day - Batch One Katapult Accelerator is showing that you can build financial value and have a positive impact, and we are looking forward to welcoming global companies who share this vision to our shores, The Katapult Accelerator is the world's first global for-profit accelerator focusing solely on impact and exponential technology. 200 impact investors from around the world participated at the demo-day for our first batch. We had access to 1,500 startups for the second round and we are excited to help the next batch of startups realize their dreams to solve global challenges, says Haakon Brunell, Managing Partner and Co-Founder of Katapult Accelerator. Batch three starts August, 2018 and applications are open now. The startups selected will receive up to USD 150,000 investment, have access to 120+ international mentors, and receive hands-on support from the Katapult Accelerator team. At the end of the three months, the startups will have defined their vision, strategy, impact orientation, growth marketing and business model. Katapult Accelerators most recent acceptance rate is 0.8%, as only 12 startups were selected in the second round of 1,500 applications. This second batch of startups that are currently participating in the intensive 3-month program will conclude their time at Katapult Accelerator with a presentation to hundreds of investors at the next Katapult Accelerator Demo Day this 14th of May in Oslo. Our goal for each company is to prepare them for their next round of investment, so that they achieve two to three times their original valuation, says Brunell. Its been less than half a year since its first Demo Day, and the Katapult Accelerator team are already seeing strong traction from its first batch of portfolio companies. For starters, 4 of the 12 companies from its first batch have either closed or are over-subscribed on their next funding round. Additionally, 10 of the 12 companies have received an offer for further funding post-accelerator. This success shows investor confidence in the impact investment philosophy. Furthermore, Norways social democracy and its openness to new ideas and innovation provides inspiration and support for this approach. Oslo is the perfect place to bring together companies that can solve global challenges by using exponential technology. Norway is an open, egalitarian society where trust and consideration for others are fundamental values. This is the vision behind our decision to pursue impact investments within the startup ecosystem. Katapult Accelerator is showing that you can build financial value and have a positive impact, and we are looking forward to welcoming global companies who share this vision to our shores, says Brunell. About Katapult Accelerator Katapult Accelerator is a global accelerator that aims to fast-track solutions to global problems within both environmental and societal domains. It supports startups that can address these problems with exponential technologies, particularly artificial intelligence, blockchain, virtual reality, augmented reality, and applications of the internet of things. http://katapultaccelerator.com Read the request for startup to learn about the type of companies Katapult Accelerator is looking for and apply now. Corserv, a company that empowers banks to offer credit cards, announced today that it has partnered with The First National Bank in Sioux Falls (FNB) to provide their relationship customers with FNB Mastercard credit cards that best meet their personal and business needs. Corservs program enables us to offer credit cards with rates and rewards programs that compete with National credit card issuers, said Bill Baker, Chairman and CEO of FNB. The online, real-time application process and cardholder defined spending and limit alerts align with our commitment to innovation. FNB builds successful customer relationships, and we are thrilled to help expand their services with FNB branded Mastercards, said Jerry Craft, CEO of Corserv. They know every customer and can provide the best choice of credit card and superior customer service. Through Corservs program, FNB offers consumer and business credit cards to meet customer needs, including Platinum Mastercard, Platinum Rewards Mastercard and World Rewards Mastercard. A Mastercard Purchasing Card can be integrated into expense reporting systems and allows for payments to authorized vendors for a wide variety of purchases and travel as well as individual or consolidated statements. All of these Mastercard credit card products are available now at The First National Bank in Sioux Falls online website and branch locations. Contacts: FNB: Jeff Russell, SVP/Chief Banking Officer, (605.335.5200), jkrussell(at)fnbsf(dot)com Corserv, Inc.: David Luther, Chief Business Officer, (404.822.8418), dluther(at)corservsolutions(dot)com About The First National Bank in Sioux Falls Established in 1885, The First National Bank in Sioux Falls (FNB) is one of the oldest and largest independent banks in South Dakota. Our experience assures customers the professional advice and trust that has met the test of time. FNB is a nationally chartered bank that provides financial services through locations in Sioux Falls, Harrisburg, Dell Rapids, Flandreau, Brandon, and Baltic, South Dakota. We build successful relationships by knowing every one of our customers and their accounts. FNB provides innovative financial services through our relationships with individual, business, mortgage, agribusiness, and wealth management customers. For additional information, locations and hours of operation, please visit http://www.fnbsf.com. About Corserv Corserv provides a turnkey credit card issuing program that enables financial institutions to deliver competitive, branded credit cards to consumer, business and commercial customers. Corservs secure hosted programs combine our credit, compliance and marketing expertise with our modern online solution everything our clients need to quickly build a successful card-issuing business. Our financial institution clients can increase their earnings per share by owning their customer loans and benefitting from loan interest, interchange, fee income and economies of scale from Corservs client base. Most importantly, our clients improve their credit card customer relationships. For more information, please visit http://www.corservsolutions.com. Valtech Appoints Former MullenLowe & R/GA Executive Jonathan Goldmacher as Managing Director Valtech aims to fuel future growth with new leadership hire Valtech Appoints Former MullenLowe & R/GA Executive Jonathan Goldmacher as Managing Director Valtech aims to fuel future growth with new leadership hire Valtech (http://www.valtech.com), a global digital agency focused on business transformation, has appointed Jonathan Goldmacher as Managing Director of its flagship New York office. Jonathan will become a member of the agencys North America Management Team, under the leadership of Executive Vice President, Joacim Jeppesen. Jonathan will be focused on driving clients transformation agendas, bringing together all the digital experience platforms and services from across Valtechs global practice areas to support client goals. Jonathan will also be focused on helping to deliver against Valtechs own growth and transformation plans in New York specifically and North America more broadly. Jonathan is a highly respected and experienced leader. His combination of deep knowledge along with hands-on experience of building and leading integrated teams will play a key role in driving further growth and award-winning work for Valtech in 2018 and beyond. Im looking forward to working together with Jonathan to deliver digital experiences at scale that drive revenue and meet customers evolving expectations, said Joacim Jeppesen, Executive Vice President, North America. Ive joined Valtech because of my passionate belief in the power of utility to absolutely transform the customer experience for brands and their businesses. With Valtechs vision, approach and market-leading practices I believe we have a fantastic opportunity to drive true transformation for Fortune 500 clients, added Goldmacher. Jonathan is joining a fantastic global team and will play a vital role in bringing together all the capabilities from across our organization to drive transformational growth for clients, added Jeppesen. His understanding of strategy, insights and people are going to be huge assets to our entire global network, and to our business locally in New York. Ideas are as valued by our clients as much as our digital experience, ecommerce and core platform skills. Jonathans appointment will ensure we stay right at the edge of whats possible. Goldmacher joins Valtech from MullenLowe Group where he also served as MD, where he created a new culture that became a magnet for talent, a springboard for great work and a home for accolades from clients and the industry including Agency A List and multiple Agency of the Year honors. Previously he served as Managing Director for 360i New York. Before that he spent several years as vice president, head of client services for R/GA, working closely with clients including Volvo, E*TRADE, Jet.com and AARP. Before R/GA, Jonathan was senior vice president, group director and global brand champion at McCann Erickson, where he oversaw global integrated consumer marketing for Johnson & Johnsons Acuvue brand. He also held roles at Arnold Worldwide and with Saatchi & Saatchi. ABOUT VALTECH Valtech is a global business transformation agency delivering innovation with a purpose. We enable clients to anticipate tomorrows trends and connect more directly with consumers across their digital touch points while optimising time-to-market and ROI. We are a network of more than 2500 innovators, design thinkers, marketers, creatives and developers spanning 5 continents with offices in 16 countries (USA, UK, Canada, France, Germany, Netherlands, Sweden, Switzerland, Denmark, Brazil, China, India, Australia, Singapore, Argentina, Ukraine ). While our expertise is in technology, marketing and experience design, our passion is in addressing transformational business challenges for our clients, including strategy consulting, service design, technology services, and optimization of business-critical digital platforms for multichannel e-commerce and marketing. For more information, visit http://www.valtech.com. Valtech. Where Experiences are Engineered. Zinc Ranks in the Top Ten 2018 Bay Area Best Places To Work This Marks the Second Consecutive Year Zinc, the Leading Enterprise Communications Platform for Deskless Workers Lands on the Prestigious List Zinc Ranks in the Top Ten 2018 Bay Area Best Places To Work This Marks the Second Consecutive Year the Leading Enterprise Communications Platform for Deskless Workers Lands on the Prestigious List San Francisco, CA April 19, 2018 For the second consecutive year, Zinc http://www.zinc.it, the company redefining communication for enterprises with deskless workforces, has been awarded the 2018 Bay Area Best Places To Work distinction. The award is presented by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The winning organizations were honored at a reception on April 18, 2018, for having created exceptional workplaces that their employees value highly. The Best Places to Work ranking identifies companies in the region whose employees rate them as the highest on such values as fun, collaborative culture, solid compensation and benefits offerings and other amenities as well as management practices. People drive performance, and great culture is not a nice-to-have at Zinc, it is a strategic imperative. Ranking in the top 10 on the 2018 Bay Area Best Places to Work list is an honor, and I am most proud of the culture our team has created here. We have thoughtfully crafted our values, and we hire people who embrace and embody them, said Stacey Epstein, CEO, Zinc. Elated employees work smarter and harder, and I want to personally thank all of our employees who make Zincs culture great. Your commitment to providing deskless workers a better way to communicate is invaluable in helping us make change every day. About Zinc Founded on the belief that deskless workers need a better way to communicate, Zinc provides the only All Mode Communication Platform bent on driving business results. With access to real-time communication any time on any device, Zinc truly transforms the way businesses run. Loved by users and trusted by the enterprise, customers include Marriott, Vivint, BlueLine Rental, and Gaylord Hotels. Visit http://www.zinc.it and follow @Zinc on Twitter. About 2018 Bay Area Best Places to Work Best Places to Work is an innovative publication and awards program produced by the San Francisco Business Times and the Silicon Valley Business Journal. The rankings were determined by surveys that went directly to employees who answered a series of questions. The survey was administered online by the employers and through a service provided by Quantum Workplace, our research partner. The rankings are numeric based on Quantums scoring process. By ranking companies and sharing best practices we facilitate idea sharing and help other companies learn from the best. # # # Tim Kaelin, chief executive officer of Impact Analytics, will be a presenter at the Tenth International Conference on Climate Change: Impacts & Responses in Berkeley, California, where world scientists will gather to address a range of issues dealing with climate change and mankinds impact. A professional engineer and former Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) operative, Kaelin has developed a plan to end the United States dependency on fossil fuel, removing a major source of CO2 generation. He proposes the development of a massive farmers market for solar energy generation located on 2500 square miles of federal land, possibly in such sunny and land rich states as Arizona, Nevada or Utah. In addition to the local climate, the western site is an ideal location to connect to the three major American electrical grids. Kaelin said that such a large section of land is not unreasonable when you consider that it would initially provide approximately 10 percent of the energy needs for the entire United States and force down the price of solar panels to a fraction of its current price. Further energy needs of the United States can be met by additional solar markets and universal net-metering that would allow an internet-style network of individual power producers. Rather than building such a solar infrastructure as a public works project, Kaelin sees it being created through thousands of private investments. The governments role would be largely limited to land acquisition, transmission lines and some oversight. The more than nine billion initial solar panels needed would be manufactured in the United States, and the inertia of the project will produce 3 to 5 million jobs over the next 10 to 15 years. Kaelins concept is detailed in his book, The Energy Net A free enterprise solution to our economy, racial Islam and climate change built by all of America (written under the nom de plume of Joseph A. Gilbertson). As the title suggests, Kaelins plan not only addresses the technical process of energy production but draws on his CIA experience to address the economic, social and political implications as well. Kaelin says that the reduction in the use of fossil fuels will depress the market for gas and oil and significantly reduce the amount of money that flows to terrorist organizations in the Middle East. According to Kaelin, his proposal should appeal to both sides of the climate change controversy. It will drastically reduce the greenhouse gases that are now a byproduct of burning fossil fuel and will do so by creating a free-market solution based on private investment, generating substantial economic benefits. All sides of the controversy can agree that the cheapest form of energy is the best, providing reliability and convenience are equal. The Energy Net will provide power cheaper and better than burning gas, oil or coal, Kaelin said. Kaelin is an enthusiastic Trump supporter and runs a conservative news website. The only argument against solar up to now, according to Kaelin, is the cost and the output. He says his plan solves both those concerns by making an alternative source of energy more cost effective than fossil fuels. The conference at which Kaelin will present his plan takes place on April 20 through April 21. Additional details can be found at http://theenergynet.com. Vengo Labs, the digital vending platform company that connects customers with just-in-time products, today announced an expanded partnership with Blink Fitness to bring Vengo machines into their gyms nationwide, providing their members with access to high-demand gym products right when they need them. Products available will range from locks and chargers to headphones and personal care items. Vengo is an innovative retail platform that helps brands reach customers through an integrated product experience in non-traditional locations such as gyms and fitness studios. For locations such as gyms that may not have a dedicated space for retail, the slim, wall-mounted unit with touchscreen display enables gyms to offer their members the convenience of getting the products they need right when they need them, without any operational burden. Blink Fitness will have the Vengo machines located in member locker rooms. We are always looking for ways to add valuable amenities to our member experience, said David Collignon, Vice President of Operations, Blink Fitness. With Vengo, we are able to give our members access to the products they need, without having to take space away from the gym experience. Blink Fitness is a great brand and partner. Blink is always thinking of its members first with an innovative retail experience that they pass on to their members, said Brian Shimmerlik, Founder and CEO of Vengo Labs. We know that gym goers appreciate having the opportunity to access the products they need. In a survey via the Vengo screens, 94 percent of gym members stated that Vengo makes their gym experience more convenient. Blink Fitness and Vengo first partnered in 2017 in locations throughout New York City. Due to the success and positive feedback of the pilot, Vengo machines will now be installed nationwide in a mixture of new and existing Blink clubs. About Vengo Labs Vengo is a next-gen retail platform that helps brands reach customers through an integrated product experience in hard-to-access locations. Vengo connects brands with consumers by providing location specific, just-in-time products through novel, technologically enhanced vending machine platforms. By customizing the products to the real-time needs of a consumer, whether at a hotel, gym, workspace, or college dormitory, Vengo is solving a pain point for retailers trying to reach consumers directly and compete in a crowded marketplace. As an added feature of the Vengo platform, Vengo partners with media brands to provide consumers with relevant and engaging content, exclusive product offers, and sampling opportunities. http://www.vengolabs.com About Blink Fitness Founded in 2011, Blink Fitness is a premium quality, value-based fitness brand with more than 90 locations open or in development throughout New York, New Jersey, Pennsylvania and California. Blink Fitness puts Mood Above Muscle which celebrates the positive feeling you get from exercise, not just the physical benefits. Each gym employs the company's signature Feel Good Experience that highlights enthusiastic staff members, a clean environment, an open, spacious, and colorful design, energizing music and fitness training that is motivating and affordable. For more information about Blink, visit blinkfitness.com. Franchising details are available on blinkfranchising.com. Blink Fitness has franchise opportunities available nationwide with a focus on the following markets: Atlanta, Baltimore, Dallas, Houston, Miami, Tampa and several areas of California, Connecticut, Massachusetts and Pennsylvania. Pictured (left to right) Paul Horton (CEO at Future Water Association), David Smoker (Business Development Director at ACO Management), Jonathan West (Managing Director, Water Direct) and Alastair Mos We thank the Future Water Association for recognising the efforts of the people at Water Direct who work so tirelessly to deliver resilience and quality every day The Future Water Association is a business support organisation dedicated to the water sector, with an aim to shape the future of the industry through leadership, innovation and education. Recognised as one of the leading voices in the water sector, its remit is to enable growth and success and inspire the next generation. Over the last 22 years, Water Direct has grown from a visionary idea by founder Keith Silcock to bring water contingency planning and resilience to mainstream industry. This ethos has been at the heart of Water Directs evolution into a trusted national partner to the majority of the UKs water utility wholesalers and retailers. The award follows one of the UKs most challenging national water supply crises in March 2018. Following extreme weather conditions created by the Beast from the East and Storm Emma and the subsequent rapid thaw, many of the water utility companies across the country experienced multiple burst pipes. Over one week, Water Direct supported eight regional water wholesalers and five national water retailers, arranging delivery of four million litres of bottled drinking water, and pumping more than seven million litres of water from 200 tanker deliveries. Jonathan West, Managing Director at Water Direct said, This prestigious award follows an unprecedented year of growth for Water Direct and recognises the hard work and dedication demonstrated by our team. None of this would have been achievable without the people who contribute to the day to day operations of the business every single day of the year. During the recent extreme weather conditions, our team worked around the clock to deliver drinking quality water to homes and businesses across the UK. Their dedication, and the multi-million-pound ongoing investment in our infrastructure enabled us to respond quickly and effectively when much of the UK was at a standstill. We thank the Future Water Association for recognising the efforts of the people at Water Direct who work so tirelessly to deliver resilience and quality every day. Editors notes: With nationwide coverage and 24/7 service, Water Direct provides planned and emergency temporary water wherever and whenever its needed. Water Directs services range from supporting utility companies experiencing an interruption due to a burst main or contamination to building sites in need of water for welfare or site processes or private individuals in need of a swimming pool fill. The company has been running for 22 years. In 2017 alone Water Direct delivered over 50 million litres of water to their customers. Water Direct was one of the first UK businesses to achieve ISO 22301:2012 by developing contingency planning for water loss. http://www.water-direct.co.uk WHAT: Baker College will host around 130 girls in 7th to 9th grades from communities throughout Michigan for International Girls in ICT (Information and Communications Technology) Day. The days events aim to create a global environment that empowers and encourages young women to consider careers in the growing field of ICTs. Participating students, approximately 20 per campus site, are recruited by their schools and will have the opportunity to build and program their own drones, as well as learn to protect them through cyber defense/security strategies. The project will require the girls to utilize skills in engineering, programming and a wide range of other ICT disciplines. At the end of the day, students will take their drones home as a reminder of their accomplishments. The event is free to all participating students. More information is available on the Baker College website http://www.tinyurl.com/BakerICTDay Media is welcomed and encouraged to attend any of the on-campus events throughout the state. WHEN: Thursday, April 26, 2018 (all sites); 8:30 a.m. 3 p.m. WHERE: Six Baker College campus sites, including: Allen Park 4500 Enterprise Dr. Auburn Hills 1500 University Dr. Clinton Township 34950 Little Mack Ave. Flint 1050 W. Bristol Rd. Jackson 2800 Springport Rd. Owosso 1020 S. Washington WHO: Dr. Richard Bush, Baker Colleges Dean of College of Information Technology, is available for advance media interviews and will be on-site on April 26 at the Allen Park Campus. Additional Baker College leadership will collectively serve as event instructors and facilitators and will be on-site at each campus and available for interviews. Founded in 1911, Baker College is Michigans largest, independent not-for-profit college with 12 campus and extension sites across the state, as well as 100 percent online program options, across 100 undergraduate and graduate degrees. Baker Colleges diverse legion of BakerProud represents more than 3,300 faculty and staff, 17,000 students and hundreds of thousands of alumni. For more information on Baker College, visit http://www.baker.edu or follow Baker College on Twitter, Facebook and Instagram. The Children's Healing Institute is expanding its TEACUP Preemie Program to help parents cope with the challenges of preemie parenthood. We're impressed with the unique approach and powerful outcomes of The Childrens Healing Institutes innovative TEACUP Preemie Program and would like to see it expand beyond the organizations local geography of West Palm Beach to benefit those who have need in other communities across the country. What started as a gift from Quantum Foundation to The Childrens Healing Institute nearly two years ago to develop and implement an entrepreneurial business plan, has resulted in an initiative to expand the mission reach and secure the future of the nonprofits local TEACUP Preemie Program services. Thanks to a generous $20,000 grant from The William Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust, the Institute has raised more than twenty-five percent of its $78,000 growth capital goal, and will soon be poised to implement its earned-income strategies to expand its TEACUP Preemie Program to markets nationwide. Earned income from this initiative will be invested into local services for hundreds of families whose babies were born too soon. Prematurity is commonly accompanied by medical and developmental complications, financial burden, and parental stress. The TEACUP Preemie Program works with families of preemies in the hospital and in their homes to help them cope with the challenges of preemie parenthood. Though 1 out of 10 babies are born prematurely nationwide, few programs address the specific needs of parents caring for and parenting premature infants. Soon, the TEACUP Preemie Program will deliver a comprehensive and turnkey program to providers to implement in dozens of communities across the country through program licensing. Dr. Dorian Burton, Assistant Executive Director of the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, states, We are impressed with the unique approach and powerful outcomes of The Childrens Healing Institutes innovative TEACUP Preemie Program, and would like to see it expand beyond the organizations local geography of West Palm Beach to benefit those who have need in other communities across the country. Knowing that an expansion initiative of this nature requires financial resources to help ensure its success, and that the organization has done its homework and identified steps to guide its rollout, gives us great confidence to provide funding support that will amplify the impact of TEACUP Preemie Program to assist a growing number of families with premature infants. We are excited to share the TEACUP Preemie Program with other communities, ensuring that thousands of preemies each year have better odds to survive and thrive, stated Dr. Sandy Munoz, CEO of The Childrens Healing Institute. We are grateful for the investment the Quantum Foundation and William Kenan Jr. Charitable Trust have made in this initiative. ABOUT WILLIAM R. KENAN, JR. CHARITABLE TRUST Established in 1966 by a bequest from the estate of chemist and industrialist William R. Kenan, Jr., the William R. Kenan, Jr. Charitable Trust, in Chapel Hill, North Carolina, focuses on awarding grants in the areas of K12 education, higher education, whole community health, arts and culture, and historic preservation. http://www.kenancharitabletrust.org ABOUT QUANTUM FOUNDATION Quantum Foundation is a private grant making organization that funds approved charities and certain government agencies in Palm Beach County, Florida. Quantum Foundations mission is to fund initiatives that improve the health of Palm Beach County. The foundation has assets of approximately $140 million and since its inception in 1997 has awarded over $125 million to hundreds of nonprofit grantees in Palm Beach County. Every dollar the foundation grants stays in the County to benefit local communities. http://www.quantumfnd.org ABOUT THE CHILDRENS HEALING INSTITUTE / TEACUP PREEMIE PROGRAM The Childrens Healing Institute is a non-profit organization founded in 1988. Programs in Palm Beach and Broward Counties preserve families by partnering with parents in the home and the community to ensure the safety and well-being of children. Services focus on reducing stress, promoting health, building parenting skills, teaching non-violent discipline, and strengthening support systems. Since 2009, The Childrens Healing Institutes TEACUP Preemie Program has helped parents cope with the challenges of preemie parenthood, providing guidance, resources and support to parents of premature infants in the Neonatal Intensive Care Unit (NICU) and the home. TEACUP services more than 100 families at no fee each year in Palm Beach County, and there is an initiative underway to expand nationally. For more information about The Childrens Healing Institute or the TEACUP Preemie Program, call 561-687-8115, email information(at)ChildrensHealingInstitute(dot)org or visit http://www.ChildrensHealingInstitute.org. Find us on Facebook: http://www.Facebook.com/ChildrensHealingInstitute Bluestream Database Software Corp. is pleased to announce the general availability of version 5.1 of its flagship product, the XDocs Component Content Management System (CCMS). The highlight of the release is the introduction of a powerful web-based application that seamlessly integrates reviewers, engineers, Subject Matter Experts (SMEs), and other content stakeholders who are not familiar with XML into the content lifecycle. Over the past 15 years, Darwin Information Typing Architecture (DITA) has become a de facto writing standard for technical documentation departments looking to extract the maximum value from their content. However, authoring in DITA posed challenges for non-technical writers as it required the knowledge of the underlying data model as well as knowledge of the XML authoring applications and best practices. For this reason, applications such as wikis have remained popular amongst engineers and SMEs; however, when it comes to professional technical content, wikis fall short in many ways. With the release of 5.1, and after many years of development, Bluestreams solution to this problem is the XDocs Web Explorer (Wex). Wex is a web-based module in the XDocs CCMS that enables review, casual contributing, and full document authoring of DITA content in the web. The premise behind the applications development was simpleno training or installation required! The target audience for this application is anyone in the organization who creates content and/or needs to be part of the organizations content development lifecycle. This is a game changer for structured content adoption. We are finding that organizations are creating more technical content than ever before and that greater volumes of content are being produced by non-technical writers (engineers, SMEs, marketing, and sales). In order for an organization to truly benefit from structured content, all parties must be able to contribute in a meaningful way without having a technical mountain to climb, says Nenad Furtula, VP Sales and Marketing at Bluestream. Wex is tightly integrated with the Oxygen Web Editor but can just as easily support any other DITA web-based XML editor (such as Fonto XML, XEditor, etc.). The application is role and workflow capability centric. This allows for greater control while delivering publications within a particular workflow, and it does not restrict users from contributing meaningful content when great ideas arise. Furthermore, the Wex authoring experience is completely transparent with the interface, which resembles that of MS Word or a Wiki. In addition to Wex, the XDocs 5.1 release supports notification of file change, market-leading branch and merge functionality, advance release management, archiving of content, and support for DITA 1.3 and multiple versions of the DITA Open Toolkit (OT). About Bluestream Bluestream provide the XDocs CCMS, a DITA-based Component Content Management System (CCMS) the leading single vendor solution for organizations looking to improve and enhance their information workflow. With a unique rapid to deploy methodology coupled with unrivaled functionality, Bluestream are inspiring teams of authors to create powerful user-focused content that can be flexibly delivered to any device or platform. Bluestream customers range from Fortune 100 organizations seeking complex cross-departmental documentation solutions to small businesses containing single author teams. Bluestream has been in business since 1997 and has customers in many verticals, among them software, oil and gas, health care, military, manufacturing, and finance. Bluestream Database Software Corp. North America Office 200 1168 Hamilton Street, Vancouver, Canada Tel: +1.604.669.4469 A J-10A fighter jet fires at targets in an annual air battle tactics competitive assessment launched by the PLA Air Force in northeast China on April 18, 2018. (eng.chinamil.com.cn/Photo by Yang Pan) CHANGCHUN, April 19 (ChinaMil) -- The PLA Air Force kicked off Wednesday its annual competitive assessment codenamed Golden Dart---2018 in northeast China. Over 200 fighter jet pilots from dozens of air force combat units will compete for the "Golden Dart" award, the top prize for most skillful pilots in the fierce air defense penetration and assault operations. According to the assessment regulation, the participating pilot will fly his fighter jet to conduct penetration (breaking through enemy air defense systems) first, and then launch assault (attacking enemy land/sea targets), a responsible officer with the training bureau of the PLA Air Force told PLA Daily. In order to create a real combat environment, the competitions will be staged both at daytime and night and live ammunitions will be used in the assault operations. The assessment aims to test the pilots' defense penetrating and assaulting tactics when flying at low altitudes, and the abilities to quickly locate targets in complex environments and conduct continuous attack with different weapons, he added . The Golden Dart competitive assessment is one of the four real combat training exercises of the PLA Air Force. The other three are the Red Sword systematic confrontation training exercise, the Golden Helmet air battle competition for fighter pilots and the Blue Shield exercise for land-to-air missile combat units . In recent years, The venues of the Golden Dart competitive assessment have expanded from the desert and the Gobi areas to canyons, seas, and grasslands amid with increasingly difficult battlefield situations for competitors. You won't want to miss this event, supporting Raleigh's contemporary cultural arts community. CAM Raleigh announces Arthouse on May 4, 2018 from 8pm on. All are invited to participate (nominal cost applies). CAM Raleigh celebrates its seventh year providing transformational experiences and programs in Raleighs Warehouse District with Arthouse 2018 on Friday, May 4. As CAMs signature fundraiser, Arthouse will welcome more than 400 guests for an unforgettable evening supporting the museum. Meet your friends or meet new friends, as this is a great way to socialize with Raleigh's arts patrons. All proceeds will benefit the museums exhibitions and programs for all ages. Arthouse will be held at CAM Raleigh on May 4 from 8-11 PM with a Preview Party for members of the events Host Committee from 7-8 PM. The event celebrates the museums four current exhibitions: Margaret Bowland: Painting the Roses Red, Anne Lindberg: the long sun, Zandra Rhodes: Textile, Print, and Form: A Lifetime of Magical Experimentation, and Ann Thaden: The Closet Interview. A new, signature element of Arthouse in 2018 will be Surprise Boxes. CAM has curated one-of-a-kind boxes featuring local art, design, and experiences at a range of prices starting at $250. Guests will be able to purchase Surprise Boxes on a first-come, first-served basis starting at 8:30 PM. CAM will reveal clues about the Surprise Boxes through Instagram and Facebook in the weeks leading up to May 4, but the exact contents will remain a surprise until the box is purchased. Arthouse will feature delicious delicacies and libations from Crawford and Son. The event sponsors and partners include: AV Metro, Crawford and Son, Themeworks, Junction West, FMI, Raleigh Warehouse Dist. Holdings, LLC, Drucker & Falk, Centrex Properties, Clark Nexsen, RATIO Design, York Properties, Catering Works, Duda Paine Architects, Publix, The Store, Jason Craighead, Frameworks, Tim Lytvinenko, AC Restaurants, Atelier N, Fleur, gabrielle handmade jewelry, Garland Restaurant, Justin LeBlanc Design, lucette grace, Synergy Spa & Aesthetics and Collins Plastic Surgery, The Scout Guide, The Umstead Hotel and Spa, Videri Chocolate, Wylde, and The Betty Eichenberger Adams Society. Tickets Host Committee Member: $250 | Host Committee Public: $300 CAM Raleigh Member: $175 | Public Ticket: $200 Tickets can be purchased at camraleigh.org/arthouse-2018 or by calling 919.261.5922. About CAM Raleigh CAM Raleigh is the non-collecting contemporary art museum that provides an environment for transformation through educational programs, cultural experiences, and bold, non-traditional exhibitions by living artists. The museum is open Thursday & Friday: 12-6 PM | Saturday & Sunday: 12-5 PM | Monday: Closed | Tuesday, Wednesday: By Appointment 409 West Martin Street, Raleigh, NC 27603 camraleigh.org | 919.261.5920 | info@camraleigh.org Jim D'Arezzo, CEO of Condusiv Technologies, discusses the impact of artificial intelligence in banking. Anthony Jenkins, former CEO of Barclays Bank, predicts that over the next 10 years, advances in financial technologyespecially in artificial intelligence (AI)could cause the number of people employed by the financial services sector to decline by as much as 50%, providing the industry with huge cost savings and enabling a much more competitive atmosphere.1 Thats the vision, says James DArezzo, CEO of Condusiv Technologies. The reality is more complicated. Unless banks deal with the performance issues that AI will cause for ultra-large databases (typically run on Microsoft SQL servers), they will not be able to take the money gained by eliminating positions and spend it on the new services and products they will need in order to stay competitive. Looming technical issues notwithstanding, senior banking executives increasingly agree on the inevitability of AI-based services and an accompanying major reduction in industry workforce. Former Deutsche Bank CEO, John Cryan, predicted a bonfire of industry jobs as automation takes hold across the sector, noting that increased processing power, cloud storage and other developments make possible tasks that had previously been seen as too complex for automation.2 More recently, Vikram Pandit, who ran Citigroup during the financial crisis from 2007 to 2012, said that developments in artificial intelligence and robotics could reduce the need for banking staff in support roles by as much as 30% over the next five years.3 Industry observers note that there is significant demand for new automated capabilities. Among the potential use cases for AI in financial services are data-driven management decisions at lower cost; automated customer support; fraud detection and claims management; insurance management; automated virtual financial assistants; predictive analysis in financial services; and wealth management advisory services offered to lower-net-worth market segments.4 DArezzo, whose company is the world leader in I/O reduction software, notes that providing the IT capability to support this wave of AI will not be a trivial matter. Financial industry CIOs are already under pressure to provide timely responses to increasingly complex requests for data analysis,5 and AI applicationswhich are far more demanding in terms of both data throughput speed and quality6will vastly increase that pressure. Intensive hardware upgrades, often cited as a solution to this problem, may often simply make matters worse. DArezzo cites as an example a recent announcement that the Tokyo Institute of Technology Global Scientific and Computing Center has begun the development of a new supercomputer, the Tsubame 3.0, to meet the demands of artificial intelligence and big data applications. The Japanese Ministry of Economy, Trade and Industry has committed to investing $1.9 billion in the project.7 This machine is not on the market yet, says DArezzo, and we have no idea what it will cost when it becomes available. Existing supercomputers, however, tend to weigh in at $50 million to several hundred million, plus implementation and data transition costs. For most financial institutions, this approach to the AI challengethrowing hardware at itnot only negates the cost-reduction advantages AI has to offer, but is unnecessary. A much better way for the industry to manage AI is to increase the performance of its existing infrastructure, particularly SQL databases, which could produce the same efficiencies at a small fraction of the cost of new hardware. About Condusiv Technologies Condusiv Technologies is the world leader in software-only storage performance solutions for virtual and physical server environments, enabling systems to process more data in less time for faster application performance. Condusiv guarantees to solve the toughest application performance challenges with faster-than-new performance via V-locity for virtual servers or Diskeeper for physical servers and PCs. With over 100 million licenses sold, Condusiv solutions are used by 90% of the Fortune 1000 and almost three-quarters of the Forbes Global 100 to increase business productivity and reduce data center costs while extending the life of existing hardware. Condusiv Chief Executive Officer Jim DArezzo has had a long and distinguished career in high technology. Condusiv was founded in 1981 by Craig Jensen as Diskeeper Corporation. Jensen authored Diskeeper, which became the best-selling defragmentation software of all time. Over 37 years, he has taken the thought leadership in file system management and caching and transformed it into enterprise software. For more information, visit http://www.condusiv.com. 1. Treanor, Jill, Banking facing Uber moment, says former Barclays boss, The Guardian, November 25, 2015. 2. Fletcher, Gordon, and Kreps, David, Banking sector will be ground zero for job losses from AI and robotics, The Conversation, September 12, 2017. 3. Bach, Natasha, The Former Head of Citigroup Says 30% of Bank Jobs Will Be Gone in Five Years, FORTUNE, September 13, 2017. 4. Potential Use Cases of Artificial Intelligence for FinTech, Maruti Techlabs, 2017. 5. Laskowski, Nicole, CIOs under pressure to generate revenue through data monetization, searchcio.com. 6. Krasadakis, George, Data Quality in the Era of A.I., Towards Data Science, September 21, 2017. 7. Kite-Powell, Jennifer, The New Supercomputer Will Help Meet Demands Of Artificial Intelligence And Big Data, Forbes, February 20, 2017. Mindray is featuring several new ultrasound upgrades, a forthcoming anesthesia delivery system and one of its most popular patient monitoring platforms at ASRA Mindray, a developer of next generation medical technology, is featuring several new ultrasound upgrades, a forthcoming anesthesia delivery system and one of its most popular patient monitoring platforms at the annual American Society of Regional Anesthesia and Pain Medicine (ASRA) conference being held in New York City, April 19 21, 2018. The systems are Mindrays latest state-of-the-art solutions for the anesthesia practitioner. We are pleased to be showcasing our forthcoming A-Series anesthesia delivery system Advantage platform along with our highly popular Passport 17M and T1 patient monitors, said Scot Carriker, strategic marketing manager, Anesthesia & Ventilation, Mindray. Our upgradeable ultrasound systems help complete a comprehensive solution for the anesthesia suite in our growing portfolio of patient care solutions. The A-Series with the Advantage platform provides the functionality and flexibility to meet the clinical and administrative needs of today and into the future. Offering new advanced ventilation functionality, such as Airway Pressure Release Ventilation (APRV) and Lung Recruitment procedures, the A-Series is able to support the most difficult to ventilate patients. Mindray's Optimizer is now available on all A-Series systems, providing customers with the ability to take advantage of the potential cost savings associated with a low-flow decision support tool. The Passport 17m and T1 monitors are transforming patient care by adapting to the patients needs across the hospital enterprise from module, to transport, to stand-alone bedside monitor while maintaining continuity of patient information and speeding workflow. Mindrays comprehensive ultrasound systems for the anesthesia and point-of-care environments are based on Living Technology, said Ann Marie Young, senior manager, Point-of-Care Ultrasound, Mindray. This supports ongoing upgrades to all of our ultrasound platforms enabling our customers to provide the latest developments in ultrasound imaging. The Z.One PRO Emerald Edition upgrade includes an improvement to system boot-up and response times and overall performance for quick and confident decisions. The upgrade includes improved needle visualization technology on the L20-5 and L14-5W transducers and Spatial compounding technology on all curvilinear transducers. Extended calculation and reporting packages will be available as well as vector format and retroactive digital imaging clips. A significant new feature is the industrys first transducer tracking technology, Z-Tracking. With the growing demand to employ measures for reducing health care-associated infections and the spread of infectious diseases, Z-Tracking provides the ability to keep track of the transducers used on each exam and attach it to the patients permanent medical record. The M9 upgrade features three new transducers the L16-4Hs, L20-5s and P8-3Ts pediatric transesophageal. New optional software enables contrast enhanced ultrasound (CEUS) and CEUS quantitative analysis as well as several enhancements to cardiac image quality, small parts resolution and superficial vascular imaging are included in the release. The TE7 Ultrasound system also features a new capability, iVocal technology. iVocal enables accurate voice recognition for user to system commands. This adds significant new workflow efficiencies for the clinician and supports increased quality of patient care. About Mindray Mindray is a leading developer, manufacturer and marketer of medical devices worldwide. Mindray maintains its global headquarters in Shenzhen, China; North American headquarters in Mahwah, New Jersey; and multiple development facilities and offices in major international markets including an ultrasound Innovation Center in Silicon Valley. Mindray supplies a broad range of products across three primary business segments, patient monitoring and life support, in-vitro diagnostics, and medical imaging systems. For more information, please visit http://www.mindray.com Angel House is near to my heart because for many of us, the reality of homelessness is only a couple of missed paychecks away. Therese Bickford, broker associate with her father's company Maestas and Associates, is commemorating three years as a volunteer for the Angel House Program. Angel House is an outreach program of House of Neighborly Service serving families with children. Throughout the week of 4/15-4/21, the Angel House Program will be hosting families who want help rebuilding at Foundations Church. I have always had a need to be involved in my community. It gives me a sense of greater purpose and sets a wonderful example for my children, said Bickford. Angel House is near to my heart because for many of us, the reality of homelessness is only a couple of missed paychecks away. When the market was upside down, loss of income caused us to move in with my brother. I was so incredibly blessed to have family who was ready, willing and able to help! The recipients of the Angel House Program have the next best thing. When we prepare meals, we get a chance to visit with the families and break bread together. Thats my favorite part! Families in the Angel House Program are hosted by a rotating church network and an evening meal is coordinated seven nights a week. Bickford prepares meals for the families throughout the duration of their one-week stay at Foundations Church. Families accepted into the Angel House Program are warmly welcomed and immediately provided all of the resources House of Neighborly Service has to offer. To donate to House of Neighborly Service, please visit https://www.firstgiving.com/Npo/29761/Donation?designId=29797. About Therese Bickford, Maestas and Associates Therese Bickford has received recognition as a Five Star Real Estate Agent for 6 years running. She and her team primarily work by referral and service clients in Loveland, where she currently resides, as well as the rest of Northern Colorado and the greater Denver area. For more information, please call Therese at (720) 837-9775, or visit http://www.maestasrealestate.com. About the NALA The NALA offers small and medium-sized businesses effective ways to reach customers through new media. As a single-agency source, the NALA helps businesses flourish in their local community. The NALAs mission is to promote a business relevant and newsworthy events and achievements, both online and through traditional media. The information and content in this article are not in conjunction with the views of the NALA. For media inquiries, please call 805.650.6121, ext. 361. If we take the time to say to a young Latina that I believe in you, we will see her potential go through the roof. Embarking on an inspirational journey, several young Hispanic girls and women and board members of the nonprofit Fig Factor Foundation traveled to Aurora, West Chicago and Berwyn to witness local officials and dignitaries proclaim Young Latina Day on April 11. The foundations mission is to provide educational leadership platforms, mentorship and meaningful and empowering activities to Latinas ages 12 to 25. Jacqueline Camacho-Ruiz, the nonprofits founder and CEO of JJR Marketing, formed the foundation in 2014. The first stop was at the Illinois Mathematics and Science Academys (IMSA) IN2 Innovation Hub where Christian Gutierrez, director of Latino affairs from the office of the Governor, Bruce Rauner, presented to Camacho-Ruiz a certificate of excellence to honor and recognize the foundations work in the Hispanic community. Overcome with emotion, she shared this award with the board members. What an incredible honor, she said. This certificate is about all of usthe work, the love and the countless hours to get to this moment. To create the foundation, we needed the creativity, innovation inspiration and hard work. Today, we see the physical manifestation and I thank you from the bottom of my heart for believing that we could make an impact in the lives of young Latinas. If we take the time to say to a young Latina that I believe in you, we will see her potential go through the roof. One of those Latinas was Berenice Diaz, a 2016 foundation graduate. Through the foundations six-month program, Diaz connected with her mentor Fig Factor Foundation Vice-President Luz-Marie Caro who helped her realize her dream of becoming a stand-up comedian and actress. Diaz, formerly of Prospect Heights, moved to California to attend school and launch her career and hopes someday to be a mentor. Before I joined the program, I would think negative thoughts, I wasnt motivated and I would be down on myself, Diaz said. In the program, I met my mentor Luz-Marie. During those six months, I would meet her once a month with two other girls. We would make vision boards and talk about our lives and goals. Those experiences motivated me because I had a vision and a goal. The next destination was the Mexican Cultural Center-DuPage in West Chicago, a nonprofit organization which promotes cultural, ethnic and civic activities to educate the citys Mexican community and its residents. Fernando Ramirez, the centers director, and West Chicago Mayor Ruben Pineda welcomed the group as they toured the museum. The final visit was to Berwyn Police Department where the group met with the citys first Hispanic Alderman Alicia Ruiz of the 6th Ward. Ruiz also hosted a question and answer session with a panel of three local successful Berwyn Hispanic businesswomen who came from the political, nonprofit and beauty spa professions. Board member Ximena Atristain Abigurra was very appreciative of all the efforts that made this special day possible. The greatest thing is that each of us is unique and has a special talent when combined made for an amazing event, she said. Camacho-Ruiz thanks the following businesses for their support of this event. The silver sponsors were State Farm Brian Pool Agency, Aurora Regional Hispanic Chamber of Commerce, Nexus Employment Solutions Plus, Inc., Corporate Connection Consultants, Quality Logo Products and Ramos Tax and Services. Bronze sponsors were The Granite & Marble Depot, C.B. Colin Landscapes, Ponce Reyna Insurance, Marsal Avila Law Group and Tax Time Services. Marketing partners were Illinois Mathematics and Science Academy, IN2 Innovation Hub, JJR Marketing and Mexican Cultural Center-DuPage. For more information about the Fig Factor Foundation, visit http://www.thefigfactor.org. About Fig Factor Foundation: The Fig Factor Foundations mission is to become a powerful catalyst for Latinas aged 12 25 to pursue their dreams by providing educational leadership platforms, mentorship and powerful experiences through a context of sisterhood. It was founded in September 2014, after six months of hard work to assemble the team, the program, build infrastructure and raise initial funding. Their positive impact was immediately felt at smaller local events and provided the impetus to grow. The foundations goal is to implement the program nationwide before expanding globally. Learn more about the foundation at http://www.thefigfactor.org. Trust is the foundation of a companys relationship with their customers Elastic Path Software Inc, provider of the worlds most flexible enterprise commerce platform, today announced the general availability of Elastic Path Commerce 7.2, which will enable companies to support customer data privacy under the European Unions new General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR). Elastic Path Commerce 7.2 includes customizable, user-friendly tools that enable enterprises to configure and enforce data policies, as well as manage consent and delete customer data. From May 25, all companies that engage with European citizens must adhere to the new data privacy regulation. The GDPR affects companies based in Europe, as well as any businesses that collect and process personal data of individuals in the EU. The secure management of personal data is essential for enterprises to create long-lasting relationships with their customers, according to Peter Lukomskyj, Vice President, Products at Elastic Path. By ensuring data privacy and respecting customers rights, enterprises earn and retain trust. This results in increased engagement and customer lifetime value, he said. Data privacy concerns are intensifying across the world, and we will continue to evolve our solution to help enterprises maintain the trust of their customers. GDPR highlights from Elastic Path Commerce include: Targeted Data Management and Automated Retention Periods. Create data policies to specify the retention period of personal data for specific customer groups, and then capture and track consent from customers for each policy. Simplified User Experience. Manage the data policies applicable to each customer, tag and sort groups of customers, and view permissions through a user-friendly dashboard. Support for Customer Privacy. Easily fulfill requests for data removal, as well as access to or correction of personal information. Automatically clear data after retention periods, while optionally excluding data that must be retained for legitimate reasons, and grant individuals access to their data via reports. Trust is the foundation of a companys relationship with their customers, said Harry Chemko, CEO at Elastic Path. Elastic Path is committed to giving enterprises the tools they need to comply with the GDPR. About Elastic Path Defining the future of commerce, Elastic Path develops the worlds most sophisticated enterprise commerce solutions. The companys flagship product, Elastic Path Commerce, has helped the worlds top brands generate over $60 billion in over 170 countries. Customers from industries as diverse as travel, telecoms, publishing, software, and retail enjoy the benefits of a flexible, open architecture that drives brand-defining customer experiences, facilitates business agility, and eliminates sales channel silos. Elastic Path is a private company based in Vancouver, Canada with offices in the UK and US. To find out more about Elastic Path Commerce 7.2 or to talk to a GDPR compliance expert, contact GDPR@elasticpath.com or visit http://www.elasticpath.com/data-privacy-and-gdpr This bill is wholly inadequate for providing family farmers with the resources they need to endure the worst decline in the farm economy in decades, said NFU President Roger Johnson. The U.S. House Agriculture Committee today marked up the 2018 Farm Bill, H.R. 2, sending the bill to the full U.S. House of Representatives for its consideration. National Farmers Union (NFU), the nations second largest general farm organization, opposes the legislation as it is currently written, as it fails to provide an adequate safety net to family farmers and consumers, fails to support the long-term sustainability of family farms and ranches, and fails to ensure fair and diverse markets for farmers and ranchers. In a series of recommendations released today, NFU urged House members to make significant improvements on the floor prior to passing the bill. This bill is wholly inadequate for providing family farmers with the resources they need to endure the worst decline in the farm economy in decades, said NFU President Roger Johnson. Congressional leaderships directive to withhold any additional support has hamstrung the committees ability to address the six-year, fifty percent drop in net farm income. This bill lacks the improvements needed to provide sufficient farmer and consumer safety nets, it upends programs that improve sustainability, and it removes programs that aid the growth of fair and diverse markets for family farmers. Farmers Union is also deeply disappointed in the partisan nature of the House Farm Bill deliberations thus far. We urge members of Congress to make significant improvements to the bill prior to its passage. In its list of recommendations, NFU urged House members to significantly improve the farm safety net to reflect the current state of the farm economy. It noted the safety net needs to be improved to keep family farmers in business during down market cycles, yet the current version of the House Farm Bill does not provide enough support to help family farmers and ranchers make ends meet. Farmers need higher PLC reference prices for commodities that have been underwater for years, said NFUs recommendations list. Dairy farmers need both price supports and a mechanism that manages our nations oversupply of milk. At the same time, these programs should be implemented responsibly by capping payments and directing them solely to family farmers. NFU also suggested the bill needs to ensure credit availability for family farmers and ranchers, whereas the bill currently does nothing to increase loan authority for FSAs overall loan portfolio. And to ensure a strong consumer nutrition safety net, the NFU recommended the Farm Bill should maintain funding levels for consumer benefits under nutrition programs. Unfortunately, the multitude of changes proposed in the bill would compromise food security for working families who currently use SNAP while adding to needless bureaucracy, said NFU. NFUs second major recommendation is to promote the long-term sustainability of family farms and ranches. The organization urged the House to provide incentive-based working lands programs, whereas the current version of the farm bill cuts $5 billion from these programs over the next decade, and it eliminates the Conservation Stewardship Program (CSP). NFU also called for funding to energy programs to be restored, as Farm Bill energy programs help family farmers and ranchers lower their environmental footprint, reduce their energy usage, and improve their bottom lines. Sustainability is critical for farm productivity and the health of rural communities now and for generations to come, NFU said. The House Farm Bill must be improved to provide family farmers and ranchers the tools they need to be the best possible stewards of our natural resources. Finally, Farmers Union urged House members to ensure fair and diverse markets for family farmers. The current version of the House Farm Bill eliminates mandatory funding for key programs that are critical in promoting access to local, regional and specialty markets. The Farmers Market and Local Foods Promotion Program (FMLFPP) and Value Added Producer Grants (VAPG) improve market opportunities and increase the farmers share of the consumer dollar. At the same time, the National Organic Certification Cost Share Program (NOCCSP) and the Agricultural Marketing Assistance (AMA) program make it easier for farmers to transition into organic agriculture. Congress must recognize the value of the programs referenced above and restore mandatory funding, NFU said. The House Farm Bill also lacks provisions to ensure the fair treatment of family farmers and ranchers in the exceptionally consolidated markets they operate in. NFU recommended the House include a title that promotes competition in the marketplace, enhances antitrust enforcement, and establishes protections from unfair and deceptive practices in the contract poultry and livestock sectors. Farmers Union has tirelessly advocated for these priorities over the past many years, said Johnson. We cannot support a bill that does so little to improve the farm safety net, and that guts important conservation and market access programs. If the House of Representatives wants to pass a Farm Bill that is worthy of the men and women who produce our food, fuel and fiber, they need to make significant improvements to the current version of the Farm Bill. FORTO (http://www.fortocoffee.com), the worlds first coffee shot, today was named the official coffee partner for Camp Meets Bagel, a Coffee Meets Bagel (CMB) experience taking place at Camp No Counselors, the all-inclusive weekend-long sleepaway camp for grown-ups. As the official coffee partner, FORTOs 2oz. ready-to-drink coffee shot will be integrated throughout Camp Meets Bagels programming designed to promote authentic connections in a unique way. From May 10-13 in Paradox, NY, campers will enjoy FORTOs six delicious varieties of coffee shots, which pack the energy of a large coffee in a 2oz. ready-to-drink shot. Available in 6 flavors (including Pure Black, Hersheys Chocolate, Vanilla Latte and more) and 2 caffeine strengths (100mg/1 cup of coffee or 200mg/2 cups of coffee), FORTO is USDA-Organic certified, does not require refrigeration, and comes in a TSA-approved, spill-proof bottle that looks like a mini coffee cupperfect for a quick boost of energy. FORTOs 2oz. coffee shot will also be used as Camp Meets Bagels Super Bean, a special type of Bean currency that campers can use throughout their camp experience to unlock activities, similar to how app users earn and purchase beans to increase their likelihood of connections with other users. Becoming Camp Meets Bagels official coffee partner is a match made in heaven, said Neel Premkumar, Founder & CEO of FORTO. The FORTO community is full of driven millennials we like to call All Dayers that strive to get the most out of their day, so an experience like Camp Meets Bagel that helps millennials make meaningful connections aligns with our core mission. Were thrilled to be the energy boost of choice at Camp Meets Bagel! FORTO is offering a 30% discount to purchase tickets to attend this years Camp Meets Bagel with promo code FORTOATCAMP. Camp Meets Bagel runs from Thursday, May 10 to Sunday, May 13 in Paradox, NY with all transportation, meals, drinks and activities included. Purchase tickets at: https://coffeemeetsbagel.com/campmeetsbagel/ About FORTO FORTO is pioneering a new product category with the worlds first coffee shot. USDA-Organic certified and made with Fair-Trade Arabica coffee beans from family farms in Colombia, FORTO gives you the energy of a large coffee in a 2oz. ready-to-drink shot. Available in over 40,000 stores across the U.S. and online, FORTO is the top-selling coffee shot in the U.S., the top-selling shelf-stable organic bottled coffee in the U.S., and one of the fastest-growing beverage brands both online and in retail stores. Learn more and purchase FORTO at https://fortocoffee.com/ About Camp Meets Bagel Camp Meets Bagel is part of Coffee Meets Bagel Experiences, a series of unique events and spaces where people can make new, authentic connections via a shared experience.. At Camp Meets Bagel, campers will enjoy an all-inclusive, weekend-long, sleepaway camp for grown-ups to play all day and make new connections in the great outdoors! Learn more at https://coffeemeetsbagel.com/campmeetsbagel/ About Coffee Meets Bagel Coffee Meets Bagel's mission is to foster authentic connections for this generation. The app curates quality matches with fuller profiles that result in real conversations. Globally, CMB has generated millions of real dates and thousands of lasting relationships. Coffee Meets Bagel was named one of the Top 10 Dating apps by Time Magazine and the Best Dating App for Women by Refinery29. It has also been voted the #1 recommended dating app for singles looking for relationships. CMB is free to download for iOS and Android. https://coffeemeetsbagel.com. About Camp No Counselors Camp No Counselors is the worlds largest and fastest growing summer camp for grown-ups as seen on ABCs Shark Tank. Campers are treated to a weekend experience that combines your favorite aspects of childhood fun along with the best of what being a grown-up has to offer. All-inclusive packages include 4 days/3 nights of lodging, endless land and water sports, arts n crafts activities, an open bar, nightly theme parties, delicious meals, and of course, all of your favorite classic camp activities. At CNC, our motto is Play like a kid, party like a grown-up!. Beginning as only one location in New York, Camp No Counselors now hosts fun-filled weekends in Austin, Boston, Chicago, Denver, Florida, Los Angeles, Nashville, New York, Seattle, Calgary, and Toronto, with 24 dates to choose from. ### We are confident that travel agents can take their business to the next level when they combine their expertise with Dream Vacations' technology and resources. During a press conference at Cruise Lines International Associations (CLIA) Cruise360, home-based travel franchise opportunity Dream Vacations announced its new #PartnershipGoals initiative to recruit existing expert travel agents. With limited availability, expert agents who join by June 30, 2018, will have the opportunity to attend Dream Vacations sold out 2018 Conference aboard Norwegian Bliss, free of charge. We are confident that travel agents can take their business to the next level when they combine their expertise with our technology and resources, said Debbie Fiorino, senior vice president of Dream Vacations. We believe it is important to invest in your assets, and in our case, our most important asset is our network of franchise owners. We are continuously increasing our staff, making enhancements to existing programs and launching innovative programs and partnerships all for the benefit of our franchisees. We care more about our franchisees so they can care more about their clients. That is what we like to call the Dream Vacations difference. Travel agency franchise owners with Dream Vacations have access to a plethora of programs that not only provide them with a competitive advantage, but also enables them to maximize their individual profits: Spends more than $2 million to fully fund marketing promotions that drive franchisees sales, at no cost to them. Caps its royalty fee, which means franchise owners can earn 100 percent of their earned commissions. Monetarily rewards more than six figures in bonuses above and beyond the normal commissions earned to travel agent franchisees at different sales levels. Dream Vacations has seen a direct correlation between the support provided with franchisee success and satisfaction, which is why the home-based business opportunity had an 89 percent retention rate in 2017. I departed my franchise to join CruiseOne (now Dream Vacations) because I had friends with CruiseOne who kept telling me how good the owners and management were to work with, that they are debt-free and that they treat franchise owners like their customers, said Michael Sinn, Dream Vacations franchise owner in Lincoln, Neb. The headquarters team are all professionals who really care that I am successful and they are ready to assist me if I ever need any help. They keep investing in the franchise network to help us grow our business. Since making the switch, my business has grown each year. Last year I did $1 million in sales, and this year looks even better. For anyone who has been successful as a travel agent and wants to take that success to another level, join Dream Vacations. I know I made a very wise decision. When surveyed, 95 percent of Dream Vacations franchise owners would recommend the travel franchise to others. Existing travel agents with at least $100,000 in commissionable sales are eligible to join Dream Vacations for as little as $495, with a signing incentive of a free cabin at the 2018 National Conference where they can network and develop relationships with cruise line and resort executives, as well as share best practices with other top-producing Dream Vacations franchise owners. Travel agents with a book of business who want to learn more about the Dream Vacations difference should call 888-249-8235 or visit http://www.JoinDreamVacations.com. About Dream Vacations Travel agents with the top-ranked home-based travel agency franchise Dream Vacations have the resources to plan and create seamless vacation experiences for their customers while offering the best value. A member of the International Franchise Association, Dream Vacations is part of World Travel Holdings and has received partner of the year, a top-ranking status, by all the major cruise lines as well as national recognition for its support of military veterans. For more information about Dream Vacations, visit http://www.DreamVacationsFranchise.com. Like Dream Vacations on Facebook at http://www.facebook.com/DreamVacationsFranchise, follow on Twitter at @Dream_Franchise and watch its videos at http://www.youtube.com/DreamVacationsBusiness. ### Were thrilled to receive recognition from Channel Partners for the business value we create for the companies we work with. Stratosphere Networks and Converged Communication Systems (CCS) have been selected as winners of the 2018 Channel Partners 360 Business Value Awards by Channel Partners, a resource for indirect sales channels offering IT and telecom systems and services. Channel Partners 360 Business Value Awards winners are selected by a panel of editors based on real-world case studies that illustrate how the partner is using the convergence of IT and telecom services to create business value for its customers. Were thrilled to receive recognition from Channel Partners for the business value we create for the companies we work with, said Steve Melchiorre, CEO of Stratosphere Networks and CCS. We strive every day to empower our clients through exceptional service and to deliver the highest quality IT support and solutions. Stratosphere Networks, a multifaceted IT managed service provider, focuses on delivering comprehensive technology services to meet and exceed the constantly evolving needs of businesses across all industries. The companys fully staffed network operations center offers full maintenance services and support, including business continuity, disaster recovery, remote and on-site support, proactive network monitoring, desktop support, and ongoing maintenance services. CCS a sister company of Stratosphere provides best-in-class telephony and unified communications solutions as well as proactive support services to businesses of all sizes nationwide. The company delivers a full range of solutions, including on-premise, hosted (public or private cloud), and hybrid cloud offerings. CCS maintains an expert team with all of the training and certifications necessary to take clients to the next level. Twenty-five winners were honored during an awards reception on April 18 at the Spring 2018 Channel Partners Conference & Expo in Las Vegas. Our 2018 Channel Partners 360 Business Value Awards winners illustrate the rapid emergence of the full-stack digital services provider, said Lorna Garey, editor in chief of Channel Partners and Channel Futures. Our editors were impressed by the range of services delivered, from desktops as a service to security to SD-WAN to an all-in automation strategy and more. We also saw the blurring of the lines between different types of channel entities become really apparent for the first time, several winners were also named as providers. Seems the message develop your own IP has resonated. About Stratosphere Networks Stratosphere Networks is a Chicago-based multifaceted IT managed service provider focused on delivering comprehensive technology services and solutions to meet and exceed always-changing, diverse business needs. Since 2003, Stratosphere Networks has grown exponentially and continues to provide best-in-class and cost-effective solutions to businesses of all sizes and across all industries. Visit http://www.stratospherenetworks.com for more information. About Converged Communication Systems Converged Communication Systems (CCS) is a nationwide provider of best-in-class IP telephony solutions and support services for businesses of all sizes. Focusing on industry leading solutions, Converged Communication Systems provides complete telecommunication solutions to meet your simple or complex business needs. They specialize in a full range of solutions including on premise, hosted / cloud (public or private), and hybrid cloud solutions. Their portfolio includes several brands which enable them to approach their client engagements in an unbiased manner, allowing CCS to be true consultants. In addition, their expertise allows multi-location and remote/home workers to operate more efficiently via VoIP/SIP. For more information, visit http://www.convergedsystems.com. About Informa Informa is one of the worlds leading knowledge providers. We create and deliver highly specialized information through publishing, events, training, market intelligence and expertise, providing valuable knowledge to individuals, businesses and organizations worldwide including the emerging markets of India, China and South Africa. About Channel Partners For more than two decades, Channel Partners has been the leader in providing news and analysis to indirect sales channels serving the business technology industry. It is the unrivaled resource for resellers, aggregators, agents, brokers, VARs, systems integrators, interconnects and dealers that provide network-based communications and computing services, associated CPE and applications as well as managed and professional services. Channel Partners is the official media of the Channel Partners Conference & Expo and Cloud Partners. For more information contact: Lori Leonardo 847-440-8608 LoriL@stratospherenetworks.com General Wei Fenghe (R), Chinese state councilor and defense minister, meets with Pakistani Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi (L) in Beijing on April 18, 2018. (mod.gov.cn/Photo by Song Jihe) BEIJING, April 19 (ChinaMil) -- General Wei Fenghe, Chinese state councilor and defense minister, met with the visiting Pakistani Naval Chief of Staff Admiral Zafar Mahmood Abbasi in Beijing on Wednesday. Under the guidance of President Xi Jinpings thought on building a strong army, the Chinese People's Liberation Army (PLA) will work hard to build itself a world-class army, resolutely safeguard China's national sovereignty, security, and development interests, and make positive contributions to maintaining world and regional peace, Wei said. China and Pakistan are good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers. Under the correct guidance of the heads of state of the two countries, the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic cooperative partnership has been developing soundly, Wei added. China is willing to work with Pakistan to focus on building a community of shared future for mankind, consolidate all-weather friendship, deepen pragmatic cooperation in various fields between the two armed forces, and provide strong security guarantees for the joint building of the "Belt and Road Initiative", Wei told his Pakistani guest. Abbasi expressed his congratulations on the world-renowned achievements made by the Chinese PLA. He said that Pakistan highly cherishes the traditional friendship with China and is willing to continuously deepen exchanges and cooperation between the two militaries in high-level exchanges, military training and technology, to promote the continuous and in-depth development of relations between the two countries and the two militaries. We uncovered a lot of very insightful data that shows the perceived benefits these green wines have to consumers and how relevant these benefits are to the buying decision, said Steve Burns, President of Wine Market Council. Wine Market Council today released key findings from their recent research survey titled, Green Wine Study: U.S. Wine Consumer Attitudes Toward Organic, Sustainable, and Biodynamic Production. The research survey looks into wine consumers' understanding, perception and reaction to various green designations for wine production. We uncovered a lot of very insightful data that shows the perceived benefits these green wines have to consumers and how relevant these benefits are to the buying decision, said Steve Burns, President of Wine Market Council. These findings will help our members make key business decisions in the years ahead. For the study, Wine Market Council surveyed 1,159 primarily high frequency wine drinkers (those who consume wine more often than once a week). Focused specifically on how consumers identify and understand the various production methods, they inquired about the apparent benefits to consumers and how relevant green methods are to pricing and buying decisions. The complete report is now available to Wine Market Council members and will be discussed at the associations upcoming Annual Membership Meeting taking place May 11, 2018, at The CIA at Copia in Napa. The association shared a few highlights including: Consumers are more confident that they understand what "made from organic grapes" means than what "sustainable" or "biodynamic" mean. There was a strong correlation between confidence of understanding and interest in these wines. Sustainable and biodynamic wines are significantly more often associated with external environmental impact (water and CO2 issues) than organic wine and wine made from organic grapes, which in turn are more often associated with input issues (no SO2, no synthetic pesticides/fertilizers, non-GMO). There was little difference perceived between "organic wine" and "wine made from organic grapes," but substantial differences between those wines and biodynamic and sustainable production. The data indicates a willingness to spend slightly more for wine made from organically grown grapes than from conventional grapes, and slightly more still for sustainably/biodynamical produced wines than wine made from organically grown grapes. The study also dove deeper into consumer habits through a 3-day online discussion with 11 selected high frequency wine drinkers. Among the highlights: A commitment to organic food doesnt directly translate into a similar commitment to "organic" wine. Other decision-making factors supersede how the wine was produced. Barriers to purchasing wine made using these production methods include: perceptions that they cost more, not liking one they had tried, skepticism about there being standards behind the designations, availability, visibility, and a lack of awareness. The willingness to pay more for these wines is dependent on occasion, previous trial, or recommendation. These designations could be a tipping point for decisions to purchase a wine among those who see green production as a positive. Wine Market Council provides its proprietary research to association members only. Upcoming research projects include a robust retail wine study to be released this summer. Membership dues are based upon different criteria that are dependent upon member association with the wine industry. You can inquire about membership at the Wine Market Council website WineMarketCouncil.com or email Wine Market Council at SBurns@WineMarketCouncil.com. Media questions and requests should be sent to contact@teplinnuss.com. Wine Market Council is hosting their Annual Membership Meeting on Friday, May 11, 2018, from 9:00am to 12:00pm at The CIA at Copia (500 First Street, Napa, California). This years meeting kicks off with V.I.P. keynoter, Christian Navarro, president and co-owner of Wallys Wine & Spirits and Wallys Beverly Hills. For more details and to register for this meeting, click on this link: https://wmcmembershipmeeting.eventbrite.com. About Wine Market Council Research Wine Market Council conducts research on the attitudes and behaviors of U.S. wine consumers, measuring and exploring industry trends from the consumer perspective. It also provides national wine consumption benchmarks by various segments of the population. The councils research does not track individual brands or companies, nor does it measure sales in the wholesale or retail tier or direct to consumer sector, nor does it score wines in any way. About Wine Market Council Wine Market Council was established in 1994 as a non-profit (501c6) trade association whose mission is to grow and strengthen the wine market in the U.S. on behalf of all segments of the industry by providing ongoing U.S. wine market research. More information can be found at WineMarketCouncil.com. We are excited to welcome Dan to the firm, said Rita M. Allis Powers, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurigs Chicago office. Dans broad background and experience in complex real estate and financial transactions will be invaluable to our clients and attorneys. Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP continues to expand its Real Estate Practice with Daniel D. Balys joining the firm as of counsel in the Chicago office. Balyss practice includes the representation of borrowers and lenders in commercial real estate loan transactions; purchasers and sellers in the acquisition and disposition of commercial real estate assets; and tenants and landlords in the leasing of office, retail, and industrial buildings. His lending practice includes construction, purchase, refinancing, restructuring, and note sale transactions that are secured by commercial real estate assets of all kinds, including office, retail, hospitality, industrial, and multi-family (including LIHTC) properties. We are excited to welcome Dan to the firm, said Rita M. Allis Powers, co-managing shareholder of Greenberg Traurigs Chicago office. Dans broad background and experience in complex real estate and financial transactions will be invaluable to our clients and attorneys. Prior to transitioning to private practice, Balys was in-house counsel with Equity Office Properties Trust, where he assisted with the companys acquisition, disposition, financing, and leasing of office buildings. He received his B.B.A. from Niagara University and his J.D. from DePaul University College of Law. About Greenberg Traurig's Real Estate Practice: The Greenberg Traurig Real Estate Practice is a cornerstone of the firm and recognized leader in the industry. The firms real estate attorneys deliver diversified and comprehensive counsel for property acquisition and investment, development, management and leasing, financing, restructuring, and disposition of all asset classes of real estate. The team draws upon the knowledge and experience of more than 400 real estate lawyers from around the world, serving clients from key markets in the United States, Europe, the Middle East, and Latin America. The groups clientele includes a broad range of property developers, lenders, investment managers, private equity funds, REITs, and private owners. The firms real estate team advises clients on a variety of matters across a broad spectrum of commercial, recreational, and residential real estate, including structured equity and debt and the hybrids. About Greenberg Traurig: Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. Say NO to Climate CO2 Coercion! Friends of Science Society wonders if this Canada-France deal is a geopolitical effort to further isolate the US or Canada in terms of carbon trading and climate compliance with the #ParisAgreement Past News Releases RSS On April 16, 2018, the Government of Canada issued a press release announcing a new climate change and cultural agreement says Friends of Science. This news comes a day after Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau met with provincial leaders in a failed attempt to resolve the deadlock on KinderMorgans oil pipeline from Albertas oil sands to tidewater port in British Columbia, as reported by the National Post, April 15, 2018. Ottawa energy policy consultant, Robert Lyman, contributed a new Friends of Science blog post entitled Climate Policy, Oil Pipelines, and Confederation commenting on the matter. Surrounding these events is a report by Canadas Ecofiscal Commission, a self-named group of economists, pushing carbon pricing or cap and trade, as reported by the Calgary Herald on April 5, 2018. Such policies are economically destructive to Canada and damaging to ordinary families and small business, says Friends of Science in a rebuttal report entitled Let them Eat Carbon. Climate change is last on the list of Canadian priorities in the Abacus Data survey relied on by Ecofiscal. The new Canada-France trade deal may have implications for Canada-US relations, even NAFTA. Since the United States has virtually abandoned the term climate change in official documents and activities, as reported by Lawrence Solomon in the National Post of March 23, 2018, Friends of Science Society wonders if this Canada-France deal is a geopolitical effort to further isolate the US or Canada in terms of carbon trading and climate compliance with the #ParisAgreement as reported by Climate Home News on Feb. 2, 2018. Canada and France have deep trade relations dating back to the Battle for Quebec of 1776. Since the oil crisis of the 1970s, the motto of France has been: We have no oil, we have ideas. Canada is deemed to have the third largest oil reserves in the world. According to Finance Canadas (2013) website France is the 8th largest source of direct investment in Canada and: About 220 Canadian companies have head offices in France. The largest are usually among the top players in their sector. These include Aastra, Bombardier, the Caisse de depot et placement du Quebec, Cascades, CGI, Magna, McCain, SNC-Lavalin, Tembec, Transat, Vermilion. In October 2016, France unilaterally implemented Article 173-VI, a demand for a 2C climate risk reporting from all of its global investees. It is unclear how the France-Canada deal would affect pipelines. KinderMorgans TransMountain pipeline went through extensive regulatory review by Canadas National Energy Board and achieved formal government approval, but foreign funded anti-oil activists have blocked construction activity, thus the company has suspended current non-essential spending as stated in its April 8, 2018 press release. Resource companies may also face newer more stringent make the polluter pay GHG regulations, about to be tabled in Canada. LINK: fin.gc.ca/drleg-apl/2018/ggpp-tpcges-eng.asp In the April 17, 2018 issue of "Musings" from Houston energy investment banker PPHB, Canada's moves were described as 'hostile' to international investment. Friends of Science Society says carbon dioxide is not the main driver of climate change and policies on climate risk and the 2 degree C target fail to meet investment standards related to continuous disclosure regarding the uncertainties of climate change causation. About Friends of Science Society is an independent group of earth, atmospheric and solar scientists, engineers, and citizens who are celebrating its 16th year of offering climate science insights. After a thorough review of a broad spectrum of literature on climate change, Friends of Science Society has concluded that the sun is the main driver of climate change, not carbon dioxide (CO2). Friends of Science Society P.O. Box 23167, Mission P.O. Calgary, Alberta Canada T2S 3B1 Toll-free Telephone: 1-888-789-9597 Web: friendsofscience.org E-mail: contact(at)friendsofscience( dot)org Web: climatechange101.ca There's plenty to sample and it's all free with admission into the show. Admission is free through Saturday..." The Northwest Food show opens this Sunday, April 22nd at the Portland Expo Center and runs through the following day, Monday, April 23rd. Formerly, the Northwest Foodservice Show, the Northwest Food Show caterers to food service industry professionals. Anybody in the foodservice industry is welcome to attend. Already registered are hospitals, specialty stores, cafeterias, caterers and of course, lots of restaurants. We have some exciting new features including celebrity Chef Rick Bayless who will be conducting a cooking demonstration on Sunday at noon. We also have James Beard award winning chefs Andy Ricker from Pok Pok and Greg and Gabrielle Denton, the owners of Ox, on the Chefs Stage on Monday, said Jeff Swenson, the shows manager. Nobody leaves here hungry. Its one of the really wonderful things about this show is the food. Theres plenty to sample and its all free with admission into the show. Admission is free through Saturday and can be done online at the shows website, http://www.nwfoodshow.com. Swenson continued, The Tasting Pavilion features a variety of northwest wines, beer, ciders and spiritsneedless to say, this is a popular part of the show, and this year its better than ever. The Oregon Restaurant & Lodging Association (ORLA) will be showcasing an innovative new approach to presenting your restaurant, an online virtual tour created by Visiting Media. They plan to have company representatives on-hand to explain the technology that takes online viewers through a three dimensional, 360 degree tour of your restaurant or operation. With so much online shopping for places to go and things to do, this technology gives restaurant owners an edge over the competition in highlighting the attributes of their space. Several timely business-enhancing educational seminars are planned including, Tax reduction strategies, Overcoming challenges in the labor market, Government affairs update, Managing and improving your online reviews, Whats cooking in the world of food delivery, and How off-premise is reshaping the restaurant industry. All of these seminars are presented by leading experts. The shows exhibitor mix includes all phases of the food service industry from meats, dairy and produce vendors to large food distributors, service providers, organic suppliers, coffee, seafood, breads and dessert companies. Its the largest food industry show in the northwest. The show hours are Sunday, 10AM 5PM and Monday 10AM 4PM. Admission the day of the show is $25. Parking at the Portland Expo Center is $8. Complete show details are available at http://www.nwfoodshow.com. Meyers & Associates is a general practice lobby firm that has been in business on Capitol Hill since 1981 Since 1981, Meyers & Associates has advised individuals, companies, trade associations, universities and cities in their dealings with the U.S. Federal Government. Meyers & Associates, LLC, a government relations and business consulting firm, recently added two senior executives. Mike Mitchell will join the firm as Senior Associate with a focus on military issues, and Ray Russo will serve the firms water infrastructure clients. With over 35 years of experience in government relations, Mike Mitchell previously served as a staff member for the Senate Oversight Committee under Chairman William V. Roth, Jr. (R-DE). He currently serves as Chairman of the Board of the C&O Canal Trust, and in the past worked as Vice President of Logistics and Sustainment at Lockheed Martin. Mitchell will be specifically assisting the firms military host communities. Mitchells key strengths include an understanding of the public policy process at the federal, state and local governmental levels, with a particular focus on federal policy relating to national defense and security matters, said Larry Meyers, President of Meyers & Associates. He developed noteworthy expertise in defense logistics and sustainment, specifically in policies and programs that support and maintain defense inventory systems, defense supply chain management and approaches to public-private partnerships. Ray Russo spent 26 years working for the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers. He most recently served as the Acting Director of Programs for the Southwestern Division in Dallas, where he was responsible for the development and execution of Civil Works, Military, Hazardous, Toxic and Radiological Waste programs within the division. He also provided leadership and supervision for the SWD Programs Directorate and held staff oversight for programs, planning and project management activities in the divisions four district offices. Rays prominent leadership roles and responsibilities in the Corp of Engineers gives Meyers & Associates an integral competitive advantage in serving our firms water infrastructure clients, Meyers noted. He not only has engineering expertise, but his previous work as a policy analyst gives our clients much-needed insight into critical legislative and policy considerations. For more information or to set an appointment, contact Larry Meyers at larry.meyers@meyersandassociates.com. About Meyers & Associates, LLC Meyers & Associates is a general practice lobby firm that has been in business on Capitol Hill in Washington, D.C. since 1981. Meyers & Associates, LLC is a government relations and business consulting firm that assists individuals, companies, trade associations, universities and cities in their dealings with the federal government. With over 30 years of experience, Meyers & Associates, LLC has built a solid foundation of integrity and a strong political network throughout the federal agencies and Congress. #27 Kerauno/Military To Motorsports Honda with Alexander Rossi Kerauno, a global communications workflow platform, today announced that the company has become the first partner of Military to Motorsports, a unique employment initiative dedicated to helping former members of United States Armed Services branches find fulfilling and meaningful careers upon returning from active duty service. Kerauno will join Andretti Autosport, and its extended network of partner employers in an ongoing program committed to finding high quality job opportunities for veterans in growth industries like motorsports, communications and technology. Military to Motorsports is designed to align organizations like Andretti, Kerauno and partners from various industries, into an ongoing program aimed at finding, creating or promoting new job opportunities reserved for veterans that are looking to establish or grow their careers. As the first sponsor to join the Military to Motorsports, Kerauno hopes the partnership will help them find qualified veterans to help deliver a best-in-class Communication Workflow-as-a-Service (CWaaS) platform. Kerauno is seeking to add former active-duty veterans who are transitioning back to civilian life, by offering them opportunities within the sales, development, marketing, operations, and customer service areas of the business. Kerauno is a fast-growing software provider that was born out of the digital transformation movement, and is looking to double its current headcount by years end in response to a growing wave of license and customer adoption momentum. Our relationship with Andretti has grown tremendously over the past few years, so when Michael Andretti and Dave Tilton approached us with this opportunity, there was no doubt in our minds that we wanted to support those who have given so much for our country, said Josh Ross, CEO of Kerauno. With Kerauno growing at such a rapid pace, we are constantly looking for the best talent in the industry and we are committed to hiring the most qualified veterans who fit those needs. Military to Motorsports was founded in 2017 by racing legend, Michael Andretti, and Andretti Autosport affiliate, David Tilton, who is a retired Naval veteran. The core mission of the program is veteran empowerment, which includes helping find and create a high volume of career opportunities for motivated military veterans who are looking to start or further their careers at organizations like Andretti Autosport, Kerauno or other organizations in high-growth industries. "We here at Military to Motorsports are extremely excited to have Kerauno join us as our first partner in the effort with Andretti Autosport, finding Military Veterans careers in the private sector, said Tilton. With this strategic partnership, Veterans and their families will be able to continue to apply their Work hard attitude and professional ethics through quality employment with outstanding companies. Keraunos involvement with Military to Motorsports is another facet of a longstanding partnership with Andretti Autosport, which has recently named Kerauno as the official communications workflow software provider of Andretti Autosport. Kerauno is the primary sponsor for the #27 Kerauno/Military to Motorsports Honda car with Alexander Rossi at the Honda Grand Prix of Alabama taking place at Barber Motorsports Park on April 22. The partnership will also lend Keraunos best-in-class workflows platform to help Military to Motorsports fuel applicant engagement, to further amplify the reach and analytics of MilitaryToMotorsports.com. For more information on Keraunos support of Military to Motorsports and employment opportunities, please go to https://www.keraunouc.com/militarytomotorsport. About Kerauno LLC Kerauno is a global Communications Workflow-as-a-Service (CWaaS) platform that powerfully connects people, process, software and systems. Through the infusion of key modes of communication including voice, SMS text, chat, email and social media, Kerauno can amplify existing business software to provide strategic insights and actionable analytics across all forms of communication which affect every industry and vertical. Headquartered in Indianapolis, Kerauno has created a global customer base that relies on its mobile-centric communications workflow platform to optimize business processes, enhance customer and employee engagements, and drive revenue to the bottom line. For more information, go to https://www.keraunouc.com. Eric Tippetts - Featured Speaker at WBC Imagine a global blockchain infrastructure that combines the power, scalability, and security of decentralized hosting, decentralized APPS, and digital currency all in one. NASGO is the new decentralized internet 2.0. First World Blockchain Conference (WBC) summit to be held in Macau with the most influential people in the Chinese blockchain community plus one out of Los Angeles, CA USA. The theme is Technology Reconstructing the World. Founders of the WBC summit 3AM Sleepless Blockchain have made WBC summit an exclusive by-invitation-only event. Those in attendance on April 23rd - 25th are the most influential people in the Chinese blockchain community. So how did Co-founder of NASGO, Eric Tippetts out of Los Angeles get an invitation from Macau to not only attend the exclusive WBC summit but also asked to be the featured speaker? Eric responds, NASGOs decentralized network opens up endless opportunities to conduct global eCommerce within trusted blockchain technology. Immune to single point of failures, NASGO connects publishers and developers to a global community of clients, who enjoy the decentralized, fair, and transparency of solutions. Eric continues, Imagine a global blockchain infrastructure that combines the power, scalability, and security of decentralized hosting, decentralized APPS, and digital currency all in one. NASGO is the new decentralized internet 2.0. Over ten thousand people will be in attendance and broadcasted worldwide to over 100 million viewers from the WBC summit, the largest blockchain summit in the world. People attending include industry leaders, academic experts, entrepreneurs, investors, technologist and representatives from the global media. There will be a Red Carpet walking for guests and superstars prior to the WBC opening ceremony. https://nasgo.com/ https://www.facebook.com/OFFICIALNASGO/ Chicago has nearly 50 high-rise construction projects under construction and being able to share some of that progress with the public through time-lapse photography is a great way to showcase exciting projects like McCormick Place. -Chandler McCormack, OxBlue CEO OxBlue, the pioneer in construction camera technology, releases a professionally produced time-lapse detailing the construction process of North Americas Largest Convention Center, McCormick Place. The professionally edited time-lapse captures the entire project from the ground up through more than 181,000 high-definition photos. McCormick Place developers documented the project with four OxBlue time-lapse construction cameras from different vantage points of the build. Watch the entire video here: https://oxblue.com/demos/time-lapse-movies.php?ap=257189655 Chicago has nearly 50 high-rise construction projects under construction and being able to share some of that progress with the public through time-lapse photography is a great way to showcase exciting projects like McCormick Place. -Chandler McCormack, OxBlue CEO The center features over 2.6 million square feet of exhibit halls across a series of four buildings: The North, South, West, and Lakeside Center. Connected by pedestrian promenades and sky bridges, McCormick Place offers a series of shops, cafes, restaurants, and other visitor amenities. McCormick Place expects to host 4 million visitors a year in its 600,000 square feet of meeting room space and four ballrooms. It also offers assembly seating for 18,000 people and three theaters with seating for 300 each. About OxBlue OxBlue, the pioneer of construction camera technology, assists project owners, contractors, and developers by bringing their job sites into focus. OxBlues award-winning service and wireless and solar-powered camera systems have been used on over 20,000 projects, in 50 states throughout the US and in more than 36 countries. The camera technology empowers clients to make informed, real-time decisions from anywhere and at any time, and the time-lapse photography elevates project marketing by making job sites sharable content. Most importantly, every OxBlue employee is dedicated to making the clients success the number one priority. SAE International will join with Utimaco and Parkfofon to host a Meetup on April 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Prospect SV, 1608 Las Plumas Ave, San Jose, Calif. SAE International will join with Utimaco and Parkfofon to host a Meetup on April 25, from 6:30-8:30 p.m., at Prospect SV, 1608 Las Plumas Ave, San Jose, Calif. Topic 1: Cybersecurity and Securing OTA Updates Richard Williamson, Technical Staff, Ultimaco Utimaco is a leading manufacturer of Hardware Security Modules (HSMs) that provide the Root of Trust to all industries, from financial services and payment to the automotive industry, cloud services to the public sector. Utimaco is headquartered in Aachen, Germany and Campbell, California. In this presentation Richard will describe basic requirements for limiting the vehicle attack surface and securing OTA updates. As a member of Ultimaco's technical staff, Richards two primary functions are customer facing and technical. He has worked in engineering and management in tech support, sales engineering, professional services, technical marketing and technical account management, data security, cyber-physical systems, real-time operating systems, real-time data distribution and structured data handling. Richard joined Utimaco in 2016 after 34 years of nomadic travels: as an NCO and Officer in the US Army, university student, UN diplomatic spouse, software engineer, consultant and manager. Richard grew up locally on the Peninsula and then moved 42 times in the next 32 years (he kept a spreadsheet) before returning. Richard has a BA in modern languages from the California State University, Fresno and completed his MBA at the Webster University campus in Vienna, Austria. Topic 2: Infrastructure-Independent Parking Technologies Evgeny Klochikhin, PhD, CEO, Parkofon Parking is a painful experience due to outdated infrastructure, confusing regulations, and unclear payment instructions. Parkofon offers a built-in, infrastructure-independent technology that guides vehicles to open spaces, knows exactly when they park, how long they can stay there, and automatically deducts payment for the actual time they stay parked. Parkofon's patent pending solution uses a connected, high-precision geonavigation system that makes it easier to find and pay for parking. Dr. Evgeny Klochikhin has over 10 years of experience and knowledge in data science, technology management, scientific research, and public relations. Prior to starting Parkofon in 2016, Dr. Klochikhin served as the senior data scientist and researcher at the American Institutes for Research where he led over $4M of data-driven projects and provided policy and technology management expertise to clients in the United States, Spain, Norway, Uganda and other countries. He also led the development and justification of new and innovative methods of evidence-based policy making and evaluation using advanced data science and computational techniques, particularly text mining and Big Data analysis. At Parkofon, Dr. Klochikhin leads an international team of professionals bringing together decades of experience in hardware, embedded systems, software engineering, data science, and business development. Dr. Klochikhin holds PhD in Innovation and Technology Management from the Manchester Business School, UK. He has authored multiple publications including journal articles, book chapters, and papers. Food and beverages will be provided. To learn more or to register, visit https://www.meetup.com/SAE-Innovations-in-Mobility/events/248860199. SAE International is a global association committed to being the ultimate knowledge source for the engineering profession. By uniting over 127,000 engineers and technical experts, we drive knowledge and expertise across a broad spectrum of industries. We act on two priorities: encouraging a lifetime of learning for mobility engineering professionals and setting the standards for industry engineering. We strive for a better world through the work of our philanthropic SAE Foundation, including programs like A World in Motion and the Collegiate Design Series. http://www.sae.org Global law firm Greenberg Traurig, LLP continues to grow its Washington, D.C. presence by adding international arbitration and dispute resolution attorney Thomas G. Allen. He joins as a shareholder in the firms award-winning Litigation Practice. He was previously a partner at Pillsbury Winthrop Shaw Pittman LLP. Toms strategic addition to our offices roster will complement our key practice areas and expertise to better service our clients needs through the legal services we offer both nationally and worldwide, said Laura Metcoff Klaus and Robert Mangas, co-managing shareholders of Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. office. Allens practice focuses on international arbitration and is supplemented by a background representing global corporations in investigations and enforcement proceedings before U.S. government agencies. Allen has also tried jury and bench trials in state and federal courts and has extensive appellate experience. Recently, Allen was one of the lead attorneys in the successful defense of a $7 billion arbitration claim brought before the International Chamber of Commerce related to the shutdown of a nuclear power generating station in California. Allen joins the Washington, D.C. office on the heels of highly regarded capital markets practitioner Lee Ann Anderson, a shareholder in the Corporate Practice, and Daniel E. Parga, an associate in the International Trade Practice. Tom is a welcomed addition to our team; he can identify unique approaches and is highly skilled in litigating complex disputes, further enhancing Greenberg Traurigs dispute resolution capabilities in the international space, said Lori G. Cohen and Jeff E. Scott, co-chairs of the firms Global Litigation Practice, which has more than 600 attorneys firmwide. Greenberg Traurigs collaborative culture will be well served by his experience in a wide range of sectors, including nuclear and solar energy, equipment manufacturing, and aviation. Greenberg Traurigs global platform was a big draw for me, Allen said. When your practice is centered on cross-border disputes, it is a win-win to join GT and to be able to pair my experience with the depth and breadth that GT attorneys bring to the table in so many markets. There are natural synergies between the firms Litigation and International Arbitration practices and my focus and experience. Allen received his J.D., magna cum laude, in 2002 from The Catholic University of America Columbus School of Law, and his B.A. in 1997 from The Catholic University of America. About Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. Office Greenberg Traurigs Washington, D.C. office is home to a multidisciplinary team of lawyers and governmental affairs professionals with strategic experience helping companies of all sizes to navigate the federal government. The offices work encompasses governmental affairs, federal procurement, global trade and investment, health and FDA business, litigation, government contracts, antitrust, insurance recovery and advisory, energy, telecommunications, real estate, intellectual property, representation of foreign governments, and national defense and homeland security. Greenberg Traurigs clients range from the federal defense sector to energy, telecommunications, and health care companies, which the firm represents before government agencies, regulatory bodies, Congress, and the courts. The firms Washington, D.C. attorneys are also involved in handling a wide range of regulatory, corporate, and finance work for clients in these industries. About Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice Greenberg Traurigs Litigation Practice includes a team of more than 600 attorneys. The firms trial lawyers regularly appear in state and federal courts throughout the country, as well as in appellate courts and before international arbitration panels. They work closely with in-house counsel to develop a strategy that best fits a litigation cost and proficiency model appropriate to the clients unique needs goals. About Greenberg Traurig, LLP Greenberg Traurig, LLP (GT) has more than 2,000 attorneys in 38 offices in the United States, Latin America, Europe, Asia and the Middle East. GT has been recognized for its philanthropic giving, was named the largest firm in the U.S. by Law360 in 2017, and is among the Top 20 on the 2017 Am Law Global 100. Web: http://www.gtlaw.com Twitter: @GT_Law. The upcoming visits of high-ranking Indian officials to China present a good opportunity for the two countries to discuss the sensitive issues between them, deepen mutual trust and open up new horizons for cooperation on both bilateral and multilateral fronts. Indian External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj is scheduled to arrive in Beijing on Saturday for talks with her Chinese counterpart Wang Yi. She will also participate in the foreign ministers meeting of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization on Tuesday. The SCOs defense ministers meeting is also being held next week, which Indian Defense Minister Nirmala Sitharaman is due to attend. Both countries stand to gain by working closely together within the framework of the Eurasian intergovernmental organization, in which India is making its debut as a full member this year. Last years military standoff in Donglang border area showed that the two countries border disputes still cast a cloud over ties. Much needs to be done for the two neighbors to brush aside their mistrust, and frequent high-level dialogue is needed if the two neighbors are to dispel their mutual suspicions. The SCO meetings, culminating in the summit to be held in the Chinese city of Qingdao in June, provide a good opportunity for the two countries to build on the efforts both sides have made to improve their ties since then. And with Pakistan joining India as a full member of the SCO last year, there are hopes that the two countries will take advantage of the Shanghai spirit of friendship and cooperation that is embraced by the organization to improve their bilateral relations. This in turn would help overcome New Delhis wariness of Beijings Belt and Road Initiative, and allow the new Silk Roads to better fulfill their intended role of shrinking the distances between countries, in terms of both infrastructure and people-to-people links. It would also increase the SCOs relevance, both in the region and beyond, as it would enable the organization to better fulfill its goals of peace, security and stability in the region; and the establishment of a fairer economic order. Dining with an ocean view does not have to wait until the summer months for patrons of Charleys Ocean Grill in Long Branch, New Jersey. While the shore town is often quieter in the off-season, the new owners of the popular summertime spot, Mario Magriplis and Frank Lambrinos hope to keep the momentum into the offseason as well. Magriplis provides Bielat Santore & Company with a first look at what changes to expect at the restaurant they recently purchased. Working in the restaurant industry was part of growing up for both Lambrinos and Magriplis whose families excelled in the business. Magriplis lived in Canada and Greece where his family owned multiple restaurants and hotels, and Lambrinos was practically raised in the family business, the Blue Swan Diner in Ocean, NJ, which the duo also currently own. We both grew up in the business and both decided to leave our professional careers in order to go into business for ourselves, said Magriplis. Selecting a location for their next business venture wasnt a difficult task for the partners who have had their eye on the area for some time. Both Magriplis wife and Lambrinos grew up close to the beach neighborhood. Theres a lot going on in Long Branch. Were excited about the development and advancements, said Magriplis. Im from an island in Greece, so it was a great opportunity to be close to the ocean. Just coming here and looking at the beach fuels me for the rest of the day. Since closing on the property in September of 2017, they have been slowly making updates to the restaurant. Recently the pair released a new menu, taking a cue from their customers on what kinds of dishes they would indulge in and introducing flavors that pair well with a seaside setting. Sourcing fresh seafood, good-quality meats and combining ocean-inspired cuisine is an important component in creating the recipes their guests are sure to love. We want to incorporate things that people like to experience near the ocean and naturally you can see a Mediterranean influence in our new menu said Magriplis. Just because its not summertime, doesnt mean you cant enjoy the shore! Before the big crowd rolls in on Memorial Day Weekend, the partners are focusing on building relationships with their local customers. There is a seasonal effect to the business but we aim to build on our local following. Our casual atmosphere and delicious food really do offer our patrons a local summer experience all year long, said Magriplis. We are trying to build on that culture. Much of the restaurants previous success is credited to the location and the people who have dined at the restaurant since the eatery opened in 1985, serving as a focal point of the community and a meeting place for locals. The restaurant is a landmark. There is a lot of history in Long Branch, and Charleys is part of it, said Magriplis. Guests can expect familiar faces serving them as most of the employees working under the former proprietors are still on staff. The staff is an integral component to running a successful restaurant. The right people elevate an establishment and we are lucky to be working with talented individuals that are also good people. Some additional developments include utilizing the upstairs banquet room for live music, specialty nights and VIP happy hours. They also plan to offer the available space for reservations and walk-ins when there is an influx in visitors. We offer a unique experience, excellent food and drinks, with a casual setting, said Magriplis. It wouldnt be a beach place if you have to wear a three-piece suit. A new web page is in the works as well, featuring a new cocktail menu inspired by the local beat. We want to offer cocktails and dishes that make you feel like you are on vacation said Magriplis. Though we offer a casual setting, our drinks and food are of an elevated standard The partners have gotten to know most of the very satisfied local customers, but they are also looking forward to meeting new customers as business floods in this summer. Charleys Ocean Grill is open for lunch, dinner and drinks from 11:30 am until 2:00 am. Their banquet room seats 100 guests indoors with additional space at the cocktail bar and outdoor patio. Call the restaurant for a reservation at 732.222.4499 or visit their website at https://www.charleysoceangrill.com/. About Bielat Santore & Company Bielat Santore & Company is an established commercial real estate firm. The companys expertise lies chiefly within the restaurant and hospitality industry, specializing in the sale of restaurants and other food and beverage real estate businesses. Since 1978, the principals of Bielat Santore & Company, Barry Bielat and Richard Santore, have sold more restaurants and similar type properties in New Jersey than any other real estate company. Furthermore, the firm has secured in excess of $500,000,000 in financing to facilitate these transactions. Visit the companys website, http://www.123bsc.com for the latest in new listings, property searches, available land, market data, financing trends, RSS feeds, press releases and more. What happened? Local media report that the SSNIT had decided to launch an initiative, Operational Business Suite, to help with the activities of the trust in 2014. However, the IT project failed after the SSNIT had doled out a total of $72million for the project. When the project was to be awarded at an initial $32million, a bidding was done and Perfect Business Systems (PBS), which led a private consortium won the bid to install the OBS platform. Subsequently, the cost of funding the project had continued to increase as SSNIT dropped another $34million and later $6million to the completion of the failed project. The OBS initiative is an IT project that is geared providing new technology that would deliver a master card electronically after beneficiaries have undergone biometric registration, which is a departure from business-as-usual. The OBS will provide a master or smart card that will see each beneficiary having a new biometrically generated SSNIT number which would ensure free access and accessibility to state-of-the-art services. The OBS was adopted to create multiple delivery channels to customers, make the transaction easier, eliminate fraud and reduce benefits processing time. The OBS was also expected to facilitate collaboration between SSNIT, business partners, banks, National Health Insurance Scheme and Students' Loan Trust. Who was behind it? There are allegations that top management executives of the SSNIT as well as the owners of the consortium that won the bidding to design and create the OBS engaged in fraudulent activities in the government parastatal. According to local reports, Former Director-General of the Social Security and National Insurance Trust (SSNIT), Ernest Thompson is the man at the center of the fraud allegation. Other suspected top executives of SSNIT, who have been fingered in the alleged fraud are former OBS project manager, John Hagan Mensah, and Caleb Kweku Afaglo, who was head of IT. Also in the picture is Juliet Hassana Kramer, Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Perfect Business Systems (PBS), which led the private consortium to win the bid to install the OBS platform. How has Ghanaian government reacted? The Ghanaian government has reacted to the alleged fraud by the countrys anti-graft agency, the Economic and Organized Crime Office (EOCO). Already, SSNIT Board Chairman, Dr. Kwame Addo Kufuor has revealed that the four top executives fingered in the fraud scandal are expected to face a charge of willfully causing financial loss to the state in the award of a $72 million OBS contract. Kufuor also announced that a report from the PricewaterhouseCoopers, an international audit firm, covered operations of SSNIT for the period ended December 31, 2016, and the three-month period ending March 31, 2017. The PricewaterhouseCoopers report also indicted the previous board of SSNIT headed by Joshua Alabi. The report had said Joshua Alabi led board did not appear to demand accountability when the issue of poor overspending and poor project management were brought to their attention. Will any action be taken? Already, the EOCO had arrested the prime suspects of the alleged fraud that has attracted so much attention of the public. While the SSNIT board alleged that a total amount of over $70 million was paid to PBS in respect of the OBS project, the EOCO is conducting investigations to ensure the culprits are brought to book. The original OBS contract sum was $34 million but at the time the project was completed, the contract sum had shot up to $66.8 million and GH36 million. This means that at the end of the OBS project, an additional amount of $32 million and $36 million was paid to PBS. The 3 suspects arrested include a minor. According to police, suspects Tanko Baba, 17, former student of Ghana Libya Senior High School, and Zakaria Abdul Rauf 24, former student of Tamale Senior High School , were picked up while writing the exams on behalf of Alhassan Abdul Karim and Yusif Alhassan, both students of Institute of Business Studies (BCI), a private institution in the regional capital. READ ALSO: Arrested students freed The suspects are currently in custody but one, Yusif Alhassan currently on the run. This comes after the Oda police in the Eastern region arrested 13 suspects for impersonation in the ongoing WAEC examinations on Wednesday. The 10 suspects allegedly wrote the exams for some candidates of PLACID International School in the Birim Central Municipality in the Eastern Region. According to the Public Relations Officer of the Eastern Regional Police, ASP Ebenezer Tetteh, 3 others from a private second cycle institution, Star International School, were also arrested for the same offense. The university students are ten. They came from the universities across the length and breadth of the country, the most prominent ones. We have UCC, Legon, University of Science and Technology and the University of Professional Studies. Three other students who came from Star International School were also arrested. So in all, we have 13 students, ten of them university students and three others. So as we speak now, all the 13 students are in our custody. We are processing them for court for a charge of impersonation so that the court will deal with them, ASP Tetteh added. Those arrested are Suzzette Lamprey,19, level 100 student of University of Cape Coast, Christella Agyepong, 18, level 100 Kwame Nkrumah University of Science and Technology (KNUST), Isabella Anning, 18, level 100 KNUST, Joyce Assabil , 21, level 100 University of Energy And Natural Resources, Agyei Elias,22, level 200 University of Professional Studies (UPS), Adjoh Wisdom ,20, level 400, UPS and ANIM Ansah ,22, level 100 ,University of Ghana ,Legon. U.S. President Donald Trump confirmed Wednesday that his CIA director, Mike Pompeo, had held a secret meeting in Pyongyang with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un. "He just left North Korea, had a great meeting with Kim Jong-un and got along with him really well, really great. He is that kind of guy. He is really smart but he gets along with people," Trump told reporters Wednesday at his Florida resort. Trump had said Tuesday that the United States and North Korea "had talks at the highest level" without giving specifics. Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, who is visiting Trump at his Florida resort, praised the president Tuesday for agreeing to hold a summit with Kim, saying the move took "courage." Trump said that meeting would take place "probably in early June or a little before that, assuming things go well. It's possible things won't go well, and we won't have the meetings, and we'll just continue to go along this very strong path that we've taken." Shortly afterward, in an extended bilateral meeting with Abe, Trump revealed that in preparation for the summit "we have also started talking directly to North Korea. We have had direct talks at extremely high levels." But that response did not mention Kim by name. Trump also said Seoul has his blessing to try to negotiate with Pyongyang an end to the 1950s Korean War. "They do have my blessing to end the war," Trump told reporters as he sat next to Abe at the start of their meeting on Tuesday. "People don't realize the Korean War has not ended," explained Trump. "It's going on right now. And they are discussing an end to the war." South Korean President Moon Jae-in and North Korean leader Kim are scheduled to hold a summit April 27. A senior South Korean presidential official said Wednesday the peace talks are a possible subject, but that the discussion of formally ending the war would need to involve the other relevant parties. Speaking to Andy Dosty on Hitz FM, Kurl said he couldnt fathom why the VGMA board will exclude him from the Best Male Vocalist of the year. The 24-year-old music star said though he filed for the Male Vocalist of the year yet the VGMA board didnt consider his nomination. He also lamented over the failure of the organisers to nominate his song Jennifer Lomotey featuring Sarkodie for Highlife category. To him, it was wrong for the organisers to place his song in the Afropop Song of the Year category. READ MORE: Kuami Eugene dedicates his awards to mum Kaywa also disclosed that Mark Okraku Mantey, who happens to be part of the board apologized claiming it was an oversight for not considering Kurl Songx in the male vocal category. Kurl Songx won the popular reality music television show, MTN Hitmaker 5 last year, shrugging off tense competition from the likes of F9, Eugene and Sir Tino. Joe Mettle beat King Promise, KiDi, Kuami Eugene, Mugeez and Samini to win the Male Vocalist of the year at the 19th edition of Vodafone Ghana Music Awards. They convinced her to ride on a bicycle with them to the house of the second accomplice called Meraj, in Lucknow. It was at that place that the father handed over his daughter to his two friends to have sex with. Feeling shortchanged, the man joined his friend and they camped and raped his own daughter for 18 undiluted hours before she was able to escape from them the next day. Daily Mail report indicated that Meraj, a fake doctor with no medical license was arrested after the victim went back and narrated her ordeal to her mother who did not hesitate to report it to the police. Apparently, the incestuous father has always been affectionate towards his daughter. Reports say the man was banished from his village in November last year following accusations that he was engaged in an incestuous relationship with his daughter. A police source is quoted as saying: A panchayat was called and the father was arrested. He got bail in February this year. Frederick Amfo, 30 is alleged to have sexually assaulted Emily Murray on April 8 and absconded, but a DNA test of a rape kit and the very car used for the crime led to the arrest of the Ghanaian after some days. Frederick Amfo was arraigned for court and was later released on a $10,000 bail by a Quincy District Court. According to reports, he was ordered to hand over his passport to authorities within 24 hours, but he failed to do that, and instead used it to jumped bail to Ghana. READ MORE: Social media users to pay tax effective July this year He succeeded in fleeing the country because the police had failed to notify immigration service about his arrest so they could be alert about the likelihood of him escaping. The victim who has lost faith in the entire justice system after insisting to be identified by the media is quoted by Boston 25 as saying: I was angry, Im still angry. Im confused. Within minutes, I was in a situation I couldnt control and I was assaulted. If I went to Ghana and I committed a crime, I wouldnt expect to be able to hop on plane and say sorry about that, heres some money. I would expect to answer for it. Accountability. And there had been just zero. He proclaims his innocence and then just leaves? I feel hurt. People get blamed for not coming forward and then get victimized more when they do. But I hope this shines a light and it wont happen in the future, because of me coming forward and me releasing my name and putting a face behind this whole situation. Meanwhile, the Weymouth police has blamed the Quincy District Court for the suspects escape, saying it had forwarded the detainer documents to the court, but the court chose not to forward the detainer to Norfolk County, allowing for his subsequent release on bail from custody. However, the Quincy District Court has also denied having been furnished with any detainer document. The Manager at the Market Conduct Office, Financial Stability Department at the Bank of Ghana (BoG), Augustine Amoako Donkor told Accra-based Citi FM Some of these microfinance actually went beyond the rule by investing in other businesses that they were not supposed to. They pick money on short-term bases and invest in long-term real estate and similar others. For those ones, we are trying to deal with them from the regulation aspect. This decision comes after the BoG received many complaints from some customers of distressed MFIs who have consistently failed to release the investments of customers. In recent times customers of ASN Financial Services Limited threatened to embark on a demonstration if their monies are not refunded by the end of the month while customers of Accent Financial Services also called on the BoG to step in to help retrieve their locked up cash. However, Mr. Amoako Donkor assured that the law will take its course in dealing with such companies. They are unable to give monies back to the customers because of liquidity challenges which they find themselves in because of the way they have managed their activities in the past. Some of them have actually flouted the rule and they will be dealt with he revealed. A delegation of KCM management staff, led by Mr. John Badu-Bonsu, Marketing Manager, spent hours interacting with the inmates and staff of the Childrens Home after presenting food items and provisions including rice, cooking oil, toiletries, drinks, soaps, biscuits, washing detergents, etc. On the occasion of our first anniversary as Ashanti Regions biggest and only mall, we have come here to acknowledge and express our gratitude to your institution (the orphanage) for the good work you are doing for needy children in our community, said John Bedu Bonsu as he handed over the items. Although commissioned on May 10 last year (jointly by the President of the Republic and the Asantehene) the people of Kumasi had their first experience of what is now the most irresistible business destination in the entire Ashanti Region, on Thursday April 20, 2017 when the Mall first opened for trading. READ ALSO: undefined We (KCM) are only a year old but as a modern one-stop shopping centre, built to serve people from all walks of life and from different social backgrounds coming from all over the Ashanti region, KCM is committed to regularly touching base with our grassroots and to giving something back to society. That is one sure way of strengthening our communities, Mr. Bedu Bonsu said. The Founder and CEO of Ashan Orphanage, Nana Boafuor Konadu Yiadom expressed gratitude to Kumasi City Mall and recounted how his modest effort to support needy children some 18 years ago has now blossomed into a valuable community orphanage. Nana Yiadom disclosed that the facility has cared for several hundreds of orphaned and penurious children among whom quite a number have successfully completed university education. He said it has been support such as the donation made by KCM which keeps the Orphanage going and wished that other institutions and businesses emulated Kumasi City Malls example. Located at Asokwa at Asokwa, on the confluence of Lake Road, Yaa Asantewa Road and Hudson Street in Kumasi, KCM swung into the birthday mode some two weeks with a variety of events and recreational activities including organised visits to the facility by students of basic schools, an aerobic show, a health walk and screening exercise, a Banking, Insurance and Investment fair which the mall held in partnership with I-Commerce Events & BFT. The Food Court, named after the Asantehenes late mother, Nana Afia Kobi Serwaa Ampem II has throbbed with DJ music and brisk business since early April and KCM Management have given indication that the most exciting of activities have been saved for the actual birthday - tomorrow April 20. READ ALSO: undefined Yes! We will cut the KCM One Year Birthday Cake at the Food Court, but we will do that with interludes and spells of good musical performances, Cultural troupe performances and Kids Drama displays, said Mr, Bedu Bonsu. They explained that the human skull forms the head of the human skeleton supports the structures of the face and forms a cavity for the brain. The brain is contained in, and protected by, the skull bones of the head. The pressing of the babys head, therefore, affect the functioning of the brains of the children and might affect their thinking capabilities when they grow up. READ ALSO: Young Ghanaian millionaire Ibrah arrested for money laundering The neuroscientists were speaking at the brain awareness week at the University of Cape Coast. In Ghana and other parts of the world, many nursing mothers try to remold the shapes of the heads of their babies by using hot water. However, at the ongoing Brain Awareness Week in Cape Coast, Dr. Francis Djangmah with the school of physiology said such practices must be stopped. Their skull is very soft. If you press so hard on it, you will see a depression on the skull. So the old ladies who are made to bath the children should not press the head so as to change its shape. It has a deleterious effect on the brain of the child. If you press the head, you are going to press directly on the brain and damage the brain cells READ ALSO: Teenagers flogged by Obinim for having sex missing Over the years, that is what many parents have been doing to their children. Many behaviors exhibited by certain grown-ups are symptomatic of what they went through in the hands of the mothers and caregivers, he explained. Meanwhile, Prof. Francis Offei, another neuroscientist said people must desist from hitting of the heads of children with implements and other objects since it can lead to brain damage. In 2016, Bishop Obinim made the headlines for flogging the hapless pregnant girl and her boyfriend during a church service which led to his arrest. According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) George Amegah, due to the difficulty in locating the victims, the Police has served a criminal summons on Obinim's church administrator. READ ALSO: Teenagers flogged by Obinim return to church with new born baby for blessings He said the prosecution is having a tough time in locating the two teenagers to appear before the court to testify in the case. He added that the church administrator initially brought the victims to the Police hence reason for serving the criminal summons on him. Meanwhile lawyer for Obinim, Mr Ralph Opoku Adusei who obtained the criminal summons and returned same attached with a letter to the Police. He apologised for the absence of Obinim and his pastor, Kinsley Baah as they were not in court. Solomon Abraham another pastor and the third accused were however in court. Mr Adusei explained that he returned the criminal summons because it was not the duty of his clients to provide the prosecution the whereabouts of the victims. According to him, the law did not make provisions for an accused to assist prosecution to build their case against his clients. He said his clients did not know the whereabouts of the victims but heard that they have left for Bunkprugu Yunyoo in the Northern Region. The court presided over by Mrs Abena Oppong Adjin-Doku advised that criminal summons should be served on the last person who had custody of the victims. The matter has been adjourned to May 9. We had sex only once - Obinim victims confesses Background The controversial pastor who was angered by the couple's amorous activity which has led to a pregnancy in 2016 took the law into his hands and lashed the young man on his bare back before turning to the girl flogging her mercilessly with a belt in the full glare of his congregation. Throughout the punishment, Obinim is heard questioning the jobless youngman why he got the girl pregnant when he has no finances for her upkeep and the upbringing of the unborn child. The girl who was unable to stand the flogging attempts to escape, but she was held by henchmen of the Bishop to enable the bishop mete out more beatings. According to him, Ghana has chalked enviable success when it comes to democracy in Africa, but said it is now time to implement policies that alleviate poverty in the country. Speaking on the final day of a 10-day fact-finding mission to the Greater Accra, Northern, and Upper East regions, Mr. Alston said such policies will be key if Ghana is to meet the UN Sustainable Development Goals, including the eradication of extreme poverty by 2030. Ghana is at a crossroads and must now decide whether to continue existing policies that will further enrich the wealthy and do little for the poor, or to make fiscal adjustments that would lift millions out of poverty and bring them into the agricultural economy in ways that would contribute significantly to economic growth, he said. READ ALSO: undefined The benefits of record levels of economic growth experienced over the past decade have gone overwhelmingly to the wealthy, and inequality is higher than it has ever been in Ghana. He added that most Politicians in the country prefer to use slogans rather than focus on implementing realistic policies. He urged the government to make social protection one of its topmost priorities. This, he said, should be done in a transparent manner when it comes to costs and funding. Ghanaian politicians are immensely fond of, and very good at, creating slogans to describe complex but appealing programmes. But there is little doubt that the appetite for such slogans has already far outrun the capacity for realistic implementation, Mr. Alston stated. READ ALSO: undefined On Instagram, passenger Amanda Bourman posted a picture of the ruptured engine, saying, "The pilot, Tammy Jo was so amazing!" One passenger, Diana McBride Self, posted a picture of Shults on Facebook, saying, "This is a true American Hero. A huge thank you for her knowledge, guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation. God bless her and all the crew." Tammie Jo Shults, the pilot on Tuesday's Southwest Airlines flight from New York to Dallas, was flying uneventfully at more than 9,600 meters when the left engine on a Boeing 737 aircraft suddenly blew apart, with shrapnel shattering a window, partially sucking one woman out of the plane. Other passengers were able to pull the woman back into the jet, but she later died, the first casualty in a U.S. commercial aviation accident in nine years. A former U.S. Navy fighter pilot is being hailed as an American hero after she safely landed a passenger jet that sustained catastrophic engine failure high in the skies over the eastern United States. As the incident unfolded, Shults, who once helped train ship crews to respond to Soviet missile threats, told an air traffic controller, "We have a part of the aircraft missing." While descending more than 6,600 meters in five minutes in advance of an emergency landing in Philadelphia, Shults asked the controller, "Could you have the medical meet us there on the runway, as well? We've got injured passengers." Air traffic control responded: "Injured passengers, OK. And is your airplane physically on fire?" "No, it's not on fire," she responded, "But part of it is missing. They said there's a hole and that someone went out." One passenger told CNN, "All of a sudden, we heard this loud bang, rattling. It felt like one of the engines went out. The oxygen masks dropped. It just shredded the left-side engine completely. It was scary." Hours later, National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt said investigators found that one of the left engine's 24 fan blades was missing. "This fan blade was broken right at the hub, and our preliminary examination of this was there is evidence of metal fatigue where the blade separated," he said. "We believe there were parts coming out of this engine." The woman killed in the accident was identified as Jennifer Riordan, a 43-year-old bank executive and mother of two children from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seven others, among the 149 aboard the flight, were slightly injured. Investigators have the airliner's flight data recorders and will likely have to take the damaged engine apart to examine it. The plane was equipped with a CFM 56-7B engine. CFM International and the Federal Aviation Administration recommended airlines inspect fan blades on such engines after a report of a fan blade breaking off on a flight last year. It is unclear if the failed engine on Flight 1380 was covered by the FAA's airworthiness directive. Dr. Ayine petitioned the Supreme Court to nullify the appointment of Amidu on the grounds that he is too old for the position. According to the judge, Justice Gabriel Pwamang, the application was not supported by the rules of the court. However, Martin Amidu has been defiant about the suit and he said on Thursday that it is not interfering in his work. Amidu was appointed by President Akufo-Addo as Ghana's first Special Prosecutor in fulfillment of a major campaign pledge in 2016. Dr. Ayine is seeking a declaration that by a true and proper interpretation of Articles 190(1)(d), 199(1), 199(4), and 295 of the 1992 Constitution, the retirement age of all holders of public office created pursuant to Article(1)(d) is sixty years, anyhow not beyond (65). Here are some of the options: Panmunjom The truce village in the Demilitarized Zone that divides the two Koreas will host a summit between Kim and South Korean President Moon Jae-in next week. It offers ease of access for both sides and high security but diplomatic sources have played it down as an option, pointing to the 1976 Axe Murder Incident, when North Korean troops bludgeoned to death two American officers in the area. That background is unwelcome to Washington, and the site is also the clearest possible reminder of the division of the peninsula. Pyongyang The sight of a US president stepping onto the tarmac at Pyongyang airport -- where Kim supervised a missile launch as recently as September -- and driving through Kim Il Sung Square would be spectacular. It would appeal to both men's sense of drama. But it risks giving the North Koreans too much control over the process, and rewarding the North with a presidential visit before anything has been agreed. Seoul A member of the Kim family has already been to the South Korean capital this year -- the leader's sister Kim Yo Jong, who acted as his envoy to the Winter Olympics in the South that triggered the whirlwind of diplomacy on and about the peninsula. A trip by Kim himself would be hugely symbolic but risks being highly controversial in the South across the political spectrum. It might also make Kim a bigger focus of attention than Trump, something the White House will want to avoid, and which could detract from the negotiations. Beijing Both Trump and Kim have visited the Chinese capital in the last six months. But a summit there would be fraught with complications -- China was itself a participant in the Korean War, when its forces saved Kim's grandfather Kim Il Sung from defeat, and a signatory to the 1953 armistice that stopped the fighting. Beijing has long been Pyongyang's main diplomatic defender and source of trade and aid, and while the relationship soured more recently, Kim went there last month on his first visit overseas since inheriting power to pay his respects to Chinese leader Xi Jinping. A summit in Beijing could risk giving Xi too much influence -- China regards the North as very much part of its backyard -- and the right to claim credit if a deal is reached. Chinese authorities also have a track record of imposing strict and intrusive security and limiting media access to international diplomatic events on their territory, which could restrict the meeting's impact as a global spectacle -- something both principals will likely want to maintain. Ulaanbaatar A popular outside bet among Korea-watchers, the Mongolian capital can be reached from the North by both air and train, has ties with both Pyongyang and Washington - and has publicly offered to host the meeting. The then Mongolian President Tsakhia Elbegdorj visited the North in 2013, and nearly 1,200 North Koreans worked in the landlocked country until regulations passed following UN Security Council sanctions required them to leave last year. Ulaanbaatar has signed several economic pacts with Washington, and the US military co-sponsors the annual Khaan Quest multinational peacekeeping exercise in Mongolia. Switzerland Kim does not have the same fear of flying as his father and predecessor Kim Jong Il -- he is known to travel by air domestically -- so destinations further afield cannot be ruled out. A young Kim studied in Switzerland in the 1990s, including at the International School of Berne, along with his brother and sister, so he is familiar with the country, which has maintained its neutrality for centuries and hosts a North Korean embassy. Singapore, Vietnam Other Asian options mooted in the media include Singapore, where Xi and Taiwanese president Ma Ying-jeou met in 2015, in the first encounter between the leaders of Beijing and Taipei since they split at end of the Chinese civil war in 1949. Vietnam is also reportedly under consideration -- a Communist state, but one that has seen relations with the US improve markedly since the end of the Vietnam War in 1975, with an economy that has become increasingly vibrant in recent years. Scandinavia Sweden and Finland both received senior North Korean officials last month. Foreign minister Ri Yong Ho went to Stockholm, and Helsinki hosted unofficial talks between US experts and North Korean delegates -- something Norway also did last year. As the protecting power for US citizens in the North, Sweden has a long history of mediating between Pyongyang and Washington -- and its Pyongyang mission was the first Western embassy established in the country, in 1975. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari has again courted controversy with his statements at the ongoing Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in the United Kingdom. A recent comment belittling Nigerias young people has sparked social media outrage, but this is not the first time. President Buhari has, in the past, made statements that, if uttered by an ordinary citizen in another context, could be called blunt. But, coming from the president of a country that desperately needs to improve its global image, it is just bad publicity. Here are five quotes that show President Buhari is pretty bad at diplomacy. 1. At CHOGM 2018 More than 60% of population is below 30, a lot of them havent been to school & they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit & do nothing & get housing, healthcare, education free, he said before world leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) 2018 in the UK. 2. On Nigerians in prisons around the world We have an image problem abroad and we are on our way to salvage that. Some Nigerians claim is that life is too difficult back home, but they have also made it difficult for Europeans and Americans to accept them because of the number of Nigerians in prisons all over the world accused of drug trafficking or human trafficking. I dont think Nigerians have anybody to blame. They can remain at home, where their services are required to rebuild the country, he said during an interview with The Telegraph. 3. On the political interests of Niger Deltans When asked about the interest of the Niger Deltans and his plans to tackle amnesty, bunkering and inclusive development at the at the United States Institute of Peace, Buhari replied saying I hope you have a copy of the election results. The constituents, for example, gave me 97% [of the vote] cannot in all honesty be treated on some issues with constituencies that gave me 5%. I think these [is] political reality but the Delta residents interests will be protected. 4. On the relevance of his wifes political opinion President Buhari again stunned the world when in the presence of German Chancellor, Angela Merkel said: "I don't know which party my wife belongs to, but she belongs to my kitchen, my living room and the other room." Merkel, the most powerful woman in the world, stood beside the Nigerian president, glaring at him after he made the statement in front of an international audience. 5. On whether Nigerians are fantastically corrupt In 2016, during the Commonwealth anti-corruption summit in London, David Cameron referred to Nigeria as a fantastically corrupt country when having a chat with Queen Elizabeth II. Camerons comment created furore back home with Buharis aides attacking the former English PM and demanding an apology. However, when the Nigerian president was asked if he agreed with Camerons comments, he surprised attendees by replying Yes. Then he added, What do I need an apology for? I need something tangible, the return of assets smuggled into Britain as safe haven. Buhari is not a very hot person when it comes to foreign affairs - Obasanjo Meanwhile, ex-President Olusegun Obasanjo said in 2016 that President Buhari is not very hot when it comes to foreign policies or economic matters. Turkish warplanes harrased a helicopter carrying Greek Prime Minister Alexis Tsipras and the Chief of the Hellenic National Defence General Staff The helicopter was flying from the Greek islet of Ro to Rhodes, another Greek island in the Aegean Sea. The Turkish jets, which were flying at approximately 10,000 feet, contacted the pilot of the Greek helicopter and asked for flight details. The Hellenic Air Force (HAF) responded by sending its own jets, which caused the Turkish fighters to veer off and leave. Ro and Rhodes are two of the hundreds of islands in the Aegean Sea that are controlled by Greece, but they are geographically closer to the Turkish mainland than to Athens. Rhodes is just Here are seven Bible verses to help us deal with shame, guilt, and regret. 1. 1 John 1.9 If we confess our sins, he is faithful and just to forgive us our sins and to cleanse us from all unrighteousness. Confess whatever is making you feel shame, guilt, and regret. 2. Micah 7:19 he will have compassion upon us; he will subdue our iniquities, and thou wilt cast all their sins into the depths of the sea. Let them go because you have been forgiven. 3. Ephesians 5:2526 Christ loved the church and gave himself up for her to make her holy, cleansing her by the washing with water through the word. 4. Romans 8:1 There is now no condemnation for those who are in Christ Jesus. 5. John 14:1 Let not your hearts be troubled. Believe in God; believe also in me. 6. 1 Corinthians 15:34 Awake to righteousness and sin not; for some have not the knowledge of God: I speak this to your shame. 7. Isaiah 50:7 Because the Sovereign Lord helps me, I will not be disgraced. Therefore have I set my face like flint, and I know I will not be put to shame. Thus, in the late 70s the Federal Government established a new set of universities that'll produce graduates with practical and theoretical knowledge of technologies. And today, Nigeria has got a lot technical universities as state government and private individuals also join in establishing universities of technology. Here are 10 of such universities in the country and their latest ranking by Webometrics. 1. Federal University of Technology Minna The Federal University of Technology, FUTMINNA is a designated Centre of Excellence in Biotechnology and Genetic Engineering and has a core competence in the development of vaccines and drugs. The university was established in 1983, and the first Vice-Chancellor was Professor J.O. Ndagi who served from 1983 to 1990. FUTMINNA ranked 7th in the 2018 webometric rating on Nigerian universities. 2. Ladoke Akintola University of Technology Established in April 1990, Ladoke Akintola University, LAUTECH is reportedly the best state-owned university in Nigeria. The institution is jointly owned by Oyo and Osun state government. In the 2018 ranking of Nigerian universities by webometrics, LAUTECH occupies the 14th position. 3. Federal University of Technology, Owerri Located in Ihiagwa town, a 12-minute drive from Owerri, Federal University of Technology, Owerri has marked its place as one of the best institutions in the country. Established in 1980, FUTO, as the institution is popularly known, is the first tech university in the south-east and south-south parts of Nigeria. The university ranked 13th in the 2018 university ranking in January. 4. Federal University of Technology, Akure Founded in 1981 and located in the capital of Ondo state, Akure, Federal University of Technology, Akure, FUTA is one of the institutions established by the Federal Government to produce graduates with practical as well as theoretical knowledge of technologies. The institution runs a multi-campus system and it is the second best tech university in Nigeria according to webometrics. FUTA ranked 9th in the 2018 ranking of Nigerian universities. 5. Enugu State University of Science and Technology Founded as ASUTECH in July 1980, Enugu State University for Science and Technology was created to serve as a catalyst in the technological advancement of the people. The university nicknamed ESUT also run a multi-campus system and ranked 43rd in webometrics ranking. ALSO READ: 10 Nigerian universities that are not owned by religious institutions 6. Moddibo Adama University of Technology Located in Yola, the capital city of Adamawa State, Moddibo Adama University of Technology was founded with the sole purpose of advancing science-based research. The institution ranked 53rd in the 2018 raking of Nigerian Universities. 7. Ondo State University of Science and Technology Established in 2010, Ondo State University of Science and Technology is a state-owned university located in Okitipupa. The university ranked 81st in the latest webometrics ranking of Nigerian universities. 8. Bells University of Technology Bells University of Technology also known as Bellstech is the first private university of technology established in Nigeria. It was established in 2004. The University which is owned by former President of Nigeria, Chief Olusegun Obasanjo and it is situated in Ota Ogun state occupied the 126th position in 2018 webometric ranking. 9. Kano State University of Science and Technology Founded in 2001 as "Kano University of Technology" the school was renamed Kano State University of Science and Technology in 2005. KUST, located in Wudil ranked 86th in the ranking. 10. Cross River University of Technology Founded in August 2002, Cross River University of Technology, CRUTECH is a state-owned higher institution located in Calabar. The university was established after the merging of three higher institutions: The Polytechnic of Calabar, The College of Education and Ibrahim Babangida College of Agriculture. Fortune Chidiebere and Marvelous Ojumola, beneficiaries of the ReadySetWork 2017 internship programme, made the call in separate interviews with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Lagos. NAN reports that ReadySetWork is an employability and entrepreneurship programme initiated by the Office of the Special Adviser on Education to Gov. Akinwunmi Ambode of Lagos State. The programme is aimed at equipping students with employability and entrepreneurship skills needed after graduation. Chidiebere, who is currently running her internship programme at Meadow Hall School, Lekki, said the programme had broadened her knowledge and skills in the teaching profession. Teaching is more than preparing lesson notes and bombarding the children with your knowledge. During the training, we were taught how to make the classroom interesting and welcoming to the children as well as how to teach physically challenged students. There are many things required of a teacher other than imparting knowledge. We need proper communication skills, patience and the right attitude to work, Chidiebere said. She advised teachers to take training that aid self-development seriously in order to move with the growing trends in technology. On her part, Ojumola told NAN that the teachers training programme under the RSW had helped him become more confident as a teacher and an individual. Ive been imparted with emotional intelligence, social skills and communication skills which will help me relate with my colleagues at work and become a better teacher. I have also learnt to build my confidence as a teacher even when they try to look down on me as a teacher, Ojumola said. Egbewole, who is a professor of Jurisprudence and International Law, gave the advice on Thursday during a send-off party organised in honour of former staff members of the Faculty of Law of the university. It is not enough to be book-smart, students need to also be street-wise, he said. According to him, the department will invite successful alumni of the institution to talk to the students to motivate them toward greater success. Egbewole said the plan was underway to organise series of public lectures for students, especially for those in final year in preparation for life after their graduation. The professor said the effort was part of the institutions mandate to enable the students to know what it takes to be successful in a society like Nigeria and must learn how to survive in an environment as harsh as this. While appreciating the retirees for their selfless service to the university at large, the director described Mr Raifu Babatunde Opoola, who retired as a Senior Secretarial Assistant I, as the encyclopaedia of the unit because he started his journey in the university in 1978. Egbewole said that Mr Lamidi Aliu, who retired as a driver, had been very reliable and useful to the unit, adding that since he joined the university in 1992, the retiree had served seven directors in the unit. North and South Korea have agreed to provide some live coverage of the inter-Korean summit next week, Cheong Wa Dae said Wednesday. A Cheong Wa Dae spokesman said the two sides "agreed to let the world know via live coverage the main itinerary and events of the historic North-South summit starting with the handshake between the two leaders." He said the "broad framework" of the summit has now been agreed, but additional negotiations are needed about protocol, security and media coverage. South Korea proposed the live coverage in the first meeting of working-level officials on April 5, and North Korea agreed in the latest round of meetings. Kim Jong-un will become the first North Korean leader to set foot on South Korean soil on live TV when he arrives on the southern side of the truce village of Panmunjom. A Cheong Wa Dae official declined to say whether Kim will cross the military demarcation line by car or on foot. He said it is "too early to say" whether he will be accompanied by his wife Ri Sol-ju. The summit will start at 10 a.m. and last until the afternoon. President Muhammadu Buhari had on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, criticised the attitude of Nigerian youths, saying they were lazy and want to get everything free at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London. Reacting to the statement, the President of the National Association of Nigerian Students, Aruna Kadiri, said that the youth are not lazy, but failed by their leaders. He said, the President may have forgotten that the challenges facing the youth are the creations of Nigerian leaders whose objective is to keep the countrys youth in perpetual servitude. Provide the youth with enabling environment, and they would perform wonders. ''This is evidenced by the success stories of many young Nigerians who have escaped the many inanities of this country and were provided with the good atmosphere outside the country. Fawole warned the students during the 2017/2018 matriculation ceremony saying the institution would not compromise its hard-earned impressive image for damaging misconduct from any student. He said, female students are not allowed to wear skimpy dresses that will expose their thighs or blouses that will expose their breasts or other sensitive parts of their bodies. The institution also disallows male students from putting on suggestive dresses or wearing of earrings and weaving of hair. ALSO READ: UK Govt announces new scholarship scheme for Nigerian students Recall that in March 2015, the Rector issued same warning to polytechnic students saying the school management would expel students who wear clothes that expose their sensitive body parts. Fawole added any form of misconduct by the students will not be tolerated, harping on indecent dressing. 7,961 students admitted out of 15,768 that applied While congratulating the new students for gaining admission into the institution, Fawole said only a few of them were admitted out of the over 15,768 applicants who made the polytechnic either their first or second choice and the 7,961 candidates who sought admission into the Higher National Diploma programme of the institution. The award-winning author made this known during an address at the just concluded Stockholm Forum for Gender Equality. Adichie shocked everyone at the forum when she revealed that she went to a "Big man in media" house after she wrote a book of poems who she thought would help her promote the book. She went to reveal how within a minute, the said man slipped his hands down her clothes and then moved on to her bra and squeezed her boobs. "I was so shocked that I did nothing for seconds but then, I pushed his hand away, gently, nicely, because I didnt want to offend him. Later that day, I broke out in a rash on my face, neck, and chest, as though my body was recoiling, as though my body was saying what my lips had not said, she revealed. Women getting harassed and sexually molested isn't a new thing in our society which is bad but the fact that these women are coming out to speak about it is encouraging and might help reduce the scourge. We can all recall that back in February 2018, Nollywood actress, Steph Nora Okekerevealed that she was sexually assaulted by a famous movie producer. The actress said this during an interview with Broadway TV. According to the actress, she tried not to talk about the experience for years because her family had asked her not to. According to the actress, her experience spurred her into starting an NGO that supports women, children and the needy in the society. The Media entrepreneur advised women to never speak to a man the way Cee-C spoke to Tobi during their fight. According to Ikeji, such outburst is almost a sin. She added that her advice is for both men and women. Between Cee-C and Tobi It was a dramatic morning in the Big Brother Naija house when an angry Cee-C stomped around the House, hurling insults at Tobi. Tobi was getting Task-ready with Miracle and Alex when Cee-C started. He was silent for most of the drama, but eventually, he gave her one-line responses like "okay." Cee-C called him names like: useless, miserable fool, a man who cant stand on his own, gossip, mumu, ode, oloshi and more. Other celebrities react to Cee-C's outburst Other reactions to the incident The defendants, Alex Atiporu,30, an electrician, and Emmanuel Akinseye, 35, an estate agent, are facing a three-count charge of conspiracy, obtaining by false pretences and stealing. The prosecutor, Insp. Raji Akeem, told the court that the offences were committed in April 2017, at No.17, Eniola Akinsanya St., Mafoluku Oshodi, Lagos. Akeem said that the complainant, one Mrs Rose Obasi, was introduced to Akinseye (first accused) by Atiporu (second accused). The first accused told the complainant that the second accused would help her secure a three bedroom apartment. The accused persons took the complainant to the apartment for inspection and she indicated interest. A week after, she paid N650, 000 into the second accused person account, but after the payment both accused persons disappeared. When the complainant got to the apartment, she was told that another person has secured the place, he said. The prosecutor said that the case was reported at the police station and the accused persons were placed on the wanted list. The police got an information about the accused persons whereabouts and they were tracked and arrested, he said. The offences contravened Sections 287, 314 and 411 of the Criminal Law of Lagos State, 2015. The accused persons, however, pleaded not guilty to the charges. The Chief Magistrate, Mrs Jadesola Adeyemi-Ajayi, granted the accused persons bail in the sum of N50, 000 each with two sureties each in like sum. The New Telegraph reported that the latter inserted sticks in the teenager's private part as a measure to correct her. Bartholomew, who is a seamstress in Onitsha, Anambra State, reportedly adopted the little girl when she was 8 years old. Her abusive nature has prompted an intervention from the Ebonyi State Ministry of Women Affairs and Social Development. Godwin Igwe, the head of the Child Development department of the governmental organisation spoke to journalist on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, according to a New Telegraph report. The child has been undergoing medical examination by team of expert gynaecologists, a team of orthopaedic doctors, a team of expert opmologists because of serious harm inflicted on her reproductive system, her hand, her ear, her teeth all over. Last week, her medical examination was concluded and the hospital management said the report will be released to the police as soon as it is demanded," Igwe mentioned while addressing newsmen. He alleged in a New Telegraph, the police's refusal to arraign Mrs. Nkechi Bartholomew for her treatment of a young Faith Nwanja. ALSO READ: Man uses magical ring to have sex with little maid until she got pregnant Father beats children for making him angry Alex Okafor of the National Health Insurance Scheme, Abuja, has been accused of beating his kids, 3 in number, with an electric wire after they got him angry. He was apprehended by representatives of The National Agency for the Prohibition of Trafficking in Persons (NAPTIP), who arraigned him under the Violence Against Persons (Prohibition) Act of the year 2015. A picture circulating online media revealed the body of a child blighted with nasty bruises. The suspect who is 40 years old pleaded not guilty to charges levelled against him at the High Court of the Federal Capital Territory, Number 28 located in Apo. The judge, Mohammed Marafa, however, gave Yahaya an option of N20,000 fine and warned him to desist from committing crime. He also ordered Yahaya to pay N19,000 compensation to Safiyanu, failing which, he would serve additional three months in prison. Yahaya of Phase 3, Kubwa, Abuja, was convicted and sentenced for causing grievous hurt. The prosecutor, Babajide Olanipekun, had told the court that Safiyanu of Kubwa, Abuja reported he matter at the Kubwa Police Station on April 10. He said Yahaya acted in a violent manner and stabbed Safiyanu on the back without any provocation, causing him deep cuts. Olanipekun said Safiyanu was taken to Kubwa General Hospital and he spent N19,000 for treatment. The prosecutor said the offence contravened Section 247 of the Penal Code. The judge, Alhaji Abubakar Sadiq, however, gave the convict N 5,000 option of fine. Danfulani, of Jabi Motor Park, Abuja, was convicted on a count charge of possession of stolen item. The convict pleaded guilty to the offence, and begged the court for leniency. Earlier, the prosecutor, Zannan Dalhatu, had told the court that Danfulani was arrested by a police patrol team, led by Insp. Abu Muhammed, in Utako Abuja, on April 14. On the same date, Danfulani was arrested in possession of iron rods. During police investigation, he confessed to the crime of being in possession of stolen item, Dalhatu said. This is following an appeal she made at the Idi-Ogungun Customary Court, Agodi, located in the south-western state. She told the court in a Punch News report about how she lost her senses after visiting husband, Lukman Adegoke, as a friend in the year 2000. The woman, who bore six children in the 'union' reportedly lost four to death. Sometime in year 2000, I followed Adegoke to his house as a friend, but I lost my senses a few minutes after I entered his room and I could not leave the place again. "I was in the house for three years before I returned to my parents. But I was restless for two days in my parents house, so I went back to him and I remained under a love spell until recently, when I regained my senses and discovered that I married a wrong person. I gave birth to six children but only two of them are alive; one of the children is under my custody while the other one is with him, Mariam told the court in a Punch News report. Convinced by her plea for a divorce, presiding judge, Chief Mukaila Balogun, granted the couple freedom from her husband. He also ordered that the two surviving kids be even shared between the divorcees. ALSO READ: Wealth seeker gets Alfa to sleep with wife for money making ritual Welder refuses to give cure to woman reportedly hit with charm In Ogun State, a welder described as Bidemi Akande, has refused to administer an antidote to a woman Shakirat Fatusi, who was reportedly hit with charm. The event is an aftermath of an altercation with the victim who eventually died due to a failure to receive proper medical attention. It all started following Fatusi's visit to the shop of her assaulter's wife, located in Ogba Ayo, Sango, Punch News reports. In a statement, Bashirat, the daughter of the deceased confirmed that her mother was killed by a charm Akande used on her. She referred to comments offered by a traditional medicine man who insisted that the victim was attacked with 'juju'. Not much action could be taken after the discovery following the suspect's refusal to provide an antidote. My mum wanted to buy pepper soup from Iya Tolani (Akandes wife). While she was waiting, she and Baba Tolani (Akande) started exchanging words. "He came to report her to my father, but he was not around. He then reported her to Iya Idris, my fathers sister, and went back to shop. By the time I got there to see what was happening, my mother was lying on the ground. He fled, but people caught him. "I demanded that she should be taken to a hospital, but he said there was no need for that. He said she would be fine in the next 24 hours. We brought her home, but there was no improvement. We rushed her to Tofunmi Hospital in the morning. A test was conducted on her and the doctor said her sugar level had risen. "She was referred to another hospital, from where we went to Ota General Hospital. Immediately we got there, a doctor referred us to a hospital in Abeokuta. Somebody directed us to Dr. D. John Trado-medical Centre in the Gasline area. She died at the centre. The man said a charm was used to hit her. "We called Baba Tolani to give her the antidote, but he refused, Basirat told Punch News. Her father, Segun Fatusi, made a similar observation while interacting with reporters but the suspect described rumours alleging that he hit the deceased with charm as false. According to Baba Tolani, Shakirat launched an assault on him while he was having a conversation with a customer at his wife's shop. After I returned home from work that day, I went to my wifes shop to eat. On getting there, I met an elderly man, Ajabale, doing the dishes for my wife. One woman that was with us jokingly said, Baba Tolani, Ajabale is your wifes husband. "In response, I prayed that God should not turn our destiny into a mess. I didnt know that Olopa was at my back. She said I was referring to her and slapped me. I went to report her to her husband, but he was not around. I reported her to a neighbour and he promised to settle the matter the following day. I went back to my wifes shop so that we could go home together. As we wanted to leave, she descended on me again and started hitting me. She tore my clothes. People came out to separate us. She came back and gripped my clothes. I pushed her and she slumped. A mob beat me up. I was at work the next day when my wife called me that Olopa had been rushed to a hospital. I told her to borrow me some money to take her to the hospital. I didnt use any charm on her," the welder Akande told Punch. ASP Abimbola Oyeyemi, a spokesperson for the Ogun State Police Command revealed that the matter has been transferred to the State Criminal Investigations and Intelligence Department in Eleweran. Speaking at a gathering of world leaders at the Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, the President who enjoyed foreign education on the governments tab and spent his entire career on Nigerias payroll,said of young people in the country that elected him into office, About the economy, we have a very young population, our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. This is a very conservative one, Buhari said in a video transcript shared on social media on Wednesday. More than 60% of the population is below 30, a lot of them havent been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education free, he added. As one would expect, the range of reactions has been wide. Most young Nigerians are displeased, nay, angry at the statement and it is easy to see why. The gap between Nigerias youth and the older generation, particularly those in the seat of federal power, is as wide as the countrys problems. After witnessing monumental shifts in the nature and direction of Nigerias course over the years, they see todays youth as a bunch obsessed with social media. Where the rest of the world sees a nation of youth pushing boundaries in less than ideal conditions, they see a batch which would rather speak or garner attention with their voices and mastery of todays technology than actually work. Which is the only plausible explanation for the rules and levies that have made drones and solar panels less accessible than they should be. It is a bit of a farce, when you think about it because the reason why young Nigerians are perceived as troublesome and demanding is that even before most of us youth were born, President Buharis generation made it clear that we did not matter in their grand scheme of things. At the time of Nigerias independence, President Buhari was just on his way out of Katsina Provincial Secondary School (now Government College Katsina). 1960 was an optimistic year. Nigeria was quite literally a land flowing with milk and honey. It was the giant jewel and lion of Africa, a nation rich in resources that the rest of the world looked on to with optimism and envy. A story too familiar There was arguably no better time to be a Nigerian. The countrys economy and institutions were at their strongest; students could get jobs straight out of secondary school or take advantage of strong infrastructure and start businesses of their own. Buhari was one of those who benefited from the good of these times; in the years after independence, he enrolled in what is now the Nigerian Defence Academy. In the space of three years, he enrolled in the Mons Officer Cadet School in Aldershot, England, and later, Army Mechanical Transport School in Borden, United Kingdom. Both study trips, as well as the future Presidents upkeep, were covered by the Nigerian government, common at a time when it sent cadets who had completed their preliminary training at the Nigerian Military Training College, as the NDA was then called, to mostly Commonwealth military academies. There is no such practice now. In the decades that followed, Nigeria went from the continents crown jewel to a byword for mismanagement and sycophancy. The story is all too familiar. Over the course of successive military and civilian governments, a generation of Nigerians, particularly the political elite, raped Nigeria of its commonwealth. References abound. Generaal Ibrahim Babangida's regime is seen as the cabal that legalised corruption. The Gulf War windfall, estimated at over 12 billion dollars, remains unaccounted for. IBB created a fiefdom, running an elaborate personal show with enough ruses and smokescreens to hold on to power. Then there's Buhari himself. Nigeria is a free market economy and has been for a while. But somehow, Buhari's socialist ideals have been like one of a leopard's spot. His blatant disregard for law led to the Umar Dikko affair, an international shitshow that the country did not need. Just over a decade after Gowon's nationalisation and the first installments of petro-dollars flooded the economy, Nigerians, having just blamed Ghanaians for basically everything, were being flogged to stay in line in a collapsing economy. For years, the countrys infrastructure has been left to decay. Universities became, and are still, hubs for campus cults and horny old men. Hospitals stopped getting funded, and doctors fled the country. Budget allocations were carted away in Bagco bags and Swiss accounts. When then-British Prime Minister David Cameron said Nigeria was a fantastically corrupt country, we found it hard to argue with a reputation that had been earned on our behalf. The culture of misappropriation has become so bad that Nigerians learned to expect their leaders to rob the treasury, a fair estimation considering how leaders like Babangida single-handedly eliminated the middle class and made the naira nearly worthless. Within that space of time, we became nearly impotent in every field of endeavour. The country was crippled to a point where the average Nigerian learned that getting by was all he could hope for. The oil wealth which we stumbled on in the 1970s was meant to be our salvation. But then, even as it is till now, that wealth was squeezed into the hands of a few who have used it to enrich families, lineages, cabals and collectives. What is oil money? Oil money is a story we read in books and watched in the news, and some were unlucky enough to see in the air and their water, but we have little beyond crime-ridden cities, soot and lawsuits to show for. Sitting here in 2018, what the generation before us has left is a barely functional country, one where rules and laws only work depending on how much power an individual commands. Nigeria in 2018 is a country with no middle class, no jobs, an infrastructure deficit, weak borders, an insurgency, weak educational systems, crippled infrastructure, a worthless naira and a bad reputation. It is a far cry from the country Buharis generation grew up in and took advantage of. Yet, despite the odds stacked against them, Nigerias youth are not lazy, far from it. Instead, young Nigerians, both home and abroad, are defying the odds and the handicaps theyre born with and into to do exploits, break boundaries and set new benchmarks. For every young boy on the streets of Agege, addicted to drugs for escapism because he cant find work, theres an Iyin Aboyeji in his 20s building networks, creating jobs and adding value. It is what we're getting for a 'Nigerian dream". That those who make it here, do so in spite of the circumstances, not because of them. It is why, in reaction to President Buharis ill-advised statement, youth all over Nigeria are posting receipts to show why they are not lazy. These tweets refer to Nigerias burgeoning tech space which has attracted attention from the worlds biggest companies. They refer to the music scene, one which has flourished in international proportions without the governments help. They refer to the stories of millions of young Nigerians making the best of the little theyve been given It is proof that our Presidents latest embarrassment is more an indictment of himself, his lack of context and emotional intelligence, a rare form of short-nearsightedness that predisposes him to blaming anyone except himself for the problems that should be too obvious to misinterpret. President Buhari needs to get his facts right, and Im not referring to the allegation that 60% of the population is under 30. When people speak of Nigerias promise and potential nowadays, it is not about oil or cocoa, it is a reference to the booming human capital, the boundless talent, versatility and tenacity shown by young Nigerians in various fields of endeavour. Many have posited and with good reason that, if we are not careful, Nigerias biggest tragedy will be that it cannot make anything of its biggest resource: young people. Its easy to see why. The stark reality that Buharis statement at Westminster makes clear is that the person most likely to run Nigeria for the next 5 years has no belief in the countrys greatest resource. If thats not troubling enough, I have no idea what is. CIA director Mike Pompeo met secretly with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un in early April, U.S. officials said Tuesday. That may explain why Kim was shilly-shallying about whether to attend a concert by South Korean musicians in Pyongyang on April 1, when Pompeo was in town. Pompeo was in North Korea on March 31 and April 1, arriving aboard his official plane via Osan air base in South Korea. He brought only CIA agents with him, unaccompanied by White House nor State Department officials. It was the first high-level meeting between the U.S. and North Korea in 18 years. The last time was when then-Secretary of State Madeleine Albright visited Pyongyang in 2000. On March 8, Trump accepted a North Korean proposal to hold a summit, and five days later he fired Secretary of State Rex Tillerson and nominated Pompeo in his place. Soon Pompeo was on his way to North Korea. The U.S. wants to know how sincere Kim's willingness is to dismantle his nuclear program. The transfer of power from the miliitary to a civilian government in 1999 may go down as one of the most instrumental transitions in Nigerian history. Along with an ex-president, many Nigerians from all over the country, literally, got access to power. Dr. Chuba Wilbeforce Okadigbo was one of them. Representing Anambra (where his fellow indigenes of Oyi called him "the Oyi of Oyi), Okadigbo had first served as Political Adviser to President Shehu Shagari in the Second Republic. This time though, he came for higher honours. The generation of Nigerian politicians bore one key similarity to the pre-independence batch in that many of them had strong resumes in business, finance, public service, or education like Okadigbo, a scholar of Philosophy and Politics. Chuba was an intellectual before we found a use for the word. In his previous forays into the political space, he had shown a grasp of context and a verbosity that was more insightful than spectacular. He was tipped to be Senate President, despite trouble with his party, the ruling People's Democratic Party. It was a position which he eventually occupied after Evan Enwerem was impeached for corrupt practices. Okadigbo wanted the position from the get-go, he had made that bit clear by visiting a majority of the potential big-wigs among the Senators-elect briefly before they constituted the Fourth Senate in 1999. What many did not foresee was a high-handedness that created a near dictatorship in a room full of big egos and ambitious moneybags. Okadigbo quickly lost control of the Senate, but that problem was merely an offshoot of the bigger challenge: his issues with the Executive. A row had been simmering behind the scenes between Okadigbo in the leadership of the Senate and one man he seemed to never empathise with, President Olusegun Obasanjo. Things became more serious on May 29, when the Senate, under Okadigbo's direction failed to acknowledge the celebration of the anniversary of the return to civilian rule. What we have come to know as Democracy Day. Two days later, on May 31st 2000, Okadigbo adjourned the Senate till July. Nigerians all over the country were stunned two days later by one of the most audacious farces in Nigerian political history, reports that Chuba Okadigbo had absconded with the mace to his hometown of Ogbunnike in Anambra State. Power Struggles Not much is known for a fact about those few days; but interviews after the fact and the accounts of some senators close to the epicenter of the drama has filled in a few blanks. Senate President Chuba Okadigbo is said to have gotten wind of an impeachment plot against him by the Obasanjo-led Federal Government in those weeks. In an attempt to withhold whatever was in the works and prevent his impeachment, Okadigbo took the mace from the Senate chambers, assuring his supporters in the Senate that he had kept it in a secure place in the company of pythons, it is claimed. On Friday, June 2, 2000, policemen acting under the directive of the Inspector General of Police visited the Senate President's private residence to retrieve the mace from his possession. Eyewitness would tell the BBC that the policemen harassed the Okadigbo family, as well as others who were present in the house at the time. "The police arrived at 5.55 a.m. (0455 GMT) in six jeeps fully loaded with armed officers," he said to members of the Press later that day. "They told me they had come to collect the mace and that they were acting on orders from the Inspector General of Police," Mr Okadigbo explained. "I said I would never give them the mace. I have to be dead before you get the mace, I told them," he declared. Perhaps because the importance of these spectacles have become lost on us, or that the events occurred so frequently that the news cycle struggled to keep up, not much, save for hearsay, has been documented about the events at the end of May 2000 to June 22. One of those who was involved in the power tussle between both arms of government at the time, ex-Senator JosephWaku. In that case (2000), there was no breakage. We took it, it was not stolen. It was during our vacation. We were on vacation, he said. It was during President Olusegun Obasanjo's time and it was during a crisis." There was a plan to remove Okadigbo and we got wind of it and adjourned and took the mace. But the then Deputy Senate President, Haruna Abubakar, attempted to reconvene the Senate. They went and arranged for a fake mace but we intercepted it. Haruna wanted to preside as acting senate president. Mr Waku would not disclose where Mr Okadigbo took the mace to. He prefers to do so in a book he is working on. He however said the late senate president did not take the mace away from Abuja to his village, Ogbunike, in Anambra State as claimed. "We knew the mace had not crossed Nyanya (a satellite town in the federal capital territory)., he said. There are no concrete reports of how the mace was retrieved, save that Okadigbo released possession of it to the Senate. Paying for their wrongs Context aside, taking the Senate mace, one of the nation's most revered symbols of political authority, is a big deal, and the response should carry some weight, a major deterrent to such acts of insolence. It is a conversation that has already begun over the recent snatching of the mace, even though Senator Ovie Omo Agege denies any association with the thugs who stormed the Senate Chambers on Wednesday. In 2000, Okadigbo got the other half of his cake, and it was almost tasteless. Few weeks after the melee, allegations of corruption began making the rounds in the Snate. In response, the body constituted a panel led by Senator Idris Kuta to investigate alleged wrongful award of 44 contracts. The panel returned a harrowing verdict against Okadigbo. It was clear what was happening and what had to follow, and this time, there was little he could do. His deputy, Senator Abubakar Haruna resigned, to put some distance between himself and the scandal. An ancillary intention was that it would pressure Okadigbo into resignation but it didn't. On the night of August 8, 2000, Okadigbo was voted out during a session presided over by the John Azuta Mbata acting as President Pro Tempore during deliberations on the report of the Kuta panel. Never one to back down from a fight, Okadigbo would continue his tussle with Obasanjo, and later the entire People's Democratic Party. He joined forces with Muhammadu Buhari, running as his mate in the 2003 elections under the aegis of the All Nigeria People's Party. They lost by a landslide. Over the years, Nigeria's government has been mired in one scandal after the other, where elected officials berated or trivialised symbols of government power or worse still, the people themselves. 18 years apart, both incidents are unnerving reminders of just what lies behind the term "Senate", the personalities and power struggles that have disparaged our government, the people and the country as a whole. It was gathered that the armed gang raided a First Bank branch in Ifaki Ekiti on Thursday, April 19. Details are still scanty but reports said there may be more casualties in the incident. This is coming 14 days after at least 30 armed robbers attacked six commercial banks in Offa, Kwara state, killing at least 17 people. The affected financial institutions are; Union Bank, Eco Bank, Guarantee Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank. The assailant also opened fire on the Owode Police station in the town leaving scores of officer dead. Welcome to the Pulse Community! We will now be sending you a daily newsletter on news, entertainment and more. Also join us across all of our other channels - we love to be connected! The Epic Show is a three-day event running from Friday 25 May to Sunday 27 May 2018, at The Balmoral Convention Center, Federal Palace Hotel, Lagos. Asides the runway show, exhibitions and conference;the. The essence of the awards is to celebrate those who have made a mark in the fashion industry. From time immemorial a lot of people have changed the African fashion industry in many ways and the impact they make or have made have not been well recognised or appreciated. At Fashions Finest Africa we want this to change and this is why we have decided to debut the Fashions Finest Africa Awards. There are 22 categories and 6 of the categories are open for people to cast their votes for who they think best fits while the remaining 16 categories would be properly vetted by our carefully selected judges whom have been selected based on their exploits in their chosen fields and they would choose the final winners. The fashion extravaganza will kick off on Friday Morning with a Fashion conference where those who matter in the fashion industry and government will take on panel sessions, then later in the evening the prestigious Fashions Finest Awards will take place. We will also play hosts to Exhibitors and our marketplace vendors giving the opportunity to fashion lovers to shop till you drop. The fashion show will continue Saturday and Sunday featuring Student designers, New and Emerging designers and established designers out of Africa. How to Vote Log on to www.fashionsfinestafrica.com/voting for who you think best fits. VOTING CATEGORIES Male Model of the year Female model of the year Fashion Retail store of the year Fashion Icon of the year Fashion Blogger of the year Fashion Influencer of the year CATEGORIES THAT WOULD BE JUDGED BY FFA AWARDS PANEL Designer of the year Emerging Designer of the Year Menswear Designer of the Year Womens Wear Designer of the Year Young Designer of the Year Makeup Artist of the Year Stylist of the Year Fashion Show of the Year Outstanding Contribution to Nigerian Fashion Award Accessories Designer of the Year Creative of the Year Shoe Designer of the Year Bag Designer of the Year Fashion Photographer of the Year Fashion Magazine of the Year The abductors killed a police sergeant who was protecting the engineer who is a staff of Dantata and Sawoe construction company. Cremza's abduction is an unfortunate addition to the trend of criminal gangs kidnapping foreigners in Nigeria usually to use them to make ransom demands. Here are some of the most high-profile abductions of foreigners in the country over the past six months: 1. 2 Canadians and 2 Americans While traveling to Abuja from Kafanchan, Jema'a local government area of Kaduna state in January 2018, two Canadians and two Americans were abducted in Kagarko local government area of the state. Two police officers were killed in the course of the abduction. The abducted foreigners were identified as Nate Vangeest, John Kirlin, Rachael Kelley and Dean Slocum. According to an official police statement, "The kidnappers laid ambush for them and engaged the escorts in gun duel which led to the death of two policemen while the four foreigners were whisked to unknown destination." Days later, the victims were rescued by police officers in an operation that also resulted in the arrest of two abductors. A week later, the alleged mastermind of the abduction, Ya'u Ahmadu, also known as Dogo Russia, was arrested by operatives of the Inspector General of Police Special Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on Wednesday, January 25, 2018. Spokesperson of the Kaduna State Police Command, Mukhtar Aliyu, said no ransom was paid to the kidnappers. 2. 4 British hostages While working with a Christian medical charity providing free health treatment in the Burutu area of Delta state, four British citizens were kidnapped on October 13. After nearly a month in captivity, one of the hostages, Ian Squire, was killed while the others namely Alanna Carson, David Donovan and Squire's wife, Shirley, were freed after negotiations with authorities. All the freed hostages returned home immediately. 3. Maurizio Pallu Just days before the British citizens were kidnapped in October 2017, an Italian priest of the Catholic Church, Maurizio Pallu, was abducted in broad daylight by armed men just outside of Benin City. The 63-year-old priest was travelling to Benin City for a church meeting in the company of four members of his community in Kaduna when they were attacked and robbed by armed men who abducted Pallu and two others: a young man employed by the parish and a female student, both Nigerians. At the time of his abduction, he had been stationed in Nigeria for three years. He was set free six days after his abduction. After his release, the priest told the Italian website, Vatican Insider, that the abduction was his second time as he had also been kidnapped for a few hours in October 2016. He also said he was unaware of any payment made to the attackers and believes that "God softened the hearts of my kidnappers." 4. Thomas Arnold and Hendrick Gideon South Africans, Thomas Arnold and Hendrick Gideon, were working at a mining site in Maidaro village in Kaduna state when they were abducted on January 23, 2018. The victims were moved to Birnin Gwari forest before they were rescued by the Inspector-General of Police Intelligence Response Team (IRT) on January 27. Some suspects were arrested. 5. 4 Chinese nationals Four Chinese citizens were kidnapped by a gang of sea pirates while travelling through Ayeton Creek from Lagos to Ogooluayo community, Ilaje local government of Ondo state, in December 2017. The four victims were abducted on board a fishing trawler within the Lagos waters on December 14 and were later taken in a speedboat to Igbokoda in Ondo state. In a joint routine patrol on the waterways, the victims were rescued by the officers and men of the 32 Artillery Brigade of the Nigerian Army, Akure and the Nigerian Naval Forward Operating Base, Igbokoda, who intercepted the pirates. There was a gun battle between the suspects and security operatives but they eventually abandoned their boats and fled on foot through the creeks. The ruling followed an appeal filed by the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission (EFCC) against the judgment Justice Taiwo Taiwo of Federal High Court, Ado Ekiti division. The 2016 judgement Justice Taiwo had in 2016 set aside an order of a Federal High court in Lagos empowering the EFCC to freeze two Zenith Bank accounts of Fayose. The court had asked the anti-graft agency to immediately lift the freeze order on the two accounts of the governor, saying the Commission did not follow due process. The judgement was delivered by Justice Taiwo in a suit filed by Fayose through his lawyer, Mike Ozekhome. The judge said the EFCC infringed upon the rights of the governor. Justice Taiwo had declared that apart from the immunity which Fayose currently enjoys as a sitting governor under section 308 of the constitution, it was wrong for EFCC to freeze his two accounts in apparent perpetuity without first investigating him or making him a party. The judge also said Fayose is "a genuinely deprived person who rushed to the court to seek constitutional protection". "The plaintiff is entitled to be heard before his property or money can be seized; doing otherwise will amount to denying him fair hearing and constitutional rights," the judge had said. On Wednesday, April 18, 2018, hoodlums invaded the upper legislative chamber in the National Assembly complex, seized the mace of the chamber and fled in a black SUV. This theft was blamed on Senator Omo-Agege and he was arrested after plenary session yesterday. However, he was released hours later after answering questions over what he described as deliberate and unfair allegations from the leadership of the Senate. On Thursday, April 19, the lawmaker's lawyers approached the High Court to file for an interim injunction against further arrest or detention of the senator. According to a report by Premium Times, the team of lawyers, led by Aliyu Umar (SAN), prayed for the court's protection for the lawmaker pending determination of a fundamental human rights case brought against the respondents named as the Nigeria Police Force, the Department of State Security (DSS) and the Office of the Attorney General of the Federation. The respondents have been ordered to desist from arresting the senator as presiding judge, Ishaq Bello, granted the four-point prayers of the senator's lawyers. The case was adjourned to May 6. The mace was recovered by the police on Thursday, April 19, after it was found by a passer-by under the flyover before the City Gate in Abuja where the hoodlums abandoned it. Omo-Agege denies involvement in mace theft In reaction to the theft, a statement released by Senate Spokesperson, Senator Aliyu Abdullahi, named Senator Omo-Agege as the culprit. "Today, some hoodlums led by suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate plenary and seized the symbol of authority of the Upper Legislative Chamber, the mace. "This action is an act of treason, as it is an attempt to overthrow a branch of the Federal Government of Nigeria by force, and it must be treated as such," he said. After he was released late on Wednesday, Senator Omo-Agege denied that he was responsible for the theft of the mace. In a statement signed by a lawyer, Lucky Ajokperniovo, he said, "We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the Mace of the Senate. This weighty allegation is not true at all. "Following the said media reports on the Mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege. He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police. Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter." Omo-Agege's suspension On April 12, 2018, Senator Omo-Agege was suspended for 90 legislative days for his conduct in objecting to the electoral amendment bill which is seeking to reorganise the order of elections in the country. Omo-Agege, alongside nine other Senators, had staged a walkout after the Senate passed the bill. Following criticism that trailed his allegations that lawmakers were plotting against the president, he apologised to his colleagues. The lawmaker had also been in the Senate's firing line for his involvement with a group called "Parliamentary support group in Senate for President Muhammadu Buhari". When his case was referred to the Senate Committee on Ethics and Privileges, the lawmaker approached the Abuja division of the Federal High Court to challenge the investigation. The committee went ahead to recommend a 181-day suspension which was later reduced to 90 by the Senate President, Bukola Saraki. Speaking after an executive session of the Senate on Thursday, April 19, 2018, Ekweremadu described the invasion of the red chamber on Wednesday as an ugly drama, the brigandage and desecration of the National Assembly by those who hold themselves above the law and institutions of our land. He expressed concerns over the inability of several security agents at the National Assembly to apprehend the culprits. We swore to uphold the laws of Nigeria and the principles of rule of law, Ekweremadu said. It still beats the imagination of Nigerians and the civilised world that the attacker passed through several security checks and barriers of the National Assembly and gained access into this chamber and also escaped with the mace into the thin air despite the well-known fortified surroundings of this parliament. Therefore, we ruled that it will be a detour to the state of nature when life was lawless and brutish if what happened yesterday was allowed to go unpunished or to be swept under the carpet. It will never happen. Well get to the root of this matter, he added. NASS should have its own Police The Deputy Senate President blamed the incident on the centralized Policing system in Nigeria. This incident has also brought to the fore the case of many of us who has always made for the decentralised police system. Ordinarily, a big institution like the National Assembly should have its own police apart from the sergeant-at-arms. However, the security of this parliament is fully outside the control of the National Assembly. Instructively, the same gangsterism that was witnessed here yesterday has been recorded in various state houses of assemblies, he said. IGP, DSS boss summoned Ekweremadu also disclosed plans to invite the Inspector General of Police, Ibrahim Idris; and the Director General of the State Security Service, Lawal Daura, to explain efforts made towards arresting and punishing the invaders. We therefore call on the Inspector-General of Police and DG SSS to ensure that all those who plotted, aided, abated and executed this dastardly affront on our democracy and belittled Nigeria before the international community must be brought to book to serve as deterrence to others. We will be inviting them next week to brief us, he announced. Mace returned to NASS The stolen mace has, however, been returned to the National Assembly by the Police. Mr Aliyu Adole, Commander of the agency in Gombe, stated this in an interview with the News Agency of Nigeria (NAN) in Gombe on Thursday. He said the measure was necessary because last year, 14 persons were caught engaging in the practice and were presently serving various terms in prison. Adole said that eight of those arrested came from Kulani village of Balanga while the remaining six were from Shongom Local Government Area of the state. He advised farmers in the state to resist any temptation that would make them cultivate Cannabis Sativa (Indian hemp) during the 2018 faming season. Anybody caught engaging in the act will face the wrath of the law; my advice to people, especially those in the rural areas who are engaged in the act, is that they should stop. Chinese President Xi Jinping is expected to visit Pyongyang in June, reports said Wednesday. Beijing is moving fast for fear of being left out of the geopolitical game as North Korea and the U.S. are making preparations for a summit. North Korean leader Kim Jong-un invited Xi during a surprise visit to Beijing in late March. Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying only said Wednesday she had no detailed information to provide about a possible visit. But she did not deny the reports, adding that China and North Korea have "a tradition" of high-level mutual visits. The leaders of North Korea and China have studiously ignored each other over the past five years as North Korea angered Beijing with a series of nuclear and missile tests and China joined international sanctions against the regime. Pyongyang conducted its third nuclear test in February 2013, only a month ahead of Xi's inauguration. Enraged, Xi kept Kim's special envoy Choe Ryong-hae waiting for two days in May that year when he wanted to brief him on Pyongyang's nuclear program. Relations reached their nadir after the assassination of Kim's half-brother Jong-nam, who was under Chinese government protection, in Malaysia last year. Minister of Interior, retired Gen. Abdulrahman Dambazau, disclosed this when he briefed State House correspondents on the outcome of the meeting of the Federal Executive Council (FEC). The meeting was presided over Vice-President Yemi Osinbajo at the Council Chamber of the Presidential Villa, Abuja, on Wednesday. Dambazau revealed that the conference, which was initially planned for last February, was part of efforts by the ECOWAS and some other African countries towards finding permanent solutions to the persistent farmers-herdsmen clashes in Nigeria and beyond. This is why, for instance, we initiated the conference that is to come up between April 26 and 29 under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services, zeroing particularly on the protocol on the movement of trans-humans which was signed in 1978 but yet to be implemented. I had meetings with President ECOWAS Commission, the one that left, and we agreed to have this conference sometime last month. But because they were leaving and new set of management was coming in it was shifted to toward the end of this month. So, the whole idea is to look at this issue of movements across borders. So, this month, on April 26, God willing, we are going to have this conference and Mr President has graciously agreed to open the conference, he said He said the conference, which would also attract participants from the Central African Republic, Chad, Cameroon, Morocco and Mauritania would explore the relationship between the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement, the proliferation of small arms and light weapons, and trans-border criminal activities. The minister also alerted Nigerians on fake news alerts being circulated in the social media. Dambazau, who was particularly reacting to purported invasion of Abuja by members of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria (IMN), popularly known as Shiites, urged citizens to be mindful of such news. He assured that the nations security agencies were in full control of the situation. He said: Well, Iam not sure of where that alert is coming from. You know that these days, you have to be very mindful of these things in the social media. It is like I saw one yesterday saying that there is going to be nuclear attack in the United Kingdom and this was broadcast by the BBC, and it is fake. So, you have to be very very careful with that. But I want to reassure you that law and order exist within the society and the FCT minister is very aware and is on top of it because of what happened recently. The commissioner of police is aware and is part of it. About some people attacking or not, I think is something that we have to be cautious of where such information is coming from. If there is anything like that, you will get it from official sources. As at now, there is nothing like that because the police is handling that. You must have listened to the news last night and this morning, the commissioner of police FCT came out to speak and he assured all residents of FCT of security of lives and property. The minister also disclosed that the federal executive council approved N288million for the purchase of eight rapid intervention vehicles for the Federal Fire Service and fire-fighting equipment and 25 operational vehicles at N4.5billion. While speaking during an interview he posted on his Instagram account(@dinomelaye) on Thursday, April 19, 2018, the lawmaker representing Kogi West said Nigerians are to blame for the mess of bad leadership because they're not challenging it enough. Melaye further alleged that Nigerians who sell their votes to politicians during election periods deserve the sort of poor leadership they eventually get. He said, "Every nation deserve the type of leader they have, and if a local government chairman is not doing well, the citizens of that community should be held responsible. "The blame more is to the people because power actually belongs to the people. "When a particular leadership is not giving you satisfaction and not doing what is expected Nigerians must get out of their cocoon to challenge such authority. "People collect N500, N1000 on election day to vote a politician. That act of collecting the N500 and N1000 is greedy. You, the electorate, who monetised your conscience in electing your leaders are practicing greediocracy. "The politician who purchased the conscience of the people is greedy. "The means to getting power determines what you do in power. You cannot see a man who uses very crooked criminal means of getting to power becoming passionate about the people." A group of at least 30 armed robbers had attacked Union Bank, Eco Bank, Guaranty Trust Bank, First Bank, Zenith Bank and Ibolo Micro Finance Bank,as well as the Owode Police station and killed dozens on April 5, 2018. According to a report by The Punch, the proprietor of Xontec Hotel on Igosun Road in Offa, Kadir Surajudeen, has been charged to court alongside four members of his staff and four guests who stayed in the hotel at the time the robbers allegedly lodged in Xontec Hotel. The robbers allegedly stayed in the hotel before embarking on the operation where they went on a killing spree. The accused were all arraigned before a Magistrate's Court in Ilorin, the state capital, for failing to give police credible information on the gunmen. They were charged with two counts of criminal conspiracy and causing disappearance of evidence, including giving false information to screen an offender. The hotel staff charged along with Surajudeen are the accountant, receptionist, room keeper and clubhouse operator. According to the First Information Report, the accused were unable to help investigators with useful information that could assist investigation into the crime, offences that contravened sections 97 and 167 of the Penal Code Law. The report read, "On April 6, a team of operatives on investigation into the armed robbery attack extended their investigation based on intelligence gathering to the hotel on Igosun Road in Offa with a view to securing information that could assist discreet investigation into the crime. "The hotel staff could not, however, satisfactorily give account of questionable lodgers in their hotel prior to the robbery by their failure to maintain or keep proper official lodger register expected to be presented to the police and other law enforcement agencies on demand. "Others found in the hotel during the investigation failed to give credible information to the police operatives to assist in the investigation concerning their observation in the hotel within the period in question." The defence counsel, Joshua Ijaodola, asked the court to grant the accused persons bail, a motion that was not objected to by the prosecutor, David Wodi, who told the court that investigation into the case was ongoing. The Magistrate, M.B. Folorunso, granted the accused bail in the sum of N200,000 each with two sureties each in like sum and adjourned the case till May 3, 2018. ALSO READ: Watch footage of Offa bank robbery that claimed over 30 lives Many suspects arrested At least 19 suspects have been arrested in connection to the robbery incident which sparked outrage across the country. The opposition party said after the Buhari has finished "de-marketing his own generation, the president is set to destroy the future of younger Nigerians." In his keynote address at the Commonwealth Business Forum in London on Wednesday, April 18, 2018, Buhari had said that some Nigerian youths wait for the government to do everything for them because the country is oil-rich. "We have a very young population; our population is estimated conservatively to be 180 million. More than 60 per cent of the population is below the age of 30. A lot of them have not been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria has been an oil producing country, therefore they should sit and do nothing and get housing, healthcare and education free", the President had said. The statement has sparked outrage and backlash from the Nigerian youths who have been showing 'proof' of their hard work on Twitter with the hashtag #LazyNigerianYouths which is currently the number one trending topic on Nigerian Twitter. Joining the hundreds of Nigerians criticising Buhari for such comment, the PDP national publicity secretary, Kola Ologbondiyan, on Thursday, April 19, said Nigerian youths are the opposite of what the President described. He said the youths in the country are one of the most industrious sets of individuals across the world. He said, "Nigerians find it extremely shocking that Buhari could make such a false, derogatory and unpatriotic comment against our citizens at a time the nation was looking up to him to properly present our potentials to the global business community. "It is alarming that, at every international event, the president makes it a favourite past time to de-market, paint and denigrate our dear nation and her citizens in very negative light, an indication that he has stopped believing in Nigeria. "It is saddening that after de-marketing his own generation, the president is set to destroy the future of younger Nigerians. The presidents latest salvo is totally unacceptable and must be condemned by all right-thinking people to avoid further verbal assault against our country, particularly at international fora. "Here is a president, whose administration has in its three years of governance, contributed nothing towards providing opportunities for our youths and who has not initiated or implemented any development project or set up any industry to provide jobs for our aspiring youth. "Here is a president under whose watch factories and businesses have shut down resulting in over 24 million job losses, and under whom no meaningful foreign direct investment has been attracted to the country. "This is a president who daily watches Nigerian youths sweat on menial jobs under very strenuous conditions on the streets of Abuja, Jos, Lagos, Ibadan, Kano, Kaduna, Maiduguri, Bauchi, Calabar, Port Harcourt, Enugu, Onitsha and other major cities, yet he unsympathetically described them as lazy. "These are the same set of Nigerians who, upon being afforded the right opportunities in other countries of the world, are known to have excelled in various fields of endeavour." ALSO READ: Corruption will return automatically if PDP wins in 2019 - Amaechi The hoodlums came into the Senate in company of suspended Senator, Ovie Omo-Agege. The incident which led to a chaotic situation at the National Assembly disrupted activities in the upper chamber. The Inspector-General of Police, Ibrahim Idris, was given a 24-hour ultimatum by the Senate to find the missing mace. Soon after plenary, Senator Omo-Agege was arrested at the National Assembly. At the early hours of Thursday, April 19, 2018, the Police in a statement made available to by the deputy PRO, Aremu Adeniran, said was at the City Gate. The statement reads in full: Sequel to the invasion of the Senate Chambers of the National Assembly, Federal Republic of Nigeria on the 18th April, 2018 by some suspected thugs who disrupted the Senate plenary session and carted away the Mace of the Red Chambers, the Inspector General of Police, IGP Ibrahim K. Idris NPM, mni, immediately instituted a high-powered Police Investigation and Intelligence Team coordinated by the IGP Monitoring Unit of the Force and further directed a total lock-down of the Federal Capital Territory with intense surveillance patrol and thorough Stop and Search Operations at various Police check-points with a view to arresting perpetrators and possible recovery of the stolen Mace. The Police teams engaged in massive raids of identified criminal spots/flashpoints, stop and search operations, visibility and confidence building patrols, intelligence gathering which forced the suspected miscreants to abandon the Mace at a point under the flyover before the City Gate, where a patriotic passer-by saw it and alerted the Police. While a discreet investigation into the incident is still ongoing to arrest and bring the perpetrators to justice, the Nigeria Police Force appreciates the spirited members of the public, most especially motorists within Abuja Metropolis for their support, cooperation and timely information during the rigorous stop and search operations for the recovery of the Mace. The renewed commitment of the Nigeria Police Force to guarantee protection of Lives and Property, Peace and Stability and sustain democracy in the country remains unequivocal and unwavering. Omo-Agege released Senator Omo-Agege, the lawmaker accused of invading the Senate with thugs was released by the Police. According to a report by TheCable, the protesters are requesting for the release of Nnamdi Kanu, the leader of the Indigenous People of Biafra (IPOB), who has been missing since September 14, 2017. IPOB has always maintained that Kanu was abducted by troops of the Nigerian Army for his fight for the realisation of an independent Biafran Republic. The scene of the protest is hundreds of metres away from Buckingham Palace where the president is meeting British Prime minister, Theresa May, and other heads of state in the Commonwealth. Kanu's disappearance Nnamdi Kanu has not been seen in public since an alleged attack on his father's compound by soldiers on September 14, and has missed a few court appearances since then. His parents, HRH Eze Israel Kanu and Lolo Sally, have also been missing since then. His counsel, Ifeanyi Ejiofor, stands by his claim that he's in custody of the military while the government has always maintained that Kanu has gone into hiding to avoid prosecution with other rumours circulating that he might have even escaped to the United Kingdom. He was arrested by the Department of State Security (DSS) in 2015 and spent two years in custody until he was granted bail on health grounds in April 2017. Boko Haram's tactics - from improvised explosive devices to hiding within the local population -- necessitate a shift away from conventional strategies, said Lieutenant-Colonel Sean McClure, the US defence attache in Abuja. "We haven't necessarily seen that kind of adaptation cycle," he told AFP. "They're trying to figure out how to do this. "How they think in terms of combat, in my opinion, is still thinking of things as conventional warfare." As the United States steps up its military presence in Africa, it hopes to share lessons learned in the Middle East with Nigeria and other countries in the Sahel fighting extremist groups. The Sahel region is host to a string of Islamist groups including Al-Qaeda in the Islamic Maghreb (AQIM) in Mali and Boko Haram in Nigeria and the wider Lake Chad area. Nigeria, Africa's most populous country with more than 180 million people, has been fighting Boko Haram since 2009 and has repeatedly claimed to have defeated the group. Nigeria's Chief of Army Staff, Lieutenant-General Tukur Buratai, declared on Tuesday there was "no doubt Boko Haram terrorists have been defeated, they don't have the capacity". But persistent attacks against soldiers and civilians, including a brazen new kidnapping of over 100 schoolgirls from the northeastern town of Dapchi on February 19, suggest otherwise. Meanwhile, the emergence of an IS-allied faction of Boko Haram, whose strategy is to provide an alternative government for people living in the impoverished region, poses a new threat. "It starts to become a very wicked problem," McClure said. 'Acrimony' At a military demonstration in Gwagwalada, a town on the outskirts of Abuja, Nigerian special forces performed a battle drill in front of Africa's senior commanders. Soldiers rappelled from helicopters as the midday sun blazed over the savannah, then the infantry moved in to liberate mock hostages from a compound. But with Borno state, the centre of the Boko Haram conflict nearly twice the size of Belgium, Nigeria cannot rely on soldiers alone. It also needs the support of the local population. Buratai told the summit that winning the hearts and minds of people in the northeast has been a "big challenge". Human intelligence has long been seen as vital to winning the war. But rights groups have accused Nigeria's military of killing, torturing and arbitrarily arresting thousands of civilians on suspicion of being Boko Haram members or sympathisers. That has stoked tensions in a region already wary of the government and made people in hard-to-reach rural areas particularly reluctant to cooperate with the authorities. "People thought the military action was aggressive to them, so this brought acrimony," admitted Buratai but he added: "We have done a lot since then and the perception has changed." Human rights concerns Similar tensions have been seen elsewhere in Nigeria in relation to separate threats, including over the military handling of protests by pro-Biafran separatists in the southeast. Protests calling for the release of an imprisoned pro-Iranian Shiite Muslim cleric hung over the Abuja summit, again turning the attention to tactics and possible rights abuses. Two days of protests on Monday and Tuesday saw at least 115 supporters of Sheikh Ibrahim Zakzaky arrested after running battles with police, who fired tear gas and water cannon. Zakzaky, the head of the Islamic Movement of Nigeria, has been in custody since December 2015 after troops attacked his supporters in the northern city of Zaria. More than 300 were killed and buried in a mass grave, according to Amnesty International. President Muhammadu Buhari's government has launched a judicial panel to investigate allegations of human rights abuses in the military. But experts warn any reform will take time -- if it happens at all. "It's very difficult for the Nigerian army to overturn 50-plus years of a bad reputation," said Yan St-Pierre, a counter-terrorism specialist at the Modern Security Consulting Group in Berlin. We go back in Nigerias history to present five such instances where the mace has either been stolen or used as a weapon of mass destruction. 1. Ebubedike, 1962 Chief Obafemi Awolowo was Premier of the Western Region in 1962 when Prime Minister Abubakar Tafawa Balewa tried to impose a state of emergency in Nigerias western region. It was a move that didn't sit well with Awolowo. As lawmakers deliberated Balewas position in the Western regional assembly on May 25, 1962, Mr. Ebubedike (from Ozubulu in Anambra State) who represented Ajeromi/Ifelodun/Badagry East in parliament, seized the mace and deployed same as a head battering weapon; with a fist fight breaking all around him. As chairs were flung all over the floor of the House, Ebubedike grabbed the mace and dared anyone to come close. When the Speaker, Hon. Prince Adeleke Adedoyin and other lawmakers came close, Ebubedike used the mace on them. The mace as a weapon of head destruction was thus born in Nigeria. 2. Okadigbo, 2000 Chuba Okadigbo was president of the fourth senate when then President Olusegun Obasanjo began moves to impeach him by using presidency loyalists in parliament. Okadigbo snatched the mace and took it to his house in Abuja--all in an attempt to stall his impeachment. When the police arrived Okadigbos residence to retrieve the mace, he told them they were only going to get the mace if they killed him. The police arrived at 5.55 a.m. (0455 GMT) in six jeeps fully loaded with armed officers, Okadigbo told the BBC afterwards. They told me they had come to collect the mace and that they were acting on orders from the Inspector General of Police. I said I would never give them the mace. I have to be dead before you get the mace, I told them. This is executive lawlessness and is unprecedented in Nigerias history,Okadigbo fumed. After the police left his residence, Okadigbo (fondly called the Oyi of Oyi) took the mace with him to Ogbunike, his home town in Anambra State, and left the senates symbol of authority in the custody of a seven foot python. Okadigbo lost the battle to remain senate president, however, as he was impeached weeks later He died on September 25, 2003. 3. Rivers State, 2013 When Speaker Otelemaba Amachree, convened a session of the legislature to amend certain portions of the Rivers State budget on July 9, 2013, he didnt know trouble was brewing in the horizon. Hon Evans Bapakaye Bipi who represented Ogu/Bolo constituency, arrived the Rivers House of Assembly with thugs, pounced on house leader Chidi Lloyd and the mace was next. Reports say a fake mace had been smuggled into the house by the anti-Amaechi lawmakers in an attempt to unseat the speaker. Rotimi Amaechi is a serving minister and was Governor of Rivers State at the time. Evans Bipi then walked up to Chidi Lloyd who was a pro-Amaechi lawmaker and slapped him in the face. The speaker who had just arrived the chamber, tried to prevent the slaps and shouts from becoming a full blown fight, but Bipi went for him too; the (fake) mace in his vice grip. Hon Lloyd then seized the mace from wherever and used it to attack Hon Chinda. Chinda ended up in a hospital from mace beating. 4. House of Reps, June 2015 On June 23, 2015, lawmakers in the federal House of Representatives didnt like the fact that the APC was trying to decide their principal officers from Bourdillon, Lagos. So, they went to war among themselves. House Speaker Yakubu Dogara and Majority leader Femi Gbajabiamila's supporters went for each others throats. Dogara had defeated Gbajabiamila to emerge speaker. One group of lawmakers tried to grab the mace but that wasnt allowed to happen by the other group of lawmakers. The poor mace couldn't help but heave a sigh of relief after. 5. Benue State, June 2015 The APC and PDP lawmakers engaged themselves in a free for all fight at plenary when the speaker of the Benue Assembly, Mr Terkimbi Kyange, read a letter from the APC. The letter read that the APC was the majority party in the house following the defection of a PDP legislator. As tempers flared and blows rained, the Sergeant At-Arms quickly removed the mace from harms way. The lawmaker representing Kogi West said this while speaking during an interview he posted on his Instagram account(@dinomelaye) on Thursday, April 19, 2018. He said, "So far, APC has not taken charge in implementing the manifesto they promised Nigerians. The party is not organised or showing capacity and capability. "I do hope that in 2019, what we sold to Nigerians is the manifesto and the ideology of the party, but the party has taken the backseat. "In 2018, I do expect that the party will take her rightful place in pushing government to implement the manifestos that was sold to the people. If we don't do that, there's a grave danger." During the same interview, he also said that Nigerians who sell their votes to politicians during election periods deserve the sort of poor leadership they eventually get. "People collect N500, N1000 on election day to vote a politician. That act of collecting the N500 and N1000 is greedy. You, the electorate, who monetised your conscience in electing your leaders are practicing greediocracy. "The politician who purchased the conscience of the people is greedy. A deepening opinion-rigging scandal is testing the limits of what is and is not permissible in an online political campaign in Korea. A group led by a power-blogger calling himself "Druking" made no secret of its ardent support for Moon Jae-in when he was running for president last year, but there are increasing suspicions that the blurry line into illegality was crossed. What is certain is that first lady Kim Jung-sook met with members of the group during the campaign to cheer them on. The group, whose name roughly translates as "People Should be the Focus of Economic Policies," posted a short video clip on YouTube last August showing the moment in April last year when Kim headed over to shake hands with members of the group during a rally despite attempts by bodyguards to stop her. A key Cheong Wa Dae official said the first lady "did not have prior knowledge of the group, but merely acknowledged them after seeing their banner at a rally." But key members of Moon's election camp were certainly aware of its existence. By her side in the clip is Democratic Party lawmaker Kim Kyoung-soo, who has become a focal point of the scandal. The lawmaker early this week admitted that Druking repeatedly made personnel recommendations to Cheong Wa Dae once Moon was in office. He claimed no nepotism was involved since they were simply suggestions. Kim also admitted that he had known Druking since mid-2016, visited the blogger's publishing firm that autumn and met him again before Moon's presidential primary. Omo-Agege is a ruthless politician who now swears by Buhari. Elected on the platform of the Labour Party, the imposing six foot lawmaker switched camps to the APC in May of 2017; following in the footsteps of his mentor Great Ovedje Ogboru, governorship candidate of the Labour Party in 2015. Omo-Ageges politics is bare-knuckled and in your face. Once, as he campaigned for Ogboru on the stomp ground in Delta State, he reportedly boasted that he was a pivotal member of the gang that rigged elections for the PDP and he fancies the PDP dying a natural death after his departure, because they will be no one left to do the dirty job for them. Ibori connection He is also an ally of former Delta governor and ex-convict, James Onanefe Ibori, who was still deciding his successors from the comfort of a UK jail and who still enjoys a cult following. Omo-Agege learnt at Iboris feethounding opponents here, there and everywhere and dispensing money for the boys from Warri to Asaba. He knows his stuff, they say. These days, the grapevine says Ibori is even in awe and respect of Omo-Agege's brand of politics. Mace theft With police officers surrounding him after the mace had disappeared,a journalist asked if he was under arrest. For what? he shot back. As far as Omo-Agege is concerned, he stole no mace. And hes technically right. Omo-Agege was walking behind a couple of burly guys who made for the mace, lifted the senates symbol of authority from the glass paneled table and made for the exit. But Omo-Agege, the politician who has graduated from the Ibori School of politics, didnt grab the mace himself. And as long as there's no footage of him holding the stolen mace, it will be difficult to prove he did it. "We are aware of several media reports suggesting that Senator Omo-Agege personally removed or encouraged anyone to remove the mace of the Senate. This weighty allegation is not true at all", a statement from the politicians lawyer, Lucky Ajokperniovo, read. "Following the said media reports on the mace issue, the Police authorities decided to hear from Senator Omo-Agege. He has told the Police his perspective to help them carry out a proper investigation. He has since left the Police. Senator Omo-Agege trusts them to thoroughly investigate this very serious matter", the statement added. So, not only has Omo-Agege denied stealing anyones mace, he left police custody on the same day everyone accused him of stealing a mace. It doesn't matter that every suspect who has been arrested for stealing the mace hails from Omo-Agege's Delta State. The Buhari connection Omo-Agege was suspended from the senate because he floated a group that wants to back Buharis re-election bid from the national assembly chamber. He went against the national assemblys plan to reorder the 2019 elections because he and members of his group are of the opinion that if the sequence of elections is altered (from having the presidential election come first to having it come last), Buhari could lose. At play here is the politics of 2019 and the contending forces are the PDP senators in the upper legislative chamber, APC senators like Dino Melaye who have fallen out with Buhari, APC senators who still swear by Buhari and Senate President Bukola Saraki who doesnt like Buhari that much. In the coming days, we may well see the mace theft case against Omo-Agege crumble like a pack of cards because when the presidency backs you, everything against you tends to crumble. They have argued that they have independent rights as EU citizens, over and above being citizens of any specific EU member country -- including Britain. But lawyer Erik Pijnacker Hordijk, representing the Dutch government, told the appeals court Thursday that their case "is groundless" and should be ruled as "inadmissible". Even in the event of a hard Brexit, where Britain would leave without a deal with the EU "it doesn't mean that British citizens who legally live in the Netherlands will lose their residency rights," he said. "There is no chance that any of the plaintiffs will run the risk of being ejected from the country," he maintained. Currently about 46,000 Brits live in the Netherlands and there was no reason "to believe ... that they will run a serious risk of being told to leave the country," he said. But the group insist their legal rights as EU citizens -- including freedom of movement -- should remain and be protected by The Netherlands even after Britain withdraws from the 28-member body at midnight on March 29, 2019. "Irrespective of how an eventual Brexit will look, the plaintiffs rights as EU citizens are already in jeopardy," the group's lawyer Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm told the judges. In what could have far-reaching implications for about one million Brits on the continent, judge Floris Bakels in February asked the European Court of Justice to answer two preliminary questions. The questions are: "Does Brexit mean that Britons automatically lose their European citizenship or do they maintain their rights, and if so, under what conditions?" Observers say that should the ECJ indeed rule that Britons have separate implicit rights as EU citizens it could have massive implications -- including impacting current Brexit negotiations. Dutch MPs were later Thursday to take up the issue with a special round table organised in parliament to discuss the ramifications of Brexit. Jeenbekov subsequently signed an order confirming the government's dismissal. A total of 101 legislators voted for the move with just five against, according to an official parliamentary protocol. The vote indicated broad parliamentary support for Jeenbekov, 59, who is now expected to play a key role in determining the next premier. Jeenbekov came to power in a bitterly fought presidential election last year while enjoying strong support from Atambayev, 61, who was limited to a single term in office by the constitution. But tensions have since emerged between the pair after Atambayev criticised appointments made by Jeenbekov and called for the new president's brother, Asylbek, to relinquish his seat in parliament in a public appearance last month. Earlier this month Jeenbekov fired key Atambayev allies in the national security service and initiated the sacking of the country's state prosecutor, but has yet to make his own appointments. Known since his time as an opposition leader for a fiery and often vulgar public speaking style, Atambayev moved the impoverished ex-Soviet country away from the West and closer to traditional ally Russia while in office. Mama Ngina had worn a sharp trouser suit - the first time that she has done so in public. To understand why the former First Lady's dress choice is significant, we must go back to a story told by Mzee Jomo Kenyatta's Secretary. In his memoirs, Walking in Kenyatta struggles, Duncan Ndegwa narrates an incident when Mama Ngina decided to wear a trouser with a sleeveless top during a public function where she was supposed to accompany the founding President. Ndegwa adds that Mzee had never seen his wife wearing a trouser and reacted with disapproval. "On the occasion of Kenyattas inauguration and the Kenya Air Force ceremonial function organised for it, Mama Ngina was supposed to accompany him as usual. She emerged from the house dressed in long pants and a sleeveless tunic. Mzee [Jomo Kenyatta] had never seen his wife dressed in trousers, or otherwise so loudly deviating from her norms of dress," Ndegwa narrated. The former Head of Public Service and Secretary to the Cabinet adds that Mama Ngina had to change her trousers and continued to wear dresses as per Kenyatta's order. Over the years, Mama Ngina has come to associated with her sharp fashion style - African dresses combined with a regal head gear. Martha Miano, who was allegedly posing as an Independent Electoral and Boundaries Commission (IEBC) observer, was assaulted at a police station The assailant is believed to be a supporter of Mathira MP Rigathi Gachagua, who was at the police station demanding to know why IEBC had allowed Miano to observe the election without a badge. Confirming the arrest to a local daily, Mathira West OCPD Birgen Kiptoo said the man was booked at Kiamariga Police Station. On Wednesday, Kenyans expressed their displeasure with the mans conduct after the video was shared widely on social media. Here is the video: UPDATE: In his outspoken nature, Gachoka's appearance was not devoid of drama and self-praise. When asked why Kenya's political class was dominated by prominent families that appeared to form dynasties, Gachoka responded by referring to his own privileged background. "I am the son of Gachoka and my father was an achiever. In fact when I left the maternity ward, I was picked up by a mercedes. How can I be ashamed because my father had a Mercedes?" Gachoka bragged. He is the son of the late Phillip Gachoka who previously served as Juja MP. Another light moment came when the political analyst made fun of, his host, Jeff Koinange's tribulations during their last show. Their last show was recorded in 2015 and led to their arrest over claims of defamation made by businessman Jimi Wanjigi. The third international forum for Trilateral Cooperation, an international gathering of leaders and experts from South Korea, China, and Japan, was held in Tokyo on Wednesday. The participants agreed that cooperation among the three countries is vital in hairy issues facing the region, especially the North Korean nuclear and missile threat. The forum was organized by the Trilateral Cooperation Secretariat, which was jointly set up by Seoul, Beijing, and Tokyo in 2011 to promote peace and prosperity in Northeast Asia. Keynote speeches were delivered by Mjinjoo Party lawmaker Moon Hee-sang, Dai Bingguo, a former Chinese state councilor, and Masahiko Komura, the vice president of Japan's ruling Liberal Democratic Party. "There's not enough security cooperation among South Korea, China, and Japan, although they take up 21 percent of the world population and 23 percent of global GDP," Moon complained. "Let's cooperate to seek harmony, but not uniformity," as Confucius advised. Dai stressed the need for "a comprehensive win-win relationship," while Komura highlighted the importance of "making peace and cooperating in Northeast Asia." World economy at risk as dispute grows From:ChinaDaily | 2018-04-19 04:01 The global economy would be severely impacted if the trade dispute between China and the United States turns into a cycle of widespread actions and counteractions, economists said on Wednesday. Their responses came after the US Commerce Department announced on Tuesday it was starting new investigations to determine if certain steel wheels from China are dumped in the US and whether manufacturers in China are receiving subsidies. The US government on the same day also made a preliminary determination that aluminum sheet imports from China are being subsidized. Maurice Obstfeld, economic counselor and director of research at the International Monetary Fund, said that major economies are flirting with a trade war at a time of widespread economic expansion may seem paradoxical, especially when the expansion is so reliant on investment and trade. Particularly in advanced economies, public optimism about the benefits of economic integration has been eroded over time by long-standing trends of job and wage polarization, coupled with persistent subpar growth in median wages. Many households have seen little or no benefit from growth, Obstfeld said. These trends are more due to technology change than to trade, he said. The IMF forecasts that recent US policies will actually widen the US trade deficit. It expects the US current account deficit for 2019 to be roughly $150 billion higher, considering the US tax cut and spending changes effective in the past months. The Trump administration must broaden economic scales via investments in people and enhancing peoples sense of security to adapt to impending technological changes, rather than advancing trade tensions, said Wei Jianguo, former vice-minister of commerce. Wei said the US is trying to form alliances with the European Union and Japan to further suppress Chinas manufacturing, which has been boosted by the Made in China 2025 strategy. But he said those two other economies must be aware that the US doesnt want to see any other country have a technological advantage in modern manufacturing because that would affect its global dominance. They will be the next targets after China if they follow the USs mistaken stance, Wei said. The US has begun to attack Chinas high-tech manufacturing because it thinks that will damage the Chinese economy, said Dong Yan, director of the International Trade Office at Institute of World Economics and Politics at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. The US Federal Communications Commission voted unanimously on Tuesday to ban federally subsidized telecom carriers from using suppliers deemed to pose a risk to national security. The move targets Chinese tech leaders Huawei Technologies Co and ZTE Corp, two names that appeared in the FCCs order. Though the ban needs a second FCC vote to take effect, it highlights once again that Chinese tech players are finding it increasingly hard to access the US market, said Bai Ming, a researcher at the Ministry of Commerce. After protectionism in trade, the US government is using national security concerns as a tool to exclude Chinese tech players and protect its domestic tech industry, Bai said. This comes as China and the US are scrambling for the top spot in the high-tech sector. The US government feels threatened as Chinese tech firms emerge as innovation pioneers, Bai added. Contact the writers at zhongnan@chinadaily.com.cn QUIZ: Guess the Road Songs We can't wait to get back on the road again! Play this quiz and see if how many you can get right! Bizav sector expected to take off From:ChinaDaily | 2018-04-19 07:59 China will double the number of its existing business aircraft in the next decade, and will become the world's third-largest business aviation market only behind the United States and the Europe, according to market observers attending the 2018 ABACE air fair in Shanghai. "We predict, in the next five years, China is going to become the third-largest market for business jets globally, behind the United States and Europe," said Andy Gill, Asia-Pacific senior director of business and general aviation at Honeywell Aerospace. "If it continues, it will surpass Europe in the future, and be the second, or even the most important market for both business jets and helicopters," he added. "China is going to double its existing business aircraft in terms of number of units in the coming 10 years," said David Dixon, president of Jetcraft Asia, adding that the figure could even exceed that. In the last 10 years, Textron Aviation saw its Asia-Pacific sales of medium and large jets triple, with China following the same pattern, according to Jessica Pruss, president of Asia-Pacific sales and marketing at Textron Aviation. There are 45 business jets from Textron in service in China at the moment. With the maturing of the Chinese market, buyers are getting more professional in their purchases by checking performance data rather than just the price or traveling distance, said Kevin Wu, international vice-president of sales for China and Mongolia at Textron Aviation. According to Gill, the China market is driven by many factors, including the continued growth of China's GDP and the Belt and Road Initiative. Dixon said in the past five years, Chinese business jet buyers changed from buying only brand-new planes to half of their purchases being for pre-owned ones. "Now people are prepared to buy pre-owned aircraft ... It's evidence that the market is maturing," said Dixon. He added that it is an opportunity for Jetcraft, for which preowned aircraft accounts for up to 80 percent of its business. Liao Xuefeng, chairman and CEO of China Business Aviation Group, said business jets are being increasingly seen as a highly efficient transportation tool rather than a luxury lifestyle. He added that "people are getting more rational when talking about corporate aircraft". As a result, the purchase rate for pre-owned aircraft rose quickly from less than 10 percent three years ago to more than 50 percent at the moment, added Liao. Industrial leaders noted that airspace remains a challenge for China's general aviation market development, although they said that the Chinese government is working to open more airspace and facilitate the general aviation sector. "The minimum approval time for general aviation flights has been shortened from 15 days in the 1990s to between four and six hours at the moment," said Liao. China's helicopter fleet doubled in the past five years, and is expected to continue this growth and double in five years, according to Patrick Moulay, senior vice-president of international sales at Bell. Bell is going to triple its existing 110 helicopters in China in three to five years, as it received orders for 210 helicopters in China last year, said Moulay. As of 2017, China was home to 330 business jets, along with 250 turboprop aircraft used primarily to support business, law enforcement, and humanitarian needs. More than 900 rotary-wing aircraft are based in China, of which 58 percent are turbine-powered types frequently utilized by business aviation users. In its 13th Five-Year Plan, China plans to more than double its general aviation sector by 2020 from that of 2015. In 2017 alone, China built five new general aviation airports, added 56 general aviation enterprises, and 2,272 aircraft. "If you look at the population and the GDP, the infrastructure being built in China supports a really good growth story, and is an opportunity to expand helicopters and biz jets. All of those things combined show that the market here in China will grow substantially over the next three to 10 years," Gill said. The three-day Asian Business Aviation Conference & Exhibition, which opened on Tuesday, has attracted visits from business aviation leaders, entrepreneurs, flight department personnel, aircraft-purchase decision-makers and other high-level attendees. Welcome to Railway Gazette. This site uses cookies. Read our policy. OK Two Russian women charged with abetting terrorism arrested in absentia Fotolia/ Africa Studio 12:05 19/04/2018 MOSCOW, April 19 (RAPSI) The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow has issued an arrest warrant for Russian nationals Elvira Karayeva and Polina Atemaskina in absentia for alleged aiding and abetting the Islamic State terrorist organization banned in Russia, the courts spokesperson Yekaterina Krasnova has told RAPSI. The court has ruled to detain the women for 2 months after their extradition to Russia. Karayeva and Atemaskina have been put on the international wanted list. The defendants have been charged with participation in a terrorist organization and aiding and abetting terrorism. Earlier this week, the court put children's book writer Daria Itsankova on the international wanted list on similar charges. According to media reports, the woman joined militants in Syria several years ago. Before then, she reportedly adopted Islam, left for Iraq and collected money for financing the Islamic State terrorist organization. The Islamic State, an organization which is prohibited in Russia, is currently one of the major threats to global security. Over three years, these terrorists have managed to seize large areas of Iraq and Syria. Currently, various forces combat the organization in both countries with battle for Iraqi Mosul as one of the most crucial directions. Jurors find 19 Neo-Nazi gang members guilty of multiple crimes RIA Novosti 13:00 19/04/2018 ST. PETERSBURG, April 19 (RAPSI, Mikhail Telekhov) Jury panel found nineteen members of a Neo-Nazi gang guilty of banditry, robbery and murder motivated by racial and national hatred, RAPSI learnt in the St. Petersburg City Court on Thursday. The case was heard behind closed doors because fourteen defendants were underage at the time of crimes with two of them not even reaching the age of 16 years. Jurors were discussing 258 questions for more than 24 hours. All of the defendants were found guilty. According to case documents, Alexey Kolesnikov and Denis Parfenov are charged with killing an immigrant from Uzbekistan shortly after their participation in a Russian march nationalist rally. Nineteen persons, fourteen of whom were underage when allegedly committing the aforesaid crimes, are charged on 36 counts including six counts of grievous bodily harm, three counts of banditry, three counts of robbery and setting fire to a St. Peters Cathedral alongside murders. Kolesnikov, Parfenov, Konstantin Gavrilov, Sergey Bondar and Igor Zabaluyev were also found guilty of inducing underage persons into a criminal gang. The alleged gang leader, an ethnic Arab born in St. Petersburg, changed his name given at birth into a Russian one due to his racist and nationalist beliefs in 2002, and as investigators allege, in 2012, he organized a criminal gang ensnaring his acquaintances including underage school and college students, who shared his beliefs, in order to commit crimes involving violence and violation of national and human dignity of people native to Caucasus and Asia. Other members of the gang are Maksim Logachev and Denis Knyazkin, who have their cases reviewed separately. Logachev was on the international wanted list for a long time but was finally arrested in Yarsolavl. Knyazkin and two underage accomplices were arrested in 2014 on charges of killing a homeless person. Ex-top manager of major Russian insurer detained on suspicion of embezzlement RIA Novosti, Vladimir Pesnya 16:59 19/04/2018 MOSCOW, April 19 (RAPSI) The Lefortovsky District Court of Moscow on Thursday detained Sergey Khachaturov, the former vice president of one of the largest insurance companies in Russia Rosgosstrakh (RGS Group), until June 16, the courts spokesperson Yekaterina Krasnova told RAPSI. The businessman is suspected of large scale embezzlement. According to media reports, Khachaturov is involved in a criminal case related to the deals of RGS Assets made before the change of ownership in the company. Prior to 2017, RGS Group was owned by the suspects brother Danil Khachturov, and subsequently it came under the control of Otkritie bank. Reportedly, Rosgosstrakh damages for that year reached over 55 billion rubles ($903.3 million). Convicts in Nemtsov murder case turn to ECHR 17:34 19/04/2018 MOSCOW, April 19 (RAPSI) Five convicted defendants in a criminal case over the murder of prominent Russian opposition politician Boris Nemtsov have filed appeals with the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR), lawyer Rosa Magomedova has told RAPSI. The applicants in their complaints claim that Russian authorities have violated Articles 3 (prohibition of torture), 5 (right to liberty and security) and 6 (right to a fair trial) of the European Convention on Human Rights, according to the attorney. In October 2017, the Supreme Court of Russia partially upheld sentence passed on the murderers of Nemtsov not changing prison terms but cancelling the fines imposed on the convicts. The Moscow District Military Court gave the defendants prison terms varying from 11 to 20 years on July 13, 2017. The court ruled in accordance with the will of jurors, who found all the defendants guilty of involvement in the politicians murder and illegal trafficking in firearms and ammunition. Zaur Dadayev, Nemtsovs first-hand killer was sentenced to 20 years. Anzor Gubashev was sentenced to 19 years, Shadid Gubashev to 16 years, Temirlan Eskerkhanov to 14 years and Khamzat Bakhayev to 11 years. All defendants are to serve their terms in a high-security penal colony. The court fined defendants 100,000 rubles (about $1,700). Shadid and Anzor Gubashev, Eskerkhanov and Bakhayev were also subjected to additional restriction of freedom for two years. Boris Nemtsov, 55, a prominent opposition politician, who held a number of high-ranking posts in the Russian government in the 1990s and in the 2000s joined the opposition, was shot down in the center of Moscow as he walked across a bridge near the Kremlin on the night of February 28, 2015. Investigators believe that the conspirators had thoroughly prepared to commit this crime and spied on the victim. Ruslan Mukhudinov, a former officer in Chechen Interior Ministry, is believed to be a mastermind of the murder. He was placed on the international wanted list in November 2015. Beslan Shavanov, who allegedly was also implicated in the crime, reportedly killed himself when police tried to arrest him. Criminal prosecution of Shavanov was dismissed because of his death. Investigation into Mukhudinov is underway. Dagestan education official to stand embezzlement trial in Moscow flickr.com/Chris Potter 15:31 19/04/2018 MOSCOW, April 19 (RAPSI) - A criminal case against deputy education minister of Russias Republic of Dagestan, who stands charged with embezzling 97 million rubles ($1.6 million), has been forwarded to the Gagarinsky District Court of Moscow for hearing, the Prosecutor Generals Offices press service reports Thursday. Another defendant in this case is a top manager of the company Management Tools. Depending on their role in crimes they are charged with large scale embezzlement and money laundering. According to prosecutors, the official and the businessman executed a state contract on supply of digital complexes to Dagestan education institutions in 2003. They allegedly embezzled over 97 million rubles by overpricing the equipment. Reportedly, the defendant is Khadzhimurad Aliyev, who took up the post of deputy education minister in 2013. Home Just In Bhaktapur: 11 held after Bisket Jatra revellers pelt stones at police Kathmandu, April 19 Police on Thursday morning arrested 11 persons from Bhaktapur after they reportedly pelted stones at police providing security to the community celebrating the annual festival of Bisket Jatra. It has been reported that a group from the revellers themselves had attacked police at local Taumadichok around 2:15 am today. Following the incident, police arrested 11 persons on the charge of attacking police, and carrying out other anarchic activities, according to Police Inspector Madan KC of the Metropolitan Police Range in Bhaktapur. Earlier, on Wednesday, police had arrested two persons on the charge of brandishing khukuris at the celebration venues, thereby threatening peace and order. Further investigation is underway. Property details: EASY TERMS, BID ON THE DOWN PAYMENT on a huge 160 acre square parcel of land in Northern Nevada near Unionville off Hwy 400 and just east of the I-80. This land is suitable for farming or ranching since that's what the neighbors are doing as you can see from the aerial photos. This is also a nice getaway location and you can drive right up to it on a dirt road off paved Hwy 400. No utilities on the land, so you would do what the neighbors do and supply your own. The land is mainly flat and has a... Price: $ 255 Seller State of Residence: California State/Province: Nevada Type: Recreational, Acreage City: Unionville Zoning: Residential Location: , Unionville, Nevada You will be redirected to eBay Nearby Residential Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale Buy real estate. Find a great selection of commercial real estate, manufactured homes, timeshares and more for Sale in US and Canada. Search Real Estate , We're sorry, this article is not currently available Major Nepali and English newspapers published from Kathmandu on Thursday have paid topmost attention to contemporary political issues. Most of the newspapers have carried lead stories about Foreign Affairs Minister Pradeep Kumar Gyawalis engagement in Chinese capital of Beijing as he is currently on an official trip there. Likewise, reports about delayed unification of CPN-UML and CPN-Maoist Centre have also been prioritised. Few other sociocultural and economic issues have also made it to the front page of Kathmandu broadsheets today. Important China stresses trilateral cooperation As Nepals Minister for Foreign Affairs Pradeep Kumar Gyawali held a meeting with his Chinese counterpart Wang Yi and other leaders of the northern neighbour during his official trip to Beijing, the Chinese government stressed trilateral cooperation involving Nepal, India and China, according to newspaper reports. Wang, while addressing a joint press conference with Gyawali yesterday, also spoke of cooperation between two giant neighbours for development of Nepal, according to Kantipur lead story filed from Beijing. Karobar says Wang told reporters that the three countries already made an agreement to build a trans-Himalayan connectivity network and it could be a trilateral economic corridor. Rajdhani, on the other hand, claims Nepal and China have agreed to prepare the detailed project report for proposed Kathmandu-Lumbini railway line. Meanwhile, they have also agreed to set up a system to effectively deliver China-aided projects in Nepal, according to The Kathmandu Post. New deadline for UML-Maoist merger is mid-May As the CPN-UML and the CPN-Maoist Centre have failed to materialise their unification plan by April 22 as they announced earlier, leaders of the two parties have begun mulling over the new deadline, report various news stories. In this context, Maoist Centre Chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal claimed on Wednesday that the unification would be done by mid-May, according to The Kathmandu Post. The Himalayan Times, on the other hand, quoting Maoist Centre leader Agni Sapkota, that the unification announcement may take place on May 5, on the occasion of birth anniversary of Karl Marx. Meanwhile, Dahal has stressed the need of serious talks to conclude the unification process, according to Republica. Ignored Deuba preparing to appoint officials More than two years after his election as the party President, Sher Bahadur Deuba is preparing to give the full shape to the partys Central Working Committee by appointing officials including Vice-President, General Secretary and Joint General Secretary, according to Nepal Samacharpatra. The party statute has it that the officials should be appointed within two months from the general convention. The report claims that Bimalendra Nidhi, Purna Bahadur Khadka and Prakash Sharan Mahat will get the positions respectively though Gopal Man Shrestha has also laid his claim on the vice-presidency. Supreme Court for ambassador appointment on the basis of qualification and conduct The Supreme Court recently published the full text of an order issued in the name of government to appoint ambassadors on the basis of their qualification and conduct, but not on the basis of political connections, according to Kantipur. The order responded to a writ filed around three years ago, the report says, adding the petitioners had claimed that the culture of political power sharing has tainted the image of nation. NRA stresses transparency in reconstruction grant Raising questions over transparency in the foreign aid funds meant for post-earthquake reconstruction here, the National Reconstruction Authority has stated that foreign agencies cannot spend their money through INGOs and NGOs handpicked by them, reports Republica. The report quotes senior officials at NRA to say that donors including Norwegian Aid, USAID, Swiss Aid and DfID have been carrying out various reconstruction projects on their own through their favoured INGOs without following the government budgetary system. Nepal-India energy meeting ends on positive note Energy officials of Nepal and India held a meeting in New Delhi on Monday and Tuesday to discuss issues regarding cross-country energy trade, Abhiyan says, adding the meeting ended positively. The meeting concluded with seven agreements and decisions, the report says quoting Dinesh Kumar Ghimire, spokesperson of Ministry of Energy, Water Resources and Irrigation. Nanda Prasad Adhikaris body is left unattended for 43 months Nepal Samacharpatra lead story for the day says the body of Nanda Prasad Adhikari, who had died while staging a fast-unto-death demanding action against murderers of his son Krishna Prasad, is lying unattended at the Tribhuvan University Teaching Hospital for last 43 months. His demand has not yet been made, hence his wife Ganga Maya is still on the fast, the report says, adding the family has refused to claim the body and perform final rituals till the government considers the demand. Interesting New law to promote domestic products The government is preparing to draft and implement a new law to promote domestic products and discourage unprecedented import of foreign products, reports Abhiyan. The Ministry of Industry, Commerce and Supplies is preparing to introduce safeguards, anti-dumping and counter-delivering on imported goods for the same, according to the report. 'Governments that embrace blockchain and cryptocurrencies will be best positioned for the future.' 'Digital currencies are more transparent, more efficient.' Recently, the Reserve Bank of India banned regulated financial institutions from working with any company dealing in digital currencies, thereby effectively banning cryptocurrencies in the country. The move triggered a price crash in bitcoin. As all of this was unfolding, Anthony Pompliano, below, general partner at Morgan Creek Capital Blockchain in the Silicon Valley, took to Twitter and said he would fly down to India and meet the prime minister, RBI governor or even the President, if someone sets up a meeting, and explain to them the negative effects of the RBI decision. Pompliano shares his views on cryptocurrencies with Mayank Jain in an email interview. What made you tweet about coming to India and explaining the benefits of cryptocurrencies? Cryptocurrencies are a new, powerful innovation that can create significant inflection points for humanity. India is a country of innovation and I am excited about seeing the country lead the industry. I have previously visited many cities in India and seen the passion the citizens have for the technology. What do you think will be the impact of the move? What are the positives and negatives? In the short term, there will be a lot of uncertainty. The market will likely reflect this. But I doubt it will matter in the long term. The governments that embrace blockchain and cryptocurrencies will be best positioned for the future. The ones that fight it, will merely get left behind. Are there instances of developing countries accepting cryptocurrency and succeeding at it? There are many countries that are accepting cryptocurrencies or launching their own. Major fears about bitcoin are about its anonymity, possible money laundering, and volatility in price for those who invest. How do you counter these claims? Bitcoin is run on a distributed, public ledger. Every transaction is recorded for everyone else to see. You would have to be the dumbest criminal in the world to use a fully transparent digital ledger to conduct nefarious activities. Plus, the US dollar is still the currency of choice for criminals, drug dealers, money laundering, and bad actors around the world. Indias central bank is looking to study the possibility of its own digital currency. What do you think about a cryptocurrency owned by a central bank? I think there will be centralised and decentralised digital currencies. They dont have to be binary outcomes. Having multiple digital currencies co-exist seems plausible and likely. Where are the possibilities for Indias bustling cryptocurrency market now? I am not a lawyer, so I am not exactly sure. We are trying to understand that now. Do you think cryptocurrencies have any advantages over conventional currencies? Yes. Digital currencies are more transparent, more efficient, and bring a deeper level of trust between people and their money. Within the next 15 years, we should see a majority of currencies become digital in the world. What should be the right policy response in a country like India where digital penetration remains low and people are illiterate to something as complicated as virtual currencies? People should be allowed to use fiat or digital currencies. This does not have to be a binary outcome. The co-existence of fiat and digital currencies will allow the highest number of people participation in the financial system. What do you think is the potential for virtual currencies in India given the current policy environment? I am in awe of the innovation that comes out of India. They have the talent and mentality to be a global leader in cryptocurrencies. My hope is that the government can work with technologists and economists to create an environment that encourages progress and innovation. Photograph of cryptocurrencies (top): Dado Ruvic/Reuters. 'The RBI is not releasing Rs 2,000 notes for the last 10 days; probably they have stopped printing it.' IMAGE: Congress workers protest the cash crunch in Bhopal, April 18, 2018. Photograph: PTI Photo 17 months after Prime Minister Narendra D Modi outlawed Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 currency notes -- causing considerable hardship to Indians across the land for several weeks -- the cash crisis returned to haunt Indians this week. Across the nation, ATMs greeted citizens with 'No Cash' messages and memories of long queues outside banks revived, prompting the Opposition to remark that the 'financial emergency' had returned. Finance Minister Arun Jaitley tried to pacify the public, terming it a 'temporary shortage' in certain states, which is being 'tackled quickly' and that there is 'more than adequate' currency in circulation. "'The RBI wants to reduce cash in circulation and wants people to switch to the digital economy... The push towards the digital economy has increased after a private mobile operator started its payment bank from April 3," D Thomas Franco, general secretary, All India Bank Officers Confederation, tells Rediff.com's Syed Firdaus Ashraf. What has led to this sudden shortage of cash across India? The RBI (Reserve Bank of India) is consciously releasing a lesser number of currency notes to the banks. They feel there is more currency in the market now than in the pre-demonetisation period. They want to reduce cash in circulation and want people to switch to the digital economy. So the RBI is supplying lesser amount of currency note to banks, especially Rs 2,000 notes. They are practically giving out no Rs 2,000 notes. Secondly, the push towards the digital economy has increased after a private mobile operator started its payment bank from April 3. They are offering the service for free. However, the Modi government's push towards the digital economy has not been successful because of service charges and the inability of a large number of people to understand even basic English. Thirdly, the people's fear of the Financial Resolution and Deposit Insurance Bill (has resulted in increased demand). People fear this bill enables the liquidation of their accounts if banks go bust. What about the ATMs? Why are they not working? A cash shortage arises because when two ATMs don't work people go to the third and take out the maximum amount of cash allowed. I myself went to 10 ATMs and didn't get cash, so at the 11th ATM, I withdrew the maximum cash because I was not sure when I will get cash at an ATM again. Generally, the trend in the salary class is to withdraw Rs 5,000 in the first week of the month and then in a phase-wise manner, they withdraw money in subsequent weeks. But now the fear psychosis has gripped them so the salaried class is withdrawing all they need for their monthly expenditure in one go at the start of the month. The RBI says recalibration of ATMs is happening... The RBI monitors online which ATMs are working. The job of loading cash to a lot of ATMs has been outsourced to several companies. If these companies show fewer ATMs functioning, they lose their commission. So what they do is that before an ATM is about to run out of cash, they just pull down the shutters and put a 'No Cash' board. But it will be shown online as functioning because there is still some cash left in it. Why do banks outsource loading cash in ATMs? Everything in this country is being outsourced. About 90 per cent of ATMs are being filled by more than 20 such private companies. Do cases like the Punjab National Bank fraud affect the public psyche and push them to withdraw all their money? This is just an aberration. Punjab National Bank customers have still put faith in it. They have confidence in their bank. Do you think the government should now admit that demonetisation failed? There is no doubt about this. Demonetisation was a grand failure. A large number of people in India find it easy to do cash transactions rather than digital ones. No black money has come back. Statistics show that many people have moved to online banking. If you see RBI data, people moved to digital banking during the demonetisation process. But now they are coming back to cash. Was the RBI not prepared for this cash crisis? The RBI's staff strength has practically gone down. In the past 18 years, the RBI staff has been reduced by 50 per cent. Their monitoring system has become weak. Their supervision has become weak and so has the decision making. Only the RBI knows why they are not hiring more people. Some people say politicians are hoarding cash for elections and therefore the crisis. States not going to the polls are hit more by the cash crisis. There was not much shortage in (poll-bound) Karnataka; whereas Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, which are not going to polls, are strongly hit by the crisis. Now it has spread throughout the country. I believe at least 30 per cent of Rs 2,000 notes have disappeared and did not come back to the banking system (after being released), and now that money has been converted to black money. The RBI is not releasing Rs 2,000 notes for the last 10 days; probably they have stopped printing it. The RBI is wrong in comparing the cash in circulation today with that of the pre-demonetisation period. Though cash in circulation has come to the same level, but (the RBI is forgetting) that every year there is a growth in the currency situation. People will always keep a certain amount of cash for their safety. We have seen people withdrawing huge amounts money because it gives them a sense of safety. Isn't it weird? India is not Venezuela. Fear creeps in. Today employment is not growing, the industrial output is not much and black money has not come back as promised. Corruption has not stopped. In 2008, it was rumoured that ICICI Bank was going to collapse, so there was a run on ICICI Bank. The RBI had to provide as much cash to ICICI Bank as it sought. This went on for 4-5 days and only then things settled down. Only when ICICI Bank hired Shah Rukh Khan to advertise for them were people assured that their money is safe with the bank. The government says there is a conspiracy because suddenly there are huge cash withdrawals. For every crisis the government blames others. The present crisis is not because of Pakistan or the Opposition parties. This is ridiculous. It is a fact that the government has not been able to reduce NPAs (non-performing assets) or create new employment. The Modi government could blame Opposition for its troubles in the first year in office, but not blame after four years. I don't think the people will buy that argument. What about GST (the goods and services tax)? People are doing business in cash and so therefore there a cash crunch. The industry is not getting in time the input credit that it must get. People are feeling why should they pay more tax when they are not getting any service from the government. We pay tax to get services from the government, but people are not getting free education, free healthcare, free housing or even employment. They are only adding on taxes. For a middle-class family, almost 52 per cent of its income goes into taxes which includes excise duty and service tax and all that. People cannot go on paying taxes indefinitely. I feel this (evading GST) could also lead to a cash shortage as, in some cases, it is going into the 'parallel economy'. You cannot eradicate the parallel economy in the country. For how long will this shortage continue? Now they say four days. I would demand that the government must publicly announce they are withdrawing the FDRI bill, so that people feel that their money is safe. Also, service charges levied by banks must be withdrawn as people are very unhappy about it. (Charges levied on) mobile banking, Internet banking, and minimum balance (requirement) in banks are affecting the public. The RBI must tell the banks that they cannot levy charges for these services. They have the power to do that, but they are not doing it. Do you think a situation could arise when nationalised banks say they will not return the people's money or go bust? It is not the case today. But if this FRDI bill is passed, it will definitely happen. I only hope the government comes out and puts all these rumours to rest. In 2003, there was a similar situation in Cyprus. Two banks went bust. One bank returned only 60 per cent of deposits and another only 40 per cent. I have seen people transferring money from one bank to another without any reason. There has to be awareness among people as the FRDI bill has not yet been passed (in Parliament). Many PSBs are in the process of rationalisation of ATMs Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com In Kottayam, a housewife received an email communique from Corporation Bank, a Karnataka-based public sector bank (PSB), that due to server issues, all automated teller machines (ATMs) are down and debit card transactions were getting declined. Customers can come to the branch with cheque and withdraw cash for the time being, it said. After finishing his work at the Madras high court, S Rangarajan went to his oft-visited nearby restaurant at Parrys Corner, one of the busiest markets in Chennai, to have coffee with a snack. When he gave a Rs 2,000 note towards his bill, the cashier refused it saying he did not have change. After a brief argument, the cashier decided to let him go without paying - knowing him personally, the cashier was sure about getting the money sooner or later - since Rangarajan could not manage change from nearby shops. In another instance in Chennai, a customer of a PSB tried to withdraw cash from an ATM, but he could not. Upon calling, the Customer Care advised him to visit the nearest branch and withdraw the money. As he walked into the branch at Triplicane, a market hub, the cashier could only give high denomination notes: Rs 2,000 and Rs500 since the coffers of Rs 100 or Rs 200 notes were empty. Similar situations have been encountered over the last few days across states in India, especially the south, central states, and Gujarat. Reports like these coming in not just with a heightened frequency, but all at once, suggest that the cash crunch in banks and ATMs is real. Three happenings help understand the situation. Firstly, growth in aggregate bank deposits in the December quarter over the previous year is at a decade low (at least, as per available data) at 3.5-5.4 per cent. Secondly, the number of ATMs is on a decline since the March 2017 quarter. And finally, the movement of money in various denominations, as anecdotal evidence suggests, has been hampered. This shortage might have proliferated nationwide on Wednesday, but it had started in Andhra Pradesh (AP) and Telangana long back in November 2017, and it might have nationwide implications in near future, experts say. ATMs run dry, deposits slow down As many as 380 of the 1,273 ATMs installed by Andhra Bank in AP have run dry at the beginning of the financial year. "Overall, 1,015 of the 6,600-odd ATMs in the state are cash-deprived as of Wednesday, KS D Siva Vara Prasad, convener of the AP state level bankers committee, told Business Standard. He said that cash shortage has been prevailing in the two states since November 2017 itself. The governments of Telangana and AP have been asking for currency to the finance ministry, to which the queries by parliamentarians in the two states stand as evidence. The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) office at Hyderabad - which services banks in both AP and Telangana - received Rs 1.33 trillion from the central bank from the month of demonetisation to February 2018, highest among all the RBI offices in the country, Finance Minister Arun Jaitley said in a written reply to Y S Avinash Reddy, MP from Kadapa, AP. Banks in the South always need more cash than those in northern states, since the number of small loans, say for example gold, which are realised in cash are in strong demand there, while there is a tendency to bypass the banking system for such loans in the north and the west, a banker from Maharashtra said. Further, the growth in aggregate bank deposits is on a decline in the quarter ended December 2017. From 15.4 per cent growth in quarter ended December 2013, bank deposits have grown by a meagre 3.5-5.4 per cent in quarter ended December 2017. High vs low denomination, rural vs urban While the public at some places is facing a shortage of low denomination notes, like that in Tamil Nadu (TN) and Gujarat, high denomination notes are scarce in AP and Telangana. A report published on Factly.in, a Hyderabad-based data portal, says that from April 2017, Telangana has not received currency in the denomination of Rs 2,000 except for that valued at Rs 3,000 crore in December. Sources also said that a lot of cash has been diverted to the real state sector in AP and Telangana, and has thus bypassed the banking system. In many parts of the rural TN, while there are rising instances of ATMs running dry, some of the working machines are disbursing only Rs500 and Rs 2,000 notes, according to the Confederation of ATM Industry (CATMi), the industry body for ATMs. But the phenomenon is not restricted to TN alone. Transactions have come down by at least 30 per cent in rural areas across the country because we are not able to fill cash, says V Balasubramanian, spokesperson, CATMi. According to him, rural ATMs would record around 116-117 transactions a day before demonetisation, which increased by 4-5 per cent or to around 120 transactions a day in March. Now, this rate has dropped 50-60 per cent or to about 30-40 transactions a day, Balasubramanian added. Rationalisation of ATMs Many PSBs are in the process of rationalisation of ATMs. ATMs belonging to PSBs increased from 143,795 in quarter ended June 2016 to 148,398 in that ended in March 2017, courtesy demonetisation. But they have reduced to 146,301 in Q3 2017-18, owing to rationalisation of ATMs being taken up by major PSBs. Bankers Business Standard spoke to said that there has been a rise in ATMs with less than 10 hits a month in some rural pockets in some states. Such ATMs are being shut, they said. On a daily basis, an average cash logistics company transports Rs 5,000-8,000 crore worth of cash nationwide. Illustration: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com The security and operations head of a Delhi-based cash management and logistics company was in an animated conversation with his team Wednesday morning when Business Standard approached him to understand the universe of automated teller machines (ATMs), which are flashing the no-cash sign all over again. We made the mistake of allowing television news crews in here during demonetisation, he said while teaching the staff how to load and unload cash in ATMs. Working in secretive and guarded environment, cash management firms have always remained in the background, though demonetisation of November 2016 changed that for a brief while. With reports of ATMs drying up across states surfacing again, this newspaper chased many logistic companies and finally spent half a day with key personnel of one such firm in the capital. Showing the operations in a guided tour, the company president cautioned, No names please, neither the company, nor any of us. This was one of the largest cash management companies in India, with armoured vans sporting its logo all around. The secrecy shows right from the entrance. There is just one access point, through a narrow bylane. The single turnstile gate is operated with access cards. Thorough security drill follows before you are inside the premises. Transporting cash The transportation of cash is typically divided into three parts. The first part involves cash from mints, where notes are printed, to RBI offices and currency chests of banks in different cities. A tier I city like New Delhi or Mumbai would have around 15-20 chests. The cash logistics companies are not involved in this phase. You see those big trucks on highways at night? Some of them could be full of cash. They are guarded by central or state forces. Sometimes even the driver wont know what is in the cargo bay, the makeshift guide said. The second and third parts, where private sector logistics companies are involved, are cash-in-transit (chests to bank branches), and cash replenishment (bank branches to ATMs). For cash-in-transit, a company rents out its armoured vans - along with drivers, handlers and security personnel - to banks. The vans carry cash from chests to various branches, as well as from the branches to the chests at the end of the day. It is in the chests that cash in sorted into three categories: cash which can be put into ATMs, cash which can be used over-the-counter, and cash which is completely soiled and cannot be put back into circulation. For cash replenishment, logistics companies arent hired by banks but by managed services providers (MSPs), which manage and maintain ATMs on behalf of the banks and other financial services companies. Say, an MSP issues a requirement to load Rs 2 crore in 100 ATM locations of Bank XYZ. It will issue an indent to us and to a designated branch of Bank XYZ. The employees in that branch check their indent against ours and Rs 2 crore is loaded onto our vans, which then take the cash to those 100 ATMs, the operations head explained. How money travels The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) chalks out the requirement for currency notes before the start of the financial year The requirement is then communicated to the government When the government gives permission to RBI, the central bank raises indent or order for printing specific bank notes to four presses Papers for banknotes were earlier procured from overseas but now the material is supplied locally The security features are installed by the mills first and then sent to the printing presses The printed notes are sent to RBIs 19 regional offices There are 4,000 currency chests where the notes are kept RBI then raises a voucher for the notes needed Banks raise their demand for cash with RBIs regional offices RBI then sends money to banks Banks keep the money in their currency chests and engage cash management firms to fill the ATMs ATM service providers do a daily calculation of cash required at night for the next day, called indent Banks validate the indent and the cash is transferred to the bank branch linked to that ATM These bank branches generate their own cash and in case of shortage, they borrow from currency chest Cash management companies transfer cash from branches to ATMs The companies fill up the ATMs with four cassettes, which can hold up to 2,500 notes each The money is dispensed when customers use their card Security modalities A typical cash van has an in-built vault, is covered in basic armour, and can carry up to five personnel, a driver, two handlers, and two security guards. The security personnel are mostly hired raw and then trained in procedures and firearms. Only rarely are ex-police or services personnel hired, as they are more expensive. On a daily basis, an average cash logistics company transports Rs 5,000-8,000 crore worth of cash nationwide. This company also has its own chests in various locations, as some of the foreign banks which do not have such facilities prefer to park their money in these chests. Not surprisingly, transporting cash is a high-tech affair. A huge central control room has large LCD screens covering an entire wall. There are rows of people monitoring the movement of each and every van the company operates. (This company has 10,000 vans). Huge maps of India with moving red dots are splashed on the screens. Not only that, the vehicles are geo-fenced too. That is, the vans follow predetermined routes and any deviation will result in the driver getting a call from the control room. All of the companys vans across the country can be immobilized and brought to a stop from the control room in Delhi in case of an emergency, after which local law enforcement is notified. What do the cash logistics people think of the RBI and the governments contention that the latest round of cash crunch is a logistical issue? Our business is to transport money. That is how we earn revenues, from banks and MSPs. "The more efficient you are, the more clients you secure. Why would we create delays from our end, the president replied and moved on to the job at hand. Kochhar brothers stepped down from the board of Credential Finance by 2009. While Deepak Kochhar started NuPower Renewables, Rajiv set up Avista Advisory Group Credential Finance (CFL), a financial services firm set up by brothers Deepak and Rajiv Kochhar in the mid-1990s, failed to repay its loans taken from financial institutions, including Sicom and a State Bank of India subsidiary. The Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) is currently investigating CFL along with NuPower Renewables and Avista Advisory Group for alleged conflict of interest. ICICI Bank gave a Rs 32-billion loan to Videocon group, which invested in NuPower Renewables, a firm promoted by ICICI Bank MD and CEO Chanda Kochhars husband Deepak Kochhar. According to filings with the courts and with Ministry of Corporate Affairs, CFL failed to repay its dues in time. In 1995, CFL merged with Bloom Field Builders, and Chanda Kochhar held shares in the company. The name of the company was changed from Bloom Field Builders to Credential Finance and Deepak Kochhar took over as managing director, while his brother Rajiv was appointed executive director. The company also appointed Manoj Maheshwari, OP Bhardwaj, T Thyagarajan and SK Shelgikar as additional directors, according to filings with the Registrar of Companies (RoC). The companys paid-up share capital increased from Rs 1 crore to Rs 5.6 crore, and it started its business as a non-banking finance company. The company planned to set up offices in Dubai, Singapore and London to raise deposits from non-resident Indians, even as it raised fixed deposits worth Rs 3.6 crore from the Indian public as on March 1996. According to RoC filings, by 2001, Videocon owned 17 per cent stake in Credential Finance, while the Kochhar family owned 2 per cent stake directly along with a host of investment companies. Mahesh Chandra Pungalia, an advisor to Videocon, owned another 0.8 per cent stake in CFL. Early this month, Pungalia was questioned by the CBI along with Rajiv Kochhar. In the next two years, the company started showing signs of financial stress as it was unable to repay its loans and many of the cheques issued by the company started bouncing. The company had taken loans from Sicom India, a financial institution owned by the Maharashtra government and Housing Development and Finance Corporation, SBI Home Finance and a host of other private companies. It owed close to Rs 300 million to investors and banks by 2003, a source close to the development said. A lot of litigation followed as lenders moved courts, the source added. The court cases went on for some years with the company filing for liquidation and was suspended from trading in 1996-97. Even as the court cases went on, the Kochhar brothers stepped down from the board of Credential Finance by 2009. While Deepak Kochhar started NuPower Renewables, Rajiv set up Avista Advisory Group. Meanwhile, Chanda Kochhar became the managing director and chief executive of ICICI Bank in 2009. Interestingly, just before her appointment, some well-wishers paid off the Rs 40 lakh loan taken by CFL to Banque Indo Suez, now known as Caylon Bank, a Bombay high court order dated March 4, 2009 shows. According to banking sources, the Bombay high court order was crucial for Chanda Kochhar as her appointment was subject to the RBI's clearance. Any financial dispute would have been come in the way of getting the permission, the source said. ICICI Bank, Nupower, Avista Advisory did not comment on the identification of the well-wishers who paid off the CFL loan. The fortunes of NuPower and Avista Advisory started changing soon after 2009. Documents filed with the RoC show that NuPower received equity funds of Rs 400 crore from DH Renewables, a fund based in Mauritius, which, in turn, is owned by Accion Diversified Strategies Fund (ADSF) of Cayman Islands, a tax haven. NuPower also received a Rs 640-million loan from Videocon group firm Supreme Energy. Later, Videocon group transferred its stake in Supreme Energy to Pungalia, which was then transferred to a trust floated by Deepak Kochhar. Photograph: PTI Photo From Bali to Bhutan, we'll tell you the places to head to! Photograp: Courtesy Pixabay.com The months of May, June and July are that of scorching heat and humidity in most parts of India. There are also the most popular for Indians to go on a vacation with their friends and family. While most people prefer to go to hilly destinations to escape harsh sunlight, some prefer to let their hair down by the beach. Whether one is looking for a vacation by the shore or in a valley tucked into a mountain range, here are some Indian and international options to explore. Bali A school of swirling jacks near the USAT Liberty wreck at Tulamben, on the Indonesian resort island of Bali. Photograph: David Loh/Reuters The Indonesian island of bountiful beaches, beautiful scenery, warm people, and mouth-watering cuisines surely makes Bali a strong candidate for a summer holiday destination. Travellers can trek on the Mount Batur volcano, walk along Katu Beach or visit the Bali Safari or Uluwatu Temple. Ladakh Bikers on their way to Ladakh. Photograph: Reuben NV/Rediff Archives This region attracts tourists due to its beautiful snow-capped mountains and rugged terrain. It is an ideal vacation spot for nature lovers, bikers, trekkers, and mountaineers. Bhutan In between your wooded explorationes, explore the Taktsang Palphug Monastery, also known as the Tiger's Nest. Photograph: Sean Caffrey/Getty Images Over time, the country gained recognition as a bucket-list holiday destination. The spectacular mountains views, azure skies, a vast expanse of greenery, and organic food make Bhutan an ideal getaway for summers. One could also visit Buddhist monasteries, and explore the cities of Paro, Tashi and the Punakha Valley, among other places. Munnar Munnar was once the summer resort of the British. Photograph: Ben3john/Creative Commons This destination is known for its scenic tea plantations, mountains, picturesque valleys and an array of flora and fauna. Sitting on a height of over 6,000 feet, Munnar has a number of options, including the Periyar Wildlife Sanctuary, which is primarily known for sighting tigers. Sri Lanka Photograph: Abhishek Mande/Rediff Archives Another destination for beach enthusiasts, the country has an array of heritage properties, rich culture, diverse landscape and seafood-based cuisine. Among top places to visit here are Colombo, Kandy and Bentota. 'BJP leaders might ponder the all-consuming arrogance that grips the Modi-Shah combine a year ahead of the next general election,' says Sunil Sethi. IMAGE: Prime Minister Narendra D Modi during his interaction with the Indian Diaspora in London, April 18, 2018. Photograph: @PIBIndia/Twitter The word 'hubris' in the Oxford English Dictionary is summed up simply as 'excessive pride'. It is the single biggest reason for leaders who exercise unrestrained power to rapidly start losing their shine. In the controlling, vainglorious, style of managing government and party that he displays, Narendra D Modi is sometimes compared to Indira Gandhi. In a notorious exhortation in 1976, then Congress party president D K Barooah declared, 'India is Indira and Indira is India.' Perhaps Mrs Gandhi took his grovelling utterance literally. It was a calamitous period when she had seized absolute power during the Emergency, leading to a humiliating defeat in the election of 1977. Her son Rajiv Gandhi, a milder species, also displayed moments of unalloyed hubris. In 1982, as party general secretary, he shouted at then Andhra Pradesh chief minister T Anjaiah at Hyderabad airport, calling him a 'buffoon'. Anjaiah was sacked forthwith. More alarmingly, as prime minister in 1987, Rajiv dismissed then foreign secretary A P Venkateswaran at a press conference with the curt announcement, 'You will be meeting a new foreign secretary soon.' BJP leaders, including Modi, are known to quote these instances as prime examples of sycophancy that afflicts the country's grand old party and its catholic adherence to dynastic succession. Instead, they might ponder the all-consuming arrogance that grips the Modi-Shah combine a year ahead of the next general election. In the wake of the abject reversals in Gorakhpur and Phulpur -- and a series of defeats in other by-elections -- the most commonly posed question today is: Will 2019 be the BJPs 1977 moment? In the copious analysis of the shifting caste alliances and SP-BSP gatbandhan that led to the losses in Chief Minister Ajay Singh Bisht -- aka Adityanath -- and his deputy's pocket boroughs in Uttar Pradesh, one BJP MP from western UP was quoted as pinning the blame on the sense of 'ahankar' and 'aham' (arrogance and ego) that prevails in the party cadres. 'Our party rules in 21 states, or in alliances, that govern 70 per cent of the electorate,' the BJP MP continued, 'but avenues to respond to 1,300 MLAs are blocked. The fact is that most BJP legislators feel ignored and unappreciated.' There is a telling video clip -- it went viral after the BJP's recent election triumph in Tripura -- that demonstrates how party veterans are publicly brushed off. It shows the prime minister greeting a line-up of dignitaries assembled on stage at the chief minister's swearing-in in Agartala. Among them is the 91-year-old L K Advani. He is bowing, hands folded, in a decorous namaskar, but Mr Modi coolly walks past without acknowledging his greeting. Among Mr Modi's first actions on taking charge in 2014 was to mothball the likes of Mr Advani as margdarshaks, stopping leaders above the age of 75 from playing active political roles. But Mr Modi is both the rule-maker and the rule-breaker. Then what about the 75-plus B S Yeddyurappa, currently projected as the BJP's candidate for chief minister in the upcoming state election in Karnataka? Mr Modi's disdain for public opinion in media interactions is well established; even more so is the case of Amit Shah. Except for a bunch of oily cupbearers in the capital who perform at the duo's bidding, access to the PMO is tightly monitored, trips abroad abolished, open press conferences unknown. The tone of sneering contempt -- You are just secularists who don't count' -- in which Mr Shah insulted the press at a media encounter in the Ashok Hotel not long ago went down badly. Journalists from Gandhinagar well-acquainted with Mr Modi during his long reign in Gujarat who seek interviews have been told, 'Narendra Modi doesn't belong to Gujarat alone, he now belongs to India.' Yet in Mr Modi's 'House of Cards' a favoured few can do as they please. Among them is Smriti Irani, who took charge of the information and broadcasting ministry last year. Ms Irani, in a hit-and-miss political career, has learnt the art of cultivating the media; less civil is her record with civil servants. Last year in an unaccountable action she transferred several dozen information officers of the Press Information Bureau, the official interface between the media and ministries. The move caused consternation as some were due for retirement. No amount of chocolate cake she sent PIB officers after the Budget has had the effect to mollify a resentful staff. One of the BJP's core traditional constituencies in Delhi has been of middle-class shopkeepers and traders. Bridling at 15 years of Congress rule and the BJP's national landslide in 2014, it put the Aam Aadmi Party, led by 'Jhadoo King' Arvind Kejriwal, in power. Hubris is Mr Kejriwal's middle name; Delhi's citizens are ruing the day he became chief minister. For some months many of the city's markets have been part-paralysed by a 'sealing drive' to collect fines for using residential floors for commercial use. The BJP rules the city's municipalities and is the small Opposition in the legislature. Here is the party's chance to alleviate shopkeepers' distress and win back old supporters. But it is deluded in the belief 'Modi raj' that will deliver them. Ahankar and aham have been many a great leader's undoing. 'They have no other agenda, but to perpetuate hate.' 'They have destroyed the economy and polity and they survive only on hate.' 'They think through hatred, they can mobilise the large chunk of Hindu votes.' IMAGE: A protest in Mumbai against the Kathua and Unnao rapes, April 15, 2018. Photograph: Uttam Ghosh/Rediff.com Forty-nine former civil servants sent Prime Minister Narendra D Modi a strongly worded letter expressing concern after the Kathua and Unnao rapes. The letter described the present situation as the 'darkest hour in the history of independent India'. In their letter to Prime Minister Modi, the former bureaucrats said, 'Given your supremacy within the party and the centralised control you and your party president exercise, you, more than anyone else, have to be held responsible for this terrifying state of affairs.' 'Instead of owning up and making reparations,' the letter added, 'you had until yesterday chosen to remain silent, breaking your silence only when public outrage both in India and internationally reached a point when you could no longer ignore it.' "The way things are, the way the powers that be is responding, the way UP is being run, the way various BJP governments and the central government are running its affairs, we don't see any light at the end of the tunnel," M G Devasahayam -- one of the 49 civil servants who sent Modi the letter -- tells Rediff.com's Shobha Warrier. In the letter you and 48 former civil servants, you have described this as the darkest hour in the history of independent India. Were the Kathua and Unnao rapes the reason why you wrote the letter? During the last 3-4 years, there has been a culture of governance by fear emanating from Delhi. Kathua and Unnao are manifestation of this culture. Hence, our strongly worded letter to the prime minister. Till now we used to say the Emergency was the darkest period (in post independence India's history). I personally know the excesses of the Emergency and the kind of horrors that happened then. Now we have an undeclared Emergency which is far worse than the declared Emergency. At that time, everyone knew what was happening. Why do you say the situation is far worse than the Emergency? People are under fear all the time, demonetisation fear, GST fear, gau rakshak fear, Aadhaar fear... An average citizen is living in fear now. It was not this bad during the Emergency. This particular incident (the Kathua rape) has three other dimensions. One is the rape of an 8-year-old little girl which itself is a heinous of all heinous crimes. It happened in January and there was no action taken for three months. Only after an article appeared in the Indian Express that all this happened. When the police tried to file a case, a large group of lawyers, politicians and others took out a rally waving the national flag to protect the rapist. Has something like this happened anywhere else in the world? The third aspect is when the matter came up for debate the BJP (Bharatiya Janata Party) spokesperson started abusing everybody. Will the spokesperson take a stand without sanction from the high command? That is why when you analyse the whole incident, you see that this is a hate crime, rape most foul and murder most foul with a political agenda. This was done to terrorise the Muslim nomadic community to run away from the forest. The message is loud and clear -- you run away from the forest. You mean this is different from the many other attacks on women and young girls that are happening in the country. More than a social issue, it is more political? Occasionally, crimes do happen, but this is far, far, worse. It reflects the very conscience of the character of the nation. In this particular case, we see a total failure and collapse of governance. All of us former civil servants were part of governance once. We see that it is not an isolated crime, but a collapse of governance itself. In your letter, it is written that you find the response of our government, the leaders of the political party inadequate and feeble... The truth is, they were all party to the crime. They were all conspirators of the crime. We are not expecting any response from the prime minister or anybody. They have no other agenda, but to perpetuate hate. They have destroyed the economy and polity and they survive only on hate. They think through hatred, they can mobilise the large chunk of Hindu votes. Some feel politics and religion have been dragged into a heinous crime. Nobody is dragging politics and religion into the crime; it is already there. The crime is a religious communal hate crime. And the crime happened inside a temple. The letter says you don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Do you really feel so? Yes, the way things are, the way the powers that be is responding, the way UP is being run, the way various BJP governments and the central government are running its affairs, we don't see any light at the end of the tunnel. Are you of the opinion that the BJP is winning elections in many states because of the polarisation happening in the society? Absolutely. Otherwise, what do they offer? Look at their development agenda. The GDP growth is a fraud. You mean the public does not support the BJP at all? Yes. Only the hardcore Hindutva people are supporting the party. They do not know what Hinduism is, they do not know the compassion and greatness of the Hindu religion; they are only interested in their physical welfare. Only 15% of the population are like that, but they want to include at least 25% of the population through this divisive agenda and win elections. The Modi government won more than 300 Lok Sabha seats in 2014 and have an absolute majority to rule the country... It is totally wrong to say that they won an absolute majority. Only 31% voted for them. 69% voted against them. Because the skewed kind of electoral system we have, 31% gave them 284 seats. With the help of their alliance, they got more than 300 seats. This is not an absolute majority. But they captured power. In the last four years, what kind of governance have they given? Everything is controlled by the prime minister's office. Excessive centralisation is happening. He is a democratically elected prime minister, but he has not held even one media conference. A fear psychosis is being created among the people. Financial management is in ruins. 'Even worse than Emergency' Vappala Balachandran -- a former Research and Analysis Wing (R&AW) officer who served as special secretary, Cabinet Secretariat -- explains his rationale for signing the open letter to the prime minister in an e-mail exchange with Saisuresh Sivaswamy Who took the initiative for this open letter? Were there any ex-bureaucrat you approached and who refused? Do you all meet up regularly, or do you keep in touch over the phone/WhatsApp/Skype, etc? How do you decide the time is ripe for articulating your sentiments? Although belonging to different services and batches, we have come together as responsible citizens of India to register our deep concern: a. At the continuing incidents of mindless violence in the country, especially those targeting the minorities, and the lackadaisical response of the law enforcement machinery to these attacks. b. On the inadequate implementation of our existing laws which provide adequate protection if they are implemented with the necessary will and determination. Who takes the lead in penning the letter? After the first draft, I suppose it is circulated among all of you for amendments, etc? Is it an open forum, or do you have designated roles -- like, someone may be good at penmanship, another maybe good at coordination, etc? This is an informal body from all over India and we consult each other, elicit suggestions and make representations to the authorities. Similar appeals have been made earlier too. This is not the first time. This is a particularly strongly worded letter. What is it about the present that makes you feel so despondent? You have called this the darkest hour for Indian democracy. Considering that all you have witnessed the Emergency from closer quarters, even served during those dark days, surely to call now the darkest hour seems a bit of a stretch? To recall, then civil liberties were suspended. Surely that's not the case now. Why do you still rate this the darkest hour? Yes, I (personally, as I don't want to involve other members) strongly believe that this is the darkest hour of our democracy, even worse than the Emergency since the law and order authorities did not permit such wanton killings during that era. On the other hand, law and order all over the country was very peaceful during the Emergency, although the free press was muzzled. You have taken a considerable swipe at your younger colleagues still in service -- saying that they seem to have failed in their duty. Is that a call to civil disobedience one senses here? What will you have them do, bound as they are by their service rules? Surely, in your long and distinguished career, you were faced with moments when you were not fully in tune with what your job required of you. How did you handle such moments? In appealing publicly we were only calling for the implementation of the existing laws. By no stretch of imagination can anyone call it as 'a call for civil disobedience', as you have described. Kathua and Unnao are heinous crimes, no doubt, where the courts are seized of the matter. The cases will be seen to their logical end, and the guilty will be punished -- as they should be. But how do you draw a line from these crimes to no less than the prime minister himself? Never in the past has a lawyers association objected to the filing of the chargesheet by the concerned police officials. Nor have sitting ministers of a particular political party openly addressed such a body justifying this illegal action. Even the prime minister had described the incidents 'shameful' on April 13. He added: 'I want to assure the country that no culprit will be spared, complete justice will be done. Our daughters will definitely get justice.' The President also said on April 18 that the Kathua incident was 'barbaric'. He added: 'It is the collective responsibility of society to ensure that such a thing does not occur'. We as a body are doing exactly that. Shah's rally and other events will be attended by party workers from neighbouring constituencies, including Amethi. Archis Mohan reports. Photograph: PTI Photo In the midst of his partys battle against the Congress in Karnataka, Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah will address a public rally, and also attend several other programmes, in the Nehru-Gandhi family pocket borough of Rae Bareli on April 21. Rae Bareli is the constituency of United Progressive Alliance chairperson Sonia Gandhi. Shahs rally and other events will be attended by party workers from neighbouring constituencies, including Congress president Rahul Gandhi's Lok Sabha constituency of Amethi. Rahul recently paid a visit to Amethi. Meanwhile, the Centre continued its Dalit outreach with Union Minister Ram Vilas Paswan saying the Modi government would push for reservation of Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes in promotions in government jobs. A top leader also said that three BJP-ruled states have decided to keep in abeyance the implementation of the Supreme Court order on the SC and ST (Prevention of Atrocities) Act. The leader said Chhattisgarh, Madhya Pradesh and Rajasthan governments will also file a review petition against the order. The BJP has been nervous about its Dalit support base deserting the party in the wake of the March 20 order and due to subsequent protests. Paswan, who has been frequently holding press conferences on the issue, said on Tuesday that the Centre could bring an ordinance. Paswan is also a member of the group of ministers constituted for issues involving SCs and STs. In another development, former Vishva Hindu Parishad leader Pravin Togadia began his indefinite fast in Ahmedabad demanding construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya. Togadia, 62, had quit the VHP last week after his nominee Raghav Reddy lost a key organisational poll. The police denied Togadia permission to sit on a fast at the GMDC ground, after which he shifted the venue to outside the VHP headquarters. Kiran Bala, who went to Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival, changed her name to Amna Bibi. An Indian Sikh woman, who went to Pakistan to attend the Baisakhi festival, has sought extension of her visa after marrying a man in Lahore and embracing Islam, media reports said on Thursday. Kiran Bala, daughter of Manohar Lal from Punjab's Hoshiarpur district, wrote to the Pakistan foreign office that her visa should be extended as she married one Mohammad Azam, resident of Lahore, during a ceremony held at Jamia Naeemia seminary in Lahore on April 16, The Express Tribune reported. She also changed her name to Amna Bibi which she used to sign the letter addressed to the foreign ministry, the report said. "Now in the given circumstances, the undersigned could not return back to India and the undersigned have received life threats of assassination, therefore, the undersigned intends to extend her visa," she wrote in the letter, published by the local media. The FO or the Indian high commission have not said anything about the letter. She arrived in Pakistan on April 12 with other Sikh pilgrims to attend the festival in Gurdwara Panja Sahib located in Hasan Abdal near Islamabad. Her visa will expire on April 21. The ongoing Baisakhi festival is the fresh subject of controversy between Pakistan and India. It has already created bitterness after India accused Pakistan of using it to incite Indian pilgrims on the issue of 'Khalistan', which was rejected by Islamabad. Image used for representational purposes only No meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi so far. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings, including with his counterparts from Bangladesh, Australia and the President of Seychelles, on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) in London on Thursday. This would be the first interaction of Modi with Sheikh Hasina since the Bangladeshi prime minister's visit to New Delhi last year. However, officials have indicated that no meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with Pakistani Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi so far. Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with the Indian prime minister during the CHOGM include Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness. Gambian President Adama Barrow, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the President of Seychelles Danny Faure are also on the list. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assumes significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumption's relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the world's largest population of giant tortoises. Modi is likely to interact with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbua, Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Keith C Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. "The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues," a senior official said. The bilateral talks are scheduled as the formal heads of government meeting gets underway in London today following the formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. "Over many years you have been the Commonwealth's most steadfast and fervent champion. You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth? we commit to sustaining this Commonwealth, which you have so carefully nurtured," British Prime Minister Theresa May said in reference to the Queen at her opening address. The 91-year-old monarch, as the Head of the Commonwealth, will host a dinner for all 53 heads of government at the palace later in the evening on Thursday. "I had not been able to visit the last summit and this time, it was an honour that Prince Charles came personally to India last year to invite me for it. The Queen herself wrote a personal letter to me, a matter of great pride for India," Modi said during his Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath diaspora event in London on Wednesday. An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. The Indian government has said that this symbolises the country's wider efforts to step up its role across global forums. "In the multilateral space for us, the Commonwealth is a very unique multilateral grouping. It comprises of a very diverse set of 53 countries ranging from small island developing states to some of the most advanced industrialised countries of the world It has a very strong international voice particularly on developing country issues," an MEA spokesperson said. The executive session of the summit today will be followed by a retreat at Windsor Castle tomorrow, when the leaders get together in an informal setting without any pre-set agenda or being accompanied by their top advisers. As Britain takes over the two-year Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth at the heads of government deliberations, it marks the last such summit to be hosted by the Queen. With the monarch having ruled out long-haul travel, she is unlikely to travel to any future CHOGMs to be hosted by other member-states. This has triggered widespread speculation over whether her son and heir, Prince Charles, would be anointed as the next Head of the organisation. As the position is not hereditary, a decision on succession is expected during the informal chats at the retreat. At the end of the retreat, Modi will head back to India after a brief stop for his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. PTI AK AMS AKJ AMS The Congress said that there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary. IMAGE: Congress members participate in a silent protest march. Photograph: Kind courtesy @sanjaynirupam/Twitter The Congress on Thursday raised questions over the Supreme Court verdict rejecting a batch of pleas seeking a probe into the alleged mysterious death of judge B H Loya, saying it was a "sad letter day" in the country's history and pitched for a fair probe into the matter. Attacking the Bharatiya Janata Party for accusing Congress president Rahul Gandhi's as being the "invisible hand" behind the petitions seeking the probe, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the allegations as a "malicious attempt" which showed the ruling party's "jitteriness". It is a sad letter day in India's history. The suspicious circumstances in which Loya died, was a matter of deep concern for those who have faith in the judiciary. The copy of the entire judgment is not yet available. But there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary, Surjewala told reporters in New Delhi. He raised 10 questions relating to the case as he criticised the verdict and noted that issue of criminality can be decided only through a probe, contending that no investigation was done into the death of Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. In this background, the BJP's attempt to make false capital out of the Supreme Court judgment must be condemned with strongest possible words, he added. Surjewala also stressed that the Congress was not among the petitioners seeking a probe into the judge's death and recalled that the party had instead approached the people's court and approached President Ram Nath Kovind along with 14 other opposition parties. The BJP's attempt to misinterpret the Supreme Court judgement reflects their jitteriness and frustration. We reject and condemn the malicious attempts of the BJP to misinterpret the judgement for finger pointing, he said. Earlier in the day, Congress leader Abhishek Manu Singhvi said that the apex court's verdict dismissing the pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death will raise more questions and leave many of them unanswered unless logical reasons were found in it. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said there was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on the circumstances leading to the judge's death and the documents placed on record and their scrutiny established that the death was due to natural cause. Loya had died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Immediately after the court gave its verdict, the BJP mounted an attack on the Congress, alleging that the "invisible" hand behind the petitions was that of Gandhi who tried to use the judiciary for "character assassination" of its chief Amit Shah. Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka had the most number of minor rape victims in 2016. After the horrific rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, two more incidents of rape and murder of minors -- in Surat, Gujarat, and Etah, Uttar Pradesh -- have since come to light. Rediff Labs analyses the state-wise data on incidents of child rape issued by the National Crime Records Bureau for 2016. The map above shows how many incidents of rape of minors were reported in each state during the year 2016. The data is divided into three groups according to the victims' age, that is, below 6 years, between 6 and 12 years and between 12 and 18 years. The data shows that Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Kerala and Madhya Pradesh had the most number of victims in two age groups: below six years, and 6-12 years. In the case of victims belonging to the age group of 12-18 years, the states with the highest number of rape cases were Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka. Overall, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Uttar Pradesh, Odisha and Karnataka had the most number of minor rape victims in 2016. For more data stories go to Rediff Labs Home Just In Operation Mandala at Kathmandu airport to prevent inter-country crimes Kathmandu, April 19 Nepal Police says it has launched a special campaign based at Tribhuvan International Airport of Kathmandu, the only international airport of the country, in a bid to prevent and control inter-country crimes. The Operation Mandala has been launched on Thursday. Chief of the TIA Immigration Office Hom Nath Thapaliya and SP Prem Chand jointly launched the campaign today. Police say the operation aims at preventing activities of organised criminal gangs, human traffickers and others. Such activities to be carried out with the use of missing or stolen passports of eight South Asian and Southeast Asian countries will be controlled with the campaign. Interpol and the Department of Immigration are partnering with Nepal Police for the operation. 'If you are so blinded by the Buy American, Hire American policy, if you are not going to be fair, consistent and welcoming, in the end America will lose out.' Ritu Jha/indica reports from California. Illustration: Dominic Xavier/Rediff.com Srinivasa Narasimhalu is just one of many Indian software professionals facing harsh scrutiny from the US Citizenship and Immigration Services (USCIS), but, instead of wilting under pressure, is fighting back. Narasimhalu -- who was on an H-1B visa -- was employed as a computer professional by Delta Information Systems, Inc and had USCIS authorisation from November 1, 2011 to February 27, 2018. Currently he is out of status. Michael E Piston, Narasimhalu's attorney, has filed a civil action on the computer professional's behalf in the United States District of Columbia. Narasimhalu's case exposes a lot of the chaos currently surrounding the H-1B. A year ago when President Donald J Trump signed the Buy American, Hire American executive order, IT firms did not quite realise he was targeting them too. That is, till they began getting an increased number of requests for evidence (RFEs) regarding the applicants and the rejections of applications seeking renewals on H-1B visas. "When he announced it, we thought what has it to do with us, but now this has become a really big problem," Piston told Rediff.com According to the lawsuit, a professor in the field has evaluated Narasimhalu's education and experience as being equivalent to someone with a bachelor's degree in computer information systems from an accredited institution of higher education in the United States. But when Delta applied for Narasimhalu using Form I-129, the Petition for Non-immigrant Worker, the USCIS denied the petition. The agency asserted that there was no employer-employee relationship and that the job of computer systems analyst offered to him is not a specialty occupation. "My client is a victim of 'Buy American, Hire American'," Piston said. "In the past we and most other migration attorney have had no problem in getting an H-1B visa approved for a computer system analyst. This was routine. The computer system analyst (application) was thought to be almost automatic. Now we are seeing a 180-degree reversal," Piston added. It appeared, Piston said, that now many computer system analysts are being denied. "Now they have started interpreting the law very conservatively. According to this conservative interpretation of law, computer system analysts don't qualify," he said. According to Piston, the USCIS depends heavily on the Occupational Outlook Handbook, published by the US department of labour. Going by that, the ultimate question is whether the job demands a bachelor's degree, whether the applicant has a degree or not. Most computer systems analysts have a bachelor's degree in a computer-related field and that was what mattered before. Many people qualify for the combination of skills required of a systems analyst, many holding degrees in engineering or statistics and then gaining experience. This holds not only for people on H-1B visas, but also local applicants. "What they are doing is interpreting the law very aggressively and very restrictively. (Using) that, they are denying lots of petitions which the USCIS had approved in the past, including those by Narasimhalu," Piston pointed out. "What makes it more outrageous is that the USCIS (claimed) he wasn't even an employee of his employer," Piston said with a laugh, adding, "In this case they are just making the law up." The American immigration Lawyers Association's report released last month, Deconstructing The Invisible Wall, covers how things unravelled over the last few months. According to it, 'On February 22, 2018, just weeks before the opening of the FY 2019 H-1B cap filing window, USCIS released a new policy memorandum imposing heightened evidentiary requirements for all H-1B petitions involving third-party worksites.' 'Without citing specifics, or any data as to the actual rate of confirmed cases of fraud, USCIS claims that significant employer violations are more likely to occur in third-party worksite situations.' 'Employers who intend to place H-1B workers at a third-party worksite have for years been required to submit ample evidence to demonstrate an ongoing employer-employee relationship between the petitioning employer and the H-1B workers.' 'This memo adds even more onerous evidentiary requirements on employers. It also imposes burdensome requirements on third-party companies, which will be called upon to provide contracts, work orders, itineraries, and detailed letters from authorised company representatives attesting to the nature and duration of the project for which H-1B workers are required, even though the third-party company is not the employer.' 'Additionally, when seeking an H-1B extension, employers will be asked to show that the requirements of the H-1B programme were met for the entire previous approval period, effectively requiring documentary evidence of retroactive compliance.' Cyrus Mehta, founder and managing partner, Cyrus D Mehta & Partners PLLC, echoed Piston when sharing his concern. "It was not that they were not challenging before, but they are challenging much more now for occupations that are kind of readily obviously recognised for H1B purposes," Mehta said. He, too, felt the USCIS is not consistent and keep referring to the Occupation Outlook Handbook, which was never designed to address the H-1B visa programme. "That handbook has been developed for the public to educate them of career options in the US," he said A USCIS report shows that during fiscal years 2015 to 2018, it sent out 300,762 RFEs for 1.2 million applications. The number of RFEs served between FY 2015 and FY 2016 rose from 78,469 to 80,961, a non-significant difference, but leaped to 124,237 in FY 2017. The last number documents a rise of 153 per cent from FY 2016. In an e-mailed statement (external link) in January to indica, USCIS Director L Francis Cissna conceded there was a change, saying, "It is true that we've issued more RFEs recently. This increase reflects our commitment to protecting the integrity of the immigration system." "But the RFE rate has not markedly increased and, in fact, has remained consistent over the last few years at around 20 per cent. At the same time, our approval rate has remained above 90 per cent," Cissna said. "On occasion," the USCIS director added, "it is necessary to issue more than one RFE per petition to ensure the petitioners are being truthful and that the jobs and wages being provided are accurate." "We understand that RFEs can cause delays, but the added review and additional information gives us the assurance we are approving petitions correctly," Cissna said. "Increasing our confidence in who receives benefits is a hallmark of this administration and one of my personal priorities." Asked if any recent changes in the qualifications required for getting an H-1B visa, the USCIS spokesperson said not much. A specialty occupation requires the theoretical and practical application of a body of highly specialised knowledge and a bachelor's degree or higher in the specific specialty, or its equivalent, as a minimum requirement for entry into the occupation in the United States (for example, architecture, engineering, mathematics, physical sciences, medicine, etc). Mehta commenting on the Narasimhalu case and hundreds of thousand receiving RFE says they have made the life on H-1B visa more perilous. "Now even if you have H-1B approved you don't know what is going to happen at time of the extension," Mehta said, again pointing out that Delta had just applied for an extension for Narasimhalu, whose application the USCIS had approved earlier and on the basis of which he had spend years working in the country. "They (the USCIS) should accept the employer description and not job description," Mehta said. "If you want to get skilled workers, you have to have reasonable, fair and rational policies. You can't be arbitrary and ad hoc with regards to how you adjudicate these petitions," he said. Kalpana V Peddibhotla, an immigration attorney, said her team has received several worrying letters, and is sharing these with members of the United States Congress. Though there are different kinds of RFEs, Peddibhotla said, the most common one involves third-party placement. "Some of the requirements are beyond what even the regulation would normally require," Peddibhotla said, adding that the USCIS calls for the evidence including people to show a chain of control that many employers cannot provide is causing end clients a lot of avoidable stress. "The USCIS wants a letter from the end client that acknowledges that H-1B (visa holder) was placed there. That is fine. But then it has to be a specific and exact itinerary," Peddibhotla added. Such demands have increased in the last year she said, often ending with people being denied extensions. Mehta said the policy was a definite problem. "If you are so blinded by the Buy American, Hire American policy, if you are not going to be fair, consistent and welcoming, in the end America will lose out," he said. "If American companies cannot bring in the workers they want, they will outsource more work to where it is easier to hire skilled people." Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom in the World 2018 - United Arab Emirates Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - United Arab Emirates, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad8577c26.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Not Free Aggregate Score: 17 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 6.5 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 7 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 6 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 9,300,000 Capital:Abu Dhabi GDP/capita:$39,102 Press Freedom Status:Not Free Net Freedom Status:Not Free OVERVIEW The United Arab Emirates (UAE) is a federation of seven emirates led in practice by Abu Dhabi, the largest by area and richest in natural resources. Limited elections are held for a federal advisory body, but political parties are banned, and all executive, legislative, and judicial authority ultimately rests with the seven hereditary rulers. The civil liberties of both citizens and noncitizens, who make up an overwhelming majority of the population, are subject to significant restrictions. Ratings Change: Due to a methodological change affecting certain monarchies, the United Arab Emirates' political rights rating declined from 6 to 7; for more information see the report methodology page. Key Developments in 2017: The UAE cut diplomatic relations with neighboring Qatar in June and together with Saudi Arabia, Bahrain, and Egypt imposed transportation and trade sanctions on Doha, which it accused of supporting terrorist groups and generally pursuing a foreign policy that undermined those of its Arab partners. Also in June, the UAE's attorney general issued a statement warning that residents who expressed sympathy for Qatar could face large fines and up to 15 years in prison. Arrests and convictions of human rights defenders and opposition activists continued during the year, and foreign scholars and students who were critical of UAE policy were denied entry to the country. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 5 / 40 (-2) A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 1 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 0 / 4 The Federal Supreme Council, comprising the dynastic rulers of the seven emirates, is the country's highest executive body. It selects a president and vice president from among its members, and the president appoints a prime minister and cabinet. The emirate of Abu Dhabi has controlled the federation's presidency since its inception in 1971; the current president, Sheikh Khalifa bin Zayed bin Sultan al-Nahyan, succeeded his father in 2004. In 2006, Sheikh Mohammed bin Rashid al-Maktoum succeeded his late brother as ruler of the emirate of Dubai and as vice president and prime minister of the UAE. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 The unelected Federal Supreme Council is also the country's highest legislative authority, but it is advised by the 40-seat Federal National Council (FNC), which can review proposed laws and question government ministers. Since 2006, half of the FNC's members have been elected by an electoral college chosen by the rulers of each emirate, while the government directly appoints the other half. The size of the electoral college has expanded over time; in 2015, it grew to more than 224,000 members, some 34 times larger than in 2006, though this still represented less than half of the voting-age citizen population. Voter turnout in the 2015 elections remained low, at 35 percent of those eligible. There are no elected legislative bodies in the individual emirates. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 0 / 4 The UAE's electoral framework applies only to the advisory FNC, and it lacks universal suffrage. While the electoral college has expanded and overseas voting was permitted for the first time in 2015, there is no accountability for the procedures by which the rulers of each emirate draw up the lists of eligible voters. The geographical allocation of FNC seats results in significant overrepresentation for the smaller emirates. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 2 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 0 / 4 Political parties are banned, and all electoral candidates run as independents. Since 2011, the UAE has aggressively cracked down on opposition activists, particularly if they are suspected of belonging to the Association for Reform and Guidance (Al-Islah), a group formed in 1974 to advocate for democratic reform. The government has accused members of Al-Islah of being foreign agents of the Muslim Brotherhood intent on overthrowing the regime, and designated the Muslim Brotherhood a terrorist organization in 2014. Qatar's support for the Muslim Brotherhood was a factor in the UAE's efforts to isolate that country in 2017. Dozens of activists, civil society leaders, academics, and students remain imprisoned during the year as part of the broader crackdown, including those convicted in a 2013 mass trial of 94 dissidents. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 0 / 4 The political system grants the emirates' hereditary rulers a monopoly on power and excludes the possibility of a change in government through elections. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 1 / 4 Political choices in practice are severely limited, and the alignment of both voters and candidates are heavily influenced by tribal networks. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 1 / 4 More than 85 percent of the population of the UAE consists of noncitizens who lack political rights and electoral opportunities, including tens of thousands of stateless residents. There is no clear process for obtaining citizenship without Emirati parentage or marriage to an Emirati man; children of Emirati mothers and foreign fathers must apply for naturalization. Women make up about 48 percent of the FNC electoral college, and 78 women ran as candidates in the 2015 elections. Only one woman was elected, and another eight were appointed by the government; one of them was named as speaker and president of the body, marking the first time that the position has been held by a woman. In practice, ordinary women have little opportunity to organize independently and advance their interests through the political system. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 2 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 0 / 4 Government policies are determined by the dynastic rulers of the seven emirates. The FNC exercises only advisory powers and has struggled to arrange hearings with government ministers. In practice, policymaking authority has coalesced around the crown prince of Abu Dhabi, Sheikh Mohammed bin Zayed al-Nahyan, as his father, the UAE president, has mostly withdrawn from public life since suffering a stroke in 2014. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 2 / 4 The UAE is considered one of the least corrupt countries in the Middle East, and the government has taken steps to increase efficiency and streamline bureaucracy. Nevertheless, there are no genuinely independent anticorruption mechanisms, and senior members of the ruling families are able to shield themselves and their associates from public scrutiny. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 0 / 4 The government generally lacks transparency, and despite legal provisions, accessing public information remains difficult in practice. The State Audit Institution does not release public information about its reports, and its remit is limited to federal entities and state-owned companies, whereas most spending takes place in the individual emirates; the institution can conduct audits of an emirate's entities if asked by its ruler. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 12 / 60 (-1) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 3 / 16 (-1) D1. Are there free and independent media? 0 / 4 (-1) The 1980 Publications and Publishing Law, considered one of the most restrictive press laws in the Arab world, regulates all aspects of the media and prohibits criticism of the government. Journalists commonly practice self-censorship, and outlets frequently publish government statements without criticism or comment. Media operate with more freedom in certain "free zones" areas in which foreign media outlets can produce news content intended for foreign audiences but the zones remain subject to UAE media laws and have additional regulatory codes and authorities. Emirati-owned and UAE-based media outlets participated actively in a government-backed media campaign against Qatar that began in May 2017. In June, the attorney general issued a statement warning that anyone who showed sympathy or favoritism toward Qatar in any medium could be punished with three to 15 years in prison and a fine of at least 500,000 dirhams ($136,000) under the penal code and a highly restrictive 2012 cybercrime law. In July, the Dubai-based website and magazine Arabian Business was suspended for a month for publishing an allegedly inaccurate article about failed Dubai real-estate projects that was promoted by Qatari media. A number of well-known commentators have been jailed in recent years for criticizing the authorities, expressing support for dissidents or human rights, or calling for political reform. In March 2017, leading human rights activist Ahmed Mansoor was arrested, prominent economist Nasser bin Ghaith was sentenced to 10 years in prison, and Jordanian journalist Tayseer al-Najjar was sentenced to three years in prison and a fine all in connection with their social media posts. Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 due to further arrests and prosecutions of critical journalists and commentators as well as the attorney general's threat of severe penalties for expressions of support for Qatar in any medium. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 1 / 4 Islam is the official religion, and the majority of citizens are Sunni Muslims. The General Authority of Islamic Affairs and Endowments provides regular guidance to Muslim preachers; it and a Dubai counterpart appoint the country's Sunni imams. Shiite clergy have their own council to manage religious affairs. There have been multiple reports of noncitizen Shiite Muslims facing discrimination or deportation in recent years. Christian, Hindu, and Sikh places of worship have been built on plots of land donated by ruling family members. Blasphemy is a criminal offense, as is proselytizing to Muslims by non-Muslim groups. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 1 / 4 The Ministry of Education censors textbooks and curriculums in both public and private schools. Islamic education is required in public schools and for Muslims in private schools. Several foreign universities have opened satellite campuses in the UAE, although faculty members are generally careful to avoid criticizing the government. At least 10 faculty members from New York University (NYU) have been denied entry to teach or conduct research at NYU's Abu Dhabi campus, including two professors whose visas were denied on security grounds in 2017. Students, staff, and support personnel have also been denied entry. The UAE authorities have placed scholars and students who have criticized aspects of government policy on a unified Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) security blacklist, barring them from the wider region. In addition to the prison sentence against bin Ghaith in March 2017, UAE authorities detained prominent political science professor Abdulkhaleq Abdulla for 11 days in January, apparently due to his online commentary. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 1 / 4 A number of laws adopted in recent years give authorities broad discretion to punish individuals' speech on sensitive topics. The 2012 cybercrime law, which amended and replaced one passed in 2006, introduced lengthy prison terms for vaguely worded offenses such as damaging "the reputation or the stature of the state or any of its institutions." A 2014 counterterrorism law prescribes punishments including the death penalty for offenses like "undermining national security" and possession of material that opposes or denigrates Islam. A 2015 law against hate speech and discrimination contained loosely worded definitions and criminalized a wide range of free speech activities. These and other criminal laws have been actively enforced, including against ordinary social media users. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 2 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 1 / 4 The government places restrictions on freedom of assembly. Public meetings require government permits, and unauthorized political or labor protests are subject to dispersal by police. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 0 / 4 Nongovernmental organizations must register with the Ministry of Social Affairs and can receive subsidies from the government, though they are subject to many restrictions. International human rights groups have been denied entry to the UAE. Local human rights activists are at serious risk of detention, prosecution, and mistreatment in custody. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 1 / 4 Workers most of whom are foreign do not have the right to form unions, bargain collectively, or strike. They can seek collective redress for grievances through state mediation or the courts, and the government sometimes arranges concessions and settlements. Workers occasionally protest against unpaid wages and poor working and living conditions, but such demonstrations are typically dispersed by security personnel, and noncitizens who participate risk deportation. Professional associations require government licenses and are closely monitored by the authorities. F. RULE OF LAW: 3 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 0 / 4 The judiciary is not independent, with court rulings subject to review by the political leadership. Judges are appointed by executive decree, and the judiciary as an institution is managed largely by executive officials. Many judges are foreigners working on short-term contracts. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 1 / 4 Detainees are often denied adequate access to legal counsel during interrogations, and lengthy detention without charge is not uncommon. Judges are empowered to extend such detention indefinitely. The mass trial of 94 political dissidents in 2013 was widely criticized for systematic violations of international due process standards, though serious violations have also been observed in other cases. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 1 / 4 Authorities have been criticized by international human rights organizations for failure to investigate allegations of torture and mistreatment in custody. In 2016, the UN special rapporteur on torture found credible evidence that a group of Libyan nationals charged with and later acquitted of terrorism offenses had been tortured in UAE custody. Other detainees regularly report abuse by the authorities. Sharia (Islamic law) courts sometimes impose flogging sentences for offenses including drug use, prostitution, and extramarital sex. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 1 / 4 Discrimination against noncitizens and foreign workers is common, and they are at risk of deportation for relatively minor offenses. Women face legal and societal discrimination on a variety of issues, including employment. Same-sex sexual relations can draw harsh criminal penalties, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people are subject to widespread social stigma. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 4 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 1 / 4 Emiratis face no apparent restrictions on freedom of movement within the UAE or on their type or place of employment, although under the country's kafala system, a migrant worker's legal status is tied to an employer's sponsorship, meaning they can be punished or deported for leaving employment without meeting certain criteria. Stateless residents' freedom of movement is limited by their lack of travel documents, and societal norms sometimes restrict a woman's ability to travel without the consent of her husband or father. Qatari nationals were expelled from the UAE in 2017. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 1 / 4 The UAE has enacted reforms in recent years to ease procedures for establishing and operating businesses. However, the government and ruling families exercise considerable influence over the economy and are involved in many of the country's major economic and commercial initiatives. Women generally receive smaller inheritances than men under Sharia, and women are excluded from state benefits aimed at supporting home ownership. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 1 / 4 Muslim women are forbidden to marry non-Muslims, while Muslim men may marry Christian or Jewish women. Women are generally at a distinct disadvantage under laws governing marriage and divorce. All sexual relations outside legal marriage are criminal offenses, which deters victims from reporting rape. No laws protect against spousal rape, and men are permitted to physically discipline their wives. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 1 / 4 Foreign workers are often exploited and subjected to harsh working conditions, physical abuse, and withholding of passports with little to no access to legal recourse. A series of ministerial decrees issued in 2015 aimed to give migrant workers more flexibility to terminate employment under certain conditions. Foreign household workers were not covered by those decrees or by labor laws in general, leaving them especially vulnerable. A law adopted in 2017 guaranteed such household workers basic protections and benefits including sick leave and daily rest periods, though they were inferior to those in the national labor law, and household workers would still be unable to leave their employers without a breach of contract. A competitive rivalry between Abu Dhabi and Dubai for eye-catching development projects masks deeper sensitivities in relations between these two emirates and the five less affluent emirates in the north. Economic disparities also persist among UAE citizens across the seven emirates and between citizens and the noncitizen majority. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Uganda Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Uganda, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad857833.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 37 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 5.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 6 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 36,600,000 Capital:Kampala GDP/capita:$674 Press Freedom Status:Partly Free Net Freedom Status:Partly Free OVERVIEW While Uganda holds regular elections, their credibility has deteriorated over time, and the country has been ruled by the same party and president since 1986. The ruling party, the National Resistance Movement (NRM), retains power through the manipulation of state resources, intimidation by security forces, and politicized prosecutions of opposition leaders. Uganda's civil society and media sectors remain vibrant, despite suffering sporadic legal and extralegal harassment and state violence. Status Change Explanation: Uganda's status improved from Not Free to Partly Free and its civil liberties rating improved from 5 to 4 due to the resilience of the media sector and the willingness of journalists, bloggers, and citizens to voice their opinions, though the political environment remained tightly restricted under the regime of long-ruling president Yoweri Museveni. Key Developments in 2017: In December, Parliament approved and President Museveni signed into law a constitutional amendment that removed the presidential age limit of 75, allowing the president to run for reelection indefinitely. The amendment was widely criticized by the public, and by opposition parties and civil society groups. In October 2017, two people were killed during a violent police crackdown on a protest against the proposed amendment to repeal the presidential age limit. Kizza Besigye, the prominent opposition figure who led the protest, was charged with their murder. Stella Nyanzi, a feminist academic at Makerere University, was detained for a month on charges of cyberharassment and offensive communication after she posted a note critical of President Museveni on social media. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 11 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 3 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 In the February 2016 presidential contest, President Museveni won with 60.6 percent of the vote, according to official results. Kizza Besigye of the opposition Forum for Democratic Change (FDC) placed second, with 35.6 percent. According to international and regional observers, the 2016 elections were undermined by problems including the misuse of state resources and flawed administration by the Electoral Commission (EC). In December 2017, the Ugandan Parliament passed and President Museveni signed into law a constitutional amendment bill that removed the presidential age limit of 75, allowing the president to run for reelection indefinitely. The amendment faced strong opposition by the public, opposition parties, and members of civil society. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 The 2016 legislative elections were held concurrently with the presidential vote. A total of 426 members of Parliament (MPs) were chosen, including 289 elected in single-member districts, 112 elected to reserved seats for women, and 25 chosen to represent special interest groups (the military, youth, people with disabilities, and trade unions). The ruling party, the NRM, won an absolute majority with 293 seats. According to international and regional observers, the 2016 elections were undermined by problems including the misuse of state resources and flawed administration by the EC. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 1 / 4 Independent observers, civil society, and opposition leaders have long critiqued and called for substantive reforms to Ugandan electoral laws. Moreover, much of the public is wary of the EC; this was reflected in an Afrobarometer study released in December 2017, which found that only 42 percent of survey respondents had expressed confidence in its administration of the 2016 elections. On election day, the EC had experienced significant technical and logistical challenges, causing some citizens to wait for hours to cast their votes. The EC extended the voting time for polling stations that opened late, with voting in some areas continuing for an extra day even as counting was well under way. This fueled existing mistrust of the EC and raised suspicions of malfeasance. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 5 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 1 / 4 Opposition groups are hindered by restrictive party registration requirements and candidate eligibility rules, the use of government resources to support NRM candidates, a lack of access to state media coverage, state violence and harassment, and paramilitary groups that intimidate voters and government opponents. In July 2017, police raided a private home in Kampala and arrested dozens of members of the opposition FDC on charges of holding an illegal assembly. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 1 / 4 The ruling party dominates at all levels of government. However, there are numerous independents and several dozen opposition lawmakers in the parliament. Throughout the 2016 electoral period, violence, intimidation, and harassment toward opposition parties especially the FDC and its supporters were particularly acute. Besigye, the leading opposition presidential candidate, was charged with treason following months of arrests, detentions, and periods of house arrest. In October 2017, he was charged with murder in connection with the deaths of two protesters at an antigovernment rally at which participants had protested the proposed removal of the presidential age ceiling. Police had violently dispersed the demonstration, reportedly firing live rounds at participants. Separately, Robert Kyagulanyi, a popular musician who ran as an opposition-leaning independent in a 2017 by-election in the urban Kyaddondo East Constituency, won a landslide victory, defeating both the NRM and the FDC candidates. His victory suggested that opposition candidates could potentially challenge the NRM in future elections, especially in urban constituencies. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 1 / 4 The military is closely aligned with Museveni and holds 10 seats in Parliament. During the 2016 election period, the military and police services worked to dissuade any protests against the results, mounting a visible armed security presence with heavy deployments in and around the capital. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 2 / 4 No group is systematically excluded from the electoral process. However, the dominant position and coercive tactics of the NRM impede free political participation and advocacy of interests by Uganda's various ethnic groups, including those affiliated with traditional kingdoms as well as smaller indigenous groups. An assessment of women's participation in the 2016 elections by the Women's Democracy Group, a coalition of Ugandan civil society organizations, noted a widespread perception that because a certain number of legislative seats are reserved for women, "they should not contest for direct positions so as to reduce on the competition for male contestants." C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 3 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 1 / 4 Power is concentrated in the hands of the NRM leadership, the security forces, and especially the president, who retains office through deeply flawed electoral processes. Ordinary lawmakers and civic groups have little practical ability to influence legislation or government policies. In September 2017, several opposition MPs were attacked and forcibly removed from the parliament by plain-clothes security guards during the reading of the constitutional amendment bill that removed the presidential age limit. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 1 / 4 Despite high-profile scandals, investigations, intense media attention, and laws and institutions designed to combat corruption, malfeasance continues and top government officials are rarely prosecuted for such offenses. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 1 / 4 Many government departments deny requests for information under the country's Access to Information Act. Other laws related to national security and confidentiality also impede open access to information in practice. Public procurement procedures are generally opaque. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 37 / 60 (+2) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 11 / 16 (+2) D1. Are there free and independent media? 2 / 4 (+1) Independent journalists and media outlets are frequently critical of the government, in spite of government restrictions and intimidation. More than a dozen journalists were arrested and beaten by state officials in 2016, in some cases during live broadcasts. The government in 2016 also banned journalists from reporting on opposition activities, threatening arrest or cancelation of their licenses if they failed to comply. In September 2017, after news outlets carried a live broadcast of a brawl in the parliament, the Uganda Communications Commission (UCC) issued warned that the transmission of live broadcasts that did not comply with poorly defined "minimum broadcasting standards" could result in the suspension or revocation of broadcasting licenses. There have been some improvements over the years in the legal protection of journalists, with leading journalists successfully turning to the courts to ensure that constitutional guarantees of freedom of expression are upheld. While spurious legal cases against journalists have continued, they rarely lead to convictions. Score Change: The score improved from 1 to 2 because the media remains active and vibrant, and journalists have continued to provide critical coverage despite harassment. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 3 / 4 There is no state religion, and freedom of worship is both constitutionally protected and generally respected in practice. However, the government has barred religious leaders from engaging in political debates and restricted religious groups whose members allegedly pose security risks. A series of Muslim clerics have been murdered in recent years, and in 2016 police raided mosques and carried out arrests in search of those responsible for the killings and other criminal activity, drawing complaints that the officers acted arbitrarily and unlawfully. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 3 / 4 Academic freedom has been undermined by alleged surveillance of university lectures by security officials, and by the need for professors to obtain permission to hold public meetings at universities. In 2017, Stella Nyanzi, a feminist academic at Makerere University, was detained for a month on charges of cyberharassment and offensive communication after she posted a note critical of President Museveni on social media. She was also suspended from the university. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 3 / 4 (+1) Communications online are subject to government surveillance. In June 2017, the country's government-appointed regulator, the Uganda Media Centre, announced that it had inaugurated a new unit that would scan social media websites for posts that are critical of the government, prompting concern from rights advocates. In July, media reports claimed that the government had sought internet monitoring technology from the Chinese government. In August, the government announced plans to monitor for material deemed pornographic, and sanction those found possessing such material. Nevertheless, private speech in Uganda is relatively unrestrained. According to an Afrobarometer survey conducted in 2016 and 2017, 80 percent of survey respondents in Uganda said they felt "somewhat" or "completely" free to say what they think, and 60 percent said they had more freedom to say what they think specifically about politics than they did a few years ago. Moreover, there is widespread discussion and vocal opposition to government policies, including the 2017 law that removed the presidential age limit. Criticism of the government, ruling party, and president on social media platforms is widespread. Score Change: The score improved from 2 to 3 because there has been vibrant discussion among bloggers and citizens, especially on social media, on controversial topics including the removal of the presidential age limit, and because recent survey data from Afrobarometer showed an increasing willingness of Ugandans to speak their minds openly. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 4 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 1 / 4 Freedom of assembly is restricted by the 2013 Public Order Management Act (POMA), which requires groups to register with local police in writing three days before any gathering, public or private, to discuss political issues. The police have authority to deny approval for such meetings if they are not deemed to be in the "public interest," and to use force to disperse assemblies judged unlawful. In October 2017, two people were killed in a violent police crackdown on a protest against the government's move to repeal the presidential age limit. Besigye, who led the rally, was charged with murder over the deaths. The crackdown prompted a statement of concern about "heavy-handed" police tactics from the US Embassy in Kampala. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 1 / 4 Civil society in Uganda is active, and several nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) address politically sensitive issues. However, their existence and activities are vulnerable to various legal restrictions and the manipulation of burdensome registration requirements. In September 2017, the organizations Action Aid, Solidarity Uganda, and the Great Lakes Institute (GLISS), faced police raids and equipment confiscation, with search warrants granted on suspicion of "illicit financial transactions" and "subversive activities to destabilize Uganda." All of the groups had opposed the removal of presidential term limits. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 2 / 4 Workers' rights to organize, bargain collectively, and strike are recognized by law, except for workers providing essential government services. However, legal protections can go unenforced. F. RULE OF LAW: 4 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 1 / 4 Executive and military influence undermines judicial independence, as does systemic corruption. The justice system's handling of politically charged cases surrounding the 2016 elections underscored its lack of impartiality. In response to Besigye's 2016 arrest and detention on treason charges, the president of the Uganda Law Society questioned the independence of the judiciary in dealing with political cases and cautioned that the courts should not be used to settle political disputes. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 1 / 4 Prolonged pretrial detention, inadequate resources, and poor judicial administration impede access to due process and justice. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 1 / 4 Rape, extrajudicial violence, and torture and abuse of suspects and detainees by security forces are persistent problems, and there are few examples of prosecution and accountability for serious crimes. In 2016, Ugandan security forces stormed the royal enclosures and palaces of the traditional Rwenzururu Kingdom in the Rwenzori region, after palace guards allegedly attacked police stations. The fighting left more than 100 people, including children, dead, and human rights groups cited evidence of indiscriminate violence and summary executions on the part of security forces. There has been no investigation of the events. The prison system is operating at more than twice its intended capacity, with pretrial detainees constituting much of the prison population. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 1 / 4 The LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community continues to face overt hostility from the government and much of society. Homosexuality remains effectively criminalized under a colonial provision banning "carnal knowledge" among people of the same sex. Men and transgender women accused of consensual same-sex conduct may be forced to undergo an anal exam that Human Rights Watch (HRW) says could amount to torture. Over a million refugees live in Uganda, and the government has been praised for its progressive asylum policies. However, it struggles fund basic services for some refugee populations. In October 2017, there were riots among refugees in Adjumani District in response to temporary cuts to food assistance. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 7 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 2 / 4 Freedom of movement in Uganda is largely unrestricted. However, bribery is common in many facets of life, such as interacting with traffic police, gaining admittance to some institutions of higher education, and obtaining government jobs. Serious impediments to changing residence, employment, and education are largely financial. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 2 / 4 Customary land tenure is widespread in the north, and land disputes some of them violent are common, particularly when private development projects are at stake. In 2017, the government proposed a constitutional amendment that would give the government powers to seize land without providing timely compensation if the land were deemed necessary for public infrastructure projects. The law gives women the right to inherit land, but local customs sometimes trump legal provisions in practice. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 1 / 4 Domestic violence is widespread and underreported. In August 2017, as part of its antipornography drive, the Ministry for Ethics and Integrity indicated that authorities would begin enforcing a ban against miniskirts on women and tight clothing on men, though by year's end it was unclear whether anyone had actually been penalized over their choice of clothing. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 2 / 4 Poor enforcement of labor laws contributes to unsafe or exploitative conditions for some workers, though the majority of Ugandans are engaged in subsistence agriculture. Child labor in agriculture, domestic service, and a variety of other industries is a significant problem, as is sexual exploitation of minors. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Thailand Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Thailand, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad857854.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Not Free Aggregate Score: 31 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 5.5 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 6 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 5 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 65,300,000 Capital:Bangkok GDP/capita:$5,815 Press Freedom Status:Not Free Net Freedom Status:Not Free OVERVIEW Thailand is ruled by a military junta that launched a coup in 2014, claiming that it would put an end to a political crisis that had gripped the country for almost a decade. As the military government goes about remaking the political system, it has exercised unchecked powers granted by the constitution to impose extensive restrictions on civil and political rights, and to suppress dissent. Key Developments in 2017: In January, the new king, Maha Vajiralongkorn, requested several changes to the military-drafted constitution, which had been approved in 2016 in a highly controlled referendum. The National Council for Peace and Order (NCPO) the military junta that seized power in 2014 quickly approved the changes, which were interpreted as expanding royal powers. In April, the king signed the revised constitution into law, effectively consolidating the military's grip on power. The new charter does not annul any of the repressive laws and policies the NCPO had passed since 2014, including the provisions of the interim constitution's Article 44, which give the NCPO head the ability to override existing legislation and issue new laws at will. Elections under the new charter are scheduled for 2018. Journalists, academics, and activists continued to face harassment or arrest for criticizing NCPO authorities or the monarchy. In August, a student activist known as Pai Dao Din was sentenced to two years and six months in prison for posting to Facebook a British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) article deemed critical of the new king. In August, former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra, who was ousted in the 2014 coup, fled Thailand ahead of an expected ruling in a corruption case against her. In September, she was convicted and sentenced in absentia to five years in jail. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 6 / 40 (-1) A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 0 / 12 (-1) A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 0 / 4 Thailand's current head of government, Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha, staged a military coup against Thailand's democratically elected government in 2014. Prayuth, who was then the army chief, was subsequently designated prime minister in the absence of elections. The NCPO's "road map" for a return to civilian rule has been delayed several times since 2014. In October 2017, the junta announced that general elections would take place in November 2018, though the provisions of the new constitution weaken political parties and are expected to further entrench the authority of the military. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 0 / 4 The 2014 interim constitution promulgated by the NCPO created a 220-seat National Legislative Assembly (NLA), which quickly installed the prime minister and cabinet. The 200-member National Reform Steering Assembly (NRSA), tasked with making recommendations for reforms to government and the political process, was convened in 2015. Members of both the NLA and the NRSA were chosen by the NCPO. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 0 / 4 (-1) The NCPO-appointed Constitutional Drafting Committee (CDC) developed a draft constitution that was approved in a tightly controlled 2016 referendum. The new constitution, which will govern future elections, is expected to weaken political parties and elected officials while strengthening unelected institutions. In the mixed-member apportionment system introduced in the charter, there will be 350 constituency seats and 150 party-list seats in the House of Representatives, the lower house of parliament. Citizens will cast only one vote, rather than two distinct votes, which counts for a candidate as well as for that candidate's party for the party list seats. Experts anticipate that without separate votes for each type of seat, parties will have difficulty gaining a majority, leading to unstable coalition governments. All 250 seats in the Senate, or upper house, will be appointed for the first five-year term by the junta, and will include six seats reserved for senior military officials. The Senate will have influence over the selection of the prime minister. In January 2017, Thai king Maha Vajiralongkorn requested several changes to the military-drafted constitution, including the removal of a provision under which power could be granted to the Constitutional Court in times of crisis. Its omission was interpreted as bolstering the powers of the monarchy. He then signed the constitution in April. Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 because provisions of the new constitution are designed to empower the military while weakening political parties, and because the king requested constitutional modifications that were approved by the NCPO in the absence of any review or discussion by elected leaders or the public. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 3 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 1 / 4 In 2014, the NCPO enacted measures banning the formation of new political parties and prohibiting existing parties from meeting or conducting political activities. A Political Party Act approved in October 2017 introduced costly provisions that will likely be difficult for small parties to adhere to; these include annual fees and a requirement that parties establish branches in different parts of the country. The law, to take effect in 2018, did not lift the ban on political parties. However, in December, Prime Minister Prayuth used Article 44 powers to push through an amendment to the Political Party Act allowing for the formation of new political parties though any new parties will have to be approved by the NCPO before they can begin operations. Separately, criminal proceedings against former prime minister Yingluck Shinawatra of the Pheu Thai Party (PTP) that were linked with alleged mismanagement of a rice-subsidy scheme concluded in September 2017, when the Supreme Court convicted her in absentia and sentenced her to five years in jail. Yingluck had fled Thailand the previous month, ahead of the trial's verdict. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 1 / 4 The PTP Thailand's main opposition grouping enjoys some popular support but under the current regime has no opportunity to increase its support or gain power through elections. NCPO-approved parties are expected to compete in the 2018 polls. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 0 / 4 Thailand is currently ruled by an unelected junta aligned with the country's monarchy and economic elites. Citizens are excluded from meaningful political participation. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 1 / 4 Since political rights are broadly denied to citizens, women and members of minority groups are generally unable to choose their representatives or organize independently to assert their interests in the political sphere. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 3 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 0 / 4 The policies of the Thai government are determined by the unelected prime minister and his appointed government, the NCPO. The new constitution does not annul any of the repressive laws and policies passed by the junta since 2014, including those that were granted by Article 44 of the interim charter. The provision gives the head of the NCPO unchecked powers, including the ability to override existing legislation and issue new laws at will. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 2 / 4 The National Anti-Corruption Commission (NACC) receives a high number of complaints each year, and the NCPO has taken efforts to implement anticorruption laws. However, while the coup leaders cited corruption as one justification for the overthrow of the previous government, the current regime has engaged in corruption, cronyism, and nepotism. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 1 / 4 The NCPO largely operates without openness and transparency. High-level decisions are generally made, and the drafting of legislation carried out, with near-total opacity and no public consultation. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 25 / 60 D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 6 / 16 D1. Are there free and independent media? 1 / 4 Since taking power in 2014, the NCPO has systematically used censorship, intimidation, and legal action to suppress freedom of the press. Journalists have been detained without charge and questioned by the NCPO in military camps, in an intimidation tactic known as an "attitude adjustment." Journalists and media outlets risk penalties for violating an NCPO ban on material that "maliciously" criticizes the government or is deemed divisive. Several news outlets were suspended in 2017 for failing to comply with the ban, though they were later reinstated after agreeing to avoid disseminating such material. Additionally, in August 2017, prominent journalist Pravit Rojanaphruk was charged with sedition and spreading false information. The charges came in connection with comments he had posted to Facebook in 2015 that were critical of the draft constitution, and more recent comments in which he had criticized the NCPO, as well as the criminal proceedings against Yingluck. In May 2017, over the objections of a coalition of media organizations, the NRSA passed a law creating a regulatory media council whose members will be appointed by the military government. The Thai Journalists' Association objected to the law, saying that journalists should self-regulate, and that the law's definition of who is a journalist was broad and could result in sanctions against members of the general public. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 3 / 4 There is no state religion, and religious freedom is respected in the majority of the country. Religious organizations operate freely, and there is no systemic or institutional discrimination based on religion. In 2016, when concerns emerged over potential bias towards Buddhism in an article of the new constitution, the head of the NCPO attempted to allay concerns by using his powers under Article 44 to issue an order clarifying that the state would protect all religions. However, some restrictions exist. Speech considered insulting to Buddhism is prohibited by law. A long-running civil conflict in the south, which pits ethnic Malay Muslims against ethnic Thai Buddhists, continues to undermine citizens' ability to practice their religions. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 1 / 4 Academic freedom is constrained under the NCPO. University discussions and seminars on topics regarded as politically sensitive are subject to monitoring or outright cancelation by government authorities. In August 2017, five people, including the prominent academic Chayan Vaddhanaphuti, were charged with contravening a government prohibition on public assembly in connection with their attendance of academic conference at Chiang Mai University weeks earlier. Academics working on sensitive topics are subjected to oppressive tactics including summonses for questioning, home visits by security officials, surveillance of their activities, and arbitrary detention for the purpose of questioning. Some academics have fled into exile. Since the 2014 coup, the junta has also bolstered its efforts to foster student support for government ideas, including through curriculum development. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 1 / 4 Security forces have enforced stringent surveillance on people viewed as critical of the NCPO, including surveillance of online activities. The number of lese-majeste cases has increased sharply under the NCPO. Cases have been used to target activists, scholars, students, journalists, and politicians, and accusations have also been lodged by citizens against one another. In addition to authorities' monitoring of social media sites for lese-majeste violations, this type of social surveillance has also been undertaken by citizens who, either with the backing of the government or on their own initiative, scan online postings and report them to authorities. In August 2017, a student activist known as Pai Dao Din was sentenced to two years and six months in prison in a lese-majeste case for posting to Facebook a profile of the new king by the BBC that was deemed critical of the monarchy. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 4 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 1 / 4 Prohibitions on political gatherings of five or more people continued to be enforced in 2017. What constitutes a political gathering is at the discretion of the authorities. Those who engage in symbolic actions or public protests advocating for democracy and human rights risk a spectrum of consequences, including fines, arrest, and being subject to political reeducation. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 1 / 4 Thailand has a vibrant civil society, but groups focused on defending human rights or freedom of expression face restrictions, with the NCPO often insisting that such activities violate laws concerning political gatherings, or create "public disturbances." When such activities are allowed to move forward, authorities have cautioned organizers against opposing NCPO policies ahead of time, and heavily monitor the events. In 2016, the NCPO canceled a number of seminars and public discussions on the draft constitution. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 2 / 4 Thai trade unions are independent and have the right to collectively bargain. However, civil servants and Thailand's numerous temporary workers do not have the right to form unions, and less than 2 percent of the total workforce is unionized. Antiunion discrimination in the private sector is common, and legal protections for union members are weak and poorly enforced. F. RULE OF LAW: 5 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 1 / 4 Although the new constitution grants independence to the judiciary, military courts have jurisdiction over certain types of civilian cases. In 2016, the government issued an order that halted the practice of trying civilians accused of national security and lese-majeste crimes and of violating NCPO orders in military courts. However, the NCPO order is not retroactive and does not cover cases that had already entered the military court system. In August 2017, Thailand's Supreme Court declined to hear a case against former prime minister Abhisit Vejjajiva and his deputy, who were charged for their role in a deadly 2010 crackdown against Yingluck supporters, in which at least 98 people had been killed. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 1 / 4 Restrictions implemented by the NCPO severely undermine due process rights. Orders issued in 2015 permit the detention of individuals without charge for up to seven days, and expanded the authority of military officers in the area of law enforcement, permitting them to arrest, detain, and investigate crimes related to the monarchy and national security. Cases related to land and natural resources, particularly those deemed by the junta to be vital to the country's economic development, are susceptible to political interference. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 1 / 4 While most of the country is free from terrorism or insurgencies, a combination of martial law and emergency rule has been in effect for over a decade in the four southernmost provinces, where Malay Muslims form a majority and a separatist insurgency has been ongoing since the 1940s. Civilians are regularly targeted in shootings, bombings, and arson attacks, and insurgents have focused on schools and teachers as symbols of the Thai state. Counterinsurgency operations have involved the indiscriminate detention of thousands of suspected militants and sympathizers, and there are long-standing and credible reports of torture and other human rights violations, including extrajudicial killings, by both government forces and insurgents. The police and military often operate with impunity. Land and environmental activists risk serious and even deadly violence, and the environmental rights group Global Witness has described Thailand as among the most dangerous countries in Asia for such activists to operate. Perpetrators of attacks against them generally enjoy impunity. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 2 / 4 In Thailand's north, so-called hill tribes are not fully integrated into society. Many lack formal citizenship, which renders them ineligible to vote, own land, attend state schools, or receive protection under labor laws. Thailand is known for its tolerance of the LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) community, though societal acceptance is higher for tourists and expatriates than for nationals, and unequal treatment and stigmatization remain challenges. Thailand has not ratified the UN convention on refugees, who risk detention as unauthorized migrants and often lack access to asylum procedures. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 10 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 3 / 4 Thai citizens generally have freedom of travel and choice of residence. However, travel may be restricted in areas affected by civil conflict, and the junta has at times imposed travel bans on its critics. Citizens have freedom to choose their place of employment and education. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 2 / 4 The rights to property and to establish businesses are protected by law, though in practice business activity is affected by some bureaucratic delays, and at times by the influence of security forces and organized crime. In 2014, the military junta developed a policy to restore national forests through replanting programs and new restrictions on poaching, and in 2015 issued plans to create special economic zones. The policies have since led to eviction orders for many communities. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 3 / 4 While women have the same legal rights as men, they remain subject to economic discrimination in practice, and are vulnerable to domestic abuse, rape, and sex trafficking. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 2 / 4 Exploitation and trafficking of migrant workers and refugees from Myanmar, Cambodia, and Laos are serious and ongoing problems, as are child and sweatshop labor. Sex trafficking remains a problem in which some state officials are complicit. However, the government has made some efforts to prosecute and seize the assets of those suspected of involvement in human trafficking, including police officers and local officials. In June 2017, the NCPO passed a law that would inflict lengthy prison terms and high fines upon migrant workers in the country illegally, causing a mass exodus of registered and unregistered migrant workers from neighboring countries. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Tanzania Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Tanzania, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad85787a.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 52 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 4.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 54,200,000 Capital:Dar es Salaam GDP/capita:$872 Press Freedom Status:Partly Free OVERVIEW Tanzania has held regular multiparty elections since its transition from a one-party state in the early 1990s, but the opposition remains relatively weak, and the ruling party, Chama Cha Mapinduzi (CCM), has retained power for over half a century. Since 2015, the government has cracked down with growing severity on its critics in the political opposition, the press, and civil society. Ratings Change: Tanzania's political rights rating declined from 3 to 4 and it received a downward trend arrow due to mounting repression of the opposition, media outlets, and social media users who are critical of the increasingly authoritarian president, John Magufuli. Key Developments in 2017: A prominent opposition politician was shot and wounded by unidentified assailants in September, and other members of the opposition faced arrests and criminal charges during the year. An independent newspaper was suspended in June, two more papers received suspensions in September, and a trial against the founders of a well-known online discussion site began in August. A freelance journalist went missing in late November and remained unaccounted for at year's end. In August, authorities instructed all nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) to verify their registration status by submitting a series of documents or risk deregistration. NGOs were separately threatened with deregistration if they supported the rights of LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people or challenged the president's June declaration that girls who were excluded from school for being pregnant should not be allowed to return. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 22 / 40 (-3) A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 7 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 The president of Tanzania is elected by direct popular vote for up to two five-year terms. In the 2015 presidential election, held concurrently with parliamentary elections, the CCM's John Magufuli won with 58 percent of the vote, while Edward Lowassa of Chama Cha Demokrasia na Maendeleo (CHADEMA) took 40 percent. Domestic and international observers generally deemed the election to be credible, but noted a number of areas of concern. An observer mission from the European Union (EU) described "highly competitive, generally well organized elections, but with insufficient efforts at transparency from the election administrations." The EU mission noted that the CCM had drawn on state resources, such as public stadiums, to support its campaign. The semiautonomous region of Zanzibar elects its own president. Although international observers found that the 2015 election was lawfully conducted and the National Election Commission (NEC) accepted the Zanzibar results for national offices, the Zanzibar Electoral Commission (ZEC) annulled the vote for regional offices before official results were announced. The opposition Civic United Front (CUF) accused the ZEC of attempting to save the CCM from defeat. A rerun of the Zanzibar election was held in March 2016, but the opposition boycotted, allowing the CCM to rule unilaterally. The preelection period featured an increased military presence in the region and reports of attacks on political party offices and journalists. CCM legislators voted in September to change Zanzibar's constitution, eliminating a 2010 amendment establishing the Government of National Unity, a CCM-CUF power-sharing arrangement that had enabled years of stability. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 Legislative authority lies with a unicameral, 393-seat National Assembly (the Bunge) whose members serve five-year terms. There are 264 seats filled through direct elections in single-member constituencies, 113 are reserved for women elected by political parties, 10 are filled by presidential appointment, and 5 members are elected by the Zanzibar legislature. The attorney general holds an ex officio seat. In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the CCM won a total of 253 seats, CHADEMA took 70, the CUF won 42, and the Alliance for Change and Transparency (ACT) and the National Convention for Construction and Reform (NCCR)-Mageuzi each won one. Members of Zanzibar's 85-seat House of Representatives serve five-year terms and are seated through a mix of direct elections and appointments. The opposition boycott of the Zanzibari rerun elections in 2016 left the CCM with full control of the regional legislature. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 2 / 4 Tanzania's constitution dates to 1977, when the country was under single-party rule, and an effort to adopt a new constitution drafted in 2014 has since stalled amid opposition parties' complaints that their input was ignored. Among other proposed changes, the 2014 draft would create a three-tiered federal structure, allow independent candidates for office, limit executive powers of appointment, and include a bill of rights. In addition to the ZEC's controversial annulment of the 2015 Zanzibari elections, the structures of the NEC and ZEC contribute to doubts about their independence. The NEC is appointed by the Tanzanian president, and the ZEC is appointed by the Zanzibari president, though the opposition nominates two of the seven ZEC members. The national president maintains the ability to appoint regional and district commissioners administrative officials who can be influential during elections. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 9 / 16 (-2) B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 2 / 4 Tanzanians have the right to organize into political parties, but the ruling CCM enjoys considerable advantages related to its long and unbroken incumbency. For example, government subsidies for party campaigns continue to disproportionately benefit the CCM. In 2016, the government banned all political rallies and demonstrations outside election periods, sharply curtailing parties' ability to mobilize public support. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 2 / 4 (-1) Tanzania's opposition, which performed better in the 2015 elections than it ever had before, still controls only 29 percent of the National Assembly seats and faces significant interference, harassment, violence, and criminal prosecutions by the government and its allies. The pressure on leading opposition figures increased during 2017. Tundu Lissu of CHADEMA, a senior opposition lawmaker, was arrested several times on different charges, including for insulting Magufuli. In September he was shot and wounded by unidentified attackers in Dodoma. The government failed to mount an effective investigation and was accused of complicity. Lissu sought medical treatment in Kenya, where he remained at year's end. CHADEMA chairman Freeman Mbowe was accused of drug trafficking in February, and CHADEMA legislator Halima Mdee was arrested in July and charged with insulting the president. A number of other CHADEMA officials were arrested separately during the year. The leader of ACT was detained in October for alleged sedition and reporting inaccurate statistics on the economy, and the party's offices were later raided. In March, a police officer threatened recently fired information minister Nape Nnauye with a gun to block him from speaking to the media; in November, the former tourism minister became the target of a corruption investigation two weeks after he resigned and defected to the opposition. Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 due to increased pressure on the opposition, including arrests of politicians for criticizing the president and the attempted murder of a senior opposition lawmaker. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 3 / 4 Tanzanian voters and politicians are mostly free of undue influence from forces outside the political arena. However, chronic problems include partisan violence; excessive force against the opposition by police, particularly in Zanzibar; and the alleged use of vote-buying and other material incentives by the ruling party. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 2 / 4 (-1) Members of cultural, ethnic, religious, and other minority groups have full political rights, but parties formed on explicitly ethnic or religious bases are prohibited. In December 2017, the government threatened to revoke the licenses of religious organizations whose leaders comment on politics. Several incidents during 2017 indicated that women's interests are not adequately represented in the political system, despite quotas guaranteeing seats for women lawmakers. For example, in June the president declared that girls expelled from school for becoming pregnant should not be allowed to return, and in December some regional and district commissioners ordered the arrest of pregnant schoolgirls. Mdee, the opposition lawmaker arrested in July, was charged over her objections to Magufuli's order, and women's rights organizations that criticized such policies were threatened with deregistration. Separately, groups supporting the rights and health needs of LGBT people faced an ongoing crackdown that began in 2016. Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 because the rights and interests of women and LGBT people are not adequately addressed by the political system. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 6 / 12 (-1) C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 2 / 4 (-1) Magufuli has consolidated political power in the presidency since taking office, sidelining the legislature in part by suppressing dissent within the ruling party and exerting greater control over cabinet ministers through dismissals and reshuffles. Among other changes during 2017, he dismissed the information minister in March after the latter opened an investigation into regional officials' raid on a media organization. Former military and police commanders have been prominent among the president's newly appointed regional and district commissioners, and Magufuli has relied heavily on intelligence and law enforcement agencies to advance his anticorruption agenda and weaken political rivals through criminal investigations. Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 due to the president's centralization of power in the executive and marginalization of both the legislature and his own cabinet. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 2 / 4 Magufuli's anticorruption drive has had mixed results. It has earned some popular support for targeting petty corruption, and in 2017 the government penalized foreign firms and complicit officials for undervaluing exports from extractive industries. However, the Prevention and Combating of Corruption Bureau (PCCB) has been accused of focusing on low-level corruption and doing little to address graft committed by senior government officials. Magufuli has dismissed some cabinet ministers over corruption allegations, but critics argue that such ad hoc efforts led personally by the president are no substitute for strong and independent institutions that can pursue cases impartially. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 2 / 4 An access to information act was adopted in 2016, but implementation stalled during 2017. Critics noted that the act gives precedence to any other law governing the handling of government information, and appeals of decisions on information requests are handled by a government minister rather than an independent body. The law also imposes prison terms on officials who improperly release information, but no clear penalties for those who improperly withhold information. Among other impediments to government transparency, live broadcasts of parliament sessions have been suspended since April 2016. Tanzania withdrew from the Open Government Partnership in September 2017. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 30 / 60 (-3) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 7 / 16 (-2) D1. Are there free and independent media? 1 / 4 (-1) The 2016 Media Services Act created statutory regulators with broad authority over media content and the licensing of outlets and journalists. It also prescribes harsh penalties, including prison terms, for publication of defamatory, seditious, or other illegal content. Officials repeatedly invoked the new law during 2017 to punish alleged violations by critical media outlets. The newspaper Mawio was suspended for two years in June for articles that linked mining-related corruption to two former presidents. In September, the newspaper Mwanahalisi was also banned for two years, for content that was allegedly seditious, insulting to the president, and a threat to security. Another newspaper, Raia Mwema, was suspended for 90 days that month after suggesting that Magufuli's presidency would be a failure. In March, regional authorities raided a private broadcaster and demanded, without success, that it air a video attacking a popular local pastor. Also that month, a rapper was arrested over a song that indirectly questioned Magufuli's tolerance of criticism. Separately, freelance journalist Azory Gwanda, who had investigated a series of murders targeting police and local officials in Pwani Region, went missing in November and remained unaccounted for at year's end. Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 due to the implementation of the restrictive Media Services Act, lengthy suspensions of critical newspapers, and the disappearance of an investigative journalist, among other problems. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 3 / 4 Freedom of religion is generally respected, and interfaith relations are largely peaceful, though there have been periodic cases of violence. Religious figures have faced government pressure for commenting on political affairs. Muslim leader Sheikh Issa Ponda was arrested and interrogated in October 2017 over allegedly seditious remarks at a press conference following his return from Kenya to visit Lissu, the opposition leader who had been shot the previous month. Religious organizations must register with the Home Affairs Ministry to operate legally, and in December the government threatened to revoke the registration of those whose leaders make political statements. A prominent Christian cleric had recently criticized political repression in a sermon. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 2 / 4 Historically, there have been few government restrictions on academic freedom. The 2015 Statistics Act which requires data released publicly to be first approved by the National Bureau of Statistics has raised concerns about its potential effects on researchers and academics. It was reported in August 2017 that the bureau had warned a polling firm to stop releasing unofficial statistics on television viewership. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 1 / 4 (-1) The CCM has traditionally monitored the population through a neighborhood-level party cell structure, but the government has turned its attention to social media in recent years, and constraints on individuals' freedom to discuss political topics online have grown. Social media users in 2017 continued to face the risk of prosecution under the 2015 Cybercrimes Act and other laws for offenses such as insulting the president, and government officials threatened to prosecute users for supposedly spreading homosexuality through social media. The cofounders of the popular discussion site JamiiForums, who were arrested in December 2016, went on trial in August for refusing to identify anonymous users who had written about corruption and other sensitive topics; the trial was ongoing at year's end. In September, the National Assembly approved the draft Electronic and Postal Communications (Online Content) Regulations, which would require all online content publishers including blogs to register and pay license fees and to ban anonymous users. Social media users would be liable for content deemed to "cause annoyance" or "lead to public disorder," among other vague standards. Internet cafes would have to install surveillance cameras. Violations of the regulations, which were awaiting final approval by the information minister at year's end, could be punished with fines and jail terms. Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 due to the government's increased prosecution of and threats against social media users who discuss sensitive topics including the president, corruption, and LGBT identity since 2015. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 6 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 2 / 4 The constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, but the government can limit this right. All assemblies require police approval, and critical political demonstrations are at times actively discouraged. A ban on political rallies has been in place since mid-2016. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 2 / 4 Tanzania has a diverse and active civil society sector, but current laws give the government broad authority to deregister NGOs, and officials repeatedly threatened to use that power against critical groups in 2017. For example, in June the home affairs minister threatened to deregister women's rights organizations that challenged the president's ban on teen mothers returning to school as well as any group working to support the rights of LGBT people. Some individual human rights activists faced arrest during the year, and in August the government instructed all NGOs to submit documents to "verify" their registration status, threatening deregistration for those that failed to comply. Also that month, a well-known elephant conservationist was shot and killed after receiving multiple death threats. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 2 / 4 Trade unions are ostensibly independent of the government and are coordinated by the Trade Union Congress of Tanzania and the Zanzibar Trade Union Congress. The Tanzania Federation of Cooperatives represents most of Tanzania's agricultural sector. The government has significant discretion to deny union registration, and many private employers engage in antiunion activities. Essential public service workers are barred from striking, and other workers are restricted by complex notification and mediation requirements. Strikes are infrequent on both the mainland and Zanzibar. F. RULE OF LAW: 8 / 16 (-1) F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 2 / 4 Tanzania's judiciary suffers from underfunding and corruption. Judges are political appointees, and the judiciary does not have an independent budget, which makes it vulnerable to political pressure. Of two High Court judges who resigned in May 2017, one had been criticized over her suspiciously flawed handling of drug-trafficking cases, and the other had been implicated in a corruption scandal. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 2 / 4 (-1) Due process does not always prevail in civil and criminal matters. Policies and rules regarding arrest and pretrial detention are often ignored, and pretrial detention commonly lasts for years. Magufuli's anticorruption campaign since 2015 has been marked by a pattern of abrupt firings that circumvent institutional rules on reviewing and dismissing public servants. In April 2017, he demanded the resignation of nearly 10,000 state employees after a presidential task force having supposedly reviewed hundreds of thousands of records since it was formed in February accused them of holding fraudulent credentials. Some officials have been removed over policy disputes with the president; in January 2017, for example, Magufuli fired the head of the state-owned Tanzania Electric Supply Company (TANESCO), Felchesmi Mramba, for raising electricity tariffs, despite the fact that the company had obtained approval from the government regulator to do so. In its disputes with companies engaged in extractive industries, the government has used aggressive tactics that may entail due process violations. For instance, the state imposed a ban on gold and copper ore exports in March 2017, and in July the goldmining company Acacia was ordered to pay a total of $190 billion in back taxes and penalties for allegedly underreported export revenues since 2000. Acacia had total annual revenues of $1.05 billion in 2016 and less in previous years, and observers said the government's claims were implausible. Also in July, the government pushed through a series of laws, without consultation, that effectively allow it to seize stakes in mining firms. Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 because the president's aggressive efforts to advance his anticorruption and economic policy agendas since 2015 have apparently led to infringements on the principles of due process. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 2 / 4 Security forces reportedly abuse, threaten, and mistreat civilians routinely and with limited accountability. Vigilante justice and mob violence are common, and security forces are often unable or unwilling to enforce the rule of law. Prisoners suffer from harsh conditions, including overcrowding and poor medical care. The Pwani (Coast) Region has suffered from a spate of murders targeting police and local government leaders since 2015, with at least 39 killings documented by mid-2017. In April 2017, seven police officers in Rufiji District, part of the Coast Region, were assassinated. In August police killed 13 suspected criminals who were allegedly involved in the murders. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 2 / 4 Women's rights are constitutionally guaranteed but not uniformly protected. Women face de facto discrimination in employment, including sexual harassment, which is rarely addressed through formal legal channels. Women's socioeconomic disadvantages are more pronounced in rural areas and the informal economy. Same-sex sexual relations are punishable by lengthy prison terms, and LGBT people face discrimination and police abuse in practice, leading most to hide their identities. The government continued a crackdown on organizations providing health and other services to LGBT people in 2017, barring a group of 40 private health centers from providing HIV/AIDS services in February. In September, 20 people were arrested in Zanzibar as they met to receive training about HIV/AIDS education programs, and a dozen activists and legal advocates were arrested in October at a meeting on HIV policy in Dar es Salaam. In some cases police have carried out forced anal examinations of men detained for suspected same-sex conduct. There were more than 300,000 refugees and asylum seekers from Burundi and the Democratic Republic of Congo in Tanzania in 2017, with most living in overcrowded camps featuring poor health and safety conditions. In January, the Home Affairs Ministry began requiring individual reviews to grant refugee status to Burundians, who had previously received prima facie refugee status. During a visit by Burundi's president in July, Magufuli urged Burundian refugees to return to their home country. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 9 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 3 / 4 Residents generally enjoy basic freedoms pertaining to travel and choice of residence, employment, and education, though corruption remains an obstacle. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 2 / 4 Tanzanians have the right to establish private businesses but are often required to pay bribes to license and operate them. The state remains the owner of all land and leases it to individuals and private entities, leading to clashes over land rights between citizens and companies engaged in extractive industries. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 2 / 4 Rape, domestic violence, and female genital mutilation (FGM) which is concentrated in certain regions are reportedly common but rarely prosecuted. Activists criticized Magufuli for including two convicted child rapists in a mass pardon in December 2017. The government has stalled implementation and pursued appeals of a 2016 High Court ruling that called for the minimum age of marriage to be raised to 18 for girls as well as boys. Tanzania's adolescent fertility rate is more than twice the global average. Girls can be expelled from school for becoming pregnant, and in June 2017 Magufuli prohibited those who had given birth from returning to school. In December, some local officials began arresting students who had become pregnant. Laws and practices regarding marriage, divorce, and other personal status issues favor men over women, particularly in Zanzibar. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 2 / 4 Sexual and labor exploitation remain problems, especially for children living in poor rural areas who are drawn into domestic service, agricultural labor, mining, and other activities. Tanzanians are also vulnerable to trafficking for work under exploitative conditions abroad. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Sri Lanka Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Sri Lanka, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad85789a.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 55 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 3.5 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 3 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 21,200,000 Capital:Colombo GDP/capita:$3,845 Press Freedom Status:Not Free Net Freedom Status:Partly Free OVERVIEW Sri Lanka has experienced improvements in political rights and civil liberties since the 2015 election of President Maithripala Sirisena, who reversed a number of repressive policies and has worked to repair government relations with the ethnic Tamil minority. However, the government has been slow to implement transitional justice mechanisms needed to address the aftermath of a 26-year civil war between government forces and Tamil rebels, which ended in 2009. Key Developments in 2017: In September, the country's Constitutional Assembly, through its Steering Committee, released an interim report on constitutional reform that contained a draft constitution. Its release was a notable step toward political decentralization, which is considered key to establishing a sustainable peace. The Office of Missing Persons, which is tasked with setting up a database of missing persons, advocating for the missing persons and their families, and recommending redress, became operational in September. Authorities have yet to implement numerous other transitional justice mechanisms outlined in a 2015 UN resolution that Sri Lankan authorities had assented to. In November, allegations of the torture and sexual assault of some 50 Tamil men by members of the security forces emerged in the international media. In February, the Right to Information Act was operationalized under the Ministry of Information. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 24 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 8 / 16 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 The 1978 constitution vested strong executive powers in the president, but the approval in 2015 of the 19th Amendment curtailed those powers somewhat by reintroducing term limits limiting the president to two five-year terms and requiring the president to consult the prime minister on ministerial appointments. In the 2015 presidential election, then president Mahinda Rajapaksa suffered a surprise defeat, with his opponent, Maithripala Sirisena, winning 51 percent of the vote; turnout was a record 82 percent. Monitors from the Commonwealth Observer Group noted government abuses of administrative resources, as well as preelection violence that mainly affected Sirisena supporters, but deemed the election generally credible. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 The 225-member unicameral Parliament is elected for six-year terms through a mixed proportional representation system. The prime minister heads the leading party in Parliament, but has limited authority. In the 2015 parliamentary elections, the United National Party (UNP) led a coalition, the National Front for Good Governance, to a victory with 106 seats. The United People's Freedom Alliance (UPFA) took 95 seats, while the Tamil National Alliance (TNA), the largest party representing the ethnic minority, won 16 seats. While dozens of violent incidents, including murder, were reported prior to the elections, the polling itself was considered credible. Local council elections, originally set for 2015, had not been held by the end of 2017, with the government having cited problems involving the delimitation of voting districts. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 2 / 4 Lawmakers continued debating electoral reforms in 2017, but progress was slow, due in part to differing opinions over whether constitutional reforms should come before or after electoral ones. The Steering Committee of the Constitutional Assembly in September released an interim report containing a draft constitution. The draft charter included measures to devolve many powers of the central government to the regions, which is considered a key to establishing a sustainable peace. Debates on the interim report were ongoing at year's end. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 10 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 3 / 4 A range of political parties are able to operate freely and contest elections. Following a 2015 coalition agreement between the UNP and SLFP, disgruntled SLFP members including Rajapaksa, along with other lawmakers, vowed to sit in the opposition. In 2016, the parliament speaker drew criticism after refusing to recognize the group, known as the Joint Opposition, as an independent parliamentary grouping. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 3 / 4 Opposition groupings are generally free to carry out peaceful political activities and are able to win power through elections. However, opposition figures and supporters sometimes face harassment. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 2 / 4 Members of the country's military visibly supported the incumbent ahead of 2015 presidential election. Election monitors have expressed concern about the potential for the military to intimidate voters and disrupt polling. Separately, monitors said the government offered gifts and handout to voters ahead of the 2015 presidential election. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 2 / 4 A number of parties explicitly represent the interests of ethnic and religious minority groups, including several Tamil parties, as well as the Sri Lankan Muslim Congress, the country's largest Muslim party. Tamil political parties and civilians faced less harassment and fewer hindrances in voting during 2015 presidential and parliamentary elections, compared to the 2010 elections. However, systemic discrimination, including via language laws and naturalization procedures, negatively affects Tamils' political participation. The interests of women are not well-represented in Sri Lankan politics. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 7 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 3 / 4 Government accountability has improved under Sirisena, as the Rajapaksa family's power over various ministries waned and Parliament has taken a greater role in setting policy. The passage of the 19th Amendment in 2015 and the strengthening of independent commissions including the National Human Rights Commission and the National Police Commission represented important steps toward improving accountability mechanisms and reversing Rajapaksa's consolidation of executive power. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 2 / 4 The Sirisena administration continued its efforts to fight corruption in 2017, though some critics note that corruption investigations and related arrests have led to few major prosecutions. In November 2017, Sri Lanka's cabinet approved a measure that would establish a new High Court to conduct corruption trials that involve government officials. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 2 / 4 In February 2017, a Right to Information Act approved by Parliament in 2016 was operationalized under the Ministry of Information. However, access to information provisions are relatively new in Sri Lanka, and a pattern of enforcement has yet to be established. ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY POLITICAL RIGHTS QUESTION Is the government or occupying power deliberately changing the ethnic composition of a country or territory so as to destroy a culture or tip the political balance in favor of another group? -1 / 0 Following the end of the Sri Lankan Civil War in 2009, the traditionally Tamil areas of the north and east have seen a heightened military presence. The Rajapaksa government encouraged settlement by ethnic Sinhalese civilians by providing land certificates, housing, and other infrastructure, with the aim of diluting Tamil dominance in these areas. While such policies have ended under the new government, and some land has been released, displacement of Tamil civilians remains a concern. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 31 / 60 (-1) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 8 / 16 (-1) D1. Are there free and independent media? 2 / 4 Freedom of expression is guaranteed in the constitution, and respect for this right has dramatically improved since 2015. Since then, laws restricting media freedom have been invoked less frequently, and verbal and physical attacks against journalists have decreased. However, challenges to press freedom persist. Senior officials including the prime minister have expressed hostility toward the media in public remarks. Impunity for past crimes against journalists is a problem. Several investigations into journalists' killings have been reopened in recent years, but none have resulted in convictions. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 2 / 4 The constitution gives special status to Buddhism. Religious minorities face discrimination and occasional violence. There have been attacks against members of the Christian and Muslim minorities, and monitors recorded more than 20 attacks against Muslims between mid-April and mid-June of 2017 alone. In October, a Buddhist monk and his associates were arrested and charged with crimes including property destruction in connection with their protest against the presence in Sri Lanka of Rohingya Muslim refugees from Myanmar, who were seeking asylum. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 2 / 4 Academic freedom is generally respected, but there are occasional reports of politicization in universities, and a lack of tolerance for dissenting views by both professors and students, particularly for academics who study issues related to the Tamil minority. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 2 / 4 (-1) The civil war remains a sensitive topic. In 2017, there were reports of small, private remembrance activities commemorating those who died in the conflict being disrupted by security forces. Harassment by state officials of civil society activists working on human rights issues in the north and east of the country has deterred open discussion of those topics among private citizens. Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 because harassment of rights activists in the north and east of the country has inhibited private discussion of related issues, and due to reports that security forces disrupted private memorial activities for those who died in the civil war. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 8 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 2 / 4 Although demonstrations occur regularly, authorities sometimes restrict freedom of assembly. Police occasionally use tear gas and water cannons to disperse protesters. The army has continued to impose some restrictions on assembly in the north and east, particularly for planned memorial events concerning the end of the long-running civil war, in which the leaders of the Tamil rebels were killed. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 3 / 4 Conditions for NGOs have improved dramatically since 2015. However, some NGOs have faced difficulty operating in the northern and eastern areas of the country. Although the United Nations and humanitarian organizations are generally given access to former conflict zones, reports of harassment and interference against, and surveillance of, civil society activists and victims' groups working on human rights issues in those areas continued in 2017. In March, police officers threatened the family of an activist with the Pupil Salvation Forum, a civil society organization that works to assist victims of the conflict, after he had addressed the UN Human Rights Council. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 3 / 4 Most of Sri Lanka's trade unions are independent and legally allowed to engage in collective bargaining. Except for civil servants, most workers can hold strikes, though the 1989 Essential Services Act allows the president to declare any strike illegal. While more than 70 percent of the mainly Tamil workers on tea plantations are unionized, employers routinely violate their rights. Harassment of labor activists and official intolerance of union activities, particularly in export processing zones, are regularly reported. F. RULE OF LAW: 7 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 2 / 4 Corruption and politicization remains common in the lower courts, but threats and political interference have abated somewhat under the Sirisena government. In past years there has been some evidence of the executive attempting to influence the judiciary, such as when the prime minister in 2016 asked the parliament speaker to overrule a Supreme Court judgment. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 2 / 4 Due process rights are undermined by the Prevention of Terrorism Act (PTA), under which suspects can be detained for up to 18 months without trial. The law has been used to detain perceived enemies of the government, and many detained under the PTA's provisions have been held for longer than the law mandates is legal. Civil society groups continue to clamor for its repeal. The cabinet in May 2017 approved a draft of a new Counter Terrorism Act (CTA) intended to replace the PTA. Its broad scope prompted concern among civil society groups and other observers, as did its continued allowance of detention without charge and inadequate oversight provisions. Authorities have yet to implement numerous transitional justice mechanisms outlined in a 2015 UN resolution that Sri Lankan authorities had assented to. These include a truth commission and a war crimes court. However, an Office of Missing Persons, which is tasked with setting up a database of missing persons, advocating for the missing persons and their families, and recommending redress, became operational in September 2017. Months earlier, in March, the UN Human Rights Council unanimously voted to extend the resolution's implementation by two years. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 2 / 4 Police and security forces have engaged in abusive practices, including arbitrary arrest, extrajudicial execution, forced disappearance, custodial rape, torture, and prolonged detention without trial, all of which disproportionately affect Tamils. In November 2017, allegations of torture and sexual assault of some 50 Tamil men by members of the security forces emerged in the international media. Due to huge backlogs and a lack of resources, independent commissions have been slow to investigate allegations of police and military misconduct. Some 65,000 people have been reported disappeared since the government began accepting such reports in 1994; the disappearances occurred during two conflicts: an uprising in the late 1980s, and the 26-year civil war that ended in 2009. Separately, the Internal Displacement Monitoring Center estimated that around 44,000 people forced to flee their homes due to conflict and violence remained displaced as of December 2016. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 1 / 4 Tamils report systematic discrimination in areas including government employment, university education, and access to justice. The status of Sinhala as the official language puts Tamils and other non-Sinhala speakers at a disadvantage. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people face societal discrimination, occasional instances of violence, and some official harassment. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 8 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 2 / 4 Freedom of movement is restricted by security checkpoints, particularly in the north, but recent years have seen greater freedom of travel. Access to education is affected by corruption from the primary through the tertiary levels. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 2 / 4 Government appropriation of land in the north and east as part of economic development projects or "high security zones" following the end of the civil war had prevented local people from returning to their property. However, the Sirisena administration has released some military-held land for resettlement by displaced civilians. There have been few official attempts to help Muslims forcibly ejected from the north by the Liberation Tigers of Tamil Eelam (LTTE or Tamil Tigers) rebel group in the early 1990s to return to their homes. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 2 / 4 Women face sexual harassment as well as unequal wages and promotion opportunities in the workplace. Rape of women and children and domestic violence remain serious problems. Although women have equal rights under civil and criminal law, matters related to the family including marriage, divorce, child custody, and inheritance are adjudicated under the customary law of each ethnic or religious group, and the application of these laws sometimes results in discrimination against women. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 2 / 4 Migrant workers are often exposed to exploitative labor conditions. Although the government has increased penalties for employing minors, thousands of children continue to work as household servants, and many face abuse. Women and children can be found engaging in forced sex work. The government in recent years has made some attempts to address human trafficking, including by establishing a specialized police unit to assist victims and those who report trafficking. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Philippines Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Philippines, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad8578ea.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 62 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 3.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 3 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 3 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 102,600,000 Capital:Manila GDP/capita:$2,878 Press Freedom Status:Partly Free Net Freedom Status:Free OVERVIEW Governing institutions are well developed in the Philippines, but the rule of law and application of justice are haphazard and heavily favor ruling elites. Long-term violent insurgencies have continued for decades. Impunity remains the norm for crimes against activists and journalists, and President Rodrigo Duterte's war on drugs since 2016 has led to more than 12,000 extrajudicial killings as well as vigilante justice. Key developments in 2017: In May, a group of Islamic State (IS)-linked foreign fighters and local militants attacked the city of Marawi in the southern province of Mindanao, sparking months of fighting that led to 1,200 deaths and hundreds of thousands of displaced persons. As a result of the Marawi fighting, President Duterte declared martial law across Mindanao, a region comprising a fifth of the population. By year's end, the total number of extrajudicial killings at the hands of both police and vigilantes in President Duterte's ongoing war on drugs exceeded 12,000. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 27 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 9 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 Rodrigo Duterte won the 2016 presidential election with 39 percent of the vote, followed by Manuel Roxas II with 23 percent. Observers considered the elections to be open and competitive. While they were marked by dozens of violent episodes, including a number of killings, there were fewer such incidents compared to previous election years. Other persistent problems included media bias and vote buying, offers for which affected nearly 20 percent of voters in 2016. The Philippines' president is directly elected to a single six-year term. The vice president is directly elected on a separate ticket and may serve up to two successive six-year terms. Maria Leonor "Leni" Robredo won the closely contested vice presidency in 2016 with 35 percent of the vote. Several other candidates competed for both offices that year. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 Elections for the bicameral Congress took place concurrently with the presidential vote and suffered from the same limitations. No single party won an outright majority in either house, but President Duterte's PDP-Laban Party secured unprecedented majority alliances in both. The 24 members of the Senate are elected on a nationwide ballot and serve six-year terms, with half of the seats up for election every three years. The 297 members of the House of Representatives also serve three-year terms, with 238 elected in single-member constituencies and the remainder elected through party-list voting. After President Duterte initially postponed local elections by a year to October 2017 citing concerns about the influence of drug lords, they were further delayed on October 2 until May 2018. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 3 / 4 The president appoints the Commission on Elections (Comelec), whose performance was generally praised in 2016. However, frequent litigation complicates the interpretation of electoral laws and makes the already complex framework even less accessible to the public. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 11 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 3 / 4 The Philippines has a strong record of open competition among multiple parties, though candidates and political parties typically have weak ideological identities. Legislative coalitions are exceptionally fluid, and members of Congress often change party affiliation. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 3 / 4 The Philippines has seen a regular rotation of power, but the political system is not without restrictions. For example, in February, armed police arrested Senator Leila de Lima, one of the most outspoken critics of President Duterte's war on drugs, on charges that many suspected to be politically motivated; she remained in jail at year's end. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 2 / 4 Distribution of power is heavily affected by kinship networks. Political dynasties are prevalent at the provincial and municipal levels, with implications at the national level as politicians there often draw on a regional base of support. The nature of election-related funding contributes to the concentration of power: there are no limits on individuals' or companies' contributions to candidates, and a significant portion of political donations come from a relatively small number of donors. The Roman Catholic Church has historically played a significant role in politics. The activities of armed rebel groups and martial law also continue to affect politics in the south of the country and on part of the main island of Luzon. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 3 / 4 While women make up about a quarter of the legislature, political life is male-dominated and few women are elected without following in the footsteps of a male relative. Muslims and indigenous groups are not well represented; perceptions of relative socioeconomic deprivation and political disenfranchisement, along with resentment toward Christian settlements in traditionally Muslim areas, have played a central role in the Philippines' Muslim separatist movements. In 2013, the Supreme Court ruled that the party-list portion of the electoral framework for the House of Representatives, traditionally meant to represent marginalized or underrepresented demographic groups, could also be open to other groups, including national political parties, provided that they do not stand in the single-member constituency contests. A number of party-list groups gained seats in 2016 not by representing national sectors or interests as intended, but through substantial support from kinship networks in single geographic regions. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 7 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 3 / 4 Elected government officials and legislative representatives determine state policies, but corruption and cronyism are rife, including in business. A few dozen families continue to hold a disproportionate share of political authority. Local "bosses" often control their respective areas, limiting accountability and committing abuses of power. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 2 / 4 A culture of impunity, stemming in part from backlogs in the judicial system, hampers the fight against corruption. In a nod to his campaign promises, President Duterte has fired tens of officials due to corruption, including the interior minister. The country's official anticorruption agencies, the Office of the Ombudsman and the Presidential Anti-Graft Commission (PAGC), have mixed records. The PAGC lacks enforcement capabilities. The current ombudsman has focused on major cases against senior government officials and those involving large sums of money, but some cases have languished for years in the special anticorruption court (Sandiganbayan). As of year-end 2017, the court had a backlog of 5,493 cases, compared to 4,214 at the end of 2016. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 2 / 4 Governmental transparency remains limited despite some positive initiatives. Local governments have been required to post procurement and budget data on their websites, and in 2012 the national government began participatory budgeting at various levels. Duterte issued an order establishing the country's first freedom of information directive in 2016, but it mandates public disclosure only by the executive branch and allows major exemptions. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 35 / 60 (-1) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 14 / 16 D1. Are there free and independent media? 2 / 4 The constitution provides for freedoms of expression and the press. The private media are vibrant and outspoken, although content often lacks fact-based claims or substantive investigative reporting. The country's many state-owned television and radio stations cover controversial topics and criticize the government, but they too lack strict journalistic ethics. While the censorship board has broad powers to edit or ban content, government censorship is generally not a serious problem in practice. However, the Philippines remains one of the most dangerous places in the world for journalists, and the president's hostile rhetoric toward members of the media continued to exacerbate an already perilous situation in 2017. Two reporters were murdered in 2017 according to the Committee to Protect Journalists (CPJ). An investigation by the newly formed Presidential Task Force on Violations of the Right to Life, Liberty, and Security of the Members of the Media had yet to bear fruit. Other obstacles to press freedom include Executive Order 608, which established a National Security Clearance System to protect classified information, and the Human Security Act, which allows journalists to be wiretapped based on suspicion of involvement in terrorism. Libel is a criminal offense, and libel cases have been used frequently to quiet criticism of public officials. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 4 / 4 Freedom of religion is guaranteed under the constitution and generally respected in practice. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 4 / 4 Academic freedom is generally respected. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 4 / 4 There are no significant impediments to free and open private discussion. The internet is widely available. Rights groups have expressed concern about threats against and censorship of anonymous online criticism and the criminalization of libelous posts, but this has yet to have a major impact on private discussion. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 8 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 3 / 4 Citizen activism and public discussion are robust, and demonstrations are common. However, permits are required for rallies, and police sometimes use violence to disperse antigovernment protests. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 2 / 3 Assassination of civil society activists is a serious problem in the Philippines, and President Duterte's public threats against activists who oppose his policies have exacerbated an already dangerous atmosphere of impunity. Within 48 hours in December, 10 activists were killed in three separate incidents, nine by police or soldiers. Despite the danger, the Philippines hosts many active human rights and social welfare groups. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 3 / 4 Trade unions are independent, though less than 10 percent of the labor force is unionized. Among them, collective bargaining is common, and strikes may be called as long as unions provide notice and obtain majority approval from their members. Violence against labor leaders has been part of the broader trend of extrajudicial killings over the past decade. F. RULE OF LAW: 3 / 16 (-1) F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 2 / 4 Judicial independence has traditionally been strong, particularly in the Supreme Court. The efforts of the judiciary are stymied, however, by inefficiency, low pay, intimidation, corruption, and high vacancy rates. Judges and lawyers often depend on local power holders for basic resources and salaries, which can lead to compromised verdicts. In October, the Supreme Court ruled that Senator de Lima's case would be heard by Department of Justice prosecutors; this raise suspicion of bias as the secretary of justice is an outspoken critic of de Lima. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 0 / 4 Due process is seriously comprised. Arbitrary detention, disappearances, kidnappings, and abuse of suspects continue. The police and military have been implicated in corruption, extortion, and involvement in local rackets. In the drug war, police have used watch lists to identify targets for extrajudicial execution. In May in the southern province of Mindanao, President Duterte declared martial law and suspended habeas corpus for the 21 million people there. In December, Congress approved extension of martial law for another year. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 0 / 4 (-1) The police and military torture detainees. Lack of effective witness protection has been a key obstacle to investigations against members of the security forces. President Duterte's war on drugs led to the extrajudicial killing of more than 12,000 people from July 2016 to December 2017, including deaths of innocent civilians and deliberate targeting of children. Convictions for extrajudicial killings and other such crimes are rare, and Duterte has appeared to encourage the actions, boasting in December 2016 that he had killed suspected drug dealers and users himself during his time as mayor of Davao. With drug users fearfully turning themselves in to police en masse, prisons have become dangerously overcrowded. Conflict in Mindanao has caused severe hardship, more than 120,000 deaths, and the displacement of tens of thousands of people since it erupted in 1972. Both government and rebel forces have committed summary killings and other human rights abuses. In May, a group of Islamic State (IS)-linked foreign fighters and local militants attacked the city of Marawi in Mindanao. More than 1,200 people, mostly militants, were killed in a five-month siege of the city, and hundreds of thousands of residents fled their homes. Martial law authorizes the military to suppress violence in the province. The Philippine Congress continued to stall on new drafts of a law that would create a self-governing region, Bangsamoro, to replace and add territory to the current Autonomous Region in Muslim Mindanao. The law was the next crucial step outlined in a landmark 2014 peace treaty between the previous administration and the Moro Islamic Liberation Front (MILF), the country's largest rebel group. However, despite President Duterte's public support for the law and for a comprehensive peace settlement, in addition to new trust-building campaigns between the Philippine Armed Forces and the MILF, a formal agreement remained elusive through 2017. In August 2016, the Duterte government engaged in a second official round of peace negotiations with the Communist Party of the Philippines-New People's Army-National Democratic Front of the Philippines (CPP-NPA-NDFP), restoring hope that the nearly 50-year violent insurgency could see a peaceful end. Deadly clashes between the leftist group's militarized wing, the NPA, and the Philippine army continue to occur regularly throughout the country, though the violence has declined over recent years. Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 due to the continuation of violence related to the war on drugs, as well as the declaration of martial law in Mindanao and open warfare in Marawi. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 1 / 4 Equal treatment is severely limited. Indigenous rights are generally upheld, but land disputes and local development projects regularly cause friction and sometimes lead to violence. Indigenous people often live in conflict areas and are targeted by combatants for their perceived loyalties. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people face bias in employment, education, and other services, as well as societal discrimination. In a landmark unanimous vote in September, the House of Representatives passed the Sexual Orientation and Gender Identity and Expression Equality (SOGIE) bill, which if passed by the Senate would formally protect the rights of the LGBT community against gender-based discrimination. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 10 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 3 / 4 Citizens enjoy freedom of travel and choice of residence, with the exception of the conflict zones. Martial law in Mindanao includes enabling the military to set up roadblocks and checkpoints. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 2 / 4 Private business activity is often dependent on the support of local power brokers in the complex patronage system that extends throughout the country. Outside of conflict zones, individuals are generally able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors, notwithstanding the domination and corruption of the economic dynasties. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 3 / 4 Most individuals enjoy personal social freedoms. Although more women than men now enter high schools and universities, women face some discrimination in private-sector employment, and those in Mindanao enjoy considerably fewer rights in practice. Divorce is illegal in the Philippines, though annulments are allowed under specified circumstances, and Muslims may divorce via Sharia (Islamic law) courts. Violence against women continues to be a significant problem, and while spousal rape is a crime, very few cases are prosecuted. President Duterte's public statements on women's rights have evoked misogyny. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 2 / 4 Income inequality in the Philippines is increasing and there is uneven urban-rural wealth distribution. Manila's metro area accounts for just 12.5 percent of the population but is responsible for 36.5 percent of national GDP. The Philippines is a source country for human trafficking, with some Filipinos taken abroad and forced to work in the fishing, shipping, construction, or other industries, or forced to engage in sex work. The country's various insurgent groups have been accused of using child soldiers. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Malaysia Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Malaysia, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad85791a.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 45 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 4.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 30,800,000 Capital:Kuala Lumpur GDP/capita:$9,649 Press Freedom Status:Not Free Net Freedom Status:Partly Free OVERVIEW Although Malaysia holds regular elections, it has been ruled by the same political coalition since independence in 1957. Despite a vibrant political opposition, the ruling coalition has maintained power by manipulating electoral districts, appealing to ethnic nationalism, and suppressing criticism through restrictive speech laws and politicized prosecutions of opposition leaders. Key Developments in 2017: In July, former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed became the new chairman of the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan a development that could bolster the opposition ahead of 2018 elections. Prime Minister Najib Razak's mismanagement of and possible embezzlement from the state development fund 1MDB continued to be highly controversial domestically and internationally. In August, the High Court upheld an 18-month jail term given to an opposition leader, Rafizi Ramli for disclosing parts of the Auditor General's report on the 1MDB scandal. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 18 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 6 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 The prime minister is the head of government and chief executive. The leader of the coalition that wins a plurality of seats in legislative elections becomes the prime minister. Thus, the legitimacy of the prime minister generally rests on the conduct of elections. The paramount ruler, the monarch and titular head of state, is elected for five-year terms by fellow hereditary rulers from 9 of Malaysia's 13 states. In 2016, a new king, Sultan Muhammad V, was sworn in. The role of the king is largely ceremonial, though he retains the power to approve the prime minister. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 The upper house of the bicameral Parliament, the Senate, or Dewan Negara, consists of 44 members appointed by the king and 26 members elected by the 13 state legislatures, serving three-year terms. The Senate has limited powers. The House of Representatives, or Dewan Rakyat, has 222 seats filled through regular elections, the most recent in 2013. The ruling National Front (BN) coalition won the 2013 parliamentary elections, capturing 133 seats in the lower house despite receiving only 47 percent of the overall popular vote. The opposition and observers accused the BN of electoral fraud, citing irregularities such as "phantom voting" and power outages in vote-tallying centers in a number of constituencies that opposition parties hoped to win. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 2 / 4 The Election Commission (EC) is officially independent but is comprised of the prime minister and government allies. In practice, it is subordinate to the United Malays National Organization (UMNO), which dominates the BN coalition. The EC is responsible for maintaining voter rolls, and has been accused of enabling "phantom voting" by creating duplicate records of some voters, or by leaving deceased persons on the rolls. The politicized delineation of electoral districts gives the UMNO a significant advantage over the opposition in national elections. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 7 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 2 / 4 Opposition parties have a long and vibrant history in Malaysia, and several state governments are under opposition control. New opposition parties regularly emerge, such as the Bersatu party, which was formed in 2016 and now counts several former leaders of the UMNO in its ranks. However, opposition parties also face obstacles such as unequal access to the media, restrictions on campaigning and freedom of assembly, and politicized prosecutions. The main opposition coalition has struggled with cohesion since the 2014 re-imprisonment of its Anwar Ibrahim of the opposition People's Justice Party (PKR); Ibrahim has been dogged by claims that he "sodomized" a male aide in 2008, a charge seen as politically motivated The Registrar of Societies (ROS) oversees the registration of political parties and in the past has issued politicized decisions. In 2017, it declared the 2013 internal leadership elections of the opposition Democratic Action Party (DAP) to be illegal, compromising the party's ability to operate normally ahead of the 2018 polls. In November, the ROS indicated that it was weighing whether to deregister Bersatu on grounds that the name of its youth wing was illegal. Separately, in August 2017, the High Court upheld an 18-month jail sentence for opposition politician Rafizi Ramli for making public an audit report on the ongoing 1MDB scandal, leaving the Appellate Court as his final course of appeal. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 2 / 4 The extensive manipulations of the electoral process make it exceedingly difficult for the opposition to secure a parliamentary majority without defections from the dominant UMNO-led coalition. State resources are also used to secure support among key voting blocs. There is, however, an opposition presence in the federal parliament and at the state level. The political opposition has entered new territory with the return of former prime minister Mahathir Mohamed as the founder and chairman of the Bersatu party, and the chairman of the opposition coalition Pakatan Harapan; previously he was with the UMNO, but had broken with the party. Pakatan Harapan may be able to attract additional votes to the opposition in the next general election, which is due by August 2018. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 2 / 4 The military is not active in politics and foreign powers do not directly meddle with voting (though China is an increasingly active player in the country). The traditional media and print media especially favor the government, leaving voters with limited information about opposition parties. The ruling party has close links with much of the country's elite business community, giving the ruling party a financial advantage over the opposition. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 1 / 4 Suffrage in Malaysia is universal for adult citizens. However, social and legal restrictions limit political activism among some minority groups including LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) communities. Women's interests remain generally underrepresented in politics. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 5 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 2 / 4 Most major policy decisions are reached by the prime minister and the cabinet, sometimes with limited input from the remainder of the elected legislature. The biased electoral framework reduces the legitimacy of the elected officials. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 1 / 4 High-level corruption remains a major issue in Malaysia. Institutional safeguards are weak and there is insufficient political will to substantially mitigate the problem. Misuse of resources and favoritism are facilitated by the close nexus between political and economic elites, which blurs the distinction between public and private enterprises and creates opportunities for collusion and graft. Prime Minister Najib's mismanagement of and possible embezzlement from the state development fund 1MDB has continued to be highly controversial domestically and internationally. The U.S. Department of Justice has moved to seize U.S. assets amounting to more than $1 billion in connection with the scandal. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 2 / 4 Many key policy decisions are reached by the inner circle of the ruling coalition without extensive consultation in the legislature or with the broader public. The government regularly clamps down on scrutiny of its operations. In attempting to contain fallout from 1MDB, for example, Prime Minister Najib in 2015 replaced the attorney general and fired several cabinet members that had been critical of the scandal. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 45 / 60 (+1) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 7 / 16 D1. Are there free and independent media? 2 / 4 Freedom of expression is constitutionally guaranteed but restricted in practice. A 2012 amendment to the Printing Presses and Publications Act retains the home minister's authority to suspend or revoke publishing licenses but allows judicial review of such decisions. Most private publications are controlled by political parties or businesses allied with the BN, as are most private television stations, which generally censor programming according to government guidelines. State outlets reflect government views. Books and films are directly censored or banned for profanity, violence, and political and religious content. The internet is an outlet for the exposure of political corruption, but the Malaysian Communication and Multimedia Commission (MCMC) monitors websites and can order the removal of material considered provocative or subversive. A 2012 amendment to the 1950 Evidence Act holds owners and editors of websites, providers of web-hosting services, and owners of computers or mobile devices accountable for information published through their services or property. The government engages in legal harassment of critical voices, charging them under defamation laws, the Official Secrets Act, and the Sedition Act all of which include imprisonment as a possible penalty. In 2016, an independent Malaysian news site, the Malaysian Insider, shut down. Though officially for administrative reason, the closure came just after the MCMC ordered the site blocked in response to a report it published claiming that the local antigraft agency had sufficient evidence to bring criminal charges against Prime Minister Najib. Other independent online news services, like Malaysiakini and Free Malaysia Today, remain active. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 1 / 4 While Malaysia is religiously diverse, some key provisions restrict religious freedom. Ethnic Malays are constitutionally defined as Muslim and are not entitled to renounce their faith. Practicing a version of Islam other than Sunni Islam is prohibited, and Shiites and other sects face discrimination. Muslim children and civil servants are required to receive religious education using government-approved curriculums and instructors. Non-Muslims are not able to build houses of worship as easily as Muslims, and the state retains the right to demolish unregistered religious statues and houses of worship. Despite this, many religious minority communities remain active. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 2 / 4 There is some degree of academic freedom in Malaysia, though instructors and students espousing antigovernment views or engaging in political activity are subject to disciplinary action under the Universities and University Colleges Act (UUCA) of 1971. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 2 / 4 Surveillance of private activities is largely limited to public personas, though areas deemed to be a threat to Islam are increasingly scrutinized. The Sedition Act has been used to target individuals that publically express ideas deemed sensitive by the state. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 6 / 12 (+1) E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 2 / 4 Freedom of assembly is limited on the grounds of maintaining security and public order. Street protests are generally prohibited, with high fines for noncompliance. The law delineates 21 public places where assemblies cannot be held including within 50 meters of houses of worship, schools, and hospitals and prohibits persons under the age of 15 from attending any public assembly. However, demonstrations often occur despite these restrictions. In September 2017, the Purple March against Toxic Politics saw over 1,000 women gather in Kuala Lumpur to denounce corruption, electoral fraud, sexism, racism, and other forms of discrimination. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 2 / 4 (+1) Nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) must be approved and registered by the government, which has refused or revoked registrations for political reasons. Some international human rights organizations are forbidden from forming local branches. Nevertheless, a wide array of civil society groups operate in Malaysia. The Bersih (Clean) coalition of civil society organizations and opposition parties has visibly campaigned for electoral, anticorruption, and other reforms in recent years. The government cracked down on Bersih in 2015 and 2016, raiding the offices of various organizers and arresting its senior officials. However, in 2017, Bersih was able to operate somewhat more freely, with representatives able to make public statements and engage in other activities without incurring such serious reprisals. Many smaller groups operate as well. Civil society organizations played a critical role in the 2017 Purple March against Toxic Politics. Score Change: The score improved from 1 to 2 due to evidence that Malaysia has a vibrant civil society in spite of government restrictions, and because repression of the Bersih movement eased in 2017 compared to previous years. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 2 / 4 Most Malaysian workers can join trade unions, but the law contravenes international guidelines by restricting unions to representing workers in a single or similar trade. The director general of trade unions can refuse or withdraw registration arbitrarily. Collective bargaining is limited, as is the right to strike. F. RULE OF LAW: 5 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 1 / 4 Judicial independence is compromised by extensive executive influence. Arbitrary or politically motivated verdicts occur, as seen in the convictions of Anwar Ibrahim in 1999, 2000, and 2014 on charges of corruption and sodomy. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 2 / 4 The 2012 Security Offences (Special Measures) Act allows police to detain anyone for up to 28 days without judicial review for broadly defined "security offenses," and suspects may be held for 48 hours before being granted access to a lawyer. It was renewed for another five years in April 2017. Later, in August, lawmakers amended the Prevention of Crime Act to revoke detainees' right to address the government-appointed Prevention of Crime Board (POCB), which makes rulings on their detention. Malaysia's secular legal system is based on English common law. However, Muslims are subject to Sharia (Islamic law), the interpretation of which varies regionally, and the constitution's Article 121 stipulates that all matters related to Islam should be heard in Sharia courts. This results in vastly different treatment of Muslims and non-Muslims in "moral" and family law cases. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 1 / 4 Allegations of torture and abuse, including deaths, in police custody continue, and a number of criminal offenses can be punished with caning. Prisons are overcrowded and dangerous. In April 2017, Malaysia's national human rights panel said more than 600 people had died in Malaysian prisons and detention centers over the last two years. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 1 / 4 Although the constitution provides for equal treatment of all citizens, it grants a "special position" to ethnic Malays and other indigenous people, known collectively as bumiputera. The government maintains programs intended to boost the economic status of bumiputera, who receive preferential treatment in areas including property ownership, higher education, civil service jobs, business affairs, and government contracts. LGBT Malaysians face widespread discrimination and harassment. Same-sex sexual relations are punishable by up to 20 years in prison under the penal code, and some states apply their own penalties to Muslims under Sharia statutes. The Ministries of Health and Education conduct campaigns to "prevent, overcome, and correct" homosexuality in children, while the Ministry of Information has banned television and radio shows depicting gay characters. The Malaysian Islamic Development Department operates camps to "rehabilitate" transgender Muslims. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 9 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 3 / 4 Citizens are generally free to travel within and outside of Malaysia, as well as to change residence and employment. However, professional and business opportunities and access to higher education are affected by regulations and practices favoring ethnic Malays (and other bumiputera) and those with connections to political elites. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 3 / 4 Malaysia has a vibrant private business sector. Bribery, however, is common in the private sector, and the close nexus between political and private sector elites results in some interference in business from state officials. Some laws pertaining to property and business differentiate between bumiputera and non-bumiputera. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 2 / 4 Ethnic Malays and other Muslims face restrictions on marriage partners and other social choices. Social pressures may also regulate appearance, especially among Malay women. Sharia courts often favor men in matters of inheritance and divorce. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 1 / 4 The legal differentiation between bumiputera and non-bumiputera citizens effectively places restrictions on the latter. Gender norms likewise restrict some opportunities. Rural residents continue to find themselves at disadvantages in terms of professional opportunities. Foreign workers, especially those working illegally, are often vulnerable to economic exploitation and abuse. The trafficking of men, women, and children for the purpose of forced labor or sex work remains a problem, but authorities have recently made some efforts to address the issue, as reflected by an increase in trafficking prosecutions and convictions. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Italy Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Italy, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad85793a.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Free Aggregate Score: 89 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 1.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 1 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 60,600,000 Capital:Rome GDP/capita:$30,172 Press Freedom Status:Partly Free Net Freedom Status:Free OVERVIEW Italy's parliamentary system features competitive multiparty elections. The Vatican has traditionally held significant influence over the country's politics, and ties between organized crime and public officials persist. Civil liberties are respected, though the judicial system is undermined by long trial delays. Key Developments in 2017: In January, the Constitutional Court struck down part of the "Italicum" electoral law that was pushed through by former prime minister Matteo Renzi, and had been designed to encourage parliamentary majorities and avoid postelection deadlock. Some provisions encouraging majorities were preserved by the ruling, but another electoral law, approved in November, supplanted the Italicum law. Its provisions were likely to encourage parliamentary coalitions. Center-right parties performed well in local elections held in June, while the antiestablishment Five Star Movement, whose entry into Italian politics in 2013 had shaken the political scene, posted a weak performance. Italy continued to experience large-scale migration, with most refugees attempting to reach the country by crossing the Mediterranean Sea from Libya. Migrant flows began to decrease during the second half of the year, due in part to Italian cooperation with the Libyan coast guard. The government approved a new code of conduct for nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) involved in rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, but some groups refused to assent to it, saying it would constrain their operations. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 36 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 12 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 4 / 4 Parliament and regional representatives elect the president, whose role is largely ceremonial but sometimes politically influential, for a seven-year term. The legitimacy of the presidential vote rests largely on the fairness of legislative elections. The president appoints the prime minister, who serves as head of government and is often, but not always, the leader of the largest party in the Chamber of Deputies, Italy's lower house. The prime minister proposes a Council of Ministers that requires confirmation by Parliament. Since December 2016, Paolo Gentiloni has served as prime minister. He took office after the defeat of a 2016 constitutional referendum prompted the resignation of then prime minister Matteo Renzi. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 4 / 4 The bicameral Parliament consists of the 630-member Chamber of Deputies and the 322-member Senate; most members of both houses were popularly elected to five-year terms. International observers generally praised preparations for the 2013 polls. The center-left Italy Common Good coalition won the most votes and claimed 345 seats in the Chamber of Deputies and 112 of the 315 directly elected seats in the Senate. Local elections held in June 2017 saw gains by the center-right opposition coalition, and political leaders acknowledged the elections' results without objection. In December 2017, President Sergio Mattarella dissolved the parliament and set a new election for March 2018, which will be held under a new electoral system. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 4 / 4 While Italy's electoral framework and campaign finance regulations are complex, the country has consistently held credible elections under them. Recent years have seen controversial reforms and court rulings affecting electoral laws, and such developments continued in 2017. In January, the Constitutional Court struck down part of the "Italicum" electoral law, which had been initiated by Renzi and approved by the parliament in 2015. The law was designed to encourage majorities and avoid postelection deadlock by mandating a two-round system that awarded a supermajority of 340 seats in the lower house to a single party. However, the Constitutional Court found it was partly unconstitutional because it could give rise to a situation where a supermajority is awarded to a party that posted a relatively weak showing in the first of the two election rounds. The court preserved other parts of the law, ultimately leaving a system in which a 340-seat supermajority would be awarded to a party that won more than 40 percent of the vote in a single election round. However, in November, the Italian parliament adopted a new electoral law that replaced Italicum, which introduced a mixed electoral system in both houses. Under the law, 36 percent of seats are allocated using the first-past-the-post system, and 64 percent using a proportional, party-list method. Unlike Italicum, the new law was viewed as encouraging coalitions. Parliamentary elections are expected in 2018. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 14 / 16 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 4 / 4 Political parties are generally able to form and operate freely, and the political landscape features a high level of pluralism and competition. Since the beginning of the 1990s, politics have characterized by been unstable coalitions and the frequent emergence of new parties. The most prominent example is the Five Star Movement, whose rise in 2013 elections changed the Italian party landscape into a tripolar system. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 4 / 4 Political alternation has been the rule since the beginning of the 1990s. The antiestablishment Five Star Movement and the center-right opposition coalition posted strong performances in 2016 and 2017 local elections, respectively. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 3 / 4 Historically, the Vatican has held significant influence over politics in Italy, a heavily Catholic country. Ties between organized crime and public officials persist and fuel concerns about undue pressure on government, especially at the local level. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 3 / 4 Electoral laws contain some provisions designed to bring linguistic minorities into the parliament. Women's interests are not well represented in politics. Issues of concern to ethnic minorities play only a marginal role in national and local political agendas, and some municipal policies aggravate the exclusion of Roma. The parliament failed to vote in 2017 on divisive citizenship reforms that, if adopted, would facilitate new pathways for noncitizen minors to gain citizenship. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 10 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 4 / 4 Italy's elected representatives are able to freely craft and implement policy. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 3 / 4 Corruption remains a serious problem, and ties between organized crime and public officials persist. Government efforts to combat corruption continued in 2017. In October, the parliament approved a new antimafia law intended to make some anticorruption procedures more efficient, and which created a government department to oversee assets confiscated in anticorruption cases. A major corruption prosecution concluded in July, when 2 organized crime figures and some 40 politicians and businesspeople were convicted of involvement in a scheme through which public contracts were awarded improperly. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 3 / 4 A 2013 legislative decree established greater transparency of information within public administration. The government regularly complies with requests for information, though delayed responses have been reported. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 53 / 60 D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 15 / 16 D1. Are there free and independent media? 3 / 4 Freedoms of expression and the press are constitutionally guaranteed. Despite the rapid growth of the online news industry, traditional media still play a large role in news consumption. There are more than 100 daily newspapers, most of them locally or regionally based, as well as political party papers, free papers, and weekly publications. Concentration of media ownership remains a major concern, but many viewpoints are available in the country's media. Internet access is generally unrestricted. Threats against journalists remain a problem. In 2017, almost 200 journalists received police protection, according to the interior ministry, often in connection with threats from figures involved in organized crime. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 4 / 4 Religious freedom is constitutionally guaranteed and respected in practice. There is no official religion, though Roman Catholicism is the dominant faith, and the state grants some privileges to the Catholic Church. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 4 / 4 Academic freedom is generally respected. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 4 / 4 People are generally able to discuss controversial or sensitive topics in public without fear of surveillance or retribution. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 12 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 4 / 4 Italian citizens are free to assemble and to organize demonstrations. Demonstrations on a variety of issues including a large antimafia march in Locri, and a protest in Rome in which participants called on authorities to protect the rights of refugees took place peacefully in 2017. However, in March, some participants of a demonstration in Naples against the Northern League, an anti-immigrant political party, threw objects including Molotov cocktails at police, who responded with water cannons and tear gas. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 4 / 4 NGOs are generally free to organize and operate. However, in 2017, the government approved a new code of conduct for NGOs involved in rescue operations in the Mediterranean Sea, where thousands of migrants and refugees die each year as they attempt to reach Europe from North Africa. Five NGOs, including Doctors Without Borders (MSF) refused to sign the code, citing concerns over mandates that would allow police officers to board their vessels, and which could limit their ability to transport migrants from their own vessels to other ships. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 4 / 4 Trade unions are generally free to organize and operate. The constitution recognizes the right to strike but places restrictions on strikes by employees of essential sectors like transportation, sanitation, and health, as well as on some self-employed individuals, including lawyers, doctors, and truck drivers. F. RULE OF LAW: 12 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 3 / 4 While the judiciary is generally independent, problems with judicial corruption persist. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 3 / 4 Due process rights are generally upheld, though judicial procedures are often characterized by lengthy delays. Italy has one of the lowest numbers of judges per capita in the European Union (EU). Italy is a major entry point for migrants and refugees trying to reach Europe, and the government has been criticized for denying detained migrants access to lawyers. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 3 / 4 There have been reports of excessive use of force by police, particularly against people in the country illegally. Refugees and undocumented migrants have been held in overcrowded and unhygienic conditions. In July 2017, the parliament approved a law criminalizing torture, though rights groups criticized it for defining torture narrowly and mandating a relatively short statute of limitations, which they identified as problematic in light of delays that plague the justice system. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 3 / 4 Italy continued to experience large-scale migration by sea during 2017, though the rate of entries decreased during the second half of the year, due in part to Italian cooperation with and investments in the Libyan coast guard. Immediate emergency services for arriving migrants, many of whom were asylum seekers, were routine and included medical treatment, food, water, and temporary shelter. However, the authorities struggled to provide long-term services such as housing and timely processing of asylum applications. LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) people face societal discrimination and occasional acts of violence. Members of the Roma minority have unequal access to housing, and many live in segregated settlements that lack adequate infrastructure. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 14 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 4 / 4 Italian citizens are generally free to travel and to choose their place of residence, employment, and education. The right to education is guaranteed by the constitution. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 3 / 4 Corruption and organized crime can hinder normal business activity, as can highly bureaucratic regulatory structures. Delays in court proceedings often undermine enforcement of protections for property rights. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 4 / 4 Gender-based discrimination is prohibited by law. However, Italian women face serious obstacles in both labor force participation and wage equality. Violence against women is a persistent problem, though public awareness of the issue is increasing due to various advocacy campaigns. The parliament approved same-sex civil unions in 2016. The law provides civil unions with almost all rights of marriage. However the possibility of step-child adoption was removed from the measure's provisions following parliamentary debate. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 3 / 4 Human trafficking, particularly the trafficking of women and girls for sexual exploitation, remained a concern in 2017. The many migrants and asylum seekers who have entered Italy in recent years are particularly susceptible to exploitation. However, the government actively works to identify and prosecute traffickers, and funds services for victims. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Iraq Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Iraq, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad85795a.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Not Free Aggregate Score: 31 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 5.5 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 5 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 6 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 38,100,000 Capital:Baghdad GDP/capita:$4,974 Press Freedom Status:Not Free OVERVIEW Iraq holds regular, competitive elections, and the country's various partisan, religious, and ethnic groups enjoy some representation in the political system. However, democratic governance is impeded in practice by corruption and security threats, including militant groups such as the Islamic State (IS). In the Kurdistan region, democratic institutions lack the strength to contain the influence of long-standing power brokers. Civil liberties are generally respected in Iraqi law but suffer from the state's limited capacity to prevent and punish violations. Key Developments in 2017: By the end of the year, the Iraqi security forces (ISF) and their allies had liberated all Iraqi territory from IS control, recapturing Mosul and a series of other cities and towns during the summer and fall. While terrorist attacks reportedly declined, IS maintained enough of a presence to carry out several large-scale bombings in Iraqi cities outside the main conflict zones. The Kurdish regional government held an unauthorized referendum that showed support for independence from Iraq in September, prompting the ISF and their allies to reassert control over the region's borders and recapture all territories occupied by Kurdish forces since 2014, including the disputed city of Kirkuk. The reversal led to the resignation of Kurdish regional president Masoud Barzani. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 16 / 40 (+4) A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 8 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 After national elections, the Iraqi parliament, the Council of Representatives (CoR), chooses the largely ceremonial president, who in turn appoints a prime minister nominated by the largest bloc in the parliament. The prime minister forms a government that assumes most executive power. The CoR elected in 2014 approved a government headed by Prime Minister Haidar al-Abadi after tense and protracted negotiations that took place amid a major IS offensive and other security threats. The new leadership generally maintained the unwritten power-sharing agreements that apportion Iraq's top political jobs among the country's religious and ethnic communities. Al-Abadi belonged to the dominant Shiite party; Kurdish politician Fouad Massoum was chosen to serve as Iraqi president, and Selim al-Jabouri, a Sunni Arab, was named speaker of parliament. The Kurdistan Regional Government (KRG), composed of Iraq's northernmost provinces, is led by a president with extensive executive powers. The draft Kurdish constitution requires presidential elections every four years and limits presidents to two terms. However, after holding the office for eight years, Barzani of the Kurdistan Democratic Party (KDP) had his term extended by two years in a 2013 political agreement with the Patriotic Union of Kurdistan (PUK), and in 2015 he extended his term by another two years unilaterally, citing a legal opinion from a KRG advisory council. That move was endorsed by the KDP but strongly rejected by the opposition party Gorran and the PUK, which called for an overhaul of KRG political institutions. Barzani remained in office until November 2017, finally resigning after he organized an unauthorized September referendum on Kurdish independence that prompted the central government to reassert control over the region's international borders and all territory occupied by Kurdish forces since the IS offensive in 2014. Barzani left the KRG executive in the hands of his nephew, Prime Minister Nechirvan Barzani, and the presidency remained vacant at year's end. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 3 / 4 The 328-member CoR is elected every four years from multimember open lists in each province. The balloting is generally considered to be competitive and relatively well administered given the challenge of chronic political violence. In the 2014 parliamentary elections, then prime minister Nouri al-Maliki's Shiite-led State of Law coalition won 95 seats, making it the largest grouping. A Shiite bloc associated with Moqtada al-Sadr placed second with 34 seats, followed by a third Shiite coalition, Al-Muwatin, with 31 seats. A Sunni-led bloc, Muttahidoon, took 28 seats; a secular nationalist coalition led by Ayad Allawi, Al-Wataniya, received 21; and two Kurdish parties, the KDP and the PUK, took 25 and 21 seats, respectively. The remainder was divided among several smaller parties. In 2017, provincial council elections originally due that year were postponed until May 2018, coinciding with the next CoR elections. One province, Kirkuk, is disputed between the KRG and the central government and has not held provincial council elections since 2005. The Kurdish region elects a 111-seat Kurdistan Parliament through closed party-list proportional representation in a single district. The 2013 elections resulted in the new opposition Gorran (Change) movement (24 seats) displacing the PUK (18) as the second-largest party after the KDP (38). Smaller factions and minority representatives made up the remainder. The Kurdistan Parliament, led by a speaker from Gorran, was effectively suspended as a result of the 2015 dispute over Barzani's presidential mandate; although it reconvened in September 2017 to endorse the planned independence referendum, only 68 members participated, with lawmakers from Gorran and some other factions boycotting that and subsequent sessions. The next legislative elections, which should be held at least every four years, were scheduled for November 2017 but delayed amid the crisis following the independence referendum. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 3 / 4 Voting is monitored by the Independent High Electoral Commission (IHEC), political parties, foreign and domestic media outlets, Iraqi nongovernmental organizations (NGOs), and international observers. In 2017, critics associated with Sadr charged, without clear evidence, that the IHEC board's balanced party representation leads to bias. However, the commission generally enjoys the confidence of the international community and, according to some polls, the Iraqi public. Other factors that have historically affected the electoral process include political, sectarian, and terrorist violence and skewed seat allocations stemming from the fact that a national census has not been conducted since 1987. The Kurdish independence referendum was administered by the Kurdistan Independent High Electoral and Referendum Commission (IHERC), which was composed of party representatives and lacked the ability to investigate fraud. Kurdish authorities proceeded with the referendum despite a suspension order from the Federal Supreme Court, which formally ruled the vote unconstitutional in November. The controversial balloting included areas occupied by Kurdish forces since 2014 and claimed by the central government. Some 93 percent of those participating reportedly voted in favor of independence, though the exercise which was not monitored by international organizations was allegedly marred by cases of intimidation, ballot-stuffing, and exclusion or boycotts among non-Kurdish ethnic communities. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 7 / 16 (+2) B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 3 / 4 (+1) The constitution guarantees the freedom to form and join political parties, apart from the Baath Party. A 2016 law strengthened the constitutional ban on the Baath Party, criminalizing Baathist protests and the promotion of Baathist ideas. The measure applies to any group that supports racism, terrorism, sectarianism, sectarian cleansing, and other ideas contrary to democracy or the peaceful transfer of power. Individual Iraqis' freedom to run for office is also limited by a vague "good conduct" requirement in the electoral law. In practice, Iraqis run for office, form parties, and take part in politics in large numbers. Party membership and multiparty alliances shift frequently. By the end of 2017, the IHEC had registered roughly 140 parties with a variety of orientations and backgrounds for the 2018 elections, with more still finalizing their registration paperwork. The commission had also registered some 2 million new voters since 2015. The threat of violence continued to obstruct Iraqi political participation during the year. IS permitted no political mobilization where it controlled territory, and the weak rule of law elsewhere in Iraq means that political activity carries risks. Prominent politicians are heavily guarded. Score Change: The score improved from 2 to 3 due to the relatively open and active preparations for the 2018 elections, including the successful registration of large numbers of parties and candidates. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 2 / 4 Iraqi elections are competitive, but most parties are dominated by one sectarian or ethnic group, meaning large and established parties representing the Shiite majority tend to govern and minority groups can only take power as part of a cross-sectarian party or bloc. In a positive sign, a number of new parties presenting themselves as secular and national in orientation applied for registration in 2017 ahead of the 2018 elections, though it remained unclear whether they would be able to compete effectively. In the Kurdish region, the traditional dominance of the KDP and the PUK has been challenged by the rise of Gorran, but the postponement of presidential and legislative elections has allowed entrenched interests to remain in power. The damaging crisis that followed the 2017 independence referendum appeared to threaten the KDP's electoral prospects in 2018. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 1 / 4 (+1) The ability of IS to suppress normal political activity waned significantly during 2017 as its last strongholds in Iraqi population centers particularly Mosul, Hawija, Tal Afar, and Al-Qaim fell to the ISF and their allies between July and November. However, Iraq's political system remains distorted by interference from foreign powers, most notably Iran, which physically and politically threatens Iraqi policymakers who challenge its interests. Iranian influence has been bolstered since 2014 by the formation of Popular Mobilization Forces (PMF) to fight IS. Many of these largely Shiite militias are closely supported by Iran, and a number of Iranian commanders remained in the country during 2017, influencing the aftermath of the conflict with IS. Meanwhile, dozens of figures associated with the PMF were reportedly planning to run in the 2018 elections. Grand Ayatollah Ali al-Sistani, the paramount Shiite religious authority in Iraq, generally promotes the rule of law and deference to elected officials, but his statements set parameters that politicians are rarely willing to defy. Score Change: The score improved from 0 to 1 because the military defeats suffered by IS sharply reduced its ability to suppress normal political activity. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 1 / 4 Members of various religious and ethnic groups generally enjoy basic political rights, but the dominant role of ethno-sectarian parties and the allocation of key offices according to informal ethno-sectarian criteria reduce the likelihood that politicians will act in the interests of the whole population. Sunni Arabs, Iraq's largest ethno-sectarian minority, are represented in the parliament but often argue that the Shiite majority keeps them out of positions of real influence. A system of reserved seats ensures a minimum representation in the CoR for some of Iraq's smaller religious and ethnic minorities. There are five seats for Christians and one each for Yazidis, Sabean Mandaeans, and Shabaks. The Kurdish parliament reserves five seats for Turkomans, five for Christians, and one for Armenians. The political rights of these minorities have been severely impeded by their displacement from IS-occupied areas. The CoR and the Kurdish parliament reserve 25 percent and 30 percent of their seats for women, respectively, though such formal representation has had little obvious effect on state policies toward women, who are typically excluded from political debates and leadership positions. Openly LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) Iraqis are unable to enjoy equal political rights in practice due to harsh societal discrimination that includes the threat of violence. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 2 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 1 / 4 Elected officials' development and implementation of laws and policies has been hampered by factors including IS control over Iraqi territory, irregular Kurdish occupation of some areas, extensive Iranian influence, and pressure from unelected forces such as the Sadrist protest movement, which has advanced Sadr's agenda using sometimes violent and extralegal tactics in recent years. The United States and its allies also exert some policy influence through their support for the ISF and other state institutions. In the KRG, Masoud Barzani effectively suspended the parliament in 2015 after the speaker and many members opposed his extended presidential mandate. Although the parliament reconvened ahead of the independence referendum in September 2017, some parties boycotted the session, and the executive governed without a legislature for most of the year. Separately, Kurdish lawmakers boycotted the CoR for several weeks in late 2017 amid the referendum crisis. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 0 / 4 Iraq consistently ranks as one of the world's most corrupt countries. Political parties, which siphon funds from the ministries they control and take kickbacks for government contracts, resist anticorruption efforts; whistle-blowers and investigators are subject to intimidation and violence. The judicial system, itself marred by politicization and corruption, takes action on only a fraction of the cases investigated by the Integrity Commission. The KRG suffers from similar problems, and Barzani's wealthy family remains a powerful political and economic force in the region. Among other relatives in key positions, his son serves as the KRG's intelligence chief and his nephew as prime minister. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 1 / 4 Iraq has adopted some practices of open government, including rules on asset disclosure. The CoR debates the budget, and interest groups are often able to access draft legislation. However, security conditions make elected representatives, who usually live and work in a restricted part of the capital, relatively inaccessible to the public. The public procurement system is nontransparent and corrupt, with no recourse to the courts for unsuccessful bidders. ADDITIONAL DISCRETIONARY POLITICAL RIGHTS QUESTION Is the government or occupying power deliberately changing the ethnic composition of a country or territory so as to destroy a culture or tip the political balance in favor of another group? -1 / 0 (+2) IS's loss of territorial control during 2017 largely halted its active campaign to alter religious demography, though many Shiites and religious minorities who were displaced by the group remained unable to return to their homes, for both security and economic reasons. The ISF's return in late 2017 to territories held by Kurdish forces since 2014 resulted in another round of demographic changes for those areas, with some Kurdish residents leaving and displaced Arabs returning. There have also been reports of Sunni Arabs being displaced from areas liberated from IS by Shiite militias. Overall, as of December, about 2.84 million Iraqis displaced by the IS offensive in 2014 had since returned to their home regions, and another 2.78 million remained displaced. Score Change: The score improved from -3 to -1 because progovernment forces dislodged IS from its last strongholds in the country, mostly ending its sectarian and religious persecution and clearing the way for the return of those who had fled mass killings, discriminatory "taxation," forced conversions, and enslavement. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 15 / 60 D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 5 / 16 D1. Are there free and independent media? 1 / 4 The constitution allows limits on free expression to preserve "public order" and "morality." Iraq's media scene appears lively and diverse, but there are few politically independent news sources. Journalists who do not self-censor can face legal repercussions or violent retaliation. Most of the eight Iraqi journalists killed in the course of their work during 2017 died while covering dangerous military operations, but in October a group of men who identified themselves as militia members broke into the home of a Kurdish television cameraman and stabbed him to death. Also that month, journalist Samir Obeid was arrested in Baghdad and charged with spreading false information after publishing a story that was critical of the prime minister, and Iraqi authorities reportedly banned a Kurdish network from covering the ISF's effort to retake Kirkuk. In August, media regulators threatened legal action against a pro-Kurdish broadcaster for carrying a program hosted by political satirist Ahmed al-Basheer. The governor of Anbar Province ordered the closure of the local offices of Al-Sharqiya, an independent satellite television channel, in December after it carried a story accusing the governor and his allies of attempting to manipulate voter registration. In Kurdish-controlled areas, journalists and media outlets that reported critically on the KRG leadership or the independence referendum crisis faced arrests, threats and closure orders from security forces and regulators, and attacks by partisan thugs. Kurdish security forces raided and shut down the offices of a television station in Suleymaniyah that had been covering violent antigovernment demonstrations in the city in December. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 1 / 4 The constitution guarantees freedom of belief, but in practice many Iraqis have been subjected to violence and displacement due to their religious identity, and places of worship have often been targets for terrorist attacks. Most political leaders expressed support for religious pluralism after IS's defeat, and Sunnis living in liberated areas began returning to their preferred religious practices. However, some politicians from leading sectarian parties condemned secularism and atheism, apparently reacting to a public shift against religious extremism and political Islam in the wake of the IS conflict. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 1 / 4 Educators in Iraq have long faced the threat of violence or other repercussions for teaching subjects or discussing topics that powerful state or nonstate actors find objectionable. IS replaced ordinary schooling with heavy indoctrination and military training in areas under its control. Many schools and universities in IS areas have remained closed after liberation, due in part to insufficient funds from the state. The country's official curriculum is often augmented in the classroom by religious or sectarian viewpoints. Political activism by university students can result in harassment or intimidation. In May 2017, seven student anticorruption activists affiliated with left-wing groups were abducted in Baghdad and held for about three days; the perpetrators were believed to be members of a Shiite militia, and the interior minister himself a member of the Shiite Badr Organization reportedly negotiated their release. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 2 / 4 In 2017, private discussion remained limited in IS areas by intense surveillance. Elsewhere in Iraq there were instances of retribution for speech on social media. Political speech in the Kurdish region can also prompt arbitrary detentions or other reprisals from government or partisan forces, and there were reports of intimidation surrounding the September independence referendum, particularly in contested areas like Kirkuk. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 6 / 12 E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 2 / 4 The constitution guarantees freedom of assembly, and this right is increasingly respected in practice, though deadly violence still occurs. In February 2017, at least five protesters and one police officer were killed when security forces clashed with a Sadrist demonstration calling for electoral reform in Baghdad. Subsequent protests proceeded more peacefully. Protesters in the Kurdish region faced arrests and deadly violence during the year, particularly amid antigovernment demonstrations in the aftermath of the referendum crisis that featured attacks on state and party facilities. In Suleymaniyah and Halabja in December, at least five antigovernment protesters were killed by security forces. Separately, at least one Yazidi protester was killed by Kurdish forces in March. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 2 / 4 NGOs enjoy societal support and a relatively hospitable regulatory environment, though they must register with the government and obtain approval from the commission responsible for suppressing Baathism. The main obstacles to NGO operations are a lack of security and impunity for past attacks. In the Kurdish region, NGOs must renew their registration annually. KRG authorities in 2017 raided one NGO that supports Yazidis and briefly closed another. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 2 / 4 Iraq's labor law, which took effect in 2016, allows collective bargaining even by workers without a union, improves the rights of subcontractors and migrant workers, and permits workers to strike, among other features. However, it does not permit unionization in the public sector. In practice, some state officials and private employers discourage union activity with threats, demotions, and other deterrents. F. RULE OF LAW: 0 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 0 / 4 The judiciary is influenced by corruption, political pressure, tribal forces, and religious interests. Due to distrust of or lack of access to the courts, many Iraqis have turned to tribal bodies to settle disputes, even those involving major crimes. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 0 / 4 Criminal proceedings in Iraq are deeply flawed. Terrorism cases in particular have featured fundamental violations of due process, with human rights groups describing systematic denial of access to counsel and short, summary trials with little evidence that the defendants committed specific crimes other than association with IS. Hundreds of foreign wives and children of suspected IS fighters have also been arbitrarily detained. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 0 / 4 The use of torture to obtain confessions is widespread, including in death penalty cases. More than 100 people were executed during 2017, with dozens put to death in mass hangings. Detainees are held in harsh, overcrowded conditions, and forced disappearances have been reported. Civilians suffered immensely during 2017 from the conflict with IS. According to the UN Assistance Mission for Iraq, at least 3,298 civilians were killed and 4,781 were wounded in armed conflict and related violence, not including casualties in Anbar in November and December. Those in conflict zones faced bombardment, cross fire, hidden bombs, direct killings by IS fighters, and mass abductions for use as human shields. Observers of the battles against IS documented summary executions and other abuses by the ISF, PMF, and Yazidi militias. Perpetrators generally enjoyed impunity for such crimes. Both the ISF and supporting U.S. forces also killed and injured civilians in the course of battle, with one U.S. airstrike in Mosul killing more than 100 civilians. Some civilians were killed in the fighting that followed the Kurdish referendum. Terrorist attacks reportedly declined outside conflict areas in 2017, but bombings and assaults by groups of gunmen still killed dozens of people in Baghdad, Nasiriyah, Basra, and other locations. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 0 / 4 Women face widespread societal discrimination and receive disparate treatment under several aspects of the law. Sexual harassment in the workplace is prohibited, but it is reportedly rare for victims to pursue formal complaints. Mistreatment of women was especially harsh in areas controlled by IS during 2017. Members of a given ethnic or religious group tend to suffer discrimination or persecution in areas where they represent a minority, leading many to seek safety in other neighborhoods or provinces. Same-sex sexual relations are not explicitly prohibited, but LGBT people risk violence if they are open about their identity. Other disadvantaged groups in the country include Iraqis of African descent, who suffer from high rates of extreme poverty and discrimination. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 4 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 1 / 4 Millions of Iraqis remained internally displaced at the end of 2017. Freedom of movement improved somewhat as IS-ruled areas and conflict zones were brought back under government control. However, large-scale destruction of housing and infrastructure, the presence of sectarian or partisan militias, and the ongoing threat of violence made it difficult for many displaced people to return home. Women require the consent of a male guardian to obtain a passport, and freedom of movement for women in practice is more restricted than for men. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or non-state actors? 1 / 4 Iraqis are legally free to own property and establish businesses, but observance of property rights has suffered from years of corruption and conflict, most recently the IS-related fighting. Iraqi business owners continue to face demands for bribes, threats, and violent attempts to seize their enterprises. Contracts in Iraq are difficult to enforce. Women are at a disadvantage to men in terms of inheritance rights and may face pressure to yield their rights to male relatives. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 1 / 4 Forced and early marriages are common, especially in the context of displacement and poverty. Nearly one in four Iraqi women aged 20 to 24 were married by 18, and marriage between 15 and 18 is legal with parental approval. Laws on marriage and divorce favor men over women. Domestic violence is criminalized but widespread and rarely punished. So-called honor killings are also seldom punished. Rapists can avoid prosecution if they marry their victims; spousal rape is not prohibited. Both men and women face pressure to conform to conservative standards on personal appearance. In a high-profile case in July 2017, actor and model Karar Nushi was kidnapped, tortured, and murdered in Baghdad, allegedly because of his long hair and tight clothing. Restrictions on personal social freedoms have been most severe in areas under IS control, where women in particular were subject to forced marriage, confinement, strict dress requirements, and sexual slavery in the case of Yazidi women and girls. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 1 / 4 IS's market for Yazidi slaves, both women and children, continued to operate for much of 2017. Other forms of human trafficking and exploitation remained problems elsewhere in Iraq, with vulnerable populations including displaced people, foreign migrant workers, children engaged in forced begging, and child soldiers recruited by IS and certain militias. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Cameroon Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Cameroon, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad85797a.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Not Free Aggregate Score: 22 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 6.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 6 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 6 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 24,400,000 Capital:Yaounde GDP/capita:$1,354 Press Freedom Status:Not Free OVERVIEW President Paul Biya has ruled Cameroon since 1982. His Cameroon People's Democratic Movement (CPDM) has maintained power by rigging past elections, using state resources for political patronage, and limiting the activities of opposition parties. Security forces use violence to disperse antigovernment protests, especially in the country's two Anglophone regions. The Boko Haram insurgent group continues to attack civilians in northern Cameroon, and security forces responding to the insurgency have been accused of committing human rights violations against civilians. Key Developments in 2017: The government continued to repress an antigovernment protest movement in the Anglophone Northwest and Southwest Regions. The protests began in late 2016 with strikes by lawyers and teachers, who objected to a general lack of acceptance of the English language in courts and schools, despite its constitutional status as one of Cameroon's two official languages. In October, at least 20 people were killed when security forces responded to demonstrations in the Anglophone regions with live bullets and tear gas. At least 500 people were arrested in response to the protests. Internet access was shut down for 93 days in the two Anglophone regions, with the disruption lasting from January into April. In December 2017, government forces were accused of burning several whole villages in one of the Anglophone regions, in response to a deadly separatist attack against a military base in which four soldiers were killed. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 9 / 40 A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 3 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 The president is directly elected to a seven-year term in a single voting round and may serve an unlimited number of terms. Cameroon's fragmented opposition was unable to coalesce around a single candidate ahead of the 2011 presidential election, and Biya easily beat out nearly two dozen opponents to claim 78 percent of the vote. Turnout was low, with one civil society organization reporting it at 35 percent. A Commonwealth election monitoring mission noted problems with voter registration, and said abuse of public resources by the ruling party during the election campaign had tilted the playing field significantly. The mission also noted a general sense of apathy among voters. The country still lacks an obvious successor to the 84-year-old President Biya, whose current term is scheduled to end in 2018. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 1 / 4 In 2013, Cameroon held National Assembly elections, direct elections for municipal councilors, and long-delayed elections for its first Senate. The ruling CPDM won 56 of the elected Senate seats, while the main opposition party, the Anglophone-led Social Democratic Front (SDF), won the remaining 14. Biya appointed an additional 30 senators, three from each of the country's 10 regions. The CPDM took 148 assembly seats and won 305 of the country's 360 communes. While some observers characterized the elections as credible, there were also accusations that the CPDM paid bribes to certain municipal councilors of up to $90 each. The CPDM also enjoyed an advantage over fragmented and weak opposition parties due to preexisting party infrastructure. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 1 / 4 The electoral commission, Elections Cameroon (ELECAM) was created in 2006 to address concerns about the fair management of previous elections. However, Biya chooses its members, and CPDM partisans have traditionally dominated the body. The ruling party has benefited from electoral gerrymandering. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 3 / 12 B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 1 / 4 The ability to organize political groups and those groups' freedom to operate is subject to the whims of the central government, and opposition leaders risk arrest and imprisonment. In January 2017, the Southern Cameroons National Council (SCNC), an Anglophone party, was banned. In October 2017, a military court convicted Aboubakar Siddiki, a critic of Biya and the head of the small Cameroon's Patriotic Salvation Movement, of attempting to incite a revolution and sentenced him to 25 years in prison, prompting condemnation from Amnesty International and others. In February 2017, authorities banned a rally and a march planned by the main opposition SDF, which were to have taken place in the capital. In October, authorities in the capital granted the SDF a permit to hold a march and a rally intended to show solidarity with protests in the Anglophone regions. However, the permit was revoked days later on grounds that the activities constituted a threat to public safety. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 0 / 4 Despite having almost 300 political parties, Cameroon remains essentially a one-party state. The numerous opposition parties are highly fragmented, preventing any one from becoming a credible threat to the ruling CPDM. B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 1 / 4 State patronage and Biya's control of high-level appointments help the CPDM retain power. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 1 / 4 Anglophone Cameroonians, LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) individuals, and individuals from some ethnic groups, such as the Bamileke, are generally excluded from political processes, and their interests are poorly represented by elected officials. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 3 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 1 / 4 In principle, laws and policies in Cameroon are created and approved by the parliament and president. But in practice, policy is often made by presidential decree. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 1 / 4 Corruption is systemic and bribery is commonplace in all sectors. There have been some anticorruption initiatives, but senior officials in the ruling party generally enjoy impunity for corrupt behavior. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 1 / 4 Decisions, especially those made by presidential decree, are often made with little or no public consultation. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 13 / 60 (-2) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 6 / 16 (-1) D1. Are there free and independent media? 1 / 4 Journalists face pressure and the risk of detention or arrest in connection with their work. Defamation remains a criminal offense, and the National Communications Council (CNC) has a history of harassing independent journalists and outlets. In 2017, the government clamped down on media coverage of the Anglophone protest movement. The CNC issued an official statement warning that media outlets that covered the demonstrators' grievances could "adversely affect the Republican system, unity and territorial integrity, and the democratic principles on which the state stands," which was interpreted as a threat to impose sanctions against outlets that covered the issue. In January, authorities shut down a radio station after it aired a debate about the Anglophone protest movement. The same month, the German news agency DW reported that its journalists and others had been threatened with sanctions if they covered the demonstrations. And in December 2017, Cameroonian-American author Patrice Nganang, known for his criticism of Biya, was jailed for three weeks and then deported. The government said he had threatened Biya's life in a Facebook post, but Nganang's family said he was detained after writing an article for the French-language, pan-African magazine Jeune Afrique, in which he criticized Biya's repression of the Anglophone protest movement. Radio journalist Mancho Bibixy remained in detention at year's end on charges related to his calls for the secession of the Anglophone regions. Ahmed Abba a Nigerian journalist arrested in 2015 in connection with his reporting on Boko Haram in 2017 was convicted on terrorism-related charges and sentenced to 10 years in prison. However, he was freed after being credited with time served when a court later reduced his sentence to 24 months. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 2 / 4 Religious freedom is somewhat restricted in areas affected by the presence of Boko Haram, which has carried out violent attacks against places of worship. In 2015, the government banned full face veils in the Far North region following two suicide bombings that were attributed to Boko Haram and thought to have been carried out by veiled women. However, the ban is not usually enforced. Separately, the government has at times closed churches in order to encourage resolutions to leadership disputes. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 2 / 4 There are no legal restrictions on academic freedom, but state security informants operate on university campuses. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 1 / 4 (-1) Public criticism of the government and membership in opposition political parties can have a negative impact on professional opportunities and advancement. Cameroonians tend to avoid discussing sensitive political issues for fear of reprisals, notably the potential for a return to a federal system that would grant the Anglophone regions more autonomy, or the regions' outright secession. Internet access in the Anglophone regions was completely shut down for a total of 93 days between January and April of 2017 after several days of demonstrations in Bamenda, the regions' main city, inhibiting online discussion of the Anglophone protest movement. Internet outages hit the region again in October, following that month's protests. The mass arrests of protest participants in October further discouraged discussion of the Anglophone issues. Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 because the mass arrest of many Anglophone-rights activists and a 93-day internet shutdown in the country's Anglophone regions demonstrated that discussion of the Anglophone protest movement is not tolerated. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 2 / 12 (-1) E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 0 / 4 (-1) Freedom of assembly is subject to significant restrictions. In 2017, the Cameroonian government violently repressed a protest movement in the country's Anglophone regions. In October, security forces responded to demonstrations there with live bullets and tear gas. At least 20 people were killed in the crackdown, and at least 500 people were arrested, largely in mass sweeps. Score Change: The score declined from 1 to 0 due to authorities' violent repression of protests in the Anglophone regions of the country. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 1 / 4 The influence of civil society has gradually weakened over the years, with many nongovernmental organizations (NGOs) relying entirely on foreign assistance, and others coopted or overtly supported by the regime. In January, the Cameroon Anglophone Civil Society Consortium (CACSC) was banned, and its president and secretary general were arrested and charged under terrorism laws. They were both detained until August, when Biya ordered their release. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 1 / 4 Trade unions, strikes, and collective bargaining are legally permitted, although unions are still subject to numerous restrictions. F. RULE OF LAW: 1 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 0 / 4 The judiciary is subordinate to the Ministry of Justice, and political influence and corruption weaken courts. Judges are appointed by the president, who may also dismiss them at will. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 1 / 4 Due process rights are generally not respected. Lengthy pretrial detentions are commonplace. State security forces have carried out arbitrary detentions in both the Far North region, in response to the Boko Haram conflict, and in the Anglophone regions. French legal customs are frequently imposed upon Anglophone regions. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 0 / 4 Boko Haram insurgents continue to conduct attacks in the country's Far North region, and state security forces there have been accused of torturing alleged Boko Haram collaborators, many of whom are held without charge. Prison conditions are often dire. In December 2017, government forces were accused of burning several whole villages in one of the Anglophone regions, in response to a deadly separatist attack against a military base in which four soldiers were killed. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 0 / 4 Discrimination against Anglophone Cameroonians and individuals from certain ethnic groups including the Bamileke is common. The government imposes the French language in Anglophone regions, and Anglophone Cameroonians are frequently denied senior jobs in the civil service. Discrimination against the LGBT community is rife, and violence against LGBT people is not uncommon. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 4 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 1 / 4 Free movement is difficult in parts of the Far North due to Boko Haram activity. In 2017, the government issued bans on "the movement of persons" in the Anglophone regions during protest periods. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 1 / 4 Harassment of small business owners by state agents is common. Agribusinesses and logging operations are operated without consulting local inhabitants. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 1 / 4 The constitution guarantees equal rights to men and women, but traditional legal values often take precedence and do not always provide women full rights. Traditional legal codes often forbid women from owning property, exclude women from inheritance rights, and allow rapists to escape punishment if the victim consents to marriage. The penal code forbids "sexual relations with a person of the same sex" and includes prison sentences of up to five years. In practice, people are prosecuted with no evidence of sexual activity, but rather on suspicions that they are gay. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 1 / 4 Despite a 2011 law against human trafficking, Cameroon remains a source, transit, and destination country for forced labor and sex trafficking of children, as well as a source country for women who are subject to forced labor and prostitution in Europe. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Freedom in the World 2018 - Bangladesh Publisher Freedom House Publication Date 5 April 2018 Cite as Freedom House, Freedom in the World 2018 - Bangladesh, 5 April 2018, available at: https://www.refworld.org/docid/5ad8579aa.html [accessed 3 October 2021] Disclaimer This is not a UNHCR publication. UNHCR is not responsible for, nor does it necessarily endorse, its content. Any views expressed are solely those of the author or publisher and do not necessarily reflect those of UNHCR, the United Nations or its Member States. Freedom Status: Partly Free Aggregate Score: 45 (0 = Least Free, 100 = Most Free) Freedom Rating: 4.0 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Political Rights: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Civil Liberties: 4 (1 = Most Free, 7 = Least Free) Quick Facts Population: 162,900,000 Capital:Dhaka GDP/capita:$1,210 Press Freedom Status:Not Free Net Freedom Status:Partly Free OVERVIEW The ruling Awami League (AL) has consolidated political power through sustained harassment of the opposition and those perceived to be allied with it, as well as of critical media and civil society voices. Security forces carry out a range of human right abuses with near impunity, while Islamist extremist groups threaten and attack those with dissident views. Key Developments in 2017: The dominance of the ruling Awami League (AL) party remained unchallenged. The opposition Bangladesh Nationalist Party (BNP) was hampered by arrests and harassment of key party officials and activists, as was the Islamist Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) party. Following a crackdown on extremist militant groups in mid-2016, attacks by these groups lessened, but human rights abuses such as extrajudicial executions and secret detentions targeted not only suspected extremists, but also opposition political factions and other dissident voices. Strikes by garment workers in December 2016 led to a crackdown on workers and labor rights activists, with hundreds fired from their jobs and union leaders arrested. Restrictive laws such as the Information and Communication Technology (ICT) Act were used to detain and charge several dozen individuals for online speech. Starting in August, a crackdown in neighboring Myanmar led to a massive influx of more than 650,000 Rohingya refugees along Bangladesh's southern border, creating a humanitarian crisis that the government struggled to respond to. POLITICAL RIGHTS: 19 / 40 (-1) A. ELECTORAL PROCESS: 7 / 12 A1. Was the current head of government or other chief national authority elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 A largely ceremonial president, who serves for five years, is elected by the legislature. The leader of the party that wins the most seats in the unicameral National Parliament assumes the position of prime minister and wields effective power. Given the conditions under which the 2014 elections were held, the legitimacy of the current prime minister, Sheikh Hasina, is questionable. A2. Were the current national legislative representatives elected through free and fair elections? 2 / 4 Due to an opposition boycott of the 2014 elections, the majority of seats (153) were uncontested, ensuring an AL victory. The AL won 234 parliamentary seats, the Jatiya Party (JP) won 34, and independents and minority parties captured the remainder. In addition, a high level of electoral violence some of which directly targeted members of the country's Hindu and Christian minority groups and political intimidation hindered turnout. Western monitoring groups declined to send election observers and criticized the conditions under which the polls were held. A3. Are the electoral laws and framework fair, and are they implemented impartially by the relevant election management bodies? 3 / 4 Under the electoral framework, members of the National Parliament are elected by universal secret ballot to five-year terms; of 350 total members, 300 are directly elected. The independence of the Election Commission and its ability to investigate complaints has been questioned both by opposition parties and outside observers, and the BNP and 17 allied parties boycotted the 2014 national elections to protest what they said were unfair circumstances. B. POLITICAL PLURALISM AND PARTICIPATION: 7 / 16 (-1) B1. Do the people have the right to organize in different political parties or other competitive political groupings of their choice, and is the system free of undue obstacles to the rise and fall of these competing parties or groupings? 2 / 4 Bangladesh has a two-party system in which power alternates between political coalitions led by the AL and BNP; third parties have traditionally had difficulty achieving traction. Both parties are non-democratic in terms of internal structure, and are led by families that have competed to lead Bangladesh since independence, along with a small coterie of advisers. The constitution bans religiously based political parties, and the JI party was prohibited from taking part in the 2014 elections because of its overtly Islamist charter. B2. Is there a realistic opportunity for the opposition to increase its support or gain power through elections? 1 / 4 The primary opposition BNP and JI parties have been weakened by regular harassment and arrests of key members. Many BNP party leaders are in prison, under house arrest, living in hiding or exile, or facing serious legal charges that could bar them from office, including BNP head Khaleda Zia. Meanwhile, the AL government continued to harass JI leaders, and implemented verdicts handed down against them by the International Crimes Tribunal (ICT). B3. Are the people's political choices free from domination by the military, foreign powers, religious hierarchies, economic oligarchies, or any other powerful group that is not democratically accountable? 2 / 4 The rival AL and BNP parties dominate politics and limit political choices for those who question internal party structures or hierarchy, or who would create alternative parties or political groupings. Severe levels of antagonism between the two party leaders as well as lower-level cadres ensures that the overall level of political violence remains high; in 2017, the human rights group Odhikar registered 77 deaths and more than 4,635 people injured as a result of inter- or intraparty clashes. B4. Do various segments of the population (including ethnic, religious, gender, LGBT, and other relevant groups) have full political rights and electoral opportunities? 2 / 4 (-1) In the national parliament, 50 seats are allotted to women, who are elected by political parties based on their overall share of elected seats, and women lead both main political parties. Religious minorities remain underrepresented in politics and state agencies, though the AL government has appointed several members of such groups to leadership positions. Societal discrimination against religious minorities, women, and LGBT (lesbian, gay, bisexual, and transgender) communities limited their participation in politics. Score Change: The score declined from 3 to 2 due to a lack of Hindu representation in politics, and the inability of the LGBT population to openly serve in government and therefore to have full representation. C. FUNCTIONING OF GOVERNMENT: 5 / 12 C1. Do the freely elected head of government and national legislative representatives determine the policies of the government? 2 / 4 Policy is set by the ruling AL party, with few checks on its processes or decision-making. Regular opposition boycotts of the National Parliament and since the 2014 election boycott, the complete shutout of the main opposition party from that body have significantly hampered the legislature's role in providing thorough scrutiny of or debate on government policies, budgets, and proposed legislation. C2. Are safeguards against official corruption strong and effective? 1 / 4 Under the AL government, anticorruption efforts have been weakened by politicized enforcement and subversion of the judicial process. In particular, the Anti-Corruption Commission (ACC) has become ineffective and subject to overt political interference. The government continues to bring or pursue politicized corruption cases against BNP party leaders. C3. Does the government operate with openness and transparency? 2 / 4 Endemic corruption and criminality, weak rule of law, limited bureaucratic transparency, and political polarization have long undermined government accountability. The 2009 Right to Information Act mandates public access to all information held by public bodies and overrides secrecy legislation. Although it has been unevenly implemented, journalists and civil society activists have had some success in using it to obtain information from local governing authorities. CIVIL LIBERTIES: 26 / 60 (-1) D. FREEDOM OF EXPRESSION AND BELIEF: 7 / 16 D1. Are there free and independent media? 1 / 4 Media face myriad forms of pressure, including the use of lawsuits and regulatory restrictions, and harassment of and physical attacks against reporters and bloggers. The use of criminal defamation lawsuits by ruling party loyalists against independent and opposition news outlets and journalists remained a concern in 2017, with a number of cases reported. The 2014 National Broadcasting Policy allows for restrictions on coverage that is critical of the government or security forces or that is determined to threaten national security. The threat of physical reprisals against bloggers and publishers in connection with their work remains high; Islamist militant groups linked to either Al-Qaeda or the Islamic State were frequently behind the threats. A climate of impunity remains the norm, with little progress made on ensuring justice for the string of killings that has taken place since 2015, and dozens of bloggers remain in hiding or exile. Although no murders took place in 2017, outspoken individuals continue to receive serious threats, such as those leveled against activist Sultana Kamal in May. Various forms of artistic expression, including books and films, are occasionally banned or censored. D2. Are individuals free to practice and express their religious faith or nonbelief in public and private? 2 / 4 As reaffirmed by a 2011 constitutional amendment, Bangladesh is a secular state, but Islam is designated as the official religion. Although religious minorities have the right to worship freely, they face societal discrimination as well as harassment and legal repercussions for proselytizing. Members of minority groups including Hindus, Christians, and Shiite and Ahmadiyya Muslims and their houses of worship are occasionally the targets of harassment and violent attacks. Those with secular or nonconformist views can face societal opprobrium and possible attacks from hardline Islamist groups. D3. Is there academic freedom, and is the educational system free from extensive political indoctrination? 2 / 4 While authorities largely respect academic freedom, research on sensitive political and religious topics is reportedly discouraged. Political polarization at many universities, including occasional clashes involving the armed student wings of the three main parties, inhibits education and access to services. Changes made to the Bengali-language textbooks used widely throughout the educational system and distributed in January 2017 at the behest of Islamist groups, who demanded the removal of content they claimed was "atheistic" raised concerns among intellectuals regarding the influence of these groups over government policy and standards. D4. Are individuals free to express their personal views on political or other sensitive topics without fear of surveillance or retribution? 2 / 4 Open private discussion of sensitive religious and political issues is restrained by fear of harassment. Censorship of digital content and surveillance of telecommunications and social media have become increasingly common. The ICT Act was used to arrest and charge several dozen individuals for exercising freedom of expression online in 2017, including journalists and activists. E. ASSOCIATIONAL AND ORGANIZATIONAL RIGHTS: 5 / 12 (-1) E1. Is there freedom of assembly? 2 / 4 The constitution provides for the rights of assembly and association, but the government regularly bans gatherings of more than five people. Many demonstrations took place in 2017, though authorities sometimes try to prevent rallies by arresting party activists, and protesters are frequently injured and occasionally killed during clashes in which police use excessive force. E2. Is there freedom for nongovernmental organizations, particularly those that are engaged in human rights- and governance-related work? 2 / 4 Many NGOs operate in Bangladesh and are able to function without onerous restrictions, but the use of foreign funds must be cleared by the NGO Affairs Bureau, which can also approve or reject individual projects. The 2016 Foreign Donations (Voluntary Activities) Regulation Act, which made it more difficult for NGOs to obtain foreign funds and gave officials broad authority to deregister NGOs that make "derogatory" comments about government bodies or the constitution, has had a negative impact on the sector in 2017, according to local sources. Groups such as the leading human rights NGO Odhikar, which is deemed to be overly critical of the government on rights issues, are regularly denied permission for proposed projects and are subject to repeated instances of harassment and surveillance. E3. Is there freedom for trade unions and similar professional or labor organizations? 1 / 4 (-1) Legal reforms in 2015 eased restrictions on the formation of unions. However, union leaders who attempted to organize or unionize workers continued to face dismissal or physical intimidation, and organizations that advocate for labor rights, such as the Bangladesh Center for Workers' Solidarity (BCWS), have also faced increased harassment. Worker grievances fuel unrest at factories, particularly in the garment industry, where protests against low wages and unsafe working conditions are common. Beginning at the end of 2016, strikes by garment workers prompted a widespread crackdown, with mass arrests of labor rights activists and firings of hundreds of workers, and attempts to shutter a BCWS community center. Score Change: The score declined from 2 to 1 due to the ongoing crackdown on manufacturing associations and garment union federation activists in the wake of a late 2016 strike. F. RULE OF LAW: 5 / 16 F1. Is there an independent judiciary? 2 / 4 Politicization of the judiciary remains an issue despite a 1999 Supreme Court directive ordering the separation of the judiciary from the executive. Political authorities continue to make appointments to the higher judiciary, in some cases demonstrating an overt political bias. Harassment of witnesses and the dismissal of cases following political pressure are also of concern. F2. Does due process prevail in civil and criminal matters? 1 / 4 Individuals' ability to access justice is compromised by endemic corruption within the court system as well as severe backlogs, with several million pending cases. Pretrial detention is often lengthy, and many defendants lack counsel. Suspects are routinely subject to arbitrary arrest and detention, demands for bribes, and physical abuse by police. Meanwhile, criminal cases against ruling party activists are regularly withdrawn on the grounds of "political consideration," undermining the judicial process and entrenching a culture of impunity. The 1974 Special Powers Act permits arbitrary detention without charge, and the criminal procedure code allows detention without a warrant. A 2009 counterterrorism law includes a broad definition of terrorism and generally does not meet international standards. Concerns have repeatedly been raised that the current International Crimes Tribunal's procedures and verdicts do not meet international standards on issues such as victim and witness protection, the presumption of innocence, defendant access to counsel, and the right to bail. F3. Is there protection from the illegitimate use of physical force and freedom from war and insurgencies? 1 / 4 Terrorist attacks by Islamist militant groups dramatically lessened in 2017 following a crackdown on these groups in the latter half of 2016 during which more than 15,000 people were arrested. The South Asia Terrorism Portal counted only 13 civilian and security-personnel fatalities related to Islamist extremism in 2017, almost a quarter the number of the previous year. However, a range of human rights abuses by law enforcement agencies including enforced disappearances, custodial deaths, arbitrary arrests, and torture continue unabated. A July 2017 Human Rights Watch report documented the use of detention and enforced disappearance against political opponents, despite the government's promise to reform the practice, with more than 300 cases reported since 2009. One high-profile detainee, Humam Quader Chowdhury, was released in March 2017 after more than six months, but others who have been convicted by the tribunal remain unaccounted for. The incidence of custodial deaths has remained high. Odhikar reported a total of 154 extrajudicial killings perpetrated by law enforcement agencies in 2017, in addition to 86 enforced disappearances. In one case, Mubashar Hassan, an academic and policy analyst whose work focused on extremism, was disappeared in early November and only released from state custody in late December. Prison conditions are extremely poor; severe overcrowding is common, and juveniles are often incarcerated with adults. F4. Do laws, policies, and practices guarantee equal treatment of various segments of the population? 1 / 4 Members of ethnic and religious minority groups face some discrimination under law as well as harassment and violations of their rights in practice. Indigenous people in the Chittagong Hill Tracts (CHT) remain subject to physical attacks, property destruction, land grabs by Bengali settlers, and occasional abuses by security forces. Bangladesh has hosted roughly 270,000 ethnic Rohingyas who fled from Myanmar beginning in the 1990s. The vast majority do not have official refugee status; suffer from a complete lack of access to health care, employment, and education; and are subject to substantial harassment. In response to a sharp escalation in violence directed against Rohingyas in Rakhine state in August 2017, hundreds of thousands poured across the border into Bangladesh, creating a humanitarian crisis, with an estimated 650,000 arrivals by December 2017. A criminal ban on same-sex sexual acts is rarely enforced, but societal discrimination remains the norm, and dozens of attacks on LGBT individuals are reported every year. In May 2017, police arrested 27 men at a community gathering. A number remain in exile following the April 2016 murder of Xulhaz Mannan, a prominent LGBT activist, by Islamist militants. Despite legal recognition for transgender people as an optional "third gender," they face persecution. G. PERSONAL AUTONOMY AND INDIVIDUAL RIGHTS: 9 / 16 G1. Do individuals enjoy freedom of movement, including the ability to change their place of residence, employment, or education? 3 / 4 The ability to move within the country is relatively unrestricted, as is foreign travel, though there are some rules on travel into and around the CHT districts by foreigners. There are few legal restrictions regarding education or employment, but socioeconomic barriers to mobility remain in practice. G2. Are individuals able to exercise the right to own property and establish private businesses without undue interference from state or nonstate actors? 2 / 4 Property rights are unevenly enforced, and the ability to engage freely in private economic activity is somewhat constrained. Corruption and bribery, inadequate infrastructure, and official bureaucratic and regulatory hurdles hinder business activities throughout the country. State involvement and interference in the economy is considerable. The 2011 Vested Properties Return Act allows Hindus to reclaim land that the government or other individuals seized, but it has been unevenly implemented. Tribal minorities have little control over land decisions affecting them, and Bengali-speaking settlers continue to illegally encroach on tribal lands in the CHT. A commission set up in 2009 to allocate land to indigenous tribes has suffered from delays. G3. Do individuals enjoy personal social freedoms, including choice of marriage partner and size of family, protection from domestic violence, and control over appearance? 2 / 4 Under personal status laws affecting all religions, women have fewer marriage, divorce, and inheritance rights than men, and face discrimination in social services and employment. Rape, acid throwing, and other forms of violence against women occur regularly despite laws offering some level of protection. A law requiring rape victims to file police reports and obtain medical certificates within 24 hours of the crime in order to press charges prevents most cases from reaching the courts. Giving or receiving dowry is a criminal offense, but coercive requests remain a problem; Odhikar reported more than 250 cases of dowry-related violence against women in 2017. A high rate of early marriage persists, with 52 percent of girls married by age 18, according to UN statistics for 2016. Despite a stated government commitment in 2014 to abolish the practice by 2041, in February 2017 parliament approved a law that would permit girls under the age of 18 to marry under certain circumstances, reversing a previous legal ban on the practice. G4. Do individuals enjoy equality of opportunity and freedom from economic exploitation? 2 / 4 Socioeconomic inequality is widespread. Working conditions in the garment industry remain extremely unsafe despite the renewal of a legally binding accord between unions and clothing brands to improve safety practices; a fire at a textile in September 2017 claimed at least six lives. Comprehensive reforms of the industry are hampered by the fact that a growing number of factory owners are also legislators or influential businesspeople. Bangladesh remains both a major supplier of and transit point for trafficking victims, with tens of thousands of people trafficked each year. Women and children are trafficked both overseas and within the country for the purposes of domestic servitude and sexual exploitation, while men are trafficked primarily for labor abroad. A comprehensive 2013 antitrafficking law provides protection to victims and increased penalties for traffickers, but enforcement remains inadequate. Scoring Key: X / Y (Z) X = Score Received Y = Best Possible Score Z = Change from Previous Year Copyright notice: Freedom House, Inc. All Rights Reserved Success! An email has been sent to with a link to confirm list signup. Similar to its name, Bombay Bandook's evolving discography is a fusion of the two ideologies and the approach that defines its efforts. Its latest studio outcome, the single titled 'Parvaaz' draws parallel between the technicalities of the approach; case in point, the Raag Bhimpalasi dominating the structure throughout finds similarity with the (western) Dorian mode. Not a unique arrangement for an Indian band, but it's extremely refreshing for a purely metropolitan band to provide such detailed thoughts into its songwriting process. And not simply boast of enabling yet another marriage between two diverse schools of music forms. Lyrically, the song is a call to take a flight away from yourself and discover the new you. But the song also allows the listeners to draw their own interpretations. (Yes, songs still do that!) This ability to stay consistent allows Bombay Bandook to knock on that exclusive league of fusion bands in India who've succeeded in ensuring the bar has been raised with every passing generation. President Donald Trump's nominee to head the National Aeronautics and Space Administration narrowly cleared a procedural hurdle in the Senate on Wednesday. The Senate voted 50 to 48 in favor of a motion cutting off debate on Congressman James Bridenstine's, R-Okla., nomination as NASA Administrator. The chamber was deadlocked 49 to 49 until Republican Senator Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., decided to change his vote to advance the nomination. Vice President Mike Pence would typically be called on to break the tie but is currently at Trump's Mar-a-Lago resort in Palm Beach, Florida. Senators John McCain, R-Ariz., who is recovering from an intestinal infection, and Tammy Duckworth, D-Ill., who recently had a baby, were absent. The vote came down strictly along party lines, with Democrats raising concerns about Bridenstine's qualifications to lead the space agency. "The NASA administrator should be a consummate space professional, that's what this senator wants," said Senator Bill Nelson, D-Fla., a former astronaut. He added, "That space professional ought to be technically and scientifically competent, and a skilled executive." Democrats have also complained about Bridenstine's views on climate change, although he is expected to be confirmed in a final vote on Thursday. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The Procter & Gamble Company (PG) announced that it has signed an agreement to acquire the Consumer Health of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, for purchase price of about 3.4 billion euros. P&G expects to close this deal during the 2018/19 fiscal year. The Consumer Health business of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, is active across 44 countries and includes more than 900 products. P&G specified that this acquisition replaces and improves upon the highly successful PGT Healthcare joint venture P&G had with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA), which will be terminated July 1, 2018. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Consumer goods giant Procter & Gamble Co. (PG) announced Thursday that it has signed an agreement to acquire the Consumer Health of German drug major Merck KGaA (MKGAY.PK) for a purchase price of approximately 3.4 billion euros. The company said the acquisition of the Consumer Health business replaces and improves upon the highly successful PGT Healthcare joint venture P&G had with Teva Pharmaceutical Industries (TEVA), which will be terminated July 1, 2018, pending regulatory approvals. P&G expects to close the acquisition of Consumer Health business during the 2018/19 fiscal year, subject to customary closing conditions and regulatory clearances. The Consumer Health business of Merck KGaA is active across 44 countries and includes more than 900 products. The $1 billion business grew 6% over the past two years, P&G noted. Top brands include Neurobion, Dolo-Neurobion, Femibion, Nasivin, Bion3, Seven Seas and Kytta, along with many others. These are sold primarily in Europe, Latin America and Asia. P&G said the acquisition enables it to expand its successful consumer care business, and provides strong health care commercial and supply capabilities. The acquisition is also expected to improve its OTC geographic scale, brand portfolio and category footprint. David Taylor, Chairman of the Board, President and Chief Executive Officer, said, "We like the steady, broad-based growth of the OTC Health Care market and are pleased to add the Consumer Health portfolio and people of Merck KGaA, Darmstadt, Germany, to the P&G family." In early April, CNBC had reported that drug major Pfizer Inc. (PFE) was in talks with P&G regarding the sale of its consumer business. The Pfizer business includes Chapstick lip balm, Advil pain reliever and Centrum vitamins and has been for sale for months. P&G reportedly was considered as the potential bidder, though P&G was looking to pay $15 billion, while Pfizer was seeking $20 billion or more, the report said. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Today's Daily Dose brings you news about an agreement between Pfenex and China NT Pharma; Bristol-Myers' near-term regulatory catalyst; Eloxx Pharma's progress with cystic fibrosis drug candidate and FDA clearance of Cantel Medical's ADVANTAGE PLUS Pass-Thru automated endoscope reprocessor. Read on ANI Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ANIP) has received FDA approval for its Abbreviated New Drug Application of Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution 10mg/5mL, 20mg/5mL and 100mg/5mL. Morphine Sulfate Oral Solution is indicated for the management of acute and chronic pain severe enough to require an opioid analgesic and for which alternative treatments are inadequate. The current annual U.S. market for this product is approximately $17 million, according to Iqvia/IMS Health. ANI expects to begin shipping product to its customers in the near future. ANIP closed Wednesday's trading at $61.63, up 0.80%. Bristol-Myers Squibb Co.'s (BMY) supplemental Biologics License Application for Opdivo to treat patients with small cell lung cancer whose disease has progressed after two or more prior lines of therapy has been accepted for priority review by the FDA. The regulatory agency's decision on the expanded indication of Opdivo is expected by August 16, 2018. Opdivo is indicated for a range of indications like advanced melanoma, advanced non-small cell lung cancer, advanced renal cell carcinoma, classical Hodgkin lymphoma, advanced squamous cell carcinoma of the head and neck, urothelial carcinoma, MSI-H or dMMR metastatic colorectal cancer, and hepatocellular carcinoma. The drug raked in sales of $4.95 billion in 2017 compared to $3.77 billion in 2016. BMY closed Wednesday's trading at $52.30, down 0.15%. Cantel Medical Corp. (CMD) has received FDA clearance for its ADVANTAGE PLUS Pass-Thru automated endoscope reprocessor. The ADVANTAGE PLUS Pass-Thru AER has been clinically proven to high-level disinfect the most commonly used endoscopes, including duodenoscopes. The machine also uses a unique pass-through design that supports one-way workflow to ensure the highest quality in infection prevention by reducing the risk of human error, distraction and unintended lapses in cleaning protocols. In addition, the hard-wall separation between dirty and clean reprocessing areas is designed to prevent recontamination of reprocessed endoscopes, ensuring safe, patient-ready endoscopes for every procedure. ADVANTAGE PLUS Pass-Thru AER is the first pass-through automated endoscope reprocessor available in the United States, noted the Company. CMD closed Wednesday's trading at $115.03, down 0.84%. Eloxx Pharmaceuticals Inc. (ELOX.OB) plans to initiate a phase II clinical trial of ELX-02 in cystic fibrosis patients with nonsense mutations by the end of this year, subject to regulatory clearance in Belgium. ELOX.OB closed Wednesday's trading at $10.40, up 0.97%. Pfenex Inc. (PFNX) has granted China NT Pharma Group Co. Ltd. non-exclusive development and exclusive commercialization rights to PF708 in Mainland China, Hong Kong, Singapore, Malaysia and Thailand. PF708 is a teriparatide therapeutic equivalent candidate to Eli Lilly & Company's Forteo for the treatment of osteoporosis. The NDA for PF708 is expected to be submitted in the third quarter of 2018. NT Pharma will be responsible for any further development required to achieve regulatory approval as well as commercialization activities in the territory. Pfenex received a payment of $2.5 million upon signing of the agreement and is entitled to receive additional payments of up to $22.5 million based on the achievement of certain development, regulatory, and sales-related milestones, as well as double-digit royalties on net product sales. PFNX closed Wednesday's trading at $5.56, up 1.09%. Solid Biosciences Inc. (SLDB) has received a letter from the FDA relating to the previously-announced full clinical hold on IGNITE DMD, the Company's Phase I/II clinical trial for its investigational gene therapy, SGT-001, for the treatment of Duchenne muscular dystrophy (DMD). The IGNITE DMD study was put on hold by the FDA on March 14, 2018. The Company plans to submit a response to this letter to the FDA in the coming weeks. Last November, the FDA had imposed a partial clinical hold on the higher-dose group in the IGNITE DMD study, and had sought answers to manufacturing-related questions. The regulatory agency considers the response submitted by the Company related to previously-announced partial clinical hold as satisfactory. SLDB closed Wednesday's trading at $10.74, up 1.70%. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Pest control firm Rentokil Initial Plc (RTOKY.PK,RTO.L) reported that its revenue for the first-quarter declined 5.1 percent to 550.7 million pounds, at actual exchange rates. At constant exchange rates, revenues were down 1.5 percent. But, ongoing revenue for the quarter grew 10.8 percent to 545.9 million pounds, at actual exchange rates. At constant exchange rates, it was up 15.7 percent. Acquisitions have performed well contributing 12.5% to Ongoing Revenue in the first quarter. Ongoing Revenue in Pest Control grew by 15.8% with Growth growing by 12.4% and Emerging markets increasing by 38.2%, reflecting the strong performance of joint venture in India. Quarterly Hygiene Ongoing Revenue rose by 29.3%, driven by the acquisitions of Cannon Hygiene and CWS Italy. Andy Ransom, Chief Executive, said, "I am pleased with our performance in Q1 and we are well-positioned for another year of successful growth. We are confident that the Company will deliver a performance in line with market expectations for 2018." While currency markets remain volatile, the company's guidance for the adverse impact of foreign exchange on profit is in the range of 10 million pounds to 15 million pounds for the year, as previously guided at the Preliminary results on 1 March 2018. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Danaher Corp. (DHR) announced, for the full year 2018, the company now expects non-GAAP adjusted net earnings per share to be in the range of $4.38 to $4.45 versus previous guidance of $4.25 to $4.35. For the second quarter 2018, the company anticipates non-GAAP adjusted net earnings per share will be in the range of $1.07 to $1.10. For the first-quarter, non-GAAP adjusted net earnings per share were $0.99, a 16.5% increase over the comparable 2017 period. For the first quarter 2018, revenues increased 11.5% year-over-year to $4.7 billion, with non-GAAP core revenue growth of 5.5%. Thomas Joyce, Jr., CEO, stated, "We are off to an outstanding start in 2018, with the first quarter coming in ahead of our initial expectations. We delivered 5.5% core revenue growth, mid-teens earnings per share growth and free cash flow that increased more than 70% year-on-year. This strong performance was broad-based, with four of our five platforms delivering mid-single digit or better core revenue growth including 9.5% growth in Diagnostics, which was led by Cepheid. We also announced the acquisition of Integrated DNA Technologies, Inc. ("IDT"), a leading player in the highly attractive genomics consumables segment. We closed the IDT acquisition last week and are excited to welcome the IDT team to Danaher." For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News The suspected mastermind behind the theft of $2 million worth of bitcoin mining equipment has escaped an Icelandic prison, and reportedly fled to Sweden on a plane that was also carrying Iceland's Prime Minister. Sindri Thor Stefansson escaped from a minimum-security prison Tuesday, Icelandic media reported. He boarded the flight from the international airport in Keflavik using a ticket under someone else's name. Flying within Europe's Schengen travel zone is passport-free. He was not noticed until the flight was in the air. An international warrant has been issued for his arrest. Iceland's Prime Minister Katrin Jakobsdottir was on her way to Sweden to take part in a meeting between five Nordic prime ministers and India's Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Stefansson and 10 others were arrested in February suspected of involvement in what was dubbed by local media as the "Big Bitcoin Heist". In four separate heists, 600 bitcoin mining computers from data centers around Iceland were stolen and have yet to be found. At the time of the thefts, Icelandic police said Stefansson was suspected to be the kingpin of the apparent highly organized crime. Stefansson was transferred to Sogn open prison in rural southern Iceland earlier this month. It has no fences, and inmates are allowed access to phones and the Internet. Iceland has become an attractive place for bitcoin miners because power is generated from renewable sources, making electricity costs lower. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News "Mum and Dad, don't worry, eh. Not gonna try the reefer." As Canada prepares to legalize marijuana nationwide later this year, a national survey by Statistics Canada has thrown up some interesting facts - including that legal marijuana is not a temptation for most Canadians. Regardless of cannabis use, over three quarters, or 79 percent of Canadians surveyed said they would not be more likely to try or increase their cannabis consumption just because it is legalized. Statistics Canada collaborated with partners within Health Canada, Public Safety Canada and the Public Health Agency of Canada to develop the new survey, entitled the National Cannabis Survey or NCS. Canada plans to legalize adult use of cannabis later this year. In April 2017, the Cannabis Act, also known as Bill C-45, was introduced to Canadian Parliament as a means to legalize access to cannabis for non-medical purposes. It would legally allow for individuals 18 and over to purchase marijuana for personal use. The National Cannabis Survey found that about 4.2 million, or 14 percent of Canadians aged 15 years and older, reported having used cannabis products for medical or non-medical use in the past three months. More than half of the users, or 56 percent, indicated that were "daily" or "weekly" users. The survey also found that one third of cannabis users obtain their supply from family or friends. 31 percent reported receiving the cannabis they used from a family member or friend, while 22 percent reported sharing among a group of friends. While there can be more than one source from which cannabis is obtained, 72 percent of the cannabis consumers, said they received their product from a single source. Of the Canadians who did not use cannabis in the past three months, only 6 percent said they planned to increase their use or try it for the first time. In turn, 24 percent of current cannabis users said they would likely increase their use after cannabis is legalized. So most Canadians will not be putting down their hockey sticks and taking pot instead. One-third of cannabis consumers reported that they did not spend any money on the product they consumed. Almost one in four cannabis users reported spending more than $250 over the past three months, the survey found. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News Republican Senator Ted Cruz, R-Tex., and Democratic Congressman Beto O'Rourke, R-Tex., are essentially tied in a Quinnipiac University poll of the closely watched Senate race in Texas. Forty-seven percent of Texas voters said they would support Cruz if the election were held today, while 44 percent said they would vote for O'Rourke. Cruz' narrow three-point lead is within the poll's margin of error. "Democrats have had a target on Sen. Ted Cruz's back, and they may be hitting the mark," said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll. He added, "Once expected to 'cruise' to reelection, the incumbent is in a tight race with Democratic U.S. Rep. Beto O'Rourke." The poll found wide party, gender, age and racial gaps, with Cruz leading among Republicans, men, older voters, and white voters and O'Rourke leading among Democrats, women, younger voters, and non-white voters. O'Rourke has a 51 percent to 37 percent advantage among independent voters, who Brown said may be key in deciding the race. "Texas remains a strong GOP state so O'Rourke will need the independent strength to pull the upset," Brown said. The survey showed Cruz with a 47 percent to 45 percent job approval rating and a 46 percent to 44 percent favorability rating. O'Rourke has a 30 percent to 16 percent favorability rating, although 53 percent of Texas voters said they don't know enough about him to form an opinion. The Quinnipiac poll of 1,029 Texas voters was conducted April 12th through 17th and has a margin of error of plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Political News Crude oil futures pulled back Thursday after hitting multi-year highs, even as OPEC bragged that the global oil glut is all but gone. Reuters reports that OPEC officials claim their supply quota plan with Russia has had the intended effect of re-balancing the global oil market. Still, the cartel and Kremlin want to drive prices even higher and offset the U.S. shale oil boom, so they are likely to extend the supply quota plan beyond this year. OPEC is meeting in the Middle East this week to discuss the issue. WTI light sweet oil jumped to a nearly 4-year high around $70 a barrel this morning, but profit taking took hold. May oil settled lower by 18 cents, or about 0.3%, at $68.29/bbl. Friday is final day of the May contract. In economic news, U.S. initial jobless claims edged down to 232,000, a decrease of 1,000 from the previous week's unrevised level of 233,000. Economists had expected jobless claims to dip to 230,000. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Market Analysis (Agencia CMA Latam) - Brazilian Senator Randolfe Rodrigues (Rede-AP) filed an impeachment motion against President Michel Temer in the House of Representatives for a crime of responsibility based on charges of keeping slush funds. The motion mentions reports that the Brazilian meatpacker JBS would have disbursed around R$ 1 million (US$ 295.5 thousand) in renovations at the home of Maristela Temer, the president's daughter, in 2014. In the impeachment request, the Senator notes that the Brazilian Federal Police collected invoices and projects at the headquarters of Argeplan giving indications that Temer's daughter was receiving undue advantages. The motion also mentions the involvement of the colonel Jojo Baptista Lima Filho, already denounced in the investigation and a close friend to Temer. Although related to facts previous to Temer's mandate as President, he would have lied, according to the senator, by denying in a Federal Police questionnaire in January that he kept slush funds or had financial transactions with Colonel Lima. The impeachment motion calls for the suspension of Temer's mandate and suspension of his political rights for eight years. The speaker of the House of Representatives, Rodrigo Maia, should evaluate whether or not to accept the motion. by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. Fake coupons offering free coffee to black customers at Starbucks are spreading online. "Let's Talk" is printed on the coupon and adds "We know we can do better. Starbucks values all people of color and we are working on employee sensitivity training. The best dialogue starts over a cup of coffee and we'd like to buy you one." However, according to Starbucks, the company has not started any such offer. "This is completely false and in no way associated with Starbucks," a Starbucks spokeswoman told Newsweek. Last week, Starbucks came under scathing criticism after two black men were arrested from a Philadelphia Starbucks outlet on April 12. The arrests sparked accusations of racial profiling by the coffee chain. The two men were waiting at the store for a friend to show up. However, a store manager asked the men, who had not made any purchases, to leave the store after they attempted to use the restroom despite being told it was only for paying customers. The store manager later called 911 to report trespassing and the men were arrested by the Philadelphia police. Starbucks CEO Keving Johnson apologized to the two men for their arrest and also said that their arrest was a "reprehensible outcome." Starbucks has also announced that it will close all of its more than 8,000 company-owned stores in the US on the afternoon of May 29 to conduct a racial-bias education for its employees. For comments and feedback contact: editorial@rttnews.com Business News (Agencia CMA Latam) - After 17 years, the first shipment of fresh Argentinean lemons to the United States was dispatched yesterday after a ceremony hosted led by President Mauricio Macri in Tucumin. After intense negotiations, the United States Department of Agriculture definitively authorized, at the end of 2017, the entry of Argentinean lemons into its territory. Around ten packing plants in the country should be able to export between 15,000 and 20,000 tons per year of lemons to the U.S. market. Last year, Argentina's fresh lemon exports reached US$ 246 million and a volume of 238 thousand tons, with an average price of US$ 1,033 per ton. Argentina annually produces 3.28 million tons of citric fruits, exporting around 395 thousand. Both Mexico and Brazil are open to the export of Argentinean lemons and, for this year, commercial missions are planned to different strategic destinations, such as Russia and the United Kingdom. by Agencia CMA Latam For comments and feedback: editorial@rttnews.com Economic News What parts of the world are seeing the best (and worst) economic performances lately? Click here to check out our Econ Scorecard and find out! See up-to-the-moment rankings for the best and worst performers in GDP, unemployment rate, inflation and much more. By SA Commercial Prop News Minister in the Presidency for Performance Monitoring and Evaluation Collins Chabane said the office would be an independent statutory body, which would also be charged with the responsibility of keeping a collated hub of property values. Cabinet's approval of the policy to establish the Office of the Valuer-General has been welcomed by the Department of Rural Development and Land Reform. The Valuer-General would be an independent statutory body that would assist in the valuation of land, ensure proper market value of the land which is available in the country, without relying solely on the private sector, and keep records of the value of land. Cabinet last week approved the principle of the establishment of the office of the Valuer-General. The policy still needs to be taken to Parliament in the form of a bill for the office to be established in terms of law. The establishment of the Office comes as a result of the absence of a nationwide comprehensive, reliable hub for the assessment of property values in the country. The Valuer-General would be responsible for issues such as the provision of fair and consistent land values for rating and taxing purposes and determining financial compensation following expropriation under the Expropriation Act or any other policy and legislation which is in compliance with the Constitution. "This office will also serve as intervention that will help the department in dealing with the problem of people who are inflating land prices when selling to the department," explained the department. It said the Valuer-General would also be responsible for the provision of specialist valuation and property advice to government, setting standards and monitoring service delivery and undertaking market and sales analysis; setting guidelines, norms and standards required to validate the integrity of the valuation data and creating and maintaining a data-base of valuation information. "The announcement by Cabinet comes on the eve of 2013, which is the year in which the department will mark the centenary of the notorious 1913 Natives Land Act. The Office of the Valuer-General is one of the institutions which have been proposed in the Green Paper on Land Reform ... the success of the Green Paper must be measured by the extent to which it succeeds in reversing the negative impact and legacy of this Act," said the department. Private equity (PE) and venture capital (VC) funds with adequate net worth and capability can bid for Air India (AI) through its strategic divestment programme, a senior government official said on Thursday. According to Department of Investment and Public Asset Management (DIPAM) Secretary Neeraj Gupta, the Central government was "not looking only for an airline to takeover Air India". "We have given a small carve out for airlines on how domestic airlines will be treated in terms of eligibility in a consortium but otherwise anybody who has net worth and funds can bid for Air India," Gupta said at industry body Assocham's 'Annual India Investment Conference'. "In all these disinvestment exercises also, we have kept them technically neutral, finance is the main criteria and your capability to takeover and run such an asset in financial terms is the main criteria." Gupta also said that the government had "received lot of queries from airlines and non-airlines" for proposed divestment of the national carrier. "... If you see the expression of interest being invited in these cases, the only criteria is net worth," he said. The Central government has invited "Expression of Interest" to off-load 76 per cent stake and management control of the airline. On March 28, the government issued the Preliminary Information Memorandum (PIM) for a strategic divestment of Air India, along with the airline's shares in AIXL (Air India Express) and AISATS (Air India SATS Airport Services). The Central Government owns 100 per cent equity of Air India. In turn, the airline has a cent per cent stake in Air India Express, while it holds 50 per cent stake in the joint venture AISATS. Accordingly, it has been planned to divest 76 per cent government stake in Air India, 100 per cent in AIXL and 50 per cent in AISATS. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra The BJP on Thursday said the "invisible hand" behind the petition on Judge B.H. Loya case was of the Congress and its President Rahul Gandhi and they should apologise to the country for defaming the judiciary. The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) came down heavily on opposition parties after the Supreme Court dismissed the petition seeking a Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into the death of Judge Loya. Addressing the media soon after the apex court pronounced its verdict over death of Judge Loya, who was earlier holding trial in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh staged shootout case, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said the petitions were filed with a political agenda. "For sometime, a few people were trying to politicise the judiciary. The court has slammed the petitioners who were demanding a SIT probe into the death of Judge Loya," he said. Accusing the Congress of being the "invisible political power or a political platform" behind the petition, Patra said it was an attempt to settle political rivalry. "Who held a press conference on January 12, 2018? It was Rahul Gandhi. It will be true to say the invisible hand, the invisible body that the Supreme Court is talking about... is none other than Rahul Gandhi and the Congress," he said. "You people lost power because of your inefficiencies. And it's the reason why you people are so jealous. Rahul Gandhi should come out and apologize to (BJP President) Amit Shah, the country and judiciary," he said. He said that all the petitions were politically motivated and were aimed at defaming Amit Shah. "Today, he (Rahul Gandhi) got a befitting reply from the Supreme Court." He accused the Congress of using such tactics as they were not able to fight politically against Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Shah. "The Congress has always promoted one family and when they are out of power they hatch such conspiracies," he said. Holding that there was absolutely no merit in the petition, a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice A.M. Khanwilkar and Justice D.Y. Chandrachud said Judge Loya had met a natural death. In a veiled message to Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said on Wednesday that antics of those exporting terror and trying to backstab will not be tolerated and they will be answered in language they understand. He said Islamabad had been informed of the 2016 surgical strikes before these were announced to the media. Taking part in an interactive session 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' at the historic Central Hall Westminster here, Modi referred to the outrage over multiple rape cases of minor girls in India and said such incidents cannot be tolerated. He took several digs at the opposition, particularly the Congress, and said that the pace of work of his government was much faster than of the previous UPA government. The interaction, which lasted for more than two hours, saw Modi highlighting achievements of his government in the past about four years to build electoral momentum for the 2019 Lok Sabha polls. Modi termed the surgical strikes of September 29, 2016 an answer to the exporters of terrorism. Referring to the Uri terror strike, Modi said: "We will not tolerate those who like to export terror and those who try to stab at the back. We know how to give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Some cowards come and kill our jawans. Do you want me to stay quiet? Shouldn't they be replied in the same coin?" "The surgical strike was an answer to the exporters of terrorism, sending message (to Pakistan) that India has changed and their antics will never be tolerated. I am proud of my soldiers. The soldiers executed the surgical strike without making a single mistake and with 100 per cent perfection. And they returned before sunrise," Modi said. He said he had told the Army to announce the strikes to media after informing Pakistan. He said Pakistani authorities were initially hesitant to take the calls but came on line around 12 noon the next day after which the media was informed about them. "...And look at our good intention. I told the army officer in-charge that before announcing the news in India, he should inform the Pakistan army first about the strike and they may remove the bodies if they want to," he added. Pakistan has maintained that no surgical strikes were carried out by India. New Delhi has been accusing Pakistan of sponsoring cross-border terrorism. Referring to the foreign policy, Modi said India was dealing with all countries in the world on equal terms and was taking independent decisions in its dealings with countries such as Israel, Saudi Arabia and Iran. He said India has made its place in international fora and was setting the agenda. Referring to outrage over rape incidents, Modi said: "A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters?" He said comparing statistics of rapes in different governments was a worse way to deal with the issue and referred to his speech from the the Red Fort where he said people need to teach their sons to treat girls with respect. Modi took veiled potshots at Congress President Rahul Gandhi. "I do not need to read books to understand poverty. I have lived in poverty, I know what it is to be poor and belong to the backward sections of society. I want to work for the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden," he said. Modi said a wrong tendency had developed over the years of people getting overly dependent on the government. "Mahatma Gandhi made the struggle of freedom a people's movement. I am making development a people's movement," he said. He said people have more expectations from the BJP-led government as they have faith that it can deliver. Modi also accused the Congress of promoting legacy of one family and said many people of the country were not aware of contribution of Lord Basaveshwara. Lord Basaveshwara hailed from Karnataka where assembly polls will be held next month. Modi said he welcomes criticism as it makes democracy strong. Modi referred to his government's initiatives including Ayushman Bharat and doubling farmers income by 2022. He said he was not born with an aim to be in history books and that 125 crore people of India were his family. "I am like any common citizen." Referring to his personal life, Modi said: My life at the Railway Station taught me so much. It was about my personal struggles. When you said Royal Palace, it is not about me but about the 125 crore people of India," he said. Narendra Modi Pakistan on Thursday rejected as "false" and "baseless" Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims of having launched a surgical strike on terrorist camps in Pakistani territory. At an interactive session at the Central Hall Westminster in London, Modi said on Wednesday that Islamabad was informed about the 2016 surgical strike before this was made known to the media. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal told the media that the claims about the surgical strike by the Indian military was a "lie" and "repeating it doesn't turn it into the truth". India said its special forces conducted the surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, on September 29 and inflicted heavy casualties on terrorists preparing to infiltrate into Indian Kashmir. In a veiled message to Pakistan, Modi said in London that "antics of those exporting terror and trying to backstab us will not be tolerated" and "they will be answered in a language they understand". Spokesperson Faisal said: "Repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth... It is the other way around and India is backing terrorists in Pakistan. "The whole world knows who the terrorists are and who their head is. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is a proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism," he said. As part of India's diplomatic reach-out across the Commonwealth nations, Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday met a number of leaders of Africa, and the island nations of the Caribbean, Indian Ocean and the Pacific on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) here. Keeping with India's increasing engagements with Africa, Modi met Gambian President Adama Barrow and Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, according to tweets by Indian External Affairs Ministry spokesperson Raveesh Kumar. According to Kumar, Modi and Gambian President Barrow discussed steps to deepen the bilateral partnership. The Indian Prime Minister also met Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, Solomon Islands Prime Minister Rick Houenipwela and Kiribati President Taneti Maamau. India has been increasingly reaching out to these Pacific island nations given their vulnerability in the face of climate change and their stakes in the blue economy. Fiji is also home to a large number of people of Indian origin, who constitute around 37 per cent of the country's total population of nearly 900,000. Most of them are descendants of indentured labour taken from India in the 19th and early 20th centuries to work in the sugarcane plantations there. Among the Caribbean islands, Modi met the St. Lucia and Antigua & Barbuda Prime Ministers, Allen Chastanet and Gaston Browne respectively. As India continues to engage with its extended neighbourhood, the Indian Prime Minister met Seychelles President Danny Faure and Mauritius Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth. While Modi discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues with Faure, the talks with Jugnauth were around cooperation in the areas of trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties, according to Kumar. India sees both Mauritius and the Seychelles as important stakeholders in the blue economy and Modi has made official visits to both these countries. Significantly, all these nations whose leaders Modi met are prospective members of the India-initiated International Solar Alliance (ISA). Launched by Modi and then French President Francois Hollande at the Paris climate summit in 2015, the ISA was conceived as a coalition of solar resource-rich countries to address their special energy needs and provide a platform to collaborate on dealing with the identified gaps through a common, agreed approach. It is open to all 121 prospective member countries falling between the Tropics of Cancer and Capricorn. Earlier on Thursday, Modi attended the opening ceremony of this year's CHOGM, becoming the first Indian Prime Minister to attend this biannual event since 2009. Declaring the summit of the 53-nation Commonwealth open, Queen Elizabeth II proposed that her son Prince Charles should follow her and lead the organisation which her father, King George VI, founded after the end of the British Empire. India, which is home to half of the 2.4 billion population of the Commonwealth, is expected to play a catalytic role in reinvigorating the organisation which had lost its relevance over the years in an increasingly multipolar world. Dear Editor I have remained tight lipped over these child labour reports (as reported in the Samoa Observer) of at least a years worth in the hope, that Stui and his cronies would have this child vendoring outlawed, and families given support to make ends meet. It is now April 19th in New Zealand and having just read an appallingly dangerous, but sad account of a good parent saving someone elses child from being another statistic in paradise! The Stui run H.R.P.P. Government appears to simply confirm to us on the outside looking in, that spending money for the sake of a short term knee jerk reaction from concerned parties in Samoa and outside is their plan of attack! That is, when there is a lot of concern over a certain issue, like child poverty. The H.R.P.P. are quick to bring in consultants to write up remarkable and plausible reports to appease the concerned. However, it appears from this article, that nothing to date has been implemented from that report? Lets digress and think of the O.P.C. audits? These have not been available for the last 10 years or more! Okay, how does one think a report on child poverty and any action plans will prevail from Stui and his priorities? Thats right zilch, nil, nothing and talk to my hand responses. The fact, that the H.R.P.P. have sugar coated any societal ills and public angst (e.g heinous L.T.R.A. 2008 law) within Samoa by always referring doubters that Samoa is a Christian state foremost, and all actions taken by the H.R.P.P. are aligned to Gods will. GTFOOH, and it isnt an acronym for Goofy either! The devil is in the details as any recovering atheist would suggest to Stui! That is, why does Stui and his government always conveniently position and condition local Samoans into believing that Samoa was built upon Christian beliefs, and one that one important belief is to never doubt your leaders! That is, in God we trust and the H.R.P.P. are doing Gods work! Why are Aigas being broken up by capitalistic ideologies and left to fend for themselves without the helping hand from the almighty Government ruler Stui and his government? We now have poverty at its highest, unemployment for the youths not getting any better, high cost of living and poor health services a reality in Samoa! But, what has happened to Stuis policy of Samoa being the Christian State! I dont see nor read of the Government reaching out to those impoverished and teaching them how to fish and not just eat for today? Why does it take the Government too long to take initiatives to help stop these child vendors and prostitution getting out of hand in Samoa after all the reports have been furnished? The old adage that it takes a village to bring up a child is now hypocritical in Samoa as witnessed within this article! That is, children and families are left to their own devices to survive the best way they can and Survivor Samoa, is now a permanent show starring... a lot of the locals! Finally, in todays Samoan society we are seeing less people living and respecting the old, young and vulnerable! Why? Because the people in these leadership roles with their Fiapoko stance now believe, that capitalism (even leasing customary land and making them freehold) prevails over Christianity values in modern Samoa. With money all things are possible, as opposed to God, should be Stuis new motto! Interestingly the Pastors in Samoa are getting taxed for the work of God, and by a Government who condone wrong doing, lack of transparency and accountability! If this Government of Stuis needs a proverbial boot up the backside to ignite action! Then let this article of a near miss death of an innocent child; be his template to making things happen in Samoa in the word of our Lord Jesus Christ, Amen! Iona Tusa Dear Editor, Interesting reading your editorial on the Prime Minister and comments about Samoa being a dictatorship. There are varying degrees of dictatorship and there are different types of dictators, the latter including Idi Amin, Mugabe and Saddam. Closer to home Bainimarama has, at times, been given that label because of his actions in limiting freedoms (of various description) in Fiji. In our case, the P.Ms actions have caused divided opinions between those who support them and others, including the overseas contributors, who have lambasted the P.M. for name calling. Your stance on this issue depends on what you think about the different components of what happened; the actions by Luatuanuus youths, name calling by the P.M., the response by the police, the villages response to the name calling, and lastly, the sacking of the village mayor. My letter focuses on the sacking. What intrigues me is the acceptance by pulenuus of their fate once they have been sacked. From memory, I am not aware of one sacked village mayor threatening to take the government to court over unfair dismissal. If the village mayors are employees of the government, what rights do they have as employees and where are these rights articulated? Is there an employment contract between the government and the mayors which stipulates acceptable behaviours and those which are deemed to be sackable offences? If there is such a list, it would be good for the public to know about it. Just like the case of the cohabiting members of the Samoan police force who are not allowed to work together in the department. In that instance, this condition of employment has been clearly spelt out by the P.M., and now we know. If village mayors are employees of the government, dont they have a right to be told what their unacceptable behaviour leading to dismissal? I know that a non performing public servant, a government employees, goes through a lengthy process involving performance reviews, etc, etc, before he/she is given the boot. That process appears not to be followed here and I am interested to know why not. Where is the due process in this sacking or has it been followed and I have no idea what it is? I have asked my mates at the makeki and their responses range from the serious (I dont know) to the most popular one (e pule lava sikafuge ile la o loga vaa). Can somebody please enlighten me on this? Vai Autu The decision by the Samoa Law Society to suspend the practicing certificate of lawyer, Pau Tafaogalupe Mulitalo, was too severe. So says Unasa Iunu Sapolu in response to questions from the Samoa Observer. Paus suspension was confirmed in a letter by the S.L.S. Secretary, Rebecca Schuster, where hes accused of breaching the Lawyers and Legal Practitioners Act. The S.L.S. Council claims Pau was in breach of section 34 (2) (a) of the L.L.P.A. (Lawyers and Legal Practitioners Act) 2014. According to the L.L.P.A. Section 34 (2) (a), A lawyer who holds a barrister sole practising certificate may only act as counsel and is subject to the following restrictions: (a) may not take money (whether on trust or otherwise from any client). In light of this breach, the Council has determined that it is serious enough to warrant a suspension of your practicing certificate, the letter from the Samoa Law Society reads. According to the letter, during its meeting on 27, March 2018, the S.L.S. Council noted Paus response and they found that it was not acceptable given the clear breach of section 34 (2) (a) of the L.L.P.A. (Lawyers and Legal Practitioners Act) 2014. In light of this breach, the Council has determined that it is serious enough to warrant a suspension of your practicing certificate. Accordingly, you are hereby advised that your practicing certificate is suspended, effective immediately, said the S.L.S. letter. This week, a closed door Judicial Settlement Conference was held before Supreme Court Justice Leiataualesa Darryl Clarke. Im fighting for justice in this matter as a matter of fact it is all were doing when you have all these lawyers who have vested interest in this clientele, and whats important is the process should be fair. The suspension is not justified and that is what were fighting for, said Unasa. She claimed the judicial settlement has resulted in the matter going back to the S.L.S. Council. Unasa also confirmed shes a Council Member of the S.L.S. As it stands, the suspension has not been lifted however we have come to a settlement and there is a process in place that we need to go through. Unasa could not elaborate on the process. Whether the council will lift it is another case but there are better ways to handle this. We really want something to be fair for our lawyer colleagues and what was discussed in Chambers in confidence and the matter is now back to the lawyers Council. For this matter, he worked on it for three years and I cant see a problem and they work really hard and there are a lot of countless hours. They (S.L.S.) shouldve addressed this differently, they could easily give him a warning, or suggest reducing the fee but the suspension is too severe, said Unasa. Charles Leicester Dean is one of the newest lawyers to be admitted to the Bar in Samoa. He was admitted before Chief Justice Patu Tiava'asu'e Falefatu Sapolu last week. The 24-year-old is the third child of Lila and Leicester Dean from the villages of Toamua and Saleimoa. To bring forth justice and for people to know their legal rights are Charles passion. And after six years of hard work, he has finally achieved his dream. I am very happy and I think I can say that I am proud of myself for coming so far, he said. I had four years of studying in law school and I had undergone another exam, which was three months afterwards. Then I did a lot of practice while waiting for the result. It could have been straight after, so that is why it has been six years. Being one of the Samoan students who went to study law at the Victoria University in Wellington was a challenge, but he managed to overcome it with the support of his parents and family. The Pacific community in Wellington doing law is very small. I felt like that student who was the brown face of the class and I was pressured to pass my law exams probably more than others. It was a good challenge to be with so many New Zealanders in class, he explained. Speaking to the Samoa Observer Charles shared it was a humbling experience. There were just three of us Pacific Islanders who made it throughout law school. I was very surprised and shocked, but at the same time very excited. The biggest challenge for me was the subject itself. It was very foreign to me and it was different from learning about the history and it was very theoretical. A lot of time I had to think on my feet, whereas Samoa, you are spoon fed in school. "While I was studying, I had to come up with my own arguments. The law degree itself was very challenging like any other degree, he adds. It was a personal challenge he decided to take on, but he saw it as a good way of giving back to the community. This is the best way I know I can give back something to my people. This achievement is for my family and also my country, he said. Charles is advising the public to choose the field of law. Charles and Grace Esera were the two who were admitted to the bar. I think women and girls are very successful in taking up academic and undergraduate degrees. I do encourage more males to take this field, he said. The President of the Land and Titles Court, Fepulea'i Attila Ropatis special leave has its perks. It includes the Courts vehicle assigned to him and his pay. This was confirmed by the Chief Executive Officer of the Ministry of Justice and Courts Administration (M.J.C.A.), Papalii John Taimalelagi. Fepulea'i took leave of absence following criminal charges filed against him in connection with an assault incident at the Judiciary compound last year. Last month, he pleaded guilty to a charge of assault against him through his lawyer, Aumua Ming Leung Wai. But Fepulea'i pleaded not guilty to the charges of grievous bodily harm, being armed with a dangerous weapon and causing injury. In early March, the M.J.C.A. sought legal advice from the Attorney General about the leave entitlements of the President of the Land and Titles Court. The request followed the decision by Fepulea'i Attila Ropati to take special leave pending criminal charges filed against him in Court. The request for clarity from the Attorney General is made in a letter from Papalii addressed to the Attorney General, Lemalu Hermann Retzlaff. Dated 5 March 2018, a copy of the letter had been leaked to the Samoa Observer. On March 2018, I was informed verbally by His Honor Chief Justice Sapolu, that the decision of the Judicial Service Commission is that the President take his leave effective 2 March 2018 until his criminal charges have been determined by the Court. I am therefore writing to seek your legal advice about the leave entitlements of the President. Meanwhile in the absence of Fepuleai, the Chief Justice has taken over the role of the President of Land and Titles. The Police issued this media statement last night. It is published below verbatim: At about 1am this morning, Thursday, 19th April 2018, the Samoa Police Service communication centre received calls for assistance from the public reporting a makeshift roadblock in the village of Luatuanuu. According to reports, a toilet bowl was placed in the middle of the road along with sand bags forming the roadblock. In response, uniformed officers were dispatched to the scene, where they contacted the village spokesperson, who indicated that the village would handle the matter; and that the village will call a meeting in the morning to address the issue. A preliminary investigation revealed that the unknown suspects have fled the scene and removed the makeshift roadblock prior to the officers arrival; and, a private vehicle sustained moderate damage to its body. Additionally, rocks were reported thrown at other passing vehicles. As a safety precaution, for the time being, the vehicular travelling public is unfortunately advised to remain alert whilst traversing this part of Upolu, especially at night. Throwing an object at a passing vehicle is a serious crime, and it can cause great bodily injury or death. Anyone apprehended and charged of such a crime will be prosecuted to the fullest extent of the law. Anyone with information or questions regarding this incident or if you are a victim of this incident, please contact Senior Sergeant Eneliko Taeu or Superintendent Salaa of Criminal Investigation Division, on 22222. The Samoa Police Service will do its part in keeping Samoa and everyone safe. If pieces of the puzzle fall together, Asau Savaii will be Samoas newest International Port of entry in two years from now. Funding to widen and deepen the Asau channel has been secured, Prime Minister Tuilaepa Dr. Sailele Malielegaoi is quoted as saying in a statement released by his Press Secretary. And relevant government officials have been tasked with getting the Asau Harbour Development off the ground. To that effect, elevating Asau channel to international standards spells economic benefits for the Big Island and for the country. Currently the channel is ineffective and poses a high risk to access the Asau wharf because the channel is shallow. But Tuilaepa is confident that with the right approach, Asau Wharf should be getting a long overdue facelift that will open up shipping access. Access to Asau should attract new investors, big businesses, continued the Prime Minister. The potential for investors to lease lands for business developments and tourist accommodation facilities cannot be discounted. And it will translate to new jobs and fresh cash injected into the economy, not just Asau but across the board. It can also decentralize shipping services to the Big Island that should boost our trading capacities and of course tourism through Cruise Ships. Government over the years has been silently planning the resurrection of the Asau Channel to its past days of glory when the timber operation in Asau was booming. That can happen again, now that we have secured funding as part of the Governments strategy to develop our docks and ports to facilitate Samoas needs for the next 50 years. In the mid-1960s, government funded a new harbour and wharf facilities at Asau to accommodate the operation of Potlatch, a large timber mill firm from the United States which moved toward full production in the early 1970s. While it was Samoas largest employer during that time, the economy boom didnt last. Since then, the government has been looking at options for the return of the Asau Harbor as a major economic player. In the last decade, government has engaged with the American Samoa based cannery StarKist Samoa to develop the channel and the dock as a location for a possible fish processing plant and transshipment facility, but it never amounted to anything. It was all talk as government later found out that the cannery had used their proposal to government as leverage to their sale bid to new owners. Today I make a plea that as a nation whose faasinomaga (identity) and tofi (inheritance) are inextricably connected to our customary lands that we stand together and demand that this ambiguity be properly attended to, and that following this the Article be accordingly amended His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi The former Head of State, His Highness Tui Atua Tupua Tamasese Efi, was assured by the Office of the Attorney General that the Land Titles Registration Bill (L.T.R.) 2008 would not alienate customary lands. His Highness Tui Atua said he had asked for clarity on the matter when he was given the L.T.R. Bill 2008 to sign into law. In 2008 as Head of State, I was assured by the Attorney General that the provisions of the L.T.R. Bill would not impact in any way on the customary land rights of suli, Tui Atua said in his address titled O fea le alofa? Where is love?. The Attorney General and his or her office is tasked with a sacred duty to provide the Head of State with the best legal advice possible. With this assurance, Tui Atua signed the bill. Yesterday, the former Head of State shared a different view. During a media event at Tuaefu where he addressed the issues in relation to fears about the alienation of customary lands, Tui Atua said there is ambiguity in Article 102 of the Constitution that needs to be dealt with. Today we have the responsibility of admitting that there is a problem with Article 102; that the ambiguity within is serious enough to warrant the attention of our best minds in order to make Article 102 unambiguous, he said. These minds, however, must be able to locate the principle of alofa in their custom law and statutory law assessments and have it sing in harmony alongside their assessments of pule, and of legal certainty and transparency. The Article 102 in question reads: No alienation of customary land It shall not be lawful or competent for any person to make any alienation or disposition of customary land or of any interest in customary land, whether by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise howsoever, nor shall customary land or any interest therein be capable of being taken in execution or be assets for the payment of the debts of any person on his decease or insolvency: Provided that an Act of Parliament may authorise (a) The granting of a lease or licence of any customary land or of any interest therein; (b) The taking of any customary land or any interest therein for public purposes. Said Tui Atua: In laymans terms the Article says that it is illegal to alienate customary lands unless an Act of Parliament allows for 1. a lease or licence to be granted over customary land, or 2. customary land is to be taken for public purposes. I do not have any problems with the taking of customary land for public purposes, assuming of course that such public purposes are indeed valid public purposes. What I have a problem with is the ambiguity that arises as a result of reading the sub-clause that states that an Act of Parliament may authorise the granting of a lease or licence of any customary land or of any interest therein alongside the wording of the main text of the Article which says no alienation of customary land whether by way of sale, mortgage or otherwise howsoever. He added that the debate about Samoan customary land and land laws is the most dangerous issue facing us since our fight for the return of our Independence". The land law issue we are embroiled in now has the potential to strip us of our soul. There is a divisiveness here that we must avoid at all costs, he said. But to avoid this we must re-locate, re-inscribe and re-inspirit in the heart and mind of our laws the wisdom of our tu ma aganuu Samoa and our tofi paia tuufaasolo. This we cannot do without finding and reviving the principle of alofa in law. We have faced many challenges as a nation since regaining Independence but this is the most serious. To overcome this challenge, we must first recognise that the challenge now comes not from outside but from within. We must recognise that, like Joshua and the Israelites, the only way to cross the river as a nation with our souls intact is to find understanding in the wisdom of our forebears and their trust in God. At the beginning of his address yesterday, Tui Atua said Samoa is now at a significant cross-road in her governing history. Not just in terms of trying to figure out how best to protect our customary land from foreign or alien interests, but also how to protect ourselves from ourselves. Since Samoa regained Independence we have taken our Fa'asamoa for granted. We as leaders have assumed that so long as we have governing control over ourselves, Samoa mo Samoa, we will never lose it. But the loss of culture and core values can happen slowly, subtly and stealthily, and on our own watch. Today it has become clear that we can no longer escape the reality that as leaders we must take a public stand against allowing the ambiguity of Article 102 of our Constitution to persist. We must admit that in light of the accumulating evidence (some of which I will speak to shortly) this ambiguity has been exploited in ways that now seriously undermines the integrity and purpose of Article 102, i.e. to protect customary lands from alienation. Today I make a plea that as a nation whose faasinomaga (identity) and tofi (inheritance) are inextricably connected to our customary lands that we stand together and demand that this ambiguity be properly attended to, and that following this the Article be accordingly amended. This is our right; it is our right as suli (heirs) of all customary lands in Samoa, whether you live in Samoa or not. The address will be published in full in tomorrows Sunday Samoan. SUMMARY OF TUI ATUAS ADDRESS FROM HIS OFFICE Tui Atuas address was prompted by an open letter by Faapale Taumua published in the Samoa Observer on 10th of April 2018. In reference to our contemporary laws and recent legislative changes, His Highness poised the question: O fea le alofa? / Where is love? He noted that the preamble of our Constitution talks unashamedly about love and that our forebears recognised that they must preserve what makes us unique as a people. He drew on the innate connection that the Samoan people have with the land, symbolised through the ritual burying of a childs pute and a mothers fanua in the land which reinforces the belief that we are of the land and the land is of us. His Highness discussed that there is ambiguity in the wording of Article 102 of the Constitution, and that this ambiguity is being negatively exploited. He stated that the provisions of the Land Titles Registration Act 2008 (LTRA) have raised significant doubt and controversy over Article 102s ability to meet its constitutional promise of protecting customary land against alienation. The ambiguity that exists within the Article, he argues, has the potential to create a dangerous platform by which the effective alienation of customary land can be enabled. With reference to the issue of the alleged 100 year lease of Sasina lands that was written about recently in the Samoan Observer, His Highness commented that with the speed at which fundamental changes to Samoa have occurred over the last 30 years, it is not hard to imagine what could happen in a hundred years if we were to continue on this type of law-making path. His Highness stated that: In the last 30 years there has been a paradigm shift in law-making and governance. We have moved from a faasamoa where pule and alofa co-existed in relative harmony, to one where pule now seems to rule alone. In this new paradigm we see the introduction of laws where instead of the pule of a sao being dependent on the love and support of the auaiga (supporting family and/or village members), the sao is capable of existing and exercising pule quite independently from them. In the faasamoa this is wrong. It is repugnant to everything that the faasamoa stands for. The faamatai exists and draws meaning and value from the reciprocal love and respect between matai and auaiga (family members). Even for tama-a-aiga this is true. In summary, His Highness seeks to identify the need for the nation to find a constructive way forward. He argued that there is a problem with Article 102; that [there is a serious] ambiguity within. He calls for the attention of Samoas best minds to come together to make Article 102 unambiguous. He states that... We as a nation have a sacred duty to find these minds and to support them by putting our personal and political biases aside so that we can work together as one people to achieve the balance and protection desired by our Constitutional forebears in Article 102 the balance between gaining economic environmental sustainability for all families and villages and retaining the cultural integrity of our tu ma aganuu Samoa, and the protection of our customary lands against undue alienation. WASHINGTON (AP) President Donald Trump won't be joining his wife in attending the memorial service of former first lady Barbara Bush, matriarch of a political dynasty that Trump often clashed with during his 2016 campaign. The White House said Thursday that Trump would not attend "to avoid disruptions due to added security, and out of respect for the Bush Family and friends attending the service." Trump is expected to be at his Florida estate this weekend during Saturday's funeral in Houston for the wife and mother of presidents. Flags have flown at half-staff over the White House and at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Florida since Bush's death at the age of 92, and Trump added his voice to the tributes that have poured in for the wife of President George H.W. Bush and mother of President George W. Bush. Trump offered his condolences to the Bush family on Wednesday, calling Barbara Bush "a titan in American life. Her presence and character were engraved into America's identity." The magnanimous comments stood in contrast to the fractious words that flew between Trump and the Bush family when the businessman-turned-presidential candidate effectively conducted a hostile takeover of a Republican Party once ruled by the Bush family. During his anti-establishment presidential campaign, Trump often held out the Bush family as an example of the political status quo, and wielded anti-dynastic sentiment against both Jeb Bush, one of Trump's vanquished Republican rivals, and Hillary Clinton, his Democratic opponent. Barbara Bush, for her part, said in a February 2016 interview with CBS News that Trump was like a "showman" and she didn't "know how women can vote for someone" like him. Intermediaries describe little semblance of a relationship between Trump and members of the Bush family and a presidential appearance at the funeral would have brought more attention to the 2016 primary fight and potentially distracted from Barbara Bush's life and legacy. Running as a political outsider, Trump often dismissed President George W. Bush's handling of the Iraq War and mocked Bush's younger brother, the former Florida governor, as "low-energy Jeb." Trump even sounded off on the nonagenarian Bush on Twitter in August 2015: "The last thing we need is another Bush in the White House. Would be the same old thing (remember "read my lips, no more taxes"). GREATNESS!" (Bush actually said, "Read my lips: No new taxes," during his 1988 convention speech a pledge that later hurt him politically). Last fall, George W. Bush delivered a pointed speech that confronted many of the themes of Trump's presidency all without mentioning Trump by name. He cautioned that "bigotry seems emboldened," and the nation's politics "seems more vulnerable to conspiracy theories and outright fabrication." Around the same time, Mark K. Updegrove's book, "The Last Republicans," was published, in which the elder Bush called Trump a "blowhard" and George W. Bush wondered if he would be the last Republican president. The elder Bush said he voted for Clinton in 2016 while George W. Bush said he voted for "none of the above." A White House official said Joe Hagin, Trump's deputy chief of staff for operations, had served as the primary conduit to the Bush family in advance of the former first lady's funeral. Hagin is also a veteran of both Bush presidencies. The official spoke on condition of anonymity to describe internal discussions. Doug Wead, a former special assistant to George H.W. Bush, said he expected an eventual degree of healing in the Bush-Trump relationship. He recalled the elder Bush once intervening in a fight between two staffers, telling them, "'If I can meet with Gorbachev, why can't they talk to each other?' I think that's in the Bush DNA." Wead said the evolution of the Bush family's relationship with former President Bill Clinton could be instructive. Members of the Bush clan became close to Clinton after their presidencies, eventually setting aside the tough words of the 1992 presidential campaign. Clinton has made annual summer trips to the Bush family compound in Kennebunkport, Maine, to visit George H.W. Bush. Bill and Hillary Clinton and Barack and Michelle Obama all plan to attend Barbara Bush's funeral. Sitting presidents, however, have not typically traveled to the funerals of former first ladies. Obama did not attend the 2016 funeral of Nancy Reagan or the 2011 funeral of Betty Ford, for example. Mourners at those services included then-first lady Michelle Obama, former President George W. Bush, and former first ladies Hillary Clinton and Rosalynn Carter. Anita McBride, chief of staff to Laura Bush during her time in the White House, said Melania Trump's presence at Saturday's funeral would demonstrate that she "understands and respects the fact that this is a small club of women and it is part of our culture. Even if they don't see each other, they are at each other's funerals and often at each other's library openings." McBride said while the Bush family may not have liked the rhetoric of the campaign, "they respect and stand up and salute the office of the president of the United States." It might break some San Diegans budgets to buy a Tesla, but renting one is a different story. Culver City-based Tesloop launched a new service in San Diego this week that lets consumers rent the all-electric Model 3 for a flat fee of $49 to drive one way to Los Angeles. The company started in 2015, when then 16-year-old Haydn Sonnad came up with the idea to rent out seats in Teslas shuttling from Los Angeles to Las Vegas. Tesloop still offers a ride-hailing service complete with a driver, but its latest move allows consumers to rent the vehicle and drive the cars themselves. All the cars in the companys fleet are all-electric Teslas hence the name Tesloop but Elon Musks signature brand has no connection to the startup, which has a fleet of 12 Teslas. Advertisement For now, there is no special round-trip fee. Instead, a drive back to San Diego from Los Angeles would also cost $49, making the final cost around $100 to go to Los Angeles and back. Its $49 for the whole car, so you can bring four friends and have a great time, said Sonnad, now 19. He thinks its a relatively cheap way to travel to Los Angeles, especially if you bring friends and split the cost. To rent, drivers must provide a valid drivers license, be at least 25 years old, pass a California Department of Motor Vehicles record check and pass a background check. Drivers also must pay a refundable damage deposit of $300. Renting out a Model X, Teslas luxury crossover SUV that seats up to five people, is a flat fee of $79. Users can schedule their trip on Tesloop.com. Pick-up spots are downtown San Diego on the corner of B and India streets, as well as the Tesla supercharger station in Sorrento Valley. The drop-off spot in Los Angeles is the Westfield Culver City shopping mall. The Business of Tesloop Sonnad said the company is not profitable yet, mainly because of its efforts to expand. Tesloops workforce has grown from a staff of 60 to about 103, including 65 drivers, 25 customer-service representatives, six engineers and a leadership team. He said the company has received some money from investors but declined to provide dollar amounts. However, he said on a per-car basis, the business is profitable. Sonnad said it takes one month of driving a Tesla to turn a profit. For example, some cars that Tesloop operates bring in up to $18,000 a month, while it costs $3,000 a month to lease. The company now has nine Model X cars, two Model 3s and one Model S. Advertisement Four of Tesloops Tesla vehicles (two Model Xs and two Model 3s) are from people who decided to rent out their car to the company. Almost entirely by word of mouth, the company has 200 vehicles on a waiting list to be used by Tesloop. Sonnad said an owner who lets Tesloop rent their car, receives a payment for making the car available, more if it gets booked and additional money per mile once rented. He said a car rented full-time by Tesloop can make $2,000 a month. Tesloop has ordered eight Model 3 vehicles, but that model has been plagued by delays. In a leaked email to employees Tuesday, CEO Musk said Tesla will be able to speed up production to 6,000 cars per week after upgrades to its two main factories, said CNBC. However, factories had to be shut down for several days to upgrade equipment. 1 / 8 Haydn Sonnad, the 19-year-old founder & chief evangelism officer of Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, drives along Harbor Drive in one of the Tesla Model 3 cars. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 2 / 8 Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, with the Tesla Model 3. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 3 / 8 Haydn Sonnad, the 19-year-old founder & chief evangelism officer of Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, withTesla Model 3 cars. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 4 / 8 Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, with the Tesla Model 3. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 5 / 8 Haydn Sonnad, the 19-year-old founder & chief evangelism officer of Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, withTesla Model 3 cars. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 6 / 8 Haydn Sonnad, the 19-year-old founder & chief evangelism officer of Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, withTesla Model 3 cars. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 7 / 8 Each car in the Tesloop fleet of cars has a name. The startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, with the Tesla Model 3. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) 8 / 8 Haydn Sonnad, the 19-year-old founder & chief evangelism officer of Tesloop, a startup company that uses a fleet of Tesla cars to drive passengers, is starting its one-way rental service between select cities, including San Diego, called Cruiser, withTesla Model 3 cars. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune) Advertisement Tesloop said not having to pay for gasoline makes the cost to operate the vehicles incredibly cheap. They also said their most-used cars, that rack up to 20,000 miles a month, have required relatively little maintenance. Plus, Tesla has an eight-year unlimited mile warranty on the motor. Other services For those who would prefer not to drive, their ride-sharing service is available for $29 to $79 a ride, based on day and time. Tesloop it said it shuttles between locations in greater Los Angeles and San Diego areas four to six times a day and between Los Angeles and Palm Springs six times a day. The company stopped its shuttle in 2016 between Las Vegas and Los Angeles because its benefits were competing with low-cost flights. The car rental service is also available between Los Angeles and Palm Springs. Advertisement Amenities for all trips include free wireless Internet, snacks and drinks, phone and device charging, neck pillows and noice-canceling headphones. The Future Sonnad sounds like a seasoned tech industry pitchman when he talks about the future of the company. He talks of using blockchain technology, autonomous vehicles and cars that are constantly in use, instead of parked and not making money. Our goal in the next few years, he said while parked in a Tesla parked at Shelter Island, is to create a platform that can facilitate all of your mobility needs with electric, autonomous vehicles, which effectively acts as a shared fleet at a very low cost. Sonnad is taking a year off since graduating from Agoura High School near Malibu. He is debating going to Loyola Marymount University or saving money and having a more flexible schedule by going to community college in Santa Monica. Advertisement His father, Rahul Sonnad, serves as Tesloops CEO and a co-founder. If he goes to college, Haydn Sonnad, who is involved in day-to-day operations, may have to let go of some control. Ill have to take a baby step back from work, Haydn Sonnad said, and five baby steps back from leisure. Advertisement Business phillip.molnar@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1891 Twitter: @phillipmolnar ALSO Advertisement San Diegos new single-family homes are pricey, modern and in short supply Tijuana condo craze continues in to 2018 Last years housing market broke records Qualcomm slashed 1,231 jobs in San Diego and another 269 workers in Santa Clara/San Jose as part of its $1 billion cost cutting plan. The cellular technology company revealed the size of the mass layoff through required Worker Adjustment and Re-Training Act (WARN) notices. They were received Thursday at the San Diego Workforce Partnership and other employment support organizations statewide. Workers were told Wednesday of the layoffs, which become effective June 19. The company pledged to cut costs earlier this year as part of its effort to fend off a hostile takeover attempt from chip rival Broadcom. The Trump administration blocked Broadcoms buyout on national security grounds. But it became clear that Qualcomm investors were frustrated by its lagging share price and poor financial performance relative to its semiconductor peers. Advertisement The job cuts locally are significant nearly matching the 1,315 workers laid off in San Diego during Qualcomms last major restructuring in early 2015. The company listed 33 offices locations in the Sorrento Valley area where employees were let go. Six locations in Santa Clara and San Jose were affected. Prior to these latest job cuts, Qualcomm employed about 13,000 workers in San Diego and 33,800 globally. Fifty-two percent of its workforce is based in the U.S. The remainder are employed overseas. It is unclear how many job losses occurred elsewhere in the U.S. and at Qualcomms overseas locations. In a statement late Wednesday, Qualcomm said the job cuts span permanent and temporary workers. A workforce reduction such as this one affects not only those employees who are part of the reduction but their families, co-workers and the community, a Qualcomm spokesperson said in a statement. We recognize this and have offered affected employees supportive severance packages to reduce the impact of this transition on them. The company said it initially evaluated cost cuts that would have avoided layoffs, but we concluded that a workforce reduction is needed to support long-term growth and success, which will ultimately benefit all of our stakeholders. Advertisement Business mike.freeman@sduniontribune.com; Advertisement Twitter:@TechDiego 760-529-4973 San Diego County is chockablock with craft beer gastropubs, and most of them serve a carb-heavy carnivores menu of burgers, wings and ribs. But two months ago, Oceansides Bagby Beer Company began a slow rollout of several vegan dishes, developed by executive chef and recently converted vegan Robert Gaffney. Sharing space on the menu with Bagbys top-selling mahi-mahi tacos and Backyard Burger are new entries like vegan Sriracha corn dogs, a quinoa veggie bowl and carrot curry soup. Co-founders Jeff and Dande Bagby say they added the vegan items as part of their companywide approach to expand their outreach as a neighborhood restaurant for all, including dogs. Advertisement Jeff and Dande Bagby, the co-owners of Bagby Beer Company in Oceanside. (Lauren di Matteo ) Built in the shell of a former BMW dealership at 601 S. Coast Highway, Bagby Beer Company has an enormous menu, more than 130 beers, two dining rooms, four bars and an onsite brewery capable of producing more than 3,500 barrels of beer a year. The Bagbys opened their 11,000-square-foot, two-story project in 2014. It was a dream project for the couple, who live in Vista with their four beagles. The Bagby name is familiar to local beer lovers. Since 1997, Jeff Bagby has been one of North Countys most prominent brewers. During his years as head brewer for Pizza Port (2005 to 2011), he racked up dozens of awards, including winning the Large Brewpub & Brewer of the Year titles at the Great American Beer Festival for three years in a row. But in January 2012, Bagby left Pizza Port to start his own business. He said the result that customers see today is the culmination of years of figuring out what he loved, and didnt love, in the local beer hospitality industry. Bagby said theres not one thing inside the 360-seat venue that didnt go through rigorous study, including the menu, bars, floors, tables, windows, light fixtures, background music and even the space between tables. He said that the big mistake many gastropubs make is a lack of consistency. Some have great beer but mediocre food or a low-budget, overcrowded and noisy environment. What we wanted was quality through and through, he said. I wanted everything you saw and touched and tasted to be at the same consistently high level as my beers. Everything here is considered. Nothing is an afterthought. Advertisement Chef Robert Gaffneys vegan Sriracha corn dogs are among a handful of vegan items now on the menu at Bagby Beer Company in Oceanside. (Lauren Di Matteo ) Since unveiling more than a half-dozen vegan items in recent months, Bagby said sales have been better than expected. There are two vegan pizzas, vegan vegetable dishes and salads, vegan hash, and a burger made with the Impossible Burger, a wheat-based patty with a soy hemoglobin that gives it a meaty look and texture. Chef Gaffney is still developing new vegan items, including plant-based sauces and dressings, in keeping with the restaurants everything-from-scratch mantra. On any day, there are 50 to 60 beers on tap at Bagby Beer Company, nearly half of them made in-house. Bagbys specialty is brewing authentic German-style lagers , like the Gotta Pay the Pils, Schwarz Story, ALT in the Family and the Of Kolsch! ale. Its also known for its English and Belgian-style ales. Advertisement Jeff oversees brewing. Dande comes up with the tongue-in-cheek names, like Follow Us On Twheater (a wheat beer), Brownton Abbey (an English-style brown ale) and Like it a Latte (a sweet stout made with coffee and cocoa nibs). Servers are trained in beer education so they can explain the nuances of Bagbys Old World brewing technique. As part of that education program, the company rolled out in January a new Beer Leaders open brew-day program. Its an all-day beer-making school for 10 to 12 students that sells out almost as soon as dates are announced. Future events are planned in June, August and November but dates are not set. Although the business has been a success, Bagby said Oceansides restaurant scene is fast-growing and competitive, so he and his wife are always on the floor, tasting the food and beer and talking to customers. Advertisement A couple weeks ago, a customer told Bagby that he and his wife come every Sunday because they appreciate the modern mariachi music played on the sound system those days. Thats the kind of comment Bagby said he likes best. I want to know that people are noticing these little things and I hope they keep telling me what they want, he said. We want to be everybodys neighborhood place to go. Bagby Beer Company Hours: 11 a.m.-close Mondays-Saturdays. 10 a.m. to close Sundays. Where: 601 South Coast Highway, Oceanside Advertisement Phone: (760) 270-9075 Online: bagbybeer.com Dogs are welcome at Bagby Beer Company in Oceanside. (Lauren di Matteo ) Advertisement pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com On Friday, Fallbrook High School students might hold the door for a classmate, or say hi to someone they dont know. Thats the idea behind the schools Day of Kindness, to be held in honor of the 13 people who died in the Columbine shooting in 1999, on the 19th anniversary of the massacre. A group of students planned the event after reading the book Columbine by author Dave Cullen, about the deadly school shooting. We were very intrigued by the book and what happened that day, said sophomore Bethany Bishop, one of the events organizers. The fact that the kids were mean to each other, and how it was very cliquey. We want to break that and come together as a school, like how (Columbine High School) came together after the tragedy. The book details the massacre by seniors Eric Harris and Dylan Klebold, including the planning and aftermath of the attack. Although todays high school students werent alive when it happened, the more recent mass shooting in Parkland Florida brought the issue to light, spurring student demonstrations on school safety. Advertisement The kids have no cultural reference point to Columbine, 10th grade English teacher George Herring said. When they start to read that, it really shook their world as far as what happened and how far weve come. Herring didnt intend for the Columbine anniversary to become the focus of a class project, but said students wanted an opportunity to express their feelings about the book. Although some student protests focused on specific issues of gun control or school security, Bishop and her colleagues wanted to strengthen their school community. So we decided instead of protesting, to come at it from a different approach and become friends with everybody to commemorate the lives lost, she said. Their event asks students to perform one act of kindness for every victim of Columbine. It really could be anything, Bishop said. Something as simple as someone dropped something and pick it up for them. It could be complimenting them, asking them how are you, or asking them to have lunch with you.I hope that most friend groups would expand and you can open your eyes and reach out to someone who doesnt have a lot of friends. Advertisement deborah.brennan@sduniontribune.com Twitter@deborahsbrennan Girl Scouts of the USA has been tackling two big challenges in recent years: How to keep in touch with former scouts during their college and pre-parenting years, and how to recruit troop leaders in underserved and minority communities. This spring, a mother-daughter team of volunteers in San Marcos have been working to solve both problems at the same time. In February, 24-year-old Justine Panian and her mom, Kassie Panian, recruited 43 Cal State San Marcos students most of them bilingual and many of them former scouts who are now helping to lead nine new troops of Brownies, Daisies and Junior Girl Scout troops in San Marcos and Vista. The Panians all-volunteer pilot program has caught the attention of Girl Scout officials both in San Diego and at the organizations headquarters in New York, where Justine now serves on the national alumnae volunteer committee. Advertisement This is right on target with our focus area, said Susan Swanson, Girl Scouts of the USAs vice president of strategic initiatives, alumnae. I do think this is part of an unleashing something bigger thats happening across the USA This is the beginning of some really exciting work. New Junior Girl Scout leaders who are Cal State San Marcos students watch a presentation during a meeting of Daisy, Brownie and Junior Girl Scouts at San Marcos Elementary School on April 13. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune ) The seeds for the Panians pilot program were sewn nearly six years ago, when Justine went away to college at the University of Alabama. She missed her family, she missed her hometown of San Marcos and she missed Girl Scouts. I didnt realize until I was in college how much Girl Scouts prepared me for life in seemingly intangible ways, like communications, leadership and planning events, said Justine, whos now a clinical research coordinator at the Moores Cancer Center at UC San Diego Health in La Jolla. From Brownies up through the Senior Scout level, Justine was passionate about Girl Scouts. Thats thanks in large part to her mom and longtime troop leader, Kassie Panian. Kassie, 53, also grew up in a scouting family. Her mom was den mother to her brothers Boy Scout troops and was Kassies first Girl Scout troop leader in their native Alabama. She said scouting offered opportunities she couldnt find elsewhere. Where I grew up, girls leadership was not encouraged. Girls Scouts gave girls voices, Kassie said. Girl Scouts was the best experience I had as a girl, bar none, and I wanted that for my daughters. Volunteer Kassie Panian, North County service units director for Girl Scouts San Diego, hands out snacks during a meeting of Daisy, Brownie, and Junior Girl Scouts at San Marcos Elementary School last week. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune ) Advertisement Once Justine arrived at the University of Alabama, she found a way to continue her Girl Scout journey. She and another volunteer started a campus student organization to do scouting outreach to underserved girls in the Tuscaloosa area. Their most successful event was a free all-day science and math camp that drew more than 100 girls. After graduating with a degree in chemical engineering, Justine came home in 2016 eager to carry on helping Girl Scouts. She joined her mom, who never stopped serving as a Girl Scouts volunteer, even after her two daughters aged out of the program as teens (daughter Jaymee, 22, is an aerospace engineer). Last year, Justine replaced her mom as Girl Scouts San Diegos San Marcos service unit manager. (Her mom went on to serve as service units manager for all of North County.) Justines first goal was to create a new super troop for all the San Marcos girls whod been on a waiting list for months. As luck and timing would have it, Cal State San Marcos senior Holly Isaacs stepped forward to help. Isaacs had been a scout from ages 5 to 10, but when her family moved to a new town, the local troop wouldnt accept new members, so she was forced to give up scouting. She didnt want other girls to experience the same heartache. Advertisement I wanted to volunteer with Girl Scouts because I wanted to make sure no girls were stuck on the wait list and potentially never getting placed in a troop, said Isaacs, a speech-language pathology major. Last October, the Panians helped Isaacs and fellow volunteer Jessica Harlow start the San Marcos super troop, which cleared the citywide wait list. Isaacs said she has loved the experience but has been shocked to learn of the desperate need for volunteers in the area. Cal State San Marcos senior and Girl Scouts troop leader Holly Isaacs, center, holds the hand of Natalia Romero, right, a Daisy Girl Scout, as Kahlo, an aplomado falcon, is perched on her forearm during a citywide troop meeting at San Marcos Elementary School. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune ) Encouraged by her initial success, Justine decided to mine Cal State San Marcos for more student volunteers. The first person she contacted was Alice Quiocho, a lecturer in the Human Development Department. Quiocho also spent many of her childhood years in scouting. Advertisement Girl Scouts have been kind of ignored in our society but I can tell you that I learned a lot of leadership in the scouts and I would like other girls to have the same exposure, Quiocho said. Girl Scouts train strong members. Through Quiocho, Justine got several professors on board and in early February, Kassie made classroom visits to recruit volunteers. The goal was to find bilingual students who could lead new troops and help at scout camps. Although young Latino girls interested in scouting speak English, many of their mothers do not, and many of their mothers have no experience in Girl Scouts, so they rarely volunteer to serve as troop leaders. To the Panians surprise, 43 CSUSM students volunteered and since March theyve been leading 96 girls in nine troops at Alvin Dunn, San Marcos and Joli Ann Leichtag elementary schools. Advertisement Gloria Vargas, regional membership recruitment manager for Girl Scouts San Diego, said the Panians pilot program has been a big success. This is an outstanding example of innovative Girl Scouting, Vargas said in an email. We applaud Justine and Kassie for creating a successful and replicable volunteer-led model for expanding Girl Scouting in our communities. Swanson with Girl Scouts of the USA in New York said the Panians project is one of several similar grassroots programs that are now being introduced by alumni in cities nationwide. Theres a pent-up enthusiasm across the country to help connect our passionate Girl Scout alumni with one another to help girls and women, Swanson said. Advertisement Justine said shes been gratified at how fast the program has grown, the enthusiasm of the girls and their troop leaders and the unexpected benefits of these new mentoring relationships. These troop leaders are closer in age to the girls, so theyre more relatable, and because theyre college students, theyre the coolest people ever. Theyre role models and they serve as a direct connection for these girls to the university, Justine said. Next, the Panians hope to recruit MiraCosta College students to lead troops in Oceansides underserved neighborhoods, followed by Palomar College students to work in Escondido. Justine is also looking for ways to raise money for these new scouts uniforms, since cookie season is over for the year and many of their families are low income. Justine recently applied for medical school and she doesnt know where that path will lead her. But wherever she goes, she plans to be a Girl Scout volunteer. Advertisement This journey has taught me leadership, confidence and investment in bettering the world and the next generation of women leaders, she said. Falconer Adam Chavez, right, holds Mr. Bojangles, a Eurasian eagle-owl during a Girl Scouts meeting at San Marcos Elementary School on April 13. (Howard Lipin / The San Diego-Union-Tribune ) Advertisement pam.kragen@sduniontribune.com National City leaders voted 3-1 Tuesday to hire an outside law firm to investigate allegations Councilman Jerry Cano received special treatment by avoiding fines when he failed to correct more than a dozen code violations for five years. They also decided the same firm would look into claims Cano made against Councilwoman Mona Rios. Cano alleged Rios inappropriately touched him while council members posed for a photograph at an April 3 meeting. He made the accusation publicly near the end of the meeting, after Rios called for an investigation into Canos building code violations. The councilman has not filed a complaint or claim against Rios. Advertisement During Tuesdays meeting, Rios, who denies Canos allegations, called the councilmans accusations an act of blatant retaliation. That should not be what happens to elected officials who want transparency, she said. Cano removed himself from what would become a tense discussion and did not vote on the matter at the request of City Attorney Angil Morris-Jones. He declined to comment after the hours-long meeting, which ended past midnight. The only vote opposing the outside investigation came from Mayor Ron Morrison, who had suggested it would be unfair to investigate Cano without evidence to back up the claims against the councilman. Theres a huge, new injustice, the mayor said. Its called guilty-through-accusations. Morris-Jones reminded the City Council there are facts against Cano, including 14 code violations the city issued against him five years ago. The councilman has not disputed the violations. There are certain things that arent allegations that are facts, Morris-Jones said. She added that concerns from residents who have accused Cano of receiving special treatment as a councilman puts the city at risk. Advertisement For the past two consecutive meetings this month, residents have stood before the City Council to share stories about the citys enforcement efforts against their respective code violations, including fines. In Canos case, the city did not fine him during the past five years despite his failure to correct his violations, which stem from outdoor renovations made at his Mary Lane home without proper permits. The only enforcement occurred in 2015, when the city issued a recordation on Canos property a rare move that is similar to a lien. The decision to hire an outside law firm came after nearly a dozen community members denounced Canos violations and urged the City Council to green-light the independent investigation. Some residents said Canos violations reflected poorly on National City, while others said voting against the motion would imply the city intends to cover up the truth. Morrison twice recessed the meeting as a small group became rowdy, shouting over the mayors comments both before and after the City Council voted. At one point, Morris-Jones spoke to council members behind closed doors for about five minutes. Advertisement The city attorney said later that she needed to advise the City Council of the potential for litigation based on what was transpiring during the meeting. She said it was legal to move into closed session to discuss potential litigation. On Wednesday, Morris-Jones said the outside law firm will conduct two, parallel investigations. In one, the investigator will focus on how city staff handled Canos case. Morris-Jones, who stepped into her position in May 2017, said she was unaware of Canos code violations until city staff notified her last month. She then sent Cano a letter, requesting he submit plans to correct the violations. Filed earlier this month, Canos plans are under review. The head of the citys Building Department, Luis Sainz, previously told The San Diego Union-Tribune that his boss, Frank Parra, told him to lay off Cano. Parra, director of emergency services, said he was unsure why the city didnt follow up on Canos case in the past five years, suggesting the Building Department is understaffed and busy. Advertisement The second independent investigation will look into whether Cano violated state law by using his position to receive special treatment and avoid fees. The claims the councilman made against Rios will be part of that investigation, Morris-Jones said. Despite the fact the allegations against Cano and Rios are different in nature, Morris-Jones said the two belong together because one arose after the other. She said the investigator will consider a broad set of laws in the course of the investigation and be able to differentiate one type of allegation versus the others. The laws may cover government interest, sexual harassment and safe workplace environment to determine any violations, Morris-Jones said. She said she is legally required to follow up on the allegations against Rios, even though Cano has not filed a complaint. Advertisement Before Tuesdays vote, Rios, who called on her colleagues to support her by voting in favor of the independent investigation, said she welcomed the outside investigation because she wants to clear her name. She has retained attorney Cory Briggs to represent her in the course of the investigation. Morris-Jones estimated the outside investigation will cost the city $30,000 to $40,000. She said she has a seasoned attorney in mind but declined to disclose his or her name, pending a formal contract, which is expected to be finalized by the end of next week. Advertisement Breaking News Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Advertisement Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez For many years, the old, two-story building that houses Appliance Parts Company in downtown National City was in need of a face-lift. Most notably, the coat of beige paint on the exterior, and the stucco beneath it, was damaged in several spots. These days, the family-owned building on the corner of East Eighth Street and B Avenue which includes seven apartments on the second floor looks more attractive. The property owner has repaired the damaged stucco and painted the exterior in a blue-and-tan color scheme. The upgrades were done thanks, in part, to an incentive program the city is rolling out. Advertisement The program is intended to encourage business and property owners to fix up their storefronts as part of a larger effort to beautify the city. City officials hope the program also stimulates private investment as property or business owners chosen to receive funds will be required to contribute to the renovations. As part of the program, the city will match up to 50 percent of the costs of improvements, with a maximum reimbursement of $10,000 for a single commercial business or $15,000 for a commercial property that includes multiple tenants. Businesses may be reimbursed for improvements involving signs, awnings, canopies, exterior painting, landscaping, doors, windows, outdoor and window lighting, and additions to patio and outdoor areas. The upgrades must be visible from the public right-of-way. Property or business owners selected to receive money must enter into an agreement with the city to maintain the renovations at their expense for five years. To be eligible to participate in the program, businesses must have no more than 25 employees and a business tax certificate. The program excludes national franchises, large office buildings, home-based businesses, residential buildings, banks and religious institutions. City officials said the initiative is important because National City the second-oldest city in San Diego County has its fair share of aging buildings. Business and city leaders, including Mayor Ron Morrison, see the program as an opportunity to revitalize areas like downtown National City, where they hope to see more development. In November, the City Council revised a planning document to encourage smart growth in the area. We have a downtown that for the last 50 years has been deserted, the mayor said. Advertisement The storefront renovations, along with the new guidelines in the document known as the downtown specific plan, may help revitalize the area, Morrison said. And as new buildings are built, older businesses may benefit from modernized storefronts, the mayor said. Jacqueline Reynoso, CEO of the National City Chamber of Commerce, said the program may become key in helping to attract new businesses that are eyeing any assistance cities offer. Its really important for the city to show its business-friendly, she said. Advertisement The new look of the building that houses Appliance Parts Company has motivated the property owner, Chris Meints, to make improvements to the apartments. It gave us, the family, a boost to continue working on (the building), he said. It just kind of gets you excited. He added: Were hoping it will start a snowball effect, to get more people involved, so it kind of brings it back to the heyday of National City. The two-story building that houses Appliance Parts Company in downtown National City in November 2017 before the property underwent a paint job and stucco repairs thanks, in part, to a storefront improvement program the city has rolled out. (Courtesy of Chris Meints ) Advertisement As of last week, National City had received three applications, including one from a restaurant and another from a building that leases space to a hair salon, fitness studio and fruit shop, said Megan Gamwell, the citys economic development specialist. Meints, the third applicant, is in the process of submitting receipts to the city for reimbursement. The City Council has set aside $100,000 for the first year of the program, an amount that is expected to help fund as many as 10 projects, Gamwell said. The money will come from funds collected through the San Diego Regional Enterprise Zone, a now-defunct tax credit program for businesses. National City is not the only city in the county with a storefront improvement program. The city of San Diego has a similar one, which was established in 1986 and expanded in 2015. The changes to the programs guidelines made more money available and allowed businesses with as many as 25 employees to participate, up from the previous maximum of 12. Advertisement The city of San Diego covers half the costs of the projects up to $8,000 for a standard business and $16,000 for a building with multiple tenants. Escondido had a similar program that is now on hold, pending future funding. Between 1988 and 2008, the facade improvement program provided $900,000 in grants to 155 businesses and spurred an additional $9.2 million in private investment. Other cities in the county that have had a facade improvement program include El Cajon and Imperial Beach. National Citys incentive program is part of a larger endeavor to make the city safer, cleaner and more attractive. Launched in late 2016, the Together We Can campaign includes other efforts, such as an Adopt-A-Place program that calls on businesses, organizations or individuals to adopt a park, block or other area to become aware of code violations, graffiti, litter and other issues, and alert the city to the problems. Advertisement As part of the campaign, the city also plans to enforce an ordinance that sets rules on the types and placement of signs on a storefront. The city plans to notify businesses of any violations in the coming weeks, said Deputy City Manager Brad Raulston. For more information about National Citys storefront improvement program, visit the citys website or contact Gamwell, the citys economic development specialist, at (619) 336-4216 or mgamwell@nationalcityca.gov. Email: david.hernandez@sduniontribune.com Phone: (619) 293-1876 Advertisement Twitter: @D4VIDHernandez A literal storm was brewing when Miles Davis performed a pair of remarkable San Diego shows on the same night at Humphreys Concerts by the Bay in April 1985. The resulting rains and winds were so heavy that the iconic trumpeters band members and their equipment were covered in mid-song with heavy tarps, which were not removed. Glaring frequently into the churning skies above, the uncovered Davis single-mindedly defied nature and ultimately outplayed the gusty weather. What resulted was unforgettable, musically and visually. It was also a visceral example of why this American music giant who died in 1991 at the age of 65 counted everyone from Jimi Hendrix and David Bowie to members of Radiohead and Pearl Jam among his most devoted admirers. A figurative storm was brewing when Davis and his fabled second great quintet, featuring then-ascending sax giant John Coltrane, undertook a Norman Granz Jazz at the Philharmonic presents Jazz Winners tour of Europe in March 1960 with Oscar Peterson and Stan Getz. Advertisement All of the venues were indoors, so getting drenched was not an issue. But getting scorched most certainly was. The storm, in this case, was an artistic one, as Davis patented musical cool repeatedly butted heads with Coltranes volcanic sonic eruptions. Live, on multiple concert stages, the present and future of jazz collided with game-changing impact. The constant push-and-pull friction that ensued is vividly captured on The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6. At times, it sounds as if two bands one headed by Davis, the other by Coltrane are concurrently performing on the same stage. Recorded at concerts in Paris, Copenhagen and Stockholm, this four-CD box set is as exciting to listen to as it is historically significant to absorb and analyze. A new era, then only partially defined, beckoned. Coltrane eagerly plunged ahead. Within a few years, so would Davis. On nearly every one of the 21 songs included on The Final Tour, the two forcefully move in opposite directions Davis doggedly seeks to maintain a sublime but earthbound gravitational foundation, while Coltrane blasts off to another aural dimension. The contrasts of their real-time clashes are as fascinating as they are thrilling to hear two musical comets vying for dominance, neither yielding an inch. Then again, an irrevocable breach had opened between them before the tour even began. Kind of Blue meets Giant Steps Saxophonist John Coltrane (left) performs in 1960 in Europe with drummer Jimmy Cobb, trumpeter (and band leader) Miles Davis, and pianist Wynton Kelly. (Photo by Franz Hubmann/Imagno/Getty Images (Courtesy of Columbia/Legacy) ) In 1959, Davis released his epochal album Kind of Blue, which 59 years later remains the best-selling jazz album ever. Imbued with a melancholic grace, it is a marvel of subtlety and carefully calibrated restraint. The same year saw Coltrane unleash his first solo masterpiece, the galvanizing Giant Steps. It set a heady new standard for improvisational ingenuity and velocity, prompting critic Ira Gitler to famously coin the phrase sheets of sound. Trane was the loudest, fastest saxophonist Ive ever heard, Davis wrote in his 1989 autobiography. It was like he was possessed when he put that horn in his mouth. He was so passionate fierce and yet so quiet and gentle when he wasnt playing. Advertisement Coltrane blossomed with Davis, like so many other budding young jazz greats who played in the trumpeters band before and after. But things had soured by the time Davis quintet which also featured fellow Kind of Blue musicians Wynton Kelly on piano, Paul Chambers on bass and Jimmy Cobb on drums reached Europe. In fact, Coltrane was already forming his own group and was eager to launch it as soon as possible. He initially declined Davis European tour offer and suggested a rising young saxophonist named Wayne Shorter take his place. But it would be four years before Shorter left Art Blakeys Jazz Messengers to join what became Davis third great quintet. So, in early 1960, Coltrane reluctantly agreed to his final tour with the trumpeter. Or, as Davis noted wrote in his book: (Coltrane) decided to go with us, but he grumbled and complained and sat by himself all the time we were over there. Except, that is, on stage, where the saxophonist staged an open revolt. Witness the album-opening All of You, on which Davis svelte muted trumpet solo is followed by Coltranes increasingly daring tenor sax forays. The same holds true on Bye Bye Blackbird and the breakneck So What, on which Coltranes rapid note flurries, probing intervallic explorations and raw multiphonics suggest a prisoner breaking free of his chains, replete with cries and wails. Advertisement Both musicians shine, albeit in very different ways, which is what makes The Final Tour box set such a singularly dizzying ride. For added emphasis on the artistic split that was taking place, nightly in real time, nearly all of Coltranes solos are not only far more edgy and adventurous than those of Davis, but significantly longer. Even before their European tour, Davis had objected to the length of the saxophonists solos and demanded an explanation. I dont know what it is, Coltrane said. It seems like when I get going, I just dont know how to stop. Davis famously responded: Why dont you try taking the horn out of your mouth? The pronounced yin-and-yang disparity between their markedly different aesthetic approaches fuels much of The Final Tour. Advertisement Davis is excellent, here, make no mistake. But his finely sculpted playing seems at odds with Coltranes scorched-earth, take-no-prisoners instrumental attack. So does the repertoire, which apart from the Kind of Blue gems So What and All Blues leans toward On Green Dolphin Street and other Tin Pan Alley standards. There is, of course, nothing standard about the way either Davis or Coltrane performs these familiar songs, even though they come at them from opposite ends. The envelope-shredding improvisations by Coltrane then playing abroad for the first time at times inspires the audience to both cheer and whistle (the latter being the shrill equivalent of booing in Europe). The contrasts between him and Davis that ensue are sometimes jarring, but almost always riveting. Less appealing are some of the abrupt edits between a few of the selections here. All of them were originally recorded for European radio broadcasts and are now being officially released in the U.S. for the first time. The inclusion of a six-minute interview with Coltrane in Stockholm offers some welcome insights about what he was striving to do at the time. As the tour moves from France to Scandinavia, Davis and his other musicians begin to play with greater freedom and adventure. They arent zooming through the cosmos like Coltrane in 1960, almost no one else did. But you can hear them responding by starting to up their game and take more chances, the new thing in jazz meeting the old, before leaving it irrevocably behind. Advertisement Miles Davis & John Coltrane The Final Tour: The Bootleg Series, Vol. 6 Columbia/Legacy Advertisement george.varga@sduniontribune.com Twitter @georgevarga Jahja Ling, the San Diego Symphonys music director from 2004 to 2017, makes his debut as conductor laureate this weekend at Copley Symphony Hall. Despite his new title, Ling has not been resting on his laurels. This season, he has conducted orchestras in such far-flung places as Singapore, Indonesia, Tampa Bay and Cleveland. After this weekends concerts, hell lead the symphony here again in mid-May. Ling lives in Bonita with his wife, noted pianist Jessie Chang, and their daughters, Priscilla, 14, and Stephanie, 12. His family has accompanied Ling on several recent trips, including to the Tampa Bay area, where the Florida Orchestra marked its 50th anniversary. He served as its music director from 1988 to 2003. In January, Jessie and I were invited to help them celebrate, Ling said. I conducted Sibelius and Jessie played Beethoven. It was a big honor and an amazing celebration. Advertisement The whole family was there. My older sons (Boston-based Gabriel and Los Angeles-based Daniel) and their families came. It was wonderful. Last fall, Ling, a Jakarta native, participated in an international gathering there honoring the 500th anniversary of Martin Luthers Reformation. It was initiated by the Indonesia-based Stephen Tong Evangelistic Ministries International, which Ling co-founded in 1978. At the eight-day event, he conducted four concerts and his wife Chang played three. Ling also directed Reformation 500 seminars in five major U.S. cities. After his upcoming stints in San Diego, Ling will have a busy summer. In June, another mix of family and business will occur in Changs birthplace of Taiwan. In July, Ling will celebrate with the Cleveland Orchestra. Ive conducted there continuously for 30 years, Ling said. Ive also done the most concerts at the orchestras Kent/Blossom Festival. This summer, at the 50th Anniversary Blossom Festival, Im conducting a concert without soloists, so Ill be the featured performer, which is special. Thrilled to play in San Diego Ling is looking forward to again conducting the San Diego Symphony, which he helped build during his 13-year tenure. Im very excited, he said. I havent seen the symphonys audience and orchestra for a while. Its a thrill to make great music with the orchestra again. Many of us worked together for a long time. He also congratulated the symphony for naming Rafael Payare as its new music director. I was thrilled when Martha Gilmer called me, Ling said. He is a very talented young conductor. I know his wife, Alisa Weilerstein. She was 10 years old when she played cello with the Cleveland Orchestra. Advertisement In both weekend concerts here, Ling will conduct pieces by the iconic Leonard Bernstein, who mentored Ling for many years. The symphony, like many around the world, is celebrating Bernstein, who would have turned 100 this year. This weekend, Ling will conduct Times Square Ballet from Bernsteins 1944 Broadway musical, On the Town. I was so glad God gave me that opportunity to be recognized, inspired and mentored by Lenny, he said. Times Square is special because he was a New Yorker. The piece gives a vivid feeling of New York. This music is very close to me. This weekends concerts, titled Rach 3, will feature rising pianist Behzod Abduraimov in his San Diego debut. Born in Uzbekistan in 1990, Abduraimov began playing piano at 5. Hell perform Rachmaninoffs notoriously difficult Piano Concerto No. 3. Advertisement A review of Abduraimovs Rach 3 concert in Los Angeles stated the young virtuoso was composed enough to find poetry in the calmer stretches before peeling off the huge chords and octaves of the final minutes with as much bravura and even eloquence as one would want. Lings mid-May performances will launch a month-long celebration of Bernstein at 100 here. Hell conduct the San Diego debut of Symphony No. 1: Jeremiah, which will feature the highly praised mezzo soprano Kelley OConnor. Ling will return as conductor laureate to conduct two programs in the spring of 2019. Its one way to keep my connection with the orchestra and the community. I love the community here. Advertisement Jahja Lings personal memories of Leonard Bernstein Tanglewood 1979 As a conducting student, I had the opportunity to take a 50-minute master class with the Maestro. I chose Brahms Symphony No. 4. Not long after I started, he asked me: Would you be able to conduct the music by expressing the musicality of the piece? Concentrate on the music, not the piece. I tried. And then he showed me things like how to conduct phrases. I did it and he was so happy. He said: What a transformation! About a week later, Lenny conducted Mahler Symphony No. 9. It was the most moving concert I ever attended in my life. After the piece, nobody clapped because they were so moved. After a few minutes, the place erupted. People were going crazy. I was stunned; I just sat there with tears in eyes. (The other students and I) went backstage. I was speechless. He was smoking and having a whiskey. When he hugged me, he whispered in my ear: I remember that masterclass and you will be a big conductor one day. I almost collapsed. I didnt even think he had remembered me. I was very happy and taken by surprise. Advertisement Hollywood Bowl 1982 I was the assistant conductor of the San Francisco Symphony, partly thanks to Bernstein, who had written a letter of recommendation. And I was invited to work for the summer with Lenny at the Hollywood Bowl. He was the Los Angeles Philharmonic Institutes artistic director at the time. I worked three to four hours with Lenny daily. He was amazing. I learned his symphony dances from the West Story, Mahler Symphony No. 5, and many more. Those times when I learned from the Maestro inspired me to make great music through my life. He taught me to inspire musicians to move peoples hearts. Advertisement Rach 3 With: Jahja Ling, conductor; Behzod Abduraimov, piano When: 8 p.m. Friday and Saturday; 2 p.m. Sunday Where: Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown Tickets: $20-$98 Advertisement Phone: (619) 235-0804 Online: sandiegosymphony.org Barber, Bernstein, Beethoven With: Jahja Ling, conductor; Kelley OConnor, mezzo-soprano; Martin Helmchen, piano When: 8 p.m. May 11, 12; 2 p.m. May 13 Advertisement Where: Jacobs Music Centers Copley Symphony Hall, 750 B St., downtown Tickets: $20-$98 Phone: (619) 235-0804 Online: sandiegosymphony.org Advertisement Wood is a freelance writer. Despite protests from President Donald Trump about California Gov. Jerry Browns decision to attach strings to a Pentagon request for state troops to patrol the border, both sides seem to have settled their differences. Following Browns return to Sacramento from Washington, D.C., on Wednesday evening, state officials announced that the governor will mobilize up to 400 California National Guard troops to fight criminal gangs, human traffickers and smugglers moving guns and drugs statewide. Browns call-up came after federal officials agreed to fund Californias plan. The troops will supplement ongoing Guard initiatives, in which 250 personnel assist transnational counter-narcotics efforts statewide, 55 of them along the international boundary with Mexico. The troops will not enforce federal immigration laws or help erect Trumps proposed three-story border wall. The initial deployment of troops should occur by the end of April and Brown ordered Californias participation in the campaign to end by Sept. 30. Advertisement The terms of Californias commitment to Trumps promised border security plan are spelled out in a governors general order issued Wednesday. Whats new today is that there is agreement from the federal government to pay all of the personnel and operating costs for this mission to combat transnational crime and there is a direct order from the governor in his capacity as commander-in-chief of the California National Guard to mobilize personnel, said the governors spokesman Evan Westrup in an email to the San Diego Union-Tribune. Browns latest order reflects not only last weeks proposal on how his Guardsmen would be used but mirrored similar deployments during President George W. Bushs Operation Jump Start between 2006 and 2008 and Obamas Operation Phalanx, which began in mid-2010 and wrapped up six years later. A deal was done despite angry words from Trump and claims from federal Department of Homeland Security officials that Brown, a Democrat, rejected a proposed list of duties for the troops to perform. In a Tuesday morning tweet, the president typed, Looks like Jerry Brown and California are not looking for safety and security along their very porous Border. He cannot come to terms for the National Guard to patrol and protect the Border. California said there was no dispute, and they pointed to Browns statements Tuesday during an appearance at the National Press Club, where the governor said Sacramento wanted to be cooperative. Theres been a little bit of back and forth, as you always get with bureaucrats. But I think we can find common understanding here. Theres enough problems at the border and the interface between our countries that California will have plenty to do and were willing to do it, Brown said. California now joins Arizona, Texas and New Mexico, where Republican governors quickly agreed to the Guard deployments with fewer strings attached and deployed about 2,000 of their troops to the border. Advertisement The Pentagon has authorized up to 4,000 personnel for the mission but state and federal officials have not estimated the deployment costs or set a deadline for when it ends except Brown. The Sept. 30 end date not only falls on the eve of the new fiscal year, but also comes on the cusp of one of Californias two fire seasons. In October, blazes spread across Napa, Sonoma, Mendocino, Butte and Lake Counties, charring 245,000 acres of Northern California land. In December, wildfires fueled by Santa Ana winds consumed about 308,000 Southern California acres, including Los Angeles, San Diego and Riverside Counties. Advertisement The Thomas Fire alone destroyed 281,893 acres in Ventura and Santa Barbara Counties. Advertisement Military Videos On Now D-Day paratrooper from Coronado jumps again in France at age 96 On Now Remembering war's fallen, one name at a time On Now In Ramona, an airplane and an aviator provide living lessons on World War II 1:43 On Now Video: Navy's newest vessel sails into San Diego and a new future in surface warfare On Now Video: U.S. Navy files homicide charges over warship collisions On Now Stopping Marine hazing On Now Video: U.S. Navy Air Crew Grounded After Creating Vulgar Sky Drawing On Now Navy says Asia Pacific ship collisions were avoidable On Now Hundreds of recruits get sick at Marine boot camp On Now Cutler Dawson Talks Navy Federal cprine@sduniontribune.com Compton officials used state-issued funds earmarked for road repairs and other transportation-related expenses to balance the citys budget and pay for unrelated projects, according to a state audit. Over a nine-year period, the city of Comptons loose accounting and weak financial oversight allowed officials to borrow $4.4 million from a special gas tax street improvement fund and nearly $800,000 from a traffic congestion relief fund in violation of state rules, the audit found. In total, $5.2 million in taxpayer funds was misused from 2007 to 2016 and will have to paid back to the state. Our bad, well fix it, said Compton City Manager Cecil Rhambo Jr., who was not employed by the city during the time period the audit examined. I dont know why they did that. My guess is they had some funding shortages. Advertisement The audit, released Wednesday, is the California state controllers second recent review of Comptons accounting practices. Last month, a scathing report found the citys weak oversight and rampant overspending turned a general fund surplus of $22.4 million a decade ago into a deficit of $42.7 million just three years later. Even after officials adopted a plan to repay the debt in 2014, the deficit increased by $6.4 million the next year. Additionally, the city has received failing marks in 71 out of the 79 measures assessing internal accounting and administrative controls, a score that ranks Comptons accountability as nonexistent, the March audit said. Considering the findings of our review issued last month along with this gas tax audit, clearly the citys insufficient internal controls were widespread and included unallowable and excessive gas tax borrowing and spending, state Controller Betty Yee said Wednesday. This further underscores the need for Compton to seriously and diligently address the findings of both reports. The audit found the city borrowed money from the special gas tax street improvement fund that was supposed to be spent on expanding the Martin Luther King Jr. Transit Center, street traffic signal upgrades, sobriety checkpoints and other street-related purposes. The audit does not disclose how the money was used. In cases in which the city charged expenses to the traffic congestion relief fund, officials did not provide supporting documentation to back up the expenses. The city also failed to spend all the money allocated by the state to ease congestion before a deadline and must now repay $130,805. The audit did not single out any city officials for their role. Former Compton Mayor Eric Perrodin, who served until 2013, sent a letter in 2011 to the state controllers office alleging that fraud may have led to Comptons financial troubles and requested a forensic audit. He did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Advertisement Mayor Aja Brown, who succeeded Perrodin, said in a statement that Compton is now on solid fiscal footing. Today, our city is solvent, said Brown, who attributed the stability to new economic development and the approval of a local sales tax that has consistently outperformed projections, allowing us to restore vital city services and repair critical infrastructure. Rhambo said the city will set up a payment plan with the state that will stretch over several fiscal years. Some money will come from the general fund, but he hopes additional revenue generated from leasing vacant city buildings and updating city facility fees, along with cuts in redundant programs and council staff, will help bring in extra money. Jessica Levinson, an L.A. city ethics commissioner and Loyola Law School professor, said some cities, in the midst of the Great Recession, engaged in questionable accounting practices simply to maintain vital services. Advertisement Compton wasnt alone here, Levinson said. Still, she said the report follows a pattern of financial mismanagement in Compton. It looks like part of the same story of the city leaders not being able to get their act together and not running a clean fiscal house, she said. For more California breaking news, follow @AngelJennings. She can also be reached at angel.jennings@latimes.com. Celestino Hilario Garcia, his eyes bloodshot and his voice raw, struggled to explain that his brothers and sister-in-laws deaths were not his fault. A month ago, Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents had trained their sights on Santos Hilario Garcia. In the early morning darkness, they followed in two black Jeeps as he and his wife, Marcelina Garcia Profecto, dropped their teenage daughter off at Robert F. Kennedy High School. Minutes later, the couple were dead, having crashed their truck as they tried to escape the agents. ICE officials later said that the couple had not been their target Garcia happened to have matched the description of the person they were after. That person was Celestino, a Mexican immigrant who, like his brother, was in the country illegally. Advertisement It was his car, it was in his name. If I lent him my car, then its my fault, Celestino said. It was his car. His car. They had time to check the plates. Blame has been a recurrent theme since the fatal crash in this Central Valley town of vast farmlands. There have been protests, with some Delano officials and residents blaming ICE and the Trump administration for being too aggressive in their crusade against illegal immigration. ICE has blamed the deaths on Californias sanctuary policies, which the agency says put it in a position to target, and sometimes arrest, immigrants without legal status who were not initially sought for removal. Aggressive immigration enforcement by the Trump administration has become an issue across the nation. Last month, top federal officials and the president condemned Oaklands mayor, Libby Schaaf, after she warned the community of upcoming ICE sweeps. The Delano case took on a new dimension when the local police department asked prosecutors to look into whether two ICE agents had given false information to police after the crash. On Wednesday, Kern County prosecutors said they would not file charges. There is no credible evidence that either agent lied, Kern County Dist. Atty. Lisa Green said. I approached this case, and every other case, by trying to do the right thing, for the right reason. Politics had nothing to do with it. The decision is unlikely to settle matters, particularly since ICE will not say why deportation officers were after Celestino. And it still is unclear why the couple initially stopped for the agents before speeding off. Santos Hilario and Marcelina did not get justice today from the Kern County district attorney, and they deserved it, said Diana Tellefson Torres, the executive director of the United Farm Workers Foundation. They and their six orphaned children are just the latest casualties of the federal governments recent targeting of hardworking immigrant farmworkers who feed all of us. Advertisement Ryan Reynoso, an employee with KRC Safety, looks at a memorial near the crash site on Cecil Avenue in Delano. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Delano, with a population of about 52,000, is a town of farmworkers. About 76% of the citys residents are Latino, and nearly 40% are foreign born many of them now deep in the labor of filling buckets with plucked blueberries and tying grapevines to metal wires to help them grow properly. The towns median household income is $36,265. Advertisement Interim Police Chief Raul Alvizos parents labored in the fields, as did he as a teenager. Mayor Grace Vallejo was a migrant farmworker, bouncing from town to town across the state with her parents and siblings. About 30 miles north of Bakersfield in Kern County, Delano is a center for growing table grapes. The sign welcoming people to the city features a cluster of grapes. A mural along Main Street, celebrating the citys 100th anniversary, shows farmworkers working under bunches of the fruit. The citys vineyards were the scene of a September 1965 grape strike, led by Filipino workers who were soon joined by civil rights icon Cesar Chavez to fight back against unfair treatment. The movement led to the formation of the United Farm Workers of America. Natalie Lopez and Eduardo Fernandez, students at Delano High School, spend time together after class next to a mural celebrating the towns 100th anniversary, which took place in 2015. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Advertisement On a recent afternoon, under a clear sky, six women with bandannas covering their faces fanned out among rows of grapevines. We leave our homes not knowing if were going to come back, said one, who is originally from the Mexican state of Sinaloa. Imagine the necessity to work but with the fear that when we leave, that immigration is going to stop and take us, another said. And our children? What is going to happen to them? The workers refused to give their names, fearing being targeted for arrest and deportation. Advertisement Motorists travel at sunset along Cecil Avenue in Delano, near the site where Santos Hilario Garcia and Marcelina Garcia Prefecto died in a crash while fleeing ICE. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) After the crash that killed Garcia and Profecto, many immigrants were afraid to leave their homes. Business owners and residents in Delano, many of whom could see their own story in Garcias and Profectos, set about raising money for the couples children. At Tonys Barbershop, Osbaldo Prieto, whose mother is a farmworker, gave the couples two sons free haircuts in preparation for the memorial service this month. The mayors niece donated haircuts to the four daughters. Emmanuel Perez, who left for the U.S. from Ciudad Juarez, Mexico, in 1978, was a farmworker for more than a decade. Advertisement The week of the crash, Perez, who owns a furniture store on Main Street, donated beds, a dining set and sofas to the family. We felt bad, because thats how we came, Perez said, taking a shaky breath as tears filled his eyes. We came here to progress. These people came probably the same way. Now their kids are going to be the ones suffering without their parents. After leaving Mexico, Garcia and his wife landed first in Arizona and later in Delano. Celestino and his wife came also, raising four children in the city. In Mexico, there is work, but there arent opportunities to progress or have a better future for your kids, better education thats what I wanted for my kids. Thats what my brother-in-law wanted, said Celestinos wife, who asked that she not be named. He wanted his kids to get ahead and have a better education than what they could get in Mexico. Advertisement Garcia and Profecto had built a life in a drab apartment complex alongside dozens of other farmworkers families. In the predawn hours of March 13, ICE agents were outside, watching for Celestino, who said he had not lived there since 2014. Citing an ongoing review, ICE declined to say why Celestino was wanted for removal. He said he did not know why the agents were after him. Garcia and Profecto had just dropped their daughter off and turned their blue pickup onto a busy road when emergency lights flashed behind them. They stopped, but as the deportation officer got out of his Jeep, the pickup took off. Advertisement Ramiro Sanchez, an ICE deportation officer, said he followed in the same direction but was not in pursuit with emergency lights/sirens, according to a Delano police report. Dimas Benitez, an ICE agent in a second vehicle, also stated the two were not in pursuit. Farmworkers make their way with trays and buckets as they prepare to pick blueberries at a location just outside of Delano. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Surveillance video, shot at the midway point from the initial stop and the collision, showed the immigration agents vehicles traveling in the same direction as the couples truck with their emergency lights activated. ICE said it is reviewing the incident but noted that three separate witnesses who spoke with Delano police about the crash said they did not see anyone pursuing the couple. They previously cited sanctuary policies that have pushed ICE out of jails and force our officers to conduct more enforcement in the community which poses increased risks for law enforcement and the public. Advertisement It also increases the likelihood that ICE will encounter other illegal aliens who previously werent on our radar, spokesman Richard Rocha said in a statement. The unfortunate outcome of the decision made by the vehicle driver to erratically evade ICE officers is why ICE encourages all of those we encounter to comply with officers commands in order to ensure our ability to carry out our mission as safely as possible, the agency said in a statement. Although Garcia had been convicted in 2014 of driving under the influence and was voluntarily returned to Mexico three times from 2008 to 2017, he was not an arrest target. Profecto had no prior encounters with ICE and no criminal record. Celestino was informed about their deaths by one of their daughters. He burst into tears before going to the spot where his brothers car had overturned. At the scene, Delano police showed him his brothers Mexican consular identification card which is what they used to identify him. Advertisement Were not animals, were people, Celestino said. They want to clean their hands of this, but its not going to be that easy. At his brothers funeral service, next to the church hall where Cesar Chavezs union voted to join the Delano grape strike decades ago, Celestino sobbed. As two pewter gray caskets were taken out to waiting hearses, he draped his body over one of them. Osbaldo Prieto gives a haircut to Stephen Juarez at Tonys Barbershop in Delano. Prieto gave free haircuts to some of the children of Santos Hilario Garcia and Marcelina Garcia Profecto. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Delano residents gather on Main Street in Delano. (Mel Melcon / Los Angeles Times ) Advertisement Times staff writer Ryan Menezes contributed to this report. brittny.mejia@latimes.com To read this article in Spanish, click here For more California news, follow @brittny_mejia DuPage County States Attorney's Office(WOODRIDGE, Ill.) -- An Illinois woman is suspected of moving through the shadows of the dark web to carry out a sinister murder-for-hire plot, even using cryptocurrency to mask her identity. Tina Jones, 31, of Des Plaines, Illinois, allegedly paid a dark web company more than $10,000 via bitcoin in January to have the wife of the man she was having an affair with killed, the DuPage County States Attorney's Office said Wednesday. Police in Woodridge, Illinois, "received a tip that a woman in Woodridge was the subject of an alleged murder-for-hire plot" on April 12, the states attorney's office said. The tip led to Jones' arrest, after she turned herself in on Tuesday, prosecutors said. Jones has been charged with one count of solicitation of murder for hire. She appeared at a hearing Wednesday, where bond was set at $250,000, and is set to appear in court next on May 15. ABC News has reached out to her attorney for comment. "In recent years, law enforcement has seen a dramatic increase in the use of the dark web as it relates to criminal activity," Woodridge Police Chief Brian Cunningham said in a statement. The dark web is a collection of internet sites that are hidden from search engines and require special software to access. The sites are usually encrypted, and users can remain more anonymous, including those who may be engaged in criminal activity. He called this case "a great example of how increased training, shared resources and interagency cooperation helped protect one of our residents." Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. We dont know it for a fact, but we just know its true: Rebecca Zahau did NOT commit suicide at Coronados landmark Spreckels mansion in July 2011. That, I suspect, was the bottom line of at least nine of 12 civil-trial jurors who, for lack of any other suspect with opportunity, pinned the 32-year-old womans death on Adam Shacknai, the visiting brother of Zahaus mega-wealthy boyfriend. In a criminal court, its highly unlikely that Shacknai, who denies any connection to Zahaus death, would have been unanimously convicted of the murder or manslaughter of a woman detectives had previously ruled a depressed suicide. Notably, three jurors in the civil trial believed that the plaintiff theory accusing Shacknai of the grotesquely staged death -- Zahaus bound nude body hanging from a balcony -- fell short. Advertisement The dissenters may have believed about human nature what Ive often heard remarked: No woman other than a masochistic performance artist would ever kill herself in that complicated and degrading of a fashion, no matter how much guilt she was feeling over a fatal injury to her boyfriends 6-year-old son. For the minority jurors, however, the circumstantial evidence failed to lead directly to Shacknai, the person who cut down Zahaus body. Nine jurors disagreed, sending shock waves through the Sheriffs Department. Lets take a second to appreciate how truly unusual this de facto jury nullification of the original suicide finding is. For real-world perspective, I contacted a highly respected San Diego judge with several decades on the bench. Have you ever seen an official suicide declared a homicide by a civil jury? I asked him. Ive never seen anything like it, he marveled. Not even close. In the absence of a confession or new physical evidence, its possible well never know for a fact what happened in the Spreckels mansion on Ocean Boulevard. The mission of law enforcement is to bring clarity and closure to crime and punishment. Or in rare instances, admit defeat and put an unsolvable case on ice to await, one hopes, new developments. Advertisement The fatal flaw in the Zahau case is that it was ruled a suicide when, in fact, the honest conclusion would have been something like this: WE DONT KNOW FOR AN ABSOLUTE FACT THAT MS. ZAHAU KILLED HERSELF, BUT WE JUST BELIEVE ITS MOST LIKELY BASED ON OUR INTERPRETATION OF THE EVIDENCE. SORRY. BEST WE CAN DO UNDER SURREAL CIRCUMSTANCES. By declaring mission absolutely accomplished, however, the Sheriffs Department invited a Zahau family lawsuit exploiting the reasonable doubt glossed over in the suicide finding. To be fair to Shacknai, its possible a higher court will overturn the ruinously expensive civil judgment against him, but even so the suicide finding has been dealt a severe blow. Advertisement Sheriff Bill Gore, whos running for re-election, is left holding a bruised and battered suicide theory. Gore now says hes open to re-examining the civil court testimony with fresh eyes. This appears to be a tactical finesse to keep politically motivated hounds at bay, a face-saving half-measure short of a dramatic, and no doubt mortifying, reopening of the case. From the beginning, the Coronado hanging was an opening scene for those who like it noir. Advertisement As I wrote in 2011, Danielle Steel, the best-selling writer who owns the other Spreckels mansion, the one built by Adolph Spreckels in San Francisco, would be hard-pressed to conjure up a meatier hook for a mystery novel. Almost seven years later, were still inside a thriller without a resolution to the mystifying question: Who staged this death? Well, justice is not always served warm on a platter. For the foreseeable future, the Coronado horror show, which the Sheriffs Department stuck in the deep freeze, is going to be how some like it. Advertisement Hot. Logan Jenkins is a freelance columnist. He can be reached at lbjenkins5437@gmail.com A jury on Thursday found Joshua Matthew Palmer guilty of raping and murdering his 21-year-old co-worker in 2016 after watching her have sex with another man. The strangled, naked body of Shauna Haynes was found stuffed in a suitcase that was thrown in the trash behind the downtown San Diego residency hotel where Palmer lived. A jury of seven men and five women found Palmer guilty of first-degree murder and special circumstances of murder during rape, sodomy and penetration by a foreign object. Palmer, 34, faces life in prison without the possibility of parole when he is sentenced on June 22. Advertisement Deputy District Attorney Martin Doyle said that then-District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis evaluated the case and chose to not seek the death penalty for Palmer. As the verdicts were read, Haynes mother, sister and others broke into sobs. Theyve been living with this for two years, Doyle said afterwards. This is their chance to finally see the person who killed their daughter and sister brought to justice. When the trial began last week before Judge Joan Weber, Doyle told jurors Palmer was guilty of premeditated murder, with malice and deliberation. Defense attorney Katie Belisle didnt deny that Palmer killed Haynes, but said he did it because he was humiliated, heartbroken and hopeless because she would not have sex with him, but did so with two strangers, right in front of him. The prosecutor said the tragic events began the night of April 4, 2016, when Palmer brought a woman, Chelsea Shea, to his room for sex. He was living at The Chadwick, on A Street at Seventh Avenue. Doyle said Palmer was not able to become aroused, and did not have sex with Shea. Haynes, who worked with Palmer at the Old Spaghetti Factory in the Gaslamp Quarter, turned up at his room too. She was with another man, Anthony Kern. Advertisement Kern and the two women ended up making out together, with Palmer watching. Early in the morning on April 5 he ordered them out. Haynes chose to stay behind. Doyle told jurors she was beaten, raped and strangled. Over the early morning hours, Palmer took cellphone video of himself having sex with Haynes, then committing sex acts on her corpse. Jurors were shown the graphic images. Palmers attorney argued that sex between her client and Haynes was consensual and that Palmer could not be found guilty of the additional sex acts committed after Haynes was dead. Advertisement Belisle told jurors that Haynes was Palmers girlfriend and was going to move in with him. The prosecutor said the two had a platonic friendship through work but Palmer was frustrated that Haynes wouldnt have sex with him. Doyle said Palmer threw away Haynes belongings after her death and wiped down his apartment. Later that evening, he bragged to friends about the foursome he had taken part in. On April 6, another resident of The Chadwick noticed a suitcase in a garbage can that the trash truck had failed to pick up and empty. He told police he saw hair sticking out through the zipper. Palmer called 911 to report Haynes missing. Advertisement Reports of the found body made the news and Palmer told a friend that the last hed seen of Haynes was when she left his room naked, wrapped in a blanket. Palmer was arrested two days later. Out of court on Thursday, Doyle said Hayness family miss her very much but theyd like to put this part of the process behind them. The stranger followed her through her University City apartment garage to her door, held a gun to her forehead and demanded money. All of a sudden he started choking me with his hands. I couldnt breathe. I thought that was it. No one was going to help me and this might be where I end up, the slightly-built young woman testified Thursday. She said she didnt want to leave the walkway and go into her apartment. I anticipated he was going to rape me if we went inside, she told jurors. Advertisement She was right, according to Deputy District Attorney Trisha Amador. In her opening trial statement Thursday, Amador said Jeremiah Williams, 26, beat and raped two women one day apart in 2016. The first alleged attack occurred on Aug. 13 at the victims apartment on Nobel Drive in University City. The second was the next night at a Motel 6 on Alvarado Canyon Road in Grantville. Williams caused a disruption while the prosecutor was speaking, and he was removed from the court for the rest of the day. Deputy Public Defender Thomas Bahr told jurors there was no question that the first victim, known in court only as Jane Doe No. 1, was raped and robbed. But he said the laptop, cellphones and jewelry taken from her were never found or connected to Williams. Bahr said Williams and the second victim, Jane Doe No. 2, had consensual sex, negotiated for a price ahead of time. He said they agreed to meet at the motel. The woman ended up at a hospital on Aug. 16 and told police shed been choked, pistol-whipped and sexually assaulted two days earlier by a man she had just met. Advertisement It took San Diego police detectives several days to tie the cases together. The first victim testified that she returned home from beach barbeque and a stranger followed her to her door. There, he put a gun to her head and asked her for money. He said he didnt want to kill her, but he would if he had to, the woman testified. Inside, she gave him some money. Then he punched her hard in the face fracturing bones choked her, dragged her to the bedroom, pulled off her clothes and raped her, she said. The ordeal ended when he led her to the shower, washed her face and genitals, closed the shower curtain and left, she testified. Then, she said, she went to a neighbors apartment and they took her to a hospital. Advertisement Advertisement pauline.repard@sduniontribune Twitter: @pdrepard A man who tried to hang himself in a Chicago police lockup, prompting his family to accuse officers of wrongfully detaining him, died Wednesday morning, according to his longtime girlfriend. Tyler Lumar, 24, died at the Landmark of Des Plaines Rehabilitation and Nursing Center in the northwest suburb, where he had been treated after suffering massive brain injuries during the suicide attempt in August 2016 at the Harrison District station on Chicagos West Side. His cause of death has yet to be determined. It just seems so surreal, his girlfriend, Casey Tencate, told the Tribune on Wednesday. I dont think Ive really grasped any of it and accepted any of it. The Cook County medical examiners office confirmed Lumar was pronounced dead at 5:31 a.m. An autopsy has been scheduled for Thursday. Advertisement The Tribune highlighted Lumars ordeal in a front-page article last November after his mother filed a lawsuit against the city and the Chicago Police Department on her sons behalf. At the time, Lumar had spent the last year on life support, racking up about $2 million in medical bills. Chicago police officers were called to a medical clinic in the East Garfield Park neighborhood after Lumar yelled and threatened a doctor who refused to refill his cough medicine prescription, then tossed papers on the floor and said he would come back and shoot the place up, police alleged. Police let Lumar go without charges, but moments later, the same officers stopped him as he walked down Madison Street, records show. They arrested him because authorities in Lee County, in western Illinois, had issued a warrant over an overdue $25 payment in a 2015 misdemeanor traffic case. Lumar had paid the $25, but authorities in Lee County had failed to withdraw the warrant, the lawsuit alleged. Chicago police contacted Lee County about the warrant and learned it carried a $500 bond, the lawsuit said. The way the system works, he could have posted 10 percent $50 and gone home. Lumar had $130 on him, according to the arrest report. But for unknown reasons, Chicago police put an extradition hold on him -- meaning he would be jailed in the Harrison District lockup while waiting for Lee County to pick him up falsely stating on an arrest report that the bond information wasnt available, according to the lawsuit. The next day, while he was in a Cook County Jail bullpen waiting to go to court, a sheriffs officer found a packet of crack cocaine near Lumar, according to the lawsuit. But security video shows another inmate removing the item from his shoe and tossing it next to Lumar, his lawyer, Eileen OConnor, told the Tribune last year. Police had earlier searched Lumar at least eight times without finding drugs, according to the lawsuit, which also names the Cook County sheriffs office as a defendant. Facing narcotics charges, Lumar was sent again to the Harrison District, according to the lawsuit. He was later found hanging by his own shirt. Later that day, as Lumar lay in an intensive care unit at Mount Sinai Hospital, Chicago police announced they were releasing him from custody and that no charges would be filed. Advertisement His mothers lawsuit alleges Chicago police wrongfully detained Lumar, concealed from him the fact that he could have bonded himself out and were deliberately indifferent to his medical needs by failing to check on him every 15 minutes as required. The city is responsible, too, the lawsuit alleges, because it ignored the widespread police practice of falsifying cell inspection records. Attorneys for the city and its police officers, however, say they did nothing wrong and have asked a judge to dismiss the case. In addition to Lumars mother, he also leaves behind a 5-year-old daughter that he fathered with Tencate, she said. I do know that Tyler is at peace now, said Tencate, 23. I trust that God has a plan for us. Advertisement jgorner@chicagotribune.com Twitter @JeremyGorner RELATED How a minor traffic offense in western Illinois ended in catastrophic brain damage in a Chicago jail A Canadian woman who tried to smuggle millions of dollars worth of cocaine into Australia has been convicted and sentenced to eight years behind bars. Melina Roberge, 24, was sentenced Wednesday after pleading guilty to smuggling 95 kilos (209 pounds) of the drug into the Sydney Harbour in 2016, following an exotic weeks-long cruise that she and an accomplice documented on social media. Roberge and her accomplice, Isabelle Lagace, had turned their Instagram accounts into travel diaries in the summer of 2016, posting glamorous photos and boasting about their intercontinental adventures on the MS Sea Princess, a cruise ship that docked in 17 ports in 11 countries before it finally stopped in Australia. They captured their first photo bomb, in New Yorks Times Square, and their first Irish coffee in Cobh, a seaport town in Ireland. They showed off their tans on a Bermuda beach, where one of them wrote in a caption: Gone to a place very peaceful leave a message after the tone. They rode recreational vehicles over the desert sand. They got tribal tattoos. They made new friends. Then, they were arrested. Roberge who became known as Cocaine Babe in headlines will serve at least four years and nine months, without eligibility for parole; she will eventually be deported to her home country, the AP reported. Advertisement She was seduced by lifestyle and the opportunity to post glamorous Instagram photos from around the world, Judge Kate Traill said in New South Wales state District Court, according to The Associated Press. She wanted to be the envy of others. I doubt she is now. Roberges Instagram account disappeared following her arrest. But before the drug bust, she had written: Traveling is one thing. But traveling with an open mind, ready to taste everything, see everything, learn everything and get yourself out of your comfort zone ... is probably the best therapy and lesson ever. I used to be afraid to get out of my little town and now I feel like I dont want to see that little town anymore cause its beautiful out there and its sooo worth it. Upon arrival in Australia, border agents searched the ship, discovering 35 kilograms in the womens cabin and 60 kilograms in a cabin belonging to Andre Tamin, a wealthy Canadian man in his mid-60s whom Roberge described as her sugar daddy, according to the AP. The three were charged with importing a commercial quantity of cocaine, which carries a maximum penalty of life in prison, authorities said. Late last year, Lagace, 29, was sentenced to seven and a half years in prison. Tamin is scheduled to be sentenced in October, according to the AP. The two women were packing so much cocaine in their suitcases that, the Australian Border Force said, they did not have much room for clean underwear or spare toothbrushes. Roberge told the court that she was an escort and met Tamin on the job in 2015. She said he invited her to go on a drug-smuggling trip to Morocco the next year. Advertisement She realized, she told the court, that she had put everything on the line for some selfies in exotic locations and post them on Instagram to receive likes and attention. The young girls body lay for three days in the forest where they left her. Eight-year-old Asifa Bano had been raped, strangled with her own scarf and been bashed in the skull with a rock, police said. The case - one more devastating example of child rape and killing in a country where such crimes are rising - attracted little attention until last week, when police charged seven men and one juvenile, including four police officers, and one juvenile in the girls death. Police allege that the men kidnapped Asifa as she tended to her familys horses, held her for days in a remote shrine and raped her repeatedly before killing her. Asifa was Muslim. Her alleged assailants are Hindu, a circumstance ripe for conflict in a Hindu-dominated area in one of the most polarized states in India, where religious tensions and nationalism are rising under the conservative government of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Advertisement In the same week, a lawmaker from Modis governing Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was arrested and charged with raping a teenager in the state of Uttar Pradesh. The rape cases pierced the public consciousness in a way unseen since the 2012 rape and murder of a college student that resulted in widespread calls for tighter rape laws in India. The reverberations from the arrests in the 8-year-olds death were immediate. On one side, lawyers from the local bar association - their black robes billowing - tried to block police from filing arrest papers in court, arguing that the Hindu men were being framed. Two state BJP ministers were accused of attending a rally in support of the alleged assailants. Party officials ultimately forced the two ministers to resign, and Modi vowed late last week that the crimes will be prosecuted. As a society, as a country, we are all ashamed, Modi said of Asifas death, adding that no culprit will escape. Justice will be done, and it will be done fully. Over the weekend, hundreds gathered in cities throughout India to protest the childs killing, waving signs and accusing Modis government of not doing enough to protect women. A group of former civil servants wrote an open letter to Modi decrying the culture of majoritarian belligerence of right-wing Hindu groups, adding that this is the countrys darkest hour since its independence. Even members of Modis party said they were ashamed of what was happening. The BJP has been acting as apologist for these criminals. Its absolutely inexcusable, said Yashwant Sinha, a former finance minister and prominent BJP leader. The young girl with curly brown hair often took her familys horses to a nearby meadow to graze, including a white horse, her favorite, that she called Beautiful. Her family is part of a nomadic Muslim tribe that stayed in the Kathua area during the winter and then took their sheep, goats and horses higher in the Himalayas to graze during the summer. Advertisement The restive state of Jammu and Kashmir, which includes the conflict-ridden and disputed Kashmir valley, is debating whether such tribes can continue to use protected land for grazing. In January, police alleged in charging documents that a retired revenue clerk named Sanji Ram came up with a plan he hoped would rid the area of the nomadic tribes. Police say one of the men kidnapped the girl from the field and dragged her to a small shrine, where she was drugged and locked up for at least four days, and repeatedly gang-raped. At one point, police said, Rams son was called from another state to satisfy his lust with the girl. Eventually, they decided to kill her, police said. Local officers found her body in a forested area on Jan. 17. Rams lawyer, Ankur Sharma, who also represents Rams son and one of the police officers, said the suspects are innocent. We dont know who killed that a poor little girl, he said. They pleaded not guilty to the crime in a court hearing Monday. Sharma said the case was a state conspiracy to demoralize the local Hindu population so they wont protest what he called the demographic invasion of Muslims in the area. Advertisement In Uttar Pradesh, after a teenage girl tried to light herself on fire in front of the chief ministers house to protest police inaction in her case, BJP lawmaker Kuldeep Singh Sengar was charged last week with raping her. According to a high court judges ruling that ordered Sengars arrest, the girls father was beaten by the politicians officers and later died in police custody. The judge complained that it was disturbing that law and order machinery and the government officials were directly in league and under the influence of Sengar. I think undoubtedly the issue here and the cause for outrage and peoples anger is the fact that the BJP is clearly protecting those accused in these cases, said Kavita Krishnan, secretary of the All India Progressive Womens Association. Choudhary Lal Singh, one of the state ministers forced to resign last week, rejected this assessment in an interview Tuesday. He questioned the validity of the police investigation of Asifas case, calling for a new inquiry into the childs death to be done by Indias Central Bureau of Investigation, the national investigating agency. No BJP person is supporting any accused, he said. When they demand a CBI inquiry, thats not defending the accused. Its very clear in India if there is any disputes which are controversial, they make a CBI inquiry. Why not this case? Advertisement Hundreds of supporters greeted Singh on Tuesday and cheered his name at his expansive white bungalow not far from the victims home, where he arrived in a white sport utility vehicle with marigold blossom garland. Candles are lit by students in front of a photo of eight-year-old Asifa Bano, during a march to protest against her rape and murder, in Jammu, the winter capital of Kashmir, India, on April 13, 2018. (Jaipal Singh / EPA) The small shrine where Asifa was kept - a one-story concrete building painted pink, with bars on the windows - is now locked, as is the simple home where the young girl lived with her aunt and uncle, who adopted her when she was 6 months old, and two cousins. Asifas adoptive father, Mohammad Yousuf Pujwala, 45, said the family is still in shock about her death. Advertisement Now every moment I feel her absence, he said. Everything reminds me of her - her clothes, her place at the table, the horses. She played with all the children, he added. She didnt know the difference between a Muslim and a Hindu. She was only 8 years old. He said the family is afraid to return to the village, where what police called a long-standing rivalry between the nomadic Muslims and the local Hindu community has deepened since his daughters death. The family was not able to bury Asifa in the local graveyard, he said, because a group of Hindus showed up and threatened them. The family has fled the village with their livestock to higher altitudes, fearing for their safety. His wife, Naseema, still cries every day, he said, adding: We hope justice will be delivered. Advertisement The Washington Posts Ishfaq Naseem in Kathua and Swati Gupta in New Delhi contributed to this report. The Internal Revenue Services online tax filing systems failed widely on Tax Day because of a hardware glitch in the part of the agencys operating system that houses taxpayers personal tax records, according to the tax collection agency. The malfunctioning of IRSs master file was discovered around 4 a.m. Tuesday, the biggest tax-filing day of the year. The impact of the problem spread because several other IRS systems rely on data from the agencys master file to function, the IRS said in a statement to The Washington Post. The IRS emphasized there was no reason to believe taxpayers private data had been breached. Theres no data loss, the agency said. Taxpayers have nothing to be concerned about. The technology failures delayed millions of taxpayers as they tried to submit their returns online and forcing the agency to push back its original Tuesday deadline to the end of Wednesday. For much of the day, access was blocked for filers who use online tax preparation software, such as TurboTax or tools from H&R Block, or pay their taxes directly to the IRS online. An erroneous page linked to in the IRSs online payment section described a Planned Outage: April 17, 2018 - December 31, 9999. Advertisement The IRS said Wednesday that its systems were fully back up and running and that it had accepted more than 14 million submissions, including tax returns, extension requests and other filings, since systems had come back online. Former IRS commissioner John Koskinen said he was not aware of the agency having to extend the tax filing deadline nationally at any point in the past three decades because of software glitches on Tax Day. Mark Everson, another former IRS commissioner, also said he was unaware of any comparable past IRS failures on Tax Day. Congress on Wednesday moved forward with a plan to bolster the IRS. The House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill aimed at improving the IRSs online systems, in part by allowing it to accept debit and credit card payments and requiring the IRS to create an online portal for filing 1099 tax returns. The measure passed by a 414-to-3 margin, but it now heads to the Senate, where its future is uncertain. The vote was scheduled before the IRS experienced its technical difficulties Tuesday, but lawmakers are demanding answers from the IRS about its struggles. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said a probe into what went wrong could be necessary. It may warrant some kind of investigation. How do you have this computer problem on the most important tax day of the year? Jordan said. The onus on them is to find out what caused it and makes sure it doesnt happen again. Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, plans to send a letter to the IRS asking for an explanation of what caused the glitches and what the agency will do to prevent them from occurring again. Hardworking taxpayers deserve transparency and lawmakers need to know exactly what happened so we can try and find solutions to avoid a similar or even worse failure in the future, DelBene said in a statement. DelBene, a former tech CEO who also served as Washington states director of revenue, said the IRS needs to provide more information about what happened. Advertisement I know the importance of making sure the IRS has the proper funding, staff and technology in place so they can carry out their duties for the American people, and I look forward to working with the IRS to get the right answers, the statement said. The IRS has more than 60 information-technology systems for managing the cases of individual taxpayers, according to a report submitted to Congress by an internal IRS watchdog. Many of them have not been updated in decades, and two of them are nearly six decades old - the oldest anywhere in the federal government, the report said. The IRS is highly vulnerable to IT breakdowns and cyberattacks, said Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union, a nonpartisan group that has pushed for changes at the IRS. The IRS has faced steady budget cuts for nearly a decade, with its staff size falling by about 18,000 employees from 2010 to 2017 and a recent report showing that it can answer only about 60 percent of calls from tax filers. Advertisement The bipartisan House package, which DelBene is co-sponsoring, would also strengthen the IRSs free tax advisory programs for the poor and give taxpayers several new rights and protections. Congressional Republicans repeatedly attacked the IRS under President Barack Obama, accusing it of unfairly targeting tea party groups and cutting its budget. Congress approved $320 million in short-term funding to help the IRS implement the new tax law as part of the massive budget deal passed in March, but many lawmakers say more money is needed. The additional funding came to help the agency implement changes required by a sprawling overhaul of the tax code that Republicans passed in December. It has been working with businesses to make sure they are withholding the correct amounts from employees paychecks, as well as rolling out online tools that workers can use to ensure their employers calculations are correct. Advertisement House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., a frequent IRS critic, touted Wednesdays House bill as a major step toward fixing the agency. The House just passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan, comprehensive overhaul of the IRS, Ryan wrote in a post on Twitter. This restoration of oversight, fairness, and accountability puts customer service at the forefront of the agency. The deployment of chemical weapons inspectors into the Syrian city of Duma was delayed after unidentified assailants fired on a United Nations security team visiting the site of a suspected attack, an official said Wednesday. The assailants shot at the U.N. team and detonated an explosive Tuesday, prompting the security team to return to Damascus, the capital, said Ahmet Uzumcu, director general of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, or OPCW. There were no injuries reported, but Uzumcu said that at present, we do not know when the [fact-finding mission] team can be deployed to Duma. Rescue workers aligned with forces opposed to President Bashar Assad as well as medical and media activists accused the Syrian government of dropping deadly chemical munitions on Duma on April 7. Advertisement The attack, which killed more than 40 people and left hundreds wounded, was part of a government assault for control of eastern Ghouta, a collection of suburbs on the capitals eastern flank that had been in rebel hands since 2012. After the April 7 attack, opposition factions in the area ceded control of Duma. Syrian government forces moved into the city, while Chechen military police have kept vigil at its perimeter. Syrian and Russian troops as well as journalists have already accessed the site of the attack. The U.S., Britain and France, which participated last week in a strike targeting what officials said were components of the Syrian governments chemical weapons arsenal, have accused Damascus and Assad ally Moscow of obstructing the watchdog groups work and tampering with the site. Syria and Russia have denied responsibility for the April 7 attack and have accused opposition forces and Britain of staging it. Syrian state media said Tuesday that inspectors had entered Duma. The government later said a U.N. advance team had reached the city. State Department spokeswoman Heather Nauert said Tuesday that U.S. officials could not confirm whether the OPCW team had entered Duma and that any delay degrades evidence. We want [the OPCW] to be able to get in as quickly as possible, as safely as possible, but we also want that evidence to be as pure as possible for their investigation, Nauert said. Syria and Russia vehemently denied charges of obstruction. Both have long maintained that allegations of chemical weapons use are false. Advertisement The OPCW, which is mandated by the U.N., is tasked with collecting site samples, speaking to witnesses and documenting other proof of an attack. Its job is to determine whether a chemical weapons attack occurred; it cannot assign blame. The Syrian government has been accused of deploying sarin, a toxic chemical related to insecticides that is lethal to humans, in an attack on Ghouta in 2013, and a strike in 2017 on a town in the rebel-held province of Idlib. In Tuesdays briefing, Nauert said the U.S. had information that leads us to believe that both chlorine and sarin were used in the [April 7] attack. Bulos is a special correspondent. Advertisement Twitter: @nabihbulos San Diegos local Democratic Party leaders are under fire and facing calls to resign after a meeting fell into disarray and a black woman was handcuffed by police. Officers were called to the partys Central Committee meeting on Tuesday evening at a Kearny Mesa union hall after as many as 20 protesters showed up to the closed-door meeting, including some who made it past private security and into a conference hall at least one with a bullhorn. Aeiramique Blake, director of a group called Generation Justice, was handcuffed and detained and later released without any charges. Blake, who was there to protest how the party treated a black political group at a recent fundraiser dinner and a proposal to create a pro-Israel club, said she waged a small sit-in at the meetings entrance, but later got up and maneuvered her way past a security guard and into the meeting room. Advertisement Facebook Live videos show protesters yelling into the meeting room as people milled around. Some talked with party officials and others spoke with a security guard. A security guard later identified Blake to police officers, who put her in handcuffs. Blake said she has a working relationship with senior police officers and mentioned their names while she was detained. James Elia, an Assembly candidate and Central Committee member, started talking to police about releasing Blake. They specifically told me that security called and said that someone was assaulted, Elia said. I talked to security and they were obviously upset, too, but I was able to get them to drop the charges. Blake was released, but questioned why she was even detained in the first place. You dont just arrest the first black woman you see, you wait and figure it out, she said over the phone. But now that youre about to get in trouble with your boss, youre going to try and figure it out. Officer Billy Hernandez, a spokesman for the San Diego Police, said the department received a call at 7:13 p.m. to go to the International Association of Machinists and Aerospace Workers Local 1125. Advertisement We were there pretty much to keep the peace, he said. Nobody was arrested. Some protesters including Blake were upset with how members of a black political organization were seated at table at the back of a ballroom at a recent formal dinner after they wore buttons and pins condemning sexual misconduct. Others were there to oppose a plan to create a new Democrats for Israel political club that they felt had a polarizing name that marginalized Palestinians. Others were also there to protest how the party has addressed allegations of sexual harassment, including accusations against labor leader and Democratic ally Mickey Kasparian. On Tuesday night, it reached a tipping point and further revealed problems with the partys leadership, said Sara Kent, a Democratic activist who was at the meeting. Advertisement This stuff is just boiling over because nobody is willing to address the core issues as they come to them, she said. Jessica Hayes, the partys chairwoman, said that many of the protesters had reason to be upset, but their approach was improper. They had very valid points, there was nothing wrong with what they had to say, Hayes said over the phone. It was how they said it. Mark Lane, a political consultant who helped organize the protests, said Hayes should resign because she is unwilling to consider other Democrats concerns, and tries to silence critics. Advertisement She has a history of trying to control and quash dissent, and thats what she did again last night, he said. Hayes dismissed his and other peoples demands. Hes not a fan, she said of Lane. Some protesters were supporting Martin Luther King Jr. Democratic Club after the group was moved from a front-row table at the partys Roosevelt Dinner fundraiser after some of the clubs members wore buttons and signs condemning sexual misconduct. Advertisement Hayes said she didnt mind the silent protests but said that political clubs are always put in the back of the ballroom to leave space for major donors in the front. Others were there to protest mistreatment of women in politics and what they believe is a series of insufficient responses by local party leaders. And another group was there to protest a plan to create a new club called Democrats for Israel. They felt that it was an affront to Palestinians and suggested it be renamed Jewish Democrats. They called us obstinate and anti-semites, Lane said. Im Jewish, by the way. Of the protesters, he said, It was 95 percent women of color and teenagers of color. They were Palestinians, they were blacks, they were different Muslims who arent Palestinian. And we all know what happens when cops are called on people of color. Advertisement The incident is the latest in an ongoing conflict between more traditional parts of the Democratic establishment and a younger progressive wing. Marylin Riley and Robert Grand, a wife and husband who are on the Central Committee, said that the protesters were loud and disruptive to a point where they were working against their own interests. They were just extremely intimidating and had bullhorns and were shoving things in peoples faces, Riley said. Shes been involved in politics since the early 1960s and made her career in Sacramento and said that the way the protesters operated on Tuesday night is not the way to get things done. Advertisement Riley said that there are a lot of newcomers to the party who want immediate change, but dont want to go through the tedious process of canvassing door-to-door or serving on committees or clubs to make an incremental but steady difference. Im really tired of these newcomers to the party...these people who have never done anything for the Democratic party at the grassroots level are now attacking the party and saying how corrupt we are, she said. Many of the Central Committee members are sympathetic to their causes, Grand said, noting that he too is Jewish. Grand predicted that the vote to create a new Israel club would have failed had the matter not been postponed amid the ruckus. If you want somebody to listen to you, or do something to you ask for, preventing them from doing it is not the way to get it done, he said. Advertisement Hayes said that she is thrilled that there is a new wave of young people who are passionate about politics, but said they will get more done and find more allies if they change their methods. They could have reached out to her ahead of the meeting and been added to the agenda and been heard in an official way, she said. How are our young people going to learn how to come together and get the change and work through it? she said. Kent said that the partys officers should try to redeem themselves before their terms expire early next year, but they should not be re-elected. And Elia said that the entire party is responsible for Tuesdays nights flare-up. Advertisement For me, it was an eye-opening experience, he said. We need to have some tough conversations. Advertisement Twitter: @jptstewart joshua.stewart@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1841 San Diego officials scrambled on Wednesday to respond to backlash from the public over 35 parking citations the city gave to people trying to honor a fallen Marine on Tuesday morning. Criticism on social media quickly prompted Mayor Kevin Faulconer to announce the tickets would be rescinded, but city officials were unsure exactly how to handle that. Two vehicle owners already paid their $65 fines online. The backlash focused on why the city would ticket people waving American flags and showing a strong sense of patriotism by lining the funeral route of Marine Gunnery Sgt. Derik Holley, who died April 3 in a helicopter crash near El Centro. City officials defended the parking enforcement agents who issued the tickets, explaining they were unaware of the funeral procession, which traveled from Miramar National Cemetery through La Jolla and Clairemont. Advertisement So they ticketed 35 vehicles parked on Balboa Arms Drive in Clairemont, which is located near where the route ended at Clairemont Mortuary on Mount Abernathy Avenue. If there was an informal notification on the part of the mortuary, the organizers or the procession, we would have worked to accommodate that and been sensitive to it, said city spokesman Anthony Santacroce. This wasnt a Draconian thing where they were going to get a ticket either way. Santacroce said criticism on social media was the first city officials heard of the situation, and the mayor immediately posted on Twitter on Tuesday afternoon that the citations would be voided. San Diego supports its heroes, Faulconer tweeted. Due to the special circumstances of todays memorial service, those who received parking citations this morning on Balboa Arms Dr. will have their tickets rescinded. The City of San Diego salutes Marine Gunnery Sgt. Derik Holley and his family. Santacroce said the two people who already paid their fines would get refunds. City officials also made sure on Wednesday that none of the people ticketed will receive citations in the mail. Officials were also exploring whether to send letters thoroughly explaining the situation to all 35 people who were cited, he said. Some might wonder why they never got a mail citation after finding one on their car. We dont want there to be any prolonged confusion or stress on the parts of the participants, Santacroce said. The initial criticism on Twitter evolved into a debate about which types of events are significant enough to warrant suspension of parking restrictions and significant enough to warrant criticism of the city if tickets end up getting issued. Advertisement What if just as a thought experiment the event was a memorial for a man shot by police, like Alfred Olango in El Cajon, and tickets were given out, asked Twitter user John Sepulvado. Or say a memorial for a homeless man attacked and killed. Santacroce said he doubted the procession for Holley would have qualified for a city special event permit, characterizing it as more of an informal exercise of free speech. But he said those involved could still have given the city a heads up about the procession, which lasted from roughly 10 a.m. to 11 a.m. Santacroce said the tickets, which were for street sweeping violations, were also the result of unfortunate timing. Advertisement The south side of Balboa Arms gets swept once a month, on each third Tuesday between 10 a.m. and 1 p.m. Before the sweeping vehicle comes through, a parking enforcement officer from the citys Transportation and Stormwater Department comes through the area and tickets any cars parked there at the time. Those agents, who drive pick-up trucks, are different than the parking enforcement agents that ticket vehicles for meter violations and other offenses, who drive small vehicles sometimes called jitneys. If the city had been notified about the procession and alerted street sweeping crews, they could have adjusted their route and they certainly wouldnt have written any tickets, Santacroce said. Advertisement We could have done another part of the route and come back if there was some forethought on that, he said. Those who received street sweeping tickets were among hundreds that lined the funeral procession route of Holley, who received full military honors Tuesday during a special ceremony at Miramar National Cemetery. Holley, 33, was an Ohio native serving as one of four Warhorse crewmen from the Miramar-based Marine Heavy Helicopter Squadron 465. Along with his parents and his sister Lindsay, he is survived by wife Kasey Carpenter and his son Dane. Advertisement The other Marines killed in the crash were Capt. Samuel Abraham Schultz, 28, of Pennsylvania; 1st Lt. Samuel D. Phillips, 27, of North Carolina; and Lance Cpl. Taylor J. Conrad, 24, of Louisiana. Advertisement david.garrick@sduniontribune.com (619) 269-8906 Twitter:@UTDavidGarrick A fire in a small Baptist church in Logan Heights early Thursday caused about $60,000 in damage before it could be extinguished, and investigators are trying to determine how it started, a San Diego fire official said. Firefighters were called to the church on Franklin Avenue near 31st Street around 2:35 a.m. and found a fire burning in a storage room. No one was inside the building at the time, said San Diego Fire-Rescue spokeswoman Monica Munoz. According to a Google search, the church is the Christian Evangelism Independent Baptist Church. Munoz said the fire, which was confined to a room where paper products and books were stored, was quickly knocked down. No one was injured. Advertisement Damage to the structure was estimated at $50,000, while damage to the buildings contents was set at $10,000. The cause of the fire is not known. Investigators with the Metro Arson Strike Team were called to try to determine how the fire started and if it was intentionally set, Munoz said. Twitter: @karenkucher (619) 293-1350 karen.kucher@sduniontribune.com Police are asking the public to help locate the hit-and-run driver who struck and injured a good Samaritan who stopped to help a stranded motorist in Ocean Beach earlier this month. The 26-year-old man suffered a broken leg and other injuries when he was hit shortly after midnight on April 9 on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard near Robb Field, police said. He had stopped to assist people stranded in a Lexus that had broken down. While the victim was standing next to the disabled vehicle, an unknown suspect driving southbound on Sunset Cliffs Boulevard struck the victim and the disabled vehicle,' San Diego police Sgt. Victoria Houseman said in a statement. The suspect continued driving southbound and fled the scene. The victim was treated at a hospital for a broken lower right leg and internal injuries. He was released and is recovering at home. Advertisement The suspects vehicle is believed to be a green 1998 or 1999 Subaru Outback Legacy station wagon. Police said it had damage to its right front side, including the grill, a fog lamp and the right side mirror. Anyone with information on the driver or the vehicle is asked to call San Diego police at (858) 495-7805 or San Diego County CrimeStoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Anyone who provides information that leads to an arrest may be eligible for up to a $1,000 reward. San Diego Unified School District has suspended a Horace Mann Middle School teacher accused of exposing students to pornography. District spokeswoman Maureen Magee confirmed that the district is aware of the accusation and has placed a teacher on leave while the claim is being investigated, but said she could provide no other details. Channel 10News has reported that a parent said her son was in a physical education class when a teacher showed the student an adult video in a physical education class Monday. Horace Mann Middle School is at 4345 54th St. in San Diego. Advertisement Homeless Playlist On Now San Diego hepatitis outbreak continues to grow: 481 cases On Now Homeless entrenched in booming tent city along Santa Ana River On Now San Diego mayor agreed to homeless hub, then delayed, advocates say On Now Homeless outreach in San Diego On Now Video: Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #8 On Now In poverty himself, 'Water Man Dave,' is the fearless saint of San Diego's homeless 5:41 On Now Video: Homeless living in cars find safe havens 2:21 On Now Street Art: Portraits of San Diego's Homeless #7 On Now Pitching a tent plan for San Diego's homeless On Now Homeless efforts get $80M boost for various services gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 Law enforcement officials are asking for the publics help in finding information about the death of a man whose body was found on an Oceanside sidewalk April 10. Oceanside police officers responding to a call about a man down on Dubuque Street near McNeil Street at about 5 a.m. discovered the body of Erik Ramsey, 25. Investigators found he had been killed, according to San Diego County Crime Stoppers. Ramseys body was found on the sidewalk in front of a house in the residential neighborhood. Anyone with information about the crime is asked to call the Oceanside Police Department at (760) 435-4748 or the Crime Stoppers anonymous tip line at (888) 580-8477. Advertisement Crime Stoppers is offering a $1,000 reward to anyone with information that leads to an arrest in this case. Visit the Crime Stoppers website at www.sdcrimestoppers.org for information on how to send anonymous web and mobile-app tips. gary.warth@sduniontribune.com Twitter: @GaryWarthUT 760-529-4939 Months after he was investigated for illegal gun sales a case that concluded with a written reprimand rather than criminal charges sheriffs Capt. Marco Garmo donated to his bosss re-election campaign. He gave $200 to the Re-Elect Sheriff Gore 2018 campaign in December 2017. His contribution followed six contributions from other Garmo family members, at $250 each, in November. That meant a total of $1,700 from Garmo family members late last year, according to a recent election filing. Garmo bought and sold dozens of firearms, The San Diego Union-Tribune reported last month, when state law sets a limit of five sales or purchases per year by people who do not have a federal firearms license. Garmo had no such license. He told U-T Watchdog this week that the political contributions had nothing to do with the investigation into his transactions. Advertisement To my knowledge, (the) sheriff started fundraising long after the (investigation), Garmo wrote in an email. I committed an obscure misdemeanor that is unknown to most, even those in the gun community. Garmo said he was unaware of the other contributions, which he said were made to the Gore campaign by distant relatives. I support the best man for the job regardless of my penalty, which was heavy considering what I did, he wrote. Gore did not respond to questions about the donations. Campaign strategist Jason Roe issued a statement saying there was no connection between the contributions and the result of the criminal probe. As youve previously reported, the decision not to file charges was made by the District Attorneys Office, Roe wrote in an email. Garmo, who joined the department in 1992 and now oversees the Rancho San Diego substation, bought and sold more than 150 guns in recent years, according to records obtained by the newspaper. Last month, he told the Union-Tribune he was unaware that a law enforcement officer can only buy or sell five weapons a year without the federal firearms license. He said he was a gun hobbyist who collects firearms. Records obtained by the Union-Tribune showed that Garmo bought or sold 11 handguns in 2014, eight others the following year and 25 firearms in 2016. Advertisement The excess gun sales were investigated by California Department of Justice agents, who referred the case to then-District Attorney Bonnie Dumanis for potential charges, according to records released by the Sheriffs Department. Instead of filing charges, Dumanis issued a warning letter to the sheriffs captain telling him not to violate the law in the future or he would be prosecuted. Because there is no evidence of a profit motive or an attempt to circumvent the handgun roster laws, and because all transactions involved legal firearms and went through a licensed dealer, we are electing to exercise our prosecutorial discretion not to file charges for the excessive gun sales at this time, the February 2017 letter stated. Dumanis, who is now running for an open seat on the county Board of Supervisors, did not respond to questions last month about why her office did not pursue charges Garmo. Advertisement Garmo made his donation to the Gore re-election campaign in December. His relatives made their contributions the previous month. Gore, who is challenged by Cmdr. David Myers on the June ballot, collected almost $220,000 in contributions last year and reported more than $166,000 in cash on hand at the end of the year. Myers reported just over $101,000 in contributions last year and $40,000 cash on hand. Advertisement Watchdog Videos On Now Sexual misconduct accusers worry deputy is being protected 6:16 On Now City funded $2-million waterfront bathroom 1:26 On Now Public water district charges customer for legal work, response to records request On Now Video: Tiny homes won't be reused amid housing, homeless crisis On Now Attorney General seeks documentation for Miss Middle East On Now Rep. Hunter probe covers possible fraud On Now Video: SDG&E delaying solar credit for some low-income housing tenants On Now Video: Former San Diego Junior Theatre teacher sentenced for sex with teen girl 0:24 On Now Video: Shelter volunteers believe they were fired for finding a dog a home 0:49 On Now McKamey Manor is leaving San Diego 3:35 jeff.mcdonald@sduniontribune.com (619) 293-1708 @sdutMcDonald What would be your top priority on the City Council? My top priority for District 2 is to fight for the inclusion of residents voices as the city government charts the future of our neighborhoods. During my time on the Clairemont Town Council, I have consistently seen civic-minded residents informed of decisions already made rather than consulted beforehand. This has led to a distressing lack of trust and wariness of change. As a doctor, Ive spent my career informing patients of their options at crucial moments in their lives and working with them toward treatment. I want to bring this mindset to City Hall and work cooperatively with our communities. I jumped into this race because of our citys meager response to the hepatitis A outbreak and I am now fighting to make sure we can count on a responsive and attentive government to secure the future for San Diegans. Meet the other candidates: Advertisement How would you address the citys housing crisis? We face an unprecedented housing deficit and need to build more houses for all income levels. San Diego has a surplus of housing for wealthy residents yet tens of thousands of families still cannot find a home to buy or rent in our communities. The state of California has made housing a priority and has begun to direct funding to cities like ours that will help meet the demand for the residential units our next generation requires. San Diego needs to maintain affordability agreements that are vital for at-risk residents and streamline the permitting process that hinder the creation of granny flats, micro units, and infill development. Additionally, developers must be incentivized to build for all rungs of the income ladder, instead of avoiding requirements by paying a minimal in lieu of fee. San Diego must foster our housing market to continue to thrive as a world class city. Evaluate what the city has been done on homelessness. What would you do differently? The citys record on homelessness has been fraught with indecision and indifference that has exacerbated the problem and led to 402 hospitalized and the deaths of 20 people from hepatitis A. The County Regional Task Force on the Homeless has begun to implement a nationally recognized program that has reduced chronic homelessness by up to 90 percent. Unfortunately, the city of San Diego has overpaid for a redundant intake center and continues to marginalize our homeless, leaving neighborhoods like Ocean Beach and Pacific Beach waiting for a solution. The city must be a leading voice to bring together governmental and non-governmental organizations helping this vulnerable population. Taxpayers can save thousands per person, per year, by preventing costly emergency room visits and ambulance trips, and ease the burden on emergency service personnel who are doubling as front-line social workers by implementing the same program that worked in Utah and Houston. Evaluate how the city has handled dockless bikes. What would you do differently? Dockless bikes represent an innovation that has changed how San Diegans and tourists travel throughout our city. In just weeks, theyve seen more usage than past fixed bike stations. Each mile traveled on these new bikes represents a healthier population, cleaner air, a smaller carbon footprint, less traffic and more available car parking for our commercial hubs. Advertisement We are still in an adjustment phase as the city, our businesses, and the dockless companies work out the community impact of this new product. Dockless companies must continue to try new placement strategies, avoid locations burdensome to the public and businesses, and establish norms about usage. As these new bikes continue to integrate into our citys mobility fabric, we need to provide safe bike routes and make sure that these companies remain proactive. If they abdicate responsibility for their bikes, the City Council should be ready to react with more forceful regulation. What should be done with the former Qualcomm Stadium site? The closed-door discussions and negotiations in regard to the publicly owned Qualcomm site has subverted our public right to transparency. If not for the attempt to legislate land use via the ballot box, our city council could have issued a request for proposal and begun an open process to consider a multitude of options. San Diego State University, FS investors, and anyone else who has creative ideas for this public asset, should go through the regular public process where all citizens, land use and environmental experts, and city officials can weigh the details of each proposal. We must consider the viability, the environmental impact, and the benefit for our citys future. This space represents a tremendous opportunity for our city and the best chance to expand a great civic resource like SDSU, but our city should not be limited to two choices on the November ballot. What would you do to address the citys police staffing shortage? Advertisement While the city and police union have recently agreed to a contract which increases our officers salaries and benefits to match other regional agencies, this has only stemmed losses instead of closing the 250-officer shortfall. To make matters worse, our city requires closer to 400 officers to continue to meet the demand created by our citys growth. To overcome this deficit, we must widely recruit qualified candidates that can pass through the rigors of the academy. Our department needs to evaluate requirements and outreach programs to ensure that we are receiving suitable applicants from all backgrounds and communities. If we are willing to spend hundreds of thousands of dollars on a budgeted marketing campaign, we should make sure that we maximize the field of recruits applying. Our department and citizens deserve the best and the brightest to be our newest officers. How would you change the citys approach to recreational marijuana use? San Diego is among the leading cities in California preparing for and regulating this newly legalized industry. The dynamic impacts of Proposition 64, overwhelmingly supported in District 2, and legal adult use of cannabis are only beginning to be measured. The limitations that San Diego enacted force new businesses to deal with difficult zoning and permitting regulations. This has allowed the black market to continue to operate as only a handful of licensed dispensaries attempt to meet the demand of 3.2 million residents in the region. We must ensure our city has the ability to legally produce, process, and dispense both medicinal and recreational cannabis locally, taking full advantage of the tax revenue that will come with these new businesses. San Diego must adapt to this new commodity, work with the entrepreneurs involved and update our regulations to meet the market growth that is already underway. How specifically should the city regulate short-term vacation rentals? Advertisement The city attorney ruled there are no statutes for short-term rentals in residential zones. Yet our city administration refuses to uphold zoning laws and allowed for exponential growth of this market. Despite years of wasted effort in subcommittees and on the council dais, we remain deadlocked. Our citys codes need to define permitting, registering, taxing and enforcing rules of STVR operation. We must protect our neighborhoods from being overrun by individual and corporate investors using housing stock for commercial purposes. Neighborhoods made up of families are disappearing and District 2 is losing schools, churches, and community organizations that are the backbone of our society. Other municipalities, like San Francisco, have enacted legislation that withstood challenges by the companies facilitating STVRs. I believe in their balanced approach to managing this new industry by banning non-owner occupied STVRs and mandating the companies share data with the city to stop illegal listings. What would be your top priority on the City Council? As a San Diegan, my main concern is in ensuring that we all have safe, clean neighborhoods. I also want to ensure that we have adequate law enforcement and that our roads and potholes are properly maintained. I am proud of my record as a City Council member in fighting to fund critical neighborhood services. For example, I have fought for enhanced funding for street repairs and filling potholes, and have been successful in getting over 20,000 potholes filled and over 88 miles of streets repaved in District 2. Additional specific goals for the future are to protect neighborhood character by supporting sensible regulations for short-term vacation rentals, oppose any effort to allow oil drilling off our coast and I will work with affected communities to support real solutions to address our homeless population, including enforcing laws regarding public conduct to ensure the quality of life in our neighborhoods. Advertisement Meet the other candidates: How would you address the citys housing crisis? A study conducted by Point Loma Nazarene University showed that 40 percent of the cost to build housing is due to local government regulations and the amount of time it takes to comply with the regulations. This is why when I was chair of the Smart Growth and Land Use Committee, I worked on finding ways to reduce permitting costs, streamline the permitting process and other measures to make it easier to build housing by reducing the cost to build. I look forward to continuing that work. Evaluate what the city has been done on homelessness. What would you do differently? The city has taken necessary steps to help reduce homelessness through the bridge shelters. Partnerships with agencies who have expertise in handling homelessness has helped place people into permanent housing and has provided needed services to help homeless get back on their feet. It is important to have other agencies, like the county of San Diego and neighboring cities, increase efforts to combat homelessness and increase mental health services and to assist the chronically homeless. I think it is important to not take a one-size-fits-all approach to combating homelessness. We need to focus on causes of homelessness and get people the help and services they need. That means more mental health facilities, more mandated drug and alcohol treatment and job placement assistance. Evaluate how the city has handled dockless bikes. What would you do differently? We should follow the examples of some other cities that have taken a sensible approach to dockless bikes. They implemented allowances with special permitting regulations to help prevent the free-for-all we have seen in San Diego. A critical concern for me is protecting the public right-of-way and ADA access. The city should continue to work closely with the companies to ensuring this mode of transportation remains available, while protecting our sidewalk access. I am confident that working with community leaders and the dockless bike companies, we can develop a common sense approach to address problems. Advertisement What should be done with the former Qualcomm Stadium site? There will be at least two initiatives that will be on the ballot this fall regarding the future of the Qualcomm stadium site. The outcome of those initiatives could be the driver as to what happens to the site and its future development. My biggest priority is to protect the San Diego River. The proposals before the voters should adequately address the development and expansion of the San Diego River Park. As a former member of the San Diego River Conservancy, I strongly advocated for cleaning up the river to make it an active park for everyones enjoyment. We need to ensure a balance of recreation, conservation and appropriate development of the site. Advertisement What would you do to address the citys police staffing shortage? I fought strongly to get salary increases for our police officers. By making their pay more equitable to the other nearby agencies, we will improve our staffing numbers. I have always supported increased funding for recruiting and retention outreach efforts, but the salary adjustments will definitely make a difference. Police Chief David Nisleit even stated that the mayors current proposed budget, that includes funding for salary increases, will help fill 200 vacancies. Additional funds for marketing and outreach were deemed, a real game changer, by Chief Nisleit. I supported these efforts and will continue to support funding to make our police department competitive with other agencies. How would you change the citys approach to recreational marijuana use? We created strict regulations for the permitting of shops and production facilities. The citys own regulations just went into effect early this year. It is important that we revisit the issue after a year has passed. We need to do a comprehensive review of our regulations to make sure they have been effective. While we have addressed the land-use issues, we need to make sure we are also looking at any public safety issues that may come with recreational marijuana use. While Council District 2 has experienced many illegal operators, we need to make sure we are enforcing our codes to keep illegal shops out of our communities. Advertisement How specifically should the city regulate short-term vacation rentals? I have been the leading voice on the council in opposition to year-round whole-home short-term vacation rentals in single-family zones and low-density, multifamily zones. According to reliable reports, there are well over 4,000 short-term vacation rentals in my coastal district alone. The vast majority of those short-term vacation rentals are year-round whole home rentals. This level of proliferation deteriorates the quality of life in neighborhoods. Someones vacation is not more important than our neighborhoods. I have consistently supported actual home sharing, where the owner is on-site and merely rents out a room. I also support a homeowners ability to rent out their primary residence. However, out-of-town investors using our neighborhoods for year-round commercial use is unacceptable. Poway should be able to bear the brunt of an onslaught of new state laws regarding affordable housing providing it stays the course in meeting regional goals, members of the City Council were told Tuesday night. During a briefing on 15 new laws that went into effect Jan. 1, City Attorney Alan Fenstermacher said that as long as the city has enough planned units for all income levels included in the housing element of the General Plan, the state should be satisfied. The citys so-called fair share allotment in the element is 1,253 housing units. An updated allotment, assigned by the San Diego Association of Governments, is expected later this year, the council was told. Fenstermacher said the package of bills signed by Gov. Jerry Brown last fall makes it clear the state feels that local jurisdictions as a whole are not doing enough to provide new housing for families who cannot afford market-rate homes. He and Councilman Jim Cunningham stressed that cities can expect more of the same from the state in the foreseeable future. The alarms have been ringing for 20 years and theyre getting louder and louder, Cunningham said. Cities not doing enough to provide affordable housing may find themselves losing local control of certain types of housing projects, he said. A related briefing by Development Services Director Bob Manis covered new state laws intended to make it easier for property owner to build accessary dwelling units, on their lots. The units, sometimes called granny flats, are currently subject to council approval. New state law has the approval kept at the staff level, although the council on Tuesday night indicated it would like to retain at least temporary control. Over the past three years there have been no requests for second dwelling units, but 21 requests for guest houses, which essentially are accessary dwelling units without a kitchen, Manis said. Several council members mentioned that these units often are not used for their stated purpose but are instead treated by the owner as a rental or for use by family members. As the law now stands, someone wanting to build a second dwelling unit would need to pay about $7,000 in development impact fees - a highly discouraging hurdle, council noted. These are not required for guest houses. If the fees could be significantly decreased to reflect the smaller square footage of a second unit, that might encourage construction of second units and, at the same time, allow the city to eliminate the sometimes-abused guest house category in the future. As an added bonus, Mayor Steve Vaus noted, new accessory dwelling units could count toward satisfying city affordable housing quotas if the property owner agreed in a deed restriction to renting only to qualified families. Feedback from the council will be used by staff to draft city ordinances that will put the city in compliance with the new state laws. The process is expected to take a couple of months. Email: editor@pomeradonews.com The Poway Kiwanis Club is holding its third annual Kids Safety Fair from 10 a.m. to 1 p.m. Saturday, April 28 at the Poway Community Center, 13094 Civic Center Drive, in front of the pool. The fair include representatives from the San Diego Burn Institute, the fire department and the FBI, who will help educate visitors on childrens safety. The fair will provide information on several aspects of safety for children, including bike safety, burn and fire safety, water safety, poison safety and choking safety, said Neil Tarzy of the Poway Kiwanis Club. A hot dog lunch will be available for $4 and the fair will be giving out free T-shirts and bike helmets, as well as free passes to the Poway pool (first come, first serve, limited quantities). The pool is currently being renovated and will reopen in midsummer. The Poway Bicycle Shop will be present to provide bike inspections, repairs and helmet fittings, so attendees are encouraged to bring their bicycles along. A bicycle rodeo will also be set up for children, which allow them to learn bike safety and the rules of the road, said Tarzy. The rodeo will be run by the Poway Sheriff Departments Senior Volunteer Patrol members. The Poway Kiwanis Club will be raffling off two bicycles at the end of the fair, Tarzy said. Extra parking will be available on Bowron Road at Valley Elementary School and the Boys and Girls Club if needed. Email: news@pomeradonews.com Senior Girl Scout Olivia Kriegsman has received an award from President Donald Trump for her volunteer service completed while working on her Girl Scout Silver Award project. The Presidents Volunteer Service Award recognizes Americans of all ages who have volunteered significant amounts of their time to serve their communities and their country, according to a press release. Her project, completed last summer while a Cadette, included leading a six-week, twice-weekly healthy eating and lifestyle workshop for children living in a low-income housing community in Poway. Lessons included the importance of eating different colored fruits and vegetables, healthy breakfasts and after-sports snacks. The children were in elementary and middle school, she said. Her focus was on inexpensive, but tasty, healthy foods the children can get since many cant access healthy food, but need it to grow up strong and healthy. Many do not know where their next meal is coming from. The Poway resident and Rancho Bernardo High School freshman said she was really surprised and not expecting to recently receive a volunteerism award in the mail. A couple weeks ago I got this big envelope, Kriegsman said. Its a very big honor. Getting the (Girl Scout) Silver Award, that in itself is surreal, but to also be recognized at a higher level was very surprising. I feel very honored that my work did not go unnoticed, she added. The presidential award is granted through The Prudential Spirit of Community Awards program, sponsored by Prudential Financial in partnership with the National Association of Secondary School Principals to recognize students across the country for their volunteerism. The recipients of these awards demonstrate that young people across America are making remarkable contributions to the health and vitality of their communities, said John Strangfeld, chairman and CEO of Prudential Financial. By recognizing these students and placing a spotlight on their volunteer activities, we hope to motivate others to consider how they can also contribute to their community. Demonstrating civic responsibility through volunteerism is an important part of life, said NASSP Executive Director JoAnn Bartoletti. These honorees practice a lesson we hope all young people, as well as adults, will emulate. Janine Rojas, a communications specialist with Girl Scouts San Diego, said Kriegsmans project was nominated after it was deemed a model project by a program specialist with the council. Rojas said it exceeded award expectations and touches on the fundamental elements of a Gold Award project addresses root cause, sustainable, measurable, global (and) leadership. The Gold Award is the highest honor a Girl Scout can earn, while the Silver Award is the second-highest in the organization. Rojas said since Kriegsmans Silver Award project exceeded expectations at that level, she will be well-positioned when she begins planning her Gold Award project. Kriegsman, a Girl Scout since kindergarten and daughter of Poway residents Becky and Scott Kriegsman, said she learned a lot through her project. I learned so much a lot of leadership and I expanded my skills, like thinking on my feet when things do not go as planned, she said. I also learned to be grateful for what I have, because not all are as fortunate as I am. It was very eye opening, she added. We are all aware (of poverty), but to see it in your community, it was a good experience to learn how privileged a life I live. email: rbnews@pomeradonews.com UC Santa Cruz alumni will once again come home for reveling and reuniting at the universitys annual Alumni Weekend, which this year is April 2729. (Photo by Steve Kurtz) [Sponsored] Slugs, come home! The Return of the Prodigal Slugs, otherwise known as Alumni Weekend 2018, will be a moveable slug-fest for alumni and their loved ones. Attractions include a tour through the labs of Science Hill, a roof-raising lecture about ethical universities, a peaceful stroll through an organic farm, an energetic 5k run through campus, and so much more. Youll findelow is a small sampling of events below. A lot of reuniting will take place in the course of this three-day weekend, which runs from Friday, April 27 through Sunday, April 29. Returning Slugs will also have many chances to mark important milestones. For instance, Merrill College and Educational Opportunity Programs (EOP) will both hold 50th anniversary celebrations. The weekend will also include the 20th anniversary celebration for the Everett Program and 10th anniversary festivities at the World Learning Cafe at Kresge College. Though the schedule seems action-packed, there will be lots of room to let loose and relax. Theres also a new app this year, which registered attendees will be invited to download and use. The app will have a full listing of events as well as your registered events, locations, descriptions, maps, a list of whos coming, and more. In addition, the app makes it easy to exchange contact info with people you run into. Friday, my day One of the Friday kick-off events is the all-day celebration at UC Santa Cruzs homegrown college radio station from 10 a.m. to 6 p.m. Student radio started at UC Santa Cruz 50 years ago, so its no wonder that the folks at KZSC FM are eager to celebrate. Today is a good day to catch up with UC Santa Cruzs Graduate Division, which will host several events, including a Graduate Student Alumni Career Paths Panel at Stevenson Fireside Lounge at 10 a.m. and a Graduate Research Symposium at 1:30 p.m. at McHenry Library Information Commons. This year also offers some tantalizing off-campus options. The good times will roll from 57 p.m. at the Alumni Weekend Kickoff Celebration at the Aloha Terrace at the Santa Cruz Beach Boardwalk, a great chance to mingle before the main festivities begin. Admission is $15. Good food and good times are always on the agenda for returning alumni and the community at UC Santa Cruzs annual Alumni Weekend, which this year is April 2729. (Photo by Steve Kurtz) Saturday, what a day After a night of revels and relaxation, nothing peps up the spirit like a wild dash across campus. Lace up at 8 a.m. for the Campus 5K Fun Run, which starts at the OPERS East Field House and rambles through all 10 colleges and some of the most iconic and nostalgic spots on campus. Saturday is also a chance to get wild at the UC Santa Cruz Bioblitz and Younger Lagoon Bioblitz, allowing alumni to take part in an inventory of wildlife, from 9 a.m. to noon. Or stick around campus and enjoy a faculty lecture and private tour of the Institute for the Biology of Stem Cells starting at 9 a.m.; or tour UC Santa Cruzs influential and beautiful 30-acre organic farm from 1011:30 a.m. An eye-opening Teach-In, entitled How Slugs Teach And Learn Now: What is Active Learning And Why Does It Matter? runs from 12:302 p.m. at Humanities Room 259, starring four of UC Santa Cruzs most innovative educators. Speaking of influential professors, the Faculty Keynote/Baskin Ethics Lecture, delivered by beloved feminist studies professor Bettina Aptheker at an equally beloved and recently reopened campus landmark, the Quarry Amphitheater, is sure to draw a large crowd. Aptheker will be in conversation with Marlene Tromp, campus provost and executive vice chancellor, about the ethical role of public universities. The talk goes from 11 a.m.12:15 p.m. All this activity is bound to make you hungry. You will not want to miss the ever-popular Artisanal Carry-Out Lunch at Quarry Plaza from 12:302 p.m. Saturday is also the time to catch a fascinating lecture by an award-winning scholar, Professor Mark Massoud, politics and legal studies, who will speak about the lived experience of Islamic law for Muslims in Somalia, Sudan, and California, followed by an on-stage discussion between Professor Massoud and best-selling writer Laurie R. King. Massoud will deliver this years Noel Q. King Memorial Lecture, which is part of Merrill Colleges 50th anniversary celebration. Wind it all down with happy hour among the redwoods with the Alumni Beer and Wine Reception from 57 p.m. in Quarry Amphitheater. Sunday, fun day Round out the weekend with your choice of brunches taking place at various colleges, and make sure to hit the annual Dizikes Concert. Everyone is welcome to dance the afternoon away in this special event honoring John Dizikes, professor emeritus of American studies. At this point, well-satisfied Slugs can bid farewell to old pals and to their alma mater, at least for now. Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. The past confronts the future in this Rockwell painting of a joyous owner of a new TV (and the precariously perched antenna installer). Weekly Newsletter The best of The Saturday Evening Post in your inbox! Join One of Rockwells favorite themes was the past confronting the future. In this November 5, 1949, cover, he captures the happy moment when a new TV owner finally sees a picture on his set. The modern reader cannot imagine how happy new TV owners were just to see a blurry, flickering black-and-white image. And how many among us know the challenge of mounting an antenna on the roof? Rockwell highlights the wonder of this new technology by showing its arrival in the old home of an elderly gentleman. The gabled roof line indicates the house was built sometime in the previous century, its age emphasized by the faded paint, the gable decoration that has lost its spindles over the years, and the weathered, cracked shingles. Notable are the gents red-gartered sleeves, a fashion dating to the 1890s. Dressed for the 19th century, hes welcoming the 20th into his living room. Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2018 -- 'Green Development' is the first priority for large scale industries around the world, with the purpose of reducing their carbon footprint. The aviation industry contributes 2% in the emission of greenhouse gases, which may rise to 3% in coming future. Air transport, being a fast growing transport medium that carries around two billion people and employs 30 million people, plays a crucial role in accounting for carbon emission. It is thus important for the aviation industry to incline towards green development and switch to biofuels. The aviation biofuel market offers second generation sustainable biofuel as first generation biofuel could not meet cost expectations. The aviation biofuel market offers an alternative for current traditional jet fuel, and it is produced from natural feedstock and plant material, such as algae, jatropha and halophytes without acquiring agricultural land or fresh water resources. Thus, the aviation biofuel market is expected to dominate the aviation market throughout the forecast period, owing to its stability in operational cost and the reduced carbon emission advantage. Initiatives taken by the European Commission and by aviation industries involved in aviation biofuel production have introduced advancement in aviation biofuel in the European region, in order to achieve consumption of 2 million tonnes of biofuel in the European Civil Aviation sector over the forecast period. With the availability of sustainable raw materials at low prices, it is expected that the supply of aviation biofuel will be accessible across the Europe and on an international platform by 2030. Thus, aviation biofuel is projected to gain remarkable opportunities over the forecast period. In the aviation sector, traditional jet fuel is used, which is extracted from the kerosene fraction of crude oil under stringent regulations. Air transportation accounts for more than 10% in energy consumption on a global level. Among gaseous biofuels, electrification, and liquid biofuels, the most advanced substitute for the aviation sector is liquid biofuel, owing to its high specific energy content. With the objective of reduction in CO2 gas emission, the aviation biofuel market is expected to witness robust growth over the forecast period. The rising demand for bio jet fuel, with increasing international trade are expected to drive the aviation market globally, where hydrogenated esters and fatty acids (HEFA) is expected to become a promising alternative to supple ample amount of biofuel in the aviation biofuel market.uropean airlines, such as British Airways, Air France and Lufthansa, in co-ordination with Airbus and European aviation biofuel producers have initiated the endorsement of aviation biofuel in Europe. Also, the U.S. Federal government is evolving as an active promoter and buyer of aviation biofuel. An interagency biofuel partnership has been made between the Department of Defense, the U.S. Department of Agriculture and the U.S. Department of Energy in order to avail biofuel for the U.S. Air Force and the U.S. Navy. Request For Report Sample: http://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gb-3768 However, strict regulations to maintain standard specifications in producing aviation biofuel may affect growth of the aviation biofuel market. This challenge can be overcome with innovative technologies over the forecast period.Aviation Biofuel Market Segmentation By Production Technology Hydrogenated Vegetable Oil (HVO), Fischer-Tropsch (FT); By Feedstock Sugarcane, Cassava, Grasses, Industrial and Municipal Waste, Jatropha, Algae, Sweet Sorghum Based on geography, the aviation biofuel market is expected to remain predominant in the U.S. over the forecast period. Being a fast growing region in the aviation market, the U.S. civil aviation sector is estimated to account for a significant value share in the aviation biofuel market over the forecast period. The strategic expansion of aviation biofuel producing industries, along with the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) are expected to increase the consumption of biofuel by 1 Bn gal/Yr of sustainable aviation biofuel by 2018. Followed by the U.S., European nations are expected to witness robust growth in the aviation biofuel market in the coming decade. Request For Table Of Content @ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/toc/rep-gb-3768 Oslo city, Norway has become world's first airport to deliver jet biofuel, offering it on-tap to all airlines. Such a trend, of swapping into 'bioport' to supply aviation biofuel is anticipated to boost the aviation biofuel market in this region over the forecast period. Other countries, such as Australia are taking initiatives to study the novel concept of bioport. Developing nations in Asia-Pacific region, such as India and China are expected to gain significant opportunities in the supply chain for providing feedstock to produce aviation biofuel in near future. Also, the target of attaining 7.5 billion gallons per year of aviation biofuel promoted by China is expected to offer significant opportunities for the aviation biofuel market in the coming future. Honeywell International Inc., Red Rock Biofuels, Targray Technology International Inc., Vega Biofuels, Argent Energy, GEVO, KFS Biodiesel GmbH & Co. KG, PetroSun, Inc., Shirke Energy, Archer Daniels Midland Company Valley Cottage, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2018 -- The MEA data storage market was valued at US$ 2,790 Mn in 2016 and is projected to reach US$ 8,431.3 Mn by 2025 end. Sales revenue is expected to increase at a CAGR of 13.6% during the forecast period i.e. 20172025. According to a new report published by Future Market Insights titled "Data Storage Market: Middle East & Africa Industry Analysis (2012-2016) and Opportunity Assessment (20172025)," major factors responsible for the growth of the data storage market in MEA include increased investments in infrastructure, a notable shift in data centre investments from being server centric to more data and storage centric, and increased adoption of entry-level and mid-range storage devices. MEA Data Storage Market: Prominent Trends Adoption of hybrid cloud storage solutions by small and medium enterprises and software defined storage solutions by large enterprises Demand changes in OPEX and CAPEX Emergence of enterprise flash controllers Demand for secure data storage solutions in defence, aerospace and BFSI verticals Adoption of cloud based data storage solutions with hyper-converged infrastructure Request For Report Sample@ https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/reports/sample/rep-gc-1237 MEA Data Storage Market: Segmental Analysis The MEA data storage market covers consumer data storage devices and enterprise data storage solutions. For each of these categories, the market has been segmented on the basis of end user, vertical and region. On the basis of storage type, the GCC data storage market is segmented into consumer storage and enterprise storage. In terms of revenue, enterprise storage is projected to be the most attractive segment in the GCC data storage market during the forecast period. The enterprise storage segment is also expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the forecast period and is expected to expand at a robust CAGR between 2017 and 2025. On the basis of end user, the GCC data storage market is segmented into commercial and residential segments. The residential segment was valued at US$ 467.8 Mn in 2017 and is expected to witness a CAGR of 14.7% during the forecast period. MEA Data Storage Market: Forecast by Region The GCC region is segmented into Bahrain, Kuwait, Oman, Qatar, Saudi Arabia and UAE. In terms of revenue, UAE followed by Qatar are the two leading data storage markets within the GCC data storage market. UAE is the fastest growing regional data storage market within GCC with a growth rate of 15.7% during 2017 2025. In terms of revenue, UAE is projected to be the most attractive market in the GCC data storage market during the forecast period and is also expected to register high Y-o-Y growth rates throughout the period of assessment. Request For Report Table of Content (TOC): https://www.futuremarketinsights.com/askus/rep-gc-1237 MEA Data Storage Market: Key Players IBM Corporation, Microsoft Corporation, VMware, Inc., Hewlett Packard Enterprise Co., NetApp Inc., Open Text Corp., SanDisk Corporation, Hitachi Data Systems, EMC Corporation (Dell Inc.), and Nexenta Systems are some of the key players operating in the MEA data storage market. San Francisco, CA -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2018 -- Electronic toll collection (TEC) systems are devices that enable the central management of toll operations via a single integrated solution. Eliminating delay on highways and roadways, the system ensures that toll payment is made electronically in a hassle-free manner. The global electronic toll collection system market can be segmented by application, region, product type, and technology. By product type, the global market for electronic toll collection can be segmented into antennae, treadles, transponders, weigh-in-motion devices, film storage devices, cameras, communication systems, and scanning devices. By technology, the market can be categorized into global positioning system (GPS), dedicated short range communications (DSRC), radio-frequency identification, and global navigation satellite system (GNSS). Request a sample copy of the Report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=B&rep_id=2417 Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Key Trends As these systems eliminate manual operations by toll receivers and payers, the demand for electronic toll collection is likely to witness an upsurge. Cashless transactions offered by electronic toll collection systems do not only save travel time, but also minimizes traffic congestion near toll collection booths across roads and highways. Electronic toll collection systems offer cost-efficient solutions that are faster too. The need for multiple toll plazas is ruled out owing to the installation of electronic toll collection systems, saving additional costs. However, high dependence on government funding and high installation costs of these devices might restrain the growth of the market. Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Market Potential A number of emerging economies are increasingly addressing the need to adopt time and cost efficient electronic toll collection systems throughout the major cities. For instance, in India, the National Payments Corporation of India has been encouraging several highways to install electronic toll collection systems with a view to increase digital payments across the country, supporting the cashless economy initiative of the government. Nearly 14-16% of the toll collection in the country has been converted into electronic mediums, with the transaction number rising up to 7 million per month, reported the National Electronic Toll Collection in April 2017. The availability of advanced, easy, and convenient digital platforms for payment such as BharatQR and Samsung Pay has eliminated the waiting time required for card swipes. Similarly, in April 2017, the Transport Minister of Vietnam ordered swift installations of electronic toll collection equipment across the major highways of the country. Malaysia is another nation which has been promoting the adoption of electronic toll collection systems via its PLUS highways that offer cashless, fully electronic payments. Features such as Touch 'n Go Card, PlusMiles Card, and SmartTag have enabled smooth transactions, ensuring that 600 vehicles can pass through a TnG lane per hour, compared to 180 vehicles per hour that previously paid manually. Request TOC of the report @ https://www.tmrresearch.com/sample/sample?flag=T&rep_id=2417 Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Regional Outlook Geographically, the global market for electronic toll collection market can be segmented into Asia Pacific, North America, Latin America, Europe, and the Middle East and Africa. North America is expected to advance at a rapid pace due to the growing demand for safe, efficient, and secure toll collection infrastructure. The growing demand for electronic toll collection systems in Asia Pacific can be attributed to favorable government policies, growing investments in infrastructural development, and increasing adoption of automation across several regions. Singapore, India, Malaysia, China, and Thailand are expected to represent a large slice of revenue of the overall market. Global Electronic Toll Collection Market: Competitive Analysis Cubic Transportation Systems, Inc., 3M, EFKON AG, Kapsch TrafficCom, Xerox Corporation, Q-Free, Toll Collect GmbH, TransCore, Far Eastern Electronic Toll Collection Co., Ltd., Transurban Limited, VaaaN, Raytheon Company, and Schneider Electric SE are some of the leading companies operating in the global electronic toll collection market. About TMR Research TMR Research is a premier provider of customized market research and consulting services to business entities keen on succeeding in today's supercharged economic climate. Armed with an experienced, dedicated, and dynamic team of analysts, we are redefining the way our clients' conduct business by providing them with authoritative and trusted research studies in tune with the latest methodologies and market trends. Deerfield Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2018 -- Global Green Laser Diode Market Report 2017 presents an in-depth assessment of the Green Laser Diode including technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, standardization, regulatory landscape, development models, operator case studies, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents forecasts for Green Laser Diode investments from 2013-2023. The research covers the current market size of the Global Green Laser Diode market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers. The in-depth information by segments of Green Laser Diode market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies and the changing structure of the Global Green Laser Diode Market. Request for Sample Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-green-laser-diode-market-status-and-trend-208817#RequestSample The Scope of the Report: This report focuses on the Green Laser Diode in North America market, especially in Europe, China, Japan, Rest APAC and Latin America. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application. Top Manufacturers Key Player of This Report: OSRAM, Coherent, IPG, Sharp Corporation, Sumitomo Market Segment by Type covers: Injection Laser Diode, Optically Pumped Laser Diode, Others Market Segment by Applications can be divided into: Heads-Up Display, Head-Mounted Display, Projectors, Smartphones, Others The manufacturing cost analysis depicted in the immeasurable, yet exact distribution has offered a solid examination of the key raw materials in the Earmuffs Market, other than their suppliers, market concentration rate, and price trends. Purchasers of the report additionally have admittance to the manufacturing process analysis and cost structure, including raw materials, labor cost, and manufacturing expenses. Geographically, this report is subdivuded into several key regions, with data concerned to the production and consumption patterns, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of 2018 market in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Rest APAC, Latin America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2017 to 2022. Key Highlights Of The Green Laser Diode Market Report: 1) This report provides a quantitative analysis of the current trends and estimations from 2017 to 2022 of the global Green Laser Diode market to identify the prevailing market opportunities. 2) Comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrict the Green Laser Diode market growth is provided. 3) Key players and their major developments in the recent years are listed. 4) The Green Laser Diode research report presents an in-depth analysis of current research & evaluation of recent industrial developments within the market with key dynamic factors. 5) Major countries in each region are covered according to individual market revenue. Inquiry for Buying Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-green-laser-diode-market-status-and-trend-208817#InquiryForBuying The Green Laser Diode research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Green Laser Diode market revenue worldwide. Finally, Green Laser Diode market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage. Deerfield Beach, FL -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2018 -- Global Smart microphones Market Report 2017 presents an in-depth assessment of the Smart microphones including technologies, key trends, market drivers, challenges, standardization, regulatory landscape, development models, operator case studies, opportunities, future roadmap, value chain, ecosystem player profiles and strategies. The report also presents forecasts for Smart microphones investments from 2013-2023. The research covers the current market size of the Global Smart microphones market and its growth rates based on 5 year history data along with company profile of key players/manufacturers. The in-depth information by segments of Smart microphones market helps monitor future profitability & to make critical decisions for growth. The information on trends and developments, focuses on markets and materials, capacities, technologies and the changing structure of the Global Smart microphones Market. Request for Sample Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-smart-microphones-market-status-and-trend-report-208794#RequestSample The Scope of the Report: This report focuses on the Smart microphones in North America market, especially in Europe, China, Japan, Rest APAC and Latin America. This report categorizes the market based on manufacturers, regions, type and application. Top Manufacturers Key Player of This Report: Knowles Electronics, LLC, XMOS Ltd, RODE Microphones, STENTOFON Australia, Audio Analytic Market Segment by Type covers: Charging type, Battery type Market Segment by Applications can be divided into: Smartphones, Smart TVs and soundbars, Smart home, Conferencing systems, Automotive, Robotics The manufacturing cost analysis depicted in the immeasurable, yet exact distribution has offered a solid examination of the key raw materials in the Earmuffs Market, other than their suppliers, market concentration rate, and price trends. Purchasers of the report additionally have admittance to the manufacturing process analysis and cost structure, including raw materials, labor cost, and manufacturing expenses. Geographically, this report is subdivuded into several key regions, with data concerned to the production and consumption patterns, revenue (million USD), market share and growth rate of 2018 market in these regions, from 2012 to 2022 (forecast), covering North America, Europe, China, Japan, Rest APAC, Latin America and its Share (%) and CAGR for the forecasted period 2017 to 2022. Key Highlights Of The Smart microphones Market Report: 1) This report provides a quantitative analysis of the current trends and estimations from 2017 to 2022 of the global Smart microphones market to identify the prevailing market opportunities. 2) Comprehensive analysis of factors that drive and restrict the Smart microphones market growth is provided. 3) Key players and their major developments in the recent years are listed. 4) The Smart microphones research report presents an in-depth analysis of current research & evaluation of recent industrial developments within the market with key dynamic factors. 5) Major countries in each region are covered according to individual market revenue. Inquiry for Buying Report @ http://www.marketresearchstore.com/report/global-smart-microphones-market-status-and-trend-report-208794#InquiryForBuying The Smart microphones research report includes the products that are currently in demand and available in the market along with their cost breakup, manufacturing volume, import/export scheme and contribution to the Smart microphones market revenue worldwide. Finally, Smart microphones market report gives you details about the market research findings and conclusion which helps you to develop profitable market strategies to gain competitive advantage. Pune, India -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/19/2018 -- Market Highlights Logistics is a supply chain management part with a detailed organization and implementation of a complex operation. It includes the movement of goods and information between the provider and the receiver. Moreover, logistics is the management of the flow of things between the point of origin and the point of consumption in order to meet requirements of customers or corporations. Increasing global trade activities in the developing economies and trade-related agreements are the major factors driving the growth of the market. However, high inventory cost & less space for warehousing are the factors restraining the market growth. The Global Logistics Market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. Get Sample of Report @ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/sample_request/5076 Recently, Deutsche Post DHL signed an agreement with Escher Group, which assisted DHL to modernize its network by initiating easier parcel delivery and collection in Germany. However, high inventory cost & less space for warehousing are the factors restraining the market growth. Taste the market data and market information presented through more than 85 market data tables and figures spread in 140 numbers of pages of the project report. Avail the in-depth table of content TOC & market synopsis on "Global Logistics Market Information from 2017 to 2023" Transportation and logistics infrastructure is a constantly recurring priority in every new government policies. Economic reforms and government initiatives in terms of strengthening the manufacturing sector are expected to attract private investment. The development of transportation and logistics-related infrastructures, such as dedicated freight corridors, logistics parks, free trade warehousing zones, and container freight stations will help to improve efficiency. The government's plan is likely to make the economy competitive by reducing logistics costs, bring down pollution levels by reducing congestion on roads, give a boost to the industry and create employment. Key Players - H. Robinson Worldwide Inc. (U.S.) - Ceva Holdings LLC (U.K.) - FedEx Corp. (U.S.) - XPO Logistics Inc. (U.S.) - Expeditors International of Washington Inc. (U.S.) - DHL International GmbH (Germany) - DSV Global Transports and Logistics (Denmark) - P. Moller Maersk (Denmark) - Schenker AG (Germany) - GEODIS (France) - DTDC Express Limited (India) Regional Analysis Geographically, the global logistics market has been divided into four major regions: North America, Europe, Asia Pacific, and Rest of the World. The Asia Pacific is accounted for the largest share of the global market in 2016, followed by North America and Europe. Asia Pacific is expected to grow at the highest CAGR during the forecast period. Increased adoption of outsourced logistics services in the region is driving the growth of the market. Increasing imports and exports along with a huge demand for logistics services due to the economic growth and urbanization are driving the manufacturers to trade across the globe. China, Japan, India, Australia, and Indonesia are the major markets in Asia Pacific region. China is the largest logistics market in the region due to a huge population in the country and the presence of a large manufacturing base. North America is the second largest region in the market. Increasing trade activities between the Americas and Europe are driving the growth of the market in this region. Rising demand for foreign goods in Indonesia, Thailand, and India has strengthened the trade relations with the U.S. Europe is another major region in the market. Germany, the U.K., and France are the major logistics markets. Send an Enquiry@ https://www.marketresearchfuture.com/enquiry/5076 Market segmentation The transportation and logistics industry is confronting immense changes such as digital transformation, new market entrants, changing customer expectations, and new evolving business models. For the purpose of this study, the global logistics market has been divided into three segments: transportation type, logistic type, and end-user industry. On the basis of the transportation type, the market is segmented into airways, waterways, railways, and roadways. On the basis of logistic type, the market has been segmented into first party, the second party, and third party. The second-party logistics segment accounted for the largest market share. By End-user, the market has been segmented into industrial and manufacturing, retail, healthcare, oil & gas, and others. The Manufacturing segment accounted for the largest market share. Factors such as the policy reforms that have improved the ease of doing business along with the easy availability of cheap labor contribute to the growth of the market. Moreover, globalization coupled with population growth and consumption behavior has seen ever-increasing demand for products from all corners of the world. The rise of e-commerce has added to the transport boom, and over the past decade, a considerable growth has been seen across the industry's value chain as a whole. In terms of growth of the wider industry, logistics infrastructure will see almost across the board real growth in the years between 2017 and 2023. The global supply chain is growing and changing continuously, and advances in technology are helping to streamline operations in the long run. The growth of the global logistics market is directly related to the development of international trade flow and the current economic environment. It involves the integration of information, transportation, inventory, warehousing, material handling, packaging, and security. Favorable government trade policies have resulted in an increased demand for logistics services which also provides an opportunity for expansion to the existing vendors. Global Logistics market is expected to grow at a CAGR of 7.2% during the forecast period. About Market Research Future At Market Research Future (MRFR), we enable our customers to unravel the complexity of various industries through our Cooked Research Report (CRR), Half-Cooked Research Reports (HCRR), Raw Research Reports (3R), Continuous-Feed Research (CFR), and Market Research & Consulting Services. MRFR team have supreme objective to provide the optimum quality market research and intelligence services to our clients. Our market research studies by Components, Application, Logistics and market players for global, regional, and country level market segments, enable our clients to see more, know more, and do more, which help to answer all their most important questions. New York, NY -- (SBWIRE) -- 04/18/2018 -- Market Introduction: Pisco is a traditional drink of Latin America which is yellowish or can say colourless brandy specifically produced by distilling fermented grape juice into a high-proof spirit. Pisco is highly produced in the region of Chile and Peru as an alternative to orujo, a pomace brandy that was being imported from Spain since the 16th century. This practice of producing Pisco domestically in abundant quantity has reduced the volume of alcoholic beverages imported to this region. Ever since the production of pisco started, different variety of grapes were used in order to give the beverage too many different flavors so as the beverage is exported internationally as the market would not accept the wide variety under the same name. For the same reason, the Chilean and the Peruvian governments set standards as to what kind of grapes should be used to make the beverage that could be labelled as a pisco. Market Segmentation: Pisco market is segmented on the basis of source, distribution channel, type and region. On the basis of source, the market is segmented into Peruvian pisco and Chilean pisco. Peruvian pisco is exported in a great quantity throughout the world and is expected to hold a relatively high-value share in the Pisco market. On the basis of distribution channel the market is segmented into supermarket/hypermarket, specialty stores and online stores. Online stores have also contributed significantly to the growth of Pisco market over the forecast period. On the basis of type, the market is segmented on the basis of puro, aromaticas, mosto verde and acholado. Among all these segment puro segment is expected to grow enormously in the coming future, followed by acholado segment. Market Regional Outlook: A regional segment for the market of Pisco is divided into five different regions: North America, Latin America, Europe, Asia Pacific and MEA. Among these segment, Latin America is expected to have the major market share globally, as it is one of the largest producer and consumer of Pisco. In Asia Pacific region the countries like China and Australia are generating the major revenue. In terms of revenue, Europe is also among the prominent contributor in the Pisco market, as the consumption of alcoholic beverage is quite high in this region. Market Drivers: According to the recent past activities in various regions in the world, it can be concluded that consumption of alcoholic products has become an accompaniment for a number of reasons such as celebrations, commiserations, the end of the working day, and others. In many developed regions such as Europe, Canada, the U.S., alcohol is a socially accepted part of their daily life. Younger population of the world is influenced by their peer group or peer thinking, which is a factor driving growth of alcohol-based market. The gender gap in terms of alcohol consumption is closing as there is increasing acceptance of female drinking in the societal norms. Because of all these factors, people are attracted towards alcoholic products, which is driving growth of the pisco market and this is expected to continue over the forecast period. Moreover, changing lifestyles, influence of social media and internet, increasing social parties, adolescents with high social network influence, greater family incomes, and others have easier access to alcoholic drinks and alcoholic products, which is also driving demand for pisco. The pace at which new technologies are impacting the food and beverage sector is high, and it has become necessary for manufacturers to increase the speed and scale of their R&D efforts. Many flavor manufacturing companies are shifting their R&D activities away from their headquarters. It is expected that focus on R&D will increase over the forecast period, as companies are expected to offer products that are better than its rivals. Manufacturers of pisco products are also focused on the positioning their brands better, to improve its sales. Request to View TOC and Sample of Research Report @ https://www.persistencemarketresearch.com/samples/20464 Market Key Players: Some of the key players in Pisco market are Pisco Porton, LLC, Barton Solvents, Inc., La Diablada Pisco, and Machu Pisco among others. The inauguration of the new tender location in Loen last year has been a most welcome addition to the destination, Slve Oldeide operating manager Nordfjord Port Authority told Seatrade Cruise News. 'It has given us the possibility to increase the capacity substancially, in addition to ensuring VIP treatment for the visitors, regardless of the number of vessels in port at the same time. It also prompted a name change for the cruise port of Olden, which now markets itself as OldenLoen. The new tender location also ensures that the area close to the town and that around the dedicated cruise berth is not crowded and logistics are more spread out as as all three berthing locations have separate parking areas. In 2017, six cruise ships chose to use the Loen tender pier and the feedback from these is very positive, says Oldeide. 22 cruise ships will tender at OldenLoen in 2018 This year the port is expecting 98 calls in total of which 22 will be tendering. This represents around 170,000 cruise guests. 'Some of the smaller, luxury ship operators, such as Seabourn and Lindblad Expeditions, have chosen the new tender jetty as their priority location in port, even if the cruise berth is available.' Other ships tendering this year are National Geographic Explorer, Zenith, Costa Mediterranea, Marella Discovery, Le Boreal, Silver Spirit, Columbus, Seabourn Ovation, Magellan, MSC Orchestra, AIDAluna, Black Watch, Balmoral, Sapphire Princess, Island Sky and AIDAsol. The area around the Loen tender pier is well accommodated with good parking space for buses to take tours to the nearby glaciers - in particular the Briksdal Glacier which welcomed 300,000 visitors last year, as well as the Kjenndal glacier. The pier is also located within walking distance of the Loen Skylift, inaugurated in May 2017, which takes visitors in cable car to 1,000mtr above Nordfjord in five minutes for stunning views over the Nordfjord and the Jostedal Glacier cap. In 2017, the lift welcomed 94,000 visitors. Seatrade Cruise Award finalist 2017 Olden-Nordfjord was a finalist in the Port of the Year category in the Seatrade Cruise Awards 2017. In 2018, Nordfjord Port Authority is planning investments of Nkr15-20m in cruise infrastructure at OldenLoen, including the second tender facility and further extension of the existing facility, more bus parking spaces at the cruise berth in Olden which can accommodate any size vessel. 123Net, the Southfield-based data center, network, and voice infrastructure services provider, has announced the roll-out of its new Smart Hands service. With Smart Hands, 123Net guarantees customers IT support 24-hours-a-day, 365-days-a-year at each of its four Tier 3, carrier-neutral data centers throughout Michigan. Three of the 123Net data centers are located in Southfield, with the fourth being located in Byron Center. Rather than worry about staffing the data center, customers can now rely on 123Net's own in-house team of network operation center technicians to provide around-the-clock remote management, monitoring, and troubleshooting services. The company promises a 15 minute-or-under response time. Smart Hands covers duties that include asset management, like audits of full or partial spaces for efficiency and engineering audit of power and network; logistics management, like escorting customer-approved vendors and consultants to and from the data center space; on-site support, like replacing device components and testing for basic network issues; and rack and stack duties, like consulting on design, cabling, setup and more throughout the installation process, as well as the actual installation and setup. " Our Smart Hands service gives our colocation clients relief knowing they have our skilled NOC technicians on-site to address any requests in a timely manner," 123Net NOC Director Rocky Maynard said in a release. "This makes our clients' data center experience less stressful, saving not only time, but labor and travel costs as well." 123Net celebrated the hiring of its 100th employee in December 2017. The company has previously stated that it plans on growing its employee base by 30 percent every year. 123Net is located at 24700 Northwestern Hwy. in Southfield. Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith Auburn Hills is celebrating the announcement of the latest company to locate its North American headquarters within the city. WABCO is consolidating its Troy operations and relocating sections of its Rochester Hills facility to build a brand new headquarters in Auburn Hills. The headquarters is currently under construction and estimated to open in the third quarter of 2018. The headquarters, a newly constructed building built to spec, represents a $19.7 million investment for the company and will result in the creation of 87 jobs. " This level of advanced engineering is the type of job creation and investment that fits perfectly with Oakland Countys Emerging Sectors initiative," Oakland County Executive L. Brooks Patterson said in a statement. "Oakland County has the third highest number of technical workers in the nation and more than 70 percent of Southeast Michigans top original equipment manufacturers." The announcement represents a period of growth for WABCO, which got its start nearly 150 years ago as the Westinghouse Air Brake Company. Today, the company services commercial vehicle manufacturers, fleet operators, and the aftermarket, developing technologies and services to improve the safety, efficiency, and connectivity of the commercial vehicle and heavy-duty trucking industries. WABCO boasts nearly 15,000 employees in 40 countries and reported $3.3 billion in sales for 2017. Its investment in Michigan results in a $375,000 Michigan Business Development Program performance-based grant from the Michigan Strategic Fund. It's reported that the Auburn Hills location beat out a competing site in Ohio. " WABCOs expansion in Michigan rather than another state means good jobs for Michigan residents and underscores the strength of the talent in the states mobility and technology sectors," said Jeff Mason, CEO of Michigan Economic Development Corporation, the organization that administers the Michigan Strategic Fund. " It is thanks to many public and private partners that this project is taking place, and we are pleased to support that collaboration." The WABCO North American headquarters is located at 1220 Pacific Dr. in Auburn Hills. Got a development news story to share? Email MJ Galbraith here or send him a tweet @mikegalbraith Rootead has a variety of activities including a dance group for young people. A customer at Kal Tone, a core business for Jericho Town. Photo by Fran Dwight. Jeb and Krystal Gast are creating spaces for artists, tradespeople, and entrepreneurs in the Edison Neighborhood. Photo by Fran Dwight. Editor's note: This story is part of Southwest Michigan Second Wave's On the Ground Edison series.If you buy three old factory buildings, tenants will come.If you demolish walls, even more will come.At least those are the principles that have worked so far for Krystal and Jeb Gast, owners of Edisons Jericho Town, a trio of century-old factory buildings that are quickly filling with artists, tradespeople, and entrepreneurs, including an auto repair shop and even a cafe.Edison, once home to a variety of small factories, such as Starr Brass Foundry, Kalamazoo Buggy, and a munitions factory, among many others, was a neighborhood where people could both live and work. Local manufacturing, however, has moved out over the years, leaving behind a smattering of abandoned buildings and vacant warehouses.The Gasts, who relocated to Kalamazoo from Seattle four years ago, invited by friends and drawn by the Kalamazoo Promise, arrived in town with the intention to set up an electric scooter shop, Fido Motors We just packed up the moving truck and moved out here, says Krystal. But out of all the places Ive lived, I dont think Ive ever felt as welcomed or felt like I had such a great community of friends and neighbors as I did when I moved here.The couple learned about the properties on Stockbridge and Fulford from Kama Mitchell, Executive Director of Rootead , a nonprofit that focuses on birthing justice and body awareness, primarily to help empower women of color. Mitchell happened to be the doula for the Gasts second child.They were looking for space and we were looking for space to grow our nonprofit, says Mitchell, whose business became the first tenant in the second building. It just kind of all organically unfolded.Its been really cool having Rootead here because they do a lot of kids activities, like a Saturday morning African Drum and Dance, says Krystal. She says her kids love to hear the drumming. This is home. Were here almost more than were at home.Though the Gasts were looking for one building, they ended up buying 35,000 square feet of three buildings, which was much more than they needed.Envisioning potential, the couple rented lifts, took up chisel, paintbrush, and hammer, and transformed the previous boarded up records repository, which had only been accessible from the rear, into a whitewashed, welcoming artist and entrepreneur enclave complete with a rustic cafe.So welcoming, in fact, that a train engineer regularly stops his train on the nearby tracks and pops into the Fido Motors Cafe for a cup of joe. The first time it happened, Krystal says she thought, Is this for real?One of Jerichoss first tenants was a ceramicist, who has since moved to Atlanta. In addition to Rootead, current tenants include Kal-Tone , a custom guitar, and restoration shop, Damn Handsome Grooming Co. , producer of soaps, candles and beard oils made from beer brewer waste, Metric Motor Works, an automobile repair shop, Yes Electric, and the workshop of the Kalamazoo Piano Company.Fido Motors Cafe, which opened in 2016, is gaining in popularity and frequently draws customers from outside of Edison, particularly from neighboring Milwood.The original idea for the cafe was to show the scooter and be a place to have to check out what is going on over here, as well as have something in the neighborhood that is active, says Krystal. Frequently the cafe promotes Waffle Weekends, and on Sunday, April 29, a Waffle Weekend is combined with the Jericho Community Yard Sale starting at 9 a.m.Were trying to do more events here. We really just want to be a community place where people can come and hang out even if you dont drink coffee.Kal Tone, one of the core businesses, moved from its former downtown location on Burdick two years ago after the Gasts renovated the second building. They were having a little trouble renting out space at the time because it just looked scary, says Ry Charters, Kal Tone co-owner with Jay Gavan. But when they fixed it up, it looked great. Right from the beginning, weve had the same vision, says Charters about working with the Gasts. Slowly over time the buildings have evolved. Theyre going to be a work in progress forever.Charters says the location suits him in many ways. For one, he feels like hes working in a museum, a first place he visits whenever hes in a new town. We have a safe vault, for crying out loud, he says. They used to make Gibson banjo parts here in the 30sthey talk about how there was a safe where they would keep this billets of brass, which looked like gold.Also, he says, abundant opportunities exist for collaboration.On a visit this fall to another tenant, Damn Handsome, he was admiring the old-fashioned dropper bottles. He started thinking of his own homemade fretboard oil, and pretty soon, Jarett Blackman, co-owner of Damn Handsome with his wife, Bridget, was designing labels. All 80 bottles of the first batch have sold.Charters also appreciates the neighbors and the safety of their location. Originally Kal Tone was located downtown on Burdick, where Charters frequently would spend the first hour of his week picking up trash and occasionally finding someone sleeping in the foyer.We havent had a lick of crime over here, he says of the Edison location.Unlike most of the business owners and artists in Jericho Town, Charters used to live in Edison before he moved to Seattle. Ive seen how just in that short 10 years the neighborhood has shifted around. Its definitely becoming a nicer place for people to be and for businesses to exist.While beautified, rehabbed, and populated businesses are preferable to abandoned and boarded-up buildings, issues can arise if the cost of rehabbing is displacing neighboring residents, squeezing out affordable housing, or not supplying neighbors with services they might use.In Seattle, Charters rent rose $400 in just a few years, and watching his neighborhood there change left him sensitive to the effects of gentrification. Everyone in Seattle was jaded about what was happening to the city. The artists were getting forced out.I dont want to change the neighborhood too much, says Charters. Im very aware of the fact that were white people coming into a predominantly African American and Latino neighborhood, which is why I like it (the neighborhood). It has character and flavor and I appreciate all of that, but I see what happens when gentrification comes in, and people with money pretty much squeeze out people who dont have money, and that turns my stomach.We just want to take something thats not being used and make it useful for the community. We dont want to see the demographics change. We need to be mindful of not leaving too big of a footprint.Across the street, neighbor Luke Wimby, at 1420 Fulford, approves of Jerichos efforts so far. Wimby bought his house before the Gasts purchased the buildings, which he says were former eyesores.Wimby intended to fix up and flip the home. But I ended up staying because the neighbors are so nice, says Wimby, who lives with his elderly mother. People like to help each other out. I havent had anyone vandalize my car. I havent had anyone vandalize my house. It seems like the people here care.An extra bonus: every morning he gets his coffee at Fido Motors Cafe, where he says he gets a high-end coffee for a low-end price.When the Gasts first bought the buildings, Wimby says he had concerns they were going to turn into a factory with people coming and going. But this is fantastic, he says, gesturing at the building fronts, which are now open and cleaned. They opened it up and want to paint the outside. I think it's helped the neighborhood a lot.Charters sees the big draw for business ventures like those in Jericho Town is the authenticity of the building in terms of its history and evolution, as well as the diversity and character of the neighborhood.The craftspeople are owning the business and learning how to run a business at the same time. Its very easy to keep it authentic that way because you cant break the art from the business he says.Its just a little bit more of a return to the cottage industry mom and pop, but relying on and being marketed towards a newer generation thats coming up. But that being said, baby boomers are a big part of our business. They come in here and love it. They appreciate it just as much.After five years of renting equipment for renovations, the Gasts have finally purchased their own scaffolding, not as easy to use as a lift, but definitely cheaper. And they're already making plans to break down another wall, one that separates the scooter workshop from the cafe so they can seat 49 instead of the current 14. They still have a couple of thousand square feet of building space theyd like to finish.Artists and cheap rent go together like mac and cheese. Where you find one you find another. If you are lucky, your landlord is like you and thats why theyre here, says Charters. A lot of money is moving into downtown right now and a lot of the artists who had affordable rent can no longer afford it and are now moving out this way.Meanwhile, La Luna, a recording studio owned by Ian Gorman, a member of the popular local band Red Sea Pedestrians, is under construction, and other tenants are on the way. The Gasts are putting in sidewalks between the three buildings, and with the help of Wild Ones, planting a native landscape. Who knows what will come next.So why is the burgeoning business enclave known as Jericho Town?The name, like Fido, was kind of random, but it sort of fit, says Jeb, who recently sold two scooters to Bronson Methodist Hospital, purchased as part of the hospitals sustainability focus. We chose Jericho the same way, but it works. The walls keep coming down.Theresa Coty O'Neil is a Kalamazoo area freelance writer. Her articles have appeared in many local publications and her short stories have been published in Alaska Quarterly Review and West Branch, among others. She is the Project Editor for On the Ground Edison.Southwest Michigan Second Waves On the Ground Edison series amplifies the voices of Edison Neighborhood residents. Over three months, Second Wave journalists will be embedded in the Edison Neighborhood to explore topics of importance to residents, business owners, and other members of the community. To reach the editor of this series, Theresa Coty-ONeil, please email her here or contact Second Wave managing editor Kathy Jennings here.The On the Ground program is made possible by funding from the City of Kalamazoo, LISC, the Fetzer Institute, the Irving S. Gilmore Foundation, United Way of the Battle Creek and Kalamazoo Region, Michigan WORKS!, the Kalamazoo Community Foundation and the Arts Council of Greater Kalamazoo.For more Edison coverage, please follow these links. #stocks-weekly Seoul stocks likely to face volatility next week: analysts South Korean stocks are likely to face volatility next week amid concerns about energy shortages in China, as well as lingering uncertainties over the bond yield rates in the Unite... Press Release April 19, 2018 Govt must act to stop escalating militarization of West PH Sea: Liberal stalwarts Partido Liberal stalwarts on Wednesday slammed the government for its inaction on the country's territorial claims on the West Philippine Sea amid reports that China's two war planes landed on the reef. "We demand transparency in the administration's dealings with China. What else is the Philippines giving up to this new friendship?" asked Sen. Bam Aquino. "Hindi ba dapat ipaglaban ang ating teritoryo, lalo na para sa mga mangingisda natin? Sinayang lang ng administrasyon ang panalo natin sa Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA)," added Sen. Aquino, referring to the PCA's decision that the Philippines own the disputed territories. Sen. Aquino said if the government is determined and sincere in protecting the country's territory, then it should assert our victory in the PCA. Senator Francis Pangilinan, Partido Liberal president, said the escalating militarization of the West Philippine Sea, taken with the Philippine government's obliging attitude and behavior toward China, is unacceptable. "Nagiging barangay na ba ng China ang Pilipinas?" he asked. Pangilinan also pointed out that this sovereignty and security issue should have been discussed in the President's recent visit to China. "Hindi ba ito napag-usapan ng ating Presidente noong bumisita siya sa China kamakailan?" he asked. What happened to jet ski promise? Former lawmaker Erin Tanada, Partido Liberal's vice president for external affairs, said that if Duterte cannot fulfill his campaign promise to ride a jet ski and plant a Philippine flag in the disputed territory, he must at least fight for it through the PCA decision. "Ipakita sana ni Duterte ang tapang na ipinakita niya noong kampanya, laban sa China at hindi ang pagtikum-bibig habang nilalabag ang ating kasarinlan," Tanada said. Tanada reiterated that the presence of Chinese military transport planes on Panganiban Reef is another intrusion in our sovereign territory. "We seek clarification from the Armed Forces of the Philippines and the Department of Foreign Affairs on this incident. Are Philippine authorities aware of this? Are these passages or landing allowed? What is China bringing next after these transport planes -- war planes?" Tanada said. "Dapat nating tutulan itong patuloy na panloloob bilang bahagi ng ating paninindigan sa desisyon ng Arbitral Tribunal. We should be on guard against any move that could be prejudicial to order, and peace and security in the territory," Tanada added. Press Release April 19, 2018 De Lima thanks European liberals for concern about her plight Senator Leila M. de Lima today thanked influential members of the European Parliament (EP) for filing a resolution urging the Philippine government to drop all politically-motivated charges against her and end any further acts of harassment against her. De Lima, the first prominent political prisoner under the Duterte regime, said she appreciates the motion for resolution which, among others, reiterates their incessant call for her immediate release and for her adequate security while in detention. "Despite the persistent attacks and lies thrown against me by the vengeful Duterte regime, I am thankful for the constant concerns of my fellow parliamentarians about my plight and their firm belief of my innocence," she said. Last April 17, 24 European liberals belonging to the Alliance of Liberals and Democrats for Europe (ALDE) have lodged a four-page motion for resolution before the EP reiterating their call for De Lima's immediate release from unjust detention. ALDE is the fourth largest and one of the three oldest political groups of the EP composed of liberals and democrats in Europe. "(The EP) calls on the authorities of the Philippine government to ensure a fair trial, recalling the right to the presumption of innocence; to drop all politically motivated charges against her and to end any further acts of harassment against her," the resolution said. The resolution which reiterates EP's previous resolutions on the situation in the Philippines adopted in March 16, 2017 also called on the European Union to keep closely monitoring the case against De Lima. Notably, the resolution also called on the Philippine authorities to remove UN Special Rapporteur for Indigenous Peoples Victoria Tauli-Corpuz from the terrorist list and reiterated the need for the Commission to use all available instruments to persuade the Philippines to end the extrajudicial killings linked to Duterte's war on drugs. The former justice secretary said the overwhelming support she is getting from the international community, including her fellow parliamentarians and human rights advocates, never fails her that she should keep fighting the good fight. "With the growing clamor for accountability, I am certain that justice will one day catch up with Duterte and his minions. I wake up every day with renewed determination knowing that I am not alone in my fight for truth and justice," she said. De Lima also commended ALDE for addressing the deteriorating human rights situation in the country, particularly the extrajudicial killings under Duterte's campaign on illegal narcotics. Duterte's war on drugs, which has claimed thousands of lives, has gained criticism on local and international fronts but the President refuses to issue a clear and categorical order to stop the killings. The parliamentarians from ALDE are just some of the growing number of human rights advocates and multilateral organizations who have expressed serious concern over the illegal arrest and unjust detention of De Lima over trumped-up drug trade charges. Dispatch from Crame No. 288 Sen. Leila M. de Lima's Statement congratulating Reuters for bagging Pulitzer Prize on EJK Reporting 4/19/18 Congratulations to Manny Mogato, Clare Baldwin and Andrew R.C. Marshall of Reuters for winning the prestigious Pulitzer Prize in International Reporting of the brutal police killings in the Philippines under the Duterte regime. I thank and salute your courage for exposing the truth behind Duterte's murderous drug war which highlighted and aggravated the climate of fear and impunity in the country. Despite the threats and challenges, you covered the tragic stories of the victims and revealed how police death squads brazenly carried out most of the killings. In times when fake news are proliferated for self-interest and our citizens are silenced by fear and intimidation by those in power, your stories served as a tool to enlighten people around the world and to move them to act and address the very central issues that beset the Philippine government and Philippine society. I hope that others will also display the same passion, courage and perseverance you have in pursuing a fair, truthful and responsible reportage. Again, congratulations! Bitcoin may fail the definition of money because of its volatility and central banks may be better to get behind digital currencies that have a fixed exchange rate into cash, says Reserve Bank of New Zealand senior economic analyst Amber Wadsworth. In the first of three articles about digital currencies, Wadsworth defines 'money' as a token that can be used "as a unit of account, medium of exchange and store of value." A medium of exchange means it can be used to buy goods and services. The Bitcoin is the world's largest crypto-currency with a market value of US$138.5 billion or a recent price of US$8,152.25 each. The value of the Bitcoin has soared 563 percent in the past 12 months, although that understates the size of its moves because it reached a record US$19,666 last December before declining again. It is worth almost three times more than the No.2 crypto-currency, the Ethereum, at US$51.8 billion, or US$523.40. "Demand for Bitcoins appears to be driven by a belief that others will be prepared to buy Bitcoins at higher and higher prices," Wadsworth says in the latest RBNZ Bulletin. "Bitcoin's exchange rate fluctuations reduce its usefulness as a medium of exchange for real-world goods and services, and as a unit of account. If Bitcoin cannot be used as a stable medium of exchange then it would not be a reliable form of money." Her article references an RBNZ report last November by Aaron Kumar and Christie Smith: Cryto-currencies - An introduction to not-so-funny moneys. That report, using monthly data for the Bitcoin/US dollar exchange rate, showed a standard deviation of 73.1 percent, based on data from August 2010 to May 2017. By contrast, the equivalent for the kiwi dollar against the greenback was 3.6 percent. Wadsworth uses a 'Money Tree' classification to show where crypto-currencies fit with other types of money and says it could provide a base to consider what kind of digital currency a central bank could issue. The Money Tree divides money into physical money or cash - such as the fiat currencies issued by central banks - and digital money. Digital money is then broken down into those that use conventional ledger technology, including individual bank accounts and mobile wallets, and crypto-currencies, which use distributed ledger technology (DLT) and cryptography and are either at a fixed or variable conversion rate to cash. Wadsworth says digital currencies are nothing new because money has been available electronically via the banking system for several decades. Central banks issue digital currency to commercial banks through the provision of money into each bank's account within the exchange settlement account system. More recently, a handful of central banks have trialed mobile wallets, where people without bank accounts can still hold and use a digital currency and money. Ecuador issued a mobile currency called dinero electronico and the Riksbank has issued an e-krona in Sweden. As financial technology has evolved in the past decade, central banks have been considering their role of providing cash and in financial technology innovations, Wadsworth says. "One question that central banks are asking themselves is whether they should issue a digital currency to the public and what such a currency might look like." She concludes that a central bank could choose to issue a digital currency with a par value or variable exchange rate to cash but "it is conceptually easier to image a central bank issuing a digital currency that trades at par value to cash," she says. "It appears that crypto-currencies that have fixed exchange rates to fiat currencies are a better unit of account, medium of exchange and store of value than crypto-currencies which do not have fixed exchange rates to cash." (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Clears First Hurdle in Orangewood Amalgamation Vital Healthcare Property Trust (NZX: VHP) Announces Debt Refinance and Facility Limit Increase Restructure of Cannasouth Cultivation Limited (NZX:CBD) 1st October 2021 Morning Report Gentrack Group Limited (NZX: GTK) Market Announcement New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited (NZX: NZK) 1H22 Half Year Results Announcement 30th September 2021 Morning Report Pictor and SCIENION partner to commercialise high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing system to support ongoing fight against pandemic Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK) Upgrades Earnings Guidance and Appoints New Director The Warehouse Group Limited (NZX: WHS) Annual Result 2021 Scales Corp is eyeing potential agribusiness acquisitions that would fit well with its export apple business as the country's largest apple grower aims to become the foremost investor in and grower of New Zealand agribusiness. "We think New Zealand agribusinesses are in a good space, they make good products, and sell them to Asia," chief executive Andy Borland told BusinessDesk. "We have over the years developed our skills around exporting and dealing with Asia, particularly China, and we are looking at businesses within New Zealand that would work with those sort of dynamics and be complementary to our apple business. We are really looking for those sort of New Zealand opportunities." Scales is New Zealand's second-biggest apple exporter after T&G Global and has invested in apple crops that are sought after by customers in Asia, where the sweeter, redder varieties fetch a premium price over more traditional varieties. Borland said the company sells apples to retailers around the world and is looking at other products that could sit alongside those apples. The company is currently reviewing acquisition opportunities, although he declined to provide more details. Borland confirmed Scales isn't the unnamed party that is looking into acquiring honey company Comvita. Both companies count China Resources Ng Fung as a significant shareholder. New Zealand's government is tightening rules around foreign investment and Borland said regulations making it more difficult for foreign buyers would suit buyers like Scales which is classified as a 'New Zealand person' under the Overseas Investment Act, with its overseas ownership below 25 percent. "We are quite determined to remain at this stage anyway a New Zealand person as the legislation defines it," he said. In its 2017 financial year, Scales reported earnings before interest, tax depreciation and amortisation of $61 million and average net debt of $54.8 million, giving it a debt/ebitda ratio of 0.9 times. "Our debt to ebitda position is very low and we have got a lot of capacity there to borrow," Borland said. "We have never pushed the debt levels too high. Theres quite a large buffer there at the moment." As at Dec. 31, the company held cash and equivalents of $5.7 million and scope to draw a further $43.5 million from its $90 million banking facilities. Shares in Scales were recently up 1.1 percent to $4.45, having gained 35 percent over the past year. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Clears First Hurdle in Orangewood Amalgamation Vital Healthcare Property Trust (NZX: VHP) Announces Debt Refinance and Facility Limit Increase Restructure of Cannasouth Cultivation Limited (NZX:CBD) 1st October 2021 Morning Report Gentrack Group Limited (NZX: GTK) Market Announcement New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited (NZX: NZK) 1H22 Half Year Results Announcement 30th September 2021 Morning Report Pictor and SCIENION partner to commercialise high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing system to support ongoing fight against pandemic Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK) Upgrades Earnings Guidance and Appoints New Director The Warehouse Group Limited (NZX: WHS) Annual Result 2021 T&G Global will sell its Kerikeri-based kiwifruit orchards, packhouse facilities and assets to Seeka, New Zealand's biggest kiwifruit grower, in a deal worth around $40 million, the two said in a joint press release. Seeka will purchase T&Gs post-harvest facilities in Kerikeri for the packing and storing of avocados, kiwifruit and citrus. Additionally, T&G has agreed to sell all its 253,000 Zespri shares to Seeka, valued at about $2 million. Seeka recently sold out of its 740,606 shares in Zespri Group after opposing constitutional changes at the monopoly export body that tie shareholdings to trays of fruit produced. T&G is also selling approximately 80 hectares of kiwifruit orchards in and around Kerikeri to Seeka on which it currently grows the Hayward, ENZAGold and ENZARed kiwifruit as well as Zespri Sungold varieties. T&G will, however, remain the trademark owner of the kiwifruit brands. T&G will also have access to fruit grown by Seeka for its existing customers in New Zealand and overseas. Seeka said the deal is subject to Overseas Investment Office approval, if required. The completion date for the post-harvest sale is expected to be April 30, and June 30 for the orchard sale. Seeka will then rename T&Gs Kerikeri facilities and operating business entities "Seeka Kerikeri." Seeka chief executive Michael Franks said the company has identified the region as a growth area for both avocados and kiwifruit and establishing a post-harvest hub in Northland has been a priority. "With new avocado developments in the area, we are expecting demand for post-harvest facilities to increase. We also anticipate increasing demand for kiwifruit as growing conditions have proven very favourable, particularly for gold varieties and with Seeka providing a new competitive dynamic to the market focusing on quality, price and service," he said. T&Gs executive general manager, New Zealand, Andrew Keane, said the sale of T&G's kiwifruit operation is part of its intention to focus on core produce categories which will continue to include citrus and berries growth in Northland and other parts of the country. Our Northland berry and citrus operations are not included in our sale as we intend investing further in these growth categories. We have land ready for development and will be investing also in crop protection facilities for our existing operation in Kerikeri. We also hope to employ more people through these investments" he said. T&G shares, of which BayWa owns 74 percent, last traded at $3.12 and have dropped 18 percent over the past year. Seeka shares last traded at $6.63 and are up 29 percent over the past 12 months. (BusinessDesk) Comments from our readers No comments yet Add your comment: Your name: Your email: Not displayed to the public Comment: Comments to Sharechat go through an approval process. Comments which are defamatory, abusive or in some way deemed inappropriate will not be approved. It is allowable to use some form of non-de-plume for your name, however we recommend real email addresses are used. Comments from free email addresses such as Gmail, Yahoo, Hotmail, etc may not be approved. Anti-spam verification: Type the text you see in the image into the field below. You are asked to do this in order to verify that this enquiry is not being performed by an automated process. Related News: Seeka Limited (NZX: SEK) Clears First Hurdle in Orangewood Amalgamation Vital Healthcare Property Trust (NZX: VHP) Announces Debt Refinance and Facility Limit Increase Restructure of Cannasouth Cultivation Limited (NZX:CBD) 1st October 2021 Morning Report Gentrack Group Limited (NZX: GTK) Market Announcement New Zealand King Salmon Investments Limited (NZX: NZK) 1H22 Half Year Results Announcement 30th September 2021 Morning Report Pictor and SCIENION partner to commercialise high-throughput SARS-CoV-2 antibody testing system to support ongoing fight against pandemic Rakon Limited (NZX: RAK) Upgrades Earnings Guidance and Appoints New Director The Warehouse Group Limited (NZX: WHS) Annual Result 2021 People for the Ethical Treatment of Animals (PETA) has requested team Gorilla to use graphics instead of using the real chimpanzee. In their clarification, team Gorilla has said that they have completed portions involving the chimpanzee by carefully obtaining permission from the Government of Thailand and India, the remaining sequences will be only shot in India. PETA has told the team to follow the strategy of Planet of the Apes and The Jungle Book by hiring CG experts to recreate wild animals. Sources say that the shoot of Gorilla was on hold because of the Tamil Film Producers Councils strike. Directed by Don Sandy, the film also has Shalini Pandey of Arjun Reddy fame, Sathish, RJ Balaji, Yogi Babu and Ramdoss of Mundasupatti fame playing pivotal characters. Touted to be a heist thriller, Sam CS of Vikram Vedha fame is composing the music for the film. Tamil Film Producers Councils President Vishal has confirmed that Karthik Subbarajs Mercury will be first Tamil release after the strike. I should not say this but Mercury team is facing piracy issues because they had already released the film outside Tamil Nadu. Considering the support Karthik Subbaraj and team gave us, Mercury will be releasing this Friday. Two more small Tamil films might join Mercury but the respective producers have to confirm, said Vishal. Talking about Kaala and Vishwaroopam 2, Vishal said: Both the films will have a pan-India release. We will support the producers of Kaala as they cooperated with us during the strike and postponed their release date. Kamal sir had planned to release Vishwaroopam 2 in May but only the respective teams should confirm the release date. We have a release regulation committee through which producers can pre-book their release dates. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With salt-baked branzini fish set afire and hot bread to scoop out a crock of buttery escargot with melted mozzarella, Frank Beqiri plans to win Staten Islanders over to Riviera Mediterranean's menu one scrumptious dish at a time. Jonilda, his wife and the manager in the front-of-the-house, will encourage a glass of Greek wine to start at the Dongan Hills restaurant, open for about a year now. She could suggest a cocktail she'll muddle herself from behind the bar set with a massive mural of Nice, France in the backdrop. Fresh from the kitchen one recent afternoon, Glen, the waiter on duty, ceremoniously carried a plate of Saganaki through the dining room, setting it down on a tray stand. He streamed Everclear over the Greek specialty, two slices of kefalotyri cheese baked to a nutty brown hue. And with that, he set the dish afire, then doused the flames with lemon juice. A post shared by Pamela Silvestri (@stateneats) on Mar 22, 2018 at 11:59am PDT Jonilda picked up the finished dish and presented it alongside fresh baked, puffy bread with soft insides and a crunchy crust, perfect for the eating with a triangle of briny, roasted cheese. "Frank makes everything from scratch," she said. And he merges Greek, Albanian and Italian fare into this fine dining package at Riviera, repertoires he's picked up in his 30 or so years cooking professionally. From pastas to steaks and carefully selected fish, Frank prepares "Tave Dheut" to order. This is an Albanian dish, a bowl of feta, onions, peppers, meat or liver baked with a dough crust on top. Both Frank and Jonilda hail from Albania originally. He came to New York in 1992, she in 1996, while he worked his way up "the line" in Manhattan restaurants from dishwasher to cook. Frank decided along the way he wanted to be a proprietor himself. And with two children in the picture by the early 2000s, the opportunity eventually presented itself -- in Texas. So the family uprooted from Brooklyn and established an eatery called "Little Italy" in Fort Hood, TX. It had a sixteen-year run and even hosted celebrity chef Emeril one night in 2002. "We were by a large military base and Emeril was signing books there," she recalled. He and his entourage "came at 9:30 in the evening and stayed until 2 a.m." Frank was over the moon by the visit and the local paper memorialized the moment as he and a co-worker flanked the star in a photograph. By 2014, the couple opened a Greek restaurant called Acropolis in Harker Heights, TX. And two years later, their daughter decided to attend college in New York City. So Jonilda and Frank sold the restaurants and packed it up to come back North. Jonilda misses the bustle of those places, particularly the ebb and flow of Fort Hood troops as they graduated from training exercises. What she does not miss are the meals families had at the restaurant after funerals when the military personnel didn't return from duty overseas. She gets misty thinking about it. And now on Staten Island, Jonilda sells real estate part-time. The restaurant is open daily from noon until 10 p.m. and until 11 p.m. on Friday and Saturday night. Each night there's a little give-back to the customers whether that happens with drink deals or packages. Wednesday night is "Date Night" with one shared appetizer, two entrees, two desserts and a bottle of select wine for $69.95. Thursday Night is Ladies Night with cocktail specials. Friday and Saturday include live music in the evenings. "Happy hour is Monday through Friday from 3 to 7 p.m.," she reminded on a recent afternoon as two women dined over chicken entrees and a vegetable-chocked soup. "We're just trying to build a clientele that comes back and back. I'm hoping for a long run. I'm trying to build something to keep, to pass it onto the kids and family," said Jonilda. Riviera Mediterranean is located at 1828 Hylan Blvd., Dongan Hills; 347-466-5636. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- "Good things are coming and you'll finally have a place to go after 10 p.m. in the area," says Chris Shaleesh, the co-owner of a bar coming in the early fall to 1674 Richmond Road. Chris and his partner, Glenn Jakers, hope their recently scrawled sign on the building's facade announcing "The G.O.A.T." will catch some buzz well before the opening. And perhaps some of the details of their venture will do just that. The G.O.A.T. stands for "Greatest Of All Time." "It's going to be anything that Staten Island currently has," says Chris, who promised to "make Staten Island great again" with his and Jaker's new concept. "It's going to be craft cocktails, a lot of comfort food but the presentation will be over-the-top. There will be a Unicorn Grilled Cheese. It's going to be in stripes -- yellow, green, blue with the cheese oozing out," he says. "We're going to have General's Chicken Fingers," he adds, a riff on General Tso's Chicken presented on a platter with chopsticks in a take-out box turned on its side. To be clear, save for the aforementioned General's dish, there are no images of the food or drink just yet to share as Chris wants everything to look perfect before showing off more of the offerings. For now, these illustrations of menu items come courtesy of a Communications major from St. John's University, Grymes, Hill who dabbled as a writer for CNBC, Yes! Network and ESPN. "Instead of a bucket of beer we're going to have a 1920s tub with claw feet on wheels to wheel out to wherever you're sitting," Chris says. "With the tub, you're going to get a goat shower cap, rubber duckies and a mannequin with the logo 'Make Staten Island great again' on her two-piece bikini." On cocktails, we're looking at a "Sponge Bob Pineapple slush served in a hollowed-out pineapple with two big straws garnished with a sponge bob ice pop," he described. "There's an old school Pisco sour -- it's a Peruvian style grape-based liquor blended with egg white shaken in it for froth," Chris says. "There's the 'Get Trashed' served in a mini galvanized trash can. In that cocktail is a mixture of several different liquors including Four Loko," he says, tossing in a further description of a Halloween cocktail offered in a trick-or-treat bucket. "There's a serven-layer cookie martini that tastes exactly like a 7 layer cookie. My mother makes amazing seven-layer cookies, but I don't know if she can keep up," he said with a chuckle. So The G.O.A.T. will have to source out those colorful garnishes. Chris is excited about the "G.O.A.T. Tea," a version of a Long Island Iced tea served with a straw set-up that makes the sipper look as if he or she has a goatee. "The bar will be open til 4 a.m. Until last call we'll have food and drink. You'll never have to worry about [The G.O.A.T.] being open. Monday through Sunday we'll be open from noon to 4 a.m., eventually with a weekend brunch," said Chris. The G.O.A.T. owners signed the lease in January but renovations on the building caused delays for the bar. In the meantime, the property has seen a stop-work order issued by the Buildings Department. "The landlord has a lot of work they have to fulfill before they turn the keys over. Our goal is to be open early fall," says Chris, who describes the place as having an "industrial, rustic feel" with its soon-coming Edison bulbs, reclaimed wood and metal. The space was home to 5th & Vine, a bar overhauled by the reality show "Bar Rescue" which closed for good in November 2016. And it will be far from the look of that operation. "Where the kitchen was, it's going to be a little secluded room to get away from the crowd. We're going to have giant accordion windows in the front along Richmond Road and the bar will be along Buel," says Chris, noting it will see a semi-circle table around a pilaster as charging station. On the other side of the room will be a dining area. "We're just knocking down a few walls." He and Jakers intend to hire DJs, live bands and feature karaoke. "Oh, and there's a 'First Aid Kit,'" Chris says. "Let's just say it's a Tuesday night and you stay out later than you intended. You go to the bartender to buy a kit. It will have Gatorade, a pack of Advil plus a list of excuses for why you're late/calling out of work the next morning in a Happy Meal container with a Red Cross on it." The bar has a Facebook page set up. Work inquires can be routed through social media. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Things haven't gone so sweetly for a New Jersey woman recently busted in a drug takedown dubbed "Operation Sugar Hill." Tracy Freeman, 41, pleaded guilty on Wednesday to a felony drug charge that will keep her behind bars for several more months. Freeman and her son, Joshua Freeman, 22, were indicted last month for their roles in the ring that prosecutors said operated out of Clifton's Park Hill section. Both mother and son are New Brunswick residents. According to the indictment, the Freemans and a co-defendant, Clint "Trap" Callender, 27, conspired to distribute and sell buprenorphine, a painkiller also used to treat opioid addiction. Tracy Freeman and Callender spoke to each other in "coded and cryptic" phone conversations, and the mother arranged for her son to give Callender buprenorphine on Rockland Avenue in Egbertville on Dec. 16, said the indictment Callender then sold the drug to another person in Grymes Hill, the indictment said. The Freemans and Callender were among 12 defendants arrested in the sting which authorities announced on March 27. The 15-month joint Staten Island Gang Squad-D.A.'s office probe began in December 2016 amid what authorities say was a spike in violence in the area. As of March 27, the NYPD had seized about 19 grams of heroin and 185 grams of crack cocaine through undercover buys, authorities said. Tracy Freeman pleaded guilty to fourth-degree criminal sale of a controlled substance. In exchange, she'll be sentenced on May 4 to six months in jail and five years' probation. Joshua Freeman and Callender's cases are pending. Alexsis Barravecchia, Tracy Freeman's lawyer, declined comment outside court. Assistant District Attorneys Carrie Low and Michele Molfetta are prosecuting the cases. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Islanders are now one step closer to a state-of-the-art bike share program. The city Department of Transportation announced Tuesday that 12 different companies have submitted proposals to bring the first-ever dockless bike share program to New York City. "We are thrilled that so many of the industry leaders in bike share from around the world want to try their wheels on New York City's streets," said DOT Commissioner Polly Trottenberg. The 12 bike share companies that have expressed interest include: JUMP lennybike LimeBike MetroBike Mobike Motivate (Citi Bike's parent company) ofo P3GM Pace (subsidiary of Zagster) QuimoCycle Riide Spin After releasing a Request for Expression of Interest in December, the DOT is now in the process of evaluating the submitted proposals. The DOT hopes to pilot a dockless bike share program this year in outer-borough neighborhoods not serviced by Citi Bike, specifically on Staten Island and in the Bronx. "I look forward to a pilot program that allows a responsible operator to provide Staten Islanders with an affordable, safe and convenient bike share system that is designed and operated in a way that reflects the unique character of Staten Island," said Borough President James Oddo. The city is seeking dockless models because the lower capital and operating costs would allow them to expand more quickly into outer-borough neighborhoods. The dockless system was defined by the RFEI as, "a network of publicly available bicycles with technology that allows for all essential system and locking components to be installed in the bicycles themselves, and thus eliminates the need for docking stations." In this system, bikes could be rented and parked anywhere within the boundaries of the service area that allows bicycle parking. The new program would serve to complement the existing Citi Bike network that has had more than 56 million trips since its launch in 2013. Any new systems will be required to operate outside of the Citi Bike area, to not undermine the existing bike share network. The DOT is expected to make an announcement about the selected proposals sometime this summer. "The robust response of dockless bike companies to this pilot is great news, which could allow us to move beyond the Manhattan, Brooklyn and Queens neighborhoods that Citi Bike now covers so well," said Trottenberg. For more information on New York City's bike share system, go to www.nyc.gov/bikeshare. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Staten Island students will now be able to experience science in a whole new way. Students and educators from across the borough gathered Thursday morning at the Michael J. Petrides School, Sunnyside, for the opening of the Borough President's Hall of Science. "We knew as a borough, and as a district, that we would have to do something to ignite your passion, help guide your teachers and move the science instruction along to the best of our abilities," said Kevin Moran, executive director of the Staten Island Field Support Center. The newly renovated 15,000 square-foot facility, consisting of eight state-of-the-art science exhibits, was made possible by a generous grant allocated by Borough President James Oddo. "I am privileged to have one of my responsibilities be to allocate money to what I believe are the priorities of Staten Island. And to all the tax payers out there, I assure you that this is money well-spent," said Oddo. NYC Schools Chancellor Richard Carranza was on hand for the event, commending the project and lauding the opportunities it will bring Staten Island students. "This is an incredible place for students to learn. Not because they'll be sitting around, but because they're going to be experiencing it," said Carranza. "I want you to be inspired by what you see, touch and create while you're in this Hall of Science," he continued. Each exhibit engages various scientific disciplines and is fully aligned with the New York State Next Generation learning standards. Students from across the borough will now have the opportunity to be immersed in hands-on learning, supported by classroom lessons and post-visit assessments. In addition to the eight science exhibits, the hall features new projectors, a new sound system and two 120-inch retractable screens, as well as Wi-Fi, enabling up to 200 students to work online while interacting with the exhibits. "To me, it is always about making sure that every child who walks through every door of every school on Staten Island has every opportunity to be successful," said District 31 superintendent Anthony Lodico. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Lt. Gen. Michael A. Rocco, deputy commandant for Manpower and Reserve Affairs for the U.S. Marine Corps, will be the keynote speaker for St. John's University's Staten Island campus 2018 commencement. The university's commencement ceremony will take place at 10 a.m. on Saturday, May 19, on the Great Lawn at the Grymes Hill campus. Rocco has led a distinguished and highly decorated military career for 35 years since he graduated from St. John's University in 1983. He has many personal military decorations, and his career has deployed him to various locations around the world. He was selected to attend the Naval Command and Staff Course at the Naval War College in Newport, R.I. -- where he received a master of arts in national policy and strategic studies. He also attended the Industrial College of Armed Forces in Washington, D.C., and received a master of science in national resource strategy. In August 2017, he was promoted to his current rank. FOLLOW ANNALISE KNUDSON ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- With the Democratic primary election a little months two months away, the six Democratic candidates vying for the NY-11 congressional seat will debate at a forum in Wagner College on April 25. The debate is being cohosted by Wagner College, the Staten Island Democratic County Committee and Swing Left. It will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Spiro Hall in Room 2 and is scheduled to run until about 9 p.m. Barbara Kent, a volunteer for Swing Left and a retired lawyer, will be moderating. "Everybody on the Island that's awake knows the name Donovan and knows the name Grimm. I'm not saying whether you support them, but you know those names," Kent told the Advance. "You would be hard pressed to find somebody who can even name one of the Democratic candidates." Kent said that the entire purpose of the event is to raise awareness among voters on Staten Island and in South Brooklyn. "I just want attendees to learn who the Democrats are and learn what their positions are," Kent later added. "If that happens I'll be thrilled." Swing Left is a liberal grassroots group with 300,000 volunteers formed after the Nov. 2016 election that's seeking to flip the House of Representatives to Democrats in the midterm elections. Kent said she reached out to the Carey Institute for Government Reform at Wagner College and the Staten Island Democrats, who were both supportive of the forum. Among the candidates, all political newcomers, are Michael DeVito Jr., a Marine veteran and not-for-profit executive; Zach Emig, a Tompkinsville bond trader; Radhakrishna Mohan, a civic leader who works as an Information Technology specialist; Max Rose, a U.S. Army combat veteran and former health care executive; Paul Sperling, a 25-year-old who works in real estate, and Omar Vaid, a union member who works on both props and set decoration for New York television shows. The forum will be held at 6:30 p.m. in Spiro Hall in Room 2 and is scheduled to run until about 9 p.m. The event is open to the public. The primary election is on June 26th. FOLLOW CLIFFORD MICHEL ON FACEBOOK AND TWITTER. STATEN ISLAND, N.Y. -- Joseph Rizzo, long-time owner of Langdon Florist of Tribeca, says opening a new business is like having a baby. "You need to watch it grow. ...It's going to cry a lot, you'll have to get up at night, and you have to spend more time with it," said the veteran florist, who has owned one of the most recognized names in New York City's floral industry for the last 35 years. The move to a new two-level storefront, with a more than 900-square-foot showroom on Clove Road in Sunnyside was a "quality of life" decision whereby he could be close to home, and allow his two daughters, Gracie Rizzo and Stephanie Doiban, to become involved in the business. "The flower shop was legendary in Manhattan. It was bittersweet that we left Manhattan," added Rizzo. The Island-based showroom is adorned with a myriad of unique floral displays against a tin ceiling and wood floor backdrop. The red lit "florist" sign that used to hang outside the Manhattan shop in its "early days" now sits above the register. "I love creating. I have a passion for creating arrangements. Brides and clients will send me pictures of their visions and I make them come to life. I always handle the best quality flowers from all over the world," said Rizzo, noting he imports from Holland, Ecuador, Columbia, California and Miami, among other areas. WORK ETHIC LEADS TO SUCCESS Brought to this country as a child after being born in Sicily, Italy, Rizzo was raised by an asphalt worker and seamstress. From a young age, he learned the value of hard work, he said. "We didn't get another pair of sneakers unless there was a hole in them. And they were Keds. if you had Converse in those days you were king," said Rizzo. "My mother taught me how to save money in a little bank. I learned at a young age that nothing comes free, and you have to work to make money. ...I always worked. I worked at pizzerias, and as a stock boy. I always had money in my pocket," he added. So ever since his daughters were young, he has been illustrating how hard work pays off. "One day when Gracie was about 9 years old, she was playing with flowers in a basket at the store, and she ended up making an arrangement that I sold for $20. When I got home, I handed her the money. She said, 'Daddy when can I come back to work for you?'," he recalled. A LESS COSTLY PLACE TO DO BUSINESS Another catalyst for the relocation was that Staten Island is also a more cost-effective place to do business. "Manhattan got ridiculous -- rents, parking tickets, etc... " said Rizzo. "It's rough right now for a small business owner in Manhattan." BIG-NAME CLIENTS Chirlane McCray, the first lady of New York, and Mayor Bill de Blasio are two of his most loyal clients. "I remember when they were dating, and Chirlane would come in and point to some flowers, and she'd say, 'Tell Bill to get those for me'," recalled Rizzo. "We built a relationship for many years. ... I did [the flowers] for [de Blasio and McCray's] wedding," he added, noting his relationship with New York mayors dates back to the Koch administration. GROWING UP IN THE FLORIST BUSINESS Rizzo's first job was working in his cousin Paulie's flower show in Brooklyn. "Him and his partner owned Shore Road Florist in Bay Ridge. I basically grew up in the business delivering, and filling up water tubes. After high school, I just went to work for him," he said. After seven years of full-time work at that shop, his friends purchased Langdon Florist -- a well-known shop opened by Frank Langdon in 1947 that was formerly located on Green Street in Manhattan -- where he went to work. After 15 years, he bought the shop. Since then, the shop has had several downtown Manhattan locations -- last operating at 62 Reade St. -- before moving to Staten Island last month. Langdon Florist of Tribeca opens in Sunnyside 45 Gallery: Langdon Florist of Tribeca opens in Sunnyside LANGDON FLORIST OF TRIBECA AT A GLANCE Address: 1263 Clove Rd. Website: www.langdonflorist.com/ Facebook: www.facebook.com/LangdonOfTribeca/ New Businesses in Focus is a weekly column that relates the stories of new Staten Island businesses owners. If you have a new business on Staten Island, e-mail porpora@siadvance.com. FOLLOW TRACEY PORPORA ON FACEBOOK and TWITTER April 18, 2018 Dear His Majesty King Willem Alexander, His Excellency the Governor Eugene Holiday, Council of Ministers, Honorable Members of Parliament, State Secretary of Kingdom Affair Raymond Knops, Head of Dutch Recovery Programme Hans Leijtens, Representative of the Netherlands in St. Maarten Chris Johnson, Head of World Bank Mission to St. Maarten Doekle Wielinga, To anybody familiar with Sint Maarten, it is obvious that just like hurricane Irma, the dump affects all the citizens of the island - regardless where you might reside or work. Although most probably we will only know the real human cost of inhaling fumes from the dump on a daily basis in the future, we need immediate short term action now while a long term plan hopefully is being conceived. For several decades now, many talks have been spent on this topic whereas the problem only seems to become worse. Time has come to acknowledge that those many years of talking has shown we do not have the capacity to remove the dump ourselves but that we need outside help to solve this problem. Therefore, it is by this means that we demand for an immediate short term solution to put a stop to the fires and gases killing our society. This undoubtedly is our number one problem and should be handled with such urgency. We ask from the World Bank and the Kingdom to tap into their human and technical resources and take direct control over our sanitary landfill for the good of our people. We do not have the luxury of long term planning and endless meetings, we need ACTION. Sincerely, SHTA on behalf of its members and the residents of St. Maarten The content herein, unless otherwise known to be public domain, are Copyright 1995-2018 - Space Media Network. All websites are published in Australia and are solely subject to Australian law and governed by Fair Use principals for news reporting and research purposes. AFP, UPI and IANS news wire stories are copyright Agence France-Presse, United Press International and Indo-Asia News Service. ESA news reports are copyright European Space Agency. All NASA sourced material is public domain. Additional copyrights may apply in whole or part to other bona fide parties. Advertising does not imply endorsement, agreement or approval of any opinions, statements or information provided by Space Media Network on any Web page published or hosted by Space Media Network. Privacy Statement Daffodils to mark 75 years after Warsaw ghetto uprising Warsaw, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 Sirens will sound and paper daffodils will fill the streets of the Polish capital on Thursday to mark 75 years since hundreds of young Jews took up arms against Nazi German forces in the Warsaw ghetto uprising. The Jewish fighters launched their attack on April 19, 1943 after the Nazis began deporting the surviving residents of the Jewish district they had set up after invading Poland. The insurgents preferred to die fighting instead of in a gas chamber at the Treblinka death camp where the Nazis had already sent more than 300,000 Warsaw Jews. Polish President Andrzej Duda is due to visit a Jewish cemetery in the morning, before taking part in the official ceremony at the Ghetto Heroes Monument. Scheduled for the same time on the site of the former ghetto is a march organised by anti-fascist organisations, which will end at the Umschlagplatz monument where Jews were rounded up and taken to Treblinka. In the afternoon, at a square in the district, the Shalom foundation plans to inaugurate the Tree of Tears, a weeping willow whose leaves are meant to symbolise the tears of Jewish mothers who handed over their children to Catholic mothers in order to save their lives. But the most visible symbol for Warsaw residents will be the daffodil pins on their clothes, a recent tradition that gains momentum with every year. "Two thousand or so volunteers will distribute the paper daffodils in Warsaw this year, or almost two times more than last year," said Maria Mossakowska, who coordinates the initiative at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which launched the project five years ago. More than 120,000 daffodils are expected to be distributed across the capital alone this year, but the flowers will also be handed out in other Polish cities. Around 1,000 cultural institutions, libraries and schools across the country have joined the project, with some institutions due to hold local educational events on the history of Jews in Poland. - Tension with Israel - The selection of the daffodil as symbol is a reference to Marek Edelman, a cardiologist and uprising commander who died in 2009. "For many years, on the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, Marek Edelman would receive a bouquet of these flowers from an anonymous sender," Mossakowska told AFP. "Then he would lay them at the ghetto hero monument." Because of their colour and form, daffodils also resemble the yellow star Jews were forced to wear by Nazis during the war. The remembrance ceremony takes place this year amid tension between Poland and Israel over Warsaw's new controversial Holocaust law, which came into effect last month. The legislation, which penalises statements attributing Nazi German crimes to the Polish state with fines or a jail term of up to three years, was meant to protect the country from false accusations of complicity. The main aim is to prevent people from erroneously describing Nazi German death camps like Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau as Polish, simply because they were set up on Polish soil. The law has drawn strong criticism from Israel and Jewish organisations, which accused Warsaw of denying the participation of individual Poles in the genocide of Jews. Israel also expressed concern that the law could open the door to prosecuting Holocaust survivors for their testimony. During World War II, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany and ceased to exist as a state. Six million Poles, half of them Jews, were killed. Surprise IS attack kills 25 regime forces in east Syria: monitor Beirut, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 The Islamic State group launched a surprise attack near a town in eastern Syria they had lost six months ago, killing at least 25 regime forces, a monitor said Thursday. At least 13 jihadists were also killed in the attack which IS carried out near Mayadeen on Wednesday afternoon, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. Mayadeen lies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the western bank of the Euphrates River and is flanked by the vast Badia desert to its west and south. A military source on Thursday however denied any attack against positions of the Syrian army along the western bank of the Euphrates. But intermittent bombardment on army positions from its eastern bank had prompted retaliation with suitable weapons, the source said. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, control most of the territory to the east of the Euphrates, where a few villages are still under IS control. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said Thursday morning "IS attempts to advance in the direction of the town of Mayadeen are ongoing" from the Badia desert. He said it was the "largest IS attack since they were expelled from the town" by regime forces and their allies in October 2017. IS swept across large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a cross-border "caliphate" in areas they controlled. At its height their pseudo state covered an area the size of Italy, but IS has since lost most of it to a Russia-backed regime assault and a US-backed SDF offensive. IS now control around five percent of Syria, according to Syria expert Fabrice Balanche. But the jihadists have retained their ability to carry out deadly attacks. They hold pockets in Deir Ezzor and are present in the southern districts of the capital. Since regaining full control of Eastern Ghouta to the northeast of Damascus from rebels last week, the regime has turned its attention to jihadist-held districts in the capital's south. More than 350,000 people have been killed since Syria's war started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. S. Korea's Moon: a peace treaty 'must be pursued' Seoul, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 A peace treaty to formally end the Korean War "must be pursued", South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday, ahead of a summit with Kim Jong Un, leader of the nuclear-armed North. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a ceasefire rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically at war, and the Demilitarised Zone between them -- where Moon and Kim will meet next Friday -- bristles with minefields and fortifications. "The armistice that has dragged on for 65 years must come to an end," Moon told media executives at the presidential Blue House, adding: "The signing of a peace treaty must be pursued after an end to the war is declared." But Moon signalled that a treaty would depend on the North giving up its nuclear weapons. "If the inter-Korean summit or North Korea-US summit lead to denuclearisation," he said, "I think that it won't be too difficult to reach practical agreements in the big picture on creating a peace regime, normalising North Korea-US ties, or providing international aid for the improvement of the North Korean economy." The summit between Moon and Kim will be the biggest highlight of a whirlwind of diplomacy on and around the peninsula triggered by the Winter Olympics, and a precursor to a much-anticipated meeting between Kim and US President Donald Trump. The US leader warned earlier that his summit could still be called off, saying: "If I think that it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go. "If the meeting, when I'm there, is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting." Trump previously offered his "blessing" for the two Koreas to discuss a peace treaty to formally close the decades-old conflict. But the question of whether the North is willing to give up what it calls the "treasured sword" of its nuclear arms will be key to any broader settlement. North Korea has long said it needs nuclear weapons to defend itself against a possible US invasion, and both South Korean and Chinese officials have cited Kim as saying he is committed to denuclearisation of the Korean peninsula - code for the withdrawal of US troops and Washington's nuclear umbrella over its security ally, something unthinkable in Washington. For its part the US stresses it wants to see the complete, irreversible and verifiable denuclearisation of the North. "Right now, North Korea is showing the international community a willingness for a complete denuclearisation," Moon said, but added it was "too early to guarantee the success of dialogue", which could only come "after a successful US-North Korea summit". - Broken promises - North Korea's state media on Thursday announced it will convene a full meeting of the ruling Workers' Party of Korea central committee to make key policy decisions. The official KCNA news agency gave no indications what they might be about, saying only that Friday's gathering will address issues of a "new stage" in what it called "the important historic period of the developing Korean revolution". Analysts say there could be changes to its stance towards the US. "It needs a logical explanation and justification for the shift in its ties with the 'enemy' US, which has held the North Koreans together for the past 70 years," said Kim Dong-yub, a researcher at the Institute for Far Eastern Studies at Kyungnam University. "It looks like they are ready to do that," Kim added. Even so there are multiple obstacles to reaching a final Korean War treaty, involving both sides of the peninsula and other countries. While the US-led United Nations command, China and North Korea are signatories to the decades-old armistice, South Korea is not. Both Pyongyang and Seoul claim sovereignty over the whole Korean peninsula, but a treaty could imply mutual recognition of each other. And such promises have been made before - in the joint statement after the last inter-Korean summit in 2007, they agreed to work together to have the leaders of "the three or four parties directly concerned... convene on the peninsula and declare an end to the war". US Air Force awards nearly $1 bn for hypersonic missile Washington, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 The US Air Force is awarding almost $1 billion to Lockheed Martin to design and develop a hypersonic missile that can be launched from a warplane. The contract follows repeated warnings from senior defense officials about rapid advances by China and Russia in the field of hypersonic weaponry, where missiles can fly at many times the speed of sound and dodge missile-defense systems. In a statement late Wednesday, the Pentagon said Lockheed will receive up to $928 million to build the new, non-nuclear missile it is calling the "hypersonic conventional strike weapon." "This contract provides for the design, development, engineering, systems integration, test, logistics planning, and aircraft integration support of all the elements of a hypersonic, conventional, air-launched, stand-off weapon," the statement read. On Thursday, Mike Griffin, the Pentagon's new defense undersecretary for research and engineering, said China had built "a pretty mature system" for a hypersonic missile to strike from thousands of kilometers (miles) away. "We will, with today's defensive systems, not see these things coming," Griffin said. Hypersonic weapons can beat regular anti-missile defenses as they are designed to switch direction in flight and do not follow a predictable arc like conventional missiles, making them much harder to track and intercept. Russian President Vladimir Putin in February claimed to have developed a new type of hypersonic missile that is impervious to any Western shield. Gary Pennett, director of operations at the Missile Defense Agency, recently said enemy hypersonic weapons -- which could be launched from planes, ships or submarines -- would create a "significant" gap in US sensor and missile interceptor capabilities. The MDA has asked for $120 million to develop hypersonic missile defenses, a big increase from the $75 million in fiscal 2018. Russian general and NATO commander meet in Baku Moscow, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 The Russian army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and NATO's Commander in Europe Curtis Scaparrotti held a rare meeting in Azerbaijan's capital Baku on Thursday. The two men discussed "the military activity of NATO and Russia in Europe, reinforcing confidence and preventing incidents," the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. They also exchanged views "on the situation in Syria, emphasising the importance of cooperation in the fight against international terrorism," it added. NATO said the conversation "focused on issues related to military posture and exercises". "This face-to-face meeting demonstrates a clear mutual interest to maintain the military lines of communication, to align with NATO's policy of dialogue and transparency," it added in a statement. General Valery Gerasimov had already met Jon Dunford, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Baku in February 2016. The military men then pledged to "reinforce communication" between their armies. The United States and Russia already use a line of military communication on their aerial operations in Syria to prevent incidents between the two countries. Washington ended all military cooperation with Russia after Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, including ending joint exercises and visits of US ships to Russian ports. Tensions between Russia and the US rose to new levels last week after a Washington-led strike against the Syrian regime which Moscow denounced as "aggression" against its ally. US to drop curbs on drone tech to boost arms sales Washington, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 The United States dropped some restrictions Thursday on sales of its advanced drones in order to reinforce the armies of its allies and compete with China on the world arms market. President Donald Trump's White House announced an update to its policy on arms transfers to promote US exports and jobs, and specifically to loosen the rules on selling unmanned warplanes. Trump's chief trade advisor, Peter Navarro, said the move was designed to reverse former president Barack Obama's "myopic" decision to limit even US allies' access to drone technology. Allowing US arms firms to directly market drones instead of forcing foreign customers to apply to the government would, he said, allow them to compete against sales of Chinese "knock-offs." "The administration's UAS export policy will level the playing field by enabling US firms to increase their direct sales to authorized allies and partners," he said, referring to so-called "Unmanned Aerial Systems". Navarro said US weapons and aerospace exports are worth a trillion dollars a year, support 2.5 million well-paid jobs and form a key plank of Trump's ambition to wipe out America's trade deficit. But he said the market for drones alone could grow to $50 billion in a decade and that officials are "seeing Chinese replicas of American UAS technology deployed on the runways in the Middle East." As an example, he cited the Wing Loong 2 medium-altitude, long-endurance drone manufactured by China's Chengdu Aircraft Group. This reconnaissance and missile platform was on display to potential clients at the 2017 Paris Air Show but is, he alleged, "a clear knock-off" of US firm General Atomics' MQ-9 Reaper. "The fact is our allies and partners want to buy American," Navarro said, noting that Trump was putting his "America First" slogan at the heart of arms sales policy. "Partners who procure American weaponry are more capable of fighting alongside us, and are also more capable of protecting themselves with fewer American boots on the ground." The United States pioneered the use of unmanned aircraft, some of them flown by pilots half-a-world away through satellite links to a ground station, for spotting missions and missile strikes. They have been deployed both by the US military in support of overt deployments in the so-called war on terror and by the CIA for covert targeted strikes to kill suspected militants. Critics of their deployment say that, because they can be used without putting American pilots in harm's way, they encourage commanders and presidents to resort more easily to lethal force. Despite the accuracy of missiles guided by drone-mounted lasers, many hundreds and perhaps thousands of civilians have been killed in US strikes in South Asia, the Middle East and the Horn of Africa. But US officials defend the technology, arguing that its proper use allows commanders to study targets more carefully and to carry out precision raids, minimizing the threat to allies and civilians. US, Russian nuclear shift as dangerous as NKorean threat: campaigners Geneva, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 A recent shift in nuclear weapons policies in the United States and Russia, involving upgrades, modernisation and growing arsenals is as dangerous as North Korea's nuclear threat, campaigners warned Thursday. Beatrice Fihn, who heads the International Campaign to Abolish Nuclear Weapons (ICAN), hailed an upcoming summit between the United States and North Korean in what Washington hopes will persuade Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear ambitions. But she said there needed to be more focus on the dangers posed by the United States and other traditional nuclear-armed states, which have recently engaged in "dangerous escalatory activities." "The new nuclear policies from the United States and Russia that increase the arsenals and create new types of more usable nuclear weapons, these are very dangerous changes," she told journalists in Geneva. "I think they are equally dangerous as North Korea's nuclear threats," she said. Five of the world's nine nuclear-armed states -- Britain, China, France, Russia, and the United States -- are parties to the Nuclear Non-Proliferation Treaty (NPT), which will be the subject of a preliminary review in Geneva next week. But Fihn said they were clearly not respecting their commitments under the treaty, and were all engaged in modernising their arsenals and making nuclear weapons a more central part of their defence strategies. - 'Weapons of mass-destruction' - Washington for instance recently decided to upgrade its nuclear weapons arsenal and to complement massive "strategic" bombs with smaller "tactical" weapons, in a move Fihn said would make them easier to use. She also decried the threatening rhetoric from US President Donald Trump and other leaders of nuclear-armed states. "We are now seeing some of these states making explicit threats to use weapons of mass-destruction to indiscriminately kill innocent civilians." Fihn said she welcomed the announcement that Trump would meet with North Korean leader Kim Jong UN within the next two months. "I think that it is encouraging to see diplomacy rather than threats," she said. But she cautioned that it was unclear what kind of concessions North Korea would be willing to make. "I am wondering what the United States will bring to the table in this sort of negotiation," she said, warning it would be "very hard" to convince Pyongyang to abandon its nuclear weapons programme as Washington and others continue to ramp up their arsenals. She also suggested that Trump's threats to pull out of the Iran nuclear deal could "send a very worrying message to a country like North Korea." "Why would you make a deal with a country like the United States who doesn't seem to be interested in finding solutions that work for two parties?" she asked. ICAN won the 2017 Nobel Peace Prize for its efforts to negotiate a treaty prohibiting nuclear weapons. On Thursday, Fihn accused the nuclear weapons states of using "very serious threats" to pressure countries not to ratify the treaty, including threatening to cancel aid. The treaty, which since it was voted through last July has been signed by 58 countries and ratified by seven, needs 50 ratifications before it can enter into force. UN urges Colombia to make progress on peace before elections United Nations, United States, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 Warning of new challenges to Colombia's peace deal, the UN envoy on Thursday urged the government to move quickly to integrate former rebels into civilian life as elections loom. The first round of a presidential election will be held on May 27 following parliamentary polls last month won by right-wing parties opposed to the peace deal -- though they fell short of a majority. UN envoy Jean Arnault told the Security Council that there must be "a sustained drive to put the reintegration of former combatants on a more solid basis before the end of the government's mandate." Under the peace accord, the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) disarmed its 7,000 fighters in order to join the political process and return to civilian life. Arnault warned that a weak drive to bring the ex-combatants back to the mainstream "can only increase the risk of the drift of some ex-combatants to criminal groups," such as those who have recently waged attacks on the border with Ecuador. Colombian President Juan Manuel Santos, who signed the peace agreement with the FARC in November 2016, is stepping down in August after two terms. A presidential runoff is planned for June 17. Brazil's army chief warns of graft threat to democracy Brasilia, April 19 (AFP) Apr 19, 2018 Brazil's top army commander on Thursday made another foray into political commentary, warning that corruption poses a threat to democracy in Latin America's biggest country. The comment by General Eduardo Villas Boas was his second high-profile remark on the state of Brazil's democracy this month, going against an unwritten rule that high-ranking military officers keep out of politics. "We can't be indifferent to the more than 60,000 murders a year, the banalization of corruption, the impunity, the insecurity caused by organized crime and the ideological politicization of national problems," the general said in a speech marking army day. "These are real threats to our democracy." Villas Boas caused a stir on April 3 when his criticism of "impunity" for corrupt politicians was seen as a direct appeal for the Supreme Court to authorize prison for ex-president Luiz Inacio Lula da Silva, who was jailed for corruption that same week. His comments come with the army playing a more high-profile role after President Michel Temer ordered the military to take over security in Rio de Janeiro, where police struggle to cope with violent crime. The general spoke Thursday alongside Temer, who himself has been charged twice with corruption but so far remains protected by Congress from having to face a trial. Brazil's military is highly respected but has kept largely clear of politics since the return of democracy in 1985 after two decades of dictatorship. Optimization Are you frustrated with a slow pc or a hard disk not performing as it should? Try SLOW-PCfighter to speed up boot time on a slow PC, or try a free scan of FULL-DISKfighter to recover space on a full disk. The latest offering is DRIVERfighter to update your driver updater. Get complete PC optimization and extend the life of your PC with these must-have software tools. Published: 19 April 2018 One-half of households have a health care centre under two kilometres away One-half of households in Mainland Finland have a health care centre under two kilometres away from the dwelling measured along streets and roads. On average, the distance from home to a health care centre is 3.8 kilometres. The nearest pharmacy is at most 1.5 kilometres away for one-half of households. On average, the distance to a pharmacy is 3.4 kilometres. These data derive from the data of Statistics Finland's Household Budget Survey from 2016. Distance from home to a health care centre based on the urban-rural classification of the area of residence in 2016, Mainland Finland (per cent of households) Health services are clearly closer in urban areas than in rural areas. In urban areas, health care centres and pharmacies are, on average, around two kilometres away. In rural areas, the average distance to a health care centre and pharmacy is around seven kilometres. The public health care centres of Mainland Finland are included in the examination of health care centres. Grocery stores are close by The nearest grocery store is, on average, two kilometres away from home. The distance is the same as in 2012. One-third of households have only under one-half kilometre to the nearest grocery store. Nearly four out of five households have the nearest grocery store at most 1.5 kilometres away from their home. Here, the nearest grocery store refers to the self-service shop, supermarket or department store located closest to the household. The nearest Alko alcohol shop is, on average, over five kilometres away. For one-half of households the distance to Alko is at most 2.2 kilometres. Among cultural services, the distance to the nearest library from the household's dwelling is, on average, 3.2 kilometres. For one-half of households the distance to the library is at most 1.6 kilometres. In urban areas, a majority of households (67 per cent) live less than two kilometres away from a library. The corresponding share in rural areas is less than one-half (45 per cent) of households. Mobile library stops are not included in the examination. The nearest post office is, on average, nearly three kilometres away from the home. The median shows that one-half of households are located at most 1.5 kilometres from the nearest post office. These figures apply to Mainland Finland. Day care centre closer than comprehensive school The distance to the nearest day care centre is, on average, 2.3 kilometres for households with children below school age. One-half of households with under school-age children live less than 750 metres away from a day care centre. The examination includes both public and private day care centres. The distance to the nearest primary level comprehensive school is, on average, 4.1 kilometres for households with children aged seven to twelve. The distance to a secondary school is longer, on average, 5.2 kilometres, when examining households with children aged 13 to 16. Distance data concerning all households are presented in the appendix tables. Services nearby in urban and rural centres Services are nearby in inner urban areas. The nearest grocery store and pharmacy are at walking distance, under one kilometre away. The distance to a library, health care centre and post office is, on average, slightly over one kilometre. The services are somewhat further away in outer urban areas. In peri-urban areas, the services are already several kilometres away. Distance from home to main local services based on the urban-rural classification of the area of residence in 2016, kilometres Area Service Health care centre1) Pharmacy Nearest grocery store Library Post office1) Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median Mean Median Whole country 3,8 1,9 3,4 1,5 2,0 0,8 3,2 1,6 2,9 1,5 Urban areas in all 2,3 1,8 1,8 1,3 1,0 0,6 1,9 1,4 1,9 1,4 Inner urban area 1,4 1,2 0,9 0,8 0,5 0,4 1,2 1,0 1,2 1,1 Outer urban area 2,6 2,4 1,9 1,8 0,9 0,8 2,1 2,0 2,0 1,8 Peri-urban area 5,0 4,4 4,7 3,8 2,8 2,0 4,2 3,2 3,8 2,9 Rural areas in all 7,2 3,4 7,0 2,8 4,5 1,8 6,1 2,5 5,4 2,4 Local centres in rural areas 2,4 1,9 2,0 1,5 1,2 0,9 2,0 1,6 1,9 1,6 Rural areas close to urban areas 8,4 6,2 8,1 6,4 5,3 3,4 7,0 4,8 6,6 4,7 Rural heartland areas 6,1 3,0 6,2 2,9 4,0 1,8 4,9 2,0 4,2 2,0 Sparsely populated rural areas 14,3 14,2 13,6 12,5 8,8 7,3 13,0 11,5 10,9 9,3 1) Mainland-Finland. In local centres in rural areas, many basic services are also nearby, on average, one to two kilometres away. Local centres in rural areas include population centres located outside the larger urban areas, small towns and large parish villages. In local centres, services are closer than in rural areas close to urban areas and in rural heartland areas. Rural heartland areas are relatively densely populated rural areas. In sparsely populated rural areas, distances to services are considerable. The nearest grocery store is, on average, less than ten kilometres away, but the distance to a pharmacy, health care centre, library and post office is over ten kilometres. The appendix tables show the distances of households to the following services: health care centre, library, day care centre, primary level comprehensive school and secondary school, upper secondary school, post office, letter box, ATM machine, food kiosk, restaurant, self-service shop, supermarket, department store, nearest grocery store, pharmacy and Alko. The distances between households and services by road have been calculated for the sample of the Household Budget Survey 2016 using geographic information (coordinates). A total of 3,673 households were interviewed for the Household Budget Survey in the course of 2016. Source: Households' consumption 2016, Statistics Finland Inquiries: Hannu Paakkonen 029 551 3229, Juha Nurmela 029 551 2548 Director in charge: Jari Tarkoma Publication in pdf-format (175.7 kB) Updated 19.4.2018 Referencing instructions: Official Statistics of Finland (OSF): Households' consumption [e-publication]. ISSN=2323-3028. 2016. Helsinki: Statistics Finland [referred: 3.10.2021]. Access method: http://www.stat.fi/til/ktutk/2016/ktutk_2016_2018-04-19_tie_001_en.html ASM International N.V. REPORTS FIRST QUARTER 2018 RESULTS Almere, The Netherland April 19, 2018 ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today reports its first quarter 2018 opeRating results (unaudited) in accordance with IFRS. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS EUR million Q1 2017 (restated) Q4 2017 (restated) Q1 2018 New orders 204.2 203.2 206.5 Net sales 156.8 181.5 159.0 Gross profit margin % 43.0 % 39.6 % 37.8 % Operating result 19.4 26.0 11.8 Result from investments (excluding amortization intangible assets resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013) 35.4 14.0 16.3 Amortization intangible assets (resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013) (5.8 ) (4.6 ) (3.8 ) Result from sale of ASMPT shares - 183.9 - Net earnings 40.4 215.9 15.0 Normalized net earnings (excluding amortization intangible assets resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013 and result from sale of ASMPT shares) 46.2 36.6 18.8 Prior quarter results were restated for the effects of IFRS 15. Please refer to Annex 2 for details. New orders at 206 million were at the highest level ever and 2% above the Q4 2017 level and 1% above the level of Q1 2017. Net sales for the first quarter 2018 were 159 million, a decrease of 12% compared to the restated previous quarter. Gross profit margin was 37.8% in Q1 2018. The margin was beside the effects of new product introductions impacted by sales mix and preparation for anticipated higher activity levels. Operating result decreased to 12 million compared to the previous quarter. The decrease is mainly the result of the lower sales level. Normalized net earnings for the first quarter 2018 decreased by 18 million compared to the fourth quarter 2017. COMMENT Commenting on the results, Chuck del Prado, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASM International said: "In Q1 we realized sales of 159 million and an order intake of 206 million. Our sales were at the lower end of our guidance while order intake was at the higher end of our guidance. The gross margin in Q1 at 38% was impacted by an unfavorable product mix and costs related to our preparation for further growth. We estimate our gross margin in Q2 to show a substantial improvement bringing it back again in the range of low to mid 40's." OUTLOOK For Q2, on a currency comparable level, we expect sales of 200-230 million, and we expect an order intake of 160-200 million. The broad ranges for Q2 reflect some uncertainty around the exact timing of individual tools. For 2018, market watchers currently expect the wafer fab equipment market to increase with, on average, a high single digit percentage. We aim to outgrow the wafer fab equipment market in 2018. SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS On April 24, 2017, ASMI announced a partial sale of a stake of approximately 5% in ASMPT, whereby ASMI indicated to use the proceeds of approximately 245 million for a new share buyback program. The start of this new program for a total amount of 250 million was announced on September 22, 2017. The program was completed on March 29, 2018. In total, 4,353,292 shares at an average price of 57.43, including expenses, were repurchased. On November 2, 2017, ASMI announced a partial sale of a stake of approximately 9% in ASMPT, whereby ASMI received proceeds of approximately 445 million. As announced on February 28, 2018, ASMI intends to distribute the proceeds through a new 250 million share buyback program and a capital return. ASMI remains committed to use excess cash for the benefit of its shareholders. On April 16, 2018, ASMI published the agenda for the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), to be held on May 28, 2018, which includes the following financial matters: proposal to declare a dividend of 0.80 per common share; proposal to distribute 4.00 per common share; and proposal to cancel 6 million treasury shares. Please refer to the AGM documents available on our website for more detailed information. About ASM International ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances. This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. ASM International will host an investor conference call and web cast on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 17:00 Continental European Time (11:00 a.m. - US Eastern Time). The teleconference dial-in numbers are as follows: United States: +1 929 477 0448 International: +44 (0)330 336 9105 The Netherlands: +31 (0)20 721 9251 Access Code: 9278937 A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at www.asm.com . CONTACT Investor contact: Victor Bareno T: +31 88 100 8500 E: victor.bareno@asm.com Media contact: Ian Bickerton T: +31 625 018 512 This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: ASM International NV via Globenewswire Latest update consolidates Celebrus as enterprise CDP of choice for banking and insurance sectors Integration with Adobe Experience Cloud augments leading digital marketing platform with streaming customer data New Audience Segmentation feature enables advanced targeting of individuals even when they have left a site or app Latest connector supports creation of Custom Audiences in Google and Facebook Hadoop capabilities extended with enhanced support for Hive open-source data warehouse SUNBURY-ON-THAMES, United Kingdom, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- D4T4 SOLUTIONS PLC has announced general availability for the latest release of its leading Celebrus Customer Data Platform (CDP). Continuing its commitment to creating the industry's most advanced unified system for customer data, Version 8 Update 19 delivers a host of new features that broaden the appeal of Celebrus to enterprises focused on deepening customer engagement. Adobe Experience Cloud integration for optimising digital marketing Celebrus has for many years enabled a unified stream of customer data for use in marketing applications. Now though, this capability is being offered to businesses that have invested in the leading marketing cloud applications from Adobe. Building on the capabilities already available in Adobe Experience Cloud, the Celebrus Adobe Connector streams data to allow Adobe clients to create genuine 1-to-1 personalisation and real-time customer experiences. Using Celebrus accelerates the availability of customer behaviour data to Adobe Experience Cloud applications and adds customer experience data for complete coverage of customer interactions across channels. Audience Segmentation for advanced targeting of individuals Website or mobile app visitors can now be engaged with at any time, whether they are online or not. Celebrus enables rules to be run that can regularly sweep offline users like those who have abandoned applications, purchasers who have lapsed for a defined period of time or customers who need to complete a transaction by a particular date. This creates opportunities to segment and target offline users for re-engagement or remarketing initiatives. Complete control over when and to whom these rules are run allows optimisation of these segmentation activities and identifies actions for each user like sending them a marketing e-mail, creating a lead for outbound contact or adding them to an audience for advert targeting. Custom Audience Connector for compliant profiling of Google and Facebook users The advanced profiling features of Celebrus are now being used to enhance the capabilities of leading ad networks, Google and Facebook. The new Custom Audience Connector for Google or Facebook supports these networks' audience-building features by enhancing their ability to profile users based on common attributes or similar interests. This profiling capability enables accurate and compliant retargeting and engagement of customers or can be used to build lookalike audiences for customer acquisition and brand awareness campaigns. Celebrus not only provides first-party compliant data to enable this feature, overcoming any privacy or permissions concerns that may exist, but it also enables this capability in real-time as well as orchestrating adverts with existing DMPs for the most immediate, accurate and effective campaigns. Backing for open-source analytics extended with support for Apache Hive The Celebrus Hadoop Data Loader has been hugely beneficial to clients needing to consume data at scale for advanced customer analytics. Now this capability has been extended by enabling the creation of tables for Apache Hive data warehouse users, accelerating and simplifying the landing of data into that environment. This feature speeds up the availability of Celebrus data for data science and analytics initiatives, enabling quicker customer insight and availability of data for marketing applications. Peter Kear, CEO of D4t4 Solutions Plc, said: "The Customer Data Platform is becoming a mainstream requirement for customer-centric businesses. Sophisticated enterprises are recognising that the success of their customer relationships depends on their ability to unify data from across channels and activate it for use in multiple business applications. Celebrus captures the very best GDPR-compliant customer data, making it available for marketers, Analysts, data scientists and insight experts to drive value throughout their organisations. I am proud that the latest developments to Celebrus enhance our leadership in this fast-growing space and extend our clients' capacity to operationalise their data for mutually-profitable customer relationships." The latest version of the Celebrus Customer Data Platform, Version 8 Update 19, is available immediately for new and existing Celebrus clients. About Celebrus Celebrus (celebrus.d4t4solutions.com) is the Customer Data Platform from D4t4 Solutions Plc. Celebrus captures the market's most complete picture of customer behaviour and experience, creating events and profiles in real-time for 1-to-1 personalisation and streaming analytics. Celebrus is quick and easy to deploy and connects to industry-standard data applications for customer insight and engagement. Celebrus also gives clients complete control by enabling best-in-class privacy compliance and flexible options for hosting data on-premise or securely in the cloud. Celebrus is used by global businesses in banking, insurance, retail, travel, automotive and telco industries, collaborating with leading industry partners to drive rapid transformation in customer engagement programmes. D4t4 Solutions (www.d4t4solutions.com) is ALL ABOUT THE DATA, providing comprehensive products and services that drive value from clients' data assets. D4t4 Solutions was established in 1985 and is listed on the AIM market of the London Stock Exchange (stock code: D4T4). Media Contacts Matthew Tod D4t4 Solutions Plc Tel: +44 (0)1932 893333 E-mail: matthew.tod@d4t4solutions.com David Hetling D4t4 Solutions Plc Tel: +44 (0)1932 893386 E-mail: david.hetling@d4t4solutions.com This information is provided by RNS The company news service from the London Stock Exchange Golar LNG enters into a Preliminary Agreement and exchanges Heads of Terms for an FLNG vessel for Phase 1A of the Greater Tortue / Ahmeyim Project, West Africa Golar LNG Limited ("Golar") announces today that it has entered into a Preliminary Agreement and exchanged Heads of Terms ("HoT") for a Charter Agreement with BP Mauritania Investments Ltd and BP Senegal Investments Ltd, (together "BP") in their capacity as block operators. The HoT represents a commitment between the Parties to translate the key commercial terms into a full agreement and proceed with Front End Engineering Design (FEED) on the provision of an FLNG vessel to support the development of Phase 1A of the Greater Tortue / Ahmeyin field, located offshore Mauritania and Senegal. The Preliminary Agreement creates obligations on Golar to progress FEED work and be ready for a vessel conversion from July 1, 2018 onwards; which would be contingent on Project FID, expected end 2018. The vessel conversion would take place at Keppel Shipyard Ltd ("Keppel") building on Keppel's delivery of the FLNG Hilli Episeyo, utilizing Black and Veatch Corporation's PRICO technology. The Preliminary Agreement also includes an option, but not an obligation, for BP on a second FLNG vessel. In the event that FID is not taken customary termination fees apply. Golar CEO Iain Ross commented "This agreement with BP underscores the value that Golar's unique FLNG proposition brings to monetizing gas reserves to LNG at competitive prices. The FLNG contract shows solid long-term economics on an unleveraged basis. We are looking forward to building on the successful conversion of the Hilli Episeyo for Greater Tortue / Ahmeyin." FORWARD LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains certain forward-looking statements concerning future events and Golar's operations, performance and financial condition. Forward-looking statements include, without limitation, any statement that may predict, forecast, indicate or imply future results, performance or achievements, and may contain the words "believe", "anticipate", "expect", "estimate", "project", "will be", "will continue", "will likely result", "plan", "intend" or words or phrases of similar meanings. These statements involve known and unknown risks and are based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies, many of which are beyond Golar's control. Actual results may differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially include, but are not limited to, those factors listed from time to time in the reports and other documents Golar files with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. New factors emerge from time to time, and it is not possible for Golar to predict all of these factors. Further, Golar cannot assess the impact of each such factor on its business or the extent to which any factor, or combination of factors, may cause actual results to be materially different from those contained in any forward-looking statement. Golar does not intend to release publicly any updates or revisions to any forward-looking statements contained herein to reflect any change in Golar's expectations with respect thereto or any change in events, conditions or circumstances on which any such statement is based. Hamilton, Bermuda 19 April, 2018 Enquiries: Golar Management Limited: + 44 207 063 7900 Stuart Buchanan This announcement is distributed by Nasdaq Corporate Solutions on behalf of Nasdaq Corporate Solutions clients. The issuer of this announcement warrants that they are solely responsible for the content, accuracy and originality of the information contained therein. Source: Golar LNG via Globenewswire Talking back to theory In the study Schultz and West teamed up with four Master's students at the SRC (one is now based at the James Hutton Institute in Aberdeen, and another at Universitat Autonoma in Barcelona), a Master's student at Stockholm Universitys Department of Human Geography, and researchers at the university's Department of Political Science. The research team conducted interviews with 177 participants in 11 biosphere reserves with the aim of enabling those directly involved in everyday biosphere reserve work to, as Schultz and West put it, talk back to theory. The reserves studied are situated in six countries: South Africa, Paraguay, Ecuador, Spain (including the Balearic Islands and the Canary Islands), Australia and Israel. More specifically, Schultz, West and colleagues wanted to explore how learning for sustainability in biosphere reserves is shaped by the practitioners interpretations of the meaning of biosphere reserves and their experiences of working with the concept. The study, they write, contributes to three pressing concerns in sustainability science: First, it demonstrates how politics and power influence learning for sustainability, by highlighting the values that underpin interpretations of biosphere reserves. Second, the study adds to the emerging literature on how sustainability scientists engage with society and might exert real world impact by showing how meaning shapes the translation of scientific concepts into action. Third, the study contributes with new knowledge about bridging organizations and intermediaries by highlighting how practitioners working in biosphere reserves connect different people and groups to foster learning and improved governance of complex sustainability challenges. "Our results illustrate the profoundly political nature of bridging work, in the sense that bridging often entails connecting and negotiating with actors that carry very different interests, knowledge, identities and levels of authority," they write. Taking practitioners seriously Another main result of the study is that biosphere reserves have been perceived in very different ways by practitioners around the world. For example, the study shows how biosphere reserves have been interpreted as everything from a badge to reward work done (El Hierro in the Canary Islands) to a social enterprise to generate employment (Cape West Coast in South Africa). "Taking practitioner understandings and experiences seriously is essential for reconciling expectations and centralized understandings of the biosphere reserve concept with outcomes on the ground in so doing dissolving the perceived gap between concept and reality," they write. A British couple who were unable to pay off a loan of almost 1.2 million euros secured against the value of their Marbella home are sleeping soundly again. It follows a Malaga court's decision that their remortgage had been missold by a Danish financial services company. The lender, Nykredit Realkredit A/S, had been foreclosing on the property and the home was due to be auctioned off in order to clear the debt just two days after the favourable sentence came through. The loan was first taken out in early 2007 with Nykredit Realkredit A/S, which had an office in Marbella, as a form of equity release by the married British pair in their 50s. According to Antonio Flores of Lawbird Legal Services, who represented the couple, they were subjected to aggressive advertising campaigns in order to take out a 30-year mortgage as a way of saving on inheritance tax. The financial product was marketed as a Spanish Equity Release Package, or SERP. The financial product was marketed as a Spanish Equity Release Package or SERP with aggressive advertising However instead of receiving the money for the loan, under the terms of the agreement, the amount was paid to an associated Danish company, Sydbank, with offices in Switzerland. That company then put it into an investment fund with the idea being that if the funds did well, the homeowners would received an income, including with enough money to pay off the loan. Despite this, the fund profit wasn't enough to keep up repayments and at the same time as they were launching legal action against the lender for misselling them the product, the lender was launching its own action against the couple in an attempt to take possession of the property. The provincial court in Malaga ordered both Nykredit Realkredit A/S and Sydbank (Schweiz) AG to pay the couple back 469,481 euros including interest. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- A 29-year-old Syracuse man is accused of having more than 9 grams of heroin in his van and a loaded handgun in his waistband Wednesday evening, according to Syracuse police. Randall Driver was charged after police officers responded to a suspicious vehicle complaint at about 6:02 p.m. in the parking lot of 608 First North St. Officers Daniel Rathbun and Evan Hepburn could see smoke coming from a gray Dodge Caravan in the parking lot and they recognized the smell of smoke from marijuana, Syracuse police said. The officers removed Driver from the vehicle and located a loaded Phoenix Arms HP22 .22 caliber semiautomatic handgun in his waistband. Driver was taken into custody without incident, police said. Rathbun conducted a search of the vehicle with his partner, K9 Alex. K9 Alex alerted to the odor of narcotics inside the vehicle. Police located 232 envelopes containing heroin, with an aggregate weight of over 9 grams. Driver faces the following charges: Criminal possession of a firearm Second-degree criminal possession of a weapon Third-degree criminal possession of a weapon Third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Seventh-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance Unlawful possession of marijuana. Driver was taken to the Onondaga County Justice Center pending his arraignment, police said. SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- Syracuse police union president Jeff Piedmonte today called for officers to be removed from the Syracuse City School District, according to a news release from the union. Piedmonte issued the statement in response to officer Vallon Smith being removed from Nottingham High School after his and another officer's arrest of a student last year was criticized by the Syracuse Citizen Review Board. "We do not need officers in the schools who will not be supported by the administration," Piedmonte said in the statement. The review board ruled Smith used excessive force, but the Onondaga County District Attorney's office exonerated Smith of wrongdoing in the arrest, which happened on Feb. 9, 2017. The arrest left 14-year-old Jabari Boykins with a broken elbow. Boykins family has filed a federal lawsuit against Smith, alleging the officer violated the teen's constitutional rights. Boykins had refused to leave the high school after being suspended. As Smith walked behind Boykins to escort him out, Boykins told Smith he wasn't going to leave. Smith grabbed Boykins and tried to arrest him as he pushed Boykins against the wall. According to Piedmonte, Boykins bypassed metal detectors and Smith did not know whether Boykins was armed. Neither of those details were included in Smith's police report. As Smith arrested Boykins with the other officer, Boykins threatened to spit at Smith, Piedmonte said. Smith pushed Boykins face to avoid being spit on and eventually took Boykins to the floor. Piedmonte accused the school district of coddling bad students who misbehave. "We have been told by many teachers they do not feel safe in the schools and that students' conduct is getting worse," Piedmonte said. The Police Benevolent Association awarded Smith with its Valor Award in 2017. In 2017, District Attorney William Fitzpatrick said Smith overreacted when he arrested activist Maurice 'Mo' Crawley. Crawley was videotaping Smith at a traffic stop. Smith took Crawley to the ground and arrested him. Smith was referred to as "Officer Friendly" by students at Nottingham High School and administrators respected Smith, Piedmonte said. Piedmonte said Boykins committed a crime by resisting arrest and that "whenever we use force it does not look pretty," elaborating that police are taught to gain control as quick as possible to avoid injuries to suspects or police. Smith used minimal force, Piedmonte said. The union president added that he looked forward to Smith's case being heard in federal court. "It isn't the students or parents that complained but outside influences," Piedmonte said, alleging in the release that professional protesters forced the school district to cave. He provided to further proof about the use of professional protesters. "The ACLU continues to campaign to have officers removed from the schools," he said. Piedmonte suggested that officers work around the schools instead and only enter to make arrests. "Syracuse City Schools went to a minimal discipline policy years ago and now they apparently want to support students resisting arrest," Piedmonte said. "The Syracuse PBA is encouraging the mayor, superintendent and Chief Fowler to remove the officers for everyone's safety. I'm sure the teachers will appreciate the show of support." SYRACUSE, N.Y. -- In the blocks surrounding Syracuse University, landlords and homeowners are natural enemies. They've spent countless hours and hundreds of thousands of dollars fighting each other in City Hall, in neighborhood meetings and in court. But now, after more than a decade of bad blood, leaders from both factions have brokered a truce. It's a simple deal: Landlords will keep out of certain areas if neighbors will quit organizing around laws that hurt their business. At the center of the negotiations was Ben Tupper, a neighbor and a landlord with a foot in both camps. Tupper runs more than 70 rental properties in the neighborhood. He also owns a home there. He's part of the Southeast University Neighborhood Associations (a non-profit community group) and the Syracuse Property Owners Association (a coalition of landlords). He's the only dual member. Over the last decade, SEUNA has backed laws intended to stymy the spread of student housing, which neighbors feel erodes the quality of life in the neighborhood. SPOA has sued the city over those laws and won. The landlords have tired of feeling vilified by neighbors and targeted by legislation. Tupper saw the whole fight as counterproductive. A few years ago, he drafted a letter to each group titled "The New Normal." He argued the two groups have more mutual interests than differences: They both want a better neighborhood. A lot of neighbors, he said, agreed. About 18 months ago, he brokered a peace to end what he described as a "civil war" between the residents and the landlords. SPOA agreed to stop converting houses in several owner-occupied parts of the neighborhood and SEUNA agreed to stop using City Hall to fight landlords. The deal lets neighbors preserve and expand home ownership near campus, SEUNA's president Michael Stanton wrote in the group's spring newsletter. In a show of good faith, Tupper sold a property at 206 Berkeley Dr. to an owner-occupant. He closes in two weeks. His father, Joseph Tupper, had purchased the property in 2015, before Ben fully took over the business. "We had screaming fights about why he shouldn't buy it," Ben Tupper said. "It's sticking your finger in the hornet's nest." Berkeley is one of the few streets in the area that has remained filled with owner-occupants, and is identified as an area landlords will keep out of. It's lined with large colonial homes with nicely manicured lawns. Stanton, the SEUNA president, lives there. As another part of the agreement, Tupper said, landlords will invest into the neighborhood money they've typically spent on lawyers. Last year, they donated $40,000 to purchase security cameras around Euclid Avenue. Tupper also organized a peace summit at Beer Belly Deli on Westcott Street last year. He opened a bar tab and invited community leaders and landlords. "The community groups get to sit down with landlords and see they don't have horns," he said. "It was awesome." Time and money wasted The battle in that neighborhood has often spilled into city government. SEUNA uses its organizing power to advance legislation aimed at landlords. The landlords use their financial resources to fight back. SEUNA has backed several ordinances that would limit the number of people who can live in a rental property. SPOA has sued twice and won. Those lawsuits have cost hundreds of thousands of dollars. Tupper wasn't a part of SPOA during the legal fights. He said the whole thing had become personal. He tried to stay out of it. When he learned how much the group had spent on lawyers, however, he decided to take action. "That money could make substantial changes to the neighborhood for everybody," he said. "Instead it got wasted and spent on a lawyer. It was crazy." The idea for a truce was born over tea with a SEUNA member, Tupper said. The truce isn't perfect. Both Stanton and Tupper agree there is mistrust on both sides. For example, city lawmakers passed a new rental inspection law last month, which could strain the peace. Tupper said SPOA is taking a "wait and see" approach on the law. He said he's been assured the law is not geared toward "good landlords." At SEUNA's annual meeting Wednesday, Ken Towsley, the city's director of code enforcement, said his office will focus on health and safety violations with the new inspections. A lot of the problem properties he's hoping to inspect right away are on the city's north side. That's where the inspections will start. "If this law is used as we're being told it's going to be used, then we have no problem with it," Tupper said. "If it's what [some landlords] fear, the truce will be dead." Rome, N.Y. -- The worker who was detained during a Rome farm raid Wednesday had a criminal conviction and had re-entered the country after being previously deported, said Adrian Smith, a spokesman for Immigration and Customs Enforcement. But Smith did not answer the question of whether the officers who came onto farmer John Collins' property, unannounced and without permission had any kind of a warrant. In a statement, Smith said the worker, Marcial DeLeon Aguilar, who is from Guatemala, had been deported from the U.S. three times, most recently in January 2014. He said Smith has a criminal convictions for reckless aggravated assault and for illegally re-entering the country after being deported. Smith did not provide information on when the assault occurred, or the circumstances. Smith also did not answer questions about whether the ICE officers had a warrant when they came onto Collins' property or about whether the officers disputed Collins' claims that they threw his phone and handcuffed him when he attempted to take video of what they were doing. The incident sparked a call for a federal investigation from U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY. Collins said he did not know Aguilar was in the country illegally and said he was "absolutely" never violent when he worked and lived on Collins' property. Aguilar's wife, Virginia, was caught crossing the border from Guatemala with the couple's children, about four months ago. She has applied for asylum and has been working with immigration officers, diligently, Collins said. He said that recently, when she was ordered to go to New York City and no one was available to drive her, Aguilar paid $750 for his wife to take a taxi-cab to the immigration appointment. Also, Aguilar has accompanied his wife, who is seven months pregnant, to at least two of her immigration appointments. Collins said Virginia and the couple's children are welcome to live on his property for as long as they like. And he said he's praying for a better outcome for Aguilar than the deportation that seems likely. The family is trying to obtain a lawyer for Aguilar. Collins said he heard a scuffle in his milk house, where Aguilar was milking the 140 cows the farm has. When he looked in, he saw three of what turned out to be eight officers who came onto his farm. He asked them for paperwork and they showed him none, he said. When asked about the warrant, Smith wrote, in an email, that "Aguilar was encountered during a enforcement operation in a publicly-accessible area. Federal immigration law clearly provides for the arrest of removable aliens based on administrative arrest warrants issued by authorized immigration officers." Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Have an idea or question? Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246 Le Moyne College associate biology professor Hilary McManus has a lot of favorite memories from the 22 days she spent traveling on-ship around Antarctica with 78 other women in STEM careers. The 2018 Homeward Bound voyage south brought together female scientists for an intensive series of leadership training and afternoons on the ice. McManus and her colleagues returned to their homes around the world better equipped to inform policy, manage others, maintain a lab, use new teaching techniques, live sustainably and work collaboratively, said McManus. After morning workshops, McManus and the other passengers explored continental Antarctica via Zodiacs. They visited different research facilities, explored the landscape and interacted with the native wildlife. With delight, McManus described the experience of walking among penguins. "We would walk along and if we stood in one place, the penguins would approach us," she said. "I actually had one nibble at my boots, stepped on my foot and walked between my legs." The women also saw humpback whales, orcas, seals, albatrosses and green vegetation. A part of Homeward Bound's initiative is to bring women together to realize the strength of their voices and to create a network of women in science who support one another. Homeward Bound actively confronts the societal influence that the organization believes keeps women from getting into STEM or rising in their careers. While on-ship, workshops, group discussions and traininig sessions were dedicated to this mission. "We have a half of the population that isn't represented equally," McManus said. "We had a lot of discussion and brainstorming of ways we can address this gender bias in STEM and and the leadership table. "There are external factors where this bias is just built into our society," she continued. "But also it's intrinsic, it's internal where we've grown up and developed these inner voices that a lot of times keep us from making those steps and leaning into the vulnerability that comes with leadership. "What we all walked away with was learning how to manage that inner voice [and] set it aside to allow us to make those steps." Washington, D.C. -- U.S. Sen. Kirsten Gillibrand, D-NY, is calling for a federal investigation into the actions of immigration officers at a Rome-area dairy farm. Deeply troubled by this report from Rome, NY. ICE officers should not be allowed to raid private property without a warrant. There must be an immediate investigation into what happened here. https://t.co/0eBEDAUQV8 Kirsten Gillibrand (@SenGillibrand) April 18, 2018 The farmer, John Collins, said seven officers came onto his property and several went into his milk house without permission this morning. The officers detained one of his workers, pinning the man up against the window in the process. When Collins asked what was going on, and for a warrant, he was given none, he said. When he followed the officers and attempted to video what they were doing, the officers handcuffed him and took his phone and threw if across the street, Collins said. A spokesman with ICE, contacted twice today about the incident, said he is looking into it, but had no statement. Marnie Eisenstadt writes about people, life and culture in Central New York. Have an idea or question? Contact her anytime: email | twitter | Facebook | 315-470-2246 Onondaga County District Attorney William Fitzpatrick deserves praise for his daring, creativity and foresight 16 years ago to indict the DNA of the masked man who sexually assaulted a Solvay child at gunpoint on her way to school in February 1997. The crime shook this community to its core. In 2002, as the five-year statute of limitations ticked down, and with no suspect in sight, Fitzpatrick decided to try something that had never been done in Onondaga County. He would indict the attacker's unique genetic profile. That way, if and when a DNA match was found, the DA would be able to prosecute the case. Judge Joseph Fahey, now retired, signed the warrant. Fitzpatrick's Hail Mary pass landed this week. A DNA match led to a name: Jack Doolittle, a former Onondaga County jail deputy who had gotten into trouble with the law and had been required to submit his DNA to the state database. On Tuesday, 21 years after the crime and 16 years after the DNA indictment, Doolittle was formally charged with two counts of sodomy (specifically oral sex), attempted rape, assault, criminal possession of a weapon, and other charges. At a court appearance, Doolittle's lawyer entered a "not guilty" plea on his behalf. And in the courtroom to see it was the victim, now 33 and a mother herself. Justice for her was delayed but, thanks to Fitzpatrick, it will not be denied. David Chavern is chief executive officer of the News Media Alliance, a trade organization representing 2,000 newspapers in the United States and Canada. By David Chavern ARLINGTON, Va. -- Every day at the News Media Alliance headquarters, a stack of newspapers arrives for myself and the staff. But with the Department of Commerce and the International Trade Commission currently considering tariffs on Canadian newsprint, those days of screen-free reading could be coming to an end. The fact that newsprint is being threatened is the work of one newsprint mill in the Pacific Northwest, NORPAC. In August 2017, NORPAC petitioned the United States Department of Commerce to begin applying tariffs to newsprint imported from Canada, claiming the imported paper was harming the U.S. newsprint industry. But NORPAC is not acting in the best interests of newsprint consumers or the U.S. paper industry at large -- they are acting in their own interest and no one else's. The buying and selling of newsprint has always been regional without regard for the border. Consumers of newsprint -- from newspaper and book publishers to telephone directory manufacturers -- tend to buy newsprint in their region, close to their printing operations. The printers who typically utilize Canadian newsprint are those in the northeast and Midwest, where there are currently no U.S. mills operating. But those regions are not newsprint deserts because of unfair trade by Canadian paper mills. Rather, newsprint mills shut down or converted to producing other, more profitable paper products when the demand for newsprint fell, something that has been happening steadily for decades. Since 2000, the demand for newsprint in North America has dropped by 75 percent. But affordable Canadian paper has helped keep the printed news alive and flourishing well into the 21st century. With new tariffs, many smaller newspapers will feel their belts tightening. The combination of preliminary countervailing and antidumping duties increases the cost of imported newsprint by as much as 32 percent, and a number of newspapers have already experienced price increases and a disruption in supply. If the International Trade Commission and the Department of Commerce make these tariffs permanent in the coming months, it could lead some small local publishers to cut their print product entirely -- or even shut their doors. Some, like NORPAC, may argue that by imposing duties on Canadian imports we're saving American jobs and boosting our own economy, but while that may sometimes be true for other industries, the opposite is true of newsprint. What we're seeing with the newsprint tariffs is not a government acting to try to better the economy for its citizens. Instead, it is "political arbitrage" by one private investment group -- where they are effectively looking to use the U.S. government to tax local and community newspapers across the United States in order to bolster their own bottom line. When considering whether to take NORPAC's claims seriously, the Department of Commerce excluded input from U.S. newsprint mills owned by Canadian companies -- specifically Resolute Forest Products and White Birch. Excluding manufacturers who, during the period of investigation, had three functioning newsprint mills in the U.S. because they have sister mills in Canada shows an unwillingness to understand the borderless newsprint industry and the restructuring that has taken place in recent decades. If the tariffs on Canadian newsprint are allowed to stand, we're not only risking a centuries-old relationship with our neighbors to the north, but we're putting our own U.S. news industry in jeopardy. While the big national and regional papers may have less trouble finding the funds to keep their print editions coming, we could see small publishers lose footing, and those tiny local papers are some of the most vital members of our news community. Under the right conditions, those papers can find a way to maintain their footing, but if the newsprint industry can't support them, those communities will become news deserts, and that's a future none of us want. We may not be able to save the entire industry by keeping tariffs off our paper, but we can keep it thriving while we re-position ourselves for the years to come. Having affordable newsprint will help us do that. WASHINGTON -- U.S. Sen. Charles Schumer plans to introduce legislation that would decriminalize marijuana under federal law, allowing states to decide how to regulate the drug. Schumer, D-N.Y., told Vice News that he will author a bill in the next week that would bring about a landmark shift in federal drug policy. "Ultimately, it's the right thing to do," Schumer said in an interview that will air at 7:30 p.m. today on Vice News Tonight on HBO. "If smoking marijuana doesn't hurt anybody else, why shouldn't we allow people to do it and not make it criminal?" The legislation also would represent a significant policy shift for Schumer, who until now had supported the legal use of medical marijuana and giving states the right to legalize the sale of pot. BREAKING: Senator Chuck Schumer (@SenSchumer) changes position and says he will submit a bill aimed at decriminalizing marijuana. See the exclusive interview on VICE News Tonight at 7:30PM on @HBO pic.twitter.com/2FvF7IvMQS VICE News (@vicenews) April 19, 2018 Schumer, the Senate Democratic leader, said his bill would remove marijuana from the list of controlled substances enforced by the federal Drug Enforcement Administration. Schumer said he would also support legalizing marijuana in New York state, adding each state should be allowed to decide on its own. Asked if he had ever smoked marijuana, the 67-year-old Brooklyn resident said he had not. When pressed, he added, "Maybe, I'm a little old, but who knows?" Contact Mark Weiner: Email | Twitter | Facebook | 571-970-3751 The construction of a large hospital in downtown Utica has been a hot issue in the community. The plan for the Mohawk Valley Health System calls for a $480 million hospital on a 25-acre parcel in downtown Utica. The plan is contentious because owners of private buildings would need to make way to accommodate the hospital. Last week the plan cleared a hurdle in which state officials agreed a new hospital was needed. Next up is negotiating with property owners to get them to move, possibly through imposition of eminent domain. The news set the stage for a public spat between Rep. Claudia Tenney and Oneida County Executive Anthony J. Picente Jr. -- both Republicans. Here are their Facebook posts and press releases: Politicians in the state and some on the local level have a long record of abusing taxpayer money by using that money to... Posted by Rep. Claudia Tenney on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 Once again, Claudia Tenney speaks before thinking. Obviously, she doesnt care about the health care of her... Posted by Anthony J. Picente Jr. on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 And then, Thursday morning, Tenney replied with this: CONGRESSWOMAN CLAUDIA TENNEY FIRES BACK AGAINST COUNTY EXECUTIVE ANTHONY J. PICENTE, JRS REMARKS ON EMINENT DOMAIN New Hartford, NY - Today, Claudia Tenney for Congress responded to Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente's petty personal attack and disparaging remarks on the issue of eminent domain in the footprint of the proposed Downtown Utica hospital site "The level of hysterical name calling leveled by the County Executive in response to my call for transparency and careful deliberation before exercising the power of eminent domain against tax paying businesses reveals the presence of a potential abuse of power, " said Congresswoman Claudia Tenney." Anthony Picente, Anthony Brindisi and other public officials involved in this project have operated in a shroud of secrecy from day one. Let's not forget that Anthony Brindisi referred to his constituents who dared asked for this same transparency as 'idiots.' Clearly, these politicians believe that ripping private property away from tax paying businesses and increasing the tax bills of already overburdened residents of Oneida County is the pathway to quality healthcare. Picente and Brindisi have a proven record as willing shills for strong-arming through Cuomo-style "economic development," corporate welfare schemes to appease the likes of tax-cheat Ray Halbritter and their Albany insider friends. Is the hospital project really about improving healthcare in our community, or is it about using the taxpayer's money, once again, to build a $43 million parking garage to expand already wealthy Halbritter's cash ambitions into Utica for yet another casino?" NOTE: Congresswoman Claudia Tenney recently: * Co-sponsored and voted to pass the STOP School Violence Act to help keep our schools safe. * Announced over 8 million dollars in federal funds to repair and reconstruct highways and roads that suffered severe damage as a result of the 2013 flooding and cosponsored and voted to pass FEMA reforms that would ensure our communities receive vital federal resources following severe flooding. * Announced her support for reforming the Margin Protection Program (MPP) to provide farmers with relief and led a letter from members of the NY delegation calling for fairer trade agreements to help dairy farmers struggling with the unfair high cost of milk. We'll update if Picente responds. Former "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon says she's serious about her run for governor of New York, despite never holding an elected office before. The 2018 gubernatorial candidate appeared on "The Late Show" Wednesday night and rejected Stephen Colbert's comparison to President Donald Trump. Trump made a successful White House bid in 2016 but was previously only known as a billionaire real estate mogul and a reality TV star. "I don't think there's anything inherently wrong with celebrity in politics. It gives you a platform," Nixon said. "But it's what you do with that platform." Nixon said the issues she's focused on include campaign financing reform, funding for schools, criminal justice reform, LGBTQ equality, and women's rights. "I'm running because I'm a lifelong New Yorker and I love this state and I just know we could do so much better," the Emmy, Tony and Grammy-winning actress added. Nixon is challenging Gov. Andrew Cuomo in the upcoming Democratic primary, but said she doesn't see Cuomo as a Democrat. "We're a blue state, we're a proudly Democratic state, but we have a governor in there who governs like a Republican," Nixon told Colbert. "He says he wants to work with the Republicans, but often times it looks more like he works for the republicans... He's pleasing his big-money donors." Nixon especially took a shot at Cuomo when she explained why her campaign posters and website say "Cynthia for New York" and not "Nixon for New York." "It's not the alliteration I'm really hiding from. My mother used to say, she grew up in World War II with a father named Adolf, and she lived in the 1970s with a husband named Nixon," she explained. Nixon's father was a radio journalist when President Richard Nixon, no relation, resigned from office in 1974. "I am aware of the dubious nature of my last name. But I have to say, if given the choice, I'd rather be the good Nixon than the bad Cuomo." Orange Motor Co., a longtime auto dealership in Albany, has filed a lawsuit against Carl W. Keegan, for allegedly taking more than $700,000 of the company's money for his own use, according to The Daily Gazette. Keegan served as the company's vice president and general manager of the Ford and Mazda dealership. The lawsuit filed March 23 in state Supreme Court in Albany County alleges that from Jan. 1, 2014, to May 2, 2017, Keegan took $724,126.50 from Orange Motor, according to the report. "It's a lie," Keegan said to the Albany Business Review by telephone on Wednesday. "I can't talk about it." Former exec accused of $724K theft from Orange Motor Co. in #Albany: https://t.co/aQhLMFjMbk pic.twitter.com/YAyyekvtCQ Daily Gazette (@dgazette) April 19, 2018 Orange Motor Co. was founded in 1917. Keegan worked at the company for more than 40 years appearing in TV commercials and radio ads. According to the Albany Business Review, he started out working for his father at his garage in Albany learning about engines. Keegan previously worked at Williams Chevrolet in Saratoga Springs, Marsh Hallman Chevrolet in Albany, and American Motors in New Jersey. He spent seven years with Sears before coming to Orange Motor in 1973. Orange Ford and Mazda became DePaula Ford and Mazda on May 5, 2017, after it was bought by the DePaula Auto Group. The lawsuit questions the period covering the last 40 months of its 100-year existence, according to the Gazette. Among the requests include a trial, payment of damages of at least $724,126.50, in addition to attorney's costs, fees and interest, and more. Charles Touhey started Orange Motor since the early stages of the automotive retail industry. Later, his son Carl E. Touhey ran the company and died in 2013 at age 95. ALBANY, N.Y. (AP) -- New York state will restore the voting rights of parolees under an executive order issued Wednesday by Democratic Gov. Andrew Cuomo that will impact as many as 35,000 New Yorkers who have served time for felonies. The move adds New York to a list of more than a dozen states and the District of Columbia that give convicted felons the right to vote once they have completed their prison sentences. Republicans immediately slammed the move as bad public policy and potentially illegal, since Cuomo chose to circumvent the Legislature. Cuomo said the voting prohibition disproportionately impacts minorities, noting that nearly three-fourths of those currently on parole in New York are black or Latino. He said giving people back the right to vote can be one way of helping them re-establish ties to their communities as law-abiding citizens. "It is unconscionable to deny voting rights to New Yorkers who have paid their debt and have re-entered society," Cuomo said. "This reform will reduce disenfranchisement and will help restore justice and fairness to our democratic process. Withholding or delaying voting rights diminishes our democracy." The restoration of voting rights won't be automatic. Instead, Cuomo will direct state corrections officials to review a list of former inmates now subject to parole supervision. Those officials will have the discretion to prevent certain offenders from regaining their rights. Criminal justice reform advocates hailed the move. Myrna Perez, deputy director of the Brennan Center for Justice at New York University Law School, called it "an enormous step forward." By issuing an executive order, Cuomo was able to sidestep the state Legislature, where the Republican leaders of the state Senate could have blocked the move. State GOP Chairman Ed Cox called the order "liberal lunacy," while Senate Republican Leader John Flanagan, R-Long Island, said he believes the move was illegal since it circumvented lawmakers. Both suggested Cuomo had political motives for the action. "I'm dumfounded," Flanagan told reporters at the Capitol Wednesday. "It's bad public policy, it circumvents the law. It basically says there's no need for a Legislature whatsoever. ... This will allow rapists and murderers to be given voting privileges that they don't deserve." Cuomo faces a spirited primary challenge this fall from "Sex and the City" star Cynthia Nixon, a liberal activist who has accused Cuomo of failing to follow through on liberal promises during his two terms as governor. On Wednesday, her campaign said the executive order was more evidence that he's feeling the pressure from the left. "Now he's scared of communities all across New York who want to replace him with a real Democrat," Nixon said in a statement. "We don't buy the governor's new song-and-dance routine." Flint, Mich. -- A Michigan woman allegedly stuffed her infant twins into a suitcase on Wednesday and left them on the curb with a pile of garbage. The incident occurred when Child Protective Services officials came to take custody of the woman's four children at a home, according to ABC 12 in Flint. Police were on hand to assist. As authorities approached, the woman loaded the 11-month-old twin girls into a suitcase and ran outside with it, ABC 12 said. She dropped the suitcase and then ran off to another home down the street. The woman left the suitcase on the curb with the garbage, according to NBC 25 in Michigan. The mother has a history of mental illness, police said. Police found the twins after searching the area, according WNEM in Michigan. Two other boys, ages 3 and 4, were not harmed in the incident. Police also caught up with the woman a short time later and took her into custody. She and all the children involved were hospitalized. The mother is undergoing a psychological evaluation. The children are in good condition, ABC 12 said. The woman has not been charged yet. Police said the investigation is continuing and she may face charges later, according to ABC 12. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 Fresno, Calif. -- A California professor called Barbara Bush an "amazing racist" on Twitter and then taunted her critics with her status as a tenured faculty member. "I'll never be fired," Randa Jarrar, a professor at California State University Fresno, tweeted, according to The Washington Post. Jarrar's account is now set to private. She is an English professor at the school. Jarrar began tweeting about Bush within an hour of the official announcement of her death on Tuesday, according to USA Today. She went on for over five hours. Randa Jarrar (Fresno State University) "Barbara Bush was a generous and smart and amazing racist who along with her husband, raised a war criminal," she wrote. "[Expletive] outta here with your nice words." Jarrar also called Bush a "witch" and wished "the rest of her family to fall to their demise," according to USA Today. She later wrote: "If you'd like to know what it's like to be an Arab American Muslim American woman with some clout online expressing an opinion, look at the racists going crazy in my mentions right now," according to The Fresno Bee. She also said she always felt protected and at home at Fresno State, the Bee said. Jarrar is a novelist, short story writer, essayist and translator, according to the Bee. She grew up in Kuwait and Egypt and moved to the United States after the Gulf War. Twitter users called on Fresno State President Joseph Castro to address the comments. He released a statement saying Jarrar's words were "contrary to the core values of the university." He extended his condolences to the Bush family and said the university shared the "deep concerns" over Jarrar's comments. He also noted that she made them as a private citizen and not a representative of the school. Jarrar is not currently teaching any courses, USA Today. She began a leave of absence from the university earlier in the spring. Fresno State officials are moving forward with a review of Jarrar. Her tenured status may not save her job, according to USA Today. A university official said there are certain processes to follow, but a tenured faculty member can be fired, according to USA Today. Contact Kevin Tampone anytime: Email | Twitter | Google + | 315-454-2112 BOERNE, Texas (AP) -- The Southwest Airlines pilot being lauded as a hero in a harrowing emergency landing after a passenger was partially blown out of the jet's damaged fuselage is also being hailed for her pioneering role in a career where she has been one of the few women at the controls. Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first female fighter pilots in the U.S. Navy, was the captain and piloting the Dallas-bound Flight 1380 when it made an emergency landing Tuesday in Philadelphia, according to her husband, Dean Shults. One of the engines on the Boeing 737 exploded while the plane was traveling 500 mph (800 kph) at 30,000 feet (9144 m) with 149 people on board. Shrapnel hit the plane and passengers said they had to rescue a woman who was being blown out of a damaged window. The woman later died of blunt force trauma to her head, neck and torso. Shults calmly relayed details about the crisis to air traffic controllers, and passengers commended her handling of the situation. In a statement late Wednesday, Shults and the other pilot on board, First Officer Darren Ellisor, said they felt like they were simply doing their jobs. "On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss," the two pilots said in the statement, adding that their "hearts are heavy." Friends at Shults' church in Boerne, Texas, about 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, said Wednesday they were not surprised after listening to the recording and reading media reports about her actions. "Everybody is talking about Tammie Jo and how cool and calm she was in a crisis, and that's just Tammie Jo," Rachel Russo said. "That's how she's wired." Shults was commissioned into the Navy in 1985 and reached the rank of lieutenant commander, said Commander Ron Flanders, the spokesman for Naval Air Forces in San Diego. Women aviators were excluded from combat missions until the month after Shults got off active duty in March 1993, but Flanders said Shults flew during Operation Desert Storm trainings as an aggressor enemy pilot. "While we at that time had an exclusion, she was in fact helping male pilots hone their skills," Flanders said. Veteran Navy combat aviator Linda Maloney said that she and Shults were among a small group of women who worked to see the combat exclusion rule repealed. "Obviously it was frustrating," said Maloney, who became among the first women to join a combat military flying squadron and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf. "We go through the same training that the guys do, and our hope was the Navy would allow us to fly in combat at some point." Shults was featured in Maloney's book "Military Fly Moms" along with the stories and photos of 69 other women U.S. military veterans. Russo and Staci Thompson, who has known Shults for about 20 years and was nanny to her two children when they were small, said she "loved" her military career but has alluded to frustrations and challenges that came with it. They also said she embraced those experiences to make her stronger and guide her into a role as a mentor to young female pilots or girls thinking about a military career. "She learned a lot about overcoming things as a woman in a male-dominated field," Russo said. Shults is from New Mexico, according to a personnel file from the Navy, and was a 1983 graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, where she earned degrees in biology and agribusiness. Shults' brother-in-law, Gary Shults, said her husband also is a Southwest pilot and told him she made the emergency landing. "She's a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack," said Gary Shults, a dentist in San Antonio. "My brother says she's the best pilot he knows." Candidates named in city and school elections With the passing of the filing deadline for the upcoming city and school election, several area governing bodies including the City of Tama and ... This page no longer exists or may have been moved.If you believe this is a mistake please email A French man is the first person to undergo two face transplants. Jerome Hamon's first face transplant had to be removed last year after his body began to reject his face due to an antibiotic that he took. Hamon has been recovering from the procedure for the last three months. Another Face Transplant Jerome Hamon underwent his first face transplant in 2010. But in 2015, he suffered from a cold and was given an incompatible antibiotic. The antibiotic clashed with the immunosuppressive treatment that he was given to keep his body from rejecting his face. Hamon began to notice in 2016 that his body was beginning to reject his face. He began to suffer from necrosis death of body tissue and it was removed in November 2017. After having the face removed, he had to wait for two months while a compatible donor was found for him. Without his face, Hamon was not able to see, hear, or speak until January when he underwent a second face transplant. This is because Hamon was without eyelids, ears, or skin. He was also not able to eat. To communicate, he was able to turn his head slightly and sometimes write. During this time, Hamon stayed at the Georges-Pompidou hospital in Paris. Hamon suffers from neurofibromatosis type 1. It is a genetic condition that causes his face to become disfigured. Hamon's face is still motionless and doctors haven't finalized his recovery yet. His skull, skin, and features still have to be fully aligned. He joked that while he is 43 years old, the face that he received is 22 years old, so he is 22 years old again. Hamon's first face was donated by a 60-year-old. Laurent Lantieri, Henri-Mondor Hospital's head of plastic surgery, performed both of Hamon's facial transplants. This surgery gives other doctors hope that patients who have undergone a face transplant are able to have a backup surgery. He was previously worried that without skin, Hamon would be more susceptible to an infection, and possibly a rejection of the face altogether. History Of Face Transplants The first face transplant took place in November 2005 in Amiens, France. The recipient was Isabelle Dinoire. Dinoire had her nose, lips, chin, and some of her cheeks removed when she was attacked by her dog in May 2005. The first full facial transplant was performed in Barcelona, Spain in March 2010. The patient was a farmer who accidentally shot himself in the face in 2005. It took 24 hours to replace his entire face. Doctors managed to transplant the jaw, nose, cheekbones, muscles, teeth, and eyelids. There have been around 40 face transplants throughout the world. People with new faces have to take immunosuppressant drugs for the rest of their lives. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Google has responded to a recent study's allegations that Android apps being offered on the Play Store secretly collect kids' data. Facebook was just in a difficult position as lawmakers questioned the social network company's supposedly underhanded methods in collecting personal data. Meanwhile, the report concerning the search company is claiming that some apps are continuously monitoring children's online activities. The outcome of the research does not exactly say if the firm is aware of the alleged practices. However, it could mean that the developers might need to implement a better screening process for apps submitted to its online marketplace. Responding To The Allegations The company confirmed that it was genuinely alarmed by the research claims and that it will conduct an internal investigation of its own. Children under 13 years old are protected by a federal law that ensures their privacy is protected. Therefore, the firm could potentially be liable for violations of the law if ever the allegations are proven to be true. Google Defends Their Side Sources reported that a spokesperson from the company informed Tom's Guide about Google's response to the supposed violation. "We're taking the researcher's report very seriously and looking into their findings. Protecting kids and families is a top priority, and our Designed For Families program requires developers to abide by specific requirements above and beyond our standard Google Play policies. If we determine that an app violates our policies, we will take action. We always appreciate the research community's work to help make the Android ecosystem safer," said the company spokesperson. Research Details And Results The study was apparently conducted by researchers from the International Computer Science Institute in Berkeley, California. A total of 5,855 Android apps were used for the study and were then analyzed for any tendency of collecting or monitoring the users' online behavior. The results of the research supposedly marked 57 percent of the apps were potentially capable of such actions. Moreover, the same study revealed that Facebook's API or application programming interface, which is being used by 92 percent out of 1,280 Android apps, might be in violation of COPPA (Children's Online Privacy Protection Act) which was established in 1998. COPPA governs the consent and privacy requirements for websites or online services that provide service to individuals under the age of 13. Right now, more users are getting more aware of their privacy rights, which means that companies that take advantage of loopholes to collect information will have a lot of explaining to do when the issue reaches the court. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A Canadian homeopath and naturopath used saliva from a rabid dog to treat a toddler with behavioral problems, but while she called it a successful treatment, experts have their doubts. Anke Zimmerman diluted the saliva and gave it to the four year-old boy who was then exhibiting symptoms close to what she described as "slightly rabid-dog state." Zimmerman claims that the homemade concoction worked for the boy's "aggressive" behavior, however, experts and scientists are questioning her theory and are also concerned about the potential effects this could have on the child in question. Zimmerman's Home-Made Remedy The young child, whose name is Jonah, was apparently bitten by a dog when he was two years old. His mother brought him to Zimmerman for the treatment which was approved by Health Canada. Zimmerman claimed in her notes that his mother described Jonah's past behavior as him acting aggressively during school, growling, and having trouble sleeping at night due to fear of zombies and werewolves. Zimmerman continued in her notes that anyone who may have been bitten by animal that had a rabies vaccination or did not could potentially suffer from an altered state similar to someone who has been infected by rabies. Zimmerman then proceeded to give Jonah the diluted homemade antidote to combat rabies with rabies. The naturopath stated that Jonah's growling decreased and his behavior improved drastically. Is Zimmerman Barking Mad? Many health experts were surprised that Health Canada approved the method and are now fearful that this new remedy could possibly prevent actual medical treatments. "There's no way I can understand why we would have anything that was meant to be saliva of a rabid dog approved for use in this country. I also have concerns that this would be used for treating what sounds very much like a behavioral issue in a young child," health officer Dr. Bonnie Henry stated. Stephen Hoption Cann from the University of British Columbia also questioned Zimmerman's approach and suggested that using rabies for such purposes is "clearly lacking." Professor Timothy Caulfield from the University of Alberta also stated that Zimmerman's claims are scientifically "absurd." 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A British man who deliberately tried to infect his partners with HIV has been found guilty and sentenced to life in prison. Daryll Rowe will serve a minimum term of 12 years in jail. The 27-year-old reportedly sabotaged the condoms he used and had unprotected sex with ten men. Rowe would "taunt" his partners afterwards with the fact that he was infected with the disease. Out of the ten men Rowe slept with, five of them contracted HIV. A 'Risk' To Society The trial began in October 2017, with Judge Christine Henson QC presiding. Witnesses came forward and spoke about their sexual encounters with Rowe and also described the text messages they received from Rowe. One witness stated that Rowe said to him after they had sex the he hoped he'd "enjoy his cum inside of him" and that he "ripped" the condom. The witness claimed he believed the sexual intercourse was protected. Another witness came forward and stated he received a text from Rowe that read: "Oops, I have HIV, Lol." Another man came forward with the hundreds of messages he received from Rowe in which the latter admitted he put the man at risk but then also denied it. Other witnesses stated that they were led to believe Rowe was using protection but Rowe either took the condom off or tampered with it. After six months, Judge Henson declared Rowe to be a "risk" to society and stated that Rowe had a deliberate campaign to infect other men with the virus. Rowe was convicted of five counts of bodily harm with intent and five counts of attempted bodily harm. Rowe's Story Rowe, who was a hairdresser, is the first man in England to be charged with such a crime. Rowe was diagnosed with HIV in April 2015 but refused to seek treatment for it. The British citizen reportedly drank his own urine to try and cure himself of the disease. "I never had in my mind before, during, or after any of the sex that I wanted to pass on HIV to anybody," Rowe stated. Rowe is described as an AIDS denialist, a person who does not believe that HIV leads to AIDS and believes the treatment is a "pharmaceutical conspiracy." 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The heavily rumored iPhone SE 2 could be nearing its release, that is if a new filing at a European regulatory agency is any indication. The Eurasian Economic Commission has an Apple filing for 11 new iPhone models, which are expected to make their debut soon. One of these models is anticipated to be the iPhone SE 2, replacing the 2-year-old iPhone SE as the new low-cost option in Apple's smartphone lineup. French blog Consomac is the first to report on this matter, hinting at a release in the near future. It's odd to see as many as 11 new model numbers, none of which has been used before for any existing Apple devices. They may be just slight variations of upcoming devices for different regions, but it remains unclear for now. New iPhones At EEC For those unfamiliar with the matter, the EEC is in charge of authorizing devices for Russia, Armenia, and other countries. Apple's filing with the EEC doesn't mention any specific model names, just numbers, but the EEC gave the green light for several iPhones to hit the market. The EEC has a strong track record when it comes to providing accurate model information about Apple's upcoming devices, and it usually makes the filings public a few days or weeks before the products' release. The same French blog found EEC regulatory filings for two iPad models back in February, ahead of the March release of Apple's sixth-generation iPad models. The timing of the latest filing indicates that an iPhone SE 2 could make its debut soon enough, and a spring unveiling would make sense. iPhone SE 2 Coming Soon? Apple launched its original iPhone SE on March 21, 2016, and hasn't released a refreshed model since. An upgrade seems long overdue, and rumors of an iPhone SE 2 have been making rounds for a good while now. The original iPhone SE also made its debut on its own, in the spring, not alongside other iPhones revealed in the fall. If the company wants to follow a two-year upgrade cycle, and keep the lower-end model separate from higher-end releases, an imminent announcement seems likely. iPhone SE 2 Rumors Previous rumors indicated that the iPhone SE 2 would start shipping sometime in the first half of this year and come as a Made in India product manufactured by Wistron. Rumors also hinted at an A10 chip and a number of other improvements, including a glass back like the iPhone X and the iPhone 8, to favor wireless charging. Well-connected analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, however, said back in January that Apple would not have the resources to come up with a new model now. The analyst added that if the company did release a new iPhone SE model this year, it would only be an iterative upgrade with minor improvements, not major enhancements such as wireless charging or 3D sensing. Nevertheless, a faster processor should still be in the cards, and it should be notably cheaper than Apple's higher-end iPhone models. The existing iPhone SE is currently available at $349 or $449 in 64 GB and 128 GB configurations, respectively, and the iPhone SE 2 should come along the same lines, replacing the original model. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 has started receiving the latest Android security patch for the month of April, ensuring that it's up to date in terms of security. Unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 April Security Patch This version of the Galaxy S9 has model number SM-960F, and the April 2018 security update has started rolling out in Germany so far. The Galaxy S9+ has yet to receive the same treatment, but it should get the security patch sometime within the next few days. The update should also start rolling out to unlocked Samsung Galaxy S9 units in other markets soon enough, but no timeline is currently available. Oddly enough, the update seems to be extremely small in size, weighing in at just 60 MB. For the sake of comparison, previous security updates for the Samsung Galaxy S8 or the Galaxy Note 8 weighed as much as 400 MB, so that's a dramatic decrease in size for the latest security patch. This might be due to the new Project Treble, which heralds great things in terms of upgrades. Monthly Android Security Updates For those unfamiliar with the concept, these monthly security updates aim to keep Android devices up to date and protected against the latest threats. It all started with the Stagefright scare, which prompted Google to take additional measures to ensure Android is secure. Google releases new security patches at the beginning of each month, but it's then up to the original equipment manufacturers to distribute the updates to their own devices. Some do it sooner, some do it later, and some apparently lie about it. Galaxy S9 Security The April security patch for the unlocked version of the Samsung Galaxy S9 fixes seven Android vulnerabilities deemed critical, and eight other vulnerabilities specific to Samsung's software. Samsung lists the update's release date as April 17 and the rollout is always gradual, so it might take a short while to reach more devices in more markets. Other than the security patch, the update brings no changes to the Samsung Experience, or the Android 8.0 Oreo version that runs on the smartphone. As previously mentioned, no clear timeline is currently available for when the update will make its way to other markets, but Galaxy S9 users in other countries can manually check for the update's availability by accessing their smartphone's Settings Software Update > Download updates manually. Those who prefer getting it automatically can just wait for the OTA notification prompting them to install the update. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. A new study has revealed that a sea turtle found in Alabama is a new species hailing back from the Late Cretaceous epoch. Ancestor Of Modern-Day Sea Turtles Modern-day sea turtles were once thought to have had only one ancestor of the Peritresius clade about 100 to 66 million years ago. The species called Peritresius ornatus lived only in North America albeit few fossils of the Peritresius from the Late Cretaceous epoch had been found in present day southeastern United States. In a study which was published in the journal PLOS ONE on April 18, researchers analyzed sea turtles fossils dating from between 83 and 66 million years ago that were collected from marine sediments in Mississippi and Alabama. New Species Of Peritresius Based on anatomical features, study researcher Drew Gentry, from the University of Alabama and colleagues identified some of these fossils as representing a new species of Peritresius, which they called Peritresius martini after the person who discovered these fossils: George Martin. The amateur collector and retired USDA soil scientist found the fossil in Lowndes County, Alabama, and decided to donate it to the Alabama Museum of Natural History. The fossils of P. martini helped scientists fill in a significant gap in the lineage that leads to modern sea turtles. They said that the species serves as an important missing link that directly links the living and extinct species. "Prior studies have suggested that Peritresius was monospecific, with a distribution restricted to Maastrichtian deposits in North America. However, new Peritresius specimens identified from Alabama and Mississippi, USA, show that the genus contains two taxa, Peritresius ornatus, and a new species Peritresius martini sp. nov," the researchers wrote in their study. Because Peritresius fossils from Cretaceous epoch had already been found in the southeastern United States, the findings show that Peritresius was distributed across a wider region than scientists previously thought. Much More To Learn About P. Martini Much about P. martini, however, is still a mystery because it is known only based on a partial shell and pelvis. The researchers said that they would be able to learn more about this species with the discovery of more complete fossils. "Without a skull or any of the rest of the skeleton, we don't really know much about how this species would have moved, what it ate or how it lived," Gentry said. "The only way to answer these questions is by finding more complete specimens." 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. NASA's planet-hunting satellite, TESS, is launched into space on Wednesday, April 18 at 6:51 p.m. ET, aboard the SpaceX Falcon 9 from Cape Canaveral. The original schedule was set on Monday, April 16, but the launch had to be postponed to allow for additional Guidance Navigation and Control check. The Falcon 9 rocket had a 30-second launch window. The Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite is a breakthrough in NASA's mission to further explore the universe. The $337-million TESS telescope will search for planets outside the solar system and possibly ones that can support life. Getting Help From The Moon TESS's mission extends for a period of two years. Aside from its fuel, scientists said the moon's gravity will help it stay on orbit for the duration of its mission. "The Moon and the satellite are in a sort of dance. The Moon pulls the satellite on one side, and by the time TESS completes one orbit, the Moon is on the other side tugging in the opposite direction. The overall effect is the Moon's pull is evened out, and it's a very stable configuration over many years," said Joel Villasenor, TESS instrument scientist at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology. For the first 60 days, TESS will establish its orbit and test its instruments before commencing the mission. NASA said it expects to find around 20,000 exoplanets with TESS's four wide-field cameras. However, TESS images will not necessarily pinpoint which of the confirmed exoplanets can sustain life. Instead, the data will be used by future space missions such as the James Webb Space Telescope, which is slated to launch in 2020, and ARIEL by the European Space Agency in 2028. How Is TESS Different? Prior to TESS, the American space agency used Kepler Space Telescope, which is reported to cover less than 1 percent of the sky and detect about 5,400 exoplanets. "Before Kepler launched, we didn't know for sure if Earth-sized planets existed. Kepler was a statistical survey that looked at a small patch of sky for [four] years and taught us that Earths are everywhere," Elisa Quintana, an astrophysicist at the NASA Goddard Center, said on a Reddit comment. TESS will scan 85 percent of the sky. Instead of looking at 3,000 light-years away like Kepler, it will focus on 200,000 stars that are a tenth of a distance from Earth. Project manager Jeff Volosin explained that TESS's ability to swing closer to the planet will allow astronomers to send more data to Earth than Kepler did. The TESS launch is in time with the conclusion of the K2 mission, the successor of the first Kepler spacecraft that was launched in 2009. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. The word in town is Apple is going to launch two budget iPhone models in 2018. This comes from KGI analyst Ming-Chi Kuo, who has a pretty good track record in predicting the Cupertino brand's upcoming products and plans. 2018 Budget iPhones According to an investor's note (via AppleInsider), Kuo says that the two iPhones in question will both sport 6.1-inch LCD displays. One of the two models will support dual-SIM dual standby or DSDS, and it could be priced between $650 and $750. Meanwhile, the other variant could be more or less the same, except that it can support only one SIM card. It's said to cost between $550 and $650. One of the reasons behind these budget iPhones is that it can potentially boost Apple's market shares in certain markets, catering to a wider demographic. "(1) more price segments would be created, significantly boosting shipments via the low-price single-SIM model. For instance, if the DSDS model sells for US$650-750, the single-SIM model may sell for US$550-650; and (2) the DSDS model will help increase market share in China and commercial markets," the note reads (via Mac Rumors). 2018 OLED Models There are also two OLED iPhones in the pipeline, but there aren't any details about their pricing yet. The 6.5-inch OLED iPhone is rumored to boast DSDS too. This is said to be the flagship of Apple's 2018 lineup, or as some would call it "iPhone X Plus." Meanwhile, the 5.8-inch OLED model is set up to be the successor of the iPhone X, but it won't have dual-SIM functionality. It also goes by the name of "iPhone X 2." Now these two are expected to be a lot more expensive than the aforementioned 6.1-inch budget iPhones. That shouldn't come as much of a surprise considering that they'll headline the 2018 lineup. The Bottom Line If these predictions turn out to be true, then Apple will have a total of three iPhones in 2018: the 5.8-inch iPhone X successor, the 6.5-inch OLED flagship, and the affordable 6.1-inch LCD iPhones. Kuo believes that the 6.1-inch iPhone models will be the smartphone maker's most popular devices in 2018, saying that the low price point and DSDS feature that one of the two offers will drive sales. That said, the 6.1-inch iPhone with DSDS could be just the thing for travelers who don't want to keep swapping out SIM cards for coverage, while both models could be perfect for those switching from Android. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Meteorites that crashed in Sudan ten years ago contained diamonds that could prove that protoplanet existed billion years before Earth, according to a study published Tuesday. Researchers from Switzerland, France, and Germany analyzed diamonds inside the Almahata Sitta meteorite, which crashed in Sudan's Nubian Desert in October 2008. Based on their examination, they concluded that these diamonds were formed on a protoplanet whose size was between Mercury and Mars and exploded at least 4.5 billion years ago. While it would seem that diamonds from space will differ from diamonds mined from the Earth's surface, they actually have major similarities. Most importantly, these similarities are further proof of the planetary embryo that remained theoretical up until now. 'Inclusions' And Physical Force Make Up Diamonds The diamonds in the meteorite found in Sudan contain tiny crystals inside them that would have required immense pressure to form, according to the study published in the journal Nature. The scientists from the Ecole Polytechnique Federale De Lausanne calculated that only a pressure of 2.9 million psi would be able to form these diamonds. The researchers mentioned that these tiny diamonds can form in three ways: enormous pressure shockwaves from high-density collisions between the meteorite parent body and other space objects, deposition by chemical vapor, or finally, the static pressure inside the parent body, like most diamonds are formed on Earth. The scientists' analysis of the diamonds further revealed that they contain chromite, phosphate, and iron-nickel sulfides or what is scientifically referred to as "inclusions" of diamonds. These inclusions also exist inside the diamonds that are mined from the Earth's surface. The current study, however, is the first time that these inclusions were also identified in an extraterrestrial body or, in this case, diamonds from meteorites. How Earth Diamonds Are Formed Diamonds from Earth's surface can only crystallize at extremely high pressures. Specifically, they needed about 725,000 psi for a 3-fold diamond to form. The process requires a pure source of carbon for these gems to be created through geological processes. Once pure carbon is trapped under the Earth's deepest layers, specifically at the great depth of about more than 150 kilometers down beneath a layer known as a mantle, diamonds are formed. Volcanic eruptions and tectonic movements push these formed diamonds into the Earth's surface, all the way to the area where they are usually mined by people. Similarities Between Space Diamonds And Earth Diamond Support Theory Of Protoplanet Before the current study, planetary formation models only predicted the presence of protoplanets that existed before the Solar System that people know today. Now, the scientists claim that the presence of these diamonds in the meteorite in Sudan offers compelling evidence that protoplanets indeed existed. Farhang Nabiei, the lead author of the study and materials scientist, explains that for the diamonds in meteorites to have the same characteristic with that of Earth's diamonds, it means that they form inside an actual planet or, in this case, a protoplanet. These protoplanets or planetary embryos are only lost now since they collided with other astronomical bodies like the one which birthed the moon, the study says. Some of them have collided with the sun or completely thrown out from the planetary axis, while others evolved to form larger planets at present. 2021 TECHTIMES.com All rights reserved. Do not reproduce without permission. Inspectors didn't see "more movement" Thursday morning as they examined the library building going up in downtown Baton Rouge, a positive sign after officials the night before shut down access to neighboring streets and buildings because of concerns about the structure. City-parish Chief Administrative Officer Darryl Gissel said shortly after noon Thursday that city-parish inspectors and engineers hope to complete a full analysis by 4 p.m. of what went wrong at the River Center Branch Library site in downtown Baton Rouge. The building has been under construction for more than a year. Gissel said the city will release the report to the public once its ready, but said they could not speculate on a cause of the problems until then. Part of the positive news this morning was that they didnt see any more movement, Gissel said. What happened yesterday was all that they saw. So that was a good sign. Library Director Spencer Watts said around noon Thursday that he was also encouraged by the morning building inspection, though he also said he could not provide a technical answer about what went wrong. It looks like the structural engineer was encouraged by what he was finding in terms of being able to make sure the building is stable and to take some preliminary steps to make sure everything is OK with the building, Watts said. The architect in charge of the downtown library characterized the problems at the construction site as a movement event, and said Thursday that repairs should start that afternoon. Mike Hill, a principal at WHLC Architecture, said that early reports of a settlement event that caused the librarys foundation to sink were inaccurate. That did not happen, no, Hill said. There was movement inside the building. Hill said that the city-parish needed to be the entity to explain the cause of the movement and why it happened. He said one major repair will take place Thursday or Friday at the latest, while the building may need more minor, cosmetic repairs as well in the coming weeks. A team of inspectors and the city architect arrived at the library Thursday morning, one day after contractors expressed concerns about settlement issues with the building under construction. City Hall and the 19th Judicial District Courthouse buildings reopened at noon, and North Boulevard reopened to westbound traffic only. St. Louis Street also reopened to traffic. The city-parish released a map showing the areas that would remain closed around the library, including a portion of North Boulevard closest to the construction site. Speaking around 11 a.m., city-parish chief architect Jim Frey said that project engineers will be releasing information to the mayors office and declined to comment on the status of the library until then. Earlier Thursday morning, inspectors ascended into the building at North Boulevard and St. Louis Street. They appeared to be examining a beam on the west side of the third floor. Top stories in Baton Rouge in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Contractors stopped work Wednesday after airing their concerns with architects, said Mary H. Stein, assistant director of the parish library system. Around 4:45 p.m., the contractors asked police to block off the area around the site out of an abundance of caution. +8 Construction issues at downtown library force street closures, business evacuations Construction on what was once dubbed the "Library of the Future" came to a screeching halt Wednesday after contractors aired their concerns ab Stein said Thursday morning that library officials were waiting until after the engineering survey of the building for more answers on what went wrong. Watts attended the walk-through of the building. Library officials will brief their board members on new information that becomes available when they have their regularly scheduled board meeting at 4 p.m. at the Main Library, Stein said. Can't see video below? Click here. Streets and nearby businesses in downtown Baton Rouge were closed after the issues were discovered as a precautionary measure. The new library project, at the corner of North Boulevard and St. Louis Street, has been estimated to cost about $19 million, which includes the demolition of the old library built in the 1970s, new branch construction, new furniture and computers. The Metro Council approved the project in 2010. The general contracting firm in charge of the project is Buquet and LeBlanc and the architectural team includes WHLC and Schwartz Silver. Thursdays road blockade forced North Boulevard businesses mostly restaurants to close. Of course it hurts the restaurant Losing money is never cool, said Jolie Pearl Oyster Bars kitchen manager, who identified himself only as Cash. He said he wasnt even sure what was happening Thursday he got a call in the morning saying the building across the street was going to fall down, then a few hours later was told to clock in. At 12:45 p.m. he was scrambling to get the restaurant ready. His was the only one on the block open, and no one was inside. We normally have beaucoup customers right now, Cash said. GB Sciences, which operates a cultivation center in Nevada, is licensed to produce medical marijuana in Louisiana by the LSU AgCenter. GB has started a growing operation in Baton Rouge and already is planning phase two, based on an expansion of treatable conditions recently approved by the Legislature and governor. Purchases made via links on our site may earn us an affiliate commission A state Senate panel Thursday rejected a "lunch shaming" bill touted as a way to ensure that public school students are not punished because their families failed to pay their lunch bill. The measure failed 2-4 in the Senate Education Committee. Plan to ban schools from denying school lunches wins Louisiana House approval Legislation aimed at ensuring public school students are not punished because of school lunch debts won approval Wednesday night in the Louisi The legislation, House Bill 281, easily passed the House on April 4 by a vote of 71-28 and is backed by Gov. John Bel Edwards. Rep. Patricia Smith, D-Baton Rouge, sponsor of the proposal, said change is needed to address a serious problem, including students being penalized for their parent's failings. "This is going on folks, we can't deny it," Smith said. "The whole issue is how we make parents responsible for the bill that they have for their children." Under HB281, schools would be required to make at least two attempts to reach a child's parent or guardian if three or more lunches are unpaid. Education officials could also collect the debt by contacting the state Department of Revenue, which could get the money through an individual income tax refund or over-payment. Schools would be banned from publicly identifying students with debt, requiring them to do chores or other work to pay for meals or withhold school privileges. Opponents said the legislation would leave schools and districts saddled with debt. The scoop on state politics in your inbox Get the Louisiana politics insider details once a week from us. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Scott Richard, executive director of the Louisiana School Boards Association, said cases where students are denied meals should be handled by local officials. Richard said the issue has been sensationalized in the Legislature and the news media. He said schools provide breakfasts, lunches and snacks, including in summer months, and that criticism of supposed abuses stem from a failure to understand details of how they do so. Richard also said Smith's bill represents an unfunded mandate that would leave schools and school districts saddled with debt. The bill was opposed by the Louisiana Association of School Superintendents. Sen. Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton, questioned why any problems could not be handled by a rule. "We have rules for everything," Mizell said. "Why aren't there just rules on how schools approach children?" Voting "yes" on the bill were state Sens. Gerald Boudreaux, D-Lafayette and Mike Walsworth, R-West Monroe. Voting "no" owere Sens. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport, Conrad Appel, R-Metairie, Beth Mizell, R-Franklinton and Bodi White, R-Central. Paperwork has been distributed and extra chairs have been set up in the Louisiana House chamber ready for Gov. John Bel Edwards' address to legislators at 5 p.m. Monday, Feb. 17, 2018. The 17-day special session aims to address a $1 billion deficit in the state budget for the fiscal year that begins July 1. Acting Assistant Secretary for Health from the U.S. Department of Health and Human Services Karen B. DeSalvo, left, New Orleans Mayor Mitch Landrieu, Louisiana Gov. Bobby Jindal and CEO, LCMC Health Gregory C Feirn watch as the Warren Easton High School Jazz Band comes marching in at the dedication celebration of the new University Medical Center in New Orleans, Aug. 26, 2015. A successful Uptown lawyer who was shot and paralyzed while members of the so-called Marley Gang ransacked his home during a 2012 crime spree died early Thursday. Sanford Sandy Kaynor Jr., 58, died at his home on Camp Street, officials said. While police said he died as a result of his injuries from the shooting, they stopped short of calling the death a homicide. Each of the young men charged in his attack as well as the killing of a University of New Orleans student days later was sent to prison for decades. Kaynor, a Connecticut native, was an attorney at the prestigious Jones Walker law firm who moved his family to New Orleans after Hurricane Katrina, hoping to play a part in the citys recovery. He was outside his home on Oct. 2, 2012, when three robbers in a stolen truck came up to him. Kaynor was shot in the chest and back. His spine was severed, ultimately leaving him mute and confined to a wheelchair. The robbers then invaded Kaynors home, grabbing cash and electronics while his wife and daughter who has cerebral palsy and was 8 at the time were inside. The robbers then left, stepping over Kaynor as he lay helpless on the ground, and drove off in his familys Cadillac SUV. Authorities ultimately charged Charles Mob Chuck Carter Jr., Byron Poodie Man Johnson and Devante Tae Banger Billy with a raft of charges following Kaynors shooting. Among other crimes, Billy and Carter were also charged with killing 24-year-old UNO film student Valan May in New Orleans East on Oct. 19, 2012. May had shown up to give two women a ride to a party but ended up being shot as Carter and Billy the boyfriend of one of the women robbed him of a few dollars and a GPS device. Carter, who was 16 at the time of the attacks on Kaynor and May, went to trial in January 2016. He received a 362-year sentence, plus life with the possibility of parole for May's murder. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Billy, who was 18, pleaded guilty in connection with the spree and is serving a 60-year sentence. Johnson, who was 20, also pleaded guilty and received a 45-year sentence. Despite their convictions and current sentences, all three men could face an upgraded charge of murder if Kaynor's death is ruled a homicide. The constitutional prohibition against double jeopardy would not apply to them because Kaynor's death was not in consideration at the time their cases were resolved. Orleans Parish District Attorney Leon Cannizzaro's office on Thursday said it would wait for a ruling on Kaynor's death before exploring the possibility of securing murder charges against Carter, Billy and Johnson. If Billy and Johnson were to be convicted of murdering Kaynor, they would face mandatory life imprisonment without the possibility of parole because both were adults at the time of the attack. Carter would also face life, but with the possibility of parole because he was younger than 18. Cannizzaro called Kaynor's death senseless. "The scourge of juvenile crime in New Orleans is real, and Mr. Kaynors prolonged death at the hands of teen gunmen serves as a stark reminder that the plights of victims should take pre-eminence in public safety policy decisions," his statement said. Since the shooting, Kaynors wife, interior designer Grace Kaynor, has become a vocal advocate for crime victims. Her testimony during the prosecutions of her husbands attackers was wrenching, especially as she described his last words to her. I found him lying in the driveway. I told him everything will be all right, Grace Kaynor said at Johnsons sentencing hearing. The last thing he told me was, No, it will never be all right. I cant feel my legs.' At Billys sentencing, Grace Kaynor said it was difficult to compare how vibrant her husband was before the shooting with how silenced he was afterward. You may be getting 60 years, but my husband has received a life sentence in hell, she said. In addition to his widow and daughter, Phoebe, Kaynor's survivors include a son, Granville. Jean Stokes family received the news Wednesday morning theyd long dreaded. The 76-year-old grandmother who hadnt been heard from since October was found dead in New Orleans East, and detectives believe she was murdered, police told the family, hours before they made the same announcement to the public. In one sense, Stokes family felt relief. They had spent countless hours searching for her, praying theyd at least get the chance to give her a dignified funeral, said Austin Badon, a former state lawmaker who helped organize efforts to look for the missing woman. On the other hand, Stokes grisly fate crushed the children, grandchildren and other loved ones she left behind. This is a trying time, said Badon, serving as a spokesman for the Stokes family on Wednesday. She was a beloved member of the New Orleans community who deserved so much better. According to authorities and relatives, Stokes daughter, Darlene Veal, last spoke with her mother by phone on Oct. 11 but then lost touch with her. On Oct. 13, Veal flew in from Arlington, Texas, and reported Stokes missing after she couldnt find either her mother or her mothers car at her home in the 4900 block of Good Drive. Within two weeks, police said they suspected foul play in Stokes disappearance. Her Toyota RAV 4 was found abandoned in woods at the foot of a grass levee near Dwyer Boulevard and A Street, about four miles east of her home. At some point after that, police recovered a dead persons remains in New Orleans East. Investigators were then able to match Stokes DNA profile to the remains. Police didnt specify exactly when or where the remains were found. They also didnt say how they believed Stokes was killed, why the retired school cafeteria worker may have been slain or whether they have a suspect. Twelve days after Stokes was reported missing, police responded to a 911 call about a human skull with skin still attached that was discovered on a boat launch near Irish Bayou, about a 10-minute drive from where Stokes car was found. Top stories in New Orleans in your inbox Twice daily we'll send you the day's biggest headlines. Sign up today. e-mail address * Sign Up Investigators processing the scene found a skull with two holes in the back, though authorities have never said whether the holes resulted from gunshots. Officials on Wednesday wouldnt say whether that skull is believed to have anything to do with the Stokes case. Badon said the months following Stokes disappearance were grueling for her family. Relatives and supporters braved snakes and alligators as they spent countless hours searching in woods and along waterways for signs of her. Badon helped orchestrate the search and joined it in his spare time. Assistance also came from a number of groups with experience searching for missing people, including canine rescue teams and local law enforcement officers with off-road vehicles. Also contributing to the effort was Mark Michaud, the diver and retired Slidell police officer who teamed with Badon to find the remains of missing teacher Terrilyn Monette in Bayou St. John in 2013. He has since formed Southeast Louisiana Underwater Search and Recovery. Badon said the volunteer efforts boosted the spirits of Stokes relatives, even after they were told by police that unspecified evidence in the missing womans car and home suggested shed been the victim of a crime. The family thanks all who gave support, prayers and well wishes, Badon said Wednesday. This is not the outcome we wanted, but there is a measure of relief because we know where Ms. Stokes is. Ganges Part 11: The Last Leg I awoke at 4:30 a.m. with a terrible pain in my stomach. When I got up to go to the bathroom, I realized my back hurt worse than my stomach.... Ganges Part 10: Bojbasa Rest House It was torture. Linda and I had trekked over eight miles that day from 10,000 feet to 12,000 feet above sea level on our pilgrimage to the source of the... Yes, we did need more Mexican food in our lives. After heaps of speculation, New Zealand is expected to have a Taco Bell by 2020. Russel Creedy, chief executive of Restaurant Brands, told Radio New Zealand that Taco Bell will open its first store in the country in the "not too distant future". "It's not a matter of if, it's a matter of when I can see it being in the not too distant future, a year or two, and I'm looking forward to it." Eric Schneiderman, New Yorks Attorney General, sent a remarkable letter this afternoon to Gov. Andrew Cuomo and the states legislative leaders warning them that New Yorks double jeopardy law could bar state prosecution of individuals granted federal pardons by President Trump. In the letter the Attorney General urges the legislature to close the loophole in state law. According to Schneiderman, unique features of New Yorks double jeopardy law mean that a defendant pardoned by the President for a serious federal crime could be freed from all accountability under federal and state criminal law, even though the President has no authority under the U.S. Constitution to pardon state crimes. Heres the key passage in the Attorney Generals letter: New Yorks statutory protections could result in the unintended and unjust consequence of insulating someone pardoned for serious federal crimes from subsequent prosecution for state crimeseven if that person was never tried or convicted in federal court, and never served a single day in federal prison. The problem arises under Article 40 of the Criminal Procedure Law. Under that law, jeopardy attaches when a defendant pleads guilty, or, if the defendant proceeds to a jury trial, the moment the jury is sworn. . . . Thus, if a federal defendant pleads guilty to a federal crime, or if a jury is sworn in a federal criminal trial against that defendant, and then the President pardons that individual, this New York statute could be invoked to argue that a subsequent state prosecution is barred. The full letter is available here. Here are the relevant New York statutes: CPL 40.20 states that: A person may not be twice prosecuted for the same offense. CPL 40.30 states that: Except as otherwise provided in this section, a person is prosecuted for an offense, within the meaning of section 40.20, when he is charged therewith by an accusatory instrument filed in a court of this state or of any jurisdiction within the United States, and when the action either: (a) Terminates in a conviction upon a plea of guilty; or (b) Proceeds to the trial stage and a jury has been impaneled and sworn or, in the case of a trial by the court without a jury, a witness is sworn. The precise requirements of New Yorks law may explain why President Trump has not yet pardoned his former campaign manager Paul Manafort, despite the fact that the president's lawyer discussed pardons last year with attorneys for Manafort and former Trump National Security Adviser Michael Flynn. Everything turns on the pardons timing. Double jeopardy only attaches in New York after the defendant pleads guilty or after the trial begins. Thus, if the president issued a preemptive pardone.g. before a jury is impaneledManafort would still be subject to prosecution in New York for state crimes. Manafort is currently under investigation by both the New York Attorney General and the Manhattan DAs office, which means New Yorks double jeopardy law is of more than academic interest to him. Strategically, therefore, New Yorks double jeopardy clause only works for the president if he waits until the federal trial begins, and then issues a pardon. That in turn means that Manafort will have to wait until virtually the last minute to find out if he is actually getting a presidential pardon. If such a scenario ultimately materializes, it will certainly make for a dramatic scene in the U.S. District Court on the trials opening day. But who knows. Nothing breaks new legal and constitutional ground like a presidential scandal. It seems that with every major presidential scandalwhether it be Teapot Dome in the 1920s, Watergate in the 1970s, Iran Contra in the 1980s, or Whitewater in the 1990sinvestigators, defendants, and courts find themselves faced with a host of novel legal issues, and the results are often unpredictable. The Russia investigation is no different. How the courts will interpret all this is unclear as we remain in the early stages of the legal battle. But what does seem clear is that as the Russia investigation continues to unfold, we may hear a whole lot more in the months ahead about the intersection of state law and the federal pardon power. Some sound instinct kept Albert Jay Nock from ever becoming a reformer, in the usual sense. He was never a tub-thumper for some system; never an organization man. He was, to the contrary, a lifelong learner. Albert Jay Nock died too soon, but not before he had nailed to the mast several of the paradoxes which make living in our age so intriguing. He took great delight, for example, in pointing out that American colleges and universities are generally hostile to education and learning. In conversation one day with several college presidents, Nock laid down a number of stringent guidelines for running a college. One of the presidents, somewhat shocked, said, Why Mr. Nock, if my college were to follow your advice wed lose most of the faculty and all but about five of the students. Nock pondered this for a moment, and then replied, That would be just the right size for a college. The life-long concern of this man was with the quality of life lived in our civilization; he found the quality poor. Institutions of higher learning, so called, were by no means his only target. Nock was a staunch defender of capitalism, but he was unsparing in his criticism of capitalists for distrusting the free market: and for trotting down to Washington begging for handouts. Businessmen dont want a government that will let them alone, he wrote; they want a government they can use. This is not to blame businessmen for being what they are; what they are is simply a reflection of the standards and values held in common by a significant number of people in our society. This is the age of materialism, or the age of Economism, as Nock preferred to call it. Economism is the doctrine that the production and consumption of material wealth is the chief end of man; it is the notion that if only everyone were well-housed, well-clothed, and well-fed, who could ask for anything more? No wonder we suffer from cultural deprivation! We exhibit just that kind of life, Nock remarked, that one would expect to find if he turned over a plank which has been rotting in the muck of Economism! Every society constructs its institutions in its own image, and thus we get the schools we deserve, the economy we deserve, and the churches we deserve, Albert Jay Nock did his graduate work in theology, and before he joined the staff of American Magazine in 1908 he had served Episcopal parishes in three states. In later life, he wrote that when Christianity became organized it immediately took on a political character radically affecting its institutional concept of religion and its institutional concept of morals; and the same tendencies observable in secular politics at once set in upon the politics of organized Christianity. And just as schools offend against education, so churches offend against high religion. But this is not all; he had other complaints. Universal literacy has been the ruination of literary standards; the rise of mass man has cost the average person much of his zest for life; and every extension of the franchise means that more people vote themselves into serfdom. We have spawned a culture which has made such men as Albert Jay Nock feel superfluous, and weve learned to live so well with whats ailing us that the mere prospect of a cure gives us the jitters! Nocks Peculiar Politics Nocks aversion to politics is well known. He came by it early, as he tells the story in one of his essays and again in the Memoirs. His childhood was spent in Brooklyn not far from an oddly shaped building known as the Wigwam, a political cluban evil looking affair, dirty and disreputable, and the people who frequented it looked to me even more disreputable than the premises. His distaste for politics never left him, although he was a keen observer of public affairs. I cannot imagine Nock attending a political convention, even as a reporter, as his friend Mencken did. Nock actually did go to the polls once or twice to vote for the candidate of his own choice, Jefferson Davis, of Mississippi. I knew Jeff was dead, he said, but I voted on Artemus Wards principle that if we cant have a live man who amounts to anything, by all means lets have a first-class corpse. Nock was, in one sense of the word, completely a-political, or even anti-political. He distrusted all forms of social machinery and discounted all mechanical remedies for the ills which bedevil mankind. But in another sense, Nock was what Jacques Barzun called him, a genuine political mind, in the sense that Nock adhered to the conviction that the only way any person can improve society is by presenting society with one improved unit. Every time Nock was buttonholed by a reformer, planner, socialist, single-taxer, or whatever, he would put one question to him: Suppose you get your system all set up, what kind of people can you get to administer itexcept the kind youve got? And he answered his own question: There aint any! Libertarians understand Nocks position because this is the libertarian position, and it is the only sound position in the long run. It is not a popular position, and there arent many libertarians aroundwhatever the labelbut numbers dont count. Now, numbers are important to the census taker and the opinion pollster, but numbers do not play the role of a critical mass in societal change. The opinion poller wants your opinion yes or no on various questions; he has no way of measuring the clarity and the intensity of your convictions. A small number of men and women whose convictions are so sound and so clearly thought out that they will go through hell and high water for them are more than a match for the multitude whose ideas are too vague to generate convictions. A little leaven raises the entire lump of dough; a tiny flame starts a mighty conflagration: a small rudder turns a huge ship. And a handful of people possessed of ideas and a dream can change a nationespecially when that nation is searching for new answers and a new direction. The idea of a Remnant comes out of the Old Testament; it occurs in several passages but Nock found the context he wanted and wrote his essay, Isaiahs Job. The prophet Isaiah began his career around 740 B.C. toward the end of the reign of King Uzziah, which period coincided with the end of an era. The nation was going to the dogs and loving it; but not Isaiah. This young nobleman possessed a brilliant mind, foresaw the decline and fall of his country, and felt impelled to warn his fellow citizens of the impending ruin. Well, this was the last thing they wanted from Isaiah or anyone else, for theres no time for having fun like the mellow period of a nations decline. Isaiah, discouraged, came to the Lord and asked for a new assignment. You dont get the point, the Lord told Isaiah; there is a Remnant out there. They are obscure, unorganized, inarticulate, each one rubbing along as best he can. They dont know each other, and they wont make themselves known to you. But it is they who keep things from going completely to pot, and it is the Remnant who will build society afresh after the collapse. They are listening to you, Isaiah, and your job is to minister to the Remnant. This was also Nocks job, as he himself conceived it. Nock had an ample but refined capacity for enjoying life, even though he believed that he was living in the last days of a dying civilization. Nock believed he was experiencing the imperatorship and anarchy Henry George had predicted. But human nature is resilient, and once the pessimist assures himself that doom is certain, then thats settled and cheerfulness breaks inlike the man in the tumbril en route to the guillotine winking at the pretty girls in the rabble. Oras Murphy puts it in one of his lawsIf youre sailing on the Titanic you might as well go first class! The only way he could serve the Remnant, Nock concluded, was to work for the advancement of his own understanding, which he did. Once he had unearthed a precious nugget of truth and put it on display where all who wished might see, he dropped the matter and went on to the next question. Training reinforced temperament to turn him away from even the slightest propaganda efforts; he never badgered anybody about anything. Never argue; never explain, he would say with infuriating detachment. Nock believed, correctly I think, that he had uncovered the plain truth of things in the several areas of his interest, and he painstakingly set forth his elucidations in impeccable English, serene in his faith that this fully discharged his duty. The assumption back of this faith is that truth has an internal energy of its own enabling it, if we dont stand in its way, to cut its own channels and gain acceptance in minds ready for it. Trying to make truth palatable for minds not ready for it is no service to the people involved, for it clogs whatever thought processes they have; and truth tampered with is truth lost. The hard truth is what Nock is talking about; truth with the bark on it, truth unsophisticated by even good intentions, undiluted by ulterior considerations. Are there minds ready for this kind of truth? Nock believed that every society has such minds else it would fall apart. Every society is held together by a select fewmen and women who have the force of intellect to discern the rules upon which social life is contingent, and the force of character to exemplify those rules in their own living. These were Nocks chosen people, The Remnant. All else is mass man. Its a lovely notion, runs the thought, but is it practical? Will it work? Well, it appears to be working in Mr. Nocks case, although not all the returns are in and one cant say for sure. Albert Jay Nocks reputation, while he lived, was limited, and none of his books had much of a sale, except his Jefferson and the Memoirs. Nocks death, in 1945, passed relatively unnoticed. But then things began to happen; the posthumous publication of a Journal, two volumes of letters and a volume of essays; a new edition of the Memoirs, the reprinting of five of his out-of-print books, and the formation of The Nockian Society which has published Cogitations from AJN. And in addition to the ten titles and one anthology now in print, there are two books about Nock and two books edited by him. Not bad for a superfluous man! Person and Legend You may have gained the impression from what I have said that Albert Jay Nock was a man of monumental likes and dislikes. Indeed he was; and theres more! We have it on good authority that a man who hates children and dogs cant be all bad. The authority is not W.C. Fields, who is usually credited with this sentiment, but Leo Rosten who used it on one occasion to introduce Fields. Nocks two sons had distinguished academic careers, so Nock had to make up for liking his children by disliking canines. As against the dog I am in favor of the cat, he wrote to his friend B.I. Bell. The dog is natures prize collectivist and authoritarian; he has the slave mentality and cant be happy out of servitude, a natural-born New Dealer, you know, utterly loveable and given to good works, yunderstand, but a ding-busted fool, like your friend Henry Wallace. He has no respect for himself, no dignity. The cat, on the other hand, has oodles of self-respect and is bungfull of dignity. He is an individualist, and has no illusions about the social order. Caustic, crotchety, witty, cantankerous; Nock was every one of these, but he was also a lot more. He was a formidable scholar and possessed immense erudition. Van Wyck Brooks worked on the old Freeman and says this about Nock: He had visited half the universities of Europe(and) could pick up at random, with a casual air, almost any point and trace it from Plato through Scaliger to Montaigne or Erasmus, and I can cite chapter and verse for saying that whether in Latin or Greek he could quote any author in reply to any question. A diligently forgotten learning is the mother of culture, he once remarked, but he seemed to have remembered everything. This portrait is drawn a little larger than life, but it is noteworthy that Nock was a legendary figure even to his staff. Nock was social, but he was not gregarious; his passion for privacy inspired the quip that if you wanted to reach Mr. Nock when he wasnt in his office you had to leave a note under a certain rock in Central Park. Someone praised Nock for the good things he had done for the bright young people who worked under him on The Freeman. Nonsense, said Nock; all Ive done was to let them alone. That may be so, the friend responded, but it would have been different if some one else had been letting them alone! In person, Nock was elegant and aloof. One cannot imagine anyone calling him Al! Frank Chodorov told me he called him Albert Jay. Paul Palmer edited The American Mercury in the 1930s and published Nock regularly. It was Mr. Nock for several years, Palmer tells us, even though the two men had frequent contact. The first time I called him Albert to his face was somehow like my first cigar, my graduation from boot camp in the Marine Corps, my first hour at a desk marked EDITOR. I was a man. Nock certainly inspired respect among his associates, but those who knew him well, said a friend, found him tender, sympathetic, and kindness itself. A select few were lifelong friends, both men and women, here and abroad. Five Criteria of Culture As the man, so the style. It appears simple, but try to imitate it! Its not so much what you say, his friend Mencken told him; Its how you say it. Nocks lucid style mirrors the clarity and coherence of his thought. This critic of the quality of life attained in our culture had worked up a set of precise measuring rods to determine where our civilization falls short, and by how much. Nock surveyed the high points of the human drama throughout history and concluded that the finest cultures were those which encouraged a full and balanced expression of the five fundamental social instincts of man; or, as we might prefer to say, the five basic urges, drives, or potencies of human nature. What are these five claimants for expression? Lets begin with the most familiar, with what Nock referred to as the instinct for accumulation and expansion; that is, the desire to make money and to exert influence, to turn a profit and wield power. Now this instinct represents but one-fifth of the horsepower latent in human nature, but it has crowded out the other four, Nock charges, and has constructed our lopsided society in its own image. What are the neglected instincts? They are, as Nock lists them, the instinct of intellect and knowledge, of religion and morals, of beauty and poetry, of social life and manners. These four, Nock says, have been disallowed and perverted. The charge that our civilizationsince the Enlightenmenthas permitted full expression to only one instinct is but another way of phrasing Nocks allegation that this is the Era of Economism, a period when people attach the highest value in life to the production and consumption of wealth. Take my word for it, Nock is not attacking the market economy; he is telling us that the market alone cannot sustain the market economy. The market is a universal human institution; trade and barter is as old as mankind. Wherever the human community exists there is a division of labor and a swapping of goods. So long as mankind survives on this planet there will be markets, and this will be true even under authoritarian regimes. The market, yesterday, today, and forever; but not the market economy. The market economy is a contingent thing; it has come into being in certain areas of the globe at certain periods and chunks of it now disappear daily before our eyes. Theres no miracle of parthenogenesis by which the market can give birth to the market economy all by itself; the market does not institutionalize itself as the market economy without help from moral values and the law. We live on a planet where almost everything is scarce relative to human demand, and therefore we must economize. To economize means to conserve scarce resources, which we do by attempting to diminish inputs while maximizing outputs. In other words, the more-for-less mentality is built into economic action, and thats the danger. Unless this frame of mind is counterbalanced by noneconomic forces, the more-for-less attitude degenerates into the something-for-nothing mentalityas has happened to us. When a nation is permeated by the something-for-nothing spirit it will invariably set up a corresponding power structure designed to transfer wealth legally from producers to pressure groups. Taxation for all, subsidies for a few. This power structure is the State, which Nock labeled The Enemy, and which he clearly distinguished from government. My point is, he wrote in 1944, that if the State were limited to purely negative interventions which I enumerated, and had no oversize power beyond that, then it wouldnt be the State anymore. It would then be government only. The point is only that when Society deprives the State of power to make positive interventions on the individualpower to make positive coercions on him at any point in his economic and social lifethen at once the State goes out of existence, and what remains is government. How do we put the State out of business? Well, of course, we need the correct analytical tools in economic and political theory; but these wont carry us very far if the prevailing view of human life and human nature is warped and one-sided. In a culture where every other facet and drive of our nature is subordinated to the instinct for accumulation and expansion the market economy is bound to give way. If we deny a balanced and harmonious expression to all sides of our natureto the claims of intellect and knowledge, religion and morals, beauty and poetry, social life and mannersthen these repressed and frustrated drives will have their revenge. Mass man will come to the fore and run the show, while The Remnant is driven underground. Three Influences of AJN Three men played a large role in Albert Jay Nocks life: Francis Rabelais, Thomas Jefferson, and Henry George. The first two pose no problem. Rabelais was a literary man of genius whose appetite for life helps us keep the human comedy in proper perspective. Jefferson was a man of integrity, about as a-political as a politician can be, and a champion of human liberty. Its the third name thats somewhat of a puzzler, How could Nock, the arch individualist, be attracted to a scheme which, beginning with the finest intentions in the world, ends up with a blueprint for a society in which the agency which already wields the police power now assumes the enormous power inherent in the authority to allocate sites and resources. Nock called himself a Single Taxer, but as we might expect, he was a maverick here too. Shortly after the appearance of Our Enemy, The State, Leonard Read wrote to Nock to compliment him on his marvelous book; but how, Read asked, can an intelligent man like yourself advocate the Single Tax? To which Nock responded, Dear Mr. Read: I do not advocate the Single Tax; I merely believe in it. In a letter to Henry Mencken, Nock wrote, Henry George was mighty near the worlds ablest man of the nineteenth century, and his economics are sound to the core. Now, George was without doubt the most eloquent economist who ever wrotewhich is not to say a great deal; many of his writings are models of English prose. George embraced the economics of Smith and the Manchester School, put great emphasis on Ricardos law of rent, adopted the anti-Statist ideas of the early Herbert Spencer, and suffused the whole with a passionate concern that the inherent, natural rights of each individual to life, liberty, and property be given full expression. The rights of persons are being impaired, George argued, from two directions: first, there is the unjust use of the taxing power to transfer money from one set of pockets to another; and, secondly, there is the power of the landowner to deprive the producer of a percentage of all he produces as the price of being allowed to produce anything at all! George proposed to remedy both these ills at once by abolishing taxation and paying for the costs of government out of the monies received by the political appropriation of the full rental value of land. This reminds one of feudalism, where all land is held by the king as a condition of his sovereignty and becomes a prime source of his revenue. It is not difficult to perceive that Georges remedy is a kind of neo-feudalism. Human beings occupy space, and the sites and resources they need are scarce. The allocation of these scarce goods is a function of ownership, for it is the owner of a good who determines how it shall be used and by whom. If the ownership of land is not private and multiple, then it must be political and unitary; but ownership there must be. The system of private, multiple land ownership is not perfect, but individuals within this scheme do have the opportunity to haggle, bargain, negotiate, and contract vis-a-vis millions of private owners; whereas, under any conceivable alternative it is individuals versus the omnipotent political apparatus. So much, then, for AJN, our genial critic of life and manners. Some sound instinct kept Nock from ever becoming a reformer, in the usual sense. He was never a tub-thumper for some system; never an organization man. He was, to the contrary, a lifelong learner. And because he spent a lifetime educating himself he is able to open all sorts of doors for us. With some help from Albert Jayand a little bit of luckwe, too, may become superfluous! Republished with gracious permission from the Intercollegiate Review (Winter 1975). The Imaginative Conservative applies the principle of appreciation to the discussion of culture and politicswe approach dialogue with magnanimity rather than with mere civility. Will you help us remain a refreshing oasis in the increasingly contentious arena of modern discourse? Please consider donating now. The featured image, uploaded by Yaqub2016, is licensed under the Creative Commons Attribution-Share Alike 4.0 International license, courtesy of Wikimedia Commons. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Elly Burhaini Faizal (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 09:07 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf4d452 1 Opinion #commentary,methanol-poisoning,alcohol,bootleg-liquor,death Free Over 100 people have died this year after consuming oplosan (bootleg liquor), mostly in West Java, Greater Jakarta and Papua. For the umpteenth time, the government has failed to prevent the many unnecessary fatalities. In recent weeks alone, the number of people killed after drinking unlicensed liquor soared to 89, with 58 of the victims from West Java, and 31 from Greater Jakarta, according to the National Police. Reports also said several died in Papua. Similar incidents have often occurred across Indonesia, with many of the victims coming from poor families. In the latest cases, the police have attributed the deaths to methanol poisoning, the main component of the bootleg products that have also been blamed for the deaths of several foreign tourists in recent years. Citing laboratory test results, West Java Police chief Insp. Gen. Agung Budi Maryoto confirmed on April 11 that the liquor consumed by the victims contained methanol, an industrial form of alcohol widely used as fuel or as a solvent. This statement ended police speculation that they died after drinking illegally brewed alcohol mixed with other substances like ginseng. With many poisonings largely involving methanol, authorities should have been better prepared for liquor-related emergencies. Instead, more and more deaths have been reported from a spike in drink poisonings. Methanol poisoning happens all over the world, even in heavily regulated Islamic countries. To make alcohol cheaper, methanol is added to ethanol, a legal alcohol. Unlike water, methanol can be readily mixed with ethanol. This is why methanol has become a choice ingredient for illegal liquor manufacturers as they can produce liquor at higher volumes. Some believe mixing methanol with ethanol gives a greater kick, but experts say methanol in itself does not get people drunk, let alone give the additional desired effect. Nevertheless, the death toll from such drinks continues to rise in Indonesia. No one seems to know what is going on. Some blame restrictions on the sale of beverages containing between 1 and 5 percent alcohol as the major cause of the reportedly increasing production and consumption of bootleg liquor. The recent crisis is believed to be the tip of the iceberg, with no official records on methanol poisoning. The difficulty in obtaining licensed liquor has been blamed on the national ban on selling alcoholic beverages at convenience stores and kiosks, as well as the high excise on liquor, thus creating demand for bootleg liquor which can be as cheap as Rp 20,000 (US$1.50) for a bottle. A large number of people have died from methanol-poisoning even after they were rushed to emergency care, indicating the urgent need to train health workers to prevent such deaths and treat symptoms as well as possible. Norways Oslo University Hospital (OUH), collaborating with Doctors Without Borders (MSF), a global humanitarian NGO, have worked to improve public knowledge on methanol poisoning. Even health professionals have been found to lack understanding on methanol, including the fact that it is toxic only when it metabolizes into formic acid in the liver typically leading to death. The experts say that as long as ethanol is still in the patients blood, he or she will not suffer the toxic effects of methanol. It is only after the ethanol is fully expelled from the body usually around 12 to 24 hours after a person drinks bootleg liquor that the metabolic processes become toxic and make them sick. This is why the most important life-saving measure stipulated in the methanol poisoning treatment protocol designed by the OUH and the MSF is providing more ethanol to patients. In this context, ethanol is no longer a recreational substance but a medicine, as OUH medical expert Knut Erik Hovda told The Jakarta Post on Sunday. Raising awareness about such treatment methods faces challenges, as alcohol is considered haram (forbidden in Islam), although the use of morphine is legal as a painkiller. Hovda said the provision of ethanol as medical treatment for methanol poisoning has been approved in some Islamic countries. Incessant police operations to curb methanol poisoning outbreaks, such as when they found a house suspected to be an oplosan factory in Cicalengka, Bandung regency, West Java, need encouragement. In most bootleg liquor distribution cases, a large-scale manufacturing center is involved where additional substances such as methanol are added to alcoholic drinks. The police across different provinces have raided such suspected oplosan production and distribution centers, confiscating thousands of bottles of illegal liquor. It is of utmost importance that law enforcers bring to account those responsible for the distribution of the harmful product. The police promise there will be no more bootleg liquor cases by the time of the upcoming fasting month, Ramadhan which brings little consolation. However, it is also crucial to acknowledge that methanol poisoning needs specific treatment, which in turn requires health professionals to have knowledge about the diverse symptoms. Improving training for better diagnosis of methanol poisoning and administering proper treatment should save more lives. At present only health facilities in Bali are known to have a protocol for treating methanol poisoning. Such a nationwide protocol or guidelines are urgent to save lives as early as possible. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Kim Jensen (The Jakarta Post) Singapore Thu, April 19, 2018 13:05 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf592e9 3 Opinion water,climate-change,#ClimateChange,water-crisis,#environment,environment Free Ensuring water security sustainable access to water for enabling livelihoods, human well-being and socio-economic development has emerged as a key priority on every nations agenda over the last decade. Last months World Water Day aimed to highlight this increasingly urgent international concern. Asias water supply is currently under threat from climate change. According to a 2015 Asian Development Bank report, more than three quarters of countries in Asia face serious water shortages, which pose a real threat to continued growth and prosperity for the region, if not managed proactively. Experts have acknowledged we are pushing our climate past the breaking point, even passing the carbon threshold in 2016 which scientists have said is the point of no return for our CO2 levels. In 2015, President Joko Jokowi Widodo voluntarily declared a greenhouse gas emissions reduction goal of 29 percent by 2030. The government has also increased budgets for climate mitigation and adaptation efforts. One program aims to mobilize efforts at a consumer level with the establishment of 1,000 eco-mosques by 2020 helping mosques to source renewable energy, sustainably manage their water and food needs, as well as reduce and recycle waste. However, is this enough? While citizen action is integral to the fight against climate change, the incremental changes from individual behavioral changes alone wont be sufficient to tackle this pressing issue. Few driving forces today can help us to accelerate change by leaps and bounds at the massive rate and scale we need but digitalization is chief amongst these. Industry leaders and players need to recognize how digitalization can fundamentally transform and alleviate the issue of sustainability, especially in water. One thing is certain: governments, companies and citizens will be relying on data and digitalization to try to prevent a large-scale water crisis. A common misconception for businesses is that sustainability does not make business sense. How do we meet the growing demands of consumerism without increasing the use of resources to fuel productivity? In this digital age, there need not be a trade-off between sustainability and profitable growth. One example is the advent of Industry 4.0 or the smart factory, where automation and data exchange help to create productivity gains for the manufacturing sector across the value chain, while saving resources by limiting material wastage and overproduction. Underpinning water movement and treatment throughout the production process, pumps are responsible for a staggering 10 percent of global electricity consumption. For pump manufacturers the pursuit of digitalization has meant incorporating intelligence into its products to make them more intuitive and connected, and thus perform more efficiently. Digitalization opens the doors to a more sustainable business model that not only allows companies to produce more with less, but also avoids unnecessary waste of resources such as energy and water. This is part of a fundamental shift in how Indonesia is taking responsibility to prioritize socio-economic development and sustainability of the nations natural resources rather than economic growth at all cost. The sustainable movement applies to the household as well. People are encouraged to adopt eco-friendly habits, such as a zero-waste lifestyle, going car-lite and conserving electricity and water. While these lifestyle changes are commendable, the use of digitalization at home could lead to much greater reduction in ones carbon footprint. Smart home technology is on the rise, such as the likes of smart lighting that can be controlled with timers, light and motion sensors that can decrease energy usage drastically, and energy management systems. According to a recent report by Strategy Analytics, smart home devices will overtake the use of smartphones by 2021. The concept of a smart home opens up a wealth of new opportunities for water sustainability. Lifestyle changes can be hard for some to upkeep as they feel the small inconveniences that come with going green. But the growing range of technological home applications means that Indonesians no longer need to compromise comfort or convenience for sustainability. In fact, one study by Singapores national water agency PUB found that a person could save up to five liters of water a day using smart shower devices. In our fight against climate change, digitalization is our ultimate ally, but it still takes people to adopt these technologies into their ecosystems in order for us to benefit. Facing growing water scarcity, both businesses and individuals should not be put off by the cost of advanced intelligent technology, as the benefits in the long run will exceed the upfront investment. On the government front, continually exploring new innovation is also key. Lastly, it would be strategic for solution providers to keep sustainability in mind when developing new products and services the need will only be greater in the future. Together, we can transition to a more sustainable world through the current digital transformation and make every drop count. *** The writer is regional managing director for Grundfos in Asia Pacific. The views expressed are his own. Disclaimer: The opinions expressed in this article are those of the author and do not reflect the official stance of The Jakarta Post. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin EDITORIAL (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 08:02 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf4a672 4 Editorial #Editorial,Facebook,data-breach,Cambridge-Analytica,data-privacy Free Judging from the headlines of national media published Wednesday, the meeting between Facebook officials and House of Representatives Commission I, which oversees communication did not end well. Media reports from the meeting said lawmakers were furious with Facebook executives nonchalant attitude toward the allegations of data harvesting, while other lawmakers complained about a lack of mea culpa from the social media giant. The lawmakers certainly relished their moment in the spotlight as there are few occasions in which they have the opportunity to directly speak out against a giant corporation like Facebook. But the truth is, beyond the grandstanding, there is little that the lawmakers can do about Facebooks handling of personal data from more than 96 million users in Indonesia. And there is a simple reason for Facebooks indifferent approach: Indonesia does not have a comprehensive regulation on the protection of online personal information. Ministerial Regulation No. 20/2016 stipulates that there is only a series of administrative penalties for individuals accused of misusing personal data harvested online. The regulation has no stipulation regarding penalties for corporations accused of stealing personal information. The 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, amended in 2016, is so focused on curbing hate speech and hoaxes that it leaves data protection hanging in the balance. The law does not cover personal data protection. Its a jungle out there in cyberspace, and unless a relevant authority takes steps toward regulating the sphere, it will continue to be a wild, wild west. Many have argued that as the pace of innovation on the internet is just too fast, crafting regulations on the fly would only result in minor effects. The European Union, however, has shown the way on how to take on internet giants like Facebook. On Wednesday, following outrage over Cambridge Analyticas alleged data breach, Facebook began rolling out new privacy choices for its users in the EU. Under the new policy, users will be asked to review and make choices about ads they receive, including whether they want Facebook to use data from third parties. Facebook users will also be asked to review and choose what to share in terms of political, religious and relationship information on their profiles. Users will be allowed to opt in or out of the use of facial recognition technology, and they could be notified when someone uses an unauthorized picture. These sweeping changes another victory for the EU after managing to force Google to comply with user rights were made to comply with the blocs General Data Protection Regulation. The good news is that Facebook founder Mark Zuckerberg has pledged to roll out this new privacy policy to other users outside of the EU. The EU experience shows it is possible to take on even the biggest of internet giants, especially when it comes to user data protection. In Indonesia, lawmakers have talked about amending the 2008 ITE Law or even proposing a separate data protection law. Open season should be over soon for Facebook. Denmark will ask the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO to recognize officially the concept of hygge - a reason, Danes argue, why their country is among the happiest in the world. The Danish word hygge, which encompasses a mood and atmosphere of coziness and comfort, has spread internationally in recent years. Many people credit it for Denmarks top rankings in global surveys of wellbeing. The Visit Denmark tourist campaign said on Wednesday that the country would make the application to UNESCO. If it is successful, UNESCO will recognize hygge as intangible cultural heritage alongside practices and traditions such as Belgiums beer culture and the ancient Indian practice of yoga. Read also: Denmark proposes ban on Islamic full-face veil in public With increasing societal pressures and the growing importance of wellbeing, hygges emphasis on togetherness and equality can have real and tangible benefits, Meik Wiking, founder and CEO of The Happiness Research Institute, and a backer of the bid, said. UNESCO lists not only monuments and works of art but also social practices, traditions and rituals. An exhibition in Jakarta to celebrate author Pramoedya Ananta Toer seeks to give a glimpse into a different side of the late Indonesian literary legend. Titled "Namaku Pram: Catatan dan Arsip" (My Name is Pram: Notes and Archives), referring to the name Pramoedya, as he was commonly known by, the show is currently free for viewing at Dia.Lo.Gue in Kemang, South Jakarta until May 20. Speaking to reporters to mark the opening on Tuesday, Pram's daughter, Astuti Ananta Toer, said the family together with organizers had carefully curated manuscripts of his works as well as personal letters written by him. The collection on display illustrates Pram's elaborate writing process, Astuti said, explaining that her late father had always conducted extensive research for his creations. "To make, for example, Bumi Manusia [This Earth of Mankind], Pram had to spend days in the library and also had his students' help to write, where they were assigned to sit in the library and study one year's worth of Indonesian newspapers to produce Bumi Manusia," Astuti said. Pram was nominated several times for a Nobel Prize in literature before passing away in 2006 at the age of 81. (JP/Devina Heriyanto) Also exhibited are several of Pram's letters written to his family during his imprisonment on Buru Island in Maluku. Pram, who was an outspoken democracy advocate, was imprisoned under successive regimes throughout his life, including 14 years under the dictatorship of Soeharto. He often sent letters with messages reminding his children to respect and care for their mother. "Pram is close and loving to his family. He always made the time to write letters," Astuti said. This is the first exhibition of its kind in Indonesia, after having previously held similar events overseas, including the Netherlands and Germany, Astuti added. Read also: Remembering the legacy of Pramoedya Ananta Toer An exhibition in Jakarta to celebrate author Pramoedya Ananta Toer seeks to give a glimpse into a different side of the late Indonesian literary legend. (JP/Devina Heriyanto) Plans were ignited following a successful theater adaption of Bunga Penutup Abad (The Flower That Ends a Century), which ran for a two-day performance last year. Director and scriptwriter Wawan Sofwan had combined This Earth of Mankind and Child of All Nations for the play co-presented by the Titimangsa Foundation, which was founded by actress Happy Salma. Happy, who starred in the play and has been a lifelong admirer of Pram and his work, wanted to take the next step and sought to unveil the late author to a larger audience. Through an existing relationship with Pram's family, Happy collaborated with Astuti, as well as Dia.Lo.Gue owner Engel Tanzil and Renitasari Adrian, the program director at the Bakti Budaya Djarum Foundation, to hold the exhibition. "Pram's work transcends time, and it is still relevant today. All his stories are about the essence of living, of which there is no instruction manual for life. But we can learn from someone who writes about it well, and the way he writes it is full of emotion and outstanding dedication, which I can only find in his writings," Happy said. A teaser display, illustrating a timeline of Pram's life, is also being exhibited until May 2 at the Indonesia Kaya Gallery in Grand Indonesia shopping mall in Central Jakarta, where the launch event was held on Tuesday. The opening celebrations involved several notable figures, including senior journalist Najwa Shihab and veteran actor Slamet Rahardjo, who each read passages from Pram's work. "Coming from a film background, Pram's writings translate into a rich scenario, with every paragraph describing a scene vividly," Slamet said. Pram was born in Blora on Feb. 6, 1925, and his work began to gain prominence in the 1950s through his short stories and novels. (JP/Devina Heriyanto) Pram was born in Blora on Feb. 6, 1925, and his work began to gain prominence in the 1950s through his short stories and novels. His best-known works are the Buru Quartet novels, which trace Indonesia's birth of nationalism and the independence struggle against the Dutch. Throughout the span of his career, Pram produced more than 50 books and essays, which have now been translated into 42 languages. Pram was nominated several times for a Nobel Prize in literature before passing away in 2006 at the age of 81. (asw) Veteran actor Deddy Sutomo has passed away at the age of 76, leaving behind an everlasting legacy in the national film industry. Deddy reportedly passed away at 7 a.m. at home on Wednesday, and was interred in his final resting place at Tanah Kusir Cemetery in South Jakarta that afternoon. Deddys niece, Marrysa Tunjung Sari, tweeted that her uncle had been ill after filming a new movie, while his son, Rendy Surindrapati, said the actor had been discharged on Sunday after a 10-day hospital stay for heart failure. According to Rendy, his father had sat down to watch television, and relatives later found that he had passed away. Deddys passing came one day after the Apr. 17 death of fellow veteran actor Amoroso Katamsi, who was known for his portrayal of Soeharto in the 1984 propaganda film, Pengkhianatan G30S/PKI (The Treachery of G30S/PKI). Active in the film industry since the 1970s, Deddy starred in more than 40 movies throughout his career. The teacher-turned-actor launched his career in the 1970 drama, Awan Jingga (Orange Cloud), and then shot to fame as the eponymous character in 1971s Pandji Tengkorak (Skull Banner). A gifted actor possessed with versatility, Deddy portrayed a wide range of characters, including national hero Gen. Sudirman in Janur Kuning (Yellow Coconut Leaf, 1979), a crocodile tamer in Buaya Putih (White Crocodile, 1982) and a preacher in ? ( 2011 ). Deddys final movie was director Adilla Dimitris 2016 drama I Am Hope, in which he acted alongside Tatjana Saphira, Fachri Albar and Tio Pakusadewo. He received a number of accolades throughout an acting career that spanned more than four decades. The most recent was the Best Lead Actor award at the Indonesian Film Festival 2015 for his portrayal of Mahmud in the critically acclaimed religious film, Mencari Hilal (Finding Hilal). Deddy also tried his hand at politics, joining the Indonesian Democratic Party of Struggle (PDI-P) and becoming elected to the House of Representatives for the 2004-2009 session. The PDI-P House faction assigned Deddy to Commission X, which oversees culture and education. Deddys passing has certainly left a big hole in the industry, as indicated by the numerous messages of condolence and tribute from fellow actors and colleagues. Senior actor Tio Pakusadewo said farewell to Deddy by hailing him as my father, teacher and friend, saying he was utterly devastated by the loss. Director Joko Anwar bid farewell on his Twitter account, describing Deddy as the great actor. Meanwhile, pianist and composer Ananda Sukarlan expressed his hope that Deddy would meet Amoroso in heaven, and that the two actors works would be forever cherished. Actress Djenar Mahesa Ayu tweeted a photograph of herself with Deddy, along with her message that remembering [Deddy] is wistfulness. Happiness. An honor. (jlm) Robots in Singapore have completed a task many humans dread - assembling flat-packed IKEA furniture. Sifting through pages of instructions and a jumble of screws and bolts to build the low-cost Swedish furniture may soon be a thing of the past given advances in technology, say researchers at the city-states Nanyang Technological University (NTU) The scientists spent three years programming the robot - made of arms, grippers, sensors and 3D cameras - which assembled the frame of an IKEA dining chair in around 20 minutes. They say it may not be long before such robots can fully assemble a piece of furniture from a manual, verbal instruction or by just looking at an image of the finished item. We have achieved the low level capability to teach the robot how to do it and then in the next five to 10 years, high level reasoning - the what to do - could be done too, one of the researchers Quang-Cuong Pham told Reuters. Read also: Flat-pack empire: Five things to know about Kamprad and Ikea Pham said the team at NTU were looking to work with artificial intelligence experts to try and hone the process. Cindy Andersen, global business area manager of kitchen and dining at IKEA, told Britains Daily Mail newspaper: Robots assemble an Ikea chair at Nanyang Technological University (NTU) in Singapore April 17, 2018. Picture taken April 17, 2018. NTU/Handout via REUTERS Its interesting to see an example of how robots could potentially contribute to our vision of creating a better everyday life for many people. We are very positive about embracing new technology. Singapore has been pushing businesses to invest in automation and robotics to boost productivity as it keeps a tight leash on cheap foreign labor. Some restaurants and hotels in the city-state use robots to deliver food to customers and collect used plates and cutlery. Bill Gates warned Wednesday that malaria was back on the rise again and would continue to claim more lives worldwide unless governments reinvigorated their push to eradicate the disease. Malaria death rates have been in steady decline since 2000 but rose in 2016 as progress towards eliminating the mosquito-borne preventable disease stalled. Microsoft co-founder turned philanthropist Gates said innovation would be crucial to maintain progress in tackling the disease ahead of its ability to develop resistance to drugs and insecticides. "This setback where the 2016 cases went up is a real signal to us," Gates, the second richest person in the world, told the 2018 London Malaria Summit, where experts gathered to plot the way forward. "The funding has to be long-term and we've got to get smarter." Donors at the summit pledged 2.7 billion ($3.8 billion), with Gates putting in $1 billion from his foundation. The funding will go into research, data tools and malaria interventions. Read also: Gates says billionaires should pay 'significantly' more taxes Child dies every two minutes More than 445,000 people died from malaria in 2016, mostly children under five and pregnant women while one child dies every two minutes from the disease. There were 216 million cases in 2016 -- 90 percent of which were in Africa, according to World Health Organisation (WHO) figures. Malaria is estimated to cost the African economy more than $12 billion per year and can consume up to 40 percent of a country's healthcare spending. Deaths from malaria, however, dropped by more than 60 percent between 2000 and 2015. Gates said that around seven million lives had been saved and several countries had been declared malaria-free. "Progress against malaria has been one of the most impressive successes in global health in this generation," the US philanthropist said. However, he warned: "If we don't keep innovating, we will go backwards. If we don't maintain the commitments, malaria would go back up and kill over a million children a year, because the drugs and the insecticides always are evaded by the mosquitos and parasites." Attendees at another health conference this week in Dakar heard how African countries suffering from famine or conflict have seen a spike in malaria infections and deaths. Experts also warned that blood transfusions are a risk factor for malaria, with a study in Nigeria finding that nearly a quarter of the blood stocks in some sub-Saharan countries contain malaria parasites. Read also: Ministry warns tourists traveling to Eastern Indonesia of malaria infection WHO's 'fresh fight' call The London gathering is taking place on the fringes of the biennial Commonwealth summit. Ninety percent of people in the Commonwealth live in countries with malaria. Summit host Britain has called on the 53 Commonwealth nations to commit to halving malaria throughout member states by 2023. Such action would prevent 350 million cases and save 650,000 lives, it was claimed. "It is an ambitious goal, but one that is firmly within our reach," said British Prime Minister Theresa May. Prince Charles, heir to the thrones of 16 Commonwealth nations, said combating malaria was an issue of "truly global urgency". While Wednesday's pledges would "prevent much suffering, illness and death", he said, "it is tragically evident that much still remains to be done". Linking the fight to deforestation, he added that without ending the "utter madness" of "testing the planet's ecosystems to destruction... I fear that we will go fatally compromised into a battle that we cannot afford to lose." World Health Organization Director-General Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus -- who has suffered from malaria and lost a brother to it -- said a "fresh fight" was needed to hold the gains made in fighting the disease. "We are now at a crossroads. If we relax our efforts, we know that malaria will come roaring back with a vengeance," the Ethiopian diplomat said. Captain Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first women fighter pilots in the US Navy, was hailed as an American hero Wednesday for calmly landing a stricken passenger jet after a midair engine explosion that killed a mother-of-two. Shults was identified as the pilot by passengers on Southwest Airlines Flight 1380, which was en route from New York to Dallas when its left engine suddenly blew apart, shrapnel shattering a window and partially sucking one woman out of the plane. An audio recording revealed a calm, unflappable Shults requesting medical assistance and telling air traffic control part of the aircraft was missing as she guided the jet and the 149 people on board into an emergency landing. "This is a true American Hero," wrote passenger Diana McBride Self on Facebook, posting a picture of Shults in the aisle of the Boeing 737-700, greeting passengers as they filed out of the plane in Philadelphia on Tuesday. "A huge thank you for her knowledge, guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation. God bless her and all the crew," she added. "The pilot, Tammy (sic) Jo was so amazing!" wrote passenger Amanda Bourman on Instagram next to a picture of the ruptured engine on the tarmac. "She landed us safely in Philly. God sent his angels to watch over us. I actually heard someone say, there is a God!!" Southwest Airlines, which said it was "devastated" by what happened, declined Wednesday to release any information about the crew. Shults' expert handling of the incident drew comparisons on social media to the legendary "Miracle of the Hudson" pilot Chesley Sullenberger, who heroically landed a disabled US Airways airline in the Hudson River in January 2009 after a bird strike. "Sully" became a national hero for his perfect splash landing in the river alongside Manhattan and successful evacuation of everyone on board. Hollywood star Tom Hanks took on the eponymous title role in the 2016 Oscar-nominated movie "Sully." Read also: One dead after Southwest jet engine failure Fighter pilot "Could you have the medical meet us there on the runway?" Shults' calm voice can be heard asking air traffic control, in an audio recording of their exchange. "We've got injured passengers." "Is your airplane physically on fire?" asks air traffic control. "No, it's not on fire but part of it's missing. They said there is a hole and someone went out," she replies. Witnesses spoke of how a female passenger was sucked toward the window, before being pulled back by fellow passengers as the plane plummeted. "The window had broken and the suction, negative pressure had pulled her outside the plane partially. These two wonderful men they managed to get her back inside the plane and we lay her down and we started CPR," Peggy Phillips told ABC News. The woman, who later died, has been named as Jennifer Riordan, a 43-year-old executive for Wells Fargo bank and mother-of-two from Albuquerque, New Mexico. Seven other people were slightly injured. Shults graduated from MidAmerica Nazarene University in 1983, and her alma mater says she became one of the first female fighter pilots for the US Navy. According to an online military aviation forum, she was one of the first women to fly F-18s, landing her fighter plane on boats at 150 miles (240 kilometers) per hour before eventually becoming an instructor. She later joined Southwest Airlines. A committed Christian, who reportedly teaches Sunday school, her husband Dean is a fellow Southwest pilot and the couple live in the San Antonio area of Texas. They have two children. At the airport, Philadelphia Fire Commissioner Adam Thiel said passengers and flight crew "did some pretty amazing things under very difficult circumstances." Prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, in detention in France over rape allegations, is suffering from multiple sclerosis, but could be treated behind bars, according to judicial medical opinion. The prominent TV pundit and Oxford University professor, whose grandfather founded Egypt's Muslim Brotherhood movement, was detained by a French court in February over charges that he raped two Muslim women in France. A third alleged victim has come forward since then. In February, a French court dismissed a bid by the 55-year-old Ramadan to be released from detention on health grounds, after his lawyers argued his multiple sclerosis (MS) and nerve damage could not be adequately treated behind bars. Now, sources told AFP, medics agree that Ramadan has been suffering since 2006 from MS, a disabling disease of the central nervous system, but insist that "if he remains in detention he will continue to receive access to health care," including four physiotherapy sessions per week. Ramadan denies the rape charges against him and has been held in a prison near Paris since February 2. Read also: Muslim scholar Tariq Ramadan charged with rape: legal source When he made his original bid to avoid detention for health reasons, the first medical evidence given to the court failed to confirm his condition. According to the expert report handed over to the presiding judges on Wednesday, the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was delivered the following month by two neurosurgeons. His two original accusers went to police in late October, both alleging that he had raped them in French hotel rooms In early March, a third woman came forward claiming Ramadan had raped her in Brussels in 2013 and 2014 She accused him of subjecting her to violent and sexually degrading acts during a dozen meetings, often in hotels on the sidelines of conferences. One of European Islam's best known figures, he has dismissed the accusations against him as a smear campaign by his enemies and his lawyers argue there are inconsistencies in the women's accounts. His supporters -- including two million Facebook followers -- have lashed out angrily at his arrest, with many complaining that he has been unfairly targeted because he is Muslim. Since the time of Raden Saleh 200 years ago, innovative Indonesian artists have been global in their outlook, seeking inspiration and marketplaces outside the archipelago; likewise, the islands have long enticed foreign artists to come here for the sunshine and low cost of living. The latest overseas arrival to make his mark in Indonesia, American painter Richard Irwin Meyer, began his career in New York at the Museum of Modern Art, and now he is finding success in Jakarta. As Meyer put it, I moved from a Western art capital that is showing its age to an emerging capital of art in Asia, which is bursting with vitality. Some powerful figures in the Indonesian art scene have taken him to their heart. A wide-ranging survey of Meyers vibrant, delicately nuanced abstractions at a converted commercial space in Bendungan Hilir, Central Jakarta, recently presented by the Puri Art Gallery and curated by Bandung-based art historian Argus FS, was a foretaste of his planned exhibition at the Art Jakarta fair in August. The exhibition, The Intimate Colors, comprising 35 works in acrylic, showcased the visual impact and dynamism of Mweyers vision. The paintings are truly international. Meyer came to Indonesia to find a new home, not for artistic inspiration. He has not made the fatal mistake of some foreign artists who attempt to capture the sensual allure of the islands or make a big statement about its cultures. In a land ruled by the sun, Meyers favored planetary symbol is the moon. His palette does not reflect the tropical landscape but rather embraces a wide range of flamboyant artificial colors, shocking pink, baby blue and golden glitter, which produce a stimulating retinal sensation. As for inspiration, he finds that in himself. Gugup (Nervous, 2017) (Richard Meyer /File) Meyers new career as a painter actually began decades ago. Born and raised in Yakima, Washington, on the west coast of the United States, after attending the state university, he studied painting with noted American artist Gandy Brodie in Vermont and New York. He moved to New York City in 1969 and became an active part of the avant-garde scene there in the era of Andy Warhol. After exhibits at galleries in New York, he worked first as a studio assistant for painter Elaine de Kooning, wife of abstract expressionist legend Willem de Kooning, and then got an editorial job in the publications department of the Museum of Modern Art, a great institution of contemporary art in the Western world. Meyers photogenic good looks and commanding presence attracted the notice of Hollywood talent scouts, which resulted in a successful film career. He had small speaking roles in the original Superman ( 1978 ), starring Christopher Reeve and Marlon Brando, and Raging Bull ( 1980 ), Martin Scorseses masterpiece starring Robert De Niro. Simultaneously, he launched another new career, as the owner and curator of a gallery of African art. Mythic Arts Africa, as it was called, presented landmark exhibits of tribal art from West Africa, which garnered glowing reviews from critics of the New York Times, who continue to support him. To find objects to display in his gallery, Meyer traveled extensively throughout Africa, going to places as far off the beaten track as remote Timbuktu, Mali. His global travels for his gallery in Manhattan eventually brought him to Southeast Asia. On his first trip to Indonesia, in 1999, he went directly to Yogyakarta, where he collected a selection of classical batik that he exhibited to acclaim. The shop in New York associated with his gallery, Beads of Paradise, continues to be a leading supplier of exotic fabrics and jewelry to fashion designers, including Ralph Lauren, among others. By then, he had stopped painting or rather, he put his artistic career on pause for 20 years, until his move to Indonesia. The artist: A still photo of Richard Meyer from a film test for German director Rainer Werner Fassbinder, circa 1979. (Richard Meyer /File) In Bali, he opened the Richard Meyer Gallery, which was devoted to vintage vernacular photography, images of Indonesia and its people, photographed by Indonesians. In a studio above the gallery, Meyer returned to painting in earnest, capped by a move to Yogyakarta, in 2016, where he built a studio that suited his needs. Now that his career in Indonesia is taking off, he has a second residence in Kemang, South Jakarta, where he will be near the galleries that represent his work. Mimicking the process of renewal that has marked his career, in his recent work, Meyer has taken to painting over old canvases that he discarded as failures. The old image is always there, trying to emerge, he said in an interview in his studio. Transparency is very important to me, images glimpsed behind and over other images. Every painting has an evolving life of its own. Meyer is not afraid to make paintings that look pretty, and stays aloof from the current dogma that art must make a social statement. I always keep in mind a comment by Matisse: You cant hold the viewers interest unless there is a substantial decorative element. The depth in the work comes from within the artist. One of the main motives for Meyers decision to abscond to the tropics was the galloping commercialization of art in New York in the 21st century, as a shrinking number of artists achieve a level of stratospheric success, which ensures that anything they exhibit will sell, emboldening galleries to set prices that defy reason. The result may be good for the bank accounts of artists and dealers, but in Meyers view, it cripples creativity by discouraging innovation. When I came to Indonesia, he said, I felt like I was returning to the old days in New York, where the excitement is all about the artists imagination. Australia-based Spokle Group has launched a speech therapy app in Indonesia, as the company aims to make treatment of children with special needs more affordable and accessible. Founder Elisabeth Yunarko said the app sought to bring expert knowledge to families to provide regular support for children with special needs in the form of telepractice. The approach uses telecommunication technology to provide services by therapists and speech pathologists at a distance and linking them to patients for assessments and video consultation. "Indonesia has more than 18,000 islands; it is difficult for many families to access regular treatment. Meanwhile, mobile technology is readily available, so we thought, why not bring expert knowledge to the family?" Yunarko said. Read also: Spokle app offers family centered therapy Andrew Kendrick, a certified therapist with the Spokle team, said the app emphasized a family-centered approach, providing a way to help children with hearing impairment develop listening and speaking skills in a pleasant learning environment and involving the whole family. Kendrick said he had joined the Spokle team for its family-orientated approach, noting that he had 10 years of experience teaching and providing therapy in Australia and Asia and helping families of children with special needs. "I also understand that the idea of Family Centred Practice, in which we emphasize families, is not common practice," said Kendrick. The Spokle app, which uses English and Indonesian, connects families to expert knowledge in a way that is affordable, convenient and cuts across geographical barriers. (JP/A. Kurniawan Ulung) Spokle, a play on the words "sparkle" and "spoken", was created in response to a WHO estimate that 466 million people worldwide suffer from hearing impairment, including 34 million children. Untreated hearing impairment in children can affect the development of speech. Spokle seeks to provide affordable and accessible expertise by offering more than 400 informative guidance and speech therapy tutorial videos with real-life examples. While the programs were created by foreigners, Indonesian users have contributed to creating videos featured in the app. Obtainable in Indonesia for Rp 250,000 (US$18.15) via iTunes and the Google Play Store, Spokle is also available in Australia, New Zealand, Malaysia, Singapore and the Philippines. (wng) Expect a dash of floral batik patterns, straight-cut silhouettes, mens outwear and skintight catsuits in this spring/summer 2018 collection. The 12th Fashion Nation brought a rich variety of designs to Senayan City shopping mall in Central Jakarta. Running from April 11 to 22, Fashion Nation XII boasts 24 shows featuring an array of up-and-coming names as well as established designers in the South Jakarta malls atrium. Three designers unveiled their new collections at the event. Denny Wirawan presented his ready-to-wear collaboration with e-commerce platform blibli.com, Auguste Soesastro introduced his lower priced diffusion line Wastu and POPULO Batik, helmed by Joseph Lim and Bai Soemarlono, brought a Tibetan ambience to the runway. In collaboration with AkzoNobel paint product Dulux, couture purveyors Barli Asmara and Diana Couture brought out their never-before-seen collections, with accessories provided by Le Ciel Design. Florals for spring? Groundbreaking Suasana Hati by Denny Wirawan, Dennys first online exclusive pret-a-porter line, opened the day with multicolored floral batik pieces. Utilizing Pekalongan and Solo batik, the clothes were a departure from Dennys usual fare, but longtime followers could still notice traces of couture and drama through the styling, as models were outfitted with flowery headpieces and/or carrying bouquets of flowers. Though the presentation evokes images of waterfront picnics on the French Riviera, the clothes were work-appropriate cotton attire you could wear on a casual Friday. Dennys signature color blocking were on display, applied in the panels of cap sleeve shift dresses and cropped jackets with oriental details finished in clashing patterns. Of course, this is a logical move for the designer, as he could stand to gain exposure and business from blibli.coms consumer base. In this digital era, we must keep up with the times to reach a wider audience, especially from the millennial generation, Denny said. The highlights of the presentation were the two lightweight gathered skirts shown near the end, with floral detailing that could spruce up even the stuffiest of boardroom meetings. Staying in the lines Wastu, which means architecture in Javanese Sanskrit, embodies Auguste Soesastros DNA as a designer, as seen in the crisp, no-nonsense styling. The ready-to-wear brand, established last year, showcased in its third collection 18 looks of monochromatic garments in straight-cut silhouettes. The collection featured loose silhouettes so as to accommodate the women who would wear my clothes, without limiting or hindering their movements, Auguste said. Whats important is that the wearers can feel more comfortable in their clothing, he added. Neat lines were seen in the majority of the shows offerings; a black and white sleeveless shift was adorned with vertical stripes, a single red line a splash of color amid the absence. Black trousers finished with white striping down the sides added a touch of sport reminiscent of Alexander Wang, paired with crisp white button downs and white sneakers. Amid the deluge of black and white, Wastu also utilized floral batik patterns in several looks. A collared jacket was paired with straight leg trousers in the same fabric in an earthy, one tone ensemble. When I headed to Bordeaux to taste barrel samples from the regions 2017 vintage, I was not hopeful. Id followed reports of the severe frosts over several nights in late April last year. The worst frost in 26 years decimated vines and drastically reduced the overall grape harvest by nearly 50 percent. The frosts were biblical, says Gavin Quinney, owner of Chateau Bauduc, who shows me photos of blackened vines on his iPhone as we compare notes at a chateau lunch. But after 10 days of tastings during the annual event known as En Primeur, my main takeaway was surprise at how good many of the wines are. The word I heard over and over again was surprise. The outstanding quality of wines from not-frosted vineyards is way better than everyone expected, given the challenges of the vintage. The growing season started and finished early, with a fine spring, a heat wave in June followed by rain, and an exceptionally dry, cloudy July and August. Eric Kohler, technical director of Chateau Lafite-Rothschild, says rain in mid-September, at harvest time, posed problems for the merlot. But our grapes were beautiful, like in a fruit saladyou wanted to eat them, he says, describing the character of the vintage as perfect harmony. The frost Despite the highlights, at every chateau, the main topic was how frost had affected the vines. Damage was unevenly distributed. Some estates, such as Chateau Corbin, one of my favorite properties in Saint-Emilion, and Chateau Fieuzal in Pessac-Leognan, lost their entire crop and made no wine at all. The frost caused so much damage because the growing season started very early, and the emerging buds were destroyed. Worst hit were parts of Saint-Emilion, Pomerol, Pessac-Leognan, the Graves, and Sauternes, where many chateaux lost 30 percent to 50 percent of their crop. To protect their best Pomerol estates, Christian and Edouard Moueix, of JP Moueix, had 28 workers setting up and lighting special bougies (candles) among the vines. The flames raised temperatures two degrees to three degrees, saving the day. Chateau La Conseillante and Chateau Figeac employed helicopters to hover above their vines during the coldest part of the day; this, too, worked, as did wind machines elsewhere. Other chateaux, especially those with top terroirs near the Gironde River in Saint-Estephe, Pauillac, and Saint-Julien, escaped with no frost at all. Read also: Jakpost Nightlife: Wine hangouts The style of the wines Veronique Sanders, who manages Haut-Bailly in the Pessac-Leognan region south of Bordeaux, explained that the summers cool nights and warm days added up to the wonderfully expansive, floral aromas that are another hallmark of the vintage. The overall style of the 2017s is bright fruit, soft tannins, juicy acidity, and succulent, silky textures. The wines really show the different personality of each estate. With a few exceptions, the reds arent as deep, rich, concentrated and powerful as those from 2015 and 2016, while some of the dry whites, such as Chateau Margauxs Pavillon Blanc, Haut-Brion Blanc, and Domaine de Chevalier are even better than those from last year. The first growthschateaux Mouton Rothschild, Lafite Rothschild, Haut-Brion, Margaux, and Latourare superb, as are the Right Banks vibrant, complex Petrus, Le Pin, and Chateau Ausone. Of those, Id single out as super-standouts Lafite and Haut-Brion. Youll be happy with any of these, so I havent included them in my list of top picks below. Should you buy the wines as futures? Serious wine collectorsor speculatorswill buy a volume of their favorite wines at a price set now, hoping that when bottles hit stores in 2020 with their final prices, early buyers will have stored bargains. There were a few hints during en primeur this year as to whether this would be a good idea. At the annual press dinner at Chateau Kirwan in Margaux, the Union des Grands Crus president, Olivier Bernard, announced that more merchants have descended on the region than for the great vintage of 2016, despite French air and rail strikes, which marks interest. Enthusiasm, which is different, varied widely among those with whom I spoke. Consensus is that after the great vintages of 2015 and 2016, 2017 is not really a year for speculators. So should you buy? The big question will be price, which the chateaux will release over the next two months. A weak dollar will add to the cost for American buyers, even if, as many negociants predict, prices will be lower than last year. (That may be wishful thinking.) Its probably not a safe bet that youll end up ahead on your investment in the near future. Buying futures means plunking down your money for a wine still aging in barrels and then waiting for the bottled wine to arrive in two years. My advice is to buy if you really want a wine from a particular estate to drink, as quantities from many will be in short supply. But remember: The great 2015s are on shelves right now. Read also: Four things oenophiles should know about collecting wine Top 12 wines (beyond the first growths) From left: Ch'teau Angelus, Ch'teau Belair-Monange, Ch'teau Haut-Bailly, Ch'teau Leoville Barton, Ch'teau Montrose (Bloomberg/Elin McCoy) Chateau Angelus The dark, rich, ripe flavors are matched by bright, savory minerality. Chateau Belair-Monange Power, elegance, and layers of flavor characterize this Saint Emilion. Chateau Ducru-Beaucaillou Very spicy and elegant, this Saint-Julien wine has a mouthwatering energy. Chateau Figeac Very plush and smooth, yet delicate and fresh, its also very structured. Chateau Haut-Bailly This is an incredibly polished red, with pure cassis flavors and a silky texture. Chateau Lafleur Sumptuous and dense, yet full of vibrant elegance, this is a star of the vintage. Chateau LEglise Clinet Silky and sophisticated, it brims with floral aromas and fruit, earth, and truffle flavors. Chateau Leoville Barton This generous, structured, and concentrated second growth from Saint-Julien is a stunner. Chateau Leoville Las Cases Complex, serious, and intense, it has a seductive texture and rich, powerful flavors. Chateau Montrose Plummy and dense, its also super-fragrant and almost juicy. Chateau Pichon Lalande Very spicy, lively, silky textured, and refined. Super structure and aromatics. Vieux Chateau Certan This luscious wine has lovely aromas of violets and a rich, yet fresh character. Six good buys (traditionally under $35) From left: Ch'teau Haut-Brisson, Ch'teau Le Pape, Ch'teau Montlandrie, Ch'teau Pibran, Vieux Ch'teau Saint Andre (Bloomberg/Elin McCoy) Blason dIssan The delicious second wine of Chateau dIssan brims with intense fruit. Chateau Haut-Brisson The best vintage yet of this red is bright and juicy, with good structure. Chateau Le Pape Charming, spicy and silky textured, this is made by the Chateau Haut-Bailly team. Chateau Montlandrie Lush and lip-smacking, this insider wine is made by Denis Durantou of LEglise Clinet. Chateau Pibran Scented and savory, this wine has more merlot than usual because of frost. Vieux Chateau Saint Andre Jeff Berrouet and his father Jean-Claude, ex-winemaker at Petrus, made this fruity, fresh Montagne-Saint-Emilion red. Four to avoid Chateau de France Tough tannins and edgy acidity mar this wine from Pessac-Leognan. Chateau Maucaillou This red from Moulis shows green, unripe aromas and tastes. Chateau Desmirail Ugh. Overwhelming vanilla tastes come from aging in too much new oak. A British pottery is producing royal wedding mugs emblazoned with the description of Prince Harry and U.S. actress Meghan Markle as "game changers, free spirits, big hearts and well-suited". Harry, Queen Elizabeth's grandson, and Markle, who stars in the U.S. legal drama Suits, tie the knot in Windsor, west of London on May 19. At the Emma Bridgewater ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent, central England, a city famed for its pottery, workers are busy hand-making and decorating thousands of the commemorative mugs. Sitting under rows of bunting made out of Union Jack flags hanging from the ceiling, around 60 workers use traditional techniques to hand-decorate the clay moulds. Behind them, fresh out of the kiln, a sea of red and blue Harry and Meghan mugs fill the shelves below a portrait of Queen Elizabeth. Read also: Famed UK royal biographer says Diana would approve of Meghan The brand has been operating for over 30 years and has been making commemorative ware since it opened in 1985. It produced mugs for Queen Elizabeths diamond jubilee and the wedding of Harry's older brother Prince William and his wife Kate, as well other big dates on the royal calendar. "In Staffordshire we've got a long tradition of celebrating national events, and what better than a royal wedding," Emma Bridgewater, brand founder and designer of the mugs, told Reuters. "Royal themed pottery made in Staffordshire can be traced back to the time of Charles II, and we are thrilled to see celebration through pottery continuing in 2018 with Harry and Meghan," she said. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Sebastian Partogi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19 2018 Empowerment talks: Indonesia Chamber of Commerce of Industry (KADIN) Women Empowerment division vice chairwoman Nita Yudhi (second left), Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia group chief of information Deborah Intan Nova (second right) and Telkomtelstra chief financial officer Ernest Hutagalung (right) discuss the issue of eradicating gender bias in the corporate world in a talk show moderated by public relations practitioner Nazrya Octora (left). The talk show was part of the Indonesian Womens Forum 2018 jointly organized by ceritaperempuan.id, Telkomtelstra and Coca-Cola Amatil Indonesia. (JP/Arief Suhardiman) While a number of Indonesian companies have taken action to help women break the glass ceiling, comprehensive intervention for gender equality in the workplace still has a long way to go. The path that advertising practitioner Marianne Admardatine has taken toward her la... Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 15:19 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf5e552 1 City names,change,Tangerang,farts Free A noodle seller in Tangerang has officially changed his name to Ihsan Hadi, as his seven-year old son was embarrassed by his fathers previous name, Kentut, which translates to Fart. Ihsan said his son often refused to go to school, because his friends frequently teased him about his father's unusual name. Ihsan went on to say that his parents for no clear reason had decided to name him Kentut when he was born in Solo, Central Java, in 1988. He added that he had been willing to change his name since he was a child, but no one in his village knew the legal procedure. "I wanted to change my name since I was six years old. However, nobody in my village in Solo knew about the procedures, so I had to live with the name for years," Ihsan said on Wednesday, as quoted by tribunnews.com. Ihsan, who has lived in Tangerang for the past ten years with his wife and three children, filed the request with the Tangerang District Court on Monday. The court has granted his request and is set to issue a letter with the official decision next Monday. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Anton Hermansyah (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 17:32 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf68912 1 Business KPPI-Indonesian-Trade-Safeguard-Committee,National-Strategic-Projects Free The Committee for Acceleration of Priority Infrastructure Delivery (KPPIP) said relevant ministers may continue the 14 projects that had been delisted from the National Strategic Projects (PSN). "The relevant ministries are committed to continuing the projects although they are no longer included on the PSN list, said KPPIP chairman Wahyu Utomo at the Office of the Coordinating Economic Minister in Jakarta on Thursday. The government slashed on Monday the number of PSN projects from 245 to 222 as 10 projects had been completed in 2017, while 14 projects were removed from the list because the relevant ministries had failed to guarantee that the projects could be completed in the third quarter of 2019. Wahyu said the 14 projects faced technical problems such as incomplete land acquisition and feasibility studies, making the committee doubt that those projects could start construction in the third quarter of next year, the end of President Joko Jokowi Widodo five-year term. "For example, the Waru-Wonokromo-Tanjung Perak toll road in East Java did not get support from the local administrations. Even the feasibility study has not been completed," he said. Meanwhile, the special economic zone (SEZ) in Merauke, Papua had land procurement issues. The relevant ministries will find other ways to finish the projects, he said, adding that for Merauke SEZ, the ministers might use the government regulation on SEZ to help complete the project. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19 2018 Jakarta administration general affairs head Firmansyah said the Islam-based Prosperous Justice Party (PKS) had gained permission from Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan to use City Halls yard to celebrate its anniversary. The PKS asked the governor directly for permission [to use the City Hall yard]. The usual mechanism to use the [yard] is to first ask general affairs for permission, Firmansyah said on Tuesday as quoted by tempo.co. On April 15, the PKS held a leisurely road race event centered at City Hall and attended by PKS president Sohibul Iman as part of the partys 20th anniversary celebrations. The main event will be held on May 13. Firmansyah added that the governor could give parties verbal permission to use City Hall. Earlier, public policy expert Trubus Rahadiansyah questioned the use of City Hall for PKS anniversary events. to Read Full Story SUBSCRIBE NOW Starting from IDR 55,000/month Unlimited access to our web and app content e-Post daily digital newspaper No advertisements, no interruptions Privileged access to our events and programs Subscription to our newsletters We accept Register to read 3 premium articles for free Already subscribed? login Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Nurul Fitri Ramadhani and Kharishar Kahfi (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 17:05 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf6741f 1 Politics e-ID,Andi-Narogong,graft,corruption,Jakarta-High-Court,justice-collaborator,KPK,setya,setya-novanto,house-of-representatives Free The Jakarta High Court handed down on Thursday a heavier sentence on businessman Andi Agustinus, also known as Andi Narogong, and declared him as the main perpetrator in the e-ID graft case. The verdict implies that Andi cannot become a justice collaborator as expected by the Corruption Eradication Commission (KPK). "[The judges] consider that the defendant can't be separated from his dominant role in the budgeting and execution of the e-ID project despite his status as a justice collaborator," stated the written verdict published on the official website of the Supreme Court. The panel of judges increased the prison term for Andi to 11 years and fined him Rp 1 billion (US$72,500). He was previously sentenced to eight years in prison by the Jakarta Corruption Court. Andi was declared guilty of conspiring with numerous parties in the deliberation of the e-ID project in the House of Representatives. He was accused of persuading graft convict Setya Novanto, then a member of House Commission II overseeing home affairs, to help him gain lawmakers' approval for the Rp 5.9 trillion budget to procure e-ID cards. KPK spokesman Febri Diansyah said the antigraft body was surprised that the Jakarta High Court had annulled Andi's status as a justice collaborator, as the Jakarta Corruption Court had considered that Andi had admitted his crime and contributed to the investigation by revealing the roles of other parties. The KPK emphasized that Andi was not the main perpetrator in the case. "We're quite surprised to find that the panel of judges [at the Jakarta High Court] annulled Andi's justice collaborator status. We really regret the decision, yet we still respect the verdict," Febri said. (ebf) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin (Agence France-Presse) Baghdad, Iraq Thu, April 19, 2018 21:45 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf790d4 2 World Iran,Iraq,Russia,terrorism Free Iran, Iraq, Syria and Russia held a meeting in Baghdad on Thursday of military and security officials to coordinate "anti-terrorism" efforts, the Iranian defence ministry said. "Cooperation in intelligence between the four countries for common aims and anti-terrorism missions has been successful in restoring stability and security, and it should form the basis for future cooperation," Defence Minister General Amir Hatami said in a statement from the Iraqi capital. The "coalition" had played an "important role in the defeat" of the Islamic State group in both Iraq and Syria, he said. The meeting came the same day as Iraq said its air force carried out a raid on IS positions in Syria. Tehran supports the Iraqi government and the Russian-backed regime in Syria in fighting rebel groups and jihadists by sending "military advisers" and "volunteers" from Iran and Afghanistan. Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 21:35 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf790ba 1 City MRT-Jakarta,Women,operators Free Six women will operate Jakartas first MRT service while another 18 women will maintain the facility, the operational division head of PT Jakarta MRT Mega Indahwati Natangsa has said. The company has provided equal opportunities for men and women to work for the company, she added. Mega said all 41 MRT operators had been trained in Malaysia during which the men and women were trained under the same program. During the training, women [operators] were asked to carry an emergency ladder weighing 40 kilograms and walk the length of the train. If women can do it, men can do it, Mega said on Wednesday according to tempo.co. The company has recruited 48 percent of the 320 workers needed for the MRT, set to begin operation in 2019. The infrastructure project's development has reached 50.55 percent, she said. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 11:30 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf57120 4 Business Jokowi,OSS-online-single-submission,preparation Free President Joko Jokowi Widodo has called on all offices under both central and regional governments to be prepared for the implementation of the online single submission (OSS) system, which is aimed at slashing red tape in business licensing procedures. The President stressed the importance of thorough preparation, including the implementation of user-friendly technology and professional human resources. Because it is a digital-based reform, we have to ensure that the system will work well and is friendly to users, Jokowi said at the Bogor Palace in West Java on Wednesday when chairing an OSS coordination meeting as reported by tribunnews.com. Jokowi expressed hope that the new system would drastically cut red tape through bureaucratic integration. This is also important to ensure human resources involved in the new system are used efficiently. We have to change the old bureaucratic atmosphere so that it is more responsive and provides a faster service [to businesspeople], he said as quoted by tribunnews.com. The President also repeated his call for further deregulation in business licensing procedures, from the ministerial level to the regional administrations. Coordinating Economic Minister Darmin Nasution previously said he had promised the President that the OSS system would be implemented later this month, after its initial launch in March was delayed. President Joko Jokowi Widodo has issued Presidential Regulation No. 91/2017 as the legal basis for the implementation of the OSS system. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 15:47 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf5e964 4 Business miners,nickel,bauxite,smelter,construction,progress Free The Energy and Mineral Resources Ministry has warned mining companies over the sluggish progress on the construction of smelters, which is a requirement under the stipulations of their export permits. The ministrys mineral and coal Director General Bambang Gatot Ariyono said on Thursday as reported by kontan.co.id that the ministry would revoke the export recommendations for companies whose construction progress had not reached 90 percent within six months of independent verification of export recommendations. The requirement to construct smelters is stipulated in Ministerial Decree No. 6/2017 on the procedure for the issuance of export recommendations for processed minerals issued in April 2017. Based on recent audits by the ministry, the smelter's construction progress of three out of 16 nickel mining companies that obtained export recommendations from the ministry had reached less than 1 percent progress. For example, the progress of PT Ceria Nugraha Indotama smelter's construction reached only 0.53 percent in March from 0.03 percent in December. Yet, the company had exported 1.5 million tons out of its 2.3 million ton quota. PT Fajar Bakti Lintas Nusantara, which had obtained the export recommendations of 4 million tons, had not started construction, while PT Genba Multi Mineral, which obtained the export recommendation of 1.89 million tons in January, had not shown any progress in smelter construction. Meanwhile, from the seven bauxite mining companies, the smelter's construction progress of three companies was less than 1 percent. (bbn) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Apriadi Gunawan (The Jakarta Post) Medan Thu, April 19, 2018 08:48 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf4c412 4 National North-Sumatra,#NorthSumatra,maternal-mortality,Indonesia Free A hospital in Dairi regency in North Sumatra made a public apology following the deaths of a mother and her baby during childbirth at the hospital. We are sorry we could not save her life. But she was a high-risk patient because it was her sixth childbirth, Sidikalang General Hospital director Hendri Manik said at a press conference on Wednesday. Hendri added that the hospital had given the mother, Ramaya Sidauruk, 38, a standard treatment on the evening of April 15. He denied reports that Ramaya had not been treated by a doctor that night. Our specialist doctor was on his way but the patient was treated by our general practitioner. Read also: N. Sumatra hospital ordered to give explanation after mother, baby die during childbirth The hospital told the family to take her to Kabanjahe Hospital in the neighboring regency, Karo, about two hours by car from Dairi. The family refused in the beginning but finally relented after her condition worsened, Hendri said. He denied that Sidikalang Hospitals medical equipment was inadequate. But he did not explain why the hospital referred Ramaya to a hospital that was two hours away. Earlier, Ramayas family friend, Kordes Sihombing, said the mother and baby died because there had been no doctor that night. He said the couple first went to a nearby community health center (Puskesmas), which told them to go to Sidikalang Hospital. Kordes said Ramayas husband, Tulus Sihombing, had to look for a rental car to take Ramaya to Kabanjahe Hospital in Karo because Sidikalang Hospital did not have an ambulance. (evi) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 16:40 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf60196 4 City odd-even-license-traffic-policy,jakarta,Jakarta-police,Transportation Free The Jakarta Police have agreed to change the starting hour of the odd-even traffic policy on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin to 6 a.m. from 7 a.m. on Monday, following the suggestion from transportation agency. I agree with the suggestion, because it will reduce the congestion, Jakarta Police traffic director Halim Pagarra said on Wednesday, according to kompas.com. Halim said the odd-even traffic policy had proven effective in reducing traffic jams and could hopefully be implemented on other thoroughfares, too. The Greater Jakarta Transportation Management Agency (BPTJ) has suggested that the Jakarta administration synchronize the odd-even policy on Jl. Sudirman and Jl. MH Thamrin with the toll roads, where the rule is in place at 6 a.m., so as to alleviate bottlenecks. BPTJ head Bambang Prihartono said the bottlenecks were found on the Cikampek toll road leading to Bekasi and the Jagorawi toll road to Bogor in West Java, which intersect in Cawang, East Jakarta. The Cawang toll road became more congested following the policys implementation. (cal) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 13:27 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf59dc9 1 City reclamation,Jakarta-Bay,ministers,police-questioning Free The Jakarta Police has questioned the Environment and Forestry Minister in the latest development in their investigation of the controversial Jakarta Bay reclamation project, following their earlier questioning of two other Cabinet ministers. Jakarta Police special crimes chief Sr. Comr. Adi Deriyan said on Wednesday that the police had questioned Environment and Forestry Minister Siti Nurbaya recently. "We have questioned [Siti Nurbaya]," Adi said as reported by Antara news agency, but he did not provide further details. Last month, the police questioned Coordinating Maritime Affairs Minister Luhut Pandjaitan and Maritime Affairs and Fisheries Minister Susi Pudjiastuti, along with other high-ranking officials. While interrogating Luhut, the police asked the coordinating minister to clarify his decision to lift the moratorium on the project. The multi-trillion rupiah project has sparked controversy among the public as well as state officials, with the police investigating alleged corruption in the project after discovering "irregularities" in the sale of the reclaimed islets. Antara reported that the taxable property value (NJOP) for Islet C and Islet D was set at Rp 3.1 million (US$230) per square meter, while the land was being sold for more than Rp 25 million per square meter. The NJOP was calculated on the independent assessment of public auditors (KJPP) as mandated by Law No. 28/2009 on regional taxation and levies and Bylaw No.16/2011 on land and building tax in rural and urban areas. Adi said that the special crimes division planned to question more government officials. Separately, Jakarta Governor Anies Baswedan recently reiterated his campaign promise to stop the project, arguing that it would only benefit certain groups. (fac) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 16:23 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf5fbdc 1 National Facebook,data-breach Free The National Police are looking deeper into applications connected to social media giant Facebook to investigate if there was any misuse of Indonesian users personal data. "We want to know what Facebook did with the data and investigate what kind of applications users share their personal information on," the National Polices Criminal Investigation Department (Bareskrim) head Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sumanto said on Thursday as quoted by Antara News Agency. The data collected has allegedly been misused by third parties. However, the police have not yet received reports of stolen data from users. On Wednesday, the police's cybercrime division questioned Facebook Indonesia's public policy head Ruben Hattari on the alleged data breach, which saw the personal information of up to 1 million users in Indonesia being improperly shared with Cambridge Analytica, a political consultancy that was involved in the United States President Donald Trumps election campaign. Ruben said Facebook was undergoing an audit, the result of which would be revealed to the police, the Communications and Information Ministry and the House of Representatives. "We are still doing the audit, we will publish [the outcome] when it's finished, but I can't promise a certain date," Ruben said. Indonesia is an important market for Facebook as it has 115 million people using the social media platform. (foy/swd) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 11:13 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf56806 1 National student,accident,art Free A 13-year-old student who suffered injuries following a deadly building collapse in Cirebon, West Java, has been promised a scholarship from the government. Tri Intan Apriyani was rehearsing an art performance with the traditional gamelan instrument with her fellow students at SMP 1 state junior high school in Gegesik on Monday, when a former swallow nest building collapsed onto them, killing seven. She was badly injured and had to undergo surgery for a broken jaw and femur. "The scholarship will be provided by the education ministry. Usually, the scholarship lasts until graduation from middle school," Education and Culture Minister Muhadjir Effendy said on Wednesday. The minister said President Joko "Jokowi" Widodo would also provide a new gamelan set for the Hidayat Jati dance studio and its partner schools, SMP 1 and SMP 3 Gegesik. "The [activities] of the Hidayat Jati dance studio and the schools are a concrete example of local heritage conservation among schools and society. This is in line with the government's program to strengthen students' character," the minister said after meeting the relatives of the deceased. The meeting took place at the residence of Suherman, the owner of the dance studio, who died in the incident. The government has also given compensation to the victims. (dev/ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 19:36 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf72b25 1 City trash,North-Jakarta Free The space underneath Pelabuhan toll road in Warakas subdistrict in Tanjung Priok, North Jakarta, has turned into a pool of trash as the location was inaccessible for sanitary workers. Deputy head of Warakas RT 011/08 neighborhood unit Asmadi said sanitary workers rarely cleaned the area. The trash has accumulated since the toll road was constructed in 1993, he said as quoted by kompas.com on Tuesday. Asmadi said the trash pileup was not caused by local residents, adding that residents in Warakas have been forbidden from disposing of their domestic waste there. (vla) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin Devina Heriyanto and Nurul Fitri Ramadhani (The Jakarta Post) Jakarta Thu, April 19, 2018 18:54 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf6d03f 1 National Facebook,data-breach,data-privacy,data-protection-bill,criminal-charge,Cambridge-Analytica,#Indonesia,Indonesia,social-media,#PostScript Free With more than 1 million Indonesian users affected in the Facebook data-breach scandal, the National Police have decided to launch a criminal investigation into the case. On Wednesday, the police questioned Facebook Indonesia public policy head Ruben Hattari at the forces headquarters, in their first attempt to shed light on the case. It remains unclear, however, if the ongoing probe could ever lead to criminal charges against Facebook or its representatives here. Below is what we know so far about the Facebook scandal in Indonesia. What is the data-breach scandal about? The Facebook data-breach scandal refers to the data harvesting by a third party, political consulting firm Cambridge Analytica (CA). CA harvested data and used it for marketing or political campaigning, allegedly helping US President Donald Trump win his presidency. CA was also contracted by one of Indonesias major political parties in 1999. While Facebook also harvests its users data and monetizes the data to run advertisements on its platform, Facebook does not sell the data to advertisers, as confirmed by founder Mark Zuckerberg during a recent US Congress hearing on the matter. CA managed to harvest the data through two University of Cambridge academics, Aleksandr Kogan and Michal Kosinski. Kogan initially created This is Your Digital Life for research purposes, the personality test app was downloaded by 270,000 people but also collected the data of the downloaders friends, boosting this number to 87 million users, 1 million of whom were Indonesians. This is why the Facebook-CA data breach is scandalous: Kogans app collected users data without their permission and the data was improperly sold to a third party. How big is Facebook in Indonesia? As quoted by kompas.com, Indonesia has the fourth-highest number of Facebook users in the world. As of January, there were 130 million accounts on the social network, or 6 percent of the total global users. The cities with the most active users in Indonesia are Bekasi in West Java with 18 million accounts and Jakarta with 16 million accounts. This makes Indonesia the country with the most Facebook users in Southeast Asia. How influential is Facebook in Indonesian elections? Social media was largely to blame for polarizing Indonesians during the 2014 presidential election and the 2017 Jakarta gubernatorial election, with Facebook and Twitter being the biggest platforms and therefore most influential. However, this had more to do with hoaxes and hate speech than data harvesting. Some politicians have admitted to relying on social-media data for their campaigns, but it is unclear how sophisticated and widespread their use of social media data has been. Conversations regarding the elections dominated the Facebook and Twitter news feed in 2014 and peaked in 2016. Since late 2017, the National Police have caught two syndicates allegedly responsible for creating and spreading hoaxes and inciting hate speech, Saracen and the Muslim Cyber Army. Both groups, which used fake accounts on Facebook and Twitter in their operations, were critical of President Joko Jokowi Widodo and may have been organized to undermine him ahead of the 2019 presidential election. The National Police's cybercrime unit presents suspects accused of involvement in the Muslim Cyber Army on Feb. 28. The six belong to a Whatsapp group called Family Muslim Cyber Army, which is accused of producing hate speech. (Antara/Reno Esnir) Do the police have a strong case against Facebook Indonesia? At this point, the answer is no. The investigation is still in its preliminary stage. Ruben confirmed that Wednesdays questioning by the police revolved around the alleged data breach, but stopped short of confirming whether he was questioned in an investigation of a criminal case built by the police. National Police spokesman Insp. Gen. Setyo Wasisto declined to disclose details of the questioning, and instead complained about the lack of cooperation on Facebooks side in combating radical content on the social-media site. On Thursday, National Police chief detective Comr. Gen. Ari Dono Sumanto made it clear the police were still investigating whether there was a crime in the data-breach scandal. He admitted that they had not found a single person claiming to have suffered losses from the data breach, or even claimed to have had their data stolen. What are the possible charges against Facebook? Data privacy is uncharted territory in Indonesia. There is no data protection law in the country, although a bill is expected to be passed this year. The bill has been in the 2015-2019 Prolegnas since 2016, but there has been no progress in the deliberation of the draft law. The closest thing to data privacy protection is Communications and Information Ministerial Regulation No. 20/2016, but there is only a series of administrative penalties for individuals accused of misusing personal data harvested online. The regulation has no stipulation regarding penalties for corporations accused of stealing personal information. The 2008 Electronic Information and Transactions (ITE) Law, which is focused on curbing hate speech and hoaxes, does not specifically cover personal data protection. A member of staff at the Communications and Information Ministry, however, has claimed that the ITE law could still be used to press charges against Facebook. Article 26 of the law stipulates that the use of electronic information on an individuals personal data should be approved by the said individual. Article 30 of the law further states that illegally accessing information belonging to other people is punishable by eight years imprisonment. Human rights activist Wahyudi Jafar says that Facebook could be charged with interception as stipulated in Article 31 of the amended ITE law. The crime is punishable by 10 years imprisonment or a Rp 5 billion (US$362,287) fine. But it wont be easy to prove this, he says. (ahw) Share this article Whatsapp Facebook Twitter Linkedin News Desk (Agence France-Presse) Tuxtla Gutierrez, Mexico Thu, April 19, 2018 16:02 1262 2c798a31c212039f000dc5df9cf5f7a5 2 News Education,Mexico,Guadalupe-Palacios Free Guadalupe Palacios stands out in her high school class in Mexico, and it is not just because of her gray hair, her deeply creased skin or her 96 years. Palacios, who is seeking to live out her dream of finishing high school by her 100th birthday, is also the most enthusiastic student in the classroom. "I feel ready to give it my all. Today is a marvelous day," she said Monday on her first day of high school in the southern state of Chiapas, wearing the school uniform of a white polo shirt with a black skirt and her own personal touch: a pink sweater. "Dona Lupita," as she is affectionately known, was welcomed with applause from her fellow students at High School Number 2 in the city of Tuxtla Gutierrez, the state capital. She diligently took notes in her chemistry and mathematics classes and even strutted her stuff in a dance class. Palacios grew up in poverty in an indigenous village and spent her childhood helping her family farm corn and beans instead of going to school. As an adult, she went to work selling chickens at market, married twice and had six children. Read also: Afghan mum cradling baby during university exam goes viral Along the way, she picked up arithmetic, but never learned to read and write. When she turned 92, she said, she decided it was time, and enrolled in a literacy program. "Now I can write letters to my boyfriends," she said with a laugh. But she did not stop there: In 2015, she enrolled in a primary school program for adult learners. In less than four years, she completed both primary and middle school. But there was no adult learning program for high school -- so she decided to enroll in a regular public school, with classmates eight decades younger. Already, she is looking beyond high school: She would like to be a kindergarten teacher someday. Posted Wednesday, April 18, 2018 11:00 pm A Litchfield native trained in the Illinois Farm Bureau manager trainee program, Katie Wilson began work on Monday, April 16, as manager at Montgomery County Farm Bureau. She began her new position after two and a half years as ag reporter for WSMI radio. She and her husband, John Wilson, live in rural Litchfield. "Montgomery County is my home county, and it's what I went to school for and where my interest lies," Wilson said of the job as farm bureau manager. "It's a way to grow in my career and remain local." The daughter of Brad and Mary Bowles, she grew up on a farm in North Litchfield Township and graduated from Litchfield High School in 2010 where she was active in FFA, earning a state degree in 2008 and serving as chapter president as a senior in high school. She graduated from Illinois State University in Normal in December 2013 with a bachelor's degree in agriculture communications and leadership, and went to work for the Illinois Farm Bureau at their state headquarters in Bloomington in the manager trainee program. While there, she trained in a county farm bureau, attended staff meetings, and visited affiliated associations to learn about their operations. While in college, she interned at the McLean County Farm Bureau in Bloomington, and worked summers at the DuPont Pioneer plant north of Litchfield. In May 2014 she was placed in Toulon, about an hour north of Peoria, as manager of the Stark County Farm Bureau, where she managed daily operations in the office, planned farm bureau activities, scheduled board meetings, and educated youth on agriculture and ag products. She left that job in August 2015 to return to her home county and take the job at WSMI. She now works for a 101-year-old organization that, according to its mission statement, works to "Provide our members with information to increase profitability, quality of life and to serve as an advocate on agricultural issues." Managers have served the Montgomery County Farm Bureau since 1934 and Wilson is the 14th. . - , 50 % , 50 % , . () "" . " ... Check out this new Avengers: Infinity War A screen fit for this many superheroes IMAX Behind the Frame featurette. Directors Joe and Anthony Russo and Producer Kevin Feige offer an exclusive look at how they designed the film, and took advantage of the larger frame that IMAX provides to bring The Avengers and their superhero allies together for an epic showdown 10 years in the making. You see more of the characters, you see more of their powers. You see more of the scale of the film. Its presented on a much grander frame than a traditional theatre. Director Joe Russo Marvel and IMAX will make cinematic history with Avengers: Infinity War, which marks the first Hollywood film entirely shot using IMAX cameras. In IMAX cinemas, the film will be presented in its entirety in an expanded 1.9:1 aspect ratio showing audiences up to 26% more of the image than standard cinemas providing IMAX fans with even greater scope and immersion. Iron Man, Black Panther, and the whole gang will be hitting our screens larger than ever! on April 26th. If you need a quick catch-up on what exactly the Infinity War is, check out our refresher here (don't worry, we won't judge). Watch the full featurette below. Avengers: Infinity War is in cinemas April 26th, distributed by Walt Disney Studios. When I told friends and family of my plans to travel Australia, one of the first things mentioned was how I absolutely must get to the Great Barrier Reef. They urged me to hurry up and see it while it was still alive, with its desperately sad decline the unspoken implication. Climate change is here, and its serious: 11 of the 12 hottest years ever have been since 2000, and 90% of this excess heat is trapped within greenhouse gases and stored in the oceans, putting the Reef under serious strain. As a result of human waste and negligence, around 80,000 tonnes of pollutant nitrogen enter the Great Barrier Reef lagoon each year, devastating its thriving marine life. Over 50% of corals have been lost since the 1980s, with 29% of corals being killed from bleaching in 2016 alone. It seemed that everyone knew it was in danger, and recognised the urgency of visiting now - but without giving a thought to how it could be saved. I didnt consider how I could help either - I just hoped that there were some really important people out there who were already doing everything they could. Luckily, there is a programme that can help us out. Andy Ridley, the founder of Earth Hour, has launched an innovative scheme thats designed to provide us with real actions that we can carry out in order to make a significant difference. Andy says that he strives to build a movement that can fight the very serious threat that is posed on the Reef, and to reverse the effects of coral bleaching, which is what causes the coral to lose its famous vibrancy and colour. We have to do everything we possibly can to try and deal with the full problem, which is climate change, Andy says, and although he admits that this will be quite an endeavour as the challenges to the Reef are enormous, he believes that we cannot simply accept the loss of one of the greatest natural icons on the planet. The good news is that we can get involved in a simple ways. Theres no need to spend any money, spend hours campaigning or undertaking huge sustainability projects. Your first step is check out the Citizens of the Great Barrier Reefs website, and become a Citizen. You can then choose to commit to various actions, which are so small and simple that youll wonder why you never did them before. They are as effortless as taking your own bag to Tesco, taking a reusable water bottle to uni or stopping yourself from making just a bit too much dinner (that you know you probably wont finish). It may sound like a tall order, with around 236,000 tonnes of micro plastic entering our oceans every year and with 93% of the material that we throw away ending up in landfill and in places like the Reef, but its the valiant acts of a small army that can provoke real change. All of these simple pledges add up to a global movement and a colossal difference, reducing the waste that has a devastating impact on our ecosystem. On CitizensGBR.org, you can create your own profile to track your actions and see the lifeline that you and millions of others are giving back to the Reef. You can learn more about the cause, what it is you are saving, and about the champions who are dedicating their lives to doing everything they can to protect it. You can even see the impact you are making in specific measurements, as the site can tell you how much energy you are distributing. If youre feeling generous you could even sponsor a COTS diver. These marine experts relieve a huge pressure on the Reefs corals, controlling and removing the Crown of Thorn Starfish that feed on and kill the live tissue of coral. One of the greatest icons of the Reefs its colourful vibrancy, and Andy and co have created a way for you to be the saviour of one of the millions of beautiful colours that make up the Reef. In a painting-by-numbers style, you can select any colour in the world, claim it as your own, and work towards saving your own very special colour on the Reef. You can also become a Citizen of the Reef in your area, and share your citizenship on social media, encouraging everyone to do their bit. The responsibility to save this natural icon lies on all of us. No matter what nationality, age or occupation, we can all unite to ensure that our grandchildren will one day be able to share the breathtaking charms of the Reef. Andy says that he worries a lot when people say that well leave it to the next generation... whatever age we are, were going to have to change this. Although the UK may seem a world away from Northern Queensland, the problem is nonetheless on our doorstep. Andy believes that if we respond now with action not apathy, theres hope. But it seems that its not only our love of convenience food and reusable straws thats the problem. The media plays a great role in the stories surrounding the Reef, and is a culprit in the apathy that seemingly surrounds the Reefs future. Andy points out that we can get caught up in the stories that have been tailored towards us whilst ignoring the real issues: You get into a bubble on your own social media, so Id encourage anybody and everyone to read up about it, because its serious. He says that to understand whats really at stake and what we can do about it, we need to fight inaccurate headlines. The media prepares us for failure: we hear that the Reef is dying, and assume that there is nothing that we can do - except frantically urge everyone to soak up the remnants of the one of the planets greatest natural wonders whilst they still can. Andy stresses that it is the headlines... the apathy that does the damage, and hes passionately determined to change the narrative: Its really important that the nuance of the story gets across... were under no illusion that the risks on the reef are massive, but its not over yet. We cant give up. Find out more about Citizens of the Great Barrier Reef at sign up as a Citizen at https://citizensgbr.org/ This article first appeared in The National Student's Easter 2018 print issue. See the full magazine here. 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In Shops: Jul 11, 2018 SRP: $5.99 FOREVER FREE TP MAY182010 (W) Joe Haldeman, Gay Haldeman (A) Marvano The sequel to novelist Joe Haldeman, Gay Haldeman and Marvano's epic science-fiction comic book adaption, The Forever War: forever Free. In Shops: Oct 03, 2018 SRP: $19.99 JUNKO MIZUNOS HELL LADIES HC MAY182013 (W) Junko Mizuno (A) Junko Mizuno Witches and DJs, disco freaks and goddesses, gang leaders and reporters, butchers and devils, angels and vampires: This collection of infamous hell ladies makes for a cake-rich blend of sweetness And terrifying erotica! In Shops: Oct 17, 2018 SRP: $24.99 RIVERS OF LONDON WATER WEED #2 MAY182015 (W) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel (A) Christopher Jones (CA) Anna Dittman The digital and bookstore smash-hit series returns with an all-new mini series! In Shops: Jul 18, 2018 SRP: $3.99 BROTHER NASH #2 CVR A RICHARDSON MAY182016 (W) Bridgit Connell (A) Bridgit Connell (CA) Afua Richardson American Gods meets Preacher and Hellboy on the midnight road to Sacramento! Nash is a trucker, he also sees ghosts, and when the moon is on the rise and violence threatens his friends... He roams as a wolf... As the Highway Beast! When Nash takes on a mysterious hitchhiker heading for Tuscon, he and his friends are dragged headfirst into his biggest and most dangerous adventure yet! In Shops: Jul 04, 2018 SRP: $5.99 FIGHTING AMERICAN TIES THAT BIND TP MAY182018 (W) Gordon Rennie (A) Andie Tong Collecting the second arc of the critically-acclaimed series featuring Fighting American and Speedboy! In Shops: Sep 12, 2018 SRP: $16.99 PRISONER #4 MAY182019 (W) Peter Milligan (A/CA) Colin Lorimer The cult TV series comes to life in a brand new comic series by writer Peter Milligan and artist Colin Lorimer! Timed to coincide with the 50th anniversary of the first US transmission, this new series transports readers back to the mysterious village where everyone is a number! In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 SRP: $3.99 DARK SOULS OMNIBUS TP MAY182021 (W) Various (A) Various Collecting the first three blood-curdling story arcs from the world of the Dark Souls comic series, Breath of Andolus, Winter's Spite and Legends of the Flame! Featuring artwork by fan-favorite series artist Alan Quah, and comic superstars Casper Wijngaard, Michael Walsh, Piotr Kowalski and Damien Worm! In Shops: Sep 26, 2018 SRP: $24.99 DARK SOULS AGE OF FIRE #3 (OF 4) CVR A ANGULO MAY182022 (W) Ryan O'Sullivan (A) Anton Kokarev (CA) Pablo Fernandez Angulo Direct tie-in to Dark Souls One, debuting on Nintendo Switch and being rereleased on PS4, Xbox One and PC in 2018! Written by superstar writer Ryan O'Sullivan! Return to the very beginning of the Dark Souls story with a dramatic retelling of the legends of Gwyn Lord of Cinder and Knight Artorias! In Shops: Jul 18, 2018 SRP: $3.99 WARHAMMER 40000 DEATHWATCH #3 (OF 4) CVR A LISTRANI MAY182024 (W) Aaron Dembski Bowden (A) Wagner Reis (CA) Fabio Listrani Written by Black Library superstar Aaron Dembski Bowden! The best of the best and the most dangerous space marines from every chapter are called to the Deathwatch! They alone have the strength of mind and body to wield alien weapons and battle the enemy across the universe, manning the wall to defend humanity from the Xenos that would destroy them. When a tide of savage Orks sweeps across the galaxy, a Deathwatch squad is dispatched to stem the flow... Whatever the cost! In Shops: Jul 04, 2018 SRP: $3.99 SEA OF THIEVES TP MAY182026 (W) Jeremy Whitley (A) Rhoald Marcellius From the world of Rare/Microsoft's swashbuckling multiplayer videogame comes a pirate tale like no other! Two crew in a race for plunder and piratical supremacy; who will conquer the Sea of Thieves and who will walk the plank? In Shops: Sep 19, 2018 SRP: $16.99 TANK GIRL COLORING BOOK MAY182030 (W) Alan Martin (A) Jamie Hewlett, Brett Parson The ultimate artbook for the Tank Girl fan with a full tank of coloring pencils and a half cocked idea of how to put them together! Go to town on classic black and white artwork from across 30 epic years of Tank Girl adventures and deface masterpieces of linework from both original Tank Girl artist Jamie Hewlett and modern-day Tank Girl commander Brett Parson! In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 SRP: $14.99 TANK GIRL ALL STARS #2 MAY182031 (W) Alan Martin (A) Brett Parson, Philip Bond, Chris Wahl CONTINUING THE PARTY-TASTIC BIRTHDAY CELEBRATIONS! TANK GIRL TAKES ON A TROUPE OF GIRL SCOUTS, SUB GIRL DROPS HER BRA IN THE PUNCH, AND BOOGA SCARES EVERYONE AWAY BY EATING HIS OWN HAND! In Shops: Sep 26, 2018 SRP: $3.99 ROBOTECH #11 CVR A MILONOGIANNIS MAY182033 (W) Simon Furman (A) Marco Turini (CA) Giannis Milogiannis Secrets and lies kick of the third arc of Robotech! Written by legendary Transformers writer Simon Furman! Breetai is under pressure and Claudia has to deal with a possible traitor... Meanwhile, Rick Hunter gets a massive shock! In Shops: Jul 11, 2018 SRP: $3.99 DOCTOR WHO LOST DIMENSION TP VOL 02 MAY182036 (W) Nick Abadzis, Cavan Scott, George Mann, Katy Rex (A) Rachael Stott, Adriana Melo, Mariano Laclaustra, Leandro Casco, Iolanda Zanfardino The thrilling conclusion to this years epic event! All the Doctors! Jenny, the Doctors Daughter, River Song! United against a threat that could wipe out the universe completely! In Shops: Sep 19, 2018 SRP: $16.99 DOCTOR WHO 7TH #2 MAY182037 (W) Ben Aaronovitch, Andrew Cartmel (A/CA) Christopher Jones From the writers of the fan favourite episode Remembrance of the Daleks, Andrew Cartmel and Ben Aaronovitch (Rivers of London) which celebrates it's 30th anniversary in 2018! Brand new comic adventure featuring the Seventh Doctor as played by Sylvester McCoy and Ace as played by Sophie Aldred! Includes short back-up strip, written by Richard Dinnick (Twelfth Doctor) with art by Jessica Martin (Doctor Who Actress) In Shops: Jul 04, 2018 SRP: $3.99 PENNY DEADFUL COVERS COLLECTION SC MAY182039 (A) Various Featuring and astounding selection of covers from across the last three years of the Penny Dreadful comic series! Includes amazing insight into the creative process behind your favourite pieces of artwork and photographic montages, including never-before-seen sketches, unseen images, and mock ups! In Shops: Sep 26, 2018 SRP: $29.99 MIKE HAMMER #2 CVR A DALTON MAY182040 (W) Mickey Spillane, Max Allan Collins (A) Marcelo Salaza (CA) Fay Dalton All New Mike Hammer story, from a plot by original creator, Mickey Spillane! From the writer of Quarry and Road to Perdition, Max Allan Collins! In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 SRP: $3.99 SHERLOCK SEASON ONE BOX SET MAY182042 (W) Mark Gatiss, Steven Moffat, Steve Thompson (A) Jay Slipcase containing the first three volumes of the Sherlock Manga: A Study in Pink, The Blind Banker, and The Great Game. In Shops: Oct 17, 2018 SRP: $38.99 MILLENNIUM TRILOGY BOX SET MAY182043 (W) Sylvain Runberg (A) Jose Homs, Manolo Carot Box set containing the first 3 volumes of The Millennium Saga: The Girl with the Dragon Tattoo, The Girl Who Played with Fire and The Girl Who Kicked The Hornets Nest. In Shops: Oct 17, 2018 SRP: $59.99 STAR TREK DISCOVERY MAG SPECIAL VOL 2 NEWSTAND ED MAY182044 The official guide to the hit new Star Trek television series! Journey behind the scenes with exclusive interviews, character profiles and a full and in-depth episode guide to Star Trek Discovery's first season! In Shops: Sep 05, 2018 SRP: $10.99 STAR TREK DISCOVERY MAG SPECIAL VOL 2 HC MAY182046 The official guide to the hit new Star Trek television series! Journey behind the scenes with exclusive interviews, character profiles and a full and in-depth episode guide to Star Trek Discovery's first season! In Shops: Sep 05, 2018 SRP: $19.99 STAR WARS INSIDER #182 NEWSSTAND ED MAY182047 Star Wars Insider #182 takes a sneak peek at what to expect from Disney Park's Star Wars Galaxy's Edge, and takes a look at some of the best Star Wars childrens books ever published. Plus, all the ltest movie, TV, and merchandise news! In Shops: Jul 11, 2018 SRP: $7.99 BLACK PANTHER OFFICIAL MOVIE COMPANION NS MAGAZINE MAY182049 Return to Wakanda with this deluxe companion to the blockbuster movie that everybody is talking about! Featuring in-depth features and interviews, stunning photographs, and art, this movie companion pays tribute to Marvel Studios' biggest movie to feature a solo character! In Shops: Jun 27, 2018 SRP: $10.99 BLACK PANTHER OFFICIAL MOVIE COMPANION HC MAY182051 Return to Wakanda with this deluxe companion to the blockbuster movie that everybody is talking about! Featuring in-depth features and interviews, stunning photographs, and art, this movie companion pays tribute to Marvel Studios' biggest movie to feature a solo character! In Shops: Jun 27, 2018 SRP: $19.99 ANT MAN & WASP OFFICIAL COLL ED MAG NEWSTAND FEB188335 Dive into the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we explore behind-the-scenes of Ant-Man and The Wasp in this deluxe collector's edition. Discover what makes your favorite characters come to life with exclusive interviews from the cast and crew, and incredible photos from the set. In Shops: Jul 11, 2018 SRP: $10.99 ANT MAN & WASP OFFICIAL COLL ED HC FEB188334 Dive into the next phase of the Marvel Cinematic Universe as we explore behind-the-scenes of Ant-Man and The Wasp in this deluxe collector's edition. Discover what makes your favorite characters come to life with exclusive interviews from the cast and crew, and incredible photos from the set. In Shops: Jul 11, 2018 SRP: $19.99 Highlights include Encounter #5, Little Tails In The Forest, and Sea Of Love. Source: Lion Forge Comics SEA OF LOVE HC (W) Wilfrid Lupano (A/CA) Gregory Panaccione When an old fisherman fails to return after a storm, his doting wife goes on an adventure across the ocean to find him. (STL077859) Item SRP: $24.99 MAY181836 HERAKLES HC BOOK 01 (W/A/CA) Edouard Cour A colorful and fresh retelling of the classic Greek myth of Herakles, half-human son of Zeus, and his many adventures as an infamous demigod. (STL077864) Item SRP: $19.99 MAY181837 ROCKET SALVAGE GN VOL 01 (W) Yehudi Mercado (A) Bachan, Jeremy Lawson (CA) Jeremy Lawson, Yehudi Mercado Primo Rocket is a down?on?his?luck rocket racer, with two "kids" (one turns out to be his clone, another turns out to be . . . well that would give too much away) who finds himself mixed up in an intergalactic search for a rumored "ultimate weapon." Backwater gangsters, mad scientists, and two antagonistic governments end up in an epic showdown, and it turns out it's Primo's job to save the world. (STL077872) Item SRP: $14.99 MAY181838 GHOST MONEY HC VOL 01 DEATH IN DUBAI (W) Thierry Smolderen (A/CA) Dominique Bertail The series looks at surveillance, clandestine military action, and class warfare in the twilight of the current War on Terror, all within the context of a thriller that ultimately seeks to find out what controls the global economy. (STL077862) Item SRP: $24.99 MAY181839 VOLTRON LEGENDARY DEFENDER VOL 3 #1 (W) Mitch Iverson (A) Rubine, Beni Lobel (CA) Mariko Yamashin The Galra have long held a number of slave planets in their grasp, and the Paladins have devised a plan to free them. To do this, Allura must first find a way to infiltrate SPRAWL, a group of closely guarded planets that are mined for many of the Galra's construction materials. Cutting off these resources is the first step toward bringing down the Galra. But the key to successfully finding a way in is to break the bond of the mysterious force that holds these planets together. (STL074892) RES. from Previews Vol. XXVIII #1 (JAN181780) 710, 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181841 DREAM OF THE BUTTERFLY GN VOL 02 REVOLUTION (W) Richard Marazano (A/CA) Luo Yin Tutu is trapped in a valley of eternal winter, populated by talking animals and ruled by an oil?sputtering robot Emperor. She's sick of toiling in the Emperor's factory, which only hurts the valley with its pollution. If she can band together with a grouchy cat, rabbit spies, and a masked daredevil known as the Flying Bandit, her dreams could have the power to shape the world! (STL077860) Item SRP: $12.99 MAY181843 LITTLE TAILS UNDER THE SEA HC VOL 06 (OF 6) (W) Frederic Brremaud (A/CA) Federico Bertolucci Dive into an underwater world of strange and fascinating creatures with the adorable adventure?seeking duo, Chipper and Squizzo! (STL077868) Item SRP: $14.99 MAY181845 LITTLE TAILS IN THE FOREST HC VOL 01 (OF 6) (W) Frederic Brremaud (A/CA) Federico Bertolucci Chipper and Squizzo are a precocious puppy and squirrel who love to explore new and exciting environments, flying their cardboard box airplane to wondrous worlds full of fascinating animals and creatures. In each volume of this fun, educational series, they tour a different location, encountering the real-world animals found there in beautiful illustration and fun cartoon strip antics. This first volume takes them into the Forest, where they discover bugs, birds, bears, and more! A fun, lusciously illustrated series of wildlife discovery books for children of all ages. (STL047703) (JAN178830) HC, 99, 32pgs, FC (1 of 6) SRP: $14.99 MAY181849 CATALYST PRIME ACCELL #12 (W) Joe Casey (A/CA) Damion Scott Last issue saw Daniel going head?to?head with a new villain on the block, and this issue starts right in the middle of their continued smackdown! Daniel has his work cut out for him, but luckily he has the support of his friend Althea Morrison to aid him on his continuing quest of sorta being a superhero. (STL085043) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181850 CATALYST PRIME ASTONISHER #9 (W) Alex De Campi (A) Pop Mhan, Alejandro Barrionuevo (CA) Dennis Calero The final issue of volume two of Astonisher is here! A surprising new player from last issue released a new weapon upon the populace, so it's up to Magnus and Sasha to save his fractured family, his friends, and a bunch of other people who they don't even know. No pressure, right? The true challenge is Magnus facing his biggest fear: returning to space to face the very thing that caused his downfall in the first place. (STL085044) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181851 CATALYST PRIME SUPERB #11 (W) David Walker (A) Alitha Martinez (CA) Anthony Piper Kayla has taken on a new role as a rebellious freedom fighter in an underground resistance movement for people with enhancements. She is determined to bring down the evil of Foresight, but they're fast on her tail. (STL085047) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181852 CATALYST PRIME KINO #8 (W) Joe Casey (A) ChrisCross (CA) Snakebite Cortez, Dean Haspiel Strap in for the second-to-last issue of season two of KINO! Agent Gilmour is closer than ever to locating Alistair Meath and rescuing him from his virtual prison. Meanwhile, Alistair is shaking the confines of his mental prison with his abilities, releasing more energy and power than Aturo, his captor, may be able to keep contained. Alistair has realized he is trapped in his own mind, and when he breaks out, someone is going to pay. (STL085045) SC, 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181853 CATALYST PRIME SUMMIT #7 (W) Amy Chu (A/CA) Federico Dallocchio Valentina "Val" Resnick?Baker wants two things in her life: to help Fiona deal with the death of her parents, and teach physics to some of the brightest and youngest minds in the world. What Val gets in her life is Lorena Payan on her doorstep and a cocky company from Silicon Valley that goes by MAXGENZ attempting to steal away her team members. What does Lorena want? And is there something more sinister to MAXGENZ than Val realizes? (STL085046) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181854 INCIDENTALS TP VOL 02 BALANCE OF POWER (W) Joe Casey (A/CA) Will Rosado, Snakebite Cortez The Incidentals team has dealt with a lot recently. Being brought together by billionaire Bo Vincent Chen as a would?be superhero team hasn't lived up to the ideal. Military?grade kidnappers, evil scientists, alien experiments, and secrets being kept from them by the very man who brought them together has left the team feeling disjointed and distrusting. So what happens now for the Incidentals? (STL077866) Item SRP: $14.99 MAY181855 CATALYST PRIME INCIDENTALS #10 (W) Ramon Govea, Brandon Easton (A) Jose Jaro (CA) Ryan Brown The Incidentals are making their mark in Hollywood! Marko is managing the group as the initial offering from Luminous Talent Agency-Bo Vincent Chen's latest entrepreneurial effort to recruit superhero talent. But rather than enjoy their new celebrity status, the Incidentals still struggle with their lack of communication, which threatens to unravel the team. Meanwhile, a mysterious new power player enters the fold with an eye to recruit our heroes . . . but can the Incidentals really trust him, or is something more sinister in motion? (STL085054) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181856 INFINITY 8 #4 (MR) (W) Lewis Trondheim (A/CA) Olivier Vatine Special agent Stella Moonkicker is tasked with keeping the peace on board the Infinity 8 interstellar cruise liner, which is surprisingly easy with the peaceful, historical art society who has taken to the quaint philosophy of elegance and happiness perpetuated centuries ago by a mysterious group called "Nazis." Imagine how confused they are when the actual head of Adolf Hitler is found floating through space, only to be grafted onto a robot body in order to take violent control of this misguided army of simpletons in an attempt to take over the ship . . . (STL085062) NOTE: Not available in Germany. MATURE THEMES 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181857 JAZZ MAYNARD VOL 2 #6 (MR) (W) Raule (A/CA) Roger It is a hunt like no other as Jazz and Teo are separated across the Iceland wilderness, chased by gunmen hell?bent on ending both of their lives. And at the front of the hunting pack is Max, a man Jazz grew up with like a brother. Will the tragedy that drove them apart end one of their lives for good? (STL085050) MATURE THEMES 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181858 CELLIES #2 (W/A/CA) Joe Flood Foot traffic is down at Job Mobile ever since the latest cell phone release. With things slowing down, Christian manages to get some interviews in between his workout selfies and Devin learns of a coworker's crush. (STL085048) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181859 MAE VOL 2 #2 (W) Mark Waid (A/CA) Gene Ha On her own after her separation from Abbie, Mae starts a booming business selling her Earthly "inventions" to the people of Cimrteren. That is, until she gets kidnapped and forced to make inventions far deadlier than some skateboards and yo?yos. (STL085051) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181860 ENCOUNTER #5 (W) Art Baltazar, Franco (A/CA) Chris Giarrusso Egads! UFOs have come to Earth, and they're all over the news! Barko and Kayla are ready to protect the city, but Encounter seems reluctant to face them. However, when these spaceships start colliding into buildings, someone MUST do something to keep the people of Earth safe! Can we depend on our yellow and green hero to come save us? (STL085049) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 MAY181861 WRAPPED UP #9 MAIN MCMAHON CVR (W) Dave Scheidt (A) Scoot McMahon, Aaron Pittman (CA) Scoot McMahon Wiz is distraught. His best friend, Milo Mummy, has another friend-an age?appropriate one! This simply is too much to bear. This calls for drastic measures; Wiz must find new friends his own age. But not even dad friends can keep Wiz out of trouble on a Guys' Night. (STL085052) 32pgs, FC SRP: $3.99 Highlights include Pitiful Human Lizard #3, Captain Canuck #1, and Life Death & Sorcery Vol 1. Source: Chapterhouse Comics CAPTAIN CANUCK SEASON 4 #1 (W) Jay Baruchel, Van Jensen (A) Zachariah Roane (CA) John Gallagher The biggest event to hit the Chapterverse has arrived! After a global invasion by the extra-terrestrial Borealis, Tom Evans aka Captain Canuck leads a team of Canada's greatest superheroes to save the world. But what's a bigger threat to their success: the aliens, or the schemes of Tom's reckless brother, Michael? Canada's premiere superhero returns in a new series written by Van Jensen (The Flash, Fallen Suns) with art by Zachariah EM Roane (Tales of the Black Devil)! In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 SRP: $1.99 CRYSTAL KEY WELLSPRING TRILOGY MMPB VOL 01 (W) Robert William Gronewold (CA) Cindy Leong The sun has not shone in over a thousand years. Sixteen year old Felicity lives in a world where the Dark rules. Humanity stays to the Wellsprings, illuminated swathes of land where the light of eternal fountains keeps the skies bright all day long. But beyond that, the world is wrapped in eternal shadows, filled with monstrous Horrors who pray on the unsuspecting. When Felicity discovers that she is a Turnkey, a guardian selected to protect the Wellsprings, her fate soon takes her deep into the Dark, where with the help of a mysterious boy named Tobin she must survive astonishing odds. For it is soon that the Horrors begin hunting her, and a race to get home is only the beginning of her worries. In Shops: Oct 25, 2017 SRP: $13.99 INVASION CHARACTER FILE CANADA DAY (W) Jay Baruchel, Van Jensen (A) Leonard Kirk The biggest event in the history of Chapterhouse Comics is here with Invasion, an epic battle between Earth's heroes and the otherworldly threat of the Borealis. The Borealis has the power to destroy whole planets. But the Borealis did not account for Captain Canuck, who stands to the last to defend his home, no matter the odds. Canuck and his fellow heroes Kebec, Northguard, Freelance, Fantomah, Pharos, Human-Lizard, and the Agents of P.A.C.T are proof that all is never lost, and that the world, for all its flaws, is still worth saving. The Invasion prologue features the debut of the Captain Canuck Season Four writing team of Jay Baruchel and Van Jensen, with art by superstar artist Leonard Kirk, and available now with two special covers just for Canada Day. In Shops: Jun 27, 2018 SRP: $1.99 LIFE DEATH AND SORCERY TP VOL 01 (W) Danny Zabbal (A/CA) Danny Zabbal Follow the story of Amelia, Coco and Winnie, three sisters that run away from home and embark on an amazing adventure. A book filled with nuanced character moments and magic! It could be easily described as Buffy meets Love and Rockets. Drama, humor, and magic await in what Bleeding Cool calls "legitimately one of the best books of the year!" In Shops: Sep 13, 2017 SRP: $16.99 PITIFUL HUMAN LIZARD S4 #3 (W) Fred Kennedy (A/CA) Jason Loo After losing his day job as an office clerk, Lucas Barrett decides to become a full-time superhero in hopes of making a career out of it. Maybe if the Human-Lizard is able to shut down the source behind Toronto's monster activity, an organization like Equilibrium or PACT might take notice of his heroic efforts. Note: This story takes place before Invasion. In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 SRP: $1.99 Highlights include Survival Fetish #4, We Are Danger #3, and Oh Shit It's Kim And Kim #2. Source: Black Mask Studios DISMANTLERS #3 (W) Aria Baci (A/CA) Ashley A. Woods Crew chief Flor has evaded the pirates who attacked her, but that's only the beginning of her return journey to her ship. Unbeknownst to her, one member of her crew has been killed and another has defected to the pirate crew! In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 $3.99 BLACK AF WIDOWS & ORPHANS #4 (W) Kwanza Osajyefo (A) Tim Smith Broken and betrayed, Anansi must pull himself together to confront the true source of the system that trafficked him and other empowered black children into a life of slavery as human weapons. To do so, he'll have to face a past he's worked hard to bury and an enemy he may not be able to fight with a sword alone. Get ready for the finale of Widows and Orphans!p In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 $3.99 SURVIVAL FETISH #4 (W) Patrick Kindlon (A/CA) Antonio Fuso It's almost time for the last run of Saheer's career. But buying safe passage is a negotiation, and on the other side of the table are three of the most dangerous lunatics on the island. In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 $3.99 OH S#!T ITS KIM & KIM #2 (W) Magdalene Visaggio (A) Eva Cabrera (CA) Phillip Sevy After striking an uneasy alliance with the deadly Xue Peng, The Fighting Kims head to Furious Quatro's Giant Orbital Death Platform for some Ocean's 11 style hijinks! The fun doesn't last though as Kim Q.'s secret puts them all in peril. Will Kim D. ever trust Kim Q. again? In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 $3.99 WE ARE DANGER #3 (W) Fabian Lelay (A/CA) Fabian Lelay As the band climbs in the Battle City rankings, new opportunities arise. Determined to make sure the band doesn't succeed, Logan has some dirty tricks up her sleeve to use against the gang. Follow the musical misfits of We Are The Danger as they continue their journey to win a sweet record deal and put Logan in her place. From the team of Fabian Lelay (Jade Street Protection Services), Claudia Aguirre (Kim & Kim, Quantum Teens Are Go), Taylor Esposito, and Stephanie Cooke. In Shops: Jul 25, 2018 $3.99 'We are not there yet': Infrastructure vote delayed as budget talks drag : , , , : - , . ? : . , , - . , , . , . . , . . : . : ! - , . , , , . : , ? : . . , , - , - , . . , ? ! , . : , . : . - , - - . : , - - : , - /. / , , , - -. , , . , .. , . , , , : , , - , ? : , , , , , , , , . . , . : . : .. - - . . , , .. , , , , . . , . , . . : , . . : . , , , - , - . , , . , . : , , , ? : . , , , - , . . , , . , , , . , PR- . , - . . . , , . : - : . , , . : : . , . . . . : ... , . : ? : . : . , , . , . , . , - . , , - . . - . . . :, . ? : , , , . , , , , . : ? : . , , - . : ? : . . , . . : . : . . . , , , . , , , , , - , - , - , , , , , . : , , ? : , , - , , . , , , , . , , , , . , , , . : . , , . : . : ? : : : , , , , . - . . remaining of Thank you for reading! On your next view you will be asked to log in to your subscriber account or create an account and subscribepurchase a subscription to continue reading. HAVE A NOTE? Or a Sez You? E-mail them to notester@thesunchronicle.com or drop them in snail mail addressed to Restaurant Notes, The Sun Chronicle, Box 600, Attleboro, MA 02703. A teenager who took five bullets in the Florida school mass shooting has become the first victim of the rampage to file a lawsuit. The lawsuit filed Tuesday names as defendants shooting suspect Nikolas Cruz, the estate of his late mother, a family that took him in after his mothers death and three mental health facilities that treated him. It seeks unspecified damages. It was filed on behalf of 15-year-old Anthony Borges, who authorities say was shot while blocking a doorway to protect other students. Its not clear what assets Cruz has or the amount of his mothers estate. Cruz could be forced to hire a private lawyer if the assets are substantial. The 19-year-old Cruz is charged with 17 counts each of murder and attempted murder. (AP) President Donald Trump will host German Chancellor Angela Merkel, one of two European leaders heading to Washington as he mulls the fate of the nuclear deal with Iran. Their April 27 meeting follows French President Emmanuel Macrons stop in the U.S. capital. The agreements future may depend on the success of last-minute European interventions with Trump. Macron and Merkel will likely be the last foreign leaders invested in the deal to see Trump before his deadline for the 2015 deal to be strengthened. Trumps pledged to withdraw by May 12 unless U.S., British, French and German negotiators can agree to fix what he sees as the deals serious flaws. Iran has said a U.S. withdrawal and reimposed sanctions would destroy the pact, and has threatened to restart banned nuclear activities. (AP) (PHOTOS IN EXTENDED ARTICLE) NASA and the Israel Space Agency have signed an agreement for the use of the AstroRad radiation protection vest, produced by the Israeli company StemRad. NASA will launch the vest into space as part of its last test flight of its Orion spacecraft before manned missions begin. If the trial, coined Matroshka AstroRad Radiation Experiment (MARE) is successful, it may have applicability for future exploration. NASA Acting Administrator Robert Lightfoot and Israel Space Agency Director Avi Blasberger signed the agreement today, April 17th, during the 34th Space Symposium in Colorado. AstroRad was developed by Israeli company StemRad following the success of its first product, which is now widely used among first responders in the world a belt for the use of First Respondents that protects the pelvis, ensuring survival of critical bone marrow stem cells. StemRad collaborated with Lockheed Martin, to adapt its technology for use in space. The StemRad vest for space use was developed based on the principle of selective protection of the bone marrow which is important for blood cell renewal and other organs that are particularly sensitive to radiation exposure due to the formation of cancer, such as lung, breast, stomach, colon and ovaries. As women are particularly vulnerable to space radiation, the first step is an adapted suit for women. In addition, the Israel Space Agency will soon sign an agreement with Lockheed Martin Space Systems Company to launch the vest to the International Space Station (ISS) at the beginning of 2019. The astronauts on ISS will wear the vest during their daily routine at the station for the purpose of ergonomic evaluation. This evaluation together with radiation protection data obtained from the AstroRad experiment on Orion EM-1 will provide NASA with all the necessary information for assessing the AstroRad as essential personal protective equipment for future manned deep space missions such as Orion EM-2 and any future missions to Mars. Minister of Science Ofir Akunis: Israeli technology in space exploration is known throughout the world as innovative, resulting from out of the box thinking. We are proud to facilitate this technology and enable it to be part of one of humanitys most exciting experiments in the coming years. Last year, the Israel Space Agency signed an agreement with the German Aerospace Center (DLR) to use its expertise in the examination of deep space radiation effects and its absorption in the human body towards understanding the benefit provided by AstroRad. The German Aerospace Center (DLR) will contribute their Matroshka human model, containing thousands of radiation detectors, which will launch as part of the EM-1 flight. Matroshka will wear the AstroRad vest alongside a Matroshka without a vest. Upon the return of Orion to Earth, teams from NASA, DLR and ISA will perform a comparative analysis on the efficacy of AstroRad. (YWN Israel Desk Jerusalem) Debenhams has reported plunging profits in the first half of its financial year after a 'disappointing' Christmas and significant sales shock during the recent cold snap. Pre-tax profits in the 26 weeks up to March 2018 fell 84.6 per cent down to 13.5 million the department store said, down from 87.8 million in the same period a year before. It said the 'challenging' UK market saw like-for-like sales in the six month period drop 2.2 per cent, with the 'Beast from the East' forcing 100 stores to close and contributing around 1 per cent of the sales drop. The 'Beast from the East' forced 100 stores to close in March and contributed around 1 per cent of the company's like-for-like sales drop The group added it also saw disappointing sales over Christmas as other big stores offered generous discounts, but did see a 9.7 per cent annual rise in digital sales. As sales and profits struggled, the group's debt continued to rise and ended the period 14.4 per cent higher at 248.2 million. Chief executive Sergio Bucher said the group was working 'harder than ever' to ensure the brand can outperform in a 'new retail world'. He slashed the dividend by 51 per cent to 0.5p a share - with the share price tumbling 10 per cent in early trading on Thursday. 'We expect no help from the external environment, so we are focused on delivering our Debenhams Redesigned strategy, aiming to mitigate difficult trading conditions through self-help initiatives,' Bucher said. 'It has not been an easy first half and the extreme weather in the final week of the half had a material impact on our results. But I am hugely encouraged by the progress we are making to transform Debenhams for our customers,' he added. 'We approach the remainder of the year mindful of the very challenging market conditions, but with confidence that we have a strong team and the right plan to navigate them and return Debenhams to profitable growth.' The poor first half results come just two months after Debenhams announced plans to reduce management roles by a quarter, with 320 roles to be made redundant in efforts to trim costs. In its results on Thursday, the group listed five key priorities to get the stores back on track, including an emphasis on increasing sales via mobile technology, more customer engagement and a reduction of costs. The poor first half results come just two months after Debenhams announced plans to reduce management roles by a quarter A new store format, already rolled out to around 35 per cent of Debenham sites, is also proving popular the group said while it has big hopes for a new 'Designer@Debenhams' collaboration. Russ Mould, investment director at AJ Bell, suggested Bucher's redesign plan for the stores has not yet paid off and the grim profits shows 'how serious Debenham's competitive position really is'. 'One year after launching his Debenhams Redesigned strategy, Sergio Bucher, the company's boss, must be wondering what he has let himself in for by taking the job, as today's first-half interims show falling profits, rising debt and a slashed dividend, while the departure of his chief financial office for Selfridges is hardly a vote of confidence either,' Mould said. He added: 'While 12 months is not a fair time period by which to judge any strategy, it is clear that a combination of Debenhams' historic reliance on its 'Blue Cross' price promotions, excess floor space and a web offering that needs more work are combining to confound the Bucher plan.' Brexit warning: IMF chief Christine Lagarde The gloom will not lift over Britains economy until it clears up the terms under which it leaves the EU, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) boss has warned. The cloud of uncertainty that covers the British economy is certainly one of the causes why it is not enjoying the same kind of upswings as the other advanced economies, said Christine Lagarde at the spring meeting of the IMF. Lagarde, who has been notably negative about the UKs post-Brexit prospects, suggested Britain will have to wait for a deal with the EU before growth strengthens. She also cautioned: Tessler Details Plans for BroadSoft, Cisco Product Integrations By Paula Bernier , Executive Editor, TMC Cisco is holding its Collaboration Summit this week in Phoenix. This is the same city in which it announced plans to acquire BroadSoft about six months ago. Yet Cisco mentioned BroadSoft only once to note that former BroadSoft leader Michael Tessler was in the audience during yesterdays opening keynotes. But then, the Cisco-BroadSoft deal closed only a couple months ago. And a later session yesterday featured Tessler and Tom Puorro, vice president and general manager of unified communications for Ciscos Technology Group, talking about the plans to bring together the BroadSoft and Cisco solutions. Tessler, who heads up the Cloud Calling effort at Cisco, said he and his group are focused on the following four priorities: Delivering a broad and differentiated portfolio that addresses businesses of all sizes and employs various channels. That will include the former BroadSofts communications service provider channel, and Ciscos distributor and value-added reseller enterprise channel. Providing solutions that are easy to sell and buy. The companys Flex Plan, which was recently enhanced, allows customers to buy something once, and Cisco keeps it current with addition of new feature functionality over time. Offering flexible and graceful evolution that allows customers to jump on our path from wherever they are in the journey, Tessler said. Maintaining a global platform thats secure and reliable The current Cisco Cloud Calling portfolio today features a collection of solutions. That includes Ciscos HCS, which Tessler noted is for mid market to large enterprise customers, is offered via a service provider channel, and is co-branded. The BroadSoft UC-One solution, meanwhile, can address all segments, supports SMB and mid-market bundled solutions, and is service provider-branded and offered via the service provider channel. And Cisco Webex Calling (previously called Spark calling) is a Cisco-branded solution offered by the companys service provider and VAR channels. Its for the small to mid market in North America and large/global future. The plan is to allow any size organization to leverage these solutions, said Tessler. Tessler also said his team is looking at how it can use HCS and align that for single calling strategy. There are lots of users on HCS, he said, so they want to keep that going. So Tessler and his team are meeting with customers to understand where theyre using HCS. Cisco also intends to enhance the HCS experience. For example, he said, it is looking at integrating the mobile capabilities found in BroadSofts solutions to HCS. Mobile integration and international dialing are two areas in which BroadSoft really shines, Tessler said. The company will continue to support Communications Manager for on-premises deployments. And Cisco Webex Calling will evolve to inherit hosted PBX functions and other things from BroadSoft, he added. Meanwhile, Cisco will continue to deliver BroadSoft UC-One through service provider partners, he said. Long-term plans call for sunsetting BroadSoft Team-One and replacing it with Webex Teams, which have federation, allowing anyone to join. His group will also slowly integrate Cisco conferencing into UC-One. Please enable JavaScript to view the Edited by Maurice Nagle [April 19, 2018] Tridonic Collaborates with Enlighted on First IoT-Ready Compliant Driver DORNBIRN, Austria, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Tridonic today announced the first LED driver compliant with the IoT-ReadyTM standard and integrated 2% energy metering accuracy compliant with the DesignLights Consortium (DLC) Guidelines. By collaborating with Enlighted, the leading provider of Internet of Things (IoT) solutions for commercial buildings, the driver was created on draft specifications developed by the IoT-Ready AllianceTM. The result is the first commercially-available IoT-Ready Profile 1 compliant driver. The IoT-Ready standard is protocol, device and sensor independent, which enables the new IoT-Ready driver to work with any smart sensor and protocol, such as THREAD, ZigBee, Bluetooth, etc., to enable various IoT and smart lighting applications. Tridonic will be showcasing the first IoT-Ready driver at Lightfair International in Chicago, Ill., from May 8-10, 2018, in booth #233 (IoT Pavilion) interacting with several systems including Enlighted's IoT Solution for smart buildings, QDIS Surveillance System, Tridonic's net4more IP-based Lighting Platform and Tridonic's BasicDIM Wireless System. Additional IoT-Ready products will be demonstrated at the Enlighted booth #412 (Intelligent Lighting Pavilion). Enlighted CEO Joe Costello said, "Building on this first product introduction, we will be evolving our existing sensors to the IoT-Ready standard. This announcement represents the first of many significant contributions from the IoT-Ready Alliance that will enable new technologies and speed the adoption of LED lighting and building control networks in the U.S." Karl Jonsson, Chief Commercial Officer, Tridonic Inc. said, "With the IoT-Ready driver, we can be fully agnostic since you can use the driver with any protocol and any system that you want. We have shown integration with Tridonic's net4more platform and other systems from Tridonic and partners. For Tridonic, as an IoT solutions provider and new player in the U.S., it allows us to bring real differentiating value to the industry. Especially in the U.S., as no other standard allows bridging directly from the U.S.dominating 0-10v interface to smart IoT solutions at manufacturing time or in the field. We look forward to collaborating with Enlighted and other IoT-Ready members to create additional products based on the IoT-Ready standard for the U.S. marketplace. We also encourage other manufacturers to join us in the IoT-Ready Alliance to get access to specifications and contribute to future profiles and revisions." Demos at Tridonic's Lightfair Booth #233 (IoT Pavilion) Along with showcasing the new IoT-Ready drivers, Tridonic will be providing updates and progress on its popular net4more platform. Also, for installations that simply need dimming and scene programming but no diagnostics or cloud-based applications, Tridonic will be demonstrating its BasicDIM Wireless System, which is a Bluetooth-based lighting control system that works directly with a phone. It's suitable for smaller retail installations and other similarly-sized venues, as well as retrofit solutions that want light energy management and control capability, etc. For members of the media that would like to schedule an interview with Tridonic, please contact Angie Kellen, akellen@openskypr.com. Alliances Last year, to address the U.S. market, Tridonic co-founded with Enlighted the IoT-Ready Alliance. The IoT-Ready Alliance is an industry organization working to make it easy for all LED lighting fixtures and the buildings they are installed to be made "smart' by simply plugging in a compatible IoT sensor. Enlighted and Tridonic are working together with industry-leading organizations to establish the IoT-Ready standard. In addition, Tridonic has been working to further evolve the Digital Addressable Lighting Interface (DALI) protocol for the European marketplace and is an active participant in the Digital Illumination Interface Alliance (DIIA), an open, global consortium of lighting companies that aims to grow the market for lighting-control solutions based on DALI technology. About Tridonic Tridonic is a world-leading supplier of lighting technology, supporting its customers with intelligent hardware and software and offering the highest level of quality, reliability and energy savings. As a global driver of innovation in the field of lighting-based network technology, Tridonic develops scalable, future-oriented solutions that enable new business models for lighting manufacturers, building managers, systems integrators, planners and many other types of customers. To promote the vision of the "Internet of Light", Tridonic relies on partnerships with other specialists. The goal is the joint development of innovative technological solutions that convert lighting systems into intelligent networks and thereby enable associated services. Its profound, technical industry expertise makes Tridonic an ideal partner for established brands and for newcomers to the market. Tridonic is the technology company of the Zumtobel Group and is headquartered in Dornbirn, Austria. In the 2016/17 tax year, Tridonic generated sales of 377.2 million. 1,590 highly skilled employees and a worldwide sales presence in over 50 countries reflect the company's commitment to the development and deployment of new, smart and connected lighting systems. www.tridonic.com IoT-ReadyTM and IoT-Ready AllianceTM are trademarks of the IoT-Ready Alliance DesignLights Consortium and DLC registered trademarks are the sole property of the DesignLights Consortium View original content:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/tridonic-collaborates-with-enlighted-on-first-iot-ready-compliant-driver-300632723.html SOURCE Tridonic [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] RSA Conference 2018 Exhibitor News Recap RSA Conference 2018, the world's leading information and cyber security event, takes place 16-20 April, 2018, in San Francisco. Business Wire is the official news distribution partner for the RSA Conference. Breaking exhibitor news releases and online press kits are available on TradeshowNews.com: http://www.tradeshownews.com/events/rsa-conference-2018/. Listed below is the #RSAC exhibitor news recap through April 18. 04/18/2018 - 12:03 PM Fidelis Cybersecurity Extends Its Automated Detection & Response Platform to Protect Cloud Assets with Intelligent Deception 04/18/2018 - 08:00 AM Entrust Datacard Contributes to New IoT Security Maturity Model by Industrial Internet Consortium 04/18/2018 - 08:00 AM Ixia, a Keysight Business, Helps Organizations Validate Microsoft Azure DDoS Protection Service Defenses 04/18/2018 - 06:30 AM Signal Sciences Unifies Web Application Security for Businesses with Multi-Cloud Strategies 04/18/2018 - 06:21 AM SentinelOne Unveils Risk and Vulnerability Management for its Endpoint Protection Platform 04/18/2018 - 06:06 AM Saviynt Announces $40 Million Series A Funding Round with Carrick Capital Partners 04/18/2018 - 05:00 AM BluVector and SS8 Deliver the First Product Suite for Advanced Threat Detection and Network Visibility Across the Entire Kill Chain 04/17/2018 - 02:15 PM Millions of Applications Risk Exposing Personal Data Due to Third Party Code 04/17/2018 - 01:05 PM Secure Channels Inc. to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2018 04/17/2018 - 11:00 AM RSA Conference 2018 Announces Recipients of Annual Awards 04/17/2018 - 10:51 AM RSA Conference 2018 Exhibitor News and Digital Media Available 04/17/2018 - 09:25 AM Titan IC Has Licensed its RegEx Processor to Silicom Ltd for Advanced FPGA SmartNIC Platforms 04/17/2018 - 09:21 AM Titan IC: LookingGlass Cyber Solutions Launches IRD-100 a Fully-Programmable Stealth Security Appliance 04/17/2018 - 08:05 AM Optiv Security Furthers Rationalization and Optimization Strategy with Launch of Secure Data Reference Architecture 04/17/2018 - 07:03 AM New Trustwave Consulting Practice Helps Enterprises Transform their Security Capabilities 04/17/2018 - 07:03 AM Zimperium Wins Two InfoSec Awards 04/17/2018 - 06:30 AM Signal Sciences Surges with Strong Customer Demand for Its Award-Winning Web Protection Platform 04/17/2018 - 06:00 AM Anomali Partners with Visa to Offer Global Payment Breach Intelligence 04/17/2018 - 06:00 AM Anomali Announces Collaboration With Microsoft, Providing Customers With Unique Insights Into Their Threat Data 04/17/2018 - 06:00 AM Easy Solutions Digital Threat Protection Is Enhanced to Boost Fraud Intelligence and Risk Mitigation 04/17/2018 - 06:00 AM SentinelOne Receives Recommended Rating in NSS Labs Advanced Endpoint Protection Report 04/17/2018 - 05:59 AM RedLock Enhances Visibility, Compliance Assurance, and Threat Detection Capabilities With Microsoft Azure 04/17/2018 - 05:31 AM State of Cybersecurity Study: Security Budgets Increasing, But Qualified Cybertalent Remains Hard to Find 04/17/2018 - 05:30 AM Most Companies Not Prepared for GDPR Data Privacy Compliance Deadline According to New Study 04/17/2018 - 05:00 AM A10 Networks Introduces One-DDoS Protection to Expand Defenses Against Denial of Service Attacks 04/17/2018 - 05:00 AM CrowdStrike Strengthens and Expands Alliances with Top Technology Companies 04/16/2018 - 10:00 PM Gemalto to Protect 5G Next Generation Networks from Cyber-Attacks with Intel Software Guard Extensions 04/16/2018 - 09:26 PM BigID Named "Most Innovative Startup" at 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 04/16/2018 - 04:24 PM RedLock, Barracuda Join Forces to Help Organizations With a Cloud Threat Defense Strategy 04/16/2018 - 02:07 PM A10 Networks' Thunder Threat Protection System (TPS) and Thunder SSLi Named as Winners of 2018 Cyber Defense Magazine's InfoSec Awards 04/16/2018 - 01:45 PM Ping Identity Announces Participation in the Microsoft Intelligent Security Association 04/16/2018 - 01:43 PM Netronome Primes High-Performance Firewalls Based on eBPF/XDP as Data Center Operators Upgrade From Iptables 04/16/2018 - 01:00 PM Yubico Delivers Passwordless Login for Enterprise Authentication on Windows 10 Devices 04/16/2018 - 12:00 PM Entrust Datacard's IntelliTrust Authentication Solution Wins Frost & Sullivan's 2018 North American Technology Leadership Award 04/16/2018 - 11:48 AM RSA Conference 2018 Exhibitor Profiles 04/16/2018 - 10:33 AM Code42 Named as Winner of Two Cyber Defense Magazine InfoSec Awards for 2018 04/16/2018 - 09:15 AM VAIO Corporation and Janus Technologies Inc. Announce a Partnership to Launch the First BIOS-Based Technology for Endpoint Security 04/16/2018 - 09:05 AM GreatHorn and Rhino Security Labs Offer Enterprises Integrated Social Engineering Remediation Solution 04/16/2018 - 08:05 AM Ixia, a Keysight Business, Enhances Visibility Solutions With Threat Insights Into Malicious Activity 04/16/2018 - 08:00 AM Ixia, a Keysight Business, and ReversingLabs Deliver Expanded Threat Coverage 04/16/2018 - 08:00 AM WALLIX Announces Partnership with Axiad IDS to Deliver Streamlined, Integrated Security Solutions against External and Internal Threats 04/16/2018 - 08:00 AM BigID Joins RSA Ready Technology Partner Program 04/16/2018 - 07:34 AM Pluribus Networks Recognized on CRN's Software-Defined Data Center 50 List 04/16/2018 - 07:00 AM Cylance Showcases AI Powered Endpoint Detection and Response Solution at RSA 2018 Conference 04/16/2018 - 07:00 AM Avast Reveals Cryptocurrency Confusion as 40% of Consumers Unaware of Cryptomining Malware Risk 04/16/2018 - 06:30 AM ForceShield, the IoT Defender to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2018 04/16/2018 - 06:00 AM Rambus Launches CryptoManager RISC-V Root of Trust Programmable Secure Processing Core 04/16/2018 - 06:00 AM OneLogin Expands Unified Access Management Platform Capabilities 04/16/2018 - 06:00 AM Bomgar Publishes 2018 Privileged Access Threat Report 04/16/2018 - 06:00 AM A New Suite of Enterprise Security Solutions From ESET Just Landed at RSA 2018 04/16/2018 - 06:00 AM Ericom Software, Inc. to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2018 04/16/2018 - 05:30 AM New CyberArk Marketplace Simplifies Delivery of Privileged Access Solutions 04/16/2018 - 05:05 AM ForceShield Unveils GatewayShield to Secure Industrial IoT and OT Devices 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM BluVector, Endace Announce Partnership at RSA to Provide Security Operations Centers with Fast, Confident Attack Detection, Analytics and Response Solution 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM Centrify Brings Zero Trust to DevOps 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM Centrify: Secure the 2018 Vote with Zero Trust Security 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM Centrify Ushers in the Era of Zero Trust Security and Next-Gen Access 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM CrowdStrike Announces Launch of Endpoint Protection Complete 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM CrowdStrike Introduces New Automated Threat Analysis Solution to Deliver Predictive Security 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM CrowdStrike Announces Real Time Response and Real Time Query to Help Organizations Get Back to Business Quickly After a Cyber Attack 04/16/2018 - 05:00 AM FireEye Simplifies Cybersecurity Protection 04/15/2018 - 09:01 PM McAfee Security Innovation Alliance Announces New Partnerships and Certified Integrated Solutions 04/15/2018 - 09:01 PM McAfee Accelerates Secure Cloud Adoption Through McAfee CASB Connect Program 04/15/2018 - 09:01 PM McAfee Study Reveals 1-in-4 Organizations Using Public Cloud Has Had Data Stolen 04/15/2018 - 09:01 PM McAfee Cloud Workload Security Now Supports Containers, the Fastest Growing Deployment Model for Cloud Applications 04/15/2018 - 08:20 PM Zscaler Presents on Enabling Secure IT Transformation to the Cloud at RSA 2018 04/12/2018 - 11:56 AM Barkly Endpoint Protection Platform Receives Third Party Validation for Strength of Protection and Ease of Use 04/12/2018 - 09:00 AM Cylance Axiom Alliance Program Extends AI Based Security Approach Across Endpoints to Network and Cloud 04/12/2018 - 08:00 AM Secure Code Warrior to Sponsor RSA Conference 2018 04/12/2018 - 08:00 AM Secure Code Warrior to Showcase Powerful Real-Time Secure Coding Solution at RSA 04/12/2018 - 08:00 AM CYBRIC and IBM Resilient Integrate to More Quickly Identify and Remediate Cyber Threats 04/12/2018 - 06:35 AM SentinelOne Extends Autonomous Endpoint Protection to All Cloud Environments 04/12/2018 - 06:01 AM Gurucul CEO to Unveil Second Edition of Borderless Behavior Analytics at RSA Conference 2018 04/12/2018 - 05:00 AM Allure Security Launches Channel Partner Program to Accelerate Adoption of Data Loss Detection and Response 04/11/2018 - 01:15 PM HotLink Offers Sneak Peek of First Fine-Grained Cybersecurity Solution for Backup and Disaster Recovery Systems at RSA Conference USA 04/11/2018 - 09:53 AM Ixia, a Keysight Business, to Spotlight Solutions at RSA 2018 that Prove Network Visibility Delivers Better Network Security 04/11/2018 - 09:00 AM SE Labs Test Shows CylancePROTECT Identifies and Blocks Threats Years Before Malware Appears in the Wild 04/11/2018 - 09:00 AM Spirent Showcases Testing to Optimize Balance between Security and Performance at RSA 2018 04/11/2018 - 06:03 AM SentinelOne Releases Nexus Embedded AI SDK Enabling Threat Prevention to Non-Endpoint Attack Surfaces 04/11/2018 - 06:00 AM New NETSCOUT DDoS Mitigation Platform for Terabit Attack Era 04/11/2018 - 05:00 AM IANS Research Identifies Obstacles in Enterprise Security Budgeting to Help CISOs Win the Battle of the Budget and Manage Risk 04/11/2018 - 04:00 AM Next-Generation HSMs from Utimaco Deliver Stronger Cloud Security and Pave the Way for Post-Quantum Cryptography 04/10/2018 - 04:12 PM Cylance CEO Stuart McClure to Expose Next-Generation Hacking Strategies at RSA Conference 2018 04/10/2018 - 09:00 AM F5 Launches Advanced WAF for Multi-Cloud App Security 04/10/2018 - 08:08 AM RSA Conference 2018: Kingston Showcases Encrypted USB Solutions as GDPR Implementation Approaches 04/10/2018 - 08:00 AM Shadow Search Empowers Digital Shadows' Customers to Make Better Decisions with Instant Access to the Broadest Range of Sources 04/10/2018 - 06:45 AM ObserveIT Unveils Powerful New Data Exfiltration Features to Combat Insider Threats; Experiences 5th Consecutive Record-Breaking Quarter 04/10/2018 - 06:00 AM ThreatQuotient Launches Industry's First Cybersecurity Situation Room, Empowering Organizations to Take the Right Actions Faster 04/10/2018 - 05:30 AM Absolute to Raise Awareness of Dark Endpoint Risks and Remediation at RSA Conference 2018 04/10/2018 - 05:30 AM Code42 Launches Forensic File Search, Advancing its Enterprise Security Capabilities 04/10/2018 - 05:30 AM CyberArk Labs Publishes New Privileged Credential Theft Research 04/10/2018 - 05:17 AM Fortanix Presenting on Protecting Containerized Apps With Runtime Encryption at 2018 RSA Conference; Demonstrating New Capabilities With Partners Intel and Equinix on Expo Floor 04/10/2018 - 05:00 AM Container Security Pioneer StackRox Secures $25 Million in Series B Funding 04/10/2018 - 04:30 AM Cryptshare Brings its Award-Winning Secure Communications and Privacy Solution to U.S. Market, Previews New QUICK Technology at RSA 04/10/2018 - 03:00 AM Cavirin CyberPosture Intelligence Addresses Concerns With Hybrid Cloud Security 04/10/2018 - 03:00 AM Yubico Launches New Developer Program and Security Key for FIDO2 and WebAuthn W3C Specifications 04/09/2018 - 06:01 AM DFLabs CEO to Discuss the Evolution of Automated Security at AGC's 14th Annual Conference 04/09/2018 - 06:00 AM Media Alert: Kaspersky Lab Experts to Present at RSA Conference 2018 04/09/2018 - 06:00 AM NCP engineering to Exhibit VPN Solutions at RSA Conference 2018 04/09/2018 - 05:00 AM ForceShield Launches DeviceShield for IoT Security Without Signature Updates 04/06/2018 - 06:00 AM ForceShield to Reveal New IoT & OT Security Solutions at RSA Conference 2018 04/05/2018 - 11:06 AM Survey Reveals 45% of Businesses Don't Have Adequate Time to Investigate and Respond to Incidents 04/05/2018 - 06:00 AM Isolation is a Key Preventative Strategy in Gartner's Adaptive Security Architecture for Attack Protection, Report States 04/04/2018 - 05:00 AM StorMagic Adds Affordable Data Encryption for Edge Computing Environments 04/03/2018 - 09:00 AM Versive CTO Dustin Rigg Hillard to Participate in AI and Cybersecurity Panel at 2018 RSA Conference 04/03/2018 - 06:00 AM Denim Group's ThreadFix Named 2018 Winner of Info Security PG's Global Excellence Awards 04/03/2018 - 06:00 AM Nehemiah Security Wins Gold in 2018 ISPG Global Excellence Awards 04/03/2018 - 05:00 AM BluVector CEO Kris Lovejoy to Present at Innovation Sandbox Contest and Emcee Two Panels at RSA 2018 04/03/2018 - 05:00 AM Spirent Extends Industry Leadership in Security Assurance by Expanding Performance and Scale Testing to TLS v1.3 Encryption Protocol 04/03/2018 - 04:02 AM SonicWall Exceeds Financial Goals for Fifth Consecutive Quarter, Eclipses $500 Million in New Partner Deal Registrations and Receives 12 Industry Accolades 04/03/2018 - 03:00 AM Cavirin Earns Microsoft Co-Sell Ready Status 03/28/2018 - 09:01 AM Cog, SIEMonster Increase Security of Event Monitoring Platform for the Enterprise Market 03/28/2018 - 09:00 AM Aella Data Emerges from Stealth Mode Ahead of RSA Conference 2018, Unveils Industry's First AI-Driven Pervasive Breach Detection System 03/28/2018 - 06:00 AM Balabit's Privileged Access Management Solution Gains Industry Recognition 03/22/2018 - 09:03 AM Allure Security Wins Three Awards in the 14th Annual Info Security PG's 2018 Global Excellence Awards 03/22/2018 - 08:00 AM Allure Security to Exhibit at RSA Conference 2018 03/22/2018 - 07:00 AM Ping Identity Selected to Speak in Multiple Identity Management Sessions at RSA Conference 03/21/2018 - 06:30 AM ReFirm Labs Selected as Finalist for 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/21/2018 - 06:00 AM ShieldX Networks Selected as Finalist for RSA Conference 2018 Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/21/2018 - 05:17 AM Fortanix Selected as Finalist for 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/21/2018 - 05:00 AM BluVector Selected as Finalist for 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/20/2018 - 03:00 PM HID Global Launches Risk Management Solution for Identity & Access Management with Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning Capabilities 03/20/2018 - 01:59 PM StackRox Selected as Finalist for 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/20/2018 - 11:43 AM BigID Selected as Finalist for RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 2018 03/20/2018 - 09:27 AM Awake Security Selected as Finalist for 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/20/2018 - 09:03 AM CyberGRX Selected as Finalist for 2018 RSA Conference Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/20/2018 - 06:00 AM ReFirm Labs Named Cybersecurity Startup of the Year by Info Security Products Guide 03/20/2018 - 06:00 AM D3 Security Named Best Security Automation Solution by the 2018 ISPG Global Excellence Awards 03/20/2018 - 05:30 AM RSA Conference Announces Finalists for 2018 Innovation Sandbox Contest 03/20/2018 - 05:00 AM Eastwind Networks to Attend RSA Conference 2018; CEO Paul Kraus to Present Nearby at AGC Annual Information Security Conference 03/19/2018 - 06:00 AM Focal Point Data Risk's Chief Risk Officer Yvette Connor to Speak at RSA 2018 03/13/2018 - 06:00 AM Nfusion Wins Gold for Deception Based Security in 2018 Info Security PG's Global Excellence Awards 02/27/2018 - 06:00 AM Industry Leaders Launch Non-Profit ICS Village to Raise Awareness of Industrial Control System Security Issues and Provide Hands-On Training 02/07/2018 - 06:05 AM GreatHorn Continues Momentum with Record Growth in 2017 01/24/2018 - 06:01 AM OPAQ Networks Named Finalist for Best Emerging Technology in 2018 SC Excellence Awards About Business Wire: Business Wire, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is the global leader in press release distribution and regulatory disclosure. 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View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180418006625/en/ [April 19, 2018] Lenovo chooses ipan group for IP management. MUNICH, April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- ipan group, one of the leading providers of IP management services and software announced today that Lenovo has selected ipan group for its patent annuity maintenance. Commenting on the announcement, Charles Dixon, Global Legal Systems Patent Project Manager at Lenovo, said, "We are delighted to work together with ipan group. We needed a trusted and reliable partner for our patent annuities that offered flexibility, transparency and extremely competitive fees". "While the decision to migrate from our previous supplier was primarily driven by cost, the seamless integration with our IPfolio IPMS tool was another key argument for Lenovo to go hand in hand with ipan," continued Dixon. Jens Lutcke, CEO ipan group, said, "Announcing Lenovo as a client really endorses the compelling value that ipan brings to the market with its combined software and services proposition, with full integration of ipan services into IPfolio through our recently launched ip-x-change platform. Lenovo is another excellent example of a major global brand trusting ipan." About ipan group ipan group (Intellectual Property Associates Network), is a leading provider of IP management services and software, supporting the largest IP owners around the globe. Founded in 2004, ipan is a strategic alliance of renowned IP experts committed to providing clients a leve of quality, transparency and cost savings not available through any other source in the IP market. In 2016, ipan became ipan group with the acquisition of IPMS provider Unycom, followed by IPSS in early 2017. In late 2017, ipan group announced it had acquired a significant minority stake in U.S.-based IPfolio, the provider of next-generation IP management software. Headquartered in Munich, Germany, with offices in Austria, France, Italy, the Netherlands, Sweden, Serbiaand the United States, the company's disruptive approach to optimizing process and cost has made it the solution of choice for the largest IP owners and one of the world's fastest growing IP service and software companies. For more information on ipan group, please visit www.ipan-services.com For more information on the ip-x-change, please visit www.ip-x-change.com For more information on IPfolio, please visit www.ipfolio.com Godfrey Ryan Global Head of Sales & Marketing Email: GRyan@ipan.eu Phone: +44 7495 38 66 77 About Lenovo Lenovo (HKSE: 992) (ADR: LNVGY) is a U.S. $43 billion global Fortune 500 company and a leader in providing innovative consumer, commercial, and enterprise technology. Our portfolio of high-quality, secure products and services covers PCs (including the legendary Think and multimode YOGA brands), workstations, servers, storage, smart TVs and a family of mobile products like smartphones (including the Moto brand), tablets and apps. Join us on LinkedIn, follow us on Facebook or Twitter (@Lenovo) or visit us at www.lenovo.com. Disclaimer This press release may contain forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. In most cases, you can identify forward-looking statements by terminology such as "may", "should", "expects", "plans", "anticipates", "believes", "estimates", "predicts", "potential" or "continue" or the negative of such terms or similar terminology. Such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve significant assumptions, risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 19, 2018] The Dissidents' Connection to Hugo Kotar: a Briefing for Glance Technologies Shareholders VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Glance Technologies Inc. (CSE:GET.CN) (OTCQB:GLNNF) (FKT:GJT) (Glance or the Company) today cautioned shareholders that they need to know more about the Vancouver businessman Hugo Kotar before deciding who to support for the Board of Directors of Glance (the Board). Mr. Kotar is not a dissident nominee for the Board. But Mr. Kotar is important because of his business association with dissident nominee Spiros Margaris and dissident leader Penny Green. Given Mr. Kotars past, the association raises questions about the due diligence Mr. Margaris and Ms. Green performed. Vancouver-based Yield Growth Corp. (Yield) serves as the dissidents connection to Mr. Kotar., Mr. Margaris and Ms. Green are on the Board of Directors of Yield (the Yield Board), a closely-held company that Ms. Green has told Glance she intends to take public. Mr. Kotar is Yields Vice President of Corporate Finance. There are numerous relationships between the apparently closely-knit Yield Board and management. Ms. Green, in addition to being a director, is President and CEO. Mr. Kotars current partner, Krystal Pineo (who has a social media account under the name Krystal Kotar), is a director. Until last month Mr. Kotar was also a Yield director and Ms. Pineo was also a Yield officer. Looking closely at Mr. Kotar Glance has looked closely at Mr. Kotar since he signed, as a witness, Ms. Greens requisition for a Glance shareholders meeting. Glance claims to have learned that Mr. Kotar has been: fined by the Investment Industry Regulatory Association of Canada (IIROC); criticized by a judge for his financial choices and capabilities; and pursued in court by creditors when Mr. Kotar did not pay his obligations as they became due. Mr. Kotar and IIROC In 2015 Mr. Kotar was fined $20,000 by IIROC. His settlement agreement is available at this link. In summary, he admitted to: holding a secret brokerage account in Panama when he was a stockbroker, without the knowledge and consent of his employer; not cooperating fully with the initial investigation and attempting to conceal the existence of the foreign trading account; and misleading his employer and the British Columbia Securities Commission during the interview regarding the existence and ownership of the subject account. And yet, Mr. Kotar was a Yield director and remains Vice-President of Corporate Finance of Yield, having been appointed by Yields directors. Mr. Kotar in court In 2012, in a publicly available judgment involving Mr. Kotars divorce from his first wife, a judge of the Supreme Court of British Columbia (the Court) provided insight into Mr. Kotars financial affairs and capabilities. Much of the Courts 18-page judgment is relevant for Glances shareholders and is available on the Courts website at this link. Meanwhile, in the interest of brevity, Glance is providing the following excerpts (bold emphasis added): On Mr. Kotars financial affairs: The parties [Mr. Kotars and his ex-wifes] spending habits were sustained in part by failing to pay income taxes. This led to the Canada Revenue Agency attaching the respondents [Mr. Kotars] income. Additionally, their bank line of credit was often in default. His [Mr. Kotars] extravagance is nevertheless noteworthy. The parties [Mr. Kotar and his ex-wife] attempted to sustain their standard of living which was, as it turned out, well beyond their means. For example, prior to separation, two vehicles were purchased, a Mercedes Benz for $53,000 for the claimants [Mr. Kotars ex-wifes] use and a Porsche for $52,000 for the respondents [Mr. Kotars] use. On Mr. Kotars capabilities: the criminal proceedings against him were very destabilizing and briefly led to his imprisonment. Mr. Cicci [a Vice President of Canaccord Genuity Group Inc.] gave evidence that the respondents [Mr. Kotars] employment with the firm is in jeopardy. There is no reason to doubt that this is correct Mr. Cicci is not encouraging about the respondents [Mr. Kotars] future employment prospects with Canaccord. Mr. Cicci was concerned with the reputational damage the respondent [Mr. Kotar] had imposed on Canaccord. And yet, Mr. Kotar was a Yield director and remains Vice-President of Corporate Finance of Yield, having been appointed by Yields directors. Mr. Kotars creditors According to British Columbia court files, Mr. Kotar has been pursued by creditors three times for a total of approximately $45,000. The claims, all of which resulted in default judgments against Mr. Kotar, were filed by: Royal Bank of Canada, Canadas largest bank; Capital One, a bank holding company specializing in credit cards; and a computer programmer, who sought payment in small claims court for work that Mr. Kotar allegedly did not fully pay for. And yet, Mr. Kotar was a Yield director and remains Vice-President of Corporate Finance of Yield, having been appointed by Yields directors. What Yields website says, and does not say The leadership section of Yields website extols A team that produces in a headline composed entirely of capital letters. A supporting message adds Our highly experienced team of professionals bring extensive backgrounds and success stories from a variety of relevant industries. Yields biography for its board member Mr. Margaris presents boundless confidence in that companys leadership team. The biography concludes as follows: Spiros sees The Yield Growth Corp. as one of the great fintech opportunities and believes in the team, convinced that they can execute on their vision. As for Mr. Kotar, the Yield website places significant emphasis on his capital markets experience as a former Vice President of Canaccord and PI Financial. There is no reference to the comments of Canaccords Mr. Cicci with regard to reputational damage caused to Canaccord by Mr. Kotar. There is no reference to Mr. Kotars limited tenure at PI Financial, where he lasted only seven months. There is no reference to the IIROC fine. Questions for Mr. Margaris and Ms. Green Here are some questions that Glance shareholders should now be asking Mr. Margaris and Ms. Green: Do Mr. Margaris and Ms. Green believe that the Yield website provides full, true and plain disclosure with regard to Mr. Kotar? What due diligence did Ms. Green conduct prior to appointing Mr. Kotar to the Yield Board and approving his appointment as VP Corporate Finance at Yield? What due diligence did Mr. Margaris perform before joining Ms. Green, Mr. Kotar and Ms. Pineo on the Yield Board and before approving the appointment of Mr. Kotar as VP Corporate Finance? Do Mr. Margaris and Ms. Green believe that their due diligence was adequate? Glance and Yield Glance directly and indirectly owns a minority interest (approximately 27% as of April 4, 2018) in Yield (formerly Cannapay Financial Inc.). Despite its ownership, Glance has a limited voice in Yields affairs. Yield is controlled by Ms. Green, as Yields Chief Executive Officer and the Yield Board. Based on the information about Mr. Kotar, Glance advises that, as a Yield shareholder, it will not support any of Yields current directors. Glances forthcoming MIC Glance intends to include a complete response in its forthcoming management information circular (the MIC) to proxy fight communications issued by Penny Green. Glance expects to file the MIC, including a description of Glances excellent progress and prospects, well in advance of the contested June 12, 2018 shareholders meeting. Pursuant to applicable securities laws, Glance does not intend to solicit proxies for that meeting until the MIC has been filed. About Glance Technologies Inc. Glance Technologies owns and operates Glance Pay, a streamlined payment system that revolutionizes how smartphone users choose where to shop, order goods and services, make payments, access digital receipts, redeem digital deals, earn great rewards & interact with merchants. Glance offers targeted in-app marketing, geo targeted digital coupons, customer feedback, in-merchant messaging and custom rewards programs. The Glance Pay mobile payment system consists of proprietary technology, which includes user apps available for free downloads in IOS (Apple) and Android formats, merchant manager apps, a large scale technology hosting environment with sophisticated anti-fraud technology and lightning fast payment processing. Glance has also recently purchased a blockchain solution and is working on a rewards based cryptocurrency. For more information about Glance, please go to www.glance.tech . For more information, contact: David Jan Paola Ashton Investor Relations VP Business Development 1-866-258-1249 604-839-0337 investors@glancepay.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains forward-looking information or forward-looking statements (collectively forward-looking information) within the meaning of applicable securities laws. Forward-looking information is typically identified by words such as: may, believe, thinks, expect, exploring, expand, could, anticipate, intend, estimate, plan, pursue, potentially, projected, should, will and similar expressions, or are those, which, by their nature, refer to future events. These forward-looking statements, which involve risks and uncertainties, relate to, among other things, Glance intention not to support any of Yields current directors Glances intention to file a response to Ms. Greens proxy fight communications well in advance of June 12, 2018 shareholders meeting, Glances expectation that the MIC will include a complete response to Ms. Greens proxy fight communications, Glances expectation that the MIC will include a description of Glances excellent progress and prospects, and Glances intention not to solicit proxies for the June 12, 2018 shareholders meeting until the MIC has been filed. Although Glance considers these forward-looking statements to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect, and the forward-looking statements in this release are subject to numerous risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause future results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in such forward-looking statements. Such risk factors include, among other things, risks related to the ability of Glance to file a response to Ms. Greens proxy fight communications on schedule and the risk that Glance will fail to have excellent progress and prospects. Forward-looking information and forward-looking statements are in addition based on various estimates, forecasts and projects as well as expectations, beliefs and assumptions, including, without limitation, that the response to Ms. Greens proxy fight communications will contain a description of Glances excellent progress and prospects and the timing for filing this response. For additional information with respect to these and other factors and assumptions underlying the forward looking statements in this press release, see the section entitled Risk Factors in the most recent Prospectus of Glance, which may be accessed through Glances profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. Glance cautions investors that any forward-looking information provided by Glance is not a guarantee of future results or performance, and that actual results may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Undue reliance should not be placed on such forward-looking information, as there can be no assurance that the plans, intentions or expectations upon which they are based will occur. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 19, 2018] Voith and Franka Emika Form a Strategic Partnership The technology company Voith and the Munich-based robotics company Franka Emika have entered into a strategic partnership. Part of the strategic partnership is the establishment of a new joint venture called Voith Robotics - A Voith and Franka Emika Company. The company, with headquarters in Munich, is to become a global system supplier for robot-assisted automation in the digital age. Voith Robotics will offer self-teaching lightweight robots made by Franka Emika, along with software solutions, apps, services and process consulting, to customers in various industries and markets throughout the world. As part of the strategic partnership Voith will also have a direct stake in Franka Emika, thus emphasizing the long-term and strategic commitment by the two companies to cooperation. Martin Scherrer, formerly a member of the Board of Management of Voith Paper, will be the new chief executive officer of Voith Robotics, which is to be managed by Voith. The still very young market for collaborative robots, also called cobots, currently has a volume of some 300 million euros and is predicted by industry researchers to grow exponentially in the coming years. The global market volume is expected to come to about 15 billion euros by 2025. Franka Emika is a leadingdesigner and developer of powerful, self-teaching and easy-to-use lightweight robots. They will make it possible for the first time to automate repetitive and often monotonous tasks like finely controlled fitting, screwing and joining, as well as testing, inspection and assembly. In 2017, the team from Franka Emika received the German Award for Innovation in Science and Technology from President Steinmeier for developing "Panda", the first highly sensitive, self-teaching lightweight robot. In addition to being applied in industry, these robots may someday assist people in their everyday lives or help with tasks like elder care. The robot series "Panda", in combination with robot-apps and customized services, will be the future core products of Voith Robotics. The company will offer platform- and manufacturer-independent robotics and automation solutions. The joint venture will be presented for the first time at Hannover Messe (News - Alert) . "By bringing together a young company with its unique product portfolio and an experienced, family-owned and world-wide engaged company with a global network, we are creating a role model for Industry 4.0," says Dr. Simon Haddadin, CEO of Franka Emika. "We will be able to offer customers throughout the world a combination of exceptional services and support, based on unique technologies." "Through its strategic partnership with Franka Emika, Voith has taken the logical next step in its digital agenda. We have defined robotics as a key competence and intend to add it to our existing portfolio," says Stephan Schaller, President and CEO of Voith GmbH & Co. KGaA. "Franka Emika and Voith complement each other in an ideal manner by combining robotics, artificial intelligence and digital apps for users in various target markets with our know-how in automation and processes." www.voith-robotics.com View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419005830/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 19, 2018] Casio Fosters Mathematics Engagement With ClassPad.net DOVER, N.J., April 19, 2018 /PRNewswire/ -- Casio America, Inc., a leader, and pioneer in the education space is proud to introduce its latest innovation ClassPad.net. Designed as a one-stop shop for educators and students alike, ClassPad.net is an all-in-one web-based mathematics resource geared for K-12 mathematics and beyond. "As industry veterans with more than 60 years of experience, we at Casio are committed to pioneering innovative and unique ed-tech offerings that both engage students and support educators," said Jim Gross, General Manager of Casio's Education Division. "We recognized the need for a complete ed-tech solution that mathematics educators could easily integrate into inquiry-based classrooms, and ClassPad.net was designed to do just that. It makes the creativity of mathematics more accessible, interactive and personalized we believe it's a game-changer." ClassPad.net helps students investigate mathematics deeply and enhance their understanding of related concepts utilizing one program. Due to the increasing dominance of touchscreen devices both in and out of the classroom, ClassPad.net is designed to be equally usable by keyboard/mouse and touchscreen-based platforms. Students and teachers can go to ClassPad.net and draw geometry figures freehand and input calculations as they would on real scratch paper. The software also takes advantage of Casio's Natural Display technology for input and output of mathematical expressions. All calculations are performed by Casio's ClassPad engine, a full Computer Algebra System (CAS), which has been improved andupdated for over 15 years. ClassPad.net allows simultaneous work with calculation, graphing, geometry and data analysis/statistics which helps teachers demonstrate things they can't show in other ways, something "65 percent of educators" said was important in a study conducted by PBS Learning Media. "Educational technology is now a significant part of mathematics classrooms across the U.S.", stated Mike Reiners, Software Product Manager for Casio's Education Division. "The next step is to reduce the sheer number of software packages teachers are being forced to learn, and instead provide more complete solutions that can be fully mastered and supported." ClassPad.net will be presented at the Association of State Supervisors of Mathematics (ASSM) Annual Meeting, April 20th 23rd as well as the National Council of Supervisors of Mathematics (NCSM) Annual Conference, April 23rd-25th in Washington, DC. At the National Council of Teachers of Mathematics, (NCTM) Annual Conference, teachers will be able to attend an exhibitor workshop, where they will have an opportunity to learn firsthand about Classpad.net on Thursday, April 26th from 1:30 p.m. 2:30 p.m. at the Walter E. Washington Convention Center (Room 143C). ClassPad.net will also be on display, along with Casio's full portfolio of education products on the exhibit floor (booth #443) throughout NCTM 2018. A video for Classpad.net can be viewed here: http://bit.do/classpadnetfutureishere ClassPad.net is available now for free in beta testing form, with version 1.0 slated to launch later this year. It is available via any modern web browser on various platforms, including Chromebook, iPad, PC, and Mac. Users must complete a one-time registration to gain access to all features. To register for ClassPad.net or for more information, please visit https://classpad.net. For software-related questions, please contact classpad.netinquiry@casio.com. If interested in more information on Casio's full portfolio of education products and resources, please visit www.CasioEducation.com. About Casio America, Inc. Casio America, Inc., Dover, N.J., is the U.S. subsidiary of Casio Computer Co., Ltd., Tokyo, Japan, one of the world's leading manufacturers of consumer electronics and business equipment solutions. Casio America, Inc. has been a leader and innovator in educational technology for the past 60 years. Throughout its history, Casio's mission has been to create something from nothing (a "0-to-1" philosophy). With the release of ClassPad.net, the Company's commitments to ongoing development, response to teacher/student feedback, and supportive professional development, Casio demonstrates continued dedication to this mindset. For more information, visit www.casio.com. View original content with multimedia:http://www.prnewswire.com/news-releases/casio-fosters-mathematics-engagement-with-classpadnet-300633213.html SOURCE Casio America, Inc. [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] [April 19, 2018] Export Compliance Solutions & Consulting (ECS) Invites ITAR/EAR Professionals to Leading-Edge Seminar "Mastering ITAR/EAR Challenges" in Annapolis, May 22-23 Global trade controls training and consulting firm Export Compliance Solutions & Consulting (ECS) of Annapolis, Maryland, renowned for its expertise in deciphering the complexities and nuances of the ITAR and EAR, announced today registration is now open for its acclaimed two-day, small group, interactive seminar "Mastering ITAR/EAR Challenges" which will be held May 22-23 in Annapolis at the Chart House Restaurant Spa Creek. The seminar attracts export compliance professionals worldwide. Those wishing to attend should register soon. Delivering the keynote at this year's stellar, learning experience will be Timothy Mooney, Senior Export Policy Analyst, Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS). Other noted speakers and instructors at the influential seminar include global trade experts: Matt Doyle, Senior Manager, Export/Import Compliance Lockheed Martin (News - Alert) Corporation; Matthew J. McGrath, Partner, McGrath Law Group, LLC; Debi Davis, Vice President, Esterline Corporation; Suzanne Palmer, President, Export Compliance Solutions & Consulting; and Lisa Bencivenga, President, Lisa Bencivenga, LLC. Participants in "Mastering ITAR/EAR Challenges" will benefit from the seminar's noted lessons-learned group discussions as well as collaborative exercises and scenarios-all encouraging ITAR/EAR knowledge-sharing, team building, and effective management processes and practices. The seminar's agile curriculum features subject matter and presentations most requested by export compliance professionals including: exercising vigilance with IR&D, lessons learned from a company under a consent agreement, common pitfalls of a compliance program, advanced agreements workshop, and effective habits of a compliance official. ECS's "Mastering ITAR/EAR Challenges" seminar is part of the firm's highly trusted training academy which holds focused ITAR and EAR seminars every eight weeks in a different location around the country, as well as private, in-house training and consulting programs focused on export management compliance and technology transfer in organizations worldwide. Considered a top industry learning event for export compliance professional aspiring to achieve a new level of excellence, "Mastering ITAR/EAR Challenges" provides attendees the wherewithal to gain competitive advantage and customer confidence, through cutting-edge assistancein building internal competences and processes. Registration is available at the ECS website https://www.exportcompliancesolutions.com. About the ECS Seminar Instructors & Guest Speakers Timothy Mooney, Senior Export Policy Analyst, Regulatory Policy Division in Office of Exporter Services/Export Administration with the U.S. Department of Commerce, joined the Bureau of Industry and Security (BIS) in July 2004. As a Senior Export Policy Analyst, he is responsible for drafting rules to revise the Export Administration Regulations (EAR). Since 2004, Mr. Mooney has drafted 119 rules that have amended or requested public comments on the EAR. Debi Davis, Vice President, Washington DC Operations & Global Trade at Esterline Corporation is responsible for oversight of all international trade compliance related functions for Esterline, a multibillion dollar corporation operating in 14 countries. She manages a wide range of functions including export and import compliance; export and import licensing; customs activities; investigations and disclosures; consent agreement compliance and other compliance related activities. Matthew J. McGrath, Partner, McGrath Law Group, LLC counsels companies on export control matters, and focuses on government contracts and international business transactions. He is experienced in export controls under the International Traffic in Arms Regulations (ITAR); Export Administration Regulations (EAR); Office of Foreign Assets Control (OFAC) regulations, and other related areas of law. Matt Doyle, Senior Manager, Export/Import Compliance, Lockheed Martin Corporation in Arlington, Virginia, has more than 27 years of U.S. federal export and import regulatory experience with major high technology defense and aerospace firms (including nine years with Lockheed Martin; the remainder with Litton Systems, Inc.; BAE Systems, Inc.; and Raytheon (News - Alert) Company). Suzanne Palmer, President, Export Compliance Solutions & Consulting, is a former Licensing Officer at the State Department, Directorate of Defense Trade Controls (DDTC), with 20 years of direct experience in the U.S. defense industry. After leaving the State Department, Ms. Palmer joined Northrop Grumman's (News - Alert) Electronic Systems in Baltimore and then went on to work at Johns Hopkins Applied Physics Lab. Ms. Palmer combined this unique experience to found ECS in 2003. Lisa Bencivenga, President, Lisa Bencivenga, LLC, has over 20 years of varied experience in export/import licensing and compliance issues with major defense contractors with an emphasis on space and satellite systems. Working closely with legal departments administering corporate international export/import activities, her work has included the development and implementation of internal compliance programs, providing regulatory guidance, instituting license databases, conducting audits, coordinating investigations and training personnel at all corporate levels. About Export Compliance Solutions & Consulting (ECS) Founded in 2003, Export Compliance Solutions & Consulting (ECS) is a trade controls training and consulting firm renowned for its expertise in U.S. export laws and regulatory requirements. Through an agile, team-based seminar and consulting approach, ECS's staff is comprised of former government and defense industry officials. Experts in helping companies worldwide understand the complexities of the ITAR and EAR, the mission of ECS is to help clients build internal competencies and processes to meet competitive compliance challenges. For more information, visit www.exportcompliancesolutions.com. View source version on businesswire.com: https://www.businesswire.com/news/home/20180419006280/en/ [ Back To TMCnet.com's Homepage ] Across the nation newsies are touting the nerves of steel belonging to a pilot who responded to crisis with exceptional skill and fortitude.not only has nearby Kansas roots but also was among first women to pilot U.S. Navy fighter jets.The plane she guided to safety was completely torn up and one passenger perished and was partially sucked out of the window.There's an investigation underway and a few theories as to the engine failure.But none of the assurances from airline officials really explain anotherTragically, this same kind of mid-flightkilled a passenger in 2016 and torn up engines are more commonplace than travelers realize.Of course we want everybody to be safe and lament the loss of life. However the mystery of these engine troubles in otherwise safe and well-maintained aircraft might not be mechanical at all.Check the links . . .You decide . . . Defense lawyers say that William Don Tisaby, a former FBI agent working for St. Louis Circuit Attorney Kim Gardner, lied under oath, and Gardner had to have been aware of his lies. In a court filing Wednesday, they said that a criminal investigation of Tisaby, and possibly Gardner, had begun, but both police and Gardner's office said they were unaware of any investigation. Gardner's office has admitted Tisaby erred but denied in their court filing in response to Greitens that Tisaby committed perjury. They admitted "mis-steps" and lapses but denied misconduct. In the filing, they called the defense arguments an "inappropriate" part of a public relations strategy and in a statement called it "bullying" efforts by Greitens, his defense team and his public relations team. They said dismissal was not appropriate, nor were lesser sanctions like a delay in the trial, exclusion of evidence or sanctions against prosecutors. They also said that the woman who had an affair with Greitens had been wholly consistent in the core of her testimony, despite defense challenges to her story. A big day for the Guv awaits . . . What's important to remember is that even more charges confront this dude who might now prove detrimental to his own party.Here's the sitch:Deets:You decide . . . Californos has been closed since April 4. According to the health department, 126 people fell ill after attending one of two Californos catered events on March 30 and March 31. It was reinspected April 17 but did not pass the inspection. The promos are featuring Horner with the morning news Anchors. No offcial announcement yet, but it's just a matter of time. Horner was a fixture at KCTV in Kansas City for 17 years. She joined the station in 1994 and became chief meteorologist in 1998." A welcomed return as the the tornado season of panic starts . . .Here's the word from a local media blog:She was booted in the midst of a great many old school grouches complaining about her weather panic . . .Given that the weather is mostly a guessing game amid global climate change . . . This is good news.You decide . .. Today's Burning Sensation Live burn training at Downtown, KCI Airports For the next several days the Kansas City Fire Department Aircraft Rescue and Fire Fighting (ARFF) unit is conducting training at both airports for its staff. ARFF regularly conducts these training exercises and other training in order to maintain proficiency in the specialized tactics and equipment required to fight aircraft fires to ensure compliance with Federal Aviation Administration guidelines. Other Than Bankruptcy Seg. 1: Where Is Kansas City Streetcar Headed? Seg. 2: Laura Ingalls Wilder's Missouri Life (R) Segment 1: Streetcar authority chief says, "we're trying everything we can" to fund a lengthening of streetcar corridor. Kansas City, Missouri, officials continue to move forward with plans for expansion of the city's streetcar system. In the weeks to come voters will weigh in on a one percent sales tax to pay for the extension. Former Home Team Hard Time Former Chiefs player gets 22 years in prison for fraud Federal court records show that 46-year-old Monty Grow was sentenced Monday and ordered to pay about $18 million in restitution. Kansas City Crusade Against Anger KC mom on a mission after daughter killed in road rage car crash KANSAS CITY, Mo. -- One year later, a metro mom is using billboards throughout Kansas City to try to prevent road rage from taking another person's life like it did to her daughter. On a bright, sunny afternoon Kay White and more than a dozen family members gathered near East 24th and Bales in Kansas City to remember a dark chapter: the day her daughter was killed. Old School Tech Consideration KC Record Store Day festivities to include live performance by Shooter Jennings The 11th annual Record Store Day will be celebrated Saturday at independent record stores all over the U.S., which will be offering thousands of RSD "exclusives." Among the list of artists releasing 2018 exclusives and rarities: AC/DC, David Bowie, the Cure, Cypress Hill, Miles Davis, Dr. Dre, Duran Duran, Marvin Gaye, Jimi Hendrix, Robyn Hitchcock, Living Colour, Arthur Lee & Love, MC5, Motorhead, the Police, Prince, U2, Taylor Swift and Tom Waits. Celebrate Kansas Hero Lady Pilot of Southwest flight with blown engine was Navy fighter with degree from Kansas university By ALEXANDRA VILLARREAL and TERRY WALLACEAssociated Press A Southwest Airlines pilot who made an emergency landing Tuesday after the jet apparently blew an engine, got hit by shrapnel and lost a window, is being praised for her "nerves of steel" in helping to prevent a far worse tragedy after the catastrophe killed one passenger and left seven others hurt. Local Good Life Pix All of the Kansas City news links we're watching tonight. Take a peek:And this is thefor right now . . . NEW YORK The Parish Community of Annunciation Greek Orthodox Church, 302 West 91st Street between West End Ave. and Riverside Drive in Manhattan hosts its annual Greek Festival on Saturday, May 12, 11 AM-6 PM. The sights, sounds, and tantalizing smells transport festival-goers to the beautiful Greek Isles. The spectacular one-day Greek Festival is a family event that draws visitors from across the city and greater tri-state area. Come dance in the streets as West 91st Street transforms into a Greek plaka (central plaza) for the day. An Upper West Side tradition for families and singles alike, the annual Annunciation Greek Festival features traditional homemade foods, desserts, a special activities area just for the kids, continuous Greek music and dancing in the streets, and an afternoon demonstration by Annunciations awarding-winning Greek dance troupe. Parishioner and self-guided tours of the church sanctuary are free, taking place throughout the day. Tours highlight an up-close look at the Byzantine style iconography and hand-carved altar facade imported from Greece over 60 years ago as well as an opportunity to learn more about the Orthodox faith. The Annunciation sanctuary boasts 6 dramatic stained glass windows and is a rare combination of 1890s Gothic architecture and Byzantine decoration reminiscent of Orthodox churches across Greece. The parishioners of Annunciation extend to all festival guests the familiar Greek hospitality while preparing and serving-up this years specially selected festival menu including freshly prepared gyros and souvlaki hot off the barbecue grill. Traditional homemade Greek desserts including, loukoumades (honey puffs) prepared hot to order, are available to eat at the festival or to take home for later. Directions to the Upper West Side: Take the 1, 2, or 3 subway to West 96th Street. Read more here. RELATED TOPICS: Greece, Greek tourism news, Tourism in Greece, Greek islands, Hotels in Greece, Travel to Greece, Greek destinations , Greek travel market, Greek tourism statistics, Greek tourism report Photo Source: thenationalherald.com Source: thenationalherald.com Oman Air will be exhibiting next week at the Arabian Travel Market, a key travel and tourism event that will be held at the Dubai International Convention and Exhibition Centre from April 22-25. Acting chief executive officer Abdulaziz Al Raisi, chief commercial officer Paul Starrs, and senior vice president of International Sales, Ihab Sorial, will all be present to welcome visitors to Oman Airs stand. The airlines presence at ATM provides the perfect platform for Oman Air to showcase its latest products and award-winning service, and it is anticipated the show will be yet another great success for the airline. The Oman Air stand will reflect the airlines commitment to quality service, and is expecting a large number of visitors including customers and major tour operators. Oman Air has had a longstanding presence at ATM, having participated for 13 consecutive years. This year the stand at the exhibition features a model of the First Class mini suite found onboard Oman Airs 787-9 aircraft. Maitha Al Mahrouqi, Undersecretary of Oman's Ministry of Tourism, will be present for the inaugural of the mini suite and visitors to the stand will be able to see first-hand some of the features available to guests flying First Class with Oman Air. The suite includes a comfortable bed, electronically controlled privacy divider and an in-suite minibar. Seen as one of the travel industrys most important exhibitions for international and regional carriers, ATM provides an excellent opportunity for Oman Air to connect with travel trade peers, existing customers and make new contacts. ATM is also the ideal occasion to work alongside the Oman Tourist Board, which promotes the sultanate as a premier tourist destination. This year ATM is expected to draw large numbers of visitors, including government officials, aviation industry specialists, tourism boards and representatives from local and international media. The year 2018 has been for Oman Air so far, and the airline continues to go from strength to strength with its strategic expansion plans and the launch of new routes worldwide. By the end of 2018, the airline will have taken delivery of eight new aircraft, which includes five Boeing 737 MAX and three brand new Boeing 787-9 Dreamliners. Furthermore, Oman Air has also announced three new routes set to launch later this year; Istanbul in June, Casablanca in July, and Moscow in October. Furthermore, the airline will resume operations to Male from the Winter Schedule 2018. March also saw the start of operations from the new Passenger Terminal at Muscat International Airport, and as a key stakeholder, Oman Air is proud to have played a major part in this momentous occasion in the sultanates history. Oman Air's presence at this year's ATM offers the airline another positive opportunity to promote the Oman Air product to an international audience. - TradeArabia News Service The World Travel & Tourism Council (WTTC) announced today that Argentina will receive almost $2 billion in the coming years to develop the tourism sector. The news was delivered to president Mauricio Macri during the forums annual Global Summit taking place in Buenos Aires. In addition, 13 hotel chains said they are willing to build infrastructure to receive tourists, which will ensure greater development of the sector. Before an audience of more than 800 executive leaders and ministers from G20 countries at the Hilton Hotel, president Macri emphasised that tourism in the country is growing nonstop and that the sector has huge potential in Argentina and is essential to peoples development, because it means more quality jobs. Argentina has returned to the world convinced that it has a lot to offer. It wants to receive everyone and give them our warmth and affection. Tourism is development; it is giving us the opportunity to make a real transformation in thousands of towns and cities across Argentina, stated the president. The number of foreign tourists has been growing uninterruptedly for a year, he continued. All over the world they are beginning to look at Argentina as an attractive and interesting destination. President Macri pointed out that flights and hotel occupancy, a sector that has been growing for 18 months, have both broken records. As you know, in Argentina, as in the whole world, there are magical, unique places, and we want to share them because we know that by opening our doors and welcoming all those who want to visit us, we are getting closer and closer to the dream of a more open, plural and prosperous country. Finally, the president underscored the natural wonders of the country, mentioning Iguazu Falls, the glaciers, the Patagonian beaches, the valleys and the Quebrada de Humahuaca, while noting that people here carry hospitality in their blood. After announcing the investments, Christopher Nassetta, chairman of the WTTC, said that the group could not be more satisfied to be the immediate witnesses of the benefits of the investments that are taking place in Argentina. The annual WTTC summit, which ends today (April 19), is being held for the first time in South America and aims to raise awareness of the industry and promote future investments through private enterprises around the world. - TradeArabia News Service Germany has launched a new visa application centre in Muscat, Oman, providing applicants with enhanced convenience in visa processing services and biometric enrolment formalities. Thomas F. Schneider, ambassador of the Federal Republic of Germany to Oman, today attended the opening of the new centre in Muscat, which will be operated by VFS Global, a leading outsourcing and technology services specialist for diplomatic missions worldwide. The new visa centre, which went live on April 4, will receive and process applications for Schengen visa to Germany as well as to Iceland. The VFS Global German visa application centre in Oman is located at Level-1, Tilal Complex, MGM, Dohat Al Adab Street, Al Khuwair, Muscat, Oman. Commenting on the new visa application centre, Schneider, said: "Our cooperation with VFS Global offers visa applicants all advantages of a private service provider for swiftly filing their applications while the Embassy can concentrate its own resources on the expeditious processing and issuing of visa." VFS Global is mandated by the Federal Republic of Germany to handle visa applications including collecting biometric data across 10 countries in Middle East and North Africa (MENA) under the terms of the contract valid up to 2023. It is anticipated that VFS Global will be handling approximately 200,000 visa applications for Germany in the region annually. Apart from the Middle East, the company already operates visa application centres for Germany in nine countries across the globe. Vinay Malhotra, regional group COO for Middle East, South Asia & China, VFS Global, said: The German Visa Application Centre in Oman has been opened under a mandate from the Federal Foreign Office of Germany to VFS Global to operate visa application centres across the Mena region. We have already opened German visa centres in various Gulf countries in the recent past with the aim of providing seamless services to visa applicants. VFS Global has a non-judgmental role in visa processing encompassing initial processing of visa applications submitted by prospective travellers to Germany. The decision on granting visas is taken by the German Embassy in Oman. The German visa application centre in Oman will be run by well-trained professionals. The application process in the centre will take a maximum 40 minutes. We are confident that Omani and non-Omani travellers will be delighted at the convenience, efficiency and ease of access VFS Global offers to its customers, Malhotra added. The VFS Global visa application centre for Germany will provide secure and time-efficient processing of entry permit requirements in a friendly ambience. Applicants can also opt for the comfort and privacy of a Premium Lounge. Some of the key features of the centre include convenience in terms of location, automated queue governance for smooth flow of applicants and a dedicated website for easy access to information including visa categories, requirements, check-lists and applicable fees. Apart from these, VFS Global staff is well trained in secure handling of passports, documents and personal information. Door-step delivery of passport is also yet another service VFS Global offers. - TradeArabia News Service Melia Hotels International has announced the addition of Melia Phuket Mai Khao to its Thailand portfolio, marking its entrance into the countrys largest island and most popular beach destination. Melia Phuket Mai Khao will be the groups fifth property in Thailand, continuing its dedication to providing exceptional Spanish hospitality to this thriving market. Due to open in 2021, the new Melia Phuket Mai Khao is owned by Phuket Villa Group, Thailands leading residential property development company. The company is also the largest real estate development company in the famous resort island of Phuket. The new addition will further establish Melia Hotels International in the country. Melia Phuket Mai Khao lies in the tranquil north of Phuket, ideally situated alongside the clear waters of the sun-drenched beach known for the tropical reef clusters just offshore. Overlooking the picturesque pure-white sand beach and turquoise Andaman sea, the property holds a prime location that is within close proximity to Phuket International Airport, the third busiest airport in Thailand. In addition, iconic attractions including Sirinat National Park, Royal Phuket Marina and Lahm Him Pier can be easily accessed, allowing travellers to indulge in nature and sightseeing. Crafting an exclusive resort experience for discerning travellers, Melia Phuket Mai Khao will boast 101 private villas, with each residence boasting a private pool and well-appointed amenities. Adhering to traditional Thai architecture, Melia Phuket Mai Khao will feature lush courtyards, spacious public areas and neutral schemed interior with contemporary decor, along with hues of burlywood and fresh blue to make it a soothing sanctuary, resonating with the wellness focus of the Melia Hotels & Resorts brand. Melia Phuket Mai Khao will provide a rich variety of experiences including two pools, Melia Hotels & Resorts signature YHI Spa, as well as meeting and banquet facilities. Guests will also be spoilt for choice with a diverse range of F&B options, from all-day dining restaurants, lobby lounges and a relaxed pool bar. Bernado Cabot Estarellas, senior vice president Asia Pacific of Melia Hotels International, said: It is absolutely thrilling news that we are expanding the Melia Hotels & Resorts brand in Thailand and particularly in Phuket. Tourism continues to be a driving force for the Phuket economy and we are well positioned to bring our extensive experience in the resort segment to one of the most desired destinations in Asia. Partnering with Phuket Villa Group, with whom we share a similar ethos and passion, will assist in our plans to achieve robust and sustainable growth in the area whilst delivering an unparalleled resort experience in order to meet seasoned guests desires. Maetapong Upatising, managing director of Phuket Villa, said: We are excited to embark on a partnership with Melia Hotels International to capture the flourishing tourism market in Phuket. Looking ahead, we have every confidence in together being able to bring best of hospitality to Phuket and to set the benchmark for hospitality on this beautiful island. With 48 properties in seven countries across Asia, both in operation and in the pipeline, Melia Hotels International continues to put a focus on robust momentum and growth for the APAC region. - TradeArabia News Service Saudi Arabia, Azerbaijan and Nepal have emerged as the top destination choices for travellers in the UAE in the last 12 months, new data showed. According to an analysis conducted by Travelport, a leading travel commerce platform, bookings made in the UAE from April 1, 2017, to March 31 through all global distribution systems (GDS) to Saudi Arabia increased by 30,000, up 11 per cent on the previous 12 months. Bookings to Azerbaijan rose by nearly 20,000, up 50 per cent, and to Nepal by just over 15,000, up 27 per cent. This data reflects bookings made in the UAE through GDS only. Additional booking will have been made directly with airlines, which may or may not also have a GDS presence. Global distribution systems (GDS) are vast hi-tech reservation networks that allow travel agents, travel management companies and large corporations, among others, to search and book airline seats, hotel rooms, rental cars, and other travel-related items. Globally in 2017, Travelport alone processed 1 trillion transactions through its three GDS: Galileo, Worldspan and Apollo. Matthew Powell, Travelports managing director for the Middle East, Africa and South Asia, said: Growth in flight bookings tends to be driven by increased airline capacity, rises in demand from leisure travellers and economic or political advances, which attract more commercial interest. The results were seeing here cut across all of these. The growth in booking volume to Saudi Arabia reflects the countrys escalating attractiveness as a tourist hotspot, the strength of business ties with the UAE and new capacity added by airlines like Etihad. Azerbaijan also continues to be a standout performer. The number of tourists arriving from Arab countries has increased more than 30 times in recent years, buoyed by new capacity from carriers such as flydubai. Nepal has also benefited from additional flights being added to world-renowned tourist destinations like Kathmandu and its state-owned carrier, Nepal Airlines, resuming flights to and from Dubai after a four-year hiatus. Kuwait and Ethiopia completed the top five positions in the table compiled by Travelport. Kuwait saw an increase of just over 13,500 (up 16 per cent) in bookings made in the UAE through all GDS, while Ethiopia recorded a rise of just over 13,000 (up 36 per cent). Out of the 10 countries with the largest volume growth, the biggest movers in terms of percentage were Armenia, which saw an increase of 142 per cent in flight bookings made in the UAE through all GDS during the last 12 months, and Georgia, which registered a rise of 80 per cent. Powell added: Over the years, Travelport has invested significantly in developing analytics products for travel agents and airlines as we recognise the scale of the impact they can have on their bottom line. Even relatively straight forward booking analysis, like we have done here, can help travel agents evolve the packages they offer in line with traveller demand. It can also support airlines in identifying needs to dial up or down flight capacity on certain routes. We are already seeing business won and lost through the effective analysis of the industry, business and competitive data, and this will only happen more in the years to come as companies become more sophisticated in how they use it. Next week, Travelport will participate in the Arabian Travel Market in Dubai for the 10th consecutive year. Its stand (TT1320) will include demo pods that allow visitors to experience how the company helps travel agents and airlines drive revenue by delivering intelligence through analytics tools like Travelport Business Insights and Travelport Competitive Insights. The pods will also showcase how the company provides real-time access to a wide variety of high-quality travel content and enables companies to engage travellers throughout their travel journey by using mobile applications like Trip Assist. - TradeArabia News Service Last updated 4/19/2018 at 8:56am Incumbent District Attorney Greg Newman is facing a challenge from Mary Hollocker in the Republican primary. No Democrat filed to run. Mary Ann Hollocker Age: 49 Family: Husband, a daughter and son. Occupation: Henderson County Magistrate; professor at local four-year college. Education: Bachelor of science from Loyola Chicago; J.D. from Golden Gate University. Prior Political Experience: None What have you done/will do to accelerate the time cases are handled through the court system? Hollocker: I will have the Assistant District Attorneys (ADAs) review dockets and court files... harinder@tribunemail.com For the first time in 40 years, a British Prime Minister met her Indian counterpart without the overhang, obligations and requirements of the European Union. The Skripal poisoning episode has detracted British domestic attention and muted criticism of their PM Theresa Mays inept handling of Brexit. But there is obviously a different approach. Britain has closed its doors to the kind of liberal immigration Indians have availed of in the past. Instead, Britain seeks improved accessibility of its businesses in India, a copy-paste of the UK-Israel model of tech partnership, lower barriers to commerce in IT, food and drink and life science, and a massive overlay in India of the British National Health Service (NHS) along with its attendant equipment supplier companies. While the British wait for the barriers to come down or consensus to develop, there is a conscious effort to handhold Indias quest to blend technology with agriculture and medicine. Essentially, London wants to retain its recent trade advantage: the 15 per cent rise in bilateral trade in 2017 was all accounted for by Britain. Clearly, there is a huge dollop of self-interest guiding Britain as it seeks to mould the Commonwealth into a primary tool for engaging with the non-European world. And it doesnt end at trade. Britain has thrown the baits of a security relationship with a focus on ensuring freedom of navigation (the code for anti-China grouping in South China Sea) and assistance in cyber security. Most of the focus on R&D is ostensibly in keeping with Britains claim as Indias second largest research partner. But a closer look shows the plans to invest 400 million by 2021 are spread too thin. London will retain its salience as a global hub of finance but impetus to other ties will rest on British strategic assistance to India as a UNSC member and incubator of high technology. There has been little cause for cheer on those fronts. Britain is attempting a new turn with India. But it needs to be more proactive and less expectant considering that other competing countries can easily top most of these offers. harinder@tribunemail.com Sushil Manav Tribune News Service Chandigarh, April 19 With huge quantities of wheat from Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan finding its way into Haryana owing to crashing of prices there, the state government on Thursday ordered sealing of its porous borders with these states. The Palwal grain market, that has proximity to these three states, has been closed for further procurement after it was discovered that 3.73 lakh metric tonne of wheat has already been procured against 2.98 lakh MT purchased during the entire season last year. Additional Chief Secretary (Food, Civil Supplies and Consumer Affairs) Ram Niwas on Thursday wrote to DGP BS Sandhu, requesting him to seal border entry points to prevent unauthorised movement of wheat into Haryanas grain markets. We have reports that some traders in grain markets of Delhi, UP and Rajasthan, where the prices of wheat have dipped Rs 150 to Rs 200 below the MSP, have been making an easy buck by selling wheat purchased from there in our mandis, Ram Niwas told The Tribune. Sources said besides Palwal, reports of wheat coming from other states have also been received from Sonepat and Karnal. The authorities in Karnal cancelled the licences of six arhtiyas from Taraori town after they were found bringing wheat from UP for sale in the mandi. Karnal District Food and Supplies Controller (DFSC) Kushal Boora said they were caught by a team of officials with wheat brought in an unauthorised manner from UP and hence their licences were cancelled by the Market Committee authorities. Sources said against the MSP of Rs 1,735 per quintal, wheat was available for Rs 1,550 to Rs 1,650 in the open market in Delhi, Uttar Pradesh and Rajasthan because of poor government procurement. The difference in rates is a huge temptation for traders, as the arrival of an additional 1 lakh MT wheat in Palwal means that some unscrupulous traders might have earned around Rs 20 crore, sources said. Arrival of wheat from neighbouring states is not a new phenomenon, as Haryana has been facing this problem almost year after year. On March 20, Ram Niwas had written to all DCs that the huge arrival of wheat from bordering states, particularly UP, cannot be ruled out, as all districts of the state, barring Rohtak, had boundaries with some other state. Again, during a video-conferencing with DCs and District Food and Supplies Controllers on March 26, the ACS emphasised the need to plug unauthorised arrival from UP to grain markets in Yamunanagar, Panipat, Palwal and Karnal districts. Meanwhile, 50.34 lakh MT of wheat had been procured in different grain markets of the state till Wednesday. editorial@tribune.com Rajinder Nagarkoti Tribune News Service Panchkula, April 19 A special CBI court granted regular bail to seven accused, including former principal secretaries Chattar Singh, ML Tayal and SS Dhillon, in connection with the Manesar land deal case, here on Thursday. CBI Judge Jagdeep Singh granted regular bail to these accused, who were present in the court, on two sureties of Rs5 lakh each. Meanwhile, former Chief Minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda and sitting Punjab and Haryana High Court judges son Gaurav Chaudhary, who is the director of Flair Realtors Pvt Ltd and Metropolis Realtors, were given medical exemption by the CBI court. Hoodas counsels SPS Parmar and Abhishek Rana submitted before the court that Hooda was unwell and had fractured leg and was undergoing treatment at AIIMS, Delhi. The accused were also given copies of chargesheet submitted by the CBI recently. The court has fixed the next date of hearing on May 1. The others who were granted bail included Jaswant Singh, the then District Town Planner (HQ), Atul Bansal, director of ABW Infrastructure Ltd, Naveen Rao and Virender Kumar Jain. Atul Bansal and Naveen Rao had appeared in the court after lunch and the Judge even pulled them up for coming late. Earlier, the CBI court had dismissed pre-arrest bail plea of Gaurav Chaudhary, while an anticipatory bail plea of Tayal was dismissed. The CBI, on February 2, had filed a chargesheet running into 80,000 pages against 34 persons, including Hooda, Chattar Singh, Tayal and Dhillon. The CBI claimed the state government had issued notifications under the Land Acquisition Act for acquiring 912 acres in Manesar, Naurangpur and Lakhnoula villages in Gurugram district for an industrial model township. editorial@tribune.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 Piqued at wrangling between bureaucrats of Delhi and Haryana over supply of water to the National Capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday summoned their chief secretaries to appear before it on Monday. People are dying. But no urgency is being shown by you people, said a Bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur, who took a strong note on the apathy shown by the authorities concerned in dealing with the water crisis in the National Capital. It directed the two senior bureaucrats to appear before it in person on April 23 after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to Delhi residents. The Delhi government has been in talks with Haryana for the release of 450 cusecs of water from the Yamuna daily for the National Capital. Last month, the DJB had moved the top court seeking a direction to Haryana to release 450 cusecs of water per day meant for the Wazirabad reservoir in Delhi. Haryana was supplying 120 cusecs less water, the DJB alleged. In its petition, the DJB had accused Haryana of reducing the supply of water to the Wazirabad reservoir by one-third, leading to a serious water crisis in the National Capital. The Haryana government was violating the 1996 top court order regarding supply of water, it alleged. Haryana was supplying only 330 cusecs of water per day to Delhi as against 450 cusecs per day agreed upon between the two sides. While Delhis population had increased phenomenally over the years, there had not been a commensurate rise in the water supply, the DJB had submitted. Due to drop in water level in the Yamuna, water treatment plants either stopped functioning or were running on below capacity, the DJB said accusing Haryana of releasing polluted water which could not be treated. As a result, the DJB was rationing water supply, causing water shortage in large parts of Delhi, it submitted. The DJB said the situation was likely to get worse with the onset of summer and rising demand for drinking water. Delhi is in the midst of an acute water crisis owing to stopping of supply of water by Haryana from the Yamuna, which is meant for drinking purposes in Delhi. It is most respectfully submitted that Haryana is defying the directions of this court to supply drinking water at Wazirabad reservoir and is taking undue advantage of being an upper riparian state, read the DJB plea. It has converted the river leading to Delhi into a dry river having virtually no water at Delhi and resultantly stoppage of supply meant for drinking water for treatment at Wazirabad reservoir. As otherwise, the coming summer in Delhi is going to see a huge water crisis, it had said, demanding a daily monitoring of water quantity and the quality at the barrage by an independent agency. Delhi and Haryana had on Monday accused each other in the SC over minutes of a meeting on the issue. The Bench had asked the Central Government counsel to seek instructions from the Secretary of the ministry and get back. It had also asked the Delhi government to make a formal request to Haryana for 150 cusecs of water. Delhi Jal Boards plea editorial@tribune.com Tribune Reporters Hisar/Sonepat, April 19 In all, seven persons were killed and four others injured in Charkhi Dadri and Sonepat districts on Thursday. In Hisar, five persons, including two children, were killed when their car rammed in a tree along the roadside near Loharwada village on the Delhi road in Charkhi Dadri district on Thursday. Those killed in the mishap have been identified as car driver Ramesh, Savitri Devi (60), Jyoti (30), Hardik (3), and Harshit (2), all residents of Mandoli village of Charkhi Dadri district. Three other persons Manju Devi, her son Jayant and another person Bijender also suffered serious injuries and have been admitted to the PGIMS, Rohtak. The incident occurred when they were going to Dighal village in Jhajjar district in a car. Anil Kumar, a relative of the victims, said the driver lost control over the vehicle after a Haryana roadways bus overtook it. Police spokesperson Surender Singh Dangi said the victims were immediately rushed to the hospital. In Sonepat, two persons were killed and another injured in a road mishap on NH-1 near Bahalgarh on Thursday morning. The deceased include Shankar Giri (60), mahant of Kali Mata Mandir in Jagdishpur village of the district, and his disciple Santosh Giri (45). The driver of the car, Pradeep, sustained injuries. The victims were returning to the village after attending a marriage ceremony at Muradabad in UP when their car was hit by a truck. The victims were taken to Civil Hospital at Sonepat where Shankar and Santosh were declared brought dead. editorial@tribune.com Pratibha Chauhan Tribune News Service Shimla, April 19 Aimed at providing affordable air travel to the common man under the Udan scheme, the subsidised nine seats for Rs 2,500 in the Shimla-Delhi flight are booked till August, leaving the locals and those in an emergency situation high and dry. Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launching the part-subsidised flight from the Jubbarhatti airport on April 27, 2017, had said, Hawai chappal pehan ne wala bhi ab hawai safar kar sakta hai. The scheme had kindled hope among the locals that air travel to Delhi would be affordable for them but this has failed to happen. However, with the subsidised seats being out of reach of anyone with prior booking and the fare for the other commercial seats between the Shimla-Delhi route being around Rs 19,000, air travel is far from the reach of the common man. The Jubbarhatti airport, located 21 km from the state capital, has the only flight between Shimla and Delhi. The nine subsidised seats per flight are all booked up to August. So there is no chance of any local or a person in emergency getting to travel at Rs 2,500, says Deepak Sood, owner of Ambassador Travels. He says the fare for the nine seats hovers anywhere between Rs 2,100 and Rs 2,500. The 42-seater ATR plane lands from Delhi with about 32 persons but due to short runway, it can take off with only 15 persons. Sood also emphasises the fact that even if there is a speck of cloud in the sky, the chances of the Delhi-Shimla flight being cancelled are very high. With airfare of about Rs 19,000, hardly any local uses the flight and mostly tourists are using it. In a sharp contrast to Shimla, the Gaggal airport near Dharamsala has four flights daily, with two flights each of Air-India and SpiceJet. The flights are convenient and the fare of about Rs 6,500 is affordable and used frequently by the locals, says a local Praveen Sharma. In case of the Bhuntar airport near Kullu, the fare on the lone Air-India flight costs anywhere between Rs 18,000 and Rs 20,000 but with Kullu-Manali being a popular tourist destination, there is enough traffic on the route. With the runway of all three airports being short due to unavailability of vast expanse of land, only 42-seater planes can land and take off. To make matters worse, the passengers at the time of take off have to be almost half. What PM had said Prime Minister Narendra Modi, launching the part-subsidised flight from the nearby Jubbarhatti airport on April 27, 2017, had remarked, Hawai chappal pehan ne wala bhi ab hawai safar kar sakta hai. The scheme had rekindled hope among the locals that air travel to Delhi would be affordable for them but this has failed to happen In a sharp contrast to Shimla, the Gaggal airport near Dharamsala has four flights daily The situation However, with the subsidised seats being out of reach of anyone with prior booking and the fare for the other commercial seats between Shimla-Delhi being around Rs 19,000, air travel is far from the reach of the common man. The Jubbarhatti airport, located 21 km from the state capital, has the only flight between Shimla and Delhi editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Shimla, April 19 Union Women and Child Development Minister Maneka Gandhi has asked the state government to take necessary steps to tackle sexual offences against women and children. In a letter addressed to Chief Minister Jai Ram Thakur, Gandhi said the police should be imparted training, especially in collecting evidence. "Strignent action should be taken against officials who deliberately delay the cases. A special cell could be set up to deal with such offences," she added. editorial@tribune.com Sanjiv Bakshi Garhshankar (Hoshiarpur), April 19 Mom had been chatting with someone in Pakistan for around two months. Calls from Pakistan often came and she kept talking on phone for hours from behind closed doors. She had been using a social media app to converse with four people in Pakistan, which included a woman. Now if she has gone and abandoned us, we still know that we will be looked after well. Our grandparents will now be our parents, said 12-year-old daughter of Kiran Bala of Garhshankar. She had just returned from her school on Thursday afternoon when she got to know that her mother had married a Pakistani during her ongoing tour to Nankana Sahib with an SGPC jatha this Baisakhi. The news of the widow Kiran Bala leaving the group of pilgrims and marrying a Pakistani there has not just shaken the family, but the Indian security agencies too. Her father-in-law Tarsem Singh said that his son Narinder Singh had love marriage with Kiran Bala 13 years ago in 2005, while he was working in Delhi. Kiran's family did not agree with the marriage, but later it was solemnised as per the Sikh customs. After that, they had three children, a daughter (12), a son (8) and another son (6). In 2015, Narinder Singh died in a road accident. Tarsem Singh further said that he did not let Kiran go because he wanted his three grandchildren to be looked after well even after his sons death. He said he was now shocked, I can still not imagine what she has done. She didnt even bother as to what would happen to the family and her children without her. She had always been busy on her phone. I now suspect that she would have met someone from Pakistan on social media and would have taken such a step due to it, said Tarsem. He expressed fear that she could have become victim of some secret operation being run by any terrorist organisation, the consequences of which she probably does not realise now. He has urged the Indian Government to help them by bringing her back to India. Local SGPC members Jung Bahadar Singh Rai, Bibi Ranjit Kaur Mahilpur and ex-MLA Surinder Singh Bhulewal Rathan denied knowing anything about her. They said although each member could recommend seven people for the Nankana Sahib pilgrimage, they did not recommend Kiran Balas name. Police didnt know anything After the case came to fore, the police machinery and intelligence agencies are in a tizzy. Its a challenge for them that a common woman had been in talks with persons in Pakistan for such a long time and no one even got to know about it. DSP Garhshankar Raj Kumar said the matter had just come to his notice and he would have to investigate the matter before saying anything about it. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Jammu, April 19 A fact-finding team of the Bar Council of India (BCI) on Thursday began its visit to Jammu and Kathua areas to look into the overall conduct of lawyers and find out whether lawyers obstructed the Crime Branch from filing a chargesheet in the Kathua rape and murder case. The team, comprising former BCI chief Tarun Agarwal, BCI co-chairmen S Prabakaran and Ramachandra G Shah, and members Razia Beig of the Bar Council of Uttrakhand and Naresh Dikshit, an advocate, also met the members of Jammu and Kathua Bar Associations and noted their viewpoint. The team is also scheduled to meet the rape victims family, witnesses in the case and locals before submitting its report. The visit was scheduled to begin on April 20 but it came a day early. We have met some members of the Jammu Bar Association and will meet more persons to find out as to why they observed strike. We will also find out whether Jammu lawyers obstructed the victims lawyer from the appearing in the court, one of the members told reporters here. He said they would also meet the victims family and the overall conduct of lawyers would be looked into. We will be submitting our report to the Supreme Court within three days, he added. In Kathua, the BCI team had a closed-door meeting with Bar members there and listened to their viewpoint. BS Slathia, president, Jammu Bar Association, said there was a complete distortion of facts by the national media vis-a-vis their strike for deportation of Rohingya refugees and withdrawal of controversial minutes of the Tribal Affairs Department. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Srinagar, April 19 As student protests refuse to die, senior minister and Jammu and Kashmir Government spokesman Naeem Akhtar on Tuesday questioned the protests when all accused in the rape and murder of a minor girl had been arrested. What is the occasion for protests, stone-throwing when the case (at the police end) is solved, accused in jail and the trial is on? Shouldn't they be attending classes instead, Akthar tweeted. The minister said the protests were only hurting the image and interests of the state. What is there to protest about? The case is solved, chargesheet filed, accused in custody, trial on. Those who still pelt stones in the name of the poor girl of Kathua are only hurting the image and interests of the state, he wrote in another tweet. While the government in a bid to stop student protests has been closing schools, colleges and universities, students continue to take to the streets. Another senior PDP minister Imran Ansari has also urged the students to concentrate on studies. I would strongly urge my young students to please concentrate on their studies. Understand your anguish against #Kathua but a trial is on. Ministers have resigned. Justice will be delivered. My message to you --- pls study, Ansari tweeted. The protests also came in for censure by Director of Vigilance Javaid Gillani, who served as Inspector General of Police, Kashmir, during the 2016 unrest. It is high time the students went back to their classrooms and stopped creating anarchy in the name of seeking justice for an unfortunate victim. The chargesheet in the case has been filed in the court. In due course, the court would announce its verdict on the basis of the evidence presented before it. Those aggrieved with the verdict would have an option to go before a higher judicial forum. The due process of law would settle the issue and ensure justice is delivered. What are those on the street now protesting for? Wouldnt the protests now be seen as an attempt to influence the judicial process? Public opinion should not be allowed to interfere with the judicial processes. Verdicts cannot be delivered on the streets. It is high time the students went back to their classrooms and stopped creating anarchy in the name of seeking justice for an unfortunate victim. Let them not become a tool to fulfil someone elses agenda, Gillani wrote in a Facebook post. pardeepdhull@gmail.com New Delhi, April 19 The Jammu High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) on Thursday told the Supreme Court that it did not support lawyers protest in connection with the Kathua gangrape and murder case. The Bar Council of India told a Bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra that they have constituted a team, headed by a former high court judge, which will visit Kathua to assess the situation relating to lawyers protest. Meanwhile, the Kathua District Bar Association told the Bench, comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, that they have already withdrawn the strike on April 12 itself. Advocate Shoeb Alam, appearing for the state opposed the tagging of plea filed by the victims father, who is seeking the transfer of case from Kathua to Chandigarh, with the suo motu matter related to lawyers protest there. The Bench, while clarifying that the administration of justice cant be interfered with, asked the JHCBA, BCI and others to file their affidavits by April 24 and listed the matter for hearing in the next week. The apex court had on April 13 took serious note of lawyers obstructing the judicial process in the Kathua gangrape and murder case and initiated a case on its own accord, saying such impeding of the process of law affects the delivery of justice. The top court had said that lawyers bodies have solemn duty to not obstruct advocates representing the accused or the victims family in the courts. The minor girl had disappeared from near her home in the forests next to Rasana village in Kathua, on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. The Crime Branch of police which probed the case filed a main charge sheet against seven persons and a separate chargesheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district earlier this week. The charge sheet revealed chilling details about how the girl was allegedly kidnapped, drugged, raped inside a place of worship before being killed. Jammu has been on tenterhooks since the brutal incident. The bar associations have been opposing the action against the accused, alleging that the minority Dogras were being targeted. Lawyers took to the streets shouting slogans and trying to block the road outside the court where the charge sheets have been filed. PTI editorial@tribune.com Dinesh Manhotra Tribune News Service Jammu, April 19 Smelling a bigger conspiracy hatched from across the border to set Jammu and Kashmir on fire by raking up the Kathua incident, Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh on Thursday said the case was wrongly projected by opposition parties and a section of media. Nirmals statement is contrary to the stand of the coalition partner, PDP, which has hailed the BJP high command for taking action against its two ministers Choudhary Lal Singh and Chander Prakash Ganga for supporting those persons who were demanding handing over of the case to the CBI. Our ministers had resigned on moral grounds because a wrong perception was created at the national level against the BJP as some forces were hell-bent on giving a religious colour to the Kathua murder and alleged rape case, the Deputy Chief Minister said while interacting with mediapersons here on Thursday. While the BJP leadership is claiming the case was wrongly projected at the national level, the PDP had passed a resolution on April 15 to thank the people of the country and the media for positively supporting and highlighting the rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl. When his attention was drawn towards Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti earlier attending two programmes along with two BJP ministers, who were forced to resign, Nirmal put onus on her. Lal Singh and Ganga were forced to resign on April 13 for attending a rally of the Hindu Ekta Manch on March 1.Even after attending the rally, both the ministers had attended functions presided over by the Chief Minister. When asked how these two ministers became an eyesore within a couple of days, Nirmal said, It is better to ask this question to the Chief Minister only. However, he smelt a deeper conspiracy at the national and international level to polarise the highly sensitive state after the Kathua incident. After the formation of the PDP-BJP coalition government in J&K, some forces inimical to people are working to create a communal divide, he said while blaming Pakistan, its henchmen in J&K and opposition parties for hatching a conspiracy to fan communal tension. editorial@tribune.com It was love at first sight for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who both quickly sensed their brief encounter on a blind date could blossom into something much, much bigger. They were set up by a mutual friend when US actress Markle was passing through London in July 2016, with the couple later revealing they knew little about each other. The speed of their relationship surprised them both. The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was a confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned. Everything was just perfect, said Harry. Less than two years later, they will tie the knot at Windsor Castle on May 19, sealing a relationship that rapidly grew outside of the media spotlight and survived when it went public in explosive fashion. When the couple first met for a drink, both were taken aback. She was 34 and a divorcee of three years; he 31 and with a few foundered relationships and his 10-year army career recently behind him. Harry had never heard of Markle or watched Suits, the US television legal drama series she had starred in since 2011. I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her, he recalled, and thought to himself: Im going to really have to up my game here! Bonding over their passion for the good causes they represented, they immediately set up a second date for the following day. A few weeks later, he persuaded her to join him camping out for five days in Botswana, which Harry called a huge leap to take so soon but one that paid off. The prince said the royal family had been very supportive of the relationship, including his grandparents, his father as well as his brother Prince William and his wife Kate. AFP Harry and Meghan wedding mugs A British pottery is producing royal wedding mugs emblazoned with the description of Prince Harry and US actress Meghan Markle as game changers, free spirits, big hearts and well-suited. FAt the Emma Bridgewater ceramics factory in Stoke-on-Trent, central England, a city famed for its pottery, workers are busy hand-making and decorating thousands of the commemorative mugs. Reuters monicakchauhan@gmail.com Mumbai, April 19 Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is the latest celebrity from Bollywood to condemn the Kathua rape incident, saying he feels "disgusted" by it. When asked about his reaction, the 75-year-old star, who has been the face of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, said it was painful to even talk about it. "Mujhe uss vishay par charcha karne mein ghin aati hai. So uss vishay ko uchhalo mat. It's terrible to even talk about it. (I feel disgusted even talking about it. So, don't rake up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it," Bachchan told reporters. The actor was speaking at the song launch of his upcoming film "102 Not Out", in which he stars along with Rishi Kapoor. Several Bollywood celebrities have reacted angrily over the incidents and have demanded justice for the victims of the Kathua, Unnao and Surat rape cases that have generated a massive outrage against the perpetrators. In Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, an eight-year-old child from a minority nomadic community was allegedly held in captivity in a small village temple for a week in January this year during which she was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death. The incident has sparked massive, countrywide outrage among people. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com London, April 19 It was love at first sight for Prince Harry and Meghan Markle, who both quickly sensed their brief encounter on a blind date could blossom into something much, much bigger. They were set up by a mutual friend when US actress Markle was passing through London in July 2016, with the couple later revealing they knew little about each other. The speed of their relationship surprised them both. "The fact that I fell in love with Meghan so incredibly quickly was a confirmation to me that all the stars were aligned. Everything was just perfect," said Harry. Less than two years later, they will tie the knot at Windsor Castle on May 19, sealing a relationship that rapidly grew outside of the media spotlight and survived when it went public in explosive fashion. When the couple first met for a drink, both were taken aback. She was 34 and a divorcee of three years; he 31 and with a few foundered relationships and his 10-year army career recently behind him. Harry had never heard of Markle or watched "Suits", the US television legal drama series she had starred in since 2011. "I was beautifully surprised when I walked into that room and saw her," he recalled, and thought to himself: "I'm going to really have to up my game here!" Bonding over their passion for the good causes they represented, they immediately set up a second date for the following day. A few weeks later, he persuaded her to join him camping out for five days in Botswana, which Harry called a "huge leap" to take so soon but one that paid off. "We were really by ourselves, which was crucial to me to make sure that we had a chance to get to know each other," he said. As Markle continued filming "Suits" in Toronto, the pair never went longer than two weeks apart. Their romance was under cover for the first five or six months and largely conducted through nights in behind closed doors. "We were able to really have so much time just to connect," said Markle. The prince said the royal family had been very supportive of the relationship, including his grandparents Queen Elizabeth II and Prince Philip, his father Prince Charles, as well as his brother Prince William and his wife Kate. Harry said they had frank conversations about what her future could entail and found it a "huge relief" to have finally found someone comfortable with the pressure and lifelong job that he comes attached with. Royal author Andrew Morton, who penned a biography of Markle, said the speed with which she fell for Harry was surprising as the TV star was a lifelong cautious character. "He was more of the supplicant than Meghan. He had more to gain and Meghan has more to lose by her agreeing to be his bride," Morton told AFP, in an unusual role reversal for the prince. Harry publicly confirmed they were dating in November 2016 with a highly unusual statement blasting racist "abuse and harassment" directed towards her. "It is not right that a few months into a relationship with him that Ms Markle should be subjected to such a storm," his communications secretary Jason Knauf said. "This is not a game. It is her life and his." The angry statement, going way beyond the lengths Harry went to for previous girlfriends, confirmed how seriously he was treating this relationship. Eventually, Harry proposed in November 2017. The couple were having a cosy night in at Nottingham Cottage, the two-bedroom home they now share in the grounds of London's Kensington Palace, roasting a chicken. "It was just an amazing surprise. It was so sweet and natural and very romantic. He got on one knee," the actress said. Markle said yes before Harry had finished proposing or even produced the ring. They announced their engagement on November 27 last year and she was swiftly integrated into the royal fold, making her first official public appearance with Harry on December 1 and spending Christmas with the family. The pair will throw themselves into causes they wish to champion, while Harry has suggested that their joint focus will be on the Commonwealth, particularly youth. "Both of us have passions for wanting to make change for good," he said. AFP. editorial@tribune.com Bijay Sankar Bora Tribune News Service Guwahati, April 19 A group of ministers of transport departments of 11 states Haryana, Uttar Pradesh, Himachal Pradesh, Assam, Bihar, Kerala, Chhattisgarh, Goa, Meghalaya, Jharkhand and Rajasthan on Thursday adopted a nine-point Guwahati Declaration aimed at harmonisation of tax and permits. Road-safety measures and policy changes and implementation strategies for strengthening state road transport undertakings were also elaborately discussed during a two-day meet that concluded here on Thursday. The group chairman, Rajasthans Yoonus Khan, said, This was the sixth meet of this GoM and has been most successful. We had detailed discussions and a nine-point Guwahati Declaration has been adopted. Khan said a major decision taken was the recommendation for a one nation, one tax for the diverse road tax structure, which would ease travel too. A committee with secretaries of five states has been formed to work on the details of this concept. It will submit its report within 15 days and we shall forward the recommendations to the Centre. We hope it can be implemented within two months. Among other decisions were harmonisation of taxes and permit rates across the country, amendment to the Road Safety Act of 1983, waiver of taxes on e-buses, and rationalisation of tax. Khan said that a special committee, with Assam Transport Minister Chandra Mohan Patowary as chairman, had been constituted to look into various issues, particularly concerning hill states. Agree on Guwahati Declaration editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service Guwahati, April 19 Several frontline indigenous groups in Assam have registered their opposition to the proposed Citizenship (Amendment) Bill that will facilitate grant of citizenship to Hindu Bengali refugees from Bangladesh. Sixteen indigenous groups have told a joint parliamentary committee that the proposed Bill will violate the spirit of secularism as enshrined in the Constitution by distinguishing illegal immigrants on the basis of religion. The groups also have made it clear that the Bill will pose threat to the existence of the ethnic communities in the state by facilitating citizenship to Hindu Bengali migrants from Bangladesh. The groups told the Joint Committee on the Bill to amend the Citizenship Act, 1955, headed by BJP MP Rajendra Agrawal, that the proposed Bill to grant citizenship to the Hindu Bangladeshis was not acceptable to ethnic communities and people of Assam. The proposed Bill violates the very idea of secularism of our Constitution. The Bangladeshis, the illegal immigrants, must not be differentiated on the basis of religion. All post-1971 illegal immigrants must be expelled irrespective of their religion as per the Assam Accord, All Bodo Students Union president Promod Boro said. Boro said under no circumstances will ethnic communities and people of Assam agree with the purpose and content of the proposed Bill. The proposed Bill will destroy or exterminate the indigenous ST, SC and other ethnic communities of Assam and reduce the indigenous people of the state into minorities, he said. All Assam Tribal Sangha secretary general Aditya Khaklari said if the Bill was passed by Parliament, it would disturb the peaceful environment in Assam and encourage fresh illegal infiltration into the state. He warned against vigorous mass movement in the state against the Centres move. Meanwhile, the influential All Assam Students Union (AASU) has maintained that it will not support the Centres move to amend the Act that would lead to segregation of illegal migrants from Bangladesh on religious line. monicakchauhan@gmail.com Gorakhpur (UP), April 19 Dr Kafeel Khan, an accused in the BRD Medical College case involving death of 63 children last August due to disruption in Oxygen supply was brought to district hospital for medical checkup today under strict security. Dr Khan was brought to the hospital two days after his wife alleged that her jailed husband was being denied medical care. The district hospital's cardiologist Dr K K Shahi tested his blood pressure, carried out other tests and advised him to undergo complete lipid profile test to ascertain risks of heart ailments. After the tests, the police tried to take him away without any media interaction but on the way from cardiology department to the police vehicle, he told reporters present there that he was being framed. It is complete administrative failure and I have been framed. When the budget was not released from higher level, where from the payment could have been made (for oxygen cylinders)?" he asked. Asked if the jail administration was providing medicines to him, he replied in the affirmative. Yes, they are giving (medicines)," he said. But before soon, the police bundled him into the vehicle and he was not able to answer as to why he did not get bail despite Manish Bhandari, the director of oxygen supplier firm Pushpa Sales, got the relief. Dr Kafeels tests were to be carried out last week but due to lack of sufficient security forces, it was delayed. When contacted, district jail superintendent Ramdhani said, For last eight months, Dr Kafeel is in the district jail and he felt uneasiness and high blood pressure symptoms on April 12, when the officials called the jail's cardiologist for his tests and the doctor advised for ECHO test. But, due to lack of adequate security force, it got delayed. More policemen were provided yesterday from the police lines for his security but his tests were postponed because of the doctors' strike at the district hospital. Today Dr Kafeel was taken to the district hospital for the tests, he said. Dr Kafeel is among the nine accused of the BRD Medical College and Hospital case involving death of 63 children, including infants, in August 2017 within four days due to disruption in supply of oxygen to medical oqing to non-payment of dues to the vendor. The state-run medical college is the single largest government-aided facility in Gorakhpur which also attends to the patients from nearby areas like Maharajganj, Deoria, Kushinagar, Basti, Siddharthnagar, Sant Kabirnagar, Ballia, certain areas of Bihar like Gopalganj and Siwan, besides border areas in neighboring Nepal. Dr Khan's wife Dr Shabistan Khan on Tuesday had alleged at a press conference at her home that her husband and other doctors were being denied medical care in jail. The district prison authorities, however, had rejected the charges. In her press conference, Dr Shabistan had apprehended that the doctors lodged in the prison might be "killed." She said her husband suffered a heart stroke on March 29 but was not given proper treatment. "Former BRD Medical College principal, Dr Rajiv Mishra, is suffering from liver disease and diabetes but he is also not getting proper medical attention," she had claimed. She had also said another accused, Dr Purnima Shukla, who is suffering from a hairline fracture, was also not getting the requisite medical attention. I met Dr Rajiv. He has turned pale and lost weight. My husband has also lost weight and they need good treatment," she said. Over eight months have passed but no justice has been delivered," she had said. She said the doctors were being made scapegoats for the tragedy while the "big fish" were responsible for the tragedy as the state government's medical department had not released the fund to the company supplying oxygen cylinders to the hospital. The jail's senior superintendent had said Purnima Shukla hurt herself when she slipped while going to the bathroom, and was given medical treatment. "The condition of Dr Rajiv and Dr Purnima is improving," he had said. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 Even as the Supreme Court on Thursday rejected the petitions seeking an independent probe into the Judge Loya case, politics began over the issue. While the Congress claimed that the verdict had left some unanswered questions, the BJP accused the Congress of backing the politically motivated PILs. The Congress said it would accept the SC observations on Judge BH Loyas death if the circumstances of the death raised by people were adequately addressed. Congress spokesman Abhishek Singhvi said, I am prepared to accept a) heavy emphasis in SC Loya case regarding veracity of accompanying judges b) anguish regarding scandalous arguments (c) initiation of contempt if it arises and (d) provided it is accompanied by solid reasons rebutting the 7/8 suspicious circumstances raised. Absent that, above lamentations not enough. Singhvi also tweeted that the Loya case judgment would raise more questions and leave many unanswered unless logical reasons were found in it. Dispassionate analysis of Loya judgment must await its full reasoning. But unless logical reasons found in it, it will raise more questions and leave many unanswered, Singhvi tweeted. Responding to the judgment, he said the Supreme Court could remove suspicion only by dealing with them directly. Meanwhile, BJP spokesman Sambit Patra lashed out at the Congress accusing it of trying to score political points through the politically motivated PIL. He alleged that the Congress was trying to politicise the judiciary and the controversy was manufactured by the Congress. gspannu7@gmail.com Indore, April 19 Twenty men, including a priest and a writer, have responded to a Facebook advert seeking a match for Geeta, a deaf-and-mute girl who returned from Pakistan after accidentally landing in that country when she was a child. A social activist here, who is involved in the search for Geetas long-lost parents, put up a post on Facebook nine days ago, seeking marriage proposals for her. Gyanendra Purohit, the activist, today said 20 men have shown interest in marrying her and sent bio-data. Of them, 12 persons are disabled, while the rest do not have any disability, he said. One of them is a temple priest while another claims to be a writer, he said. External Affairs Minister Sushma Swarajwho was instrumental in bringing Geeta back to Indiahad asked him to look for a match for the girl, Purohit had claimed earlier. He put up a post on the Facebook page Reunite Geeta, a deaf girl, with her family, which was originally created to search for Geetas parents, on April 10. The advert said they were looking for a good and smart deaf boy, age above 25 years, for Indias daughter Geeta. It also made it clear that it is Geeta who would decide on the proposals, and the Union Government would take further steps. Geeta is staying in a facility run by Muk-Badhir Sangathan, an NGO, here. The MP Social Justice Department is her caretaker. Geeta was found alone aboard the Samjhauta Express at Lahore when she was seven or eight years old. It is surmised that she accidentally boarded the train somewhere in India. Karachi-based Edhi Foundation took care of her while she lived in Pakistan. She returned to India in 2015. So far more than ten couples from different parts of India have claimed that Geeta is their long-lost daughter, but none of them could establish the claim. PTI rchopra@tribunemail.com London, April 19 Hundreds of demonstrators chanting slogans in favour of Indias development and against atrocities taking place in the country have greeted Prime Minister Narendra Modi as he landed in the UK on a four-day visit. A flash mob of sari-clad women with dhols set the tone for the pro-Modi crowds opposite 10 Downing Street as the Indian Prime Minister arrived for his bilateral meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May on Wednesday. They were joined by the Friends of India Society International (FISI) group, which spearheaded a crowd of Indian diaspora from across the UK waving banners such as Chak De India and Jai Hind outside Downing Street and nearby Parliament Square. We want to welcome the Indian Prime Minister to the UK and show him the diaspora support he enjoys, said one of the members of the gathering. On the other side, anti-Modi protesters from Caste Watch UK and South Asia Solidarity group waved banners such as Modi, you have blood on your hands and Modi not welcome. Hindu nationalism must be curtailed to avert India sliding towards wholesale dictatorship threatening democratic fabric, rule of law and the unity of India, a Caste Watch UK spokesperson said. They were joined by other protesters carrying images of the eight-year-old rape victim from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir and Gauri Lankesh, the Indian journalist who was shot at her doorstep last year. The group also included representatives of several Indian womens groups in the UK, wearing white as part of their silent protest against atrocities that are taking place in India. I am Hindustan, I am ashamed, read their placards alongside banners such as Beti Bachao and Politics minus rape. Some pro-Khalistani demonstrators from Sikh Federation UK and demonstrators from the so-called Minorities Against Modi group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Lord Ahmed, completed the congregation at Parliament Square. At one point, some of the protesters surrounded the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the square with yellow Khalistani flags. Indian officials involved in organising the prime ministerial visit to the UK had said that protests and demonstrations are part and parcel of any democratic society. PTI rajivbhatia82@gmail.com London, April 18 Warning Pakistan, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday asserted that India will not tolerate those who like to export terror and will respond to them "in the language they understand", as he referred to the 2016 surgical strikes conducted across the LoC. The prime minister, during the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme at the iconic Central Hall Westminster here, said when "someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language". Modi's remarks came in response to a question on the surgical strikes by a member of the audience who had speech disability. The prime minister choked with emotion on seeing the speech impaired elderly man ask the question on the strikes with the help of a person, and lauded him for his strength and conviction. In his reply, Modi said, "Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated. "We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted." The prime minister asserted that he was proud of the Army as they executed the surgical strikes with perfection and were back after finishing the task before dawn. Modi also narrated how India first informed Pakistan about the strikes and then told the media and the people about it. "I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 AM but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," he said. Citing India's history, Modi asserted that India never looked to capture anyone else's territory. "During World War I and II, we had no stake but our soldiers took part in the wars. These were big sacrifices. Look at our role in UN peacekeeping forces," Modi said. Asked what he thought of some people questioning the valour of the Army, Modi said he does not want to use the stage to criticise anyone. "I just hope, God gives them wisdom," he said to peals of laughter from the audience. In a well calibrated operation, on the intervening night of September 28-29, 2016, the Indian Army moved across the LoC and smashed four terror launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC. The Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) was severely hit in the cross-LoC surgical strikes on the launch pads with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its militants were killed. - PTI singhking99@yahoo.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 18 Barely two days before the end of Justice Ramendra Jains term as an Additional Judge of the Punjab and Haryana High Court, the Supreme Court collegium has asserted its authority, asking the government to appoint him as a Permanent Judge of the High Court. It would only be appropriate that the proposal for appointment is processed most expeditiously keeping in view that the term of Justice Jain is going to expire on April 19, said the three-member collegium headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra in its recommendation dated April 17. Decisions regarding appointment of HC judges are taken by a collegium of top three judges led by the CJI. The other two judges who were part of the unanimous decision were Justices J Chelameswar and Ranjan Gogoi, who have been questioning the style of functioning of the CJI in allocation of cases to top court judges. The collegium's assertion assumes significance in view of the recent controversy surrounding the collegiums recommendation for appointment of Uttarakhand High Court Chief Justice KM Joseph and senior advocate Indu Malhotra as judges of the Supreme Court. The government has been sitting on the file for more than three months. The collegium had on March 26 recommended Justice Jain to be made a Permanent Judge but the government sent his file back to the CJI for reconsideration. The collegium has now reiterated its recommendation. Under the current system of appointment of judges, the government can only send back the collegiums recommendation once and if the collegium reiterates its recommendation, the government is bound to implement it. We have gone through the observations made in the file referred back to the CJI... on March 26. The collegium resolves to reiterate its recommendation, especially when no specific reason except the issue of his transfer for seeking reconsideration has been recorded in the file, read the resolution adopted by the collegium. As Justice Jain has been performing well and no information warranting his transfer has come to our notice, he be allowed to continue to function in that High Court, keeping in view the depleted judge-strength, the resolution quoted from its July 12, 2017 minutes of meeting. rchopra@tribunemail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed PILs seeking an independent probe into the December 2014 death of judge BH Loya in Nagpur, saying it was a natural death caused by cardiac arrest. A three-judge Bench headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra came down heavily on the petitioners for filing frivolous PILs and attempting to scandalise the judiciary and obstructing the course of justice. Other judges on the Bench were Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud. "Business rivalries have to be resolved in the market and political rivalries in the grand hall of democracy. It is the court's duty to protect the law," said Justice Chandrachud, pronouncing the verdict for the bench. But the Court's verdict could not be accessed as the Supreme Court's official website was hacked and it had to be pulled down for security reasons. Loya had died of a cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, in Nagpur where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. Loya and the four judges had travelled to Nagpur for the wedding and stayed at Ravi Bhawan, a government-run VIP guest house, where he suffered the cardiac arrest. He was handling the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case in which various police officers and BJP president Amit Shah were named. Shah was later exonerated in the case. His death has been making headlines since November 2017 after media reports quoting his sister raised questions about the circumstances surrounding his death and its alleged link to the Sohrabuddin case. After Loya's death, special judge MB Gosavi had discharged Shah and some other accused. The top court had witnessed heated exchanges between lawyers for petitioners and those representing the Maharashtra government, with the petitioners levelling allegations against several judges of the Bombay HIgh Court. Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. The Bench said there was no reason to doubt the statements of the four judges who were with Loya on the fateful night to attend a marriage in Nagpur. There was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on the circumstances leading to Loya's death and the documents placed on record and their scrutiny established that the death was due to natural cause, the Bench noted, agreeing with the Maharashtra government's contention. There were five PILs before the top court seeking a court-monitored SIT probe. All these petitions have been dismissed. The Bench, also comprising Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud, noted that the petitioners conduct amounted to criminal contempt of court. But it chose not to issue contempt notice to the petitioner. Terming the petitions as frivolous and motivated litigation aimed at settling political scores, it said political rivalry was behind the "facade of the PIL" to malign the dignity of judicial officers and Bombay High Court judges. Judicial process will be reduced to a "charade" if the courts are burdened with such cases with extraneous reasons, it noted. On insinuations against judicial officers and judges, it said an attempt was made to cause prejudice against them and which was a "vituperative assault on the judiciary". With these petitions it becomes clear that "a real attempt and frontal attack" was made on the independence of judiciary and the present case was a manifestation to carry forward a personal agenda. The petitioners had launched a veiled attempt to malign the judiciary and the credibility of judicial institutions was questioned, the Bench said disapproving of attempts by noted lawyers Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and Prashant Bhushan to make insinuations against judges, including those of the Supreme Court. It took exception to Bhushan's plea that Justice Khanwilkar and Justice Chandrachud should not have heard the matter as they came from Maharashtra and must be knowing judges of the Bombay High Court whose statements were relied upon. Petitioners' advocates forgot to maintain institutional civility towards judges and made wild allegations, it noted. While relying on the statements and accounts of the four judges -- Shrikant Kulkarni and S M Modak, V C Barde and Roopesh Rathi -- relating to the death of the judge Loya, the bench said, "There is no reason for this court to doubt the veracity of their statements." It said the statements of four judges were "credible, consistent and truthful" and there was no reason to disbelieve it. Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, Madan B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- had in their inprecedented press conference on J January 12 questioned the manner in which the CJI allocated sensitive cases to top court judges. Loya's case was mentioned by them. monicakchauhan@gmail.com New Delhi, April 19 Delhi's Deputy Chief Minister Manish Sisodia on Thursday called Lt. Governor Anil Baijal a "dictator" and accused him of running a "parallel government" in the capital. Sisodia's outburst came after Baijail chaired a meeting to set up CCTV cameras in the city. LG sir, pl dont be a dictator. This is attempt to run parallel govt in Delhi. Its illegal. U dont hv power to call meeting on issues under elected govts domain. Under Constitution! u can ONLY express difference of opinion on decision of elected govt. Pl respect the Const. https://t.co/n04FAb2sjj Manish Sisodia (@msisodia) April 19, 2018 "LG Sir, please don't be a dictator. This is an attempt to run a parallel government in Delhi. It is illegal. You don't have power to call meeting on issues under elected government's domain," Sisodia tweeted. He added that under the Constitution, the Lt. Governor could only express "difference of opinion" on decisions taken by the elected government. "Please respect the Constitution." "Chaired law and order meeting on current status of CCTV cameras in Delhi... Directed to have an inter-agency group to formulate a SOP to have uniformity in installation and address issues of privacy, security, feed-sharing, integration and optimum utilisation," Baijal said. - IANS amansharma@tribunemail.com Satya Prakash Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 Piqued at wrangling between bureaucrats of Delhi and Haryana over supply of water to the national capital, the Supreme Court on Thursday summoned their chief secretaries to appear before it on Monday. "People are dying. But no urgency is being shown by you people," said a bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur who took a strong note of the apathy shown by authorities in dealing with the water crisis in the national capital this summer. It directed the two senior bureaucrats to appear before it in person on April 23 after Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to Delhi residents. The Delhi government has been in talks with Haryana for the release of 450 cusecs of water of the Yamuna daily for the national capital. Last month, DJB had moved the top court seeking a direction to Haryana to release 450 cusec of water per day meant for the Wazirabad reservoir in Delhi. Haryana was supplying 120 cusecs less water, the DJB alleged. In its petition, DJB had accused Haryana of reducing by one-thirds the supply of water the Wazirabad reservoir, leading to a serious water crisis in the national capital. The Haryana government was violating the 1996 top court order regarding supply of water, it alleged. Haryana was supplying only 330 cusecs of water per day to Delhi as against 450 cusecs per day agreed upon between the two sides. While Delhi's population has increased phenomenally over the years, there has not been a commensurate rise in water supply, DJB had submitted. Due to drop in water level in the Yamuna, water treatment plants either stopped functioning or were running on below capacity, DJB said accusing Haryana of releasing polluted water which could not be treated. As a result, DJB was rationing water supply, causing water shortage in large parts of Delhi, it submitted. The DJB said the situation was likely to get worse with the onset of summer and rising demand for drinking water. Delhi is in the midst of an acute water crisis owing to stopping of supply of water by Haryana in the Yamuna, which is meant for drinking purposes in Delhi. It is most respectfully submitted that Haryana is defying the directions of this court to supply drinking water at Wazirabad reservoir and is taking undue advantage of being an upper riparian state, read the DJB plea. It has converted the river leading to Delhi into a dry river having virtually no water at Delhi and resultantly stoppage of supply meant for drinking water for treatment at Wazirabad reservoir. As otherwise, the coming summer in Delhi is going to see a huge water crisis, it had said, demanding a daily monitoring of water quantity and the quality at the barrage by an independent agency. Delhi and Haryana had on Monday accused each other in the Supreme Court over minutes of a meeting on the issue. The Bench had asked the Central government counsel to seek instructions from the secretary of the ministry and get back. It had also asked the Delhi Government to make a formal request to Haryana for 150 cusecs of water. amansharma@tribunemail.com Ravi S.Singh Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 Punjab Chief Minister Amarinder Singh on Thursday urged Home Minister Rajnath Singh to prepare a comprehensive strategy to deal with the "re-emergence of extremism" in the state, amid reports that Sikh youths were being trained at ISI facilities in Pakistan. During the 30-minute meeting, the chief minister apprised the home minister of the law and order situation in Punjab, including issues related to attempts to create disturbance in the state through targeted killings, senior official in the Home Ministry said. "Amarinder stressed the need for preparing an all-encompassing strategy to counter the emerging extremism," official sources said. To this effect he suggested strengthening of the Intelligence Apparatus, besides action against foreign handlers based in Canada, UK, USA, Italy, Germany, who are actively engaged in activities for revival of terrorism. The home minister assured the Punjab CM to look into the states demands under the Modernisation of Police Force (MPF) scheme. Citing the state's security concerns, Amarinder reiterated the demand for central assistance in the modernisation of the police force, a spokesperson of the Punjab government said. He batted for designating Punjab as a Category A State for financial assistance at 90:10 Centre-State sharing on the pattern of Jammu and Kashmir and eight north-eastern states. Also, he sought allocation of additional funds to Punjab under MPF Scheme for strengthening of the State Special Branch for various law and order challenges being faced by the state, such as proxy war, trans-border terrorism and infiltration of drugs, weapons and explosives. During the discussion, Amarinder said a number of targeted killings have taken place over the last one-and-half-years and expressed concern over such incidents. He underlined the need to counter "activities on social media" aimed at disturbing peace and stability in the state. He put forth his opinion before the home minister that strengthening the state governments 'Connect with Your Roots' programme would also help in controlling such activities. The Home Ministry had recently told a parliamentary panel that Sikh youths were being trained at ISI facilities in Pakistan to carry out terror activities in India. Senior ministry officials also told the Committee on Estimates, headed by senior BJP leader Murli Manohar Joshi, that Sikh youths settled in Europe, the US and Canada were being "misguided and instigated against India with false and malicious propaganda". The chief minister appreciated the support being provided by the central agencies in probing the targeted killings. The NIA is investigating these killings, suspected to be carried out as part of a conspiracy to disturb communal harmony in the state, another official said. The chief minister and the home minister also discussed the steps taken to tackle the situation in a coordinated manner, the spokesperson said. editorial@tribune.com Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 Congress president Rahul Gandhi is expected to take a call on the names of nine new Punjab Cabinet ministers on Friday after he held a long review meeting with Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh on Thursday evening. The Cabinet expansion is expected any time after the names are cleared by Gandhi. The meeting at the Congress chiefs 12 Tughlaq Lane residence was also attended by state Congress incharge Asha Kumari, PPCC president Sunil Jakhar and state AICC secretary Harish Choudhry. The CM is learnt to have submitted to Gandhi a list of leaders who have been MLAs for two terms or more. They are the ones who will be considered for Cabinet berths in the long-pending expansion. The list records the seniority of these MLAs. The seniormost among them is Rakesh Pandey from Ludhiana and OP Soni from Amritsar, followed by four-time MLAs Rana Gurmeet Sodhi and Randeep Singh Nabha. Several three-time legislators are also in the reckoning. A meeting will take place on Friday to finalise the probable ministers. Sources said the list also mentioned the regional representation of the MLAs to ensure that the Cabinet expansion factored in all regions. At present, of the nine ministers, six are from Malwa and three from Majha. The Speaker and the Deputy Speaker are also from Malwa. The expansion will feature an MLA from Doaba. Kapurthala legislator Rana Gurjit Singh had resigned from the Cabinet early this year following allegations of corruption in the sand mine auctions. EXPANSION OVERDUE The CM is learnt to have submitted to Rahul Gandhi a list of leaders who have been MLAs for two terms or more. They are the ones who will be considered for Cabinet berths in the long-pending expansion. editorial@tribune.com Nikhil Bhardwaj Tribune News Service Ludhiana April 19 Abiding by an order of the Permanent Lok Adalat, Kapurthala, the company concerned has stopped charging toll at the Ladhowal barrier. However, the staff are maintaining a record of vehicular movement with the purpose to gauge the daily loss being incurred due to the court order. On Wednesday, Lok Insaaf Party MLA Simarjit Singh Bains had also reached the toll barrier and argued with the toll plaza employees for charging a fee despite the court orders. The companys plea was that it was yet to get any official order from the court, which had called for the suspension of toll service for a specific period. Bains deployed his men at the barrier on Thursday too. They were carrying big banners about court orders and telling commuters to pass without paying anything. Assistant manager of the toll barrier Dinesh Kumar said they would not charge toll till further orders. He, however, said the toll company so far had not received a copy of the court orders and even the NHAI had not sent them any such communication. Acting on a petition filed against the NHAI for its failure to remove encroachments along the National Highway and ignoring safety norms, the Permanent Lok Adalat of Kapurthala had on April 17 ordered the NHAI to not charge toll at Ladhowal plaza until it complied with the court orders issued on April 15. Shift toll plaza or face protest: AAP Barnala: AAP MLAs Gurmeet Singh Meet Hayer and Pirmal Singh Dhaula, along with other party leaders, on Thursday announced to start a protest if the administration failed to stop the construction of a toll plaza near Jagjitpura village on the Barnala-Pakho Kanchiya road. They met the Barnala Deputy Commissioner and demanded its shifting to the Pakho-Moga road. He along with other party workers visited the toll plaza and warned the company employees to stop the construction work. I have received their memorandum and directed the officials concerned for a detailed project report. We'll take action accordingly, said Dharmpal Gupta, DC. TNS editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Phagwara, April 19 The family members of Yashwant Bobby, who had received bullet injuries during clashes on April 13 over renaming of a local chowk, have urged people not to play politics and to pray for his speedy recovery. This appeal was made by Bobbys mother Rajni and grandfather Lashman at DMC Hospital, Ludhiana. His condition is still said to be critical. Prem Gupta, managing secretary, DMC Hospital, said a team of six doctors were making efforts for his speedy recovery. BJP MLA Som Parkash and Mayor Arun Khosla visited the hospital and met Gupta. Path of Sukhmani Sahib was organised by the locals at Gurdwara Singh Sabha, Model Town Phagwara. Former minister Joginder Singh Maan and Satbir Singh Sahbi (Congress) were also present. Meanwhile, the hunger strike by the Bahujan Sangharash Organisation continued for the second day on Thursday. Kapurthala Deputy Commissioner Mohammad Tayab and Senior Superintendent of Police Sandeep Sharma, who are camping at Phagwara since Friday night, reviewed the security arrangements. Around 16 more CCTV cameras have been installed at sensitive places in the town. BJP demands SIT probe Chandigarh: A BJP delegation, led by Rajya Sabha MP and state party president Shwait Malik, on Thursday submitted a memorandum to Governor VP Singh Badnore, seeking a probe by a Special Investigation Team (SIT) into the recent communal clashes in Phagwara. The party alleged that the clashes were part of a political conspiracy to incite sectarian violence ahead of the 2019 Lok Sabha elections. The BJP also asked the Governor to issue a directive to Chief Minister Capt Amarinder Singh to call an all-party meeting to deliberate upon joint initiatives for establishing peace. Malik was accompanied by former state party presidents Rajinder Bhandari and Ashwani Sharma and general secretary (organisation) Dinesh Kumar. TNS editorial@tribune.com Our Correspondent Ferozepur, April 19 Six teachers of government school at Bajidpur village have been booked following a complaint by Inderjit Singh, Director Public Instruction (Elementary Education). They had allegedly misbehaved with the DPI (EE) when he had come here on Wednesday afternoon for the checking of government schools. The teachers have been identified as Daljit Kaur, Anuradha, Ranju Bala, Mamta Sharma, Neelam Bala and Vijay Lakshmi. Over 50 unidentified persons and teachers have also been booked by the police under Sections 353, 186, 506, 420, 341, 342 and 149 of the IPC at Kulgarhi police station. A special team led by DPI (EE) was here in this border district to take stock of the implementation of Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab project of the Education Department. When the DPI (EE) objected to the entries being left blank in the attendance register, Daljit Kaur, head teacher of the school, reportedly failed to give a satisfactory answer. When the team enquired about the project Padho Punjab, Padhao Punjab, the head teacher replied that the teachers of their school had boycotted the project. When the team was leaving the school premises after marking its objections in the visitors book, the teachers present there allegedly started arguing with the inspection team. Some of them were allegedly manhandled also by the persons who had gathered there. The gates of the school were closed and the students were deliberately made to sit in front of the gate. The teachers used innocent children as shield without caring about their security, said the DPI (EE). He added that departmental action would also be contemplated against them. Meanwhile, teachers belonging to the Sikhya Bachao Manch said a false case has been registered against the six teachers. The teachers alleged that DPI (EE) Inderjit Singh used foul language with woman teachers. If the FIR is not cancelled, the teachers will be forced to launch a stir, said the union leaders. gspannu7@gmail.com Beijing, April 19 China will impose temporary anti-dumping measures on halogenated butyl rubber imported from the United States, European Union and Singapore, the commerce ministry said on Thursday. The anti-dumping measures will be effective from April 20, the ministry said. Exxon Mobil Corp is among companies in the list affected by the rubber duties. Reuters. amansharma@tribunemail.com Smita Sharma Tribune News Service New Delhi, April 19 Amid continued strain in ties between Washington DC and Islamabad, the United States will soon be restricting internal movement of Pakistani diplomats and consular officials posted on its soil. Expected to come into force from May 1, according to sources, the new rules are yet to be categorically laid out. But US Under Secretary of State for Political Affairs Thomas Shannon in a guarded response during an interview to 'Voice of America' confirmed the move. "Our diplomats are under travel restrictions.They can travel further but they have to notify the government of Pakistan. It is very common in diplomacy," said Shannon adding "these kinds of restrictions are reciprocal in nature". The move seems to follow Pakistani government restrictions on US diplomats, including a slowdown in processing visa requests, a problem persisting since 2011. US diplomats posted in Pakistan need to seek permission from Islamabad Foreign Office for travel beyond 40 km for "security reasons". Permissions are almost impossible to come by for visiting restive provinces like Balochistan with travels of diplomats restricted to major cities. Speaking to The Tribune from Washington DC, Husain Haqqani, former Pakistani Ambassador to US who was embroiled in controversy surrounding visas granted to US officials during his term as envoy in aftermath of Osama Bin Laden raids, said, "Nations that are allies and friends do not restrict movement of each other's diplomats. Pakistan stopped acting as a US ally when it started restricting movement of US diplomats and limited their visas. It seems the US has now reciprocated the Pakistani restrictions, indicating that its willingness to treat Pakistan as an ally in return of a non-ally behaviour is now diminishing." Between India and Pakistan, the situation is worse. While Indian diplomats cannot step out of Islamabad without prior permission, Pakistani diplomats cannot travel beyond Delhi to even Noida or Gurgaon in the NCR region without requisite clearances. However, Pakistani diplomats posted in the United States did not face restrictions in inter-state movements so far. gspannu7@gmail.com London, April 19 Queen Elizabeths last remaining corgi Willow, who famously appeared in a film with Daniel Craigs James Bond during the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony, has died, British media reported on Thursday. Willow, who was almost 15, was put down after suffering from cancer, making it the first time the 91-year-old monarch has not owned a corgi since the end of the World War II. Willow was the 14th generation descended from Susan, a corgi gifted to the then Princess Elizabeth on her 18th birthday in 1944. The Queen has owned more than 30 dogs of the breed during her reign, the Guardian reported. It was reported in 2015 that the Queen had stopped breeding corgis because she did not want to leave any behind after she died. She still has two dogs, Vulcan and Candy, which are informally known as dorgis a cross-breed between a dachshund and a corgi introduced to the royal household when Princess Margarets dachshund Pipkin mated with one of the Queens dogs. Willow was the last surviving corgi to have appeared alongside the Queen and the actor Daniel Craig in the 2012 London Olympics opening ceremony James Bond sketch. Willow, Monty and Holly had greeted the secret agent as he arrived at the palace to accept a mission from the Queen. The dogs ran down the stairs, performed tummy rolls and then stood as a helicopter took off for the Olympic stadium, carrying Bond and a stunt double of the Queen. Monty died a couple of months after the sketch was filmed, and Holly was put down in 2016. Buckingham Palace has declined to comment on Willows death, saying it is a private matter. PTI gspannu7@gmail.com Moscow, April 19 Russia said on Thursday it would screen at the United Nations an interview with a child who it claims was made to pose as a victim of chemical weapons in Syria. Moscow said the video supports its allegation that an alleged chemical attack in the Syrian town of Douma was a hoax. Russian state television had yesterday aired the conversation with the child, whom it identified as an 11-year-old Syrian boy called Hassan Diab. Russia says the supposed atrocity was staged by the civil defence organisation the White Helmets. We already have a subtitled version of this report, Russias ambassador to the UN, Vassily Nebenzia, said on state channel Rossiya 1 today. We are distributing it to member countries (of the UN Security Council) and journalists, and at the next meeting of the Security Council we will find a way to screen it. AFP was not able to independently verify the veracity of the claims. Western powers accuse Syrian leader Bashar al-Assads regime of using chemical weapons against civilians in the Syrian town of Douma on April 7. The United States, France and Britain carried out air strikes on what they said were Assads chemical weapons installations in response. Assads ally Russia has claimed the White Helmets faked the Douma atrocity with British backing in order to justify Western action. In the video, a man presented by the channel Rossiya 24 as Hassan Diabs father said his son was given dates, cakes and rice to play a part in the staging of the alleged attack. AFP monicakchauhan@gmail.com Washington, April 19 In a rare move, the US Senate has voted unanimously to allow the babies of its members into the chamber. The rule change was done on Wednesday to accommodate senators with newborn babies, allowing them now to be able to bring their less than one year old children onto the Senate floor and breastfeed them during votes, CNN reported. The move came a week after Tammy Duckworth, 50, became the first sitting US senator to give birth while in office. She had expressed concern about how she would be able to care for her newborn daughter while carrying out her constitutional duties. Senators said it was important that they lead by example by introducing family-friendly policies. Duckworth, who became a mother for a second time, applauded her fellow lawmakers who she said helped to "bring the Senate into the 21st Century by recognizing that sometimes new parents also have responsibilities at work". "By ensuring that no Senator will be prevented from performing their constitutional responsibilities simply because they have a young child, the Senate is leading by example and sending the important message that working parents everywhere deserve family-friendly workplace policies," Illinois Democrat Duckworth said after the vote. Senate rules committee chairman Roy Blunt said being a parent was a difficult job and Senate rules shouldn't make it any harder. Duckworth is already one of only 10 women to give birth while holding elected federal office as her first child, Abigail, was born in 2014 when she was serving in the US House of Representatives. IANS Trucking is not of one mind as to whether CDL holders under the age of 21 should be allowed to operate trucks across state lines. Photo: FMCSA The Owner-Operator Independent Drivers Association, along with other groups, is opposing two bills before the House of Representatives that would allow for lowering the age requirement for obtaining an interstate commercial drivers license. OOIDA and the other stakeholder groups have sent a signed letter to the House Committee on Transportation and Infrastructure that states their position that lowering the age at which one can obtain an interstate CDL would not only be detrimental to road safety, but also to those seeking to enter the trucking industry as professional drivers. The groups are opposed to these specific legislative proposals: H.R. 5358, the Developing Responsible Individuals for a Vibrant Economy (DRIVE Safe) Act, and H.R. 3889, the Waiving Hindrances to Economic Enterprise and Labor (WHEEL) Act. The signatories contend that if either or both measures pass, teenagers would be allowed to drive large trucks. OOIDA noted that the letter points out that, among other statistics and concerns, intrastate CMV drivers under the age of 19 are four times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes, and CMV drivers who are 19-20 years of age are six times more likely to be involved in fatal crashes. Younger Drivers Equals Riskier Drivers The letter contends that the current federal age requirement of 21 for the interstate operation of a commercial motor vehicle reflects the greater risk younger driver shave of being involved in fatal crashes. With that in mind, the signatories argue that, under the two legislative proposals, teenagers entering an apprenticeship and/or participating in a pilot program may have only recently received a full drivers license from their state to operate an automobile, let alone a CMV. Some may not have even gone through a graduated driver licensing (GDL) program, which allows novice drivers to gradually gain driving experience under more complex conditions. Todd Spencer, acting president of OOIDA, said in a statement that OOIDA thinks its irresponsible to put young drivers behind the wheel of a truck in order to avoid addressing the real problems of high turnover. The focus should instead be on fixing the staggering turnover rate with better pay and working conditions. He added that the newly proposed bills echo a previous, failed attempt in 2001 to lower the interstate CDL age to 18. This has been tried before, and no one with any common sense thought it was a good idea, said Spencer. Nothing has changed since that time, and no disruptions have ever taken place due to any perceived shortage of drivers. These latest efforts are just more ways to keep driver churn going and keep wages as low as possible. The letter is co-signed with Spencer by the leaders of 13 safety-advocacy groups, including the Advocates for Highway and Auto Safety, Citizens for Reliable and Safe Highways (CRASH), and the American Public Health Association. An international scientific conference and festival entitled Ancient Sources of Musical Art has started in Ashgabat. The forum has brought together scientists, musicologists, musicians, philologists and art critics from Russia, USA, France, Saudi Arabia, Japan, Korea, India, Turkey, Iran, Afghanistan, Kyrgyzstan and Uzbekistan. The conference participants discussed issues relating to the study of history of music, musical art of the Turkmen people, as well as preservation of the musical heritage. The conference then split into thematic sections that were held at the Museum of Fine Arts, the State Academy of Arts and the State Museum of the State Cultural Center where historians presented archaeological information about ancient musical traditions of the Turkmen people and made a number of reports on the musical art and instruments of the various peoples. In the evening, musicians of different countries performed at the concert of friendship at the National Musical Drama Theater named after Magtymguly. TURKMENISTAN.RU, 2021 Meghalaya Congress Chief refutes reports of legislators quitting party 03 Oct 2021 | 1:14 AM Shillong, Oct 2 (UNI) In the wake of political speculation that former Meghalaya Chief Minister and veteran Congress leader Dr. Mukul Sangma might quit the party along with other legislators, the Meghalaya Pradesh Congress Committee (MPCC) president Vincent Pala on Saturday said that these were reports only, adding that such news would not affect the partys performance in the assembly by-polls to be held this month. see more.. COVID-19: 5 new cases in MP 03 Oct 2021 | 1:12 AM Bhopal, Oct 2 (UNI) Five fresh instances of novel coronavirus infection were reported in Madhya Pradesh on Saturday following analysis of about 57,000 samples even as 12 more individuals recuperated. Three of the new sufferers are in Khandwa District and the remainder in Panna. Khandwa parliamentary constituency is witnessing a by-election. see more.. One COVID-19 related death, 130 new cases 03 Oct 2021 | 1:12 AM Shillong, Oct 2 (UNI) The death due to COVID-19 infection in the East Khasi Hills district of one person who was not vaccinated against the virus increased the number of fatalities to 1405 and 130 new cases of infection added up to 1557 active cases, even as the recovery of 238 more persons from the viral disease surged the number of recovered cases to 78,613 on Saturday in Meghalaya, which has registered 81575 confirmed cases so far. see more.. Nitendra Singh is Cong nominee for Prithvipur 03 Oct 2021 | 12:58 AM Bhopal, Oct 2 (UNI) Madhya Pradeshs main opposition Congress on Saturday announced Mr Nitendra Singh as its candidate for the Prithvipur assembly by-election necessitated by the demise of Mr Singhs father and former minister Brajendra Singh Rathore who won in 2018 on a Congress ticket. By-polls are also underway in Khandwa parliamentary constituency; Raigaon and Jobat assembly constituencies. The Bharatiya Janata Party and the Congress are yet to announce candidates for these three seats. Nomination papers are to be submitted by October 8, voting is scheduled for October 30 and counting will be conducted on November 2. see more.. Srinagar, Apr 19 (UNI) Security forces resorted to lathicharge and burst teargas shells on Thursday to disperse stone-pelting demonstrators at Shopian in south Kashmir, protesting against the Kathua rape and murder case. Despite suspension of class work in Government Degree College (GDC) and Higher Secondary Schools (HSSs) in Shopian, a large number of people, mostly youths, hit the streets at main chowk, raising slogans demanding death penalty to all those involved in the crime. However, the security forces and state police personnel deployed in the area immediately swung into action after the demonstrators disrupted traffic movement. Security forces resorted to repeated lathicharge after the demonstrators refused to disperse, official sources said. Later security forces burst teargas shells to chase away the demonstrators, who were pelting stones. Business and traffic movement came to halt in the town though efforts are being made to restore normalcy in the town, they said, adding that the clashes were going on when the reports last came in. Meanwhile, the class work in GDC and HSSs was suspended on Thursday by the Deputy Commissioner as a precautionary measure. UNI BAS SB 1057 Remarks: Registration information for February 2018 and data on space objects that ceased to exist in Earth orbit during that period. April 19 2018 Delivery of 800 homes in north Glasgow is progressing apace after the city council signed an agreement with Keepmoat Homes to deliver the Sighthill Transformational Regeneration Area Overseen by LDA Design and Collective Architecture the 250m masterplan will replace 10 former high-rise blocks with low-rise housing, augmenting 140 GHA homes already delivered, with a school campus, a street in the sky footbridge spanning the M8 motorway and a road bridge to Port Dundas.A network of pedestrian and cycle routes, public spaces, allotments and parkland will be delivered in advance of the Keepmoat development breaking ground, incorporating a mix of lochans, burns and wetlands for drainage.LDA Design Director Kirstin Taylor said: This is a key moment in the history of Sighthill. We are delighted to have the opportunity to further progress the plans to create a welcoming place to call home that is well connected to the rest of the city.This was once a very close-knit community. In developing the masterplan, we wanted to create an accessible, social and safe place to live with a distinct identity that builds on this historic spirit of togetherness. As far as I am aware, it is the single largest landscape-led regeneration scheme in Scotland. UW President to Visit Newcastle, Lusk May 2 UW President Laurie Nichols University of Wyoming President Laurie Nichols will meet with local residents at two events Wednesday, May 2, in Newcastle and Lusk. The first is from 12:30-1:30 p.m. at the Pizza Barn, 64 Old U.S. Hwy. 85 in Newcastle. The second is from 5-6:30 p.m. at the Pizza Place, 218 S. Main St. in Lusk. Complimentary pizza and soda will be provided at both events. The UW Alumni Association invites all UW alumni and friends to the gatherings. No RSVPs are needed to attend the free public events. Nichols travels regularly around Wyoming to meet with citizens, community college and public school leaders, legislators, alumni, media and others. I enjoy getting around the state to meet with people and hear their thoughts and expectations for Wyomings university, says Nichols, who is nearing completion of her second year as UWs president. This is a crucial time for the state and the university, and interaction with the public is important to make sure UW fulfills its land-grant mission of education, research and service to the entire state. Nichols came to UW from South Dakota State University (SDSU), where she served as provost and executive vice president from 2009 to 2016. Before that, she was dean of the SDSU College of Education and Human Sciences from 1994 to 2008. She began her career in higher education as a member of the faculty of the University of Idaho from 1988 to 1994. Nichols was born and raised in South Dakota. A first-generation college graduate, she received a bachelors degree in education from South Dakota State in 1978. She then earned a masters degree in vocational and adult education from Colorado State University in 1984 and a Ph.D. in family and consumer sciences education from Ohio State University in 1988. For more information about the Newcastle and Lusk events, call the UW Alumni Association at (307) 766-4166. Around the World Garrett Cruzan spent a year studying in the Netherlands and traveling to other countries. Education abroad opportunities abound at UW. By Micaela Myers When Garrett Cruzan chose to study visual arts at the University of Wyoming, little did he know hed soon visit some of Europes top museums during a year abroad at The Netherlands University College Utrecht, where he also took the opportunity to tour several other countries. I know what it feels like to celebrate on New Years Eve in the Puerta del Sol in Madrid; Ive felt the chill of a windy January day on the Mediterranean in Marseille; Ive drunk hot gluwein in a holiday market in Hamburg; and Ive listened to the fountains of la Alhambra in Granada, Cruzan says. Life-changing is the term many students use to describe their time abroad. With an increasingly global economy and the United States making up just 4.4 percent of the worlds population, understanding other languages and cultures is an important part of a well-rounded college education. Each year, hundreds of UW students study abroad for a semester, a year or a couple of weeks in locations around the world. UWs Richard D. and Lynne V. Cheney Study-Abroad Scholarship Endowment is one of the largest land-grant university study-abroad scholarship endowments in the United States, which makes travel affordable for students. The trained staff in UWs Education Abroad Office helps students choose from a variety of options, including exchanges, faculty-led courses and internships. On the following pages, four current students share their experiences overseas. Garrett Cruzan I was not after a semester of sightseeing or typical tourist attractionsI wanted the experience of living abroad, says Cruzan, who is originally from Billings, Mont., and will graduate this May with his Bachelor of Fine Arts in art and a minor in disability studies. He chose to spend the 201617 academic year at University College Utrecht, with the goal of fulfilling his art history requirements. I was enamored with the idea that I could study art in a museum and not only from a book. Most art has been made to be experienced in person, and there really is no substitute for doing just that. Cruzan was invited to participate in a student-led honors course, which became his most meaningful experience abroad. Nothing compares to being among such brilliant minds, he says. I learned some Spanish before using it in Spain (and Italy) and was allowed into some senior-level philosophy courses, where I had professors who profoundly affected how I see the world today. The Sheila Langlois Memorial Fellowship for Study Abroad in Art History and the Humanities helped Cruzan make the year abroad possible. A select number of Langlois Fellowships are offeredup to $10,000 per year. Named in honor of Sheila Langlois, an accomplished watercolorist, the fellowship was made possible through a generous donation in 2014 from her husband, Walter Langlois, UW professor emeritus in French. Walter Langlois wanted to make studying abroad a feasible option for students who might not otherwise be able to, Cruzan says, adding that the fellowship is a unique asset to the university. At UW, Cruzan is heavily involved on campus, including serving on the Accessibility Committee, as treasurer of the Abilities recognized student organization, as a member of the Student Art League and as co-founder and vice-chair of Paratransit Advisory Committee. Cruzan, who uses a wheelchair, says his travels showed him that the Old World has some catching up to do in terms of access. For example, a Serbian friend told him that he should be prepared to accept help in ways he wasnt used to when traveling to Budapest. I could not have known what she meant then, but I came to know during fall breakentrust absolute strangers with my well-being, Cruzan says. In the absence of curb cuts, accessible metro cars, building entrances, boats, elevators and trolley cars, improvisation is required for someone in a wheelchair. There were times I was scared and uncomfortable, but thats part of the experience for anybody. I always managed to get where I was going. Good Samaritans throughout Europe have me convinced that everyday people are genuinely kind. With the help of strangers, my wheelchair has traversed Roman streets made before Jesus, and sometimes I think we need more of that kind of reassurance. Cruzans experience in Europe was so positive that he hopes to return to complete a Master of Fine Arts degree. As a visual arts student, Cruzans work has been featured in a number of exhibits and received many awards. He plans to pursue post-baccalaureate opportunities in the UW Department of Art and Art History as he builds his portfolio for graduate school. Kaitlyn Emerson stops for a picture in Salamanca during her semester in Spain. Kaitlyn Emerson Kaitlyn Emerson of Cheyenne is majoring in Spanish language and literature, Spanish education and religious studies. She spent the fall 2016 semester in Spain, studying at the University of Salamanca and living with a host family. I like to tell people that its the best experience Ive ever had, she says. It was life-changing. In addition to becoming more fluent in Spanish, Emerson met many new people and traveled to London, Morocco, the Canary Islands, Italy and throughout Spain. She highly recommends staying with a host family. This experience allowed her to become fully immersed in the culture, to practice her language skills and to eat authentic cuisine prepared by her host mother. Thanks to UWs generous scholarship support, Emerson says her semester abroad was completely paid for. A self-described introvert, Emerson had trouble making friends when she first came to the university, but her time abroad helped her become more outgoing. It forced me to get out there and step outside my comfort zone, says the study-abroad ambassador. The experience also helped her cement a career path: I was climbing a volcano in the Canary Islands, and when I reached the top, we were above the clouds. Thats when I decided what I wanted to do with my life. I realized my passions. After graduation in 2020, Emerson plans to join Teach For America and help underrepresented and underprivileged students get the education they deserve. After that, she hopes to join the Peace Corps and earn her Teaching English as a Foreign Language (TEFL) certification. I want to do that for a couple of years and then come back and teach English to incoming immigrants, Emerson says. During junior high and high school, Emerson took part in Gaining Early Awareness and Readiness for Undergraduate Programs, or GEAR UP, a federally funded program designed to increase the number of low-income students who are prepared to enter and succeed in postsecondary education. The program helped fund her education via a scholarship, and she has given back as a peer mentor. I help GEAR UP students acclimate to college life so theyll be successful throughout their college career, Emerson says. I love the students I work with. She appreciates the personal touch UW offers its students. UW seems to connect with their students and reach out to them, she says. I feel at home here. Slade Sheaffer posed with the Eiffel Tower during his faculty-led trip to Europe. Slade Sheaffer Faculty-led trips abroad allow students to take their learning to a new leveland locationwhile traveling with fellow UW students and earning credits. Laramie local Slade Sheaffer, who will graduate May 2019, chose UW for its scholarship opportunities and the chance to compete on the swimming team, but he never imagined that his architectural engineering coursework would allow him to sketch amazing architecture throughout Europe. We got to spend five days in Barcelona, 10 days in Paris and two weeks in London, Slade says of his faculty-led trip, which also included visits to architectural firms. The professors were great, and we got to see some globally renowned architectural sites up close and personal. It was an awesome experience, and we learned a lot. Slade is part of UWs Undergraduate Engineering Research Scholars Program, and the program included funding for travel. Between that and the Cheney scholarship, the trip became very affordable. I want to become an architect after my masters, and the trip affirmed it for me, says Sheaffer, who is minoring in sustainability. In addition to his rigorous engineering coursework, Sheaffer is a senior on the swimming team. Having such a busy schedule teaches you to manage your time effectively, he says. Its really grown me as a person. Between that and engineering, I think Ill be really ready for the professional world. Sheaffer is president of UWs Architectural Engineering Institute. He loves UWs easy access to outdoor recreation, including mountain biking and climbing. These outdoor opportunities combined with the cost and UWs low student-to-faculty ratio are its greatest strengths, Sheaffer says: Ive never had a problem getting help from my professors, and I know my professors really well. Thats been a huge drawing card. Plus, the affordability and scholarshipsIll be able to exit my undergraduate degree with no debt. That will be very beneficial. During her year abroad, Maggie Huss visited the historic village of Ait Benhaddou in Morocco. Maggie Huss There is a profound focus on internationalization at the University of Wyoming, says senior Maggie Jean Huss, an international studies major and French minor. There is a large emphasis on enabling students to study abroad by providing scholarships, exchanges, service trips or teacher-led programs that match all interests and financial needs. Huss took full advantage of these opportunities, participating in alternative spring break trips through UWs office of Service, Leadership and Community Engagement to Trinidad and Tobago, and Tucson, Ariz., and spending her sophomore year at the University of Strasbourg in France. Learning French was a profound takeaway, but I think that, by studying and living abroad, one is offered a unique life experience in addition to the academic merits, says Huss, a Laramie native. Living in a foreign country and navigating a different culture allow you to grow as a human being and open your mind to new and diverse concepts and experiences. With support and guidance from the International Studies Program, Huss also earned internships at the U.S. Department of State both her junior and senior years, with the second being a full-time Pathways Internship: As a freshman at UW, I never would have imagined that I would spend the final year of my undergraduate career working for the Department of State, an agency I have only ever dreamed about. The Pathways Internship Program affords students the opportunity to live and work as full-time Department of State employees in advance of their graduation. The program was created as a means of career development and mentorship for those with keen interest in pursuing civil service careers. Huss was offered a position within the Bureau of Consular Affairs. Her office engages with overseas embassies and consulates and aids in monitoring the visa process. In between her travels, Huss stayed busy with a variety of campus involvement, including serving as a freshman member of the White Hall senate, participating in the International Studies Student Club, interning with Forward Wyoming during its Grassroots Institute and becoming a wellness ambassador through the UW Wellness Center, as well as a peer leader with its program, The Body Project. One of the most important assets on UWs campus is the Wellness Center and its associated program, The Body Project, Huss says, explaining that the project promotes positive body satisfaction. The size of UW puts the school in a unique position where it is large enough to offer substantial funding for its students yet small enough to truly connect and invest in them, she says. The low cost of the university also affords students a more realistic chance to study their passions locally and internationally. Start your day with Sunrise, a roundup of B.C. news and opinions delivered straight to your inbox Start your day with Sunrise, delivered straight to your inbox Sign up now> These localities include Ho Chi Minh City, Quang Ngai, Phu Yen, Binh Dinh, Dak Lak, Dong Nai, Ba Ria - Vung Tau, Dong Thap, and Vinh Long. The request was made after GWIS was confirmed to be an unregistered school. A report issued by the MoET said GWIS did not perform any educational activities in the US or have any national or regional accreditation. The ministry also urged the education and training departments of these cities and provinces to take suitable measures to ensure the interests of students who are pursuing education cooperation programmes with the US school, and report the results to the ministry before April 24. Earlier, on April 13, the MoET issued a dispatch asking the Hanoi Department of Education and Training to investigate the cooperation between Newton Grammar School based in Bac Tu Liem district and GWIS. Newton Grammar School has been told to end its relationship with the US school and work to guarantee the benefits of students partaking in courses linked with GWIS. The investigation is also looking into the bilingual (Vietnamese English) curriculum which follows the American high school education. It also touches upon the teaching activities at Newton Grammar School. Finally, the responsibilities of stakeholders working with foreign institutes are being probed. The ties between Newton Grammar School and GWIS came under scrutiny after American documents calling Newtons claims into question were posted online. Students enrolling in the programme supposedly study Mathematics, Science and English language using the American curriculum supplied and taught by GWIS. Students will receive credits from both Newton Grammar School and GWIS. After collecting 24 credits, a student will obtain an American high school diploma. Although the set-up sounds attractive, the information GWIS founder Philip Nguyen provided to substantiate claims about the schools operations in the United States are paltry, prompting an outcry from parents. Karen Tang, Assistant Culture Affairs Officer of US Embassy in Hanoi, said that GWIS had not appeared on any official registration of schools that they were able to find. A farmer uses plastic bags to cover young mangoes in Dong Thap Province. - Photo baodongthap.vn Speaking at a seminar held in the provinces Cao Lanh City on Tuesday, Professor Tran Van Hau of Can Tho University said that farmers also needed to work more closely with companies to ensure that output meets export demand. Dong Thap has more than 9,300ha of mango varieties with annual output of 90,000 tonnes, according to the provinces Department of Agriculture and Rural Development. Two specialty mango varieties, Cat Chu and Hoa Loc, account for 70 per cent and 20 per cent of the provinces total mango area, respectively. The fruit is one of Dong Thaps key products in its agriculture restructuring programme. The provinces mangoes, which are mostly exported to China, have also been exported to South Korea, Japan and New Zealand. The province, which has set up two co-operatives and 29 co-operative teams that grow mango, has contracted with companies to guarantee outlets for their mangoes. Last year, the companies purchased more than 6,000 tonnes of fresh mangoes from farmers. Participants at the seminar said that farmers should pay more attention to fruit quality and post-harvest preservation if authorities decide to focus on selling mostly fresh mango. To increase exports to demanding markets, the fruit should meet global Good Agricultural Practice standards, look beautiful and have good quality, they said. Professor Nguyen Bao Ve, former head of the Can Tho Universitys Agriculture Faculty, said nutrition management would improve quality. The sugar and starch in mango should account for 96 per cent of mango nutritional value and the minerals should account for less than 4 per cent, he said. Nguyen Thanh Hung, deputy chairman of the provinces Peoples Committee, told farmers to work together and set up mango production chains. In the province, most mango fields that have outlet guarantees are cultivated under Vietnamese Good Agricultural Practice (VietGAP) standards, while young mangoes are covered in plastic bags to protect them from pests. Farmers earn profits of VN200 -250 million (US$8,800 11,000) per ha a year for mangoes planted in co-operation with companies. Dong Thap has six areas that produce off-season mangoes, with a total area of 416ha in Cao Lanh District and Cao Lanh City. A group of British expats in the Netherlands are taking the UK government to court over their rights as British citizens after Brexit. (Photo: AFP/Daniel Leal-Olivas) In what is believed to be the first such case as Britain prepares to leave the European Union next year, five Britons living in the Netherlands and two expat organisations took the government to court in January. They have argued that they have independent rights as EU citizens, over and above being citizens of any specific EU member country - including Britain. But lawyer Erik Pijnacker Hordijk, representing the Dutch government, told the appeals court Thursday that their case "is groundless" and should be ruled as "inadmissible". Even in the event of a hard Brexit, where Britain would leave without a deal with the EU "it doesn't mean that British citizens who legally live in the Netherlands will lose their residency rights," he said. "There is no chance that any of the plaintiffs will run the risk of being ejected from the country," he maintained. Currently about 46,000 Brits live in the Netherlands and there was no reason "to believe ... that they will run a serious risk of being told to leave the country," he said. But the group insist their legal rights as EU citizens - including freedom of movement - should remain and be protected by The Netherlands even after Britain withdraws from the 28-member body at midnight on Mar 29, 2019. "Irrespective of how an eventual Brexit will look, the plaintiffs rights as EU citizens are already in jeopardy," the group's lawyer Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm told the judges. In what could have far-reaching implications for about one million Brits on the continent, judge Floris Bakels in February asked the European Court of Justice to answer two preliminary questions. The questions are: "Does Brexit mean that Britons automatically lose their European citizenship or do they maintain their rights, and if so, under what conditions?" Observers say that should the ECJ indeed rule that Britons have separate implicit rights as EU citizens it could have massive implications - including impacting current Brexit negotiations. Dutch MPs were later Thursday to take up the issue with a special round table organised in parliament to discuss the ramifications of Brexit. Some of the court plaintiffs and their lawyer, as well as pro-EU groups "British in Europe" and "the3million" were due to appear to "discuss the possible consequences of Brexit for citizens, business, government departments and civil society," a parliamentary notice said. Tanks containing green algae, which are being released into Hoan Kiem Lake to revive its iconic green colour.-VNA/VNS Photo Manh Khanh Specifically, the company has released 22 tanks of original green algae into the lake. Each tank contained 100 litres of water with green algae. The water with green algae was pumped out of the lake before it was dredged at the end of last year. It was preserved in the laboratory for rapid growth before being released into the natural environment. Some scientists said the process would help revive the lakes typical green colour. Early this year, the company conducted the dredging of Hoan Kiem Lake. Thousands of cubic metres of muddy water were pumped out of the lake, but the water lost its iconic green colour at some places. Hoan Kiem Lake is one of the countrys national heritage sites and top tourist destination with great historical value. The cleanup project will need approval from the culture ministry before it can go ahead. The tourism sector also needs to follow regulations to ensure accessibility for disabled persons. Photo Vietnam Pictorial Accessible tourism, which attempts to guarantee access to all tourist destinations and services for all people regardless of their disabilities or age, according to the World Tourism Organisation under the United Nations (UNWTO), remains a fairly new concept in Vietnam but is gradually gaining momentum. Do Cam Tho, deputy head of tourism department under the culture ministry, says in most developed countries, public infrastructure includes features to ensure ease of use for people with disabilities, such as lifts in train platforms, grab rails in bathrooms and auditory and visual signals to help deaf-blind people at pedestrian crossings. Accordingly, the tourism sector also needs to follow regulations to ensure accessibility for disabled persons. Tourist operators have large-sized busses designed to accommodate wheel chair users and tourist destinations are equipped with facilities to serve the disabled. However, in Vietnam, these features are sorely lacking. Accessibility for disabled persons is not taken into account in typical design or construction process. For example, most destinations still use staircases instead of sloping lanes or a separate lane for the disabled, buses do not have a lift system for less mobile persons and there is a lack of tour guides who have undergone training to assist the disabled. She also points out that the majority of disabled persons in Vietnam are in the low-income group and will only be able to afford cheap tours, which strip most accessibility features to cut costs. One recent initiative is building a website on accessible tourism for Vietnamese disabled persons. The For a bright future group under the Ha Noi Association of Disabled Persons is in charge of the project, with partial funding from Finlands Abilis foundation. Via the website https://dulichtiepcan.com/ and the Facebook page https://www.facebook.com/dulichtiepcan, people with disabilities can look up information and details of the tourist destinations so they can actively plan ahead. The website features information on 22 tourist destinations, eight hotels and seven restaurants in Hanoi and transport hubs such as Noi Bai international airport, Hanoi train station and a number of bus stations. The website also features several useful addresses where people with disabilities can ask for counselling before their trips. The group also gives feedback, which is welcomed by the operators of the listed sites in a bid to continue improving accessibility features to the disabled persons. The initiative is a humble beginning to what will be a long effort to make tourism truly an inclusive and accessible experience for all. Handicaps products Aside from making tourism accessible, Vietnam can also increase the role of people with disabilities in tourism by promoting their products to tourists. A good example of the promotion of crafts made by people with disabilities is the various stops along the popular Hanoi Ha Long route, where shops specialised in crafts and jewellery have been set up to catch the attention of the large volume of passengers passing by each day. However, aside from few centres that are capable of producing high-quality products with high artistic value, the majority of these businesses only produce souvenirs of little value that cannot compete with other products on the market, while the sale of handicrafts is largely dependent on the customers sense of charity. Social centres have started to recognise the shortcomings of the craft sales model and provided disabled persons with training courses on the making of more sophisticated and higher value products such as oil painting or jewel painting, and even products of foreign origin such as origami papercrafts, Matryoshka nesting dolls, clay flowers and others. Only a few of the main sales points for crafts by people with disabilities traditional markets, night markets and malls manage to capture the interests of tourists, which makes it necessary that the craft businesses co-operate with hotels and tourist operators to showcase the products to tourists or to introduce these products in various other destinations. Do Cam Tho, tourism official, says that tourism has evolved and Vietnam needs to keep up with the times. In the 1970s and 80s, beachside resorts were all the rage. In the 1990s and 2000s, the trend was cultural visits. Currently, tourists are seeking immersive experiences in which they can directly participate in local lives and activities therefore, this type of tourism must be promoted. The craft businesses of people with disabilities and local tourism authorities need to take market research seriously to identify whats favoured by tourists to plan their production. The businesses are also advised to pay more attention to the design aspects of the products, including packaging, Tho says, adding that those businesses that open their workshop to tourists must also ensure a clean and comfortable environment for tourists to sightsee and talk with the disabled craftsmen. Nguyen Van Hoi, head of the department for social protection under the labour ministry, says that every year, Vietnam receives around 10 million tourists from overseas and 70 million domestic tourists. If everyone feels willing to shell out just a few dollars to buy craft products made by people with disabilities, the revenues could reach up to a dozen of million dollars, he says. Tourists buying products and visiting the workshop of disabled persons can be a viable and practical form of tourism to help ensure their stable livelihoods. Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung, left, gives an interview to the Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of an investment promotion conference in the RoK on Wednesday. - Photo VNA This is due to their financial strength, management experience and high technology. Finance Minister Dinh Tien Dung said this in an interview to Vietnam News Agency on the sidelines of an investment promotion conference in South Korea on April 18. He said the Vietnamese Government recognised the role of foreign investors, including those from South Korea. The Korean investors participation in the equitisation and divestment processes will help improve the quality of economic restructuring in Viet Nam. It is expected to promote the effectiveness of governance and use of capital at SOEs in the country, he added. According to him, the fields in which Viet Nam wanted to attract Korean investment should be the ones both sides were strong at and could contribute to the growth of the two economies, such as heavy industries, oil refining and petrochemistry, high technology, electronic and consumer product manufacturing and infrastructure and real estate development. Viet Nam highly values Korean investors advantages in capital, technology and governance. It hopes that aside from direct investment, they will also step up indirect investment to materialise the statement of the two countries leaders during a visit by South Korean President Moon Jae-in to Viet Nam in March. South Korea is currently the largest investor in Viet Nam, with US$59 billion of direct investment and over $3 billion of indirect investment. Samsung projects in Thai Nguyen and Bac Ninh provinces and HCM City, Kaengnam and Lotte buildings and the Starlake residential area in Ha Noi are examples of successful investment cooperation between the two countries. Fresh chicken is loaded for export to Japan in the Mekong Delta province of Long An. - VNA/VNS Photo Thanh Binh I think it is a very effective meeting when leaders of 13 Mekong Delta provinces and 120 Japanese enterprises come together, Umeda said at the conference titled Meeting with Japan in Mekong River Delta in Can Tho City yesterday. The conference was held as part of the activities to celebrate the 45th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two nations. It drew participation of many Japanese businesses, with a third making their first step to Viet Nam and looking for investment opportunities in the Mekong Delta Region. Japanese enterprises have paid more and more attention to Viet Nam, and now there are a number of Japanese enterprises in Viet Nam, more than in Thailand and the highest in Southeast Asia, with total investment of US$9.1 billion, Umeda said. Kanaka TetSuo, head of the Japan International Co-operation Agency in Viet Nam, said We know about the potential of and challenges facing the Mekong Delta. Im sure more co-operation memorandums will be signed after more discussions and Japan will increase support for human resource training, agricultural production, combating forest fires and reducing salinity. Viet Nam and Japan have been comprehensive strategic partners since 2014. Japan is now number one in providing official development assistance, number two in foreign direct investment, number three in tourism and number four in trading with Viet Nam, Deputy Minister of Foreign Affairs Bui Thanh Son said. The meeting is a very good chance to promote co-operation between the Mekong Delta and Japan. Vo Thanh Thong, chairman of the Can Tho City Peoples Committee, said: In recent years many foreign investors, including Japanese, have arrived in Can Tho and other Mekong Delta localities. Can Tho authorities have recognised the demand and we annually hold information, culture, investment exchange programmes, especially with Japan, to promote investment. Can Tho and other Mekong River Delta localities pledge to assist Japanese investors in doing business in the region, especially in infrastructure, transport, agriculture, healthcare, climate change, tourism and economy. Luu Quang Khanh, head of the Foreign Economic Relations Department, said Japanese assistance to Viet Nam accounted for 30 per cent of total foreign aid, focusing on energy, transport, agriculture and rural development, urban infrastructure, ports and heath care. Japanese-supported projects like Bach Mai and Cho Ray hospitals and Bai Chay, Thanh Tri, Nhat Tan, Can Tho bridges have proved their effectiveness in improving Viet Nams social and economic conditions, said Khanh. He said in the future Japanese support for Viet Nam would focus on improving economic competitiveness, promoting the private sector, using natural resources effectively, coping with the consequences of economic development and supporting administrative reform. Japanese investments are welcome in the Mekong Delta, Truong Tan Sang, Viet Nams former president, has said. The Vietnamese Government would strive to boost the development of the Mekong River Delta as well as limit the impacts of climate change on the land in the future, and develop co-operation with foreign investors, especially with an important partner like Japan, is highly encouraged, he said. There are 20 e-wallet service providers There are now about 20 e-wallet service providers in Vietnam, including well-known names such as Momo, Ngan Luong, VTC Pay and Payoo However, there is no official report from the State Bank about the number of Vietnamese e-wallet users. The agency said 3 million wallets had been issued in Vietnam by the end of September 2016. Service providers estimate that 10 million wallets are in use in Vietnam. Analysts say this is a modest figure compared with the great potential of the market. But they say the market will heat up soon as the two Chinese players have arrived. After the visit of Alibabas owner Jack Ma to Vietnam in late 2017, the Chinese group signed a strategic cooperation contract with Vietnams NAPAS to bring Alipay e-wallet to Vietnam. With cooperation among NAPAS, banks and Alipy, sellers in Vietnam will accept payment in Alipay wallet made by Chinese visitors for goods and services in Vietnam. After the visit of Alibabas owner Jack Ma to Vietnam in late 2017, the Chinese group signed a strategic cooperation contract with Vietnams NAPAS to bring Alipay e-wallet to Vietnam. Sources said that the service will be launched this year. WeChat Pay has announced a plan with Vietnams VIMO e-wallet which will accept payment of Chinese travelers. VIMO.vn will be the first payment intermediary allowing Chinese travelers to use WeChat Pay in Vietnam dong at shops accepting VIMO in Vietnam. The cooperation does not include WeChat Pay's use of VIMO's banking connections to process payment transactions between Vietnamese consumers and businesses. Thirty percent of total foreign visitors in Vietnam in 2017 were Chinese. Current laws do not allow foreign e-wallets to operate in Vietnam independently. They can only be resent in the market through cooperation with Vietnamese companies. An analyst said that Alipay doesnt compete directly with Vietnamese e-wallets, but it could be a potential threat. He went on to say that in the future the licensing policy may change and Vietnam will open its doors widely to foreign e-wallets that will provide services to Vietnamese customers as well. Banking experts said there are favorable for mobile payments to develop: the retail market and e-commerce are thriving, while bank cards and smartphones are more popular. According to the State Bank of Vietnam, the number of cash payment transactions decreased from 14.02 percent in 2010 to 11.45 percent in August 2017. The presence of fintech firms has also helped the mobile payment market. More than 30 fintech firms were established in Vietnam as of 2016, two-thirds of which provide mobile payment services. The lack of water kills a large number of cattle. Photo tuoitre.vn The information was released on Wednesday at a meeting between the local authorities and the Water Resource Directorate. Tran Van Tuan, chief of office under Ninh Thuan Steering Committee for Disaster Prevention and Rescue, said that because of the drought, 7,500 people do not have access to clean water for daily use, mostly in the districts of Ninh Hai, Ninh Son and Bac Ai. Moreover, the areas severely affected by the drought are Thuan Nam District and some communes in the districts of Ninh Phuoc, Ninh Hai, Ninh Son, Thuan Bac and Bac Ai. From February to April 10, the number of cattle who died was 785, including 578 sheep, 105 goats and two cows. Phan Quang Thuu, deputy director of the provincial Department of Agriculture and Rural Development, said that until April 17, the total volume of 21 reservoirs was 120.56 million cu.m, accounting for nearly 62 per cent of the designed capacity. As 11 small reservoirs and some other seasonal dams have completely dried out, district authorities have asked people to stop planting summer-autumn crops and to save water for daily activities and for livestock. It is estimated that an area of 6,000ha will not be planted this year, Thuu told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper. Therefore, the department asked the government to support Ninh Thuan during the drought by supplying six 10cu.m water tank trucks for people suffering from water shortage and investing in pumping systems in the dried out reservoirs of Ong Kinh in Ninh Hai district and Phuoc Nhon in Bac Ai district. The construction of Tan My Dam will also be acclerated to connect water reservoirs. Nguyen Van Tinh, head of the directorate, recommended that Ninh Thuan province update and compare data of drought and water resources in the first three months of 2018 with the severe drought in 2015-16 to supply water to people and distribute water from reservoirs to localities engaged in agricultural activities. Viet Nams cement industry saw strong growth in cement exports in the first quarter of this year. - Photo baoxaydung.com.vn Nguyen Quang Cung, vice chairman of the Viet Nam Building Material Association, made the announcement at a press conference on Vietbuild, held in Da Nang on April 17. According to Cung, cement production in Viet Nam in the first quarter of 2018 increased by 18 per cent year-on-year, marking the first time it had reached high growth against an annual surge of some 10 per cent. Meanwhile, the industrys cement exports in the first quarter of 2018 rose 68 per cent over the same period last year. The strong growth was due to the policy change of the Chinese government towards cement production, Cung said. China must close a series of cement plants from November 15, 2017, to March 15, 2018, because of environmental pollution and a shortage of electricity during the winter. The environmental pollution is very serious in the area reserved for developing cement plants, near Beijing. In winter, Beijing saw massive amounts of cement dust rise from these plants due to strong winds. In addition, China is facing a shortage of electricity during the winter when the nation needs more electricity for heating. Meanwhile, cement production is one of the industries consuming a large volume of energy, he said. These circumstances turned China, the global clinker exporter in 2016, into an importer of cement at the end of 2017. It has mainly imported clinker from Viet Nam, at a volume of 1.5 million tonnes per month. Therefore, Viet Nams clinker exports skyrocketed in 2017. The association expected to export 15 million tonnes of clinker in 2017, but in fact, Viet Nam exported up to 21 million tonnes last year. China is likely to extend the closure of its cement plants, not only in Beijing but also in many other cities. This means Chinas cement and clinker production will drop further, Cung said. This situation will affect the development of the cement industry in Viet Nam, he said. However, the construction materials industry in Viet Nam has to review its production to avoid facing a similar situation as China. A helpful starting point to identify where tax obligations fall after a transfer With the increasing number of mergers and acquisitions (M&A), transfer of contributed capital and securities is becoming more common and is widely used by both domestic and foreign investors. Complying with the regulations and having a tax efficient approach is one of the key concerns of most shareholders who would like to invest or divest from a Vietnamese company. In general, share transfer in Vietnam includes the sale of capital contributed in a limited liability company (LLC) and securities of a joint stock company (JSC), and in certain circumstances, the taxes imposed on each transaction are different. Tax liability of the sellers Corporate sellers/transferors For local corporate sellers, any gain derived from the transfer of capital/securities in another Vietnamese entity is regarded as other income and is accordingly subject to corporate income tax (CIT) at the current standard rate of 20 per cent. The tax treatment on capital gains earned by a foreign seller is different depending on the corporate form of the target. In particular, the transfer of contributed capital in a Vietnamese LLC is subject to CIT at 20 per cent on the gain, whereas the transfer of securities (bonds or shares of JSCs) is subject to CIT on a deemed basis at 0.1 per cent of the sale price. Individual sellers/transferors The current personal income tax (PIT) regulation has different tax implications on capital gains based on the tax residency status of individual investors as well as the corporate form of the target. Accordingly, a Vietnamese or a foreign seller who is considered a tax resident in Vietnam will be liable to 20 per cent PIT on the gains from transferring contributed capital in a LLC or to a flat deemed PIT rate of 0.1 per cent on the sales proceeds from the transfer of securities. However, an individual investor who is a non-tax resident in Vietnam and earns income from the transfer of capital/securities in a Vietnamese LLC/JSC is subject to PIT at a rate of 0.1 per cent on the sales proceeds. Tax determination The aforesaid taxable gains are determined as the excess of the transfer price minus the purchase price of transferred capital/securities, minus the deductible transfer expenses. The transfer price of an LLC or a public non-listed company is the total actual value earned by the sellers under the Capital Transfer Agreement (CTA). In the event the transfer price is not stated in the CTA or when the tax authority has grounds to determine that the transfer price does not equal the market price, they may re-evaluate the transfer price based on the arms length principle for tax purposes. The value of the transferred capital includes the value of capital contributed for the enterprise establishment, the capital from additional contributions, the capital contribution sourced from an acquisition transaction, and the capital contribution sourced from retained earnings used for capital increments at the time of capital transfer. Deductible transfer costs are the reasonable expenses actually incurred and directly related to the capital transfer, and supported by legitimate invoices/documents, e.g. expenses to carry out the legal procedures, negotiate and sign off the CTA, etc. Tax liability of the buyers At the time of receiving transferred capital/securities, no tax is imposed on the buyer or the transferees. However, upon making an investment decision, foreign buyers often start to think of their future exit strategy. Upon their future disposal of shares, from a tax perspective, foreign buyers will wish to achieve tax efficiency. Thus, they may consider investing through an offshore holding company established in a jurisdiction where tax treaty protection may be applicable and where there is possible tax exemption, as then the future disposal occurs outside of Vietnam. Another viable option is investing through an intermediary, e.g. a securities company or fund manager in case the tax payable amount calculated at 20 per cent CIT on net capital gain is higher than the tax payable amount calculated at the deemed rate of 0.1 per cent of the total selling price. Tax treaty protection Foreign investors earning gains from share sales can seek tax protection under Avoidance of Double Taxation Agreements (DTA) that Vietnam signed with approximately 75 countries. Tax treaty claims are not automatically granted to beneficiaries unless conditions for tax exemption/reduction are satisfied. An application dossier is required and is subject to the final approval/assessment from the tax authority. Obligation of tax declaration Generally, the party who takes responsibility for tax declaration and payment will depend on the nature of transactions. In particular: In case the vendor is a Vietnamese company, the vendor is required to declare tax in its year-end CIT Finalisation return; In case the vendor is an offshore company and the buyer is a local company, the buyer is responsible for withholding tax before making payment to the foreign vendor and for declaring tax on each transaction; In case both the seller and buyer are offshore entities, the responsibility of withholding and declaring tax belongs to the Vietnamese target company; In case a domestic company/individual receives contributed capital from a non-tax resident, such company/individual have the obligation to withhold tax before making payment as well as to pay tax and file tax returns on a monthly/quarterly basis; Otherwise, a tax resident vendor is required to declare tax directly to the tax authority under his/her tax code on each share transfer transaction. Of note, individuals are not allowed to directly declare tax in case of transferring securities of listed companies or (in some specific cases) of unlisted companies. Conclusion With this article, Grant Thornton Vietnam hopes to provide a general basis to understand the imposition of tax on the transfer of contributed capital/securities in Vietnamese entities, to help investors comply with Vietnamese tax regulations. More importantly, the investors can consider and decide on the most tax efficient option for their sale/purchase of shares. This article is of a general nature only and readers should obtain advice specific to their circumstances from professional advisors. Should you need to use information from this article or support from Grant Thornton Vietnam, please contact our professional consultants. To view more information, please visit our website www.grantthornton.com.vn TBS Logistics Center leads local logistics TBS Logistics Center is slated to run a key logistics centre for Vietnam and the entire region, which is being planned to cover 115 hectares. The centre is situated in heart of Vietnams most dynamic economic region, bordering the southern provinces of Binh Duong, and Dong Nai, and Ho Chi Minh City. By virtue of its strategic location, TBS Logistics Center is connected to major industrial parks, ports, and international airports in the southern economic region. It provides deepwater access through the Cai Mep-Thi Vai port complex as well as waterway and road connectivity, which is expected to offset transportation costs and help smooth trade flow. With its five modern warehouses and its logistics centre, TBS Logistics Center will be a fixture in logistics in the key southern economic region TBS Logistics Center owns five modern warehouses with 133,500 square metres (sq.m) of warehouse space and 60,000sq.m of container yards. All of its warehouses are equipped with cutting-edge technology and equipment to maximise sorting capabilities for importing and exporting goods. With large-scale infrastructure, the logistics centre is designed to accommodate hundreds of trucks of all sizes with the capacity of transporting up to 500,000 cubic metres (m3) of cargo a month. It has capacity for storing up to 250,000m3 of cargo ranging from bonded to domestic warehousing and general goods storage. TBS Logistics Center offers a wide range of services including an internal clearance point, a container freight station, bonded warehousing, an empty container depot, and a container yard. In addition, the centre has three customs offices, which helps ease customs procedures for its clients. TBS Logistics Centers strategic location makes the firm easy to connect with localities The ability to deliver diversified and flexible services at a competitive price is a major selling point of TBS Logistics Center. As a result, the centre has become partners with worldwide logistics corporations such as APL Logistics, Damco, DHL, Yusen, Expeditors, and Geodis. With the desire to increase value to customers, the company continues its efforts to improve its capacities and functions for the logistics sector. TBS Logistics Center focuses on its core values in every activity, namely professionalism, flexibility, and the application of cutting-edge technology and customer service. As a result, the logistics company has reported compound annual growth rates (CAGR) of 15-20 per cent over the past few years. The high growth is attributed to its large-scale warehousing and storage facilities and better services. All warehouses are equipped with cutting-edge technology According to market research company Ken Research, Vietnams logistics and warehousing market is expected to register a positive CAGR of 13.3 per cent during the period 2018-2022. The market is further expected to be driven by expanding industrial activities, the growing e-commerce industry, newly-developed infrastructure in the country, and continuous investment by the government in the development of logistics infrastructure and consistent economic growth. Meanwhile, according to a report by Vietnams Maritime Administration, Vietnamese seaports received 519 million tonnes of cargo in 2017, up 6 per cent compared to 2016. The seaports were handling 165.7 million tonnes of container cargo alone, up 12 per cent against 2016. This is the third consecutive year that Vietnam recorded high growth in the amount of cargo shipped via seaports, creating additional demand for logistics providers. Recognising the increasing demand for such services, TBS Logistics Center has started investments to build new facilities. It is developing its sixth warehouse, covering roughly 51,000sq.m. The project has completed 60 per cent of the construction work and is slated to become operational in the second half of the year. The opening of the new warehouse will bring its total warehouse space to 180,000sq.m. Furthermore, TBS Logistics Center will continue to diversify its logistics services to keep abreast of market trends in Vietnam and the region. In particular, it plans to develop warehouse to suit the demands of the fast-growing e-commerce market. In fact, TBS Logistics Center is constantly investing to improve and adapt its logistics solutions to serve new customers. The company also applies a customer-centric strategy to ensure service quality and keep close relationships with its current customers. To make its services more competitive, the company has recently invested in an infrastructure project to improve traffic connectivity from its centre to the My Phuoc-Tan Van expressway. The project will facilitate traffic flow for goods coming in and out of the logistics centre. It is also expected to cut travel time from TBS Logistics Center to nearby industrial parks (IP) including Song Than IP, Vietnam-Singapore IP, Viet Huong IP, Tan Uyen IP, Amata IP, and many more. TBS Logistics Center has also invested in modern infrastructure and equipment, including a smart information technology system, a modern commodity security system, and a green space in compliance with requirements on customer logistics services. With the desire to become a key logistics centre in Vietnam and a strategic logistics partners for both local and international customers, TBS Logistics Center hopes to contribute to the logistics systems of the key southern economic zone, which accounts for 80 per cent of import-export containers shipped nationwide. TBS Logistics Center has delivered a wide range of tailor-made logistics services to satisfy all logistics needs for clients who wish to capture growing and emerging domestic and global markets for their goods and services. Moreover, human resources play an important role in the firms growth and success. TBS Logistics Center has built a pool of qualified staff members experienced and knowledgeable in the field of logistics, to maintain quality services. TBS Logistics Center was established in 2009 as a subsidiary of TBS Group. The group began operating in 1992 as a leather footwear company, but nowadays invests in six key business segments, namely footwear, handbags, investment and asset management, logistics, hospitality, and retail. Each business segment plays an important role in the groups growth and development. Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe stands with US President Donald Trump at the end of a joint press conference at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida on Apr 18, 2018. (Photo: MANDEL NGAN/AFP) Trump made the comments amid a flurry of diplomatic activity that has fuelled hopes of a major breakthrough in the standoff with Pyongyang. "We hope to see the day when the whole Korean peninsula can live together in safety, prosperity and peace," the US president told a joint press conference with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. "As I've said before, there is a bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearization in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way," Trump said. "It will be a great day for them and a great day for the world," added Trump, who is planning to meet North Korea's leader Kim Jong Un in the next two months. Earlier Wednesday, the US leader confirmed a clandestine meeting had already taken place between his CIA chief and the North's reclusive leader. News of the talks between Kim and Mike Pompeo, Trump's pick to be the next secretary of state, comes with hopes riding high on a pair of upcoming and potentially historic summits. Kim is expected to meet South Korea's President Moon Jae-in next week for landmark talks at which discussion of a formal peace declaration is now on the cards. Trump's talks with Kim would then follow. Trump earlier said that the inter-Korean summit could, with his "blessing," explore a peace treaty to formally end the conflict. But reaching any final treaty would be fraught with complications: while the US-led United Nations command, China and North Korea are signatories to the decades-old armistice, South Korea is not. "This is the destiny of the Korean people who deserve and have gone through so much over the years," the president said, as he reiterated his hope for a lasting peace agreement. "We hope it all works out. We'll be trying very hard." Trump and Kim have not yet spoken directly, the White House said, but the president revealed Tuesday that there had been contact at "very high levels" to prepare for the historic meeting -- an apparent reference to Pompeo's visit. US officials say that no decision has yet been made on a meeting venue, but China, North Korea, South Korea, and Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone are seen as possible locations. Laurent Levan, president and general director of URC Vietnam Universal Robina Corp. reported weak sales in 2016 and 2017 partly due to bad performance on the Vietnamese market. What will you do to start down the road to recovery? We believe that growth is best fuelled by innovation and is achieved through the continuous enhancement of our operations and internal capabilities. Just like with our brands C2 and Dynamite Big Bang, we are focused on offering unique new products to respond to changing consumer habits and aspirations. As we know, URC has just launched the new look for C2. What message does URC want to send with this new look to customers? The C2 bottles currently available on the market remain the same. However, we have specially labelled bottles to announce that we are celebrating our 12th anniversary. On this special occasion, we want to thank our consumers by giving away many exciting prizes that they can win just by buying and enjoying their favourite C2 beverage. Vietnamese customers have become increasingly aware of health and wellness products. How has your company committed to the protection of the human health after URC Vietnam was involved in a series of scandals which put a dent in your reputation and sales? The health and safety of our consumers are of paramount importance to us, which is why we have always made quality a hallmark of our products. Our commitment to quality and safety can never be compromised and this is reflected in every aspect of our operations, from selecting materials and ingredients to actual production and distribution. We have many internal systems in place to check quality and safety, and we have gained international-standard certifications, such as the Quality Management System ISO 9001:2008 and FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification, which further underscore this commitment. Recently, Starbucks had to warn customers in California about a potentially carcinogenic chemical in coffee, following a ruling by a Los Angeles judge. This spread health concerns among customers worldwide, including Vietnam. Do you think these unexpected concerns will drive customers to soft drinks? We cannot speculate on the implications of developments in other markets. We do, however, see that consumers around the globe want more information about the products available on the market and are more interested in healthier options. We at URC Vietnam want to make sure that we provide our consumers with products that will continue to appeal to them even as consumption patterns and consumer preferences change. What opportunities and challenges do you see for soft drinks, particularly for ready-to-drink tea in the Vietnamese market? What competition do you foresee? We do recognise that the local beverage industry continues to be increasingly competitive, and we see that the biggest issue and opportunity is to be the one to offer the next big thing. Our ready to drink products continues to enjoy considerable market leadership despite intense competition versus other drinks. The key is to intimately understand our consumers needs and preferences. We have already established the quality and safety standards for our products and are now moving towards building a more robust consumer engagement programme. This will enable us to constantly reach out to our consumers and expand our understanding of the market through formal research and social media interaction. What are your short term goals for the next three years in Vietnam? We are keen on expanding our market coverage, especially in suburban and rural areas, to enhance our current standing as one of the leading ready-to-drink beverage manufacturers in Vietnam. We continue to pursue stronger partnerships with retailers to ensure the availability of our products in the market. Our main imperative is to continue delighting our consumers with innovative products of the highest standards of quality and safety. In the next three years, we have seen the company constantly improving our internal processesan important strategy for us to strengthen our local presence. We will continue to adhere to international standards for quality and safety, seeking recertification for our various plants. Specifically, we are aiming to acquire the FSSC 22000 Food Safety Certification for our VSIP 2 Coffee Plant this year, which we already have for our VSIP 1 Beverage & Food Plant 1/2 and Hanoi Beverage Plant. We also want to become a valued partner to our key stakeholdersfrom tea farmers through the communities where we operate to government and non-government agencieswith whom we want to closely cooperate to embark on high-impact corporate social responsibility and sustainability programmes. Funeral Announcements A daily list of current funeral annoucements as heard on KXRA 1490 AM/100.3 FM News Updates The daily news, sports, and events delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Sports Update This current sports headlines delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Upcoming Events This email is the events of the area delivered daily from Voice of Alexandria. Breaking News The big news. Sent only as it happens. Folsom, N.J., April 18, 2018 - South Jersey Industries, Inc. (NYSE: SJI) (the "Company") today announced the pricing of a registered public offering of 11,016,949 shares of its common stock at $29.50 per share (the "Common Stock"), for total gross proceeds of approximately $325 million. Of the 11,016,949 shares in the offering, 4,237,288 will be sold directly by the Company to the underwriters at closing, and 6,779,661 will be subject to the forward sale agreement described below. In addition, the Company announced the pricing of its registered public offering of 5.0 million equity units (the "Equity Units") (aggregate stated amount of $250 million Equity Units), for total gross proceeds of approximately $250 million. The offerings (which are not conditioned on one another) are expected to close on or about April 23, 2018, subject to customary closing conditions. The Company has granted the underwriters a 30-day option to purchase up to an additional 1,652,542 shares of its Common Stock, and an option to purchase, within a 13-day period beginning on, and including, the date on which the Equity Units are first issued, up to an additional 750,000 additional Equity Units, in each case, solely to cover over-allotments, upon the same terms as their respective offerings. In connection with the offering of shares of Common Stock, the Company entered into a forward sale agreement with an affiliate of BofA Merrill Lynch (such affiliate, the "Forward Purchaser"), under which the Company has agreed to sell to the Forward Purchaser the same number of shares of Common Stock as are sold by an affiliate of the Forward Purchaser to the underwriters for sale in the underwritten public offering (subject to certain adjustments and to the Company's right, in certain circumstances, to elect cash settlement or net share settlement of the forward sale agreement). Subject to certain conditions, an affiliate of the Forward Purchaser is expected to borrow, and sell to the underwriters, 6,779,661 shares of Common Stock at the close of the Common Stock offering in connection with the forward sale agreement. Settlement of the forward sale agreement will occur on one or more dates no later than approximately 12 months after the date of the prospectus supplement relating to the Common Stock offering. Upon any physical settlement of the forward sale agreement, the Company will issue and deliver to the Forward Purchaser shares of Common Stock in exchange for cash proceeds per share of Common Stock equal to the forward sale price, which will initially be the price of the Common Stock sold in the Common Stock offering, and will be subject to certain adjustments as provided in the forward sale agreement. The Company may, in certain circumstances, elect cash or net share settlement for all or a portion of its obligations under the forward sale agreement. Each Equity Unit will be issued in a stated amount of $50 and will initially consist of a contract to purchase shares of our Common Stock and a 1/20, or 5%, undivided beneficial ownership interest in $1,000 principal amount of the Company's 2018 Series A remarketable junior subordinated notes due 2031. Pursuant to the purchase contracts, holders are required to purchase Company Common Stock no later than April 15, 2021. Total annual distribution on the Equity Units will be at the rate of 7.25%, consisting of quarterly interest payments on the remarketable junior subordinated notes at a rate of 3.70% per year and quarterly contract adjustment payments on the purchase contracts at a rate of 3.55% per year. The reference price for the Equity Units is $29.50 per share. The minimum settlement rate under the purchase contracts is 1.4124 shares of Common Stock, which is approximately equal to the $50 stated amount per Equity Unit, divided by the threshold appreciation price of $35.40 per share, which represents a premium of 20% over the reference price. The maximum settlement rate under the purchase contracts is 1.6949 shares of Company common stock, which is approximately equal to the $50 stated amount per Equity Unit, divided by the reference price. Each of the settlement rates is subject to adjustment in certain circumstances. The Company intends to use the proceeds from these offerings, which are expected to be approximately $556.12 million in the aggregate or approximately $639.54 million in the aggregate if the options to purchase additional shares of Common Stock and Equity Units are exercised in full (after deducting underwriting discounts and commissions but before deducting estimated offering expenses), to partially fund the pending acquisitions of Elizabethtown Gas and Elkton Gas. The acquisitions are expected to close in mid-year 2018. The Company will not receive any proceeds from the sale of the Common Stock sold by an affiliate of the Forward Purchaser to the underwriters. The Company intends to use any net proceeds that it receives upon settlement of the forward sale agreement as described above. BofA Merrill Lynch, Guggenheim Securities and Wells Fargo Securities are acting as joint book-running managers for the Common Stock offering and the Equity Units offering and as the representatives of the underwriters for both offerings. TD Securities, J.P. Morgan, Morgan Stanley and PNC Capital Markets LLC are acting as co-managers for both offerings. Both offerings are being made pursuant to an effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, and each offering will be made only by means of a prospectus supplement for such offering and an accompanying prospectus. Copies of the preliminary prospectus supplements and the accompanying prospectus relating to the Common Stock and Equity Units offerings may be obtained from BofA Merrill Lynch at NC1-004-03-43, 200 North College Street, 3rd floor, Charlotte, NC 28255-0001, Attention: Prospectus Department or by emailing to dg.prospectus_requests@baml.com; Guggenheim Securities at 1-212-518-9658 or by emailing to GSEquityProspectusDelivery@guggenheimpartners.com; and Wells Fargo Securities at 375 Park Avenue, New York, NY 10152, Attention: Equity Syndicate Dept, by calling 1-800-326-5897 or by emailing to cmclientsupport@wellsfargo.com. This press release does not constitute an offer to sell or a solicitation of an offer to buy any securities in any state or jurisdiction in which it is unlawful to make an offer, solicitation or sale. About South Jersey Industries, Inc. South Jersey Industries (NYSE: SJI), an energy services holding company based in Folsom, NJ, delivers energy solutions to its customers through three primary subsidiaries. South Jersey Gas delivers safe, reliable, affordable natural gas and promotes energy efficiency to approximately 383,000 customers in southern New Jersey. SJI's non-utility businesses within South Jersey Energy Solutions promote efficiency, clean technology and renewable energy by providing customized wholesale commodity marketing and fuel management services; acquiring and marketing natural gas and electricity for retail customers; and developing, owning and operating on-site energy production facilities. SJI Midstream houses the Company's interest in the PennEast Pipeline Project. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release may qualify as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933 and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934. All statements other than statements of historical fact included in this news release, including statements regarding future results of operations or financial position, expected sources of incremental margin, strategy, financing needs, future capital expenditures and the outcome or effect of ongoing litigation, should be considered forward-looking statements made in good faith by South Jersey Industries (SJI or the Company) and are intended to qualify for the safe harbor from liability established by the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. When used in this news release, or any other of the Company's documents or oral presentations, words such as "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "expect," "forecast," "goal," "intend," "objective," "plan," "project," "seek," "strategy," "target," "will" and similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements are based on the beliefs and assumptions of management at the time that these statements were made and are inherently uncertain. Such forward-looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. These risks and uncertainties include, but are not limited to the risks set forth under "Risk Factors" in Part I, Item 1A of our 2017 Annual Report on Form 10-K, as amended by Form 10-K/A filed on March 1, 2018, and other reports that we file with the SEC from time to time. These cautionary statements should not be construed by you to be exhaustive and they are made only as of the date of this Report. While the Company believes these forward-looking statements to be reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will approximate actual experience or that the expectations derived from them will be realized. Further, SJI undertakes no obligation to update or revise any of its forward-looking statements whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. ### Mark Wilson/Getty Images(NEW YORK) -- Michael Cohen, President Donald Trumps longtime personal attorney, has withdrawn lawsuits against BuzzFeed and Fusion GPS over the publishing of a controversial dossier compiled by former MI6 agent Christopher Steele. Cohen filed the lawsuits earlier this year one in federal court against the private investigative firm and the other in state court against the popular media website. Late Wednesday night, Cohens attorney filed to dismiss both. "The decision to voluntarily discontinue these cases was a difficult one," Cohen's attorney, David Schwartz, said in a statement to ABC News on Thursday. Schwartz said Cohen still believes BuzzFeed and Fusion GPS defamed him but given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention, and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits. Both Fusion GPS and Buzzfeed welcomed the decision. We welcome, though are not surprised, that Michael Cohen opted to withdraw this meritless complaint rather than face a discovery process that would have forced him to defend his reputation and address the allegations of the Steele dossier under penalty of perjury, a spokesperson for Fusion GPS told ABC News, adding, With his decision, it appears that Mr. Cohen can now focus on his many other legal travails. BuzzFeed said the lawsuit had never been about the "merits" of publishing the dossier. The lawsuits against BuzzFeed over the Steele dossier have never been about the merits of our decision to publish it, a BuzzFeeds spokesperson wrote in a statement Thursday morning on Twitter. Todays news suggests that Donald Trumps personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time. Cohen claimed in both lawsuits that the so-called Steele dossiers unconfirmed allegations of collusion between members of the Trump campaign and Russian agents contained false and defamatory assertions that resulted in harm to his personal and professional reputation, current business interests, and the impairment of business opportunities. Steele gave his dossier to Fusion GPS and it was later published in its entirety by BuzzFeed. In his statement Thursday morning, the Buzzfeed spokesperson repeated the companys claim that the dossiers interest to the public is, and always has been, obvious. According to Cohens initial complaint, Fusion GPS, co-founded by former Wall Street Journal reporter Glenn Simpson, recklessly placed [the dossier] beyond their control and allowed it to fall into the hands of media devoted to breaking news on the hottest subject of the day: the Trump candidacy. One specific claim in the dossier that Cohen has vehemently denied is an anecdote about Cohen having traveled to Prague in 2016 to meet a Russian oligarch with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Last week, McClatchy reported that the special counsel Robert Mueller had evidence indicating that Cohen did, in fact, travel to Prague. ABC News has not independently verified McClatchys reporting. Cohen reacted to McClatchys report on Twitter, calling it a bad story and again insisting that hes never been to Prague. The sudden withdrawal of these suits comes amid ramped up legal pressure surrounding Cohen. Last week, Cohens home and office were raided by federal investigators seeking to obtain documents connected with certain work on behalf of Trump and in Cohen's own business dealings. Cohen is also under the scope of a lawsuit in California involving adult film actress Stormy Daniels. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, filed a lawsuit against Trump in March arguing that a hush agreement she signed is invalid because Trump never signed it. Cohen arranged the $130,000 payment to Daniels from his own funds in order to keep her from going public with the story of an alleged one-night stand with Donald Trump. Records of that arrangement were scooped up in last week's raids, according to people briefed on the case. Strategically, Cohens decision to drop these suits may reflect a growing concern that a civil lawsuit could expose him to discovery a process that would require him to share files and correspondence that he may not want BuzzFeed or anyone else to see. With it now clear that the FBI is looming, that may be even less appealing to Cohen and his lawyers. Dropping the suits may also alleviate the mounting financial cost of Cohens aforementioned legal exploits. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. Fornebu, Norway - April 19, 2018: REC Silicon ASA (REC Silicon) will release its Q1 2018 results on Thursday, April 26, 2018 at 07:00 a.m. Central European Time (CET). A presentation of the results will be held at 08:00 a.m. CET at Hyres Hus Konferansesenter, Stortingsgaten 20, Oslo, Norway. The presentation will be in English. A live webcast from the presentation can be accessed at www.recsilicon.com or with the following link: http://webtv.hegnar.no/presentation.php?webcastId=83474817 It will also be possible to listen to the presentation through a conference call. Please make sure to dial in 5-10 minutes prior to the scheduled start time on one of the following numbers: Norway (Toll Free): 800 51084 Norway (Local): +47 2100 2610 UK (Toll Free): 0800 358 6377 UK (Local): +44 (0)330 336 9105 USA (Toll Free): 800-263-0877 USA (Local): +1 323-794-2094 Other international: +44 (0)330 336 9105 Please provide confirmation code 1336136 and state your name, company and country of residence. For further information, please contact: Christopher Bowes, Investor Relations REC Silicon ASA Phone: +1 509 793 8127 Email: chris.bowes@recsilicon.com Nils O. Kjerstad IR Contact Europe Phone: +47 9135 6659 Email: nils.kjerstad@crux.no About REC Silicon REC Silicon is a leading producer of advanced silicon materials, delivering high-purity polysilicon and silicon gas to the solar and electronics industries worldwide. We combine over 30 years of experience and proprietary technology with the needs of our customers, and annual production capacity of more than 20,000 MT of polysilicon from our two US-based manufacturing plants. Listed on the Oslo Stock Exchange (ticker: REC), the company is headquartered in Fornebu, Norway. For more information, go to: www.recsilicon.com English French Press release Bone Therapeutics Notice of Full Year 2017 Results Results to be announced on Wednesday 25 April 2018 Gosselies, Belgium, 19 April 2018, 7am CEST - BONE THERAPEUTICS (Euronext Brussels and Paris: BOTHE), the bone cell therapy company addressing high unmet medical needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases, will announce its full year results for the year ended 31 December 2017 on Wednesday 25 April 2018 at 7am CEST. Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer, and Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer, will host a conference call and Q&A at 13:00 CEST / 12:00 BST. The call will be conducted in English and a replay will be available for 30 days via the Company's website. To access the conference call, please dial one of the appropriate numbers below quoting the conference ID: Belgium: +32 (0)81 70 00 61 France: +33 (0) 805 63 20 56 US: +1 (866) 966 9439 UK: +44 (0) 1452 555 566 Conference ID: 9566757 The presentation will be made available on the Investors section of the Bone Therapeutics website shortly before the call. To ensure a timely connection, it is recommended that users register at least 10 minutes prior to the scheduled start timing. About Bone Therapeutics Bone Therapeutics is a leading cell therapy company addressing high unmet needs in orthopaedics and bone diseases. Based in Gosselies, Belgium, the Company has a broad, diversified portfolio of bone cell therapy products in clinical development across a number of disease areas targeting markets with large unmet medical needs and limited innovation. Bone Therapeutics' technology is based on a unique, proprietary approach to bone regeneration, which turns undifferentiated stem cells into "osteoblastic", or bone-forming cells. These cells can be administered via a minimally invasive procedure, avoiding the need for invasive surgery. The Company's primary clinical focus is ALLOB, an allogeneic "off-the-shelf" cell therapy product derived from stem cells of healthy donors, which is in Phase II studies for the treatment of delayed-union fractures and spinal fusion. The Company also has an autologous bone cell therapy product, PREOB, obtained from patient's own bone marrow and currently in Phase III development for osteonecrosis of the hip. Bone Therapeutics' cell therapy products are manufactured to the highest GMP standards and are protected by a rich IP estate covering nine patent families. Further information is available at: www.bonetherapeutics.com. Contacts Bone Therapeutics SA Thomas Lienard, Chief Executive Officer Jean-Luc Vandebroek, Chief Financial Officer Tel: +32 (0) 71 12 10 00 investorrelations@bonetherapeutics.com For Belgium and International Media Enquiries: Consilium Strategic Communications Amber Fennell, Jessica Hodgson, Hendrik Thys and Lindsey Neville Tel: +44 (0) 20 3709 5701 bonetherapeutics@consilium-comms.com For French Media and Investor Enquiries: NewCap Investor Relations & Financial Communications Pierre Laurent, Louis-Victor Delouvrier and Nicolas Merigeau Tel: + 33 (0)1 44 71 94 94 bone@newcap.eu For US Media and Investor Enquiries Westwicke Partners John Woolford Tel: + 1 443 213 0506 john.woolford@westwicke.com Certain statements, beliefs and opinions in this press release are forward-looking, which reflect the Company or, as appropriate, the Company directors` current expectations and projections about future events. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve a number of risks, uncertainties and assumptions that could cause actual results or events to differ materially from those expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These risks, uncertainties and assumptions could adversely affect the outcome and financial effects of the plans and events described herein. A multitude of factors including, but not limited to, changes in demand, competition and technology, can cause actual events, performance or results to differ significantly from any anticipated development. Forward looking statements contained in this press release regarding past trends or activities should not be taken as a representation that such trends or activities will continue in the future. As a result, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation or undertaking to release any update or revisions to any forward-looking statements in this press release as a result of any change in expectations or any change in events, conditions, assumptions or circumstances on which these forward-looking statements are based. Neither the Company nor its advisers or representatives nor any of its subsidiary undertakings or any such person`s officers or employees guarantees that the assumptions underlying such forward-looking statements are free from errors nor does either accept any responsibility for the future accuracy of the forward-looking statements contained in this press release or the actual occurrence of the forecasted developments. You should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements, which speak only as of the date of this press release. English German Allschwil, Switzerland - 19 April 2018 Idorsia Ltd (SIX: IDIA) today announced its financial results for the first quarter of 2018. Jean-Paul Clozel, MD and Chief Executive Officer, commented: "We are advancing four compounds into Phase 3 clinical development - in parallel - which is a great achievement for a young company such as ours. Moving multiple assets into the final stage of development reduces our dependency on the results of any single program. We are well on our way to building a financially sustainable company with a highly innovative pipeline and I am very optimistic about Idorsia's future." Key figures US GAAP operating results in Q1 2018: loss of CHF 74 million Non-GAAP* operating results Q1 2018: loss of CHF 67 million US GAAP operating expenses Q1 2018: CHF 81 million Non-GAAP* operating expenses Q1 2018: CHF 73 million Guidance for 2018: Non-GAAP operating expenses of around CHF 390 million At the end of the first quarter, Idorsia's liquidity (including cash, cash equivalents, short- and long-term deposits) amounted to CHF 1,016 million. First quarter 2018 (in CHF millions, except EPS) US GAAP Non-GAAP Revenues 7 7 Operating expenses (81) (73) Operating income (loss) (74) (67) Net income (loss) (79) (69) Basic EPS (0.66) (0.58) Basic number of shares (weighted average) 119.1 119.1 Diluted EPS (0.66) (0.58) Diluted number of shares (weighted average) 119.1 119.1 *Idorsia measures, reports and issues guidance on non-GAAP operating performance. Idorsia believes that these non-GAAP financial measurements more accurately reflect the underlying business performance and therefore provide useful supplementary information to investors. These non-GAAP measures are reported in addition to, not as a substitute for, US GAAP financial performance. Financial results For the first quarter 2018, US GAAP operating loss amounted to CHF 74 million and non-GAAP operating loss amounted to CHF 67 million. US GAAP operating loss was based on revenues of CHF 7 million, non-GAAP R&D expenses of CHF 61 million, non-GAAP G&A expenses of CHF 12 million, depreciation and amortization of CHF 5 million, and share-based compensation of CHF 3 million. The US GAAP net loss amounted to CHF 79 million resulting in a net loss per share of CHF 0.66. Andre C. Muller, Chief Financial Officer of Idorsia, commented: "We are well on track to become operationally independent by ending a number of service agreements between Idorsia and Actelion. Furthermore, to become financially independent, it is essential for us to invest in our diversified pipeline now. Hence, unforeseen events and potential milestone expenses excluded, we continue to expect non-GAAP operating expenses for 2018 to be around 390 million Swiss francs." Liquidity and indebtedness March 31, Dec 31, (in CHF millions) 2018 2017 Liquidity Cash and cash equivalents 549 622 Short-term deposits 217 218 Long-term deposits 250 250 Total Liquidity 1,016 1,091 Indebtedness Convertible loan 367 365 Other financial debt - - Total indebtedness 367 365 Clinical Development Pipeline Idorsia has a diversified and balanced clinical development pipeline covering multiple therapeutic areas, including CNS, cardiovascular and immunological disorders, as well as orphan diseases. In the course of 2018, Idorsia aims to move four of its projects into Phase 3 clinical development. All projects are progressing according to plan, as presented on February 6, 2018 on the occasion of Idorsia's Annual Report. Compound Mechanism of Action Target Indication Status Aprocitentan* Dual endothelin receptor antagonist Resistant hypertension management Advancing to Phase 3 ACT-541468 Dual orexin receptor antagonist Insomnia Advancing to Phase 3 Clazosentan** Endothelin receptor antagonist Vasospasm associated with aneurysmal subarachnoid hemorrhage (aSAH) Advancing to Phase 3 Lucerastat Glucosylceramide synthase inhibitor Fabry disease Advancing to Phase 3 Cenerimod S1P 1 receptor modulator Systemic lupus erythematosus Phase 2 Vamorolone*** Dissociative steroid Duchenne muscular dystrophy Phase 2 ACT-246475 P2Y12 receptor antagonist Acute coronary syndrome (ACS) Phase 2 ACT-774312 CRTH2 receptor antagonist Asthma and allergy disorders Phase 1 ACT-519276 GBA2/GCS inhibitor Orphan CNS diseases Phase 1 ACT-539313 Selective orexin 1 receptor antagonist Anxiety Phase 1 ACT-709478 T-type calcium channel blocker Epilepsy Phase 1 * In collaboration with Janssen Biotech to jointly develop and solely commercialize aprocitentan worldwide ** In Japan, market registration trials are being conducted, with results expected in the second half of 2018 *** Idorsia has exclusive option to worldwide rights to ReveraGen's Vamorolone. Collaborative agreements Actelion Pharmaceuticals Ltd has informed Idorsia that - following completion of Phase 3 data analysis of cadazolid - it has decided to discontinue the development of the compound. Results Day Center Investor community: To make your job easier, we provide all relevant documentation via the Results Day Center on our corporate website: www.idorsia.com/results-day-center. Note to Shareholders The Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Shareholders to approve the Business Report of the year ending December 31, 2017 will be held on April 24, 2018. The invitation was published in the Swiss Official Gazette of Commerce (Schweizerisches Handelsamtsblatt) on April 3, 2018 and is available, together with the Company's Annual Report and Compensation Report, on www.idorsia.com/agm. In order to attend and vote at the Annual General Meeting of Shareholders, Shareholders must have been registered in the Company's shareholder register by April 13, 2018. Upcoming Financial Updates Annual General Meeting of Shareholders on April 24, 2018 Half-Year 2018 Financial Results reporting on July 24, 2018 9 Months 2018 Financial Results reporting on October 23, 2018 Notes to the editor About Idorsia Idorsia Ltd is reaching out for more - We have more ideas, we see more opportunities and we want to help more patients. In order to achieve this, we will develop Idorsia into Europe's leading biopharmaceutical company, with a strong scientific core. Headquartered in Switzerland - a biotech-hub of Europe - Idorsia is specialized in the discovery and development of small molecules, to transform the horizon of therapeutic options. Idorsia has a broad portfolio of innovative drugs in the pipeline, an experienced team, a fully-functional research center, and a strong balance sheet - the ideal constellation to bringing R&D efforts to business success. Idorsia was listed on the SIX Swiss Exchange (ticker symbol: IDIA) in June 2017 and has over 600 highly qualified specialists dedicated to realizing our ambitious targets. For further information please contact: Andrew C. Weiss Senior Vice President, Head of Investor Relations & Corporate Communications Idorsia Pharmaceuticals Ltd, Hegenheimermattweg 91, CH-4123 Allschwil +41 (0) 58 844 10 10 www.idorsia.com The above information contains certain "forward-looking statements", relating to the company's business, which can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as "estimates", "believes", "expects", "may", "are expected to", "will", "will continue", "should", "would be", "seeks", "pending" or "anticipates" or similar expressions, or by discussions of strategy, plans or intentions. Such statements include descriptions of the company's investment and research and development programs and anticipated expenditures in connection therewith, descriptions of new products expected to be introduced by the company and anticipated customer demand for such products and products in the company's existing portfolio. Such statements reflect the current views of the company with respect to future events and are subject to certain risks, uncertainties and assumptions. Many factors could cause the actual results, performance or achievements of the company to be materially different from any future results, performances or achievements that may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those described herein as anticipated, believed, estimated or expected. Were pleased to confirm that our earlier opulent-as-hell suspicions were very much correct. The first trailer for Crazy Rich Asians has finally come our way: Constance Wu plays economics professor Rachel Chu, a woman who has the pleasure of discovering that her boyfriend Nick Young is, in fact, essentially the Prince Harry of Asia, with his super cars and mansions and general handsome looks. The two embark on a trip to Singapore for a pals wedding, where Rachel meets the guys mother, chic would-be Monster-in-Law Michelle Yeoh. High jinks, pep talks from Awkwafina, and lots of gold ensue. Related What to Know About the Stacked Cast of Crazy Rich Asians Prince. Photo: BERTRAND GUAY/AFP/Getty Images Two years after his death, Princes memoir might finally be published. ICM Partners publishing agent Esther Newberg told Varietys Strictly Business podcast that the biography is set to be out by 2018s holiday season. The musician had made the publishing deal with Random House imprint Spiegel & Grau just a few weeks before he died in April 2016. According to Newberg, Prince was committed to the book project. She claims Prince completed 50 handwritten manuscript pages. Reproductions of his longhand notes might appear in the finished book. Before his death Prince was working closely with Paris Review writer Dan Piepenbring. In March of 2016 he told his audience at Avenue, My brother Dan is helping with it. Hes a good critic. Thats what I need. Not a yes man. He also told the Manhattan crowd that he had a title in mind, Its going to be called The Beautiful Ones. Photo: Gimlet My Amazon Echo sits on my bookcase dusty and unused, an unplugged piece of tubular plastic furniture that stands as a monument to my personal invocation of a technological Pascals Wager: I dont know for sure if the thing is listening to me, but my perceived upside of privacy still outweighs the promise of greater domestic convenience. Its almost certain that I will someday forsake my position, but for now, Im content with holding the door against the hordes of techno-capitalist surveillance. Sandra, a new seven-episode audio drama thats one of two spring releases from Gimlet Media out in full this week, gives shape and form to the kind of anxious imagination governing my stance on smart speakers. And while the questions Sandra evokes are plenty interesting, the plot it ends up delivering is much less so. The podcast revolves around Helen (played by Search Partys Alia Shawkat), a young woman from small town Oklahoma who is in the process of severing ties with her old life which most centrally involves lobbying for a divorce from her estranged husband, Donny (Girls Christopher Abbott, hamming it up) and working toward building a new one. Sporting shades of Dave Eggerss The Circle, we first encounter Helen as she begins a new job at Orbital Teledynamics, one of those sleek and all-powerful technology companies whose primary product is a smart-speaker-like device with an Amazon Alexalike virtual assistant, known in this universe as the titular Sandra (voiced mechanically by Kristen Wiig). But Sandra isnt quite the artificially intelligent virtual assistant it purports to be. In a Theranos-level sleight of hand, Sandra is actually powered by an army of real people like the newly hired Helen, who listens to an endless cascade of customer queries and manually deals with queries on the fly. Helen isnt particularly bothered by this: A job is a job, and even better, this job offers a pathway toward self-actualization shes never quite had. Egged on and ostensibly mentored by her borderline creepy manager (Ethan Hawke, bewilderingly effective as an older man in search of youth), Helens rise as a Sandra operator tracks alongside her eventual synthesis with the role. She turns out to be most effective not when she serves as a vessel for Sandra, but when Sandra functions as a vessel for herself. Its a genuinely intriguing premise for the podcast to explore, which also clusters together a ton of other potent notions about technology, surveillance, and the modern consumer world that skirt the delicate line between a veritably good question and tinfoil-hat territory. (Which, perhaps not unrelatedly, may well be the delicate line that defines just about everything else in the world today.) What if devices like Alexa were listening all the time, and everything you say is filed away somewhere in the cloud? What if Alexa was actually people? These questions suggested by the premise, in turn, are flipped around to reveal even deeper and more intimate inquiries: What if Alexa actually listened, and witnessed you as a real human being? What happens to our inner lives when we bring these devices into our most personal spaces? What do our searches express about who we are? These are all provocative inquiries into The Way We Live Now that could have been properly pursued if Sandra stuck with its initial gambit as a string of sketches, workplace drama vignettes, and character beats. Unfortunately, the podcast squanders its laborious world-building with an out-of-the-blue, late-game twist at the top of the sixth episode that reveals the true nature of its architecture. Though it starts out as a human drama in the age of technology, Sandra ultimately twists into a cartoonish thriller with a cardboard villain that feels like a distinct, unearned, and reductive departure from everything that came before it. What a waste! Making this all the more frustrating are the moments of real, sublime emotion that intermittently appear across the podcasts seven-episode arc. Sandra is at its strongest in the middle, when the script is mostly done with its expository responsibilities and hasnt yet revealed its identity-shifting endgame that is, when its free to play around with the world its built and the connection its established between its main character and premise. Theres a particular scene at the end of the third episode where Helen, grooving into her role as incorporeal technological assistant, chooses to inject wonder into the lives of a young child and an elderly woman. Its a heavy-handed but lovely instance where actual feeling takes shape from Sandras assembled ingredients, and an uncommon moment of insight into how the shape of dystopian concerns is often pretty close to the shape of utopian hopes. Sandra is Gimlet Medias second audio drama after two seasons of Homecoming, its star-studded experimental fiction podcast. I liked Homecoming well enough, though my affinity toward that production has a lot to do with its novelty Oscar Isaac and Catherine Keener performing in a podcast! What a world we live in! and its appetite for playing around with new vocabularies to communicate action, plot, and context through sound. But I didnt derive much pleasure or value from the actual story it was trying to tell, which felt more like a collection of heady plot ideas that never fully came together to convey something concrete or coherent. Homecoming did, however, turn out to be a boon for Gimlet Pictures, the podcast companys nascent film and television arm. The podcast is now being adapted into a TV project for Amazon that will feature Julia Roberts and be executive produced by Mr. Robots Sam Esmail, and the writing process will presumably involve more fleshing out of the podcasts ideas. The podcast is sort of like story concentrate, Gimlet Pictures chief Chris Giliberti recently told CNN in reference to Homecoming, adding that creating a TV adaptation is like adding water. Of course, the underlying implication is that the Homecoming podcast isnt actually a product meant to be consumed on its own terms, and that it is the starting point for something more complete. Perhaps the podcast on its own is too rough, too elemental, too much. Have you ever tried drinking orange juice concentrate? Yikes. Its hard not to have that framing in mind when listening to Sandra, where the concerns are familiar. Is this merely a splattering of disparate plot elements loosely strung together by well-known actors trying out this podcasting thing, with the possible upside of the whole enterprise being kicked up into more lucrative film or television projects? Is Sandra an incomplete experience? I wish it werent so. As much as I liked bits and pieces of the podcast, its hard to consider it as anything but jarringly unfinished. This first season ends on what is supposed to be a suspenseful cliffhanger, as Helen heads off to confront possible danger. But it really feels like the end of a long, confusing, overly revealing movie trailer: Sandra, coming soon to a theater near you. I think? The Americans Mr. and Mrs. Teacup Season 6 Episode 4 Editors Rating 5 stars * * * * * Previous Next Photo: Eric Liebowitz/FX/FX Networks. One of the lessons weve learned about the spy game from The Americans and one of the lessons that Elizabeth has imparted forcefully on Paige is that sometimes you come up empty. You risk your life to get information. You take a life to get information. You give your body to get information. And sometimes you get nothing out of it. Or worse, you destroy another persons life on a botched mission and lose some piece of your soul in the bargain. The dead ends and dead bodies keep on piling up for Elizabeth, like the debt thats accumulated on Philips bank loans. Theres always been some rationalization that all this red ink in the moral ledger would be balanced out by the justice achieved by the larger mission. But this is the final season of The Americans, which happens to coincide with the end of the Cold War. The bill is about to arrive. Elizabeth is currently on two important missions related to the upcoming arms summit. Lets check in on them, shall we? As part of the Dead Hand initiative laid out for her by a messenger for anti-Gorbachev hawks in Mexico, Elizabeth has been asked to track down a radiation sensor, which is presumably crucial in developing a device that will trigger a retaliation in the event of an American nuclear strike. (It only just occurs to me now that Dead Hand is essentially the doomsday machine referenced in Dr. Strangelove, which brought me to this New Yorker piece by Eric Schlosser, Almost Everything in Dr. Strangelove Was True.) So far, Elizabeth has tried and failed to coax the device out an Air Force general, whose supposed suicide is so absurd on its face that Philip openly questions it in front of Paige. In this episode, she shoots three or four security guards in an effort to steal the sensor herself, taking advantage of information she gleaned from another security guard, whom she then had to kill in a hotel room. She still doesnt have the sensor. Meanwhile, shes been working as a private nurse to get close to Glenn Haskard, a member of the nuclear negotiating team for the State Department. Eager to get information about a Russian official whos partnered with Glenn in the lead-up to the summit, Elizabeth catches a break when she convinces Glenns terminally ill wife Erica to attend a World Series party where the Russian will be in attendance. She steals Haskards jacket, has a bug sewn into the seam, returns the jacket, drags Erica to the party, and winds up covered in vomit, but she does get a minute of precious conversation between the two men on tape. It turns out the Russian just wanted to extend his sympathy to Glenn, nothing more. Elizabeth gets zilch out of the party, and from what we can gather, shes gotten nothing out of the entire operation. What she has gotten, however, are uncomfortable insights into what shes become. Elizabeths contempt for the frivolity of artistic pursuits has, in the face of Ericas startling candor, forced her to get introspective and even pick up a sketchbook herself first as an indulgence to her patient, and now as a more serious means of self-reflection. She claims to love a painting that Erica waves off as sentimental, but her eyes are drawn to portraits of faces smeared in darkness and distortion, like a blurring effect caused by psychic stress. These new paintings are no doubt a reflection of Ericas agony as she approaches death, but theres something primal about them that speaks to Elizabeth, even though the show isnt explicit about it. However, the show isnt ambiguous at all about the takeaway from Ericas monologue about how pointless it was to believe that her work would leave something of value behind. All those hours, she says. Honestly, I wish Id spent them with Glenn, just being with him, doing I dont know what. As students of history, we know that Elizabeths legacy wont be a meaningful one, that the role shes playing in the Cold War will be rendered obsolete, and that her achievements, such as they are, will amount to nothing. She cant see that clearly yet in poker terms, shes pot-committed to the mission but these last two seasons of The Americans have hit that point particularly hard. The double life that Philip and Elizabeth have been leading for 20 years has always existed an alternative life, where theyre ordinary middle-class suburbanites who have a nice house and good kids and get to work together all day. It says something that the title of this episode is Mr. and Mrs. Teacup, referring to two characters, Sofia and Gennadi, who dont even make an appearance. Sofia and Gennadi are, in Stans assessment, a near-total bust for the amount of effort hes put into working them. Philip and Elizabeth have unquestionably been more engaged, but the episodes title and theme implies that their efforts have yielded nothing of value, either. At least Sofia got some personal security out of the bargain. In the end, it might be Oleg who has something to show for his efforts. And the difference is that he consistently chooses his conscience over the dictates of the state. Thats what led him to start talking to Stan, which nearly got him killed back home, and thats whats leading him back to the States, where he feels he can do his part to promote an agreement between the two countries. One thing I learned here is [Americans] are not crazy, he tells Philip. We can make peace with them. With a wife and newborn back home, hes risking his life for his convictions. Thats a legacy. Hammers and Sickles There have been so many dramatic scenes and throw-downs between Philip and Elizabeth over the years that I appreciated the figuratively cold open that ends with the two of them standing across from each other in the kitchen, barely able to ask rote questions. He asks if she wants a beer. She shakes her head. Boom, opening credits. Its not uncommon for parents to feel more responsible for one child than another, but the Jennings appear to have come to a formal agreement over who gets which kid. Its like a custody battle in reverse, where the parents stay married but the kids are separated. We can only imagine the bargaining that took place, but the end result is that Philip doesnt have much influence over Paige and Elizabeth doesnt care much about how Philips financial problems might affect Henry. The schism in their marriage grew awfully deep in the three years we missed. Paiges eyes scanning to her new hookups badge is a bad, bad sign. She wants to please her mother so much that she wont listen to her explicit instructions. Sofia and Gennadi may be worthless as sources, but its starting to look like they may play a central role in bringing Stan closer to knowing his neighbors true identity. You can have subplots about the uselessness of certain characters, but those same characters cannot be useless to you. From the land of want to the land of plenty: Philip flashing back to a childhood scraping food from kitchen pots underlines the difference between the two countries. Last season was obsessed with Russias failures to feed its own people. This was a stark reminder. Photo: HBO Are you ready for another loop? The sci-fi obsession with a world of androids and six-shooters starts again on Sunday, when HBOs Westworld returns for season two. The first season was a smash hit of a puzzle box, a story that fans loved to dissect and analyze so much that the its creators (lightly) mocked that spoiler-driven passion by Rickrolling them. The new season promises action, mystery, and more riddles to obsess over but, of course, we have plenty of lingering questions that still need answering. Before you dive back into Westworld, heres a guide to the biggest mysteries from season one. Who is running things inside Westworld? At the end of season one, Dolores Abernathy (Evan Rachel Wood) staged a full-on revolution, killing the parks creator Robert Ford (Anthony Hopkins) and unleashing murderous hell on all of the humans attending a corporate gala. So, where do things stand now inside Westworld? Have the inmates completely taken over the asylum? Are guests still running through saloons and setting up camp on the outskirts of town as if nothing is wrong? Who, if anyone, in the management team is still alive? Or is Doloress revolution already complete? What is the goal of the revolution? Do Dolores & Co. just want to play with their human creators as theyve been played with their entire lives? Or could their android revolution extend to the real world outside of the park? Lets say they have taken over Westworld: What next? And now that we know Dolores is really the mysterious Wyatt host that everyone was after, will she stay in that role? Is Ford really dead? Robert Ford, the sadistic godlike figure who created this adult amusement park run amok, took a bullet in the brain in last seasons finale. For most shows, this wouldnt raise so many questions, but in Westworld, what you see isnt always real and death may not be the end of the story. Almost immediately, fans started speculating that the Ford who died may have been an android or perhaps he even uploaded his consciousness into another version of himself. According to EW, however, we will see a young version of Robert Ford in season two, but the Ford we know is honestly dead and gone. Hopkins was only signed to one year and wont return. Where the heck are Hughes and Stubbs? Shannon Woodwards programmer Elsie Hughes and Luke Hemsworths security chief Ashley Stubbs essentially disappeared at the end of season one. Hughes went off to investigate the weird happenings in Westworld, and it looked at one point like Bernard (Jeffrey Wright) may have killed her. But as mentioned above, death is more of a concept than a reality on Westworld: Hughes is returning for season two, which raises the question of what Bernards strangling memory was all about. As for Stubbs, he was taken prisoner by the Native American hosts who live on the outskirts of Westworld. It appears that these behind-the-scenes puppeteers will now be the pawns of their own creation. What happened to Logan? In one of the flashback timelines, we saw William (Jimmi Simpson) abandon his future brother-in-law Logan (Ben Barnes), sending him off naked to the edge of Westworld. What happened next? Did nobody ask where he was? Theres surely an untold chapter or two to Logans story, and the character is rumored to return in some capacity for season two. William is unlikely to be as major of a character this time around, but Simpson has confirmed that he will return, which means Barness Logan could easily pop up in new flashbacks. Perhaps well learn more about how William became the Man in Black? Or at least how Logan got his clothes back. What is Charlotte Hale up to? And where is Peter Abernathy? Tessa Thompsons mysterious corporate queen from Delos survived the massacre at the end of season one, but did she get the data she needed out of the park? Charlotte apparently hid the information in the Peter Abernathy host, who previously was programmed to play the role of Doloress father, and Peter (Louis Herthum) will apparently play a major role in season two. Will he a product or a character? Well, in Westworld, people can be both. Will we ever see the outside world? We saw nothing outside of the park in the first season, prompting fans to theorize about what the real world of this vision of the future might be like. There are shots in the previews for season two of futuristic skylines, but these could easily be dreams or visions or even simulations within the park. You never know if what youre seeing is real on Westworld. Sooner or later, the show is sure to expand beyond the park boundaries, but well just have to wait and see. Will we see the other parks? Last seasons finale hinted at a samurai world, which has since officially been branded Shogun World. When will we get to see it? And what about other parks? As a tease for season two, HBO unveiled a website for the fictional Delos Corporation that revealed not just the existence of Westworld and Shogun World, but four other parks! They dont have names yet. Instead, the site merely features an experience page for the six parks that says Reservations Closed to the Public, and Authorized Personnel Only if you try to click on them. Does this mean theyre closed during the timeline of the show? Maybe they wont be for much longer. And will Doloress revolution extend to these parks? What does Maeve want? Perhaps the most interesting character in the first season, Maeve (Thandie Newton) played a crucial behind-the-scenes role in the host revolution a role seemingly written by Ford himself though her key moment was choosing to return to Westworld to find her daughter. Were led to believe that Maeve escaping Westworld was actually Fords predetermined plot, and when she gets off that train and marches back into the park, shes making her first true decision. So, what happens now? Will she join up with Dolores? Continue fighting? Re-assimilate? Or will the search for her daughter trump all else? What does Bernard remember? Bernard Lowe learned the truth about his existence at the end of season one that he is merely a replica of Westworld co-founder Arnold Weber, and that he now does Fords bidding, often as a hitman and basically chose the bliss of ignorance, going back into his android stupor. Fords final order to Bernard was to shoot himself, but Wright is all over the previews for season two, so hes definitely back. How much does he know? Depending on whats happening with the revolution, Bernard cant just be a kindly programmer again. What he does and doesnt remember will surely dictate how he responds to the crisis. Will the Man in Black find his most dangerous game? The end of season one revealed what we suspected: Ed Harriss evil Man in Black and the kindly William are one and the same. Basically the oldest and longest player of Westworld, William has been looking for the ultimate end game of Westworld. Will he find it in season two? And whose side will he be on? He may be one of the biggest shareholders of Delos, but hes also the one most likely to enjoy the android revolution within the park. Will season two keep asking more questions? If we compare Westworld to Lost, an obvious influence in a lot of ways, the second season will mark the point when viewers start to wonder if their major questions will ever be answered. Clearly, theres a lot of material to play with. But what if Westworld stops messing with its audience and embraces its action side with an all-out war between the humans and the hosts? Lets hope the show takes a moment to enjoy what its set up before unleashing a brand-new puzzle box. After all, were still having so much fun with the one weve got. Kristen Visbal, the artist who sculpted "Fearless Girl," has been quietly selling full-size reproductions of the beloved sculpture. Visbal told CNNMoney on Thursday that she's working on a line of 25 limited edition replicas of the statue. She declined to share how much they will cost, but she said the price is "substantial." She noted that the reproductions "are priced as iconic works." "I got so many inquiries on the full-size work," the artist said. She has sold three reproductions so far, including one that is already on display in Oslo, Norway. It's important to Visbal that the reproductions be placed in public places, on corporate campuses or in educational facilities so that the statue can continue spreading a message of gender equality. "I really just don't see selling it to someone who's going to put it in their backyard," she said. "They have to continue to spread the message about diversity." Otherwise, she said of the statue, "what good is she?" State Street Global Advisors, which commissioned the work to call attention to its efforts to add more women to corporate boards, holds the "Fearless Girl" trademark. The asset manager is not involved in the reproductions. Related: 'Fearless Girl' is moving to a new home Last month, Visbal announced that smaller versions of the bronze statue are available for purchase for $6,500 each. Twenty percent of proceeds will go to charity, she said. Visbal knows that the price tag puts even the smaller reproductions out of reach for many, and hopes to be able to offer more affordable versions of the "Fearless Girl" statue one day. Eventually, she'd like to make jewelry, t-shirts and dolls and write children's books featuring the "Fearless Girl" figure. The original statue has been standing opposite Wall Street's "Charging Bull" for over a year. The statue has become immensely popular in that time, drawing crowds of people who see the bronze girl who stands with hands on hips and chin held high as a symbol of empowerment. On Thursday, SSGA and the New York City mayor's office announced that the roughly four-foot-tall bronze statue will move to face the New York Stock Exchange by the end of the year. The city added that the "Charging Bull" may move as well, but didn't specify where or when. Visbal is happy that "Fearless Girl" is staying in New York City, and doesn't think that it needs to stand opposite the bull. "I've always felt strongly that she can stand on her own," Visbal said. "Her message goes far beyond the corporate environment," she added. Related: You can buy a reproduction of 'Fearless Girl' for $6,500 Arturo Di Modica, the sculptor of the "Charging Bull," has criticized "Fearless Girl." Di Modica said last year that the statue changes the message of his art, which is "a better America and a better world." Visbal disagrees. "We added a new meaning to 'Charging Bull,' but we didn't change 'Charging Bull,'" she said. "I've always been firm about that." "Fearless Girl" has also received criticism from people who see the statue as an attempt by SSGA to cover up a spotty record on pay equity. Last year, the company agreed to pay $5 million to settle allegations that it underpaid female and black employees. The firm denied wrongdoing. But Visbal doesn't see "Fearless Girl" as corporate art -- she sees the statue as a much-needed symbol. "She represents what any little girl could become," Visbal said. "The message may have begun as a statement about Wall Street," the artist added. But the statue "has taken on a life of her own." Democratic senators who have met with White House physician Ronny Jackson, the President's pick to lead the Department of Veterans Affairs, have made clear that privatization of veterans' medical care is a red line for them. If Jackson, a rear admiral in the Navy, supports privatization, they won't back his nomination. So far, they say, Jackson has signaled emphatically that he doesn't support it. As of yet, no Democrats have publicly thrown their support -- or opposition -- behind Jackson, saying they still have unanswered questions and want to see Jackson show his spine and rebuff the White House on one of the President's central campaign promises. Senate Veterans Committee top Democrat, Jon Tester of Montana, told reporters on Capitol Hill this week that Jackson said "all the right things" when it comes to privatization, but that he hadn't had a conversation with the President about his position. Tester said he told Jackson that he needs to do that "and then come back and tell me what the President says about you." Ohio Sen. Sherrod Brown, another Democrat who sits on the committee, told CNN this week that Jackson "assured" him in their roughly 20-minute meeting that he would oppose privatizing the agency, but that he wanted him to tell the President that, and speak out publicly against any effort to make that shift to veterans' health care. Jackson was convincing enough "for now," he said, but added he wanted to see Jackson stand up to the administration and conservative interests that would push for privatization. "And maybe he loses his job after fighting the administration for a period of months," Brown told CNN. "But I want to see him do that because I know hardly a veteran anywhere I've ever met who thinks that a privatized VA is better than the Veterans Administration that has served this country. I will fight like hell to make sure that stays." Washington Democratic Sen. Patty Murray, who also met with Jackson, said she still wanted to know more about how Jackson "will stand up to ideological opponents of VA," even though he spoke "strongly" against privatizing VA. The lengthy fight over privatization The fight over how to best care for the nation's 20 million veterans has been long simmering and contentious, and has pitted nearly every traditional veterans group against the conservative advocacy group Concerned Veterans of America, which is funded by the billionaire Koch Brothers. Jackson's predecessor at the department, David Shulkin, said that restructuring care for veterans in that manner would not work and favored a more moderate approach that involved investments in the VA health care system while offering veterans more, though not unlimited, access to private doctors. But then-candidate Trump made improving care for veterans a central campaign promise, and said he wanted to allow more access to private doctors. And as recently as last month, he said veterans should be able to "run to a private doctor" if they wanted, a statement that revived concerns that drastically expanding private care was the goal when Trump decided to oust Shulkin and replace him with Jackson. Asked whether the White House supported a drastic expansion of private care, White House spokesman Raj Shah told CNN that there have been "no discussions" about privatizing veterans' care. And acting VA Secretary Robert Wilkie, who has also been making the rounds on Capitol Hill in recent days, has also spoken out, saying he doesn't support privatization, but that he wants to see the sprawling VA system modernize to care better for veterans. Multiple sources -- on Capitol Hill and in leadership at major veterans groups -- tell CNN that they think this is a bit of a semantics game, and privatization means different things depending on who you ask. About one third of veterans' appointments are already made with doctors and offices outside of the VA's health system, including in cases in which wait times are too long, the department didn't offer the right mix of services or it's determined that veterans would be better cared for in the private sector. Democrats and veterans group have warned that shifting even more care (and money) for veterans outside of VA and into the private sector could weaken the department's services and lead to the health system's collapse. Traditional veterans groups have argued, almost uniformly, that they want to see Congress and the administration fix the holes in VA's health system, including aging infrastructure, long wait times and accessibility issues, rather than just pushing care for veterans out into the private sector. They see community care as part of the solution, but not the end-all, be-all. The VA has pushed back on the notion that shifting more care for veterans is equal to privatization. "The fact is that demand for veterans' health care is outpacing VA's ability to supply it wholly in-house," the VA said in a statement earlier in the month. "And with America facing a looming doctor shortage, VA has to be able to share health care resources with the private sector through an effective community care program. There is just no other option." Jackson told lawmakers that he has yet to tell Trump where he stands on privatization, despite telling multiple senators that he opposes it. When Shulkin was confirmed in February 2017, he openly stated that he wouldn't privatize the agency, calling VA a "unique national resource that is worth saving." "There will be far greater accountability, dramatically improved access, responsiveness and expanded care options, but the Department of Veterans Affairs will not be privatized under my watch," he said. A little more than a year later, he found himself out of a job. Privatization is not the only issue The questions about Jackson are not limited to his policy views. Lawmakers have also raised questions about whether or not he is qualified to lead the sprawling agency that is at a critical juncture. Sen. Mike Rounds of South Dakota, a Republican member of the Veterans Committee, told CNN that "anyone coming into VA would face the challenge with working with the sprawling agency's more than 360,000 staff, but that Jackson's challenge "will be greater than most coming into that." Kansas Sen. Jerry Moran, a committee Republican who is meeting with Jackson next week told reporters that there's no list of things Jackson needs to do to get his support, but that "ultimately, I need to reach the conclusion that I have confidence in this person to lead a huge organization that desperately needs strong leadership." "He doesn't have the experience that you traditionally would think would be required at the VA, but that doesn't preclude me from reaching the conclusion that he could be a good secretary," he added. "But I need to be assured that despite the experience, he has other qualifications, capabilities, characteristics, that make him the person that should be the secretary." Guntersville Lake HydroFest will be the biggest event in Marshall County this summer, with two classes of hydroplanes, racing at speeds of 200 mph, as they compete in the first points race to be held in Alabama since 1969. The entire hydroplane family is looking forward to Guntersville as our kick-off event in 2018, said Charlie Grooms, Vice Chairman of H1 Unlimited, the national governing body for hydroplane racing. The community has done an excellent job of getting things together for a fantastic racing weekend. The Marshall County Convention and Visitors Bureau is proud to announce the official name - The Race for the Southern Cup. The Race for the Southern Cup renews one of the areas most popular tourist events of all times. This historic event coincides with Alabamas preparations this year to celebrate the best of our history for the upcoming Bicentennial year in 2019. Many locals fondly remember past races and eagerly anticipate a thunderous return to the water this summer. Guntersville joins other cities, such as Detroits APBA Gold Cup and Tri-Cities HAPO Columbia Cup, in naming this celebrated event. The Guntersville Lake HydroFest features a new trophy soon to be coveted by all--The Southern Cup. The H1 Unlimited Hydroplanes will race for the Southern Cup at this extreme event on the South's fastest water, said Larue Kohl, 2018 Guntersville Lake HydroFest Chairman. English German Curetis Launches CE-IVD Marked Unyvero Urinary Tract Infection (UTI) Cartridge at ECCMID 2018 UTI panel covers 103 diagnostic targets 443-patient multi-center study demonstrates overall weighted average sensitivity of 95.6% at an overall weighted average specificity of 99.3%. Amsterdam, the Netherlands; San Diego, CA, USA; and Holzgerlingen, Germany; April 19, 2018, 01:00 EDT -- Curetis N.V. (the "Company" and, together with Curetis USA Inc. and Curetis GmbH, "Curetis"), a developer of next-level molecular diagnostic solutions, today announced the successful completion of clinical performance evaluation and CE-IVD marking of its novel Unyvero Application Cartridge, UTI, for the diagnosis of severe urinary tract infections. Unyvero UTI will be launched during the European Congress of Clinical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases (ECCMID) taking place in Madrid, Spain, from April 21 to 24, 2018. The Unyvero UTI Cartridge covers 103 diagnostic targets. The 88 pathogens that can be detected with Unyvero UTI include a broad range of Gram-positive, Gram-negative species as well as difficult to culture anaerobic bacteria and Candida auris, a multi-drug resistant pathogenic fungus that is of increasing concern, particularly in immunocompromised hospitalized patients. Unyvero UTI also detects 15 genetic markers of antibiotic resistances including the mcr-1 antibiotic resistance gene, which results in resistance to colistin, one of the few last-resort antibiotics for Gram-negative infections. Similar to other Unyvero Applications, Unyvero UTI allows the rapid detection of pathogens and genetic resistance markers in a broad range of routinely available patient sample types, such as midstream urine, catheter urine, suprapubic aspiration, and tissue. The prospective, multi-center clinical performance evaluation study for CE-IVD marking was conducted at Curetis and three clinical centers in France and Germany. The study, which analyzed a total of 443 patient samples, validated the excellent performance of Unyvero UTI: overall weighted average sensitivity for the pathogens specifically targeted by the test panel was 95.6% at an overall weighted average specificity of 99.3%. The Positive Predictive Value (PPV) was 95.8%, and the Negative Predictive Value (NPV) 99.2%. The novel Unyvero UTI Cartridge primarily targets urinary tract infections in patients with complicated and severe UTIs. This includes pregnant woman, pediatric patients, and hospitalized patients with anatomical, structural and functional alterations, renal impairments and impaired immune status, as well as catheter-associated urinary tract infections (CAUTI), patients failing to respond to therapy, and urosepsis. "The UTI Cartridge is a highly comprehensive tool for the diagnosis of urinary tract infections," said Prof. Cattoir, University Hospital of Rennes, France , one of the sites participating in the performance evaluation study. "We have been eagerly awaiting a diagnostic solution with such fast time-to-result and broad coverage, including numerous pathogens that are difficult to culture as well as pathogens that are of increasing clinical concern such as Candida auris, a multi-drug resistant pathogenic yeast that was only recently discovered in Japan. It is becoming increasingly prevalent in Europe and other regions, and requires special attention by physicians. Unyvero UTI's ability to detect the mcr-1 antibiotic resistance gene is also significant, given that it confers plasmid-mediated resistance to colistin, a last-resort antibiotic for treating Gram-negative infections." "This new product further enhances our portfolio of Unyvero cartridges for hospital-acquired infections," said Dr. Achim Plum, CBO of Curetis. "With the launch of Unyvero UTI, clinicians now have access to Unyvero cartridges that cover all primary infections which may lead to sepsis, still the number one cause of morbidity and mortality worldwide and the most significant cause of death in non-coronary intensive care units." ### About Urinary Tract Infections Urinary tract infections (UTIs) account for a large portion of hospital-acquired infections. The European point prevalence survey 2016 conducted by the European Center for Disease Prevention and Control (ECDC) revealed that healthcare-associated UTI accounted for 25.2% of all healthcare associated infections, followed by pneumonia/LRT (24.4%) and surgical site infections (15.4%). In urology clinics, nearly 10% of hospitalized patients develop UTIs, often due to multi-drug resistant uropathogens. Among hospital-acquired UTIs, about 75% are associated with a urinary catheter, which is received by between 15-25% of hospitalized patients. In the U.S., there are an estimated 1 to 1.5 million catheter-associated UTIs per year. Although most catheter-associated UTIs are not serious, complications can increase the patient's length of hospital stay, and results in higher morbidity and mortality and increased healthcare costs. The most serious complication of an UTI is increasingly urosepsis, which accounts for 9 to 31% of all cases of sepsis and has a mortality rate of 20-40%. About Curetis Curetis N.V.'s (Euronext: CURE) goal is to become a leading provider of innovative solutions for molecular microbiology diagnostics designed to address the global challenge of diagnosing severe infectious diseases and identifying antibiotic resistances in hospitalized patients. Curetis' Unyvero System is a versatile, fast and highly automated molecular diagnostic platform for easy-to-use, cartridge-based solutions for the comprehensive and rapid detection of pathogens and antimicrobial resistance markers in a range of severe infectious disease indications. Results are available within hours, a process that can take days or even weeks if performed with standard diagnostic procedures, and thereby facilitates improved patient outcomes, stringent antibiotic stewardship and health economic benefits. Unyvero in vitro diagnostic (IVD) products are marketed in Europe, the Middle East, Asia and the U.S. Curetis' wholly owned subsidiary Ares Genetics GmbH offers next-generation solutions for infectious disease diagnostics and therapeutics. The ARES Technology Platform combines the world's most comprehensive database on the genetics of antimicrobial resistances, ARESdb, with advanced bioinformatics and artificial intelligence. For further information, please visit www.curetis.com and www.ares-genetics.com. Legal Disclaimer This announcement contains inside information. This is a public announcement pursuant to article 17 paragraph 1 of the European Market Abuse Regulation (596/2014). This document constitutes neither an offer to buy nor to subscribe for securities and neither this document nor any part of it should form the basis of any investment decision in Curetis. The information contained in this press release has been carefully prepared. However, Curetis bears and assumes no liability of whatever kind for the correctness and completeness of the information provided herein. Curetis does not assume an obligation of whatever kind to update or correct information contained in this press release whether as a result of new information, future events or for other reasons. This press release includes statements that are, or may be deemed to be, "forward-looking statements." These forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology, including the terms "believes," "estimates," "anticipates," "expects," "intends," "may," "will," or "should" and include statements Curetis makes concerning the intended results of its strategy. By their nature, forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties and readers are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance. Curetis' actual results may differ materially from those predicted by the forward-looking statements. Curetis undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking statements, except as may be required by law. Curetis' Contact Details Curetis GmbH Max-Eyth-Str. 42 71088 Holzgerlingen, Germany Tel. +49 7031 49195-10 pr@curetis.com or ir@curetis.com www.curetis.com Curetis International Media & Investor Inquiries akampion Dr. Ludger Wess / Ines-Regina Buth Managing Partners info@akampion.com Tel. +49 40 88 16 59 64 Tel. +49 30 23 63 27 68 Curetis U.S. Media & Investor Inquiries The Ruth Group Lee Roth lroth@theruthgroup.com Tel. +1 646 536 7012 English German French Net sales grew 4% (cc[1], +10% USD) mainly driven by: Entresto grew to USD 200 million, +126% (cc) driven by increased uptake world wide Cosentyx was USD 580 million, +35% (cc) with strong growth in all indications and expanded access Oncology returned to growth (+6% cc) driven by Promacta/Revolade, Tafinlar + Mekinist, Jakavi and recent launches Core[1] operating income grew 4% (cc, +11% USD) as higher sales helped support growth and launch investments; Core EPS of USD 1.28, grew 6% (cc, +13% USD) Operating income grew 17% (cc, +27% USD), mainly due to lower net impairment charges; net income grew 12% (cc, +22% USD); free cash flow[1] grew 15% to USD 1.9 billion Alcon[2] continued to grow sales (+7% cc, +12% USD) and core operating income (+29% cc, +40% USD) as a result of improved operations, customer relationships and product launches 2018 Group and Division outlooks confirmed Innovation momentum continuing: Lutathera approved by FDA for treatment of gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors Glatopa 40mg approved by FDA and biosimilar infliximab received a positive CHMP opinion 2018 expected filings on track for potential blockbusters BAF312 and RTH258 Advancing Novartis strategy to become a more focused medicines company: OTC Joint Venture stake agreed to be sold to GSK for USD 13.0 billion to focus on strategic priorities[3] Agreement to acquire AveXis[4] positions Novartis for leadership in spinal muscular atrophy and gene therapy. Platform has broad applicability, including use with early Novartis pipeline assets Luxturna, a gene therapy to restore functional vision, ex-US rights licensed from Spark Therapeutics Three positions added to the ECN to support our strategic priorities: Chief Digital Officer, Chief Ethics, Risk and Compliance Officer and Global Head of Novartis Technical Operations Key figures[1] Q1 2018 Q1 2017 % change USD m USD m USD cc Net sales 12 694 11 539 10 4 Operating income 2 447 1 922 27 17 Net income 2 028 1 665 22 12 EPS (USD) 0.87 0.70 24 14 Free cash flow 1 915 1 665 15 Core Operating income 3 340 3 010 11 4 Net income 2 982 2 690 11 4 EPS (USD) 1.28 1.13 13 6 Basel, April 19, 2018 - Commenting on the results, Vas Narasimhan, CEO of Novartis, said: "We continued our transformation this quarter to become a more focused medicines company. We expect the proposed sale of the OTC JV stake, the acquisition of AAA and the proposed acquisition of AveXis to provide significant sales, return on capital, and innovative R&D platforms that will strengthen our pipeline. Operationally, we drove solid growth across all financial metrics, strong performance across our key growth brands, and continued Alcon's strong recovery." GROUP REVIEW First quarter financials Net sales were USD 12.7 billion (+10%, +4% cc) in the first quarter, as volume growth of 9 percentage points (cc), including growth from Cosentyx and Entresto, was partly offset by the negative impacts of pricing (-3 percentage points) and generic competition (-2 percentage points). Operating income was USD 2.4 billion (+27%, +17% cc) mainly driven by higher sales and lower net impairments partly offset by higher growth investments. Core adjustments amounted to USD 0.9 billion (2017: USD 1.1 billion). Net income was USD 2.0 billion (+22%, +12% cc), driven by the strong operating income partially offset by lower income from associated companies. EPS was USD 0.87 (+24%, +14% cc), driven by growth in net income and the lower number of shares outstanding. Core operating income was USD 3.3 billion (+11%, +4% cc) as higher sales more than offset growth investments and Gleevec/Glivec generic erosion. Core operating income margin in constant currencies decreased 0.1 percentage points; currency had a positive impact of 0.3 percentage points, resulting in a net increase of 0.2 percentage points to 26.3% of net sales. Core net income was USD 3.0 billion (+11%, +4% cc) driven by growth in core operating income. Core EPS was USD 1.28 (+13%, +6% cc), driven by growth in core net income and the lower number of shares outstanding. Free cash flow amounted to USD 1.9 billion (+15% USD) compared to USD 1.7 billion in the prior year, mainly driven by higher cash flows from operating activities, partly offset by higher investments in intangible assets. Innovative Medicines net sales were USD 8.4 billion (+12%, +6% cc) in the first quarter. Volume contributed 11 percentage points to sales growth, including Cosentyx and Entresto. Generic competition had a negative impact of 3 percentage points largely due to Gleevec/Glivec in the US and Europe and Ophthalmology. Pricing had a negative impact of 2 percentage points. Operating income was USD 2.1 billion (+27%, +18% cc), mainly driven by higher sales and lower net impairment charges, partly offset by growth investments mainly for Cosentyx and Kisqali as well as for China field force expansion, and Gleevec/Glivec generic erosion. Core adjustments were USD 0.5 billion (2017: USD 0.7 billion). Core operating income was USD 2.6 billion (+12%, +4% cc). Core operating income margin in constant currencies decreased by 0.3 percentage points; currency had a positive impact of 0.3 percentage points, resulting in a margin of 31.3% of net sales, in line with prior year. Sandoz net sales were USD 2.5 billion (+4%, -4% cc) in the first quarter as 6 percentage points of price erosion, mainly in the US, was partly offset by volume growth of 2 percentage points. US sales declined 18% mainly due to continued competitive pressure. Excluding the US, net sales grew by 5% (cc). Global Biopharmaceuticals grew 13% (cc) mainly driven by Rixathon (rituximab) and Erelzi (etanercept) sales in Europe. Operating income was USD 409 million (+19%, +8% cc) mainly driven by continued gross margin improvement and gains from the divestment of non-strategic assets partly offset by higher growth investments in ex-US markets. Core operating income was USD 499 million (+8%, +1% cc). Core operating income margin in constant currencies increased 1.0 percentage point; currency had a negative impact of 0.1 percentage points, resulting in a net increase of 0.9 percentage points to 19.8% of net sales. Alcon net sales were USD 1.8 billion (+12%, +7% cc) in the first quarter, with growth in all product categories. Stock-in-trade movements accounted for approximately 1% (cc) of growth. Surgical grew +8% (cc), mainly driven by implantables, which include intraocular lenses (IOLs) and CyPass Micro Stent, and continued consumables growth. Vision Care grew +5% (cc) driven by continued double-digit growth of Dailies Total1. Operating income was USD 90 million, compared to a loss of USD 2 million in the prior year, mainly driven by higher sales. Core operating income was USD 360 million (+40%, +29% cc). Core operating income margin in constant currencies increased by 3.4 percentage points; currency had a positive impact of 0.6 percentage points, resulting in a net increase of 4.0 percentage points to 20.2% of net sales. The first quarter results continue to demonstrate the benefit from the actions taken as part of the turnaround plan, including improved operations, customer relationships and product launches. The strategic review is progressing, with potential action not likely before the first half of 2019. Key growth drivers Underpinning our financial results in the first quarter is a continued focus on key growth drivers, including Cosentyx, Entresto, Promacta/Revolade, Tafinlar + Mekinist, Gilenya, Jakavi, Kisqali, Tasigna and Kymriah as well as Biopharmaceuticals and Emerging Growth Markets. Growth Drivers (Q1 performance) Cosentyx (USD 580 million, +35% cc) showed strong volume growth across all indications and most regions. In the US, Cosentyx showed strong prescription growth, while net sales in the first quarter were impacted by destocking at the specialty pharmacy level, and rebating for enhanced access to earlier lines of therapy. Entresto (USD 200 million, +126% cc) continued to deliver strong performance driven by increased adoption by physicians both in the US and rest of the world. Promacta/Revolade (USD 257 million, +41% cc) grew at a strong double-digit rate across all regions due to increased demand and continued uptake of the thrombopoietin class for chronic immune thrombocytopenia. Tafinlar + Mekinist (USD 267 million, +33% cc) continued strong double-digit growth across all regions due to increased demand. Gilenya (USD 821 million, +8% cc), with approximately 231,000 patients treated worldwide, grew driven by stock in trade movements in the US and demand in Europe. Jakavi (USD 234 million, +30% cc) showed continued double-digit growth across all regions driven by the myelofibrosis indication, and reimbursement of the second-line polycythemia vera indication in additional countries. Kisqali (USD 44 million) continues to progress with growth in the US and launches in the EU. Tasigna (USD 466 million, +8% cc) grew strongly in most regions. Kymriah (USD 12 million) commercial launch in the US continues to progress well. Biopharmaceuticals (USD 335 million, +13% cc) grew mainly driven by launches of Rixathon (rituximab) and Erelzi (etanercept) in the EU, partly offset by competition for Glatopa 20 mg. Emerging Growth Markets, which comprise all markets except the US, Canada, Western Europe, Japan, Australia and New Zealand, grew (+13% USD, +8% cc) mainly driven by China (+18% cc) and Brazil (+11% cc). Strengthen R&D Innovation Review Benefitting from our continued focus on innovation, Novartis has one of the industry's most competitive pipelines with more than 200 projects in clinical development. Key developments from the first quarter of 2018 include: New approvals and regulatory opinions (in Q1) Lutathera (lutetium Lu 177 dotatate) was approved by FDA for treatment of patients with somatostatin receptor positive gastroenteropancreatic neuroendocrine tumors. This treatment was part of the Advanced Accelerator Applications acquisition. Tasigna (nilotinib) was approved by FDA for the treatment of first- and second-line pediatric patients one year of age or older with Philadelphia chromosome-positive chronic myeloid leukemia in the chronic phase (Ph+ CML-CP). Signifor LAR (pasireotide) was approved in Japan for use in Cushing's disease. Cosentyx (secukinumab) US label was updated to include moderate-to-severe scalp psoriasis, one of the difficult-to-treat types of psoriasis. Sandoz Glatopa 40 mg/mL was approved by FDA. Glatopa 40 mg/mL is a three times-a-week treatment for relapsing forms of multiple sclerosis that is a fully substitutable, AP-rated, generic version of Teva's Copaxone (glatiramer acetate injection) 40 mg/mL. Building of inventory to support the launch started in the first quarter. Sandoz proposed biosimilar infliximab (Janssen and Merck's Remicade ) received a positive CHMP opinion. Sandoz Generic Advair Diskus received a complete response letter (CRL) from FDA. Results from ongoing trials and other highlights (in Q1) AveXis Inc. acquisition, if completed, would position Novartis to transform care in spinal muscular atrophy (SMA) and as a leader in gene therapy and Neuroscience. AVXS-101 has the potential to be a first-ever one-time gene replacement therapy for SMA. AveXis also offers a valuable gene therapy platform, and scalable manufacturing to accelerate potential future gene therapy programs and launches. The AveXis acquisition, announced in April, is subject to the successful completion of the tender offer and customary closing conditions. Luxturna (voretigene neparvovec-rzyl), an investigational one-time gene therapy to restore functional vision, was licensed from Spark Therapeutics. Novartis will develop and commercialize the treatment outside the US; Spark Therapeutics retains US rights. Kymriah ELIANA trial results were published in NEJM showing longer-term durable remissions in children and young adults with r/r ALL. An analysis of 75 patients with median follow-up of more than a year demonstrated an overall remission rate of 81%. Kymriah was detected in patients up to 20 months following administration, demonstrating long-term persistence. Cosentyx continues to build on its strong efficacy profile. The SCULPTURE study showed two thirds of patients reported no impact of skin disease on their quality of life over 5 years. The SCALP study data presented at AAD showed that a majority of patients with scalp psoriasis on Cosentyx achieved clear skin (PSSI 90) at Weeks 12 and 24 and improved quality of life. Entresto (sacubitril/valsartan) post-hoc analysis of PARADIGM-HF published in JAMA Cardiology shows heart failure patients treated with Entresto experienced significant improvements in physical and social activities, particularly in intimate/sexual relationships and household chores, compared to those taking enalapril. Benefits were seen within eight months and persisted during the three-year follow up period. BAF312 (siponimod) EXPAND publication in The Lancet showed typical SPMS patients taking siponimod had significant reductions in the risk of three- and six-month confirmed disability progression versus placebo and favorable outcomes in other relevant measures of MS disease activity. Novartis has initiated the submission of siponimod for US approval in SPMS and plans to launch in first half 2019. Filing for EU approval is planned to follow later in 2018. RTH258 (brolucizumab) Phase III data were presented at the 41st Annual Macula Society Meeting. These data showed that Q12 brolucizumab was non-inferior to Q8 aflibercept in a pre-specified secondary endpoint of change in best-corrected visual acuity from baseline, averaged over weeks 36 to 48. Additional brolucizumab data from the trials will be presented at the Association for Research in Vision and Ophthalmology (ARVO) 2018 Annual Meeting in the second quarter. Xolair (omalizumab) was recommended under new global urticaria guidelines, for patients unresponsive to antihistamine. Xolair is the only licensed treatment option for Chronic Spontaneous Urticaria, a subtype of this condition . Ultibro Breezhaler showed significant improvements in cardiac and lung function in COPD patients with lung hyperinflation, compared to placebo. The CLAIM study data was published in the Lancet Respiratory Medicine. Pear Therapeutics and Novartis entered into an agreement to collaborate on prescription software applications aimed to treat patients with schizophrenia and MS. Pear's prescription digital therapeutics are designed to deliver clinically-proven treatments, such as cognitive behavioral therapy, to patients through mobile and desktop applications. Science 37 and Novartis expanded an alliance to advance a virtual clinical trials program. The virtual trials model aims to make studies more accessible, opening up participation for remote or underserved communities while helping advance the development of innovative medicines. Capital structure and net debt Retaining a good balance between investment in the business, a strong capital structure and attractive shareholder returns remains a priority. In the first quarter of 2018, 14.6 million shares (USD 0.6 billion) were delivered as a result of options exercised and share deliveries related to participation plans of associates. In the same quarter, Novartis bought back 1.3 million shares (USD 0.1 billion) from employees. Consequently, the total number of shares outstanding increased by 13.3 million versus December 31, 2017. These treasury share transactions resulted in a net cash inflow of USD 0.3 billion. Novartis aims to offset the dilutive impact from equity based participation plans of associates over the remainder of the year. In the first quarter of 2018, Novartis issued a euro bond of USD 2.8 billion (notional amount EUR 2.25 billion) for general corporate purposes, including the acquisition of Advanced Accelerator Applications S.A. As of March 31, 2018, the net debt increased by USD 8.7 billion to USD 27.7 billion versus December 31, 2017. The increase was mainly driven by the USD 7.0 billion annual dividend payment and M&A related net payments of USD 3.5 billion, partly offset by USD 1.9 billion free cash flow in the first quarter of 2018. The long-term credit rating for the company continues to be double-A (Moody's Investors Service Aa3; S&P Global Ratings AA-; Fitch Ratings AA). 2018 Outlook Barring unforeseen events We confirm our outlook as presented at the beginning of 2018. Group net sales in 2018 are expected to grow low to mid single digit (cc). From a divisional perspective, we expect net sales performance (cc) in 2018 to be as follows: Innovative Medicines: grow mid single digit Sandoz: broadly in line to a slight decline Alcon: grow low to mid single digit Group core operating income in 2018 is expected to grow mid to high single digit (cc). If mid-April exchange rates prevail for the remainder of 2018, the currency impact for the year would be positive 4 percentage points on net sales and positive 4 percentage points on core operating income. The estimated impact of exchange rates on our results is provided monthly on our website. The OTC JV stake is classified as an asset held for sale as of March 31, 2018. As a result, in accordance with IFRS, no income from associated companies will be recorded from the OTC JV from April 1, 2018 up to the closure of the divestment. Upon closure of the OTC JV divestiture, which is expected in the second quarter of 2018, Novartis expects to record a substantial one-time net income gain. Summary Financial Performance Innovative Medicines Q1 2018 Q1 2017 restated [1] % change USD m USD m USD cc Net sales 8 398 7 518 12 6 Operating income 2 135 1 680 27 18 As a % of sales 25.4 22.3 Core operating income 2 631 2 355 12 4 As a % of sales 31.3 31.3 Sandoz Q1 2018 Q1 2017 % change USD m USD m USD cc Net sales 2 517 2 430 4 -4 Operating income 409 343 19 8 As a % of sales 16.2 14.1 Core operating income 499 460 8 1 As a % of sales 19.8 18.9 Alcon Q1 2018 Q1 2017 restated [1] % change USD m USD m USD cc Net sales 1 779 1 591 12 7 Operating income/loss 90 - 2 nm nm As a % of sales 5.1 -0.1 Core operating income 360 258 40 29 As a % of sales 20.2 16.2 Corporate Q1 2018 Q1 2017 % change USD m USD m USD cc Operating loss -187 -99 -89 -75 Core operating loss -150 -63 -138 -120 Total Group Q1 2018 Q1 2017 % change USD m USD m USD cc Net sales 12 694 11 539 10 4 Operating income 2 447 1 922 27 17 As a % of sales 19.3 16.7 Core operating income 3 340 3 010 11 4 As a % of sales 26.3 26.1 Net income 2 028 1 665 22 12 EPS (USD) 0.87 0.70 24 14 Cash flows from operating activities 2 514 2 045 23 Free cash flow 1 915 1 665 15 nm = not meaningful [1] Restated to reflect the product transfers between Innovative Medicines and Alcon divisions, announced on October 24, 2017 and January 24, 2018. A condensed interim financial report with the information listed in the index below can be found on our website at http://hugin.info/134323/R/2185317/844468.pdf Novartis Q1 2018 Condensed Interim Financial Report - Supplementary Data INDEX Page GROUP AND DIVISIONAL OPERATING PERFORMANCE Q1 2018 Group 2 Innovative Medicines 4 Sandoz 9 Alcon 10 CASH FLOW AND GROUP BALANCE SHEET 12 INNOVATION REVIEW 14 CONDENSED INTERIM CONSOLIDATED FINANCIAL STATEMENTS Consolidated income statements 18 Consolidated statements of comprehensive income 19 Consolidated balance sheets 20 Consolidated statement of changes in equity 21 Consolidated statements of cash flow 22 Notes to condensed interim consolidated financial statements, including update on legal proceedings 23 SUPPLEMENTARY INFORMATION 43 CORE RESULTS Reconciliation from IFRS to core results 45 Group 46 Innovative Medicines 47 Sandoz 48 Alcon 49 Corporate 50 ADDITIONAL INFORMATION Income from associated companies 51 Condensed consolidated changes in net debt / Share information 52 Free cash flow 53 Currency translation rates 54 DISCLAIMER 55 Disclaimer This press release contains forward-looking statements within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, that can generally be identified by words such as "to become," "outlooks," "momentum," "positive CHMP opinion," "expected," "on track," "potential," "strategy," "to become," "agreed to be sold," "strategic," "priorities," "Agreement to acquire," "positions," "pipeline," "subject to," "began," "expect," "if completed," "to provide," "will," "proposed," "to build," "continue," "plan," "strategic review," "progressing," "potential," "likely," "growth drivers," "clinical development," "ongoing," "if completed," "would," "platform," "to accelerate," "investigational," "initiated," "submission," "planned," "recommended," "to advance," "aims," "plans," "launch," "priority," "outlook," "launched," "priority review," "fast track," "breakthrough therapy," "filed," "filing," or similar expressions, or by express or implied discussions regarding potential new products, potential new indications for existing products, or regarding potential future revenues from any such products; or regarding the potential outcome of the tender offer for the shares of AveXis Inc. to be commenced by Novartis, and the potential impact on Novartis of the proposed acquisition, including express or implied discussions regarding potential future sales or earnings of Novartis, and any potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected as a result of the proposed acquisition; or regarding the potential outcome of the strategic review being undertaken to maximize shareholder value of the Alcon Division; or regarding the potential financial or other impact of the significant acquisitions and reorganizations of recent years; or regarding potential future sales or earnings of the Novartis Group or any of its divisions or potential shareholder returns; or by discussions of strategy, plans, expectations or intentions. You should not place undue reliance on these statements. Such forward looking statements are based on our current beliefs and expectations regarding future events, and are subject to significant known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Should one or more of these risks or uncertainties materialize, or should underlying assumptions prove incorrect, actual results may vary materially from those set forth in the forward looking statements. There can be no guarantee that any new products will be approved for sale in any market, or that any new indications will be approved for any existing products in any market, or that any approvals which are obtained will be obtained at any particular time, or that any such products will achieve any particular revenue levels. Neither can there be any guarantee that the proposed tender offer or the acquisition described in this press release will be completed, or that it will be completed as currently proposed, or at any particular time. Nor can there be any guarantee that Novartis will be able to realize any of potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities as a result of the proposed acquisition. Nor can there be any guarantee that the strategic review being undertaken to maximize shareholder value of the Alcon Division will reach any particular results, or at any particular time, or that the result of the strategic review will in fact maximize shareholder value. Neither can there be any guarantee that Novartis will be able to realize any of the potential strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities as a result of the significant acquisitions and reorganizations of recent years. Neither can there be any guarantee that shareholders will achieve any particular level of shareholder returns. Nor can there be any guarantee that the Group, or any of its divisions, will be commercially successful in the future, or achieve any particular credit rating or financial results. In particular, our expectations could be affected by, among other things: global trends toward health care cost containment, including government, payor and general public pricing and reimbursement pressures and requirements for increased pricing transparency; regulatory actions or delays or government regulation generally, including potential regulatory actions or delays relating to the completion of the potential acquisition described in this release, as well as potential regulatory actions or delays with respect to the development of the products described in this release; the potential that the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected from the proposed acquisition may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the successful integration of AveXis into the Novartis Group subsequent to the closing of the transaction and the timing of such integration; potential adverse reactions to the proposed transaction by customers, suppliers or strategic partners; dependence on key AveXis personnel and customers; the potential that the strategic benefits, synergies or opportunities expected from the significant acquisitions and reorganizations of recent years may not be realized or may take longer to realize than expected; the inherent uncertainties involved in predicting shareholder returns; the uncertainties inherent in the research and development of new healthcare products, including clinical trial results and additional analysis of existing clinical data; our ability to obtain or maintain proprietary intellectual property protection, including the ultimate extent of the impact on Novartis of the loss of patent protection and exclusivity on key products which commenced in prior years and will continue this year; safety, quality or manufacturing issues; uncertainties regarding actual or potential legal proceedings, including, among others, actual or potential product liability litigation, litigation and investigations regarding sales and marketing practices, intellectual property disputes and government investigations generally; uncertainties involved in the development or adoption of potentially transformational technologies and business models; general political and economic conditions, including uncertainties regarding the effects of ongoing instability in various parts of the world; uncertainties regarding future global exchange rates; uncertainties regarding future demand for our products; and uncertainties regarding potential significant breaches of data security or data privacy, or disruptions of our information technology systems; and other risks and factors referred to in Novartis AG's current Form 20-F on file with the US Securities and Exchange Commission. Novartis is providing the information in this press release as of this date and does not undertake any obligation to update any forward-looking statements as a result of new information, future events or otherwise. This announcement is neither an offer to purchase nor a solicitation of an offer to sell securities. The tender offer for the shares of common stock of AveXis, Inc. described in this announcement has commenced and is being made pursuant to a tender offer statement on Schedule TO-T and related materials filed by Novartis and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). In addition, AveXis, Inc. has filed a Schedule 14D-9 Solicitation/Recommendation Statement with the SEC. The Schedule TO Tender Offer Statement (that includes an offer to purchase, a related letter of transmittal and other offer documents) and the Schedule 14D-9 Solicitation/Recommendation Statement contain important information that should be read carefully before any decision is made with respect to the tender offer. These materials and all other documents filed by, or caused to be filed by, Novartis and an indirect wholly owned subsidiary and AveXis, Inc. with the SEC are available at no charge on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov . The Schedule TO Tender Offer Statement and related materials also may be obtained for free under the "Investors-Financial Data" section of Novartis's website at https://www.novartis.com/investors/financial-data/sec-filings. The Schedule 14D-9 Solicitation/Recommendation Statement and such other documents also may be obtained for free from AveXis, Inc. under the "Investor + Media" section of the AveXis, Inc.'s website at http://investors.avexis.com/phoenix.zhtml?c=254285&p=irol-IRHome All product names appearing in italics are trademarks owned by or licensed to Novartis Group companies. Copaxone is a registered trademark of Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. Remicade is a registered trademark of Janssen Biotech, Inc. Advair Diskus is a registered trademark of Glaxo Group Ltd. Stelara is a registered trademark of Janssen Biotech, Inc. About Novartis Novartis provides innovative healthcare solutions that address the evolving needs of patients and societies. Headquartered in Basel, Switzerland, Novartis offers a diversified portfolio to best meet these needs: innovative medicines, cost-saving generic and biosimilar pharmaceuticals and eye care. Novartis has leading positions globally in each of these areas. In 2017, the Group achieved net sales of USD 49.1 billion, while R&D throughout the Group amounted to approximately USD 9.0 billion. Novartis Group companies employ approximately 124,000 full-time-equivalent associates. Novartis products are sold in approximately 155 countries around the world. For more information, please visit http://www.novartis.com. Important dates May 15-16, 2018 Meet Novartis Management investor event in Basel July 18, 2018 Second quarter results 2018 October 18, 2018 Third quarter results 2018 [1] Constant currencies (cc), core results and free cash flow are non-IFRS measures. An explanation of non-IFRS measures can be found on page 43 of the Condensed Financial Report. Unless otherwise noted, all growth rates in this Release refer to same period in prior year. [2] Following the product transfers announced on October 24, 2017 and January 24, 2018, results from the Alcon Division in 2018 and 2017 include the Ophthalmic OTC products and a small portfolio of surgical diagnostic products, transferred from the Innovative Medicines Division effective January 1, 2018. [3] OTC Joint Venture sale subject to approval of GSK shareholders. [4] AveXis acquisition subject to the successful completion of the tender offer and customary closing conditions. Please find full media release in English attached and on the following link: http://hugin.info/134323/R/2185317/844497.pdf Further language versions are available through the following links: German version is available through the following link: http://hugin.info/134323/R/2185319/844494.pdf French version is available through the following link: http://hugin.info/134323/R/2185318/844493.pdf English Finnish Valoe Corporation Stock Exchange Release 19 April 2018 at 09.10 Finnish time Valoe Issues a Convertible Bond In order to strengthen Valoe Corporation's capital structure the company issues a convertible bond of MEUR 1.0 at the most. The convertible bond can be converted to max. 1,818,180 new shares of the company. The subscription price is EUR 0.55 per share. The convertible bond is issued in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription rights to the parties separately approved by the Board of Directors. The minimum amount of subscription of the convertible bond shall be EUR 100,000.00 entitling the convertible bond holder to subscribe for 181,818 new shares of the company. The loan period shall commence on the payment date and expire on 31 May 2021 on which date the convertible bond shall expire to be repayable in its entirety in accordance with the terms of the loan. The subscription period of the shares under the convertible bond shall begin from the subscription of the convertible bond and expire on 31 May 2021. The subscription period of the convertible bond shall expire on 11 May 2018 at 6:00 p.m. The board of directors of the company has the right to approve the subscriptions at any time during the subscription period. In the event the convertible bond shall be oversubscribed, the board of directors of the company shall resolve on the allocation between the subscribers. The board of directors of the company has the right to discontinue the subscription period of the convertible bond at any time. The board of directors shall also have the right to decide on extending the subscription period. The shareholders' pre-emptive subscription rights are deviated from in connection with the issue of convertible bond to secure financing required to strengthen the capital structure of the company cost effectively and considering the size of the financing. Thus, there is from the company's point of view a weighty financial reason to issue the special rights. The company has one (1) class of shares. The terms of the convertible bond are attached to this release as Attachment 1. In Mikkeli 19 April 2018 Valoe Corporation Board of Directors For more information: Iikka Savisalo President and CEO, Valoe Corporation Tel. +358 40 521 6082 Email: iikka.savisalo@valoe.com Distribution: Nasdaq Helsinki Main media www.valoe.com Valoe Corporation specializes in the clean energy, especially in photovoltaic solutions. Valoe provides automated production technology for solar modules based on the companys own technology; production lines for modules; solar modules and special components for solar modules. Valoe's head office is located in Mikkeli, Finland. APPENDIX 1: TERMS OF THE CONVERTIBLE BOND 1/2018 OF VALOE CORPORATION The Board of Directors of Valoe Corporation (hereinafter "the Company") has, based on the authorization granted to it on 28 November 2017, resolved to take loan (hereinafter "Convertible Bond") so that the Company issues other special rights entitling to the shares pursuant to Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act in the form of loan shares to the lenders of the loan so that the lenders shall have the right to subscribe for the Company's shares based on the respective special rights and that the lenders shall have the right to pay the subscription price of the shares by setting it off against the loan receivable referred to in this document. I CONDITIONS OF THE CONVERTIBLE BOND 1. The amount of the Convertible Bond The amount of the Convertible Bond shall be EUR 1,000,000.00 at the most. 2. The Subscription right of the Convertible Bond and Loan Shares The Company shall take the loan referred to in these Convertible Bond terms and conditions and shall issue simultaneously against the loan a maximum amount of 20 loan shares. The number of loan shares to be issued shall be one (1) loan share against each subscribed loan capital amount of EUR 50.000. The Convertible Bond is issued in deviation from the shareholders' pre-emptive subscription rights to the parties approved separately by the Board of Directors. The minimum amount of subscription shall be two loan shares i.e. EUR 100,000.00 which can be converted into 181,818 new shares of the Company pursuant to the terms of this Convertible Bond. The shareholders' pre-emptive subscription rights are deviated from as the loan shares are issued as special rights to secure financing required to strengthen the capital structure of the Company cost effectively and considering the size of the financing. Therefore, there is from the Company's point of view a weighty financial reason to issue the special rights. 3. Subscription Period and Venue for Subscription of the Convertible Bond Lenders interested in subscribing for the Convertible Bond are asked to sign and submit the subscription form by 6:00 p.m. (Finnish time) on 11 May 2018 to the Company. The Company shall deliver the subscription form to the subscribers separately. The Board of Directors of the Company has the right to approve or disapprove a subscription. The Board of Directors has the right to approve subscriptions at any time during the subscription period. In the event the Convertible Bond shall be oversubscribed, the Board of Directors shall resolve on the allocation between the subscribers. The Board of Directors of the Company has the right to discontinue the subscription period of the Convertible Bond at any time. The Board of Directors shall also have the right to decide on extending the subscription period. 4. Loan Period of the Convertible Bond and Repayment The Convertible Bond shall be paid to the Company's bank account Nordea Pankki Suomi Oyj IBAN: FI21 2185 1800 1271 11, BIC: NDEAFIHH at the latest on 11 May 2018. The loan period shall commence on the payment of the Convertible Bond to the Company and expire on 31 May 2021 (hereinafter the "Maturity Date") on which date the Convertible Bond shall expire to be repayable in its entirety in accordance with these terms of the loan. The Convertible Bond may be repaid also prior to the Maturity Date by informing the Lender thereof at least 30 days in advance. 5. Interest of the Convertible Bond As of the date of withdrawal an annual interest of eight (8) percent shall be paid to the capital of the Convertible Bond. The interest shall be added in the loan capital annually once a year on 31 May. The interest shall be paid in shares at the end of the loan period so that each interest amount of EUR 0.55 shall be converted into one new share of the Company. The last interest period shall end on 31 May 2021. The interest shall be calculated based on the real interest days divided by 365 days. Upon the due date of the Convertible Bond on 31 May 2021, all the interests from the loan period shall also fall due and be paid in shares on 31 May 2021. In the event the Convertible Bond is repaid prematurely, all the accrued interests until that date shall be paid in shares on such repayment date. In the event the date of interest payment is not a banking day, the interest shall be paid in shares on the following banking day. 6. Promissory Note of the Convertible Bond The Company shall issue to the subscriber of the Convertible Bond a promissory note (hereinafter the "Promissory Note") as per Attachment 1. 7. Transferability of the Promissory Note The Promissory Note cannot be transferred without consent of the Company. 8. Other terms of the Convertible Bond For the delivery of the notifications based on this Convertible Bond, the Lender shall inform the Company of its postal address as valid from time to time. The Lender shall, as per request of the Company, submit to the Company all necessary information with regard to the Promissory Note and its administration. II TERMS FOR CONVERSION RIGHT OF THE CONVERTIBLE BOND 1. Conversion Right and Conversion Ratio The Lender is entitled to convert the Promissory Note into the shares of the Company in accordance with the terms described below. One loan share of EUR 50,000 pursuant to the Promissory Note entitles the Lender to subscribe for 90,909 new shares of the Company. Based on the subscriptions made pursuant to the loan shares the Company shall issue a maximum amount of 1,818,180 new Company shares. The Company has one (1) class of shares. The subscription price of one (1) new share of the Company shall be EUR 0.55 per share. The subscription price has been set on a level corresponding to the closing price of the Company's shares on a stock exchange on 18 April 2018. Upon using the conversion right a portion corresponding to the subscription price of a share shall be set off against the unpaid capital of the Convertible Bond. The subscription price of the shares shall be entered in entirety into the Company's invested non-restricted equity fund. 2. Conversion Period and Process Regarding Use of the Conversion Right The Lender shall have the right to convert the Promissory Note into the Company's shares during the conversion period (subscription period of the shares) which begins from the subscription of the Convertible Bond and expires on 31 May 2021. The conversion of the Promissory Note into the shares shall take place pursuant to the subscription rules in accordance with the Finnish Companies Act. The Lender shall present to the Board of Directors of the Company a written conversion request which shall constitute the subscription of new shares. Each loan share can be converted into shares only in its entirety. When the Board of Directors has received the conversion request and the Lender has assigned the Promissory Note to the Company, the Board of Directors shall approve the subscription of new shares in accordance with the loan shares of the Convertible Bond. Within 30 (thirty) days from the presentation of the conversion request the Company shall file with the Trade Register notification with regard to entering the new shares to the Trade Register. 3. Shareholder Rights The new shares of the Company, which have been subscribed for by using the conversion right of the Convertible Bond, shall have the similar rights with the Company's shares issued previously from the moment the new shares have been entered into the Trade Register. 4. The Rights of the Lender in certain special cases If the Company during the loan period issues new shares in the share issue against the payment or issues new stock options or other special rights entitling to the shares referred to in Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act so that the shareholders shall have the pre-emptive subscription right, the Promissory Note Holder shall have the same or equal right as a shareholder. Equality is reached by the means resolved by the Board of Directors of the Company by giving to the Lender the same priority for the subscription of share, and/or stock option, and/or other special right as referred to in Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act, and/or by adjusting the exchange ratio of the Convertible Bond, and/or by giving the Lender the right to convert the Convertible Bond during other time as stated under Section II.2 above, or by combining the manners of proceeding as referred to above. If the Company during the loan period issues new shares free of charge, the exchange ratio of the Convertible Bond shall be adjusted so that the percentual share of the shares to be converted by the Convertible Bond compared to all shares shall remain unaltered except for the part that the new number of shares to be converted by the Promissory Note would be a fraction. In the event that the above-mentioned division would not be even, the highest round figure that will fulfill the division to the whole shares will be applied. If the Company during the loan period resolves to acquire or redeem its own shares or stock options or other special rights entitling to the shares pursuant to the Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act through an offer directed to all shareholders or holders of the above-mentioned rights, an equal offer shall be made to the Lender. The redemption or acquisition of the shares and stock options or other special rights entitling to the shares referred to in Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act shall thus be directed also to the conversion rights of the Promissory Note pursuant to the resolution of the Board of Directors. Otherwise the acquisition or redemption of own shares and stock options and other special rights entitling to the shares referred to under Chapter 10 of the Finnish Companies Act shall not require any actions from the Company with regard to the Promissory Note. If the Company during the loan period distributes its funds in other means than what has been referred to in the previous section, the Lender shall not be entitled to participate in the distribution of the funds and the distribution of the funds shall not require any actions from the Company with regard to the Promissory Note. If the Company is placed into liquidation during the loan period, the Convertible Bond shall fall due for payment at the moment when placing into the liquidation has been entered into the Trade Register. If the Company during the loan period resolves on the merger or division, the Lender shall be reserved a right, during the time period set by the Board of Directors of the Company prior to the resolution on the merger or division, to convert the Promissory Note into shares. Alternatively the Lender shall be given the right to subscribe for the Convertible Bond issued by similar terms by the receiving company so that the subscription can be made on equal terms compared to the shares of the receiving company which have been issued to the shareholders pursuant to what has been resolved on the matter in the merger plan or division plan. After the above-mentioned time period reserved for the use of the conversion right or after the end of the subscription period of the new Convertible Bond, no conversion right shall exist anymore. If a redemption right or redemption obligation of the minority shareholders referred to under Chapter 18 of the Finnish Companies Act arises, after the Company has received notification on the origin of the redemption right or redemption obligation, the right to convert the Promissory Note into shares during the time period resolved by the Board of Directors shall without undue delay be reserved for the Lenders. After the above-mentioned time period reserved for the use of the conversion right, no conversion right shall exist anymore. 5. Disputes Disputes arising out of this Convertible Bond shall be settled by arbitration consisting of one arbitrator in accordance with the Arbitration Rules of the Finland Chamber of Commerce. In the event the parties to the dispute cannot agree on the arbitrator, the Finland Chamber of Commerce shall appoint the arbitrator. The place of the arbitration shall be Helsinki, Finland. 6. Other Issues The Board of Directors shall be entitled to resolve on any other matter related to the Convertible Bond and the use of the conversion right. Notifications to the Lenders shall be submitted by letters to the postal addresses notified to the Company by each Lender. A notification is deemed to have been delivered on the working day following the date of sending the notification. III OTHER MATTERS 1. Other Issues These terms and conditions have been drafted in Finnish and in English. In the case of any discrepancy between the Finnish and English terms and conditions, the Finnish terms and conditions shall prevail. English Finnish Press release April 19, 2018 Espoo, Finland - Nokia will publish its first-quarter 2018 interim report on April 26, 2018 at approximately 8 a.m. Finnish time (CET+1). The interim report will be made available on the Nokia website immediately after publication. Nokia only publishes a summary of its interim reports in stock exchange releases. The summary focuses on Nokia Group's financial information as well as on Nokia's outlook. The detailed segment-level discussion will be available in the complete interim report available at http://nokia.com/financials. Investors should not solely rely on summaries of Nokia's financial reports, but should also review the complete reports with tables. Nokia's analyst conference call will begin on April 26, 2018 at 3 p.m. Finnish time. A link to the webcast of the conference call will be available at http://nokia.com/financials. Media representatives can listen in via the link on that website, or alternatively call +1 412 317 5210. About Nokia We create the technology to connect the world. Powered by the research and innovation of Nokia Bell Labs, we serve communications service providers, governments, large enterprises and consumers, with the industry's most complete, end-to-end portfolio of products, services and licensing. We adhere to the highest ethical business standards as we create technology with social purpose, quality and integrity. Nokia is enabling the infrastructure for 5G and the Internet of Things to transform the human experience. www.nokia.com Media Inquiries: Nokia Communications Tel. +358 (0) 10 448 4900 Email: press.services@nokia.com The Annual General Meeting of Koninklijke Vopak N.V. (Royal Vopak) held on 18 April 2018 passed the following resolutions: Adoption of the financial statements for the 2017 financial year. Approval of the proposed dividend. A dividend of EUR 1.05 per ordinary share with a nominal value of EUR 0.50 will be distributed wholly in cash on 25 April 2018. As from 20 April 2018, the shares of Vopak will be listed ex-dividend on Euronext Amsterdam. Discharge from liability of the Executive Board members' conduct of the company's affairs for the 2017 financial year. Discharge from liability of the Supervisory Board members' supervision exercised for the 2017 financial year. Re-appointment of Mr. E.M. Hoekstra (Eelco) as Chairman of the Executive Board for a term of 4 years. Re-appointment of Mr. F. Eulderink (Frits) as member of the Executive Board for a term of 4 years. Re-appointment of Mr. M.F. Groot (Mel) as a member of the Supervisory Board for a term of 4 years. Appointment of Mr. B. van der Veer (Ben) as a member of the Supervisory Board for a term of 4 years. Appointment of Mrs. L.J.I. Foufopoulos - De Ridder (Lucrece) as a member of the Supervisory Board for a term of 4 years. Approval of the proposed amendments to the remuneration policy for the Executive Board. The amendments concern the short and long-term variable compensation plans as per January 2018. Authorization of the Executive Board for a period of 18 months, up till and including 17 October 2019, to acquire, subject to the approval of the Supervisory Board, for valuable consideration, fully paid-up ordinary shares in Royal Vopak, on the stock exchange or otherwise, up to the maximum number that may be held by the company in accordance with the law and the Articles of Association in force at the date of acquisition. Appointment of Deloitte Accountants B.V. as the external auditor of Royal Vopak and their engagement to examine the company's financial statements for the 2019 financial year. Profile Vopak Royal Vopak is the world's leading independent tank storage company. We operate a global network of terminals located at strategic locations along major trade routes. With over 400 years of history and a strong focus on safety and sustainability, we ensure safe, efficient and clean storage and handling of bulk liquid products and gases for our customers. By doing so, we enable the delivery of products that are vital to our economy and daily lives, ranging from oil, chemicals, gases and LNG to biofuels and vegoils. Vopak is listed on the Euronext Amsterdam stock exchange and is headquartered in Rotterdam, the Netherlands. Including our joint ventures and associates, we employ an international workforce of over 5,700 people. As of 18 April 2018, Vopak operates 66 terminals in 25 countries with a combined storage capacity of 35.9 million cbm, with another 3.1 million cbm under development that will be added before the end of 2019. For more information, please contact: Vopak Press Liesbeth Lans - Manager External Communication, Telephone: +31 (0)10 400 2777 | e-mail: global.communication@vopak.com Vopak Analysts and Investors Laurens de Graaf - Head of Investor Relations, Telephone: +31 (0)10 400 2776 | e-mail: investor.relations@vopak.com This press release contains inside information as meant in clause 7 of the Market Abuse Regulation. It seems like a given that the person who delivered these farcical platitudes should be the first to walk - especially given Brenners role in tampering with the so-called independent report from Clayton Utz about AMP charging fees for services not provided. But she is not one of the three board members facing re-election. The unlucky trio who will be running the gauntlet includes former Best & Less boss Holly Kramer, and Wesfarmers board member Vanessa Wallace. At least we can look forward to Brenner explaining why it was so egregious for the media to wonder if she is pushing her CEO Craig Meller out the door, when she herself had previously said "he is under pressure from the board" over his performance. Brenner, whose hubby is the older brother of Jodee Rich's wife, Qantas board member Maxine Brenner, is the protege of ANZ chairman - and education guru - David Gonski. And while it is great to see a woman heading the board of such a significant group, her performance raises the question of whether some of these women being promoted to board seats - through the conventional maze of corporate networks - are any better than the men they replacing. Is the best talent still missing out? Taking stock Retail shareholders are not the only ones who might be agitating for change at AMP. As its own funds at AMP Capital have demonstrated, big fundies are becoming more emboldened when it comes to taking a stance. AMP Capital's Australian Equity Income Fund abstained from voting on the election of former federal minister Ian Macfarlane to the Woodside Board. Last year it also voted against the grant of equities to former Wallaby John Eales soon after he joined the Magellan Financial Group board. The fund also took the high ground at BHP Billitons AGM when it failed to back the miner over resolutions lobbed by a tiny group of retail shareholders questioning BHP's membership of groups like the Minerals Council of Australia (MCA) and its response to climate change. The AMP board must be hoping that the institutional shareholders who own AMP shares are a little more forgiving. Post Pac Ahmed Fahour. The transformation of the Ahmed Fahour-led packaging group Pro-Pac (PPG) is going so well that one of its major investors has decided to hit the exit already. Fahours role at Pro-Pac - which is 38 per cent owned by his billionaire buddy Raphael Geminder - was elevated to executive chairman late last year ahead of the company transforming acquisition of IPG. Pro-Pac paid IPGs executive team, and private equity owners Advent Partners, $177.5 million in cash and shares for the business. Advent held 146 million shares in its hot little hands for more than five months before deciding that the escrow arrangements needed a little fiddling. So Pro-Pac and Advent have agreed to lift escrow on 59.6 million shares and flog them to the market. Following full consideration, the PPG board has concluded that the transaction is in the best interests of PPGs shareholders. Geminder himself will pick up at least 23 million of the shares via his private company Bennamon, which should lift its stake back to the 49 per cent of PPG it owned prior to the IPG acquisition. The stock is being offered to new and existing investors at 38c a pop. The sell down by Advent and the buying support from Bennamon represents a further positive step in the renewal of PPGs share register, said Fahour in the ASX release. Advent promises to keep its remaining 15 per cent shareholding in escrow under the conditions it promised to keep last year - which means some time in August or November next year. Hopefully the stock will have weathered any turbulence from what Fahours PPG described as "challenging" trading conditions. And CBD smells another profit downgrade in its forecast that underlying annualised pro forma EBITDA for this financial year will be as low as $34 million. Despite some short-term headwinds the business has experienced, the board has considerable confidence around the companys new growth strategy, its synergies with the IPG acquisition and its prospects in FY19 and beyond, says our ever-confident Fahour. Wolf Dr Frank Wolf, the managing director of Abacus Property for 11 years, has passed away just shy of his 65th birthday in July. Known affectionately in Sydney as the ''Wolf of George Street'', he built Abacus into a force of the listed property sector, dazzling his peers with over $5 billion worth of deals that not many others could contemplate, or even execute. He was awarded an Order of Australia Medal for services to the community in the Queenss Birthday Honours List in 2012. Due to illness Dr Wolf announced in January that he planned to retire on July 1 and appointed former chief executive of Federation Centres, (now Vicinity,) Steven Sewell as his successor. Sewell will assume this role immediately. Dr Wolf's funeral is on Thursday in Sydney. But the war isn't over, and the situation is getting worse. The Isil "caliphate" might have collapsed, but a patchwork of jihadi splinter groups have sprung up in its place. Hundreds of thousands of rebels are holed up in Idlib, the city to which fighters are evacuated whenever a ceasefire is agreed. Turkey has taken its opportunity to stamp on the Kurds by invading Afrin. The future of Raqqa, wrested from Isil by a mixture of Kurdish and rebel Arab ground forces with Western air and intelligence support, is now in flux. Only recently, Mr Trump declared he would be pulling all US forces out, although his new national security adviser John Bolton might persuade him to reconsider. Israel has stepped up its selective bombing of targets to try and curb the growing power of Hizbollah, the Iran-backed militia whose troops have been an enormous help to Mr Assad. Hizbollah's success in Syria and its enormous military build-up on the Israel-Lebanon border also mean that Iran is expanding its sphere of influence right up to the Mediterranean. This is something that neither the Gulf states nor Israel will accept (in Israel's case, for very real existential reasons). So it raises the possibility that another front in the war could soon open up, and if it does, what Russia will do is unknown. It has little appetite for a confrontation with Israel, but is militarily enmeshed with Israel's enemies. Faced with this ever-changing snake-pit of competing interests, the best option for the US - and Britain - seems to be, keep a close eye on it all and intervene opportunistically. With Russia and now Turkey deeply involved on the ground, the risks posed by intervention on any grander scale are immeasurably greater than they were in 2013, when Parliament scotched the government's attempt to extend its anti-Isil bombing campaign from Iraq. So instead, the West has to watch and help its allies when it can. These interventions will not be popular, nor will they given a definitive stamp of approval by the UN, as Mr Corbyn fatuously suggests should happen, since Russia blocks all UN resolutions that run counter to its interests. But the model that defeated Isil, in which Western air power and intelligence back up other allied forces on the ground, shows how Europe and the US can achieve some strategic aims without getting fully entangled. That, for now, is all that Western voters will allow and, to be honest, who can blame them? Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce says Australia's banks have abused the support of the government and questioned whether they should be broken up to avoid conflicts of interest. Admitting his previous opposition to a royal commission into the scandal-plagued industry was "naive" and wrong, Mr Joyce said the banks had "blatantly taken the support of government" as justification to do what they like. "They should consider whether they should be in the financial planning business after the evidence delivered. It appears from evidence to be too much of a conflict of interest and a temptation for them," he said in a statement to Fairfax Media. "I have apologised for being so naive to have swallowed their line of 'we are good corporate citizens'. Maybe they should now as well." Opposition Leader Bill Shorten is inching towards granting Sir John Monash a posthumous promotion, putting the Labor leader at odds with Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull and military chiefs a week before Anzac Day. Throwing his support behind the campaign to promote the war hero during the centenary of the end of World War I - a move rejected this week by Mr Turnbull - Mr Shorten said an elevation to the rank of field marshal was "not just about personal recognition for John Monash". "It is an acknowledgement of everyone who served our nation in the First World War the young Australians whose brave deeds shaped our national identity," the Labor leader writes an opinion piece published by Fairfax Media on Thursday. Former deputy prime minister Tim Fischer at the Sir John Monash statue in Melbourne on Wednesday. Credit:Eddie Jim Mr Shorten said "bestowing this overdue honour" would also serve as a reminder of the "courage and sacrifice of the hundreds of thousands of Australians who served under his skilful command". The live sheep export industry is fighting for survival as a growing number of federal MPs from across the political spectrum call for it to be permanently shut down. In a crucial intervention more than two weeks after the release of sickening footage of the death of 2400 sheep on a voyage to the Middle East, former Turnbull government cabinet minister Sussan Ley on Thursday announced she would introduce a private member's bill to phase out live sheep exports. Opposition Leader Bill Shorten also announced Labor wanted an immediate suspension of live sheep shipments during the northern summer, while deputy Labor leader Tanya Plibersek said her preference was for the industry to be phased out altogether. Liberal MP Jason Wood, Labor's Josh Wilson and Ed Husic, and the Greens also publicly backed phasing out the trade. London: Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull is facing new concerns about Australias vital trade relationship with China after a rebuke from the countrys ambassador about laws targeting foreign interference in Australian affairs. Mr Turnbull acknowledged the ups and downs in Australias relationship with China but insisted the ties were strong despite strong signs of a chill between the two countries. The comments came after Mr Turnbull gained a personal assurance from Vanuatu Prime Minister Charlot Salwai that the Pacific nation was never dreaming of allowing a major port to become a Chinese military base. The scale of Chinese influence in the Pacific has cast a shadow over Mr Turnbulls meetings with Pacific Island leaders at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, following revelations by Fairfax Media about Chinese involvement in a major port in Vanuatu. Moaed Dumane was in a Damascus suburb two weeks ago when a helicopter flew overhead. He took shelter with his family from what he knew was an attack from the Syrian regime of Bashar al-Assad. Several barrel bombs fell from a helicopter, and then there was a strong, strange smell, he told The New Yorker. After the bombardment subsided, we went to check out where the barrel bombs fell, then we saw a lot of families in their homes who couldnt escape. Illustration: Simon Letch Their pupils were narrow. Most victims were women and children. It was a horrific scene. The smell was extremely strong. The dead were moved to makeshift medical clinics. Most were dead from suffocation. Dumane, 27, works with the Syrian opposition, so Assads supporters will dismiss the eyewitness account he gave to journalist Fariba Nawa. But a video taken by another activist, Yasser al-Doumani, shows the awful death that fell from the sky. When seen by a professor of toxicology at Leeds University, Alastair Hay, the video left no doubt about what happened. Theres no such thing as green electrons or brown ones. Your TV and fridge run just the same on solar power from Queensland, wind power from South Australia, hydro power from Tasmania or coal power from the Hunter Valley. Interstate sharing of electricity makes power cheaper and more reliable. Energy infrastructure is a long-term investment. Since the system blackout in South Australia in September 2016, state governments across our National Electricity Market (NEM), which covers the country except for Western Australia and the Northern Territory, have adopted parochial and isolationist my state first energy policies. While it is human nature to look after your own in a time of crisis, continuing this trend will result in more expensive and less reliable energy supply for all, and more costly emissions reductions. As Australian energy ministers meet in Melbourne on Friday, attention will be firmly focused on the National Energy Guarantee. The ability for the COAG Energy Council to work together is a critical step towards a truly integrated system that delivers in the national interest, instead of pursuing unilateral approaches. The solutions to the major energy challenges we face will only be found in a collaborative approach. The National Party has upped the ante in its fight for a controversial medical college in regional NSW and Victoria, as the big city universities make a last-ditch effort to split the Coalition and kill the proposal. Acting Prime Minister Michael McCormack will use a speech on Thursday to press the case for training more doctors in the bush, while his Nationals deputy Bridget McKenzie insisted the system had failed and "something has to change". Regional universities Charles Sturt and Latrobe have for years lobbied for a Murray Darling Medical School to train up to 180 doctors a year in Orange, Wagga Wagga and Bendigo, in what would be a major challenge to the big city universities' dominance of medical training. Deputy PM Michael McCormack and Nationals deputy leader Bridget McKenzie. Credit:Alex Ellinghausen Sandstone institutions including Sydney and Melbourne have intensely targeted Health Minister Greg Hunt, a Liberal, in their bid to stop the proposal. They are backed by the Australian Medical Association, whose head Michael Gannon has made his opposition "crystal clear" to Mr Hunt. Former finance professor and Macquarie Bank executive Dr Tony Castagna is behind bars after a Supreme Court jury found him guilty of tax evasion, money laundering and dealing with the proceeds of crime. Castagna, 70, is facing a maximum jail term of 25 years after the jury found that over a nine-year period up until 2008 he deliberately and dishonestly concealed from the Australian Tax Office millions of dollars in fees and bonuses he received while working as a consultant to Macquarie Bank. A jury has found Dr Tony Castagna guilty of tax evasion and money laundering. Credit:Janie Barrett Also found guilty was Castagnas cousin Robert Agius, a former accountant in the tax haven of Vanuatu, who conspired with Castagna to conceal the money. Agius, who grew up in the same household as Castagna, is already serving a non-parole period of six years and eight months' jail, after being found guilty in 2012 for operating unrelated tax avoidance schemes via his Vanuatu-based accountancy firm. PALO ALTO, Calif., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Intellectsoft, global software development company with a focus on the latest tech, will co-host Blockchain: Rethink Trust 2018 a new, enterprise-grade conference on blockchain engineering that is a part of By the Bay event series, well-known in the Silicon Valley. The event will take place in Amsterdam at the historic venue Beurs van Berlage on Friday, June 29. The conference will challenge the traditional understanding of blockchain and corporate world, gathering top engineers, C-level executives, and blockchain enthusiasts. The event will cover topics like integration and adoption of blockchain across key industries, properties of blockchain protocols, distributed systems in Big Data, and have coding workshops on building Hyperledger and blockchain solutions. Blockchain: Rethink Trust 2018 will be keynoted by executive leaders from IBM and ING and feature top tech talent from around the world in Internet of Things (IoT), energy, fintech, and other industries. The conferences attendees will share their experiences of the best ways to monetize blockchain, discuss regulatory trends, and facilitate strategic partnerships for consortium private blockchain development. The event is led by Intellectsoft Blockchain Lab, consulting and development unit that offers access to a wide pool of engineering, cryptography, and cybersecurity talent in Eastern Europe. To learn about Blockchain: Rethink Trust conference visit rethinktrust.org About Intellectsoft Intellectsoft is a global full-cycle software engineering company that helps businesses to overcome technology challenges of digital transformation through use of emerging technologies like Cognitive Computing, Decentralized Applications, IoT, and Augmented Reality. The company's service portfolio includes strategic IT consulting, CX design, development and full lifecycle management of custom products in integrated systems. Established in 2007, Intellectsoft operates in multiple offices and engineering centers in the US, the UK, the Nordic region, and Eastern Europe. The companys headquarters are located in Palo Alto, California. blockchain.intellectsoft.net About By the Bay By the Bay has been organizing big-scale tech events in San Francisco Bay Area for over 5 years. During this time, the company had formed data engineering and data science communities that focus on learning, open-source excellence, and industry-oriented approaches. With respected tech leaders taking stage, By the Bay events are always rich on insightful case studies about data, code, and their business value. Every event of the By the Bay series gathers 500 top-level executives and established experts. scale.bythebay.io Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/744d677f-43e8-4e62-8a1c-5467e4290b53 http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/ea5c2ba6-fdbe-4968-9917-fadc1774ae5a A NSW magistrate has dismissed an assault charge levelled against a young protester accused of manhandling former prime minister Tony Abbotts sister at a refugee rally. Police had alleged Nicholas Dobrijevich, 21, pushed Christine Forster when asylum seeker activists targeted a Liberal Party fundraiser in Sydney in November 2017. But magistrate Susan McIntyre last week dismissed the common assault charge. Mr Dobrijevich's lawyer, Anne Healey, had argued there wasnt a case to answer as Ms Foster hadnt identified her client as one of the rowdy protesters at the Redfern rally. She does not disclose any offence against my client, Ms Healey told a hearing at Sydneys Downing Centre Local Court last Wednesday. Detectives are investigating whether the ferocious house fire that claimed the lives of three people was a double-murder suicide carried out by one of the deceased. Police confirmed the identities of the deceased on Thursday as Graeme Thomson, 53, Rosilyn Thomson, 52, and Dylan Thomson, 24, after an Everton Hills home was destroyed by fire. In a statement, police said they did not believe anyone else was involved in the fire, but were still investigating the circumstances surrounding fire, which broke out on Tuesday. Bus operators are stepping up their fight against the state government's plan to take over their businesses, by driving the first of several anti-Labor buses through marginal electorates ahead of this year's election. Bus companies have begun protesting in marginal electorates. Credit:Timna Jacks The operators are refusing to sign up to new contracts that would see their bus fleets, depots, staff and intellectual property rights handed to the government within 10 years. On Thursday morning, they launched protest action by driving a 'Don't trust Labor' bus along the Nepean Highway between Elsternwick and Frankston. The slogan, written in bold black, red and white letters, covers sides of the vehicle, which was is not in service, and not carrying any passengers. The body of a man who went missing in rural Western Australia more than a year ago has been found not far from where he was last seen. Dean Patrick White was last known to be in the Quairading area on March 31 last year, after he travelled by car from Victoria to visit a friend. Dean Patrick White was last seen on March 31. Credit:WA Police Affectionately known as 'Whitey', he lived a transient lifestyle and was known to travel across Australia in his white Toyota Landcruiser utility. Major Crime Squad detectives found the 55-year-old's body in a camp area north of the Wheatbelt town on Thursday and are investigating the circumstances surrounding his death. Truth-seeking to many has become burdensome, optional or even redundant. But hang on. The Islamic world gave us modernity? Stay with us in the courtyard of the dreaming mosque of Cordoba for a bit while we whirl through history. Just about everyone recognises the ancient Greeks developed what we in the West consider to be the basis of knowledge: philosophy, mathematics, medicine, astronomy, science, architecture, literature and politics. But most of the Greek empire was subsumed by Rome - which took the most important ideas and made them its own. And then the Western Roman Empire fell. Rome was reduced to a few thousand broken citizens shuffling within the shadows of the monuments of the past, much of Europes urban life fractured and scattered and Huns, Goths, Vandals, Vikings, Bulgars and Franks roamed in search of territory. This astrolabe was created for Jaafar, son of the Abbasid caliph al-Muktafi, in Baghdad in the 10th century AD. This, of course, is a limited and cinematic retelling of the early Middle Ages, which spanned the period from AD 500 to 1000. But what is indisputable is there was scarce space in that era, dubbed the Dark Ages, for philosophy or mathematics to flourish, let alone literature or democracy. The teachings of Plato, Socrates, Aristotle and the other great thinkers and scientists of Greece fell into obscurity west of Constantinople and north of Morocco. In Baghdad, however - the now war-shattered capital of Iraq, then the seat of the Abbasid caliphate - there rose a remarkable institution known as the House of Wisdom. With Europe into its so-called Dark Ages, the Islamic world was entering its Golden Age. The House of Wisdom, between the 8th and 13th centuries, attracted Muslim, Christian and Jewish scholars from throughout the known world to study and translate the tracts that had underpinned modern thought to that time into Arabic. Every important and available book and paper known to exist was collected for translation from Greek, Latin, Persian, Indian and even Chinese sources. By the 9th century, the House of Wisdom contained the worlds largest library, and up to 500 scholars worked feverishly on their own discoveries. The idea that the Earth was round, its circumference measurable, was no stranger here. Physicians investigated the causes of infection. The number zero, invented as a useful concept in India, reached Baghdad somewhere around AD 770 and became a crucial element in mathematics. Without zero there would never have been a computer, let alone Google. The pleasure of harnessing knowledge spread rapidly across Arab North Africa, through refined cities like Fez, and beyond. Meanwhile, in AD 711, those Muslims known in the West as Moors began pouring across the Strait of Gibraltar and took over the Iberian Peninsula. By AD 1000, most of what we now know as Spain was occupied by the Islamic Caliphate of Cordoba. Eventually the Spaniards conquered Cordoba and plonked a cathedral in the heart of its main mosque. Credit:Tony Wright With the city of Cordoba at its centre, here rose the most enlightened and cultured area of Europe. Cordoba, with its magnificent Mezquita (mosque) spreading over 2 serene hectares, was a world centre of learning. Its main library, one of more than 70 in the city of half a million inhabitants, was said to contain 400,000 books. Christians and Jews were permitted to live in relative peace alongside the Moors, contributing to the cultural vibrancy of Andalusia. Empires, however, fracture, rot from the inside, collapse and are conquered. By 1150, Islamic Spain was dying, though it wasnt until 1492 - the year, in a marvellous stroke of symmetry, that saw Christopher Columbus sail from the Andalusian port of Palos on his first voyage of discovery - that the last of the Moors were exiled back to Africa. Spanish Christians, in conquering Islamic Spain, got vastly more than territory. The first large Islamic city to fall was Toledo, packed with libraries of those Golden Age works translated into Arabic. Suddenly in possession of this vast trove of scholarship, almost all of it in Arabic, the Spanish established what became known as the Toledo School of Translators. It's a privileged few who get the chance to study at a top Ivy League university like Yale. Its esteemed alumni include Bill and Hillary Clinton, George Bush Snr (and Jnr), actors Meryl Streep and Jodie Foster, CNN anchor Anderson Cooper, PepsiCo CEO Indra Nooyi, and the first female head of the Federal Reserve Janet Yellen, to name just a handful. But now the college has made available online, for free, the most popular course in its long and storied history. And it's a course that could be useful for anyone and everyone, regardless of their skills, knowledge, stage in life or their career aspirations. Yale University is located in Connecticut, but you can do one of their courses a bit closer to home. Credit:Christopher Capozziello It's been nicknamed "The Happiness Class", and unlike most units of study you would encounter at a university, it's all about arming students with the skills to lead a happy and fulfilled life. The final assessment is not an exam, but a personal self-improvement project. The official title of the class is Psychology and the Good Life, and with 1182 undergraduates currently enrolled, it's the most popular course in Yales 316-year history. FORM 8.3 PUBLIC OPENING POSITION DISCLOSURE/DEALING DISCLOSURE BY A PERSON WITH INTERESTS IN RELEVANT SECURITIES REPRESENTING 1% OR MORE Rule 8.3 of the Takeover Code (the "Code") 1. KEY INFORMATION (a) Full name of discloser: Investec Wealth & Investment (b) Owner or controller of interests and short positions disclosed, if different from 1(a): The naming of nominee or vehicle companies is insufficient. For a trust, the trustee(s), settlor and beneficiaries must be named. N/A (c) Name of offeror/offeree in relation to whose relevant securities this form relates: Use a separate form for each offeror/offeree James Halstead plc (d) If an exempt fund manager connected with an offeror/offeree, state this and specify identity of offeror/offeree: N/A (e) Date position held/dealing undertaken: For an opening position disclosure, state the latest practicable date prior to the disclosure 18th April 2018 (f) In addition to the company in 1(c) above, is the discloser making disclosures in respect of any other party to the offer? If it is a cash offer or possible cash offer, state "N/A" No 2. POSITIONS OF THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE If there are positions or rights to subscribe to disclose in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 2(a) or (b) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security. (a) Interests and short positions in the relevant securities of the offeror or offeree to which the disclosure relates following the dealing (if any) Class of relevant security: Interests Short positions Number % Number % (1) Relevant securities owned and/or controlled: 5,047,478 2.43% (2) Cash-settled derivatives: (3) Stock-settled derivatives (including options) and agreements to purchase/sell: TOTAL: 5,047,478 2.43% All interests and all short positions should be disclosed. Details of any open stock-settled derivative positions (including traded options), or agreements to purchase or sell relevant securities, should be given on a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions). (b) Rights to subscribe for new securities (including directors' and other employee options) Class of relevant security in relation to which subscription right exists: Details, including nature of the rights concerned and relevant percentages: 3. DEALINGS (IF ANY) BY THE PERSON MAKING THE DISCLOSURE Where there have been dealings in more than one class of relevant securities of the offeror or offeree named in 1(c), copy table 3(a), (b), (c) or (d) (as appropriate) for each additional class of relevant security dealt in. The currency of all prices and other monetary amounts should be stated. (a) Purchases and sales Class of relevant security Purchase/sale Number of securities Price per unit Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares Ordinary Shares Purchase Purchase Sale 1,509 1,990 1,509 382p 389.999p 380p (b) Cash-settled derivative transactions Class of relevant security Product description e.g. CFD Nature of dealing e.g. opening/closing a long/short position, increasing/reducing a long/short position Number of reference securities Price per unit (c) Stock-settled derivative transactions (including options) (i) Writing, selling, purchasing or varying Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Writing, purchasing, selling, varying etc. Number of securities to which option relates Exercise price per unit Type e.g. American, European etc. Expiry date Option money paid/ received per unit (ii) Exercise Class of relevant security Product description e.g. call option Exercising/ exercised against Number of securities Exercise price per unit (d) Other dealings (including subscribing for new securities) Class of relevant security Nature of dealing e.g. subscription, conversion Details Price per unit (if applicable) 4. OTHER INFORMATION (a) Indemnity and other dealing arrangements Details of any indemnity or option arrangement, or any agreement or understanding, formal or informal, relating to relevant securities which may be an inducement to deal or refrain from dealing entered into by the person making the disclosure and any party to the offer or any person acting in concert with a party to the offer: Irrevocable commitments and letters of intent should not be included. If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" N/A (b) Agreements, arrangements or understandings relating to options or derivatives Details of any agreement, arrangement or understanding, formal or informal, between the person making the disclosure and any other person relating to: (i) the voting rights of any relevant securities under any option; or (ii) the voting rights or future acquisition or disposal of any relevant securities to which any derivative is referenced: If there are no such agreements, arrangements or understandings, state "none" N/A (c) Attachments Is a Supplemental Form 8 (Open Positions) attached? NO Date of disclosure: 19th April 2018 Contact name: Phil Beardwell Chartered FCSI Telephone number: 020 7597 1356 Public disclosures under Rule 8 of the Code must be made to a Regulatory Information Service and must also be emailed to the Takeover Panel at monitoring@disclosure.org.uk. The Panel's Market Surveillance Unit is available for consultation in relation to the Code's disclosure requirements on +44 (0)20 7638 0129. The Code can be viewed on the Panel's website at www.thetakeoverpanel.org.uk. TORONTO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadas environmental record ranks in the top ten among comparable high-income countries around the world, finds a new study released today by the Fraser Institute, an independent, non-partisan Canadian policy think-tank. As Earth Day approaches, its important to acknowledge that Canada has an excellent environmental record when stacked up against the worlds richest, cleanest and most developed countries, said Ross McKitrick, economics professor at the University of Guelph, Fraser Institute senior fellow and co-author of Environmental Ranking for Canada and the OECD. The study ranks 33 high-income countries in the Organization for Economic Co-operation and Development (OECD) on a wide range of environmental indicators that relate both to the protection of human health, such as air pollution, and the preservation of Canadas ecosystems, such as water quality. Canada ranks 10th overall with a score of 68.5 out of a possible 100.0well above the OECD average (62.9). Notably, many of the top ranked countries are clustered closely together. For example, Canada (10th) and 3rd place New Zealand (which scored 73.8) are only five points apart. Sweden ranks 1st overall with a score of 78.9. On some important measures, including health risks posed by water pollution (3rd), air quality (9th) and low-emitting electricity production (6th) Canada ranks particularly high. These results are especially impressive considering that, compared to the other OECD countries, Canada is much larger and colder (which means more fuel consumption and emissions) and has a large natural resources industry. The reality is most wealthy, developed countries have established sound environmental protection systems, and Canada compares very favourably when stacked up against the best performers in the world, McKitrick said. Despite what some critics claim, Canadas environment is well-protected, especially on measures that directly affect the personal health of Canadians. MEDIA CONTACT: Ross McKitrick, Senior Fellow Fraser Institute Kenneth Green, Senior Director, Natural Resource Studies Fraser Institute To arrange media interviews or for more information, please contact: Bryn Weese, Media Relations Specialist, Fraser Institute Tel: (604) 688-0221 ext. 589 E-mail: bryn.weese@fraserinstitute.org Follow the Fraser Institute on Twitter | Become a fan on Facebook The Fraser Institute is an independent Canadian public policy research and educational organization with offices in Vancouver, Calgary, Toronto, and Montreal and ties to a global network of think-tanks in 87 countries. Its mission is to improve the quality of life for Canadians, their families and future generations by studying, measuring and broadly communicating the effects of government policies, entrepreneurship and choice on their well-being. To protect the Institutes independence, it does not accept grants from governments or contracts for research. Visit www.fraserinstitute.org At the invitation of Mr. Francisco Gil Leyva, Director General of Mexican Customs, WCO Secretary General Kunio Mikuriya attended the XXIst Regional Conference of Customs Directors General for the Americas/Caribbean Region, held in Los Cabos, Mexico, on 16 and 17 April 2018. The meeting was chaired by Mr. Fabian Villarroel Rios of Chilean Customs, Chile being the current Vice-Chair for the Americas/Caribbean Region. Secretary General Mikuriya presented the WCOs prevailing key priorities: trade facilitation which has taken central stage following the entry into force of the WTO Trade Facilitation Agreement, with the Revised Kyoto Convention (RKC) and the Mercator Programme constituting key tools for implementing the Agreement; e-commerce, with the principles set out in the Resolution adopted at the WCOs December 2017 Policy Commission session in Luxor now being further developed into a framework of standards; security and the role of Customs in combating terrorism and its financing; Customs-Tax cooperation; illicit financial flows, with the WCO being mandated by the G20 to contribute to its work on this issue; and performance measurement and the progress being made in this area, particularly in relation to the World Banks "Doing Business" report. Contact has been established with the Bank to ensure that input from Customs is taken into account when preparing the report. The Secretary General also referred to two possible future priority areas, namely the review and updating of the RKC and the review of the structure of the Harmonized System. Delegates held detailed discussions on the Regional Strategic Plan and its Strategic Objectives, focusing on implementation of coordinated border management, promotion of compliance with Customs regulations through the implementation of programmes aligned with international standards, and capacity building for Customs officers to ensure an efficient, high-quality service. In addition, presentations were given on Passenger Name Record information exchange, digital Customs clearance, the combating of corruption in Customs, and progress with the establishment of a Mexico-based Regional Customs Laboratory. A number of bilateral agreements were also signed between Members of the Region, particularly in the area of mutual recognition of Authorized Economic Operator programmes. The Dominican Republic was selected as the next Vice-Chair of the Region, with effect from after the June 2018 Council sessions. The participants expressed their appreciation to the Director General of Mexican Customs and the Mexican Administration for the warm welcome extended to them and for the excellent organization of the Conference. English Swedish Stockholm, April 19, 2018 PRESS RELEASE - NAXS AB (publ) Not for release, publication or distribution, directly or indirectly, in or into the United States, Hong Kong, Canada, Japan or Australia, or any other jurisdiction in which the distribution or release would be unlawful. NAXS has made a EUR 4 million investment in Nordic Capital CV1 NAXS AB (publ) has made a EUR 4 million investment in Nordic Capital CV1, a continuation vehicle established by Nordic Capital, where its Fund VII has transferred its remaining nine unlisted portfolio companies, with a combined enterprise value of EUR 4.4 billion. Nordic Capital Fund VIIs original term expired in December 2017 and by concluding this transaction, Nordic Capital will have the opportunity to maximize the value creation potential of these nine companies, providing them with active support and fresh capital over an additional five-year investment period under continued Nordic Capital management. In connection with the transaction, NAXS has also opted to roll-over its current interests in the nine remaining unlisted portfolio companies in Nordic Capital Fund VII to Nordic Capital CV1. NAXSs initial commitment to Nordic Capital Fund VII was EUR 20 million. Contact information : Lennart Svantesson, CEO Telephone: +46 73 311 00 11 This information is information that NAXS AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation and the Securities Markets Act. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 11.30 CET on April 19, 2018. This press release and further information is available on the Companys website: www.naxs.se NAXS AB (publ) Corp. Reg. No. 556712-2972 Grev Turegatan 10 114 46 Stockholm, Sweden Tel: +46 8 611 33 25, E-mail: info@naxs.se Attachment By Apr. 19, 2018 Each year, West Kentucky Community and Technical College has campus events for students, faculty and staff to celebrate Earth Week. This years celebration includes a day full of family fun, educational activities and music for the community April 28 from 11 am to 5 pm near the colleges Haws Gym. We invite everyone to campus for crafts, a cooking demonstration, an obstacle course, a life-sized Operation Game, learning opportunities about hybrid vehicles, bee hives, animal conservation, Kentucky bats, marine chemistry, kids contest and so much more, said Bobby Lee, WKCTC Sustainability Project coordinator and biology professor. WKCTC faculty, staff, and students and Earth-friendly community groups such as Watershed Watch, Land Between the Lakes and Clarks River Wildlife Refuge will be help make the event a day to remember. This is an opportunity to learn more about what is going on locally and simply meet and enjoy life on Earth, said Lee. The days cooking demonstration begins at 11:30 am. Local bands The Legendary Jack Martin & Good Company, The Melungeons, Art Thieves and Barely Blue will play during the event beginning at 1 pm. The college will also have a booth to collect new childrens sneakers for the Scholar House, which is located near the WKCTC campus. WKCTCs Kitchens Cafe will be the food vendor for the day. If it rains, the activities will be moved into Haws Gym. Earth Day, which began in 1970, is celebrated annually in April with events worldwide in support of the environment and to raise awareness for the environmental protection and care of the planet. Like WKCTC, many communities Earth Day celebrations are part of Earth Week, an entire week of activities. WKCTC and the City of Paducah are sponsoring the April 28 Earth Week Celebration. For more information, contact Bobby Lee at bobby.lee@kctcs.edu or 270-534-3237. PADUCAH, KY - WKCTC invites the community to its Earth Day Celebration on April 28 for a free family fun day including a concert - rain or shine. McCracken to use voluntary 'Test to Stay' Program for unvaccinated students Email To : Multiple e-mail addresses must be separated with a comma character(maximum 200 characters) Email To is required. Your Full Name: (optional) Your Email Address: Your Email Address is required. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Titan Mining Corporation (Titan or the Company) (TSX:TI) announces the closing of a senior secured credit facility with the Bank of Nova Scotia, and the appointment of Naomi Johnson as Vice President, Community Relations. Closing of Senior Secured Credit Facility Titan is pleased to announce the closing of a US$15 million senior secured credit facility with the Bank of Nova Scotia. On November 30, 2017, the Company announced that it had received a letter of commitment for the credit facility, of which US$5 million would become available on closing, with the remainder available based on certain production milestones. The Company remains fully financed to commercial production at the Empire State Mines #4 mine, which is expected in the second quarter of 2018. The two-year revolving credit facility provides additional flexibility to advance the Companys business objectives over time. Management Appointment Naomi Johnson joined Titan in April 2018. She is a global community relations executive, international development specialist and lawyer with 15 years of management experience in leadership positions across the private, public and not-for-profit sectors. Ms. Johnson was most recently a Partner and Senior Director of Community Relations at Barrick Gold. She has previously worked for Hatch, War Child Canada and the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees. Ms. Johnson brings a broad perspective to the development of sustainable and leading-edge approaches to stakeholder impact and risk management at Titan. Richard Warke, President and Chief Executive Officer, stated, We will benefit from Naomis diverse experience as we continue to lay the groundwork for a significant positive long-term impact on the communities associated with our operation. About Titan Mining Corporation Titan is a Canadian-based zinc exploration and development company which has as its principal asset the Empire State Mines in the State of New York. For more information on the Company, please visit our website at www.titanminingcorp.com. Contact For further information, please contact: Jerrold Annett Senior Vice President, Corporate Development Telephone: 416-366-5678 Ext. 207 | Email: jannett@titanminingcorp.com Jacqueline Allison Vice President, Investor Relations and Strategic Analysis Telephone: 416-366-5678 Ext. 205 | Email: jallison@titanminingcorp.com Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Information This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. Words such as expects, anticipates and intends or similar expressions are intended to identify forward-looking statements. Forward-looking information is necessarily based on a number of opinions, assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company as of the date of this press release, are subject to known and unknown risks, uncertainties, assumptions and other factors that may cause the actual results, use of proceeds or timing of events to be materially different from those expressed or implied by such forward-looking information, including, but not limited to, the factors described in greater detail in the Risks and Uncertainties section and other sections of the Companys Managements Discussion and Analysis for the year ended December 31, 2017, available at www.sedar.com. No securities regulatory authority has expressed an opinion about the securities described herein and it is an offence to claim otherwise. Titan undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as may be required by law. A local group put together by the governor is working to combat drug addiction in Kansas. The Governor's Task Force to Address Substance Abuse Disorders met for the first time Thursday. The task force was put together through an executive order in March, and will review and discuss all aspects of drug addiction. This includes education, prevention and treatment. "Methamphetamine's has always been a problem in Kansas and the opiate crisis is heading this way, potentially, and so we're doing everything we can to minimize it's impact in Kansas," said Greg Lakin, the State Health Officer. Lakin said some heroin is laced with carfentanil, a synthetic opioid, which is very potent and has caused many overdose deaths. COLORADO SPRINGS, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gold Resource Corporation (NYSE American: GORO) (the Company) today announced its maiden mineral reserve for the Isabella Pearl gold project located in Mineral County, Nevada, increasing its Company-wide gold reserves by 135%. Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company has returned $110 million to shareholders in monthly dividends since commercial production commenced July 1, 2010 and offers shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. Proven and probable reserves included in the Isabella Pearl reserve report (with a drill data cutoff date of December 31, 2017) include 2,694,500 tonnes grading 2.22 grams per tonne (g/t) gold and 13 g/t silver, equating to 192,600 gold ounces and 1,129,100 silver ounces (see table below). When combined with the Oaxaca Mining Units December 31, 2017 mineral reserve, Company-wide proven and probable reserve tonnes now total 5,195,600, an increase of 108%, while gold ounces in the proven and probable category total 335,000, an increase of 135%. We are very pleased to release our initial reserve report for the Isabella Pearl gold project, stated Mr. Barry Devlin, Vice President of Exploration for Gold Resource Corporation. The impressive gold grades for a potential open pit heap leach operation at Isabella Pearl is what first attracted our Company to this project. An average gold grade of 2.22 grams per tonne combined with positive metallurgy exceeding 80 percent crushed rock gold recovery have the potential to make this a very exciting open pit, heap leach project. Our reserve for the Isabella Pearl gold project clearly demonstrates the potential positive impact this project could have on shareholder value once unlocked by production, stated Mr. Jason Reid, President and CEO of Gold Resource Corporation. Increasing our gold reserves by 135% with this project will be an important driver of Gold Resource Corporations future revenues and growth profile which includes targeting a more than 100% increase to our annual gold production once Isabella Pearl is fully operational. We are excited to be in the final stages of permitting and are optimistic that 2018 will be an exciting year of mine construction at Isabella Pearl. Description Tonnes Gold g/t Silver g/t Gold Ounces Silver Ounces Isabella Pearl Project Proven 590,500 5.44 37 103,300 697,900 Probable 2,104,000 1.32 6 89,300 431,200 Isabella Pearl Project Total 2,694,500 2.22 13 192,600 1,129,100 Notes to the Isabella Pearl P&P reserves: Metal prices used for P&P reserves were $1,222 per ounce of gold and $16.62 per ounce of silver. These prices reflect the three-year trailing average prices for gold and silver. The quantities of material within the designed pits were calculated using a cutoff grade of 0.61 Au g/t for Crushed ore and 0.38 Au g/t for Run-of-Mine (ROM) ore. Mining, processing, energy, administrative and smelting/refining costs were based on first quarter 2018 cost estimates used for the Isabella Pearl Project feasibility study. Metallurgical gold recovery assumptions used were 81% for Crushed ore and 60% for ROM ore. These recoveries reflect predicted average recoveries from metallurgical test programs. Silver is an economic mineral of interest but only a minor amount will be recovered. Silver recoveries were not considered in the Isabella Pearl Project feasibility study. P&P reserves are diluted and factored for expected mining recovery. Figures in tables are rounded to reflect estimate precision and small differences generated by rounding are not material to estimates. The full reserve report and feasibility study will be available in the near future from the Companys website using the following link: http://goldresourcecorp.com/reserve-reports.php About GRC: Gold Resource Corporation is a gold and silver producer, developer and explorer with operations in Oaxaca, Mexico and Nevada, USA. The Company targets low capital expenditure projects with potential for generating high returns on capital. The Company has 57,230,793 shares outstanding, zero warrants and has returned $110 million back to shareholders since commercial production commenced July 1, 2010. Gold Resource Corporation offers shareholders the option to convert their cash dividends into physical gold and silver and take delivery. For more information, please visit GRCs website, located at www.goldresourcecorp.com and read the Companys 10-K for an understanding of the risk factors involved. Cautionary Statements: This press release contains forward-looking statements that involve risks and uncertainties. The statements contained in this press release that are not purely historical are forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act and Section 21E of the Exchange Act. When used in this press release, the words plan, target, "anticipate," "believe," "estimate," "intend" and "expect" and similar expressions are intended to identify such forward-looking statements. Such forward-looking statements include, without limitation, the statements regarding Gold Resource Corporations strategy, future plans for production, future expenses and costs, future liquidity and capital resources, and estimates of mineralized material. All forward-looking statements in this press release are based upon information available to Gold Resource Corporation on the date of this press release, and the company assumes no obligation to update any such forward-looking statements. Forward looking statements involve a number of risks and uncertainties, and there can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate. The Company's actual results could differ materially from those discussed in this press release. In particular, there can be no assurance that production will continue at any specific rate. Factors that could cause or contribute to such differences include, but are not limited to, those discussed in the Companys 10-K filed with the SEC. Ship Finance International Limited ("Ship Finance" or the "Company") (NYSE: SFL) today announced the pricing of its offering of $150 million aggregate principal amount of Convertible Senior Notes due 2023 (the "Notes"). The Notes will pay interest quarterly in arrears at a rate of 4.875% per annum, and will mature on May 1, 2023, unless earlier repurchased, redeemed or converted. The Notes will be convertible into, at the Company's election, cash, common shares, or a combination of cash and common shares, as further described in the offering prospectus. The conversion rate for the Notes will initially be 52.8157 common shares per $1,000 principal amount of the Notes, which is equivalent to an initial conversion price of approximately $18.93 per common share, and is subject to adjustment under the terms of the Notes. The Company has granted the underwriters an option to purchase up to an additional $22.5 million aggregate principal amount of the Notes to cover over-allotments. The Company intends to use the net proceeds received from the offering of the Notes for general corporate purposes, including working capital. The Company continuously evaluates potential transactions that it believes will be accretive to earnings, enhance shareholder value or are in the best interests of the Company. Any funds received may be used by the Company for any corporate purpose, which may include pursuit of other business combinations, the acquisition of vessels or related businesses, the expansion of its operations, repayment of existing debt, share repurchases, short term investments or other uses. In connection with the Company's offering of the Notes, a subsidiary of the Company will enter into separate share lending agreements with each of Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. (or their respective affiliates) (the "Share Borrowers"), under which it will lend to the Share Borrowers a total of up to 7,000,000 of the Company's common shares. The borrowed shares are newly-issued shares issued in connection with this transaction and will be cancelled or held as treasury shares upon the expiration or early termination of the share lending arrangements. Purchasers of the Notes may separately sell up to 7,000,000 of the Company's common shares that they may borrow through the Share Borrowers. The Company expects that the selling shareholders will use the short position created by such sale to establish their initial hedge with respect to their investments in the Notes. Neither the Company, nor its subsidiaries, nor its shareholders will receive any proceeds from the sale of the borrowed shares. Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, Jefferies LLC and Citigroup Global Markets Inc. are acting as joint book-running managers for the offering of the Notes. DNB Markets, Inc., Seaport Global Securities LLC, BTIG, LLC, ABN AMRO Securities (USA) LLC and ING Financial Markets LLC are acting as co-managers. The offering of the Notes and the offering of the Company's common shares are being made by means of separate prospectus supplements to the prospectus forming a part of the Company's effective shelf registration statement filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC") on September 26, 2016 and other related documents. You may obtain these documents for free by visiting EDGAR on the SEC website at www.sec.gov. Alternatively, copies of the preliminary prospectus supplements may be obtained from Morgan Stanley & Co. LLC, 180 Varick Street, 2nd Floor, New York, New York 10014, Attention: Prospectus Department; Jefferies LLC, Attention: Equity Syndicate Prospectus Department, 520 Madison Avenue, 2nd Floor, New York, NY, 10022, by email at Prospectus_Department@Jefferies.com or by phone at +1 877 821 7388, or Citigroup Global Markets Inc. c/o Broadridge Financial Solutions, 1155 Long Island Avenue, Edgewood, NY 11717, at +1 800 831 9146. Before you invest, you should read the prospectus supplements and accompanying base prospectus along with other documents that the Company has filed with the SEC for more complete information about the Company and these offerings. This announcement does not constitute an offer to sell, or a solicitation of an offer to buy, the Notes, the Company's common shares or any other securities, nor will there be any sale of convertible notes, the Company's common shares or any other securities in any state or jurisdiction in which such offer, solicitation or sale would be unlawful prior to registration or qualification under the securities laws of any such state or jurisdiction. April 19, 2018 The Board of Directors Ship Finance International Limited Hamilton, Bermuda Investor and Analyst Contact: Harald Gurvin, Chief Financial Officer: +47 23114009 Andre Reppen, Senior Vice President: +47 23114055 Media Contact: Ole B. Hjertaker, Chief Executive Officer: +47 23114011 About Ship Finance Ship Finance International Limited (NYSE: SFL) has a unique track record in the maritime industry, being consistently profitable and paying dividends every quarter since 2004. The Company's fleet of more than 80 vessels is split between tankers, bulkers, container vessels and offshore assets, and Ship Finance's long term distribution capacity is supported by a portfolio of long term charters and significant growth in the asset base over time. Cautionary Statement Regarding Forward Looking Statements This press release may contain forward looking statements. These statements are based upon various assumptions, many of which are based, in turn, upon further assumptions, including Ship Finance management's examination of historical operating trends. Although Ship Finance believes that these assumptions were reasonable when made, because assumptions are inherently subject to significant uncertainties and contingencies which are difficult or impossible to predict and are beyond its control, Ship Finance cannot give assurance that it will achieve or accomplish these expectations, beliefs or intentions. Important factors that, in the Company's view, could cause actual results to differ materially from those discussed in this presentation include the strength of world economies and currencies, general market conditions including fluctuations in charter hire rates and vessel values, changes in demand in the tanker market as a result of changes in OPEC's petroleum production levels and worldwide oil consumption and storage, changes in the Company's operating expenses including bunker prices, dry-docking and insurance costs, changes in governmental rules and regulations or actions taken by regulatory authorities, potential liability from pending or future litigation, general domestic and international political conditions, potential disruption of shipping routes due to accidents or political events, and other important factors described from time to time in the reports filed by the Company with the United States Securities and Exchange Commission. WiGBits Headline News Would you like to receive our WiGBits? Signup today! WiG Entertainment News Would you like to receive our WiG Entertainment News? Signup today! Digital Issue Would you like to receive our Digital Issue? Signup today! Close Get email notifications on Lisa Neff daily! Your notification has been saved. There was a problem saving your notification. Whenever Lisa Neff posts new content, you'll get an email delivered to your inbox with a link. Email notifications are only sent once a day, and only if there are new matching items. LIVINGTON, Scotland, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- memsstar Ltd., a leading provider of etch and deposition equipment to manufacturers of semiconductors and micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS), has received the Texas Instruments (TI) 2017 Supplier Excellence Award. The annual award honors companies whose dedication and commitment in supplying products and services meet TIs high standards for excellence. Recipients are an elite group of suppliers chosen for their exemplary performance in the areas of Cost, Environmental & Social Responsibility, Technology, Responsiveness, Assurance of Supply, and Quality. memsstar was recognized for its delivery of wafer fab equipment and installation. At Texas Instruments, we rely on our suppliers to produce the products our customers want. While we do business with more than 11,000 suppliers, there are a select few that we recognize as the very best, and memsstar Ltd. is one of them, said Rob Simpson, Vice President, Worldwide Procurement and Logistics, Texas Instruments. To achieve this honor, memsstar Ltd. demonstrated throughout 2017 its commitment to the highest level of ethical behavior, as well as exceptional performance in the areas of cost, environmental and social responsibility, technology, responsiveness, assurance of supply and quality. memsstar is in the business of supplying exceptional equipment and service, and to be recognized for our efforts in this area, by a top-tier customer, is rewarding and inspiring, said Tony McKie, memsstar CEO. Its a testament to the level of commitment from our engineers, our sales and our services teams, and I thank them for their dedication in producing a quality experience for TI. About memsstar Limited memsstar Limited is a leading provider of deposition and etch equipment and technology products and services to manufacturers of semiconductors and micro-electrical mechanical systems (MEMS). The companys remanufactured etch and deposition equipment and its proprietary technology solutions support the European semiconductor market and the global MEMS market. memsstar delivers proprietary process technology and equipment to help the MEMS industry meet the challenges of developing and manufacturing increasingly complex and integrated MEMS devices. http://www.memsstar.com/ As protests continue to erupt in the streets of Kenosha, Wisconsin, and across the world in outrage against the horrific shooting of Jacob Bla Read more The two black men arrested at a Philadelphia Starbucks last week say they were handcuffed within minutes of entering the store. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson appeared on ABC's "Good Morning America" on Thursday and described their arrest. They said they went to Starbucks for a business meeting that they believed would change their lives. Nelson said he asked to use the restroom shortly after walking in and was told it was only for paying customers. The two men were waiting for a third person when a white store employee called 911 minutes later. "I was thinking, they can't be here for us," Robinson said of the police. "It didn't really hit me what was going on, that it was real, till I was being double-locked with my hands behind my back." Nelson and Robinson were arrested for trespassing. No charges were filed. Video of the incident went viral and ignited protests and calls for boycotts. Nelson said they had been working on the meeting for months. "We're days away from changing our whole entire situation, our lives, and you about to sit here telling me I can't do that? You're not doing that." "I understand that rules are rules, but what's right is right and what's wrong is wrong," Robinson said. On Monday, the two men met with Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson, who apologized. "I want to make sure that this situation doesn't happen again," Robinson said. "What I want is for a young man, young men, to not be traumatized by this and instead motivated, inspired." Related: Starbucks has a bold plan to address racial bias. Will it work? A lawyer for the two men told "Good Morning America" that Starbucks has agreed to their proposal to enter mediation with a retired federal judge. The store employee who called 911 is no longer with the company. Starbucks has not said under what circumstances she left. Starbucks plans to close its 8,000 company-owned stores in the United States for one afternoon in May to teach employees about racial bias. The training will be provided to about 175,000 workers. It will be developed with guidance from experts including former Attorney General Eric Holder and Sherrilyn Ifill, the president of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund. Related: Starbucks will close 8,000 US stores May 29 for racial-bias training On Wednesday, Johnson and Starbucks founder Howard Schultz met with Philadelphia church and community leaders. Rev. Gregory Holston, executive director of POWER, a group that helped organize the meeting, said he was "cautiously optimistic" about Starbucks' response. In addition to the bias training, Starbucks leaders were pressed in the meeting on raising wages, on hiring workers who have been incarcerated and on their role in gentrifying neighborhoods. "We are challenging them to take the lead in supporting racial justice organizations and speaking to other companies to join the cause," Holston said. Starbucks declined to discuss the meeting, but said through a spokesperson that "we are grateful to have these opportunities to talk with and listen to civic and community leaders this week in Philadelphia." - Correction: This story has been updated to reflect that Nelson, not Robinson, asked to use the restroom. A Utica man who was arrested following a drug bust last year has pleaded guilty to a felony drug charge, according to the Oneida County District Attorneys Office. Larz Forsyth, 21, has pleaded guilty to third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. On Dec. 1, 2017, New York State Police said Forsyth had been arrested following a search of his home at 814 Newell St. in Utica, which was part of an ongoing investigation into cocaine sales in Utica. Police say investigators found and seized cocaine, marijuana, Adderall, a scale, packaging material and about $5,000 in cash. Forsyth was initially charged with felony third-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance and felony fourth-degree criminal possession of a controlled substance. Forsyth is scheduled to be sentenced on June 14. UTICA, NY-- Congresswoman Claudia Tenney is condemning Utica and Oneida County's use of eminent domain concerning property in the downtown hospital footprint. Rep. Claudia Tenney, (R-22) said the use of eminent domain over the proposed downtown hospital is an overreach of government. "Politicians in the state and some on the local level have a long record of abusing taxpayer money by using that money to prop up one private business over another," she said in a written press release. "Declaring eminent domain... in the proposed downtown Utica hospital footprint is an equally egregious taking of constitutionally protected rights." Oneida County will handle eminent domain for properties in the footprint of the proposed parking garage and Utica's Urban Renewal Agency will handle acquiring the other properties in the project footprint, if the hospital isn't able to through negotiations. The hospital will be built in the downtown area near Oriskany Columbia and State streets and Broadway. Currently, 10 of the 35 property owners have signs purchase agreements. Three have said they will not sell and five have not responded to purchase offers. Seventeen property owners are still in negotiations with the Mohawk Valley Health System. The health system can't take possession of those properties until the State Environmental Quality Review is finished this fall. Tenney said business owners being able to control their property is a cornerstone principle of our government, and that project is being presented under economic development, but the state has a history of spending billions in tax money without enough results. "Now, self-serving politicians are going even further, forcing multi-generational, taxpaying businesses out of our community," she said, in a written press release. "This is not only a costly undertaking for businesses, this could force many to the brink of bankruptcy. These businesses are among the few left which contribute to our shrinking tax base, to worthy charitable causes in our region and many have been staples in our community for generations." Oneida County Executive Anthony Picente responded with the following statement, "Once again, Claudia Tenney speaks before thinking. Obviously, she doesn't care about the health care of her constituents. She doesn't know anything about this project because in between her taxpayer-funded vacations to Taiwan and Egypt, she has failed to learn anything about it. While she continues to make headlines as a national embarrassment, we still await action from her on the issues facing our community including school safety, relief from FEMA and help for our dairy farmers." Mayor Robert Palmieri also released a statement regarding Tenney's reaction to the possible use of eminent domain. "The proposed hospital project is a transformational, once in a lifetime opportunity to bring state-of-the-art medical care and technology to our community. Congresswoman Tenney is entitled to her opinion, but she is factually inaccurate in referencing "our shrinking tax base" as Utica's tax base has grown over the past six years due to proactive and aggressive economic development efforts. This project is about providing high quality health care our residents deserve. Rather than spreading political rhetoric, my Administration will continue to work with and assist impacted businesses on an individual basis." Scott Perra, the CEO and president of MVHS responded to Tenney's comments with the following statement, "While we acknowledge that there are properties that could reach the eminent domain process, MVHS will continue to reach out and work with all property owners to reach an agreement. It is our desire to avoid the use of eminent domain if possible." Officials with MVHS will meet with local business owners in favor of the downtown hospital tomorrow. According to MVHS leaders will share their reasons for wanting the downtown location and anticipated benefits. The projected $480 million hospital is expected to break ground next year and be complete by 2022. The state of New York is making free food pantries a standard fixture on all its public college campuses. The big focus is on the SUNY system. Some local community colleges and universities are in the process of starting their own food pantries. It's a part of a nationwide effort to deal with rising college costs and the ability for some students to afford basics, such as food. A recent study found that out of 43,000 students across the nation, attending two- and four-year colleges, 36 percent of those students are dealing with hunger issues. Among community college students alone, nearly half of those students said they struggle to get enough food. Some local community colleges are trying to combat the issue. Mohawk Valley Community College recently launched a food pantry for its students. Herkimer College is in the beginning stages of their food pantry, which they hope to implement in the upcoming fall semester. At SUNY Polytechnic Institute, students work with local organizations to ensure food security for those who need it most. Experts say food insecurity takes a toll on college students. They say it makes it harder for students to achieve their goals and graduate with a degree that can prove their financial situation. The Associated Press contributed to this story. U.S. Immigration and Customs Enforcement (ICE) has issued a statement in response to a man being detained at a Rome farm on Wednesday morning. John Collins said ICE officers showed up at his farm on Thomas Road in Rome Wednesday morning and detained one of his employees, Marcial DeLeon-Aguilar, who lives on Collins farm with his pregnant wife and four children. ICE officials said in a statement on Thursday afternoon, "On April 18, ICE deportation officers arrested Marcial DeLeon-Aguilar, a citizen of Guatemala illegally residing in the U.S., on immigration violations. ICE previously removed DeLeon-Aguilar from the U.S. on three occasions, most recently in January 2014. He has criminal convictions for reckless aggravated assault and illegal re-entry and is currently in ICE custody. Collins claims that he was helping DeLeon-Aguilar earn legal documentation, and he says that DeLeon-Aguilar had an I-9 form and also had part of his salary withheld for taxes. Collins also says that ICE officers lied about DeLeon-Aguilar resisting arrest. ICE officials say those who illegally re-enter the country after being removed can face federal felony charges that carry sentences of up to 20 years in prison if convicted. ICE also provided the following information: With respect to judicial warrants, federal immigration law clearly provides for the arrest of removable aliens based on administrative arrest warrants issued by authorized immigration officers. Federal regulations specify which immigration officers have this authority. 8 CFR 287.5(e)(2). Such administrative warrants are supported by probable cause. The administrative immigration enforcement process designed by Congress creates no role for federal courts in determining whether an individual alien should be arrested for violating federal immigration law. Collins says that he was handcuffed as well during the incident, then released on his own property. ______________________________________ RELATED COVERAGE: Rome farmer says ICE agents stormed property, detained employee (NBC News) National Transportation Safety Board investigators charged with finding out what caused a Southwest Airlines jet engine to break apart in mid-air Tuesday are focusing on whether wear and tear caused a fan blade to break off. "There is evidence of metal fatigue where the blade separated," says NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt. Officials discovered plane debris in a rural area in eastern Pennsylvania. The Boeing 737 was at 32,000 feet when the left engine exploded about 20 minutes after takeoff. Shrapnel from the engine struck the plane and shattered a window causing the cabin to de-pressurize. Killed in the accident was 43-year-old bank executive Jennifer Riordan of New Mexico, who was partially sucked through the window before passengers were able to pull her back inside. Read more: https://nbcnews.to/2HM1PMI (NBC News) President Trump is leaving the door open to cancel or walk out of a meeting with North Korean dictator Kim Jong Un. "If I think it's a meeting that's not going to be fruitful were not going to go," said Mr. Trump. "If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful I will respectfully leave the meeting." The main goal of the summit is getting North Korea to give up it its nuclear program. Mr. Trump is aiming to meet somewhere neutral in early June. Senior officials tell NBC Switzerland, Sweden or Singapore are all possible locations for the summit. On Russia, the president is rejecting speculation that he may get rid of the man in charge of the investigation, Robert Mueller, or the deputy attorney general who oversees it. Read more: https://nbcnews.to/2H9Scdo China News on Women Sorry, the page you requested was not found. If you're having trouble locating a destination on Womenofchina.cn, try visiting the Womenofchina Home page DENVER, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- RLH Corporation (NYSE:RLH) announced today that it will report first quarter earnings results at 1:00pm Eastern Time on May 10. Hosting the call will be RLH Corporation President & Chief Executive Officer Greg Mount and Executive Vice President & Chief Financial Officer Doug Ludwig. To participate in the conference call, please dial the following number ten minutes prior to the scheduled time: (877) 407-8289. International callers should dial (201) 689-8341. This conference call will also be webcast live on www.redlion.com in the Investor Relations section of the website. To listen to the live call, please go to the RLH Corporation website at least fifteen minutes prior to the start of the call to register and to download and install any necessary audio software. For those unable to participate during the live broadcast, a replay will be available at approximately 8:00 p.m. Eastern Time on May,10th through May 24th, 2018 at (877) 660-6853 or (International) (201) 612-7415, using access code 13678805. The replay will also be available shortly after the call on the RLH Corporation website. About RLH Corporation Red Lion Hotels Corporation is an innovative hotel company doing business as RLH Corporation and focuses on the franchising, management and ownership of upscale, midscale and economy hotels. The company focuses on maximizing return on invested capital for hotel owners across North America through relevant brands, industry-leading technology and forward-thinking services. For more information, please visit the company's website at www.rlhco.com. Social Media: www.Facebook.com/myhellorewards www.Twitter.com/myhellorewards www.Instagram.com/myhellorewards www.Linkedin.com/company/rlhco Investor Relations Contact: Amy Koch O: 509-777-6417 C: 917-579-5012 investorrelations@rlhco.com Media Contact: Dan Schacter Director, Social Engagement and Public Relations 509-777-6222 dan.schacter@rlhco.com Canada considers participation in Iter fusion project 19 April 2018 Share Canada has signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Iter Organisation to explore how Canada can participate in the project to construct the International Thermonuclear Experimental Reactor. The fusion reactor - construction of which began in 2010 - is scheduled to achieve first plasma in 2025. Champagne (left) and Bigot (right) sign the MoU (Image: Global Affairs Canada) The MoU was signed in Paris on 17 April by Francois-Philippe Champagne, Canada's Minister of International Trade, and Bernard Bigot, Director General of the Iter Organisation. It was signed during a Canadian trade mission to France. The Canadian government noted, "Canada is not currently a member of Iter as it does not contribute financially to the project. However, given Canada's history and expertise in nuclear-fusion-enabling technologies, the MoU between Canada and Iter will help identify the precise domains in which Canadian suppliers could export expertise and technologies on a commercial basis to the Iter Project." It noted that tritium - an isotope of hydrogen - is a by-product of the operation of Candu pressurised heavy water reactors. It is also an essential part of the fuel that will be required for the Iter Project. Canada has a long history of expertise in the technology and handling of tritium. "Canada's expertise in the nuclear sector is world renowned, and this MoU will launch a process to ensure that Canadian suppliers are able to export technologies and expertise on a commercial basis in support of the Iter Project, which, in turn, will contribute to well-paying middle-class jobs and more sustainable energy in the future," Champagne said. Jim Carr, Canada's Minister of Natural Resources, welcomed the signing of the MoU. He said: "This arrangement will ensure that Canadian suppliers are positioned to support the Iter Project on a commercial basis, helping to advance clean, non-emitting energy for the future." Iter is a major international project to build a 500MW tokamak fusion device (requiring an input of 50MW) designed to prove the feasibility of fusion as a large-scale and carbon-free source of energy. The European Union is contributing almost half of the cost of its construction, while the other six members (China, India, Japan, South Korea, Russia and the USA) are contributing equally to the rest. Under a revised schedule established by the Iter organisation in 2016, first plasma is planned for 2025, with deuterium-tritium fusion experiments commencing in 2035. Construction costs are expected to be around EUR20 billion (USD25 billion), with components contributed by the Iter members on an 'in-kind' basis. Iter's specialised components - some 10 million parts in total - are being manufactured in industrial facilities all over the world. They are subsequently shipped to the Iter worksite, where they must be assembled, piece-by-piece, into the final machine. In December, the Iter Organisation announced: "According to the stringent metrics that measure project performance, 50% of the 'total construction work scope through First Plasma' is now complete." Researched and written by World Nuclear News Related topics PARIS, FRANCE: Total SA has entered into an agreement to acquire 74.33 percent stake in Direct Energie, a French electric utility company. The transaction is valued at a total price of approximately 1.4 billion. In the field of natural gas and electricity distribution to both consumers and professionals, Total is firmly establishing itself as a leading alternative supplier by combining its 1.5 million client portfolio with Direct Energies 2.6 million client portfolio. This combination will enable Total to pursue its ambitious development program to become a standard-setting player in electricity supply in France and Belgium, targeting over 6 million customers in France and more than 1 million customers in Belgium by 2022. With this deal, Total is also pursuing and expanding its development in the power generation market, with Direct Energies power generation activities offering an excellent complementarity with those of the Total groups subsidiaries operating in these fields. Direct Energies installed capacity of 1.35 GW, including 800 MW of gas-fired power plant and 550 MW of renewable electricity, will supplement Totals 900 MW installed capacity. Given Direct Energies project portfolio in this area (a 400 MW gas-fired power plant under construction and a 2 GW pipeline of renewable electricity projects in France), Total Eren in emerging countries and Sunpower in US, Total aims to have a global capacity of at least 10 GW of installed capacity within five years, either in the form of gas-fired power plants or in the form of renewable electricity capacities. Through this transaction, Total is actively pursuing its development in electricity and gas generation and distribution in France and Belgium. This friendly takeover is part of the groups strategy to expand along the entire gas-electricity value chain and to develop low-carbon energies, in line with our ambition to become the responsible energy major. We are delighted to welcome the Direct Energie teams into Total, said Patrick Pouyanne, chairman and CEO of Total. We welcome this transaction with pride and enthusiasm and we are convinced that combining with Total will be to the benefit of our customers. The Direct Energie teams will be at the heart of the strategy of one of the greatest French companies. I have no doubt that their hard work, creativity and talents will allow the new entity to expand its ambitions, added Xavier Caitucoli, chairman and CEO of Direct Energie. Worldofchemicals News Team expansion at Wrexhams new Enterprise Hub as three key appointments made This article is old - Published: Thursday, Apr 19th, 2018 The Wrexham Enterprise Hub has appointed three new members to its team as work continues to develop the centre ahead of its launch in the coming months. Carl Turner joins the team as community manager alongside Pete Rogers and Victoria Williams as Community Assistants. Formerly a community manager for NatWest Bank, Carl will be responsible for finding and supporting new members, sourcing and organising business mentors, organising events and the general day-to-day running of the Hub. Pete, a freelance film producer and touring poet, will manage the Hubs website, social media and general marketing materials. Victoria comes to the centre from a career in the financial sector and will manage the mounting administrative tasks for the organisation. The Wrexham Enterprise Hub will be delivered by Town Square Spaces for Business Wales and is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government. The two-year pilot will focus on securing at least 1m of private investment for its members as well as building a community of entrepreneurs that will boost the local economy. Gareth Jones, founder of Town Square Spaces, said the new appointees are the next positive steps to a burgeoning start-up space. Work on the Hub at Queens Square is progressing well, explained Gareth. However, its communities that decide the success of start-up spaces, and they are built of positive people. All the successful hubs, spaces and co-working areas across the world succeed when they build a community of like-minded individuals who, through collaboration and mutual support, grow their businesses together. In Carl, we have someone with the skills, experience and most importantly, the attitude to engage and invigorate the huge potential Wrexham has for start-ups and small business. Similarly, in Pete and Victoria, we have some incredibly able team members who will do all they can to make the Hub as open and supportive as possible. Carl, who is already on the hunt for founding members for the Hub, said keeping the community engaged would be key to its development: Apart from sourcing enough coffee to keep the Hub running, the biggest challenge will be keeping member events and opportunities fresh and engaging. Fortunately, in myself, Pete, Victoria and founders Gareth and Mandy, we have a creative crew thats more than up to the task. Id like to encourage anyone with an idea or a desire to start their own business to get in touch with us, by phone or e-mail. We can offer support to anyone in the early stages of their business; from someone working from home who wants to take advantage of the natural networking opportunities that come with being part of a community, to the individual with a promising idea who cant quite quit their day job yet we can help. Give us a call on 03000 6 03000 or e-mail carl.turner@businesswales.org.uk Business Wales, which is funded by the European Regional Development Fund through the Welsh Government, supports the sustainable growth of small and medium-size enterprises across the region by offering access to information, guidance and business support. To find out how Business Wales can help start or develop your business, call 03000 6 03000, follow @_businesswales or @_busnescymru on Twitter or visit www.businesswales.gov.wales/ or www.busnescymru.llyw.cymru/ for further information. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Namaste Technologies Inc. (Namaste or the Company) (CSE:N) (FRA:M5BQ) (OTCMKTS:NXTTF) is pleased to announce that it has received conditional approval to list the common shares and warrants of the Company on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSXV) as a Tier 1 issuer. The listing is subject to the Company fulfilling certain requirements of the TSXV in accordance with the terms of its conditional approval letter dated April 18th, 2018. The Company anticipates that the common shares will continue to trade under the trading symbol "N" and its warrants will continue to trade under the symbol "N.WT." The Company will proceed expeditiously to satisfy these conditions and management is confident that all conditions for listing will be met. Upon obtaining final approval, the Company will issue a further press release to inform shareholders when it anticipates that its common shares and warrants will commence trading on the TSXV. Management Commentary Sean Dollinger, President and CEO of Namaste comments: We are very pleased to have received conditional approval from the TSXV. Were also proud to have been accepted as a Tier 1 issuer. We believe that this listing will provide the company and its shareholders with many advantages, including greater visibility and enhanced market access for Canadian and international investors. Were extremely proud to join the ranks of many innovative cannabis companies in our industry and gain new exposure through a larger exchange. We will remain committed to expanding our business strategy through innovation to help solidify our position in the cannabis sector. Id like to take this opportunity to thank the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) for their tremendous support. We greatly appreciate the CSE for providing us with a platform for Namaste to grow and were excited to be moving forward towards the anticipated TSXV listing. About Namaste Technologies Inc. Namaste is the largest online retailer for medical cannabis delivery systems globally. Namaste distributes vaporizers and smoking accessories through 24 e-commerce sites in 20 countries and with distribution hubs located around the world. Namaste has majority market share in Europe and Australia, with operations in the UK, Canada and Germany and has opened new supply channels into emerging markets including Brazil, Mexico and Chile. Namaste, through its acquisition of Cannmart Inc., a Canadian based late-stage applicant for a medical cannabis sales licence (under the ACMPR Program) is pursuing a new revenue vertical in online retail of medical cannabis in the Canadian market. Namaste intends to leverage its existing database of Canadian medical cannabis consumers, along with its expertise in e-commerce to create an online marketplace for medical cannabis patients, offering a larger variety of product and a better user experience. On behalf of the Board of Directors Sean Dollinger Chief Executive Officer Direct: +1 (786) 389 9771 Email: info@namastetechnologies.com Further information on Namaste and its products can be accessed through the links below: namastetechnologies.com namastevapes.ca everyonedoesit.ca namastevaporizers.co.uk everyonedoesit.co.uk australianvaporizers.com.au Forward Looking Information This press release contains forward-looking information based on current expectations. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Such statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results, performance or achievements to be materially different from those implied by such statements. Although such statements are based on management's reasonable assumptions, Namaste assumes no responsibility to update or revise forward-looking information to reflect new events or circumstances unless required by law. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward-looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward-looking statements because the Company can give no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Since forward-looking statements address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. These statements speak only as of the date of this press release. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks including various risk factors discussed in the Company's disclosure documents, which can be found under the Company's profile on www.sedar.com. This press release contains "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended and such forward looking statements are made pursuant to the safe harbour provisions of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. The Canadian Securities Exchange has neither reviewed nor approved the contents of this press release. The Times newspaper has mounted a scurrilous campaign to smear academics questioning the official narrative around the US, British and French military attack on Syria. Under a front-page headline Saturday, Rupert Murdochs right-wing, pro-war propaganda sheet targeted Professor Tim Hayward (University of Edinburghenvironmental political theory), Professor Piers Robinson (University of Sheffieldpolitics, society and political journalism) and Lecturer Tara McCormack (Leicester Universityinternational relations) as Apologists for Assad working in British universities. All have written on themes of propaganda at times of war, and their work has been cited academically and by research institutions as well as by major media from the Guardian to the BBC. They have come under attack by the Times because they are founders and/or members of the Working Group on Syria, Propaganda and Media (SPM), set up recently to facilitate research and debate with respect to the 2011-present war in Syria and the role of both media and propaganda. In all wars, truth and reality are profoundly contested, the SPM states. The Syrian war therefore presents an urgent need for rigorous academic analysis of media reporting of this war, the role that propaganda has played in terms of shaping perceptions of the conflict and how these relate to broader geo-strategic processes within the ME [Middle East] region and beyond. We also aim to provide a source of reliable, informed and timely analysis for journalists, publics and policymakers. So recent is the group that its International Advisory Board, currently consisting of nine academics, is still under development. Its members have, however, written articles and have been involved in social media posts questioning the US/UK governments claim that the Assad regime was behind the chemical attack in Douma, which was used to justify Saturdays military strikes. They have called into question the bona fides of the White Helmets, which is the source of the gas attack charge against the Syrian government. The Times accuses SPM of spreading the slur that the White Helmets fabricated video evidence of the gas attack as a pretext for Western intervention, singling out Hayward for using the hashtag #syriahoax and for tweeting that Witness statements from civilians and officials in Ghouta raise very disturbing questions. The Times does not pretend to engage with Haywards questions. Substituting smears and hyperbole for evidence and facts, it published an inside splash, complete with photographs and bios of the academics, who are accused of pushing a Russian line and trying to intimidate other academics. The slanderous editorial brands the academics Assads Useful Idiots. Asserting that it would take an extraordinary degree of credulity, sophistry and ignorance to exculpate Assad of responsibility for the Douma attack, it continues, Exactly those characteristics are exemplified by a small group of academics at respectable institutions that include the universities of Sheffield and Edinburgh. The Times claims that those identified disseminate material that is wrong, unscholarly and morally odious, using pseudoscience and misdirection in the manner of Kremlin conspiracy theories. Without presenting any scientific or scholarly sources to back up its charges, the Times denounces the academics research as a stain on the reputation of the institutions which host its authors. A society founded on Enlightenment principles of liberal rights and free expression treats untrammeled academic inquiry as sacrosanct, it intones before insisting that these principles do not apply for Assad apologists. They are, we are told, not involved in inquiry at all, just dogmatic assertions of the unpalatable and indefensible and a violation of the ethos of academic research. The sinister implications of this statement are clear. Free speech and liberal rights must be suspended if Murdoch deems those exercising them to be expounding views that are unpalatable. This is the language of dictatorship. To reinforce its demand that the academics should be sacked forthwith, the Times makes a disgraceful parallel between the SPM academics and fascists. No reputable university would employ a Holocaust denier in a department of history, it states. The universities who unwittingly provide cover for these agents of disinformation and cheerleaders for despotism have a case to answer. The academics concerned have nothing to retract. The White Helmets, founded by former British Army officer and intelligence operative-turned mercenary, James Le Mesurier, work as an arm of the anti-Assad and Islamist-dominated rebel militias. Funded by the UK governments Conflict, Stability and Security Fund and the US governments USAIDOffice of Transition Initiatives programme, they are among a network of jihadi forces supported by the West to engineer regime-change. In December, UK Foreign and Commonwealth Office (FCO) officials were forced to suspend a multi-million-pound project ostensibly aimed at training a civilian police force in rebel-held Aleppo, Idlib and Daraa provinces. A BBC Panorama investigation, The Jihadis You Pay For, showed how the Free Syrian Police (FSP) comprised al-Qaeda forces complicit in extra-judicial killings and torture. Hayward et al are not the only ones querying the White Helmets. On Monday, veteran Middle East journalist Robert Fisk, in an on-the-spot report from Douma, described the White Helmets as partly funded by the Foreign Office. He wrote that with the Syrian regime nearing victory in Douma prior to the Western strikes, they abandoned the area to travel to the rebel province of Idlib with the armed groups when the final truce [with the government] was agreed. Fisks report has received barely any coverage in the official media. The academics have rejected the claim that they are pro-Assad. Hayward stated, speaking for myself, I am simply pro- getting at the truth. A question thoughtful readers will likely be asking, he wrote on his blog, is why The Times has gone to the trouble it has to give such prominence to a small group of critical academics. In the early hours of this morning, as I looked at the front page prepared by The Times, news was coming in of the military attack taking place in Syria. That attackwhose legality under international law, I believe, stands to be clarifiedwas justified on the basis of exactly the kind of claims that the academic working group is subjecting to critical assessment. Robinson said the Times was seeking to discredit and stop us from researching what are very important issues. As academics in a democracy, in a free country, it is our job to ask critical questions to encourage people to read and think about critical opinions and to evaluate. Under conditions where the major imperialist powerswracked by crisisare dragging humanity inexorably towards a third world war, the powers-that-be are no longer prepared to countenance critical opinion. All the official mediafrom the Guardian to the Timesare parroting government pro-war propaganda. Under the guise of combating fake news and Kremlin trolls, social media is being censored and closed down. The Times article indicates that this censorship and intimidation are now to be extended to academic research and the campuses. The SPM first came to attention because of material it had posted questioning the official line on the poisoning of double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury last month. The SPMs briefing paper, Doubts about Novichoks, raised questions as to the provenance of the nerve agent supposedly involved and its origins, and was widely cited. Cornell University Professor of Organic Chemistry David B. Collum described it as the most definitive work on the novichok nerve agent scandal. Such critical research is considered beyond the pale. Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson, however, can go on German television and lie through his teeth without fear of censure. Workers and youth must reject the effort of a billionaire oligarch to dictate what can be said at universities and in academic research. Such authoritarian moves are bound up with efforts to militarise the campuses and turn them into centres for government propaganda and adjuncts of Britains war machine. Fundamentally, the assault on free academic inquiry is directed against the anti-war sentiment that exists widely amongst students and youth. The International Youth and Students for Social Equality is dedicated to the fight against militarism and censorship and the defence of democratic rights. This necessitates a political struggle against the capitalist profit system that is the source of war and state repression through the building of a socialist and internationalist mass movement of workers and youth. The Australian Council of Trade Unions (ACTU), the national union umbrella federation, is conducting a multi-million dollar campaign entitled Change the Rules. The operationwhich includes a blitz of television and social media advertising, and limited protests over the coming weeksis a desperate attempt to channel mounting disaffection over social inequality, the rising cost of living and record-low wage growth behind the election of another pro-business federal Labor government. Launching the campaign in a National Press Club address last month, ACTU secretary Sally McManus cynically invoked the deepening social crisis, for which the trade unions are responsible due to their collaboration with the successive governments and the corporate elite. McManus denounced the extent of social inequality, which she observed was at a 70-year high. She reviewed the growing prevalence of casual and precarious employment, falling wages, the rising cost of living and increasing poverty. McManus address included populist denunciations of big business and the Liberal-National Coalition government headed by Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull. The billionaire class is not going to limit its greed, she declared. It needs limits imposed, and it is us, the people of Australia, who must do this. McManus pointed to mounting opposition in the working class, saying: This crisis is making Australian workers angry. Angry at the indifference of the Turnbull government, which instructs us to wait patiently for the trickle-down to happen. Angry at CEOs whose pay and bonuses soar while families struggle to pay the bills. McManus and the ACTU know, however, that anger among workers is directed not only against the Coalition, but also at the trade unions and the Labor Party. Both are discredited bureaucratic shells, which function as the open instruments of the corporate elite. Union membership has fallen to record lows, barely 10 percent across the private sector. Among young workers, the figure is less than 5 percent. Labor Party national president Mark Butler stated earlier this year that the unions had reached a threshold we regarded years ago as existentially threatening, while the Labor Party could not credibly claim to be a mass-membership party. Under these conditions, Labor and the unions are terrified that they will be unable to suppress the emerging social and political struggles of the working class. They have followed closely the wave of strikes among American teachers, British lecturers, and other sections of workers around the world, which have developed as a rebellion against the thoroughly corporatised trade unions. Already, a series of disputes in Australia, including those involving New South Wales rail staff this year and Victorian teachers last year, have led to near-rebellions by workers against union-brokered sell-out agreements. Over the past year, McManus has attended a host of picket lines and protests, trying to head off an open confrontation between workers and the unions. In each instance, she has deployed fake-militant rhetoric to buttress the attempts by ACTU affiliates to isolate striking and locked-out workers, and help impose regressive enterprise agreements that slash wages and conditions and destroy jobs. Addressing a union delegates meeting in Melbourne on April 17 to begin the campaign, McManus sought to present the unions as leading an offensive against trickle-down economics and neoliberalism. McManus made clear, however, that the real aim of Change the Rules is to subordinate workers to the re-election of a Labor government. We need to change the government, we need to kick out Malcolm Turnbull, she declared, adding it was critical that the campaign secure Labors support. McManus invoked the Your Rights At Work campaign waged by the unions in 200607 as a model to be emulated. That operation, which included the union suppression of strike activity to its lowest level in history, was aimed at channelling widespread hostility to the draconian Work Choices industrial legislation of the Howard Liberal-National government behind the election of a Labor government headed by Kevin Rudd and Julia Gillard. McManus comments underscored the fraud at the centre of the union campaign. She said Labor had introduced the Fair Work Act to rebuild things and improve industrial relations. She claimed that Liberal-National governments had misused the legislation. In reality, Labors Fair Work laws incorporated large aspects of Work Choices and enshrined some of the harshest anti-strike legislation in the world, while deliberately reinforcing the role of the unions to police these rules. The Fair Work Act has been enforced exactly as Labor and the unions intended: to make illegal virtually all industrial action; victimise workers who take up an industrial or political struggle; and impose ongoing pro-business restructuring in every industry. The enforcement of the Fair Work rules is the continuation of decades of collaboration between the unions, successive governments and big business to achieve international competitiveness for Australian capitalism. During the 1980s, the ACTU signed a series of Accords with the Labor governments of Bob Hawke and Paul Keating and the major corporations. These provided for the deregulation of the economy, the shutting down of shop stewards committees and other forms of workers organisation and the destruction of hundreds of thousands of jobs across manufacturing and other industries. In the 1990s, the ACTU backed the Keating Labor governments introduction of enterprise bargaining, which divided workers, employer by employer, and tied them directly to the speedup and profit demands of their individual companies. Since then, unions across the board have signed agreements mandating real wage cuts, the elimination of penalty wage rates, and the destruction of long-standing working conditions. This has led to an unprecedented growth of part-time, casual and contract labour, record low wage growth and growing poverty. The unions are directly responsible for the social crisis that the ACTU campaign purports to oppose. The record makes clear that the unions are not workers organisations. They function as labour hire firms and an industrial police force. They do the bidding of the financial elite and governments against the workers they falsely claim to represent, in the interests of a privileged, upper middle-class union officialdom. Workers face the necessity of making a complete break with the unions, and the fraudulent claim that their interests can be advanced through the election of yet another Labor government that would work hand in glove with the unions to impose the dictates of the corporate elite. New organisations of struggle are required in every workplace, including rank-and-file committees under workers democratic control and completely independent of the trade unions. These would be tasked with coordinating a joint political and industrial counter-offensive against the attacks imposed by the government, the corporations and the unions. Above all, the struggles of the working class must be guided by a political perspective that rejects the corporatism and nationalism of the unions. This means the fight for a workers government committed to socialist and internationalist policies, including placing the banks and the corporations under public ownership and democratic workers control and a far-reaching redistribution of wealth. From Canadas corporate media, oil industry, and big business as a whole there is a deafening clamour for Prime Minister Justin Trudeau and the federal Liberal government to do whatever it takes to ensure the rapid completion of the Trans Mountain pipeline, which is to transport Alberta tar sands bitumen to the British Columbia shore. Numerous press commentators have declared that the fate of the Trudeau government now hangs in the balance. Failure to ensure that the national interest prevails will, they claim, undermine Canadas competitive position, damage the Canadian federation, and cause domestic and international investors to withdraw their support for Trudeaus Liberals. Some are urging Trudeau invoke the Emergencies Act, the successor to Canadas notorious War Measures Act. Others that Ottawa deploy the army. Trudeau and his government have hastened to vow that the Can$7.6 billion project, which would triple the capacity of an existing pipeline, will be built, and built expeditiously. Failure is not an option, declared Finance Minister Bill Morneau last week. At the conclusion of an emergency meeting Sunday with the premiers of Alberta and British Columbia, Trudeau reiterated his previous assertions that the pipeline is in the national interest. We are absolutely focused on making progress this construction season, said Trudeau. This is something Canadians expect us to do and quite frankly international investors who look at creating jobs in Canada want to see us able to do." The Trans Mountain project has long been a political flashpoint. Wide swathes of Canadas population, especially in BC, oppose it because of its adverse impact on indigenous groups and the environment. In recent months, the pipeline project has been the subject of a bitter feud between the Alberta New Democratic Party (NDP) government and the BC NDP government, which is dependent on the support of three Green legislators for its parliamentary majority. What has brought the pipeline dispute to a head was the April 8 announcement by US-based Kinder Morgan (KML) that it is suspending all but essential work on the project and could soon jettison it altogether. If the undue risk to KML shareholders is not removed by May 31, declared KML Chairman and Chief Executive Officer Steve Kean, it is difficult to conceive of any scenario in which we would proceed with the project. Trudeau has said his government will soon bring forward legislation asserting and reinforcing federal control over the pipeline project. Previously Ottawa had insisted such action was not needed, because Canadas constitution places responsibility for inter-provincial transportation infrastructure squarely in its hands. This suggests the coming legislation will augment federal authority, possibly by setting aside local and BC government regulatory processes, limiting anti-pipeline protests, and increasing legal penalties for protesters who seek to impede pipeline construction. The federal government has joined Alberta in offering to invest in Kinder Morgan or provide it with loan guarantees to reduce shareholder risk. The Trudeau government is also said to be considering threatening BC with financial penalties if it doesnt quickly abandon any and all objections to the pipeline project. According to Morneau, All options are on the table. On Monday, Albertas NDP government, which is completely beholden to Big Oil, tabled a bill that would give it the legal authority to curtail oil exports to BC. Saskatchewans rightwing Saskatchewan Party government has vowed to follow suit. Such legislation is viewed warily by Canadas elite. Not only is it unlikely to resolve matters by KMLs May 31 deadline. It could well be struck down by the courts. Moreover, were Alberta to try to punish BC by cutting off or reducing oil-flows it would embroil the country in an inter-provincial trade war. Corporate Canada is adamant that it is the federal government that must enforce its interests by ensuring the pipeline is built and breaking, thereby, the oil industrys almost total dependence on the US market. This dependence has resulted in Alberta and Saskatchewan oil selling at well below the world price, costing the Canadian bourgeoisie tens of billions in profits. Canadas ruling elite, however, is far from convinced that Trudeau will act with sufficient resolve and ruthlessnessthat he will show, to use the words of Andrew MacDougall, a former aide to Conservative Prime Minster Stephen Harper, the army steel his father flashed when he invoked the War Measures Act and suspended basic civil liberties on the spurious claim two FLQ terrorist kidnappings had brought Quebec to a state of apprehended insurrection. In an April 9 editorial, the Globe and Mail declared Kinder Morgans decision to suspend work on the pipeline nothing short of an economic and constitutional disaster for Canada. The Globe went on to accuse BC of usurping Ottawas authority, although the province, as legal experts concede, has broken no laws in reviewing the Trans Mountains environmental impact. The federal government, thundered the traditional voice of Canadas financial elite, cannot let this stand. It must use whatever tools it has. According to Kenneth Green of the Fraser Institute, a Vancouver-based big business think-tank, The question is whether the prime minister has the determination and the willingness to pay with political coin to push through the pipeline project. It may come to the point where the prime minister has to say, If we have to, we will put a military escort around the construction sites to get the thing built and then we will prosecute anyone who tries to sabotage it to the maximum extent of the law. In a column titled Justin Trudeau faces his Margaret Thatcher moment on pipelines ... and cowers, National Post columnist William Watson contrasted the deliberation and ruthlessness with which Margaret Thatcher plotted and carried out the 1984-85 assault on the British coal miners, with Trudeaus supposed fecklessness. In its April 8 ultimatum, Kinder Morgan emphasized the political infighting surrounding the pipeline project. But there is no question that like the corporate media it is looking to Ottawa not only to strong-arm the BC government, but also to guarantee that any campaign of civil disobedience against the pipeline will be quickly quelled. Significantly, BC authorities this week decided to upgrade contempt of court charges against anti-pipeline protesters accused of defying an injunction limiting picketing at Kinder Morgan worksites from civil to criminal charges. Those now facing criminal prosecution include Elizabeth May, the federal Green Party leader and its lone MP, and NDP MP Kennedy Stewart. The federal cabinet, as Natural Resources Minister Jim Carr blurted out in a 2016 speech, has plans to deploy the military to suppress anti-pipeline protests, but currently deems it politic to play down such a possibility. The governments flat out rejection, in the name of cabinet secrecy, of a Freedom of Information request filed by the National Observer for material concerning the governments November 2016 discussion about opposition to the Trans Mountain pipeline reveals just how concerned it is about exposure of its plans to suppress a civil disobedience campaign. The furor within Canadas ruling elite over the fate of the Trans Mountain pipeline is being fed by broader concerns that Canadian capitalisms competitive position, i.e., profitability, is threatened by US President Donald Trumps massive tax cuts for big business and the rich and his administrations gutting of environmental regulations. Moreover, Canada, as a country highly dependent on foreign trade, is especially vulnerable to the development of trade war. Fears over the fate of NAFTA have already led to a steep decline in foreign investment. The ruling class is demanding the Trudeau government act more aggressively to assert its interests against the working class at home and on the world stage and, if need be, use, as in the case of Trans Mountain, authoritarian measures to do so. Earlier this week the Globe and Mail urged Trudeau to follow the example of French President Emanuel Macron, who spearheaded last weeks provocative and illegal air strikes on Syria and has used emergency powers to push through the gutting of worker rights and the privatization of the countrys rail network. The author also recommends: Trudeau joins Macron in celebrating air strikes on Syria [18 April 2018] Canadas Liberal government stands by plan to use military against pipeline protests [6 December 2016] Canadian elite applauds Liberals pipeline approval, demands Trudeau show more steel [3 December 2016] Earlier this month the Maryland House of Representatives passed a tax incentives package of $8.5 billion in an effort to win location rights for internet commerce giant Amazons second corporate headquarters, nicknamed HQ2. The incentives package could become the largest incentive package the state government has ever offered a corporation in Maryland history. Until the recent 79-59 vote in the state legislature approving the deal, the largest known offer was New Jerseys at $7 billion. Columbus, Ohio; Philadelphia and Chicago have offered between $2-3 billion each. The massive tax giveaway is meant to lure Amazon into locating its second headquarters in Montgomery County, which borders Washington, DC and northern Virginia. Like Montgomery County, DC and northern Virginia are on Amazons top 20 sites for HQ2. However, only Maryland has made their offer public. Montgomery Countys close proximity to the US capital and its vast military-intelligence apparatus is a key factor in Amazons decision to consider the location. If Amazon selects the area as its HQ2, it will be a sign the company is deepening its ties with the CIA, NSA, FBI and other intel agencies, all of which are located in the region. Plans are being drawn up to interrupt virtually every aspect of social and economic life in Montgomery County to prepare for Amazons potential arrival. Montgomery County Council President Hans Riemer said of the preparations, It would be real, and we would have to get down to business to figure out exactly what transportation projects and what school projects and parks and everything that comes with building a new urban center in the county, he said. We would have to move urgently so that we dont end up with a housing crisis, we dont end up with mobility problems. All of these are going to be very real challenges if [Amazon] comes. Republican Governor Larry Hogan will be signing off on the bill in the coming weeks. His office authored the proposal, which contains $2 billion in transportation and infrastructure upgrades in addition to state and county level tax breaks. To qualify, Amazon must hire at least 40,000 employees with a median wage of $100,000 over 17 years. For each employee making between $60,000 and $500,000, the state will give Amazon a 5.75 percent tax credit. This tax credit constitutes the bulk of the incentive package passed last week by the House. However, there is a disagreement between the Hogan administration and the General Assembly, Marylands main legislative body, over the actual cost of the tax incentives to the state. Governor Hogans original proposal only allocates $3 billion in state tax credits while the legislature claims the figure to be $5.6 billion in state and an additional $924 million in county credits. An independent analysis commissioned by the Maryland General Assembly reports the Hogan administrations original figure of $3 billion in tax credits is vastly underestimated. The original estimate assumed there would be no pay hikes over the entire 17 year period, which would have meant a 40 percent decrease in Amazon employee wages. If regular wage hikes were to occur, then Amazon would recoup total credits amounting to the $8.5 billion figure claimed by the General Assembly report. A spokesperson for the governors office challenged the $8.5 billion estimate, telling reporters, There is information that they [the states legislature] dont have access to. Even so, state lawmakers were not deterred by the discovery that the package would cost $3.5 billion more than what the Hogan administration had originally proposed. Its a no-brainer, said Del. Robert B. Long (R-Baltimore County). This is a once-in-in-a-lifetime opportunity, said Del. Anne R. Kaiser (D-Montgomery), adding: The worst thing that happens is we dont lose anything. The best thing that happens is we gain 50,000 jobs. Amazon already has a presence in Maryland. It operates two distribution centers, including one in the Baltimore area, and is planning to open another at Sparrows Point, the former steel mill which employed as many as 31,000 workers in the 1950s. These Amazon plants have primarily offered subsistence level wages, seasonal employment, few benefits locked behind long probationary periods, and see high turnover due to poor working conditions such as speed up, forced overtime and short breaks. The 50,000 jobs that Amazon alleges it will bring with HQ2 will be mostly white collar, but the corporate work environment will be, as it has been in Seattle, marked by high stress and demanding workloads. Such was the pressure that it led to an employee suicide at the Seattle headquarters last year. Montgomery County lawmakers are scrambling to create the most favorable conditions for HQ2s construction. Last week, officials revealed a proposal to streamline zoning procedures. Specifically, the county council will vote to halve the development project review time for so-called signature business headquarters that would employ 25,000 or more employees. For the working-class residents of Montgomery County, Amazons arrival could have a devastating economic effect. The addition of tens of thousands of Amazon employees will further increase traffic in one of the most congested regions in the country. The cost of living will skyrocket as the concentration of wealth in the area grows. In Seattle, lower income residents have been pushed out of the area by the gentrification that occurs around the headquarters of massive technology firms like Amazon. In Maryland, one in nine people are food insecure according to a report by the Maryland Food Bank. Of this layer of the population, a full third of them made above the threshold that prevents them from gaining access to federal and state food assistance programs. In other words, the promise of more full-time jobs is no guarantee against food insecurity. The author also recommends: Amazon and the CIA: A match made in hell Part One: Amazon cashes in on war crimes and mass surveillance [13 July 2017] Part Two: Amazon, war propaganda, and the suppression of free speech [14 July 2017] The Socialist Equality Party (SEP) will mark May 1, the day of international working class solidarity, by holding a public meeting in Colombo New Town Hall at 3 pm. In doing so, we are opposing the governments attempts to sabotage May Day celebrations in Sri Lanka. The SEP urges workers, youth and progressive intellectuals to participate in this event. We also invite them to enrol for the Online Mayday Rally on May 5, being broadcast via the World Socialist Web Site (WSWS) by the International Committee of the Fourth International (ICFI). On March 28, President Maithripala Sirisena announced a cabinet decision to postpone all May Day meetings, rallies and marches scheduled for May 1. He requested that May Day rallies be held on May 7, which has been proclaimed a holiday. The governments decision, the president declared, was taken on the advice of the sacred Buddhist clergy and all arrangements have been made for religious celebrations throughout the country, in the first week of May with splendour. Buddhists commemorate Buddhas birth, enlightenment and death on the day of the full moon in May, which is known as Wesak. The governments decision to undermine May Day is in line with its promotion of reactionary Sinhala-Buddhist chauvinism. It is bound up with the enormous political crisis of the government. Amid a growing wave of strikes and protests, the government fears that May Day could become a focal point for the hostility of workers, the oppressed and rural poor, and a threat to bourgeois rule. Workers have waged a series of strikes in different sectors, including the universities, ports, electricity, petroleum, postal, railway, health and plantations, despite the efforts of the trade unions to derail and suppress them. The working class is opposing the governments ruthless attacks on living and social conditions in implementing the austerity program of the International Monetary Fund (IMF). Rebellious struggles have also emerged among students against government attacks on free education, and among poor peasants on issues such as cuts to essential farm inputs. In the North and East, which are still suffering the destruction caused by Colombos communal civil war, mass protests are taking place against the ongoing military occupation and refusal to return homes and lands. The partners in the ruling coalition, Sirisenas faction of Sri Lanka Freedom Party (SLFP) and Prime Minister Ranil Wickremesinghes United National Party (UNP), suffered humiliating defeats at the local council elections in Februarya clear manifestation of the hostility of voters towards the government. The government is now in disarray. An opposition faction of the SLFP parliamentary group, led by former President Mahinda Rajapakse, moved a no-confidence motion against the prime minister. Wickremesinghe survived the vote, but 16 ministers voted against him and are now threatening to sit with the opposition. In a desperate bid to patch up the potential split, Sirisena used his autocratic executive powers to prorogue parliament for three weeks until May 8. Behind the scenes, Sirisena and Wickremesinghe are preparing police-state measures to take on the working class. The government has no alternative but to impose the countrys massive debt burden and financial crisis on working people. Rajapakse heads a new party, the Sri Lanka Podujana Peramuna (SLPP), that is seeking to exploit widespread public disaffection by posing as an opponent of the ruling coalition. Rajapakse, who is notorious for his autocratic methods of rule, is preparing right-wing forces and stirring up communalism in his bid to come to power and brutally suppress the working class. None of the establishment partiesgovernment and oppositionincluding the Janatha Vimukthi Peramuna (JVP), are opposed to the IMF-dictated austerity agenda or the suppression of the democratic rights of working people. The JVP has already bowed to the governments request and announced it will not obstruct Wesak by holding May Day on May 1. It has also declared that it will address a rally in Jaffna, in a calculated provocation to stir up communal animosity. On March 28, the propaganda secretary of the Frontline Socialist Party (FSP), Pubudu Jayagoda, called on all progressive forces to unite and force the government to lift the May Day shutdown. The FSP is posturing as a militant opponent of the government as it seeks to cobble together an alliance of pseudo-left organisations to block any independent political mobilisation of the working class. May 1 was declared International Labour Day by the Second International when it convened in Paris in 1889 during the centenary year of the French Revolution. It was to commemorate the struggle for the eight-hour day by American workers in Chicago in 1886 and their bloody suppression. The celebrations were not contingent on whether May 1 fell on a holiday or a working day, or had the consent of employers or the government of the day. The first May Day celebration in Sri Lanka was held in 1927 by the trade union movement led by A.E. Gunasinghe. When Gunasinghe defended British colonial rule against the opposition of the working class, amid the crisis created by the Great Depression, the Lanka Sama Samaja Party (LSSP) organised the first May Day rally in 1936 on a broad socialist program. The political degeneration and backsliding of the LSSP after formal independence from Britain in 1948 was expressed in their adaptation to the Sinhala supremacism of the SLFP. It helped the bourgeois SLFP government of S.W.R.D. Bandaranaike take office in 1956 and in return that government made May 1 a holiday. In 1964, the LSSP openly betrayed the principles of socialist internationalism expressed in May Day and joined the SLFP government of Madame Bandaranaikea move that ultimately led to the islands bloody 30-year civil war, which erupted in 1983. Governments repeatedly used the war as a means to suppress any struggle by the working class. May Day was banned on two occasionsfirst by President J. R. Jayewardene in 1987. Then in 2006, as Rajapakse prepared to break a ceasefire and resume hostilities, he appealed for May Day rallies not to be held, citing security reasons. In both instances, politically advanced sections of the working class and the oppressed defied those bans and held public rallies on May 1. In 1987, the Revolutionary Communist League, the precursor of the Socialist Equality Party (SEP), took the initiative to defend the right of workers to celebrate May Day. This year May Day comes amid intense geo-political tensions and the growing dangers of world war, epitomised by the latest US-led missile strikes on Syria that threaten to trigger a conflict with nuclear-armed Russia. At the same time, there is a growing radicalisation and movement of workers and youth opposed to war, as well as attacks on social and democratic rights. The urgent task confronting workers around the world, whether in advanced or backward countries like Sri Lanka, is the building of a unified international anti-war movement of the working class to abolish capitalism and reconstruct society along socialist lines. On that basis, we call on workers and youth to attend the May Day rally organised by the SEP and its youth movement, the International Youth and Students for Social Equality (IYSSE). Long live the May 1, International Labour Day! Build the internationalist revolutionary party for world socialism! On Monday, Pulitzer administrator Dana Canedy named the recipients of the 2018 Pulitzer Prize. Speaking from Columbia University in New York City, Canedy announced that the Washington Post and the New York Times jointly won the award in the category of National Reporting for their deeply sourced, relentless coverage of Russian interference in the presidential election. The New York Times and the New Yorker won the prize for Public Service for their reporting on Harvey Weinstein and the #MeToo campaign, which, according to the Pulitzer Prize Board, spurred a national reckoning that exposed powerful and wealthy sexual predators worldwide. The promotion of the anti-Russia campaign by the Times and the Post and the role of the Times and the New Yorker in the #MeToo campaign exemplify not journalistic integrity, but its opposite: the effacement of the boundary between objective journalism and propaganda. The medias role in the anti-Russia campaign has been defined by the totally uncritical manner in which reporters at the Times and Post repeat and amplify the claims of various military and intelligence officials and politicians. The articles cited in the Pulitzer announcement as proof of their deeply sourced reporting are not the product of journalistic investigation and fact-finding. They follow a similar pattern: statements from the intelligence agenciesoften leaks from unnamed sourcesare presented as fact. The newspapers take the talking points they have been fed, repackage them for mass consumption, and present the result to the public as news. Allegations of Russian trolls influencing political opinion, Russian hackers publishing compromising documents about Hillary Clinton, and Russian agents blackmailing Trump himself with tapes of adulterous escapades in Moscow hotel rooms appear in the Times and Post, then filter into the cycle of television news, serving as the axis around which official American politics orbits. There is no attempt to present serious evidence to back up the allegations. Evidence that contradicts the official narrative is buried or totally ignored. News articles are editorialized in order to produce an effect dictated by unspoken political motives. All political developments are presented within the framework of a previously agreed-upon subtext: Russia is a menace and adversary of the United States. Any attempt to question the official story is dismissed as conspiracy theory or fake news. Through this dishonest method, the Times and Post seek to shift public opinion behind the ruling classs efforts to prosecute its military and economic interests abroad. This is not journalism, it is propaganda. It is a primary responsibility of genuine journalists to question the truthfulness of the official state narrative and expose the political implications of its claims. The principle that journalists are independent of and in confrontation with the government gave rise to the conception of the press as the Fourth Estate. It was this principle that guided the Pulitzer-winning reporters on the New York Times who, under the threat of indictment, exposed the criminality of the Nixon administration, as well as preceding ones, both Democratic and Republican, by publishing the Pentagon Papers. For this, the Times won a Pulitzer in 1972. Similarly, the Washington Post was awarded a Pulitzer in 1973 for its exposes in the Watergate scandal. The 2017 Academy Award-nominated film The Post, starring Tom Hanks and Meryl Streep, portrays the fight by journalists to expose, by publishing the Pentagon Papers, how the government lied about US intervention in Vietnam. Were the Post or the Times to come across similar material today, it is a virtual certainty that they would suppress it. The film version of the lead-up to the publication of this materialwhich the government claimed constituted state secretswould have ended as soon as the government asked the Post to withhold publication. That is precisely what the Post and Times did when Edward Snowden approached them with evidence of mass NSA surveillance in 2013. The newspapers refused to publish his revelations, forcing him to turn to the British Guardian. The Times functions by the credo of its ex-executive editor, Bill Keller, who said, Freedom of the press includes freedom not to publish, and that is a freedom we exercise with some regularity. The Pulitzer Prize to the Times and the New Yorker for their promotion of the #MeToo campaign is equally foul. This McCarthyite-style witch hunt was launched with the 2017 exposure of film producer Harvey Weinstein by the New Yorkers Ronan Farrow. Since then, the press, spearheaded by the Times, has played the role of inciting mob violence in ruining the careers of artists, actors and public figures based for the most part on sheer allegations. This has been carried out with a degree of subjectivity and zealotry that makes objective reporting impossible. Writers like Farrow, who has long been involved in efforts to ruin the career of his father, Woody Allen, over unproven allegations of sexual assault, do not disclose their personal motivations. The press coverage of the #MeToo campaign has denied the accused any meaningful right to respond to the allegations against them and vilified anyone who questions the veracity of the claims. Efforts are made to present innocent activityrequests for dates, consensual encountersas equal to rape or sexual assault. The Times and the New Yorker have transformed themselves into gossip mills, catering to the emotionally driven and backward mood for vengeance that has taken root among the supporters of identity politics in the upper-middle class. The Times sensational campaign has increased subscriptions and substantially boosted the companys stock value. This #MeToo movement has unstated political motivations that are never disclosed. Like the anti-Russia campaign, it is advanced by sections of the ruling elite to achieve their own reactionary objectives. The Democratic Party has developed the campaign to boost its efforts to impose an official framework through which popular opposition to Trump can express itself. The purpose of the Democratic Partys interventions since Trumps election has been to divert social opposition and channel it along reactionary linesabove all, behind a foreign policy agenda of expanding US military aggression in Syria and escalating the confrontation with Russia. In line with this, it seeks to consolidate support for a militarist foreign policy among the upper-middle class layers that form the broader base of the Democratic Party by feeding this layers obsessive focus on racial and gender politics. The promotion of the #MeToo hysteria serves to obscure the basic class issues motivating the opposition of workers and youth to Trump, counter growing anti-capitalist sentiment, and sow divisions within the working class. The attempt to whip up a witch-hunt atmosphere is also intended to undercut democratic consciousness and support for basic principles of due process, and facilitate broader attacks on democratic rights. The Times and the Post are extreme manifestations of a general process. In the US, the corporate-controlled print media and the network and cable news outlets are not a source of information, but mechanisms through which the financial oligarchy manipulates public opinion. The same applies throughout the world. In April 2017, the World Socialist Web Site exposed the fact that Google had systematically used its algorithms to reduce search traffic to the WSWS and a number of other left-wing and anti-war web sites. This revelation, expanded in a series of articles and statements over the following months, received international attention and even an article in the New York Times on September 26, 2017. The World Socialist Web Site is the target of censorship by the state and tech companies such as Google and Facebook precisely because it challenges the state narrative and exposes the lies and propaganda used by the ruling class to justify war, state repression and social counterrevolution. A Southwest Airlines flight from New York City to Dallas was forced to make an emergency landing Tuesday in Philadelphia after one of its engines exploded mid-flight, sending shrapnel into the body of the plane and fatally wounding a passenger. Flight 1380 from New Yorks La Guardia airport was traveling at an altitude of over 31,000 feet with 149 people on board when the left engine failed just 20 minutes after takeoff. The explosion launched shrapnel into the passenger compartment of the fuselage and shattered a window in row 17, causing the cabin to depressurize. Jennifer Riordan, a Wells Fargo executive and mother of two from Albuquerque, New Mexico, was badly injured by shrapnel before her upper body was sucked out of the plane when the cabin depressurized. Passengers pulled her back into the aircraft and attempted to stop the bleeding and resuscitate her while the pilots made an emergency landing. Upon landing, Riordan was immediately rushed to a nearby hospital, where she was pronounced dead. Seven other passengers were also treated for minor injuries. The plane involved was a Boeing 737-700 powered by twin CFM engines. The National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) is investigating the cause of the engine failure, but the head of the agency, Robert Sumwalt, told reporters Tuesday evening that investigators had discovered that a fan blade was missing from the engine. The blade appears to have separated from the engine hub, where evidence of metal fatigue was also found. A ring designed to contain debris in the event of engine failure was apparently ineffective. Were taking this very seriously. This should not happen, Sumwalt said, adding that he had spoken with Southwest Airlines CEO Gary Kelly, who assured him that the airline would undertake enhanced inspections of its fleet. Other airlines have issued press releases stating that they will also undertake their own safety inspections. The incident Tuesday represents the first passenger death due to an in-flight accident since 2009, when a Continental Express airliner crashed near Buffalo, New York, killing 49 passengers and one person on the ground. However, there have been several similar incidents over recent years that just as easily could have caused fatalities. A 2015 British Airways flight preparing to take off from Las Vegas experienced uncontained engine failure, shooting shrapnel into the Boeing 777s wing and fuselage. The pilot was able to abort takeoff at the last moment, preventing a potentially catastrophic crash that would likely have resulted had the plane made it airborne. In that case, it was later reported that a version of the GE engine involved had been subject to a Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) Airworthiness Directive four years prior over a manufacturing flaw with the potential to cause the engine to disintegrate and send shrapnel into vulnerable parts of the plane, though the engine in question was manufactured earlier than those subject to the directive. Fortunately, nobody was seriously harmed in the incident. In August 2016, a Southwest Airlines flight from New Orleans to Orlando experienced engine failure and was forced to make an emergency landing in Pensacola, Florida. An NTSB investigation subsequently found that an engine fan had separated from the engine hub midflight, and that there was substantial evidence of metal fatigue in the area. Shrapnel from the engine penetrated the fuselage, leaving a five by 16-inch hole in the planes exterior. Though the similarities with the present case are striking, the passenger compartment remained intact and there were no injuries. Last October, an American Airlines flight destined for Miami was about to take off from Chicagos OHare Airport when one of its engines failed and caught fire. The pilot was able to abort takeoff but 20 people were injured as smoke filled the cabin and passengers scrambled to exit. Pieces from the engine were blasted up to a half-mile away from the site, crashing through the roof of a UPS store. Ultimate responsibility for such incidents lies in the subordination of passenger safety to the drive of the airlines for ever greater profits. In fact, major airlines have raked in record profits over the last few years. As the number of people who travel by air continues to grow each year and airlines scramble to grow their profits to ever greater heights, such incidents will only become more common. These deaths and injuries at the hands of the corporate airlines and their subservient regulatory bodies are entirely preventable. The only means of ensuring adequate safety and access to air travel is to bring the airlines under the democratic control of the working class as a public utility, along with all other transportation infrastructure. In the wake of last weekends US-British-French missile strikes on Syria, a campaign is growing in the American political and military/intelligence establishment for a wider war that would threaten a nuclear conflict with Russia. On Tuesday, Democratic and Republican lawmakers attacked the Trump administration for the limited nature of the attack and demanded that the White House commit to a more extensive military operation to overthrow the Assad government and confront Iran and Russia. After a private briefing to the Senate by Defence Secretary James Mattis and Joint Chiefs Chairman Gen. Joseph Dunford, Republican Senator Lindsey Graham told reporters that the administration had no strategy and appeared willing to give Syria to Assad, Russia, and Iran. He said, I think Assad, after this strike, believes were all tweet and no action. Graham called for the establishment of a permanent no-fly zone over parts of Syria, which would inevitably require shooting down Russian jets, and the deployment of more US troops on the ground to partner with their Al Qaeda-linked and Kurdish proxy forces. He declared that Russia and Iran should not be allowed to continue winning the battlefield uncontested. Democratic Senator Chris Coons criticized Trumps recent threat to withdraw US troops, telling reporters, Its important for us to remain engaged in Syria. He added, If we completely withdraw, our leverage in any diplomatic resolution or reconstruction or any hope for a post-Assad Syria goes away. The recklessness of the American ruling elite was expressed in an op-ed column published yesterday in the New York Times by Susan Rice, who served as ambassador to the UN and then national security adviser under Obama. In the column, Rice categorically opposes any withdrawal of American troops. She calls for the Trump administration to indefinitely maintain its occupation of roughly a third of Syrian territory along the countrys northern and eastern borders with Turkey and Iraqa region that includes the countrys petroleum resources. This is in line with calls being made in the US media with increasing frequency and openness for a permanent carve-up of the country. Rice writes that Washington and its allies must help secure, rebuild and establish effective local governance in liberated areas. These are code words for establishing neo-colonial control over the territory and using it as a base for operations against the Assad regime and Russian and Iranian forces. Dispensing with the fraudulent chemical weapons pretext used to justify the US and allied bombing, Rice points to the aims of such an intervention: This will allow the United States to thwart Iranian ambitions to control territory spanning Iraq, Syria and Lebanon; retain influence in major oil-producing areas, and deny Mr. Assad a substantial portion of Syrian territory, pending a diplomatic solution. This strategy is in basic agreement with an April 16 editorial by the Wall Street Journal that calls for Trump to establish safe zones in northern Syria, both in the US-occupied territory east of the Euphrates River and the border area with Jordan. This, the newspaper writes, wouldnt threaten Assads control over the rest of Syria, but would send a signal that the US isnt abandoning the region to Iran and Russia. The editorial calls for a peace based on dividing the country into ethnic-based enclaves. What is being discussed is a permanent dismemberment and restructuring of Syria and the entire Middle East, in part to provide US imperialism with a forward staging base for its war preparations against Iran and Russia. An April 15 commentary in the Journal by Ryan Crocker, the former US ambassador to Syria, and Michael OHanlon, a senior fellow at the Democratic Party-aligned Brookings Institution, advises that future air strikes up the ante, going after military command and control, political leadership and perhaps even Mr. Assad himself Targets within Iran should not be off limits, depending on the provocation. On Tuesday, the Times published a report based on statements by anonymous military and administration officials that Defence Secretary Mattis had urged Trump to seek congressional approval for the bombing, but was overruled by the president. The article states that in several White House meetings last week, he [Mattis] underscored the importance of linking military operations to public supporta view Mr. Mattis has long held. In a recent editorial, the Times similarly stressed the need for Congress to pass legislation authorizing further military operations in Syria and elsewhere. Mattis is also widely reported to have advised selecting Syrian targets in such a manner as to minimize the chance of Russian retaliation. What is behind these considerations, both military and political, is the need to prepare for an extended and bloody war that would likely involve large numbers of American troops and lead to military conflict with Russia and/or Iran. This will require a crackdown against anti-war opposition within the US, for which a legal fig leaf of congressional sanction is deemed necessary. In her Times op-ed, Rice calls for the US to keep avoiding direct conflict with Russia, while not allowing Russia and Iran free rein. Washington must push back firmly and smartly against Russia, she writes, whether with respect to chemical weapons or other outrages. In other words, the CIA must continue to manufacture an endless series of provocations and pretexts in order to justify Washingtons drive to remove Russia as an obstacle to the establishment of US hegemony in the Middle East and all of Eurasia. One such pretext was provided by the release Monday of a joint US-UK government report charging Russia with vague acts of cyber warfare against the West. Though the document did not provide a single specific charge or piece of evidence against Russia, it has been widely amplified throughout the media in an effort to create an atmosphere of hysteria in the US and legitimize a confrontation with Moscow. The US cable television networks on Wednesday began more prominently featuring reports of the death of Russian investigative journalist Maksim Borodin, whose investigations have included the Russian private military contractor Wagner. Borodin fell from a fifth-floor balcony in Yekaterinburg on Sunday. In typical fashion, prior to any investigation and without any evidence, the media is widely reporting Borordins death as the latest in a long line of assassinations supposedly ordered by Russian President Vladimir Putin. The intensity of the anti-Russia campaign grows in proportion to the exposure of the official pretexts for the bombing of Syria as lies. Five days after the attack, no evidence has been provided to substantiate the claim that the Assad regime carried out a gas attack in the eastern Ghouta town of Douma, while evidence continues to mount that the incident was staged by the Western intelligence agencies to provide a pretext for intervention. The intelligence agencies have been assisted by a corrupt and servile media. A study released yesterday by Fairness in Accuracy and Reporting, a media watchdog, reveals that of the top 100 US newspapers by circulation, not a single editorial board opposed the bombing of Syria. Sky News cuts off UK General Shaw for questioning Syria gas attack pretext The Western medias role as a disseminator of government lies was demonstrated in an interview by Britains Sky News with former British Major-General Jonathan Shaw on April 13 in the lead-up to the bombing. When Shaw veered off script and questioned what possible motive the Assad government could have in carrying out a chemical weapons attack, given that its forces were about to overrun the US-backed rebels in Douma and a gas attack would likely trigger Western intervention, Sky host Samantha Washington abruptly cut him off mid-sentence and shut down the interview. ALISO VIEJO, Calif., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Enmotus, a Machine Intelligent Storage software company, announced today that its first volume OEM partner, Advanced Micro Devices (AMD), is now offering StoreMI technology, or Store Machine Intelligence, as part of AMDs recently announced 400-series chipset supporting AMD Ryzen desktop processors. This chipset comes with a free download of the software to combine the speed of an SSD with the capacity of a hard drive into a single, fast, easy-to-manage drive. StoreMI is based on the Enmotus FuzeDrive client software that has been available via the Enmotus website since January. StoreMI technology allows end users to blend up to 256GB of performance storage, such as NVMe or SATA SSD, with high capacity SSD or HDD storage into a single automated Virtual SSD. Machine Intelligent Storage learns how you use your system and dynamically adapts to provide SSD performance for all of your active applications and stores less frequently accessed data on the capacity drive. Users who would like up to a 1TB tier of performance storage for their AMD powered systems can upgrade to the fully compatible Enmotus FuzeDrive software at www.enmotus.com/amd. We chose to partner with Enmotus on AMD StoreMI because they are a market leader in next generation machine intelligent storage technology for PCs that goes well beyond todays simpler caching offerings, said Kevin Lensing, corporate vice president and general manager, client computing, AMD. StoreMI technology fits perfectly into AMDs strategy to deliver smarter, faster and more feature-rich PC platforms, and we are delighted to be offering this to all of our 400 series chipset customers. Our relationship with AMD is the foundation that supports our vision for enabling Machine Intelligence across all future PCs, said Andy Mills, CEO of Enmotus. Modern games and applications demand both performance and large amounts of capacity. Our software frees end users not only from making trade offs between performance and capacity but also eliminates the need to manage their storage across disparate storage devices, added Mills. Derived from Enmotus server class Virtual SSD technology, FuzeDrive and AMDs StoreMI technology for PCs results in superior performance for gamers, creators and enthusiasts, automatically hot loading games and applications onto the fastest storage available without human intervention. Furthermore, with the ability to create up to 32TB of intelligent bootable storage, users no longer have to worry about capacity anxiety the fear of running out of disk space as new game downloads start to exceed 100GB. About Enmotus Enmotus Machine Intelligent Storage Software enables fully autonomous data storage that self manages, and self optimizes based on IO activity. A usage engine analyzes all IO activity, sizes the active data set, and dynamically distributes IOs across virtualized pooled resources to maximize performance according to application needs. For more information visit www.enmotus.com StoreMI technology refers to a technology of Advanced Micro Devices. Media Contact Adam Zagorski Adam.zagorski@enmotus.com 949-292-9816 Investor Contact Andy Mills Andy.mills@enmotus.com 949-229-1603 INDIANAPOLIS (AP) Republican Gov. Eric Holcomb has directed flags across Indiana to be flown at half-staff to honor former first lady Barbara Bush. His office said Wednesday that flags should be flown at half-staff until sunset on the day of her burial, Saturday. Holcomb also asks businesses and residents across the state to lower their flags to half-staff to honor Bush. Bush died Tuesday at the age of 92 following a series of hospitalizations. She was the wife of former President George H.W. Bush and the mother of former President George W. Bush. TERRE HAUTE, Ind. (WTHI)- Once again, there is a deal in the works to sell the Beau Monde property located near Deming Park in Terre Haute. There is also a rezoning request for this property. According to the rezoning petition. Park Place Condominiums LLC wants to build duplexes on this property. They plan to sell, not rent, condos. Dick Wheatfill has mixed feelings about the proposed plan. His back yard is one of the empty lots. "It doesn't make me feel comfortable," Wheatfill said. "How close are they going to come up to the back of our homes?" He worries that the value of the neighborhood would go down with a new development. "Give us some privacy," Wheatfill said. "Don't deter the value of our properties." Over the years several developers tried to make this property into something. But, the neighbors weren't too happy about it. Brian Payne also neighbors the property up for sale. News 10 spoke with Payne about two years ago. This is when there was a debate to put luxury apartments on the property. He was frustrated with the proposed plan. So, he decided to spread the word with street signs and a website. "It might have changed the neighborhood," Payne said. "The change in expectation. Folks built their homes here and invested in them." Now, Payne says he has high hopes with what Park Place Condominiums LLC can do. "I'm optimistic, I really am," he said. The new developers say they estimate more than 30 duplexes built on the property. Condos would sell for about $180,000 to $200,000. "I think we will be able to work out the concerns that the community has," Payne said. "Let's get a good development in there." We checked on-line records through the Indiana Secretary of State's office. Former Vigo County Commissioner Joe Anderson is the business manager of Park Place Condominiums LLC. Anderson released the following statement, "Park Place Condominiums believes it's inappropriate to comment before talking with surrounding homeowners. Their feedback is important to us." The city council will consider the rezoning on May 10. ATLANTA (AP) The last train car full of New York City sewage sludge that has stunk up a small Alabama community for more than two months has finally been emptied, the town's mayor said this week. For more than two months, the sludge has blown an unbearable stench throughout the tiny town of Parrish, Alabama, population 982. All of the containers have now been emptied from the so-called Poop Train, Parrish Mayor Heather Hall said on social media Wednesday. Some of the containers are still at the site, awaiting shipment back to the northeast U.S., she said. The sludge is a byproduct of New Yorkers' excrement. It was shipped to the nearby Big Sky landfill. Hall said after a public outcry, the Norfolk Southern railroad required Big Sky to hire more truck drivers so the sludge could be removed from the train cars more quickly. "Other towns and cities have been fighting this material in their towns for years," Hall said in announcing the end of what she described as a nightmare. "While what happened in Parrish was, to our understanding, an unprecedented event, there are still small towns like Parrish fighting this situation on a smaller scale." Experts say some cities send their waste to Alabama and other Southern states due to low landfill fees and lax zoning laws. New York has discontinued shipments to Alabama for now. New York City has a goal of sending "zero waste" to landfills by 2030, according to its long-term strategy "One New York: The Plan for a Strong and Just City." Environmental advocates say there's nothing just about a city dumping waste in poor communities that lack the political clout to stop it. In Alabama, residents of tiny Parrish say they felt blindsided by the sudden horrid smells that enveloped their town in late January. "Would New York City like for us to send all our poop up there forever?" said Sherleen Pike, who lives about a half-mile from the railroad track in Parrish. She's been dabbing peppermint oil under her nose because the smell is so bad. It has become more challenging and costly for New York City to dispose of its sewage sludge in recent years, city documents show. New York was forced to find new methods after the federal government in 1988 banned the city's longtime practice of dumping it in the ocean. In recent years, New York City contractors had dumped the waste at landfills relatively close to the city, but those landfills have significantly reduced the amount of waste they will accept, according to a city budget document. Sending it to other communities also has prompted complaints about the smell. Two landfills in Pennsylvania, for instance, quit accepting sludge from New York City after odor complaints and violations, according to the documents. New York City projects higher disposal costs through fiscal year 2020, partly because the waste will have to be transported farther away from the city. In her Facebook post announcing that the last container of sludge had been removed, Hall remarked, "This material does not need to be in a populated area ... period." "It greatly diminishes the quality of life for those who live anywhere near it." The Dothan School Board will be increasing security at the 20 schools in the district. The school board approved spending $543,000 to provide 11 security guards for schools that don't already have a school resource officer on site. Other measures include key card access for external doors at each school, security cameras at all locations, and the use of a visitor management system. Dothan Chief of Police, Steve Parrish says, "This plan goes well beyond police and school. We involve the teachers, we involve the students, we involve other first responders, and we involve the community." Dothan School Board Chairman Mike Schmitz is in Washington trying to secure additional funding for the security measures. BILLERICA, Mass., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Of the 1.2 trillion digital photos researchers forecasted would be taken in 2017, 85 percent were predicted to be captured on smartphones. Utilizing ZINK Zero Ink printing technology, Canon U.S.A., Inc. has empowered this generation of mobile photo consumers to not only share and enjoy their everyday experiences, but to also create lasting memories. ZINK Holdings today announced that Canons latest lineup of consumer printers, the IVY Mini Photo Printer, will use ZINK Zero Ink printing technology and paper. ZINK, which stands for Zero Ink, is a full-color printing system that eliminates the need for ink cartridges or ribbons. The proverb good things come in small packages couldnt be truer for Canons IVY, the Companys first 2x3 photo printer, said Kazuto Ogawa, president and chief operating officer, Canon U.S.A., Inc. Its our smallest and lightest printer yet, and were truly excited about giving our customers more access to creatively connect and instantly share memories than ever before from the palm of their hands. The absence of bulky cartridges and ribbons align ZINK Paper with the needs of on-the-go smartphone photographers who want sleek, portable devices that fit in their pocket. All the color required for printing an image or text is embedded in the paper itself. ZINK Paper prints in less than one minute, does not smear or fade, and is water-resistant. It's also sticky on the back so users can turn their photos into stickers. Innovators like Canon keep a finger on the pulse of what their customers want, and provide convenient, highly-functional and budget-friendly solutions, said Chaim Pikarski, CEO, Zink Holdings. The IVY printer exemplifies why Canon is an industry leader. Demand for instant print images grows exponentially each day. Appropriately described as the selfie generation, tweens and millennials flock to image-based social media platforms like Instagram and Snapchat, which, according to eMarketer, are the preferred mediums of more than 190 million social network users in the U.S. As people take more pictures, its only natural for them to crave hard copy images and actual prints to recall everyday experiences, added Pikarski. Although ZINK launched more than 10 years ago, advancements in wireless technology, as well as smartphone cameras, have ignited the demand for compact photo printers and the companys explosive growth over the past few years. Devices like Canons IVY can easily connect to smartphones and other devices via Bluetooth, which adds to their appeal, said J.C. VanDijk, president, Zink Holdings. Devoid of ink cartridges, ribbons or toners needed, ZINK technology offers a compelling value proposition for device manufacturers like Canon: Affordable, reliable, fast, and easy to use, ZINK technology is applicable to a wide range of applications, from the smallest mini pocket-sized images to poster-sized prints. ZINK projects an 85 percent increase in shipments of its award-winning Zink Paper, to more than 40 million bundles. About Canon U.S.A., Inc. Canon U.S.A., Inc., is a leading provider of consumer, business-to-business, and industrial digital imaging solutions to the United States and to Latin America and the Caribbean markets. With approximately $36 billion in global revenue, its parent company, Canon Inc. (NYSE:CAJ), ranks third overall in U.S. patents granted in 2017 and is one of Fortune Magazine's World's Most Admired Companies in 2018. Canon U.S.A. is committed to the highest level of customer satisfaction and loyalty, providing 100 percent U.S.-based service and support for all of the products it distributes in the United States. Canon U.S.A. is dedicated to its Kyosei philosophy of social and environmental responsibility. In 2014, the Canon Americas Headquarters secured LEED Gold certification, a recognition for the design, construction, operations and maintenance of high-performance green buildings. To keep apprised of the latest news from Canon U.S.A., sign up for the Company's RSS news feed by visiting www.usa.canon.com/rss and follow us on Twitter @CanonUSA. For media inquiries, please contact pr@cusa.canon.com. ABOUT ZINK HOLDINGS ZINK Holdings LLC (ZINK) is a privately-held company headquartered in Billerica, Massachusetts that invented ZINK Zero Ink Technology. ZINK is a full-color printing system that eliminates the need for ink cartridges or ribbons - all the color required for printing an image is embedded in the paper itself. The ink-free value proposition enables ZINK to provide full-color printing to the growing instant camera and mobile printer markets where other technologies have been unable to meet customer requirements. For more information, visit www.ZINK.com. CONTACT: Mostafa Razzak JMRConnect (for ZINK) 202.904.2048 m.razzak@jmrconnect.net GRADY COUNTY, Ga. (WALB) - Ahead of prom this weekend, high school students in Grady County are learning about the severe consequences of driving while under the influence. Wednesday morning, first responders held a mock crash drill, showing the scenario of drunk driving and the fatal damage it can cause. The mock drill was held by Grady Substance Abuse Awareness Prevention Council. Jeremy Davis, a Cairo high school alumni told his story of his crash with his use of drugs and alcohol. He hopes it has an effect on the decisions the young students make moving forward. "My brother is actually going to share his testimony, both of us are addicts in recovery," said Davis. "Both graduates of Cairo high school, both understand the severity of drugs and alcohol as it relates to prom weekend, so we are out here to share our story about whats happened in our lives." Juniors and Seniors will be attending prom this Saturday night. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Local students pushed back against recent calls for military action in Syria. Members of the Tallahassee chapter of Students for a Democratic Society held a rally Wednesday. Students gathered around Florida State University's Integration Statue. Activists took to the megaphone, saying the U.S. airstrikes against Syria were wrong and dangerous. "I am here to object to any wars that President Trump is trying to start, and I am here to raise awareness about the suffering of the people in Syria as a result of the United States' military intervention," said Katherine Draken, vice president of the FSU Students for Democratic Society. Draken hopes activists like her can help end domestic and international human suffering and encourage an open door policy for future refugees. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - Farm Share will be back Thursday with more than 13,000 pounds of food to pass out to the community. Starting at 8 a.m., the Leon County Sheriff's Office will be passing out fresh fruits and vegetables from farmers throughout the area. They will also have cereal, breakfast sandwiches and much more. The event will be held in the parking lot between the Department of Health and the Leon County Sheriff's Office on Municipal Way. "The really great thing about this is, that since the Leon County Sheriff's Office has started this partnership with Farm Share, we've seen more and more sheriff's offices across the state now partnering with Farm Share and doing the same outreach and we believe that's important," said Shonda Knight of the Leon County Sheriff's Office. Knight also says this will be a drive-thru, or walk up service for those without transportation. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - On Friday, Leon County high school students will be leading a rally to honor victims of gun violence and to demonstrate the need for realistic gun laws. Leon County high school students want to give more young voters and soon-to-be voters a voice in the community regarding gun legislation at the rally. The event will be happening in conjunction with the 19th anniversary of the Columbine shooting, as well as the National Walkout Day. Speakers will include Leon County students and survivors of gun violence. According to Casey Epstein-Gross, a local Leon county high school student and one of the organizers of this rally, the Walk Up & Speak Out event is necessary. Past protests in Tallahassee have been mostly led by adults. We as students and future voters think its necessary to show that this is not an age-exclusive issue, and that even teenagers care greatly about gun control. We hope to encourage Tallahassee youth to have their voices heard and to stand up for what they believe in. We want to show the media and the legislators, the ones that suggest we give guns to teachers or wear clear backpacks, that we arent going anywhere," said Epstein-Gross. "We need to stand together as a united front, regardless of age, gender, ethnicity, or political affiliation, and show that we are ready to work for change, and that even months after the shooting, this movement will not die down, and that when it comes time for primaries, we will be there. The rally will take place at Tallahassee Capital Courtyard on Friday at 2:30 p.m. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. (WTXL) - The man on trial in the Florida school massacre is being listed on court-records as "indigent." The designation means Nikolas Cruz does not have enough money to afford a defense lawyer in a criminal case. A Broward County Court Clerk made the designation on a form listing Cruz's assets. The form says Cruz has more than $2,200 in stocks and bonds and $25,000 in other income. Cruz is accused of murdering 17 people at Marjory Stoneman Douglas high school on February 14th. The court has been trying to determine if taxpayers will pick up the tab for his defense. The judge is expected to make a final determination on Cruz's indigent status before next Friday. TOKYO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Japanese Vice Finance Minister Junichi Fukuda will resign from his post amid allegations that he sexually harassed female reporters, Finance Minister Taro Aso announced Wednesday. Fukuda's resignation came less than a year after he took on the role as the ministry's top bureaucrat and at a time when the ministry has been under fire for a number of improprieties, including a cronyism scandal implicating Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. "Given the situation since the report came out, it has become difficult to fulfill my duties as vice finance minister," Fukuda was quoted as telling a press briefing on the matter. Fukuda, 58, was alleged by the weekly Shukan Shincho magazine to have made remarks to female reporters while drinking that were overtly sexual in nature. In an audio clip, thereafter released on the magazine's website, Fukuda could allegedly be heard asking a female reporter in a bar or restaurant, "Can I give you a hug?" and "Can I touch your breasts?" "The weekly magazine story about me is not true and I will continue to make my case in court," Fukuda said. The ministry said that following an interview, Fukuda said he has no recollection of having dined with a female reporter. But Aso said in a separate press briefing Wednesday that Fukuda's resignation would go ahead. "I have decided to accept his resignation," said the finance minister. Fukuda's resignation came at a time of sinking public support for Abe's cabinet and the powerful finance ministry, owing to a prolonged cronyism scandal centered around the ministry's involvement in the cut-price sale of a piece of state land to a nationalist school operator with ties to Prime Minister Shinzo Abe's wife. In a prior blow to the ministry, Nobuhisa Sagawa, who previously headed the ministry's financial bureau overseeing the shady land sale, stepped down. A separate influence-peddling scandal also yet to be resolved involves the government selecting a veterinary school run by a close friend of Abe to be opened in a specially deregulated zone. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 02:06:04|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close Photo taken on April 18, 2018 shows weapons confiscated from rebels' depots in Douma district, east of Damascus, Syria, on April 18, 2018. The Islam Army rebels on Wednesday continued dropping their heavy and medium weapons in the Dumair area northeast of Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday, state news agency SANA reported. (Xinhua) DAMASCUS, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The Islam Army rebels on Wednesday continued dropping their heavy and medium weapons in the Dumair area northeast of Syrian capital Damascus on Wednesday, state news agency SANA reported. This came days after the rebels withdrew from the Douma district in east of Damascus. The rebels in Dumair area will follow the lead of their comrades who evacuated Douma last week and moved to the rebel-held city of Jarablus, as part of the deal with the government. The evacuation will be for the rebels and their families who refused to reconcile with the government, while others will stay in the town and settle their situation with the government in accordance with the deal. SANA said 1,500 rebels and 3,500 members of their families are expected to evacuate Dumair, while data indicate that some 100,000 people live in Dumair. The Islam Army's evacuation from Dumair is a prelude to a similar evacuation of this rebel group and other militants from the eastern Qalamoun region north of Damascus. Meanwhile, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights said the mountainous areas of eastern Qalamoun are subject to tens of airstrikes, as part of the Syrian army's bid to push the militants there to the negotiation table for their withdrawal. After the rebels' evacuation from Douma earlier this month, the entire Eastern Ghouta countryside in the east of Damascus has returned to under the government's control. However, the Islam Army and allied militants still control some pockets in the eastern part of the Qalamoun region north of Damascus. The Syrian government is working to secure a similar evacuation deal with the rebels in a bid to completely secure the capital. LISBON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Portugal's Prime Minister, Antonio Costa, of the Socialist Party (PS), and Rui Rio, leader of the Social Democratic Party (PSD) opposition, signed a number of cooperation pacts on Wednesday. The agreements, signed at Sao Bento, the prime minister's official residence, set out cross-party commitments in two key policy areas: decentralization and European Union (EU) funds. The decentralization agreement pledges to reassign certain powers to municipal authorities. The EU accord relates to Portugal 2030, a development program for the country in the coming decade, based on innovation, sustainability, making better use of natural resources and putting people first. Rio, a former mayor of Porto, was elected leader of the PSD in January. His winning campaign pledged to collaborate with the PS on key reforms, rather than oppose them. The leader of the PSD is thus doing as promised, but Costas' approach has drawn criticism. Costa heads a minority government with the PS reliant on parliamentary support from the Left Bloc (BE), the Portuguese Communist Party (PCP) and the Greens (PEV). His partners in what is a left-wing informal coalition are not impressed that the PS is pacting with the center-right PSD. "The central block of the PS and the PSD have a long tradition of using community funds to benefit public-private partnerships and profiteering sectors," BE deputy Mariana Mortagua told parliament, as reported by the Lusa Portuguese News Agency. But Costa defended himself and said, "These accords are of a specific nature and should not be confused with the joint positions that form the basis of the majority in this parliament." Costa added that issues such as decentralization and the spending of EU funds "demand as broad a range of consensus as possible". TORONTO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Canada's main stock index rose for the fifth straight day on Wednesday to reach a four-week high due to the booming stocks of energy and metal groups. The Toronto Stock Exchange's benchmark Standard & Poor's/TSX Composite Index rose 176.67 points, or 1.15 percent, to end the day at 15,529.97. All of the main groups were up. The Canadian dollar fell 42 cents to 79.23 U.S. dollars on Wednesday. The energy sector rose, as prices of oil, rallied on rising supply concerns. Enbridge moved up 43 cents, or one percent, to 41.81 Canadian dollars, and Canadian Natural Resources rose 3.6 percent to 45.27 Canadian dollars. Materials triumphed, as one of the largest percentage gainers was First Quantum Minerals, which rose surged 6.7 percent 18.60 Canadian dollars while Teck Resources climbed 3.1 percent 34.04 Canadian dollars. In the health-care sector, Canopy Growth added 2.7 percent to 30.65 Canadian dollars while Valeant Pharmaceuticals rose 1.5 percent to 22.04 Canadian dollars. Among industrials, SNC-Lavalin gained 2.2 percent to 56.56 Canadian dollars after saying it had signed a deal with Saudi Aramco to install added facilities at a major plant in Saudi Arabia. The largest percentage gainer was Torc Oil & Gas, which rose 9.9 percent, while the largest decliner was Alaris Royalty, down 6.7 percent. LOS ANGELES, April 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. Montana State Governor Steve Bullock Wednesday issued an executive order, declaring a state of emergency in seven counties and the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation as snowmelt floods hit much of northern Montana. The executive order, applying to Pondera, Hill, Blaine, Valley, Toole, Liberty and Petroleum counties, authorizes the availability and utilization of necessary state government services, equipment and supplies, and allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to use sandbags and other resources for critical infrastructure protection. The state government also established a Multi-agency Coordinating Group to keep informed of the flooding situation statewide, Bullock's office said in a statement, adding that the State Emergency Coordination Center continues to work closely with local and tribal jurisdictions. "As Montanans are faced with flooding, we are doing everything necessary at the state level to protect health and safety, and to preserve lives, property, and resources," said the statement. "We continue to keep in close communication with local and tribal officials as we monitor conditions around the state," it added. After a record-snowfall winter, flooding from rapid snowmelt has impacted the north of the state this month and has potential to cause widespread damage to homes, farms and infrastructure. Dozens of roads across much of Montana have been damaged by floodwaters, local officials said. They also have told local residents to be ready to evacuate on short notice. JAKARTA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A shallow earthquake in Central Java province has left two people dead, 21 others injured and over 300 buildings damaged, a disaster agency official said Thursday. More than 2,000 people have taken shelter in evacuation centers set up after the quake, said Sutopo Purwo Nugroho, spokesman of the natural disaster management agency. All the wounded have received treatment at a nearby clinic and hospital, he added. The earthquake, with a magnitude of 4.4 and a depth of 4 km, struck the province at 13:28 p.m. local time on Wednesday, according to the geophysics and meteorology agency. "The worst impacts were in Kalibening sub-district of Banjarnegara district as the unstable condition of soil has also worsened the risks," Sutopo told Xinhua in a text message. He said 316 houses, four mosques and two school buildings were devastated, while 2,104 people have fled home to evacuation centers. Nearly 200 soldiers, personnel from search and rescue office and disaster agency office are jointly undertaking relief efforts in the affected areas, said Sutopo. Clean water and food are among those badly needed, he noted. Indonesia is prone to earthquakes as it lies at a vulnerable zone called "the Pacific Ring of Fire". BEND, Ore., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- via NetworkWire EVIO, Inc. (EVIO or the Company) (OTCQB:EVIO), a leading provider of cannabis testing and scientific research for the regulated cannabis industry, is pleased to announce the establishment of a new and wholly-owned subsidiary, EVIO Canada, which will serve as the parent company for the Companys Canadian operations. Concurrently, EVIO Canada announced today that it has entered into a binding agreement to acquire 50% of Keystone Labs Inc. (Keystone Labs), a privately-held, independent contract-testing laboratory specializing in quality testing for regulated industries located in Edmonton, Alberta. Founded in 2005 by Jodi McDonald, President of Keystone Labs, the company provides a full array of high quality analytical and microbiological analyses to pharmaceutical, biotechnological, medical device and natural health product industries according to Good Manufacturing Practices (GMP). We are thrilled to partner with EVIO Labs. This is an incredible opportunity for Keystone Labs to expand our quality testing services into the cannabis market by supporting the production of safe cannabis for Canadians, said McDonald. With the leadership and expertise of EVIOs highly successful management team working with our experienced team, we are confident in our ability to seize the growing opportunities in regulated cannabis testing and innovation and become a market leader in Canada. Beginning in 2018, it is expected that adult recreational cannabis will be available to Canadas population of approximately 36.3 million. With the Canadian cannabis industry projected to reach C$8.7 billion, according to a Deloitte report titled Recreational Marijuana: Insights and Opportunities, in size over the coming years, this strategic acquisition will expand EVIOs footprint into the market as well as provide the Company with diversification into other testing fields. As the country prepares for adult recreational sales in the coming months, the need for credible and comprehensive cannabis testing is greater than ever. Keystone Labs is one of 37 laboratories licensed by Health Canada and one of only three laboratories that hold both a Dealers License and a GMP Drug Establishment License for cannabis testing, said William Waldrop, CEO and co-founder of EVIO. This acquisition is a significant milestone for EVIO as it will mark our first foray into an international market. Our goal is to increase consumer safety and confidence, while further pursuing our aggressive expansion plans for 2018. Transaction Details: In consideration for the 50% acquisition of Keystone Labs, EVIO Canada, Inc. will pay a cash purchase price of an aggregate of CDN$2,495,000. This purchase price will be split as to CDN$2,035,000 to the shareholders of Keystone Labs to purchase 45% of the issued and outstanding shares of the company and as to CDN$460,000 to Keystone Labs to purchase shares of Keystone Labs equal to an additional 5% of the issued and outstanding shares directly from treasury. EVIO will provide a line of credit to Keystone Labs up to a maximum principal amount of CDN$1,000,000 to support operations. In connection with and immediately following the completion of the foregoing transactions, the shareholders of Keystone Labs shall subscribe for an aggregate of 1,291,391 of common shares in the capital of EVIO for an aggregate purchase price of CDN$1.95M on a private placement basis. The proposed transaction is subject to customary closing conditions, including both parties completing due diligence and obtaining any approvals from applicable local authorities. Contingent upon completion of final agreements and documents, the transaction is expected to close on or about May 1, 2018. About EVIO, Inc. EVIO, Inc. is a leading provider of cannabis testing and scientific research for the regulated cannabis industry. The Companys EVIO Labs division operates coast-to-coast providing state-mandated ancillary services to ensure the safety and quality of the nation's cannabis supply. EVIO is on track to have 18 of its state-of-the-art testing facilities by year-end 2018. For more information, visit www.eviolabs.com. About Keystone Labs Keystone Labs Inc., located in Edmonton, Alberta, is a privately held Heath Canada accredited testing facility with a GMP establishment license. Keystone offers a full array of analytical and microbiological testing services for pharmaceutical, biotechnology, medical device, nutraceutical, medical cannabis and related industries. For more information, visit https://keystonelabs.ca/. Safe Harbor Statement Any statements in this press release that are not statements of historical fact maybe considered to be forward-looking statements. Statements may contain certain forward-looking statements pertaining to future anticipated or projected plans, performance and developments, as well as other statements relating to future operations and results and include, but are not limited to, the anticipated legalization of recreational cannabis in Canada, the anticipated size of the Canadian adult recreational cannabis market, the completion of the proposed acquisition of Keystone Labs and the anticipated timing thereof, Keystone Labs ability to develop into a Canadian market leader, the subscription for EVIO shares by the Keystone Labs shareholders, the receipt of necessary approvals in connection with the transactions described herein, and EVIOs expansion of testing facilities in calendar 2018. Words such as "may," "will," "expect," "believe," "anticipate," "estimate," "intends," "goal," "objective," "seek," "attempt," or variations of these or similar words, identify forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements by their nature are estimates of future results only and involve substantial risks and uncertainties, including but not limited to risks associated with the uncertainty of future financial results, additional financing requirements, development of new products, EVIOs ability to complete our product testing and launch our product commercially, the acceptance of EVIOs product in the marketplace, the uncertainty of the laws and regulations relating to cannabis, the impact of competitive products or pricing, technological changes, the effect of economic conditions and other uncertainties detailed from time to time in EVIOs reports filed with the Securities and Exchange Commission, available at www.sec.gov or www.eviolabs.com. CONTACT INFORMATION Company Contact: Cheryl Kramp Director of Marketing EVIO, Inc. Bend, OR www.EVIOlabs.com 888-544-EVIO info@EVIOlabs.com Media Contact: Carrie Booze North 6th Agency 212-334-9753 ext.142 evio@n6a.com YANGON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A gale storm that swept three regions in Myanmar over the past three days has killed one people and destroyed more than 800 houses as well as some monasteries, the official Global New Light of Myanmar reported Thursday. In the three regions - Bago, Ayeyawaddy and Sagaing - townships affected include Paungde, Nattalin, Hinthada and Homalin. At the weekend, a strong wind also hit central Magway region's Myaing township, blowing off roofs of 18 houses. All affected households are supported by local authorities with aid provided. Meanwhile, Myanmar's Meteorology and Hydrology Department has warned of more thunder storms and strong winds in the country in the pre- monsoon period from mid-April to mid-May, calling on the public to be alert to the possibility of such strikes. The weather bureau also warned of increase of daytime temperature in the current pre-monsoon period. According to earlier reports, two people had been killed by lightning over the last two weeks when a thunder storm hit Ayeyawaddy and Bago regions respectively. MINSK, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Ensuring security and improving the work of checkpoints in eastern Ukraine remains an urgent topic for the Trilateral Contact Group (TCG) on Ukraine, the special representative of the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE) said Wednesday. Martin Sajdik, a member of the TCG, told reporters that "the improvement of checkpoints and the opening of new ones" remains a significant topic for the TCG in order to handle the difficulties encountered by civilians at the existing checkpoints. Sajdik said the situation in the conflict zone in eastern Ukraine "has been far from stable." The next meeting of the TCG will be held on May 4. The TCG is a group of representatives from Ukraine, Russia and the OSCE that was formed to facilitate a diplomatic solution to the conflict in eastern Ukraine. CANBERRA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Overcrowded prisons in Australia's Northern Territory (NT) have prompted calls for mandatory sentencing to be abolished, local media reported Thursday. Figures released by the NT Corrections Department revealed that 1,833 people were incarcerated across the NT. The territory's largest prison, the Darwin Correctional Facility, was found to be 3 percent over capacity with 1087 prisoners house there. The Alice Springs prison was 30 percent over capacity with 642 detainees. Beth Wild, manager of the criminal law section of the Northern Australian Aboriginal Justice Agency (NAAJA) said the problem had led to bed shortages in the facilities. "Prisoners are sleeping on the floor, they're sleeping on mattresses, they're sleeping outside," Wild told the Australian Broadcasting Corporation (ABC) on Thursday. "Prisoners are asking not to be brought to court so that they don't lose their beds, because once they're returned to prison after court they're back outside again." The figures have prompted calls for the abolition of mandatory sentencing laws in the NT, which has the highest rate of incarceration in Australia. Under current sentencing rules, judges can choose to impose a harsher sentence than the mandatory minimum sentence for a crime but cannot choose to impose a shorter sentence. "(The Territory government) should get rid of mandatory sentencing immediately," Wild said. "It would cost them nothing to get rid of it and would, in the long-term, save money because incarcerating people is expensive." According to NT Corrective Services data, the average cost of keeping a prisoner behind bars in 2015-16 was 198.86 Australian dollars (154.9 U.S. dollars) per day. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 11:33:01|Editor: Yamei Video Player Close Cuban President Raul Castro (2nd L, Rear), and Cuban First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel (4th L, Rear) attend a session of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, in Havana, Cuba, on April 18, 2018. Cuba's National Candidature Commission on Wednesday nominated First Vice President of the Council of State Miguel Diaz-Canel to succeed Raul Castro as president. (Xinhua/Vladimir Molina/Prensa Latina) HAVANA, April 18 (Xinhua) -- Cuba moved a step closer to having a new president Wednesday with First Vice President Miguel Diaz-Canel nominated as President Raul Castro's successor in a historic generation change for the first time in almost six decades. The National Candidature Commission (NCC) nominated Diaz-Canel, first vice president of the Council of State, after the 57-year-old's name was proposed by the 604 National Assembly lawmakers to head the country. As the NCC finally announced Diaz-Canel's name after months of speculation, he received a standing ovation and a hug from his mentor Raul Castro. "Diaz-Canel has a rich political career aligned with the generation born after the triumph of 1959 and has been growing with the revolution since he became a student leader," Gisela Duarte, president of the NCC, said while proposing his name. Cuba also announced candidates for six vice presidential posts. Salvador Valdes Mesa, 72, a sitting vice president and member of the Politburo, was nominated as the new first vice president. Ramiro Valdes, 85, was proposed as one of the vice presidents in a significant move, thereby keeping in the future government a historical leader who fought in the liberation war along with the Castro brothers. The proposal for the vice presidents was completed with Gladys Bejerano nominated for a second term and new faces, including current Public Health Minister Roberto Morales. Although Castro was elected a lawmaker, he won't be part of the Council of State. Nor will be a current vice president, Jose Ramon Machado, 87, another revolutionary figure. Influential political figures like Defense Minister Leopoldo Cintra Frias, Foreign Minister Bruno Rodriguez, Cuban Young Communist League leader Susely Morfa, and Cuban Workers' Federation leader Ulises Guilarte have also been proposed to be part of the Council of State. With the changes, the average age of the leadership will become 54 years as 77 percent of the proposed candidates were born after the triumph of the revolution in 1959. Also, 48 percent are women. The proposed names have been submitted for a secret vote among the lawmakers with the results to be known on Thursday. Diaz-Canel is expected to give a speech to close the session where he will lay out the government's roadmap for the next five years. NEW DELHI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Amid reports of recent cash crunch in parts of the country, Indian tax authorities are conducting raids on possible cash hoarders, official sources said Thursday. Mostly, the currency notes of Rupees 2,000 denomination have gone missing from ATMs in the affected areas, though Finance Minister Arun Jaitley maintained that there is enough currency in circulation and that it is a "temporary" cash shortage. "Have reviewed the currency situation in the country. Overall there is more than adequate currency in circulation and also available with the Banks. The temporary shortage caused by 'sudden and unusual increase' in some areas is being tackled quickly," he tweeted. According to the sources, raids are being carried out in southern states of Karnataka and Andhra Pradesh. Notably, Karnataka goes to polls next month. Simultaneously, the country's central bank - the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) has been directed to pump in funds into some of the states facing the currency crunch. According to leading English daily "The Times of India," the focus of raids was on individuals and entities that have undertaken large withdrawals over the last few weeks. "In some cases, the withdrawals are not justified and they do not tally with the income or spending patterns. We believe that cash is only being held with no actual spending planned in several cases," it quoted an official source as saying. WASHINGTON, April 18 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday agreed to intensify talks for "free, fair and reciprocal trade deals", but differences remained over the format of future trade deals. "We have agreed to start talks for free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals at this time," visiting Abe said at a joint press conference with Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. While Japan was aware of the United States' interest in a bilateral free trade deal, Japan continued to prefer the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional trade deal among Pacific Rim countries, Abe said. "Our country's position is that TPP is the best for both of the countries. And based on that position, we shall be dealing with the talks," he said. However, Trump said he really prefers negotiating a one-on-one deal with Japan and he doesn't want to go back into the TPP. "Unless they offer us a deal that we cannot refuse, I would not go back into TPP. We'll see what happens," Trump said. In January last year, Trump announced the decision to officially withdraw the United States from the Pacific trade deal in a largely symbolic move, as the U.S. Congress hasn't approved the deal yet. Last week, Trump made a surprise move to instruct officials to study the possibility of rejoining the TPP. But he changed its position on the TPP again earlier this week. "While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don't like the deal for the United States. Too many contingencies and no way to get out if it doesn't work," he tweeted on Tuesday. Trump also suggested that Japan could get an exclusion from the so-called Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum if the two countries can reach a trade deal. Abe was on a two-day working visit in the United States from Tuesday to Wednesday. NAY PYI TAW, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi left Nay Pyi Taw Thursday on an official visit to Vietnam at the invitation of Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, according to official sources. During the two-day visit, Suu Kyi is expected to have talks with the Vietnamese leader, focusing on bilateral relations and cooperation. It is Suu Kyi's second visit to Vietnam in five months. Myanmar established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1975. SYDNEY, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Despite record production levels at BHP's flagship Pilbara Mine and an agreement in place that will see the Australian resource giant increase its export volume even further, the company has downgraded its full-year guidance due to maintenance work, according to its quarterly report released on Thursday. In the report, BHP explained that "unreliable" dumper cars required unexpected maintenance. As a result, this will see its 2017-2018 estimates trimmed from 275-280 million tonnes to 272-274 million tonnes. Although the slight reduction did put a somewhat sour note on the report, overall the quarter was a massive success for the company. Up 8 percent on the corresponding third quarter, BHP produced a record 58 million tonnes of iron ore, as well as increasing output for its other mineral operations. "The quarterly production report is very strong in particular, that doubling of copper output," CMC Markets' Chief Market Strategist Michael McCarthy told Xinhua. "Given that commodity prices are surging at the moment, it was a great day to be releasing a strong quarterly report." BHP also said they've received approval to boost production at their Port Hedland operation, which should see the company reach a total output of 290 million tonnes of iron ore during 2018-2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 13:03:17|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close by Cristobal Chavez, Dang Qi SANTIAGO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- In geographical terms, Chile marks the farthest point from China, but the two countries have succeeded in forging a free trade agreement (FTA) that has brought them closer, and Europe in the bargain. European firms eyeing China's market have opened plants in the South American country in hopes of taking advantage of Chile's trade deal with China. Brueggen, a German cereal maker in business since 1868, recently invited Liu Rutao, economic and commercial counselor of the Chinese Embassy in Chile, to tour its Chilean plant. According to Liu, the FTA between China and Chile is benefiting businesses not just in these two countries, but also in other parts of Latin America and even Europe. Jose Manuel Ibanez, director of Brueggen America, told Xinhua: "China is very important to us. We developed this plant along with our partners in order to supply Chile, and also the rest of Latin America and the Asia-Pacific." In 2015, Brueggen partnered with Latin American Foods in Chile, giving rise to Brueggen America, which aims to produce goods in Chile for China's market. According to Ibanez, the idea is to replicate Chile's strong and long-running trade ties with China on homegrown products such as wine, copper and fruits. Previously, Brueggen operated plants only in Germany, Poland and France, with the German facility producing cereals for the Chinese market. The company, Ibanez said, has outlined a clear goal for its expansion in the Chinese market. "Our mission is to take granola to China." Highly popular in Germany, Europe and the United States, traditional granola which is made from a blend of oats, walnuts and honey that is then baked to a crunchy consistency, can be eaten alone or mixed with yogurt or milk and fresh fruits. "We believe we can generate value in the supply chain for this market," said Ibanez, referring to China. "We very much respect and value the way of doing things in China, and we feel that with this product we can generate not only value, but also a relationship that we would like to see last," said Ibanez. Chile offers companies with expansion plans certain clear advantages, he said, including its FTAs with countries around the globe, access to raw materials, and ports for shipping to "highly competitive markets like China's." Chile is one of the world's most open markets, and has key international trade deals, such as its Partnership Agreement with the European Union and FTAs with the United States and China. Former Chilean Ambassador to China Fernando Reyes Matta, who is currently director of the Center for Latin American Studies on China at Chile's Andres Bello University, said exports from Chile to China "have better competitive conditions than those arriving from Germany" thanks to existing Chile-China trade ties. "This benefits those shipments, because even though they are coming from the southern tip of the world, the economic conditions for entry into China are totally different and much more favorable," said Reyes Matta. Brueggen's plant in Chile has the capacity to process 650,000 kg of cereal, 220,000 tons of granola bars and a million granola-based products. Reyes Matta noted the plant has "very advanced technology and, as a result, all the capacity to mass produce quality goods." Chile plants some 576,000 hectares of cereals, 44 percent of which is wheat, 24 percent is corn and 22 percent is oats, according to the latest figures from the Ministry of Agriculture. Today, distance is no longer an issue in trade, said the former diplomat, adding what matters is quality. "There are no more borders in terms of the capacity of a product to go from one side of the globe to the other in optimum condition, due to refrigeration and transportation. The important thing is the quality that's on offer," said Reyes Matta. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 13:18:19|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China's Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday that the U.S. action against China's leading telecom equipment maker ZTE Corp will damage itself. "The action targets China, however, it will ultimately undermine the United States itself," MOC spokesperson Gao Feng told a press conference. The United States will lose tens of thousands of job opportunities, while hundreds of related U.S. enterprises will also be affected, he said. The act has fueled widespread concerns over U.S. investment and the business environment, Gao said. "We hope the United States doesn't fancy itself clever, or it will only reap the bitter fruits from what it has sown." The U.S. Department of Commerce has imposed a denial of export privileges against ZTE Corp for alleged violations of the Export Administration Regulations. Gao said the U.S. side should not underestimate China's determination. "If the United States attempts to curb China's development and force China to make concessions by sticking to its unilateral protectionism at the cost of harming the interests of Chinese and American enterprises, it miscalculates," he said. China's resolute determination and confidence in defending the interests of China and its people will not swerve, he said. "We will fight resolutely." English Estonian Baltika Group ended the first quarter with a net loss of 982 thousand euros. The result for the same period last year was a net loss of 590 thousand euros. In the first quarter the Groups revenue decreased 4% compared to same period last year and was 10,343 thousand euros. Retail and wholesale decreased, but e-store continued to show strong growth increasing 35% compared to the first quarter of last year. Retail revenue in the first quarter was 8,137 thousand euros, decreasing 5% compared to same period last year. Good sales in January were followed by February, where sales results were the worst ever, caused mainly by a significant drop in the number of visitors, especially in the Lithuanian market. In March, different sales campaigns brought visitors back to stores and the sales trend recovered. Wholesale and franchise revenue decreased 8% compared to the first quarter last year and was 1,702 thousand euros. The main reasons for the decline in the first quarters sales were decreased franchise sales in Russia, Ukraine and Belarus. While franchise sales decreased, the sales to wholesale partners increased in the first quarter by 7%. The biggest brand in wholesale and franchise was Monton with a 55% share of sales. At the end of the first quarter there were 31 franchise stores representing Baltikas brands, forming 25% of the total stores portfolio. The plan, to grow sales outside the Baltics, is under development, the results of which should realise in nearest years. Baltika Groups e-store Andmorefashion.com revenue increased 35% in the first quarter compared to same period last year and was 470 thousand euros. Monton is still the most popular brand, comprising 35% of the e-store revenue. Sales were highest in Estonia with share of 57% from e-store total sales, followed by Latvia 18% and Lithuania 14%. Sales growth was supported by the expansion of Click&Collect network in Baltics and opening Click&Collect service in Finland in Iso Omena store, and also by improvements made to the estore user-friendliness, especially in check-out process. In the first quarter, 9,946 orders from 30 counties were received. The companys gross profit margin in the first quarter was 47.2%, which is 1.6 percentage points lower than the margin in the first quarter of last year. Gross profit margin was impacted by strongly decreased sales in February and sales campaigns in March. The gross profit for the quarter was 4,883 thousand euros, which is 367 thousand euros and 7% smaller in relation to last years comparable result. Due to the 6% increase in sales area the Groups distribution expense increased by 1%, while general expense decreased, resulting Groups distribution and general expense in total to remain at the last years first quarter level. The distribution and general expense to revenue ratio in the first quarter was 55.3%, increasing by 2.1 percentage points due to decrease of sales volume. Highlights of the period until the date of release of this quarterly report In February, after the opening ceremony of the Pyeongchang Winter Olympics, Montons collection created for Olympics received recognition from many of the world media publications and the outfit of the Estonian Olympic Delegation was named as one of the best in Pyeongchang. On 22 nd of March 2018 the Supervisory Board of AS Baltika decided to propose to the general Meeting of shareholders, to decrease the share capital. The share capital shall be decreased to cover prior period losses in a simplified way. Share capital will be reduced by 4,079,850 euros. Share capital is reduced by way of reduction of the nominal value of each share by 0.10 euros. The new amount of the capital of the Company after the reduction of share capital and reduction of nominal value of the shares will be 4,079,850 euros, which is divided into 40,794,850 shares with the nominal value of 0.10 euros. of March 2018 the Supervisory Board of AS Baltika decided to propose to the general Meeting of shareholders, to decrease the share capital. The share capital shall be decreased to cover prior period losses in a simplified way. Share capital will be reduced by 4,079,850 euros. Share capital is reduced by way of reduction of the nominal value of each share by 0.10 euros. The new amount of the capital of the Company after the reduction of share capital and reduction of nominal value of the shares will be 4,079,850 euros, which is divided into 40,794,850 shares with the nominal value of 0.10 euros. On 22 nd of March 2018 the Supervisory Board of AS Baltika decided to propose to the general meeting of shareholders to approve managers share option program and conditional increase of the share capital by issuing up to 1,000,000 additional shares. The share options can be exercised in the years 2021-2022. of March 2018 the Supervisory Board of AS Baltika decided to propose to the general meeting of shareholders to approve managers share option program and conditional increase of the share capital by issuing up to 1,000,000 additional shares. The share options can be exercised in the years 2021-2022. In March, a jury, consisting of fashion and design experts, nominated Hanna Haring, the Head Designer of Monton, for the most prestigious fashion award in Estonia the Golden Needle (Kuldnoel). The winner will be announced at the Golden Needle Gala in October in the framework of Tallinn Fashion Week. In March, Monton debuted its colourful and lemur inspired #nofilter collection at Tallinn Fashion Week. With its collection, Monton encourages people to find inspiration in the unusual and bring forth their true self. In the first quarter, Baltika closed two stores in its retail system in Estonia and opened one store in Latvia and one store in Lithuania. Two franchise stores were closed one in Ukraine and one in Tenerife, Spain. Consolidated statement of financial position 31 Mar 2018 31 Dec 2017 ASSETS Current assets Cash and cash equivalents 485 704 Trade and other receivables 2 908 2 055 Inventories 10 127 10 499 Total current assets 13 520 13 258 Non-current assets Deferred income tax asset 189 189 Other non-current assets 503 487 Property, plant and equipment 2 200 2 395 Intangible assets 1 506 1 513 Total non-current assets 4 398 4 584 TOTAL ASSETS 17 918 17 842 LIABILITIES AND EQUITY Current liabilities Borrowings 3 190 1 309 Trade and other payables 5 207 5 984 Total current liabilities 8 397 7 293 Non-current liabilities Borrowings 5 317 5 363 Total non-current liabilities 5 317 5 363 TOTAL LIABILITIES 13 714 12 656 EQUITY Share capital at par value 8 159 8 159 Share premium 496 496 Reserves 1 345 1 345 Retained earnings -4 814 -4 872 Net profit (loss) for the period -982 58 TOTAL EQUITY 4 204 5 186 TOTAL LIABILITIES AND EQUITY 17 918 17 842 Consolidated statement of profit and loss and comprehensive income 1Q 2018 1Q 2017 Revenue 10 343 10 757 Client bonus provision 0 0 Revenue after client bonus provision 10 343 10 757 Cost of goods sold -5 460 -5 507 Gross profit 4 883 5 250 Distribution costs -5 127 -5 059 Administrative and general expenses -595 -659 Other operating income (-expense) -17 -2 Operating profit (loss) -856 -470 Finance costs -126 -120 Profit (loss) before income tax -982 -590 Income tax expense 0 0 Net profit (loss) for the period -982 -590 Total comprehensive income (loss) for the period -982 -590 Basic earnings per share from net loss for the period, EUR -0,02 -0,01 Diluted earnings per share from net loss for the period, EUR -0,02 -0,01 Maigi Parnik-Pernik Member of the Management Board maigi.parnik@baltikagroup.com Attachment Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 13:18:20|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Though repeating a lie creates the illusion of truth, yet myths, unlike the plain truth which is sustained by fact, can't stand the test of time. Washington has been adept at blaming other countries for its domestic woes and its recent trade offensive against China, to some extent, also falls into this category. The Trump administration claims that since China joined the World Trade Organization (WTO) in 2001, the United States has lost more than 60,000 factories. However, a quick fact-check will show that the reality is something else. Statistics indicate that the decline in U.S. manufacturing jobs is more of a domestic issue than due to trade with low-wage economies like China. According to U.S. economist Philip Levy, irrespective of China's entry into the WTO, the share of manufacturing employment in total U.S. nonfarm payrolls -- the primary indicator used to assess U.S. job creations -- fell about 30 percent every 16 years. The China factor, instead of generating the decline, actually represents slowing of an existing trend. What's more, in a study on the impact of expanding Chinese imports on jobs, Yale University professor Lorenzo Caliendo said access to low-cost intermediate inputs from China has increased employment in non-manufacturing sectors, including retail, construction and services, to offset the job losses in manufacturing, resulting in a rise in welfare. A number of sobering facts explains what truly causes job losses. First, it is not Chinese workers that take away jobs from U.S. workers. U.S. firms are choosing to invest and set up factories in China, where the workforce is skilled and cheaper. Actually, U.S. investors' foreign investments have risen dramatically since the 1990s, shifting low-value-added, labor-intensive industries to developing countries for low-cost assembly. Second, U.S. factories don't need as many workers as they used to because robots are increasingly doing the work and the industry is becoming more productive and closer to markets. In fact, while trade accounted for about 12 percent of the lost U.S. factory jobs, 88 percent of the jobs were taken over by robots and other factors at home. Moreover, there is no downturn in U.S. manufacturing output. Rather, investment in automation and software has doubled the output per U.S. manufacturing worker over the past two decades. Last but not the least, the two largest economies in the world are interdependent and more than bilateral trade partners. According to the U.S. Department of Commerce, U.S. exports of goods and services to China supported an estimated 910,000 jobs in 2015 -- 601,000 were supported by goods exports and 309,000 by service exports. For years, the United States has enjoyed service trade surplus with China. The surplus recorded 38 billion U.S. dollars in 2016, 11.6 percent more than in 2015 and up 908 percent from 2001. More importantly, when looking at the overall U.S. trade deficit, the proportion of U.S. trade deficit with China is on the decrease year by year. The United States' claim that its trade deficit with China is widening is based on questionable algorithms. No one can deny that the majority of the profits goes into the U.S. pocket. It's primitive for the U.S. Government to tackle trade disputes by wielding the trade protectionism stick. The drop in U.S. manufacturing employment should not be the only indicator to gauge the balance of benefits from the economic relationship with China, nor should it overshadow the sizable benefits of the trade to the American economy and the potential of fresh trade gains. Any trade war will affect millions of workers in hundreds of real and varied places, and ultimately produce unexpected ramifications for local communities in the United States. Targeting China will only divert energy from the real challenge and put the future of the U.S. economy at risk. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 13:28:23|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close CANBERRA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A member of the Australian Government has announced she will introduce legislation to "effectively phase out live sheep exports to the Middle East." Sussan Ley, the former Minister for Health, Sport and Aged Care, on Thursday said she intended to introduce the bill when parliament resumes in May. It comes after footage of an August 2017 voyage to Qatar on which 2,400 sheep died from heat stress was made public in April. "I want to see this live sheep trade permanently cease," Ley told Sky News Australia on Thursday. "It is inherently impossible to trans-ship sheep to the Middle East, particularly during the months of May (to) October in a humane way, particularly if the exporters are not interested in doing it" Ley has previously defended the trade but said that exporters had had decades to clean up their act. She was the second government Member of Parliament (MP) to call for a ban on the practice after Jason Wood went public with his support for a ban on Wednesday. In response to Ley's announcement, the Australian Greens reaffirmed their support for a ban on live exports. "The Greens have been working to end live exports for years and we welcome members from the major parties joining us in standing up for animal welfare," Adam Bandt, Deputy Leader of the Greens, said in a statement. "We'll support Sussan Ley's private members Bill to end live sheep exports to the Middle East and will continue to campaign for the entire live export trade to be transitioned to a chilled, boxed meat trade." The Australian Livestock Exporters' Council on Wednesday voted to establish an independent inspector-general to observe the treatment of livestock on ships, ending years of opposition to the idea. However, Ley said she was concerned the inspector-general would be a "toothless tiger." The findings of a veterinarian-led review into live export voyages to the Middle East will be handed down on May 11. PHNOM PENH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Cambodian King Norodom Sihamoni will preside over the first Senate session in the fourth mandate on April 23, said a statement released by the Senate's Secretariat on Thursday. After the first session in the morning, all senators will go to swear in at the Royal Palace on the same day in the afternoon, said Mam Bun Neang, a spokesman for the Senate. The Senate, or the upper house, has 62 seats, but the February election was held for 58 seats only, as two senators were appointed by the king and two others nominated by the National Assembly, or the lower house. In the February vote, the ruling Cambodian People's Party of Prime Minister Samdech Techo Hun Sen won all 58 Senate seats at stake. The Senate was founded in 1999, with each mandate lasting for six years. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 13:33:25|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close Photo taken on April 14, 2018 shows an emergency meeting of the Security Council to discuss the situation after airstrikes in Syria by the United States, France and Britain, at the UN headquarters in New York. (Xinhua/Li Muzi) by Xinhua writer Zheng Jianghua BRUSSELS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Though the dust raised by the joint Western airstrikes on Syria is settling, its shockwaves continue to ripple through the European continent. Pinning the blame on the Syrian government for the alleged chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Douma on April 7, the United States, Britain and France have gushed over the self-righteous decision to launch the airstrikes on Saturday and flaunted the "success" of the "one-off" mission afterwards. Nonetheless, a large swathe of Europeans took the strikes with a pinch of salt. With the lessons of bumpy western intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya lingering fresh in mind, they queried the flawed justification and effectiveness of the airstrikes, and made a sideswipe at western hypocrisy. UNJUSTIFIED AIRSTRIKES Antonis Stylianou, a law professor at University of Nicosia in Cyprus, told Xinhua that the use of military force in international relations is justified in only two cases: when the force has been authorized by the United Nations Security Council or when the force is used in self-defense. "Neither was the case of using military force against Syria," he stressed. Refuting British Prime Minister Theresa May's allegation that the legal base for the use of force against Syria was protecting the Syrian population from chemical attacks, he said: "This justification will open the bag of Aeolus (god of the winds) in international relations." The professor was referring to a Greek Homeric phrase which indicates stirring up a storm. The glaring lack of international mandate of the airstrikes has registered with not only academics but also a string of political figures in Europe. Czech President Milos Zeman condemned the strikes on Saturday, announcing that "a military solution to the situation should be the last thing to do." Former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic also cast doubt over the legitimacy of the airstrikes in an interview with Xinhua. "I think it was supposed that an independent international investigative body would have to check the allegations of using chemical weapons," he said. "Collective measures should have been taken only when it was confirmed that chemical weapons were used," he added. It's noticeable that the U.S.-led coalition rushed to launch the airstrikes on the day when investigators of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) arrived in Syria, without waiting for their fact-finding report. EFFECTIVENESS IN DOUBT Aside from far-fetched justification, the airstrikes also met with torrents of criticism on its effectiveness. The U.S. military announced that they fired 105 missiles targeting three facilities and set back Syria's chemical weapons program by years. But the Russian Defense Ministry revealed on Monday that the Syrian forces, equipped with Soviet-era air defense systems, intercepted 71 out of the total missiles launched by the U.S-led coalition. The ministry added that the real targets of the joint missile strikes on Saturday were Syrian military facilities, including airfields, in addition to the three targets announced by the United States and its allies. Even before Russia's revelation, European political bigwigs have queried the effectiveness of the action. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that the attack does not solve anything but only has a "punishment character." During an interview aired by Finland's national broadcaster Yle on Saturday, Niinisto reminded that a similar attack last year resulted in no impact. In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "airstrikes have not resolved the situation in Syria so far -- nothing I've heard persuades me they will do so now." Moreover, a poll conducted by British pollster Survation on Sunday revealed that 40 percent of British adults opposed May government's participation in the joint strikes, while 36 percent supported it and 24 percent said they "don't know." For military analysts, the airstrikes were more of propaganda than meaningful military actions. Tomas Nagy, an analyst of GLOBSEC Policy Institute, which is based in Bratislava, Slovakia, noted that Trump wanted to become a more assertive actor in the Syrian crisis, but the airstrikes were strictly limited in scope, and "their media impact is significantly more pronounced than any real military-strategic meaning at the moment." Echoing the view, Aleksandar Radic, a military analyst from Serbia, said that "the missiles were just a way to demonstrate to the media that they have the strength to impose their political will." "U.S. military actions ... were first of all a mean of propaganda, and not a military offensive intended to change the balance of power in Syria," he said. WESTERN HYPOCRISY There is much behind the facade of the airstrikes and a salient fact is the Western hypocrisy, a pundit pointed out. Patrick Cockburn, a veteran journalist and award-winning writer for British newspaper The Independent, who covered Middle East news since the 1980s and forecast in 2014 the rise of terrorist group Islamic State before it became well-known, said ending the Syrian war is the only way to reduce civilian casualties, and everything else is hypocrisy and pretense. "What is really killing people in Syria is the war which western powers stoked year after year with the intention that neither side would win," he underlined. He said if foreign leaders showed any real concern over seven years of butchery in Syria, they would have made greater efforts in the past to bring this horrendous war to an end. The airstrikes "was more of a gesture of disapproval than an attempt to damage" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military forces, he said, adding that "it does nothing to bring nearer the end of the war." (Wang Yi in Prague, Zhang Zhang in Nicosia, Qu Xi in Bratislava, Li Jizhi in Helsinki, Yuan Liang in Sarajevo, Gao Lei in Zagreb, Gui Tao in London, Yuan Yun in Valletta and Tian Dongdong in Brussels contributed to the story.) (Video editor: Zhu Jianhui) Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 13:58:32|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council Wednesday heatedly debated a new report on the alleged nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain, with some members asking to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and others urging restraint. OPCW CONFIRMS BRITISH FINDINGS Izumi Nakamitsu, UN high representative for Disarmament Affairs, summarized the new information about the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the British town of Salisbury on March 4. The information was from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). An OPCW team deployed to the site of the attack has identified toxic agents consistent with the British government's initial investigation findings, Nakamitsu said in a briefing to the Security Council. Blood samples taken from the two victims as well as environmental samples from the site verified Britain's findings regarding the identity of the toxic chemicals, she said, adding that they were found to be of "high purity". Skripal is a former Russian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Britain in 2006, which likely made him "a target of the Russian Federation", with evidence showing that the Skripals had been under Russian surveillance for some time, she said. DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS Speaking after the briefing, council members condemned the use of chemical agents in the targeted attack. However, opinions diverged widely on the implications of the OPCW report regarding the identity of the perpetrators. Several delegates said the "high purity" finding meant only a state-sponsored laboratory could have produced it, with some pointing to Russia as likely being involved. Others emphasized that the OPCW had assigned no responsibility for the incident and cautioned against casting blame without concrete evidence. Bolivia's Juan Marcelo Zambrana Torrelio said that as a multilateral instrument, the OPCW must maintain its integrity and independence. The instrument's credibility must also be maintained in all investigations into the use of chemical weapons or agents, he said, calling for a broad, impartial and objective investigation into the Salisbury attack. British Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce said the report supported her government's findings that a nerve agent had been identified, with its highest concentration located on the front door of Skripal's home. Britain described the nerve agent as "Novichok", which differed from the term used by Russia and the OPCW. The report did not identify the country or the laboratory of origin, but said "only Russia had the means, technical experience and the motive to target the Skripals", Pierce said. Rejecting the allegations as "completely baseless", Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said according to the OPCW report, the toxic substance could have been produced in Russia, the United States or a host of other countries. Britain had continued to use such words as "suspected," "possible" and "may have" in all its statements about the Salisbury incident, he said, outlining various inconsistencies in its position. Describing the findings as a "red herring", he said: "We will not step away from this." CALL FOR RESTRAINT Expressing concern that no perpetrators had yet been identified, Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the UN Kairat Umarov said chemical weapons were rapidly becoming the council's Achilles' heel. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to discuss the issue due to escalating tensions, divisions and even hateful rhetoric, Umarov said. Expressing regret that those weapons have not been eliminated, he urged all parties to "exercise restraint and avoid taking action" before establishing concrete proof on the ground. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Ma Zhaoxu said the Salisbury issue should be addressed in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, adding that his government was firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances. The OPCW technical secretariat had yet to reach conclusions acceptable to all. Further comprehensive and impartial investigations were needed to draw conclusions that could "withstand the test of time and history", Ma said. As the international community faces numerous challenges, relevant parties must "reject a cold war mentality" and join hands to maintain global peace and stability, he said. Council members must remain united to jointly fulfil their duties in maintaining international peace and stability, he added. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 14:23:39|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China's anti-dumping measures on U.S. sorghum will not have a great impact on China, the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOC) said Thursday. The MOC announced Tuesday that it will impose provisional anti-dumping measures on grain sorghum imported from the United States. A preliminary ruling by the MOC found that U.S. companies had dumped grain sorghum on the Chinese market, and such imports had caused substantial damage to the domestic industry. Starting on Wednesday, importers of the product are required to pay deposits with Chinese customs based on a rate of 178.6 percent calculation, according to the ministry. The higher tariff on U.S. sorghum will generally not impact domestic consumption, Gao Feng, the MOC spokesman said, citing that China is a major grain producer with steady output in recent years. China is prepared for the possible impact of these measures, Gao added. China's total grain imports from the United States, including wheat and corn, account for less than 2 percent of domestic consumption, according to the MOC data. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 15:23:52|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Negotiations on the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) are moving forward, with substantial progress, China's Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. "Related parties are showing an active attitude in pushing the RCEP, and the pace of negotiations is speeding up," said MOC spokesperson Gao Feng. Key areas including trade of goods, services and investments, have entered substantial pricing talks, and the 22th round of negotiations will be held in Singapore from April 28 to May 8. The RCEP is an free trade area (FTA) made up of the 10 ASEAN member states and six FTA partners -- China, Australia, India, Japan, the Republic of Korea and New Zealand. "China will work with other parties to reach a modern, comprehensive and mutually beneficial agreement as soon as possible," Gao said. SEOUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday that a dramatic change is going on in the Korean Peninsula citing the successive summits between the two Koreas and between the United States and the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK). Moon made the remarks during a meeting with presidents of 47 local media outlets, saying the summits would be a dramatic change that nobody has ever expected, according to the presidential Blue House. Through the upcoming inter-Korean summit, Moon said, South Korea should establish a firm milestone to open the road to the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization, the establishment of a permanent peace regime and the sustainable development of inter-Korean relations. He noted South Korea should end the armistice system, which has lasted for the past 65 years, to sign peace treaty after declaring an end to the war. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in armistice, not peace treaty. The Blue House said earlier this week that it was reviewing ways to turn the current armistice into a peace regime during the summit between President Moon and top DPRK leader Kim Jong Un scheduled for April 27 at the truce village of Panmunjom. Moon said the DPRK has shown its willingness toward a complete denuclearization and its active will to engage in a dialogue, while actively preparing for the summit with the United States. Moon, however, added that it was currently premature to say about a successful dialogue as the success cannot be said of until both the inter-Korean and the DPRK-U.S. summits end successfully. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 15:58:59|Editor: pengying Video Player Close JALALABAD, Afghanistan, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Two Taliban divisional commanders have been killed in two eastern Afghan provinces as Afghan and coalition forces continued in mopping-up operations, authorities said Thursday. In one operation, a Taliban commander named Abdullah alias Mazlomyar, along with three of his subordinates, was killed after special operations forces of the country's primary intelligence agency or National Directorate of Security (NDS) attacked Taliban hideout in Khogyani district of Nangarhar province, on Wednesday, provincial government said in a statement. In neighboring Logar province, a Taliban commander Enayat Khan was killed after a Taliban group came in contact with Afghan National Police (ANP) on outskirts of provincial capital Pul-e-Alam city also on Wednesday, the provincial police department said, adding a female civilian was also killed after the gunfight. The Afghan security forces and U.S. and NATO-led coalition forces have increased ground and air offensives against militants in the last few months as the militants attack government interests. Taliban militants have yet to make comment on the reports. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 16:09:02|Editor: ZX Video Player Close by Xinhua writer Yuan Quan BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Many elderly Chinese spend their retirement looking after grandchildren or travelling the world, but Bai Wuming, 62, reignited his career by popularizing science. Retiring from a 40-year career in geophysics, Bai has presented more than 800 lectures on earth science in schools across the country, including remote rural areas. He likes to open with the words "Science is all around us" before lighting up his talk with small experiments. To show how volcanoes erupt, Bai invites a student to pour sugar in a bottle of beer. The sugar produces carbon dioxide that makes the beer spray up immediately. "I remember my high school textbook also mentioned volcanoes, but my teacher did not do that experiment," says Zhang Hao, a graduate student. Bai is one of 60 members of Senior Scientists Public Lectures, an organization under the Chinese Academy of Sciences. Established in 1997, the team of speakers mainly comprises retired researchers in fields including astronomy, physics, chemistry and biology. The oldest member is 90, but their average age is 68. Zhong Qi, founder of the original team of just eight, says most of the team had little previous experience of popularizing science despite dedicating their careers to their research. "I remembered my teenage years in the 1950s, which were a crucial time for me to develop my mind and body," Zhong recalls. "If we senior scientists can communicate with people and arouse their interest in science and inspire them to explore the unknown world in their youth, I think it would be good for them and our work." These senior scientists still take a rigorous attitude when selecting retirees who apply to join the team. Regardless of titles and awards, all applicants must deliver a report and rehearsal. If the audience feels the lecture is difficult to understand, the application can be declined. Those expecting to find fame will be rejected, too. "You have to make your lectures interesting. It can be difficult trying to explain a formula clearly to the public. So I don't think popularizing science is easier than doing research," says geologist Xu Wenyao. To ignite audience interest, Xu always makes a music analogy in his lectures. "There are two tenors. Can you tell which one sings better?" Xu asks. "Musicians say each has his merits, beyond description. But we scientists can use data, curves and equations to analyze their voices. " It's a winning formula. "Many students get a headache when it comes to sciences, especially math, physics, and chemistry. I am always thinking how to make these subjects accessible." Xu says. The retirees also expect their young audiences to learn the spirit and method of scientific research. They also keep learning. They have mastered making PowerPoint presentations and videos, as well as writing jokes, stories and lyrics that fill lecture rooms with laughter. By 2017, the association had delivered 23,000 lectures mainly in primary and high schools to a total audience of 8.2 million. They also lectured to people at community events, in jails, the military and temples. They have crossed hills and rivers, braved freezing cold and extreme heat to reach remote rural schools. "I remember once I lectured in a playground, because the rural primary school did not have an auditorium. But the pupils listened carefully, without any distractions," recalls Xu. "It's an opportunity to communicate with scientists in school," says Yang Xinghua, head of Tangshan Oriental International School, in north China's Hebei Province. Chinese President Xi Jinping has described scientific innovation and popularization as "the two wings for realizing innovation-driven development." More public figures and organizations have emerged in recent years, working on science popularization through social media, but the retired scientists hope more researchers will take up the cause. Bai says their advantage lies in their years of research: "The content of our lectures is based on the research we have done, which was real and scientific. We don't allow our speakers to download content from the internet." Bai says the team is especially looking for experts in emerging subjects such as artificial intelligence and ocean science. "It is a scientist's responsibility to popularizing science," says Bai. Facility to produce structural welded assemblies for global automakers Currently employs 400, expected growth to approximately 1,000 Gives Magna 32 facilities and more than 28,000 employees in Mexico AURORA, Ontario, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Magna executives were joined by Governor Juan Manuel Carreras Lopez, members of local government, customers and employees to celebrate the grand opening of a new body & chassis manufacturing facility in San Luis Potosi, Mexico. We are so glad that Magna, a global company, decided to invest in San Luis Potosi. Magna could choose any country in the world and their decision shows confidence in Mexico, said Governor Lopez. My special recognition to all Magna San Luis employees, all of you are world-class employees. The 189,000-square-foot facility will produce structural welded assemblies for global automakers including BMW and Mercedes-Benz. It currently employs 400 people and is expected to grow to approximately 1,000 employees at full production. On behalf of Magna, I want to thank the local community and the state of San Luis Potosi for their ongoing support and collaboration on this project, said Sandro Passera, Vice President of Cosma Mexico. They have helped make it possible for us to continue growing our world-class manufacturing operation, and we are excited for the opportunity to support our customers from this new facility. Magna established its first facility in Mexico in 1991 with the opening of Autotek Puebla. Today, the addition of the new body & chassis plant in San Luis Potosi gives Magna 32 facilities and more than 28,000 employees in Mexico. TAGS Automotive body & chassis, structural welded assemblies INVESTOR CONTACT Louis Tonelli, Vice-President, Investor Relations louis.tonelli@magna.com, 905.726.7035 MEDIA CONTACT Tracy Fuerst, Global Director of Corporate Communications & PR tracy.fuerst@magna.com, 248.631.5396 ABOUT MAGNA INTERNATIONAL We have more than 168,000 entrepreneurial-minded employees dedicated to delivering mobility solutions. We are a mobility technology company and one of the world's largest automotive suppliers with 335 manufacturing operations and 96 product development, engineering and sales centres in 28 countries. Our competitive capabilities include body exteriors and structures, power and vision technologies, seating systems and complete vehicle solutions. Our common shares trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange (MG) and the New York Stock Exchange (MGA). For further information about Magna, visit www.magna.com . THIS RELEASE MAY CONTAIN STATEMENTS WHICH CONSTITUTE FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS UNDER APPLICABLE SECURITIES LEGISLATION AND ARE SUBJECT TO, AND EXPRESSLY QUALIFIED BY, THE CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMERS THAT ARE SET OUT IN MAGNAS REGULATORY FILINGS. PLEASE REFER TO MAGNAS MOST CURRENT MANAGEMENTS DISCUSSION AND ANALYSIS OF RESULTS OF OPERATIONS AND FINANCIAL POSITION, ANNUAL INFORMATION FORM AND ANNUAL REPORT ON FORM 40-F, AS REPLACED OR UPDATED BY ANY OF MAGNAS SUBSEQUENT REGULATORY FILINGS, WHICH SET OUT THE CAUTIONARY DISCLAIMERS, INCLUDING THE RISK FACTORS THAT COULD CAUSE ACTUAL EVENTS TO DIFFER MATERIALLY FROM THOSE INDICATED BY SUCH FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS. THESE DOCUMENTS ARE AVAILABLE FOR REVIEW ON MAGNAS WEBSITE AT WWW.MAGNA.COM. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/3b93929f-1e30-41b4-90fe-056cdc44db96. A demonstrator shouts slogans during a protest against a coalition missile strike in Syria launched by the U.S., France and Britain, in Athens, Greece, on April 17, 2018. (Xinhua/Marios Lolos) by Xinhua writer Zheng Jianghua BRUSSELS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Though the dust raised by the joint Western airstrikes on Syria is settling, its shockwaves continue to ripple through the European continent. Pinning the blame on the Syrian government for the alleged chemical attack on the rebel-held town of Douma on April 7, the United States, Britain and France have gushed over the self-righteous decision to launch the airstrikes on Saturday and flaunted the "success" of the "one-off" mission afterwards. Nonetheless, a large swathe of Europeans took the strikes with a pinch of salt. With the lessons of bumpy western intervention in Iraq, Afghanistan and Libya lingering fresh in mind, they queried the flawed justification and effectiveness of the airstrikes, and made a sideswipe at western hypocrisy. UNJUSTIFIED AIRSTRIKES Antonis Stylianou, a law professor at University of Nicosia in Cyprus, told Xinhua that the use of military force in international relations is justified in only two cases: when the force has been authorized by the United Nations Security Council or when the force is used in self-defense. "Neither was the case of using military force against Syria," he stressed. Refuting British Prime Minister Theresa May's allegation that the legal base for the use of force against Syria was protecting the Syrian population from chemical attacks, he said: "This justification will open the bag of Aeolus (god of the winds) in international relations." Anti-war demonstrators protest against a coalition missile strike in Syria launched by the U.S., France and Britain, at the Parliament Square in London, Britain, on April 16, 2018. (Xinhua/Stephen Chung) The professor was referring to a Greek Homeric phrase which indicates stirring up a storm. The glaring lack of international mandate of the airstrikes has registered with not only academics but also a string of political figures in Europe. Czech President Milos Zeman condemned the strikes on Saturday, announcing that "a military solution to the situation should be the last thing to do." Former Croatian President Ivo Josipovic also cast doubt over the legitimacy of the airstrikes in an interview with Xinhua. "I think it was supposed that an independent international investigative body would have to check the allegations of using chemical weapons," he said. "Collective measures should have been taken only when it was confirmed that chemical weapons were used," he added. It's noticeable that the U.S.-led coalition rushed to launch the airstrikes on the day when investigators of the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) arrived in Syria, without waiting for their fact-finding report. EFFECTIVENESS IN DOUBT Aside from far-fetched justification, the airstrikes also met with torrents of criticism on its effectiveness. The U.S. military announced that they fired 105 missiles targeting three facilities and set back Syria's chemical weapons program by years. But the Russian Defense Ministry revealed on Monday that the Syrian forces, equipped with Soviet-era air defense systems, intercepted 71 out of the total missiles launched by the U.S-led coalition. Surface-to-air missiles are seen over Syria's capital Damascus on April 14, 2018, as the Syrian air defenses were responding to U.S. attacks. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) The ministry added that the real targets of the joint missile strikes on Saturday were Syrian military facilities, including airfields, in addition to the three targets announced by the United States and its allies. Even before Russia's revelation, European political bigwigs have queried the effectiveness of the action. Finnish President Sauli Niinisto said that the attack does not solve anything but only has a "punishment character." During an interview aired by Finland's national broadcaster Yle on Saturday, Niinisto reminded that a similar attack last year resulted in no impact. In Scotland, First Minister Nicola Sturgeon said "airstrikes have not resolved the situation in Syria so far -- nothing I've heard persuades me they will do so now." Moreover, a poll conducted by British pollster Survation on Sunday revealed that 40 percent of British adults opposed May government's participation in the joint strikes, while 36 percent supported it and 24 percent said they "don't know." For military analysts, the airstrikes were more of propaganda than meaningful military actions. Syrians are seen in a street in Douma district, east of Damascus, Syria, on April 18, 2018. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) Tomas Nagy, an analyst of GLOBSEC Policy Institute, which is based in Bratislava, Slovakia, noted that Trump wanted to become a more assertive actor in the Syrian crisis, but the airstrikes were strictly limited in scope, and "their media impact is significantly more pronounced than any real military-strategic meaning at the moment." Echoing the view, Aleksandar Radic, a military analyst from Serbia, said that "the missiles were just a way to demonstrate to the media that they have the strength to impose their political will." "U.S. military actions ... were first of all a mean of propaganda, and not a military offensive intended to change the balance of power in Syria," he said. WESTERN HYPOCRISY There is much behind the facade of the airstrikes and a salient fact is the Western hypocrisy, a pundit pointed out. Patrick Cockburn, a veteran journalist and award-winning writer for British newspaper The Independent, who covered Middle East news since the 1980s and forecast in 2014 the rise of terrorist group Islamic State before it became well-known, said ending the Syrian war is the only way to reduce civilian casualties, and everything else is hypocrisy and pretense. "What is really killing people in Syria is the war which western powers stoked year after year with the intention that neither side would win," he underlined. He said if foreign leaders showed any real concern over seven years of butchery in Syria, they would have made greater efforts in the past to bring this horrendous war to an end. The airstrikes "was more of a gesture of disapproval than an attempt to damage" Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's military forces, he said, adding that "it does nothing to bring nearer the end of the war." SAN FRANCISCO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. trade war with China would create an uneven playing field, go against America's own interests, and would be "a move that makes no sense" for U.S. President Donald Trump, a U.S. business expert said Wednesday. "As the United States and China approach the brink of a trade war, it would be wise to cast aside the inflammatory rhetoric to weigh the cost and benefit of such a war to the American people," George Koo, a member of the Committee of 100 (C100), a leadership organization of Chinese Americans in business and government, wrote in a signed article that appeared in the local San Francisco Chronicle Wednesday. A general tariff on goods from China would force the Chinese sellers to either raise the prices or take the products elsewhere, Koo said, adding that in either case, the cost for American households would go up. President Trump announced earlier this month that his administration would impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports worth 50 billion U.S. dollars for what he alleged "unfair trade practice leading to a huge trade surplus." China responded with a 25-percent increase in tariffs on the United States' biggest exports to China, including soybeans and certain types of aircraft, which are estimated at 50 billion dollars. Koo said China's export of household items and consumer goods "represents good deals that the American public would be foolish to turn down." If the trade frictions escalate, the Chinese consumer has choices and does not have to buy American products, he said. Koo cited California red wine as an example. He said it took California 15 years to develop a customer base in China for the state's wine. "If that export were penalized by China's reciprocating tariff, the market California has worked hard to create would benefit winemakers in Australia, Chile and South Africa, all eager to fill the void," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 16:24:10|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Nanozymes, nanomaterials with intrinsic enzyme-like activities, have been widely used in cancer diagnosis in recent years, but controlling their performance in treating a target tumor cell remains a challenge. A research team, jointly led by Yan Xiyun from the Institute of Biophysics under the Chinese Academy of Sciences and Gao Lizeng from Yangzhou University, has for the first time developed a strategy to coordinate nanozymes to target tumor cells and selectively kill tumors. Their findings were published in Nature Communications last week. During tumor growth and development, elevated levels of hydrogen peroxide (H2O2) are often exhibited in solid tumors, which render tumor cells more resistant to therapeutic treatment. This situation reduces the effect of chemotherapy. If the accumulated H2O2 can be combined with oxygen to be converted into a toxic reactive oxygen species, this may enable more effective means of tumor therapy, according to Yan. Previously natural enzymes were used, however, they were less sensitive and not as stable, so enzyme mimics or artificial enzymes were developed, but the efficiency of enzyme mimics was often insufficient. Therefore, the team has developed a nanozyme which has shown excellent bio-compatibility. To optimize its performance for tumor therapy, scientists used ferritin, an intracellular protein found in most human tissue, to modify the surface of the nanozymes to enable them to target tumors. Tests demonstrated that ferritin-modified nanozymes suppressed tumors in animal models, and proved the feasibility of using nanozymes for tumor therapy. "If modified, nanozymes can function as Trojan horses, transporting cell-destroying compounds into tumor cells," said Yan. Nanozymes can be fine-tuned via size, dosage, and surface modification. In addition, they have multiple functions, high stability, and are easy to scale up at a low cost, according to the study. "We hope this nanozyme-based tumor therapy can enable new strategies for cancer treatment," Yan said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 16:29:12|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese courts will step up the judicial protection of cultural relics and severely punish theft, illegal excavating and resale, damaging, and smuggling of cultural relics, sources with the Supreme People's Court (SPC) said Thursday. The SPC has signed a cooperation agreement with China's State Administration of Cultural Heritage to strengthen judicial protection of cultural relics, the sources said. Chinese courts will also engage more in global cooperation to recover stolen cultural relics from overseas. SYDNEY, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A new study by Australian researchers on Thursday suggested it's highly unlikely the Great Barrier Reef will ever fully recover from the bleaching event in 2016. The ecology of one-third of the world's largest reef system permanently changed in 2016, when an extended marine heatwave killed off massive amounts of coral. "Averaged across the whole Great Barrier Reef, we lost 30 percent of the corals in the nine month period between March and November 2016," lead author and director of the Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies Terry Hughes said. After the record-breaking temperatures, Hughes and his colleagues mapped the geographical pattern of heat exposure from satellite data spanning a length of 2,300 km. The scientists were then able to demonstrate that coral deaths were highly related to the amount of bleaching and the level of heat exposure. They found that the the northern third of the Great Barrier Reef lost the highest amount of corals that year, while the central region suffered the most during another mass bleaching event in 2017. While some corals died immediately from the heat stress, others died more slowly. Researchers also noted that 29 percent of the 3,863 reefs lost two-thirds or more of their corals, which has been detrimental to the reef's ecological functions. "The coral die-off has caused radical changes in the mix of coral species on hundreds of individual reefs, where mature and diverse reef communities are being transformed into more degraded systems, with just a few tough species remaining," co-author Professor Andrew Baird at James Cook University said. According to the scientists, as many corals are still dying slowly and it will take at least 10 years to replace the dead corals. As a result, coral reefs throughout the tropics are going to degrade until climate change stabilizes. "The Great Barrier Reef is certainly threatened by climate change, but it is not doomed if we deal very quickly with greenhouse gas emissions," Hughes said. "Our study shows that coral reefs are already shifting radically in response to unprecedented heatwaves." Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 17:09:19|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close CHICAGO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- More cooperation in trade and investment between the United States and China is welcome, and trade tension should be avoided, U.S.-China Business Summit organizers said here Wednesday. "At a time of rising trade tension, it is more important than ever that we foster dialogue between private and public sector leaders of the two largest economies in the world," Lloyd Blankfein, chairman and chief executive of Goldman Sachs, addressed the opening ceremony of the two-day summit, which kicked off Wednesday. "But in the context of this moment of trade tension, expanding bilateral investment is positive for every side, as it generates jobs in the United States, (and) provides China with high-quality goods and service," Blankfein told Xinhua. "This will help shrink the trade deficit between the two countries." Tu Guangshao, vice chairman and president of China Investment Corporation (CIC), told Xinhua, "Most of the business leaders here voiced their willingness to expand bilateral investment, and they hope trade friction would be avoided." Over 100 senior business leaders and government officials from China and the United States attended the summit in Chicago, which is co-hosted by Goldman Sachs Group, Inc. and CIC. In November, Goldman Sachs and CIC announced a strategic relationship to establish the China-U.S. Industrial Cooperation Partnership, known as the Cooperation Fund. The Fund targets 5 billion U.S. dollars in commitments with a broad mandate to invest in American companies in the manufacturing, industrial, consumer and healthcare industries, among others, that have or can develop a material business connection with China. SEOUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Co-prosperity of the two Koreas would only be possible when relevant parties, including China, join in the denuclearization and the peace settlement on the Korean Peninsula, South Korean President Moon Jae-in said Thursday. Moon made the remark at a meeting with presidents of 47 local media outlets ahead of the summit with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), scheduled for April 27 at the border village of Panmunjom, according to the presidential Blue House. He said the ultimate goal of co-prosperity of the two Koreas, which Seoul and Pyongyang wished to achieve through denuclearization and peace, can only be made possible via the development of DPRK-U.S. and DPRK-Japan relations as well as China's support and participation. Moon said it would not be much difficult to reach an agreement, in principle, to the denuclearized Korean Peninsula through the inter-Korean, DPRK-U.S. summits, a peace regime settlement and a normalized U.S.-DPRK ties after the denuclearization agreement, and international support for the DPRK's economic development. Regarding the issues, the two Koreas and the relevant parties had an experience of reaching an agreement through the six-party talks, called the Sept. 19 joint statement announced in 2005, the South Korean leader said. The six-party dialogue, which involved South Korea, the DPRK, China, the United States, Russia and Japan, has been halted since late 2008. What would be difficult, Moon said, is how to implement the potential agreements concretely as the relevant parties, especially the DPRK and the United States, are required to find and agree on fresh ways of implementation. Moon said things got very different from situations in 2007 when he prepared for the second inter-Korean summit as chief of staff for then President Roh Moo-hyun, who met in Pyongyang with then DPRK leader Kim Jong Il, father of the current leader Kim Jong Un. Citing the highly advanced nuclear and missile technology of the DPRK, Moon said South Korea should first reach an agreement with Pyongyang about its nuclear and missile programs in the inter-Korean summit, which needs to be successfully accepted in the next DPRK-U.S. summit. Only after the DPRK-U.S. and the DPRK-Japan relations are resolved, the inter-Korean relations can develop, Moon said, noting that South Korea can play a mediating role between Pyongyang and Washington to help the two sides narrow differences and seek actual ways which both sides can accept. Meanwhile, Moon said a dramatic change is being unfolded on the Korean Peninsula citing the successive summits between the two Koreas and between the United States and the DPRK. Through the upcoming inter-Korean summit, Moon said, South Korea should establish a firm milestone to open the road to the Korean Peninsula's denuclearization, the establishment of a permanent peace regime and the sustainable development of inter-Korean relations. He noted South Korea should end the armistice system, which has lasted for the past 65 years, to sign peace treaty after declaring an end to the war. The Korean Peninsula remains technically at war as the 1950-53 Korean War ended in armistice, not peace treaty. The Blue House said earlier this week that it was reviewing ways to turn the current armistice into a peace regime during the Moon-Kim summit next week. Moon said the DPRK has shown its willingness toward a complete denuclearization and its active will to engage in a dialogue, while actively preparing for the summit with the United States. Moon, however, added that it was currently premature to say about a successful dialogue as the success cannot be said of until both the inter-Korean and the DPRK-U.S. summits end successfully. SEOUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A hotline of direct dialogue between leaders of the two Koreas will be connected from Friday, the Blue House of South Korea said Thursday. Kim Eui-kyeom, spokesman for South Korean President Moon Jae-in, told a press briefing that the hotline between Moon and Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), will be connected on April 20. The test call between working-level officials of the two Koreas will be made via the connected hotline Friday, but it had yet to be decided when Moon and Kim have their first conversation through the telephone line. The phone line will directly link the Blue House to the State Affairs Commission, the office of the DPRK leader. Moon and Kim agreed to have their first phone talks via the hotline, before holding their first summit on April 27 at Peace House, a South Korean building in the border village of Panmunjom. The Peace House is being under renovation, which started from April 6. The construction will end Friday, according to the spokesman. Working-level officials from the two sides planned to rehearse the upcoming summit next week at the Peace House. Meanwhile, South Korean officials who will accompany President Moon to the summit would be Im Jong-seok, chief of staff for Moon; Chung Eui-yong, chief of the National Security Office of the Blue House; Suh Hoon, chief of the National Intelligence Service (NIS); Cho Myoung-gyon, unification minister; Song Young-moo, defense minister; and Kang Kyung-wha, foreign minister. Who will sit on the dialogue table next to Moon had yet be decided as the DPRK did not list who will accompany its leader, Moon's spokesman noted. ABUJA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Nigerian police on Thursday said the symbol of authority of the Senate, which went missing after some thugs invaded its building in Nigeria's capital of Abuja on Wednesday, has been recovered. The Mace, carted away by the thugs while a plenary session was in progress, was found where it was "abandoned under the flyover bridge before the city gate in Abuja where a passerby saw it and alerted the police," a spokesman said. The Nigerian government has ordered security beefed up at the National Assembly, following Wednesday's invasion. The police said an investigation into the incident was still ongoing to bring the perpetrators to justice. The thugs which invaded the Senate building had overwhelmed the security personnel, ran into a waiting vehicle outside the plenary hall and drove away in a commando-like manner, bearing with them the staff of office. The Nigerian Senate described the act as "a sad assault on democracy." Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, suspended last week by the leadership of the parliament, was alleged to be the sponsor of the sacrilege. Omo-Agege, representing Nigeria's oil-rich Delta State, was arrested by the police on Wednesday, barely one hour after the mace was carted away. Last week, the national lawmaker was suspended for 90 legislative days for challenging the sequence of next year's general election after it had been re-ordered by the parliament. Omo-Agege had alleged the Senate of working against President Muhammadu Buhari who is running for a second term of office next year. The suspended senator accompanied the thugs as they invaded the Senate building, seized the Mace and drove away, witnesses said. Senate spokesman Abdullahi Sabi said the act is tantamount to treason. COLOMBO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Over 500,000 people still remain affected by the drought in 10 districts of Sri Lanka, according to the situation report issued by the Sri Lankan Disaster Management Centre (DMC) here on Thursday. The DMC said the 10 districts, located in the northern, northwestern and eastern provinces of Sri Lanka, had been affected and the Puttalam district in the north western province is the worst-affected area with 216,670 people suffering from the drought. DMC spokesman Pradeep Kodippili told Xinhua that people had been affected by the drought in terms of scarcity of drinking water and crop failures. However, he said the southern, central and western parts of Sri Lanka were experiencing rain. SEATTLE, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- EchoNous, a developer of intelligent medical tools, announces the hiring of Dipankar Ray, PhD and Allen Lu, PhD two leading minds in modern machine learning to bolster the execution of the companys mission to solve everyday problems in healthcare through converging artificial intelligence (AI) methods and extreme ultrasound miniaturization. The addition of Ray and Lu continues EchoNous build-out of a world-class team of AI engineers to complement the companys existing expertise in the development of highly miniaturized medical ultrasound technologies. For ultrasound to fulfill its potential and become the ubiquitous tool in medicine that it deserves to be, we need to solve for two elements: access and ease-of-use. We have been building our team around these two pillars. Having already built a world-class team in extreme ultrasound miniaturization to execute on our mission of ultimate access to high-performance ultrasound-based clinical tools, we are now intensifying our efforts on building a world-class AI team to execute on our ease-of-use mission, said Niko Pagoulatos PhD, EchoNous COO. Modern AI methods based on machine learning, such as deep learning, can revolutionize ease-of-use in ultrasound and dramatically reduce the learning curves associated with clinicians being able to routinely and confidently use ultrasound to solve common everyday problems in healthcare. We are excited to have Dipankar and Allen join us in our mission of taking ease-of-use in ultrasound to unprecedented levels and allowing for its ubiquitous use in medicine. Dipankar Ray has more than 10 years of industry experience in building Machine Learning and Natural Language Processing (ML/NLP) systems, primarily working on semantic understanding of text. At Microsoft, he was a Senior Applied Scientist in Bing Ads, where he was a key member of the core team that helped drive Bing to profitability including as much as 40% year-over-year growth from 2012 to 2016. Most recently, he was Vice President of ML/NLP at Saykara, a Madrona Venture Group-funded startup in Seattle, where he led efforts to build a voice-based assistant for doctors. As a machine learning researcher at Yale University, Allen Lu developed deep learning-based methods for automated cardiac motion analysis algorithms based on 3D ultrasound images while under the tutelage of Dr. James Duncan, a renowned expert in the analysis of biomedical imaging. Previously, while at IBMs Almaden Research Center in support of the companys Watson Health Imaging project, he developed AI algorithms designed to detect cardiac abnormalities. Allen holds a Bachelor of Science in Electrical Engineering and Mathematical Economic Analysis from Rice University and is completing a PhD in Biomedical Engineering at Yale. Having spent more than a decade as a key engineer for one of the global leaders in machine learning, Dipankar brings a unique AI skill set, including natural language processing, that will help us enable bold new possibilities in frictionless usability and clinical expansion with ultrasound technologies, said EchoNous CEO Kevin Goodwin. Allen combines a career in breakthrough research in cardiac imaging and the development of machine learning algorithms to bring a highly specialized and unmatched knowledge base to our team. About EchoNous Headquartered in Seattle, Washington, EchoNous, a KKR portfolio company and parent company of Signostics, is developing an expanding family of intelligent medical tools to help healthcare professionals solve common everyday problems in healthcare. Beginning with the soon to be released EchoNous Vein vascular access tool (pending FDA approval) and the Uscan intelligent bladder scanner, EchoNous is applying a layer of artificial intelligence methods with the extreme miniaturized ultrasound technology to provide nurses, doctors and clinicians with high-quality, easy-to-use tools simplifying the task at hand. CEO and industry innovator Kevin Goodwin along with COO Niko Pagoulatos, PhD, a prolific engineering innovator, together, direct the company based on decades of successful experience and new category creation in the ultrasound industry. For more information, visit www.echonous.com. Media Contact: Jaime Quick ChangeUp Advisors for EchoNous jq@changeupadvisors.com, 206.229.5183 Photo taken on Oct. 27, 2017 shows the first Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner at Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia. Ethiopian Airlines, the largest airline group in Africa, will become the first on the continent to receive and operate the Boeing 787-9 Dreamliner. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) ADDIS ABABA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Close to 4,000 Chinese passengers use the Ethiopian airline's flight services on a daily basis, says the Ethiopian Airlines Group. Ethiopia's flag carrier in its report presented to the Ethiopian parliament on Wednesday indicated that the Chinese passengers represent one of the largest customer bases of the airlines. The Ethiopian airlines group, which is widely recognized as one of Africa's fastest growing airlines, has been frequently expressing its interest to attract Chinese passengers into the African continent and beyond. Esayas Woldemariam, Managing Director of Ethiopian airline's International Service, recently told Xinhua that the airlines has strong aspirations to grow its relations with its Chinese customers towards "being the most Chinese-friendly transit hub and airline in the African continent." Some Chinese passengers wait for joining the special event held at the Bole International Airport in Addis Ababa, capital of Ethiopia, Jan. 20, 2017. The Ethiopian Airlines has held a special event for Chinese nationals returning home for the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival. This year's event, the third of its kind held late Friday at Bole International Airport in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, marked many activities to make the airport's Chinese travelers feel at home. (Xinhua/Michael Tewelde) Noting why the Ethiopian airline is preferred by majority of Chinese passengers, Woldemariam said that "we have a Chinese help desk here at the hub for passengers passing through here to Africa and coming back, we have Chinese dedicated staff here, we have Chinese crew on board, we have Chinese food, and we have Chinese call-center." The airline also celebrates Chinese festivals in a bid to attract its Chinese customers, which include a special event for Chinese nationals returning home for the Chinese New Year, or Spring Festival every February. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 18:04:37|Editor: Lu Hui Video Player Close KABUL, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Two militants of Taliban insurgent group have been killed after an improvised explosive device (IED) they were planting along a road detonated prematurely, the Afghan Defense Ministry said Thursday. The incident occurred on Wednesday in Durrahi Shir Khan Bandar, a locality in northern Kunduz province, the ministry said in a statement. Taliban militants and Islamic State fighters have been using IEDs to make roadside bombs and landmines for targeting security forces. The statement also said that the bomb disposal teams of the Afghan National Army (ANA) found and destroyed 20 rounds of IEDs across the country within the past 24 hours. The Taliban militant group has yet to make comment. NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenyan police are interrogating a suspect who was arrested on Wednesday over the seizure of 23 kilograms of heroin valued about 400,000 U.S. dollars that was destined for Netherlands. Head of Police's Anti-Narcotics Unit Hamis Massa confirmed the arrest on Thursday, saying the suspect is working at the Jomo Kenyatta International Airport (JKIA) in Nairobi. "We believe the drugs were packaged in Nairobi and efforts to get more suspects are ongoing," Massa said. He said the cargo was concealed in a package labeled Kericho Gold Tea when it was intercepted at the KLM Airside. Security officials said the narcotics were packaged and were to be sent as a cargo to Amsterdam. Massa said they are investigating to establish the origin of the narcotics. Security officials at the airport credited the burst to a fall out among members of the drug cartel who were poised to traffic the cache on Tuesday night before one of them failed to load the narcotics on the intended flight. Police say the plan involved staff at the airport and efforts to get all those behind it were ongoing. The arrest is the latest in a series of others that have happened in the past days through the country's airports. Most traffickers arrested at Kenyan airports are usually on transit. According to police seizures and arrest statistics show that more Africans are becoming involved in the drug trafficking of especially heroin. Traffickers have also increasingly become smarter because of improved surveillance at the airports and have now resorted to using roads to reach their intended destinations. NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The World Health Organization (WHO) on Thursday urged robust investments in Somalia's fragile health care infrastructure as a means to accelerate the country's reconstruction after two and a half decades of civil strife. Senior officials said at a forum in Nairobi that affordable health care will help Somalia deal with frequent disease outbreaks worsened by conflicts and natural calamities. Ghulam Popal, the WHO Representative in Somalia, proposed new funding and technical interventions to help rebuild Somalia's healthcare system. "The health care system in Somalia has suffered from continuous emergencies including epidemics of infectious diseases due to conflicts and extreme climatic shocks like droughts and floods," said Popal. "We must accelerate action to rebuild the country's health infrastructure and strengthen response to frequent cholera and measles outbreaks," he added. Representatives from multilateral lenders, governments and relief agencies attended the Nairobi forum that sought to explore innovative ways to broaden access to affordable health care services in Somalia. Participants discussed Kenya's and Sudan's model of expanding health coverage and how it can be replicated in the neighboring Somalia. Popal stressed that universal health coverage will have a positive socio-economic bearing on Somalia and the greater horn of African region. "Regional collaboration combined with stable institutional capacity is key to expanding access to quality and affordable health care services in Somalia. Resilient health systems in the country will benefit other East African Nations," Popal said. He urged greater investments in surveillance infrastructure to enhance timely response to disease outbreaks in Somalia. The governments of Somalia and other autonomous regions have identified reconstruction of health infrastructure as critical to achieve peace, stability and economic growth. Osman Isse Abdinasir, the Minister for Health in the autonomous Puntland region, said there is a political goodwill to promote access to quality health care to help deal with emergencies that undermine stability and progress. "We are gradually recovering from the turmoil of yesteryears and revitalizing health services will be the cornerstone of development and stability," Abdinasir said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 18:29:43|Editor: Yurou Video Player Close RAMALLAH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO) on Thursday slammed Israel's decision to close a youth media organization in Jerusalem as an attempt to silence all Palestinians. "Israel, the occupying power, has become aware that documenting its violations and practices in breach of international law by audio visual means has become a threat to its fake claim that it is a democratic state," Saeb Erekat, secretary general of the PLO Executive Committee, said in a press statement. Erekat was responding to Israeli Defense Minister Avigdor Liberman's decision to close the "Elia for Media" organization for being a "terrorist group association." The organization "appears to be a social organization for youth but, practically, it recruits terrorist activists and equips them to prepare inciting videos and support terrorist actions," Lieberman said in a tweet. Erekat urged international groups, including legal and media establishments, to intervene to hold Israel accountable for its actions and provide immediate international protection for journalists and media organizations in Palestine. Ahmad Safadi, director of "Elia for Media," denied the Israeli claims, arguing that the organization solely works to develop youth capacity in the media sector. Safadi accused Israel of attempting to silence Palestinians and cover the truth, adding that shutting down his organization is part of the Israeli attack against all Palestinian organizations working in Jerusalem. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 18:29:44|Editor: ZX Video Player Close NANJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A group of Chinese students have returned from a "Marxism tour" aimed at "international education of thoughts and politics." Students from Nanjing University in east China's Jiangsu Province visited Trier, Berlin, Koln and Brussels, places where Karl Marx once lived, studied or worked, to coincide with Marx's 200th birthday. The students held talks with Marxist experts and saw Marx's manuscripts, notes and book collection during the trip, which started on April 12. "I wrote diaries every day during the overseas tour," said Han Zheng, a student of the university's school of journalism and communication. "I also had talks with my peers, which strengthened my identification with Marx and Marxism." "The students were selected by the university, and a one-month training was held prior to the tour," said Hu Daping, a professor at the school of Marxism of the university. "The students will make a video to share their thoughts about the trip." Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 18:39:46|Editor: pengying Video Player Close RAMALLAH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The left-wing Popular Front for the Liberation of Palestine (PFLP) announced Thursday it will boycott the upcoming session of the Palestinian National Council (PNC). The PFLP said in a press statement that it will boycott the upcoming PNC meeting, despite "it's keenness on the role, status and representation of the PLO." It also said that the PFLP has made efforts to hold a unifying PNC session, hinting at the current impediments facing the internal reconciliation process between rival Fatah and Hamas parties and the absence of the diaspora representatives. The PNC is considered the highest legislative body in the PLO. The coming PNC session scheduled on April 30 will be held in Ramallah, without the representatives of the diaspora Palestinian groups. The PLO is composed of 11 political factions, excluding Islamic Hamas movement that rules the Gaza Strip. The PFLP is considered the second biggest party in the PLO, after Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas' Fatah party. Elaborating on the press statement, senior PFLP member Hussein Mansour said that the boycott will include its members within the participating unions and syndicates that are expected to attend the session. Mansour explained that "holding the PNC with such representation and without all of the Palestinians under the darkness of the occupation in Ramallah, deepens the division in the Palestinian scene and nurtures exclusion as an approach." The purpose of the upcoming PNC session is to elect a new leadership for the PLO, said Ahmad Majdalani, a member of the PLO Executive Committee. Majdalalni said last month that both Islamic Jihad movement and Hamas were invited to attend the meeting. The PNC is a 750-member body representing political factions, unions and Palestinian groups inside Palestine and abroad. The last ordinary PNC session was held in Gaza Strip in 1996, followed by an extra meeting held in the West Bank in 2009. PHNOM PENH, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Appeal Court of Cambodia on Thursday denied bail for two former U.S.-funded Radio Free Asia (RFA) journalists, who have been charged with espionage, their lawyer said. "The court rejected our bail request and upheld the Phnom Penh Municipal Court's decision to detain them," Keo Vanny, a lawyer for the pair, told reporters after the hearing. Oun Chhin, 49, and Yeang Sothearin, 35, were arrested in November last year in Phnom Penh for allegedly running an illegal production studio in order to send information to the Washington-based RFA. The Phnom Penh Municipal Court in November last year charged the pair with providing a foreign state with information which undermined national defense. Under the charges, they could face an imprisonment between seven and 15 years in prison if convicted. RFA closed its Phnom Penh office in September last year after the Cambodian government enforced its law, requiring media outlets to apply for a license and to comply with tax rule. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 18:44:48|Editor: ZX Video Player Close NANJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Global semiconductor manufacturer SK Hynix will set up a hospital in Wuxi City, east China's Jiangsu Province, to explore the local medical care industry, local authorities said Thursday. The company from the Republic of Korea signed an agreement with the Wuxi's high-tech zone Wednesday to establish a hospital, with a total investment of around 3.8 billion yuan (around 605 million U.S. dollars), according to the city government. The hospital will include several medical centers involving minimally invasive surgery, the treatment of tumors and dialysis treatment. It is expected to open in 2022. Affiliated with SK Group, SK Hynix has invested more than 11 billion U.S. dollars since it first came to Wuxi in 2005. The hospital project is believed to be the group's new move to explore China's medical care industry. Li Xiaomin, Party chief of Wuxi, said that the city would fully support the hospital project, which will increase Wuxi's supply of advanced medical resources. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 18:49:49|Editor: pengying Video Player Close TEHRAN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- An earthquake measuring 5.9 in magnitude shook Kaki region in Iran's southern Bushehr province on Thursday, but it did not affect the operation of a nearby nuclear power plant. Iran Seismological Center said that the quake took place at 11:05 a.m. local time (0635 GMT). The epicenter of the quake, with a depth of 18 km, was estimated at 28.353 degrees north latitude and 51.559 degrees east longitude. Rescue operators have been dispatched to the quake area, but there has been no immediate report of damage or casualties. The earthquake has not damaged Iran's Bushehr nuclear power station as its operation continued normally, local media reported. The power and water distribution systems in the region were also not disrupted, Bushehr Governor Abdollah Naderi told the official IRNA news agency. Iran, which sits on major chasms of Earth's plates, has been hit by earthquakes of different magnitude almost daily. In last November, a magnitude 7.3 earthquake shook western Iran, killing at least 530 people and injured more than 8,000 others. BISHKEK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov signed a decree to dismiss the cabinet after lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a no-confidence vote against the government of Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, the president's office said Thursday. The no-confidence vote followed criticism of the government's annual report by the opposition party, who viewed the government's work in 2017 as unsatisfactory. Among a total of 120 legislators, 102 of them voted to disband the government, with just five voting against the move, an official parliamentary protocol showed. According to the decree, the prime minister, vice prime minister and other members of the government will continue to fulfill their duties until the formation of a new cabinet. WASHINGTON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- U.S. President Donald Trump said he is hopeful about his forthcoming meeting with Kim Jong Un, top leader of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), while warning about the consequences if the meeting did not go well. "I hope to have a very successful meeting," Trump said at a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida on Wednesday, referring to his planned meeting with Kim scheduled in May or early June. "We will be doing everything possible to make it a worldwide success." Yet, Trump made clear that he'd still be ready to pull out of what he called a "tremendous" meeting between the leaders of two countries that have been longtime adversaries. "If I think that it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go," said the U.S. president. "If the meeting, when I'm there, is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, and we'll continue what we're doing or whatever it is that we'll continue," he added. Washington and Pyongyang have started direct negotiations about the two leaders' meeting. Trump said that CIA chief Mike Pompeo has formed a "good relationship" with Kim in their secret meeting in Pyongyang last week. Abe was on a two-day visit to the United States starting from Tuesday, the second of its kind since Trump assumed the presidency last year. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 19:05:00|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Visitors inquire about electronic products during the 123rd China Import and Export Fair, commonly known as the Canton Fair, in Guangzhou, south China's Guangdong Province, April 19, 2018. The first phase of the 123rd session of the Canton Fair concluded on Thursday. (Xinhua/Lu Hanxin) GUANGZHOU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The first phase of the 123rd session of the Canton Fair concluded on Thursday, showcasing a more open Chinese market and upgraded made-in-China products. The fair, also known as the China Import and Export Fair, is the country's largest trade fair, considered a barometer of China's foreign trade. The first phase, which runs from April 15 to 19, features products including home appliances, electronics and hardware, with major brands such as Haier and Midea showcasing their latest models. Participating in the event, Steven Yu, CEO of American company Orient Fan Co, is looking for potential Chinese partners to bring a well-known American brand of fans to China. He said the company is applying for a technology patent for the new products and technology so they can enter the Chinese market. He is confident in the Chinese market, as the Chinese economy has been growing steadily and Chinese buyers now have great purchasing power. Wang Guiqing, deputy head of the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products, said imports will grow in quantity as China pushes ahead with opening up. "The imports of more advanced products will help push Chinese producers to improve their products in terms of structure and quality," he said. During the fair, upmarket Chinese products -- pollution-absorbing air conditioners, automatic manicure machines, and furniture that can be customized with a remote control -- caught the eyes of foreign visitors. The remote-control smart bathtub produced by Guangdong-based spa manufacturer Monalisa attracted many purchasers at the fair. The products secured about 10 orders worth a total of 2 million U.S. dollars, according to the company. "Made-in-China products will be able to win hearts globally with improved quality based on innovation," a salesman with the company said. The company is exploring the use of AI technology to develop more products. Wang said as China's door opens wider, the country will invite both challenges and opportunities. By overcoming the challenges, Chinese companies will be able to offer better products and services to world consumers. The latest data from the General Administration of Customs (GAC) showed that China registered sound growth in foreign trade for the first quarter, with the trade surplus shrinking. The country's goods exports rose 7.4 percent year on year in the first three months while imports grew 11.7 percent. The trade surplus stood at 326.18 billion yuan (about 51.95 billion U.S. dollars), a 21.8-percent drop year on year, GAC data showed. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 19:15:02|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Photo taken on April 19, 2018 shows the scene of the press conference of the Publicity of China International Import Expo and Bilateral Economic Cooperation in Dhaka, Bangladesh. The China International Import Expo, the first of its kind in China to be held in November, reflects China's commitment to open its door wider for trade and investment, a Chinese diplomat said on Thursday in Bangladesh. (Xinhua/Liu Chuntao) DHAKA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The China International Import Expo, the first of its kind in China to be held in November, reflects China's commitment to open its door wider for trade and investment, a Chinese diplomat said on Thursday. Li Guangjun, economic and commercial counselor at the Chinese Embassy in Bangladesh, told a press briefing in Dhaka on Thursday that the first China International Import Expo is a manifest that China's door will not be closed but open wider. The expo will be held in Shanghai on Nov. 5-10, 2018. "It is the commitment and action made by the Chinese government to open wider," he said. He said this expo would be a big platform for public goods. According to Li, China is keenly interested in making the expo a platform for all other countries to showcase their own social development and economic achievements as well as free trade cooperation. All parties would have an opportunity to join together and discuss major topics concerning international trade, world economy and globalization, he said, urging Bangladesh businesses and officials to take the opportunity. ULAN BATOR, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Mongolia and Russia signed an agreement here Thursday to promote cooperation in radio frequency and improve communication technology services in Mongolia. Under the framework of the document, the two sides will work together to improve the quality of communication and information technology services, including digital video and the 4G network for cellphones in Mongolia's border areas. The two countries also agreed to create a legal environment to mutually operate and monitor radio frequency without interferences from both sides. The agreement was inked by the communication ministers of the two countries. JAKARTA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Indonesia's completely built up car export grew 19 percent to 231,000 units last year amid good prospect of the industry, Indonesian industry Minister Airlangga Hartartoa said here on Thursday. Export of spare parts of the vehicles rose significantly to 81 million pieces in 2017 from 6.2 million in 2016, Airlangga said. Airlangga expected the car production would increase to 1.5 million units in the next two years from the country's average outputs of 1.21 million every year. The hike would be supported by rapid flows of investment in the industry amid better government regulations and appliance of sophisticated technology, he added. "Effective rules, rising fresh investment and adoption of the newest technology are expected to create better business environment," Airlangga said. To support the industry, the government would ease import tariffs of raw materials, said Airlangga. Indonesia is one of the fast growing markets in the world for auto production as the country is home to over 258 million populations with emerging middle class. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 19:40:11|Editor: pengying Video Player Close DAMASCUS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Hundreds of Islam Army rebels and their families left Dumair town in northeast of Syrian capital Damascus on Thursday to northern Syria, state news agency SANA reported. So far, eight buses carrying the rebels and their families had left Dumair to the rebel-held city of Jarablus, as the first evacuation under the supervision of Syrian Arab Red Crescent (SARC), according to the report. SANA said 1,500 rebels and 3,500 members of their families are expected to withdraw from Dumair, where about 100,000 people live. The evacuation comes under a deal reached on Tuesday for the rebels' evacuation from the town, in a way similar to what had happened in the Douma district. The Islam Army rebels on Wednesday continued handing over their medium and heavy weapons in Dumair, SANA reported. After the rebels' evacuation from Douma earlier this month, the entire Eastern Ghouta countryside in the east of Damascus has returned to the control of the Syrian government. However, the Islam Army and allied militants still control some pockets in the eastern part of the Qalamoun region north of Damascus. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 19:55:13|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on Thursday to further promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two sides. The two leaders reached the agreement during a telephone conversation, and they also exchanged views on the situation in Syria and global trade. Xi told May that the alleged chemical attack in Syria needs a comprehensive, just and objective investigation, whose results should withstand the test of history, so as to solve the Syrian crisis through political means as soon as possible. ADDIS ABABA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Having expressed deep concern over the security situation in Libya, the African Union (AU) high-level committee on Libya has condemned the additional inflow of arms into the country. The committee has wrapped up its 5th meeting at the AU headquarters in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa, according to a statement from the pan-African bloc on Thursday. Having noted that Libya has more than 20 million pieces of weapons and hardly needs anymore, the participants of the meeting has urged all regional and international actors to stop arms supply in line with the relevant UN Security Council resolutions. They have further called upon international stakeholders to positively engage all concerned so as to support a political resolution in the country. They have underscored the imperative that the assets of Libya remain frozen with a professional management in order to prevent their depreciation and eventual loss and guarantee the right of the Sate of Libya to this effect. Libya has been embroiled in a civil war after the fall and death of longtime leader Muammer Gadhafi in 2011. The meeting has expressed concern over the deteriorating situation in Sabha, in southern Libya. The participants of the meeting have reaffirmed full support for the unity of Libya and condemned any act that can lead to divisions based on ethnicity or tribal affiliations. The participants noted with deep concern the proliferation of armed groups and criminal activities in the South of Libya. They expressed the need for a tailored engagement strategy, including through convening of a meeting with key stakeholders in that region. A tripartite task force of the AU, the European Union (EU), and the United Nations (UN) has been endeavoring to support stranded African migrants in Libya, while consolidating efforts to dismantle organized networks of human traffickers and migrant smugglers. In his opening remarks of the meeting on Tuesday, Moussa Faki Mahamat, chairperson of the AU Commission, told the meeting that the situation in Libya is "morally intolerable." The participants of the meeting have reaffirmed their total rejection of terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, and strongly condemned terrorist and external rebel groups operating in Libya, and their criminal activities. They have reiterated their conviction that there can be no military solution to the conflict in Libya, and once again, stressed to Libyan stakeholders the imperative of engaging in an inclusive AU-UN proposed national reconciliation conference so that Libyans will be the owners of their own political process and destiny. Expressing support for the UN-led political dialogue, the meeting has stressed the need to create conducive political and security conditions for the conduct of the envisaged elections in Libya, including promotion of national reconciliation and dialogue. It has called for the convening of a national reconciliation conference, under the auspices of the AU and UN. The meeting has underlined the importance of the role of the neighboring countries of Libya in the search for a lasting solution, noting the regional impact of the crisis, particularly in terms of security, flow of arms and migrants. The participants have welcomed the efforts towards building a unified national army of Libya and to address the security situation in the South of the country. They have called for continuous efforts to ensure effective coordination between the AU and the UN, within the framework of the partnership between the two organizations in the area of peace and security. KATHMANDU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Eight renowned mountaineers who have successfully climbed various mountains of the world including Mount Qomolangma in 1978 are in Nepal to mark the 40th anniversary of their summit. Amid a special ceremony organized here on Thursday, the heroes of mountain fraternity from various countries were honored by Minister for Culture, Tourism and Civil Aviation Rabindra Adhikari. These mountaineers are members of a 12-member-team who had a historic summit of 8,848 meter high Qomolangma four decades back, among which two of the members had reached the top of the world without oxygen. Among 12, eight surviving members are in Nepal together for the first time. Leader of the expedition in 1978 Wolfgang Nairz, world most famous mountaineer Reinhold Messner, Oswald Oelz, Peter Habeler, Raimund Margreiter, Robert Schauer, Hanns Schell and Helmut Hagner are the surviving members of the expedition. Among them, Messner and Habeler had scaled the mountain, known as Sagarmatha in Nepal, without supplemental oxygen. Reinhold Messner, who has climbed all the 8,000-meter peaks without the use of oxygen, was of view that the Qomolangma expedition is more like tourism rather than mountaineering in the recent years. "Before decades, climbing mountain was all about adventure as it was without fixed schedules and no use of high-end gears, equipments and technology. Now, it's more like a tourism activity rather than mountaineering, it has been quiet easy," Messner, who advocates traditional alpinism, shared with media. Stating that Qomolangma is highly associated with country's tourism and economy, the Italian climber said that having around 1,000 people in the base camp in this spring season signifies the reality. April-May is the best mountaineering season in Nepal, when the climbers and trekkers from around the world along with strong Sherpa guides gather in the Khumbu region, sometimes even causing a traffic jam in Qomolangma. This year, at least 34 foreign teams comprising 326 climbers have already taken the permit from Department of Tourism under Nepal government to scale Mount Qomolangma. For foreigners, Nepal's Tourism Department takes 11, 000 U.S. dollars royalty for the Qomolangma expedition. About the suspicions of collapse of Hillary step, known as the most dangerous section, located near the summit of Qomolangma, the climbers made it clear that it is just a rumor. "In 2017, I went myself and saw that the Hillary Step is still intact. It has just been covered with the hard snow," Messner clarified. The veteran mountaineers said they are glad to recall their historical ascent by visiting the Khumbu region once again and expressed will in promoting tourism of the Himalayan country. "I came in Nepal in 1970 first and probably by next year, it will be my 100th visit. Beside mountains and culture, I am always fascinated by the warmth of Nepali people," 74-year-old Nairz said while addressing the felicitation ceremony. Austrian national Nairz, who was also the team leader for expeditions of Mount Manaslu, Makalu, Ama Dablam, Cho Oyu, Dhaulagiri among others, has been running various support programs in Nepal in the field of health and education. Addressing the felicitation event, Tourism Minister urged the world famous mountaineers to promote Nepal and the mountains in their respective countries and across the world. "Contribution of tourism is high in Nepal's GDP while it has sustained the livelihoods of many. It is our joint responsibility to promote mountains," Adhikari said. TUCSON, Ariz., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- The Louisiana legislature is considering a bill that would give physicians the same due process rights as citizens accused of a crime, instead of treating them as guilty until proven innocent, states the Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS). Senate Bill 286 by Sen. John Milkovich, D-Shreveport, would assure that physicians have the right to know their accusers and have access to all the evidence and documents acquired in the investigation. Medical board proceedings are not like a court of law, where the accused has to be proven guilty before a jury and an unbiased judge, states AAPS director Jane M. Orient, M.D. Its a form of administrative law, where an unaccountable government agency is prosecutor, judge, jury, and executioner. Physicians have little opportunity to present a defense. Sanctions imposed by the board can be the equivalent of a professional death sentence, she said. And actual deaths through suicide have occurred, as in the case of a doctor who found that his livelihood was destroyed despite reinstatement of his license. There is a nominal (and expensive) right to a review in court, but the Louisiana State Board of Medical Examiners has reportedly not lost a review in 20 years. Courts typically rubber-stamp the decisions of expert boards, Dr. Orient stated. Proposed legislation would give a physician the right to a de novo trial, in which the court would look at the evidence first-hand for itself. In Texas, where a physician got a rare favorable decision from an administrative law judge, she noted that the judge was forced to resign under pressure from the Texas Medical Board. Public Citizen opposes the law because it would supposedly hinder the conduct of LSBME investigations and thus somehow impede its ability to protect the public from dangerous doctors. It especially objects to allowing physicians to request that an investigator be replaced for being biased, hostile, or unfair. Public Citizen, which styles itself as a consumer advocacy group, rates medical boards based on the number of doctors they punish, states Dr. Orient, without regard to justice. Truly questionable doctors may get complaints dismissed, while good doctors are ruined, perhaps because they reported a patient safety issue and incurred the displeasure of a politically well-connected entity. The public would not be made safe from criminals by imprisoning people based on anonymous complaints without proof of guilt. Doctors are citizens too, not Public Enemy Number One, she concludes. The Association of American Physicians and Surgeons (AAPS) is a national organization representing physicians in all specialties, founded in 1943. ADDIS ABABA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Ethiopian House People's Representatives on Thursday approved the appointment of new 16 cabinet members. The Ethiopian parliament's lower house in its Thursday's session evaluated and endorsed the new 16 cabinet members as per the recommendation made by Ethiopia's new Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed. Abiy Ahmed, who was unanimously endorsed by the Ethiopian House People's Representatives (HoPR) as Ethiopia's Prime Minister earlier this month, has reshuffled the East African country's cabinet members, the majority of whom were appointed by the HoPR as per the recommendation of former prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn in November 2016. Accordingly, 10 new cabinet members have been appointed for various ministerial positions, while 6 others were reshuffled from one ministerial position to another. Some 13 of the ministers in the 29-member cabinet have remained in their previous positions. The newly appointed cabinet members have on Thursday sworn in and, eventually took their respective ministerial positions. Ahmed, while presenting his recommendations to the parliament's lower house, stressed that the major tasks for the newly appointed ministers should be the fight against corruption, strengthening accountability as well as reducing extravagant procedures. The premier also indicated that one of the major reasons behind the cabinet members reshuffle was due to the persistent public dissatisfaction and anger with regard to maladministration and lack of accountability. Among the reshuffled ministers include the former minister of defense, Siraj Fegessa, who has been appointed as minister of transport, while Motuma Mekasa, who was former minister of mine was assigned as minister of defense. Ahmed Shide, former minister of transport, has been appointed as Minister of Government Communications Affairs Office; Shiferaw Shigute, as Minister of Agriculture and Livestock; Hirut Woldemariam, as Minister of Labor and Social Affairs; Teshome Toga, as Minister of Public Enterprises; and Umer Hussen, as Director General of Ethiopian Revenues and Customs Authority with the rank of Minister. Uba Mohammed, has been also appointed as Minister of Communication and Information Technology; Ambachew Mekonnen, as Minister of Industry; Fozia Amin, as Minister of Culture and Tourism; Jantrar Abay, as Minister of Urban Development and Housing; Melese Alemu, as Minister of Mines and Energy; Berhanu Tsegaye, as Attorney General; Yalem Tsegaye, as Minister of Women and Children; Melaku Alebel, as Minister of Trade; and Amir Aman, as Minister of Health. Renewed mass demonstrations triggered by ethnic clashes and anti-government rallies had forced the former prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn to resign from the premiership, eventually succeeded by Abiy Ahmed as Chairman of the ruling coalition Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front (EPRDF) and prime minister of the country. According to Ahmed, the newly appointed ministers would bring about the expected changes to answer the preoccupation of the public. BISHKEK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kyrgyz President Sooronbai Jeenbekov signed a decree to dismiss the cabinet after lawmakers overwhelmingly passed a no-confidence vote against the government of Prime Minister Sapar Isakov, the president's press service said Thursday. The no-confidence vote followed criticism of the government's annual report by the opposition party, who viewed the government's work in 2017 as unsatisfactory. Among a total of 120 legislators, 102 of them voted to disband the government, with just five voting against the move, an official parliamentary protocol showed. According to the decree, the prime minister, deputy prime minister and other members of the government will continue to fulfill their duties until the formation of a new cabinet It is the first time in Kyrgyzstan's history that the parliament expressed no confidence in the government since the Central Asian nation gained independence in 1991. Under the constitution, the president has the right to sack the government or overrule parliament and let the cabinet stay. The vote, initiated by the opposition group, was seen as another sign of tension between Jeenbekov, who was elected president in October, and his predecessor Almazbek Atambayev. Isakov was nominated as prime minister in late August last year, after Jeenbekov resigned in order to run for the presidential election. LAGOS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Nigerians have condemned the illegal removal of the mace from the Senate Chamber on Wednesday by some hoodlums suspected to be politically motivated. The mace is the symbol of authority in the two Chambers of the Senate and the House of Representative. Those who reacted to the incident described it as a disgrace to Nigeria, Africa's most populous nation. Although, the police said it had recovered the mace stolen from the chambers of the Senate by unidentified persons. Suspected thugs invaded the senate chambers during plenary and carted away the mace. Aremu Adeniran, a police spokesperson said the mace was abandoned under the flyover before the city gate in Abuja where a passerby saw it and alerted the police. The Senate's spokesman, Sabi Abdulahi, in a statement, alleged that the hoodlums, led by a suspended member, Senator Ovie Omo-Agege, walked into the Senate's plenary and seized the mace. Abdullahi described the incident as a treasonable act, as it amounted to forceful takeover of the Senate. Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, told reporters in Abuja, the country's capital that the invasion of the Senate is a threat to Nigeria's democracy, adding that the invasion of the parliament is not acceptable to any person. In his reaction, Deputy Speaker of the House of Representatives, Yusuff Lasun, described the seizure of Senate mace by some hoodlums as mockery of the country's democracy. According to him, the 8th Assembly will make sure that democracy works in the country. In the same vein, Chidi Onuma, Coordinator at African Center for Media and Information Literacy, described the incident as frightening. Onuma said the mace is supposed to be the symbol of Nigeria's democracy from the legislative point of view. "So, if a stranger can just walk in and take it away, that tells us how weak the nature of the legislature is," he added. On his part, Frank Tietie, Executive Director at the Citizens Advocacy for Social and Economic Rights (CASER), said the entire event was a political conspiracy. Tietie said the act was an insult to the entire nation, an insult that Nigeria will not be able to easily recover from in the eyes of other countries. Also, a former governor of Kaduna State, Balarabe Musa, described Wednesday's snatching of the mace in the Senate by suspected hoodlums as disgraceful. Musa added that the incident was dangerous, not only for democracy, but for security, noting that the saga was more dangerous to security than it was to democracy. The former governor said he would not be quick to blame any one personality for the incident, but the saga questioned the morality of some of the country's leaders. He described the tension created by political and security issues in the land as a time bomb. In his reaction, Ezenwa Nwagwu, Chairman of the Partners for Electoral Reform, said the act must have been planned by some people not comfortable with the leadership of the assembly. Nwagwu said the incident was an indication of lack of cohesion in the national assembly. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 20:25:18|Editor: ZX Video Player Close SHANGHAI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- More than 1,700 companies from all over the world have applied to attend the China International Import Expo (CIIE) which will be held in Shanghai in November. Over 900 applicants have signed contracts for the expo, which will cover more than 157,000 square meters. Among them, 34 percent of enterprises are from the Belt and Road countries and regions. "CIIE shows China's determination of opening-up and is set to be a launch place for the newest products," said Sun Chenghai, deputy director of the CIIE Bureau. With the expo 200 days away, Sun said that the bureau was creating a more welcoming environment for participants. With the help of big-data and cloud services, participants will be able to discover the expo in more convenient ways. "CIIE shows that China is safeguarding free trade not only through words, but through deeds," said Yang Jianrong, director of the Council for the Promotion of International Trade Shanghai. "Shanghai had taken actions to help enterprises, especially small and medium-sized businesses from developing countries, to have an easier access to Chinese market." Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 20:45:26|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China will continue to strengthen international cooperation in peaceful exploration and utilization of outer space, said Li Guoping, a spokesman of the China National Space Administration (CNSA), Thursday. So far, China has signed 121 cooperation agreements with 37 countries and four international organizations, Li said at a press conference about the Space Day of China, which will come on April 24, marking the day the country's first satellite was sent into space in 1970. He raised the example of the 30-year-long cooperation between China and Brazil in the development of earth resources satellites. Currently, the two countries are jointly developing a fourth satellite, which is progressing well. China and France are also in close collaboration. An ocean-observing satellite jointly developed by the two countries will be sent into orbit this year, which will be used to study global climate change. The two countries are also cooperating in developing an astronomical satellite. In February, a seismic-electromagnetic satellite, jointly developed by China and Italy, was launched to study seismic precursors, which might help establish a ground-space earthquake monitoring and forecasting network in the future. "In addition, China has sold 11 commercial satellites, including communication and remote sensing satellites, to other countries. China launched Algeria's first communication satellite in December last year," Li said. "China has offered assistance and services to other developing countries. We provided our satellite data to countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Turkey and Peru to help them monitor floods and forest fires. "China will push forward the construction of the BRICS remote-sensing satellite constellation and the Belt and Road Initiative Space Information Corridor. "China will collaborate with the Asia-Pacific Space Cooperation Organization (APSCO) to adjust the distribution of the meteorological satellites in orbit to better service the members of APSCO. "China will build a remote-sensing information application platform with Thailand, Laos, Burma and Cambodia. "China also intends to have a wider international cooperation in the fields of lunar probe, deep space exploration and space science. China recently had talks with Russia and the European Space Agency on further cooperation in deep space exploration." Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 21:05:29|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China on Thursday published a dictionary on Marxism to mark the 200th anniversary of the birth of Karl Marx. The dictionary has four parts, namely Marxism, Leninism, Mao Zedong Thought and the Theory of Socialism with Chinese Characteristics. It has 2,094 entries covering fundamental concepts, principles, masterpieces, representative figures, historical events, key conferences and school of thought regarding Marxism. With China's social development and deepening of academic research, it was necessary to have a dictionary which reflects the complete content of Marxism, said Xu Guangchun, chief editor of the publication. It will be a help to Party officials, teachers, students and the public to study when reading Marx' works, said Mei Rongzheng, deputy chief editor of the book. Nearly 100 scholars from 44 institutions spent five years on the dictionary project, led by the Center of Cooperative Innovation for Marxist Theory and Chinese Practice at Wuhan University in central China's Hubei Province. NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenya's earnings from fresh produce exports in 2017 jumped to 1.15 billion U.S. dollars, an 11 percent increase over 2016 earnings, the industry association said on Thursday. Fresh Produce Consortium of Kenya (FPC Kenya) Chairman Sylvester Maina told journalists in Nairobi that the sector remained resilient amid political and economic uncertainties of 2017. "We laud the resilience of the fresh produce sector in the eye of the political and economic storm witnessed in 2017 and we are happy with the performance. This is the similar resilience that enabled the sector to weather the Brexit shock, pointing to the greater potential of the sector," Maina said. The data released by FPC Kenya shows flower exports contributed 822 million dollars, up from 708 million dollars earned in 2016, representing a 11.6 percent growth, on export volume of 159,961 tonnes. Maina said that fruits and vegetables earned Kenya 90 million dollars and 240 million dollars, on export volumes of 56,945 tones and 87,240 tonnes, respectively. The cut-flower export still remains the largest earner, contributing over 70 percent of the total fresh produce annual earnings. Maina was speaking at the official launch of FPC Kenya, which was rebranded from Kenya Association of Fruits and Vegetable Exporters. "The rebranding now broadens our mandate to cover more areas particularly domestic market which has never been well coordinated, offers us capacity to engage with more stakeholders, and enables us to extend our membership and grow the sector," he said. In 2017, the fresh produce sector earned 3.05 billion dollars from both domestic and export revenue. Maina said that the vast amount of produce is consumed locally, with less than ten percent of volume being sold overseas. According to the lobby, the fresh produce sector has faced several challenges including lack of traceability systems for the fresh produce, high cost of production, lack of extension services, poor information flow, middlemen menace, insufficient cooling facilities, weak compliance to food safety requirements, and taxation issues. Maina noted that approximately 80 percent of all fresh produce exports are sourced from small scale farmers. Paul Mwenda, the Vice Chairman of FPC Kenya said that producers are seeking new markets in order to diversify from traditional markets in the European Union. He said that most common fruits exported are mangos and avocados while French beans, snow peas, sugar snap constitute the bulk of vegetables sold in international markets. He noted that the proposed direct flights between Kenya and the United States will also help to boost export earnings for farmers. "Farmers of perishable produce are likely to benefit as the direct flights to the United States will reduce the time taken to reach the market," he added. Mwenda said that members of his lobby are also seeking to enter the Chinese fresh produce market. "We have identified herbs and spices such as mint to have the biggest potential for farmers," he said. The trade lobby plans to organize an awareness campaign in order to educate farmers on how to penetrate the lucrative Chinese market. Mwenda said that one of the strategies under consideration to venture into the Asian giant's market of over one billion consumers is through participating in trade fairs in China. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 21:15:32|Editor: ZX Video Player Close Huang Kunming (R), member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attends the inauguration ceremony of the China Media Group and addresses a symposium. (Xinhua/Ding Haitao) BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China Thursday officially inaugurated the China Media Group as part of its wide-ranging institutional reshuffle. China Media Group is a new broadcasting platform made up of China Central Television, China National Radio and China Radio International. Huang Kunming, member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and head of the Publicity Department of the CPC Central Committee, attended the inauguration ceremony. While addressing a symposium Thursday, Huang called for efforts to build the China Media Group into a new mainstream media that was strong in guiding and influencing the public. "The restructuring is significant in following the principle of the Party exercising leadership over media," Huang said. Huang also said the China Media Group should follow the right political direction and guide the public with right values. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 21:25:34|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- As part of the events that mark China's Space Day, the first China Aerospace Conference will be held in Harbin in northeast China's Heilongjiang Province on April 24, according to an official from China National Space Administration (CNSA). More than 2,000 people have signed up for the conference, which will be attended by aerospace professionals from the government, state-owned and private enterprises, and universities, said Li Guoping, a spokesman of the CNSA on Thursday. There will be 12 forums on aerospace technology development, innovation, military-civilian integration, and education. The conference will create a platform for researchers from both home and abroad to exchange ideas, Li said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 21:35:38|Editor: pengying Video Player Close KAMPALA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- World Bank has raised Africa's economic growth rate to 3.1 percent in 2018 on account of the region rebounding after three years of slowdown due to the collapse in global commodity prices. The Bank in its Africa's Pulse, a biannual publication, released on Wednesday said the economic growth is projected to firm to 3.6 percent in 2019 and 3.7 percent in 2020. The projected growth is expected to attract more Foreign Direct Investment in the region by top developing economies like China and the developed economies, resulting in increased volume of trade, according to the report. China is a top foreign investor in Africa while at the same time providing finances to infrastructure projects. World Bank says the forecasts are predicated on the expectations that oil and metals prices will remain stable, expansion in global trade will stay robust, and external financial market conditions will continue to be supportive. The Bank, however, warns that structural constraints will prevent a faster pick-up in GDP growth in the region without renewed progress in structural reform. In a televised news conference in about 15 countries late on Wednesday, Albert Zeufack, the Bank's Chief Economist for Sub-Saharan Africa, said he hopes that governments will implement reforms to address macroeconomic imbalances and boost investment. "Growth has rebounded in Sub-Saharan Africa, but not fast enough. We are still far from pre-crisis growth levels," Zeufack said. "African governments must speed up and deepen macroeconomic and structural reforms to achieve high and sustained levels of growth." Zeufack said the moderate pace of economic expansion reflects the gradual pick-up in growth in the region's three largest economies, Nigeria, Angola and South Africa. Elsewhere, economic activity will pick up in some metals exporters, as mining production and investment rise. Among the non-resource intensive countries, Zeufack said solid growth, supported by infrastructure investment, will continue in the West African Economic and Monetary Union led by Cote d'Ivoire and Senegal. Growth prospects have strengthened in most of East Africa, owing to improving agriculture sector growth following droughts and a rebound in private sector credit growth. In Ethiopia, according to the Bank, growth will remain high, as government-led infrastructure investment continues. The Bank said for the projected growth to happen, governments will have to institute structural and social reforms by embracing technology and leveraging innovation. The governments need to increase the access to electricity to their citizens and make it reliable in a bid to boost productivity across and within sectors. Punam Chuhan-Pole, the Bank's Lead Economist and author of the report, cautioned that for many African countries, the economic recovery is vulnerable to fluctuations in commodity prices and production. "This underscores the need for countries to build resilience by pushing diversification strategies to the top of the policy agenda," she said. While the economic outlook for the region is brighter than it has been in the past three years, Punam warned that public debt relative to GDP is rising, and the composition of debt has changed, as countries have shifted away from traditional concessional sources of financing toward more market-based ones. She said higher debt burdens and the increasing exposure to market risks raise concerns about debt sustainability. She noted that 18 countries were classified as high-risk of debt distress in March 2018, compared with eight in 2013. This issue of Africa's Pulse has a special focus on the role of innovation in accelerating electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa, and its implications of achieving inclusive economic growth and poverty reduction. The report finds that achieving universal electrification in Sub-Saharan Africa will require a combination of solutions involving the national grid, as well as "mini-grids" and "micro-grids" serving small concentrations of electricity users, and off-grid home-scale systems. Improving regulation of the electricity sector and better management of utilities remain key to success, according to the report. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 21:45:17|Editor: ZX Video Player Close A villager unloads saplings during a tree planting event along the edge zone of the desert for the upcoming Earth Day in Suzhou District of Jiuquan City, northwest China's Gansu Province, April 19, 2018. Earth Day is an annual event celebrated on April 22. (Xinhua/Chen Bin) LONDON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Two people are reportedly killed after a light aircraft crashed near Belfast International Airport, Sky News reported on Thursday. The Northern Ireland Fire and Rescue Service (NIFRS) said it was attending the scene of a light aircraft on fire near Nutts Corner, Crumlin, according to Sky News. Meanwhile, three ambulance crew members and an air ambulance were also deployed. The airport confirmed that the aircraft was not operating either to or from it. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 21:50:41|Editor: pengying Video Player Close RABAT, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Morocco said Thursday that it will negotiate a new fisheries partnership protocol with the European Union (EU) in capital Rabat on Friday. The announcement was made by Moroccan Minister of Agriculture, Fisheries, Rural Development, Waters and Forests Aziz Akhannouch, after a meeting with head of the EU delegation in the Moroccan capital. In a statement to the press, Akhannouch expressed hope to see negotiations between Morocco and the EU as soon as possible, noting that the two parties will draw on three decades of successful cooperations in this strategic area during the negotiations. The current fisheries agreement between the two sides will expire next July. The first fisheries agreement concluded between the EU and Morocco dates back to 1995. NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Kenyan government on Thursday challenged private companies to raise money from stock exchange instead of borrowing from financial institutions. Deputy President William Ruto said the government has tapped into the international market for financing, which he termed a deliberate strategy to create affordable capital for the private sector and reduce its cost. "This week, President Uhuru Kenyatta was at the London Stock Exchange to ensure that we can dual list the National Oil Corporation to raise funds that will help us develop infrastructure for our oil," Ruto said during the official opening of the 7th Building African Financial Markets (BAFM) Seminar in Nairobi. He said the Nairobi Securities Exchange (NSE) should step up efforts to ensure more companies get listed at the bourse. "The NSE is supposed to help us support more companies, especially the big ones, so that they can go to the stock exchange and instead of borrowing money they can list and raise capital for their expansion," Ruto said. He said the government is supporting the growth of the capital markets through incentives and an enabling environment. "One such incentive, which should be exploited, is the African Continental Free Trade Area Agreement that was signed by 44 countries in Kigali, Rwanda last month. It allows African countries to trade and cushion themselves from foreign aid," he said. Ruto said that capital markets are major components of transformation, sustainable development, wealth creation and should tap into and push the government's Big Four priority areas of food security, manufacturing, housing and healthcare. "Through diversification, innovation and cross listing, they can expand opportunities for financing our growth, advancement and produce multiplier effects across all sectors," he said. The deputy president singled out delivery of Universal Health Coverage, saying the government plans to float bonds to finance the program and urged the NSE to leverage on it. "A significant portion of proceeds from future issuance of government infrastructure bond will be earmarked for the health sector," he said. The NSE chairman Samuel Kimani said there are efforts to increase the number of listed companies in the country. "We will hold talks with relevant stakeholders to come up with ways of ensuring this happens," Kimani said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 22:20:46|Editor: ZX Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China-Russia trade is likely to exceed 100 billion U.S. dollars this year, after an increase of nearly 30 percent in the first quarter, a spokesman with the Ministry of Commerce said Thursday. "China-Russia relations are mature and stable, and will not be affected by the external environment," spokesman Gao Feng said at a press conference. In recent years, bilateral economic and trade relations have grown well, with better investment cooperation and progress on major strategic projects, Gao said. Last year, trade between the two countries rose 20.8 percent to 84.07 billion dollars, the eighth straight year China has been the largest trade partner of Russia. In the first three months of this year, bilateral trade rose 28.2 percent year on year to 23.06 billion dollars, with China's exports up 23.7 percent and imports up 32 percent, Chinese customs data showed. China will, together with the Russian side, continue to optimize the bilateral trade structure by expanding trade in mechanical and electrical products as well as high-tech products, Gao said. Measures will also be taken to expand market access in farm produce and cross-border commerce. "We are ready to work with Russia and make a success of both the fifth China-Russia Expo in July and the China International Import Expo in November," said Gao. Sergey Glazyev, advisor to the Russian President, said at a Wednesday meeting that both countries have stepped up infrastructure construction and improved their legal systems to unite their efforts under the frameworks of the Belt and Road Initiative, and the Russia-led Eurasian Economic Union. China and Russia share a wide range of cooperation opportunities and there is still huge potential, Glazyev said, calling for bilateral trade settlement in their own currencies. Russian Deputy Minister of Agriculture Evgeny Gromyko told Xinhua that the two countries should strengthen agricultural cooperation. Gromyko said that Russia will increase exports of agricultural produce to China, including grain, edible oil and fish. China and Russia will be able to maintain double digit trade growth in the medium to long term, Glazyev said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 22:25:48|Editor: ZX Video Player Close GUANGZHOU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese exporters at the country's largest trade fair are generally optimistic about trade prospects. More than half of companies surveyed by the China Chamber of Commerce for Import and Export of Machinery and Electronic Products (CCCME) expect exports to rise in the second quarter, according to a poll of about 600 companies at the Canton Fair. The ratio was up from around 43.5 percent last year. For the whole year of 2018, 56.5 percent of the firms expect exports to climb. Firms were generally cautious on prospects of exports to North America, as uncertainties remain in China-U.S. trade relations. Some 47 percent of the companies said they were spending more on research and development. Li Xinghao, chairman of air conditioner manufacturer Chigo, said trade frictions would have limited impact on his business as China has competitive advantages in every part of the supply chain, but short-term effects, such as rising costs, are inevitable. Rather than trade tensions, exporters at the fair are more worried about exchange rates. A separate survey by China Chamber of Commerce of Metals, Minerals, and Chemicals Importers and Exporters showed that exchange rate risks topped the list of exporters' concerns, followed by rising raw material prices and product homogeneity. Wu Jun of automaker Zotye Domy said an appreciating yuan against the U.S. dollar has made the company less competitive. The central parity rate of the yuan is about 10 percent higher against the U.S. dollar than a year ago. Wu said that the company had to reduce costs to offset the effect while investing heavily in R&D to make products more competitive. Zhang Hao of Baoding Changan Bus Manufacturing Company is worried that protectionism in the United States could spread to other countries that are major markets of the company. In response, Zhang said the company would focus on innovation and product quality. "With improved quality, we will have a say no matter how high the entry barrier is," Zhang said. The upbeat sentiment among exporters at the fair is in line with official outlook on foreign trade: positive, despite seasonal fluctuations and uncertainty arising from protectionism. Growing demand in a recovering world economy, China's sound economic fundamentals and supply-side structural reform will support foreign trade, spokesperson Gao Feng with the ministry of commerce told a press conference Thursday. TIRANA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Albania and Belgium will work to strengthen cooperation on measures against illegal immigration, Albanian Deputy Interior Minister Rovena Voda said Thursday in a joint press conference with visiting Belgian State Secretary of Asylum Policy and Migration Theo Francken. "Albanians should not consider Belgium as the place of 'gold' and cannot seek asylum there," underlined Francken. He said illegal immigration to Belgium is not absolutely an option and emphasized that Albanians should be well informed before going to Belgium, otherwise they will be sent back within 24 hours. Last year, Belgium returned 678 illegal Albanian immigrants. Albania stands in the first five places for asylum applications in Belgium. Meanwhile, Voda emphasized that Albania is determined to minimize the number of its nationals seeking asylum as Albania is a safe country. Voda pointed out that since July 2017, the Albanian State Police strengthened measures at all points of border crossing, with a special focus on unaccompanied minors, prosecuting parents who leave unaccompanied minors in European Union countries. "Albania has had intensive awareness-raising campaigns, taken administrative measures and proceedings for those facilitating and illegally seeking asylum. It has prosecuted police officers who allowed the passage of persons with irregular documentation to travel to Schengen countries and is determined to crack down on criminal groups that are involved in this activity," said Voda. According to official data in the first three months of 2018, about 5,400 Albanian citizens were denied travel to EU countries due to lack of documentation. CAPE TOWN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- South African health authorities on Thursday issued a malaria alert amid a rising risk of acquiring the disease both in and outside the country. The total number of malaria cases has increased in three malaria-affected areas -- northeastern Limpopo, eastern Mpumalanga and northern KwaZulu-Natal, the National Institute for Communicable Diseases (NICD) said. Some of the patients are likely to be travellers returning from neighboring countries, particularly Mozambique, the NICD said. But the institute did not give the specific number of malaria cases. With the recent Easter holidays and an upcoming weekend, a substantial proportion of the South African population have returned or will shortly return from malaria-endemic destinations, the NICD said. Anyone who has been in a malaria risk area in the past 10 days to three weeks and who gets ill with flu-like symptoms should remember that malaria is a possibility and seek medical attention, which should include a malaria blood test, repeated if necessary, the institute said. Travellers should tell healthcare workers about travel and possible exposure, as they may forget to ask, the institute said. Using anti-mosquito measures (nets, repellents etc) and/or prophylactic medicines does not guarantee perfect protection from malaria, the institute cautioned. It warned that delayed diagnosis of malaria often leads to more severe illness with the danger of serious complications or even death. Symptoms of malaria include fever, chills, sweating, body pains, headache and extreme tiredness, which appear within 10-15 days after the infective mosquito bite. This was the second malaria alert issued in South Africa since December 14 last year. South Africa has pledged to eliminate malaria by 2018. Malaria in the country is seasonal, with transmission occurring between September and May in geographical areas of Limpopo, KwaZulu-Natal and Mpumalanga provinces. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 22:40:53|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on Thursday to further promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two sides. In a telephone conversation, Xi pointed out that during May's visit to China earlier this year, a significant consensus was reached to further boost the "Golden Era" for China-Britain ties. The two sides agreed on pushing the bilateral relations to a more strategic, practical, globalized and inclusive level, and making joint efforts to constantly lead the relationship between the two countries to move forward. Xi said that China is willing to work with Britain to strengthen communication and coordination on macro policy, maintain high-level exchanges and institutional communication, promote practical cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and provide more opportunities to upgrade and accelerate the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties. Xi further expressed the hope that the British side would fill more positive energy into the development of China-Britain relations. He noted that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the two countries should continue to deepen international cooperation and make greater contributions to building a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. The British prime minister said she was delighted that the two sides reconfirmed to further deepen the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties, and welcomed the forthcoming London-Shanghai stock connect program, which would allow investors on one bourse to invest in the other. May also hailed the pledges made by Xi to further open up China's economy in a keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 held in China's southern island province of Hainan. She added that the British side is willing to join hands with China to maintain intensive high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in various fields, continue to explore the Belt and Road construction, and actively promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two countries. JUBA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- South Sudanese authorities confirmed Thursday the shutdown of BBC relay stations in the country for failing to pay more than three years of broadcasting debts. James Magok Chilim, South Sudan Broadcasting Corporation (SSBC) Managing Director, told Xinhua in Juba that BBC was shut down for non-compliance to pay arrears despite a reminder in January. "BBC has been using South Sudan broadcasting corporation premises for the last three years and three months without paying renting fees," Chilim said Thursday. BBC relay stations -- Arabic and English -- in Juba and Wau have been off air for about two weeks now. Chilim revealed to Xinhua that BBC had an agreement with the ex-minister of information and broadcasting cooperation, Barnaba Marial Benjamin but the agreement was later concealed after establishment of corporation. "SSBC gave them a verbal warning in March, 2018 and they ignored it. SSBC gave them several notices in writing through all communications channels but they ignored," he said. He said since January he had sent several emails to BBC management but failed to get a response, saying it was a breach of contract. However, BBC said it regretted SSBC's decision to stop broadcasting its news services to an audience of more than 400,000 in South Sudan, saying it is working to resolve the issue. Last month, South Sudan's media regulator suspended United Nations aided Radio Miraya FM citing failure to comply with the country's media regulatory policies to register and obtain operating license. Media fraternity operating in the country have gradually come under warning and tight control from the regulator since it was established in 2016. Last year, 20 foreign journalists were barred by the media authority from entering and reporting in the country. News Release Lipotec Active Ingredients Becomes Umbrella Brand CLEVELAND, April 19, 2018 - The Lubrizol Corporation announces that Lipotec will become the umbrella brand for Active Ingredients within Lubrizol Skin Essentials, effective April 2018. Lipotec was acquired by Lubrizol in 2012 and integrated with Functional Ingredients to create the Lubrizol Skin Essentials division. The creation of Skin Essentials was Lubrizol's first step to bring a complete advanced skin care offering to the market. Since then the team has leveraged its skin care science knowledge by focusing on ingredients and formulation concepts that deliver a beautiful and healthy skin experience to the market. Lubrizol Skin Essentials mission is to become a partner to our clients and help accelerate their creativity with innovative concepts, strong technical and regulatory support, as well as flexibility in supply and delivery. As a result of this change, the Lipotec logo will be modified as follows: About The Lubrizol Corporation The Lubrizol Corporation, a Berkshire Hathaway company, is a market-driven global company that combines complex, specialty chemicals to optimize the quality, performance and value of customers' products while reducing their environmental impact. It is a leader at combining market insights with chemistry and application capabilities to deliver valuable solutions to customers in the global transportation, industrial and consumer markets. Lubrizol improves lives by acting as an essential partner in our customers' success, delivering efficiency, reliability or wellness to their end users. Technologies include lubricant additives for engine oils, driveline and other transportation-related fluids, industrial lubricants, as well as additives for gasoline and diesel fuel. In addition, Lubrizol makes ingredients and additives for home care, personal care and skin care products and specialty materials encompassing polymer and coatings technologies, along with polymer-based pharmaceutical and medical device solutions. With headquarters in Wickliffe, Ohio, Lubrizol owns and operates manufacturing facilities in 17 countries, as well as sales and technical offices around the world. Founded in 1928, Lubrizol has approximately 8,700 employees worldwide. Revenues for 2017 were $6.3 billion. For more information, visit Lubrizol.com. Media Contact Amanda Rehker 216-447-5158 Website: www.lubrizol.com/personal-care ### BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China's e-commerce giant Alibaba will establish a Smart Digital Hub in Thailand's Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC), Alibaba Group said here on Thursday. Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha met with founder of the online shopping giant Jack Ma before an agreement was signed to help set up the hub to facilitate trade among Thailand, China, Laos, Myanmar, Cambodia and Vietnam. The Internet retail giant is reportedly proposing investments worth about 11 billion baht (about 330 million U.S. dollars) in the digital hub. The digital hub will utilize world-class data and logistics technologies of Alibaba and Cainiao, the official global parcel tracking platform of Alibaba Group to optimize the cross-border flow of goods between Thailand and other Asian countries. Alibaba said Cainiao will also work closely with the EEC office and Thai Customs to promote the digitization of customs processes through big data and artificial intelligence as well as sharing of global best practices. "We are extremely interested in training and developing people here. We aim to provide full-time training for young people and small businesses online," said Ma, who also signed three other memorandums of understanding with the Thai government on trade, investment and tourism. Ma said Alibaba not only comes to help Thailand sell its agriculture products, but also hopes to explore opportunities for the young generation and the small- and medium-sized enterprises. The 45-billion-U.S. dollar EEC project, covering Thailand's three eastern provinces near the Gulf of Thailand, is aimed at attracting high-tech investment as part of the government's efforts to boost growth. Groundbreaking for the digital hub will be held this year, with operations expected to commence in 2019. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 22:50:56|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila (R) shakes hands with outgoing Italian Prime Minister Paolo Gentiloni during their meeting in Bucharest, Romania, April 19, 2018. Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Thursday that she talked with her visiting Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni about the active contribution to the dialogue on the European Union (EU) future, in order to jointly meet various challenges. (Xinhua/Cristian Cristel) BUCHAREST, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Romanian Prime Minister Viorica Dancila said on Thursday that she talked with her visiting Italian counterpart Paolo Gentiloni about the active contribution to the dialogue on the European Union (EU) future, in order to jointly meet various challenges. "I voiced the wish to actively contribute to the discussions on the future of the EU, including in view of Romania taking over the presidency of the Council of the EU on January 1,2019," Dancila told joint press conference after her meeting with Gentiloni. "Romania and Italy are privileged partners, strongly connected from a historic perspective, culturally and linguistically as well, as they share the same vision with respect to a united, solidary and strong Europe," said the Romanian prime minister. "I believe that together we can respond to some challenges such as Brexit, the multi-annual financial framework, but also the future of the European Union post-Brexit," she added, stressing that their discussions focused on a unitary approach and they talked about solidarity in terms of responding to other challenges that can emerge at European level. During the talks, the two sides also specifically talked about bilateral economic cooperation. "There are 25,000 Italian companies operating in Romania...We consider the very important Italian presence and the Italian interest in Romania not as a matter of chance, but as a strategic one," Gentiloni told the press conference, adding that his country is interested in investing in agriculture, technological innovation, energy, banking, the defence sector and in many other strategic sectors. According to Dancila, Italy is the second trading partner of Romania and the bilateral trade volume reached almost 14 billion euros (17.3 billion dollars) in 2017, a record level for the last decade. The Romanian community in Italy is certainly part of the talks, as this is the most important foreign community in Italy, with a number of 1.3 million people. "I have agreed with the prime minister of Romania that the levels of integration over the years have been improving and are now satisfactory," Gentiloni told the press, while the Romanian official mentioned the importance of the Romanian community in Italy, and the Italian community in Romania, both of them representing "a connection bridge" between the two countries. Romanian President Klaus Iohannis also met with the Italian prime minister on Thursday. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 22:50:57|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping congratulated Miguel Diaz-Canel on his election as the new Cuban president in a message on Thursday. Xi said in the congratulatory message that China and Cuba are good comrades, good friends and good partners that sincerely trust each other and share the same fate, adding that the two peoples have cultivated deep friendship through long and hard struggles, serving as a strong force to promote the development of bilateral ties. In today's world where international and regional circumstances are witnessing profound and complex changes, China and Cuba have both embarked on a new march for progress, said Xi, adding that China is willing to join Cuba on the way forward. He also said that he is willing to work with Diaz-Canel to deepen and expand bilateral cooperation, and achieve new accomplishments that can honor the China-Cuba friendship in a new era. In a separate message to Raul Castro, who remains the first secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba, Xi, also general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, said he is ready to maintain close communications with Castro so as to push China-Cuba ties further forward. Also on Thursday, Chinese Premier Li Keqiang sent a congratulatory message to Diaz-Canel. Li said China is willing to work with Cuba to continuously promote bilateral cooperation and work for a steady development of China-Cuba ties. MOGADISHU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The African Union Mission in Somalia (AMISOM) on Thursday called for increased coordination to help address humanitarian challenges in the Horn of Africa nation. Abdul Diabagate, AMISOM's Senior Humanitarian Liaison Officer, also expressed the need to increase humanitarian facilitation activities and interaction with communities in areas undergoing acute crises and natural disasters. "Humanitarian challenges call for increased coordination and dialogue between AMISOM and partners operating in the recovered areas," Diabagate said during a day-long training for partners in Jowhar, the administrative capital of HirShabelle state. The training was convened to familiarize AMISOM partners with the Somalia Country Specific Humanitarian Civil-Military Guidelines, which guides the interaction between partners and the Mission. According to a statement from the AU mission issued after the meeting, the training was aimed at fostering partnerships between AMISOM civilian liaison officers and the partners. It also sensitized participants on the importance of observing the International Humanitarian Law, humanitarian principles and International Refugee Law. Diabagate stressed the need to foster greater coordination between the Mission, state authorities and partners, in the area of humanitarian facilitation. During the one-day training the hosts also shared the 2017 Somalia Civil-Military Working Group Report, which was launched September 2017. The report details the working group's achievements, best practices and strategic partnerships that contributed to the alleviation of suffering among drought-affected populations and displaced civilians. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 23:05:59|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Compatriots on both sides of the Taiwan Strait should stand on high alert against "Taiwan independence" separatist activities, said a mainland spokesperson on Thursday. Ma Xiaoguang, spokesperson with the State Council Taiwan Affairs Office, called such activities the biggest real threat to the peace and stability across the Strait. "No individual or element should underestimate our resolve and ability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity," he warned when responding to a question about the People's Liberation Army Air Force's recent island patrols. The U.S. flag is seen in the wine section of a supermarket in Beijing, China, April 5, 2018. (Xinhua/REUTERS) SAN FRANCISCO, April 18 (Xinhua) -- A U.S. trade war with China would create an uneven playing field, go against America's own interests, and would be "a move that makes no sense" for U.S. President Donald Trump, a U.S. business expert said Wednesday. "As the United States and China approach the brink of a trade war, it would be wise to cast aside the inflammatory rhetoric to weigh the cost and benefit of such a war to the American people," George Koo, a member of the Committee of 100 (C100), a leadership organization of Chinese Americans in business and government, wrote in a signed article that appeared in the local San Francisco Chronicle Wednesday. A general tariff on goods from China would force the Chinese sellers to either raise the prices or take the products elsewhere, Koo said, adding that in either case, the cost for American households would go up. President Trump announced earlier this month that his administration would impose steep tariffs on Chinese imports worth 50 billion U.S. dollars for what he alleged "unfair trade practice leading to a huge trade surplus." China responded with a 25-percent increase in tariffs on the United States' biggest exports to China, including soybeans and certain types of aircraft, which are estimated at 50 billion dollars. Koo said China's export of household items and consumer goods "represents good deals that the American public would be foolish to turn down." If the trade frictions escalate, the Chinese consumer has choices and does not have to buy American products, he said. Koo cited California red wine as an example. He said it took California 15 years to develop a customer base in China for the state's wine. "If that export were penalized by China's reciprocating tariff, the market California has worked hard to create would benefit winemakers in Australia, Chile and South Africa, all eager to fill the void," he said. HAVANA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- After a decade as Cuban president, Raul Castro on Thursday completed his second and final term in office with the satisfaction of having initiated necessary economic and social reforms and ensuring a smooth political and generational handover on the island. Just as he had promised five years ago when he was elected head of state, Castro paved the way for a new and younger leader, ending almost six decades in power of the "historical generation" that led the rebel struggle in 1959 which overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista, who had been in power since a 1952 coup. "We have come a long way and it has been a difficult path. But we have done it honorably, together with our people, so that our children now and in the future are happy," Castro said recently. The pragmatic and resolute former Cuban leader will turn 87 this coming June. To reach his goal of making the island a prosperous and sustainable nation, Castro began a series of economic reforms and eliminated old laws and rules to adapt Cuba's socialism to modern times. Since July 31, 2006, Castro temporarily took over as president after his brother Fidel fell ill, assuming the political leadership in the country. In February 2008, Castro was officially elected by the National Assembly as president of the Council of State and vowed to preserve the revolution started in 1959. However, he did start a series of economic and social reforms. The reforms were aimed at promoting and diversifying the sources of income of the island's economy and raising the quality of life of the population, without renouncing the social achievements of the last 50 years. Three years later, he was chosen first secretary of the Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) at the organization's sixth congress, where delegates approved the economic and social policy guidelines, a document that laid the foundations for reforms to update the island's socialist model. These "structural transformations" included the gradual reduction of public jobs, the increase of private work, updating the country's migration policy, as well as the authorization to purchase and sell homes and vehicles between Cubans. They also included handing over idle lands to citizens to boost the country's agricultural production as the government imported around 80 percent of food products at that time. The corresponding legal norms were published to set up cooperatives in non-agricultural sectors, as well as new laws for foreign investment, water use and reserves and taxes. In April 2016, the PCC's seventh congress took place, an occasion on which Castro was reelected as first secretary, a responsibility he will continue to carry out until 2021. At the congress, progress made in the process of updating the nation's socialist system was analyzed and new objectives were set aimed at reorganizing Cuba's monetary policy, prices and finances. This process has been slow for many, but has shown the complex scenario the Caribbean country has faced in the last few years, a scenario marked by financial limitations and the crisis in Venezuela, its main economic and political ally. Last month, the PCC admitted a slowdown and errors in its implementation of Castro's market-style reforms but vowed to continue updating the socialist model. The party's central committee held a plenary session which was chaired by Castro to discuss the state of reforms undertaken since 2011 to open up the economy and give the private sector and foreign investment greater roles. In this context, Castro recalled the obstacles the revolution has had to face and overcome over the last six decades. "In the face of new challenges, the spirit of resistance must prevail. It has characterized our people, without a hint of pessimism and with total confidence in the future," he said. Castro, a commander of his brother Fidel's rebel army, defense minister from 1959 to 2008 and second secretary of the PCC since its founding in 1965, has always been a follower of Fidel's humanistic ideals. He has also upheld Cuba's historic position of self-determination and South-South cooperation, particularly in Latin America and the Caribbean. Perhaps Castro's most important international moment was on Dec. 17, 2014, when simultaneously with then U.S. President Barack Obama, he announced that Washington and Havana had agreed to reestablish diplomatic relations. After months of secret conversations in Canada, the former Cold War adversaries started a path to normalize their ties, a process that has been substantially rolled back by incumbent U.S. President Donald Trump. The thawing ties reached their climax with Obama's visit to Havana in March 2016, the first by a U.S. leader in almost a century. Since then, both governments have taken measures to accelerate the rapprochement, including the end of some economic and political sanctions imposed by Washington, although an embargo remains in place. However, Trump's short time in the White House has seen a serious setback in relations, a consequence of supposed "acoustic attacks" that affected the health of U.S. diplomats in Havana as well as his political alignment with radical sectors of the Cuban exile community. Despite the rollback, Cuba has reiterated its will to continue negotiating pending bilateral issues based on mutual respect and the sovereignty of each nation. "The Cuban Revolution has withstood the attacks of 11 U.S. administrations of different political stances and here we are free, sovereign and independent," said Castro last December in his last speech as president in the island's parliament. After handing over power to his successor, Castro will continue to act as a deputy to the parliament and as the first secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling PCC, which is considered as the leading force of Cuban society. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 23:16:03|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Chinese President Xi Jinping and British Prime Minister Theresa May agreed on Thursday to further promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two sides. In a telephone conversation, Xi pointed out that during May's visit to China earlier this year, a significant consensus was reached to further boost the "Golden Era" for China-Britain ties. The two sides agreed on pushing the bilateral relations to a more strategic, practical, globalized and inclusive level, and making joint efforts to constantly lead the relationship between the two countries to move forward. Xi said that China is willing to work with Britain to strengthen communication and coordination on macro policy, maintain high-level exchanges and institutional communication, promote practical cooperation under the framework of the Belt and Road Initiative, and provide more opportunities to upgrade and accelerate the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties. Xi further expressed the hope that the British side would fill more positive energy into the development of China-Britain relations. He noted that as permanent members of the United Nations Security Council, the two countries should continue to deepen international cooperation and make greater contributions to building a new type of international relations featuring mutual respect, fairness, justice and win-win cooperation. The British prime minister said she was delighted that the two sides reconfirmed to further deepen the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties, and welcomed the forthcoming London-Shanghai stock connect program, which would allow investors on one bourse to invest in the other. May also hailed the pledges made by Xi to further open up China's economy in a keynote speech at the Boao Forum for Asia Annual Conference 2018 held in China's southern island province of Hainan. She added that the British side is willing to join hands with China to maintain intensive high-level exchanges and expand cooperation in various fields, continue to explore the Belt and Road construction, and actively promote the "Golden Era" of bilateral ties between the two countries. The two leaders also exchanged views on the situation in Syria and global trade, with Xi emphasizing that China has been greatly concerned over Syria's situation, and has always disapproved of the use of force in international relations. Instead, Beijing insists that the sovereign independence and territorial integrity should be respected and actions should be taken on the basis of the accepted rules of the international community, Xi added. He told May that the alleged chemical attack in Syria needs a comprehensive, just and objective investigation, whose results should withstand the test of history, so as to solve the Syrian crisis through political means as soon as possible. Xi further noted that both China and Britain are the beneficiaries and supporters of economic globalization, and expressed China's willingness to make concerted efforts with Britain as well as all parties concerned to continue to support free trade and build an open world economy. May said the British side also supports free trade and an open economy, and would like to maintain communication with China on relevant international and regional issues. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 23:26:06|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China said on Thursday that unilateralism and trade protectionism will inevitably harm others without benefiting oneself as the global economy is deeply integrated. Foreign Ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks when asked to comment on a U.S. Federal Reserve report released Wednesday. According to the report, known as the beige book, businesses in much of the U.S. reported significant price increases for steel and aluminum products, because of tariffs on steel and aluminum imports. It also said that firms in multiple sectors, including manufacturing and transportation, expressed concern about the tariffs' impact. Hua quoted a report from the Brookings Institution saying the U.S.-China trade war will result in the loss of more than 2.1 million jobs in 2,700 U.S. counties. In March, 107 Republican members of congress signed a letter urging President Donald Trump not to go through his tariff plan. In the letter, the lawmakers wrote: "we urge you to reconsider the idea of broad tariffs to avoid unintended negative consequences to the U.S. economy and its workers." At a working lunch with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, Trump said the word "reciprocal" will be the primary word that the U.S. is going to be using. "China, as an example, when they send a car to us, it's 2.5 percent tax.When we send a car to them, number one, they don't take it, and number two, it's 25 percent tax," Trump said. When asked to comment on Trump's remarks, Hua retorted with facts: First, the U.S. charges 2.5 percent tariff on imported cars but 25 percent on imported trucks; Second, China has set a maximum tariff of 25 percent for whole vehicles, but only 10 percent for auto parts; Third, most of the American cars sold to China are produced by the subsidiaries of the U.S. automobile companies in China. Hua said General Motors(GM) sold about 4 million cars in China in 2017, and Cadillac has sold more cars in China than in the United States. "It should be said that American auto companies have enjoyed a huge dividend in China," said Hua. On the other hand, the U.S. exported more than 280,000 vehicles to China in 2017, while China exported only 53,000 vehicles to the U.S., said Hua, noting that it makes no sense to compare the import tax rates for whole vehicles of China and the U.S.. With regard to "reciprocal", Hua said as far as tariffs are concerned, the WTO does not have the principle of tariff reciprocity and WTO members also have different levels of tariffs. Reciprocity and fairness can not speak for themselves, so standards can not be formulated according to one's own interests and needs, she said. "Instead, we must rely on equal consultations to formulate unified international rules and standards and we must all respect them," said Hua. To trade under coercion is by no means reciprocal and fair, she said, warning that self-righteous action may end up with suffering the consequences. When answering a question about whether China's recent opening-up initiatives in the automobile industry are in response to U.S. pressure, Hua said China will advance reform and opening-up in accordance with the established goals and pace. She said China's full liberalization of manufacturing industry is a clear indication of its opposition to trade and investment protectionism. China supports the extensive and in-depth development of economic globalization and supports Chinese and foreign enterprises in achieving common development on a level playing field, she said. "We welcome all countries to share the opportunities of China's opening-up and development," said Hua. She noted that whoever engages in protectionism against China means that he has closed the door to China. BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand is expected to find a private firm in November to build a high-speed rail linking three major airports between the Thai capital and the Eastern Economic Corridor (EEC). EEC Office Secretary General Kanit Saengsuphan said the private firm has to win a bidding to implement the high-speed rail linking Don Mueang airport in Bangkok with Suvarnabhumi airport in Samut Prakan province and U-Tapao airport in Rayong province as part of the EEC project, Thai government's official website published on Thursday. After a meeting attended by Thai Prime Minister Prayut Chan-o-cha, Deputy Prime Minister in charge of economy Somkid Jatusripitak and other officials on EEC on Thursday, Kanit confirmed that preparations for Terms Of Reference will be finished in the next few weeks and the private sector will be given four month to bid for the high-speed rail, estimaed to cost 224.5 billion baht (about 7.24 billion U.S. dollars). The winner of the bidding for the rail project is expected to be known in November, he said. The Thai cabinet approved the 220-km high-speed rail linking three airports in late March, which will be conducted under public-private-partnership (PPP) of 50 years, including 5 years of construction and 45 years of operation. The government said it will invest no more than 119.425 billion baht (some 3.8 billion U.S. dollars) and will pay yearly after the high-speed railway is fully operational in 2023. English French HALIFAX, Nova Scotia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- A new program launched today will provide 20 African Nova Scotians with an opportunity to study welding at Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC) and secure careers with Halifax Shipyard building the Royal Canadian Navys future fleet. A collaboration of industry, academia, government, and African Nova Scotian community partners, Pathways to Shipbuilding for African Nova Scotians is an Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence program. It will include a 14-week program comprised of personal readiness, academic refreshers, and essential skills training with career exploration focused on welding and metal trades. Upon successful completion of the readiness program, students will begin the pre-apprenticeship welding diploma program at NSCC. Partners of Pathways to Shipbuilding for African Nova Scotians include Irving Shipbuilding, NSCC, Nova Scotia Department of Labour & Advanced Education Skills and Learning branch, Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency, East Preston Empowerment Academy (EPEA), Office of African Nova Scotian Affairs, CWB Welding Foundation, and the NSCC Foundation. The program will start in September 2018 with graduation in June 2020. Successful graduates who meet employment eligibility criteria will join Halifax Shipyards more than 1,800 shipbuilders proudly building Canadas future naval fleet, as positions become available. After being selected to build the Royal Canadian Navys future combat fleet as part of the Government of Canadas National Shipbuilding Strategy, Irving Shipbuilding and NSCC established the Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence to respond to the growing need for skilled workers and to diversify the workforce available to build ships for Canada. Irving Shipbuilding has committed to investing $250,000 per year in the Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence for the duration of its National Shipbuilding Strategy contracts. The Irving Shipbuilding Centre of Excellence currently offers bursaries and programs for underrepresented groups in shipbuilding, including Pathways to Shipbuilding for Indigenous Canadians and a partnership with Women Unlimited for under- or unemployed women. EPEA is the programs community partner and will collaborate with a wide network of agencies and groups to meet the needs of the program and its participants. EPEA is currently working with the Nova Scotia Apprenticeship Agency in supporting people of African descent in achieving their Red Seal trade certifications. African Nova Scotians interested in learning more about the program and submitting an application can visit https://epeacademy.com/pathways-to-shipbuilding/. Quotes The Honourable Navdeep Bains, Minister of Innovation, Science and Economic Development Canadians are at the heart of our competitive edge as a country. This investment speaks to the federal governments commitment to investing in our talent and skills development to create well-paying, middle-class jobs through the Industrial and Technological Benefits Policy. Congratulations to Irving on the initiative. Andy Fillmore, Member of Parliament for Halifax Irving Shipbuilding and NSCCs shared commitment to supporting underrepresented groups in the trades has shown us the very best of what our province has to offer. Their programs to prepare Indigenous Peoples and women for careers in the shipbuilding industry have seen remarkable success. Now, theyve done it again, by supporting the careers of 20 African Nova Scotians at Halifax Shipyard. Minister Labi Kousoulis, Labour and Advanced Education, Province of Nova Scotia The province is committed to increasing apprenticeship opportunities for African Nova Scotians and to ensuring the next generation of Nova Scotia shipbuilders is equipped with the skills and training they need for projects like the Irving Shipbuilding contract. Were also focused on building a stronger, more diverse workforce because we know that diversity strengthens workplaces and helps meet the demand for workers. Thanks to programs like this one, were closing the gap and changing the face of the skilled trades in Nova Scotia which benefits us all. Kevin McCoy, President, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. As Canadas National Shipbuilder, we hire the best shipbuilders to join our team building Canadas future naval fleet at Halifax Shipyard. To do this we need more individuals from groups currently underrepresented in shipbuilding. This Pathways to Shipbuilding program will create opportunities for African Nova Scotians to learn a trade and establish a path to a long-term career proudly building ships for Canada. Don Bureaux, President, Nova Scotia Community College Our partnerships with both Women Unlimited and the Mikmaw Native Friendship Centre have been successful in opening the door for those communities underrepresented in the marine sector. As a College, were so pleased to add a new partnership with the African Nova Scotian community to expand this opportunity. Senator, Dr. Wanda Thomas Bernard, Vice-President of the Board, East Preston Empowerment Academy "The Pathways to Shipbuilding Program is breaking systemic and historic barriers and is creating real opportunities for African Nova Scotians. Our hope is that this programme will become a model that can and will be used in other fields. Deborah Mates, Executive Director, CWB Welding Foundation Support of students through this partnership will help the CWB Welding Foundation fulfill its key mandates of increasing awareness of public safety in welding and addressing the welding skills trades shortage from under-represented groups in Canada. Photos will be available upon request. Media Contacts: Sean Lewis Director, Communications, Irving Shipbuilding Inc. Work: (902) 484-4595 Cell: (902) 240-6964 Lewis.Sean@irvingshipbuilding.com Kathleen Cameron Manager, External Relations, NSCC Cell: 902-499-7844 Kathleen.cameron@nscc.ca Chrissy Matheson Labour and Advanced Education Province of Nova Scotia Phone: 902-471-2444 Chrissy.matheson@novascotia.ca Photos accompanying this announcement are available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/848f6ecb-ab4a-4b84-abdf-5671f58e1ee2 http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/6e376042-416e-4991-b37d-12b3eae77396 Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-19 23:41:09|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close German Chancellor Angela Merkel (R) and visitng French President Emmanuel Macron pose for photos at Berlin Palace in Berlin, capital of Germany, on April 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Shan Yuqi) BERLIN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- German Chancellor Angela Merkel and the visiting French President Emmanuel Macron agreed on Thursday to take key decisions to reform the Eurozone by June. "We need an open debate and at the end the ability to compromise," Merkel said at a press conference after the meeting with Macron, before promising that an agreement would be reached by the summer. She also warned that Europe could only represent its interests internationally as one. The pair also need to prepare European policies on asylum and immigration. Macron said at the press conference that he wanted to present a united front on reform of the Eurozone by June, adding that France and Germany both wanted to come up with how to improve the single currency zone by the beginning of the summer. Macron's vision includes turning Europe's existing bailout fund into a European Monetary Fund (EMF), and a Eurozone finance minister, which is difficult for Merkel as the German Chancellor was under pressure from her conservative bloc not to agree to reforms leading to more German funding. After initially expressing support for a series of ambitious policy proposals first made by Macron back in September 2017, Berlin has recently begun to backtrack on key elements such as a European Monetary Fund, shared Eurozone budget and deposit insurance scheme seen as necessary for the completion of European Economic and Monetary Union (EMU) by many experts. Pushing back against skeptical voices within the CDU and Christian Social Union (CSU), Merkel has reiterated her support for a so-called banking union, including a uniform deposit insurance scheme. The chancellor insisted that Germany would not act as a barrier to change, expressing confidence that a "strong reform package" could still be assembled prior to a looming EU summit in June. Whether Merkel can really deliver on this promise and thus preserve her cordial relationship with Macron remains to be seen. Large swaths of the allied CDU/CSU parties vehemently oppose the creation of a Eurozone budget, for example, demanding that an annual shortfall of around 13 billion euros (16.1 billion U.S. dollars) in the overall EU budget caused by the departure of the United Kingdom be treated as an issue of greater urgency. Additionally, the CDU/CSU has expressed concerns that the transformation of the European Stability Mechanism (ESM) into a permanent European Monetary Fund could further weaken the sovereignty of member states although the idea was originally mooted by the ultra-orthodox German ex-finance minister and CDU politician Wolfgang Schaeuble. At the same time, however, there are several areas of potential reform where views adopted by Berlin and Paris have so far been closely aligned. Both countries are keen to expand the European Common Asylum System, as well as making elements thereof which already exists on paper more effective in practice. A suggestion by Macron to grant municipal governments EU aid in exchange for settling refugees was welcomed by Merkel and corresponds with her own desire to ensure more burden sharing across the bloc in the future. Furthermore, Germany and France are largely on the same page with regards to promoting closer European defense cooperation. Macron's publicly-circulated idea to develop a joint military doctrine and endow EU defense projects with a special budget echo the German chancellor's widely-publicized warnings that Europe can no longer rely on Washington to guarantee its physical security in an increasingly multipolar and unreliable world. Lastly, the Franco-German axis is well and alive in ongoing efforts to craft a new taxation system for the digital economy which creates a more level competitive playing field. Macron has called for a binding minimum corporate taxation rate in the EU towards this end, while the new German government has enshrined its support for a "fair taxation of large corporations like Google, Apple, Facebook and Amazon" in its coalition agreement as a means to prevent a race to the bottom among EU member states. HAVANA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- As Cuba's leadership undergoes transition, expectations are running high for the new president and the future of the country's reform process. Miguel Diaz-Canel was elected on Thursday as Cuba's new president, as the successor of Raul Castro, who concluded two consecutive five-year terms in office. Diaz-Canel, former first vice-president and an electronics engineer who will turn 58 this Friday, was nominated by the National Candidature Commission on Wednesday after he was proposed by the 604 National Assembly lawmakers to head the country. Cubans in the island and overseas hope the new leader will improve the efficiency and sustainability of Cuba's socialist development and continue important economic and social reforms. "We are living through a historical moment of great significance for Cubans because it is the end of Raul Castro's presidency. It's time to give way to a generation that was born and formed with the principles of leaders like him," Guillermo Pedroso, a government worker, told Xinhua. Pedroso said the transition of power represents another important stage since Raul Castro took over power in 2006 from his elder brother Fidel Castro, who led a revolution that triumphed in 1959. The new administration indicates continuity and progress, Pedroso added. Alcides Risco, a senior citizen in Havana's Vedado district, said the transition is a logical step because life evolves, and it is time to hand over the reins to a new generation. Diaz-Canel has been widely seen as Castro's potential successor and millions of Cubans at home and abroad have high hopes for him after he was nominated. Diaz-Canel, who like many Cubans today was born after the revolution, embodies both continuity and change. He is expected to be the first Cuban president in 59 years who did not fight in the liberation, but at the same time upholds the ideals the Caribbean island has struggled to achieve. "I think that ... he will make an excellent president," Maria Karla Navarro, a university student, said. Navarro said she admires the way Diaz-Canel interacts with young people, which has helped him gain support from the nation's youth. College student Edwin Cruz wants to become an electronics engineer, like Diaz-Canel. He said wage improvement is one of the island's most pressing tasks that the new head of state should deal with. Lester Fernandez, who works in Cuba's small but growing private sector, hopes the new president can take bolder steps to speed up the process of legislation in the private sector. "We need greater openness toward the private sector because I believe it has proven in recent years that it is a way to generate wealth in the country," Fernandez said. Speeding up the pace of reforms without compromising the social benefits that Cubans enjoy is a major task for the new president. "Everybody wins, both small and medium-sized private businesses and the country," Fernandez said. "If the government receives greater tax contributions, it can invest in prioritized sectors such as health, education and social security." CAIRO, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Egypt got no reply from Ethiopia and Sudan to its invitation for further talks in Cairo over the Grand Ethiopian Renaissance Dam (GERD) that is currently being built on their shared Nile River, the Egyptian foreign minister said in an interview with a local TV channel on Thursday. "We're sorry that we have not got a reply from Ethiopia and Sudan to this invitation, as we miss another chance to implement the instructions of the leaders of the three states," said Egyptian Foreign Minister Sameh Shoukry. Ethiopia and Sudan eye massive benefits from the GERD construction, while Egypt is concerned it might affect its 55.5-billion-cubic-meter annual share of the Nile River water. Earlier in April, a high-profile ministerial meeting of the three countries in Khartoum failed to reach an agreement over technical issues regarding the GERD, with Ethiopia and Sudan holding Egypt responsible for the failure of the talks. Egypt later rejected the blame and said it joined the talks with "a positive spirit and an earnest desire to reach an agreement," inviting Ethiopia and Sudan for further talks in Cairo. The nine-member tripartite talks in Khartoum comprised the ministers of foreign affairs, those of water resources and the heads of intelligence services of the three countries. "Every one should know that Egypt will not accept imposing a status quo through which the will of a party is imposed over another," Shoukry said in the interview. Egypt agrees to the preliminary report by hired French technical consultancy companies BRL and Artelia on the potential hydraulic, economic and environmental impacts of the GERD on the two downstream countries Egypt and Sudan. Ethiopia, however, has not approved the study and sees it does not meet its aspirations, a position that halts and freezes the course of negotiations according to the Egyptian foreign minister. In January, the presidents of Ethiopia, Egypt and Sudan met in Ethiopia's capital Addis Ababa on the sidelines of the 30th African Union summit and agreed to avoid misunderstandings by joint cooperation on common interests. The meetings of a tripartite technical committee on the GERD have been fruitless over the past sessions. Egypt's ties with Ethiopia have seen ups and downs since the latter started the dam project in April 2011 while Egypt was suffering turmoil following an uprising that toppled former President Hosni Mubarak. When Egyptian President Abdel-Fattah al-Sisi took office in 2014, he showed understanding of Ethiopia's aspiration for development through the GERD that would produce around 6,000 megawatts of electricity to the country. In March 2015, the leaders of upstream Nile Basin country Ethiopia and the two downstream partners Egypt and Sudan signed an initial cooperation deal on the principles of sharing the Nile River water and the construction of the GERD, which will be Africa's largest dam upon completion. On the other hand, Sisi and his Sudanese counterpart Omar al-Bashir met in Cairo in mid-March and agreed to end all differences between the two African countries over a number of thorny issues. In addition to the GERD issue, Egypt and Sudan have a territorial dispute over the border region of Halayeb and Shalateen, which is currently under Egyptian control. In January, Khartoum recalled its ambassador to Egypt for consultation over "potential security threats" from Egypt and Eritrea following reported military moves in Eritrea's Sawa area near the border with Sudan's state of Kassala. The Sudanese ambassador later returned to Cairo. Bashir also accused Egypt last year of providing military support for armed rebels in his country, which was strongly denied by Sisi. A woman uses a cart to cross a flooded road in Nairobi, capital of Kenya, March 15, 2018. At least six people were killed and many others displaced as flash floods caused by heavy rains continued to be experienced in several parts of Kenya on Thursday.(Xinhua/John Okoyo) NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kenyans living in the capital Nairobi are grappling with severe water shortage even as heavy rains pound the East African nation. It has been raining heavily across Kenya for the last one month, with the rains causing flooding, disruption of traffic and displacement of people. In the capital Nairobi, the heavy rains have caused floods and disrupted traffic, with motorists and commuters taking up to three hours to arrive at their destinations, some merely 10 km from their homes. City residents, who have been experiencing water shortage for many months, see the rains as a blessing, thinking supply of water would increase or normalize. But that has not been the case as a water rationing program has even intensified, escalating the crisis. "Water remains a scarce commodity even as it rains heavily. I am still buying water for domestic use because it is not coming from the tap," Henderson Ingachi, a resident of Komarock on the east of Nairobi, said on Thursday. As others across Nairobi, the estate is supposed to receive water on Friday and Saturday in the rationing program. But for the last one month, it has only received water twice and for a few hours, with January and February having been the worst. "We are in a desperate situation because we have to buy water at 0.20 U.S. dollars per 20 liter container. The cost went down from 0.30 dollars due to the rains," he said, adding his family of six spends up to 10 dollars a week on water. While he has been tapping rainwater, the quantity he fetches is little because he uses small containers. "If I owned the house, I would have bought a bigger water tank and installed it to tap rainwater from the roof but I can't because I rent the facility. The landlord cannot allow me to install gutters on the roof or a water tank. Besides, I can also vacate the house anytime," he said. Joy Mueni, a resident of Zimmerman, said the water problem has become part and parcel of city residents' lives that a majority don't consider it a crisis anymore. "I don't remember the last time our estate and the neighboring ones like Kasarani and Kahawa where residents received tap water last but it seems it does not bother residents. We tried last month to organize residents to protest to city authorities but people didn't turn up," she said, adding people are accustomed to buying. Photo taken on March 5, 2018 shows a view of Lake Naivasha shores, Kenya. Water level in the lake in the last three months dropped sharply due to the ongoing drought coupled with illegal logging of trees within the waterways of the rivers feeding the lake. (Xinhua/Allan Mutiso) Nairobi County authorities on Tuesday asked city residents to brace for tough times as water levels at the main Ndakaini Dam remains low despite the rains. "We have to continue with the rationing to save water because we do not know how long the rains would last. So we need to save water to handle the months when there will be no rain since our capacity at the dam is still low," said Lucy Njambi, the acting Technical Director, Nairobi Water and Sewerage Company. She said the water rationing program would be continued as the levels at Ndakaini Dam in Murang'a County have failed to rise substantially due to to lack of enough rain in the Aberdare ranges. Analysts have blamed the water crisis to low rainwater harvesting culture both at national and individual level, destruction of water towers and rapid rise in population. "It's raining heavily but people are not harvesting water. The whole of it is going to waste yet if tapped the water would lessen the crisis. This is a culture we must change," said Ernest Manuyo, a lecturer in Nairobi. He added that the city's population has risen to 4 million but water supply has not been expanded, a situation that has fanned the crisis, amid the destruction of trees in water catchment areas like the Aberdare and Mt Kenya forests. Kenyans on social media have not been amused by the irony of water crisis in the capital Nairobi amid the heavy rains. "Kenya is experiencing floods due to rainfall but the Ndakaini Dam is still half empty. Is there a roof above the dam?" posed Jaymo on Twitter on Thursday. "So the floods carried away the water at Ndakaini Dam." wondered Amos. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 00:11:16|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg (L) and Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte talk during their meeting in The Hague, the Netherlands, April 19, 2018. Stoltenberg on Thursday said the Netherlands should spend more on defense and send more soldiers to Iraq to train the army there. (Xinhua/Sylvia Lederer) THE HAGUE, April 19 (Xinhua) -- NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg on Thursday said the Netherlands should spend more on defense and send more soldiers to Iraq to train the army there. He acknowledged the Netherlands had increased defense spending. "We expect more, this is about what is fair," he told the Dutch House of Representatives. "In 2014, we agreed not to cut back on defense, but to invest more," said Stoltenberg, referring to the NATO summit in Wales in 2014 when the Netherlands agreed to spend 2 percent of its gross domestic product on defense. The Dutch cabinet sworn in last October has promised to boost defense budget to over 1.5 billion euros (1.85 billion U.S. dollars) per year. But, partly in view of the growth of the economy, it does not hit the threshold of 2 percent of GDP. After a working lunch with Dutch Prime Minister Mark Rutte, Stoltenberg said more Dutch trainers are needed in Iraq. Strengthening local armed forces is one of the best weapons in the fight against terrorism and Dutch trainers always deliver "high quality" and have good material for these kinds of missions, said Stoltenberg. In recent years, the Dutch have trained Kurds in northern Iraq and special forces in Baghdad in the context of the fight of an international coalition against the Islamic State (IS). Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 00:16:17|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A deal was reached on Thursday that will see the evacuation of the Islam Army militants and their allied rebels from areas they control in the eastern part of the mountainous Qalamoun region north of the capital Damascus, the media wing of the Syrian army and its allies reported. The deal, mediated by Russia, will begin by the rebels' handing over their heavy weapons and military hardware to the Syrian side as of Friday. It will be followed by the rebels' evacuation to rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib and the northern city of Jarablus, according to the report. This comes after the Islam Army agreed to evacuate the town of Dumair in eastern Qalamoun, as the first batch of the militants and their families started leaving that town to an assembly point nearby for their evacuation later in the day. The deal also comes after the Islam Army evacuated their last strongholds in the Douma district in the Eastern Ghouta a week ago. The evacuation will be for the rebels and their families who refused to reconcile with the government, while others will stay in the town and settle their situation with the government in accordance with the deal. State news agency SANA said 1,500 rebels and 3,500 members of their families are expected to evacuate Dumair, while data indicate that some 100,000 people live in Dumair. Still, no clear number is given about those who will leave other towns in eastern Qalamoun. The Syrian government is working to secure the surroundings of the capital Damascus with these deals with the rebels, or with the current military offensive on the Islamic State (IS) militants south of Damascus after securing Eastern Ghouta, which was the most dangerous place for the security of Damascus due to the daily mortar attacks and the infiltration attempts in the capital. KAMPALA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The European Union (EU) will start this June subject Uganda's agro-products to rigorous checks due to the fall armyworm, a senior government official has said Steven Byantware, Commissioner for Crop Protection told a farmers' meeting that EU's intention is to scrutinize Ugandan exports for the worms that are decimating crops. The fall armyworm is technically classified as quarantined pest under the International Plant Protection Convention, an international agreement that aims to protect cultivated and wild plants by preventing the introduction and spread of pests. Under the convention, countries are granted right to impose phytosanitary measures to stop imports of products in which outbreak of quarantined pests have been confirmed. Byantware said the EU, one of the biggest importers of Ugandan flowers, vegetables and pepper has strict phytosanitary requirements which may require consignments from Uganda to enter through specified points of entry. Uganda earns approximately 800 million U.S. dollars from flowers and other agricultural products annually, according to government figures. Godfrey Asea, Director of the National Crops Resources Research Institute said government is confident that the latest field trials of genetically modified drought-tolerant and insect-resistant crops are yielding promising results. He said the ongoing trial of Water Efficient Maize for Africa hybrids at the institution located in central Uganda, shows strong protection against both stem borer and fall armyworm pests. "We have done our research, now we have to make sure it reaches the farmer. This is the fourth trial, and I think we have enough results to confirm victory over the pest," he said. Uganda however lacks a law that allows the cultivation of genetically modified crops. Asea said the infestation of fall armyworms believed to have begun in the second season last year is an invasive Central American species that is harder to detect and eradicate than the armyworms that have previously existed in the country. According to the ministry of agriculture, the outbreak was first reported in Nigeria before attacking southern African countries, the Democratic Republic of the Congo and then Uganda. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 00:21:22|Editor: Chengcheng Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson on Thursday called on Australia to learn to listen to other countries' voices. Spokesperson Hua Chunying made the remarks at a routine press briefing when responding to media report that Australian leaders will take the opportunity of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting to urge Commonwealth countries to strengthen their presence in the Pacific. In previous report, a senior Australian official said China is building a military base in Vanuatu. Vanuatu has denied the report. A newspaper in Fiji published an article by the director of a Vanuatu media group recently. The article said Vanuatu ordered thousands of people to be evacuated from Ambae Island due to volcanic eruption and the wharves used for the evacuation were constructed with assistance of China. However, Australia has suggested that they comprise a future Chinese military base. The article called on Australia to listen to the voices of island countries rather than indulge in "malicious speculation." "One cannot earn respect by slandering or suppressing others. Care and help for the island nations should not only be hung on the lips, but embodied in real actions," Hua said, urging relevant countries to listen to other countries' voices. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 00:31:27|Editor: Liangyu Video Player Close BEIJING, April 19 (Xinhua) -- China and Turkey should maintain high-level exchanges and deepen strategic mutual trust, Chinese President Xi Jinping told Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan over phone on Thursday. Xi pointed out that the China-Turkey strategic cooperative relations have witnessed steady development in recent years and achieved positive results in cooperation in various fields, saying both sides need to tap potential in lifting bilateral relations to a higher level as well as into broader areas. China and Turkey also need to accommodate each other's concerns, which will lay a solid political foundation for bilateral cooperation, Xi added. Xi called on the two countries to work hard at pragmatic cooperation, which requires both sides to attach importance to dovetailing the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative with Turkey's Middle Corridor project, enriching people-to-people and cultural exchanges, and consolidating public support for bilateral friendly relations. Turkey has special influence and roles on major international and regional issues, said Xi, adding that both countries need to maintain close communication and coordination on major issues within the framework of multilateral mechanisms such as the United Nations and the Group of 20, so as to make positive contributions to promoting a new type of international relations and building a community with a shared future for mankind. Erdogan said that China's development and prosperity is the cornerstone of world stability, as Turkey thinks highly of the great effort China has made in international affairs to safeguard fairness and justice, respect the diversity of civilizations, and promote equality of all countries irrespective of size. Turkey is willing to carry out close exchanges with China at all levels, said Erdogan, adding that his country supports and stands ready to participate in the Belt and Road Initiative, and to boost cooperation in such areas as economy, trade, energy, infrastructure and tourism. He said Turkey is firmly opposed to terrorist forces like the East Turkistan Islamic Movement, adding that such forces must not be allowed to undermine social stability in any countries including Turkey and China. The two leaders also exchanged views on the current situation in Syria. Xi said all related parties should take actions within the framework of international law, observe the purposes and principles of the Charter of the United Nations, and respect sovereignty, independence and territorial integrity of every country. Erdogan said Turkey attaches great importance to China's influence on the political solution to the Syrian issue, adding that his country is willing to strengthen communication and coordination with China on the issue. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 00:46:37|Editor: Lifang Video Player Close Syrians celebrate Syrian army's entry in the town of Dumair, north of Damascus, Syria, on April 19, 2018. The Syrian army and the law enforcement forces started entering the Dumair town in the eastern part of Qalamoun region north of the capital Damascus, as the rebels completed evacuation from that area. (Xinhua/Ammar Safarjalani) DAMASCUS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian army and the law enforcement forces started entering the Dumair town in the eastern part of Qalamoun region north of the capital Damascus, as the rebels completed evacuation from that area. The Syrian flag was hoisted in Dumair as residents are chanting in support of the Syrian army and Syrian President Bashar al-Assad, according to a live broadcast by the state TV. This comes as the Islam Army rebels and their families completely left Dumair after a deal was reached on Tuesday to empty that town from the rebels in the eastern part of the mountainous Qalamoun region. In an earlier report, the Syrian army media and its allies said a deal was reached on Thursday that would see the evacuation of the Islam Army militants and allied rebel groups from other areas they control in the eastern part of the mountainous Qalamoun region. The deal, mediated by Russia, would start as the Islam Army and other rebels hand over their heavy weapons and military hardware to the Syrian side as of Friday. It would be followed by their evacuation to rebel-held areas in the northwestern province of Idlib and the northern city of Jarablus, according to the report. The deal in Dumair and other areas in eastern Qalamoun comes after the Islam Army evacuated their last strongholds in the Douma district in the Eastern Ghouta a week ago. State news agency SANA said 1,500 rebels and 3,500 members of their families were to evacuate Dumair, while data indicate that some 100,000 people live in Dumair. Still, no clear number is given about those who will leave other towns in eastern Qalamoun. SAN FRANCISCO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Angel Capital Expo is taking place April 25, mark your calendar for the must attend angel investor conference in San Francisco, CA. The conference will showcase 15+ early stage companies hand selected by the Keiretsu Forum member investors. This full day event will offer unparalleled networking opportunities, high quality investment deals, and insightful keynote speakers. Register now before prices increase. I originally created our signature event, Angel Capital Expo, to showcase great companies and bring together the US angel investor community, says Keiretsu Forum founder and CEO Randy Williams. This years event is going to have an international flavor due to our tremendous global growth. We will have 9 global chapter presidents in attendance. Keiretsu Forum announces its newest speaker, Asia Pacific based Victor Jiang, founding Chairman of Sapien Ventures Ltd. Mr. Jiang will be speaking on his ICO funding success in Australia, Blockchain, Fintech, and the Australasian opportunities due to the positive regulatory environment. Sapien Ventures is a fintech, online marketplaces and blockchain focused VC firm with offices in Silicon Valley, Sydney, Melbourne, Shanghai & Beijing. He currently sits on the Boards of 8 technology companies across US / AU / China, including 4 of them as Chairman. Victor Jiang is on his 5th fund, regularly featured in major financial media, and a global deal maker. His successes to date with cross-border ICOs will provide attendees with unique insights on a hot topic, says Adam T. Henderson, Director & founding member of Keiretsu Forum. About Keiretsu Forum Keiretsu Forum was founded in 2000 by Randy Williams in the San Francisco Bay Area. With more than 2,800 investor members in 52 chapters in 24 countries, Keiretsu Forum is the worlds largest invitation only angel investor network. Keiretsu Forum membership is comprised of angel investors, venture capitalists, corporate/institutional investors and serial entrepreneurs who provide early-stage capital in the range of $250,000 - $2 million to high-quality diverse investment opportunities. Keiretsu Forum members collaborate in the due diligence but make individual investment decisions. For more information, visit www.keiretsuforum.com. BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Thailand's Commerce Minister Sontirat Sontijirawong gifted founder of China's e-commerce giant Alibaba Jack Ma with a fresh "golden pillow," the kingdom's most famous variety of durian, at a signing ceremony on Thursday. Ma, who has agreed to help build a digital hub in Thailand, has surprised the Thais by selling 80,000 golden pillow durians on his online platform T-mall within just one minute. Alibaba has signed a durian deal worth 428 million U.S. dollars with the Thai government. The "golden pillow" durian, Thailand's most well known exported variety, has been sold on Alibaba's online supermarket on Wednesday, a day before Ma signed four memorandums of understanding with the Thai government on trade, investment, support for e-commerce and tourism. The Chinese e-commerce giant is reportedly splashing about 330 million U.S. dollars in Thailand as it aims to tap Chinese consumers' appetite for the Southeast nation's agricultural goods and its tourism market. At the ceremony, Alibaba and the Thai Commerce Ministry launched the first official Thai rice flagship store on T-mall, the world's largest third-party platform for brands and retailers, besides driving the sale of popular Thai fruits into China. Alibaba also pledges to assist Thai agriculture businesses in harnessing the power of the company's insights into the Chinese market. "China is on its way to be the world's largest consumer, driven by rising income and a growing middle class of 300 million. There is no better time than now for trade-oriented countries to seize this opportunity to export to China as the country continues to open its doors wider for global trade," said Ma. Alibaba first came to Thailand in 2016 when it partnered with the Thai government to strengthen e-commerce capabilities for small- and medium-sized businesses in the kingdom with a population of more than 68 million. "Given Thailand's unique strengths in people and culture, we are confident of its future and growth potential under the government's policy to expand the economy beyond heavy industry and agriculture to technology and other innovations," said Ma. He also promised to produce results of mutual benefits from Alibaba's investments in Thailand by the end of 2019 when he met with Thai Prime Minister Prayuth Chan-ocha before the signing ceremony. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 00:46:38|Editor: Shi Yinglun Video Player Close BAKU, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The upcoming SCO summit in China will be important in terms of a high level political dialogue and consultations among the member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), says Hikmet Hajiyev, head of Press-Service of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Azerbaijan. "The SCO summit will strengthen cooperation in various fields and identify new areas for cooperation," Hajiyev told Xinhua in a recent interview. "The SCO is an organization that serves as an effective platform for political consultations and interaction to build confidence and cooperation in the region," he said. "Azerbaijan has very close and traditional friendly relations with member states of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization. As an international organization and important platform, the SCO creates favorable conditions for the multilateral development of our relations with its member states," Hajiyev stressed. He added that new transport projects, implemented jointly with regional states in the atmosphere of partnership and friendship, support the goals and priorities of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative and promise wide opportunities for cooperation between SCO member states and neighboring countries in the field of transportation. Hajiyev pointed out that Azerbaijan supports the SCO goals that promote cultural diversity and participates in various joint cultural projects in close cooperation with the SCO Secretariat, based in Beijing. "Currently, Azerbaijan, which has a status of a dialogue partner of the Shanghai Cooperation Organization, continues to work closely with the organization and its member states to expand cooperation in various fields," he stressed. As for Azerbaijan's role within the SCO, Hajiyev said that his country intends "to raise relations with the SCO to a qualitatively new level." "We hope that the SCO member states will revise the status of Azerbaijan in this organization," Hajiyev said, adding that the new status would give the country more opportunities to contribute to the activity of SCO and mutually beneficial cooperation. This year's SCO summit is scheduled to be held in east China's coastal city of Qingdao in June, with China taking the rotating chair. Azerbaijan's status as a dialogue partner in the SCO was officially approved in March 2016. It is expected that Azerbaijan's membership in the SCO would give the country more opportunities to interact with China and Central Asian countries much more closely. President of Azerbaijan llham Aliyev has recently said that Azerbaijan maintains constructive and friendly relations with all SCO member states. He said Azerbaijan is interested in strengthening ties with the SCO, adding that the development of cooperation with the SCO members is one of Azerbaijan's key foreign policy priorities. PYONGYANG, April 19 (Xinhua) -- On the western outskirts of Pyongyang, capital of the Democratic People's Republic of Korea (DPRK), a children's paradise is attracting hundreds of foreign visitors each week. The Mangyongdae Schoolchildren's Palace welcomed a special group of guests, the Chinese art troupe led by Song Tao, head of the International Department of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, on Monday. The children presented songs, dances, acrobatics and various musical performances to the guests, winning enthusiastic "bravos" and applause. With the five-star national red flag of China as the stage background, a chorus of girls sang the Chinese song "Flying Red Flag," a selection, to the great joy of their guests. "I have taught many years my students Chinese songs, including 'the March Song of the Chinese Communist Pioneers.' This time we also practised 'Flying Red Flag' as a specially selected song for Comrade Song Tao and his delegation," said Han Mi Hwa, a 53-year-old accordion teacher. She is in charge of one of some 140 study groups of the palace which cover three major fields -- science, arts and sports, and offer free tuition to about 5,000 students daily. Like all the teachers in the DPRK, Han said she regards her work as a mission tasked by the three top leaders of the country, Kim Il Sung, Kim Jong Il and Kim Jong Un, who regard the welfare of the children as top priority. "The children are the king of the country and we must give them everything they need before all others, sparing nothing," the DPRK's founding President Kim Il Sung once said when he met with foreign guests. It is no wonder that the children's palace was built near the birthplace of Kim, an area known for beautiful hills, forests and rivers. When it was dedicated to the children of the country on April 15, 1989, Kim personally came to cut the ribbons. It was also his birthday. The design of the construction also reflects the idea of Kim, as it made two wings of the central building look like two arms of the main body, embracing a bronze statue of children riding a large chariot. Covering a total floor space of over 105,000 sqm, the two-story mansion has a full-sized theater with 2,000 seats, gymnasium, swimming pool, library, e-reading room, electronic recreation hall and 4-dimensional simulation cinema. Almost every Chinese guest was impressed by the modernity and comprehensiveness of the facilities of the palace after visiting the site. "The theater is great. It shows the importance given to education and training of young artists by the DPRK and the art-loving character of its people," said Feng Ying, a renowned ballerina who visited Pyongyang with the Chinese art troupe. "The children here are fantastic. They sing with (their) natural voice instead of relying on microphones. They are really shining, happy, polite and warm-hearted youngsters," said a retired government official from Beijing. Korean dancing, music instruments, drum playing, Taekwondoo martial arts, embroidery, painting, and calligraphy are the favorites of the children here. Many of them are talented and were selected from various schools across the city to be trained and taught with these special skills. Ying Chuaen, a 13-year-old boy who learns the accordion five days a week, was very grateful to his teachers who gave everything they knew to him in order that he could become a musician in the future. "Yes, I am so fortunate to be here," he said after playing a Korean traditional song. The DPRK's top leader Kim Jong Un pays great attention to the preservation and development of traditional culture of the country, said a guide for visitors identified herself with the surname of Kim. When the top leader visited the palace two years ago, he asked the teachers to keep three scrolls of ancient calligraphy on the wall of the classroom as inspiration for future calligraphers. "As spring has come to Pyongyang, numerous foreign guests are visiting this children's paradise each week. They can have glimpse into the children's welfare and growth of the country," said the guide. DAR ES SALAAM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Tanzanian authorities said on Thursday that they have stepped up measures to fight malaria, including distributing 236,420 liters of biological anti-mosquito pesticides across the country. Ummy Mwalimu, the Minister for Health, told parliament in the capital Dodoma that the anti-malaria pesticides were specifically being used to destroy mosquito larvae. She told the House that after taking various measures to fight the disease, including the distribution of the anti-malaria pesticides, the malaria prevalence rate has dropped to 7.3 percent in 2017 from 14.8 percent in 2016. She said the achievements were made following strengthened national health systems, the level of investment in malaria control and a number of other strides taken by the government. Mwalimu said after the measures taken by the government to fight malaria, the World Health Organization (WHO) awarded her ministry with a certificate of recognition. However, the minister said malaria continued to remain one of the major threats to public health, causing hundreds of deaths annually. Currently in Tanzania, 90 percent of the population lives in areas that carry a high risk of malaria transmission, according to the National Malaria Control Program. Mwalimu also presented a catalogue of priorities set by the ministry for the next fiscal year that begins in July to improve health services provision in the country. The priorities included the strengthening of vaccination services to children where she explained that up to December last year, all of the targeted children had been vaccinated. DAR ES SALAAM, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A senior Tanzanian government official said on Thursday plans were afoot to upgrade the country's diplomatic missions overseas. The Deputy Minister for Foreign Affairs, Susan Kolimba, told the National Assembly in the capital Dodoma that the government has come up with a 15-year plan to build, purchase and upgrade embassy offices in various foreign countries. Kolimba said implementation of the plan started in the 2017/18 fiscal year, adding that currently the government is rehabilitating residential houses and offices of Tanzanian embassies in Harare, Kampala, Beijing, Pretoria and Cairo. The deputy minister added that the government was also rehabilitating embassy buildings in Lilongwe, Kinshasa, Washington DC, Addis Ababa and Muscat. File Photo: British Ambassador to the United Nations Karen Pierce addresses a Security Council meeting on the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia Skripal, at the UN headquarters in New York, April 5, 2018.(Xinhua/Li Muzi) by Xinhua writer Wang Jiangang UNITED NATIONS, April 18 (Xinhua) -- The United Nations (UN) Security Council Wednesday heatedly debated a new report on the alleged nerve agent attack on a former Russian spy in Britain, with some members asking to identify and apprehend the perpetrators and others urging restraint. OPCW CONFIRMS BRITISH FINDINGS Izumi Nakamitsu, UN high representative for Disarmament Affairs, summarized the new information about the poisoning of former Russian double agent Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in the British town of Salisbury on March 4. The information was from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW). An OPCW team deployed to the site of the attack has identified toxic agents consistent with the British government's initial investigation findings, Nakamitsu said in a briefing to the Security Council. Blood samples taken from the two victims as well as environmental samples from the site verified Britain's findings regarding the identity of the toxic chemicals, she said, adding that they were found to be of "high purity". Skripal is a former Russian intelligence officer convicted of spying for Britain in 2006, which likely made him "a target of the Russian Federation", with evidence showing that the Skripals had been under Russian surveillance for some time, she said. DIVERGENCE OF VIEWS Speaking after the briefing, council members condemned the use of chemical agents in the targeted attack. However, opinions diverged widely on the implications of the OPCW report regarding the identity of the perpetrators. Several delegates said the "high purity" finding meant only a state-sponsored laboratory could have produced it, with some pointing to Russia as likely being involved. Others emphasized that the OPCW had assigned no responsibility for the incident and cautioned against casting blame without concrete evidence. Bolivia's Juan Marcelo Zambrana Torrelio said that as a multilateral instrument, the OPCW must maintain its integrity and independence. The instrument's credibility must also be maintained in all investigations into the use of chemical weapons or agents, he said, calling for a broad, impartial and objective investigation into the Salisbury attack. British Ambassador to the UN Karen Pierce said the report supported her government's findings that a nerve agent had been identified, with its highest concentration located on the front door of Skripal's home. Britain described the nerve agent as "Novichok", which differed from the term used by Russia and the OPCW. The report did not identify the country or the laboratory of origin, but said "only Russia had the means, technical experience and the motive to target the Skripals", Pierce said. Rejecting the allegations as "completely baseless", Russian Ambassador to the UN Vassily Nebenzia said according to the OPCW report, the toxic substance could have been produced in Russia, the United States or a host of other countries. Britain had continued to use such words as "suspected," "possible" and "may have" in all its statements about the Salisbury incident, he said, outlining various inconsistencies in its position. Describing the findings as a "red herring", he said: "We will not step away from this." CALL FOR RESTRAINT Expressing concern that no perpetrators had yet been identified, Kazakhstan's Permanent Representative to the UN Kairat Umarov said chemical weapons were rapidly becoming the council's Achilles' heel. It was also becoming increasingly difficult to discuss the issue due to escalating tensions, divisions and even hateful rhetoric, Umarov said. Expressing regret that those weapons have not been eliminated, he urged all parties to "exercise restraint and avoid taking action" before establishing concrete proof on the ground. Chinese Ambassador to the UN Ma Zhaoxu said the Salisbury issue should be addressed in accordance with the Chemical Weapons Convention, adding that his government was firmly opposed to the use of chemical weapons under any circumstances. The OPCW technical secretariat had yet to reach conclusions acceptable to all. Further comprehensive and impartial investigations were needed to draw conclusions that could "withstand the test of time and history", Ma said. As the international community faces numerous challenges, relevant parties must "reject a cold war mentality" and join hands to maintain global peace and stability, he said. Council members must remain united to jointly fulfil their duties in maintaining international peace and stability, he added. Guests attend the memorandums of understanding signing ceremony in Bangkok, Thailand, April 19, 2018. Alibaba is working with Thailand to upgrade and tailor high quality global travel services, said China's e-commerce giant founder Jack Ma on Thursday at the signing ceremony of four memorandums of understanding to promote activities including tourism, digital economy and human resources development. (Xinhua/Rachen Sageamsak) BANGKOK, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Alibaba is working with Thailand to upgrade and tailor high quality global travel services, said China's e-commerce giant founder Jack Ma on Thursday. Ma was speaking at the signing ceremony of four memorandums of understanding to promote activities including tourism, digital economy and human resources development. The expansion of cooperation between Thailand's tourism body and Alibaba's online travel business together with Fliggy, one of China's leading online travel service providers, is part of the deal. As an official strategic Partner of the Tourism Authority of Thailand(TAT), Fliggy team up with TAT to offer smart technological experiences at various facilities and tourist attractions across Thailand for the convenience of visitors. The services range from online tour guides to electronic ticketing systems. Both sides will join forces in shining the spotlight on Thailand's best hidden destinations that are off the beaten track for Chinese visitors. In addition, Fliggy and Ant Financial, Alibaba's affiliate and operator of Alipay, are discussing with related government agencies to drive the digital transformation of Thai tourism starting from pre-departure visa and visa-on-arrival application as well as payment to post-travel digital service with tourist tax refund via Alipay system. Ma said the collaboration will be a "triple win" that will not only benefit Alibaba, but also help attract more Chinese travelers to Thailand and increase Thailand's tourism income. Alibaba is rolling out its plan in Thailand amid growing competition from rivals. Thailand's Kasikorn bank Pcl said in 2016 it has formed an alliance with popular mobile messaging app WeChat of Tencent Holdings, one of China's leading providers of Internet service, to provide electronic payment services to Chinese visitors in Thailand. China remains the biggest contributor in terms of both arrivals and tourism revenue to Thailand. Chinese accounted for nearly one-third of last year's record 35 million arrivals which is expected to rise this year to around 10 million from 9.8 million. CAPE TOWN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The National Prosecuting Authority (NPA) said on Thursday it will prosecute former president Jacob Zuma's son, Duduzane on homicide charges. The NPA made the decision after lobby group AfriForum requested that homicide charges against Duduzane be reinstated. In February 2014, Duduzane crashed his Porsche into the back of a minibus taxi in Johannesburg, killing a female passenger, Phumzile Dube. In August 2015, the NPA decided not to prosecute Duduzane despite recommendations from the inquest magistrate, Lalitha Chetty, that Duduzane be prosecuted for his negligent actions. According to court papers, Dube's death was caused by negligence on the part of Duduzane due to lack of visibility in the rain. At the end of last year, AfriForum gave the NPA an ultimatum to either prosecute Duduzane or release a nolle prosequi certificate (required for a private prosecution), which would allow former NPA prosecutor Gerrie Nel to prosecute him. The NPA gave Duduzane until the end of March to argue why he should not be prosecuted. But he failed to present his case. As a result, prosecution is now to get underway, the NPA said. Duduzane has not yet commented on the NPA decision, and his whereabouts remain unknown. by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- A consortium led by Italy's Snam S.p.A. which also includes Madrid-based Enagas International S.L.U. and Belgian Fluxys S.A. won the international tender held for the privatization of Greece's natural gas grid operator DESFA, the Greek privatization agency announced Thursday. The Italian-led consortium, which was nominated the "preferred investor" in the deal, acquired 66 percent of DESFA for 535 million euros (660 million U.S. dollars), according to a statement from the Hellenic Republic Asset Development Fund (HRADF). Companies involved in the process are already operating other similar networks in Europe and are participating in the construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline which will transfer Azeri natural gas from the Caspian Sea to Western Europe, the Greek fund added. The first international tender for the sale of a majority stake in DESFA in a wide privatization program Greece launched in 2010 as part of efforts to address the debt crisis was won in 2013 by Azerbaijan's state-owned oil company SOCAR. SOCAR had initially offered 400 million euros, but the two sides eventually failed to strike an agreement over the final terms of the transfer. (1 euro = 1.23 U.S. dollars) PARIS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Rail workers staged a fourth wave of rolling strikes against reform, students angry at the new education system walked out of universities, and civil servants took to the streets to express their discontent on Thursday as social unrest deepens in France. With no end in sight to the stand-off between the government and trade unions, many protests are simmering and likely to coalesce into a single movement, posing tough challenges for President Emmanuel Macron. For the eight movement in a month, 66 percent of train drivers at the state-run rail operator SNCF stopped working and halted train services on Thursday, reducing service to only one in three high-speed trains (TGV) and one in four inter-city trains. Locking horns with a determined government, the country's unions have planned 36 days of strikes for the April-June period to force the government to reconsider its reform to liberalize the rail sector and end the preferential term of the sector's workers. Unhappy about changes in entry-selection criteria, students blocked many universities in several cities, while garbage collectors and public workers have also joined the nationwide demonstration. About 130 rallies were expected across the country on Thursday. In France's second-largest city of Marseille, CGT union counted 65,000 protesters while police put the figure at 5,000. Heading the demonstration in Marseille, Jean-Luc Melenchon, the head of hard-left party Unbowed France said people took to the streets "to defend their claims related to their jobs, to their corporation and to defend public service." "We are in a process where the radical behavior of the president has obviously pushed everyone to come together," he added. Denouncing Macron's attitude to turn deaf ears to the action in the streets, CGT general secretary Philippe Martinez hailed the broader social movement against the president's reforms. In Paris, police fired tear gas on hooded youth who hurled projectiles and vandalized property in a demonstration that drew 11,500 participants, according to police figures. Having won a May election with 66.1 percent of the votes on a reformist project to modernize France, Macron vowed to serve the country well and bring change after he had shaken the country's political landscape. A year on, 42 percent of voters approved his action and less than a quarter thought he was not close to the French concerns, a recent ifop poll showed. Meanwhile, more than half of respondents believe that he has kept his campaign promises, a score higher than that obtained by his predecessors, Jacques Chirac, Nicolas Sarkozy, or Francois Hollande at the same time of their mandate. Admitting social movements are legitimate, Macron, who is 40, said he would stick to his plans, stressing that he is not one to govern based on opinion polls. "There are worries, they are legitimate and I hear them. But the fact that people are sometimes not happy does not stop me," Macron told TF1 television on April 12. "I want (France) to be a country of progress for everyone. I'm asking you to trust me...When I say I'll do things, I do," he added. West Atlantic, a European dedicated cargo airline specialised in mail and express logistics, has today taken delivery of the worlds first B737-800BCF Next Generation freighter. The aircraft is the first of four supplied by GE Capital Aviation Services (GECAS). Delivery was concluded with a handover ceremony by Boeing at East Midlands airport. The aircraft will operate in the Groups European network and will be placed on a long term contract during the third quarter of 2018. The aircraft offers significantly improved operating efficiency and environmental footprint through a 15% reduction in fuel burn compared to the B737 Classic and a 12% lower noise footprint. Payload is increased by an additional pallet position over the 737-400 and offers 23 tonnes of revenue generating capability. Were excited to be the first operator of the 737-800BCF stated West Atlantics Chief Executive, Fredrik Groth, adding: The additional capacity and Next Generation efficiency offered by this new aircraft will deliver real benefit to our customers and were delighted to be at the forefront of deliveries of this new technology. This first of type, and the additional three aircraft being delivered to us within the next 11 months will all be operated for one of most recognized global integrators within their European Network. With the 800 BCF, we expect to improve reliability, lower aircraft operating costs, and provide a better environmental footprint. Once all four aircraft are delivered, West Atlantic will be operating a fleet of 23 B737 aircraft. For further information, please contact: Fredrik Groth, CEO Telephone: +46 (0) 10-452 97 09 E-mail: Fredrik.Groth@westatlantic.eu This information is information that West Atlantic AB (publ) is obliged to make public pursuant to the EU Market Abuse Regulation. The information was submitted for publication, through the agency of the contact person set out above, at 2018-04-19, 18.00 CET. About West Atlantic The West Atlantic Group is one of the market leading providers of dedicated airfreight services to European NMO's and airfreight capacity to Global Integrators and Freight Forwarders. The Group has a well-established geographic network and operates a customised aircraft fleet, whereof a majority is wholly owned. West Atlantic was founded in 1962 and is headquartered in Gothenburg, Sweden. Operations are performed all over Europe and 2017 West Atlantic had 459 employees. For 2017 West Atlantic reported revenues of MSEK 1,589 and EBITDA of MSEK 126. West Atlantic AB (publ) Org. no: 556503-6083, Box 5433, SE-402 29 Gothenburg, Sweden Investor Relations: investor.relations@westatlantic.eu Webpage: www.westatlantic.eu Attachment ADDIS ABABA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Ethiopia's new Prime Minister, Abiy Ahmed, on Thursday named his cabinet members as well as heads of relevant federal government organizations. Ahmed, who presented 16 new cabinet members for approval to the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives, also appointed nine officials as heads of various federal government offices. Following the endorsement of Ahmed's new 16 cabinet members by the parliament' lower house unanimously, the premiere has now 29 cabinet members, of which 16 have been appointed on Thursday. Abiy Ahmed, who was unanimously endorsed by the Ethiopian House of People's Representatives (HoPR) as Ethiopia's Prime Minister earlier this month, has reshuffled the East African country's cabinet members, majority of whom were appointed by the HoPR as per the recommendation of former prime minister Hailemariam Desalegn in November 2016. From the incoming 16 cabinet members, 10 have been appointed for various ministerial positions, while the remaining six were reshuffled from one ministerial position to another. Some 13 of the ministers in the 29-member cabinet have remained in their previous positions. Ahmed, while presenting his recommendations to the parliament's lower house, stressed that the major tasks for the newly appointed ministers should be the fight against corruption, strengthening accountability as well as reducing extravagant procedures. The premier also indicated that one of the major reasons behind the cabinet members reshuffle was the persistent public dissatisfaction and anger that was exacerbated by mal-administration and lack of accountability. According to Ahmed, the selection of the newly appointed ministers was made after careful analysis and investigation of their previous work experience as well as the working performance of their previous organizations. Among the reshuffled ministers include the former minister of defense, Siraj Fegessa, who has been appointed as minister of transport, while Motuma Mekasa, who was former minister of mine was assigned as minister of defense. Ahmed has also appointed nine other officials for various pertinent positions within the federal government structure, which include the Federal Police Commission, the Ethiopian Information Network Security Agency and Metal and Engineering Corporation. Ahmed, who came to power amid mass anti-government demonstrations in parts of the East African country, also stressed that responding to the demands of the general public remained at the top of his administration's ambitions. According to Ahmed, the newly appointed ministers would bring about the expected changes to answer the preoccupation of the public. The Ethiopian House of People's Representatives has also on Thursday elected the first female house speaker, Muferiat Kamil, succeeding Abadula Gemeda, who has been on the position since 2010. Kamil, who was the former Minister of Women's Affairs, is a member of the ruling coalition, Ethiopian People's Revolutionary Democratic Front. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 01:57:01|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close KUWAIT CITY, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Kuwait is keen on building effective partnership with Boeing to benefit both sides, the Kuwaiti Prime Minister Sheikh Jaber Al-Mubarak Al-Hamad Al-Sabah said on Thursday. He made the remarks when meeting with President of Boeing Middle East, North Africa and Turkey, Bernie Dunn, and his accompanying delegation. He expressed Kuwait's welcome of developing cooperation with Boeing to benefit the national economy and support the transfer and nationalization of modern technology. He added that his country is willing to take measures to facilitate such initiatives. Currently, Boeing company works with Kuwait Airways, Australian College of Kuwait and Kuwait Direct Investment Promotion Authority to provide the best ways to help materialize "Kuwait 2035," through investment in the aviation sector, the Kuwait News Agency said. In February 2010, with an aim to change the country's long-existing oil-reliant economic structure, the Kuwaiti government unveiled "Kuwait 2035," a national development strategy aimed at building the country into a trade and financial hub. WASHINGTON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The White House on Thursday denied that Secretary of Defense James Mattis had advised U.S. President Donald Trump against striking Syria before seeking Congress sanction. "Reports that Secretary Mattis urged the President to seek congressional approval before last week's strikes in Syria are categorically false," a statement from White House Press Secretary Sarah Sanders said. "As Secretary Mattis explained to Congress in yesterday's all-member briefs, the President appropriately ordered the strikes under his constitutional authorities," the statement said. The response came after U.S. media cited military and administration sources as saying that Mattis had urged Trump to seek Congressional approval before punishing Syria for alleged use of chemical weapons. Trump, who was said to be eager to back up his fiery tweets against the Syrian government, reportedly then overruled Mattis. The United States, in coordination with the United Kingdom and France, fired a barrage of missiles against three targets in Syria that it alleged contained, manufactured or researched chemical weapons. The attack was carried out without sanction from the United Nations Security Council in accordance with the UN charter, nor was it based on any findings from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons, a UN watchdog tasked to investigate alleged uses of chemical weapons in Syria. The United States, with its allies, said they have obtained evidence to support their claim, but has not yet released any of the evidence. The attack came one year after U.S. forces took out a Syrian government military airfield, which it said supported chemical attacks. LUSAKA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Analysts on Thursday said an International Monetary Fund (IMF) aid package was vital in order to reduce Zambia's debt distress. The Zambia Institute for Policy Analysis Research (ZIPAR) said without the IMF intervention, the risk of debt distress will grow as the southern African nation was likely to see a continuation of excessive spending and mounting fiscal imbalances between revenue and expenditure. Caesar Cheelo, the think-tank's research fellow said in its April report entitled "Financing the Economic Stabilization and Growth Program (Zambia Plus) in the Shadow of the IMF", that a deal with the international financiers was also vital as it would improve international confidence in Zambia and unlock external investment and donor resources and avoid continuation of fiscal slippages, mounting debts and possible external imbalances. Zambia has been negotiating with the IMF for a possible aid package estimated at 1.3 billion U.S. dollars but the talks have stalled with the international financiers expressing concerns over the country's rising debt stock. Last year, the IMF urged authorities to slow down on contraction of new debts, especially non-concessional loans, to maintain debt sustainability. Last week, Minister of Finance Margaret Mwanakatwe said the issue of debt management will form part of discussions with the IMF during talks on the sidelines of the IMF/World Bank Spring Meetings. Analysts have expressed concern over Zambia's true debt figures, with the government insisting that its official foreign debt currently stands at 8.7 billion dollars. Trevor Simumba, an international trade consultant said the government should stop being defensive about the country's growing debt as the truth will soon come out. "If independent analysts are wrong then give us the correct figures not preliminary figures please. Citizens have every right to require transparent and verified government data on our debts," he said. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 02:52:11|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close DAMASCUS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry has returned to France the Legion d'Honneur granted to President Bashar al-Assad in 2001, according to the Syrian Presidency media office. The ministry returned France's most prestigious award through the Romanian embassy in Damascus, said the report. Former French President Jacques Chirac decorated Syria's Bashar al-Assad with the Legion's highest rank of the Great Cross in 2001 after taking office. The report said that Assad is not honored to hold a medal from a country subordinate to the U.S. and supporting the terrorist groups as well as attacking Syria. It added that the move comes after France participated in the U.S.-led missile attack on Syria recently. "The time of colonialism and enslaving people is over and the Syrians who stood by the Syrian army in fighting terrorism for seven years will not be terrorized by reckless and childish policies," the presidential office said. On April 17, the French presidential office said the French government was planning to strip Assad from the Legion of Honor after accusing and striking Syria over allegations of chemical weapons use by the Syrian forces in Douma district east of Damascus on April 7. RIGA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Amber Train, the new intermodal combined freight train service, made its way through Latvia on a test run on Thursday, Latvia's national rail company Latvijas Dzelzlcels (Latvian Railway) informed. On Wednesday night, the train left Sestokai train station in southern Lithuania to cross Latvia before reaching its destination in Paldiski, Estonia. Heads of the Latvian, Lithuanian, and Estonian national rail companies agreed to launch the freight service at a meeting in March. The Sestokai-Riga-Tallinn route connecting the three Baltic countries is expected to provide new opportunities to cargo transportation businesses. "We believe that our cooperation has a great potential, because the infrastructure of the planned European-gauge railway will provide new opportunities. But today, we can still work within the existing railway network, offering our clients convenient and profitable cargo deliveries," said Latvijas Dzelzcels CEO Edvins Berzins. The 43 containers that are being shipped on the test run started their journey in France, and in Poland they were taken over by Lithuanian rail company Lietuvos Gelezinkeliai, which delivered the freight to Latvia. LDz Cargo, the freight shipping subsidiary of Latvijas Dzelzcels, in cooperation with Estonia's EVR Cargo, delivered the freight to the Paldiski terminal in Estonia. A multimodal deliveries company of France's SNCF Logistics Group, became the first client of Amber Train service. (File photo)In this file photo taken on June 25, 2001 Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) is greeted by French President Jacques Chirac before their meeting at the Elysee Palace in Paris. (AFP photo) DAMASCUS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Syrian Foreign Ministry has returned to France the Legion d'Honneur granted to President Bashar al-Assad in 2001, according to the Syrian Presidency media office. The ministry returned France's most prestigious award through the Romanian embassy in Damascus, said the report. Former French President Jacques Chirac decorated Syria's Bashar al-Assad with the Legion's highest rank of the Great Cross in 2001 after taking office. The report said that Assad is not honored to hold a medal from a country subordinate to the U.S. and supporting the terrorist groups as well as attacking Syria. It added that the move comes after France participated in the U.S.-led missile attack on Syria recently. "The time of colonialism and enslaving people is over and the Syrians who stood by the Syrian army in fighting terrorism for seven years will not be terrorized by reckless and childish policies," the presidential office said. On April 17, the French presidential office said the French government was planning to strip Assad from the Legion of Honor after accusing and striking Syria over allegations of chemical weapons use by the Syrian forces in Douma district east of Damascus on April 7. GENEVA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Bern's Museum of Fine Arts on Thursday opened the second part of an extraordinary exhibition in the Swiss capital showing art stolen under the Nazi regime. "This selection comprises pieces that were seized by the Nazis in their persecution campaigns as well as artworks whose provenance and circumstances of acquisition still cannot be conclusively ascertained today," said the museum. "Nazi Art Theft and its Consequences" traces the Nazi looting of European Jews and explains the role of art dealers and museums in the expropriation campaigns of the regime that ruled Germany in the 1930s and 1940s until the end of World War II. The show is made up of works from a mass collection of masterpieces discovered after a chance raid on the home of Cornelius Gurlitt, the reclusive son of a Nazi art dealer. Hildebrand Gurlitt was involved in forced sales and dealt with artworks that were either stolen or confiscated from museums as "degenerate art." The works bequeathed provide a direct link to the biographies of his contemporaries who were persecuted by the Nazis. Most of the former owners were Jewish artists, collectors, and art dealers. The priceless treasure trove of thousands of pieces was uncovered by tax authorities in Gurlitt's small flat in Munich, Germany in 2012. Cornelius Gurlitt had inherited the tainted collection from his father and had been living off the profits by quietly selling individual pieces. When Gurlitt died in 2014, he left the entire collection to the Bern Museum of Fine Arts, in a move that took the institution completely by surprise, Swissinfo, the website of the Swiss national broadcaster reported. Last year in Bern, the Museum of Fine Arts ran an exhibition focusing on pieces that were labeled by the Nazi regime as "degenerate art." This has now moved to Bonn in Germany and Bonn's original exhibition, focusing on Nazi art theft, is now in Bern. This second part of the exhibition, "Gurlitt Status report part 2" investigates the role played by Hildebrand Gurlitt, Cornelius' father. Despite being Jewish on his mother's side, he became an art dealer to the Nazis and was even commissioned to purchase pieces for Hitler's 'Fuhrermuseum' (an art museum complex that was never built). The artists featured include Claude Monet, Auguste Rodin, and Otto Dix. LONDON, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Queen Elizabeth II opened Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Thursday as the British capital welcomed the heads of 53 countries with grand ceremony, appealing to Commonwealth leaders to appoint her son, Prince Charles, to succeed her as the head of the organization in future. The opening ceremony took place at Buckingham Palace before the meeting moved to St James Palace for a series of meetings. The British pop star, Emeli Sande, sang her country's national anthem accompanied by a string quartet. Prince Charles welcomed the guests saying that the modern Commonwealth had a role to play in building bridges between member states creating 'fairer societies within them and a more secure world around them'. During the opening ceremony Queen Elizabeth expressed her hope that she will be succeeded as head of the commonwealth by her son, the heir to the British throne, Prince Charles. Royal commentators said it was rare for the Queen to openly express her wishes. The meeting will discuss in private Friday at Windsor Castle on the succession of its head. "It remains a great pleasure and honour to serve you as Head of the Commonwealth and to observe, with pride and satisfaction, that this is a flourishing network. It is my sincere wish that the Commonwealth will continue to offer stability and continuity for future generations, and will decide that one day The Prince of Wales should carry on the important work started by my father in 1949, " she said. British Prime Minister Theresa May told the leaders the summit would "take on some of the 21st Century's biggest questions". May said she is looking forward to taking these issues further with the heads of government over the next two days. "For in the Commonwealth we have an incredible opportunity. An opportunity to show just what can be achieved through co-ordinated action and co-operation, to seize the possibilities open to us as member countries, and together, to take on some of the 21st century's biggest questions," she said. In her remarks, Secretary-General Patricia Scotland referred to the theme of 'Towards a Common Future', and the focus on creating a fairer, more prosperous, sustainable and secure future. "Commonwealth Heads of Government Meetings are distinctive for being both receptive and responsive to the needs of all, especially the young, the marginalised and the vulnerable, she said. The Commonwealth was founded in 1949, with its current 53 member nations representing 2.4 billion people, a third of world population. NAIROBI, April 19 (Xinhua) -- East African countries said Thursday they have started developing a harmonized forest policy and strategy to increase forest cover and contain drought. The Intergovernmental Authority on Development (IGAD) countries who met in Nairobi said the initiative is aimed at improved contributions of forests resources to national economies for poverty reduction, environmental sustainability and development of the IGAD member states. "The initiative will contribute to the increment of forest cover to help contain drought that has been a major problem in the Horn of Africa," said Debalkew Berhe, IGAD's Program Manager for Environmental Protection during a forum in Nairobi. Berhe noted that the regional bloc was mandated with the responsibility of managing drought and desertification but over a period of time changed to sustainable development but drought continued to worsen productivity in the region. "Our solution is to develop a harmonized forest policy and strategy to help increase forest cover to improve rainfall pattern, increase food security, address water problem and help address climate change," he added. Berhe said that once the forest policy and strategy becomes effective, it will help address issues on socio-economic benefits of the forestry. According to Gabriel Rugalema, the UN Food and Agricultural Organization (FAO) Representative in Kenya, with the rising population in the region, there is need for forest policy and strategy to help reduce pressure on natural resources. Rugalema said that given the livelihood opportunities provided by forests and woodlands, it is not surprising that over the past few decades they have been subjected to various pressures that are increasing the deforestation rate. "Deforestation remains the most serious threat to sustainable forestry production in the sub-region," he added. Rugalema said that forests in the region are also under pressure due to the increased infrastructure and agricultural expansion demand that has been in the rise in the past few years. "The regional population increase is worrying since it is projected to be 270 million in 2030 up from the current 245 million," he warned. "Preserving Africa's surviving tropical forests and planting new trees to replace those lost to deforestation could help reduce the severity of climate change regulating local weather conditions," Rugalema noted. He said that IGAD region is lagging behind as it is the only region in Africa that does not have a forest policy and strategy since regional bodies such as the Economic Commission on West African States (ECOWAS) and the Southern African Development Community (SADC) have a functional forest policy and strategy. Rugalema called on participants who are drawn from Djibouti, Kenya, Uganda, South Sudan, Ethiopia, Somali and Sudan to include needs of forestry stakeholders. Rugalema noted that forest provide economic benefits and have tourism potential for alleviating poverty in the regional countries. Fred Mwango, IGAD's regional water expert, said forests in the region provide trade opportunities like the case with Sudan that is the leading world producer of gum Arabica. He added that Sudan contributes between 70 and 90 per cent of the total world gum Arabica production. "Kenya's indigenous forests provide water catchment services with a value in excess of 25 million U.S. dollars million every year," he added. The delegates are exchanging knowledge and experience including legislative issues that can be capitalized on to improve the final policy and strategy document. FAO is supporting the development of Forestry Policy and Strategy that is due to be launched officially in December 2019. Amsterdam, 19 April 2018 - Heineken Holding N.V. announced today that its Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM) has adopted all proposals on the agenda of the AGM. The most important resolutions and announcements are listed below. Dividend The Board of Directors announced the distribution of a dividend for the year 2017 of EUR1.47 per ordinary share of EUR1.60 nominal value. As an interim dividend of EUR0.54 per ordinary share was paid on 10 August 2017, the final dividend will be EUR0.93 per ordinary share. The final dividend will be made payable on 2 May 2018. Heineken Holding N.V. ordinary shares will be quoted ex-dividend on 23 April 2018. Amendments to the Articles of Association The proposed amendments to the Articles of Association were approved by the AGM and an authorisation has been granted to the members of the Board of Directors to execute the notarial deed of amendment. The amendments to the Articles of Association mainly relate to the abolishment of the priority shares from the capital structure of Heineken Holding N.V. Reappointment of Mr J.A. Fernandez Carbajal as non-executive member of the Board of Directors The AGM reappointed Mr J.A. Fernandez Carbajal as non-executive member of the Board of Directors with effect from 19 April 2018, for the maximum period of four years. Appointment of Mrs A.M. Fentener van Vlissingen as non-executive member of the Board of Directors The AGM appointed Mrs A.M. Fentener van Vlissingen as non-executive member of the Board of Directors with effect from 19 April 2018, for the maximum period of four years. Appointment of Mrs L.L.H. Brassey as non-executive member of the Board of Directors The AGM appointed Mrs L.L.H. Brassey as non-executive member of the Board of Directors with effect from 19 April 2018, for the maximum period of four years. The voting results per agenda item of the AGM of Heineken Holding N.V. of 19 April 2018 can be found on the website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com/investors/governance/agm as of close of business on 20 April 2018. -ENDS- Enquiries Media Heineken Holding N.V. Kees Jongsma tel. +31 6 54 79 82 53 E-mail: cjongsma@spj.nl Media Heineken N.V. Press enquiries John-Paul Schuirink E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-355 Michael Fuchs E-mail: pressoffice@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-355 Investor and analyst enquiries Federico Castillo Martinez E-mail: investors@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-590 Chris MacDonald / Aris Hernandez E-mail: investors@heineken.com Tel: +31-20-5239-590 Editorial information: HEINEKEN is the world's most international brewer. It is the leading developer and marketer of premium beer and cider brands. Led by the Heineken brand, the Group has a portfolio of more than 300 international, regional, local and speciality beers and ciders. HEINEKEN is committed to innovation, long-term brand investment, disciplined sales execution and focused cost management. Through "Brewing a Better World", sustainability is embedded in the business and delivers value for all stakeholders. HEINEKEN has a well-balanced geographic footprint with leadership positions in both developed and developing markets. HEINEKEN employs over 80,000 employees and operates breweries, malteries, cider plants and other production facilities in more than 70 countries. Heineken N.V. and Heineken Holding N.V. shares trade on the Euronext in Amsterdam. Prices for the ordinary shares may be accessed on Bloomberg under the symbols HEIA NA and HEIO NA and on Reuters under HEIN.AS and HEIO.AS. HEINEKEN has two sponsored level 1 American Depositary Receipt (ADR) programmes: Heineken N.V. (OTCQX: HEINY) and Heineken Holding N.V. (OTCQX: HKHHY).Most recent information is available on the website: www.theHEINEKENcompany.com and follow HEINEKEN on Twitter via @HEINEKENCorp. Heineken Holding N.V. engages in no activities other than its participating interest in Heineken N.V. and the management or supervision of and provision of services to that company. VALLETTA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Malta has taken in more asylum seekers in terms of per million population rate than EU average, reported Eurostat, the statistical office of the European Union (EU), on Thursday. According to Eurostat, Malta's burden was 1,770 asylum seekers per million population, higher than the EU average of 1,050. Germany, which took the largest number by far 325,400, had a per million population rate of 3,945. The Mediterranean island granted protection to 815 people in 2017, out of the total of 538,000 cases EU-wide. This is above the EU average on a per capita basis. Libyans constituted the largest group of those granted asylum in Malta, followed by Syrians and Eritreans. This differs from the situation in the wider EU, where almost one-third of those granted asylum were from Syria, followed by Afghans and Iraqis. The number of Syrian citizens granted asylum status has fallen since 2016, when they accounted for a share of 57 percent of all granted asylum, but they are still the largest group granted protection status in 18 member states in 2017. Of the 175,800 Syrian citizens granted protection status in the EU, more than 70 percent received protection status in Germany. LUSAKA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Zambia's investment agency on Thursday signed a memorandum of understanding with a bank aimed at improving cooperation between the institutions in fostering investment and trade in the economy. Under the agreement, the Stanbic Zambia will facilitate trade opportunities in Zambia within its regional and global business community and direct companies looking to invest in Zambia to the Zambia Development Agency (ZDA). The agreement will further allow the investment agency to support companies within the bank's ecosystem in their investment projects and ease their doing business in Zambia. "The memorandum of understanding we are signing is an illustration of our willingness to strengthen our cooperation in fostering development in Zambia," Leina Gabaraane, the bank's chief executive officer said during a signing ceremony. He said the bank, a subsidiary of South Africa's Standard Bank Group which has also formed a strategic partnership with the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC), has come up with a growth strategy which allows it to get direct link to government to facilitate its participation and support in national development. According to him, the bank in partnership with ICBC has invested over 2.8 billion U.S. dollars in infrastructure development projects in Zambia, with more projects planned. Perry Mapani, director-general of the investment agency said the agency's strengths have been complemented by the bank's desire to boost investment in the local economy. He said the agreement will allow the two parties to join forces and promote Zambia's vast economic opportunities to the outside world and turn it into a key investment destination in Africa. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 03:37:29|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close UNITED NATIONS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Security Council on Thursday welcomed the appointment of a prime minister and the announcement of the date for legislative elections in Guinea-Bissau. Members of the council welcomed the appointment of Aristides Gomes as prime minister based on consensus reached between key political stakeholders, and the announcement that the country's legislative elections will take place on Nov. 18, 2018, Francisco Tenya, Peru's deputy permanent representative to the United Nations, told reporters. Council members underscored the importance of the swift formation of an inclusive government, the resumption of work of the National Assembly, and the conducting of elections in a timely and credible manner, said Tenya, whose country holds the presidency of the Security Council for the month of April, after closed-door consultations of the council. The council members also asked for efforts to implement the Conakry Agreement and the six-point roadmap of the Economic Community of West African States (Ecowas). They voiced their support for Ecowas' efforts toward a lasting solution to the political crisis in the tiny West African country sparked by President Jose Mario Vaz's firing of then Prime Minister Domingos Simoes Pereira in August 2015. by Maria Spiliopoulou ATHENS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) put forward five years ago by China and welcomed by over 100 countries worldwide connects the Chinese dream to the Greek dream, Chinese Ambassador to Greece Zou Xiaoli told representatives of the Greek business community here on Thursday. "The BRI closely connects the Chinese dream to the Greek dream. In the new era, China and Greece will once again promote progress in human civilization by joining hands in Belt and Road cooperation, which is far from accidental; rather, it is a choice of history, a demand of the times, and a blessing for the whole world," Zou said, delivering a speech at a symposium held at the Athens Stock Exchange. As a keynote speaker at the event organized by the Chamber of Greek-Chinese Economic Cooperation under the theme "The New Roads of Silk and Europe", the Chinese ambassador presented the Chinese cooperation perspective between countries along the ancient Silk Road in the context of the BRI, which aims to facilitate contacts and generate shared prosperity. Reflecting on the most important achievements of Sino-Greek cooperation under the initiative, Zou noted that high-level communication between China and Greece had contributed to finding a clear strategic direction for both sides and had helped launch cooperation under a consensus. "China and Greece are not simply two good friends who are united by common interests and determined to go through thick and thin together. We can also become strategic partners striving together for common development and prosperity," he stressed. "The Chinese leaders have delivered a very clear message to the Greek side: China attaches great importance to Greece's crucial role in the Belt and Road Initiative. China is ready to join hands with Greece to cultivate greater prospects for cooperation and a greater optimism for the future, not just for the next five or 10 years, but for many more to come," he added. Zou referred to the impressive results of bilateral collaboration so far in the context of the BRI, such as COSCO's project in the port of Piraeus in recent years. Pointing to steps taken already and plans for the future, Zou also underlined that Sino-Greek cooperation for the Belt and Road Initiative has boosted regional interconnectivity. The Chinese ambassador stressed that China had matched its words with deeds and given firm support to Greece to help it overcome the debt crisis. "We believe that supporting Greece is supporting the European Union (EU), supporting EU integration and China-EU cooperation. Likewise, Greece has stood by China in fighting unilateralism and protectionism, and safeguarding WTO rules," Zou said. "Our two countries have learned from the course of human development and globalization that countries can only enjoy opportunities and realize win-win results by dealing with challenges together. There is no alternative," he underlined. In opening remarks on behalf of the Greek government, Ioannis Brachos, secretary-general for international economic relations at the foreign ministry, said Greece warmly welcomed the Belt and Road Initiative, believing in its potential to create prosperity for all. "We underline and welcome the willingness to engage all stakeholders along the road and provide real incentives and opportunities for increased interaction and joint projects," Brachos said. Fotis Provatas, president of the Chamber of Greek-Chinese Economic Cooperation, told Xinhua that Zou was chosen to inaugurate a series of speeches and debates scheduled for the coming months on the opportunities the BRI creates. "This way we know better which direction we should follow and how, if we wish to witness soon further enhancement of Sino-Greek ties," Provatas said. "I believe we are on the right path. We should take careful steps, invest efforts and not expect to see results overnight," he added. BELGRADE, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Serbia needs more rule of law, media freedom and wider regional cooperation in the Western Balkans in its pursuit of European Union (EU) membership, Serbian leaders agreed with EU foreign policy chief Federica Mogherini during her Thursday's visit. Mogherini arrived in Belgrade in the afternoon, for the last stop on her Balkan tour, after Albania, Macedonia and Montenegro. She met Serbian President Aleksandar Vucic and Prime Minister Ana Brnabic to talk about the recently-presented report of the European Commission on Serbia's progress in the European integrations. At the press conference after the meeting, Vucic said he regarded the report as partly positive one, as it recognized Serbia's dedication to the accession talks and the EU membership. "We are ready to work with dedication on improving the area of the rule of law and to hear and implement suggestions of the European Commission in that regard. We feel that this is an important task for our country in order to build a better legal environment, legal certainty, which is good for attracting investors," Vucic said. He expressed special satisfaction with the Serbia's effort and success in the area of economy, noting that the EU had a significant share in it, as 68 percent of Serbian exports goes to the EU. Vucic expressed his worries to Mogherini because of the situation in Kosovo and Metohija, Serbia's southern province that unilaterally seceded in 2008. Serbia rejects it and considers Kosovo its own province. He said Serbia has a different view over the position, compared to most of the EU member countries and Pristina authorities over this issue. He expressed hope that Mogherini will assist in "evading all difficulties, dangers and obstacles on the path" of normalization of relations with authorities in the province, which is also an obligation within Serbia's EU agenda, contained in the Chapter 35 of the EU acquis. Mogherini said that it is the high time for the full implementation of agreements already signed between representatives of Belgrade and Pristina, especially the establishment of the Association of Serbian municipalities in Kosovo that is part of the Brussels agreement. She reminded that Serbia so far opened 12 out of 35 chapters of the EU acquis and estimated that "prospects are good that opening of new chapters will follow during the Bulgarian chairmanship over the EU". In 2017, Serbia received 1.5 billion euros (1.85 billion U.S. dollars) of foreign direct investments from the EU member countries, Mogherini said, explaining that it represents 80 percent of total foreign direct investments in Serbia. She estimated that these numbers "are the spine, and the basis of the road along which the EU and Serbia walk, side by side". Brnabic and Mogherini at another meeting also discussed the report, and agreed that despite its positive tone, Serbia has to work a lot more in the area of the rule of law and the freedom of the media. Mogherini said that "the dedication to political and economic cooperation in the region" is of key importance for making faster progress along the EU path. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 04:07:40|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIRUT, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Lebanese President Michel Aoun stressed Thursday that "Lebanon's re-emergence will only take place with reforms," the presidential media office said on Twitter. According to the media office, Aoun sent a cable message to French President Emmanuel Macron, extending appreciation for his efforts at the Cedar (CEDRE) Conference hosted by France early in April. International donors pledged 11 billion U.S. dollars in low-interest loans and aid for Lebanon at a conference in Paris on April 6, aiming at averting an economic crisis in a country hard hit by the fallout from the Syrian war. Among the biggest donors was the World Bank, which pledged more than 4 billion dollars over five years, while France opened the conference with a promise of 550 million euros (676 million dollars). Saudi Arabia, which vies with arch-rival Iran for influence in Lebanon, said it would renew a 1-billion-dollar line of credit to Beirut, which had been agreed in the past but never used, Lebanese officials said. Michael Beary (2nd L, front), head of Mission and Force Commander of United Nations Interim Force in Lebanon (UNIFIL), lays a wreath at the UNIFIL cenotaph to pay tribute to the fallen peacekeepers during a ceremony to mark the 40th anniversary of the establishment of UNIFIL in Naqoura, Lebanon, March 19, 2018. (Xinhua/Bilal Jawich) UNITED NATIONS, April 19 (Xinhua) -- UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres said Thursday that UN staff members have increasingly become targets of attack despite the world body's efforts to ensure their safety and security. In the second half of 2017, 140 UN personnel from 42 nations were killed -- 123 military, three police, and 14 civilian, Guterres told an event to commemorate the fallen UN staff in the line of duty. "I remember in my 10 years as High Commissioner for Refugees seeing this maddening evolution," he said. "I remember in the beginning, when symbols like the Red Cross and Red Crescent or the UN were symbols that were respected even by militant groups and armed militias that were creating havoc in several parts of the world. "Then progressively, I saw how this respect was being lost and in the end, I was starting to see situations in which our staff was targeted exactly because they were our staff, either in peacekeeping missions or in humanitarian work or in any other form of support to populations." All around the world, the blue flag of the United Nations represents the hopes of some of the world's most vulnerable people for peace, security and an opportunity for a better future, said Guterres. Those people depend on the women and men who dedicate themselves to serving the United Nations -- uniformed personnel, international civil servants, national staff and UN volunteers. "It grieves me that anyone should perish doing this essential work. And it angers me that there is so little accountability for attacks on us, which in some cases constitute a war crime." "Without the courage and commitment of our peacekeepers and humanitarians and all our other colleagues, we could not accomplish what we do -- every day -- in some of the most difficult and dangerous environments," he said. He admitted that it is a terrible dilemma for those that have to take decisions about where and when to send staff into the most difficult areas in the world and in the most dangerous moments. U.S. President Donald Trump speaks with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany July 7, 2017. (Reuters Photo) MOSCOW, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Russian officials are working in the context of Washington's aggressive actions and Moscow expects the hostility to continue in the future, the Kremlin said Thursday. "Unfriendly and even aggressive actions against Russia are continuing ... There have been, are, and will be hostile actions, and we cannot rule them out in the future, given certain factors of unpredictability," Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov was quoted by Interfax news agency as saying. He warned that contradictory statements from various capitals around the world, particularly from Washington, may not make it possible for Russia and the United States to reach a political consensus. "This is the reality we are dealing with while prioritizing our own interests," Peskov said. Tensions between Russia and the West have intensified of late due to the dispute over the poisoning of a former Russian spy in Britain and the U.S.-led airstrikes on Syria. The White House said on Monday the United States was considering imposing more sanctions on Russia and the decisions will be made "in the near future." DUBLIN, April 19 (Xinhua) -- The total value of the goods trade between China and Ireland reached 2.09 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months of this year, up 16.3 percent year on year from a year earlier, according to data released by the Chinese embassy in Ireland on Thursday. An official with the economic and commercial section of the embassy quoted latest Chinese customs statistics as saying that during the January-February period of this year China imported 1.58 billion U.S. dollars of goods from Ireland while exporting to the latter 510 million U.S. dollars of goods, up 9.43 percent and 44.47 percent respectively over a year ago. China's trade deficit with Ireland stood at 1.07 billion U.S. dollars in the first two months of this year, down 1.92 percent compared with the same period last year, said the official who declined to be named. Currently China is the largest trade partner of Ireland in Asia. Last year China's trade with Ireland powered through the 10-billion-U.S.-dollar level for the first time in history. According to the statistics recently released by the Irish government, China is the world's second largest market both for the Irish dairy products and pork. Earlier this week, the Irish agriculture minister announced that Ireland has obtained the market access of its beef exports to China, making it one of the first European Union countries to get the market access to China since China banned the beef imports from the EU in 2001 due to a breakout of mad cow disease in Europe. The lift of the Chinese ban on the Irish beef exports will surely serve a boost to the growing bilateral trade between the two countries, said an official with Bord Bia (Irish Food Board), a government body which is tasked to market the Irish agricultural food products overseas. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-20 06:28:07|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close Raul Castro delivers a speech during the closing ceremony of a session of Cuba's National Assembly of People's Power, in Havana, capital of Cuba, on April 19, 2018. Miguel Diaz-Canel was elected on Thursday as Cuba's new president, as the successor of Raul Castro who concluded two consecutive five-year terms in office. (Xinhua/Joaquin Hernandez) HAVANA, April 19 (Xinhua) -- Outgoing Cuban President Raul Castro expressed on Thursday his confidence that the new leaders of the island would continue the path of the socialist revolution begun by Fidel Castro in 1959. Speaking about the new president, Miguel Diaz-Canel, Castro highlighted his successor's fidelity to the revolution and his political firmness. "The election of Diaz-Canel is not a coincidence. We have no doubt that he will be fully successful in his task due to his virtues, experience and dedication to duty," said Castro, who will remain as the First Secretary of the Central Committee of the ruling Communist Party of Cuba (PCC) until 2021. In his speech to lawmakers of the Cuban parliament, Castro stressed Diaz-Canel's work as first secretary of the party in the provinces of Holguin and Villa Clara, as minister of higher education, and as first vice-president. Concerning the country's new first vice-president, Salvador Valdes Mesa, the former president praised his work as Union and Party leader over several decades. Castro insisted that the new direction of the country had the mission of ensuring this generational relay as well as guaranteeing the continuity of socialism. "They must pay more attention to the young, for them to be better prepared when they have to assume higher positions in the political direction of the country," said Castro. He stressed that the election process, which concluded on Thursday, was supported by the massive participation of the Cuban citizens who defend their revolution and socialist democracy. Then, Castro aimed at the U.S. economic blockade maintained by Washington on the island since 1962. He highlighted the limitations and damage provoked by the U.S. sanctions to the development of the Caribbean nation. Punishments against institutions which carry out financial transactions with Havana, limitations on access to loans, and obstacles for foreign investors were just some of the damages mentioned by the revolutionary leader. Castro recalled the restoring of diplomatic relations between Havana and Washington during the administration of Barack Obama. "It proved that, despite political differences, it is possible to have a civilized and productive co-existence," he said. He lashed out at the rollback in bilateral relations seen since Donald Trump entered the White House and dismissed the memorandum reinforcing the embargo against Cuba in June 2017 as "insulting." Castro criticized the "aggressive and threatening tone" of the current U.S. government and its "neo-hegemonic pretensions" at the recent eighth Summit of the Americas in Peru. Castro also rejected the unjustified excuse of alleged sonic attacks against U.S. diplomat to reduce staff at the American embassy in Havana and to expel Cuban diplomats from Washington. "We don't need to receive lessons about human rights from anybody, especially from the U.S. government," said the revolutionary leader. "Any strategy seeking to destroy the Revolution by confrontation or seduction will fail, and will be discarded by the Cuban people," he said. Looking beyond the island, Castro also took time to thank international supporters. Castro used his platform to condemn the recent U.S. air strikes against Syrian targets, in retaliation for an alleged chemical attack by Damascus against its own citizens. "Unfortunately these unilateral actions have become a regular practice against the nations of the Middle-East," said Castro. Newly-elected president, Diaz-Canel, followed on by stating that Cuban foreign policy will not change because Havana "does not make concessions, and will not negotiate its principles, nor accept any pressures." Held for the 25th time in 2018, this recognized event within the international world of books is one of the most important professional and intellectual forums in the Region. It attracts around 60.000 visitors annually, 50.000 book titles and hundreds of new publications. "The Book Festival awaits its visitors at Millenaris, which provides a rich cultural milieu, a modern atmosphere, an even smarter exhibition area, and good accessibility." More from the organisers: The International Book Festival in Budapest traditionally features the most renowned authors in the world. An award ceremony for the 'Budapest Grand Prize', and the on-stage discussion with the prize-winner, will be a special event this year. The 'Budapest Grand Prize' gained its significance by the fact that it has been received by some of the most outstanding representatives of contemporary world literature. In 2018, Daniel Kehlmann will receive the award. Past winners are: Ernst Jandl (1995), Ephraim Kishon (1996), Imre Kertesz(1997), Salman Rushdie (1998), Victor Yerofeyev (1999), Sawomir Mrozek (2000), Robert Merle (2001), Lawrence Norfolk (2002), Mario Vargas Llosa (2003), Gunter Grass (2004), Paulo Coelho (2005), Jorge Semprun (2006), Umberto Eco (2007), Bret Easton Ellis (2008), Ljudmila Ulickaja (2009), Amos Oz (2010), Per Olov Enquist (2011), Claudio Magris (2012), Michel Houellebecq (2013), Sofi Oksanen (2014), Jonathan Franzen(2015) and Jostein Gaarder (2016), Orhan Pamuk (2017). After the highly successful Guest of Honour presentations of Poland, the Czech Republic, Italy, France, Germany, Russia, Spain, Canada, China, Romania, Israel, the European Union, the Nordic Countries, Turkey the highlight fell on the Visegrad Group introduce the literature and the publishing industry of the four countries. In 2018 Serbia will be the country Guest of Honour European First Novel Festival will be held for the 18th time within the frame of the Book Festival to introduce talented young authors from the members of the European Union. This event is a joint effort of 28 EU-member countries. The event hosts about 100 authors from 25 countries, more than 400 Hungarian authors, scientists, and artists and offers a wide range of cultural programs, such as meetings with authors, signings sessions, book premiers and presentations, roundtable discussions, concerts, theatre performances, exhibitions and films. The Book Festival is also a professional and business forum, where trade meetings, conferences and lectures are held on the key issues of the book market and of reading habits. Librarians Club, the professional event of librarians is one of the special features of the Book Festival. Gyerek(b)irodalom (Childrens Lit Kingdom) is organized especially for children to satisfy the interest and needs of young generations with promotion of childrens books and special programs for kids. More: Book Festival From Brody Studios: We are excited to introduce to you a unique workshop that would add some rare spice to Brody Studios: Dreamwork - The Laboratory of the Night. Topic: Rebuilding the Bridge to the Unconscious There are few subjects in the world with more universal appeal than the subject of dreams. Almost everyone can tell about that one bizarre, horrifying or tantalizingly beautiful dream they had once that remains a vivid memory to them to this day. And they are often still puzzling about what it means Who is this workshop for? For anyone searching for meaning in their life, dreamwork offers an immediately accessible path to experiences of deeper states of consciousness. Who are we and why are we doing this? We are two passionate dreamworkers who believe our dreams hold the keys to waking us up to our true potential. Through this communication channel between the unconscious and the conscious mind, we can heal and transform our lives. Theo Huffman, has been leading dreamwork groups - both online and in person - since 2004, including a monthly dream circle that has been meeting in Budapest since 2012. He has also held public lectures on the subject of dreams. Theos blog Dream Warrior training page Judit Jakab, a positive psychologist who is passionate about mindfulness practices and combining spirituality with psychology. Her interest in dreams started as a child and has accompanied her life up to the present. She started practicing lucid dreaming after attending a retreat in the Scottish highlands led by Charlie Morley, Buddhist lucid-dreaming teacher. Judits website Entrance fee: 2.000 HUF for Brody Citizens and 2.500 HUF for guests. Date and time: Thursday 26 April 6 pm - doors open 7 pm - workshop starts RSVP at: +36 1 266 3707 or via brodystudios@brody.land Venue: Brody Studios Address: 1064 Budapest, Vorosmarty utca 38. Surgeons at Budapests Semmelweis University and the National Oncology Institute have performed the firstever successful paediatric lung transplantation in Hungary, it was announced at a press conference in Budapest. Thirteen-year-old Dorka, a cystic fibrosis patient, was placed on a waiting list for a lung transplant in a deteriorated condition last year. The surgery was performed at the end of March. The recipient is undergoing rehabilitation and no longer requires a sterile setting. Bela Merkely, Semmelweis Universitys Vice-Rector for Clinical Affairs, said the successful surgery helped advance Hungarys field of organ transplantation. The universitys development programme places special emphasis on infrastructure developments related to organ transplantation, he said. The university surgeons perform more than 500 heart, 170 kidney, 80 liver and four pancreas transplant surgeries a year, the vice-rector added. Miklos Kasler, director of the National Institute of Oncology, said that since 2015, when the adult lung transplant programme began in Hungary, only one Hungarian patient had needed to be operated on in Vienna. He said less than 100 lung transplantations are performed on children a year worldwide. President Janos Ader (pictured on top) has called the first session of Hungarys new parliament to be held on May 8, the presidents office said on Tuesday. He has asked Viktor Orban, who topped the list of the Fidesz-Christian Democrats joint party list for the April 8 general election, to start talks on forming a government. The national assemblys session is scheduled to begin at 10am. Under Hungarys constitution, the president is to call the inaugural session of the countrys new parliament within 30 days after the general election. The session will be opened by the president who will put forward a nomination for the countrys next prime minister, to be elected with a simple majority of the votes. The founding session will also elect a parliamentary speaker, the deputy speakers and the notaries in a secret ballot. After the vote the heads of the National Election Office and the National Election Committee will present their reports about the April 8 general election. Also, the formation of the parties parliamentary groups will be announced. At the election, ruling Fidesz and the Christian Democrats secured 133 seats in Hungarys 199-seat parliament, meaning a two-thirds supermajority. Opposition seats will be occupied by 26 lawmakers for radical nationalist Jobbik, 20 lawmakers for the Socialist-Parbeszed electoral alliance, 9 for the leftist Democratic Coalition and 8 for green LMP. Egyutt and the ethnic German minority will be represented by a single lawmaker. An independent candidate has also made it to parliament. Source: Xinhua| 2018-04-18 23:40:34|Editor: Mu Xuequan Video Player Close BEIJING, April 18 (Xinhua) -- In today's China, it does not take long for one to see the country's thriving Internet sector. In any city, people use their mobile phones every day to shop, order food, hail a car, pay utilities and do many other things. All in all, China has 700 million Internet users, more than 4 million websites, the world's most extensive 4G network and a huge online marketplace. Its retail transactions combined are larger than anywhere else. The country's Internet industry began to develop in the 1990s but the pace notably picked up in the last two decades. Take the Internet infrastructure for example. In 2017 alone, China added 7.05 million kilometers of optic fiber, extending its total length in the country by 23.2 percent. The watershed event: a key speech made by President Xi Jinping on April 19, 2016 on the work of cybersecurity and informatization. The speech and many others made by Xi since the 18th National Congress of the Communist Party of China in 2012 showed the strategic thinking on building China's cyber strength. A state plan on developing a "digital China" over the next decade was issued. Substantial progress is aimed in the five years starting 2016. Three principles have been made clear. Firstly, China's cyberspace development should adhere to the people-centered development philosophy. Xi has said that Internet-based services should be expanded to reach more people, costs be lowered, and the majority of people benefit. Secondly, Xi said big data was the next stage of informatization development. He has ordered China to study big data development and its implications for society. He said China should examine its gains and shortfalls in this particular area and push for a national big data strategy. Thirdly, building a "community with a shared future in cyberspace." Xi has called for global efforts to make the Internet -- a common homeland for humanity -- more beautiful, cleaner and safer. Remarkable advances have been made, such as in government e-administration. Across the country, nearly 32,000 government websites have been set up to bring public services online. Mobile apps are being used for the public and government to interact. Internet technology has penetrated many areas. Life is easier for online trainer Zhang Fan. Using a new camera and software system, he can monitor the study progress of each student in his virtual class and have the computer design individualized teaching methods and materials. Business is in bloom for tea farmers in southern Guangdong Province. Like many living in remote mountains, they use the Internet to sell local products to customers across the country. China's digital economy grew to 27 trillion yuan (4.29 trillion U.S. dollars) in 2017, making up 32.9 percent of the gross domestic product. With the growth of good roads and the Internet, e-commerce has become a big driver of rural consumption. Developing a "digital China" is good for boosting the people's sense of fulfillment and is a requirement for speeding up China's modernization. Under the leadership of the CPC Central Committee with Xi at the core, China's cyber strength will continue to grow and push for the Chinese dream of national rejuvenation. New Delhi: The board of directors of Fortis Healthcare have decided to form a panel to evaluate various bids. The board will be headed by former PWC chairman Deepak Kapoor while Standard Chartered has been roped in to assist the expert panel. Additionally, Fortis has appointed Rohit Bhasin as its director with immediate effect. However, the board will seek shareholders' approval to name more directors. The Board will now again meet on April 26 to decide further course of action. Fortis has received an improved binding offer from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company. The Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 500 crore through preference issue of equity shares and Rs 1,000 crore through preferential issue of warrants, based on the current business and financial position of the company. Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 750 crore upfront. Meanwhile, in a late night filing on Wednesday, Fortis said it has also received a supplemental proposal from Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Bhd. Group entities of Hero Enterprise Investment Office led by Sunil Kant Munjal and the Burman family of the Dabur Group currently hold around 3 per cent stake in the healthcare chain. Last week, Fortis had an "unsolicited binding offer" from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office to invest Rs 1,250 crore in the company through preferential allotment route. As per the improved offer letter, allotment and pricing for the preferential issue of equity shares for Rs 500 crore shall be as per Sebi ICDR guidelines or Rs 156 per share, which is higher. Allotment and pricing for the preferential issue of warrants for Rs 1,000 crore shall be as per Sebi ICDR guidelines or Rs 161.60 per share, which is higher, it added. The offer letter stated that utilisation of proceeds from the preferential issue of equity shares for Rs 500 crore shall only be for the purpose of payment of employee dues, repayment of loans which have matured and payment to the most pressing creditors and lenders. IHH Healthcare Bhd, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Burmans and Munjals (jointly) and Chinese firm Fosun Health Holdings are in the race for buying Fortis. IHH offered a price of 160 per share which valued the company at Rs 6,061 crore. The Malaysian firm's offer had come a day after Sunil Kant Munjal-led Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office offered to invest Rs 1,250 crore in the healthcare chain at up to Rs 156 per share. Fortis has also received an unsolicited non-binding expression of interest from Fosun Health Holdings Ltd, an arm of Fosun International Ltd, with a proposal of primary infusion at a price up to Rs 156 per share up to a total investment of USD 350 million (over Rs 2,295 crore). Manipal had raised its offer for Fortis last week to Rs 155 per share by valuing the hospital business higher at Rs 6,061 crore, from Rs 5,003 crore initially. With PTI Inputs New Delhi: Fresh bids have been invited for debt-ridden ABG Shipyard under the insolvency law after lenders rejected an earlier resolution plan, according to a public notice. ABG Shipyard is undergoing insolvency proceedings under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code(IBC, 2016) as per the orders of NCLT. Expressions of Interest (EoIs) have been invited from potential bidders for ABG Shipyard, as per the notice. Resolution Professional Sundaresh Bhat has sought the EoIs under the IBC. The company had yesterday informed BSE that the resolution plan submitted by a bidder was rejected by the lenders. The last date for submission of applications is April 19 and for submission of resolution plan is April 23, as per the notice. For corporate bodies, the minimum qualification to participate in the process includes consolidated net worth of Rs 500 crore or more at group level in the preceding financial year and consolidated group turnover of Rs 1,000 crore for any of the three preceding financial years. For financial institutions/funds/PE investors, the criteria includes assets under management of Rs 2,000 crore or more as of the preceding year or committed funds available for investment /deployment in Indian companies or Indian assets of Rs 1,000 crore or more as on June 30, 2017. Besides, applicants with experience in infrastructure, heavy engineering, acquisition and turnaround of the assets, will be considered. ABG Shipyard owes about Rs 17,000 crore to the lenders. The shipbuilder is among the 12 companies identified by the Reserve Bank for bankruptcy resolution. Incorporated in 1985, ABG Shipyard is the flagship company of ABG group with interests in shipping and cement sectors. It is one of the three private shipyards in India approved by the Indian Navy to build various types of naval vessels and has built several vessels for Indian defence sector. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday allowed Sahara Group to sell properties in any parcel of its choice at the Aamby Valley City Project in Maharashtra. The court said that the sale of property has to be completed on or before May 15 and proceeds will have to be deposited in SEBI-Sahara refund account. But if Sahara Group fails to sell the Aamby Valley property, then Bombay High Court official liquidator will proceed with proposed auction, the apex court said. The official receiver of the Bombay High Court in January had moved the Supreme Court seeking its directions, contending it was finding it difficult to maintain Sahara Group's Aamby Valley properties, which are to be auctioned. The apex court, on November 23 last year, had taken note of the apprehension that there could be a possibility of encroachment and had directed the official receiver of the high court to act as the custodian of Aamby Valley properties till the conclusion of of auction. Earlier, the apex court had granted liberty to two Bombay High Court judges to adopt procedures to facilitate the auctioning of Sahara's prized Aamby Valley properties and directed the official liquidator not to allow any obstruction in the process. A special top court bench, comprising the chief justice and justices Ranjan Gogoi and A K Sikri, had earlier warned Sahara Group chief Subrata Roy, facing contempt proceedings, that it may send him to jail again, following a submission by the Securities and Exchange Board of India (SEBI) that there was confusion with regard to the title or ownership of some of the properties in Aamby Valley. The Sahara Group had earlier sought 18 months to repay around Rs 9,000 crore balance of the principal amount of Rs 24,000 crore. On August 10 last year, the apex court had rejected Sahara chief Subrata Roy's plea to put on hold the auction process. Roy, who has spent almost two years in jail, has been on parole since May 6 last year. The parole was granted the first time to enable him attend the funeral of his mother. It has been extended since then. Besides Roy, two other directors -- Ravi Shankar Dubey and Ashok Roy Choudhary -- were arrested for failure of the group's two companies -- Sahara India Real Estate Corporation (SIRECL) and Sahara Housing Investment Corp Ltd (SHICL) -- to comply with the court's August 31, 2012 order to return Rs 24,000 crore to their investors. With PTI Inputs New Delhi: State Bank of India (SBI), countrys largest lender, has asked its customers to withdraw cash from PoS machines installed across various merchant locations amid the problem of cash crunch being faced by people in several states. ATMs in cities of Uttar Pradesh, Bihar, Andhra Pradesh, Maharashtra and poll-bound Karnataka were either not operating or showed no cash signs, reminiscent of post demonetisation scene. Some ATMs in the national capital too were reported to be out of service. To reach out and facilitate maximum number of people looking for convenient cash withdrawal, SBI is also providing facilities of cash through Cash@POS initiative. Debit card holders of SBI and all other banks can withdraw cash from PoS machines installed by SBI across various merchant locations, the state owned bank said in a release. As per the RBI guidelines customer can withdraw Rs 1000 in Tier I and Tier II cities whereas Rs 2000 can be withdrawn in Tier 3 to Tier 6 cities per day per card. SBI said that it will not be charging any fees right now. SBI has a total of 6.08 lakh PoS machines of which 4.78 lakh PoS machines are enabled to dispense cash to the customers of the state owned bank. There has been an unusual spurt in demand of cash currency in some parts of the country.In the first 13 days of the current month, the currency demand went up by Rs 45,000 crore. The shortage has been blamed on inadequate availability of Rs 2,000 currency notes, and the fact that ATM cassettes have not been configured to dispense smaller Rs 200 notes. The printing of Rs 2,000 rupee notes has been halted as it had reached its threshold of Rs 6.70 lakh crore in the system. The high denomination notes account for about 35 percent of the Rs 18.43 lakh crore currency in circulation in the country. The Rs 18.43 lakh crore currency in circulation compares to nearly Rs 17.97 lakh crore currency in circulation before demonetisation of old 500 and 1000 rupee notes on November 8, 2016. The government has, meanwhile, ramped up printing of currency notes and is operating all the four presses 24x7, an official has said. Since this week, the presses are minting out Rs 500 and Rs 200 notes without a break to meet an estimated Rs 70,000 crore of currency shortfall in the country, he said. With PTI Inputs New Delhi: The Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE) has decided to provide compensation of two marks to Class X students for a typing error in the English question paper. Several teachers and students had approached the Board with the plea that the paper held on March 12 had certain errors in the comprehension passage section. Students had to read a passage and write synonyms for the words endurance, obstruction, and motivation. But the paragraphs they were supposed to look at were incorrectly marked, they had said in an online petition. "The typing error has been noticed and it has been Boards policy to not let students face any disadvantage. The marking scheme has been decided in the interest of students and all those who appeared for the particular question will be awarded two marks," a senior CBSE official said. The Class X and XII board examinations began on March 5 and will conclude by April 25. SURAT: Bhavya Shah, the 12-year-old son of a diamond merchant from Surat, is set to become a Jain monk on Thursday. According to ANI, Bhavya will take 'diksha' in the presence of around 400-450 Jain monks and nearly 7000 people. Bhavya's family is extremely proud of his decision to renounce the worldly pleasures to become a Jain monk. In fact, the Shah family has decided to celebrate when Bhavya formally becomes a Jain monk today. When asked how he felt about his decision, the 12-year-old boy said, "I am happy to take the path of truth shown by God." "I am deserting my mother and father as they taught me that this is the true path. My father and mother would also come on this path one day in future," Bhavya said. Bhavya's father, Dipesh Shah, a successful diamond merchant, too said, "Our family is extremely happy as Bhavya will take diksha." When asked if he is sad that his son would now leave them, Dipesh said, "No! I am happy. Four years back, my daughter also did the same at the age of 12." In Jain faith, 'diksha' is a ritual of renunciation of the worldly ties to lead a life of an ascetic to embark on a spiritual journey. Jain monks vow to give up not just material possessions but also all passions or emotions that cause karma. (With ANI inputs) YSR Congress Party chief Jagan Mohan Reddy has attacked Andhra Pradesh Chief Minister N Chandrababu Naidu over the latters decision to go on a hunger strike on Friday, April 20, which also happens to be the birthday of the Telugu Desam Party (TDP) chief. Accusing Naidu of cheating the people of Andhra Pradesh, Reddy had said he should have instead made all his MPs resign over special status to the state, as done by the MPs belonging to the YSRCP. He is cheating people again. What happened when all YSRCP MPs resigned and went on hunger strike? If he would've gotten his MPs to do the same then, it would've created national buzz and Centre would've given special status, said Reddy. The hunger strike by Naidu comes just days after Andhra Pradeshs people forum held a state-wide bandh on Monday, demanding special status for the state. The Andhra Pradesh Pratyeka Hoda Saadhana Samiti, which had called the bandh, had asked opposition parties to support the cause. Responding to it, opposition parties such as the YSR Congress (YSRC), the Congress and the Left parties extended their support. The ruling TDP had opposed the bandh call. Reacting to it, Naidu had said that bandhs were not welcome as they hamper development. Jagan Reddy-led YSRC hit back at Naidu, accusing the Chief Minister of adopting 'double standards'. "When Naidu was the Opposition leader, he had called for bandhs on many occasions, but as a Chief Minister he is now opposing them (bandhs), saying they hinder development," YSRC political affairs committee member Ambati Rambabu said. Naidu-led TDP had recently walked out of the NDA government over the demand for special statue to Andhra Pradesh. Following the move, he had attacked Prime Minister Narendra Modi, accusing him of making false promises to get the support of the TDP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. "Even during 2014 general election, we didn't try for an alliance with BJP. Modi himself came to us, said that BJP is sympathetic towards Andhra, let us work together for the development of the state. Then only I allied with them, just for the sake of state's interests," Naidu had said. Taking a dig at PM Modi, Naidu said that it was only after the TDP parted ways from the National Democratic Alliance (NDA), they could - for the first time - highlight their problems in front of the nation. "By standing against Narendra Modi we could, for the first time, bring our problems to the notice of the nation. The centre is going ahead with oppressive policy but they are not thinking to recognise our sentiments and resolve our problems," he had said. (With agency inputs) New Delhi: The Delhi High Court today directed aviation regulator DGCA to prescribe a specific flight and duty time limitation (FDTL) relating to scheduling of flight and cabin crew without any deviations. The court's direction came while disposing of a PIL which raised the issues of pilot and aircrew fatigue, while the Directorate General of Civil Aviation (DGCA) said variations were being permitted as there have been no accidents because of it, and also no pilot has complained of fatigue till date. A bench of Acting Chief Justice Gita Mittal and Justice C Hari Shankar said the DGCA was bound to comply with the provisions under the Aviation Act and Rules so far as the issue of fatigue of pilots is concerned and to specify maximum and minimum of flying time. "As far as the submission of the petitioner that the DGCA has no authority to grant any exemption or deviation from maximum limit of flying timing and duty period is concerned, there is substance in it," the bench said. It said that DGCA shall prescribe a specific FDTL which should continue to guide all their decisions regarding the scheduling of flight and cabin crew without any deviations. The court said that the director general is directed to undertake that the existing civil aviation requirements will be amended in accordance with the rules within a period of one year. The high court had earlier expressed concern over fatigued pilots and cabin crew posing a risk to passenger safety and had taken to task the DGCA for allowing airlines to change stipulated FDTL. It had said that the DGCA was going against its own Aircraft Rules by allowing such changes and questioned its power to do so. According to the petitioner, Kerala-based lawyer Yashwanth Shenoy, the maximum flying time is around 125 hours per week and this gets varied according to the requirements of an airline, each of which has a different FDTLs. Earlier, the Delhi International Airport Ltd (DIAL), which operates the IGI, had told the court that there were 365 obstacles around the aviation hub that may pose a threat to aircraft safety. Shenoy, in his plea, said he was drawn towards the issue of aviation safety after the 2010 Mangalore air crash. On May 22 that year, Air India Express Flight 812 from Dubai to Mangalore overshot the runway on landing after which it caught fire, the plea has said. Of the 160 passengers and six crew members on board, only eight had survived. He claimed that the Bureau of Civil Aviation Security, the Central Industrial Security Force and the Delhi Police have not taken airport security seriously and buildings and hotels around the airport were operating without complying with conditions. New Delhi: With more than just an eye on India's rather remote border areas with China in the north-east sector, the Indian Air Force deployed Advanced Landing Grounds (ALGs) in several areas here as part of the ongoing Gagan Shakti 2018 exercise. ALGs are unprepared airstrips usually placed at a short notice in areas with challenging terrain and with limited rail and road connectivity. Their need is critical because India has many border areas with limited connectivity but which could be transformed into forward strike bases for the IAF if and when required. Showcasing this ability, the IAF operationalised and utilised several ALGs for conducting Inter Valley Troop Transfers (IVTT), Special Heliborne Operations, Air Landed Operations and Special Operations to simulated objective areas. IVTT Operations, specifically, were carried out in Uttar Bharat Hills and at the Tezu-Walong in the north-east sector. SU30 fighter jets too have been operating from almost every ALGs in the north-east sector. What makes operations in ALGs extremely challenging - especially for pilots - are unpredictable weather, tough terrain, narrow corridor of approach and short runway lengths. The IAF says that despite these challenges, its personnel have displayed a high degree of precision and professionalism which are crucial in determining the success of tactical operations. New Delhi: Hours after the BJP slammed the Congress for raising questions over the Supreme Court verdict rejecting a batch of pleas seeking a probe into the alleged mysterious death of judge BH Loya, Rahul Gandhi on Thursday said that 'most Indians, including those in the BJP, understand the truth about Amit Shah'. The special CBI judge had died of 'cardiac arrest' in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him," the Congress president tweeted. Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 19, 2018 Here's what the government said: Hitting back at the Congress, the government on Thursday said that the judiciary cannot be "misled" by allegations based on political vendetta. Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, posting a series of tweets, came down heavily on "several attempts" to target the BJP and its top leaders through "fake" cases. "It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of fake facts. These attempts have failed miserably once again," he tweeted. Singh also said that the apex court's order had also raised serious questions on the intention of filing such PILs. "The SC has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in a political tug of war. The verdict gives a clear message that the judiciary cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta," he said. Another Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "This case was not activated to serve the public interest but to serve the interests of Congress and damage the interests of BJP, our party president Amit Shah in particular." He added, "Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as a political battle against our party president. I urge Rahul Gandhi (Congress president) not to fight political battles through corridors of court," as per ANI. Here's what the Congress said: The Congress on Thursday said that it was a sad letter day in the country's history and pitched for a fair probe into the matter. Attacking the BJP for accusing Rahul as being the 'invisible hand' behind the petitions seeking the probe, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the allegations as a malicious attempt which showed the ruling party's jitteriness. "It is a sad letter day in India's history. The suspicious circumstances in which Loya died, was a matter of deep concern for those who have faith in the judiciary. The copy of the entire judgment is not yet available. But there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary," he told reporters. Surjewala raised ten questions relating to the case as he criticised the verdict and noted that issue of criminality can be decided only through a probe, contending that no investigation was done into the death of Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, PTI reported. "In this background, the BJP's attempt to make false capital out of the SC judgment must be condemned with strongest possible words," the Congress leader added. He also stressed that the Congress was not among the petitioners seeking a probe into the judge's death and recalled that the party had instead approached the people's court and approached President Ram Nath Kovind along with 14 other opposition parties. Loya death: SC says attempts to scandalise judiciary, dismisses pleas The SC on Wednesday dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of Loya, ruling that the judge died of natural causes and the petitions were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. The apex court also held that all litigations concerning circumstances of the death of judge Loya are concluded with this judgement. The top court dubbed the PILs into the death of judge Loya, as frivolous and motivated litigations to settle political scores and rivalry were behind the "facade of the PIL" to malign the dignity of judicial officers and Bombay High Court judges, as per PTI. The top court said the judicial process will be reduced to a "charade" if the courts are burdened with such cases with extraneous reasons. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said there was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on the circumstances leading to Loya's death and the documents placed on record and their scrutiny established that the death was due to natural cause. The top court, which was critical of the petitioners and their lawyers for casting insinuations against the judicial officers and judges, said an attempt was made to cause prejudice against them and was a "vituperative assault on the judiciary." It said that with these petitions it becomes clear that "a real attempt and frontal attack" was made on the independence of the judiciary and the present case was a manifestation to carry forward a personal agenda. The petitioners had launched a veiled attempt to malign the judiciary and the credibility of judicial institutions was questioned, the three-judge bench said and criticised the attempts by senior advocates and activist lawyers Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and Prashant Bhushan to make insinuations against judges, including that of the apex court. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: Hitting back at the Congress for raising questions over the Supreme Court verdict rejecting a batch of pleas seeking a probe into the alleged mysterious death of judge BH Loya, the government on Thursday said that the judiciary cannot be "misled" by allegations based on political vendetta. The special CBI judge had died of 'cardiac arrest' in Nagpur on December 1, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Here's what the government said: Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh, posting a series of tweets came down heavily on "several attempts" to target the BJP and its top leaders through "fake" cases. "It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of fake facts. These attempts have failed miserably once again," he tweeted. Singh also said that the apex court's order had also raised serious questions on the intention of filing such PILs. "The SC has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in a political tug of war. The verdict gives a clear message that the judiciary cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta," he said. Today the Apex Court of the country has not only rejected the PIL pertaining to Justice Loyas death but also raised serious questions on the intention of filing such PILs. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 19, 2018 The Supreme Court has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in political tug of war. The SC verdict gives a clear message that the judiciary can not be misled by allegations based on political vendetta. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 19, 2018 It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of fake facts. These attempts have failed miserably once again. Rajnath Singh (@rajnathsingh) April 19, 2018 Another Union Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad said, "This case was not activated to serve the public interest but to serve the interests of Congress and damage the interests of BJP, our party president Amit Shah in particular." He added, "Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as a political battle against our party president. I urge Rahul Gandhi (Congress president) not to fight political battles through corridors of court," as per ANI. Here's what the Congress said: The Congress on Thursday said that it was a sad letter day in the country's history and pitched for a fair probe into the matter. Attacking the BJP for accusing Rahul as being the 'invisible hand' behind the petitions seeking the probe, party spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala termed the allegations as a malicious attempt which showed the ruling party's jitteriness. "It is a sad letter day in India's history. The suspicious circumstances in which Loya died, was a matter of deep concern for those who have faith in the judiciary. The copy of the entire judgment is not yet available. But there are still questions before those who believe in the judiciary," he told reporters. Surjewala raised ten questions relating to the case as he criticised the verdict and noted that issue of criminality can be decided only through a probe, contending that no investigation was done into the death of Loya, who was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, PTI reported. "In this background, the BJP's attempt to make false capital out of the SC judgment must be condemned with strongest possible words," the Congress leader added. He also stressed that the Congress was not among the petitioners seeking a probe into the judge's death and recalled that the party had instead approached the people's court and approached President Ram Nath Kovind along with 14 other opposition parties. The BJP's attempt to misinterpret the Supreme Court judgement reflects their jitteriness and frustration. We reject and condemn the malicious attempts of the BJP to misinterpret the judgement for finger pointing, Surjewala said. Loya death: SC says attempts to scandalise judiciary, dismisses pleas The SC on Wednesday dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of Loya, ruling that the judge died of natural causes and the petitions were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. The apex court also held that all litigations concerning circumstances of the death of judge Loya are concluded with this judgement. The top court dubbed the PILs into the death of judge Loya, as frivolous and motivated litigations to settle political scores and rivalry were behind the "facade of the PIL" to malign the dignity of judicial officers and Bombay High Court judges, as per PTI. The top court said the judicial process will be reduced to a "charade" if the courts are burdened with such cases with extraneous reasons. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud said there was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on the circumstances leading to Loya's death and the documents placed on record and their scrutiny established that the death was due to natural cause. The top court, which was critical of the petitioners and their lawyers for casting insinuations against the judicial officers and judges, said an attempt was made to cause prejudice against them and was a "vituperative assault on the judiciary." It said that with these petitions it becomes clear that "a real attempt and frontal attack" was made on the independence of the judiciary and the present case was a manifestation to carry forward a personal agenda. The petitioners had launched a veiled attempt to malign the judiciary and the credibility of judicial institutions was questioned, the three-judge bench said and criticised the attempts by senior advocates and activist lawyers Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and Prashant Bhushan to make insinuations against judges, including that of the apex court. (With Agency inputs) New Delhi: The resignation of NIA special court judge Ravinder Reddy was on Thursday rejected by High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, according to reports. Reddy had acquited ten accused - including Swami Aseemanand, in the Mecca Masjid blast case. Reddy, who had sent his resignation letter to the Metropolitan Sessions Judge on Monday, had cited 'personal reasons' for taking the decision. A senior judicial officer had told news agency PTI that Reddy's decision had nothing to do with the verdict in the 11-year-old blast case and that he had made up his mind earlier. The High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana though reportedly rejected his resignation application and has asked him to attend to his duties immediately, reported news agency ANI quoting sources. Reddy had tendered his resignation on the same day when he acquitted five accused in the 2007 blasts in Hyderabad. In his order, Reddy had said that the NIA did not have enough evidence to prove the link between the accused and the blasts which had killed nine and had injured more than 50. All the accused were members of right-wing Hindu organisation Abhinav Bharat. All India Majlis-e-Ittehad-ul Muslimeen (AIMIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi has said that if family of any of the victims of the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast in Hyderabad wants to appeal against the verdict in the case, he would provide all legal help to them. The Hyderabad MP also attacked the National Investigation Agency (NIA), which had conducted probe into the Mecca masjid blast case, calling it blind and deaf. He said, If the family of any victim wants to appeal against the verdict, then I am ready to provide them legal help. People call NIA a caged parrot, but I will say that it is blind and deaf also. Owaisi had earlier alleged that the NIA had intentionally botched the probe into case. "This whole prosecution done by the NIA was basically to ensure that all the accused are acquitted by courts," alleged Owaisi. "I do not have any complaint against the courts, as it is for the prosecution to prove. This is not a small crime," he had said. On Monday, a special NIA court had acquitted all the 10 accused including Swami Aseemanand in the Hyderabad's Mecca Masjid blast case citing a lack of evidence. The 10 persons include - Nabakumar Sirkar alias Swami Aseemanand, Devender Gupta, Lokesh Sharma alias Ajay Tiwari, Lakshman Das Maharaj, Mohanlal Rateshwar and Rajender Chowdhary. All of them are members of right-wing Hindu organization Abhinav Bharat. On May 18, 2007, a powerful blast had killed nine people and injured 58 during Friday prayers at Mecca Masjid near Hyderabad's Charminar. The NIA took over the case from the Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) in 2011. At the time, 10 people were named as accused by the central probing agency. However, only five Devendra Gupta, Lokesh Sharma, Swami Aseemanand, Bharat Mohanlal Rateshwar and Rajendra Chowdhary were arrested. Two accused persons Sandeep V Dange and Ramchandra Kalsangra are still absconding. Another accused Sunil Joshi was murdered during the probe. A total of 226 witnesses were examined during the trial and as many as 411 documents were exhibited. Following the verdict in the case, Special NIA Judge Ravinder Reddy, who had delivered the verdict in Mecca Masjid blast case, resigned. He submitted his resignation to the Chief Justice of Andhra Pradesh. TORONTO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Inter-Rock Minerals Inc. (TSX-V:IRO) (Inter-Rock or the Company) today reports its 2017 year-end operational and financial results. All amounts in United States dollars, unless otherwise indicated. 2017 Highlights Revenue of $51.9 million, as compared with $30.1 million in 2016, (2016 includes only nine months of Papillons results). Operating cash flow of $4.2 million, as compared with $1.9 million in 2016. Reduced debt by $2.3 million. Consolidated debt at year-end was $7.1 million. Tons sold at Papillon and MIN-AD were 36% and 6% higher respectively than 2016. 2017 was a strong year for Inter-Rock, generating record revenue and cash flow. All three businesses recorded higher operating cash flow in 2017 as compared with the year earlier. The strong cash flow allowed the Company to reduce debt by $2.3 million in 2017, said Mr. Michael Crombie, Chief Executive Officer. Despite a forecast of continuing low milk prices for at least the first half of 2018, the Company is budgeting a slight increase in overall tons sold by both Papillon and MIN-AD in 2018, while Mill Creek is targeting an increase in higher margin sales to the float glass industry. The Company will continue to focus on reducing its debt in 2018 and plans to refinance approximately $3.6 million of debt that is scheduled to mature in the first quarter of 2019, Mr. Crombie added. Associated Documents This press release should be read in conjunction with the Companys consolidated financial statements for the years ended December 31, 2017 and December 31, 2016 and associated Managements Discussion and Analysis (MD&A), which are available on the Companys website, www.interrockminerals.com, in the Regulatory Filings section under News & Filings, and on SEDAR (www.sedar.com). Company Contact: Robert Crombie, CFO 416-367-3004 Company website: www.interrockminerals.com About Inter-Rock Inter-Rock owns three operating businesses: Papillon Agricultural Company Inc. (Papillon), MIN-AD, Inc. (MIN-AD) and Mill Creek Dolomite LLC (Mill Creek). Papillon is a US based marketer and distributor of toll manufactured premium dairy feed nutritional supplements, including MIN-ADs products. MIN-AD and Mill Creek are engaged in the production and marketing of high purity dolomite, primarily to the animal feed, glass, roofing and aglime industries in the United States. No stock exchange or securities regulatory authority has reviewed or accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Disclosure Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain Forward-Looking Statements within the meaning of applicable securities legislation. Generally, forward-looking statements can be identified by use of words such as might, will, should, anticipate, plan, expect, believe, estimate, forecast and similar terminology. Such statements are based on reasonable assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis made by management in light of its experience and its perception of trends, current conditions and its expectations of future developments as well as other factors which management believes to be reasonable and relevant. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied in the forward-looking statements. Risks and uncertainties are more fully described in the Companys annual Managements Discussion and Analysis available at www.sedar.com. While the Company believes that the expectations expressed by such forward-looking statements and the assumptions, estimates, opinions and analysis underlying such expectations are reasonable, there can be no assurance that they will prove to be correct. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on such statements. New Delhi: A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi said that Pakistan had been informed about the surgical strikes carried out by India, Islamabad on Thursday rejected as "false" and "baseless" PM's claims of having launched an attack on terrorist camps in Pakistani territory. Pakistan`s Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal told the media that the claims about the surgical strike by the Indian Army was a "lie" and "repeating it doesn't turn it into the truth". He added, "Repeating a lie doesn`t turn it into the truth. It is the other way around and India is backing terrorists in Pakistan. The whole world knows who the terrorists are and who their head is. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is a proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism," IANS reported. Warning Pakistan, PM Modi on Wednesday had asserted that India will not tolerate those who like to export terror and will respond to them "in the language they understand", as he had referred to the 2016 surgical strikes conducted across the LoC. The PM, during the 'Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme at the iconic Central Hall Westminster in London had said that when "someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language". His remarks had come in response to a question on the surgical strikes by a member of the audience. In his reply, PM Modi had said, "Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated. We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted." He had asserted that he was proud of the Army as they executed the surgical strikes with perfection and were back after finishing the task before dawn. PM Modi had also narrated how India first informed Pakistan about the strikes and then told the media and the people about it, as per PTI. "I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," he had said. In a well-calibrated operation, on the intervening night of September 28-29, 2016, the Indian Army had moved across the LoC and had smashed terror launch pads that were reportedly under the guard of a Pakistani post located supposedly 700 metres from the LoC. (With Agency inputs) London: Supporters of Jagtar Singh Johal - a Scottish Sikh who was detained in India on charges of aiding and abetting murder - staged a protest which coincided with Prime Minister Narendra Modi's London vist on Wednesday. Demanding Johal's release, the protestors said that the charges against him were false. Johal, 31, from Dunbarton in Scotland, has been in a Punjab jail since he was arrested by the state's police in November last year for his alleged role in targeted killings in the state. The BBC reported on Wednesday that supporters organised a mass protest claiming that he was innocent and that he should be released immediately. Many even claimed that he had limited access to a strong legal team and was being kept in testing conditions. The same report also said that Downing Street confirmed UK PM Thresa May had raised Johal's case with PM Modi. The Scottish-born Sikh was in Jalandhar with his family for his wedding in October of last year when he was reportedly arrested by plainclothes police officials in the city. (Also read: Sikh 'torture' in Punjab raised in UK Parliament) Sikh Federation UK, a representative group leading a #FreeJaggiNow social media campaign, has quoted his lawyer Jaspal Singh Manjhpur as saying that Johal has been subjected to physical and mental "torture" in jail. The Punjab government though has claimed that Johal is among a group of suspects arrested on allegations of fanning communal disturbance in the state. London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Thursday had a series of bilateral meetings on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM). He met Prime Minister of Bangladesh Sheikh Hasina and had a "productive exchange of views on various issues of bilateral interest," Ministry of External Affairs spokesperson Raveesh Kumar tweeted. This marked their first meeting since the Bangladeshi leader's visit to New Delhi last year and ahead of her proposed visit to India in the coming months. Neighbourhood first! Connecting with a neighbour and a close friend, PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Bangladesh Mrs. Sheikh Hasina had a productive exchange of views on various issues of bilateral interest on the sidelines of #CHOGM18. pic.twitter.com/xbQcBxPtCs Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 PM Modi also met Seychelles President Danny Faure and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues, Kumar said. He also met his Mauritius counterpart Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. Friend in an extended neighbourhood! PM @narendramodi and President of Seychelles, Danny Faure met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed cooperation in areas of trade and investment and other bilateral issues. pic.twitter.com/REUhbyZXtV Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 The "pull-aside meetings" with world leaders included an interaction with Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni, Gambian President Adama Barrow, Fiji Prime Minister Frank Bainimarama, St Lucia Prime Minister Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands, Rick Houenipwela. PM Modi also interacted with President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau, Prime Minister of Antigua and Barbuda Gaston Browne and Prime Minister of Trinidad and Tobago Keith C Rowley. "The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues," a senior official said, as per PTI. Strength in similar values of democracy, pluralism and Commonwealth traditions! PM @narendramodi met with Prime Minister of Australia Malcolm Turnbull on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018 and discussed issues of bilateral and multilateral cooperation. pic.twitter.com/Oyben3G5BY Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Bridging distance connecting with history! PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago, Keith C. Rowley had a useful exchange of views on deepening bilateral relations on the sidelines of the #CHOGM18 in London. pic.twitter.com/IwdYz5TJ1I Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Cementing our historic and close friendship with Mauritius! On the sidelines of #CHOGM18, PM @narendramodi and Prime Minister of Mauritius, Pravind Kumar Jugnauth talked about cooperation in trade and investment, maritime cooperation and people-to-people ties. pic.twitter.com/0GJoTX0t8J Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Relations in upward trajectory! PM @narendramodi and President of Gambia, Adama Barrow met on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 and discussed steps to deepen partnership. pic.twitter.com/uEqbCZgzw9 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Meeting between friends! Keeping up with the traditional of frequent high level interactions, PM @narendramodi and President of Uganda, Yoweri Museveni met on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018. pic.twitter.com/JF6m5WL3L2 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Sharing coffee, laughter and a vision! Pull-aside meetings with Prime Minister of Fiji Frank Bainimarama, Prime Minister of St. Lucia Allen Chastanet and Prime Minister of Solomon Islands Rick Houenipwela on the sidelines of #CHOGM2018. pic.twitter.com/z8XR9sMul8 Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Shared vision common dreams! PM @narendramodi interacting with President of Kiribati Taneti Maamau and Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbuda Gaston Browne on the sidelines of #CHOGM18 in #London. pic.twitter.com/KApA4oLhPw Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 Officials had earlier indicated that no meeting has been requested or scheduled with Pakistan Prime Minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi and later confirmed there was no interaction between the two, the news agency further said. The bilateral talks took place as the formal heads of government meeting got underway in London on Thursday, following a formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Towards a common, fairer, secure, sustainable and prosperous future! PM @narendramodi with Her Majesty the Queen, UK Prime Minister @theresa_may and other leaders of Commonwealth countries at the formal opening of the Summit at Buckingham Palace. pic.twitter.com/l3ZwBBRhMx Raveesh Kumar (@MEAIndia) April 19, 2018 At the launch of the CHOGM executive session at Lancaster House open to the media, British Prime Minister Theresa May said, "The great strength of the Commonwealth is that all our members have equal status, an equal voice, and an equal right to make that voice heard. So, as we tackle these challenges, I want to hear from everyone, and everyone will have chance to speak. We face many challenges in the world today. But the Commonwealth is a unique organisation and, at this summit, we have an opportunity to deliver lasting change that benefits all of our 2.4 billion people." An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. (With PTI inputs) New Delhi: While foreign locations may or may not be within production budget, several Indian states offer a conducive environment for filmmakers to showcase their creativity. Of these, Madhya Pradesh has been judged the best in the 'Most Film Friendly Award 2017' of Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. As many as 16 states participated in the awards and MP was deemed the best by a jury headed by veteran director and producer Ramesh Sippy. The state was credited for having a film-friendly infrastructure, offering incentives, maintaining databases and undertaking marketing and promotional initiatives. "This year Madhya Pradesh, where a lot of filmmakers have shot over the years, has won the award due to the ease of filming that the state offers along with excellent on ground support and filmic infrastructure," said Sippy. The decision to confer the award was unanimous. The jury also took note of states like Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat for creating a film-friendly ecosystem. Uttarakhand was given a 'Special Mention Certificate' in recognition of the state's efforts to build a film-friendly environment. The other states which participated were Andaman and Nicobar Islands, Delhi, Karnataka, Kerala, Maharasthra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana,and Tripura The awards would be conferred by President Ram Nath Kovind during the National Film Awards on May 3. Kanpur: A student of the Indian Institute of Technology (IIT), Kanpur, allegedly committed suicide on Wednesday by hanging himself from the ceiling in his hostel room, police said. Police identified the victim as Bheem Singh, a third-year student of Ph.D, said Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) Akhilesh Kumar. Singh, who hailed from Ferozabad, was staying at a hostel on IIT campus, the SSP said. Singh's friends told police that he was under severe stress, the SSP said and added, "The reason behind extreme step is yet to be ascertained as the victim had left no suicide note behind." Singh was last seen on Tuesday, the SSP said. SHIMOGA: Prominent Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) leader in Karnataka, BS Yeddyurappa, on Thursday filed his nomination for the upcoming Assembly elections in Karnataka from Shikaripura in Shimoga. Confident of his victory, the BJP leader said: "I am going to get a minimum lead of 30,000-40,000 votes and everybody is supporting our community people." Yeddyurappa filed the nomination papers a day after BJP chief Amit Shah urged cheering crowds to call at least 50 people each and persuade them to vote for his party in the May 12 Karnataka assembly polls. Shah was accompanied by Yeddyurappa, union minister Sadananda Gowda and party's Hoskote candidate Sharath Bachche Gowda for the roadshow. While addressing the people, he appealed to the party supporters to ensure that Yeddyurappa becomes Chief Minister in the assembly elections on May 12. In his brief address, Shah said "the time has come to overthrow the Siddaramaiah government and install the BJP government and strengthen Prime Minister Narendra Modi in his nation-building mission." The BJP has been campaigning vigorously for the upcoming elections in the state. It has already announced names of 154 candidates in its two lists so far. Of the 154 names of candidates announced in the two lists by BJP on April 8 and on April 16, 111 candidates had contested assembly elections in 2013. As per the election affidavits submitted by candidates in the past elections and analysed by Association for Democratic Reforms and Karnataka Election Watch, 30 BJP candidates have criminal cases listed against them. Reaching out to Lingayats ahead of Karnataka Assembly polls, Prime Minister Narendra Modi and BJP president Amit Shah had on Wednesday paid floral tributes at the bust and statue of the 12th century Lingayat philosopher Basaveshwara in London and Bengaluru respectively coinciding with his birth anniversary. Karnataka will go to polls on May 12 to elect its representatives for the 225-member assembly. The results will be out on May 15. A BJP MLA in Karnataka has sparked controversy by declaring that the coming Assembly elections are about conflict between Hindus and Muslims. A video clip of Belgaum Rural MLA Sanjay B Patil's incendiary speech has been doing the rounds and whipping up controversy. The clip seems to have been shot by someone who was in the crowd, but these is no indication from the video where or when it was shot, but there are clear indications it is fairly recent. Patil was addressing a small crowd. "This election is an important one. This election is not about roads or gutters or drinking water. This is about Hindus against Muslims. Whoever wants to build a Babri Masjid, whoever wants to celebrate Tipu Sultan Jayanti, let them go to the Congress. If you want Shivaji Maharaj, if you want Shambaji Maharaj, if you want the temple to be built, you vote for the BJP," Patil can be heard saying in the video clip. "I will thump my chest and say loudly that is Bharat desha, a Hindu country, the country where Ram was born. I want the Ram temple to be built and Ayodhya and I will do whatever is needed for that," he said, to loud cheers from the crowd. He then turned his speech around to attack his Congress rival for the coming elections, Lakshmi Hebbalkar. "If Lakshmi Hebbalkar says she will build the Ram temple, all of you go and giver her your vote. But she won't do it. She will build a mosque, a Babri Masjid," he said. Patil represents the Belgaum Rural constituency in the outgoing Karnataka Assembly. He had defeated Hebbalkar in the 2013 contest. Bengaluru: BJP president Amit Shah on Thursday asked his party booth level workers to sacrifice their comfort and sleep till state unit chief BS Yeddyurappa is sworn in as CM of Karnataka. Addressing BJP's booth level presidents and shakti kendra chiefs at Devanahalli, he said, "We have won elections in 14 states since 2014. Now the elections are due in the 15th state of Karnataka. Any guess what will happen?," he asked and the workers responded, shouting "BJP (will win). It's not an ordinary election. It is our grand entry in South India." "I want to appeal to all the booth level workers and shakti kendra chiefs that you have to sacrifice your comfort and sleep till the time Yeddyurappa swears in as CM on May 15," Shah added. He further said that changing the regime has become essential as Karnataka CM Siddaramaiah had "ruined" Bengaluru that was one of the highest revenue generating cities of the country. Addressed the convention of Shakthi Kendra Pramukhs of 15 assembly constituencies in Devanahalli, Bengaluru (Karnataka). pic.twitter.com/sWuFXWcba6 Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 19, 2018 Pictures of Samaj Chintan Sabha in Bengaluru (Karnataka). pic.twitter.com/YHSVZUJZlF Amit Shah (@AmitShah) April 19, 2018 April 24 is the last date for filing nominations for the Assembly elections while scrutiny will be taken up on April 25. The last date for withdrawal is April 27. Polling will be held from 7 am to 5 pm across the state on May 12. Votes will be counted on May 15. Elaborate arrangements have been made to ensure peaceful voting amid tight security at 58,546 polling booths across 224 constituencies, using Electronic Voting Machines along with Voter Verified Paper Audit Trails. As many as 450 polling booths are `pink booths`, managed by all-women officials, including police, in all Assembly segments, as per reports. The southern state has 4.96 crore registered electors, including 2.52 crore men and 2.44 crore women. Over 15 lakh are first-time voters in the 18-19 age group. About 3.5 lakh security personnel will be deployed during the polling in the state. (With Agency inputs) Mumbai: Expressing his disgust at the gruesome Kathua rape case, legendary actor Amitabh Bachchan has said he feels terrible to even talk about it. At the song launch of his upcoming film '102 Not Out', Big B was asked about his views on rapes in the country as an ambassador for 'Beti Bachao-Beti Padhao'. "Even discussing this issue feels disgusting, don't bring up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it," said the 75-year-old. On January 17, an eight-year-old girl was allegedly abducted, drugged, raped, tortured and killed Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua district. Earlier, joining the growing outrage, celebrities like Sonam Kapoor, Akshay Kumar, Kareena Kapoor Khan, Kalki Koechlin, Richa Chadha and many others posted messages on their social media demanding justice for the victim. Mumbai: Jewellery designer Farah Khan has collaborated with ice cream brand Magnum for a special collection. Inspired by the brand's idea of Taking Pleasure Seriously, Farah has set out to create the MagnumXFarahKhan Collection that spells indulgence with chocolate diamonds and more. The line is dazzling, yet funky and playful, read a statement. Farah Khan said: "My creations align with the brand's philosophy of craftsmanship and indulgence, inspiring every woman to experience bejewelled pleasure and unravel their playful side." Actress Kalki Koechlin, the muse of the line, said: "It inspires a notion of pleasure. Set on rose gold with quirky chocolate diamonds, the collection brings out the sweet, naughty and playful side of me." According to Himanshu Kanwar, Head - Magnum Ice Cream, India, Hindustan Unilever Limited, the pieces are "truly a work of art". It will be unveiled on Farah's official website on April 24. New Delhi: There is no denying that the Badshah of Bollywood - Shah Rukh Khan - is the ultimate king of romance and his films have influenced our love life greatly. But a Mumbai based girl, whose love story has featured on the 'Humans of Bombay' page, holds the superstar responsible for ruining her life. Wondering how and why? Well, here's the answer. As strange as it might sound, the girl has written a detailed account of why she feels Shah Rukh Khan has ruined her life. Read on. Shahrukh Khan ruined my life! Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of having the perfect proposal from the perfect man. Violins would start playing in the background, he would walk up to me slowly, while the wind blew in my hair, fall to his knees and hand me the ring. But that never happened. In fact, we found ourselves in the middle of this mess where I was trying to convince my Bengali parents to let me marry a Punjabi Baniya! Wed been dating for 3 years, but the majority of that time was spent on bringing our families together. At one point in our relationship, we were sure that we were going to get married --so he never even tried to surprise me with a proposal. Amidst all this drama of a big, fat Indian wedding, I realised-- I never had my filmy moment! So, on his birthday, I decided to take the matter into my own hands. I planned a surprise party at the restaurant where we had our first date, and as soon as he walked in-- I asked the DJ to play Marry Me by Bruno Mars and fell to my knees when he walked in. I said Ashish Agrawal-- I want to spend the rest of my life laughing, crying and fighting with you-- will you marry me? He looked at me, smirked, pulled me in for a hug and whispered - lets hope our kids arent as filmy! And just like that, I created the moment Id been waiting for..why do women have to wait for the guy to propose? Its a new day, new age-- if you like him, then maybe you should put a ring on it! Well, never judge a book by its cover, the post was an adorable account of why we should never wait for a perfect moment in our lives because there isn't any. Do as your heart says and make every moment memorable with your loved ones! Havana: Cuba marked the end of an era Thursday as Miguel Diaz-Canel was formally elected as the country`s new president, succeeding Raul Castro and becoming the first non-Castro to lead the island in six decades. The silver-haired Diaz-Canel - a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 - is the island`s first leader born after the 1959 revolution. Diaz-Canel was elected in a landmark vote of the National Assembly a day before his 58th birthday. The chamber erupted into applause as the results were read out, with many of the delegates smiling, and shaking hands warmly with Castro and Diaz-Canel. As Diaz-Canel walked to the front of the chamber, he high-fived the front line of delegates, embracing Castro as he took to the stage, images broadcast on state television showed. Then the 86-year-old Castro raised his successor`s arm in the air in victory, prompting another wave of applause from the delegates -- some were in their shirt sleeves, while others wore military fatigues. Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. Raul has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution. Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency on Wednesday. Thursday`s symbolic vote took place on the anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Fidel`s forces defeated 1,400 US-backed rebels seeking to overthrow him. Havana has long hailed the showdown as American imperialism`s first great defeat in Latin America. Diaz-Canel, who some say bears a passing resemblance to American actor Richard Gere, is a fan of The Beatles whose penchant for wearing jeans has set him apart in Havana`s corridors of power. Although he has advocated fewer restrictions on the press and a greater openness to the internet, he also has a ruthless streak, with harsh words for Cuba`s dissidents and the United States. Crucially, he will remain under the watchful eye of Castro, who will continue to serve as the head of Cuba`s all-powerful Communist Party. Once sworn in, Diaz-Canel will be tasked with pursuing reforms begun by Castro to open up Cuba`s economy to small private entrepreneurs and reach a rapprochement with its Cold War arch-enemy, the United States. In 2015, Havana and Washington renewed diplomatic ties, with then president Barack Obama making a historic visit to the island a year later. But, steps towards a normalization of ties have been severely curtailed since Donald Trump arrived in the White House last year. Diaz-Canel will also inherit a youthful population hungry for change on the Caribbean island -- one of the world`s last outposts of Communism since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba watchers and domestic analysts say he will favor continuity over change in the early days of his presidency, however. More than a decade-long wait for the completion and opening of Islamabad International Airport got extended further as the April 20 inauguration was pushed back to May 3. Pakistan-based Dawn reported that the new airport, which missed countless deadlines, was all set to be opened on Friday but that the country's Civil Aviation Authority pushed back the date. The official reason assigned was that Sardar Mehtab Ahmed, the advisor on aviation to the Pakistani Prime Minister, required more tests on the system and equipment. Authorities were therefore forced to postpone the inauguration despite operational preparedness being completed and new flight schedule announced. Interestingly, the same advisor on aviation to PM had assured last month that April 20 was the final date for the opening and that no more delays would take place. At a time when airports in India - especially the ones in Delhi, Mumbai and Hyderabad - are topping international surveys on customer satisfaction and operational abilities, Pakistan has been struggling to complete its most latest airport- touted to be state-of-the-art. While airports like Delhi's IGI and Mumbai's Chhatrapati Shivaji International Airport handle more than 40 million passengers each year, the new facility in Islamabad - when it does open - will cater to nine million passengers annually in its first phase. The target is to cater to 25 million passengers each year by 2025. CLEARWATER, Fla., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On April 18, the Church of Scientology hosted the annual Volunteer Recognition Awards Dinner in Downtown Clearwaters Historic Fort Harrison. Forty-five of the two hundred guests went on stage to receive commemorative pins, acknowledging them for their hard work to improve the community. This is our way of acknowledging all of the amazing things that our local charities and non-profits do for the community, said Dylan Pires, Community Affairs Director for the Church of Scientology in Clearwater. As humanitarian L. Ron Hubbard once said, The biggest right there is, is not the right to vote, is not the right to freedom of speech or press or religion or anything else. The biggest right there is in human rights is the right to help! and thats exactly what all of these non-profits are doing. Apostle Joel Lewis was the guest speaker. He spoke about the Scientology Volunteer Minister Program and said that they are the most dedicated and selfless volunteers he has seen. He then thanked all volunteers for lending their time, talent and voice to make a difference in their communities. The Volunteer Recognition Awards Dinner is the annual celebration of the Charity Coalition, which now has over 200 participating charitable or non-profit organizations. The purpose of the Charity Coalition and awards ceremony is to empower the non-profit community and give back to those who dedicatedly serve their areas. Organizations such as the Clearwater Community Volunteers, The Boy Scouts of America, Children with a Vision and Pinellas County Foster and Adoptive Parents Association were all present to be recognized as those who are making the difference in the Tampa Bay communities. These organizations help tens of thousands of children and families every year with Christmas toys, school supplies, and even a new loving family all in the name of making the world a better place to live in. For more information about the Charity Coalition please call (727) 467-6860 or email dylanpires@churchofscientology.net. About the Church of Scientology The Scientology religion was founded by humanitarian and philosopher, L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has expanded to more than 11,000 churches, missions, and affiliated groups, with millions of members in 167 nations. Based on L. Ron Hubbards words, A Community that pulls together can make a better society for all, the Church of Scientology regularly engages in many humanitarian programs and community events. To learn more, visit www.scientology-fso.org. Dylan Pires (727) 467-6860 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/32a2fd82-eb5f-4ace-b172-558407c3e8b7 A top US admiral has warned Congress against imposing any sanctions on countries like India and Indonesia for purchasing defence equipment from Russia, saying any such move would pose a concern for America's defence ties in the Indo-Pacific and increase its partners' dependence on Moscow. Admiral Philip S Davidson, the nominee for the US Pacific Command Commander (PACOM), told members of the Senate Armed Services Committee on Wednesday during his confirmation that India's military had long relied on the former Soviet Union and then Russia to follow with some of its technology and training. "We have to break down that historical background to a certain extent, break down is not the correct work but be willing to work with that so that we can move forward with India," Davidson said. The top Pentagon Admiral warned Congress that imposing any sanctions on India according to 'Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA)' for its purchase of significant defence equipment from Russia would have an adverse impact on the relationship. The CAATSA includes sanctions against countries that engage in significant transactions with the Russian defence and intelligence sectors. India could face sanctions for purchasing high value military defence items, in particular state-of-the-art S-400 missile defence system, from Russia under the act. "It is a fundamental priority for the United States and PACOM to continually develop our alliances and partnerships so that all nations benefit from an environment that safeguards security, stability, prosperity, and peace for the entire region," Davidson said. He said Russia's operations and engagements throughout the Indo-Pacific continue to rise ? "both to advance their own strategic interests and to undermine US interests". "Russia also sees economic opportunities to build markets for energy exports and arms sales in the region," he said. "CAATSA sanctions pose a concern for our defense relationships in the Indo-Pacific with countries such as India, Vietnam, and Indonesia. If the US decides to sanction these partner nations for their purchases of Russian equipment, this decision may hinder the growth of each developing partnership and increase each partner's dependence on Russia," Davidson warned. He also underscored the need to establish a foundation in a military-to-military relationship with India. "It's important to get to establish a foundation in a military to military relationship," Davidson said. "I think the historic opportunity for the United States going forward is probably with India and that would be a relationship that I intend to work on with great energy," he said. Washington: US President Donald Trump has warned that if his planned talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are "not fruitful" he will "walk out". Trump said he will be meeting with Kim in the coming weeks to discuss the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. At a joint news conference, Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe yesterday said maximum pressure must be maintained on North Korea over nuclear disarmament. "If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it. We won't have it. If I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we are not going to go," Trump said. "If the meeting, when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting and will continue what we are doing or whatever it is that we'll continue, but something will happen," Trump said a day after he told reporters that he is likely to meet Kim in June or before that. Officials from the two countries are looking at five different venues for the meeting. None of them are in the US. "Hopefully, that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it," Trump said, adding that it would be tremendous for the world if the meeting went well. Trump expressed hope that the Korean Peninsula could live together "in safety, prosperity, and peace" following a series of meetings between North Korea and South Korea. "This is the destiny of the Korean people, who deserve and have gone through so much over the years. We hope it all works it and we'll be trying very hard," he added. North Korea has been isolated for decades because of its alleged human rights abuses and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, in defiance of international laws and UN sanctions. It has carried out six nuclear tests and has missiles that it says could reach the US mainland. Trump said the release of three American prisoners in North Korea would be among the topics of his discussion with Kim. Trump yesterday had confirmed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo had made a secret trip to North Korea to meet Kim. He said Pompeo had forged a "good relationship" with Kim - whom the US president was last year calling "little rocket man" - and that the meeting had gone "very smoothly". The visit marked the highest-level contact between the US and North Korea since 2000. Trump pat himself on the back over North Korea and said his administration had achieved what his predecessors could not. "For many years they have been talking to North Korea and nothing has happened. This should have been taken care of by past administrations when they were not nearly so far along. But we put unbelievably powerful sanctions on, and many other things," said Trump. The Japanese prime minister backed Trump for his efforts regarding North Korea and demanded complete denuclearisation of North Korea. "Based on such (past) lessons learned, both the US and Japan, together with the international community will demand for all weapons of mass destruction of ballistic missiles complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles to North Korea," Abe said. "By envisioning multiple scenarios, we carefully thought out our policies and directions at a concrete and detailed level. Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue there should be no reward," Abe said. The Japanese prime minister demanded that maximum pressure be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions toward de-nuclearisation be demanded from North Korea. Abe said in his talks with Trump, the two countries have reached an agreement regarding the upcoming US-North Korea summit. "We hope that it will lead to the resolution of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear missile, he said. President Petro Poroshenko has made a loud statement: Ukraine is more than ever close to creating its own unified autocephalous local church Read the original text at 112.ua. Open source One people, one language, one church... President Petro Poroshenko has made a loud statement for 26 years of independence, Ukraine is more than ever close to creating its own unified autocephalous local church. According to him, this is evidenced not only by the position of the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I, who, as is known, has been supporting the unification of Ukrainian churches for a number of years - today all the necessary key elements are present. "The first is the appeal of the church hierarchies... After my meeting with the Patriarch Filaret, all the bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate have put their signatures, witnessed them in their address to the Ecumenical Patriarch about granting a tomos to the new Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church (UAOC). I also met with His Beatitude Metropolitan Makarii, head of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church, and this morning I was informed about the results of the Bishops' the defense of the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church with very pleasant news: all without exception the archbishops of the UAOC signed an appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch and an appeal to the president. For 26 years this is the first document that united all the hierarchies of these churches," Poroshenko stressed during a meeting with the chairmen of the parliamentary factions. The president himself also intends to appeal to the Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew I to publish a tomos about the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine and asks the Verkhovna Rada to support him in this matter since he and the parliamentarians are "representatives of the Ukrainian people". The representatives of the UOC-KP and the UAOC hope that among the episcopate of the UOC-Moscow Patriarchate there are responsible hierarchs who are really worried about the future of Orthodoxy in Ukraine and will support efforts regarding the canonical recognition by the Ecumenical Patriarch of Ukrainian ecclesiastical independence. Why is the creation of our own single local church extremely important for Ukraine and what does it even mean? We will try to explain. The local church in Orthodoxy is an independent (autocephalous) church with its organization and structure. There is a local church; an independent self-governing church in a certain territory. As a rule, the local church is at the same time a national church whose borders of jurisdiction coincide with the borders of the national state. In total there are about two dozen autocephalous Orthodox churches in the world: Russian, Greek, Romanian, Bulgarian, Georgian, Polish, etc. All of them interact with each other and sometimes make joint decisions. As many churches have the status of unauthorized autocephaly, that is, they actually exist, but they do not have the right to vote in the international canonical arena. Along with this, the so-called autonomous Orthodox churches are also subordinate to any autocephalous church (for example, the Sinai Church is dependent on Jerusalem), and other de-facto independent churches that arose in the XVII-XXI centuries (for example, the Old Orthodox Pomor Church), but also not recognized by the majority of canonized churches. In Orthodoxy, there is no single ecclesiastical center, as, for example, the Vatican and the Catholic Church, devoid of national features. His Holiness Patriarch, Archbishop of Constantinople, in contrast to the Pope, bears the title of Ecumenical Patriarch purely nominally and is only the first among equals. This title is a kind of tribute to the respect of other Orthodox patriarchs to the "mother" center of Orthodoxy. In Ukraine, there are three Orthodox churches that arose during the schisms in the early 1990s: the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Moscow Patriarchate, the Ukrainian Orthodox Church of the Kyiv Patriarchate, and (the smallest) the Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. So, the UAOC considers itself to be the successor of the Ukrainian church, which arose in the 1920s and was destroyed by the Soviet authorities. In 1990, it formally revived, and in 1995 it was joined by three powerful Galician dioceses of the UOC Kyiv Patriarchate (UOC-KP). In turn, the UOC-KP was formed after 1992, when a significant part of the bishops separated from the Moscow-oriented UOC-MP (Moscow Patriarchate). Then, Filaret was dismissed from the post of head of another powerful Ukrainian Orthodox church, and Vladimir came in his place. However, the unity of the new formation was not stable - in 1995, Filaret became its leader, after which the Lviv, Ivano-Frankivsk, and Ternopil dioceses split early in protest against this election and moved to the UAOC. In other words, because of organizational contradictions for 26 years of independence, a single Ukrainian local Orthodox church was not formed in our state, which would be recognized on the international confessional map. The UOC-MP is, in fact, subordinate to the Russian autocephalous church, the UOC-KP is considered an unauthorized autocephaly, despite the name the UAOC is de facto an independent confessional unit. It should be noted that the UOC MP considers other Ukrainian churches to be "schismatics", but this definition is contradictory since they all profess faith in one Christ, recognize the Creed, the rules and teachings of the Holy Fathers, and their separation is administrative. Single Ukrainian local Orthodox Church means the church of the Ukrainian people, whose jurisdiction borders coincide with the state borders. As a rule, the emergence of an independent state of any Orthodox people almost immediately caused the creation of its local church. That is, the local church is another guarantor of the country's independence. And in the case of Ukraine, it did not happen that way; it remained (at the confessional level) connected with the Russian Federation and now continues to work on the authority and image of Russia in the religious world. Previously, the indignation was caused by the fact that Ukrainians in their own state cannot turn to God in their native language or buy church literature in the Ukrainian language, which is their inalienable right under the Orthodox church canons and according to universal morality, through the church they were denationalized, assimilated, and brainwashed. Now, when Russia is recognized as an aggressor state, communication with it at the confessional level is absolute nonsense. Every year, more and more Ukrainians favor a single local church in the country. The canons of the Orthodox Church do not give a direct definition of the way in which the proclamation of autocephaly could be made, so here the tradition plays the role. So, the Church that has matured to an independent being has the internal ability to exist independently of other church authorities might become autocephalous. This requires the presence of at least three bishops, two of whom, in the event of the death of one of the hierarchs, might place the successor. The Church, which has a sufficient number of pastors and parishioners to ensure that its ministry is done normally, might become autocephalous. Another factor for the proclamation of autocephaly is the political independence of the people, among whom the corresponding Church bears its ministry. During the decision on autocephaly, the opinion of the state authorities of the country in question is taken into account. The determining factor in the proclamation of autocephaly is the common will of the episcopate, clergy, and laity of the corresponding Church, expressed through the resolution of the Local Council. After the adoption of the conciliar decision on autocephaly, it passes the process of recognition by the Mother Church and other local Orthodox Churches. Let us emphasize the fact that, on the basis of canonical rules and the historical experience of the Church of Christ, autocephaly is not granted, but is recognized by other Local Churches. Ukraine has a support of the Ecumenical Patriarch, there is a mutual understanding between the Ukrainian Orthodox churches and the intentions of the president. There is only a lack of confidence that all the local churches, in particular, the Russian Orthodox Church, recognize its independence. It is because of the disagreement of the latter that the issue of the "Ukrainian local church" has lasted for decades. The system will allow blocking the broadcasting of more than 40 Russian and separatist TV channels The system for the counteraction against the anti-Ukrainian broadcasting is launched in the zone of the armed Donbas Conflict. Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine launched it as 112 Ukraine broadcasted. Poroshenko ordered to launch the system during his video-conference with the Donbas Conflict zone. It is known, that the equipment of the new system was located along the demarcation line in Donbas. It will allow blocking the broadcasting of more than 40 Russian and separatist TV channels. The Ukrainian television will be broadcasted instead. It is an important issue but also the component of the general policy on the information security, the president emphasized. In turn, the president was informed that the new equipment will allow protecting the citizens of about 150 villages and cities in the Donbas Conflict zone from the influence of the propaganda channels. After the launch, Poroshenko reported that he intends to personally check the work of a new system during his visit to Donbas in the near time. As we reported Ivan Lishchyna, the Deputy Justice Minister for ECHR affairs claimed that the European Court of Human Rights (ECHR) will not be able to oblige Russia to leave the territory of Donbas. U.S. Department of the State condemned the shelling of Donetsk filtration station Open source The OSCE Mission is ready to facilitate the resumption of functioning of the Donetsk filtration station, as the Mission reported on Facebook. OSCE urges parties to the conflict to provide credible security guarantees, required for the station to start working again. The Mission contributed to the settlement of the ceasefire after 30 persons of the staff of Donetsk Filtration station came under attack. 'Yesterday, four patrols of OSCE SMS, consisting of 23 monitors, contributed to the establishment of local ceasefire to make conditions for staff safe movement. Despite this, the parties did not completely obey the ceasefire, that is why Donetsk Filtration station stopped working for a while', the Mission reported. Earlier, on April 17 the convoy of the working shift was shelled, five people sustained wounds. On April 18, the Donetsk Filtration Station was closed. Thus the drinking water supplies were cut off to Avdiivka, partially to Donetsk and Yasynuvata, Chervony Partyzan, Kruta Balka and Verkhnyotoretske villages. Counter-terrorism operation staff members are certain that this situation was staged and provoked by militia leaders in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. The US State Department condemned the shelling of Donetsk Filtration station and declared that Russia is responsible for the deterioration of the humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine. Closing of the Donetsk Filtration Station raises concern. The Headquarters of the Ukrainian Armed Forces is sure that the situation was staged and provoked by the leaders of the so-called Donetsk and Luhansk Peoples Republic as it is reported on Facebook. Ukraine Armed Forces Headquarters is sure that the situation around the Donetsk Filtration Station was staged and provoked on purpose by the leaders of the Russian occupation authority on the eve of the meeting of the Trilateral Contact Group on Donbas in Minsk to discredit Ukraines Armed Forces once more and have the additional leverage at the Ukrainian side of the Minsk talks, the message said. It is also noted that the citizens of Avdiivka, Krasnohorivka, Verkhnyotoretske, Donetsk and Yasynuvata can be left without drinking water due to the closing of the Donetsk Filtration Station. The closing of this station for a long period of time can cause serious humanitarian consequences and to destabilize the situation in the region even more, the Headquarters noted. The Headquarters urged the representatives of the international humanitarian organizations to promote the rapid solution of the closing of the Donetsk Filtration Station and to not allow the worsening of the humanitarian situation in the region. At the moment, the water is supplied to Avdiivka by its own accord. The rescuers are ready to supply water to the city if the Donetsk Filtration Station will not begin to work in the nearest time. Veronika Bakhal, the spokeswoman of the State Emergency Service of Ukraine in Donetsk region reported this as 112 Ukraine broadcasted. At the moment, the water is supplied to Avdiivka by its own accord. There is a reservoir by the capacity of 4, 000 cubic meters in Avdiivka and it is situated in the part of the city where the amount of the drinking water will be enough for 4 days, she said. As we reported the militants shelled the convoy of the filtration station's workers. Five workers suffered, one of them is in the serious condition. On April 18, has stopped its work and the supply of the drinking water was stooped to Avdiivka, partially to Donetsk and Yasynuvata, Chervony Partyzan, Kruta Balka and Verkhnyotoretske villages. US State Department said that Russia is responsible for worsening of the humanitarian situation in the east of Ukraine Open source The United States condemns the shelling of the Donetsk Filtration Station, which resulted in injuring five people. This was stated by the representative of the US State Department Heather Nauert. The United States condemns yesterdays shooting of civilian employees of the Donetsk Filtration Station in Ukraine, which left five individuals wounded. The filtration station has temporarily shut down following the incident. In addition to endangering the lives of innocent civilians, this attack threatened water supplies for almost 350,000 Ukrainians living on both sides of the line of contact, the message says. Yesterdays incident follows closely shelling that severely damaged power lines near water pumping stations in the Donetsk region, which has endangered water supplies to over three million people. We urge Russia-led forces and Ukrainian Armed Forces to allow for maintenance workers to conduct repairs and prevent a new humanitarian crisis. We further call on all forces to withdraw from positions around the Donetsk Filtration Station and other critical civilian infrastructure, the US State Department wrote. The Department again called on Russia to withdraw its forces from eastern Ukraine and fully implement its commitments under the Minsk agreements. As Russia instigated this conflict and continues to arm, train, lead, and fight alongside its proxy forces in the Donbas, Russia bears the responsibility for the worsening humanitarian situation in eastern Ukraine, it is noted. As it was reported earlier, the Donetsk Filtration Station has stopped its work. The supply of the drinking water was stooped to Avdiivka, partially to Donetsk and Yasynuvata, Chervony Partyzan, Kruta Balka and Verkhnyotoretske villages. Earlier, the militants shelled the convoy of the filtration station's workers. Five workers suffered, one of them is in the serious condition. Also, Oleksandr Evdokimov, the acting Director of 'Donbas Water' supposed that the station will be closed on April 18, 2018. Related video: The Mejlis made its opposition to Russian occupation of Crimea clear from the outset, and the repressive measures began soon after it called on all Crimeans to boycott Russias pseudo-referendum on March 16, 2014 It is exactly a year since the UNs International Court of Justice ordered Russia to withdraw its extraordinary ban of the Mejlis, or self-governing body of the Crimean Tatar people, and to ensure education in Ukrainian in occupied Crimea. Assurances before the ruling that Russia would comply with it have proven empty and the situation since then has in fact only deteriorated. All of this will doubtless be documented in Ukraines full submission to the Court, due on 18 June 2018. The International Court of Justice (ICJ) at the Hague gave its preliminary decision on April 19, 2017, regarding claims brought by Ukraine against Russia under two international conventions to which both countries are a party. Russia had clearly hoped, as had happened with an earlier suit brought by Georgia, that the Court would decide that it did not have jurisdiction. Instead, the judges accepted the prima facie jurisdiction over the alleged violations of the International Convention for the Suppression of the Financing of Terrorism through Russias role in the military conflict in Donbas, and of the International Convention on the Elimination of All Forms of Racial Discrimination against Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in occupied Crimea. Ukraine had further asked the Court to impose provisional measures over the violations under both conventions. However, the Court agreed to do so only with respect to the convention against discrimination. Typically, Moscows main response was to exaggerate the limited importance of the ICJs refusal to impose provisional measures on the financing of terrorism charges, while ignoring the demands regarding Crimea. The Russian Foreign Ministrys statement on 2 May 2017 asserted falsely that ICJ had not demanded that Russia withdraw its ban on the Crimean Tatar Mejlis, which is the self-governing body of the main indigenous people of Crimea, and not an organization to be arbitrarily labeled extremist. The Courts ruling found that in the present case, on the basis of the evidence before the Court, it appears that some of the acts complained of by Ukraine fulfill this condition of plausibility. This is the case with respect to the banning of the Mejlis and the alleged restrictions on the educational rights of ethnic Ukrainians. The Court is of the opinion that Crimean Tatars and ethnic Ukrainians in Crimea appear to remain vulnerable . The Court considers that these reports show, prima facie, that there have been limitations on the ability of the Crimean Tatars to choose their representative institutions and restrictions in terms of the availability of Ukrainian-language education in Crimean schools. The Court concludes from this that there is an imminent risk that the acts, as set out above, could lead to irreparable prejudice to the rights invoked by Ukraine. The Russian Federation was therefore ordered to refrain from maintaining or imposing limitations on the ability of the Crimean Tatar community to conserve its representative institutions, including the Mejlis and to ensure the availability of education in the Ukrainian language. While the ruling was hailed as a victory for Ukraine, few expected Russia to comply. Most commentators did, however, predict some kind of cosmetic improvements which in fact never eventuated. In a recent interview, Oleksandr Sedov from the Crimean Human Rights Group said that Russia is doing nothing to ease access to education, either in Ukrainian or in Crimean Tatar, and there are absolutely no grounds for expecting an improvement in the near future. The only Ukrainian-language school in Feodosia is still working but the question is: how formal the approach is to the supposed language of tuition. In other secondary schools, they call a parents gathering at the end of each school year and ask the parents to decide what language they want their children to be taught in the following year. Most choose Russian at the emphatic recommendation of the teachers and school head. And people are simply afraid to demonstrate their Ukrainian identity since the propaganda is making Ukrainians into enemies of the people. In fact, the situation is possibly getting worse. (More details here) Russias ban of the Mejlis as extremist in April 2016 was internationally condemned and has been challenged in the European Court of Human Rights, as well as with the ICJ as being in violation of the UN Convention against Discrimination. The Mejlis made its opposition to Russian occupation of Crimea clear from the outset, and the repressive measures began soon after it called on all Crimeans to boycott Russias pseudo-referendum on March 16, 2014. If the initial measures mainly targeted individuals, with Mustafa Dzhemilev and the current head of the Mejlis, Refat Chubarov both banned from their homeland, this soon changed. In September 2014, the Mejlis was evicted from its traditional headquarters, and on Jan 29, 2015, Akhtem Chiygoz, the Deputy Head of the Mejlis was arrested on legally nonsensical charges. He had been sentenced to 8 years imprisonment, and another Mejlis leader, Ilmi Umerov, to two years when they were unexpectedly released as part of a deal involving Turkey in October 2017. Threats to ban the Mejlis began in October 2015, and on February 15, 2016, the de facto prosecutor Natalya Poklonskaya announced that an application had been made for the ban, with the claim being that the Mejlis was extremist. There were Soviet echoes in the claim that this was based on appeals from the Crimean Tatar population, including from the heads of Crimean Tatar organizations, asking for the activities of the Crimean Tatar Mejlis to be declared unlawful and provocation. The formal ban was issued on April 26, 2016, with this upheld by the Russian Supreme Court on Sep 29, 2016. Russia has consistently tried to treat the Mejlis as a civic organization which can be banned as extremist. The evidence provided at the court hearings was quite absurd, including even a document published by Mustafa Dzhemiev back in Soviet times (1988) as well as the Mejlis founding documents from two decades before Russias annexation. Their supposed extremism lay in the aim declared as being the reinstatement of the Crimean Tatar peoples national and political rights as part of Ukraine. The Mejlis remains banned. Although Mejlis leaders Akhtem Chiygoz and Ilmi Umerov were released, almost certainly as part of an exchange for two suspected Russian state-sponsored killers being held by Turkey, there have been other arrests. On 23 November 2017, the FSB tried to arrest and caused the death of a world-renowned veteran of the Crimean Tatar national movement, 83-year-old Vedzhie Kashka. Four men who had been helping the elderly woman: Asan Chapukh, Bekir Degermendzhy, Kazim Ametov and Ruslan Trubach, were arrested that day: The first three men are in their late fifties or sixties and in poor health, and Russia is placing their lives in danger in a futile attempt to discredit the Mejlis and prominent members of the Crimean Tatar community (details here). In September 2017, representatives of the Mejlis lodged a formal application with the High Court in occupied Crimea in light of the ICJ ruling, asking for a review of Russias ban. In fact, several individual applications were lodged a week after the de facto prosecutor in Crimea informed the First Deputy Head of the Mejlis, Nariman Dzhelyal that it was seeking clarification about the ban following the ICJs decision. Dzhelyal rightly noted that instead of simply complying with this international court whose rulings Russia has committed itself to obey, the prosecutor had taken three months to merely ask the High Court in occupied Crimea for guidance. There had also been a separate application lodged by Russian lawyer Nikolai Polozov on July 18. A year after the ICJ ruling, there remains no clarification no review, only an ever-increasing number of Crimean Tatar and other Ukrainian political prisoners, many arrested in connection with their pro-Ukrainian position or civic activism, often in defense of victims of persecution. Read the original text at Human Rights in Ukraine CLEARWATER, Fla., April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- On Friday April 27th the Scientology Information Center will hold its next Open House Reception during the City of Clearwaters Blast Friday Concert. The Reception will begin at 5pm and will continue throughout the concert. All are welcome. The Center is located at 500 Cleveland Street on Downtown Clearwater. The Open House will include light refreshments, educational materials, and over 400 short informational videos covering the Churches of Scientology around the world, its beliefs and practices, the Social Betterment programs helping communities in need around the world and the life of Scientologys Founder, Mr. L. Ron Hubbard. When people are in the area they like to stop by and see what we are all about. The Center fulfills the curiosity people have about Scientology, really giving them the opportunity to find out about it for themselves, said Amber Skjelset, Manager of the Center. Questions commonly answered include: Do Scientologists believe in God? Can people from other faiths participate in Scientology services? What are the scriptures of Scientology? Are women able to be ministers in the Church? The Scientology Information Center is open daily from 10am-10pm. For more information about this event or to visit the Scientology please contact Amber at 727-467-6966 or amber@cos.flag.org. About the Church of Scientology: The Scientology religious philosophy was founded by L. Ron Hubbard. The first Church of Scientology was formed in the United States in 1954 and has expanded to more than 11,000 churches, missions and affiliated groups, in 167 nations. Scientologists are optimistic about life and believe there is hope for a saner world and better civilization, and actively do all they can to help achieve this. For more information please visit www.scientology-fso.org and www.scientology.tv. For Immediate release Contact Amber Skjelset (727) 467-6966 A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/bc9b2728-c8b2-4468-b225-d6e50b42e1dd Argentina will extradite a woman accused of the embezzlement of $45,700 of the state enterprise. Yevhen Yenin, the Deputy Prosecutor General of Ukraine reported this on Facebook. The competent authorities of the Republic of Argentina satisfied the request on the extradition of the Ukrainian citizens to bring her to the criminal responsibility due to the embezzlement of funds of the state enterprise in the sum of $45,700, the message said. Yenin added that the organization of the transit-shipment of the extradited person to Ukraine continues as it should take place through the territories of a few countries and the permission of the competent authorities of these countries is needed. It is noted that the decision of Argentina to extradite a person on the request of Ukraine is made based on the principled of the goodwill and mutuality and it is an unprecedented case in the sphere of the international cooperation, taking into account the absence of the agreements on extradition between Ukraine and Argentina. Earlier Pavlo Petrenko, the Minister of Justice of Ukraine claimed that there are no obstacles for the continuation of the procedure of the extradition of Mikheil Saakashvili, the leader of 'Rukh Novykh Syl' Party to Georgia. The country's vice prime minister for European integration of Ukraine came to Lithuania with working visit and negotiated with the Centre's leaders Open source By the end of the year, Ukraine intends to join the NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE). Ivanna Klympush-Tsyntsadze, Ukraine's vice prime minister for European integration said this in Vilnius on Thursday evening; she came to Lithuania with the working visit and negotiated with the Centre's leaders. The CEO of the Centre, Colonel Gintaras Bagdonas said that the Centre was ready to cooperate with Ukraine in various perspective directions, such as holding joint drills in energy security area, as well as the development and release of joint analytical issues. The official added that the center is ready to host a Ukrainian expert for the exchange in the area of energy security and participation in joint projects. The NATO Energy Security Centre of Excellence (ENSEC COE) currently operates as a widely recognized international military organization with the aim of providing qualified and appropriate expert advice on questions related to operational energy security. The mission of the ENSEC COE is to assist Strategic Commands, other NATO bodies, nations, partners, and other civil and military bodies by supporting NATOs capability development process, mission effectiveness, and interoperability in the near, mid and long terms by providing comprehensive and timely subject matter expertise on all aspects of energy security. The mission includes cost-effective solutions to support military requirements, energy efficiency in the operational field, and interaction with academia and industry. Nikki Haley, the U.S. Permanent Representative to UN also accused Russia of the poisoning of ex-GRU officer Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury and reminded on the danger of the chemical weapon at the UN Security Council session. If the nerve agent appeared in a small British city, when it will appear next time? Nobody is safe until UN begins to assume steps against the chemical weapon, she said. Also, she joined the claim of the UK that Russia is responsible for the Skripals poisoning. Douma and Salisbury are only two recent incidents with the use of the chemical weapon. It is a weapon of the terror. There is no place for it in the civilized world. If we do not assume any measures, the next chemical attack can reach one of us and it will be too late, Haley said. Also, Karen Pierce, Britain's Permanent Representative to the United Nations accused Russia of the poisoning of ex-GRU officer Sergey Skripal and said that only Russia has a motive and the resources to create Novichok nerve agent. As it was reported earlier, Russian Foreign Minister Sergey Lavrov said on Saturday that experts from the Swiss Center for Radiological and Chemical-Biological Analysis, who examined the samples taken from the site of poisoning of the former intelligence officer and his daughter in Salisbury, came to conclusion that Sergei and Yulia Skripal were poisoned by a chemical substance BZ. The OPCW conclusions confirm that the nerve agent could be produced in any lab with the proper equipment Vasily Nebenzya, Russias Permanent Representative to UN claimed that the report of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) does not state that the nerve agent was produced in Russia during the UN Security Council session on the case of the poisoning of Sergey and Yulia Skripals. There is nothing in the OPCW report that would help the British side to ground its false version on the involvement of Russia in the Salisbury incident. The most important that there are no conclusions that the nerve agent used in Salisbury was produced in Russia, he said. According to him, the OPCW conclusions confirm that the nerve agent could be produced in any lab with the proper equipment. Nebenzya considers the accusations of Russia of the poisoning of Skripals as the attempt of the political pressure on the investigation. We ask the British side to clarify everything. Are the claims of the Downing Street on the supposed involvement of Russia in the Salisbury incident is the attempt of putting the political pressure on the investigation or the final conclusions of the Scotland Yard investigation?, he said. The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons confirmed Britains conclusions that ex-GRU officer Sergei Skripal was poisoned with the nerve agent. Ex-colonel of Russias GRU, Chief Intelligence Department, Sergey Skripal and his daughter Yulia, poisoned in the center of Salisbury town in the evening of March 4, are still struggling for life in the intensive care unit of the local hospital. The British special services suppose that Skripals were poisoned by his ex-colleague Andrey Lugovoy, who acted on orders from Moscow. Earlier, MI6, the British secret intelligence, recommended that former GRU colonel Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia change identities and move the U.S. to avoid any new assassination attempts. This was decided after negotiations between MI6 and their counterpart from the CIA. UN Security Team was forced to move away, delaying the arrival of the OPCW inspectors The Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) postponed the beginning of the investigation of the chemical attack in Douma, Syria as BBC reported. This incident again highlights the highly volatile environment in which the FFM (fact-finding mission) is having to work and the security risks our staff are facing, Ahmet Uzumcu, the OPCE Chief said. Nobody suffered in the result of the fire attack and the mission returned to Damascus. As we reported the UN Security Team, which is conducting an investigation in Douma (Syria), came under fire on April 18. The mission was forced to withdraw, delaying the arrival of chemical weapons inspectors. On April 13, the U.S. troops landed a missile strike on chemical infrastructure in Syria; the UK and France joined in. The strikes killed at least six people and dealt damage to a number of weaponry research objects. On April 7, the volunteer organizations reported that the chemical attack at Douma, the East Ghouta took place. As a result of this attack at least 70 people died. The Syrian government and Russia called this information untrue, while the US and allies have blamed Bashar al-Assad for the attack. The president emphasized that he expects the continuation of the Ukraine-Israel partnership Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine congratulated the citizens of Israel on the 70th anniversary of the independence as the presidential press service reported. I am glad to note that the fruitful and dynamic dialogue between our countries witness that we have reached a mutual understanding in the majority of the spheres of the bilateral cooperation. I am sure that the relations between Ukraine and Israel have the significant perspectives, especially against the establishment of the Free Trade Area in the near future, Poroshenko said. The president emphasized that expects the continuation of the Ukraine-Israel partnership. I hope to welcome you in Ukraine soon and your visit will become one more approval of the successful inter-state relations. Moreover, Poroshenko invited Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu to visit Ukraine. As we reported Ukraine finished the negotiations on the concluding of the Agreement on Free Trade Area with Israel and the signing of the document will take place in the near time. The negotiations on the FTA with Israel were activated in 2016 and only in 2017, they passed through 11 rounds. After the signing, the agreement should be ratified by the parliaments of Ukraine and Israel. The coming into force will allow to export the wide range of the agricultural products and food products, medications, cosmetics, chemical and light industry products, building materials, electronic goods and other products to Israel. In three years, the duties will be removed from the spices, seeds, flour, ketchup, canned goods, confectionary, clothes, furniture and glass goods. The agreement regulates trade argues, fixes customs formalities, rules of the origin of the goods, describes the sanitary and protection means, including anti-dumping actions. Open source By the end of June, Ukraine will sue Russia in the ECHR again - this time for violations of rights of political prisoners. Pavlo Petrenko, the justice minister of Ukraine said this as quoted by Interfax-Ukraine news agency. 'It is about protection of rights of these people. We're working on the evidence and the text of the statement, jointly with our international experts whom we asked to assist. I can reveal no more details so far to prevent the aggressor state from using it against us,' the minister said. He added that the lawsuit will aim to protect the rights of all Ukrainian political prisoners who are now serving time in Russian jails. Ukraine expects Russia to reply to Kyivs offer to exchange Ukrainian political prisoners for 23 Russian citizens who currently serve time in Ukrainian prisons. Earlier, Iryna Gerashchenko, the deputy head of the Ukrainian parliament and Ukraine's humanitarian representative in the Minsk talks group said that 23 Russian citizens remain in Ukrainian prisons, serving time for tough crimes against this country's statehood and territorial integrity. 'The Russians, arrested during the conflict in Donbas, currently serve time in Ukrainian jails - for the crimes against the territorial integrity and sovereignty; they were detained and judged for their part in this conflict, siding with the so-called 'militia'. It is obvious, however, that they are the curators, not the militia fighters. The Ukrainian side is ready to pass these judged people in the exchange for Ukrainian citizens', she said. The guns came from the U.S and the EU, - Deputy Head of State Security Service Ukraine's National Police and the Security Service of Ukraine (SBU) have busted the international weapon supply channel in this country, with the weapons, explosives and spare parts coming from abroad. Viktor Kononenko, the Deputy Head of the State Security Service said that at a briefing in Kyiv. 'On April 18, the Service and the National Police ceased the activity of a criminal gang, which used the aid of foreign assistance to illegally bring firearms to Ukraine. The investigation found out that a resident of Kyiv set the supply channel, receiving spare parts for handguns and assault rifles from the U.S. and Europe', he said. The guns were disassembled before the arrival in Ukraine; in Kyiv, they would be assembled for further sale. 'We seized three machineguns, two assault rifles, seven SMGs, 30 pistols and revolvers, eight grenade launchers, 32 grenades, five landmines, over 3,000 cartridges and spare parts for another 49 pistols. Kononenko added that the weapons were found in six houses and seven cars. The investigation into the case is underway. The channel's organizer is charged with the illegal gun handling. The advocates are not satisfied with such decision The Obolon Court of Kyiv announced the switch to the phase of debating on the state treason case of Viktor Yanukovych as Interfax-Ukraine reported. Taking into account the absence of the appeals and the decision of all previous, the court decided to finish the establishment of the circumstances of the case and check of the evidence and switch to the phase of debating. Are the sides ready for them?', Vladyslav Deviatko, the presiding judge asked after the questioning of Yury Iliin, the former Chief of the General Staff and consideration of the number of the defenses appeals. The prosecutors of the Chief Military Prosecutors Office expressed the readiness for the debates. In their turn, Yanukovychs lawyers protested against the decision. This decision is illegal as not all the witnesses were questioned. It was made under the political pressure. Not more than 10 defenses witnesses were questioned, Vitaly Serdyuk, the advocate emphasized. Later the defense refused to participate in the debates and left the court hall. Earlier, the Obolon District Court of Kyiv allowed the questioning of Petro Poroshenko, the President of Ukraine within the case of the state treason of Viktor Yanukovych, the former president of Ukraine in the regime of the video conference from the presidential administration. It is supposed that the questioning will last for an hour and a half since 14:00 till 15:30. Yanukovych is charged with state treason, assistance in deliberate actions against Ukraines state border, sovereignty and territorial integrity and assistance in leading the aggressive war against Ukraine. For the first time in the history of Ukraine, NATO Military Committee held a meeting at the level of military representatives in the country. The head of Lviv Regional State Administration Oleh Sinyutka reported this on Facebook. "For the first time in the history of Ukraine, the visiting session of the Military Committee of NATO took place in Lviv region, and I am confident that with the support of the North Atlantic Alliance and joint efforts we will defend Ukraine's independence and return Eastern occupied territories and Crimea," he wrote. The meeting was held at the National Ground Forces Academy named after Hetman Petro Sahaidachny in Lviv on Wednesday, April 18. As it was reported earlier, NATO praised the fact that the Ukrainian government developed the Law on National Security, adding provisions on civilian control over the military and special services. Earlier this month, the Verkhovna Rada supported the president's bill on the national security of Ukraine, taking into account the proposals of the respective parliamentary committee. The draft law clarifies conditions of coordination and subordination of the security and defence forces. The President is the one who manages these forces. He declares war, martial law and state of emergency; makes decisions about general and partial mobilization in the military; makes orders and intructions on security issues; leads the National Security and Defence Council; appoints and dismisses the Secretary and Deputies of the National Security and Defence Council; appoints and dismisses the High Command of Military Forces (on the recommendations of Commander-in-Chief), etc. Related video: Vancouver, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Restaurants Canada supports reasonable minimum wage increases to ensure employees can keep up with the cost of living. Licensed restaurant members also support British Columbias liquor server wage as it enables restaurateurs to provide higher wages to non-gratuity earning career oriented back of the house staff. British Columbias licensed restaurant industry is extremely disappointed with todays short sighted announcement that phases out British Columbias liquor server wage, said Mark von Schellwitz, Restaurants Canadas Vice President for Western Canada. Clearly the Fair Wages Commission has no understanding of how our industry works as their recommendations will make life less, not more affordable for both liquor servers and non-tipped employees, added von Schellwitz. Restaurants Canada is also disappointed that the Commission did not consider a youth wage to encourage small businesses to hire first time youth workers rather than rely on more experienced employees as the minimum wage increases. The liquor server wage will be phased out over the next four years in step with general minimum wage increases. British Columbias liquor server wage will increase $1.30 from $10.10 to $1140 effective June 1st 2018 followed by another $1.30 increase to $12.70 in 2019. The liquor sever wage then increases by $1.25 in 2020 to $13.95 and will be eliminated completely in 2021 moving up another $1.25 to match the general minimum wage of $15.20. Liquor servers have by far the highest earnings of all hourly employees in a licensed restaurant or bar when you factor in their gratuities, said von Schellwitz. The liquor server wage is important to our licensed members, as it allows licensed restaurateurs to provide higher wages to attract and retain skilled non-gratuity earning kitchen staff, especially during the current labour shortage, concluded von Schellwitz. Comparing GMW increases with LSW phase out Year Liquor Server Wage General Minimum Wage 2018 $11.40 $12.65 2019 $12.70 $13.85 2020 $13.95 $14.60 2021 $15.20 $15.20 Restaurants Canada doesnt want to see a repeat of the significant industry job losses in Alberta, where an arbitrary push for a $15/hour minimum wage and the elimination of the liquor server wage was too much too fast and came at the exactly the wrong time during Albertas economic downturn. Restaurants Canada is a growing community of 30,000 foodservice businesses, including restaurants, bars, caterers, institutions and suppliers. We connect our members from coast to coast, through services, research and advocacy for a strong and vibrant restaurant industry. British Columbia's restaurant industry directly employs 174,000 British Columbians and has total annual sales of $13 billion. Open source The Verkhovna Rada of Ukraine adopted the draft decision #8284 on the support of the appeal of Ukraines president to Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch on the provision of the tome on the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church as 112 Ukraine broadcasted. Petro Poroshenko was present in the parliaments hall during the consideration of the draft decision. When you vote, I will be able to report to His Holiness Bartholomew that we all fulfilled our parts of the agreement dated April 9. And let the powerful voice of the millions of the Orthodox Ukrainians, bishops and lay people be heard by the Ecumenical Patriarch and the Synod through the authority, parliament and presidents position, Poroshenko said. He noted that he will send the letter-appeal to Istanbul as soon as possible. The draft decision comes into force since the day of its adoption. As we reported on April 17, Petro Poroshenko signed an appeal to Bartholomew, the Archbishop of Constantinople and Ecumenical Patriarch with a plea to provide tome towards the autocephaly of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church and urges the Verkhovna Rada to support it. On April 18, Poroshenko held the meeting with the primates of the Orthodox churches and accepted the appeal to Bartholomew, the Ecumenical Patriarch on the provision of the tome on the autocephaly for the Ukrainian church with the signs of all bishops of the Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate and Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. Since 90-s there are a few jurisdictions in Ukraine that call themselves Orthodox local and autocephaly Churches. The Ukrainian Orthodox Church Moscow Patriarchate and Metropolis of Bessarabia of the Romanian Orthodox Church have the canonical status. Ukrainian Orthodox Church Kyiv Patriarchate is canonically not recognized. Also, there is unrecognized Ukrainian Autocephalous Orthodox Church. After this the State Border Guard Service refused another seven citizens of Ukraine, Nord crew members to cross the border of the country Two citizens of Ukraine and members of the crew of Nord fishing vessel detained by Ukraine illegally left Ukraine and fled to Belarus on April 19 as the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported. It is noted that supposedly two citizens of Russia registered in Zhulyany Airport for a flight to Belarus and they showed the Russian passports issued by the Consulate General of Russian in Kharkiv at the passport control. As the Ukrainian side will never recognize the documents issued by the occupation authorities of Russia in Crimea it does not concern the documents issued by the official diplomatic offices of Russia in Ukraine as the transcription of the surnames of the citizens in the Russian passports differed from the identification data of the Ukrainian citizens the crew members of Nord ship that were in the database. These citizens passed the control and fled to Belarus, the service noted. At the moment of the flight, the State Border Guard Service did not get any orders from other law enforcement bodies or decision of the courts on the limiting of the departing from the country for the crew members. There are grounds to doubt the legality of the issuance of the documents to the citizens of Ukraine, Nord crew members that confirm their Russian citizenship. So during the execution of the passengers for the flight to Minsk, the State Border Guard Service refused another seven citizens of Ukraine, Nord crew members to cross the border of the country, the message said. According to State Border Guard Service, they provided the similar documents as the Russian citizens. The documents were confiscated; moreover, the protocols on another attempt of the illegal crossing of the state border of Ukraine were made. The materials are filed to the court. As 112 International reported, nine members of the crew of the Nord fishing vessel, detained in the Sea of Azov by Ukrainian border guards, tried to travel to the territory of the Russian Federation with the help of representatives of the Consulate General of Russia. Ukrainian border guards detained fishing ship-violator under the Russian flag in the Sea of Azov on March 25. The Nord ship was stopped in 15 miles from the Obytichna sandspit. The inspection defined that the ship was registered in the temporarily occupied Crimea. Besides, the members of the crew violated the order of the exit from the temporarily occupied territory of Ukraine. All of them had the so-called Russian passports, issued in Kerch. Later, the court arrested the detained ship. Ukrainian border guards detained Volodymyr Gorbenko on April 4. As we reported earlier, the ports, located on the territory of Crimea (Yevpatoria, Kerch, Sevastopol, Feodosia, Yalta) were shut down by the order of the Cabinet of Ministers on Ukraine (Some question on the functioning of marine and river transport) and according to the order of the Ministry of Infrastructure (on shut down of sea ports). As we reported earlier, Horbenko was arrested until May 31, 2018. At the same time, the court provided a possibility to bail him out for $1, 354, and his lawyers used this opportunity. On April 12, Russia threatened to 'respond' to the arrest of the Nord vessel in Ukraine. The investigation against other suspected in this case continues The Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine filed charges against Oleksandr Lavrynovych, the former Justice Minister to the court as the press service of the office reported. The Special Investigation Office of the Special Investigation Department of the Prosecutor Generals Office of Ukraine finished the investigation and filed the charges against former Justice Minister to the court, the message said. Lavrynovych is accused of the seizure of the State power in association with others (including Viktor Yanukovych) and in his interests, including the assume of the measures for the illegal, without the permission of any legislative authority of Ukraine the Verkhovna Rada, change of the current Constitution of Ukraine that led to the extension of the authorities of the Ukrainian president by the illegal way. The pretrial investigation against other suspected in this case (Viktor Yanukovych and the former Deputy Justice Minister) is stopped now as they are on the wanted list. It was also chosen to detain the former Deputy Justice Minister. The investigation against other suspected in this case continues. On September 15, 2017, Pechersk Court of Kyiv arrested Lavrynovych for two months. On September 19, his lawyer Yevhen Solodko filed an appeal on the court decision on the arrest. On September 27, the Appeal Court of Kyiv revoked the arrest of Lavrynovych. The Prosecutor Generals Office suspects Lavrynovych and fugitive-president Viktor Yanukovych in the seizure of the power in 2010. Lavrynovych did not plead guilty and claimed that he fulfilled his duties. It is normal for the migrant workers to work overtime. However, such schedule can negatively affect ones health. Lidia Tkachenko, the Research Associate of Ptoukha Institute for Demography and Social Studies said this on air of 24 TV channel. According to the researcher, Ukrainians work overtime abroad pursuing a bigger income. The risk for health is growing under the permanent exhaustion and it does not matter if a person works in dangerous conditions or not. We may say that migrants working overtime is a norm. Yes, the salary and overtime payment could be higher. However, if a person works intensively for three months with only one day-off without appropriate rest, without recovering the health, the risk for their health is growing under the permanent exhaustion and it does not matter if the working conditions are harmful or not. Because a person simply strains oneself, she said. A sudden change of the way of living after returning home is another danger migrant workers face. When they return home and dont work, it is also a risk. Often, it could lead to alcoholism, the expert said. As it was reported earlier, about 58% of the citizens of Ukraine said that they did not try to protect their rights even if they were violated. This is the data of the pools held with the support of the UN Development Program in Ukraine, Democratic Initiatives Funds named after Ilko Kucheriv at the initiative of Valeria Lutkovska, the Ukrainian Parliament Commissioner for Human Rights. Lutkovska noted that, unfortunately, such index creates the social demand for the corruption and shows the presence of the great problem mistrust to the judicial branch of the authority that exists in Ukraine. Related video: The flooding of Yunkom mine in Donbas can become a new Chornobyl, and it is nothing more than terrorism and blackmail, the Minister of Ecology and Natural Resources of Ukraine Ostap Semerak said after the meeting of EU-Ukraine Parliamentary Association Committee in Strasbourg. This was reported by the press service of the ministry. "Not only nuclear experts but also international organizations responsible for the security in the region were confused by the militants plans. I informed the European parliamentarians about this emergency, and I insisted on bringing up this issue in all negotiating groups on the settlement of Donbas situation and, in particular, on the admission of OSCE mission representatives for environmental monitoring at Yunkom mine," the minister said. He confirmed that, according to experts, the mine poses threat not only to Ukraines ecology but also to the neighboring countries. The environmental situation in Donbas, which is one of the most technologically burdened areas of Europe, has been also a concern prior to 2014, according to Semerak, but now the situation is on the brink of disaster. As it was reported earlier, militants started to flood Yunkom mine in a temporarily occupied Yenakiyeve of Donetsk region. Almost 40 years ago there has been a nuclear explosion performed with an aim to relieve the tension in the mountain massif. Thus, Donbas residents are facing the danger of radiation poisoning, in particular through the poisoning of drinking water. As it was reported earlier, out of 4 thousand dangerous objects established by Swiss experts, 17 represent a "radiation hazard". The most dangerous mine can be the Yunkom mine in Yenakiyeve, the city of steel and coal in the separatist Donetsk People's Republic, which is proud not only of its fellow countryman, Soviet cosmonaut Georgy Beregov, but also of former president Viktor Yanukovych who fled to Russia. Here in 1979, the Soviet Union tested the atomic bomb deep underground. Related video: I t had been almost a month since Id first arrived into Italy. Id crisscrossed the country - down, then up, then down again - and now back... Agriculture biologicals startup Inocucor has acquired ATP Nutrition in the opening salvo of a plan to become a selective consolidator in the premium crop inputs space. The company acquired ATP, a Manitoba-based chemical crop nutrition company, for an undisclosed sum. ATP focuses on filling deficits in soil health for row-crop farms. The two companies will combine the two R&D teams going forward to create combinations of biologicals and crop nutrition products formulated based on plant type, geography, and soil conditions to increase the efficacy of both products. Were developing a whole suite of new products between the companies that bring crop treatments to let farmers reach the full genetic potential of every seed, Inocucor CEO Don Marvin told AgFunderNews. He also explained that the two companies complement each other in terms of distribution, with Inocucor benefitting from ATPs wide distribution across Canada and ATP growing through Inocucors US reach the companys new Denver office will open in May. At the end of the day what brought Inocucor and ATP together was that they wanted to grow their product offering in biologicals and we wanted to develop our own marketing channel for second-generation biologicals, said Marvin. Marvin calls his product second generation biologicals because Inocucors dont contain actual microbes, but the metabolites that send metabolic signals to stimulate plant growth. Along with closing the acquisition this week, the Montreal-headquartered company has reached a final close of its Series B round on $54.4 million. The additional $15.9 million brought in since the second close in January, came from existing investors TPG Alternative and Renewable Technologies (TPG ART), an arm of the $70 billion global private investment house TPG, Cycle Capital Management, the Montreal-based cleantech venture capital firm; Desjardin Innovatech, the venture capital group of the Canadian cooperative financial group, and California-based agtech VC Pontifax AgTech. In January, Marvin told AgFunderNews that acquisition news from the company was imminent and this transaction, he says, is the first in a series of actions that will move Inocucor into the role of selective consolidator in the premium inputs space. Pontifax AgTech managing partner and co-founder Ben Belldegrun, who has joined Inocucors board of directors, said that it was this strategy that drew the agtech investor to Inocucor. Inocucors acquisition platform strategy is incredibly unique and provides immediate value through the first successful acquisition of ATP. Inocucor will continue to make strategic acquisitions in adjacent areas of the plant-health industry that help the company deliver a portfolio of differentiated products that act in collaboration with existing and future biological-based products, he said. Both Belldegrun and Marvin agree that the biologicals space is crowded and needs consolidation. Agricultural input providers are fragmented and provide individual solutions. Growers need to maximize ROI for integrated farming programs by utilizing a portfolio of differentiated products that act in collaboration between biologicals and nutrients. That is exactly what Inocucor is building through its acquisition strategy, said Belldegrun. Assuming the role of acquirer as a startup itself begs the question of what kind of exit Inocucor, and its investors have in mind. Weve always said that we are building a rather significant company that is a standalone company that offers great products that make the farmer money, said Marvin. Belldegrun, who joined Inocucors investors for the second close of its Series B in January, is on board with the notion, noting that especially for a biologicals startup, Inocucors existing revenue stands out and offers promise for multiple exit options down the line. We were attracted to the fact that Inocucor has commercialized products today with proven technology and grower sales, a real differentiator in the biologicals space, and a greater value proposition to acquirers Profitable, stand-alone entities with commercialized products generate real interest from strategic acquirers who are not looking to increase additional cash burn. More importantly, they are presented with many more liquidity options including traditional private equity buyers and IPOs, said Belldegrun. Inocucor is not the only biologicals-focused startups seeking to stand on its own. Indigo Agriculture, the Boston-based microbial crop technology startup told AgFunderNews in December that it would likely list on a public exchange eventually. Inocucor continues to work toward geographic expansion in Brazil, Argentina, and Uruguay. Also on the docket for 2018 is distribution expansion into Western Europe, particularly Spain, and of course, more acquisitions. Its a growth strategy play. Now the market is beginning to understand that we did what we said we would do and there will be a next and a next and a next Inocucor manufactures biological stimulants for agriculture using a patented fermentation process that combines multi-strains of bacteria and yeasts into soil and plant optimizers. It has two products on the market that aim to enhance the growth of crops: Synergro, a live-cell formulation for high-value produce, such as strawberries, tomatoes, lettuce and broccoli, and Synergro Free, a cell-free bio-fertilizer for commodity row crops, such as soybean, corn and wheat. A free information session for prospective students and their families. Santa Fe Community College will present Explore Your Options at SFCC, a free information session for prospective students and their families from 6 to 8 p.m., Thursday, April 19 in the Jemez Rooms on campus at 6401 Richards Ave. Explore Your Options at SFCC is a special event where you will have the opportunity to find out about the various programs, services and financial aid options that SFCC has to offer. Speakers will present details about general admissions, dual credit, the Santa Fe Higher Education Center, the Road to Success and New Mexico Lottery Scholarships and more. Information will be available in Spanish for admissions, financial aid and more. (Informacion en espanol para admisiones, ayuda financiera y mas.) Along with traditional fields of study, SFCC offers a wide range of classes including those in biofuels, game design, culinary arts, greenhouse management, fashion design, entrepreneurship, filmmaking and criminal justice. Many classes are available either online or in the evening in order to accommodate the schedules of working adults. Dinner will be provided, as well as a campus tour. If you are able to attend, please RSVP by contacting Student Admissions Counselor Daniela Gurule at 505-428-1149 or daniela.gurule@sfcc.edu or Director of Recruitment and Community Outreach Marcos Maez at 505-428-1779 or marcos.maez@sfcc.edu. The Transaction combines a premium cannabis brand house and retail focused operator in Hiku, with the significant production capabilities and differentiated medical brand in WeedMD Vertically integrated operations over the entire cannabis value chain Coast-to-coast and diversified cannabis cultivation platform with four facilities, and planned expansion capacity to have the ability to produce over 56,000 kg by mid-2019 Brings together an experienced management team with leading capabilities in branding, marketing, retail and cannabis production WeedMD shareholders to receive 1.4185 common shares of Hiku for each share of WeedMD Management to present today at GMP Securities 2018 Cannabis Conference, in Toronto TORONTO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Hiku Brands Company Ltd. (Hiku) (CSE:HIKU) and WeedMD Inc. (TSX-V:WMD) (OTC:WDDMF) (FSE:4WE) (WeedMD), are at the request of IIROC, providing a clarification to their joint press release of earlier today. The companies re-affirm that they are pleased to announce that today they have entered into a definitive agreement (the Arrangement Agreement) to merge both companies (the Transaction). The Transaction combines two highly-complementary businesses and creates a vertically integrated company. Upon completion of the Transaction, existing Hiku and WeedMD shareholders will own approximately 51.75% and 48.25% of the combined company, respectively, on a fully-diluted basis. Upon closing of the Transaction, it is anticipated that the common shares of the pro forma resulting entity will be listed on the TSX Venture Exchange (TSX-V), subject to regulatory approvals. Joint management will be hosting a conference call on Friday, April 20, 2018 beginning at 10:00AM EST. See end of the press release for details. Highlights of the Transaction: Highly Complementary Strengths: The Transaction combines Hikus portfolio of brands, visionary marketing and experiential retail stores with WeedMDs scalable cannabis production capabilities, deep genetics library, and innovative research and development initiatives The Transaction combines Hikus portfolio of brands, visionary marketing and experiential retail stores with WeedMDs scalable cannabis production capabilities, deep genetics library, and innovative research and development initiatives Visionary Leadership with Significant Experience: Experienced management team with leading capabilities in branding, marketing, retail and cannabis production Experienced management team with leading capabilities in branding, marketing, retail and cannabis production Dynamic Retail Growth Across Canada: The combined company plans to aggressively pursue the expansion of its existing retail store network, including the addition of legal retail cannabis stores and online cannabis sales channels where permitted in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba where Tokyo Smoke was conditionally awarded one of four master licenses for retail cannabis sales The combined company plans to aggressively pursue the expansion of its existing retail store network, including the addition of legal retail cannabis stores and online cannabis sales channels where permitted in British Columbia, Alberta, Saskatchewan and Manitoba where Tokyo Smoke was conditionally awarded one of four master licenses for retail cannabis sales Diversified Cannabis Cultivation: This combination brings together four indoor and greenhouse growing facilities in Ontario and British Columbia, with the option for future expansion on more than 100 acres of property at the existing sites. Current planned capacity could exceed 56,000 kg by mid-2019 upon completion of WeedMD's 610,000 square foot greenhouse expansion at its 14 acre greenhouse facility in Strathroy, Ontario This combination brings together four indoor and greenhouse growing facilities in Ontario and British Columbia, with the option for future expansion on more than 100 acres of property at the existing sites. Current planned capacity could exceed 56,000 kg by mid-2019 upon completion of WeedMD's 610,000 square foot greenhouse expansion at its 14 acre greenhouse facility in Strathroy, Ontario Extensive and Unique Genetics: Deep library of unique cannabis genetics is the basis for premium cannabis products in both the adult-use and medical markets Deep library of unique cannabis genetics is the basis for premium cannabis products in both the adult-use and medical markets Enhanced Capital Markets Profile: Increased scale of the combined company will enhance its capital markets profile, in addition, the combined entity will be listed on TSX-V, subject to regulatory approvals Increased scale of the combined company will enhance its capital markets profile, in addition, the combined entity will be listed on TSX-V, subject to regulatory approvals Expanded Platform for Future Growth : Together, the combined company will have substantial and burgeoning infrastructure to support the acceleration of future product development and expansion : Together, the combined company will have substantial and burgeoning infrastructure to support the acceleration of future product development and expansion Synergies from being Vertically Integrated: Having branded stores, cannabis dispensing stores, and owned production facilities ensures a vertically integrated company that can best drive greater margins in the wholesale and retail markets of the new cannabis sector Transaction Summary The Transaction will be carried out by way of a plan of arrangement of WeedMD under the Business Corporations Act (Ontario), pursuant to which WeedMD shareholders will receive 1.4185 Hiku common shares (each, a Hiku Share) in exchange (the Exchange Ratio) for each WeedMD common share (a WeedMD Share), representing the equivalent of C$2.52 per WeedMD Share and a premium of 60% based on the closing prices of Hiku Shares on the Canadian Stock Exchange (CSE) and the WeedMD Shares on the TSX-V on April 18, 2018, and a premium of 79% based on the 20-day volume-weighted-average-price (VWAP) of the Hiku Shares on the CSE and WeedMD Shares on the TSX-V as of April 18, 2018. In addition, each outstanding option and warrant to purchase a WeedMD Share will be exchanged for an option or warrant, as applicable, to purchase a Hiku Share, based upon the Exchange Ratio. Assuming no convertible securities of WeedMD are exercised prior to the completion of the Transaction, Hiku will issue approximately 142 million Hiku Shares in exchange for the WeedMD shares to be exchanged pursuant to the Transaction. The implementation of the Transaction will be subject to the approval of at least 66 2/3% of the votes cast by holders of WeedMD Shares at the annual and special meeting of WeedMD shareholders expected to take place in June 2018. In addition to the WeedMD shareholder approval, the Transaction is also subject to the receipt of certain regulatory, court and stock exchange approvals and certain other closing conditions customary in transactions of this nature. The Arrangement Agreement has been unanimously approved by the boards of directors of each of WeedMD and Hiku. The financial advisor to Hiku, BMO Capital Markets, has provided an opinion to the board of directors of Hiku that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out in such opinion, the Exchange Ratio provided for in the Arrangement Agreement is fair, from a financial point of view, to Hiku. Eight Capital has provided a fairness opinion to the board of directors of WeedMD that, subject to the assumptions, limitations and qualifications set out in such fairness opinion, the consideration to be received by WeedMD shareholders in connection with the Transaction is fair, from a financial point of view, to such WeedMD shareholders. The directors and senior officers of WeedMD have entered into customary voting support agreements to vote in favour of the Transaction. The Arrangement Agreement includes certain non-solicitation covenants subject to the right of WeedMD and Hiku to accept a superior proposal in certain circumstances, with both Hiku and WeedMD having a five-business day right to match any such superior proposal for the other party. The Arrangement Agreement also provides for the payment of a C$10 million mutual termination fee if the Transaction is terminated in certain specified circumstances. Furthermore, upon completion of the Transaction, Alan Gertner will remain the Chief Executive Officer of Hiku and Keith Merker, currently the Chief Financial Officer of WeedMD, will assume the position of President of Hiku. It is expected that the combined company will have a seven-member board, with three members to be appointed by Hiku, three members to be appointed by WeedMD, and one member to be mutually agreed to by Hiku and WeedMD. The combination of Hiku and WeedMD creates a premium cannabis brand house with fully vertically integrated operations, an expanding network of retail stores, a growing medical business and four scalable cannabis production facilities, two of which are currently licensed. As a result of the Transaction, Hiku will operate a diverse cannabis supply chain that includes a large portfolio of unique genetics for its growing brand portfolio and emerging nationwide retail sales channels. The entity combines Hikus strength in retail and branding ensuring a high quality, consistent and educational consumer experience in the adult-use cannabis market with WeedMDs existing service and quality in the medical market. Our vision at Hiku has always been that cannabis is a consumer product in which brands, retail and customer experience will ultimately win, said Alan Gertner, Chief Executive Officer of Hiku. The combination of Hiku and WeedMD creates a cannabis company capable of fulfilling the vision of delivering the best in class experiences from in-store to product, from medical to adult-use, but also capturing full retail and wholesale margins. Bruce Dawson-Scully, Chief Executive Officer of WeedMD, said, WeedMD was founded on the principles of product and patients first. Our goal since inception has been on procuring world class genetics, cultivating premium medical cannabis, and delivering it with best-in-class service to our valued patient base. We look forward to the next step in WeedMDs journey by merging with Hiku, a complimentary group that furthers our mission by bringing our focus and passion into a more robust platform. Having access to brands and a growing retail footprint to execute on our growth plan together with our cultivation and existing medical expertise is intended to ensure significant benefits to our shareholders and expected to present significant upside as Canada marches towards legalization. Hiku has built a portfolio of engaging cannabis brands, immersive retail experiences and handcrafted cannabis production. Hiku's Tokyo Smoke retail banner was awarded Brand of the Year at the 2017 Lift Cannabis Awards. In February 2018, Tokyo Smoke, Hikus wholly owned subsidiary, was awarded one of only four conditional master licenses for cannabis retail in Manitoba, an important milestone in Hikus Canada-wide cannabis retail expansion plans. With a retail footprint led by Tokyo Smoke, cannabis production through DOJAs ACMPR licensed facility, and Van der Pops female-focused educational platforms, Hiku houses a portfolio for cannabis in Canadas adult-use market. WeedMD operates a 26,000 square foot indoor facility with over 1,500 kg of current production capacity and is fully funded for a large-scale production expansion of a 14-acre greenhouse on a 98-acre property representing the possibility for an increase to more than 50,000 kg of capacity upon completion of its 610,000 square foot greenhouse expansion. The combined companies create a brand-focused retail business with the ability to provide product quality and selection on par with the retail experience itself. Further information regarding the Transaction will be included in WeedMDs information circular that WeedMD will prepare, file and mail in due course to its shareholders in connection with the annual and special meeting of WeedMD shareholders to be held to consider the Transaction. All WeedMD shareholders are urged to read the information circular once it becomes available as it will contain additional important information concerning the Transaction. The Arrangement Agreement will be filed on the SEDAR profiles of Hiku and WeedMD on the SEDAR website at www.sedar.com. A copy of the transaction presentation will be available online at www.hiku.com. Advisors and Counsel BMO Capital Markets is acting as exclusive financial advisor to Hiku. Wildeboer Dellelce LLP is acting as legal counsel to Hiku. Eight Capital and Stoic Advisory are acting as financial advisors to WeedMD. Fogler, Rubinoff LLP is acting as legal counsel to WeedMD. Conference Call Information A conference call on the Transaction will be held on Friday, April 20, 2018 beginning at 10:00AM EST. Participants are asked to use the following information: Toll-free dial in number (Canada) 1-800-806-5484 Local dial-in number: 416-406-0743 International dial-in numbers: https://www.confsolutions.ca/ILT?oss=7P7R8008065484 Passcode 2900959# About Hiku Brands Hiku is focused on building a portfolio of engaging cannabis brands, unsurpassed retail experiences and handcrafted cannabis production. With a national retail footprint led by Tokyo Smoke, craft cannabis production through DOJAs ACMPR licensed grow, and Van der Pops female-focused educational platforms, Hiku houses an industry-leading portfolio that aims to set the bar for cannabis brands in Canada. Hikus wholly-owned subsidiary, DOJA Cannabis Ltd., is a federally licensed to cultivate and sell cannabis pursuant to the Access to Cannabis for Medical Purposes Regulations (ACMPR), owning two production facilities in the heart of British Columbias Okanagan Valley. Hikus wholly-owned subsidiary, Tokyo Smoke has been conditionally awarded one of four master retail licenses in Manitoba. Hiku also operates a network of retail stores selling coffee, clothing and curated accessories, across British Columbia, Alberta and Ontario. About WeedMD WeedMD Inc. is the publicly-traded parent company of WeedMD Rx Inc., a federally-licensed producer and distributor of medical cannabis and oils under the ACMPR. The Company operates a 26,000 sq. ft. indoor facility in Aylmer, Ontario, and is awaiting its second-site cultivation license for its greenhouse facility located in Strathroy, Ontario, representing 610,000 sq. ft. or 14 acres under glass. WeedMD has entered into supply agreements in addition to strategic relationships with established cannabis brands. WeedMD is focused on providing medical cannabis to the seniors markets in Canada through its proprietary seniors care program. It is dedicated to educating healthcare practitioners and furthering public understanding of the role that medical cannabis plays including as it pertains to regulatory requirements, indications and potential side effects. Cautionary Statement on Forward-Looking Information This news release contains forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievements of Hiku and WeedMD to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by the forward-looking statements. These forward-looking statements include, but are not limited to, statements relating to our expectations with respect to: the timing and outcome of the Transaction; the anticipated benefits of the Transaction to the parties and their respective security holders; impact of the Transaction and anticipated growth of the combined entity, including planned capacity; and the anticipated timing of the WeedMD shareholder meeting. Often, but not always, forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of words such as plans, expects or does not expect, is expected, estimates, intends, anticipates or does not anticipate, or believes, or variations of such words and phrases or state that certain actions, events or results may, could, would, might or will be taken, occur or be achieved. In respect of the forward-looking statements and information concerning the anticipated benefits and completion of the Transaction and the anticipated timing for completion of the Transaction, Hiku and WeedMD have provided such statements and information in reliance on certain assumptions that they believe are reasonable at this time, including assumptions as to the time required to prepare and mail security holder meeting materials; the ability of the parties to receive, in a timely manner and on satisfactory terms, the necessary regulatory, court and shareholders approvals; the ability of the parties to satisfy, in a timely manner, the other conditions to the closing of the Transaction; and other expectations and assumptions concerning the Transaction. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will occur, or that it will occur on the terms and conditions contemplated in this news release. The Transaction could be modified, restructured or terminated. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on the forward-looking statements and information contained in this press release. Since forward-looking statements and information address future events and conditions, by their very nature they involve inherent risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of factors and risks. Readers are cautioned that the foregoing list of factors is not exhaustive. Additional information on other factors that could affect the operations or financial results of the parties are included in reports on file with applicable securities regulatory authorities. The forward-looking statements contained in this news release are made as of the date of this release and, accordingly, are subject to change after such date. Hiku and WeedMD do not assume any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by us or on our behalf, except as required by applicable law. None of the TSX Venture Exchange or the Canadian Securities Exchange and their Regulation Services Providers accept responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Completion of the Transaction is subject to a number of conditions, including but not limited to, TSXV acceptance and if applicable, disinterested shareholder approval. Where applicable, the Transaction cannot close until the required shareholder approval is obtained. There can be no assurance that the Transaction will be completed as proposed or at all. Investors are cautioned that, except as disclosed in the management information circular to be prepared in connection with the Transaction, any information released or received with respect to the Transaction may not be accurate or complete and should not be relied upon. Trading in the securities of WeedMD and Hiku should be considered highly speculative. The TSX Venture Exchange has in no way passed upon the merits of the proposed transaction and has neither approved nor disapproved the contents of this news release. For Further Information, Please Contact: Will Stewart Hiku Vice President of Corporate Communications and Public Affairs 416-899-9422 wstewart@hiku.com Keith Merker WeedMD CFO 519-706-4900 keith@weedmd.com SUWANEE, GA, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (OTCQB: SNWV) and Premier Shockwave, Inc. are pleased to announce that the company will exhibit at the Tribal Public Health Conference in Norman, OK, April 25 26, 2018. This will be Premier Shockwaves first opportunity to present the dermaPACE System since being selected by SANUWAVE Health, Inc. as its exclusive distributor to the Indian Health Service (IHS) and Tribally operated healthcare services market. We are excited to be exhibiting at the 2018 Tribal Public Health Conference. It is an honor to be able to work with the IHS and the Tribal healthcare community to bring a game-changing product to this market which will materially improve patient outcomes and quality of life for those suffering from chronic Diabetic Foot Ulcers DFUs. The dermaPACE System will enable Tribal healthcare to treat their own DFUs internally and not be dependent on out-sourcing area facilities. This will save thousands of dollars per DFU treated by Tribal healthcare. Stated David Anderson, Executive Vice President of Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc. an affiliate of Premier Shockwave, Inc. He added, Any physician who sees DFUs can prescribe the dermaPACE System. We expect to see interest from not only podiatrists but also endocrinologists, vascular surgeons, foot & ankle orthopedists and to have their nurses or assistants trained to use the dermaPACE System on patients in a wound care facility or an in-office setting. The Company is using this occasion to formally introduce their lead wound care product, the dermaPACE System, based upon SANUWAVEs proprietary Pulsed Acoustic Cellular Expression (PACE) Technology. PACE Technology is the newest generation of shockwave technology utilizing the electrohydraulic shockwave principle and has been proven in two double-blind, randomized-control US based clinical trials enrolling 336 subjects to be safe and effective in the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. Within a few weeks of initial treatment, wounds treated with dermaPACE reduce in area at superior rates compared to control subjects. The dermaPACE System continued to exhibit superiority in wound area reduction from baseline and exhibited superiority in wound closure within 20 weeks of initial treatment. The use of the dermaPACE System allows the clinician to more easily, and more cost-effectively, manage wounds. More importantly, the patients quality of life improves significantly. If you are interested in scheduling a meeting with the team, please contact David Anderson via e-mail at david@premiershockwave.com; otherwise, please stop by our booth. About SANUWAVE Health, Inc. SANUWAVE Health, Inc. (OTCQB:SNWV) (www.sanuwave.com) is a shock wave technology company initially focused on the development and commercialization of patented noninvasive, biological response activating System for the repair and regeneration of skin, musculoskeletal tissue and vascular structures. SANUWAVEs portfolio of regenerative medicine products and product candidates activate biologic signaling and angiogenic responses, producing new vascularization and microcirculatory improvement, which helps restore the bodys normal healing processes and regeneration. SANUWAVE applies its patented PACE technology in wound healing, orthopedic/spine, plastic/cosmetic and cardiac conditions. Its lead product candidate for the global wound care market, dermaPACE, is US FDA cleared for the treatment of Diabetic Foot Ulcers. The dermaPACE System is also CE Marked throughout Europe and has license approval for the treatment of the skin and subcutaneous soft tissue in Canada, South Korea, Australia and New Zealand. SANUWAVE researches, designs, manufactures, markets and services its products worldwide, and believes it has demonstrated that its technology is safe and effective in stimulating healing in chronic conditions of the foot (plantar fasciitis) and the elbow (lateral epicondylitis) through its U.S. Class III PMA approved OssaTron System, as well as stimulating bone and chronic tendonitis regeneration in the musculoskeletal environment through the utilization of its OssaTron, Evotron and orthoPACE Systems in Europe, Asia and Asia/Pacific. In addition, there are license/partnership opportunities for SANUWAVEs shock wave technology for non-medical uses, including energy, water, food and industrial markets. About Premier Shockwave, Inc. and Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc. Premier Shockwave, Inc. is the leading shockwave company for podiatric and orthopedic applications using OssaTron and dermaPACE Systems throughout the United States and currently serves over 30 VA Hospitals and Military Treatment Facilities in the continental United States and Alaska. Premier Shockwave, Inc. will manage the dermaPACE business for Premier Shockwave Wound Care, Inc. For additional information about the company, please go to www.premiershockwave.com. Forward-Looking Statements This press release may contain forward-looking statements within the meaning of the Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995, such as statements relating to financial results and plans for future business development activities and are thus prospective. Forward-looking statements include all statements that are not statements of historical fact regarding intent, belief or current expectations of the Company, its directors or its officers. Investors are cautioned that any such forward-looking statements are not guarantees of future performance and involve risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the Companys ability to control. Actual results may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. Among the key risks, assumptions and factors that may affect operating results, performance and financial condition are risks associated with the regulatory approval and marketing of the Companys product candidates and products, unproven pre-clinical and clinical development activities, regulatory oversight, the Companys ability to manage its capital resource issues, competition, and the other factors discussed in detail in the Companys periodic filings with the Securities and Exchange Commission. The Company undertakes no obligation to update any forward-looking statement. For additional information about the Company, visit www.sanuwave.com. English French MONTREAL, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Gildan Activewear Inc. (TSX:GIL) (NYSE:GIL) will report its 2018 first quarter results on Wednesday, May 2, 2018. A press release will be issued after markets close and a conference call is scheduled on that same day at 5:00 PM ET to discuss the Companys results and business outlook. The Company also announced that it will hold its annual meeting of shareholders at Le Windsor, in Montreal, Quebec the following morning, on Thursday, May 3, 2018, at 10:00 AM ET. The conference call can be accessed by dialing (800) 447-0521 (Canada & U.S.) or (847) 413-3238 (international) and entering passcode 46846360#. A replay will be available for 30 days starting at 7:30 PM ET by dialing (888) 843-7419 (Canada & U.S.) or (630) 652-3042 (international) and entering the same passcode. A live audio webcast of the conference call, as well as a replay, will be available on our corporate site at Gildan Q1 2018 audio webcast. A live audio webcast of the annual meeting of shareholders, as well as a replay, will be available at the same link above. About Gildan Gildan is a leading manufacturer of everyday basic apparel which markets its products in North America, Europe, Asia-Pacific and Latin America, under a diversified portfolio of Company-owned brands, including Gildan, American Apparel, Comfort Colors, Gildan Hammer, Gold Toe, Anvil, Alstyle, Secret, Silks, Kushyfoot, Secret Silky, Therapy Plus, Peds and MediPeds, and under the Under Armour brand through a sock licensing agreement providing exclusive distribution rights in the United States and Canada. Our product offering includes activewear, underwear, socks, hosiery and legwear products sold to a broad range of customers, including wholesale distributors, screenprinters or embellishers, as well as to retailers that sell to consumers through their physical stores and/or e-commerce platforms. In addition, we sell directly to consumers through our own direct-to-consumer platforms. Gildan owns and operates vertically-integrated, large-scale manufacturing facilities which are primarily located in Central America, the Caribbean Basin, North America, and Bangladesh. With over 50,000 employees worldwide Gildan operates with a strong commitment to industry-leading labour and environmental practices throughout its supply chain in accordance with its comprehensive Genuine Responsibility program embedded in the Company's long-term business strategy. More information about the Company and its corporate citizenship practices and initiatives can be found at www.gildancorp.com and www.genuinegildan.com, respectively. Investor inquiries: Sophie Argiriou Vice-President, Investor Communications (514) 343-8815 sargiriou@gildan.com Media inquiries: Garry Bell Vice-President, Corporate Communications and Marketing 514-744-8600 gbell@gildan.com YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. The Yerevan Police Department (YPD) said that opposition MP Nikol Pashinyans calls for surprise rallies in various directions contain serious dangers for the safety of citizens and public order. In a statement police said that the demonstrators continued illegal rallies in Yerevan since the morning of April 18. Police said the unauthorized entry of demonstrators in governmental facilities will lead to appropriate actions. Police also mentioned that governmental buildings are under police protections, and on-duty officers are entitled to protect the facilities from illegal entry, attacks or threat of attacks by using special measures, including by using weapons. We call on citizens, the teenagers who are participating in the demonstrations, their parents, to be vigilant and not give in to the so called surprise provocations of the apparently illegal action calls of the rally organizer. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan police and protesters clashed outside the 3rd governmental building in the early morning of April 19. Demonstrators attempted to surround and block the facility and obstruct staff from entering. Police officers were trying to open the area which resulted in several protesters getting detained. After a few activists were taken into custody in a police vehicle, a clash erupted between officers and other demonstrators. One of the demonstrators attempted to block the patrol car with his own body, Officers removed the protesters and the patrol vehicles headed to the police station. Deputy Chief of Police of Yerevan Valery Osipyan is on-site. Heavy police presence is seen near the building. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. California Governor Jerry Brown has ordered to deploy 400 National Guard troops to the border with Mexico, in accordance to US President Donald Trumps plan, the Governors Office said. The state will mobilize up to 400 California National Guard personnel to combat criminal gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers within the state, along the coast and at the U.S.-Mexico border after securing the federal governments commitment this week to fund the mission. The personnel will supplement the staffing of the Guards ongoing program, which includes 250 members statewide 55 of whom are currently supporting counterdrug work at the U.S.-Mexico border in California. Consistent with the terms spelled out in Governor Browns letter last week, the Governors order, issued today, specifies that the California National Guard will not enforce immigration laws or participate in the construction of any new border barrier. The location of Guard personnel and number specifically working in support of operations within the state, along the coast and at the U.S.-Mexico border will continue to be dictated by the needs on the ground. Some Guard personnel are expected to deploy before the end of the month and the mission will continue until at least September 30, 2018 the end of the federal fiscal year, the Governors Office said. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. As of 10:00, April 19, Yerevan police have detained 20 demonstrators, Yerevan Police Department (YPD) told ARMENPRESS. Police will continue lawfully detaining people who are violating public order, YPD said. Yerevan police and protesters clashed outside the 3rd governmental building in the early morning of April 19. Demonstrators attempted to surround and block the facility and obstruct staff from entering. Police officers were trying to open the area which resulted in several protesters getting detained. After a few activists were taken into custody in a police vehicle, a clash erupted between officers and other demonstrators. One of the demonstrators attempted to block the patrol car with his own body, Officers removed the protesters and the patrol vehicles headed to the police station. Deputy Chief of Police of Yerevan Valery Osipyan is on-site. Heavy police presence is seen near the building. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan CHALK RIVER, Ontario, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Canadian Nuclear Laboratories (CNL), Canadas premier nuclear science and technology organization, is pleased to announce that it will host the ninth ZED-2 Reactor Safety & Instrumentation School at the Chalk River Laboratories from May 14-18, 2018. This week-long program provides students and young professionals in reactor physics, nuclear engineering, nuclear instrumentation, and related disciplines with the opportunity to learn first-hand from experienced nuclear practitioners, including scientists and operators. The ZED-2 Reactor Safety & Instrumentation School will introduce Canadas next-generation of nuclear engineers and scientists to the facilities, techniques, and current areas of research in experimental reactor physics, reactor safety, and nuclear instrumentation. While the content is targeted towards graduate students in nuclear-related disciplines, students and practitioners with any amount of experience are welcome. The school will be structured around lectures delivered by members of CNLs research team and external experts in the mornings, followed by demonstrations and practical sessions in the afternoons during which students will spend time at the Zero Energy Deuterium (ZED-2) reactor, as well as several other nuclear facilities located on the campus. "Canadian Nuclear Laboratories has a long history in supporting science education, explains Esther Zdolec, Vice-President of Human Resources. Through the enrichment of the curriculum of schools, the employment of students through co-op programs and summer jobs, by enabling post-doctoral research, or by providing access to our unique facilities and expertise in events such as the ZED-2 School, CNL is helping to inspire young researchers and develop young professionals interested in a career in nuclear technology." As Canadas largest and most accomplished nuclear campus, the Chalk River Laboratories is uniquely equipped to provide this enriching program. The sessions will include observation of ZED-2 operations and experiments, and the use of reactor simulation techniques, muon tomography, and radiation detection. The school also includes a tour of several related Chalk River facilities, a dinner featuring a guest speaker, and an evening public lecture on a topic of general interest. In 2017, CNL released its Long-Term Strategy, an ambitious 10-year plan that will position the organization as a global leader in nuclear science and technology. During this period, CNLs research staff is projected to grow by more than 20 per cent. The organization is actively working to attract and develop the highly-qualified team needed to deliver on its vision for the organization, and for the nuclear sector in Canada. The school provides a chance to see what a future career in nuclear science could look like, and several ZED-2 school alumni have since become employed at CNL. In previous years, we have had students and young professionals from across Canada and the United States attend the school, explained Luke Yaraskavitch, physicist and member of the organizing committee. There really is no other place in Canada for students to walk on top of a nuclear reactor, or experience first-hand the approach to critical as a reactor starts operation, or to interact with such a range of researchers and practitioners in the field of nuclear science and technology. For young professionals interested in reactor operations, its an opportunity to learn more about the research that underpins nuclear generating stations, while for young scientists, its an opportunity to broaden their experience to other technologies and capabilities. CNLs ZED-2 reactor is a versatile tank type, heavy water moderated low power research reactor that achieved first criticality in 1960. The variable pitch of the reactor and ease of access to the core, along with the reactors associated counting facilities, make ZED-2 an ideal tool for performing reactor physics measurements and fuel studies. The clean, extremely low activity, moderator provides the students with nearly unprecedented access to the reactor. ZED-2 has been used to confirm the reactor physics design of all Canadas power reactors. Today, ZED-2 supports the development of reactors and advanced fuel cycles. ZED-2 is also used for the development, characterization, and calibration of in-core and ex-core flux detectors for use in power reactors. For more information on CNL, and to access the companys Long-Term Strategy to learn more about its work in hydrogen, please visit www.cnl.ca. About CNL Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is a world leader in nuclear science and technology offering unique capabilities and solutions across a wide range of industries. Actively involved with industry-driven research and development in nuclear, transportation, clean technology, energy, defence, security and life sciences, we provide solutions to keep these sectors competitive internationally. With ongoing investments in new facilities and a focused mandate, Canadian Nuclear Laboratories is well positioned for the future. A new performance standard reinforced with a strong safety culture underscores every activity. For more information on the complete range of Canadian Nuclear Laboratories services, please visit www.cnl.ca or contact communications@cnl.ca. Contact: Patrick Quinn Director, Corporate Communications CNL, 1-866-886-2325 YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Opposition demonstrators led by MP Nikol Pashinyan have created a tense situation outside the Petak shopping center in Yerevan. The demonstrators want to enter the territory of the center, but law enforcement officers have blocked their entry. Pashinyan is using a loudspeaker to announce that he wants to enter the area for shopping. Deputy Chief of Police of Yerevan Valery Osipyan is on-site negotiating with the MP. Osipyan cited the law on assembly stating that the demonstrators are restricting the freedom of movement of others. Demonstrators earlier passed near another shopping center, calling on tradesman to go on a strike. Pashinyan said that another rally is planned for 19:00 in Republic Square. Yerevan police and protesters clashed outside the 3rd governmental building in the early morning of April 19. Demonstrators attempted to surround and block the facility and obstruct staff from entering. Police officers were trying to open the area which resulted in several protesters getting detained. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Ambassador Paruyr Hovhannisyan, Permanent Representative of Armenia to the Council of Europe, held a courtesy call with Council of Europe Commissioner for Human Rights Dunja Mijatovic on April 18. Mijatovic took office April 1. The Ambassador congratulated Mijatovic on being elected, wished success and reassured that the commissioner has the trust and comprehensive support of the Armenian authorities. At the meeting the sides discussed Armenias achievements in the protection of human rights, and outlined the directions of future cooperation and implementation of joint projects. The sides also agreed to strengthen regular contacts between the Armenian Permanent Representation and the Commissioners office. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Acting finance minister of Armenia Vardan Aramyan received the representatives of MAYKOR - the largest Russian company in the IT outsourcing industry, led by Executive Vice President Denis Saenko within the framework of Armenia Digital Transformation 2018-2030 program, the ministry told Armenpress. During the meeting the sides discussed the cooperation prospects in the field of Armenias digital transformation. The company representative presented the fields within the finance ministrys functions that are subject to digitization budgeting, treasury field, state procurement, accounting, state debt management and etc. According to the representatives, the project on developing and installing state information system for finance management aims at increasing the efficiency of the governments financial management. After substantial discussions Vardan Aramyan expressed readiness to cooperate within the frames of this project, find ways of common interest and develop them by joint efforts. MAYKOR is a leading Russian provider of IT and business process outsourcing services with extensive network of branches and delivery centers across Russia. MAYKOR is ranked as one of the leading Russian IT service providers and, according to the International Association of Outsourcing Professionals (IAOP), among the Top 100 global leaders in outsourcing and one of the Top 10 in the EMEA region. English translator/editor: Aneta Harutyunyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Yerevan Mayor Taron Margaryan held a meeting with outgoing Russian Ambassador Ivan Volynkin, the City Hall told ARMENPRESS. The Mayor pointed out the current high level of the Armenian-Russian relations and praised the role of the Russian Ambassador in Armenia and the Armenian Ambassador in Russia. Margaryan thanked for the productive cooperation and joint work and expressed conviction that the partnership between the City Hall and the Russian Embassy will continue being constructive and successful. The outgoing Ambassador thanked for the reception and said it was a great honor to serve as Ambassador in Armenia and that during the years he felt himself as a full resident of Yerevan. Volynkin thanked the Mayor for productive cooperation during the past five years. The Mayor wished Volynkin successes in his future activities. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Initiators of the ongoing illegal rally in Yerevan continue carrying out provocative actions. Police called on organizers of the rally to clearly realize the responsibility of all consequences of their actions. In a statement, police said that the initiators of the illegal rally are using fake peaceful calls and guiding their followers with provocative conduct to undertake illegal actions by obstructing the liberties and rights of other citizens, public servants, drivers and others. The initiators are also guiding their followers to obstruct the free entry and exit of buildings a violation of Article 30 of the law on freedom of assembly and using violence against police officers in individual cases. The simple observation of the initiators and individual participants of the rally clearly proves the provocative nature of their actions aimed at instigating clashes between citizens and on-duty officers, police said. Initiators who stand out with such conduct Nikol Pashinyan, Davit Sanasaryan, Armen Grigoryan, Shahen Harutyunyan, Davit Petrosyan, Vahan Kostanyan and a group of participants should clearly comprehend the responsibility of all consequences of their actions, the statement said. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Three attorneys have been dispatched to the Shengavit station of the Yerevan Police Department to provide free legal counseling to detained demonstrators, the Bar Association of Armenia (known as the Chamber of Advocates) told ARMENPRESS. Earlier it was reported that several underage demonstrators had been detained in the station in suspicion of misdemeanors. English translator/editor: Stepan Kocharyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Soon, it will be 100 years, since, with the military support of the Ottoman Empire, the second Turkish state called Azerbaijan has emerged on the world political map. Strangely, that state, while failing to remember what happened just yesterday, remembers what happened centuries ago, before its appearance, Deputy FM of Armenia Shavarsh Kocharyan said, answering the question of ARMENPRESS over Ilham Aliyevs recent announcement. Question: How would you comment the announcement of the President of Azerbaijan that the basis for the settlement of Nagorno Karabakh conflict is the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan? Answer: The words of the Azerbaijani leader are half-truth, since the issue should be settled within the framework of the territorial integrity of both Artsakh and Azerbaijan. The territorial integrity of the Republic of Azerbaijan has nothing to do with the territorial integrity of the Republic of Artsakh. President of Azerbaijan pretends as if he has forgotten that he has accepted the document of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chairs as the basis for negotiations, according to which the status of Artsakh is determined by the legally binding expression of will of the people of Artsakh. The best answer to Azerbaijani Presidents made-up labeling of Nagorno-Karabakh is free, independent Artsakh with its vibrant civil society, which is moving forward on the path of strengthening democracy. Question: President of Azerbaijan once again presented Armenia and Artsakh as Azerbaijani historical lands. How would you comment on that? Answer: Soon, it will be 100 years, since, with the military support of the Ottoman Empire, the second Turkish state called Azerbaijan has emerged on the world political map. Strangely, that state, while failing to remember what happened just yesterday, remembers what happened centuries ago, before its appearance. The Azerbaijani leadership with morbid obsession ignores or distorts everything: international law, including the UN Charter, the efforts of the mediators, including the statements by the Heads of the OSCE Minsk Group Co-chair countries, the history, starting from antiquity to the present, including works of Strabo, Plutarch and other antique authors. This statement is directed, first of all, to the internal audience of Azerbaijan with the aim to justify the policy of violent assimilation of indigenous ethnic minorities, as well as to present the authoritarian hereditary regime established in the country as a democratic achievement. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan has refused the ownership right of the private house granted to him by Cabinet decision, ARMENPRESS reports Aysor.am website informs. Serzh Sargsyan has introduced his reasons for the decision during the Cabinet meeting. Earlier Aysor.am had informed that on March 29 the Government of Armenia had made a decision to grant the 3rd President of Armenia (incumbent PM) Serzh Sargsyan the presidential private residence covering a total of 1.5365 hectares of area. The decision caused huge public stir. During the parliamentary debates on the election of the Prime Minister on April 17, Serzh Sargsyan had answered the question of Yelk bloc member Artak Zeynalyan, saying The former two Presidents have enjoyed this right. I have done so too. If it is not lawful, I can return it. But if it is lawful, you can congratulate me, because, in any case, I gained my own house in Yerevan. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. Spokesperson of the Foreign Ministry of Russia Maria Zakharova has commented on the recent days developments in Armenia. We are confident that the situation in friendly Armenia will be settled through democratic ways and in the legal framework, ARMENPRESS reports Zakharova told the reporters during a weekly briefing. Head of Yelk bloc parliamentary faction Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters started rallies on April 13, calling on mass actions of blocking state bodies. The protests sparked after it became known that Serzh Sargsyan will become the candidate of Prime Minister of Armenia. April 16 protests were the most fierce during which 6 policemen, MP Nikol Pashinyan and over 4 dozens of citizens were hospitalized. Over 100 people were detained on April 19. Criminal cases have been pressed against 5 individuals on charges of provoking mass disorders. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan YEREVAN, APRIL 19, ARMENPRESS. The formation of the new Cabinet of Armnenia will be completed in 2-3 days, ARMENPRESS reports newly elected Prime Minister of Armenia Serzh Sargsyan announced during the Cabinet meeting. Before proceeding to the discussion of the issues on the agenda, the PM congratulated the newly appointed Cabinet members First Deputy Prime Minister Karen Karapetyan, Deputy Ministers Armen Gevorgyan and Vache Gabrielyan, Foreign Minister Edward Nalbandian, Defense Minister Vigen Sargsyan, Minister of Economic Development and Investments Suren Karayan, Minister of Territorial Administration and Development Davit Lokyan, Finance Minister Vardan Aramyan. The Prime Minister suggested the Cabinet members that they should not refer to the Government programs, principles and approaches since the new Cabinet is not yet fully formed, noting that the process of the Cabinet formation will be concluded in 2-3 days. English translator/editor: Tigran Sirekanyan VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Isodiol International Inc. (CSE: ISOL) (OTC: ISOL F ) (FSE: LB6A.F) (the Company or Isodiol), a global Bioactive CBD innovator specializing in the development of pharmaceutical and wellness products, is pleased to announce that the Company has signed a definitive agreement to acquire 19.9% of Compass Cannabis Clinic (Compass), a leading Canadian clinic and retailer headquartered in Kelowna, British-Columbia. Under the terms of this acquisition, Isodiol will have exclusive CBD distribution rights for its family of brands through the Compass distribution network. Compass has quickly established itself as one of Canadas largest medicinal marijuana networks, with existing operations in the medical business and a proposed retail expansion, pending regulation. With 39 locations already secured or in development across Western Canada and with additional expansion expected in the near future. Post legalization, many current Compass locations will evolve into a retail business model, where provincial and municipal licensing allows, thus running both business models simultaneously. The Compass medical operation will also begin exploring opportunities in international markets, including expanding into Australia in the third quarter of 2018, through existing operational partnerships. Compass has put together an excellent business plan to capitalize on the upcoming medical and retail opportunities in select provinces and to establish itself as one of Canada's largest and most trusted cannabis clinic operations, said CEO of Isodiol, Marcos Agramont. Compass differentiates itself in the marketplace by offering prime locations, free appointments and most importantly exceptional patient education, care and support, which align well with our values. Furthermore, through Compass clinics and stores, Isodiol will set up a distribution channel for its family of THC-free Cannabidiol brands and products, pending regulation in Canada. Isodiol will also provide Compass with a private label line of additional Cannabidiol products for its fast growing patient base. We are pleased to be forming a strategic relationship with Isodiol, the leading CBD provider in the marketplace, and to secure our patients with excellent access to a full line of the highest quality Cannabidiol products, said Dave Martyn, President of Compass Cannabis Clinic. In addition to our supply agreement, Isodiols equity participation will help strengthen our profile and support the continued expansion of our footprint and operation. We have already established Compass as a leading private cannabis retailer in Western Canada and we are actively going to pursue additional retail licensing opportunities across the country." Per the agreement, Isodiol will issue a total of $4,000,000 CDN, with $2,000,000 paid in cash and $2,000,000 paid in stock for the 19.9% of equity acquisition, subject to 36-month escrow. About Isodiol International Inc. Isodiol International Inc. is the market leader in pharmaceutical grade phytochemical compounds and the industry leader in the manufacturing and development of CBD consumer products. Isodiol is the pioneer of many firsts for the cannabis industry including commercialization of 99%+ pure, bioactive pharmaceutical grade cannabinoids, micro-encapsulations, and nanotechnology for the highest quality consumable and topical skin care products. Isodiols growth strategy includes the development of over-the-counter and pharmaceutical drugs, expanding its phytoceutical portfolio and will aggressively continue international expansion into Latin America, Asia and Europe. Join Us On Facebook: https://www.facebook.com/isodiol/ Twitter: @isodiol ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Marcos Agramont, CEO & Director INVESTOR RELATIONS: Ir@isodiol.com www.isodiol.com Forward-Looking Information: This news release contains "forward-looking information" within the meaning of applicable securities laws relating to statements regarding the Company's business, products and future the Companys business, its product offerings and plans for sales and marketing. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct. Readers are cautioned to not place undue reliance on forward-looking information. Such forward looking statements are subject to risks and uncertainties that may cause actual results, performance and developments to differ materially from those contemplated by these statements depending on, among other things, the risks that the Company's products and plan will vary from those stated in this news release and the Company may not be able to carry out its business plans as expected. Except as required by law, the Company expressly disclaims any obligation, and does not intend, to update any forward-looking statements or forward-looking information in this news release. Although the Company believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, there can be no assurance that such expectations will prove to be correct and makes no reference to profitability based on sales reported. The statements in this news release are made as of the date of this release. The CSE has not reviewed, approved or disapproved the content of this press release. SAN FRANCISCONakedSword Originals has unveiled its new series, The Chosen Few, in full, now playing only on NakedSword.com, known as "The Netflix of Gay Porn." The new series was shot and directed by 2018 GayVN Director of the Year mr. Pam along with porn star turned Director, Trenton Ducati. Filmed on location in Florida, The Chosen Few kicks off Spring with an all-star cast led by Falcon Studios Group and NakedSwords newest exclusive, Alam Wernik, along with stars Logan Moore, Dante Colle, Michael DelRay, Jacob Peterson, Arad Winwin and Danny Gunn. In trendy South Beach, everyone wants to be one of The Chosen Few, an exclusive (and elusive) group of the world's sexiest men, personally selected by Logan Moore to live at his private island estate. After hearing stories of their lavish lifestyle and endless hours of sexual debauchery, Danny Gunn and Michael DelRay are tempted onto Logan's boat, headed to paradise. Logan welcomes them to his mansion, where there is only one rule: no one touches his personal houseboy, Alam Wernik, (who makes his gay porn debut in The Chosen Few). Everyone seems to play by the rules except for one person: Alam. The chiseled young beauty can't keep his clothes on or his mouth off of every hard stud in sight. From the muscle bound security (Arad WinWin) to hung houseguests (Dante Colle and Jacob Peterson) there's trouble at every turn. Will Michael and Danny be able to resist the temptation of Alam, or will they give in, and lose their coveted spot among The Chosen Few? NakedSword director, mr. Pam says, "This was such a great shoot. Collaborating with model turned director Trenton Ducati was a blast; he has great energy on set. The all-star cast was so much fun and incredibly hot. Danny Gunn and Michael DelRay had me in tears laughing during their dialogue scenes. Popping Alam Werniks 'porn cherry' was epic. He is such a superstar: great body, nice dick, amazing ass, pretty face and he genuinely loves sex. A directors dream come true! Now that it is fully apparent, to all who have the ability to pay some modicum of attention, that Imposter President Biden has extreme cognitive issues, in addition to being an inveterate liar: Can OUR Republic continue with this Executive Office that has completely failed, so many times, on far too many issues here at this early date in this abysmal presidency? No, Joseph R. Biden is completely unqualified, morally and cognitively, to represent real Americans, and lead this Republic of disparate peoples. Yes, Joseph R. Biden has started whispering again, even softer now than before; so, I know he still cares, plus, OUR media will soon stop reporting on Afghanistan in favor of OUR Socialist ideals. SCOTTSDALE, Ariz, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- With the end of the school year fast approaching, many parents and caregivers are searching for ways to keep their children moving, learning, and having fun during the summer school break. Ongoing research underlines the important role that quality summer camp programs can play in promoting academic success and a healthy lifestyle. The National Center on Afterschool and Summer Enrichment states that high-quality summer learning programs can not only curb summer learning loss, they can even help boost student achievement. And the effect on health can be just as dramatic, according to Alex Bingham, president and CEO of The Little Gym . With a wide variety of programs available, Bingham offers the following advice. While its important to choose a program your child will enjoy, its also important to find a program that will help curb summer learning loss and keep your child active, involved, and moving, says Bingham. Look for a fun and imaginative camp program that includes both physical and educational activities that will reinforce your childs academic achievements, challenge your childs imagination, and develop your childs self-confidence. Early childhood development specialists at child-centered facilities like The Little Gym offer high quality, age-appropriate, interest-driven summer programs designed to help children learn new skills and build self-confidence as they master challenges. Flexible scheduling options allow parents to enroll their children for as little as a day, or as long as the entire summer. Age-appropriate activities at the Super Quest Summer Camp vary from week-to-week, offering children ages 3 to 8 years a fresh experience each time. Interest-driven Skill Thrill camps allow children ages 6 to 12 years to repeat a camp as they refine certain skills. Parents can also register their child for one of The Little Gyms regular scheduled summer classes for kids four months through 12 years to keep children moving, learning, and building skills throughout the summer months. Choosing the right summer camp can make a real difference in how well your child is able to transition from the summer break into the new school year, adds Bingham. While the summer break should offer families a chance to relax without the constant pressure of school, homework, and after-school schedules, its important to offer children alternatives to screen time and other passive activities that can erode both academic skills and physical fitness. Summer camps provide an opportunity for children to unplug as they explore their own creativity and build independence in a safe, secure environment. For more information, or to register for summer camps and classes, please go to www.TheLittleGym.com. Educators are more concerned about how much time students spend on social media at home as compared to the time they spend online in the classroom.Education Week's annual Technology Counts survey asked principals and school-based leaders across the country about screen time, personalized learning, and social media use.The survey was conducted online in February and reached 503 principals, assistant principals, and deans. The margin of error is plus or minus 4 percent.said Kevin Bushweller, project editor of Technology Counts.More than half of the school leaders surveyed think K-12 students are spending the right amount of time on screens in the classroom; 17 percent say they're spending too much time. Almost 20 percent say students are spending too little time, with school leaders in higher poverty areas more likely to say students aren't getting enough opportunities for digital learning.Digital technology is an important supplemental resource for personalized learning to 57 percent of school leaders. More than half of the school leaders surveyed are confident digital technology can customize instruction, though 44 percent aren't convinced it could also improve students' social and emotional skills.In North Carolina, an interest in innovative technology has translated to the N.C. Digital Learning Plan . The Friday Institute for Educational Innovation at N.C. State University developed the plan in 2015 at the behest of the Department of Public Instruction and the State Board of Education. The goal of the learning plan is developing and supporting digital teaching in learning across all levels of education.The General Assembly allocated an additional $12 million to the School Connectivity Initiative in September 2015. The aim is improving the wireless internet connectivity in all NC schools. Lt. Gov. Dan Forest has been one of the most vocal proponents of digital learning, and he has pushed for increased connectivity in schools across the state. Virtual schools have emerged on the education scene in North Carolina, with N.C. Connections Academy and the N.C. Virtual Academy opening their digital doors in 2015.Although school leaders seem open to technology in schools, the same can't be said about technology at home. An overwhelming 95 percent of school leaders say K-12 students spend too much time using screens at home. More than 50 percent are very concerned about social media use outside of school, with 44 percent of middle school leaders and 42 percent of high school leaders especially concerned.School leaders also worry about the prevalence of cyberbullying and teen sexting. Press Briefing by NEC Director and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Larry Kudlow Press Release: Press Briefing by NEC Director and Assistant to the President for Economic Policy Larry Kudlow and NSC Senior Director for Asian Affairs Matthew Pottinger on the Official Working Visit of Prime Minister Shinzo Abe of Japan MR. KUDLOW: I'll just say to start, before we take some questions, this is a very important meeting. A lot of really key issues are on the line. You obviously know about the foreign policy side regarding North Korea, which is a major, major issue for Japan and for the United States. On the economic and trade side, there will also be very important issues. Japan is a great friend and ally. We have certain disagreements with respect to some of the trading issues. We'll iron those out, hopefully. Mr. Abe is a friend of President Trump's, and I think the general setting is going to be very positive. There are some bilateral issues. In fact, the United States would probably like to see a free trade agreement come out at some point with Japan. And the rest of it is - I believe stocks are up 260 points. Yesterday was Tax Day. No, today is Tax Day. Lower taxes. Strong economic growth. Nobody believes that, except me. I'm hanging in there. We're in the early stages of an economic boom here in the United States. And actually, Japan's economy has improved quite a bit. So instead of babble on, let me just stand up and take some questions. We have a team of experts that will try to help you out. Eamon. Q Thanks, Larry. Can you tell us if you or any of the other U.S. trade officials or U.S. economic officials have had any discussions at all with the Japanese side about a revived TPP? The President suggested that might be something you would do, and he ordered you to do that last week. Has that happened? MR. KUDLOW: Yes, there are discussions and considerations. There's nothing at all concrete. It's too early to say. The President has asked me to give it another look, if you will. I think Japan is going to move towards a vote in their parliament on the matter. It's a very important issue there. I can't say what we'll do. It's way too early. Q What was the reception on the Japanese side when you broached that with them? Are they willing to engage with the United States on allowing the U.S. back into TPP? MR. KUDLOW: Yes. Yes. But that's all it is, if you will - talk. Yes, Major. Q When you say you're going to look into TPP, what are you looking for? MR. KUDLOW: Look, it's got to be - I'm just going to be general on this; I don't want to get into details. It has to be in U.S. interest for us to take another look and actually go into it. The President believes it is not presently in U.S. interest to sign it. And that's not a new point; he's made that before. Q But you'd be looking into negotiating it differently, right? This would not be looking into what had been generally agreed to. You'd be looking at a whole new set of negotiations and whether or not that's worth the effort. Is that fair? MR. KUDLOW: In policy content terms, it's never been to our liking. So if we choose to go down that path - and that decision has not been made, I want to just be very clear. If we choose to go down that path, however, to "improve it," we will have to be convinced that it's worth our while. And I don't think the President is yet convinced of that, to be honest. I don't think he is. John. Q Sir, what can the President offer Abe to sort of sweeten the pot to enter into a new bilateral trading agreement? Because Abe clearly comes down to the side of TPP as opposed to bilateral. And I think the idea of bilateral trade throws chills down his spine. MR. KUDLOW: I'm going to wait for the talks to progress. It's a good question. I don't want to get ahead of it. I want to wait for the talks to progress. There are a lot of issues on the table, but I don't want to get ahead of itself. To quote a hackneyed thing, I don't want to get ahead of my skis. We'll see. We'll see. Really, we'll see. Yes. Q This might be a question better to you, Matt. But about North Korea, what is the President's message about the upcoming meeting with Kim Jong-un? Can you give us any kind of - what's the reassurance to the Japanese? Obviously, they've got some concerns about that. Do you have any update at all as to where that will be, when it will be? Do we still think it's going to be in May? That's what the announcement was. We're rapidly approaching May. MR. POTTINGER: Sure. So with regards to timing, I think the President's public comments still stand. He said that it's going to - we're aiming for a summit in May or early June. Nothing has changed that. In terms of venue, we've nothing to announce right now about that, or really in terms of the details, other than what the President has said, which is this is - he has accepted an invitation to meet with the leader of North Korea to achieve the permanent denuclearization of North Korea. So that is going to be one of the key topics that President Trump is going to be talking about with Prime Minister Abe. It has been, since President Trump came into office, one of the key topics. They've conferred extremely closely on this. As I mentioned the other day, President Trump has met with Prime Minister Abe more than he's met with any other foreign leader. And Prime Minister Abe and the President are going to want to exchange views in advance of a summit with the North Korean leader so that we make sure that Japanese interests and American interests are both fully accounted for. Japanese security interests are American security interests. That's why we are allies. That's what it means to have an alliance. Q But what are the backchannel negotiations that are going on, on this? MR. POTTINGER: Well, there's nothing in terms of channels that I'm at liberty to talk about today. There will be more to share about that in the weeks ahead. Hallie and then David. Q Thanks, Matt. One for you, and then, Larry, a follow-up to you, as well. There's some reporting out today that North Korea and South Korea may be announcing plans to officially end military conflict. Can you talk through what you and the administration know about that and how that plays into the talks? MR. POTTINGER: Yeah. Someone just alerted me to the story. I haven't read it yet. But I would just say that the U.S. and South Korea are as much aligned and coordinated on their summit as we are on a U.S. summit. So we had the National Security Advisor of South Korea here just last week to have his first meeting with Ambassador John Bolton. Very substantive meeting. Very clear exchange of views on planning for both of these summits. But at this point, there's no advantage to sharing too much publicly yet. Q And then, Larry, just as a follow to you on the TPP discussion, and then one other on taxes, actually. When you said that the President has expressed to you that he wants to give another look at reentering TPP, can you explain what prompted that, what triggered the President? Was there an activity? Was there something that you said to him that made him change his mind? And then, just since you brought up Tax Day, too, apparently the IRS is crashing; the online system is down. Are you in touch with your Treasury counterparts on that? And what is the White House doing? MR. KUDLOW: The IRS is crashing? (Laughter.) Q I don't know if you heard about it, but I didn't know if you were in touch with the guys, with Secretary Mnuchin. MR. KUDLOW: Sounds horrible. Sounds really bad. (Laughter.) Q And on TPP, sir, can you explain - MR. KUDLOW: I hope it gets fixed. Q - what led to the President's change of heart? MR. KUDLOW: Look, the TPP thing - I don't want to say you're barking up the wrong tree; you're not. I'm just saying, at the moment, we are in the pre-preliminary stages of any discussion at all. And we'll see how that goes. It will come up in this summit, no question about it. But for the American side, at the moment, it's more of a thought than a policy, that's for sure. Look, the President said this in Davos - he'd be willing. Remember the line, "America first does not mean America alone"? That's a very important line, and that's about as far as I want to go on it. Yes. Q Do you see TPP, potentially, as a bulwark - a potential bulwark against China? And is that part of the appeal of reentering TPP? MR. KUDLOW: I think that our disagreements with China stand alone. We don't need TPP; we don't need anything. There's trade disputes going on here that stand on their own regarding us and China. We don't need TPP to do any of that stuff. It might work. It might hypothetically work, but that's not where we are. The President has an ongoing discussion with some policy items on the agenda, as you know. That includes tariffs and it includes negotiation. And we will see how that does. But our discussions with - our trade disputes with China stand alone from TPP. Go ahead, John. Q Question for Matt. You said that Japan's security is in the interest of U.S. security. But clearly, Shinzo Abe is concerned about what talks with Kim Jong-un may mean for the security umbrella that the United States has in East Asia. What assurances can the President give Shinzo Abe today that his concerns will be taken into account in any meeting with Kim Jong-un? MR. POTTINGER: Yeah. So since President Trump and Prime Minster Abe first met after the election, before the President was even inaugurated and in all of their interactions since - frequently on the phone, frequently in person - the commitment to the alliance by both sides has come through loud and clear in all those interactions. So I think that there will be plenty of time for them to talk in some detail about objectives for a potential summit, for Japan to share its perspective. The President has a great degree of respect for Prime Minister Abe's views on security in the region and on the Peninsula, and so they'll cover a lot of ground, I think. I know I tapped you, David, but - Q Two quick ones. One, Matt, if you could talk a little bit about - there's been some reporting in the South Korean media and elsewhere that negotiations are under way for the three Americans who are still held in North Korea to be released. Do you expect that to happen before a summit or as related to a summit? Is that a condition the U.S. expects? And then, second of all, if you could just - because I know he's on the trip, but he's not here today - if you could talk a little bit about John Bolton's - we know his very public views about North Korea. How has he approached the planning since he's been here for about a week now? Can you talk about maybe what directions he's offered, what vision he's offered since planning was already under way? MR. KUDLOW: We'll let John speak for himself. Q But can you talk about the other thing about the American detainees? MR. POTTINGER: Yeah. I mean, in terms of - the fact that there are three Americans who are being held unlawfully in North Korea is something that is on the minds of all Americans serving in this administration right now. I'm not going to talk about how that factors in, but you can be assured that it factors very much into future interactions between our government and the North Korean government. Q Is it a precondition? MR. POTTINGER: Nothing to add beyond that. MR. KUDLOW: I just want to make clear - there's a lot of TPP questions - the United States trade discussion or trade dispute with China, which is very significant, is really in no way related to the TPP. The President regards them as two different issues, so that whatever happens or not with TPP, our discussions - our very serious discussions with China over forced technology transfers and theft of intellectual property and so forth and so on, that's ongoing. That's not linked to TPP. I just want to make that as clear as I can. Yes. Q Larry, thanks. I want to ask you about the value of a number of free trade agreements in the region. It seems that the administration's policy has been there's nothing wrong with approaching each one of the partners over there and continuing to operate in that light. Is that the position as it relates to Japan specifically? And will you use that as a template for other nations in the region? MR. KUDLOW: You know, the President said a number of times he greatly prefers bilaterals to multilaterals. That's his comfort zone, his preference. So in terms of your question, the answer is, yeah. I mean, you've got a lot of free trade agreements, and we're taking a look at everything. Right now, the focus is on Japan. That's the key point. I don't want to speak to the other countries. Q Do you agree with that posture, though? Or - MR. KUDLOW: Pardon? Q Do you agree with that strategy? Or are you going to try to influence the President to think more broadly? MR. KUDLOW: I have a lot of discussions with the President. They're all private discussions. On Monday, George Yancy, a black professor of philosophy at Emory University, wrote a lengthy piece in The New York Times detailing the awful death threats he has received from white racists. I can sympathize - throughout 2016, I received my fair share of death threats. But Yancy sees those death threats as representative of a deeper malignancy plaguing all of white America, not a sickness within a subset of the population. Thus, he asks, "Should I Give up on White People?"Yancy's case isn't particularly strong.According to him, he faces a serious dilemma:But why exactly is that a serious dilemma? America isn't filled with racists - America is one of the least racist places on Earth, and its rate of racism has been decreasing steadily for years. In order for Yates' complaint to make any sense, he has to believe that America is actually becoming more racist.And he does. He says that he is "convinced that America suffers from a pervasively malignant and malicious systemic illness - white racism." He offers no statistics to support this contention. And he suggests that those who disagree with his contention do so out of willingness to ignore white racism: "There is also an appalling lack of courage, weakness of will, spinelessness and indifference in our country that helps to sustain it."So, to get this straight, you may not be racist, but if you believe that most Americans aren't racist, just like you, you're an aider and abettor of racism.You're in league with those sending the death threats. In fact, you're a monster under almost any circumstances. Yancy calls white Americans "monsters ... Land takers. Brutal dispossession. And then body snatchers and the selling and buying of black flesh." No one alive in the United States has forcibly dispossessed anyone of land; this has been true for generations. No one alive in the United States has been involved in the slave trade. Yet the legacy of white racism lives on in us, according to Yancy.So, how are white Americans to escape this label?Only by agreeing with Yancy. He praises one of his white students who agreed: "The system is racist. As a white woman, I am responsible to dismantle that system as well as the attitudes in me that growing up in the system created. I am responsible for speaking out when I hear racist comments."Well, of course we're responsible for speaking out when we hear racist comments. That's not a revelation. But Yancy wants more than that. He wants a collective oath by white people to never deny generalized white racism, fact-free or not.Which, of course, is racist. Yes, racism plays a central role in American history. Yes, there are still racists in America. But slandering white America in general for the crimes of a few bad apples is no better than slandering black America for the crimes of a few. If Yancy wants to deal with racist death threats, he could start by recognizing that we're all in this together - and that we side with him against those who threaten him - rather than pre-emptively characterizing us as the types of people who would write such vitriolic and evil screeds.Ben Shapiro, 34, is a graduate of UCLA and Harvard Law School, host of "The Ben Shapiro Show" and editor-in-chief of DailyWire.com. He is the New York Times best-selling author of "Bullies." He lives with his wife and two children in Los Angeles. To find out more about Ben Shapiro and read features by other Creators Syndicate writers and cartoonists, visit the Creators Syndicate website at www.creators.com. I don't want to alarm anyone, but it sounds like maybe some ICE agents are, I dunno, a shower of bastards. According to Syracuse.com, New York state dairy farmer John Collins was doing his thing when he heard screaming. When he ran out to see what was happening, he found that his hired hand, Marcial de Leon Aguilar, was being pinned to the side of his farm's milk house by armed men. Aguilar is from Guatemala, and had all of the paperwork required to work in the United States. He'd been employed by Collins for just under a year. When Collins confronted the armed men about what they were doing with his employee, they stated that they were ICE agents. As the goons slapped a set of handcuffs on Aguilar, Collins demanded to see the warrant that allowed ICE to come on to his property. You'll be shocked to know, I'm sure, that the agents stated that they had none. It gets better. As the agents dragged Aguilar across the road to their waiting vehicle, Collins continued to demand that they produce paperwork on why they were taking his employee or show the authority that allowed them onto his land. As he did so, he began filming the exchange with his smartphone. Collins alleges that, at this point, one the agents grabbed the phone out of his hand, handcuffed him and threatened to arrest him for hindering a federal investigation. In the end, Collins was released, but Aguilar was carted away. Oh, did I mention that Aguilar's kids saw the whole damn thing? Because they totally did the Aguilar's family was living in a house on Collins' spread as a partial payment for his gig. From Syracuse.com: Aguilar's wife, Virginia, and the couple's four children were not in the U.S. until recently. She was caught crossing the border, illegally, with the children. Collins said she has been meeting with ICE officers since she arrived, and is seeking asylum for herself and the children because of the violence in Guatemala. Collins said Virginia met with ICE officers as recently as last week, and has another meeting scheduled for this Friday. At times, Aguilar has accompanied his wife, who is pregnant, to some of the meetings, Collins said. So, instead of going through the proper channels to obtain a warrant, or nothing to go after individuals, per their mandate, that are actually in the country illegally, the two uniformed ass clowns opted to grab the first brown fella that they saw on the farm. Outstanding work. So what's the lesson here? Don't attend meetings surrounding the asylum process? Warrants and the rule of law don't matter under the current administration? Jackboots are a state of mind? I dunno. Apparently ICE will be looking into the incident. I bet they'll send a real crackerjack investigator to hunt down the truth on this one. Image: Police Wikipedia Commons, Public Domain, Link Tesla was extremely upset to learn that the employees who'd been injured and maimed in its factories spoke to Reveal News about the unsafe working conditions and culture of cover-ups at the Tesla plants. Those workers are seeking to form a union to protect themselves from an employer who has treated risks to their safety as an inconvenience, and Tesla despite Elon Musk's feel-good rhetoric on workers' rights is pulling out all the stops to prevent its workforce from being unionized. Smearing a press outlet rather than rebutting the factual claims the outlet reported is Trump 101; Musk is one shitty combover shy of a MAGA hat here. Tesla spokespeople have gone on to smear the UAW the union that its workers are organizing under and sent Ars Technica a suite of nonanswers and spin worthy of Sean Spicer when asked to explain its smears. Specifically, we asked what had changed since Musk's comments in 2014 to the San Francisco Chronicle that the company was "neutral" on the question of unionization of its labor force. Tesla's new statement about Reveal ("an extremist organization working directly with union supporters") suggests that it is actually antagonistic toward unions. The company insisted that nothing has changed in this viewpoint, noting that the United Autoworkers (UAW)which has been trying to unionize in Fremontis apparently not in synch with corporate values. Tesla did not explain why. Ars also specifically asked Tesla, "in a 2017 blog post, [Tesla] appears to blame UAW for the prior closure of NUMMI (which was 'under the stewardship of the UAW'). What role does Tesla believe that the UAW had in that situation?" NUMMI was the prior name for what is now the Fremont Tesla Factory when that facility was jointly operated by GM and Toyota from 1984 until its closure in 2010. Tesla, in turn, said that it was merely a fact that the plant closed while "under the stewardship of the UAW." However, as far as Ars is aware, the union had no role in the decision to close NUMMI. We also specifically asked about Musk's 2017 promise to work directly on the factory floor. As we wrote: "Did Musk perform factory tasks as promised last year? If so, which ones? What did he learn from the experience? Does he plan on repeating this experience?" Tesla simply confirmed that he did so ("Yes"), while at first ignoring our other questions. When we attempted to follow up further, the company simply pointed us to Musk's comments in a company-wide email that was previously published by Electrek. Tesla slams Reveal News as "extremist" after expose on alleged factory improprieties [Cyrus Farivar/Ars Technica] (Image: Steve Jurvetson, CC-BY) It's no secret that Apple AirPods are the most sought-after earbuds on the market However, you may need a few accessories to really outfit them in the way that works best for you. These selections will make sure your AirPods, AirPods Pro, and AirPods Max stay safe, secure, and stylish without ever impeding their functionality. READ THE REST Where is Facebook located? Well, if you're the taxman, Facebook's global HQ is a tiny shed somewhere in Ireland, where Facebook can escape virtually all taxation; but on the other hand, if you're the EU, Facebook is headquartered in America, where the General Data Protection Regulation doesn't apply. It's a remarkably ballsy bit of legal fictioneering: Facebook has spent a decade solemnly swearing that it is a European company, able to take advantage of Ireland's lawless tax-havens. But European companies have to comply with the most stringent privacy rules in the world, so Facebook is claiming to straddle multiple jurisdictions, being European for tax purposes and American for privacy purposes. To accomplish this fiction, Facebook is making 1.5 billion users click through a new EULA that says, "By clicking I Agree, I acknowledge that I am a user of Facebook, USA's services, and have no connection with those filthy, privacy-respecting Europeans." And voila, with the click of a mouse, the solemn, decade-long arrangement by which Facebook has claimed that its users were inextricably, utterly connected to Ireland is severed like the frayed thread it always was. This is the third leg of the Big Tech/jurisdiction question. Telegram can outmanuever Russia by hiding behind giant US cloud companies; the US bases of the cloud giants means that the US exports all its worst laws to the whole world and Facebook's ridiculous games with territorial fictions shows us how fragile the whole thing is, because companies are not US-based or EU-based under late-stage capitalism: they are freefloating entities who exist everywhere and nowhere at once, depending on which fiction suits them best. Don't miss this kicker: "Facebook said the latest change does not have tax implications." Ireland was unaware of the change. One Irish official, speaking on condition of anonymity, said he did not know of any plans by Facebook to transfer responsibilities wholesale to the United States or to decrease Facebook's presence in Ireland, where the social network is seeking to recruit more than 100 new staff. Facebook released a revised terms of service in draft form two weeks ago, and they are scheduled to take effect next month. Other multinational companies are also planning changes. LinkedIn, a unit of Microsoft Corp, tells users in its existing terms of service that if they are outside the United States, they have a contract with LinkedIn Ireland. New terms that take effect May 8 move non-Europeans to contracts with U.S.-based LinkedIn Corp. LinkedIn said in a statement on Wednesday that all users are entitled to the same privacy protections. "We've simply streamlined the contract location to ensure all members understand the LinkedIn entity responsible for their personal data," the company said. Exclusive: Facebook to put 1.5 billion users out of reach of new EU privacy law [David Ingram/Reuters] Featured Post Mexico's President ignores and ejects Bacum Yaqui during unveiling of 'Justice Plan' Yaqui Indians from Loma de Bacum protest the recent disappearance of dozens of villagers during AMLO's event, from which they were exclu... Archive Search This Blog Donate to Censored News Please donate to Censored News for travel and equipment for our live coverage. Thank you, Brenda. About Censored News Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell. Since 2006, Censored News has received more than 20 million pageviews. As a collective of writers, photographers and broadcasters, we publish news of Indigenous Peoples and human rights. Contact publisher Brenda Norrell: brendanorrell@gmail.com From the publisher Censored News is published by Brenda Norrell, a journalist in Indian country for 39 years. Norrell created Censored News after she was censored and terminated as a staff reporter at Indian Country Today in 2006. She began as a reporter at Navajo Times during the 18 years that she lived on the Navajo Nation. She was a stringer for AP and USA Today and later traveled with the Zapatistas through Mexico. She has been blacklisted by all the mainstream media for 14 years. Contact brendanorrell@gmail.com Translate News / International by Kingstone Jambawo Wednesday - 18 April 2018 - Demonstrators gathered at the Zimbabwe Embassy in London to protest against the celebration of independence.The demonstration organised by Zimbabwe Human Rights Organisation (ZHRO) attracted many Zimbabweans, some from as far as Newcastle and Scotland.Despite the Military government's repeated insistence that -Zimbabwe is open for business - many in the diaspora believe that it has not reformed enough to attract investors.ZHRO views Zimbabwe Independence as a milestone separated by two periods - the first is the independence from colonial rule of oppression and impoverishment and the 2nd independence era of freedom and prosperity - #Take2Zimbabwe Unlike the citizens of many other democratic countries, Zimbabweans are provided with everyday challenges including poverty, starvation, infectious diseases, and exploitation by the military junta.Zimbabwe independence celebrations highlight the typical hourglass economy of the haves and have nots. Those who have links to the Zanu PF elite are in the upper compartment and bathe in obnoxious ill gotten wealth can celebrate independence. The middle class is almost nonexistent in Zimbabwe. The have nots in the lower compartment of the hourglass were demonstrating outside the Zimbabwe Embassy whilst inside the haves wined and dined with the British government representatives.The British Government officials who attended the celebrations are either complicit or naive as it appears the electoral reforms demanded by all other nations have fallen on deaf ears.Maybe they need to be reminded that the coup brought in a new dictator who is playing a 38 year old game. The motivation behind it being a bald faced capture of our natural resources for the cronies. The benefactors from this most recent newcomer in the musical chairs of African tyrants are the few who have invested heavily in their personal agendas during the 38 years of fake independence.Yet the UK is perpetuating this military regime, fully aware of who and what they are without taking time to ponder the moral or ethical issues. The proceeds from our natural resources are going to continue to be appropriated to the few by the few. Now Zimbabweans can watch the already rich becoming grotesquely enriched until someone younger rises to provide a successful challenge.Many of the demonstrators felt that there was no reason to celebrate when we have had 38 years of dictatorship, corruption, looting, partisanship, insults and deamining slogans, vote rigging and manipulation of election results, poverty, disappearances, and murders. When the country is currently grappling with cash shortages and health crises.Whilst recognising our country's problems, Zimbabweans can be commended for having a spirit of improvisation and adaptation that allows us to cope with our many challenges, all the while, remaining hopeful.Chiwenga has shown that he has no qualifications for the job and no gravitas. His reaction to the Nurses strike is nothing more than that of a head ruffian in a gang of thugs who can never win an election nor can he fare very well before the poor Zimbabweans court of public opinion. One thing is certain, if they do not allow free elections, he will be uprooted by another ruffian.According to Fadzai Mahere, the government cannot fire the nurses before "notifying them of the alleged offence, giving them an opportunity to present their case, giving them the option of legal representation and then adjudicating the issue fairly".A Vice President who dares to cary out appalling barracks action can not do so in an open society. He does not seem to have long term plans therefore he will have power for the time he is able to control the military.Those who came out to demonstrate included: Roseline Mukucha, Sarah Bayisayi, Rashiwe Bayisayi, John Burke, Phillip Nhlanhla, Kingstone Jambawo, Edison Muchirenipi, Mary Muteyerwa, Ebson Chigwedere, Philip Mahlahla, Rosemary Mupunga, Bridget Mupotsa, Isaac Chavasarire, Thandiwe Ncube, Lynette Chivizhe, Stewart Pride Nyandoro, Junior Madzimure, Thenjiwe Ncube, Samantha Mudimu, Sibusisiwe Mapeto, Charity Ndebele, Tryness Ncube, Sibongile Bvungidzire, Molly Ngavaimbe, Sicelo Sibanda, Chegika Lifa Phiri, Hillary J Musarurwa, Mary Ndoro, Sindile Patience Ncube, Namatirai Angela Sithole, Tendayi Chinawara, Nehemia Musonza, Peter Sidindi, Morella Nhau, Martin Chinyanga, and Eletha Mpofu.Thanks to Tryness Ncube for her donation of stationery. News / National by Staff rpeorter The Registrar General's Office has embarked on a national civil registration mop-up exercise for people to acquire identity documents ahead of harmonised elections due in a few months time.The one-month mop-up exercise began on Monday this week and ends on May 16.This comes after the RG's office conducted an extensive mobile registration which began in September last year and ended on January 31 this year.The department is focusing on registration of national identity cards and births and deaths certificates. Citizens by descent are also being covered during the mop-up period.Registrar General Mr Tobaiwa Mudede confirmed the development on Tuesday."The mop up vital civil registration exercise has started throughout the whole country at designated centres and static offices," he said. "The said mobile registration began on Monday, April 16, 2018, to May 16, 2018. This exercise is an extension of the vital civil mobile registration which commenced last year in September and ended on January 31, 2018."The documents are required to facilitate the registration of voters in preparation for the forthcoming harmonised elections."Mr Mudede said documents to be covered during the registration included "national identity cards, birth certificates, death certificates and citizens by descent (person born outside Zimbabwe one of whose parents is a citizen by birth)."He said the desired personal documents would be issued free of charge. "The respective itineraries will be available at the provincial and district offices countrywide," Mr Mudede said."Please contact provincial or district registrars for further information. We would like to thank Treasury for availing the funds for this important exercise to be carried out."The initial mobile registration exercise had mobile teams in every district in the country's 10 provinces.Mr Mudede said: "We appeal to all citizens to come forward and register for personal documents. Requirements have to be met as prescribed by the law. Every corner in the country will be covered."The RG's office is also urging those with metal identity cards to change to polythene-synthetic identity cards.Contrary to misconceptions by opposition parties and private media, metal identity cards remain valid and authentic. The RG's office said if the metal identity cards were to become invalid, the department would issue a statutory instrument to that effect. English Lithuanian AUGA group, AB (legal entity code 126264360, address: Konstitucijos pr. 21C, Vilnius) files its consolidated annual financial statements for the year 2017 for adoption by the ordinary general meeting of shareholders. Management comment In 2017, the audited revenues of AUGA group, AB companies (hereinafter referred to as the Group) were EUR 48.78 million, i.e. does not differ from the unaudited data published on 28 February 2018. Audited net profit of the Group for year 2017 increased from EUR 4.74 million to EUR 5.02 million, compared to unaudited data, mostly due to the reversal of some earlier made provisions and accruing of additional deferred corporate income tax asset. The Group's audited EBITDA for the year 2017 amounted to EUR 13.18 million (published unaudited EBITDA was EUR 13.10 million for the year 2017). The management of the Group made a decision to change the formula for EBITDA calculation for the future periods in order to align it with the method used by the Group's largest creditors (banks) to calculate covenants. EBITDA for the year 2017 recalculated using the new formula would amount to EUR 14.19 million. For comparison, EBITDA for the year 2016 calculated using the new formula would be EUR 11.21 million, while EUR 9.62 million was reported using the previous formula. New EBITDA calculation formula is net cash flow from operating activities before changes in working capital, as disclosed in cash flow statement, including gain (loss) on changes in fair value of biological assets. The Group will use the new formula for EBITDA calculating in the coming periods. The Group's management reviewed the revaluation of agricultural land owned by the Group at the end of 2017 with grater conservatism and adjusted it. As a result, the positive result of the revaluation of agricultural land decreased from EUR 4.8 million, published in the unaudited financial statements for the 12 months period ended in 31 December 2017, to EUR 1.8 million in the audited financial statements for the year 2017. This adjustment did not have any significant impact on the Group's net profit for the year 2017. Proposed draft decisions of the ordinary general meeting of shareholders Draft decisions of the ordinary shareholders meeting which will take place on 30 April 2018: 1.1. Consolidated annual report of the Company for the year 2017 and report of the auditor: Taken for the information. 1.2. Approval of consolidated annual financial statements of the Company for the year 2017. Draft decision: To approve consolidated annual financial statements for the year 2017. 1.3. Approval of the profit (loss) appropriation of the Company for the year 2017. Draft decision: To distribute the Companys profit in the total sum of EUR 8,122,234 available for appropriation, as follows: No. Ratios Amount, Euros 1. Non-allocated profit (loss) of the previous year at the end of the financial year as of 31 December 2017* -13,267,059 2. Net profit (loss) for the financial year 21,389,293 3. Profit (loss) for the reporting financial year not recognized in the profit and loss account - 4. Transfers from reserves - 5. Shareholders' contribution against losses - 6. Portion of the reserve of tangible fixed assets - 7. Profit (loss) for allocation (1+2+3+4+5+6) 8,122,234 8. Allocation of profit to compulsory reserve 1,069,465 9. Allocation of profit to reserve for granting of shares 957,000 10. Allocation of profit to other reserves - 11. Allocation of profit to dividends - 12. Allocation of profit to tantiems - 13. Non-allocated profit (loss) at the end of the year 2017 carried forward to next financial year (8-9-10-11-12) 6,095,769 * The share premium of 7,152,034 euro was used to cover the losses by a decision of extraordinary general meeting of shareholders held on 6 November 2017. 1.4. Appointment of the auditor of the Company. Draft decision: To appoint UAB PricewaterhouseCoopers (code: 111473315) as the Company's audit enterprise to perform the audit of the Group financial statements (including consolidated) for the 2018 financial year. To authorize the Company's general manager or any member of the Board to conclude the agreement for audit services, establishing the payment for services as agreed between the parties but in any case, not more than EUR 50,000 (fifty thousand) (VAT excluded) per year for the audit of the Company's financial statements (including consolidated). 1.5. Approval of the rules for granting Companys shares to employees and (or) members of the bodies of the Company. Draft decision: To approve the rules for granting Companys shares to employees and (or) members of the bodies of the Company. Taking into account that in accordance with point 1.3 (decision on profit appropriation) EUR 957,000 was allocated to the reserve for granting of shares, to confirm that until the next ordinary general meeting of shareholders, according to the terms of the rules for granting Companys shares to employees and (or) members of the bodies of the Company there may be granted shares/ signed option agreements for up to 3,300,000 ordinary registered shares of the Company. Attached: Consolidated annual financial statements for the year 2017 and consolidated annual report. Independent Auditors report. Confirmation of responsible persons. Draft of the rules on granting Companys shares to employees and (or) members of the bodies of the Company. General voting ballot. General Manager Linas Bulzgys +370 5 233 5340 Attachments News / National by Staff reporter BULAWAYO Metropolitan Affairs minister Angeline Masuku yesterday collapsed while reading out President Emmerson Mnangagwa's Independence Day speech at White City Stadium, delaying proceedings for at least 30 minutes as health personnel attended to her.Before she collapsed, Masuku stammered and kept repeating some sentences over and over."Please, can somebody come and assist me. I am feeling dizzy," she shouted, triggering panic among top government officials seated in the VIP tent.The event officially started shortly after 12PM after the arrival of service chiefs and the Minister of State for Bulawayo Provincial Affairs, Angeline Masuku.Soon after her arrival, Masuku, who was the guest of honour, inspected the guard of honour mounted by members of the Zimbabwe National Army (ZNA), Zimbabwe Prisons and Correctional Services (ZPCS) and the Zimbabwe Republic Police (ZRP) before she read the President's speech shortly after 1PM. The speech was, however, disrupted after Masuku fell ill while addressing the gathering due to fatigue.She resumed reading the President's speech a few minutes later from her chair."I would like to apologise to you all for this minor setback. The devil is a liar and of course, I must say that the doctors had actually advised me that I should take a rest but I opted to join you in celebrating this day because of my commitment and dedication," said Masuku before turning to the President's speech.Minister of State for Bulawayo Metropolitan Province, Angeline Masuku, read the Independence speech under the watch of a nurse. News / National by Simbarashe Sithole There was jubilation in Mazowe North on Independence Day where an aspiring ZANU PF candidate Campion Mugweni (34) donated five cows, six goats and food handouts to various wards in the constituency.Mugweni who is a businessman received overwhelming support when he arrived at Forester Estate there by temporarily shutting proceedings as people went wild with joy.Scores of people were gathered in different wards and he had the capacity to visit them and see how they were conducting their independence.Talking to Bulawayo24.com Mugweni said it is high time people vote wisely for candidates with them in heart not just voting for the sake of voting."We are elated to be here celebrating the independence day in Mazowe North, in as much as we are celebrating it is within my power to donate food staffs to the people whom l desire to represent hence the donation," said Mugweni."I could not satisfy every ward , but at least with the little l did, it is a clear indication that l have people at heart gone are the days when people vote for famous name, he said in a jibe aimed at his rival Martin Dinha the sitting Member of Parliament."Apparently, there is chaos in ZANU PF with aspiring candidates being disqualified and appealing to provincial and national leadership to intervene. News / National by Byo24News Reporter Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Union has condemned the decision by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga to terminate contracts of nurses who engaged in collective bargaining.In a statement to show solidarity with nurses, the labour union said the VP is out of order."The ZCTU notes that it is the first of its kind in the history of Zimbabwe for a whole Vice President to issue a statement claiming to have fired striking workers."Zimbabwe is well aware that the Vice President is not an employer of nurses."ZCTU said nurses are employed by the Health Services Board and as such, Chiwenga should be ashamed of usurping the powers of a board formed by the government.The labour union said Chiwenga's actions show that he is out of depth with the management of the health sector."His actions also vindicate skeptics who claim he is not fit for the job.Nurses embarked on industrial action on Monday demanding a review of their night and on call allowances. They also demanded better working conditions and improved supply of medication and equipment of health centres.Noted ZCTU; "it is no secret that the staff in the health sector is poorly remunerated. There is also serious shortage of equipment for them to be able to diligently discharge their duties."The labour movement castigated the continued appointment of Health and Child Care minister, David Parirenyatwa to the same portfolio saying he has contributed to the portfolio for a very long time.ZCTU implored Chiwenga to exercise restraint, tolerance and apply a sober mind in resolving the impasse before more bodies pile at hospital mortuaries. Opinion / Columnist Women can think on their own Who has the right to decide You cannot change rules midway through a game When Fadzai Mahere expressed her desire to stand as an independent candidate, many people accused her of being used by Zanu PF to split the opposition vote. Having listened to the people's concerns, we are told that she send letters to all the big parties in the opposition. Perhaps, as an overture for future talks. With that, many including myself, thought Fadzai was so full of herself. Did she seriously expect political parties to kowtow to her whims? No self-respecting party could do that and still keep its dignity intact. If an individual wants to represent a party at elections or influence its direction, then one must become a member. It is as simple as that.At least I thought, but now the case of Joana Mamombe forces me to think otherwise. About two weeks ago, Joana raised furore on social media by merely expressing intention to contest the MDC Harare West primary elections. She was insulted, her name soiled, all in a bid to disparage her candidacy.What can a young female politician do in this great republic of ours? Running as an independent candidate, they condemn her. Contesting primary elections, they condemn her. Focusing on her private and social life, they accuse her of indifference. Damned if she does and damned if she does not. Surely, we cannot pretend not to know why few women are running for public office.But as they say, every dark cloud has a silver lining. I am happy that this unfortunate debate has brought to the fore, uncomfortable but yet very necessary discussions. In this article, I will restrict my discussions to only but three issues. Due to this limited space, I will not be able to do justice to these issues, but I hope I will be able to incite further discussions.The contest between Jessie Majome and Joana Mamombe was supposed to be very exciting. For it is a contest between two brilliant female comrades. A contest between the mature tried and tested and the young, vibrant and promising. But alas, the debate has turned into a shame. Comrades who I regard as progressive have turned misogynistic in their bid to defend their preferred candidate.Yes, taking away Joana Mamombe's agency and accusing her of being used, is misogyny. She is a very capable young woman who is more than able to make decisions on her own. Additionally, several young male politicians within the MDC family are contesting in primary elections, yet none of them has been subjected to this scrutiny and attack.People are not asking them to go and contest in rural constituencies. Nor are people accusing them of sleeping with someone powerful. Why do we treat women differently? Why do we assume women have no agency? In this day and age, we must know by now, that women can think and take initiative on their own.During the online discussions, some people even suggested that Joana must support Majome. I always wonder why people expect female politicians to be a homogeneous group. There is absolutely no difference between female and male politicians. No one expects Obert Gutu to support Chamisa simply on the basis that they are both males. Thus, it is equally folly to expect Joana to support Majome simply because they share the same sex. We must respect Joana's decision to contest just as much as we respected Majome when she did not follow Khupe. As I pointed out in another article, we must resist patriarchy by all means. For it thinks that women and especially young women, are incapable of handling power and responsibility. As they say, there is power in repetition. Therefore, without fear of sounding like a broken record, I will repeat myself. Women can think and take initiative on their own.Mcdonald Lewanika the director of Crisis Coalition, commenting on his Facebook post two weeks ago, raised a very pertinent question. He asked, 'who has the right to decide'? Is it the party, the party structures, residents from the constituency or people who neither reside in the constituency nor are members of the party?There are diverse opinions on the matter. But, we can exclude the last option, people who neither reside in the constituency nor are members of the party have no locus standi on the matter. This is not to say that they cannot express their opinions. They are merely opinions and must be treated just as such. Personally, I am a firm believer in grassroots politics. Local party representatives must be accountable to the local party membership. And in turn the local party membership must reflect the broader local society.Alex Magaisa is of the contrary view. I hope that I understood him well, in one of his Facebook posts. He said, "a mature party does not risk the careers of its experienced MPs in the name of democracy". In other words, the party must guide the democratic processes. Retain certain MPs, even against the wishes of the local membership. Not only is this top down and undemocratic but it goes even further to assume that the local membership does not know what is best for itself. It is very elitist and I pray and hope the party will never go this route. Otherwise the people's party might be captured by an elite cabal.Alternatively, the party can abandon primary elections all together. Instead, they can just compile a list of members who will represent the party in elections. This system too, assumes that the local membership is ignorant. I would support the part list system if the public were to vote for a political party and not an individual. This, I am sure would increase the representation of diverse voices in our parliament. Furthermore, it would make it easier to raise the number of women in parliament. However, that said, I think it would be unwise to adopt this system under our current political system.The central theme in Morgan Tsvangirai's call for democracy was institutional reform. And I want to believe that rules and regulations are at the heart of institutional reform. The party has laid down rules and regulations for conducting primary elections. Therefore, members cannot make objections once the process has begun. More so, when the objections and concerns have nothing to do with the process itself.No matter how much we may prefer certain candidates to others, primary elections must take their full course. The party cannot change its rules and regulations midway through the primary elections process.Aluta continua and may the best candidate win. There will be an independent review of the experiences of Inuit children in protective care in Newfoundland and Labrador, the Office of the Child and Youth Advocate announced Wednesday. The Nunatsiavut government approached Child and Youth Advocate Jackie Lake Kavanagh to request the review, a news release said. The move comes as concern grows about the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in protective care, both in the province and nationally. It's a story, called Uprooted, reported by CBC News in February 2017 about why so many of Labrador's children are in care far from home, living with families on the island in communities such as Roddickton and Englee. The review will look at "the treatment, experiences and outcomes" of Inuit children and youth in the province's protective services, including protective intervention, in care, foster care, youth services and other alternate placements. "I think that the services have been lacking and I think that children have been disconnected from families and from their communities," Lake Kavanagh told CBC News. "Sometimes they're removed very small and it doesn't take very long for a lot of that to be lost, so children, if they do go back to their families then or their communities, they're coming back without any of that cultural context of who they are and how their culture works for them." Inuit communities will be directly involved and give input during the review, the release said. Given the sensitive nature of the topics discussed, support services will also be available. "We wanted a process where people could tell their stories, and be listened to, and have some of those stories validated, and to be able to provide solutions and ideas for moving forward," said Michelle Kinney, Nunatsiavut's deputy minister of health and social development. "We want it to be a healing journey in many ways, and a good model for reconciliation." Story continues The review will also involve an examination of individual case files. 'Fully engaged' The review process will be a collaborative one, said Kinney, who hopes for strong public engagement. "The Nunatsiavut government is fully engaged in this process," she said. "We were joint partners in developing the terms of reference. We have Inuit staff who will be travelling with the independent consultants as they go into the communities and make sure it's a respectful process." The review will cover a wide range of topics: the experiences of children in care both inside and outside of the region, court time frames, risk assessments, family-centric action plans that reflect Inuit values, ways to support social workers and foster home recruitment. The discussion will also go beyond those more specific topics into discussion of the role inter-generational trauma plays in Inuit homes and the number of Inuit children in protective care. "We know that the majority of children coming into care from our communities are coming into care because of neglect, or perhaps addictions issues or witnessing family violence, as opposed to being the actual victim of violence or maltreatment," Kinney said. "I think when we have a good picture of that, that will give us also a clearer picture of what kinds of resources and supports we can be putting into place to prevent some of those." Overrepresented both federally and provincially Last year, the provincial government announced an inquiry into the treatment of Innu children in the child protection system. Nunatsiavut respects that the Innu chose a different approach, but decided that an independent report would better suit their needs, Kinney said. "We want communities to be involved. We want a process that is inclusive, that families are going to be consulted." Lake Kavanagh said the government is contributing $400,000 for her investigation into issues involving Inuit. In November, the federal government said the overrepresentation of Indigenous children in protective care had become a crisis. More than half of the children in protective care in Canada are First Nations, Inuit or Metis. In Newfoundland and Labrador, 34 per cent of the children in protective care are Indigenous, and half of those are Inuit. Lake Kavanagh said she will be looking at the level of oversight. Social work cases are supposed to be reviewed once a month but in Labrador, that happens 21 per cent of the time, compared to 93 per cent of cases in St. John's, she said. Kinney hoped the report will lead to Nunatsiavut eventually taking over child protection for its members. "Any system has to be reflective of Inuit values and principles, and it's difficult for a provincial system to do that when Indigenous people are just one part of that system." The review, which will be shared with the public in a report, is expected to be completed by Mar. 31, 2019. By Paresh Dave and Karen Freifeld SAN FRANCISCO/NEW YORK (Reuters) - China's ZTE Corp on Wednesday postponed the release of quarterly earnings, saying it needs time to assess the impact of a U.S. order that bans American companies from selling it parts, which could undermine its ability to manufacture equipment. ZTE <000063.SZ>, a maker of telecommunications equipment and smartphones, was due to release results on Thursday. It announced the delay as components makers, wireless carriers, retailers, telecommunications firms and Alphabet Inc's Google, developer of the Android operating system, sought to clarify how they will be affected by the order, announced on Monday by the U.S. Commerce Department. Under the order American companies are banned from selling parts and software to ZTE for seven years. The action followed ZTE's violation of an agreement reached after it was caught illegally shipping U.S. goods to Iran. ZTE said its board postponed a meeting to approve the results while it reviews the U.S. government order. Trading in its shares has been suspended in China since Tuesday. American companies are estimated to provide 25 percent to 30 percent of the components used in ZTE's equipment. ZTE has not responded to requests to describe how it intends to respond to the ban, which a senior U.S. Commerce department official told Reuters is unlikely to be lifted. I never say never," the official said earlier this week. "Were going to have to see how this unfolds. But there is no provision currently for that to occur. The Commerce Department initially banned U.S. companies from selling to ZTE in 2016 after the Chinese company was caught shipping equipment with U.S. components to Iran in violation of U.S. export controls. ZTE then received a special temporary general license that was extended several times, until it pleaded guilty to the charges in March 2017 and Commerce suspended the ban through March 2018. Washington has not included any "off ramp" under the terms of this week's order, the official said. The Commerce Department has an appeals process for companies to try to get off the list, but it is unclear whether that would be available to ZTE because the case had been previously subject to a settlement. Even so, ZTE would have little recourse in the near term because appeals would have to be approved by the Commerce Department's Bureau of Industry and Security, the same agency that issued the ban. Companies must submit appeals to an end-user review committee that would issue a ruling within 30 days, according to the agency's website. The party must provide a basis for the removal or modification, it says. ANDROID UPDATES One key area of concern is whether ZTE will be able to continue to sell phones running the widely used Android operating system from Google. ZTE and Google have been discussing the impact of the ban, a source familiar with those discussions told Reuters on Tuesday. ZTE shipped 46.4 million smartphones last year, placing it seventh among Android-based manufacturers, according to research firm IHS Markit. Officials at two U.S. wireless carriers said on Wednesday that they were still assessing how the ban would affect their customers. They declined to comment on how they would respond if ZTE is unable to provide Android software updates for phones already used by their customers. The United States is ZTEs top smartphone market, accounting for 46 percent of its shipments, followed by China at 24 percent, according to research firm IDC. Most ZTE phones sell for below $300, a low-end segment of the U.S. market where the company has fared well, ZTE's mobile chief executive, Lixin Cheng, told Reuters in January. The company has spent billions of dollars licensing technology from U.S. partners and has more than 400 employees in the United States, spread across six research and development centers, a call center and two distribution centers, he said. Google declined comment and ZTE did not responded to requests to comment. (Reporting by Paresh Dave in San Francisco and Karen Freifeld in New York; Additional reporting by David Lawder in Washington; Writing by Jim Finkle in Toronto; Editing by Anna Driver, Steve Orlofsky and Leslie Adler) Things are heating up in Ontario as we get closer to the provincial election. Ontarios Progressive Conservative leader Doug Ford and Liberal leader Kathleen Wynne have exchanged heated words as they address the province with campaign promises, while criticizing opposing tactics. Doug Ford sounds like Donald Trump and thats because he is like Donald Trump, Wynne said at Sunnybrook Health Sciences Centre in Toronto on Wednesday. Hell say anything about anyone at anytime because just like Trump, it is all about him. Its not about our people, its not about their families, its not about Ontarios success, it is about him. Her statements came after reporters asked Wynne to respond to Fords comments that suggest she would be in jail if she wasnt the premier of Ontario. If Kathleen Wynne tried to pull these kinds of shady tricks in private life, then there would be a few more Liberals joining David Livingston in jail, Ford said in a news release, referencing the former Liberal aide who was sentenced to four months in jail for wiping government computer data related to the 2011 gas plant scandal. Ford responded to Wynnes Trump comments during a rally in Ajax, saying the premier is nervous and getting personal. Im going to hold Kathleen Wynne accountable based on her record, Ford said. Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath makes a campaign announcement in Toronto. THE CANADIAN PRESS/Chris Donovan NDP platform As tensions between the Liberal and PC parties continued to rise this week, Ontarios NDP leader Andrea Horwath released her partys platform on Monday, with heavy investments in child care, health care, education and public transit. The Change for the Better platform promises free child care for families that earn $40,000 or less. If elected, hospital funding would increase by 5.3 per cent. The provincial NDPs would also increase taxes by one per cent for individuals earning more than $220,000, with a two per cent increase for people earning $300,000 or more. Horwath is anticipating five consecutive deficits to fund the partys promises, with a $3.3 billion deficit in the first year. Story continues For too long, the people of Ontario have been forced to settle for less than what we know is possible, Horwath said in her speech on Monday. Weve been told to switch back and forth, from the Liberals to the Conservatives and back again. As though the only choice is between bad and worse. And look where its gotten us. Liberal deficit The financial outlook for the province still involves a deficit if the Liberals stay in power. In the budget released last month, the party outlined a projected $6.7 billion deficit that wont be rectified until 2024-2025. This goes against last years promise to maintain a balanced budget for 2019-2020. Highlighting health care, child care, and support for seniors, the Liberals also promise free child care for preschool children beginning in 2020 (once they turn two-and-a-half). Wynnes Liberal government also announced the Ontario Drug and Dental Program will reimburse up to 80 per cent of eligible expenses for those without other coverage, covering up to $400 per person, $600 per couple or $700 for a family of four. Its a plan of care but its also a plan to grow the economy and create more jobs, Finance Minister Charles Sousa said to reporters when the budget was released. It focuses on making life more affordable and provides greater financial security. Fords tax cuts On Wednesday, the Ontario PC party promised that if elected, the provincial income tax rate would be cut from 11.5 per cent to 10.5 per cent. Were going to create the environment to make sure this province is the most prosperous province anywhere in Canada, Ford said, according to The Canadian Press. Well make sure we have the most competitive region in North America to do business. Ford has also made a campaign promise of zero per cent tax for individuals making minimum wage, while also vowing to scrap the Liberal governments minimum wage hike to $15 per hour. Torys leading in the polls According to a survey by Innovative Research Group, conducted between April 2nd and April 9th, 37 per cent of respondents, would vote of the provincial PC party if an elected was held at the time of the poll, while 26 per cent would vote Liberal and 18 per cent would vote NDP. The results were consistent with their finding from two previous polls in March So as the Ontario election date is approaching, Yahoo Canada News wants to know what your main priorities are. What issue is most important as you contemplate how to cast your vote in June? Vote in the poll above! Ontario NDP leader Andrea Horwath will be speaking to Yahoo Canada News next week what would you like to know? Leave your questions in the comments! VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- SHARC International Systems Inc. (CSE:SHRC) (FSE:IWIA) (OTCQB:INTWF) ("SHARC") is pleased to announce a Non-Brokered Private Placement (the "Private Placement") and will be issued in connection with the creation and issue of an aggregate of 6,250,000 Units (Units) or 8,750,000 Units, if the Over-Allotment Option (Over-Allotment) is exercised in full, for aggregate gross subscription proceeds of $2,500,000 or $3,500,000 if the Over-Allotment is exercised in full, to be sold by the Corporation by private placement (the "Offering"). Each Unit at a purchase price of $0.40 per Unit, and the Unit consists of one (1) common share ("Common Share") of the Company and one (1) non-transferable share purchase warrant ("Warrant"). The "Over-Allotment Option" means the option of the Corporation, exercisable up to 48 hours prior to the Closing (as defined below), to sell up to an additional 2,500,000 Units at $0.40 per Unit. Each Warrant will entitle the holder to acquire one (1) Common Share at an exercise price of $0.60 for a period of 24 months from the closing date of the Private Placement. In the event that the Company's common shares trade at a closing price on the Exchange of greater than $1.00 per share for a period of 10 consecutive trading days at any time after the closing date, the Company may accelerate the expiry date of the Warrants by giving notice to the holders thereof and in such case the Warrants will expire on the 30th day after the date hereafter referred to as the ("Eligible Acceleration Date") on which such notice is given by the Company. All securities issued in the financing will be subject to a statutory hold period expiring four months and one day after closing of the financing. Completion of the financing is subject to a number of conditions, including, without limitation, receipt of all regulatory approvals, including approval of the Canadian Securities Exchange ("CSE"). The Company may, in its sole discretion, pay a finders fee within CSE policy guidelines in connection with the Private Placement. The Company intends to use the net proceeds of the Private Placement for the advancement of the Company's projects that are currently in the pipeline and will also be evaluating new project opportunities as part of its business model. About SHARC International Systems SHARC International Systems Inc. is a world leader in thermal heat recovery. SHARC systems recycle thermal energy from wastewater, generating one of the most energy efficient and economical systems for heating, cooling & hot water preheating for commercial, residential and industrial buildings. SHARC is publicly traded in Canada (CSE:SHRC), the United States (OTCQB:INTWF) and Germany (Frankfurt:IWIA). Further information about the Company is available on our website at www.sharcenergy.com or under our profile on SEDAR at www.sedar.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD Lynn Mueller Chairman and Chief Executive Officer For further information, please contact: Ray Crowley Telephone: 604 782 0773 Email: ray.crowley@sharcenergy.com Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the Canadian Securities Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Forward-Looking Statements Certain statements contained in this news release may constitute forward-looking information. Forward-looking information is often, but not always, identified by the use of words such as "anticipate", "plan", "estimate", "expect", "may", "will", "intend", "should", and similar expressions. Forward-looking information involves known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors that may cause actual results or events to differ materially from those anticipated in such forward-looking information. SHARC's actual results could differ materially from those anticipated in this forward-looking information as a result of regulatory decisions, competitive factors in the industries in which the Company operates, prevailing economic conditions, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of the Company. SHARC believes that the expectations reflected in the forward-looking information are reasonable, but no assurance can be given that these expectations will prove to be correct and such forward-looking information should not be unduly relied upon. Any forward-looking information contained in this news release represents the Company's expectations as of the date hereof, and is subject to change after such date. The Company disclaims any intention or obligation to update or revise any forward-looking information whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable securities legislation. HAIFA, Israel Seventy years ago, the world changed around my family. The establishment of the state of Israel represented self-determination for Jews, but a catastrophe nakba in Arabic for Palestinians. In the area around the Mediterranean city of Haifa, where my family has lived for six generations, only 2,000 Palestinians of a population of 70,000 remained. My grandparents, Abdel-Hai and Adla, were among them. Their neighbors were expelled and dispossessed, and never allowed to return. Updates throughout the day at http://calevbenyefuneh.blog spot.com. If you enjoy "Love of the Land", please be a subscriber. Just put your email address in the "Subscribe" box on the upper right-hand corner of the page.Twitter updates at LoveoftheLand as well as our Love of the Land page at Facebook which has additional pieces of interest besides that which is posted on the blog. Also check-out This Ongoing War by Frimet and Arnold Roth. An excellent blog, very important work. . ..Algemeiner.com..18 April '18..Theis marking Israels 70th birthday with an op-ed piece describing the Jewish states creation as a catastrophe.The article also offers a historically false account of events in Haifa in 1948.Thearticle, by Ayman Odeh, who leads the vestiges of Israels Communist Party, begins:Luckily, the case of Haifa just so happens to have been the topic of extensive research by the eminent historian Efraim Karsh, who published his findings in 2000 in an authoritative and meticulously documented article inheadlined, Were The Palestinians Expelled? Data Science Purdue to Embed Data Science into Every Major Recognizing that data science is becoming the lingua franca of the 21st century, Purdue University has kicked off a new initiative to embed it in courses, physical spaces and industry collaborations. According to campus officials, the new Integrative Data Science Initiative (IDSI) will make data science education a part of every student's learning experiences on campus, no matter what field he or she is studying. This follows on the university's shift in 2013 to strengthen its institutional vision, "Purdue Moves," in the area of STEM education. Sunil Prabhakar, head of the computer science department, has been named to lead the program. Working with an IDSI steering committee, he will oversee teaching and research efforts, seek out multi-disciplinary opportunities, drum up resources to fund the work and provide a central point of contact for the various data science efforts. "Data science is applicable to every major and each student attending Purdue, and we intend on fulfilling the expectation that Purdue graduates are ably prepared with the analytical skills they will need in the data job market," Prabhakar said, in a prepared statement. Among the first tasks is solicitation of "grand challenge" proposals from among Purdue's faculty to "apply data science to pressing, socially relevant issues." The university has committed to funding several data science research projects for between $100,000 and $150,000 each over two years in four areas: Healthcare; Defense and security; Ethics, society and policy; and Fundamentals, methods and algorithms. That last category seeks projects focused on gaining a better understanding of the core concepts in data science, including "information, knowledge, fairness, trust, risk, collusion, privacy and information-efficient computation." Extra credit will be given to those proposals that call for researchers from more than one discipline to work together, such as research that explores a problem involving policy and defense-related data science or the use of data science fundamentals to a health-related problem. The idea for a data science infusion into all aspects of the university had quick turnaround. Last semester the institution held a series of town hall meetings, followed by two working group reports, recommendations and the formation of a campuswide steering committee. The university is also pondering creation of "data science-focused" physical sites for its campus, including student residences and learning communities along with faculty-industry collaboration spaces. The Convergence, a building planned for university's Discovery Park, may become the home for private-sector companies to collaborate with Purdue research and education activities. One industry partner, the head of defense and aerospace in North America at Rolls-Royce, praised the concept: "Digital innovation is crucial to our current and future success as a world-leading industrial technology company," said Phil Burkholder. "For programs such as our IntelligentEngine and R2 Data Labs, an acceleration hub for data innovation, we will need a new generation of digital experts to reach our goal of providing advanced, efficient propulsion systems. We welcome Purdue University's expanded role in training these next-gen critical thinkers in digital innovation." Miguel Diaz-Canel Bermudez is the new President of Cuba. Yesterday Cubas National Assembly announced that Diaz-Canel had been approved as the sole candidate for President. Diaz-Canel succeeds Raul Castro, who was not seeking a second term. It marks the first time since 1976 that a Castro has not held the title of President. While Raul Castro will no longer be President, the 86-year-old will still hold the powerful title as First Secretary of the Communist Party in Cuba. Diaz-Canel had been Cubas Vice President since 2013. While the Castros have been in power since the Cuban Revolution of 1959, it wasnt until 1976 when Rauls brother, the late Fidel Castro, became President of Cuba. It was Osvaldo Dorticos Torrado who served as President from 1959 to 1976. During this time Fidel Castro was First Secretary of the Communist Party. The First Secretary wields a lot of power in Cubas political system and has a huge role in policy, thus the fact that Raul Castro remains First Secretary is a sign that reforms many are hoping for are not around the corner. Raul first became President in 2006 when Fidel Castro encountered heath issues. At that time it was a temporary transfer of power, but in 2008 Raul was officially named President of Cuba and in 2011, he ascended to the powerful title of First Secretary. Meanwhile, its far from the end of the Castro influence as many other Castro family members also have key positions in the Communist government. Rauls son Alejandro has an important role in the Ministry of the Interior while his daughter Mariela is a member of the Cuban National Assembly. His former son-in-law General Luis Alberto Rodriguez operates GAESA. GAESA operates state-owned companies that account for a large amount of the business revenue produced in Cuba. GAESA has also been a target of President Donald Trumps recent sanctions program. From a U.S.-Cuba relations standpoint, it has been a roller coaster ride for the past 3 1/2 years and the question many have is how will Diaz-Canel becoming Cuban President impact it. Back in December 2014, U.S. President Barack Obama took some steps designed to improve relations between the United States and Cuba and ultimately start a process that could lead to the end the U.S. Embargo with Cuba. A lifting of the Embargo still requires an act of Congress, so while the Embargo wasnt ended, President Obama used Executive Powers to ease some restrictions on travel and trade. This also involved the re-opening of the U.S. Embassy in Cuba, Last year, President Donald Trump opted to tighten up some of the policies around trade and travel. Not long after that, a series of mysterious acoustic attacks on several Americans led to the U.S. State Department heavily advising against travel to Cuba and a reduction of the Embassy staff. The U.S. Embargo with Cuba remains in effect, although U.S. visitors to Cuba may still return with cigars. Diaz-Canels term as President starts April 19, 2018. Photo Credit: Wikipedia, licensed by CC0 THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- For members of an Indonesian group known as the Bajau, the ability to dive deeply for long periods of time appears to be in their genes. Specifically, new research suggests their extraordinary breath-holding abilities may be due to genetically enlarged spleens. For over 1,000 years, the Bajau people have traveled the Southeast Asian seas in houseboats and collected food by free-diving with spears. The Bajau are famous for their extraordinary breath-holding abilities. Some members can dive up to 70 meters (230 feet) with nothing more than a set of weights and a pair of wooden goggles, the scientists said. How? It's believed that the spleen plays an important role in enabling humans to free-dive for extended lengths of time. "There's not a lot of information out there about human spleens in terms of physiology and genetics, but we know that deep-diving seals, like the Weddell seal, have disproportionately large spleens," said study first author Melissa Ilardo, from the University of Cambridge in England. When people free-dive, the spleen contracts and ejects oxygenated red blood cells into the bloodstream. This has been found to provide up to a 9 percent increase in oxygen, enabling longer dive times, the researchers explained. "I thought that if [natural] selection acted on the seals to give them larger spleens, it could potentially do the same in humans," Ilardo added in a university news release. In the study, she spent several months in Jaya Bakti, Indonesia, taking genetic samples and performing ultrasound scans of the spleens from both the Bajau and their land-dwelling neighbors, the Saluan. The results showed the Bajau have a median spleen size that is 50 percent larger than the Saluan. So, the international team of scientists began to investigate the Bajau's genetic data. The researchers discovered that members of the Bajau have a gene called PDE10A, which the Saluan do not. It is thought that the PDE10A gene controls the levels of thyroid hormone T4. "We believe that in the Bajau, they have an adaptation that increases thyroid hormone levels and therefore increases their spleen size," Ilardo explained. "It's been shown in mice that thyroid hormones and spleen size are connected." The findings have implications for other areas of medical research, the study authors said. The human dive response simulates a condition called acute hypoxia, in which body tissue has a rapid loss of oxygen, the researchers noted. Acute hypoxia is a leading cause of complications in emergency care. Studying free-divers such as the Bajau could help improve the understanding of acute hypoxia. According to study co-author Rasmus Nielsen, "This is the first time that we really have a system like that in humans to study." Nielsen is a professor at the University of Copenhagen and the University of California, Berkeley. "It will help us make the link between the genetics and the physiological response to acute hypoxia. It's a hypoxia experiment that nature has made for us and allows us to study humans in a way that we can't in a laboratory," Nielsen explained. The study was published April 19 in the journal Cell. More information The Children's Hospital of Pittsburgh has more on the spleen. THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- Tattoos serve many purposes, perhaps expressing artistry, loyalty or love. Now, scientists working with mice say they've engineered a medical "tattoo" that can screen for early signs of major disease. The biomedical tattoo is made up of cells embedded with sensors that measure levels of blood calcium. It's initially invisible when implanted under the skin. But the sensors become apparent if blood calcium levels rise. This indicates a condition called hypercalcemia, which is a marker for several cancers and other major diseases. "Forty percent of all cancers -- including colon cancer, lung cancer, breast cancer and prostate cancer -- disrupt calcium balance (homeostasis)," said study lead author Martin Fussenegger. "The biomedical tattoo is designed to catch mild hypercalcemia," which produces no symptoms, he said. Appearance of the tattoo may signal that some of those cancers may start to develop, said Fussenegger, of ETH Zurich's department of biosystems science and engineering in Basel, Switzerland. When elevated blood calcium persists, the implant releases melanin, producing a telltale dark patch on the skin, he said. (Melanin is a dark pigment responsible for tanning.) But whether this is just a fun gimmick or a reliable diagnostic tool remains to be seen. Dr. Janice Dutcher is a medical oncologist with the Cancer Research Foundation in New York City. She described the innovation as a "neat gimmick." "I guess in the context of looking for new and inventive ways to screen for disease, it's a reasonable idea," she said. "It's always nice to try and conceive of a new, simple and accurate way to screen for disease." But Dutcher cautioned that screening for high calcium levels is not always an effective way to detect cancer early. Some cancers -- kidney cancer, for example -- only prompt high calcium after the disease has progressed, she said. Dr. Norman Edelman, senior medical advisor for the American Lung Association, seconded that point. In his experience, "the bulk" of tumor-related hypercalcemia occurs at a late stage, when cancer has spread. "It is also a late finding in kidney failure," he added. "So this is really fun science. But I would not spend a lot to license the patent," Edelman said. To test their design, the researchers implanted the engineered cells under the skin of mice with either cancerous tumors that cause hypercalcemia or tumors that do not alter calcium blood levels. The tattoos only surfaced on the skin of mice with elevated blood calcium levels, according to the report. In theory, said Fussenegger, a tattoo diagnosis would happen at such an early stage of disease "that over 95 percent of the above-mentioned cancer types will be cured." He and his colleagues were "impressed by the precision and sensitivity of the tattoo," he said. A skin patch arose only when high calcium levels persisted, he explained, adding this would reduce the likelihood of false diagnoses. Still, "animal experiments do not always translate to people," Fussenegger acknowledged. Human trials are set to begin within five years, he said. The goal is a human tattoo "universal system" that could detect multiple health issues at once. If all goes according to plan, Fussenegger predicted it could be available within 10 to 15 years. Besides cancer, Fussenegger said the approach could be linked to other slow-developing diseases. These might include neurodegenerative disorders like Parkinson's and Alzheimer's, he said. The findings were published April 18 in the journal Science Translational Medicine. More information There's more on screening for cancer at the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. THURSDAY, April 19, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- High-decibel music blasting at big concert venues is a known cause of short-term hearing loss. But new research suggests drinking doesn't help matters, with drunk concertgoers actually moving closer to loudspeakers. The study of 51 young attendees at an outdoor music festival in the Netherlands found that "when participants consumed more alcohol, they exhibited more dangerous behavior" tied to hearing loss. Post-concert hearing loss -- as well as tinnitus, or "ringing in the ears" -- did typically resolve, the researchers noted. However, rates of longer-term hearing loss are on the rise, they warned. "During the past two decades, the prevalence of hearing loss among young people has increased, partly owing to the increasing popularity of visiting music concerts, clubs and festivals," said Dutch researchers led by Dr. Veronique Kraaijenga, of University Medical Center Utrecht. But the study also found one easy way to curb the danger: If concertgoers wore earplugs that lessened the decibel level, they could still enjoy the music without damaging their ears. One U.S. hearing specialist concurred with that healthy advice. "As a concertgoer myself, the study has heightened my awareness and diligence in using earplugs and even sharing extras with those around me," said Dr. David Hiltzik, director of head and neck surgery at Staten Island University Hospital in New York City. He believes that "earplugs are as necessary as your ticket when attending any live music event as shown in this well-executed study." For the new research, Kraaijenga's group compared the post-concert hearing of 51 people attending the outdoor concert, which lasted more than four hours. Twenty-five of them wore earplugs during the show, while the others did not. The researchers reported much more transient hearing loss and tinnitus among those without earplugs versus those who wore them. Men seemed more affected than women, a trend that's been seen in other studies. Drinking and drug use also appeared to up the risk, the researchers said. Concertgoers imbibed an average of four drinks during the concert, and the more inebriated they became, the more likely they were to get closer to high-decibel speakers. There may be other links between alcohol and hearing loss: According to the researchers, one study conducted in the 1970s found that "alcohol reduces the protective action of the acoustic reflex in persons with normal hearing." Eleven of the study participants also reported drug use at the concert, and the researchers noted that studies have also linked popular "rave" drugs such as MDMA and cocaine to hearing issues. Dr. Darius Kohan directs otology/neurotology at Lenox Hill Hospital in New York City. He noted that while there have been many lab-based studies on hearing loss, "studies in 'real-life' settings have been limited." Kohan also believes that many young concertgoers may too easily reject earplug use. "Surprisingly, [the Dutch study] data indicated that subjects wearing earplugs to protect them from noise actually enjoyed the music more than their peers," Kohan said. "Heightened awareness of the benefits of readily available hearing protection with earplugs in loud environments should be promoted," he said. The study was published April 19 in JAMA Otolaryngology-Head & Neck Surgery. More information Find out more about hearing loss at the U.S. National Institute on Deafness and Other Communication Disorders. WEDNESDAY, April 18, 2018 (HealthDay News) -- The outbreak of E. coli illness tied to tainted Arizona romaine lettuce continues to expand, federal health officials said Wednesday. "Since the last update on April 13, 2018, 18 more ill people have been added to this investigation, bringing the total number to 53," the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention said in a news release. The illnesses have been identified as linked to a particularly virulent strain of E. coli O157:H7. Cases have now been reported in five more states, the CDC added, bringing the total number of states involved to 16. Although no deaths have been reported, "31 people out of 48 [cases] with available information (65 percent) have been hospitalized, including five who developed a type of kidney failure called hemolytic uremic syndrome," the CDC reported. "This is a higher hospitalization rate than usual for E. coli O157:H7 infections, which is normally around 30 percent," according to the agency. Illnesses include 12 cases in Pennsylvania, 10 cases in Idaho, seven cases in New Jersey, six cases in Montana, three cases in Arizona, two cases each in Connecticut, Michigan, New York and Ohio, and one case each in Alaska, California, Illinois, Louisiana, Missouri, Virginia and Washington. The CDC said that, based on its investigation, "chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona growing region could be contaminated with E. coli O157:H7 and could make people sick." The agency's advice? "People who have store-bought chopped romaine lettuce at home, including salads and salad mixes containing chopped romaine lettuce, should not eat it and should throw it away, even if some of it was eaten and no one has gotten sick." And the CDC added that restaurants should avoid buying and serving romaine lettuce from the Yuma, Arizona region. As for consumers, "before buying romaine lettuce at a grocery store or eating it at a restaurant, confirm that it is not chopped romaine lettuce from the Yuma growing region. If you cannot confirm the source of the lettuce, do not buy or eat it," the CDC said. The agency stressed that E. coli illness can be very serious, even deadly. Usually, illness sets in "an average of three to four days after swallowing the germ. Most people get diarrhea (often bloody), severe stomach cramps and vomiting," according to the CDC. For most, recovery will occur within a week, but more severe cases last longer. "Talk to your doctor if you have symptoms of an E. coli infection and report your illness to your local health department," the agency said. More information Find out more about E. coli illness at foodsafety.gov. Share this: Twitter Facebook WhatsApp LinkedIn Email Telegram April 19, 2018 Hon. Benjamin Netanyahu Prime Minister of Israel 3 Kaplan St. P.O.B. 187 Kiryat Ben-Gurion Jerusalem 91919 Israel Via email: pm_eng@pmo.gov.il Dear Prime Minister Netanyahu, The Committee to Protect Journalists, an independent press freedom advocacy organization, urges you to review the Israel Defense Forces (IDF) policy on mass protests and the press and to ensure that the shooting of journalists covering demonstrations in the Gaza Strip is quickly and thoroughly investigated. Yaser Murtaja, a photojournalist and camera operator for the Gaza-based media production company Ain Media, died on April 7 of injuries sustained the previous day while covering protests in the area east of Khan Younis. He was wearing a bulletproof vest and helmet that were clearly marked with the word PRESS and was hundreds of feet away from the border fence when he was hit. Amid the international outcry, your government appointed a brigadier general to investigate the IDFs reaction to the protests in general, and the shooting of Murtaja in particular. We urge you to ensure that the conclusion of this investigation is made public, as the possibility of more deaths and injuries among journalistsnot to mention protestersis real. At least 12 other journalists have been injured by IDF live fire since March 30, CPJ research shows. Most of them wore vests marked with PRESS. The shootings suggest that Israeli authorities could be trying to suppress media coverage of the protests. While evidenceincluding accounts from two journalists who were shot, video evidence reviewed by CPJ, and the tactical capabilities of IDF snipersis inconclusive, this alarming possibility must be investigated. Even if the IDF is not deliberately targeting journalists, its use of live ammunition as a first resort instead of nonlethal means puts journalistsparticularly photographers and camera operatives who must be at the frontlines to get picturesat terrible risk, making their work almost impossible. Furthermore, after Murtaja was killed, your defense minister, Avigdor Lieberman, claimed first that the journalist was operating a drone at the time he was shot, and then that he was a paid Hamas operative, according to news reports. He offered no evidence of either claim (Murtajas colleagues have denied he was using a drone, while The Associated Press reported that Murtajas production company recently won a grant from USAID after strict vetting by the U.S. government). The killing of Murtaja is part of a pattern: of 17 journalists killed in Israel and the Occupied Territories since 1992 when CPJ began keeping records, 15 were killed by Israeli fire, and no one has been held accountable, CPJ research shows. Israels state comptroller, an independent watchdog of the executive branch, has emphasized in reports following violence in 2003 and 2017 that the governments failure to develop and implement nonlethal means to deal with demonstrations. And in a report published last month on Israels conflict with Hamas in 2014, the comptroller said delays in the IDFs investigation of its own conduct undermine the effectiveness and credibility of the militarys accountability mechanisms. It is essential as the latest investigation proceeds that Israel affirm its international commitments to protect civilians, including journalists, in conflict zones. According to Israeli media and Human Rights Watch, senior officials have authorized the use of live ammunition against Palestinian protesters who pose no imminent threat to life. We ask that you consider this a matter of urgency. We request your government provide an immediate and detailed review of its policy on journalists covering protests or conflict, and for the IDF to carry out a swift and thorough investigation into Murtajas killing and to make its findings public. If the probe determines civil or criminal liability, then authorities must take credible action. Sincerely, Joel Simon Executive Director CALGARY, Alberta, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Further to the press release issued this morning by Vogogo Inc. (Vogogo or the Company) (CSE:VGO), the Company announces that it has now also secured an option (the Option) to purchase electrical and HVAC equipment (the Equipment) to be used for further expansion of its cryptocurrency mining activities, to be installed at a location to be determined. The purchase price for the Equipment under the Option is $20 million CAD and will service approximately 35 megawatts of electrical power. If the Option is exercised and the Equipment deployed in a suitable facility, in total the Company will have access to approximately 74 megawatts of low-cost electrical power. The Company can exercise the Option within 180 days of closing the previously announced acquisition of 14,000 cryptocurrency mining machines and supporting infrastructure. Vogogo will be required to raise capital to fund the $36 million cash portion of the previously announced acquisition (in equity and/or debt) and, if the Company decides to exercise the Option, the $20 million purchase price of the Equipment. In that regard, the Company is currently in the process of engaging investment banks to assist with such capital raise. About Vogogo Inc. Vogogo currently operates its cryptocurrency mining activities at a state-of-the-art facility in Pointe-Claire, Quebec. This includes mining for cryptocurrencies for its own account, as a service for third party customers and within mining pools. As it continues to embrace blockchain technology, Vogogo is exploring opportunities in all aspects of the cryptocurrency segment, including the three verticals of mining, payments and currency exchange. For information or interview please contact: John Kennedy FitzGerald Chief Executive Officer and President 403-648-9292 READER ADVISORY Neither the Canadian Securities Exchange (CSE) nor the Market Regulator (as that term is defined in the policies of the CSE) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this press release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This press release contains certain forward-looking statements. All information, other than information regarding historic fact that addresses activities, events or developments that the Company believes, expects or anticipates will or may occur in the future is forward-looking information. The words will, anticipate, believe, estimate, expect, intent, may, project, should, and similar expressions are intended to be among the statements that identify forward-looking statements. The forward-looking statements are founded on the basis of expectations and assumptions made by Vogogo. Readers are cautioned that assumptions used in the preparation of such information may prove to be incorrect. Events or circumstances may cause actual results to differ materially from those predicted as a result of numerous known and unknown risks, uncertainties, and other factors, many of which are beyond the control of Vogogo. Vogogo does not have any obligation to update or revise any forward-looking statements except as expressly required by applicable securities laws. In the wake of Sunday's deadly riot at a South Carolina prison, one of the Republicans running for governor has called for bringing back firing squads. On a radio program, Catherine Templeton said firing squads should be revived in the Palmetto State. The Republican made the comments Tuesday on the Bob Mclain Show. "Criminals legally sentenced to death are getting an unofficial reprieve right now as South Carolina goes without the drugs necessary for lethal injection," Templeton said. "We must make the death penalty swift and final. I will push for legislation allowing firing squads for court-ordered executions. And I will also seek to deny condemned inmates their choice of execution." Templeton, who was a Cabinet director under former S.C. Gov. Nikki Haley, made her comments a little more than a day after the riot at Lee Correctional Institution in Bishopville late Sunday that left 7 inmates dead. The Charleston attorney is not the first politician in South Carolina to try and revive the use of the firing squad. S.C. Rep. Josh Putnam, R-Anderson, filed a bill in February that called for firing squads to help execute the state's death row inmates. Mississippi, Oklahoma and Utah are currently the only states that have execution by firing squad, according to deathpenaltyinfo.org. Use of firing squads was banned in Utah in 2004, but revived in 2015, when legislation was enacted to allowing execution by firing squad if the drugs used for lethal injection are unavailable. In November 2017, Gov. Henry McMaster announced that South Carolina does not have the drugs necessary to carry out lethal injection. The deadly mix requires 3 drugs - pentobarbital, pancuronium bromide and potassium chloride - all of which the state does not have. Templeton has been critical of McMaster on this issue, and for his handling of the criminal justice system. "Under Henry McMaster's watch, prisoners have been rioting and jumping fences. They use cell phones to get access to drugs and contact criminal cronies," Templeton said on the radio program. "When I'm governor, once criminals are put in prison, they will no longer dictate or demand special favor." McMaster's campaign responded to Templeton's remarks, disputing some of her attacks on the governor. "Governor McMaster has locked up scores of criminals during his career as U.S. attorney and South Carolina attorney general, and as governor he has led the charge in giving prisons the resources they need to be secure and keep contraband out of the hands of prisoners," Campaign Communications Director Caroline Anderegg told The State. "Catherine Templeton's false and misleading attacks are nothing but a cheap political gambit by a candidate with zero understanding of or experience in law enforcement. "The only people responsible for this horrific violence are the criminals who perpetrated it, and for Templeton to suggest otherwise is a disgusting new low." Including Templeton and McMaster, there are 5 Republicans running for governor. That also includes Lt. Gov. Kevin Bryant, former Lt. Gov. Yancey McGill and businessman John Warren. 3 Democrats - Charleston businessman Phil Noble, state Rep. James Smith of Columbia and Florence attorney Marguerite Willis - also are running for governor. | Report an error, an omission, a typo; suggest a story or a new angle to an existing story; submit a piece, a comment; recommend a resource; contact the webmaster, contact us: deathpenaltynews@gmail.com Opposed to Capital Punishment? Help us keep this blog up and running! DONATE! "One is absolutely sickened, not by the crimes that the wicked have committed, but by the punishments that the good have inflicted." -- Oscar Wilde Argentina to extradite Ukrainian woman suspected of embezzlement The move is deemed unprecedented in the field of international law enforcement cooperation, given the lack of an extradition agreement between Ukraine and the Argentine Republic. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter Naftogaz estimates Ukraine's GTS at US$12.5 bln This includes Ukrtransgaz assets worth UAH 12.3 billion ($470.4 million), located on territory of Ukraine temporarily beyond government control. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter HOUSTON, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI), North Americas largest provider of funeral, cemetery and cremation services, and its brand, Dignity Memorial, today announced the companys 2017 SCI Service Excellence Award recipients. The program, created in 2007, recognizes and honors SCI associates across the country for exceeding expectations through exemplary service toward others and fostering the companys culture of service excellence. Sherry Davies, Manager at Katy Funeral Home in Katy, Texas was named overall winner and presented with the Steve Mack Award for Service Excellence. This prestigious award is named in honor of Steve Mack, a 42-year veteran of SCI and former Senior Vice President of Operations, whose career was highlighted by his leadership and dedication to serving families. In addition, the following SCI associates were named 2017 SCI Service Excellence Award winners: Andrew Vandevelde Grounds Specialist, Mills & Mills Memorial Park, Tumwater, Washington Filomena Kuchar Administrative Assistant, Atlanta Metro and New England Territories, Fall River, Massachusetts Tyrone Palmer Grounds & Facilities Supervisor, Meadowridge Memorial Park, Elkridge, Maryland Sherry Davies Funeral Home Manager, Katy Funeral Home, Katy, Texas Ashley Jeter Products Director, SCI Headquarters, Houston, Texas "We are proud to honor and recognize the outstanding achievements of the five recipients of this year's SCI Service Excellence Award," said Michael R. Webb, President and Chief Operating Officer of SCI. "Their commitment and dedication to the families we serve and to our core value of service excellence is truly inspiring." All 2017 SCI Service Excellence Award recipients were honored at a dinner held Thursday, April 5 and presented with their awards by members of the SCI and Dignity Memorial leadership teams. A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/fefd47b0-80de-469a-a2b7-32648a45b9a5 About Service Corporation International Service Corporation International (NYSE:SCI), headquartered in Houston, Texas, is North Americas leading provider of death care products and services. At December 31, 2017, SCI owned and operated 1,488 funeral homes and 473 cemeteries (of which 281 are combination locations) in 45 states, eight Canadian provinces, the District of Columbia, and Puerto Rico. Through its businesses, SCI markets the Dignity Memorial brand which offers assurance of quality, value, caring service and exceptional customer satisfaction. In January 2016, SCI was presented with the J.D. Power Presidents Award in recognition of an ongoing dedication to service excellence including quality improvement, customer satisfaction and the development of enduring client relationships. For more information about Service Corporation International, please visit www.sci-corp.com. For more information about Dignity Memorial, please visit www.dignitymemorial.com. As used herein, Service Corporation International, SCI and the Company refer to Service Corporation International and all of its affiliated companies. Media Contact: Jay Andrew, 713-525-5235 Director, Corporate Communications PM Groysman names Ukraine's major economic challenge The government managed to reduce the debt-to-GDP ratio, but Ukraine still needs further funding from international partners, the prime minister said. If you see a spelling error on our site, select it and press Ctrl+Enter REGINA, Saskatchewan, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Information Services Corporation (TSX:ISV) (ISC or the Company) advises that it will release its financial results for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 on Thursday, May 3, 2018 after market close. ISCs Unaudited Consolidated Interim Financial Statements and Notes and Managements Discussion and Analysis for the first quarter ended March 31, 2018 will be available on SEDAR at www.sedar.com and our website at www.company.isc.ca. An investor conference call will be held on Friday, May 4, 2018 at 11:00 a.m. EDT (9 a.m. MDT) to discuss the results. Participants may join the call by dialing toll-free (844) 419-1765 or (216) 562-0470 for calls outside North America. Simultaneously, an audio webcast of the conference call will also be available at the following link www.company.isc.ca/investor-relations/events. The audio file with a replay of the webcast will be available about 24 hours after the event on our website at the link above. Media are invited to attend on a listen-only basis. The Company also advises that it will hold its annual general meeting of shareholders (the Meeting) on Wednesday, May 16, 2018. The Meeting will begin at 11 a.m. EDT (9 a.m. MDT) and a live audio webcast will be available on our website at www.company.isc.ca/investor-relations/events. Information related to the Meeting can be found in ISCs Management Information Circular, which is available on SEDAR and on our website at www.company.isc.ca/investor-relations/financial-reports. ISC encourages shareholders to access the information and vote by no later than 11 a.m. EDT (9 a.m. MDT) on Monday, May 14, 2018. About ISC Headquartered in Canada, ISC is the leading provider of registry and information management services for public data and records. Throughout our history, we have delivered value to our clients by providing solutions to manage, secure and administer information through our Registries and Services segments. ISC is focused on sustaining its core business while pursuing new growth opportunities. The Class A Shares of ISC trade on the Toronto Stock Exchange under the symbol ISV. Investor Contact Pamela Keck Manager, Investor Relations Information Services Corporation Toll Free: 1-855-341-8363 in North America or 1-306-798-1137 investor.relations@isc.ca The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine has launched financing of loans taken for energy efficiency in 2018 in state-owned Oschadbank, Ukrgasbank and PrivatBank. According to the press service of the State Agency for Energy Efficiency and Energy Saving, from April 18, 2018 citizens can use the government's residential energy efficiency financing program I the authorized banks and receive refunds. The agency recalled that 20% will be refunded for purchase of non-gas burning boilers (35% for recipients of subsidies), 35% for insulation of houses and 40-70% - for insulation of high-rise apartment buildings by homeowner associations. In addition, private households and homeowner associations would be able to receive additional compensations from local authorities. The respective programs are in effect in 62 cities and towns. The Cabinet of Ministers of Ukraine provided UAH 400 million for compensation of loans taken for energy efficiency in 2018, including UAH 190 million for homeowner associations. Since the launch of the program in October 2014, over 400,000 families have taken over UAH 5 billion of loans for energy efficiency. The state-owned enterprise (SOE) Boryspil International Airport (Kyiv) is waiting for the confirmation of the announced flight plans from Ireland's low cost airline Ryanair in May 2018, Airport Head Pavlo Riabikin said at the Ukrainian Infrastructure Forum 2018 in Kyiv on Thursday. "The Berlin destination has been approved in terms of time. It starts from September. As for the rest of the destinations: I think that approximately late May we will understand the exact time for taking offs and landing," he said. As reported, Ryanair in October 2018 will launch flights on ten directions from Kyiv and five from Lviv. Thus, the company will launch flights from Kyiv to Barcelona (four flights a week), Bratislava and Wroclaw (three), Warsaw (four), Krakow (three), Poznan and Gdansk (two each), Vilnius and Stockholm (three each) London (five), from Lviv to Krakow (three), Warsaw (three), Dusseldorf (three), Memmingen (two), and London (three). Boryspil International Airport is the main airport of Ukraine. The airport has two runways: one with a length of 4,000 meters and a width of 60 meters, and the second with a length of 3,500 meters and a width of 63 meters. Four passenger terminals, postal and cargo complexes are located on the territory of the airport. Ukraine Power Resources plans to build a wind power plant in Odesa region, Odesa Regional State Administration's press service has reported. According to the report, the construction of wind turbines is to begin this autumn. According to the project, it is planned to place 26 wind turbines with a total capacity of 100 megawatts in Lymansky district between the villages of Vyzyrka and Liubopil. Representatives of the company have already met with the leadership of the communities and villages located around the territory where it is planned to implement the project, the regional administration said. "We have chosen Odesa region, because it has excellent natural wind resources. We are now choosing a turbine manufacturer and holding talks with investors who can provide the financing. EUR 140 million in investment will be attracted at the first stage of the project. In October we will get a building permit and immediately start it," Ukraine Power Resources CEO Peter Gish said. According to the company's website, Gish is a co-founder of Ukraine Power Resources. Over the last two decades, he has successfully participated in the development of over 2.1 GWs of wind power capacity in six countries. Ukraine in January-February 2018 imported 1.145 billion cubic meters (bcm) of natural gas for a total of $313.366 million, according to the State Statistics Service. Thus, the average price of gas imported by the country in February 2018 was $261.1 per 1,000 cubic meters against $279.4 in January 2018. Ukraine received 402.562 million cubic meters of gas for $107.517 million from Switzerland in the first two months of this year, 344.509 million cubic meters for $96.887 million from Germany, 152.635 million cubic meters worth $42.685 million from Poland, 98.497 million cubic meters for $25.997 million from Slovakia, 67.368 million cubic meters for $18.831 million from the UK, 50.036 million cubic meters worth $13.596 million from Hungary, and 28.896 million cubic meters worth $7.854 million from Luxembourg. Gas was not imported from the Russian Federation in January-February 2018. Ukraine in 2017 imported 13.942 billion cubic meters of natural gas for a total of $3.228 billion, according to the State Statistics Service. The average price of gas imported by the country in December 2017 was $276.9 per 1,000 cubic meters against $242.4 in November, $235.2 in October, $222.1 in September, $210.4 in August, $208.2 in July, $216.6 in June, $212.6 in May, $209.6 in April, $234.7 in March, $252.5 in February, and $244.6 in January. The situation in Donbas is volatile, the Organization for Security and Co-operation in Europe (OSCE)'s Special Envoy to the Trilateral Contact Group on Ukraine (TCG), Martin Sajdik, said. Unfortunately, incidents involving civilian deaths and injuries have been observed, he said. These include the attack on a bus carrying Donetsk Filtering Station (DFS) employees on Tuesday and the death of a family whose car hit an explosive device, Sajdik told reporters after the TCG meeting in Minsk on Wednesday. Sajdik talked about his visit to Donetsk and Luhansk regions, saying that he had crossed the contact line at the Stanytsia Luhanska checkpoint and had personally learned about the hardships experienced by local residents, especially older and disabled people. Improving the operation of current checkpoints and opening new ones, paying pensions to local residents of areas outside Kyiv's control, and the general security situation are pressing issues for the TCG, he said. While discussing the general situation in the crisis area and observance of the ceasefire, the security subgroup emphasized the need for security guarantees for civil infrastructure facilities. The group also discussed the withdrawal of heavy weaponry, the disengagement of forces and military hardware, and the possibility of opening checkpoints, Sajdik said. The humanitarian subgroup continued to discuss swapping prisoners and the conditions in which they are being held, he said. The economic subgroup discussed further steps needed to restore the Vodafone service in the Donetsk and Luhansk regions, Sajdik said, adding that the group also discussed pension payments and water supply. The political subgroup continued to discuss the implementation of the Steinmeier formula. According to the subgroup's coordinator, for the group to work successfully, cooperation with the Normandy format countries is vitally important, Sajdik said. The head of the Verkhovna Rada committee on national security and defense, People's Front Party MP Serhiy Pashynsky, has said that he initiated the preparation of amendments to the legislation providing for liability, including criminal liability, for the spread of untrue information that undermines Ukraine's defense capability. "We have already consulted with many factions in parliament. I ask our deputies headed by Mr. Vinnyk [BPP MP Ivan Vinnyk], together with the committee on freedom of expression, to work out additions to the current legislation on liability, including criminal liability, for undermining defense capability through the spread of deliberately untrue data," he said at a meeting of the committee on national security and defense in Kyiv on Wednesday, where a scandal was being discussed around the publication in the Novoye Vremya magazine of an article about possible abuse during procurement in the defense sector. Pashynsky also called for the extension of the statute of limitations of offenses related to the embezzlement of the army. According to an Interfax-Ukraine reporter, the parliamentary committee on national security considered the situation surrounding the publication in the Novoye Vremya magazine about abuses in procurement in the defense sector. Pashynsky appeared in the journalistic investigation. The discussion was attended by leaders from the Ukrainian Defense Ministry, the Security Service of Ukraine, and the Ukroboronprom State Concern. At the same time, representatives of Novoye Vremya and the National Anti-Corruption Bureau of Ukraine did not participate in the discussion. Pashynsky called the information published a "provocation" and noted that there was very little truth in the article. Deputy Defense Minister Ihor Pavlovsky, in turn, spoke about the estimated cost of one IFV under a contract worth $169,000, which is UAH 4.379 million. According to him, the IFV body costs $99,000, the towers with weapons $66,000, and the cost of work at Zhytomyr Armor Plant is $4,000. Pavlovsky noted that there were no proposals on an infantry fighting vehicle at a price lower than this. Serhiy Omelchenko, the first deputy director general of the Ukroboronprom concern, when asked by Pashynsky why they bought IFVs not directly in the Czech Republic, but through a Polish company, said: "Why were they disassembled? Because the arms transfer system in the European Union... is subject to very concrete export control. It is sensitive to political events in the world and in the European Union itself. This is why we received constant refusals in the supply of these types of weapons." At the same time, a member of the committee, BPP MP Ivan Vinnyk, added that the only way to get an EU export license is a license for a demilitarized sample. In addition, when asked by Pashynsky whether the parties to the contract spoke with him on this deal earlier, the heads of the Defense Ministry, Ukroboronprom, Wtorplast, a Polish company also appearing in the article, answered negatively. Ukrainian lawmakers have supported the appeal of the president of Ukraine to Ecumenical Patriarch Bartholomew to grant a tomos about the autocephaly of the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. Some 268 MPs voted for the relevant resolution (No. 8284) at a plenary session on Thursday, an Interfax-Ukraine correspondent reported. The decision was supported by 99 MPs of the Petro Poroshenko Bloc, 73 of the People's Front, 19 of the Samopomich faction, 16 of Oleh Liashko's Radical Party faction, 15 of the Batkivschyna, and 11 of the People's Will group. The Opposition Bloc faction said it would vote against request for Ecumenical Patriarch on issuing a tomos on granting autocephaly to the Orthodox Church in Ukraine. "Our faction is against this decree and insists that church issues should be resolved only at the level of inter-church dialogue conducted by the heads of the churches. We will vote against it," Opposition Bloc faction co-chairman Yuriy Boiko said in the parliament on Thursday. The technological system to counter anti-Ukrainian broadcasting will eventually be launched along the entire Ukrainian-Russian border and in the south of Ukraine, Secretary of the National Security and Defense Council Oleksandr Turchynov has said. "We will propose to place along the Ukrainian-Russian border an appropriate technological system so that the Russian propaganda aggressive information war cannot overcome our information borders," Turchynov said at a meeting of the military cabinet in Kyiv on Thursday. The NSDC secretary noted that this technology will be applied along the entire Ukrainian-Russian border after it is be tested in Donetsk and Luhansk regions. "It is very important that we are now processing this technology in Donetsk and Luhansk regions first, and then we will spread it along the entire Ukrainian-Russian border, as well as in the south of our state," Turchynov noted. In turn, Ukrainian President Petro Poroshenko drew the NSDC secretary's attention to the fact that the system of countering anti-Ukrainian broadcasting should be placed not only along the Ukrainian-Russian border, but along the Ukrainian-Moldovan border in the Transdniestrian section. "There is also the possibility of organizing information sabotage in Odesa region ... Stability and tranquility in Odesa region is also a priority task for us," the president said. The State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reports that at about 6:00 on Thursday twoUkrainian citizens, members of the seiner Nord team, deceitfully left Ukraine for Belarus, providing documents of Russiancitizens at the passport control issued in the Consulate General of the Russian Federation in the city of Kharkiv. "At the Zhuliany airport [Kyiv], two Russian citizens registered for the flight to Belarus, who presented at the passport control documents of the citizens of the Russian Federation, issued in the consulate general of the Russian Federation in Kharkiv. Since the Ukrainian side is by no means recognizes the documents issued by the Russian occupation authorities in Crimea, but this does not apply to documents issued by official diplomatic missions of the Russian Federation on the territory of Ukraine and, since the spelling of the names of citizens in Russian passports differs from the identification data of Ukrainian citizens -members of Nord crew, which were contained in the databases, these citizens were allowed to pass the border and fly toBelarus," the press service of the State Border Guard Service of Ukraine reported on Thursday afternoon. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Aurcana Corporation (TSX Venture:AUN) (Aurcana or the Company) wishes to confirm that the Companys management is unaware of any material change in the Companys operations that would account for the recent increase in market activity. Aurcana Corporation owns the Shafter Silver Project in Texas, US. The Shafter Silver Project was put on care and maintenance in December 2013. For more information, including a current Preliminary Economic Assessment go to the website at www.aurcana.com or the companys disclosure documents housed at www.sedar.com. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS OF AURCANA CORPORATION Kevin Drover, President & CEO For further information, visit the website at www.aurcana.com or contact: Aurcana Corporation Phone: (604) 331-9333 Gary Lindsey, Corporate Communications Phone: (720)-273-6224 Email: gary@strata-star.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. CAUTIONARY NOTES This press release contains forward looking statements within the meaning of applicable securities laws. The use of any of the words anticipate, plan, continue, expect, estimate, objective, may, will, project, should, predict, potential and similar expressions are intended to identify forward looking statements. In particular, this press release contains forward looking statements concerning the anticipated future results of mining activities on the Shafter property, including economic results thereof. Although the Company believes that the expectations and assumptions on which the forward looking statements are based are reasonable, undue reliance should not be placed on the forward looking statements because the Company cannot give any assurance that they will prove correct. Since forward looking statements address future events and conditions, they involve inherent assumptions, risks and uncertainties. Actual results could differ materially from those currently anticipated due to a number of assumptions, factors and risks. These assumptions and risks include, but are not limited to, assumptions and risks associated with the result of drilling and exploration activities, that contracted parties provide goods and/or services on the agreed timeframes, risks related to future metals prices, that equipment necessary for exploration is available as scheduled and does not incur unforeseen break downs, that no labour shortages or delays are incurred, that plant and equipment function as specified, that no unusual geological or technical problems occur, and that laboratory and other related services are available and perform as contracted. Management has provided the above summary of risks and assumptions related to forward-looking statements in this press release in order to provide readers with a more comprehensive perspective on the Companys future operations. The Companys actual results, performance or achievement could differ materially from those expressed in, or implied by, these forward-looking statements and, accordingly, no assurance can be given that any of the events anticipated by the forward-looking statements will transpire or occur, or if any of them do so, what benefits the Company will derive from them. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this press release, and, other than as required by applicable securities laws, the Company disclaims any intent or obligation to update publicly any forward-looking statements, whether as a result of new information, future events or results or otherwise. KYIV. April 19 (Interfax-Ukraine) National Corps Party activists have announced plans to plant 2,100 oak trees on Khortytsia Island in Zaporizhia region to mark the 100anniversary of Ukraine's and Lithuania's battle for independence and to remember Ukrainian soldiers who perished in battle for the sake of Ukraine's statehood and freedom. During a press conference on Thursday at the Kyiv-based Interfax-Ukraine news agency, Lithuanian Ecology Ministry representative Kestutis Markevicius said the all the oak seedlings are of exceptional quality, adding they were delivered to Ukraine on April 16, 2018. "We brought 4-year old trees I think the entire Lithuanian population supports Ukraine. I don't know any Lithuanians who don't support Ukraine. And I don't want to know them. We thought this action would give an impulse to develop ties between our countries," he said. In turn, National Corps Party spokesman Oleksandr Alferov said the trees would be planted on Saturday, April 21. "The first trees will be planted by relatives of Ukrainian soldiers killed in action. It will not simply be a memorial event we intend to raise the history of our peoples and therefore planned several events. There will be tour of the Island, the Khortytsia Museum. In the evening we will open a memorial to fallen soldiers," he said. Irans Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei blames foreign intelligence for everything from the depreciating value of the national currency to in-fighting among the countrys intelligence services and general discord in the country. Speaking to a group of top security officials at the Intelligence Ministry April 18, Khamenei said the Islamic Republic is engaged in a complicated intelligence war against the enemy. He further warned that intelligence personnel must put aside political differences and work together to fight that enemy, and take an offensive stance, as defense is no longer sufficient. The footprints of foreigners and their intelligence services was obvious in the recent chaos in Irans currency market, Khamenei remarked, adding that offensive measures must be carried out. The officials of the Islamic Republic have repeatedly claimed that Tehrans military doctrine is based on defense and prevention, UK based military analyst Hossein Aryan told Radio Farda. However, Khameneis latest comments on the necessity of designing an offense plan is a blatant confirmation of what the Islamic Republics intelligence apparatuses have repeatedly done in the past. Furthermore, Khamenei has called for cooperation among the countrys parallel intelligence services who have a record of competition with each other. Branding any type of partisanship in the Intelligence Ministry as a sin, Khamenei said foreign enemies of the Islamic Revolution are trying to manipulate public opinion, sew economic chaos, and foment unrest. He also accused foreign intelligence of stealing state secrets through cyber-attacks. Some of Irans government departments have indeed been targeted by cyber-attacks in recent years. The website of Irans Central Bank was attacked in June 2011 and its internal network was shut down. That same year Irans Oil Ministry disclosed that its computer system was the target of a cyber-attack. Though it is the first time Khamenei has openly spoken about an offense plan for cyber warfare, Western countries have repeatedly accused Iran of engaging in cyber-attacks. Most recently, on March 23 the Trump administration imposed sanctions on one Iranian institution and ten Iranian citizens for hacking the computers of hundreds of American and international universities. In an interview with Radio Farda, Paris based political analyst Morteza Kazemian said Khameneis comments on enemies and their role in creating problems for the Islamic Republic are not unprecedented. Sadly, the leader of the Islamic Republic has once again decided to point the finger at foreign enemies rather than focusing on the internal roots of the crises Iran is suffering from, he said. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Elchin Mehdiyev Trend: The political crisis in Armenia has reached its peak, Azerbaijani MP Elman Nasirov told Trend April 19. "The Armenian population suffered during the years of Serzh Sargsyan's presidency, he said. The economic decline, poverty, emigration have reached an unprecedented level. The Armenian people do not want to see Sargsyan in power and stood against him." When Sargsyan started to take actions to transfer from the presidential republic to the parliamentary one, he said that he does not intend to become prime minister and this will not happen under any circumstances, Nasirov added. "People in Armenia think that as long as Armenia continues the occupation of Azerbaijani lands, they will not have future and their situation will aggravate," he said. This way of thinking is gradually spreading in Armenia and the culprit of this situation is Serzh Sargsyan. Armenias ex-president Serzh Sargsyan has been elected as prime minister with 77 votes for and 17 against. Armenias opposition launched mass protests against the candidacy of Sargsyan for prime minister of the country. The rally, headed by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan, has been held in Yerevan since April 13. During the rally there were clashes between the police and the rally participants. Some individuals were detained. Rally participants started blocking the central streets of Yerevan. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev has signed a decree on additional measures to improve the social protection of family members of the servicemen who died for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and who went missing during military operations. In accordance with the decree, the heirs of the servicemen who died for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and who went missing during military operations before August 2, 1997, will receive a one-time payment worth 11,000 manats. The payment will be made by Azerbaijans Ministry of Labor and Social Protection of the Population to the heirs of the servicemen, determined in accordance with the countrys Civil Code. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Chief of General Staff of Russia's Armed Forces Gen. Valery Gerasimov paid a working visit to Baku, Azerbaijan, RIA Novosti news agency reported citing Russian Defense Ministry April 19. During the meeting, Gerasimov intends to meet with Supreme Allied Commander Europe of NATO Allied Command Operations Curtis Scaparrotti, the message said. According to the message, the sides will discuss the military activity of NATO and Russia in the European region, as well as the situation in Syria. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Armenia's current leadership is a political force that supports terrorism and that came to power through terror, Azerbaijani MP Bakhtiyar Aliyev told Trend on April 19. "That government, with its aggressive policy and irrelevant activity, has led Armenia to a deadlock. Both people of Armenia and the world are fed up with this policy. That is why today, this fascist regime can no way control the situation in Armenia, and the people have finally protested. Probably, this terrorist force will be completely removed from the political power in the near future. Because, in case of failure, Armenia will not have a future, Armenia will not be able to join any major projects, and the country's' economy will collapse completely," he said. He stressed that today the Armenian economy is in an unbearable situation, Armenian population lives in poverty, under miserable conditions and in a desperate situation. On April 13, Armenias opposition started mass protests against the candidacy of former president Serzh Sargsyan for prime minister of the country. However, Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister on Tuesday amid the rallies. The leader of the Civil Contract opposition party, MP Nikol Pashinyan, announced that he was launching a velvet revolution. Presently rallies are underway in Yerevan. Clashes occurred between demonstrators and police during the protests. VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- PayByPhone, the global leader in mobile parking payments, today announced that it will appoint Andreas Gruber as president and Chief Executive Officer effective June 1st, 2018. Francis Dupuis, the former President and CEO, will take over a position in Germany with parent company Volkswagen Financial Services AG. To provide additional impetus to the PayByPhone board, two new board positions have been created and as a result Maggie Clay (CFO) and Catherine Scott (Legal Counsel) will be appointed effective June 1st, 2018. During his time at PayByPhone, Francis led the business through significant growth and organizational change and leaves the company well positioned for continued success. We would like to thank Francis for his strong leadership and look forward to building on his experience within Volkswagen Financial Services, Gerd Kunne, Vice-President of mobility unit at Volkswagen Financial Services, said. Francis is excited about working in the parent company, but is also grateful for his time at PayByPhone: Working for the PayByPhone team has been an amazing experience; I will be cheering the team on from Germany! Andreas, a former board member of PayByPhone, will take the reins of a company poised for global expansion. With close to 20 years of international experience in the OEM business and with an extensive background in Strategy and Business Development, Andreas is the ideal candidate to continue to lead PayByPhone into a successful future, Lars Henner Santelmann, CEO of parent company Volkswagen Financial Services AG, said. Andreas Gruber is looking forward to the new challenge: "I have been deeply involved in the Parking business in recent years through my board appointments at PayByPhone and Sunhill technologies. Parking is today one of the key pain points for drivers around the world. I very much look forward to working with the team at PayByPhone and to delivering great products that will make the world of mobility an easier place for our customers. ABOUT PAYBYPHONE PayByPhone is one of the fastest growing mobile payments companies in the world, processing more than $400 million in payments annually. Through the company's mobile web, smartphone and smartwatch applications, PayByPhone helps millions of consumers easily and securely pay for parking without the hassles of waiting in line, having to carry change or risking costly fines. Details added (first version posted on 13:46) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, Curtis Scaparrotti, in Baku on April 19. Scaparrotti congratulated President Aliyev over his victory in the presidential election held on April 11, 2018. At the meeting, the sides discussed the successful development of NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation. Noting that he paid a visit to NATO headquarters in November last year, the head of state said that exchanging views with the NATO Secretary General, his speech at NATO's North Atlantic Council meeting and discussions held there, once again demonstrated the high level of cooperation between Azerbaijan and NATO. Scaparrotti, for his part, expressed satisfaction with the NATO-Azerbaijan cooperation, further adding that Azerbaijan is a very important partner country for the Alliance. He highly appreciated the role of Azerbaijan in peacekeeping operations in Afghanistan and underlined the importance of using the country's transit and transport capabilities for these operations. Scaparrotti thanked President Aliyev for Azerbaijan's hosting his meeting with the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation. The President voiced hope that this meeting will serve to strengthening of the international security. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, have discussed military activities of NATO and Russia in Europe, as well as increasing confidence measures and preventing incidents, RIA Novosti news agency reported citing the Russian Defense Ministry. The discussion took place in Baku, Azerbaijan, the report said. Details added (first version posted on 13:35) Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev received a delegation led by the Chief of the General Staff of the Armed Forces of the Russian Federation, First Deputy Defense Minister Valery Gerasimov in Baku on April 19. Gerasimov congratulated Ilham Aliyev on his convincing victory in the presidential election and assessed the election as a sign of the Azerbaijani people's great confidence in the head of state. President Aliyev thanked for the congratulations. At the meeting, successful relations between Azerbaijan and Russia in the military and military-technical spheres were discussed. They also exchanged views on future mutually beneficial cooperation. Gerasimov thanked President Aliyev for Azerbaijan's hosting his meeting with the Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations. The Azerbaijani president assessed the holding of the meeting in Baku as a sign of confidence in Azerbaijan and voiced hope that the meeting would contribute to strengthening of the international security. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Elchin Mehdiyev - Trend: Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev's decree on improving the social protection of family members of the servicemen who died for the territorial integrity of the country and those who went missing during military operations is a manifestation of great care for the families of the martyrs, the citizens of Azerbaijan, MP Musa Guliyev told Trend. Guliyev said that the issue was on the agenda for a long period. "Both the Cabinet of Ministers and the Parliament were looking for ways to resolve this issue. However, the President, by signing the decree and allocating funds from his Reserve Fund, fundamentally solved this issue and once again showed that he stands by the citizens of the state, the families of martyrs," the MP said. Guliyev added that the decree is an important step and the relevant executive authorities will resolve legal issues within a short period of time, each martyr's family will receive the state aid. "This is the president's direct assistance from his fund to these families and this deserves high praise," Guliyev emphasized. President Ilham Aliyev has today signed a decree on additional measures to improve the social protection of family members of the servicemen who died for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and who went missing during military operations. In accordance with the decree, the heirs of the servicemen who died for Azerbaijans territorial integrity and who went missing during military operations before August 2, 1997 will receive a one-time payment worth 11,000 manats. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: A group of 50 servicemen of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces returned from Afghanistan to Baku in accordance with the rotation plan, the Azerbaijani Defense Ministry said in a message April 19. The group was serving in Afghanistan within NATO-led non-combat Resolute Support Mission, according to the message. The peacekeeping contingent of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces has been serving in Afghanistan since Nov. 20, 2002. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, at their meeting in Baku demonstrated mutual interest in supporting military ties aimed at maintaining predictability and transparency, RIA Novosti reported with reference to NATO press service. The two top generals discussed issues related to the current situation and military drills, the report said. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: The Rocket and Artillery Units of the Azerbaijani Armed Forces conducted tactical exercises in various firing ranges in accordance with the combat training plan for 2018, approved by the defense minister. The Azerbaijani Defense Ministry reported that during the exercises, live firing was carried out to improve combat skills of the military personnel. The military personnel have successfully fulfilled all assigned tasks, the ministry reported. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: The event dedicated to the 25-th anniversary of establishment of diplomatic relations between Azerbaijan and Kyrgyzstan was held at UNEC. The pro-rector for Science and Innovations of UNEC, the professor Sakit Yaqubov noted that, there were strong economic and political relations between the two countries. He emphasized the importance of diplomatic relations between Kyrgyzstan and Azerbaijan. The Charge dAffaires of the Kyrgyz Republic in the Republic of Azerbaijan Bakit Yusupov made the presentation on ther topic The Foreign policy of Kyrgyzstan. He told the UNEC students that, the Azerbaijan and Kyrgyz people are closely linked to each other in terms of history, language, religion and cultural values. Noting that about 20,000 Azerbaijanis lived in Kyrgyzstan, B.Yusupov spoke about the development of economic, political and cultural relations between the two countries. The diplomat stressed that, his country supported the fair position of Azerbaijan in the Armenian-Azerbijani Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. The documentary about the geography, rich history, development, culture, nature, economy and education of Kyrgyzstan was demonstrated at the event. At the end of the event, the Charge dAffaires answering the questions of the students, highly appreciated the intellectual level of the UNEC students and expressed his satisfaction with acquiantance with them. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Prospects of further development of cooperation between Baku Higher Oil School (BHOS) and Poltava National Technical Yuriy Kondratyuk University (PoltNTU) were discussed at a meeting of BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov with PoltNTU Rector Vladimir Onyshchenko and Vice-Rector for Scientific and International Work Svitlana Sivitska. The BHOS Rector Elmar Gasimov informed the guests about latest activities and achievements of the Higher School. He also expressed his satisfaction with fruitful partnership established by BHOS with one of the leading technical universities of Ukraine. The meeting participants discussed issues related to implementation of Memorandum of Understanding signed between the two higher educational institutions last year. The Memorandum aims at taking joint collaborative steps directed to training highly qualified specialists on diverse specializations and dissemination of knowledge. They include cooperation in the field of training specialists on bachelor and master levels, exchange of training and scientific materials, joint organization of forums and conferences, joint development of scientific and research projects, and organization of joint events in the frames of lifelong learning. It has been agreed that concrete steps shall be taken to further strengthen the partnership relations between the Baku Higher Oil School and Poltava National Technical Yuriy Kondratyuk University. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: The information spread by the Armenian media about Steven Seagals visit to Armenia and Nagorno-Karabakh is untrue, the actor posted on Instagram. "The information that is being distributed by the media about my visit to Armenia is not true. I've been asked many times to visit Armenia, but I never agreed to! I also never agreed to visit Nagorno Karabakh region, since I fully support the territorial integrity of Azerbaijan, he said. Armenian media earlier reported that on April 22, Seagal, allegedly at the personal invitation of the Hollywood producer of Armenian origin Stepan Martirosyan, will pay a visit to Armenia and on April 24 pay tribute to the memory of the victims of the so-called "Armenian genocide". It was reported that the actor will also visit Nagorno-Karabakh. Santiago, Chile, April 19, 2018- LATAM Airlines Group S.A. and its subsidiaries, ("LATAM Airlines Group" or "the Company") (NYSE: LTM / IPSA: LTM), the leading airline group in Latin America, today announces that it will release its financial results for the first quarter of 2018 on May 8, 2018 after the market closes. The release will be available on the Company's website www.latamairlinesgroup.net The Company will hold a conference call to discuss first quarter 2018 financial results on May 9, 2017 at 9:00 am EST. Conference call Wednesday, May 9th, 2018 9:00 a.m. (EST) 10:00 a.m. (Santiago Time) 10:00 a.m. (Sao Paulo Time) USA: (877) 809-6185 International: (615) 247-0222 Passcode: 4562838 Webcast: click here Replay A replay of this call will be available until 12:00 (ET) on May 16, 2018 USA: (855) 859-2056 International: (404) 537-3406 Passcode: 4562838 Investor Relations Phone: +56 2 2565 8765 E-mail: InvestorRelations@latam.com Website: www.latamairlinesgroup.net Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend: Azerbaijan has every opportunity to hold Expo 2025, Deputy Secretary General of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) Dimitri Kerkentzes said at press conference on the visit of the BIE appraisal mission to Baku on April 19. Kerkentzes emphasized that Expo will be another opportunity to show Azerbaijan's potential. "During the stay in Azerbaijan, we witnessed that this is a project of national importance for Azerbaijan. We were impressed by the enthusiasm with which the possibility of holding Expo 2025 is regarded here," Kerkentzes said. The BIE mission arrived in Azerbaijan on April 16 to assess the countrys application for Expo 2025. During the three-day visit, the mission members familiarized with the possible territory for holding the Expo, held a number of meetings, including with representatives of the government, parliament and entrepreneurs. The conclusion of the mission will be discussed in the Executive Committee of BIE in May, after which recommendations based on the compliance of each project with the requirements of BIE will be presented to the General Assembly of the Bureau. Russias Yekaterinburg and Japans Osaka are also bidding to organize the EXPO 2025. The voting will be held and the host city of Expo 2025 will be announced in November. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Azad Hasanli - Trend: The recent fall of the Russian ruble will have no direct influence on Azerbaijans national currency, the manat, John Hardy, head of forex strategy at Saxo Bank, said in an interview with Trend and Azernews. The Russian ruble began to fall in price against the backdrop of the US sanctions announced April 6. As a result, the exchange rate of the Russian ruble against the US dollar is about 61.4 RUB/USD. So far, the move has been small enough in the ruble to avoid direct implications for economies like Azerbaijans, particularly because the oil price remains high, Hardy said. Commenting on the further development of situation on the Russian currency market, Hardy said that he would be surprised to see the ruble strengthen beyond 60 versus the US dollar even if the threat of further sanctions fades. After this recent episode and the risk of further geopolitical confrontations down the road, international money managers may be putting a discount on Russian assets that they will be slow to remove again, wanting to avoid the risk of future sanction moves, according to the expert. But without further sanctions or a sudden drop in oil prices, I would also say that the ruble is unlikely to weaken beyond the recent lows so some kind of nervous 60-64 range may develop here, unlikely to affect the Azerbaijani manat, he added. The Russian currency continues to remain in an extremely unstable position. The danger in the form of another tough package of U.S. sanctions has temporarily passed, but the ruble is still heavily dependent on geopolitical news and investors mood. Volatility on the Russian market has soared since Washington imposed new sanctions against Moscow on April 6, targeting major Russian companies and some of the country's businessmen. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Azad Hasanli Trend: Turkey does not see any obstacle to switching to settlements in national currency with Azerbaijan, Turkish Economy Minister Nihat Zeybekci said in an exclusive interview with Trend. "Unfortunately, we have already seen how negatively the currency fluctuations affected our economies. We believe that trade settlements in Turkish lira and Azerbaijani manats would be the most effective way to get rid of damage, which the currency fluctuations can cause to the economies of our countries," the minister said. Zeybekci stressed that a relevant agreement could accelerate the process of switching to settlements in the national currencies. Over the past years, Turkey has significantly increased the share of lira in trade settlements with other countries. If in 2010, the share of lira in the export was only 2.6 percent, now the figure exceeds 13 percent. As for the import, the share of Turkey's national currency increased from 3.1 percent to almost 8 percent during the same period. According to Azerbaijan's State Customs Committee, in 2017, the trade with Turkey amounted to $ 2.64 billion, of which $ 1.37 billion accounted for export to Turkey. The trade turnover between the two countries grew by 14.8 percent in 2017. In the first quarter of 2018, the trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Turkey amounted to $573.1 million (showing an increase of 3.7 percent over the year). Subscribers of Trend News Agency can read this and other exclusive materials before they are published in open access. More information on Trends news products can be found here. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: A number of contracts and agreements were signed between Uzbekistan and Mongolia, at the initiative of the Uzbek Embassy, Uzbek media reported on April 19. Issues of cooperation were discussed during the meeting of the newly appointed Uzbek Ambassador in Mongolia Bakhtiyor Saidov with the government of Mongolia. A meeting was held with participation of representatives of major Mongolian companies. During the talks, representatives of companies were invited to Uzbekistan. As a result, in less than a month, a delegation of a large company Nomin Holding from Mongolia, arrived in Uzbekistan. During the visit, the delegation visited many industrial enterprises in various regions of the country. At one of the meetings with the head of Uzavtosanoat Umid Salimov, conditions were discussed and agreements on the supply of Uzbek cars to Mongolia were signed. At the meeting with the representatives of "Uzbekkozikavkatholding" Dilshod Mullabayev presented to Mongolian partners biologically pure organic products of Uzbekistan. As a result, contracts were signed between Uzagroeskport and Nomin Holding for $10 million for the export of dried fruits, fruits and vegetables from Uzbekistan to Mongolia. The delegation was accompanied by the Honorary Consul of Mongolia in Uzbekistan. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbek companies signed contracts for the supply of textile and sewing and knitting products worth $332,000 within the framework of the international Baltic Fashion & Textile - 2018 textile exhibition in Riga (Latvia), the press service of the Uztekstilprom announced on April 19. Uzbekistan presented the Made in Uzbekistan single national stand at the exhibition, where various kinds of textile production were demonstrated. The stand presented of a wide range of locally manufactured textile products and information on the latest technologies in Uzbekistan. Business exchange was carried out between Uzbek companies and foreign partners from Latvia, Lithuania, Estonia, Pakistan, India and other countries. Within the framework of the meetings, certain agreements on the export of Uzbek textile products have been reached. Representatives of the Uztekstilprom association visited the Embassy of Uzbekistan in Latvia and held talks with Latvian textile companies Alita Fashion Ltd, Baltic Textiles, De Fonte Latvia, Ameri and ROSME. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: In total, 463,337 cars were transported from Turkish ports in March 2018, according to the Ministry of Transport, Maritime and Communications of Turkey. The number of cars transported via RO-RO ships totaled 776,688 in January-March 2018, according to the ministry. Schedule of car transportation via RO-RO ships in Turkey in March 2018: Provinces Ports Brought cars Sent cars Total Izmit DERINCE SAFI LIMAN TERMINALI 21, 327 58, 206 79, 533 DERINCE SHELL&TURCAS TERMINALI 0 174 174 KOCAELI AUTOPORT LIMANI 43, 470 52, 308 95, 778 KOCAELI EFESANPORT LIMANI 39, 375 1, 712 41, 087 KOCAELI FORD OTOSAN LIMANI 8, 951 75, 467 84, 418 Bursa GEMLIK BORUSAN LIMANI 9, 118 61, 089 70, 207 GEMLIK GEMPORT LIMANI 1, 481 81, 682 83, 163 Izmir IZMIR TCDD ALSANCAK LIMANI 111 4, 713 4, 824 Tasucu TASUCU BELEDIYE LIMANI 588 579 1, 167 TASUCU TDI LIMANI 388 593 981 Mersin MERSIN ULUSLARARASI LIMANI 1, 292 413 1, 705 Hatay LIMAK PORT ISKENDERUN 54 13 67 Istanbul ULUSOY LIMANI 64 57 121 TCDD HAYDARPASA LIMANI 49 48 97 Yalova YALOVA RO RO TERMINALI 3 1 4 Samsun SAMSUNPORT 0 0 0 Mugla BODRUM BELEDIYE RIHTIMI 8 16 24 BODRUM YOLCU ISKELESI 4 1 5 MARMARIS 7 4 11 Zonguldak ZONGULDAK TTK LIMANI 3 8 11 Total 126, 293 337, 084 463, 377 --- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Textile products' export in Uzbekistan amounted to $316.9 million in 1Q18, which is 14.7 percent more compared to the 1Q17, the State Statistics Committee of Uzbekistan said. According to the information, the share of textile products in the total export volume was 7.8 percent in 1Q18. The main export commodity of the Uzbek light industry is still the cotton yarn, which accounts for 58.9 percent ($186.5 million) of the total textile export volume. Knitted clothes and garments accounted for 21.3 percent ($67.4 million) of the total volume. The third position was held by cotton fabrics and knitted fabrics ($15.2 million). The silk export valued $10 million, which is 92.3 percent more than in the 1Q17. President of Uzbekistan completely reorganized the light industry of the republic in December 2017. Uzbekistan has been counting on the creation of cotton-textile clusters since beginning of 2018. This model implies the organization of a single production cycle, which includes cultivation of raw cotton, primary processing, further processing at cotton cleaning enterprises and production of final textile products with high added value. In 2018, some 140,900 hectares of land were allocated to cotton-textile clusters. The organizer of a cotton-textile cluster independently signs and advances direct contracts on cultivation and supply of raw cotton with farms. The price of raw cotton, purchased by textile enterprises, is set independently by the organizer of a cotton textile cluster, taking into account the costs and profitability of farms. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend: Russian retail store network 'Svetofor' intends to increase the number of its stores in Azerbaijan, Head of the retail network in Azerbaijan Sergey Koklyagin told Trend on April 19. "Our fourth low-price store 'Svetofor' will be opened in Baku on April 20. We already have stores in Binagadi, Mardakan and Mammadli settlements of Baku," he said. He reminded that the first 'Svetofor' store was opened in Azerbaijan in late March 2018. Koklyagin said that the initial amount of investments in Azerbaijan will be about 10 million manats. In the future, the company plans to open new stores in Baku and districts of Azerbaijan. "We plan to open stores in Ganja and Mingachevir. First of all, we will focus on major cities," Koklyagin said. Today, the low-price stores 'Svetofor' are already operating in Kazakhstan and Belarus. The number of retail chain stores exceeds 600 in Russia. ($1 = 1.7 AZN on April 19). The Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD), the private sector arm of Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group, and Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited, a subsidiary of Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation (SMBC) have signed a bilateral agreement today. The agreement is one of the key outcomes of the visit of a high-level SMBC delegation, headed by Mr. Koichi Miyata, the Chairman of the Board of Sumitomo Mitsui Financial Group, the holding company of SMBC, to the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group offices in Jeddah in January 2018. During the meeting, ICD management expressed their strong support for the partnership, stating: We are proud of this partnership with the SMBC Group which will support ICD in our continuous development work. Furthermore, the collaborative effort we are witnessing today is expected to strengthen the relationship between ICD and non-traditional partners globally. Needless to say, ICD is committed to supporting Japan as the country works toward further developing the Islamic finance capabilities of its well-established financial institutions. Mr Koichi Miyata stated that SMBC is delighted to provide this facility and in becoming one of ICDs top relationship banks. This is a milestone for our relationship as we seek to provide our strong support to ICD and assist it in fulfilling its mandate in its member states, including in Saudi Arabia where we are keen to support the Saudi Vision 2030. He also added that this transaction is in line with SMBCs ambitions to continue expanding its Islamic Finance business, and it also represents an additional demonstration of the importance SMBC attributes to its highly successful and strategically value-adding relationship with the IDB Group and its companies. About the Islamic Corporation for the Development of the Private Sector (ICD) ICD is a multilateral organization and a member of the Islamic Development Bank (IDB) Group. The mandate of ICD is to support economic development and promote the development of the private sector in its member countries through providing financing facilities and/or investments which are in accordance with the principles of Shariaa. ICD also provides advice to governments and private organizations to encourage the establishment, expansion and modernization of private enterprises. ICD is rated AA/F1+ by Fitch, Aa3/P1 by Moodys and A+ by S&P Ratings. For more information, visit www.icd-ps.org About Sumitomo Mitsui Banking Corporation Europe Limited (SMBCE) SMBCE is a wholly-owned subsidiary of SMBC which is rated A1/P-1 by Moodys, A/A-1 by S&P and A/F1 by Fitch. SMBC is a top tier Japanese Bank with an established global presence across 38 countries and regions. Established in March 2003, SMBCE carries out the majority of its activities in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. For more information, visit www.smbcgroup.com Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Tashkent will host the first exhibition of Russian manufacturers, Expo-Russia Uzbekistan 2018, on April 25-27, aimed at further development of the trade and economy cooperation between Uzbekistan and Russia, the press service of the Chamber of Commerce and Industry (CCI) of Uzbekistan announced. According to the announcement, the exhibition is organized by Zarubezh-Expo LLC from the Russian side and by the CCI from the Uzbek side, under the patronage of the CCI of Russia with support of the Russian Foreign Ministry, the Ministry of Economy and Development, the Ministry of Industry and Trade, the Russian Export Center, as well as the Embassy of Russia in Tashkent. Products of more than 150 Russian companies will be presented at the exhibition. Direct talks with participation of Uzbek and Russian companies and a workshop titled How to sell Uzbek goods in Russia through internet by Yandex is planned during the exhibition on April 26. The participants will present state-of-the-art developments in energy, machinery, metallurgy, construction, transportation, telecommunications, mining, chemistry, agriculture and other sectors. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov TORONTO, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Board-certified plastic surgeon Lawrence Tong, MD recently collaborated with Rosemont Media, LLCa digital marketing company based in San Diegoto create a state-of-the-art website for his Toronto practice, The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery. Seeking an all-encompassing educational resource for his patients, as well as an easily accessible platform from which he could illustrate every step of the treatment process, Dr. Tong completely modernized his web presence with an attractive and user-friendly site capable of interaction on all devices. The elegant and aesthetically pleasing plastic surgery resource boasts a fully responsive website design adaptable to laptops, desktop computers, tablets, and smartphones alike, a measure that can ensure users have a seamless online experience whether they are at home or on-the-go. A wealth of need-to-know patient information is cleanly showcased on custom-written procedure pages, where useful content thoroughly details treatment benefits, candidacy requirements, surgical techniques, recovery instructions, procedural costs, and more. Dr. Tong also provides an extensive walkthrough of the treatment process, informing prospective patients of exactly what happens from the initial consultation to the day of surgery to ones follow-up appointment. Furthermore, a sleek before-and-after gallery of previous patients features examples of Dr. Tongs work while giving visitors a look into what can potentially be achieved with any given procedure. His new website has also been outfitted with the latest best practices in search engine optimization, as well as content marketing, to ensure this valuable information is being seen by the patients who are seeking it out. This innovative web resource, Dr. Tong states, is offered in the hopes that it will help prospective patients make informed decisions about their potential aesthetic treatments. According to Dr. Tong, one of the most important aspects of cosmetic enhancement is meticulous patient education. With transparent depictions of many different aspects of surgical or non-surgical treatment, Dr. Tong hopes this comprehensive online tool functions as a cursory introduction into The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery that users can explore from the comfort of their own surroundings. About Lawrence Tong, MD, FACS, FRCSC Dr. Lawrence Tong is a plastic surgeon with dual board-certification from both the American Board of Plastic Surgery and the Royal College of Physicians and Surgeons of Canada. He completed his training in Plastic and Reconstructive Surgery at the acclaimed University of Michigan Medical Center and subsequently spent nearly a decade in private practice in the United States before establishing The Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery. Dr. Tong is a member of the American Society of Plastic Surgeons (ASPS) as well as the American Society of Aesthetic Plastic Surgeons (ASAPS). At his Toronto-based practice, Dr. Tong focuses on cosmetic enhancement of the face, breasts, body, and skin. To learn more, visit www.myplasticsurgerytoronto.com and www.facebook.com/MyPlasticSurgeryToronto. Dr. Tong is available for interview upon request. Yorkville Institute of Plastic Surgery 199 Avenue Road Toronto, Ontario (416) 972-0999 Rosemont Media (858) 200-0044 www.rosemontmedia.com A photo accompanying this announcement is available at http://resource.globenewswire.com/Resource/Download/814c819f-b2ee-4b26-8461-d19e31d3eadc Baku, Azerbaijan, April 18 By Ilkin Shafiyev - Trend: Azerbaijan's expenditures on holding the Expo 2025 will amount to 120 million euros a year in case Baku's candidacy as the host city for the Expo is approved, Azerbaijan's acting Finance Minister Samir Sharifov said in Baku on April 19. He made the remarks at press conference on the visit of an appraisal mission of the Bureau International des Expositions (BIE) to the country. Sharifov said the total cost of preparation of the exhibition site during seven years will amount to 765 million euros. Speaking about the importance of this event for Azerbaijan, Sharifov noted that holding the Expo will contribute to development of both Baku and the country as a whole. "Holding the Expo 2025 will open up new opportunities for the development of the business environment, tourism, and the economy as a whole," Sharifov said. The BIE mission arrived in Azerbaijan on April 16 to assess the countrys application for Expo 2025. During the three-day visit, the mission members familiarized with the possible territory for holding the Expo, held a number of meetings, including with representatives of the government, parliament and entrepreneurs. Azerbaijan proposed to organize the Baku Expo 2025 from May 10 to November 10. The exhibitions topic will be Developing human capital, building a better future. Russias Yekaterinburg and Japans Osaka are also bidding to organize the Expo 2025. The BIE mission visited Japan on March 6-8 and Russia on April 2-4. The aim of the BIE mission is to assess the feasibility and viability of the Expo project. The conclusion of the mission will be discussed in the Executive Committee of BIE in May, after which recommendations, based on the compliance of each project with the requirements of BIE, will be presented to the General Assembly of the Bureau. For the first time, Azerbaijan participated in the Milan Expo 2015 with its national pavilion. More than three million people visited Azerbaijans pavilion at Milan Expo 2015. Azerbaijans national pavilion was of great interest to the participants of Antalya Expo 2016 World Botanical Expo in Turkey. At the Expo 2017 in Astana, Azerbaijan was represented by a pavilion prepared on the basis of the concept of Land of Energy Energy from the Past to Future. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Fikret Dolukhanov Trend: Uzbekistan is planning to sign an agreement on construction of the nuclear power plant with Russia in 2018, Sputnik Uzbekistan news agency reported citing President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev, who attended the opening ceremony of the Kandym Gas Processing complex. We will probably sign an agreement on construction of the nuclear power plant with Russia in 2018. All our agreement with President Putin are in force and are kept under special control, the president said on the opening ceremony of the Kandym Gas Processing complex. Earlier, Moscow offered Uzbekistan to build a nuclear power plant with two new generation power units in the country. On December 29, 2017, an agreement on cooperation in the field of using atomic energy for peaceful purposes was signed between the governments of the two countries within the visit of the Rosatom delegation to Tashkent. Among the promising directions are the creation of national infrastructure and training of personnel for the nuclear energy of Uzbekistan, the construction of a nuclear power plant and research reactors in the country, as well as their support throughout the life cycle. The agreement also covers the exploration and development of uranium deposits in Uzbekistan, the reclamation of uranium tailings, production of radioisotopes and their use in industry, medicine and agriculture, scientific and basic research. The agreement envisages the creation of joint working groups for the implementation of specific projects and scientific research, as well as the exchange of experts, holding of seminars and symposia. Cost of the prospected station was not revealed, but the similar Belarus nuclear power plant, two units of which will be commissioned in 20192020, costs about $11 billion. --- Follow the author on Twitter: @FDolukhanov Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Huseyn Valiyev - Trend: Visa International payment system is ready to support Azerbaijan's financial structures to launch Google Pay service in the country, Larisa Makarova, Director for risk management of Visa in CIS and South-Eastern Europe, told Trend. According to Makarova, the payment service can be available in the country after the partners are technically ready. "We are delighted to be partnering with Google in North America, Europe and the Pacific region. In Azerbaijan, we are working closely with financial institutions and are ready to provide them with our support to launch the Google Pay payment service, when our partners are ready for this", she said. Earlier, the head of Azexport portal Zaur Gardashev told Trend about the possibility of deploying Google Pay and Apple Pay payment services, which he said is the subject of negotiations between the interested parties. Gardashev also mentioned the importance of the fact that the infrastructure of the banks should be ready to receive such payments. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: The Ministry of family and social policy of Turkey has announced a tender for renovation work at the regional office of the Ministry in Diyarbakir province in the South of the country. Local and foreign companies can participate in the tender. The tender procedure will be held at 10:00 local time on May 3, 2018. Applications and proposals of interested parties are accepted at: Sehitlik Mahallesi, Fabrika Caddesi 37, Sokak No: 7/1 Yenisehir/Diyarbakr For more information you can contact by e-mail: [email protected] Telephone for information: (+90 412) 224 38 26, Fax: (+90 412) 224 35 00. The cost of participation in the tender is 200 Turkish liras. The official exchange rate as of April 19 is 4.1038 TL/USD. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Rufiz Hafizoglu - Trend: A municipality in the Turkish province of Bursa announced an open tender for repair of roads and purchase of 10,000 tons of bitumen. Local and foreign companies can take part in the tender. The tender will be held at 09:00 (GMT +3), on May 21, 2018. Applications and bids of all the interested parties are accepted at: Bursa Buyuksehir Belediyesi Yeni Hizmet Binas Zafer Mahallesi Ankarayolu Cad. No:1 TR- 16240 Osmangazi/Bursa Email: [email protected] Phone: (+90 224) 444 16 00, fax: (+90 224) 716 35 00 . The tender participation fee is 500 Turkish liras. (1 USD = 4.1038 TRY on April 19) -- Follow the author on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Azerbaijan Airlines will launch direct flights to new destinations of its route map to Dammam and Riyadh cities of Saudi Arabia (from June 15 to September 1), as well as to Tivat, the popular resort of Montenegro (from July 5 to September 15) within its summer flight schedule. The flights will be operated on comfortable Airbus A320 airliners. The air ticket includes free baggage allowance (up to 23 kg) and a full range of cold and hot onboard meals. Air tickets can be booked and purchased at AZAL sales offices and official sales agencies https://www.azal.az/en/information/sales-offices . Soon air tickets to the new destinations will be also available on the website www.azal.az/en/. To purchase tickets and for more information, please contact: + (99412) 598-88-80 (hotline from Azerbaijan: *8880) E-mail: [email protected] Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: The deputies of the Senate of the Kazakh parliament ratified the protocol on amending the intergovernmental agreement with the United States on providing commercial rail transit of special cargo through Kazakhstan, regarding US participation in efforts to stabilize and restore Afghanistan, Russian media outlets reported. The bill was considered and approved by the Parliament of Kazakhstan in March 2018. The protocol provides for the inclusion of Aktau and Kuryk ports in the special cargo transit route to/from Afghanistan via the Caspian Sea. "The main route for material support of the contingent in Afghanistan passes through Pakistan, but due to military and political instability and existing disagreements in bilateral relations, the American side is working on an alternative route: from the territory of Azerbaijan via the Caspian Sea to Kazakhstan (Aktau and Kuryk ports) and then by rail to Uzbekistan and Afghanistan, which is a modified version of the Northern Distribution Network," the message said. The bill is sent for signature to the president of Kazakhstan. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: Foreign Ministers of Kazakhstan and Turkey Kairat Abdrakhmanov and Mevlut Cavusoglu held a meeting, where they discussed topical issues of bilateral cooperation, within the framework of the visit of Kazakhstan's foreign minister to Turkey, Turkish foreign minister said on Twitter April 19. "At our meeting with Foreign Minister of Kazakhstan, Kairat Abdrakhmanov, we talked about preparations for the upcoming 3rd Turkey-Kazakhstan High Level Strategic Cooperation Council Meeting as well as on topics on our common agenda, the message said. Abdrakhmanov is on an official visit to Turkey on April 18-20, 2018. Kazakh foreign minister will also take part in a number of other high-level meetings to discuss important issues for bilateral cooperation. During the bilateral meetings, the parties will also touch upon the details of the visit of Kazakh President Nursultan Nazarbayev to Turkey expected in spring 2018. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ali Mustafayev Trend: President of Kyrgyzstan Sooronbay Jeenbekov signed a decree on the resignation of the cabinet of ministers headed by Sapar Isakov , the press service of the Kyrgyz president said. The president's decision followed the vote of no confidence of the Kyrgyz parliament in the country's cabinet of ministers. In 2017, the cabinet of ministers of Kyrgyzstan was headed by Jeenbekov for 8 months, who later resigned to take part in the presidential election. The youngest cabinet of ministers under the leadership of Isakov began work in September 2017. The majority of 101 parliamentarians expressed no confidence in the government of the country headed by Isakov. "President of the Kyrgyz Republic Sooronbay Jeenbekov signed a decree "On the resignation of the cabinet of ministers of the Kyrgyz Republic," on April 19, the message said. This is the first resignation of the cabinet of ministers due to the vote of no confidence in the history of Kyrgyzstan. Ambassador of Kyrgyzstan to Japan Chyngyz Aidarbekov met with Vice President of the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Noriko Suzuki, Kyrgyz media outlets reported. The sides discussed the current implementation of previously signed credit and grant agreements, plans to increase cooperation, as well as the planned visit of JICA leadership to Kyrgyzstan in this summer. Suzuki said that as part of the ongoing work to update the country assistance strategy for Kyrgyzstan, it is planned to include in the strategy the support in the health sector. She also told about the planned activities in this direction. Thanking for effective comprehensive support, Aidarbekov drew attention to the importance of continuing close cooperation in preventing natural disasters. In this regard, the sides discussed the feasibility of implementing, within the framework of the new strategy, social infrastructure projects to prevent natural disasters. English Spanish MEXICO CITY, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Grupo Hotelero Santa Fe S.A.B. de C.V. (BMV:HOTEL) (HOTEL or the Company), announced its consolidated results for the first quarter (1Q18) ended March 31th, 2018. Figures are expressed in Mexican Pesos, are unaudited and are in accordance with International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS) and may vary due to rounding. Highlights On February 23 th , the Company announced its 2018 Guidance, anticipating: i) Total Revenue of Ps. 2,250 million, and ii) EBITDA of Ps. 803 million. This guidance was prepared using an average USD/MXN exchange rate of 19.00. , the Company announced its 2018 Guidance, anticipating: i) Total Revenue of Ps. 2,250 million, and ii) EBITDA of Ps. 803 million. This guidance was prepared using an average USD/MXN exchange rate of 19.00. 1Q18 EBITDA 1 reached Ps. 225.6 million, a 49.8% increase compared to 1Q17 driven by revenue growth and efficiencies from operating leverage achieved in the quarter. 1Q18 EBITDA margin increased to 39.2%. reached Ps. 225.6 million, a 49.8% increase compared to 1Q17 driven by revenue growth and efficiencies from operating leverage achieved in the quarter. 1Q18 EBITDA margin increased to 39.2%. 1Q18 Total Revenue reached Ps. 575.0 million, a 48.6% increase compared to 1Q17, driven by the following increases: i) 43.8% in Room Revenue, ii) 91.8% in Food and Beverages Revenue, and iii) 8.1% in Other Hotel Revenue, which more than offset a 27.7% decline in Third-party Hotels Management Fees. 1Q18 Net Income reached Ps. 204.9 million, a 10.8% increase compared to the Ps. 184.9 million to 1Q17. This increase was mainly due to higher operating income which was partially offset by higher income taxes. 1Q18 net income margin was 35.6%. 1Q18 Net operating cash flow was Ps. 195.7 million, an increase of 23.9% compared to the Ps. 157.9 million reported in 1Q17. This increase was driven by a higher EBITDA that more than compensated the exit of working capital due to the inclusion of Krystal Grand Los Cabos and Krystal Grand Nuevo Vallarta. Net Debt/EBITDA (LTM) ratio was 3.2x at the end of 1Q18. Operating cash flow in dollars represented 94.3% of total operating cash flow, thereby providing a natural hedge of the dollarized financial debt. HOTELs total portfolio at the end of 1Q18 reached 5,701 rooms in operation, a 11.2% increase compared to the 5,124 rooms at end of 1Q17. RevPAR2 for the Company-owned hotels decreased by 2.3% in 1Q18 compared to 1Q17, driven by a slight decrease in both Occupancy and ADR2 due to the inclusion of new properties in the initial stages of stabilization. First Quarter 3 months ended March 31 Figures in thousands of Mexican Pesos 2018 2017 Var. % Var. 2018 2017 Var. % Var. Total Revenue 574,968 387,041 187,928 48.6 574,968 387,041 187,928 48.6 EBITDA 225,634 150,646 74,988 49.8 225,634 150,646 74,988 49.8 EBITDA Margin 39.2% 38.9% 0.3 pt 0.3 pt 39.2% 38.9% 0.3 pt 0.3 pt Operating Income 171,359 110,336 61,023 55.3 171,359 110,336 61,023 55.3 Net Income 204,949 184,926 20,023 10.8 204,949 184,926 20,023 10.8 Net Income Margin 35.6% 47.8% (12.1 pt) (12.1 pt) 35.6% 47.8% (12.1 pt) (12.1 pt) Operating Cashflow 195,657 157,932 37,725 23.9 195,657 157,932 37,725 23.9 Occupancy 68.7% 70.3% (1.5 pt) (1.5 pt) 68.7% 70.3% (1.6 pt) (1.6 pt) ADR 1,493 1,493 (1) (0.1) 1,493 1,493 (1) (0.1) RevPAR 1,026 1,049 (24) (2.3) 1,026 1,049 (24) (2.3) Note: operating figures include hotels with 50%+ ownership. 1EBITDA is calculated by adding Operating Income, Depreciation and Total Non-recurring expenses. 2Revenue per Available Room (RevPAR) and Average Daily Rate (ADR). Comments from the Chief Executive Officer Mr. Francisco Zinser, stated: This first quarter marked the beginning for a great 2018 for HOTEL; as the results achieved were in line with our expectations. In Mexico, the tourist activity continues to post robust growth with solid underlying fundamentals. We have seen an increase in both national and international travelers as reported in the public monthly airport data. Moving on to our quarterly results, we achieved solid numbers: Revenue totaled Ps. 575.0 million and EBITDA was Ps. 225.6 million, up 49% and 50%, respectively, compared to the figures recorded in 1Q17. Regarding company-owned hotels, RevPAR decreased by 2.3%, due to a slight decrease in ADR and Occupancy due to the inclusion of new properties in the initial stages of stabilization. A couple of weeks ago, we announced the opening of the expansion of Hilton Puerto Vallarta named The Hacienda. The expansion is adults only and has 192 suites. The investment in the project was in line with our budget of Ps. 520 million pesos and was inaugurated in the 1T18, as scheduled. In the first quarter, we also announced the signing of a new management contract for a third-party owned 4-star hotel, the Hyatt Place Aguascalientes with 144 rooms, located in Aguascalientes, Aguascalientes. With the incorporation of this property, we are reaching 12 hotels under a third-party Management Contract that have been added to the Companys portfolio, clearly showing the confidence real estate investors put in the know-how, experience and dedication of HOTEL. We feel comfortable achieving the estimates set out in our 2018 Guidance, in which we expect to post growth rates of 42% and 52% for Revenue and EBITDA, respectively. This growth will be largely fueled by the recently opened properties, including Krystal Grand Los Cabos, Altitude Tower of Krystal Grand Punta Cancun, The Hacienda of Hilton Puerto Vallarta, Krystal Grand Nuevo Vallarta and Krystal Grand Suites in Mexico City. It is important to emphasize that the The Hacienda at Hilton Puerto Vallarta operations will start contributing to results in the second quarter of this year. HOTEL is on the right track to become the leading hotel company in Mexico. Our top management team and associates, which are recognized for their passion and commitment, combined with high efficiency levels and profitable growth will enable us to meet our goals. As always, we are thankful for the trust and support of our shareholders. 1Q18 Conference Call Details: HOTEL will host its earnings webcast (audio + presentation) to discuss results: Date: Friday, April 20, 2018 Time: 12:00 p.m. Mexico City Time 1:00 p.m. New York Time To participate in the conference call and Q&A session please dial: Telephone: U.S.: 1 800 863 3908 International +1 334 323 7224 Mexico: 01 800 847 7666 Conference password: HOTEL 000 Webcast: The webcast will be in English. To follow the Power Point presentation and the audio of the call, please visit our website www.gsf-hotels.com/investors Contact Information Enrique Martinez Guerrero CFO +52 55 5261 0800 Maximilian Zimmermann IR Director +52 55 5261 4508 Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 Trend: Deputy Foreign Minister of Tajikistan Nizomiddin Zohidi received the Deputy Foreign Minister of Turkey Ahmet Yildiz in Dushanbe on April 18, Tajik media reported. According to the information department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Tajikistan, Ahmet Yildiz headed the Turkish delegation to attend the 23rd meeting of the Council of Foreign Ministers of the Economic Cooperation Organization in Dushanbe. During the meeting, the sides discussed the current state and prospects of the Tajik-Turkish relations. In particular, issues of strengthening and expanding cooperation between the two countries in the spheres of economy and trade, tourism, culture, science and education, regional security were discussed. They also touched upon the situation in Afghanistan, the joint struggle against terrorism and extremism and other issues of mutual interest. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Ali Mustafayev - Trend: Turkmenistan's Army is 80th in the ranking of the world's strongest armies, Military Strength Ranking 2018, the Global Firepower Index said. In 2017, Turkmenistan ranked the 86th. The Uzbek Army, ranking the 40th, became the strongest among the armies of Central Asia. As for other countries of the region, Kazakhstan took the 50th place, Kyrgyzstan - 91st and Tajikistan - 96th. Military Strength Ranking 2018 assessed power of the armed forces of 136 countries. Analysts considered the armed forces on 55 criteria - number of troops, technical equipment, financing, possibilities for additional defense costs, etc. The top five countries of the ranking remained unchanged - the United States, Russia, China, India and France. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: A senior transportation official has said that the process of placing rails along the Qazvin-Rasht railroad will be completed within coming weeks. Kheirollah Khademi, the managing director of Iran's Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company (CDTIC), has said that the company needs to lay 20 kilometers of rail along the railroad in order to connect the city of Rasht to the countrys rail system, ISNA news agency reported. Khademi forecast that completing the Rash-Qazvin railway will take place in early May. The railway segment is a part of the International North-South Transport Corridor, which is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 5 million tons of cargo per year through the corridor and over 10 million tons of cargo in future. In order to complete the mega project of the North-South Corridor, three railroad segments connecting the northwestern city of Qazvin to the border city of Astara should be constructed inside Iran. The first segment is Qazvin-Rasht, which, according to Iranian officials, will be completed in the coming weeks. The second segment, connecting the cities of Rasht and Astara, is expected to be constructed within three years with Azerbaijans financial aid. In the meantime, the sides have already inaugurated the Astara-Astara segment, which connects the two border cities of the same name in Iran and Azerbaijan. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Gazenfer Hamidov Trend: Iran exported over 4,000 tons of fish oil to Azerbaijan through the Astara border checkpoint, Bahram Pourzarb, head of Astara Veterinary Bureau, said. The cargo, worth $12,000 was shipped from Irans northern Mazandaran province, Pourzarb said, the state-run IRNA news agency reported. The official said that it is the first time that Iran exports fish oil to Azerbaijan through Astara border checkpoint. Earlier this fiscal year (started March 20) a dairy product cargo also was exported to Azerbaijan and Russia from Astara, Pourzarb said, adding that the cargo included 23 tons of cream and cheese which dispatched via land border to the countries recently. During the last fiscal year, ended March 20, Iran exported over 700 kilograms of dairy products via Astara border Check point. Reportedly some 700 tons of cream cheese, 2 tons of cream, 143 tons of trout, and 143 tons of powdered milk were exported to Russia, Georgia and Azerbaijan via Iran's Astara customs in the 12-month period. Astara is on Irans border with Azerbaijan and is the countrys door to Central Asia and the Caucasus. Agricultural and food products accounted for 13 percent of Irans total non-oil exports during the last fiscal year. The country exported 6 million tons of agricultural and food products in the 12-month period, 5 percent more year-on-year. The value of the exports reached $6 billion, 4 percent more compared to the preceding year. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Khalid Kazimov Trend: Trade Promotion Organization of Iran has criticized the huge amount of smuggled garments into the country. Mojtaba Khosrotaj, the head of Trade Promotion Organization of Iran, has said that worth of $1 billion of clothing items was smuggled into the country over the last fiscal year which ended on March 21, Fars news agency reported. He further added that the value of the legally imported garment into the country over the last year stood at $59 million. Mehdi Mahmoudi, an official with the association of clothing producers, earlier suggested that the countrys garment market values at $10 billion. Iranian MP Naser Largani in a televised interview in March estimated that worth of $20 billion of goods is smuggled into the country per year. However, the Iranian organization for combating smuggling of goods says the value of the smuggled goods into the country stands at $12.5 billion. According to the latest report by the Iranian Customs Administration, the country imported 38.736 million tons of goods $54.302 billion worth of commodities during the last fiscal year. In the meantime, the value of Irans non-oil exports witnessed a 6.6-percent growth hitting $46.93 billion. Iranian First Vice President Eshaq Jahangiri earlier in April pledged to protect the economic stability of the country and said one of the ways to support Iranian goods is to combat smuggling. He added that the government has drawn up a list of major contraband goods and commodities which were smuggled into the country last year to concentrate on fighting smuggling. In his speech on the occasion of the turn of the Iranian calendar year on March 20, Iranian Supreme Leader Ayatollah Ali Khamenei called on the nation to dedicate efforts to promote domestic production. Ayatollah Khamenei described domestic production as "the pivotal" issue this year, which he said is the key to resolving many of the countrys economic and social woes. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Gazenfer Hamidov Trend: Irans Defense Minister Brigadier General Amir Hatami said that the Islamic Republic will continue its support to Iraq until complete eradication of the Islamic State (IS, ISIS, aka ISIL) terrorist group. Hatami, who is in Iraq for first joint high commission for defense cooperation, made the remarks during a meeting with Falih Fayyadh, a senior leader in the Iraqi Hashd al-Shaabi militia and advisor on national security, the press office of Irans defense ministry reported. Hatami said that Iran will stay besides Iraqi people and government with all of its capabilities in the fight against the IS as it did in the past. The Iranian minister further criticized the recent missile attacks on Syria by the US-led coalition, saying the attack represents the continued intervention of foreigners in determining the fate of the regional countries. Hatami said that all countries should respect Iraqs national sovereignty, adding that regional countries should not use Iraqs territory for their "political payback." The Iranian minister referred to Iran-Iraq military cooperation in the fight against terrorism as a "a good model of bilateral cooperation," saying the other countries in the region could use this successful pattern. Defense cooperation among Iran, Iraq and Syria and later the participation of Russia has become a symbol of the fight against terrorism in the region, he said. He added that after complete annihilation of the terrorism, the cooperation could be a basis for further regional cooperation. Hatami said that Iran is also ready to participate in Iraqs reconstruction. Irans defense minister arrived in Iraq on Wednesday for a two-day visit to exchange views with the countrys senior officials on bilateral security cooperation as well as the most recent regional developments. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Despite NATO has repeatedly stated that the acquisition of Russias S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems is Ankaras sovereign right, there is no doubt that relations between Turkey and Russia are unfavorable for the West and in particular, the US. To date, there are a number of problems between Ankara and Washington, the main one is the US policy on Syria. By providing Kurdish Democratic Union Party (PYD) and Peoples Protection Units (YPG) terrorists with weapons in northern Syria, the US actually endangers Turkey's national security and Ankaras political elite does not hide that. Despite the US guaranteed in 2017 that the YPG / PYD terrorists left Syrias northern Manbij district, YPG / PYD militants still remain in this district, which pose a real threat to the entire region and Syrias sovereignty. The US also has eight strongholds in Syria, where the total number of US servicemen is 2,000. Despite the US and Turkey are formally allies in the region, Washington has lost Ankaras confidence and the US policy on Syria in Ankara is seen as a failure. As a result, Ankara, having big disagreements with Russia and Iran earlier, in the current situation began to pursue a policy of rapprochement with Moscow and Tehran on the Syrian crisis. Today it becomes obvious that economic sanctions are the main leverage of US and Western pressure on one or another country. Although earlier, a representative of the Turkish Foreign Ministry said that the US sanctions against Russias Rosoboronexport company will not affect the supply of the S-400 anti-aircraft missile systems to Ankara, US Assistant Secretary of State Wess Mitchell has recently said that sanctions can be imposed on Turkey in case of its buying these anti-aircraft missile systems from Russia. "Ankara states that it agreed to purchase Russias anti-aircraft missile systems despite this can potentially lead to the sanctions under Section 231 of the Countering America's Adversaries Through Sanctions Act (CAATSA) and negatively affect Turkey's participation in the F-35 program," Mitchell said, while delivering speech before the House of Representatives of the US Congress. Earlier, Pentagon chief James Mattis said that the US does not recommend Turkey to buy Russias anti-aircraft missile systems. Despite the Turkish authorities currently do not make any official statements about Mitchells statements, nevertheless Ankara understands that the US can sooner or later impose sanctions on Turkey. Realizing that the allied relations between Turkey and the US are preserved only in words, Ankara takes preventive actions in anticipation of sanctions from Washington. Amid the current events, it would be wrong to see the information that the Turkish Central Bank has repatriated its gold reserves (about 220 tons) stored earlier in the US Federal Reserve System as a mere coincidence. Currently, other Turkish banks, namely, Ziraat Bank and VakifBank have also begun to transfer gold reserves in the volume of 95 tons from the US to Turkey. Such Turkeys decision can be seen as the first action on the eve of the expected US sanctions. --- Rufiz Hafizoglu is the Deputy Editor-in-Chief of Trend Agency. Follow him on Twitter: @rhafizoglu Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Samir Ali - Trend: Protest rallies in Armenia against Serzh Sargsyan were expected, Azerbaijani MP Tahir Karimli told Trend. It was expected that the Armenian society, wishing to get rid of the so-called Karabakh clan headed by Sargsyan, will begin to act, Karimli said. Seventeen MPs voted against Sargsyan in the Armenian Parliament, Karimli noted. This is also very important. I think this process will continue. There were people wounded and detained during the protest rally. Participation of 100,000 people in the rally is enough to decide the fate of the government. The rally included students as well. He added that these events will have consequences in the near future. A rally headed by opposition MP Nikol Pashinyan has been held against Sargsyan's election as prime minister in Yerevan since April 13. During the rally there were clashes between the police and the rally participants. Some people were detained. HOUSTON, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- Sanchez Energy Corporation (NYSE:SN) (Sanchez Energy or the Company) today announced operating results for the first quarter 2018. Highlights include: First quarter 2018 production of nearly 7.3 million barrels of oil equivalent (MMBoe), or 80,572 barrels of oil equivalent per day (Boe/d); The Company completed 73 gross wells, finished completion activities on all of the 132 gross drilled-but-uncompleted wells (DUCs) acquired with the Comanche asset in March 2017, and brought 68 gross wells on-line during the first quarter 2018; The Company brought five horizontal wells on-line during the first quarter 2018 at the Rogers Dentonio Lease, in the western portion of Comanche Area 3, that had an average lateral length of 4,850 feet and achieved average 30-day peak production rates of approximately 1,075 Boe/d, 62 percent of which was oil; Ten horizontal wells in the Briscoe Metcalf Lease of Comanche were drilled during the first quarter 2018 in a quad stacked pattern that targeted both the Lower and Upper Eagle Ford Shale using a new generation completion design and, while early, achieved average 24-hour initial production (IP) rates of approximately 1,405 Boe/d, 60 percent of which was oil; At Catarina, the Company brought four South Central wells on-line late in the fourth quarter 2017 that realized average 30-day peak production rates during the first quarter of 2018 of approximately 1,785 Boe/d, 37 percent which was oil; Consistent with the Companys 2018 capital plan, drilling activity currently consists of eight drilling rigs and four completion crews and will be reduced to four drilling rigs and two and one half crews in the third quarter; and The Company has provided second quarter 2018 production guidance of 80,000 Boe/d to 84,000 Boe/d. MANAGEMENT COMMENTS Although we made good progress on our drilling program during the first quarter 2018, multiple factors led to production coming in below our expectations, said Tony Sanchez, III, Chief Executive Officer of Sanchez Energy. Among the factors that impacted production were a weather-related disruption, a temporary third-party bottle neck in natural gas takeaway capacity, and certain operational impacts stemming from the testing of a variety of completion methods across the asset base. We are actively working to remedy the operational impacts on production, which were primarily the result of hybrid completions on the DUCs acquired with the Comanche assets, many of which were spaced tighter than we normally space wells in our drilling program, and testing of more aggressive choke management techniques on newer wells. Our analysis of these operational impacts has led us to move almost entirely to slickwater completions and a less aggressive choke management strategy. Despite the lower than expected production, we continue to see good rates of return on the Comanche DUCs, due to the limited amount of capital that was needed to complete these wells, and continue to test and refine various spacing, completion, flowback and other strategies to drive additional value from our assets. Early results from our 2018 development program at both Comanche and Catarina have yielded positive results in several areas. During the first quarter 2018, for example, we brought 10 wells on-line in the Briscoe Metcalf Lease of Comanche in Area 3 that were drilled in a quad stacked pattern that targeted both the Lower and Upper Eagle Ford Shale using a new generation completion design. These Metcalf wells were monitored with surface and downhole micro-seismic and have shown encouraging early flowback results from both zones. Although we have limited data to date, 24-hour IP rates from the six Lower Eagle Ford Metcalf wells averaged approximately 1,843 Boe/d, 55 percent of which was oil. The four Upper Eagle Ford Metcalf wells also had encouraging 24-hour IP rates, averaging approximately 750 Boe/d, 75 percent of which was oil. While the Lower Eagle Ford accounts for approximately 80 percent of our Comanche 2018 drilling program, we are pleased with the recent Upper Eagle Ford well results in Comanche Area 3 and plan to continue to appraise and evaluate the zone across other areas of Comanche as a co-development target with the Lower Eagle Ford. Results from wells drilled on the western portion of Comanche Area 3 have also exceeded our expectations. We recently brought five horizontal wells on-line at the Rogers Dentonio Lease that showed average 30-day peak production rates of approximately 1,075 Boe/d, 62 percent of which was oil. The wells, which had an average lateral length of 4,850 feet, were completed in five days, on average. Additionally, well results in Central Catarina continue to outperform. During the first quarter 2018, four E32 wells in South-Central Catarina showed average 30-day peak production rates of approximately 1,785 Boe/d, 37 percent of which was oil. In North-Central Catarina, we recently brought a four well pad on-line that is also outperforming expectations. The 24-hour IP rates for these wells averaged approximately 2,000 Boe/d, 38 percent of which was oil, which exceeded our type curve. These results are further confirmation of the extent of the North-Central fairway at Catarina, which has a rate of return profile second only to South-Central Catarina. Sanchez Energys drilling and completion activity is progressing ahead of schedule this year and, with the successful integration of the Comanche asset, we are now realizing operating as well as drilling cost efficiencies and synergies. One example of these efficiencies is a reduction in the amount of time it takes us to drill a well. We are currently averaging nine days to drill horizontal wells with 9,800 foot laterals at Comanche, an improvement of 18 percent compared to last year. With this improvement, we drilled 49 gross wells during the first quarter 2018. We also completed 73 gross wells, finished completion activities on all 132 gross DUCs acquired with the Comanche assets in March 2017, and brought 68 gross wells on-line during the quarter. While we have seen improvements recently in oil price fundamentals, we remain focused on capital discipline. We intend to reduce our operated rig count from eight rigs to four rigs and reduce our completions activity from four to two and one half crews in the third quarter, which will reduce the pace of our capital spending as originally planned in the second half of 2018. We continue to forecast that our capital spending will remain within our guidance range of $420 million to $470 million for the full year 2018. OPERATIONS UPDATE During the first quarter 2018, the Company drilled 49 gross (25.67 net) wells and completed 73 gross (23.3 net) wells. The Company brought 62 wells on-line at Comanche and 6 wells on-line at Catarina during the quarter. The Company finished completion activities during the first quarter 2018 on all of the 132 gross DUCs acquired with the Comanche assets in March 2017. With continuous drilling activity on the asset, the Company exited the first quarter 2018 with 42 gross DUCs at Comanche, which is closer to a normalized inventory level for the asset. As of March 31, 2018, the Company had 2,233 gross (883.2 net) producing wells with 59 gross wells in various stages of completion, as detailed in the following table: Gross Gross Wells Waiting / Project Producing Undergoing Area Wells Completion Catarina 395 13 Comanche 1,644 42 Maverick 63 0 Palmetto 84 4 TMS / Other 47 0 Total 2,233 59 As of March 31, 2018, the Company had banked or drilled 59 total wells toward its 50 well annual drilling commitment at Catarina for the period that ends on June 30, 2018. As a result, the Company has met its annual drilling commitment at Catarina for the current period and has already drilled nine wells toward a maximum bank of 30 wells for the next annual drilling commitment period that begins on July 1, 2018. PRODUCTION UPDATE The Companys estimated total production for the first quarter 2018 averaged approximately 80,572 Boe/d and consisted of approximately 35 percent oil, 33 percent natural gas liquids (NGLs), and 32 percent natural gas. The Company has provided second quarter 2018 production guidance of 80,000 Boe/d to 84,000 Boe/d. The midpoint of second quarter 2018 production guidance represents over 10 percent production growth when compared to the second quarter 2017. HEDGING UPDATE On a consolidated basis, the Company has hedged approximately 22,000 barrels (Bbls) per day of its 2018 oil production and 191,000 million British thermal units (MMBtu) per day of its 2018 natural gas production, and approximately 10,600 Bbls per day of its 2019 oil production and 48,000 MMBtu per day of its 2019 natural gas production. Additional information on the Companys hedge positions can be found in the Sanchez Energy Investor Presentation posted at www.sanchezenergycorp.com. ABOUT SANCHEZ ENERGY CORPORATION Sanchez Energy Corporation (NYSE:SN) is an independent exploration and production company focused on the acquisition and development of U.S. onshore unconventional oil and natural gas resources, with a current focus on the Eagle Ford Shale in South Texas where we have assembled approximately 285,000 net acres. For more information about Sanchez Energy Corporation, please visit our website: www.sanchezenergycorp.com. FORWARD-LOOKING STATEMENTS This press release contains, and our officers and representatives may from time to time make, forward-looking statements within the meaning of Section 27A of the Securities Act of 1933, as amended, and Section 21E of the Securities Exchange Act of 1934, as amended. All statements, other than statements of historical facts, included in this press release that address activities, events or developments that Sanchez Energy expects, believes or anticipates will or may occur in the future are forward-looking statements, including statements relating to future financial and operating results and returns, our strategy and plans, including future drilling plans and economic drilling zones, our ability to increase reserves and production and generate income or cash flows, our ability to keep well costs down, the benefits related to the Comanche transaction and the Companys anticipated ability to fund capital expenditures or reduce its leverage. These statements are based on certain assumptions made by the Company based on management's experience, perception of historical trends and technical analyses, current conditions, anticipated future developments and other factors believed to be appropriate and reasonable by management. When used in this press release, the words "will," "potential," "believe," "estimate," "intend," "expect," "may," "should," "anticipate," "could," "plan," "predict," "project," budget, forecast, guidance, "profile," "model," "strategy," "future," or their negatives, other similar expressions or the statements that include those words, are intended to identify forward-looking statements, although not all forward-looking statements contain such identifying words. Such statements are subject to a number of assumptions, risks and uncertainties, many of which are beyond the control of Sanchez Energy, which may cause actual results to differ materially from those implied or expressed by the forward-looking statements, including, but not limited to the failure to successfully execute our business and financial strategies, the failure of acquired assets, including the Comanche assets, and our joint ventures (including our partnership with affiliates of the Blackstone Group, L.P.) to perform as anticipated, the inability to successfully integrate the various assets acquired by us into our operations, fully identify potential problems with respect to such properties and accurately estimate reserves, production and costs with respect to such properties, the failure to continue to produce oil and gas at historical rates, the costs of operations, delays, and any other difficulties related to producing oil or gas, the price of oil or gas, the failure to realize benefits from our transactions with Sanchez Midstream Partners LP, the marketing and sales of produced oil and gas, the estimates made in evaluating reserves, competition, general economic conditions and the ability to manage our growth, our expectations regarding our future liquidity, leverage or production, our expectations regarding the results of our efforts to improve the efficiency of our operations to reduce our costs, disruptions due to extreme weather conditions, such as extreme rainfall, hurricanes or tornadoes and other factors described in Sanchez Energy's most recent Annual Report on Form 10-K and any updates to those risk factors set forth in Sanchez Energy's Quarterly Reports on Form 10-Q or Current Reports on Form 8-K. Further information on such assumptions, risks and uncertainties is available in Sanchez Energy's filings with the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission (the "SEC"). Sanchez Energy's filings with the SEC are available on our website at www.sanchezenergycorp.com and on the SEC's website at www.sec.gov. In light of these risks, uncertainties and assumptions, the events anticipated by Sanchez Energy's forward-looking statements may not occur, and, if any of such events do occur, Sanchez Energy may not have correctly anticipated the timing of their occurrence or the extent of their impact on its actual results. Accordingly, you should not place any undue reliance on any of Sanchez Energy's forward-looking statements. Any forward-looking statement speaks only as of the date on which such statement is made, and Sanchez Energy undertakes no obligation to correct or update any forward-looking statement, whether as a result of new information, future events or otherwise, except as required by applicable law. COMPANY CONTACT: Kevin Smith VP Investor Relations (281) 925-4828 Cham King Investor Relations & Capital Markets (713) 756-2797 General Inquiries: (713) 783-8000 www.sanchezenergycorp.com Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Rashid Shirinov Trend: The event that the Armenians were afraid of has happened the Armenian parliament elected former President Serzh Sargsyan to the post of the new prime minister on April 17. Thus, the population will continue to suffer in the poor country for seven more years at a minimum. The meeting of the National Assembly (Parliament) began at 12 p.m., and it was possible to watch it online on the Internet for a couple of hours. However, after an MP from opposition asked Sargsyan uncomfortable questions, the broadcast stopped. The rest of time, until Sargsyan was declared the new prime minister, the population protesting outside the parliament building was not aware of what was happening inside. The protesters blocked entrance in a number of state institutions, including the parliament, but the MPs from the ruling party somehow managed to enter the building in the morning. While people were protesting in Yerevan streets, Sargsyan in his speech was trying to insure himself against accusation from the population in future: I cannot say that all problems in the country will be completely solved in the foreseeable future and Armenia will be like a paradise. His 10-year-old statement is worth noting in this regard: In Armenia to which we aspire, there will be no poor or privileged people. We will do our best to ensure that unemployment and poverty are finally overcome in Armenia. These words are from Sargsyans election program in 2008 as a presidential candidate. However, during the past ten years, he together with his team was doing nothing but destroying the Armenian economy and plundering the state treasury. Today Armenia is much weaker than it was in 2008, and now the person responsible for this will continue ruling the country for seven more years. Ten years ago Sargsyan deceived the Armenians by promising them a paradise, and today, having changed the countrys constitution and ensured unlimited power, he admits there is nothing to hope for. At the same time, Sargsyan has covertly promised the Armenians a new war: In the coming years, Armenia should pay the closest attention to the purchase of modern weapons and their independent production. Thus, the new prime minister keeps trying to make the Armenians believe that Azerbaijan allegedly wants a war and Armenia has to defend, while the truth is just the opposite. Meanwhile, Sargsyan implies that the population should not expect an increase in social spending due to the military expenditure. Early in the morning of April 19, head of the Way Out faction of the Armenian Parliament Nikol Pashinyan, who leads the protests, announced that he together with other demonstrators will block even more state institutions. Then the protesters headed to the third building of the Armenian government, where several ministries are located. Although the main and back doors were protected by the police, the activists did not let the public officials enter the building. The police tried to push people back, but they failed to break the wall of protesters. After that the police began detaining people with the use of brute force. The Armenian media outlets reported that two policemen in plain clothes beat a journalist Tirayr Muradyan. One of them asked me why I was filming and started beating me together with his friend. I was shouting that I am a journalist, they could not overlook my identity card, Muradyan informed. There were policemen who saw everything. When I told one of them that I was beaten, he answered dismissively: Yes, I saw, so what? Obviously, the activism of large masses of population scared the Armenian government, since the student buses between the Ararat province and Yerevan did not work on April 19. Moreover, the intercity buses between the town of Abovyan and Yerevan also did not run. Later in the day, the demonstrators marched to the Petak shopping center, which had already been blocked by policemen. Meanwhile, employees of the Armenian branch of Synopsys IT company took to the street and blocked the avenue near the companys office. The police used force, detained several people and unblocked the street. There is a total violation of rights: citizens are brought to the police stations on cars without the number plates, on personal cars, people are dragged to all sides without presenting legal demands, Armenian journalist Zaruhi Mejlumyan wrote on Facebook. The Armenian Police informed the media that the number of detainees was 100 people by 1.30 p.m., however, people believe that the real number is several times greater. Now the youth has risen up to realize what it means to be the master of their country, Armenian politician Ashot Manucharyan told the media, reminding that Serzh Sargsyan had earlier promised the Armenians that he would not run for prime minister. Serzh Sargsyan does not exist anymore. He said adopt the new Constitution, and Im leaving. This person made a vow to the people. Sargsyan was a man until the moment he broke his promise, Manucharyan noted. Thus, Armenia remains hostage of the former president, which means that the country, its economy and people will continue to be destroyed and robbed. However, activists who have been protesting in the streets of Yerevan and other major cities since last week have not given up yet. They still believe they will be able to free Armenia from the terrible rule of Sargsyan. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 20 Trend: The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict should be resolved only through negotiations and compromises, said Armenian Prime Minister Serzh Sargsyan in an interview with the Shant TV channel while answering the question that the next generation has an unresolved Nagorno-Karabakh conflict and, possibly, new generations with new approaches will find its solution. Sargsyan said "I'm not inclined to think that we leave the issue to the next generation". "The fact that I am the prime minister today is also connected with this: the negotiation process must continue, we will not change our positions", he said. Sargsyan said that the way of peace is to come to an agreement. "And it is necessary to take into account opinions of both sides to reach agreement", he added. The conflict between the two South Caucasus countries began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding districts. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Armenia has not yet implemented four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from the Nagorno-Karabakh and the surrounding districts. Two cruise missiles found unexploded by the Syrian military after the US missile strike on April 14 have been handed over to Russia, a source in the Syrian defense ministry told TASS on Thursday. "Two cruise missiles that did not detonate during the US missile strike on Syria overnight to April 14 were found by the Syrian military. Both are in rather good condition. These missiles were handed over to Russian officer the day before yesterday (April 17)," the source said, adding that both "were sent to Russia by plane yesterday (April 18)." TASS has no official confirmation of this information from the Russian defense ministry. US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on April 11 that Russia should get ready for a missile attack on Syria, claiming the missiles will be "nice and new and smart". On April 14, the United States, France and the United Kingdom delivered a massive strike on Syrian targets in bypassing of the United Nations Security Council. According to the Russian defense ministry, the missile strike was in the small hours on Saturday. The ministry reported that a total of 103 cruise and air-to-surface missiles had been fired, 71 of them were shot down by Syrias air defense units. Three civilians were wounded. Neither of the missiles appeared in the zone of responsibility of Russian air defense systems in Tartus and Hmeymim. Russian missile defense systems were not used. The United States, the UK and France said the strikes had been a response to an alleged chemical attack in Syrias Douma on April 7 reported by some non-governmental organizations, including White Helmets. The Russian foreign ministry dismissed that as fake news. The Russian defense ministry stated that White Helmets were an unreliable source, notorious for disseminating falsehoods. The Russian center for the reconciliation of conflicting parties on April 9 examined Douma to find no traces of chemical weapons. Earlier, various official Russian agencies repeatedly warned that preparations had been underway in different parts of Syria for provocations and simulations of chemical attacks that would be blamed on government forces. OPCW inspectors arrived in Syria on April 14 to collect samples to either confirm or dismiss reports on the chemical attack. Four members of Saudi Arabias security forces were killed and four others wounded in clashes with gunmen on Thursday at a checkpoint in the southwestern Asir province, Saudi-owned Al Arabiya TV said, according Reuters. One gunman was killed and two detained, the broadcaster said on Twitter, citing the Saudi interior ministry, without providing more details. Asir province borders Yemen, where a Saudi-led coalition is battling the armed Houthi group, but it was not immediately clear if the incident was related to that three-year-old war. US Vice President Mike Pence hailed the miracle of Israels rebirth Wednesday in a tweet congratulating the Jewish state on the occasion of its 70th anniversary, The Times of Israel reports. Today we join our great ally Israel as they celebrate their 70th Anniversary of Independence, Pence said in a message linking to a tweet posted earlier by US President Donald Trump. The congratulations came as Israel moved from the somber Memorial Day for fallen soldiers to the celebratory Independence Day, which this year marks 70 years since the creation of the state. The miracle of Israels rebirth in her historic homeland is an inspiration to the world & the American people are proud to stand w/ Israel on this historic day and every day, Pence said. On Wednesday evening, Israel began to celebrate the 70th anniversary of its founding on May 14, 1948. Israel marks Independence Day according to the Hebrew calendar, on the 5th of Iyar which this year falls on Thursday, April 19 and festivities began on Wednesday evening. Belarus President Alexander Lukashenko has sent greetings to Israel President Reuven Rivlin as the country celebrates the 70th anniversary of the State of Israel, BelTA learned from the press service of the Belarusian leader. I am especially pleased to mention that outstanding people with Belarusian roots were the founding fathers of this state, among them was first Israel President Chaim Weizmann. Some time ago our country supported the resolution of the United Nations Organization which made it possible to create the State of Israel, the message of greetings reads. The president remarked that the historical foundation and the unity of the fates of Belarusians and Jews in the past play a positive role in the formation of the atmosphere of trust and mutual understanding in bilateral relations and allow us to count on the further development of productive cooperation. Alexander Lukashenko wished Reuven Rivlin strong health and success. He also wished peace and prosperity to friendly people of Israel. Russias aluminum deliveries to Japan have been halted over US sanctions, Rusal Japan Director Kunihiko Higashi told TASS on Thursday. "Further aluminum deliveries have been cancelled," he said. "Our buyers have said they cannot make payments to Rusal, which is related to the recent US sanctions. Such notices were coming to us one after another," he said. The Japan Association for Trade with Russia and Newly Independent States (ROTOBO) earlier told TASS that payments for purchasing aluminum delivered to Japan were made in US dollars. "Their purchase in US banks requires indicating the transactions purpose," the associations representative said. "The mention of Rusal possibly creates problems," he added. According to Rusal Japan, Russia accounted for about 15% of Japans aluminum imports or around 230,000 tonnes. The entire amount of aluminum was delivered by Russias Rusal. Reuters news agency reported on April 17 citing sources familiar with the matter that major Japanese commodity traders asked Rusal to stop delivering aluminum and other products after the Russian company had been slapped with US sanctions. Another source confirmed to Reuters that the request addressed to Rusal to halt the deliveries was linked with sanctions risks. According to the Japan Aluminum Association, Japan purchases about 300,000 tonnes of aluminum in Russia, which makes up about 16% of total aluminum imports. Baku, Azerbaijan, April 19 By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkey's ruling Justice and Development Party (AKP) is fully ready to hold early parliamentary and presidential elections in the country, Turkish Deputy Prime Minister Bekir Bozdag said, Turkish media reported on April 19. The emergency state in Turkey will not affect the holding of early parliamentary and presidential elections, according to Bozdag. Earlier, Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan stated about the need for early presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey. "The government welcomed the proposal of Bahceli [Leader of the Nationalist Movement Party (MHP) of Turkey Devlet Bahceli] to hold early elections. The elections will be held on June 24, 2018," he said. President Erdogan and Bahceli held a meeting and considered proposals of the MHP on holding early presidential and parliamentary elections in Turkey. Congress must realize that swiftly confirming CIA Director Mike Pompeo to become the next Secretary of State is critical to US national security interests, White House spokesperson Sarah Sanders said in a Twitter post on Wednesday, Sputnik reported. Sanders linked her statement to an earlier Tweet from President Donald Trump saying Pompeo met with Kim Jong-un in North Korea last week to discuss details for upcoming talks. According to her, "Dems have an opportunity to put politics aside, acknowledge our national security is too important, and confirm Mike Pompeo." At the same time, Senator Tom Cotton told a White House briefing that if the Senate Foreign Relations Committee (SFRC) refused to confirm CIA Director Mike Pompeo as secretary of state, the Republican Party would put the nomination before the full Senate and expect to win. Trump and Kim are supposed to hold talks on denuclearization of the Korean peninsula in May or June. Next Friday, the North Korean leader is scheduled to meet with South Korean President Moon Jae-in. The US Senate Foreign Relations Committee plans to hold a vote on Pompeo's confirmation next week. Multiple lawmakers have come forward opposing Pompeo's nomination, primarily citing his past statements considered hostile to Muslims, womens empowerment, and LBGT rights. Democrats have pushed back alleging Pompeos aggressive stances on Iran, North Korea, and torture reveal a mindset ill-conducive to the conduct of foreign policy. Pompeo was nominated to be the next secretary of state when Trump announced via Twitter on March 13 that he was firing former Exxon Mobil CEO Rex Tillerson. Trump told reporters he dismissed Tillerson for differences over issues like the Iran nuclear agreement. New York City will no longer allow doors-off tourist helicopter flights to take off from the Downtown Manhattan Heliport, a consequence of a deadly crash last month, ABC News reported. No doors-off flights currently depart the heliport in lower Manhattan, which is the only pad in the city where tourist flights originate, and the New York City Economic Development Corporation is instituting new rules to make sure it stays that way. It is our hope that by officially banning doors-off helicopter flights out of New York City, we will help improve air safety within the five boroughs, said NYCEDC President James Patchett. An open door flight for a photography shoot that took off from New Jersey crashed in the East River March 11 after a strap snagged a fuel line. Five passengers died after they were stuck in their harnesses. By calling for todays hearing of the Committee on Economic Development, we were hopeful that immediate positive safety changes would occur for helicopter aviation in the city, said Council Member Paul Vallone, chair of the NYC Economic Development Committee. This agreement is very welcomed news and takes a huge step in the right direction. CIA Director Mike Pompeo secretly met with Kim Jong Un to discuss setting up a meeting between the North Korean leader and President Donald Trump, two U.S. officials have confirmed to ABC News. The trip to North Korea, first reported by the Washington Post, happened over Easter weekend. Earlier on Tuesday, Trump himself confirmed there have been "direct talks at very high levels with North Korea." The president, who confirmed the meeting in a tweet Wednesday morning, has said he hopes to meet with Kim as early as May or June. Trump said Tuesday that five locations have been discussed as possible venues. A senior U.S. official said the president has ruled out China as a location and that Kim likely wouldn't agree to meet in the U.S., just as Trump said he wouldn't meet in North Korea. Venues in Europe, southern Asia and the demilitarized zone between North and South Korea are being considered. Speaking at Mar-a-Lago with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, US President Donald Trump said he wouldn't take part in a summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un unless their meeting is likely to bear fruit, Sputnik reported. The revelation that the two leaders had agreed to meet made for explosive news when it was announced last month, as it would be the first meeting of a sitting US president and a sitting North Korean leader since the end of active hostilities in the Korean War. Trump remarked that CIA Director Mike Pompeo, who is now his secretary of state nominee, recently met with Kim and "worked hard" on the issue of returning the three American citizens detained in North Korea. "I hope to have a very successful meeting. If we don't think it's going to be successful, we won't have it, we won't have it. If I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful we're not going to go," Trump told reporters at the Mar-a-Lago press briefing. "If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, and we'll continue what we're doing," he added. "There is a bright path available to North Korea when it achieves denuclearization in a complete and verifiable and irreversible way," Trump stated, adding that the "maximum pressure" campaign will continue "until North Korea denuclearizes." The historic US-North Korea summit is expected to take place in the coming weeks. It is expected that the leaders will discuss denuclearization of the Korean Peninsula. On Tuesday, Trump announced that high level talks had taken place between Washington and Pyongyang. White House sources shortly afterward revealed that Pompeo had traveled to North Korea where he met Kim Jong Un. During the news conference, Abe said that Japan and the US agreed to start new trade talks to cut the US' annual trade deficit with Tokyo. The prime minister said he had had "extremely fruitful talks in a relaxing atmosphere" over two days with Trump. U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday agreed to intensify talks for "free, fair and reciprocal trade deals", but differences remained over the format of future trade deals, Xinhua reported. "We have agreed to start talks for free, fair, and reciprocal trade deals at this time," visiting Abe said at a joint press conference with Trump at the Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida. While Japan was aware of the United States' interest in a bilateral free trade deal, Japan continued to prefer the Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP), a regional trade deal among Pacific Rim countries, Abe said. "Our country's position is that TPP is the best for both of the countries. And based on that position, we shall be dealing with the talks," he said. However, Trump said he really prefers negotiating a one-on-one deal with Japan and he doesn't want to go back into the TPP. "Unless they offer us a deal that we cannot refuse, I would not go back into TPP. We'll see what happens," Trump said. In January last year, Trump announced the decision to officially withdraw the United States from the Pacific trade deal in a largely symbolic move, as the U.S. Congress hasn't approved the deal yet. Last week, Trump made a surprise move to instruct officials to study the possibility of rejoining the TPP. But he changed its position on the TPP again earlier this week. "While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don't like the deal for the United States. Too many contingencies and no way to get out if it doesn't work," he tweeted on Tuesday. Trump also suggested that Japan could get an exclusion from the so-called Section 232 tariffs on steel and aluminum if the two countries can reach a trade deal. Abe was on a two-day working visit in the United States from Tuesday to Wednesday. The United States and Russia may sign a new commercial deal stipulating the delivery of US astronauts to the International Space Station (ISS), Executive Director for Piloted Space Programs at Russias State Space Corporation Roscosmos Sergei Krikalyov told TASS on Thursday. Krikalyov is on a visit to the United States where he is winding up his participation in the 34th American annual space symposium in Colorado Springs (Colorado). When asked about whether a possibility existed for Moscow and Washington to conclude a new commercial deal, considering that NASA recently publicly announced its intention to ask Russia to extend some missions to the ISS, the high-placed specialist answered: "Yes, this is possible." A volcano in southwestern Japan erupted Thursday for the first time in 250 years, the weather agency said, warning of flying rocks and pyroclastic flows in the area. The eruption of Mt. Io, one of the Mt. Kirishima group of volcanos straddling Miyazaki and Kagoshima prefectures, came after Mt. Shimmoe, another volcano of the group, erupted violently for the first time in about seven years on March 6. Mt. Io erupted around 3:40 p.m. and a plume of ash spewed from the 1,317-meter volcano's crater reaching about 300 meters into the sky, the Japan Meteorological Agency said. [Mt. Io, front, and Mt. Shimmoe,] According to the agency's Miyazaki bureau, Mt. Io in Ebino, Miyazaki Prefecture, erupted for the first time since 1768. The agency restricted access to the mountain and its vicinity by raising the alert level to 3 from 2 on a scale of 5, the highest since the measure was applied to the mountain in 2016. The agency also warned of the risk of large flying rocks and pyroclastic flows in an area within about 2 kilometers of the crater, while the municipal government of Ebino in Miyazaki restricted entry into the area. The agency confirmed an increasing number of volcanic tremors at Mt. Io in late February, raising the alert level to 2 from 1 and warning against approaching the crater. At Mt. Shimmoe, another powerful eruption was observed on April 5, with ash spewing up to around 5,000 meters high. The agency said in March the 1,421-meter-high volcano was expected to continue explosive eruptions for several months or more. More on volcano eruptions in Japan: Another powerful eruption observed at Mt. Shimmoe Japan's Mt. Shimmoe volcano continues to erupt, smoke reaches 3,000m Tourism to Mt. Aso crater area resumes in southwestern Japan KYODO NEWS - Apr 19, 2018 - 10:39 | Arts, All A kimono inspired by natural, cultural and historical attractions of Russia, such as the State Hermitage Museum, Soyuz spacecraft, ballerinas and swans, was shown to the press on Wednesday at the Russian Embassy in Tokyo. It was produced as part of the "Imagine Oneworld" project launched four years ago to make kimonos representing each of 196 countries expected to join the 2020 Tokyo Olympics. Soviet satellite Sputnik, Siberian dense forest, landscapes of Lake Baikal, and Ivan, the hero of the Russian fairytale "The Humpbacked Horse" capturing the firebird, are also featured in the kimono and the accompanying "obi" belt made by artisans in Kyoto at a cost of 2 million yen ($18,700.) Mardanova Asiya, a Japan-based Russian model who wore the kimono at the presentation, said, "I'm really impressed by this kimono, which expresses my homeland very well. I hope to have an opportunity to put it on someday again." Yoshimasa Takakura, president of kimono shop Choya Co. in Fukuoka Prefecture who started the project, said, "We will continue to work hard on the project until the Olympics and we expect the excellence of kimono to be acknowledged all over the world." Takakura said 100 kimonos have already been completed under the project aimed at promoting world peace and increasing the Japanese traditional garment's presence by incorporating scenes and motifs of other countries. The project is also expected to promote public interest and revitalize the kimono industry as Westernization of clothes in postwar Japan has drastically reduced demand for the traditional garment. 13,217 new COVID cases in Kerala after 96K tests on Saturday With this, the number of active COVID cases in the state fell to 1,41,155. Of the new cases, 12,458 contracted the virus through contact while 51 came from outside the state. Northern Trust (NTRS) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. On Wednesday, oil prices surged to peaks not witnessed since the end of 2014. The immediate trigger for this surge was a slump in U.S. crude inventories. Sector watchers also remained worried about whether lingering geopolitical tensions would lead to a drop in supplies from major oil exporting countries. Meanwhile, reports emerged that Saudi officials were looking to push oil prices toward $80 per barrel ahead of the launch of the Aramco IPO. At the same time, demand at pumps is expected to jump over the next few weeks as summer driving season approaches. Adding oil stocks to your portfolios at this time looks like a smart option. Slide in Inventories Helps U.S. Crude Smash $68-barrier At the end of Wednesday, WTI crude closed 2.9% higher at $68.47. This was the first time since December 2014 that U.S. crude price ended above the $68 a barrel level. Meanwhile, Brent crude gained 2.7% to close at $73.48 a barrel, its best settlement since Nov 26, 2014. On the next day, OPEC had refused to arrest the decline in oil prices, a stance that it has reversed since then. One of the immediate triggers for the surge in U.S. crude was a decline of 1.1 million barrels in U.S. crude oil inventories during the week ending Apr 13. Meanwhile, gasoline demand hit a record level of nearly 9.9 million barrels during the week, the highest level ever witnessed in April. Geopolitical Tensions Boost Crude Prices Also fueling the rally in oil prices over the last few works are concerns that geopolitical tensions in the Middle East could disrupt crude supplies. The conflict in Syria had heightened after an air strike jointly conducted by the United States, France and the United Kingdom. Rebel attacks by rebels from Yemen on Saudi Arabia have also served to heighten tensions. Meanwhile, industry watchers are waiting to see if the Trump administration decides to impose sanctions on Iran once again, post the May 12 deadline. Also, oil production in Venezuela remains crippled due to an ongoing economic crisis. Story continues Our Choices Some market watchers are characterizing the unexpected drop in U.S. crude inventories which boosted oil prices on Wednesday as a temporary phenomenon. But other factors are also working to boost oil prices higher. A high level of compliance with the OPEC production controls agreement and geopolitical tensions are working to ensure an uptrend in oil prices. Further, with the summer driving season around the corner, prices at the pump are slated to rise substantially. Taking all these factors into account, it makes sense to pick select oil stocks at this point. However, picking winning stocks may be difficult. This is where our VGM Score comes in. Here V stands for Value, G for Growth and M for Momentum and the score is a weighted combination of these three scores. Such a score allows you to eliminate the negative aspects of stocks and select winners. However, it is important to keep in mind that each Style Score will carry a different weight while arriving at a VGM Score. We have narrowed down our search to the following stocks, each of which has a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy) and a VGM score of B. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. Flotek Industries, Inc. FTK develops and delivers prescriptive chemistry-based technology, including specialty chemicals, to clients in the oil and gas industries. Flotek Industries projected growth rate for the current year is more than 100%.The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 3.2% over the last 60 days. Nine Energy Service, Inc. NINE provides onshore completion and production services to unconventional oil and gas resource development. Nine Energy Services expected earnings growth for the current year is more than 100%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 34.1% over the last 30 days. Baytex Energy Corp. BTE acquires, develops and produces oil and natural gas in the Eagle Ford and the Western Canadian Sedimentary Basin. Baytex Energys Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 3.3% over the last 30 days. Mammoth Energy Services, Inc. TUSK is an integrated oilfield service company. Mammoth Energy Services expected earnings growth for the current year is more than 100%. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 16.5% over the last 30 days. CNOOC Limited CEO is a company that engages primarily in the exploration, development and production of crude oil and natural gas offshore China. FTI Consulting has a VGM Score of B. The company has expected earnings growth of 80.8% for the current year. The Zacks Consensus Estimate for the current year has improved by 4.7% over the last 60 days. The Hottest Tech Mega-Trend of All Last year, it generated $8 billion in global revenues. By 2020, it's predicted to blast through the roof to $47 billion. Famed investor Mark Cuban says it will produce "the world's first trillionaires," but that should still leave plenty of money for regular investors who make the right trades early. See Zacks' 3 Best Stocks to Play This Trend >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report CNOOC Limited (CEO) : Free Stock Analysis Report Baytex Energy Corp (BTE) : Free Stock Analysis Report Flotek Industries, Inc. (FTK) : Free Stock Analysis Report MAMMOOTH ENERGY (TUSK) : Free Stock Analysis Report Nine Energy Service, Inc. (NINE) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Airline stocks are unlikely to grab major headlines in the first-quarter 2018 reporting cycle, which will see reports from many sector participants in the coming days. High fuel costs are likely to limit bottom-line growth in the reporting cycle. Moreover, multiple flight cancellations due to foul weather is also likely to weigh on results. In fact, high fuel costs have hurt the results of the two carriers Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) and United Continental Holdings, Inc. (UAL) who have reported thus far. For example, fuel costs increased approximately 20% at Delta. Moreover, the winter storms hurt results to the tune of $44 million at this Zacks Rank #3 (Hold) Atlanta, GA-based carrier. You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank (Strong Buy) stocks here. In fact, oil prices have been on an uptrend lately and were up approximately 8% in the January-March period. We note that high oil prices do not bode well for companies in the airline space as fuel costs account for a significant chunk of their expenditures. Given the inversely proportional relation between oil prices and airline stocks, this increase in crude prices is expected to hurt results for the carriers who are still to report their first-quarter numbers. In fact, fuel prices are likely to be on uptrend this year. The International Air Transport Association (IATA) projects that jet fuel prices will escalate to around 12.5% to $73.8 per barrel in 2018. The fuel bill is likely to account for 20.5% of total costs in 2018 (18.8% in 2017). Apart from high fuel costs, expenses on the labor front and capacity-related woes represent further challenges for sector participants. Zacks Industry Rank Supports Ongoing Struggles The Zacks Industry Rank #177 (of 250 plus groups) carried by the Zacks Airline Industry highlights the fact that airlines are certainly not in favor, as far as investors are concerned. This unfavorable rank places the companies within the bottom 31% slot of the Zacks industries. Story continues We classify our entire 250-plus industries into two groups: the top half (i.e. industries with the best average Zacks Rank) and the bottom half (industries with the worst average Zacks Rank). Using a weeks rebalance, the top half beat the bottom half by a factor of more than 2 to 1 over the last decade. Click here to know more: About Zacks Industry Rank Not All Brickbats, Some Roses Too Despite the above-mentioned headwinds, there are some factors that are favorable for sector participants. The unit revenue scenario is steadily improving, which is a huge positive for the sector. Riding on the improved scenario, the likes of American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) and JetBlue Airways Corp. (JBLU) have issued bullish unit revenue views for the first quarter. What is more encouraging is the fact that the bright scenario with respect to this key metric is unlikely to fade soon. For example, Delta expects total unit revenues, excluding refinery sales, to increase in the 3-5% range in the second quarter of 2018. Furthermore, rising fuel costs might lead to a rise in ticket prices and boost revenues. Strong demand for air travel also bodes well the sector. For example, Airlines for America (A4A) a premier trade organization for U.S. carriers unveiled an upbeat forecast for the current spring season. Per the projection, airline companies are expected to profit considerably this spring (Mar 1-Apr 30) as travel demand is anticipated to increase 4% year over year. Moreover, the new tax law (Tax Cuts and Jobs Act) is a positive for airlines and should boost profits of the participants of this key sector. Apart from boosting results, the new law should see an uptick in shareholder-friendly activities (dividends/buybacks) in the space. In fact, the likes of Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) and SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) have already announced hikes in their respective dividend payouts in 2018. We expect other carriers to follow suit in the wake of the Tax Cuts and Jobs Act. The employee-friendly attitudes of most carriers can also be attested to their robust financial statuses. For example, in February 2018, Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) announced that it will pay $543 million to its employees as part of its 2017 profit sharing plan. This (the 44th consecutive profit sharing arrangement) is in addition to the bonus of $1,000 (to each eligible employee) declared last month, following the introduction of the new tax law. The 2017 payment equates to approximately 11.3% of each employees earnings in the year. Moreover, the solid balance sheets of most carriers are allowing them to invest significantly in fleet upgrades. For example, American Airlines recently inked a fleet modernization deal worth $12 billion with The Boeing Company (BA). On the same lines, Hawaiian Airlines the wholly owned subsidiary of Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (HA) recently executed a non-binding Letter of Intent for buying 10 Boeing Dreamliners. The first of the fuel-efficient, lightweight Boeing 787-9 aircraft is expected to join its fleet in the first quarter of 2021. Moreover, Hawaiian Airlines has options to purchase 10 more such planes. Valuation Picture Even though, airlines are expected to put in a modest performance in the first quarter due to the above-mentioned headwinds, the valuation picture for the sector is attractive, highlighting a value-oriented path head. The industry currently has a trailing 12-month EV-to-EBITDA (enterprise value to earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortization) ratio of 6.5 near the highest level of 7.4 seen in the last six months. The measure is often used to value airline stocks, given their significant debt levels, and high depreciation and amortization expenses. When compared with its own average of 6.7 over that period, the industry doesnt appear to have any upside. However, the space actually compares pretty favorably with the market at large, as the trailing 12-month EV-to-EBITDA for the S&P 500 is 11.6 and the median level is 11.8. The industrys favorable positioning compared with the overall market calls for a solid upside in the quarters ahead. Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio? Earlier this year, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others. Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away. Download the new report now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report United Continental Holdings, Inc. (UAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report SkyWest, Inc. (SKYW) : Free Stock Analysis Report Southwest Airlines Co. (LUV) : Free Stock Analysis Report JetBlue Airways Corporation (JBLU) : Free Stock Analysis Report Hawaiian Holdings, Inc. (HA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Delta Air Lines, Inc. (DAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report The Boeing Company (BA) : Free Stock Analysis Report Alaska Air Group, Inc. (ALK) : Free Stock Analysis Report American Airlines Group Inc. (AAL) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research (Adds Ryanair, Westjet comments) * France's BEA sending experts to aid U.S. investigation * Investigation expected to focus on metal fatigue * FAA says engine inspection to take two hours * Korean Air says 20-30 pct of 737 fleet of affected type * More than 8,000 CFM56-7B engines on 737s worldwide By Jamie Freed and Tim Hepher SINGAPORE/PARIS, April 18 (Reuters) - Global airlines began inspecting some Boeing 737 engines on Wednesday as an investigation gathered pace into an explosion which killed a passenger on a Southwest Airlines flight in the first fatal U.S. airline accident in almost a decade. European regulators earlier this month ordered checks following lengthy analysis of a similar non-fatal incident at Southwest two years ago but investigators warn it is too early to say whether the two problems are linked. Southwest Flight 1380 made an emergency landing in Philadelphia on Tuesday after an engine ripped apart mid-air, shattering a window on the 737 and nearly sucking out a passenger. One of 144 passengers died. French accident investigators said on Wednesday they were sending a team to assist the investigation led by the Washington-based National Transportation Safety Board because the engine was developed by a French-U.S. joint venture, CFM International. France's Safran, which co-produces the engines along with General Electric, will also provide technical support, a spokesman for the BEA air accident agency added. Safran shares reversed earlier slight losses to close up 0.5 percent in line with the market. All recent Boeing 737s are powered by engines from CFM, a workhorse of the global airlines that has logged more than 350 million hours of safe travel but some of which were also being examined after the 2016 accident. CFM says there are more than 8,000 of its CFM56-7B engines in operation on Boeing 737 passenger jets. METAL FATIGUE Although no cause has been ruled out, the first fatal U.S. airline accident since 2009 is expected to focus attention on the role of metal fatigue in engine accidents, which are rare. Story continues An early review of Tuesday's failed Southwest engine found preliminary evidence of metal fatigue where a fan blade had broken off, Robert Sumwalt, chairman of the U.S. National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), told reporters on Tuesday. In August 2016, a Southwest flight made a safe emergency landing in Pensacola, Florida, after a fan blade separated from the same type of engine, and debris ripped a foot-long hole above the left wing. There too, investigators cited signs of metal fatigue. "We are very concerned," the NTSB's Sumwalt said, referring to the overall challenge of detecting slow-developing metal fatigue. "There needs to be proper inspection mechanisms in place to check for this before there's a catastrophic event." Completing the latest investigation will take about 12-15 months, he said. ENGINE CHECKS Southwest said it was speeding up inspections of all related engines, which it expected to complete within 30 days. A person with knowledge of the situation said the airline was not inspecting all of its CFM56 engines, instead focusing on older ones - some 400 to 600 in total. Investigators said on Tuesday they would be examining maintenance records of the airline, which operates one of the world's largest 737 fleets and has a strong safety record. The 2016 incident prompted the U.S. Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) to propose ultrasonic inspections of similar fan blades and their replacement if needed. Sumwalt said the NTSB would review whether the engines involved in Tuesday's incident might have been subject to that directive, which is not yet finalised. European regulators, meanwhile, this month began requiring an inspection by early next year following a bulletin to airlines issued by CFM itself after the 2016 incident. A person familiar with the matter said U.S. regulators were close to finalising a similar rule. Korean Air Lines Co Ltd said it planned to carry out voluntary inspections of engines used on its entire 737 fleet by November. About 20-30 percent of its 35 Boeing 737 jets use the same type of fan blade as the one on the Southwest jet. Japan Airlines said two 737 jets in its fleet had engines with affected fan blades and inspections were due to be completed on Wednesday. Ireland's Ryanair, Europe's largest 737 operator, said fewer than 70 of its 440 planes were fitted with identical CFM56-7B engines and that all had been inspected. In Canada, WestJet Airlines said it planned to accelerate inspections of certain fan blades, while in Dubai, budget carrier flydubai said it had implemented the European directive ahead of the deadline. The U.S. FAA has estimated that checks would require two hours per inspection. Not all airlines operating 737s are affected. (Reporting by Jamie Freed in Singapore and Tim Hepher in Paris; Additional reporting by Jeffrey Dastin, David Shepardson, Joyce Lee, Sam Nussey, Byron Kaye, Alwyn Scott and Victoria Bryan; editing by Jason Neely and Adrian Croft) Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing says its revenue forecast range for the second quarter is $7.8 billion to $7.9 billion versus the Wall Street estimate of $8.8 billion. The key chip partner for Apple and Nvidia blames "softening" high-end smartphone demand and being more conservative on the cryptocurrency mining market for its weak guidance. Morgan Stanley says Apple's iPhone was a big reason for TSMC's poor guidance. A major Asian chip manufacturer's weaker-than-expected guidance for the June quarter is driving technology stocks lower. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing 2330-TW said Thursday its revenue forecast range for the second quarter is $7.8 billion to $7.9 billion versus the Wall Street estimate of $8.8 billion. "Moving into second quarter 2018, continued weak demand from our mobile sector will negatively impact our business despite strength in cryptocurrency mining," Chief Financial Officer Lora Ho said in a statement. TSMC is the world's largest semiconductor foundry company, manufacturing chips for leading technology firms including Apple AAPL and Nvidia NVDA . Morgan Stanley said Apple's iPhone was a big reason for TSMC's poor guidance. "Smartphone semi weakness [is] the main reason for the revenue shortfall," analyst Charlie Chan wrote in a note to clients Thursday. "Beside the order cuts from the current Apple iPhone X processor, we attribute the major revenue shortfall in the smartphone segment to key customer MediaTek ... and around a month's delay of Apple's new 7nm processor to July." Apple shares are down 2.2 percent Thursday, while Nvidia is down 2.7 percent. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing shares fell 6.2 percent. TSMC on its conference call blamed "softening" demand in the high-end smartphone market and being more conservative over the cryptocurrency mining industry for its disappointing forecast. The company said it had 56 percent market share of the global chip foundry market last year. Its revenue split for 2017 was 10 percent from computers, 59 percent from communications, 8 percent from consumer products and 23 percent from the industrial sector. Story continues Apple did not immediately respond to a request for comment. More From CNBC Dividends play an important role in compounding returns in the long run and end up forming a sizeable part of investment returns. In the past 10 years The Bank of New York Mellon Corporation (NYSE:BK) has returned an average of 2.00% per year to investors in the form of dividend payouts. Does Bank of New York Mellon tick all the boxes of a great dividend stock? Below, Ill take you through my analysis. Check out our latest analysis for Bank of New York Mellon Heres how I find good dividend stocks If you are a dividend investor, you should always assess these five key metrics: Is it the top 25% annual dividend yield payer? Has it consistently paid a stable dividend without missing a payment or drastically cutting payout? Has dividend per share risen in the past couple of years? Is it able to pay the current rate of dividends from its earnings? Will the company be able to keep paying dividend based on the future earnings growth? NYSE:BK Historical Dividend Yield Apr 19th 18 How does Bank of New York Mellon fare? Bank of New York Mellon has a trailing twelve-month payout ratio of 22.97%, which means that the dividend is covered by earnings. Going forward, analysts expect BKs payout to increase to 28.53% of its earnings, which leads to a dividend yield of 2.21%. Moreover, EPS should increase to $3.96. The higher payout forecasted, along with higher earnings, should lead to greater dividend income for investors moving forward. Reliablity is an important factor for dividend stocks, particularly for income investors who want a strong track record of payment and a positive outlook for future payout. Not only have dividend payouts from Bank of New York Mellon fallen over the past 10 years, it has also been highly volatile during this time, with drops of over 25% in some years. This means that dividend hunters should probably steer clear of the stock, at least for now until the track record improves. In terms of its peers, Bank of New York Mellon produces a yield of 1.84%, which is on the low-side for Capital Markets stocks. Story continues Next Steps: If you are building an income portfolio, then Bank of New York Mellon is a complicated choice since it has some positive aspects as well as negative ones. However, if you are not strictly just a dividend investor, the stock could still offer some interesting investment opportunities. Given that this is purely a dividend analysis, you should always research extensively before deciding whether or not a stock is an appropriate investment for you. I always recommend analysing the companys fundamentals and underlying business before making an investment decision. Below, Ive compiled three key factors you should further examine: Future Outlook: What are well-informed industry analysts predicting for BKs future growth? Take a look at our free research report of analyst consensus for BKs outlook. Valuation: What is BK worth today? Even if the stock is a cash cow, its not worth an infinite price. The intrinsic value infographic in our free research report helps visualize whether BK is currently mispriced by the market. Dividend Rockstars: Are there better dividend payers with stronger fundamentals out there? Check out our free list of these great stocks here. To help readers see pass the short term volatility of the financial market, we aim to bring you a long-term focused research analysis purely driven by fundamental data. Note that our analysis does not factor in the latest price sensitive company announcements. The author is an independent contributor and at the time of publication had no position in the stocks mentioned. The SEADRILL 3, the first of four oil rigs that Keppel FELS is building for the same customer, is seen in Singapore in this April 21, 2006 file photo. REUTERS/Luis Enrique Ascui/Files By Nerijus Adomaitis OSLO (Reuters) - Offshore oil driller Seadrill plans to emerge from Chapter 11 bankruptcy in late June or early July to catch the rising wave of rig market activity, its chief executive told said on Wednesday. The company won U.S. court approval on Tuesday for its multi-billion dollar debt restructuring plan after reaching a deal with more than 40 banks, unsecured creditors and shipyards. "The confirmation is the most significant milestone in the process, and now we need to implement the plan over 60 to 90 days. Obviously, we would like to do it as fast as possible," CEO Anton Dibowitz told Reuters. Seadrill plans to expand relations with Schlumberger, the world's largest oil services firm, and other suppliers to the global oil and gas industry, although the company had no immediate consolidation plans, he added. Seadrill is already cooperating with Schlumberger in India to offer integrated drilling services. "Equally, we are in discussions with all major oil service companies, and if there are opportunities that makes sense for both of us, we will certainly entertain that," Dibowitz said. Seadrill was forced to seek bankruptcy court protection from creditors after a sharp drop in oil prices in 2014 cut oil firms' appetite for exploration, pushing rates for rigs down and leaving many idle. Oil companies have since returned to the market, hiring rigs to explore for offshore oil and gas deposits after crude prices have traded above $60 a barrel since November. Brent was trading at $72 at 1303 GMT. Out of 51 rig marketed by Seadrill, which include rigs owned by its non-consolidated entities, such as Seadrill Partners, 31 rigs are currently employed. Seadrill said the approved plan, which extends maturities of $5.7 billion in bank debts, converts $2.3 billion of unsecured bonds to equity and injects $1 billion in new debt and equity, would enable the company to take advantage of a market recovery. "We are fully confident that it (the drilling market) would recover within the next five years, and now we have a runway that we needed in order to see that," Dibowitz said. Story continues Norwegian-born billionaire John Fredriksen will retain control of Seadrill with a stake of just under 30 percent in the restructured company, up from 24 percent previously. Fredriksen, whose business empire includes the largest salmon farmer Marine Harvest and oil tanker firm Frontline, is committed to remaining a long-term stakeholder, Dibowitz said. He added that Fredriksen "was absolutely integral to striking the deal with the banks, and I expect that he will continue to be the anchor shareholder going forward." Dibowitz, Seadrill's CEO since July 2017, said he expected to remain at the helm of the company after its restructuring. (Editing by Terje Solsvik and Edmund Blair) Stock Market News For Nov 16, 2018 Wall Street finished in the green reversing its five-day negative trend on Thursday following news that United States and China have ramped up their efforts to resolve lingering trade disputes Bayer AG BAYRY will divest its 3.6% stake to Singapore's state investment company Temasekfor total gross proceeds of 3 billion. Along with its existing holding in Bayer, Temasek will own about 4% in Bayer after the transaction. Bayer has announced the deal toward its planned $66 billion takeover of Monsanto MON. Per the deal, Bayer will issue to a subsidiary of Temasek at an at-market price the new registered (no-par value) shares with an entitlement to dividends as of Jan 1, 2017. Bayer stated that the proceeds from the placement would be taken into account when settling the size of the previously announced rights issue to fund the Monsanto takeover. Shares issued to Temasek will not be subject to any lock-up period. This investment is in sync with Bayers business strategy including the proposed acquisition of Monsanto, as well as Bayers strong growth prospects. Shares of Bayer have returned 12.1% compared with the industrys gain of 8.8% over a year. We remind investors that in October 2017, Bayer signed an agreement to sell selected Crop Science businesses to BASF for 5.9 billion, in light of the planned acquisition of Monsanto Company. The Brazilian antitrust authorities approved the acquisition. The company also committed to divest its entire vegetable seed business. Certain additional business activities of Bayer and Monsanto may also be sold or out-licensed. The latest transaction is subject to regulatory approval as well as the successful closing of Bayers acquisition of Monsanto. Meanwhile, Bayer will continue to own, operate and maintain these businesses until the closing of this divestiture. Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Price Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Price | Bayer Aktiengesellschaft Quote Zacks Rank and Stocks to Consider Bayer carries a Zacks Rank #4 (Sell). A few better-ranked stocks from the same space worth considering are Ligand Pharmaceuticals LGND andProtagonist Therapeutics PTGX. Both of them sport a Zacks Rank #1 (Strong Buy).You can see the complete list of todays Zacks #1 Rank stocks here. Story continues Ligands earnings per share estimates have moved up $3.78 to $4.40 from $4.75 to $5.32 for 2018 and 2019, respectively, over the last 60 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 24.88%. The companys shares have rallied 62.8% over a year. Protagonists loss estimates narrowed from $1.30 to 66 cents for 2018 and from $1.99 to $1.26 for 2019, over the last 30 days. The company delivered a positive earnings surprise in three of the trailing four quarters, with an average beat of 24.95%. Can Hackers Put Money INTO Your Portfolio? Earlier this year, credit bureau Equifax announced a massive data breach affecting 2 out of every 3 Americans. The cybersecurity industry is expanding quickly in response to this and similar events. But some stocks are better investments than others. Zacks has just released Cybersecurity! An Investors Guide to help Zacks.com readers make the most of the $170 billion per year investment opportunity created by hackers and other threats. It reveals 4 stocks worth looking into right away. Download the new report now>> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report Bayer Aktiengesellschaft (BAYRY) : Free Stock Analysis Report Ligand Pharmaceuticals Incorporated (LGND) : Free Stock Analysis Report Monsanto Company (MON) : Free Stock Analysis Report Protagonist Therapeutics, Inc. (PTGX) : Free Stock Analysis Report To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Bill Gates has invested in the satellite start-up - AFP A satellite company planning to launch a $1bn (700m) network of satellites to provide "live and unfiltered" coverage of the Earth has been backed by former Microsoft chief executive Bill Gates and Japanese tech giant Softbank. The tech leaders are backing EarthNow, which plans to launch 500 satellites to cover Earth's atmosphere in video surveillance and provide live video feedback with only one second of delay. The Washington-based satellite company has the backing of aerospace giant Airbus as well as billionaire Gates and Softbank, the Japanese conglomerate that has invested billions in tech companies from Uber to chipmaker Arm. EarthNow founder Russel Hannigan said: "Our objective is simple; we want to connect you visually with Earth in real-time." Hannigan told the Wall Street Journal the price of the project could run to $1bn, although the companies did not disclose the value of the investment. Hannigan said the first funding would cover the planning stage of the project. Softbank has invested heavily in space and satellite companies under enigmatic chief executive Masayoshi Son. t has previously invested in satellite start-up OneWeb for $1bn, whose founder Greg Wyler added his backing to the start-up. Future space exploration Some of the applications will include services for government and commercial customers, as well as tracking illegal fishing, watching weather systems or tracking natural migrations. EarthNow said it would also enable live feed of the earth to be viewable from a smartphone or tablet. "We believe the ability to see and understand the Earth live and unfiltered will help all of us better appreciate and ultimately care for our one and only home," Hannigan said. EarthNow is just the latest start-up to benefit from a wave of funding in space technologies. In 2017, there were 67 equity fundings in space start-ups to the tune of $2.9bn. Most recently, US rocket company SpaceX is reportedly raising $500m from investors. Technology intelligence - newsletter promo - EOA By Munsif Vengattil (Reuters) - Tesla Inc is being probed by a California agency for occupational safety after a report that the electric carmaker failed to disclose serious injuries at a Fremont factory. The state's Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) disclosed the inspection on Wednesday, two days after news website Reveal said that Tesla's omissions in legally mandated reports made its safety record appear better than it was. The probe began on Tuesday, Erika Monterroza, spokesperson for Cal/OSHA, said. The agency typically reviews an employer's log of work-related injuries and illnesses to make sure that serious injuries are reported directly to the administration within eight hours, she added. A Tesla spokesman said Cal-OSHA is required to investigate any claims, whether they have merit or are baseless. "We have never in the entire history of our company received a violation for inaccurate or incomplete injury record-keeping," he said in an emailed statement. The injury rate at the Fremont factory, which it had taken over from General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp, is half what it was in its final years under the previous owners, the spokesman added. The DARPA Launch Challenge is designed to provide more incentives for the development of flexible, responsive launch systems. (DARPA Illustration) COLORADO SPRINGS, Colo. Almost 15 years after a $10 million competition gave a boost to private-sector spaceflight, the Pentagons Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency is kicking off another launch contest with a $10 million grand prize. The DARPA Launch Challenge officially unveiled here today at the 34th Space Symposium wont send people to the edge of space, as the Ansari X Prize did in 2004. But it will introduce some new twists for the launch industry. Contest rules call for teams to be given the full details about where and when theyll launch, what kind of payload theyll launch, plus what kind of orbit the payload should be launched into, only a couple of weeks in advance. And thats just half the job. Teams will be required to execute another launch, from a different site, no more than a couple of weeks later. The precise time frames for giving advance notice are still under discussion, but I would measure the time scale in days, Todd Master, program manager for the challenge at DARPAs Tactical Technology Office, told reporters today. DARPA is setting up a meeting for interested teams on May 23 to outline a process that reaches its climax with the launch campaign in late 2019. Teams will be judged based on a formula that factors in speed, mass and orbit accuracy. The team with the highest score when all is said and done wins $10 million, plus bragging rights. Therell be $9 million and $8 million prizes for second and third place, respectively. Along the way, each team that qualifies as challenge ready will get a $400,000 boost, and successfully pulling off the first launch to the correct orbit will bring $2 million. DARPA says the rapid-launch competition will accelerate capabilities and further incentivize industry to deliver launch solutions that are both flexible and responsive. Current launch systems and payload development were created in an era when each space launch was a national event, Master said in a news release. Story continues We want to demonstrate the ability to launch payloads to orbit on extremely short notice, with no prior knowledge of the payload, destination orbit or launch site, Master said. The launch environment of tomorrow will more closely resemble that of airline operations with frequent launches from a myriad of locations worldwide. DARPA says the challenge will be run in close coordination with the Federal Aviation Administration, which is currently in charge of licensing commercial launches. Every team that competes will have to have an FAA license for their launch activities. Having them as partners in the process is sort of like check-and-balance, Master told reporters. Competitors could include space startups such as Rocket Lab, Relativity and Vector Launch. Bigger launch providers such as SpaceX, United Launch Alliance and Blue Origin would be welcome to enter, but I have my doubts that they would, Master said. In the past, the agency has supported much pricier projects to upgrade space launch responsiveness such as Boeings Phantom Express hypersonic space plane, which is due to receive up to $146 million in DARPA funding. But the DARPA Launch Challenge takes a different route, aimed at stimulating the same kind of off-the-street innovation that was fostered by the Ansari X Prize. In a foreshadowing of DARPAs contest, the Ansari X Prize competition required two launches to be conducted in the space of two weeks. The SpaceShipOne rocket plane, backed by Microsoft co-founder Paul Allen and built by California-based Scaled Composites, won the $10 million prize in October 2004. Allen said he spent $28 million on the effort, but he was compensated when SpaceShipOnes technology was licensed to British billionaire Richard Bransons Virgin Galactic venture for SpaceShipTwo. Having another multimillion-dollar spaceflight contest would be a fitting way to celebrate next years 15th anniversary of the Ansari X Prize victory. More from GeekWire: delta air lines Ted S. Warren / Associated Press A Delta Air Lines flight from Atlanta to London made an emergency landing at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Wednesday after an engine began emitting smoke, CBS reports. The aircraft returned to Atlanta and was hosed down by aircraft rescue and firefighting units, according to Hartsfield-Jackson's Twitter account. No injuries have been reported from the incident. A Delta Air Lines flight made an emergency landing at Atlanta's Hartsfield-Jackson International Airport on Wednesday after an engine began emitting smoke, CBS reports. Flight 30 was headed from Atlanta to London when the flight's crew noticed something was wrong with one of the engines. The aircraft then returned to Atlanta and was hosed down by aircraft rescue and firefighting units, according to Hartsfield-Jackson's Twitter account. The aircraft was then towed back to the concourse with its passengers aboard. A Twitter user posted a video of the plane after its emergency landing. No injuries have been reported from the incident. "Delta flight 30 from Atlanta to London returned to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday after an issue with its number 2 engine," a Delta representative said in a statement. "The flight landed without incident and airport response vehicles met the aircraft upon arrival. The airplane was towed to the gate, where customers deplaned through the jetway and will be accommodated on a different aircraft. The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologize to our customers on this flight. It's not yet clear what caused the incident." The incident came a day after a Southwest Airlines flight made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after an engine exploded. One passenger died on the flight and seven were injured. The Associated Press identified the passenger who was killed as Jennifer Riordan, 43. Story continues National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt said the death was the first in a US passenger airline accident in over nine years. Before Tuesday, the most recent fatal accident came in February 2009 near Buffalo, New York, when an aircraft operated by the now-defunct regional airline Colgan Air crashed. Fifty people were killed in that crash 49 people on the plane and one person on the ground. The NTSB sent a team to Philadelphia to investigate the crash on Tuesday. The agency said a full investigation will take 12-15 months. NOW WATCH: Investors need to lower their expectations See Also: SEE ALSO: The Southwest plane window blew out after engine explosion, but airplane windows are stronger than you think The Chinese government is notorious for doctoring its official statistics, from using messed-up methodology, to not reporting some key metrics, to out-and-out fabrication. Last year, the governor of one of Chinas rust-belt regions admitted for the first time that the province had inflated GDP figures for years. Officials produce the numbers, and the numbers produce officials, he said at the time, referring to the idea that massaging data can help one get ahead in Chinese officialdom. As a result, Chinas data releases, while closely watched, are often greeted with skepticism by economists (paywall). But slowly, technology is handing analysts, economic experts and investors new tools that allow them to fact-check official numbers and pronouncements. Generated with the help of satellite imagery and artificial intelligence, these alternatives to the official data are revealing the secrets of Chinas real economy. Ahead of Chinas next big data release Tuesday (April 17), of economic growth for the first quarter of this year, heres a look at what its possible to learn about Chinas economy from these sources. Its going to be a long time before these new sources of macroeconomic data can supplant government data, if everbecause governments have the ability to get granular from people and companies at all level of the economybut theyre still very useful counterpoints for investors. Many of our financial customers are looking to gather as much data as possible to make market decisions, so our data provides an additional point for them to consider, said James Crawford, a former NASA and Google engineer who founded California-based data service firm Orbital Insight in 2013. Customers can use our data to help inform their decisions knowing that it is grounded in observable truth, is updated frequently, and is methodologically the same across regions. Story continues Tracking manufacturing growth by satellite To measure Chinas manufacturing expansion, investors usually pay attention to two sets of monthly data called the Purchasing Managers Index (PMI). One is released by Chinas national statistic bureau, and the other is based on surveys performed by financial service company IHS Markit, and sponsored by news organization Caixin. Both seek information from companies on new orders and stock levels, among other things. On a scale of 0 to 100, a PMI reading above 50 is a sign of economic expansion, and a reading below 50 represents contraction. Oftentimes the official and Caixin numbers go in different directions due to differences in the firms they sample. The official PMI generally puts more weight on state-owned and large companies, while the Caixin figure tends to focus on private and smaller firms; the former also consists of a far larger sample size, about 3,000 firms. The Chinese Satellite Manufacturing Index (SMI), created by US company SpaceKnow since 2016, offers a different approach. The index uses 2.2 billion satellite snapshots taken of more than 6,000 industrial areas spanning half a million square kilometers of Chinese territory to get a numeric measure of how well the countrys manufacturing sector is doing. Published every other week, the SMI is read in the same way as the PMI, with the 50-point threshold separating expansion from contradiction. While the official PMI edged up to 51.5 in March, the Caixin PMI hit a four-month low of 51.0. The SMI for March was at 51.7, up 0.1 from a month earlier. The SMI is valuable because its independent of the market and the Chinese government, and it provides a different look of the same reality, said Pavel Machalek, co-founder of SpaceKnow. The SMI is a complimentary but replacement of the PMI readings, he said. According to Machalke, SpaceKnow uses machine-learning algorithms to analyze specific markers of economic activity from satellite imagery of inventory goods, real estate and surface materials, among other things. For example, if an area of grass-covered land later shows up covered by concrete, Machalek explains, its a sign of manufacturing expansion over the time period. Verifying Chinas pollution curbs at Australias ports As part of its anti-pollution drive, China last year ordered over two dozen northern cities surrounding Beijing to cut steel output by up to half during the winter heating season from mid-November to mid-March. The policy is expected to see local steel factories ditch low-grade iron ore for higher grades of ore, to make their steelmaking process cleaner and more efficient. So is the government directive really working? Quandl, a Toronto-based data service company, tracks shipping data to estimate iron ore sales for Australias three biggest mining companiesRio Tinto (RIO), BHP Billiton (BHP) and Fortescue Metals Group (FMG)which altogether sell 80% of their iron ore to China. (Australia is the top iron ore exporter to China.) By counting vessel numbers at Australian ports dedicated to ore exports, Quandl is able to create daily estimates for iron ore sales for each of the three companies, weeks to months before they publish relevant data in their stock filings. Heres what Lilian Lau, a researcher with Quandl, found out about the trios iron ore exports to China from November to February, compared to the same period a year ago: RIO and BHP, which sell higher-grade iron, saw a surge in their exports to China during the November-February period, while FMG, whose iron ores are mostly low-grade, suffered a decline in sales to China. Lau explains she looks into data from November to February because it takes about three weeks for ships to travel from Australia to China. All the above confirms Chinese companies are looking to use higher grade [ore], says Lau. In other words, she says, the Chinese crackdown is working. Tracking oil reserves by shadows The price of oil is volatile in large part thanks to a lack of transparency in the market. We might know how much oil is stored in Rotterdam, one of the worlds biggest oil shipment hubs, but other sources of oil can easily shake up the market without warning, since their storage inventories and capacity are not reliably reported. Beijing is among the many governments worldwide that hold a Strategic Petroleum Reserve (SPR) for national security purposes. However, unlike the US, which regularly reports its SPR data, China rarely does so. Orbital Insights computer-vision algorithm automatically detects the shadows from the walls of floating-roof oil tanks. Orbital Insight uses satellite imagery to detect Chinas oil tanks above the ground. Because these tanks typically have floating lids that rise and fall with oil storage to minimize evaporation, the size of the crescent moon-like shadows from the walls of the reservoirs is exactly a reflection of how much oil is in them. When a tank is full, its shadow is the smallest; and when its empty, the shadow is the biggest. Using this method, Orbital Insight creates a near real-time estimate of Chinas oil supply, and compares it with the monthly figures published by state news agency Xinhua. Its worth noting that the Orbital Insight data includes all known floating-roof tanks, government and commercial, while Xinhuathe best official data sourceonly reports oil reserves in commercial tanks, potentially including fixed roof, floating roof, and underground ones. In that sense, the chart above is not really an apples-to-apples comparison, but gives a more complete look of Chinas oil supply. We have found that floating roof tank storage often serves as a good directional proxy for overall storage in a given region, said the firms founder James Crawford. Using the same methodology, Orbital Insight covers oil storage from the worlds major economies including the US and OPEC countries. The markets are never quite sure which governments to trust, so our project has the advantage of being completely objective, Crawford said. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: FILE PHOTO: A Petrobras Oil platform is seen at Guabanara bay in Rio de Janeiro, Brazil September 24, 2010. REUTERS/Bruno Domingos/File photo By Rodrigo Viga Gaier RIO DE JANEIRO (Reuters) - Brazil's state-run oil company is nearing a deal in which China National Petroleum Corp Ltd (CNPC) would invest in an oil refinery in exchange for crude oil, two people with knowledge of the talks told Reuters, potentially giving China its first refining capacity in the Americas. Petroleo Brasileiro SA (PETR4.SA), or Petrobras, may give the state-owned Chinese firm stakes in oil fields it operates in the Campos basin, off the Rio de Janeiro coast, along with the right to use the new Comperj refinery, the sources added. "We are going to have a deal, but it is complex. We should have an integrated solution," said one of the sources, who requested anonymity because the negotiations are private. The second source said talks with the Chinese intensified recently and a deal could be only a few weeks away. Two other people familiar with the matter said the refinery needed about $3 billion of investment to reach an initial capacity of 165,000 barrels per day, adding that it was not clear if Petrobras would foot part of the bill. Petrobras declined to comment. CNPC did not respond to a request for comment. The talks highlight rising Chinese interest in the Brazilian energy sector, which has attracted billions of dollars from oil majors over the past year for rights to new exploration blocs as the government lowers barriers to foreigners. Chinese state companies have also taken a central role in Brazil's electric grid, acquiring rights to hydropower dams, major transmission lines and the country's largest distributor. The Comperj deal would not be the first in which Petrobras offered oil to attract Chinese funding. In 2016, it renewed a $10 billion credit line with China Development Bank, originally opened in 2009, that was guaranteed by Brazilian oil exports. China has also provided more than $50 billion to Venezuela over the past decade under oil-for-loan agreements that helped Beijing secure energy supplies for its fast-growing economy. Story continues CNPC and Petrobras signed a memorandum of understanding last year to reach a strategic partnership in oil exploration and production. CNPC has already partnered with Petrobras in the Libra field of the Santos basin, one of the largest discoveries in Brazil's prolific pre-salt oil area. The investment at Comperj would help to offset Brazil's fuel imports and resolve a long-running headache at the complex, where Petrobras has little to show for some $13.5 billion in investments over the past decade. The project was caught up in a corruption probe in recent years and Petrobras has booked some 6.5 billion reais ($1.9 billion) in writedowns there linked to overpriced works and services. The company said it wants to finish Comperj, but preferably without pouring in any more money, so it is talking to potential partners. Petrobras Chief Executive Pedro Parente said last year that CNPC was in talks to invest in the refinery. On Thursday, Petrobras announced plans to sell 60 percent stakes in four of its existing refineries, underscoring its willingness to give up a near monopoly on Brazilian refining. Parente told journalists the Comperj project was not included in the plans because it is not yet a productive asset. He said negotiations for a partnership at the Comeperj refinery were still underway. Separately, Petrobras awarded a contract last month worth 1.95 billion reais to China's Shandong Kerui Petroleum Equipment Co to build a natural gas processing unit at the Comperj complex. The privately run Kerui Group partnered with mid-sized Brazilian engineering company Metodo Potencial Engenharia SA to build the plant in Itaborai, about 50 kilometers (30 miles) east of Rio. (Reporting by Rodrigo Viga Gaier; Additional reporting by Marianna Parraga; Writing by Marcelo Teixeira; Editing by Brad Haynes, Daniel Flynn and Christian Schmollinger) (Adds Haley's comment) UNITED NATIONS/WEST PALM BEACH, Fla., April 17 (Reuters) - U .S. Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley fired back at White House economic adviser Larry Kudlow on Tuesday over his remarks that she may have been confused over Washington's plans to impose more sanctions on Russia. "With all due respect, I don't get confused," Haley, a member of President Donald Trump's cabinet, told Fox News. Haley said on Sunday that Washington was preparing new sanctions on Russia over its support of Syrian President Bashar al-Assad. However, Trump delayed further action, according to a senior administration official. Kudlow said of Haley on Tuesday: "She's doing a great job, she's a very effective ambassador. There might have been some momentary confusion about that." "I think the issue here is we have a set of sanctions and additional sanctions are under consideration but have not been determined," Kudlow told a briefing at Mar-a-Lago, where Trump was meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe for two days of talks. He said there was no confusion in the White House approach toward Moscow. A senior administration official said on Monday that Trump was unlikely to approve them unless Moscow carried out a new cyber attack or some other provocation. (Reporting by Steve Holland and Michelle Nichols Writing by Michelle Nichols Editing by Rosalba O'Brien and Leslie Adler) sean hannity donald trump white house After Fox News personality Sean Hannity was named as a client of Donald Trumps personal lawyerwhom he had strenuously defended on air without disclosing the relationshipsome observers wondered if Fox News might fire Hannity (as if that were an actual possibility). Instead, his network announced yesterday (April 17) that it was putting its full support behind the popular right-wing host. That statement set off a variety of head-scratching reactions. One prominent columnist asked whether the network deserved to be called a news organization. Another journalist said he was stunned that Fox wouldnt punish Hannity for the blatant violation of journalistic standards. Really? Stunned? Lets be clear: Fox News is not, and never has been, a news organization. And while Hannity is an influential person on televisionand one many listen tohe is not a journalist. That some media observers saw Foxs non-response to the Hannity debacle as anything other than a sad inevitability shows that we still have a ways to go to normalize those two facts. Hannitys failure to disclose his relationship with Trump fixer Michael Cohen actually seems almost minor, compared to the fact that Hannity is already friends with, and gives advice to, Trump himself. The Washington Post reported today (paywall) that Hannity is so intertwined in Trumps circles that some White House staff have called him the unofficial chief of staff and joked that he basically has a desk in the place. Of course Fox News is going to stand behind Hannity in the Cohen fiasco. Hes an extension of the president of the United States. This Hannity debacle is not a particularly low point for the network, either. Rupert Murdochs Fox canand if history is any indication, it willsink even lower than this. After Fox News founding CEO Roger Ailes died last year, the network had a rare opportunity to be better than it had been for the preceding 20 years. It took option B: double down on its cozying up to Republicans in power. Story continues Other news networks, while neither immune to political bias nor the occasional embarrassing ethics scandal, at bare minimum follow certain journalistic procedures. Dont actively argue on behalf of your own lawyer on television, would be a good start, or at least If you do, tell viewers hes your lawyer. Fox News should not be exempt from those rudimentary standards, but its track record should convince Americans to never be surprised when the network fails to do the right thing. This is the same company, and journalist, that relentlessly pushed conspiracy theories about the murder of a young Democratic National Committee staffer, despite the pleas of his family for them to stop. This is the same company that gives Hannity millions of dollars to champion dangerous, debunked theories about former US president Barack Obamas birthplace, and bogus claims of voter fraud. This is the same network that has literally manipulated photos and videos for political purposes, and recently was exposed for fostering a culture of rampant sexual harassment that went all the way to the top. Fox News has only gotten more powerful since Trump was elected. The president is known to watch the network every day and form many of his opinions around what its cast of talking heads think about political issues. Fox News, for its part, will cater its coverage specifically for the president, knowing hes watching. This is the news network we expected to reprimand Hannity for his journalistic misdeeds? Fox News will always be what it is, a propagandistic media monolith, and a stain on American democracy. Dont expect anything different. Sign up for the Quartz Daily Brief, our free daily newsletter with the worlds most important and interesting news. More stories from Quartz: By Paulina Duran SYDNEY (Reuters) - An Australian inquiry into the financial services sector heard tearful testimony on Thursday from a nurse who lost her home after taking advice from a major lender, and that the country's biggest bank knowingly charged dead clients for counsel. The testimony was among the most personal yet at the Royal Commission that has already resulted in startling admissions of bad behaviour by firms. Government data prepared for the inquiry shows over 80,000 consumers have been given bad advice over the past decade, costing them a total A$5 billion (2.7 billion). Coverage of the inquiry, initially resisted by Australia's centre-right government, has dominated newspaper front pages, TV chat shows and talk-back radio across the country. Treasurer Scott Morrison on Wednesday raised the prospect of jail terms for the worst executive offenders, while regulators have flagged tougher oversight and penalties for the biggest sector of the Australian economy. On Thursday, Jacqueline McDowall, a nurse, told the inquiry she lost her home after she and her truck-driver husband acted on advice from Westpac Banking Corp (WBC.AX). McDowall said she was advised by Australia's second-largest bank that she could achieve her dream of retiring to run a bed-and-breakfast (B&B) by selling her home and using part of her and her husband's pension pot as a deposit for a loan on a B&B property where they could live. McDowall followed the advice, but Westpac denied her the loan, according to details presented by Rowenna Orr, the barrister assisting the commission, and confirmed by McDowall and Westpac. "It's a bit like you go to a doctor and he's been trained to deal with your problem, you go to a lawyer, and the same thing," McDowall told the inquiry, fighting back tears. "I felt that ... we had been to a big bank that we had banked in for 16 years and then never thought that I would be lied to." Documents presented by Orr showed the lender had offered to return about A$50,000 to cover only the fees it had charged McDowall for the advice and some of the losses of their savings but that was not enough to reclaim her home. Story continues A Westpac spokesman said it would not be appropriate to comment further on the issue "as Westpac's witness is currently being cross-examined" by Orr. The inquiry also heard that Commonwealth Bank of Australia (CBA) (CBA.AX), the country's largest bank, withdrew advice fees from dead people's accounts. Under questioning, CBA executives admitted that in one case, a subsidiary of the lender charged advisory fees for more than a decade to a person who had passed away in 2004. A media representative from CBA was unable to immediately respond to requests for comment. WIDESPREAD MISCONDUCT NOT ACCEPTABLE CBA executives also told the inquiry earlier this week that the lender was the worst offender among the big banks in misappropriating fees. Meanwhile, the country's largest wealth manager, AMP Ltd (AMP.AX), has admitted it lied to the regulator to cover up charging thousands of customers for services they did provide. "We anticipate the entire board, including the Chairman Catherine Brenner, will step down in the near-term. We see their positions as untenable," analysts at Bell Potter Securities said in a research note to clients. AMP has lost over A$1.2 billion in market value since the revelations came to light earlier this week. Financial Services Minister Kelly O'Dwyer has said that such widespread misconduct in the sector was "not acceptable" and the onus was on the financial companies to restore the trust of their customers. The Royal Commission is just a couple of months into what is expected to be a year-long investigation. The inquiry will be able to make wide-ranging recommendations including legislative changes and on criminal or civil prosecutions. In the 2000s, at least two executives were jailed for fraud and bribery offences after an inquiry into Australia's biggest corporate collapse, HIH Insurance. A 2006 inquiry into the Australian Wheat Board over hundreds of millions of dollars funnelled to the Saddam Hussein regime in Iraq also recommended criminal penalties, however only civil charges were laid. (Reporting by Paulina Duran; Editing by Jane Wardell and Himani Sarkar) FILE PHOTO: Margo Georgiadis responds to a question at the 2015 International Consumer Electronics Show (CES) in Las Vegas, Nevada January 7, 2015. REUTERS/Steve Marcus By Aishwarya Venugopal and Karina Dsouza (Reuters) - Mattel Inc (MAT.O) said on Thursday that board member and digital media executive Ynon Kreiz will replace Chief Executive Margaret Georgiadis, who is stepping down after only 14 months at the helm of the maker of Hot Wheels and Barbie dolls. Mattel, whose shares have lost nearly half their value in the past year under Georgiadis' tenure, is facing weak demand for its well-known toys at a time when children increasingly prefer videogames. The bankruptcy and liquidation of Mattel's top customer and toy retailer Toys 'R' Us has heaped more pressure on the company and highlighted the troubled retail environment. Kreiz is a former head of digital media company Maker Studios, which assembled a stable of YouTube stars and was acquired by Walt Disney (DIS.N). Kreiz's appointment as CEO, effective April 26, will likely help Mattel shift its focus toward using entertainment to increase Mattel's brand equity and revenue, Global Toy Experts CEO Richard Gottlieb said. "It appears that the Mattel board is betting that Kreiz, with his history in entertainment, can turn things around," he added. The departure of Georgiadis, a technology executive hired from Alphabet Inc's Google (GOOGL.O) to modernize Mattel, caught some experts by surprise. "I think the high tech experience that Margo had maybe wasn't just working out," said Jackie Breyer, editor-in-chief of The Toy Book, a trade magazine covering the toy industry. "The idea is to try and get a fresh start especially in the wake of the Toys R Us liquidation." Under Georgiadis's leadership, Mattel ramped up efforts to cut costs, replaced veteran finance chief Kevin Farr in September and suspended its dividend. Georgiadis will serve in an advisory role at Mattel until May 10, after which she will take over the role of chief executive in genealogy website Ancestry.com. Kreiz, who also served previously as chairman and CEO of television production company Endemol Group, said that as the new head of Mattel he would make more use of its IP that includes iconic consumer brands such as American Girl and Fisher-Price. Story continues Kreiz will become chairman of the board after his election at an annual shareholders' meeting slated for May 17, Mattel said. Mattel is scheduled to release its first-quarter results on April 26 and its conference call will be hosted by executives including Georgiadis. The company's shares closed down 3.2 percent at $13.45 and were up 1 percent in extended trading. (Reporting by Aishwarya Venugopal in Bengaluru; editing by Arun Koyyur and Tom Brown) (Adds analyst's comment, shares, background) By Arunima Banerjee April 19 (Reuters) - Nucor Corp's quarterly profit topped Wall Street estimates, and the No. 1 U.S. steelmaker by market value forecast a better second-quarter while praising the U.S. government's move to impose tariffs on imported steel. The results come nearly a month after U.S President Donald Trump announced his plan to impose hefty tariffs on imported steel and aluminum to protect American steel and aluminum makers from foreign competition. Shares in the company fell in the morning along with other steel firms, as concerns over the prospect of a tit-for-tat trade war with China again dominated trading. The company did not directly link higher selling prices for its steel and increased shipments in the first quarter, or its forecast, to the imposition of tariffs on foreign competitors in late March. But its statement followed the upbeat numbers with a reiteration of its support for the moves. "We are encouraged by recent actions by the government to address the massive flood of dumped and illegally subsidized imports into the United States," Nucor said. "Broad-based tariffs with few exceptions are needed to address the historic volume of unfairly traded imports and transshipping that is done to avoid trade duties," it said. The move, however, has also provoked a response from China, which published its own list of duties on key U.S. imports earlier this month, including soybeans, planes, cars, whiskey and chemicals. Nucor's shares were currently flat at $65.51, while those in U.S. Steel, Steel Dynamics Inc and AK Steel Corp were trading down about 1 percent, dragging the S&P 1500 steel index lower by about 0.2 percent on Thursday. "Almost everything today involving steel and aluminum companies depends upon viewpoint of the trade disputes. Fears around trade disputes is affecting everything, because the basic underlying business (for Nucor) is good," Bradford Research analyst Charles Bradford said. Story continues Average selling prices for Charlotte, North Carolina-based Nucor, which makes sheet steel, beam blanks and bar steel among other products, rose 9 percent in the quarter ended March 31. Steel mill shipments increased 8 percent in the quarter while shipments to outside customers 15 percent from a year earlier. The company said it expected profit in the second quarter to increase "significantly" compared to the first quarter. Net income attributable to shareholders dipped to $354.2 million, or $1.10 per share, in the first quarter, from $356.9 million, or $$1.11 per share, year earlier. Excluding the write-off of deferred tax assets, the company earned $1.17 a share, beating a consensus estimate of $1.10, according to Thomson Reuters I/B/E/S Revenue rose 15.6 percent to $5.57 billion, also beating the average estimate of $5.46 billion. (Reporting by Arunima Banerjee in Bengaluru; Editing by Shailesh Kuber) Elon Musk couch Ben Sullins/GoFundMe People are raising money on GoFundMe to buy Tesla CEO Elon Musk a new couch. The campaign started after Musk said in an interview he'd been sleeping on a couch at his Tesla factory, in Fremont, California. The couch looks uncomfortable, and Musk even admitted he sometimes just sleeps on the floor instead. People are raising money to buy Elon Musk, the billionaire CEO of Tesla, a new couch. More than 60 people have donated to a GoFundMe campaign to buy Musk a new couch after he showed off his current and uncomfortable-looking sleeping arrangement in an interview with "CBS This Morning." Musk said he has been sleeping on a couch in a conference room at his Fremont, California, Tesla factory as the company goes through what he called "production hell" for the company's Model 3 sedan. The couch is so narrow Musk said he sometimes just resorts to sleeping on the floor. After seeing the video, a California man named Ben Sullins started the GoFundMe campaign, which he titled "Buy Elon Musk a Couch." As of Tuesday morning, the campaign had already surpassed its $1,000 goal. "Elon Musk is transforming our world to run on sustainable energy and use sustainable forms of transportation," Sullins wrote. "Lately, he's been sleeping at the Fremont factory in an effort to improve Model 3 production. This is the couch he is sleeping on. As a community, we cannot let this stand. Let's band together to buy Elon a new couch to sleep on!" Sullins wrote on the campaign page that he hopes to get Musk's attention on Twitter. If Musk does not accept the donation, the money will be donated to a charity. Musk is the CEO of both Tesla and SpaceX and is currently worth $20.1 billion. He owns more than $70 million worth of residential property in the Bel-Air neighborhood of Los Angeles. NOW WATCH: Google, Apple, and Amazon are in a war that no one will win See Also: * Trump hails "good relationship" between Pompeo and Kim * S. Korea says considering how to turn armistice into peace deal * U.S., North Korean leaders planning to meet By Makini Brice and Josh Smith WASHINGTON/SEOUL, April 18 (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that preparations were advancing for a first-ever summit with North Korea after CIA director Mike Pompeo visited Pyongyang and formed a "good relationship" with its leader Kim Jong Un. Pompeo, who Trump has nominated to become his next secretary of state, became the first U.S. official known to have met Kim when he flew to Pyongyang to lay the groundwork the planned summit in which the U.S. president hopes to persuade North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons. "Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea," Trump tweeted. "Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!" Trump said the meeting took place last week, but U.S. officials said Pompeo actually visited over the Easter weekend, which ran from March 31 to April 2. The trip, which followed a North Korean invitation, was first broached through intelligence channels that his staff was using with North Koreas spy service, a U.S. official said. It provides the strongest sign yet of Trump's willingness to become the first serving U.S. president to meet a North Korean leader as he seeks to resolve a crisis over Pyongyang's development of nuclear missiles capable of hitting the United States. Trump said on Tuesday he believed there was a lot of goodwill in the diplomatic push, but added it was possible the summit - which the president had earlier said could take place in late May or early June - may not happen, in which case the United States and its allies would maintain pressure on North Korea through sanctions. U.S. officials said the visit by Pompeo, one of Trump's most trusted advisers, was arranged by South Korean intelligence chief Suh Hoon with his North Korean counterpart, Kim Yong Chol, and was intended to assess whether Kim was prepared to hold serious talks about giving up his nuclear weapons. Story continues They said Pompeo's conversations in Pyongyang fueled Trumps belief that productive negotiations were possible, but far from guaranteed. They said no site had yet been chosen for a summit. Pompeo flew to North Korea from a U.S. air force base in Osan, south of Seoul, an official with South Korea's defense ministry said. Pompeo told his Senate confirmation hearing for the post of secretary of state last week he was optimistic a course could be set at a Trump-Kim summit for a diplomatic outcome with North Korea, but added that no one was under any illusion that a comprehensive deal could be reached at that meeting. Pompeo said the aim would be an agreement...such that the North Korean leadership will step away from its efforts to hold America at risk with nuclear weapons and that Pyongyang should not expect rewards until it takes irreversible steps. NORTH-SOUTH SUMMIT News of Pompeo's trip came as South Korean President Moon Jae-in was preparing for his own summit with Kim, on April 27, with a bid to formally end the 1950-53 Korean War a major factor. "As one of the plans, we are looking at a possibility of shifting the Korean peninsula's armistice to a peace regime," a top South Korean presidential official told reporters in Seoul. "But that's not a matter than can be resolved between the two Koreas alone. It requires close consultations with other concerned nations, as well as North Korea." South Korea and a U.S.-led U.N. force have remained technically at war with North Korea since the Korean War ended with a truce, not a peace treaty. The U.S.-led United Nations Command, Chinese forces and North Korea signed the 1953 armistice, to which South Korea is not a party. The South Korean official said he did not know if any joint summit statement would include wording about ending the war, "but we certainly hope to be able to include an agreement to end hostile acts between the South and North." Trump said on Tuesday he backed efforts between North and South Korea aimed at ending the state of war. Such discussions between the two Koreas, and between North Korea and the United States, would have been unthinkable last year when North Korea conducted repeated missile tests, detonated its largest ever nuclear bomb, and said the United States was now within range of its weapons. The tests and escalating rhetoric between Trump and Kim raised fears of war before the North Korean leader called, in a New Year speech, for lower military tensions and improved ties with South Korea. Amid the diplomatic flurry, CNN reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping planned to visit Pyongyang soon, after North Korean leader Kim made a surprise trip last month to China, its major sole ally. Despite China's traditional friendship with North Korea, Beijing has been angered by Kim's weapons development and backed successive rounds of U.N. economic sanctions, from which Pyongyang is seeking respite. On Wednesday, finance ministers from the Group of Seven industrialized countries issued a statement saying they were concerned about North Korea's evasion of sanctions and its "ability to access the international financial system." (Additional reporting by Soyoung Kim and Joyce Lee in Seoul, Susan Heavey, John Walcott, Steve Holland, Matt Spetalnick, David Brunnstrom and Doina Chiacu in Washington, and Christian Shepherd in Beijing Editing by Nick Macfie and Alistair Bell) South Korean government says it would consider peace treaty with North Korea after denuclearization A South Korean official on Wednesday said the country would consider negotiating a peace treaty with North Korea following the rogue state's denuclearization, according to local news outlet Yonhap. Ahead of a summit next week between North Korean premier Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-In, lawmakers from the neighboring states were thought to be negotiating the details of a joint statement that could outline an end to the military conflict between the two countries. Pyongyang and Seoul have technically been at war since the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended with a truce and not a peace treaty. A South Korea official on Wednesday said the country would consider negotiating a peace treaty with North Korea following the rogue state's denuclearization, according to local news outlet Yonhap . That followed daily newspaper Munhwa Ilbo reporting on Tuesday that the two countries were already in talks to announce a permanent end to the officially declared military conflict between them. Ahead of a summit next week between North Korean premier Kim Jong Un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in , lawmakers from the neighboring states were thought to be negotiating the details of a joint statement that could outline an end to the confrontation. Kim and Moon could also discuss returning the heavily fortified demilitarized zone separating them to its original state, Munhwa Ilbo said. Pyongyang and Seoul have technically been at war since the 1950-1953 Korean conflict ended with a truce and not a peace treaty. Geopolitical tensions have occasionally flared up since the armistice, although both countries have so far managed to avoid another devastating conflict. A successful summit between the Koreas later this month could help pave the way for a meeting between Kim and President Donald Trump . The U.S. president and North Korean leader are poised to hold talks in late May or June, according to the Korean Central News Agency (KCNA). Story continues Despite the talk of a potential peace agreement, there may be some technical roadblocks to such a deal. For one, Pyongyang does not view Seoul as an authorized participant in peace talks, a former CIA official told CNBC. "When I met with North Korean officials last year, they said that South Korea is not 'qualified' to participate in peace treaty negotiations because it didn't sign the armistice and didn't have wartime operational control of its forces," Bruce Klingner, senior research fellow of Northeast Asia at the Heritage Foundation, told CNBC. "Technically, South Korea is not a signatory to the armistice and a peace treaty would require UN action," Klingner added. "The previous North Korean position has been for three parties North Korea, China, and the U.S. to sign a final peace treaty." WATCH: Here's what a land war with North Korea could look like CNBC's Amanda Macias and Reuters contributed to this report. More From CNBC Starbucks is wasting no time addressing the uproar after two black men were arrested at a Philadelphia store last week for the crime of being black in public. Their actions have been, thus far, honest and inspiring. Im embarrassed, ashamed. I think what occurred was reprehensible at every single level. I think I take it very personally as everyone in our company does and were committed to making it right, executive chairman Howard Schulz this today on CBS This Morning. Schultz joined Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson and members of their leadership team in Philadelphia this week, to meet with employees and members of the community, the company said in a statement. Their first official response will be a radical act of exclusion, but this time, for all Starbucks customers. The company will be closing some 8,200 company-owned stores and corporate offices for several hours on May 29 for company-wide racial bias training thats 175,000 people. Its hard not to appreciate the symbolic elegance, and the multi-million price tag, of a nation-wide time out. The company has also been casting a wide net, looking for expertise on the local and national levels. Sherrilyn Ifill, president and director-counsel of the NAACP Legal Defense and Education Fund is one of the experts who will be advising the company on its bias mitigation efforts. She signed on to help because she was convinced that the companys response was bigger than public relations. I was interested in Starbucks stated commitment to recognizing the real issues of racial discrimination and being serious about trying to tackle it, and also trying to play a leadership role that others can follow, Ifill tells NPR. But she warns, This is part of a very, very long story about African Americans and public accommodations and how we are treated in public spaces. This cant be a one-off. It wont be, Schultz has assured the public. And this is where the enormity of the problem were asking Starbucks to solve or any corporate entity, for that matter comes into sharp relief. Story continues Heres just one example: The neighborhood where the two men were arrested has the highest racial disparity in pedestrian stops in the city of Philadelphia, according to the ACLU. While the black population of Philadelphias Ninth District was only 3%, black pedestrians made up 67% of police stops in 2017, their research found. Black Philadelphians face daily indignities when they are simply trying to go about their business. This incident shows that black people cant even wait while black,' Executive Director of the ACLU of Pennsylvania Reggie Shuford said in a statement. Diversity work means holding a mirror up to a society that polices the behavior of black children starting in pre-school, that systematically denies black adults access to jobs and credit markets, that will shrug off the extra-judicial harassment including death of black people whose only crime was driving, walking home or operating in the informal economy. The Starbucks employee who called the police that day lives in a world where black and brown people are always suspects. She must be all kinds of shook these days why all the fuss now? But for the men, it was just another day inside their skins. Thats a lot for a coffee chain to unpack. Ijeoma Oluo, writer and author of the recently released (and excellent) So You Want to Talk About Race, framed the task ahead for Starbucks in this Medium post: The general idea is this: racial bias is a complex system of assumptions, privileges and oppressions that has worked its way through every major part of our society. It has endured for hundreds of years because it is only easily seen by those at the ass-end of it. Those of us who bear the brunt of racial bias and oppression every day end up having to not only battle that bias and oppression, but also convince everyone else that it even exists. It is very hard for the majority of the population to see how the everyday businesses, agencies, and organizations that we interact with are perpetrating harmful racial bias, and even harder for the majority of the population to see how they are perpetrating harmful racial bias themselves. It is hard to see how something that can feel like the air you breathe to most, can be the storm you drown in to others. Despite the enormity of the task, I remain cautiously optimistic. Starbucks has been unusually dedicated to justice and social transformation, and have baked purpose into their business decisions. Its a dedication that will come in handy now. On Point Nikes head of diversity leaves The shake-ups continue at the company, which on Monday confirmed the departure of Vice President of Diversity and Inclusion Antoine Andrews. Andrews, who joined the company in 2015, is the most recent of several executive exits. Last month, Trevor Edwards, who ran the companys Nike brand, announced he will retire from Nike in August, amid allegations that Edwards, along with a vice president, protected subordinates who bullied women. We became aware of some behavioral issues that are inconsistent with Nikes values of inclusivity, respect, and empowerment, CEO and Chairman Mark Parker said on a March 22 analyst earnings call. A recent memo from Nikes HR, and obtained by CNBC, says the company has failed to gain traction in hiring women and other minorities. Diversity Inc. Give us your tired, your poor, but not your abused women U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions is reviewing whether or not domestic or sexual violence should be recognized as a legitimate reason for immigrants seeking asylum in the U.S. At issue are Central American women (and families) who come to the border, afraid to return home due to pandemic sexual violence, gang activity and traffickers. Earlier this month, the Department of Homeland Security issued a report that more than 40 percent of migrants seeking asylum are families and children. The review has immigration advocates very worried. Politico The two composers who lost the Pulitzer to Kendrick Lamar are thrilled and woke, yall While classical music fans were upset over the loss, the two finalists for the Music prize are both fans of the rappers work. Michael Gilbertson and Ted Hearne were acknowledged for their works, Quartet and Sound From the Bench respectively, and gave thoughtful, separate interviews about their loss to Slate. Both think the rapper is creating wholly original music. While at Yale, Gilbertson heard a grad level talk on Lamar which explored the theological and conceptual narrative depth in his work, he said. It changed the way I listened to his work. And Hearne, whose work is more political, sees this as the first step in redressing the centuries-long exclusion of black and brown artists in classical music. Especially in America, there are incredibly important musical thinkers who have been kept out of classical music spaces for a long time, he says. Click through to hear clips of their work. Slate A plan to address sexual harassment on Capitol Hill is still stalled Senator Kristen Gillibrand [D-NY] is re-upping a plan to fix sexual harassment on Capitol Hill one which has languished for too long, she says. There has been no bipartisan bill to help victims, even after a spate of Congress members from both side of the aisle have resigned after harassment scandals. The Congressional Harassment Reform Act, which has yet to pass the Senate, eliminates taxpayer-funded settlements and mandatory cooling off periods before claims are filed, and mandates regular surveys of staffers. Congress has a sexual harassment problemand isnt taking it seriously, she says. If we cant clean up our own act, how can anyone expect Congress to do the right thing for victims and survivors in the rest of the country? Fortune The Woke Leader How a genuine confidence that you belong leads to wealth advantage for white families in the U.S. John Rice, the CEO of nonprofit Management Leadership for Tomorrow, and a former member of Obamas Advisory Commission on Educational Excellence for African Americans, has a must-read opinion piece that defines the emotional underpinnings of the depressing wealth gap that exists between black and white families in this country. White people inherit something more valuable than money, he says. They grow up never questioning whether they belong in the educational institutions, careers, and networks that are the breeding grounds for comfortable lives and wealth creation. What still needs to be discussed, however, is the violent backlash that occurs when some members of white society lose that bedrock confidence. Fortune Ubers Bozoma Saint John on life, love, and diversity for all Arianna Huffingtons Thrive Global Podcast is up and running, this episode featuring a conversation with Ubers chief brand officer Bozoma Saint John. They talk about Saint Johns remarkable life in Ghana, fashion, moving to the U.S. and the tragic death of her husband. But she addresses her growing political voice and diversity in Silicon Valley very directly. I was making a joke the other day, but its actually true, which is that I want white men to go into their offices and look around and say, you know what? Theres a lot of white people here. I feel uncomfortable in this situation, she says. I want you to go in to your boss and tell them theres just too many people who look the same. Thrive Global Podcast Cardi B = Dolly Parton? Writer Sandi Rankaduwa is here with a hot take youre not going to see anywhere else, but its more nuanced than it appears from the headline. In Cardi B is Raps Dolly Parton, she explores the public preoccupation with both womens bodies, one that borders on a fetishization designed to diminish. Neither artist is here for it, she says. Both have used humor, acting chops, and business savvy to create a cult of personality around themselves, and both [are] conscious of their vocal instruments and use them with careful calculation, she says. But perhaps most importantly, they help redefine their oft-stereotyped and maligned subcultures, reclaiming their bodies and their truths all the way to the bank. What Dollys pride did for the hillbilly, for so-called white trash, Cardi B is doing for ratchet girls in the hood, for a certain type of black or brown woman whos often imitated or ridiculed, for unashamed and self-proclaimed hoes. Buzzfeed Quote Textron Inc. (NYSE: TXT) released strong first-quarter 2018 results on Wednesday morning, led by stronger military volumes at Bell Helicopter, a return to growth at its Aviation subsidiary, and the surprise divestment of its Tools and Test business. With shares up nearly 7% Wednesday in response, let's take a closer look at how the industrial conglomerate kicked off the new year, and what investors should expect looking ahead. A maroon, gold, and black Bell helicopter flying low over farmland. Image source: Textron. Textron's results: The raw numbers Metric Q1 2018 Q1 2017 Year-Over-Year Change Revenue $3.296 billion $3.093 billion 6.6% GAAP net income $189 million $101 million 87.1% GAAP earnings per share $0.72 $0.37 94.6% Data source: Textron Inc. What happened with Textron this quarter? Textron didn't provide specific quarterly guidance when it last reported in late January. So for perspective -- and though we don't usually pay close attention to Wall Street's demands -- consensus estimates predicted significantly lower earnings of $0.48 per share on lower revenue of $3.08 billion. By segment: Textron Aviation revenue grew 4% year over year, to $1.01 billion, including 36 jets delivered (up from 35 in the same year-ago period) and 29 commercial turboprops (up from 20 last year). Aviation segment backlog was $1.6 billion at the end of the quarter, and segment profit doubled year over year to $72 million driven by favorable volume, mix, performance, and price. Bell revenue grew 8% to $752 million, as higher military volume was partially offset by lower commercial revenue. The latter was driven by product mix, as Bell delivered 46 commercial helicopters, up from 27 last year. Segment profit increased $4 million to $87 million. Textron Systems revenue declined 7% to $387 million, primarily due to lower Weapons and Sensors volume driven by the discontinuation of Systems' Sensor Fuzed Weapon (SFW) production. Textron Systems backlog stood at $1.4 billion at the end of the quarter. Segment profit increased 150% to $50 million, driven by improved performance at Marine and Land. Industrial revenue increased 14% to $1.131 billion, driven by a combination of favorable foreign exchange rates and the Artic Cat acquisition. Industrial segment profit declined 15.8%, primarily due to the timing of that acquisition last year. Finance segment revenue declined $2 million to $16 million, while segment profit increased by half to $6 million. Returned $344 million to shareholders through share repurchases during the quarter. Announced a definitive agreement to divest the Tools and Test business -- notably including the Greenlee and Klauke brands -- to Emerson for $810 million in cash. What management had to say Story continues "Operationally we achieved significant margin improvements at Textron Aviation and Textron Systems over this quarter last year and sustained margin strength at Bell, reflecting strong performance in these segments," added Textron CEO Scott Donnelly. "We are on track for a strong 2018 as we continue our focus on operational improvement and look to capitalize on improving end markets. Looking forward Assuming it passes regulatory muster, the divestiture of Textron's Tools and Test business is expected to close in the third quarter of 2018. Proceeds from the sale will be used to fund share repurchases to offset the expected impact to earnings related to the sale. As such, Textron reiterated its full-year 2018 guidance for earnings per share from continuing operations of $2.95 to $3.15, as well as its outlook for cash flow from continuing manufacturing operations (before pension contributions) of $700 million to $800 million. In the end, there was little not to like about this impressive start to 2018. And Textron's Tools and Test sale should enable the company to hone its focus and more effectively foster its more lucrative Bell, Aviation, Industrial, and Systems subsidiaries. Given its strong position as its end markets remain favorable, it should be no surprise to see the stock trading at a fresh 52-week high on Wednesday. More From The Motley Fool Steve Symington has no position in any of the stocks mentioned. The Motley Fool recommends Textron. The Motley Fool has a disclosure policy. Trump appears to rule out rejoining the TPP: 'I dont like the deal' In a Tuesday tweet, President Donald Trump said he didn't think the Trans-Pacific Partnership was good for the U.S. The Pacific free-trade pact has "too many contingencies," he said following a bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Trump had said that Washington would only rejoin the landmark pact if it was "substantially better" than the version offered to former President Barack Obama. After recently indicating he could consider rejoining the massive Pacific trade pact, President Donald Trump said he now doesn't think the Trans-Pacific Partnership is good for the world's largest economy. Following Tuesday's bilateral meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at the Trump-owned Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida, the U.S. leader took to Twitter to criticize the current TPP agreement, saying it had "too many contingencies and no way to get out." He also expressed a preference for bilateral trade deals, calling them more "profitable." Trump tweet: While Japan and South Korea would like us to go back into TPP, I don't like the deal for the United States. Too many contingencies and no way to get out if it doesn't work. Bilateral deals are far more efficient, profitable and better for OUR workers. Look how bad WTO is to U.S. Of note, some experts expressed confusion at Trump's inclusion of South Korea in the Twitter post since that country isn't a member of the trade pact. Ian Bremmer tweet: S Korea isn't in TPP. Just FYI. However, there have been some reports in Korean media that Seoul may now be considering joining up to the TPP , and could even have considered doing so along with the U.S. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The post comes a few days after Trump asked advisors to consider the possibility of re-entering the TPP . The president has previously said that Washington would only join if the landmark pact was "substantially better" than the version offered to former President Barack Obama. Story continues Officially known as the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP), the landmark agreement was signed last month and will cut tariffs between 11 member countries, which include Australia, Canada, Chile, Japan, Malaysia and Mexico. It is currently awaiting ratification from six of the nations. Abe has long vocalized a desire for Washington to rejoin the landmark deal following Trump's decision to withdraw in January 2017. But it's unclear whether the remaining TPP members will be open to re-negotiating a deal that was thrown into disarray following the U.S. exit. Japanese lawmakers are currently deliberating the TPP in parliament. In a press briefing on Tuesday, White House Chief Economic Advisor Larry Kudlow said "there are discussions and considerations" between American and Japanese trade officials on the TPP. When asked whether Washington would look into negotiating a different pact, Kudlow said that, if the country chose to "improve" the deal, "we will have to be convinced that it's worth our while." "I don't think the president is yet convinced of that, to be honest," he added. More From CNBC U.S. President Donald Trump speaks during a joint news conference with Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Trump's Mar-a-Lago estate in Palm Beach, Florida, U.S., April 18, 2018. REUTERS/Kevin Lamarque By Mike Stone WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The Trump administration rolled out a long-awaited overhaul of U.S. arms export policy on Thursday aimed at expanding sales to allies, saying it will bolster the American defense industry and create jobs at home. The White House aims to speed up arms deal approvals and increase the role of senior U.S. officials, including President Donald Trump, in closing foreign sales, while giving greater weight to business interests in sales decisions that have long prioritized human rights. The initiative, as first reported by Reuters, adds the full weight of government to Trump's direct personal role in pushing arms sales during interactions with foreign heads of state. Companies that stand to benefit from the new policy most include Boeing Co and the other top U.S. defense contractors, Lockheed Martin Corp , Raytheon Co , General Dynamics Corp and Northrop Grumman Corp . The plans have been in the works for a year, with White House trade adviser Peter Navarro playing a major role in driving the project forward. Navarro is best known for pushing the administration to take tough trade actions against China. Human rights will now carry equal weight alongside other considerations in planned arms sales including the needs of allied nations and the economic loss if the U.S. contractor does not win the sale when decisions are made on whether to approve an arms deal. "This is a balanced policy," said Ambassador Tina Kaidanow, an official with the State Department who oversees arms export agreements. "We absolutely look at human rights as one of a set of considerations that we look at." 'SHORT CIRCUIT' In a joint new conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe in Florida, Trump said late on Wednesday his administration was working to "short circuit" the cumbersome bureaucratic process at the State Department and the Pentagon to expedite arms sales to Japan and other allies. Story continues But giving economic and commercial concerns equal weight to human rights in the arms sales decision-making process raises concerns. "The new policy retains the legally binding language that prohibits weapons transfers when there is actual knowledge that they will be used to commit war crimes," Brittany Benowitz a former U.S. Senate staffer and lawyer who worked on human rights issues and arms transfers. "However, the policy did away with the more comprehensive assessment of risks when contemplating a weapons deal. A transaction can still occur to a human rights abuser so long as the U.S. has no specific knowledge that system will be used to commit atrocity crimes," Benowitz said. The new policy will go well beyond a relaxation of rules for foreign military sales under President Barack Obama in 2014 that enabled U.S. arms contractors to sell more overseas than ever before. The export policy explicitly states it aims to "strengthen the manufacturing and defense industrial base" and as a part of this "when a proposed transfer is in the national security interest, which includes our economic security, and in our foreign policy interest, the executive branch will advocate strongly on behalf of United States companies." Trump has pressed foreign governments to buy more U.S.-made weapons in nearly every call he has had with a head of state of major allies, a State Department official said this week. The planned revision of U.S. weapons export policy also includes a new drone export policy that allows lethal drones that can fire missiles and surveillance drones of all sizes to soon become more widely available to U.S. allies. Two potential beneficiaries of the rule changes, Textron Inc and Kratos Defense and Security Solutions Inc , currently market smaller armed drones internationally. The new approach represents a fundamental shift in the way the United States sells large armed drones, Rachel Stohl, director of the conventional arms program at the Stimson Center think tank in Washington, said. The full text of the drone policy will remain classified along a list of potential buyers being given fast-track treatment is expanding to include more countries, a State Department official told Reuters this week. Previously, U.S. government sources had said that more NATO members, Saudi Arabia and other Gulf partners as well as treaty allies such as Japan and South Korea would be given the favorable treatment regarding drone sales. The Aerospace Industries Association trade group said the policy was an important "first step" and more needed to be done because "increasing demand for American defense products has strained the system, resulting in an overburdened and fragmented process beset by avoidable delays." (Reporting by Mike Stone in Washington D.C.; Additional reporting by Matt Spetalnick; Editing by Chris Sanders and Alistair Bell) BancorpSouth (BXS) reported earnings 30 days ago. What's next for the stock? We take a look at earnings estimates for some clues. Oil prices have been on a tear this year. U.S. crude rose above $68 per barrel while Brent oil breached a $73 per barrel in recent trading. A host of factors led oil to a three-year high. WTI crude ETF United States Oil USO and Brent ETF United States Brent Oil BNO have added about 9% and 5.8% so far this year (as of Apr 18, 2018) (read: Is This the Time to Play Beaten-Down MLP ETFs?). A Drop in U.S. Oil Inventory In the United States, the Energy Information Administration (EIA) noted on Wednesday that commercial crude stocks dropped by 1.1 million barrels in the week to Apr 13, to 427.57 million barrels, which is almost in line with the the five-year average level of around 420 million barrels. The American Petroleum Institute (API) also reported a decline of 1.047 million barrels of United States crude oil inventories for the week ending April 13, matching analysts expectations. Analysts expected a draw in crude oil inventories of 1.429 million barrels. Surging U.S. crude production has long been oil investors cause for concern. This only threat was keeping the OPEC-led output cut deal from pushing up oil prices further. Needless to say, news of a fall in U.S. oil inventory will boost the commodity prices. Chances of Extension in Output Cut Deal There are chances of an extended output cut deal for the coming 10 or 20 years thanks to the initiative between OPEC member nations and Russia. As per sources, OPEC top brass and the biggest exporter Saudi Arabia wants oil to push to the level of $80 or even $100. This indicates Saudis likely intension in making no changes in the ongoing output cut deal that started in Jan 2017. Talks are rife that OPEC could keep capping oil production after the current deal expires in December. The deal has so far been a success by OPECs parameters. Oil stocks in developed economies in February were just 43 million barrels above the latest five-year average, down from 340 million barrels above in January 2017. Story continues Geopolitical Concerns Geopolitical risks in the Middle East, especially the strained relationship between Saudi and Iran, can act as a key driver. Following a chemical attack on Syria, Russia and Iran have been condemned internationally for supporting to the Syrian president. Oil price reached the highest level in three years on fears of an international strike on Syria. Though Syria is not a key oil producer, if military action takes place in the region, crude flows across the wider Middle East, which is one of the major oil producers and accounts for one-third of the total worlds oil, could be disrupted. Plus, the possibility of the United States posing new sanctions against Iran is also driving oil price higher (read: Oil Price Jumps on Syria Turmoil: ETFs & Stocks to Trade). Venezuela Crisis Venezuela, which has the world's largest proven oil reserves, has been registering a decline in crude production in recent years. IEA warned that Venezuelas situation is worse enough to send the oil market into deficit (read: 6 Reasons to Buy These Energy ETFs and Stocks Now). Leveraged Oil ETFs in Focus While there are several ETFs to play the rally in oil prices, we have highlighted threeleveraged products that can give investors inflated returns in an oil boom. Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil UCO Up 17.3% YTD ProShares Ultra Bloomberg Crude Oil looks to offer exposure to two times the daily performance of the Bloomberg WTI Crude Oil Subindex. The product charges 95 bps in fees (read: Energy ETFs Rally: Will the Gains Last?). UBS ETRACS - ProShares Daily 3x Long Crude ETN WTIU Up 24.5% YTD The product is an exchange-traded note linked to the daily compounded 3x leveraged performance of the Bloomberg WTI Crude Oil Subindex ER, less investor fees. Its expense ratio is 1.45%. United States 3x Oil Fund USOU Up 23.9% YTD The product seeks to reflect three times the daily price movements of West Texas Intermediate (WTI) light, sweet crude oil. Total expense ratio of the fund is 1.00%. Bottom Line The leveraged investing strategy is highly beneficial for short-term traders and it could lead to huge losses compared to traditional funds in volatile markets. So, its better to invest in a leveraged product as long as the trend is your friend. Want key ETF info delivered straight to your inbox? Zacks free Fund Newsletter will brief you on top news and analysis, as well as top-performing ETFs, each week. Get it free >> Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report US-OIL FUND LP (USO): ETF Research Reports PRO-ULT BB CRUD (UCO): ETF Research Reports E-TRC PRS D3XLC (WTIU): ETF Research Reports USCF-3X OIL (USOU): ETF Research Reports To read this article on Zacks.com click here. Zacks Investment Research Want the latest recommendations from Zacks Investment Research? Today, you can download 7 Best Stocks for the Next 30 Days. Click to get this free report A civil rights movement in Pakistan is demanding security, rights, and accountability for the suffering of the countrys ethnic Pashtun minority, whose members have endured large-scale violence, destruction, and displacement over more than 15 years of fighting. The Pashtun Tahafuz Movement (PTM) or Pashtun Protection Movement, however, has faced coercion, censorship, and allegations of promoting foreign agendas after demanding that Islamabad probe illegal killings and enforced disappearances and conduct demining and end harsh security measures curbing civilian life in their homeland. Former officials, scholars, and human rights campaigners say the movements demands are lawful. They argue that addressing them will help Pakistan achieve greater stability, harmony among its diverse population, greater democratization, and establishing the rule of law. Zohra Yousaf, a leading human rights campaigner, says the PTM emerged from the Federally Administered Tribal Areas (FATA). This mountainous region comprising districts bordering Afghanistan in the west became a war zone after remnants of Afghanistans Taliban regime and its militant allies in Al-Qaeda and the Islamic Movement of Uzbekistan retreated to the region following the demise of Afghanistans hard-line Taliban regime. While the military operations in that area established peace [after 15 years of unrest], this movement has emerged to highlight the grievances originating in that period, she told Radio Mashaal. Their demands are justified, and all are related to demanding basic rights. Yousaf says the emergence of the PTM is important because it is an indigenous rights movement that will impact and perhaps contribute to improving the lot of citizens across Pakistan, where ethnic and religious minorities often complain of discrimination. This movement needs to be taken seriously and should not be dismissed as an anti-state initiative, she said. They are peaceful and talking about the fundamental rights of all citizens even if it is couched in a political language. Pakistans current supreme law dedicates some 20 clauses to the protection of its citizens fundamental rights. These include protection from arbitrary killings, arrests, slavery, and ill-treatment. The supreme law also guarantees the freedom of speech, assembly, association, and faith. The citizens of FATA and some regions of neighboring Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Province, however, were deprived of these rights. FATAs status as an autonomous region kept it outside the constitution where few Pakistani laws were applied and courts had no jurisdiction. On April 18, Pakistani President Mamnoon Hussain signed a new law to extend the authority of the countrys Supreme Court and the provincial high court of adjoining Khyber Pakhtunkhwa over FATA. The PTM is campaigning for issues that emerged when the Pakistani military moved into FATA and Khyber Pakhtunkhwas northwestern Swat Valley, where the Pakistani Taliban had established near complete control by 2008. The military operations in these regions forced millions of Pashtuns to leave their home regions. But they faced harassment, and some were profiled as terrorist sympathizers because they came from regions where militants had established control. Those who remained there or returned years later faced landmines, curfews, and strict security protocols at check posts. The war affected Pakistans estimated 40 million Pashtuns who make up the second-largest ethnic group in the country. The suffering in Swat was severe. According to the New York Times, while using an alternative system of military counterterrorism courts along with an extensive network of covert jails, security and intelligence officers wield life-or-death power often instantly across FATA. Ghulam Qadir Daur, a former senior government official and author, says the military has responded to the protests by reducing restrictions and handing over administrative responsibilities to civilian authorities. Ultimately, civilian officials have to assume administrative responsibilities, he told Radio Mashaal. Daur says the issue of people who disappeared during the past few decades is a complicated one. He says such cases are not limited to FATA or Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but are spread across the country, where relatives of the victims often accuse the security forces of being responsible for holding their loved ones in indefinite detentions. It will definitely help the entire country if this issue is resolved by ending enforced disappearances and presenting it victims before the courts, he said. It doesnt make any sense for me that the military will be holding people for fun or to torment people. Since 2011, a government-appointed Commission of Inquiry on Enforced Disappearances has registered nearly 5,000 cases of enforced disappearances. Pakistani and international rights campaigners say the number of disappearances is vastly under-reported. The commission says it has resolved 3,219 cases while it is still working on more than 1,700. In addition, it is working on 368 new cases it received from the United Nations Working Group on Enforced or Involuntary Disappearances in recent years. Javed Iqbal, a former judge who heads the commission, told a parliamentary panel this week that former Pakistani military dictator General Pervaiz Musharraf handed over more than 4,000 Pakistanis to foreign countries. More than 70 percent of the missing individuals were involved in militancy, he said. Those we recovered were too scared to open up about their experiences. Daur, however, says the commission has failed to thoroughly investigate all the cases. If this issue is resolved, it will benefit everyone and will definitely augur well for the country, he said. Pakistans powerful military, however, has not liked the PTM campaigning. It has denied the movements accusation that its members or units are involved in grave abuses such as extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances. PTM campaign apparently prompted army chief Qamar Javed Bajwa to declare it engineered protests on April 12. Our enemies know they cannot beat us fair and square and have thus subjected us to a cruel, evil, and protracted hybrid war, he said on April 14. They are trying to weaken our resolve by weakening us from within. Given militarys opposition to PTM, military analyst and author Aysha Siddiqa is not sure about the movements potential impact on resolving the issues of enforced disappearances and extrajudicial killings. She says that after its successful campaigning in the northwestern Pashtun regions, all eyes are on whether it attracts a similar crowd in the eastern city of Lahore during its planned protest rally there on April 22. The city is the capital of Pakistans largest province Punjab along its eastern border with India. The regions 110 million people make up more than half of Pakistans 207 million population and its dominates the country key institutions including the army. It [PTM] has to broaden from being Pushtun only to for all communities to generate pressure on the military to start delivering, he said. Advancing AI with grand challenges, greater security In the history of driverless cars, the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agencys 2004 and 2005 Grand Challenges contributed to improving the tech to the point of viability. The government could play a similar role in the development of artificial intelligence, said Jack Clark, the director of Open AI, at an April 18 congressional hearing focusing on governments role in artificial intelligence. DARPAs 2016 Cyber Grand Challenge concentrated on autonomous systems and is a model other agencies can adopt, Clark said during a hearing of the House Oversight's Subcommittee on Information Technology Every single agency has problems it's going to encounter, and it has competitions that it can create to spur innovation, so its not one single moonshot, its a whole bunch of them," he told lawmakers during the hearing. "I think every part of government can contribute here. This is the third hearing this subcommittee has held on AI. The first two looked at the general state of AI technology and how government could potentially benefit from its use. Ranking Member Rep. Robin Kelly (D-Ill.) said securing the large amounts of data to AI needs is critical. With recent news about a political research firm gaining access to information on Facebook users and massive data breaches at companies like Equifax, what can be done to secure the data used to inform these AI systems? Kelly asked. If a company or government organization cannot protect the data, they should not collect the data, said Ben Buchanan, a postdoctoral fellow at Harvard Kennedy School's Belfer Center who focuses technology deployment and government. However, there are some technologies that could help ensure privacy while allowing for data needs of artificial intelligence, Buchanan said. One of these is a mathematical technique called differential privacy. Differential privacy is the notion that before we put [an individual's] data into a big database, we add a little bit of statistical noise to that data, and that obscures what data comes from which person," he said. "In fact, it obscures the records of any individual person. But it preserves the validity of the data in the aggregate." Another technology that could help increase user privacy is on-device processing, Buchanan said. If were going to have [users] interact with an AI system, it is better to bring the AI system to them rather than bring their information to some central repository, Buchanan said. So if an AI system is going to be on your cell phone, you can interact with the system on your own device rather than at a central server where the data is aggregated. Subcommittee Chairman Rep. Will Hurd (R-Texas) said a summary of the three hearings will be released in the coming weeks that will include the lessons learned and what steps the committee expects to take going forward. Salt Lake City, NYC land wireless testbed pilot The National Science Foundations Platforms for Advanced Wireless Research program named the first two cities that will serve as testbeds for new communication and networking technologies. PAWR is designed to "revolutionize the nations wireless ecosystem," according to NSF. It will allow researchers and industry to experiment with new wireless devices, communication techniques, networks and services that will be enabled by 5G and the internet of things. PAWR, along with a Wireless Industry Consortium representing 30 companies, has allocated $100 million in public/private funding to deploy and manage four city-scale research testbeds. Salt Lake City and New York City each offer unique testing environments, said Thyaga Nandagopal, deputy division director of the Division of Computing and Communication Foundations at NSF. A key advantage of Salt Lake City it its inland location, Thyaga said. With all the Defense Department installations along the coastal regions, "any experimental uses [of spectrum] within range of the coast has thus the potential to interfere with potential DOD uses of the spectrum. An inland location such as Salt Lake City that is far away from such installations has the ability to offer interference-free experimental testing capabilities in such bands." The Federal Communications Commission has been working with DOD and the National Telecommunications and Information Administration to investigate ways spectrum can be shared when not in use by DOD -- a tricky proposition because of the sensitive nature of much of the data that traverses military systems, Thyaga said. Salt Lake City is so much in the interior that there is no real issues with testing sensitive frequencies that the DOD may have objections to. It is a great place to do dynamic spectrum testing across a wide swath of spectrum bands, both in the commercial and federal spectrum bands, he said. Known as the Platform for Open Wireless Data-driven Experimental Research-Reconfigurable Ecosystem for Next-generation End-to-End Wireless, the Salt Lake City testbed is the worlds largest in terms of geographical coverage. It will cover 2.3 square miles of the University of Utah campus, 1.2 square miles of downtown and a two-mile corridor in between, potentially reaching 400,000 people. Another advantage that the Utah city offers is a partnership with Houston-based Rice University to develop a massive multiple-input, multiple-output (MIMO) technology. It allows for, in theory, almost infinite scaling of capacity, depending on the number of hardware elements, Thyaga said. Rice is a world leader in realizing fully programmable, measurable, large-scale, massive MIMO platforms. Right now, they have a 96-element array," Thyaga said. "They are now going to develop for this testbed a 256-element array, which is going to give us four times higher throughput or four times more users that they can support in a single cell. A key characteristic that pushed New York to the top of PAWRs list is its population and building density. The Cloud Enhanced Open Software-Defined Mobile Wireless Testbed for City-Scale Deployment platform will explore ultra-high bandwidth, low-latency wireless capabilities in a one-square-mile area of the citys West Harlem area, which encompasses commercial buildings, residences, schools and park space. One of the interesting things about New York is a dense, highly urban environment, so its great for looking at what carriers really look for in deployment, Thyaga said. When they talk about deploying small cells and whatnot, theyre worried about propagation and how those high-rises and urban terrain can actually create signal fades and challenges [to] ensuring good coverage. Whats more, the New York team has expertise in testing millimeter wave communication systems, which operate in frequencies above 25 GHz, he said. Last year, the United States became the first country to make vast quantities of this high-frequency millimeter wave spectrum available for licensed and unlicensed use. Researchers at New Yorks Columbia University have developed innovative millimeter wave hardware with funding from the Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency, and a group at New York University was the first to show it could run all-millimeter systems. A millimeter testbed will be part of the New York platform, Thyaga said. The open and programmable testbeds are open to all users; academic researchers can use them for free, while industry must pay for access. Users can test LTE, Wi-Fi or 5G networks, for example. PAWR will deploy the testbeds in stages, with initial availability expected in one year in both cities and full functionality by 2021. PAWR also issued a request for information for two more testbed cities. Comments are due May 31, and Thyaga said the next set of awards should be made in July 2019. We are looking for creative uses of the testbeds. Our goal is to enable the U.S. prosperity and leadership in this space, so we really encourage users to provide us feedback and use them, he said. Editor's note: This article was changed April 20 to correct the frequencies of the New York millimeter wave tests and to clarify that the platform is a testbed, not a pilot. Are you sure that application belongs in the cloud? While there is significant pressure for agencies to move systems to the cloud, rushing in without doing the proper homework is likely to produce problems, not savings. Mapping legacy applications before moving them into the cloud can be cumbersome, but that information is critical to projecting an accurate return on investment, Defense Information Systems Agency Cloud Portfolio Office Chief John Hale said. Agencies should also conduct app rationalization and inventory checks before deciding to move into the cloud, he added. When you start moving into the cloud, its not rocket science. It is about computers and storage, where infrastructure as a service in the easy part, Hale said at FCW's April 18 Cloud Summit. But all of the vendors offer their special sauce," he added, and while that "creates a lot of functionality, it also means the benefits can vary widely depending on the exact configuration. To help Department of Defense agencies decide which cloud platforms and services work best for them, the DOD CIOs office is developing a tool "where mission partners will be able to lay out their requirements, and they can find the best option based on their workloads, Hale said. It does a compare and contrast of the major vendors and helps mission partners figure what helps to meet their needs. The tool will be delivered to the DOD CIOs office by the end of April, Hale told GCN, but he said he is not sure when it will be made available to mission partners. At the Department of Veterans Affairs, meanwhile, Executive Director for Demand Management John Everett said his agency is already seeing a payoff from moving into the cloud. With Vets.gov, a one-stop shop where veterans can apply for services, VA saw an 85 percent reduction in cost compared to using a data center, Everett said, and the time to deploy code updates went from 90 days to one. Everett also echoed Hale's point about researching the best solution for a given mission. He pointed to Gartner research that found there are approximately 65,000 configuration combinations in the Microsoft Azure cloud and 1.75 million with Amazon Web Services. Not every application will see such gains in the cloud, however. At the Department of Health and Human Services, the decision to move legacy applications to the cloud is made on a case-by-case basis. We want to figure out better methods for acquisition in the cloud, HHS Deputy CTO Ed Simcox, said. We have a lot of COBOL and mainframe applications, and we need to look into refactoring, which we are doing for a couple of our high-value assets. Simcox said it could be possible that only 10 percent of applications would require a significant refactoring or code rewrite to move them to the cloud. For the others, he said, it makes sense to lift and shift to the cloud, rather than changing large portions of the app for the new environment. And while Department of Homeland Security Cloud Architect Richie Balkissoon warned that some workloads and applications can easily cost more in the cloud, he encouraged agencies to look for the cases where move makes sense. If it is easier to modernize and shift for straightforward applications, then those are the ones that we usually see cost avings, Balkissoon said. For some of our internal applications, we did do a lift and shift and we are saving hundreds of thousands of dollars you need to be careful about what applications that you chose to do a lift and shift on. And sometimes, Simcox said, it's the business process that should be updated to take advantage of cloud-native commercial services. We have been able to do reverse customizations and change business practices to match best practices especially around human resources so we can take advantage of the modernization efforts of our software vendors, Simcox said. We have a couple of solid successes where we are getting back to the realm of reasonableness, where we can configure rather than customizing. Elections officials explore security options Since elections were declared critical infrastructure nearly 17 months ago, state and local officials have been working to protect the integrity of the 2018 elections, but security holes in elections systems and voting equipment still exist. As part of the omnibus spending bill passed in March, Congress authorized $380 million in new Help America Vote Act funds to the states to help them secure elections systems in their counties and local jurisdictions. On April 17, the Elections Assistance Commission distributed the award packets to states along with instructions on how to apply for funding. States have 90 days to respond, and the funds must be used within five years. However, the new funding did not stop elections officials from asking for more support ahead of the 2018 elections at an April 18 EAC public forum. The voters' trust in the national elections process is driven by their experience with their local election office, Ricky Hatch, county clerk for Weber County, Utah, said. This is how it should be, but it does present a challenge because the very level of government that voters trust most to secure their elections is the level with the least resources to do that. Noah Praetz, director of elections in the Cook County Clerk office in Illinois, suggested that each election jurisdiction could dedicate some personnel to election security. One option would be for each state to create a group of digital defenders that visited election jurisdictions to beef up cybersecurity. Pennsylvania is already moving on securing its voting machines and processes. By the end of December 2019, all Pennsylvania counties must have voter-verifiable, paper-record voting systems in place, Pennsylvanias Acting Secretary of State Robert Torres said. Elections officials deploy a variety of network-connected digital services such as informational websites, poll books, voter registration systems and unofficial elections results displays that are all ripe targets for adversaries, Praetz said. If we fail to get experts into local offices to shore up our defenses, then we will regret it. A call for global action on cyberattacks The exploding growth of mobile and internet-of-things devices, coupled with the increasing sophistication of artificial intelligence, have combined to create unprecedented cybersecurity risk. Thats the conclusion of a just-released report by the Institute of Electrical and Electronics Engineers and Syntegrity, a Canadian consulting firm. The report calls for global cooperation by governments and the private sector on an array of technological, legal and policy countermeasures, including -- and this is likely to be very controversial -- strict regulation of artificial intelligence and machine-learning programs. The potential impact of an intrusion has increased substantially, the reports authors wrote. Globally connected devices and people mean that attacks affect not only the digital world as in the past but also the physical world through the Internet of Things (IoT) and the social world through ubiquitous social media platforms." To address the issue head on, "our entire community needs to respond and develop the technology, and data structures, and the legal, ethical, legislative, and corporate governance mechanisms needed to secure an environment that is increasingly under siege, they said. The mushrooming of connected devices, according to the report, will render human security personnel incapable of defending the entire system. As a result, the authors recommended using artificial intelligence and machine learning to combat malware that relies on those technologies. The authors cited as an example the software used by Volkswagen that could detect when a car was being tested for diesel emissions compliance and reconfigure its behavior. Whats most interesting about Artificial Intelligence and Machine Learning is its warning about the dangers of AI/ML even when being used for legitimate purposes. Creators and users of AI/ML should not be financially rewarded for shipping or implementing code prematurely without a thorough analysis and testing, the authors wrote. We should start preparing now for the AI/ML-caused disasters that will inevitably occur. The report also calls for requirements that security be embedded in the hardware of connected devices. Because IoT and mobile devices usually lack the computational power needed to run advanced security software, the authors wrote, security must be embedded within the hardware of the devices themselves. The devices must become the front line of defense, or they will be used to enable attacks. Col. Barry Shoop, a co-sponsor of the report and professor of electrical engineering at West Point, recommends a global clearinghouse on cyberthreats. He acknowledged that private-sector companies might have to be forced to participate in such effort. In the for-profit sector they are less willing and in some cases not willing at all to share data for the common good of everybody, he told BRI, a risk intelligence organization. Theyre not willing to share what has transpired, what the attacks against them were, what their defense was. Some experts, however, said that a rapid increase in cyberattacks and the resulting damage, may convince the private sector to voluntarily join in the effort. What weve seen over the last five years is increasingly larger, deeper, broader attacks, Brian David Johnson, futurist in residence at Arizona State University and a contributor to the report, told IEEE Spectrum. Not only is it raising this to the attention of people, its also becoming bad for business -- and bad for the business of government. NOT FOR RELEASE, PUBLICATION OR DISTRIBUTION, IN WHOLE OR IN PART, DIRECTLY OR INDIRECTLY, TO U.S. NEWS WIRE SERVICES, IN OR INTO THE UNITED STATES, AUSTRALIA, CANADA, JAPAN, HONG KONG, SINGAPORE OR ANY OTHER JURISDICTION IN WHICH THE DISTRIBUTION OR RELEASE WOULD BE UNLAWFUL. FURTHER RESTRICTIONS ARE APPLICABLE. PLEASE SEE THE IMPORTANT NOTICE AT THE END OF THIS RELEASE.Reference is made to the press release published by Electromagnetic Geoservices ASA ("EMGS" or the "Company") dated 16 April 2018, relating to the Comprehensive Refinancing.The Financial Supervisory Authority of Norway has approved a prospectus (the "Prospectus") covering (i) the Rights Issue, consisting of the issuance of up to 39,540,816 new shares at a subscription price of NOK 2.45 and with tradable subscription rights for existing shareholders of the Company, and the subsequent listing of the new shares; and (ii) the Bond Issue, consisting of the issuance of 325,000 convertible bonds, each having a par value of USD 100 and each being convertible into ordinary shares in the Company at a conversion price of USD 0.42677 per share.A link to the Prospectus can be found on the Company's homepage www.emgs.com.The Subscription Period commences on 20 April 2018 at 09:00 CET and expires on 4 May 2018 at 12:00 CET. The Rights Issue Subscription Rights will be listed and tradable on Oslo Brs under the ticker "EMGS S" from 20 April 2018 at 09:00 CET until 2 May 2018 at 16:30 CET.Information regarding the number of Rights Issue Subscription Rights that has been allocated to each Rights Issue will be made available through VPS investor services on 20 April 2018. One Rights Issue Subscription Right will, subject to applicable securities law, give the holder the right to subscribe for and be allocated one new share in the Company in the Rights Issue. Oversubscription is permitted.Acquired Rights Issue Subscription Rights will give the same right to subscribe for and be allocated new shares as Rights Issue Subscription Rights held by Rights Issue Eligible Shareholders on the basis of their registered holdings as of the Record Date.The Rights Issue Subscription Rights are expected to have an economical value. Please note that Rights Issue Subscription Rights that are not used to subscribe for new shares before the end of the Subscription Period or sold before 16:30 CET on 2 May 2018 will lapse without compensation and consequently be of no value. Holders of Rights Issue Subscription Rights (whether granted or acquired) should note that subscriptions for new shares must be made in accordance with the procedures set out in the Prospectus.For further information regarding the subscription procedure under the Rights Issue and the Bond Issue, please refer to the stock exchange notification published by EMGS on 16 April 2018 and the Prospectus sections 5 and 6.Hege Veiseth, CFO, +47 99 21 67 43EMGS, the marine EM market leader, uses its proprietary electromagnetic (EM) technology to support oil and gas companies in their search for offshore hydrocarbons. EMGS supports each stage in the workflow, from survey design and data acquisition to processing and interpretation. The Company's services enable the integration of EM data with seismic and other geophysical and geological information to give explorationists a clearer and more complete understanding of the subsurface. This improves exploration efficiency and reduces risks and the finding costs per barrel.EMGS operates on a worldwide basis with offices in Trondheim, Oslo, Houston, Villahermosa, Rio de Janeiro and Kuala Lumpur.For more information, visit www.emgs.com Aqua Bio Technology ASA (ABT) has signed an agreement with Al Hafez Trading Est. (Al Hafez), which gives Al Hafez exclusive rights to the distribution of ABT's exclusive skin care series Moana Skincare in Kuwait. The agreement applies to seven products, with the possibility of expanding to more products and markets. The agreement implies an exclusive right to market, distribute and sell the relevant products to consumers and professional users, as well as all retail outlets, skin care clinics etc., which Al Hafez, in collaboration with ABT, considers to be best suitable to present the products to consumers. Initially, the agreement applies for 2.5 years, with the right to extension if common expectations of the agreement are met. "Kuwait is an exciting market in an attractive region, and we are very pleased to have established a local and competent partner in Al Hafez. This agreement, and ongoing processes, shows that our skin care series Moana and Cuvget have high potential both in Europe and other parts of the world, "said Arvid Lindberg," CEO of Aqua Bio Technology ASA. "We are proud and enthusiastic about the new partnership with Aqua Bio Technology. This represent an exciting opportunity to bring a technology driven product in the dermo-cosmetic field to the Kuwaiti market to meet increasing demand of high quality innovative products. We hope this will represent the nucleus of a fruitful long-term partnership and further collaborations," said Mr. Habib Behbehani of Al Hafez Trading Est. About Aqua Bio Technology ASA Aqua Bio Technology (ABT) has launched several cosmetic ingredients being used in skin care products globally. Skin care is the fastest growing segment in the cosmetics industry, where ABTs ingredients have established a foothold. In addition to ingredients ABT also commercializes new technologies/skin care products through in-licensing agreements with third parties. Aqua Bio Technology is listed on Oslo Axess. About Al Hafez Trading Est. Al Hafez Trading Establishment is a family owned and operated pharmaceutical distribution organization founded in 1973 in Kuwait with a diverse portfolio. We enjoy excellent distribution channels and a sound reputation. We operate from a built to purpose facility of offices and a warehouse at which quality standards of ISO 9001:2008 and Good Distribution Practice (GDP) are maintained.Al Hafez represents a number of carefully selected reputable multinational and regional principals. We seek to strengthen our profile to meet expectations and demand of healthcare industry in Kuwait by establishing a long-term partnership with reliable partners. Our vision is to maintain our position as one of the leading distribution in its category in Kuwait. For further information, please contact CEO of Aqua Bio Technology, Arvid Lindberg, tel. +47 982 45 410. Almere, The Netherland April 19, 2018 ASM International N.V. (Euronext Amsterdam: ASM) today reports its first quarter 2018 operating results (unaudited) in accordance with IFRS. FINANCIAL HIGHLIGHTS EUR million Q1 2017 (restated) Q4 2017 (restated) Q1 2018 New orders 204.2 203.2 206.5 Net sales 156.8 181.5 159.0 Gross profit margin % 43.0 % 39.6 % 37.8 % Operating result 19.4 26.0 11.8 Result from investments (excluding amortization intangible assets resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013) 35.4 14.0 16.3 Amortization intangible assets (resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013) (5.8 ) (4.6 ) (3.8 ) Result from sale of ASMPT shares - 183.9 - Net earnings 40.4 215.9 15.0 Normalized net earnings (excluding amortization intangible assets resulting from the sale of ASMPT stake in 2013 and result from sale of ASMPT shares) 46.2 36.6 18.8 Prior quarter results were restated for the effects of IFRS 15. Please refer to Annex 2 for details. New orders at 206 million were at the highest level ever and 2% above the Q4 2017 level and 1% above the level of Q1 2017. Net sales for the first quarter 2018 were 159 million, a decrease of 12% compared to the restated previous quarter. Gross profit margin was 37.8% in Q1 2018. The margin was beside the effects of new product introductions impacted by sales mix and preparation for anticipated higher activity levels. Operating result decreased to 12 million compared to the previous quarter. The decrease is mainly the result of the lower sales level. Normalized net earnings for the first quarter 2018 decreased by 18 million compared to the fourth quarter 2017. COMMENT Commenting on the results, Chuck del Prado, President and Chief Executive Officer of ASM International said: "In Q1 we realized sales of 159 million and an order intake of 206 million. Our sales were at the lower end of our guidance while order intake was at the higher end of our guidance. The gross margin in Q1 at 38% was impacted by an unfavorable product mix and costs related to our preparation for further growth. We estimate our gross margin in Q2 to show a substantial improvement bringing it back again in the range of low to mid 40's." OUTLOOK For Q2, on a currency comparable level, we expect sales of 200-230 million, and we expect an order intake of 160-200 million. The broad ranges for Q2 reflect some uncertainty around the exact timing of individual tools. For 2018, market watchers currently expect the wafer fab equipment market to increase with, on average, a high single digit percentage. We aim to outgrow the wafer fab equipment market in 2018. SHARE BUYBACK PROGRAM AND ANNUAL GENERAL MEETING OF SHAREHOLDERS On April 24, 2017, ASMI announced a partial sale of a stake of approximately 5% in ASMPT, whereby ASMI indicated to use the proceeds of approximately 245 million for a new share buyback program. The start of this new program for a total amount of 250 million was announced on September 22, 2017. The program was completed on March 29, 2018. In total, 4,353,292 shares at an average price of 57.43, including expenses, were repurchased. On November 2, 2017, ASMI announced a partial sale of a stake of approximately 9% in ASMPT, whereby ASMI received proceeds of approximately 445 million. As announced on February 28, 2018, ASMI intends to distribute the proceeds through a new 250 million share buyback program and a capital return. ASMI remains committed to use excess cash for the benefit of its shareholders. On April 16, 2018, ASMI published the agenda for the 2018 Annual General Meeting of Shareholders (AGM), to be held on May 28, 2018, which includes the following financial matters: proposal to declare a dividend of 0.80 per common share; proposal to distribute 4.00 per common share; and proposal to cancel 6 million treasury shares. Please refer to the AGM documents available on our website for more detailed information. About ASM International ASM International NV, headquartered in Almere, the Netherlands, its subsidiaries and participations design and manufacture equipment and materials used to produce semiconductor devices. ASM International, its subsidiaries and participations provide production solutions for wafer processing (Front-end segment) as well as for assembly & packaging and surface mount technology (Back-end segment) through facilities in the United States, Europe, Japan and Asia. ASM International's common stock trades on the Euronext Amsterdam Stock Exchange (symbol ASM). For more information, visit ASMI's website at www.asm.com . Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements: All matters discussed in this press release, except for any historical data, are forward-looking statements. Forward-looking statements involve risks and uncertainties that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements. These include, but are not limited to, economic conditions and trends in the semiconductor industry generally and the timing of the industry cycles specifically, currency fluctuations, corporate transactions, financing and liquidity matters, the success of restructurings, the timing of significant orders, market acceptance of new products, competitive factors, litigation involving intellectual property, shareholders or other issues, commercial and economic disruption due to natural disasters, terrorist activity, armed conflict or political instability, epidemics and other risks indicated in the Company's reports and financial statements. The Company assumes no obligation nor intends to update or revise any forward-looking statements to reflect future developments or circumstances. This press release contains inside information within the meaning of Article 7(1) of the EU Market Abuse Regulation. ASM International will host an investor conference call and web cast on Friday, April 20, 2018 at 17:00 Continental European Time (11:00 a.m. - US Eastern Time). The teleconference dial-in numbers are as follows: United States: +1 929 477 0448 International: +44 (0)330 336 9105 The Netherlands: +31 (0)20 721 9251 Access Code: 9278937 A simultaneous audio webcast and replay will be accessible at www.asm.com . CONTACT Investor contact: Victor Bareno T: +31 88 100 8500 E: victor.bareno@asm.com Media contact: Ian Bickerton T: +31 625 018 512 Bezzerk wrote: GMATNinja Could you please help me break down and understand the premise in this question? Quote: Defense Department analysts worry that the ability of the United States to wage a prolonged war would be seriously endangered if the machine-tool manufacturing base shrinks further. Before the Defense Department publicly connected this security issue with the import quota issue, however, the machine-tool industry raised the national security issue in its petition for import quotas. in the past 1. the industry shrank 2. the Defense Department became worried 3. the Defense Department raised the import quota issue before the industry raised the national security issue (presumably the shrinking of the industry) the industry petitioned for import quotas why Quote: (A) When the aircraft industries retooled, they provided a large amount of work for tool builders. specifically Quote: (B) The Defense Department is only marginally concerned with the effects of foreign competition on the machine-tool industry. job Quote: (C) The machine-tool industry encountered difficulty in obtaining governmental protection against imports on grounds other than defense. Quote: (D) A few weapons important for defense consist of parts that do not require extensive machining. Quote: (E) Several federal government programs have been designed which will enable domestic machine-tool manufacturing firms to compete successfully with foreign toolmakers. I'm not sure if this is why you're struggling with this question, but the chronology in the passage is a little bit funky. So let's start by breaking down the chronology.In the first sentence we know that the Defense Department is worried because the machine-tool manufacturing base (that's a mouthful -- we'll call it the "industry" from here on out) has shrunk. The beginning of the second sentence implies that the Defense Department has brought up the import quota issue because of the stuff in the first sentence. This gives us the following chronology so far:So far, so good. The second half of the second sentence tells us that the industry did two thingsthe Defense Department raised the import quota issue (#3 above):Now that we have that timeline clear, hopefully it'll be easier to answer the question ofthe industry raised the national security issue!So, which answer choice contributes most to an explanation of the machine-tool industry raising this issue?Making sure that there are lots of jobs for tool builders is great, but does it help us understand why the industry raised the national security issue? Not really. This answer choice helps us understand why the industry might be seeking help from the government, but it doesn't help us understand why the industryraised the national security issue. So we can eliminate answer choice (A).If the Defense Department isn't particularly concerned with the effects of foreign competition on the industry, it would be odd for the industry to be particularly concerned with the national security effects. After all, it is itof the Defense Department to be concerned with national security issues. So this doesn't help explain why the industry is raising the issue. We can eliminate answer choice (B).The industry is petitioning for an import quota. It isn't hard to imagine why: if there's an import quota then there are fewer foreigner competitors that the industry has to compete with at home. Answer choice (C) implies that they unsuccessfully tried to petition for import quotas in the past on the basis of some other argument than national security. The argument itself implies the government became more interested in the national security issue once the industry raised the issue - the Defense Department started paying attention! So answer choice (C) does a pretty good job of explaining why the industry raised the national security issue: other attempts to get governmental protection had failed! We'll leave answer choice (C) in.Answer choice (D) would downplay the industry's national security argument. If there are weapons that don't require machining, then it isn't as big of a deal if the domestic industry continues to shrink. So this doesn't help explain why the industry raised the national security issue and we can eliminate answer choice (D).If there are several programs that have been designed to help the industry, then this downplays the need for the industry's national security argument since they're already being helped by the government. So we can eliminate answer choice (E).That leaves us with answer choice (C) as the only answer that helps explain why the industry raised the national security issue.I hope that helps!_________________ Re: IE vs HEC Paris [ #permalink Hi, I am from Madrid, Spain and I believe I can talk about IE since many friends have done it. Cant talk about HEC though. Just to clarify, the IE MBA you have been accepted at is the international - 1 year program? If that is right I can tell you that you are going to have the time of your life (party and trips are insane) and you will meet people from everywhere in the world, especially from south america (a ton of rich people from south america do this program). You can also learn a lot from the porgram depending on how hard you party (it is a balance). Check concentrations you are interested in, enterpreneourship is top concentration at IE, but if you are planning any career in finance then IE is not the school (IESE would be a better fit for finance but I do not recommend IESE now due to political conflicts in Catalunya - strikes all day, police, etc.-). Regarding employment in Spain, I want to be honest with you.It is very tough. Spain has gone through a huge economic crisis and unemployment in 2014-2015 was above 25%. Now is around 20%. Some companies are considering whether hiring MBA students is worth it or not, salaries are a joke compare to the US, and we do not have the inmigration experience/tradition that has the US, so visa sponsoring is something unknown here. My girlfriend is from the US, we have been living here together for 3 years and finding a job here has been extremely hard for her. Just a word of advice. Hope it helps. If you want to contact me feel free to shoot me a PM! " " A selection of hearing aids are displayed. Surprisingly, hearing aids are not usually covered by insurance. BSIP/UIG/Getty Images Trying to understand health insurance coverage in the United States is like trying to untangle a ball of Christmas lights while blindfolded. But it's important! If you're lucky to be among the 87.8 percent of Americans who had health insurance in 2017, then it's imperative to understand what types of health care costs are covered under your plan and what you will end up paying out of pocket. If not, one unfortunate accident or emergency medical procedure could bankrupt you financially. Even if you think that you have a firm grasp on your health insurance fine print, these loopholes in health care coverage may surprise you. Advertisement 1. Hearing Aids Hearing loss is the most widespread disabling condition in the U.S., with 48 million Americans suffering some degree of hearing loss, including one out of every three people by age 65. Yet Medicare, the federal safety net program that's supposed to insure older Americans does not typically cover hearing aids. And neither do most employer and private insurance plans for working Americans, which only cover hearing exams, but not hearing aids. That's because hearing aids are considered to be elective. Only four states Arkansas, Connecticut, New Hampshire and Rhode Island require private insurance plans to cover hearing aids for both adults and children. Another 18 states have regulations requiring that insurance policies at least pay for kids' hearing aids, with only Wisconsin covering cochlear implants. Advertisement 2. Long-term Nursing Home Care This is another irony of the American health care system, that neither Medicare nor private insurance policies will help pay for nursing homes. Insurance and Medicare might cover short-term stays in skilled nursing facilities for rehabilitation purposes, but it won't pay for the type of long-term "custodial" care dressing, bathing, feeding most of us associate with nursing homes. For that, you need separate long-term care insurance, which is very expensive. Medicaid is the only program that will pay for a portion of long-term nursing home care, explains Karen Pollitz, a senior fellow with the Program for the Study of Health Reform and Private Insurance at the Kaiser Family Foundation. But Medicaid, which is designed to help the poorest Americans, requires that you exhaust your savings first. "You have to spend yourself into poverty Medicaid levels and then the bills will get paid at that point," says Pollitz. Advertisement 3. Experimental Therapies The U.S. is blessed with some of the most innovative and well-funded medical researchers in the world who are constantly developing novel therapies for diseases from cancer to dementia. But unless you're lucky enough to get selected for a clinical trial and even luckier not to end up in the placebo group you will likely have to pay for your own non-FDA approved therapies. In rare cases you and your doctor can petition your insurance provider to cover an experimental therapy if it's cheaper than the conventional treatment and may result in overall lower costs for the insurance company in the long run. Advertisement 4. Out-of-network Doctors at In-network Hospitals Pollitz from the Kaiser Family Foundation says that one of the most common situations that result in unpaid medical bills is when the hospital or outpatient medical clinic is "in network," but one of the doctors isn't. Most insurance policies have a cap for how much you pay out of pocket each year with in-network preferred providers, but some of those same policies cover zero percent of out-of-network costs. So you could have a surgery at an in-network hospital, but the anesthesiologist or the pathologist who runs tests on your tissue may not actually work for the hospital, just in the hospital. If that person is out of your coverage network, your insurance may deny that portion of the claim and charge you the full price of the procedure. "Unless you're awake enough to ask doctor before they step in the room, 'Wait a minute! What plans to you participate in?' There's a good chance that you could end up with at least one surprise medical bill," says Pollitz. Advertisement 5. Infertility Treatments (IVF) Just 15 states have laws requiring infertility treatment be included in health insurance, and some of those states specifically exclude in vitro fertilization (IVF) from required coverage. IVF occurs when eggs from the mother are fertilized by sperm in a lab, and then implanted in her uterus. The procedure is expensive ($12,000-$15,000 a round), and the successful pregnancy rate after just one round is 29 percent. Infertility testing is usually covered by insurance, as the cost of that is much lower. Advertisement 6. LASIK Like liposuction (another procedure not usually covered by insurance), LASIK is considered to be elective or cosmetic. LASIK is a laser eye surgery to correct nearsightedness, farsightedness and astigmatism. Since cheaper alternatives to correct vision problems, like glasses or contact lenses exist, that's what's covered, assuming you have vision insurance, which is usually an add-on coverage to health insurance. However, most insurance companies have negotiated discounted rates with LASIK providers. And if you can prove that LASIK is necessary for your job performance (for instance, for military service) you might be able to get your insurance company to pay for it. Now That's Interesting Every insurance company maintains its own "formulary" or list of drugs that it covers and at what level or "tier." Higher-tier drugs may technically be covered, but require much higher co-pays at the pharmacy. Insurance companies may often drop name-brand meds from their formularies if they believe that a generic option is just as good or strike up a deal with a competing medication. If your insurance company cuts your favorite prescription, you can either pay out of pocket or ask your physician to petition for an exemption. Was there a total failure when the French navy tried to launch cruise missiles to strike targets in Syria in response to alleged use of chemical weapons there? A Syrian news website by the name of Muraselon claims there was but the headline is highly misleading and the article itself seems to suffer from a bad understanding of French news articles. The story was published on April 18, 2018 under the headline "French naval scandal: Total failure in launching French naval missiles to strike Syria - Muraselon" (archived here) which opened: French newspaper revealed a scandal that the French navy failed to launch missiles in the night of the "Tripartite Aggression" on Syria. According to l'Opinion newspaper, a French military source has confirmed that the French navy faced a major failure in launching of many "Scalp naval" missiles from the group of missiles "16" in the frigate "Freem", which was on its way to hit targets in Syria. The source added that a number of rockets supposed to be fired at Syria. "often, there was an intention to fire 16 rockets," the source said, adding that only three were fired from the entire French fleet. The source said that the French Navy and the maritime industry groups had not provided any explanations so far about the incident. Users who only saw the summary of the story on social media could have gotten the impression the French navy did not launch any missiles at all: French naval scandal: Total failure in launching French naval missiles to strike Syria - Muraselon French newspaper revealed a scandal that the French navy failed to launch missiles in the night of the "Tripartite Aggression" on Syria. French naval scandal: Total failure to launch French naval missiles to strike Syria The original source article the story is based on just states there were technical glitches with the launch of some missiles: La Marine a rencontre des " aleas technique " lors du tir des missiles de croisiere (actualise) A la suite de l'article de La Lettre A sur les problemes rencontres par la Marine nationale lors des frappes contre la Syrie, une source navale reconnait que " certains missiles ne sont pas partis " a la suite d'" aleas techniques ". The Syrian article also incorrectly identifies the French ship as the frigate "Freem" while in reality there were three frigates present of the type "FREMM" (which stands for "Fregate Multimissions", or multi-mission frigate). The article goes on to talk about "Scalp Naval" missiles misfiring while this is the name of the air launched variety of the actual "Missiles de Croisiere Naval (MdCN)" ship launched cruise missiles that were actually being talked about in French sources. There appears to be actual video of the launch of the missiles according to website Navy Recognition: Video: First Operational Use of MdCN Naval Cruise Missile by French Navy FREMM Frigates The French Navy (Marine Nationale) conducted the first ever operational strike involving the new MdCN (Missile de Croisiere Naval) naval cruise missile last night. The cruise missiles were launch against a chemical weapons production site of the Syrian regime in coordination with the United States and the United Kingdom. There were media reports that an inital salvo of missiles failed to launch but that a second salvo was fired by a backup ship that was present for such contingencies: France turns to plan B when missile launch fails during Syria airstrikes PARIS - When a French multimission frigate failed to fire its salvo of three naval cruise missiles during last weekend's joint airstrike on Syria, the military drew on a backup plan. The frigates sister ship, the Languedoc, instead launched its naval cruise missiles at the three Syrian targets. Having an issue and then resorting to a backup plan that worked out as expected does not count as a total failure in our book, it rather speaks of effective planning and organisation. Was 28-year-old Jason Barclay sexually assaulted by a yeti in Kathmandu, Nepal? Nope, the story of the yeti rape was fake news invented by a satirical website with a reputation for making up stories about things that did not really happen. This oneoriginated from an article published on April 19, 2018 by World News Daily Report titled "Nepal: Climber survives brutal sexual assault by Yeti-like creature" (archived here) which opened: Kathmandu | A tourist expedition in the Himalayas turned to nightmare after an American tourist and two local guides were savagely attacked by a creature resembling a "hairy" and "giant" humanoid reports the Kathmandu Herald. Jason Barclay, 28, was on a solo adventure across the Himalayas with his two local sherpas when he was attacked during the night by what he believed was a bear. The creature lashed through his tent and started to shove the half-asleep man around, who managed to stay still despite his fear. "I thought I was going to die, so I played dead," he told the Kathmandu Herald. Users on social media who only saw this title, description and thumbnail might have confused the story for a real news article: Nepal: Climber survives brutal sexual assault by Yeti-like creature Kathmandu | A tourist expedition in the Himalayas turned to nightmare after an American tourist and two local guides were savagely attacked by a creature resembling a "hairy" and "giant" humanoid reports the Kathmandu Herald. Jason Barclay, 28, was on a solo adventure across the Himalayas with his But the picture that went with the story is actually alpinist Matt Helliker: Matt Helliker Alpinist - Interview Matt, we hear you are back in the UK for two weeks, can you tell us where you are and what you're up to? I've been back in the UK to rock climb and to also do a series of lectures and to show my last film that I featured in "Citadel" Do you come back to the UK often or is the draw of the European mountains too much to resist? The website World News Daily Report is a well known satire website specialized in posting hoaxes and made up stories. The disclaimer on their website is pretty clear about that even though you have to scroll all the way down the page to find it: World News Daily Report assumes all responsibility for the satirical nature of its articles and for the fictional nature of their content. All characters appearing in the articles in this website - even those based on real people - are entirely fictional and any resemblance between them and any person, living, dead or undead, is purely a miracle. It is run by Janick Murray-Hall and Olivier Legault, who also run the satirical Journal de Mourreal, a satirical site spoofing the (real) Journal de Monteal. Very often their stories feature an image showing a random crazy mugshot found in a mugshot gallery on the internet or on a stock photo website superimposed over a background of flashing police lights or crime scene tape. Articles from the site are frequently copied (sometimes even months or years later) by varous fake news websites that omit the satire disclaimer and present the information as real. We wrote about worldnewsdailyreport.com before, here are our most recent articles that mention the site: As of August 26th, 2021 Yahoo India will no longer be publishing content. Your Yahoo Account Mail and Search experiences will not be affected in any way and will operate as usual. We thank you for your support and readership. For more information on Yahoo India, please visit the FAQ Conditions for those workers worsened after the privatization of the company in 2015. They say, Since the transfer of ownership to the present owners, the companys debts have increased, with the employer only thinking of reducing the permanent work force. They claim that they have become poorer while the managers of the company have become richer. Trade unionist Jafar Azimzadeh, leading member of the Free Union of Workers in Iran, described workers conditions as slavery. Because workers do not receive wages for months, The families of some workers have to buy bread on credit, because of unpaid salaries and if this situation continues, even bakeries will refuse to sell bread to the workers on credit, he said. Pressure like this has even caused some workers to have committed suicide. The latest instance is Ali Naghdi, whose body was found floating in a canal on February 27th. It is believed that Naghdi committed suicide after accruing large debts when the company refused to pay his salary. In the past few years, Haft Tappeh workers have had to fight for their wages, pensions, and benefits. They have gone on strike in recent months to protest unfulfilled promises made by their employer. In response, Iranian officials have arrested, detained, and imprisoned the leaders and members of Haft Tappeh Workers Syndicate. In fact, it is reported that at least 100 workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company have been summoned or detained for speaking out and demanding their rights. For instance, on Sunday, February 4th, The Syndicate of Workers of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company in Ahwaz announced that at least 34 of their striking workers were arrested. Reports indicate that the detainees were transferred to the Haft Tappeh Police Station, but there is is no information regarding the charges brought against them. There is also an instance on Tuesday, March 6th, when a number of workers were summoned to the Shush Intelligence Department by telephone. As well, labor activists and members of Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company Union were summoned by the 3rd Branch of the Shush Court. Additionally, on March 28th, in Ahwaz, summonses were issued for about 20 Haft Tappeh Sugarcane Company workers following a gathering outside of the governorate. The summonses demanded that the workers report to the Shush Prosecutors Office on the morning of Saturday March 31st. Allegedly, workers who went to the Office that day were told that it was closed for the holidays. Reportedly, that afternoon, security forces went to the Sugarcane Company with arrest warrants for the workers who were there, and then went to the homes of other workers to detain them. Achievement Gap Legislation Introduced: Advocates Welcome Support Legislators and education advocates came together at a press conference Wednesday April 11, to show support for a bill that they believe will help fix how education is funded for one of the lowest performing subgroups. Advocates say there was a flaw in the five-year-old law that overhauled how education funding is appropriated to school districts through the Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF). Assembly Bill 2635, authored by Assemblywomen Shirley Weber, would target $350 million towards struggling school districts. Many of these districts educate Californias black student population which has historically failed to meet grade-level proficiency in math and reading and perform right above special education students. According to a press statement, AB 2635 drives equitable funding for Californias lowest-performing subgroup to students not currently receiving funding under LCFF. Additionally, this bill demands greater accountability from both school district and charter school recipients of these supplemental funds over the education outcomes of the lowest performing subgroup. ADVERTISEMENT We cannot look the other way anymore. African-American kids in California persistently fall behind academically, said Weber. And this problem is not limited to low-income students either. Parents have been patiently waiting for something to change, but it has not. Providing additional resources for the lowest-performing students is now no longer an option, but a necessity. Data provided by the California Charter Schools Association (CCSA) and presented to the California Legislative Black Caucus shows the majority of African-American students performed well below state standards. Legislation signed by Gov. Jerry Brown in 2013 allows school districts to direct increased funding to failing students in four categories. About 260,000 (76 percent) receive a supplement under LCFF because they are low income, foster children or homeless, or English learners, according to the California Department of Education web site. Under AB 2635, districts could see possible increases: Los Angeles Unified would receive $50 million, Oakland Unified $12.6 million, Long Beach Unified $10.6 million, Pasadena Unified $7 million, San Francisco Unified $6.2 million, Sacramento City Unified $5.3 million, and Inglewood Unified $4.8 million, according to the press release. Our students are the most likely to be disciplined and suspended than any other student as shown in various studies linking to implicit biases and damaging stereotypes, said Sen. Steve Bradford, vice chair of the Legislative Black Caucus, because of this, and their lack of access to the adequate school resources, the future for our next generation looks grim, unless we take meaningful action. We cannot allow African American students to be left behind any longer. Students marched in front of CTA to support AB 2635 Young people have joined the fight to improve the education system. Students recently took to the front of the California Teachers Association in Sacramento chanting schools not prisons, support AB 2635 and dont watch us fail. ADVERTISEMENT Were here telling them (CTA) to be in support of AB 2635, and dont watch us fail said Nailah Dubose, a ninth-grade student at Fortune High School. CTA sent a letter to Weber, the author of AB 2635, expressing their shared goal for the bill, but highlighting concerns and marked it as a bill CTA will watch. In the letter CTA wrote: We share the goals of this legislationto provide additional resources to school districts to help close the achievement gap for our lowest performing students. However, we are concerned that as currently drafted, AB 2635 will not meaningfully increase resources to serve our lowest performing students and may have unintended consequences. However, speaking at a press conference Margret Fortune, president and CEO of Fortune School, called for unity among the education community. She noted that the California Charter Schools Association is often on opposite sides of policy debates and acknowledged California School Board Associations support for this legislation. Fortune invited all of the education coalition community to join in supporting students that were left out of the LCFF funding. The students in the most need are the ones that equity demands that we give support. Isnt that the reason the Local Control Formula Funding was created in the first place? Asked Fortune. AB 2635 passed out of the Assembly Education committee and now heads to assembly appropriation. Link to full press conference: https://youtu.be/kqEXcLl0YnM Student protest CTA video link: https://youtu.be/pilABT3yEkA Alvin Ailey Dance Theater Returns to SoCal 60 Years Later Ailey American Dance Theater (AAADT) returns to Southern California on Friday, April 19-22 at the Segerstrom Center for the Arts Segerstrom Hall. The company presents a variety of socially timely works from choreography legends Twyla Tharp, Talley Beatty, and Billy Wilson, along with newly featured choreographers Jamar Roberts and Gustavo Ramirez Sansano. Performances will include the timeless early work of Alvin Aileys Revelations to the current vision of Artistic Director Robert Battle in Works/In, Ella and Mass. Also known as Ailey, the organization is a premier modern dance company located in New York City and is comprised predominately of Black dancers but through the years focuses more on multiculturalism. AAADT is known to be the most touring company, having performed all over the world to approximately 23 million people in 48 states, as well as 71 countries on six continents. Along with their touring company is an award-winning and internationally renowned school (The Ailey School), serving an age range from toddlers to seniors, including the heralded Ailey / Fordham BFA Program. In 2008, the U.S. Congress created a resolution naming Alvin Ailey American Dance Theater a vital American Cultural Ambassador to the world for their preservation and enrichment of the American modern dance heritage. According to his bio, Ailey is credited with popularizing Black modern dance and revolutionizing the African-American participation in 20th century concert dance. Few may know that at age 11, Alvin migrated to Los Angeles with his mother from a racially segregated Texas that enforced Jim Crow laws. He attended Jefferson High School and began his dance career in Hollywood, CA, when dance legend Carmen de Lavallade convinced him to take class with choreographer / dancer Lester Horton. Horton taught a wide range of dance styles and techniques, including classical ballet, jazz, and Native American dance. Ailey never looked back. He and de Lavallade would form the de LavalladeAiley American Dance Company but they eventually chose different paths and the company became the Alvin American American Dance Theater in 1958. Ailey would use the Southern experiences in racial disharmony, prejudice, hangings, and other violence acts against African Americans to inspire and create works such as Revelations Cry, and Blues Suites, from what Ailey called blood memories of his childhood in rural Texas and the Baptist Church. Ailey shared these rich cultural experiences through this movement with Black audiences and people who identified with the powerful and moving messages. A real treat this weekend is the opportunity to witness Alvin Aileys classical piece, Revelations; the music and movement is as mystical and emotional today as it was when he created it in 1960. The suites running time is 36 minutes and tells the story of Alvin Aileys South and the hope of a people. The program also showcases renowned choreographers in Tony Award winning Twyla Tharps The Golden Section, Talley Beattys Stack-UP, and Billy Wilsons The Winter in Lisbon. Newly featured choreographers works include Jamar Roberts Members Wont Get Weary and Gustavo Ramirez Sansanos Victoria. Battle includes works, In\Side and Ella both pay tribute to music icons Nina Simone and Ella Fitzgerald. Masazumi Chaya is the associate artistic director. Some To see an Alvin Ailey performance is to witness the evolution of Black concert dance. African American communities across U.S. find in Alvin Ailey American Dance Theatre, an opportunity to explore the fine arts told, for the most part, from a Black and multicultural perspective. While the dancers look forward, they never stop looking back at the history, movement, and mission of its founder. Battles work features a cast of dynamic dancers who are acrobatic, technical experts, with world class athleticism, and bestowed with abundant talent. Shows are Friday, April 19, through Sunday, April 22. Tickets prices start at $29.00. For more information, visit https://www.scfta.org/ This story has been updated with new Information and photos. ADVERTISEMENT Black Women Speak Out Against the Tobacco Industry Targeting Women As National Minority Health Month continues, we highlight a health topic that is impacting women at alarming rates, lung cancer. According to the Center for Disease Control, the top three most common cancers among women are breast cancer, lung cancer, and colorectal cancer. However, lung cancer is the leading cause of cancer deaths among White, Black, Asian/ Pacific Islander, and American Indian/ Alaska Native women at 34.7 percent. Each year, more people die of lung cancer than of colon, breast, and prostate cancer combined. In fact, the American Cancer Society estimated about 154,050 deaths from lung cancer with 83,550 in men and 70,500 in women in the United States for 2018. ADVERTISEMENT To bring attention to the matter, the Los Angeles Sentinel spoke with co-chair of the African American Tobacco Control Leadership Council (AATCLC), Carol McGruder on the harm of menthol cigarettes and what the council is doing to help. The AATCLC has been at the forefront of tobacco control for ten years, standing on its mission and purpose to educate the African American community about the effects of tobacco. Overtime, the organization has been able to partner with community stakeholders and public health agencies to inform and affect the direction of tobacco policy and practices. AATCLC has also played a vital role in the passing of Prop 56, Californias 2016 tobacco tax. Additionally, AATCLC has worked tirelessly on the national movement to restrict the sale of mentholated tobacco products. As a result of the organizations efforts, an ordinance was put in place in the city of San Francisco prohibiting the sale of menthol and all flavored tobacco products. With all the work AATCLC has accomplished over the years, the organization understands that the fight for tobacco control is not over. How are women being targeted by the tobacco industry? McGruder says its in the advertisements. When you look back historically at the targeting of women, the ad campaign that really comes to mind is Virginia Slims, youve come a long way baby. They were able to successfully link that campaign to the Womens Liberation Movement. So many women started smoking because of youve come a long way baby, that in 1987, lung cancer surpassed breast cancer in terms of killing women, she said. With lung cancer, 60,000 women die as compared to 40,000 with breast cancer, with breast cancer being more survivable. But when a women gets lung cancer, there arent any marches or rallies, or pink ribbons. Shes on her own. She goes on to say the latest advertisement that is targeting women is Camel number nine, a cigarette that came out in 2007. When they have these campaigns, they get people hooked, then they are in. The campaign could last five years but the tobacco industry targeted campaigns for women continue to reap the profits, said McGruder. LaTasha Turner, also known by her stage name Sixfootah the Poet, knows the effects of lung cancer all too well after growing up with a mother who smoked cigarettes. ADVERTISEMENT My mom, she was a chain smoker, said Turner. She used to smoke constantly, so much so, that my baby brother was born with heart problems due to her smoking during her pregnancy. My mom ended [up] with a lot of issues behind being a chain smoker. Turner, whose mother began smoking menthols, gradually began using other tobacco products. Turner believes her mother used smoking as an outlet. People dont understand that smoking is a disease in itself because you are hooked and addicted to it to the point where you need it. [Smoking] kind of alters your mind to where you feel like you need it to survive. My mom needed her cigarettes to where her mood would change if she didnt have them. My brother and I had to deal with the mood swings, [I remember my brother and I] looking through the couch for change so that she could buy her next pack of cigarettes, she said. My brother and I went to school with our clothes smelling like smoke and family functions with our clothes smelling like smoke. I ended up with asthma behind it. As a result of years of smoking, Turners mothers health began to decline. Both of her lungs collapsed, her liver and her kidney shut down and this all happened at one time. She had walking pneumonia, bronchitis, and the doctors ended up finding an infection throughout her entire body which put her in a comma for about five months due to being a chain smoker, said Turner. In December 2013, Turner says her life changed forever. Thats when everything shut down for my mom. Shes still here though, she is a fighter. My mom went through a lot and watching her go through it and not realizing the long term effects of being a smoker for over 20 years, it takes away from you your time with your mom. The love that you should be able to experience, you know, people dont realize this is really a problem, she said. Turner decided to use poetry as a way to share her story and spread awareness about the effects of smoking. She has been able to perform this piece around the Bay Area and has plans to continue to use her story to help others. I want others to understand that the people who are smoking, its not that easy for them to stop. Its not like putting down a cup of soda. [The tobacco industry] wants you hooked for a lifetime. I also want the people who are smoking to take one step at a time for you to stop, it doesnt happen overnight. But you have to be willing to fight the fight, she said. Turner speaks as the voice of many who have lost a loved one to lung cancer. McGruder says the only way to decrease the number of Black women who are suffering and dying from lung cancer is to support laws prohibiting menthol and tobacco products and interrupt the cycle of addiction so that young Black children dont enter into a cycle of smoking. As African Americans, we need to be more involved in the process and we need not buy into the false argument that we are criminalizing our community that we have to enact strong public health policy, she said. Visit www.savingblacklives.org for more information on AATCLC and the work the organization is doing with tobacco control. Check out www.lasentinel.net and follow Sixfootah the Poet on Facebook, Instagram, Twitter to see her performance of Say No to Tobacco. Coleman and Dickson Celebrate 100th Birthdays Experiencing 10 decades of living is not for the faint-hearted. Just ask Roberta Coleman and Frances Richardson, two beautiful local women who recently celebrated their 100th birthdays. Here are their stories. Roberta Coleman ADVERTISEMENT God has been a constant presence in the long life of Mrs. Coleman, who marked 100 years of living on March 30. At the age of 24, she said, I gave my heart and life to the Lord, and she has stayed close to Him since then. Born in Selma, Arkansas, Mrs. Coleman enjoyed a career in education and youth programs where she positively impacted the lives of children across the country. In 2010, she moved to Southern California and continued to influence people of all ages. A church member at Greater Emmanuel Temple in Lynwood noted, Mrs. Coleman is a model of grace and determination and cultivates an indelible spirit of love and excellence. To others seeking an extended life, Mrs. Coleman advised, Recognize the Lord. Quoting Proverbs 3:5-6, she added, The Bible says, In all thy ways acknowledge Him and he shall direct thy path. She also offered words of wisdom to young people, pointing them to Ecclesiastes 12:1. I say to youth, Remember your Creator while youre young. Give your life to the Lord while you are young and dont be entangled with all of the corruption that is in the world because there are a lot of things in the world that you can get all mixed up in. The Greater Emmanuel Temple congregation saluted Mrs. Coleman on April 1, and presented her with awards and proclamations from elected officials, remembrances from family and friends, and celebratory dinner. ADVERTISEMENT Frances Dickson With praises to God for never leaving or forsaking her, Frances E. Dickson will celebrate her 100th birthday on April 23. What an incredible milestone! 365,525 days, 876,600 hours, and 52,296,000 minutes experiencing the presence of the Almighty God, said her daughter, Evelyn Curtiss. Mrs. Dickson, a native of Texas, relocated to Los Angeles in 1944. Aiming to improve life for her three children, she pursued her education and became a registered nurse in 1971 where she worked for several local hospitals, repeatedly receiving awards for her exceptional service. Retiring from L.A. County-Hubert Humphrey Medical Hospital in 1984, Mrs. Dickson lent her time and talents to Word of Life Christian Bookstores, which are owned by the Curtiss family. Word of Life Christian Bookstore has been honored to have Mom Dickson employed during some of her retirement time to provide outstanding customer service with love and patience, her daughter said. In addition, Mrs. Dickson is a faithful member and prayer warrior of Faithful Central Bible Church in Inglewood led by Bishop Kenneth C. Ulmer. Empower Yourself Economically by Becoming an Airbnb Host in South L.A. Are you a South Los Angeles resident looking to earn extra income? Find out what it takes to share your space and grow your wallet by becoming an Airbnb host! The history of South L.A. is rich and ever growing. Not only is the city home of the largest street festival in Los Angeles, the Taste of Soul Family Festival, it is also central to some of the best beaches, museums, Black-owned eateries, businesses, and all things L.A! As a result, tourists and visitors keep coming back for more. To help showcase the beauty of the Crenshaw area, and its surrounding cities along with all the unique things it has to offer, Airbnb has partnered with the Los Angeles Sentinel and Taste of Soul to host a community reception. The event will show residents the benefits becoming Airbnb hosts and the impact it has on the lives of people. Home sharing brings travelers to neighborhoods that dont typically benefit from tourism and helps to highlight LAs unique and diverse communities, said Southern California Policy Manager for Airbnb, John Choi. ADVERTISEMENT We are excited to partner with the Los Angeles Sentinel to help more Angelenos learn how to use what is often their greatest expense, the cost of their housing, to earn extra income. The reception will be held on Thursday, April 26, from 5:30 8:00PM at the Museum of African Art located on the 3rd floor of Macys in the Baldwin Hills Crenshaw Plaza. Attendees will have the opportunity to speak and hear from local Airbnb hosts about their experiences in dealing with guests from around the world. Also, Airbnb staff will be in attendance to discuss the practical tools you need to become a host. Attendees will also get tips on how to secure payments and creating a listing profile for guests. Earning Extra income Prior to becoming an Airbnb hosts, many Los Angeles residents were facing eviction or foreclosure in 2017. However, after becoming Airbnb hosts, 6,000 residents reported that they were able to afford staying in the city. According to Airbnb, the average hosts in L.A. earns $9,100 a year from hosting. Airbnb is also doing their part to help local businesses. In 2017, the Airbnb community generated more than $1.4 billion in economic impact city of Los Angeles. This is significant income for the city, and it is being spread to local businesses and across many parts of the city that dont typically see as much tourism activity, said Choi. Airbnb guests are a new source of customers for small business at a time when brick and mortar stores are facing growing competition from online retailers. [In fact,] 94 percent of Airbnb hosts recommend local small businesses to their guests. ADVERTISEMENT Dont miss out on your opportunity to participate! For more information or to RSVP for the event visit www.lasentinel.net/airbnb or call (323) 299-3800. Eric Jerome Dickeys Creative Influence New York Times best-selling author, comedian, and actor Eric Jerome Dickey spoke to the Los Angeles Sentinel Newspaper about his new book, Bad Men and Wicked Women. The book takes place in Leimert Park and delves into current social commentary. Dickey, who is a Memphis native, shared his creative journey. LOS ANGELES SENTINEL NEWSPAPER: You have had an interesting journey as an author. What made you decide to have different creative careers? ERIC JEROME DICKEY: Just like any creative person, we throw a lot of things against the wall. I was taking acting classes, doing student films, improv theater, and taking writing classes. There were a lot of opportunities I didnt have access to while I was in Memphis. When I moved to California, I had access to everything. Thats a big part of any career development. You must put in the work that facilitates and enhances your dream. LAS: You started as an engineer and now you are an artist. How does that jump impact your work? ADVERTISEMENT DICKEY: As an engineer you become accustomed to going from project to project. You are always looking for what your next project will be. When I was in Memphis, there was never a time where I wasnt preparing for my next project. Before I was published, I gave myself deadlines just like engineering. Deadlines teach you that you shouldnt work on something forever. LAS: Can you elaborate on the danger of seeking external validation for artists? DICKEY: You dont have to post what you are doing all the time. Many people announce just to seek approval and kudos. I never did that. Even now I just work. If you are into it, whatever profession it may be, just do it. It becomes about the effort and the growth. Acting badly or writing a horrible short story builds a confidence that most people never acquire. The ego can get in the way of being productive. LAS: What are some words of encouragement for aspiring creative people? DICKEY: Do it because you want to do it. Dont jump in thinking this is a guaranteed paycheck because there are thousands of comedians who will never get a Netflix special. You can walk into any bookstore and there are tens of thousands of writers on the shelf you probably never heard of. They still kept their day jobs because they just love writing. Again, if you are in it because you love it, you are going to do the foundation and the groundwork to accomplish your goals. Bad Men and Wicked Women is currently on sale at his website ericjeromedickey.com and Amazon. ESSA Demands Full Transparency on K-12 Educational Funding Public school systems throughout the nation will now be required to be a lot more transparent when it comes to school funding. According to the federal Every Student Succeeds Act (ESSA), signed into law by President Barack Obama in 2015, all public schools nationwide, will be required to give fully-detailed reports on how and where they spend institutional funding. The ESSA reporting requirement for school funding begins in December 2019, and supporters of the rule, including the NAACP, believe it will help to encourage greater educational equity, particularly among schools serving large numbers of Black and Hispanic students in low-income neighborhoods. ADVERTISEMENT We need more equitable and adequate funding for all schools serving students of color, said Victor Goode, the education director for the NAACP. Why? Because education funding has been inadequate and unequal for students of color for hundreds of years. Second, privatization forces are working to eliminate our public schools and, with it, transparency, public accountability and access to all. Goode said that ESSA requires a breakdown of how student need is met with a focus on equity over equal distribution for funding. Goode continued: That explains the reason behind the school-by-school, per pupil spending report. This kind of public transparency is a good thing and can help provide more meaningful parental and community engagement, which is also essential to accountability and achieving educational equity. According to the Brookings Institution, a nonprofit public policy organization, based in Washington, D.C., that conducts research on solving societal problems locally, nationwide and globally, to date minority students are still far more less likely than White students to have adequate school resources. In addition, the Brookings Institution reported that schools with predominantly Black and Hispanic children, on average, are nearly twice as large as White schoolsreaching an estimated 3,000 students or more in most cities, with lower-quality curriculum offerings and less qualified teachers (in terms of levels of education, certification, and training in the fields they teach), all of which George H. Lambert, Jr., president and CEO of the Greater Washington Urban League, believes can be rectified through adequate funding. Through the availability of [ESSA] data, Black and [Hispanic] educators can begin to prove that Black and [Hispanic] students suffer from funding disparities and the lack of teachers in the classroom who look like them or represent their perspective, Lambert said. We need better, more transparent data on school funding. The availability of such data and our ability to access it forces greater urgency on what is, arguably the most important issue of our time. ADVERTISEMENT Lambert said that any discussion on educational equity should acknowledge the enormous achievement gaps that still plague Black and Hispanic students. If these gaps arent closed, our community doesnt have much of a future, Lambert said. Even though high school graduation rates are better now than 30 years ago, we still face a situation where more than a quarter of Black students, for example, are dropping out. Most Black students in the largest U.S. cities are attending schools with high concentrations of poverty. Over half of our young, Black men are either dropping out or finishing K-12 late, hence 1 in 3 end up trapped in some fashion in the criminal justice system. Despite high approval from many civil rights organizations, school district administrators, like Robert Lowry, the deputy director of the New York State Council of School Superintendents still believe that the new law might shine light on imbalanced revenue and create the perception that some students are being shortchanged, even when this may not be the case. We question whether the state officials would even have the expertise and the capacity to evaluate spending levels between schools, Lowry told Education Week. Though Lowrys concerns may be valid, Lambert believes that full transparency is a plus. This is a good way to learn about flaws in the system and how those flaws are aggravated by a lack of Black and [Hispanic] expertise and perspective in the curriculum, the classroom and the leadership office, Lambert said. We can also find out if school districts with a larger number of Black and [Hispanic] educators are experiencing high levels of funding disparities and uneven attention from policymakers. Learn more about the Every Student Succeeds Act at www.nnpa.org/essa. Harris, Colleagues Introduce Resolution Designating April 11-17, 2018 as Black Maternal Health Week This week, on behalf of International Maternal Health and Rights Day, and in an effort to raise awareness about the alarming Black maternal health crisis, U.S. Senator Kamala D. Harris and her colleagues introduced a resolution to designate April 11-17, 2018 as Black Maternal Health Week. Senator Harris was joined by Senators Dianne Feinstein (D-CA), Patty Murray (D-WA), Kirsten Gillibrand (D-NY), Mazie Hirono (D-HI), Elizabeth Warren (D-MA), Debbie Stabenow (D-MI), Tammy Baldwin (D-WI), Cory Booker (D-NJ), Jeff Merkley (D-OR), Ron Wyden (D-OR), and Richard Blumenthal (D-CT) on this resolution. According to the Centers for Disease Control, Black mothers in the U.S. die at a staggering three to four times the rate of white mothers. The maternal mortality rate of Black women is a public health crisis that must be addressed, said Sen. Harris. We must recognize that Black mothers need more resources and support to ensure their lives are not cut short, and they be able to raise their children to fulfill their potential. The designation of Black Maternal Health week is a step toward the recognition that more must be done to reduce the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women. No woman should enter the delivery room and not get the care she needs and deserves because of the color of her skinbut the facts are starkly clear that in our country, that is too often a reality and it is one we should all refuse to accept, said Sen. Murray. Im grateful to Senator Harris for her leadership and look forward to continued work together to ensure every mother gets quality care and the chance to watch her children grow up. ADVERTISEMENT We know we need to do more to ensure that healthier pregnancies lead to healthier babies throughout African American communities. Unfortunately, minority and underserved populations are still facing a shortage of quality maternity care, said Sen. Baldwin. I am proud to join my Senate colleagues in recognizing Black Maternal Health Week to bring national attention to this critical maternal health issue and the importance of reducing the rate of maternal mortality and morbidity among Black women. The maternal mortality rate in our country is tragically high, particularly for black women, who are three to four times more likely to die from pregnancy-related complications than white women. More must be done to address this public health crisis and unconscionable disparity. Im proud to join Senator Harris in calling attention to this issue and introducing this resolution today, and I am committed to continuing to work to prevent maternal deaths, said Sen. Booker. There can be no clearer evidence that comprehensive health services are not reaching everyone who needs them than the reality that African-American women are dying at an alarmingly high rate in our country due to a lack of adequate maternal care, said Sen. Wyden. With the Republican agenda of health care discrimination now set to overdrive, its more important than ever to ensure our most vulnerable are getting the health care they need. There is simply no excuse for a country with our resources to so dramatically fail black mothers, their children, and their families, said Sen. Blumenthal. The United States has the highest rates of maternal mortality in the developed world, and for black mothers, those numbers are even higher. Unacceptable. This is a national crisis, and it deserves an immediate, comprehensive response. The bill was also introduced in the House by U.S. Representative Alma Adams (D-NC). Harris and Congresswoman Adams worked closely with Black Mamas Matter Alliance, a Black women-led, cross-sectorial alliance, to establish this annual week of awareness. We believe that every woman needs access to quality and affordable health care to ensure safe pregnancies and births for all women in the U.S., especially Black women, said Elizabeth Dawes Gay, a member of the Black Mamas Matter Alliance Steering Committee. However, health equity for Black women can only happen if we recognize and address the systemic racism that contributes to poor maternal health, ensure that Black women are at the center of these conversations, and enact real policy change. ADVERTISEMENT Harris, her colleagues, Congresswoman Adams, and Black Mamas Matter chose to raise awareness during National Minority Health Month because the numbers still show a huge disparity in healthcare for Black mothers. The United States is one of only 13 countries in the world where rates of illness and death during pregnancy are on the rise. From 2000 to 2013, the U.S. experienced a substantial increase of 26.6 percent in maternal mortality rates. Black women are twice as likely to suffer from severe maternal morbidity than white mothers. LAHSA Commission Holds First Meeting of Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness According to the 2017 Greater Los Angeles Homeless Count, 40 percent of people experiencing homelessness across Los Angeles County are Black, while Black people make up only 9 percent of the countys total population. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority (LAHSA) Commission has recognized the need to dedicate focused resources and attention to better understand and address this disproportionality. The recently appointed Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness will lead this effort. The committee will meet at LAHSA, 2-4 p.m., on the third Monday of each month, from April to September 2018. The first meeting was held on April 16, 1-5 p.m. LAHSA Commissioner Jacqueline Waggoner is the committee chair and Commissioner Kelli Bernard is vice chair. Jacqueline Waggoner is vice president and Southern California market leader for Enterprise Community Partners, Inc., where she oversees Enterprises affordable housing, community development, investment, and strategic programs from the states Central Coast to San Diego. Kelli Bernard is chief executive for the Los Angeles Metro region of AECOM and has over 20 years of experience in economic development, land use planning, housing, redevelopment, and public affairs. Committee membership includes service providers, community advocates, affordable housing developers, city and county agencies, people with lived experience, faith leaders, and related subject experts. ADVERTISEMENT Were working to ensure that systems and practices do not perpetuate the hardships faced by Black people experiencing homelessness, who were disproportionately represented in previous homeless counts, said Waggoner, committee chair. The committee will examine the barriers Black people face when trying to exit homelessness by accessing services and housing. Our committee will not only provide recommendations for increasing equity within the homeless service delivery system, but also provide a baseline and clear metrics for evaluating our progress, said Bernard, committee co-chair. The ongoing work, findings, and recommendations will be shared publicly and serve as a foundation to drive improvements. The Ad Hoc Committee on Black People Experiencing Homelessness builds upon LAHSAs previous successes addressing issues of inequity. From December 2016 to July 2017, LAHSA convened an Ad Hoc Committee on Women and Homelessness, which resulted in a public report and recommendations that have made impacts in multiple arenas, such as the dedication of funding for bridge housing for women, the development of a Los Angeles Continuum of Care-wide gender non-discrimination policy, and the establishment of a working group to comprehensively address provider training needs and ensure that trainings address the needs of women. The Los Angeles Homeless Services Authority is a joint powers authority of the city and county of Los Angeles, created in 1993 to address the problems of homelessness in Los Angeles County. LAHSA is the lead agency in the HUD-funded Los Angeles Continuum of Care, and coordinates and manages more than $257 million annually in federal, state, county, and city funds for programs providing shelter, housing, and services to homeless persons. For more information visit www.lahsa.org. Los Angeles Makes History- First City to Host 100 Dinners on Race Los Angeles City Council President Herb Wesson hosted the first of three city councilmember led luncheons in Los Angeles as part of embRACE LA, a citywide initiative launched during fall 2016. The initiative is aimed at unifying Angelenos and empowering communities to challenge and change racial inequities. Together with Los Angeles City Councilmembers Gil Cedillo, Marqueece Harris-Dawson, Paul Koretz, Paul Krekorian and Angelenos representing the diversity of Los Angeles, Wesson led participants at host venue Homeboy Industries. Their conversation kicks-off embRACE LAs 100 Dinners campaign, an effort to spark a citywide conversation about race and racism, build relationships and advance public policy solutions. All 15 councilmembers will participate in a lunch this week. Los Angeles is igniting a national conversation on race and equality, Los Angeles City Council President Wesson said. If you want to change the world start by changing yourself. Youll change your family, your family will change the community, the community will change the country and the country will change the world. ADVERTISEMENT In recent years, racial tensions have escalated across the country, including in Los Angeles. According to the Los Angeles County Commission on Human Relations, racial hate crimes comprised 46% of all hate crimes reported in 2016. Conceived and launched by Wesson and Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch OFarrell, embRACE LA seeks to dig into those tensions to foster greater understanding, healing and growth for the city of Los Angeles. Community Coalition, a social justice organization based in South Los Angeles that works with residents to build a prosperous and healthy inner-city with safe neighborhoods, quality schools, and a strong social safety net, is the lead community partner. Racism will not be eradicated by turning a blind eye, said Community Coalition President & CEO Alberto Retana. Starting today, we must choose whether we continue to let race and racism be a wedge that fractures our city, or if were willing to have difficult conversations and address race in meaningful ways that challenge systemic inequities and build strong communities for all, not just some. As race and racism continue to be topics at the forefront of political and social divides, Wesson and OFarrell committed to building upon the embRACE LA initiative with intimate conversations between city residents. To this end, from April 16th-20th, the city will host 100 free dinners, for which more than 2,000 Angelenos have signed-up to participate in. The selected dinner participants were chosen via a lottery system. The dinners will be held across the cityspanning all 15 council districtswhere 10 participants, led by trained facilitators at each dinner, will engage in a thoughtful dialogue centered on race, one of the most important topics of our time. An inclusive range of local chefs representing different geographic areas and cuisines of the city were selected to cater the dinners. Dinner hosts are volunteering their homes, but are provided with all the supplies and food needed to facilitate the event. The City Council has a responsibility to lead on issues concerning race and equity. Fostering open, honest dialogue with residents, institutions and advocates from across the city will give us a deeper understanding of the obstacles that divide us. This process will lead to data and tools to help us become a better and more inclusive Los Angeles, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Mitch OFarrell. ADVERTISEMENT Los Angeles is a city of diverse people who speak more than 200 languages and come from more than 100 different countries. The diversity that Los Angeles represents cannot be ignored, nor can the divisions it has created. embRACE LA is creating a pathway forward for critical conversations that allow Angelenos to acknowledge their differences, embrace shared experiences, learn from each other and build a bright future for Los Angeles for generations to come. This initiative is not only about breaking bread with neighbors, but about breaking down barriers, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Nury Martinez. That means having open, honest conversations about what divides us and how we can bridge those differences. Diversity is one of Los Angeles greatest strengths. This endeavor will help build on that by bringing Angelenos together around the table. Id like to thank President Wesson for his leadership on this issue. There has never been a greater need to bring people together to talk about our differences, and more importantly, see our similarities. Los Angeles has always been and continues to be a global city that celebrates its diversity. Let us break bread together so that we may get to know our neighbors and start building community, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Gil Cedillo. There is no replacement for face-to-face, heart-to-heart conversations in the effort to resolve our most vexing differences. Im glad the City Council and Community Coalition led this effort to cause us to break bread together and begin a long, tough and ultimately fruitful set of conversations, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Marqueece Harris-Dawson. The embRACE LA initiative is so important for our city at this time, said Los Angeles City Councilmember Paul Krekorian. While some of our national leaders are encouraging polarization and discord, Los Angeles is doing the opposite by providing a way for people from different communities to come together and find common ground. I appreciate the vision of Council President Wesson for launching embRACE LA and look forward to seeing it flourish in my San Fernando Valley district and across the city. Revolve Impact is the co-dinner designer and The Todd Group selected the chefs and is overseeing the dinner planning. Mayor Eric Garcetti Talks Moving the Future of Los Angeles Forward in State of the City Address On Monday, April 16, Los Angeles Mayor Eric Garcetti entered the chamber where he gave his fifth State of the City address, making his rounds of introduction while the Red-Hot Chili Peppers Cant Stop played in the background. After the music subsided and the crowd stilled, Mayor Garcetti wasted no time getting straight to the points. Garcettis tone was a positive one, praising the open-minded progressive nature of the city, juxtaposing it with the nations capital. We cant say the same right now about Washington D. C., where leaders clap their hands when immigrants are forced into the shadows Where corporations needs are placed above those of a single mother Where our coastline is offered up to the highest bidder with an oil drill. You see, something different is happening here in Los Angeles, he said. Garcetti then outlined a new three-part economic strategy, including bringing film jobs back to the L.A. area, expanding Silicon Beachs tech influence, Space-Xs Falcon construction in the Port of L.A. and the passing of Measure M, which Garcetti announced as the nations largest ever local jobs and infrastructure package. According to Garcetti, Measure M is said to generate $120 billion dollars to build and expand 15 rapid transit lines, fix our freeways, and create 777,000 good, middle class careers over the next four decades. ADVERTISEMENT During his address, the Mayor then offered his sympathies for the strife many Angelenos face daily, like wage inequality and the ever-ubiquitous traffic that is becoming a poignant, omnipresent force to be reckoned with. However, Mayor Garcetti acknowledged what he considers to be the greatest moral and humanitarian crisis of our time, homelessness. Southern California at large, remains one of the most volatile regions of the country for the homeless. From Santa Barbara, all the way down to the Southernmost tips of San Diego county, it doesnt take one much time to notice the sheer magnitude of the critically urgent epidemic. The problem (which is not unique to Los Angeles but undoubtedly receives the brunt), seems to have no immediate solution and incessantly remains in the psyche of every inhabitant of Los Angeles, including that of the mayor. He poised to the chamber, wouldnt you rather have somebody cleaning a street than sleeping on it? I will accept nothing less than a home for ever y person who needs a roof over their head. Let me be clear: we are here to end homelessness. Accepting things the way they are is unacceptable. Garcetti continued to reiterate a common linchpin that for most of California, homelessness isnt an issue, homelessness is the issue. Homelessness has become the ever-present thorn in the side of his administration and by extension, Greater Los Angeles, as tens of thousands continue to spill over on Southern Californias streets. Garcetti said his budget would put an unparalleled $430 million toward ending the crisis within the near future. The majority of which was generated by the housing bond that voters approved in 2016. The mayor has also planned to expedite applications for shelters by signing an emergency declaration allowing the city to bypass red tape which slows construction, hoping in turn some of the states $6 billion surplus will come in the form of shelter and affordable housing construction. For some, it appears Mayor Garcetti realizes there is no one-size-fits-all approach to tackling the problems of our metropolis, but what is certain is none of them can be solved alone. So he is calling upon the residents of Los Angeles and holding all Angelenos accountable, himself included, to work together for a brighter future for the city. NAACP Statement on Starbucks and Growing Climate of Racism and Intolerance The National Association for the Advancement of Colored People (NAACP), the nations premier civil rights organization, issued the following statement following the disgraceful arrest of two African American men in a Philadelphia Starbucks. The arrest of two Black men at a Philadelphia Starbucks represents another ominous signal of the increasingly dangerous environment for African Americans. Less than two weeks after we honor the life and work of Dr. King and 50 years after the Kerner Commission found racism and police brutality at the root of public unrest in our communities, we still have a long way to go towards becoming a nation where a person is judged by the content of their character and not the color of their skin. ADVERTISEMENT The Starbucks situation provides dangerous insight regarding the failure of our nation to take implicit bias seriously. We refuse to believe that our unconscious biasthe racism we are often unaware ofcan and does make its way into our actions and policies. We know if two Black men in Philadelphia require six police officers to handcuff and arrest them for waiting to order coffee, then we begin to understand the mind state that allows for such overzealous and reactionary use of deadly force by those who are paid to serve and protect. Every day people of color find themselves at the mercy of the stereotypes and embedded fears of others. How else can we explain why 14-year-old Brennan Walker who missed his bus on his way to school would be shot at by a homeowner just outside Detroit? Or explain Saheed Vassell, a mentally-ill man in Brooklyn fired at ten times and shot dead by police officers. Or why Stephon Clark was shot at 20 times and hit 8 times, mainly in the back, by police officers in Sacramento, based on the assumption that he was the culprit responsible for breaking into cars. We are at least glad in the case of Starbucks that no one mistook a wallet for a gun. All too often these issues are discussed in passing episodic ways by media. Racism and biases that make simply breathing while Black so dangerous will not just go away without our society committing more resources to discussion, education and training on implicit bias and racism. If we refuse to, well continue to face the consequences of our failure to do so. Ten-member newspapers of the North Carolina Black Publishers Association (NCBPA) and Dr. Benjamin Chavis, Jr. the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), have agreed to mount a statewide campaign to maximize the African American vote for the 2018 midterm elections. The NNPA is a trade group that represents over 200 Black-owned media companies that reach more than 20 million readers, combined, in print and online, every week. The campaign will focus on an aggressive voter registration drive, community-level education on important issues, and a mobilization effortall designed to reach young, Black eligible voters. ADVERTISEMENT North Carolina, Texas and Florida are considered to be important states that could change the makeup of the United States Congress, if the Black vote flexes its muscle. The Black Press is considered essential in those states to mobilize that electoral strength. Primaries in North Carolina are scheduled for May 8. The Black Press in North Carolina and in other states will play a powerful role in educating Black voters about political candidates across the country and mobilizing those Black voters to go to the polls. As the power of the Black vote continues to rise, and with billionsnot millionsof dollars projected to be spent on advertising, during the 2018 midterm elections, Dr. Chavis said that Democrats and Republicans must advertise in the Black Press to reach that crucial voting bloc. Unfortunately, both the Democratic and Republican parties have traditionally proven to be sorely lacking when it comes to advertising in the Black Press. Despite clear evidence that African Americans are their most loyal voters, the Democrats, have been accused of taking the Black vote for granted. Meanwhile, others have said that Republican candidates seem to ignore the Black community entirely. ADVERTISEMENT NCBPA publishers agree that the political parties must be challenged, immediately, while advertising budget decisions are being made. Dr. Chavis, a North Carolina native, said that the get-out-the-vote (GOTV) strategy should be data driven for all of the states 100 counties. He noted that each of North Carolinas African American newspapers together cover the entire state, and once the pertinent voting data is obtained, a campaign should be developed around it. The campaign should be featured prominently across social media platforms and Black celebrities should also be enlisted to spread the word. In our plan, we should have coverage of the whole stateall 100 counties, Dr. Chavis said, adding that the effort should, especially target African Americans, who are eligible to vote, but are not registeredin 2018. Dr. Chavis said that hes seen figures from 2012 that the number of eligible, unregistered Blacks in North Carolina was between 400,000500,000. He said that figure is most likely higher now, because of voter suppression, and the purging of state voter rolls. From now until September, Dr. Chavis said that voter registration must be emphasized. Then from September to November 4, GOTV must take center-stage. Part of the plan is to identify 20 North Carolina cities where the NNPA-CashWorks HD Productions 2014 award-winning film, Pardons of Innocence: the Wilmington Ten, can be screened in concert with a locally-coordinated voter registration drive. Dr. Chavis, who is recognized as the leader of the Wilmington Ten10 civil rights activists falsely convicted of arson and imprisoned in the 1971 for the destruction of a White-owned grocery store during the height of racial unrest in the citywould accompany the film to speak with audiences about the importance of voting and citizenship. Mary Alice Thatch, the publisher of The Wilmington Journal and the president of the NCBPA, said that the film was successfully screened in Lumberton, N.C., in March, to over 400 people from there and surrounding counties. We want to recreate that spirit in 20 locations between now and November, Thatch said, adding that the GOTV initiative should also focus on rural communities. Helping the community to understand that empowerment through voting is the key, Dr. Chavis said. Directing young people to register online via Rock the Vote, in part to eliminate the normal complications to voter registration, is also another strategy that should be implemented. Dr. Chavis also emphasized that NCBPA members should immediately seek to get available advertising dollars to publicize voter registration efforts. We should make voter registration easy [for young people], not hard, Chavis said. Thatch agreed. Were going to have to develop an agenda to get young people to vote, Thatch said, focusing on issues like police brutality, poverty, the achievement gap, better employment and small business opportunities. Additionally, economic development in the Black community should also be emphasized, as an important outgrowth of voting. In the meantime, the Black Press should continue to report about the value of the African American vote in their papers. We cant expect other people to value us more than we do, Dr. Chavis cautioned, adding that he was willing to come back to North Carolina to help formulate the plan. The ten NCBPA member newspapers present were The Wilmington Journal; The Carolina Peacemaker; The Carolina Times; the Carolina Call; The Carolinian; Greater Diversity News; The Fayetteville Press; The County News; The Daily Drum; and The Urban News. Four of the NCBPA newspapersThe Carolina Call, The Urban News, The Daily Drum and The Fayetteville Pressplan to apply for membership to the National Newspaper Publishers Association. NNPA SPECIAL REPORT: Former Model Janice Dickinson Testifies at Cosby Trial Inside the Courtroom for the Bill Cosby Sexual Assault Trial Sex, drugs, and a former supermodel took center stage during Day 4 of the retrial of comedian Bill Cosby. The comedian is on trial for three counts of aggravated indecent assault stemming from a 2004 incident with former Temple University employee Andrea Constand. ADVERTISEMENT Cosby is a former Temple trustee. Prosecutors have been allowed to call five witnesses who said they were drugged and raped by Cosby decades ago. Each of the witnesses, however, presented much baggage for the district attorney to overcome. Janice Dickinson, one of the five women who have previously told their stories on cable and network television, told jurors she was raped by Cosby in 1982. She said he was known as Americas Dad, although that distinction didnt come until after the NBC hit, The Cosby Show, took off in 1984. She claimed Cosby called her while she was with her boyfriend at a photo shoot overseas and sent for her to join him in Reno. Dickinson said while having dinner at a hotel restaurant with Cosby and his music director, she felt woozy and out of it. ADVERTISEMENT Dickinson said she followed Cosby to his room and, although she felt drugged at dinner, she proceeded to take several photographs of Cosby as he sat at a desk on a telephone and she got comfortable on the bed. During cross examination, Cosbys attorney Tom Mesereau asked her why she didnt include the alleged incident in her book. Dickinson said publisher Judith Regan and ghostwriter Pablo Fenjves took poetic license and wrote what they thought would sell. The duo of Regan and Fenjves also collaborated with O.J. Simpson on the infamous and unpublished book, If I Did it. Mesereau alleged that Dickinson lied to make money. Another alleged victim, Janice Baker-Kinney said a friend took her to a pizza party given by Cosby in Nevada and she discovered that her friend and Cosby were the only ones at the home for the get together. Baker-Kinney said Cosby had given her a Quaalude pill, which she readily accepted because she felt it would be a mood-enhancer, she said. Prior to meeting Cosby, Baker-Kinney had been to at least one other party where she took a Quaalude. Who gave you the Quaaludes? Mesereau asked. Bill Cosby, Baker-Kinney said. Mesereau replied: No, who gave you the Quaaludes? You said you took a Quaalude before the party. Who gave you the Quaaludes? To which Baker-Kinney said, a friend. Mesereau also got her to admit she had used cocaine and other drugs at various points throughout her life. The jury also heard from Heidi Thomas and Chelan Lasha. A client of noted attorney Gloria Allred, Lasha once appeared at a press conference where Allred demanded Cosby pay $100 million to her clients. Allred, who represents many of the women who have claimed that Cosby assaulted them and whose daughter, Lisa Bloom, represents Dickinson, were both in the courtroom. Allred told NNPA Newswire on Thursday that she withdrew the $100 million demand after Cosby was criminally charged. Though she has a long rap sheet that includes lying to police and prostitution, mention of Lashas criminal history was limited by ONeill to just a recent conviction of making a false statement. While Cosbys spokesman Andrew Wyatt and his spokeswoman Ebonee Benson stood by as Allred and Bloom completed a press conference on Thursday, the two began their own presser only to be interrupted by the mother-daughter tandem. This is prosecution by distraction, Wyatt said. Benson said that the extra witnesses that the prosecutors have brought are nothing more than a distraction and they have nothing to do with the case at all. We are here to try the case about Andrea Constand, not all of these other women and when the jurors issue their verdict on this case, we feel it will be as it should be, not guilty, Benson said. Wyatt called Allred Awful Red, and Bloom, Blasphemous. These women get on the stand as part of Allreds con, Wyatt said. This is a classic example of a con happening. Prosecutors had no comment while Allred said she believed Cosby and his team are avoiding the issue. Panel Talks Dr. Ronald Walters Legacy, Black Power and the Black Press Democratic strategist and author Donna Brazile called world-renowned scholar and activist Dr. Ronald Walters a genius, during a recent forum celebrating his legacy at the Thurgood Marshall Center for Service and Heritage in Washington, D.C. In July 1958, when he was just 20 years-old and the president of the youth chapter of the NAACP in Wichita, Kan., Dr. Walters organized one of the first lunch counter sit-ins in the country to protest segregation. According to The New York Times, he was instrumental in the establishment of the Congressional Black Caucus in the early 1970s and served as the deputy campaign manager and debate adviser for the Rev. Jesse L. Jacksons presidential bid in 1984. Dr. Walters penned more than a dozen books on racial politics and Black Power and directed the African American Leadership Institute at the University of Maryland until 2009. He died from cancer in 2010. [Ron Walters] was smart. He was strategic. He understood politics. He understood power and he understood Black leadership, Brazile said. ADVERTISEMENT Brazile, author of the book Hacks: The Inside Story of the Break-ins and Breakdowns That Put Donald Trump in the White House, talked about working with Dr. Walters, when she was a young, aggressive community organizer trying to change politics from the inside out. Ron Walters provided us with a historical reference to what we were doing and trying to accomplish, Brazile said. Ron provided a scholarly roadmap. He made you understand that it was not just about the moment that we were living in, but the historical journey that we had been on for over 200 years. He talked about political power, not just in the abstracthe taught us to use our power and leverage it. The forum included a panel discussion featuring Dr. Raymond Winbush, a research professor and director of the Institute for Urban Research at Morgan State University; The Black Eagle Joe Madison, a radio talk show host on Sirius; and Dr. Robert Smith, the author of the book, Ronald W. Walters and the Fight for Black Power, 1969-2010. Dr. Benjamin F. Chavis, Jr., the president and CEO of the National Newspaper Publishers Association (NNPA), moderated the discussion. The NNPA is a trade group that represents more than 200 Black-owned media companies in the United States; that reach more than 20 million readers, combined, in print and online, every week. Dr. Elsie L. Scott, the founding director of the Ronald W. Walters Leadership and Public Policy Center at Howard University thanked the NNPA for partnering with the Walters Center to co-sponsor the event. ADVERTISEMENT Dr. Scott noted that Dr. Walters wrote a weekly column for the Black Press. He loved the Black Press, he believed in the Black Press, and he wanted to make sure that the Black Press survived, Scott said. Dr. Winbush met Dr. Walters through his strong support of reparations for slavery. Ron spoke the truth, as he saw it, and he didnt care who heard it, Dr. Winbush said. Madison said that Dr. Walters had the rare ability to combine scholarship and activism. Scholars have got to become activists and Ron was an activist, Madison said. And when Dr. Walters needed to get a message out to the Black community and the world, he went to the Black Press, Madison said, because as a scholar and activist, he recognized the value and credibility of Black-owned media. Ron always went to the Black media, first, Madison said. Not CNN, not to ABC, but to the Black media, first. Smith, who collaborated with Dr. Walters on the book titled African American Leadership, said that as a Black intellectual and media commentator, Dr. Walters prioritized the Black Press. He saw the [Black Press] as a means to build Black Power, Smith said. You want to talk to Black people, you talk to them through their media. Dr. Chavis noted that the movements for Black Power and Black political leadership have evolved and that Dr. Walters writings gave recognition to the diversity within the Black community, but also called for unity. He was one of the few political scientists that talked about the economics of Black Power, Dr. Chavis said. A recent Nielsen study showed that Blacks have an annual buying power of more than $1.1 trillion, which continues to rise; however, this growing spending power has not translated to increased economic prosperity or wealth in the Black community. Brazile said that the election of Donald Trump has changed political norms in the U.S. and its critical that Blacks are a part of the next phase of leadership. If Ron Walters were here, today, he would tell you that Black Power is not just about a single individual or one moment in time, Brazile said. Its about a continuum, a long journey. When it comes to that journey, in todays current political environment, if Ron Walters were alive today, he would be working on a plan, intellectually, to get us out of the mess that were in now, explained Patricia Pat Walters, Dr. Walters wife. Ron was essentially what I would call a pragmatic, Black nationalist, Pat Walters said. That means he wouldnt have taken off and gone to another country. He would be encouraging Black folks to mobilize, to organize, to get out the vote and to talk with the millennials, about the 2018 midterm elections. Pat Walters continued: This is a very dangerous era that we are exposed to at this point in our livesBlack folks and White folks. We need to deal with that reality and I think Ron would be at the forefront of that. Pioneering Black choreographer, director Donald McKayle dies Donald McKayle, a modern dancer and choreographer who brought the black experience in America to the Broadway stage in musicals such as Raisin and Sophisticated Ladies, has died. He was 87. His wife, Lea McKayle, told the University of California, Irvine that McKayle died Friday night. He was a UCI professor emeritus of dance. Born in Harlem, McKayle began dancing as a teenager. McKayle choreographed works that focused on black life and socially conscious themes such as poverty, homelessness and discrimination. ADVERTISEMENT His 1959 work Rainbow Round My Shoulder depicted the lives of chain-gang prisoners. McKayle was the first African-American man to both direct and choreograph major Broadway musicals, including 1973s Raisin, which won the Tony as best musical, and 1981s Sophisticated Ladies. He also choreographed for movies and TV shows. Price Marks 40th Anniversary of Ever Increasing Faith TV Apostle Frederick K.C. Price, founder of Crenshaw Christian Center in Los Angeles along with Dr. Betty Price, will celebrate the 40th Anniversary of his Ever Increasing Faith television (EIF) program on Sunday, April 22, at 9:45 a.m. The celebration will be held in the world-renowned FaithDome, 7901 S. Vermont Ave., in Los Angeles. The service will include several guests as well as presentations and testimonies by people influenced by the EIF ministry. EIF debuted in 1978 on KTTV in L.A. and currently broadcasts around the world. Also, the program is one of the longest, continuously-running, Christian teaching programs on television. In addition, the service airs on various media platforms including Facebook, YouTube Live, AppleTV, ROKU and Amazon FireTV. ADVERTISEMENT In addition to EIF, Price is internationally heralded for the Crenshaw Christian Center (CCC) ministry. Located in South Los Angeles, the church sits on 32 beautifully landscaped acres in the citys Vermont Knolls district. When he established CCC in 1973, the 300-member congregation worshipped at 9550 South Crenshaw Boulevard in Inglewood. In less than 10 years, the membership exploded with thousands seeking to join the fellowship. In 1981, CCC purchased the former Pepperdine University campus on South Vermont Avenue in Los Angeles and five years later, began construction of the massive, 10,000-seat FaithDome, one of the largest sanctuaries in the world. Today, the internationally-renowned ministry includes a pre-school, elementary, middle and high school; 16 Helps Ministries auxiliaries, the Apostle Frederick Price Ministry Training Institute and CCC New York. He also reaches millions through books, radio, TV, live streaming and social media. To learn more, call (323) 758-3777. Reform L.A. Jails Launches Efforts to Gather Signatures for Ballot Measure to Make Sheriffs Civilian Oversight Commission More than Advisory Reform L.A. Jails kicked off a signature-gathering campaign Sat., Apr. 7, to place the Reform Jails and Community Reinvestment Initiative ballot measure on the November ballot for L.A. County voters. Nearly 100 people attended the event to officially launch a citizen-driven effort to give the Sheriffs Department Civilian Oversight Commission subpoena power to effectively investigate deputy misconduct. The proposed ballot measure also seeks to ensure that the Los Angeles County Board of Supervisors, the governing body for Americas most populous county and largest jail system, invests some of the $3.5 billion planned for building new jails into providing alternatives to incarceration. The event was held in the Figueroa Corridor near USC at Mercado La Paloma and was emceed by veteran talk radio host Dominique DiPrima (KJLH-FM) and featured family members of those who died while in custody of the Sheriffs Department were still seeking answers. Juan Manuel Correa Sr. and Maria A. Correa, the father and mother of Juan Manuel Correa Jr., who died while jailed in 2017 shared the story of their son who they say was wrongfully denied medical care after being pepper-sprayed by sheriffs deputies and shot with a stun gun. ADVERTISEMENT Moved to tears while speaking about her son, Mrs. Correa told the crowd gathered that she was not an activist but was moved to become one after learning about the conditions in the jails. More jails is not good for anybody, said Mrs. Correa. My son got more sick since he started going in and out of jails. Mentally, emotionallyanything and in every way my son was getting worse and worse and worse. Not only drugs, not only problemsit was jails. Jails are not good for nobody. We have to work together. We have to put our efforts together as much as we can to save lives. Why they think our childrens or peoples in jails are animals. Theyre not animals. They act like animals treating them like that. Saharra White, the mother of Quinten Thomas eighteen-month-old daughter, held back tears when trying to describe how she found out about the death of her childs father on March 9 while incarcerated in jail. Thomas was a student at California State University, Northridge and a graduate of the foster care system in Los Angeles who was working toward his baccalaureate degree in health administration. White says that the Sheriffs Department has provided very little information about Thomas death. They didnt release his body until March 30th finally, a teary eyed White shared while holding her daughter. They wouldnt let us go see the body when we asked about it. They were like no because he was in jail he was fingerprinted so his body is already identified. I dont believe them, I really dont. And its sad because he really loved his daughter. LikeI promise you he was just trying to do good. He was in his fourth year going to school. He wanted to be a registered nurse. He had everything planned out. And now she has to grow up with no daddy and its hard because I lost my daddy to the system when I was four too. He got 25 to life right now. Now shes going to grow up with no daddy. I take a look at the largest jail system in the worldin L.A., actor and activist Matt McGorry (Orange Is the New Black, How to Get Away With Murder) told the crowd Saturday. I take a look at 60,000 homeless people and I take a look at $3.5 billion that is about to go to new jail systems that will disproportionately feed on the lives of people of color and I am furious. A surprise appearance was made by Thaddeus J. Culpepper, the defense attorney for rap mogul Suge Knight. Knight has been jailed in downtown Los Angeles since January 2015 on charges of murder. Culpepper discussed the deliberate inadequate treatment of his clients health conditions while in custody of Sheriffs Department. ADVERTISEMENT There are two unacceptable problems with LAs jail systemmillions of dollars wasted on a revolving door and no accountability for the people in charge of running the largest jail system in the world, said proponent Patrisse Cullors, co-founder of Black Lives Matter, Dignity and Power Now and JusticeLA. LAs jail system is broken. Its costly and ineffective, wasting millions of dollars to incarcerate people struggling with mental illness, addiction and homelessness and theres also no accountability for misconduct and abuse by sheriffs deputies. The Civilian Oversight Commission needs additional authority to ensure transparency and accountability in law enforcement in L.A. County, added proponent and current Civilian Oversight Commissioner Loyola Law School Associate Professor Priscilla Ocen. Subpoena power will enable us to require the Sheriffs Department to divulge information. It will allow us to call relevant staff and personnel to provide testimony on issues of concern to the Commission and to the community. It will allow the community to ask important questions and to demand answers so that we can respond and ensure that we have an equitable system of policing in L.A. County. When we were established it [subpoena power] was not a part of our charge and it requires a change to the county charter and thats what the initiative provides, continued Ocen. Right now we have a sort of convoluted process. We have to make a request to our executive director who then makes a request to the Office of the Inspector General who has a separate agreement with the Sheriffs Department. The Sheriffs Department responds to the OIG. The OIG lets us know whether or not theyre going to provide the information. So its this long convoluted process and at times the information that weve requested is significantly delayed or or outright denied. At this point we need additional powers so that we can ensure we have the information we need to serve the constituents and communities of L.A. County to make important decisions and recommendations. To engage in independent oversight. Thats what were tasked to do and this ballot measure will enable us to carry out that charge. Reform L.A. Jails has until June to gather over 150,000 signatures to place the measure on the November ballot. The Coalition plans to hold various signature gathering events throughout L.A. County. For more information, get involved, and to read the entire ballot initiative, please visit www.ReformLAJails.com. Search for Schools Superintendent Still Underway The Los Angeles Unified School District remained without a new superintendent today, despite more than 10 hours of meetings by the Los Angeles Board of Education. The school board announced after its meeting at around 10:10 p.m. Tuesday that it would reconvene Friday. The list of potential candidates for the job, however, shrank by one name Wednesday, when Indianapolis schools Superintendent Lewis Ferebee withdrew his name from consideration. ADVERTISEMENT Recently, I was announced as one of the finalists for the Los Angeles Unified School District superintendent position, Ferebee said in a statement reported by The Indianapolis Star. After further discussing this endeavor with my family, the Indianapolis Board of School Commissioners and those handling the search process, I have withdrawn my name from consideration. It was an honor to have been considered for an opportunity of this magnitude. The Los Angeles Times reported earlier that Ferebee was one of four finalists being considered, along with investment banker and one-time Los Angeles Times publisher Austin Beutner, interim LAUSD Superintendent Vivian Ekchian and former Baltimore schools chief Andres Alonso. Beutner, 58, appeared to have the inside track, according to The Times. According to The Times, the lack of a decision from the LAUSD board thus far could mean that no candidate had a majority of votes or that the board was still trying for more than a slim 4-3 majority. It could also indicate that a decision has been made but important details of the employment contract remain under negotiation. Another possibility is that the board could be trying to bring in a team of leaders with different skills, possibly choosing more than one person to run the district from among a larger pool of candidates, according to the newspaper. L.A. Unified faces rising pension costs, underfunded retiree health benefits and union pressure to raise salaries, all while declining enrollment is draining financial resources, The Times reported. The district has been without a permanent superintendent since September, when Michelle King went on medical leave. King announced in January that she had cancer and would not return to the job. New Braunfels, TX (78130) Today Considerable cloudiness. A stray shower or thunderstorm is possible. High 87F. Winds E at 5 to 10 mph.. Tonight Mostly cloudy skies this evening will become partly cloudy after midnight. Slight chance of a rain shower. Low 68F. Winds light and variable. Success On The Way Ask Dr. Jeanette: Raise The Bar! Close The Achievement Gap! Part 1 Todays Fresh Start Charter Schools theme published prior to the Legislative event which took place on April 12 th in Sacramento; where California Public Charter Schools travelled for a historical event. The theme going forward for this event: Education Equity. The California Charter Schools Association is reforming itself, building interest in the lowest performing subgroup, African Americans. Thats good! For uncountable years, I have complained of the inequities in our education system, voicing it [to anyone who would listen] childrens minds have been enslaved, hungering for knowledge and success as they languished in the system. Most of the children dont know any better. They just go along..the participation of parents, guardians and family members help childrens success. The State mandated testing system has subgroups, e.g. School Wide, Socio-Economically Disadvantaged; African American, Latino, American Indian, Caucasian, Asian, etc. The number of students in a subgroup must be numerically significant to determine if the school will be evaluated on that group. Quoting Assemblymember Autumn Burke, Currently, The Local Control Funding Formula (LCFF), makes sure the most funding goes to the states highest needs students, which are defined as English Language Learners, low-income students, and foster and homeless youth. Black students however, remain the lowest performing subgroup of students in California outside of students with special needs. Despite this, they arent entitled to any extra funding under LCFF. Thats almost 300 million in LCFF funding that schools dont get to help this subgroup. So Assemblymembers Shirley Weber, Mike Gipson and I are writing AB 2635, which directs greater funding and demands greater accountability for the education of black kids in California. Our legislation establishes another high-needs subgroup to the LCFF for students not of a certain race but kids with the lowest academic performance. Then it directs the Superintendent of Public Instruction to reassess funding annually for the next lowest performing subgroup of students should Black student performance be lifted from the bottom. How is legislation made? All legislation begins as an idea, which can come from anyone. The process begins when someone persuades a Senator or Assemblymember to author a bill. Both Assemblymembers and Senators are limited to introducing forty bills per two-year session. A legislator, who acts as the author, [in this case three legislators, Honorable Assemblymembers Shirley Weber, Autumn Burke, and Mike Gipson], send the idea and language for the bill to the Legislative Counsel where it is drafted into the actual bill. The California State Constitution provides that every act shall only embrace but one subject and that subject must be expressed in the title of the measure. Also, every law must contain the enacting clause: The people of the State of California do enact as follows.. Part 2 coming ADVERTISEMENT Teach the Children. Jeanette Grattan Parker, Superintendent/Founder Todays Fresh Start Charter School www.todaysfreshstart.org Will You Marry Me? Inquiring Minds Want To Know Copyright. All rights reserved. [email protected] The 25th Annual Long Beach Step Show The National Pan-Hellenic Council (NPHC) of California State University hosted the 25th Annual Long Beach Step Show on Saturday April 14th at the Walter Pyramid in Long Beach, California. Various organizations across the West Coast competed for a cash prize and additional funds for their organizations philanthropy project. The theme focused on 90s nostalgia. Participants were encouraged to incorporate 90s culture throughout their performance. This ranged from wearing 90s attire, to paying homage to prominent television shows such as Martin and Living Single. Multi-million selling recording artist Montell Jordan took the stage to perform his hit song This Is How We Do It. Jordan, who is a member of Kappa Alpha Psi fraternity, spoke about the importance of Greek culture and his new venture as a pastor. NPHCs history holds a strong bond with the Civil Rights Movement. Black Greek Letter Organizations (BGLO) were created when Black people could not join any fraternities or sororities. Since the early 1900s, BGLOs efforts shaped the progression of Black culture. Prominent political leaders are Greek members. Martin Luther King, member of Alpha Phi Alpha, Coretta Scott King, member of Alpha Kappa Alpha, and Shirley Chisholm, member of Delta Sigma Theta, are few examples of the numerous members who promoted Black progression. In the end, members of Alpha Phi Alpha took home the prize for the fraternity category, while the ladies of Sigma Gamma Rho won the sorority category. ADVERTISEMENT If interested in becoming a member of the NPHC, please visit the specific organizations national website for more information. The Legacy of Dr. King and the Bank In Movement The night before Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. was assassinated 50 years ago he delivered his last speech, Ive Seen the Promised Land, in Memphis Tennessee and encouraged the crowd of 2,500 people to strengthen Black institutions including Black banks. weve got to strengthen black institutions. I call upon you to take your money out of the banks downtown and deposit your money in Tri-State Bank. We want a bank-in movement in Memphis. During that same year of 1968, the predecessor of OneUnited Bank, Unity Bank and Trust Company, was founded in Roxbury, Massachusetts. Today, OneUnited has grown to become the largest Black owned bank and first Black internet bank in the country. Tri-State Bank has also grown over the years as it continues to serve the greater Black community of Memphis. And Mechanic & Farmers of North Carolina, the oldest Black bank, is celebrating its 111th anniversary. In honor of the late Dr. King, and his legacy and visionary leadership, we reflect on his call for a bank in movement as we are inspired by the activism of millennials and the #BankBlack movement. ADVERTISEMENT Unity Bank was founded 50 years ago when there were 14,000 commercial banks in the U.S. of which only 20 were Black controlled. Established to give equal economic opportunity to the Black residents of Roxbury and Dorchester, Massachusetts, Unity Bank embarked on this journey with the slogan, The Bank with a Purpose! It provided free seminars on consumer education, investments, credit and how banking works. Unity Bank was conceived by John T. Hayden, a Black graduate of Harvard Business School and organized by the late Donald E. Sneed, Chairman and President, Marvin E. Gilmore, Vice President, and C. Bernard Fulp, Assistant Vice President and Chief Loan Officer. Mr. Fulp, who previously worked at two large banks in Boston and saw first-hand the discriminatory policies of banks including redlining stated, Place of residency is given more weight than any other factor when commercial banks grant loans. Slum residents are eliminated solely on the basis of where they live. This drives those who can least afford it to finance companies and loan sharks who charge unreasonable interest. Unity Bank was founded to change all of that. Although progress has been slow, there continues to be hope and opportunity inspired by the #BankBlack and #BuyBlack movements and supported by the internet and advancements in technology. The Black community has begun to focus on Dr. Kings economic message by recognizing the power of its $1.2 trillion in annual spending to build generational wealth. Black banks and credit unions are proud to be at the forefront of this burgeoning understanding of the power of collective economics. Nearly 50 years later, OneUnited Bank continues the legacy of Unity Bank, including its mission to be The Bank with a Purpose. OneUnited became the first Black interstate bank, expanding beyond Boston by acquiring banks in Miami and Los Angeles. The bank received a designation as a Community Development Financial Institution (CDFI) by the U.S. Department of Treasury and loaned over $2 billion to communities that are over 70% or more minority and low to moderate income, including Roxbury, Dorchester, Liberty City, South Central and Compton. The bank launched an internet bank in 2005 with mobile banking and 25,000 surcharge free ATMs and built an exciting online community through social media. OneUnited Bank is unapologetically Black. The bank continues to focus on financial literacy and, importantly, advocates for economic and social justice including supporting #BlackLivesMatter. After 50 years, the legacy of Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. lives on through the legacy of Unity Bank and Trust, the current work of OneUnited Bank and all Black banks. We are honored to carry the torchand recognize the importance of passing the baton from bank in to #BankBlack. Their Nightmare Ended, Freedom for Chibok Girls is Still Out of Reach Nearly four years after militants attacked a rural school and kidnapped over 200 girls in a well-planned raid, the nightmare has ended for about 100 Nigerian girls. Young women now, they study at a private school and grapple with life as a former Chibok girl. Im back, as they say, Hauwa Ntakai told a newspaper reporter who wanted to see how the women were adjusting to a second chance at life in a society that seems hesitant to fully welcome them home. While official figures count one hundred or so young women rescued or escaped from captivity, these are a fraction of the young people who wind up as brides, sexual slaves or fatalities brought about by extremists of Boko Haram, who oppose western education. ADVERTISEMENT Last fall, the girls from the Chibok school district were moved to a university campus. In addition to her studies, Ms. Ntakai takes an early morning yoga class and joins a debate night on social media. Still, her thoughts rarely stray from her sisters who are still captives of the Boko Haram insurgents. Now out of the clutches of the rebels, the girls live a tightly restricted life, as ordered by the government. They cant leave campus without an escort, they cant have visitors without special permission. If they gave birth during captivity, their children are not allowed to stay with them at school, and visits with family may be no more than one short visit a year. From an early photo by their captors showing the girls, faces drawn, wearing long Muslim gowns, a new photo shoot appeared this week in the New York Times. The girls are colorfully attired but with a shadow of sadness in their eyes. They will not be the normal people they were before they were abducted, Saudatu Mahdi, head of the Womens Rights Advancement and Protection Alternative told Dionne Searcey of the Times. A lot of restrictions will come with their lifestyle. At the university, classmates fear that the former kidnappers will turn up or that the girls have become terrorists themselves. Somber pictures of the Chibok girls appear on six full pages of the New York Times. Theyve seen hell together, said Somiari Demm, a psychologist who counsels the women, teaches them yoga and attends church services alongside them. ADVERTISEMENT For now, the hardest adjustment for the women, Demm says, is being free, but not really free. U.S. Strike Against Syria is One More Step Toward a Lawless Presidency Mission accomplished, announced President Donald Trump after the United States, France and England unleashed more than 100 missiles on Syria in reaction to the regimes alleged use of chemical weapons against its own people. What the mission accomplished, however, should alarm us all. It will do nothing to end the suffering of the Syrian people, as the fighting continues in a brutal civil war now in its seventh year. It will do nothing to weaken the grip of Bashar al-Assad who, backed by Russia and Iran, has consolidated his hold on much of Syria. The major casualties of the raid are international law and the Constitution of the United States, for this act openly violated both. ADVERTISEMENT The UN Charter the charter that the United States played a major role in drafting after World War II prohibits the unprovoked attack of one country on another, except in self-defense, or with the sanction of the United Nations itself. Punitive attacks are outlawed for the very reason that they are an excuse that the strong use to wage war on the weak. Syria poses no threat to the U.S. or its allies. The U.S. and its allies attacked even as an independent group the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons was on its way to Syria to investigate the site and possibly provide independent assessment as to whether a chemical attack occurred and, if so, by whom. The attack took place without even that assessment. Over the last 25 years, after the U.S. became the sole global power with the collapse of the Soviet Union, there have been efforts to develop the right to protect, essentially giving authority for attacking a regime to stop genocidal attacks on its people. But the right to protect can be enforced only with UN sanction. Otherwise it simply becomes an excuse for the strong to use when deciding to attack the weak. The U.S. Constitution gives Congress the right to declare war. Congress has provided no authority to wage war on Syria. The result is that the president now openly asserts the right to attack any country on his own hook, without the authority of the United Nations or the sanction of Congress. A president above the law is a violation of the founding principles of this Republic. Some justify the act because the missile strikes are aimed to enforce the treaty that bans the use of chemical weapons, which Syria has signed. The use of chemical weapons is an outrage that should trigger international action. Russia and China have stopped the UN from acting. So, it is argued, the U.S. and its allies must act to punish the alleged violation of the global ban. This attack, it is argued, draws a line. ADVERTISEMENT The problem with acting alone, however, is clear. The powerful will act only to punish opponents who are weak. The U.S. will not attack allies like Saudi Arabia for waging what increasingly appears to be a genocidal war in Yemen. It will not attack adversaries like China or Russia who are nuclear powers. It attacks Syria only because Syria is an adversary and is weak and cannot defend itself. This is hardly the way to enforce justice or legal order. If the world will not join in enforcing the ban on chemical weapons, the ban will be undermined. We would be better off rousing global outrage at the Syrians for using chemical weapons and at the Russians and Chinese for blocking international action, than taking the law into our own hands. Violation of international law and the Constitution can be dismissed as legalistic concerns. Syria has committed an outrage. The United States and its allies have punished them. But legal authority is what separates legitimate use of force from criminality. Respect for the law is what separates the civilized from the jungle. This strike will make the president look tough. It will likely boost his approval ratings. But it is one more step toward a lawless and unaccountable executive that threatens the very basis of our democracy. When Children are Forced to Protect Themselves 2018 Vote for Your Lives Were not where were supposed to be! These were the words heard by over 800,000 young people who showed up on a brisk Saturday afternoon in Washington D.C. On March 24th, 2018 as people from over 800 cities across the nation and millions of viewers eyes were transfixed on their television screens, Yolanda King, the granddaughter of the great Dr. Martin Luther King, Jr. took the stage with one of the Parkland Florida shooting survivor Emma Gonzales. In the same fashion her late grandfather did fifty years earlier; the young Miss King used her voice to give a clarion call to both young and old across the Country, I have a dream that enough is enough, and that this should be a gun free world. Her words were followed with a rallying cry by the crowd, Vote them out Vote them out, Vote them out! The organizers were young and energetic. Most of them were under the age of 18. They were survivors of one of the worst school massacres in American history. The shooting took place at Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida. 17 young people were slaughtered by a lone gunman wielding an AR 15 assault rifle. The assaults on the 16 students and one school staff member represent the fifth school shooting in 2018. It also marks the 187th school shooting since April 20, 1999; 18 years ago, at 11:19 a.m. when 13 people were killed and 20 were injured in a similar attack. While the latest shootings garnered outrage across the globe, young people in African American communities were reminded of the everyday gun violence that riddles homes and doorsteps in poor communities on a daily basis with little or no fanfare. ADVERTISEMENT According to a CDC statistic, African Americans are eight times more likely to be murdered by a gun than Whites. In Wisconsin, a Black person is 26 times more likely to be shot than a White person. African Americans make up only 12.3% of the U.S. population but account for 14% of the 13,000 gun related homicides each year. The disparities continue in US cities with far less fanfare and in many cases, indifference with privileged attitudes that blames the violence on those people and their communities. While the effects of the mayhem on victims are similar, the response has been strikingly different from politicians and organizations such as the NRA, and other gun enthusiasts. The organizers of the March 24th 2018, March on Washington ensured they reached out to other cities and communities that had been affected by gun violence in years past. On the stage and prominently sharing the platform were young people and victims from Chicago, Los Angeles, New York and other cities. They were Black, Brown, Asian, and others whose voices have been crying out for decades pleading for politicians to help stop the violence in inner city communities. The granddaughter of the great Dr. Martin Luther King Jr. said, I have a dream of a world free of guns and assault rifles. 18-year old DAngelo McDade from the West Side of Chicago stated, I too, am a victim, a survivor, and a victor of gun violence. Another student, a 17-year old male from Louisville stated, Im here fighting for Dequante Hobbs Jr. a 7-year old gunned down when a stray bullet pierced his body while he was eating cake at the dinner table! Im here fighting for Savannah Walker who died trying to save her friend when a gunman opened fire at a concert! Im here for Jordan Edwards, 15, killed by police with an AR 15 rifle while driving from a party in Texas! It is important for the world to know how many young African Americans continue to lose their lives every day in this country. We are here as a united front and pledged solidarity to the parkland organizers and youth around the country! For decades, leaders and community activists in African American communities across the Country have marched in the streets, burned candles, prayed in churches, mosque and temples with little or no real action to address the root causes of violence. Sociologists have identified many of those root causes as poor living conditions, fractured families, drugs infested neighborhoods, gangs, and childhood trauma. They theorize these causes originate from physical, emotional, and verbal abuse. Weve had to devise our own strategies to save ourselves. We are inspired that those kids had the wisdom and insight to include victims of other communities said Lawanda Monroe, Executive Director of Stop the Violence Increase the Peace Foundation. The genius of the organizers represents the evolution for a mass movement that will not take no for an answer. Politicians, mostly republicans have been criticized for being compromised by the NRA who represents one of the strongest lobbies in Washington dc. Tragedy and political complacency has forced this painful alliance to take matters into their own hands, its encouraging and hopeful to see young people working to save their own lives. In 2018, we will be asking youth, 18 years and older to Vote for Your Lives! Winnie Mandela, Mother of the Nation: Freedom Fighter of Fire and Water She stepped on the turbulent stage of African and human history with a concentrated and consuming fire against the oppressor and life-giving water for the people. No, she was not one to ask permission to live free in her own land, or to exercise freely the rights she had by birth and by just being human. Nor did she engage the enemies of African and human freedom as a summer soldier, but came to the battlefield with a deep-rooted defiance and determination and vowed not to walk away until the war of liberation was won. A freedom fighter of fire and water and an all-seasons soldier, she laid down in life and rose up in radiance in the heavens, April 2, 2018 and now sits in the sacred circle of the ancestors. We speak here of Nomzamo Winnie Zanyiwe Madikizela Mandela (September 26, 1936), daughter of Columbus Madikizela and Nomathasanga Gertrude Mzaidume Madikizela; mother of Zenani Mandela-Dlamini and Zindziwe Mandela; former wife and continuing companion in love and struggle of Rolihlahla Nelson Mandela; Mother of the Nation; and freedom fighter of the liberation movement that called her into being and created the context and challenges to make her into what she would become. It is the beauty and boldness of her name that predicts and promises what she would become and be, defiantly do and audaciously dare. Her name, as she lived it, is Nomzamo, she who strives and struggles, she who goes through trials and comes forth triumphant; resilient and ever-resisting one. It is she who stood up in the apartheid caves called courts and refused to be referred to as a number. My name is Nomzamo Winnie Madizikela Mandela I would like to be addressed as such, she defiantly demanded. ADVERTISEMENT Let us remember her well with Izibongo, praise songs, reflection and righteous and relentless resistance; she who left us an uplifting abundance of inspiring and instructive lessons of life and struggle. We speak of one who refused to be defeated by the savagery of apartheid and White supremacy masquerading as civilization. They burned down her house and she built countless others in the hearts and minds of the people that they could not burn or bulldoze down. They arrested her repeatedly, tortured and brutalized her, but she was not frightened or defeated by the winter wolves that surrounded her, tearing at her will and flesh with torture, beatings and threats of a horrible death. She said, There is nothing the government has not done to me. There isnt any pain I havent known. And there is no longer anything I can fear. Indeed, she endured the pain, survived the worst, stood up and walked out, and went boldly back to the battlefield, standing tall and towering over the small-minded, short sighted and low-life men that savaged her. It is the overwhelming love of her people that lifts her up in history and in the heavens, raising and praising her name for the awesome work she has done on earth and the ever-burning light she has left in the sky. The signs held high at her memorial read in the record the love and honor for her and call her forth forever, defining her as faithful servant, fearless spirit and comrade foreverindeed, comrade and co-combatant in every battle fought, every struggle waged and every act and work to uphold and advance freedom, justice and other good in the world. She campaigned tirelessly for 27 years for Mandelas release from captivity in the context of her fierce and exacting fight for the freedom, rights and dignity of her people. She was his voice and victory over captivity, his message and messenger to the people, his witness and window to the world. And she was the major face and moving force for the Movement when so many others were in captivity, in exile or underground. It is she who called the people to continue and intensify the struggle, demanded more of both the leaders and the masses, inspired and mentored the youth in struggle and opened a way for women to advance forward and understand and assert themselves in valued, valuable and expansive ways. Reaffirming that her relationship with her world-renowned companion in struggle was an equal and mutually respecting one, she states, I have a good relationship with Mandela. But Im not Mandelas product. I am the product of the masses of my country and the product of my enemy. To say that she is a product of the masses of her people is to reaffirm her peoples role in calling her into being, nurturing and supporting her, and urging her to wage struggle, endure and dare to win. And to say she is a product of the enemy, is to say the enemy forced her to fight for the freedom he took, the rights and dignity he denied, and the kind of family life he refused to allow for herself and her people. But it is she who chose to fight rather than concede, and thus in the final analysis, it is not the enemy or oppressor who really produces her, but she, herself, who in the context of community makes herself, becomes the all-seasons soldier the Movement and historical moment demanded. Thus, she is in reality a product and producer of the Movement in which she learned to be fearless, defiant, determined, self-sacrificing and committed to victory regardless of the costs. Nomzamo, the ever striving and struggling one, is the Mother of the Nation, but she is also a daughter of her people and the liberation movement that brought her into being and made her mother. And the people are the makers of the Movement, indeed, its mothers and fathers. In the tradition of our ancestors, we have many mothers and fathers, for we know and hold firm to the principle and practice that it takes a whole community to raise a child, free a people or bring a nation into being. And in the midst of all the mothers and the fathers of our nations whom we raise up and rightly revere: Nomzamo; Nelson Mandela; Aminata Harriet Tubman; Kwame Nkrumah, Yaa Asantewa; Malcolm X, Fannie Lou Hamer and all the others too numerous to name here, we must not forget the very people who made and make them and us possible, our people, African people ever engaged in righteous and relentless struggle to be ourselves, free ourselves and bring a deep and broad-reaching good in the world. Indeed, Nomzamo asked us to remember all the other heroes and heroines of the Liberation Movement in and out of ANC, singling out Steve Biko, and stressing praise for the heroic efforts and sacrifices of everyday people. ADVERTISEMENT And how better can we honor our rightly raised up and revered ancestors, mothers and fathers of us all than to continue this awesome world-encompassing struggle, rightfully attending to ourselves and reaching out to others, and giving constant due consideration to the well-being of the world. Indeed, we must finish the fight and achieve the truly free society and good world we all deserve and to which Nomzamo and our ancestors and our people have sacrificed so much. The word at the memorial was that Nomzamo did not die, she multiplied. May each and all of us be counted among these who continue to struggle, keep the faith, and hold the line till victory. And then we can truly say, as an achieved reality rather than an aspiration in process: Ekugcineni sikhululekile! Amandla ngabantu; Amandla ngawethu! We are free at last! Power to the people! Power to us! Kwa kweli, tumeshinda! Truly, we have won! Dr. Maulana Karenga, Professor and Chair of Africana Studies, California State University-Long Beach; Executive Director, African American Cultural Center (Us); Creator of Kwanzaa; and author of Kwanzaa: A Celebration of Family, Community and Culture and Essays on Struggle: Position and Analysis, www.AfricanAmericanCulturalCenter-LA.org; www.OfficialKwanzaaWebsite.org; www.MaulanaKarenga.org. Lawmakers in the United States Senate may now bring their young babies with them to work. The Senate voted Wednesday to permit children under the age of one in the chamber while their parents cast votes. The Senate chamber is where lawmakers discuss and vote on legislation. It has 100 wooden desks -- one for each senator. The reason for the historic change of rules was the birth of Senator Tammy Duckworths baby. The Illinois Democrat gave birth to her second child, another girl, on April 9. Duckworth, a 50-year-old former Army colonel who lost her legs in the Iraq War, is one of only 10 lawmakers who have given birth while in Congress. And she is the first sitting Senator to do so. Duckworth wants to be able to continue to vote on issues as she takes care of her infant daughter. But the Senate requires voting to be done in person. So, Duckworth proposed that babies be permitted in the chamber. No lawmakers objected to the proposal. Duckworth said the ruling helps bring the Senate into the 21st century. Although no one voted against it, senators in both political parties expressed concern about the new rule. They worry that babies might disrupt Senate customs. Senator Pat Roberts, a Republican from Kansas, said, Im not going to object to anything like that, not in this day and age. However, he does not believe it is necessary for babies to be on the Senate floor during voting. He suggested that lawmakers with babies could instead cast their votes from a small room near the chamber. Ive done it, he said. Other senators offered the cloakroom suggestion as a compromise, as well. In answer, Minnesota Senator Amy Klobuchar noted that Duckworth mostly gets around in a wheelchair. The cloakroom is not wheelchair accessible. Some senators then proposed making an exception just for Duckworth. However, Klobuchar and other allies said the Senate should aim to make work life easier for parents. We strongly believe...that it should be a permanent rules change. Klobuchar, a Democrat, said she spent several weeks privately promising both Republicans and Democrats that the new rule would not mean diaper-changing or nursing on the Senate floor. Senator Orrin Hatch, a Republican from Utah, said he had no problem with the rule change. But what if there are 10 babies on the floor of the Senate? he asked. Klobuchar answered that having ten babies on the floor would be a delight. She noted if that were the case, it would likely mean more young senators had been elected to office. The average age of senators is over 60. Im Kelly Jean Kelly. The Associated Press reported this story. Ashley Thompson adapted it for Learning English. Kelly Jean Kelly was the editor. Are there rules in your country that permit lawmakers to go to work with their young children? Let us know in the comments section. _____________________________________________________________ Words in This Story cast - v. to make (a vote) formally infant - n. a very young child disrupt - v. to cause (something) to be unable to continue in the normal way cloakroom - n. a room in a public building where coats and other belongings may be left temporarily accessible - adj. able to be reached or approached diaper - n. a piece of cloth or other material that is placed between a baby's legs and fastened around the waist to hold body waste delight - n. a strong feeling of happiness : great pleasure or satisfaction Artificial intelligence (AI) has arrived on the farm. A Dutch company has developed technology to follow the movements and activities of cows. The high-tech system, powered by AI and motion sensors, is called The Intelligent Dairy Farmers Assistant. The company, Connecterra, launched the system in the United States in December 2017 after several years of testing and operations in Europe. A device is put around the neck of the cow to record its movements. This information is then processed by a computer that uses AI to learn about the animals behavior over time. The system can tell farmers what the cow is doing in real time. This information can help predict when cattle get sick, become less productive or are ready for mating. Richard Watson owns the Seven Oaks Dairy in Waynesboro, Georgia. He was one of the first American farmers to use the high-tech system. It can pick up whether the cow is eating, whether it is ruminating, whether it is walking, whether it is drinking, whether it is laying down, standing up. Watson said the system is a big help because it is impossible for farmers to keep up with the activities of each cow individually. He added that having a computer identify which of his 2,000 cattle need attention could help improve farm productivity by up to 10 percent. He estimates this difference could greatly increase his profits. Just a 10 percent or five percent increase, or improvement in productivity, means hundreds of thousands of dollars to us, aside from the fact that we just want happier and healthier and more welfare in our animals, anyway. Watson says he sees the technology being used in many large farming systems if it continues to be successful over time. The founder and head of Connecterra is Yasir Khokhar. He says the idea for the system came while he was living on a dairy farm south of Amsterdam. It turns out the technology farmers use is really outdated in many respects, Khokhar told the Associated Press. He added that most of the technology that does exist is difficult to use. He says modern agriculture greatly needs new technology like this. The company says information about the cows can be collected and seen on a cellphone or other mobile device. A text message can also inform farmers of concerns involving the animals. Some American farmers are using other sensor equipment to receive messages about their cows. Moocall, a business based in Ireland, says its products can send farmers a text message when their cows are ready to give birth. A device put on the cows tail measures the number of contractions to predict the most likely time of birth. The company also sells a product called Moocall HEAT. It says this device uses temperature sensors to predict the exact time a female is in heat, the time that she is ready for mating. Mary Mackinson Faber is a fifth-generation farmer who lives near Pontiac, Illinois. She said such devices could be great tools to inform farmers about the condition of their cows before problems happen. That if a cow is calving it will shoot us a text, and we can you know come out here and check on it. Faber added that while the technology is a very useful tool, she believes it will always take more than machines to do what is right for the animals. There are certain tasks that it can help with, and it can assist us, but I dont think it will ever replace the human. Im Bryan Lynn. Ryan Nakashima reported this story for the Associated Press. Bryan Lynn adapted it for VOA Learning English. George Grow was the editor. We want to hear from you. Write to us in the Comments section, and visit our Facebook page. _______________________________________________________________ QUIZ Quiz - Smart Farm Technology Tracks Behavior of Cows Start the Quiz to find out Start Quiz _______________________________________________________________ Words in This Story artificial intelligence n. the ability of a machine to reproduce human behavior ruminate v. to bring up and chew again what was already chewed and swallowed welfare n. the state of being happy and healthy outdated adj. no longer useful or acceptable: not modern or current contraction n. a strong, painful movement of muscles experienced during the birthing process task n. a piece of work given to someone Wall Street analysts have given VirnetX a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but VirnetX wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. This morning, Police used force and detained dozens of demonstrators, opposed to the election of Serzh Sargsyan as Armenias new prime minister. The demonstrators attempted to encircle Government Building #3 in Yerevans Republic Square and block all access routes to employees, calling for a strike. Police used force to remove demonstrators from all the entrances of the building. The demonstrators, led by Nikol Pashinyan, were surrounded by armed police for some time, calling on to Police to join the movement. Then the demonstrators left the building and continued the march. Pashinyan periodically announces that they have nothing against Police, their purpose is peaceful and the march is against the acting government. Police have already stated that the detainees might be kept in the police stations longer than the prescribed time limit. You can follow the march online here. Note to readers - After the National Assembly elected Serzh Sargsyan prime minister on April 17, Yelk Alliance MP Nikol Pashinyan, who spearheaded the Im Kayl (My Step) movement to prevent Sargsyans election, declared a Velvet Revolution to be carried out on a rotating basis. Protesters will briefly occupy government buildings, urging civil servants inside to join them. The intent is to disrupt the normal flow of life in downtown Yerevan, blocking traffic on major streets, and then hold evening rallies in Republic Square. Today marks the seventh day of civil disobedience in Yerevan. Photo: Hakob Poghosyan Prosecutors have carried out raids at 10 locations in southern Germany in an investigation of current and former managers at automaker Porsche, a unit of Volkswagen, over the companys diesel emissions scandal. Stuttgart prosecutors said yesterdays raids, in the southern states of Baden-Wuerttemberg and Bavaria, are part of an investigation into suspicions of fraud and misleading advertising. They said the investigation concerns a Porsche board member, another member of its upper management and a third person who is no longer employed by Porsche. Prosecutors elsewhere in Germany are investigating alleged wrongdoing at Volkswagen and Audi, another of the German automakers units, in cases related to the scandal over the manipulation of diesel emissions that broke in 2015. AP A group of approximately 200 residents is calling on the government to refund taxes pertaining to their vehicles which were damaged during last years Typhoon Hato, in addition to returning the money it collected from the cars auctions. Accompanied by lawmaker Sulu Sou, representatives of the group held a press conference at the New Macau Association headquarters, calling on the government to refund the taxes even if car owners did not purchase a new car. Regardless if owners bought a new car or not, they should get a refund of the taxes they already paid for their flooded cars, said Chan, one of the representatives. Chan then condemned the governments tax reduction proposal because it does not completely accept the general opinion of the owners of flooded cars. We feel really pitiful and disappointed said Chan. We have been only fighting for taking back the taxes we already paid. We never had the intention of getting one more penny from the government, Chan noted. Another representative, surnamed Chow, noted that they dont want all paid tax to be refunded, but only the part corresponding to the rest of cars lifespan if the cars were not flooded. In addition to asking for a tax refund, the group also wants the government to improve the citys public parking lots. A female representative, surnamed Ho, said that many of the 6,000 car owners who already canceled their car licenses, feel they have been kidnapped by the government because they are now facing the dilemma of having to accept the governments current unreasonable plan. The government took our cars to a public auction, and also took the [auction] money into its pocket, but it did not publicize how much money the cars were auctioned for. We think its not fair, complained Ho. We request the government to return all the money, excluding [the auction] administration fees, to the car owners, because the cars were ours, he added. Today, the Legislative Assembly is expected to vote on the policy of the tax reduction on flooded or heavily damaged vehicles that were traded in for new ones. The tax reduction includes a refund and, in addition to the previously established maximum ceilings of MOP140,000 for cars and MOP5,500 for motorcycles, there will be MOP8,000 for cars and MOP2,000 for motorcycles. The calculation of the final amount will also take into account the number of years the damaged vehicle was in operation. Each year of life will correspond to a depreciation rate of 10 percent per year after the first year of age to an age limit of 10 years old. A large crowd of people opposed to the election of Serzh Sargsyan as Armenias new prime minister is marching through Yerevan and has reached Isakov Street, disrupting traffic on the artery. MP Nikol Pashinyan, whos spearheading a campaign to disrupt normal life in Yerevan, has called for another rally this evening in Republic Square. This has become a popular celebration, not a revolution, Pasinyan declared. This morning, protesters attempted to encircle Government Building #3 and block all access routes to employees. Police forcibly removed all the protesters, detaining scores of them. Pashinyan has called for the immediate release of all those detained. Note to readers - After the National Assembly elected Serzh Sargsyan prime minister on April 17, Yelk Alliance MP Nikol Pashinyan, who spearheaded the Im Kayl (My Step) movement to prevent Sargsyans election, declared a Velvet Revolution to be carried out on a rotating basis. Protesters will briefly occupy government buildings, urging civil servants inside to join them. The intent is to disrupt the normal flow of life in downtown Yerevan, blocking traffic on major streets, and then hold evening rallies in Republic Square. Today marks the seventh day of civil disobedience in Yerevan. China will offer greater visa-free access for tourists from 59 countries to Hainan from May 1, in a move to support reform and opening up in the countrys southernmost island province, the State Immigration Administration announced yesterday. Under the new policy, group and individual tourists from 59 countries, including Russia, Britain, France, Germany, and the United States, can visit Hainan visa-free and stay there for up to 30 days on condition that they book their tour through travel agencies. Hainan has offered a 15-day visa-free stay for group tourists from 21 countries since 2000, and added another five countries to the list in 2010. By extending the policy to individuals and the stay to up to 30 days, the government aims to attract more international tourists, nurture the tourism industry and meet the needs of foreign individuals, said the administrations vice head Qu Yunhai. The eased visa-free access to Hainan is part of Chinas effort to build the province into a free trade port with Chinese characteristics, as stated in the guidelines on supporting Hainan to deepen reform and opening up, released by central authorities Saturday. The announcement comes as the province often billed as Chinas Hawaii is trying to manage a budget gap and the debt woes of HNA Group Co., its biggest conglomerate, which is facing pressure from creditors after a global acquisition spree. Foreigners traveling in the rest of mainland China will generally need to arrange visas before arriving in the country. Hainan, which is roughly the size of Switzerland, received a package of economic policies paving the way for horse racing, sport lotteries, and expanded duty-free shopping after Chinese president Xi Jinping visited the area earlier this month. Analysts say this shift to Chinas approach toward gambling could end up threatening the USD33 billion casino industry in Macau. Separately, Hainans provincial finance department announced plans to establish an offshore duty-free shop in Boao, a town in the city of Qionghai. Wang Yalin, an official with the department, said Hainans offshore duty-free shopping policy will cover all outbound tourists including ship passengers in the future. Currently Hainan has two duty-free shops, with one in the provincial capital Haikou and the other in the resort city of Sanya on the southern tip of the island. They target outbound passengers who leave the island by flight or train. The State Council, Chinas cabinet, gave Hainan permission to run a pilot offshore duty-free program in April 2011 in an effort to make the island a world-class tourist destination. Hainan has become a famous tropical resort for overseas tourists in recent years, with the number of overseas tourists exceeding 1.1 million in 2017, up nearly 50 percent year on year. MDT/Agencies Countries with visa-free access to Hainan ALBANIA; ARGENTINA; Australia; Austria; Belarus; Belgium; Bosnia and Herzegovina; Brazil; Brunei; Bulgaria; Canada; Chile; Croatia; Cyprus; Czech Republic; Denmark; Estonia; Finland; France; Germany; Greece; Hungary; Iceland; Indonesia; Ireland; Italy; Japan; Kazakhstan; Latvia; Lithuania; Luxembourg; Macedonia; Malaysia; Malta; Mexico; Monaco; Montenegro; Netherlands; New Zealand; Norway; Philippines; Poland; Portugal; Qatar; Romania; Russia; Serbia; Singapore; Slovakia; Slovenia; South Korea; Spain; Sweden; Switzerland; Thailand; UAE; Ukraine; U.K.; U.S. Mozambique may have a role to play in the second wave of railroad construction in Africa, according to an article just published in the China- Lusophone Brief (CLBrief), an information service on China and Portuguese-speaking countries. In the article entitled Big investment, but uncertain strategy for Moatize coal, the author points out that most of the railways on the African continent were built during the colonial period with a very clear objective transporting raw materials as quickly as possible to the coast and to factories in other parts of the world. The trade between these commodity-producing countries and even domestically was something that was given little attention, the article notes. This continuing reality is, however, being overcome by a second wave of railway construction, which pays more attention to the real needs of African countries, in the case of those being built to connect the ports of Mombasa and Dar-es-Salaam, in the Indian Ocean, to landlocked countries in the Great Lakes region. Mozambique could be one of the major players in this second railway revolution as, while its railways serve primarily to carry coal, they could also serve to support the growth of cross-border trade. Railway lines carrying coal from South Africa and Botswana for export may be used to transport other products and the lines that exist in the north-central region of the country may also be used to transport the products that the landlocked countries in the region, such as Malawi and Zimbabwe, need to export. The Nacala line, on which Brazilian group Vale has spent billions of dollars, is already connected to the railways of Malawi as it heads from Moatize in the province of Tete to the port of Nacala in the province of Nampula. In addition to the Sena line linking Moatize to the port of Beira, in Sofala province, there is another line that was built in the colonial period linking the port to Zimbabwe, Zambia and the Democratic Republic of Congo, which although it is in operation as far as Zimbabwe needs a massive investment in order to serve its original purpose. MDT/Macauhub Chinas navy held live-fire exercises near Taiwan yesterday in a warning to the democratic, self-ruled island against what Beijing describes as dangerous remarks on independence. Few details about the drills in the Taiwan Strait have been released by the Chinese government. State broadcaster China Central Television reported that the exercises targeted advocates of formal independence for Taiwan, saying in a headline on its website, Dont say you havent been warned! Taiwans Defense Ministry spokesman, Chen Chung-chi, sought to downplay the drill, saying China was exaggerating the scale of the activity to create anxiety among Taiwanese. It is the Chinese Communist Party that has played this up with cheap verbal intimidation and saber rattling through the state media, hoping to create panic and unease, Chen said. Chen described the drill as a regular artillery shooting exercise and said China was hyping it up to sound like a so-called military exercise in the Taiwan Strait. Chinas Defense Ministry did not immediately respond to questions. The maritime safety authority in the coastal province of Fujian announced the one-day drill last week, saying only that it would start at 8 a.m. and end at midnight. Last weeks announcement of the drill coincided with President Xi Jinpings attendance at what was the largest fleet review since the founding of the Peoples Republic of China in 1949. It comprised 48 ships, among them Chinas sole operating aircraft carrier, along with 76 helicopters, fighter jets and bombers, and more than 10,000 personnel. The fleet review last week was held in the South China Sea, off the coast of Hainan province. Chinese officials have also denounced the recent passage of a U.S. law encouraging more high-level contacts with Taiwan. China says the Taiwan Travel Act violates U.S. commitments not to restore formal exchanges severed when Washington switched diplomatic recognition from Taipei to Beijing in 1979. An agreement to provide Taiwan with submarine manufacturing technology and the appointment of hawkish National Security Adviser John Bolton have also hardened views among anti-American nationalists in China. China claims Taiwan as its own territory and says the sides, which separated during the Chinese civil war in 1949, must eventually be united, by force if necessary. Despite a lack of formal ties, Washington is legally bound to respond to threats to Taiwan and is the islands main supplier of foreign military hardware. Beijing has also repeatedly criticized Taiwanese officials and has lately singled out Premier William Lai after he told the Taiwanese parliament that hes a Taiwanese independence worker, saying that Taiwan is a sovereign, independent nation. Asked about Lais comments, Liu Jieyi, director of Chinas Taiwan Affairs Office, said earlier this week, according to the Global Times newspaper, Hes precisely a Taiwanese independence advocate! Liu was also quoted as saying that China has enough confidence and ability to stop any remarks and actions that attempt to separate any territory from the motherland. A spokesman for the same office said earlier this month that Lais comments on independence are dangerous and presumptuous. Gillian Wong, Beijing, AP China Hydroelectric Corporation is a developer, owner and operator of small hydroelectric power projects in China. The projects are located in Zhejiang, Fujian, Yunnan and Sichuan. As of December 31, 2012, wholly owns 22 operating hydroelectric power projects and have controlling interests in three operating hydroelectric power projects. In March 2012, the Company sold 100% of the Yuanping hydroelectric power project. In April 2013, the Company sold the Yuheng hydroelectric power project, a 30 megawatt (MW) project located in Fujian province. In July 2014, the Company announced that it has completed the merger with CPT Wyndham Sub Ltd., a wholly-owned subsidiary of CPT Wyndham Holdings Ltd. Read More 10 hours ago Pharmacies face 1st trial over role in opioid crisis CLEVELAND (AP) So many prescription painkillers were dispensed in Lake County, Ohio, between 2012 and 2016 that the amount equaled 265 pills for every resident. Just to the south, the flood of prescription opioids during the same period equated to 400 pills for every resident of Trumbull County. Attorneys say efforts to address the ensuing overdose epidemic has cost each of the financially struggling counties at least $1 billion. Read Article Police have detained 100 people today in Yerevan as of 1:30pm. The number exceeds the 91 detained yesterday and the 90 detained the day before. Police Public Affairs Chief Edgar Janoyan told Hetq that those detained are being kept in police stations throughout Yerevan. In Armenia, these detentions are legally described as administrative arrests, when various municipal codes are violated. In most cases, police can only hold people for no more than three hours. Those not released by this deadline are then detained for further questioning and possibly face criminal charges. Over the past week, hundreds have been detained, including minors, with many complaining of being detained for longer than three hours. As officials scramble to convene the hastily announced and once-unthinkable meeting in the coming weeks, the site itself remains an open question. It is unclear whether Mr. Kims fleet of Soviet-era planes can fly him more than a few thousand miles from North Korea. We know he has a plane, but its an old plane, said Sue Mi Terry, a former C.I.A. analyst and National Security Council aide who worked on Korea issues. No one really knows if it works. Since taking power in 2011, Mr. Kim is not known to have flown outside his country, and the question of his transportation adds a layer of political complications to a fraught and uncertain summit meeting With the expected range of Mr. Kims planes, a trip to Hawaii or Guam, the closest United States territory to North Korea, would almost certainly require a refueling stop or a borrowed plane. Korea experts call that an indignity that Mr. Kim would not accept. A new University of Kansas research effort featured in the current edition of Integrative Biology has resulted in a low-cost, reliable blood test that uses a small plastic chip about the size of a credit card that can deliver the same diagnostic information as a bone biopsy -- but using a simple blood draw instead. Credit: University of Kansas The diagnosis and treatment of multiple myeloma, a cancer affecting plasma cells, traditionally forces patients to suffer through a painful bone biopsy. During that procedure, doctors insert a bone-biopsy needle through an incision to get a bone marrow sampleor make a larger incision and remove a section of bone via surgery. But the days of using bone biopsies to guide treatment for multiple myeloma and other cancers, such as many types of leukemia, may be numbered. A new University of Kansas research effort featured in the current edition of Integrative Biology has resulted in a low-cost, reliable blood test that uses a small plastic chip about the size of a credit card that can deliver the same diagnostic information as a bone biopsybut using a simple blood draw instead. "For the last 10 years, we've been developing a blood-based test for a variety of cancer diseasesone of them is multiple myeloma," said Steven Soper, Foundation Distinguished Professor of Chemistry and Mechanical Engineering at KU and a member of The University of Kansas Cancer Center, who led the research. "We'll be able to eliminate the need for bone-marrow biopsies and allow the clinician to determine the best way to treat the disease using a blood draw. From this test, the clinician will be able to determine the stage of the disease, what type of drug will best treat the disease and monitor for signs of recurrence if the disease goes into remission." Soper, who also serves as director of the Center of BioModular Multi-scale System for Precision Medicine at KU and KU Medical Center, said that previous plastic chips to test for multiple myeloma had shortcomings, such as picking up regular blood cells instead of multiple myeloma cells in the blood. By contrast, the new chip developed at KU vastly improves testing performance and accuracy over previous chips for multiple myeloma. High levels of circulating multiple myeloma cells are linked with more aggressive disease and worse outcomes, so a sensitive test is vital for assessing the state of the disease in a patient and devising the most effective therapy. "We get very few blood cells," Soper said. "Only multiple myeloma cells. So, the ability for us to efficiently detect those cells is very high and thus, diagnose the disease at a more treatable stage." Moreover, other attempts to create chips that test for multiple myeloma have proven to be complicated and expensive to manufacture. "The chip we're using, because it is made from a plastic, can be injection molded, the same method that is used to produce CDs, DVDs and Blu-ray Discs," Soper said. "What's really nice is we can produce these chips for a couple of dollars per chip, which makes it really appropriate for testing in a clinical setting." Soper's co-authors on the paper are Joyce Kamande, Maria Lindell and Peter Voorhees of the University of North Carolina at Chapel Hill and Ma?gorzata Witek of KU. The new test for multiple myeloma developed by the team will be brought to market by BioFluidica, a San Diego-based company with a research lab in Lawrence and a clinical testing lab planned for the KU Medical Center very soon. "BioFluidica has been around for about two years now and is making excellent progress in bringing this chip-based technology to market," Soper said. "Patients will soon be benefiting from this technology. We're already doing clinical testing on different diseases using this technology at Children's Mercy Hospital in Kansas City on pediatric patients with acute leukemia. It's the same premisewe are looking for tumor cells in blood to see signs of disease recurrence, negating the need for a bone biopsy." Indeed, the KU researcher said the new technology developed by his team could have applications across many cancers, making diagnostics easier for patients and clinicians, and helping usher in more tailored therapies that could improve patient outcomes. "We've demonstrated the utility of this technology in a variety of cancer diseases," Soper said. "Here, we're homing in on multiple myeloma, but we've developed tests for two forms of leukemia and for pancreatic cancer, prostate cancer, ovarian cancer, colorectal cancer and breast cancer. With our technology, we'll be able to see if patients are developing cancers before they have overt symptoms and help improve survival." Soper noted the technology could be ideal for patients living far from major medical facilities, such as those living in rural regions. "Some of this technology can be really important to areas that don't have high-end cancer screening tools and thus must travel to a major cancer center to be treated," he said. "For instance, this test can be conducted in a doctor's office in a place like Hays, Kansas." For Soper, the work on the microfluidic technology goes beyond academic or entrepreneurial interestslike so many Americans, his life has been touched by cancer. "This is very important to me," he said. "Just like a lot of people, I've experienced a family member dying of cancer. My dad passed away from colon cancer, and he never had a colonoscopy. A lot of the technology we're developing can minimize the need for these invasive screening technologies like colonoscopies and bone biopsies. This is important for screening but also to assist doctors to provide the correct medication to patients and monitor for recurrence." The researcher envisions a day where screening for a broad array of cancers would be routine and widespread, long before symptoms present themselves in patients. "At some point, you'll just go in for your yearly physical where they'll do a blood draw anyway," he said. "But then they'll screen it for cancer." Explore further Screening high-risk individuals can reduce multiple myeloma mortality More information: Joyce W. Kamande et al, Isolation of circulating plasma cells from blood of patients diagnosed with clonal plasma cell disorders using cell selection microfluidics, Integrative Biology (2018). Journal information: Integrative Biology Joyce W. Kamande et al, Isolation of circulating plasma cells from blood of patients diagnosed with clonal plasma cell disorders using cell selection microfluidics,(2018). DOI: 10.1039/c7ib00183e Quick Response coded bracelet for patients with Addison's disease. Credit: Newcastle University Patients with a rare medical condition can receive life-saving treatment at the touch of a button thanks to a new device developed by scientists. Researchers at Newcastle University, UK, have devised a way for patients and healthcare professionals to access web-based emergency clinical management information for Addison's disease. The chronic disorder means the body fails to produce the stress hormone, cortisol. It can be life-threatening if a patient suffers adrenal crisis and is not urgently given an injection of hydrocortisone. If the patient develops an illness, undergoes surgery, or stops taking their medication, they can develop adrenal crisis due to insufficient levels of the stress hormone. A team of experts have now developed a Quick Response (QR) code which may be carried by patients and scanned to access vital medical support. Vital patient information The QR code is printed on bracelets and plastic cards and, when scanned using a smartphone, links to the Addison's Disease Information System (ADIS), which provides comprehensive clinical management advice specific to the patient. Information displayed by the ADIS includes emergency treatment the patient may require, a letter from a medical consultant and advice about preparation for surgery. A study, published today in BMJ Innovations, shows that the use of QR codes allows patients in a serious condition to receive better emergency care by giving a healthcare professional immediate access to treatment protocols. Dr Jolanta Weaver, Senior Lecturer at the Institute of Cellular Medicine, Newcastle University, is lead author of the study that involves experts from the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead. She said: "Rare medical conditions are prone to poor management in non-specialist units as, by definition, their presentation is uncommon. "Some healthcare professionals do not feel they have the appropriate knowledge or confidence to manage these cases and they may need more support from information systems such as ADIS. "Our ADIS uses a web app running on a smart device, linked to a QR code. It is accessible at all times and shareable with healthcare professionals, patients, their carers, or when required in an emergency by bystanders. "The system offers immediate access to clinical guidance, which we hope will prevent unnecessary deaths linked to Addison's disease." (L-R) Dr. Andrew Colman, Dr. Jolanta Weaver and Mrs. Pauline Copeland. Credit: Newcastle University Improving condition's management Experts became interested in improving the management of Addison's disease and developing the ADIS after hearing about the preventable deaths of a number of patients due to adrenal crisis. Hydrocortisone maintains health by helping control blood pressure and glucose levels and manage the body's response to stress. The disease is treated by daily tablets of a 'synthetic' cortisol. For the study, 54 healthcare professionals - doctors, nurses, paramedics and dentists - were asked for their experience in managing adrenal crisis and their professional views of the ADIS. Findings revealed that 37% of healthcare professionals have never seen and 59% have never managed an adrenal crisis. The survey showed that there is a clinical need to improve the acute management of adrenal crisis. Healthcare professionals expressed a preference for QR code-linked information and as many as 96% of those who took part in the study thought that the ADIS would be helpful in an acute setting. Dr Kilimangalan Narayanan, Consultant Physician and Head of Service Medicine, at the Queen Elizabeth Hospital in Gateshead, welcomed the use of the ADIS. He said: "Dr Weaver's work has highlighted an important area of patient safety relevant to patients who have cortisol deficiency. "Her team's work has formed the basis for subsequent further improvements in care by introducing a system of 'alerts' within the patient record on our hospital patient management system." Quick Response codes QR codes are free and can easily be generated and printed using free web-based software. Although they have been used for labeling medicines, and patients, to prevent wrong site surgery, their use to access clinical management information is a new development. Dr Andrew Colman, a computer scientist, physician and research associate at Newcastle University, developed and implemented the ADIS. He said: "I was motivated to develop this computer system to improve the care of patients with Addison's disease when I heard Dr Weaver give a lecture to medical staff about the condition. "Dr Weaver explained that recently in the country two patients with Addison's disease had died unnecessarily due to poor clinical management and I wanted to find a way to help prevent this happening again. "Many healthcare professionals lack the experience and knowledge of treating such rare conditions and the ADIS enables them to access life-saving information in a critical situation." Patient's story Pauline Copeland is the first to receive a QR-code bracelet linking to her Addison's Disease Information System. The grandmother-of-eight was diagnosed with the condition almost 40 years ago and has suffered critical situations where medics have not known what to do when she has had an adrenal crisis. The 67-year-old, of Pity Me, County Durham, said: "Addison's disease can be a life or death situation. If I become acutely ill I need to be treated straight away - not in a few hours or tomorrow, but immediately. "As my illness is rare, medical staff do not always know how best to treat me and this can be a worry as they need to understand the importance of my condition and how to treat an adrenal crisis. "The QR-code will give me confidence to know that professional healthcare staff, or anybody else using the ADIS, will be given access to medical information on adrenal crisis immediately so that I am given appropriate care." Explore further Experts recommend immediate treatment for severe primary adrenal insufficiency symptoms More information: BMJ Innovations, DOI: 10.1136/bmjinnov-2017-000226 Charles Mullighan, MBBS, M.D., Michelle Churchman Ph.D., Max Qian PhD, Jun Yang Ph.D. Credit: St. Jude Children's Research Hospital / Seth Dixon St. Jude Children's Research Hospital researchers have made a discovery that expands the list of genes to include when screening individuals for possible increased susceptibility to childhood leukemia. The finding is reported online today in the journal Cancer Cell. The gene is IKZF1, which encodes the transcription factor IKAROS that regulates gene expression. IKZF1 is the fourth gene identified thatlike the genes TP53, ETV6 and PAX5can predispose carriers to develop B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Variants in IKZF1 can also influence how some patients respond to treatment. Researchers found a rare IKZF1 germline variant in three generations of a German family affected by pediatric ALL. St. Jude researchers then analyzed data from almost 5,000 young ALL patients and found that 0.9 percent of patients with B-cell ALL, the most common pediatric ALL, also carried germline variations in IKZF1. Germline variants are usually inherited, carried in DNA found in most cells. "This finding adds to the growing body of evidence that, while germline variations still account for a small percentage of pediatric ALL cases overall, more children than previously recognized inherit a predisposition to develop ALL," said Charles Mullighan, MBBS, M.D., a member of the St. Jude Department of Pathology. Jun J. Yang, Ph.D., an associate member of the St. Jude Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Oncology, added: "The results also show that germline variants influence the response of leukemia cells to specific chemotherapeutic agents." Mullighan and Yang are the study's corresponding authors. "This will expand the number of genes to consider when screening for predisposition to leukemia, particularly B-ALL. And while not everyone carrying a germline IKZF1 variant will develop leukemia, these results will help us educate families about the potential risk of leukemia," said co-author Kim Nichols, M.D., director of the St. Jude Cancer Predisposition Division. As a group, Mullighan, Yang and Nichols have led research that identified the four known pediatric ALL predisposition genes. IKZF1 frequently mutated in leukemic cells The discovery comes a decade after Mullighan and his colleagues reported that IKZF1 was frequently mutated in leukemic cells and a harbinger of poor treatment outcomes. The search for germline IKZF1 variants associated with ALL susceptibility began in Singapore. Nichols and Yang were there to talk about germline genetics of ALL and inherited (familial) cancer. During that visit, co-author Rupert Handgretinger, M.D., of Children's University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany, mentioned three generations of a German family with a germline variation in IKZF1 and a family history of B-ALL.Two of the five family members with the variant had developed pediatric ALL and died. The remaining three are apparently healthy despite having reduced numbers of B cells. Targeted sequencing of IKZF1 in 4,963 children with ALL identified 43 patients with 27 IKZF1 variants, almost exclusively patients with B-ALL. "The pattern of IKZF1 variants was surprising because many of the variants were in regions of the gene that are rarely mutated in leukemic cells; these regions of the gene have not been well characterized," Yang said. IKZF1 variants affect IKAROS function Extensive laboratory testing found at least 22 of the 28 variants affected protein functions. For example, IKZF1 variants resulted in IKAROS migrating outside the nucleus, which is where the protein normally functions. In other cases, variants were associated with increased cell adhesion. "Based on existing models, we would have predicted only 60 percent of the newly identified IKZF1 variants would be deleterious," said Michelle Churchman, Ph.D., of St. Jude Pathology. Churchman, Maoxiang Qian, Ph.D., of St. Jude Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Geertruy te Kronnie, of the University of Padova, Italy, are the first authors. IKZF1 variants require a second "hit" to cause cancer "In IKZF1 and the other ALL predisposition genes, cells may require an additional cooperating mutation to develop into leukemia," Mullighan said. "While familial ALL is rare, these cases can point to genes and novel biology to examine in a larger patient population. "This study demonstrates the power of sequencing large groups of seemingly sporadic cases that reveal the genetic underpinnings of the disease," he said. Explore further IKZF1 gene mutations found to increase hereditary risk for ALL in children Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger, after whom Asperger's syndrome is named, "actively cooperated" with the Nazi euthanasia programme, according to a new study published Thursday. "Asperger managed to accommodate himself to the Nazi regime and was rewarded for his affirmations of loyalty with career opportunities," Herwig Czech, a historian of medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, wrote in the study. Asperger "publicly legitimised race hygiene policies including forced sterilisations and, on several occasions, actively cooperated" with the Nazis' child euthanasia programme, according to Czech. Asperger joined several organisations affiliated with the Nazis, although not the Nazi Party itself, Czech added in the report, published in the journal Molecular Autism. Czech said he consulted a "vast array" of contemporary publications and previously unexplored archival documents including the doctor's personnel files and case records from his patients. He quotes a Nazi document from 1940 as saying Asperger "was in conformity with National Socialist [Nazi] ideas in questions of race and sterilisation laws". In public lectures Asperger declared his allegiance to the tenets of Nazi medicine. From 1938, when the Nazis "annexed" Austria into the Third Reich, he would sign diagnostic reports with "Heil Hitler". According to Czech, Asperger recommended the transfer of two girls, one aged two and the other five, to the notorious Spiegelgrund facility inside Vienna's Steinhof psychiatric hospital. This was where nearly 800 children lacking "hereditary worthiness" and "racial purity" died, many of them killed by poisoning and other methods. The two girls were among those who perished, officially from pneumonia. Asperger was also a member of a committee tasked with deciding the fate of around 200 patients in a children's ward at another hospital, 35 of whom were deemed "uneducable" and later died, according to Czech. Czech told AFP via email that the evidence he uncovered "bel[ies] the notion that [Asperger] tried to protect the children under his care by embellishing their diagnoses." Posthumous recognition Asperger's syndrome, a form of autism, typically involves deficiencies in social and communication skills and is often seen in people of average or above average intelligence. Asperger first identified children as "autistic psychopaths" in 1944 but his work was only recognised and the syndrome named after him following his death in 1980. In an accompanying editorial in Molecular Autism, joint editor-in-chief and cognitive neuroscientist Simon Baron-Cohen said that he is aware that the article will be controversial. But he said: "We believe that it deserves to be published in order to expose the truth about how a medical doctor who, for a long time, was seen as only having made valuable contributions to the field of pediatrics and child psychiatry, was guilty of actively assisting the Nazis in their abhorrent eugenics and euthanasia policies." Carol Povey, director at the Centre of Autism for the UK's National Autistic Society, said she expected Czech's findings to "spark a big conversation among the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their family members, particularly those who identify with the term 'Asperger'." In a recent opinion piece in the New York Times, Edith Sheffer, senior fellow at the Institute of European Studies at the University of California, Berkeley, called for a halt to the term "Asperger". "Naming a disorder after someone is meant to credit and commend, and Asperger merited neither," said Sheffer, author of the book "Asperger's Children: The Origins of Autism in Nazi Vienna". "His definition of 'autistic psychopaths' is antithetical to understandings of autism today, and he sent dozens of children to their deaths." More information: Herwig Czech, Hans Asperger, National Socialism, and "race hygiene" in Nazi-era Vienna, Molecular Autism (2018). Journal information: Molecular Autism Herwig Czech, Hans Asperger, National Socialism, and "race hygiene" in Nazi-era Vienna,(2018). dx.doi.org/10.1186/s13229-018-0208-6 2018 AFP When Maltese blogger Daphne Caruana Galizia was murdered in a car bombing on Oct. 16, 2017, shed been digging for months into the islands hugely profitable passports for sale program. It wasnt the only story she was working on, but it was one that involved enough money to pull the entire Maltese economy from deficit to surplus in a few short years, bringing in an estimated 850 million since January 2014. Caruana Galizia believed that such sums were irresistible to some of the top officials in the ruling Labour Party government. She believed the passport program formally known as the Individual Investment Program (IIP), and less formally as the Golden Visa was rife with cronyism, bribery, and kickbacks. Now a team of investigative reporters working to finish her stories has obtained a confidential report by Maltas Financial Intelligence Analysis Unit (FIAU) that zeroes in on allegations of kickbacks. The Daphne Project, a consortium of 45 investigative reporters from 18 news organizations in 15 countries including OCCRP and its partner, the Investigative Reporting Project Italy (IRPI), has been working for the past five months to complete Caruana Galizias work. The project was organized by Forbidden Stories, a platform to protect threatened journalists. The FIAU document is just one of a series of reports looking into Maltese corruption that the agency has referred to police and prosecutors. A magistrate has been investigating the matter, but has not yet scheduled a preliminary hearing; such proceedings are kept secret under Maltese law. Two men who are the focus of the FIAU report have brought the scandal uncomfortably close to Muscat. One is Keith Schembri, chief of staff to Prime Minister Joseph Muscat; and the other is Muscats associate, businessman Brian Tonna. Passports this is part of an ongoing magisterial inquiry, but I can assure you that there was no wrongdoing, said Schembri in a comment to consortium journalists. Passports for Sale Malta is one of several dozen countries that have launched Golden Visa programs over the past three decades. The idea is both simple and attractive to the rich: for a specified investment invariably substantial citizens of one country can obtain legal residency in another, and in some cases, win citizenship. Critics say that without strict controls, such programs can be abused by tax evaders, money launderers, and organized crime figures who may find it useful to be able to cross borders on short notice. Maltas passport is considered especially desirable because it provides visa-free access to the European Union (EU) and its institutions, such as banks, courts, cultural and financial centers. And not just European access. With Maltese passports, people can travel visa-free to 157 countries; by comparison, a Russian passport provides access to 113. The Maltese program was designed and implemented by Henley & Partners, a major global citizenship-by-investment services firm with close ties to top Maltese officials and, according to its Chief Executive Officer Christian Kalin, a footprint in Malta that reaches back 15 to 20 years. He told consortium reporters that his companys long history with Malta was one reason it won the tender to create and run the IIP over two other competitors. The program sparked controversy from the very beginning, however, as it was launched without notice and the Labour Party had not campaigned on the issue. Caruana Galizia herself was particularly critical about this lack of transparency and public consultation. The contract with Malta specifies that Henley & Partners is the unique concessionaire of the IIP program. That gives the company the right to distribute lucrative fees to dozens of legal firms that assist IIP applicants. They also operate their own real estate company and earn fees from the investments required by applicants under the IIP rules. The contract also requires Henley to ensure that the program is proceeding smoothly and that the company promotes Maltas initiative all over the world. Henley has made at least 20 million in fees and other income from the Maltese IIPs launch in 2014. Kalin dismissed critical news reports about the IIP and Henleys role in Malta as fake news prompted by a variety of motives, including what he said were politically motivated Maltese media reports. Email correspondence suggests Henley has close ties with top Labour Party officials. Caruana Galizia reported on her blog that Kalin wrote to Muscat and discussed plans to sue the journalist. Daphne believed the emails intent was to coordinate lawsuits against her with the intention of ruining her financially. In response to Kalins email, Muscat wrote I dont object, while Keith Schembri, the prime ministers chief of staff, said Thanks Chris. This looks good. Very kind regards. Caruana Galizia was subsequently sued by Henley; Kalin denies the accusations. Last October, nine days after Caruana Galizia was assassinated, Muscat went to Dubai to make a keynote speech to promote Maltas program at the Global Citizenship Seminar, one of a series of such events Henley organizes each year in places like Monaco, Istanbul, Lebanon, and Brazil. In November, Muscat missed the discussion at the EU Parliament about the Rule of Law in Malta because he was attending a similar event for Henley in Hong Kong. The companys contract stipulates that Muscat or his staff must make speeches at various Henley conferences. As of last May, Muscat and Schembri had attended several international passport sale roadshows, with Muscat often making a keynote speech on the success of the Maltese IIP program. The booming Maltese economy, which benefited from the IIP, is credited with strengthening the Labour Party. On Feb. 28, voters were asked to indicate if they wanted the IIP program to continue; the results of the vote have not yet been released. What The Report Reveals The FIAU report on the IIP program details a series of transactions involving three Russians who had obtained Maltese citizenship in 2016: Irina Orlova, Evgeny Filobokov, and Viktor Vashkevich. Investigators believe that the three ultimately paid bribes totalling 166,832 ($206,725) to Willerby Trade Inc., an offshore company directed by Muscats business associate Brian Tonna. Tonna is also the director of a second company named in the report, Nexia BT, a tax advisory and financial firm involved in the IIP program. BT International, fully owned by Nexia BT, was the company which processed the three Russians applications. (Caruana Galizia had previously reported that Tonna, through Nexia BT, had registered several companies in the name of Schembri and also Muscats wife, Michelle, in Panama and the British Virgin Islands). Irina Orlova lives in Moscow. Her husband, Mikhail Orlov, is the co-founder of an IT consulting company, RUNA, which deals with management software; he also obtained a Maltese passport. Evgeny Filobokov is a Siberian businessman in the transportation industry who applied for Maltese citizenship between 2014 and 2015. His Pevek-based company registered a Maltese company in July 2014 called Headway Holding Ltd. However, Headway Holding was registered in BT International and Nexia BTs offices in San Gwann about six kilometers northwest of the capital of Valletta. The company later shows up as under the ownership of Nexia BTs before being eventually dissolved. The circumstances raise questions about whether Headway Holding was a company used to bolster his IIP application or a real investment in Malta. Journalists were unable to reach Filobokov for comment. His son, Yan, declined to comment. Meanwhile Vashkevich, until March 2015, was the chief executive officer of Svyaztransneft, a major telecommunications company which serves Russian state-owned giants like Gazprom. He owns a Maltese company called M&Y Ltd., which was set up through Nexia BT and its subsidiaries. The normal procedure would have been for the three applicants to pay fees to Nexia BT, which would insure they met all necessary criteria before forwarding their applications to Identity Malta, the state agency responsible for issuing passports. But thats not what happened, according to the report. Nexia BT has a wholly owned subsidiary, BT International Ltd. In January, 2014 just as Maltas IIP was being launched an agreement was drafted between BT International and Willerby Trade to give Willerby a finders fee for every prospective IIP client who signed with BT International, the Maltese investigators wrote in their report. While the agreement was never signed, investigators said the agreement appeared to set out the intended agreement between these companies. For successful clients, Willerby would get half of BT Internationals fee. In the case of the Russians, however, their payments went directly to Willerby rather than passing through BT International, as the contract would require. Orlova, Filobokov and Vashkevich made three deposits to Willerbys account at Pilatus Bank totaling 166,832. Two separate payments of 50,000 each were subsequently transferred from the Willerby account to another Pilatus account controlled by Schembri, the Prime Ministers chief of staff. When FIAU investigators asked bank officials about the transfer, they were told the money was repayment for a loan Schembri had made to the Prime Ministers associate Tonna to help him out during a legal separation from his wife. The figure of 100,000 seems to be much higher than what would be normally needed for a person to undertake personal separation in Malta, the FIAU report notes. In addition, according to the investigators, there is no reasonable explanation to set up such a complex scheme to repay a loan. Investigators believe that the loan may be bogus and the payment is a bribe, so that Orlova, Filobokov, and Vashkevich could become Maltese citizens by paying Schembri, through Willerby. Later on, the Willerby account received further deposits totalling 583,618 ($722,631) in two other payments dated November 2015 and January 2016. The FIAU report says they came from an account at the Bank of Valletta controlled by BT International, the Nexia BT subsidiary. On April 19, 2016, 609,831 ($754,983) held in Willerbys account in Pilatus was moved to a new account with the Bank of Valletta that was opened for this purpose, the FIAU report reads. On May 5 that year, the Pilatus bank account was closed. The holder of the account with the Bank of Valletta is Brian Tonna A/C Nexia BT Dividend. Tonna did not reply to requests for an interview. Muscat told consortium journalists: An important element of the rule of law is the principle of innocent until proven guilty. We are in a world today where misinformation, gossip, and speculation have become potent forces in society. Allegation without proof is dangerous and destructive. Want to be Maltese? Better Have 5 Million Since the IIP program began in 2014, more than 1,300 people from around the world have used it to apply for Maltese passports, and more than 1,000 have been approved. This means just over one in five applications is rejected. Determining who these new Maltese are and where they come from is not easy, as the Maltese government releases very little information about them and what it does provide is difficult to analyze. While it publishes an annual list of all new Maltese citizens, the list mixes IIP participants with those who gained citizenship by marriage, family heritage or other means. What is clear is that anybody who applies for an IIP is, by definition, rich. The base cost is 650,000 for each primary applicant, with additional, smaller fees charged for family members. In April of this year, the Maltese government split off the IIP program from Identity Malta, the agency is charge of passports, residence permits and visas, and formed a new agency named after the IIP called the Individual Investor Program. IIP agency chief Jonathan Cardona told consortium reporters that The normal minimum is people with at least a net worth of 5 million and above are eligible to apply for the countrys IIP program. Identity Malta says that for cases in which applicants dont meet the criteria, the responsible Minister may revoke citizenship. read more A study published in the current issue of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics suggests a role for fish-oil supplementation in workers who perform very stressful jobs. There is growing attention being paid to fish oil as one of the promising supplementations to improve symptoms of posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) by facilitating hippocampal neurogenesis and clearance of fear memory. The purpose of this study was to examine the generalizability of the findings from a novel RCT of omega-3 PUFA supplementation in attenuating PTSD symptoms among rescue workers (Disaster Medical Assistance Team, DMAT) in Japan. A sample of DMAT rescue workers voluntarily participating in the omega-3 PUFA supplementation RCT (n = 172) was compared with the target population of all the non-RCT participating DMAT workers in Japan (n = 10,829). Treatment was associated with significantly lower total Impact of Event Scale score and Impact of Event Scale hyperarousal subscale score only among female DMAT workers. After weighting the data by target population generalizability weights, the significant treatment effect on both the total Impact of Event Scale score and the Impact of Event Scale hyperarousal subscale score among female DMAT workers remained statistically significant. The treatment effects on the rest of the outcomes among female DMAT workers and all the outcomes among male DMAT workers were statistically insignificant both in the unweighted and weighted regression analyses. This study provides the first supportive evidence to the external validity of the findings from an RCT of omega-3 PUFA supplementation. The findings of omega-3 PUFA supplementation attenuating PTSD symptoms appear to be generalizable to the target population of the female DMAT rescue workers in Japan. Future studies should investigate whether the findings of this study hold for omega-3 PUFA supplementation in different contexts and target populations. More information: Ryoko Susukida et al. Generalizability of Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Fish Oil Supplementation for Attenuating Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Rescue Workers in Japan, Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics (2018). Journal information: Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Ryoko Susukida et al. Generalizability of Findings from a Randomized Controlled Trial of Fish Oil Supplementation for Attenuating Posttraumatic Stress Symptoms among Rescue Workers in Japan,(2018). DOI: 10.1159/000485105 Provided by Journal of Psychotherapy and Psychosomatics Findings from Canadian Prostate Cancer Genome Network (CPC-GENE) researchers and their collaborators, published today in Cell, show that the aggressiveness of an individual prostate cancer can be accurately assessed by looking at how that tumour has evolved. This information can be used to determine what type and how much treatment should be given to each patient, or if any is needed at all. The researchers analyzed the whole genome sequences of 293 localized prostate cancer tumours, linked to clinical outcome data. These were then further analyzed using machine learning, a type of statistical technique, to infer the evolutionary past of a tumour and to estimate its trajectory. They found that those tumours that had evolved to have multiple types of cancer cells, or subclones, were the most aggressive. Fifty-nine per cent of tumours in the study had this genetic diversity, with 61 per cent of those leading to relapse following standard therapy. "By incorporating time into the context of the existing knowledge we have about where a tumour is at diagnosis we were able to very accurately identify those patients whose prostate tumours needed no treatment, those men who could be cured by existing treatments, and those men who had very aggressive tumours and may have benefitted from novel therapeutic options," says Dr. Paul Boutros, Principal Investigator, Ontario Institute for Cancer Research and leader of CPC-GENE. "Clinical decision making in treating prostate cancer can be very difficult. These findings pave the way for a new tool to improve our ability to determine the best approach for each individual patient, including sparing patients from unnecessary treatment or over-treatment and the associated side effects," says Professor Robert Bristow, Director of the Manchester Cancer Research Centre at the University of Manchester U.K., formerly of the Princess Margaret Cancer Centre in Toronto. "Tumours are a community of related cancer cells, and by examining their DNA using machine learning, we can gain insight into how they evolved from normal cells. In this paper, we show that the past evolutionary history of a tumour helps predict whether that tumour will progress into an aggressive form," says Dr. Quaid Morris, Associate Professor, The Donnelly Centre for Cellular and Biomolecular Research, University of Toronto, who collaborated with the CPC-GENE team on the study. "Prostate cancer is the most common cancer among men," says Reza Moridi, Ontario's Minister of Research, Innovation and Science. "Ontario congratulates this research team, whose work is pointing the way toward improved testing and treatment." The study's findings are not its only contributions to prostate cancer research. The sequencing data generated during the course of the study are now freely available online to researchers worldwide to carry out further analyses, becoming the largest prostate cancer genomics resource available to-date. CPC-GENE is a team of multidisciplinary researchers from across Canada working to crack the genetic code of prostate cancer. Through funding of approximately $20 million, research of this magnitude has been made possible through a partnership between the Movember Foundation, Prostate Cancer Canada, and the Ontario Institute for Cancer Research. Dr. Stuart Edmonds, Vice-President of Research, Health Promotion and Survivorship at Prostate Cancer Canada, has released the following statement: "From the tireless work of researchers to the selfless giving of donors, we applaud the efforts of everyone who has played a role in helping make CPC-GENE possible. Since its beginnings as an ambitious undertaking that was massive in scope, the goal of this project has been to greatly improve personalized care for men with prostate cancer. The findings published in Cell - widely considered one of the most prestigious and highest impact medical journals - represent a monumental stride towards that goal. Together, we will continue to advance this important work on behalf of the one in seven Canadian men who will be diagnosed with prostate cancer and their families." More information: Shadrielle Melijah G. Espiritu et al, The Evolutionary Landscape of Localized Prostate Cancers Drives Clinical Aggression, Cell (2018). Journal information: Cell Shadrielle Melijah G. Espiritu et al, The Evolutionary Landscape of Localized Prostate Cancers Drives Clinical Aggression,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.029 Provided by Ontario Institute for Cancer Research Hookworm attached to a human intestine. Credit: Richard Bugiro, Ph.D. Impoverished female farm workers infected with intestinal parasites known as hookworms saw significant improvements in physical fitness when they were treated with a low-cost deworming drug. The benefits were seen even in those with low level infections, according to a study co-authored by researchers at Yale and the nonprofit company InnovationsCZ. The authors say that the beneficial effects of the drug albendazole could be especially important in food-challenged regions of Africa where a large portion of farmers are women and their physical capacity for growing crops and tending to livestock can determine whether their families eat or go hungry. Published in the April online issue of The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene, the study confirms that women should be included in mass drug treatment campaigns, said the researchers. The study was conducted in the Democratic Republic of Congo by a team of researchers that included co-author Michael Cappello, M.D., professor of pediatrics, microbial pathogenesis, and public health at the Yale School of Medicine, and lead author Margaret Salmon, M.D., an emergency medicine specialist and director of InnovationsCZ. Yale School of Public Health researcher Debbie Humphries and Yale Department of Pediatrics researcher Lisa Harrison also contributed to the study. The team found that when female farmers infected with hookworms received just one 400 milligram dose of albendazole, their overall physical fitness improved significantly. The authors say the results of treatment could be twofold: improved health for farming women and increased food production for women who have the stamina to farm more efficiently. An estimated 500 million people in the world are infected with hookworm, according to the U.S. Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. Pharmaceutical companies have provided at low-cost, or donated billions of doses of albendazole in low-income countries where disease is endemic. But public health campaigns currently target school-age children. Female farmers carrying jugs of water in Africa. Credit: Michael Cappello, M.D., Yale University In this study, the team looked at whether women of child-bearing agewho may be especially vulnerable to hookwormshould be included in mass drug treatment campaigns targeting the infections, which are acquired from contact with soil contaminated with human sewage. The worms feed on blood and cause chronic anemia. Poor women of childbearing age are seen as particularly vulnerable due to the blood loss they already experience from menstruation and, if pregnant, from the demands of the fetus. Cappello and his research team at Yale has also linked hookworms to inflammation in the intestines and interference with natural digestive enzymes which may contribute to malnutrition and lead to other maladies, said Cappello. The study reports that after treatment with albendazole, infected women farmers saw their heart rates drop by about 10 beats per minute when doing a simple exercise test. "We think the lower heart rates we observed are also a good indication of an increased capacity for the physical demands of farm labor," said Cappello. "It's all the more impressive because the women who tested positive for infection had a relatively low level of hookworms and were not more anemic than those who were uninfected." Cappello notes that the fact that women who showed improvement in the study had relatively light infections before treatment could indicate that these other effects of hookwormthe inflammation and impaired digestioninflict serious harm as well and can be triggered by even a low level of hookworms in the gut. Currently, given the low cost and general safety of albendazole, the World Health Organization recommends that school-age children and non-pregnant women of childbearing age in hookworm-endemic communities receive a single 400-milligram dose of the drug once or twice a year. However, Cappello noted that most countries have yet to adopt these recommendations for women. "There is strong evidence that children with moderate to heavy hookworm infections derive significant physical and developmental gains from effective treatment," said Cappello. "Far less is known about the benefits of broadly treating people like the women who participated in this study, who have a lighter burden of parasites." Explore further Treating women subsistence farmers for intestinal worms improved fitness and could boost food production More information: Margaret Salmon et al, Albendazole Treatment Improves Work Capacity in Women Smallholder Farmers Infected with Hookworm: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial, The American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene (2018). Journal information: American Journal of Tropical Medicine and Hygiene Margaret Salmon et al, Albendazole Treatment Improves Work Capacity in Women Smallholder Farmers Infected with Hookworm: A Double-Blind Randomized Control Trial,(2018). DOI: 10.4269/ajtmh.17-0403 New research published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine finds that general practices in England with the worst prescribing quality scores are 2.1 times more likely to prescribe homeopathy than practices with the best prescribing quality scores. Researchers from the University of Oxford and Exeter University looked at practices that prescribe homeopathy to see if they differ in their prescribing of other drugs. They found that even infrequent homeopathy prescribing is strongly associated with poor performance on a range of prescribing quality measures, but not with overall patient recommendation or quality outcomes framework score. Lead researcher Dr Ben Goldacre, Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, said: "Despite the lack of evidence for homeopathy, and its lack of a plausible mechanism, some NHS doctors still prescribe it. We set out to explore whether general practices prescribing homeopathic remedies also behave differently on other measures of general practitioner behaviour." The researchers identified 644 practices that had issued at least one homeopathy prescription in a six-month period (December 2016 to May 2017). There were 2,720 homeopathy prescriptions in total costing 36,532 (mean 13,43 per item). They found that prescribing any homeopathy is associated with poorer performance at practice level on a range of standard prescribing measures. The association is unlikely to be a direct causal relationship, say the researchers, but may reflect deeper underlying practice features, such as the extent of respect for evidence-based practice, or poorer stewardship of the prescribing budget. Dr Goldacre said: "Although NHS expenditure on homeopathy is low, we believe the strong association between homeopathy use and poorer prescribing in general is more important than cost. It should raise concerns and may be of interest to those seeking to understand variation in clinical styles and the use of alternative medicine by clinicians." Explore further Huge variation in prescribing practice for gluten-free foods in England More information: Is use of homeopathy associated with poor prescribing in English primary care? A cross-sectional study, Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (2018). Journal information: Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine Is use of homeopathy associated with poor prescribing in English primary care? A cross-sectional study,(2018). DOI: 10.1177/0141076818765779 More students report carrying guns in Chicago than in New York or Los Angeles, a new Northwestern Medicine study shows. The findings provide historical background for Chicago's 2016 spike in gun violence, which occurred mostly among youth and young adults. Credit: Northwestern Medicine More students report carrying guns in Chicago than in New York or Los Angeles, a new Northwestern Medicine study shows. The findings provide historical background for Chicago's 2016 spike in gun violence, which occurred mostly among youth and young adults. While self-reported gun carrying increased in Chicago over the 2007 to 2013 time period, it declined rapidly in Los Angeles and remained less than half the Chicago rate in New York, according to the study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The prevalence of high school freshman and sophomore students who reported carrying a gun was 9 percent in Chicago, 4 percent in New York and 6 percent in Los Angeles between 2007 and 2013, the study found. When students were exposed to more violence risk factors, such as feeling unsafe in school, being exposed to fights or doing illegal drugs, they were more likely to carry a gun, the study found. Chicago's students were exposed to more guns and these risk factors between 2007 and 2013 than their peers in New York and LA. The authors hypothesize Chicago students between the ages of 14 and 16 who were carrying guns in 2013 were likely involved in Chicago's gun violence in 2016 and 2017. "Our findings suggest that there is a clear link between the increase in Chicago students carrying guns in 2013 and the city's spike in gun violence in 2016," said senior author Joseph Feinglass, professor of general internal medicine, geriatrics and preventive medicine at Feinberg. "The city was fertile ground for this increase in shootings." The study is the first of its kind to compare major cities on self-reported gun carrying among younger high school students. It was published April 10 in the journal Injury Epidemiology. "It's not hard to imagine why more students in Chicago carry guns than the other two cities with significant violence and homicide burden," said co-author Dr. Karen Sheehan, professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "Kids in Chicago are experiencing multiple layers of violence and fear of violence in school on a daily basis." The study authors created a violence index to better categorize the most high-risk students and describe the magnitude of their increased likelihood to carry a gun. This violence index accounted for mental health risk factors, such as feeling sad or hopeless, and behavioral health factors, such as bullying and physical fights at school. Students in Chicago had a significantly higher prevalence of almost all mental health and behavioral health risk factors compared to their peers in New York or LA. "Our findings highlight the ongoing need to address Chicago's concentrated poverty and unemployment problems, its extreme levels of racial and ethnic segregation and the hopelessness and isolation so many young people feel," Feinglass said. Across all three cities, self-reported gun carrying was more frequent among boys (8.4 percent) than girls (2.5 percent). Six percent of African-Americans reported carrying a gun in the previous 30 days, which was higher than Hispanics (5.5 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (3.5 percent). The study was based on self-reported data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS), an anonymous, voluntary survey of public high-school students, for the three cities between 2007 and 2013. More than 50,000 respondents represented more than 1.13 million students. The study used four biennial waves of the YRBS. It focused on freshmen and sophomores because of the significant high school dropout rates among older students. Explore further Bullied teens more likely to take weapons to school An Atlas-award winning study reported in the journal Telematics and Informatics has found that healthcare services delivered via video conferencing or mobile phones are helping to improve access to care for women and girls. The findings in rural Nepal are likely to be applied to many other parts of the world where computers and mobile phones are increasingly accessible. The study has been selected by an international scientific committee to receive this month's Atlas Award from 10 nominations that could significantly impact people's lives around the world or have already done so. The winning research is presented alongside interviews, expert opinions, multimedia and much more on the Atlas website. "Women and girls access to healthcare is affected by gender roles and norms," said Rajan Parajuli, lead author of the study from the Asian Institute of Technology in Bangkok, Thailand. "We have found those barriers are reduced after introduction of telemedicine services. Thus, I'm hopeful it might be an effective approach to tackle geographic and cultural difficulties in countries facing similar problems like rural Nepal." To explore these dynamics in the new study, Rajan Parajuli and study co-author, Philippe Doneys, used a mixed method design, tackling the question in multiple ways in hopes of coming to a more convincing conclusion. First, they obtained telemedicine records from two hospitals in Kathmandu, Nepal and three local telemedicine centers in western Nepal. Those records provided a list of 175 women and girls who had used telemedicine services, either via video conferencing or mobile phone. About 100 women and girls completed surveys comparing their access to healthcare before and after the introduction of telemedicine. The researchers also conducted in-depth interview with a smaller sampling of the women. In addition to the women and girls, the researchers spoke with a local network provider, health post chiefs, village leaders, school principals, and others about the influence of telemedicine. The findings show that telemedicine has reduced the frequency of long-distance travel to hospitals as women can receive care from the comfort and ease of their own communities. The vast majority of girls and women in the study reported travel of less than one kilometer to receive healthcare via video conferencing. Mobile phone users reported no need to travel for healthcare services at all. That's especially important because women in rural Nepal often struggle to get the permission they need to travel. The survey and interview responses also highlighted the importance of telemedicine in reducing healthcare costs. Study participants reported increased comfort in seeking consultation through telemedicine for sexual and reproductive health matters. Overall, the study showed that telemedicine tends to reduce barriers to healthcare for women and girls in rural areas. "By shrinking distance to healthcare services, telemedicine reduces travel, making it easier to manage time out from household chores, reduces treatment expenses, and reduces apprehension female patients may have sharing their sexual and reproductive health problems," Parajuli and Doneys wrote. "This should help us understand the gender dynamics of information and communication technologies in healthcare, but also shows the interrelation between gender, technology and health." Explore further Telemedicine tied to faster ER care in rural areas More information: Rajan Parajuli et al. Exploring the role of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services by women and girls in rural Nepal, Telematics and Informatics (2017). Rajan Parajuli et al. Exploring the role of telemedicine in improving access to healthcare services by women and girls in rural Nepal,(2017). DOI: 10.1016/j.tele.2017.05.006 Credit: CC0 Public Domain Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of the disease accounting for 12 to 18 percent of breast cancers. It is a scary diagnosis, and even though chemotherapy can be effective as standard-of-care, many patients become resistant to treatment. A team at The University of Texas MD Anderson led a study which may explain how resistance evolves over time, and potentially which patients could benefit from chemotherapy. Results from a study led by Nicholas Navin, Ph.D., associate professor of Genetics, were published today in the April 19, 2018 online issue of Cell. Their findings indicate breast cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy may be pre-existing and the cells may even adapt to become resistant when confronted by the chemotherapy itself. To answer how a cell becomes resistant to chemotherapy, one must understand that cancer often begins with a clone - a single mutated cell that either can be destroyed by the immune system, or mutated further as subclones, genetic aberrations resulting in an ever-evolving cellular pathway to cancer. "An unresolved question is whether resistance is caused by the selection of rare pre-existing clones or, alternatively, through the acquisition of new genomic aberrations," said Navin. "Our data showed that resistant genotypes, or genes prone to being cancer-resistant, were pre-existing and adaptively selected by the initial treatment known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, but also requires further changes in gene expression programs to become fully resistant." Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard of care for many TNBC patients, who lack estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptor, making them ineligible for hormone or anti-HER2 therapy. While NAC is effective in some TNBC patients, approximately half will develop chemotherapy resistance, leading to poor overall survival. "A major gap in knowledge is whether chemoresistance arises due to the selection and expansion of pre-existing subclones called adaptive resistance or through new mutations resulting from the chemotherapy, a phenomenon known as acquired resistance," said Navin. "Previous genomic studies in other cancers have shown either adaptive or acquired resistance in different cancer types." Navin's group studied 20 TNBC patients treated with NAC. They looked at genetic changes by deeply sequencing the coding regions of genes across the genome. They sought to understand whether new genetic mutations occurring after chemotherapy erupted spontaneously due to acquired resistance, or whether the mutations already existed at very low levels prior to treatment. "What we found were two distinct classes of clonal dynamics - extinction and persistence," said Navin. "In the clonal extinction patients, NAC eliminated the tumor cells, leaving only normal cell types post-treatment. Clonal persistent patients harbored a larger number of residual tumor cells with genotypes and phenotypes that were altered in response to NAC." Using single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing, his team performed a detailed analysis of eight clonal persistent patients, measuring miniscule portions of DNA and RNA and found responses to NAC were pre-existing, thus adaptively selected. However, the expression of resistant genes was acquired by subsequent reprogramming as a result of chemotherapy. "Our data support a model of chemoresistance in which two modes of evolution, adaptive and acquired, were operating to establish chemo-resistant tumor mass," said Navin. "This data has important clinical implications." Navin's group believes pre-existence of chemoresistant genotypes in tumors indicates there may be diagnostic opportunities for detecting chemoresistant clones in TNBC patients prior to receiving NAC. Their findings that TNBC patients fall into clonal extinction or clonal persistent groups may be applicable to patient outcomes or survival. "Lastly, our data raise the possibility of therapeutic strategies to overcome chemoresistance by targeting pathways identified in this study," said Navin. "Future work will need to be performed in a larger group of TNBC patients to fully understand this evolutionary model and gene-related chemoresistance." Explore further New liquid biopsy-based cancer model reveals data on deadly lung cancer Credit: CC0 Public Domain In recent years, researchers have firmly established that gene mutations appearing for the first time, called de novo mutations, contribute to approximately one-third of cases of autism spectrum disorder (ASD). In a new study, an international team led by scientists at University of California San Diego School of Medicine have identified a culprit that may explain some of the remaining risk: rare inherited variants in regions of non-coding DNA. The findings are published online in the April 20, 2018 issue of Science. The newly discovered risk factors differ from known genetic causes of autism in two important ways. First, these variants do not alter the genes directly but instead disrupt the neighboring DNA control elements that turn genes on and off, called cis-regulatory elements or CREs. Second, these variants do not occur as new mutations in children with autism, but instead are inherited from their parents. "For ten years we've known that the genetic causes of autism consist partly of de novo mutations in the protein sequences of genes" said Jonathan Sebat, a professor of psychiatry, cellular and molecular medicine and pediatrics at UC San Diego School of Medicine and chief of the Beyster Center for Genomics of Psychiatric Genomics. "However, gene sequences represent only 2 percent of the genome." To investigate the other 98 percent of the genome in ASD, Sebat and his colleagues analyzed the complete genomes of 9,274 subjects from 2,600 families. One thousand were sequenced in San Diego at Human Longevity Inc. (HLI) and at Illumina Inc., and DNA sequences were analyzed at the San Diego Supercomputer Center at UC San Diego. These data were then combined with other large studies from the Simons Simplex Collection and the Autism Speaks MSSNG Whole Genome Sequencing Project. The researchers then analyzed structural variants, deleted or duplicated segments of DNA that disrupt regulatory elements of genes, dubbed CRE-SVs. From the complete genomes of families, the researchers found that CRE-SVs that are inherited from parents also contributed to ASD. "We also found that CRE-SVs were inherited predominantly from fathers, which was a surprise," said co-first author William M. Brandler, PhD, a postdoctoral scholar in Sebat's lab at UC San Diego and bioinformatics scientist at HLI. "Previous studies have found evidence that some protein-coding variants are inherited predominantly from mothers, a phenomenon known as a maternal origin effect. The paternal origin effect we see for non-coding variants suggests that the inherited genetic contribution from mothers and fathers may be qualitatively different." Sebat said current research does not explain with certainty what mechanism determines these parent-of-origin effects, but he has proposed a plausible model. "There is a wide spectrum of genetic variation in the human population, with coding variants having strong effects and noncoding variants having weaker effects", he said. "If men and women differ in their capacity to tolerate such variants, this could give rise to the parent-of-origin effects that we see." Explore further Genetic changes that cause autism are more diverse than previously thought More information: Paternally inherited cis-regulatory structural variants are associated with autism, Science (2018). Journal information: Science Paternally inherited cis-regulatory structural variants are associated with autism,(2018). DOI: 10.1126/science.aan2261 New Curtin University research that studied almost 10,000 men who had undergone vasectomy reversals across the globe has found no evidence of a link between the procedure and prostate cancer. The paper, published in the Journal of Urology, studied the population health data of 684,660 men with vasectomies living in Australia, Canada and the United Kingdom, including 9,754 men who had undergone vasectomy reversals. Lead author Dr. Sean Randall, from the Centre for Data Linkage at Curtin University, said previous evidence on the link between a vasectomy and prostate cancer had been conflicting. "The link between vasectomy and prostate cancer has been debated for many years after two studies from the early 1990s showed an elevated risk of prostate cancer in men who had undergone vasectomies," Dr. Randall said. "Our research studied the theory that if a vasectomy is considered a cause of prostate cancer then vasectomy reversal should hypothetically decrease the risk of prostate cancer. However, our analysis of almost 10,000 vasectomy reversals found no link between the procedure and prostate cancer at all." Dr. Randall said the research indicated there was no clinically meaningful relationship between men who had had vasectomies and the rate of prostate cancer. "Our research therefore shows that the risk of prostate cancer should not rate as a factor for men who are weighing up the decision of whether or not to have a vasectomy," Dr. Randall said. "This study supports previous research that found little or no evidence of any link between vasectomies and prostate cancer." As part of this study, researchers examined 1015 vasectomy reversals and 55,416 vasectomies from Western Australia, 2440 reversals and 58,503 vasectomies in New South Wales, 88 reversals and 37,133 vasectomies in Wales, 2227 reversals and 159,089 vasectomies in Scotland, and 3984 reversals and 374,519 vasectomies in Ontario. The time periods assessed ranged from 1972 to 2016. More information: Sean Randall et al. The Effect of Vasectomy Reversal on Prostate Cancer Risk: International Meta-Analysis of 684,660 Men with Vasectomies, The Journal of Urology (2018). Journal information: Journal of Urology Sean Randall et al. The Effect of Vasectomy Reversal on Prostate Cancer Risk: International Meta-Analysis of 684,660 Men with Vasectomies,(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.juro.2018.03.005 Armenia PM to pay official visit to Lithuania Armenia pavilion opens at Expo 2020 Dubai FM warns Azerbaijan ambassador: Iran does not tolerate Israel's presence near its borders Catholicos of All Armenians receives new Ambassador of Sweden 3 persons serving life sentence in Armenia on hunger strike Aliyev promises appropriate response if Armenia provides clear maps of minefields 168.am: Why Turkey private plane lands in Yerevan? Turkey, Russia play important role in stability and security in the region, says Azerbaijan president Azerbaijans Aliyev ready to meet with Armenias Pashinyan at any time when latter is ready Armenia deputy PM, Czech Rep. FM discuss regional developments Petition filed with court to arrest Armenia army general staff deputy chief Armenia ex-ruling party official: Inadmissible to start substantive talks with Turkey, Azerbaijan today Armenia official: Corridors or roads may be opened which Azerbaijanis or Turkey will be able to use Man, 55, found dead hanging from tree in Armenias Vayots Dzor Province village forest 1,152 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Yerevan hosts CIS Tourism Council regular meeting Lukashenko says ready to become 'one military base' with Russia in case of threat Georgia ex-President Saakashvili was preparing coup after local elections, says ruling party leader Armenia Security Council chief: Pashinyan-Aliyev meeting may take place in possible near future US, Turkey top defense officials discuss military cooperation Georgia local elections kick off Newspaper: Azerbaijanis impose another restriction at Vorotan section of Armenias Goris-Kapan motorway China air force sends 38 warplanes off Taiwan coast Newspaper: Armenia arrested ex-defense minister refuses to testify Bloomberg: Eurozone records record inflation of past 13 years in September Biden, Armenia ambassador exchange messages in writing Serzh Sargsyan to Aliyev: If there was no shift of power in Armenia, you would never see Shushi and Hadrut Georgia President says she won't grant pardon to Saakashvili Armenia's Prime Minister and President meet Georgia Prosecutor General's Office: Verdicts against Saakashvili are not subject to appeal GeoProMining Armenia obtained 60% of Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine on Sep. 30, 2021 Saakashvili has new wife, sensational news announced on day of his arrest Armenia PM receives Czech FM Armenian Turkologist: Russia and Turkey are compelled to cooperate, and this is in Moscow's favor Saakashvili's United National Movement political party announces preparation for large-scale demonstration ANCA: Israel sending descendant of Armenian Genocide survivors as its ambassador to Azerbaijan Armenia Armed Forces General Staff's deputy chief Stepan Galstyan is detained Georgian presses report that Saakashvili is in a prison in Tbilisi Armenian and Russian FMs hold phone talks Garibashvili: Saakashvili is apprehended in Georgia Digest: Azerbaijan declares Armenians wanted, Armenia arms supplier to be arrested Biden administration to ramp up existing billions of dollars in tariffs on Chinese imports Serzh Sargsyan: Congress of Republican Party of Armenia will be held at the end of this year Iranian Ambassador to Armenian justice minister: Iran has plans to make investments in Armenia Armenia PM congratulates Cyprus President on Independence Day Armenia defense minister, Iran Ambassador discuss situation in the region Armenia MOD receives Japan Ambassador Armenia ruling party presents program ahead of elections of Council of Elders of Gyumri Karabakh search for fallen Armenian soldiers remains yields no results Friday Armenia Zangezur Copper Molybdenum Combine co-owner: This is first step in broader investment vision Armenia Deputy PM Suren Papikyan receives UK Ambassador Armenia premier congratulates on 72nd anniversary of People's Republic of China Celebrity content on Instagram is linked to negative user feelings Iran ambassador to Azerbaijan: Dreams of Zionism for this region will never be interpreted Dollar goes up in Armenia Sarkissian: Armenia highly values relations with China Peskov: Putin and Erdogan discussed construction of new nuclear power plants in Turkey Catholicos of All Armenians receives newly appointed Ambassador of Sweden to Armenia Australians to be allowed to travel abroad from November Armenia high-tech industry minister receives Japan Ambassador Armenia v. Azerbaijan case hearing days announced at International Court of Justice Suicide occurs in Artsakhs Vank village Pakistan bans unvaccinated adults from domestic flights Ambassador to minister: India ready to further deepen collaboration with Armenia in defense sector President: Armenia attaches great importance to cooperation with China Azerbaijan declares Armenians wanted on charges of committing crimes during its own military aggression Ex-President Kocharyan discusses future tactics with opposition Armenia Faction MPs, analysts (PHOTOS) Turkey and Greece to hold next round of bilateral talks on October 6 Azerbaijan prosecutor general plans to hold accountable foreign companies working in Karabakh Woman, 74, dies of coronavirus in Artsakh Yerevan to host 5th meeting of Armenian-Czech intergovernmental commission Armenia FM: Karabakh conflicts peaceful political settlement remains on agenda Prague welcomes Armenia, Azerbaijan FMs New York meeting, says Czech Rep. foreign minister Armenia ambassador briefs US Congress member on challenges after Azerbaijan military aggression against Karabakh Czech Rep. FM visits Armenian Genocide Memorial in Yerevan (PHOTOS) FM: Artsakh ready to negotiate with Azerbaijan on equal footing 934 new cases of COVID-19 confirmed in Armenia Artsakh President has new Chief Adviser Iran Army Ground Forces begin military exercises in northwestern border Armenia government plans to increase revenues by almost 30% in 2022 state budget, which is unrealistic Australias New South Wales Premier Gladys Berejiklian resigns Grape harvest in Artsakh's Amaras valley carried out with interruptions due to Azerbaijan provocations Newspaper: Reporting, providing fake, false information to Armenia parliament inquiry committees to be criminalized? Newspaper: Armenia army general staff chief to be summoned for questioning Greece PM says he has no intention of entering into arms race with Turkey Armenia arms supplier to be arrested International Court of Justice to hold public hearings over Armenia v. Azerbaijan lawsuit on October 14-15 Israel opens embassy in Bahrain US couple die from COVID-19 in same hospital one minute apart GRECO releases interim report on Armenia, says situation incompatible with judicial independence Russian analyst predicts granting of special status to Karabakh and "eternal" presence of Russian peacekeepers Islamic Revolution Guards Corps Ground Force commander warns Azerbaijan Armenia ex-defense minister Davit Tonoyan arrested South Korean authorities prepare for regular contacts with Pyongyang More than half of Britons are disappointed with Brexit Erdogan on purchase of S-400s and Turkey's relations with the US: It was worth it Russia MFA: Moscow hopes OSCE Minsk Group Co-Chairs' visit helps organize Armenian and Azerbaijani leaders' meeting Erdogan: "Zangezur corridor will open opportunities for the region" Serbia, Kosovo agree to reduce tension on border Digest: Armenian ex-defense minister charged, Putin and Erdogan discuss Karabakh conflict YEREVAN. One of the girls, who are picketing outside the Government of Armenia Building No. 3 in downtown capital city Yerevan, felt ill, and blood was flowing from her nose. An ambulance arrived and provided first aid. Police continue blocking off this building with a human chain with shields. The demonstrators are still there, too. My Step initiative leader, opposition Civil Contract Party member, and National Assembly (NA) Way Out (Yelk) Faction head Nikol Pashinyanwho heads the ongoing opposition movement in protest of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Ministercalled on the police to lay down their shields, helmets and clubs and to join their fight. Pashinyan on Wednesday had announced that on Thursday they shall block the government building as well as other government department buildings. The first Cabinet meeting of the Sargsyan-led government will be convened on Thursday. Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters are staging protests in Yerevan, ever since April 13, and by blocking streets and squares. They protest against ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Minister of Armenia. As a result of the clashes during these demonstrations, 46 peopleincluding Pashinyanwere injured, and police detained several dozen people, including minors. In addition, a criminal case has been filed into the protesters bursting into the Public Radio of Armenia building and regarding an incident that occurred at an intersection in downtown Yerevan. Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister at Tuesdays NA special session, and by a vote of 77 for and 18 against. YEREVAN. The demonstratorsled by My Step initiative leader, opposition Civil Contract Party member, and National Assembly (NA) Way Out (Yelk) Faction head Nikol Pashinyanhave left the Government of Armenia Building No. 3, in downtown capital city Yerevan. Their march is in progress. They had blocked the said government building on early Thursday morning. Police, however, were able to clear the building entrances, during which they detained dozens of demonstrators. Nikol Pashinyan, who heads the ongoing opposition movement in protest of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Minister, on Wednesday announced that on Thursday they shall block the government building as well as other government department buildings. The first Cabinet meeting of the Sargsyan-led government will be convened on Thursday. Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters are staging protests in Yerevan, ever since April 13, and by blocking streets and squares. They protest against ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Minister of Armenia. As a result of the clashes during these demonstrations, 46 peopleincluding Pashinyanwere injured, and police detained several dozen people, including minors. In addition, a criminal case has been filed into the protesters bursting into the Public Radio of Armenia building and regarding an incident that occurred at an intersection in downtown Yerevan. Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister at Tuesdays NA special session, and by a vote of 77 for and 18 against. YEREVAN. My Step initiative leader, opposition Civil Contract Party member, and National Assembly (NA) of Armenia Way Out (Yelk) Faction head Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters marched toward and entered Surmalu market in capital city Yerevan and chanted [labor] strike (PHOTOS). Subsequently, they arrived in Petak market, where, however, the police had blocked its entrance. But the Pashinyan-led demonstrators broke through the police chain and approached the Petak building. Police, however, closed the doors of this market and stood in front of them. Pashinyan informed the market workers that a rally will be held Thursday at Republic Square, the heart of Yerevan, at 7pm. The protester had blocked the Government of Armenia Building No. 3 on early Thursday morning. Police, however, were able to clear the building entrances, during which they detained dozens of demonstrators. Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters are staging protests in Yerevan, ever since April 13, and by blocking streets and squares. They protest against ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Minister of Armenia. As a result of the clashes during these demonstrations, 46 peopleincluding Pashinyanwere injured, and police detained several dozen people, including minors. In addition, a criminal case has been filed into the protesters bursting into the Public Radio of Armenia building and regarding an incident that occurred at an intersection in downtown Yerevan. Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister at Tuesdays NA special session, and by a vote of 77 for and 18 against. YEREVAN. The demonstrators led by My Step initiative leader Nikol Pashinyan reached Garegin Nzhdeh Square in the Shengavit district, to the south of the city center (PHOTO). Earlier they entered Surmalu market in capital city Yerevan and chanted [labor] strike. Police surrounded Yerevan Mall, one of the largest malls in Yerevan to prevent protesters from coming in. My Step initiative leader, opposition Civil Contract Party member, and National Assembly (NA) Way Out (Yelk) Faction head Nikol Pashinyanwho heads the ongoing opposition movement in protest of ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Ministeron Wednesday announced that on Thursday they shall block the government building as well as other government department buildings. The first Cabinet meeting of the Sargsyan-led government will be convened on Thursday. Nikol Pashinyan and his supporters are staging protests in Yerevan, ever since April 13, and by blocking streets and squares. They protest against ex-President Serzh Sargsyan being elected Prime Minister of Armenia. As a result of the clashes during these demonstrations, 46 peopleincluding Pashinyanwere injured, and police detained several dozen people, including minors. In addition, a criminal case has been filed into the protesters bursting into the Public Radio of Armenia building and regarding an incident that occurred at an intersection in downtown Yerevan. Ex-President Serzh Sargsyan was elected Prime Minister at Tuesdays NA special session, and by a vote of 77 for and 18 against. Genocide deniers in Turkey, the Middle East, Europe and even here at home are gaining traction in their attempts to whitewash history and convert the genocide into mere consequences of war, Rep. Ed Royce said as he joined Armenian Americans and members of Congress on April 18 to commemorate the Armenian Genocide in the U.S. Capitol. As we have seen, since the days immediately following the collapse of the Ottoman Empire until today, there have been those who have worked to deny the genocide and silence its witnesses. Truth does not stand in the company of caveats, euphemisms or qualifications. It stands fearlessly and unapologetically on its own and so should the U.S. record on the Armenian Genocide, House Foreign Affairs Committee Chairman Ed Royce said. That is why I have repeatedly called on various U.S. administrations to call the horrific violence of 1915 by its true name, and officially recognize it as the Armenian Genocide. Just this week I have joined with several of my House colleagues on a letter to President Trump, urging him again to refer to the genocide in his April 24th commemoration remarks. Genocide perpetrators continue to believe that there is a chance for impunity in the conduct of their crimes against humanity, as we have seen in the former Yugoslavia, in Rwanda and even today in ISIS-held territory in Syria and Iraq. Shocking genocidal acts are being carried out within ISIS territory. Armenian Christians and other minorities are targeted for violence. Hundreds have been enslaved, raped, tortured, and even crucified. In response to those reports, I authored the final text of H. Con. Res. 75 in the last Congress, calling for the administration to recognize these actions as part of a genocidal campaign and managed it through our committee and to House passage. Our action motivated the previous administration to do the right thing and finally condemn these ISIS actions as genocide. Our compassion for the victims of the ISIS genocide in Syria is one shared by our friend and partner Armenia. It is an inspirational dynamic in our relationship. Years ago, the generosity of the U.S. people provided over $117 million in charitable assistance through the Near East Relief to survivors of the first genocide of the 20th century. Now, the descendants of those survivors are paying that generosity forward to the victims of this 21st century genocide. In fact, Armenia has welcomed more than 22,000 Armenian refugees, and provided them with housing assistance, medical care and a path to citizenship. I will continue to support these efforts to protect lives today, as well as working to honor the millions of innocent lives that were lost in the Armenian Genocide. Opposition-led supporters continued protest actions in Yerevan for the seventh day in a row. The protesters led by MP Nikol Pashinyan started their actions near the government building on Thursday morning. Police, however, were able to clear the building entrances, during which they detained dozens of demonstrators, including minors. Later on, the protesters blocked Arshakunyats Avenue and marched towards Garegin Nzhdeh Square and Isakov Avenue. The demonstrators are expected to hold a rally at Republic Square at 7 pm. As of Thursday at 5 pm, 122 people, including eight underage, have been detained, police said in a statement. On Thursday the Cabinet meeting, the first one after ex-President Serzh Sargsyans election as the Prime Minister of Armenia, will be held at the government building which is surrounded by police. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian on Thursday signed the law on ratification of the Comprehensive and Enhanced Partnership Agreement between Armenia and EU. On the same day, Latvian lawmakers ratified the agreement becoming the second EU member state (after Estonia) to ratify the deal. President of Armenia Armen Sarkissian signed a decree to re-appoint three ministers. Vardan Aramyan will continue serving as Minister of Finance, Davit Lokyan--as Minister of Territorial Administration and Development, and Suren Karayan--as Minister of Economic Development and Investments. Vigen Sargsyan was re-appointed as Defense Minister and Edward Nalbandian as Foreign Minister. EU is closely following ongoing developments in Yerevan and other cities, the delegation of EU in Armenia and EU Member State Embassies said in a statement. It is important that all parties involved continue to show restraint and responsibility, they said in a statement. EU stands ready to continue working in partnership with state institutions and civil society, supporting Armenia on its path towards democratic and economic reforms for the benefit of the citizens. U.S. Senators and Representatives joined together Wednesday evening at a U.S. Capitol for the commemoration of the Armenian Genocide. They called on President and Congressional leaders to reject Turkey's gag-rule against honest American remembrance of the Armenian Genocide. Among those offering keynote remarks were Senators, Representatives, Armenian Ambassador to U.S. Grigor Hovhannissian, Artsakh Representative to the U.S Robert Avetisyan. The American dollars exchange rate against the Armenian dram (AMD) comprised AMD 480.19/$1 in Armenia on Thursday. The exchange rate for one euro was AMD 593.95. YEREVAN.- Armenian President Armen Sarkissian received the EU Ambassador to Armenia Piotr Switalski, presidential press service reported. Armen Sarkissian noted the importance of developing relations with the EU and stressed that Armenia is ready to promote dialogue with the EU, cooperation in the sphere of economy, mobility, effective governance and numerous other spheres which are of mutual interest. Piotr Switalski, congratulated President Sarkissian on assuming the office of President of the Republic of Armenia and welcomed the signing of the law on ratification of the Agreement on comprehensive and expanded partnership between Armenia and the EU of November 24, 2017. Then the interlocutors exchanged views on the implementation of programs with the assistance of the EU, increasing their effectiveness, and preparing new programs. Germanys Angela Merkel called for a spirit of compromise on reforming the euro zone at a meeting on Thursday with French President Emmanuel Macron, who pressed for solidarity among members of the currency union, Reuters reported. Before their talks, the two said they would present a united front at June meeting of European Union leaders on a range of issues including reform of the 19-member euro zone, which Merkel said they agreed was not yet sufficiently crisis-proof. France and Germany, which account for around 50 percent of euro zone output, are essential to the reform drive. Stressing the need for compromise, Merkel said: We each bring some different facets but I think the sum of our proposals will make for a good result in the end. However, their meeting took place against a backdrop of grumbling by lawmakers from Merkels conservative bloc, wary that Macrons call for more solidarity could see German taxpayers money used to fund profligate member states. No monetary union can exist without elements of convergence, the French leader said. Ingibjorg Solrun Gisladottir, Director of the OSCE Office for Democratic Institutions and Human Rights (ODIHR), today urged the authorities in Armenia to protect and ensure the right to freedom of peaceful assembly in the country, as protests there continue. All people have a fundamental right to express their opinion in peaceful protests, the ODIHR Director said. Law enforcement authorities must not only refrain from interfering with the right to freedom of peaceful assembly, but have a responsibility to facilitate this right. This includes ensuring the safety and security of participants in the face of any disruptions, such as by agent provocateurs or counter-protestors. While noting the offer by the Armenian authorities to engage in dialogue with the opposition, Gisladottir expressed concern over reported instances of the disproportionate use of force by Armenian police against peaceful protestors, including minors, as well as indiscriminate arrests in Yerevan and other cities. The authorities must make certain that any measures to ensure public security are lawful, necessary and proportionate, and are not aimed at muting dissenting opinions, Gisladottir said. Members of the House of Representatives have said that a better description for Wednesdays attack on the Senate is terrorism. The visibly angry lawmakers did not only condemn the invasion of the Senate by suspected thugs but also called for an investigation to unearth persons who planned the security breach. There was pandemonium in the premises of the National Assembly, particularly the lobby of the White House, for over an hour after the invaders successfully carted away the Mace of the Senate. Visitors and members of staff of the National Assembly were seen running for cover amid the confusion. Some of them initially thought that armed robbers or terrorists had invaded the legislative building. As a mark of solidarity with the Senate, the members, led by the Deputy Speaker, Mr. Yussuff Lasun, had marched to the Senate chambers to sit briefly with senators. They later returned to the House to debate the invasion, following a motion moved by the Leader of the House, Mr. Femi Gbajabiamila. The leader told members to brace against what he called a carefully planned affront on the legislature, the very heart of democracy. He added, This is akin to a terrorist attack; there is no better way to describe it. We must not give them the opportunity to celebrate this attack. Gbajabiamila noted that the invasion had again brought to the fore the urgency to strengthen security at the National Assembly. He said, How this is possible anywhere in the world beats my imagination. The moment has come for us to do what we should have done a long time ago; to beef up security at the National Assembly. You see people hawking in the corridors like a commercial centre. People come here to sell Suya and all manner of things take place here. This attack simply meant that we have been sitting ducks here. Mr. Jethro Ikyange, the octogenarian adopted father of the Speaker of Benue State House of Assembly, Mr. Terkimbi Ikyange, was abducted by gunmen in the early hours of Wednesday. It was gathered from a close family source that Jethro was abducted from his ancestral home at Manor village, Ikyov council ward of Ushongo Local Government Area of the state. According to the source, his abductors were four in number. They came armed in an unregistered ash-coloured Toyota car around 1a.m., when everyone had gone to bed in the community. They forced open his bedroom door and whisked him away to an unknown destination. His abductors have not contacted members of his family, who are worried because the old man is on medication. Though the matter has been reported to the Police and local vigilante groups have been combing everywhere for the old man, nothing has been heard about his whereabouts. His family is not suspecting anyone, but they are hopeful that baba will be returned to his family unhurt, because he does not have any issues with anyone. At press time, all attempts to reach the Speaker were unsuccessful. Contacted, the state Police Commissioner, Fatai Owoseni, said: The victim is actually not the father of the Speaker, but his uncle. Efforts are being made to ensure his rescue. Home | Latest Addition | 7 Nigerian universities incorporated into world technology network By Victoria Ojeme & Ene Ocheme ABUJA Seven Nigerian Universities on Wednesday signed an agreement with the University of Bradford to be incorporated into the World Technology Universities Network (WTUN) to enhance the development of technology in their schools. The universities include University of Port Harcourt, University of Benin, Akwa Ibom State University, University of Africa, University of Uyo, University of Calabar and Niger Delta University. The Vice Chancellor of University of Bradford, Prof. Brian Cantor, at the signing ceremony said WTUN was established by to use technology as a quick solution to the world challenges. Cantor said that the network was to promote better understanding of the role and the characteristics of the technology university and facilitate links between world technology universities and industry. According to him, it is aimed to collaborate on research and knowledge transfer to address global challenges and develop position and policy statements among others. Cantor described the incorporation as means of uplifting Nigerian university technologically through the WTUN. He said the network was a catalyst to solving the world problem which include ill-health, poverty, climate change, energy and water supply, food security, industrial development, conflict, migration and terrorism. The 21st centurys problems are difficult, frightening and threatening to us all. But as well as threats, there are opportunities: opportunities that technological research and the application of technology can exploit to help deliver solutions. Technology is, broadly, the use of knowledge to improve society, and it is clear that technology universities must play a leading role in meeting our 21st century challenges, he said. According to him, universities, and technology universities in particular, can be amongst the greatest forces for progress. Working together and alongside our business and industry partners, we can perhaps create the greatest community for good in the world, he said. Prof. Uduak Archibong, a Professor of Diversity and Strategic at the University of Bradford, said: Bradford is proud of its long-standing engagement with Africa, exemplified in our student body, partnerships and collaborations. Our formal relations with Africa started with the establishment of the School of Peace Studies in 1973/74 and led to mediation and peace-building efforts across Africa. Prof. Udo Ibok Director of Academic Planning who represented Akwa Ibom State University at the ceremony said that there was a lot to be gained by the university through the network. This would have a lot of positive impact on our university through exchange programmes, which include staff students, technology and many other things they have over there. We can go there see how they are doing things and bring them back If the global issue we are thinking of worked out, ours is a young university and we will want to grow, one of the ways to it to use internet or other growing universities. And, this is one of the reasons why we collaborate with the Bradford University to grow our university, he said Prof. Valentine Aleto, the Vice Chancellor, University of Africa, Toru Orua, Bayelsa described the network as an opportunity for its university to grow The network technology is kind of network that will bring together a lot of universities that will use technology to solve national and global problems, he said.. Prof. Ibibia Worika who represented University of Port Harcourt, expressed delight at the agreement stressing that joining the network would add value to the university Just like todays world, technology plays a very crucial role in the development of the economy of a nation. In one word it will add value to the university if Uniport name is among the network, it will help the institution and bring the likely opportunity for both staff and students It will add value to teaching, research, students and lecturers it will make the university to be much more relevant, he said. The Director General of Institute of Peace and Conflict Resolution Prof. Oshita O. Oshita, who hosted the University of Bradford delegation to Nigeria described the incorporation as a good omen for those universities. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: Latest Addition Home | News | General | Women support orphanage with gift items at Easter By Gabriel Ewepu ABUJA- WOMEN under the auspices of Virtuous Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative, VWYEI, has supported an orphanage, City of Refuge Orphanage, Durumi, Abuja Municipal Area Council, with gift items. The group was led by the Founder of the organisation, Esther Akwo, to the orphanage where the management, along with the children, received them warmly. Akwo said the visit was to give a sense of belonging to the children who are special in the sight of God and for them being alive to witness the 2018 Easter. According to her the gifts which include cartons of noodles, soap, biscuits, juice, diapers, toiletries, and others were to make the children happy and have something with which to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of Jesus Christ. She said: We commend the management of City of Refuge Orphanage Home for their commitment and love towards these children of destiny, to whom they have devoted their time and resources to ensure they become responsible adults and be useful to themselves and the nation. We in Virtuous Women and Youth Empowerment Initiative, VWYEI, being a humanitarian organisation, deemed it necessary to visit and see how the children are faring, and to donate our token to support what the management is doing. We join the children and entire staff to celebrate the death, burial and resurrection of our Lord Jesus Christ. You know Jesus Christ who sacrificially laid down his life on the cross of Calvary did it out of deep and divine love for the entire humanity in order for them to be saved. This act of unspeakable love is a sheer example for us as Nigerians, mothers and citizens of this country to demonstrate daily, this same love towards each other irrespective of background. We pray God will continue to protect, preserve and provide for this home. Expressing his appreciation, manager of the orphanage, Darlington Francis, thanked VWYEI for the gesture, disclosing that the orphanage has a total of 76 children with three branches in Durumi, Katampe and Maitama, all in Abuja. According to Francis all of the children are in various schools including nursery, secondary and university. He also said eight of them are undergraduates, while one has graduated from a university in Ghana, where she studied information technology and bagged second class honors (upper division). CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Lagos promotes academic excellence, considers awards for heroes By Ebun Sessou AS part of efforts to promote academic excellence, the Lagos State Government is considering a merit award scheme to personalities who have contributed immensely towards the development of the state in various spheres of life. This was revealed during a Public Hearing on a Bill for a Law to establish the Lagos State Awards Scheme, LSAS, to specify among other things, the privileges of the recipients and for connected matters. The event which took place at the State House of Assembly, Lateef Jakande Auditorium, was attended by civil servants and other stakeholders. In his keynote address, the Speaker, Mr. Mudashiru Obasa who was represented by the Majority Leader, Mr. Sanai Agunbiade expressed satisfaction with the initiative to reward excellence in the state. According to him, the executive bill if passed, would fill the vacuum in the national merit awards. He added that it is a bill that would include awarding the past heroes who have laboured for the state as well as people who have contributed their quota to the growth of the state. Obasa further stated that the Bill if passed into law, would reward breakthrough, excellence, bravery and gallantry. Earlier in his welcome address, the Chairman, House Committee on Special Duties, Mr. Hakeem Shokunle, also pointed out that the state government would encourage excellence through the law if eventually passed. He added that one other feature that makes the Bill exceptional is the recognition of those that are dead, saying Lagos State House of Assembly would welcome contributions through memoranda to make the law richer. Asked about the readiness of the state government to use integrity as measure to determine recipients of the award, he promised that the state would not be compromised. Meanwhile, the Deputy Majority Leader, Mr. Olumuyiwa Jimoh who gave the overview of the Bill stated that the Bill which has 26 sections is the first of its kind in the country. He disclosed basically there are two parts in the Bill, saying the Honours and Merit Award. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | JCI unveils 30 nominees for recognition Lets have a basket of knowledge Fadina By Dayo Adesulu JUNIOR Chamber International, JCI, is set to honour 10 outstanding Nigerians between ages 18-40 that are doing exceptionally well in their chosen fields, beginning with the unveiling and recognition of 30 nominees. Speaking at the unveiling of the 30 nominees in Lagos, its chairman, Oluwafunmi Atanda said: Today, we are unveiling 30 nominees for recognition, but we shall formally recognise 10 young outstanding people among them doing exceptionally well in their chosen fields in August. According to her, nominations from the public for the 10 outstanding people living in Nigeria or Diaspora have started. If you are contributing to the growth of your community and also trying to put so much out there to save humanity, people should actually recognise you for what you are doing, she said. Business opportunities Explaining the opportunities the recipients would have, Atanda said individual development, international opportunities and networking business opportunities are some of the opportunities. Going down memory lane, she said: We opened nominations for 50 days and ended the nominations on January 31 with about 1,817 nominations of young people doing well in their various fields across the country and also outside the country. Nominees were streamlined based on JCI values. We believe that faith in God gives one a purpose in human life, that economy and justice can best be run by enterprise. These nominees were x-rayed based on these values that JCI has espoused for 61 years. Meanwhile, one of the past winners, Prince Lekan Fadina, in his remarks said that his challenge to JCI was not just people applying, but what they do with those talented Nigerians. He said: I have seen some of the great things in the submission either in terms of economy and environment. To me, the greatest challenge to JCI is that we should not sit down and just allow them to go. My organisation will be interested in collaborating with JCI; we must get those people out of the number that have been able to stay down to 50. Are they going to go like that? Is their knowledge going to go like that? Cant we get what I describe as a basket of knowledge? JCI must create a platform where all the thoughts and ideas of these young people are put together in what I call the basket of knowledge. It is then we can say that JCI has added to the development process in Nigeria. We must have a programme to nurture discipline among the young people by instilling in them the spirit of patriotism, moral values, loyalty and family values. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Kaduna govt sacks 4,562 newly-recruited teachers By Ben Agande Kaduna State government has dismissed 4,562 newly-recruited teachers a few weeks after they were issued with employment letters to replace those sacked for failing a competency test. The state Commissioner for Education, Alhaji Jaafaru Sani, who stated this at a briefing yesterday, explained that the newly-recruited teachers were sacked because they found their ways into the service of state government through dubious means. Classroom The state government had sacked 22,000 teachers that failed competency test based on questions meant for primary four pupils and announced that it will replace them with competent teachers, based on a competitive recruitment exercise. Sacked, again However, at the end of the exercise, some of the teachers could not correctly write acceptance letters, forcing the state government, according to the Commissioner, to organise another screening for all the newly-recruited teachers. Sani said: At the end, 4,562 incompetent ones, believed to have found their way into the final list illegally, were fished out, leaving 11,335 competent ones. The 11,335 newly-recruited teachers, predominantly degree holders, including a few with Masters degrees, have already been deployed to over 4,000 primary schools. This was after they had undergone vigorous induction training, along with the remaining old teachers, to equip them with modern teaching techniques and effective classroom management. We are hoping that between now and next month ending, we will be concluding the recruitment process of the balance of 13,665 teachers. Smart teaching tools The commissioner added that we want to equip our students with the information and communication technology skills to enable them compete favourably in the current technology-driven world. The commissioner said to achieve technology-based teaching, the state was distributing tablet computers to teachers and students, as well as installing smart boards in schools. Sani noted that the state Universal Basic Education Board, SUBEB, had concluded the recruitment of 11,335 teachers out of the 25,000 vacancy it earlier advertised; about 40,000 applicants sat for the recruitment examination, out of which 27,639 were invited for oral interview. He added that 15,897 of the applicants were successful, but subjected to further screening to fish out those allegedly smuggled into the list. Sani added that the applications for the remaining balance of 13,665 are already being received, adding that the process will commence once approval is granted by Governor Nasir el-Rufai. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Hoodlums attack school hostel, rob students in Aba By Ugochukwu Alaribe ABAA gang of hoodlums yesterday attacked the All Saints Secondary School, Aba, Abia State and dispossessed students taking their Senior School Certificate Examination of cash, handsets, clothing and food items. All Saints Secondary, Aba, is one of the schools handed over to individuals and missions identified as original owners by the Abia State Government in 2012. About 50 students were said to have sustained injuries during the robbery attack. Vanguard gathered that the hoodlums gained entry into the school premises at about 2.am and broke into the hostels where they beat up the students. Some of the students escaped from the attack and alerted the mobile policemen stationed at Opobo junction, Ogbor Hill, but the hoodlums fled before the security agents arrived the school. It was like the robbers got entry through the back gate of the school at about 2am and broke into the hostels. They beat up and collected our money, handsets, clothing and food items. Most of us sustained injuries from the attack. Some female students were molested. We are calling on the school authority to liaise with the Police to beef up security in the school, the students lamented. It was further gathered the hoodlums also robbed teachers and tenants residing at the school compound of various amounts of cash and handsets. A source told Vanguard that the Police had arrested two of the hoodlums including a student taking the school certificate examination at the school who was found with some of the stolen items. Contacted, Police Public Relations Officer, Abia State Command, DSP Geoffrey Ogbonna, said he was not aware of the incident. However, a senior Police officer in Aba confirmed the incident, adding that the suspects were asked to report to the Police at the end of the school certificate examinations. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Reps drop change of electoral sequence bill By Henry Umoru & Levinus Nwabughiogu ABUJAHouse of Representatives, yesterday, dropped the change of electoral sequence bill sponsored by Edward Gyang Pwajok from Plateau State and seven others. House of Rep members It also passed the constitution alteration bills okayed and returned by the 36 state Houses of Assembly. Spokesman of the House, Abdulrazaq Namdas, told newsmen after plenary, yesterday, that the change of electoral sequence bill was dropped because the sponsor chose to withdraw it. Recall that speculation was rife last week that the National Assembly had decided to halt the electoral amendment process, which seeks to put the National Assembly and governorship polls ahead of the Presidential election in 2019 general elections to placate the governors. On the passage of constitution alteration bills, the House secured the required two-thirds majority during voting on the items, and transmitted same to the state Houses of Assembly for their input. All the states participated in the process except Lagos, which preferred the statusquo. In adopting the motion, entitled, Adoption of returns from the State Houses of Assembly on the Constitution Alteration Bills, 2018, sponsored by Deputy Speaker of the House, Yusuf Lasun, but moved by the House Leader, Femi Gbajabiamila, the House said the items had met the constitutional requirements of the provisions of Section 9 of the 1999 Constitution and be processed in line with the Acts Authentication Act. Bill suffers set back in Senate Meanwhile, there was sharp division among senators, yesterday, over moves to reorder sequence of the 2019 general elections after Presidential veto on the earlier one proposed by the National Assembly through the 2010 Electoral Act (Amendment) Bill 2018. The attempt, however, failed with withdrawal of a new bill proposed to that effect. In his lead debate on the bill, entitled A Bill for an Act to amend the provisions of the Electoral Act to make provisions for sequence of elections in Nigeria and for related matters, Chairman , Senate Committee on INEC, Suleiman Nazif, disclosed that the new reordered sequence of elections would start with Governorship/State Houses of Assembly elections, followed by National Assembly and Presidential election last. When it was time for debate on the bill, majority of senators kicked against it, which made Deputy Senate President, Ike Ekweremadu, who presided over yesterdays plenary to rescue it from total death by reverting it to the committee for more legislative inputs. In his contribution, Senate Leader, Ahmad Lawan (APC Yobe, North) who kicked against the bill, said he was totally and comprehensively against the bill, adding that the right thing was not to legislate for new sequence of elections but to support INEC in the conduct of the elections. On his part, Senator Kabiru Marafa (APC Zamfara Central) who also kicked against the bill, said: This bill will further divide us, it is unnecessary and we should not go to that I dont want us to finish the way we started. But Ekweremadu was, however, quick to respond to Marafa, saying let me assure Marafa that nothing will divide this Senate; we will continue to work as one entity, we will aspire toward that. The Senate Minority Leader , Godswill Akpabio also kicked against it, saying, when we initially did the first one that President sent to us, I believe strongly that the National Assembly has the powers to fix sequence of election in the law as opposed to dates, all the judgments so far have talked about dates. INEC has the right to fix dates for election but in terms of sequence of election, I believe we can legislate on it. But my disagreement with the bill is that we cannot aprobate and reprobate, as a Senate we are distinguished people and we must not speak with both sides of our mouth. The sequence that is proposed here is such that not only has it taken us backwards it shows that we look confused On his part, Senate Chief Whip, Senator Olusola Adeyeye ( APC Osun Central) who also kicked against the bill by describing it as unconstitutional, said: As vice chairman of Senate Committee on INEC, I state categorically that I totally oppose this bill. There cannot be sequence of elections unless there are dates. And if INEC is given the prerogative to choose and INEC chooses to put one day before the other, let us leave things as they are. INEC in the past chose their date, and INEC in the 8thNational Assembly must be given the respect again to choose their date. Anything else in my opinion is legislative rascality. Though Senators Dino Melaye ( APC Kogi West) and Mao Ohuambuwa ( PDP Abia North) , made spirited attempts to get the bill passed for second reading, but the overwhelming opposition against it by other senators, rendered their efforts fruitless. Senator Melaye said, there is a difference between date and sequence. These are two different issues. While the constitution empowers INEC only to fix daes of election but the power for order and sequence of election is within the Constitutional mandate of the National Assembly that ab initio even created the law that enacted INEC as an institution. If we have the powers to enact INEC as institution in this country, then we should also have powers to moderate our activities without tampering with dates. In his remarks , Ekweremadu said : essentially we here to serve the interest of our people, if anybody has ulterior motive, I dont understand myself. It is important for all of us to be on the same page in matters such as this. We passed the electoral act and then we sent it to the president, the president returned that bill with a number of observations. One of the observations he made was in respect of order of election, he also made observation with regards to local government elections which the national assembly was given power under that bill to make laws. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Herdsmen killings: Buhari convenes regional summit on border cattle movement By Johnbosco Agbakwuru ABUJAPRESIDENT Muhammadu Buhari is expected to host the conference on ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services aimed at putting to an end illegal migration of herdsmen from other countries into the country as well as cattle rustling. Nigerias President Muhammadu Buhari attends a reception at the closing session of the Commonwealth Business Forum at the Guildhall in central London on April 18, 2018, on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting (CHOGM). The Commonwealth Business Forum will discuss practical ways to enhance trade, showcase investment opportunities and promote sustainable development. / AFP PHOTO This is even as Minister of Interior, Abdulraman Dambazzau, has told residents of Federal Capital Terrotory, FCT, Abuja, not to panic over the alleged planned attack by Islamic Movement of Nigeria, otherwise known as Shiites in the Federal Capital Territory, Abuja. Briefing State House correspondents after the weekly Federal Executive Council, FEC, meeting presided over by Vice President, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, at the Council Chamber, Presidential Villa, Abuja, Danbazzau said ECOWAS member countries, including some countries from the Central Africa, Mauritania and Morocco will take decisions that would stop killings by herdsmen. He said the herdsmen killings had become worrisome to Nigerian government as well as other countries within the ECOWAS region. He said: Of course, it bothers us. Particularly, we in the Ministry of Interior since we have Immigration under our supervision and we have the responsibility on border security even though we have other services like the Nigeria Customs. And this is why we initiated the conference that is to come up between April 26 and 29, 2018 under the ECOWAS Protocol on Free Movement of Persons, Goods and Services, zeroing particularly on the protocol of trans-humans which was signed in 1978 and we are yet to implement them. I had meeting with the president of ECOWAS commission, the one that left and we agreed to have this conference sometimes last month but they were leaving, and the new set of management coming in, it was shifted to towards the end of this month. The whole idea is to look at this issue of movement across borders. The protocol provided, for instance, that any of such movement, of trans-human should be received at the reception centre by the host country and there international trans-human certificate are supposed to guide them. And not only that, they should also go along with international health certificates for the cattle they are going with. Minister dismisses rumoured Shiites attacks on Abuja On alleged plan by the Shiites to attack Abuja, he said: Well, I am not sure of where that alert is coming from. You know that these days, you have to be very mindful of these things in the social media. It is like I saw one yesterday saying that there is going to be nuclear attack in the United Kingdom and this was broadcast by the BBC, and it is fake. So, you have to be very careful with that. But I want to reassure you that law and order exist within the society and the FCT minister is very aware and is on top of it because of what happened recently. The commissioner of police is aware and is part of it. About some people attacking or not, I think is something that we have to be cautious of where such information is coming from. If there is anything like that, you will get it from official sources. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Taraba crisis: Director Military Intelligence invites Takum LGA chairman for interview - The crisis of confidence between the Nigerian Army and government officials in Taraba state have continued unabated - One man who has been very vocal about the military's activities id the chairman of Takum local government, Mr Shiba Tikari - The Director Military Intillegence has invited him for an interview The Director Military Intelligence has invited the chairman Takum local government area, Taraba state, Mr Shiba Tikari for an interview. According to a statement sent to NAIJ.com by the director army public relations, Brigadier-General Texas Chukwu, the interview is slated for Friday, April 20. The interview is in connection with the security concerns where 3 suspects were arrested in Takum. The suspects are currently being investigated by the DMI, the statement said. Tikari recently faulted a statement by the army that two suspects, Danjuma America and Danasabe Gasama who were arrested in Takum were perpetrators of crises in the Takum and Ussa council areas of the state. He accused the military of harassing people in troubled areas, said instead of going after their attackers, troops had been withdrawn from various checkpoints in the local government. We have told them the routes the attackers are using to attack us, but rather than go to these areas and arrest the armed Fulani militia attacking us, they have been busy harassing our people. As we speak, the Commanding Officer of the 93 Battalion Takum, Lt. Col. Ibrahim Gambari, has withdrawn all soldiers at various checkpoints in Takum LGA, he told journalists. PAY ATTENTION: Read the news on Nigerias #1 news app Meanwhile, in line with the on going military exercise Ayem Akpatuma in Taraba state, five suspects were recently declared wanted by the army. The suspects were declared wanted for their alleged roles in the killings in Takum local government area in particular and Taraba state in general. TY Danjuma, Nigerian army and the herdsmen crisis | Naij.com TV [embedded content] Source: Naija.ng CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Lying to live long By Ochereome Nnanna THE Peoples Democratic Party, PDP, ruled Nigeria for sixteen years. It is the largest party ever to have ruled Nigeria and tagged itself as the largest party in Africa. At the height of its glory PDP controlled 26 states after the 2007 general elections. The party had become so big that at a point it decided to deregister some unwanted members. Its leaders arrogantly boasted they would rule Nigeria for 60 years. However, by 2015, the party had lost so much political weight that it was dethroned by an upstart patchwork of broom-wielding opposition coalition called the All Progressives Congress, APC. PDPs weight-gain formula was mainly anchored on inclusion. After the military was eased out from politics in 1999, President Olusegun Obasanjo brought some leaders of the opposition All Peoples Party (APP, later the All Nigerian Peoples Party, ANPP) and Alliance for Democracy, AD, into his government. Inclusion later turned into predation. PDP started infiltrating the ANPP and AD. PDP moles became national chairmen of the ANPP, which was one of the reasons that a former ANPP presidential candidate, General Muhammadu Buhari, left and formed his Congress for Progressive Change, CPC, the core legacy coalition partner of the ruling APC. By 2011 when Dr. Goodluck Jonathan won the presidential election, PDP had lost interest in manipulating opposition parties. Some critics have accused Jonathan of oversleeping while the opposition gathered steam under him and by the time he woke up in panic, it was too late. During the years of PDPs power and glory, the leadership of the ANPP, CPC and the Action Congress of Nigeria, ACN, stoically languished in the opposition. But when a large rump of PDP rebels joined and helped them capture power APC seemed to swear never to return to the opposition wilderness any time soon. There is nothing wrong or illegitimate with this. This is politics, and everyone involved in it wants power for as long as they can sustain their hold of it. It would appear that the minimum period the APC has mapped for itself to rule Nigeria is sixteen years, same as the period the PDP ruled the roost. The ubiquitous reference to sixteen years of PDP rot (perhaps as the time APC would need to reverse the rot) appears to validate this. The APC leadership cannot seem to understand why anyone would want another change after only four years. This is clear political vanity. PDP wanted 60 years, they got 16 because Nigerians became tired of them. APC is eyeing a minimum of 16 years. They may not even get eight years because Nigerians are already tired of them. The Nigerian public have already seen the nakedness of the emperor. Just like the PDP did during the Obasanjo years (as is typical of military mindset) the APC Federal Government under Buhari immediately took control of all the strategic Federal Executive Bodies, including those that are supposed to be independent such as the Central Bank of Nigeria, CBN, the Nigerian National Petroleum Corporation, NNPC, the Independent National Electoral Commission, INEC, and the anti-graft agencies, especially the Economic and Financial Crimes Commission, EFCC. The main state agencies that control the nations finances were in the bag, and so, gone were the days when state governors were depended upon to bring money for campaigns. Buhari shuffled the leadership of the electoral umpire and put his family members in charge, unlike Jonathan who responded to public yearnings and appointed an INEC Chairman he did not know who hailed from the only region that had the capacity (and the naked ambition) to snatch power from him, the core North. Now, Buhari and his partys tracks can be covered by people within the electoral umpire who have personal stakes in his remaining in power. The anti-graft agencies (especially the EFCC) were similarly pocketed to drive the APC agenda of decimating the ranks of the opposition as a party of corrupt looters while treating old and new APC members as reformed saints. Similar attempts to pocket the National Assembly and the Judiciary failed woefully. There is a specific agenda to use propaganda and lies to make the PDP unattractive because the party still has a formidable network of old loyalists, some of who are sheltering for the moment inside the APC. The recent publication of looters lists by the Federal Government which contains only current PDP leaders and former government officials (including those who have never been arraigned in any court) while excluding known accused persons in the APC undergoing trial for corruption, says it all. The APC Federal Government and many of its top stalwarts are very proactive in constantly feeding the public with naked lies, blame games and hollow propaganda to make themselves look good while heaping the woes of the country on the PDP. Buhari did not bat an eyelid when he said he inherited nothing from past administration. His VP, Prof. Yemi Osinbajo, repeated the same falsehood, yet Transport Minister, Hon Chibuike Amaechi, who was a major warrior in the battle to remove Jonathan from power openly confessed: we met the Abuja Kaduna railway project 80 per cent completed. That is just one instance out of a legion. Presidential spokesman, Garba Shehu even blamed the PDP for sneaking pension fugitive, Abdulrasheed Maina, back to office! One day soon, the most ridiculous lies told under three years of Buhari leadership will be displayed. Let me end this article by advising politicians who want long tenancy in the corridors of power. Lying and manipulation of the opposition can only get you so much and no more. Serve well, and the public will appreciate you with a long service award. Whether you award yourself 60 or 16 years, it is the Nigerian people who ultimately decide. Happily, they have discovered the formula for regime change. Those who lie wont live long. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Ultimatum on restructuring: We didnt issue any threat to FG Aagbekoya By Dapo Akinrefon LAST week, some Yoruba groups converged in a programme tagged: 2018 Yoruba April Declaration, which was held at the Banquet Hall, Jogor Events Centre, Ibadan. From Left; Otunba Ogunlana Adegbenro, National Secretary Agbekoya worldwide; Oloye Samson Eluwole, Aare Ago of Ife and Oba Oladipupo Kolade oluwademilade 1, Olupotun of Ipotai Ekiti during the 2016 Olojo festival in Ile ife osun State. Photo: Akeem Salau. File Photo They threatened to disrupt the forthcoming governorship elections in Ekiti and Osun states and 2019 general elections if the country is not restructured to check the unnecessary attacks and incursion of herdsmen into farmlands in the region. The groups include Agbekoya, Oodua Peoples Congress, and Afenifere. At the end of its summit, a communique was issued and jointly signed by the 109-year-old leader of Agbekoya farmers in Yorubaland, Pa Ayalu Olalere; a traditionalist, Ayoke Osunfunke and a community leader, Chief Raufu Oluokun. They insisted that the Yoruba nation must be freed from what they described as oppression. The communique reads: We give notice that unless our demands for a stronger and more virile nation are accepted; Yoruba will pull out of the 1914 Amalgamation treaty that gave birth to Nigeria. We reject the present constitution of the Federal Government until so amended to fulfil our expectations in Yorubaland. We demand, as a first step, the restructuring of the country to give us a region in Yorubaland before any election is conducted in Yorubaland. Immediate notice is served on Ekiti and Osun states. Agbekoya president denies position Meanwhile, as the groups were basking in the euphoria of achieving a feat by its threat, President-General of Agbekoya Worldwide, Chief Kamoru Okiki Aremu has distanced himself and the group from the threat. Speaking exclusively to Vanguard, he said those who represented the group were on their own. Chief Aremu said: I read in the newspapers where it was reported that we were one of the signatories to a communique that there will not be elections in Ekiti and Osun, there is nothing like that. Agbekoya is a registered association and I would not want anyone to use our name anyhow. I am the President-General of Agbekoya. There was nowhere we held a meeting with anyone. We did not hold any meeting with Afenifere or the OPC. We are a registered association, a responsible group and we would not want anyone to tarnish our image. We did not issue any threat to the Federal Government that there wont be elections in Osun and Ekiti states if there is no restructuring. There is nothing like that. Before the Agbekoya talks, there must be a meeting of the National Executive Council. No single individual can decide for Agbekoya, we are not a political party. If the Yoruba wants to decide on restructuring, we will all sit down and discuss if there will be restructuring or not. We have not given anybody the mandate to speak for the Agbekoya. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General Home | News | General | Lazy Nigerian Youths: Aisha reacts to Buharis comment in London Aisha Yesufu, co-convener of BringBackOurGirls, BBOG, advocacy group, has described President Muhammadu Buhari as a national embarrassment. The activist made the statement in reaction to a video of Buhari speaking at Commonwealth Business Forum in Westminster, which has caused reactions and backlash. He was quoted as saying More than 60 percent of the population is below 30, a lot of them havent been to school and they are claiming that Nigeria is an oil producing country, therefore, they should sit and do nothing, and get housing, healthcare, education for free. Reacting, Aisha on her Twitter page said Buhari had to leave the seat of governance come 2019. According to her, Buhari is not only the President of the Federal Republic of Nigeria he is also the National Embarrassment of the Federal Republic of Nigeria. He has to go in 2019 so he can be an embarrassment at his expense. From a President who rode on the back of the Nation from childhood till date, one who was and still pampered and given freebies. President Muhammadu Buhari @MBuhari needs to stop the inferiority complex. CLICK HERE TO READ MORE FROM: General People with bad social credit in China now banned from using trains, airplanes China has already thought of a couple of ways of applying their unique Social Credit System in order to punish deserving citizens. According to online reports, the country plans to ban certain individuals from boarding airplanes and trains if they are among those who are deemed unworthy based on the Social Credit System. People who have taken these transportation systems before and subsequently committed any crimes or transgressions will be banned from using them again for up to a year. This is based on statements put forth through the official website of Chinas National Development and Reform Commission, which also stated that anyone who has committed certain acts, such as spreading false information about terrorism, causing trouble on flights, using expired tickets, and smoking on trains will be among those who are put on the restricted lists. The statements were said to be dated March 2 but werent issued until March 16. In case you werent aware, the Social Credit System is Chinas unique new method of ranking its citizens based on a number of different factors. Primarily, it is based on online activity and online behavior, for which the government gathers the necessary data about the citizens through the multitude of mobile apps and online services that they use. China is big on censorship and dogfooding as it were using their very own products instead of those created by competitors or third parties so a lot of its citizens are using local alternatives to the likes of Facebook, Google, and Yahoo. Even seemingly normal mainstream websites get censored by the Great Firewall of China, and local alternatives are used by the citizens instead. (Related: Communist China now bribing U.S. universities to censor certain types of speech, promote communist ideals.) China now has less than a month to prepare until the new directive comes into effect on May 1. According to online reports, this move is in line with a bigger plan headed by Chinese President Xi Jinping himself, in which the country will construct a social credit system that is based on the principle of once untrustworthy, always restricted, as noted by eight different ministries, including the Supreme Peoples Court and Chinas aviation regulator. And although it sounds like a rather grim state of affairs, it appears that many Chinese citizens actually dont mind it at all. In fact, many have seemed to welcome the Social Credit System and are happy to be subjected to it. And as for the plan to punish certain individuals based on their personal scores in the system, there are reports that such methods could have been implemented years ago. It is said that using social credit scores as the basis of domestic transport restrictions could have been done already in the past, especially since there was already a restricted list for domestic flights being used. In fact, in early 2017, it is said that a total of 6.15 million Chinese citizens were banned from taking flights due to so-called social misdeeds. Despite the usefulness of such a system when it comes to banning certain individuals from using certain forms of public transportation, it appears that it can quite easily be abused if control of it ever falls into the wrong hands. And whos to say it hasnt already? One can only hope that this isnt just a huge disaster waiting to happen. Find out more about ongoing censorship scandals in Censorship.news. Sources include: Reuters.com Independent.co.uk Optimism is a Moral Choice World Banks Kim Describes Conversion at Chat Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang Eighteen years before he was named 12th president of the World Bank Group in 2012, Dr. Jim Yong Kim was advocating for the bank to be mothballed; 1994 was the banks 50th year, and Kim thought an appropriate birthday gift that year would be to shut it down. In those days, as one of the founders, along with Dr. Paul Farmer, of Partners in Health (PiH), a global health group with origins at Harvard University, Kim considered the World Bank a dinosaur. By insisting on strict repayment schedules, the bank was forcing poor countries that had borrowed money into austerity measures that hurt the poor. Desperately needed funds were taken from health care and education to pay back creditors. In a chat onstage Mar. 12 in Masur Auditorium with NIH director Dr. Francis Collins, Kim described his conversion from M.D./Ph.D. anthropologist with front-line experience combatting infectious diseases among the worlds poorest populations to unexpected bank president whose keen eye for the needs of the worlds developing nations trumped his dearth of financial expertise. Something Like a Movement There was a good reason that warm and sustained applause greeted Kim as he took the stage for his interview. For the previous hour and 41 minutes, the audience had watched the film Bending the Arc, which traced PiHs development from its genesis in late-night dormitory conversations in Cambridge to crucial, even heroic, interventions in Haiti (first for tuberculosis, then HIV), Peru (multidrug resistant TB) and Rwanda (Ebola). In perhaps the films emotional zenith, Kim recounts with tearful astonishment the recovery of a young Peruvian man whose advanced MDR-TB was cured by PiH physicians. This was only after much of the world, including authorities in the United States, had argued that such cases should be allowed simply to run their course, too expensive to address. With Paul Farmer and others, I learned how to take social justice and turn it into real work on the ground, says Kim in the film, noting that the Catholic churchs liberation theology provided the moral buttress for work many of their peers thought was hopeless, maybe even crazy. We realized that this could be something like a movement. Along with activist Ophelia Dahl and others, the Harvard grad students believed that there was no such thing as a basket-case country, said Kim. Known for his comment, Optimism is a moral choice, Kim put that observation in context: Pessimists will probably live out their own very low ambitions, he said. The key for me today is to have pessimism of the intellect, but optimism of the will. Noted Dahl in the movie, So much of this work is built on love. Collins Conducts Interview Once the film ended, Collins first question was about the power of an individual patient to become the start of big, bold programs. We learned early on that you cant do this work unless you allow your soul to be fractured, said Kim. If you can shrug it off, Partners in Health is probably not for you. Photo: Chia-Chi Charlie Chang When he first went to Haiti, Kim found bodies that reflected all of the ills that the world has to offerIt made us humble, but it also made us angryWe were determined to stick with people who had been abandoned. The PiH team reflected long and hard on the best approach to human suffering, he said. Would it be cost-effectiveness? We rejected that analysis. We were inspired by liberation theologians to stand by and be with the poor, to see the world from their perspective. Many people are unwilling to do so. Asked if he and Farmer always agreed on things, Kim said, We argued all the time. To this day we argue intensely about things, but our moral foundations are built on the same architecture. For example, when World Bank assistance was sought for the Ebola crisis of 2014, Kims first call was to Farmer. His second call was to NIAID director Dr. Anthony Fauci. The board voted 25-0 to fund the work, Kim reported. Noting that the World Bank used to be your enemy, Collins asked, How did you end up being in charge of the place? Kim responded that one of his predecessors, James Wolfensohn, had already begun to change the banks culture. First, Grow Rich The original idea of the bank was, first grow rich, then invest in things like health and education, said Kim. That view has evolved, he explained, as the worlds finance ministers have come to appreciate the work of people like Dr. Chris Murray, whose studies on the global burden of disease have been eye-opening. Investment in health and educationnot hard infrastructureis the best driver of economic growth, Kim said. So is [your work] all exhortation? wondered Collins. Thats the last argument I had with Paul, Kim replied, what the bank should do. Knowing that heads of state and finance ministers are keenly aware of how they stack up against their peers, the World Bank has commissioned the Human Capital Index, which Kim expects will pack a punch. They pay attention if you rank them, he said. No one wants the shame of being ranked lower than a nation you felt superior to. Among the metrics is learning-adjusted years of education vs. actual years of education. A year of education in Singapore, for example, is worth 2 years of education in Yemen. Once the rankings come out, that will get their attention, said Kim, who hopes the index will spur self-funding initiatives and grow indigenous political will. Kim said even a well-funded bank cant come close to solving such challenges as the estimated $3 trillion it would take to tackle the worlds sexually transmitted diseases alone. The Robots Are Coming Kim sees a world where automationrobots and 3-D printing, for exampleis expected to result in loss of half the worlds jobs. This is just nutsits an absolute emergency, he said, particularly for poor countries dealing with stunting in both education and human development. What are these people going to do? We already have machines that can go down a row of strawberries and raspberries and just pick the strawberries. Kim said Chinese entrepreneur Jack Ma of the tech conglomerate Alibaba Group has predicted that all muscle-power jobs and all knowledge jobs will be done by machines very soonPeople wont spend nearly as much time workingWhats going to happen in Africa? I dont know, I just dont know. We need NIH to teach us what people can do. Kim is heartened by the prediction that, by 2025, broadband communications will be truly global, and then aspirations will skyrocket. Thats my obsession these days. He concluded, Human capital is the most important driver of economic growththats what we believe. How do you make the system, as is, work for everybody on the planet? He cautioned, Dont drop what youre doing and become Paul Farmer, suggesting that his friend Farmer is the only one who could successfully pull that off. But Farmer loves what hes doing, said Kim, so you should do every day what you absolutely love to do. iStock/Thinkstock(WASHINGTON) -- Two Senate Republicans, both of whom are leaving the Senate after their current terms, said they would not necessarily back President Donald Trump for re-election in 2020, with one of them speculating that he may not even seek the Oval Office again. I have no idea who's going to run for president in 2020, and I'm not about to say who I will support for that, so we have no idea who's going to run. Whether the president runs again or not is questionable, candidly, Sen. Bob Corker, who is retiring from the Senate this year, said on CNN. The president announced in February that he would run for a second term, and has already named his 2016 digital strategist Brad Parscale as his campaign manager. Corker added during the interview that he would like to see who else is included in the field of 2020 Republican candidates before making a decision on whom to endorse. The Tennessee senator, who also chairs the Senate Foreign Relations Committee, has had a complex relationship with Trump. He had previously questioned the presidents fitness for office, which led to Trump calling him names on Twitter, but eventually the two men reconciled. He has been asked several times in recent days if he would support the president for re-election. Just on Wednesday, he said his position changes by the hour and that many of his colleagues are likewise conflicted. Any Republican senator that hasn't been conflicted over this presidency is either comatose or is pretty useless in their blindness, Corker said during a breakfast with reporters on Wednesday. Sen. Ron Johnson, also appearing on CNN on Thursday, chastised an anchor for asking if he would support the current Republican president for re-election, calling it a gotcha question. "It could be a completely different world by 2020. We have a 2018 election first," Johnson said. Johnson, who was re-elected to his seat in 2016, has said that he will not seek re-election again. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. i am SO scared for Diane! GIRL U IN DANGAH Reply Thread Link this season is probably gonna send with he having a nervous breakdown Reply Parent Thread Link She has a gun, she'll be fine. ;) Reply Parent Thread Link there is actually a team of lawyers coming up with ideas to impeach trump irl Reply Thread Link This flawless show and my spirit animal Diane! Blessed be! Reply Thread Link The whole thing with Lucca and Colin is just weird. I know she got pregnant and they had to do something, but like this is nonsense. Same goes for Diane and her one night stand stalker. Reply Thread Link Why cant they just make Lucca and Colin get back together (or have them split for good) instead of this weirdness with his mother and the campaign manager??? Its odd. And I agree. I didnt watch The Good Wife so I dont know the drama with Kurt but Tully is a loser and kind of clingy. It was clearly a one-night stand and the guy didnt take the hint and is now in the picture. I have no interest in his character. Reply Parent Thread Link Seriously, I feel like they're going to try and turn her into Alicia Florrick! Reply Parent Thread Link IA. I've never been into Lucca/Colin but this storyline is so dumb. Reply Parent Thread Link ita. Some of the storylines they're doing are decidedly odd. I'm still enjoying the show but I'm disappointed by the character work they're doing rn (minus Adrian, he's been getting some good stuff). Reply Parent Thread Link I hope this show gets renewed. It gives me so much lifeeee. I love the whole cast.... it has filled the void good wife left in me and has even outdone good wife. Diane's fuck it attitude it's tooo funny. I love that woman..... I hope lucca and colin get back together soon.... this tully guy is getting on my nerves.... I miss her and kurt :( Reply Thread Link I'm pretty sure it will! Amazon recently signed a deal with CBS for international streaming rights right before season 2 premiered. Reply Parent Thread Link best news ever Reply Parent Thread Link can tully fuck off i need more of gary cole and his full head of hair Reply Thread Link Everyone is an Emergency Responder If employees take the wrong response actions, dont know what to do, or try to perform jobs they are not capable of, the resulting mistakes, confusion, and disarray will stand in the way of a safe response. The first moments of a hazardous substance release can be chaotic, disorienting, and scary. Safety professionals know all too well that in moments like these, human nature alone is not a reliable safety system. If your facility uses and stores hazardous chemicals, you may be aware that under OSHA's Hazardous Waste Operations and Emergency Response (HAZWOPER) Standard, the terms "emergency" and "responder" hold more nuanced and complex meaning than a basic dictionary might suggest. Everyone responds during a hazardous substance release. When a chemical release happenswhether it happens on the production floor, in the warehouse, in the lab, in the shipping dock, or elsewhereemployees of varying experience levels and physical abilities may be nearby. If an employee does not respond in some way, he or she could become ill, be injured, or lose his or her life. It is critical that employers understand the various "levels" of HAZWOPER training that OSHA requires for different employees. By seeing how one level builds on the next, we can get a clear view of each employee's responsibilities and how much emergency response training each employee needs. "In moments like these, human nature alone is not a reliable safety system." Level 1 'Awareness' Every employee who may witness or discover a hazardous substance release and who is responsible for alerting others or evacuating must complete first responder HAZWOPER awareness training. OSHA sets no time requirement for awareness level HAZWOPER training. Because awareness level first responders' responsibilities only include notifying others and evacuating, Level 1 is purely competency based. Employees must demonstrate competency in: 1) Hazardous substance awareness, identification, and recognition This article originally appeared in the May 2018 issue of Occupational Health & Safety. Southwest Airlines Engine Explodes in Flight, Killing a Passenger It was the first passenger fatality in a U.S. airline accident since 2009, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt. One person was killed and seven others sustained minor injuries on a Southwest Airlines flight from New York to Dallas on Tuesday when an engine exploded in midair. It was the first passenger fatality in a U.S. airline accident since 2009, according to National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB) chairman Robert Sumwalt. Southwest Flight 1380, a two-engine Boeing 737 with 149 people onboard, made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport after an explosion occurred about 20 minutes into the flight, shattering a window that partially sucked a woman out of the aircraft. Flight attendants and passengers attempted to pull the woman back into the aircraft and revive her. After the plane landed, she was taken to a hospital, where she was pronounced dead. The NTSB sent a team to Philadelphia to investigate the crash. Sumwalt said Wednesday morning that investigators found that a fan blade was missing from the planes operating engine and appeared to have been separated at the hub. Our preliminary examination of this was that theres evidence of metal fatigue where the blade separated, Sumwalt said. Sumwalt also said an engine cowling was discovered in Bernville, Pa., about 70 miles northwest of Philadelphia. The NTSB released footage Wednesday of its investigators examining the interior of the plane and its engine. The lead investigator, Bill English, has received the flight data and cockpit voice recorders, which will be downloaded at NTSB headquarters. In an era of hyper-partisan feuding and noxious personal attacks, the life and lengthy marriage of former first lady Barbara Bush serve as poignant reminders in power-obsessed Washington that decency and grace can win out. Bush's death Tuesday at age 92 triggered an outpouring of affection for the snowy-haired matriarch of one of America's storied political dynasties. Smart, tough and quick-witted, Bush had a no-frills style, a focus on family, and a willingness to engage across the political aisle that endeared her to millions. And her 73-year marriage to George H.W. Bush -- the longest presidential marriage in US history -- only heightened her reputation as a fiercely loyal and honest partner in a city full of two-faced politicians. Politics has always been a brutal game in Washington. But Bush, the wife and mother of two Republican presidents, exemplified a comity that has steadily evaporated in the posturing, intense partisanship and even name-calling that has come to dominate the US capital. "It's important for people to reflect on the dignity, civility and grace that she brought to public life," said John Cornyn, the Senate's number two Republican and one of several senior lawmakers who discussed Bush's legacy with AFP. "I know today we think everything's a food fight, and there don't seem to be any sort of prevailing standards when it comes to public life. And that's really our loss," he added. "So it is reassuring to remember that there are people like her and her husband and that family who really set a very high standard, and one that I think we should aspire to." Today's discourse in Washington often fails to clear such a high bar. President Donald Trump himself launches attacks on Twitter, using slurs to demean opponents or critics. Lawmakers routinely lob their own verbal hand grenades at Trump and one another. Senate Democrat Patrick Leahy, who has served in the chamber since George H.W. Bush was US ambassador to China in 1975, often opposed Bush policy -- but said the quality of character in the Bush White House shone through. "Both my wife and I think the world of them," he said. "A lot of people like to talk about family values and all that, and don't practice it," he said of today's politicians. "They practice it." - 'Tribalism' - After leaving the White House, Barbara Bush aimed to downplay the differences between Democrats and Republicans, telling National Public Radio in 1994 that party platforms "should be very broad-based and inclusive, not exclusive." A longtime Bush friend, former congresswoman Connie Morella, said Barbara's "unpretentious" nature, candid but diplomatic approach, willingness to compromise and mutual respect are missing in today's Congress. "It's like tribalism right now," Morella, who was picked by George W. Bush in 2003 to be US envoy to the Organization for Economic Cooperation and Development, said in an interview Thursday. "They don't know each other, so there's not a chance for them to respect each other." Morella, now 87 and an ambassador in residence at American University, said Bush "is a reminder to all of us, members of Congress and voters, that this is what we admire and want." House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi, who entered Congress when Barbara Bush's husband was president, said the late first lady "brought dignity, civility, and spirit -- we all know that -- to everything she did." Bush's civility would likely clash with much of today's abrasive, even caustic, tone in Washington. Retiring Republican Senator Bob Corker, who has been the target of wicked Trump tweet storms in the past, fondly recalled a visit by George and Barbara Bush to his Tennessee home in 2000. "There was no fanfare, a lot of humility.... There was just no airs," he said. But can that approach succeed in today's overheated, partisan Washington? "Oh gosh yeah," Corker said. FILE PHOTO: Former AFP chief of staff Rey Guerrero. MANILA, Philippines President Rodrigo Duterte has appointed former AFP chief of staff Rey Guerrero as administrator of Maritime Industry Authority (MARINA). During the change-of-command of the Armed Forces of the Philippines on Wednesday, the President said the position has long been vacated since the dismissal of Marcial Amaro III due to junkets. I had to extend your services because of the ongoing war in Mindanao, specifically yung (the) Marawi. Kaya yung MARINA, yung director, ang silya doon multo na ang nakaupo (Over at MARINA, the long vacated directors seat has been occupied already by a ghost ). Its about time na (that) you report to that office by next week perhaps, Mr Duterte said. Mr. Duterte praised Guerrero for his accomplishment in the AFP specifically the increase in number of rebel surrenderers during his tour of duty. Meanwhile, the President expressed confidence that the AFP will continue to move forward in the right direction under the leadership of Guerreros successor, Lt. Gen Carlito Galvez. Rosalie Coz | UNTV News & Rescue The post Duterte appoints ex-AFP chief Guerrero as Marina administrator appeared first on UNTV News. Facing US pressure, Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said Wednesday that Tokyo was ready to begin talks about "trade deals" with the United States, but was careful not to commit to a bilateral deal. After rising demands for fairer trade from his US host President Donald Trump, Abe said "we have agreed to start talks for free, fair and reciprocal trade deals." But he would not be drawn on whether that path would lead to a US-Japan pact, or a broader trans-Pacific pact, which Trump currently opposes. Abe said aides would discuss possible solutions and report back, buying some time to bring Trump back on side with the so-called Trans-Pacific Partnership -- a regional agreement inked by Trump's predecessor Barack Obama. Trump would like to see a bilateral deal that is likely to much more sharply target sensitive political issues for Tokyo -- including access to agricultural and auto markets. And Trump notably did not exempt Japan from steel and aluminum tariffs, as he did for Washington's other allies and partners. On aluminum, Abe insisted: "Japan's steel and aluminum industries are contributing massively to US industries and jobs, without being a threat to US security." The US president has repeatedly seen trade as a zero-sum game, with trade deficits -- like the $60-plus billion deficit with Japan -- being bad and trade surpluses being good. Skeptical of multilateral institutions and agreements, the Republican businessman-turned-president has preferred a trade strategy of divide and conquer, although that has yet to bear fruit. "The media has not covered the TPP correctly," Trump complained, standing next to Abe after their talks in Florida. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse on behalf of the United States, I would do it." "But I like bilateral better. I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers and I much would prefer a bilateral deal." Abe meanwhile said: "We think the TPP is best for Japan and the US, and we'll have talks with this idea in mind." - 'Free, fair and reciprocal' - For months, Abe has repelled Trump's demands to start bilateral talks, but the dispute spilled into public earlier Wednesday. During an earlier sit-down meeting, Trump issued a blunt face-to-face challenge to Abe in full view of the cameras, demanding more favorable terms on trade. "As the prime minister knows, they have done very well with the United States. We have a very big deficit," Trump said as they sat across the table from each other at Trump's Mar-a-Lago retreat in Florida. Insisting the "relationship is a very good one," Trump nonetheless broke with the usual diplomatic niceties, urging Abe do more to make trade "free, fair and reciprocal." "We have a massive deficit with Japan," he said, pointing to passenger plane and fighter jet orders that could plug the gap before railing about unfair practices. "The word 'reciprocal' is that when you have a car come in, we charge you a tax. When we have a car go through Japan, which aren't allowed to go there, we have to take down the barriers and we have to pay the same tax," Trump said. "But that goes for other countries too," he said, vowing to "weed" the deficit down. The blunt talk will appeal to Trump's domestic political base, which was promised a better economic deal and a tougher "America First" stance under his administration. "This is a very exciting meeting for me, because I like this maybe the best. I love the world of finance and the world of economics, and probably, it's where I do the best," Trump said, playing up his business credentials. But his comments may have made for an uneasy moment for the visiting leader and ally. Abe is struggling with languishing approval ratings and, while keen to stress a good relationship with Trump, must avoid being seen as a lap dog. Men clear away wreckage following the 1906 San Francisco earthquake, which struck California on April 18. Credit: Arnold Genthe/Library of Congress What will happen when the next big earthquake hits northern California? A team of researchers including CU Boulder Professor Keith Porter will explore that question at an event today marking the anniversary of the 1906 temblor that leveled much of San Francisco. A modern earthquake could kill 800 people and cause more than $100 billion in economic losses from the shaking and subsequent fires, according to estimates come from the HayWired Scenario, a project spearheaded by the U.S. Geological Survey (USGS), which is organizing the event on the campus of the University of California, Berkeley. The exercise looked at the potential outcomes of a magnitude 7.0 earthquake on California's Hayward Fault in the east San Francisco Bay Area. Porter, a professor in CU Boulder's Department of Civil, Environmental and Architectural Engineering, said that the toll of such a disaster could be hugeon par with the impact of Hurricane Katrina on the southeastern United States in 2005. "It's fairly likely that a person living in the Bay Area today will live to see a major Bay Area earthquake," Porter said. "The HayWired scenario reveals weak points in our designs for new buildings, our existing water infrastructure, not to mention problems with fires after earthquakes and with older elevators."California hasn't seen a major tremor since the rise of the Internet agethe last was 1994's Northridge earthquake in the Los Angeles area. The Hayward Fault itself last ruptured 150 years ago. Scientists estimate, however, that it or another Bay Area fault will likely produce a large earthquake in the next 30 years. The HayWired scenario seeks to help the region learn from the lessons of this when-not-if event without having to experience the costs. "We tend to improve our building codes and other aspects of our infrastructure after a big disaster," Porter said. "We learn our lessons the hard way. But what the USGS's Science Application for Risk Reduction program has found is that simulated disasters can teach us the same lessons." To drill down on those lessons, the project team drew from a wide range of information, including diverse computer simulations, industry data and surveys of California residents. The researchers will release their findings in three volumes. The first came out last year and USGS recently published the second online. CU Boulder is a coalition partner on the project. Porter coordinated the engineering analyses for this report and performed many of them himself. The Hayward Fault runs down the center of the east San Francisco Bay Area and directly underneath the University of California, Berkeley's California Memorial Stadium (circle at center). Credit: Detweiler et al. 2017 Porter's expertise hones in on the long-lasting consequences for buildings and other infrastructure. He said that while California has adopted a stringent building code, these rules focus on getting people out of buildings alive, not necessarily on making them safe for people to go back into. Under the current building code, an earthquake like the HayWired disaster could render one-quarter of buildings in the Bay Area unsafe for people to re-enter or otherwise limit their usability, he said. The earthquake could spark 450 large fires and cause 4,300 pipe breaks and leaks in the East Bay Municipal Utility District. But, Porter added, that there's another impact of earthquakes that often gets ignored. Drawing on data from the elevator industry, Porter estimates that the hypothetical disaster could strand roughly 20,000 people in elevators across northern California. "That's a big deal because electricity might not come back on in parts of the Bay Area for days or more after an earthquake," Porter said. "Imagine 20,000 people trapped in a metal box for days. That's pretty scary." Still, Porter said that many of the scary numbers that he and his colleagues reported could be addressed with relatively small investments. For a 1 percent increase in construction costs, for example, new buildings could be made 50 percent stronger. "Big earthquakes are inevitable in California," Porter said. "There will be some very serious losses in that kind of earthquake, but some of those losses can be avoided by thinking prudently in advance." Porter's comments are timely as the California State Legislature is currently considering Assembly Bill 1857. This bill would establish a commission that would evaluate making the state's building code even tougher, potentially ensuring the survival of more buildings after a natural disaster. Explore further Researchers seek new ways to improve earthquake risk communications Visualization of messenger RNA specifically expressed in the specialized epidermis (top), brain and neural coords (middle) and secretory cells (bottom) from planarians. Dark spots on the left correspond to the eyes of the animal. Credit: Salah Ayoub, BIMSB/MDC and Jordi Solana, BIMSB/MDC, now at Oxford Brookes University From one stem cell to many differentiated body cells: Scientists from the MDC in Berlin, along with collaborating researchers in Munich, have published a comprehensive lineage tree of a whole adult animal in the journal Science. This was made possible by a combination of RNA and computational technologies. How do uniform stem cells become complex body cells that serve a wide variety of functions? The differentiation of stem cells into the multiplicity of cell types in the human body is an enigma of modern medical science. An interdisciplinary group of scientists from the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin and the Helmholtz Center in Munich has made important progress with a comprehensive study published in the journal Science. By combining sophisticated single-cell RNA technology with nucleic acid sequencing and computational methods, the scientists were able to establish a detailed cell atlas of an entire complex adult animal, the Schmidtea mediterranea flatworm, and reconstruct the lineage tree of all identified cells. Their work also provides new insights into cellular regeneration processes. "It opens the door to powerful new approaches to study the cell composition of organs, tissues, and developmental stages and to understand the molecular mechanisms of regeneration," says Professor Nikolaus Rajewsky, head of Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), at the MDC, and senior author of the study. Researchers reconstructed a comprehensive lineage tree, including 23 cellular differentiation pathways Planarians such as Schmidtea mediterranea are popular study objects because they are immortal and can completely regrow if cut into pieces. They possess a large number of adult pluripotent stem cells that constantly renew all tissues and cell types. "For understanding how cells differentiate, we need to compare gene expression profiles from cells at various differentiation stages, like the ones we find in planarians," says Dr. Mireya Plass from the MDC. "We dissociated whole animals and characterized thousands of individual cells by sequencing their messenger RNA transcripts." The scientists identified 37 different cell types, 23 of them terminally differentiated, as well as numerous stem cells and so-called progenitor cells at several levels of differentiation. "We then applied a new computational algorithm, PAGA, developed by Dr. Alexander Wolf, and Professor Fabian Theis in Munich, to predict a lineage tree that includes all identified cell types rooted to a single stem cell group," says Dr. Christine Kocks from the MDC. This prediction was then combined with additional computational and experimental methods to build a robust tree supported by several independent lines of evidence: sequencing of purified stem cells and cells from stem cell-depleted animals; gene expression changes; unsupervised lineage tree prediction from PAGA; and the results from a recently published method, velocyto, that predicts future cell states from mRNA metabolism estimated from precursor and mature transcripts. In addition, the researchers were able to identify gene programs involved in cell differentiation processes along this tree. The scientists also discovered several new cell types located in the parenchyma of the animals that had been previously overlooked in molecular studies and that play an important role in the regeneration of flatworms. The proportion of these cells is significantly diminished in regenerating animals, suggesting that these cells "fuel" the body remodeling process in planarians. Additional online and interactive resources are available to the scientific community Scientists worldwide have immediate access to the new data on flatworm biology as well as the methods used by the team of researchers. "Our work makes it possible to study stems cells and their lineages in multiple animals. It is not only an important resource for the planarian community, but also provides a cookbook for other scientists that want to perform similar studies in other organisms", says Dr. Jordi Solana, formerly MDC, now Oxford Brookes University. Via an interactive app scientists can interrogate the data and look at the changes in gene expression of specific genes during cell differentiation and regeneration. The detailed online tutorial for lineage reconstruction using PAGA and velocyto will provide a guide for future studies. "Single-cell approaches will become an indispensable method for studying developmental and regeneration biology," concludes Nikolaus Rajewsky. Explore further Genetic switch activates transformation of stem cells into heart muscle cells More information: M. Plass el al., "Cell type atlas and lineage tree of a whole complex animal by single-cell transcriptomics," Science (2018). Journal information: Science M. Plass el al., "Cell type atlas and lineage tree of a whole complex animal by single-cell transcriptomics,"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/lookup/ 1126/science.aaq1723 Director of the Gene Editing Institute and principal author of the study. Credit: Gene Editing Institute Scientists at Christiana Care Health System's Gene Editing Institute have developed a potentially breakthrough CRISPR gene-editing tool. It could allow researchers to take fragments of DNA extracted from human cells, put them into a test tube, and quickly and precisely engineer multiple changes to the genetic code, according to a new study published today in the CRISPR Journal. Investigators at the Gene Editing Institute, which is part of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at Christiana Care, said their new "cell-free" CRISPR technology is the first CRISPR tool capable of making multiple edits to DNA samples "in vitro," which means in a test tube or petri dish. The advance could have immediate value as a diagnostic tool, replicating the exact genetic mutations found in the tumors of individual cancer patients. Mutations that cause cancer to spread can differ from patient to patient, and being able to quickly identify the correct mutation affecting an individual patient can allow clinicians to implement a more targeted treatment strategy. "With this new advance, we should be able to work with laboratory cultures and accomplish gene edits in less than a day, significantly reducing the time required for diagnostics compared to other CRISPR tools, and with much greater precision," said Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., director of the Gene Editing Institute and principal author of the study. "This is particularly important for diagnostics linked to cancer care where time is critical." Kmiec also said that while other CRISPR tools are restricted to editing or repairing short segments of DNA code within a single gene, his team's new CRISPR tool could lead to applications that are capable of removing and replacing entire genes. This could be important, he said, for using CRISPR to treat disease. Kmiec noted that while some ailments, like sickle cell anemia and Huntington's disease, involve faulty DNA within a single gene, others, like Alzheimer's and heart disease, appear to involve malfunctions in multiple genes where the best option "is not really gene editing, but gene replacement." CRISPR stands for "clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats." It is a defense mechanism found in bacteria that allows the bacteria to recognize and slice up the DNA of invading viruses. Scientists have learned how to manipulate this mechanism so that it essentially can be programmed to find and remove a specific sequence of DNA codewhich acts like software for controlling genesand replace it with a different sequence. This capability has generated unprecedented excitement about developing different CRISPR tools that could produce breakthrough treatments for a wide range of diseases by repairing a damaged gene, modifying it or deleting it entirely. In the study published today, Kmiec and his colleagueslead author Brett Sansbury and co-author Amanda Wagnerdescribe developing a "cell-free" CRISPR tool that can modify genes contained in something called a DNA plasmid. A plasmid is a type of DNA molecule that can be removed from a cell and maintained and manipulated in a petri dish or test tube. The study notes that a key feature of the new CRISPR tool is that it uses a protein called Cpf1, more recently referred to as Cas12a, to essentially function like scissors for cutting out and inserting a targeted line of genetic code. Most of the CRISPR work underway today employs a different "set of scissors" in the form of an enzyme called Cas9. However, Sansbury said while the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has proven to be effective at modifying genes that are inside a cell, it performed poorly when her team tried to use it in a "cell-free" environment to quickly engineer complex changes to DNA plasmids. "It could be that there is something within the very complex machinery of a cell that allows the Cas9 enzyme to more easily accomplish deletions and insertions," Sansbury said. "But it performed very poorly in our cell-free extracts." Sansbury noted that when Cas9 cuts DNA, the result can be "blunt ends," while Cpf1 produces "sticky ends." She said that the blunt-ended outcome could impede the ability to process the cut ends, which allows for the removal or "resection" of a section of genetic code and then seamlessly insert and attach new code. Bringing the CRISPR Revolution to Everyday Cancer Care The Gene Editing Institute is now working to use the new CRISPR-Cpf1 breakthrough to provide something akin to CRISPR on a computer chip to a commercial partner involved in cancer diagnostics that is intended to drive personalized cancer care. "The speed at which you see our discovery moving from the bench to the bedside is unprecedented but not unanticipated," said Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., FACS, Bank of America endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at Christiana Care. "The Gene Editing Institute exists within a community hospital system where we are committed to a patient-first approach to biomedical research. This major advance in CRISPR-assisted gene editing was accomplished with the support from the BIRD Foundation, which wants to see a commercial partner on board from the beginning to ensure that any discoveries will quickly benefit patients." Sansbury and Kmiec said that while their work with their CRISPR-Cpf1tool has confirmed its usefulness for reliably editing DNA samples that are part of a diagnostic test, it is not yet fully developed as a therapeutic tool for directly treating disorders that would involve repairing or removing malfunctioning genes in humans, animals or plants. However, by allowing gene editing to be quickly and precisely accomplished in a test tube or petri dish, they believe their tool is ideal for revealing more about how CRISPR actually modifies the genome, a process that remains largely shrouded in mystery. "When you're working with CRISPR inside a cell, you're kind of working in a black box where you can't really observe the gears of the machinery that are doing these amazing things," Kmiec said. "You can see the results, the edits to the genes, but not necessarily how you got there, which is important for ensuring that CRISPR can be safely used to treat patients." "The Gene Editing Institute's cell-free CRISPR-Cpf1 system is yet another landmark CRISPR-related discovery to emerge from Christiana Care Health System," Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, Christiana Care president and chief executive officer, said. In 2016, scientists at the Gene Editing Institute described in the journal, Scientific Reports, how they combined CRISPR with short strands of synthetic DNA to greatly enhance the precision and reliability of the CRISPR gene editing technique. Called excision and corrective therapy, or EXACT, this new tool acts as both a template and a bandage for repairing a malfunctioning gene. Explore further Modifying fat content in soybean oil with the molecular scissors Cpf1 Provided by Gene Editing Institute The Deeptwater Horizon drilling platform after the initial explosion on April 20, 2010. Credit: USCG On April 20, 2010, the Deepwater Horizon oil platform operated by BP, was disconnecting from a recently discovered oil reservoir 50 miles south of Louisiana when a cascade of equipment malfunctions caused a high-pressure explosion, killing 11 rig workers. For two days the rig burned then sank. As response crews worked to extinguish surface fires, oil and gas from the broken drill pipe was spewing a mile deep in the Gulf of Mexico. This underwater geyser of oil and gas lasted 87 days as remotely operated vehicles tried several methods to stop the flow. Success eventually came with a "top-kill" effort in August, but not before nearly 210 million gallons of oil and almost 2 million gallons of dispersants contaminated the Gulf of Mexico. Shortly following the capping of the wellhead, breaking news of the spill's events stopped as the national attention moved onto other headlines. This media vacuum is common following environmental disasters (Fukushima, Zika virus, the Exxon Valdez oil spill) as a crisis is considered "over" once news headlines turn elsewhere. But this mindset ignores the efforts of dedicated individuals looking for solutions to the causes, and consequences of such disasters years after they occur. In the case of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill which is remembered eight years ago this week scores of USF researchers and students have dedicated their studies to the causes and environmental consequences of marine oil blowouts so that society is more prepared in the event of the next mega spill, even without national media attention. The University of South Florida and the Florida Institute of Oceanography took emergency action in the weeks following the 2010 spill, dispatching researchers to areas of the Gulf not yet touched by the millions of gallons of spilled oil. USF collected samples of nearly everything: water, sediment cores from the seafloor, fish bile, liver, as well as muscle and plankton samples. These samples were used as evidence during litigation against BP, resulting in the energy giant paying $18.7 billion to federal, state, county and municipal governments in 2015 as penalties for the spill; including $1 billion for Tampa Bay governments. These were the last of BP's connected payments to the spill. Their first occurred In May 2010 when BP volunteered $500 million dedicated to establishing a 10-year research program. These funds were distributed through the Gulf of Mexico Research Initiative (GoMRI) which independently funds peer-reviewed proposals from research consortia and projects, including the C-IMAGE consortium (the Center for Integrated Modeling and Analysis of Gulf Ecosystems) hosted at the USF-College of Marine Science (CMS) in St. Petersburg, FL. Dr. Steven Murawski, PhD, professor at the USF-College of Marine Science and director of the C-IMAGE consortium, unhooking a red snapper during a research trip in the Gulf of Mexico. Credit: C-IMAGE Consortium Establishing GoMRI brought a different focus to the aftermath of a major environmental disaster by continuing significant funding to understand what was learned from the blowout to improve recovery, response and restoration, not if, but when the next spill occurs. Beginning in 2011, C-IMAGE and USF have facilitated the research of over 200 international marine biologists, chemists, engineers and computer modelers to understand the effects of oil spills throughout marine environments, the effects of dispersants and recovery across the Gulf of Mexico. Directing the C-IMAGE consortium is Steven Murawski, PhD, a professor at the USF-College of Marine Science, who knows how unique a decade of funding is for marine scientists. "This is rare," said Murawski. "Having a dedicated $500 million to long-term scientific research doesn't happen every day, or in this case, every decade. The opportunities GoMRI provides allows science to expand naturally we find something new with oil spills, we explore its causes, impacts and how it might happen again." For example, during the emergency research cruises weeks following the spill, seafloor sediments had traces of oil in them. Chemical analysis showed that some of this oil included dispersants and burned oil from the surface that sank along with dying plankton to the seafloor. This previously unknown phenomenon, known as marine oiled snow, is now accepted as a considerable component to the fate of oil during marine oil blowouts. Future research within C-IMAGE will use computer models to predict the occurrence and intensity of marine oiled snow and what impacts it may have on the seafloor. Of the $500 million, USF-CMS received $36 million since 2011 to direct the research of USF and 18 other universities and research agencies each exploring the causes and impacts of the Deepwater Horizon oil spill. C-IMAGE collaborates locally with Eckerd College and Mote Marine Laboratory, and internationally with the Technical University of Hamburg-Harburg, Germany, and the Universidad Nacional Autonoma de Mexico, to name a few. A remotely operated vehicle assesses invasive Lionfish populations on reefs in the northern Gulf of Mexico. Credit: C-IMAGE Consortium "The strength of our research is our partners and collaborators," said Murawski. "Looking at a problem through several perspectives biologists, engineers, aquaculturists helps us ask what our next questions should be and what's important to different fields." Through the work of C-IMAGE, a 7-year timeline of the northern Gulf recovery was continued, a Gulf-wide baseline of seafloor and fish health from U.S., Mexican and Cuban waters was completed, and Germany's only high-pressure experimental facility studying the effects of dispersants and biodegradation was developed. Recently, collaboration between the USF College of Marine Science and the University of Miami predict a missing generation of fish in the Gulf of Mexico, nearly ten years following the spill. Predictive tools like these oil spill and ecosystem models are the emphasis as C-IMAGE reaches the end of its 10-year plan in 2020. "Giving first-responders a better understanding of where oil is heading, or what the ecosystem damage might be is our goal," said Murawski. "If we don't give the responders who fight the fires or protect the beaches and marshes something to work with, we'd ask ourselves what we really learned in 10-years of research. We will also summarize our scientific findings in a two-volume book series to be published in 2019." GoMRI distributed the last of its funds in fall of 2017. USF and C-IMAGE is one of only four universities to complete a full ten-year research program (University of Miami, University of Texas at Austin, and Louisiana Universities Marine Consortium). Even with the Deepwater Horizon disaster as a memory for some, USF continues to engage international partners to improve societal understanding of major oil spills. Explore further USF research collaboration compares IXTOC oil spill to Deepwater Horizon spill More information: To learn more about the continued research after the 2010 oil spill visit To learn more about the continued research after the 2010 oil spill visit marine.usf.edu/c-image gulfresearchinitiative.org , and beneaththehorizon.org In this photo, a Bajau diver hunts fish underwater using a traditional spear. For over 1,000 years the Bajau have collected food by free diving with spears. Members of the Bajau can dive up to 70 meters with nothing more than a set of weights and a pair of wooden goggles. Credit: Melissa Ilardo Evidence that humans can genetically adapt to diving has been identified for the first time in a new study. The evidence suggests that the Bajau, a people group indigenous to parts of Indonesia, have genetically enlarged spleens which enable them to free dive to depths of up to 70m. It has previously been hypothesised that the spleen plays an important role in enabling humans to free dive for prolonged periods but the relationship between spleen size and dive capacity has never before been examined in humans at the genetic level. The findings, which are being published in the research journal Cell, could also have medical implications in relation to the condition known as Acute Hypoxia, which can cause complications in emergency medical care. For over 1000 years the Bajau people, known as 'Sea Nomads', have travelled the Southeast Asian seas in houseboats and collected food by free diving with spears. Now settled around the islands of Indonesia, they are renowned throughout the region for their extraordinary breath-holding abilities. Members of the Bajau can dive up to 70m with nothing more than a set of weights and a pair of wooden goggles. As they never dive competitively it is uncertain exactly how long the Bajau can remain underwater, but one of them told researcher Melissa Ilardo that he had once dived for 13 minutes consecutively. Ilardo, first author on the paper, suspected that the Bajau could have genetically adapted spleens as a result of their marine hunter-gatherer lifestyle, based on findings in other mammals. "There's not a lot of information out there about human spleens in terms of physiology and genetics," she said, "but we know that deep diving seals, like the Weddell seal, have disproportionately large spleens. I thought that if selection acted on the seals to give them larger spleens, it could potentially do the same in humans." The spleen plays a central role in prolonging free diving time as it forms part of what is known as the human dive response. When the human body is submerged under cold water, even for brief amounts of time, this response is triggered as a method of assisting the body to survive in an oxygen-deprived environment. The heart rate slows down, blood vessels in the extremities shrink to preserve blood for vital organs, and the spleen contracts. This contraction of the spleen creates an oxygen boost by ejecting oxygenated red blood cells into circulation and has been found to provide up to a 9% increase in oxygen, thereby prolonging dive time. Melissa Ilardo, formerly of the University of Copenhagen and now a post-doctoral fellow at the University of Utah, explains how her study of the extraordinary divers, the Bajau people of Indonesia, revealed an adaptation -- enlarged spleens -- and the possible genetic change behind this adaptation. Credit: Melissa Ilardo In order to gain evidence for this study, Melissa Ilardo spent several months in Jaya Bakti, Indonesia taking genetic samples and performing ultrasound scans of the spleens from both the Bajau and their land-dwelling neighbours, the Saluan. The results were sequenced at the University of Copenhagen and clearly showed the Bajau have a median spleen size 50% larger than the Saluan. Enlarged spleens were also visible in non-diving Bajau individuals as well as those who regularly free dive. The international research team, led by academics from the Universities of Copenhagen, Cambridge and Berkeley, therefore eliminated the possibility that larger spleens were simply a plastic response to diving and began to investigate the Bajau's genetic data. They discovered that members of the Bajau have a gene called PDE10A which the Saluan do not. It is thought that the PDE10A gene controls the levels of thyroid hormone T4. "We believe that in the Bajau they have an adaptation that increases Thyroid hormone levels and therefore increases their spleen size," said Melissa Ilardo. "It's been shown in mice that thyroid hormones and spleen size are connected. If you genetically alter mice to have an absence of the thyroid hormone T4, their spleen size is drastically reduced, but this effect is actually reversible with an injection of T4." This is the first time a genetic adaptation to diving has been tracked in humans. Ilardo added, "until now it has been entirely unknown whether Sea Nomad populations genetically adapt to their extreme lifestyle. The only trait previously studied is the superior underwater vision of Thai Sea Nomad children, however this was shown to be a plastic response to training, and was replicable in a European cohort." A Bajau diver hunts fish underwater using a traditional spear. Credit: University of Cambridge Ilardo was originally warned against undertaking this study for her PhD at the University of Copenhagen by her supervisors - Professor Eske Willerslev who holds dual positions at St John's College, Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen, and Professor Rasmus Nielsen who also holds dual positions, at the University of Copenhagen and the University of California, Berkeley. "We told Melissa that this was a very risky PhD and she needed to be aware that it was likely she would find nothing," said Professor Willerslev. "She said she wanted to do it anyway and that paid off. Melissa was right and our concerns were wrong." The study also has implications for the world of medical research. The human dive response simulates the conditions of acute hypoxia in which body tissue experiences a rapid depletion of oxygen. It is a leading cause for complications in emergency care and as a result is already the subject of several genetics studies, specifically in relation to people groups who live at high altitudes. Studying marine dwellers such as the Bajau has great potential for researching acute hypoxia in a new way. "This is the first time that we really have a system like that in humans to study," said Dr Rasmus Nielsen. "It will help us make the link between the genetics and the physiological response to acute hypoxia. It's a hypoxia experiment that nature has made for us and allows us to study humans in a way that we can't in a laboratory." These findings open up the possibility of further research on other Sea Nomad populations such as the Thai Moken population and the Haenyeo diving women of Jeju in South Korea. Studying similar people groups could shed more light on the nature of the connection between human physiology and genetic adaptations to extreme lifestyles, and clarify whether these genetic adaptations have developed separately. Taking the next steps in this area of research is a somewhat urgent task, as the traditional ways of life are under threat in a lot of communities. "This study is a wonderful example of the value of studying these small populations living under extreme conditions," said Professor Eske Willerslev. "A lot of them are threatened and this is not just a loss culturally and linguistically, but for genetics, medicine, and sciences in general. There's still a lot of information to be gathered from these understudied populations." More information: "Physiological and genetic adaptations to diving in Sea Nomads" Cell (2018). Journal information: Cell "Physiological and genetic adaptations to diving in Sea Nomads"(2018). DOI: 10.1016/j.cell.2018.03.054 The ManCou multicolored fluorescent probe glows different colors and different intensities depending on a cancer cell's type and malignancy. Credit: Tanasova, Rao/Michigan Tech Determining the presence of cancer, as well as its type and malignancy, is a stressful process for patients that can take up to two weeks to get a diagnosis. With a new bit of technologya sugar-transporting biosensorresearchers at Michigan Technological University hope to reduce that timeframe down to minutes. A collaborative team of chemists and engineers from Michigan Tech lays the groundwork for this vision in two new papers. In the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Chemical Communications, the team explains the basic science behind multicolor probes that enable targeting of cancer-relevant fructose transporter, delving into the image-based detection of cancer cells. In the journal Biosensors, the team addresses applications for breast cancer detection and differentiating nonmalignant, pre-malignant and malignant cancer cells. Two Michigan Tech researchers collaborated on the studies. Marina Tanasova, assistant professor of chemistry, and Smitha Rao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, turned a 10-minute office meeting into a two-year collaboration built on a tiny fluorescent probe that seeks out the fructose transporter named GLUT5. Cells need carbohydrates; facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) bring nutrients in and out of cells. When metabolic swings kick insay, from cancer developmentthe overall make-up of GLUTs change so that more or less GLUTs are active. Fructose transporters like GLUT5 are of particular interest because of the direct connection between fructose uptake and cancer development, which also changes as cancer progresses and becomes malignant. In their Chemical Communications paper, Tanasova and Rao's team report on the design and validation of the fluorescent probes, called ManCous, to observe GLUT5 activity in a cell; they also document the multicolored fluorescence that distinguishes GLUT5-rich cells from those deficient in GLUT5. The follow up Biosensors paper, provides a proof-of-principle use of these probes as tools to assess and compare GLUT5 and metabolic activity of different cell types, including normal cells and different cancer subtypes. "We came closer to a basic screening of cells' GLUT compositionone that both detects cancer and distinguishes type," Tanasova says; adding that while the concept is elegant, developing the technology is not easy. "From basic science to application, there is a lot of transformation that has to happen." Like a Swiss army knife, Rao and Tanasova's work use their fluorescent probe to detect cancer, delve into its metabolic secrets, and differentiate between malignant and nonmalignant cells, as well as different cancer types. Credit: Michigan Technological University By better understanding the science behind sugar transporters, the team is more equipped to build technology that captures an accurate and precise GLUT fingerprint of cancerous cells. "This probe is like a Swiss army knife," Rao says, explaining that cancer detection is not the only use for the probe. "The more we learn about cancer through these probes, the more opportunities we have to apply themwhich means more chances to treat different cancers, hopefully cure them, and at least prevent their spread and maximize drug delivery." What makes the probe so versatile is its ability to not only seek out and highlight cancer cells, but also to reveal the metabolic nuances of different stages of cancer development. While cancer generally gobbles up fructose, the GLUT5 and metabolic activity of nonmalignant, pre-malignant and malignant breast cancer cells do vary, which is what Rao, Tanasova and their team explored in the Biosensors paper. They found that ManCou probes allow for parallel analysis and quantification of GLUT5 and metabolic activity of cells just after a 10-minute incubation period. The notable differences in fluorescence intensity observed between normal cells and cancer cells, as well as different cancer types, provide important points of differentiation between different cell types and make these probes promising tools for cancer detection and diagnostics. The research is still early on, but Tanasova and Rao have a clear vision for the project's next steps. The work is highly collaborative and built alongside the efforts of their co-authors, including doctoral students Srinivas Kannan and Vagarshak Begoyan, research scientist ?ukasz J. Weseli?ski, along with graduate students Joseph Fedie, Shuai Xia and undergraduate Alexis Ferrier. The collaboration is ongoing. The team of chemistsTanasova, Begoyan and Weseli?skiplans to delve deeper into the world of fructose transporters to expand on what they've determined about GLUT5 and provide access to probes targeting other GLUTs. There is plenty of material to cover to visualize and quantify every GLUT transporter in the cellular membrane. The team of biomedical engineersRao and Kannanfocus on assessing numerous applications of these probes, including standard biopsy analysis and pushing the technology into clinical practice through the development of a point-of-care cancer detection device. As Rao puts it, the team is shaping their Lego blocks so they can build down the road. Refining disease detection and treatment remains the driving force behind this interdisciplinary collaboration. The overarching idea continues to focus on taking sugar transporters and use them as a gateway to better understand the nature of cancer. Explore further New cancer treatment strategy discovered for acute myeloid leukemia More information: Srinivas Kannan et al, Metabolism-Driven High-Throughput Cancer Identification with GLUT5-Specific Molecular Probes, Biosensors (2018). Srinivas Kannan et al, Metabolism-Driven High-Throughput Cancer Identification with GLUT5-Specific Molecular Probes,(2018). DOI: 10.3390/bios8020039 V. V. Begoyan et al. Multicolor GLUT5-permeable fluorescent probes for fructose transport analysis, Chemical Communications (2018). DOI: 10.1039/c7cc09809j Journal information: Chemical Communications The gender gap is very striking in the STEMM workforce. Credit: Jarmoluk on Pixabay Researchers from the University of Melbourne analysed the numbers of men and women authors listed on more than 10 million academic papers, allowing them to calculate the gender gap among researchers, as well as its rate of change for most disciplines of science and medicine. The team comprised Dr Luke Holman, Associate Professor Devi Stuart-Fox and Dr Cindy Hauser from the University of Melbourne's School of Biosciences. Dr Holman used computational methods to gather data from the citation databases PubMed and arXiv, and then estimated the gender of 36 million authors based on their names. The 15-year dataset covers more than 6000 academic journals, spans almost all STEMM disciplines, and includes authors from over 100 countries. The study data has been made publically available through an online tool, in order to help researchers, employers and policy makers identify fields of science that need new initiatives and reforms if they are ever to reach gender parity and is published in PLOS Biology. Results showed that: 87 of the 115 disciplines examined had significantly fewer than 45% women authors, 5 had significantly more than 55%, and the remaining 23 were within 5% of gender parity. Topics such as physics, computer science, mathematics, surgery and chemistry had the fewest women, while health-related disciplines like nursing, midwifery, and palliative care had the most. The gender gap is very striking in some areas. For example, Physics presently has around 13% women in senior positions, and this gap is predicted to take 258 years to close Junior researchers were more likely to be women and senior researchers more likely to be men, relative to the overall gender ratio of the discipline in question. Prestigious journals have fewer women authors than do standard journals. Men were estimated to be invited by journals to submit papers at approximately double the rate of women. Wealthy countries, notably Japan, Germany and Switzerland, had fewer women authors than did poorer countries. The PubMed categories Social Sciences (predominantly Social Work journals) and Speech-Language Pathology currently have more than 50% of women authors, and are becoming significantly more female-biased. A small minority of journals bucked the overall trend and had fewer women first authors than expected rather than more; these journals were predominantly well-known, prestigious titles such as Nature, Lancet, New England Journal of Medicine, and BMJ. Dr Cindy Hauser said that highly male-biased disciplines tended to show especially slow improvement in the gender ratio with time. "Of the gender-biased disciplines, almost all are moving towards parity, though some are predicted to take decades or even centuries to reach it." Associate Professor Devi Stuart Fox said that they chose to focus on academic publications as they are currently the primary means of disseminating scientific knowledge and the principal measure of research productivity, thereby influencing the career prospects and visibility of women in STEMM. "Author lists of these publications also provided information on the gender ratio of people working in a given field as well as seniority. In most disciplines represented in the dataset, the conventions regarding authorship order mean that first authors are typically junior researchers, while last authors tend to be more senior. " The team note that the underrepresentation of women in senior authorship positions probably has multiple, complex causes, but that several practical measures that could help to close the gender gap have already been identified, and are awaiting implementation. These could include reforming academic publishing and peer review, ensuring women have equal access to informal professional networks, affording greater recognition of the extra demands outside the workplace that traditionally fall on women when assessing researchers' achievements, ensuring women receive equal resources at work, better access to parental leave and career break provisions, striving for a representative gender ratio of invited speakers at conferences, and affirmative action during hiring. Dr Holman said that the new dataset provides new opportunities to evaluate the effectiveness of some of these strategies. "For example, one could measure the impact of double-blind peer review or invitation-based submission models, which have been proposed to affect the proportion of female authors publishing in a given journal. Additionally, the data could be used in sociological studies to help determine why some countries have a huge shortage of women in STEMM, while others have already achieved gender parity." Explore further New study documents gender disparity in computational research publications More information: Holman L, Stuart-Fox D, Hauser CE (2018) The gender gap in science: How long until women are equally represented? PLoS Biol 16(4): e2004956. Journal information: PLoS Biology , British Medical Journal (BMJ) Holman L, Stuart-Fox D, Hauser CE (2018) The gender gap in science: How long until women are equally represented? PLoS Biol 16(4): e2004956. DOI: 10.1371/journal.pbio.2004956 Inside the spinal cord of a zebrafish embryo, new neurons light up in different colors, letting scientists track nerve circuit development. Credit: T. Liu et al./Science 2018 Our window into the cellular world just got a whole lot clearer. By combining two imaging technologies, scientists can now watch in unprecedented 3-D detail as cancer cells crawl, spinal nerve circuits wire up, and immune cells cruise through a zebrafish's inner ear. Physicist Eric Betzig, a group leader at the Howard Hughes Medical Institute's Janelia Research Campus, and colleagues report the work April 19, 2018, in the journal Science. Scientists have imaged living cells with microscopes for hundreds of years, but the sharpest views have come from cells isolated on glass slides. The large groups of cells inside whole organisms scramble light like a bagful of marbles, Betzig says. "This raises the nagging doubt that we are not seeing cells in their native state, happily ensconced in the organism in which they evolved." Even when viewing cells individually, the microscopes most commonly used to study cellular inner workings are usually too slow to follow the action in 3-D. These microscopes bathe cells with light thousands to millions of times more intense than the desert sun, Betzig says. "This also contributes to our fear that we are not seeing cells in their natural, unstressed form. "It's often said that seeing is believing, but when it comes to cell biology, I think the more appropriate question is, 'When can we believe what we see?'" he adds. To meet these challenges, Betzig and his team combined two microscopy technologies they first reported in 2014, the same year he shared the Nobel Prize in Chemistry. To unscramble the light from cells buried within organisms, the researchers turned to adaptive optics - the same technology used by astronomers to provide clear views of distant celestial objects through Earth's turbulent atmosphere. Then, to image the internal choreography of these cells quickly yet gently in 3-D, the team used lattice light sheet microscopy. That technology rapidly and repeatedly sweeps an ultra-thin sheet of light through the cell while acquiring a series of 2-D images, building a high-resolution 3-D movie of subcellular dynamics. An immune cell migrates inside a zebrafish's inner ear while scooping up particles of sugar (blue) along the way. Credit: T. Liu et al./Science 2018 The new microscope is essentially three microscopes in one: an adaptive optical system to maintain the thin illumination of a lattice light sheet as it penetrates within an organism, and another adaptive optical system to create distortion-free images when looking down on the illuminated plane from above. By shining a laser through either pathway, the researchers create a bright point of light within the region they wish to image. The distortions in the image of this "guide star" tell the team the nature of the optical aberrations along either pathway. The researchers can correct these distortions by applying equal but opposite distortions to a pixelated light modulator on the excitation side, and a deformable mirror on detection. Over large volumes, the distortions change as the light traverses different tissues. In this case, the team assembles large 3-D images from a series of subvolumes, each with its own independent excitation and detection corrections. The results offer an electrifying new look at biology, and reveal a bustling metropolis in action at the subcellular level. In one movie from the microscope, a fiery orange immune cell wriggles madly through a zebrafish's ear while scooping up blue sugar particles along the way. In another, a cancer cell trails sticky appendages as it rolls through a blood vessel and attempts to gain purchase on the vessel wall. The complexity of the 3-D multicellular environment can be overwhelming, Betzig says, but the clarity of his team's imaging permits them to computationally "explode" apart the individual cells in tissue to focus on the dynamics within any particular one, such as the remodeling of internal organelles during cell division. All this detail is hard to see without adaptive optics, Betzig says. "It's just too damn fuzzy." In his view, adaptive optics is one of the most important areas in microscopy research today, and the lattice light sheet microscope, which excels at 3-D live imaging, is the perfect platform to showcase its power. Adaptive optics hasn't really taken off yet, he says, because the technology has been complicated, expensive, and until now, not clearly worth the effort. But within 10 years, Betzig predicts, biologists everywhere will be on board. The next big step is making that technology affordable and user friendly. "Technical demonstrations and publications don't amount to a hill of beans. The only metric by which a microscope should be judged is how many people use it, and the significance of what they discover with it," Betzig says. The current microscope fills a 10-foot-long table. "It's a bit of a Frankenstein's monster right now," says Betzig, who is moving to the University of California, Berkeley, in the fall. His team is working on a next-generation version that should fit on a small desk at a cost within the reach of individual labs. The first such instrument will go to Janelia's Advanced Imaging Center, where scientists from around the world can apply to use it. Plans to create their own copies will also be made freely available. Ultimately, Betzig hopes that the adaptive optical version of the lattice microscope will be commercialized, as was the base lattice instrument before it. That could bring adaptive optics into the mainstream. "If you really want to understand the cell in vivo, and image it with the quality possible in vitro, this is the price of admission," he says. Explore further Technique takes cues from astronomy and ophthalmology to sharpen microscope images More information: "Observing the cell in its native state: Imaging subcellular dynamics in multicellular organisms" Science (2018). Journal information: Science "Observing the cell in its native state: Imaging subcellular dynamics in multicellular organisms"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.aaq1392 A male fly being exposed to red light to trigger optogenetic activation of CRZ neurons, which causes ejaculation. Credit: Avi Jacob, BIU Microscopy unit Researchers reporting in Current Biology on April 19 show that male fruit flies find sexand more specifically ejaculationto be an inherently rewarding experience. The study is the first to show that the rewarding nature of ejaculation is conserved among animals, from flies and mammals. It also adds to evidence that manipulating sexual experience in flies affects their interest in consuming alcohol, the researchers say. "Successful mating is naturally rewarding to male flies and increases the levels of a small peptide in the brain called Neuropeptide F," says Galit Shohat-Ophir of Bar-Ilan University in Israel. "Male flies that are sexually deprived have increased motivation to consume alcohol as an alternative reward." Shohat-Ophir, along with the study's lead author Shir Zer-Krispil and their colleagues, in collaboration with HHMI Janelia Research USA, came to these conclusions by taking advantage of optogenetic tools. These tools enable researchers to genetically engineer fruit flies such that it's possible to activate particular neurons with light. In their studies, they used flies in which neurons expressing the neuropeptide corazonin (CRZ) could be switched "on" by exposure to red light. Earlier evidence shows that CRZ neurons in the fly abdomen trigger the release of sperm and seminal fluid. By examining flies in this way, the researchers were able to explore the rewards associated with ejaculation apart from other aspects of a sexual encounter. "We wanted to know which part of the mating process entails the rewarding value for flies," Shohat-Ophir says. "The actions that males perform during courtship? A female's pheromones? The last step of mating which is sperm and seminal fluid release?" To find out whether ejaculation produced an immediate pleasurable response, the researchers used an arena in which one side emitted a red light to trigger optogenetic activation of CRZ neurons and tracked where male flies chose to spend their time. Those experiments showed that flies showed a strong preference for the red light, implying that ejaculation in itself is a rewarding experience. Next, they trained the flies to associate the red light and ejaculation with a particular odor. They then tested whether the flies preferred the scent that reminded them of that past experience of ejaculation. And they did. After a few days of repeated activation of CRZ neurons, the fruit fly males had high levels of neuropeptide F in their brains, similar to males that actually mated with female partners. When those males were given the choice between liquid food and liquid food spiked with alcohol, they preferred the non-alcoholic food. In contrast, control flies and engineered males not exposed to red light preferred the alcohol. "The principles by which the brain processes reward are extremely conserved in all animals; this is a really basic every day machinery that helps animals survive," Shohat-Ophir says. "Drugs of abuse use the same systems in the brain that are used to process natural rewards. This allows us to use simple model organisms to study aspects of drug addiction, including the interplay between natural and drug rewards and the connection between experience and the mechanisms that underlie the risk to develop drug addiction." The researchers say they will continue to explore how information about ejaculation or successful mating reaches the brain. They also want to use their findings to further understand an individual's risk for developing an addiction, noting that addiction risk is influenced by a combination of molecular and neuronal mechanisms that influence the likelihood of progressing from initial drug exposure to repeated use. "Our studies suggest that the state of the animal (i.e., undergoing successful mating or being rejected) affects the motivation to consume drug rewards," says Shohat-Ophir. "An analogy for reward states can be proposed in which a high-reward state is illustrated by a full 'reservoir' and low state by an empty 'reservoir.' One can speculate that vulnerability to addiction is related to the size of the 'reservoir' that needs to be filled, or to different sensitivity to changes in the reward levels." More information: Current Biology, Zer-Krispil et al.: "Ejaculation Induced by the Activation of Crz Neurons Is Rewarding to Drosophila Males" DOI: 10.1016/j.cub.2018.03.039 Journal information: Current Biology , Zer-Krispil et al.: "Ejaculation Induced by the Activation of Crz Neurons Is Rewarding to Drosophila Males" www.cell.com/current-biology/f 0960-9822(18)30368-3 Adherence to masculine honour among young Italian men is a strong indication they are likely to engage in contact with the mafia-type groups, new research led by a University of Kent psychologist has shown. The research, conducted by Dr Giovanni Travaglino, of the University's School of Psychology and Dr Libby Drury of Birkbeck, University of London, reveals that masculine honour-related values among young men in Southern Italy are likely to play a key role in steering them towards contact with criminal organisation members. The findings may also prove useful in understanding why some individuals engage with other criminal actors, such as terrorist groups and gangs, and inform education programmes aimed at preventing young people's involvement with such groups. Criminal organisations such as the mafia or Camorra emphasise their adherence to honour and masculinity to gain consensus among those sections of the population who endorse related values. Previous research by Dr Travaglino showed that young adults and adolescents who endorse values of masculinity and honour also report lower intentions to oppose criminal organisations, a phenomenon known as omerta in Italy. Now, in this latest research, Dr Travaglino studied a sample of adolescents over a period of five months and found that participants who reported higher levels of adherence to values of masculinity and honour were more likely to gravitate to actual contact with members of criminal organisations. The research also demonstrated that contact with criminal organisations is associated with a more romanticised view of these criminal groups. Young adults and adolescents who experience more frequent contact with criminal organisation members are more likely to perceive those members as 'embodying norms of honour and masculinity and as being more embedded within the social fabric of the region', the study found. The research, entitled Connected guys: Endorsement of masculine honour predicts more frequent contact with members of criminal organisations (Giovanni A. Travaglino, School of Psychology, University of Kent and Libby Drury, Department of Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London) is published in the journal European Journal of Social Psychology. Explore further Angry and disconnected people more likely to support Anonymous More information: Giovanni A. Travaglino et al, Connected Guys: Endorsement of Masculine Honour Predicts More Frequent Contact with Members of Criminal Organisations, European Journal of Social Psychology (2018). Giovanni A. Travaglino et al, Connected Guys: Endorsement of Masculine Honour Predicts More Frequent Contact with Members of Criminal Organisations,(2018). DOI: 10.1002/ejsp.2389 Image of a brine shrimp (Artemia salina) swimming through water with variable density due to a vertical gradient in salinity. Differences in light refraction through the density gradients creates corresponding gradients in image brightness. Credit: Isabel Houghton, image obtained with the assistance and facilities of R. Strickler (UWM). Swarms of tiny oceanic organisms known collectively as zooplankton may have an outsize influence on their environment. New research at Stanford shows that clusters of centimeter-long individuals, each beating tiny feathered legs, can, in aggregate, create powerful currents that may mix water over hundreds of meters in depth. Although the work was carried out in the lab, the finding is the first to show that migrating zooplankton or indeed any organism can create turbulence at a scale large enough to mix the ocean's waters. The work could alter the way ocean scientists think about global nutrient cycles like carbon, phosphate and oxygen, or even ocean currents themselves. "Ocean dynamics are directly connected to global climate through interactions with the atmosphere," said John Dabiri, a professor of civil and environmental engineering and of mechanical engineering. "The fact that swimming animals could play a significant role in ocean mixing an idea that has been almost heretical in oceanography could therefore have consequences far beyond the immediate waters where the animals reside." Dabiri, who was senior author on the work published April 18 in Nature, added that the findings could also help scientists understand how the ocean sequesters carbon dioxide from the atmosphere and lead to updates in ocean climate models. Credit: Stanford University "Right now a lot of our ocean climate models don't include the effect of animals or if they do it's as passive participants in the process," Dabiri said. Churning waters One of the most common zooplankton, krill are among the most abundant marine organisms and migrate daily in giant swarms, heading hundreds of meters deep by day and up to the ocean's surface by night to feed. Dabiri knew that in terms of forces that drive the mixing of oceans, wind and tidal currents are thought to play the largest role. But he wondered if giant zooplankton migrations could also be involved an idea first proposed by oceanographer Walter Munk in 1966, and since then debated but never systematically explored. Upward migration of A. salina in 1.2 m tank with LED array illumination. Playback at 4x speed. Credit: Isabel Houghton Dabiri and graduate student Isabel Houghton tried to answer that question not in the ocean but in the relatively controlled environment of large water tanks in the lab. The pair worked with Jeffrey Koseff and Stephen Monismith, professors of civil and environmental engineering who are experts on mixing in the ocean, to create flow environments that mimic the ocean with saltier water on the bottom of the tank and less salty water on the top. The resulting gradient mirrors ocean conditions that any organism would need to disrupt in order to cycle nutrients between the ocean's surface and water deep below. "There's no appreciable deep mixing of oxygen or carbon dioxide in the ocean if you can't overcome the stabilizing influence of salinity and temperature gradients," Koseff said. In the lab, the group was looking to see whether the tiny organisms they studied mostly brine shrimp (also known as sea monkeys) as a stand-in for less lab-hardy krill are simply churning water locally, leaving the gradient intact, or redistributing salt into a more uniform mixture. If they can mix layers in the lab, chances are they can do the same in the ocean, the group argued. Pathlines of particles seeded in tank allow visualization of large-scale flows proximate to the upward migration (7.5x speed). The field of view is 40 cm vertically. Credit: Isabel Houghton Swimming by laser light To carry out the study, Houghton placed brine shrimp in the tank and activated laser or LED lights from either above or below, because brine shrimp are attracted to light, so they migrated toward the source. When she reversed the lights the tiny creatures scurried to the other end in a migration that lasted about 10 minutes. With cameras closely recording the animals' movements, the group has been able to measure the individual water eddies surrounding each brine shrimp and the larger currents in the tank. From these, they've shown that turbulence from individual organisms aggregates into a much larger turbulent jet in the wake of the migration. What's more, those flows were powerful enough to mix the tank's salt gradient. "They weren't just displacing fluid that then returned to its original location," Houghton said. "Everything mixed irreversibly." The schlieren imaging technique is used to visualize density gradients around a freely swimming animal. The field of view is approximately 1.5 cm across and video playback is real time. Credit: Isabel Houghton and J.R. Strickler (UWM) Before this work, scientists had thought that krill and other zooplankton could only create turbulence in their own size range on the order of centimeters. That's hardly enough to move nutrients on a meaningful scale. Now it appears that zooplankton have the capacity to mix ocean waters, at least regionally. Furthermore, Dabiri said their findings might not just apply to organisms like krill in the upper kilometer of the ocean, but also to jellyfish, squid, fish and mammals that swim even deeper, potentially churning the entire water column. Dabiri said his lab members need to verify their findings in the ocean, which will involve finding and following swarms of krill in locations as diverse as the California coast and frigid Antarctic waters. But if they continue to see mixing at the scales the lab work suggests, the findings could change the way ocean scientists think about the role of animals in influencing their watery environment and potentially our climate on land. Starting simple for big results Despite the work's potential impact in how ocean scientists think about the role of marine animals on global issues like climate and nutrient cycles, this research has a storied past. Its funding was once featured in a list of government waste known as The Wastebook, which referred to it as studying synchronized swimming in sea monkeys. Photograph of brine shrimp (Artemia salina) in a laboratory vessel prior to experiments studying the effect of their collective vertical migration. Animals are centimeter-scale. Credit: Isabel Houghton "By starting simple and using an unorthodox organism like the brine shrimp, it has allowed us to now go into the ocean and measure something where we have a more specific target in mind," Dabiri said. Measurements that would have cost $20,000 per day on board a ship cost only about $100 per day in the lab, saving significant money and producing results that are relevant for scientists and policymakers alike. Explore further Laser-guided sea monkeys show how zooplankton migrations may affect global ocean currents More information: Vertically migrating swimmers generate aggregation-scale eddies in a stratified column, Nature (2018). nature.com/articles/doi:10.1038/s41586-018-0044-z Journal information: Nature Vertically migrating swimmers generate aggregation-scale eddies in a stratified column,(2018). Searching galactic haloes for 'missing' matter. Credit: ESA/XMM-Newton; J-T. Li (University of Michigan, USA); Sloan Digital Sky Survey (SDSS Astronomers using ESA's XMM-Newton space observatory have probed the gas-filled haloes around galaxies in a quest to find 'missing' matter thought to reside there, but have come up empty-handed so where is it? All the matter in the universe exists in the form of 'normal' matter or the notoriously elusive and invisible dark matter, with the latter around six times more prolific. Curiously, scientists studying nearby galaxies in recent years have found them to contain three times less normal matter than expected, with our own Milky Way galaxy containing less than half the expected amount. "This has long been a mystery, and scientists have spent a lot of effort searching for this missing matter," says Jiangtao Li of the University of Michigan, USA, and lead author of a new paper. "Why is it not in galaxies or is it there, but we are just not seeing it? If it's not there, where is it? It is important we solve this puzzle, as it is one of the most uncertain parts of our models of both the early universe and of how galaxies form." Rather than lying within the main bulk of the galaxy, the part can be observed optically, researchers thought it may instead lie within a region of hot gas that stretches further out into space to form a galaxy's halo. These hot, spherical haloes have been detected before, but the region is so faint that it is difficult to observe in detail its X-ray emission can become lost and indistinguishable from background radiation. Often, scientists observe a small distance into this region and extrapolate their findings but this can result in unclear and varying results. Jiangtao and colleagues wanted to measure the hot gas out to larger distances using ESA's XMM-Newton X-ray space observatory. They looked at six similar spiral galaxies and combined the data to create one galaxy with their average properties. "By doing this, the galaxy's signal becomes stronger and the X-ray background becomes better behaved," adds co-author Joel Bregman, also of the University of Michigan. "We were then able to see the X-ray emission to about three times further out than if observing a single galaxy, which made our extrapolation more accurate and reliable." Massive and isolated spiral galaxies offer the best chance to search for missing matter. They are massive enough to heat gas to temperatures of millions of degrees so that they emit X-rays, and have largely avoided being contaminated by other material through star formation or interactions with other galaxies. Still missing The team's results showed that the halo surrounding galaxies like the ones observed cannot contain all of the missing matter after all. Despite extrapolating out to almost 30 times the radius of the Milky Way, nearly three-quarters of the expected material was still missing. There are two main alternative theories as to where it could be: either it is stored in another gas phase that is poorly observed perhaps either a hotter and more tenuous phase or a cooler and denser one or within a patch of space that is not covered by our current observations or emits X-rays too faintly to be detected. Either way, since the galaxies do not contain enough missing matter they may have ejected it out into space, perhaps driven by injections of energy from exploding stars or by supermassive black holes. "This work is important to help create more realistic galaxy models, and in turn help us better understand how our own galaxy formed and evolved," says Norbert Schartel, ESA XMM-Newton project scientist. "This kind of finding is simply not possible without the incredible sensitivity of XMM-Newton." "In the future, scientists can add even more galaxies to our study samples and use XMM-Newton in collaboration with other high-energy observatories, such as ESA's upcoming Advanced Telescope for High-ENergy Astrophysics, Athena, to probe the extended, low-density parts of a galaxy's outer edges, as we continue to unravel the mystery of the universe's missing matter." Explore further Hubble catches a colossal cluster More information: Jiang-Tao Li et al. Baryon Budget of the Hot Circumgalactic Medium of Massive Spiral Galaxies, The Astrophysical Journal (2018). Journal information: Astrophysical Journal Jiang-Tao Li et al. Baryon Budget of the Hot Circumgalactic Medium of Massive Spiral Galaxies,(2018). DOI: 10.3847/2041-8213/aab2af Statue of the Columbian mammoth housed at the University of Nebraska-Lincoln. A new study has found that such massive mammals were far more likely than their smaller counterparts to go extinct in regions occupied by ancient humans. Credit: Craig Chandler, University of Nebraska-Lincoln Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and other recent human relatives may have begun hunting large mammal species down to size - by way of extinction - at least 90,000 years earlier than previously thought, says a new study published in the journal Science. Elephant-dwarfing wooly mammoths, elephant-sized ground sloths and various saber-toothed cats highlighted the array of massive mammals roaming Earth between 2.6 million and 12,000 years ago. Prior research suggested that such large mammals began disappearing faster than their smaller counterparts - a phenomenon known as size-biased extinction - in Australia around 35,000 years ago. With the help of emerging data from older fossil and rock records, the new study estimated that this size-biased extinction started at least 125,000 years ago in Africa. By that point, the average African mammal was already 50 percent smaller than those on other continents, the study reported, despite the fact that larger landmasses can typically support larger mammals. But as humans migrated out of Africa, other size-biased extinctions began occurring in regions and on timelines that coincide with known human migration patterns, the researchers found. Over time, the average body size of mammals on those other continents approached and then fell well below Africa's. Mammals that survived during the span were generally far smaller than those that went extinct. The magnitude and scale of the recent size-biased extinction surpassed any other recorded during the last 66 million years, according to the study, which was led by the University of New Mexico's Felisa Smith. "It wasn't until human impacts started becoming a factor that large body sizes made mammals more vulnerable to extinction," said the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Kate Lyons, who authored the study with Smith and colleagues from Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego. "The anthropological record indicates that Homo sapiens are identified as a species around 200,000 years ago, so this occurred not very long after the birth of us as a species. It just seems to be something that we do. "From a life-history standpoint, it makes some sense. If you kill a rabbit, you're going to feed your family for a night. If you can kill a large mammal, you're going to feed your village." By contrast, the research team found little support for the idea that climate change drove size-biased extinctions during the last 66 million years. Large and small mammals seemed equally vulnerable to temperature shifts throughout that span, the authors reported. "If climate were causing this, we would expect to see these extinction events either sometimes (diverging from) human migration across the globe or always lining up with clear climate events in the record," said Lyons, assistant professor of biology at Nebraska. "And they don't do either of those things." Off the face of the Earth The team also looked ahead to examine how potential mammal extinctions could affect the world's biodiversity. To do so, it posed a question: What would happen if the mammals currently listed as vulnerable or endangered were to go extinct within the next 200 years? In that scenario, Lyons said, the largest remaining mammal would be the domestic cow. The average body mass would plummet to less than six pounds - roughly the size of a Yorkshire terrier. "If this trend continues, and all the currently threatened (mammals) are lost, then energy flow and taxonomic composition will be entirely restructured," said Smith, professor of biology at New Mexico. "In fact, mammalian body size around the globe will revert to what the world looked like 40 million years ago." Lyons said that restructuring could have "profound implications" for the world's ecosystems. Large mammals tend to be herbivores, devouring large quantities of vegetation and effectively transporting the associated nutrients around an ecosystem. If they continue to disappear, she said, the remaining mammals would prove poor stand-ins for important ecological roles. "The kinds of ecosystem services that are provided by large mammals are very different than what you get from small mammals," Lyons said. "Ecosystems are going to be very, very different in the future. The last time mammal communities looked like that and had a mean body size that small was after the extinction of the dinosaurs. "What we're doing is potentially erasing 40 to 45 million years of mammal body-size evolution in a very short period of time." Smith and Lyons authored the study with Jon Payne of Stanford University and Rosemary Elliott Smith from the University of California, San Diego. The team received support from the National Science Foundation. Explore further Researchers try to understand consequences of declining populations of large-bodied mammals More information: F.A. Smith at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM el al., "Body size downgrading of mammals over the late Quaternary," Science (2018). Journal information: Science F.A. Smith at University of New Mexico in Albuquerque, NM el al., "Body size downgrading of mammals over the late Quaternary,"(2018). science.sciencemag.org/cgi/doi 1126/science.aao5987 [CAPE TOWN] A dose of oral vaccine provides effective short-term protection against cholera during an outbreak, a study in Zambia shows. According to researchers, a shortage in the global stockpile of cholera vaccines meant that single-dose oral vaccination was necessary to tackle an outbreak in Lusaka, Zambia, in February 2016. The emergency vaccination campaign was implemented in April 2016, targeting more than 500,000 people in Lusakas overcrowded township areas. Francisco Luquero, co-author of the study and an expert in preventable diseases at the France-based Epicentre, the research arm of the Medecins Sans Frontieres (MSF) or Doctors without Borders, says that studies have already proven that one dose of oral cholera vaccine works but those studies were conducted in countries that had recently experienced cholera. Our results show that people vaccinated can be protected against cholera a few days after receiving one dose. Francisco Luquero The 2016 outbreak happened when Zambia had not reported a case of cholera in four years. To determine the effectiveness of the single-dose cholera vaccine, the researchers enrolled 66 patients with confirmed cholera and 330 people without the disease who were neighbours of the patients. According to the study, published last month (8 February) in the New England Journal of Medicine, the effectiveness of the single dose vaccination was about 90 per cent. Our results show that people vaccinated can be protected against cholera a few days after receiving one dose, which is important in outbreaks because we need to protect people quickly, says Luquero. Oral cholera vaccines have been used in past years to successfully prevent outbreaks in complex emergencies, to curb epidemics, or to reduce the disease burden in countries where cholera is endemic but vaccines are in short supply, according to MSF. The Lusaka outbreak ended quickly after the implementation of the vaccination campaign, which limited the number of cases recruited for the study, Luquero explains. The Ministry of Health offered a second vaccine eight months later, in December 2016.The WHO estimates that globally, cholera infects between one and four million people a year, resulting in 21,000-143,000 deaths, with countries in Sub-Saharan Africa at increased risk.This is an important study because it suggests that the world could face the challenges of cholera outbreaks with a single dose, says Roma Chilengi, chief scientific officer at the Centre for Infectious Disease Research in Zambia. A single-dose vaccine is cheaper and could help countries with limited financial ability to control the disease, he added.However, it would be helpful to be clear about the potential duration of the protection the single dose offers, Chilengi tells SciDev.Net. " " More than 260 spacecraft have been laid to rest in a watery grave in an area in the Pacific Ocean known as Point Nemo. HowStuffWorks Since the launch of Sputnik 1 in 1957, several thousand manmade devices have been sent into Earth's orbit. A return trip was never in the cards for many of them. Broken satellites, abandoned rockets and assorted bits of mission-related garbage are now whizzing around our planet at frighteningly high speeds. Some objects may be traveling faster than 16,777 miles per hour (27,000 kilometers per hour). And the trash begets trash. Collisions can generate even more debris as useless bits of junk violently smack into each other. This is a serious problem for a world that's grown dependent on telecommunications and GPS signals. More than one active satellite has been destroyed by space debris and many more will doubtless meet the same fate. Advertisement We haven't come up with a perfect solution yet but there are ways to remove some of the orbiting bodies that've outlived their usefulness. For almost half a century now, space agencies have been instructing old satellites and decommissioned vessels to crash-land in a remote part of the South Pacific. The area's known as a "spacecraft cemetery." It encompasses a geographic place of interest known as Point Nemo (a Latin word meaning "nobody"), and it's the furthest you can get from dry land without leaving Earth. It's about 2,500 miles (4,023 kilometers) east of New Zealand and the closest landmasses are the islands of Ducie, Moto Nui and Maher. So when a doomed spacecraft is sent there, the chances of it hitting a person or even a passing boat are pretty darn slim. The cemetery received its first decommissioned spacecraft in 1971. More than 260 others have subsequently been laid to rest there, with the majority being of Russian origin. None can match the prestige, though, of Mir, the Soviet-built precursor to the International Space Station (ISS) that cruised above Earth from 1986 to 2001. Of course, the Mir's no longer in mint condition. When it received instructions to land in the vicinity of Point Nemo in March 2001, the space station broke apart in its rocky descent through Earth's atmosphere. Many components burned up in the process and the six main fragments that remain are scattered across a wide expanse of sea floor. The same thing happened to the European Jules Verne spacecraft, the Progress cargo ship and countless other denizens of the deep-sea burial ground. Getting a spacecraft to land anywhere takes a lot of skill and precise calculations. Space agencies must remain in contact with their vessels in order to send up guidance instructions. Once that degree of control is lost, a craft is liable to wind up anywhere. If you lived through the space race, you might remember how NASA's Skylab unexpectedly crash-landed in western Australia in 1979. By the same token, nobody knew where the Chinese Tiangong-1 orbital lab would come to rest after it stopped working properly in March 2016. In what the press called a "near amazing coincidence," the 8-and-a-half-ton (7.7-metric ton) lab crash landed April 1, 2018 in South Pacific waters narrowly missing Point Nemo as it fell. Now That's Interesting In 2003, NASA intentionally crashed the Galileo research orbiter into Jupiter for conservation purposes. It's been suggested that alien life forms might be living on Europa, one of the planet's moons. After the Galileo's mission was completed, NASA worried that if it was allowed to drift freely, it might smack into this moon and potentially contaminate it with earthling microorganisms. No one wants that. Advertisement Originally Published: Apr 19, 2018 4 Financial Steps to Take Following the Closure of Boracay With Boracay Island suddenly declared a state of calamity by Philippine President Rodrigo Duterte, thousands of tourists are now wondering what to do with their already booked travel plans to the tropical island. While this action is just one of several taken on by tourist-laden nations in Southeast Asia to protect and repair their damaged ecosystems, it has thus far caused mass confusion to both the local workers who rely on tourism for money and to the tourists who have already spent hundreds of dollars in travel plans. Below, we discuss some ways you can get your money back if you planned a trip to Boracay between May and October 2018 as well as explore a few cheap travel alternatives. How to Get Your Money Back If you bought a refundable flight, then your airline should be able to refund your ticket price regardless of reason. For this specific event, if you bought your ticket with Philippine Airlines, you will be able to "rebook, reroute or refund without charges or penalties". Several other local airlines (Cebu Pacific, AirAsia Philippines) also said they would offer refunds to those going to gateway airports. Additionally, hotels in Boracay have said that they would honor refunds to guests who have already booked rooms for the closure dates. However, if your already booked trip to Boracay starts before April 26th, 2018 but ends after, you will still be able to go on your trip. If your airline or hotel isn't offering an automatic refund, hopefully you had bought a bought travel insurance before President Duterte's announcement. If you purchased one, your insurer may let you claim for the cancellation of your trip. However, while some travel insurance policies will cover cancellations and postponements due to travel advisories, changes in government regulations and airport closures, other insurers may not let you claim for trip cancellations for non-emergency reasons. Before you file a claim with your insurance company and possibly get rejected, you should read the policy wording and make sure there is nothing in the cancellation or general policy exceptions that explicitly states that you can not file a claim for trip cancellations due to government regulation or restrictions. This can save you the headache of taking the time to submit a claim only to have it be rejected. Story continues This table shows a few insurers that may accept your travel cancellation claims for a booked trip to Boracay made before President Duterte's announcement What to Do if You Can't Get Your Money Back Unfortunately, if you haven't purchased travel insurance and if your travel bookings aren't refundable you won't be able to get your money back. In this case, you may still have a few other options. For instance, if your airline doesn't let you get a refund for your flight, you can try to negotiate to change your ticket to one of the other destinations within the Philippines such as Cebu, Bohol and Palawan. This could let you take your vacation while still utilising your non-refundable airline ticket. Otherwise, you can ask the airline to offer you airline credit or voucher for your ticket that you can use for future bookings, which could also be a valid strategy for rearranging your hotel arrangements. How to Prevent Travel Losses in the Future While you can't do anything to control what will happen at your destination, you can take some measures to recoup most, if not all, of your booking expenses. The first step is to make sure you buy a comprehensive travel insurance policy. Some plans will offer trip cancellation coverage for any reason, while others won't exclude cancellation due to government restrictions. Travel insurance will also be your cheapest investment, as policies to the ASEAN region are quite affordable, costing on average S$31 for a week long trip. The next step is to try to book with a hotel or airbnb that has a flexible cancellation or refund policy. Before settling on a hotel, you can try calling the hotel directly to confirm their refund and cancellation policies. You should also make sure to read the terms and conditions if you are booking through an online booking agent or travel agency. The same rules apply to booking airline tickets. This graph compares the price of major travel insurance policies in Singapore for a 1-week trip in the ASEAN region Finally, island and beach closings in Southeast Asia are not just far and few in between. For instance, the closing of the famous Maya Bay on Phi Phi Island in Thailand in 2018 follows Thailand's decision to close several islands in 2016 and dozens of diving sites in 2011 due to unnaturally warm currents that negatively affected their coral reefs. Because this pattern of closures will most likely continue, before you book a trip to any tropical island or beach, it may be worthwhile to research the destination to see if it's at risk for closure. If there seems to be discussion or speculation that your desired destination may be shutting down soon for repair, it may be in your best interests to look for a different place to visit. Cheap But Great Alternatives Southeast Asia is in no shortage of beautiful beach destinations. While you may still be reeling from the financial losses of the Boracay closure, if you are adamant about going on a vacation, there are several affordable destinations that can offer similarly beautiful beaches. This includes Rai Leh in Thailand, El Nido in the Philippines Cat Ba Island in Vietnam and Koh Rong in Cambodia. Not only are hotels in these destinations are on average around 40% cheaper than hotels in Boracay, but you can avoid heavily touristy areas and find beaches that are in pristine condition. Additionally, if you used a rewards card when booking your Boracay trip, you can save even more by using those air miles points towards your alternative destination. This table shows the average cost of roundtrip flight and hotel accommodations of alternatives to Boracay and Maya Bay The article 4 Financial Steps to Take Following the Closure of Boracay originally appeared on ValuePenguin. ValuePenguin helps you find the most relevant information to optimise your personal finances. Like us on our Facebook page to keep up to date with our latest news and articles. More From ValuePenguin: In a report by Channel News Asia, the story of a janitor in the sixth-floor corridor of Block 103 Commonwealth Crescent last April 14 shows an uplifting story of compassion and kindness towards the elderly. What happened? According to the report, janitor Kalahm Mod Abu was approached by an elderly Singaporean woman, asking him if he could buy food for her. He was cleaning on the sixth floor, and an old woman asked him a favour. She looked to be in pain and quite sick. She was holding her stomach and very pale, and said that she had no foodand if she could have some. The old woman also showed him a new, pink scar that was said to be evidence of recent surgery. Other reports also say that she was strapped for cash and was alone ever since her operation. She asked if I could buy her food. She was too sick to walk down to the nearby market and I had to help. It was the least I could do, said Abu, who has been a cleaner for 10 years in the area. He is a Bangladeshi national. Upon seeing the distress in the old womans face, he immediately went to get his own packed lunch of curry and rice which was located at a storeroom ten minutes away. He cooks his own meals and brings it to work. But he knew he had to get back to the woman much faster, so he asked a flat owner who trusted him for a favour. He used an e-scooter to get back to the woman much faster, but was flagged by police officers. When he explained the situation, though, the police officers commended him and even featured him in a Facebook post. He was able to get back quickly to the old woman in pain, who was very grateful for his help. Having eaten, she immediately felt better and did not look so much in distress. She thanked me many times, I told her it was fine, said the kind cleaner. Im happy she looked healthier after the meal. According to his employer, Abu is a very compassionate and kindhearted man, who treats the people he cleans for as family. The Tanjong PAgar Council presented him with a Certificate of Appreciation. Story continues Not the first and only time this has happened According to his employer (who was not named), Abu has given his own food to elderly residents many times before, and is one of the kindest persons the former knows. What do netizens say? Some commended him and said that he should be blessed. Others agreed and said most cleaners are good people. Some said the e-scooter is unnecessary in the story, and that the whole thing could be fake news. Others said that Bangladesh nationals are kind while others are not. While others commented on So if you see this man on your commute or during your day, why not thank him for his kind act for that old woman? Meanwhile, some Singaporeans are still divided about the $10 Caltex BMW driver and his alleged bad intentions. Header image from Queenstown NPC Facebook page The post After the $10 Caltex BMW Driver, this cleaner will restore your faith in Singaporeans appeared first on Alvinology. A Bahrain court sentenced 24 Shiite citizens to prison and stripped them of their nationality after finding them guilty of forming a "terrorist group", a Bahraini judicial source said Thursday. Other charges included travelling to Iraq and Iran for "weapons and explosives training" and attempted murder of police officers. The High Criminal Court on Wednesday sentenced 10 of the defendants to life in prison, 10 to a decade behind bars and the other four to jail terms ranging from three to five years. The Sunni-ruled, Shiite-majority kingdom has stripped hundreds of its citizens of their nationality and jailed dozens of high-profile activists and religious clerics since protests demanding an elected government erupted in early 2011. The Bahraini government has accused Shiite Iran of backing the protests and attempting to overthrow the government. Tehran denies involvement. Authorities on Wednesday also referred to trial seven Bahrainis accused of attacking an oil pipeline to Saudi Arabia in November. That trial is set for May 10. The blast cut off the pipeline linking Bahrain's Bapco refinery with oil giant Aramco's main pumping station in neighbouring Saudi Arabia's Dhahran province. Manama in February said it had arrested four men suspected of attacking the pipeline, accusing Saudi Arabia's arch-rival Iran of training and arming two of them, which Tehran denied. Under Bahrain's citizenship law, amended after political protests broke out in 2011, the authorities can revoke the nationality of individuals who engage in acts deemed "disloyal" to the state. Human Rights Watch in February accused the kingdom of "stripping away the citizenships of people whom they find undesirable". Bahrain earlier this year deported eight people to war-torn Iraq after revoking their citizenship and making them stateless. Shares of Apple were down nearly 2.5 percent Thursday afternoon, following a dismal growth forecast from Apples biggest processor supplier. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing Co (TSMC) predicted that sales for the current quarter would be $1 billion less than previously forecasted, which virtually confirms previous rumors that Apple has dramatically scaled back iPhone X production. JPMorgan Chase & Co. analyst Gokul Hariharan blamed the miss on the iPhone, according to Bloomberg. He estimated that, quarter on quarter, the companys Apple-related revenues may plunge roughly 50 percent in the second quarter after a 30 percent drop in the first period. Don't Miss: The worst thing about cutting the cord is losing your DVR, but this box fixes the problem Other analysts are equally gloomy about Apples iPhone sales. RBC Capital Markets analyst Amit Daryanani said we note, based on our past channel checks with suppliers, that current production expectation for new iPhones is ~80-90M units for second half calendar 2018, which is below suppliers expectation of ~100-120M units for iPhone 8/X in early 2017. However, its not all total doom-and-gloom for Apple. While every agrees that sales volume is lackluster, the sheer number of sales are no longer the most important thing. Daryanani said that the reason behind the production slowdown could be that AAPL may work to curtail its iPhone channel inventory aggressively ahead of the fall 2018 product launches, especially as we think AAPL will launch all its devices this September (vs. doing a staggered launch). Most importantly, however, the high price point of the iPhone X is keeping Apples bottom line looking healthy. As a Counterpoint study showed earlier this week, the iPhone X alone made a little more than three times as much money as the total profits from Samsung, LG, HTC, Sony, OnePlus, Huawei, and Xiaomi combined. BGR Top Deals: Trending Right Now: See the original version of this article on BGR.com Charcoal-activated vegan croissants are the latest hipster food trend causing a stir on social media. (Photo: Getty Images) A London cafe has raised eyebrows with its latest culinary creation: a charcoal-activated vegan croissant that it swears tastes better than it looks. One can only hope Hailing from the Italian snack bar Coco di Mama, the unconventional pastry has gone viral after a curious diner snapped a photo. Twitter user Amy Charlotte Kean decided to share her find with the world, captioning her photo, I feel like this might be a bit much, even for East London, which was liked more than 30,000 times. I feel like this might be a bit much, even for East London pic.twitter.com/cReZRIqzPe Amy Charlotte Kean (@keano81) April 17, 2018 The croissant which is sold for 1.80 (about $2.50 U.S.) each is said to contain 285 calories per serving, according to the restaurants website. While its totally vegan, its allergens include gluten (wheat, barley), soy, and traces of nuts and sesame. Charcoal has been lauded as a superfood lately for its detoxifying qualities, which are said to reduce the bodys absorption of toxic substances by 47 percent. The black ingredient is even used in toothpaste to whiten teeth, as well as in skin care products. But does that really mean we want to taint our delicious bronzed pastries with the stuff? Probably not Read more from Yahoo Lifestyle: This restaurant is serving up a $30 tarantula burger Fast food chain will no longer serve pot-smoking drive-through customers Beyonce is on a vegan diet again Follow us on Instagram, Facebook, and Twitter for nonstop inspiration delivered fresh to your feed, every day. A big part of the appeal for travellers in booking accommodation through Airbnb and other home-sharing service providers is the sheer variety of places to stay. Every property offers different decor and amenities, and travellers get to stay in appealing neighbourhoods or those with the same conveniences as home. With demand for such accommodation increasing at a rapid clip in China, domestic provider Xiaozhu wants to make it easier for more homeowners across the mainland to open up their properties and join the countrys sharing economy. Beijing-based Xiaozhu, often called Chinas answer to Airbnb, has launched Lanzu Gongshe loosely translated as rental business community that delivers a one-stop solution for homeowners on the mainland to run an Airbnb-like business. We want to bring our game to the next level with this new business Kelvin Chen Chi, Xiaozhu This new infrastructure platform offers a range of services that cover everything from decor design and security, such as the installation of so-called smart locks, to cleaning and day-to-day property management. The reason that Xiaozhu has experienced rapid development in China over the past several years is because of the value-added services we provide to homeowners and guests, Xiaozhu chief executive Kelvin Chen Chi said in an interview, referring to the companys call centre and other support services. We want to bring our game to the next level with this new business, which will allow more people to easily share their homes online and provide travellers with a better experience than in hotels. The introduction of the new Xiaozhu service followed Airbnbs recent expansion initiative in Chinas home-sharing market, which research firm eMarketer has forecast to reach 16.9 billion yuan (US$2.7 billion) in revenue this year up from an estimated 12.5 billion yuan last year and about 2 billion yuan in 2014. Story continues Airbnb complies with China law to hand over guest details as listings double San Francisco-based Airbnb, which has a listing of 150,000 homes in China, announced last month that Shanghai will be among 13 cities in the world to launch its curated Airbnb Plus service, which will offer a select group of homes and accommodation that have been individually inspected and verified by the firm. Airbnb Plus hosts have access to design consultants and receive photography support. The US firm had also pledged last year to double its investments and triple its workforce in China to spur further growth in the worlds second-largest economy. Is the travel sharing era over now Airbnb is listing hotel rooms too? Xiaozhu, which has a listing of 300,000 homes across the mainland, is betting that Lanzu Gongshe could help boost its stickiness with more mainland homeowners. The companys one-stop management programme represents a strategy that is similar to how Chinese e-commerce majors like Alibaba Group Holding, the parent of South China Morning Post, and JD.com have kept and attracted merchants on their online shopping platforms by providing various technical support and promotion for their digital stores. Chen said Xiaozhus new service can raise the efficiency of running a home-sharing business, while encouraging more people to list their flats online. In the old days, it was impossible for those who live in Beijing to rent out their second apartments in other cities, Chen said. With our new service, they can use smart locks to allow guests to check-in securely, as well as find someone in their area to clean the apartments and help them pay utility bills. Chinas Airbnb to introduce check-ins using facial recognition Even if they dont want to interact with guests online, they can find someone else to help them do that. All they need is to an apartment that they want to share online, he said. Xiaozhus chief executive also predicted that in about five years about half of the flats listed on its platform will not be run by homeowners in person, but by third-party service providers. Chen also announced that Xiaozhu will establish its second headquarters in Chengdu, the capital of southwest Chinas Sichuan province, as the company ramps up efforts to expand in the countrys second-tier cities, where travellers can also find high-quality accommodation. How Chinas two-child policy is giving Airbnb and its rivals a boost While Xiaozhu, a start-up backed by Alibaba founder Jack Ma Yuns Yunfeng Capital, expects its new service to help improve the experience for guests and widen the pool of properties for home-sharing, some analysts say things could get more complicated. The risk is that the new service will standardise the home-sharing business, making it less about human interaction and more about the money Chen Liteng, China E-Commerce Research Centre The risk is that the new service will standardise the home-sharing business, making it less about human interaction and more about the money, said Chen Liteng, an analyst with Hangzhou-based internet consultancy China E-Commerce Research Centre. Some mainland homeowners welcome Xiaozhus initiative, but said their decision to join the companys platform ultimately depends on the benefits of using its service. You can find a cleaner on many of the online platforms in China. They can also help you buy necessities as long as they get paid, said Peter Li, a Beijing-based entrepreneur, who has listed his second flat on both Airbnb and Xiaozhu. That is why I have been running a home-sharing business for two years without cleaning the apartment nor meeting any of my guests. The new service from Xiaozhu does sound tempting, especially its feature about helping interact with guests who often have a lot of questions, like how to get to your apartment or how to use the washing machine, Li said. Still, my main concern is the cost of the service and how I can make money from using it. This article Chinas Xiaozhu takes on Airbnb with new one-stop management service for flat owners first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. More from South China Morning Post: A screenshot of the fight that reportedly occurred in a Temasek Polytechnic lecture theatre. A fight between two students broke out in a lecture theatre full of students at Temasek Polytechnic (TP). A video of the incident has been making its rounds on social media since Wednesday (18 April). The school has since told the three students involved in the fight to assist in its investigations into the matter. A student who claimed to be from TP posted in a Reddit thread about the incident, saying that one of the students involved who was wearing a yellow and black striped T-shirt had been disrupting lectures for the past two days. He turned aggressive when confronted by another student in a red tank top. According to the student who posted an account of the incident, the student in red had insulted the other students educational background. In the video onlookers were also heard laughing and cheering at the two students retorts. The student who recounted the incident on Reddit also said that security staff were called in over the incident. According to a TP spokesperson, A scuffle broke out involving three first year students, after one of them created a disturbance in the lecture theatre at about 11am yesterday. Staff who were present intervened and eventually calmed the students down. No one was injured. All three students have been instructed to make themselves available to assist with the investigation. In addition to being counselled, appropriate disciplinary action will be taken where necessary. The school will also speak to the students in the lecture theatre who witnessed the incident, added the spokesperson. More Singapore stories Police seek e-scooter rider who knocked down elderly woman in Ang Mo Kio Ex-NUS don on trial for molesting schoolboys after 17 years on the run A video grab from the Japan Meteorological Agency's live camera image shows Io Yama erupting in Miyazaki prefecture, on the southwest island of Kyushu, Japan April19, 2018. Japan Meteorological Agency/Handout via REUTERS TOKYO (Reuters) - A volcano in Japan erupted on Thursday, shooting clouds of smoke and rocks into the sky, and prompting authorities to ban access to the peak, but there were no reports of any damage or casualties. The eruption of Io Yama, a 1,298 m (4,258 ft) high volcano on the southernmost main island of Kyushu, was the latest in a series of eruptions in Japan this year. One person has been killed. Television footage showed grayish smoke jetting from several spots on the side of the mountain in the Kirishima range, in a rural area about 985 km (616 miles) from Tokyo. A warning level for Io Yama was raised to "3" from "2" on Japan's 5-level scale, with the Japan Meteorological Agency warning that volcanic rocks could be hurled as far as 2 km (1.2 miles). In January, a member of the military was killed and 11 people injured, some critically, when Kusatsu-Shirane volcano rained rocks down on skiers at a resort in central Japan. Two months later, Shinmoedake - a volcano which featured in a 1960s James Bond movie, and in the same Kirishima range as Io Yama - shot smoke and ash thousands of metres into the sky. Japan has 110 active volcanoes and monitors 47 of them around the clock. In September 2014, 63 people were killed on Mount Ontake, the worst volcanic toll in Japan for nearly 90 years. (Reporting by Elaine Lies; Editing by Robert Birsel) The facial recognition technology is built by YITU, a company that is used in tourist locations and ports in China Malaysias auxiliary police force, which usually refers to part-time or reserve cops, are integrating a body camera that includes a powerful facial-recognition technology built by Chinas YITU Technology. According to the Nikkei Asian Review, YITU can flip through a database of 1.8 billion people and identify a single person within three seconds. The reported accuracy rate is 95 per cent. Currently, the technology will be used to review on-body camera footage and identify a person after an incident. The police force has been using the technology since February. Dato Rosmadi Bin Ghazali, the CEO of Auxiliary Force Sdn. Bhd., said they plan on expanding the use of technology to include real-time alerts if someone of interest is in the general area. This is a significant step forward for us as we leverage artificial intelligence to increase public safety and security. Looking ahead, AFSB also intends to expand the capabilities of our body-worn camera system to include real-time facial recognition and instant alerts to the presence of persons of interest from criminal watchlists, he said. Also Read: Asia VC Cast with Andy Choi from Kakao Ventures In January, YITU opened an office in Singapore with the intention of expanding its presence in Southeast Asia. Other partners/customers listed on the companys website include Changi Airport and two security companies called Chubb Technologies and Certis. YITU also has ambitions to expand into Hong Kong/Macau and the Oceania region. In China, YITUs technology has been rolled-out in tourist areas and ports areas deemed to have higher security risks than most places. China has gathered a lot of attention recently for its facial recognition technology as it has become a focus of government policy. Recently, stories such as the man who was identified by police amongst a crowd of 60,000 people have become commonplace. Story continues Also Read: The Story of You with Homage Co-founder and CEO Gillian Tee In Singapore, the city-state seems likely to install facial recognition technology onto lampposts that will be used to monitor its residents. Copyright: trots1905 / 123RF Stock Photo The post Malaysia auxiliary police are integrating a facial recognition surveillance technology used in China appeared first on e27. Philippines may lodge protest with China after military planes are seen in Spratly Islands Manila may lodge a protest with Beijing after two Chinese military planes reportedly landed on an artificial island within the Philippines exclusive economic zone in the South China Sea, the countrys top diplomat said on Wednesday. Regional analysts said that the move showed Beijing was growing more assertive in the disputed waterway. The transport planes, believed to be Xian Y-7s, were seen landing on a ramp near Runway 21 on Mischief Reef, the Philippine Daily Inquirer reported on Wednesday, citing surveillance photographs taken in January obtained from a source. China built the artificial island at the gas-rich atoll in the disputed Spratly Islands in 2015. The reef is the closest of Chinas artificial islands to the Philippines, and lies within its 200 nautical mile exclusive economic zone. Philippine Foreign Affairs Secretary Alan Peter Cayetano told reporters that the defence and military establishments had been asked to confirm the presence of the aircraft, after which the Philippines could ask China to explain it. Filing a protest is one of the diplomatic actions being considered, pending a confirmation from the defence department, Cayetano said, adding that the Philippines had proposed claimants reverse defence enhancements in the Spratly Islands. Many claimants are putting embankments, radar and other defensive mechanisms the challenge now is how to stop it and roll it back, he said. Chinas defence ministry did not respond to a request for comment. Vietnam and Indonesia vow to settle fishing violations in South China Sea The two planes were seen on the airstrip about 20 to 50 metres apart in the photos, according to the Inquirer. There were no military aircraft in aerial photos of the reef taken in December and obtained by the newspaper. The report comes two months after the newspaper published photographs taken between June and July last year showing Chinese construction activities in the Spratlys that it said were transforming the seven reefs, which are also claimed by the Philippines, into island fortresses. Story continues If confirmed, it could mean Beijing is moving to shore up its facilities on the controversial artificial islands, regional experts say, and it could be a challenge to Manila since the reef falls inside its exclusive economic zone. Based on the Soviet-designed Antonov An-24 aircraft, the Xian Y-7 is a transport plane suitable for civilian or military use, and it could be used to move supplies, equipment or even personnel to the artificial islands, according to a retired Chinese army colonel. As China builds up its facilities on the islands, regular flights are needed to transport mail, supplies and equipment, even personnel. The Xian Y-7 is a low-cost but efficient choice, said Yue Gang, who is now a military analyst based in Beijing. Yue said that compared to the Shaanxi Y-8 one of Chinas biggest military and civilian transport planes using the smaller Xian Y-7 in the contested area would be lower profile and less provocative towards neighbouring countries. The fact that there were two aircraft indicates that this was part of preparations to set up a regular flight route, because there would be no need to fly two planes there if the regular flight route had already been established, Yue added. China and the Philippines chart the course towards a calmer South China Sea Collin Koh, a research fellow at the S. Rajaratnam School of International Studies Maritime Security Programme in Singapore, said that it was not a surprise to see a transport plane like the Xian Y-7 being used in the area, but that there was concern in the region about what Beijing planned to do with its runways in the Spratlys. If China can land civilian planes, military transport planes in the Spratlys outposts, its only a matter of time before high-powered [aircraft] such as fighter jets and bombers may land there, Koh said. Besides ... transporting personnel and material to these islands as a routine activity, Beijing may also use such opportunities to demonstrate its ability to up the ante from a mere deployment of these harmless assets to armed planes, if necessary. Emptiness of US rhetoric has been exposed by China bringing Vietnam to heel It is not the first time a Chinese military aircraft has landed in the controversial artificial islands: in 2016, a Peoples Liberation Army plane touched down at Fiery Cross Reef. China has built four 3km airstrips in the Spratly Islands at Fiery Cross Reef, Mischief Reef, Subi Reef and Woody Island amid protests from Vietnam, the Philippines, Brunei and Malaysia, which all claim territory there. While the Xian Y-7 can be used for both civilian and military purposes, Koh said that Beijings activities at Mischief Reef could be part of efforts to reinforce its control over the Spratlys, which include Thitu Island, controlled by Manila. It could also have an eye on the resource-rich Reed Bank, northeast of the archipelago, where the Philippines has several energy operations, he added. Additional reporting by Reuters This article Philippines may lodge protest with China after military planes are seen in Spratly Islands first appeared on South China Morning Post For the latest news from the South China Morning Post download our mobile app. Copyright 2018. Singapore state courts (Yahoo News Singapore file photo) A man who started an online escort service and managed 21 prostitutes, including 20 Singaporean women, was sentenced to 29 months jail and fined $100,000 at the State Courts on Thursday (19 April). Cai Can Yao Andrew, 35, had earlier pleaded guilty to 12 charges of recruiting prostitutes and living off their earnings. He earned over $168,000 from the time he started his business in 2009 up until his arrest in 2016. Twenty-seven other similar charges under the Womens Charter were taken into consideration for Cais sentencing. Court documents showed that Cai started a social escort agency called Singapore Premium Escort Services sometime in 2009 and advertised its services online. Three years later he roped in his secondary school friend Billy Thien Chin Wei, 35. The pair then set up two more websites to advertise the services of the prostitutes under their charge. Well-oiled operation The duo split the work, agreeing to share the profits evenly. Cai would recruit the women while Thien secured bookings with customers. Cai would recruit the women through online advertisements. He would meet prospective prostitutes, get their age and have them rate their own looks on a scale of one to 10. Cai would then assign an hourly rate that the women could charge, usually between $300 and $600. The two friends would get a 25 per cent to 30 per cent commission for each client they secured for the prostitutes. If the terms were agreeable to the women, Cai would arrange photoshoots for them with the pictures taken being used for advertorial purposes. Besides their own websites, the duo also paid for online advertorial space on the EZ141 and Sammyboy Forum websites. Thien handled the phone line through which clients could make bookings, which occurred on a daily basis. He also updated the prostitutes availability on their websites. Thien also helped to arrange the appointments between clients and prostitutes, and would collect the commission from the women after they completed each job. Story continues Games up The operation came to a halt on the night of 18 May 2016 when police raided Hotel Boss along Jalan Sultan arresting two prostitutes who worked for the duo. This led the police to Thien and Cai, who were arrested the next day. Thien pleaded guilty last year and was also sentenced to 29 months jail and fined $100,000. Cais lawyer Peter Ong had argued that his client was less culpable than Thien because he did not handle the money, nor did he arrange the meet-ups between the women and their clients. Deputy Public Prosecutor Jesintha Veijayaratnam disagreed, saying that both parties were equally guilty. She sought a sentence of 29 months jail and a $120,000 fine for Cai. Judge Josephine Kang agreed with the prosecution. While she accepted that Thien played the additional role of revenue collector, she noted that this was equalised, if not eclipsed by the fact that Cai had started the business three years before Billy joined. It was a relatively sophisticated operation with one of the largest number of prostitutes seen so far, said the judge, who added that Cai had to take responsibility for roping Thien into the business. Furthermore, the duo had agreed to split their profits evenly, indicating that they shared an equal amount of work. Cai will begin his jail term on 3 May. The court had accepted his request for a two-week deferment so that he could arrange for the $100,000 fine to be paid. He is out on a $30,000 bail backed by his spouse and is not allowed to leave the country. For living on the earnings of a prostitute, Cai could have been jailed up to five years, and fined up to $10,000 on each charge. The act of recruiting prostitutes carries the same punishment. More Singapore stories: 4 Indonesians rescued after going overboard near Pedra Branca; 1 person still missing Man gets life sentence for fatal stabbing at Geylang coffeeshop By Joe Brock JOHANNESBURG (Reuters) - Zambia's opposition leader Hakainde Hichilema accused President Edgar Lungu's government on Thursday of political killings, rights abuses and rampant coruption, calling on South Africa to intervene to restore calm. Hichilema, who spent four months in jail last year on a treason charge, said regional allies needed to apply pressure on Lungu or risk Zambia descending into the economic disarray seen in neighbouring Zimbabwe under former President Robert Mugabe. Zambia, Africa's second largest copper producer, has been criticised by rights groups for an increase in political arrests under Lungu and concerns about corruption following reports of billions of dollars in undisclosed borrowing. Lungu denies there is a government corruption problem or that police are used to stifle dissent. "I am asking the region to open its eyes to a brutal regime and to do all it can to restore the rule of law, or the world will be looking at the next Zimbabwe," Hichilema said in an interview in Johannesburg. "It is in South Africa's interest as the regional powerhouse to act now or it will suffer from economic collapse of its neighbour and mass migration over its border." South Africa is the commercial gateway to the region and has powerful influence over its neighbours. Pretoria intervened to bring together a unity government in Zimbabwe after scores were killed in post-election violence in 2008 and swiftly brought an end to an attempted coup in Lesotho in 2014. Zambia is due to hold elections in 2021 but Hichilema said it was impossible to hold a free and fair vote in the current environment because Lungu controlled the electoral commission. Rights groups and diplomats have not reported a crackdown on dissent on the scale described by Hichilema. "It is much, much worse than the world thinks," he said. Hichilema, an economist and businessman widely known as HH, was arrested in April last year and charged with treason after his convoy failed to make way for Lungu's motorcade. Story continues He was released in August after state prosecutors dropped the charges. Former South African President Jacob Zuma did not publicly call for Hichilema's release, drawing criticism from South African opposition parties who said Zuma was failing to uphold regional democracy. Hichilema said he had more faith in new South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, a successful businessman who came to power in February after Zuma was forced out by his own party. "We've been greatly encouraged by what we've seen in South Africa and we now want it to have a positive impact regionally." (Reporting by Joe Brock; Editing by Catherine Evans) FILE PHOTO: Windmills are seen in the "Dan Tysk" wind park of Swedish energy company Vattenfall and Stadtwerke Munich (public services Munich), located west of the German island of Sylt in the North Sea, April 27, 2015. REUTERS/Fabian Bimmer/File Photo By Lefteris Karagiannopoulos OSLO (Reuters) - Several wind farm projects in Sweden are under threat due to the government's decision to reserve more airspace for its armed forces, according to two companies and an industry lobby group. In November, the government said its air force had labelled more airspace as low-flying zones in order to protect its operations from the expanding wind power industry. The move, to avoid planes colliding with wind turbines, has created uncertainty for a number of planned wind farms. Sweden's largest utility, Vattenfall, said the decision affected at least four of its projects, which together could generate around 1 gigawatt (GW) of power. "Such projects would lose the permits and couldn't be built," spokesman Peter Stedt said, referring to two of the projects that have been approved. In all, some 2.8 GW of planned wind power production could be cancelled, according to industry lobby Svensk Vindenergi, equivalent to 42 percent of Sweden's current wind production. Around 1 GW of that relates to wind farms with permits, and 1.8 GW to projects awaiting approval, it said. Eolus Vind, which builds wind farms and has projects under consideration in the affected areas, said it needed more clarity from authorities. "Clarification is important so that developers do not spend money on projects that have a low chance of being permitted due to the views of the armed forces," said spokesman Johan Hammarqvist. The government said projects that have been approved should not be affected. "Plants that already have permits to build should normally not be affected by the new low-flying areas," Energy Minister Ibrahim Baylan told Reuters. Sweden aims to meet its energy needs without producing global warming carbon dioxide by 2040, and defence interests should be balanced with energy targets, he added. But Svensk Vindenergi said several companies with approved farms will have to reapply for permits because they need to build turbines that are higher than originally planned, and are therefore at risk of being refused. Story continues "Many of the permitted parks have a maximum height of 150 metres. In general, at least 200 metres is needed to reach the wind needed to be able to realise the project with today's low price on electricity and certificates," said Hallberg. Some projects could still be considered in the newly designated areas, the armed forces said. "In some cases the thorough analysis that is always performed might conclude that a wind power project can coexist in some specific areas," its press office told Reuters. According to Svensk Vindenergi, the government's decision affects 45 percent of Sweden's territory, up from 30 percent previously. The energy ministry and the armed forces did not provide their own calculations of the area affected, with the military saying the information was classified. (Editing by Gwladys Fouche and Mark Potter) The UN Security Council has decided to postpone a planned visit to Iraq ahead of May elections at the request of the Iraqi government, diplomats said Wednesday. Iraq told the council in a letter this week that many officials will be busy with the election campaign, which kicked off on Saturday, and will not be able to meet with the ambassadors. "Given the start of the Iraqi election campaign on April 14, and that all political parties and constitutional authorities in Iraq are now involving (sic) in the campaign, which may not enable the council members to meet the Iraqi officials, the Iraqi mission kindly requests that the council defer its intended visit," wrote Iraqi Ambassador Mohammad Hussein Bahr Aluloom in the letter seen by AFP. The ambassador said the mission "looks forward to welcoming council members to Baghdad in the future." No new date for the visit was announced. Iraq will be filling 329 seats in the national parliament in the May 12 election and choosing representatives to provincial assemblies, in the first poll held after the defeat of the Islamic State. The United States was set to lead the council mission with this month's president, Peru. Peruvian Ambassador Gustavo Meza-Cuadra told reporters this month that the council trip to Iraq would be to show support for the elections after three years of war against the Islamic State. Iraq "needs support from the international community for rebuilding the country and to ensure reconciliation" after Baghdad's successful campaign to re-take territory from the Islamic State group, he said. The Associated Press INTERNATIONAL.- Former FBI Director James Comey says its not OK or not normal for the president to call for private citizens to be jailed. President Donald Trump suggested earlier this week that Comey should be put behind bars and accused him of leaking classified information and lying to Congress. That is not normal, Comey responded Tuesday during a live interview on ABCs Good Morning America. Tambien te puede interesar: Wyoming town votes on arming teachers in area cited by DeVos "That is not OK. First of all, hes just making stuff up. But, most importantly, the president of the United States is calling for the imprisonment of a private citizen as hes done for a whole lot of people who criticize him. That is not acceptable in this country. The president doesnt get to decide who goes to jail, he said. Trump fired Comey in May 2017 amid the FBIs investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election. The move led the Justice Department to appoint Robert Mueller as special counsel to oversee the investigation, which Donald Trump has denounced as a witch hunt". James Comey, who is promoting his book, A Higher Loyalty, said in a separate ABC News interview broadcast Sunday that Trump is morally unfit to hold office. KIRSTEN GRIESHABER GERMAN.- German Chancellor Angela Merkel on Wednesday sharply condemned a street assault in Berlin on two young men wearing Jewish skullcaps that has stoked the debate about anti-Semitism in the country. In a surprising twist, however, the victim of the attack, who identified himself on Israeli teLevision as Adam Armoush, later told German TV that he wasnt Jewish, but an Israeli from an Arab family. Armoush told Deutsche Wele Television that he wore the skullcap to make a point to a friend who said it was risky to do so in Germany. I was saying its really safe and I wanted to prove it, but it ended like that, he said. Regardless of Armoushs intention, it comes at a time of increased fears of anti-Semitism and indications that attacks against Jews are on the rise. A video of the attack Tuesday showing Armoush being whipped with a belt quickly went viral with people assuming that Armoush was Jewish. Merkel called the attack in the citys trendy Prenzlauer Berg neighborhood a very horrible incident and vowed the government would respond with full force and resolve against growing anti-Semitism in Germany. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas tweeted that Jews shall never again feel threatened here. LAURAN NEERGAARD Washington, US.- Surgeons pack donated organs on ice while racing them to transplant patients but it may be time for a warmer approach. British researchers said Wednesday that keeping at least some livers at body temperature instead may work better. The livers keep functioning until they're transplanted thanks to a machine that pumps them full of blood and nutrients. It's a life-support system for the organs, and similar machines are being explored for lung and heart transplants, too. The transplant community isn't ditching affordable ice chests for the far pricier approach just yet. But proponents hope that storing organs in a way that mimics the body might eventually increase the number of transplants by keeping precious donations usable for longer periods, and allowing use of some that today get thrown away. "The biggest challenge in liver transplantation is the desperate shortage of organs" "The biggest challenge in liver transplantation is the desperate shortage of organs", said Dr. David Nasralla of the University of Oxford, who led the study in Britain and Europe. "We found that livers that went on the machine were more likely to be transplanted". Nearly 115,000 people are on the waiting list for an organ transplant in the United States alone, and last year there were just 34,770 transplants performed. Thousands die waiting. Partly, there are too few donations. Also, donated organs can't be stored for long about four to six hours for a heart or lung, and about 12 hours for a liver. And sometimes surgeons discard organs they fear won't do well because of a donor's age or other health characteristics. Still, the vast majority of transplant recipients survive showing the decidedly old-fashioned method of popping a donated organ into an ice chest with a cold preservation solution and rushing it to an operating room works pretty well. Organs essentially hibernate, not frozen but cold enough to slow cellular activity and thus their deterioration. Wednesday's study highlights "the first radically different approach to organ preservation", said Dr. David Klassen of the United Network for Organ Sharing, which oversees the U.S. transplant system. He isn't involved with studies of so-called "normothermic" preservation but calls it "really exciting technology" that might turn out to be appropriate for select organ donations rather than all of them. The new study involved 220 liver transplants performed in Britain, Belgium, Germany and Spain. Participating hospitals randomly assigned newly donated livers to be put into coolers as usual or to be stored for up to 24 hours in a machine made by Britain's OrganOx Ltd. that keeps the organs functioning with warm fluids. The study wasn't big enough to detect any potential differences in patient survival. But the warmed livers were healthier when transplanted, the researchers reported in the journal Nature. They had less cellular damage during storage, a risk for transplant failure, than the livers kept on ice. Ken Miller OKLAHOMA.- Frazzled residents in a part of rural northwestern Oklahoma paralyzed by days of windwhipped wildfires expressed fear a blaze could overrun their home Wednesday, as firefighters battling the deadly fires there and in Colorado, Kansas and New Mexico found some relief at the promise of easing of dangerous weather conditions. Hundreds of people across the region have been forced to evacuate their properties, homes have been swallowed by the fires and cattle burned to death as they stood in rivers and streams, presumably seeking respite from the flames. Two people have died and at least 9 injured in the Oklahoma fires. We are surviving, tired of the fire, stressing. Its been very devastating, said Denise McDaniel, who with her fiancee was forced to leave their home in Canton, Oklahoma, Tuesday night because of a large fire that started near Leedey. That fire has burned about 442 square miles (1,145 sq. kilometers) and is an estimated 3 percent contained. I dont know what words to use to describe whats going on over here, said McDaniel. Our home is still there, but if the fire reaches the town of Canton, our home wont be there. U.S. Forest Service spokesman John Nichols, who has been working with firefighters battling a blaze estimated at about 106 square miles (275 sq. kilometers) that started near Woodward, Oklahoma, said he welcomed reports indicating wet weather could be on the way. Some rain might be coming in Thursday night. Thursday morning would be better, Nichols said. The Woodward fire is about 45 percent contained. Officials estimated the fire could be fully contained late Friday, a target date, Nichols said. Its all weather dependent. Will we get the rain on Friday? according to Nichols. Skeptical Science at EGU 2018 - a personal diary Posted on 19 April 2018 by BaerbelW As mentioned in an earlier post, SkS was involved with some sessions at the European Geoscience Union's General Assembly in Vienna held from April 8 to 13. This blog post is my personal recap of some of the sessions I visited and of the two I actively participated in. As I do all my climate-related activities in my spare time the week in Vienna was vacation for me from my actual job in IT. This had the big advantage that I could basically pick and choose which sessions to go to as I didn't have to be anywhere specific apart from the two sessions I presented in. And yes, this may not be everybody's idea of how to spend a vacation, but I consider it time well spent! As this is a fairly long post, you can jump to the individual days via these direct links: Monday, April 9 As this was my first time at the EGU General Assembly, I figured it would be a good idea to start off with a short course offered specifically for newbie-attendees like myself: How to navigate the EGU: tips and tricks. It made for an early start but was well worth it with giving us all the lay of the land both for EGU in general and the General Assembly in particular. We learned how the EGU is organised, that it's a non-profit bottom-up organisation with currently about 15,000 members. They had almost 18,000 abstracts submitted for EGU 2018. To get some more details, I then went to the EGU Planeray session scheduled over lunch, which meant that attendees got treated to some free lunchtime snacks. I wonder if the room would have been quite as packed without those goodies! The first talk in the early afternoon session CL2.03 about detecting and attributing climate change, Stefan Rahmstorf gave a preview about an upcoming paper with Stephan Lewandowsky, Kevin Cowtan and Ari Jokimaki among the co-authors. They explored if there ever actually was evidence for a hiatus or slowdown in global temperaturers. Their short answer: No. For some more details, please see the session-abstract for details. By the time most of the talks in that session had been given, I needed to head down to level -2 in the conference center to get ready for the short course I was presenting in. The session Debunking myths and fake news: how can geoscientists fight misinformation and false claims was structured as a combination of four short presentations followed by a Q&A section. Here is a picture of the four panelists in the sequence of their talks: top right - Cindy Mora-Stock talking about her Twitter activities related to earth-quakes, bottom right - Solmaz Mohadjer explaining her on the grounds work with school children in earthquake prone Tajikistan, bottom left - myself talking about debunking myths, and last but not least Bob Ward explaining why and how scientists should get involved with debunking misinformation. (All pictures: Barbara Fereira - click for larger image) Here is how Solmaz summarised her work which provides an example of misinformation spread due to lack of knowledge instead of idealogical biases as is so often the case with climate science: "In 2008, we developed, tested and published a set of curricular materials on earthquake science, hazards and safety (Mohadjer et al., 2010). The materials included lesson plans designed to be used by middle and high school teachers globally. All content was tested with school students in Dushanbe, Tajikistan. To assess their preconceptions and misconceptions about earthquakes prior to curriculum implementation, we conducted interviews with each student during which we asked a series of questions such as "What are the causes of earthquakes? What is inside the Earth? Can one prepare for earthquakes?" Despite having experienced multiple earthquakes, most students used a combination of disconnected facts and non-scientific concepts to explain why earthquakes occur. Some responses included stories of animals living inside the Earth and their motion causing earthquakes as well as references to God. This short video clip includes some of their answers. The effectiveness of the curriculum in communicating earthquake information was evaluated after curriculum implementation in a series of post-assessment discussions which showed a significant improvement in students' understanding of earthquakes. In the last 10 years, the curricular materials have been used in many locations around the world including China, Haiti, Afghanistan and India. More recently in 2016, with support from the European Geosciences Union, the educational materials were turned into learning videos following a paired-teaching technique developed by the MIT BLOSSOMS. These videos are now available free of charge at http://parsquake.org/." Then it was my turn to talk about How to communicate effectively when faced with myths and misinformation. The presentation I had put together was basically a mash-up of material created by John Cook for his various talks and workshops, distilled down to 10 minutes in length. You can download a PDF-version of the slides here or - as some of the slides are not self-explanatory - you can watch a pre-recorded version on YouTube which comes with audio (not necessarily the exact same words as in the short course but close enough). This has also been added to our talks-page. If you are interested in the slide-deck mentioned at the end, you can read about it in this recently published post or just download it from here. Tuesday, April 10 As I didnt have any sessions I had to attend, I decided to give the short course Rhyme your research a try. This was a fun session to pick as the very first thing Sam Illingworth and Tim van Emmering had us do was to draw the person sitting next to us while only looking at their face but NOT the piece of paper we were drawing on. Im sure you can imagine how those results looked like! They then had us do various poem and poetry-related activities culminating in a collaboratively created poem about science. You can find some examples for both activities on Twitter via #EGU18 and looking through Sams or Tims Twitter streams (@samillingworth and @TimVanEmmerick respectively). In the afternoon I wandered around the poster hall for a while taking in several education-related posters including one by Solmaz Mohadjer about earthquake education in schools. The last session for me on Tuesday was the short course "Communicating geoscience to the media". Interest in the session was high so that there was standing (or "sitting on the floor") room only for late arrivals. The panelists talked about their varied and diverse experiences both from a scientist's and a journalist's perspective. The most memorable quote for me from the session came from Sophie Berger: "Science ist not over until it's communicated". Wednesday, April 11 I went to the conference center early to put up our Denial101x poster for session EOS13 "Climate change education". I had already found out on Monday that the sticker tape and the poster printed on cloth wouldnt go too well together, so I had attached some string to the lugs to be able to fasten it securely. With the help of a service team member it was then easy enough to securely attach the poster without risking it falling down during the day (which happened to quite few of the posters throughout the days). click for larger image You can the download the poster as a PDF-file, but with 26MB it's fairly large! Session EOS13 had an oral part during the morning with 6 presentations highlighting various aspects of how to teach climate change. One of the presentations was given by Nabanita Borah about "Turning Misinformation into Educational Opportunities" which she is working on with John Cook. They are putting together a high school climate change curriculum based on the misconception-based learning framework. In the afternoon, we were expected to be at our posters for at least 90 minutes between 15:30 and 17:00 and this was a good opportunity to talk with several people about Denial101x specifically and Skeptical Science in general. Just like at AGU in 2016, it was rewarding to get feedback from several people that they not only know SkS but keep sending folks our way! Thursday, April 12 Even though I'm not necessarily a big fan of role plays, I joined the short course "World Climate: an interactive simulation of climate negotiations" during the morning sessions. This turned out to be quite interesting with the first part explaining how the simulation works, who is the intended audience and what some findings from it are. The initial idea was for Climate Interactive to create a tool for the actual negotiators at COP21 in Paris with which they could calculate the overall result of the various pledges. The role play C-ROADS was developed based on this. After the explanation we split up in 6 teams and set our first goals for several parameters, with quite a wide spread depending on whether we represented China, India, the EU, the US, other developed and developing countries. Those pledges meant - after feeding them into C-ROADS - that we wouldn't even stay below 3C by 2100 so a 2nd round of negotiations was called for but even after that and some "hackling" between the groups, we still came out at 2.5C warming instead of the aimed for less than 2C. By then, time was up and - even though we didn't achieve our goal - we at least had a better idea of how difficult it actually is to not overshoot the set threshold. A scenario in C-ROADS World Climate (from Climate Interactive) For the afternoon I had selected "Communication and Education in Geoscience: Practice, Research and Findings" which had talks about some interesting examples of how to reach various sections of the public. Barbara Fereira explained how she tackles the task to select press-conference worthy abstracts out of the almost 18.000 sent in. Her presentation included some tips for the scientists of how to make their abstracts "stick out". Sveva Corrado introduced the work she does with colleagues in Rome to bring science topics closer to students. By taking them e. g. on geology focused field-trips in the city's surrounding hills students have an opportunity for hands-on learning. Beatriz Tomas Oliveira explained the field trips she organises for the interested public and local school children. Salema Beach on the Portuguese coast is nearby where dinosaur footprints have been preserved. This makes for an intriguing combination to talk about geology, biology and history. According to Beatriz this outing most definitely had an impression on the kids she had on the field trips with one of them - whose father bakes pizzas - making a special dinosaur footprint pizza afterwards! Picture provided by Beatriz Tomas Oliveira Friday, April 13 The final day of EGU 2018 started off with the poster session part of EOS6 which had several interesting contributions from around the world. The one I was most interested in, was the poster Marcin Popkiewicz and Szymon Malowski were presenting as it featured the Polish partner site of SkS called Naukaoklimacie: Szymon Malowski (left) and Marcin Popkiewicz (right) next to their poster (larger version) Their website, apart from general climate-related education, is focused on Poland and the denial of human-caused climate change they encounter there mostly due to the country's dependence on coal. They take this on by "conventional" means such as lectures and media presence and "unconventional" ones such as climate quizzes with prizes or the "Climate Nonsense of the Year" voting for the dumbest statements on climate made by journalists, politicians or other persons appearing in the Polish media. While talking with them, we made tentative plans for them to translate some of their blog posts into English so that we can cross post them on Skeptical Science. I concluded my EGU "adventure" with listening to a few talks in a session about Climate Data Homogenizations where I think I at least understood the gist of what Robert Rohde explained in his presentation about the Development of Homogenized Global Land-Surface Daily Temperature. So, that's a wrap for my week at EGU 2018 in Vienna! Better Life Lab is a partnership of Slate and New America. Recently, I bumped into an old acquaintance from a mom group while I mulled over a bag of clementines in the produce section at Target. My 3-year-old sat in the cart, kicking me in the crotch. My unwashed hair was shoved under a hat. I was utterly exhausted because Id been up late finishing an assignment, which, as a work-at-home parent who lacks child care for my youngest, is sometimes necessary. The last thing I felt like doing was chatting about my recent separation to someone I hadnt seen in years. But before I knew it, I found myself on the receiving end of a lecture about the importance of marital maintenance that I hadnt asked for. Advertisement A few months ago, my husband and I announced we were parting ways after eight years of marriage. The response has mostly been supportive, though a few reactions hinted at something else: the idea that I simply didnt do enough to make my marriage work. This well-meaning acquaintance and would-be marriage counselor thought Target was the place to tell me what Id done wrong, just as others had before: I didnt take enough date nights; I didnt employ enough teenage babysitters; I didnt go to therapy with enough consistency. I also didnt take marital maintenance vacations, (which is what vacays sans kids are called these days, or so Ive been told by fellow parents who often take them). I didnt even take staycations, which, if you didnt know, is when the kids go to grandmas for a week so you can stay in your pajamas and spoon-feed one another tiramisu. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Not so surprisingly, these marital tips always happen to come from wealthier folks whose Instagram feeds are filled with trips to Italy, or Napa, California, or some exotic beach they happen to find themselves upon every third Tuesday, complete with pineapple-wedged drinks in hand. Couples trips are all the rage these daysor maybe they always were, only now we just get to see a parade of happy, sunbathing, marital boot campers all over social media. And as a mom on the lower end of the middle-class spectrum who has rarely paid her electric bill on time in nearly a decade, I was severely slacking on these crucial marriage-sustaining jaunts. I didnt even take stay-cations, which, if you didnt know, is when the kids go to grandmas for a week so you can stay in your pajamas and spoon-feed one another tiramisu. The concept of taking more time for my marriage isnt new to me. In fact, its exhaustingly old. Ive gotten used to smiling and nodding, saying, Yeah, we should get on that. What Ive usually steered clear of saying is that my husband and I never had so much as a honeymoon, let alone a weekend away together, in more than eight years of parenting. Advertisement We had a baby before we even got married, and from that point on, we were mostly trying hard not to drown in debt, which left no time and no money for swimming with the dolphins somewhere in the Caribbean. We did manage to take exactly one weeklong vacation a yearthe time off my husbands sales job allotted. And because we only got one, we took it as a family. Each cherished family trip got put on a credit card that wont be paid off anytime soon. Advertisement Annoying as it may be, there is truth to the implication that my husband and I didnt cater to our marriage enough. The fact is, we couldnt afford to. We live paycheck to paycheck. My husband also works long hours, including many nights. Often, he wasnt home until I was in bed. Advertisement Advertisement For eight years, Ive worked from home while taking care of kids to avoid the massive and crushing costs of child care, which typically meant pulling double duty. I spent all day with kids, then worked after they went to bed, or on weekends, or with a kid on my lap to meet deadlines. Ive swapped kids with neighbors, worked in cafes with play areas. My mother and stepfather, who both still work full time, watched my daughter one day a week from the time she could walk until she was in school full time. Now they do the same with my son, for which I am eternally grateful. Still, time away from my kids has seldom been free time or time spent on my marriage. Its spent working, typing away so I can make ends meet. Advertisement Date nights were rare. We were lucky to have one quiet dinner together every several months, if that. And during the last year of our marriage, I can only think of two occasions where we went on actual dates. The reality was, if my husband wasnt working late, then I was. Or we were child rearing. Or making dinner. Or doing massive piles of laundry and dishes before collapsing. Because when youre a paycheck-to-paycheck family, staying ahead of the bills never ends. And neither do household chores (especially if there are children lighting fires in your home throughout the day). While it seems like the stuff of fantasy to me, the ability to outsource chores such as these can have massively positive impacts on relationship satisfaction, says new research out of Harvard Business School and the University of British Columbia. Well, go figure. I never really thought cleaning up potty accidents and pet stains and folding clothes on such a constant basis were necessarily good for my marriage, really. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Yes, there are ways of maintaining a marriage that cost nothing. But even those require time to connect, and for working parents, time is money. Its been fairly well-documented that lower-income couples split up more frequently than couples who earn more. And its not that difficult to understand why. Plain and simple, fewer bucks in the bank means more financial stress. It also means fewer dollars to put into keeping your marriage afloat. If you arent making deposits, literally and figuratively, pretty soon youll be coming up empty. Sure, there are at-home dates to be had. A few precious moments of chatter once the kids are in bed before you drift off to sleep yourself. Yes, there are ways of maintaining a marriage that cost nothing. But even those require time to connect, and for working parents, time is money. Advertisement Still, I know there are things my partner and I couldve done better or differently. The truth is, our financial difficulties were only one issue among many. It just made all the rest harder to navigate. Having financial struggle doesnt mean your marriage is automatically doomed, of course. It just means you need to work harder to stay connected and maybe get content with a little less marital bliss than you envisioned. Maybe a lot less. Advertisement Whats not said enough is that becoming passing ships doesnt just happen out of sheer negligence, though. Romantic dinners and getaways might be one helpful component to a lasting marriage. But imagining everyone has that kind of freedom is a certain kind of privilege. No, money might not buy happiness, but it does buy more date nights, therapy, and those ever-loving adults-only vacations I keep hearing about. I missed the boat on that one, but you go ahead and sip that pina colada at your all-inclusive resort. Ill be over here babysitting all the neighborhood kids and writing about fitness gear at 4 a.m. so I can finance my divorce. This post is part of Nosh, a special pop-up blog about snacks. Read more here. Its relatively common knowledge at this point that space ice creamthe freeze-dried kind that remains a staple in museum gift shops and comes in a crumbly, tri-colored blockis a bit of a misnomer. Every so often, an article appears with a headline along the lines of Everything You Know About Space Ice Cream Is Wrong, and Vox thoroughly debunked the myth in a 2016 interview with the last remaining member of the Apollo 7 missionthe only mission that was rumored to harbor the chalky confection. We never had that stuff, lunar module pilot Walt Cunningham said, taking the shine off of fond childhood memories with the rough cloth of reality. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement When you think about the low-gravity environment of space, it makes sense that a snack like freeze-dried ice cream never made it off the ground. According to former Commander of the International Space Station Chris Hadfield, crumbly food is generally considered hazardous in space. Anything that has crumbs doesnt work without gravity, Hadfield told me. The crumbs will float all over and get in your eyes and youll breathe themits just super messy. So Nature Valley granola bars are effectively ruled out, as would be lots of other munchies we Earthlings enjoy. But does that mean astro food needs to be, as the Atlantics Megan Garber once described it, just different enough from the product its trying to emulate that it serves only as a sad reminder of what it is not? Advertisement Not so, according to both Hadfield and former U.S. astronaut Clayton Astro Clay Anderson, who both described the food they ate during their combined 333 days in space as pretty tasty. But there are multiple factors beyond taste that NASA has to take into account when designing food for the great beyond. Aside from a prejudice against crumbs, space food has to keep for a long time, meaning it must be stable enough to last the entire journey into space, which includes packaging, testing, transport, and eventual space travel. According to Hadfield, a year could easily pass between when the food is cooked to when its delivered to the station. While NASA scientists have moved beyond the tube-and-cube method of food delivery, snacks and meals still tend to be either dehydrated or thermostabilized, which according to NASA means that the food is heat processed to destroy deleterious microorganisms and enzymes. Most entrees, which currently include offerings like beef stroganoff with noodles, chicken a la king, and Mexican scrambled eggs, are packaged in flexible pouches, while snacks of fish or fruit are packaged in cans. Pouched food is cooked in a forced-air convection oven or rehydrated using hot or cold water and then eaten straight out of the pouch. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One of the unfortunate side effects of microgravity on the human body, besides semiconstant nausea, is a decreased sense of taste. Without gravity to pull all the fluid in your body in the right direction, your sinuses end up constantly clogged, so six months in space is pretty similar to having a six-month-long head cold. Your sinuses are pounding and you cant really taste your food. Its like that the whole time, Hadfield said. This explains why Sriracha sauce and mustard are popular condiments, and why one of the most popular extraterrestrial bites is a freeze-dried shrimp cocktail. Thats right: Since 1965, astronauts have declared cooked shrimp, tails and heads removed, swimming in tomato sauce and horseradish, one of the best space foods around. Shuttle astronaut Bill Gregory ate a legendary 48 meals straight with a side of shrimp cocktail, and both Hadfield and Anderson mentioned the classic hors doeuvre as a favorite. While Anderson just described himself as a big horseradish guy, Hadfield explained that the popularity of the snack can be explained by two factors: Shrimp rehydrates surprisingly well, and horseradish is both a strong flavor and a pretty effective decongestant. Advertisement Advertisement The good news is, reconstituted shrimp cocktail aside, space snacking can be pretty similar to Earth snacking. Before Anderson began his 2007 tour of duty on the ISS, he and his family were even allowed to pick out space-suitable tidbits like Girl Scout cookies, Oreo snack packs, and Tootsie Roll Pops. My wife sent some caramel popcorn from the Boy Scouts, which was allowed to come up, but man, as soon as I opened that it was a disaster, Anderson laughed. There was popcorn everywhere. It still tasted really good. Hadfields favorite stellar snacks included Tim Hortons coffee, chocolate, and strangely enough, a fruitcake that was sent to the astronauts by Trappist monks stationed in the Ozarks. Advertisement Advertisement He even had real ice cream. Because astronauts blood and urine are analyzed by teams on the ground, when resupply vehicles are sent up to the ISS theyre sometimes loaded with a small active freezer to store the samples. Rather than send the freezer up empty, real ice cream will be sent up as a special treat. NASA scientists were very concerned that we would somehow mix up frozen urine samples with Blue Bell ice cream, Hadfield laughed. I reassured them that we would be able to tell the two apart. Advertisement Slate thanks Clayton Astro Clay Anderson and Chris Hadfield for their assistance with this post. Hadfields New York Times bestselling book An Astronauts Guide to Life on Earth: What Going to Space Taught Me About Ingenuity, Determination, and Being Prepared for Anything is available at chrishadfield.ca. He recently teamed up with Darren Aronfosky to film the National Geographic series One Strange Rock. Follow him @Cmdr_Hadfield. Andersons award-winning book The Ordinary Spaceman, Astronaut Edition Fisher Space Pen, and childrens books A Is for Astronaut; Blasting Through the Alphabet and Its a Question of Space: An Ordinary Astronauts Answers to Sometimes Extraordinary Questions are available at www.AstroClay.com. Follow him @Astro_Clay. Read more from Nosh here. On Wednesday, the Wall Street Journal reported that President Donald Trump was recently advised by one of his former lawyers to expect his current lawyer, Michael Cohen, to flop like a fish. On a scale of 1 to 100, with 1 being least likely to sacrifice himself to protect the president, Cohen isnt even a 1, Jay Goldberg advised Trump following last weeks FBI raids on Cohens residence, hotel room, office, and safety deposit box. Given the Cohen probes high potential to implicate the president and the serious legal threat to Cohen himself, Trump seems to have more reason than ever before to attempt to sabotage the criminal investigations that have come to haunt his presidency. At the same time, though, the Cohen case shows how the Mueller probe has grown new tentacles that would make it much, much harder to cleanly obstruct both investigations with a simple firing or two. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement One clear avenue still exists for Trump to plunge this nation into a paralyzing constitutional crisis: pardons of his various cronies. Indeed, Trump reportedly spoke with Cohen by phone on Friday, the same day that he issued a pardon to former Dick Cheney aide Scooter Libby. House Minority Leader Nancy Pelosi called the Libby pardon a clear signal of Trumps intent to protect allies who stay loyal. For me, Scooter Libby was the last straw, Rep. Adam Schiff told Slate. On Wednesday, Schiff proposed legislation he describes as a preventive measure to make Trump think twice about issuing any obstructive pardons. Schiffs bill would require that the Justice Department hand over to relevant congressional committees files obtained by a United States Attorney, another Federal prosecutor, or an investigative authority of the Federal Government about any case involving a pardon recipient in which the president or any of his relatives are implicated as a subject, target, or witness. The deadline to do this would be within 30 days of the pardon in question. The idea is that those documents could help reveal secret unseemly motives for such a pardon. Advertisement The reason why its important to take up this bill is very much analogous to why its important to take up a bill that protects Bob Mueller right now, Schiff said. And that is: Were far better off acting prophylactically to prevent the kind of crisis we would have if the president obstructs justice through either firing Bob Mueller or abusing the pardon power. Advertisement Its hard to read the language of the legislationwith its specific references to various U.S. prosecutorial bodiesand not think that it was written with both Robert Muellers special counsel probe and the Southern District of New Yorks Cohen investigation in mind. Advertisement Schiff says that pardons of the various targets in both of those investigations would be covered by his legislation. Advertisement It would certainly apply in the case of [Paul] Manafort, or [Michael] Flynn, or [Richard] Gates, or [George] Papadopoulos, Schiff said. Even though Cohen hasnt been charged yet, Schiff says he would also be covered by the proposed law. [It would] also apply in the Michael Cohen investigation to the degree that the president is a witness, for example, in the issue of whether the payment to Stormy Daniels was a violation of campaign finance law because it was made to help the presidents campaign, Schiff noted. Whether the president was aware of that payment or not, whether the president authorized that paymenthe would be an essential witness in that. The threat that Trump might pardon any one of these former aides is not an idle one. [Given the] obvious political character of [Trumps previous pardons], Id say that Schiff is right about the signaling function of the Libby pardon, Frank Bowman, a University of Missouri School of Law professor and former federal prosecutor, told Slate. Advertisement Advertisement Schiff, for his part, cited Trumps pardon of former Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio as one that, at the very least, demonstrated Trumps willingness to pardon political cronies in a constitutionally dubious way. Perhaps more significantly, the New York Times recently reported that former Trump attorney John Dowd broached the possibility of Trump pardons for Manafort and Flynn with their respective lawyers last year. While it would be unconstitutionalunder the 1974 Supreme Court precedent Schick v. Reedfor Congress to attempt to limit the presidential pardon power through legislation, Schiffs bill avoids that trap by seeking to create disclosure around pardons rather than trying to constrain them. Advertisement While Schiff expects such a lawwhich could only ultimately be enforced by subpoenas and contempt-of-Congress issuanceswould be contested in court by the Department of Justice, it seems as though it would have a good chance of passing constitutional muster. Advertisement It looks to me like its both constitutional and clever, assistant professor at the University of Chicago Law School Daniel Hemel told me in an email. Hemel could envision a constitutional challenge on executive power grounds, but I doubt that argument prevails. Meanwhile, its possible that the current bounty of investigative documents in both the Mueller and SDNY investigations could offer some insight into how Trump may have corrupt intentthe necessary ingredient for obstruction of justicein mind in thinking about his pardon power. Its entirely conceivable Cohen, as Trumps lawyer, discussed pardons with Trump in a way that was recorded and is now in the possession of investigators. Its similarly conceivable that such conversations would show an intent to obstruct justice by either man. And while it might not be possible to prosecute Trump for such a crime at the moment, given the DOJ policy against indicting a sitting president, theres no reason Cohen couldnt be prosecuted in such a case. These conversations need not be considered covered by attorney-client privilege because of the crime-fraud exception that says privilege does not apply when a communication is used to further a crime. Advertisement Advertisement Bowman wrote: Suppose Cohen were on tape saying, Big D, Manafort and Gates really have the goods on you if they spill their guts. They could say stuff that would get you impeached or indicted if they went to the grand jury. You gotta shut their mouths by pardoning them. If you had something like that, it could be criminal. Advertisement One would imagine that Cohen might be a bit more subtle than that, but then again, he is not exactly known for his subtlety. At the very least, Schiffs bill could signal to Trump that if he abuses his pardon power, the nation will learn about it. Im not sure how this would necessarily interfere with the pardon power, though it could conceivably discourage its irresponsible exercise before the fact, Margaret Colgate Love, the U.S. pardon attorney from 1990 to 1997 and one of the foremost experts on presidential pardons, told me over email. Advertisement Schiff seemed to acknowledge that the road to passage will be incredibly steep in a Republican-controlled Congress that has recently done more to bolster Trumps attacks on the Justice Department than to show any inclination to pre-emptively defend the rule of law. On Wednesday, the Washington Post reported that some of Schiffs House colleagues were leading a charge that would seem to set up Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein, who has overseen or approved of the various Trump investigations, for impeachment or firing. Similarly, Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell said on Tuesday that he would not advance to the floor legislation that would protect Mueller from firing. Advertisement Advertisement Schiff still thinks his legislation is useful as a signal to Trump of what the president can expect from Democrats, should Republicans fail to act to protect the Constitution and lose control of the House chamber come the fall. Advertisement Even if we arent successful in getting the GOP Congress to take it up, if we can gather enough support for it that the White House knows to a reasonable certainty that if they abuse the pardon power, these files will end up making their way to Congress and that information will ultimately be shared with the public, then it may be a deterrent nonetheless, Schiff told me. Advertisement Whether thats actually true, it is at least canny. Democrats have been increasingly reluctant to even hint that impeachment would be in the cards should they take back the House chamber in the fall. Proposing bills like this one, though, communicates to Democratic voters that Democratic lawmakers will do something to ensure possible Trump misdeeds see the light of day should the party win in November. This would not be discretionary anymore, this would be required by law that these files be turned over to Congress so that Congress can understand exactly what the evidence is against a particular target and how the president or his family may be implicated, Schiff told me. Were better off avoiding the constitutional crisis than waiting for it to happen. Like it or not, it appears were about to hear a lot more about President Trump between the sheets. On Wednesday, the New York Times reports, American Media Inc., owner of the National Enquirer, agreed to a settlement releasing former Playboy model Karen McDougal from a contract that prohibited her from speaking freely about her alleged affair with Trump. The terms of the settlement appear to be highly favorably to McDougal, who was essentially freed from the August 2016 contract and gets to keep the $150,000 payment for the original sale of the story to the National Enquirer. Advertisement This is bad and good news for President Trump. The bad news is: McDougal, given the current, ahem, climate seems likely to find a pretty receptive audience and significant market for her story, which the National Enquirer bought and spiked in the lead up to the 2016 election. As part of the settlement, the tabloid gets up to $75,000 of future sales from the story and gets to retain some photographs of McDougal. The good news is that it clears up, albeit partially, one of the legal battles that was threatening to draw in the president. Ms. McDougals lawsuit said that American Media, whose chairman, David J. Pecker, is a friend of President Trumps, misled her into signing the contract, the Times reports. It also alleged that Mr. Cohen had inappropriately intervened in the deal. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement American Media looked ready to fight the suit and asked the Los Angeles Superior Court to dismiss it earlier this month, but things appeared to change after federal agents raided Trump lawyer Michael Cohens office, home, and hotel room recently. Among the emails, audio recordings, and other files seized by the government in the raid was information about American Media and the McDougal suit, the Times reports. McDougals lawyer, Peter Stris, said on Wednesday that before reaching the settlement he was prepared to answer American Medias motion to dismiss Ms. McDougals case with a request for a limited version of pretrial discovery, in which both sides would have been compelled to share emails and other records that could have provided information about the deal from inside American Media that would not be available through the material the F.B.I. seized from Mr. Cohen, according to the Times. Wednesdays settlement preempts that possibility that American Media would have to share documents that could be harmful to the president, alleviating the immediate legal pressure of the civil suit. Heres what Syracuse, New Yorkarea farmer John Collins told Syracuse.com that at least seven armed Immigration and Customs Enforcement agents did on Wednesday morning: Entered a building on his property without a warrant while wearing plain clothes and failing to verbally identify themselves as law enforcement agents. Arrested a farm employee named Marcial de Leon Aguilar who, according to Collins, has proper documentation, has been paying taxes on his wages, and has been voluntarily meeting with ICE to discuss the cases of his wife and childrenwho entered the U.S. without documents but are seeking asylum due to dangerous conditions in their native Guatemala. Detained Aguilar by physically confronting and restraining him while his children, who were waiting for a school bus, were watching. Handcuffed Collins and threw his phone on the ground when he began recording video of the situation. As you can see above, Collins does not exactly fit the stereotype of the bleeding heart leftist amnesty snowflake. ICE has not commented on his account. Update, April 19, 2018, at 3:45 p.m.: Andrew Hudson, a spokesman for the Department of Justice, contacted me after this post went up and explained that Truncale actually said with regard to immigration, we must not continue to have the magnets coming in, not with regard to immigration, we must not continue to have the maggots coming in. According to Hudson, Truncalewho was discussing immigration at a 2012 candidate forumwas referring to entitlement programs available to illegal aliens that would draw them here and give them a reason to stay. Hudson also pointed to a different video in which Truncale, in speaking about immigration, clearly uses the word magnet: Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement While the audio from the 2012 candidate forum isnt clear, it appears likely that Hudson is correct and Truncale did say magnet rather than maggot. Advertisement Original post: Next week, the Senate Judiciary Committee will hold hearings on the nomination of Michael Truncale, whom Donald Trump selected to sit on the U.S. District Court for the Eastern District of Texas. A longtime Republican donor and activist, Truncale built his career opposing progressive policies, including the Affordable Care Act, gun control, and abortion access. He also appears to have referred to undocumented immigrants as maggots. Truncale made this comment in 2012, when running for Congress in Texas 14th Congressional District, a seat that came open upon the retirement of Rep. Ron Paul. (He ultimately lost, coming in third place in the GOP primary.) During a candidate forum hosted by the Galveston County Republican Party and the Republican Network of Galveston County, Truncale said that the states Southern border is very porous. He continued: Advertisement And as a result of the nature of that border we have all sort of bad influences coming in. We have drugs, we have illegal gangs, there is the possibility of bombs from a host of other countries and people from overseas and we must secure that border. I think we should do it with boots on the ground. As a citizen taxpayer, I think that we should take some of the equipment that is coming back from Iraq that citizens have already paid for and instead of sending it to some warehouse in Nebraska or some place, lets get it to the border patrol. There can be some fencing, there can be electronic surveillance, and things of that nature to secure the border. But thats the first thing. Advertisement Truncale then added that with regard to immigration, we must not continue to have the maggots coming in. Advertisement Advertisement It is difficult to read this statement, first flagged by Harsh Voruganti of the nonpartisan legal blog the Vetting Room, as anything other than a reference to undocumented immigrants. The apparent slur raises obvious questions about Truncales impartiality in cases involving Latinos and immigrants, as well as his overall fitness for the bench. Judges may hold strong feelings about border security. But Truncales decision to publicly malign unauthorized immigrants raises doubts about his ability to separate personal prejudices from his professional duties. Advertisement In that respect, Truncale resembles Jeff Mateer, Trumps previous nominee to the Eastern District of Texas. Mateer notoriously called transgender children part of Satans plan. (The White House eventually withdrew his nomination.) Like Mateer, Truncale was recommended to Trump by Texas Republican Sens. Ted Cruz and John Cornyn. Presumably, Cruz and Cornyn chose him because of his enduring support for the GOP: Truncale served on the executive committee of the Texas Republican Party from 2006 to 2014 and has donated nearly $7,000 to Cornyns campaigns over the past dozen years. (He also gave Cruz $1,000 in 2015.) Moreover, Truncale served as a Republican delegate for John McCain in 2008 and volunteered for the Trump campaign. (He has spent his legal career at the firm Orgain, Bell & Tucker, practicing civil defense and white-collar criminal defense.) Cornyn and Cruz mightve hoped that Truncale would prove to be less controversial than Mateer. But he is likely to face tough questions at his hearing next week, as Democrats and some Republicans have lost their patience with openly biased nominees. On Tuesday, a Southwest Airlines plane bound from LaGuardia in New York to Dallas made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after its left engine failed. Shrapnel from the engine broke a window, causing the passenger cabin to become depressurized and pulling one person partially out of the plane. Authorities later announced that one person aboard the flight had died. Heres what weve learned since the initial accounts of the accident: The passenger who died, 43-year-old Jennifer Riordan of Alberquerque, was the same one who was pulled out by the depressurization. One witness told the New York Times that the top half of her torso was out the window and that she had been hit and bloodied by shrapnel. Another passenger told People magazine that Riordan hit her head when being pulled out. The Philadelphia medical examiners office found that she died of blunt force trauma to the head, neck, and torso. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Per the Times, one passenger reportedly volunteered to cover the broken window with his body (!) after Riordan was pulled back inside. Investigators believe the planes engine failed because a metal fan blade broke off after having gradually weakened over time. The blades failure and the resulting vibrations, in the Wall Street Journals words, appear to have then damaged the engines cowling, or covering: Advertisement To have a single blade split the cowling like that is concerning, one expert told the Journal. A similar fan-blade failure occurred on a Southwest plane in 2016, and its possible that the engine that failed Tuesday should have been (or was) subsequently inspected at the (legally nonbinding) recommendation of its manufacturer, a company called CFM. Reuters reports that Southwest and other airlines objected to the proposed inspection schedule, saying they needed more than the suggested 12 months to complete the task. Two pieces of the engine landed on a farm in Bernville, Pennsylvania, 70 miles from Philadelphia. Smaller fragments landed on a nearby golf course. Eric Holder was the first black attorney general of the United States, serving under its first black president, Barack Obama. Holder left office in 2013, but he hasnt left public life. And for a second act, hes considering politics and a bid to serve as the second black occupant of the White House. During a Tuesday interview with MSNBCs Chris Hayes, Holder said he was considering a run in 2020. Yes, Im thinking about it, but Ive not made any determinations, he said. At Al Sharptons National Action Network conference on Wednesday, Holder sounded like a candidate, blasting the Trump administration for its approach to criminal justice. The present administration wants to take us back to the failed leadership of the past, he said. Theyre not being tough on crime. Theyre not being smart on crime. Theyre being dumb on crime. [The] formerly incarcerated continue to face significant obstacles, and they now face a hostile administration intent on making law enforcement an instrument of the fear they use to divide and try to govern us. It was enough to prompt a Run, Eric, run! chant from Sharpton that the audience indulged. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement This isnt the first time Holder has spoken about his presidential ambitions. Up to now, I have been more behind the scenes, he last year in an interview with Yahoo News. But thats about to change. I have a certain status as the former attorney general. A certain familiarity as the first African American attorney general. Theres a justified perception that Im close to President Obama. He added: Now is the time to be more visible. Now is the time to be heard. Earlier this year, Holder refused to rule out the possibility, telling a reporter that hell make a decision by the end of the year about whether there is another chapter in his government service. Its of note, on this score, that Holder will travel to New Hampshire in June to participate in Politics and Eggs, an annual breakfast meet-and-greet that often features presidential contenders. Past attendees include Ted Cruz, John Kasich, and Hillary Clinton. Advertisement Its not crazy for Holder to mull a presidential run. He is close to Obama, with a record of action on criminal justice reform. Hes never held elected office, but thats no obstaclePresident Trump, after all, is a complete newcomer to public service. Advertisement Still, its certainly unusual. Sharpton might be enthusiastic for Holder, but the former attorney general has no natural constituency to speak of. And while Holder has his share of accomplishmentsaround criminal justice reform, voting rights, and civil rightshe also has real liabilities, most importantly his failure to prosecute big banks and other bad actors in the wake of the 2007 financial crisis. Progressives are certain to have an outsized voice in the 2020 Democratic primary, and Holder has not endeared himself to those who believe the government should take a harsher, more aggressive line on financial crime. Advertisement Advertisement At this stage, theres not much value in assessing the viability of a Holder campaign. Whats worthwhile is to look at what it tells us that Holderan unconventional newcomer to electoral politicsis even considering a run for the Oval Office. First, the Democratic presidential field is truly wide open. In the absence of a presumptive front-runner or even an agreed-upon leader, the door is wide open for anyone to run. That means high-profile figures in Washington such as Bernie Sanders, Elizabeth Warren, Kamala Harris, Kirsten Gillibrand, and Cory Booker; governors (or former governors) such as Terry McAuliffe of Virginia, Andrew Cuomo of New York, and John Hickenlooper of Colorado; big-city mayors such as Eric Garcetti of Los Angeles, Mitch Landrieu of New Orleans, and Bill de Blasio of New York; and even outside figures such as California billionaire Tom Steyer, media mogul Oprah Winfrey, and yes, Eric Holder. If Donald Trump can become president, anyone can become president, and the burgeoning Democratic field reflects that. Advertisement Advertisement The second point is related to the first: Nearly every Democrat under the sun views Trump as weak and vulnerable to whoever might capture the partys nomination. An environment where Holder is a credible candidate for president is one where most people are betting on the incumbents defeat. There are good reasons to make that assumption. President Trump is mired in scandal, his associates are under federal investigation, and law enforcement has turned its attention to his financial relationships. His only legislative achievement is widely disliked, and hes otherwise ceded his agenda to a dysfunctional Republican majority. Hes historically unpopular and faces an opposition wave at the polls in November. He may even face a Republican challenger. John Kasich is reportedly weighing options for a bid, and according to the New York Times, Republicans close to the White House whisper about the prospect of an alliance between [Nikki] Haley and Vice President Mike Pence, possibly to run as a ticket in 2020. You could do worse than to bet on Trumps eventual defeat. Then again, incumbency is a powerful force, and Trump has economic wind at his back. If the economy in 2020 is where it is now, the president could win. Against a lackluster Democrat, he might even be a favorite. Perhaps its right to doubt Trumps political survival. But hes already won once. Its far from a stretch to think he could do it again. Apple announced it was acquiring digital magazine service Texture last month, and now we know the companys plans for the app. Dubbed the Netflix of magazines, Texture let readers access a library of more than 200 magazines, such as the New Yorker, Rolling Stone, and Vogue, for $9.99 per month. According to a report from Bloomberg, Apple plans to integrate Texture into Apple News, eventually transforming the app into a premium subscription offeringand growing Apples suite of subscription services in the process. Advertisement The new Texture-infused Apple News would fall into Apples growing services business. Currently, services includes things like iTunes, Apple Music, iCloud, Apple Pay, and the App Store. Apple earned $8.5 billion in revenue in this category in its latest reported quarter, a 13 percent increase over the previous year. While iPhone sales continue to be Apples cash cow, the services segment is catching up as our smartphone purchasing habits shift toward a longer renewal cycle. In 2017, services contributed 23 percent of Apples revenue growth, but by 2022, Morgan Stanley analyst Katy Huberty expects that number to leap to 56 percent. The Texture acquisition is another push toward the companys goal of earning more than $50 billion in revenue from its services sector by 2021. Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement Advertisement A subscription-based Apple News service isnt instant cash for Apple, though. Apple will need to build on the successful model Texture has set up. It will also need to drive home compelling reasons for iOS device owners to subscribe to the app. The companys previous dip into the space, Newsstand, left many iPhone owners frustrated and searching for ways to hide the icon from their home screen. Apple eventually capitulated and revamped Newsstand into what we now know as Apple News. In a way, the Texture acquisition brings this app full circle, once again giving iOS users easy access to a variety of news and magazine titles, but in a potentially more profitable form for Apple. Textures modelgranting access to the latest magazine titles for a monthly feecould also work for some of Apples other services. With iOS 11, Apple debuted a redesigned App Store with a heavy focus on editorial curation. The design highlights a variety of new and trending apps for iOS users to discover and download. What if Apple offered access to a handful of these rising apps each month, Humble Bundlestyle? For years, this site has offered curated, discounted bundles of games, book titles, comics, and more; with the new look of the App Store, it would make sense to take advantage of that layout with this approach. Advertisement Advertisement There are a variety of such avenues Apple could take to make its services even more profitable. The possibility of an Apple News subscription service underscores the need for Apple to consolidate its many services. It would make sense for the company to offer a media bundle, for example. This could include Apple Music, Apple News, and its upcoming push into television programming, rumored to be yet another subscription service. At $9.99 a popwhats come to be the standard rate for many standalone streaming and subscription appsconsumers may be loath to buy into all three separate services. But, for a discounted rate, access to the news, music, and TV apps might be a no-brainer. Advertisement Despite the previous accolades of the Texture app, Apple analyst Gene Munster is bearish on the success of the new Apple News model. People pay for music, they pay for video, and most news services are ad-supported, Munster told Bloomberg. If Apple launches this as a similar business to Texture, they likely wont have many subscribers. Given the state of the social media landscape, Apples subscription-based news and magazine app could land at just the right time that users are willing to pay for such a service. And lumped together with other media options that people are used to paying for, Apple could find itself on its way toward transforming itself from a hardware company into a service-centric business. Festival aims to build trust between foreigners and natives After having shifted the attention to new minorities appearing in Slovakia, the 13th year of the multicultural festival focusing on minorities, fjuzn, aims to boost mutual trust. The 2018 edition of the [fjuzn] festival will present foreigners and new minorities living in Bratislava between April 20 and 27. In a week full of concerts, exhibitions, discussions and community events, as well as activities for children at various locations, it will open to the Slovak majority the lives, culture, stories and traditions of people who are part of Slovak society despite coming from different backgrounds. Stand-up comedy, discussion, and more Part of the English-speaking programme will be the stand-up comedy show Jokes On You and discussion Apples&Hrusky, where LGBT+ identifying foreigners will share their experiences from Slovakia. Guests of the festival include Bahraini journalist Nazeeha Saeed focused on human rights and freedom of the press as well as Polish reporter Wojciech Gorecki. Migration will be shown from different angles at the exhibition Women Who Stay, in which Noel Rojo and Magdalena Vaculciakova show stories of women from Mexico, Ethiopia and Senegal whose partners leave their country for work. A new artistic project by photographer Ales Vojtasek will also be shown as an exhibition in public space. Read also: Read also: Learning through one's taste buds Read more Fjuzns cooperation with foreign communities and community centres revolving around the Day of Open Communities on Sunday, April 22 has resulted in discussions, film screenings, workshops and traditional cuisine presented in KC Dunaj at Nedbalova 3 and several community centres. In music we trust This year, the festival is targeting the topic of trust trust in institutions, in other people, and especially in people with different backgrounds and origins. Its stated goal, according to the organisers, is to combat fear and foster a feeling of safety and mutual trust. Read also: Read also: The Good Market returns to Jakubovo Square Read more This can be achieved, among other means, through musical education and experience. Live concerts and club nights will introduce various genres, including a performance by childrens choir Superar and a special edition of an Internationals Bratislava party. Spanish-Argentinian band Colectivo Panamera will provide a warm-up for the festival on April 19, offering a journey along Latin America. They will be supported by Slovak dream-pop band Bad Karma Boy with a special guest. Read also: Read also: Fjuzn connects diverse V4 cultures Read more A special guest will also join the Slovak reggae band Medial Banana: rapper U-Cee, who is of Egyptian and Tunisian origin and grew up in Bavaria. The concert [fjuzn] sounds will also bring a performance by an international band from the Czech Republic, TiNG. Their own eclectic style called Praggamuffin is inspired by reggae, ska, dancehall, drumnbass, swing, rock and hip hop. For fans of innovative approaches to traditional music, cooperation with the World Music Festival Bratislava will bring a concert by Wilds Strings Trio and Dinovski&Schuberth. [fjuzn] will host a special club event too, headlined by DJ Kutmah. The perceived father of the L.A. beat movement was born in the UK and raised in Los Angeles. Beside local DJs, he will be joined by Sofie, eclectic DJ of Austrian-Iranian origin. Read also: Read also: How social networks can earn you a ticket to Germany Read more Another club night, on April 27, will be a collaboration with the Mass project. The line-up includes DJ set by Lotic from Berlin-based collective Janus, and a live act by Soda Plains, an electronic producer from Hong Kong who grew up in the UK and now lives in Berlin. 19. Apr 2018 at 6:30 | Compiled by Spectator staff Istanbul ratification still nowhere in sight The international document preventing violence against women was one of the reasons why a former justice minister left the government. Thousands of people protested against the international convention to prevent violence against women, but the government ratified it anyway. That is last weeks news from Croatia, where the protest in the city of Split on April 12 did not stop the parliament from giving the green light to the Council of Europe Convention on preventing and combating violence against women and domestic violence, better known as the Istanbul Convention. Slovakia signed the convention under the government of Iveta Radicova in 2011 but the governments that followed, all led by Smer, have been reluctant to ratify the document, along with nine other EU countries. One in three women aged 15 or over in the EU have experienced physical or sexual violence. More than half of women in the EU experienced sexual harassment and one in 20 women is a victim of rape. Source: European Commission The issue had been on the table recently, just before the murder of a journalist and his fiancee thrust Slovakia into a major political crisis that pushed aside all other issues, including the convention on preventing violence against women, to the margins of public discourse. Before then, Slovakia had had its own protests against the Istanbul Convention staged by conservatives who see the document as a symbol of gender ideology and liberal attitudes regarding women and family. Much like elsewhere in Europe, there has been a lot of distorted information about the document in Slovakia, including the falsehood that it promotes same-sex marriages. As long as I am prime minister and the questions over the interpretation are not satisfied, I will never agree to ratifying this document, then PM Robert Fico said about the convention back in February. Read also: Read also: Fico: Women need protection, especially as more migrants arrive in Europe Read more Fico has not been prime minister for over a month now but the Peter Pellegrini government is apparently going to keep the line on this matter. Moreover, Fico is still the head of the ruling Smer and the ruling coalition still consists of Smer, Most-Hid, and the SNS. The latter has been known as the main opponent of the Istanbul Convention, sustaining traditionalist attitudes. In the past, SNS leader Andrej Danko said he would not remain part of the government for one second if they were in conflict over the Istanbul Convention, Sme daily reported. In fact, the Istanbul Convention was one of the things Danko listed on April 18 that he needed to discuss with PM Peter Pellegrini. When Fico made his announcement that his government would not be ratifying the convention, he refused the idea that he was surrendering to SNS and Danko, claiming that all three coalition partners agreed on the non-ratification of the convention, because they do not want to go against the Constitution. 19. Apr 2018 at 11:22 | Michaela Terenzani , Radka Minarechova Unemployment drops in all regions The labour minister would like to see the unemployment rate drop below 5 percent this year. The registered unemployment rate in Slovakia dropped to 5.55 percent in March. In monthly terms, it decreased by 0.17 percentage points, while in annual terms it was down by 2.49 percentage points. This stems from the latest statistics of the Central Office of Labour, Social Affairs and Family (UPSVaR). 153,854 people are ready to take a job immediately at the end of March, 4,590 people less than in February, and 65,295 people (or 29.79 percent) less than in March 2017. The unemployment rate calculated from the total number of the jobless amounted to 6.77 percent in March, down by 0.20 percentage points month-on-month and by 2.68 percentage points year-on-year. In absolute numbers, the labour offices registered 187,759 jobless people in March, 5,562 people less than in the previous month and 69,799 (or 27.10 percent) less than in the previous year. Drop recorded among disadvantaged jobless groups The unemployment rate dropped in all regions of Slovakia, with the highest being reported by Banska Bystrica. Disadvantaged districts in Slovakia also reported good numbers in March. We have districts where the jobless rate is below 2 percent, and 17 districts where it is less than 3 percent, which is a record, said Labour Minister Jan Richter, as quoted by the SITA newswire. On the other hand, there are still 15 districts where the jobless rate is higher than 10 percent. In addition, the number of jobless dropped among all disadvantaged groups of the unemployed, such as the jobless younger than 29 years of age, jobseekers older than 50 years of age, and the long-term unemployed. Nearly 2,000 people more than 12 months without a job got off the labour offices registers last month, Richter said. Due to the positive economic prognoses, Richter expects the numbers will continue dropping and the jobless rate will drop below 5 percent this year. There are real preconditions for this, he said, as quoted by SITA. 19. Apr 2018 at 13:30 | Compiled by Spectator staff US may contribute to modernising Slovak airbases The aid is not an attempt to build any US base in Slovakia, the Defence Ministry stressed. The defence cooperation between the United States and Slovakia may expand soon. This may include the use of US European Deterrence Initiative (EDI) funds to upgrade and improve Slovak facilities to better meet NATO and Slovak needs. These are facilities that the Slovak government has identified as in need of modernisation in order to meet the requirements of Slovakias own long-term strategic needs, the US Embassy in Slovakia informed in a press release. Any facilities that receive upgrades after the conclusion of an agreement will remain the property of the Slovak government. The upgrade will be possible thanks to a Defense Cooperation Agreement (DCA), whose implementation will be discussed by a team of negotiators from the US Department of Defense arriving in Bratislava on April 18. They will meet with their counterparts at the Slovak Foreign Affairs and Defence Ministries, as the US Embassy in Slovakia informed. DCA to strengthen Slovakias own defence The country may receive $46 million to modernise its airbases in Sliac (Banska Bystrica Region) and Kuchyna (Bratislava Region). In this respect, the Slovak Defence Ministry stressed that the offer has nothing to do with the discussion about a supersonic air force. At the same time, it is not an effort to build or modernise US airbases on Slovakias territory, the TASR newswire reported. The US has DCAs in place with multiple NATO allies. The agreement will improve the US ability to cooperate with Slovakia as a NATO ally and as a longstanding friend and partner, according to the US Embassy. In the case of Slovakia, the aid should focus on the modification of airport areas and an increase in the capacity of fuel storage, said Defence Ministrys spokesperson Danka Capakova, as quoted by TASR. Read also: Read also: US presents F-16 aircraft in Bratislava Read more "To accept the aid, it is necessary that the Ministry fully correspond with the operational need of the Slovak armed forces and the specific agreement," Capakova added. It will strengthen Slovakias abilities to provide for its own defence and meet important commitments to the NATO Alliance, which serves as the guarantor of Slovakias security and sovereignty, the US Embassy wrote in the press release. We are confident that we will ultimately reach an agreement with our Slovak partners that protects the security and interests of both the American and Slovak people. 19. Apr 2018 at 13:38 | Compiled by Spectator staff EP calls for thorough investigation of Kuciaks murder It has raised an alarm about the potential infiltration of organised crime in the Slovak economy and politics at all levels. Slovakia must ensure thorough, independent and international investigation into the murder of investigative journalist Jan Kuciak. At the same time, the European Union must better protect journalists and whistleblowers. This stems from the non-legislative resolution approved by the European Parliament on April 19. The document was supported by 573 MEPs, with 27 against and 47 abstaining from the vote. The EP strongly condemned the murder of Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova, and suggests renaming its traineeship for journalists after him. The murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak are an attempt to undermine our fundamental values and a blow to the rule of law in the European Union, said EP President Antonio Tajani, as quoted in a press release. As he stressed, the EP wishes to strengthen the rights and duty of journalists to stand by free and independent information. We owe this to Daphne and Jan and to all European journalists who fight on the frontline every day in defence of our democracy, Tajani added. Attention to potential infiltration of organised crime At the same time, MEPs called on Slovak authorities to deploy all necessary resources to ensure a full, thorough and independent investigation of the double murder, preferably led jointly with Europol, to bring the perpetrators to justice. They also urge them to protect investigative journalists from any form of intimidation and defamation charges and from attacks aimed at silencing them. Read also: Read also: Hungarian MEP: Without the protests, nothing would have changed Read more Slovakias General Prosecutor Jaromir Ciznar meanwhile signed an agreement on creating a joint investigation team with the representatives of Italy, Eurojust and Europol on April 18. The EP raised the alarm about the potential infiltration of organised crime in the Slovak economy and politics at all levels, the politicised selection of top prosecutors in Slovakia and a number of corruption allegations against top officials, which did not lead to a proper investigation and called for stronger impartiality of law enforcement in Slovakia, as it informed in a press release. Better protection for journalists and whistleblowers At the same time, MEPs condemned insulting comments made by some EU politicians towards journalists and insist that all EU states must protect the personal safety and livelihoods of investigative journalists and whistleblowers. They called for better protection of journalists who are regularly subject to lawsuits intended to censor their work, a permanent EU scheme to support independent investigative journalism, and a draft EU directive to protect whistleblowers. They also called on the European Commission to address challenges to media freedom and pluralism in the EU, and better monitoring of media ownership concentration. EP delegation concerned The approved resolution is based on the visit of an EP delegation to Slovakia in mid-March. As the resolution concerns mostly what the EU and EU bodies should do, the text concentrates on two important issues: the independence of journalists and media and the protection of journalists and the corruption and necessary steps to improve control over EU funds, said Benedek Javor, Hungarian MEP who was a member of the delegation. In his opinion, the text concentrates more on the former topic, even though the corruption and misuse of EU funds is similarly important. There are strong signs that the murder of Jan Kuciak was a consequence of his work regarding corruption and misuse of EU funds in Slovakia, Javor told the journalists in early April. Read also: Read also: MEPs call for investigation into the disappearance of journalists Read more These problems do not occur only in Slovakia, but also in other member states that are beneficiaries of EU funds and the cohesion policy. The members are ready to continue monitoring the situation in Slovakia when it comes to agricultural subsidies. Its co-chair Ingeborg Grassle told journalists during a seminar in Brussels that the complaints have been so strong that they decided to check them out, even if there was no clear evidence. The members of the EP delegation want to return to Slovakia. Grassle mentioned the autumn. She plans to meet with farmers who complain of dubious practices. One of the possibilities is to go also to Moldava nad Bodvou (Kosice Region) where they claim they were also misused. We need to work on the basis of proof, not rumours, Grassle said. 19. Apr 2018 at 21:13 | Radka Minarechova New Spartan plane becomes a subject to warranty claim The army used the plane for six months only. The first Spartan military transport aircraft, which the army received only last October, has already become a subject to warranty claim. Though it is still able to fly, the Slovak Defence Ministry is already discussing the malfunction with the Italian producer, Alenia Aeronautica. It has not said which part does not work properly, the Sme daily reported. Since the plane is still under guarantee, we decided to solve the problem by warranty claim which the producer accepted, Danka Capakova, spokesperson for the Defence Ministry, told Sme, adding that the company is already working on repairing the malfunction. The second Spartan plane, which was given to the army only two weeks ago, is working properly. Read also: Read also: Have you seen the new Slovak Spartan? Read more A discount on planes The Spartans replaced the outdated An-26. The Italians won the competition to supply the aircraft in December 2008, but the purchase by the Slovak army has been postponed for several times. The whole competition was completed by former defence minister Martin Glvac of Smer, who ordered two Spartans for 69 million. The state will pay a further 25 million for support and training, while the contract also includes five-years logistic support, Sme reported. As the Italian producer was late with the delivery of the first plane, the Defence Ministry managed to discuss a discount of about 879,000 for the second aircraft. New hangar needed At the same time, the Defence Ministry has also had to deal with expanding the existing hangars at the airport in Kuchyna (Bratislava Region) as the planes do not fit there. The order for project documentation worth nearly 100,000 was given to Bonul, a company owned by Nitra-based oligarch Miroslav Bodor, Sme reported. He allegedly has links to top Smer representatives. He is related to the outgoing Police Corps president, Tibor Gaspar. Apart from the reconstruction of the hangars, the ministry has announced a competition to rebuild the road that connects the runway with the hangar. It has not explained yet why the works had not been carried out before the delivery of the Spartans, Sme wrote. 19. Apr 2018 at 21:18 | Compiled by Spectator staff Pellegrini and Danko agree on better communication They also want to cooperate in the upcoming municipal elections. Following the public criticism by the Speaker of Parliament and chair of the Slovak National Party (SNS) Andrej Danko, he met with Prime Minister Peter Pellegrini on April 19. After more than an hour of talks, they said everything was alright. However, Pellegrini did not comment on the information that his party has already chosen a new interior minister: current State Secretary of the Interior Ministry Denisa Sakova, considered the right-hand woman of ex-minister Robert Kalinak, the Sme daily reported. Read also: Read also: Danko criticises PM Pellegrini for lacking communication Read more Unless no agreement is reached, I wont comment on any names, Pellegrini said, as quoted by Sme, adding that they have not discussed the nomination either within Smer or with Danko. Communication important Pellegrini and Danko told journalists that they agreed on setting up better communication. The speaker of parliament complained that the prime minister did not tell him about the resignation of Police Corps President Tibor Gaspar in advance, or what his opinions on the attack in Syria and the Istanbul Convention were. The hectic situation did not allow us to reset the relations, Pellegrini said, as quoted by Sme, adding they will now meet regularly. He plans to organise similar meetings with the chair of another coalition party, Most-Hid. The politicians talked about potential cooperation in the municipal elections. They agreed on meeting every Tuesday to discuss the Wednesday governmental sessions. Pellegrini does not plan to change the official statements of his predecessor Robert Fico on foreign policy issues, such as the Istanbul Convention, as reported by Sme. 19. Apr 2018 at 21:23 | Compiled by Spectator staff Kids: You have to make stuff. Everyone can see those non-technical degrees are increasingly worthless. The issue is in how you are trying to differentiate yourself. We want to see what you have done. If you are up for a job or promotion and have built something, while everyone else hasnt well there you go. Start by copying and then invent it yourself. You have to make stuff, said journalist David Carr when he was asked if he had any advice for students. No one is going to give a damn about your resume; they want to see what you have made with your own little fingers. -Austin Kleon, Show Your Work Issues of concern to people who live in the west: property rights, water rights, endangered species, livestock grazing, energy production, wilderness and western agriculture. Plus a few items on western history, western literature and the sport of rodeo... Frank DuBois served as the NM Secretary of Agriculture from 1988 to 2003. DuBois is a former legislative assistant to a U.S. Senator, a Deputy Assistant Secretary of Interior, and is the founder of the DuBois Rodeo Scholarship. Uber must be responsible for any tax incurred during its selling of its operations in Vietnam and across Southeast Asia to Grab, the latter said on Wednesday. Uber, which has transferred its operations in Southeast Asia to regional rival Grab in return for 27.5 percent of Grabs shares, shut down its ride-booking application in Vietnam at 12:00 am on April 9. The Ho Chi Minh City tax department has requested that Grab submit relevant documents of the deal, underlining that the transfer of Ubers capital, business rights and market share in Vietnam to the Singapore-based firm is subject to corporate income tax as per Vietnamese laws. According to the taxman, the acquiring party, in this case Grab, is responsible for tax declaration and payment. A Grab representative told Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday it had submitted documents to the tax department as requested, adding that it would not bear any tax responsibility on behalf of Uber. Grab has stressed in a letter sent to the taxman that it had studied its legal options with caution and thoroughness in consultation with legal experts to make sure the deal was carried out in accordance with the laws and regulations in all countries involved, including Vietnam. We confirm that Grab Vietnam did not acquire the legal status of [the Netherlands-based] Uber B.V. or Uber Vietnam, the representative said. The deal was focused around taking over Uber Vietnams assets and contracts after the company exits the Vietnamese market. A ComfortDelgro taxi passes Uber and Grab offices in Singapore March 26, 2018. Photo: Reuters Grab stressed that any tax liability that may arise from the deal would be paid for by Uber pursuant to local laws. We understand that Uber B.V. and their consulting units are dealing with issues relating to their tax liabilities in Vietnam, the representative said, refusing to further comment on the matter. This is the second time Grab has made a public statement on tax liabilities concerning its deal with Uber, following similar comments on April 5. Following its exit, Dutch-based Uber B.V. still owes VND53.3 billion (US$2.34 million) in outstanding tax in Vietnam. It has sought legal actions against the Ho Chi Minh City Tax Department over the tax arrears demand, reasoning it had fulfilled its tax duties in the Netherlands, with which Vietnam had signed a treaty against double taxation. Uber B.V. did not open a local bank account during its four years of operation in Vietnam, making it challenging for authorities to collect the overdue tax even if they win the case in court. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! The Ho Chi Minh City Tourism Association has called on Vietnams tourism watchdog to seek government approval to renew a nearly-expired visa-free travel policy with better conditions and more countries on the list of beneficiaries. Visitors from Britain, Germany, France, Italy and Spain have enjoyed visa exemption, with an allowed stay of 15 days for each entry, when traveling to Vietnam since July 2015, when the year-long policy was introduced. Following the first renewal in June 2017, the policy is due to expire by June 30, 2018. As the expiration date is drawing near, the Ho Chi Minh City tourism association has suggested that the policy be extended, with a longer validity and length of stay. The policy should be effective for five years, with an allowable stay per entry of 30 days, the association said in a proposal submitted to the Ho Chi Minh City administration and the Vietnam National Administration of Tourism (VNAT). Tourists in Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre The association also suggested that Vietnam relax visa rules for more countries, including Australia, New Zealand, Canada, India, Austria, the Netherlands and Belgium. Arrivals from these markets and their length of stay and spending in Vietnam have been on the rise, Nguyen Thi Khanh, deputy chairwoman of the association, explained. Vietnam and Australia have recently established a strategic partnership, so the rapid exemption of visa requirements for this market will be a great contribution to promoting the tourism development of the two countries, Khanh added. Call for improvement The visa-free travel policy has boosted arrivals from the five European countries to Vietnam by 13.8-29 percent over the last year. Despite being considered a success by the VNAT, the program is being criticized by local tour operators for its yearly renewal requirement, and the short length of stay and validity. Another obstacle is that once leaving Vietnam, visitors who arrive on the visa-free policy can only return 30 days after their exit. These shortcomings of the visa waiver have been leaving travel agencies treading a fine line when targeting potential markets, according to industry insiders. Foreign tourists shop at Ben Thanh Market, Ho Chi Minh City. Photo: Tuoi Tre This is not the first time the issue of visa policy has been raised. Earlier this year, the Ho Chi Minh City administration also suggested that the visa waiver for the five European countries should be valid for five years. More ideally, Vietnam should exempt visa requirements for visitors from these markets. European tourists usually set their travel plans as early as one year in advance, so a short visa-free travel policy discourages them from choosing Vietnam as a destination, according to travel experts. Other industry insiders say the visa-free program should be given to the ten countries with the largest number of arrivals to Vietnam, or the top ten nations with the highest per capita income in the world. Vietnam received a record 12.9 million international visitors in 2017, raking in some VND510 trillion (US$22.36 billion) in tourism revenue. With more relaxed visa policies, Vietnam could become a popular destination, capable of competing with other regional tourism spots, according to experts. As of April 2018, the Southeast Asian country only offers visa exemptions for citizens from 23 countries and territories. To put this in perspective, other popular tourist destinations in the region, including Singapore, Malaysia, Indonesia, and the Philippines, have visa waiver policies for 160-169 countries. Vietnams Ministry of Education and Training has requested that a local international school halt its collaboration with a U.S. school found to have engaged in fraudulent activities. Hanoi-based Newton Grammar School (NGS) built a link with George Washington International School (GWIS), which claims to be based in Florida, in 2012. However, the Vietnamese education ministry has discovered that GWIS has no teaching activities at its addresses in the U.S., nor has it received any national or regional accreditation, a process by which schools prove that their degrees satisfy minimum standards. It is therefore required that NGS sever all connections with GWIS, the education ministry said in a statement on Tuesday. The ministry also tasked the Hanoi Department of Education and Training with ascertaining who is to be held accountable for the cooperation between NGS and GWIS and handle them as per the law. NGS is supposed to take necessary actions to safeguard the interests of affected students, according to the statement. The Vietnamese education ministry grew suspicious of the GWIS after learning of the bilingual educational program jointly designed by the U.S. school and its Hanoi partner. According to the program, published on NGSs website, NGS students can learn mathematics, science and language with coursebooks provided by GWIS and under the guidance of teachers from the U.S. school. Those who obtain 24 credits of the curriculum will receive an American high-school diploma. As promising as it sounds, official information about the GWIS program is scanty. The Hanoi education department has previously affirmed that the U.S. Embassy in Vietnam had verified the legitimacy of high-school diplomas awarded to students completing the GWIS program at NGS. However, the U.S. Embassy has asserted that this claim is false, adding that information regarding GWIS has not been found in any official sources, according to news website VietNamNet. It has also been verified that the two addresses in Florida the GWIS claims to be its own are those of the Mail $ More, a packaging and shipping store, and the California Education and Performing Arts Center, according to Thanh Nien (Young People) newspaper. GWIS has also worked with several high schools in Ho Chi Minh City and identified itself as a foreign language center to teach high-school curricula in 14 provinces across Vietnam, according to VietNamNet. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Check out the news you should not miss today, April 19 Society -- The Ho Chi Minh City fire department will carry fire safety inspection into major high-rise buildings, including the Times Square, Sheraton, Caravelle and Park Hyatt, in District 1, its central business district, from now to July. -- The Norwegian Peoples Aid is committed to providing a grant of VND225 billion (US$9.91 million) for the central Vietnamese province of Quang Tri to settle post-war bomb and landmine impacts in the locality, according to an agreement signed by the two sides on Wednesday. -- Vietnamese businessman Phan Van Anh Vu, who was arrested in January over allegations of revealing state secrets, tax evasion and abuse of power, has received an additional charge of abusing position and power while performing duties for his role in a mismanagement case at local lender DongA Bank, police said on Wednesday. -- Hundreds of local people flocked to the construction site of a wind power farm in the south-central province of Binh Dinh on Wednesday to show their protest against the project's impact on local forests and the environment. -- A local cargo ship was held by coast guard officers in the northern province of Quang Ninh on Wednesday for carrying 1,200 metric tons of coal without papers. Business -- A conference was held on Wednesday in the southern city of Can Tho to connect Japanese partners with those in Vietnams Mekong Delta. -- Uber is to be held responsible for any tax obligations that may arise following the sale of its Southeast Asian operations to Grab, a Grab Vietnam representative confirmed to Tuoi Tre (Youth) newspaper on Wednesday. -- A facility that was caught producing coffee from used D batteries in the Central Highlands province of Dak Lak has confessed to police that most of the products had been distributed to the southern province of Binh Phuoc for sale, officers said on Wednesday. Lifestyle -- An exhibition themed Bare feet, steely will opened to the public on Wednesday in Hanoi-based Hoa Lo Prison, showcasing mementos featuring Vietnams resistance wars. -- A bus filled with bookshelves is scheduled to be parked at the Ho Chi Minh City Book Street to celebrate Vietnam Book Day, April 21. A Hanoi court on Wednesday sentenced five Colombian men to multiple years in prison for stealing valuables from local car drivers last year. The ringleader, Fabian Lucero Wilches, was given a ten-year sentence, while his accomplices, Jersain Ladino Cardona, Jose Aureliano Rosas Pena, Carlos Alberto lamprea Pena and Luis Alexander Rodriguez Cuevro, received jail terms from seven to twelve years. The men knew each other during their trips in Cambodia and Laos in 2017, and decided to move to Vietnam in February the same year, according to court documents. The Colombian nationals then turned themselves into a gang of thieves, with the main tactic of shadowing Vietnamese people who traveled by car to withdraw money from banks, gold shops or currency exchange locations. The thieves would try to puncture the tire of the victims car and steal their possessions when the driver was busy making the repair. The foreigners successfully performed two thefts in this fashion in Vietnam, according to police. In February 2017, the men were hunting for victims around Hoan Kiem District in Hanoi on two motorbikes, when they spotted 36-year-old Nguyen Van Ngoc, who was going to visit a currency exchange shop. As Ngoc left the shop in his car, the thieves managed to flatten one of his tires and eventually fled with more than VND100 million (US$4,400) and 10,000 ($14,200) in cash, and 3 taels of gold bullion, while the victim was replacing the damaged tire. (1 tael = 37.5 grams) In March 2017, they applied the same trick to steal VND1.6 billion ($70,400) from local resident Pham Binh Minh, shortly after he left a bank in the capital. The Colombians said that they had carried out thefts with a similar method in many other countries. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Hundreds of residents in the south-central province of Binh Dinh gathered on Wednesday near the planned construction site of a wind power plant, trying to stop engineers from setting up wind monitoring systems. Some residents were put under arrest for disrupting public order after they threw dirt at police officers and attacked them with tree branches. The crowd, which was comprised of locals in the communes of My An and My Tho in Phu My District, remained on the site from midday until well into the evening, when they tried unsuccessfully to occupy a stretch of the lifeline National Highway 1. The residents believed that the wind farm may do harm to local forests and the environment. The residents opposition to this project is completely ungrounded, said Nguyen Van Dung, chairman of Phu My District. The wind power project in question is located in My An Commune and developed by Hanoi-based construction company Vietracimex. The plant received provincial approval in November 2017. On Wednesday a group of Vietracimex engineers were erecting wind monitoring systems at the site when they were challenged by the angry locals. Residents throw dirt at police officers as they oppose a local wind power project in Binh Dinh Province, south-central Vietnam on April 18, 2018 in this still photo taken from a video provided by a Tuoi Tre reader. The installation [of wind monitors] was temporary and only occupied an area of ten square meters, with no trees destroyed and no harm done to the environment, a provincial leader said. According to the official, the clean energy project had been made known to locals well before its launch, and the developer had pledged to adhere to strict environmental standards. Therefore, it is unjustified for the residents to oppose the project so strongly, the official said. Last month, locals in Phu My District also blocked part of the National Highway 1 for over seven hours to protest against a seafood factory project over environmental concerns. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Administrators in District 1, Ho Chi Minh City have plans to conduct a months-long fire safety inspection at a large number of venues in the central area, amidst widespread worries about faulty fire prevention in apartment complexes nationwide. More than 1,200 facilities, including landmark buildings such as the Times Square and the Sheraton, Caravelle and Park Hyatt hotels, will come under inspection for fire safety from now until July, according to the District 1 administration. The blanket inspection will also cover other high-rise buildings, apartment buildings, hotels, restaurants, nightclubs, bars, massage parlors, and wedding centers. Fire authorities are expected to check those establishments electrical systems and the state, position and type of their fire fighting and prevention equipment. Inspectors are also expected to take a careful look at the number and condition of emergency exits and the reliability of emergency lights there. Vietnamese people, particularly apartment dwellers, have been more alert to fire ever since a big fire at the Carina Plaza apartment complex in Ho Chi Minh City killed 13 people in March. A series of reports involving the negligence in fire prevention of multiple high-rises in Vietnam have since been published by local media. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Three men in the Central Highlands province of Kon Tum were on Wednesday given jail terms from four to 13 years for having sex with a local girl, who became a mother at the age of 14. Trieu Van Tien, 28, Vi Van Hung, 21, and Hoang Van Dien, 47, all residing in Ia HDrai District, were found guilty of having sex with the 2002-born girl, referred to only as Y.L., during the first-instance trial in a local court in September 2017. The court then sentenced Tien to 13 years, Hung to nine years, and Dien to four years in prison for statutory rape and sexual intercourse with a child. The girls mother, Y Loan, was also slapped with a 15-month non-custodial reform for failing to report the crime. The four lodged an appeal and appeared in the second-instance trial in the central city of Da Nang on Wednesday, where all their sentences were upheld. According to the indictment, Y.L. had a romantic relationship with Tien and the couple eventually moved in to live together as husband and wife, with the consent of her mother, Loan. On September 13, 2016, L. gave birth to her daughter when she was only 14 years old. As Tien paid no attention to and took little care of his wife and daughter,' Loan decided to report the situation to local authorities. In November 2016, Kon Tum police arrested Tien for rape and child sex offenses after concluding that the man had sex with L. multiple times between August 2015 and April 2016, when she was under 13 years old and legally considered a minor. However, police were stunned to see that DNA paternity tests showed that Tien was not the father of L.s daughter. The girl later admitted that she had had sex with Hung during her cohabitation with Tien. Another DNA test was taken and the result showed that even Hung was not the childs father. L. had waited until then to make her final revelation, saying that she also had sex with a third man, Dien, who is her stepfather. The confession was backed by a DNA test. Like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter to get the latest news about Vietnam! Actor Cary Elwes, who rose to prominence in 80s fantasy The Princess Bride, has joined the 80s inspired Netflix drama Stranger Things as a local mayor. Handsome, slick, and sleazy, Mayor Kline is your classic 80s politician more concerned with his own image than with the people of the small town he governs, Netflix said in a press release. Elwes was recently seen in The Art of More, Sugar Mountain and Being Charlie, and will appear in The Billionaires Boys Club as Andy Warhol. Jake Busey, son of actor Gary Buesy, has also been cast as a guest performer in the role of Bruce. SYRIA is something I have spoken about a lot in the last week or so and it will be something of a focal point for myself in the future. I hadnt touched upon the subject in great deal previously, for the reason that my knowledge was limited on the subject. However, I have been intensely studying the conflict and how it has been reported along with the history in the last week or so. By all means I dont everything on it but I have loaded up with information which I feel is critical to discern the truth. The Middle-East has always been a fascination for myself, largely because religious history is fascinating. But the Syrian conflict is a mash of western funded rebel groups, geopolitical landscaping and religious conflicts. However, western intervention has played a significant role. Saudi Arabia and Syria The timeline of events leading to the airstrikes in Syria begin before the alleged attacks in Douma. On the 9th March, Theresa May agreed to a new armament deal with the tyrant Saudi crown prince Mohammed bin Salman, the deal included to sell them 48 Typhoon jets. On the 22nd March, the crown prince then undertook a trip to America, where Donald Trump agreed a $670 million deal to supply al Saud with anti-tank missiles. Finally, on the 8th April, French President Emmanuel Macron scrapped their arms export strategy and agreed a deal to sell weapons to al Saud. It was then announced that a US/UK/French coalition would commit to an airstrike on Syria. In-between the US and French visit, it was alleged that Syrian President Bashar Al Assad ordered a chemicals weapons attack on an area the SAA were about to liberate from the western backed terrorists. With the United Nations stalling the OPCW and the coalition forces proceeding to bomb several military bases and airports in Damascus, the reasoning given by the coalition looks to be slipping away after investigative journalist Robert Fisk, reported from the area the chemical attack was supposed to have taken place, that there was no evidence of such an attack. Within the chaos of the western bombing and the alleged chemical attack, Israel destroyed an airbase in Syria that was connected to Iran and ISIL made a move in South Damascus, although the latter looks to be to a wild lunge rather than a strategic attack. Saudi Arabia have been backing the ISIL led revolt in Syria, who adhere to the same hard-line ultra conservative fascist ideology that al Saud have followed throughout their history, furthermore the Free Syrian Army that was funded by the west contained many of the now ISIL members and have been linked to Al-Qaeda and the White Helmets. In the leaked Saudi Cables, a document states that they must seek by all means available and all possible ways to overthrow the current regime in Syria. Whilst trying to appease Russia at the same time. Wider geopolitical conflicts There is also the underlying Israel-Iran conflict and according to Syrian state media SANA, air defence systems were triggered on the 16th April in response to an incoming missile attack targeting Shayrat Airbase in Homs province, this is the same military installations hit by the United States in April 2017 as retribution for the allege sarin attack at Khan Sheikhoun on Idlib province. Syrian officials have stated that the missiles belonged to Israel and a source from the Syrian Army told Al-Masdar News that the likely target was actually the T-4 Military Airport. The Israeli government have refused to comment on the missile strike. More on the Israel-Iran conflict another time though. The initial uprising in 2011, which was US funded, can be traced back to just after the 9/11 atrocity in America, Wesley Clark, retired NATO Secretary General, has stated that the US defence secretary revealed plans to destroy governments in 7 countries in five years. The countries that were named were Iraq, Syria, Lebanon, Libya, Somalia, Sudan and Iran. In 2006, Bashar al Assad announced that Syria would move away from the petrodollar to favour trade with countries such China, India and Venezuela. In 2007, George Bush had authorised CIA operations against Iran, this included anti-Syria operations. Furthermore, leaked emails from a private intelligence firm called Stratfor, confirmed that the US-UK trained rebel forces in Syria aimed to force collapse of the Assad regime from within. According to former French foreign minister Roland Dumas, Britain had planned covert action in Syria as early as 2009, he said, "I met with top British officials, who confessed to me that they were preparing something in Syria. This was in Britain not in America. Britain was preparing gunmen to invade Syria." THE SYRIAN chemical attack has been covered extensively, including by myself. However, with every media outlet avoiding necessary questions, you have to begin to wonder who is out there questioning the lack of evidence, the absurdity behind the idea that Assad would use chemical weapons when he is winning the Syrian civil war and questioning just who the White Helmets are and what they do. Step up an unlikely source from the mainstream outlets throughout the world, Fox News, the traditionally ultra conservative American media outlet has been the focal point of some of the more awkward questions through journalist Tucker Carlson. Questioning the Syria narrative Previously, Tucker Carlson told his audience to be sceptical over the chemical attack and that it didnt make sense. This was whilst supposedly liberal media outlets all pushed the anti-Syria narrative and the Democrats and Republicans largely uniting over the plan to bomb Damascus. This time Tucker Carlson has interviewed former British Ambassador, Robert Ford. The 11-minute interview is worth the watch and the contrast to the way those who questioned the narrative were treated by either Sky or the BBC in the UK where they were cut off, constantly interrupted and in one instance and interview not even aired is startling. Tucker Carlson is by no means a socialist, hes barely liberal and holds conservative ideology but even his instincts tell him that something isnt quite right about the whole saga. During the interview with Robert Ford, they talk about the lack of evidence and the overreliance by the west on the White Helmets for their intelligence within the region. Furthermore, Ford does point out that these same people who are supposedly a NGO to save lives, they have actively been involved in beheadings and have links with Al-Qaeda. Watch the video below. By Aleksandar Vasovic BELGRADE (Reuters) - A delegation from Croatia's parliament on Wednesday cut short a visit to Serbia because an ultranationalist Serbian deputy shouted insults at them and tried to rip up a Croatian flag. The visit was part of a renewed effort by the two countries that began in February to improve relations that have been sour since Croatia fought a war of independence from Yugoslavia in the early 1990s in which around 20,000 people were killed. Head of Serbian Radical Party (SRS) Vojislav Seselj grabbed a flag in a hall outside the parliamentary chamber in Belgrade, threw it on the floor, stamped on it and tried to tear it up all the while hurling insults, witnesses said. Security guards unsuccessfully tried to take away the flag. The Croatian delegates led by Gordan Jandrokovic, who is speaker of parliament in Zagreb, looked on. Another SRS deputy joined Seselj in the incident. "Because of this act which severely damaged the dignity of the Republic of Croatia ... we have terminated the visit," Croatia's parliament said in a statement. The two day trip started was due to end on Thursday. Seselj, a former Marxist, founded SRS in the early 1990s and was deputy prime minister under Slobodan Milosevic during Balkan wars in which more than 100,000 people were killed. The U.N. war crimes tribunal for the former Yugoslavia last week overturned Seselj's previous acquittal on charges of persecution and inhumane acts for fomenting violence during the war. He had spent 10 years in jail in pre-trial detention and was released in 2014 so he could return to Serbia for cancer treatment. Top Serbian officials including Prime Minister Ana Brnabic and parliament speaker Maja Gojkovic condemned the incident. "Disrespect of state symbols of Croatia ... is inadmissible and also represents an insult for the Serbian nation," Gojkovic said in a statement. She once belonged to the SRS. "I want to unequivocally, directly and in the severest terms condemn Seselj's behavior," Brnabic said in a statement. Story continues Croatia joined the European Union in 2013 and earlier on Wednesday Jandrokovic said Zagreb was ready to help Serbia with its own membership bid. (Editing by Matthew Mpoke Bigg) See Also: Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno arrives at the airport for upcoming Summit of the Americas in Lima, Peru April12, 2018. REUTERS/Guadalupe Pardo Thomson Reuters QUITO (Reuters) - Ecuador's President Lenin Moreno said on Wednesday his country will suspend its role as a guarantor country at peace talks between the Colombian government and the National Liberation Army (ELN) rebels as long as the guerrillas continue attacks. The sometimes-fraught, 14-month-old talks between Colombia and the ELN, founded in 1964 by radical Catholic priests, were re-started in Quito last month after a six week pause marked by deaths on both sides. The two sides' first-ever ceasefire ended in January. [nL1N1QU15H] "I have asked the foreign minister of Ecuador to put the brakes on the conversations and put the brakes on our role as a guarantor of the peace process while the ELN does not commit to ending terrorist actions," Moreno told Colombian channel NTN24 in an interview. Moreno did not specify which terrorist actions he was referring to, but the ELN have continued kidnappings and pipeline bombings during the talks. Brazil, Chile, Cuba, Norway and Venezeula are also guarantor countries. The negotiations may have to be moved from Quito because of Ecuador's decision. Colombia's government said it so far had no comment. An ELN representative told Reuters the group would meet with the Colombian and Ecuadorean governments and the other guarantors to look for a solution. "They want to use us as scapegoats for what others are doing," the representative said. Violence by Colombian armed groups has caused headaches in Ecuador in recent weeks. Two journalists and their driver were killed after being kidnapped by a group of former members of the Revolutionary Armed Forces of Colombia (FARC) rebels who refused to demobilize under a 2016 peace deal with the government. A civilian couple is currently being held by the group.[nL1N1RU1OT] (Reporting by Alexandra Valencia and Julia Symmes Cobb; Editing by David Gregorio) See Also: FILE PHOTO: The corporate logo of the state oil company PDVSA is seen at a gas station in Caracas, Venezuela November 16, 2017. REUTERS/Marco Bello/File Photo Thomson Reuters WASHINGTON (Reuters) - A former official of a subsidiary of Venezuela's state oil company PDVSA [PDVSA.UL] pleaded guilty on Thursday to a U.S. charge of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the U.S. Justice Department said. Cesar Rincon, a Venezuelan citizen who was extradited to the United States from Spain after his arrest there last year, pleaded guilty in federal court in Houston to one count of conspiracy to commit money laundering, the department said. He was one of five former Venezuelan officials accused in February of soliciting bribes in exchange for helping vendors win favorable treatment from Petroleos de Venezuela SA, after a $1 billion graft probe in Texas. (Reporting by Susan Heavey; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) See Also: Photo courtesy of Petersburg Processing Workers process chickens at Petersburg Processing. Cavan Sullivan and his family have a grain farm in Petersburg and recently decided to expand their business by opening Petersburg Processing, a poultry processor. As a processor, Sullivan also markets the chickens he processes, having developed relationships with various distributors who then deliver and sell to consumers in Chicago and St. Louis. One challenge of being in the food system is that if you are a middle-person you have to have enough input to be able to meet the demand, said Liz Stelk, executive director of Illinois Stewardship Alliance, which is working with Sullivan. The nice thing about poultry is their lifespan is a lot shorter than beef, which takes a really long time. The ISA took an interest in the Sullivans project because the poultry being processed is pastured the birds live outdoors and they have mobile chicken houses. This is a unique situation, said Stelk. Usually farmers decide what they want to grow and then find a middleman to process it, or else consumers create demand. It is much less common to see a processor like Cavan actively seeking out partners. The Sullivans have the processing capacity to run efficiently and keep moving, they just need partners to help raise the chickens. Cavan Sullivan has already recruited a dozen farmers for the purpose, typically grain growers. But he is still looking for more. He needs to get as many growers raising these birds as are willing to do it, said Stelk. The Sullivans set farmers up, teaching them what to do with the chickens and how to do it. When Cavan first mentioned all of this, he framed it as a problem for him, Stelk said, but we at the Alliance see it as a community opportunity to see more farmers choose to diversify through poultry and then be able to meet a demand, so we will see more people doing the kinds of agriculture we want to see happen. Stelk said that more people want to know where their food comes from. I think that is especially strong for people who care about how meat is raised and are willing to pay because it is better-tasting, higher-quality chicken along with the better quality of life experienced by the animals. I think if you make it more affordable and more accessible, people are going to choose pasture-raised chicken every time. That is the gap that Cavan is trying to fill. Our vision as an organization is a more just, economically and environmentally viable local food system and this fits all of those criteria, said ISA communication director Molly Gleason. There are environmental benefits of pasture animals and farmers getting a premium for a product that consumers really want. Its the complete package. Other current ISA projects include their Local Food Lobby Day event coming up April 26. Its a chance for our members and anybody else who cares about local food issues across the state to come and talk to the representatives about it, said Gleason. Legislation they are working on this year include legalization of industrial hemp and a healthy local food incentives fund, which creates a match for SNAP dollars spent at farmers markets. The ISA received a blow late last week, with the draft of the federal Farm Bill released on April 12. The draft effectively brings to an end the farmers market and local food promotion program as well as value-added producer grants. Those grants provided funding for many of ISAs programs. They created businesses and good jobs across our state, strengthened farmers markets, established food hubs, and have driven consumer demand for fresh, local food, Stelk said in a statement. We are counting on Illinois U.S. Representatives Mike Bost, Rodney Davis and Cheri Bustos to stand up for these tiny but mighty programs as the Farm Bill debate unfolds in the House Agriculture Committee. Scott Faingold can be reached at sfaingold@illinoistimes.com. JOHANNESBURG, April 19 (Reuters) - South Africa's Absa Bank denied on Thursday it was liable for damages incurred by Steinhoff International investors after shareholder group VEB threatened to file a class action law suit against it and other banks. VEB said in a statement dated April 18 and seen by Reuters on Thursday that it invited Absa, Barclays Plc (LSE: BARC.L - news) and Commerzbank AG (Xetra: CBK100 - news) to open talks on "an amicable settlement, failing which VEB may file a class action law suit under Dutch process law against the banks." Both Barclays and Commerzbank declined to comment. VEB maintained the banks are "liable for damages incurred by Steinhoff shareholders" because of their roles in the listing of Steinhoff on the Frankfurt and Johannesburg stock exchanges (JSE) as part of its creation of a holding company in Amsterdam. "The prospectuses were misleading- VEB questions whether the prospectuses properly represent Steinhoff's financial position," VEB said. Absa received the notice from VEB on Thursday and "disputes the allegations and will respond to VEB in due course," it said in a statement. Absa was the JSE Transaction sponsor to Steinhoff and its role was limited to ensuring that the JSE's listing rules were complied with by Steinhoff, it said. "Absa's mandate specifically did not include the compilation or review of the financial statements of Steinhoff South Africa or any other Steinhoff company," said the bank. Steinhoff declined to comment on Wednesday. Steinhoff, which has more than 40 retail brands including France's Conforama and British chain Poundland, faced a fight for survival after admitting accounting irregularities in December, wiping about 85 percent off its market value and triggering a liquidity crisis. (Reporting by Nqobile Dludla; editing by David Evans) A Florida woman was arrested after her two newborn children were found dead under suspicious circumstances, West Melbourne Police announced Monday. Police were called to a home at 138 Laurel Oak Street in West Melbourne, Florida just after noon to respond to suspicious circumstances, authorities said in a statement. One of the infants died at the home and the other died after being taken to a hospital, West Melbourne Police Captain Richard Cordeau told WKMG-TV. 30710248_1424100217736093_1392657323034415707_n West Melbourne Police Department Trending: Tax Day Woes? Here's How Your Taxes Will Change in 2018 Because of Trump's Cuts Rachael Lynn Thomas, 30, was charged with two counts of child neglect and one count of tampering with evidence, according to an arrest warrant. Thomas was identified as the mother of the two newborns. The fact that there are two deceased infantsthats not normal, Cordeau said. There could be [a] reasonable explanation for this and thats part of the investigation, but there could not be [a] reasonable explanation. Detectives and crime scene investigators are working with the Medical Examiners Office to determine how the infants died, Cordeau said. Florida Today identified the infants as a boy and a girl. Don't miss: Weight Problems in Children Might Be Caused by Not Sleeping Enough Authorities confirmed that other children were present in the home and that the Department of Children and Families (DCF) was contacted. The two other children are being cared for by relatives, DCF said. The loss of these children is heartbreaking and DCF has an open investigation into the circumstances leading up to this tragedy, DCF spokesman David Frady told WKMG-TV. Their siblings are in the care of relatives, and DCF will continue to support them as they grieve the loss of their siblings. Story continues Frady added that the agency had not previously dealt with Thomas or her children and that they were unknown to DCF. Thomas was booked into the Brevard County Jail Complex and is being held on a $30,000 bail. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek The biggest animal on Earth is the blue whale, a filter feeder that traces its evolutionary heritage back to four-legged toothy landlubbers. Its a weird story, and one that scientists are still trying to understand by digging deep into the fossil record. Three separate new papers published this week in the same issue of the journal Royal Society Open Science detail new fossil whale discoveries. Two of those papers try to pin down the origins of baleen, the wall of thin bones in a whales mouth that the animals use to strain tiny organisms out of ocean water. The third identifies a Peruvian animal that is the distant ancestor of the weirdest dolphin alive today. The origins of baleen have been a particular stumbling block for scientists, who dont understand how the whales lost their teeth and gained these portable sieves. We still have a long way to go for the real missing link between toothed whales to true baleen whales, Cheng-Hsiu Tsai, who studies ancient whales at the National Taiwan University, said in an email interview with Newsweek. Trending: Monster Hunter World 3.0 Update - Patch Notes Read more: Scientists Inflated Dead Dolphin Penises to Fake Sex With Dead Dolphin Vaginas Tsai is the lead author of a paper identifying what is now the oldest whale with baleen, which lived near what is now New Zealand about 27.5 million years ago. And given what Tsai and his colleagues found in their genetic analysis, they think it might be the true trend-setter, the very first whale with baleen that ever lived. But at about the same time, a very different baleen whale lived off the coast of Washington state. It is an ancestor to baleen whales and yet its got a mouthful of big, gnarly looking teeth, Carlos Peredo, lead author on the paper and a doctoral student at George Mason University in Virginia, told Newsweek. These teeth were designed to grab, theyre not there for show, theyre there for processing food in the way that a dog would, in the way that a cat would. Story continues Don't miss: Edward Snowden Slams 'Totalitarian' Kremlin Over Telegram App Ban The discovery undermines one theory scientists had, which was that baleen had evolved first between the individual teeth, so you get like two for one, you get tooth and baleen in one organism, Jorge Velez-Juarbe, a curator of marine mammals at the Natural History Museum of Los Angeles County who wasnt involved with any of the new research, told Newsweek. If that seems like a lot of fuss over tens of millions of year old chompers, Peredo says figuring out how quickly baleen developed could have implications for beloved but often threatened species, like humpback whales, blue whales and right whales. We know were changing the environment, Peredo said. What we dont know is how quickly things change in response to that. Sorting out the ancient whales evolution could reveal how fast their successors might be able to keep up. 04_18_blue_whale NOAA/Handout via Reuters Most popular: RuPaul's Drag Race Queen Dusty Ray Bottoms Reveals New Details of Her 'Exorcism' and 'Gay Conversion Therapy' Even millions of years after baleen evolved, toothed whales still lurked in Earths oceansand thats precisely what the third new paper tracks, identifying a brand new species that lived off the coast of what is now Peru. It was really an exciting moment: we immediately realized that it was a new genus and that it had something special compared to the other fossils belonging to this family, lead author Giovanni Bianucci, a paleontologist at the University of Pisa in Italy, wrote in an email. Bianucci and his colleagues realized that that strange fossil was the distant ancestor of what Velez-Juarbe calls one of the weirdest marine mammals living today, the Ganges river dolphin, which unlike its relatives lives in freshwater. It is now considered endangered. But when Bianuccis fossil was alive, his group was a highly successful group, Velez-Juarbe said, with related species of many different sizes living on fairly close terms. All the researchers said there are likely to be plenty more discoveries. Its a pretty hopping field of paleontology right now, Peredo said, with more researchers dedicated to the task and better technology to assist, like the incredibly high-powered CT scanner he used in his research. Theres always something new being discovered, Velez-Juarbe said. The discoveries are coming faster than we can include them in our own work. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek If youve ever been to a traditional Greek celebration, you will have seen people joining hands and dancing in a circle following the same steps to the accompaniment of live music. You will also have heard songs sung in Greek as most traditional tunes go hand in hand with lyrics talking about love, emigration and rural life. In the northernmost parts of the Greek regions of Western and Central Macedonia, however, all the folk dances are instrumental tunes. Lyrics have been replaced by loud, brass and woodwind instruments like the cornet, the trombone and the clarinet. This is not some peculiar aspect of the local musical heritage. Traditional tunes in these regions had their own words but they were in a language that the Greek state has tried to wipe out for nearly a century: Macedonian Slavic. After emerging victorious from two Balkan Wars in 1912 and 1913, Greeces territory and population expanded dramatically by the addition of the lions share of the historic geographical region of Macedonia, the part found on the southern side of the Voras/Nidze and Belles/Belasica mountain ranges. As is often the case in history, state borders did not coincide with linguistic ones. The so-called New Lands were a diverse mosaic of different linguistic groups, including 260,000 people who spoke varieties of a south Slavic language they called tukasni local, nashta ours or makedonski Macedonian. These varieties, including the standardised version that is today the official language of FYR Macedonia, have similarities with Bulgarian and many people in Bulgaria view them as Bulgarian dialects. But sociolinguistics has shown that what counts as a language in its own right and what is seen as a dialect of a language are essentially decided by political rather than linguistic criteria. From an invisible language For the Greek government, having people speaking Macedonian Slavic in its territory did not sit well with its national ideology. Signs of discomfort towards Greeces new multilingual reality showed very early on. In 1920, the Greek statistical authority ran the first census after the countrys territorial expansion. A language question was asked but the data for the Macedonia division were never published. The language data for the Thessaly division, however, record speakers of Macedonian Slavic, probably reported by seasonal workers from Macedonia who were in Thessaly at the time of the census. Greek authorities acknowledged the presence of Macedonian Slavic as a legitimate language but made a conscious effort to conceal the number of people who spoke it. Story continues In the north of the country, authorities launched a massive Hellenising mission. Overnight, Madeconian Slavic names of people, places and dances were rendered into Greek by public servants. My own paternal grandfathers family name became Karatsareas from Karachorov. My maternal grandfathers one became Kantzouris from Kanzurov. The area of Karadzova was renamed Almopia with its main town of Subotsko becoming Aridaia. The dance Puscheno was called Leventikos or Lytos. The aim was to leave no visible trace of Macedonian Slavic in public records. to a forbidden one In the 1930s and in a climate of competing nationalisms in the southern Balkans, the similarities between Macedonian Slavic and the languages of the then Kingdom of Yugoslavia and Kingdom of Bulgaria began to raise suspicions among Greek authorities about the national allegiance and consciousness of Macedonian Slavic speakers. Read more: Who gets to use the name 'Macedonia'? A decades-old row still to be resolved In August 1931, Greek journalist and subsequent politician Periklis Iliadis called in his newspaper column for a ban on greeting in Bulgarian and publicly singing songs in languages other than Greek two proposals that Ioannis Metaxass fascist regime promptly adopted. In 1936, the governor-general of Macedonia issued order of prohibition 122770: On the restoration of the uniform language, banning the use of Macedonian Slavic in both public and private. People caught speaking Macedonian Slavic sometimes by police officers eavesdropping through peoples windows were dragged to military police stations where they were beaten and sometimes tortured. Those who had the money were fined. Teachers beat pupils who spoke Macedonian Slavic in class or in the playground even when that was the only language they were able to speak. This happened to my maternal grandmother. A muted heritage In 1994, Human Rights Watch called for Greece to end harassment of Macedonian Slavic speakers. In 1998, the European Court of Human Rights ruled that Greece violated the right of its citizens to form associations by refusing them permission to establish a Macedonian Slavic cultural association. But these calls came much too late. Author provided In the face of the aggressive and violent oppression they suffered in the 1930s, Macedonian Slavic speakers developed a deeply ingrained fear of speaking their language in front of people they did not know and trust. They stopped singing their songs, playing only the traditional tunes of their musical heritage. With time, they started using Greek more to refer to themselves and the places where they were born and live. Today, only older people speak the language. For younger people, it is more of a passive knowledge a kind of heritage that will die out with the older generation and the only thing that will remain to remind them of it will be a handful of words and tunes to which young musicians do not know the words. Banning minority languages This sort of linguistic oppression is far from unique. Similar stories have been reported by speakers of Irish in Ireland, Scottish Gaelic in Scotland, Welsh in Wales (read Susan Elan Joness comments in Column 377), Catalan in Spain, Native American languages in the US and Aboriginal languages in Australia. It is sad that the efforts of state authorities to make speakers of minority languages assimilate to the majority language were for the most part successful. And alongside the languages, other expressions of culture are being lost, including place names, family names, songs, dances, games and traditions. Linguistic oppression and the consequences it has on speakers of minority languages and their cultural heritage have no place in a modern world where the value of cultural diversity is recognised. Read more: Multilingualism must be celebrated as a resource, not a problem This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Petros Karatsareas receives funding from the British Academy and the Leverhulme Trust. A Canadian naturopaths recommendation to give a child rabid-dog saliva to help with his behavioral issues has sparked a backlash in the health community. Anke Zimmerman was approached by a mother whose 4-year-old son was acting aggressively at school. According to Global News, the young boy was hiding under tables, sleeping poorly and growling like a dog. GettyImages-545170462 Noah Seelam/AFP/Getty Images Trending: Jared Kushner's Closeness to Trump Could Help Finally Deliver Prison Reform, Former U.S. Attorney Says Zimmerman, who is based in Victoria, British Columbia, asked the concerned mother whether the boy had ever been bitten by a dog. The mother said her son had been bitten when he was 2 years old. The naturopath then suggested a Health Canadaapproved homeopathic remedy made from rabid-dog saliva, she wrote in a blog post detailing the incident. The dog that bit him may have recently been vaccinated with the rabies vaccine or the dog bite in and of itself may have affected the boy with rabies miasm. Either is possible and the phenomenon is well-known in homeopathy, Zimmerman wrote. She recommended two pellets of Lyssinum 200HC. Don't miss: Uganda President Says Oral Sex Is Wrong Because Mouths Are Meant for Eating The recommendation has prompted the provinces senior public health official to send a letter to the Canadian government. Dr. Bonnie Henry told CBC News that she intends to write to Health Canada protesting its approval of Lyssinum. I will be writing to Health Canada about this preparation again, Henry said. Theres no way I can understand why we would have anything that was meant to be saliva of a rabid dog approved for use in this country. Story continues Zimmerman told Global News that homeopathy relies on the similarity principle: material that can cause symptoms in healthy organisms can treat symptoms in sick organisms. It does sound crazy, I completely agree, she said of homeopathic remedies. However, she stands by her decision. Most popular: Hundreds Stranded in Mexico After Airline Cancels Flights: 'We Do Not Have Another Flight to Re-accommodate Passengers' In a statement, Henry said: There is no evidence that I am aware of that shows [Lyssinum] has any therapeutic benefit. She continued: More importantly, I am concerned that if a product did actually contain what is suggested, saliva from a rabid dog, that would put the patient at risk of contracting rabies, a serious, fatal illness. Zimmerman rejected Henrys complaints, telling CBC News: This child dramatically improvedthe parents are very happy. Isnt that something thats interesting? Shouldnt we be looking into that? Zimmerman did not immediately respond to Newsweek's request for comment. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are going to Namibia for their honeymoon! Cape Town - Prince Harry and Meghan Markle will walk down the aisle in just a few weeks in whats probably the most-anticipated wedding of the year! Although the day is sure to be nothing short of amazing, the honeymoon promises to be better. The couple have a glamorous destination planned for their honeymoon. According to Travel & Leisure magazine a source confirmed that following the royal wedding on 19 May at St Georges Chapel in Windsor, the two are jetting off to sun-soaked Namibia. It's no surprise that Africa has topped the list for the loved-up pair - it was always a strong contender in potential honeymoon destinations, reports The Mirror. Prince Harry has spoken about his love for Africa, calling it the place where I feel more like myself than anywhere in the world. Harry regularly travels to the continent, with trips to Botswana part and parcel of his role as patron of Rhino Conservation Botswana. People.com speculates the pair will honeymoon at Hoanib Valley Camp, nestled in Kaokoland, one of Namibias most remote and wild locations. Its surrounded by towering mountains, sand dunes and expanses of desert. Its also home to unique wildlife, which is a major draw for Harry. Namibia is renowned for its breathtaking scenery and exotic wildlife as well as its luxurious lodges, which are ideal for privacy. Kensington Palace is yet to officially comment on the destination. Sources: The Mirror, Travel & Leisure magazine, People.com MOSCOW/GENEVA (Reuters) - Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov will hold talks with the United Nation's Syria peace envoy, Staffan de Mistura, on Friday, the RIA news agency reported, citing the foreign ministry. "I confirm that these talks are planned for Friday," foreign ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said. De Mistura is conducting an intensive round of talks with world powers with a view to relaunching stalled peace talks between Damascus and the armed opposition, his office said in Geneva. De Mistura, fresh from attending the League of Arab states summit in Riyadh was meeting senior Turkish officials in Ankara on Wednesday before heading to Moscow and Tehran for consultations with senior officials, the statement said. Russia and Iran back President Bashar al-Assad in the Syrian war now in its eighth year, a conflict that has claimed 500,000 lives. The U.N. envoy also expects to meet European ministers and U.S. officials at a Brussels conference on Syria set for April 24-25 before briefing the U.N. Security Council, it added. The last round of Geneva talks between the warring sides was held in December, followed by Vienna talks in late January. As part of the political process, de Mistura is drawing up a list of possible members of a new Constitutional Committee to draft a new constitution. (Reporting by Maria Kiselyova in Moscow and Stephanie Nebehay in Geneva; Editing by Richard Balmforth; Editing by Catherine Evans and Tom Miles) FILE PHOTO: A couple take a selfie next to the logo of Spanish CaixaBank outside one of its branch in central Madrid, Spain, January 28, 2016. REUTERS/Sergio Perez/File Photo By Angus Berwick and Jesus Aguado MADRID (Reuters) - Spain's High Court on Thursday placed Caixabank under formal investigation over allegations that the Spanish bank was involved in laundering almost 100 million euros ($123.80 million) for alleged Chinese criminals. The court said in a written ruling that the investigation stemmed from a separate investigation into China's largest bank, ICBC, which allegedly laundered hundreds of millions of euros for Chinese organised crime groups in Spain through its Madrid branch. A Caixabank spokesman said the bank, Spain's third largest, denied collaborating with the alleged money launderers or participating in the alleged scheme. An ICBC spokesman in Spain did not immediately respond to a request for comment, though the bank has previously denied any wrongdoing. The court said Caixabank employees at ten branches in Madrid helped suspected Chinese criminals transfer 99 million euros ($122.48 million) to China and Hong Kong between 2013 and 2015 partly via corresponding banking agreements with ICBC. The Caixabank employees made the transfers with the "knowledge and collaboration of the top official in charge of compliance at the entity," the court said. The official's name was redacted in the written ruling. "Caixabank did not implement the necessary anti-money laundering controls, despite knowing the risks," the judge said in the court ruling, adding that the bank did not properly alert Spain's financial intelligence unit to suspicious transfers. Caixabank shares initially fell slightly after the court issued the ruling but they later reversed their losses. Caixabank signed corresponding banking agreements with ICBC in 2011 and 2014. The court said Caixabank was responsible for ensuring any clients it received from ICBC were compliant. A Reuters investigation last year detailed the alleged money laundering scheme involving ICBC following the arrest of seven ICBC executives in Madrid in February 2016. The High Court last September approved a request from prosecutors to investigate ICBC Europe, whose headquarters is in Luxembourg, for the alleged crime of money laundering. (Editing by Jane Merriman) WASHINGTON (Reuters) - The U.S. special counsel in the Russia probe has evidence that President Donald Trump's personal lawyer Michael Cohen travelled to Prague in 2016, refuting Cohen's claim that he never visited the Czech capital and bolstering an intelligence dossier that first described the trip, McClatchy reported on Friday. Investigators for Special Counsel Robert Mueller have evidence Cohen entered the Czech Republic through Germany in late summer 2016, McClatchy reported, citing two unnamed sources. The news agency said it was unclear whether Mueller's investigators have evidence that Cohen met with a prominent Russian as the dossier claimed. Mueller is investigating alleged Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. presidential election and possible collusion with the Trump campaign. Russia has denied meddling in the election and Trump has said there was no collusion. The special counsel and an attorney for Cohen did not immediately respond to requests for comment from Reuters. The dossier by former British intelligence agent Christopher Steele alleged that Cohen met in Prague with Russians with ties to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Agents with the Federal Bureau of Investigation raided Cohen's New York office and home this week, partly based on a referral from Mueller. They were seeking information on payments made by Cohen to porn star Stormy Daniels, who has said she had sex with Trump in 2006, a person familiar with the matter said. Investigators have also looked for a possible broader pattern of fraud, tax evasion, money laundering and other crimes in Cohen's private dealings, including his work for Trump and real estate purchased by Russian buyers, the person said. (Reporting by Eric Beech) A Vietnamese family-run manufacturer has been caught producing low quality coffee with harmful materials, such as used D batteries, dirt and rock dust, authorities said yesterday. On Monday afternoon, Dak Nong police and inspectors from the Department of Natural Resources and Environment raided a workshop, owned by Nguyen Thi Loan, a resident in Dak Wek Commune in the Dak RLap district, after receiving tip-offs from local citizens about suspicious activities being conducted on the premise, reported Tuoi Tre News. Among the raw materials, authorities found 77 pounds of black powder extracted from D batteries, a bucket of black liquid and two barrels filled with battery shells. Trending: In Pictures: 50 of the Biggest Stadiums in the World Dirty coffee Dak Nong Police Loan told police she purchased rejected coffee beans and shells from other facilities at a discounted price. Her factory would then mix the beans with other materials, such as dirt and rock dust, before dyeing the product with the black powder from the batteries. According to authorities, Loan admitted to running the operation for years and said she has already sold more than three tones of her product this year. During the raid, authorities found 12 tons of the low-quality coffee on the premise. Don't miss: Bird Strike Forces Southwest Airlines to Ground Nashville Flight Just One Day after Engine Failure Accident Police have confiscated all the materials found and are currently investigating the matter. Tran Hong Con, an associate professor at the Vietnam National University, said the black substance in D batteries is a chemical called manganese dioxide. According to Con, the chemical compound is highly oxidant and even ingesting a small amount could cause manganese poisoning in humans. Despite coffee being associated with countries like Brazil, Colombia or Ethiopia, Vietnam is one of the worlds latest exporters of the commodity. During the 1990s, coffee production across the country grew around 20 to 30 percent each year. Story continues Most popular: Meghan McCain Rips James Comey on The View, Tells Him You Sound Like a Political Commentator In 2014, the 2.6 million people in Vietnam were employed by coffee manufacturers, reported BBC. The rise of the coffee industry has played a large part in transforming the nations economy. Watch footage of the police raid below: This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek SpaceXs planned launch of NASAs Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite (TESS) has been delayed. The $337 million exoplanet-hunting spacecraft must wait until at least Wednesday before it can blast off. Due to launch Monday evening, conditions looked good for takeoff, with SpaceX tweeting: Weather is 80% favorable for todays launch at 6:32 p.m. EDT, 22:32 UTC. Trending: Fortnite Light Machine Gun Releasing in 3.5 Content Update But later that day, SpaceX announced it was delaying the launch for extra testing. Standing down today to conduct additional GNC analysis, the company wrote in a tweet. GNC stands for guidance, navigation and control. NASAs Next Planet-Hunter 4_17_NASA TESS_02 Handout via Reuters/NASA TESSa spacecraft roughly the size of a washing machinewill search nearby bright stars for signs of planets. It will monitor the light of these stars, looking out for small dips in brightness. This dimming could signal a planet is moving in front of the star. Don't miss: The NSA Wants Your Encrypted Data | Opinion NASA expects TESS will find tens of thousands of exoplanets. The craft is set to sweep the sky as it orbits the earth for two years. Each orbit will take about 13.7 days. TESS will take the baton from NASAs other planet-hunting spacecraft, Kepler, which is running out of fuel after almost a decade in space. Kepler has found more than 2,300 confirmed exoplanets over its lifetime. "One of the many amazing things that Kepler told us is that planets are everywhere and there are all kinds of planets out there, Patricia Boyd, TESS guest investigator program lead at NASA's Goddard Spaceflight Center, told reporters in advance of the scheduled launch. So TESS takes the next step. If planets are everywhere, then it is time for us to find the planets that are closest to us orbiting bright nearby stars, because these will be the touchstone system." Story continues Most popular: Anyone Who Knows Anything About Fashion Has Stopped Wearing Fur | Opinion TESS Launch Delayed for Further Testing Last-minute delays for testing are not unusual for rocket launches. Final day launch postponement because someone did a last minute check of something and decided it needed another look is surprisingly common. Always better safe than sorry, astrophysicist Jonathan McDowell, from the Harvard-Smithsonian Center for Astrophysics, commented on Twitter. Several of SpaceXs past missions have been held back for technical reasons. For example, in late 2017 the companys launch of mysterious government payload Zuma was delayed for additional assurance work. SpaceX finally launched Zuma in January, but questions remain as to its ultimate success. TESS will launch on one of SpaceXs Falcon 9 rocketsthe same class of rocket that has sent several Dragon capsules to the International Space Station with supplies. A Falcon 9 recently sent sperm up for analysis to the space laboratory. Assuming the Falcon 9 is good to go, the weather looks reasonably favorable for a Wednesday launch. There is a slight risk of further delay from rising clouds, according a U.S. Air Force forecast. Issued Monday afternoon, the forecast gives less than a 10 percent chance that weather problems will delay the launch further. This article was first written by Newsweek More from Newsweek PA Archive Many people from the Windrush generation have been told recently that they do not belong in Britain. Some have been detained and faced deportation. But they are no strangers to feelings of unbelonging. These often feature strongly in their stories of early life in Britain. Most travelled with high expectations of what they regarded as the mother country. In interviews for my research, one Caribbean woman recalled: When we were in school we were taught that England was the mother country. It supports its own, it looks after us. Another felt loyalty towards England because It was really the mother country and being away from home wouldnt be that terrible because you would belong. Many also had a strong sense of their Britishness. Walter Lother, who came from Jamaica thought of his journey as migration within a common British world. He said: When I came here I didnt have a status as a Jamaican. I was British, and going to the mother country was like going from one parish to another. You had no conception of it being different. Sam King came to Britain on the Empire Windrush. For him, being British was crucial to the enterprise You could not be good on your own. Your good was no good. Your good had to be British. Sam King was one of a number of men on the Empire Windrush who were stationed in Britain during World War II. He had served in the RAF. Most of those who, like King, were demobbed home and then returned to Britain, noticed a change of climate when they arrived back and were no longer wearing uniform. King found people more aggressive and trying to say that you shouldnt be here. Allan Wilmot who served with RAF Sea Rescue describes a similar change. Being a civilian it was a complete different thing from in the services. What you come back here for? The wars over. That was the attitude. Most of those who arrived on the Empire Windrush were men, although there was at least one woman stowaway Averilly Wauchope, a dressmaker from Kingston. But in the 1950s and 1960s, many women migrated from the Caribbean to Britain independently. They did not come to join husbands but travelled to take up jobs, train as nurses, or search for employment. Others came as children often travelling on their parents passports. Story continues Rude awakening On arrival, sometimes within hours, the myth of the mother country that was held up in the Caribbean was frequently dispelled. Having set out as British subjects, the Windrush generation arrived to find that they were immigrants often regarded as dark strangers who did not belong in Britain. Many of the Windrush generation comment on British ignorance of the empire by comparison with what they knew of Britain. White Britons who were ignorant about the British empire did not know or acknowledge that Caribbean migrants were also British, with a long history that connected them with Britain. Constance Nembhard recalled: We grew up under the colonial system and we knew everything about England everything. And we came here, nobody had ever heard of Jamaica. I mean few, few, people. And it was funny, the few who had heard of Jamaica treated you differently. Those who had never heard, they all had the opinion that we lived in trees. Black people were seen as belonging in the British empire, not in Britain. Caribbean and other migration from the Commonwealth was widely seen as bringing an alien colour problem into Britain. As a BBC television programme in 1955 put it: Not for the first time in our history we have a colonial problem on our hands. But its a colonial problem with a difference. Instead of being thousands of miles away and worrying other people, its right here, on the spot, worrying us. A characteristic opposition between Britishness as white and immigrants as coloured underpinned the idea of a colour problem. As one woman who migrated from British Guiana recalls: When we came here we swore we were English because Guyana was British Guiana. We were brought up under the colonial rule. If you dont have a new uniform to go and sing God Save the King, you hurt. When you come here, you discovered its a different thing. If youre English, you have to be white. Those who came on the Windrush and their children experienced racism and fought against it. It took decades but many felt that by the new millennium, their efforts and those of others had secured some progress. But the Home Office had other ideas. The decision to restrict the rights of Windrush generation arrivals and their children, and to threaten them with deportation reverses any progress made. It ranks among the most shameful episodes in Commonwealth history. This article was originally published on The Conversation. Read the original article. The Conversation Wendy Webster receives funding from the Arts and Humanities Research Council Barring surprises, the economic calendar was looking rather sparse at the end of the week, with no economic releases scheduled in the UK and just one lone Fed speaker set to take to the podium on Friday, Chicago Fed chief Charles Evans, at 1710 BST. Against that backdrop, the focus would again be on the flow of corporate results in the States, with multiple medium-sized lenders set to publish their latest quarterly figures, including State Street, SunTrust Banks and Citizens Financial. Results were also expected from General Electric and Honeywell. Overnight however, investors would be waiting on Japanese core consumer price data and services sector activity for March and February, respectively. Across the Channel, the key releases would be readings on Belgian and euro area consumer confidence at 1400 BST and 1500 BST, respectively, with the latter possibly impacting markets in case of a sufficiently large surprise. Back in the UK, the focus would be on a trading update out of Reckitt Benckiser, alongside finals from Velocys. Regarding the latter, analysts at Numis expected the biofuels refiner to report $1.2m of sales for its most recently-concluded financial year, with cash on hand at year-end seen at 2.6m, although post period-end it was augmented by $17.1m via a cash call. Although it might still be too early in the year, according to analyst James Hubbard the main things he would be looking for were updates from management on full FEED award for the Mississippi biorefinery, progress on its integrated demonstration project and any information regarding the search for strategic investors for the Mississippi biorefinery. Friday April 20 INTERIM DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Bioventix, Craneware, Go-Ahead Group, Origin Enterprises QUARTERLY PAYMENT DATE XP Power Ltd. (DI) INTERNATIONAL ECONOMIC ANNOUNCEMENTS Producer Price Index (GER) (07:00) IMSS Reckitt Benckiser Group SPECIAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI) AGMS Bank of Ireland (Governor & Company Of The) Non-Cum Prf 'A' Liquidation, Bank of Ireland Group , Byblos Bank SAL GDR (Reg S), HSBC Holdings, PAO Novatek GDR (Reg S) TRADING ANNOUNCEMENTS Record FINAL DIVIDEND PAYMENT DATE Chemring Group, Heavitree Brewery, Heavitree Brewery 'A' Shares, IDOX, Somero Enterprises Inc. (DI), XLMedia US pharma giant Allergan has pulled back from tabling a bid for UK-listed rival Shire just hours after first indicating its possible interest. Invoking requirements under the UK Takeover Code, the Dublin-based outfit said it did not intend to make an offer, adding that it was continuing to examine the "full range" of strategic options at its disposal, including divestitures, combinations and acquisitions. Initial reports that it might wade into the fray for Shire, earlier in the session, had seen the company's share price dive by just under 9%. Shire shares were down 4.4% to below 3,800p on Friday afternoon, compared to Takeda's shares and cash offer of 4,650p. "Shires rejection of Takedas bid likely came as no surprise to Takeda," said Credit Suisse analysts, and that Shire is probably now prepared to reconsider Takedas pitch. "With Allergan out of the picture, Takeda and Shire say they are continuing discussions regarding a potential offer, and we now see an increased likelihood of the pair reaching an agreement." Based on recent takeover multiples, Societe Generale suggested Takeda could raise its cash component by another 9 per Shire share. "But we suspect that the Shire share price discounts otherwise because of Takedas credit rating and/or dividend commitments." Dismissing other potential suitors, as neither Novartis nor AbbVie are felt to "strategically need" Shire and that Pfizer is "no longer interested in transformational M&A", while Celgene and Allergan would have to raise so much new equity as to "excessively dilute" their earnings. UBS think "it is more likely than not a deal gets done, but who precisely does the deal remains murky" as Takeda could increase the cash component of its offer but it will be "a real financial stretch". "We think Shire investors are keen to avoid the regret they might feel if they don't sell and then the stock does badly. Regret avoidance can be a powerful motivator." The European Union will propose a "miniature, simplified" version of the Transatlantic Trade and Investment Partnership to the US administration in a bid to end trade hostilities and in order to avoid US tariffs on steel and aluminium imports. Talks on TTIP began in July 2013 but stopped before the last US presidential elections, reportedly amid notable reservations from Austria and the Netherlands, having reportedly been left half undone. There was also some opposition coming from France and Germany at the time, in part because both governments were themselves also heading into general elections; although German Chancellor Angela Merkel herself appeared to back them, her French counterpart Francois Hollande was already deeply popular at home. Indeed, to an extent the negotiations also fell afoul of the populist anti-establishment mood among electorates at the time right across the developed world - which culminated in Brexit, among other notable events. The break in talks also came against a backdrop of allegations - perhaps undeserved - of a lack of transparency in the negotiations. The original timetable had envisaged that the talks would be concluded by January 2017, which might have delivered a significant boost to global long-term growth prospects if TTIP's proponents were to be believed. On a related note, the day before the Journal had also reported that during his visit to Washington that week, Germany's finance minister would lobby for "special treatment", asking the White House for his country's companies to be exempted from tough new US sanctions on Russia. Previously, in an interview with Bloomberg TV conducted on 16 April, Germany's new coordinator for transatlantic relations, Peter Beyer, had labelled trade relations between the US and Germany "obviously very demanding". Beyer also called for a joint strategy at the G-7 level on addressing China's alleged strategy of intellectual property theft. Angela Merkel herself was due to travel to Washington DC on 29 April. In a new move to fight plastic pollution, the UK government has promised to place a ban on plastic drinking straws and cotton buds later in the year. Prime Minister Theresa May announced the plans at the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting on Thursday. The Prime Minister urged the former colonies to follow suit and said the UK will commit 61m to develop new means to clean up waste plastic, in a move designed to help save ecosystems including oceans. By some measures, there were already over 150m tons of plastic littering the worlds oceans, hitting wildlife hard. "Together we can effect real change so that future generations can enjoy a natural environment that is healthier than we currently find it," she said. Ministers also said that just in the UK 8.5bn plastic straws are thrown away every year, with Environment secretary Michael Gove describing plastic waste as a worldwide emergency. Ahead of the expected launch of a consultation later in 2018, Gove recently told the BBC: "We're going to consult on what the best way is in order to get rid of straws, get rid of stirrers and also get rid of plastic stemmed cotton buds that we use so many of." "We've already seen a number of retailers, bars and restaurants stepping up to the plate and cutting plastic use, however it's only through government, business and the public working together that we will protect our environment for the next generation - we all have a role to play in turning the tide on plastic." The UKs Serious Fraud Office has opened a criminal investigation into suspected corruption in the conduct of Ultra Electronics business in Algeria. The FTSE 250 defence company said on Thursday that this follows a voluntary self-report to the SFO, with which it continues to cooperate. "Given the stage of these matters, it is not possible to estimate reliably what effect the outcome of this matter may have on the group," Utra said, adding that it will provide a further update as and when appropriate. The SFO confirmed that it has opened a criminal investigation, saying "no further information can be provided at this time as the investigation is live". As an avid "Scandal" follower, waiting for the series finale is excruciating. As we wait on pins and needles to find out the fate of some of the favorite characters on the hill, I have some predictions for the wrap of the series. Spoiler alerts: If you are not caught up with the current season, Do Not read any further if you do not want to know the current status of the show. Possible 'Scandal' ending one As Olivia plans to testify to out all of B613s dirty little secrets, her father has magically covered for the organization and no evidence can be uncovered. As she goes to confront him, he is already in a heated discussion with Jake. Just as Jake and Olivia attempt to reconcile, in an effort to save face with their father and command, Eli (Olivias father) takes matters into his own hands and shoots Jake. Every effort to cover B613 has succeeded for Eli and Olivia is set free. The stories of the rest of Pope & Associates as witnesses are buried and the story is turned into nothing but a conspiracy theory, putting Ms. Lady Liberty out of the job. Flash forward to the future: Fitz and Olivia cant be together without the truth coming out. Olivia is back working in the White House with Mellie. The rest of Pope & Associates are living their lives, including Charlie, who was released after Cyrus was outed for the entire assassination attempt and B613 conspiracy. Cyrus is back in his old cell going crazy pretending he is the President of the US. 'Scandal' ending theory No. 2 With the help of her team, Olivia manages to out and dissolve B613. Each of the Pope & Associates team testifies that Eli Pope, with the help of Jake, threatened the lives of many innocent American people for their compliance. The American people seek gentle favor in their legal proceedings against them. While no longer being able to work anywhere on the hill, Olivia finally moves to Vermont with Fitz, after serving her probation. Mellie and Marcus can finally date on their own and assist with Fitzs foundation. Mellie voluntarily agreed to impeachment but only through her testimony regarding Cyrus, which was corroborated by Jake Ballards video footage. A new special election took place to clear out the corruption in the White House. Jakes last attempt to win Olivias good graces leads him to destroy B613. As Olivia makes one final attempt to get her father to retire, Jake takes him out in order to make command extinct. A third 'Scandal' ending prediction After Olivias testimony only implicates her as the main culprit to all the wrongdoings, acting alone without the advice of either president, she disappears to her island in the sun. Fitzs legacy is preserved and Mellie gets to remain president. Quinn Perkins & Associates help dig up enough evidence to prosecute and impeach Cyrus from his position as vice president. He ends up alone, drinking away his miseries over cheap wine. Olivias father (Command) turns up in Cyrus apartment and shoots him to cover a loss end. Fitz cannot abandon his foundation and can no longer see Olivia since she has disappeared to an island unknown to him. Jake Ballard joins Olivia on the island as her most long-standing confidant. Australian scientists have developed a polymer sponge capable of soaking up oil spills. The highly buoyant polymer is made of waste cooking oils and sulphur, by-products of the food and petroleum industries, and has the ability to clean up crude oil and diesel spills. As the polymer works as a sponge to absorb the waste materials it can be squeezed to recover the oil and then reused, Xinhua news agency reported. Justin Chalker, a chemist from Flinders University whose laboratory led the study, said on Thursday the polymer can be deployed in two ways. The polymer can be added directly to the oil. Upon contact, the particles aggregate and the oil-polymer gel can be removed with a net. This is probably most useful in small spills in ports or in coastline remediation that is done manually, said Chalker. For larger spills on the open sea, it is more practical to pack the polymer into a filter. The oil and water mixture could be pumped through the filter and the purified water discharged back into the ocean. The oil can then be recovered from the filter by compressing the oil-polymer product. This way, the oil, and polymer can both be re-used, he added. Chalkers team is now working to establish a plant in South Australia that will increase their production capacity. Once that step is achieved, they intend to commercialise the product on the scale required for serious clean-ups. The oil spills in the Amazon basin in Ecuador and the catastrophic oil pollution in the Niger Delta are two areas that might benefit from simple, inexpensive remediation strategies, he said. Bhutan is all set to go to the National Council polls on Friday. The country will elect 20 council representatives from across 20 districts, who will be joined by five eminent members appointed by the King of Bhutan, Xinhua news agency reported on Thursday. The National Council is a permanent house and it will complete its second five-year term on May 9. It will be reconstituted on May 10. Unlike a parliamentary election, where members have to resign for re-election, the council members are called the incumbent members and allowed to re-contest and remain as members till the next appointment of new members. The Election Commission of Bhutan stationed over 5,619 officials across 20 districts for polling day. It also set up around 64 postal ballots facilitation booths in urban areas across the country. The voters were required to do pre-registration at facilitation booths from April 12-15 before the voting. Ballot booth facility is a first of its kind to be implemented in the elections in Bhutan. It is to help ease the voting process, Election Commission officials said. The Commission also provides postal ballot facilities to those away from their constituencies or districts or were studying and residing outside Bhutan. On completion of the council poll, the Election Commission will focus on the parliamentary election. Going by the five-year term, the present government will likely be dissolved by August first week and the elections could take place by September. This year marks Bhutans third parliamentary election since 2008. The All India Muslim Majlis-e-Mushawarat (AIMMM) on Thursday wrote to Delhi Police Commissioner Amulya Patnaik seeking appropriate action against BJP youth wing leader Manish Chandela for allegedly admitting in social media to burning down a Rohingya refugee camp here a few days back. This is to bring it to your notice that Manish Chandela, who is a member of the BJPs youth wing Bharatiya Janata Yuva Morcha (BJYM), has openly claimed on his Twitter handle @Chandela_BJYM that Yes, we burnt the houses of Rohingya terrorists, the AIMMM, an umbrella body of various Muslim organisations, said in the letter. The AIMMM also attached the screenshots of Chandelas tweets wherein he claimed to have set the Rohingya refugee camp in Kalindi Kunj area ablaze. Chandela had tweeted at 2.16 a.m on April 15. Again, on April 16 at 5.42 p.m, Chandela posted on his Twitter handle: Yes, we did it and we do again #ROHINGYA QUIT INDIA. A fire had broken out at the refugee camp near Kalindi Kunj in south Delhi on the intervening night of April 14 and 15 that quickly engulfed the whole camp in which more than 200 residents of the camp lost all their belongings, including identity cards and special visas issued by the United Nations. The open claim on social media by the culprit is a challenge to the Delhi Police and all other law enforcement agencies. The tweet was posted immediately after the fire in the refugee camp We demand immediate arrest of Manish Chandela under appropriate sections of the IPC, the Mushawarat said in the letter signed by its president Navaid Hamid. The Rohingyas are mostly Muslim ethnic in Myanmar, who are fleeing the northwestern province of Rakhine where they are facing persecution. Myanmar State Counselor Aung San Suu Kyi left Nay Pyi Taw on Thursday on a two-day official visit to Vietnam, media reports said. Suu Kyi was invited by Vietnamese Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, Xinhua news agency reported. During her visit, Suu Kyi was expected to hold talks with Xuan Phuc, focusing on bilateral relations and cooperation. It is her second visit to the country in five months. Myanmar established diplomatic relations with Vietnam in 1975. Terry Cobb, associate professor of management in the Pamplin College of Business at Virginia Tech, has been conferred the title of associate professor emeritus by the Virginia Tech Board of Visitors. The emeritus title may be conferred on retired professors, associate professors, and administrative officers who are specially recommended to the board by Virginia Tech President Tim Sands. Nominated individuals who are approved by the board receive an emeritus certificate from the university. A member of the university community since 1978, Cobb made significant contributions to research through his work in organizational behavior focusing on organizational politics, organizational justice, and behavioral ethics. But Cobb was best known for his work in the classroom. He taught both undergraduate and graduate-level courses across the management curriculum at Virginia Tech for more than 30 years and has a record of teaching excellence that has been recognized across all levels. He received the departments Doctoral Teaching Award, the M.B.A. programs Service Award, college teaching awards, Warren L. Holtzman Outstanding Educator awards, the Alumni Associations Certificate of Teaching Excellence, the Diggs Teaching Scholar Award, and the Chi Omega Societys Teacher of the Year Award. In addition, he advised numerous students on masters degree and doctoral degree dissertations and helped them develop successful careers in both academic and corporate settings. Cobb received a bachelors degree from California State University at Northridge, a masters degree from Wayne State University, and a Ph.D. from the University of California at Irvine. Related Stories Anthony T. 'Terry' Cobb receives 2013 William E. Wine Award Anthony T. 'Terry' Cobb receives 2012 Diggs Teaching Scholar Award The spring 2018 art show at the Virginia Tech Carilion School of Medicine will pay tribute to the late Julien H. Meyer Jr., a Roanoke physician who passed away last year. The show, titled, Laughter is the Best Medicine, will feature works by nearly 60 local artists and is inspired by two of Meyers many interests: art and humor. A Roanoke native, Meyer was an obstetrician and gynecologist for 43 years at Physicians to Women, Inc. a practice his father founded. Throughout his career, he was well-known for his appreciation of humor and skillful ability to incorporate it into his work. In 2016, while accepting the Robert L.A. Keeley Healing Arts Award for his service to the medical community of the Roanoke Valley, Meyer said, There is a contagion in laughter. It is a social glue, and it helps patients feel more at ease. Humor and a sunny presence make for good bedside manner. Meyer went on to note that patients had told him they never thought a gynecologic visit could be such fun. Joking was only a small part of Juliens upbeat and humorous personality, said Lynn Meyer, his wife of 28 years. He truly loved being a physician and looked forward to going to work each day. He often said he had a captive audience akin to show business. Meyer was a faculty member at the school and embodied many of its core values, especially patient-centered care and community involvement. He took special interest in supporting and mentoring students at the school. Every interaction with Dr. Meyer was special, said Jeffrey Henry, a member of the schools class of 2020 and with whom Meyer developed a mentoring relationship early in Henrys first year of medical school. Dr. Meyer will live on in the students and patients he touched with his humor and compassion. I will become a better physician because of his influence. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited, an investment holding company, provides cellular and fixed-line voice, and related value-added services in the People's Republic of China. It also provides broadband and other Internet-related, information communications technology, and business and data communications services. In addition, the company offers communications technology training, technical, and Internet information and value-added telecommunications services; telecommunications network construction, planning, and technical consulting services; and consultancy, survey, design, and contract services relating to information and construction projects. Further, it provides customer, project design consultation and management, property management, e-payment, venture capital investment, communications technology development and promotion, auto informatisation, financial, data processing, and tourism and information services; advertising design, production, agency, and publication services; technology development, transfer, and consulting services; and technology promotion service of intelligent transportation system's products. Additionally, the company offers technology development and consultation, and other services; technology research and development, consultation, and services of TV video and mobile video; internet of things technology, and online data processing and transaction services; and big data, and cloud computation and infrastructure services. It also provides online video and reading materials; network music; financing leasing services; and data analysis and application services, as well as sells handsets and telecommunication equipment. As of December 31, 2019, it had approximately 254 million 4G subscribers, 83 million fixed-line broadband subscribers, and 54 million fixed-line local access subscribers. The company was incorporated in 2000 and is based in Central, Hong Kong. China Unicom (Hong Kong) Limited is a subsidiary of China Unicom (BVI) Limited. Read More Mettler-Toledo International, Inc. is a supplier of precision instruments and services. The firm manufactures weighing instruments for use in laboratory, industrial, packaging, logistics, and food retailing applications. It also manufactures several related analytical instruments and provides automated chemistry solutions used in drug and chemical compound discovery and development; and also, metal detection and other end-of-line inspection systems used in production and packaging and provides solutions for use in certain process analytics applications. Its operations are conducted by the following segments: U. S. Operations, Swiss Operations, Western European Operations, Chinese Operations and Other. The U.S. Operations segment represents certain of the company's marketing and producing organizations located in the United States. The Swiss Operations segment includes marketing and producing organizations located in Switzerland, as well as extensive R&D operations that are responsible for the development, production, and marketing of precision instruments, including weighing, analytical, and measurement technologies for use in a variety of industrial and laboratory applications. Th Read More 300 attend activation ceremony for 46 troops in 452nd being deployed An Army Reserve activation ceremony was held at Presentation College on Saturday afternoon, giving families a chance to show their support. Copyright 2018 Albuquerque Journal Two teenage boys accused of fatally shooting a middle-aged homeless man a dozen times last month for fun shuffled into a courtroom in Metropolitan Court Wednesday afternoon, shackled at the wrists and ankles, for their first appearance before a judge. Anthony Gallegos, 17, and Timothy Chavez, 15, sat surrounded by transport officers in two rows of chairs, with their heads down, occasionally glancing toward the audience as they talked with a public defender. Chavezs mother watched the proceedings but it is unclear if Gallegos family was in attendance. The teenagers are charged with murder, conspiracy and tampering with evidence and are being tried as adults. Prosecutors asked that they stay locked up until trial, citing the brutality of the crime, their boasts about the killing, and their history with the law so far. In just the first few months of this year, defendant has shot at juveniles; participated in a drug deal which turned into a shooting; picked up an aggravated battery case; and now participated in a homicide, prosecutors wrote in a motion asking for Chavez to be held in pre-trial detention. Defendants violent conduct with firearms is escalating and poses a danger to the community. In Gallegos case, prosecutors cited a propensity for violence saying that now his behavior has escalated to the point where he is involved in a homicide. He poses a danger to the community. After the hearing their public defender Jeff Rein declined to comment. According to a criminal complaint filed in Metropolitan Court, in mid-March, Chavez and Gallegos each shot Ronnie Ross, 50, in the head, back and ribs on the 1200 block of Menaul, just west of Interstate 25. Witnesses said that before the shooting they had been at a friends birthday party at a nearby hotel and were flashing a gun. Officer Simon Drobik, a spokesman for the Albuquerque Police Department, said detectives believe the two shot Ross for fun and did not know him or have any previous dealings with him. He said investigators dont know yet where the teenagers got the gun and detectives are investigating that. It was found, wrapped in a shirt, about a half mile from where Ross was killed. Ronnie Ross On March 18, officers found Ross body riddled with bullets and lying in the landscaping rocks off the sidewalk near the T-Mobile Call Center. He was clad in a black jacket and blue jeans, a bullet hole visible in his temple and forehead. Ten .45 caliber shell casings scattered the ground nearby and police say the autopsy took two days to complete because of the numerous times Ross had been shot. An ID bracelet from the Metropolitan Detention Center gave detectives Rosss name and birthdate, and when they tracked down his sister she told them he was homeless, often traveling between New Mexico and Arizona. But, she said, she thought her brother was locked up and had no idea he was in Albuquerque. In fact, Ross, a Native American from Shiprock, had been released from jail fewer than 48 hours before his death. According to a criminal complaint, he had served two days in jail after he was picked up on a warrant for shoplifting stemming from an arrest in late October. Police said he had tried to walk out of Walmart with a basket full of clothes and shoes. Hank Hughes, Executive Director of the NM Coalition To End Homelessness, said the attack is another reminder of the violence often visited upon homeless people. He said Ross death brings to mind the 2014 slaying of two Navajo homeless men, Allison Gorman, 44, and Kee Thompson, 45, who were also killed by teenagers. Those teens ages 15, 16 and 18 beat Gorman and Thompson with makeshift weapons before retrieving kitchen knives to stab both of them to death. Gilbert Tafoya, Nathaniel Carillo, and Alex Rios were all convicted in the case and sentenced to 20, 26, and 67 years in prison respectively. In a case where theres this much violence, theres something really going wrong in the rearing of these teenagers to be adults, Hughes said about Rosss slaying. Theyre missing something. I dont know if we can reach people on that level when theyve got that much hate inside them. Brushes with the law Before Gallegos and Chavez were accused of shooting Ross to death, the teenagers lived with their families in tidy, beige subdivisions, about a mile and a half apart, in far Northwest Albuquerque. Both families declined to comment to the Journal, but neighbors living in the area off Rainbow and Paseo Del Norte NW remembered seeing them walking around with friends. They said people would frequently be coming and going from the house Chavez lived in with his family. People who live in the area said Gallegos was clearly troubled and disruptive in the two-story stucco home where his guardians lived. It is unclear exactly what relationship Gallegos had to the guardians. Last school year, Chavez attended Tony Hillerman Middle School and Gallegos went to Volcano Vista High School, but more recently they were both 9th graders at the Juvenile Detention Center educational center, according to a spokeswoman for Albuquerque Public Schools. Last October, officers took Gallegos into custody on warrants after setting up a perimeter around his house on the 10000 block of Shawna NW, in Ventana Ranch, according to a police report. He was wanted by juvenile probation. While in the Juvenile Detention Center he racked up battery charges and rule violations. According to court documents, he punched youth program officers, and in a separate incident spat and berated officers. After Gallegos was released, he was ordered to live at New Day Shelter, in southeast Albuquerque, according to a police report. But in late January, an employee reported that he showed up one day appearing to be under the influence of drugs and then ran away. According to the police report, officers later talked to his guardian who said he had gone to her house and she did not want to report him as missing. According to police reports, Chavez didnt start getting into serious trouble with the law until just a couple of months ago. But since early January, police say, he was involved in a drive-by shooting, he and some friends attacked two other teenagers with a pencil to the neck, and he was charged with attempted murder after reportedly shooting and critically injuring a man during a drug deal. In that case on March 22, Chavezs neighbor, Justin Baca, said he heard gunshots around 9 p.m. and his dogs began to bark. He said he walked out of his home to find his neighbors clustered out front watching rescue crews rush a kid to the hospital. He had been shot in the face. They werent sure he was going to be alright, Baca said. Police say Chavez, Gallegos and 16-year-old Santino Lucero had orchestrated the shooting over a drug deal and lured the man to the park with the offer to buy $130 of marijuana even though they only had $100. What happened next, and who pulled the trigger, is unclear from a criminal complaint. During questioning, Lucero later told police he didnt like the deal so he grabbed the cash and ran away from the car. And police say a friend of all three teens came forward a few days later to tell detectives the three had told him they shot the man in the face for fun. PALM BEACH, Fla. President Donald Trump is attempting to rewrite history on his rationale for firing James Comey as FBI director last year. In a Wednesday morning tweet sent as Comey promotes his criticism-filled new book, Trump says he was not fired because of the phony Russia investigation. But in an interview days after the sudden firing, Trump revealed that the probe into potential collusion during the 2016 campaign was on his mind at the time he made the decision. The White Houses initial explanation for Trumps decision was Comeys handling of the Clinton email investigation, and it released a memo from Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein justifying the decision. But two days after firing Comey, Trump undercut that rationale. In the interview with NBC on May 11, 2017, Trump said, In fact, when I decided to just do it, I said to myself, I said, You know, this Russia thing with Trump and Russia is a made up story.' Trump decided to fire Comey over the objections of his top advisers at the time, including chief of staff Reince Priebus and chief strategist Steve Bannon. Comeys firing, and Trumps subsequent suggestion that the Russia investigation was a factor in the decision, led Rosenstein to appoint special counsel Robert Mueller to oversee the investigation. Mueller is now investigating the Comey firing as part of an investigation of potential obstruction by the president. Appearing Wednesday on ABCs The View, Comey said he doesnt know why Trump fired him. But he said the presidents Wednesday tweet that Comey was not dismissed because of the phony Russia investigation illustrates a problem the former FBI director said hes been trying to highlight during his book-promotion tour. It matters that the president is not committed to the truth as a central American value, Comey said. In an interview with ABC that aired Sunday, Comey said there is certainly some evidence that Trump had obstructed justice when Comey said the president pushed him to take a lenient stance toward former national security adviser Michael Flynn, who pleaded guilty last year to lying to the FBI about his contacts with Russias ambassador to the United States. ____ AP Writer Darlene Superville contributed from Washington. The pilots voice was calm yet focused as her plane descended with 149 people on board. Southwest 1380, were single engine, Tammie Jo Shults, a former fighter pilot with the U.S. Navy and a New Mexico native, said. We have part of the aircraft missing so were going to need to slow down a bit. She asked for medical personnel to meet her aircraft on the runway. Weve got injured passengers. Injured passengers, OK, and is your airplane physically on fire? asked a male voice on the other end, according to an air traffic recording. No, its not on fire, but part of its missing, Shults said, pausing for a moment. They said theres a hole, and uh, someone went out. The engine on Shultss plane had, in fact, exploded on Tuesday, spraying shrapnel into the aircraft, causing a window to be blown out and leaving one passenger dead and seven others injured. Frightened passengers on board the Dallas-bound flight braced for impact as oxygen masks muffled their screams. In the midst of the chaos, Shults successfully completed an emergency landing at the Philadelphia International Airport, sparing the lives of 148 people and averting a far worse catastrophe. She has nerves of steel, one passenger, Alfred Tumlinson, told The Associated Press. That lady, I applaud her. Im going to send her a Christmas card Im going to tell you that with a gift certificate for getting me on the ground. She was awesome. Another passenger, Diana McBride Self, thanked Shults on Facebook for her guidance and bravery in a traumatic situation. She added that Shults came back to speak to each of us personally. This is a true American Hero, she wrote. Others on social media agreed, even comparing Shults with Capt. Chesley Sully Sullenberger, who glided his US Airways plane to safety in New Yorks Hudson River in 2009. Southwest declined to name the pilot, though passengers confirmed Shults name on social media, and Shults mother-in-law told The Washington Post she was the pilot. Shults husband also confirmed her name to AP. Shults declined to comment when reached by The Post. Her mother-in-law, Virginia Shults, told The Post that as soon as she heard the pilots voice on the radio transmission online, she said, That is Tammie Jo. It was just as if she and I were sitting here talking, Virginia Shults said. Shes a very calming person. It was also no surprise to her that Tammie Jo Shults was the pilot credited with the skillful landing. Shultss mother-in-law and friends described her as a pioneer in the aviation field, a woman who broke barriers to pursue her goals. She was among the first female fighter pilots for the U.S. Navy, according to her alma mater, MidAmerica Nazarene University, from which she graduated in 1983. Cindy Foster, who went to college with her, told the Kansas City Star that Shults was also among the first women to fly an F/A-18 Hornet for the Navy. She said she wasnt going to let anyone tell her she couldnt, Foster said. Shults persistence in becoming a pilot goes back to her upbringing on a New Mexico ranch, near Holloman Air Force Base, Shults wrote in the book Military Fly Moms, by Linda Maloney. Some people grow up around aviation. I grew up under it, she wrote. Watching the daily air show, she knew she just had to fly. Shults graduated from Tularosa High School in 1979. Classmate Alynn Hooper said she remembered her as a great person. I can see her having the composure to do this, Hooper said. Shults recalled attending a lecture on aviation during her senior year of high school, in 1979. A retired colonel started the class by asking Shults, the only girl in attendance, if I was lost. I mustered up the courage to assure him I was not and that I was interested in flying, she wrote. He allowed me to stay but assured me there were no professional women pilots. When she met a woman in college who had received her Air Force wings, she wrote, I set to work trying to break into the club. But Shults, whose maiden name is Bonnell, wrote that the Air Force wasnt interested in talking to her. The Navy let her apply for aviation officer candidate school, but there did not seem to be a demand for women pilots. Finally, she wrote, a year after taking the Navy aviation exam, she found a recruiter who would process her application. After aviation officer candidate school in Pensacola, Fla., she was assigned to a training squadron at Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas, as an instructor pilot teaching student aviators how to fly the Navy T-2 trainer. She later left to fly the A-7 Corsair in Lemoore, Calif. By then, she met her knight in shining airplane, a fellow pilot who would become her husband, Dean Shults. (He also now flies for Southwest Airlines). Because of the combat exclusion law, Tammie Jo Shults was prohibited from flying in a combat squadron. While her husband was able to join a squadron, her choices were limited, involving providing electronic warfare training to Navy ships and aircraft. She later became one of the first women to fly what was then the Navys newest fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet, but again in a support role. Women were new to the Hornet community, and already there were signs of growing pains. She served in the Navy for 10 years, reaching the rank of Navy lieutenant commander. She left the Navy in 1993, and now lives in the San Antonio area with her husband. She has two children a teenage son and a daughter in her early 20s. Foster, her friend from college, told the Kansas City Star that Shults knew she had to work harder than everyone else. Foster said. She did it for herself and all women fighting for a chance, Foster said. Her approach to parenting, described in the Military Fly Moms book, reflected a similar sentiment. We endeavor to teach our children to be leaders, not lemmings, she wrote. This is especially important when it comes to making the right choice while the crowd is pulling in the other direction. Gary Shults, her brother-in-law, described her to the AP as a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack. My brother says shes the best pilot he knows, Gary Shults said. Shes a very caring, giving person who takes care of lots of people. Her mother-in-law also described her as a devout Christian, a faith she thinks may have contributed to her calm state amid the emergency landing. I know God was with her, and I know she was talking to God, Virginia Shults said. Whatever was going through her mind as she completed her landing, Tammie Jo Shults even made time to tell the control tower: Thank you thanks guys, for the help. Some information from Journal reports. It was, by all accounts, a couple of touches on the shoulder, a tap, a pat, followed by a slight pull on said shoulder as if trying to get the attention of the human attached to that shoulder. Which is what Richard Davis was trying to do when he saw Dona Ana County District Attorney Mark DAntonio sitting in the audience at a victims of crime rally earlier this month in Las Cruces. That touch was enough to get Davis, 38, thrown in jail, charged with petty misdemeanor battery. Its a stunning reversal of sorts. Until recently, DAntonios office was also prosecuting a case in which Davis was not a defendant but a victim of a burglary that left him not just touched but beaten with a bat made of rebar and wood and gouged at least a dozen times in his back with a hatchet. Think of that. A crime victim at an event for crime victims is now charged with the crime of victimizing the countys top crime-fighter with a touch of his hand. Whats upsetting to me most is that I have now done more jail time than the person who broke into my house and stabbed me, said Davis, who was arraigned Tuesday in Dona Ana Magistrate Court in Las Cruces and remains free on his own recognizance. Davis is disgruntled that after 1 years since he was robbed and stabbed in his home Oct. 26, 2016, the case has yet to be resolved. Trial has been set and vacated four times, each time at the request of the defense attorney for Diego Vallejo, the 19-year-old charged with aggravated burglary, armed robbery, breaking and entering, criminal damage to property and conspiracy. The case includes a hate-crime enhancement because authorities say Vallejo and his accomplices, who have never been caught, yelled gay slurs at Davis, who is gay, before beating and stabbing him until Davis was able to grab a pistol and shoot Vallejo in the leg. It seems like oftentimes unless victims speak up, its just so easy for the prosecutors to just let cases go by the wayside, Davis said. People broke into my house and tried to kill me, but I am not going to become a pushover. Im not going to let DAntonio bully me. But DAntonio says its Davis who is the bully. District attorneys office spokesman Damien Willis declined to comment on the matter, because the case is open and ongoing. But he provided a Feb. 21 letter written by DAntonio to Davis that calls out Davis for his disrespect and unwarranted aggression toward prosecutors and office staff. You were unkind and mean-spirited, the letter states. I question your veracity and your ability to understand right from wrong. DAntonio further complains that Davis posted vile and untrue insults about him on social media and may have been prompted to do so by an unnamed public official. So egregious was Davis behavior, DAntonio contends, that it created a conflict between his office and Davis. As a result, District Attorney Dianna Luce of the 5th Judicial District in Carlsbad has been appointed special prosecutor to handle Davis case the fourth prosecutor assigned to the case. A new trial date has been set for July 24. And yes, Davis admits that hes become outspoken and maybe a bit rude because what happened to him and what hasnt happened, namely a trial torments him daily. Not a day goes by that this hasnt affected me, he said. I worry about the ones who got away that day and I worry that no one is doing anything to put the one they did catch away. On April 7, he said he attended the National Crime Victims Rights Walk/Expo at a Las Cruces park, armed with a megaphone and a copy of the Feb. 21 letter in the hopes of confronting DAntonio, who was expected to speak at the event. As DAntonio spoke, Davis said he began shouting Lies, lies, lies, you have personally re-victimized me but was thwarted by a biker group that circled him and nudged him to the back of the park. After the speech, Davis said he found DAntonio sitting in the audience, tapped him on the shoulder and, with tears in his eyes, dropped the letter at his feet. Thats when he was taken into custody. DAntonio, a Democrat, has had his share of controversy. The twice-elected district attorney is the focus of two whistleblower lawsuits one, filed in September by his former office manager, that accuses him of offering to dismiss criminal charges against a defendant in exchange for money, retaining bad employees as political favors, mishandling cases and discriminating against women in his office. In February, Gov. Susana Martinez, who once had DAntonios job, accused him of complete incompetence after a mentally ill man accused of killing his mother in 2007 walked free. Dealing with upset, angry folks comes with the job of being a public figure just ask U.S. Rep. Michelle Lujan Grisham but such lofty positions require a thicker skin, listening, learning and the ability to discern the difference between persistence and nuisance, aggrievement and abuse, a tap and an attack. In the case between Davis and DAntonio, one wonders who the real victim is. UpFront is a front-page news and opinion column. Comment directly to Joline at 823-3603, jkrueger@abqjournal.com or follow her on Twitter @jolinegkg. The tiny New Mexico town that handed out police badges to dozens of out-of-towners, including New Mexico native and New York hedge fund manager Robert Mercer, is stopping the practice. Lake Arthur Mayor Ysidro Salazar said he shut the towns volunteer reserve-officer program earlier this month and is asking current reserve officers to hand in their credentials, which allowed them to carry concealed weapons in every state. The mayor put Chief William Norwood, who ran the program and served as Lake Arthurs sole full-time paid police officer, on administrative leave. His status will be discussed at a future town council meeting, Salazar said. Norwood didnt respond to requests for comment. Mercer, a graduate of Sandia High School and the University of New Mexico, reportedly plowed $15 million into Cambridge Analytica, which helped both the Trump campaign in the U.S. and the Brexit movement in the United Kingdom, the Albuquerque Journal reported last month. The previously obscure online data-mining firm has been thrust into the national media glare after revelations it harvested Facebook user information to help propel Donald Trump into the White House in 2016. The volunteer officer program was the subject of a March 28 article in Bloomberg Businessweek. At its peak, the department said, almost 150 volunteers were serving as reserve officers for a town of 433 residents. The reservists were scattered around the country. Their right to carry a concealed weapon in all 50 states is a perk available to law enforcement officers under a 2004 federal law. More recently, the department winnowed the program to 84 members. Because of the notoriety this was bringing, I decided to go ahead and disassemble the unit, Salazar said. The Businessweek story didnt put the town in a very good light. He said Norwoods intentions were good, but the program got a little bit too big for him and a lot of the reserves kind of took advantage of that fact. Mercer, a prominent donor to President Donald Trump who bankrolled Breitbart News and the political-data company Cambridge Analytica, served as a Lake Arthur reserve officer from 2011 to 2017, according to department records. An organization he funded awarded a grant to the Lake Arthur reserve program and also advocated nationally for the rights of police officers to carry concealed weapons. Mercer works at Renaissance Technologies, a hedge fund based in East Setauket, N.Y., where until recently he was co-chief executive officer. Mercers son-in-law George Wells also had a Lake Arthur badge. A spokesman for Mercer declined to comment. According to Forbes magazine, Mercer donated $24.6 million to the Republican Party in 2016. He has reportedly invested $10 million into Breitbart, the conservative news site. Financial journals place his net worth between $900 million and more than $1 billion. Journal staff contributed to this report. Wildlife managers in the American Southwest say a once-rare bat important to the pollination of plants used to produce tequila has made a comeback and is being removed from the U.S. endangered species list. The U.S. Fish and Wildlife Services announcement Tuesday made the lesser long-nosed bat, which ranges from Mexico to southern Arizona and New Mexico, the first bat ever removed from the nations list of threatened and endangered species. The decision comes a year after first being proposed and three years after Mexico delisted the animal, which depends on the nectar of agaves, cactuses and other flowering plants. It has taken 30 years of conservation efforts by biologists and volunteers in both countries as well as tequila producers and agave growers in Mexico to rebuild a healthy population. There were once thought to be fewer than 1,000 lesser long-nosed bats in 14 known roosts throughout the region. Now, there are about 200,000 of the nectar-feeding animals and dozens of roost sites. With the population trending upward, regional officials with the Fish and Wildlife Service say the science shows threats to the bat have been eliminated or reduced to the point where they can consider the species recovered. In Mexico, tequila producers who rely on agaves are integrating more harvest and cultivation practices in recognition of the bats being key pollinators. Some are marketing bat-friendly tequila. In southern Arizona, residents for a decade have monitored bats nighttime use of hummingbird feeders. It provided biologists with a clearer understanding of migration timing and allowed for the opportunity to capture bats and affix radio transmitters that aided in finding roost sites. Scientists and state wildlife managers describe the delisting as a conservation success that resulted from decades of work. The story of the lesser long-nosed bat shows that conservation and science can work together to provide species the chance to recover and persist, Winifred Frick, chief scientist at Bat Conservation International, said in a statement. To ensure the bats continue to thrive, the Fish and Wildlife Service is preparing a monitoring plan that will focus on roosting sites and availability of forage. Federal land managers in New Mexico and Arizona, including at the U.S. Armys Fort Huachuca, already are including forage plants such as agaves, saguaros and other cactuses in their resource management plans to help the species. Limiting human access to caves with roost sites and abandoned mines in the U.S. also has benefited bat populations. Recovery efforts have included education aimed at changing attitudes about bats and improving identification of different species. Historically, the lesser long-nosed bat was a victim of campaigns to control vampire bats over rabies concerns and their effects on livestock. Prev 1 of 8 Next Many were horrified on Tuesday upon learning an Albuquerque woman was killed after being partially pulled out of a plane when a nearby window was smashed by debris from an exploding engine. Two words: extremely rare, said Alan Diehl, a former air safety investigator with the National Transportation Safety Board, Federal Aviation Administration and U.S. Air Force, of incidents involving passengers being pulled from planes in flight. But on Nov. 3, 1973, a similar scenario unfolded on a flight over southwest New Mexico heading from Houston to Las Vegas, Nev. Then, a Texas man died after he was pulled entirely from the plane when an engine on a National Airlines DC-10 flight blew up. G.F. Gardner, 47, of Beaumont, Texas, was pulled from the plane at 40,000 feet over an area near Magdalena. His skeletal remains were found two years later during construction of the Very Large Array radio telescope near Socorro. That engine literally fell apart, passenger David Drucker told the Journal in a Nov. 5, 1973, article. The plane made an emergency landing at the Albuquerque airport, and 24 of the 127 surviving passengers and crew members were treated for smoke inhalation, ear problems and minor abrasions, according to the 1975 accident report by the National Transportation Safety Board. Passengers said they attempted to pull Gardner back inside the aircraft but were unable to do so. He was wearing a seat belt, but the report stated there were around eight inches of slack in the belt. Efforts to pull the passenger back into the airplane by another passenger were unsuccessful, and the occupant of seat 17H was subsequently forced entirely through the cabin window, the report stated. The report determined that the engines fan blades had contacted the fan case during flight, causing the disintegration of the engine. NTSB investigators say Jennifer Riordan, the Albuquerque banking executive killed in Tuesdays accident, was wearing a seatbelt, but was still pulled halfway through the opening left by the broken window, where she remained for several minutes until a man was able to pull her back inside. The Associated Press reported Philadelphias medical examiner said Riordan died from blunt impact trauma to her head, neck and torso. When youre talking about those kinds of speeds, the human body is just not capable, Diehl said. Its what the flailing into the structure can do to the body. Preliminary results by the NTSB have indicated that one of the fan blades on Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 that snapped off midflight showed signs of metal fatigue. AZTEC Aztec Police Chief Mike Heal said the FBI did not provide the city police department with information about William Atchisons online activity prior to the shooting at Aztec High School. Instead, they provided information about the online posts but attributed them to Atchisons brother, Heal said. Atchison killed two Aztec High School students during a shooting Dec. 7 before taking his own life. The 21-year-old former Aztec High School student did not have a criminal record, but he had been interviewed by law enforcement before. Heal answered questions about what Aztec police knew about Atchison during his monthly Coffee With the Chief on Tuesday at Aztec City Hall. The topic of the discussion was school security and what is being done to prevent future shootings. The FBI first contacted Atchison in March 2016 after learning about some posts he had made on online forums. A post about shooting up his former school was among the online posts that raised alarm. Heal said the FBI told the Aztec Police Department about the posts. However, he said the FBI gave them information about Atchisons brother. Heal said the Aztec police created a sketch of Atchisons brother and believed that the brother was behind the online posts. FBI spokesman Frank Fisher declined to comment, stating the investigation is ongoing. When asked if he thought the police would have done anything different if they had received the correct information from the FBI, Heal said police spoke casually with Atchison the night before the shooting at his place of work. He said there wasnt anything out of the ordinary during the conversation with Atchison. The 2016 FBI investigation ended after the agency did not find evidence of a crime having been committed and found that no firearms were in his possession, according to FBI agent Terry Wade who spoke during a Dec. 8 press conference. Atchison purchased his Glock 9mm handgun legally on Nov. 3, 2017, from the Sportsmans Warehouse store in Farmington. On Wednesday, Heal said that on the night of Dec. 6, the day before the shooting, two of his officers happened to see Atchison working at a gas station at the intersection of Lightplant Road and West Aztec Boulevard. Heal added the officers were getting gas for their patrol vehicles. There have been no police calls to Atchisons residence regarding the shooter, according to Detective Lt. Kyle Lincoln of the San Juan County Sheriffs Office. In addition to discussing what the police knew about the shooter, Heal talked about school security and the changes the New Mexico Association of Chiefs of Police would like to see come in light of the Aztec High School shooting. Heal serves as vice president of the association. He said the association will lobby for changes during the 2019 legislative session. Heal said the association will likely lobby to have the rules changed regarding Public Employees Retirement Association of New Mexico. Currently a retired police officer cannot go work as a security guard and continue receiving retirement benefits. Heal said he wants to see that rule changed. The next Coffee With the Chief will be May 15 in Aztec. Reporter Joshua Kellogg contributed to this story. Hannah Grover covers government for The Daily Times. She can be reached at 505-564-4652 or via email at hgrover@daily-times.com. 2018 The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) Visit The Daily Times (Farmington, N.M.) at www.daily-times.com Distributed by Tribune Content Agency, LLC. _____ STOCKHOLM Thousands of protesters called Thursday for the resignation of the secretive board that awards the Nobel Prize in Literature after a sex-abuse scandal linked to the prestigious Swedish academy forced the ouster of its first-ever woman head and tarnished the reputation of the coveted prize. The ugly internal feud has already reached the top levels of public life in the Scandinavian nation known for its promotion of gender equality, with the prime minister, the king and the Nobel board weighing in. On Thursday evening, thousands of protesters gathered on Stockholms picturesque Stortorget Square outside the headquarters of the Swedish Academy, which has awarded the Nobel Prize in Literature since 1901, to demand all of its remaining members resign. Parallel demonstrations were planned in Goteborg, Helsingborg, Eskilstuna, Vasteras, and Borgholm. The national protests have grown out of what began as Swedens own #MeToo moment in November when the country saw thousands of sexual misconduct allegations surfacing from all walks of life. It hit the academy when 18 women came forward with accusations against Jean-Claude Arnault, a major cultural figure in Sweden who is married to Katarina Frostenson, a poet who is a member of the academy. Police are investigating the allegations, which Arnault denies, but the case has exposed bitter divisions within the academy, whose members are appointed for life, and given rise to accusations of patriarchal leanings among some members. The turmoil began when some of the committees 18 members pushed for the removal of Frostenson after the allegations were levied against her husband, who runs a cultural club that has received money from the academy. In addition to sexual misconduct, Arnault is also accused of leaking Nobel winners names for years. After a closed-door vote failed to oust her, three male members behind the push Klas Ostergren, Kjell Espmark and Peter Englund themselves resigned. That prompted Horace Engdahl, a committee member who has supported Arnault, to label them a clique of sore losers and criticize the three for airing their case in public. He also lashed out at Sara Danius, the first woman to lead the Swedish Academy, who was forced out last week amid criticism from male members of her handling of the scandal. Danius, a Swedish literature historian at Stockholm University, had cut the academys ties with Arnault and hired investigators to examine its relationship to the club he ran with Frostenson. Their report is expected soon. Supporters of Danius have described her as progressive leader who pushed reforms that riled the old guard. At Thursdays protests, many participants wore pussy-bow blouses like the ones worn by Danius. The high-necked blouses with a loosely tied bow at the neck have become a rallying symbol for those critical of the Swedish Academys handling of the case. Birgitta Hojlund, 70, who traveled several hours to attend the protest, said despite Swedens progressive image, women still face inequality. There are still differences, in wages and in honors and in professions, she said, calling for the Swedish academy to be recreated from the bottom, and balance male and female. Theyre pushing women away, saying that sexism is OK, in this academy, agreed Torun Carrfors, a 31-year-old nurse. They should leave, and we need to have new ones. Last week, Frostenson announced she too was leaving the academy. On Thursday, a sixth member, writer Lotta Lotass, said she, was also planning to step down, citing backlash from tradition-minded male members of the board who questioned her credentials, the Dagens Nyheter newspaper reported. The departures of the highly respected women have given rise to a flurry of protests on social media. Feminist battles happen every day, wrote Swedish Culture Minister Alice Bah Kuhnke, who posted a picture of herself last week wearing a white pussy-bow blouse like those worn by Danius. Other Swedish women also posted pictures of themselves in the blouses as anger grew over Danius departure, including Social Affairs Minister Annika Strandhall, actress Helena Bergstrom and fashion designer Camilla Thulin. The public controversy has also given rise to concerns about the Swedish Academy losing its credibility and tarnishing the reputation of the Nobel Prize. The Swedish Academy is an internationally acclaimed organization and it should stand for all the right values and at the present moment I dont think they do, said Carsten Greiff, a 32-year-old business developer, attending Thursdays protest. Its dragging the international view of the Nobel Prize in the dirt. King Carl XVI Gustaf said the resignations risked seriously damaging the academy, while Prime Minister Stefan Lofven emphasized the academys importance to Sweden and urged its members to restore faith and respect. Trust in the Swedish Academy has been seriously damaged, the Nobel Foundation said of the situation, while demanding the group take action to restore that trust. Despite the resignations the academy, founded by King Gustav III in 1786, does not currently have a mechanism for its lifetime-appointed board members to step down. The king the academys patron, who must approve its secret votes said Wednesday in the wake of the recent events he wants to change rules to allow resignations. The number of members who do not actively participate in the academys work is now so large that it is seriously risking the academys ability to fulfill its important tasks, he said. _____ Olsen reported from Copenhagen, Denmark. Associated Press writer David Rising in Berlin contributed to this report. A Day of Action. Thats what schools in Albuquerque have planned for Friday, the 19th anniversary of the Columbine High School shooting massacre, according to the Albuquerque Teachers Federation. The local union anticipates over 100 schools will don orange bracelets with the message #NOMORE on Friday, re-initiating a conversation on gun violence and school safety. Schools will host a walk-in and tie orange ribbons around fences for awareness. Nineteen years ago, in the wake of the massacre at Columbine, we said, never again, and since then, over 187,000 students at 193 schools have experienced a school shooting. Our students have implored us to hold our politicians accountable for school safety, and today we honor their plea with this message: all students deserve safe, welcoming, supportive school environments where they can learn and thrive without fear, wrote Ellen Bernstein, president of the Albuquerque Teachers Federation, in a statement. The walk-ins are planned to take place before the start of the school day. Some schools planning on participating include Bandelier Elementary, Lew Wallace Elementary School, Kennedy Middle School and Highland High School, according to ATF. Across the country, other forms of activism including protests and walkouts are also planned for Friday. Day of Action follows two other protests last month advocating for school safety reform. On March 14, many students across New Mexico walked out of class for 17 minutes one minute for each victim of a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Fla. And on March 24, thousands in Albuquerque marched in the streets of the Old Town area for the nationwide gun violence protest March for Our Lives. OKLAHOMA CITY A bout of calmer winds and higher humidity on Thursday helped firefighters battle large wildfires across Oklahoma, though fire conditions were critical in Arizona and New Mexico. The fires have killed at least two people and injured nearly two dozen others in Oklahoma as weather fueled the blazes earlier this week. Temperatures reached 99 degrees, the humidity fell as low as 4 percent and winds gusted to more than 50 mph (80 kph). But firefighters were able to get containment to about 15 percent on a large fire northwest ok Oklahoma City that has so far burned about 440 square miles (1,140 sq. kilometers), according to U.S. Forest Service spokesman Todd Schroeder. Weve got a good weather day and our crews will be able to get a lot of work done, Schroeder said, noting that Thursday marked the second day of decent fire-fighting weather after that horrific day the day before. Firefighters also were able to get about 45 percent containment on a fire near Woodward that has burned 106 square miles (275 sq. kilometer). In Arizona, restrictions on campfires and outdoor smoking will take effect Friday on state and federally managed public lands. Strong winds and low humidity also are hampering efforts to contain a fire that has burned about 20 square miles (52 sq. kilometers) on the Fort Apache and San Carlos Indian reservation and the Apache-Sitgreaves National Forests. Tom Story, spokesman for the Southwest Coordinating Group, a federal and state agency that sent crews to fight the fire, said the conditions are extremely dangerous. In western New Mexico, the fire danger is rated extremely critical because of low humidity and wind gusts of up to 55 mph (88 kph), according to the National Weather Services Storm Prediction Center. Two fires a few miles apart in the Cibola National Forest have so far burned about 20 square miles (51.8 sq. kilometers). Any time you have fire, its a critical time, spokesman Peter DAquanni said. Theres more potential out there today for this fire to grow, but weve been preparing for it. Fire crews were able to nearly extinguish a fire that crossed into Kansas from Colorado and burned a total of about 75 square miles (194 sq. kilometers). Crews were monitoring hot spots on Thursday. In the Texas Panhandle, a fire has burned an estimated 50 square miles (130 sq. kilometers) and was 80 percent contained, according to the Texas A&M Forest Service. ___ Associated Press reporters Paul Davenport in Phoenix and Heather Hollingsworth in Kansas City, Missouri, contributed to this report. Honda Motorcycle and Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. has introduced the latest 360O ad campaign - LOVE IS GROWING for the iconic Activa 5G, Indias No. 1 selling two-wheeler. Developed by Dentsu One, a Dentsu Aegis Network Company, the TVC is now on air across all popular channels. From its debut in 2001, Honda 2Wheelers India singularly started the scooterization of India with the iconic Activa on back of its two core strengths - advance technology and innovation. Activas biggest strength lies in its continuous evolution ahead of the time which has fortified its universal appeal that cuts across generations, geographies and genders. To Read More Visit Here. Now, transforming the way India rides ahead, Honda has launched the 5th generation ACTIVA 5G which gets New Deluxe variant (with digital-analog meter, ECO speed indicator and Service Due Indicator), industry first features in 110cc segment (full LED Headlamp and position lamp), next-generation looks, 2 new colours, added convenience (front hook, 4-in-1 lock with seat opening switch, retractable rear hook) and higher durability (metal muffler protector). Campaign objective: You may be a young college student or a middle aged professor, the feeling of love that Activa 5G evokes is universal. This is why, even 17 years and many generations later, Love is Growing with the launch of latest 5th generation Activa 5G. Brief shared with agency: Growing over its 17 year journey, Activa is the only scooter to overtake motorcycles and become Indias No. 1 selling two-wheeler brand. The icon is the Most Trusted & Convenient common denominator for 18 million plus Indians. The Love is Growing campaign is unique in more ways than one. Here, the obvious, that is, the technology, new stylish design, advance features and added convenience which make Activa the leader are subtle but not the focus. Instead, the campaign takes a step further and celebrates how Activa is not just a two-wheeler but an emotion, that is, love which unites millions of Indian families and youth. Approach: Since the launch of Activa in 2001, the world has changed. Generations too have changed. But, Indias universal love for Activa keeps growing as the new generation Activa 5G excites both youth and families. Hence, the approach was to showcase Activas unparalleled universal appeal and love using daily life as the canvas. Giving an extra fun punch and emotional connect to the TVC is the story of main characters - Taapsee Pannu, daughter of college professor (Boman Irani) with many a comic twists. Film description: Hondas Love is Growing TVC starts with an establishment of a college campus. It is here that Taapsee enters riding the new Activa 5G with her father (Boman Irani) as her pillion. father and daughter duo (Boman Irani and Taapsee Pannu) riding the new Activa 5G to college. Boman character of a college professors bag has been placed on the footboard, attached to the new retractable rear hook. A group of 4 youth stop to notice the scene. The first says Ye to wahi hai yaar to which the second replies lagti to bilkul alag hai yaar to which the third friend adds Bright like sunshine. For the audience, the first impression is that students are infatuated with the pretty girl riding the scooter. But as the scooter draws nearer, it is realised the object of their fancy is the all new Activa 5G. The opening scene thus establishes the love for Activa is growing more with the new Activa 5G which looks and rides completely different. One of the friend though has all eyes for the girl and says Tu 5G Dekh, Mujhe to apna future dikh raha hai. The strict professor father (Boman) hearing this gets annoyed and scolds the boy to come inside the building. A voiceover in the background introduces the scooter as Agaya hai naya Activa 5G. Curiosity badegi, batein badhengi, aur pyaar toh badhega hi. When Taapsee returns, she asks the boy what he was saying about the future. But once again, before he can reply, the professor returns. Such is the universal appeal and love of Activa that on the way back, Boman rides the Activa 5G. Meanwhile, new love is growing in real life too as Taapsee looks back and smiles at the boy while her father, Boman senses this. To Read More Visit Here. As the No. 1 selling two-wheeler of India, Activa is no longer just a mobility solution but a cherished part of life for more than 18 million Indian families and youth. Activa has transformed to meet the evolving needs of every generation over the years. The new fifth generation Activa 5G while staying true to its legacy of trust, innovation, quality, reliability and convenience; looks and rides completely different giving young India all the more reason to fall in love with it. The new Love is Growing campaign celebrates that not only is the Love for Activa is growing but love is growing in real life too, said Mr. Yadvinder Singh Guleria, Senior Vice President, Sales & Marketing, Honda Motorcycle & Scooter India Pvt. Ltd. Activa is a household name in India. It has seen many generations. As we were briefed about the 5th generation model of this very popular brand, we thought lets showcase how this love is growing. The film is a little chapter from this love story, which occurs in a University, between one of the students and the professors daughter. It was great working with Boman Irani. Taapsee adds a new flavour to the brand. We hope the film builds on the love that the brand already enjoys across the nation, said Mr. Titus Upputuru, National Creative Director, Dentsu One. Activa has become an inseparable part of Indian families since its launch 17 years back. So many things have changed during this time but the love and affection for Activa has only grown and multiplied over the years. With this growing love across multiple generations, it was the right time to launch Activa 5G with a quirky campaign where the brand becomes the harbinger or catalyst to get two people to fall in love with each other. said Mr. Abhinav Kaushik, Senior Vice President, Account Management, Dentsu One. It's often seen that an AC's biggest challenge is to perform efficiently even under extra load conditions, which usually comes in the form of more people. Ordinary ACs are just not designed to handle this extra load. This is where the Blue Star Inverter AC comes in. It delivers 30% more cooling when there are more people in the room; probably the only inverter AC in the country to do so. So, whether it's visiting friends, a house party or unexpected guests, the new Blue Star Inverter AC ensures that everyone in the room is comfortable. This unique proposition is now being communicated with two ad films, conceptualised by Blue Star's advertising partner, FCB Interface. To Read More Visit Here. The first film brings the story of a home-alone teenager to the fore, enfolding the drama that ensues when his mother comes back suddenly. And how a Blue Star inverter AC keeps his friends cool and comfortable till 'mummy danger' passes. The second film is based on the instance when unexpected guests, the tree-climbing cousins crash into the house. The film brings alive the comparison between an ordinary AC and the Blue Star inverter AC when several Chimpanzees break into a house. B Thiagarajan, Joint Managing Director, Blue Star Limited says, Blue Stars room air conditioners media campaign of this year has incorporated a unique and powerful communication of 30% more cooling when you need it offered by our Inverter AC. The ads highlight that the Blue Star Inverter AC performs efficiently even under extra load conditions when there are more people in the room, by providing 30% more cooling. With strong indications of a severe summer this year, the market is expected to further grow, driven by an increase in demand. We intend to continue our investments in this category, where we have outperformed the market growth rate consistently, and are optimistic of doing so in the coming year as well. Niteen Bhagwat, Vice Chairman, FCB Interface says, The agencys planning team and client team interrogated the product until it confessed to its strength and the promise. The promise that the cooling capacity can increase by upto 30% if the load increased. The films thus owe as much to superb execution as they do to deep product understanding that differentiates Blue Star from other brands. Robby Mathew, CCO, FCB Interface says, The film Party-with-friends owes a lot to the bang-on casting, and the catchy music by Samiruddin. Piyush Ragani the director, has excelled himself with this film. On the second film, he said, Chimps share 96% of our DNA, their antics are adorable, and they are the stars of this new Blue Star film. Shot in Thailand, this is yet another Blue Star film that walks away from the sameness of air conditioning advertising in India. Credits: Client: Blue Star Agency: FCB Interface Communications Chief Creative Officer: Robby Mathew Account Management: Ruchita Purohit, Manoj Ramrakhiani, Krunal Varia Creative team: Ashutosh Joshi, C Sricharan, Vignesh Iyer, Durgesh Amble, Adith Fernandes, Ketan Kadam Agency Producers: Alpa Jobalia, Mazhar Khan, Stanley Christian Production House: Like-Minded People (film 1-Party with Friends) and Off Road Films (film 2 - Chimps) Director: Piyush Raghani (film 1-Party with Friends) Abhijit Sudhakar (film 2 - Chimps) To Read More Visit Here. Sharing. One would imagine that in todays world, with our private lives made social and innermost feelings expressed in 140 characters, short-lived stories, status updates or snappy posts, we are doing enough of it. Actually not. Because true sharing, like most other things in life, is about the quality of it. When was the last time we had a conversation with a stranger that gave us something to think about? Do we actually take the trouble to look away from our constantly buzzing phones to share an honest part of ourselves with someone? Do we shut the world out and listen to stories over a campfire or reach out in a meaningful way to our fellow humans? Black & White, the brand that takes the inspiring message of spontaneous Gettogethers to the millennials, invites the young experience seekers of today to reach out and share. That conversation on a park bench, the chat while on holiday, breaking the ice in an elevatorso many people and so many connections go into making the person you are. And when you open yourself up to sharing, your life is the richer for it. The new commercial sets the context for this idea in a new and meaningful way. While the visuals, shot evocatively in black and white, capture the imagination with connections with strangers made while running on a beach, at the theatre or a club, while camping or at a carnival, the voice over takes a leap in establishing a possible relationship with the protagonist. To Read More Visit Here. Directed by the acclaimed Jamie Muir, who is a millennial himself, and produced by Firecracker films, the film was shot across varied landscapes in Portugal, with a talented team of actors and crew. Commenting on the new campaign, Abhishek Shahabadi, Portfolio Head for the premium and luxury category said: The commercial was created with the aim of spreading the message that personal satisfaction comes from sharing the good things in life, with people around us. The storyboard motivates people to step out and share a bit of themselves, urging them not to hold back, thereby enriching their lives. Conceptualized and written by Priya Shivakumar, Senior Vice President & Executive Creative Director, JWT Bangalore said; What if we saw a stranger as a connection waiting to be made, or as a role they could play in our life? Would we then, be more open to reaching out and sharing? In a world of superficial connections and transactional relationships, we wanted this message to go beyond the medium and make a difference to peoples lives. So that next time youre alone at a table in a cafe or waiting for that delayed flight to take off, you look up from your phone, look around and find a meaningful connection that could enrich your life in ways you cannot imagine. That could be the stuff of riveting stories or memories held dear.. Credits: Chief Creative Officer: Senthil Kumar ECD & Writer: Priya Shivakumar Creative Team: Jayanarayanan Kakkara, Deepak Manohar Production House: Firecracker Director: Jamie Muir Music: Naozad Patel Account Management: Kartik Krishnamurthy, Swati Singh To Read More Visit Here. WARC, the global marketing intelligence service, has released Lessons from the worlds top effectiveness campaigns to uncover shared creative, media and measurement strategies. The report analyses the results of the latest WARC 100, an annual ranking of campaigns based on their performance in effectiveness awards from around the world. The four lessons from the 2018 WARC 100 analysis are: 1.Effective campaigns increasingly have PR baked in Analysis of campaigns in this yearsWARC 100 reveals the increasing use of PR in their channel strategies. This reflects the rise of creativeideas built to gain press coverage and other earned media. Several ideas at the top of the ranking centre around a highly PR-able stunt or concept, like the Transport Accident Associations Graham, that can generate content across channels and media. 2.TV-led and video-led two different models This year, a dominance of video both online and TV is evident in the winning campaigns. Analysis of campaigns led by TV and campaigns led by online video show they are key to emotional creative strategies. Budgets tend to be higher for TV-led campaigns, and the media mix differs between the two groups as a result. Though social media is the most common support channel regardless of lead media, OOH and print are more commonly present in the mix of TV-led campaigns, with word-of-mouth and PR supporting a higher proportion of online video-led strategies. 3.The use of partnerships is on the rise Over the past two years, the use of partnerships as a creative strategy has increased in WARC 100 campaigns. Utilising the reach or credibility of partner organisations was an effective strategy for four of the top 10 campaigns this year, with both expected and unusual partnerships seeing success. Though seen across the whole WARC 100, partnerships saw particular use in campaigns targeting millennials, like Burger Kings The McWhopper Proposal. 4.Brands are looking for multi-year platforms Long-term ideas are a growing feature of the WARC 100 as brands look to squeeze more out of their platforms. The continued presence of the John Lewis Christmas campaigns in the WARC 100 provides a great case for the success of long-term campaigns. John Lewis has taken the Christmas period and turned it into an advertising event, annually driving huge amounts of publicity, engagement and ultimately return on their investment. Two further top 10 campaigns for Ariel and Snickers have reworked or evolved ongoing campaign themes with success over the past year, using the power of association to grow and reinforce the memorys perception of brands over time. David Tiltman, Head of Content, WARC, remarked, This years analysis of the WARC 100 reveals some major long-term trends in effective advertising. Brands are increasingly looking for ideas with high PR impact, and marketing platforms with potential to run across multiple years and with budgets under pressure in many markets, those trends are set to continue. The WARC 100 is now part of the Gunn Report, which tracks the winners lists from all the most important advertising award contests, globally. The results of 70+ effectiveness competitions are used to compile the WARC 100, which now in its fifth year, is built on a rigorous methodology, developed in consultation with Douglas West, Professor of Marketing at Kings College, London. The methodology is applied consistently across all global, regional and national competitions tracked. Congress is seeking to rein in President Donald Trumps war-making powers following last weekends military strikes in Syria. While many lawmakers of both parties agree that the commander in chief has broad authority to engage in such short-term actions, they are under growing pressure to play a more forceful oversight role. One new bill under discussion would supplant a counterterrorism law from 2001 that has been used to justify an ever-expanding number of interventions in the Middle East and beyond, while another could complicate US support for the Saudi-led campaign in Yemen. Last month, the Senate voted 55-44 to kill legislation to end US support for the war against the Iranian-backed Houthis. Now the Foreign Relations Committee is on the verge of advancing a new bill that would force Riyadh to meet certain criteria in order to qualify for US refueling support that is essential to carrying out Saudi Arabia's bombing campaign. I believe that Congress needs to play a more aggressive role in overseeing our military in that mess, Sen. Susan Collins, R-Maine, one of the four original co-sponsors of the bill, told Al-Monitor. Collins, who does not sit on the committee, was one of only five Republicans to vote in favor of cutting US support to the Saudi coalition last month out of concern for the growing number of civilian casualties in what has become the worlds largest humanitarian crisis. The new bill, spearheaded by Sens. Todd Young, R-Ind., and Jeanne Shaheen, D-N.H., looks set to gain traction with more Republican support. From my perspective, [the bill] is getting to a very, very good place, committee Chairman Bob Corker, R-Tenn., said at a hearing on Yemen earlier this week. Corker, who voted against ending US support for the Saudis last month, promised a committee vote on the bill by the end of May. Unlike Shaheen, Young voted against the blanket cutoff in military assistance for the Saudi campaign last month even though he has been a vocal critic of Saudi Arabias chokehold on the entry of humanitarian aid and commercial goods into Yemen. Anti-war activists initially criticized both senators for offering a bill they viewed as ineffectual and detracting from last months floor vote, but they now credit that vote for recent changes that strengthen the bill. The Senate is circling in on something that will restrict US support for the Saudi war and thats been the message all along, Stephen Miles, the director of Win Without War, a coalition of anti-war groups, told Al-Monitor. US support for this war is not unlimited and there are real deep concerns. If Saudi Arabia does not address those concerns, they will lose US support. Youngs revised bill would end US midair refueling support for the Saudi coalition unless the secretary of state certifies that Riyadh meets a series of criteria. It also removes a broad exemption that would have allowed the Trump administration to continue military support absent a certification in order to combat Iranian terrorist activities in Yemen. For US support to continue, the bill now requires the Saudis to engage in an urgent and good faith effort to conduct diplomatic negotiations to end the war in Yemen, allow food, fuel and medicine through key border crossings and to reduce civilian casualties by complying with applicable agreements and laws regulating defense articles purchased or transferred from the United States. Last year, Sen. Rand Paul, R-Ky., attempted to block a $500 million sale of precision guided missiles to Riyadh, but the measure was narrowly defeated on the Senate floor. Paul told Al-Monitor that hes looking at a similar measure attempting to block another $2 billion worth of Saudi arms sales announced by the State Department in recent weeks. The pending sales include $1.3 billion in self-propelled howitzers, $670 million in anti-tank missiles and $300 million in spare parts to repair Abrams tanks and other military vehicles. Paul also joined a handful of other lawmakers who have questioned the legality of Trumps strikes on the Assad regime absent authorization from Congress. By illegally bombing Syria, President Trump has once again denied the American people any oversight or accountability in this endless war, Rep. Barbara Lee, D-Calif., tweeted after the strikes. Congress, not the president, has the power to authorize military action. Paul and Lee have long tried to push for a repeal of the 2001 Authorization for the Use of Military Force used against al-Qaeda and the Islamic State (IS) in order to prompt a debate on a new war authorization bill. Corker and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., this week released a new bill that they soon hope to advance as a replacement to the 17-year-old law, but it has faced pushback from some Senate liberals and anti-war activists who view the bill as a further rollback of Congress ability to authorize war. The Corker-Kaine proposal would allow the administration to continue counterterrorism operations against al-Qaeda, IS, the Taliban and associated forces in Afghanistan, Iraq, Syria, Somalia, Yemen and Libya. While Corker had hoped to mark up the bill next week, Sen. Bob Menendez, D-N.J., the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee, has asked for more public hearings from administration officials and outside experts to review the proposal. Activists such as Miles have expressed significant concerns about the Corker bill, arguing that the only way Congress could stop the administration from expanding the definition of associated forces or the scope of countries where operations can take place is with a veto-proof majority. Its the main problem with letting the administration say which groups theyre fighting, said Miles. If Congress wants to force the issue that can take a month, which, in the world of modern warfare, is a lifetime. The traditional opening ceremony celebrating Israels Independence Day features the lighting of 12 torches by accomplished personalities representing various streams in Israeli society. The committee tasked with the selection of torchbearers this year asked members of the public to propose candidates and list their various criteria. Among others, it asked that the nominees represent Israeli innovation in their personality and actions along with having a record of extraordinary dedication to building a better world and a more values-driven society. Over the past few weeks, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu has clashed with Knesset Speaker Yuli Edelstein, after Culture Minister Miri Regev announced that Netanyahu would address the public at the ceremony. In the end, Edelstein conceded, so Netanyahu will light a torch and briefly speak. Had Netanyahu been just another nominee, rather than crashing the ceremony under the aggressive sponsorship of the sharp-tongued Regev, the selection committee most likely would not have chosen him. If Netanyahus personality represents a more values-driven society, Israeli society is in trouble. Millions of Palestinians caged in Gaza by his governments policies, without any hope of a better life, can attest to his extraordinary dedication to building a better world, as can Israeli human rights activists, Israels Arab citizens the ones flocking in droves to the ballot boxes as Netanyahu warned on election day in 2015 African asylum seekers branded infiltrators and run of the mill leftists and liberals. Given Netanyahus claim that the Palestinians do not want to negotiate a peace agreement with Israel, his alleged record of innovation has been in the regional arena. At the April 18 ceremony marking the annual Remembrance Day for Israels fallen soldiers, Netanyahu pledged to nurture Israels might and ensure its future, and also to continue fostering ties with the pragmatic forces in the region a thinly veiled reference to Saudi Arabia to pave the road to peace. At another ceremony on April 17, for foreign service officers killed in the line of duty, the prime minister who also serves as foreign minister hailed the important changes taking place in parts of the Arab world. He expressed his belief that this would expand the circle of peace. Did we already mention Saudi Arabia? Netanyahu then went on to once again revel in President Donald Trumps decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital and move the US Embassy to the city. What we have here is dual and even triple innovation, a real international startup enterprise. It promotes ties with pragmatic Arab states while sending snipers to kill unarmed Gaza Palestinians, deepening the Israeli occupation in the West Bank and East Jerusalem and touting US recognition of Jerusalem as the capital. Alas, hours after Netanyahu was invited to light his regional innovation torch, Saudi King Salman bin Abdul-Aziz Al Saud announced, The Palestinian cause is our number one issue and will remain so until the Palestinian people obtain all their legitimate rights, particularly the establishment of an independent state with East Jerusalem as its capital. Salman was speaking in the Saudi city of Dhahran at the 29th Arab League summit, which he dubbed the Al-Quds (Jerusalem) Summit. Although the summit met against the backdrop of the global-regional Syrian civil war and the direct conflict between Israel and Iran, the Israeli media largely ignored it. They were busy feeding the Israeli public juicy tales of a steamy love affair between Jerusalem and Riyadh, passionately united against their common enemy in Tehran. The local media quoted extensively from a New York Times report about understandings between the Trump administration and the Saudis on an Israeli-Palestinian peace plan that includes turning the East Jerusalem village of Abu Dis into the capital of a future Palestine. At this very moment, with Israel readying to celebrate its 70th birthday, the Arab League led by Saudi Arabia decides to rain on Jerusalems parade. We reaffirm that the Palestine Cause is the entire Arab nation's main priority, stressing the Arab identity of occupied East al-Quds as the capital of the State of Palestine, according to the summits final communique. Not only that, but the leaders of the 17 Arab states at the summit underscored that the US decision to recognize Jerusalem as Israels capital was illegal, reiterating their refusal to recognize Al-Quds as Israels capital but to accept a unilateral decision on East Jerusalem as the capital of a future Palestinian state. The Arab leaders warned against any steps that might alter the legal and political status of Al-Quds and called on the countries of the world to leave their embassies in Tel Aviv. They also thanked the countries that had voted at the UN Security Council against US recognition of Jerusalem as Israel's capital. The communique further stated that all Israeli measures designed to change the nature of East Jerusalem and strip it of its Arab identity were null and void. The summit called on the international community to take steps against Israeli violations and the arbitrary measures that affect Al-Aqsa Mosque and its worshipers. The Arab leadership views Jordan as the sole authority for the governance, maintenance and access to the Al-Aqsa Mosque, according to the document. Indeed, as assessed by Netanyahu Israel's senior innovation torchbearer the Arab world has undergone change. The change is reflected in its attitude toward the Jewish state, but its fundamental position on the Palestinian issue has remained firm for the past 16 years. As the Arab League summit does every year, the 29th summit stressed the importance of a comprehensive, sustainable peace in the Middle East as a strategic option, now encapsulated in the Saudi-led Arab Peace Initiative. The final communique reaffirms the commitment of the Arab states to the initiative, which was adopted at the Beirut summit in 2002 and enjoys the support of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation. On Israel's 70th Independence Day, the Arab world is once again inviting it to become a full-fledged member of the region and enjoy security, recognition and peace with all Arab states. This historic transformation, however, carries a price tag: the launch of serious peace negotiations for ensuring the establishment of an independent Palestinian state within the June 1967 borders, with its capital in the eastern part of Jerusalem. In Netanyahu's April 18 speech at the Remembrance Day ceremony on Mount Herzl, the prime minister recounted that a young boy, orphaned in one of Israels war, had asked him what he thinks when he decides to send soldiers into battle. I always think of the price and how losses can be avoided, Netanyahu said. If he continues to adhere to the vision of Israelis living by the sword, the losses will mount in the countrys 71st year, too. Had he been truly blessed with innovative, strategic thinking and an iota of daring, he could choose the path open to him that would prevent more orphans and more bereavement. The writer David Grossman, who lost his son in 2006 in the Second Lebanon War, expressed this hope at a joint Israeli-Palestinian Remembrance Day ceremony: [T]hat one day, the war will die down, and perhaps stop altogether, and we will begin to live, to live a full life, and not simply to survive between one war and another, between one tragedy and the next. @TommyBattle is honest on the state of taxes in Alabama. You pay for what you get. We dont pay much and we dont get much back. #reckondebate #ALdebates Iran denounces hypocrisy of US air strikes as experts urge Tehran to press Syria to stop future chemical attacks. An earlier version of this story identified Sina Azodi, as a doctorate student of philosophy. His major is political science. The article also stated earlier that Abas Aslani, is a visiting scholar at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies based in Ankara, Turkey. Aslani is affiliated with an organisation of the same name in Tehran. US President Donald Trump announced on Friday the operation against Syria, framing his decision as a fight against evil while saying days earlier that preventing chemical attacks is about humanity. He lashed out at Iran and Russia for supporting the Assad regime, saying What kind of a nation wants to be associated with the mass murder of innocent men, women and children? At least 85 people, including many women and children, were killed in Douma in early April, in a chemical attack the US blamed on the Syrian military. There have been several recorded chemical attacks in Syria since 2013. Trumps action against Syria, however, rings hollow to those who lived through the dangers of Iraqs chemical attacks in Iran during the Iran-Iraq War. To some Iranian analysts, the air strikes reflected the hypocrisy and duplicity of American foreign policy. When Saddam Hussein used chemical weapons to kill thousands of Iranians during the war from 1980 to 1988, not only did the US look the other way, but also aided and abetted Iraq in committing war crimes, Reza Nasri, an Iran-born international law expert at the Graduate Institute of International and Development Studies (GIIDS) in Geneva, told Al Jazeera. The claim that the recent US attack on Syria was motivated by humanitarian considerations is not consistent with Irans own experience as a victim of chemical attacks, he said. Arms control experts argue that what happened in Iran in the 1980s should not be an excuse to block moves to hold Syria accountable for its use of chemical weapons. Daryl Kimball, executive director, of the Washington-based Arms Control Association, told Al Jazeera that Iran should use its leverage with Syrian President Bashar al-Assad to prevent similar attacks in the future. Others, however, contend that it is not a question of taking action in Syria, but of Trump launching air strikes in defiance of United Nations guidelines, and in the absence of UN-backed inspections. Use of chemical warfare had been banned under the 1925 Geneva Protocol. The 1997 Chemical Weapons Convention, which Syria signed, expands on the prohibition to include the ban on production, stockpiling and use of certain toxic weapons such as sarin and mustard gas. Throughout the Iran-Iraq war, an estimated 7,500 Iranian military and civilians were killed by Iraqi troops using nerve gas and mustard agents, according to a report by Shahriar Khateri, a senior official of the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons in The Hague. The report said about a million Iranians were exposed to chemical agents during the war. Today, about 75,000 victims still receive treatment for chronic chemical weapons injuries. Bodies of Iranian fighters seen near the town of Halabja, Iraq in March 1988 [File: AP] In one of the first extensive chemical attacks by Iraq in March 1984, tonnes of sulfur mustard and nerve gas agents were used against Iranian troops in Majnoon Islands along the southern border with Iraq. The report also recorded at least 30 chemical attacks against civilians. Documents from the US Central Intelligence Agency (CIA) also showed that the US government knew about Iraqs repeated use of nerve agents in Iran, but did nothing to stop it. Iraq was then allied with the US against Iran. A declassified top secret CIA document dated March 23, 1984, showed that the US was aware of Iraqs use of nerve gas agents against Iranian troops in Basrah, and the plan to employ it in militarily significant quantities by late fall of that year. Another document dated January 28, 1986, showed it was aware of a report that a West German firm helped Iraq establish a factory that produced the lethal chemical agent, Tabun. Morbid silence In a UN Security Council report dated March 1986, inspectors who visited Iran described as distressing the number of chemical casualties and the extent of their injuries. The report said that despite previous UN findings of Iraqi chemical weapons use in 1984 and 1985, attacks continue on a more intense scale than used previously. Every Iranian whether ordinary citizen or high-ranking politician still remembers how world powers and neighbouring countries, remained morbidly silent in face of these atrocities or outright assisted Saddam Hussein in his war crimes, one way or the other, Nasri, of GIIDS in Geneva, told Al Jazeera. Sina Azodi, a doctorate student of political science at the University of South Florida, grew up in Tehran during the war. He said he and his family were living in constant fear of a chemical attack in the Iranian capital. My father, who was recalled by the military to serve as a reserve captain in the Iranian air force went through so much trouble to obtain gas masks for his family, Azodi told Al Jazeera. It was notable not only that there was no outrage from the US and its allies when the chemical attacks took place in Iran, but the US also used its influence in the UN Security Council to block any condemnation of Iraq, despite evidence presented by inspectors, Azodi said. In 1988, Iraq used chemical weapons on Iraqi Kurds, killing 5,000, many of them civilians [File: AP] According to Foreign Policy, the US also conveyed to Iraq information from satellite images, which showed Iran was about to gain a major strategic advantage against Iraq in 1988. The US did so fully aware that Saddam would attack with chemical weapons, including sarin. In March 1988, Iraq also used chemical weapons in Halabja, home to Iraqi Kurds, who had joined with Iran in fighting Saddam. According to reports, 5,000 mainly women and children were killed of mustard gas and sarin poisoning, and up to 12,000 have died since because of chemical exposure. Duplicity Namo Abdulla, an Iraqi-Kurdish correspondent for the television network Rudaw, said the response to the Iraqi chemical weapons attacks in the 1980s and the recent chemical attacks in Syria showed the unfortunate duplicity of the world we live in. I believe none should get away with using chemical weapons attack, he told Al Jazeera. If there is ample evidence that Assad has used chemical weapons, he should be punished for it, far more strongly than what we saw, Abdulla added. Arms control expert Kimball said that, whatever happened during the Iran-Iraq War, the Assad regime should be held accountable. I would say what matters is protecting civilians in the conflict in Syria, he told Al Jazeera. He warned that despite the air strikes, Syria would continue to use chlorine in future attacks. Chlorine is a common industrial chemical, and the strikes conducted by the US, UK and France have not degraded the ability to build improvised chemical weapons using chlorine, Kimball said. He urged Iran to provide more leadership in urging Syria to cooperate with UN-backed inspectors. I think it is a stain on Irans record of support for chemical weapons victims that it has not used its leverage with Assad to prevent further chemical weapons use. Kimball also said that in an ideal world, inspectors should have collected evidence first, before the air attacks by the US, UK and France. Demonstrators gather in Nicosia, Cyprus to denounce US-led air strikes in Syria [File: AP] According to reports on Wednesday, the fact-finding team from the Organisation for Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) has not been able to enter Douma. With the delay in inspections, there are fears that the Syrians will clean up the site of the attack and undermine the investigation, Kimball said. Vietnam War Jason von Meding, a senior lecturer at Australias University of Newcastle, who has studied the use of chemicals during warfare, including the Vietnam War, said the US-led air attacks only delayed the arrival of inspectors in Douma and the gathering of evidence, which is critical for any prosecution. Von Meding pointed out that the US also used Agent Orange in Vietnam, resulting in birth defects and disabilities among Vietnamese civilians. I dont think there was a dispute that it was a chemical weapon, he said. The US tries to say that they have a moral standing in terms of criticising other governments for using chemical weapons, so of course the use of chemical weapons in Vietnam stands against that proposition, he told Al Jazeera. Abas Aslani, an Iran-based journalist and visiting scholar at the Center for Middle East Strategic Studies in Tehran, said it is Irans policy to condemn any chemical attacks, regardless of who has carried it out. He said Iran understands the importance of accountability in war because it was also a victim of chemical weapons. The issue is, before doing any air strikes, there needs to be an investigation on where they were used and who used them, he said, noting the importance of a UN mandate to give legitimacy to any response. In Irans experience, the US and other Western powers looked the other way, while continuing to support Saddam, Aslani said. Azodi, the political analyst studying at the University of South Florida, added that military strikes alone cannot bring a political solution in Syria. Iran and Russia are big players and their roles cannot be ignored or denied. Local council adopts step against exchange with Israeli military practices synonymous with the occupation of Palestine. A coalition of community organisations in the city of Durham in the US state of North Carolina has successfully lobbied the city council to ban training and exchanges between Durhams police department and the Israeli military. Durhams city council unanimously voted to adopt the measure on April 16, prohibiting an exchange with the Israeli military, making the first US city to ever explicitly take such measure. The resolution read: The council opposes international exchanges with any country in which Durham officers receive military-style training since such exchanges do not support the kind of policing we want here in the City of Durham. The statement emphasised the commitment of Durham, a city of over a quarter million people, to create safe and healthy environment of its residents and to recognise and share the deep concern about militarisation of police forces around the country. We know that racial profiling and its subsequent harms to communities of color have plagued policing in our nation and in our own community, the statement said. Cerelyn CJ Davis, Durham chief of police, said in a statement to the city council: There has been no effort while I have served as chief of police to initiate or participate in any exchange to Israel, nor do I have any intention to do so. What activists say Activists say Davis headed a police exchange programme when she was part of Atlanta police department before coming to Durham, and therefore they want to prevent her from doing that in Durham. They also say that the previous police chief was involved in an exchange training programme with Israel, which drove them to lobby to sever the any links the city has had or will have with the Israeli military as far as its police force. Al Jazeera made several attempts to reach Davis via email and over the phone for comments, but did not get any answer by the time this report was published. Demilitarize from Durham2Palestine, which spearheaded the campaign is a broad multi-religious and multi-racial coalition of groups from the Jewish, Christian, Muslim, Arab and African American communities. Drawing on similarities between Israeli treatment of Palestinians and Durham polices treatment of African Americans and other minorities, activist Ajamu Dillahunt who is part of the BYP100 which stands for Black Youth Project said in a video published on Facebook that Israeli defence force brutalise and terrorise the people of Palestine and so does the Durham police department. Here they brutalise and terrorise black and brown communities. Dillahunt who is a college student told Al Jazeera that his group seeks the empowerment of the black community in the US. Activists argue that US agencies training with Israeli military and security agencies could only bring militarisation of the US police whose mission is rather a civilian mission and community policing not population control. The Palestinian experience Key to the organisations demands is to prevent US cities from adopting Israeli military operations and tactics designed to enforce its occupation of Palestinian territories and control captive Palestinian population. Furthermore, they argue that training of US police with Israeli military invites violations of civil rights, police brutality and murder of innocent citizens. Ahmad Amireh, a Duke University student and a member of Students for Justice in Palestine, said: There is no room for the militarisation of Police in America especially in our home community of Durham. Amireh said he is proud that Durham was able to make a stand and show its commitment to the black and other minority communities in it, he said. Alex Vitale, who teaches at the department of sociology at Brooklyn College and author of the book The End of Policing, told Al Jazeera that the problem of militarisation of US policing goes as far as the 1970s with the war on drugs and later war on terror. Police militarisation is not a new problem in the US, he said. But Israel has created a dynamic to normalise counterinsurgency tactics with the US law enforcement community in order to win political favours and create political space for its agendas in the US. Crowd-control tactics Beth Bruch and Sandra Korn, from the group Jewish Voice for Peace-Triangle region in North Carolina, wrote in an op-ed on April 13 in the citys The Herald Sun rejecting Israeli policies against the Palestinians in the occupied West Bank. These are the crowd-control tactics which the Israeli military regularly uses to enforce the occupation of Palestinian land and to control the Palestinian population. As Jewish people, we reject Israels detention and prosecution of Palestinian children like Ahed Tamimi, its blockade which has resulted in a humanitarian crisis in Gaza, its detention and deportation of African asylum-seekers, they said. Many US federal and local police and law enforcement agencies regularly train with the Israeli military and police. The Anti-Defamation League, ADL, the pro-Israeli American Jewish civil rights advocacy group has sponsored many of the US law-enforcement agencies leaders visits to Israel to learn lessons from the Israeli police, military and intelligence experiences. According to its website, the ADL has trained more than 15,000 law-enforcement professionals on terrorism and extremism in cities like New York City, Washington DC, Houston, Dallas, Los Angeles, Seattle, St Louis, Atlanta and Chicago. It also says that more than 200 high-ranking American law enforcement officials have visited Israel to participate in counterterrorism seminars. Political project Vitale said the ADL exchange and training programme in Israel shows it is more of a political project that helps Israeli agendas in the US as opposed to being a technical program designed to share developments in community policing. The Jewish Voice for Peace warns on its national website of the dangerous exchange between the US law enforcement agencies such as the FBI, Immigration and Custom Enforcement (ICE) and border patrol with Israeli soldiers, intelligence and border agents. Israel is one of the few countries in the world whose police and military are deeply intertwined. Such exchange programmes, the Jewish Voice for Peaces website says, would bring worst practices that are shared to promote and extend discriminatory practices that include extrajudicial executions, shoot-to-kill policies, police murders, racial profiling, massive spying and surveillance, deportation and detention, and attacks on human rights defenders. Israels main selling point for imparting police-training lessons is rooted in its 50-year military rule and occupation of Palestinian territories, where its armed forces and militarised police regularly abuse the rights of Palestinians and keep them under military control. New York Citys notorious Muslim Surveillance Program, which religiously profiled and spied on Muslim Americans in New York City since 2002, was a product of exchange programmes with Israel. The programme used abusive tactics drawn from Israels treatment of Palestinians such as infiltrations, using informants, electronic surveillance and mapping and compiling of massive databases of personal information as a counterinsurgency strategy. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter @Ali_reports Clashes between Myanmar army and Kachin fighters leave more than 100,000 displaced since 2011. Almost 2,000 civilians from Myanmars Kachin community, trapped in a jungle while escaping clashes between the army and the guerrillas, are in urgent need of medical attention, the community leaders said. The latest fighting in the northern states Tanai town started earlier this month with government shelling and air strikes, in response to threats by the Kachin Independence Army to retake lost territory. Civilians from the Christian ethnic community are trapped without medicine or sufficient food, Mung Dan, a Baptist community leader, said on Wednesday. The trapped group includes five pregnant women, 93 elderly people, and other villagers wounded by mortar shelling, he added. Even today, its been raining the whole day in our region and these civilians do not have any shelter yet and they are suffering from sickness as well, he said. Awng Ja, member of the Kachin State Women Network, which helps displaced women, said the NGOs request to rescue civilians has not yet been approved. We have been asking permission to rescue people who are trapped in the jungle and they are in a very critical condition but the state minister said only if the military granted us access, we can rescue these civilians, said Awng. An official from Tanai Baptist Church said many civilians are unable to flee. There are still many people from the amber mines who are unable to leave. The people who have arrived in Tanai were only able to leave via smuggling routes, said the official. The Kachin Independence Army has been fighting on and off for decades against the government for greater autonomy. The fighting resumed in 2011, ending a 17-year ceasefire agreement. The clashes have left hundreds dead and more than 100,000 civilians displaced. Restrictions on humanitarian assistance to the displaced Kachin ethnic minority have been dramatically increased by the Myanmar government, according to rights and aids groups. Myanmars military has long been accused of grave human rights violations against ethnic minority groups in different parts of the country, including the Rohingya that critics say amounts to ethnic cleansing. Almost 700,000 Rohingya from the countrys Rakhine state have crossed into Bangladesh by the violent counter-insurgency sweeps by the army. The National Socialist Movement is one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the US. The small Georgia town of Newnan is bracing for neo-Nazi events this weekend, while local community members have organised a festival to oppose the far-right gatherings. The National Socialist Movement (NSM), described by the Alabama-based Southern Poverty Law Center (SPLC) hate monitor as one of the largest neo-Nazi groups in the United States, will hold its annual national meeting in Newnan on Friday and Saturday. On Saturday, the far-right group will march through the town centre. Many local businesses plan to close during the march, while other community members will hold a festival dubbed #NewnanStrong on Friday, according to 11 Alive, the local NBC affiliate in nearby Atlanta. The event will be launched on Friday, which is also the birthday of German Nazi leader Adolf Hitler. I think theres a lot of fear and anxiety thats kind of come from this, Nathan Brain, one of the organisers for #NewnanStrong, told the local media outlet. {articleGUID} In a video on its website, the NSM described the annual meeting as a historical event and called on participants to show [their] pride, love for [their] race, [their] heritage and [the] country. In a statement published online, the Newnan Police Department said it had been working with local, state and federal law enforcement in the leadup to the rally. Violence Founded in 1996 and based in Detroit, Michigan, the NSM has been increasingly active in far-right rallies across the US, including the deadly rally in Charlottesville, Virginia, on August 12, 2017. During that rally, white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis descended on the city to rally against the removal of a Confederate monument. Participants in the protest, dubbed Unite the Right, clashed with locals, anti-racists and anti-fascist counterdemonstrators throughout the day. Unite the Right culminated in Alex Fields Jr, who had been photographed with neo-Nazis earlier in the day, allegedly ploughing his car into a crowd of anti-racists, killing 32-year-old Heather Heyer and injuring dozens more. {articleGUID} The NSM has participated in a slew of events linked to the alt-right, a loosely knit coalition of white supremacists, white nationalists and neo-Nazis who advocate the creation of a white ethnostate. The NSM boasts chapters in dozens of US states, but the exact number of its members is unknown, according to Heidi Beirich, director of the SPLCs intelligence project. Despite the NSMs attempts to rebrand itself in recent years, for example, shedding the swastika on much of its paraphernalia, Beirich insisted it is the same organisation it has always been. Its just old wine in new bottles, she told Al Jazeera. Theyre still a flat out neo-Nazi group; its right there in the name. She added: Charlottesville was a huge wakeup call to the American public about the emboldened white supremacy movement and the potential for violence within it. Far-right infighting and losses The alt-right gained national attention for its vocal support of Donald Trumps presidential campaign and electoral victory. The umbrella movement threw its weight behind Trump for his anti-immigrant positions and other nativist policies. However, many in the alt-right have rescinded their support for the president, who they say has been coopted by mainstream Republicans. Since the Charlottesville rally eight months ago, the US far right has also faced widespread backlash, criticism and internal divisions. The NSM is part of the Nationalist Front, a coalition of far-right groups which included the neo-Confederate League of the South, the now-defunct Traditionalist Worker Party (TWP) and a handful of Ku Klux Klan (KKK) chapters, among others. The TWP ostensibly collapsed last month when its leader, Matthew Heimbach, was charged with battery after a violent incident stemming from his alleged affair with the wife of Matt Parrot, party spokesperson and the stepfather of Heimbachs wife. Parrot subsequently deleted the partys website and its membership list. The TWPs apparent collapse came just a month after its members attacked anti-fascist demonstrators at Michigan State University, where alt-right figure Richard Spencer was delivering a speech to a small crowd. Spencer later announced he would refrain from holding campus speaking events. {articleGUID} According to the SPLC, the alt-right has influenced incidents in which 43 people were killed, and 67 were injured since 2014. The monitor has also noted that the number of hate groups grew in 2017 for a third consecutive year. Top court rejects pleas for investigation into the 2014 death of a judge presiding over murder case involving BJP chief. The Indian Supreme Court has dismissed petitions calling for an investigation into the mysterious death of a judge while he was handling a murder case in which the president of the ruling Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) was among the accused. Judges on Thursday called the petitions a frontal attack on the judiciary and said they had no reason to doubt the four Mumbai judges who said that judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya had died of natural causes. Judge Loya allegedly died of cardiac arrest in 2014 at age 48 while he was presiding over a case in which Amit Shah, a close ally of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, had been accused of ordering three extrajudicial killings in 2005 and 2006. Shah, now president of the BJP, was discharged by the judge who took over the case due to a lack of evidence. the pursuit of the law may end at the doors of the Supreme Court, the journalistic quest for the truth doesn't Hartosh Singh Bal (@HartoshSinghBal) April 19, 2018 Family members of Loya had questioned the circumstances of his death and said he had come under political pressure during the case, prompting petitions for an inquiry. But the three-judge bench dismissed the petitions as frivolous and motivated and with the intent to malign the judiciary. A sad day for judiciary Prashant Bhushan, a lawyer and one of the petitioners, said the Supreme Court ruling made for a sad day for the Indian judiciary. They have not even sought an independent investigation into the very, very suspicious death of their colleague, he told Al Jazeera. The people will continue to question [the cause of death of Judge Loya] and continue to question the Supreme Courts judgment. The Prashant and continue to question the Supreme Courts judgment] BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the petitions as political interest litigation orchestrated by opposition leader Rahul Gandhi aimed at defaming Shah. The people who have been politicising the judiciary for their own motives, now stand exposed, he said at a press conference. In a high profile court case Shah had stood accused of ordering police to carry out the killings of gangster Sohrabudin Sheikh, his wife and his friend when he served as home minister under Modi in the state of Gujarat. [People] want to know that in a case involving some very powerful people the judiciary is capable of acting independently, Alok Prasanna Kumar of the Vidhi Centre for Legal Policy told Al Jazeera. Its unfortunate that the court has said that we dont want to find out. Bhushan said people will continue to question the Supreme Courts judgment [Adnan Abidi/Reuters] Iraqi PMs office says F-16 fighter jets carried out air raids near the border in coordination with Syrian army. Iraq says it has carried out deadly air strikes against fighters of the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) group, situated in pockets inside neighbouring Syria. The announcement comes days after Haider al-Abadi, Iraqs prime minister, said his country would take action against ISIL if the fighters threatened Iraqs security. Iraqi F-16 fighter jets crossed into Syria on Thursday in coordination with the Syrian army, al-Abadis office said in a statement. Based on orders from the commander-in-chief of the armed forces, Haider al-Abadi, our heroic air force carried out deadly air strikes against ISIL sites in Syria on Thursday near the border with Iraq, it said. According to the statement, the attacks countered dangers posed by ISIL and reflected the Iraqi armed forces military capabilities in fighting terror. According to an Iraqi military spokesperson, the operation was fully coordinated with the Syrian army. Al-Abadi formally declared victory over ISIL last year with the help of a coalition made up of Kurdish Peshmerga forces and Shia-dominated paramilitary units. Iraqs army also received key air and ground support from an international coalition. But ISIL still poses a threat from pockets along the border with Syria and has continued to carry out ambushes and bombings across Iraq. Also on Thursday, ISIL fighters were given 48 hours to leave a pocket they control in the south of the Syrian capital, Damascus, pro-government Al-Watan daily reported. The fighters have been in control of an area around the Palestinian Yarmouk refugee camp and its surrounding neighbourhoods south of Damascus for nearly three years. ISIL fighters have been in control of an area south of Damascus for nearly three years. The Syrian military has given ISIL fighters 48 hours to leave a pocket they control in the capitals south, a pro-government local newspaper reported on Thursday. Syrian forces have for days been launching air attacks on the area controlled by the Islamic State of Iraq and the Levant (ISIL, also known as ISIS) in the south of Damascus, primarily around the Palestinian Yarmouk refugee camp and its surrounding neighbourhoods, Al-Watan daily said. The two-day window is an attempt to avoid a military assault. If they refuse to leave, the army is ready to launch a military operation to end their presence in the area, the newspaper added. Yarmouk, about 8km from central Damascus, was home to Syrias largest Palestinian refugee community before the Syrian war began more than seven years ago. Although most of the camps residents fled to other parts of Syria or to neighbouring countries, the United Nations estimates thousands remain trapped inside. The camp has been under ISILs control since April 2015, and has been under siege since late 2012, barring thousands from exit and re-entry. Since 2015, the Syrian government has regained control of the majority of Syria, with opposition groups now restricted to the northern part of the country. Though other pockets controlled by ISIL group fighters still exist, the armed group were driven out of their last major stronghold in Syria in October last year, when the Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab forces backed by the United States, launched a four-month long offensive to push them out of Raqqa. Miguel Diaz-Canels election marks first time in nearly six decades the Communist country will not be led by a Castro. The Cuban National Assembly has formally elected Miguel Diaz-Canel as the countrys new president. The vote on Thursday marked the end of an era for Cuba, making Diaz-Canel the first person outside the Castro family to rule the country in 59 years. The mandate given by the people to this house is to give continuity to the Cuban revolution in a crucial historic moment, said Diaz-Canel during his first speech as president at the National Assembly. What were seeing here which is fascinating, is a new chapter with the same text, said Lucia Newman, Al Jazeeras Latin America Editor, reporting from Havana. Raul Castro, the previous president, stepped down after two five-year terms. Raul is the brother of the late Fidel Castro, who overthrew dictator Fulgencio Batista in the 1959 revolution and led the country for decades. Most Cubans observers also know that with Raul Castro stepping aside, there wasnt going to be a major change, our correspondent said. Diaz-Canels nomination as the head of the 31-member Council of State was officially confirmed on Thursday. He was the only candidate. The Castro family had ruled the socialist nation since the 1959 revolution. Castro will remain the head of the ruling Communist Party until 2021 and is expected to continue to play an important role in policy decisions. I think one of the reasons why Diaz-Canel was an obvious candidate was because hes respected, he is clearly ideologically-sound, Antoni Kapcia, a professor of Latin America History at the University of Nottingham, told Al Jazeera. The government is unlikely to do anything which is significantly against what they know Raul Castro to want. Continuity foretold Al Jazeeras Newman said: The Communist Party of Cuba is more important than the National Assembly or even the Council of State. They set the guidelines for the country and Raul Castro is going to remain as head of that all-powerful Communist Party. So certainly Diaz-Canel is not going to be able to run off to become the great reformer, even if he wanted to and, from what we understand, that is not his position. This is a story of continuity foretold. In his speech, Diaz-Canel said: There is no space here for a transition that ignores or destroys the legacy of so many years of struggle. The transfer of power comes at a precarious time in Cubas history. Cuban allies in Latin America have been voted out of government positions across the region in recent years. A detente between the US and Cuba, longtime adversaries, has slowed after Donald Trump became president in 2017. Cuban foreign policy will remain unchanged and we reiterate that no one will be able to weaken the Revolution, nor make the Cuban people yield because Cuba does not make concessions against its sovereignty and independence said Diaz-Canel. We will never give in to pressure or threats. The changes that are necessary will continue to be decided sovereignly by the Cuban people. Limits of detente Kapcia said: The deterioration in relations has entirely come from the US point of view. The Cubans very clearly want proper relations with the US. They welcomed Obama. They also knew the limits of the Obama detente and they are cautious. But at the same its in their interest to have some kind of end to the embargo, to have normal relations and to avoid a hostility. Cuba facing economic difficulties after Raul, who succeeded his brother Fidel as president in 2008, initiated market-style reforms that were agreed to in 2011. Though the reforms caused a boom in the Cuban economy, they have since slowed. Despite the errors and insufficiencies recognised in this plenary, the situation is more favourable than a few years ago, Castro, 86, was quoted as saying by party newspaper Granma. Political campaigning is outlawed in Cuba, so little is known about Diaz-Canels plans to navigate these challenges. However, there is reason to believe the president will continue with liberalising social policies, given his past support for LGBT rights, expanded internet access and loosening government controls on media. Still, Diaz-Canel is not known to support changing Cubas government from the one-party system in place since the revolution, a demand from anti-Castro politicians in the US. According to Ted Piccone, a senior fellow at the Brookings Institution, the Trump administration will most probably double down on its embrace of punitive regime change in Cuba after Diaz-Canel assumes power. Officers from Qatars Armed Forces participated in the exercise, along with forces from 25 other countries. The Qatari armed forces have participated in the Joint Gulf Shield 1 Drill in the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, Qatar News Agency said. The military drill was conducted in the town of Ras Al Khair, north of Jubail city in the eastern region of the kingdom, from March 21 to April 16, QNA quoted the defence ministry as saying. A number of officers from the Qatari Armed Forces, led by Brigadier General Khamis Mohamed Deblan, participated in the exercise, along with land, sea and air forces from 25 other countries. The exercise featured a number of stages, including a command centres drill and field training. It concluded with the implementation of the exercise of regular and non-regular fire with live ammunition, in addition to a military parade. The participation aimed at strengthening brotherly relations, exchanging experiences and taking part in all that would preserve the security and stability of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) countries and the Arab and Islamic region. According to QNA, the closing ceremony was attended by the Qatar Armed Forces Chief of Staff, Major General Ghanem bin Shaheen al-Ghanem, at the invitation of his Saudi counterpart Lt General Fayyad bin Hamed al-Ruwayli. Southwest begins probe into fatal engine explosion Investigation under way after an exploded engine at 32,000ft led to the death of a woman who was partially sucked out of a blown-out window hit by the debris, the first passenger death in the airlines 50-year history. Recent arrest of two black men at coffee shop highlights deeply-embedded racism against African Americans, analysts say. The arrest of two black men at a Starbucks coffee shop last week in the US city of Philadelphia has sparked outrage from protesters, who accuse the coffee giant of racial profiling. The two men, Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson, were sitting in the coffee shop in the affluent Rittenhouse Square neighbourhood, waiting for a third person to arrive for a business meeting. They asked to use the toilet, but the manager refused because the men had not purchased anything. The manager then asked them to leave, and when they declined, called the police. A mobile phone video showing police arresting and handcuffing the men went viral, triggering protests against Starbucks and calls for boycott on social media. For members of the African American community, incidents like this are not uncommon. Racism against African Americans is deeply embedded and even programmed in the American culture since its inception, said Salim Muwakkil, a Chicago journalist and radio personality. Dont fit in Starbucks has more than 13,000 stores across the United States and a total of more than 27,000 shops worldwide. The chain is a considered a neighbourhood meeting place with free Wi-Fi access and many outlets to charge personal electronic devices. According to Muwakkil, the April 12 incident in Philadelphia represents in part the gentrification of certain neighbourhoods in the US, mainly white middle class areas where outsiders are seen with suspicion and of a lesser status. Black people view this as a discord that they dont fit in; not just racially but also economically, he told Al Jazeera. Muwakkil added that the efforts to deprogramme America from racial and cultural bias against African Americans and other minorities have yet to begin in a meaningful way, despite the achievements of the civil rights era in the 1960s. He said that the country has yet to start healing from its violent past against the African American community, despite Barack Obama becoming its first black president in 2008. Political and economic empowerment Nelson and Robinson spent several hours in jail, before being released. Richard Ross, Philadelphia police commissioner, later issued an apology to the two men. Starbucks said it would close 8,000 US stores for the afternoon of May 29 to conduct what it is calling racial-bias education. Kevin Johnson, the companys chief executive also issued a statement stating that the circumstances surrounding the incident and the outcome in our store on Thursday were reprehensible, they were wrong. And for that, I personally apologise to the two gentlemen who visited our store. However Philip Jackson, the founder and chairman of the Black star project group, said Starbucks apology was too little and too late. The first thing that went to my mind when I heard of this incident was Thank God, those two young black men were not shot and killed by the police, Jackson told Al Jazeera. He said the issue is bigger than what happened at the Starbucks store. He argued that especially after the late 2016 election of President Donald Trump, the US is going back to the 1930s era of Jim Crow laws that segregated black people from white. Jackson said his organisation is organizing pop-up boycotts across the US to show Starbucks and corporate America their discontent about their treatment of African Americans. What we need as black people is not diversity training, not an apology [but] political and economic empowerment, he said. According to the 2016 US Census Bureau, the percentage of Black or African Americans in the US is a little over 13 percent of a total 325 million Americans. Jackson said Trumps election has exasperated the issues faced by the African American, Latinos, and Muslim American communities even further than it was under Obama. Muwakkil said that Obamas election had prompted many African Americans thinking that they would be finally accepted as legitimate Americans. But the election of Trump, with all of his overt racism against minority groups was in reality Americas backlash against the election of Obama, he added. If America does not solve its cultural wars against its minorities, especially the African American community, it could be detrimental to its future. Follow Ali Younes on Twitter @Ali_reports Syria: Rebels in Dumayr agree to leave after Ghouta devastation Rebels say they fear their district will face the same fate as Douma. French president promises to stand firm as public-sector staff and students rally against his labour overhaul effort. Tens of thousands of striking rail workers, public sector staff and students have rallied across France against President Emmanuel Macron. Demonstrators chanted and carried anti-Macron banners on Thursday in Paris and other cities such as Lyon and Marseille, but the scale of the protests appeared below expectations. About 15,000 rallied in Paris, according to a count by crowd consultancy, Occurrence, while police estimated the number at 11,500. Hard-left CGT union, the main organiser, put the crowd at 50,000. Were here for public services. Were ready to continue the whole summer, even into September and October, Helene Tricre, a 25-year-old ticket inspector working for the SNCF railway, told AFP news agency at the Paris rally. The peaceful march was marred by occasional clashes between police and far-left groups, many of them hooded and masked, who were seen smashing shop windows. Rail workers were on their fourth wave of stoppages this month [Benoit Tessier/Reuters] Rail workers were also carrying out their fourth wave of stoppages this month, although the number of strikers was down sharply from the beginning of April. Only one in three high-speed TGV trains was running, but this was higher than three weeks ago when only one in eight ran. Staff at the debt-laden SNCF, a bastion of hard-left trade unionism, are striking for two days out of every five in protest against plans by Macron to remove job-for-life guarantees and pension privileges for new recruits. The CGT union had called for various groups angered by Macrons one-year presidency students, public sector employees, pensioners, rail workers to come together to resist the 40-year-old centrist. The march in Paris was marred by occasional clashes between police and far-left groups [Reuters] Some left-wingers are even hoping for a re-run of the huge May 1968 demonstrations by workers and students that shook France half a century ago. But Macron has vowed to stand firm, claiming a solid mandate from his election last year in which he swept away the traditional parties that governed France for decades. Im doing what I said I would, he said last week. Opinion polls suggest France remains deeply divided about his leadership, despite a sharp fall in unemployment and a pick-up in investment thanks to his business-friendly approach since taking power. An Elabe survey showed on Friday that 52 percent of respondents felt his election has proven a bad thing. Another survey, released on Wednesday, found 58 percent were unhappy with his presidency. Trump says he will walk out if North Korea talks not fruitful US president says he would respectfully leave if the summit with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un would turn out unproductive. If you watch cable news or read virtually any newspaper in the world, the only conclusion you can reach is that America has gone crazy. The most powerful country in the world, Ronald Reagan's "shining city upon a hill," has lost her collective mind, electing a madman as her president. The onslaught is nonstop and unrelenting. Media coverage of President Trump is over 90 percent negative. There is virtually zero acknowledgment of his accomplishments, from a booming economy to record low unemployment rates, especially for minority groups. ISIS has been decimated, and trade deals are being renegotiated for the benefit of American workers, as opposed to the Chamber of Commerce and the donor class. It's not just CNN or the New York Times, but instead a global phenomenon. A quick scan of international news headlines reveals nothing positive about President Trump. The Daily Mail runs a piece about the latest bimbo, to borrow a term popularized the Clintons, claiming an affair with Donald Trump several decades ago. Down under, the New Zealand Herald leads its international news section with this: "Little hands: What's in James Comey's book about Donald Trump," along a story about the villain du jour, Trump attorney Michael Cohen. A visitor to Planet Earth would quickly leave, fearing an outbreak of mass insanity based on who the planet chose as the leader of the free world. Those of us who call this planet home begin to question our own sanity with the relentless gaslighting from the media of how terrible Trump and his presidency are. As a Trump-supporter, at times I question my own sanity, asking myself what I am missing here. Fortunately, there are a few oases of clarity on talk radio and a handful of websites and blogs. Without these anchors of reality, the media charade would become reality, with even the most ardent Trump-supporters becoming Winston Smith in 1984, finally acknowledging that two plus two equals five. One of my anchors is the Rasmussen Daily Presidential Tracking Poll. Rasmussen was the most accurate poll in the 2016 presidential election, unlike the cattle herd polls predicting a Clinton landslide until about 9 P.M. on election night. On April 16, 2018, Rasmussen shows President Trump with a 51-percent total approve and a 48-percent total disapprove number. A small edge, but still the majority of polled Americans, and likely voters, approve of the president and the job he is doing. These are impressive numbers in spite of the singular focus of the American left, and even many Republicans, to destroy President Trump. Fifty-one percent is his highest approval number in months, not breaking the 50 percent barrier since early in his presidency. And this number is on the heels of Michael Cohen's office being raided by the FBI, with rampant speculation over what Cohen is hiding about Trump. Then there is the so-called Boy Scout and former FBI director's book tour, revealing him to be nothing but a narcissistic mean girl but nevertheless leading the news headlines for the past week over his disclosures about Trump's hands and hair. Speaking of Cardinal Comey, as FBI agents often referred to him, another Rasmussen poll found that 46 percent of Americans "now want to see him prosecuted for leaking to the media." I hope Sleepy Jeff Sessions is awake and paying attention. Don't expect to hear that on MSNBC, though. How was the great Barack Hussein O, the epitome of class and grace, with the sharp crease in his slacks, greatest president of our time, or perhaps all time, viewed by likely voters at a similar point in his presidency? Rasmussen again provides the answer, as it had a similar tracking poll during the Obama administration. April 16, 2010, exactly eight years ago, 47 percent total approve, 52 percent total disapprove. Four percent more voters approve of Trump than Obama. Anyone see this reported on the evening news? I haven't. Even with media fawning and adoration, Obama was below 50 percent 15 months into his "radical transformation of America." We hear about the upcoming blue wave. Democrats are assumed to have already won the midterms, capturing the House and Senate. Trump's impeachment and removal from office are a foregone conclusion, the first order of business under the new Pelosi-Schumer Congress in January of next year. Rasmussen is tracking the generic congressional ballot, too. Democrats hold only a 5-percent lead, narrowing since the beginning of the year. Real Clear Politics aggregates a number of polls, showing Democrats with anywhere from a 3- to a 10-percent advantage. But that's today, and the election is almost seven months away. Congressional campaigns have not yet begun. Speaker Paul Ryan's departure is another factor. Republican voter enthusiasm is low due Congress's inability to accomplish anything substantive, despite being in the majority. Much of their failure is deservedly blamed on their leader, Paul Ryan. New blood in the speaker's chair versus "meet the new boss, same as the old boss" will affect Republican voter turnout and electoral results in November. Don't expect CNN to be discussing this, either. Knowing that the midterms could be a referendum on Trump impeachment, expect his supporters to turn out, even if they have to hold their nose voting for a squishy Republican candidate. The media drumbeat will continue. Comey's book tour will be lauded instead of being treated as reality TV, the FBI version of The Bachelor or Keeping Up with the Comeys. Mueller and Russia will be discussed on every newscast, breathlessly waiting for the next indictment. Michael Cohen's legal practice will be on full display to the world, as per the ruling by Clinton pal and Deep Stater Judge Kimba Wood, who, by the way, officiated George Soros's latest marriage. Try as they might, the Deep State, both on the left and right, have not been able to derail the Trump train. The president is upbeat and confident in the face of a tsunami of criticism and hatred that would make most of us want to crawl into a hole and disappear. His agenda marches on, despite resistance from all quarters in Washington, D.C., including from his own party. Investigations by the DOJ-OIG are marching along, promising fireworks and booms in the coming months. And most importantly, the president has the support of a majority of Americans, deplorables in flyover country who are able to see through or around the constant bashing and negativity. Brian C Joondeph, M.D., MPS is a Denver-based physician and writer. Follow him on Facebook, LinkedIn, and Twitter. Nasim Aghdam is a 21st-century Willy Loman, the hapless protagonist of Arthur Miller's Death of a Salesman. The eccentric vegan activist who shot up the headquarters of online video giant YouTube epitomized today's forgotten man or, perhaps, the forgotten woman, as is the more accurate case. Not long after Aghdam's shooting, which left none dead but herself, did her attempted murder spree drop from headlines. At a time when any crime involving a firearm is scrupulously deconstructed to establish a case for curtailing the Second Amendment, Aghdam's was not. This, despite her easily purchasing a 9mm Smith and Wesson under her own name at a local dealer shortly before her fatal scheme. Surely, the breeziness with which she bought a gun, ambled into a corporate headquarters, and sprayed the place with bullets, while even affording herself enough time to replace an empty magazine, should have inspired yet another gun-control march on the National Mall. But there was nothing. Even in death, Aghdam was ignored. She made it into the paper but still fell into her "grave like an old dog." Aghdam's obvious mental illness wasn't even trotted out as an excuse. And judging by her strange, pastel-colored, and overly artsy videos, it was clear she had a screw or two loose. This was not undiscovered genius; a tortured Van Gogh she was not. Aghdam was like many aspiring YouTube personalities: obsessive about her craft to the point of it becoming an indulgence. And yet, somehow, it paid. Otherwise, why would she be driven violently mad? In an online message written under a nom de plume, Aghdam railed against the source of her penury: "Youtube filtered my channels to keep them from getting views! There is no equal growth opportunity on YOUTUBE or any other video sharing site, your channel will grow if they want to!!!!!" The ghost of Willy Loman, bellowing, "You can't eat the orange and throw the peel away a man is not a piece of fruit!," can be heard in her frustration. Whatever market existed for Aghdam has been dissipated by YouTube's more stringent advertising standards. Last December, the social media giant attempted to remove ads from offensive videos. The result cut off an estimated 80% of revenue from creators of inoffensive content. In applying a one-size-fits-all fix to its image problem, YouTube de-monetized its own talent base. The same self-inflicted harm can be seen on a great scale on Facebook, currently the king of the hill in the cutthroat digital publishing business. Back in January, CEO (Chief Emperor and Overlord) Mark Zuckerberg announced that the platform's newsfeed function the life line of many publications would be stanched to prioritize postings by family and friends. "You'll see less public content like posts from businesses, brands, and media," Zuckerberg explained. "And the public content you see more will be held to the same standard it should encourage meaningful interactions between people." This was vacuous P.R.-speak for saying Zuckerberg and a close clique of executives would decide which postings get preferential treatment and which go unnoticed. The result has been nothing short of a mass foreclosure. Almost overnight, big-name sites shut their doors, their digital traffic cut by nearly 75%. Little Things, Cooking Panda, Rare all were forced to shut down as views precipitously dropped, like a rock-climber nearing the summit when his carabiner snaps. Even more are expected to face massive monetary losses, including big names like The Atlantic and The New Yorker. While there is schadenfreude watching a bitterly leftist publication like Slate shed readers, the social media-based industry as a whole is in for a great deal of suffering. Within a brief period, money-making channels are being closed off with little warning. Creators who counted on running advertisements on their products are seeing revenue plummet, sometimes drying up completely. Loman found himself in a similar situation, unable to adjust to the market's changing demands. His age and failing mental health only exacerbated his falling out with what was a young man's game. He too was cut off from his ability to earn a living. The pressure of providing for his family overwhelmed him. None of this excuses Aghdam's attempted murder, just as Willy losing his job didn't excuse his selfish suicide. The key lesson of Death of a Salesman is that attention must be paid to those left behind in capitalism's relentless churning of profit. YouTube doesn't have to de-monetize videos. Facebook doesn't have to limit its newsfeed functionality. That they choose to suppress their own means of profitability pours salt into the wounds of many who have their livelihood stripped out from under them. The dilemma is made worse by the fact that Facebook and YouTube were built to enable publishers and producers the ability to profit off their creative energies. In Facebook's case, the social network revolutionized digital publishing to the point of nearly monopolizing the industry. And now Zuckerberg and company are comfortable pulling the plug, disregarding the time, money, and resources many put into the very model they were incentivized to support. Just as Loman was let go of the company he slaved at for 34 years without so much as a handshake, an army of online content-creators is being thrown to the unforgiving vagaries of the marketplace. Of course, a concession must be made: Facebook, YouTube, Twitter, and the like are free to restrict their products. But technological disruption, like the diesel engine replacing the horse and buggy or textile looms making sewing by hand obsolete, is never easy. Losers are created in the short term; sometimes they don't find the mental strength to become winners again. Even George Mason University's Tyler Cowen, as ardent a market libertarian as there ever was, admits that the Industrial Revolution lifted living standards but helped cause the rise of Marxism when that ideology's prophet "vividly described the transition costs and the economic volatility" of innovation. As social media companies continue to clamp down on the ability of people to earn money off their platforms, we should expect to see more violent outbursts. It's an unfortunate truth. When men are pinned up against the wall, talk of ethics, morality, and the law can't dissuade their survival instinct. They lash out, like an animal protecting its young. No analogy is perfect, and Aghdam doesn't have Willy Loman's best trait: his endearing faith in America. To his end, Loman dreamed the American Dream. He was "a man way out there in the blue riding on a smile and a shoeshine." The same can't be said of would-be social media stars, who have come of age in a crucible far more competitive than the simple buying and selling of Lowman's day. The ersatz communities that are Facebook and YouTube won't be enough to temper the brewing backlash. Although the conflict between Islam and the West is not an aberration, but a continuation of history, the strategy of those who seek to whitewash and thus empower Islam is to fixate on peaceful aberrations while suppressing the continuum of hostility. Thus, in "Italy must remember its pluralist past," Akbar Ahmed, chair of Islamic studies at American University, Washington, D.C., highlights uncharacteristic episodes from Italy's past with Muslims in an attempt to convince Italians to be even more accepting of Muslim migrants. Before looking at his claims, some actual historical context concerning Italy and Islam otherwise devoid in Akbar's article about the "past" is needed. Once the jihad was unleashed from Arabia, not only was Italy bombarded and under threat for centuries, but as the seat of Rome the capital of Western Christendom, which is to say Infideldom several ambitious caliphs and sultans especially targeted it, often while making the perennial Islamic boast that they would be first to turn St. Peter's altar into a feeding trough for their horses. As early as the seventh century, "the nation of the Saracens that had already spread through Alexandria and Egypt," wrote Paul the Deacon (b. 720), "came suddenly with many ships, invaded Sicily, entered Syracuse and made a great slaughter of the people a few only escaping with difficulty who had fled to the strongest fortresses and the mountain ranges and they carried off also great booty ... and thus they returned to Alexandria." By 846, Muslim fleets managed to land on the coast of Ostia, near Rome. Unable to breach the walls of the Eternal City, they sacked and despoiled the surrounding countryside, including to the shock of Western Christendom the venerated basilicas of St. Peter and St. Paul. The invaders vandalized the two holy shrines, desecrated the tombs of Christendom's two most revered apostles, and stripped them of their treasures. Such sacrilege prompted Pope Leo IV to erect strong walls and fortifications along the right bank of the Tiber to protect the basilicas and other churches from further Muslim raids. Not ones to be deterred, "in 849 the Muslims attempted a new landing at Ostia; then, every year from around 857 on, they threatened the Roman seaboard," explains French medieval historian C.E. Dufourcq. Indeed, the following entry from Ibn al-Athir's history dealing with southern Italy and Sicily is indicative of the quantity and quality of these Islamic invasions: Another raid [in 835] directed at Etna and the neighboring strongholds resulted in the burning of harvests, the slaughter of many men and pillage. Another raid was again organized in the same direction by Abu al-Aghlab in 221 [according to the Muslim calendar, which in this case corresponded to Christmas Day, 835]; the booty brought back was so extensive that slaves were sold for almost nothing[.] ... In the same year, a fleet was sent against the [neighboring Christian] islands; after having taken rich booty and conquered several towns and fortresses there, they returned safe and sound. In 234 [August 5, 848], the inhabitants of Ragusa made peace with the Muslims in exchange for surrendering the town and what it contained. The conquerors destroyed it after having taken away everything that could be transported. In 235 [July 25, 849], a troop of Muslims marched against Castrogiovanni and returned safe and sound, after having subjected that town to pillage, murder and fire [Ye'or 2010, 289290]. Sadistic treatment for the infidel always accompanied the raid, for "it was to the amusement of the Saracens to profane, as well as to pillage, the monasteries and churches," notes Edward Gibbon. "At the siege of Salerno a Musulman chief spread his couch on the communion table, and on that altar sacrificed each night the virginity of a Christian nun." Although centuries of crusades largely safeguarded Italy and Sicily from further Islamic attacks, by 1480, Ottoman Sultan Muhammad II invaded Italy and captured Otranto. More than half of its twenty-two thousand inhabitants were massacred, five thousand led away in chains. On a hilltop (subsequently named "Martyr's Hill") another eight hundred Christians were ritually beheaded for refusing to convert to Islam, their archbishop sawed in half. Here is how French priest Jerome Maurand described the fate of the inhabitants of the tiny island of Lipari off Sicily after it was invaded by the Ottomans in 1544: "[t]o see so many poor Christians, and especially so many little boys and girls [enslaved] caused a very great pity[.] ... The tears, wailings and cries of these poor Lipariotes, the father regarding his son and the mother her daughter ... weeping while leaving their own city in order to be brought into slavery by those dogs who seemed like rapacious wolves amidst timid lambs." Failing to comprehend why the Muslim conquerors so wantonly tortured the now enslaved population including by slowly gutting the old and infirmed with knives "out of spite" he "asked these Turks why they treated the poor Christians with such cruelty, [and] they replied that such behavior had very great virtue; that was the only answer we ever got." Finally, a great many of those millions of Europeans enslaved and sold in Muslim Barbary between the fifteenth and nineteenth centuries were originally seized from the Italian coastline and Sicily. Needless to say, these centuries and events documented in my book, Sword and Scimitar: Fourteen Centuries of War between Islam and the West never make it into Akbar's article, "Italy must remember its pluralist past." Instead and because his agenda is to prompt Italians to be even more accommodating of Muslim migrants he ignores the constants while fixating on those aberrations that might validate his thesis: Italy produced Christian leaders such as Roger II, the King of Sicily, and Frederick II, the Holy Roman Emperor, King of Sicily, and King of Italy, who spoke Arabic, had Muslim bodyguards, and featured Arabic inscriptions on their royal mantle. Muslims and Jews were permitted to live by their own laws, and the jewel of Sicilian architecture, Roger's twelfth-century Palatine Chapel, incorporated Christian, Muslim, and Jewish influences. Such is Akbar's evidence concerning Italy's "pluralist past." While his anecdotes seem a far cry from the aforementioned centuries of unwavering hostility, one is still at loss concerning Akbar's point. After all, few if any Italians today have a problem with knowing Arabic, employing non-Christians, allowing others to live according to their customs, or erecting exotic architecture. Rather, they have a problem with facilitating the ancient jihad against their homeland by bringing in more and more Muslim migrants who act in accordance with the history that Akbar suggests never happened. The GOP primary in June for Staten Island promises to be newsworthy and a difficult decision for residents of this conservative NYC borough. The race will be between two men I have supported in the past and for whom I have great respect, but I plan to vote for Michael Grimm, described in the mainstream media as the disgraced former congressman who served seven months in prison for felony tax evasion. It is my hope that the president will pardon Grimm and Dinesh D'Souza, another individual who was also railroaded for being conservative. These men both admitted they made the mistakes; however, their sins have always been ignored when perpetrated by Democrats. President Trump just pardoned Scooter Libby, another soul railroaded by the left, so I'm hoping he'll rectify the damage done to Grimm and D'Souza. Michael Grimm was sent to prison for felony tax fraud committed when he under-reported business income and paid employees under the table. Frankly, about 90% of businesses in New York do the same thing, it seems to me, but they aren't the targets of a congressional cabal. Way back in 2012, I wrote the following, comparing what Rep. Grimm had encountered in D.C. to what the fictional character portrayed by Jimmy Stewart in the prescient film, Mr. Smith Goes to Washington: Soon after his ascent to office he held a town hall meeting to inform his supporters of his first impressions and he said a shocking thing. "Nobody here cares," he said and he was referring to those on both sides of the aisle. Getting reelected is their first priority, he concluded. Those were dangerous words for the freshman congressman to utter and I had a sinking feeling that he would pay for them, much like the hero Stewart played in that movie. Despite all the positive work Grimm has achieved in Congress, much of it will be subject to the spin of a hostile press beholden to his opponents. In that film, Mr. Stewart plays an idealistic young man, Jefferson Smith, who encounters a powerful enemy in the media when he refuses to co-sponsor legislation that he finds to be against the public interests. When he complains to his mentor, Senator Paine, he learns that compromise is the price one pays to remain in power for so many years. A press tycoon, Jim Taylor, controls Congress and is able to manipulate public opinion. When Sen. Paine tells Taylor that Smith will not cooperate he responds, "Aah, he'll never get started. I'll make public opinion out there within five hours! I've done it all my life. I'll blacken this punk so that he'll ... [y]ou leave public opinion to me." Doesn't all this sound familiar? Doesn't that describe the influence that the mainstream media has on public opinion today? Michael Grimm has been called one of the Young Guns in Congress and has been quite successful for a freshman in helping pass conservative legislation. Make no mistake about it; this made him a target for Democrats on the Hill. In that column, I concluded with the following: In that 1939 Frank Capra film classic, the people rallied around Mr. Smith and managed to bypass the evil clutches of the media magnate through a Herculean effort of getting the truth out. Thanks to the Internet and other alternative news sources, it is now much easier to do so. The question remains are Americans as committed to the truth as Mr. Smith's supporters were? Now Michael Grimm is running for his old seat as representative of Staten Island against Dan Donovan, the former Republican district attorney whom I endorsed in his race for that office and in his race to replace Grimm after he resigned. He was a very good D.A., and I regret that I cannot vote to re-elect him as my congressman because his voting for the past two years has been a big disappointment. I have tried to contact his office to inquire why he seems to be siding most of the time with the GOP elite and NeverTrumps in the media and Congress. It is vital that the president have a Congress that will fight for his agenda without fear, and for that we need Michael Grimm to return. He is a former Gulf War Marine veteran who was also an FBI undercover agent on Wall Street. He worked hard for those in his district suffering the devastating effects of Superstorm Sandy. He is pro-life and tried hard to pass a bill protecting female fetuses from being selectively terminated that was naturally defeated by the Democrats. He said: I find it disappointing that legislation to outlaw the barbaric practice of sex-selective abortions failed to pass the House of Representatives. Beyond my religious and pro-life views, I believe to end the life of an unborn baby girl simply because her parents were hoping for a boy is absolutely disgusting and horrific, not to mention the ultimate betrayal of women's rights. There are apparently many Islanders who feel as I do, judging by the number of Grimm yard signs compared to Donovan signs. I'm still waiting for mine. As for Dinesh D'Souza's punishment for what many liberals in politics do routinely, I can describe it only as not just despicable, but a frightening display of selective prosecution. Even liberal Harvard professor Alan Dershowitz agreed, stating: "I can't help but think that [D'Souza's] politics have something to do with it. ... It smacks of selective prosecution." To be sure, D'Souza had written several books that were not favorable to President Obama. His public appearances and speeches criticized Obama's history and the Democrats' liberal agenda. He had to be stopped, and in September 2014, the court sentenced D'Souza to five years' probation, eight months in a halfway house (referred to as a "community confinement center"), and a $30,000 fine. One would think this would shut him up, but in his 2016 film, Hillary's America, he uses his confinement to illustrate ironically how free speech has been censored by the liberal left. It's actually quite entertaining and educational, exposing the racist history in the Democratic Party. As for D'Souza's crime of breaking campaign finance laws, one has to wonder why President Obama's campaigns in 2008 and 2012 weren't charged with accepting millions in illegal overseas donations. Nor can we question why Grimm's crime of tax fraud was treated as more serious than Rep. Charlie Rangel failing to report income from his rental of a beachside villa he owns in Punta Cana in the Dominican Republic, or using his position on the House Ways and Means Committee to solicit political donations to his Center. Apparently, all Democrat crimes may be unethical, but conservative misdeeds are always criminal. Getting rid of the swamp creatures in Congress will undoubtedly force us all to make difficult choices in the future. Here's hoping that means we'll be sending more fighters and fewer RINOs to Congress in November. MAGA. U.N. ambassador Nikki Haley has come under fire from White House critics who accuse her of grandstanding for her own political aggrandizement for fighting back after she was a accused of being "confused" after getting ahead of the White House in announcing new sanctions on Russia. Haley, whose presidential ambitions are no secret, fired back at new economic adviser Larry Kudlow's charge that she was confused about new administration sanctions on Russia, saying, "I do not get confused." Trump has since indicated that he has decided to abandon plans to sanction Russia, but Haley refused to play the good soldier and accept blame for the crossed wires. CNN: Haley didn't endure a presidential putdown, but Kudlow's comments for which he later apologized were in line with an apparent White House strategy to shift blame to Haley and shield the President. Still, none of her colleagues have so publicly bristled at the egg on their faces. For now at least, she is showing off her savvy in navigating the administration's ever shifting dynamics. She appears to have emerged from the combative approach unscathed a rare feat in Trump's orbit. "It's clear that in situations like this she is prepared to defend herself and publicly, if necessary," said John Negroponte, a former US ambassador to the United Nations under President George W. Bush. Another source close to Haley said the ambassador "isn't going to let the President run over her like some of these star-struck men around the White House let him do." When asked by a reporter at the UN Wednesday about her relationship with Trump, Haley said, "It's perfect." Haley, a former South Carolina governor who endorsed a Trump rival during her state's high profile presidential primary, is one of the administration's most prominent voices. That's in part because of her penchant for speaking her mind, even when her views cause heartburn in the White House. She insisted she would speak her mind when she joined the Trump's administration. Before agreeing to accept a nomination as UN ambassador, Haley listed off a few conditions during a conversation with Trump. "I said, 'I don't want to be a wallflower or a talking head. I want to be able to speak my mind.' (Trump) said, 'That is why I asked you to do this,'" Haley told CNN last summer. And since that conversation, Haley has spoken her mind staking out tough positions on everything from racism in the US to policy regarding Russia, Syria and Iran, often teetering on the edge of the administration's position and her own. But she had also always been cautious to avoid contradicting Trump, frequently touching base with him directly to coordinate her public messaging and remaining in his good graces. Haley has been tough and very effective at the U.N., earning the respect of allies and Democrats on the Hill. But is she untouchable? While her presidential ambitions may worry some in the administration, it is doubtful she has her eye on the 2020 race. No serious Republican does. But if Trump fired Haley, she would immediately assume a position as a leader of the GOP anti-Trump faction. She may not run for president, but she would become the focus of Trump critics within the party who would use her to prop up whatever minor candidate ends up challenging the president. In other words, she would become a lightning rod and a thorn in the side of the Trump re-election campaign. Trump and his people don't need that kind of headache, so Haley is probably safe for now. Besides, Trump appears to genuinely like and respect her. And with two huge Trump foreign policy initiatives on the horizon the meeting with North Korea's Kim and pulling out of the Iran deal Haley will play a large role in promoting the administration's positions. Starbucks CEO Kevin Johnson told CNN's Don Lemon he will close all 8,000 of the company's U.S. stores on May 29 for "mandatory training around unconscious bias, conscious inclusion and working to not only educate but sensitize every Starbucks partner to this issue." Lemon's priceless response? "Can you do that in one afternoon?" Not likely, and that's just fine with the corporate shakedown artists. Johnson, already on the defensive, assured Lemon that the May 29 employee re-education camp is only the beginning of Starbucks's "journey" into ensuring that "each and every person who walks in the door feels safe and welcome." Toward that goal, the corporation has enlisted the help of executives from the Soros-funded left-wing think-tank Demos, the Equal Justice Initiative, the NAACP, and former A.G. Eric Holder. A quick glance at the collaborators' online mission statements and soon managers and baristas will learn, in the name of economic and racial justice, to look the other way as loiterers, panhandlers, and homeless "people of color" take up residence in their stores. After the brouhaha in Philadelphia last week, try telling anyone who comes through the door of Starbucks that he can't use the bathroom or squat at one of the tables without buying anything. The domestic terrorists, Black Lives Matter and Antifa, will be smashing windows, looting, and blocking entrances in no time. Is the average national salary for baristas of $20,000 a year worth the stress of creating a safe space for deadbeats? Starbucks's target audience of middle- and upper-income urbanites will also be affected by Johnson's re-education plans. Heck, Holder wouldn't even prosecute New Black Panthers threatening white voters with Billy clubs. Does the CEO really think Holder's "my people" expertise will be good for the company's loyal base or the bottom line? How will customers react as they shell out big bucks for expensive drinks while employees cater to non-paying people turning their favorite coffee shop into a flop house? Starbucks is being devoured by its insane ideology. In a Kafkaesque betrayal of their own workers, CEO Johnson, along with his executive chairman, Howard Schultz, have aligned themselves with violent and radical riffraff strong-arming them into spending tens of millions of dollars to re-educate employees who have done nothing wrong. In a CBS interview, Gayle King asked Schultz what the company would do for the two men arrested last week in Philadelphia. Schultz promised to support their interest in real estate and "provide them with an opportunity to be part of the company." Perhaps he will offer the same encouragement to Black Lives Matter Pennsylvania organizer, Asa Khalif. The bullhorn-wielding Khalif showed up at the Philadelphia Starbucks with dozens of protesters in record time after the arrest video went viral. Coincidentally, Khalif is also in real estate! His Facebook page lists him as the owner of Paasda Properties, and he told an interviewer he "works in real estate." Does Khalif know the two arrestees who claim to be real estate agents? Or the real estate businessman, Andrew Yaffe, who showed up later in the video? Schultz and Johnson should hire a private investigator before they spend millions re-educating their employees. The decision of the Department of Commerce to hit ZTE with the hardest sanctions to date over the companys illegal imports to Iran prompted a wave of patriotism among Chinas population which is largely sympathetic to the firms troubles in the United States, Reuters reports. Social media in the Far Eastern country is presently overrun with messages of support for ZTE, with many claiming the firm is being unfairly punished for being a successful Chinese business. Calls for increased investments in Chinas semiconductor industry have also been prompted following the latest development, indicating that ZTE wouldnt be in this situation if it wasnt as reliant on imports from the U.S. as it currently is. Chinese firms are presently importing some $11 billion worth of semiconductor technologies from the U.S. on an annual basis, according to recent estimates. Washington forbade American companies from supplying both hardware and software to ZTE over the next seven years, with the majority of the firms partners such as Google and Qualcomm presently waiting for a federal clarification on the matter. Taken at face value, the order will effectively kill ZTEs smartphone business in the U.S. where its currently the fourth largest handset manufacturer and will also be largely detrimental to its global operations given how it also spans software licensing, meaning ZTE may not even be able to use any contemporary version of Android for the time being. UK authorities are simultaneously warning British wireless carriers against using ZTEs equipment, citing national security concerns and delivering yet another blow to the companys international ambitions. ZTE is currently estimated to be the worlds seventh largest maker of smartphones which shipped north of 45 million devices in 2017 alone, according to several industry trackers. The new U.S. blow is a result of ZTEs business practices that previously saw it break U.S. trade sanctions and conspire to import American products into Iran, a transgression which it admitted a year ago, agreeing to settle with an $890 million fine and a promise to lay off four executives and discipline 35 other workers, either by reprimanding them or withholding their bonuses. The latter part of the settlement was never carried out, with the Commerce Department accusing ZTE of misleading and lying to it over the matter before hitting it with the newest sanction. The development is further deteriorating the relations between Washington and Beijing that appear to be close to a full-fledged trade war following President Trumps recent push for new import tariffs on various goods and the newly reinvigorated tensions between the stateside government and Huawei. Googles latest offering, the G Suite Enterprise for Education, is now available to a majority of educational institutions in the United States. The G Suite Enterprise for Education includes additional features that enable educational institutions to protect sensitive data and remotely control mobile devices. Among the tools offered by G Suite Enterprise for Education is the Security Center, which provides network administrators with insights on how they could better protect sensitive user data on their network. For example, this tool permits IT personnel to monitor if there are phishing messages being distributed within the organization. Furthermore, G Suite Enterprise for Education also offers Advanced Mobile Device Management, which makes it easier for administrators to remotely control mobile devices within the organization. IT personnel may monitor device activities through the Mobile Audit feature, and the tool also allows them to automate certain actions like enrolling devices, sending notifications, or even deleting account data from lost devices. Aside from the security tools, G Suite Enterprise for Education also includes features that make it easier for students and teachers to keep track of school activities and lectures. The Cloud Search feature offers a unified search experience for emails, documents, and schedules, reducing the time spent by users on searching for information. Through the use of machine learning, this functionality automatically informs users of which files still need attention. In addition, BigQuery integration into Gmail allows administrators to analyze emails to check for insights that may improve the way the organization is being operated. Last but not the least, the G Suite Enterprise for Education also offers advanced capabilities in Hangouts Meet. For example, users gain the ability to record meetings and save it to Google Drive. Hangouts Meet allows users to invite people to the meeting through their phones using the services dial-in feature. The G Suite Enterprise for Education will cost organizations $4 a month per user, although if institutions subscribe to the service within the year, they may be eligible for Googles introductory price of $2 per month for faculty and staff and free for students. Google also enumerated the security improvements it made to the free version of the G Suite for Education. The Hosted Gmail S/MIME tool allows organizations to encrypt emails, while the Data Loss Prevention feature prevents users from sharing sensitive data like students personal information outside of the organization. Administrators may now set the length of time before users are automatically logged out of their accounts, and they may also require users to utilize a physical key before they could sign in to their accounts. A new report has emerged to reveal certain launch details of the upcoming Galaxy A6 and A6 Plus. According to it, Samsung is planning for a global debut of the two devices in India. The launch will happen sometime by the end of this month, as per the publications sources in retail. A handful of basic specifications of the Galaxy A6 have also been provided in the report, according to which, the device will sport a 5.6-inch display with an HD resolution. This piece of information is questionable up to an extent since a number of older leaks from reliable sources have suggested an Infinity Display for the Galaxy A6 pair with an aspect ratio of 18.5:9. Even if Samsung chooses to go for a 720p resolution display for the handset, which isnt confirmed yet, it will still have an HD+ resolution of 1,480 x 720 pixels, given the aspect ratio. Besides the display details, the report adds that the Galaxy A6 will have 4GB of RAM paired with 32GB of internal storage along with a 16-megapixel camera both on its front and back. The front-facing 16-megapixel primary camera will be coupled with a secondary camera sensor of an unknown resolution. A dual-camera setup on the front of a Samsung device was first seen on the Galaxy A8 series that has been available since early this year. The Galaxy A6 is also expected to get a 3,000mAh battery and Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box. Like it has been the case with most Samsung devices, the Indian model of the phone will be powered by an Exynos processor which is expected to be the 7870 chipset, according to previous leaks. Not much has been said about the Galaxy A6 Plus, except the fact it will be announced alongside the Galaxy A6. The Galaxy A6 Plus is expected to be improved on the hardware front to include a larger 6-inch display and probably a larger battery as well. A previous leak said it to come boasting a Snapdragon 625 processor, likely in a device model meant for the US market, while the Indian variant should get an Exynos processor. Concept renders of the two Galaxy A6 devices had leaked yesterday showing a pair of rear cameras for the Plus variant positioned in the same fashion as the Galaxy S9 Plus. Google Chrome seems ready to offer Oculus hardware support according to a user on Reddit who has pointed out that a flag exists which lets users enable the browser to support Oculus VR content. As shown in the image below which displays the flag, if you enable the option then Chrome will show Oculus VR content in the headset. There is at least one caveat and thats the fact that only Windows 10 devices are currently supported. The user on Reddit who posted the image and goes by the name of st6315 notes that anyone with an Oculus Rift may want to give this new flag a shot as it may let Chrome output WebVR experiences to the Oculus Rift headset. Another user points out that this could lead to Chrome browser-based games in VR through an Oculus Rift. If it does indeed lead to that and this is part of Googles intention then it could also open up the door for Chrome to support outputting browser-based games to other VR headsets as well, such as the HTC Vive and Vive Pro, and various Windows Mixed Reality headsets. With Chrome now supporting Oculus hardware, Rift users will now have a proper web browser to use, as the official browser from Oculus is still not yet available. It also sort of puts the Rift on par with Googles Daydream headset when it comes to browsing and native WebVR content, as Google launched WebVR support for Daydream back in 2017. Worth mentioning is that a quick search for Oculus on the chrome://flags page from a machine running the latest version of Windows 10 did not reveal the same flag shown in the image below and as described by the Reddit post, so there may be other factors to take into account that will get this to show up, if youre someone who has an Oculus Rift headset and wants to get this enabled. Its also possible that you may need to update to the latest version of Chrome if youre not seeing this flag as one user in the comments mentions that this was the reason they werent able to see the flag at first. Googles App Engine no longer supports domain fronting. Technically speaking, App Engine has never officially supported domain fronting although it was a feature those using Googles solution were previously able to take advantage of. That, however, has now changed as a recent update to App Engine has now removed all traces of backend support. If does not seem as thought Google has officially announced the change (as it never officially supported the use of domain fronting in the first place), although the change was previously noted as in effect on the Tor bug tracker on April 13. Since then, The Verge has received confirmation from Google of the discontinuation of the unofficial support through the release of a recent update. Once again, the representative confirmed Google has never officially supported the feature, and the recent update itself was also not specifically designed to target the use of the feature. Instead, the features ability to be used has ceased as a byproduct of the update applied to the underlying framework that the feature took advantage of. With the representative also quoted stating Google does not have any plans to offer it as a feature going forward. Domain fronting is better understood as the ability to spoof a location. This is something that a lot of services offer and for multiple reasons. VPNs being one such example and geo-restricted or otherwise censored content being prime examples of why an app or a service might want to spoof the location. The reason this was unofficially available was due to how App Engine works as this is a web and mobile app-based platform designed to take away the need for developers to worry about the infrastructure needed to scale an app or website. Instead, App Engine afforded developers with the ability to concentrate on the code and provide them with a fully-ready infrastructure for use. Up until now, that has also meant redirecting traffic through Google domains first, before sending them on to a final destination. Not only this, but Googles encryption also stopped anyone from understanding or knowing the traffic was going anywhere beyond the Google domain. Thereby inadvertently providing a method for app developers to spoof a location. It seems like Huawei has no intention of selling its Kirin smartphone processors to other OEMs, and will keep using them in its smartphones only, including Honor-branded handsets, of course. This information was revealed during the Huawei Global Analyst Conference in Shanghai, which is the companys 15th annual Global Analyst Conference. Various topics were discussed by this China-based tech giant during this press conference, and one of them was the fact that the company will keep using its Kirin chips exclusively. The company did explain why that is, as it said that it makes Kirin chips for its own hardware architecture, the company adapts its processors to other hardware components in their devices, and then adds additional polish via its Emotion UI (EMUi) Android skin, which comes pre-installed on its devices. Kirin chips are quite powerful on their own, but the companys other hardware components, and its software, give them that additional polish, and that seems to be the main reason Huawei is not interested in sharing its Kirin processors with other smartphone manufacturers, at least thats what the company said during the press conference. It is worth noting that both Qualcomm and MediaTek are also supplying processors to Huawei, so the company is not using its processors exclusively, even though the vast majority of its smartphones do ship with Kirin-based chips. Now, the Kirin 970 is the companys latest and greatest chip, and it is fueling the Huawei P20 and P20 Pro flagship handsets which were introduced recently, as well as the Mate 10-branded flagship phones. The Huawei P20 Lite is fueled by the Kirin 659, which is also a 64-bit octa-core processor, but its not on the Kirin 970s level, as it is just a mid-range chip, even though its quite capable. The Kirin 980 will be announced later this year, and the Huawei Mate 20 will be the first smartphone to ship with that processor, if past years are any indication of whats coming. Huawei is expected to announce a new mid-range chip this year as well, though we do not have any info regarding it at the moment, so well just have to wait and see what happens. The latest Moto Voice app version references the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus, two phones which Motorola has yet to release or officially announce. While there is no doubt that the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus are on the way, as numerous leaks have already showcased, its not everyday that a brand mentions unannounced products in already existing and available services, though it isnt exactly unheard of either. Also worth mentioning is that even though Motorola hasnt announced the next devices in the Moto G family just yet, its expected to unveil the Moto G6, Moto G6 Plus, and Moto G6 Play on April 19, which is tomorrow, so referencing two of the three phones in the app that will be a big part of those devices a day ahead of time shouldt be a huge shock. In addition to mentioning the Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus the Moto Voice app also shows off a drawn version of the phone, albeit without nearly the same level of detail that you can see in previously leaked renders. That said the graphic in the app does look like those leaked renders, though not by much as its just a simple graphic with the home button/fingerprint sensor being the only discernible detail. The screenshot below which is from the latest version of the Moto Voice app also mentions that BETA features will be available on the 2018 Moto G6 and Moto G6 Plus. The app, while providing benefits for other Motorola devices, also seems to have been updated in part to prepare for the Moto G6 family release. While the app does mention support for new features on the two phones there is no mention of what features those will be. That makes sense given they might be new features that arent yet available on other Motorola devices, in which case Motorola likely wouldnt want to detail them until it actually unveils the phones that theyre for. With the announcement thought to be happening tomorrow more information should pop up on those features soon enough. The Moto G6 seeks to compete in the lower mid-range market segment and provide a lot of bang for your hard-earned money. Motorola on Thursday took to Sao Paulo, Brazil, to announce its latest and already widely rumored offerings in the form of the Moto G6 series, with the companys new lineup consisting of three devices the Moto G6, Moto G6 Play, and the Moto G6 Plus. As expected, the Moto G6 represents some sort of a middle ground in the new family, seeking to provide consumers with the best value-to-money ratio while generally serving as a versatile and reliable handset. https://youtu.be/20vwZ-ipZfM Advertisement Moto G6 Specs The Moto G6 is powered by Qualcomms Snapdragon 450 chip, an octa-core 14nm silicon clocked at a maximum operating frequency of 1.8GHz which also ships with the Adreno 560 GPU. The handset will be made available in two variants, with the base model having 3GB of RAM and 32GB of flash memory, whereas the more premium version doubles on that storage space and offers 4GB of RAM. Both are coming with a microSD card slot supporting up to 128GB of extra memory, USB Type-C port, and a 3.5mm audio jack. The slim Home button below the screen doubles as a fingerprint reader with support for various gestures, though the previously reported NFC capabilities havent been included after all. Dual-SIM support is technically here but wont be available worldwide and Motorola has yet to clarify which countries will get those models. In terms of raw processing power, the Moto G6 is obviously meant to compete in the lower mid-range segment of the smartphone market but recent technological advancements effectively guarantee that even its modest hardware will get the job done for the vast majority of consumers, and at an extremely affordable price point, at that. Moto G6 Display Advertisement The display is one of the main selling points of the newly announced Android mid-ranger, with the device boasting a 5.7-inch IPS LCD panel advertised as the Max Vision screen. Much like its name implies, Motorola transitioned its G lineup to the new 18:9 (2:1) aspect ratio and the Moto G6 hence features an FHD+ resolution of 2,160 by 1,080 pixels. The Lenovo-owned phone maker says this is as much screen real estate as you can get from any modern value-oriented product with a comparable physical footprint, claiming the Moto G6s display is ideal for media consumption due to its overall size, whereas its image format makes the handset suitable for single-handed use. The panel is protected by a sheet of Cornings Gorilla Glass 3 which should adequately safeguard it from scratches, with the OEM once again delivering a device with an attentive display, i.e. one that stays on so long as youre looking at it regardless of your screen timeout settings. As was the case with previous such handsets from the company, this feature is entirely optional and can be disabled at any time. Moto G6 Design Advertisement The overall design of the Moto G6 is in line with recent industry standards given how its elongated screen is surrounded by minimal side bezels and a relatively small forehead, though its chin remains sizeable. The back of the partially metal handset is equipped with premium 3D glass that reflects light in a variety of ways depending on the angle at which youre looking at it. The entire smartphone is protected by p2i nano-coating and should hence survive rain and splashes of water without any issues, though its not advertised as waterproof and hence shouldnt be treated as such. The handset has so far been confirmed as coming in Black, Deep Indigo, Blush, and Silver color options, though it remains to be seen whether all of them end up being released on a global level. Motorolas new Android mid-ranger is 153.8 x 72.3 x 8.3mm in size and weighs in at 167g. Moto G6 Cameras The Moto G6 features a dual-camera setup entailing a 12-megapixel sensor and a 5-megapixel unit, as well as an 8-megapixel module mounted on the front. While the hardware part of its imaging equation isnt anything out of the ordinary, Motorola is placing a large emphasis on the Moto G6s software with features such as Cutout, an ability to select a custom background and apply it to any other image using artificial intelligence. Selective Focus mode is also part of the package and is essentially the same thing Samsung has been offering on its devices for a while now, allowing users to blur any parts of their images. The Moto G6 can apply augmented reality stickers to faces in real time, in addition to being able to utilize its camera to identify landmarks or other objects thanks to its Google Lens integration. Optical character recognition support powered by the same technology is also on offer here, allowing you to quickly digitize writing on a sheet of paper, sign, or any other object. The latter functionality supports English, French, Spanish, German, Italian, Portuguese, and Russian, though its presently unclear whether Motorola will expand on that list of languages moving forward. Advertisement The rear camera setup of the Moto G6 is unsurprisingly accompanied by a dual-LED (dual-tone) flash and also ships with support for some unique features such as the ability to colorize black-and-white photographs as part of its integrated editor. Motorolas AI software can help you choose the best image out of a group of consecutively taken shots, with the smartphone also coming with a traditional manual mode. The front camera of the Moto G6 has face unlock support, its own LED flash, and offers an ultra wide-angle mode, as well as Beautification for smoothening out skin textures and otherwise making selfie shots more magazine cover-worthy. In overall, the cameras of the Moto G6 are a small improvement over last years models in terms of hardware, but a significant step forward regarding AI, with the device now boasting two much smarter imaging systems. Moto G6 Battery Life The Moto G6 is powered by a 3,000mAh battery which is advertised as being capable of lasting through an entire day on a single charge. The cell also supports the firms proprietary TurboPower charging technology which works with the charger thats already bundled with the smartphone itself. In practice, you should be able to prepare a completely dead Moto G6 unit for several hours of use following a 20-minute charge. Advertisement Moto G6 Software The Moto G6 ships with a custom implementation of Android 8.0 Oreo that boasts support for a broad range of functionalities Motorola already included in many of its previous devices. Moto Display, Night Mode, Moto Voice, Moto Actions, and Moto Key are hence all part of the newly announced package, providing users with the ability to unlock their Windows PCs using the fingerprint sensor of their smartphone or control the handset itself with gestures which effectively act as physical shortcuts. The Moto G6 offers Bluetooth 4.2, Dolby Audio support, and can play FM radio, the company confirmed. Native Google Assistant integration is on offer as well, meaning youll largely be able to control the device with voice commands, which isnt unlike what Samsung offers on select Galaxy devices with Bixby. Google Photos is also the default gallery app on both the Moto G6 and every other new handset from Motorola. Moto G6 Pricing & Availability Advertisement The Moto G6 is available for purchase in Brazil as of today and will be coming to Mexico next week. The handset will be launching in the United States and Canada over the coming months, with the same vague availability window being provided in the context of Europe, Asia Pacific, and (the rest of) Latin America. The Moto G6 will start at $249 and will be offered directly from Motorola, as well as a broad range of its retail partners, Amazon included. Moto G6 Gallery Motorola is working on a new Beta Experiences program that will allow owners of its Android devices to test new operating system builds and features before theyre available on a global level, the companys Vise President of Product Dan Dery revealed earlier today in Sao Paulo, Brazil. While speaking at an event that saw the announcement of the new Moto G6 and Moto E5-series smartphones, Mr. Dery confirmed plans for the program but provided no concrete details on the matter. Motorola has been criticized for not releasing timely software updates for most of its devices in recent times and the existence of a new beta program may signal a renewed commitment to such after-sales support practices moving forward. The companys Thursday event was still primarily hosted with the goal of unveiling and showcasing its latest Android smartphones; Motorolas new midrange lineup consists of the Moto G6, Moto G6 Play, and the Moto G6 Plus, whereas its first entry-level offerings of the year come in the form of the Moto E5, Moto E5 Play, and the Moto E5 Plus. All six devices run Android 8.0 Oreo out of the box, with the Lenovo-owned companys implementation of Googles operating system also featuring support for a wide variety of functionalities such as Moto Key, Moto Display, and Moto Actions, though select models only support some of them. The smartphone manufacturer was already expected to announce its first 2018 products at Barcelona, Spain-based Mobile World Congress in late February but ended up postponing those launches until today, going against its previously established strategy that traditionally saw it invest in a major presence at every iteration of the annual trade show. While the firm never clarified on the matter, the delay of its 2018 announcements may have been related to a major leadership change recently conducted at Motorola, with its long-time President Aymar de Lencquesaing stepping down for officially non-business reasons and his replacement being found in another veteran executive Sergio Buniac. Qualcomm has reportedly begun to lay off approximately 1,500 employees at the companys San Diego, California-based headquarters as part of a broader move to cut costs by $1 billion amid shareholder pressure, recent reports suggest, though it remains unclear what positions are being vacated. It is also worth pointing out that the figure is just an estimate based on statements from unnamed sources, though Qualcomm is expected to file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with California. A WARN notice is one of the requirements for companies that dismiss 50 or more workers and it is expected to provide a clear number of Qualcomm employees set for layoff. It remains to be seen how much of Qualcomms overall costs the job cuts are likely to bring. It is also understood that the layoffs will not just happen in California, but also in other locations where Qualcomm operates. The American semiconductor company confirmed the massive layoff, which will cover both full-time and contractual employees who will receive separation payments, according to Bloomberg, which cited a source familiar with the move. Qualcomm reportedly said it aims to sustain long-term growth and success, and the layoff is one of the steps it deems necessary to accomplish that. The massive layoff is not unprecedented, however, as Qualcomm dispatched about 600 employees worldwide, with 300 of those job cuts having occurred in California and the other 300 across its global facilities. The decision was made after the company evaluated its businesses to determine where efficiencies can be achieved. It is understood that the chipmakers latest move is in line with the cost-cutting measures the company introduced last January. At that time, Qualcomm proposed a number of ways to reduce expenses at the company in an attempt to convince its investors that it can be in a better position on its own financially than being acquired by another company. More to the point, Qualcomm has been trying to fend off the hostile takeover bid of Broadcom by promising to hit adjusted earnings per share of between $6.75 and $7.50 for the fiscal year 2019 with a promise of continued growth and significant cost reductions meant to help sustain efficient operations at the company. T-Mobile added low-band LTE support to hundreds of its cell sites over the course of the last two weeks, the companys Chief Technology Officer Neville Ray said Wednesday. The animated map seen below provides a summary of the firms latest wireless efforts, with all areas in which low-band LTE has been deployed being set to benefit from expanded and more reliable coverage moving forward. The deployment encompasses both 600MHz and 700MHz spectrum, the former one of which presently constitutes one of T-Mobiles flagship holdings acquired by the carrier in vast amounts last year as part of an incentive auction organized by the Federal Communications Commission. Low-band spectrum is a term denoting all frequencies below 1GHz, with T-Mobile positioning such airwaves as an important part of its present wireless equation and future deployment plans across the country. The Bellevue, Washington-based mobile service provider is the only major telecom firm in the United States thats pursuing 600MHz-enabled 5G on a significant scale, with such a solution being less demanding than millimeter-wave spectrum in terms of infrastructural requirements given how it doesnt require tens of thousands of small cell sites in order to allow for quality coverage. The downside of low-band spectrum is that it doesnt guarantee capacities and latencies that can directly rival mmWave solutions, though that drawback can be alleviated with aggregation technologies. In theory, low-band spectrum should always be a more suitable option for indoor and rural coverage where penetration capabilities and the signals ability to travel long distances on its own are more important than other performance metrics. Not every locale encompassed by T-Mobiles latest expansion now has access to both 600MHz and 700MHz bands, though all should eventually support them, the company said. E.g. Stockton, California, is still in the process of receiving 700MHz coverage but already has access to T-Mobiles 600MHz network. Advertisement Our network team added lowband LTE to 100s of sites in just two weeks, which means more and better coverage. And #WeWontStop!! @TMobile @MetroPCS #AcrossTheGrid pic.twitter.com/hrXAtgZvQM Neville (@NevilleRay) April 18, 2018 T-Mobile on Wednesday announced new One Military plans for military members, as well as their families and small businesses, offering four lines for $100 or six lines for $120 per month. The basic plan starts at $55, i.e. $15 down the regular price a consumer would pay for a T-Mobile One line, with the second line being $25, and the other four available lines being priced at $10 each. The wireless carriers Half Off discount also applies here, allowing military members and their families to purchase popular flagships such as Samsungs Galaxy S9 and Galaxy S9 Plus at 50-percent off. The promotion is officially starting on April 22, and as is the case with other T-Mobile One plans offered by the mobile service provider, taxes and other fees are already calculated into the cited costs, with subscribers also being eligible for other benefits at no extra charge. Among other things, the company is pointing to a free Netflix Standard subscription, full eligibility for T-Mobile Tuesdays, switching cost subsidies, Scam ID and Scam Block services, as well as Gogo Inflight support as some of the added incentives for choosing one of its T-Mobile One plans. The firm is describing its new move as the latest step in its efforts to continue being worthy of the title of a military-friendly employer awarded by the Military Friendly Company that its been holding for eleven consecutive years now. As part of the same announcement, T-Mobile committed to hiring over 10,000 U.S. Military veterans and their spouses over the course of the next half a decade so as to combat the still-problematic trend of veteran unemployment. The Bellevue, Washington-base company also pledged to continue investing in the fifth generation of mobile networks and prioritize 5G deployment targeting communities around U.S. military bases going forward. In 2018 alone, T-Mobile is planning to commit over half a billion dollars to 4G LTE buildouts in such areas so as to prepare them for the rollout of 5G connectivity which its expecting to kick off on a national scale in 2019. All consumers eligible to sign up for the new T-Mobile One Military plans can do so by referring to the banner below. In the leadup to what is expected to be the largest initial public offering (IPO), Xiaomi founder Lei Jun has revealed how he believes the company sets itself apart. With an expected valuation of around $65 billion to $70 billion, the 48-year-olds company has grown over the years to become one of the most well-known Chinese handset makers. Thats in no small part due to its involvement across nearly the whole of the consumer electronics spectrum. Projects ranging from the recently launched Black Shark gaming phone and other devices to its smartwatch endeavors, which are primarily handled by Huami Corporation. All of those efforts have culminated in a company that is currently the top brand in the worlds largest emerging market in India. Thats in addition to being the fastest growing smartphone vendor in its home country even if it has lost the title of top seller in that region. The executive explains that strategy to be very straightforward. Instead of following others in the smartphone industry, he says, the business model used is centered around the value of the brand and its products. Called tipping, the underlying premise of that is to offer hardware at as close to a zero profit margin as possible. Thats a business model that the company has followed since the beginning. In fact, it was all but set in stone before the company even launched its first handset and Lei believes that should be built into Xiaomis underlying policies as a protection against straying from it. Where the company really makes its money, the executive continues, is in the monetization of what he calls complementary services. That means that it isnt really until the companys users take advantage of the after-sale software or features included with any of its given devices that Xiaomi makes a substantial return. For example, when users stream video on their Mi-branded smartphone, use the built-in browser, or other online services, the company makes a profit. The hardware itself only returns a gain of between 1 and 2-percent, if a return is gained at all. The strategy also extends into returns based on brand recognition, loyalty, and trust. The values of the company build brand power that translates to sales of Xiaomis other branded products. That includes more than 70 items that many wouldnt associate with a smartphone and tablet manufacturer such as pens, air purifiers, pillows, robotic vacuums, and more. The general result of that no-overhead strategy is that the company is able to offer top-of-the-line hardware at a much lower cost than its competitors. Through all of that, it has still turned a substantial profit. So Lei Jun may very well be onto something with his strategy for running things. Barcelona / GenevaOn Wednesday morning, the Speaker of the Catalan Parliament Roger Torrent, met with members of the UN High Commission on Human Rights. Shortly before 9 am, Torrent arrived at a building near the United Nations headquarters in Geneva for his first meeting as part of his official trip to the Swiss capital, with a senior official of the United Nations High Commission on Human Rights, Mona Rishmawi, the highest-ranking official in Switzerland when the High Commissioner is away on special business, as was the case this Wednesday. During the meeting, which lasted an hour and a half, the two parties agreed to keep the lines of communication open to ensure the Commission is informed of events in Catalonia, thus acquiring more accurate, up to date information on developments in the case. Roger Torrent stated that he has raised his concern as to the "violation" of fundamental rights which he claims is taking place in Catalonia and that he requested a meeting in order to find a "political solution to a political conflict" like that of Catalonia. The speaker stated that he found Rishmawi and other individuals in charge of entities related to Human Rights to be receptive to and interested in the case. Torrent was unwilling to disclose the names of the other people he met with, claiming that they had asked him to be "discrete". Although Parliament has decided not to make public the schedule for Torrents visit, our sources claim that he is expected to meet with ERCs secretary general, Marta Rovira, who has been in exile for a month. Torrent did reveal, however, that between Wednesday and Thursday he will be meeting with Swiss MPs, the mayor of Geneva and several Human Rights groups to discuss the situation in Catalonia. According to the Catalan Parliament, the purpose of the Speakers visit to Geneva is to inform a number UN bodies, authorities and elected officials of the "violation of fundamental rights" of the Catalan people and their MPs, as a result of the frustrated attempts to elect Jordi Sanchez and Carles Puigdemont as president. The trip also took place after the UN pointed out the need for Spain to take the necessary steps in Sanchezs case in order to guarantee his right to vote and stand as a candidate, whilst ensuring his political rights remain intact. Russian media reports that Azerbaijan is close to placing an order for ten sets of the Belarusian Polonez multiple rocket launch system (MRLS). Based on the Chinese A-200 system, the Polonaise comes rigged on a Volat MZKT-793000-300 88 all-terrain chassis. Belarusian Polonez 300mm MLRS Multiple Launch Rocket System at Milex 2017 defense exhibition in Minsk (Picture source: Army Recognition) While contracts for the deal have yet to be signed, the Kommersant report says legal documents are in their final stages with just the matter of financing to be concluded. Once finalized, it will be the first export of the Belarusian system. The sale is likely to be met with negative reaction in Armeniawith whom neighboring Azerbaijan has had strained relationsbut should be consoled by the deterrent posed by its own Iskander short-range ballistic missile system purchased in 2016. The V-200 Polonez MLRS was unveiled at the MILEX 2017 exhibition held in Minsk from May 20-22. The system incorporates the V-200BM combat vehicle, the V-200TZM transport-loader and the V-200BMU upgraded command-and-control (C2) vehicle. The specifications of the Polonez were disclosed at the MILEX 2017 show also. The MLRS will get a rocket, which will be able to deliver a 480 kg warhead to a range varying between 120 km and 280 km. Owing to a low efficient dispersal surface, high precision and high speed, the rocket of the Polonez can beat air defense assets, the representatives of ZTEhM said at the MILEX 2017 exhibition. In October 2016, the Polonez MLRS was delivered to the 77th Separate Rocket Artillery Battalion of the 336th Rocket Artillery Brigade. In September 2017, the battalion was involved in the Russian-Belarusian Zapad 2017 strategic exercise. In October 2017, the unit carried out the aforementioned firing test of the upgraded Polonez. The organic V-200 Polonez MLRS has a firing range of 50-200 km and a combat readiness time of nearly 10 minutes. The system is designed to engage C2 posts, communication hubs, airfields, roads and bridges, various pieces of infrastructure, munition and fuel depots, etc. A division of the Polonez MLRS is armed with an ammunition load of 144 rockets. The V-200BM combat vehicle is armed with eight ready-to-launch 301 mm rockets in two four-cell containers. The vehicle's launching unit is based on an MZKT-7930-family 8x8 wheeled tractor developed by the Minsk Wheeled Tractor Plant (MZKT or Volat). The tractor has a crew of three and a maximum speed of 70 km/h. What Your Jeans Tell Her About You Women Reveal What Your Jeans Really Say About You Youve probably heard all your adult life that the first things women notice are your haircut and shoes. And while that's true, having the right do and the latest kicks doesnt mean youre in the clear. Your jeans tell her a lot about you too. And like square-toed shoes or the dreaded mullet, if you're rocking the wrong pair, you can easily be sidelined. Sure, denim is an outfit no-brainer. Jeans are easy to match, acceptable just about everywhere and they're comfortable too. But, with so many brands, fits and washes to choose from, its easier to go wrong than you think. No, you don't have to be a denim expert to make a good impression. There arent any hard and fast rules about how many inches the rise should be or if you should cuff the bottoms. Thats up to you. But, when it comes down to it, getting the fit right is what matters most to the ladies. Our best advice: dont be afraid to enlist the help of a tailor. Take in the gap at the waist and get rid of that extra fabric bunched up around your ankles. Remember, most women prefer guys in regular, straight or slim cuts. So, ditch the baggy jeans, and if you're going skinny, you better have the body to match. Chances are, shes judging your denim game on this criteria. Are they current? No matter what your age, sporting yesterdays trendy, one-season wonders can leave you looking like old news. Dad jeans, anyone? No, we didnt think so. No matter what your age, sporting yesterdays trendy, one-season wonders can leave you looking like old news. Dad jeans, anyone? No, we didnt think so. Are they clean? Don't wash your jeans every single time you wear them. But, if you work in construction, ride a horse, or your go-to pair is standing up by themselves, its time for them to hit the washing machine. Don't wash your jeans every single time you wear them. But, if you work in construction, ride a horse, or your go-to pair is standing up by themselves, its time for them to hit the washing machine. Do they fit well? Yes, shes checking out your assets just like you check out hers. Dont squeeze yourself into a pair of jeans that cuts off your circulation. And dont wear your pants so baggy they swallow you up. Yes, shes checking out your assets just like you check out hers. Dont squeeze yourself into a pair of jeans that cuts off your circulation. And dont wear your pants so baggy they swallow you up. Are they appropriate for the situation? Its not respectful to meet her parents, take her to an upscale eatery or attend a funeral in a pair of ripped, torn or holey jeans. Dress to impress, even when it comes to denim. Its not respectful to meet her parents, take her to an upscale eatery or attend a funeral in a pair of ripped, torn or holey jeans. Dress to impress, even when it comes to denim. How are they styled? If youre pairing your jeans with a blousy, un-tucked shirt and a pair of cheap dress shoes, its time to go back to the drawing board. Still stumped? Dont be afraid to ask a salesperson or subscription box stylist for help. Here's what the ladies have to say about sorting out your denim dilemma. Not All Old Jeans Are Worth Saving Sorry, if youre wearing jeans with big, contrast stitching or embellished back pockets, your jeans are dated. And if youre assuming youre safe sporting some nondescript denim, think again. Crossing into Dad jean territory is frighteningly easy. "When I see a guy wearing baggy, untailored jeans, I think he lacks style. Sure labels like AG and Rag & Bone cost more, but they also offer a wider range of washes and fits. You shouldnt settle for run-of-the-mill denim. Theres a cool pair of jeans out there for everyone; you just have to look." Elyssa, Stylist, 42. Upgrade Your Look Theres distressed, and then theres falling apart at the seams. Dont be lazy. Yes, your favorite jeans are worn away at the crotch, have ripped belt loops and are super frayed at the bottom. And no, they will never be her favorites. Theres nothing worse than un-hemmed jeans that are filthy and frayed from dragging on the ground. "I appreciate a hard-working guy, but as the saying goes, you only have 7 seconds to make a good impression.' If he shows up for a date looking a mess, I would immediately be turned off by his lack of hygiene and lack of effort when I most definitely put in the time to look nice. Valerie, Grad Student, 28. Pull Up Your Pants Sorry guys, jeans that hang down so low on your ass that you can barely walk without worrying you'll drop trou are over. What are you hiding? Im a firm believer in wearing your jeans and not letting your jeans wear you! If you work hard for your body in the gym, wouldnt you want to show it off even just a little?! Casi, SoulCycle Instructor and Fitness Professional, 31. To remedy the situation, shop for jeans that are a bit more relaxed through the thighs, but not baggy. It shouldnt look like your denim is just hanging shapeless from a belt." Elyssa, Stylist, 42. Give Yourself Breathing Room His jeans should not be tighter than mine. Jeans that are too tight or too skinny are never a good look, says Melyssa, 25. Buy the right size and the right cut. Youll never look your best poured into a pair of skinny jeans like 10 pounds of sausage in a 5-pound bag. Even a slim cut pair of jeans can be too tight on a dude with muscular quads. Nope, shes not into seeing your muffin top or your plumbers crack either. "Skinny jeans are just a no-no for any guy of a certain age. It's just unattractive. You need to have the exact measurements to pull off a pair of skinnies, and I don't mean between the legs." Carrie Ann, Entrepreneur, 27. Get The Wash Right Be careful wearing sandblasted, whiskered and stonewashed jeans. If you look like you could join the cast of 90210 circa 1990 then its time to switch it up," says Katie, 27. We suggest owning a darker pair for dressing up a look. Washing will fade that deep indigo color so keep them out of the everyday rotation so that you have to launder them less. When its absolutely necessary to freshen your dark denim, always use cold water. Turn them inside out before washing them by hand or machine-washing them on the gentle cycle. Are you thinking about turning up your look with a little color? I think bright colored jeans can be tacky if theyre not done right. But grounding a bright red or bright blue jean with neutral color like black, white or gray is nice. Noelle, Student, 21. Next level denim guys can pull off a Canadian tuxedo if the jacket or shirt isnt an exact match to the jeans. Remember, denim should look effortless. Nobody likes a guy who's trying too hard. Related Reading Buying The Perfect Pair Of Men's Jeans How To Buy Jeans Online The Best Jeans For Your Body Type The appointments come after the firm also welcomed partner Cameron Thomson from NRF earlier this month. Thomson was tasked to lead Clyde & Cos non-contentious real estate practice. Moran leaves NRF, which he joined in 2012 when he moved from Ireland to Australia. He was promoted to the NRF partnership in early 2016. His practice covers cybersecurity and IT liability and professional indemnity, as well as financial institutions and directors and officers liability. He is admitted in New South Wales, Ireland, and England and Wales. His practice complements the firms insurance footprint in Australia, Clyde & Co said. With Australia's new notifiable data breach regime, which came into force in February, and the European General Data Protection Regulation (GDPR), thats expected to be enforced starting 25 May, Clyde & Co expects a noticeable increase in demand for specialised advice in the area in Australia this year. John's early specialisation in this area will benefit clients, especially later in the year as regulators explore the powers available to them under the new legal regimes. It is also expected that organisations will focus more on incident response preparedness in 2018, with clients looking to build specialist advisors into their incident response plans, the firm said. They share a strong international mindset 80% of the group has already worked in more than one of our offices globally. The make-up of this group also demonstrates the breadth and diversity that will underpin our future success, he said. The six new partners from Asia Pacific are: Yong Bai Beijing, Corporate Hong Zhang Beijing, Corporate Bryan Koo Hong Kong, Corporate Thomas England Singapore, Finance Satbir Walia - Singapore, Corporate Hans Menski Tokyo, Finance All promotions are effective 1st May 2018. HSF continues investment in asset finance with lateral hires Four lateral partner hires will strengthen the asset management practice of Herbert Smith Freehills in Singapore and London. The additions to the team are part of the firms investment in the finance sector, as investment levels show significant growth across multiple industries. Siva Subramaniam and Samuel Kolehmainen will join the team in Singapore while Rex Rosales and Jahnavi Ramachandran join in London. "A key strength they will bring is aviation finance where they are amongst the leading practitioners in the market, commented Jason Ricketts, Global Head of Finance, Real Estate and Projects. They will complement our tier one asset finance practice in Australia, making the firm's offering in this sector a truly global practice and mirroring the global market." And the freshest example of the sort comes from the Netherlands. This Neunelfer is dressed in Aetna Blue , with the color allowing the beast to shine without screaming.While the wheels of the car come in Satin Aluminum, with these holding banana-colored calipers, which signal the presence of PCCB (Porsche Carbon Ceramic Brakes). And we must mention the optional all-LED headlights, which come with silver inner graphics.As for the cabin of the Zuffenhausen machine, these images don't allow us to virtually step inside the car, but we can still see the 18-way adaptive seats of the thing.Ebert, the owner of this Porscha, took the time to explain his color choice on social media: I wanted a classic color and [debated] between Gulf and Etna. Ive seen the [Gulf] 2016 Targa from the Exclusive Department and it looked brilliant. But since I wanted the silver trim and wheels, I preferred the darker Etna over the Gulf tone,It's worth noting that the owner has only been enjoying his Porsche for a week now, with the man mentioning that he hasn't gone past 6,000 rpm, which means he's cutting the 4.0-liter flat-six some slack during the break-in period.As for the stunning images of the car, these were captured next to the Brouwersdam near Noordzeestrand (North Sea Beach) in the Zeeland province of southwestern Netherlands.P.S.: Now, the Gulf Blue mention above might have some of you wonder how the 911 GT3 Touring Package looks when covered in this shade. And we'll remind you that we showed you such a rear-engined delight back in March, with the 911 also packing silver wheels and yellow brake calipers. Ford will be displaying the model at the National Mall as it gears up to celebrate the 50th anniversary of both the Steve McQueen movie and the car itself.To see the Bullitt under glass within steps of the Smithsonian museums, the Lincoln Memorial and the Washington Monument is a fitting tribute to automobiles that have transcended utility to become truly iconic examples of Americas culture, said Mustang chief engineer Carl Widmann.The original Bullitt Mustang was first presented by Ford at the 2018 North American International Auto Show, after through stroke of luck made the car's owner contact the carmaker.There have been two 1968 Mustang GT fastbacks used in the Bullit movie. The first, used in many of the jumps during the famous chase scene, was so severely damaged that it had to be sent to the scrapyard. The surviving one was sold by Warner Bros. to a private buyer, Sean Kiernan, in 1974.The car began a world tour earlier this year, with its first appearance taking place at the Amelia Island Concours d'Elegance in March.To celebrate finding the Bullitt Mustang, Ford also launched this year a limited edition of the 2018 Mustang. The special car has 480 horsepower on tap, delivered by the 5.0-liter V8 engine. As compared to the GT version of the Mustang, the Bullitt is eight mph faster, reaching a top speed of 163 mph.In the U.S., the Dark Highland Green-painted Bullitt is the third most expensive 2019 Mustang . It costs $46,595 plus $900 for the destination and delivery fee. By comparison, the original 1968 Ford Mustang which stared in the movie has an estimated worth of around $4 million. Interestingly, not all Rush variants will be seven seaters Toyota April 19, 2018 13:28 If you've been looking forward to the Toyota Rush, you're not alone because it seems Toyota's sales agents are too. In separate posts on social media, several marketing professionals from various Toyota dealers around Metro Manila have leaked all the prices, all the variants, and even all the colors of the yet-to-be-launched Toyota Rush. Based on the posts from an agent from Toyota Commonwealth and Toyota Shaw, there will be three variants of the Rush crossover. All versions will be powered by a 1.5-liter VVT-i gasoline engine and will be rear-wheel drive just like the Avanza. Interestingly enough, not all will be 7 seaters. The Toyota Rush 1.5E will have two versions; one with an automatic transmission (presumably a 4-speed) and the other with a manual gearbox (presumably 5-speed). Both versions of the 1.5E will be 5-seaters, with the 1.5E A/T 5-seater costing PhP 988,000 while the 1.5E M/T 5-seater costing PhP 948,000 as per the prices leaked by the marketing professionals. The third and final variant will be the Toyota Rush 1.5G, and it will only be available with the automatic and will be a 7-seater. The Rush 1.5G AT 7-seater will cost PhP 1,070,000. There was no indication if Toyota will be offering the TRD Sportivo version (above) Based on the posts, the Rush will come in six colors: Bordeaux Mica Metallic, Bronze Mica Metallic, Red Mica Metallic, Black Mica Metallic, Silver Mica Metallic, and White Mica Metallic. The sales agents said that their dealers are already accepting reservations. Toyota has made no official announcement yet on pricing for the Rush, so these could change if Toyota sees fit; but based on our conversation with Toyota executives, the pricing is expected to be competitive, and at around the PhP 1 million mark. The Rush is slated for its official local debut in about two weeks. California Governor Jerry Brown has announced that 400 California National Guard troops will be mobilized to fight gangs, human traffickers and illegal firearm and drug smugglers in the state, on the coast and at the border. Why it matters: The troops will not enforce immigration laws or help build new border barriers. California and the Trump administration have been at a standoff recently, with California demanding that DHS and DOD sign the governors agreement memo limiting what the National Guard can be used for before deploying troops. Neither agency has signed the memo with the governor adding that he believes it is no longer necessary. While Beijing is courting the European Union for support in a trade war, European officials are sounding the alarm on China's ambitions in their countries. Why it matters: If the U.S. starts closing off its market to the Chinese, Beijing needs the EU to remain neutral and stay open to business with China, but the Europeans are increasingly frustrated with China's behavior and wary of its ever-growing influence. The backdrop: This week, Beijing's top trade official, Fu Ziying, met with several European ambassadors as trade disputes with the U.S. escalate, per Reuters. Days later, German news outlet Handelsblatt reported that 27 of the 28 European Union ambassadors co-signed a report criticizing President Xi Jinping's trillion-dollar Belt and Road Initiative, an infrastructure plan that pulls in Europe. Why China needs the EU The EU is Beijing's biggest trading partner, per the European Commission, and they trade over $1 billion in goods and services a day. per the European Commission, and they trade over $1 billion in goods and services a day. The EU is also the biggest investor in China. At the end of 2015, the value of European investments in China was about $207 billion, compared to about $84 billion from the U.S. at that time. At the end of 2015, the value of European investments in China was about $207 billion, compared to about $84 billion from the U.S. at that time. Behind the numbers: A hefty portion of Europe's direct investment comes from factories which manufacture high-end appliances in China that come with a European label, Yukon Huang, an expert on China's economy at the Carnegie Endowment for Peace, tells Axios. The bottom line: The trade and investment relationship between China and the EU is strong enough that China can survive loss of access to the U.S. market if the EU remains open for business, Huang says. Europe's concerns China's Belt and Road Initiative includes ports in European waters and railroads that cut through EU nations, and while some countries welcome the infrastructure paid for and built by the Chinese others fear it'll give China broad influence in the more politically unstable Central and Eastern European nations. The EU ambassadors' report says the Initiative "runs counter to the EU agenda for liberalizing trade and pushes the balance of power in favor of subsidized Chinese companies," according to Handelsblatt. "runs counter to the EU agenda for liberalizing trade and pushes the balance of power in favor of subsidized Chinese companies," according to Handelsblatt. The only ambassador who didn't sign its contents was Mate Pesti of Hungary, a nation which relies heavily on Chinese investment. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in January, ""Central Europe has serious handicaps to overcome in terms of infrastructure ... If the European Union cannot provide financial support, we will turn to China." its contents was Mate Pesti of Hungary, a nation which relies heavily on Chinese investment. Hungarian Prime Minister Viktor Orban said in January, ""Central Europe has serious handicaps to overcome in terms of infrastructure ... If the European Union cannot provide financial support, we will turn to China." Western European nations are concerned about weaker countries getting close to Beijing. On a state visit to China in January, French President Emmanuel Macron sounded the alarm: "For China, the new Silk Roads are also a tool to promote new international standards, rules and norms that are different from those currently used by France and other European countries ... By definition, these roads can only be shared. If they are roads, they cannot be one-way." Emmanuel Macron What to watch: North Korean leader Kim Jong-un has dropped his demand for the U.S. to withdraw troops from South Korea in exchange for giving up its nuclear weapons, reports the New York Times. Why it matters: The announcement, made by South Korean President Moon Jae-in, is a major victory ahead of the long-anticipated meeting between the U.S. and North Korea. As the Times notes, Kim Jong-un has been continually demanding the removal of 28,500 American troops in South Korea. The move hasn't been officially confirmed by the North. Hollywood blockbuster "Black Panther" premiered in Saudi Arabia's first movie theater for the first time on Wednesday evening in a groundbreaking moment for the country, AP's Aya Batrawy reports from Riyadh. Why it matters: The screening was private and invitation-only, but it was a clear marker of change in the country as it ushers in a new era of progressivism for the country. President Trump views the North Korean crisis as his great man of history moment. The big picture: He came into office thinking he could be the historic deal maker to bring peace to the Middle East. Hes stopped talking about that. Theres very little point. The peace deal looks dead and cremated. But Trump wants to sign his name even larger into the history books, and he views North Korea as his moment. Sources close to him say he genuinely believes he and he alone can overcome the seemingly intractable disaster on the Korean Peninsula. say he genuinely believes he and he alone can overcome the seemingly intractable disaster on the Korean Peninsula. A source who has discussed North Korea with Trump: He thinks, Just get me in the room with the guy [Kim Jong-un] and Ill figure it out. who has discussed North Korea with Trump: He thinks, Just get me in the room with the guy [Kim Jong-un] and Ill figure it out. But, but, but: His aides are much more skeptical, and some believe the idea of meeting with Kim Jong-un is naive and guaranteed to be fruitless. Trump definitely thinks its a duel of personalities, says another source familiar with his thinking about North Korea: There are important strategic considerations ... but he also very much conceives it as a test of wills and of a contest of one man and another. How theyre going to react, how theyre going to shadow box with each other, and ultimately how theyre going to choose to act. strategic considerations ... but he also very much conceives it as a test of wills and of a contest of one man and another. How theyre going to react, how theyre going to shadow box with each other, and ultimately how theyre going to choose to act. During the war of insults between Trump and Kim last year, Trumps tweets and little Rocket Man were pretty carefully calibrated in his mind, was more intentional, not just popping off. between Trump and Kim last year, Trumps tweets and little Rocket Man were pretty carefully calibrated in was more intentional, not just popping off. He never clearly articulated what he was trying to do. But it seemed he wanted to demonstrate he and the U.S. were unafraid, prepared to take whatever steps necessary and were willing to be direct. He wanted to show dominance over Kim. what he was trying to do. But it seemed he wanted to demonstrate he and the U.S. were unafraid, prepared to take whatever steps necessary and were willing to be direct. He wanted to show dominance over Kim. This was something he took a personal interest in and was personally invested in. Im not sure people thought it was a coherent strategy, and certainly I dont think the Pentagon signed off on it. Be smart: Trump mostly projects strength internally. But theres also been at least one quiet moment when a source saw Trump reflect on how he doesnt know what Kim is capable of. That happened during the escalating verbal sparring between Kim and Trump last year: The stakes had moved so far beyond what hes dealt with before, he definitely became aware of that. P.S. Trump on his planned summit with North Korea, speaking last evening at a joint press conference at Mar-a-Lago with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe: By Rashid Shirinov The event that the Armenians were afraid of has happened the Armenian parliament elected former President Serzh Sargsyan to the post of the new prime minister on April 17. Thus, the population will continue to suffer in the poor country for seven more years at a minimum. The meeting of the National Assembly (Parliament) began at 12 p.m., and it was possible to watch it online on the Internet for a couple of hours. However, after an MP from opposition asked Sargsyan uncomfortable questions, the broadcast stopped. The rest of time, until Sargsyan was declared the new prime minister, the population protesting outside the parliament building was not aware of what was happening inside. The protesters blocked entrance in a number of state institutions, including the parliament, but the MPs from the ruling party somehow managed to enter the building in the morning. While people were protesting in Yerevan streets, Sargsyan in his speech was trying to insure himself against accusation from the population in future: I cannot say that all problems in the country will be completely solved in the foreseeable future and Armenia will be like a paradise. His 10-year-old statement is worth noting in this regard: In Armenia to which we aspire, there will be no poor or privileged people. We will do our best to ensure that unemployment and poverty are finally overcome in Armenia. These words are from Sargsyans election program in 2008 as a presidential candidate. However, during the past ten years, he together with his team was doing nothing but destroying the Armenian economy and plundering the state treasury. Today Armenia is much weaker than it was in 2008, and now the person responsible for this will continue ruling the country for seven more years. Ten years ago Sargsyan deceived the Armenians by promising them a paradise, and today, having changed the countrys constitution and ensured unlimited power, he admits there is nothing to hope for. At the same time, Sargsyan has covertly promised the Armenians a new war: In the coming years, Armenia should pay the closest attention to the purchase of modern weapons and their independent production. Thus, the new prime minister keeps trying to make the Armenians believe that Azerbaijan allegedly wants a war and Armenia has to defend, while the truth is just the opposite. Meanwhile, Sargsyan implies that the population should not expect an increase in social spending due to the military expenditure. Early in the morning of April 19, head of the Way Out faction of the Armenian Parliament Nikol Pashinyan, who leads the protests, announced that he together with other demonstrators will block even more state institutions. Then the protesters headed to the third building of the Armenian government, where several ministries are located. Although the main and back doors were protected by the police, the activists did not let the public officials enter the building. The police tried to push people back, but they failed to break the wall of protesters. After that the police began detaining people with the use of brute force. The Armenian media outlets reported that two policemen in plain clothes beat a journalist Tirayr Muradyan. One of them asked me why I was filming and started beating me together with his friend. I was shouting that I am a journalist, they could not overlook my identity card, Muradyan informed. There were policemen who saw everything. When I told one of them that I was beaten, he answered dismissively: Yes, I saw, so what? Obviously, the activism of large masses of population scared the Armenian government, since the student buses between the Ararat province and Yerevan did not work on April 19. Moreover, the intercity buses between the town of Abovyan and Yerevan also did not run. Later in the day, the demonstrators marched to the Petak shopping center, which had already been blocked by policemen. Meanwhile, employees of the Armenian branch of Synopsys IT company took to the street and blocked the avenue near the companys office. The police used force, detained several people and unblocked the street. There is a total violation of rights: citizens are brought to the police stations on cars without the number plates, on personal cars, people are dragged to all sides without presenting legal demands, Armenian journalist Zaruhi Mejlumyan wrote on Facebook. The Armenian Police informed the media that the number of detainees was 100 people by 1.30 p.m., however, people believe that the real number is several times greater. Now the youth has risen up to realize what it means to be the master of their country, Armenian politician Ashot Manucharyan told the media, reminding that Serzh Sargsyan had earlier promised the Armenians that he would not run for prime minister. Serzh Sargsyan does not exist anymore. He said adopt the new Constitution, and Im leaving. This person made a vow to the people. Sargsyan was a man until the moment he broke his promise, Manucharyan noted. Thus, Armenia remains hostage of the former president, which means that the country, its economy and people will continue to be destroyed and robbed. However, activists who have been protesting in the streets of Yerevan and other major cities since last week have not given up yet. They still believe they will be able to free Armenia from the terrible rule of Sargsyan. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva The recent fall of the Russian ruble will have no direct influence on the Azerbaijans national currency. So far, the move has been small enough in the ruble to avoid direct implications for economies like Azerbaijans, particularly because the oil price remains high, John Hardy, Head of Forex Strategy at Saxo Bank, said in an interview with Azernews. Also, Azerbaijan manages its exchange rate versus the U.S. dollar and hasnt allowed it to move since early 2017, he noted. I would be surprised to see the ruble strengthen beyond 60 versus the U.S. dollar even if the threat of further sanctions fades from here, Hardy said, commenting on the further development of situation on the Russian currency market. After this recent episode and the risk of further geopolitical confrontations down the road, international money managers may be putting a discount on Russian assets that they will be slow to remove again, wanting to avoid the risk of future sanction moves, according to the expert. But without further sanctions or a sudden drop in oil prices, I would also say that the ruble is unlikely to weaken beyond the recent lows so some kind of nervous 60-64 range may develop here, unlikely to affect the Azerbaijani manat, he added. The Russian currency continues to remain in an extremely unstable position. The danger in the form of another tough package of U.S. sanctions has temporarily passed, but the ruble is still heavily dependent on geopolitical news and investors mood. Volatility on the Russian market has soared since Washington imposed new sanctions against Moscow on April 6, targeting major Russian companies and some of the country's businessmen. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova The State Committee on Property Issues of Azerbaijan held next auction on privatization of state property on April 17, following which 90 state properties were put up for auction. Twenty-six of these objects are small state enterprises, 29-non-residential areas and 35-vehicles. Among the small state enterprises, exhibited for the auction, are enterprises specializing in cotton growing, poultry farming, transport, repair, trade, production, processing and others. Non-residential areas are located in Baku, Absheron and Sumgayit. In order to protect state property and effectively manage it in the new economic realities, President of Azerbaijan signed a decree on May 19, 2016. Under the decree, the acceleration of the state property privatization process has been defined as an important direction of the economic policy. The portal for privatization privatization.az, launched in July 2016, reflects all necessary information about the facilities, their addresses, location, and even initial cost and aims at facilitation of the process. The website is available in two languages - Azerbaijani and English. Why Azerbaijan is special section available on the website explains the reasons and advantages of investing in the country. The privatization process is designed to attract both foreign and local investors, as well as develop the business environment of Azerbaijan. Moreover, the State Committee on Property Issues held the first electronic auction on July 4. The electronic auction service, which is available on the website privatization.az, combines the privatization procedure of vehicles and equipment. In the future, it will be possible to privatize small state enterprises and facilities, joint-stock companies through electronic auction. Now, the corresponding work in programming is being implemented. Next auction on privatization of state property will be held on May 1. The auction will offer 199 state objects, of which 24 are joint-stock companies, 93-small state enterprises, 73-non-residential areas and 9-vehicles. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend An Azerbaijani-Swiss business forum is planned to be held in Baku in July 2018, the Azerbaijani economy ministry said in a message on April 18. This was announced during a meeting of Azerbaijan's Economy Minister, the chairman of the Joint Commission on Cooperation between the Government of Azerbaijan and the Federal Council of Switzerland Shahin Mustafayev and Swiss Ambassador to Baku Philip Stalder. The minister highlighted the development of the Azerbaijani-Swiss relations, and noted that the Azerbaijani president attaches great importance to expansion of the cooperation between the two countries. There was noted that the head of the Azerbaijani state annually participates in the Davos Forum and other important events. There was noted that an Azerbaijani-Swiss business forum is planned to be held in Azerbaijan during the visit of the head of the Federal Department of Economic Affairs, Education and Research, Swiss commerce minister Johann Niklaus Schneider-Ammann to Azerbaijan. During the visit, the Swiss minister will also familiarize with the Sumgait Chemical Industrial Park and the Balakhani Industrial Park. Mustafayev further noted that the illegal activities of some Swiss companies in the occupied territories of Azerbaijan is unacceptable. There are currently 71 Swiss companies in Azerbaijan. Azerbaijan has invested $ 1.2 billion in Switzerland. The trade between the two countries amounted to $240 million in 2017, which shows more than a 40 percent growth. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova Azerbaijan is one of the main trade partners of Georgia among the CIS countries. It is evidenced by the report of National Statistics Office of Georgia, which says that Azerbaijan is ranked 3rd among the countrys foreign trade partners after Turkey and Russia. The trade turnover between Azerbaijan and Georgia amounted to $270 million in the first 3 months of the year. In the first quarter of this year, Azerbaijan imported goods worth $76 million from the neighboring country, while goods worth $193 million were exported from Azerbaijan to Georgia. Georgia mostly imported from Azerbaijan oil and oil products, electricity, cement and gypsum, anhydrite and gypsum binders. Diplomatic ties between Azerbaijan and Georgia were established on November 18, 1992. The two countries broadly cooperate in regional energy development, transportation and economic partnership projects such as Baku-Tbilisi-Ceyhan pipeline (BTC), Kars-Tbilisi-Baku railway (BTK), the TRACECA, the BSEC. Georgian exports to Azerbaijan include cement, locomotives and other railway vehicles, mineral and chemical fertilizers, mineral waters, strong drinks, glass and glass wares, and pharmaceuticals, among other things. Azerbaijani mainly exports to Georgia oil and petroleum products, natural gas, plastic wares, furniture and building constructions. Azerbaijani President Ilham Aliyev during his meeting with Georgian Prime Minister Giorgi Kvirikashvili, which took place in March in Baku, noted that Azerbaijan is on the first place in terms of the volume of investments in Georgia, which indicates a high level of interstate relations between the two countries. We successfully cooperate in different fields. Azerbaijan is the first among the countries that invest in Georgia. Since 2012, we maintain this position. This shows the best investment climate in your country. In addition, this indicates that our relations are at a high level, the head of state said. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Presently, Russia can be called the most active of the three co-chair states of the OSCE Minsk Group, established to broker a peace to the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. Russian president and FM have numerously held trilateral meetings with Azerbaijani and Armenian heads of state and foreign ministers in order to accelerate the settlement process of the long-standing conflict. The settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict remains one of the priority issues inscribed in Russias Foreign Policy Concept, the independent political scientist Tahir Sabitov told Day.az in an interview. He noted that Russia, at the level of the Foreign Ministry, has repeatedly stated its commitment to the early resolution of this problem in accordance with international law. Russia is the main moderator of the Karabakh settlement in the OSCE Minsk Group and it continues to make efforts for a peaceful solution of the long-standing problem, Sabitov said. The political scientist mentioned that the initiatives of the Russian side aimed at the meeting of the heads of the conflicting states are an indicator of unambiguous interest in finding a compromise between Baku and Yerevan. Sabitov further noted that the Madrid Principles should be the basis for the settlement of the Armenia-Azerbaijan conflict. The principles stipulate a gradual settlement of the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict. In particular, they envisage the withdrawal of Armenian troops from the occupied areas adjacent to the Nagorno-Karabakh region of Azerbaijan, provision of an interim status for the region and future determination of its final legal status. Moreover, all internally displaced persons and refugees, who account for more than a million of Azerbaijans population, should return to their former places of residence, according to the Madrid Principles. Sabitov noted that both sides should be ready for substantive negotiations, but only the Azerbaijani side is ready for this so far. International mediators must bring Armenia to the substantive negotiations with Azerbaijan. This is the only way to the resolution of this problem, the expert said. The Nagorno-Karabakh conflict began in 1988 when Armenia made territorial claims against Azerbaijan. As a result of the ensuing war, in 1992 Armenian armed forces occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijan, including the Nagorno-Karabakh region and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. The 1994 ceasefire agreement was followed by peace negotiations. Until now, Armenia controls fifth part of Azerbaijans territory and rejects implementing four UN Security Council resolutions on withdrawal of its armed forces from Nagorno-Karabakh and surrounding regions. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Protracted conflicts in the OSCE area call for full attention, State Secretary of Slovenias Foreign Ministry Andrej Logar said in Vienna on April 18. He made the remarks at the official opening ceremony of Slovenias Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation. Slovenias Chairmanship of the OSCE Forum for Security Co-operation will be characterized by the countrys commitment to the ongoing efforts to restore confidence in the OSCE area, Logar said. He noted that protracted conflicts in the OSCE area, erosion of arms controls, crisis of confidence- and security-building measures, increased radicalization, proliferation of terrorist activities and the misuse of information are just some of the issues that call for full attention. There is a greater need than ever for an open dialogue among the participating states. Slovenia truly sees the OSCE as being capable of fostering dialogue, rebuilding trust and promoting stability, Logar mentioned. Armed conflicts in the OSCE area, such as the Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, conflicts in Georgia, Ukraine and Transnistria, have caused much suffering, displacement and destruction. All these conflicts must be solved through political means rather than by military force. As for the Armenia-Azerbaijan Nagorno-Karabakh conflict, Armenia still shows its reluctance to engage in serious talks to resolve the issue. The countries fought a lengthy war that ended with signing of a fragile ceasefire in 1994. Since the war, Armenian armed forces have occupied 20 percent of Azerbaijans territory, including Nagorno-Karabakh and seven surrounding regions. More than 20,000 Azerbaijanis were killed and over 1 million were displaced as a result of the large-scale hostilities. While the OSCE Minsk Group acted as the only mediator in resolution of the conflict, the occupation of the territory of the sovereign state with its internationally recognized boundaries has been left out of due attention of the international community for years. Until now, Armenia ignores four UN Security Council resolutions on immediate withdrawal from the occupied territory of Azerbaijan, thus keeping tension high in the region. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev received Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) Yukiya Amano in Baku on April 18. Amano congratulated the head of state on his victory in the presidential election and said that their meeting's coinciding with President Aliyev's swearing-in is a remarkable event. Noting that Azerbaijan is a very important partner for the International Atomic Energy Agency, Yukio Amano hailed the high level of cooperation and joint work with Azerbaijan on a number of important projects. President Aliyev thanked for the congratulations and underlined the importance of Amano's visit to Azerbaijan. The head of state hailed good partnership between Azerbaijan and International Atomic Energy Agency and the ongoing work on a number of joint projects. President Ilham Aliyev expressed his hope that Azerbaijans cooperation with International Atomic Energy Agency will continue developing in the years to come. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro Moros has congratulated President of Azerbaijan Ilham Aliyev on his victory in the April 11 election. "Your Excellency, on behalf of the Venezuelan people and government, I express my sincerest congratulations to the brotherly people of the Republic of Azerbaijan on the occasion of holding a presidential election on April 11," reads the congratulatory letter. He stressed that Venezuela welcomes Azerbaijan's electoral process. The government of the Bolivarian Republic of Venezuela welcomes the Azerbaijani electoral process and is pleased for its excellent development under a climate of respect, peace and harmony, he said. Maduro Moros emphasized that the Bolivarian government wishes every success to the re-elected president, Ilham Aliyev. "The Bolivarian government reaffirms willingness to strengthen and deepen the friendship ties every day, both on the bilateral and cooperation levels, as well as through the Non-Aligned Movement, where we are currently sharing its Troika, a space that has allowed us a closer approach, in order to continue progressing the building of a multipolar and polycentric world, more equitable, fair and humane for our peoples," reads the congratulatory letter. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Rashid Shirinov Operation of the Metsamor nuclear power plant in Armenia which continues to use the old Chornobyl technology endangers the region with potential nuclear risks and threats, Azerbaijans Acting Foreign Minister Elmar Mammadyarov said on April 18. He made the remarks at the meeting with Yukiya Amano, Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA) in Baku. Saying that Metsamor NPP of Armenia remains source for illegal smuggling of nuclear and radioactive materials, Mammadyarov stressed the importance of taking necessary measures by IAEA in this regard in line with the nuclear security concept. The construction of the Metsamor NPP started in 1970. The plant was shut down after a devastating earthquake of 1988 in the town of Spitak. However, in 1995, despite numerous protests of international community, the Armenian government resumed the operation of the NPP, and moreover, the second reactor was launched. A number of international experts have repeatedly urged that due to its deplorable state, the Armenian Metsamor NPP could repeat the fate of the Chernobyl NPP, thus threatening the lives of the Armenians and inhabitants of the adjacent countries. The possible tragedy will also jeopardize the environmental state of the region. Moreover, its consequences will be felt in Europe and the Middle East. During the meeting, Mammadyarov also expressed satisfaction with fruitful cooperation established between Azerbaijan and IAEA and noted that Azerbaijan highly appreciates the work and support of IAEA. The sides emphasized the importance of the completed 22 and 9 ongoing projects in Azerbaijan within the framework of the Technical Cooperation Program with IAEA. They stressed that these projects are important for capacity building of relevant institutions. In addition, the acting FM highly appreciated the IAEAs support for establishment and operation of National Research Reactor of Azerbaijan and training provided for Azerbaijani experts. Touching upon the peaceful use of nuclear technology the sides exchanged views on prospects of cooperation in health, agriculture and oil industry. They also discussed issues of international nuclear security, use of nuclear technology for peaceful purposes and other issues of mutual interest. The International Atomic Energy Agency, which was established as an autonomous organization on 29 July 1957, is the world's central intergovernmental forum for scientific and technical co-operation in the nuclear field. It works for the safe, secure and peaceful uses of nuclear science and technology, contributing to international peace and security and the United Nations' Sustainable Development Goals. IAEA is generally described as having three main missions: peaceful uses, safeguards and nuclear safety. --- Rashid Shirinov is AzerNews staff journalist, follow him on Twitter: @RashidShirinov Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Azerbaijan will be represented at the meeting of the OPEC+ ministerial monitoring committee, to be held on April 20, the Azerbaijani Energy Ministry told Trend on April 18. Azerbaijan will be represented by Deputy Energy Minister Samir Valiyev at the meeting in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia. The OPEC+ monitoring committee was established to monitor the fulfillment of obligations to reduce oil production. In December 2016, at a meeting of oil producers in Vienna, 11 non-OPEC member countries (including Azerbaijan) agreed to cut the oil production by a total of 558,000 barrels a day. The agreement was concluded for the first half of 2017 and was extended until the end of the first quarter of 2018 at a meeting on May 25, 2017. At the last OPEC meeting in Vienna, the agreement was again extended until the end of 2018. Azerbaijan supported the decision. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Sara Israfilbayova Spains Gas Natural Fenosa has transferred its obligations under the deal on gas sale within the Shah Deniz 2 project to the Italian company Edison. Azerbaijans state oil company SOCAR reported that the signing ceremony for transfer of obligations at SOCAR Tower in Baku on April 18 was attended by representatives of SOCAR, Azerbaijan Gas Supply Company (AGSC), Edison, and Gas Natural Fenosa. Edison got the right to supply gas within the Shah Deniz 2 project for a period of 25 years. The gas supplies will be launched in 2020 after construction of the Trans Adriatic Pipeline (TAP) is completed. This step is part of a major agreement on purchase of the Gas Natural Vendita Italia gas distribution network by Edison. The transfer of the right to sell gas from the Shah Deniz 2 from Gas Natural Fenosa to Edison is one of the key conditions of this deal. As part of the Shah Deniz 2 project, gas production will increase from 9 to 25 billion cubic meters per year. The produced gas will be exported to Turkey and the European markets through the expansion of the South Caucasus Pipeline and the construction of the Trans-Anatolian (TANAP) and Trans-Adriatic (TAP) gas pipelines. A contract for development of the Shah Deniz offshore field was signed on June 4, 1996. The field's reserve is estimated at 1.2 trillion cubic meters of gas. TAP project, worth 4.5 billion euros, is one of the priority energy projects for the European Union (EU). The project envisages transportation of gas from Azerbaijans Shah Deniz Stage 2 to the EU countries. Connecting with TANAP at the Greek-Turkish border, TAP will cross Northern Greece, Albania and the Adriatic Sea before coming ashore in Southern Italy to connect to the Italian natural gas network. TAP shareholders include BP (20 percent), SOCAR (20 percent), Snam S.p.A. (20 percent), Fluxys (19 percent), Enagas (16 percent) and Axpo (5 percent). The gas will be delivered to Turkey via TANAP in 2018 and after completion of the TAP construction the gas will be delivered to Europe in early 2020. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Two cruise missiles found unexploded by the Syrian military after the US missile strike on April 14 have been handed over to Russia, a source in the Syrian defense ministry told TASSon Thursday. "Two cruise missiles that did not detonate during the US missile strike on Syria overnight to April 14 were found by the Syrian military. Both are in rather good condition. These missiles were handed over to Russian officer the day before yesterday (April 17)," the source said, adding that both "were sent to Russia by plane yesterday (April 18)." TASS has no official confirmation of this information from the Russian defense ministry. US President Donald Trump wrote on Twitter on April 11 that Russia should get ready for a missile attack on Syria, claiming the missiles will be "nice and new and smart". On April 14, the United States, France and the United Kingdom delivered a massive strike on Syrian targets in bypassing of the United Nations Security Council. According to the Russian defense ministry, the missile strike was in the small hours on Saturday. The ministry reported that a total of 103 cruise and air-to-surface missiles had been fired, 71 of them were shot down by Syrias air defense units. Three civilians were wounded. Neither of the missiles appeared in the zone of responsibility of Russian air defense systems in Tartus and Hmeymim. Russian missile defense systems were not used. By Trend A senior transportation official has said that the process of placing rails along the Qazvin-Rasht railroad will be completed within coming weeks. Kheirollah Khademi, the managing director of Iran's Construction and Development of Transportation Infrastructures Company (CDTIC), has said that the company needs to lay 20 kilometers of rail along the railroad in order to connect the city of Rasht to the countrys rail system, ISNA news agency reported. Khademi forecast that completing the Rash-Qazvin railway will take place in early May. The railway segment is a part of the International North-South Transport Corridor, which is meant to connect Northern Europe with Southeast Asia. It will serve as a link connecting the railways of Azerbaijan, Iran and Russia. At the initial stage, it is planned to transport 5 million tons of cargo per year through the corridor and over 10 million tons of cargo in future. By Rufiz Hafizoglu Trend: Turkish President Recep Tayyip Erdogan has always differed from other political leaders, because he has always opposed the holding of snap parliamentary elections. Leader of the countrys Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli has recently made a statement urging the Turkish government to hold snap parliamentary and presidential elections. Bahceli said that snap elections must be held on August 26, 2018. Today, following his meeting with Bahceli, President Erdogan said the snap parliamentary elections will be held in Turkey on June 24, 2018. "During the talks with Head of the Nationalist Movement Party Devlet Bahceli, we discussed the proposal to hold snap presidential and parliamentary elections," Erdogan said. Erdogan added that Turkey faces the need to take actions to eliminate political uncertainty as a result of its operations in Syria and historically important events in the region, mainly in Syria and Iraq. Why does Turkey need snap parliamentary elections? As is known, as opposed to other political parties, the Nationalist Movement Party and the Justice and Development Party agreed on unity during the presidential election that was to be held in 2019. In January 2018, Bahceli refused to nominate a candidate from the Nationalist Movement Party in the presidential election in favor of the ruling Justice and Development Party. Bahceli stressed that the Nationalist Movement Party will not nominate a candidate in the presidential election in 2019. He added that the Nationalist Movement Party will support the candidacy of the countrys incumbent President Recep Tayyip Erdogan if he decides to participate in the election. Secondly, as opposed to other political parties, in particular, the Republican People's Party, the opposition Peoples' Democratic Party and Iyi Parti, the Justice and Development Party and Nationalist Movement Party are fully ready for the election. Such a situation and the readiness of the Nationalist Movement Party and the Justice and Development Party testify that other parties will not have any chance of winning the parliamentary election. As other parties have not yet made decisions concerning their candidates in the presidential election, one can say that Turkeys incumbent president will win the presidential election. But one must not forget that Turkey is a country of political surprises. It is not ruled out that one of these days other political parties, namely, Republican People's Party and Peoples' Democratic Party will agree on a coalition during the parliamentary election and nominate a single presidential candidate. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Iran has exported 11 billion cubic meters of gas to its north western neighbors, including Turkey during the last fiscal year (ended March 20), Yadollah Baibordi, an official with the National Iranian Gas Company (NIGC), said. Baibordi, who heads Zone 8 of the NIGC's Gas Transfer Operation said that over 17 billion cubic meters of gas was transferred via the zone for domestic consumption in various sectors including households, power plants and industry in the period, the NIGCs official website reported. The official added, that in general 29 bcm of gas was transferred via Zone 8 of the NIGC during the last fiscal year, which is 7 percent more compared to the preceding year. According to the Iranian officials the Islamic Republic exports 27 million cubic meters per day (mcm/d) of gas to Turkey, barters about 1 mcm/d with Armenia, while swaps the same volume with Azerbaijan. Turkeys gas import from Iran in 2017 accounted to 9.2 billion cubic meters. Irans overall gas exports to Turkey accounted to 7.8 and 7.7 bcm in 2015 and 2016, respectively. Iran has announced that beside the exist deals with Turkey, Azerbaijan, Armenia, Pakistan and Iraq, the country is in talk with Afghanistan, Oman, Kuwait and other Persian Gulf countries to export gas. Iranian gas refineries processed 214 billion cubic meters (bcm) of sweet gas during the last fiscal year, ended March 20, 2018. --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva Uzbekistan plans to sign an agreement with Russia on the construction of a nuclear power plant in 2018. This was stated by President of Uzbekistan Shavkat Mirziyoyev at the opening ceremony of the Kandym gas processing complex. Soon, probably this year, we will sign agreement on the beginning of the construction of the nuclear power plant, he said. Russia and Uzbekistan signed an agreement on cooperation in the use of nuclear energy for peaceful purposes on December 29, 2017. The document assumes joint work in a number of areas, including the construction of nuclear power plants in the republic and the development of uranium deposits. Moscow also offered Uzbekistan to build a nuclear power plant with two new generation power units in the country. In the course of the visit of the Rosatom corporations head Alexei Likhachev to Uzbekistan, he announced that Rosatom is ready to build the most modern two-block nuclear power plant in Uzbekistan. Our proposal is to build a station of two modern blocks of the three plus generation VVER-1200 here in Uzbekistan, in the time that the Uzbek side considers acceptable. Our experience in the construction of such stations is very solid, he said at the time. This NPP project will have a huge national importance for Uzbekistan as it would allow diversifying Rosatoms own energy complex and ensuring energy security of Uzbekistan, according to the director general. The project is estimated at about $13 billion, of which $11.3 billion is provided by Russia as a state export credit. The construction of nuclear power plants will create about 5,000-6,000 jobs, and 1,500-2000 jobs will e created during the operation of the station. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Kamila Aliyeva The UK will finance investment projects at 1.25 billion pounds in the oil and gas sector of Uzbekistan. To this end, a memorandum between the Foundation for Reconstruction and Development of the Republic and United Kingdom Export Finance (UKEF) was signed in the framework of the first British-Uzbek energy forum entitled Investment Potential of the Uzbek Oil and Gas Industry in London on April 18. The business program of the two-day forum included two plenary sessions, meetings in B2B format, as well as presentations of participating companies. Issues of further development and introduction of non-traditional and renewable energy sources have also been considered. The main goal was to discuss the organization of financing investment projects in the oil and gas industry of Uzbekistan, to attract modern technologies to their implementation with the participation of international consultants. The forum, organized by the State Committee for Investments and Uzbekneftegas with the support of the Uzbek Embassy in Britain, was attended by the British Minister for Trade and Export Promotion, Baroness Rona Fairhead, as well as representatives of international financial institutions, commercial banks, oil and gas and economic sectors of Great Britain and European countries. The parties agreed to hold the forum on a regular basis, not only in London, but also in Uzbekistan, with the invitation of British and European companies. In the long term, this event should turn into a platform that provides a unique opportunity to expand business contacts, search for new mutually beneficial cooperation, as well as hold various kinds of bilateral discussions between experts in the financial, oil and gas and economic sectors. Uzbek-British trade and economic relations are developing dynamically, and boosting bilateral business ties is a priority for both countries. The UK is considered to be one of the leading trading and investment partners of Uzbekistan. UK companies are identified as having strong expertise in energy, education, finance, legal and other relevant sectors, and will find excellent partners to implement current and planned projects in Uzbekistan. This event is aimed at providing British companies with the opportunity to enter the Uzbek market at an early stage and support them to take advantage of the opportunities that are opening up in the country. A number of projects have been implemented in cooperation with British investments in the spheres of exploration and extraction of hydrocarbons and polymetallic ores, tobacco and pharmaceutical industry, etc. Currently, 567 companies with British capital are operating in diverse sectors of Uzbek economy. More than 162 companies with 100 percent British capital were registered in Uzbekistan. The fields of activity of enterprises, established with participation of the British capital, include mining, manufacture of food and drinks, tobacco products, building materials, produce of light industry, services in telecommunications, processing of agricultural production, rendering of leasing, consulting, insurance services. There are 118 investment projects to be implemented in Uzbekistan in 2017-2019, and British companies are welcomed to participate in their implementation. Importantly, UK Export Finance has capacity to support British exports into Uzbekistan and all its products and services are available for both exporters and Uzbek buyers. --- Kamila Aliyeva is AzerNews staff journalist, follow her on Twitter: @Kami_Aliyeva Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz By Trend Valery Gerasimov, chief of the General Staff of the Russian Armed Forces, and Curtis Scaparrotti, Supreme Allied Commander Europe (SACEUR) of NATO Allied Command Operations, confirmed their readiness at a meeting in Baku to continue the dialogue for exchange of views on the issues of mutual interest, RIA Novosti reports citing the Russian Defense Ministry. --- By Trend Azerbaijan Airlines will launch direct flights to new destinations of its route map to Dammam and Riyadh cities of Saudi Arabia (from June 15 to September 1), as well as to Tivat, the popular resort of Montenegro (from July 5 to September 15) within its summer flight schedule. The flights will be operated on comfortable Airbus A320 airliners. The air ticket includes free baggage allowance (up to 23 kg) and a full range of cold and hot onboard meals. Air tickets can be booked and purchased at AZAL sales offices and official sales agencies https://www.azal.az/en/information/sales-offices . Soon air tickets to the new destinations will be also available on the website www.azal.az/en/. To purchase tickets and for more information, please contact: + (99412) 598-88-80 (hotline from Azerbaijan: *8880) E-mail: [email protected] --- Follow us on Twitter @AzerNewsAz The Tellalian Collectionwhich comprises thirty-four Late Antique/Coptic textiles from the fourth to eighth centuryis significant due to the quality, importance, and conservation of the textiles, as well as the related comprehensive library of 129 books and folios, many of which are rare volumes. Such textiles are thought to have been produced by Copts (Christian Egyptians) and other weavers throughout the Byzantine Empire. Their designs and motifs influenced the visual repertoire of the early Islamic period. The McMullen Museum is delighted to receive this transformational gift of one of the finest private collections of Late Antique textiles, said McMullen Museum of Art Director Nancy Netzer, a professor of art history. These works of art provide material evidence that complements the research and teaching interests of many Boston College faculty who focus on the transition from paganism to Christianity in the Late Antique world. Newton residents Don and Barbara Tellalian welcomed Boston College undergraduates to begin researching textiles in their collection for display in the McMullen exhibition Roman in the Provinces: Art on the Periphery of Empire in 2015. During that process, the Tellalians became our and the students role models as generous, scholarly collectors dedicated to passing on knowledge to future generations, according to Netzer. The goal of the Tellalianswho collected the works over a 40-year period, through the late New York City antiquities dealer Charles Dikran Kelekian, as well as other international dealers and auction housesis to make available for study and exhibition their carefully curated and conserved collection of textiles at the McMullen. Plans are underway to exhibit the collection at the McMullen Museum, and to publish the works in an e-monograph. We are pleased that the Tellalian Collection and our corresponding library will be housed at the McMullen Museum of Art, so that students, scholars and academics may have access and hold future promise for discovery, said Don Tellalian. As founding principal of Tellalian Associates Architects & Planners, LLC, he spearheaded many projects for Boston-area cultural institutions. They also hope to encourage others, who may have similar types of collections, to consider the McMullen as a repository. Those with artwork or collections can have influence and their donations have a significance that endures beyond the lives of the original owners, noted Barbara Tellalian, nonprofit development consultant, recognizing the value of such gifts. We realized that, under the leadership of Nancy Netzer and her colleagues at the McMullen, the libraries, and the University, the collection of textiles and corresponding library would not just be buried in storage, but would be an integral part of the education at Boston College, added Don Tellalian. Don Emmert/AFP/Getty Images Southeast Texans can get their Target runs done from their phone and have their purchases delivered to their car, as the retailer became the latest to offer curbside pickup. Target joins Wal-Mart, Kroger and H-E-B in adding the service, aimed at making it easier for people to shop at brick-and-mortar stores as competition from online retailers increases. In the 114 days until Beaumont United High School opens, BISD will install a modular classroom building at the Ozen High School campus, renovate its cafeteria and fill remaining teaching vacancies, Assistant Superintendent Shannon Allen said. Committees of administrators, school staff and students are still working on logistics for the new school, Allen said Thursday at a meeting of the Press Club of Southeast Texas. All BISD schools start on August 13. Construction is underway at Ozen for the 16-classroom building that was purchased last month and will be installed on a cement slab on campus. The cafeteria will be remodeled this summer, she said, which a larger expansion possible in the future. >> BISD: New building at Ozen will cost more than $2 million The larger student body at Beaumont United will have access to more courses than Ozen and Central currently offer, Allen said, including science and technology courses in robotics and drones. Existing magnet programs at both schools will continue. Student councils are involved in developing what Beaumont United's mascot and logo will look like, she said, after students voted to choose Timberwolves and maroon and gold colors in February. Allen said students have told administrators that they're focused on finishing the year as Central and Ozen, before focusing on the new school. >> BISD's United High School uniform, turf tally: $1M BISD officials have not discussed what they'll do with the main building at the Central campus, which administrators determined was too severely damaged to renovate for students. "Our priority is to get to August 13," she said, with the Ozen campus ready for an estimated 2,400 students. The building leaked during Tropical Storm Harvey, causing mold and air quality problems and rotting floors. The storm exacerbated issues students and teachers said had been present for years. BISD previously said they plan to "maintain a presence" at the campus, and said the gym will still be used. >> BISD plans to use parts of damaged Central campus "The district is currently evaluating which programs to relocate to the Central campus in order to keep the usable parts of the facility in use," spokeswoman Nakisha Burns said last month. "We're closing two high schools, so we're going through a mourning period," Allen said."Change is painful, and we recognize that." LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz The former Beaumont ISD contract electrician accused of fraud and money-laundering lost his latest attempt to stop his criminal trial from going forward, when the Ninth Court of Appeals denied his request Wednesday. Calvin Walker, who faces six criminal charges in Jefferson County's Criminal District Court, filed an appeal in January alleging that he was denied due process because he was not granted a hearing on his claim that he should be protected from double jeopardy. He previously told the Enterprise he is innocent of all charges. Walker and his lawyer, Dick DeGuerin, have repeatedly requested a hearing to argue that Walker cannot be tried again in state court on charges similar to those he was tried for in federal court. In 2012, Walker pleaded guilty to a federal misdemeanor charge of failure to pay taxes in a timely manner after his trial in U.S. District Court for fraud and money-laundering charges ended in a hung jury and a mistrial. Criminal District Court Judge John Stevens turned down DeGuerin's request for a hearing in December, ruling that the points he planned to make were already resolved through his first attempt at halting the trial, which went to the U.S. Supreme Court. The country's highest court declined to hear the case but did not say why, which DeGuerin used as the basis for his argument that Stevens should hold a hearing on the issue. The Ninth Court of Appeals upheld Stevens' decision in an opinion released Wednesday. "We conclude that the trial court did not abuse its discretion by declining to declare the dual-sovereignty doctrine unconstitutional," the court wrote in the order. DeGuerin also argued in appeal that he has been denied access to evidence that would prove this claim, after the court quashed his subpoenas for communications between Jefferson County District Attorney Bob Wortham and former U.S. Attorney Malcolm Bales. He maintains that the state and federal authorities' cooperation in investigating Beaumont ISD amounted to collusion between the agencies, and that a second trial is another chance for the same parties to prosecute Walker. Stevens has repeatedly said that the case, which began in 2014, has "languished for too long," and said he wants it to be resolved "as soon as everybody's willing and able." In 2015, Walker and former district spokeswoman Jessie Haynes sued Beaumont ISD and more than 30 others in federal court, accusing them of defamation and a racist conspiracy. Their claims against all defendants, including former BISD trustees and employees, a local and international union, The Examiner and The Beaumont Enterprise newspapers and three FBI agents, were dismissed from the case between February 2016 and July 2017. The defendants asked the court to order Walker and Haynes to pay more than $1.5 million in legal fees, but Walker and Haynes appealed the dismissals. They wrote in their initial complaint that the defendants' behaviors were "aimed at depriving African-American individuals in Beaumont of social mobility, economic prosperity, the ability to participate in public life, their civil rights and - ultimately - their liberty." That case is ongoing in the U.S. Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals in New Orleans. LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.comTwitter.com/LizTeitz Two of several people charged in a Beaumont robbery conspiracy were sentenced to federal prison today, according to information from the U.S. Attorney's Office. Johntre Johnson, 21, of Houston was sentenced to 96 months after pleading guilty to conspiracy to commit Hobbs Act robbery. Nakendra Dominique McKnight, 32, of Humble was sentenced to 90 months for the same charge. The Bureau of Labor Statistics predicts the U.S. nursing field will have over one million vacancies by 2022, leaving health systems to implement strategies to recruit and retain nurses. For Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare, these strategies include offering sign-on bonuses of $10,000 to $15,000 for experienced nurses and up to $25,000 for nurses in certain geographically challenged areas, a Tenet spokesperson confirmed to Becker's. Tenet's sign-on bonuses are nationwide and part of the 74-hospital system's standard practice to hire experienced bedside nurses in areas facing tight job markets. In California, Tenet is offering sign-on bonuses for the more difficult-to-fill nursing jobs at Doctors of Modesto, Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock and Doctors Hospital of Manteca, according to The Modesto Bee. Tenet's move echoes recent efforts of health systems across the country, including Aurora, Colo.-based UCHealth and Falls Church, Va.-based Inova Health System, which are also offering nurses five-figure signing bonuses to help mitigate the shortage. Doctors of Modesto recently offered bonuses for nurses in neurosurgery and intensive care as well as $10,000 sign-on bonuses for neonatal intensive care and critical care nurses. Additionally, The Modesto Bee cited a recent job posting for Emanuel Medical Center, which lists a $15,000 sign-on bonus for an intensive care or critical care nurse. This week, the three Tenet hospitals are hosting recruiting events for nurses, which include interviews and on-the-spot hiring decisions. The National Institutes of Health's precision medicine program, dubbed "All of Us," is slated to launch in May, agency director Francis Collins, MD, PhD, said during a Capitol Hill testimony in early April, as reported by the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. Here are five things to know about the All of Us Research Program ahead of its upcoming launch. 1. The All of Us Research Program, part of the NIH's precision medicine initiative, aims to engage more than 1 million participants in sharing biological samples, genetic data and lifestyle information. The NIH's long-term vision for the program is to serve as a national research resource to inform future precision medicine studies. 2. The NIH began developing the All of Us program in July 2016, and launched its beta stage almost one year later in June 2017. During the beta stage, enrollment in All of Us began with a single site, with the goal of testing 10,000 participants at 100-plus sites across the country. After beta testing, researchers reassessed the program's protocols and recruitment processes to fix any issues before its launch. 3. Since June 2017, All of Us has kicked off enrollment at 115 sites, All of Us Director Eric Dishman told the Politico Morning eHealth newsletter. More than 40,000 people have started the enrollment process, roughly 24,000 of whom have completed the initial protocol. The program's biobank has secured 710,000-plus sample tubes, with an estimated 10,000 samples arriving each day from sites across the country. 4. A core tenet of All of Us is to capture representative samples of the U.S. population, including various racial, ethnic and geographic groups that have been historically underrepresented in scientific research. In July 2017, for example, the NIH awarded four community partners a total of $1.7 million to engage underrepresented groups such as African Americans, seniors and the LGBT community in All of Us. 5. All of Us has faced criticism from some researchers and institutions, according to a March analysis by The New York Times. Critics voiced concerns related to whether the NIH's energy and resources were well-spent, or were potentially duplicative of smaller programs at hospitals and health systems across the U.S. Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare submitted an 817-page proposal to Florida regulators outlining its plan to build an 80-bed hospital in Estero, Fla., according to the News-Press. HCA's bid to build the hospital conflicts with Fort Myers, Fla.-based Lee Health's application to build an 82-bed hospital in Estero. In its application to the Florida Agency for Health Care Administration, HCA says Lee Health has "monopolistic dominance" in the region, which limits the number of healthcare providers patients can choose from. "Not only do patients suffer from lack of access to care in their community, but they also have little to no healthcare provider choice," HCA states in its application. "This type of monopolistic environment within the healthcare market stifles innovation and breeds a culture that negatively impacts the cost and quality of care." Lee Health operates 95 percent of the acute care hospital beds in Lee County, but the health system says there is plenty of competition in the market. "Although we're identified as a, quote, 'monopoly,' the vast majority of the care delivered in this community is delivered in the outpatient world," Lee Health President and CEO Larry Antonucci, MD, told the News-Press. "Not only do we not have a monopoly, we don't even have a majority of the outpatient care done here." The Florida Agency for Health Care Administration has until June 1 to issue its initial decision on which health system can proceed with its plans for a new hospital, according to the report. More articles on facilities management: Mercy Health to open portion of $271M facility in September St. Luke's University Health Network breaks ground on $100M hospital U of Maryland hospital seeks state OK for $50M transformation into outpatient facility California Attorney General Xavier Becerra has ordered Mission Community Hospital in Panorama City, Calif.; Emanuel Medical Center in Turlock, Calif.; and University of Southern California Verdugo Hills Hospital in Glendale, Calif., to pay local nonprofits millions of dollars to meet the state's charity care rules, according to California Healthline. To qualify for tax breaks, nonprofit hospitals are required by federal law to provide a certain amount of care for free or at a discounted cost to patients who are unable to pay for treatment. In California, state law allows the attorney general to set specific charity care requirements when a nonprofit hospital gets a new owner. Earlier this year, the three hospitals requested the attorney general reduce their charity care requirements. The hospitals argued a drop in California's uninsured population has reduced the need for charity care. California's uninsured rate fell from 17 percent in 2013 to 6.8 percent in 2017. Mr. Becerra's office denied the hospitals' requests on April 13. As a result, Mission Community Hospital was ordered to pay about $1.7 million to at least one local nonprofit organization providing medical services for low-income and homeless residents for not meeting its fiscal year 2016 charity care requirement. Emanuel Medical Center and USC Verdugo Hills Hospital were ordered to donate $1.9 million and $1.7 million, respectively, to local nonprofit medical services providers to cover their past-due charity care payments, according to the report. More articles on healthcare finance: CMS terminates Kansas hospital's Medicare billing privileges: 5 things to know 9 health systems with strong finances Bon Secours sees operating income climb 30% in Q2 Telecommunications giant Comcast is partnering with Independence Blue Cross' parent company, Philadelphia-based Independence Health Group, to develop a patient-centered technology and communications platform aimed at improving the care experience for both patients and providers, the companies announced April 19. "Rapid technological advances in recent years have changed the expectations consumers have about accessing and using goods and services. Healthcare is no exception," Daniel Hilferty, Independence president and CEO, said in a press release. "Through this collaboration, we will explore how we can best use technology to enhance how consumers access and use healthcare services, which we know at times can be frustrating." The internet-based platform will enable patients to access content and information about their unique healthcare journeys either at home or on the go. The companies plan to make the platform available nationally, across multiple distribution channels and devices. Independence is no stranger to partnerships and investments to address complicated healthcare issues. The insurer has funded Achieve Well-being, a consumer empowerment solution, and it is a founding member or sponsor of a number of healthcare innovation efforts in Philadelphia, such as the Independence Blue Cross Center for Health Care Innovation and Dreamit Health. Similarly, Comcast is one of the founding members of the Health Care Innovation Collaborative in Philadelphia and has collaborated with UC Davis on a medically approved healthy aging series aimed at educating patients on heart health, fitness and exercise, and nutrition. "Comcast's unique experience in technology and content can be an enabler for disruptive, personalized and media-rich innovations in healthcare," said Comcast's Chief Business Development Officer Sam Schwartz. "Independence is a company steeped in innovation and completely committed to the consumer experience. We're excited about this new partnership and the opportunity to work together using technology to help improve the effectiveness and efficiency of patient communications and education." More articles on health IT: US, UK issue joint alert on alleged Russian state-sponsored cyberattacks NIH's precision medicine program 'All of Us' to launch in May 5 things to know KLAS: 8 'A-list' health IT vendors across market segments Portland-based Oregon Health & Science University Healthcare CEO Mitch Wasden resigned after a little over a year into his tenure, according to The Lund Report. Here are six things to know: 1. Mr. Wasden is departing due to "personal and family reasons," an OHSU official told The Lund Report. 2. He assumed the top post at OHSU Healthcare in March 2017. 3. During his tenure, OHSU Adventist Health Portland entered into an agreement to integrate the organizations' clinical activities and services. 4. He previously worked as CEO of Columbia-based University of Missouri Health Care. 5. John Hunter, MD, OHSU's chief clinical officer, will take over as CEO of OHSU Healthcare. 6. Mr. Wasden will work with Dr. Hunter through June 30 to ensure a smooth transition. After wrestling with Medicaid expansion for years, the Virginia House of Delegates voted in favor of providing coverage for hundreds of thousands of our neighbors across Virginia. We want to commend the delegates from both parties for their perseverance in tackling a difficult topic and thank them for voting to improve health care for all Virginians. Helping our neighbors makes sense for several reasons. Bringing back Virginia taxpayer dollars to the state would strengthen the economy. That action stands to support thousands of new jobs. Also healthy people equal a healthy economy, a more productive workforce and ultimately a lower cost to society overall. Research continues to prove that individuals who have insurance see their primary care doctor more routinely, take care of their chronic conditions more effectively, and stay employed (and employable) longer. What would Medicaid expansion mean if the Senate, House and Governor found a compromise solution during the special General Assembly session to finalize the state budget? With additional funds from the federal government, the Commonwealth can expand coverage to the up to 400,000 additional low-income Virginians who currently do not qualify for Medicaid. The cost of uncompensated care is initially absorbed by a healthcare provider, such as a hospital or physician office. But it ultimately gets passed on to people through higher insurance rates, to employers who provide insurance for their employees, and to workers who see their premiums rise. Funding healthcare is not just the work of government programs, however. We, as hospitals and health care systems, need to partner with patients to take responsibility for lowering costs. With that in mind, weve been approaching care in new ways. Additional Medicaid dollars are really just the next piece in a much larger puzzle. Hospitals like ours will continue to provide care to those who need it in an emergency, but increasingly we've shifted to a model of care that offers support to people who might be at risk for needing acute care. If we're able to help them before they become acutely ill, they have a much better chance at a fulfilling life, and the cost to our health system and the community is much lower. In other words, we're focusing on the complex work of keeping chronically ill patients from unnecessary hospitalizations. As major employers in the Commonwealth, we share a commitment to ensuring the economic vitality of our great state. We know that a healthy economy is only possible within a healthy community where individuals have the tools and resources to keep themselves well and to seek care close to home when they need it. Thank you to the House of Delegates for reaching out of your comfort zone in this year's budget to include federal Medicaid dollars. As healthcare systems, we exist to ensure our communities are healthy, and we appreciate you joining us in that mission. We're optimistic that the climate of compromise will find its way to the Senate during this special session, for the sake of all Virginians. Nancy Howell Agee is president and CEO of Carilion Clinic, based in Roanoke, Va. Dr. J. Stephen Jones is CEO of Inova, based in Falls Church, Va. Howard P. Kern is president and CEO of Sentara Healthcare, based in Norfolk, Va. Although the Philadelphia region has one of the highest concentrations of available medical services in the U.S., the advertising techniques for these healthcare facilities lack variation and seem to be from the same 'playbook,' according to a study conducted by Philadelphia-based Drexel University researchers. The researchers analyzed all available hospital ads in the Philadelphia Inquirer's Health section, from the study's inception in 2013 until April 2016. The study will be published in Health Marketing Quarterly this fall. "We concluded that hospitals are true to the marketing objective of 'winning the hearts' of healthcare consumers by using patients in the main model in ads," said Caichen Zhong, one of the lead study authors and a researcher with Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions. However, the study authors found few of the ads featured medical technology or specialized procedures that could help hospitals to differentiate themselves. Additionally, hospital branding was not a main feature of most of the ads. "We believe that hospital advertising creative teams may be using the same 'playbook' and sticking to traditional and safe attributes, using patients and health professionals most," said study co-author and clinical professor in Drexel's College of Nursing and Health Professions Stephen Gambescia, PhD. "There is nothing wrong with using 'high touch' advertising attributes and focusing on patients," Dr. Gambescia added. "But it flies in the face of a primary marketing principle: Differentiating yourself from your competitors." The researchers analyzed 168 ads, looking to determine what attributes were emphasized in each of the ads. The researchers divided the analysis into primary impressions and secondary impressions, meaning they looked at what stood out at a reader first, then determined whether that signified words or images. In one ad about a cardiac care unit, a large, main image featuring a middle-aged man was considered to be the first impression, classified as a "patient." If the hospital's logo were the next aspect noticed, the researchers would mark "brand" as the secondary impression. The researchers found the most-used primary attribute overall was "patients," which appeared in over one-thirds (35 percent) of the ads. The next was "health professionals" at 27 percent. On the other end, "technology" and "procedures" were primary attributes of only 4 and 3 percent of the ads, respectively. "Hospital and higher-ed ads are the result of an amalgamation of internal marketing folks, an external creative team and, ideally, some subject-matter person who knows about the product or service," Dr. Gambescia said. "That latter person is often left out." Although it may not provide an all-encompassing solution, Dr. Gambescia feels the ads could begin to be differentiated with added voice from those outside the typical marketing team. "They may know just enough to spot something that may be more aligned with the reality of the product or resonate with the audience," he said. Dr. Gambescia aims to investigate whether this lack of attention in ads, particularly in addressing population health, is due to hospitals' marketing strategy or whether it indicates the organizations are ignoring an important part of their mission. "We need to learn why they are totally averse to saying anything about population health, or whether they just don't realize they are not messaging this way," Dr. Gambescia concluded. A former Chicago-based Cook County Health and Hospitals System physician reportedly spent more than $248,000 on unauthorized expenses like plane tickets, a piano and a radar detector, among other items, during his time at the institution, according to the Chicago Tribune. Here are seven things to know about the case. 1. CCHHS hired Bala Hota, MD, in 2002 as an attending physician. He quickly rose through the ranks to become the health system's CIO and chief medical information officer. 2. In January 2013, CCHHS performed a review of the health system's returns from the Hektoen Salary Reallocation Account, a fund that allows grant money to be reimbursed if a CCHHS employee spends their time supporting grant-related activities. During the initial review, which spanned September 2011 through August 2012, officials uncovered irregularities and questionable expenditures released from the account to Dr. Hota. The findings of CCHHS' standard internal audit let to a more in-depth internal audit by the health system. CCHHS referred the case to the Office of the Indepent Inspector General in June 2013. "This wrongdoing was uncovered in a routine audit and we moved quickly in notifying the Office of the Inspector General. Our audit process worked exactly as it is designed to," a spokesperson for CCHHS told the Chicago Tribune. 3. In a total audit of Dr. Hota's expenses between 2010 and 2014, the inspector general's office determined he had spent $274,360 in various expenses, of which $10,227 was considered to be allowed and $15,811 needed additional information, according to the Chicago Tribune. "The evidence developed during the course of the [investigation] established that the subject doctor was improperly converting funds maintained in the Salary Reallocation Account for personal benefit," the inspector general concluded. "While the subject account lacked adequate internal controls and oversight, the funds were deliberately and intentionally converted by the subject doctor for his personal benefit by fraudulently claiming the reimbursed expenses were work related and in accord with the mission of CCHHS." 4. Among Dr. Hota's purchases were wireless headphones; plane tickets to Beijing and Orlando, Fla., for him and his family; meals; a radar detector; several purchases on iTunes; designer clothing and handbags; and a piano, among other items. 5. The inspector general's office determined Dr. Hota had to repay $248,322 because the expenses violated policy or did not benefit the CCHHS, according to a quarterly report released by the agency in January. The agency completed its investigation into Dr. Hota's conduct in 2016. 6. Dr. Hota resigned from CCHHS in January 2014. Later that year, he accepted a position with Chicago-based Rush University Medical Center. Dr. Hota, who declined to comment to the Chicago Tribune, "recently" informed Rush leadership of the inspector general's report. Rush proceeded to conduct a monthlong investigation into Dr. Hota's expenses and conduct while employed at the medical center. "Rush determined that all of [Dr. Hota's] work was managed properly and according to Rush guidelines, and that his behavior and conduct at Rush has been exemplary, helping to serve Rush's mission of providing the highest quality care to the community," the medical center told the publication. 7. In 2016, the Cook County state attorney's office determined "there was insufficient evidence to bring charges" against Dr. Hota, according to the report. The county referred Dr. Hota to the Illinois Department of Financial and Professional Regulation in January 2017. However, he has not been disciplined by the agency. Dr. Hota repaid the $248,322 in April 2017, more than three years after he resigned from CCHHS. To access the Chicago Tribune report, click here. The Children's Hospital of Philadelphia and the United Arab Emirates entered into a medical services agreement April 16 to provide medical care for children in the UAE. Under the Visiting Physician Program, nine licensed CHOP specialists will work with Emirati clinicians to evaluate and treat pediatric patients. The agreement expands on CHOP's long-standing alliance with the UAE. In January, CHOP signed a memorandum of understanding with Al Jalila Children's Specialty Hospital in Dubai to collaborate on a telemedicine-based neurology outreach program, among other joint initiatives during the last several years. "We are honored to formalize CHOP's relationship with the UAE," said CHOP President and CEO Madeline Bell, RN. "Our ability to offer expert care for the country's most medically complex children underscores our mission of creating breakthroughs for children around the world." Aetna is adding more than 250 jobs at its Wellesley, Mass.-based consumer health and services offices, The Boston Globe reports. The insurer has begun its hiring process, and plans to complete the hires by 2020. Aetna will also renovate 80,000 square feet of space in Wellesley, where it now leases 17,000 square feet. Roughly 100 workers currently staff operations at the Wellesley office, which include some of the 250 new hires, an Aetna spokesperson told The Boston Globe. Aetna will also use a temporary office in Burlington, Mass., to house new hires amid the renovation. The investment in Wellesley comes after Aetna passed up Boston for New York City as its future headquarters. However, the headquarters move was ultimately scrapped upon the announcement CVS Health will purchase the insurer for $69 billion. More articles on payer issues: Aetna reorganizes business lines ahead of possible CVS Health tie-up Piedmont, BCBS shake hands on agreement after state ultimatum Former UnitedHealthcare CEO's insurance venture now covers 12K members Blue Cross and Blue Shield of Illinois can no longer enroll members in the state's overhauled managed care Medicaid program, according to Crain's Chicago Business. Here are three notes on the suspension. 1. The Illinois Department of Healthcare and Family Services ceased BCBSIL's managed Medicaid enrollment April 11 due to noncompliance. The department also sanctioned the insurer $150,000 for having too narrow of provider networks and failing to keep up with members' grievances and appeals, Crain's reports. 2. BCBSIL spokesperson Colleen Miller told Crain's, "Our priority is to provide the highest levels of service to our members, providers and the Illinois Department of Health & Family Services." She said the payer "is committed to making the necessary investments and improvements in technology, process, staffing and training to provide long-term solutions to meet the needs of all our [Medicaid] members." 3. Republican Illinois Gov. Bruce Rauner's administration rolled out a managed care Medicaid program in the state Jan. 1, 2018, called HealthChoice Illinois. The following healthcare organizations shared plans to add jobs since March 22. 1. Greenway Health adds 104 jobs at Florida headquarters Greenway Health added 104 new jobs and will invest $1.8 million in an expansion of its West Shore, Fla.-based headquarters. 2. Tenet hospitals in California to host nurse hiring events California hospitals owned by Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare are seeking nurses and other allied health professionals. 3. 20 hospitals hiring nurses Here are 20 hospitals and health systems that recently posted job listings seeking nurses. 4. Northern Hospital in North Carolina to host career expo Mount Airy, N.C.-based Northern Hospital of Surry County revealed plans to host a career expo and recruitment open house April 12. More articles on workforce: Hospitals add 10k jobs in March 20 hospitals hiring nurses Former Kaiser nurse who said Stephon Clark 'deserved it' raises $25k+ online: 5 things to know Steamboat Orthopaedic Associates and Orthopaedics of Steamboat, both located in Steamboat Springs, Colo., are merging, according to Steamboat Pilot & Today. Here are five insights. 1. The two orthopedic groups are forming the Steamboat Orthopaedic & Spine Institute. 2. They decided to join forces to offer comprehensive orthopedic care for patients in Northwest Colorado. 3. Eight physicians will provide care at the new institute: Alexander Meininger, MD Bryan Bomberg, MD Michael Sisk, MD Bryan Scheer, MD Andreas Sauerbrey, MD Clint Devin, MD Patrick Johnston, DO Alexis Tracey, DO 4. Steamboat Orthopaedic Associates will move into Orthopaedics of Steamboat Springs' location in the UCHealth Medical Office Building. 5. The institute will eventually be in a new orthopedic center on the hospital's campus. Here are eight things for spinal surgeons to know for April 19, 2018. DePuy Synthes Q1 sales up 1.1%, spine drops 8.9% after Codman divestiture In the first quarter of 2017, Johnson & Johnson reported their orthopedics business, DePuy Synthes, had a slight 1.1 percent growth over the same period last year. The company's spine business sales had the largest decline, at 8.9 percent, reaching $804 million. Trauma sales were up 8.4 percent to $696 million. Hip sales grew 3.1 percent and knee sales dropped 2.8 percent to $363 million and $387 million, respectively. ISASS names Belgian spine surgeon 2018-19 president The International Society for the Advancement of Spine Surgery named Marek Szpalski, MD, 2018-19 president at its annual meeting last week. Dr. Szpalski is chairman of the department of orthopedic trauma surgery at Brussels, Belgium-based IRIS South Teaching Hospitals. He also serves as associate professor at Free University of Brussels and an adjunct associate professor of orthopedics at New York City-based New York University. Stryker's spine division to drive Q1 sales Stryker's neurotechnology and spine division is anticipated to see growth in the first quarter of 2018, pushing the company's overall growth, according to Zacks. Recently, Stryker's spine segment has seen a push in demand for target coil and 3-D printed interbody tritanium products. Stryker's last reported quarter put spine and neurotechnology sales at $586 million, up 10.3 percent year-over-year. The highest paid CEOs in healthcare The CEOs of Nashville, Tenn.-based HCA Healthcare, Dallas-based Tenet Healthcare and Deerfield, Ill.-based Walgreens Boots Alliance received some of the highest compensation rates among chief executives of larger U.S. companies, according to a recent survey by Equilar. Find out who made the list, here. 100% of patients fused at 12-month follow up in Spineology clinical trial John Chi, MD, presented 12-month outcomes data from Spineology's SCOUT clinical trial. An investigational device exemption study, SCOUT sought to assess safety and effectiveness outcomes in instrumented lumbar interbody fusion procedures for degenerative disc disease treatment. The study investigated Spineology's OptiMesh, a porous graft containment mesh. At 12-months, 100 percent of the patients experienced fusion. Dr. Hooman Melamed performs live-saving spine surgery on reality TV star Abby Lee Miller Orthopedic spine surgeon Hooman Melamed, MD, performed emergency spinal surgery April 17 on former Dance Moms star Abby Lee Miller at Cedars-Sinai Marina Del Ray (Calif.) Hospital. Ms. Miller came to the ER for "excruciating neck pain" and weakness in her arm, Dr. Melamed told People. Dr. Melamed found an infection had spread from the bottom of her neck to her lower back. Read more, here. DOJ cracks down on health system performing outpatient surgeries as inpatient; Banner Health to pay $18M+ settlement The DOJ is targeting hospitals and health systems for performing outpatient procedures in the inpatient setting, where they can charge a higher rate. Phoenix-based Banner Health, a 28-hospital system, agreed to pay more than $18 million to resolve allegations 12 hospitals admitted patients for procedures who could have gone to the less-costly outpatient setting. Read more, here. US could be short up to 120k physicians by 2030 By 2030, the U.S. may be short as many as 120,000 physicians, according to an Association of American Medical Colleges report. The U.S. may see a primary care physician shortage of between 14,800 and 49,300 physicians and non-primary care physician shortage of between 33,800 and 72,700 physicians. https://www.beckersspine.com/spine/item/40784-the-top-15-highest-paying-jobs-in-healthcare-neurosurgeons-orthopedic-surgeons-lead-the-pack.html https://www.beckersspine.com/spine/item/40783-dr-hooman-melamed-performs-live-saving-spine-surgery-on-reality-tv-star-abby-lee-miller-3-insights.html https://www.beckersspine.com/spine/item/40781-dr-venkat-ganapathy-named-associated-editor-of-the-journal-of-bone-and-joint-surgery.html Smurfit Kappa, Europe's largest box maker, has said that it is continuing to invest in its Facture Paper Mill in the south west of France. (bruev/Getty Images) Smurfit Kappa, Europe's largest box maker, has said that it is continuing to invest in its Facture Paper Mill in the south west of France. The aim is to meet the growing demand for kraftliner linerboard grades in Europe, a statement from Smurfit Kappa said. Earlier this year the group shut down the plant for three weeks in an upgrade of the facility. This included the implementation of a new pulp washing line, and a complete overhaul of a recovery boiler. Smurfit Kappa, which has recently been the subject of an attempted takeover bid, plans further improvements at the site next year, which, on completion, will increase its production capacity of white top kraftliner from 174,000 tonnes to 220,000 tonnes per year, the group said. "The Facture site is going through a major upgrade programme which will significantly increase both the output and quality of the kraftliner we produce," Laurent Sellier, chief operating officer of Smurfit Kappa Paper & Board Europe, said. Belfast Zoo is celebrating the arrival of a giant anteater baby. The new addition was born on November 2 2017 to parents Pancho and Kara. Belfast Zoo is home to the only giant anteaters in Ireland. Kara arrived from Duisburg Zoo and was joined by Pancho from Halle Zoo in 2012, as part of the collaborative breeding programme. Zoo curator, Raymond Robinson, explained: The pup spends the first year of life hitching a ride on the mothers back. The infant is born with a full coat of hair and is almost identical to the adult. This helps to camouflage the baby against the mothers coat and also makes the mother look larger to predators. "However, it is this camouflage that makes it very difficult for keepers to find out whether the newest member of the zoo family is male or female. We want to give the pair time to bond and minimise disruption, so a name will be selected when the baby is old enough." The giant anteater is an endangered South American mammal. As their name suggests, the giant anteater is the largest species of anteater in the world and can grow up to seven foot in length. Raymond continued: The giant anteaters name also hints at this species favourite food. "Incredibly a giant anteater can eat more than 30,000 ants and termites in a day." Zoo manager, Alyn Cairns, added: This incredible species is found in the grasslands and rainforests of Central and South America. This unique species is facing the very real risk of extinction in the foreseeable future and it is imperative that Belfast Zoo and zoos around the world work together to play an active role in ensuring the survival of the species." TV presenter Dale Winton, host of Supermarket Sweep, has died at the age of 62, his agent has said. In a statement his agent Jan Kennedy said: "It is with great sadness that we can confirm the passing of Dale Winton who died at home earlier today [Wednesday]. Read More "While we know many will share this terrible loss, we ask that you respect the family's privacy at this time of grief." Winston started his career as a radio DJ, before moving into television and presenting Supermarket Sweep between 1993 and 2000, reviving the show in 2007. Well-known names have took to social media on Wednesday evening to express their sadness at the television star's passing. Graham Norton wrote on Twitter: "Dale Winton gave me the best bit of showbiz advice I ever got - Dont quit the hit! Thank you Dale. X" So sad and shocked to hear that Dale Winton has died. He was a lovely,warm man who posed charm. RIP Les Dennis (@LesDennis) April 18, 2018 Desperately sad news about Dale Winton. A really funny and kind person gone too soon, RIP. Jack Whitehall (@jackwhitehall) April 18, 2018 So sad to hear the news Dale Winton has passed away. Thoughts for his family he was a gent to work with. RIP James Martin (@jamesmartinchef) April 18, 2018 So sad to hear that the true gentleman, the charming and so kind Dale Winton has been taken from us far to soon. RIP lovely man. Xx Michael Ball OBE (@mrmichaelball) April 18, 2018 Getty Images for Tiffany & Co. Actress Claire Danes (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.) Rachel Dean checks out the style in Victoria Square, Belfast. Joanne Close (48), sales assistant, Bangor Expand Close Joanne Close / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Joanne Close Wore what? Blouse, 15, H&M; coat, 60, bag, 13, both Zara; jeans, 20, Sainsburys; boots, 40, Mango. Why? I would describe my style as understated. I really just wear what I like. Who? Claire Danes has a great style. I love the Prada look and she wears their clothes quite often. Monthly spend: 50 Expand Close Actress Claire Danes (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.) Getty Images for Tiffany & Co. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Actress Claire Danes (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images for Tiffany & Co.) Jane Redmond (28), architect, Carrickfergus Expand Close Jane Redmond / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jane Redmond Wore what? Top, 10, Mango; jacket, 400, All Saints; jeans, 38, Topshop; shoes, 20, ASOS; bag, gift. Why? I usually keep my look simple and monochromatic. Who? I love the blogger, Negin Mirsalehis style. She has some interesting, classic pieces. Monthly spend: 100 Katie Perry (24), financial analyst, Larne Expand Close Katie Perry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Katie Perry Wore what? Jumper, 5, jeans, 16, both New Look; coat, 50, Topshop; shoes, gift; bag, 110, The Cambridge Satchel Company. Why? I would say my style is classic and feminine. I tend to go for more traditional colours. Who? Blake Livelys look is always so well put together. Her hair, make-up, outfit, everything. Monthly spend: 100-150 Expand Close Blake Lively (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Blake Lively (Photo by Jamie McCarthy/Getty Images) Emma Stewart (21), student, Lisburn Expand Close Emma Stewart / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Emma Stewart Wore what? Top, 7, Zara; coat, 200, Excel Boutique (Newtownards); jeans, 7, H&M; boots, 120, Timberland; bag, 65, Longchamp. Why? My look could be described as smart-casual. I prefer simple designs and neutral colours. Who? Tammy Hembrows style is so fresh and on trend. Monthly spend: 200 Clare Ferris (21), project assistant, Belfast Expand Close Clare Ferris / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Clare Ferris Wore what? Top, 7, H&M; coat, 70, Mango; trousers, 40, Topshop; boots, 90, Vagabond; bag, 150, Calvin Klein. Why? One word to describe my style would be unconventional. I love adding colour to my look, especially in spring and summer. Who? Nicole Richie has an eye for quirky fashion. Monthly spend: 200 Expand Close Nicole Richie (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nicole Richie (Photo by Frazer Harrison/Getty Images) Bria Shiels (21), sales assistant, Londonderry Expand Close Bria Shiels / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Bria Shiels Wore what? Top, 12, jumpsuit, 15, jacket, 50, hat, 12, shoes, 15, all Topshop; bag, 3, Primark. Why? My look is eclectic and quirky. Ill add a pop of colour to monochromatic outfits. Who? I like Fearne Cottons unique look. Monthly spend: 200 Expand Close Fearne Cotton (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Fearne Cotton (Photo by John Phillips/Getty Images) Ailis Stevenson (21), student, Lurgan Expand Close Ailis Stevenson / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Ailis Stevenson Wore what? Top, 14, jacket, 25, boots, 18, bag, 12, all Primark; trousers, 40, River Island. Why? My style is straight off the high street. I prefer darker colours. Who? I think Lily Collins has such a cute look. Monthly spend: 100 Expand Close Lily Collins (Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images) Getty Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Lily Collins (Photo by Kelly Sullivan/Getty Images) Cairenn Murphy (18), student, Ballygally Expand Close Cairenn Murphy / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Cairenn Murphy Wore what? Top, 24, jeans, 40, both Topshop; jacket, 50, Missguided; boots, 30, Truffle Collection; bag, 30, ASOS. Why? I actually usually wear bright colours. I prefer an edgy look on me. Who? I love Kylie Jenners style because she just has fun with it and always looks stunning. Monthly spend: 300 Expand Close Kylie Jenner (Aurore Marechal/PA) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Kylie Jenner (Aurore Marechal/PA) The Roman Catholic Bishop of Derry, Donal McKeown has urged the electorate in the Republic of Ireland to vote to keep the 8th Amendment. In a pastoral letter posted online the Bishop said that he supported a recent statement from the Church of Ireland declaring that "unrestricted access to abortion in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, or indeed at any stage, is not an ethical position we can accept." Read More Citizens will be asked on May 25 whether they want to repeal the Eighth Amendment of Irelands Constitution, a provision that makes abortion illegal in all but exceptional circumstances. If the public votes to repeal the constitutional provision, the Irish Government intends to table legislation that would permit women to abort within 12 weeks of pregnancy. In a lengthy statement Bishop McKeown acknowledged that not all pregnancies were viewed as positive. "Not all expectant mothers experience joy. A pregnancy can be unwelcome, frightening and unplanned. The child may have special needs which will be a challenge for the parents before and after birth. These are very real situations where expectant parents may experience a whole range of feelings," he said. "Whatever the situation, life in the womb cannot reduced to merely a medical issue or something to do with reproductive rights. "The constitution crafted by the Irish people 35 years ago underlines that it is possible to love both mother and child, even in the most difficult of circumstances." The Belfast-born Bishop said that he supported a recent statement from the Church of Ireland. "I fully support the statement from the two Church of Ireland archbishops that unrestricted access to abortion in the first twelve weeks of pregnancy, or indeed at any stage, is not an ethical position we can accept. There is, for Christians, a very clear witness in the Scriptures that all human life, including before physical birth, has a sacred dignity in the eyes of God," he said. "The electorate are faced with a very stark choice about something which is very personal to many people. When it comes to difficult choices, there is no greater human right than the right to life. "Ireland has long tradition of cherishing life in its many forms. With the current legal situation it is one of safest countries in the world for both the unborn child and expectant mother. That is something to be very proud of." Bishop McKeown is a well-known supporter of the Irish language and evoked a few phrases to support his position. "That love of human life in all its forms has come down to us in some of the phrases which reveal a deep insight and compassion. The baby in the womb is spoken of in Irish as beo gan breith alive without birth. That reflects a generous regard for the life of the unborn child. Our phrase in Irish for a person with learning disabilities is a duine le Dia, a person with God. These are expressions of the traditional Irish value placed on life at its most vulnerable," he said. "The electorate is being asked to abandon that wisdom and give rights only to the adult. "All human life is precious, not just when it is judged perfect or convenient. The human right to choose is important. The human right to life is even more important. The 8th Amendment seeks promote equality, not to limit it." Expand Close Anti-abortion protesters march through Dublin (Caroline Quinn/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anti-abortion protesters march through Dublin (Caroline Quinn/PA) He rejected the argument that many women travel to England for abortions. "Some public figures argue that they feel obliged to bring in some legislation to make abortion readily available in Ireland. They point out that women are already importing abortifacient pills or travelling to Britain, where almost 200,000 babies are aborted each year," Bishop McKeown said. "There are many things that Irish people do at home and abroad. That does not mean that the Government should make them legal. It is through the Constitution that the electorate gives core guidelines to politicians. The Irish people are entitled to retain their precious principles, especially in the defence of human life. It is then the duty of politicians to frame laws which reflect those values." The DUP has told the European Union to accept its responsibility to find solutions after Donald Tusk issued a fresh warning to the UK that a transitional deal after Brexit will not happen unless problems over the Irish border are resolved. European Council president Mr Tusk told MEPs that the UK had created the issue as a result of the Brexit vote and had a duty to find a solution. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Tusk said he welcomed the progress that had been made in the Brexit talks. "We want to use the positive momentum in these negotiations to finally settle outstanding issues, such as the solution to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland," he said. In a message that the government could not simply leave it to the Irish and EU to decide what the customs arrangements at the border should be - as some Brexiteers have suggested - Mr Tusk said: "The UK's decision on Brexit has caused the problem and the UK will have to help solve it. "Without a solution, there will be no withdrawal agreement and no transition. "Leaders will assess the negotiations in June. In parallel we will start our first talks about the future EU-UK relationship." Senior officials were meeting in Brussels to hold preliminary discussions about the future relationship for the first time. Responding to Mr Tusk's statement, DUP MEP Diane Dodds said the European Council President had "resorted to bully-boy tactics". "He may wish to wash his hands of the border issue but the reality is that the EU has joint responsibility alongside the UK Government to find pragmatic solutions to what are mutual challenges. It is high time Brussels established a practical, hands-on approach to these matters which to date has been glaringly absent," she said. "Although progress has been made on the terms of the Brexit implementation period, the DUP has made it clear that we have not passed the point of no return for a no deal scenario. The aggressive stance taken by Mr Tusk may grab headlines but it is not in the interests of a workable accommodation, nor does it reflect the economic interests of the Republic of Ireland." SDLP leader Colum Eastwood said Mr Tusk's comments must serve as a final wake-up call to the British Government on the Irish border. He said: "Today's statements in the European Parliament must bring an end to that cynical strategy. The comments from Donald Tusk couldn't be clearer - the European Union are not bluffing. They are not bluffing on their commitment that there can be no hardening of the Irish border and they are not bluffing in saying that no deal will be done until this issue is resolved. "The British Government are therefore left with only one choice. Either accept that a hard border in Ireland can only be avoided if the North remains in full alignment with the single market and customs union or come to the broader economic sense that all of the UK should remain in the customs union and single market." Former Northern Ireland Secretary Lord Peter Hain said: "The government can no longer continue to duck the question of the Northern Ireland border. As Donald Tusk has made clear, lack of progress on this vital issue now threatens to blow apart the Brexit negotiations. "The contradiction between not wanting a hard border and being outside of the Single Market and Customs Union has in no way been resolved. And more than a year since negotiations started, the government has offered no credible solutions. "Ministers know they cannot deliver the Brexit that was promised, and that every Brexit outcome will leave us worse off, but they are refusing to be straight with people." The alleged head of an organised drugs gang led a "lavish" lifestyle involving nearly 500,000 spent on jewellery, the High Court has heard. Prosecutors claimed an investigation into Patrick O'Connor and his associates discovered luxury cars, Rolex watches, a diamond ring and almost another 130,000 going on foreign travel. Details emerged as the 48-year-old, from Stoneypath in Derry, applied for bail on charges of money laundering and conspiracy to supply cannabis and cocaine. His application was adjourned after a judge said the offer of a 5,000 cash surety was "not nearly enough". O'Connor faces a total of 17 charges, which also include possessing, concealing and converting criminal property, between August 2016 and June 2017. The alleged offences are connected to police operations in Armagh and Omagh where cannabis valued at up to 200,000 and cash amounts of 171,000 and 410,000 were seized. Although O'Connor was not present at any of the locations, Crown lawyer Natalie Pinkerton claimed he is linked by telephone evidence. She contended that he controlled the activities and was in contact with co-accused from Bulgaria. "He's said to be the head of an organised crime gang," Ms Pinkerton submitted. The court was told O'Connor and his wife have purchased in excess of 456,000 worth of high-value jewellery from a Belfast store since 2010. According to the prosecutor searches carried out at the couple's home revealed further evidence of a "lavish lifestyle". Police seized a 26,000 diamond ring and Rolex watches worth 19,500 and 12,500. An auctioneer has estimated all of the luxury items could be resold for a total 163,000, but the prosecution claimed their combined value at the time of purchase was 304,000. Information from two travel companies also showed the extent of trips abroad by O'Connor and his associates, it was claimed. Since 2011 97,000 was spent at one firm in Armagh, including nearly 20,000 on a honeymoon and a deposit on a further cruise planned in August. A further 31,000 had been paid to another travel company in Derry between 2013 and 2016 - allegedly either by O'Connor or co-accused. At the time of his arrest the defendant and his wife were both driving Audi Q5 SUVs with a combined value of just over 91,000, the court heard. Ms Pinkerton said evidence showed Patrick O'Connor had also ordered a BMW X5 priced at 66,000. A review of his financial accounts revealed cash and credit in excess of 283,000, she added. "HMRC have no record of him being in employment in the last year," the barrister said. "In the previous year he owned a supplement shop in Derry which has not been showing excessive profit." Stressing that O'Connor has no criminal record for drugs offences, defence counsel Andrew Moriarty argued that other co-accused were granted bail. Asked how much money his client was prepared to lodge in court as a surety, the barrister confirmed a sum of 5,000 was available. But Mr Justice McCloskey responded: "That's not nearly enough." As he adjourned the application, he added: "The availability of a very substantial cash guarantee would be a significant matter in the applicant's favour." A row has erupted after a council voted for a strict 'English only' road sign policy - before installing plant pots decorated with Ulster Scots. An Irish language group is to lodge a complaint with the Equality Commission after Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council refused a request by residents for a number of streets to have signs in Irish. It then installed the controversial 'planters' bearing an Ulster Scots greeting in Antrim town centre. Sinn Fein has also hit out at the decision and accused the council of hypocrisy. In February, the council voted for a strict 'English only' policy after residents from Abbeyville in Newtownabbey petitioned for signs in five streets to also include Irish. The predominantly unionist council voted against the request by 27 votes to eight. However, within a matter of weeks, the council installed large decorative planters at the junction of Church Street and High Street in Antrim inscribed with the greeting 'Fair fa' ye tae' and including the Discover Ulster Scots logo. The planters are designed to welcome visitors to the town's Scotch Quarter, which has undergone a recent facelift. Sinn Fein councillor Anne Marie Logue said the current situation is the latest slap in the face for Irish speakers. "We believe that what has happened is wrong and a breach of equality legislation," she said. "It is hypocrisy in its rawest form." Cait Ni Ruanaidh from Ionad Teaghlaigh Ghleann Darach, an Irish language family centre based in Crumlin, said: "Congratulations to the Ulster Scots speakers in Antrim. "It's fantastic to see their language being promoted by the council. However, it is an absolute disgrace that gaeilgeoirs within this council are denied the same rights. "This is hypocritical at best and in reality, downright sectarianism. "The Irish language is spoken by people from all political backgrounds and this behaviour by Antrim & Newtownabbey Borough Council politicises the Irish language. "It also diminishes community relations by creating double standards and demonises our Irish language community," she added. "We are not out to attack or censor anyone else's language, however, we will be lodging a complaint with the council and the Equality Commission. "We believe the council is in breach of equality regulations." A council spokeswoman said a decision to brand a part of Antrim Scotch Quarter due to its historical context was approved in March 2017, prior to the decision to implement an English only sign policy, which was made on February 26 this year. "There was no vote or objections raised at the March 2017 meeting, in relation to the matter," she said. "The proposal was to be implemented by the Ulster Scots Agency, however, due to some delays it wasn't implemented until earlier this month." The coffin of Margaret Ann White is carried into Clogherney Presbyterian Church, Omagh The funeral has taken place of a Co Tyrone grandmother who died while on holiday. Margaret White (64) from the village of Beragh died from septicaemia last Tuesday after travelling with her husband William for a river cruise in Slovakia. During her funeral at Clogherney Presbyterian Church yesterday, the Rev Norman Smyth described her as a "warm, practical and spiritual woman". He said Mrs White would be remembered by the church as "a lady who loved all the little children of our congregation by looking after the cradle roll and remembering their birthdays". "Margaret was an integral part of our church life in general and we miss her deeply as a warm, practical and spiritual woman who loved her family and even more her Saviour," he told the congregation. "Today the family express their gratitude to the whole community who gathered around to support them. They are thankful for all the individuals and groups who have met to pray for their strengthening." Rev Whyte also recalled Mrs White's childhood in Castlecaulfield, her career working for Ulster Bank in Dungannon and for the family business Irwin & White. "Margaret's favourite thing was to have large family gatherings, especially at such times as Christmas Eve, when she would be catering for some 30 people," he told the congregation. "Her love of her family was served by her talents in baking and knitting, which were considerable." Mrs White had been due to celebrate her 65th birthday this Sunday. Expand Close Margaret Ann White / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Margaret Ann White Her cousin Allan Rainey, an Ulster Unionist councillor for Fermanagh and Omagh District Council, called her "one of life's real ladies" and said it had been a traumatic experience for Mr White to travel home without her. Three of his daughters travelled out to be at his side when he called to tell them their mother was ill. Tragically on their journey there, their father was forced to call again to confirm their mother had passed away at a hospital in Bratislava. One daughter returned home at this point while two continued out to accompany him on the difficult journey home. Speaking earlier this week Mr Rainey said it had been "the most dreadful shock" for the family. "It is the saddest possible outcome to what should have been a lovely occasion for Margaret and William," he said. Emergency services at the scene after light aircraft crash. Pic Pacemaker Emergency services at the scene after light aircraft crash. Pic Pacemaker Emergency services at the scene after light aircraft crash. Pic Pacemaker Emergency services at the scene after light aircraft crash. Pic Pacemaker Police at scene where a light air craft has crashed with reports of two people died at the scene. Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Police pictured at the scene of light aircraft crash with reports of two people died at the scene. Mandatory Credit Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Police at the scene of light air craft crash with reports of two people died at the scene. Pic: Stephen Hamilton/Presseye Emergency services at the scene, after a light aircraft fire at Nutts Corner, County Antrim / Credit: Pacemaker Emergency services at the scene, after a light aircraft fire at Nutts Corner, County Antrim / Credit: Pacemaker Emergency services at the scene, after a light aircraft fire at Nutts Corner, County Antrim / Credit: Pacemaker A Co Antrim local has described witnessing the immediate aftermath of a plane crash which claimed the lives of two people. Ballyhill Lane resident JJ McKee's family home is near to the crash site, and he had been about to embark on his journey back to Belfast when it happened. His initial thought was the emergency response was for a car crash. "I thought I heard quite a loud engine but I didn't realise there was any sort of crash," said the 19-year-old Belfast Met student. "I thought it was one of the commercial airlines going by, you get them once in a while. "Flights from the international airport fly quite close to the house. "I was on my way into Belfast when I looked out the window and saw all the cars and people in jackets. I thought it must have been a car accident." "My thoughts are with the people who died, it's a tragedy." The PSNI confirmed on Thursday afternoon that two people had died in the crash. Superintendent Emma Bond said: Emergency services received a report of a crash shortly after 12.30pm this afternoon [Thursday]. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will examine the scene to determine the cause of the crash. Cordons have been placed in the area surrounding the aircraft to maintain the integrity of the scene as the investigation continues. I would ask that the cordons are respected by all and directions from officers at the scene are heeded. We are not in a position to confirm the identity of the deceased at this time. We expect the scene to be held for some time as enquiries are carried out. The plane, thought to be a Cessna, came down close to Nutts Corner roundabout and the Loanends Road at around 12.20pm on Thursday. Eyewitnesses saw the light plane crash in a field and explode. The emergency services declared a major incident moments after the call with police, fire and ambulance services rushed to the scene close to the Ballyhill road. The air ambulance was also sent to the scene. The Ambulance Service said the major incident was stood down at 12.49pm and no patients were taken from the scene. Air Accidents Investigation Branch officers have been sent to the scene. The flight was not connected to either of the two Belfast airports or an airfield in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, spokesmen confirmed. Newtownards airport, where the Ulster Flying Club is based, said it would make no comment. Belfast International Airport said the plane was not operating out of it, or heading toward it to land. A spokeswoman said: "It crashed in the vicinity of Loanends, two-three miles from the airport." The Fire Service remains at the scene. There was a sense of shock across the rural area on Thursday afternoon as news of the incident spread. SDLP Lagan Valley MLA Pat Catney said: My thoughts and prayers are with everyone involved in the ongoing incident at Nutts Corner following a crash. Thinking of all of those involved at this difficult time. The AAIB is sending a team to Crumlin, Northern Ireland, to investigate a light aircraft accident pic.twitter.com/oKOH4Hul5q AAIB (@aaibgovuk) April 19, 2018 We are operating as normal following an incident involving a light aircraft at Loanends 2/3 mls from Airport. The aircraft was not operating into or out of the airport. All further media enquiries should be addressed to @PoliceServiceNI Belfast International Airport (@belfastairport) April 19, 2018 Currently attending a meeting at Belfast International Airport. Difficult news emerging that a small aircraft has crashed. Reports of serious injuries after the plane, crashed near Nutts Corner roundabout and at 12.20pm. My thoughts and prayers are with all those involved. Daniel McCrossan MLA (@McCrossanMLA) April 19, 2018 With @McCrossanMLA Currently attending meeting @belfastairport A sense of real shock here on news of accident at Nutts Corner. Thoughts and prayers with all those affected and directly working at the scene. @SDLPlive Sinead Bradley MLA (@SineadBradleySD) April 19, 2018 Monitoring situation at the International Airport - tragic circumstances. Thoughts are with all involved. Pat Catney MLA (@PatCatney) April 19, 2018 A young man who has no memory of breaking into the home of an 82-year old woman was urged on Thursday to "reflect" on the fact he will be spending his 21st birthday in Hydebank. Kyle Charles Donaghy, who turns 21 this weekend, was handed an 18-month sentence after he admitted the early morning burglary in south Belfast last July. Belfast Crown Court heard Donaghy that he has no recollection of the incident due to his drink and drug consumption. However, whilst on remand he had attended counselling to tackle his addiction issues, and is now drugs-free. Prosecutor Simon Jenkins said that around 12.40am on July 25, the 82-year old occupant of a ground floor flat in the Sloan Court area was woken from her sleep by the sound of her jewellery box being opened. She saw a male intruder in her bedroom and when she challenged him, he ran from the bedroom and fled the flat by climbing out of a living room window. Police were contacted, and the elderly occupant told officers several items from her home were missing, including a cigarette pouch, tea towel and a set of keys. Mr Jenkins said Donaghy was stopped two streets away from the burglary, and when searched some of the stolen items were found in his pocket, they were later returned to the pensioner. Donaghy's fingerprint was also located inside the living room of the flat. Donaghy initially denied a charge of burglary, but later admitted his guilt. Defence barrister John Dowey told the court: "In essence, he had a large amount of alcohol and unfortunately a large amount of drugs taken, and really has little or no recollection of the events of the entire evening, and has no recollection of how he came to be in this lady's house." Pointing out Donaghy fled after he "startled" the elderly occupant, and didn't say or do anything other than take the items and flee the house, Mr Dowey said "the items taken reflect the state he found himself in." Accepting the incident was unpleasant, the barrister said Donaghy has since expressed shame and disgust at his actions and wishes to apologise to the pensioner. Mr Dowey also told the court that whilst on remand in Hydebank, Donaghy has undertaken educational courses to improve his chance of finding work when he is released, and has also tested as drugs-free. Sentencing Donaghy to 18 months - half of which will be in custody with the remaining nine months on licence upon his release - Judge David McFarland told him: "Saturday is your 21st birthday. You are going to have it in Hydebank, and you should reflect on that." Branding Donaghy's 60-conviction criminal record as "quite formidable for someone of your age", the Belfast Recorder said the break-in would have been a "very frightening experience, particularly for an 82-year old." The Police Service of Northern Ireland attended a light aircraft crash in Co Antrim (Paul Faith/PA) No patients were taken from the scene of a light aircraft crash in Co Antrim, the ambulance service said. Paramedics, firefighters, an air ambulance and police attended the site near Nutts Corner after the plane caught fire. The incident happened close to a wooded area shortly after midday on Thursday, two or three miles from Belfast International Airport. A spokeswoman said the aircraft was not operating to or from there. A statement from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said: No patients were taken from the scene and the major incident was stood down at 12:49. Police and other emergency services are currently in attendance at the scene of a light aircraft crash in the vicinity of Nutts Corner, Crumlin. There are no further details at this stage. Police Service NI (@PoliceServiceNI) April 19, 2018 Nearby roads have been closed. A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) spokeswoman said: The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call at 12:23 this afternoon following reports that a light aircraft had come down near Nutts Corner. She added: NIAS implemented its major incident protocols in response to this incident and one rapid response paramedic, three emergency ambulance crews and four officers were dispatched to the incident. The charity air ambulance was also tasked. A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement confirmed the emergency services were in attendance. Fire Crews, along with Police and Ambulance are attending the scene of a light aircraft crash near Nutts Corner, Crumlin. The call was received at 12.22pm today and 3 Fire Appliances are at the scene. The incident is ongoing. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) April 19, 2018 The flight was not connected to either of the two Belfast airports or an airfield in Enniskillen, Co Fermanagh, spokesmen confirmed. Newtownards airport, where the Ulster Flying Club is based, said it would make no comment. Claire Kelly, who was killed in a car crash in 2011 A Northern Ireland mother who met and forgave the drunk driver who killed her daughter has inspired a new Australian justice scheme through her charitable act. 20-year-old student Claire Kelly died following a car accident at the Old Glenshane Road near Claudy just before Christmas 2011, when the car she was travelling in left the road, and overturned. Kevin Brolly pleaded guilty to causing the death of Ms Kelly by careless driving and with excess alcohol. He also admitted driving dangerously and without insurance. Ms Kelly, from Dungiven, Co Derry had been a passenger in Brolly's car at the time of her death. He was sentenced to three years in prison. Ms Kelly's mother Denise McAuley visited Brolly in prison in the hope of getting some answers surrounding her daughter's death. The BBC have reported that Australian authorities decided to set up a scheme for offenders to meet their victims after the former Attorney General of Victoria heard Mrs McAuley speak at a conference in Belfast. "He wanted to see me face to face and to tell me everything," Mrs McAuley told the BBC. "I went up, shook his hand, gave him that confidence. "And by shaking his hand I was hoping to befriend a friend of my daughter's. "I told him I wished it had have been him who died, he wished that too." Mrs McAuley said she also gave Brolly permission to visit her daughter's grave. "I had no problem with that, he was a friend of Claire's," she said. "I could see his pain, and feel his pain." "He told me that Claire was never on her own, there was always police or ambulance staff with her." Former Governor of Magilligan Prison David Eagleson said that the prison tried to give offenders the opportunity to meet their victims when possible. "These are very sensitive meetings and need to be handled with great care, but the outcomes have been very positive and people find they get their questions answered. "Many offenders genuinely are remorseful and want to make some sort of reparations, it's not unknown for offenders to approach authorities and ask to meet their victim and if appropriate and everyone agrees it can be facilitated. "It can help everyone involved." Mr Eagleson will tell Mrs McAuley's story at a conference in Canada next week. Police seal off the Ballysillan Road in Belfast after a serious crash. It is believed a hit and run driver in a stolen car hit a person. Police are at the scene. Pic: Alan Lewis - PhotopressBelfast.co.uk The police watchdog say it is investigating a serious crash in which a pedestrian was killed in north Belfast. Investigators from the Police Ombudsmans Office confirmed it is investigating the circumstances leading up to the fatal collision which happened on the Ballysillan Road in Belfast on Thursday morning. One man has been arrested at the scene of the crash in which a woman, believed to be from the area, was killed. A spokesman for the Ombudsman Office said: The PSNI informed us that its officers had been involved in a pursuit of a vehicle involved in the collision. A stinger device is also believed to have been used by police. We are now investigating the actions taken by police in the period prior to the collision. Our investigators have been at scene and are continuing to make enquiries. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sympathies to the family and friends of the woman who died. The Ballysillan Road remains closed in both directions following the incident. Just been to the scene of a serious accident on the Ballysillan Road. The road will be closed from Bilston Road and Oldpark Road for some time.@NorthBelfastDUP pic.twitter.com/nftAJSxxm8 William Humphrey MLA (@WmHumphreyDUP) April 19, 2018 The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said one person was taken to hospital via air ambulance. "One emergency ambulance crew and one officer attended the incident. The charity air ambulance was also dispatched to the scene," a spokesperson said. "Following assessment and treatment at the scene by paramedics, one patient is being conveyed to the Royal Victoria Hospital." Local DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst said that he had been informed by reliable sources that a woman passed away. "I am sickened to the pit of my stomach that a local woman has been killed," he said. Police said the crash involved a suspected stolen vehicle and urged the public to avoid the area. Diversions are currently in place at Bilston Road and Oldpark Road. One man has been arrested at scene of serious road traffic collision at Ballysillan Road, north Belfast, involving suspected stolen vehicle. The road remains closed at this time. NI Road Policing and Safety (@NIRoadPolicing) April 19, 2018 Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly extended condolences to the family and friends of the local woman. The community was shocked to hear of the tragic death which occurred in the Ballysillan Road area of North Belfast," he said. This is the second tragedy to occur in North Belfast in just over twelve hours. I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of the woman killed and ask anyone who may have been in the vicinity at the time of the incident to come forward with that information. Police seal off the Ballysillan Road in Belfast after a serious crash. It is believed a hit and run driver in a stolen car hit a person. Police are at the scene. Pic: Alan Lewis - PhotopressBelfast.co.uk The PSNI has disclosed information about a north Belfast crash that caused the death of a female pedestrian. Investigators from the Police Ombudsmans Office earlier confirmed it is investigating the circumstances leading up to the fatal collision which happened on the Ballysillan Road in Belfast on Thursday morning. A 39-year-old man arrested at the scene remains in custody at Musgrave PSNI station for questioning. Superintendent Melanie Jones said: "Firstly, I would like to offer our sincere condolences to the womans family." Police first received a report just after 8am on Thursday morning of an Audi A4 car having been stolen from a house in the Cavehill Road area of Belfast. Believing the car was still in north Belfast, police were deployed to search for it. Shortly after 10.40am the car was seen by the police helicopter, which followed it towards Fortwilliam where it exited onto the Shore Road. Superintendent Jones said: As the car then travelled onto the Antrim road, in line with procedure designed to bring a vehicle to a controlled stop, other trained officers deployed a stinger device; however, the driver of the stolen vehicle failed to stop. After following at a distance, due to concerns about the dangerous manner in which the stolen car was being driven, specially trained police officers ended their pursuit, handing over to the police helicopter. "As the stolen car travelled along the Ballysillan Road, it collided with a vehicle, before then colliding with and killing a female pedestrian. "A 39-year-old man was arrested at the scene and has been taken to Musgrave PSNI station for questioning." Superintendent Jones added the Police Ombudsman investigation was normal procedure and it would be fully cooperating. A spokesman for the Ombudsman Office said: The PSNI informed us that its officers had been involved in a pursuit of a vehicle involved in the collision. A stinger device is also believed to have been used by police. We are now investigating the actions taken by police in the period prior to the collision. Our investigators have been at scene and are continuing to make enquiries. I would like to take this opportunity to express our sympathies to the family and friends of the woman who died. The Ballysillan Road remains closed in both directions following the incident. Just been to the scene of a serious accident on the Ballysillan Road. The road will be closed from Bilston Road and Oldpark Road for some time.@NorthBelfastDUP pic.twitter.com/nftAJSxxm8 William Humphrey MLA (@WmHumphreyDUP) April 19, 2018 The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service said one person was taken to hospital via air ambulance. "One emergency ambulance crew and one officer attended the incident. The charity air ambulance was also dispatched to the scene," a spokesperson said. "Following assessment and treatment at the scene by paramedics, one patient is being conveyed to the Royal Victoria Hospital." Local DUP councillor Dale Pankhurst said that he had been informed by reliable sources that a woman passed away. "I am sickened to the pit of my stomach that a local woman has been killed," he said. Police said the crash involved a suspected stolen vehicle and urged the public to avoid the area. Diversions are currently in place at Bilston Road and Oldpark Road. One man has been arrested at scene of serious road traffic collision at Ballysillan Road, north Belfast, involving suspected stolen vehicle. The road remains closed at this time. NI Road Policing and Safety (@NIRoadPolicing) April 19, 2018 Sinn Fein North Belfast MLA Gerry Kelly extended condolences to the family and friends of the local woman. The community was shocked to hear of the tragic death which occurred in the Ballysillan Road area of North Belfast," he said. This is the second tragedy to occur in North Belfast in just over twelve hours. I want to extend my condolences to the family and friends of the woman killed and ask anyone who may have been in the vicinity at the time of the incident to come forward with that information. Three of the 'Hooded Men' at Belfast High Court on Wednesday. Picture: Alan Lewis Police must investigate potentially criminal decisions taken by British Government ministers over the alleged torture of 14 men during internment in Northern Ireland, the Court of Appeal heard on Wednesday. Lawyers for the so-called Hooded Men claimed a review into the deep interrogation methods deployed against them 47 years ago had been too narrow. The Police Service of Northern Ireland is challenging a previous ruling that its decision to end preliminary inquiries into their treatment was seriously flawed and should be quashed. Counsel for the Chief Constable argued that no new evidence has emerged which would trigger a legal obligation to further probe and seek the prosecution of anyone who perpetrated offences. But Hugh Southey QC, representing surviving members of the group, insisted there is a continuing need to investigate. He told the three appeal judges: "There is, we would argue, a basis for believing that specific government ministers took a decision which, while they may or may not have been aware of its legality, is arguably a criminal decision." The Hooded Men brought the original proceedings against the Chief Constable, Secretary of State and the Department of Justice after allegations of ministerial involvement emerged in a 2014 television documentary. They argued the authorities have failed to comply with duties under the European Convention on Human Rights to properly probe and order a full inquiry into what happened to them while interned at British Army facilities in Ballykelly, Co Derry. Five techniques were used against the men while they were held without trial: being hooded, made to stand spread-eagled in a stress position against a wall and beaten if they fell; forced to listen to constant loud static noise; and deprived of sleep, food and water. Amid claims the men's treatment was sanctioned by the State, the court heard former British Prime Minister Edward Heath was involved in the decision making process. Stormont's Prime Minister at the time, Brian Faulkner, was also personally briefed on the deployment of the techniques, according to their case. RUC Special Branch officers were said to have been taught the methods by soldiers but sought assurances of immunity from prosecution before carrying them out. Counsel for the Chief Constable and the Government has insisted, however, that a former British minister who alleged predecessors had authorised torture in Northern Ireland later corrected his assessment. The claim made by Merlyn Rees in a newly discovered memo is central to the case. In 1977 Mr Rees, then Home Secretary, sent a letter to Prime Minister James Callaghan setting out his views on procedures deployed against the men, the court heard. In the memo he states it was his view that "the decision to use methods of torture in Northern Ireland in 1971/72 was taken by ministers - in particular Lord Carrington, then Secretary of State for Defence". The document, uncovered from the National Archives in London, featured in an RTE documentary in 2014 and led to questions being raised at the Northern Ireland Policing Board. Within weeks, however, Mr Rees' assessment of the men's treatment was said to have been modified to having faced deep interrogation. It was also stressed that in 1978 the European Court of Human Rights held the techniques constituted inhuman and degrading treatment - but fell short of torture. The Chief Constable's legal team contended that there had been a series of investigations into the deep interrogation stretching back to 1971, with no new facts having since emerged. But Mr Southey claimed more needed to be done to fulfil a pledge made to the Policing Board to investigate crime. "What actually happened was a very narrow review... the report just focuses on whether torture had been authorised," he said. He was asked by Lord Chief Justice Sir Declan Morgan if the disclosure of the identity of the ministers allegedly involved in the documents after 40 years could constitute the legally required new information. Mr Southey replied: "Our position would be yes, it does." The appeal continues. Murder victim Mark Lamonts son Karl (centre) speaks on behalf of his family outside Belfast Crown Court yesterday after seeing his fathers killer, Richard Dalzell, jailed The son of a man who died after a "senseless assault" has said his father's killer should never be released from jail. Richard Dalzell was sentenced to 12 years in prison yesterday for the murder of Mark Lamont in Coleraine. A court heard how the killer, a window cleaner from Co Down, "repeatedly stamped" on his victim's head, later claiming it was self-defence. Mr Lamont was attacked at an address in the Ballycastle Road area of Coleraine in the early hours of September 26, 2016. The 54-year-old, from Captain Street Lower in the town, died in hospital two weeks later. Dalzell (37), from Whinpark Road in Newtownards, pleaded guilty to murder shortly before the trial was due to start. Sentencing him at Belfast Crown Court, Mr Justice Colton said the attack was "a particularly serious assault that went beyond that which could be considered self-defence or a fight for which there was legitimate justification". He added: "The assault is aggravated by the fact that the victim was clearly vulnerable as he was lying on the ground when his head was stamped upon repeatedly". Speaking afterwards, Mr Lamont's son, Karl, said Dalzell should never be released. "No sentence will bring my dad back. In my opinion, life should mean life," he said. Mr Lamont stressed that his family missed the victim every day, explaining: "No sentence will take away the pain and the hurt this family has suffered over the past 18 months. It's now time to pick things up and move on as a family". A senior PSNI detective said the murder also had a traumatic impact on Mr Lamont's partner. Detective Chief Inspector John Caldwell added: "Several members of Mr Lamont's family have shared how his death has affected them - from Mark's 35-year-old son, Karl, who has disturbing recollections of his father's last days, to his teenage son, who was studying for exams when his father was murdered. Mark's partner, Brenda, the mother of his four-year-old son, revealed how hard it was to watch as he lay in hospital in the days before he died. "She said, 'The memory of him lying in a lifeless state haunts me every night when I try to sleep'." Sentencing Dalzell, Mr Justice Colton accepted there were a number of mitigating factors - he acted initially in self-defence after being provoked, and the initial fight was spontaneous, not premeditated. But he said these factors had to be judged in the context of what was "a serious, sustained and senseless assault upon a victim who was in a vulnerable position". He stressed the crimes were further aggravated by fleeing the scene to evade police. Mr Justice Colton said the victim impact reports into the "traumatic and unnecessary death" should make the defendant understand the "extent of the damage" and hurt that he had caused. Dalzell, who smiled and waved to friends in a packed public gallery during the hearing, claimed he had "got the better" of Mr Lamont, one of three hooded men who initially walked in on him and his girlfriend. The father-of-three was found lying in a pool of blood outside the woman's Ballycastle Road home in the early hours of September 26, 2016. He never regained consciousness and died on October 11. The previous day, Dalzell and the woman had been drinking, but it was punctuated with "verbal exchanges" with Mr Lamont and two of his friends - one had been in a previous relationship with the woman. Having left the bar still arguing, Dalzell and the woman returned to her home. But while "engaging in sexual intercourse", they were confronted by a masked and hooded Mr Lamont and friends. They left, but Mr Lamont returned, after which he was attacked. When he later gave himself up to police, Dalzell claimed had been challenged a fight but he wasn't "going to let myself get hit ... I won, I got the better of him ... we had a fight, he lost". Arlene Foster has dismissed suggestions cost controls were not introduced in to the lucrative RHI scheme because it was benefiting DUP voters. The DUP leader, giving her fourth day of evidence before the RHI inquiry, also said she was surprised that her special adviser, Dr Andrew Crawford, had sent confidential government documents showing the scheme was going to end to his cousin. Read More Mrs Foster, as enterprise minister, was responsible for the ill-fated scheme which exposed Stormont to a huge overspend by paying out more in subsidies than it cost to buy fuel. David Scoffield, senior counsel to the inquiry, said it would be impossible for many people to believe, given the DUPs links to the farming community, that she would not have picked up any rumbling that the scheme was too good to be true. Mrs Foster replied: I certainly didnt pick up anything of that nature because if I had I would have raised it, not only with my special adviser, but with my officials as well. "Why in heavens name would I want to be associated with a scheme that was overcompensating and doing what we now know what it was doing. It is not something I would have wanted to be associated with, I can assure you. "I have a record in government of trying to deliver but not to do so in a way that this scheme worked out and of course this scheme is a huge regret for me in my political life. Expand Close David Scoffield QC speaks at the inquiry / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp David Scoffield QC speaks at the inquiry Mr Scoffield said that many members of the public who are cynical about the scheme may suggest Mrs Foster did not intervene to introduce cost controls because those who benefited from the scheme may have been DUP voters. Mrs Foster said: I dont accept that at all. I think if you look at the recipients of the RHI scheme they are wide and varied and across all communities in Northern Ireland and they are certainly not just restricted to supporters of the Democratic Unionist Party. The DUP leader also said she was not aware that her adviser, Dr Andrew Crawford, had sent documents relating to the scheme to his cousin. I certainly didnt have any knowledge of it at the time, she said. I do acknowledge that Andrew has accepted it was the wrong thing to do, it was inappropriate and he has apologised and I recognise that. It is quite clearly something that he should not have been engaged in at that time. Or indeed at any time. Mrs Foster said that if Dr Crawford had told her what he had done, she would have referred him to then permanent secretary David Sterling before referring him to DUP party officers. Expand Close Dr Andrew Crawford gives evidence at the inquiry PA / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dr Andrew Crawford gives evidence at the inquiry Mr Scoffield asked Mrs Foster that if, given the fact Dr Crawford still works for the DUP, this showed the party does not take what he did seriously. She replied: He is not working for me directly. He is conducting some research in terms of Brexit for our member of the European Parliament. It is very much a backroom role. He is using his expertise in relation to that. Its not a full-time job by any means. I think given everything that happened in late 2016 early 2017, and I hear very clearly what you are asking me around the emails and that was inappropriate, it was disappointing from my point of view, but I dont think that should bar a person from having part-time research employment for ever and a day and I am quite sure he has learnt his lesson in relation to that. She added: For a man who never sought the media spotlight, he has been greatly thrown into the media spotlight and has suffered as a result of that. Expand Close Inquiry chairman: Sir Patrick Coghlin / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Inquiry chairman: Sir Patrick Coghlin Sir Patrick Coghlin, chair of the inquiry, replied: It is hardly surprising, with what happened, that the media took an interest in that. Mrs Foster added: One doesnt expect some of the more outrageous commentary around it. The inquiry heard that Janette OHagan, who runs an energy-efficiency firm, had contacted Department of Enterprise, Trade and Investment (DETI) as early as August 2013 to express her concern that the way the RHI was set up was encouraging participants to burn as much fuel as possible. Mrs Foster did not meet Ms OHagan but DETI officials did, but her concerns were dismissed. The former first minister said: I dont think she [Ms OHagan] was believed in terms of the fact that people would just have put in an installation to get a subsidy. I dont think that it was believed within the department. As a result of that her meeting was not taken as seriously as it should have been. The inquiry heard Ms OHagan was upset and frustrated by how the DUP dealt with press queries about the scandal when the story broke in December 2016. One of the emails that Ms OHagan sent to Mrs Foster was released by the DUP at this time. Mrs Foster said: Looking at this in the cold light of day, one can understand why Ms OHagan would be upset at that time and indeed now. This was a storm that was going on at the time and there was a lot of firefighting going on to try and deal with the allegations that were being made around the RHI scheme and that is where this all comes from. People had made allegations, the deputy leader was trying to deal with those allegations, wrongly as it turned out. Mrs Foster agreed that Ms OHagan was caught in the political crossfire when the news broke about RHI. Certainly, as party leader, I am sorry that Ms OHagan got caught up in the middle of all this, Mrs Foster added. Nicola Sturgeon refused to name the consultant who met Cambridge Analytica before the 2016 Holyrood elections (Jane Barlow/PA) A consultant for the SNP met the controversial data firm Cambridge Analytica in the run up to the last Holyrood elections, the First Minister has revealed. But Nicola Sturgeon stressed while the meeting took place in February 2016 the fundamental point was the company had not done any work for her party or the Scottish Government. Ms Sturgeon said: The SNP has never worked with Cambridge Analytica, weve never hired them, weve never paid them any money to do any work for us. She hit out after coming under pressure from Tory leader Ruth Davidson over the meeting, with the Conservative claiming it looks pretty shifty the SNP has not fully answered opposition questions on the matter. Raising the issue at First Ministers Questions at the Scottish Parliament, Ms Davidson demanded to know when exactly the meeting took place, where it was held, and who was the consultant representing the SNP. These are very simple questions to someone who is committed to full transparency, the Tory leader said. FM: "The SNP has never worked with Cambridge Analytica and neither has the Scottish Government. I don't think the Conservatives or the UK government can say the same thing." #FMQs The SNP (@theSNP) April 19, 2018 Ms Sturgeon revealed the meeting took place in February 2016 but she refused to name the consultant who represented the SNP in case it sparked a witch hunt. The First Minister insisted: I am not going to name somebody who was working for the SNP as a consultant, somebody who has done nothing wrong. And during noisy exhanges in Holyrood the SNP leader also claimed it was the Conservative Party mired in links to Cambridge Analytica. The company has been under fire over the use of Facebook users personal data in Donald Trumps race for the US presidency. Earlier this week Brittany Kaiser, who was the firms business development director revealed that while they had not done any work for the SNP there had been pitches and negotiations at meetings in London and Edinburgh. In response an SNP spokesman said an external consultant had had one meeting in London and judged the firm to be a bunch of cowboys with no work having ever been carried out by Cambridge Analytica for the party. Ms Davidson said: When it comes to dealings that others have had with Cambridge Analytica, the First Minister and her party have spent weeks demanding full transparency. Yet when it comes to the SNP it took a whistleblower giving evidence in a parliamentary committee before facts even began to be dragged out into the open. She stated: Now I know the SNP have raised sanctimony to an art form but what stinks here is the reek of hypocrisy. The SNP has raised sanctimony to an art form, but what stinks here is the reek of their hypocrisy. You simply can't trust a word they say.#FMQs pic.twitter.com/IPIsW7BNdo Scottish Conservatives (@ScotTories) April 19, 2018 But the SNP leader hit back, claiming the links between the Conservatives and Cambridge Analytica and its parent company SCL are many and legion. She went on to challenge Ms Davidson to say if any of the reported dealings between either the UK Conservative Party or the UK Government and Cambridge Analytica were untrue. SNP backbencher George Adam has also now written to the Scottish Conservative leader to demand which reports she disputes. He said: During First Ministers Questions you very carefully qualified your claim that your party hadnt had any communication with Cambridge Analytica referring only to the Scottish Tories, rather than the parent organisation. As you have demanded transparency from others, will you now confirm whether your party, at any level and not just the Edinburgh office have met with, hired or in any capacity employed Cambridge Analytica? Afterwards Labour MSP Neil Findlay later said the First Minister had revealed today that the SNP met with this firm in February 2016, months before the Holyrood elections. He added: Only in the world of the SNP could refusing to answer who was at the meeting and what was discussed could possibly be considered transparent. Meghan Markle and Prince Harry have taken on Commonwealth duties (Yui Mok/PA) Prince Harry and Meghan Markle are to attend a Womens Empowerment reception, hosted by Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson. The event, part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, brings together charities and organisations working to promote global gender equality through girls education. The couple now have exactly one month to go before they wed on May 19. Expand Close Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are joining Boris Johnson at the Women's Empowerment reception (Yui Mok/PA) PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Meghan Markle and Prince Harry are joining Boris Johnson at the Women's Empowerment reception (Yui Mok/PA) Mr Johnson will launch his Platform for Girls Education, a group of 12 influential figures from across the Commonwealth who will drive forward the political momentum on girls education. More than 130 million girls around the world are not in school and girls in conflict zones are twice as likely to be out of school compared to boys. Im committed to getting every girl to school, including in conflict zones and emergencies. Delighted to speak yesterday @GlblCtznUK event. #UK will give 212m to girls' education in #ourCommonwealth #LeaveNoGirlBehind pic.twitter.com/4dBmih5rib Boris Johnson (@BorisJohnson) April 18, 2018 American former actress Ms Markle is known for her commitment to gender equality and empowering women, previously being a Womens Advocate for the UN. When she was 11, she persuaded a soap manufacturer to alter an advert after she wrote a letter to then first lady Hillary Clinton complaining that it implied women belonged in the kitchen. Ms Markle also visited the Myna Mahila Foundation in India last year, and wrote about its work to combat period poverty, highlighting how the schooling of young women in India is disrupted when they are menstruating. Harry and Ms Markle have nominated the organisation as one of the seven charities well-wishers could donate to, rather than buying them wedding gifts. Next up is @MynaMahila, which empowers women in Mumbai's slums by providing them with a trusted network, stable employment & the chance to grow as individuals & businesswomen, and breaks taboos around menstrual hygiene. https://t.co/suzul1y9cw pic.twitter.com/eIG3GP6bW7 The Duke and Duchess of Cambridge (@KensingtonRoyal) April 9, 2018 Charities at the reception will include the Malala Fund, Plan International, the Varkey Foundation and Code Camp. Meghan Markle highlighted the rippling effect of female empowerment as she and Prince Harry backed a campaign to get some of the worlds poorest girls into education. With a month to go until their royal wedding, the American former actress and Harry were continuing their Commonwealth duties in London. They joined Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson at a Womens Empowerment reception, where Mr Johnson launched his Platform for Girls Education. Expand Close Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting The campaign calls on global leaders to sign up to ensuring 12 years of quality education to girls missing out on schooling. The event formed part of the Commonwealth Heads of Government meeting being staged in London and Windsor this week. Hope, an 18-year-old from Kenya who campaigns on achieving equal rights for girls, said Ms Markle spoke to her about the long-lasting effect of getting girls into education. Expand Close Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Meghan Markle was talking about how it is a rippling effect when you empower girls, they empower the next generation, she said. The Suits star is known for her commitment to gender equality, previously being a Womens Advocate for the UN. She was dressed in a chic black fitted cowl-neck belted Jackie O cocktail dress by Black Halo and stylish stilettos Aquazzura Milano cutout suede pumps. Her hair was styled in a relaxed up-do. Expand Close Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting PA Wire/PA Images / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting Harry praised the campaign, telling guests: What youre doing is absolutely amazing. He added: It starts from here. You have already done amazing stuff. Now you have to energise. Britain is providing 212m in UK aid money to help one million vulnerable girls across the Commonwealth to receive 12 years of quality education by 2030. More than 130 million girls around the world are not in school and girls in conflict zones are twice as likely to be out of school compared to boys. The prince and Ms Markle were introduced to Ziauddin Yousafzai, co-founder of the Malala Fund and the father of Malala Yousafzai who was shot in the head by militants for daring to go to school in north-west Pakistan. Education activist Kiki James, a British-Nigerian Malala Fund champion, asked Harry for a fist bump and also managed to persuade the prince and Ms Markle to pose for a picture with her, taken by a colleague. I asked him to fist bump. He did it twice and he did it perfectly, she said. Mr Johnson, in a speech after the couple had left, called for an end to sexism surrounding education. Im here to appeal to all the corpulent, middle aged, suited men, in the world, of whom there are quite a few, very powerful, a lot of them at this summit today, he said. Im here to appeal to them to end this sexism. Mr Johnson congratulated Harry and Ms Markle on their wedding, telling guests: Shouldnt we all raise a glass to them for their impending wedding? Doctors in Pakistan have come across an extremely rare case of a tiny fingernail growing on top of another. It was discovered after a 28-year-old man walked into hospital complaining about the discomfort and pain it was causing his middle finger. The patient, who had not suffered any trauma to the finger and did not have a family history of the accessory nail, also experienced psychological distress and was concerned about the way it looked. Following an X-ray which did not reveal anything unusual, surgeons were able to remove the growth under a local anaesthetic. A specialist found the growth was made of keratin the main protein which makes up our hair and nails. Researchers say cases of double nails on the hand have not been reported before, although there have been four previous reports of such a growth in toenails. The article was published in the International Journal of Surgery Open. DUP leader and former Enterprise Minister Arlene Foster giving evidence at the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry yesterday Civil servants are not individuals who seek the limelight. By their very nature, they loathe controversy. They aim to perform their job anonymously and quietly from the side of the pitch. Northern Ireland's top civil servant, David Sterling, will hate the fact that he has hit the headlines. And there are no signs of that changing while the Renewable Heat Incentive (RHI) inquiry is still running. But even worse for Mr Sterling is that he appears to be on a collision course with DUP leader Arlene Foster. When giving evidence to the inquiry yesterday, she dismissed as "nonsense" his claim that notes of ministerial meetings were not taken due to concerns from the DUP and Sinn Fein about Freedom of Information requests. The DUP leader said she wasn't aware of any lapse in the practice of note-taking at ministerial meetings. She said that she found the idea of that "shocking, frankly". Mrs Foster's evidence is surely a direct and unparalleled challenge to the head of the Civil Service. There is more than recent history - albeit very important history - at stake here. A fresh round of talks to restore the Stormont institutions is inevitable later this year. If they succeed and the executive gets back up and running, Mrs Foster will be First Minister again. After such a clash of evidence with Mr Sterling at the RHI inquiry, it is very hard to see how the pair of them can rebuild the constructive, positive working relationship they enjoyed in preceding years. There are wider consequences too. Without an overhaul, the general atmosphere between politicians and civil servants at Stormont will in future surely be one of unease in light of what has transpired at the inquiry. No matter who is telling the truth, no one comes out of this mess looking good. If a culture existed which was hostile to officials taking minutes, it was up to them to challenge that and keep a record regardless. Mrs Foster said she wasn't aware that minutes weren't being taken. In evidence earlier this week, her former special advisor Dr Andrew Crawford said notes were taken at every meeting involving a minister he attended. "I don't know what (civil servants) were putting in their notebooks - maybe they were doing their Tesco shopping for that afternoon," he stated. But minutes clearly weren't being presented after meetings. So why didn't the DUP query that? At the very least, the evidence at this inquiry seriously challenges the DUP's reputation for competency. The acknowledgements by Mrs Foster that she hadn't read documents and didn't know the overall cost of the RHI scheme when she signed off on it certainly won't finish her political career but they do raise questions about her ability to operate at ministerial level. In the past, even the DUP's most stringent critics would acknowledge that it was extremely capable and meticulous. That image is under threat. While the party's ability at winning elections and negotiating are beyond dispute, its governmental skills certainly now are not. Questions will also be asked as to why Dr Crawford is still working for the DUP despite admitting that he sent a confidential RHI document to his poultry farmer cousin. Ordinary people will find the whole RHI scenario preposterous and their faith in devolution will be further weakened. At meetings of sporting and community organisations up and down the country, where business far less substantial is discussed, records are consistently kept and one of the first items on the agenda of a meeting is the minutes of the last one. Yet at Stormont there are no minutes of meetings at which decisions were being made involving vast amounts of public money. That alone is scandalous. In the latest example at the weekend, DUP leader Arlene Foster and party colleague Carla Lockhart were the victims of vicious comments after they posted a picture of them together as a social event Social media as it was intended to be used is a very useful tool. It is a great way for people to keep in touch instantly, no matter where they are in the world, and there have been many examples of people being able to summon help in times of distress. But the dark side of the technology is also prevalent. In the latest example at the weekend, DUP leader Arlene Foster and party colleague Carla Lockhart were the victims of vicious comments after they posted a picture of them together as a social event. Sadly, this is not an isolated example. As Carla wrote movingly in this newspaper earlier this week she expects some people to disagree strongly on policy matters but when the criticism becomes personal it crosses the line. Nigel Dodds the party's deputy leader rightly condemned what he called the wild west culture of anything goes on social media. In the House of Commons he called for steps to be taken to bring social media platforms to account when postings go beyond what any reasonable person would call fair comment. That is the problem with social media. It gives a platform to people who hold all kinds of extreme views which pay no heed to decency, never mind the laws of libel. Those who work in the public eye, like our politicians, are often the chosen target. What was unusual in the trolling of Carla was that she was able to identify some of her abusers. She wondered if they behaved in such a revolting manner in their normal lives or if they took on a different persona when getting behind a keyboard. Sometimes the abuse can take even more sinister turns. There have been numerous incidents of young people taking their own lives as a result of cyber bullying, and a Tyrone teenager took his own life when he was tricked into sending explicit photographs to an online groomer who then blackmailed him. Social media is a relatively new phenomenon and new platforms come online very regularly. So far it has appeared impossible to moderate, edit or delete abusive postings before the damage is done. The rush has been to bring the technology to the public rather than find a way to ensure that it is not used for malicious purposes. The exact status of those who control the platforms is open to debate and makes bringing them to account over content difficult. New legislation is needed for the law to catch up with the technology. Yet again, a prominent unionist - in this case Mike Nesbitt - is seeming to backtrack after merely discussing the idea of a united Ireland. Some unionist leaders have compromised, which, many forget, is what politics is for. Of course, subsequently their political stage began collapsing, but this state of affairs in unionism may not last for ever. "Not an inch" is a unionist clarion call, but it might not serve the parties forever. Because of Brexit and of local issues, the political arena is changing rapidly, perhaps as rapidly as in 1972, when the old unionist majority Stormont parliament was suddenly demolished - by a Conservative UK Government, some have forgotten. That memory should have been jogged when another Conservative prime minister proposed cutting Northern Ireland loose during Brexit negotiations by agreeing, albeit momentarily, to an economic border in the Irish Sea. Some years ago, I wrote a history of the 1974 UWC strike, which ended with the collapse of the first power-sharing Stormont administration under unionist Brian Faulkner. In that book, I defined unionism as seeking to maintain the British connection and, in parallel, to protect a Protestant way of life. I wondered whether these aims would ultimately remain compatible, because during the strike, there was enmity from Westminster towards unionism, loyalism in particular. This manifested itself in the nationwide broadcast speech by Labour Prime Minister Harold Wilson, during the strike, in which he rounded upon the loyalists, calling them "spongers" on the British. (You can watch this on YouTube.) There is evidence that the British public do not believe that Northern Ireland is as British as Yorkshire, which is why a border down the Irish Sea surfaced to the horror of the DUP. They really should not have been surprised. That distancing undercurrent has been running beneath the British body politic for a long time, perhaps since partition. The exasperation with Northern Ireland politics was a traceable thread running through many of the speeches commemorating the anniversary of the Belfast Agreement. The suspicion must be that, given a face-saving opportunity, Britain might break free. Unionism should at least prepare for this eventuality, but seems systemically forbidden to brainstorm strategically. The Boers in South Africa thought that way until too late to salvage much. However, at the beginning of the Troubles, no less a person than Ian Paisley saw what might be looming one day. In Opposition in the early 1970s, Harold Wilson - then Labour leader - appalled unionists by openly espousing Irish unity. The governing Conservatives were not best pleased with the situation either. This was the context of what follows. A fascinating meeting took place throughout much of the night of Thursday, November 25, 1971 in Belfast's Europa Hotel. Ian Paisley was in the company of Desmond Boal, his close advisor, Henry Kelly of the Irish Times, Vincent Browne of the now-defunct Irish Press and Liam Hourican of RTE. It is documented, in the first definitive biography of Paisley, written in 1986 by authoritative journalists Ed Moloney and Andy Pollak. Far into that night, Paisley eventually gave Liam Hourican of RTE an interview, in which he was asked that, if the Republic ditched the 1937 constitution (meaning the sovereignty claim over Northern Ireland) and changed certain other laws, whether he would he consider the prospect of being part of a united Ireland. He replied, to the astonishment of the journalists, that such a situation would present an "entirely different set of circumstances". In the Irish Press on November 29, 1971, Paisley was even more specific. He said: "If the people in the south really want the Protestants of the north to join them in a united Ireland, then they should scrap entirely the 1937 constitution and ensure that the Roman Catholic hierarchy could no longer exercise an improper influence in politics. If this were done, then the Protestant people would take a different view ..." He went on to say that this was not going to happen. But clearly he had, indeed, given the question consideration. Reaction was interesting. Daithi O Conaill, then leader of the Provisional IRA, said that Paisley and republicans were allies in the cause of a new Ireland. Fianna Fail finance minister George Colley invited Paisley to help draft a new Irish constitution. The Irish Times postulated that, one day, Paisley might sit in the Dail. Brian Faulkner, Northern Ireland premier, branded him the new darling of the republican Press and the UDA dissociated itself. The DUP leader retreated immediately. He had moved too far ahead and the episode was quietly airbrushed out of DUP history. This was a distant hinterland to Paisley becoming First Minister in close association with Martin McGuinness. Paisley could not have foreseen Brexit, but he may very well have been aware that, somehow, the connection with Britain was not as secure as many believed. He was thinking strategically, but he, too, landed in trouble for doing so. There remain many in the Westminster Establishment who, fairly or not, partly blame the intransigence of unionists for provoking a 30-year conflict, which tarnished the name of the UK in Europe, in the United States and beyond. Unfortunately, it remains a heresy to articulate within unionism that the protection that the unionists seek and the peace they desperately need could be negotiated under the Irish tricolour and not the Union flag. It has been forgotten that orange was deliberately incorporated as one of the colours of the Irish tricolour. If unionists want a "Protestant parliament for a Protestant people", they could profitably ask for it from those in Dublin, who, in the past, fashioned for themselves a "Catholic parliament for a Catholic people". London will never again grant majority rule, but Dublin could. The era of religious politics has ended in Dublin. The constitutional claim is gone. Paisley's "entirely different set of circumstances" have now come about. Perhaps some unionists are becoming aware of that. Don Anderson is the author of 14 May Days: The Inside Story of the Loyalist Strike of 1974 (Dublin: Gill and Macmillan, 1994) The Philippine police chief who spearheaded President Rodrigo Dutertes war on drugs that has left thousands dead stepped down on Thursday amid calls for accountability from human rights groups. Director General Ronald Dela Rosa, Dutertes most-loyal police aide, retired and was replaced by Oscar Albayalde, formerly in charge of police operations in metropolitan Manila, where a majority of the more than 4,000 drug-related killings have taken place. In his acceptance speech, Albayalde praised Dela Rosas remarkable accomplishments and vowed to carry on with the anti-drug campaign. We will not relent on our war against illegal drugs and other forms of criminality. The drug menace, we must all understand, is a worldwide phenomenon, Albayalde said. We will help and support each other to fight and win this war. The nations new police chief commended his predecessor for the arrests of thousands of drug personalities and credited dela Rosa for neutralizing drug suspects a term that means defeating or killing them. In Metro Manila, Albayalde was replaced by Camilo Cascolan, a police commander who had rolled out Double Barrel a controversial project and key feature of the drug war that includes a system known in the Philippines as Tokhang. Tokhang is a combination of two Filipino words that mean to knock and plead, where policemen knock on a suspected drug addicts home and convince him to undergo rehabilitation. It may have been well-intentioned, but the term has become synonymous with killing because suspects almost always end up dead, rights groups say. Enthusiastic supporter Dela Rosa, whom Duterte said would head the Bureau of Corrections after retiring from the police force, is leaving behind a law-enforcement agency with a tarnished human rights record. This included the killing of a South Korean national arrested on a false drug charge that almost derailed the anti-drug campaign. In the face of criticism, Dela Rosa expressed his unshakable loyalty to Duterte, who recently cut ties with the International Criminal Court (ICC) after The Hague-based body said it was launching a preliminary examination into complaints about numerous deaths connected to the drug war. Dela Rosa should be held accountable over the thousands of deaths under his watch as police chief, said Carlos Conde, the Philippine researcher of the New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW). As police chief, Dela Rosa deployed the forces that have waged President Rodrigo Dutertes murderous war on drugs, Conde said in a statement issued Wednesday. That campaign has targeted mainly urban slum dwellers and resulted in the deaths of more than 12,000 men, women and children by police and police-backed vigilantes. He said Dela Rosa was an enthusiastic supporter of the deadly campaign. But Duterte, who witnessed the change of command at the headquarters of police in Manila, said the drug war would continue until his last day in office in 2022. How could I face the people if the drugs are being sold everywhere? It cannot happen, Duterte said. He told the policemen he would protect and defend them in case they killed drug couriers or addicts in the course of doing their jobs. Conde said the death toll cited by police reflected a lower toll than the actual figures that rights groups have monitored. HRW research found that many of the killings had been summary executions in which police or their agents allegedly planted weapons and drugs on bodies and then claimed the victims had fought back. No one has been held to account for these killings, Conde said. The ICCs preliminary proceedings were based on a complaint by two former police officers who claimed they were members of Dutertes Davao Death Squad, a vigilante group allegedly responsible for dozens of summary executions carried out when the president was mayor of the southern city of Davao. The duo claimed that Duterte took the strategy nationwide when he became president. Saying the court had no jurisdiction even to conduct a preliminary investigation, Duterte warned the ICC against continuing with its probe and threatened to arrest its lead prosecutor if she visited Manila. These developments suggest that sooner or later, Dela Rosa may be held to account for the bloody campaign he so zealously endorsed, Conde said. But Dela Rosa, reacting to Condes statements, urged HRW to file a case against him and prove its allegation of police abuses. They should stop making noise, he said. If they have the evidence and they have the case, file the case. Prime Minister Theresa May, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the meeting in UK on 18 April agreed to step up the health partnership between the UK and India. The United Kingdom and India will share research, knowledge and technology in areas of anti-microbial resistance, low cost health products and high yield crops. Prime Minister Theresa May, and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, at the meeting in UK on 18 April agreed to step up the health partnership between the UK and India. The UK-India Statement of Intent on Partnership for Cooperation in Third Countries will be extended, with the aim of improving the health and wealth of both countries. Health research will be expanded in the areas of: anti-microbial resistance low cost health products high yield crops The UK government will invest 1 million in an Artificial Intelligence (AI) project that will support Indias national health programmes. UK-based companies with innovative healthcare technologies will be able to participate in this project, which will generate around 50 million of business for the UKs digital health industry. There are also plans to develop up to 5,000 diagnostic centres in India using NHS expertise, equipment and suppliers. Eleven new medicities are already being developed in India, with related: hospitals nursing and medical colleges research and innovation centres The medicities programme is run by the Indo UK Institute of Health (IUIH) in partnership with leading UK hospitals, the first of which is Kings College Hospital. Secretary of State for Health and Social Care Jeremy Hunt said: I am proud that our NHS will be used as an example of gold standard healthcare in India it is only right that our world-leading knowledge and expertise is shared across the globe. Global disease, infection and antimicrobial resistance are real threats to us at home and abroad this partnership will enable us to tackle 21st century threats together." Health Minister Steve Brine said: Health expertise and research is a global issue if we act alone in tackling virulent diseases and long term health threats, we will fail. This partnership between Britain and India represents a firm trajectory for healthcare into the modern world. Through new research, shared expertise and attention to ground-breaking technologies, both nations can continue to lead the world in health and care. Heineken shares fell by as much as 2% as the Dutch brewing giant counted the cost on its sales of severe weather conditions in Europe during the first quarter of the year. In a trading update, Heineken said that in its first-quarter, sales volumes in Europe fell by 1.7%, year-on-year, as the benefits of an earlier Easter holiday were offset by the severe cold weather that gripped much of north-western Europe. However, the worlds second-largest brewer said overall beer sales grew by 4.3%, year-on-year, in the three months to the end of March, with strong performances in Asia and the Americas countering the weakness in Europe. Performance in the first quarter was in line with expectations, with volume growth benefiting from an earlier timing of Easter this year and a slow start last year. The Heineken brand grew by 8.1% and we saw continued growth momentum in key markets around the world, said group chief executive and chairman, Jean-Francois van Boxmeer. Our full-year guidance remains unchanged, he added. Despite that, shares in the drinks group, which is behind such brands as Amstel, Tiger, Sol, and its eponymous lager, fell by 2%, before paring back slightly in later trading an overall movement which surprised some analysts. It seems quite a strong share reaction. Europe is naturally somewhat weaker than expected, but other regions are good ... All in all, the results are reasonable, although helped by Easter and compared to a weak start to last year, said KBC Securities analyst, Wim Hoste. The earlier Easter meant stocking ahead of the festive period took place in March rather than April, helping to boost volumes by 6.8% in the Americas, while a later lunar New Year drove Heineken to an 11.3% gain in Asia. Volumes in Mexico, Heinekens largest market, were up by a high single-digit percentage and there was double-digit growth in its second-largest market, Vietnam, and in Brazil, where it increased its presence last year. The brewer also registered improved business in Russia, Ethiopia, and Ivory Coast, though sales slipped in Egypt and Nigeria, its biggest African market. The company retained its full-year outlook for its operating profit margin to expand by about 25 basis points. It also said that negative currency effects on operating profit would be 200m, based on current exchange rates. In mid-February, it had put the figure at 190m. Additional reporting: Reuters Update 6pm: The PSNI have confirmed that two people have been killed in the light aircraft crash in Co Antrim this afternoon. In a statement, Superintendent Emma Bond said; Emergency services received a report of a crash shortly after 12.30pm this afternoon. The Air Accidents Investigation Branch (AAIB) will examine the scene to determine the cause of the crash. Cordons have been placed in the area surrounding the aircraft to maintain the integrity of the scene as the investigation continues. I would ask that the cordons are respected by all and directions from officers at the scene are heeded. We are not in a position to confirm the identity of the deceased at this time. We expect the scene to be held for some time as enquiries are carried out. Emergency services are at the scene of a light aircraft crash in County Antrim. Picture by Justin Kernoghan Update 5.30: Two people have died after a light aircraft crashed in Co Antrim, sources said. Paramedics, firefighters and an air ambulance helicopter attended the site near Nutts Corner after the Cessna plane caught fire. The incident happened close to a wooded area shortly after noon on Thursday, two or three miles from Belfast International Airport. A spokeswoman said the aircraft was not operating to or from there. The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said no patients were taken from the scene. It put its major incident protocols into action but the incident was stood down at 12:49. The Air Accident Investigation Branch sent a team to Crumlin. The plane ended up sitting in a grassy area in the middle of a wood. Part of it was covered by what appeared to be a blue tarpaulin. Earlier: Two people are reported to have died after a light aircraft crash in Co Antrim. No patients were taken from the scene of the crash about three miles from Belfast International Airport, the ambulance service said. Reports of the fatalities could not immediately be independently confirmed. Paramedics, firefighters, an air ambulance and police attended the scene near Nutts Corner. The incident happened close to a wooded area shortly after midday on Thursday, two or three miles from Belfast International Airport. A spokeswoman said the aircraft was not operating to or from there. A statement from the Northern Ireland Ambulance Service (NIAS) said: "No patients were taken from the scene and the major incident was stood down at 12:49." It is believed the plane took off from Newtownards Airfield this morning. The site is two or three miles from Belfast International Airport but a spokeswoman said the aircraft was not operating to or from there. Newtownards airport, where the Ulster Flying Club is based, said it would make no comment. We are operating as normal following an incident involving a light aircraft at Loanends 2/3 mls from Airport. The aircraft was not operating into or out of the airport. All further media enquiries should be addressed to @PoliceServiceNI Belfast International Airport (@belfastairport) April 19, 2018 She added: "It crashed in the vicinity of Loanends." A Northern Ireland Ambulance Service spokeswoman said: "The Northern Ireland Ambulance Service received a call at 12:23 this afternoon following reports that a light aircraft had come down near Nutts Corner." Light aircraft crashes near Nutts Corner while heading for Belfast International Airport - emergency services at scene https://t.co/J2otO0V6s3 pic.twitter.com/9GjWPK3iGb UTV Live News (@UTVNews) April 19, 2018 She added: "One rapid response paramedic, three emergency ambulance crews and two officers have been dispatched to the incident. "The charity air ambulance has also been tasked to the scene. Fire Crews, along with Police and Ambulance are attending the scene of a light aircraft crash near Nutts Corner, Crumlin. The call was received at 12.22pm today and 3 Fire Appliances are at the scene. The incident is ongoing. Northern Ireland Fire & Rescue Service (@NIFRSOFFICIAL) April 19, 2018 "This is an ongoing incident and no further information is available at this time." A Police Service of Northern Ireland (PSNI) statement confirmed the emergency services were in attendance. By Gordon Deegan A Co Mayo-based chicken-processing firm has been ordered to pay 17,000 to a woman it unfairly dismissed while off sick days after suffering a miscarriage. In the case, it is alleged that a female payroll employee at Western Brand Group Ltd told 37-year-old Bulgarian Aneta Petrova that she was "sick for too long" when dismissing her on December 29, 2015. This was 12 days after Ms Petrova was diagnosed with having an ectopic pregnancy on December 17, 2015. The night before, she was brought by ambulance to the emergency department at Mayo University Hospital after fainting at her home. On December 21, a medical certificate was delivered to Ms Petrova's employer, the Western Brand Group Ltds offices in Ballyhaunis, confirming that Ms Petrova had suffered a miscarriage. Eight days later on December 29, Ms Petrova said that she was sacked summarily over the phone after an employee at the firms payroll office told her that she was sick for too long, that she was suspended and that her P45 would be sent out to her. Ms Petrova - who has a masters degree in European Law - worked on the firm's chicken fillet line at its Ballyhaunis plant. Before the Labour Court, the Group pleaded that it didnt realise that Ms Petrova was pregnant or had suffered a miscarriage at the time of dismissal and that her medical certs confirming the miscarriage were not seen by payroll before the call was made to dismiss her on December 29. The company stated that after finding that Ms Petrova suffered a miscarriage, it subsequently apologised to Ms Petrova and said that she could re-apply for her job when she returned to full health. Ms Petrova - who has since had a baby boy - was suing for unfair dismissal and in its ruling the Labour Court found that the Western Brand Group Ltd was aware that Ms Petrovas illness related to her pregnancy and miscarriage at the time of dismissal. The Labour Court stated that this finding is based upon evidence from the female Western Brand Group employee who sacked Ms Petrova on instruction from a superior. The court found that the person stated in evidence that the Western Brand Group was at the point of Ms Petrovas dismissal aware of the reasons for her unavailability for work and this was connected to her pregnancy and miscarriage. The Western Brand Group was appealing an earlier Workplace Relations Commission (WRC) Adjudication Officer ruling which found that Ms Petrova was unfairly dismissed and awarded her 12,000. The Labour Court ruling has now upheld the unfair dismissal ruling and increased the level of compensation to 17,000. Conor ODwyer of ODwyer Solicitors, Ballyhaunsis who represented Ms Petrova said today that Ms Petrova was treated "appallingly" by her former employer. Mr ODwyer said that the facts around Ms Petrova being summarily dismissed days after suffering the miscarriage are quite stark. He said: The facts speak for themselves in this case. Mr ODwyer said that Ms Petrova is "quite pleased" with the Labour Court ruling but feels aggrieved in the way she was treated by her former employer. He said the entire process of securing compensation for her unfair dismissal "has been very stressful for Ms Petrova where she and her partner have twice had to give evidence". Mr ODwyer said that happily, Ms Petrova had her first baby, a baby boy last year. He added that he hoped the award would act as a deterrent against other employers who would treat pregnant women in such a manner. He added Ms Petrova is highly educated having a Masters in European Law and a degree in economics while she has worked as a tax official and a manager of a trade department. In her evidence, Ms Petrova stated that she was diagnosed with the ectopic pregnancy on December 17 and obtained a 10-day medical certificate. A further medical certificate was provided to the firm on December 21 confirming that Ms Petrova suffered a miscarriage. In its argument before the Labour Court, the Western Brand Group stated that it had not breached any legislation as it was unaware, at the time of dismissal, of Ms Petrovas pregnancy. The company stated that Mr Petrova had been fairly dismissed by reason of her unavailability for work. The firm told the Labour Court hearing that it was its intention to declare the employee who informed Ms Petrova of her sacking and confirmed that the company was aware of Ms Petrova's miscarriage at the time of dismissal, as a hostile witness at the hearing, but didn't proceed with the application. There are fears the release of a convicted rapist and paedophile may fuel Dublin's gangland crisis. 48-year-old Christy Griffin has been freed from Midlands Prison in Portlaoise after serving 11 years for abusing a young girl known to him over an eight-year period. It is understood Gardai are worried it may reignite a feud which developed after the case came to light. Griffin, of Ridgewood Green, Swords in Dublin, was convicted on two counts of rape and nine counts of indecent assault on dates between 1993 and 2001. He was sentenced to life in April 2007 but this was overturned in October 2011 and reduced to 15 years. Local crime factions in Sheriff Street split over the sex attacks and began targeting each other - some supporting the victim and others Griffin. Two murders were carried out after the criminal was first charged. Gerard Byrne, 25, from Ferryman's Crossing, was shot dead in the middle of the neighbouring IFSC on December 13, 2006 and a fortnight later 28-year-old Stephen Ledden was shot dead at a home in Oriel Street. In 2010, Stephen "Madzer" Byrne was shot dead at the corner of Sheriff Street and St Laurence Place East. Byrne was the prime suspect for the murder of Stephen Ledden. The murder of Gavin McCarthy outside Noctor's Pub in Sheriff Street in October 2008 was also linked to the bitter feud. Digital Desk By Tom Tuite A man charged with the murder of his wife, who died following a stabbing in her apartment in Dublin, has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court. Renato Gehlen, the 36-year-old Brazilian husband of Anne Colomines, was charged with murdering her on October 24 last and had been first remanded in custody in November. Mr Gehlen had also sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised for several days following the discovery of her body. He faced his eighth hearing, at Cloverhill District Court, today and was served with a book of evidence. After the book of evidence was served, Judge Victor Blake ordered that he was being returned for trial to the present term of the Central Criminal Court. At a previous hearing the court was told the investigation was a complex matter and involved the gathering of 195 statements and a large amount of technical evidence. The body of Ms Colomines, 37, a senior team leader at PayPal, was found at her home at Dorset Square Apartments, Dublin 1 on the night of October 24, 2017. She had sustained stab wounds. Gardai from Mountjoy station responded to a call at approximately 11.30pm over a report of an incident at the couple's home. Ms Colomines, a cat rescue volunteer, was from France but had been living in Ireland for several years. At Mr Gehlen's first court appearance in November, Garda Sergeant Kenneth Hoare said in response to the charge after caution, he had no reply to make. A bail application will have to be made in the High Court because he is facing a murder charge. By Ann O'Loughlin A young Afghan man with significant mental health difficulties may apply to prevent his transfer from here to the UK on grounds of the mental health consequences of that, the Court of Appeal has ruled. In an important judgment with implications for more than 100 asylum cases raising similar issues, the three judge court found the High Court erred in not permitting the man make that claim in judicial review proceedings. The case centres on whether the International Protection Appeals Tribunal (IPAT) had wrongly concluded it had no discretion under an EC Regulation - the Dublin III Regulation- to refuse the man's transfer to the UK on grounds of the mental health consequences of that. The Court of Appeal noted the Tribunal had accepted the man presents as traumatised with ongoing significant mental health difficulties linked to uncertainty over his immigration status over some six years since he came to Europe aged 18. The mans judicial review will now return to the High Court which will decide the mental health and other claims relating to the States operation of discretionary powers under the Dublin III Regulation, which provides for asylum applications to be dealt with by the first member state of entry. Mr Justice Gerard Hogan, giving the Appeal Court judgment, said the case raised important questions about the operation of Dublin III, particularly proper interpretation of the discretionary provisions of Article 17.1. Article 17 gives a member state discretion to deal with an asylum application even if it is not the first member state of entry. After the man, aged 25, applied for asylum here in 2016, it emerged he previously unsuccessfully applied for asylum in the UK in 2010. The UK agreed in May 2016 to a take back request from the Irish authorities in line with Dublin III and a direction was made for the mans transfer to the UK. After the man lost his appeal to the IPAT over transfer, Eamon Dornan BL, instructed by Brian Burns solicitor, for the man, secured leave for judicial review on some grounds. The High Court refused leave on two particular grounds whether IPAT was entitled to exercise the discretion conferred by Article 17 and (2) to have regard to the potential impact of Article 8 of the European Convention on Human Rights in deciding whether or not to set aside the mans transfer to the UK. In his judgment partially allowing the mans appeal, Mr Justice Hogan said the mans poor mental health is at the heart of the proceedings. The IPAT had accepted he has ongoing significant mental health difficulties, is particularly vulnerable for that reason, had attempted suicide and comes from a country experiencing internal armed conflict. The IPAT had said he may well have a strong putative claim to international protection but considered the Minister for Justice, not the Tribunal, had discretion under Dublin III whether to permit him seek asylum here rather than move him to the UK to renew his application. Mr Justice Hogan said, given various decisions of the Court of Justice of the EU, it seemed the IPAT member was also obliged to consider exercising the discretionary power. That included, where necessary, to examine the impact on the mans mental health of physically moving him to the UK. In the circumstances, the man was entitled to leave for judicial review of the Tribunals ruling it had no jurisdiction to exercise the Article 17 discretion, he ruled. By Conor Kane Irish prisons are currently operating at 92% capacity following a spike in prison numbers over the last six months, with the level of remand prisoners and women prisoners on the way up. The figures were confirmed by the Irish Prison Service after prison officers today complained of overcrowding across the prison system, with some inmates sleeping on mattresses. President of the Prison Officers Association, Stephen Delaney said most, if not all, of the prisons across the country are now overcrowded and called on the open prisons at Shelton Abbey in Co Wicklow and Loughan House in Monaghan to be used more than they are. The training unit at Mountjoy, which was closed some years ago, should also be re-opened to take the pressure off existing accommodation, he said. In terms of accommodation, they are sleeping on mattresses, they are doubling up [in cells]. Youre relocating one prisoner from one landing to the next to ensure his safety as he cannot associate with a different faction. If you were to alleviate that problem you would need new facilities, such as the training unit, release people out of the major prisons into the open centres. The single occupancy regime for cells which has lately been promoted across the service is under threat and has been reversed on a daily basis, Mr Delaney said. You need space, you need facilities and you need the open centres full. We believe there is huge potential for the offenders to go to but for some reason the employer is not utilising those centres sufficiently and of course the training unit. The director-general of the prison service, Michael Donnellan, accepted that there are pressure points within the system the system, but pointed out that there is refurbishment work going on at the moment at units within the remand system in Cloverhill Prison and at the Dochas womens prison in Mountjoy, while work on a new 50-person unit for women is due to start at Limerick prison in the coming months. The two big pressure points are remand prisoners, numbers have gone up, and women prisoners, numbers have gone up. Asked why he thought the amount of women prisoners is rising, Mr Donnellan said: We have started from a very low base in Ireland on women [prisoners], so we have approximately six percent of our prison population is women, but over the last number of years weve seen a sustained increase in women. Its very difficult to figure out why. There are different criminogenic needs of women. Access to a cath lab would not have saved a farmer whose death during a hospital transfer following a complication of a silent heart attack sparked outrage over cardiac services in the South-East, it has emerged. Thomas Power, aged 39, of Woodstown, Co Waterford, died in an ambulance on the Waterford to Cork road on Sunday, June 18, from a massive tear in his heart wall a late complication of a silent heart attack which could have occurred several days earlier, an inquest into his death established yesterday. Cork City Coroners Court was told that the so-called Protocol 37 intra-hospital transfer, from University Hospital Waterford (UHW) to Cork University Hospital (CUH) was required because the UHW cath lab services operate 9am to 5pm Monday to Friday only. Mr Powers death sparked a massive campaign for improved cath lab services in the South-East. However, the inquest was told that the tear in his heart was so severe that urgent open heart surgery within two to five minutes would have been his only hope. This surgery could only have been performed at one of the countrys four cardiac centres: The Mater, St James, Galway, or Cork. And even at that, his chances of survival would have been slim. Mr Powers widow, Bernadette, told coroner Philip Comyn that building work on their home was almost finished, that they had discovered a week before that they were expecting a baby, and that he had only been to a doctor once to remove a thorn from his left thumb. She fought back tears as she explained that Mr Power had been in good form and hadnt complained of ill-health in the days before. He was doing normal physical work on the farm, said Bernadette. Nothing fazed him. But at around 11am that Sunday, she said, he phoned her from the farm complaining of chest pains. They arrived at UHW emergency department at 11.25am, where he was seen immediately, and diagnosed as having a heart attack. Dr Laura Murphy performed an echocardiogram which showed decreased heart muscle motion, but did not reveal any leaking fluid around the heart, and blood tests ruled out the administering of the clot-busting drug, thrombolysis. Because the hospitals cath lab is closed at weekends, a Protocol 37 ambulance transfer to CUHs cath lab was arranged. Mr Power was deemed stable enough to be transferred at 12.10pm and was accompanied by clinical nurse manager Mary Dunne and Dr Clare Moore in the ambulance. Bernadette made the journey separately by car. She said her last words to her husband were: Love you see you in Cork. Ms Dunne brought a medical pack, which included six doses of special adrenalin, for the journey. She said Mr Power was conscious and talking but she advised him to rest once they passed a series of roundabouts on the outskirts of Dungarvan. But she noticed a sudden deterioration in Mr Powers condition at 12.45pm and he flat-lined. The ambulance stopped and Ms Dunne and Dr Moore began CPR. He did not respond. They attached a Lucas mechanical CPR machine to his chest and the ambulance set off again at 1pm. Mr Power did not respond. They administered adrenalin every five minutes, as per protocols, and Ms Dunne said that when she was down to her last vial, she called for another ambulance to meet them with new supplies. They met that ambulance at Midleton at 1.35pm but there was an 18-minute gap when no adrenalin was administered. The ambulance arrived at CUH at 1.50pm where CPR continued, but Mr Power was pronounced dead a short time later. Bernadette said: He had a pain in his chest but nothing I thought hed die from. When I was leaving the hospital, I thought I was going to see Tom alive in Cork. Dr Margot Bolster said an autopsy revealed that Mr Power had suffered a heart attack between three and seven days earlier, caused by hardening of an artery, which made the heart wall vulnerable to rupture. She found a 3cm tear in the heart wall which allowed 400ml of blood to pour into the sack around the heart, compressing it and causing death. When asked about the silent heart attack and why Mr Power hadnt complained days before, she said: I see this very often this is not an unusual situation. Consultant cardiologist Dr Ross Murphy, who reviewed the case, told Mr Comyn that the so-called free-wall rupture is one of the most feared mechanical complications of a heart attack. He said the only option for Mr Power at that stage would have been to drain the fluid, or open cardiac surgery within two to five minutes, which could only have been performed in one of the countrys four cardiac centres. This was going to happen at a certain stage, he said. You can die from a quarter centimetre tear. Ive never seen one as big as this. The presence or otherwise of a 24-hour cath lab service in Waterford would not have affected the risk to Mr Power of a free-wall rupture, Dr Murphy added. He also said it is quite possible for 5%-10% of the population to suffer a heart attack without experiencing symptoms. He was strong enough to withstand it but we are dealing with the consequences of a complication of that, he said. And he said adrenalin would have made no difference to the outcome. The inquest was also told that there was a history of heart disease in Mr Powers family, and that 60% ofIrish men will develop cardiovascular disease at some stage. The inquest jury recommended that the circumstances of Mr Powers death be brought to the attention of the health minister, Simon Harris. It also recommended that the HSE review the contents of hospital resuscitation packs used during intra-hospital transfers after it was revealed that medics ran out of adrenalin when Mr Power deteriorated during the journey. Speaking through her solicitor afterwards, Ms Power said she never thought on the day of their wedding in September 2016 that she would be attending an inquest into her husbands death a year later. I am relieved to now know what caused my husband Toms death, after many months of wondering, she said in a statement. Bernadette thanked family, friends, and neighbours for their support. The last year has been a very difficult time for me and your support did not go unnoticed, she said. She thanked the staff of UHW, the ambulance paramedics, and staff at Cork University Hospital for the care they gave Tom on the day. She also thanked UHW staff for the care and support she received during her pregnancy, and the care they gave to baby Tom when he was born on November 22. She appealed to the media and the general public to respect her privacy so she can grieve with dignity and in private. An engineer killed himself more than a year after a former lover threw acid over his face and body, a court in England has heard. The attack left Mark Van Dongen, 29, paralysed from the neck down, unrecognisable and all but blinded. It was allegedly carried out by Berlinah Wallace, 48, who told him: "If I can't have you, no-one else can." Dutch-born Mr Van Dongen suffered 15 months of pain before being granted euthanasia in Belgium, where his family lived, in January 2017. Adam Vaitilingam QC, prosecuting, told a jury at Bristol Crown Court that South African national Wallace carried out the alleged attack at her flat in Ladysmith Road, Westbury Park, Bristol. "On September 2, 2015, the defendant had bought a bottle of sulphuric acid. She kept it in her kitchen," Mr Vaitilingam said. "At around 3am in the morning on September 23, as Mr Van Dongen was sleeping in bed, she took the acid into the bedroom. "She then went into the bedroom and woke him up. She laughed and said 'If I can't have you, no-one else can', and she threw the glass of sulphuric acid into his face. "It covered his face and parts of his upper body and dripped on to his lower body as he moved about. "Covered in burning acid, Mr Van Dongen ran out into the street in his boxer shorts, screaming for help." Berlinah Wallace in court today. A neighbour took him upstairs, put him in a shower and called 999, and he was taken to Southmead Hospital. "The injuries that he suffered were grotesque and horrific. His face and much of his body was grotesquely scarred," the prosecutor said. "He lost the sight in his left eye and most of the sight in his right eye. He lost his lower left leg, which was amputated. "He was confined to a hospital bed, for a long time unable to move anything other than his tongue. "His physical condition improved a little - he regained the power of speech, though never the ability to move. "But 15 months later, deciding that he could bear it no longer, he asked a euthanasia clinic in Belgium to assist him in taking his own life. "He was examined by three consultants, who confirmed that this was, in their terms, a case of unbearable physical and psychological suffering despite maximum medical support. "They agreed that the test for euthanasia was met, and on January 2, 2017, they inserted a catheter into his heart, which brought about his immediate death." Wallace, of Ladysmith Road, Westbury Park, Bristol, denies charges of murder on a date between September 22, 2015, and January 3, 2017, and applying a corrosive fluid with intent on September 23, 2015. "It is the prosecution case that the defendant deliberately threw acid at Mr Van Dongen, intending to cause him serious harm," Mr Vaitilingam added. "She admits throwing it but denies any intent to cause him harm. She says that she believed that what she was throwing over him was a glass of water. "It is the prosecution case that the physical and mental suffering that he sustained from that deliberate acid attack was what drove him to euthanasia. "Put simply, he could not bear to live in that condition. If that is right, we say, then she is guilty of murder." The court heard that Wallace was a part-time fashion student at the University of West of England in Bristol, while Mr Van Dongen worked in the construction industry. The pair, both HIV positive, had been in a five-year relationship but split a few weeks before the alleged attack, with the victim moving in with his new girlfriend, Violet Farquharson. Prior to the alleged attack, Ms Farquharson began receiving silent phone calls and Wallace was given a police warning about harassment. Shortly before his death, Mr Van Dongen told his colleagues that Wallace had been violent towards him and had threatened to stab him. They said he "was genuinely frightened" of her. When paramedics arrived at the scene, Mr Van Dongen was in the shower and said it looked as though he had had grey paint poured over him, the court heard. "He kept saying he couldn't see and asked if he still had eyelids," Mr Vaitilingam said. Police found Wallace with a paintbrush and a piece of cloth. Asked what had caused Mr Van Dongen's injuries, Wallace replied: "Acid - I was using it to distress some fabric." During police interviews, Wallace denied deliberately throwing the acid at her ex-boyfriend, denied she had intended to hurt him and alleged that he had assaulted her. "She said that it was Mark who had poured the acid into the glass, encouraging her to drink it with her tablets, but that she had not realised that it was acid," Mr Vaitilingam said. "When she threw the contents of the glass over him, she believed that it was water that she was throwing." Wallace also carried out internet searches, including "Can I die from drinking sulphuric acid?" and news stories about people who had been victims of acid attacks. In hospital Mr Van Dongen, having seen his face in a mirror, screamed at doctors: "Kill me now. If my face is going to be left looking like this, I don't want to live. He had burns to 25% of his body and underwent a lower leg amputation. Although he could speak, he was also paralysed from the neck down. Mr Van Dongen, who was suffering from depression, returned to Belgium in November 2016 and later applied for euthanasia. Three consultants approved his application and he died on January 2, 2017. - PA Italian police have arrested 22 suspected Sicilian mafiosi in an operation targeting Italy's most-wanted mafia fugitive Matteo Denaro. The raids in the Trapani province in western Sicily attacked the network of "pizzini", the system of paper notes that support Denaro's flight. Police said their aim is to "progressively take away power from the criminal organisation and impoverish its economic resources". Denaro, a fugitive since 1993, is considered a possible successor to the "boss of bosses" Salvatore "Toto" Riina. Riina died last year in custody while serving 26 life sentences. The operation was the latest move to find Denaro, 55, who has long evaded arrest for his alleged role in the bombing assassination of magistrates in the 1990s, along with other mafia hits and crimes. Hundreds of rebels fighters in a Syrian town northeast of Damascus have handed in their weapons and started to leave under an evacuation deal, Syrian government media reported. Under the agreement, the rebels are allowed to move with their families to opposition-held areas in the country's north, effectively surrendering their turf to Syrian government forces. Suncorp chairman Ziggy Switkowski will retire from the board of the financial services giant in September and be replaced in the role by Christine McLoughlin. Dr Switkowski will end his seven-year stint at the company's annual general meeting, when Ms McLoughlin - a former Whitehaven Coal and Spark Infrastructure director - will take over. Ziggy Switkowski will end his seven-year stint at the company's annual general meeting. Credit:Chris Hyde Ms McLoughlin is currently the chairman of Suncorp's remuneration committee, and was the inaugural chairman of the Australian Payments Council, and is also a director of health insurer nib. Dr Switkowski said he was delighted with the board's decision to appoint Ms McLoughlin as the next chairman. The much-admired Victorian writer Beverley Farmer, who won the Patrick White award in 2009, has died. She was 77 and had suffered from Parkinson's Disease for some time. Farmer was not a prolific writer and kept something of a low profile. She published nine books, beginning her literary career with her first novel, Alone, in 1980 and ending it with what she announced would be her last book, This Water: Five Tales, which the Fairfax review said displayed her "masterly control of structure, tone and imagery". Beverley Farmer - from a photograph published in 1995. Ivor Indyk, her publisher at Giramondo, said Farmer had been an influential writer. "Beverley was one of the great innovators of Australian literature. She opened the forms of fiction to myth and fairytale, reworking these to feminist ends; and she pushed the language relentlessly, to capture the fleeting moments of perception, and the fluctuations of nature. She was intelligent, determined, generous, and a great supporter of those who shared her commitment to the highest literary values." Energy ministers head into a crucial day of talks on the Turnbull governments proposal to overhaul the nations electricity sector on Friday with a number of outstanding issues to resolve but Josh Frydenberg, federal energy minister, is confident further progress will be made. Mr Frydenberg joined state and territory counterparts behind closed doors at an upmarket Italian restaurant in Melbourne on Thursday in a bid to narrow differences over his governments National Energy Guarantee proposal [NEG]. National Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg met with state and territory counterparts on Thursday night ahead of Friday's crucial talks. Credit:Eddie Jim The biggest obstacle to the NEG - whether at today's meeting or a subsequent one in August - may come from the ACT. On Friday, the territory's energy and climate minister, Shane Rattenbury, said: "it would be irresponsible for states and territories to sign on to this deal as it currently stands." And with more people re-partnering and bringing children and significant financial assets into their new relationships, how to be fair to everyone can be tricky to negotiate. Some couples ignore the issue and hope for the best. Others prefer to plan for what would happen in the event of a break-up. Pre-nups Simon and JV have been together for about 18 months and both have been previously married. When they were buying the house late last year, JV spoke to a family lawyer she has used in the past. "I said to him that I was partnering with someone and he suggested getting an agreement," JV says. JV says if they were to have more children together then the agreement would become null and void and have to be redesigned. It is a binding financial agreement, colloquially known as a "pre-nuptial" agreement, even though JV and Simon are not married. Pre-nups can be drawn up during the course of a relationship not just at the start. Under the law, if a couple lives together for just two years their financial assets can be divided the same way as if they had been married for decades. Australian Institute of Family Studies research has measured the impact of a relationship breakdown on people's finances. Of course men can be worse off, but more often divorce has a substantial negative effect on the incomes of women, with women experiencing a fall in income of 21 per cent compared with their pre-divorce income. Australia is a "no fault" divorce jurisdiction, which means there is no financial punishment for having an affair or walking out, though the Family Law Act does have power to consider domestic violence. Jacqueline Wharton, who trained as a lawyer but is the founder of Separation and Divorce Advisors with offices in Sydney and Melbourne, says fighting over assets to punish your ex is nearly always a poisoned chalice. "Trying to use the law to punish the other side for being unfaithful or for revenge is expensive and time consuming," Wharton says. A financial agreement can give some peace of mind as to what will happen in the event of a break-up, she adds. However, pre-nups have had a chequered history in Australia as some have been poorly drafted and have been overturned by the courts. Patrick Parkinson, a professor of law at the University of Sydney and special counsel at a family law firm, recently told Money that valid pre-nups that have been drawn-up by lawyers who specialise in family law are binding and do oust the jurisdiction of the courts. Geoff Wilson, of HopgoodGanim Lawyers in Brisbane, who draws up a lot of pre-nups, says pre-nups can be useful to anyone who has been through separation and court proceedings and does not want to go through that again. "They can suit those who are bringing significant assets, indeed any assets, into the relationship, who stand to inherit, who have children and those with family businesses," he says. It's not just for the wealthy, with rising property prices in Sydney and Melbourne likely to see significant assets accumulated in a relationship. Laura Menschik, a financial planner and director of WLM Financial Services, says issues of inheritances, gifts and loans and who gets what is becoming more complex, especially with the increase in blended families. The bottom line is to document as much as possible, particularly where there is a loan from one set of parents to help with the house purchase or to pay for the grandchildren's school fees, she says. It is the same when there is an inheritance that goes towards paying off the house they both own. A loan that is meant to be repaid should be documented as a loan so that if the relationship ends the parents providing the loan are repaid, Menschik says. A standard pre-nup costs from $5000, which can put some people off. Wilson says "that would be a false economy" because the cost of drawing-up a valid binding financial agreement could be a drop in the ocean compared with the assets at stake, the costs of legal contestation in the absence of an agreement and the extra emotional turmoil that entails. He cautions against the cheap pre-nup kits, along the lines of DIY will kits, saying an agreement has to be drawn-up properly and each party should obtain independent legal advice. Separate finances Relationship Australia research has found that disagreements over money are a stronger predictor of divorce than other commonly cited causes of marital disagreements. Among other things, the 2015 online survey by Relationships Australia found 7 out of 10 couples said money causes tension in their relationships. It's important for JV and Simon not to be joined-at-the-hip financially. JV and Simon have a savings account that is joined to the mortgage and they share a credit card, but they also maintain separate accounts. A Lyneham couple won a tribunal ruling this week that will allow them to cut down a protected tree on their property. Arlo Wickerson, 4, in front of the large Cypress tree his parents applied to have cut down because they worried about falling branches. Credit:Dion Georgopoulos The ACT Civil and Administrative Tribunal found in favour of Alec Wickerson and his partner Tara Williams in a decision published Tuesday, saying the Cypress met three criteria under the law for being cut down. In its decision, the tribunal also rebuked the Conservator of Fauna and Flora, saying that its staff had failed to disclose a conflict of interest and had also allowed an "independent" decision review process to be compromised. Neither practice should be repeated, the tribunal said. International construction giant Multiplex Constructions and RAR Cranes have been charged over a fatal Canberra worksite death. The nine charges, which include a criminal count of manslaughter against a crane driver and workplace charges against company bosses, have been labelled an "extensive and unprecedented" response by ACT's work safety watchdog. Herman Holtz, 62, was killed on August 4, 2016, after an incident involving a mobile crane on the University of Canberra Hospital construction site in Bruce. Police, paramedics, and WorkSafe on the University of Canberra Hospital construction site, where a crane is lying on its side after the August 2016 incident. Credit:Rohan Thomson The crane driver, who was moving an 11-tonne generator at the time of the incident, has been charged with Mr Holtz's manslaughter. A driver who was allegedly looking at his mobile phone when he crashed into two police officers, causing one to have his foot amputated, at random breath test site, has been granted bail. Jakob Thornton, 22, had showed signs of post-traumatic stress disorder behind bars after the collision in Sydney's south-west on February 16, the NSW Supreme Court heard on Thursday. He was allegedly travelling at 60km/h when he hit the highway patrol officers, who were pulling safety gear out of the boot of their marked police car to set up the random breath testing site on Campbelltown Road at Leumeah, crushing them between the boot of their car and his Fiat van. Senior Constable Jonathon Wright had his right foot amputated about 15 centimetres above his ankle, while Senior Constable Matthew Foley sustained a fractured leg. A Sydney father will not receive a cent in damages after losing most of his defamation case against 60 Minutes over his daughter's account of being kidnapped at 13 and held captive by her relatives in Syria for almost five years. Mouhammad Tabbaa. Credit:AAP Divorced couple Mouhammad and Pamela Tabbaa are facing a hefty legal bill after a jury accepted as true their daughter's 2014 interview about being kidnapped at 13 and held captive by her relatives in Syria for almost five years. But the NSW Supreme Court jury in December also found that a Nine Network news item conveyed an untrue meaning that Mr Tabbaa forced Nadia Tabbaa to marry her cousin at 13 and sold her off to her cousin's family in Syria. The search will resume at first light on Friday for a 78-year-old missing gyrocopter pilot and his aircraft after they disappeared on Wednesday. Despite a total of 10 aircraft being involved and the search area being narrowed down by a credible sighting of the gyrocopter, there was no sign of the aircraft or its pilot on Thursday. Vision of the search for a missing gyrocopter and its pilot on the central Queensland coast. Credit:AMSA The Australian Maritime Safety Authority said the aircraft took off about 1.45pm from Booyan Airstrip just north of Bundaberg. It should have landed at a private property in Farnborough just north of Yeppoon about two hours later. A man is on the run after a series of aggravated burglaries this week in Ballarat, the state's hotspot for such crimes. The man, believed to be in his late teens or early 20s, allegedly forced entry to three homes in the inner suburb of Redan by cutting and removing flywire screens. Ballarat has the state's highest rate of aggravated burglaries. Credit:iStock He struck a Hampton Street house about 7pm on Sunday and stole a small amount of cash before being confronted by the elderly resident and running away. An attempted aggravated burglary had also been reported at a block of units in Leith Street in the early hours of Sunday morning. Mr Frydenberg was the last of the COAG leaders to arrive for a pre-gathering dinner on Thursday night at Cecconi's, an up-market Italian restaurant on Melbourne's Flinders Lane. The nations energy ministers will meet at a Council of Australian Governments meeting on Friday to thrash out the future of the federal governments national energy guarantee (NEG), and are expected to agree to move on to the final design stage of a deal. Environment and Energy Minister Josh Frydenberg is confident of striking a deal with the states on a national plan to merge climate and energy policy, but remains adamant he won't yield to demands by some Labor states to raise emission reduction targets. The federal minister spent much of Thursday speaking to state counterparts and told Fairfax Media they were constructive conversations. Im confident we will agree to move to the next stage of final design [of the energy guarantee] and Im confident my colleagues recognise the importance of this moment and the historic nature of these reforms, he said. The much-debated policy would force electricity retailers to meet standards of reliable supply and emissions reduction. The government says the plan would lower electricity bills, shore up east coast electricity supplies and meet Australias international climate obligations as well as ending the policy paralysis that has bedevilled climate action for more than a decade. Critics say it would stymie investment in renewable investment, prop up ageing coal-fired power plants, make inadequate cuts to dangerous greenhouse gas emissions and potentially lead to higher prices. State and territory energy ministers are concerned the cuts to emissions are not deep enough, and some claim the burden will fall unfairly on the jurisdictions, which have already put in more ambitions targets - but on both issues Mr Frydenberg is standing firm. Nationals MPs are eyeing structural changes to the big banks, including the forced separation of banks' financial services arms, in the wake of explosive evidence heard at the royal commission. Change of tune: Barnaby Joyce says the big banks have taken the government's support for granted. Credit:AAP Former deputy prime minister Barnaby Joyce - who once opposed creating the commission - led the charge, arguing the banks "should consider whether they should be in the financial planning business" at all. "It appears from evidence to be too much of a conflict of interest and a temptation for them," he told Fairfax Media. "I have apologised for being so naive to have swallowed their line of 'we are good corporate citizens'. Maybe they should now as well." Beijing: Tax cheats, funds management fraudsters and money market spivs are among a growing list of "dishonest people" to be banned from boarding planes in China from next month. Nine million people have so far been banned from buying plane tickets as China builds a so-called social credit system that links behaviour to punishment and reward via big data. A traveller works at a boarding gate at Hong Kong International Airport. Credit:Bloomberg So far, the fledgling system has focused on Supreme Court lists of unpaid debts and fines to stop people from travelling by plane or high-speed trains. But from next month, many more government departments, including the Tax Ministry, Social Security Ministry, securities administration and Finance Ministry, will link their data to the "national credit information sharing platform" to provide a monthly list of banned travellers to the Civil Aviation Authority. Latest News Average mortgage records $80,000 increase over the year The highest average mortgages can be found in NSW and Victoria NAB announces major change to broker strategy Big Four bank to streamline broker distribution model, creates new head of broker experience role CoreLogic head of global technology, Greg Dickson, explores how a revolution in data ownership is sowing the seeds for platform banking and the AI broke Across the wester world, regulators are pushing banks to open up access to customer data to give the consumer greater control. With the Competition and Markets Authority changes for the top nine banks in the UK, PSD2 in Europe, discussions driven by the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau in the USA and Australias open banking review, it wont be long before the concept of ownership of the customer and their data becomes last century. Instead, customers will be able to control who has access to their data, ranging from a complete list of all transactions, to their salary history, their loan and utility payments data. They will also be able to choose which financial providers, bureaus, and fintechs are allowed to see their data and offer them services. This is much more profound than even positive credit reporting it combines fine-grained earnings and affordability data with customers repayment histories and lifestyle spending. In the tech world, the most successful businesses are platforms the value of Apples App Store and devices lies in the number of third-party apps they host; the platform ecosystem becomes more valuable the more others build in it. The same principle applies to the other technology giants, like Amazon, Microsoft, Google, Twitter and Facebook. Their platforms are built through extending their services with open application interfaces, which enable them to work with partners. For example, I can tweet an article from inside LinkedIn, or sign into a website using my Facebook credentials, or order an Uber from inside Google Maps. With open data, banks are looking at ways to embrace platform thinking in order to stay relevant - Greg Dickson, CoreLogic With open data, banks are looking at ways to embrace platform thinking in order to stay relevant. Rather than allowing others to disrupt them by using the customer data they store, many are looking to create platform ecosystems in which fintechs and other service providers can seamlessly interact using customer data as customers opt them into it. In Australia, Macquarie has already announced that an open-banking platform will launch soon. When banks become open-data platforms, the world of broking will be impacted by both opportunities and threats. Opportunities include far easier access to customer data and the associated ability to rapidly deal with paperwork; leads for new business made available through the platform ecosystem; and the ability to add on additional services that meet customers needs, for example insurance. Threats include the enhanced ability for AI and machine learning technologies to learn about customers and make offers to them through digital brokerages; existing digital offerings accelerating their customer acquisition with more data and ease of use; and more rapid integration to unified service offerings, such as combined property listings and brokerage portals. To prepare, brokerages need to have access to good tools that are ready to integrate with banking platforms, and can help them scale out across new ecosystems and use new data. Brokers should also keep an eye on what is happening in the UK and what this means for Australia. Above all, a focus on customer service and through service retaining and growing relationships with customers will help, regardless of the impact of new open-banking platforms. After receiving bids from four possible suitors, the board of Fortis Healthcare Ltd on Thursday approved the constitution of an expert advisory committee to oversee the evaluation of all binding proposals in connection with the infusion of funds in the company. The committee, chaired by Deepak Kapoor, Former Chairman and CEO of Price Waterhouse Coopers India, will provide a report of its recommendation to the board by April 26. The board also approved the appointment of Rohit Bhasin as an Additional Director (Independent) of the Company with immediate effect for a period of five years. The race to acquire Fortis is heating up. A day after Chinese investment giant Fosun offered to pump in up to Rs 2,295 crore in the cash-strapped Indian healthcare chain, Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL) on Thursday said it has received a revised offer from Munjal-owned Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office. Also, Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Berhad has said it is ready to infuse Rs 4,000 crore through a preferential allotment of shares at Rs 160 apiece. In a stock exchange filing, Fortis said that the Munjal-Burman Family has sent a 'improved binding offer' to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company. Earlier, Fortis had received an 'unsolicited binding offer' worth Rs 1,250 crore from Munjals and Burmans. Spelling out the details of their offer, the Munjals and Burmans in a joint letter said, the offer is "faster to implement and without any due diligence. We are proposing to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company". Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 750 crore upfront. Incidentally, the group entities of Hero Enterprise Investment Office and the Burman family of the Dabur Group currently hold a stake of around 3 per cent in FHL. This is not the first time that Hero has shown interest in Fortis. Last July, they had even signed a non-disclosure agreement to explore the possibility of a merger but the discussions ended in an impasse because Hero wanted to conduct due diligence before it could state the commercials, including a price, while FHL wanted the reverse order. Malaysian healthcare major IHH had last week joined the race to acquire Fortis Healthcare. IHH operates healthcare facilities across nine countries via a network of 49 hospitals including Mount Elizabeth and Gleneagles in Singapore. "As part of the IHH proposal and subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence... We are ready to infuse Rs 4,000 crore through a preferential allotment of equity shares at a price not exceeding Rs 160 per share which will fund the buyout of RHT Health Trust assets as well as provide immediate liquidity towards working capital and infrastructure upgrades," IHH said. In March, the Fortis board had approved de-merger of its hospitals business, which was to be acquired by Manipal Hospitals and TPG Capital, along with the sale of 20 per cent stake in diagnostics chain SRL Ltd, in a Rs 3,900-crore deal. Till last month Fortis Healthcare Ltd (FHL) just couldn't seem to dodge bad news, be it losing an arbitration case, downgraded credit ratings, investigations into alleged financial irregularities or dipping share prices. And now it's quite the belle of the ball with three suitors. Last week, Manipal Health Enterprises (MHEPL) had upped its merger offer by 21 per cent. Manipal first offered to buy Fortis last month in a deal that would combine its 14 hospitals with Fortis portfolio of 34 hospitals, creating a formidable rival to Apollo Hospitals Enterprise Ltd. But the previous bid, which offered shareholders 10.83 shares in the combined company for every 100 Fortis shares held, was panned by investors. Vijay Mallya may be going through a tough time but he has some reason to cheer as the Kingfisher Beer brand, owned by his United Breweries, continues to top the most trusted alcoholic beverage brands list. According to the Brand Trust Report 2018 released on Wednesday, Kingfisher Beer, Black Dog and Budweiser are the top three most trusted alcoholic beverage brands. Kingfisher Beer has maintained its leadership position and remains the leader for the last eight years of the Brand Trust Report, TRA Research CEO N Chandramouli said. Kingfisher is the flagship brand of United breweries Ltd. United Breweries had, in August last year, announced that its Chairman Vijay Mallya has ceased to be director of the company to comply with capital market regulator Sebi's order against him. Mallya, who had fled to London in March 2016, is wanted in India for the defunct Kingfisher Airlines' default on loans worth nearly Rs 9,000 crore owed to a consortium of banks. The other liquor brands which appear in the top 10 list are Royal Stag, Signature, Johnnie Walker ranked at number four, five and six, respectively. Carlsberg, Blenders Pride, Tuborg and Imperial Blue are the other brands which figure in the list. Over 2,450 respondents participated in the survey conducted by TRA Research across 16 cities and its findings have been compiled in The Brand Trust Report 2018. South Korean consumer durables firm Samsung, followed by Sony and LG are India's most trusted brands. Tata Group, the only Indian company to feature in the top five and US-based Apple occupy the fourth and the fifth ranking. Among India's 1,000 Most Trusted brands, the categories with the maximum brands were food and beverage and FMCG contributing to 25.6 per cent of the total brands in the listings. When compared to last year, 320 new brands made it to the list, 368 brands fell in rank, 307 brands rose in rank, and five brands retained their ranks, it said. (With inputs from PTI) The world is drowning in debt like never before. According to the IMF, global debt, public and private alike, hit a record $164 trillion in 2016 - almost 225 per cent of the world's economic output - up 8 per cent from 2015. Debt-to-GDP ratios in the advanced economies are at levels not seen since World War II, while the same for emerging market and middle-income countries have hit levels last seen during the 1980s debt crisis. To ram home the bad news, "the world is now 12 per cent of GDP deeper in debt than the previous peak in 2009", as the latest Fiscal Monitor report put it. According to Vitor Gaspar, Director, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, which prepared the report, most of the global debt is in advanced economies, at 105 per cent of GDP on average. But in the past decade, emerging market economies have been responsible for most of the increase. Debt-to-GDP ratios for the latter in 2017 reached almost 50 per cent and are expected to continue on an upward trend. "One-fifth of emerging market and middle-income economies had debt above 70 per cent of GDP in 2017, similar to levels in the early 2000s in the aftermath of the Asian financial crisis. Among low-income developing countries, 20 per cent now boast debt above 60 per cent of GDP, compared with almost none in 2012," said the report. "Underpinning debt dynamics for all countries are large primary deficits, which reached record levels in the case of emerging market and developing economies," it added. Here's why high government debt and deficits are cause for concern: It can make countries vulnerable to a sudden tightening of global financing conditions, which could disrupt market access and put economic activity in jeopardy. Past experience shows that countries can be subject to large unexpected shocks to public debt-to-GDP levels, which would exacerbate rollover risk. Furthermore, IMF has previously established that fiscal risks can be highly correlated with each other, with a distinct bunching of contingent liability realizations during crisis periods. It can hinder a government's ability to implement a strong fiscal policy response to support the economy in the event of a downturn. Historical experience shows that a weak fiscal position increases the depth and duration of recession-such as in the aftermath of a financial crisis. Arguably, high debt can also result in lower growth because it can crowd out private investment and create uncertainty about higher future distortionary taxation. Against this backdrop consider that as per IMF data, India's general government debt (as a percentage of GDP) has been pegged at 70.2 per cent for 2017, up 2 per cent since 2012. In fact, it boasted the second highest debt, after Brazil, in the Emerging Market and Middle-Income Economies category. But the figure is projected to steadily go down here on, from 68.9 per cent this year to 61.4 per cent by 2023. "The debt level is relatively high, but the authorities are planning to bring it down over the medium term with the right policies," said Abdel Senhadji, Deputy Director, IMF Fiscal Affairs Department, at a press conference, adding that India is planning to continue with the consolidation in the current fiscal year and over the medium term. According to the IMF, India's debt ratio projection for 2023, along with a fiscal deficit target of 3 per cent by 2019-20, "are appropriate". China slammed In contrast, China's government debt to GDP ratio stood much lower at 47.8 per cent in 2017. However, the IMF report holds the country responsible for a whopping 43 per cent of the global debt increase since 2007, calling it "a driving force". The main concern "has to do with the level and pace of accumulation of overall debt, private and public. So, the control over the debt level - in particular, the rhythm of debt accumulation - is a major challenge for the Chinese economy," said Gasper. According to IMF data, China's general government debt (as a percentage of GDP) is expected to balloon from 47.8 per cent in 2017 to 65.5 per cent by 2023. Dismal outlook for the US The projections for the US are similarly dismal. "In the US, the revised tax code and the two-year budget agreement provide additional fiscal stimulus to the economy. These measures will give rise to overall deficit above $1 trillion over the next three years, and that corresponds to more than 5 per cent of the US GDP," said Gasper, adding, "Debt is projected to increase from 108 per cent in 2017 to 117 per cent of GDP in 2023. If tax cuts with sunset provisions are not allowed to lapse, public debt would climb even higher." Thankfully, the outlook for the world at large is a lot more positive - the IMF forecasts indicate that debt-to-GDP ratios would come down over the next three to five years in most countries. This, of course, hinges on them delivering fully on their policy commitments. So the report calls out for immediate decisive action on the part of nations to strengthen fiscal buffers and advance policies/reforms to reduce vulnerabilities, taking full advantage of the recent broad-based pickup in economic activity. "Countries are advised to avoid procyclical fiscal policies that exacerbate economic fluctuations and ratchet up public debt," said Gasper. Incidentally, the report also gives a thumbs up to Aadhaar, the constitutional validity of which is currently being debated in the Supreme Court. "Digitalization can improve financial management and ultimately the efficiency of public spending... Biometric technology to identify and authenticate individuals can help reduce leakages and improve coverage of social programs. With more than 1.2 billion registered citizens in India's biometric identification system, Aadhaar, the country stands out as a leader in this area," it said. Significantly, the IMF also underscored that digitization is no panacea, and the report made clear that "governments must address multiple political, social, and institutional weakness and manage digital risks". (With PTI inputs) Biscuit-maker Britannia Industries has partnered with a snack company from Greece and would be soon launching croissants with chocolate filling. But the first mover in the sweet snack category is actually the Indore-based Prataap Snacks, which owns the Yellow Diamond brand of snacks. Prataap Snacks has recently launched Yum Pie, a Rs 5 chocolate-coated cake with a fruit-cream filling. Prataap Snack MD & CEO, Amit Kumat, is confident that Yum Pie would soon contribute over 10 per cent to his revenue. In a conversation with Business Today's Ajita Shashidhar, Kumat talks about his vision for his sweet snacking brand and how he is creating an entirely new category. Excerpts: How did you stumble upon the idea of sweet snacks? I was travelling to Assam and after lunch I had a craving to eat something sweet. That's when I realised that there was nothing that was sweet available that one could actually buy and eat on the go. That's when the idea of launching an affordable sweet snack came to my mind. We got some sweet snack products from US and Europe and experimented, but we had to come out with a product that would suit the Indian palette. Then we zeroed down on Jaffa cake. Jaffa is orange in Brazil. So, what brand a like McVities does, is make cake and spread orange jam in between the cake and puts a coating of chocolate on the top. We decided to call our product Yum Pie. We launched it in mixed fruit, orange and strawberry flavours. When we launched we realised that if we hang it along with the snack packets it will not only get lost, but will also get crushed. We have now shifted to table-top dispensers. Do you see potential in sweet snacks? Huge potential. I am convinced that this category has to grow big in India. Indians have a terrible sweet tooth and that has to reflect. If you see the Indian market, the younger generation's taste pattern is totally different from ours. If you see the evolution of potato chips, we started with plain salted, then masala and tomato, but now in the last few years it's cream and onion which is most popular. It is the highest seller for all the chips brands. So, taste pattern is changing. The kids who are consuming besan ka laddoo at homes today, 10 years later will have a totally different taste pattern. That's what I believe, people will eat various kinds of cakes. Britannia has cakes, but they never made it that big. What makes you believe that a cake dessert will work? I am quite sure a Rs 5 cake will work. 85 per cent of my revenue comes from Rs 5 price point. No one has tried offering cakes at Rs 5 price point, therefore, we are trying. We are a company for the masses and we have to come out with options that the masses can afford. Does it make sense from a cost perspective to offer a cake at Rs 5? Definitely. It will be much more profitable. The challenge of course is mass production, mass marketing. We have to create this category. How are you going to build this category? We have deep distribution. We cover around 1.23 million retail outlets. Our idea is to place this sweet snack in these outlets, advertise on kids channels and let people try the product. The learning curve for the first three-four months was how to place it. The chocolate coating melted and we don't have the wherewithal to offers coolers at outlets, so we had to convince the retailer not to expose the product to sunlight. The problem of breakage in snacks is not so much, but this will break, so we started putting them in bottles. We took six months to zero down upon the product, we got a line from Italy and that took time. When we established the product, we test launched it in Pune and Mumbai. Cadbury had launched Bytes, a chocolate-filled snack, but it didn't work. Do think a Rs 5 cake will sell in rural markets? I had that belief, hence I plunged into it. You obviously can't compare with salted snacks, but if we can sell 20 per cent of what we do in salted snacks, it will be a huge volume for us. It will help us in reducing transportation cost quite a bit. Transportation of potato chips is close to 7-8 per cent and this will be close to 2 per cent%. It increases the ROI of super stockists and distributor as they have to carry in the same van. You also get a separate space on the retail shelf as the product can't be hung along with the salted snacks. So, Yum Pie will not compete with salted snacks for retail space. Why did you not think of launching an Indian mithai? I would love to launch rasgulla and rasmalai, but shelf life is a challenge. What are the other changes happening in the snack market? If you see a 10-year horizon, there were around 300 companies who thought chips was a profitable business to be in, but most of them have vanished. Creating a snack food brand in India is difficult. One has to try different snacks as potato prices are shooting up. So, we tried Nachos at Rs 10. Do you have an edge over MNCs? We should be grateful to the MNCs for creating the category. But the reason we are doing better is because our cost structure is leaner and our response time is shorter. If we zero down on a product, we can launch in months, but they take years. Hence we have a better chance in gaining market share. Benefacts second annual Nonprofit Sector Analysis report Understanding Irelands Third Sector was launched today by Paschal Donohoe TD, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform. Benefacts has created the Database of Irish Nonprofits from the publicly available regulatory filings of Irelands entire population of nonprofit companies including registered charities. Available as a free report to download from Benefacts public website www.benefacts.ie, the analysis provides a rich insight into the status and financial structure of the nonprofit sector - often called the third sector to distinguish it from the public and private sectors. The report shows that 80% of the nonprofit sectors financial turnover of 12.1bn is concentrated in only 3.5% of Irelands nonprofits most of them registered charities. The Irish Government is still the biggest source of funding to the nonprofit sector at 5.5bn, but two-thirds of this is fees for services. Grant (non-fee) income from government has been overtaken by other income including fees from other sources and public donations. Newly available local registry data from public participation networks shows that when local clubs and associations are counted, the population of Irish nonprofits stands today at 29,000; when full data is available, Benefacts estimate this number will grow to 40,000 or more. Compared to 13% of people working in the economy at large, it is still the case that fewer than 1% of the 90,000 people working in independent nonprofits enjoy the benefit of higher pay (more than 70k) The report shows that aside from donations from individuals, philanthropic institutions in Ireland and overseas contribute at least 105m to the sector. In 2016 for the first time, reported giving by Irish philanthropies (62m) overtook giving from international philanthropic sources (41m). Speaking at the launch in Dublins Royal Irish Academy, Minister for Finance and Public Expenditure and Reform, Paschal Donohoe said, "The database that this report is drawn from is a key piece of infrastructure that allows for higher quality analysis of public spending, which is so important. The report shows that out of the 12.1bn spent in the sector in 2017, nearly half came from Exchequer sources, outlining the Governments commitment to the sector and to the valuable contribution it makes to the creation of a more inclusive, engaged and civically-minded society." Benefacts Managing Director Patricia Quinn, the author of the report added, "Because it is so large and diverse, it is easy to miss the economic significance of this sector. 158,000 people work in the sector, and at 5.5bn, it accounted for 8% of current Exchequer expenditure in 2016, the latest date for which this detailed, audited information is available. But it would be wrong simply to represent this sector in terms of economic metrics. Nonprofits of all kinds, small as well as large, define the kind of society we have made for ourselves and our families to live in. Besides giving expression to a myriad of cultural and recreational interests, they provide an essential social infrastructure for civic engagement, empowerment, advocacy and community building." Source: www.businessworld.ie Facebook Inc's Chief Executive Mark Zuckerberg came under pressure from EU lawmakers on Wednesday to come to Europe and shed light on the data breach involving Cambridge Analytica that affected nearly three million Europeans. The world's largest social network is under fire worldwide after information about nearly 87 million users wrongly ended up in the hands of the British political consultancy, a firm hired by Donald Trump for his 2016 U.S. presidential election campaign. European Parliament President Antonio Tajani last week repeated his request to Zuckerberg to appear before the assembly, saying that sending a junior executive would not suffice. In his letter to the Facebook CEO, Tajani said the company should bear in mind that lawmakers play a key role in crafting tough rules governing online tech giants. "Let me also stress that one of the Parliament's future priorities will be to reinforce the regulatory framework to ensure a well-functioning digital market with high level protection for our citizens," he wrote. EU Justice Commissioner Vera Jourova, who recently spoke to Facebook Chief Operating Officer Sheryl Sandberg, said Zuckerberg should heed the lawmakers' call. "This case is too important to treat as business as usual," Jourova told an assembly of lawmakers. "I advised Sheryl Sandberg that Zuckerberg should accept the invitation from the European Parliament. (EU digital chief Andrius) Ansip refers to the invitation as a measure of rebuilding trust," she said. Facebook did not respond to a request for comment. Zuckerberg fielded 10 hours of questions over two days from nearly 100 U.S. lawmakers last week and emerged largely unscathed. He will meet Ansip in San Francisco on Tuesday. Another European lawmaker Sophia in't Veld echoed the call from her colleagues, saying that the Facebook CEO should do them the same courtesy. "I think Zuckerberg would be well advised to appear at the Parliament out of respect for Europeans," she said. Lawmaker Viviane Reding, the architect of the EU's landmark privacy law which will come into effect on May 25, giving Europeans more control over their online data, said the right laws would bring back trust among users. (Reuters) Source: www.businessworld.ie Modified On May 07, 2018 11:08 AM By Dhruv.A The Korean carmaker ranks 1st in JD power customer service rating index Hyundai India has come a long way in the Indian market when you look as it started its journey with an odd-looking small hatchback, the Santro. Hyundai originally wanted to venture in the highly competitive entry-level market but has got hold of the premium segment as well along the way, the latest JD power ranking survey suggests. Its current crop of vehicles such as the 2018 Elite i20, Creta, Elantra, Verna and the Tucson have been widely accepted among the buyers and the Korean carmaker came on top in the JD Power customer service index. What does that mean? Hyundai cars are becoming more desirable day by day. Also Read: Clash Of The Segments: Hyundai Verna vs Hyundai Creta- Which One To Buy? This is what the Hyundai press release stated: Brand Power Index demonstrated an increase in awareness and preference for Hyundais premium offerings No. 1 in JD Power Customer Service Index Only manufacturer to win 5 ICOTY awards (Indian Car of the Year) Hyundai Motor India Ltd., the countrys second largest manufacturer of passenger cars and the largest exporter since inception has attained a significant growth in enriching its Brand Power under Modern Premium Brand direction. HMIL has steadily climbed up the ranks demonstrating a steady increase in awareness and preference for its premium offerings among the customers. Commenting on this trend, Mr. Y K Koo, MD & CEO, HMIL said, As a Most Loved and Trusted brand we have attained a remarkable growth in Brand Power. The enhanced Brand Power Index increased our awareness from 77% in 2016 to 80% in 2017 in India. Hyundais brand preference went up from 69.7% to 70.7% and repurchase intention grew by 3.2% to 76.2% in the same period. We further strengthened our commitment by creating high quality cars along-with world class after sales services for the customers, resulting in Number 1 rank in JD Power 2017 India Customer Service Index (Mass Market) study 2017. This is a true reflection of Hyundai Brand Trust within our customers in the Indian market. Hyundai has witnessed a considerable increase in sales contribution from its premium segment cars. The sales contribution of the premium aspirational brands(XCENT, ELITE i20, i20 ACTIVE, VERNA, CRETA, ELANTRA and TUCSON) has gone up from 54.19% in FY2015-16 to 60.54% in FY2017-18, this shift is a testimony of rising customer aspirations and preference towards Hyundai products. The most prestigious award winning brands like ELITE i20, the Next Gen VERNA, CRETA, ELANTRA and TUCSON have become segment icons and set new benchmark in premium products category. Hyundai also achieved Number 1 position in JD Power APEAL 2017 awards for EON, GRAND i10, ELITE i20 & i20 ACTIVE. And reiterated its commitment towards quality, by scoring No.1 rank in JD Power IQS 2017 for Top 3 models GRAND i10, VERNA and CRETA, and achieved overall 2nd position, compared to the 4th position in 2016.These wins are testimony of Hyundais relentless pursuit towards highest quality and service. Modified On May 11, 2018 04:44 PM By Saransh for Toyota Yaris The Yaris marks Toyotas much awaited entry into the midsize sedan segment Toyota is all set to launch the Yaris in India in the coming weeks. The pre-launch bookings of the sedan are already underway and we expect Toyota to price it between Rs 10 lakh and Rs 14 lakh. Related: Toyota Yaris Expected Prices In India: Will It Undercut Honda City? The Yaris front looks relatively busy compared to the rest of the car. The wide and stretched headlamps leave limited room for the upper grille. A plus-size black lower grille with the air dam takes up most of the real estate on the bumper. Then there are those vertical fog lamp housings that make the Yaris look distinctly Toyota. The Yaris headlights look quite similar to those of the pre-facelift Corolla Altis as far as their design is concerned. These pack halogen projectors instead of LED or Bi-xenon units. LED headlights are gradually becoming a norm in the segment and these are energy efficient as well and hence, we would have liked to see them on the Yaris. It does get LED DRLs, though, and automatic headlamps as well, but these are limited to the top variants only - DRLs (VX) and automatic headlamps (V and VX). While the front is busy, as far as its design is concerned, the rear is simple and easy on the eyes. In fact, the Yaris' rear appears inspired by some of the German cars as far as the design and layout is concerned. Unlike its headlamps, the tail lamps do get LED elements and an LED brake lights, giving the Yaris a modern touch. If you look at the Yaris from the side, it appears to be very understated. Where other sedans like City and the Verna look sporty and aggressive with bold shoulder lines, the Yaris, on the other hand, is simple. As far as its overall length (4425mm) is concerned, the Yaris is the shortest car in its segment. The Honda City is longer by 15mm, while the Ciaz extends 55mm beyond. However, at 1495mm and 1730mm, it is the tallest and the widest car compared to the City, Ciaz and the Verna. The Yaris comes with 15-inch alloy wheels, which are a size smaller than its competitors such as the City, Verna and the Ciaz that ride on 16-inchers. While we dont expect it to make a big difference to its dynamics, the bigger wheels would have added that extra sportiness to the exterior. The Yaris cabin is a premium place to be in. The dual-tone finish gives it an upmarket look. It, however, lacks soft plastics on the dashboard and in other areas, but Toyota has smartly incorporated stitch-like design on the dashboard that mimics the lining on leather. The Yaris leather wrapped steering also feels premium and features controls for the audio, Bluetooth telephony and MID screen functions. The Yaris gets a 7-inch touchscreen infotainment system with gesture control and navigation. However, as we said in our review, the placement of the touchscreen is such that it is prone to glare under direct sunlight. The Yaris gets several segment-first features and an 8-way power adjustable drivers seat is one of them. However, it is limited only to the top-spec VX variant. Manual drivers seat height adjustment is, however, offered as standard. To keep the passengers comfortable at the back, the Yaris comes with roof-mounted rear AC vents as standard. Moreover, the rear AC vents get digital blower control and variable ambient lighting. Along with the regular rear parking camera and rear parking sensors, the Yaris also gets front parking sensors (another segment-first) that should make parking in tight spots easier. The Yaris will only be offered with a 1.5-litre petrol engine. It makes 107PS of power and 140Nm of torque. The Yaris has a claimed mileage of 17.1kmpl and 17.8kmpl for the manual and the CVT variants, respectively. The Yaris is the only car in its class to offer an automatic transmission (a 7-speed CVT) right from the base variant. A 6-speed manual gearbox is also on offer on all variants. The top-spec VX variant gets paddle shifters behind the steering wheel with the CVT. A flat rear floor means legroom for the middle passenger at the back is adequate. However, the central armrest in the front intrudes too much and eats up usable space. This is despite the fact that it doesnt have rear AC vents mounted on it. The Yaris also gets two power sockets at the back for added convenience. The Yaris gets a 4.2-inch colour MID screen which looks good and displays parking sensor information, Eco savings and other trip information clearly. The Yaris is surely not the most driver-centric car and has its own shortcomings in the form of space and features offered. However, the sheer sense of premiumness the Yaris exudes, makes it a fair tradeoff. Also Read: Hyundai Verna vs Honda City: Comparison Review || Toyota Yaris Specs Comparison: Verna, City, Ciaz & More Our Promise: Welcome to Care2, the world's largest community for good. Here, you'll find over 45 million like-minded people working towards progress, kindness, and lasting impact. Care2 Stands Against: bigots, racists, bullies, science deniers, misogynists, gun lobbyists, xenophobes, the willfully ignorant, animal abusers, frackers, and other mean people. If you find yourself aligning with any of those folks, you can move along, nothing to see here. Care2 Stands With: humanitarians, animal lovers, feminists, rabble-rousers, nature-buffs, creatives, the naturally curious, and people who really love to do the right thing. You are our people. You Care. We Care2. Step 1 Log on to the Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd official website. Step 2 Click on the Careers tab. Step 3 Click on the link that reads, Advertisement No. APL/HRM/Con/Adv-53(Pt-II)/169 for GETs & MTs Recruitment. Step 4 The detailed advertisement will be displayed on the screen. Read the details carefully. Step 5 Scroll down to the bottom of the page to find the application form. Take a printout of it and fill the details. Step 6 Post the application to Assam Petro-Chemicals Ltd. Step 1 Log on to the Kolkata Port Trust official website. Step 2 Click Vacancy on the bottom of the page. Step 3 The list of vacancy advertisements will be displayed on the screen. Step 4 Click on the link for nurses. Step 5 The detailed advertisement will be displayed on the screen. Step 6 Scroll down to the bottom of the page and make a note of the list of documents to be carried during the interview and follow the instructions. Step 1 Log on to the Medical Services Recruitment Board official website. Step 2 Click Online Registration from the home page. Step 3 The list of recruitment will be displayed on the screen. Step 4 Click Register against ASSISTANT MEDICAL OFFICER / LECTURER GARDE II (YOGA & NATUROPATHY). Step 5 The important dates for the application will be displayed on the screen. Step 6 Click on the declaration checkbox. Step 7 Click on the button to register as a new user. Step 8 The registration form will be displayed on the screen. Enter your details in the space provided. Step 9 Enter the captcha code. Step 10 Click Submit button. Photo: The Canadian Press Canada's latest greenhouse gas inventory report to the United Nations shows emissions are starting to trend downward, but not nearly at the rate needed to meet the country's international commitments under the Paris climate change accord. The report was made public Tuesday, as Prime Minister Justin Trudeau was at the National Assembly in Paris lauding both Canada and France as international leaders on climate change. "It is up to us to make this agreement in principle a reality," Trudeau said in French in his speech to the assembly. "It is up to us to ensure that our children and grandchildren can breathe fresh air and enjoy the great outdoors like we did." Canada and France signed a partnership agreement on climate this week, agreeing to help get other countries to agree to implement carbon pricing systems, improve energy efficiencies and cut emissions across all forms of transportation. But Canada is still quite a distance away from meeting its own commitments under the Paris accord, the latest UN emissions filing shows. The report which Canada must file annually as part of its international climate commitments shows Canada emitted 704 million tonnes in 2016. While that is down 1.4 per cent from the year before, Environmental Defence's national program manager Dale Marshall says the decrease is so small it's nothing to get excited about. "It's kind of staying the course," said Marshall. The number leaves Canada 187 million tonnes away from its Paris commitment to get emissions to at least 30 per cent less than they were in 2005 by 2030. To meet that target, Canada can't produce more than 517 million tonnes of emissions in 2030. In comparison, 187 million tonnes is the amount produced annually by 40.6 million passenger vehicles, or nearly twice as many cars as were actually on Canada's roads in 2016. Catherine Abreu, executive director of the Climate Action Network Canada, said Canada acknowledged to the United Nations in December that its current policies, including the Pan-Canadian Framework on Clean Growth and Climate Change, still leave the country 66 million tonnes shy of its Paris goal. Maple Leaf Cement's new line on-stream in May 2019 19 April 2018 Maple Leaf Cement Factory Ltd (MLCF) has informed Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) about the progress achieved on the implementation of the expansion of its Iskandarabad plant, which is estimated to come online mid-2019. The 7300tpd dry-process grey clinker line, a brownfield expansion at the company's existing site in Punjab, will take total grey cement capacity at the plant to 18,000tpd. The total project cost is estimated at PKR25bn (US$216m), which includes the impact of the recent devaluation of Pakistani rupee. The project is financed by mainly bank loans (51 per cent of project cost), own resources (32 per cent) and a rights issue (17 per cent). FLSmidth A/S is the main EPC contractor and was awarded a EUR79m contract through the National Bank of Pakistan. Until the quarter ended 31 March 2018, a total of 59 shipments have been made with estimated value of EUR36m to the plant site. The civil construction and mechanical erection work is being carried out by Descon Engineering Ltd, who had completed around 35 per cent of the civil work by 31 March 2018. Further plant erection work has also started and five per cent work has been completed. Commercial production from new line of 7300tpd is expected to commence by the end of May 2019. Published under Vietnam exports rise 68 per cent in the 1Q18 19 April 2018 Vietnam has seen a 68 per cent increase in cement exports for the 1Q18, following the shutdown of several Chinese plants, according to Viet Nam News. Nguyen Quang Cung, vice chairman of the Vietnam Building Material Association, announced that production in the country surged 18 per cent YoY in the quarter, marking the first time it had recorded high growth against an annual increase of approximately 10 per cent. The growth in exports was due to the policy change of the Chinese government towards cement production, according to Mr Cung. China is also facing a shortage of electricity and it needs more energy for heating during the winter months. However, cement production consumes a large volume of energy. These circumstances have turned China into an importer of cement at the end of 2017, according to Mr Cung. Therefore, it has imported clinker from Vietnam at a volume of 1.5Mt per month. The association expected to export 15Mt of clinker in 2017, but in fact, Vietnam exported up to 21Mt last year, said Mr Cung. Published under Myanmar Pastors Released From Prison in Presidential Amnesty Amid Report of Torture, Rape 19 April, 2018 by Samuel Smith/CP , | Two Baptist leaders who helped shed light on how a government airstrike destroyed a church in Northern Myanmar were among the over 8,000 prisoners freed from prison thanks to presidential amnesty granted by President Win Myint this week. Pastor Dumdaw Nawng Lat and youth leader Langjaw Gam Seng from Kachin were two of the 8,490 citizens and 51 foreigners released from prisons in the Asian nation that ranks as one of the worst countries in the world when it comes to Christian persecution, The Associated Press reports. "We are here with both of them and the whole Baptist community is very happy to have them back," lawyer Brang Di told the news outlet. "Everyone is praying for them and encouraging them." The 67-year-old Lat and 35-year-old Seng are leaders in the Kachin Baptist Church in Mongko and affiliated with the Kachin Baptist Convention. According to Human Rights Watch, the two were arrested and jailed in January 2017 and spent 15 months in prison for helping visiting journalists report on damage caused by an airstrike to a Catholic church in the northern Shan State. The men were accused of violating the Unlawful Associations Act and were alleged to have supported the Kachin Independence Army. Lat was also charged with defamation for providing information about the airstrikes to Voice of America in December 2016. In October 2017, Lat was sentenced to four years and three months in prison, while Seng was sentenced to two years and three months. The arrest and sentence drew the ire of international human rights advocates, who called for the pastors' immediate release. "Their family members and myself awaited at the prison for their release and we have found that the condition of their health condition is fine," Di told the Union of Catholic Asian News after the men's release on Tuesday. Another Baptist prisoner who benefited from the amnesty, according to UCANews.com, is Lahpai Gam, who told the news outlet that his health has been in bad condition since he was tortured during a 2012 interrogation. Because of the torture, Gam says he has had anal bleeding, stomach problems and has needed several blood transfusions. Gam also said he had to share a cell with as many as 400 other inmates. According to Burma Campaign UK, Gam was arrested in June 2012 and was sentenced to 20 years in Myitkyina prison. He was accused of being a soldier with the Kachin Independence Army and of carrying out bombings. The rights group notes that during the interrogation, Gam was not only brutally kicked and beaten but also forced to drink water mixed with gasoline and have sexual intercourse with another male prisoner. "He was repeatedly tortured and forced to make false confession about his connection with the KIA and different bombings in the area. He was also accused of leaving the refugee camp several times to attend military training sessions with the KIA," a letter from Burma Campaign UK to a British lawmaker reads. "At his trial, Lahpai Gam said to the judge that he had no other choice but to confess so that the torture would stop." Read more about Christian persecution in Myanmar on The Christian Post. A new Hebrew-English Bible with a distinctly Israeli flavor will be published in honor of Israels 70th anniversary. The anniversary begins at sundown Wednesday (April 18) and ends at sundown the next day. The Israel Bible is the worlds first Bible centered around the Land of Israel, the People of Israel and the unique relationship between them, according to Israel365, the organization that produced it in conjunction with Menorah Books, a division of Koren Publishers Jerusalem. Israel365 teaches Christians about the biblical significance of the land of Israel and the Jewish peoples connection to the land, based on the text of the 24 books that constitute the Tanakh, the Hebrew name for the Bible, and what Christians call the Old Testament. The groups newsletter is read by 300,000 subscribers, the majority of them evangelical Christians among the strongest supporters of Israel. Maayan Hoffman, vice president of marketing and brand strategy at Israel365, wrote in The Jerusalem Post that the aim of the new Bible is to convince a divided Jewish people, Christian Zionists and what sometimes seems like an anti-Israel world that Israel belongs to the Jewish people. The founding of Israel, which became a refuge for Jews after the Holocaust, in which one-third of the worlds Jewish population was murdered, is called the Nakba (catastrophe in Arabic) by many Palestinians and others who question Jews right to what was once part of the biblical land of Israel. Written by Orthodox rabbis and scholars, The Israel Bibles commentary ties the history of the Jewish people to modern-day Israel. In Jeremiah 4:6, for example, a sentry instructs the Israelites to set up a signpost to direct those fleeing from invaders in the North to Jerusalem; The Israel Bibles commentary relates how, in 1891, a man named Michael Halperin gathered a group of people in central Israel and unfurled a blue and white flag emblazoned with the words nes Tziona. This location became the modern-day city of Nes Tziona, and Halperins banner became the model for the future Israeli flag, the Bible notes. Although The Israel Bible was created largely with non-Jews in mind, Rabbi Tuly Weisz, its editor, emphasized that there is nothing a Jewish reader would find questionable in its text or presentation. He said he hopes the Bible, which will be published in June, will foster greater understanding between Christians and Jews. For 2,000 years the Bible was the No. 1 source of division between Jews and Christians, Weisz said. My hope is that this Bible will become a source of unity between the two peoples. Courtesy: Religon News Service Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/aradphotography Publication date: April 19, 2018 On November 2, 1917, British Foreign Secretary Arthur J. Balfour wrote a letter expressing the British governments support for a Jewish homeland in Palestine. International support for the idea grew after World War II and the Holocaust. On May 14, 1948, Jewish Agency Chairman David Ben-Gurion proclaimed the State of Israel, establishing the first Jewish state in 2,000 years. Although small, Israel is one of the most talked-about countries in the world. The country is held in special regard by both Jews and Christians due to God's promises to Israel and the many things the Bible has to say about this nation. As Pastor Adrian Rogers wrote, "I want help in understanding the present and the future, because there is Bible prophecy yet to be fulfilled. Keep your eyes on Zion, God's holy land. As the Jew goes, so goes the world. The Jews are God's yardstick, God's outline, God's blueprint, for what Hes up to in the rest of the world. The land of Israel, I believe, is the most important spot on earth. The most important city is not Washington or Moscow, but Jerusalem. The most important land, believe it or not, is not America but tiny Israel, about the size of New Jersey." Here are 70 Bible verses about Israel as we commemorate 70 years of the country's existence in the modern era. Photo courtesy: Thinkstock/ventdsud Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment The government began a crackdown on opioids a few years ago due to an increase in overdose deaths from opioids. In October, President Trump declared that the opioid epidemic had become an emergency. He took several steps to have the government look into alternative treatments, in an attempt to discourage doctors from prescribing opioids. At least 17 states have enacted strict laws limiting the length of painkiller prescriptions. Other states are passing dosage limits. The Centers for Disease Control and Prevention issued guidelines for providers last year, stating that three days of an opioid painkiller should be sufficient and more than seven days "will rarely be needed." Doctors are now encouraged to stick to these limits. Drug overdoses have become the leading cause of accidental deaths in the U.S. Around 64,000 people died from drug overdoses in 2016. This surpassed deaths caused by car accidents. Opioids are also falling out of favor because they don't work for long-term treatment on some patients. Patients can become acclimated to painkillers. Pharmaceutical companies using aggressive marketing tactics are partially blamed for the increase in opioid prescriptions. Some of the crackdown is due to confusion between (illegal) heroin overdoses and prescription drug overdoses. Prescription opioids include Vicodin, Percocet or oxycodone, hydrocodone and morphine. But legal or not, they all are lumped in together as opioids. The reality is, prescription opioid drug overdoses leveled off in 2011, averaging under 18,000 deaths a year. Less than half of all adults who misuse opioids do so through a prescription. Meanwhile, heroin deaths continue to rise. This is in part due to Fentanyl, a potent opioid, being increasingly mixed with heroin. By 2016, deaths involving fentanyl surpassed deaths involving prescription opioids and heroin. Partially driving the increase in heroin was doctors' increasing refusal to prescribe opioids so patients turned to the more dangerous heroin instead. But there is a difference between taking prescription drugs and using heroin. There are millions of Americans in chronic pain who depend on prescription opioids for pain relief, who don't abuse the drugs and who have doctors that carefully monitor their dosages. Many have found nothing else to be as effective. An estimated 126 million adults in the U.S. reported some pain in the previous three months. While it's true that some doctors were careless in overprescribing opioids, it's not fair to punish innocent patients for what other doctors did. Seattle Pain Centers, a chain of eight Washington clinics, was shut down in July 2016 over allegations of improper oversight leading to the deaths of several patients. It left 8,000 patients scrambling for new providers. People who have lived squeaky clean lives, who have never had a drop of alcohol, smoked a cigarette, or put anything else unhealthy in their body are now being treated suspiciously by their doctors and pharmacies. Getting prescriptions and filling them has become a bureaucratic, humiliating nightmare. Doug Hale, 53, of Vermont, who suffered from pain caused by interstitial cystitis, severe migraines, and a back condition, took his own life in 2016 after his doctor stopped prescribing oxycodone and methadone for him, not wanting to "risk his [medical] license." Doctors now tell patients taking prescription opioids that they need to reduce their intake or wean off of the drugs altogether. Mark Ibsen, a doctor based in Montana, posted a video of himself with a patient who was distraught after having her oxycodone and morphine dosage cut by one third. "If she could get her opiates, she wouldn't be trying to kill herself," he pleaded. The left thinks the solution is to transfer everyone to smoking pot. While medical marijuana is legal in many states now, it doesn't work as well for pain with some patients. Additionally, it's illegal to own a firearm if using marijuana. Medical marijuana card holders are prohibited from buying firearms through background checks. There are countless stories of people living with chronic pain who are now restricted from obtaining the relief they need from opioids. Many of the people judging them and advocating for restrictions have never felt chronic pain. The 38 percent of the population taking prescription opioids can't all be wrong, they can't all be abusing drugs. Leaving up to 38 percent of the population in pain due to the carelessness or addictions of others is not a solution. Doctors are terrified to prescribe opioids after seeing what happened to other doctors. They know the consequences of overprescribing. It's time to let the pendulum swing back and let doctors decide what is best for their patients. When government steps in to regulate things, it usually does a poor job and this is no exception. Email Whatsapp Menu Whatsapp Google Reddit Digg Stumbleupon Linkedin Comment When the news broke on Tuesday night that CIA Director Mike Pompeo had met with North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un, I was not surprised. Pompeo had long ago established his importance to this administration and his understanding of geopolitics. Pompeo's skills are precisely why the president nominated him to be the next Secretary of Stateand why it's so absurd that Democrats are reluctant to confirm him. Considering the increasing gridlock in the Senate over President Donald Trump's nominees, this is a good time to remind our Democratic friends of Pompeo's many qualificationsqualifications that have only increased since he earned Democratic support to become CIA Director just last year. Obstructing such a nominee would be a bad look indeed for vulnerable red state Democrats ahead of their upcoming elections. Pompeo's resume is remarkable: First in his class at West Point. Five years in active service during the Cold War. Harvard Law School graduate and editor of the Harvard Law Review. Entrepreneur, member of Congress, Director of the CIA. It's a resume that sounds like a movie script, the kind of experience and accomplishments that carry appeal across party lines, and which have prepared him to serve as America's top diplomat and implement the president's America First foreign policy. Leading the CIA, Pompeo worked in tandem with allies and partners to advance American interests likepreventing terrorism and safeguarding the integrity of democratic elections. He also confronted those who threatened our interests and security: Pompeo's CIA acted quickly last year to provide the president with a high-confidence assessment that the Syrian regime had used chemical weapons against its own people, laying the groundwork for the missile strikes against Syrian President Bashar al-Assad's regime. Under Pompeo's leadership, the CIA was able to strengthen U.S. intelligence on North Korea, leading to the interdiction of shipments to the Hermit Kingdom in violation of U.N. sanctions. When I served as U.S. Ambassador to the United Nations Human Rights Commission, I saw firsthand how vital it is that our diplomats have the knowledge and experience to handle delicate matters of national security and international peace. Pompeo would bring both attributes to the State Department. The Senate should act swiftly to confirm Pompeojust as it did when President Trump nominated Pompeo for his current role as director of the CIA last year. The Senate confirmed him for his current position by a 66-32 vote. Among the Democrats who voted yea were senators Joe Manchin (W.Va.), Heidi Heitkamp (N.D.), Joe Donnelly (Ind.), and Claire McCaskill (Mo.). If these senators obstruct Pompeo's nomination ahead of their elections, how will they explain that to their voters? The skills he showed at Langley won't travel to Foggy Bottom? So what, exactly, has changed since then? Clearly, the difference is political pressure from the far-left base. But these senators should not let the appeal of #Resistance and pressure from the far Left blind them to what is best for America. There is no rational reason for Democrats to obstruct a highly qualified nominee that they approved last year, especially at a time when the nation faces foreign policy challenges and national security threats in Syria, North Korea, China and Russia. Obstructing Pompeo would weaken our standing in the world, limiting our ability to conduct vital diplomatic relations mitigate these challenges and threats. If Democrats block Pompeo, voters will recognize their efforts for what they are: obstruction and political grand-standing. Americans can tell the difference between a good-faith effort to block an unqualified candidate and an attempt to thwart Trump's agenda at any cost. Ken Blackwell is a former Domestic Policy Advisor to the Trump Transition Team, mayor of Cincinnati and serves as a Senior Advisor to Securing America's Energy Future (SAFE). 'Boruto: Naruto Next Generations' Episode 54 release date, plot spoilers: Boruto's training begins; Manga villain features in cameo The anime spin-off series, "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations," has started to adapt a popular storyline from the original manga version, which involves the upcoming Chunin examination in the Hidden Leaf Village. Konoha has no idea of the danger that awaits everyone, as the young genins are focused on passing the next stage of becoming skilled ninjas. The show's titular character will also be occupied by his training with Uchija Sasuke in the upcoming episode 54. Based on the synopsis for "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" episode 54, the fans will see more interactions between Naruto's closest rival and his eldest son. To recap the previous episode, Boruto wanted to prove that he is a lot stronger than his father. He believes that Sasuke can train him to surpass his father's skills, and out of all people, Sasuke is the only one who knows how to beat Naruto. Meanwhile, the previous episode of "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" also featured a familiar character from the manga. In one particular scene, Katasuku was turned down by Naruto in his request to use his scientific tools in the upcoming Chunin exam. As Katasuku returned to his lab, a cloaked figure appeared and approached him. While the main features of the person are covered, manga readers would know that this is none other than Kashin Koji, a known villain in "Boruto" manga series, and member of a criminal organization known as Kara. Per Comic Book, the role that Kashin Koji will play in the current story arc of "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" is still uncertain, although some fans believe that his appearance in the anime version is still quite early. Nevertheless, this is an exciting teaser of the things to come in the series after the Chunin examinations arc. Going back to this week's upcoming episode, the viewers can expect to know more about the new threat in town, Urashiki Otsutsuki. The previous episode saw Urashiki's face-off with Toneri, and episode 54 is expected to see the villain inching closer to Naruto's location as he aims to use the tailed beasts in his quest to conquer the world. "Boruto: Naruto Next Generations" episode 54 will air in Japan on Thursday, April 18. California bill seeks to penalize religious freedom and free speech against gender issues A new bill introduced at the California legislature could soon penalize people who express objection to homosexuality and gender issues. Entered into the floor last February, the bill is moving fast in the deliberations. Assembly Bill 2943 (AB 2943) is an amendment to the Consumer Legal Remedies Act that disallows efforts in line with sexual orientation changes. Various groups, however, warn that if passed, the bill could have serious implications for those who believe that homosexuality is a sin. Focus on the Family president Jim Daly called the bill "misguided legislation." He believes that AB 2943, which has passed two readings, would make any efforts to help a person struggling with gender identity vulnerable to punitive damages and lawsuits under the guise of consumer protection. Daly further fears that activities like the purchase of a book on overcoming homosexuality or hiring the services of a counselor to help a person with gender confusion could also be seen as unlawful based on AB 2943, threatening religious freedom and free speech. Other groups also expressed their disapproval of the bill. "California AB 2943 makes it unlawful for any person to sell books, counseling services, or anything else that helps someone overcome unwanted same-sex attraction or gender identity confusion," Matt Sharp, the lawyer for the Alliance Defending Freedom, stated in a press release. "As a result, it could be a violation if a pastor encourages a congregant to visit the church book store to purchase books that help people address sexual issues," he added. The American College of Pediatricians also released a statement expressing its opposition to the proposed bill. The college stated that the limitation deprives gender-confused individuals of the chance to look into all options for therapy and counseling, which might compel them to commit suicide as a last resort. 'Consider the incompetence': Church leaders give brutal verdict on Windrush crisis Theresa May's attempt to address the Windrush crisis broke down on Thursday after the former head of the civil service described the hostile environment towards immigrants under May's time as home secretary as 'almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany'. Lord Kerslake, who has been advising Jeremy Corbyn, gave an interview to BBC Newsnight and called for a full investigation after the prime minister claimed the decision to destroy thousands of landing cards for Commonwealth immigrants was made in 2009 under a Labour government. Labour denies this and said the Home Office had previously admitted the decision was made under May in 2010. It came as church leaders across the UK condemned the government's handling of thousands of people from around the Commonwealth came to the UK after the Second World War to fill a labour shortage. The 1971 Immigration Act ended the free movement between Commonwealth nations that had existed until that point but gave all Commonwealth citizens living in the UK the right to remain. However the Home Office did not keep a record of those given leave to remain meaning they now find themselves having to prove they are here legally without having the paperwork to do so. Bishop Paul McAleenan, head of the UK Catholic Church's migration policy, welcomed May's apology to the Windrush generation but said their treatment was 'extraordinary and unacceptable'. 'To deny them access to the benefits of the state they have served so well would have been truly reprehensible,' he said. 'The Windrush generation and all communities that have made meaningful contribution to this country deserve to be treated fairly and with respect.' Rev Dr Michael Jagessar of the United Reformed Church said the predicament for Windrush residents 'boggles the mind'. 'Consider the incompetence, the Home Office did not keep a record of those granted leave to remain or issue any paperwork to confirm it. So how can the individuals now prove they are in the UK legally? Furthermore, why should the onus be on them to prove they have the right to remain? Would any of this apply to Australian, Canadian, South African, Indian or Pakistan-born citizens facing the same problem? 'It was the British government who invited the Windrush Generation to Britain to help rebuild our country in the wake of the Second World War,' he added. 'But now the Windrush children must seek legal advice, provide proof and incur expenses to prove they have the right to be in this place they call home and where they have contributed so much over many years. It is shameful that these individuals continue to be treated with such contempt, disrespect and lack of dignity.' Meanwhile a number of Church of England bishops also spoke out, urging their parishes to back a petition that demanded amnesty for the Windrush generation. The issue dominated prime mInister's questions on Wednesday after May attempted to get an advantage over Corbyn with the surprise claim the decision to destroy landing cards had been made in 2009. It later emerged two decisions had been made, one in in June 2009 and one in October 2010 and both were made by officials with the UK Border Agency, rather than by ministers. First Boko Haram attack on village in Chad Boko Haram fighters attacked a village in Chad on Friday, the first known lethal attack in that country by the Nigerian militant group, which killed several people including a local chief according to residents and security forces. Dozens of militants arrived by motorized canoe at the fishing village on the shores of Lake Chad early in the morning, setting houses ablaze and attacking a police station. "They came on board three pirogues and succeeded in killing about ten people before being pushed back by the army," said a resident of the village of Ngouboua, about 20 km (12 miles) east of the Nigerian border, to which thousands of Nigerian refugees had fled in early January after an attack on the town of Baga. Militants from the Sunni jihadist group, based in northern Nigeria less than 100 kilometers from the Chadian capital, have stepped up cross-border attacks in recent weeks in their campaign to carve out an Islamist emirate around the Lake Chad area which borders Nigeria, Chad, Cameroon and Niger. Security sources have quietly warned of sleeper cells nestled in Lake Chad - a vast maze of tiny islands and swamp. A spokesman for the armed forces said that five Chadians were killed on Friday, including local chief Mai Kolle, a police officer and three civilians. "We sent in our air force and they neutralized the three pirogues. We are still combing the area," he said. Residents are now fleeing the village and a Chadian humanitarian vehicle was attacked as it tried to escape, United Nations refugee agency spokesman Adrian Edwards told reporters in Geneva. In Niger, thousands fled the border town of Diffa this week after a wave of raids and suicide attacks. Boko Haram insurgents, including a suspected female suicide bomber, also attacked one town and two villages in Nigeria's Borno state on Thursday, killing at least 31 people according to security, hospital sources and witnesses. Nigeria has postponed a presidential election, that had been due on Saturday, for six weeks, citing the security threat from Boko Haram. Chad's army, one of the best in the region, has joined a regional offensive against Boko Haram and says it has killed hundreds of fighters in the past fortnight. In a bid to contain Boko Haram, which has killed thousands and kidnapped hundreds in its five-year revolt, President Idriss Deby's government mediated peace talks between the Nigerian government and the group last October. The negotiations sought to secure the release of 200 schoolgirls from Nigeria's Chibok but BokoHaram later said it had married off the schoolgirls to its fighters. Chad is also the base for a French regional counter-insurgency operation "Barkhane" which provides intelligence and logistical support to the Chadian army. 'Game of Thrones' Season 8 premiere date, plot spoilers: Jon Snow to have more antagonistic role; Daenerys Targaryen in danger Details about "Game of Thrones" season 8 is being kept under wraps, but there is nothing to stop the fans to speculate about the outcome of a brewing war between the people of Westeros and the band of undead soldiers, led by the Night King (Vladimir Furdik). Interestingly, a latest plot theory suggests that there is a lot more to know about the Night King, who has always been painted as the big bad of the entire history of Westeros. According to Express UK, "Game of Thrones" season 8 could introduce another mind-numbing plot twist that involves Jon Snow (Kit Harington) and the Night King. There has been a foreshadowing in the previous seasons that the two are destined to fight each other until the very end, and that epic battle is expected to happen very soon. Although, a "GoT" fan has developed a theory that the Night King may not necessarily appear as the villain in the final season. Jon Snow, on the other hand, may actually be working hard all this time to put Westeros in danger. The "Game of Thrones" season 8 plot rumor suggests that George R. R. Martin may have used the real-life events in the Vietnam War as basis for the final war in Westeros. The person that everyone has always believed to be the bad guy may actually have the intention to save men. A peek at the Nigh King's past shows that he was created by the Children of the Forrest to protect them against humans. According to the fan, there is more to be told about the Night King's origin as the magic that transformed him into a monster may not entirely erased his intention to protect his own kind. "In this case, both the Night King and Jon Snow were fighting for the same cause without realising it: To protect the living," the fan states. Jon has been rallying all forces to fight the Night King, but the twist here is that he is just trying to stop the Night King from saving humanity. In a way, Jon Snow could be considered as antogonist, although it is true that he just wants to protect the world from possible destruction. Other rumors for "Game of Thrones" season 8 include the shocking defeat of Daenerys Targaryen (Emilia Clarke), which will be caused by the absence of the Dornish army in the great war. The Dorne has been considered as a force to reckon in Westeros, a kingdom that is feared by the Lannisters. The Dornish army is nowhere in sight in the last acts of season 7, and if this continues into the next season, there is a chance that Daenerys will fail to claim the Iron Throne. "Game of Thrones" season 8 is set to premiere in early 2019. Iraq hands down death sentences to 300 male and female ISIS militants More than 300 men and women have been sentenced to death in two separate courts in Iraq for joining the Islamic State terror group, according to judicial sources. According to the Daily Mail, some of the accused were tried in a court near the group's former stronghold in Mosul. Others were tried in a court in Baghdad, which mainly deals with foreigners and women. A total of 212 people received the death sentence at the court in Tel Keif near Mosul, according to Supreme Judicial Council spokesman Abdel Sattar Bayraqdar. At least 150 were sentenced to life imprisonment while 341 were sentenced to other jail terms. "It has been proven that they carried out criminal actions at public hearings conducted in accordance with the law during which the convicts' rights were guaranteed," Bayraqdar said in a statement, as reported by the Daily Mail. As many as 103 foreigners have been sentenced to death in Baghdad since January, while 185 have been given life sentences. Since 2017, the courts have completed trials for 2,900 cases out of 10,000 referred cases. However, there are no official figures on how many of the convicted received the death penalty or how many executions have already taken place. A statement from the Justice Ministry said 11 people were executed on Monday for "terrorism crimes." The New York-based Human Rights Watch (HRW) said that the trials against the suspects were rushed and "riddled with due process violations, including convictions based solely on confessions which are sometimes extracted by torture." "Iraq's mishandling of the ISIS trials not only denies victims real justice, but also risks sending innocent Iraqis to their deaths," HRW senior Iraq researcher Belkis Wille said, according to the Daily Mail. One trial against a Turkish woman reportedly lasted only 10 minutes. According to The New York Times, 42-year-old housewife Amina Hassan had only been given two minutes to defend herself in court. Hassan admitted in court that she and her family entered Syria and Iraq illegally and lived under ISIS rule for more than two years, but she insisted that she never took money from the group. "I brought my own money from Turkey." She was sentenced to death by the judge along with 13 other women. Gen. Yahya Rasool, the spokesman for the Iraqi joint operations command, believes that the death sentences would serve as a deterrent to people who might think of joining extremist groups. "These Islamic State criminals committed crimes against humanity and against our people in Iraq, in Mosul and Salahuddin and Anbar, everywhere," Rasool said, as reported by The New York Times. "To be loyal to the blood of the victims and to be loyal to the Iraqi people, criminals must receive the death penalty, a punishment that would deter them and those who sympathize with them," he added. NT Wright: St Paul was an 'extremist' who would despair at our church disunity What should the modern world make of St Paul? It's one question the world-leading biblical scholar NT Wright has sought to engage in his latest book Paul: A Biography (SPCK, 19.99). Wright spoke with Christian Today about why westerners recoil at Paul, why he'd would despair at the church today, and what the 'extremist' apostle had in common with Osama bin Laden. He's a towering figure in western intellectual history, but the apostle Paul is off-putting to many today both in and outside the church. He was passionate in his beliefs and rarely minced his words in declaring them, even when they made him enemies. Some want to contrast Paul and Christ the latter imagined as an inclusive, pastoral preacher of the Kingdom of God, the former austere and aggressive, more interested in sin, doctrine and judgment after death. Of course, Wright will have none of that he's spent much of his career as a biblical scholar setting the record straight on Paul. Just see his titani opus Paul and the Faithfulness of God. Now, after friends asked for a take on Paul fit 'for mere mortals' (their words, not his) Wright has completed a biography of the apostle, an engaging 'drama' of his journey from the Christian-persecuting Pharisee to the travelling tentmaker who transformed the church. Visiting Wright at his academic home at the University of St Andrews, Scotland, I see amid the books and countless academic awards a dramatic artwork showing Paul pitted against the Roman Empire, a piece inspired by Wright's work on the apostle. Paul is 'one of the most formative public intellectuals in history of the world', Wright says, an 'extraordinary' fact given the small corpus of letters he left behind. Whether we like it or not, Wright says, we are in his debt. Then there's his influence on the church specifically: 'It was Paul who not only taught the beginning generation of the worldwide church what to think but began the process of teaching people how to think, how to think differently in Christ. That's why he says in Romans 12: "Be transformed by the renewing of your minds," that's the challenge. That there is a new way of thinking.' Then there's another essential element to Paul's work the Jewish heritage and narrative that undergirds it, but clashes with the painfully pervasive reality of antisemitism today. 'Western culture still hasn't figured out who the Jews are and what we should think about them,' Wright says. 'Even though we know the horrible history of the 20th century particularly, that hasn't made it easier. Paul is right on the cusp of that, as himself a zealous Jew who believes himself to be a fulfilled Jew because he is following Israel's Messiah. What does that mean? So much of the later western tradition has screened out the Jewish bit, and Paul insists that we put it back in. Until we do that, we're not really tracking with the complexity, and hence for Paul the glory, of what he was talking about.' So what is it about Paul that offends so many moderns today? 'Ever since the civil war in this country and the American Civil War, both countries have had... a horror of zealotry. There's a 16th-century saying: "I'd rather see a regiment of men coming towards me with drawn swords than a lone Calvinist insisting that he was doing God's will." 'In other words, when people get that steely look in their eye, watch out. And so many many people in Britain and America see religious zealotry and they say, "No thanks, we don't like that. It gets us into trouble, we have fights with our neighbours and our friends, we don't want to do that."' They might see Paul and see an 'out-and-outer': '"We know people like that and they're not much fun to have around" but actually Paul was fun to have around. He must have been high maintenance as a friend but he was also enormously high value. People knew that he loved them and cared about them.' Paul was zealous, as Wright emphasises in his book, so does that make him an extremist? 'Oh yes, but then it's one of those flexible words. I'm sure there lots of people who think I'm an extremist, though they probably wouldn't say it to my face.' Reflecting on religion and society in the early '90s, Wright says: 'Nobody had seen the two 'I''s coming: the Internet and Islamism...two major things which have reshaped the way we think, the way we do everything. We now think of extremism in terms of Islamism. Anyone from a Christian or Jewish view that we call extremist, that's what we think of.' And, he says: 'In some ways, Osama bin Laden was a public intellectual with a zealous agenda. Paul was a public intellectual with a zealous agenda. It's just that he thought it was all about love and about giving yourself in service, rather than going and killing people. But people hear the extremism and get frightened and think, "No, we want a quiet life."' So what would this zealot make of the 21st-century church? 'If Paul could come back today and see the contemporary church, I think the thing that would astonish and horrify him would not just be our lack of unity, but the fact that we mostly don't care about our lack of unity. Every letter he writes is about unity. 'Both the Corinthian letters are about, "How do we reconcile, how do we come together in unity, how do we avoid factionalism, how do we avoid party spirit?" etc. 'I think he would say, "OK, you over there, you've done justification by faith, you've actually got it slightly wrong but you've been big on that, fine, but please will you read the rest of the letters where I'm talking about justification by faith, because it's all about unity. And if you think that justification by faith means you have to divide the church and then subdivide it, and then sub-sub-divide it, then something has gone horribly wrong here somewhere."' He adds: 'Of course, Paul knows perfectly well that unity is not cheap. You can't just say, "Let's just forget our differences and all will be well." Wright says that a focus on unity and holiness, held together, is essential. 'It's easy to be holy if you don't care about unity, you just split off and do your own thing. Until people don't like you, and they split off, and that's the story of the American churches. 'It's easy to be united if you don't care about holiness. Somehow Paul wants to hold onto both and that remains a massive challenge, just as it was in Corinth.' What does Wright, a former Anglican bishop of Durham, think such a perspective might say to present Anglican debates? Is 'good disagreement' in the quest for unity really possible? 'We have to learn to tell the difference between the differences that make a difference and the differences that don't make a difference,' he says. When I ask in particular about debates on sexuality, Wright avoids specific theological pronouncements. He says that 'agreeing to disagree' done properly should make demands on people's charity, but never on their conscience. He warns against a dualism that devalues the goodness of creation and a gnosticism that says 'this shabby old body that I have doesn't matter, what matters is the spark of something different which is inside me which tells me who I really am'. He adds: 'We have to remember that the early church didn't make its way in the world by becoming like the world.' These ethical problems are not simply trivial, he says, but concern what it means to be fully human, living in the light of God's new creation. 'You can't give one line answers to the so-called moral dilemmas of our day, because you need to take several steps back and say that the way the early Christians approached this is so different from how we do moralism in the early 21st century, and if we want to learn wisdom we have to do the hard work of going around that stuff, and not assuming we can either say, "Silly old Paul, we don't need to take him seriously" or "Oh yes, it's in the Bible therefore bang, end of question." It's the Pauline point again: we have to learn not only what to think but how to think.' Back to Paul. Wright reflects that through his career he has developed 'a certain sixth sense, a certain intimacy' with the apostle, though with millennia between them, mystery remains. 'I'd love to know what he had for breakfast...but we only get little flickers and flashes.' Paul is 'a friend', Wright says, though 'not in the sense that Jesus is a friend, I don't pray to Paul, I don't invoke Paul as I go into a difficult meeting...I thank God for Paul, and I learn from him, but he Is not in that sense a personal presence in the way that Jesus is.' He's explicit that Paul mustn't be put against Jesus, and that Paul, who had his greatest letter [Romans] delivered, read out and probably expounded by a woman [Phoebe] was certainly not anti-woman. A few months ago there was something of a high-profile dispute between Wright and another eminent scholar, David Bentley Hart, over the latter's provocative 'horrifying' in Wright's words translation of the New Testament. He seems a little disturbed by the reminder, though is also apparently uninvested in the spat, and says he didn't read Bentley Hart's response. 'I do not know what he said, and I do not want to know...Life is short.' Similarly, Wright stays above the fray when I quiz him on US evangelicals and Donald Trump. Perhaps, like Paul, that's his rigorous resolve at work, undistracted from his call, which clearly for now, is Paul. He concludes: 'It is extraordinary that even after all the new work on Paul that's been done...the deep-seated English reaction to Paul still remains the same: "He's that 1st-century chap who muddled it all up and shouted at people and didn't like women and so on." You'd have thought that had been disproved...but it's clearly deeply within our culture, and if this book does anything to shift that mood I would be very grateful.' Paul: A Biography is out now, published by SPCK. You can follow @JosephHartropp on Twitter Vatican rejects German bishops' proposal to allow Protestant spouses to receive Communion The Vatican body, the Congregation for the Doctrine of the Faith, has sent a letter reportedly with the approval of Pope Francis to German bishops rejecting their proposal to allow some Protestant spouses to receive communion, various Catholic news outlets reported. The story was originally revealed yesterday by the Austrian website Kath.net and, according to the National Catholic Reporter (NCR), the pope does not wish the letter to be made public. Sources have told the outlets that Archbishop Luis Ladaria, the current prefect of the CDF, wrote the letter and that it was given papal approval. 'It's a rejection of the pastoral plan,' an anonymous German Church source told NCR, adding that there are 'no differences' between Archbishop Ladaria and his predecessor, Cardinal Gerhard Muller, on the issue. The Vatican response came after seven German bishops, led by Cardinal Rainer Woelki of Cologne, wrote to the CDF last month to say they believed the proposal to allow some Protestant spouses to receive communion contradicted Catholic doctrine, undermined Church unity and exceeded the competence of the bishops' conference. This came after Germany's bishops voted overwhelmingly in favour at their spring conference in February of producing a guide, or pastoral handout, to allow a Protestant partner of a Catholic to receive the Eucharist in some cases and under certain conditions. The bishops concluded that permission could be granted if, having made a 'serious examination' of conscience with a priest or another person with pastoral responsibilities, the spouse 'affirms the faith of the Catholic Church', wishes to end 'serious spiritual distress' and has a 'longing to satisfy a hunger for the Eucharist'. Cardinal Reinhard Marx, the president of the German bishops' conference, said that the guide would be a 'pastoral handout' and that the intention was not to 'change any doctrine'. But Cardinal Muller called the proposal a 'rhetorical trick,' stressing that interdenominational marriage is 'not an emergency situation,' and that 'neither the pope nor we bishops can redefine the sacraments as a means of alleviating mental distress and satisfying spiritual needs' as they are 'effective signs of the grace of God'. According to the NCR, news of the Vatican's decision will come as an embarrassment to Cardinal Marx who is facing a revolt by bishops in Bavaria. The German daily newspaper Bild noted this week that 'five out of six Bavarian bishops have publicly challenged Marx on a central question [Communion],' and that his 'power base is damaged'. The NCR speculated that the pope may want the letter to remain secret because it does not chime with the general, open direction of his pontificate. In an interview with Christian Today, the pope's spokesman, Greg Burke, last month stressed that Francis's message of love was for all people, not just Catholics. San Antonio-born filmmaker Robert Rodriguez helped make Antonio Banderas a star in the U.S. with action-packed revenge thriller Desperado, not to mention his wildly popular Spy Kids romps. However, the Spanish actors latest role Pablo Picasso, his fellow countryman and one of the 20th centurys most influential artists just may be the most meaningful of his career. Banderas hometown of Malaga, Spain, in fact, is also Picassos birthplace. Picasso has been a very important figure in my life, Banderas told TV critics at a recent press session. You have to think when I was going to school when I was a little kid with the hand of my mother, we always crossed in front of Picassos house where he was born. I am talking about a time in Spain in which we didnt have too many international heroes, so Picasso (broke through) that barrier at a time in which we were pretty much isolated by the dictatorship that we were living in with Francisco Franco in power. Banderas, 57, portrays the older Picasso at the height of his artistry and celebrity in this second season of National Geographic Channels Emmy-nominated Genius anthology series. Alex Rich, in an inspired piece of casting, plays the younger Picasso during the many years the painter struggled to find the unique style hes most associated with today: cubism. The 10-part Genius: Picasso, from executive producing team Ron Howard and Brian Grazer, begins unfolding at 8 p.m. Tuesday. Banderas said he feels fortunate that he was cast as such an incredible real-life character, one hes admired all his life. I grew up with this projection of this huge artist who was capable of actually making the people all around the world fall in love with his art, he said. Banderas said he actually was offered the role of Picasso a couple of other times but declined because he didnt feel ready. This time I felt it was the right time, he said. It came with great scripts, with seriousness, with National Geographic, which was giving the whole entire project, all the facts that we needed to create, the complexity of a character like this, so thats what we are doing. The series explores how the artists passionate nature and relentless creative drive went hand in hand with his unconventional personal life, which included tumultuous marriages, numerous affairs and constantly shifting political and personal alliances. Judging by the first two episodes previewed, Genius: Picasso, which was largely filmed in Budapest, Hungary, is gorgeous visually, and full of meaty conflict. Some of the more memorable scenes involve Picassos treatment of his mistresses, which, at times, is marked by tenderness and sensuality, but more often than not an honesty thats so brutal, it makes the viewer wince. One entertaining moment has two of his lovers Dora Maar (Samantha Colley), a French photographer and painter, and longtime mistress and muse Marie-Therese Walter (Poppy Delevingne), confronting each other angrily, with Picasso leaving them to fight out their differences with each other. As the series points out, no woman could compete with Picassos greatest love: his work. Only when someone inspired him creatively was she considered valuable. One of the things that I know now is that his artistic dimension was a total link to his personality, to his personal dimension. There was no separation between the artist and the person, Banderas said. Everything in the life of Picasso is mixed together. He didnt stop being a painter when he went home from the studio. Everything was mixed together in the same pot. And probably there is a big teaching to everybody who became an artist. You cannot separate those two roles. You cannot get comfortable ever. The series showrunner, Ken Biller, stressed that the goal wasnt to make Picasso likable, but pulsatingly real. We are not sugarcoating Picasso. We are not pretending that everything he said or did was admirable. Hes a human being who made lots of mistakes. He did lots of extraordinary things and lots of not-so-nice things. Were not trying to tell you that Picasso is the patron saint of Malaga. Were trying to explore a very extraordinary character and the people around him, and were showing the good, the bad and the ugly. Banderas looks very different here from the big-screen heartthrob were used to seeing. The actor disappears into the role of the white-haired and leathery skinned Picasso, sizzling with an intensity and drive that makes us believe he really is the iconic painter. That portrayal, along with the picturesqueness and vitality of the European settings and so much great Picasso art, makes this sprawling second season of Genius a TV saga well-worth the investment. Jeanne Jakle's column appears Thursdays and Sundays in mySA. Read more of her columns here. | jjakle@express-news.net | @JakleJ No one was injured in a large explosion and fire at a Texas City refinery Thursday afternoon, officials said. A Valero security guard said he was at his station at the entrance to the refinery off Spur 197 around 4:50 p.m. when he heard a "whistle and then an explosion" from a stack roughly 100 yards away that shook the entire building. "Everybody ran out and went across the street. My hands are still shaking," said the security guard, who did not want to be identified because he was not authorized to speak about the incident. A LOOK BACK: See historic images from the deadly 1947 explosion in Texas City Michael Larsson, who works at the Marathon Oil plant nearby, felt the explosion. "The whole building shook," Larsson said. "I could feel the building vibrate. This office building I'm in is made for these type of events, so I knew it must be something pretty serious when the building shakes." Texas City Emergency Management sent automated messaging around 5:30 p.m. saying light hydrocarbons were on fire at the Valero plant. Tom Munoz, Texas City emergency manager, noted that residents were asked to shelter in place for about an hour as a precautionary measure. Around 6:30 p.m, the city said, "The fire has been contained. Fire crews will continue to be (on site) until fully extinguished. All personnel have been accounted for with no fatalities or injuries. There will be constant air monitoring as well." Smoke forced vessels out of the industrial canal to leave, and the Coast Guard asked that no ships sail out of the port. "The only problem, we had a lot of onlookers trying to find out what was going on and we had to get them out of the area," said Texas City Police Chief Robert Burby. "They didn't know exactly what the problem was." The refinery has no chemical safety violations from the Occupational Safety and Health Administration in the last five years. It was penalized for two serious violations related to ladder safety in 2016. Since acquiring the refinery in 1997, Valero has invested more than $750 million in expansions and upgrades, according to the company. It employs about 480 people, and the workforce is not unionized. Disruptions to the refinery could ripple beyond Texas City. The plant provides feedstocks to Valero's other Gulf Coast operations, and it's connected by pipeline to the Valero Houston Refinery. The Texas Commission on Environmental Quality has penalized the plant at least two dozen times for air permit violations since 1997. Mark Collette contributed to this report Jay R. Jordan is a breaking news reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @JayRJordan. A Tennessee man who used to wash the windows of a children's hospital dressed as Spiderman has been sentenced to 105 years in prison for producing child porn. Jarratt A. Turner, 36, of Nashville, was sentenced Monday for "multiple instances of production of child pornography and transportation of child pornography," said U.S. Attorney Don Cochran for the Middle District of Tennessee in a news release. According to court records, Turner befriended two different families who had young children, including a toddler boy and an infant girl, and offered to babysit them. One of the ways Turner found these children was by washing windows at Vanderbilt Children's Hospital in Nashville while dressed as the Marvel superhero, the U.S. District Attorney's Office wrote in a news release. READ MORE: Houston neighborhoods with the most registered sex offenders "Between October 2014 and May 2015, Turner took sexually explicit images and videos of the toddler girl on 10 different occasions and of the infant boy on six different occasions, while in his basement apartment in Nashville," the U.S. District Attorney's Office wrote in a news release. "The sexually explicit material included depictions of himself sexually molesting the two very young children, who were between the ages of 12 and 31 months during this period." Turner then uploaded the images to the internet using public Wi-Fi in order to avoid detection, the attorney's office added. Turner was charged on June 1, 2015, with 16 counts of production of child pornography and transportation of child pornography. He pleaded guilty to all counts of the indictment on March 20, 2017. Fernando Alfonso III is a digital reporter at Chron.com. Follow him on Twitter at @fernalfonso. Compensation Advisory Partner New York-based Compensation Advisory Partners has opened a Houston office with the hiring of Christopher Earnest as a partner. The independent executive compensation consulting firm will expand its business in the oil and gas and other sectors from its new office at One Riverway in the Galleria area. Oil climbed to near $70 as OPEC and its partners are said to see excess stockpiles wiped out faster than they were expecting. Futures in New York rose as much as 1.6 percent after gaining 2.9 percent on Wednesday. Global inventories are close to their five-year average and the market should re-balance this quarter, according to people with knowledge of data assessed at a meeting of OPEC and its allies in Jeddah, Saudi Arabia, on Thursday. Total U.S. stockpiles of crude and fuel dropped below their five-year average for the first time since 2014, government data showed Wednesday. With the excessive supply almost whittled away, focus is now shifting to whether the Organization of Petroleum Exporting Countries and Russia will signal an extension of supply cuts at their meeting on Friday. The gathering in Jeddah will play out against a backdrop of geopolitical tensions that have lifted oil prices to the highest in three years, which could also encourage more U.S. supply. "It would be foolish to go against the trend at the moment given how bullish the market has turned," said Warren Patterson, commodities strategist at ING Groep NV. "The market will remain supported for the next couple of days with the meeting in Jeddah. What will be interesting is if they do readjust their target, in terms of changing from a five-year average." West Texas Intermediate for May delivery climbed as much as $1.09 to $69.56 a barrel on the New York Mercantile Exchange, and traded at $69.20 at 8:59 a.m. local time. The contract rose $1.95 on Wednesday. Total volume traded Thursday was about 43 percent above the 100-day average. Brent for June settlement added 95 cents to $74.43 a barrel on the London-based ICE Futures Europe exchange. The global benchmark is on course to close above its upper Bollinger band for the first time in almost a month, a sign that prices may have moved too high too soon. Brent traded at a $5.23 premium to June WTI. China oil futures for September delivery climbed 2.5 percent to 440.6 yuan a barrel on the Shanghai International Energy Exchange. The contract rose 0.5 percent to close at 429.7 yuan on Wednesday. Open interest in the contract rose to 7,314 lots in the previous session, the highest since its debut last month. In the U.S., total inventories of crude and refined products, excluding strategic petroleum reserves, fell by 10.6 million barrels last week to the lowest level since March 2015, according to Energy Information Administration data. Crude stockpiles alone slid by about 1 million barrels, versus forecast for a 650,000-barrel gain. The EIA data also had another surprise. U.S. gasoline demand surged to a record high of 9.9 million barrels a day even before the summer driving season starts, when consumption typically peaks. Stockpiles of gasoline fell by almost 3 million barrels, compared with a 450,000-barrel increase expected in a Bloomberg survey. Other oil-market news: The beginning of summer may herald the end of a boom for diesel, the fuel that underpinned crude's rally into a bull market last year. Global markets for equities, currencies and metals have all been whipsawed by the uncertainty over what U.S. President Donald Trump's next geopolitical move would be. Oil's about to have a turn. The Houston Black Real Estate Association, a local chapter of the National Association of Real Estate Brokers is hosting a housing expo Saturday as part of a week-long effort to increase Black wealth through home ownership. The events also celebrate the 50th anniversary of the Fair Housing Act, signed on April 11, 1968, one week after the assassination of Martin Luther King. "Without this legislation hundreds of black families would still face the multitude of racism and discrimination," the local association said in a statement. RELATED: Chinese real estate delegation visits Houston Saturday's expo will be held at the Community of Faith Church in north Houston from 10 a.m. to 4 p.m. as part of "Realtist Week," established by the National Association of Real Estate Brokers in the early 1970s to spotlight the role black home ownership plays in stabilizing or revitalizing neighborhoods. The group's efforts includes assisting families who have been victims of housing discrimination. "We fully understand de-facto segregation and institutional racism remains a pervasive problem throughout the United States," Kimberley Barnes-Henson, president of the local association, said in the statement. "Thus, as we illuminate the accomplishments of the last 50th years, we ask everyone to join in our current efforts to increase black homeownership and improve social and economic conditions for all disenfranchised people." RELATED: Houston's suburban cities tout growth and lament challenges Homeownership among black Americans has been declining since 2004, when it reached its peak of nearly 50 percent. At the end of 2017, it was 42.1 percent, according to the U.S. Census Bureau. That's compares to the non-Hispanic white home ownership rate of 72.7 percent. Banks, housing counselors, insurance companies and related groups will be on hand Saturday to provide information on home ownership. Change is coming. For almost three decades, Diane Hartfield has been a fixture in county government assisting county judges, county judges and justices of the peace, but she has announced her retirement and is ready to become a country girl. Ive always wanted to live in the country and be a country girl, she said, realizing it might not be as romantic as she thinks, but shes up for the challenge. The desire to pull up roots and relocate is shared by Hartfield and her husband. They purchased 11 acres of land in Colmesneil, Texas, nine miles north of Woodville. Her husband has already moved there, and Diane will join him shortly. This whole process has been a God thing, she said. They put their house up for sale and a week later they had a contract. Now, six weeks later theyve already closed. I cant wait to get a tractor, she laughed. She never learned how to can vegetables so thats high on her priority list. She has spent the last 27 years in the county, celebrating that anniversary last November. Hartfield began as a Justice of the Peace clerk in Pct. 5 Martin Powells courtroom and spent 11 years working for Jack Hartel in the County Attorneys office before making the leap over to the county judges office. Jack had a lot of good stories, she laughed. He was a good boss. Every boss that Ive had has been a good boss to me. I think Ive given a lot to the county and the county has taken care of me very well. She served Judges Lloyd Kirkham (2005-2006), Phil Fitzgerald (2007-2010), Craig McNair (2011-2014) and Jay Knight (2015-present), and says she enjoyed working with each of them. Hartfield spends her week gathering the information for each agenda of the court sessions during the month, including planning the workshops. We want to also make sure that the public is aware of whats going on through the county judges office, she said. While its normally the duty of the county clerk to do the minutes for the meetings in commissioners court, Hartfield assumed the duties when she came into the office. I guess its one of those things. Its the way its always been done, she smiled. She doesnt mind the responsibility and once the synopsis and attachments from the court are completed, theyre filed with the county clerks office, which also keeps a digital recording of the meetings. All during the year, she assists the judge with the budget, a job she takes very seriously. Some people might think I was too aggressive in protecting that money, she said with a smile, but my feeling is that they should spend it like its coming out of their own pocket. The county judges office is an informational 411 of sorts, Hartfield believes. We field questions on just about everything. When people have a question and they dont know where to turn, they call us, she said. And she works hard to make sure she refers each person to the right department to get their questions answered. On her desk are several lists of numbers she maintains of contacts throughout the county, not just county-only numbers, but agencies that may assist the public in some form or fashion. We try to answer their questions directly without having to refer, but if we have to, we want to make sure we can give them a number to help them, Hartfield said. She will miss that part of her work. It just makes you feel good when you can help someone, she said. She also helps with the juvenile court that is overseen by the county judges office. I review the paperwork to make sure everything has been done properly, and if not, I let the judge know so that it can be corrected, Hartfield said. She was born an Air Force brat, she said, in the city of Del Rio. With that came different residences throughout Texas and a three-year stint in France. She met her husband in Mississippi. They both had paternal grandparents living there. We both moved there the same summer, met in Oak Grove outside of Hattiesburg, dated through high school and later got married, she said. They celebrated their 43rd anniversary last November. The couple ended up in Houston when her husband came to work for Brown and Root. They lived in Houston for a couple of years, then Huffman for seven, and have spent their last 30 years in Dayton. Hartfield has no regrets about the work she performed for the county over the last three decades. Ive always tried my best to keep my integrity, she said. That includes going to her bosses if she feels like something is out of kilter. I would share my opinion with them, but always respected theirs and the outcome, Hartfield said. Shes going to miss the many friends and colleagues she has worked with over the years, including Dede Taylor with whom she has worked in the judges office. She is my sister of the heart, she said. Well still see each other and visit. Taylor, who is replacing Hartfield, will still have the benefit of contacting her for county affairs as well when needed. Hartfield and Taylor have been handling the judges affairs for years and when Knight took office, they sat down with him and gave him their expectations of him. We told him that he would receive the blame for everything that was bad and very little credit for what good he did, but that he could make a difference working within those parameters, she laughed. He just needed to acknowledge that up front that he wasnt going to get a lot accolades. Taylor also wanted him to be punctual. She wants our judges to be on time. She realizes that people are taking their time off work to be here a lot of times for court settings or appointments and wants him to be on time, too, she said. Joan Belt is leaving the county attorneys office to take Dedes place in the county judges office. Hartfield said she isnt bequeathing anything special to Taylor but offered to pray for her a lot. Im a phone call away, she smiled. Knight said he hates losing an employee with Hartfields experience but wishes her well. Theres not very many questions I can ask her that she doesnt have the answer to and when she doesnt, she usually has one for me within five minutes, Knight said. He credits Hartfield with being a library of knowledge when it comes to county business, being able to recall the year, volume and chapter in which to look for answers for the last two decades. Shes a wonderful Christian lady, Knight said. The judge said she often leads them in prayer and keeps everyone straight around the office. Knight also enjoys having her as a sounding board for ideas that the commissioners considered. She could always tell me the cause and effect of policies we were considering or even on the budget how it would affect taxpayers, he said. Shes a very principled lady. She became tearful as she remembered her years of service. I thank everyone who Ive worked with over the years and the things they taught me. Ive learned a lot of life lessons and learned how to persevere. Ill miss everyone, she said. She will move in the next few weeks and plans on doing plenty of porch sitting and reading. dtaylor@hcnonline.com A 52-year-old Porter man pleaded guilty April 3 to three felony charges of sexual assault of a child and sentenced to 10 years for each count, a total of 30 years in the Texas Department of Criminal Justice. Omar Davis was arrested in July 2017 by the Texas Department of Public Safety - Criminal Investigations Division after one of the victims made an outcry to law enforcement launching an investigation. Davis does not have any previous criminal history or arrests. APPEAL FILED: Man sentenced to 8 years after giving girl drugs, assaulting her "This case accurately reflects the complexity and quality of work being performed by our CID personnel throughout the state," DPS Sgt. Erik Burse said. "Davis is a monster and is now off the streets." According to the Montgomery County District Attorney's Office, Davis sexually assaulted several girls who had escaped from a rehabilitation facility in Montgomery County. "One of the victims came into contact with Davis, stating she needed a place to stay for the night," court documents state. "Davis then lured the teen into his residence and sexually assaulted the victim numerous times." The victim was able to escape from Davis and return to the victim's residence. Law enforcement was contacted and Texas DPS-CID conducted a criminal investigation into the disappearance and sexual assault of the 16-year-old. During the course of the investigation, DPS-CID investigators learned that the Montgomery County Sheriffs Office had received prior law enforcement calls for service at Davis' residence. The investigation culminated with a search and arrest warrant being executed on Davis' residence and the seizure of multiple items from inside of the residence that implicated Davis in two more child sexual assaults. Two other child victims were identified and Davis was charged in those sexual assault cases as well. "The Texas Department of Public Safety-CID investigator did a phenomenal job on this investigation, from start to finish," Tyler Dunman, Special Crimes Bureau chief, said. "This defendant purposefully situated himself in a location to prey upon the most vulnerable of victims, primarily young girls who were already struggling with emotional and physical issues. But now, this defendant is headed to prison where he belongs." The piece: Tabacal The artist: Justin Berry Where: Barbara Davis Gallery, through May 12 Why: Perhaps viewers who play video war games might recognize some of the elements Justin Berry recomposes from hundreds of screen shots into his own mystical landscapes. There also is a good chance they wont, because avatars tend to focus on whatever is coming through their scopes, too wrapped up in blasting away enemies to pay much attention to the virtual scenery around them. Tabacal might take its name from a real place in Bolivia or a location in Tom Clancys Ghost Recon series or both. Either way, Berry has constructed a landscape that only exists in his head, and now ours. Crossing the center of his composition is a two-lane highway that curves and climbs at the edge of scrubby terrain into a heavenly territory of blue, purple, pink and white. Are those puffy clouds or ancient, craggy mountains? Small plants and rocks in the foreground, vividly highlighted, are so precisely rendered they project a different kind of mystery. In an article for the Huffington Post last year, Berry wrote that while most video game players are abiding by rules and on a mission, he scans the virtual horizons for moments of beauty. Sometimes I have to dodge bullets while running through conflicted territory, just so that I can get to an area before it is bombed or so that I can arrive just after, when the dust has yet to settle and the air is thick and pearlescent, he wrote. There is power in finding places of quiet reflection in a world where you are supposed to be running around and killing people. You could look at Tabacal a long time and never figure it out. Other prints in Berrys show, Road Trips, cast a similar spell. One is a photograph of an actual place; the rest are culled from video games. Youll probably have to see them in person to tell the difference. An artist and animator whose career spanned nearly 70 years, Gerard Baldwin died in Houston Wednesday at age 89. Baldwin worked on a number of iconic cartoon characters including Rocky and Bullwinkle, the Smurfs, Mr. Magoo and others. Two years ago the Emmy-winning artist published a book about his career titled "Mr. Magoo to Papa Smurf." He had lived in Houston since moving here with his family in 1989. Baldwin was born in New York in 1929 and grew up in Los Angeles. His first paying job as an artist was drawing Mr. Magoo as a cartoonist's apprentice in 1950. "It seemed like an interim thing to do while the world found out I was a great painter," he told the Chronicle. "The world never did find that out. But it turned out I was perfectly suited for animation. The technical craft and art ability, the whole thing suited me just fine." By 1959, Baldwin was doing more than animating, directing episodes of "Rocky & Bullwinkle." He worked for Hanna-Barbera. His work earned him three Emmys. Baldwin planned to retire upon arriving in Houston. Instead he continued to draw and paint, while holding a teaching job at Kingwood College. In 2010, he exhibited his work at Domy Bookstore, some of which put familiar characters from his past into surrealist settings. "Sometimes I paint or draw in my sleep, but that doesn't mean when I wake up a drawing pops out," he said. "Sometimes I solve graphic problems in my sleep. Sometimes I dream I'm one of the characters. I dreamed I was Mr. Magoo, being chased by Army types, and I kept running away. "I guess most of my dreams are normal. But once in a while, one will make me go, 'Oooh,' like that one." Nearly 80 graves have been found at the construction site of a Fort Bend ISD technical center just weeks after the area was found to include an historic cemetery, school district officials said on Wednesday. Reginald Moore, the steward of a gated cemetery less than a mile away from the newly found graves, had warned school district officials not to build on nearby land because he believed more bodies could be buried on vacant land nearby. The gated cemetery contains 31 marked graves for prisoners and guards sits on land that was once part of the Imperial State Prison Farm. On-site archaeologists working with the Texas Historical Commission have since found 79 graves, according to a news release the district issued late Wednesday. That includes about 30 graves found a few weeks ago. "We appreciate the Texas Historical Commission for their expertise and guidance through the process, as well as Mr. Reginald Moore, whose passion for honoring our history brought to our attention the possibility of archaeological artifacts in the general area," Fort Bend ISD Superintendent Charles Dupre said in the news release. "We recently invited Mr. Moore to tour the site, and we are all anxiously awaiting more information once exploration is complete." Fort Bend ISD last year began building its James Reese Career and Technical Center at University Boulevard and Chatham to offer advanced junior- and senior-level courses. The center is named after James Reese, a former FBISD math teacher and its first vocational director. Moore has spent nearly two decades talking about the history of the gated cemetery he oversees, the Old Imperial Farm Cemetery, and contending that nearby areas likely contained the graves of people who were part of the convict leasing system in Sugar Land. The statewide program, initiated shortly after slavery was outlawed more than 150 years ago, allowed prisoners, primarily African-Americans, to be contracted out for labor. RELATED: Fort Bend ISD finds historic cemetery near construction site Fort Bend ISD said it contracted a full-time archaeologist from Goshawk Environmental Consulting to oversee the excavation phase of the construction project, which began in the fall of 2017. During initial observations, there was no evidence of archaeological artifacts or remains. "The archaeologist was there every day that digging was done. They did their analysis. " said Veronica Sopher of Fort Bend ISD. "When that phase of the project ended, they left because there was no more dirt to be moved." Sopher said a heavy-machinery operator noticed something in the dirt in February as construction workers were back-filling a trench. The archaeologist was called back to the site after the bones were discovered. Authorities were also called to the site to make sure it was not an open crime investigation. The first review of the bones did not indicate they were human remains. A second analysis determined the remains were those of people, which led to a perimeter search to conclude whether other remains were on the construction site. The district said the area will continue to be searched "until a perimeter of the cemetery is determined," according to the release. The discovery of human remains is not uncommon, Brown said. "Humans have lived in Texas for thousands of years, so it's not uncommon to find evidence of this habitation, including unknown burial places," Brown wrote in an email. "The State Antiquities Code and the Texas Health and Safety Code are intended to protect and preserve these human burials in Texas, regardless of their age." Fort Bend ISD maintains it is in "full compliance with construction permits" and will continue construction in the "areas not impacted by the archaeological work." "We want to make sure we're being respectful," Sopher said. "Everyone, including the board, is just humbled to bring to light this rich history. We don't know who these people were or when they lived. We're anxious to bring them that recognition." Moore wasn't surprised by the number of graves discovered at the construction site. "It could be into the hundreds," he estimated. brooke.lewis@chron.com @brookelewisa A federal judge issued a scathing opinion this week rebuking a former Harris County reserve deputy constable for imagining "malicious motives" of the defendants in a lawsuit while failing to account for his own actions. U.S. District Judge Lynn N. Hughes picked apart Randall Turnage's legal arguments in dismissing a four-year old lawsuit against Harris County, the city of Galveston, the Galveston Police Department and the Galveston Wharves Board of Trustees. In an "Opinion of Dispositive Motions," Hughes wrote, "Turnage imagines malicious motives for everybody. His problem, however, is that he has never denied that he did violate the rules of the precinct." Turnage was seeking monetary damages from the defendants after being fired from his volunteer constable position in 2013 for taking an unapproved side job guarding a piece of equipment at the Port of Galveston from vandals. Turnage alleged that on his third night watching the equipment in April 2013, he was approached by an officer from the port who asked for identification, which Turnage belligerently refused, even after two other port officers arrived for backup. In his lawsuit, Turnage alleged that the officers violated his Fourth Amendment rights by unreasonably seizing him and violated his Fourteenth Amendment rights by discriminating against him because he worked for Harris County. The port officers forced Turnage to leave the port and informed Harris County Constable Victor Trevino, who later dismissed Turnage in July 2013. Turnage alleged in the lawsuit that Trevino fired him because he had declined to donate to his 2012 re-election campaign. Judge Hughes lambasted this particular allegation in his opinion ruling, noting that Turnage had "not shown how his dismissal might have been connected to the campaign" nor had he provided the court with data on other deputies that supposedly declined to contribute to Trevino, "including whether they existed and what happened to them." Turnage had also alleged that Harris County violated his due process rights by firing him, a claim that Hughes pierced by pointing that Turnage is not endowed with such rights in a volunteer position. Hughes dismissed all of Turnage's claims against Harris County, as well as the Galveston port officers, whom he said "acted within their power to ask Turnage to leave." Nick Powell covers Galveston County for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and send him tips at nick.powell@chron.com Vacation time is getting close, and Houston's Bush Intercontinental Airport (IAH) has a lot of nonstop flights for international destinations. In early 2018, United Airlines debuted a new flight from Houston to Sydney, Australia making it one of two nonstop flights to Australasia, the second being a daily direct route to New Zealand. PLAN AHEAD: Best places to visit in 2018 according to Travel + Leisure Though the nonstop route to Auckland debuted in 2015, it is not usually the first option to show up on a flight search since having a stop tends to make tickets cheaper, but there is a trade-off for the price. A quick search showed that a flight to New Zealand with one stop can take over 20 hours, while a direct flight from IAH can shave about 5 hours off your flight time, which means more time to have fun. According to the Air New Zealand website, the airline offers everything from food and wine to comfortable seating (even in Economy) for most international flights. While it may often be a bit pricier (though not always), sometimes booking nonstop is the best way to go to get the most out of a dream vacation. Take a look through the gallery above to see other nonstop flights from Houston. Daniela Sternitzky-Di Napoli is a digital producer at Chron.com. You can read more of her stories here and follow her on twitter at @Dani_DiNapoli. The Harris County Sheriff's Office on Thursday denounced the possible hate crime by a man sought in the stabbing of a 31-year-old nurse while shouting anti-Islamic slurs. Sheriff Ed Gonzalez released a sketch of the man at a news conference, and authorities urged anyone who knows the man, including the acquaintance who was with him during the incident, to come forward with his identity. "Folks, Harris County is better than that, and we embrace and celebrate our rich diversity that makes us stronger, Gonzalez said. This case could be viewed as a textbook hate crime Thats exactly what seems to have happened. READ ALSO: Rollover crash closes part of Highway 59 southbound in Rosenberg The woman, who was wearing a head scarf, was followed into a parking lot around 1:30 a.m. on April 5, Gonzalez said. The man in the sketch is accused of stabbing her while calling her a terrorist and anti-Islamic slurs. If authorities find and arrest the man, he could face enhanced charges, Gonzalez said. Many people and groups, including the Houston chapter of the Council on American-Islamic Relations, have decried the assault, calling it Islamophobic. We do know that shes a mother, and we do know this is traumatic, not just for her but for her family and for our entire community, said Sobia Siddiqui, CAIR operations coordinator. This is not something that we will be taking lightly. READ ALSO: Burglars target ATM in Baytown courthouse The incident happened in the Cypress area on April 5, when the woman was driving home from the hospital where she works and was nearly hit by an oncoming SUV, deputies said. She pulled into a parking lot on Huffmeister Road to check her car for damage, and vomited because she was so alarmed, Gonzalez said. The driver of the SUV also pulled over, and he and a passenger got out of the car. The driver then shouted anti-Islamic slurs at the woman, the sheriff said. She tried to get back inside her car but the passenger side door was locked. The attacker then waved a knife in her face and hit her with the weapons handle, the Muslim civil-rights advocacy group said. The SUV passenger tried restraining the attacker, but not before the Muslim nurse was stabbed in the arm, severing an artery and resulting in loss of blood, CAIR said. The attacker got away. The advocacy group is offering a $5,000 reward for any information that leads to the arrest of the man. She helps people every single day at the hospital, said Lt. Jeff Stauber of the sheriffs office violent crimes unit. Its just a shame that she had to go through this tragic event. The attacker is described as a male, 20 to 35, with tattoos on his arms and neck. A more detailed description provided to the Harris County Sheriff's Office said the attacker was 5 feet 8 inches tall, about 175 pounds with a thin build, dark hair and wearing a white T-shirt and dark colored pants. Fernando Ramirez contributed to this story. A group of five actors have their hands full playing more than two dozen outrageous characters at a breakneck pace in the Art Park Players production of the musical comedy Das Barbecu. The zany show, which is a Texas-style condensed retelling of Richard Wagners The Ring of Nibelung, is scheduled for performances April 20-22, 27-29 and May 4-5. Patrons as a whole will love the music, which ranges from Broadway to Texas swing, from jazz to twangy country and western, director David Eck said. My first day in Deer Park, I handed (artistic managing supervisor) Susan Mele the script for Das Barbecu and told her we had to do this production, Eck said. The plot in the musical, with book and lyrics by Jim Luigs and music by Scott Warrender, includes mismatched lovers who meet on the day of their shotgun double wedding, three generations of feuding families, a magic ring of power and Wild West lariat tricks. Also featured are a synchronized swimming revue and a song and dance tribute to the joys of guacamole. Eck said the cast - which includes Mele, Rusty Groos, Emmy Smith, Chad Fontenot and Jana Ellsworth - plays a total of 36 characters, with some playing as many as nine different parts. This is one of the most complicated shows weve ever done because of all the moving pieces, and there will be some very fast wardrobe changes, he said. The audience is guaranteed to have a good time. They roast high-grade specialty coffee and give men who are coming out of incarceration or addiction a second chance at life. Founder Trey Rummel started roasting coffee in February of 2017 and selling a few bags here and there, but by August he decided to get serious about it and started 9th Hour Coffee. Located near Allen Parkway and Studemont Street, 9th Hour Coffee provides Houston-area offices and organizations with coffee and equipment services. Rummel said he had never worked with guys who had been formerly incarcerated or were fighting addiction until he went on staff at a church called Seven Mile Road Houston. He said the experience made him want to build a business that would help change lives. "I wanted to provide jobs, community and mentoring for guys coming out of addiction and prison. It became increasingly clear that those things were the keys to their long term success, and I liked the idea of starting something from the ground up," he said. Born and raised in the Heights, Rummel attended Lamar High School and then the University of Texas in Austin before returning to Houston. He said he had never been in the coffee business before starting 9th Hour and that he believes that fact has worked in his favor. "I think that plays to our advantage. The guys roasting great coffee aren't all that interested in offices, and the guys doing the office coffee services aren't all that interested in great coffee," he said. "In doing the roasting and servicing ourselves, we've created a competitive edge that will allow us to create a lot of high quality jobs." Operations Manager Kevin Chapa has battled substance abuse for 15 years and has been sober for more than a year. He said working at 9th Hour has definitely contributed to his success. "I look forward to many more years of sobriety. I attribute a large part of my success thus far to 9th Hour," Chapa said. "Having meaningful employment keeps me focused and daily gives me the courage to continue on. Also the encouragement from the guys I'm surrounded by has been tremendous." Rummel said he enjoys working with Chapa, who is currently his only employee, and in the business in general. "I love it. I have more respect for Kevin than just about anyone I know. He's insightful, disciplined, detail-oriented and seriously ambitious," Rummel said. "Had I just met Kevin, this whole thing would have been worth it. Outside of that, we've got a product and a mission I deeply believe in, which makes it fun to work hard." Chapa said as an employee with 9th Hour, he has gotten to travel and learn from some of the nation's best coffee roasters. Because he has a flexible schedule, he has been able to take classes at Houston Community College and said he ultimately wants to get a Masters of Fine Arts from the University of Houston. He has also moved from mission he where was staying into his own apartment near work. Chapa said he has gotten the chance to meet some notable figures like Mayor Sylvester Turner and Reverend Bill Lawson, but most of all 9th Hour Coffee has given him personal growth and self-confidence. He said he is very grateful for the opportunities he has been given. "In the wee hours of the morning when I'm firing up the roaster to start my day's duties, I take the time to thank God. I realize that each roast just isn't your ordinary roast, but each roast makes a difference in our community and has the possibility to impact a human life and give a second chance to another man, like it gave me," Chapa said. Rummel said business at 9th Hour is growing and that Chapa's excellent roasting skills and the premise of helping people have attracted offices and organizations to order from them. Some newer clients include St. Martin's Episcopal Church and United Way of Greater Houston. Rummel said what excites him most about the business is the prospect of making real change in his community. "I have no idea how big this thing will get or how many lives we will be able to change, but our confidence in our ability to compete and win in this market grows every day. Almost all of us know someone whose life has been decimated by addiction or incarceration-it's a dark place. I find it incredibly motivating to think that we just might have the privilege to radically alter the trajectory of a great many lives," Rummel said. To learn more about 9th Hour Coffee and its products and services, visit https://9thhourcoffee.com/ or email Rummel at trey@9thhourcoffee.com. A student cook at the University of North Texas has been fired after he typed a racial obscenity on a customer's receipt. The N-word was typed in all capital letters on a receipt belonging to university student @ChelseaMonAmour after eating at the school's Krispy Krunchy Chicken on Tuesday afternoon. A 70-year-old man with a disability was indicted by a county grand jury Wednesday for the shooting death of a Houston lawyer during an argument over a handicapped parking space last May. William Anthony Hall, 70, was charged with the May 31 murder of attorney James Garza, 68, who was shot in the parking lot of a U.S. Post Office at 4020 Broadway, Harris County District Attorney spokesman Dane Schiller confirmed. Hall, who is licensed to carry a concealed handgun, told police he felt threatened by Garza after confronting the attorney about parking his car in a space reserved for handicapped motorists. Read More: The shooter claims self-defense. The dead man can't say Garza, who did not have a handicapped sticker, had stopped at the post office that evening to pick up his mail from his post office box. Homicide investigators with the Houston Police Department determined there was no video surveillance footage that captured the deadly encounter, and Halls account was that Garza had become physical with him so he shot him with a .380-cal handgun. A grand jury was presented all the evidence and felt a criminal charge was warranted, said Special Crimes Bureau Chief Ruben Perez, of the Harris County District Attorneys Office. We look forward to presenting this case at trial. Johnny Mata, a longtime civil rights activist and president of the Greater Houston Coalition for Justice, said Garzas family had concerns about the account given of the shooting. It looked like he (Hall) was acting like a policeman, instead of copying the license plate number down or taking a picture of the plates and reporting it to police, said Mata. Mata said Garzas family pressed for a full investigation into the fatal shooting, after they became skeptical that the well-liked attorney would have gotten into a fight. All we were concerned about was there was a proper investigation and that justice was served, and we feel like this is the proper action to have taken place, Mata said. Name cards in front of a set of empty chairs on the Oak Ridge North City Council dais on Wednesday night were a jarring reminder that two candidates seeking office in the May 5 municipal election decided not to attend the scheduled forum. Of the four candidates invited to attend a candidate forum co-hosted by the Voter Awareness Council and the city of Oak Ridge North, only incumbent Mayor Jim Kuykendall and Council Member Alex Jones, who holds the Place 3 seat, were present. Martha Stedifor and Dan Broyles, running for Place 3 and mayor, respectively, were absent and instead chose to attend a second forum hosted by the Texas Patriots PAC scheduled for Thursday night at Sojourn Baptist Church. In an email to the Villager, Stedifor said she wouldnt attend Wednesdays forum because she questioned the unbiased nature of the VAC almost immediately because the VAC information was sent from city hall, with comments inserted in the VAC literature by our city administrator. Stedifor didnt elaborate on the comments she claims were inserted, but Oak Ridge North City Manager Vicky Rudy said she had never handled nor distributed any VAC literature. We do what we always do, Rudy said, referring to how the city informs its residents of candidate forums. We put it on our Facebook. We put it on our website. We do media blasts and email blasts. I didnt touch any literature myself. Elizabeth Harrell, Oak Ridge Norths city secretary and acting election clerk, said the only comments she could think of were those made by Rudy in a news release sent out by officials with the VAC. Harrell didnt believe the comments were controversial. We are very pleased, once again, to be working with the Voter Awareness Council on this opportunity for our residents to gain first-hand information and input from candidates for their mayoral and city council positions, Rudy said in the release. The news release was posted to the citys Facebook page earlier this week. Despite the absence of the challengers Wednesday night, the forum moved forward with only Jones and Kuykendall, who mostly agreed with each other on how a city should be run. The candidates used the time allotted for rebuttal to concur with one another. When asked by the moderator what his top three priorities for the city would be if elected, Kuykendall said he would like to address the mobility issues, keeping taxes low and saving money. Jones agreed with those points, but he added that growing the economy was his top priority for the city. Kuykendall at one point said he regretted a prior statement he made regarding the possibility of destroying houses along Robinson Road, adding that it was only discussion and never planned. Prior to the Wednesday night forum, Stedifor said she and Broyles were uncomfortable that for many years the VAC has hosted Oak Ridge North political events with no disclosure being made of the mayors involvement with VAC. Steve Leakey, president of the VAC, said Kuykendall along with more than two dozen others, founded the VACa 501c 3 nonprofitin 2014 to fill the void left by the League of Women Voters when the organization stopped doing a forum in Oak Ridge North. He is not an active member. He does not come to meetings, unfortunately, Leakey said of Kuykendall. We have several elected officials as members. We encourage it, but they cannot serve as officers, nor can they vote in critical matters like expenditures. They have limited roles. Leakey said that the VAC plays zero role in the actual moderation of the Q & A and that selected questions are left up to the moderator, which in all cases is representative of a local media partner. And while elected officials may be members of the VAC, the VAC is nonpartisan and does not endorse anyone, Leakey added. So, we will not be endorsing candidates or supporting issues or bond issues, Leakey said. That unto itself makes our forums more certain to be non-biased than forums put on by a PAC that (does) endorse candidates and issues. A second candidate forum is scheduled for Thursday, April 19, at Sojourn Baptist Church but neither the Kuykendall nor Jones will be attendance. Jon Paul Bouche, Montgomery County GOP Precinct 35 chairman, is moderating the forum scheduled for Thursday night. He said he was disappointed that the candidates Stedifor and Broyles chose to not attend Wednesday nights forum and that he had encouraged the candidates to attend both forums. Bouche said that while he had voted for Kuykendall in the last election, he had not chosen a candidate this year. Kuykendall claimed he and Jones were not given ample notice of Thursdays forum. Alex and I were not invited to their Thursday event until last (April 13), Kuykendall said. I heard about it the day before when a resident brought me a flyer they were handing out. Our event has been planned for several weeks and my schedule is full. I simply cannot change my plans. Rudy said the city of Oak Ridge North has not received any official literature regarding the Thursday event. We have to this day have not received anything involved in the forum tomorrow, Rudy said Wednesday. We have not been asked to distribute any information. michelle.iracheta@chron.com The president of Harris-Montgomery Counties Municipal Utility District 386 is not seeking a second term. Rich Jakovac, who led the board for four years through three major flooding events in the The Woodlands Township Village of Creekside Park, will not run for re-election when his term expires in May. Its been an honor to serve and we have accomplished a lot, Jakovac said, referring to his efforts on the board to solve drainage issues and prevent flooding. Were still working to try to find a solution. We are evaluating facts and looking for solutions. Jakovac said his being president of MUD 386 was not meant to be long term and declined to elaborate further. At a recent The Woodlands Township Drainage Task Force meeting on April 10, Jakovac thanked residents and elected officials involved in the mitigation efforts in The Woodlands and said he wanted to ensure those involved in drainage issues that he would continue to stay active. Im a lame duck president of a MUD board. I wanted to take time to make sure we are focused on the future, Jakovac said. We can fix this problem. There is a solution. If we didnt believe that, we wouldnt be here. There is a lot of people in this room. We have a lot of work ahead of us and now is not the time to quit. I think if we work together we can find the solutions. I intend to stay involved in the future. The Village of Creekside Parkwhich includes the neighborhoods of Timarron and Timarron Lakes was reportedly the hardest hit area in The Woodlands when Hurricane Harvey stormed through the region in late August, 2017. The village saw an estimated 300 homes damaged in the flooding. MUD 386 was established in 2009 by the state of Texas and collects taxes from homeowners for drainage, water and sewer services. The district is responsible for drainage infrastructure in the village. The MUD 386 board as well as The Woodlands Township came under fire from some Creekside Park residents following the Harvey flooding the third major flooding event in the area after the 2016 Tax Day and the 2016 Memorial Day floods where many residents lost their belongings for a second and even third time. The activist group Stop the Flooding in MUD 386 sprang up shortly after Hurricane Harvey to call attention to the drainage issues in the village. The group also wanted to pressure state lawmakers to create legislation that would eliminate any possible conflicts of interest between MUD 386 and the development company of the neighborhood, The Woodlands Land Development Co. Jakovac sided with Creekside Park homeowners during their struggle to find a solution with the multiple entities involved in flooding mitigation. Tipsters with information about an unsolved murder in Orange County more than 20 years ago will receive a doubled reward this month, the Texas Rangers announced Tuesday. Kathy Page. 34. was found dead in her car in a ditch on May 14, 1991. Her father, James Fulton, has been posting billboards in Vidor and Rose City for years, accusing police of failing to solve the case. "An increased reward of up to $6,000 is being offered for information that leads to the arrest of those responsible" for her death, the Texas Department of Public Safety said Tuesday. The investigation is the agency's "featured" cold case for the next month. RELATED: Scroll through the gallery above to see the top unsolved cases in Texas Page had been strangled, but the car was positioned in a ditch to make it look like an accident. She had recently separated from her husband of 13 years before she was killed, DPS said. Grand juries since the murder have declined to indict the main suspect, identified by authorities as her ex-husband, Steve Page. In 2000, a civil jury found Steve Page liable in a wrongful death suit and awarded her family $150,000. The verdict was upheld on appeal. Steve Page was also convicted, fined and sentenced to probation after he was seen on a videotape desecrating Kathy Page's grave. Fulton told the Enterprise in January that in the past 25 years, he has spent more than $200,000 on a federal court case and on the billboards calling for a conviction in his daughter's death. MORE: Filmmaker hopes for justice in Vidor cold case The signs along I-10, accusing Vidor Police of taking bribes to avoid prosecuting Steve Page, inspired the movie "Three Billboards Outside Ebbing, Missouri." Screenwriter Martin McDonagh said he saw billboards that criticized police for an unsolved crime, which stayed with him for years and became the basis for the movie, which was nominated for seven Academy Awards, including Best Picture. Vidor Police Chief Rod Carroll said in January that he reviewed the case file when he was hired as chief last year. "The investigation never closed," he said. "There has always been a person of interest. We need evidence for probable cause. Sometime, someone will grow a conscience and come forward. It's the human psyche." LTeitz@BeaumontEnterprise.com Twitter.com/LizTeitz Students and education leaders across Greater Houston are preparing for mass campus demonstrations Friday to protest gun violence, part of a national day of activism and remembrance following February's school shooting in Florida. Tens of thousands of local students are expected to engage in on-campus demonstrations throughout the region, leaving class to participate in anti-violence rallies, letter-writing campaigns and assemblies devoted to victims of gun violence. At the same time, local campus and district leaders are expected to carry out plans designed to balance free-speech rights, student safety and teachers' ability to continue classes. A map of the approximate 7,500 high-water rescues calls that came in during Hurricane Harvey further suggests how ineffective Harris County's flood plain map is when it comes to predicting where Houston neighborhoods will flood during catastrophic storms. The maps reveal that one neighborhood East Houston located in northeast Houston had the most 911 calls for high-water rescue outside of both the 100-year and 500-year flood plains, according to maps created by the Houston Chronicle using data obtained from the Houston Fire Department. The department kept a log of each call and the location of the caller. While most of the high-water rescues across Houston were inside flood zones, data show more than 80 percent of the 943 calls for help in East Houston were outside of the flood plain But calls outside of the flood plains should not be too surprising. Harvey was a phenomenal storm. Analysts with the National Weather Service have considered the storm a 1,000-year flood event and current maps do not account for those kinds of storms. The term "1,000-year flood" means that, statistically speaking, a flood of that magnitude or greater has a 1 in 1000 chance of occurring in any given year. In terms of probability, the 1000-year flood has a 0.1 percent chance of happening in any given year, according to the the United States Geological Survey. East Houston is a community of about 18,000 residents in northeast Houston, populated primarily by black and Hispanic residents. Like other Houston communities, East Houston had not seen flooding to that extent since Tropical Storm Allison in 2001. But East Houston resident Juan Antonio Sorto said even Allison does not compare to Harvey. He added that East Houston did not flood on either the 2015 or 2016 storms in the city. But during Harvey, water was waist deep and families were forced to flee their homes. "It [is] remarkable that we have not flooded as often since the community runs between Halls and Hunting Bayou," Sorto said. Sorto, who does freelance work for the Rice Kinder Institute for Urban Research, has been researching and writing about the response and recovery in his community since the storm hit. On Aug. 29 he wrote on his blog: "Water levels continue to rise steadily. By this time, most of East Houston is under water. The entire community around Lake Forest Park is flooded as the lake there overflows with rainwater." The city is working on addressing response in areas most prone to flooding. In fact, HFD has proposed placing its new high-water rescue vehicles across Houston in strategic locations. One of those locations includes Meyerland, Kingwood and the East Houston area. Meanwhile, since Harvey residents and local leaders have scrutinized the flood plain maps. In October, the Houston Chronicle reported that Houston area flood maps were based on outdated rainfall data and trends. And even that data, from 2001, is more than 15 years old and doesn't capture severe storms that included Hurricane Ike in 2008, the Memorial Day floods in 2015 and the Tax Day floods of 2016, according to the report. An analysis by the National Oceanic and Atmospheric Administration suggested the standards used to map flood zones and design flood control projects routinely underestimate the severity of the Houston area's downpours. That analysis by NOAA, which looked at rainfall data stretching back decades, up to and including Harvey, shows the amount of rain that defines a "100-year storm" - one that has a 1 percent chance of occurring in any given year - has risen by 3 to 5 inches in Harris County since the last estimates were put in place in 2002. In other words, instead of expecting 12 to 14 inches in a day during a 100-year storm, the data shows the county should expect 15 to 18 inches. The final NOAA data will be published in May 2018, the first statewide update to the federal agency's rainfall estimates in nearly 50 years. John D. Harden is a data specialist at the Houston Chronicle, telling the stories behind the numbers. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send him tips at john.harden@chron.com . The Houston Police Department is ramping up security this weekend as dignitaries make their way to Houston to attend services for the late former first lady Barbara Bush. HPD Chief Art Acevedo held a news conference Thursday about the city's security measures, and confirmed that notable attendees will include first lady Melania Trump, former president and first lady Barack and Michelle Obama and former president and first lady Bill and Hillary Clinton. Former President Jimmy Carter and his wife Rosalynn Carter are not expected to attend for medical reasons. President Donald Trump also is not expected to show. READ ALSO: Family, friends, leaders remember Barbara Bush Acevedo said he has received word that additional dignitaries will be in be attendance, but their names had not been made public as of Thursday. Houston authorities also are expecting a substantial crowd of Texans to converge on Houston to attend services honoring Bush and her legacy. The Houston Police Department is enlisting the help of several agencies to ensure the events run smoothly. The FBI, the Secret Service, the Texas Department of Public Safety, in addition to a few other local agencies will assist HPD. Safety measures this weekend will be tight, Acevedo said. "Treat this like you're going through TSA," he said. Before attendees can take part in Bush's viewing, authorities must screen them at Second Baptist Church located at 6400 Woodway Drive. Acevedo said no big bags nor weapons will be allowed. Because of that, travel along Woodway Drive between Chimney Rock Road and the West 610 Loop will have limited access. Only residents and business owners will be allowed beyond the road closures. Buses at the church will take people to St. Martin's Episcopal Church for the viewing and back. Acevedo said foot traffic to St. Martin's Episcopal Church will not be permitted for the public viewing nor for the funeral. Authorities also said that photography will not be allowed in the church. Acevedo added that no drones will not be allowed anywhere near the churches nor services. This story is developing. Check back for updates. john.harden@chron.com Twitter.com/jdharden Then-Astros owner Drayton McLane expected fans to applaud and gawk when he first invited former first lady Barbabra Bush and President George H.W. Bush to watch a game at the Astrodome in 1993. He expected the warm welcomes to fade after the couple made a tradition of going to 40 to 50 games a year. They never did. Just before every game, they would go sit down in front, and everyone would stand up and applaud. When they left during seventh inning, everyone would stand up and applaud again, McLane said. Ive never been around anyone who people respected in such a way. As funeral preparations are being made to honor Barbara Bush following her death at 92 Tuesday, Houstonians reflected on the former first ladys influence on the city and recalled their own encounters with the matriarch of the Bush political dynasty. Jenee Bobbora, a mother who lives in the Galleria, remembered entire audiences rising to their feet to applaud Bush as she entered the Hobby Center for Performing Arts. She wasnt so dainty that she insisted on being behind the scenes, Bobbora said. She had a decency about her, like she was an ambassador for Houstons friendliness. REMEMBRANCES: Several events scheduled to honor Barbara Bush Maeir Vili, who lives blocks away from the Bushes home, recalled seeing Bush at a gas station near his West Houston neighborhood several times. He said he was impressed by her low profile and the way she treated those around her. She talked to everyone in the parking lot and in the store, Vili said. She was an ordinary woman who didnt need to be treated differently. Others echoed the sentiment, recalling Bush as a woman who fostered personal connections rather than a larger-than-life figure. She was one of them. She was a Houstonian. The Brits have their royals, but she could be considered our treasure, said Sevena Felton, who spent part of Wednesday praying for Bush and her family at St. Martins Episcopal Church. Democrat, Republican, everyone here loved her. FOODIE: From Ninfa's to The Palm, Barbara Bush the 'foodie' savored Houston's dining scene The citys love for Barbara Bush was evident wherever she went. Folks would stand and applaud when she entered a room, whether it was 40,000 people at Minute Maid Park or 30 diners in Christies Seafood Restaurant. Maria Christie, manager of the West Houston establishment, said the Bushes were frequent customers, often ordering gumbo, shrimp and oysters on the half shell. Diners tried not to gawk at the former first couple, Christie said, but some could not contain their emotions. We had one lady, she was so touched, she caught them in corner of the eye and started weeping. She said she felt so honored to see them in person, Christie said. She just got to the benches near the entrance and waited until they went to leave. They were so gracious, and she was able to thank them. It was the couples willingness to connect with everyday Houstonians that people recalled Wednesday. Half of the people in Houston may have a handwritten note or autograph from H.W. or Barbara, said Jim McGrath, who has worked as the Bushes spokesman since they returned to Houston. They were always happy to take the time to acknowledge a wedding or graduation, or to write a heartfelt note on a menu for someone who came up to them at a restaurant. ADORATION: How Barbara and George H.W. Bush became royalty in Houston Their down-to-earth kindness to strangers is only one reason Houstonians became enamored with the former first couple. Barbara Bush spearheaded efforts to help children read, continuing her work with the Barbara Bush Foundation for Family Literacy she founded as first lady. She expanded those efforts locally and became heavily involved in the Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation, founded in her honor by son Neil. That work always impressed Megan Donaldson, a relocation specialist with a local real estate company who heads an after-school program for students in the northwest Houston neighborhood of Acres Homes. A lot of folks get rich or successful in Houston but forget about the less fortunate, Donaldson said. You could see her humility, you could see how she related to kids. Bob Schulz, who served as the chairpman for Friends of the Houston Public Library, grew emotional when he spoke about Bushs charitable work. Her unconditional love showed through, Schulz said, his voice breaking with emotion. Her love transformed peoples hearts. The Bushes' personalities also set them apart from other political power couples. Gallery Furniture owner Jim McIngvale recalled a time when Barbara Bush came to one of his stores to buy a mattress. After she asked the price of one model, she pretended to faint when he read the price tag. Mrs. Bush was such a fun person, McInvagle said. She and Mr. Bush are two of my favorite people of all time. Elyse Lanier, who was married to former Houston Mayor Bob Lanier, said Barbara Bush did more than help raise the citys profile as it blossomed into the countrys fourth largest. She adopted it as her own, caring for its residents as if they were her family, working tirelessly to improve the lives of Houstonians across the region. I think she has had such an impact that it will live on, Lanier said. Her spirit will stay with us. shelby.webb@chron.com twitter.com/shelbywebb In his first public comments since his wife's death, former President George H.W. Bush said Wednesday that he used to tease his spouse of 73 years that he had a complex about how much people liked her. That fact, he said, is buoyed by stories about Barbara Bush's warmth and wit following her death. Tributes have rolled in from around the world, from former Soviet leader Mikhail Gorbachev to a U.S. Navy commander, who recalled Mrs. Bush handing out cookies to sailors on a battleship. I always knew Barbara was the most beloved woman in the world, and in fact I used to tease her that I had a complex about that fact, the nation's 41st president said in a statement released Wednesday. His wife died Tuesday as their Houston home, where he held her hand, all day, before she died at age 92. They had been married longer than any other presidential couple. The former president referred to his wife as The Enforcer, a term of endearment bestowed by her family as she ran their household while he pursued careers in the Texas oil business and later politics and public service. He said the outpouring of support and friendship toward his wife following her death is lifting us all up. Their son, former President George W. Bush, told an audience at his presidential library in Dallas on Wednesday that his mother was funny to the end. He recalled a phone conversation they had this week. The day before she died, I said `Mom, I just want you know you've been a fabulous mother and I love you dearly. And she said, `I want you to know that you're my favorite son on the phone, Bush told the audience. I hope you don't feel sorry for any of us, particularly me, he added. He said he was at peace because his mother was at peace. She believes in an afterlife and was joyously looking forward to that afterlife, he said. A tearful Laura Bush added that watching her mother-in-law taught her how to be a first lady, and I'm so grateful for her example. Other tributes heralded the former first lady as a warm woman of strength devoted to not only her family, but to child and adult literacy programs. Current first lady Melania Trump, who will attend Barbara Bush's funeral on Saturday in Houston, praised her for putting family and country above all else. Among her greatest achievements, President Donald Trump added in a statement, was recognizing the importance of literacy as a fundamental family value that requires nurturing and protection. Gorbachev, whose last years in office overlapped with George H.W. Bush's presidency, remembered Barbara Bush as warm and astute, saying she immediately developed a warm relationship with his wife. Gorbachev visited with the Bushes at the former president's library at Texas A&M University, where Barbara Bush will be buried. In Moscow, Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov told reporters that Russian President Vladimir Putin sent a telegram to the former president offering his condolences. Kuwaiti leader Sheikh Sabah Al Ahmad Al Sabah sent letters of condolence to the Bush family, according to the state-run news agency KUNA. The Arab nation has long celebrated George H.W. Bush for securing its freedom from Iraqi occupation in the 1991 Gulf War, and Barbara Bush was warmly welcomed when she visited Kuwait in 1993 and 2001. ADDED Officials say former Presidents Barack Obama and Bill Clinton and their wives plan to attend funeral services for former first lady Barbara Bush. END ADD Obama said he and former first lady Michelle Obama would always be grateful to Barbara Bush for the generosity she showed to us throughout our time in the White House. But we're even more grateful for the way she lived her life as a testament to the fact that public service is an important and noble calling; as an example of the humility and decency that reflects the very best of the American spirit, Obama said. Former President Clinton said in a statement, Barbara Bush was a remarkable woman. She had grit & grace, brains & beauty. She showed us what an honest, vibrant, full life looks like. Hillary and I mourn her passing and bless her memory. Former President Jimmy Carter and former first lady Rosalynn Carter called Mrs. Bush the matriarch of a family dedicated to serving. Barbara Bush's funeral will be held at St. Martin's Episcopal Church, which she and her husband regularly attended. The church will host a public viewing Friday. The funeral Saturday will be by invitation only. An uplifting celebration of Barbara Bush's life will be held Thursday evening outside Houston City Hall. City officials encouraged people to wear blue, her favorite color, along with pearls, which became her signature neckwear jewelry. City Hall was being bathed in blue lights in her honor. Kofi Taharka embraced his friends outside of a soot-covered brick cottage in the Third Ward, close to the place where hours before he stood and watched the building burn. For about 30 minutes on Tuesday night, flames engulfed parts of the Houston chapter of the National Black United Front. And in those few minutes, the organization lost its physical home, for now. The organization is not a building, the organization is the people, said Taharka, the chairman of the Houston and national chapters. However, when you have grassroots organizations, to have a base of operation it helps us to be able to organize, to be able to commune together and to have something where we can tell the community where to come get help. The cause of the blaze is unknown, and the Houston Fire Departments Arson Division is investigating. An HFD source said investigators do not currently believe the incident was racially motivated. It was very emotional, Taharka said Wednesday morning. Its a lot of history. The fire started sometime before 10:50 p.m. Tuesday while Taharka and his wife were inside. They heard the smoke detector and made it safely out of the two-story home. Most of the house sustained some kind of fire, smoke or water damage. The kitchen, close to where the fire started, was destroyed. This is going to be a long, all-hands-on-deck recovery act, said Sahuri Asha, a friend of the organization who came to check on the building the day after the fire. Its going to take a village to help restore this place. The flames sparked in the back of the house, which has stood at 2428 Southmore since around the 1940s, Taharka said. The Houston chapter of the black rights group remodeled the building in 1995 and moved in permanently in 1997. Taharka, who said he felt lucky to be alive, said he feels its too early to make any assumptions about whether the fire was intentionally set. I really dont know, he said. We take some pretty strong positions on different things as an organization. I just really dont know. The National Black United Front has made a place for itself in Houstons Third Ward, a historically black neighborhood south of downtown. As gentrification has set in, the organization has continued to support the black community through its numerous social programs, said Abdul Haleem Muhammad, minister of the Nation of Islam in Houston. This is important because were right in the heart of a community thats in transition, Muhammad said. And many of our people need NBUF as some place to turn to for help to navigate the changes that are taking place, to interface with the citadels of power. Ideally, the chapter would rebuild and temporarily operate out of other locations with the help of community partners, Taharka said. But its too soon to know whether the group will even be able to rebuild, or whether theyll have to relocate entirely, Taharka said. Were going to serve the people, Taharka said. Were a 38-year-old organization; its been built on service to our community. The fire is not going to stop us. samantha.ketterer@chron.com Twitter.com/sam_kett A Pearland man tried to hire a hitman to kill an ex-girlfriend and three other Houston residents, prosecutors said Thursday in announcing his arrest. Rajesh Bakshi, 54, was charged with four counts of solicitation of capital murder and is accused of trying to pay a professional killer to shoot a woman he had once dated, along with her boyfriend and parents, the Harris County District Attorneys Office said, in a news release detailing the case. Authorities arrested Bakshi on Tuesday, after he allegedly paid an undercover Houston police officer a $1,500 down payment to perform the contract killing, according to the DAs office. This operation saved lives in a very sensitive situation, District Attorney Kim Ogg said. Imagine how bad this could have been had it not been uncovered before it got to a real hitman. Bakshi had harassed the woman for months and been violent with her, according to the DAs office. Bakshi appeared in a court hearing Thursday afternoon dressed in dark pants and a short-sleeved, light-blue button down shirt. He stood impassively as lawyers laid out the charges against him, detailing how Bakshi allegedly made a $1,500 down payment and provided photos of each person he wanted killed. He asked the undercover officer to sprinkle cocaine on the victims' bodies, prosecutors said. In the hearing, prosecutors explained that Bakshi went over schedules and patterns of life of the people he wanted killed, gave suggestions of how and where they might be killed, and asked for photographs of the victims once the act was completed. Bakshi had nearly $13,000 more in cash available to him when he was arrested. A public defender said Bakshi is an Indian immigrant, who works at a Dixie Corner Store and lives in Pearland with relatives. He has a 14-year-old son and twin daughters, court officials said. Bakshi remains in jail, with bail set at $150,000 for each count. If convicted, Bakshi could spend the rest of his life in prison. Court records show he is being represented by a public defender, who was not immediately available to speak Friday afternoon. St. John Barned-Smith covers public safety and major breaking news for the Houston Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter and Facebook. Send tips to st.john.smith@chron.com. Each year, the county medical examiners office takes custody of hundreds of deceased persons who they are unable to identify, and whose remains are never claimed. And each year, Houston area law agencies receive reports of more than 7,000 persons who went missing. In an effort to help match families with their relatives that have disappeared, the Harris County Institute of Forensic Sciences has scheduled a Missing in Harris County Day. The event will be held this Sunday from 10 a.m. to 3 p.m. on the Texas Southern University campus at the Barbara Jordan-Mickey Leland School of Public Affairs, located at 3301 Cleburne St. Called by authorities The Silent Disaster, there are more than 40,000 deceased adults and children in the country whose remains have not been identified, according to an estimate by the National Institute of Justice. A large part of the problem is that families and friends of missing persons are not aware of all the available resources that could help them find their relatives, said forensic anthropologist Sharon Derrick, who is in charge of identifications at the county forensic institute. One of the services offered in Sundays event is collecting a saliva sample from families of missing people to extract genetic information from their DNA, said Derrick. The DNA information developed from family samples is then entered in a database called the National Missing and Unidentified Persons System, or NamUS, and compared with all the existing genetic records of unidentified deceased persons to see if there is a match. LEARN ABOUT THE STORY of a family matched by the Missing in Harris County Day At the event, staff will guide those who attend through several rooms where different services will be offered, from looking at photos of missing people that have been digitally cleaned for better identification, to assisting families to browse and input their information into missing person databases. More Information What to bring To take advantage of all the services, organizers recommend to bring: - Photos of the missing person, preferably showing the full face and pictures showing any recognizable feature of the individual such as moles, freckles on their faces, piercings, scars or others. Photos showing teeth are also helpful. X-rays, dental or medical records, police reports or other identifying documents that can be scanned and placed on file. - If possible, two family members related to the mother of the missing person to provide a saliva sample for DNA extraction at the event. However, one member frequently works as well. - Families and friends are welcome to wear memorial t-shirts, bring posters or any literature to display and commemorate their missing loved one. See More Collapse Counselors and families who had already gone through the process of looking or finding their missing loved ones will share their experiences and be available for help and networking. The importance of this event is that this is a human problem where families suffer, sometimes for decades, not knowing what happened to their loved ones, said Harris County Sheriff Ed Gonzalez. If the missing person is found, it helps them to have some closure, he added. The advantage of attending the event is that all the services offered are put together into one day, which makes this a kind of one-stop shop for families, instead of having to navigate the system looking for information on their own, said Tricia Bentley, Public Outreach Manager for the forensic institute. Organizers said the event and services are free of charge, and is open to the public and provided in English and Spanish. Law enforcement officials from both the sheriffs office and the Houston Police Department have assured the community that undocumented immigrants with missing people should not be afraid of participating. GO DEEPER: Immigrant deaths rise sharply along Texas border Many of the unidentified, deceased individuals recorded by the county are thought to be immigrants from Latin America and other regions, but many families are afraid of contacting authorities to report the missing, the Sheriff said. Unless someone does something at the event that is against the law, no one is going to be arrested, deported or reported to immigration authorities at the event, emphasized Derrick, who founded the Missing in Harris day in 2015 as an annual initiative. olivia.tallet@chron.com Twitter: @oliviaptallet Seeking the public's help moving storm water to Houston's bayous, Mayor Sylvester Turner is asking residents to volunteer to keep storm drains free of debris. Many cities have Adopt-A-Drain programs, from San Francisco to St. Paul to Burlington, Vt. Citizens are asked to sign up to keep a specific storm drain near their home or business clear, improving water quality and preventing leaves and litter from limiting the much-needed capacity of the pipes during rainstorms. Turner wants Houstonians to clear their drains at least four times a year, particularly when rain is in the forecast. "This is something anyone can do, but we need a lot of people to do it," he said. "If everyone does their part, with all of other measures we intend to do, we can collectively make a huge difference." More than 115,000 storm drains are up for adoption at Houstonadoptadrain.org. Houston Public Works Director Carol Haddock has claimed the drain at Smith and Rusk near her department's headquarters, dubbing it the "Director's Drain." Others saw the nickname option as a chance for creativity. One resident in the warehouse district just north of downtown rushed to claim a drain on Sterritt Street in the hours after the program's launch, and labeled it "So Proud Of My Large Wet Drainage Son." Residents are asked to rake up and bag leaves and throw away trash they find while cleaning, to wear gloves while doing so, and to stop working and call the city's 311 helpline if they encounter needles, construction debris, animals, firearms or chemicals. Citizens are asked to clean only the surface area to 10 feet on either side of their drain and to never try to lift the grate or plates over the drain. The typical drain in Houston leads to underground storm sewer pipes that take water to the nearest bayou, and they often are found at intersections and intermittent spots along the road in neighborhoods with curb-and-gutter infrastructure. The storm sewer is separate from the sanitary sewer, which takes water from sinks and toilets to treatment plants. About a third of the city drains not through pipes but via roadside ditches, which also can get stopped up when leaves and branches clog culverts or when residents fill in the ditches with gravel to gain a parking spot. Public Works views ditch maintenance as a shared responsibility with homeowners. The city and Keep Houston Beautiful also enlist community groups in an Adopt A Ditch program, but such efforts generally involve mobilizing groups of volunteers to clean up and plant trees along major neighborhood ditches, not those in front of individual homes. Most of the Houston homes that flooded during Hurricane Harvey were outside mapped floodplains. It is unclear how many of those homes flooded primarily due to poor local drainage infrastructure rather than, for instance, quirks of topography, but every blocked pipe can be a problem. Becky Edmondson, a Westbury civic leader whose nearest intersection played host to Turner's Thursday press conference announcing the program, has participated informally for years. The importance of keeping the drains clear was particularly clear when an April 2013 storm pushed water far onto her neighbors' yards, she said, despite there being no bayou nearby. All the drains were blocked, she learned, in part because piles of pine needles from two large nearby trees. "Houston has a lot of aging infrastructure and there's a lot of neighborhoods that need their drains replaced and a new storm drain system," Edmondson said, "but until that happens, there's things we can do as residents." The civic leaders and curious neighbors who gathered at Briarbend and Cedarhurst on Thursday almost failed to keep the nearest drain free of a wayward toddler, when the little one made a break for it and was scooped up on the edge of the drain plate during the press conference. Just last Friday, Haddock's Public Works cleaning crews pulled a dog out of a storm drain. It's these calls and, more commonly, complaints about clogged pipes causing water to pond in the street long after storms that force the city to spend $13 million a year inspecting and clearing storm drains. "Partnering with us to help us out is going to make a day-to-day difference in the lives of our residents," Haddock said, "in making sure your storm drainage system is ready for the next storm." mike.morris@chron.com twitter.com/mmorris011 AUSTIN After threatening to publicly shame school districts behind on implementing school safety strategies following the deadly shooting in Parkland, Fla., Gov. Greg Abbott announced Thursday that all Texas school districts and public junior colleges are up to compliance. Abbott also announced $853,000 in funding for the Texas School Safety Center, which arms schools with methods for preventing school violence, substance abuse and bullying. Some of the funds will be spent on developing specialized training for law enforcement officials based on school campuses aimed on preventing violent crimes, improving officer-student relations and improving student learning. More Texas voters oppose building a border wall with Mexico than support the idea, a new poll released Thursday shows. But at the same time most Texans back the idea of sending the National Guard to patrol the border, the Qunnipiac poll of 1,029 Texas voters shows. The results show voters' views on immigration issues don't line up perfectly with either political party, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll. "They agree with Democrats in their opposition to President Donald Trump's wall," Brown said. "But, by a wide margin, they support the Republican president's plan to send the National Guard to that border to stop illegal immigration." The polls showed that 60 percent of Texans support sending the National Guard to the border while just 37 percent opposed the idea. On the border wall, 53 percent opposed the idea, while 43 percent support the idea. Other immigration issues also show how both parties don't line up perfectly with voter attitudes. About 79 percent of respondents said undocumented immigrants brought to the U.S. as children - the so-called Dreamers - should be allowed to stay and apply for citizenship. Just 15 percent oppose them staying and eventually applying for citizenship. But voters still believe illegal immigration is a big problem. About 73 percent said undocumented immigrants crossing the border is an important problem, with just 25 percent disagreeing. The wide ranging poll also asked key questions on legalization of marijuana, gun laws and abortion. Texans on key issues in new poll Quinnipiac University has released a new poll of 1,029 Texas voters and their attitudes on several issues. Here are some of the results. Question: Do you support or oppose allowing undocumented immigrants who were brought to the U.S. as children to remain in the United States and eventually apply for citizenship? Support: 79 percent Oppose: 15 percent Don't Know/NA: 6 percent Question: Do you support or oppose building a wall along the border with Mexico? Support: 43 percent Oppose: 53 percent Don't Know/NA: 4 percent Question: Do you support or oppose using the National Guard to patrol the border with Mexico? Support: 60 percent Oppose: 37 percent Don't know/NA: 3 percent Question: Do you support or oppose stricter gun laws in the United States? Support: 55 percent Oppose: 41 percent Don't know/NA: 4 percent Question: Do you support or oppose allowing adults in Texas to legally possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use? Support: 61 percent Oppose: 34 percent Don't know/NA: 6 percent See More Collapse Overall 61 percent of Texas voters support allowing adults to possess small amounts of marijuana for personal use, while 34 percent oppose the idea. On gun laws, 94 percent support requiring background checks to all gun buyers and 55 percent support stricter gun laws in general in the U.S. On abortion, 20 percent of Texas voters say abortion should be legal in all cases and 37 percent say it should be legal in most cases. But 26 percent say abortion should be illegal in most cases while 12 percent say it should be illegal in all cases. The statewide poll of Texas is the first ever by Quinnipiac University, which has been polling in battleground states like Ohio, Virginia and Florida for more than a decade. On Wednesday they released additional results that showed the U.S. Senate race is too close to call and Gov. Greg Abbott leads either of the two Democrats running in a primary run-off to determine who will battle him in the fall. The polling also showed only 43 percent of Texans in the poll said they approved of the job Trump was doing. The poll was conducted from April 12 to April 17. Jeremy Wallace writes about state politics and government for the Chronicle. Follow him on Twitter at @JeremySWallace. AUSTIN A Texas appeals court struck down the states revenge porn law Wednesday, ruling the 2015 statute making it illegal to share intimate images the subject had reason to expect would remain private is overbroad and violates too many third parties free speech rights. The state law is extremely broad, the Tyler-based 12th Court of Appeals wrote in its ruling, because it applies to anyone who shares visual material depicting another persons intimate parts or engaged in sexual contact regardless whether a person sharing the images knows the circumstances of the images creation. I traveled last week to Las Vegas to try to answer what may become a vital question for an entire sector of the technology industry: is there a future in providing technology support? In the MGM Conference Center, over 2,300 service desk analysts and other technology support professionals gathered for HDIs service and support conference. And as they did, this question both spoken and unspoken lingered just beneath the surface. As conversations about chatbots, artificial intelligence (AI) and other forms of automation swirled about the expo floor and mixed with talk about the shifting role of support, the question about the future of this space became both relevant and timely. Its a challenging time for the industry. One on hand, futuristic, AI-powered technologies are mesmerizing us with utopian promises of systems that can anticipate our every need. Fueled by this promise, its also a time in which we are becoming increasingly intolerant of antiquated, unintuitive systems and the script-reading call center agents that support them. We are at once more capable than ever of supporting our own technology needs, and yet so dependent on that technology that any disruption borders on catastrophic. It is within this atmosphere that the service and support industry is encountering dual, counter-balanced forces that will shape its future: Automation The customer experience An ironic disruption There is a certain irony to the disruption occurring within the technology support sector as it is technology that is disrupting the very livelihood of those whose job it is to support it. AI, chatbots and other forms of automation are now taking top-billing in most of the systems targeted at the support industry. The often-unstated subtext is that this automation will reduce the need for support staff. But is it true? Theres a lot of talk about automation and AI, but not a lot of companies actually doing it and implementing things like chatbots, explained Fancy Mills, HDIs Group Director of Training, Certification and Content. She explained that every new technology seems to come with the threat of job displacement. Companies, however, quickly realize that its rarely that easy. In her estimation, the new wave of AI-powered solutions will be no different. Is there a threat that AI and automation will take away human jobs? Yes and no, she told me. Weve been through this several times, but it hasnt happened. Instead, it shifts roles to different places, but doesnt necessarily reduce them. Still, in the resource-constrained world of IT, organizations are duty-bound to find ways to reduce the cost and overhead of delivering technology. This new wave of AI and automation promises to help them do just that. I have to squeeze water out of rocks. I need to do stuff I dont have the resource to do, shared Greg Sanker, CIO of the Oregon Department of Administrative Services. I am focusing humans on the things that need to be done by humans. If it doesnt require a human characteristic to successfully complete that task, then dont [use a human to do it]. Sanker continued by acknowledging the fear that a statement like that can cause. That can be a scary thing for a CIO to say because people think it means theyll lose their job. Its not that, he clarified. We increasingly have a need for humans to do things that humans are uniquely good at. The big message for the technology support sector is that we are on the cusp of a foundational shift. As these new technologies evolve and improve, they may not result in the mass elimination of jobs, but they are likely to reshape the very nature of what it means to be in support. The question then, is into what? A customer-driven reorientation The good news for technology support professionals is that while technology may be disrupting the nature of their work, there is a broader shift underway within the enterprise that opens new doors of opportunity for them. Across the enterprise landscape, organizations are recognizing that delivering and supporting a superior customer experience is becoming one of the primary drivers of competitive differentiation. As a result, they are putting significant resources toward the creation and protection of experience-based customer value. More importantly, as technology becomes more deeply ingrained into every facet of the customer journey, they are also beginning to realize that the traditional, internally-focused support organization may be best suited to help them successfully shift their focus. Moreover, organizations are also recognizing that the customer experience is connected to and is often a derivative of the employee experience, all of which is giving rise to a new concept: the experience level agreement, or XLA. There are so many examples where SLAs are being met and the customer is not happy. So everything is moving from SLAs to XLAs, said Nancy Van Elsacker Louisnord, President of software company TOPDesk. The typical silos are fading away and its now one big chain. Where theres true collaboration going on, there is a big impact on the customer experience. This shift to a more holistic perspective is resulting in a growing trend of service desks and other support teams supporting both internal and external customers. Enterprises are beginning to reimagine the role of the support organization as they recognize that technology is now critical to the customer experience and that their existing support teams are best positioned to provide the support for these technologies. Its a transition that is necessary, but one that is also fraught with risk for both IT organizations and support professionals. Supporting an ever-more-complex technology stack along with the needs of both internal and external customers is no easy task. Throw in the fact that AI and other forms of automation will reshape the manner in which support organizations operate in the first place, and the result is a support function that will look and feel wildly different from what exists today. An industry responds In the midst of chaos, there is also opportunity. Sun Tzu, The Art of War Just a few years ago, it would be fair to say that the technology support sector had stagnated. The action was in DevOps, Big Data and other areas of the technology industry. But as the two forces of automation and the rise in importance of the customer experience have disrupted this once stagnating space, it is also creating opportunity. And the industrys technology companies are responding. Encouragingly, though, it's not a response borne from a mere desire to take advantage. Instead, technology companies see an opportunity to reassert the relevance of the space. Transformation starts with IT, but this is not IT for ITs sake, shared Ian Aitchison, Senior Product Director of ITXM for Ivanti. This is IT to drive business value and to change business processes [for that purpose]. This theme of helping technology support organizations transcend the traditional bounds of the support function was prevalent amongst many of the exhibitors at the conference. For example: Standing for the AI Services Era, the company is applying machine learning to ITSM to create what they call AISM. Providing the ability to augment service desk agents and support staff, as well as the ability to create what they call the autonomous help desk, the company believes this technology will usher in the next generation of ITSM. The company wants to help IT organizations manage end-to-end service delivery, beyond just operations. The company sees the combination of its JIRA Software, ubiquitous within development teams, with JIRA Service Desk as a Software + Service offering that helps organizations move beyond just DevOps or operations and bring it together in a collaborative manner on their platform. The companys new self-help product delivers what it calls context-aware intelligence to help organizations deflect tickets and manage what they call guided work. Working on top of any ITSM solution, the product helps organizations move beyond simple self-help approaches to embrace and enable knowledge flow. A couple of years ago, the company rebuilt its offering from scratch. The result is a collaboration platform and business process engine with ITSM built on top of it. This results in a capability it calls Collaborative ITSM. As its name implies, this means that every object in the system including an incident, a person, an organization, or an SLA becomes a collaborative object that can be followed and tracked changing the nature, according to the company, of how the support function works. Delivering what they call Unified IT, the company offers a deep and rich portfolio of tools to help IT organizations manage operations effectively and break down the silos that inhibit speed-to-market and operational efficiency. The company believes that by making the management of IT simpler, it enables enterprises to more rapidly implement automation across the management stack. Historically focused on the SMB market, the company is beginning to serve more enterprise customers as they are attracted to its end-to-end, yet simplified approach to IT and infrastructure management. Its common data model and end-to-end approach are focused on helping organizations spend fewer resources on management and shift those resources to delivering business results. Embracing what it calls Employee Service Management, the company aims to help its clients create a one-stop shop for employees to meet all their needs, while keeping service provisioning aligned across an organization. The company bases this approach on a belief that negative employee experiences result in negative customer experiences and wants to help organizations flip this dynamic. An early leader in the move to Enterprise Service Management (ESM), the company has continued to expand its offerings on both the automation and ESM fronts. It has recently released its Intelligent Automation AI engine along with new chatbot technology connected to its HR, IT and financial solutions with the intent of simultaneously increasing automation and improving the customer experience. The company is intently focused on helping organizations reduce their Mean Time to Repair (MTTR). Using a dashboard that brings all operational support elements into one place, the company believes that the collaboration and efficiency this fosters helps organizations resolve issues more quickly and unleash their IT energy. The company employs what it calls a true codeless approach in which every customer whether the solution is deployed on-premises or in the cloud is using the same version. It combines this approach with a broad set of touchpoint measurements and surveys to help organizations measure and sustain the customer experience over time. The big takeaway is that we are in the early stages of a broader transformation in how enterprise organizations look at the role of support. In the near future, support will become much more automated, but will also become much more customer-facing. This shift will minimize the traditional value that support teams provided to the enterprise. But it will be replaced by a much more critical value equation centered around the support of the customer experience. Successfully making this transition will demand that support organizations reshape their identity, that technology providers continue to connect the dots between support and the customer, and that support professionals retool their skills for their new, hopeful future. [Disclosure: ServiceNow is an Intellyx client. EasyVista is a past client.] Businesses will soon face new limits on how they use applications and services powered by artificial intelligence. They can thank European Union regulators who will require them, starting in May, to justify decisions made by artificial intelligence that impact European residents. The EUs General Data Protection Regulation takes effect May 25, 2018. GDPR mandates aggressive new standards for consumer rights regarding use of their personal data. Its the first data privacy update from the EU in more than two decades. The regulation also includes an implied right to an explanation when a EU resident is subject to an automated decision. This right, and uncertainty over its implementation, could change how businesses embrace AI, says Nick Wallace, senior policy analyst in Brussels for the Information Technology and Innovation Foundation. GDPRs language related to the right to an explanation remains vague; the rule is not explicitly spelled out in the documents main text. Instead, GDPR gives residents a right to meaningful information about automated decisions that affect them. It also mandates a right to human intervention when contesting a decision. With meaningful information and other language in GDPR not clearly defined, the new regulations will likely be enforced and tested on a casebycase basis. This uncertainty leaves many companies in the dark about how to navigate this new challenge. Some analysts believe GDPR presents problems for current uses of machine learning, while others suggest the imprecise language in GDPR simply creates toothless regulations that cant be enforced. CIOs are unlikely to sit around waiting for the legal drama to play out. Regardless of how the EU rule is interpreted or enforced, it augurs closer regulatory scrutiny for AIbased decision making. Smart organizations will start looking more closely for signs of bias in their results, as well as flaws in their algorithms and in the fidelity of their data. Jana Eggers, CEO of Nara Logics, a startup that sells an AIpowered recommendation engine, says companies should be developing crossfunctional processes for evaluating algorithms and data used, for evaluating results on a regular basis to spot changes for review, and for responding to customer inquiries in a consistent, transparent and ethical manner. If GDPR ultimately requires only a basic explanation about an AIs decision, most businesses may be able to comply, Wallace says. But if EU regulators require detailed explanations about the elements of a particular algorithmalong with frequent human interventions to secondguess decisionscompanies may rethink what they choose to automate, and at what cost. GDPR also raises a thorny question: What is the purpose of automated decisionmaking if it requires constant human oversight? The whole point in using AI is either it can do things more efficiently than humans or more accurately, Wallace says. If a human can just as easily replicate these decisions, why would you bother investing in AI research? Tradeoffs for Process Automation Some studies suggest that regulatory requirements for AI transparency can hurt accuracy. If you program an algorithm to be transparent, that puts a constraint on the complexity of the decisions that you make, Wallace says. For example, an AI might use deep learning techniques to interpret thousands of data points in order to estimate the probability that an individual will develop cancer. The tradeoff for that level of analysis is that it may not be able to explain the diagnosis in a way that most humans can understand. Yet a tradeoff between transparency and accuracy isnt always necessary, says Natasha Duarte, policy analyst at the Center for Democracy and Technology, an advocacy group. AI developers often must choose between a simpler model explainable to humans and a more complex and opaque model. Sometimes going with a simpler model means losing some accuracy, but not alwaysor not always a lot of accuracy, Duarte says. And sometimes, losing a little accuracy for more interpretability is a good thing. In some cases, a more transparent AI may allow researchers to spot flaws in an algorithmic decision. Thats what happened when an AI downplayed the risk that asthma patients will contract pneumonia. Some AI experts welcome a push for more transparency. While explaining decisions can be computationally expensive, its important for humans to understand and trust the results, says Eggers. She compares the right to an explanation for an AI decision to the right of medical patients to seek second opinions. We often dont trust an experts opinion, and we ask for more information, she says. We should be able to do that with machines. Companies should view the mushiness of GDPR language related to AI as a feature, not a bug. It will buy them time to evaluate potential risks before a new set of rules arriveslikely with sharper teeth. Read the full article on Workflow. In our new approach to thought leadership, Cisco Security is publishing a series of research-based, data-driven studies. We've expanded the number of titles to include different reports for security professionals with different interests. Calling on the depth and breadth of expertise from threat researchers and innovators in the security industry, the reports in each year's series include the Security Outcomes Study, Threat Report and Blogs, and Data Privacy Benchmark Study, with others published throughout each year. Since the election of Donald Trump, prominent American Jews, notably in the Reform movement and among the intelligentsia, have lamented the resurgence of right-wing anti-Semitism, seeing it as the greatest threat to their community in the United States. The rise of xenophobic and often marginally anti-Jewish parties in Eastern Europeeven with fewer Jews left there to persecutehas deepened the alarm. Yet by far the greatest threat to Jews, not only here but also abroad, comes not from zombie fascist retreads, but from the Left, which is increasingly making its peace with anti-Semitism. This shift was first made clear to me about 15 years ago when, along with my wife Mandy, whose mother is a Holocaust survivor from France, I visited the legendary Nazi-hunters Serge and Beate Klarsfeld. They predicted that the primary threat to Jews in Europe increasingly would come not from the centuries-old French Right, some of whom had supported the Nazis, but from the Left, in alliance with a growing Muslim population. Time has proved their assertion to be, for the most part, on target. In Sweden, for instance, never known for its persecution of Jews, only 5 percent of all anti-Semitic incidents, notes the New York Times, involved the far Right, while Muslims and leftists accounted for the rest. Germanys recent rash of anti-Semitic incidents has coincided with the mass migration of people from regions where hostility to both Jews and Israel is commonplace. At European universities, where pro-Nazi sentiments were once widely shared, anti-Israel sentiments are increasingly de rigueur. The growing Boycott, Divestment and Sanctions (BDS) movement, aimed at cutting all ties with Israel, often allies itself with anti-Jewish Islamist groups, some with eliminationist agendas for Palestines Jews. Of course, anti-Zionism and anti-Semitism are not identical. One can criticize some Israeli policiesas many American Jews do, for example, on the expansion of settlementswithout being an anti-Semite. But, as the liberal French philosopher Bernard-Henri Levy argues, targeting the Jewish state while ignoring far more brutal, homophobic, and profoundly misogynist Muslim states represents a double standard characteristic of anti-Semitic prejudice. European progressives increasingly embrace this double standard. Generally speaking, the further left the European politician, the closer his ties to Islamist groups who seek the destruction of Jews in Palestine. Many left-wing partiesthe French socialists, for exampledepend more and more on Arab and Muslim voters, who come from countries where more than 80 percent of the public holds strongly anti-Jewish views. The Lefts animus toward Jewish causes has spread to Great Britain, where Labour Party head Jeremy Corbyn counts the leaders of openly anti-Semitic groups like Hamas and Hezbollah as allies. If Corbyn becomes Britains next prime ministerno longer inconceivable, given his strong showing in the last electionthe consequences for Israel, and for Britains dwindling Jewish community, could be troubling. Some, like Barcelonas chief rabbi, think that its time for Europes Jews to move away, and many, particularly in France, are already doing so. Europes Jewish population (roughly 1.4 million) is less than half what it was in 1960, and a mere fraction of its pre-Holocaust size (9.5 million). Israel and the Anglospherethe United States, Canada, and Australialook like the remaining safe harbors for Jews. To date, anti-Semitism in America has been more restrained than in Europe, both on the right and on the left. But mainstream Jewish leadership and its progressive intellectuals are stuck in an historical loop where it is always 1940; Hitler now takes the form of Donald Trump. The notion that Trump, however unattractive in his xenophobia, is anti-Semitica commonplace among progressive Jewsseems absurd, given his Jewish grandchildren and pro-Israel policies. Yet some progressive Jews even sat shivathe traditional period of mourning following the death of an immediate relativeafter Trumps election. The disdain toward Trump among the rabbinateoften more liberal than congregantswas reflected in the cancellation of this years annual Rosh Hashanah call with the president. Trump, as these Jews allege, has at times seemed to encourage the white supremacist alt-right, but the alt-right, while loud, is marginal. Groups like the Ku Klux Klan and various National Socialist wannabes exist more vividly in the literature and imagination of fundraisers than they do in the real world. The far Right has no political leader of consequence, and its media presence is limited, to say the least. As the Los Angeles Times reported last year, the nine major alt-right sites received nearly 3 million visits and 839,000 unique visitors, compared with 236 million visits and 102 million unique visitors for the mainstream Left, and 264 million visits and 111 million unique visitors for the mainstream Right. As in Europe, the danger to Jews primarily lies not in the white nationalist fever swamps but on the left. Much of the Democratic Party coalitionthe progressive Left, minorities, and millennialshas turned decisively against Israel. The most anti-Israel members of Congress tend to come not from the backwoods of Alabama but from progressive inner cities, coastal tech-burbs, and academic communities. In polls, minorities and millennials are consistently less sympathetic to Jews and Israel than older, generally white Republicans. According to the Anti-Defamation League (ADL), African-Americans are twice as likely to be anti-Semitic than the general population; roughly 12 percent of blacks express anti-Semitic views. The attitudes of native-born Americans of Hispanic descent track fairly closely with those of other Americans, but Hispanics born abroad are three times as likely to dislike Jews. Equally disturbing, notes Pew, warm feelings toward Jews are strongest among seniors, at 74 percent, but drop to 62 percent among millennials. To be sure, anti-Semitism is not rampant in America today, but the political evolution of progressive Democrats points to a troubling future. Last year, the party almost named Minnesota congressman Keith Ellison as its chairman (he became vice chairman). Ellison has met repeatedly with Louis Farrakhan, though he claims to have broken all ties with the notorious Jew-baiter. Many Jewish Democrats, particularly in the Reform movement, seem more concerned with maintaining unity among the anti-Trump resistance than about their partys growing anti-Jewish sentiment. To some extent, their silence reflects the progressive logic of intersectionality, which envisions a popular front made up of oppressed peopleand excluding anyone with a Zionist taint. Some Jewish progressives wont even denounce anti-Semites like Linda Sarsour, a prominent leader of the anti-Trump womens march on Washington earlier this year. Like other march organizers, Sarsour celebrates her ties to Farrakhan. She is also a devoted anti-Israel activist, supporter of the BDS movement, and Hamas admirer who once tweeted that nothing is creepier than Zionism. Tamika Mallory, another womens march co-founder, recently joined Sarsour in denouncing Starbucks for inviting the ADL to help run racial-bias training sessions for its employeesbecause the ADL, as they see it, instructs local police departments in Israeli techniques of controlling and killing people of color. Other outsider groups have played the intersectionality card to justify discrimination toward Jews. Organizers of a gay rights march this summer in Chicago moved to exclude marchers who put Jewish stars on their banners; organizers explained that Zionism is an inherently white supremacist ideology. Never mind that Israel is infinitely more tolerant of homosexuality than its Muslim neighbors. American college campuses have become, as in Europe, major incubators of anti-Israel and anti-Jewish agitation as well. Ironically, much of the worst abuse occurs on the most liberal campusesSan Francisco State, the City University of New Yorks Brooklyn campus, and the University of Californiawhile more conservative Southern schools seem more welcoming. Like European Jews in the early 1930s, young Jews on campus are living in an increasingly authoritarian atmosphere, with the shouting down of speakers, limits on free speech, and roughing-up of Trump supporters. More than half of Jewish students, notes a Trinity College study, have experienced anti-Semitism in some form. Most incidents are perpetrated by anti-Israel activists, not wannabe brownshirts from the alt-right. How can American Jews avoid the increasingly marginalized fate of their European counterparts? Performing good deeds, or mitzvot, and speaking for tolerance, remain critical, but more attention needs to be paid to the 40 percent of Jewish millennials who are already unaffiliated, compared with just 25 percent among baby boomers. Younger Jews are also increasingly indifferent to Israel; a quarter of Jews under 30 feel that American support for the Jewish State is excessive, compared with just 5 percent of their elders. But above all, Jews should remember what they owe in allegiance to America and its fundamental ideals. The basic principles of due process, equality under the law, free speech, and religious freedomnot the vaporous promises of social justicerepresent the best guarantee that in this country, at least, the historically miserable experience of Jews will not be repeated. Photo by Spencer Platt/Getty Images The Charity Commission does not have the financial resource or the staffing expertise to properly regulate safeguarding issues in the international aid sector, MPs heard yesterday. Giving evidence to the International Development Committee in parliament yesterday, Helen Evans, former global head of safeguarding at Oxfam, said she had blown the whistle on shortcomings in the aid sector in 2015, but her initial interaction with the Charity Commission had been very poor. She said the Commission was not properly resourced or empowered to tackle international aid or safeguarding issues and a dedicated safeguarding regulator was needed. The Charity Commission currently has a budget of around 25m, just over 300 staff and then you look at the number of charities that require regulating," she said. "The resources they have versus the scale of the sector they regulate is incommensurate already. At the very minimum theyd need a significant increase in resource. With aid agencies you might have the incident happen in country A, the victim from country B, the perpetrators from county C who have now moved on to country D. You need to be able to work across multiple jurisdictions which I think would be a really big ask for the Charity Commission. We need a dedicated regulator for safeguarding with the skills and expertise to manage those. Failing that, the Charity Commission at least needs a specialised safeguarding investigations team. Also giving evidence alongside Evans was Asmita Naik, a consultant on international development and social policy. Naik supported Evans' view that greater regulation was needed, and said an independent ombudsman needs to be established in order to fix the issues around sexual exploitation and lax safeguarding in the aid sector. Im not suggesting a major bureaucratic body that takes over everything the organisation should be doing," she said. "Im suggesting that there should be a right of appeal for victims and their advocates if they feel that the internal processes dont provide them with adequate redress. At the moment we have a situation where policy makers and donors are only finding out about these issues when the media chooses to write a story and thats often several years too late. Naik also urged MPs not to wait for the perfect ombudsman for the UK aid sector and to begin the process immediately. She also said that an ombudsman would be the most cost effective solution available. Evans agreed, saying It will take a lot of resource [to set up an ombudsman], but it will be worth it. For international aid to be made accountable it needs an international ombudsman. She suggested an international body could be headquartered in Switzerland and joint-funded by governments around the world, as well as by the UK. Hire more women to fix culture in aid agencies Evans also told MPs that achieving a better gender balance in senior teams both in the UK and overseas was critical to getting on top of sexual harassment in the international aid sector. She said that in her experience abusers were overwhelmingly men and as men held the majority of senior positions both in the UK and in aid offices overseas it led to the fostering of a culture of abuse. We know that the majority of abusers are men, so if you have the majority of senior leadership positions being held by men and the majority of in country management teams are being held by men, theres definitely a correlation in terms of the prevalence of abuse. Achieving gender balance in the international aid sector is an absolutely critical component of getting on top of abuse. Naik agreed, saying there was a need for leadership to set the right tone when it comes to stamping out systemic abuse. Evans also said having more women in senior management positions would mean that sexual abuse victims would feel more comfortable coming forward and telling their stories. Pauline Latham, Conservative member for Mid Derbyshire who sits on the committee, criticised what she called the macho, white western culture that seems to view sexual exploitation as a perk of the job. The International Development Committees investigation into international aid safeguarding is ongoing. Editor's note: This article originally stated that Naik had claimed an aid ombudsman would be expensive to set up. Naik said that an ombudsman would not be particularly expensive and in fact would be a more cost-effective solution compared to other options. The article has been amended to reflect that. A report into the diversity of charity senior management teams has found that almost 80 per cent lack any one from an ethnic minority background. Launching today, the report, Charities: Inclusive Governance 2018 by campaign group Inclusive Boards, found that 79 per cent of senior leadership teams are all-white. The research, which looked at the top 500 charities in the UK by income, found that 16 per cent of charities employ one leader from a BAME backround and 2 per cent have two leaders from a BAME background. Increase in number of all-white boards It also found that since the last report 18 months ago, there has been a 5 per cent increase in the number of boards that are all white. It also found that 62 per cent of the top 500 charities by income have all white boards. By contrast, there are only four all-BAME boards, a 50 per cent reduction from eight all BAME boards from the last report. It said that charities in rural and remote areas indicated that finding BAME leaders within those regions was challenging. The report called on the Charity Commission to ensure that large charities improve or explain why diversity is lacking on their boards in their annual reports. Two-thirds of trustees are male The research, identified that 66 per cent of trustees were male, while 34 per cent were female. Of the trustees identified, 6.6 per cent were from black, Asian and minority ethnic (BAME) backgrounds. This was a 0.3 per cent increase from its last report. Charities are falling behind the private sector though, FTSE 100 boards having 8.2 per cent of directors from ethnic minority backgrounds. BAME women account for 2.9 per cent of the trustees whose ethnicity were identified. 'Still significant distance to travel' Samuel Kasumu, managing director of Inclusive Boards, said in the foreword: Charities play a pivotal role in ensuring better outcomes for those who need our help the most. They benefit from the goodwill of the general public and very often are custodians for causes so close to so many. Those of us involved in the sector must therefore recognise the importance of having voices from different walks of life involved where vital decisions are made. It also said that a total of 8,299 individuals are part of the senior leadership teams and trustee boards of the top 500 charities ranked by income. The majority of them (6,338 or 76 per cent), are trustees while the remainder 1961 or 24 per cent are senior leaders. The report concluded that compared to findings in our previous report, the 0.3 per cent increase in ethnic minority trustees shows that it is a topic being taken seriously by some, but there is still significant distance to travel. The report also called on the sector to do much better in terms of gender, with 57 per cent of senior leaders male. It said that this is particularly bad as 65 per cent of the charity workforce is female. Civil Society Media is hosting its Charity People & Culture conference on 18 September 2018, which includes a stream on Diversity, Equality and Inclusion. To see the full programme, and to book, click here. Emmanuel Hoog was hoping to secure a fresh term as the head of Agence France-Presse last Wednesday. Then he received an unwelcome phone call. Hoog, whod served as AFPs chairman and CEO since 2010, was about to go up against challenger Fabrice Fries in a board of directors vote when the French government calledhours before the vote was scheduled to take placeto say it wouldnt be supporting him. Hoog quickly stepped aside. While the French state only controls three of the 18 seats on AFPs board, its all but impossible for a CEO to operate without its confidence. AFP may be the third-biggest news agency in the world (after Reuters and AP)with operations in multiple languages and 151 countriesbut it gets up to about 40 percent of its funding from its home government. In recent years, the sustainability of that funding has been called into question. Observers say the French state wants AFP to stand on its own feet, and that Hoog failed to advance its agenda fast enough. Its pick to run the agency is, therefore, a political one. ICYMI: A journalist left her house, got into her car and left for the bank. Three minutes later, she was dead. AFP staffers called for the vote to be abandoned and rerun with two or more candidates at a later date, thus ensuring a choice between different visions of AFPs future. But the board decided to let Fries, who has spent most of his career in the private sector, go forward unopposed. During his confirmation vote the day after Hoogs withdrawal, staffers temporarily stopped working in protestdropping their coverage of a televised interview with French President Emmanuel Macron as a result. On Monday, the drama continued. Three AFP directorswho serve on the board as independent expertsaddressed an open letter to the French Minister of Culture, criticizing the last-minute jettisoning of Hoog. The election wasnt done in a good way, because in the end there was only one candidate put forward, one of the signatories, economist Julia Cage, tells CJR. We considered it our duty to denounce what happened.so that in future theres a change in the way the agency is governed. The letters signatories stressed that their gripe was procedural, not a personal affront to Fries. And even though the board of directors contains representatives of employees, public broadcasters, and regional and national press, its not unusual for the French state to flex its muscles when it comes to selecting a CEO for the agency. Its rejection of Hoog last week may have lacked class, but it was really just a case of swings and roundabouts: According to Le Monde, Hoog himself was only pulled into contention through government support prior to taking the job in 2010. Sign up for CJR 's daily email His ouster nonetheless compounds a moment of uncertainty for AFP. Under old statutes guaranteeing its independence from both public and private sector interference, it has operated in a gray areanot exactly a state agency, nor quite a private company. But changes in recent years have opened it to more commercial imperatives. The European Union handed down a competition ruling in 2014 allowing AFP to keep its public funding, at least for the time being. But that ruling also effectively compelled the French state to reevaluate the legal basis for its contribution to the agency, and the funding might have to be scrapped down the line. Its a bit awkward at a company like AFPwhich is a big French media house in a complex environment and with tough challenges in front of itthat were being forced to vote for one guy, says Francois Moriniere, a businessman and board member who also signed the open letter. I dont think thats the right way to nominate someone or to elect a CEO. Its not good for him, its not good for us, its not good for the people at the company, for journalists.Its a signal that We, the state, decide at the last minute, and you just have to follow us. Although editorial firewalls mean the state cant touch AFPs news output, the CEO sets the direction of the company as a whole, giving the position wide-ranging power at times of strategic reevaluation. Hoog aggressively pushed a pivot to video in recent years, and had asked the state for close to 60 million to invest (at least in part) in repositioning AFP output before he stepped aside. Fries wont necessarily depart sharply from that strategyaccording to Moriniere and others, his plans arent set in stone. But Fries promised to lead a leaner, more commercially savvy operation in his proposal to the board and, controversially, left the door open to private funding for the agency. Its not good for him, its not good for us, its not good for people at the company, for journalists. Responding to a request for comment, an AFP official says that while the agency needs to invest in its development one or way another, any injection of outside capital would have to guarantee AFPs editorial independencepointing out that this independence isnt just part of the companys DNA, but a major source of its value in a muddied media landscape. Fries, for his part, has said opening up AFP to private funding is not an immediate priority for him. (The French Culture Ministry, Fries, and Hoog did not provide comment by time of publication.) But Friess stated future openness to the strategy has spooked unions that represent AFP staffers, which only just concluded a contentious long-term renegotiation of pay and conditions with management. Union reps, as well as media observers, say that by pushing out Hoog in favor of Fries, the French government has shown that, at the very least, it supports Friess vision of a trimmer, more profit-oriented agency. AFP hasnt always proved adept at making moneyit lost nearly 5 million last year after a court ordered it to honor years worth of unpaid staff salary increases. [AFP] often has deficits that arent enormous but that do make things difficult, says Patrick Eveno, a French media expert and academic. And because media companies have less and less money to pay news agencies, subscriptions have gone down. ICYMI: The unknown former FBI official who deserves journalists support Its quest to turn things around comes against the backdrop of energetic public sector reform in France, as President Macron tries to open state-backed properties, like the French lottery, to private investors. Theres been no suggestion thus far that Macrons administration has plans to restructure AFP in this wayand in any case, existing statutes dont allow for privatization. I think the government and Emmanuel Macron do want to change the direction of AFP, says Eveno. But at the same time, the government has very little power over AFP. That said, lawmakers could try to change that legal underpinning. And the 2014 EU judgment continues to be an elephant in the room, casting doubt over AFPs long-term access to state funding. In the next seven years, how do we replace that 40 percent of our budget with private funding? asks Richard Lein, a union rep who works on AFPs English language desk. Its not yet clear, even to officials, how Fries will reform AFP, how hell manage a potential budgetary shortfall, and what the states response will be to his leadership. But the way the HoogFries selection process was handled has only amped-up that uncertaintyraising at least a specter of worrisome government intentions, and leaving a bad taste in the mouths of some employees and board members. Whatever Fries does next, Lein and others say privatization is not the path he should pursue. Its the complete antithesis of AFPs public interest mission, Lein says. It would be an abandonment of everything the statute stands for. ICYMI: Dont tell a reporter you have Spanx in a bag if you dont want them to report that you have Spanx in a bag Update: This post has been updated to clarify that in Fabrice Friess proposal to the AFP board, he did not specifically talk about opening the door to a potential privatization, but rather to capitalisation , or the introduction of private funding. Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. In October 2017, the Maltese blogger and investigative reporter Daphne Caruana Galizia needed to go to the bank. Her account had been blocked after a government minister filed a defamation charge against her. She left her house, got into her cara Peugeot 108and set off. Three minutes later, she was dead. The cause? A car bomb, lodged under the drivers seat. Two weeks later, the French journalist Laurent Richard launched his project Forbidden Stories at the Newseum in Washington, DC. Richard had developed the ideaan encrypted platform allowing endangered journalists to upload their workas a Knight-Wallace fellow at the University of Michigan one year earlier. Its intended purpose was twofold: to deter would-be attacks on journalists by backing up their work, and to publicize murders and disappearances of colleagues such as Caruana Galizia. ICYMI: Suddenly, the car jerks back as a fiery explosion rips through the front seats This week, Forbidden Stories launched The Daphne Project, the first results of a secret, months-long collaboration between 45 journalists from 18 outlets around the world, including The New York Times, The Guardian, Reuters, and top papers in France, Italy, and Germany. Together, reporters worked to unpack the circumstances of Caruana Galizias murder and expose the web of corruption in Malta that made it possible. Over the coming weeks, theyll drip out a series of stories based on reporting left unfinished at the time of her death. Most of the members have also worked with ICIJ [the organization behind the Panama Papers] or the Organized Crime and Corruption Reporting Project, so its a group of investigative journalists who believe in collaborative journalism, Richard told me this morning. Behind one sentence you can find five journalists Everyone who decided to come [on board] came ready to avoid competition, ready to share information with the others, for that specific mission: continuing the work of one dead reporter. Im very impressed by that kind of commitment. Ahead of Forbidden Storiess launch last year, I spoke with Richard and his team about the project. One of his deputies, Jules Giraudat, said, The idea is to say to the people who would arrest or kill a journalist that if they do so there will be 10, 20, 30, or perhaps 40 journalists who will continue his work, and make sure that the story doesnt get killed as well, but continues and makes more noise. At the time, I thought that sounded ambitious. The Daphne Project proves theyre only just getting started. Sign up for CJR 's daily email Below, some of the stories from The Daphne Project so far: It can happen here: The New York Times assesses the political context for the killing, looking into Maltas deepening corruption problem and the headache it poses for the European Union. The New York Times assesses the political context for the killing, looking into Maltas deepening corruption problem and the headache it poses for the European Union. It was like a war zone: This deep-dive multimedia package from Reuters includes a video interview with Caruana Galizias son, Matthew, also an investigative journalist. The next few days were just.one battle after another, he says. There was just no time to grieve. This deep-dive multimedia package from Reuters includes a video interview with Caruana Galizias son, Matthew, also an investigative journalist. The next few days were just.one battle after another, he says. There was just no time to grieve. Following the money: Le Mondes Anne Michel and Jean-Baptiste Chastand picked up Caruana Galizias investigation into Pilatus Banka secretive Maltese conduit for Azerbaijani government investments across the EU. (Read here in French.) Le Mondes Anne Michel and Jean-Baptiste Chastand picked up Caruana Galizias investigation into Pilatus Banka secretive Maltese conduit for Azerbaijani government investments across the EU. (Read here in French.) Still in danger: The Guardian spoke to Caruana Galizias husband, Peter, who lives alone under around-the-clock police protection since security experts said it was too dangerous for his sons to remain in Malta. It is clear to us that the three men arraigned so far are simply contractors commissioned by a third party, he says. My sons and I are not convinced that our government really wants to establish who sent them, for fear such persons are in fact very close to our government. Other notable stories: For CJR, the Tow Centers Pete Brown reports that some local publishers Facebook posts have seen up to 56 percent less interaction of late, despite Mark Zuckerbergs pledge to boost local sources on the platform: Facebook, it appears, is already missing the mark on one of its central goals for 2018: giving local news a shot in the arm, at least when judged by its own measure of success, meaningful interactions. Drama at Harpers: Editor James Marcus told Publishers Lunch that he was fired last week for opposing the publication of Katie Roiphes cover story in the March issue. Marcus says publisher Rick MacArthur assigned the piecea widely criticized essay on Twitter feminism which led Moira Donegan to out herself as creator of the shitty media men listbut Harpers publicist Giulia Melucci says she actually assigned it, then took a bizarre potshot at Marcus in an interview with The New York Times (Maybe think about the fact that the publicist had to assign stories because the editor didnt have ideas? I dont know maybe thats how bad it was). Confused? Same. Reuters reporter Dean Yates has this moving account of his recurring battle with PTSD. In 2016, I was treated in a psychiatric unit for PTSD after a career spent covering conflict and tragedy, he writes. Last July, I was back in Ward 17. It was time to face up to my moral injury and the event that drove me into mental hell. Last year, CJRs Chava Gourarie profiled Yates for CJR. CJRs Jonathan Peters interviews Rob Balin, the media lawyer who convinced a judge to out Sean Hannity as Michael Cohens client earlier this week. When it seemed the judge would keep the clients identity under seal, Balin stood up in the second row of the gallery, apologized for interrupting, introduced himself, and informed the court of a public access issue, Peters writes. Then, with the courts permission, he approached the podium and argued that the clients identity should be disclosed publicly. Michigan Congresswoman Debbie Dingell cited Michael Smith and Polly Mosendzs Bloomberg Businessweek investigation as she introduced legislation to address safety defects in firearms. ICYMI yesterday, one of the brothers in charge of Sinclair was found to have maxed out donations to Montana Congressman Greg Gianforte, who as a candidate attacked Guardian reporter Ben Jacobs then lied to police about it. And finally, I reported in January that new Trump administration tariffs on newsprint coming from Canada could cost jobs at already-cash-strapped US newspapers. Yesterday, the Tampa Bay Times confirmed its laying off around 50 employees as a direct response to the tariffs. ICYMI: The unknown former FBI official who deserves journalists support Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Jon Allsop is a freelance journalist whose work has appeared in the New York Review of Books, Foreign Policy, and The Nation, among other outlets. He writes CJRs newsletter The Media Today. Find him on Twitter @Jon_Allsop. THE CITY OF CHARLOTTESVILLE launched an online survey in March to solicit new names for Emancipation and Justice Parks. Until recently, the two public spaces bore the names of Confederate generals, whose recently unshrouded statues still stand in their respective parks as gifts of the Jim Crow era. Emancipation Park was the site of the August 12 Unite the Right rally, during which a man drove a car into a crowd of protesters, injuring more than a dozen people and killing local resident Heather Heyer. A press release from the city invited the communitys input on new names, by selecting from a previously approved list or writing in alternatives, and noted that Lee Park, Jackson Park, and Emancipation Park will not be considered. All told, the city received more than 7,500 responses to its survey, the vast majority of which were submitted online. Before August 12, it would have seemed unlikely that such a survey would reach beyond Charlottesville. Since the Unite the Right rally, however, the city has been identified as both a symbolic and literal battleground by white supremacists. A FOIA request filed by CJR reveals a number of disturbing racist and anti-semitic survey responses, many of which seem to have been solicited via white supremacist message-board threads and submitted alongside community input. Whats surprising, given the citys recent history, is that those commentsand the susceptibility of the city survey to racist trollingreceived so little coverage from local news. ICYMI: Photographer behind graphic Charlottesville image recounts near-death experience The city provided the survey results to Charlottesville paper The Daily Progress, which on April 5 reported the top vote-getters (Court Square Park, Market Street Park, Vinegar Hill Park) and listed some of the more popular write-in names (Swanson Legacy Park, Heather Heyer Park, Donald Trump Park). The city also gave the results to Rob Schilling, a former Republican city councilor and longtime host of The Schilling Show, which maintains a two-hour weekday block on WINA, a local radio station. Schilling reported on his site that the survey constraints did not stop a plurality of respondents from writing in Lee Park. He also pointed out that the Progress completely omitted referencing the 1,822 write-in votes for Lee, as if they never were cast. What the @DailyProgress won't tell you. The REAL results of Charlottesville's Park Renaming Survey: Robert E. Lee wins again: https://t.co/PU4XJIEjth pic.twitter.com/6AoY1cGJEB Rob Schilling (@SchillingShow) April 6, 2018 Sign up for weekly emails from the United States Project The Cavalier Daily, the University of Virginias student-run newsroom, mentioned the number of votes for Lee midway through its coverage, and also flagged community members preferred names under its headline. C-VILLE, the citys alt-weekly, cited Schillings reporting in a news brief. The Charlottesville Newsplex shared top survey responses for each park during a broadcast, then directed viewers to a section of its website where they could review the full results of the naming pollsactually a three-page summary compiled by the city. NBC29 also reported that write-in votes for Lee Park eclipsed other top responses. The local NBC affiliate included a response from a city spokesman, who said the name would not be considered because councilors want to tell a more complete story about Charlottesvilles history and its relationship to race and white supremacy. The station, which described survey respondents as Charlottesville inhabitants, also included comment from local resident Mary Carey, who filed a petition in February in which she argued that Emancipation Park did not adequately reflect the interests of city residents, particularly those of people of color. I just like the idea of the people suggesting and choosing a name that they would like, Carey said to NBC. Thats the way Charlottesvilles supposed to be. Citizens, she added, got a chance to make a choice, and to choose what they desire for a park. But the survey was not exclusive to city residents. Its virtually impossible to constrain such a survey by geography. Anyone with internet accessfrom local residents to Confederate apologists and white supremacists around the countryhad a chance to choose what names they desired for Charlottesvilles parks. With few exceptions, it was impossible to tell who had voted for what name, and where those votes might have come from. In general, local reporters failed to probe the limits of such a surveywhat it can tell us, and what it cannot. While decisions concerning Charlottesvilles parks will be made locally, they will play out before a national audience, some members of which have pernicious ideas about who the city should serve. This survey is open to literally anyone with an internet connection, and is therefore at risk of being hijacked for the agenda of non-city residents. CHARLOTTESVILLE LAUNCHED ITS SURVEY on March 6. Within days, someone posted the survey link to a Reddit page devoted to former President Barack Obama. One option is Barack Obama Park, the poster wrote. You know what to do. Someone replied, I dont think we should brigade an online poll intended for Charlottesville, VA residents, and the discussion seemed to end there. However, the original poster also shared a link on a Charlottesville subreddit. Im sure this will go really well, someone else replied, adding with sarcasm, Outside parties rarely infiltrate and brigade online polls. The survey moved beyond Charlottesville city limits. Confederate Broadcastingan online radio show with a mailing address in Silverhill, Alabamatweeted a link to its own website, where it shared the survey link as well as a Charlottesville phone line designated for accepting name suggestions. A DC-based Twitter account named Demography Now shared a link to the survey along with a request that followers write in the original namesLee and Jackson. The same Twitter account also shared a link to a public post on Gaba social media site endorsed by white nationalist Richard Spencer whose certified users include Christopher Cantwell, a white nationalist who faces felony charges in connection to the August 11 torch-lit march through the University of Virginia. Several Gab users shared the survey link publicly. One tagged Cantwells account in a post, and included a screenshot of the Charlottesville survey with Adolf Hitler Park for Friendship and Tolerance written in. Another posted a link to the survey and suggested the parks be named for Cantwell and James Alex Fields Jr., who is charged with first-degree murder in connection to the fatal August 12 vehicle attack. A few people responded to that post with indications that they had voted, and more than a dozen Gab users shared the link. CJR obtained from the city a spreadsheet containing the responses to its survey. A review of the responses compared to screenshots posted on Gab and comments on the 4Chan message board suggests a number of people with no discernible connection to Charlottesville used the survey as an opportunity to troll the citywith names that champion Cantwell, Fields, and Hitler; disparage Heyer; or attack members of the city council. A few responses, one of them pledging an ethnostate, contain references to your citya fair indication that respondents dont live in Charlottesville. At least one response included a warning about the survey itself. This survey is open to literally anyone with an internet connection, a respondent wrote, and is therefore at risk of being hijacked for the agenda of non-city residents. With the exception of this story, from NBC29, CJR found no such warnings in local news coverage promoting the survey. CJR REACHED OUT via email to six local news outlets that covered the Charlottesville survey. Of those that responded, none were aware of links to the city survey being shared on venues like 4Chan and Gab. Asked whether local news media should be concerned about covering responses to a local survey without knowing who or where such responses come from, the three outlets who responded offered three different answers. I would think local government should be more concerned about having such surveys and not limiting them to residents, says Lisa Provence, news editor for C-VILLE. (Disclosure: I am a former C-VILLE news editor, and my wife manages a business magazine published by C-VILLE.) During the week she wrote her news brief on the survey, Provence contributed more than 2,000 words to an issue of C-VILLE, on subjects including a local screening of Katie Courics Re-righting History documentary about Charlottesvilles monuments and a legal proceeding involving Jason Kessler, the Charlottesville native who helped coordinate Unite the Right. Had she covered the survey in-depth, Provence says, where the results came from would have been a pertinent question to ask. Rob Schilling, the radio-show host who criticized The Daily Progress for omitting Lee votes in its reporting, tells CJR that local journalists should be more concerned about the city and some media outlets suppressing the top vote-getting names for the parks, and for the citys refusal to consider those names. Asked whether the survey could be a meaningful indicator of the preferences of Charlottesville residents, Schilling says residents of Albemarle County should have a say in making the decision, owing to the countys revenue-sharing agreement with the city. Desiree Montilla, a reporter for the Charlottesville Newsplex, suggests that former Charlottesville residents might still feel invested in the city and compelled to vote. Local news coverage should come down to covering the patterns seen from the overall response of the survey, she writes. Looking at it from the reporting standpoint, we are covering the choices from the community. But thats not how the survey worked. The city provided details in its council agenda that detailed the repeated use of some IP addresses15 in total, which accounted for 455 votes. City spokesman Brian Wheeler tells CJR that limiting online responses is not something these systems do on the back end or that we could enforce on the front end. As for covering patterns, one such pattern would appear to be an effort to coordinate racist and white-supremacist responses on message boards. After sending an email and not getting a response, CJR called Daily Progress reporter Tyler Hammel to ask about his coverage of the survey. Sorry youre on deadline, Hammel said, but your questions are probably directed at the city. He wished CJR luck, then hung up. Hammel is right. Questions about the surveys limits should be directed toward the city. Whats unclear from his reporting, and from the reporting of others, is whether anyone asked them. ON MONDAY NIGHT, Charlottesville City Council met to discuss the survey results. Mayor Nikuyah Walker voiced her desire to see more community engagement and feedback on the issue. Councilor Heather Hill said some of the survey results were frustrating, because you know they came from places far away from Charlottesville. Ultimately, councilors voted unanimously to launch a new surveynarrower in scope, but still including write-in options. The survey will be shared online, and also mailed to many city residents along with their utility bills, and the city expects to complete it by July. There were plenty of empty seats at the city council meeting this week. Two weeks ago, according to public comments, someone carried a gun into city council chambers during a meetingsomething the city council is legally powerless to stop. Footage of that meeting from The Daily Progress does not show a gun, but does show three uniformed city police officers in the chambers. It also shows a white male from Richmond, Virginia, who was previously found guilty of removing a tarp from one of the citys Confederate statues, using his public comment time to refer to city residents in the room as a peanut gallery. Days after that meeting, someone posted a doxing list on Pastebin that included the names of multiple Charlottesville journalists and photojournalists, as well as the names of multiple local residents who spoke to the press. Yet local residents took up all available public comment slots. They spoke about the citys ongoing affordable housing crisis, their concerns about over-policing, and the infant and maternal mortality rates in the black community. And, at no small risk to themselves, many gave their full names and addresses. Theres no shortage of stories to be written about the intersection of Charlottesvilles history and its ongoing needs. Many of those stories will come up against symbols and rhetoric whose influence, in the wake of August 12, reach well beyond the city and into the national consciousness. Plenty of the news outlets mentioned here have made meaningful efforts at telling those stories. But they must stay vigilant for those moments when violent rhetoric finds an open doorin a survey, in a meeting, in a storyand invites itself in. ICYMI: The outrageous editorial by a Charlottesville daily that preceded violence Has America ever needed a media watchdog more than now? Help us by joining CJR today Brendan Fitzgerald is a senior editor at CJR. The New York State Workers Compensation Board has proposed improvements in medical care for injured workers. Its proposal includes an increase in medical reimbursement to providers who treat workers compensation claimants and the adoption of a universal claim form to reduce paperwork in workers compensation claims. Coupled with other Board initiatives, such as an online medical portal and a push to expand the types of providers authorized to treat injured workers, these enhancements are expected to encourage more health providers to treat workers compensation claimants. Access to quality medical care for injured workers is of utmost importance for a healthy workers compensation system, Workers Compensation Board Chair Clarissa M. Rodriguez said in a Board press release. When an injured worker has ready access to medical treatment, the worker heals and is restored to function more quickly and completely. Timely, high quality medical care benefits workers and their employers as well. The proposals come in direct response to claimants challenges in finding treatment providers and concerns from healthcare providers around low fees and administrative complexity that keep some from participating, the release stated. By addressing these concerns and bringing more providers into the workers compensation system, the aim is for injured workers to more readily access the care they need. Increased Medical Reimbursement The New York State workers compensation fee schedule has not changed substantially since 1996, according to the press release. The Board will be advancing a regulatory proposal in June to raise provider fees for services provided on or after October 1, 2018. The proposal will include an overall statewide fee increase for all provider types, with additional increases for certain specialty provider groups that have an extreme shortage of authorized providers. These new fees will ensure providers in New York are receiving fair and reasonable reimbursement for prompt, quality treatment to injured workers. Accepting the Universal Form Providers have indicated that the unique paperwork requirements in the workers compensation system result in significant additional administrative burden, the release added. With this in mind, the Board will be consolidating and eliminating forms. This move includes converting to the use of the CMS-1500 form, the universal claim form used by medical providers to bill health insurers, and replacing the current Board treatment forms with the CMS-1500. This form is already used by medical providers and insurance carriers to process claims, so the Board anticipates an easy transition toward a January 1, 2019, implementation. Its aim is to save providers administrative time, effort and expense when treating workers compensation patients. Other Enhancements The Board is also working to making other improvements to increase provider participation and injured workers access to medical care. This includes development of a medical portal, part of the 2013 Business Process Re-engineering initiative, which will allow providers to quickly and easily identify whether their course of treatment is consistent with the Boards medical treatment guidelines and, if not, advise them that a variance is needed. The Board sees The Medical Portal as an important step toward a paperless system, the release stated. Additionally, the Board is continuing to explore ways to expand the universe of providers who can be authorized to treat injured workers. Currently, only physicians, chiropractors, podiatrists and psychologists can be authorized. Governor Cuomo has supported a comprehensive legislative solution that would permit most medical providers who are licensed in New York State to become authorized to treat within the workers compensation system, opening participation to medical providers such as nurse practitioners, physicians assistants, licensed clinical social workers and other providers, the release said. Source: New York State Workers Compensation Board Forecasters warned of dangerous, life-threatening wildfire conditions in parts of the Southwest and Southern Plains on Tuesday, as a forestry official warned firefighters battling a terrifying deadly blaze in Oklahoma that it would be a historically critical day. Gusty winds and low humidity in drought-stricken areas will create dangerous fire conditions in parts of Colorado, Kansas, New Mexico, Oklahoma and Texas, according to the Storm Prediction Center in Norman, Oklahoma. National Weather Service meteorologist Doug Speheger said such conditions havent been seen in at least a decade. By early afternoon Tuesday, temperatures that were projected to reach the mid-90s had reached 88 degrees (31 Celsius) with humidity at 6 percent. Wind gusts forecast to hit 40 mph (64 kph) were at 24 mph (39 kph). The forecast includes northwestern Texas and the Texas Panhandle where firefighting aircraft are stationed in Amarillo, Abilene and surrounding areas. With these conditions, wildfires can spread rapidly, present control issues for firefighters and pose a real threat to public safety, said Texas A&M Forest Service Fire Chief Mark Stanford. Deb Beard, a commander of the Southern Area Incident Management team sent by the U.S. Forest Service, described the conditions as terrifying. If you looked at that fire weather forecast it should scare the hell out of you, Deb Beard said during a briefing Tuesday posted on the Oklahoma Forestry Services Facebook page. I hope that you realize that today is a historically critical day here, Beard said of the fire near Woodward that has burned about 105 square miles (272 sq. kilometers). So do not let your guard down. In Oklahoma, two people have died in the fires and nine others have been taken to hospitals for smoke inhalation or heat-related injuries, emergency management officials reported. Oklahoma Forestry Services reported Tuesday that the largest of the Oklahoma fires has burned more than 388 square miles (1,005 sq. kilometers) near Leedey, about 110 miles (180 kilometers) northwest of Oklahoma City, and was about 3 percent contained. The fire near Woodward, about 20 miles (32 kilometers) north of Leedey, is about 45 percent contained, according to the forestry service. At the fire near Woodward, spokesman John Nichols said firefighters worked Monday to strengthen fire lines in preparation for the gusty weather Tuesday. The winds are coming, but wet weather is supposed to be coming too, and were hoping the wet weather will arrive, Nichols said. The weather service said rain and thunderstorm chances will increase Thursday night and Friday with strong to severe storms possible in southwestern Oklahoma and western north Texas on Friday. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Slide Fire Solutions said on Tuesday it would shut down its website and stop taking orders from next month for bump stocks, devices that allow semi-automatic weapons to fire like a machine gun. The move comes after the Justice Department proposed rule changes last month that will effectively ban bump stocks. Moran, Texas-based Slide Fire will execute all orders given prior to May 20, it said in a statement on its website. Slide Fire, which made the bump stock devices that were used by the gunman in the mass shooting at a Las Vegas music festival in October, was accused of negligence as well as design and manufacturing defects. "Bump stocks should not be available for sale to the general public, and they should never have been allowed to be sold. Bump stocks serve no purpose other than to create the functional equivalent of a machine gun," said Avery Gardiner, co-president of the Brady Center to Prevent Gun Violence, a gun-control group based in Washington, D.C. that had sued Slide Fire on behalf of victims of the Las Vegas shooting. The deadliest mass shooting in modern U.S. history, which killed 58 people and injured more than 850, made the Congress consider legislation that would regulate bump stocks. President Donald Trump signed a memorandum in February directing the Justice Department to make the regulatory change.Slide Fire had temporarily paused its sales following the Las Vegas shooting, but subsequently restarted it. China will ban the imports of 16 more scrap metal and chemical waste products from the end of this year, the environment ministry said on Thursday. The 16 banned products include steel smelting slag that contains more than 25 percent of the metal manganese and ethylene polymer waste, the Ministry of Ecology and Environment (MEE) said in a document published on its website. Another 16 items will be banned by the end of 2019, it said. China's crackdown on waste imports, which stood at as much as 47 million tonnes in 2015, is part of its "war on pollution" and designed to help the country upgrade its economy and move up the global supply chain. The major averages may be having a strong week, but CNBC's Jim Cramer also noticed a big collapse that needed to be addressed: the pain in the stock of Acacia Communications. Shares of Acacia lost 35 percent of their value on Monday after the Commerce Department ruled to ban U.S. companies from selling components to Chinese phone equipment company ZTE for seven years. "Here's what drives me nuts about this story. We've known this was a risk all along, people," the "Mad Money" host said on Wednesday. Acacia, an optical networking equipment maker, came public in 2016. In 2017, the company got roughly 70 percent of its sales from just five companies, with nearly a third coming from ZTE. Cramer pointed out that investors knew of President Donald Trump's plans to scale back on U.S. technology sales to China before Commerce Department made them official. "Do not get me wrong, it is fine to speculate in high-risk stocks you know I think that way, although I haven't liked Acacia for quite some time but if you're going to take that kind of chance, at the very least, you need to be aware of the risks you're facing," Cramer said. With that in mind, Cramer went over the warning signs he saw over the years that culminated in Acacia's massive Monday drop. The Commerce Department targeted ZTE for violating the terms of a sanction agreement by illegally shipping U.S. products to Iran, among other violations. The illegal shipping issue was already known when Acacia came public in 2016, Cramer said. And while the ZTE restrictions sent most of the optical equipment stocks lower shares of Oclaro sank 15 percent and shares of Finisar declined 4 percent none came close to Acacia's 35 percent nosedive. Cramer argued that the reason why Acacia's stock got hit the hardest should've been obvious. In 2017, the company told investors in its annual report that it got 30 percent of its sales from ZTE. In the section of Acacia's report that addressed the risks it was facing, the company admitted that it relied "on a limited number of customers for a significant percentage of [its] revenue and the loss or temporary loss of a major customer for any reason could harm [its] financial condition." Acacia specifically named ZTE as its largest customer, explaining in the following paragraph that ZTE was already in some trouble with the Department of Commerce. Since 2016, Acacia only had a temporary licence to sell goods to ZTE, with no guarantee that the government wouldn't eventually intervene. "[Acacia] did everything short of sending you an engraved invitation warning you to save the date because the Commerce Department's coming to ruin their business," Cramer said. "People act surprised, but if investors in Acacia had done any homework, this news would not have come as a shock to them." Looking forward, Cramer suggested investors ask themselves three questions about companies with a lot of customer concentration: How much revenue comes from a single customer? Where is the customer based? Are there specific risks that could threaten the customer relationship? Acacia is currently facing question number three, and for investors who own its stock, the "Mad Money" host said it was not the time to sell. "I wouldn't be a buyer here, but if you want to exit the position, I bet you'll get a better chance to sell," he said. "Let people calm down, let the shorts cover their positions, then head for the exits on a bounce." "The bottom line? Look, the blowup of Acacia Communications is unfortunate, but this Commerce Department ruling was something you could've seen coming if you'd read the annual report or even listened to me when I talked about this company in the past," Cramer said. "This is why you always, always, always need to know the risks when you own a stock. Otherwise you'll get pulverized, as shareholders in Acacia have learned the hard way." CNBC's Jim Cramer sees a thesis building that loan growth is stagnant, loan demand is collapsing and the banks are unwilling to lend and he isn't buying it. "That's the downbeat consensus investors have cobbled together over the last few days after hearing from all the big banks and no one's bothering to dispute it," the "Mad Money" host said on Wednesday. "That's why the bank stocks have stalled and are going lower." This is happening despite the pervasive narrative that the U.S. economy is growing, stimulated by the government's tax overhaul and increasing consumer spending, Cramer said. And in the latest earnings reports from Citigroup, Bank of America and J.P. Morgan, the big banks forecast low-single-digit loan growth, which Cramer saw as steady and responsible. "But when you overlay what was supposed to happen with tax reform, you end up with a narrative that says something like, 'Is that all there is? Business isn't picking up despite a trillion bucks in tax cuts?'" Cramer explained. "And then you get the killer: 'No wonder the yield curve is flat,'" Cramer continued, still quoting the bears. "'There's no real demand. It's not picking up or the 10-year Treasury [yield] would be north of 3 percent by now. All of this when the Fed is raising rates? Look out, recession, here we come.'" Instead of following blindly, the "Mad Money" host said that his analysis showed the banks acting disciplined in a more competitive lending environment. "My response? Please stop being so melodramatic," Cramer said. "The banks are making so much money off of your deposits that they've been able to generate huge, risk-free earnings. That's great. It makes the banks not just investable, but pretty darned cheap down here selling at roughly 12 times earnings." All in all, Cramer found the banks to be "open for business," with big profits and large deposit bases at their disposal. He saw them as disciplined and selective in their lending, not struggling. He also suggested investors take a 30,000-foot view at the banks' business lines, where auto loans, mortgages, construction and the credit card business are all improving. "The banks are not sending a signal that the economy's slowing, or that tax cuts have failed to bring about growth, or that we're headed into recession, either. Not at all," the "Mad Money" host said. "Instead, I think they're saying, 'Things are good, not amazing, not overheated, but good and responsible,' and the financials are the healthiest they've been in years." "If that makes you want to bet against the U.S. economy, you might want to seek some professional help," Cramer concluded. Speed is undoubtedly the new stealth and the Pentagon's top weapons supplier just got one step closer to handing hypersonic weapons to the U.S. Air Force. Lockheed Martin secured a $928 million contract to build an undefined number of hypersonic conventional strike weapons, the Pentagon said Wednesday in a statement. Per the multimillion-dollar contract, Lockheed will be responsible for designing, engineering, weapon integration and logistical support. The development will take place in the northern Alabama city of Huntsville which is dubbed the "Rocket City" as it was the birthplace of America's rocket program. A hypersonic weapon is a missile that travels at Mach 5 or higher, which is at least five times faster than the speed of sound. That means a hypersonic weapon can travel about one mile per second. U.S. President Donald Trump and Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe said on Wednesday they had agreed to intensify trade consultations between the two longtime allies, with an aim to expand investment and trade between their countries. "President Trump and I agreed to start talks for free, fair and reciprocal trade deals," Abe said at a joint news conference with Trump. Trump reaffirmed his desire at the news conference to address trade imbalances with Japan, saying he preferred one-on-one talks to negotiate a bilateral deal aimed at trimming the U.S. trade deficit. While the leaders said they had agreed to have top advisers pursue talks, Abe made clear that differences remained in each country's approach. "On the U.S. side, they are interested in a bilateral deal," Abe told reporters. "Our country's position is that TPP is the best for both of our countries," he added, referring to the Trans-Pacific Partnership trade deal. The TPP was sought by former Democratic President Barack Obama. Trump abandoned it during his first weeks in office, saying it was not a good deal for the United States. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse on behalf of the United States, I would do it," Trump said. "But I like bilateral better. I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers, and I much would prefer a bilateral deal, a deal directly with Japan," he added. Trump last month imposed a 25 percent tariff on steel imports and a 10 percent tariff on aluminum imports that have been in place for about three weeks. He said the tariffs had brought many countries to the negotiating able and that he may take them off of steel and aluminum imported from Japan if the two countries can come to a trade agreement. The Trump administration granted temporary tariff exemptions to several other U.S. allies but not Japan. Just after the tariffs took effect, South Korea agreed to a permanent steel exemption in exchange for a new quota that effectively cuts its steel shipments by 30 percent. Abe said that Japanese steel and aluminum did not "exert any negative influence" on U.S. security. "It's our position that the quality of Japanese products is high and many of these products are difficult to be replaced with. They are greatly contributing to U.S. industries and employment," Abe said. Facebook executives should look to Starbucks leadership on how to handle a company crisis, Yale management guru Jeffrey Sonnenfeld told CNBC on Wednesday. Starbucks is making quick and clear changes following outrage over the arrests of two black men at one of its cafes in Philadelphia last week. Meanwhile, Facebook took days to deal with the fallout of revelations that a political research firm, Cambridge Analytica, was able to access the personal data of millions of Facebook users for political marketing. "What Howard Schultz, but especially what CEO Kevin Johnson [have] done here has been remarkable. It is the anti-Mark Zuckerberg, the anti-Sheryl Sandberg," the Yale senior associate dean told CNBC's "Squawk on the Street." "They truly did lean in. Instead of writing about leaning in, they actually did it." Last Thursday, two black men were arrested after asking to use a bathroom at a Philadelphia Starbucks. A video of the arrest went viral. The woman who posted the video said that staff at the coffee shop had called police because the men had not ordered anything while they waited for a friend to arrive. @missydepino: @Starbucks The police were called because these men hadn't ordered anything. They were waiting for a friend to show up, who did as they were taken out in handcuffs for doing nothing. All the other white ppl are wondering why it's never happened to us when we do the same thing. Starbucks sprung into action quickly. Johnson issued a public apology on Saturday and requested a face-to-face meeting to discuss a "constructive solution." Starbucks said Tuesday it will be closing all of its company-owned restaurants in the U.S. on May 29 to conduct a racial-bias education program. In contrast, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg was silent for five days following revelations about Cambridge Analytica. "[Schultz and Johnson's] instincts were fantastic here. They apologized. They went to the victims personally," Sonnenfeld said. "This is different than Richard Smith of Equifax or looking at Tony Hayward of BP these folks who hid Micky Arison of Carnival. They didn't engage. Or, of course, Oscar Munoz of United." United Airlines CEO Oscar Munoz initially defended the airline's actions after a passenger was violently dragged off a flight for refusing to give up his seat. Canadian Prime Minister told reporters Thursday of "an opportunity to make significant progress" on the North American Free Trade Agreement (NAFTA). "We recognize the timelines that are in play," he said, referencing the Mexican election in July and U.S. mid-terms in the autumn. Trudeau said that he was looking for a deal that was "win, win, win" and would "stand up for the interests of Canada." CNBC reported Wednesday that the U.S. is targeting a tie-up of NAFTA within weeks. Trudeau was speaking in London, where he is attending the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. When asked about cybersecurity following the recent Facebook data-gathering scandal, Trudeau said that he had been "very much engaged with top platforms like Facebook in the past year or two." But he described the issue as an "area that requires more work." Adyen, a Dutch payments processing firm that counts Uber, Spotify and Netflix among its clients, is considering a stock market listing this year, a source told CNBC, after the company reported record revenues in 2017. The company, which is currently valued at over $2 billion, is in talks with Morgan Stanley and J.P. Morgan to be advisers, the source said. On Wednesday, Adyen said that it generated $1.14 billion in annual revenue for 2017, an increase of over 62 percent from the $700 million recorded in 2016. It also said that it processed $122 billion in volume for merchants in 2017, a rise of 61 percent year-on-year. A spokersperson for Adyen declined to comment on the initial public offering (IPO) plans. Last week, Reuters reported that Adyen is eyeing a listing in June and said that it could value the company between 6 billion ($7.4 billion) and 9 billion euros. This would make it the largest fintech IPO in Europe. The source told CNBC that a final decision on an IPO has not been made. Adyen has been profitable since 2011 so raising new funds is not crucial. But the company has been expanding its offerings with new products into new regions. Given its focus on business solutions, Adyen may not be well known with consumers. However, it made headlines recently after eBay announced it would be replacing PayPal with Adyen as its primary payments provider. British artificial intelligence start-up BenevolentAI has bagged $115 million from investors, lifting its pre-money valuation to $2 billion. The London-based firm, which is focused on the pharmaceutical industry, said the latest round of funding will help it scale drug development and its AI platform. The company currently has more than 20 drug programs. It said it will use the raised capital to expand into other areas of the market like advanced materials, agriculture and energy storage. Its AI technology is used to decipher the molecular process of disease and match drug treatments to the most applicable patients. BenevolentAI created a bioscience machine "brain" that uses algorithms and data to locate the cause of diseases and generate insights into them that humans otherwise couldn't. Its platform is being used to develop treatments for incurable diseases like motor neurone disease, Parkinson's disease, glioblastoma and sarcopenia. Some worry that the U.K.'s decision to leave the European Union could hamper innovation and scientific research. The EU's single market lets firms move goods, capital, services and labor freely and the soon-to-be 27-member bloc offers funding schemes for science and research programs. But Ken Mulvany, founder and chairman of BenevolentAI, said that Britain remained an attractive hub for science. "There's a tremendous heritage of scientific innovation here in the U.K.," he told CNBC's "Street Signs Europe." "It certainly has been batting well above its weight in that respect." The British government launched an initiative last year to boost skills and education and grow the country's AI industry. Mulvany said the government's strategy on AI was positive for the sector. "The U.K. is one of the leading sectors for AI innovation," Mulvany said. "You see it in Toronto, you see it in Stanford and we're seeing it in the knowledge quarter here in London." The researchers used software to measure the facial width-to-height ratio proven to be a proxy for testosterone levels of more than 3,000 hedge-fund managers. After controlling for variables such as risk and market environment, the researchers found that not only do funds of higher-testosterone managers produce lower returns, but those managers also have a greater propensity to be terminated. Hedge-fund managers with high testosterone underperform those with low testosterone by 5.8 percent each year, according to a study conducted by University of Central Florida and Singapore Management University. After years of underperformance, researchers may have discovered what's plaguing the hedge-fund industry: too much testosterone. High-testosterone managers "trade more frequently, have a stronger preference for lottery-like stocks and are more likely to succumb to the disposition effect," the report said, referring to the tendency of investors to sell assets at higher prices and holding onto those that have dropped in value. The researchers also found that hedge-fund investors specifically, hedge fund-of-funds select managers based on their own testosterone levels. In other words, higher testosterone fund-of-hedge funds are more likely to invest in higher-testosterone managers, while the reverse is true for lower testosterone. The results of the study may have implications for hedge-fund performance as well as hedge-fund culture, which tends to prize aggression, competitiveness and drive. If this study is true, perhaps the prevalence of alpha males is what's eroding alpha. Hedge funds have largely underperformed the S&P 500 during the current bull market. And they've continued to underperform even as the market has gotten more volatile. In aggregate, hedge funds have returned 0.14 percent this year, according to Hedge Fund Research. That compares with a 1.3 percent gain for the S&P 500. An advertisement for the AWS summit in the Pentagon metro station in Washington, DC. As the Defense Department continues its march toward procuring a secure cloud software, an acquisition potentially worth up to $10 billion, Amazon Web Services has boosted its marketing presence at the doorstep of the Pentagon. A series of AWS advertisements promoting an upcoming summit have recently appeared on the walls and floors of the two-leveled Pentagon metro station. The ads have taken the place of those featuring defense companies such as Boeing, Lockheed Martin and Northrop Grumman. TWEET What's more, the tech giant also appeared at the annual Sea-Air-Space conference, the largest maritime expo in the United States, hosted last week on the outskirts of Washington, D.C. Amazon offered daily briefings, had a slew of experts on hand, and took out a full-page advertisement in the show's program. Amazon did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment. The Pentagon's desire to award a multibillion-dollar, two-year cloud contract was largely set into motion after Secretary of Defense James Mattis visited Silicon Valley last year. TWEET Amazon's interest in what could be an extensive lucrative contract with the Department of Defense is by no means new. The company already hosts classified systems with the CIA as well as other top defense contractors such as Lockheed Martin. And while it appears that Amazon does have a basic advantage, since its cloud services have been certified for the highest possible security level, the Pentagon reaffirms that there is no front-runner in the competition. A disappointing forecast from a key Apple chipmaking partner has some Wall Street analysts worried about iPhone sales forecasts. On Thursday Bank of America Merrill Lynch and J.P. Morgan warned their clients that Apple's iPhone sales may come in below expectations. Taiwan Semiconductor Manufacturing (TSMC) said Thursday that its revenue guidance range for the second quarter is $7.8 billion to $7.9 billion versus the Wall Street estimate of $8.8 billion. The firm blamed "weak demand" in the mobile sector for its forecast. "Given TSM's guidance, we could see some additional downside to iPhone units," Bank of America Merrill Lynch analyst Wamsi Mohan wrote in a note to clients Thursday. "In our opinion, investors are already expecting a weaker CQ2, but the magnitude could be surprising to some." In similar fashion, J.P. Morgan said TSMC's forecast is bad news for Apple. "TSMC's 2Q18 guidance missed consensus expectations largely due to weakness in high end smartphones (Apple iPhones, in our view)," analyst Gokul Hariharan wrote in note to clients Thursday. "We believe the guidance now bakes in very weak iPhone shipments in 1H as well as a more cautious view on new iPhone build in 2H18." Analysts have already repeatedly lowered their iPhone forecasts so far this year, and this announcement may spur another round of cuts. Mohan said TSMC's new forecast may mean Apple iPhone sales for the June quarter will fall as many as 5 million units short of the 42 million to 43 million Wall Street consensus. He estimated a 5 million-unit shortfall could incrementally hurt the company's sales by roughly $3.5 billion. TMSC is the world's largest semiconductor foundry and manufactures chips for Apple and its component suppliers. Apple did not respond to a request for comment. The company's stock fell 2.8 percent Thursday. President Donald Trump will leave the Iran nuclear deal next month if there are no significant changes, Republican Sen. Bob Corker told CNBC on Thursday. "Maybe there will be a breakthrough before May 12," said Corker, chairman of the Senate Committee on Foreign Relations. May 12 is the deadline for the U.S. to recertify the deal. "If there's not, I absolutely believe that he'll leave the agreement." The United States is hoping to reach an agreement with Britain, France and Germany to address Trump's concerns about the 2015 Iran nuclear deal. Trump has been critical of the deal negotiated under former President Barack Obama, demanding it be fixed or the U.S. will withdraw the pact and sanctions will be reinstated. Trump has opposed terms that would allow Iran to gradually reinstate its nuclear activities and accused Iran of violating the agreement. Iran has said its nuclear program is only for peaceful purposes and its ballistic missiles solely for defense. Billionaire Charlie Munger, the vice chairman of investment firm Berkshire Hathaway, has long been regarded as a source of wisdom. In 1986, a then 62-year-old Munger was selected to speak at Harvard-Westlake, a private Los-Angeles based secondary school where he has been a longtime trustee. To determine what he would say in his speech, Munger asked himself which of the previous commencement speeches he wished were longer. The Omaha-native settled on a prior speech given by late night television host Johnny Carson, which specified his "prescriptions" for guaranteed misery in life. "I therefore decided to repeat Carson's speech but in expanded form with some added prescriptions of my own," Munger told the graduating class of 1986. Here are five things to avoid that Munger said "guarantee" a miserable life: 1. Letting addiction take over Carson admitted in his original speech that he had tried drugs on occasion and become miserable every time. Munger added his own personal experience: "The four closest friends of my youth were highly intelligent, ethical, humorous types, favoured in person and background," he said. "Two are long dead, with alcohol a contributing factor, and a third is a living alcoholic, if you call that living." Although your level of susceptibility varies, said Munger, anyone can become prone to addiction. "And I have yet to meet anyone, in over six decades of life, whose life was worsened by over fear and over avoidance of such a deceptive pathway to destruction." 2. Feeling resentful Munger told Harvard-Westlake graduates that resentment worked for him about as well as it did for Carson. "I cannot recommend it highly enough to you if you desire misery," said Munger. Again, he refers back to Johnson who spoke at length about resentment in his writing. "Johnson spoke well when he said that life is hard enough to swallow without squeezing in the bitter rind of resentment," said Munger. If you find it impossible to quit feeling resentful "cold turkey," the billionaire suggested abiding by the practice of the "Disraeli compromise." Munger gave commencement attendees the backstory: As Benjamin Disraeli rose to become the Prime Minister of the United Kingdom, he learned to give up vengeance. However, he retained an outlet for resentment by writing the names of all the people who wronged him on a piece of paper and placing it in a drawer. "Then, from time to time, he reviewed these names and took pleasure in noting the way the world had taken his enemies down without his assistance," explained Munger. 3. Being unreliable To avoid a life of misery, you must "faithfully" follow through with plans and do exactly what you said you're going to do, said Munger. He added that unreliable people are not trusted and eventually become excluded from friendship and social activities. Munger used the fable of the tortoise and the hare to demonstrate how unreliable people fare. "Instead of being outrun by one fine turtle, you will be outrun by hordes and hordes of mediocre turtles and even by some mediocre turtles on crutches," he said. 4. Letting life knock you down If you refuse to get back up after facing an adverse situation, you will have a miserable life, said Munger. "Because there is so much adversity out there, even for the lucky and wise, this will guarantee that, in due course, you will be permanently mired in misery," he explained. To avoid a life of misery, you must bounce back regardless of the situation that you're faced with, said Munger. 5. Refusing to learn from past mistakes Former FBI Director James Comey poses for photographs as he arrives to speak about his new book 'A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership' at Barnes & Noble bookstore, April 18, 2018 in New York City. Getty Images Each week, USA TODAY's OnPolitics blog takes a look at how media from the left and the right reacted to a political news story, giving liberals and conservatives a peek into the other's media bubble. This week, voices from the left and the right slammed former FBI director James Comey amid the rollout of his long-awaited memoir, A Higher Loyalty: Truth, Lies, and Leadership. Conservatives and liberals agreed the book offered no new information and that Comey lost credibility as an objective witness in the Russian investigation by throwing himself into the political fray and hurling insults at President Trump. The book also reminded folks on both the left and the right of how unhappy they were with Comey's handling of the investigation into Democratic nominee Hillary Clinton's emails during the 2016 election. More from USA Today: Mueller has 'declared war against the president,' Sean Hannity says Could James Comey's book threaten credibility as chief prosecution witness? James Comey & Andrew McCabe descend to Donald Trump's shady level Conservative bubble: Comey is more like Trump than he cares to admit "The main lesson from Mr. Comey's book is that Mr. Trump's abuse of political norms has driven his enemies to violate norms themselves," wrote The Wall Street Journal's editorial board. The board which suggested Trump ask Comey to resign a week before the inauguration said Comey's book offers no new facts about his interactions with Trump except for his "moral and aesthetic contempt" for the president. Rather, Comey "reveals in his excessive self-regard that he is more like Mr. Trump than he cares to admit. Mr. Trump's narcissism is crude and focused on his personal 'winning.' Mr. Comey's is about vindicating his own higher morality and righteous belief." Liberal bubble: 'Comey is Trump's ultimate victory' Comey's book "surrenders the higher ground" and his book tour continues his descent, said New York Times columnist Frank Bruni. With his petty descriptions of Trump's hands and orange face, Comey has entered Trump's world where personality and people outweigh facts and ideas, Bruni said. And "he has abetted his own transformation from a crucial witness to a character in the serial melodrama of Trump's life." That spectacle only serves Trump. If he can convince American voters that what they're beholding has as much to do with the egos of the actors as with the egregiousness of his acts, he has inoculated himself against Robert Mueller, and he shapes the movie that's made of this. Conservative bubble: Comey just a disgruntled employee Trump fired Comey because he did not believe Comey would be impartial in the investigation into Russian election interference and "Comey did not take that humiliation well, believing that he was conducting an honest probe," said former Fox News host Bill O'Reilly. "So, he signed a lucrative book deal in order to humiliate Trump. This is all about payback," O'Reilly said. "If Comey had not been dismissed, he would not be saying these things. If Donald Trump is so reprehensible and dishonest, Comey should have resigned." Liberal bubble: James Comey is no hero Comey's "revenge tour" shows he is not the noble defender of justice and truth that he tries to portray himself as, said Daily Kos writer Joan McCarter. In both his handling of the Clinton emails and the investigation into ties between the Trump campaign and Russia, Comey ignored protocol and acted as though the "rules didn't apply to him," Partisan or not, Comey was making decisions that proved he was holding himself above the agency he was directing, above the long-held policies that governed how it is supposed to operate and how he was supposed to operate. His hubris, on full display as he preens and gossips and makes catty remarks about Trump's spray tan and hand size, quite possibly put this man he considers a dangerous buffoon in office. Conservative bubble: Comey confirms he failed America During his ABC interview with George Stephanopoulos, Comey "inadvertently reaffirmed what we already knew: In 2016, the entire American political system cracked, including in crucial ways the FBI," said the National Review's David French. Comey caved to political pressure when he decided not to prosecute Clinton which paved the way for her candidacy but hedged his bets by criticizing her behavior and later publicly stating the investigation had reopened which "may have fatally undermined her campaign," French said. And all the while, he was more concerned with public perception than the law. "If Trump's conduct is to be scrutinized, James Comey is not the man for the job," French concluded. Liberal bubble: Comey a 'would-be J. Edgar Hoover' The Trump administration's trade dispute with China may have quieted down, but CNBC's Jim Cramer argued on Thursday that it is far from over. "We've opened up a new front in the trade war, and while it's quieter than all of the bombast about tariffs that had people freaking out, there are still a ton of companies that can get hurt here," the "Mad Money" host said. "The new front in the trade war? Technology." The U.S. Commerce Department's Monday ban on selling U.S. products to Chinese smartphone maker ZTE was "just the tip of the iceberg," Cramer said. Early on Thursday, China hit back, citing antitrust concerns in Qualcomm's proposed acquisition of NXP Semiconductors. "I think it's pretty transparent. It's attempt to retaliate for the actions our government took earlier this week," Cramer said. "This deal has been approved by every other relevant antitrust agency on earth." With shares of Qualcomm and NXP down over 4 and 5 percent respectively after the ruling, Cramer credited Chinese officials for hitting U.S. companies where it hurt in the stock market. "From a legal perspective, this is one of the most ridiculous things I have ever seen, but from a geopolitical perspective, it's a smart move the Chinese know how to play hardball," he said. Still, Cramer worried about how the tit-for-tat battle could affect the rest of the technology sector now that the focus is squarely on hitting tech where it hurts. U.S. regulatory agencies can keep chipping away at Chinese companies, but two can play at that game, the "Mad Money" host said. "If this is the new normal, if the Chinese will block any semiconductor merger, that's going to be brutal for the stocks in the group," he said. "It makes the whole cohort less valuable." But in addition to negative merger reviews, telecom tensions, and restrictions on exports, China had one key strategy that Cramer was particularly concerned about: boycotts. "The Chinese government loves to organize boycotts," Cramer said, adding that past tensions with Japan and South Korea have led to Chinese boycotts of Japanese and South Korean products. "As I see it, this is China's ultimate weapon," the "Mad Money" host said. President Trump could tell U.S. consumers not to buy Chinese goods, but in a democracy, no one has to listen. But Cramer noted that China's government wields more power. "Do you really want to be the one guy breaking a boycott in an authoritarian communist state? I didn't think so," Cramer quipped. Cramer added that the boycott option threatens more than just tech companies. In the past, bad publicity around KFC led to protests that hurt Yum China's business. "Here's the bottom line: just because we're not talking about tariffs every day, that doesn't mean our trade dispute with China is somehow over," the "Mad Money" host said. "It's still very active, it's hot, it's just that the action has shifted to the tech front for the moment. You need to watch this very carefully or else you might end up like the shareholders in Acacia or Oclaro or NXP Semi or Qualcomm. And that's a very difficult place, indeed." The Trump administration's trade dispute with China may have quieted down, but CNBC's Jim Cramer argued on Thursday that it is far from over. "We've opened up a new front in the trade war, and while it's quieter than all of the bombast about tariffs that had people freaking out, there are still a ton of companies that can get hurt here," the "Mad Money" host said. "The new front in the trade war? Technology." The U.S. Commerce Department's Monday ban on selling U.S. products to Chinese smartphone maker ZTE was "just the tip of the iceberg," Cramer said. Early on Thursday, China hit back, citing antitrust concerns in Qualcomm's proposed acquisition of NXP Semiconductors. But in addition to negative merger reviews, telecom tensions, and restrictions on exports, China had one key strategy that Cramer was particularly concerned about. Not enough winners? U.S. President Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping leave a business leaders event at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on November 9, 2017. Nicolas Asfouri | AFP | Getty Images As stocks sank on Thursday, Cramer inspected the market for the various triggers that sparked the decline. "Thanks to a nasty combination of the yield on the 10-year Treasury approaching 3 percent, a series of disappointments in the consumer products space, some amazingly fast growth in personal and corporate spending, a rally in commodities and a pickup in the trade war with China, we got hit with a flash flood of selling in a number of key groups," Cramer said. Of all the woes, Cramer was particularly worried about the breadth of the United States' trade dispute with China. This week, the tit-for-tat battle spread to a group that Cramer saw as integral to the success of the stock market: the semiconductor sector. "The semis are a leadership group, no doubt about it, so the tone was just plain jarring," the "Mad Money" host said. "The problem is, in a trade war with China, there simply aren't enough publicly-traded winners." The race to $1 trillion Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella (C) listens to Amazon CEO Jeff Bezos during an American Technology Council roundtable at the White House in Washington, DC. Nicholas Kamm | AFP | Getty Images The race to a $1 trillion market cap is underway, and to Cramer, it's looking "very close." Leading the pack is iPhone maker Apple, with a market cap of $877 billion. In second place is Google parent Alphabet at $757 billion, followed by Amazon at $754 billion and Microsoft at $740 billion. Tipping his hat to Morgan Stanley analyst Keith Weiss, who came up with the concept of the race to $1 trillion in a recent research note on Microsoft, Cramer decided to look at all four contenders and speculate on which one might cross the "finish line" first. Nucor CEO talks tariffs after earnings John Ferriola, CEO of Nucor. Adam Jeffery | CNBC Cramer also heard from John Ferriola, the chairman and CEO of steel producer Nucor who was a leader in pushing the Trump administration to implement steel and aluminum tariffs. "It'd be extremely disappointing" if Trump didn't follow through on the tariffs, Ferriola told Cramer on Thursday. "We need the president to fulfill his commitment. We must not let the date of May 1 slip any further. Frankly, his credibility and the credibility of America is on the line here." But even if the administration failed to uphold its commitment, Ferriola wasn't worried about Nucor's business, pointing to the company's year-over-year results on the heels of its first-quarter earnings report. "Can Nucor do well despite what happens with 232?" he asked rhetorically. "The answer is absolutely, yes. All you need to do is to look back at our performance last year, but particularly in the first quarter, when we were operating in an environment in which imports still took 25 percent of the market." "We operated at 92 percent capacity utilization," the CEO continued. "We had a very solid quarter. Just about all of our cylinders of our great company are running, full steam." United Rentals CEO on tech investment benefits After touting the benefits of investing in technology, Cramer sat down with United Rentals CEO Mike Kneeland, whose construction equipment rental company is doing just that to stay ahead of the curve. "We started out with telematics. We had to put telematics on our total fleet," Kneeland told Cramer on Thursday, referring to a type of telecommunication technology that provides location information in various applications. "It does a lot of different things," Kneeland said. "It eliminates any kind of waste trying to locate a piece of equipment. It identifies whether it's low on fuel, whether it needs service. So it helps us, but it also helps our customers, more importantly." Investing in tech was one of many factors that boosted business at United Rentals, Kneeland said after the company's first-quarter earnings beat. "If you look at all the leading indicators, all of them, they're either at record-highs or damn close to it," he told Cramer. "Everything I see is going to point to a solid year. And you don't have to listen to me. Listen to my competitors. They're saying the same thing." Lightning round: If you like S, you might love TMUS Cuban President Raul Castro (L) waves next to First Vice-President Miguel Diaz-Canel (C) during a National Assembly session that will select Cuba's Council of State ahead of the naming of a new president, in Havana on April 18, 2018. A 57-year-old bureaucrat replaced Raul Castro as the president of Cuba on Thursday, launching a new political era as a government led by a single family for six decades tries to ensure the long-term survival of one of the world's last communist states. The National Assembly announced that Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez had been approved as the sole candidate for president. The 86-year-old Castro will remain head of the Communist Party. Members of the National Assembly opened the crucial session a day after voting on Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez's nomination as the sole candidate for president. The result was to be officially announced Thursday morning but the result was clear because the assembly approves all executive branch proposals by margins of 95 percent or higher. His departure from the presidency is nonetheless a symbolically charged moment for a country that has been under the absolute rule of one family since the revolution first by revolutionary leader Fidel Castro and, for the last decade, his younger brother. Facing biological reality but still active and apparently healthy, Raul Castro is stepping down as president in an effort to guarantee that new leaders can maintain the government's grip on power in the face of economic stagnation, an aging population and increasing disenchantment among younger generations. "I like sticking with the ideas of President Fidel Castro because he did a lot for the people of Cuba, but we need rejuvenation, above all in the economy," said Melissa Mederos, a 21-year-old schoolteacher. "Diaz-Canel needs to work hard on the economy, because people need to live a little better." Most Cubans know their first vice president as an uncharismatic figure who until recently maintained a public profile so low it was virtually nonexistent. That image changed slightly this year as state media placed an increasing spotlight on Diaz-Canel's public appearances, including remarks to the press last month that included his promise to make Cuba's government more responsive to its people. "We're building a relationship between the government and the people here," he said then after casting a ballot for members of the National Assembly. "The lives of those who will be elected have to be focused on relating to the people, listening to the people, investigating their problems and encouraging debate." Diaz-Canel gained prominence in central Villa Clara province as the top Communist Party official, a post equivalent to governor. People there describe him as a hard-working, modest-living technocrat dedicated to improving public services. He became higher education minister in 2009 before moving into the vice presidency. In a video of a Communist Party meeting that inexplicably leaked to the public last year, Diaz-Canel expressed a series of orthodox positions that included somberly pledging to shutter some independent media and labeling some European embassies as outposts of foreign subversion. But he has also defended academics and bloggers who became targets of hardliners, leading some to describe him a potential advocate for greater openness in a system intolerant of virtually any criticism or dissent. International observers and Cubans alike will be scrutinizing every move he makes after he officially takes office on Thursday. Two years after taking over from his ailing brother in 2006, Castro launched a series of reforms that expanded Cuba's private sector to nearly 600,000 people and allowed citizens greater freedom to travel and access to information. He has failed to fix the generally unproductive and highly subsidized state-run businesses that, along with a Soviet-model bureaucracy, employ three of every four Cubans. State salaries average $30 a month, leaving workers struggling to feed their families, and often dependent on corruption or remittances from relatives overseas. Castro's moves to open the economy have largely been frozen or reversed as soon as they began to generate conspicuous shows of wealth by the new entrepreneurial class in a country officially dedicated to equality among its citizens. "I don't want to see a capitalist system, hopefully that doesn't come here, but we have to fix the economy," said Roberto Sanchez, a 41-year-old construction worker. "I'd like to have more opportunity, to buy a car, and have a few possessions." As in Cuba's legislative elections, all of the leaders selected Wednesday were picked by a government-appointed commission. Ballots offer only the option of approval or disapproval and candidates generally receive more than 95 percent of the votes in their favor. The Candidacy Commission also nominated another six vice presidents of the Council of State, Cuba's highest government body. Only one, 85-year-old Ramiro Valdez, was among the revolutionaries who fought with the Castros in the late 1950s in the eastern Sierra Maestra mountains. State media went into overdrive Wednesday with a single message: Cuba's system is continuing in the face of change. Commentators on state television and online offered lengthy explanations of why Cuba's single-party politics and socialist economy are superior to multi-party democracy and free markets, and assured Cubans that no fundamental changes were occurring, despite some new faces at the top. "It falls on our generation to give continuity to the revolutionary process," said assembly member Jorge Luis Torres, a municipal councilman from central Artemisa province who appeared to be in his 40s. "We're a generation born after the revolution, whose responsibility is driving the destiny of the nation." Greece and its creditors appear to be one step closer to reaching a final agreement on the restructuring of the country's huge debt pile, according to Eurogroup President Mario Centeno. Centeno told CNBC on Thursday that although there are still a "few issues" regarding Greece's public debt, European creditors, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Athens are inching towards a resolution. "We are in a good position to finalize the program with Greece," Centeno told CNBC's Joumanna Bercetche at the World Bank's and IMF's Spring Meetings 2018 conference in Washington. Republicans hope to keep or expand their 51-seat majority in the Senate and have a favorable path to doing so as 26 Democrats or independents who caucus with them face re-election. Only nine Republican incumbents have to run this year. Trump aims to give a boost to Blackburn in a red-state race Republicans cannot afford to lose in November. She became the preferred Republican candidate in the race after Corker declined to run for a third term. Trump had pushed Corker, an ally of the president who occasionally offers criticism of him , to run for office again. The president's tweet of support for the congresswoman came a day after outgoing GOP Sen. Bob Corker said he would not campaign against former Gov. Phil Bredesen , the leading Democratic candidate in the race. Trump called Blackburn a "wonderful woman who has always been there when we needed her." President Donald Trump endorsed Republican Rep. Marsha Blackburn in Tennessee's Senate race on Thursday and committed to campaigning for her. It is unclear whether Trump's presence in the race would help or hurt Blackburn during an election year in which many voters have pushed back against Trump and GOP policies. Fifty percent of Tennessee adults said they approve of Trump, while 44 percent said they disapprove, according to Gallup survey results published in January. Blackburn, who has run as a pro-Trump candidate, thanked Trump in a statement for "both his support and leadership." "Tennesseans from all walks of life support the President's work to cut taxes, rebuild the military, care for our veterans, and nominate conservative judges who won't legislate from the bench," she said in a statement. "They expect Tennessee's next Senator to work alongside the President and their Senate colleagues to pass his agenda, and I'm looking forward to doing exactly that." Bredesen, who served two terms as Tennessee's governor, faces a challenge to win in a state Trump carried with more than 60 percent of the vote in 2016. However, comments from Corker this week and a recent poll suggest the race may be more competitive than Republicans would hope. On Wednesday, Corker told reporters he thinks Bredesen has a "real" 6-percentage-point advantage in the race. Polling has been scarce so far, but one Middle Tennessee State University survey in late March showed a 10-point edge for Bredesen. Corker called Bredesen a "friend" with whom he has worked for more than 20 years. The senator said Wednesday he does not plan to attack the former governor. "I'm not going to campaign against someone who I've been a friend with and worked with, you know? So that's the way it's going to be," Corker said at a Christian Science Monitor breakfast. Corker has shown some support for Blackburn, who has served in Congress since 2003. On Wednesday, he said he gave her campaign an undisclosed contribution. He added that he is "supportive." However, he said he had a stronger working relationship with Bredesen than he did with Blackburn. International trade issues should be dealt with globally, the European commissioner for Economic and Financial Affairs, Taxation and Customs said Thursday on CNBC. That includes steel and aluminum, which President Donald Trump imposed tariffs on last month. The European Union and some other countries were temporarily exempted until May 1. "We are friends, we are allies. Let's talk seriously. Let's consider the problems when they are raised. Let's deal with it collectively but no protectionism, no trade war," the commissioner, Pierre Moscovici, told CNBC's Sara Eisen from the World Bank's and IMF's Spring Meetings 2018 conference in Washington. In fact, he called protectionism one of the main risks to global growth today. "We must not promote any kind of war," he said in the interview on "Power Lunch." "We're in a bright period. Let's stay there." Tensions over trade have grown recently with those steel and aluminum tariffs. There also has been an escalation of tit-for-tat responses between the U.S. and China after Trump signed an executive memorandum in March that would impose retaliatory tariffs on up to $60 billion in Chinese imports. The move was meant to punish China for alleged trade abuses. Moscovici said he's hopeful the U.S. and EU will find a solution to the steel and aluminum tariffs before the exemption expires. "My feeling is that the American administration is conscious that protectionism is not the way forward for the world economy," he said. "They want to defend their own interests. This can be understood but we need to show that we are open economies, that we are trading properly, that we are cooperating together." Michael Cohen Lucas Jackson | Reuters The company is the largest cab operator in the Windy City. The newspaper, citing Cook County deed records, reported that Yasya Shtayner obtained eight loans from Fima Shusterman, father of Cohen's wife, Laura, since last August. The most recent group of four loans, totaling at least $8 million and possibly up to $16 million, were made by Shusterman in March to Shtayner and the two firms she owns. In August, the newspaper said, Shtayner received four loans for a total of at least $12 million and as much as $24 million from Shusterman. The loans were secured by collateral made up of three Chicago condos Shtayner owns. CNN previously had reported that Shtayner and her husband were identified in the application for a warrant used to raid Cohen's home, hotel room and office in New York City on April 9. The Shtayners, like Cohen's father-in-law, are immigrants from Ukraine. Cohen owns 32 taxicab medallions in New York. His father-in-law, Shusterman, was charged with two other men in 1993 with conspiring to defraud the IRS in connection with his own New York taxi business. He pleaded guilty to a related charge that same year, and was placed on probation for two years. A man who answered the phone at Shusterman's Manhattan condo at Trump World Tower said, "I know what you want to talk about" when a CNBC reporter identified himself and asked to speak to Shusterman. "But there's nothing more to talk about. Thank you very much," said the man, who then hung up. Cohen's lawyer, David Schwartz, did not immediately return a request for comment. CNBC left a message for Yasya Shtayner at her medallion management company. Cohen under scrutiny Federal prosecutors in New York are investigating Cohen for suspected crimes related to his business dealings, according to court records. He has not been criminally charged. During the raids last week, FBI agents seized the contents of numerous electronic devices as well as paper documents belonging to Cohen. Among other things, agents reportedly seized records related to a $130,000 payment that Cohen made to porn star Stormy Daniels shortly before the 2016 presidential election that Trump won. Adrian Weinbrecht | Getty Images When planning for health-care costs in retirement, it pays to factor in a particular worst-case scenario: an earlier-than-anticipated workforce exit. A new analysis from Fidelity Investments estimates that a healthy 65-year-old couple retiring this year will need $280,000 to cover their health costs in retirement. For individuals, the projection is $133,000 for a man and $147,000 for a woman. Fidelity's calculations include premiums, cost-sharing provisions and out-of-pocket expenses associated with Medicare parts A, B, and D. The figures do not include other expenses such as over-the-counter medications, most dental services and long-term care, and do not factor in any employer-provided retiree health coverage. "Actual assets needed may be more or less depending on actual health status, area of residence, and longevity," according to Fidelity. The $280,000 estimate is up 2 percent from $275,000 last year, the smallest increase in the annual analysis since 2014. Part of the reason is that drug costs have, at least for now, leveled off, said Hope Manion, senior vice president with Fidelity Benefits Consulting. "Offsetting that though, we're seeing in the actuarial data that people are continuing to live longer," she said which means additional years of expenses to anticipate. Consumers planning for retirement can't expect such moderate cost increases every year. Health care will continue to be "a difficult pill to save for," Manion said. Potentially more so if you leave the workforce early. Fidelity's analysis counts on a key point: That you're retiring at 65, the same age you become eligible for Medicare. But the median retirement age is 62, a full three years earlier, according to the 2017 Retirement Confidence Survey from the Employee Benefit Research Institute. Many of those exits are unplanned. More from Fixed Income Strategies: Where the bonds are: The outlook for fixed income Annuity illustrations aren't always what they seem Passive investing hums with activity as ETFs evolve The institute estimates that 48 percent of retirees leave the workforce earlier than anticipated. New survey data from Fidelity, based on a poll of 1,000 recent retirees age 50 to 64, put those unexpected early exits at 58 percent. "Those people were much less prepared on what the [health-care] costs would be, and how they would manage them," said Katie Taylor, vice president of thought leadership at Fidelity Investments. For about a third of those early retirees, bridging the gap to Medicare has entailed spending more than $500 per month on insurance premiums. A quarter has drawn from Social Security income to pay for health care, and 15 percent, a 401(k) or retirement savings. Plus many of those early workforce exits are tied to health problems for the retiree or a spouse, Taylor said. In other words, these aren't the typical "healthy" couples in Fidelity's headline $280,000 figure. Planning for healthy retirement savings Step No. 1 to being better prepared: Don't ignore this looming issue. "These are big numbers, and a concern is that a consumer will take a look at it and do the ostrich thing, and stick your head in the ground," Manion said. "We can't do that." Kick the tires on your overall plan for financial security rather than worry about health costs, specifically, said certified financial planner Erika Safran, founder of Safran Wealth Advisors in New York City. Working with a financial professional can help you assess how well you've prepared, and if there are other plan elements to put in place. "I don't think this is such a dramatic turn of news, that it should cause consumers financial discord," she said. Srinagar, April 19: In Kashmir (IOK), forceful protest demonstrations against the rape and murder of eight-year-old Kathua girl, Aasifa Bano, continued to rock Srinagar and all major towns. Dozens of people including students were injured in the brutal actions of Indian troops and police personnel on the protesters. People including students of different schools and colleges took to the streets in Srinagar, Badgam, Nagam, Chadoora, Ganderbal, Kangan, Shopian, Pulwama, Islamabad, Baramulla, Sopore, Boniyar, Rafiabad, Delina, Kupwara, Bandipore, Ajas and other areas, demanding stern punishment to the rapists and killers of the minor girl. The protesters raised high-pitched pro-freedom and anti-India slogans and waved Pakistani flags in different areas. Indian police and troops fired pellets and teargas shells to disperse the protesters at many places, triggering clashes between the demonstrators and the forces personnel. Dozens of people including students sustained injuries in the forces actions. Some of the critically injured were shifted to different hospitals of Srinagar. Scores of specially-abled persons held a protest rally in Kupwara town against the rape and murder of Kathua girl. They demanded death penalty to the perpetrators of this heinous crime. Complete shutdown was observed in Tral town of Pulwama district, today, against the use of brute force on students by the Indian forces, yesterday. All shops and business establishments remained closed while traffic was off the road in the town. House members are leaving their seats at a rate not seen in at least a dozen years. Yet it remains to be seen how the exodus particularly on the Republican side will affect November's fight for control of the chamber. The most high-profile departure came earlier this month when House Speaker Paul Ryan said he would not seek re-election as he tries to spend more time with his family. GOP incumbents will not run in 39 districts: 26 in which the member of Congress is retiring and 13 in which the representative is seeking a different office, according to data compiled by Daily Kos Elections. Nineteen Democratic seats will be open due to retirements, campaigns for another office and one death. The current total of 58 open seats has already topped every election cycle dating back to 2006, according to the Daily Kos data. Tough electoral dynamics for some Republicans and term limits on committee chairmanships have contributed to the high number of departures. "If there was ever a tipping point in the country's ongoing debate over marijuana legalization, last week might have very well been it." That politicians would be swayed by public opinion shouldn't be a surprise. That's how our democracy is supposed to work. What makes last week's developments significant is that they underscore a marked and palpable growth in the momentum for legalization. Since California first legalized medical marijuana two decades ago, the marijuana legalization movement has been gathering steam. The number of states legalizing medical marijuana has grown to 30; in eight of those states marijuana is regulated for adult use, like alcohol. As legalization brings marijuana use out of the shadows and increasingly into the mainstream, attitudes have changed steadily. I see that every day in our operations. When California ushered in adult-use sales earlier this year, our stores in the Los Angeles area saw lines of shoppers celebrating out in the open without a hint of stigma. When we opened our new factory near Reno, Nevada, the ribbon-cutting event last week was attended by local elected officials and business leaders. And MedMen is about to open a new marijuana store on Fifth Avenue in New York City. People are realizing that this is not a gateway drug, it is a product that if regulated tightly and used responsibly could help people address ailments and lead happier lives. Boehner wants to see the federal government de-schedule marijuana. It's currently a Schedule I drug along with heroin, meaning the federal government sees it as a dangerous substance with no redeeming qualities. De-scheduling means "we can do research, help our veterans, and reverse the opioid epidemic ravaging our communities," Boehner tweeted. Boehner's change of heart and President Trump's assurances to Gardner last week offered a strong counterpoint to U.S. Attorney General Jeff Sessions' recent decision to rescind an Obama-era memo that generally left state-sanctioned marijuana programs alone. During an interview with CNBC, Boehner said he believes strongly that marijuana should be left to the states and "the federal government ought to get the hell out of the way." I couldn't agree more. Commentary by Adam Bierman, chief executive officer and co-founder of MedMen Enterprises, a Los Angeles-based company that owns and operates licensed cannabis facilities in cultivation, manufacturing and retail in California, Nevada and New York. Follow him on Twitter @_AdamBierman_. For more insight from CNBC contributors, follow @CNBCOpinion on Twitter. The Huawei Mate 10 Pro on display during a briefing about the new device in London, U.K. With the White House ramping up efforts to derail the ambitions of Chinese tech companies in the U.S., electronics giant Huawei said it would increasingly look to Europe to grow its international market share in high-end devices. At the company's annual analyst summit in Shenzhen, Changzhu Li, vice president of the consumer business group's handsets strategy, said the U.S. had effectively "locked the door" to the tech giant. The U.S. has long held an allure for companies, Li said, because it's "huge, it's the perfect market for all the smartphone vendors." "That's why, in the past years, we have invested a lot of effort to communicate with operators, distributors, and partners. I think this effort will go on, but some factors we can't control," he added. Huawei has faced increasing headwinds in its push to make inroads in the U.S. market, as the White House and Republican lawmakers target Chinese tech companies, citing national security concerns. In January, AT&T was forced to walk away from a deal to sell Huawei handsets after pressure from Congress and federal regulators. On Tuesday, the Federal Communications Commission voted to move forward with a new rule to block federal subsidies from telecommunications equipment suppliers that "raise national security concerns." The company has repeatedly denied allegations from U.S. lawmakers that its technology could be used by the Chinese government to gather intelligence. By contrast, Europe has proven to be much friendlier territory for the world's No. 3 smartphone maker, as it looks to derail Apple and Samsung as the smartphone leaders. Last month, Huawei launched its new flagship phone, the P20 series, in Paris, in a renewed push to make gains in a market Li called key, for "brand enhancement." In fact, he said, Europe is the most important market for Huawei's high-end devices outside of China. "The recognition from this market is very important for us," Li said. "It's a natively high-end market considering the GDP, considering the culture." Huawei already has 15 to 20 percent market share in Europe, according to Li. Italy and Spain remain big growth areas, with Huawei now shipping more smartphones than Apple, according to data from market research firm Counterpoint. "I think if the crown prince only achieves 50 percent of his vision, that country is going to be fantastically changed," Investcorp's executive chairman, Mohammed Bin Mahfoodh Alardhi, told CNBC's Hadley Gamble in Abu Dhabi. Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman, the designated successor to the Saudi king, wants to diversify the economy away from its reliance on oil. Last month, he traveled to the U.K. and the U.S. , signing deals worth billions of dollars. Saudi Arabia's crown prince has set out an ambitious plan to modernize his country. But even if half of his plans failed, the country would still be "fantastically changed," according to investment firm Investcorp. Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman's goal to diversify Saudi Arabia's oil-based economy and transform the kingdom into a tech and logistics hub could ultimately be an opportunity for American enterprise. The Bahrain-based company, with more than $22.2 billion in assets under management, is a major investor in Saudi Arabia. The Investcorp executive chairman is banking on the crown prince's reforms to not only lift prospects for the country, but the entire Middle East. The region in recent years has seen investor sentiment rattled by developments such as the drop in oil prices, the war in Syria and a sudden corruption purge from Riyadh. "No one could have seen, say the meltdown that happened in the oil prices. No one predicted what happened in the Kingdom. So I think they're right in feeling the challenges," the Investcorp businessman said, adding that it's good that governments across the region are now looking to diversify their economies. "But if it has, if we finish this and all we've got is mounting debt, then we really have not done our job. But I think, I believe, that each government is really looking for the future and doing what needs to be done," he said. The CEO of Jeff Bezos' space company says there is a chance that tourists will be able to travel to space with Blue Origin in 2018. Bob Smith spoke with CNBC's Morgan Brennan at the 34th Space Symposium at Colorado Springs, Colorado, Tuesday and Brennan asked Smith: "Are you going to be sending space tourists up to the edge of space before this year is out?" "We hope so," said a cautiously optimistic Smith. "We think we still have that possibility of getting that done this year," he said. Still, Smith emphasized, "the thing we always want to make sure that we do every time, whether we're talking about step-by-step development or actually operations as well, we're going to go when we're ready and we want to make sure it's completely safe for our passengers," he said. When a 21-year-old Sergey Petrossov found himself on a private jet for the first time, he didn't anticipate he'd one day make it a regular occurrence not only for himself, but for thousands of others. Eight years on, however, he sits at the helm of JetSmarter, the billion-dollar, celebrity-backed private jet booking app commonly dubbed the Uber of the skies. "At the time, I didn't know it was going to be a business," Petrossov told CNBC Make It, recalling his first trip in 2009. It wasn't an obvious journey for Petrossov, after all. Back then, he was newly graduated from the University of Florida and cutting his entrepreneurial teeth on a start-up for schools in his native . A chance encounter with the owner a private jet company saw him offered a ride. Sergey Petrossov, founder of JetSmarter JetSmarter Petrossov was quickly struck by what he called the "archaic" nature of the industry, which at that time relied entirely on analogue rather than digital management systems. Coming from a background in tech start-ups, that was foreign to him. "I saw an opportunity early on. From 2009 to 2012, I kept private aviation close to my chest. I went to private trade shows and did some advising," he said, explaining that he thought he would create a digital tool to make it easier to locate and book jets. But it was in that process he stumbled across the real money maker: "I learned that (the industry) was highly underutilized," said Petrossov. It was now 2012, and the sharing economy was gaining traction with the advent of Airbnb and Uber, yet private jets continued to fly at an average 10 to 15 percent capacity. "It was an ineffective use of the plane," said Petrossov. "There needed to be a sharing medium." We always knew that sharing is how you can broaden the market. Sergey Petrossov founder of JetSmarter Despite being an asset-less concept, however, Petrossov and his new chief technology officer knew that it would be a costly endeavor. They decided to launch JetSmarter first as a digital data platform in 2013, with some initial backing, before going in search of additional funding for their sharing business. "First, there was a digital theme, but sharing required more resources and capital. We always knew that sharing is how you can broaden the market," Petrossov said. That funding soon came, and since launching its sharing platform in 2015 JetSmarter has received investments from several high-profile backers including rapper Jay-Z and Saudi Arabian royalty. Positioned as a "hybrid" to lower costs for existing private flyers, while providing greater convenience for new users, the platform allows members to both schedule flights and book empty seats on existing private jet routes. "It evolved into a concept that provides a solution for existing jet users, but also for people who fly commercial and want flexibility," said Petrossov. We want to set a new standard. It's not about exclusivity, it's about providing more efficient travel. Sergey Petrossov founder of JetSmarter Over the past few years, membership packages have gone through several iterations, prompting criticism from some users who now face add-on fees for private hires. But Petrossov said he is focused on "democratizing access to private travel." Today, basic membership is available for $5,000 per year, with varying additional fees for chartering flights and booking empty seats. A higher tier of membership is available from $50,000. "We want to set a new standard. It's not about exclusivity, it's about providing more efficient travel," he said. JetSmarter says it currently serves 15,000 members, primarily business travelers, across the U.S., Europe and the Middle East. In the next few years, Petrossov said he hopes to expand this customer base by offering lower costs for short journeys. "Our goal is to take massive market share against commercial airlines, specifically business and first class, especially for routes under five hours," he added. In private discussions with Kasich's top political lieutenants, GOP megadonors have said they would support a Kasich presidential campaign depending on whether Republicans can hold congressional majorities this fall and how close federal investigations get to Trump, the sources said. Kasich has not decided whether he will run for president in 2020, but Republican megadonors have indicated to his top political lieutenants that they are willing to back him over Trump under certain circumstances, sources with direct knowledge of the matter told CNBC under the condition of anonymity. Close allies of John Kasich have reached out to prominent GOP donors to gauge their interest in backing the Republican Ohio governor against President Donald Trump in a possible 2020 showdown, CNBC has learned. A political spokesman for Kasich declined to comment. According to the sources, the same Kasich allies who have met with some of the most influential donors in the country have suggested to the governor that there are two scenarios in which he should challenge Trump in a primary. First, would come after a potential 2018 congressional midterm wave that gives Democrats majorities in the House and the Senate. With that, Republican voters could potentially move toward a candidate like Kasich, who is considered more of a centrist in the GOP. Such a loss in the midterms could also signal to GOP donors that there's a need for drastic change at the top. Trump's approval rating stands at just lower than 42 percent, according to a polling average calculated by nonpartisan website Real Clear Politics. The other scenario pitched to Kasich would ride on the political implications of the ongoing investigation by special counsel Robert Mueller. The probe is looking into whether the Trump campaign colluded with Russian operatives during the 2016 presidential election and whether the president obstructed justice in the investigation. If the investigation makes its way into the Oval Office, Kasich's friends have said, it may be an opportunity for the governor to run as either a Republican or an independent. This latest development comes as buzz continues to build around another potential Kasich run for the White House. In March, he said "all of my options are on the table" for 2020, according to Politico. The Ohio governor is also hitting states that are critical to winning presidential primaries. During his visit to New Hampshire earlier this month, he said in an interview with The New York Times that he considers himself a "hybrid" Republican and more people are approaching him since his loss in 2016. "I have people of all shapes, sizes, philosophies and party preferences that approach me. But what does that mean? I don't know. I'm on television, so all the sudden they want to talk to me. Television moves everybody up, right?" he told the Times. Charlie Black, a former advisor to Kasich's 2016 presidential campaign, told CNBC that he thinks the scenarios are part of an ongoing discussion and warned that his old boss would not stand a chance against Trump in a primary within the current political climate. "Trump presently has about an 85 percent job approval among primary voters. Unless that dropped dramatically, no one can compete with him for the nomination," Black said. "He would have to be under 50 before I would advise anyone to run." Absconding attempted murder convict Deepak Manange arrested Police have arrested an absconding attempted murder convict Rajib Gurung aka Deepak Manange from Swoyambhu of the Capital on Thursday. South Korean police raided Korean Air Lines headquarters in Seoul on Thursday as part of a probe into the youngest daughter of the airline's chairman, Yonhap News Agency said. Cho Hyun-min, a senior vice president at the airline, is under investigation by police for possible assault after testimony that she "sprayed a drink towards them" during a business meeting. Korean Air Lines shares fell as much as 4.1 percent while budget airline affiliate Jin Air, where Cho is an executive vice president, dropped 5.3 percent. A Korean Air spokesman confirmed the raid, but did not elaborate on the reason. A police official declined to comment. Cho, who is also known as Emily Cho, has apologized for her behavior, but says she "pushed" a cup of water and did not throw it at anyone's face as media have reported. Her older sister Heather Cho made headlines over a notorious "nut rage" incident in 2014, when she lost her temper over the way she was served nuts in first class and ordered the Korean Air plane to return to its gate at a New York airport. South Korea's customs agency is also looking into accusations that Cho and other family members did not pay customs duties on luxury goods brought into the country, the agency said on Wednesday. Kushner Cos. has received a federal grand-jury subpoena as part of an investigation being conducted by the U.S. attorney's office in the Eastern District of New York, The Wall Street Journal reported Thursday. White House advisor Jared Kushner was chief executive of the company prior to his role in the Trump administration. The Journal reported that the subpoena came after an Associated Press story which alleged that Kushner Cos. had filed documents stating it had no rent-controlled tenants, when it actually has hundreds. In response to the AP report, Kushner Cos. said its documents were prepared by a third party and that it works to correct any mistakes or violations as soon as they are identified. When the Journal asked for comment on its report about the subpoena, the company said it has nothing to hide and is cooperating fully. The U.S. attorney's office in Brooklyn told the Journal it couldn't confirm or deny the existence of any subpoena or investigation. Read the full report in The Wall Street Journal. The two black men who were arrested a week ago at a Philadelphia Starbucks told ABC News on Thursday they hope what happened to them does not happen to anyone else. Rashon Nelson, alongside Donte Robinson, said on "Good Morning America" he wants to "take this opportunity as a stepping stone to really stand up and show your greatness and that you are not judged by the color of your skin as our ancestors were or anyone else." "This is not just a black people thing, it's a people thing," continued Nelson. "That's exactly what we want to see out of this, true change." Nelson described the events of last Thursday, which were caught on video, posted online, and went viral on the internet, stirring outrage and protests over whether this was a case of racial profiling. He said he asked to use the restroom immediately after walking into the Starbucks. But he said he was told it was for paying customers only. Robinson said they were there for a "real estate meeting" and that they had been "working on this for months." He said he conveyed that to the Starbucks employees when they asked if Nelson and he wanted anything to drink. "We're fine. We're just waiting for a meeting, and we'll be out really quick type thing." Former U.S. President Barack Obama insists that the Parkland students pushing to reform U.S. gun laws have the power to make change happen. In a piece published by TIME, Obama praised Parkland student activists Cameraobn Kasky, Jaclyn Corin, David Hogg, Emma Gonzalez and Alex Wind for their drive to strengthen gun control laws following a mass shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in February. He says the students are helping to change the minds of Americans in ways that previous forms of activism could not. "But by bearing witness to carnage, by asking tough questions and demanding real answers, the Parkland students are shaking us out of our complacency," he wrote. Following the February shooting, the students have had "some success persuading statehouses and some of the biggest gun retailers to change," he wrote. Public opinion has also been steadily shifting. Walmart and Dick's Sporting Goods responded to the shooting. Walmart opted to stop selling assault-style rifles in 2015, but raised its age restriction for firearm and ammunition purchases and stopped selling toys resembling assault-style rifles after the shooting in Parkland. Dick's Sporting Goods decided to stop selling the weapons immediately after the massacre and opted to destroy the merchandise it had on the shelves instead of returning it to gun manufacturers. A 2018 Harvard poll shows that 70 percent of young Americans likely to vote in the upcoming midterms support stricter gun control laws. This statistic represents a 15-point increase from polling conducted months after the Sandy Hook school shooting that killed 20 children between the ages of six and seven. Obama says that "progress will be slow and frustrating," but he places a lot of faith in the students' work. Referencing the evidence of changes in voters' views on gun laws, large-scale boycotts of assault rifles, protests like the March for Our Lives and fear from the NRA, he writes that the younger generation has "the power to insist that America can be better" and "the possibilities of meaningful change will steadily grow." The story adds more clarity to comments the president made Wednesday about Rosenstein and Mueller, whom he has repeatedly criticized. Asked whether he had "concluded it is not worth the political fallout" to oust either official, Trump did not directly answer. Last week, Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein told the president he is not a "target" of special counsel Robert Mueller 's investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election, Bloomberg reported Thursday. After the White House meeting last week, Trump told confidants he does not want to fire Rosenstein or Mueller right now, according to the report. President Donald Trump has appeared to back off two key figures in the Russia investigation, for now. "They've been saying I'm going to get rid of them for the last three months, four months, five months, and they're still here. We want to get the investigations over with, done with, behind us," the president said at a joint press conference in Florida with visiting Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. Still, Trump's current stance on firing Rosenstein and Mueller does not mean he will not try to remove them in the future. Mueller is investigating Russian meddling in the election and whether the Trump campaign coordinated with Moscow. Rosenstein, who has led the investigation since Attorney General Jeff Sessions recused himself from it, put Mueller on the job. Removing one or both officials could take away the cloud of the investigation, which Trump has repeatedly called a "hoax" and "witch hunt." But it could also bring backlash from members of Congress or voters. Ty Cobb, the White House lawyer working on the Russia probe, told CNBC that the president is not considering firing Rosenstein and Mueller. Beijing pitches for trilateral links China reiterated the idea of linking Nepal, India and China to develop a trans-Himalayan economic corridor through infrastructure projectsor the tri-lateral cooperation. Former New York City Mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining President Donald Trump's personal legal team to help represent Trump in the special counsel's investigation. White House lawyer Ty Cobb confirmed the move to CNBC. "I'm doing it because I hope we can negotiate an end to this for the good of the country and because I have high regard for the president and for Bob Mueller," Giuliani told The Washington Post. Giuliani is a close ally of the president's and was a top Trump supporter on the campaign trail. Last month, John Dowd resigned as the president's top outside attorney representing him in the investigation into Russian efforts to influence the 2016 election and whether the Trump campaign colluded with Moscow. Giuliani previously served as the United States Attorney for the Southern District of New York. Trump's long-time lawyer Michael Cohen is currently under investigation by the Southern District. According to the New York Times, the probe of Cohen has become more worrisome for the White House than the special counsel's investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election and alleged collusion by the Trump campaign. Trump considered Giuliani for an administration post when he won the 2016 election but did not end up choosing him for a job. Giuliani was a federal prosecutor in Manhattan in the 1980s. He was mayor of New York City during the Sept. 11, 2001, terror attacks. Giuliani Partners, a security and management consulting firm founded by Giuliani, and representatives for Giuliani did not immediately respond to CNBC's requests to comment. -- CNBC'S Brian Schwartz contributed to this report Adam Dell grew up in Houston, the son of a dentist and a stockbroker. His older brother Michael was a big deal in computing. After a career in venture capital brought him some fame and fortune of his own, he had a child with Padma Lakshmi, a model and movie star. Now he is settling in to an office on the 26th floor of the New York headquarters of Goldman Sachs, as the famously buttoned-up Wall Street bank this week completed an acquisition of his budget planning app, Clarity Money. Goldman is looking for talent in unusual places because it is trying to pull off a radical makeover, offsetting persistent weakness in its core business of trading by pushing into lending. The most obvious sign of that effort is Marcus, the online-only bank: it has raced to about $3bn of consumer loans in 18 months of operations, and is busily buying businesses like Clarity Money, which steers people toward cheaper loans. The lending push is across the board: from Goldman's investment banking unit, where bankers are under orders to offer clients humdrum services such as revolving lines of credit; to the private-banking division, where wealth managers are urging clients to borrow against their stock portfolios or other assets such as paintings, boats or property. Total loans held for investment on Goldman's balance sheet at the end of last year stood at $67bn, more than 10 times the level of 2012. "It goes against their history as a firm; they've no track record of expanding consumer, commercial or corporate banking," says Brian Kleinhanzl, analyst at KBW in New York. "They still have to prove they can develop this." The effort is already changing the look of the firm. After decades as an investment bank trading and underwriting securities and brokering deals Goldman is edging closer to becoming a universal bank, a one-stop-shop for companies and consumers. That would make it closer to a sprawling Citigroup or a JPMorgan Chase than Bear Stearns or Lehman, its pre-crisis peers. If Goldman gets the shift right, it could mark a third great age for the 149-year- old firm, following long spells when investment bankers, then traders, were in the ascendant. But if it misfires, the firm could be saddled with losses and punished for piling in to credit at this late point in the cycle. It could also lose its cachet as an elite advisory firm, as bankers balk at being asked to promote the balance sheet as much as their brainpower. Already, there are grumblings among some M&A bankers who have always viewed themselves as a cut above the rest on Wall Street. One thing seems certain: the current mix is not working. Goldman's revenues stalled at around $34bn between 2012 and 2015, before slipping to $30.6bn in 2016. Last year saw a recovery on the top line and a decent group return on equity of 11 per cent, excluding tax changes. But Goldman managed that only by reducing its equity, buying back about 8 per cent of the shares outstanding, more than double the average among its peers. First-quarter results this week were brighter, but flattered by a big drop in the tax rate and a lot of mysterious gains from the bank's black box of proprietary investments. In January Goldman's market value briefly slipped behind Morgan Stanley, its midtown rival which on Wednesday posted a record quarterly profit, for the first time in more than a decade. "It feels like a new era," says Ian McDonald, Denver-based equity analyst at Janus Henderson, which manages $345bn of assets and is an investor in Goldman. "This is a frustrated management team with something to prove." Goldman's top executives talk about the push into lending as a natural extension of the decision to convert into a bank holding company during the Lehman crisis. Morgan Stanley the only other independent investment bank left standing did the same, so it could tap emergency liquidity lines from the Federal Reserve if needed. After the crisis, Goldman focused on patching up its balance sheet, settling a string of lawsuits and cultivating a better public image. Once it recovered some poise, it found that its banking arm made a good "platform" for all sorts of activities, says Stephen Scherr, Goldman's former head of strategy who two years ago was made chief executive of GS Bank USA, the New York state-licensed banking unit. Morgan Stanley has been building up its loan book too, particularly in mortgages and securities-based loans for its well-heeled clients. But what Goldman is doing is of a different order: using its banking unit to supply everything from working capital loans to middle-market companies; to construction loans to property developers and loans for consumers of up to $40,000 to renovate their homes. Last year Goldman formed a business unit for that purpose the consumer and commercial banking division and appointed Mr Scherr to run it. It was the first time the bank had redrawn its organisational map since the creation of its investment management arm in the 1980s. "The strategic objective was to use the bank as a platform to grow our business, and as a platform to sustain existing business around the firm," says Mr Scherr, a wry, unflashy figure who joined Goldman 25 years ago from the law firm Cravath, Swaine & Moore." Across the firm, there is more lending going on, not simply because we're a bank, but because our standing businesses . . . are seeing opportunities that are attractive from a return perspective and therefore worth engaging." Last September the target-shy firm gave out a medium-term goal for $5bn of extra annual revenue growth by 2020, with at least $2bn earmarked to come from lending. A good chunk of that will come through loans to super-rich clients of Goldman's private bank, who normally have at least $50m in investable assets. The firm added $2.8bn of loans during 2017 to a total of $16.6bn at the end of the year. It is now looking to attract those in the next level down those typically with assets of less than $10m working with third-party registered investment advisers to offer loans of $75,000 to $25m, secured by investment portfolios. Goldman is also doing more leveraged loans, or loans to companies already carrying lots of debt. The firm's $100bn of deals in the US last year was in a similar league as Bank of America ($148bn) and JPMorgan ($140bn), but on a balance sheet less than half the size. Then there is Marcus, the branchless, purely digital bank, in which Goldman has invested at least $500m, according to Omer Ismail, its chief commercial officer. To market its loans, Goldman has been a big user of non-digital methods such as direct mail, emulating credit-card groups like Capital One and Discover, which buy lists of possible customers from credit reporting agencies like Equifax and Experian then send offers to households across the US. Last year Goldman mailed about 200m invitations to apply for a loan, according to Mintel, about 800,000 every single business day. Marcus now has about half a million clients across its various loans and savings products and is eyeing moves into other areas including credit lines, credit cards, wealth management and retirement accounts. "If we address consumer pain points, creating products that are clear, easy and transparent, and remain on the side of the consumer," says Mr Scherr, "we'll be able to build relationships with millions of consumers." Goldman has also run advertising on YouTube mocking the loan offers of rivals such as Lending Club and Prosper, which take 5 per cent of every loan as an upfront fee Goldman charges nothing, making all its money in interest. And the firm has worked hard to position "Marcus by Goldman Sachs" as a straightforward, trustworthy brand. The loans have one of only two five-star ratings on NerdWallet, a personal finance site. The Consumer Financial Protection Bureau's database of more than 1m complaints has just 180 entries linked to Goldman. Mr Scherr is conscious that some of the big Main Street banks are also innovating. Citibank and PNC, for example, have announced plans to launch new digital-only banking divisions, while Wells Fargo and Chase have developed dozens of apps to complement and enhance their branch-based services. But, he says, "legacy" systems make that hard. "The task as a large incumbent bank to retool and bring forward their existing books of business on to a new digital system is a very difficult thing to do," he says. "The fact they are talking about this, and to some extent executing it, is only a validation of what we're doing." Goldman Sachs in numbers $67bn Total loans held for investment on Goldman Sachs' balance sheet at the end of last year more than 10 times the level of 2012 200m Invitations to apply for a loan were sent out by Goldman in 2017 about 800,000 every business day $98.8bn Goldman market capitalisation, which briefly dipped below that of Morgan Stanley last year Analysts have welcomed the push on lending. In first-quarter results presented this week net interest income was easily Goldman's fastest growing line item, up 78 per cent from a year earlier to $918m. That was almost as much as the $996m it earned from two old-school business lines combined advising companies on mergers, and raising equity. Yet analysts remain anxious about the risks attached to that growth. In securities-based loans, for example, they worry about the effects of a sharp sell-off in markets, which could trigger forced sales and possible defaults. The big banks, including Goldman, argue that these products present little risk to the lender, as the loans are never bigger than the assets they are secured against up to 70 per cent of the value of stocks or corporate bonds, and 90 per cent for government bonds. But like the other big banks, Goldman has built its portfolio at a time of gently rising markets and unusually low volatility. It has no real idea how customers would behave in a violent sell-off or whether there are more timebombs lurking like Steinhoff International, the scandal-hit retailer that this year inflicted $1bn of losses on the Wall Street banks, Including Goldman. With Marcus, too, there are fears that Goldman could be straining too hard to make a dent in America's consumer debt market, at a time when many are struggling to keep up with rising interest payments. Executives have talked a lot in public about going after "prime" borrowers, which tends to mean they have scores of at least 660 on the commonly used FICO scale. But the bank has been dipping below that level. Guy Moszkowski, an analyst at Autonomous Research in New York, says it was "a bit of a shock" to find a few lines buried deep in a recent regulatory filing from Goldman, which revealed that about one-fifth of Marcus' outstanding loans were to people with sub-660 scores. "Whenever the next recession comes there will be a price to pay," says Mr Moszkowski. "That's the case for any consumer lender and certainly one like Goldman, coming to it cold." The big lending push also brings cultural risks, as Goldman has no great tradition of growing through acquisitions. In the early 1980s it almost passed on J Aron, the money-spinning commodities business that launched the career of Lloyd Blankfein, the bank's chairman and chief executive. In 2008 Goldman declined to buy Wachovia, which had a portfolio of mortgages with flexible repayment terms. Yet over the past six months or so, the firm has been on something of a spree: acquisitions have included financeit, a point-of-sale lending company, and Genesis Capital, a platform for property developers of single-family homes. That is partly why the market remains wary. The trading arm did well in first-quarter results, but the comparison was flattered by a particularly bleak period a year earlier. "You kind of give them the benefit of the doubt, because it's Goldman," says Marty Mosby at Vining Sparks in Memphis, about the consumer lending push. "But this is so new, so completely out of character, we'll have to watch very carefully." Investment banking's fight with the M&A team "No strawberries for lunch," Sidney Weinberg used to tell his son, John. The man who ran Goldman Sachs for almost 40 years in the middle of the 20th century was full of advice for the man who steered it through the 1980s, according to Lisa Endlich in The Culture of Success, a Goldman hagiography. Watch out for excesses. Stay disciplined. Stick to what you are good at. According to current and former mergers and acquisitions bankers, these are good lessons for David Solomon, the president and chief operating officer who recently won a power struggle with Harvey Schwartz, the former chief financial officer, for the role of chief executive-in-waiting. They say Mr Solomon achieved good results during his 10 years running the investment banking division, which helps big companies do deals and raise money. The division's share of Goldman's revenue rose from about 15 per cent to 20 per cent. But others say it came at the cost of a relentless focus on pushing other products such as loans. "Solomon is definitely a shrewd administrator, he knows how to operate inside a complex institution but he doesn't truly get what we do and he despises us for punching above our weight inside Goldman," says an M&A banker. Others say they have confronted Mr Solomon about the risk of damaging Goldman's advisory business, if it goes too deep into cross-selling. However, according to Mr Solomon's backers, Goldman's move into debt underwriting has been co-ordinated with the M&A specialists. "Our acquisition finance business has been our real differentiator. It has made our M&A business stronger," says a person close to the Goldman president. Goldman slipped off the top of the perch in Dealogic's M&A league table in the first quarter, trailing both Morgan Stanley and JPMorgan Chase. "It's just not the same place it used to be," says one banker who left Goldman to work at a boutique. "Now, when you meet a client they expect you to also sign them up for a high-yield bond and other services." Ben McLannahan and James Fontanella-Khan More from the Financial Times: The Vomiting Camel has escaped from Bitcoin zoo Commodity stocks buoy bourses Daily briefing: Trade twists, cooked coral, China's millennial rebels The engine failure that forced an emergency landing of a Southwest flight on Tuesday couldn't have come at a worse time for General Electric, former GE Vice Chairman Bob Wright told CNBC on Thursday. The engine was manufactured by CFM International, a joint venture of GE and France's Safran Aircraft Engines. "The CFM situation right now is just so unfortunate. It's unfortunate that it happened. It couldn't have happened at a worse time for GE," Wright said on "Squawk on the Street." Shares of GE, the Dow's worst performer, have fallen more than 21 percent year to date and over 54 percent in the last year. The company slashed its dividend in November for the second time since the Great Depression. The Boston-based multinational is in the midst of restructuring. That could include splitting itself up into separate companies, with a decision announced as early as this spring. GE is scheduled to report first-quarter earnings before the bell Friday. Owning a home, the most common way Americans build wealth, can become a distant dream for many crushed by student debt. Eighty-three percent of people ages 22 to 35 with student debt who haven't bought a house yet blame their educational loans. PM Images | Getty Images In the late 1990s, Ed McKinley fell in love with a $65,000 house by a lake in New Hampshire. The owners let him move in early and pay rent until the buying process was completed. Inside his new home, McKinley installed a modern stove, painted the walls and began to redo the floors. Then came the bad news. "The mortgage company decided that my income-to-debt ratio was a little bit higher than they were comfortable with," McKinley, 59, said. They were referring to his $34,000 in federal student loan debt. He had to pack up and leave. "It's crushing," McKinley said, choking up. "I have a very strong desire to own a piece of land that I can put my signature on." Ed McKinley Source: Ed McKinley Student loan debt has become a major barrier to home ownership in America. Some 45 million people in the United States carry student debt. The average borrower owes more than $30,000, according to Student Loan Hero, a website for managing education debt. Almost a fifth owe more than $100,000, according to the National Association of Realtors. People's monthly student loan payments can eat up a large slice of their income, threaten to push down their credit scores and make saving nearly impossible all huge impediments, of course, to landing in a house. For every 10 percent in student loan debt a person holds, their chance of home ownership drops 1 to 2 percentage points during their first five years after school, according to the Federal Reserve. More than 80 percent of people ages 22 to 35 with student debt who haven't bought a house yet blame their educational loans, according to the National Association of Realtors. "Student loan debt holders do want to own a home, that's part of their American dream," said Jessica Lautz, managing director of survey research at the National Association of Realtors. "It's just really hard to get there right now." To be sure, people who receive more education also tend to earn higher incomes, possibly offsetting some of the financial distress of student loan debt, said Jonathan Spader, a senior research associate at the Joint Center for Housing Studies at Harvard University. "You have these competing influences of greater access to education versus reduced ability to buy a home because of student loan debt," Spader said. Challenge one: Debt-to-income ratio Slphotography | Getty Images Almost one-fifth of people with student debt who apply for a mortgage like McKinley are denied because of their "debt-to-income ratio," what a person owes versus how much they make, according to the National Association of Realtors. The median income for student loan borrowers is $59,746, according to analysts at the Harvard joint center. For borrowers under 30, the average monthly loan payment is $351, according to Student Loan Hero. "The bank looks at it as 'unsecured debt,'" said Doug Amis, a certified financial planner at Cardinal Retirement Planning in Cary, North Carolina. "With a mortgage, you have the asset of the house. If you stopped paying, you could foreclose on the house. But you can't go and foreclose on an education." In other words: Banks know you'll most likely be stuck with your student debt until you pay it off. "The mortgage officer wants to see that your overall expenditures on housing and debt including student loans and car payments is not more than 36 percent of your income," Amis said. "That's really going to limit things if you're only making $50,000 a year." In certain areas where the cost of living is higher, that debt ceiling is pushed up. Challenge two: Credit score Kirby Hamilton | Getty Images Eight percent of student loan borrowers are denied a mortgage because of their credit score, according to the National Association of Realtors. Mike, a government worker in Yukon, Oklahoma, said banks offering loans would line up at his law school at the University of Toledo. (He asked to use his first name only because of his job with the government.) He graduated in 2008, with more than $200,000 in debt, into the Great Recession. He couldn't find a job and soon defaulted on his student loans, like 40 percent of borrowers are expected to do by 2023, according to the Brookings Institution. He felt helpless. "I just ignored it, there was no way they were wanting $1,200 a month," Mike said. His credit score sank into the low 500s, which is considered very poor by credit data company Experian. "If I went into any bank in Oklahoma, they would just laugh at me," Mike said. Challenge three: Down payment Rossy Vargas runs her own company, Clean & Green. Courtesy of SurveyMonkey Rossy Vargas has worked with SurveyMonkey since 2011. She has followed the company that provides free, customizable surveys through moves, and she has worked closely with the company leadership as the start-up has grown to a valuation of $2 billion. "To me, we are like family," said Vargas. "We feel like we are treated like a part of the team." But even though Vargas works at SurveyMonkey's San Mateo headquarters, she doesn't work for the company as a full-time employee. She runs the cleaning company Clean & Green, and her role with SurveyMonkey is technically that of a contractor. That places Vargas in a similar position to a rising number of Silicon Valley workers brought in by tech giants to work on third-party firm contracts, not only janitorial services and caterers that can be found in any corporate campus, but more specific roles created for contractors as projects evolve. Tech companies rely heavily on contract workers, who allow companies to scale up or down depending on the upcoming workload. Researchers Chris Benner and Kyle Neering from the University of California Santa Cruz estimate as many as 39,000 workers in San Mateo and Santa Clara Counties are contracted to tech companies. If tech companies focus on hiring full-time employees only for the core mission, they can be more adaptable. This means many software testers, finance managers and administrative assistants are contractors. That means once a project is over, there's no reason to keep certain workers on the payroll. The Silicon Valley worker benefits and perks the free, fresh produce and transcendental meditation pods have become symbols of the riches created in the tech sector and how good it has been to workers, but the hype belies the truth that many of the employees operating within big tech companies are working on second-class contract terms. "Each year the contract penetration rate increases," said David Chie, the CEO of Palo Alto Staffing."There are a lot of resources that are project-based." Companies generally save money by using contractors according to Chie, but it's the ability to easily scale up or down that makes temps so appealing to tech companies. Tensions between Silicon Valley and rest of society are rising As economic tensions between Silicon Valley elites and the rest of society increase affordable housing in California among the flash points the approach to contract workers may need to change. After polling its full-time employees, SurveyMonkey found that although the employees were satisfied with their own benefits, they felt the company wasn't doing enough for contractors in the building. Since January, SurveyMonkey has provided benefits for all contract employees working within its San Mateo headquarters. These benefits include health (medical, dental and vision), time off and transportation. There are three contract companies providing workers for SurveyMonkey: the food service company Bon Appetit, Clean & Green, and the temp agency Eastridge Workforce Solutions (SurveyMonkey finds its own temps, but Eastridge technically hires and pays them). In total, these three groups account for about 50 employees. "They weren't in a competitive position compared to all our employees," said Becky Cantieri, head of human resources at SurveyMonkey, who explained the company's decision in a blog post. "They're usually the first people I see when I come in the morning and the last people I see at night." Over the years, she and Vargas have become close friends. Becky Cantieri, head of human resources at SurveyMonkey, said contract workers at the Silicon Valley company are 'usually the first people I see when I come in the morning and the last people I see at night.' Over the years, she has become friends with Rossy Vargas, who runs the janitorial firm, Clean & Green, that works in SurveyMonkey's San Mateo, California headquarters. SurveyMonkey For Vargas and her 37 employees, the benefits make a major difference. She made sure the deal included all her employees, not just those working at SurveyMonkey. As the cost of living continues to skyrocket in the Bay Area, many working outside of tech struggle to make ends meet. In San Mateo County, where Vargas works for SurveyMonkey, an average one-bedroom apartment cost $2,867 per month in 2015. "For small companies like mine, we struggle to get full package benefits for employees because it's so expensive here," Vargas said. SurveyMonkey gave her employees health insurance, dental, vision, paid time off and sick leave. They were able to put their families on the plan. "We jumped to the next level." A 401(k) plan for Vargas and her team is not paid into by SurveyMonkey, but the tech company's benefits consultant worked pro bono with Vargas to create it. 'There are absolutely two labor forces' In an industry with increasing disparity, many working in tech can't kick their second-class employee status. Temps make it easier to downsize because companies can just start using less of them instead of laying off full-time employees. These employees face stress with job insecurity and less robust or nonexistent benefits. The disparity is even more striking for employees working service jobs. "There are absolutely two labor forces," said Rick Wartzman, director of the KH Moon Center for a Functioning Society at the Drucker Institute. Wartzman, who wrote the book "The End of Loyalty: The Rise and Fall of Good Jobs in America," describes Silicon Valley as a barbell economy tech has superstar jobs at the top, a hollowed-out middle and lots of service work on the low end. A 2016 report from Benner and Neering found the average yearly pay for tech employees was $113,000 while the pay for blue-collar contract workers was $19,900. White-collar contractors made $53,200. Black or Latino employees make up only 10 percent of full-time Silicon Valley employees, but this same demographic makes up 58 percent of blue-collar contractors and 26 percent of white-collar contractors. Maria Noel Fernandez, deputy director at Working Partnerships USA an organization that fights to make Silicon Valley a place working-class families can survive in said contractors in a workplace often feel excluded, and sometimes that exclusion has to be worn on the surface: they often have a different work ID badge color. They also don't get access to all the perks at Silicon Valley's playground-like campuses. Contract workers often fear speaking up about their status Third-party contracting firm benefits aren't only less generous, but the exorbitant Silicon Valley housing prices and rents make life as a contractor so difficult workers from contract companies often can't afford to elect a benefits package, because doing so will take too much out of their paycheck. "What's important is that workers have a voice on the job," Fernandez said. "There's a lot of fear of speaking up." The tendency in tech to need a few hyper-specialized workers to develop an app or website makes the field especially prone to contract work, but there's been a rise of contractors across the country. "It's something you're finding increasingly across corporate America," Wartzman said. Organizations can overestimate the number of contract workers in the U.S. because they count anyone who does anything on the side, even if they have a W-2. But Wartzman pointed to the findings of Harvard economist Lawrence Katz and Princeton economist Alan Krueger: even their more moderate numbers show a rise from 10.1 percent to 15.8 percent in contract workers from 2005 to 2015. This doesn't exist anywhere. ... No one else that I've worked with has even approached that as being an idea or any type of motivation for them to invest into contractors. Dan Maass i2i Benefits co-founder, who has worked with Bay Area tech companies for over a decade The lack of benefits is one of the most stressful aspects of contract work. Dan Maass and the company he co-founded, i2i Benefits, provide SurveyMonkey employees with their benefits. "This is what it means to be in this business and impact people in a big way," Maass said. "This is going to be a great impact on people that we know. We see them every day and how they're working with the SurveyMonkey team." SurveyMonkey isn't perfect. Only the San Mateo office provides contractor benefits, and the company has six total offices (SurveyMonkey is working to roll the program out in Portland as well). An important reason these contract workers were able to start getting benefits is because i2i saved SurveyMonkey 5 percent on its total benefits cost, freeing up surplus funds for the effort, and employees went to bat for their contract counterparts. Although Fernandez applauds the initiative from SurveyMonkey, she worries about the power tech companies hold over employees. Companies can revoke benefits just as quickly as they give them out. Until contract workers organize, Silicon Valley can continue to overlook them. "It's about benefits, but it's also about making a democracy in the workplace," she said. Still, the move, which cost SurveyMonkey $200,000, represents a step in the right direction in an industry that relies heavily on contractors. SurveyMonkey's cafeteria represents just one type of perk Silicon Valley companies use to attract talent. Courtesy of SurveyMonkey American Federation of Teachers President Randi Weingarten at the National School Walkout, a 17 minute walkout by students in honor of the 17 people who died one month ago in the shooting at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Florida and a protest for stricter gun laws. Not satisfied with the gun industry's response to demands for help ending an epidemic of gun violence, groups representing millions of workers are pressuring what they see as an even bigger change-maker: The funds that hold trillions of dollars in American retirement savings. Their influence is far greater than many might think. About one-quarter of the world's 5,500 exchange-traded funds and 15 percent of all mutual funds invest in at least one company involved in the firearms industry, according to a report to be released Thursday by the corporate governance research firm Sustainalytics. That has the potential to touch billions of dollars worth of retirement and pension savings. As of now, mutual funds hold more than $16 trillion in assets, and exchange-traded funds hold $3.5 trillion, according to the Investment Company Institute. On Tuesday, the American Federation of Teachers asked the trustees of its pension funds to review its stock holdings and try to push fund managers to either shed investments in gun-makers and sellers or offer funds that have alternatives to firearms-makers. In doing so, the union is trying to "create accountability for what has become a high-risk investment," AFT President Randi Weingarten told CNBC. AFT is the nation's second-largest teachers union, representing 1.7 million workers and $3 trillion of retirement savings. It is urging the pensions to drop investment managers that refuse. "Failure to engage on this important investment risk issue should be considered as trustees review investment manager allocations going forward," it said in a report that accompanied a letter to the pension trustees. Efforts to change rules about gun ownership and strengthen background checks and other safety measures came back into national headlines in February, when 17 people were killed in a mass shooting at a high school in Parkland, Florida. A student walkout supporting gun control was scheduled for Friday at schools around the country. On Tuesday, a student who survived the Parkland shooting called for a boycott of fund managers Vanguard and BlackRock. Publicly traded companies involved in the gun industry, from firearms-makers such as Sturm Ruger and American Outdoor Brands and retailers like Dick's Sporting Goods, are not the biggest companies in terms of market value by far. But their ownership is widespread because of the boom in ETFs, which track stock market indexes. Public school teacher pensions in 12 states have stakes in firearms-makers, largely through these funds, for example. BlackRock and Vanguard, managers of some of the most widely held ETFs, are among the largest shareholders of Sturm Ruger and American Outdoor Brands because of the funds. Eleven ETFs track the S&P MidCap 400 Index, including BlackRock's $45 billion-asset iShares Core S&P Mid-Cap ETF. The index owns less than 1 percent each of Orbital ATK, which makes Bushmaster guns, and Olin, the maker of Winchester ammunition. And seven ETFs track the S&P's Small Cap 600, including BlackRock's $37 billion iShares Core S&P Small Cap ETF. BlackRock has already offered some new ETFs that track the same indexes as its existing funds, minus gun-related company stocks, among other moves it is making to address the issue. Citigroup has restricted gun retailers who are its customers, and Bank of America said it will no longer finance companies that make assault-style rifles for civilians. Dicks said it won't sell guns to people under 21 years old. Weingarten says the AFT tried unsuccessfully to talk to Wells Fargo about its business lending to the gun industry and will end a promotion offering Wells Fargo mortgages to teachers nationwide if it does not make contact soon. A Wells Fargo spokeswoman wasn't immediately available. The AFT reached out to several fund companies, as well, including Voya, Dimensional Fund Advisors, Vanguard and Fidelity. The companies said they are talking to gun-makers and retailers about the risks posed by firearms. Invesco Advisors didn't respond, the AFT said. Fidelity told the AFT it regularly engages with companies it invests in and evaluates whether those companies should stay in their portfolios. If anything, the union and other groups, including faith-based organizations that have approached gun-makers with shareholder proposals this year, are raising awareness of the investment risk these stocks pose to pensions. Sustainalytics tracked the performance of gun-maker and retailer stocks and found that they all trailed the FTSE Global All Cap index for the last three years. Combined, shares of Sturm Ruger, American Outdoor, Orbital ATK, Vista Outdoor and Dick's Sporting Goods were down 8.2 percent on a three-year basis versus the index's 20 percent gain. In its report to the pensions, the AFT concluded, "Engagement is only meaningful if it yields changes in gun manufacturers' behavior that address core investor risks. If dialogue is insufficient to produce meaningful change, investment managers can and should vote their proxies in ways that reflect their concern and produce needed changes." Correction: An earlier version misstated the day of the planned student walkout. It's Friday. The American Federation of Teachers is the nation's second-largest teacher's union. An earlier version misstated its status. Paul Manafort of Republican presidential nominee Donald Trump's staff listens during a round table discussion on security at Trump Tower in the Manhattan borough of New York, August 17, 2016. Paul Manafort, U.S. President Donald Trump's former campaign chairman, will try on Thursday to convince a judge to throw out charges brought by Special Counsel Robert Mueller, arguing Mueller has overstepped his authority. Manafort, hit with two indictments accusing him of conspiracy against the United States and other crimes, backed away from an earlier request to the same judge for dismissal of the special counsel's charges during an April 4 hearing in a related civil lawsuit. On Thursday, Manafort's attorney Kevin Downing is expected to tell U.S. District Court Judge Amy Berman Jackson during a hearing in Washington that Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein's order in May 2017 appointing Mueller was overly broad, and that Mueller's case falls outside the boundaries of what he was permitted to investigate. The hearing gives Manafort a chance to seek dismissal of charges in an indictment against him in Washington before the case can go to trial in September. That indictment charged him with offenses including conspiring to launder money and failing to register as a foreign agent in connection with his lobbying for the Ukrainian government under pro-Russian former President Viktor Yanukovych. The other indictment, in Alexandria, Virginia, charges Manafort with bank fraud and filing false tax returns, among other offenses. Manafort's lawyer is set to ask for a dismissal of those charges in May. Both indictments arose from Mueller's investigation into Russian involvement in the 2016 election. Manafort is expected to have two separate criminal trials, with the Virginia one starting in July. Thursday's hearing is the latest development stemming from a special counsel investigation that potentially could threaten Trump's presidency. While Manafort has pleaded not guilty, the special counsel's office has extracted guilty pleas from other former campaign figures including Manafort's former deputy and business partner Rick Gates. Manafort is hoping to convince the judge that the Washington indictment should be tossed because the charges fall outside the scope of the investigation Rosenstein authorized. Rosenstein's order directed Mueller to investigate whether Trump's presidential campaign colluded with Russia and gave Mueller the power to investigate any other matters that arise from the probe. Trump and Russia have denied any such collusion. In a court filing, Downing said the scope of Rosenstein's order is "tantamount to a blank check" that Mueller "has cashed, repeatedly." The charges, Downing added, are not related to Russia or potential coordination with the Trump campaign. Downing also said the charges did not arise from Mueller's work, noting the FBI previously investigated Manafort's Ukraine business dealings and closed out the probe in 2014 without pursuing charges. Downing presented similar claims in Manafort's civil lawsuit against Mueller and Rosenstein, aiming to convince Jackson to decide that Rosenstein's order naming Mueller was overly broad and violated Justice Department rules on special counsel appointments. During this month's hearing, Jackson tore into Downing's legal arguments, at one point exclaiming that she did not understand what was left of his case. Mueller's team has filed evidence in the criminal case to show he had explicit authority from Rosenstein in August 2017 to probe Manafort's Ukraine dealings. Short of dismissing the entire indictment, Downing is also expected to ask Jackson to consider tossing a number of individual counts on more technical legal grounds. Letting go of the defamation suit could give Cohen more time to focus on a number of high-profile cases against him. "If there's one thing Democrats and Republicans agree on today, it's that the dossier was an important part of the government's investigation into potential collusion between the Trump Campaign and Russia," BuzzFeed added. "Today's news suggests that Donald Trump's personal lawyer no longer thinks an attack on the free press is worth his time." "The lawsuits against BuzzFeed over the Steele dossier have never been about the merits of our decision to publish it," BuzzFeed said in a statement, referring to British spy Christopher Steele, who was commissioned by Fusion GPS to compile the dossier. President Donald Trump 's longtime lawyer, Michael Cohen , on Wednesday dropped a libel suit against BuzzFeed News and intelligence-gathering firm Fusion GPS over his involvement with a now-infamous dossier alleging collusion between Russia and the Trump campaign. A California judge on Wednesday scheduled a hearing for porn star Stormy Daniels' lawsuit against Trump and Cohen, in which Daniels seeks to void a nondisclosure pact negotiated by Cohen barring her from discussing an alleged affair with Trump. The hearing is set for Friday morning. On Monday, Cohen for the first time attended court proceedings regarding an ongoing investigation into potential financial crimes and acts of concealment. A week earlier, Cohen's properties were raided by FBI agents based on a referral from special counsel Robert Mueller, who is investigating purported Kremlin links to Trump's presidential campaign. The seized materials include documents related to Daniels and communication between Trump and Cohen. In a statement, Cohen's attorney David Schwartz said, "the decision to voluntarily discontinue these cases was a difficult one." "We believe the defendants defamed my client, and vindicating Mr. Cohen's rights was and still remains important. But given the events that have unfolded, and the time, attention, and resources needed to prosecute these matters, we have dismissed the matters, despite their merits," Schwartz said. Cohen is referenced heavily in the 35-page dossier, and is accused of attending a "secret liaison with the Kremlin" in Prague, among other allegations. The dossier had reportedly been circulating for some time among news outlets before the 2016 election. But its salacious and unverified claims including that Russian spies held evidence that Trump paid prostitutes to urinate on a mattress in a Moscow hotel room were not made public until January, when BuzzFeed published a story about the document. The White House did not immediately respond to CNBC's request for comment on Cohen's withdrawal from the suit. Cohen denied the dossier's claims about him, famously allowing news outlets to view his passport as evidence that he had "never been to Prague" in his life. A report from McClatchy in April, citing two sources familiar with the special counsel's probe of possible Russian links to Trump's campaign, said that Mueller has evidence that Cohen made a trip to Prague in 2016. Cohen again denied the trip. Cohen tweet Disclosure: CNBC parent NBCUniversal is a minority investor in BuzzFeed. Back when Sylvana Ward Durrett and Luisana Mendoza Roccia were working at Vogue, they realized there was no centralized retailer catering to the growing children's apparel market. So they created their own. "The market is incredibly fragmented," Ward Durrett told CNBC's "Power Lunch" on Thursday. "So you're shopping here for shoes and there for special occasions." The solution: In 2017, Ward Durrett and Roccia, who both began their careers as executive assistants to Vogue Editor-in-Chief Anna Wintour, co-founded Maisonette.com, an online market place. Now, parents can shop for children's apparel, accessories, toys and furniture, among other things, for children up to age 12, in one place. Since its launch, the privately owned company has raised $4.3 million seed capital from firms like NEA and Thrive Capital, and surpassed its 2017 revenue forecast by more than 40 percent. The co-founders are anticipating six times the growth this year. While the site includes luxury brands, 60 percent of the products are priced under $100. "People shop high and low," said Mendoza Roccia. "There are certain areas where people like to invest, whether it's that beautiful crib; or, it's that beautiful dress for their Christmas card photo," Roccia said. "But there are other areas that you know you're kids are going to grow out of in about five seconds," she said of consumer appetite for discounted items. Shoppers can browse approximately 170 vendors, representing more than 500 brands around the world. At the end of each transaction a single checkout might include multiple stores around the world, from mom and pop boutiques to more well-known names like Dolce & Gabbana and Birkenstock. So far the celebrity following includes Keri Russell, Jennifer Meyer, Maggie Gyllenhaal and Molly Sims. But Ward Durrett said the ladies were really solving their own problem. Both have three kids under the age of 6. Still, investors are taking note. According to Global Industry Analysts, a market research firm based in California, the growing children's apparel business is expected to reach $321.6 billion by 2024. Ward Durrett said most of Maisonette's customer base shops on the site about once a week. The company, she said, is working to expand its assortment of products to include more everyday items that cater to the business of raising children. General Electric is the only earnings report that matters right now, strategist says 8:33 PM ET Fri, 20 April 2018 | 01:45 General Electric's earnings report are due out Friday morning, and as far as I'm concerned, it's the only thing of interest on the earnings calendar. GE is an interesting story, depending on how you look at it. The stock may be a fallen angel with the potential to see a bit of relief or the mangiest dog of the Dow, as I've called it before. The Missourians Opinion section is a public forum for the discussion of ideas. The views presented in this piece are those of the author and do not necessarily reflect the views of the Missourian or the University of Missouri. If you would like to contribute to the Opinion page with a response or an original topic of your own, visit our submission form Edu Ministry pressed to deploy staff to local units With little progress in staff mobilisation process, the Ministry of Federal Affairs and General Administration has urged the Ministry of Education to immediately deploy more than 1,616 officials at the local levels. Chris Ham is CEO of The Kings Fund. A recent Conservative Home survey found that more than two in five readers would support tax rises to increase funding for the NHS, underlining that this issue increasingly unites voters across the political spectrum. The Kings Funds analysis of new data from the British Social Attitudes Survey, published last week, reinforces this. Our analysis of the 2017 survey found that 86 per cent of respondents said that the NHS faces a major or severe funding problem. Sixty-one per cent of respondents support tax rises to increase NHS funding, including 56 per cent of Conservative Party supporters. These findings take on added significance in the light of Theresa Mays landmark commitment in evidence to the House of Commons Liaison Committee to increase NHS spending as part of a multi-year settlement. Finding the resources to make this investment is not easy after the longest squeeze in NHS finances since its inception. The impact of this squeeze was evident during the winter, when most hospitals failed to hit key waiting time targets and senior doctors claimed that some patients were dying because of delays in their treatment. The growing pressures on the NHS reflect rising demands from an ageing population, particularly among people who are frail and have multiple health needs. The Prime Ministers commitment has created an expectation of substantial increases in funding to invest in improvements in patient care over five or perhaps ten years. This is a hugely important shift from the Governments previous position that the NHS had received the funding its leaders had requested. To meet rising demand for care, NHS spending increases would need to be on a par with long term funding growth. This would mean finding around 4 billion a year from 2019 onwards. The challenge for the Government is to how fund this level of spending when there are many competing claims on available resources. Uncertainty surrounding Brexit adds to the reluctance to increase funding, even if the public finances are now recovering more rapidly than expected. The British Social Attitudes survey and other recent polling suggests that increasing National Insurance contributions and earmarking the resources raised to tackle the financial pressures facing the NHS could have support across the political spectrum. Hypothecated taxes have traditionally been resisted by economists and others but the mood seems to be moving in their favour, at least as a way of finding the additional resources the NHS has been promised. Nick Macpherson, the former Treasury mandarin, has given his backing to the idea, as have Conservative MPs such as Nick Boles and Johnny Mercer. There is also a precedent from Labours time in office when Gordon Brown as Chancellor increased National Insurance contributions to fund NHS spending increases, a move that was supported by Conservative as well as Labour voters. Various options exist for raising the required resources, ranging from an across-the-board increase in contributions to removal of the exemption on people working past state pension age to continue paying. Asking wealthy baby boomers to bear a higher share of the cost would be in line with David Willettss argument for greater intergenerational fairness in the tax system. Whatever choices are made, the Government will expect NHS leaders to come up with a credible plan that sets out how the additional resources that have been promised will be used. Immediate priorities are to get back on track in delivering national waiting time standards, invest in high priority services such as cancer, mental health and general practice, and eliminate hospital deficits. Just as important is to transform how care is delivered. Joining up the services of GPs, community nurses and social workers, and providing additional support to people in care homes, has moderated demand for hospital care in areas that are furthest ahead in doing this. Earmarking some of the additional funding that has been promised to extend this work should be a high priority. These and other improvements depend on training and retaining the doctors, nurses and other staff needed to deliver care. The workforce strategy that has been promised for the summer needs to set out what will be done immediately to reduce the pressure on front line staff who have become shock absorbers in an under resourced system. The aim should be for the UK to become less reliant on overseas recruitment and more focused on training the workforce of the future. As the Prime Ministers decision to rename Jeremy Hunts department indicates, securing the future of the NHS also depends on tackling the growing crisis in social care. Hunt is leading work on a green paper that offers an historic opportunity to bring together the funding and provision of the NHS and social care as advocated by the Barker Commission in its 2014 report. Seizing this opportunity would address the concerns of Sarah Wollaston and others on the need to work towards a cross party solution to health and social care funding. Garvan Walshe is a former National and International Security Policy Adviser to the Conservative Party. He runs Brexit Analytics. Here in Budapest, attention last Sunday was not focused on Jeremy Corbyns appearance on the Andrew Marr show. The previous days pro-democracy demonstrations, following Viktor Orbans artificial electoral landslide, captured attention in a region whose leaders are experimenting with self-described illiberal governance. Fellow illiberal democrats in Warsaw will watch his handling of the fractured opposition closely. To the over 100,000 people packed into Lajos Kossuth square in front of the gothic revival parliament calling him Viktor Orban, Diktator, he will surely reply that the fact they are able to do so shows that he isnt one. It is external aggression, not internal upheaval, that should worry the Polish government. The ruling Law and Justice Party counts the UK as its closest European ally. It had thought it found a kindred spirit in a Britain where major newspapers brand Supreme Court judges Enemies of the People, and the Prime Ministers former chief of staff (and former fellow columnist here) puts his name to long articles accusing George Soros of subverting democracy. Indeed, the alliance has long been deeper. Before Brexit, the UK weighed in to support to efforts to contain Russian expansionism and subversion, and since the referendum has reinforced its commitment to European security by leading the NATOs Joint Forward Presence in Estonia. In British security and defence circles, officials have with good reason been every bit as exercised by Russias so-called hybrid war as they are in Poland. Sundays intervention by Jeremy Corbyn should be taken as a signal that it could be coming to an end. As Ed Miliband did over Syria, he exploits a false analogy with Iraq to justify his opposition to air strikes. Where the Iraq war was an ambitious project of regime change, these strikes had the very limited ambition of deterring future uses of chemical weapons by the assad regime. Where the Iraq war divided the worlds major democracies, France joined in these strikes and Germany offered them strong diplomatic support. Where the Iraq war began without UN weapons inspectors locating WMD there, the UNs Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons this time confirmed the gas had been used to murder civilians in Douma. The real difference, however, is more fundamental. Opponents of the Iraq war argued that it constituted a violation of the norms of international order. They said it was an unprovoked invasion of a sovereign state that posed no threat to its neighbours and was not engaged in systematic violence against its own people. Both those claims were contested by the wars supporters, but there was agreement about the need to support international norms. Corbyn did not dispute there is a norm against the use of chemical weapons; what he objected to was any means of enforcing it that wasnt endorsed by the UN Security Council. This amounts handing Vladimir Putin a veto over all coercive enforcement of international law. By doing so, he subverts two principles of international society: the right to self-defence, and the responsibility outsiders have to protect civilians who are being killed by their own governments. The Security Council has the right (indeed, the duty) to intervene to regulate the international use of force, and its decisions are binding in international law on all members of the UN: but its role is not to be a procedural hurdle to be crossed. The Council isnt like the US Senate, which must give its permission for war. It is there, rather, to prevent military action by individual states when it achieves consensus about how to do so. Its members, and most obviously its permanent members, are supposed to operate under a duty to uphold international peace and security. They cant outsource decisions about peace and war to the Council, because they are themselves part of it. To do so is to abdicate the responsibility that goes with the office, not to respect it. Corbyns problem here, as with in enforcing the norm against anti-semitism, is that he doesnt understand the responsibilities of office, whether as leader of one of the countrys main political parties, or as the potential leader of a Permanent Security Council state. He thinks he can avoid judging anti-semitism in his party, and enforcing international norms at the UN, by passing decisions on to others. Make no mistake, should be become Prime Minister the same pattern of evasion will continue. Corbyns Britain will be powerless to deter Russian aggression, because he doesnt see upholding peace and security in Europe let alone the world to be part of his job. Optimists hope that the Labour Party, which has traditionally been pro-NATO and suspicious of Moscow, would goad him into action if necessary. Their hopes are probably misplaced: Labour is even more pro-European than it is pro-defence, and they havent got him to oppose Brexit. While Germanys decision to see Russias Nordstream 2 pipeline as political was good news for Eastern Europe, Corbyns neo-neutralism will offset that benefit. East-Europeans in particular need to look beyond Brexit, to the geopolitical revolution a Prime Minister Corbyn would bring. Jones in legal showdown with the Welsh Assembly over Sargeant report Its been a dramatic week in Welsh politics as Carwyn Jones government threatened the Assembly with legal action over a bid by AMs to force the publication of an inquiry into the sacking of Carl Sargeant. Wales Online reports that Dame Shan Morgan found that there were no unauthorised leaks from the Welsh Government ahead of Sargeants sacking in connexion with sexual misconduct allegations. Another report cleared Jones of misleading the Assembly over claims of a bullying culture in his administration, finding no reports or allegations of specific instances and no convincing evidence of a broader, toxic culture. Andrew RT Davies, the leader of the Welsh Tories, and other opposition groups had been pushing for the Morgan report to be published in full, prompting Jones to threaten the legislature with legal action. In the event Labour was able to win the vote by 29 votes to 26, in what Davies has called a dark day for democracy. Government to challenge devolved Brexit bills in court The Guardian reports that the Government is challenging the legality of so-called emergency Brexit legislation passed by the Scottish and Welsh legislatures. Jeremy Wright, the Attorney General, said that ministers will ask the Supreme Court to rule on whether or not the devolved chambers have the power to legislate for Brexit, which as a constitutional and foreign policy matter seems to fall into areas reserved to Westminster. Whether or not this legislation is proper has already been hotly disputed, with the Presiding Officer of the Scottish Parliament ruling in February that it does not have the authority to legislate for matters currently overseen by another body. Dodds accuses EU of bully-boy tactics over border Diane Dodds, the Northern Irish MEP from the Democratic Unionists, has attacked Donald Tusk over his handling of the issue of how the Irish border will work post-Brexit, according to the News Letter. She pushed back against the idea that the problem was Britains alone to solve, arguing that the EU also shared the responsibility for finding pragmatic solutions to what are mutual challenges, and added that her party had not yet reached the point where it was prepared to rule out a no deal Brexit in the face of an unacceptable deal. Dodds also reiterated the DUPs ongoing opposition to any sort of special status which would see Ulster economically separated from mainland Britain, with which it does the great majority of its trade. The DUP are Northern Irelands largest political party and, unlike most other regional parties, campaigned to leave the European Union in the referendum. Since then they have developed a close working relationship with the Conservatives, including a formal pact after the 2017 general election. In related news, Sinn Fein have attacked the Government for making a British passport a requirement for a score of new posts being advertised at the UK Border Force. Taking the usual line of citing a breach of the Belfast Agreement, the republican party insist that people who reject British citizenship should be able to police the British border. However, it is difficult to see how this particular bit of discrimination is unjustified. SNP MSP calls for constitutional convention ahead of second independence vote Alex Neil, an SNP member of the Scottish Parliament, has called on Nicola Sturgeon to convene a constitutional convention to create a cross-party consensus on even more powers for the Scottish Parliament, according to the Edinburgh News. It adds that Neil doesnt believe that a second independence referendum can be called and won by the next Holyrood elections in 2021, at which the separatists may well lose their combined majority in the legislature and he clearly believes that more powers! is the best way to advance their cause in the interim. Crucially, one of the issues he wants passed down is control over future referendums. This would give a future Nationalist administration complete control over the timing, phrasing, and franchise of any future vote to break up the United Kingdom. Given how obvious it is that the SNP believe that round after round of devolution serves their interest, the failure of the unionist parties to challenge the more powers! narrative is really rather damning. (If youre interesting in hearing more about my case against the Scottish Parliament, I was discussing it with the New Statesmans Jonn Elledge this week on the CityMetric podcast. Listen here.) Meanwhile Henry McLeish, a short-lived and ill-starred former First Minister who is carving out a new role as the Labour guy who supports independence, has come out in favour of another referendum in the next five years. The Herald reports that his case is that a fraudulent prospectus was placed before Scottish voters in the 2014 referendum. By this he isnt referring to the nonsense-on-stilts White Paper published by the SNP whose unravelling has, Alex Massie argued in the Times this week, left the separatists with a credibility issue but the idea that people voted No on the basis of the UKs EU membership. Sam Hall is Head of Research at Bright Blue, an independent think tank for liberal conservatism. Earlier this week Claire Perry, the Energy Minister, announced that the UK would soon review its long-term climate change targets to bring them in line with the Paris Agreement. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, which is currently being held in London for the first time in two decades, was a very appropriate context for this significant step. Not only would further action to reduce the UKs emissions benefit many of the Commonwealth countries that are particularly threatened by climate change, such as Bangladesh and Fiji, but it would also set a powerful example of leadership for other Commonwealth countries to follow. There are other reasons why this was a very timely announcement. This year marks the tenth anniversary since the Climate Change Act 2008 became law. With this legislation, the UK became the first country in the world to put in statute a long-term target for reducing its greenhouse gas emissions, a framework that has been copied around the world, for instance in Mexico and Sweden. Last year, Perry bolstered UK international leadership on climate change by establishing the Powering Past Coal Alliance with Canada, to encourage countries and organisations to move away from burning coal, as this country has committed to by the mid-2020s. This weeks move sets up the next stage of UK leadership, which should be to enshrine in law a net zero greenhouse gas emission target, in line with the goal in the 2015 Paris Agreement to limit the global average temperature increase to 1.5C above pre-industrial levels. A net zero target would entail the effective elimination of man-made emissions of greenhouse gases in the UK, with those that remain either removed from the atmosphere, for instance by trees, or offset by the UK Government funding emissions reduction elsewhere in the world. The scientific evidence is clear that, if the worst impacts of climate change are to be avoided, the world must stop adding to the concentration of greenhouse gases that are already in the atmosphere within the next few decades. This means every country will effectively have to achieve net zero emissions. Although all the countries in the Paris Agreement are signed up to the net zero target, just a handful have formally adopted it. The UK could become the first major economy to make the target legally-binding and could provide much-needed leadership to the global campaign, starting with Commonwealth nations this week. New Bright Blue polling shows that a net zero target would be a popular move at home and would reflect the growing concern about climate change, particularly among younger voters. Previous Bright Blue research has shown the importance of climate change to younger voters, which found that climate change was the top issue under-28s want to hear senior politicians discuss more. First, this new polling highlights the extent of public concern on climate change. When ranking different long-term environment priorities for the Government to focus on, UK adults put climate change joint second after plastic waste. In fact, a majority of UK adults (51 per cent) are more worried about climate change than they were ten years ago when the Climate Change Act 2008 was passed. Just four per cent are less worried. We also find that nearly two-thirds of UK adults agree that weather around the world is becoming more extreme because of climate change caused by humans. An even higher proportion (72 per cent) of under-40s agree. Second, the polling shows strong public support for the UK demonstrating international leadership on tackling climate change, with 63 per cent of UK adults agreeing that the UK should be a global leader in tackling climate change. A slightly higher proportion (66 per cent) of under-40s agree and a slightly lower proportion (56 per cent) but still a majority of Conservative voters agree. When asked how quickly the UK should cut its emissions relative to other countries, a large majority of UK adults (90 per cent) believe the UK should cut its emissions at least as quickly as other countries. On the net zero target specifically, nearly two-thirds of UK adults agree that the UK should aim to cut its carbon emissions to zero in the next few decades, so it doesnt add any more greenhouse gases to the atmosphere. There is roughly the same level of support among under-40s and among Conservative voters. People are also positive about the economic impacts of reducing emissions, with 61 per cent agreeing that, by cutting its emissions, the UK will benefit economically by creating new low-carbon industries. Adopting a net zero target, therefore, would reinforce the Governments recent efforts to reach out to younger voters with new policies to protect and enhance the environment. Appealing to younger voters without trading off existing Conservative voters is the key to the party regaining its parliamentary majority at the next election, and this polling analysis suggests a net zero target could help to achieve this. The Government deserves great credit for its leadership at the Commonwealth and for moving the UK towards this world-leading target. SUBSCRIBE Sign up with your email address to receive news and updates straight in your inbox. CORNWALL, Ontario Much discussion was generated on social media on Tuesday evening as the Canadian Forces conducted night training over and in the Cornwall area. Most conspicuous were at least two low-flying helicopters, which were reported as far west as Lunenburg. However, foot soldiers in full-gear were also sighted in Lamoureux Park. Cornwall Community Police Service dispatch confirmed to Cornwall Seaway News that this was indeed a military training exercise and asked the public to avoid the park. The Ministry of National Defence could not be immediately reached for comment on Tuesday, April 10. FM visit spurs China-aided projects Nepal and China on Wednesday agreed to set up a system to deliver effectively various Chinese government-aided projects in Nepal. This agreement follows official talks between Foreign Minister Pradeep Gyawali and Chinese Vice-president Wang Qishan, and Foreign Minister of China and State Councillor Wang Yi in Beijing. CORNWALL, Ontario Jody Burgess, 49, of Cornwall was arrested on April 10, 2018 and charged with uttering counterfeit money and breach of probation for attending a certain location and failing to keep the peace. It is alleged on January 2, 2018 the man attended a Water Street business, despite his conditions, and gave clerks two counterfeit $20 American bills. Police were contacted and an investigation ensued. On April 10, 2018 police located the man. He was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on May 15, 2018. THEFT UNDER, BREACH CORNWALL, Ontario Sarah Bombardier, 25, of Cornwall was arrested on April 10, 2018 and charged with theft under $5,000, breach of probation and breach of undertaking for failing to keep the peace. It is alleged on April 10, 2018 the woman attended a Ninth St. store and removed merchandise making no attempt to pay for the items as she left the store. She was stopped by the Loss Prevention Officer and police were contacted to investigate. The woman was taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on May 3rd, 2018. POSSESSION OF A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE, BREACH, POSSESSION FOR THE PURPOSE OF TRAFFICKING A CONTROLLED SUBSTANCE CORNWALL, Ontario Adam Lacoste-Marshall, 26, and Brittany Mussgnug, 28, of Cornwall were both arrested on April 10, 2018 and charged with possession of methamphetamine (speed) and breach of probation for failing to keep the peace. The man was also charged with possession for the purpose of trafficking methamphetamine. It is alleged they were found to be in possession of a quantity of methamphetamine during a traffic stop on April 10, 2018. Both were taken into custody, charged accordingly and released to appear in court on May 1, 2018. WARRANT CORNWALL, Ontario Ryan White, 31, of Cornwall was arrested on April 10, 2018 on the strength of a warrant. It is alleged the man failed to appear for prints on November 16, 2017 for a break and enter charge and a warrant was issued for his arrest. On April 10, 2018 a member of the Kingston Police Service located the man and had him in custody on the strength of Cornwalls warrant. He was transported to Cornwall and held for a bail hearing. There were 54 calls for service in the City of Cornwall in the last 24 hours (8 a.m. the previous day to 8 a.m. the day of the release). To see whats happening in your neighbourhood visit our Crime Plot Map. CCPS reserves the right not to post all calls for service in order to protect the identity of the victims. CORNWALL, Ontario Prominent members of the Cornwall community found themselves under arrest this past Thursday, April 12. It was all in good fun however, and for a good cause as a part of the second annual Jail & Bail fundraiser for the Hub for Beyond 21. If someone was nominated for Jail & Bail, they would be picked up by the local police and brought to the jail at the Cornwall Square. They would then be read their charge by the judge and given the bail amount they had to raise before they were released. Bill Makinson for example, was charged with hiding from the camera. Big Brothers, Big Sisters Cornwall Executive Director Ron Graham was charged with being overly involved in the community. There were 28 individuals brought-in in total, and organizer Shannon Savard hoped to raise a good amount of money for the cause. Last year, Jail & Bail raised around $10, 000 for the Hub for Beyond 21. The Hub for Beyond 21s goal is to provide a space and an opportunity for adults with developmental disabilities to live connected and respected lives while contributing to the community. The Hub for Beyond 21 must raise around $300,000 annually to meet its operating budget. I want people to know that we receive no government funding, said event organizer Shannon Savard. The money raised today will go towards participant activity fees, arts and crafts, lunches and more. In all, Beyond 21 serves 50 families. CORNWALL, Ontario The Cornwall Innovation Centre (CIC) announced on Friday, April 13, 2018 at the Nav Centre that they have received $477,000 in funding to create the Ontario Emerging Jobs Institute. The Institute will be geared towards skills training, particularly in the business, digital and agri-tech industries. Kelly Bergeron, Executive Director of the CIC announced the new project to a crowd of people. Bergeron was the one who pursued the funding for the program and said that she was inspired to do so after sitting in on a meeting of the Ottawa Agri-tech supercluster. Our relationship with Ottawa has branched out in the past four months, she said. Our jaws dropped when we saw the opportunities for agri-tech in this region. Terry Besner, Economic Development and Communications Officer for the United Counties of SD&G said that there was real opportunity for growth in the agri-tech industry in the region. We need to encourage growth of our agri-tech industry and to stay on top of that growth, she said, citing the changing landscape and new opportunities that innovation was providing the agricultural industry. Michael MacGillivray, Interim Executive Director of the Community Futures Development Corporation (CFDC) said that advances in agri-tech include modular farming, hydroponics, identifying and maintaining plant nutritional needs and promoting moderated use of water in farming. Bob Peters, Economic Development Officer for the City of Cornwall, spoke on behalf of the Mayor and the City and said that this institute will provide much needed skilled labour for Cornwalls workforce. If you talk to any employer in Cornwall, they will all say the single factor to their success is people, he said. It started with Kelly Bergeron and her vision to apply for this. The money was awarded to the CIC through the Skills Catalyst Fund, which was established by the Ontario Ministry of Advanced Training and Skills Development. The program will begin enrollment in September 2018. There will be 160 spots available for students. Each student will be put through a two-month bootcamp followed by a three-month job placement in the field of their choice. For 20 of those 160 students, there will be a scholarship available if they live outside of the community or are in financial need so that they can attend the program at the Nav Centre. The program itself is free to all students, and the scholarships will go to cover expenses like travel or accommodations. LONG SAULT, Ontario Township of South Stormont Mayor Jim Bancroft made a surprise announcement during his address at the Business Awards Breakfast in Long Sault on Friday, April 13, 2018. Bancroft announced that he would not be seeking re-election this October. I will not be returning to work in the fall, Bancroft said. I really enjoy the work and I wish council the very best. Bancroft cited his 30 years in local politics and said that he had discussed retirement with his wife and decided that it was time. Before the announcement of his retirement, Bancroft went over the successes that the South Stormont economy had seen over the past year, and some of the disappointments he says the Township has experienced during his term in office. At the beginning of our term, we thought we had two vibrant opportunities, but neither has come to fruition at this time, Bancroft pointed to difficulties that the Township was having in attracting newcomers to the area. He said however, that the area was becoming more welcoming to seniors, with the completion of Sunset Cove and the upcoming conversion of the old St. Georges school to seniors housing. We are trying to be more proactive in reaching out to developers, he said. The emphasis of any mayor and council is to find new ways that we can work together. Bancroft was first elected to municipal politics in 1985. He became Mayor of South Stormont upon the amalgamation of the Township in 2000 and served until 2006. He was re-elected Mayor in 2014. CORNWALL, Ontario The City of Cornwall has announced that it will be submitting an idea for the Smart Cities Challenge. The challenge gives cities the opportunity to submit ideas to improve their community with the potential of gaining funding to develop those ideas into reality. The City of Cornwall is proposing installing monitoring hubs in the homes of residents of Cornwall that would offer two-way communication between residents and emergency services. In addition to communicating with residents in the event of an emergency, the system would also send residents other kind of messages, such as reminders to check smoke detectors. The system would connect at home emergency features like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors to a residents cellphone as well as Cornwall Fire Services. The system would also collect data about the home and its occupants. City of Cornwall Economic Development Officer Bob Peters envisions the system having knowledge about the number of occupants in a home, if they have any pets and even medical conditions. When questioned about concerns about data security and privacy, Peters acknowledged that there were concerns. Peters said that concerns about privacy would be addressed in a future phase of the project if it is selected by the Smart Cities committee to move forward. It is a part of the proposal to address some of these questions, he said. Not all of these answers are in place. Peters said that he envisioned the possibility of residents choosing not to share all of their data, or to opt out of certain features of the system. He also pointed out that the City already has experience in dealing with sensitive data like tax information. The project has yet to be costed, but Peters said that aspect of the proposal would be developed if Cornwalls idea made it to the next phase of the Smart Cities Challenge. If the idea goes ahead, then the City would engage in thorough public consultations. Itll be really neat because we will be developing this idea together as a community, said Cornwall Fire Chief Pierre Voisine. Voisine said that for him, the big advantage is the connectivity between emergency services and monitoring systems like smoke and carbon monoxide detectors. Even if that is the feature that is on in everyones home and they turn everything else off, it is still a big win for us, said Voisine. Cornwall will find out this summer if its Smart Cities application was successful. Cornwall will then receive funding to develop the idea further. Residents are encouraged to send their feedback on the idea to the City of Cornwall either through email or their Facebook page. Find the citys proposal on their website here. Smart Cities is a contest being run by Infrastructure Canada with a top prize of $50 million. Learn more about Smart Cities by following this link. Cornwall City Council issued a directive at a Council Meeting on Feb. 26 that a committee be created to build a short list of ideas for the Smart Cities challenge. The committee was supposed to work 40-50 hours on this proposal with the possibility of creating online surveys and social media consultations prior to submitting an idea. The committee was then expected to consult with the community on the best idea to submit. Cornwall has until April 24 to submit its final Smart Cities proposal. Amatya is a chartered civil engineer and an engineering consultant currently practising in the UK. Hewlett Packard Enterprise Global Channel Chief Paul Hunter Wednesday said the company's Next restructuring initiative is paying off in a "significant" increase in the sales funnel for HPE partners. "Because we are faster to price we are getting more [sales] at bats," said Hunter, speaking about speed-to-quote and speed-to-price trials that are paying off for partners. "We are seeing growth in the velocity of the business for deals to medium-sized customers. The funnel is growing quicker and the number of quotes is increasing. It's a velocity machine, and we are speeding up the amount of business we are winning." [Related: HPE Pointnext Acquires Azure Cloud Consulting Provider RedPixie] The HPE Next initiative speed-to-quote and speed-to-price trials have been "successful" both in the U.S. and Germany and are on track to be rolled out globally in HPE's third fiscal quarter, which begins on May 1., he said. "This is improving the overall experience of the partner delivering quotes to customers, which is the bread and butter of doing business" said Hunter. "It is simpler for the partners to transact with us. Where we are quicker, it leads to a pretty significant increase in business." Hunter, who took the global channel chief job six months ago, made the comments in an in an interview with CRN after a two-day, worldwide Partner Advisory Board meeting with 22 partners from 11 countries around the world. HPE CEO Antonio Neri, the driving force behind the HPE Next initiative, a multiyear restructuring effort aimed at driving speed and agility, was front and center for the partner advisory board meeting. "From the top down, we are completely committed to simplification and the ease of doing business," said Hunter. "This is fundamental to the future success of the company." Kelly Ireland, founder and CEO of Orange, Calif.-based CB Technologies, an HPE Platinum partner and No. 245 on the 2017 CRN Solution Provider 500, said the HPE Next changes are transformational. "It is changing the opportunities and revenue stream," said Ireland, a member of the worldwide HPE Partner Advisory Board who attended the meeting. "The simplification is what everyone has been asking for. We have seen a definite transformation." Among the major changes making a difference for CB Technologies is the move from a score of online configuration tools to a single best-in-class online configuration tool for partners. "It's like night and day," said Ireland of the difference between the old online tools and the new single configuration tool. The Next initiative which is expected to result in a $1.5 billion cost savings for HPE over a three-year period includes a broad range of sweeping changes including the reduction of management layers from seven to four and a reduction in the number of internal HPE sales compensation plans from 400 to 25. For CB Technologies, the net sales impact of the HPE Next changes is a dramatic double-digit increase in sales pipeline, said Ireland. "We are double digits ahead of where we were last year," she said. "We have a solid funnel." Ireland said she is more convinced than ever after the two-day Partner Advisory Board meeting that HPE has the best technology strategy in the entire IT business. "No one in the industry can do what HPE can do," said Ireland. "HPE has the best of the best. We have always said that. The execution was the challenge. Now we see HPE fixing that. I can see the big light at the end of the tunnel." Hunter, for his part, said he is "excited and energized" after getting feedback from partners on the progress the company is making to drive partner sales velocity. "What we are getting from the partner feedback is actionable insights," he said. "I am energized and enthused, but we've got a lot to do. We are not at the destination. We are on the journey." Carl Icahn, the activist investor who famously clashed a few years back with Dell Technologies CEO and founder Michael Dell, has taken a stake in VMware, a company that may be central to Dell's strategy to unload a massive debt, CNBC reported Wednesday. Icahn did not have to reveal his investment in VMware publicly because it falls below the SEC-mandated five percent disclosure threshold, according to the news network, which cited unnamed sources. The report describing Icahn's position as "medium-sized" comes as Dell Technologies continues evaluating the potential for a reverse merger with VMware, of which it owns 80 percent. However, Bloomberg reported earlier this week that Michael Dell's team is backing away from that plan amid opposition from minority shareholders. [Related: VMware Releases vSphere 6.7, Delivering Advances In Hybrid Cloud And Multi-Application Support] Industry experts believe Icahn would almost certainly oppose a reverse merger with VMware, which currently has a market capitalization of roughly $53.72 billion. VMware and Dell declined CRN's requests for comment. CRN reached out to Icahn for comment and will update this story if we hear back. Icahn was a vocal and persistent opponent of Michael Dell's efforts to take his namesake company private in 2013, arguing the leveraged buyout undervalued the company. Icahn, who at the time owned more than 8 percent of Dell, described Michael Dell's plan as a "desperate debacle" and called him a "dictator" in an open letter. Dell succeeded nonetheless, purchasing the company via a partnership with Silver Lake for $24.9 billion. Now, to tackle the enormous debt taken on to acquire EMC in 2015, Dell is considering several avenues to again take Dell Technologies public, from an IPO to the reverse merger with VMware. Following the 2013 financial battle, Michael Dell made no bones about what he thought of Icahn in an interview with Channel Company CEO Robert Faletra. At the 2014 Best of Breed Conference, Dell told an audience of several hundred of the country's top solution providers that Icahn "is a bad guy." "He lies. He has no ethical boundaries. He will say anything, do anything. I have no time for him," Michael Dell said of his adversary. Welcome To The Machine For Larry Lunetta, vice president of security solutions marketing at HPE Aruba, machine learning is a lot like carpentry. With a relatively small number of tools, a carpenter can build just about anything. Machine learning also requires a small toolbox, but requires deep knowledge, skill and expertise to be successful. "It's not about knowing how to plug data into an algorithm," Lunetta said. "It's knowing what you want to accomplish, what data you want to use and understanding what result you're getting. That's an iterative process and it depends on the type of machine learning you're using." Lunetta came to HPE Aruba a year ago when it acquired machine-learning-based security firm Niara. Perhaps it's not surprising that he has come to view HPE Aruba as "a security company wrapped in network products." Now, Lunetta is laying the groundwork for an effort to bring HPE Aruba's security solutions front and center as the company seeks to differentiate from competitors like Cisco Systems. To do that, the company wants to empower partners to take on a new set of skills and embrace an open, machine-learning-based philosophy, Lunetta said. What follows is an edited excerpt of Lunetta's conversation with CRN. Information sharing is one of the most critical elements of any security strategy. Without it, security has to be painted with a broad brush where literally anything is possible. Being able to compare the device or network you are trying to protect against a set of threats that are known to be currently active is invaluable in pitting the right resources and countermeasures against the appropriate target. Of course, there is much more to threat intelligence than simply being able to block a known threat using an updated edge or endpoint security device. While prevention is critical, the challenge with spending most of your security resources on building a stronger front gate is that you only get one chance to get it right. If an attacker manages to get past that defense, and they will, far too many organizations have limited insight or protections to defend against an attack moving laterally across your network. The goal is prevention, disruption, and response The goal has to go beyond simply blocking an attack before it can breach the network. The objective also has to include disrupting its ability to achieve its ultimate goal. Which means your security strategy needs to also include seeing and disrupting an attack somewhere along the kill chain, from initial system probing to network penetration to the final exfiltration of data. All kinds of threat intelligence come into play to make this possible. It goes beyond signatures or details tied to a specific threat. Intelligence also needs to provide information and context about attack methodologies, such as the tools used to obscure a break in, how an attack hides inside network traffic or evades detection, the sorts of data being stolen or malware being planted, and how an attack communicates back to its controller. Seeing and understanding these steps in an attack enables it to be disrupted at any of those points. And finally, threat intelligence needs to be leveraged to respond to an attack, whether it provides forensic analysis for a full recovery, to attribution and prosecution of the attackers themselves. In fact, the Cyber Threat Alliance (CTA) and its members are developing a series of playbooks designed to walk end-users and customers step-by-step through the methodologies and procedures cybercriminals use to bypass security deployments and achieve their nefarious goals. By taking the specialized security intelligence of CTA members and converting it into a library of security playbooks, users and organizations will now be able to better recognize and stop threats in progress anywhere along the attack kill chain rather than at just the perimeter. Types of threat intelligence To leverage this sort of intelligence, organizations need to access a variety of threat intelligence sources. These include: Actionable intelligence shared by manufacturers: This is the most common use of threat intelligence. It usually arrives as part of a regular security update from a manufacturer, often in the form of a signature that can detect a known threat. Intelligence collected from local devices and systems: Establishing a baseline of normal network behavior allows you to determine when something is behaving out of character. Data spikes, a device attempting to contact other devices it doesnt usually communicate with, unknown or unrecognized applications running on the network, or data being collected and stored in an unlikely place are all forms of local intelligence that can be used to identify an attack an even pinpoint which devices have been compromised. Intelligence gathered from distributed devices and systems: This same sort of intelligence can be collected from other areas of the network. As networks expand, they create new opportunities for threats to infiltrate your network. However, because different network environments, such as virtual networks or public cloud environments, usually run separate, and often isolated networking and security tools, it is essential that you set up a process for the centralized collection and correlation of these different intelligence threads. Intelligence gathered from threat feeds: Subscribing to public or commercial threat feeds enables organizations to enhance the data they collect from their own environment with real-time information collected from a regional or global footprint. This data usually comes in one of two forms: Raw feeds : Most security devices cannot consume raw data because it lacks context. Instead, this intelligence needs to be processed by a local security team or customized tools in order to convert it into an actionable format that can be used by existing security tools. The advantage to raw data feeds, however, are that they are often closer to real-time in their information, can often be cheaper to subscribe to, and can be easily used as trusted blacklists or ACLs. : Most security devices cannot consume raw data because it lacks context. Instead, this intelligence needs to be processed by a local security team or customized tools in order to convert it into an actionable format that can be used by existing security tools. The advantage to raw data feeds, however, are that they are often closer to real-time in their information, can often be cheaper to subscribe to, and can be easily used as trusted blacklists or ACLs. Custom feeds: This intelligence provides pre-processed security context that can be consumed by security tools, such as specific intelligence delivered using customized IOCs (indicators of compromise). Vendors may customize this data for consumption by a specific set of security devices, or organizations may need to ensure that existing security tools support certain common protocols for reading and using this data. Many of these feeds can provide specific intelligence designed for a particular security infrastructure. Fortinets Threat Intelligence Service (TIS), for example, adds customized security insight to the Security Fabric that not only provides insight into the current global threat landscape, but also ties that intelligence to an organizations specific security environment in order to better determine how to prioritize security resources to address those threats. Intelligence shared between industry peers: There are a number of groups that share threat intelligence, including ISACs (Information Sharing and Analysis Centers) and ISAOs (Information Sharing and Analysis Organizations), which share threat intelligence between organizations in the same market sector, vertical industry, or geographic region. This intelligence is especially helpful for zeroing in on trends and threats that are impacting your peers, and are therefore more likely to affect you as well. Intelligence transportation: For security intelligence to be effective, organizations need to have tools in place that can work with STIX and TAXII protocols, as they are the backbone used to deliver these feeds. STIX can be used for both raw and custom feeds, with TAXII functioning as the transport layer. MISP is another protocol, developed by NATO, which handles both the intelligence and transport with a single open source solution. Intelligence shared between security vendors: The public doesnt ever see some of the most important threat intelligence sharing that occurs. As a founding member of the Cyber Threat Alliance, or CTA, Fortinet and other members share their intelligence, human expertise, and playbooks with each other in order to raise the bar for security. While such a cooperative endeavor may seem counter-intuitive, it is a testament to the importance of sharing threat intelligence. These organizations understand that the opportunity to reduce the number of threats that put everyone at risk is more valuable than whatever advantage keeping this data to themselves might provide. Implementing an effective threat intelligence collection and sharing process is an essential component of any security strategy. It is every bit as important as the firewall you deployed at your network edge or the endpoint security solution you have loaded onto your companys laptops. While intelligence is important, as is threat sharing, access to real-time, actionable intelligence is still key. It answers the question, how do we utilize this threat intelligence? The answer could be by integrating CTA-member technologies into your security stack. Or it could involve deploying solutions that add threat visibility to your security operation center, or that help C-level executives see and understand how the organization is able to react and respond to threats. Its all about context. Raising the bar on threat intelligence in this way, by understanding the threats both on your distributed network as well as those from global intelligence sources and points of view. Because sharing your own threat intelligence with others, makes everyone safer. For more information on the threat landscape access the Fortinet Quarterly Threat Landscape Report. Small-business owners are faced with a difficult decision when it comes to reaching a larger audience online: Either they can invest valuable resources in marketing, or they can opt to sell on platforms that most people use regularly, such as Amazon. On Amazon, ecommerce owners can make their items available to a massive audience that they would never be able to reach under normal circumstances. Related: The Top 3 Ecommerce Sites of 2017 -- and What You Can Learn from Them However, there are several downsides to going this route. Amazon not only charges the retailer to list the items (although sellers listing under 40 products can do so free of charge), but they also take a percentage from every sale made. These costs can quickly add up, especially if a seller lists a large number of products on the site. Another drawback is the issue of returns. Amazon makes a profit just from the items being listed and sold, so if a customer returns an item, it is at no cost or loss to Amazon. Amazon has built an experience aimed at the customer, not the seller, making it difficult for sellers to manage customer expectations, even when it comes to a returns policy that favors the customer. This means that customers can insist on refunds without returning the items or offering an explanation for their dissatisfaction. These are just a few reasons why ecommerce owners will want to encourage the customers they obtain through Amazon to purchase directly from their online stores for subsequent purchases. A few ways to motivate direct purchases are to: 1. Enclose an insert in the packaging of the product shipped by Amazon. While Amazon discourages business owners from incentivizing customers to visit other sites, there are a few loopholes to take advantage of. One technique that savvy companies utilize is to include a card in the pre-packaging that connects them with their customer service team. This approach ensures that the dissatisfied customer makes a positive connection directly with the business, while also communicating to the customer that the company that they purchased from is invested in their satisfaction. Related: How to Recover Customers Who Abandon Their Carts Other companies include inserts that encourage customers to register their new product directly on the company's website. These companies usually offer incentives for registration, such as free items, discounts for future purchases or warranties. Often, if the buyer puts the effort into registering a product, she will likely come directly to the company's website for subsequent purchases and product registrations. This works especially well for products that may require consumable parts, such as filters or other components that need to be replaced over time. For instance, I was really impressed with the inserts that accompanied a water carbonator I recently purchased online. Not only did I receive a thoughtful note with a free sample of lime flavoring (who doesn't like that!), I was also offered a discount for an automatic replacement cartridge subscription service. I didn't think twice about signing up. 2. Email your customer directly with a thank you note and offer something in return for a review or feedback. If it isn't feasible to include an insert in the pre-packaging, another option is to email your Amazon customer directly with offers, promotions or incentives. Companies can be more direct when using this approach, perhaps offering a "15 percent off your next purchase" coupon, a free mystery gift, entry into a lottery for a popular product or a discount for any referral resulting in direct purchases from the online store. Most customers do not leave reviews unless they are outspoken or, in the worst case, very unhappy. But, retailers who make a personal connection with their customers increase their chances of receiving positive reviews. Companies can also make this connection by sharing their story in the follow up emails. They can share how they got started, how they make their product, and how, as a small company selling on Amazon, they rely on positive customer reviews for their continued success. Incentives, coupled with compelling stories, resonate with customers and inspire positive reviews. Related: 4 Ways Brick-and-Mortar Stores Can Outsell Online Retailers 3. Sell product bundles on Amazon while offering individual products only on your company's site. This is a great way to showcase your products without making all of them available for purchase on Amazon. Another benefit of this approach is that businesses can reduce individual SKUs that are stored by the Amazon warehouse, which further reduces a company's fulfillment by Amazon costs. One of the best examples I've seen of this is from a company that sells action and fantasy character-themed kits for children's birthday parties. This retailer uses Amazon to fulfill orders for basic party kits, such as the princess-themed one that includes hats, balloons, plates, and cups for five kids. But, the extra place-settings and coordinating accessories are only available directly at the party store. It's genius, because anyone who has thrown a party for a 5-year-old princess knows that she will absolutely have more than five attendees -- and she most certainly needs all of the accessories. Although Amazon's policies present a number of issues for ecommerce owners, Amazon's ability to reach a wide audience is invaluable for those seeking to expand their customer base. Once new customers discover your product on Amazon, you have the opportunity to create a unique experience for and personal relationships with your customers, which can result in direct purchases from your sales channel. Related Video: How to Get Your First 100 Sales on Amazon Related: 3 Ways to Get Your Amazon Customers to Buy Directly From You 3 Strategies for Ecommerce Sales and Growth Using the New Technologies. Ready or Not, It's Time to Embrace AI Copyright 2018 Entrepreneur.com Inc., All rights reserved NORWALK A Stratford man was being held on a half-million dollars bond after being charged in a December shooting in South Norwalk. Jeffrey Moultrie, 29, of Monroe Street, was arrested on a warrant at Norwalk Superior Court on Tuesday and charged with first-degree assault in the Dec. 23 shooting in the Webster parking lot. The incident began as police were patrolling the parking lot at 50 Washington St. around 1:55 a.m. and officers heard several gunshots from the lots West Washington Street entrance. Moultrie was quickly located nearby by officers, who reported that he was acting suspiciously. When police ordered Moultrie to stop and remove his hands from his sweatshirt, police said he did not comply and instead dropped a 9 mm handgun on the pavement and ran. He was captured after a short chase, police then learned that Moultrie had suffered a single gunshot wound to his hip. Moultrie was brought to Norwalk Hospital to be treated for the wound. As the officer was chasing Moultrie, police said another officer spotted a vehicle speeding away at a high rate of speed from the parking lots Martin Luther King Drive exit. After pulling the car over, police learned that its operator was also suffering from a non-life-threatening gunshot wound. The victim had been standing outside of their car when they were shot. The driver was taken to Norwalk Hospital to be treated for his injuries. Norwalk detectives and the Norwalk police ID Bureau processed the shooting scene for evidence. Police said that shell casings and a projectile recovered from the injured man were sent to the state lab for testing. Evidence gathered by detectives was sufficient, police said, to obtain a warrant for Moultries arrest on the assault charge. Moultrie was charged in December with criminal possession of a firearm, carrying a pistol without a permit and interfering with an officer. He has been held on $150,000 bond since. The latest assault charge adds $500,000 to his bond. Moultrie was brought to Norwalk Superior Court on Tuesday, where he was arrested on the assault charge. One held with 3 home-made pistols A man has been arrested in possession of home-made pistols in Hetauda on Wednesday. A jobs bill that will shower the state with an estimated $110.4 million in the next month to save teacher jobs may also put more assistant principals in Bridgeport schools and soften the blow in districts around the region when federal bail-out money dries up in June. But Trumbull and Stratford officials said it's unclear to what extent the money would help save teaching jobs or whether it's in their long-term interests to apply for the funds. Bridgeport school officials who participated in a conference call with U.S. Secretary of Education Arne Duncan on Thursday said it's possible the money can be used up through the fall of 2012. "We believe it to be a good thing and welcome news," said Robert Henry, an associate superintendent of schools in Bridgeport. How to apply Gov. M. Jodi Rell's office Friday learned the details of the distribution and how to apply for the funds. Funds to Connecticut are likely to be parceled out using existing funding formulas, possibly the Educational Cost Sharing program, the main state education funding account. It's expected every school district in the state would get something out of the grant, said Thomas Murphy, a state Department of Education spokesman. It's unsure just how many jobs will be "saved." In Bridgeport alone, the number has been a moving target. At one point during budget deliberations, more than 100 teaching jobs were threatened. By the time the budget was adopted, 49 teaching positions were cut, but all were handled through attrition. There are, in fact, more than 50 new teachers in Bridgeport this year, and other positions still are being filled. In Milford, at one point this spring, officials sent out potential layoff notices to as many as 169 first- and second-year teachers. In the end about 29 positions were cut. $9.5m for Bridgeport It's anticipated Bridgeport could get about $9.5 million from the new jobs bill if the district's slice of the pie is comparable to its normal share of federal funds. The new $110 million grant Connecticut will receive is a piece of a $10 billion jobs stimulus package approved by Congress and signed into law by President Obama last week. Nationwide, it's expected to "save" 161,000 jobs. In Connecticut, as many as 1,500 jobs would be saved, state officials said. Money should be in the hands of school districts in less than a month. The money is to be used for the salaries and related costs of educator salaries in pre-kindergarten through grade 12. "We lost about five teaching positions last year," Stratford Supt. of Schools Irene Cornish said, some due to lower enrollment and some for budgetary reasons. It's too early to tell how much Stratford might get, Cornish said, but she added the bigger question for her school district is what strings come attached to the funding. "If this is just a one-year reprieve, and we're in the same boat next year, it's not much help," she said. "It depends on the rules, and what Stratford's share would be, whether we chose to take advantage of it." Tight in Trumbull Trumbull Supt. of Schools Ralph Iassogna agreed it's a little too early to know how the money could help the school district. "We don't have any specifics or details," Iassogna said. He said that although the Trumbull district had "significant budget reductions," the district didn't eliminate any teaching positions. "We eliminated just about everything but staffing," Iassogna said. In the 2010-11 fiscal year, Bridgeport has a $215.8 million operating budget, some $19 million less than district officials said was necessary for a status quo budget. In all, district officials say about 49 teaching jobs will be gone in the flat-funded budget along with about a dozen administrative positions. The district will also pay for millions of dollars of operating expenses out of federal grant money that is not guaranteed beyond next year. Ben Barnes, director of finance and business for Bridgeport Public Schools, said the district hopes it can restore assistant principal jobs and move other positions back into the general budget that had been shifted to grants. That would free up grant money to be used for teacher training. The district, in another budget-cutting move, eliminated math and library aids from its elementary schools, cut three family literacy coordinators and a number of custodian and maintenance positions. As for timing, Barnes said Duncan told school officials they were encouraging districts to spend the money this year but that it could be spent over two years. "Obviously a lot of districts in the state are in the same position we're in where they face these huge financial cliffs at the end of this year and they would rather use one-time stimulus funds in a way that kind of tapers off and doesn't leave them with a cliff." Over the past two years of the recession, both local and state spending on education has been propped up by federal American Recovery and Reinvestment Act funds that are set to run out in June. A good chunk of the state's ECS funding was fueled by stimulus money. In a letter to Rell and other governors on Friday, Duncan urged them to act quickly and to turn applications in as soon as possible so money can flow to districts immediately and be used to support jobs this fall. The feds are using a "streamlined application" and are committed to turning around applications within two weeks, according to federal officials. The letter specifies that school districts can use the funds to pay the salaries and benefits of teachers, school administrators, and other essential staff. The funds can be used to recall or rehire former employees, retain existing employees, and hire new employees to ensure that students receive vital educational and related services. The funds cannot be used for general administrative expenses, overhead, or other support services by school districts. For Subscribers What we learned: Windber rolling; Berlin QB a gamer; North Star needs discipline Here's a look at what we learned from Week 6 of the high school football season in Somerset County; Paudel named Barbara Adams journo award 2017 winner Journalist Dilip Paudel of Nagarik daily has been named the recipient of Barbara Adams Investigative Journalism Award 2017. The 5th India-China Strategic and Economic Dialogue, was held in Beijing at an interesting time. In the past few months, both India and China, despite their deep divergences on strategic and economic issues, and the strains caused as a consequence of the Doklam standoff in 2017, are trying to put relations back on track by increasing the level of engagement at the governmental level. Significantly, this dialogue, the first after the Doklam standoff -which led to the freezing of dialogue between the two countries in 2017 - was held days after the Boao Forum, where Chinese President and leader for life, Xi Jinping, made an interesting address articulating his vision on a myriad of important, but complex issues, such as globalisation, and geopolitics, especially the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI). The Strategic and Economic Dialogue At the dialogue, India was represented by Rajiv Kumar, vice chairman Niti (National Institution for Transforming India) Aayog, while China was represented by He Lifeng, chairman of China's National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC). Apart from bilateral issues - trade, investment, infrastructural cooperation and economic connectivity - the trade dispute between US and China, and possible impact, including opportunities, for India-China relations, also figured in the discussions. Economic issues On the trade dispute between Beijing and Washington DC, India was unequivocal, that it would remain neutral in the dispute. India did suggest to China, that it should consider importing soya and sugar from India. China's imports of agricultural commodities, from the US, are to the tune of $20 billion. Possible Chinese investments in India For long, both sides have also been discussing the possibility of China setting up special clusters in India. During the dialogue, this issue was discussed again, with the Indian delegation stating that there is great scope for China to set up special clusters in areas such as textiles, food processing, electronic components and pharmaceuticals. It may be pertinent to point out that a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was first signed in June 2014 between Indian state governments of Maharashtra, Gujarat, Haryana and Chinese agencies) for the setting up of industrial parks. So far, not much has been achieved. In the area of infrastructure, cooperation was sought to be explored in the area of railways (specifically for increasing the speed of the Chennai-Bangalore railway corridor, and upgradation of Agra-Jhansi railway stations). India also invited China to invest in the Housing for all program by 2022. Connectivity and Belt and Road Initiative On issues like BRI, differences between both sides persisted, with China stating that Bangladesh China India and Myanmar (BCIM) Corridor was one of the important corridors of the BRI. New Delhi disagreed, and stated that the BCIM project began way before the idea of BRI was conceived. India also stated that at this point of time, India was more focused on projects such as the Asean trilateral highway project (India-Myanmar-Thailand), which would boost its "Act East Policy". Even on India's concerns with regard to CPEC (China Pakistan Economic Corridor), there was no real progress with China not paying enough attention to India's concerns, that CPEC passes through disputed territory and it is a major sovereignty issue. After the Chinese president's speech at the Boao Forum, some in India had believed that China may be more sensitive to addressing India's concerns on BRI. Commenting on the BRI, President Xi said: "China has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and imposes no business deals on others." Interestingly, China did take note of India's Act East Policy and infrastructural projects being upgraded in India's North Eastern Region. The issue of "soft power" also came up during the discussions with India suggesting that in addition to the current working groups, and additional one be set up on culture. Of late, Indian movies have been doing very well in China, with the latest success being Hindi Medium, whose box-office collection was nearing Rs 200 crore as of April 14. Earlier movies like Secret Superstar (Rs 450 crore) and Bajrangi Bhaijaan (Rs 300 crore) had won Chinese heart. Indian film star Aamir Khan, also one of the producers of both Dangal and Secret Superstar has a large number of fans on Sina Weibo, a Chinese microblogging website, and has also expressed interest in working with Chinese actors. Even strained ties between both countries have not been an obstacle to the success of Hindi movies in China. In fact, the success of Bollywood movies in China receives extensive coverage in Chinese media. Challenges for both sides Amid US president's insular economic policies, and intransigence on issues pertaining to climate change, there is space for India and China to cooperate. For any meaningful progress, however, a few steps need to be taken: China needs to genuinely address Indian concerns on BRI. Indian ambassador to China, Gautam Bambawale, in an interview to South China Morning Post, while commenting on India's apprehensions had said: "If a project meets those norms, we will be happy to take part in it. One of the norms is the project should not violate the sovereignty and territorial integrity of a country. Unfortunately, there is this thing called CPEC, which is called a flagship project of BRI, which violates India's sovereignty and territory integrity. Therefore, we oppose it," At the same time, New Delhi should also have a more pragmatic vision towards BRI. While New Delhi should not give up its stance on the "sovereignty issue", synergies should not be ruled out, New Delhi should be open to the BCIM corridor, which seeks to connect Kunming in China to Kolkata in India. While New Delhi is working jointly with Japan in projects like the Africa Asia Growth Corridor and even countries in the Indo-Pacific have spoken in terms of strengthening connectivity projects, New Delhi should look at all options. If Japan and China are willing to work jointly on connectivity projects, (during a meeting between foreign ministers of both countries in Tokyo, this issue was discussed) both, there is no reason why New Delhi should be totally closed to the BRI. Considering the fact, that China is planning to extend CPEC till Afghanistan, New Delhi cannot afford to be excessively rigid to participating in the project. Second, in areas like investments, infrastructure and agriculture, it is important to get Indian state governments and Chinese provinces onboard by rotation. The Fourth Strategic Dialogue in October 2016, where India was represented by then vice chairman of Niti Aayog, Arvind Panagariya and China, by Xu Shaoshi, chairman of National Development and Reform Commission, People's Republic of China witnessed the participation of India's Coastal Provinces and presentations by them on possible investment opportunities. It was also decided that greater cooperation between both sides in manufacturing is needed. The minutes of the Dialogue are as follows: "... representatives of different states, viz., Gujarat, Telangana, Karnataka, Andhra Pradesh and CEO, Delhi Mumbai Industrial Corridor Development Corporation Ltd. made presentations in the Working Group The State Government representatives gave presentations on the opportunities in the above sector in the coastal regions of India Mr Li Xuedong (Deputy Director General NDRC) stressed that the Statement of principles on Manufacturing and Industrial Capacity between NDRC, China and NITI Aayog, India to be signed on October 7 by two Chairmen of the 4th India China SED, would mark the good beginning of manufacturing and industrial capacity cooperation between the two sides. With active participation of Chinese local governments and Indian states. Since in recent years, a number of states and provinces which were not pro-active in the relationship have begun to play a role in the bilateral relationship. Off late for instance, China has shown an interest in Eastern India (especially West Bengal) due to interest in the BCIM project.The Chinese side can also include provinces, like Jiangsu, which have done well in agriculture, and states like Punjab have sought to build linkages with them. While the India-China Forum of State Provincial Leaders has not been able to enhance the participation of states and provinces in the bilateral relationship to the degree possible and feasible, the Strategic and Economic Dialogue should seek to make Indian states and Chinese Provinces important stakeholders. Third, while China needs to address India's concerns and cannot afford to be dismissive of India's apprehensions, New Delhi needs to move beyond a 'security' mindset. Building a constructive economic relationship will be very tough without a degree of flexibility from both ends. If both sides are not genuinely flexible, the bilateral relationship will not move beyond platitudes and MoUs. China also needs to deliver on its commitments of investment in India. President Xi during his visit in 2014 had said that India would invest $20 billion over a five-year period, official estimates show that till last year, Chinese investments were a little over $1.5 billion. Fourth, basic issues such as a more realistic - if not relaxed - visa regime, increased connectivity, and more direct flights between both countries are essential for progress in all spheres. In conclusion, the current geopolitical and economic scenario is interesting, albeit challenging and complex, and India cannot restrict itself to anyone camp, it should try to harness opportunities, as and when they arise. It is also important for both sides to distinguish between short-term goals, and a long-term vision, which needs to be more holistic. Also read: Tripura CM's claim of internet existing during Mahabharata can throw India back in Dark Ages Prime Minister Narendra Modi, in his much-hyped town hall event "Bharat ki baat, sab ke saath" in London yesterday (April 18), said rape is rape and that it should not be politicised. The nation, however, did not get the chance to ask him in response, "Who is actually politicising rapes in India?" This is not to say that rapes have happened only after the Modi government has come to power. This is also not to say that there is only political motive behind rapes. Politics of rapes Having said this, the eight-year old girl's rape and murder in Kathua, Jammu, was primarily to scare away her community, Bakerwals, from that region. And today there is a movement spearheaded by local leaders with the support of two erstwhile BJP ministers of the state to protect the rapists. In this case, rape is a tool for control over resources, a war supported by right-wing politics. The 16-year-old Unnao girl, who was allegedly raped by a BJP MLA, was violated to show the power of men, on one hand, and of Rajputs over lower castes on the other. And then the rapist is being protected by the Thakur lobby-dominated state government until the Allahabad High Court forced action and that too through the CBI and not state police. In the past five years, several women have been violated allegedly by the right-wing forces. Either as a tool of sex, or of gender dominion and rights over women, or of caste-communal dominion. One should first understand that women because of their gender and sexual identity are marginalised. Gender is a social construct. Sex is a biological construct. Both are power dynamics of patriarchy. However, both these identities have multiple marginalisation when it is combined with caste, minority religion, nationality, race, or any marginalised culture. A Dalit woman can be raped not just for being a woman, but for being a Dalit as well. In Kandhamal and Gujarat, women were raped not just for being women, but for being Christians or Muslims. In fact, the rapists have even articulated this while raping. Women in Kashmir and the Northeast were raped in large numbers not just for being women, but for being part of a marginalised identity. Global protests today and political implications A few thousands small and big protests were staged after the 2012 Delhi gang rape in which the right wing was rightly involved while the UPA was the target of public ire. A few hundred protests have erupted now after the Kathua and Unnao cases in which the Congress, the AAP and others are also involved and the Modi govt is the target of public ire. Again rightly so. Politics cannot be disassociated from atrocities on women. Hundreds of noisy protesters greeted Narendra Modi when he arrived in London on April 18, demonstrating over a rising tide of sexual violence in India. Holding placards reading "Modi go home" and "We stand against Modi's agenda of hate and greed," they gathered outside Downing Street and parliament as the prime minister arrived for talks with his British counterpart Theresa May. The Indian diaspora is upset about his alleged inaction. A New York City-based Hindu organisation marched to the Union Square, to demand justice for the recent rape victims of Kathua, Unnao and Surat. "The United for Justice rally" on Monday (April 16) was attended by the members of Sadhana. Criticising the ruling government in India for its delayed action, the organisation accused it of supporting the rapists. The ruling party of India is clearly on the back foot with the strained PDP-BJP alliance in J&K deteriorating further, and the Opposition rallying on this strongly. Rape cases involving BJP men It all started with the induction of rape accused Nihalchand Meghwal into Modi's ministry in 2014. A rape complaint filed some time back had returned to haunt the union minister of state Nihalchand Meghwal, the lone MP from Rajasthan to get a berth in Modi's first council of ministers. A lower court had issued summons to 17 people, including Meghwal in a sexual assault case in which he never appeared. The case is still on. And in a later reshuffle, the minister was dropped. The Uttarakhand Police had booked BJP leader and former state minister Harak Singh Rawat after a complaint on charges of rape and harassment was lodged against him. According to report, the complaint was lodged by a 32-year-old woman at Safdarjung police station in New Delhi. A 40-year-old woman, who runs an NGO in Karnataka, had accused BJP leader Venkatesh Maurya, national executive member of the BJP SC Morcha, of raping and cheating her on the pretext of helping her get government grants for her NGO. Earlier, allegations of rape had surfaced against BJP legislator and former health minister Krishnamurti Bandhi in Chhattisgarh. The complaint was filed by a woman who was later found dead in mysterious circumstances inside the premises of Bandhi's aide and former judge, RR Bhardwaj. For eight years, a girl from Anjala in Punjab said her father raped her. The 21-year-old broke her silence after watching the TV coverage of the recent Mumbai rape-incest case. The girls father, BJP leader Ashok Taneja, was later arrested. There is a rape case now against Vijay Jolly, former BJP MLA in Delhi, filed by a BJP woman worker and the case is on. Rape cases after Nirbhaya and statistics A total of 34,651 cases of rape were reported in India in 2015. Out of these, in 33,098 cases, the offenders were known to the victims, revealed the National Crime Records Bureau (NCRB) data. The victims were majorly among the age group of below six years to over 60 years. Madhya Pradesh reported 4,391 rape cases, the highest as compared to other states, with Rajasthan being another major state. Delhi reported 2,199 such cases highest among the union territories. It is important to note that Madhya Pradesh is ruled by the BJP for 15 years now, Rajasthan for the past five years. Delhi, though now has an AAP government, reports to the Union home ministry. As per the data released by the National Crime Records Bureau in August 2016, over 34,600 cases of rape were reported across the country with Madhya Pradesh and Delhi topping the infamous list of states and union territories, respectively. A total of 34,651 rape cases were reported in India in 2015. Among these, in 33,098 cases the offenders were known to the victims. India launched fast-track courts and a tougher rape law that included the death penalty after a gruesome assault on a young woman shocked the country in 2012, but crime statistics indicate the situation has got worse, not better, since then. The data was collated by Reuters amid mounting public anger over crimes against women after the last two horrific cases in Kathua and Unnao that has once again cast a bad light on the systemic problems plaguing the country's police and courts. Statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 per cent to around 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 per cent. The conviction rate of people arrested for rape remains stuck around 25 per cent. The backlog of rape cases pending trial stood at more than 133,000 by the end of 2016, up from about 100,000 in 2012, National Crime Records Bureau data showed. In each year during that period, about 85 per cent of the total rape cases being heard remained pending. What ails the system in rape cases? In general, conviction rates for crime against women - deaths following demands for dowry, assault, kidnapping as well as rape - are lower than for most other crimes. A study by the National Law University in Delhi found that 43 death sentences were handed down for murder involving sexual violence in 2017, almost double the previous year's number. A study by Kailash Satyarthi Children's Foundation, whose founder shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, reckoned that as of 2016-end, the backlog of child sex abuses cases in the courts would take two decades to clear. Under India's Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act passed in 2012, which covers victims under 18 years, police should collect evidence within a month of the complaint being filed and the court should complete a trial within a year, and this has been flouted in most cases. Crime statistics showed that police files remain open for about a third of all rapes that were investigated for each year between 2012 and 2016. The police force being understaffed is also a major issue. The government told Parliament last month that the police force has a sanctioned strength of nearly 2 million officers, but almost a quarter of those positions were vacant. Some of the worst accusations against the police stem from cases like the ones in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, where they allegedly bulked under pressure from people of influence to bury cases. Vappala Balachandran, a former top police officer in the western state of Maharashtra who has criticised the government's response to the recent cases, described how powerful local politicians stall police investigations. So far the only policy response to the latest cases has come from Maneka Gandhi, minister for women and child development, who has advocated applying death penalty for rape cases where the victim is under 12 years old. Currently, the Supreme Court reserves the death penalty for extreme cases, as in the 2012 Delhi case. In February 2017, the Ministry of Health and Family Welfare of India introduced resource material related to health issues to be used as a part of a pan-India adolescent peer-education plan called Saathiya. Among other subjects, the material discusses relationships and consent. Hence, this is a matter of sheer political will to check the rape epidemic in India. The government can make a hundred laws and yet it will fail because there is no enforcement. It needs to take this as an epidemic and treat it accordingly, by completely overhauling the police machinery, prosecutors and the judicial system. This political will is missing at the Centre and in most of the states. Also read: Of course internet existed in the time of Mahabharata 11 hours ago Pharmacies face 1st trial over role in opioid crisis CLEVELAND (AP) So many prescription painkillers were dispensed in Lake County, Ohio, between 2012 and 2016 that the amount equaled 265 pills for every resident. Just to the south, the flood of prescription opioids during the same period equated to 400 pills for every resident of Trumbull County. Attorneys say efforts to address the ensuing overdose epidemic has cost each of the financially struggling counties at least $1 billion. Read Article Sugar import surges by over 80 percent Import bill of sugar that entered the country from the dry port in Sirsiya, Birgunj surged by about 81 percent in the first nine months of the current fiscal year following hike in supplies from Pakistan and Bangladesh, where production of the commodity has soared. Black Diamond Group Limited rents and sells modular space and workforce accommodation solutions. It operates through two segments, Modular Space Solutions and Workforce Solutions. The Modular Space Solutions segment provides modular space rentals to customers in the construction, real estate development, manufacturing, education, financial, and resource industries, as well as government agencies in North America. Its products include office units, lavatories, storage units, large multi-unit office complexes, classroom facilities, banking and health care facilities, custom manufactured modular facilities, and blast resistant structures. This segment also sells new and used space rentals units; and provides delivery, installation, project management, and ancillary products and services. The Workforce Solutions segment provides workforce housing solutions, including rental of accommodations and surface equipment, and provision of turnkey lodging and travel management services in Canada, the United States, and Australia. This segment also provides associated services, such as installation, transportation, demobilization, and sale of used fleet assets. This segment primarily serves the resource, infrastructure, construction, disaster recovery, and education sectors. The company also provides specialized field rentals to oil and gas industries. Black Diamond Group Limited markets its rental assets, custom sales, and ancillary products and services through in-house sales personnel, its website, social media, web campaigns, and its digital marketplace. The company was founded in 2003 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Aptiv Plc engages in the design, development, and manufacture of vehicle components. The firm also provides electrical, electronic, and safety technology solutions to the global automotive and commercial vehicle markets. It operates through the following business segments: Signal and Power Solutions, Advanced Safety and User Experience, and Eliminations and Other. The Signal and Power Solutions segment includes complete electrical architecture and component products. The Advanced Safety and User Experience segment covers component and systems integration in connectivity and security solutions, as well as advanced software development and autonomous driving technologies. The Eliminations and Other segment comprises of elimination of inter-segment transactions, other expenses, and income of a non-operating or strategic nature. The company was founded in 1994 and is headquartered in Dublin, Ireland. Read More Rentokil Initial plc, together with its subsidiaries, provides route-based services in North America, the United Kingdom, rest of Europe, Asia, the Pacific, and internationally. It offers a range of pest control services from rodents to flying and crawling insects, as well as to other forms of wildlife management for commercial and residential customers. The company also provides hygiene services, including the provision and maintenance of products, such as air fresheners, sanitizers, feminine hygiene units, hand dryers, paper and linen towel dispensers, soap and hand sanitizer dispensers, toilet paper dispensers, and floor protection mats. In addition, it engages in the supply and laundering of workwear, uniforms, cleanroom uniforms, and protective equipment. Further, the company installs and services interior and exterior plant displays, flowers, replica foliage, Christmas decorations, and ambient scenting for commercial businesses; offers property care services consisting of damp proofing, property conservation, and woodworm and wood rot treatment; and provides a range of specialist cleaning services, such as deep cleaning of kitchens and washrooms, trauma cleaning, and flood or fire damage cleaning, as well as graffiti removal, specialist deep cleaning, and disinfection services, including the professional and discreet disinfection of areas that have been exposed to bio-hazardous situations, such as crime and trauma scenes, prison cells, void properties, emergency vehicles, and healthcare establishments. Additionally, it offers a range of healthcare waste management services comprising the collection, disposal, and recycling of hazardous and offensive waste produced by businesses and organizations associated with the provision of healthcare; and color-coded sharps disposal bins to deal with various types of waste. Rentokil Initial plc was founded in 1903 and is headquartered in Camberley, the United Kingdom. Read More Wall Street analysts have given Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Xtrackers MSCI EAFE Hedged Equity ETF wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. TIA to operate 21 hours a day from May 21 to handle more flights Tribhuvan International Airport (TIA) plans to remain open for 21 hours a day to handle a growth in flights and provide incentives to air traffic controllers (ATCs) and other staff as compensation for the increased workload. The following companies are subsidiares of Dover: ALMATEC Maschinenbau GmbH, Accelerated Production Systems, Advansor A/S, Advansor Dover International (Poland) sp. z o.o, Alfred Fueling Systems Holdco Ltd., Alfred Fueling Systems Inc., Alfred Fueling Systems Intermediate Holdco Ltd., All-Flo Pump Company Limited business, Anman LLC, Anthony Equity Holdings Inc., Anthony Holdings Inc., Anthony Inc., Anthony International Foreign Sales Corp., Anthony International Holding Company, Anthony Mexico Holdings LLC, Anthony North Holdco Inc., Anthony Specialty Glass LLC, Anthony TemperBent GP LLC, Automatik Grundstucksverwaltung GmbH & Co. KG, Automatik Plastics Machinery (Taiwan) Ltd., Automatik Plastics Machinery Sdn. Bhd., BSC Filters Limited, Background2 Limited, Belanger Inc., Belvac Middle East FZE, Belvac Production Machinery Inc., BlitzRotary GmbH, Butler Engineering and Marketing S.P.A., CEP Liquidation LLC, CP Formation LLC, CPC, CPC Europe Inc., CPI Products Inc., Caldera, Caldera Inc., Canada Organization & Development LLC, Chief Automotive Technologies (Shanghai) Trading Company Ltd., Chippewa Square Captive Insurance Company, Colder Products Company GmbH, Colder Products Company LTD, Cook Compression BV, Cook Compression LLC, Cook Compression Limited, Cook-MFS Inc., DD1 Inc., DDI Properties Inc., DE-STA-CO Benelux B.V., DE-STA-CO FRANCE, DE-STA-CO Shanghai Co. Ltd., DFH Corporation, DSR BZ Holdings LLC, De Sta Co (Asia) Company Limited, De-Sta-Co Cylinders Inc., DeStaCo Europe GmbH, Delaware Capital Formation Inc., Delaware Capital Holdings Inc., Destaco Ema Industria e Comercio Ltda., Dover (China) Investment Co. Ltd. , Dover (Schweiz) Holding GmbH, Dover (Shanghai) Industrial Co. Ltd., Dover (Shenzhen) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover (Suzhou) Industrial Equipment Manufacturing Co. Ltd., Dover Asia Trading Private Ltd., Dover Australia Holdings Pty Limited, Dover Business Services EMEA Limited, Dover Business Services LLC, Dover Business Services Philippines Corporation, Dover CLP Formation Limited Partnership, Dover CR spol s r.o., Dover Canada Finance LP, Dover Canada Holdings ULC, Dover Canada Operations ULC, Dover Corporation Regional Headquarters, Dover DEI Services Inc., Dover Denmark Holdings ApS, Dover EMEA FZCO, Dover Energy, Dover Energy UK Ltd, Dover Engineered Systems Inc., Dover Engineered Systems UK Ltd, Dover Europe Inc., Dover Europe Sarl, Dover Fluids Inc., Dover Fluids UK Ltd, Dover France Holdings S.A.S., Dover France Participations SAS, Dover France Technologies, Dover Fueling Solutions UK Limited, Dover Germany GmbH, Dover Global Holdings LLC, Dover Global Trading Pte. Ltd., Dover Holdings de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Dover India Pvt. Ltd., Dover Intercompany Services UK Limited, Dover International B.V., Dover International Operations Inc., Dover International Ventures Inc., Dover International Ventures Tunisia S.a.r.l., Dover International ithalat ihracat ve Pazarlama Limited Sirketi, Dover Italy Holdings S.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Finance Sarl, Dover Luxembourg Participations Sarl, Dover Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Dover Luxembourg Services Sarl, Dover Operations South Africa (Pty) Ltd, Dover Overseas Ventures Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment Inc., Dover Refrigeration & Food Equipment UK Ltd, Dover Resources International de Mexico S. de R.L. C.V., Dover Solutions Colombia SAS, Dover Southeast Asia (Thailand) Ltd., Dover Spain Holdings S.L., Dover UK Pensions Limited, Dover WSCR Holding LLC, Dover WSCR LLC, Dover do Brasil Ltda., Dow-Key Microwave Corporation, Dressor Wayne Data Technology (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Dressor Wayne Fuel Equipment (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, EOA Systems Inc., Ebs-Ray Holdings Pty Ltd, Ebs-Ray Industries Pty. Ltd., Ebs-Ray Pumps Pty. Ltd., Em-tec GmbH, Ettlinger Kunststoffmaschinen GmbH, Ettlinger Management Inc., Ettlinger North America LP, Ettlinger Vertrieb und Service GmbH & Co. KG, Ettlinger Verwaltungs-GmbH, Fairbanks Environmental Limited, Ferguson CO. S.A., Fibrelite Composites Limited, Fibresec Holdings Limited, Fibresec Limited, Finder, Finder Oriental (Beijing) Trading Co. Ltd, Finder Pompe S.R.L., Finder United Saudi Arabia Company, GAL LLC, GIIER LLC, Gala Industries Asia Limited, Gala Industries Incorporated, Gala Kunststoff-und Kautschukmaschinen GmbH, Guangdong Tokheim LIYUAN Oil Industry Technology Limited Company, Highland Park Insurance Company, Hill PHOENIX Inc., Hill PHOENIX WIC LLC, Hill Phoenix Costa Rica Sociedad De Responsabilidad Limitada, Hill Phoenix El Salvador Limitada de Capital Variable, Hill Phoenix Guatemala Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Honduras Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix Nicaragua Sociedad Anonima, Hill Phoenix de Mexico S.A. de C.V., Hiltap Fittings Ltd., Hydro Systems, Hydro Systems Europe Ltd., Hydronova Australia-NZ Pty Ltd, Industrial Motion Control LLC, Inpro/Seal LLC, International Trade and Equipment B.V., JK Group SPA, JK Group USA Inc., K&L Microwave DR Inc., K&L Microwave Inc., K. S. Boca Inc., KPS (Beijing) Petroleum Equipment Trading Co Ltd., KPS Asia Sdn. Bhd., KPS Fueling Solutions Sdn. Bhd., KPS Hong Kong Holding Limited, KPS UK Limited, KS Formation Inc., KS Liquidation Inc., KSLP Liquidation L.P., Kiian Digital (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Knappco LLC, Lianyngang Jump Petroleum and Chemical Machinery Co. Ltd., Liquip, Liquip International Pty Limited, MARKEM FZ SA, MARKEM Holdings Inc., MARKEM International Inc., MARKEM S.A. de C.V., MARKEM Tag Inc., MARKEM UK Holdings 1 Unlimited, MARKEM UK Holdings 2 Limited, MIP Holdings Inc., MS Printing Solutions S.R.L., Maag Automatik GmbH, Maag Automatik Inc., Maag Automatik Plastics Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd., Maag Automatik Srl, Maag Pump Systems (US) Inc., Maag Pump Systems AG, Maag Pump Systems SAS, Marathon Equipment Company (Delaware), Markem Imaje Center of Competencies Spain S.L.U., Markem-Imaje, Markem-Imaje (China) Co. Limited, Markem-Imaje A/S, Markem-Imaje AB, Markem-Imaje AG, Markem-Imaje AS, Markem-Imaje Application Innovation Center Sarl, Markem-Imaje B.V., Markem-Imaje CSAT GmbH, Markem-Imaje Co. Ltd., Markem-Imaje GmbH, Markem-Imaje Holding, Markem-Imaje Identificacao de Produtos Ltda., Markem-Imaje Inc., Markem-Imaje India Private Limited, Markem-Imaje Industries, Markem-Imaje Industries Limited, Markem-Imaje KK, Markem-Imaje LLC, Markem-Imaje Limited, Markem-Imaje Ltd., Markem-Imaje N.V., Markem-Imaje Oy, Markem-Imaje Pty Ltd, Markem-Imaje S.A., Markem-Imaje S.A. de C.V., Markem-Imaje S.r.l. a socio unico, Markem-Imaje SAS, Markem-Imaje Sdn Bhd, Markem-Imaje Software Development Centre Pvt. Ltd., Markem-Imaje Spain S.A.U, Markem-Imaje Unipessoal Lda (Portugal), Markpoint Holding AB, Midland Manufacturing LLC, Mouvex, Neptune Chemical Pump Company, Northern Lights (Nevada) Inc., Northern Lights Funding LP, Northern Lights Investments LLC, Nova Controls Inc., OK International (UK) Ltd., OK International Holdings Inc., OK International Inc., OPW Engineered Systems Inc., OPW Fluid Transfer Group Europe B.V., OPW Fluids Group Inc., OPW France, OPW Fuel Management Systems Inc., OPW Fueling Components (SuZhou) Co. Ltd., OPW Fueling Components LLC, OPW Iberia Sociedad Limitada, OPW Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., OPW Slovakia s.r.o., OPW Sweden AB, Officine Meccaniche Sirio S.R.L., PDQ Manufacturing Inc., PISCES by OPW Inc., PSG (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, PSG (Tianjin) Co. Ltd., PSG Worldwide Inc., Petro Vend Sp. z o.o., Pike Machine Products Inc., Piston OPW Inc., Pole/Zero Acquisition Inc., Precision Brasil Equipamentos E Servicos Para Postos De Combustiveis Ltda., Precision Service - Servicos De Manutencao E Instalacao De Postos De Abastecimento De Combustivel Ltda., Pump Management Services Co. LLC, RAV Equipment U.S.A. Inc., RAV Equipos Espana S.L., RAV France, Rav Equipment UK Limited, Ravaglioli Deutschland GmbH, Ravaglioli S.P.A., Reduction Engineering GmbH, Revod Corporation, Revod Finance Ireland Limited, Revod Luxembourg S.a.r.l., Revod SAS, Revod Sweden AB, Robohand Inc., Rosario Handel B.V., Rotary Lift Consolidated (Haimen) Co. Ltd, SE Liquidation LLC, SWEP A.G., SWEP Germany GmbH, SWEP Malaysia Sdn. Bhd., SWEP North America Inc., SWEP Slovakia s.r.o., SWEP Technology (Suzhou) Co. Ltd., Scheer Pelletizing Systems & Machinery (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Scheer Taiwan Machinery Co. Ltd., Seabiscuit Motorsports Inc., Simmons Sirvey Corporation, So. Cal. Soft-Pak Incorporated, Solaris Laser S.A., Space S.R.L., Start Italiana Petrol Cihazlari Sanayi Ticaret Anonim Sirketi, Start Italiana S.R.L., Swep Energy Oy, Swep International A.B., Swep Japan K.K., Sys-Tech Solutions Inc., TQC Quantium Quality S.A. de C.V., TTSI III Inc., TWG Canada Consolidated Inc., TXHI LLC, Tartan Textile Services Inc., The Curotto-Can LLC, The Heil Co., Tokheim Belgium, Tokheim China Company Limited, Tokheim GmbH, Tokheim Group, Tokheim Guardian Venture Sdn. Bhd, Tokheim Hengshan Technologies (Guangzhou) Co. Ltd., Tokheim Holding, Tokheim Holding B.V., Tokheim India Private Limited, Tokheim Netherlands B.V., Tokheim Sofitam Applications, Trans - Logistic Group S.R.L., Tulsa Winch Inc., Unified Brands Inc., Val TemperBent Glass L.P., Vectron Frequency Devices (Shanghai) Co. Ltd, Vehicle Service Group LLC, Vos Food Store Equipment Ltd., Warn Automotive LLC, Waukesha Bearings, Waukesha Bearings Limited, Waukesha Bearings Russia LLC, Wayne Fuel Management UK Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems (Rus) Limited Liability Company, Wayne Fueling Systems Australia Pty Ltd, Wayne Fueling Systems Canada ULC, Wayne Fueling Systems Deutschland GmbH, Wayne Fueling Systems Italia S.R.L., Wayne Fueling Systems LLC, Wayne Fueling Systems Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Pte. Ltd., Wayne Fueling Systems Sweden AB, Wayne Fueling Systems UK Holdco Ltd., Wayne Industria e Comercio Ltda., Wei Li Pump Shanghai Co. LTD., WellMark, and Wilden Pump and Engineering LLC. FedEx Corp. is a holding company, which engages in the provision of a portfolio of transportation, e-commerce, and business services. It operates through the following segments: FedEx Express, FedEx Ground, FedEx Freight, FedEx Services, and Corporate, Other & Eliminations. The FedEx Express segment consists of domestic and international shipping services for delivery of packages and freight. The FedEx Ground segment focuses on small-package ground delivery services. The FedEx Freight segment offers less-than-truckload freight services across all lengths of haul. The FedEx Services segment provides sales, marketing, information technology, communications, customer service, technical support, billing and collection services, and certain back-office functions. The Corporate, Other & Eliminations segment includes corporate headquarters costs for executive officers and certain legal and finance functions, as well as certain other costs and credits not attributed to the firm's core business. The company was founded by Frederick Wallace Smith on June 18, 1971 and is headquartered in Memphis, TN. Read More Wall Street analysts have given LINE a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but LINE wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Wall Street analysts have given Anglo African Oil & Gas a "N/A" rating, but there may be better buying opportunities in the stock market. Some of MarketBeat's past winning trading ideas have resulted in 5-15% weekly gains. MarketBeat just released five new stock ideas, but Anglo African Oil & Gas wasn't one of them. MarketBeat thinks these five companies may be even better buys. View MarketBeat's top stock picks here. Rogers Communications Inc. operates as a communications and media company in Canada. It operates through three segments: Wireless, Cable, and Media. The Wireless segment offers wireless voice and data communication services to individual consumers, businesses, governments, and other telecommunications service providers; postpaid and prepaid wireless services under the Rogers, Fido, and chatr brands; and wireless devices, services, and applications to consumers and businesses. It provides its services to approximately 10.8 million subscribers. The Cable segment provides high-speed Internet, television, voice communication, and smart home monitoring services to consumers, businesses, governments, and wholesale resellers; and operates a transcontinental fiber-optic network that extends approximately 70,000 route kilometers, which provides voice and data communications and advanced services, including data centers and cloud computing to the enterprise, public sector, and carrier wholesale markets. Its service territory covers approximately 4.4 million homes. The Media segment owns the Toronto Blue Jays league baseball team and the Rogers Centre event venue; and offers television and radio broadcasting, multi-platform shopping experience, digital media, and publishing services. Rogers Communications Inc. was founded in 1920 and is based in Toronto, Canada. Read More Software Aktiengesellschaft provides software development, licensing, and maintenance; and information technology (IT) services worldwide. It operates through three segments: Digital Business Platform, Adabas & Natural, and Professional Services. The company offers Adabas & Natural, a transaction processing platform; Alfabet for use in IT planning and portfolio management, as well as enterprise architecture management; Apama, a platform for streaming analytics and automated actions on big data; and Architecture for Integrated Information Systems, a platform that makes processes transparent, controlled, manageable, and agile. It also provides cloud-based Platform-as-a-Service suite, such as CONNX that offers real-time read/write SQL data access and integration; Cumulocity, which provides Internet of Things (IoT) connectivity for networked digital devices and sensors through a cloud-hosted IoT device management and application enablement platform; Terracotta, a platform that enables digital enterprises to access and store data in-memory; TRENDMINER, an industrial analytics for time-series data for plant managers and process engineers to analyze, monitor, and predict process and asset performance; webMethods, which enables customers to integrate systems, partners, data, devices, and Software as a Service applications; and Zementis that enables predictive analytics with artificial intelligence and machine learning capabilities. Further, the company provides digital transformation and platform consulting, performance ready content, platform rapid innovation methodology, training, and support services. It offers its products and services for customers in banking, energy and natural resources, government, insurance, manufacturing, retail, transportation, and utilities, as well as communication, media, and services industries. Software AG has a partnership with Tech Mahindra. The company was founded in 1969 and is headquartered in Darmstadt, Germany. Read More The following companies are subsidiares of MetLife: 1001 PROPERTIES LLC, 10700 WILSHIRE LLC, 1201 TAB MANAGER LLC, 150 NORTH RIVERSIDE PE MEMBER LLC, 1925 WJC OWNER LLC, 23RD STREET INVESTMENTS INC., 500 GRANT STREET ASSOCIATES LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, 500 GRANT STREET GP LLC, 60 11TH STREET LLC, 6104 HOLLYWOOD LLC, AFP GENESIS ADMINISTRADORA DE FONDOS Y FIDECOMISOS S.A., AFP PROVIDA S.A., AGENVITA S.R.L., ALICO EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LIMITED, ALICO HELLAS SINGLE MEMBER LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, ALICO OPERATIONS LLC, ALICO PROPERTIES INC., AMMETLIFE INSURANCE BERHAD, AMMETLIFE TAKAFUL BERHAD, American Life Insurance Company, BEST MARKET S.A., BIDV METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE LIMITED LIABILITY COMPANY, BLOCK VISION HOLDINGS CORPORATION, BLOCK VISION OF TEXAS INC., BORDERLAND INVESTMENTS LIMITED, BOULEVARD RESIDENTIAL LLC, BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER LLC, CC HOLDCO MANAGER LLC, CHESTNUT FLATS WIND LLC, CLOSED JOINT-STOCK COMPANY MASTER D, COMPANIA INVERSORA METLIFE S.A., CORPORATE REAL ESTATE HOLDINGS LLC, COVA LIFE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, DAVIS VISION INC., DAVISVISION IPA INC., DELAWARE AMERICAN LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, DES MOINES CREEK BUSINESS PARK PHASE II LLC, ECONOMY FIRE & CASUALTY COMPANY, ECONOMY PREFERRED INSURANCE COMPANY, ECONOMY PREMIER ASSURANCE COMPANY, EURO CL INVESTMENTS LLC, EXCELENCIA OPERATIVA Y TECNOLOGICA S.A de C.V., FEDERAL FLOOD CERTIFICATION LLC, FORTISSIMO CO. LTD, FUNDACION METLIFE MEXICO A.C., GLOBAL PROPERTIES INC., General American Life Insurance Company, Grand Bank N.A., HASKELL EAST VILLAGE LLC, HIGH STREET SEVENTH AND OSBORN APARTMENTS LLC, HOUSING FUND MANAGER LLC, INTERNATIONAL TECHNICAL AND ADVISORY SERVICES LIMITED, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO DOS LIMITADA, INVERSIONES METLIFE HOLDCO TRES LIMITADA, JOINT-STOCK COMPANY METLIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, LHC HOLDINGS, LHCW HOLDINGS, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING, LHCW HOTEL HOLDING LLC, LHCW HOTEL OPERATING COMPANY, LONG ISLAND SOLAR FARM LLC, LUMENLAB MALAYSIA SDN. BHD., Logan Circle Partners, MARKETPLACE RESIDENCES LLC, MAXIS GBN S.A.S., MC PORTFOLIO JV MEMBER LLC, MCJV LLC, MCMIF HOLDCO I LLC, MCMIF HOLDCO II LLC, MCP - WELLINGTON LLC, MCP 100 CONGRESS MEMBER LLC, MCP 1500 MICHAEL LLC, MCP 1900 MCKINNEY LLC, MCP 2 AMES LLC, MCP 2 AMES ONE LLC, MCP 2 AMES OWNER LLC, MCP 2 AMES TWO LLC, MCP 220 YORK LLC, MCP 22745 & 22755 RELOCATION DRIVE LLC, MCP 249 INDUSTRIAL BUSINESS PARK MEMBER LLC, MCP 3040 POST OAK LLC, MCP 350 ROHLWING LLC, MCP 4600 SOUTH SYRACUSE LLC, MCP 550 WEST WASHINGTON LLC, MCP 60 11TH STREET MEMBER LLC, MCP 7 RIVERWAY LLC, MCP 9020 MURPHY ROAD LLC, MCP 93 RED RIVER MEMBER LLC, MCP ALLEY 24 EAST LLC, MCP ASHTON SOUTH END LLC, MCP BLOCK 23 MEMBER LLC, MCP BRADFORD LLC, MCP BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER 2 MEMBER LLC, MCP BUFORD LOGISTICS CENTER BLDG B LLC, MCP BURNSIDE MEMBER LLC, MCP CENTER AVENUE INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, MCP CLAWITER INNOVATION MEMBER LLC, MCP COMMON DESK TRS LLC, MCP DENVER PAVILIONS MEMBER LLC, MCP DILLON LLC, MCP DILLON RESIDENTIAL LLC, MCP ENV CHICAGO LLC, MCP FIFE ENTERPRISE CENTER LLC, MCP FRISCO OFFICE LLC, MCP GRAPEVINE LLC, MCP HIGHLAND PARK LENDER LLC, MCP HUB I LLC, MCP HUB I PROPERTY LLC, MCP LODGE AT LAKECREST LLC, MCP MA PROPERTY REIT LLC, MCP MAGNOLIA PARK MEMBER LLC, MCP MAIN STREET VILLAGE LLC, MCP MOUNTAIN TECHNOLOGY CENTER MEMBER TRS LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS HOLDCO LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS MASTER LESSEE LLC, MCP NORTHYARDS OWNER LLC, MCP ONE WESTSIDE LLC, MCP ONYX LLC, MCP PARAGON POINT LLC, MCP PLAZA AT LEGACY LLC, MCP PROPERTY MANAGEMENT LLC, MCP SEATTLE GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL I LLC, MCP SEATTLE GATEWAY INDUSTRIAL II LLC, MCP SEVENTH AND OSBORNE MF MEMBER LLC, MCP SEVENTH AND OSBORNE RETAIL MEMBER LLC, MCP SHAKOPEE LLC, MCP SLEEPY HOLLOW MEMBER LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL ANAHEIM LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL BERNARDO LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL CANYON LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL CONCOURSE LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL FULLERTON LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL KELLWO00OD LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL LAX LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL LOKER LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL REDONDO LLC, MCP SOCAL INDUSTRIAL SPRINGDALE LLC, MCP STATELINE LLC, MCP THE PALMS AT DORAL LLC, MCP TRIMBLE CAMPUS LLC, MCP UNION ROW LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE ONE LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE OWNER LLC, MCP VALLEY FORGE TWO LLC, MCP VANCE JACKSON LLC, MCP VINEYARD AVENUE MEMBER LLC, MCP VOA HOLDINGS LLC, MCP VOA I & III LLC, MCP VOA II LLC, MCP WATERFORD ATRIUM LLC, MCP WEST BROAD MARKETPLACE LLC, MCP ENGLISH VILLAGE LLC, MCPF ACQUISITION LLC, MCPF FOXBOROUGH LLC, MCPF NEEDHAM LLC, MCPP OWNERS LLC, MCRE BLOCK 40 LP, MEC HEALTH CARE INC., MET 1065 HOTEL LLC, MET CANADA SOLAR ULC, METLIFE 1007 STEWART LLC, METLIFE 1201 TAB MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MANAGER LLC, METLIFE 425 MKT MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 555 12TH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE 8280 MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ACOMA OWNER LLC, METLIFE ADMINISTRADORA DE FUNDOS MULTIPATROCINADOS LTDA., METLIFE ALTERNATIVES GP LLC, METLIFE ASHTON AUSTIN OWNER LLC, METLIFE ASIA HOLDING COMPANY PTE. LTD., METLIFE ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE ASIA SERVICES SDN. BHD, METLIFE ASSET MANAGEMENT CORP., METLIFE ASSIGNMENT COMPANY INC., METLIFE AUTO & HOME INSURANCE AGENCY INC., METLIFE BL FEEDER, METLIFE BL FEEDER LP, METLIFE BORO STATION MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CABO HILTON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAMINO RAMON MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CAPITAL CREDIT L.P., METLIFE CAPITAL LIMITED PARTNERSHIP, METLIFE CAPITAL TRUST IV, METLIFE CB W/A LLC, METLIFE CC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CHILE ADMINISTRADORA DE MUTUOS HIPOTECARIOS S.A., METLIFE CHILE INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS DE VIDA S.A., METLIFE CHILE SEGUROS GENERALES S.A., METLIFE CHINO MEMBER LLC, METLIFE COLOMBIA SEGUROS de VIDA S.A., METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND GP LLC, METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE INCOME FUND LP, METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE ORIGINATOR LLC, METLIFE COMMERCIAL MORTGAGE REIT LLC, METLIFE CONSQUARE MEMBER LLC, METLIFE CONSUMER SERVICES INC., METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY FUND LP, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY REIT LLC, METLIFE CORE PROPERTY TRS. LLC, METLIFE CREDIT CORP., METLIFE DIGITAL VENTURES INC., METLIFE EMEKLILIK VE HAYAT A.S., METLIFE EMERGING MARKET DEBT BLEND FUND, METLIFE EU HOLDING COMPANY LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE INSURANCE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPE SERVICES LIMITED, METLIFE EUROPE d.a.c., METLIFE EUROPEAN HOLDINGS LLC., METLIFE FINANCIAL SERVICES CO. LTD, METLIFE FM HOTEL MEMBER LLC, METLIFE FUNDING INC., METLIFE GENERAL INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE GLOBAL BENEFITS LTD., METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY I GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDING COMPANY II GMBH, METLIFE GLOBAL HOLDINGS CORPORATION S.A. De C.V., METLIFE GLOBAL INC., METLIFE GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE GROUP INC., METLIFE HCMJV 1 GP LLC, METLIFE HCMJV 1 LP LLC, METLIFE HEALTH PLANS INC., METLIFE HOLDINGS INC., METLIFE HOME LOANS LLC, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE LIMITED, METLIFE INNOVATION CENTRE PTE. LTD., METLIFE INSURANCE AND INVESTMENT TRUST, METLIFE INSURANCE BROKERAGE INC., METLIFE INSURANCE K.K., METLIFE INSURANCE LIMITED, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HF PARTNERS LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL LIMITED LLC, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND I LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND II LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND III LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND IV LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND V LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VI LP, METLIFE INTERNATIONAL PE FUND VII LP, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENT MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE INVESTMENTS ASIA LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS PTY LIMITED, METLIFE INVESTMENTS SECURITIES LLC, METLIFE INVESTORS DISTRIBUTION COMPANY, METLIFE INVESTORS GROUP LLC, METLIFE IRELAND TREASURY D.A.C., METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND GP LLC, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY FUND LP, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS, METLIFE JAPAN US EQUITY OWNERS LLC, METLIFE LATIN AMERICA ASESORIAS E INVERSIONES LIMITADA, METLIFE LEGAL PLANS INC., METLIFE LEGAL PLANS OF FLORIDA INC., METLIFE LHH MEMBER LLC, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE COMPANY, METLIFE LIFE INSURANCE S.A., METLIFE LOAN ASSET MANAGEMENT LLC, METLIFE MAS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MEMBER SOLAIRE LLC, METLIFE MEXICO HOLDINGS S. DE R.L. DE C.V., METLIFE MEXICO S.A., METLIFE MEXICO SERVICIOS S.A. DE C.V., METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT GP LLC, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL FUND LP, METLIFE MIDDLE MARKET PRIVATE DEBT PARALLEL GP LLC, METLIFE MULTI-FAMILY PARTNERS III LLC, METLIFE MUTUAL FUND COMPANY, METLIFE OBS MEMBER LLC, METLIFE OFC MEMBER LLC, METLIFE ONTARIO STREET MEMBR LLC, METLIFE PARK TOWER MEMBER LLC, METLIFE PENSION TRUSTEES LIMITED, METLIFE PENSIONES MEXICO S.A., METLIFE PET INSURANCE SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE PLANOS ODONTOLOGICOS LTDA., METLIFE POWSZECHNE TOWARTZYSTWO EMERYTALNE S.A., METLIFE PRIVATE EQUITY HOLDINGS LLC, METLIFE PROPERTIES VENTURES LLC, METLIFE RC SF MEMBER LLC, METLIFE REAL ESTATE LENDING LLC, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF BERMUDA LTD., METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF CHARLESTON, METLIFE REINSURANCE COMPANY OF VERMONT, METLIFE RETIREMENT SERVICES LLC, METLIFE SAENGMYOUNG INSURANCE COMPANY LTD., METLIFE SECURITIZATION DEPOSITOR LLC, METLIFE SEGUROS S.A., METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FINCO LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING FUND LP, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING GP LLC, METLIFE SENIOR DIRECT LENDING HOLDINGS LP, METLIFE SERVICES AND SOLUTIONS LLC, METLIFE SERVICES CYPRUS LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EAST PRIVATE LIMITED, METLIFE SERVICES EEIG, METLIFE SERVICES EOOD, METLIFE SERVICES SOCIEDAD LIMITADA, METLIFE SERVICES SP Z.O.O, METLIFE SERVICIOS S.A., METLIFE SLOVAKIA S.R.O. V LIKVIDACII, METLIFE SOLUTIONS PTE. 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DE C.V., ML CERRITOS TC MEMBER LLC, ML CLAL MEMBER LLC, ML DOLPHIN GP LLC, ML DOLPHIN MEZZ LLC, ML MATSON MILLS MEMBER LLC, ML MILILANI MEMBER LLC, ML ONE BEDMINSTER LLC, ML PORT CHESTER SC MEMBER LLC, ML SENTINEL SQUARE MEMBER LLC, ML SLOANS LAKE MEMEBR LLC, ML SOUTHLANDS MEMBER LLC, ML SOUTHMORE LLC, ML SWAN GP LLC, ML SWAN MEZZ LLC, ML TERRACES LLC, ML THIRD ARMY INDUSTRIAL MEMBER LLC, ML VENTURE 1 MANAGER S. DE R. L. DE C.V., ML VENTURE 1 SERVICER LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 1 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 2 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 3 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 4 LLC, ML-AI METLIFE MEMBER 5 LLC, MLIA MANAGER I LLC, MLIA PARK TOWER MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF COLONY MANAGER LLC, MLIA SBAF MANAGER LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS II LLC, MLIC ASSET HOLDINGS LLC, MLIC CB HOLDINGS LLC, MLJ US FEEDER LLC, MM GLOBAL OPERATIONS SUPPORT CENTER S.A. 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LTD., SOUTHCREEK INDUSTRIAL HOLDINGS LLC, ST. JAMES FLEET INVESTMENTS TWO LIMITED, SUPERIOR PROCUREMENT INC, SUPERIOR VISION BENEFIT MANAGEMENT INC., SUPERIOR VISION HOLDINGS INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE INC., SUPERIOR VISION INSURANCE PLAN OF WISCONSIN INC., SUPERIOR VISION OF NEW JERSEY INC., SUPERIOR VISION SERVICES INC., Safeguard Health Enterprises, Security First Group Inc., THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH AVENUE MEZZANINE LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL HOLDING LLC, THE BUILDING AT 575 FIFTH RETAIL OWNER, THE DIRECT CALL CENTRE PTY LIMITED, TRANSMOUNTAIN LAND & LIVESTOCK COMPANY, UVC INDEPENDENT PRACTICE ASSOCIATION INC., VERSANT HEALTH CONSOLIDATIONS CORP., VERSANT HEALTH HOLDCO INC., VERSANT HEALTH LAB LLC, VIRIDIAN MIRACLE MILE LLC, VISION 21 MANAGED EYE CARE OF TAMPA BAY, VISION 21 PHYSICIAN PRACTICE MANAGEMENT COMPANY, VISION TWENTY-ONE MANAGED EYE CARE IPA INC., Versant Health, WDV ACQUISITION CORP., WFP 1000 HOLDING COMPANY GP LLC, WHITE OAK ROYALTY COMPANY, and WHITE TRACT II LLC. United Technologies Corporation provides technology products and services to building systems and aerospace industries worldwide. Its Otis segment designs, manufactures, sells, and installs passenger and freight elevators, escalators, and moving walkways; and offers modernization products to upgrade elevators and escalators, as well as maintenance and repair services. The company's Carrier segment provides heating, ventilating, air conditioning, refrigeration, fire, security, and building automation products, solutions, and services for commercial, government, infrastructure, residential, and refrigeration and transportation applications. This segment also offers building services, including audit, design, installation, system integration, repair, maintenance, and monitoring. Its Pratt & Whitney segment supplies aircraft engines for commercial, military, business jet, and general aviation markets; and provides aftermarket maintenance, repair, and overhaul, as well as fleet management services. The company's Collins Aerospace Systems segment provides electric power generation, power management, and distribution systems; air data and aircraft sensing systems; engine control, intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems; engine components; environmental control systems; fire and ice detection, and protection systems; propeller systems; engine nacelle systems; aircraft lighting, seating, and cargo systems; actuation and landing systems; space products and subsystems; avionics systems; flight controls, communications, navigation, oxygen, and training systems; food and beverage preparation, and storage and galley systems; and lavatory and wastewater management systems. The company offers its services through manufacturers' representatives, distributors, wholesalers, dealers, retail outlets, and sales representatives, as well as directly to customers. United Technologies Corporation was founded in 1934 and is headquartered in Farmington, Connecticut. Read More To newer heights How successful Prime Minister Olis latest state visit to India was remains to be seen Daimler AG, together its subsidiaries, develops and manufactures passenger cars, trucks, vans, and buses in Germany and internationally. It operates through Mercedes-Benz Cars & Vans, Daimler Trucks and Buses, and Daimler Mobility segments. The Mercedes-Benz Cars segment offers premium and luxury vehicles of the Mercedes-Benz brand, including the Mercedes-AMG, Mercedes-Maybach, and Mercedes-EQ brands; small cars under the smart brand name; and ecosystem of Mercedes-Benz under the Mercedes me brand, as well as vans and related services under the Mercedes-Benz and Freightliner brands. Daimler Trucks and Buses segment offers its trucks and special vehicles under the Mercedes-Benz, Freightliner, Western Star, FUSO, and BharatBenz brands; and buses under the Mercedes-Benz, Setra, Thomas Built Buses, and FU brands, as well as bus chassis. The Daimler Mobility segment provides financing and leasing packages for end-customers and dealers; and automotive insurance brokerage, banking, investment, and fleet management services under the Athlon brand. It also sells vehicle related spare parts and accessories. Daimler AG was founded in 1886 and is headquartered in Stuttgart, Germany Read More Wacker Chemie AG engages in the manufacture and distribution of chemical products. It operates through the following segments: Silicones, Polymers, Biosolutions, Polysilicons, and Other. The Silicones segment includes silicones and silicone rubber for consumer goods, chemicals, energy and electronics applications, and construction products. The Polymers segment produces dispersions and dispersible polymer powders. The Biosolutions segment fabricates fine chemicals, such as proteins, cyclodextirins, cysteine, and acetate solid resins. The Polysilicon segment consists of hyperpure polysilicon, chlorosilanes, and pyrogenic silicas for the semiconductor and electronics industries. The Others segments comprises of other activities. The company was founded on October 13, 1914 and is headquartered in Munich, Germany. Read More Federated Investors, Inc. is a publicly owned asset management holding company. Through its subsidiaries, the firm provides its services to individuals, including high net worth individuals, banking or thrift institutions, investment companies, pension and profit sharing plans, pooled investment vehicles, charitable organizations, state or municipal government entities, and registered investment advisors. Through its subsidiaries, it manages separate client-focused equity, fixed income, balanced and money market mutual funds along with separate client-focused equity, fixed income, money market, and balanced portfolios. Through its subsidiaries, the firm invests in the public equity and fixed income markets across the globe. It invests in growth and value stocks of small-cap, mid-cap, and large-cap companies. The firm makes its fixed income investments in ultra-short, short-term, and intermediate-term mortgage-backed, U.S. Government, U.S. corporate, high yield, and municipal securities. It employs both fundamental and quantitative analysis to make its equity investments. Federated Investors, Inc. was founded in 1955 and is based in Pittsburgh, Pennsylvania with additional offices in New York City and London, United Kingdom. Read More Celanese Corp. engages in the provision of technology and specialty materials businesses. It operates through the following segments: Engineered Materials, Acetate Tow, Acetyl Chain and Other Activities .The Engineered Materials segment includes the engineered materials business, food ingredients business and certain strategic affiliates. The Acetate Tow segment serves consumer-driven applications and is a global producer and supplier of acetate tow and acetate flake used in filter products applications. The Acetyl Chain segment includes the integrated chain of intermediate chemistry, emulsion polymers and ethylene vinyl acetate (""EVA"") polymers businesses, based on similar products, production processes, classes of customers and selling and distribution practices as well as economic similarities over a normal business cycle. The Other Activities segment consists of corporate center costs, including administrative activities such as finance, information technology and human resource functions, interest income and expense associated with financing activities. The company was founded by Camille Dreyfus and Henri Dreyfus in 1918 and is headquartered in Irving, TX. Read More CYBG PLC, through its subsidiaries, provides retail and business banking products and services to individuals and businesses under the Clydesdale Bank, Yorkshire Bank, B, and Virgin Money brands in the United Kingdom. It operates through SME Banking and Retail Banking segments. The SME Banking segment offers a range of banking products and services, including business current accounts; and secured and unsecured term loans, business overdrafts, and invoice and asset financing products and services. It also provides international trade services, such as import loans, export loans, documentary collections, currency guarantees, and letters of credit for securing trade; and current account facilities comprising debit cards, cheque books, regular statements, direct debits, and standing orders, as well as day to day and online banking services. This segment serves business customers in the small business, commercial, corporate, and structured finance markets. The Retail Banking segment offers personal current accounts, savings accounts, and term deposits; occupied mortgage loans and BTL loans, unsecured personal loans, and overdrafts, as well as credit card products; and insurance and investment products. The company was founded in 1838 and is based in Leeds, the United Kingdom. Read More Suncor Energy Inc. operates as an integrated energy company. The company primarily focuses on developing petroleum resource basins in Canada's Athabasca oil sands; explores, acquires, develops, produces, transports, refines, and markets crude oil in Canada and internationally; markets petroleum and petrochemical products under the Petro-Canada name primarily in Canada. It operates in Oil Sands; Exploration and Production; Refining and Marketing; and Corporate and Eliminations segments. The Oil Sands segment recovers bitumen from mining and in situ operations, and upgrades it into refinery feedstock and diesel fuel, or blends the bitumen with diluent for direct sale to market. The Exploration and Production segment is involved in offshore operations off the east coast of Canada and in the North Sea; and operating onshore assets in Libya and Syria. The Refining and Marketing segment refines crude oil and intermediate feedstock into various petroleum and petrochemical products; and markets refined petroleum products to retail, commercial, and industrial customers through its other retail sellers. The Corporate and Eliminations segment operates four wind farm operations in Ontario and Western Canada. The company also markets and trades in crude oil, natural gas, byproducts, refined products, and power. The company was formerly known as Suncor Inc. and changed its name to Suncor Energy Inc. in April 1997. Suncor Energy Inc. was founded in 1917 and is headquartered in Calgary, Canada. Read More Imperial Brands PLC, together with its subsidiaries, manufactures, imports, markets, and sells tobacco and tobacco-related products. It offers a range of cigarettes, fine cut and smokeless tobacco, papers, and cigars; and next generation product (NGP) portfolio, such as e-vapour products, as well as oral nicotine and heated tobacco products. The company sells its products under various brands, including Davidoff, Gauloises, JPS, West, L&B, Bastos, Fine, Winston, News, Parker & Simpson, blu, Kool, Horizon, Jade, Cohiba, Montecristo, Romeo Y Julieta, Backwoods, Skruf, Golden Virginia, Rizla, and Knox in approximately 160 countries worldwide. It also provides logistics services that include the distribution of tobacco and NGP products for tobacco and NGP product manufacturers; and various non-tobacco and NGP products and services. In addition, the company is involved in the management of a golf course; marketing of papers; restaurant business; distribution of pharmaceuticals, POS software, and published materials and other products; printing and publishing activities; and provision of long haul transportation, industrial parcel and express delivery, advertising, and support management services. Further, it owns the trademarks; and retails its products. The company was formerly known as Imperial Tobacco Group PLC and changed its name to Imperial Brands PLC in February 2016. Imperial Brands PLC was founded in 1901 and is headquartered in Bristol, the United Kingdom. Read More Augusta Gold Corp., a junior exploration company, engages in the acquisition and exploration of mineral properties in the United States. It primarily explores for gold, silver, and other metals. The company holds interests in the Bullfrog gold project located in the north-west of Las Vegas, Nevada. It also owns, controls, or has acquired mineral rights on Federal patented and unpatented mining claims in the state of Nevada for the purpose of exploration and potential development of metals on a total of approximately 7,800 acres of land. The company was formerly known as Bullfrog Gold Corp. and changed its name to Augusta Gold Corp. in January 2021. Augusta Gold Corp. was incorporated in 2007 and is headquartered in Vancouver, Canada. Read More Honorary degree presentations will take place at eight of the 16 convocation ceremonies at Dalhousie this spring. Convocation begins on Friday, May 11 with the ceremony for graduates of the Faculties of Agriculture and Graduate Studies on the Agricultural Campus. Ceremonies then resume in Halifax on Monday, May 28 and run through Saturday, June 2. Dalhousie's thousands of new graduates this spring the class of Dal's 200th anniversary year will be joined by eight outstanding individuals whose achievements are being recognized with an honorary degree. Dr. Thomas J. Marrie Accomplished physician, researcher and university leader Monday, May 28 9 a.m. ceremony From humble beginnings as a family physician in his home province of Newfoundland, Dr. Thomas J. Marrie has crafted a truly illustrious career as a medical researcher, teacher, administrator and clinician. A graduate of Memorial University and Dalhousie Medical School, Dr. Marrie spent more than two decades at Dalhousie, becoming Professor of Medicine and founding the Division of Infectious Diseases before leaving for the University of Alberta in 2004 to serve as Dean of Medicine and Dentistry. He returned to Dal in 2009 to become the universitys 12th Dean of Medicine, and during his tenure (which ran until 2015) his leadership secured the integrity of the medical school and revised its curriculum to a leading standard in North America. Dr. Marrie coordinated the opening of Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick in Saint John and was instrumental in establishing the J.D. Irving Ltd. Chair in Occupational Medicine. Dr. Marrie has served as Chair of the Canadian Residency Matching Service and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences, and as president of the Canadian Association of Professors of Medicine, the Canadian Infectious Disease Society, and the Canadian Academy of Health Sciences. A Member of the Order of Canada and a Fellow of the Royal Society of Canada, he has been recognized with a Master Clinician Lecturer Award from the Department of Medicine at Dalhousie and a Lifetime Achievement Award from the Association of Medical Microbiology and Infectious Diseases of Canada, among dozens of other awards. He received an honorary doctorate in 2003 from the University of Mediterranean in Marseille, France. Dr. Cindy Blackstock A global force in child protection and Indigenous childrens rights Monday, May 28 12:30 p.m. ceremony Cindy Blackstock has made an unparalleled contribution to the advancement of human rights for Indigenous children and families in Canada. She is best known as the driving force behind a 2007 complaint under the Canadian Human Rights Act charging that Canada discriminates against Indigenous children by underfunding child and family services on reserves. In 2016, the Canadian Human Rights Tribunal found the complaint had merit, and ordered the federal government to cease its discriminatory practices. Dr. Blackstock is Executive Director of the First Nations Child and Family Caring Society of Canada and Professor in the School of Social Work at McGill University. She has contributed to several UN initiatives, including collaborating with other Indigenous leaders to support development of a General Comment on the Rights of Indigenous children, and is a Commissioner for the Pan American Health Organization Commission on Health Equity and Inequity. She has authored dozens of publications and is a gifted speaker who uses her platform to keep matters of Indigenous health, social and educational services at the forefront of Canadian and international consciousness. A member of the Gitxsan First Nation in northwest British Columbia, Dr. Blackstock has a BA from UBC, a Masters in Management from McGill, a PhD in Social Work from the University of Toronto, a Master of Jurisprudence from Loyola University and more than a dozen honorary degrees. She has received the Amnesty International Ambassador of Conscience Award, the Canadian Labour Congress Award for Outstanding Service to Humanity, the Jack Layton Award from the Broadbent Institute, and the Law Society of Upper Canada Human Rights Award. Dr. Jack D. Gerrow A lasting legacy in dentistry education Monday, May 28 4 p.m. ceremony Dr. Jack D. Gerrow has made a profound and lasting mark on how dentistry is taught and evaluated, both in Canada and abroad. As the Chair and Registrar of the National Dental Examining Board (NDEB) for 24 years, he used scientific methods to increase the quality and fairness of evaluations and licensing exams, developing techniques that have been adopted internationally. As a Dalhousie professor, Dr. Gerrow was instrumental in implementing a zero-based curriculum review, a process which involves starting with a blank slate and rebuilding the curriculum from the ground up. He tirelessly advocated for the evaluation of dental competencies, the specific skillsets that dental students must demonstrate before becoming independent practitioners. Dr. Gerrow grew up in Waterford, Ontario. He earned his DDS from the University of Toronto in 1979 and went on to complete a Master of Science and Certificate in Prosthodontics at the University of Iowa in 1985. He began his teaching career at Dalhousie later that year. While at Dalhousie, he completed a Master of Education degree and received numerous honours, including awards for Teaching Excellence from the Alumni Association and from the Association of Canadian Faculties of Dentistry. Now Professor Emeritus, Dr. Gerrow lives in Ottawa, where he retired from the NDEB in late 2017. He was recently appointed executive director of the Canadian Dental Regulatory Authorities Federation and adjunct professor at the University of Toronto. Dr. Gerrow received the 2018 Gies Award for Innovation in Dental Education. This is his first honorary degree. S. I. Rustum Southwell Supporting Black entrepreneurship and community leadership Tuesday, May 29 9 a.m. ceremony A passionate community leader, S. I. Rustum Southwell is best known as the founding Chief Executive Officer of the Black Business Initiative (BBI), an organization that addresses the specific needs of the Black business community in Halifax. He has shepherded the creation and expansion of hundreds of Black-owned and operated businesses. From 1996 to 2012, Mr. Southwell led the BBI, taking it from a fledgling organization to an integral part of the economic and entrepreneurial landscape of this province. Two years ago, he returned as Interim CEO. Mr. Southwell came to Halifax more than 45 years ago from the Caribbean island of Saint Kitts, and studied at Dalhousie before starting a career in food service. He became one of the first Black franchisees in Nova Scotia as the owner-operator of a Harveys restaurant in Halifax. He has chaired the board of Hope Blooms Youth Ventures Inc., vice-chaired the Caribbean Association of Nova Scotia, co-chaired the African Heritage Month Committee, and has been involved with the Black Loyalist Heritage Society, the Black Cultural Society and the Nova Scotia Home for Coloured Children Strategic Planning Workgroup. He has served on the boards of the Halifax Chamber of Commerce, the Waterfront Development Corporation and the United Way of Halifax. He is a member of the Black Loyalist Heritage Society Board of Directors, and returned in 2016 for a second term on the Board of Governors of the Nova Scotia Community College (NSCC). NSCC awarded Mr. Southwell an Honorary Diploma from the School of Business in 2012. This is his first honorary degree. Lynn Clark Irving A transformative leader in business and philanthropy Wednesday, May 30 4 p.m. ceremony As chair of the medical research capital campaign for Dalhousie Medicine New Brunswick, Lynn Clark Irving made it possible for all medical students at Dalhousie to learn best practices in workplace health and safety and occupational wellness. Of the incredible $15 million raised by this campaign, $5 million was earmarked to fund the J.D. Irving Ltd. Chair in Occupational Medicine, Canadas first fully endowed chair in this field. Mrs. Irvings extensive service to Dalhousie includes sitting on the Board of Governors from 2003 to 2012, during which she was an integral part of the Bold Ambitions Leadership Council that helped raise $280 million for the university. She also has served on Board of the Dalhousie Medical Research Foundation since 2016. Lynn Irving grew up in Kentville, NS. She earned a BSc from Acadia and a Diploma in Physiotherapy from Dalhousie. Mrs. Irving is an internal consultant for Irving Health Services at J.D. Irving Limited, where she has helped develop and implement award-winning workplace wellness, disability management, and employee health and productivity programs. She has served as a school board trustee, on the Board of Governors of Rothesay Netherwood School, as chair of the Stan Cassidy Centre for Rehabilitation Foundation Board, and on the Boards of Symphony New Brunswick and the New Brunswick Foundation for the Arts. She currently sits on the Board of Directors of the IWK Health Centre. Mrs. Irving was honoured with the Paul Harris Fellowship by the Rotary Club of Rothesay Kings in 2013 and the Queen Elizabeth II Diamond Jubilee Medal in 2012. This is her first honorary degree. Dr. Robert H. Frank Renowned economic scholar and commentator Friday, June 1 9 a.m. ceremony As a clear-eyed commentator, accomplished scholar and gifted teacher, Robert H. Frank has advanced economic thought by combining insights from evolutionary biology, psychology and economics. His work reminds us that we have the power to turn back the tide of rising economic and democratic inequality. Dr. Frank has authored more than a dozen books, including The Winner-Take-All Society. Co-authored with Philip Cook, it has garnered several awards, including the New York Times Notable Book of the Year and the San Francisco Review of Books Critics Choice Award. His writing has appeared hundreds of times in professional journals and popular publications, including the New York Times, where his Economic View column appeared every five weeks for more than a decade. Dr. Frank completed a BS in Mathematics at Georgia Tech, and an MA in Statistics and a PhD in Economics, both from the University of California at Berkeley. He has spent most of his academic career at Cornell, and today is a Professor of Economics and the Henrietta Johnson Louis Professor of Management at the Johnson Graduate School of Management. He has won the Johnson Schools Stephen Russell Distinguished Teaching Award three times, received the 2004 Leontief Prize for Advancing the Frontiers of Economic Thought, and was named the 2000-01 French-American Foundation Professor of American Civilization for Ecole des Hautes Etudes en Sciences Sociales in France. In 2008, he was awarded an honorary degree in economics from the University of St. Gallen in Switzerland. Dr. Peter William OHearn Innovation that has transformed programming theory and practice Saturday, June 2 9 a.m. ceremony Innovation has been and continues to be the hallmark of Dr. Peter William OHearns academic career. His research in the areas of programming languages and mathematical logic led to the invention of Separation Logic, and more recently Concurrent Separation Logictheories that underlie programs to automatically check other software for errors and have opened up entire fields of research. He has also been a leader in putting theory into practice: his software analysis tool, Infer, has been used to improve and find errors in software used by companies such as Facebook, Amazon and Uber. In 2009, he co-founded software development company Monoidics Ltd., which developed the Infer Static Analyzer and was later acquired by Facebook. Staying on as a manager engineering, in 2015 Dr. OHearn and his team made Infer open source software free to developers everywhere. Dr. OHearn, who grew up in Halifax County, earned his Bachelor of Science at Dalhousie and has a Master of Science and PhD degrees from Queens University. He began his teaching career in 1991 at Syracuse University, later moving on to positions at Queen Mary University of London and University College London, where he teaches today. Dr. OHearn was awarded the 2012 Royal Academy of Engineering/Microsoft Research Chair. In 2016, he received the Computer Aided Verification Conference Award and the Godel Prize (both for the invention of Concurrent Separation Logic), and was elected a Fellow of the Royal Academy of Engineering. This is Dr. OHearns first honorary degree. Dr. John Ralston Saul Prolific Canadian author and advocate Saturday, June 2 12:30 p.m. ceremony Dr. John Ralston Saul is a prolific writer, thinker, public intellectual and advocate for active and engaged citizenship. He has deeply influenced how we consider issues of history and identity. Dr. Ralston Saul has published 14 books of fiction and non-fiction alongside dozens of other essays, reports, and contributions to anthologies. He is General Editor of the Penguin Extraordinary Canadians project, served as president of PEN International from 2009 to 2015, and is the founder and Honorary Chair of French for the Future. He co-founded and now co-chairs the Institute for Canadian Citizenship, a national charity that inspires Canadians to be inclusive, embrace fresh thinking and practise active citizenship. He considers the relationship between Indigenous and non-Indigenous Canadians to be the defining question of our time. After completing a BA (Honours) from McGill University in 1969, Dr. Ralston Saul went on to earn a PhD in 1972 from Kings College, University of London. He has been described as a prophet by TIME magazine and was named one of the worlds 100 leading thinkers and visionaries by Utne Reader. He is the recipient of 19 honorary degrees from institutions across Canada and abroad, and his many honours include the Pablo Neruda International Presidential Medal of Honour, the Governor-Generals Literary Award for Non-Fiction, the Writers Union of Canada Freedom to Read Award, and the World Prize of Humanism by the Ohrid Academy of Humanism in Macedonia. He has been named Chevalier des Arts et des Lettres de France and a Companion of the Order of Canada. Alto retained its number one position by selling 2,58,539 units in 2017-18 as against 2,41,635 units in the previous financial year, up 6.99 per cent. New Delhi: Maruti Suzuki India's(MSI) entry level hatchback Alto retained its status as the best selling passenger vehicle in India in 2017-18, leading the company's dominance with seven of its models featuring in the top ten list. According to data by the Society of Indian Automobile Manufacturers (SIAM), Hyundai Motor India Ltd's (HMIL) three models made it to the list. The top ten list clearly showed the dominance of the two companies in the Indian passenger vehicle (PV) market. The Alto retained its number one position by selling 2,58,539 units in 2017-18 as against 2,41,635 units in the previous financial year, up 6.99 per cent. MSI's new version of compact sedan Dzire moved to the second spot selling 1,96,990 units in the year. The older version of the sedan, Dzire Tour, had occupied the third spot in 2016-17 with 1,67,266 units. Similarly, the company's premium hatchback Baleno also moved up to the third spot selling 1,90,480 units in 2017-18 from seventh in 2016-17 when it clocked 1,20,804 units. The newly launched version of hatchback Swift retained its fourth position with 1,75,928 units in 2017-18. The model had sold 1,66,885 units in 2016-17. MSI's Wagon R moved down to fifth position in the list selling 1,68,644 units from second in 2016-17 when it clocked 1,72,346 units, as per SIAM data. HMIL's compact car Grand i10 was the sixth best selling model in 2017-18 with 1,51,113 units, a position down from 2016-17 when it sold 1,46,228 units. Occupying the seventh position in 2017-18 was MSI's compact SUV Vitara Brezza with 1,48,462 units, moving up from ninth position in the previous year when it sold 1,08,640 units. HMIL's premium hatchback Elite i20 was at eighth position with 1,36,182 units. The model was at sixth spot in 2016-17 when it registered sales of 1,26,304 units. The company's popular SUV Creta was the ninth best selling PV model in 2017-18 with a total of 1,07,136 units. It did not feature in the top ten list in the previous year. MSI's another compact model completed the list retaining its tenth position at 94,721 units in 2017-18 as against 97,361 units in 2016-17, SIAM said. NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Pvt Ltd was set up in December 2007 as a 50:50 joint venture for manufacturing power equipment. New Delhi: India's biggest power producer NTPC Ltd has decided to exit the joint venture with BHEL, saying it is not a manufacturer of equipment and would rather concentrate on setting up and operating power plants. NTPC-BHEL Power Projects Pvt Ltd was set up in December 2007 as a 50:50 joint venture for manufacturing power equipment. The joint venture's first manufacturing facility at Mannavaram in Chittoor district of Andhra Pradesh started operations in 2016 but had very little orders. Top NTPC sources said the company has decided to exit the venture and has informed the power ministry about its intentions. NTPC wants BHEL to buy its equity in the joint venture, they said. The two companies had invested Rs 50 crore each as equity in the joint venture. The power producer wants BHEL to acquire its 50 per cent stake in the JV as also all the assets and liabilities and absorb all the employees, they said. The joint venture had little revenue visibility and needed a fresh injection of new orders or a new blueprint to sustain itself. Also, a drying market for thermal power equipment has had a toll on the joint venture company. Fund crunch, land acquisition and environmental issues, general lack of demand for coal-based power and government's emphasis on renewable sources of power have left little to fight for in the thermal power equipment market. Originally, NTPC had lobbied with the government to force Bharat Heavy Electricals Ltd (BHEL) to form a joint venture company. This because NTPC thought BHEL was slow in supplying equipment, leading to delays in commissioning of its plants. The joint venture was to carry out engineering, procurement and construction activities in the power sector. Its life largely depended on orders from NTPC, managing to secure only four orders in over a decade-long existence the largest being of Rs 2,219 crore for the 500 MW Feroze Gandhi Unchahar thermal power project out of total orders worth Rs 2,717 crore. Industry sources said the two state-owned companies had come together with the understanding that part of the work of projects that BHEL bagged from NTPC would be given to the joint venture company. The role of the equal joint venture was initially confined to balance of plant equipment such as coal-handling, ash-handling and water treatment facility. New Delhi: The Reserve Bank of India (RBI) on Wednesday stoutly defended its revised framework on bad loans under which even a one-day default could lead to the account being classified as non-performing asset (NPA). The RBIs tough posture comes even as the finance ministry has been pitching for scrapping of this key norm. The RBI deputy governor raised concerns over the large number of borrowers failing on the one-day default norm, and asked the lenders to take this as a warning indicator warranting action. Data show that a large number of borrowers, even some highly-rated ones, have failed on the one-day default norm. This has to change. If borrowers fail to pay on the due date because of a cash flow problem, banks should see that as an early warning indicator warranting immediate action, RBI deputy governor NS Vishwanathan said at the 14th convocation ceremony of the RBI-run National Institute of Bank Management, here on Wednesday. The finance ministry has been pressing the Mint Road to relax the stringent new NPA reporting norms by relaxing the one-day default reporting norm to 30 days, as it worries that with the new norms, many more companies, especially small and medium units, will end up at NCLTs, crippling the economy. The deputy governor, who is in-charge of the banking regulations department, also said banks should warn their customers that one-day default will lead them to the watch list for resolution. Borrowers, too, should realise that they have to meet payment obligations and it is no more sufficient to pay up only by 60/90 days past due date, Vishwanathan said. Amidst rising bad loans, which have crossed 10 per cent of the system, RBI had on February 12 released a revised framework on bad loan resolution, under which banks will have to disclose defaults even if the interest repayment is overdue by just one day and have to keep a resolution plan in place within 180 days. Failing to find a resolution within this stipulated time, the defaulting company will have to be referred to the insolvency courts as RBI had abolished all the extant debt resolution mechanisms. Vishwanathan said if borrowers, with ability to pay on due date, delay routinely or because they see other arbitrage options, it must change. He said the revised framework tries to reduce the arbitrage options that borrowers are currently enjoying while raising funds through bank borrowing compared to raising funds from the market. If a borrower delays coupon/principal payment on a corporate bond even for a day, the market would penalise the borrower heavily -- the rating would be downgraded, the yields on the bonds would shoot up, cost of further financing would increase, suits would be filed by investors etc, he said. So far, defaults in bank borrowings have not attracted similar reactions, Vishwanathan rued and said only when the over-dues stretch beyond 90 days, the loans would be classified as non-performing assets, hence efforts by lenders and borrowers should be to avoid the account getting classified as an NPA. What this means is that debt contract embedded in bank loan has been continuously losing its sanctity, especially where the borrowing is large. There is a need to change this and restore the sanctity of the debt contract, lest the debt becomes subordinate even to equity, he said. Meanwhile, Vishwanathan also said RBI will put in place necessary evaluation standards for assessing the performance of rating agencies with a view to ensure greater credibility of the rating opinion. He said the process of recapitalisation of public sector banks will enhance their ability to provide for credit loss as well as to contribute to credit growth. Vishwanathan said retail credit and the personal loan segment are not risk-free and banks should not see it as the grand panacea for their problem riddled corporate loan book. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the two states which were the first to report cash shortage a few months ago, senior government officials said only 70 per cent of the ATMs were dispensing cash. New Delhi/Hyderabad: The finance ministry and RBI officials on Thursday said that the cash crunch witnessed in some parts of the country would improve by Friday evening. The cash crunch has eased slightly on Thursday as around 86 per cent of the ATMs were functioning across the country. In Andhra Pradesh and Telangana, the two states which were the first to report cash shortage a few months ago, senior government officials said only 70 per cent of the ATMs were dispensing cash. A bank official, however, suggests that the number of cash-dispensing ATMs in both Telugu states, as claimed by the officials, is exaggerated and only 30 to 40 per cent ATMs are functional on Thursday. SBI chairman Rajnish Kumar said a large number of people are not depositing the cash in the banks, which resulted in cash shortage. Bihar, which was another state hit by the cash crunch, saw around 66 per cent of its ATM working on Thursday. The RBI is transporting more cash to Bihar so as to improve the situation in the state by Friday evening, said sources. They added additional Rs 1,200 crore may be pushed to Bihar. Equity mutual funds investors are always advised to stay invested over long term and derive greater benefits from the power of compounding. However, there can be some unique situations, which will warrant the redemption of your existing mutual fund investments. Here is a list of various circumstances when you may consider exiting your mutual fund investments: Achievement of financial goal: Your mutual fund investments should always be aligned with your financial goals. These include building corpuses for your childrens education, post-retirement life, home loan downpayment, buying car, etc. If your financial goal is 12 months away or less and the mutual fund investments meant for it have already reached or surpassed the target corpus, then you can move out of those equity funds and park the proceeds in short term or ultra-short term debt funds. These debt funds have very low risk of capital erosion and yet generate higher returns than savings accounts and fixed deposits. Consistent underperformance: A mutual fund can be considered as a good one if it consistently generates higher returns than its peer funds and benchmark indices. If your mutual fund fails to do so for more than 34 consecutive quarters, then it is time to redeem that fund for a better performing one. Changed investment objective: The investment objective of a mutual fund scheme states its investment and asset allocation strategy. This helps in finding out whether the fund suits your financial goals and risk appetite. Changes in a funds investment objective are communicated to its investors as it can have significant implications on your financial goals. Redeem your fund if the changes in its investment objective renders it misfit for your own financial goals and risk appetite. For example, if your multi-cap fund has changed itself into a midcap fund resulting in higher risk for your comfort, then you should redeem that fund for another multi-cap fund suiting your risk profile. To move out of underperforming sector or themes: Sector and thematic funds limit their investments to their stated sectors and investment themes respectively. Hence, any adverse changes in the business cycle of the constituent instruments of such funds will dampen their performances for a long time. Opt out of such funds if you are sure that their underlying sectors or themes will underperform the overall market for a long time. For portfolio rebalancing: Investors often find their asset mix altered after a certain period due to varying returns generated by different asset classes. Their asset mix can also drastically change due to extraordinary returns from equity funds during bull markets or a steep fall in their value due to market corrections. If your changed asset mix drastically alters your exposure to risk, then rebalance your portfolio by redeeming some mutual fund investments from the inflated asset classes and investing the proceeds in the underweight asset class. To follow life-cycle investing: Lifecycle investing refers to the asset allocation strategy based on your increasing age. Under this approach, your investment portfolio makes a gradual shift from high-risk high-return asset classes to low-risk low-return ones with your growing age. Thus, investors following this asset allocation strategy would need to redeem a part of your equity funds for higher debt fund exposure as they grow old. Changed risk profile: Unforeseen financial exigencies and drastic changes in your financial goals or income can alter your risk appetite. This may leave your existing mutual fund portfolio with a mismatched risk profile. For example, an adverse job market may require a higher exposure to assets with high liquidity and capital protection. In such cases, you can redeem a part of your equity fund investments for increasing exposure to short and ultra-short term debt funds. Similarly, an unforeseen financial emergency may require you to redeem your existing mutual fund investments if the lending rates offered to meet the emergency are too high. - By Manish Kothari Director & Head of Mutual Funds, Paisabazaar.com Mumbai: Aamir Khan has become quite the name in China, which can be seen with Dangal and Secret Superstar performing amazingly well there. It is now being heard that the superstar will release his upcoming film Thugs Of Hindostan there along with the Indian release. An insider informed Mid-Day, "The producers are in the process of formulating special promotional plans for the movie. Aamir is apparently keen to travel to China for a week or so, and headline a few events so that he can generate buzz about the film among the audience. He is likely to unveil a song in one of the promotional events in the country." Revealing the reason for it, the source adds, "Aamir's Chinese fans keep tracking his films and download them as soon as they release in India. Since piracy hampers the box-office figures, the producers have decided to release Thugs Of Hindostan simultaneously." The film's spokesperson also mentioned, "We are formulating the China release strategy, but it will definitely be the biggest release of an Indian film in China, befitting Aamir Khan's stature in that part of the world." Mumbai: Shah Rukh Khan, Anushka Sharma and Aanand L. Rai have left for America and in fact were spotted having some important meetings there. The trio went to meet the USA consulate in Mumbai, where they had a great chat about filming their movie Zero too. The consulate went on to wish the team luck for their time in Alabama and tagged U.S. Space and Rocket Center. Guess who stopped by the consulate today? @iamsrk @AnushkaSharma & @aanandlrai had a great chat with #CGKagan about #HollywoodBollywood and filming their upcoming film #ZeroTheMovie @RocketCenterUSA. Good luck to the entire cast & crew and enjoy your time in Sweet Home Alabama! pic.twitter.com/vg5xJU7Z35 US Consulate Mumbai (@USAndMumbai) April 18, 2018 As earlier revealed, the climax of this movie is expected to be out of the world and thus it appears that the cast has gone to USA to shoot for the climax of their movie. Rating: Director: Majid Majidi Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Malavika Mohanan, Tanishtha Chatterjee and others Unlike our most of the Bollywood films which have palatial sets, fancy foreign locations, big star cast and extensive promotions backing them till their calculative release dates, away from all this, Iranian filmmaker Majid Majidi brings a simple tale of two siblings and their respective miseries. Noted filmmaker, who helmed films like Childrens Of Heaven and The Songs Of Sparrow in the past, Beyond The Clouds (BTC) is his first Hindi language directorial feature set in the Mumbai slums. Aamir (Ishaan Khatter), a small time drug dealer aspires to become super rich someday while her elder sister Tara (Malavika Mohanan) runs her living with secret prostitution. A drug raid brings Aamir close to Tara and the two lead a miserable life when Tara goes behind the bars for hitting her lusty lover in the neighbourhood. How far Aamir will go to save her sister Tara and bring her back to normal life is what BTC comprises of. Director Majid Majidi has a certain way of writing his films but with his first Hindi film, he clearly forgets the audience that seek pace and conflict in a film which doesnt have an extraordinary plot. However, he beautifully touches certain emotions in each of his characters but they are enjoyable in parts. First half is passable but second half is completely scattered. The film seems to lose its purpose at various places. Majidi has brilliantly knit the roles of Aamir and Tara. despite having dark shades, both of them have a brighter side. Few scenes where Aamir supports the family of her sisters culprit are high on emotions. While Taras unconditional bond with jail inmate and her little kid is heart wrenching. There are few nuances especially in the climax which might melt your heart but they are far away from perfection. The film is shot in the slums of Mumbai through a vivid filter. The background score doesnt gather much attention as well. BTC is a niche film and perhaps the directors weakest so far. Ishaan Khatter, who comes with a baggage to run a legacy of a film family outshines in his debut performance. He has come prepared to sustain here for long. His ease while facing the camera is just too good. At such a young age, it is commendable to see him taking a big risk by debuting with a film like this. Unlike, his obvious grand commercial debut, Ishaan proves his mettle in a film which pushed him as an actor. His breakdown and anger will give you goosebumps. He looks raw, rustic and real. Malavika Mohanan, who has a body of work down South, is not so good. She is watchable but not upto the mark. Though, newcomers should be given a fair chance to prove themselves for right after their debuts. Picking right films and getting apt roles are destined. Considering their debut, Ishaan and Malavika, both tried their best to perform. Tannishtha Chattejee has made her career out of playing a poor and miserable woman but courtesy her great acting skills that she is still visible often on screen. Rest of them are just average. BTC is certainly not a masterpiece of Majid Majidi. It is just another regular story of orphan siblings and their problematic lives. Avoid the pace and plot, the film is high on emotions. Watch 'Beyond The Clouds' trailer here: WASHINGTON: Melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica are speeding up the already fast pace of sea level rise, new satellite research shows. At the current rate, the world's oceans on average will be at least 2 feet (61 centimeters) higher by the end of the century compared to today, according to researchers who published in Monday's Proceedings of the National Academies of Sciences. Sea level rise is caused by warming of the ocean and melting from glaciers and ice sheets. The research, based on 25 years of satellite data, shows that pace has quickened, mainly from the melting of massive ice sheets. It confirms scientists' computer simulations and is in line with predictions from the United Nations, which releases regular climate change reports. "It's a big deal" because the projected sea level rise is a conservative estimate and it is likely to be higher, said lead author Steve Nerem of the University of Colorado. Outside scientists said even small changes in sea levels can lead to flooding and erosion. "Any flooding concerns that coastal communities have for 2100 may occur over the next few decades," Oregon State University coastal flooding expert Katy Serafin said in an email. Of the 3 inches (7.5 centimeters) of sea level rise in the past quarter century, about 55 percent is from warmer water expanding, and the rest is from melting ice. But the process is accelerating, and more than three-quarters of that acceleration since 1993 is due to melting ice sheets in Greenland and Antarctica, the study shows. Like weather and climate, there are two factors in sea level rise: year-to-year small rises and falls that are caused by natural events and larger long-term rising trends that are linked to man-made climate change. Nerem's team removed the natural effects of the 1991 Mt. Pinatubo eruption that temporarily chilled Earth and the climate phenomena El Nino and La Nina, and found the accelerating trend. Sea level rise, more than temperature, is a better gauge of climate change in action, said Anny Cazenave, director of Earth science at the International Space Science Institute in France, who edited the study. Cazenave is one of the pioneers of space-based sea level research. Global sea levels were stable for about 3,000 years until the 20th century when they rose and then accelerated due to global warming caused by the burning of coal, oil and natural gas, said climate scientist Stefan Rahmstorf of the Potsdam Institute in Germany, who wasn't part of the study. Two feet of sea level rise by the end of the century "would have big effects on places like Miami and New Orleans, but I don't still view that as catastrophic" because those cities can survive at great expense that amount of rising seas under normal situations, Nerem said. But when a storm hits like 2012's Superstorm Sandy, sea level rise on top of storm surge can lead to record-setting damages, researchers said. Some scientists at the American Geophysical Union meeting last year said Antarctica may be melting faster than predicted by Monday's study. Greenland has caused three times more sea level rise than Antarctica so far, but ice melt on the southern continent is responsible for more of the acceleration. "Antarctica seems less stable than we thought a few years ago," Rutgers climate scientist Robert Kopp said. A Malaysian fashion critic has been on the receiving end of a lot of heat after suggesting people who weight more that 60kgs should not attend catwalk shows, the Metro reported. "Your thighs are spilling over onto the chairs on your left and right," Zaihani Mohd Zain is quoted as saying in a now deleted Facebook post by the Malay Mail. "It's so awkward and uncomfortable for the persons seated next to you!" she went on to say. Her comments have caused a big stir and bigger reactions. "Our fashion critics too should be aware that 60kg, by any standard, is not obese," Metro reported one person as saying. Another said: "#ZaihaniMohdZain you should really train your half an ounce of brain to think before you speak." Sorry but 60kg doesnt mean you re fat......kalau tinggi cmne....... https://t.co/vJRw2MZy2S Ceparah (@ceparah) April 16, 2018 People from the industry have also been vocal about their criticism of Zain's comments. Designer Calvin Thoo writing on Facebook: "What right does one have to criticise plus size people and telling them not to attend fashion shows? "Dont bully small flies like you have once bullied me! You have no respect for others and you expect people to respect you?" The Christian belief in hell has developed over the centuries, influenced by both Jewish and Greek ideas of the afterlife. (Photo: Pixabay) The recent dispute over whether Pope Francis denied the existence of hell in an interview attracted wide attention. This isnt surprising, since the belief in an afterlife, where the virtuous are rewarded with a place in heaven and the wicked are punished in hell, is a core teaching of Christianity. So what is the Christian idea of hell? Origins of belief in hell The Christian belief in hell has developed over the centuries, influenced by both Jewish and Greek ideas of the afterlife. The earliest parts of the Hebrew Bible, around the eighth century B.C., described the afterlife as Sheol, a shadowy, silent pit where the souls of all the dead lingered in a minimal state of silent existence, forever outside of the presence of God. By the sixth century B.C., Sheol was increasingly viewed as a temporary place, where all the departed awaited a bodily resurrection. The righteous would then dwell in the presence of God, and the wicked would suffer in the fiery torment that came to be called Gehenna, described as a cursed place of fire and smoke. Early depictions of the afterlife in ancient Greece, an underworld realm called Hades, are similar. There, the listless spirits of the dead lingered in an underground twilight existence, ruled by the god of the dead. Evildoers suffered gloomy imprisonment on an even deeper level called Tartarus. Beginning in the fourth century B.C., after the Greek King Alexander the Great conquered Judea, elements of Greek culture began to influence Jewish religious thought. By time of the first gospels, between 65 and 85 A.D., Jesus refers to the Jewish belief in the eternal fire of Gehenna. Elsewhere, he mentions evildoers banishment from the kingdom of God, and the blazing furnace where the wicked would suffer sorrow and despair and where there will be weeping and gnashing of teeth. Jesus also mentions the Greek Hades when describing how the forces of evil the gates of Hades would not prevail against the church. Medieval ideas of hell In early Christianity, the fate of those in hell was described in different ways. Some theologians taught that eventually all evil human beings and even Satan himself would be restored to unity with God. Other teachers held that hell was an intermediate state, where some souls would be purified and others annihilated. The image that dominated in antiquity eventually prevailed. Hell was where the souls of the damned suffered torturous and unending punishment. Even after the resurrection of the dead at the end of the world, the wicked would be sent back to Hell for eternity. By the beginning of the fifth century, this doctrine was taught throughout western Christianity. It was reaffirmed officially by popes and councils throughout the Middle Ages. Medieval theologians continued to stress that the worst of all these torments would be eternal separation from God, the poena damni. Medieval visions of the afterlife provided more explicit details: pits full of dark flames, terrible cries, gagging stench, and rivers of boiling water filled with serpents. Perhaps the most fulsome description of hell was offered by the Italian poet Dante at the beginning of the 14th century in the first section of his Divine Comedy. Here the souls of the damned are punished with tortures matching their sins. Gluttons lie in freezing pools of garbage, while murderers thrash in a river of boiling blood. Hell is Gods absence Today, these images seem to be part of a past that the 21st century has outgrown. However, the official textbook of Catholic Christianity, the Catechism of the Catholic Church, reaffirms the Catholic belief in the eternal nature of hell. It omits the gory details found in earlier attempts to describe the hellish experience, but restates that the chief pain of hell is eternal separation from God. The Vatican insisted that the pope was misquoted by the journalist. But theologians have pointed out that Pope Francis has stressed the reality of hell several times in recent years. Indeed, for todays Catholics at least, hell still means the hopeless anguish of Gods absence. (The article that appeared in The Conversation has been authored by Joanne M. Pierce, Professor of Religious Studies, College of the Holy Cross.) The accused confined the woman in a room and took turns to rape her for 18 hours until she managed to escape. (Representational image) Lucknow: A man allegedly gangraped his 35-year-old daughter along with his two friends early Monday in Sitapur district of Uttar Pradesh. One of the three accused was arrested on Tuesday while the others are still absconding. According to the police, the accused, who is in his late 50s, took his daughter to a fair in Kamlapur area on the evening of April 15. Later in the night, he called up his friend Maan Singh, who is a history-sheeter, to join them at the fair. The two then convinced the woman to ride with them on a bike and took her to the house of common friend Meraj who was alone at his house as his family was away. They confined her in a room and took turns to rape her for 18 hours until she managed to escape on April 16. According to a report in The Times of India, the woman narrated her ordeal to her mother and on the same day, an FIR was registered. While Meraj was arrested on Tuesday, the womans father and Maan Singh are yet to be apprehended. Kamlapur SHO Sanjeet Sonkar said Meraj is in his early forties and works as a quack in Kamlapur. He claimed to be a medical practitioner but couldnt produce a degree, Sonkar added. According to Sitapur SP Sureshrao A Kulkarni, the woman had been married off 16 years ago but came back to her maternal house within two years after a tiff with her husband. The victims father was banished from the village in November 2017 following allegations of having illicit ties with his daughter, Kulkarni added. The police officer also said A panchayat was called and the father was arrested. He got bail in February this year. The woman then started to live separately with her 14-year-old child. CHENNAI: The customs department seized 2.4 kg of gold worth Rs 76 lakh at Chennai airport in five separate incidents. On Wednesday, on personal examination of two passengers, Cheng Li San (24) and Goh Chun Wei (32), 735 grams valued at Rs 23 lakh and 750 grams valued at Rs 23.5 lakh was recovered from them respectively. In another case on Wednesday, Thameem Ansari, (37) was intercepted at the exit of the arrival hall. On searching him, two brown rubbery spreads wrapped in transparent plastic covers was found concealed inside the waist area of his trousers. Suspecting the rubber to be gold, heat was applied to the spread and 385 grams gold valued at Rs 12 lakh was extracted. On Monday morning, 340 grams valued at Rs 10.6 lakh were recovered from Rajadurai (29). He concealed the gold inside the transformer of a speaker. In another case, a woman Rismi (34) was caught for concealing gold inside her hair band. It was valued at Rs 7 lakh. Further investigations are on. Some villagers on Tuesay found some hooves and bones in a field behind the man's house and alleged that he had served banned meat at his son's wedding reception on Monday night, police said. (Representational image) Koderma (Jharkhand): A person from a minority community was assaulted in Koderma district of Jharkhand on suspicion that he had served banned meat to guests at his son's wedding reception, following which prohibitory orders were clamped, police said on Wednesday. The prohibitory orders under section 144 of the CrPC (Code of Criminal Procedure) were imposed in and around the Nawadih village under Domchanch block after the man was assaulted and several houses in the village were ransacked on Tuesday. "We have arrested seven people in this connection. The situation is under control now," Koderma Superintendent of Police Shivani Tiwari said. Adequate forces have been deployed in and around the village to maintain law and order, she said, adding the police have been keeping a tight vigil on mischief-mongers attempting to foment trouble through social media. Asked whether banned meat was served, Tiwari said, "We have sent the hooves for forensic test and can confirm only after receiving a report." Some villagers on Tuesday found some hooves and bones in a field behind the man's house and alleged that he had served banned meat at his son's wedding reception on Monday night, police said. The villagers then beat him up, leaving him with serious injuries, ransacked several house near his residence and damaged a number of vehicles. Police sent the man to the Rajendra Institute of Medical Sciences, Ranchi. A similar attack was reported in Jharkhand in 2017 when a group of people lynched meat trader Alimuddin Ansari in Ramgarh town on June 29, on the suspicion that he was carrying beef in his car. Forensic tests later confirmed that the meat he was carrying was beef, the sale of which is banned in the state. Eleven cow vigilantes were sentenced to life imprisonment by a Ramgarh court in March in connection with the case. Currently, POCSO cases go to special courts for women and children. ALAPPUZHA: Seven children face sexual offences every day in Kerala, the State Crime Records Bureau (SCRB) data show. In January and February this year, police had registered 459 cases under Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act, a phenomenal increase from last year's 311. Over 5,000 child victims of sexual offences are awaiting justice - 2611 cases recorded last year and 2122 in 2016. The absence of special courts for their trial and delay in getting forensic reports are cited as reasons. Currently, POCSO cases go to special courts for women and children. Concerned over the low conviction rates, the KeSCPCR had last December stressed the need of strengthening child welfare committees and other legal bodies under the JJ Act for their speedy disposal. However, the terms of most CWCs are over. In Alappuzha, there is no full-fledged CWC for last six months. Considering this, social justice minister K.K. Shylaja had in September assured appropriate steps. But no promises yielded results. Child rights activists say its high time government agencies seriously examined the lacunae. Despite the strict law, many cases still go unreported as parents are unwilling to register a case and people continue incestuous activities. The POCSO Act 2012 had upped the age of consent for girls from 16 to 18. Before the POCSO Act, only the penovaginal encounter was considered as rape with the evidence of torn hymens. Now even a childs testimony would be recorded as clinching evidence. A few days ago, Suresh came to Warangal where he withdrew Rs 200 from an ATM booth near the railway station. He was arrested soon after. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: The missing share market trader who had left his home and vanished without a trace, was finally picked up at Vizag. Kasturi Suresh of Suryapet, had gone to an ATM in Warangal to withdraw Rs 200. With this lead, the police who had been looking for him, finally caught him at Vizag. Suresh told the cops that he had gone missing as he was unable to bear the pressure from his lenders any longer; he had borrowed more than Rs 5 crore from them and had invested it in share markets. He suffered colossal losses. Suresh told the cops that though there was no income on the investments, he was paying interest up to seven per cent per month for the borrowed amounts. On September 12, he informed his wife that he was going to Pune and left home, but never returned. Worried family members even lodged a missing complaint with the police. Later that month, plagued by his creditors, his parents Janardhan Chandrakala, wife Prabhatha, daughters Siri and Ruthvika and younger brother Ashok consumed poison at their house and committed mass suicide. Suresh came to know about the mass suicide of his family members through YouTube, while he was in Pune. He travelled to Varanasi and performed the last rituals for his family members. From there he travelled to Kolkata, Gaya, Pune and came to Vizag four months ago. A few days ago, he came to Warangal where he withdrew Rs 200 from an ATM booth near the railway station. He was arrested soon after. Chennai: After the formation of high power committee by Governor Banwarilal Purohit to inquire into the Aruppukottai incident in which a woman professor tried to lure four of her girl students to do sexual favours, the Madurai Kamaraj University has withdrawn on Tuesday its proposal to set up a five-member internal committee. In a press release, Madurai Kamaraj University Vice-Chancellor P.P. Chelladurai announced that the high power committee headed by R.Santhanam will commence the inquiry forthwith for which the university will be rendering all necessary assistance. In an audio clip that emerged a few days ago, Nirmala Devi, an assistant professor of Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai, was heard luring four of her students to do sexual favours in return for money and academic progress. During the telephone conversation, she also makes references to Madurai Kamaraj University officials. Based on this, the Madurai Kamaraj University was proposing to set up a five-member committee consisting of professors and assistant professors of the university to inquire into the issue and submit a report. The proposal was prepared by the administrative unit of the university to be approved by the V-C who was away in Delhi, the release said. Meanwhile, based on a report from the Vice-Chancellor, Governor Banwarilal Purohit ordered a high powered enquiry by retired IAS officer R.Santhanam to inquire into the issue. The University is keen that all details with regard to the incident to be enquired into without any bias. Hence the proposal to form an internal committee in the university has been withdrawn, he said in the release. Governor faces aggressive media, mostly smiling Governor Banwarilal Purohit on Tuesday faced, perhaps, the most hostile encounter in life when he called for a press conference at the Raj Bhavan. Not even his toughest political combats in and outside the Parliament would have given him the unsavoury experience as a battery of reporters, mostly from the TV media, bombarded him with questions suggesting he was linked to the Nirmala Devi sex scam. Maintaining a smile on his face for most part of the nearly one-hour session, Governor Purohit at times appeared annoyed as the reporters repeated their questions-nay, statements and accusations-if he had no ulterior motive in calling for the press conference close on the heels of Devi's arrest, and if he had constituted the Santhanam probe committee to push his own involvement under the carpet. Don't you at least have some respect for the Constitutional office of the Governor? pleaded Purohit and at another time, pointed out he was 78-years-old and am like your grandfather, lucky to have great grandchildren. 'Out of 1,580 (33 per cent) MPs/MLAs analysed with declared criminal cases, 48 have declared cases related to crime against women,' as per the report by Association for Democratic Reforms. (Photo: AP | PTI) New Delhi: At least 48 MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to crime against women, with BJP having the highest number of such politicans at 12, a report said on Thursday amid a nation-wide outrage over rape incidents, including UP's Unnao where a ruling party lawmaker is an accused. "Out of 1,580 (33 per cent) MPs/MLAs analysed with declared criminal cases, 48 have declared cases related to crime against women," as per the report by Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR). This includes 45 MLAs and 3 MPs, who have declared cases of crime against women such as charges related to assault of woman with intent to outrage her modesty, kidnapping, abducting or inducing woman to compel her to marriage, rape, domestic violence and trafficking, the Delhi-based think-tank said. Giving party-wise details, the report said that BJP has the highest number of MPs and MLAs ie 12, followed by Shiv Sena (7) and Trinamool Congress (6) who have declared cases related to crime against women. Also Read: Was molested by male colleagues during rape protest, says women Congress worker The report is based on an analysis of 4,845 out of 4,896 election affidavits of current MPs and MLAs. This includes 768 out of 776 affidavits of MPs and 4,077 out of 4,120 MLAs across the country. "All major political parties give tickets to candidates with cases of crime against women especially rape and therefore hindering the safety and dignity of women as citizens. These are serious cases where charges have been framed and cognisance have been taken by the courts. Hence, political parties have been in a way abetting to circumstances that lead to such events that they so easily but vehemently condemn in Parliament," the report said. Among states, Maharashtra has the highest number of MPs and MLAs (12), followed by West Bengal (11), Odisha and Andhra Pradesh each with five MPs and MLAs who have declared cases related to crime against women. ADR and National Election Watch (NEW) have recommended that candidates with serious criminal background should be debarred from contesting elections. Also, political parties should disclose the criteria on which candidates are given tickets and that cases against MPs and MLAs should be fast-tracked and decided upon in a time-bound manner, they added. According to the report, in the last five years, recognised parties have given tickets to 26 candidates who had declared cases related to rape. During this period, 14 independent candidates with declared cases related to rape have contested for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assembly elections. As per the analysis, 327 candidates who had declared cases related to crime against women were given tickets by recognised political parties. Also, 118 independent candidates with declared cases related to crime against women had contested for Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assembly elections in the last five years. Among major parties, in the last five years, 47 candidates with declared cases related to crime against women were given tickets by BJP. As many as 35 such candidates were given tickets by BSP, followed by 24 from Congress. The candidates had contested in Lok Sabha, Rajya Sabha and state Assembly polls. The report also noted that among states, in the last five years, Maharashtra had the highest number of such candidates at 65, followed by Bihar (62) and West Bengal (52) (including independents). The analysis comes at a time when there are rising rape incidents, including those reported from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, Unnao and Surat in Gujarat. Kafeel Khan, who is an accused in the Baba Raghav Das Medical College and Hospital tragedy case, said on Thursday that he is being wrongly framed by the administration in the case. (Photo: ANI) Gorakhpur: Kafeel Khan, who is an accused in the Baba Raghav Das (BRD) Medical College/Hospital tragedy case, said on Thursday that he is being wrongly framed by the administration in the case. Khan, who was a doctor at the BRD hospital, where over 30 children died in August 2017, allegedly due to disruption in oxygen supply, was brought to a district hospital for medical check-up earlier on Thursday after his wife alleged that her jailed husband was being denied medical care. "I am being framed by the administration. A doctor is being falsely accused," Khan told reporters in Gorakhpur, while he was being taken away by the police after the medical check-up. He has been charged with attempt to murder over the death of the children. The district hospital's cardiologist Dr KK Shahi tested Dr Khans blood pressure, carried out other tests and advised him to undergo complete lipid profile test to ascertain risks of heart ailments. Eight others are also accused in the case. Amit Shah was an accused in the case but was later discharged. Several activists and opposition parties had alleged a foul play in his death. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: The BJP on Thursday mounted an attack on the opposition Congress after the Supreme Court rejected pleas to probe the death of Judge BH Loya, alleging that the "invisible" hand behind the petitions was that of Rahul Gandhi who tried to use the judiciary for "character assassination" of Amit Shah. The Supreme Court on Thursday ruled that Judge Loya died of natural causes and that the petitions were serious attempts to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. Addressing a press conference, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the PILs seeking the probe into the death of Judge Loya as "political interest litigation", and charged that Rahul and his party were behind it. Noting that the Congress had held press conferences and Rahul had led a delegation of opposition parties to the President for seeking a probe, Patra said he should "apologise" and be "ashamed" for his conspiracy to target Amit Shah, and Indian judiciary and democracy. The Congress engages in all sorts of conspiracies after its ruling family loses power, he alleged and added the attempt to use judiciary for political purposes was a "new low" in Indian politics. The "invisible hand" behind these petitions in the top court belonged to Rahul and the Congress, Patra alleged. Reacting to the verdict, Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "The Supreme Court has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in political tug of war. The SC verdict gives a clear message that the judiciary cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta." The issue of Loya's death had come under the spotlight in November 2017 after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case, which he was hearing before he died. Amit Shah was an accused in the case but was later discharged. Several activists and opposition parties had alleged a foul play in his death. While dismissing the plea for an independent probe, the top court said that with these petitions it becomes clear that a real attempt and a frontal attack was made on the independence of the judiciary. The top court said frivolous and motivated litigation has been filed to settle political rivalry. Addressing the Indian diaspora in London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi hailed the Army and said the soldiers executed the surgical strikes with perfection. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) New Delhi/London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said that India waited for an hour to inform Pakistan about the surgical strikes conducted across the Line of Control (LoC) in 2016 before making the news public. However, the Pakistan army officers were scared to come on the phone, the Prime Minister added while addressing the Indian diaspora in London. "I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media," PM Modi told the gathering to a round of applause. Launching a fierce attack on Pakistan, the Prime Minister asserted that India will not tolerate those who like to export terror and will respond to them "in the language they understand". At the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme organised at the iconic Central Hall Westminster in downtown London, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said when "someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language". PM Modi's remarks came in response to a question on the surgical strikes by a member of the audience who had speech disability. The Prime Minister choked with emotion on seeing the speech impaired elderly man ask the question on the strikes with the help of a person, and lauded him for his strength and conviction. In his reply, PM Modi said, "Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated. We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted." The Prime Minister also hailed the Army and said the soldiers executed the surgical strikes with perfection and were back after finishing the task before dawn. On being asked about his thoughts on some people questioning the valour of the Army, PM Modi said he does not want to use the stage to criticise anyone. "I just hope, God gives them wisdom," he said to peals of laughter from the audience. Citing India's history, the Prime Minister asserted that India never looked to capture anyone else's territory. "During World War I and II, we had no stake but our soldiers took part in the wars. These were big sacrifices. Look at our role in UN peacekeeping forces," PM Modi said. The Indian Army carried out surgical strikes across the LoC on the intervening night of September 28-29, 2016, and destroyed terror launch pads that were under the guard of a Pakistani post located 700 metres from the LoC. In the well calibrated operation, the Pakistan-based terror outfit Lashker-e-Taiba (LeT) was severely hit with assessment reports of radio intercepts indicating that around 20 of its militants were killed. The entire operation was kept a secret till the Indian Army organised a press conference to inform the media and public about it. (With inputs from PTI) New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of special CBI Judge BH Loya. The apex court, ruling that the death was due to natural causes, observed that the petitioners tried to scandalise the judiciary. "These petitions are scandalous and amount to criminal contempt," the court said adding, "We can't doubt the statements of the judicial officers who were with Judge Loya." "Attempt of the petitioners was to malign the judiciary," SC said while dismissing petitions seeking independent probe into Judge BH Loya's death case. A three-judge bench, headed by Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra and comprising Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud, pronounced its verdict after hearing a clutch of petitions. At the time of his death, Judge BH Loya was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Medical records show Judge BH Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on December 1, 2014 when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had on March 16 reserved the judgement on the pleas. The Maharashtra government had argued in the apex court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November 2017 after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on January 14 said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP President Amit Shah along with Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged. Also Read: Here's chronology of special CBI Judge BH Loya's death case Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based B S Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges -- Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph -- at their January 12 press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them. (With inputs from PTI) Chennai: Chennai corporation on Wednesday signed an agreement with City of Brussels to develop innovative civic aspects relating to smart city, urban planning and solid waste management. A high level Belgian delegation met the state officials and discussed about the waste to energy technologies at a function held at the Ripon Buildings, the city corporation headquarters. Addressing the delegation local administration minister S P Velumani said the partnership agreement is a sign of spirit, to promote common values of democracy, human dignity, solidarity and environmental protection, in the areas of urban development and urbanisation challenges. Based on the agreement Chennai will look forward for sustainable and inclusive economic development, Smart Cities solutions, Support to tackle Global warming, and Climate Change, the minister said. The minister also informed that the Brussels Capital Region, has already provided, sufficient budgetary provision, for projects, for civil society organizations, in partnership regions, including Tamil Nadu, especially Chennai. Velumani also emphasised that the cporporation has already entered into Memorandum of Understanding, with Ulsan Metropolitan City, Republic of Korea, for the promotion of, frien dly relations, between the cities, a similar agreement. It may be noted that the Belgian delegation is a on preliminary study to understand the issues pertaining to Chennai ranging from solid waste to pollution. Under the agreement corporation run schools are to get expertise assistance in the field of education. Prime Minister Narendra Modi called criticism a 'goldmine' that helped him improve himself and correct his mistakes. (Photo: Twitter | @PIB_India) New Delhi/London: Prime Minister Narendra Modi gave a fitting reply to Congress which has been targeting him for his silence over several issues. Addressing diaspora event 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' at the packed Central Hall at Westminster in downtown London, PM Modi said that he and his government are fine with the criticism and even welcomed it, but underlined that criticism was different from allegations levelled without any basis. The Prime Minister also explained why he remained silent in face of relentless criticism back home. PM Modi said his problem wasn't criticism which required a person to research and ascertain the facts to make a point but it was too much hard work and many people did not invest as much. Drawing a distinction between criticism and allegation, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said, "To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations. I want this Government to be criticized. Criticism makes democracy strong. Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism." The Prime Minister called criticism a "goldmine" that helped him improve himself and correct his mistakes. But why doesn't he respond to the criticism, asked Prasoon Joshi, the adman-lyricist. Joshi, who was last year appointed to head the Chairman of the Central Board of Film Certification, was moderating the session which allowed selected individuals in India and abroad to ask questions. PM Modi acknowledged that there was a charge that he didn't speak up despite "so much criticism". This, he said, happened because he gave the criticism much importance, trying to understand where it was coming from and then rectify his mistakes. "But it is not my job to shut up people who are criticising me, my job is to think where am I going wrong," he said. It was his government's intentions, he said, which were beyond reproach. The explanation comes just a day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi's predecessor Dr Manmohan Singh advised him to speak more, an irony considering how Narendra Modi would mock the noted economist for his silence in public and derisively called him "Maun' Mohan Singh". Dr Manmohan Singh told The Indian Express on Tuesday that he had the same advice for PM Modi. "I think the Prime Minister should follow his own advice to me and he should speak more often," he said. Other Congress leaders such as Rahul Gandhi have turned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on charges of corruption and nepotism that the opposition levels at him into campaign material for elections. Rahul Gandhi has on numerous occasions attacked the Prime Minister for his silence on celebrity designer Nirav Modi (wanted in fraud cases) slipping out of the country and the Rafale deal. When asked whether he can change the country alone, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said he was an ordinary citizen just like any other Indian. "We have a million problems but we have a billion solutions," he said. "I can make mistakes but I will not do any work with the ill intention," the Prime Minister said. PM Modi also spoke about crimes against women and asked parties not to politicise the heart-wrenching incidents. Attacking earlier governments, Prime Minister Narendra Modi said days of incremental change are over and Indians have become more and more aspirational under the BJP-led government at the Centre. PM Modi said people have more expectations from his government because they know that it can deliver. "People know that when they say something, the Government will listen and do it. Days of incremental change are over," the Prime Minister said. During the 130-minute interaction, Prime Minister Narendra Modi addressed the Indian community on several issues ranging from surgical strikes to toilets to how he thinks his government's performance should be evaluated. (With inputs from PTI) Ludhiana: The family of an Indian man, who had died on April 13 at a Japanese immigration detention centre in an apparent suicide, have stated that the man had a one month visa and was visiting Japan to renew it. However, the man, who is yet to be identified, was detained by immigration officers at Japan's immigration detention centre for around nine months. Family members, who hail from Ludhiana, are now demanding a probe as they suspect foul play. They have also requested the Indian government to bring back the man's body. Also Read: Indian man found dead in Japanese immigration detention centre's shower room Guards at the facility had found the man, who was in his 30s, in a shower room with a towel wrapped around his neck. The man, who was not breathing at the time, was administered CPR before being taken to a hospital, where he was declared dead about an hour later. New Delhi: Following is the chronology of events leading to Thursdays Supreme Court verdict dismissing pleas seeking independent probe into the death of special CBI Judge BH Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case. Also Read: No probe into Judge BH Loya death case, SC says pleas 'scandalous' Dec 1, 2014: Loya dies of cardiac arrest in Nagpur, where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Nov, 2017: The issue comes under spotlight after media reports quote his sister fuelling suspicion about the circumstances surrounding Loya's death and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. Jan 11, 2018: SC agrees to hear two pleas seeking independent probe into Loya's death. Jan 12, 2018: SC terms "serious matter" the alleged mysterious death of Loya, seeks response from Maharashtra government. Jan 16, 2018: SC says Maharashtra government can decide which documents relating to the death of Loya could be handed over to the petitioners. Jan 22, 2018: Terming "serious" the issues raised in the pleas on death of Loya, SC transfers to itself two petitions related to Loya's death from Bombay High Court. Jan 31, 2018: Former Navy chief Admiral (retd) L Ramdas moves SC seeking an independent inquiry into the matter by a panel of retired apex court judges and former police officers. Feb 2, 2018: SC says it was concerned only with the death of Loya and would not go into other aspects including BJP chief Amit Shah's discharge in the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case. Feb 5, 2018: A Mumbai lawyers' body decides to petition SC, seeking cross-examination of 11 people, including two judges, in connection with Loya's death. Feb 9, 2018: Maharashtra government opposes pleas seeking independent probe into the matter, terming them "motivated" and based on "yellow journalism". Feb 12, 2018: Maharashtra government tells SC the statements of four judges, who were with Loya on the last day of his life and had termed his death "natural", were "unimpeachable". Feb 19, 2018: SC says it was treating Loya's case with utmost seriousness and for a cause. The same day senior advocates for petitioners say pressure being exerted on them to leave the case. Mar 5, 2018: SC says change of roster in Bombay HC a routine affair, adds questions should not be raised over the change in the judge hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh case in the HC. Mar 8, 2018: SC takes umbrage over accusation by senior lawyer for casting aspersions on judges that they were only asking "searching questions" to those who brought the Loya death case before it, and not to the Maharashtra government. Mar 9, 2018: Maharashtra government comes down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the SC by some activist lawyers in the Loya death case and said the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Mar 9, 2018: Centre for Public Interest Litigation, an intervenor NGO in the case, says Loya may have died due to poisoning as he had complained of chest congestion. Mar 12, 2018: A Mumbai-based lawyers' body brings on record in SC an order of the Bombay HC to allege that one of the two judges, who had given statement in the Loya death case, had ordered settlement of a criminal case against a top BJP leader in 2014. Mar 16, 2018: SC reserves verdict on pleas for probe into Loya's death. Apr 19, 2018: SC dismisses pleas seeking an independent probe into the case, saying attempts were made to scandalise and malign the judiciary by levelling serious allegations against judicial officers and judges of Bombay HC. Druvan had been admitted to the hospital on April 6 with infection and Klebsiella sepsis which requires emergency and critical care. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: A wrong blood transfusion occurred when blood group of three months old baby named Druvan showed O positive in Niloufer Hospital and B positive in a private diagnostic center. Druvan had been admitted to the hospital on April 6 with infection and Klebsiella sepsis which requires emergency and critical care. The father Mahesh from Jiyaguda brought the child in a very critical condition and the first blood transfusion which was carried out was of O positive blood group. But Druvans condition continued to be critical and Mahesh took a blood sample and got it tested in a private blood bank. In the blood bank, the blood was found out to be of B positive group and there was a huge protest against the hospital for not providing proper treatment. Niloufer Hospital doctors released a written explanation to the director and also the state health department which stated that blood grouping in the neonates and infants up to six months of age is not established properly due to poor expression of antigens and antibodies in the blood. But, the private blood bank did not face the same issue while testing the childs blood. O positive blood group was transferred as it is the safest option. Doctors stated that there have not been any reactions after the transfer of the blood. But now B positive is showing as the blood match due to the antigen expression which has been conveyed to the family members. Dr Murali Krishna superintendent of Niloufer Hospital explained, The baby is under treatment in the emergency ward and presently the vitals are stable. We are giving symptomatic and supportive treatment. Statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 per cent to around 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 per cent. (Photo: AFP) New Delhi: India launched fast-track courts and a tougher rape law that included the death penalty after a gruesome assault on a young woman shocked the country in 2012, but crime statistics indicate the situation has got worse, not better, since then. The data was collated by Reuters amid mounting public anger over crimes against women after two horrific cases in recent months that has, once again, cast a harsh light on systemic problems plaguing the countrys police and courts. The gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kashmir state and the arrest of a ruling party legislator for the rape of a teenage mother in Uttar Pradesh province have sparked nationwide outrage, drawing nightmarish parallels with the gangrape and murder of a student in New Delhi six years ago. Amid the wave of anger at that time, the government promised to speed up rape trials, provide harsher penalties, including the death sentence in extreme cases, and a law against stalking. But statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 per cent to around 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 per cent. The conviction rate of people arrested for rape remains stuck around 25 per cent. The backlog of rape cases pending trial stood at more than 133,000 by the end of 2016, up from about 100,000 in 2012, National Crime Records Bureau data showed. In each year during that period, about 85 per cent of the total rape cases being heard remained pending. In general, conviction rates for crime against women - deaths following demands for dowry, assault, kidnapping as well as rape - are lower than for most other crimes. The government can make a hundred laws and yet it will fail because there is no enforcement, said Dushyant Dave, a senior lawyer at Indias Supreme Court. It needs to take this as an epidemic and treat it accordingly, by completely overhauling the police machinery, prosecutors and the judicial system. CASES BURIED Crime statistics showed that police files remain open for about a third of all rapes that were investigated for each year between 2012 and 2016. Understaffing is an issue. The government told Parliament in March, police had a sanctioned strength of nearly 2 million officers, but almost a quarter of those positions were vacant. Some of the worst accusations against the police stem from cases, like the ones in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, where they are alleged to have bowed to pressure from people of influence to bury cases. Vappala Balachandran, a former top police officer in the western state of Maharashtra who has criticised the governments response to the recent cases, described how powerful local politicians stall police investigations. The one weapon the politician has is the threat of transfer (of police officers) and which they routinely exercise. So the investigation is slow, improper and weak, Balachandran said. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT So far the only policy response to the latest cases has come from Maneka Gandhi, the minister for women and child development, who has advocated applying the death penalty for rape cases where the victim is under 12 years old. Currently, the Supreme Court reserves the death penalty for extreme cases, as in the 2012 Delhi case. Five people were convicted of rape and murder in that case within nine months, a remarkably swift decision for India. Four were sentenced to death while a juvenile was freed after serving three years. A sixth accused hung himself in his cell before the trial concluded. In 2017, the top court rejected an appeal by the four sentenced to death but they remain on death row. A study by the National Law University in Delhi found that 43 death sentences were handed down for murder involving sexual violence in 2017, almost double the previous years number. A study by Kailash Satyarthi Childrens Foundation, whose founder shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, reckoned that as of the end of 2016, the backlog of child sex abuses cases in the courts would take two decades to clear. Under Indias Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act passed in 2012, which covers victims under 18 years, police should collect evidence within a month of the complaint being filed and the court should complete a trial within a year. The government of India is doing its work sincerely in each and every case, PS Narasimha, a senior prosecutor for the federal government, told Reuters in response to a question why rape cases took so long and the conviction rates were so low. But Kohal Dev Sharma, a lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said the Indian criminal justice system failed when it came to rape. The procedure itself is quite lengthy that deters most victims from fighting the battle and thus the accused are set free ultimately in most of the cases, he said. The procedure is traumatic for the victim who has to face a society that considers rape as a social stigma only for the victim and not the accused, due to which most victims choose to keep mum about what they go through rather than to report it. According to a report, a spokesperson of 10 Downing Street said British PM Theresa May and PM Modi had discussed cooperation between the two countries on legal matters. (Photo: PTI) New Delhi: Prime Minister Narendra Modi who is on a visit to UK, raised the subject of fugitive tycoon Vijay Mallya's extradition in his talks with his British counterpart Theresa May, NDTV reported government sources saying. Though there was no official statement on this, a spokesperson of 10 Downing Street said Theresa May and Prime Minister Narendra Modi had discussed cooperation between the two countries on legal matters. Liquor baron Vijay Mallya is wanted in India in a money laundering case and an alleged bank fraud case. Mallya skipped the country after defaulting on loans that run into hundreds of crores. He is accused of fraudulently palming off losses from his now defunct Kingfisher Airlines onto banks by taking out loans worth Rs 9,000 crore, which he had no intention of repaying. The Modi government has been repeatedly targeted by opposition parties over Vijay Mallya's exit and the luxurious life that he is leading in Britain, where he lives in a sprawling mansion near London and attends races. He was arrested twice in 2017 in London and released on bail. The government is now wading through a long process of extraditing him. A final judgement is expected to come within weeks. The Crown Prosecution service in London is representing the Indian government in court. India has submitted a 2,000-page dossier in court as part of evidence against Vijay Mallya. One of the arguments that the 61-year-old businessman has put forward in the UK hearings is the poor condition of prisons in India. Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shwetambari Sharma is the lone woman police officer in Special Investigative Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch that is investigating the gangrape and murder of eight-year-old Kathua girl. (Photo: Twitter | ANI) Jammu: The lone woman police officer in Special Investigative Team (SIT) of the Crime Branch that is investigating the gangrape and murder of eight-year-old Kathua girl was disparaged by the defence lawyer of the case who accused her and said, "she is a girl, how intelligent can she be?" For Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Shwetambari Sharma, the comment is reflective of the difficulties she faced while investigating the men who kidnapped an eight-year-old girl in January, kept her sedated and without food while raping her for a week, before finally killing her. Defence lawyer Ankur Sharma, who made the misogynistic comments, is defending five of the eight accused. Read: She's a woman, how intelligent can she be? Kathua defence lawyer on cop probing rape "It hurts when you are targeted and your intelligence is doubted just because you are a woman. What should I comment on such a chauvinist remark, the whole nation is there to comment on it," Shwetambari Sharma told reporters on Wednesday, reacting to the lawyer's outrageous comment. Shwetambari Sharma said the team faced lots of difficulties while collecting evidence, especially because a pro-Hindu group and lawyers were campaigning in support of the accused. All the arrested men are Hindu and the child who was raped and killed belonged to the nomadic Muslim Bakarwal tribe. "An agitation was going on and going among the provocative people to collect the evidence and take statements was not easy," she said. Shwetambari Sharma said initially she felt "disturbed" with the case but now she was fine. She hoped that the judiciary would provide justice to the minor girl who suffered unimaginable horrors in her last days. "Our judiciary is capable enough to bring justice, don't doubt it," said the police officer. The trial against the eight accused men has begun on Monday. Two FIRs (First Information Reports) have been filed in the case - one against the eight accused and the other against a group of lawyers that allegedly tried to stop the police from filing a chargesheet against the accused. Details of the crime in the chargesheet left the nation struggling with shock, anger and grief. One of the accused, a police officer, urged to rape the girl one last time before she was strangled and stoned to death. Also Read: Kathua case: Meerut student travelled to J&K to rape 8-yr-old, says chargesheet (With inputs from ANI) Judge K Ravinder Reddy cited personal reasons for his resignation and said it had nothing to do with the judgement. (Photo: ANI) New Delhi: The resignation of NIA special court judge K Ravinder Reddy, who delivered the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case verdict earlier this week, has been rejected by High Court of Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The judge has been asked by the high court to attend to his duties immediately. Judge K Ravinder Reddy had stepped down on Tuesday, hours after acquitting all the five accused, including Swami Aseemanand, due to lack of evidence. The judge cited personal reasons for his resignation and said it had nothing to do with the judgement. Read: Judge who acquitted all accused in 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case resigns Swami Aseemanand, a monk and former Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) member who has been linked to three terror attacks, was among the five men acquitted in the case. The judge said they had been acquitted because the National Investigation Agency (NIA) had failed to establish their role in the attack. Also Read: 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case: Swami Aseemanand, all others acquitted Nine people were killed and over 50 injured when the blast ripped through the historic mosque during Friday prayers on May 18, 2007. Hyderabad: Ration dealers across the state have served a strike notice to the government on Wednesday. They threatened to go on an indefinite strike from July 1 if their long pending demands are not resolved. Telangana State Ration Dealers Association president Nayikoti Raju and general secretary Avula Sanjeev Reddy met civil supplies officials and served the strike notice. They announced that the dealers will hold a public meeting in the city in May to lodge their protest against the indifferent attitude of the state government towards the problems faced by the ration dealers. We went on strike in November 2017. We withdrew the strike after the government promised to resolve our issues at the earliest. Six months have passed since then but there has been no initiative from the government to resolve our demands, Reddy said. Dealers are demanding an increase in commission or treat them as employees and to pay them salaries each month. They said dealers are suffering losses due to non-release of arrears since October 2015. A woman Congress worker has complained to the party's city unit that she was allegedly molested by male colleagues on Sunday during a candle march held in Mumbai to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. (Photo: File | Representational) Mumbai: A woman Congress worker has complained to the party's city unit that she was allegedly molested by male colleagues on Sunday during a candle march held in Mumbai to protest against the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. She complained to the party's Mumbai unit chief Sanjay Nirupam, who promised to take action against those found guilty. The protest march was organised by the party at Juhu. Nirupam said the woman, who is a district-level party worker, sent a text message to him about the alleged incident. In her message, the woman said, "The workers of Youth Congress and NSUI (party's students' wing) stooped to such low level that they touched, pushed and shoved women workers in an inappropriate manner, making us feel unsafe among our very own party's male colleagues. "Sadly, some male workers did this to us only to get ahead in the march so that their faces were captured by the media. I want to know if women workers will be safe in similar events held in future?" her text message said. Nirupam said, "This incident is very unfortunate and I condemn it. I told the woman that he would take action if she identifies the persons involved. I told her that if she wished, he would help her file police cases against the accused. But she told me there was too much crowd, so it won't be possible for her to identify them." He said the woman enthusiastically participates in all dharnas and morchas organised by the city unit. "She does not participate alone, but brings along with her over a dozen women members. I have apologised to her for the agony she had to suffer on Sunday. Male workers often rush ahead in any morcha, so that their faces can be seen on television cameras," he said. The Congress leader said he will issue the dos and don'ts to be followed during the protest marches or morcha when women are also participating in large numbers. "If the instructions are not followed, action would be taken," he said. Prime Minister Narendra Modi said the recent sexual assaults were a matter of shame for India. (Photo: Twitter | @PIB_India) New Delhi/London: Amid nationwide outrage over numerous rape cases that have surfaced recently, including the brutal gangrape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday said "rape is rape" and should not be politicised. The Prime Minister, during the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme at the iconic Central Hall Westminster in downtown London, said, "We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too." The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son, he said. "I have never indulged in counting the number of rape incidents in this government and that government. Rape is rape, be it now or earlier. It is extremely sad. Don't politicise rape incidents," the Prime Minister said. The rape of a daughter is a matter of shame for the country, he added. Congress President Rahul Gandhi has been persistently attacking Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his government over the Kathua and Unnao rape cases. On Monday, Rahul Gandhi had pointed out on Twitter that there were as many as 19,675 cases of rapes of children in 2016. The Prime Minister was met by hundreds of protesters as he arrived in London on Wednesday. The protesters displayed photos of the eight-year-old girl from a nomadic Muslim community in Kathua, who was gangraped and murdered in January, allegedly by a group that included policemen and a former government official. Prime Minister Narendra Modi had last week said that justice will be done and no criminal will be spared, referring to the rape cases that have sparked outrage across India. (With inputs from PTI) Hyderabad: Finance minister Etela Rajender on Thursday asked bankers to address cash crunch issue on a war-footing. The minister took part in the State-Level Bankers Committee (SLBC) meeting here which was attended by the officials of all public sector banks. Mr Rajender said the plight of the people in semi-urban and rural areas is even more pathetic with no cash in ATMs and banks. He said that during his frequent visits to the districts on official tours, the major complaint that was received was about lack of cash in banks and ATMs due to which farmers, beneficiaries of various government welfare schemes, NREGA labourers were facing severe hardships. However, the bankers informed the Minister that the situation would come back to normalcy within a week with increased supplies from the RBI. The bankers said that they would restore 70 per cent ATMs within a week and half of the ATMs have already become operational. The cash in ATMs is also being filled twice in a day to meet the demand. Etela asked the bankers to keep adequate cash available in rural areas since the government is going to start the distribution of Rs 4,000 per acre sop for Kharif season from May 10 to over 58 lakh farmers. He asked the bankers to collect uniform charges from farmers while clearing cheque in all the banks. Stating that 62 per cent, who are receiving the benefit, were small and marginal farmers, the minister asked bankers to assist them in availing the sop without any trouble. He also asked the bankers to meet 100 per cent targets for disbursal of crop loans for the ensuing kharif season. Hyderabad: Telangana state Chief Minister K. Chandrasekhar Raos intention to float a Federal Front at the national level is being seen in some political circles as an attempt by the Telangana Rashtra Samiti chief to pursue an anti-Congress agenda to benefit the BJP at the Centre in the 2019 elections. A recent tweet by Mr Raos son and IT minister K.T. Rama Rao, on April 12 Who knows who will end up supporting who has further fuelled speculation about just who the TRS may get into bed with. Then there is the fulsome praise of Mr Rao by BJPs national spokesperson G.V.L. Narasimha Rao on Wednesday. He called the TS Chief Minister a true statesman who stayed from the mudslinging against PM Modi despite his efforts to launch an alternate front against the BJP at the Centre. Political analysts point out that Mr Rao may not be able to take an open stand in favour of the BJP as it may erode his base among minorities and Dalits. The TRS is hopeful of getting the support of both after it passed legislation increasing reservations for both though the Centre is delaying approval. Hemanth along with his friend had entered the swimming pool to swim. Though Hemanth did not know swimming, he entered the pool with his friend and drowned. (Representational Image) Hyderabad: A 13-year-old boy who was learning swimming at a private swimming pool in a gated community in Motinagar accidentally drowned in the pool. The parents of the victim identified as Hemanth, blamed the pool management for ignoring safety norms at the pool. Meanwhile, Balala Hakkula Sangham has sought strict action on private swimming pools, for their negligent attitude towards the safety of swimmers. Sanathnagar inspector E. Venkat Reddy said that a case of death due to negligence has been booked against the apartment authorities. According to the police, Hemanth a resident of SRT in Sanathnagar went to Motinagar to meet a friend who resides in Vasavi Brindavan Apartments, a gated community under the Sanathnagar police station limits. Hemanth along with his friend had entered the swimming pool to swim. Though Hemanth did not know swimming, he entered the pool with his friend and drowned. Hyderabad: A complaint was raised against NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, in the Consumer Forum by the mother of a 19-year-old student, who is suffering from depression. B. Varun Sai, the 19-year-old student was represented by his mother B. Swaroopa Rani. The complaint led to Dr. NTR University of Health Sciences, Vijayawada, affiliated to JNTU getting a rap from the Consumer Forum for deficiency of service. The student was allocated a seat for BDS in Malla Reddy Institute of Dental Sciences and the payment for the same was given to JNTU through NTR University. Furthermore, Malla reddy Institute took a sum of Rs 22,500 on September 6 other than the fees of Rs 1 lakh. However, the student could not adjust to the routine of the institution and decided to shift to Panineeya Mahavidyalaya and requested for a refund of the Rs 22,500 which the college authorities agreed. The student was later diagnosed as suffering depression and required rest for a year. The Forum ruled that the NTR University has to pay an amount of Rs 44,500 after deduction from the fee of Rs 1 lakh. The Forum also ordered the university to pay Rs 10,000 towards compensation and Rs 5,000 towards other costs. Chennai: Retired IAS officer R. Santhanam, appointed by Tamil Nadu Governor Banwarilal Purohit to probe the alleged sex for marks scandal began the investigation, on Thursday. Santhanam who arrived in Madurai visited the Madurai Kamaraj University and kick-started his investigations starting with vice-chancellor P.P. Chellathurai. According to official sources, Santhanam is likely to be stationed in Madurai for the next few days and will also be frequenting the Devanga Arts College in Aruppukottai in Virudhunagar district, where the scandal broke out. After his interaction with university officials, Santhanam met reporters in Madurai and said that the identity of those deposing before the commission would be kept confidential. If anyone has any information regarding the incident, they can share it with the inquiry committee and will be maintained confidential, he said. If necessary, the inquiry would be held at the government guest house in Madurai to protect the identity of those interacting with the commission. He also said that the commission and CB-CID will not run a parallel investigation as the commissions role is to inv estigate why the assistant professor asked students to adjust with some university officials for better marks and money. Whereas the CB-CID officials will investigate the crime part of the event and operate as per the legal norms, he said. Meanwhile, Nirmala Devis advocate Balasubramanian reiterated that her client lodged in the prison was facing a life threat. He also recalled that Nirmala Devis audio clip was doctored and edited. However, both Nirmala Devi and his advocate confirmed that the voice was that of Nirmala. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday asked the chief secretaries of 11 states and one Union Territory to file compliance/status reports by July 10 the steps taken to appoint a Lokayukta and also specify the reason for the delay. A Bench of Justices Ranjan Gogoi and R. Banumathi gave this direction after hearing counsel Gopal Shankaranarayanan, who appeared for petitioner Ashwini Kumar Upadhyaya seeking a direction to the States to set up Lokayukta. On March 23 the court gave time and asked them to spell out reasons for delay. The 12 states who were asked to file replies are: Arunachal Pradesh, Jammu and Kashmir, Manipur, Meghalaya, Delhi, Mizoram, Nagaland, Union Territory of Puducherry, Tamil Nadu, West Bengal, Telengana and Tripura as they had not appointed a Lok Ayukta or Uplokayukta. During the resumed hearing state after state filed brief affidavits and sought time to comply with the directions. Counsel for Tamil Nadu K.V. Vijayakumar submitted that the state was awaiting the Centre's decision on appointment of Lokpal to constitute Lokayukta in the state. After examining as to how the Lokpal functions, the state would take steps to appoint Lokayukta. Justice Gogoi pulled up the state and pointed out that when Lokpal and Lokayukta are two different entities, why should Tamil Nadu wait for the appointment of Lokpal. Asking the state as to why it can't take an independent decision, Justice Gogoi told the counsel that Tamil Nadu should initiate steps towards appointment of Lokayukta from today itself. As a last chance, the court granted time to all the states to file compliance/status report on July 10. He said that corruption is an insidious plague that has a wide range of corrosive effects on society. It undermines democracy and the rule of law, leads to violations of human rights, distorts markets, erodes the quality of life and allows organized crime, terrorism, and other threats to human security to flourish. This evil phenomenon is found in all the States and its effects are most destructive. Corruption hurts the poor disproportionately by diverting funds intended for development, undermining government's ability to provide basic services, feeding inequality and injustice, and discouraging foreign aid and investment. He said corruption is key element in economic underperformance and major obstacle to poverty alleviation and development. India has been ranked 76th in Corruption Perception Index, 2015 of Transparency International. Now we have a new instrument, the Lokpal and Lokayukta Act, 2013 to address this scourge at national and state level but the law has not been implemented. He pointed out that state governments, which had set up Lokayukta, are deliberately weakening the Lokayukta by not providing adequate budget, infrastructure and work force. Hyderabad: The Bharatiya Janata Party on Wednesday accused the Chief Ministers of the Telugu states of conspiring to dethrone Prime Minister Narendra Modi. BJP Telangana state president Dr K. Laxman alleged that Telangana CM Chandrasekhar Rao and his AP counterpart Chandrababu Naidu are talking about forging an alternative front at the national level, only to co-ver up their failures during the past four years and to divert peoples att-ention in respective states. He said both the CMs came to power on false promises and are worried that people in Telugu states would teach them a fitting lesson in the 2019 elections. Let them come up with any front. People across the country irrespective of caste, creed, and religion are with Modi, who offered transparent and clean administration and put India on the growth trajectory. People will not believe any front, Dr Laxman said. Scores of leaders and activists from other parties from Nizamabad district joined the BJP on Wednesday. While welcoming them into the party fold, Dr Laxman said, We are not in power in Telangana. Despite this, leaders and activists from other parties are joining the BJP, who are attracted by the welfare schemes and dev-elopment programmes initiated by PM Modi. He said with peoples support the BJP had alre-ady captured power in 21 states and the day is not far when it will gain po-wer in Telugu states too. BJP will win Karnata-ka elections with a thum-ping majority next mon-th. This will be a gateway for BJP to emerge strong-er in the South and gain power in the Telugu sta-tes in 2019, Dr Laxman said. Terming the Congress an anti-Dalit, he said, The Congress had not allowed Dalit leaders to grow in this country. It de-feated Dr BR Ambedkar twice in Parliament elections. Today they are making tall claims on dalits but people are not innocent to believe their false propaganda on BJP. Damascus skies erupt with service to air missile fire as the U.S. launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the Syrian capital Damascus, Syria, early Saturday, April 14, 2018. Syria's capital has been rocked by loud explosions that lit up the sky with heavy smoke as U.S. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes in retaliation for the country's alleged use of chemical weapons. (Photo: AP) Ahead of last Saturdays Anglo-French-American missile attacks in Syria, there was a risk that whereas the dominant international powers had supposedly sleep-walked into war a century ago, this time they were being tweeted into an all-encompassing conflagration. Fortunately, the US and its pair of European acolytes went out of their way to avoid direct injury to Russian or Iranian forces. In fact, there is little evidence that they did much harm even to the interests of Bashar al-Assads regime. One of the three sites that came under attack was claimed by the Western powers to be a repository for chemical weapons. Had that indeed been the case, it would have been extraordinarily reckless to bombard it, given the prospect of extensive contamination across surrounding regions and the consequent likelihood of civilian casualties. France, Britain and the US appear, instead, to have struck empty buildings. Perhaps that is just as well, although it brings into sharp relief the absurdity of the action, which was ostensibly a response to a poison gas attack in Douma on April 7, that reportedly claimed 70 lives and caused hundreds of injuries. Both Syria and Russia have denied that any such atrocity took place. At the same time, though, this week they delayed permission for inspectors from the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to visit the purportedly affected area, sparking suspicions of a coordinated cover-up. More than four years ago, Syria supposedly surrendered all its stockpiles of chemical weapons, which were subsequently destroyed under international supervision. The international agreement at the time did not cover chlorine, which is widely used across the world as a cleansing agent for water but can also be weaponised, and served during the First World War as a potent troop-repellent alongside mustard gas. Battlefield use of the latter prompted one of Wilfred Owens most powerful antiwar poems, Dulce et Decorum Est, but a fellow Englishman by the name of Winston Churchill, who served his nation as secretary of state for war for two years from 1919, not only authorised the deployment of chemical weapons against the Bolsheviks in northern Russia but also advocated their use against uncivilised tribes in Iraq and India. In Vietnam, meanwhile, the indiscriminate spraying of Agent Orange not only accounted for hundreds of thousands of deaths, but children are still being born with deformities associated with their parents exposure to the deadly defoliant. Chemical weapons are undoubtedly a curse, and it is acknowledged that their use in Syria has not been restricted to the Assad regime. It is unclear what the OPCW representatives might find in Douma, which has been under Syrian-Russian control for 10 days, after Jaish al-Islam, the Saudi-backed Islamist group that occupied a part of the area on the outskirts of Damascus, accepted a deal that included safe passage to Idlib province. One thing that has been ignored in reports over the past few days is that while in Ankara earlier this month for a Syria-related summit with Irans Hassan Rouhani and Turkeys Recep Tayyip Erdogan, Russian President Vladimir Putin suggested he was privy to intelligence about an impending false-flag chemical attack that would be blamed on Damascus. Its interesting that even Moscow has been reluctant to cite the warning, perhaps recognising that it could be construed as evidence of collusion. One of the reasons behind the comprehensive confusion over Syria is that the ever-present question is not who to believe more, but who to disbelieve less. Everyone involved in the mess from the Assad regime and its smorgasbord of opponents to the US-led Western allies, Russia, Iran, Turkey, Israel, the Saudis, UAE and Qatar has an axe to grind. The only possible road to peace in the country carved out a century ago by Anglo-French diktat lies through dedicated diplomacy, involving concessions and compromises that none of the antagonists appears to be inclined towards for the time being. Hollow demonstrations of military superiority by powers that pretend to take the moral high ground but are unwilling to consult their Parliaments beforehand, let alone demonstrate their concern for beleaguered Syrians by opening their doors a bit wider for refugees, are supremely unhelpful. Its worth taking into consideration that, coincidentally or otherwise, British Prime Minister Theresa May, French President Emmanuel Macron and above all his American counterpart Donald Trump were all keen on a distraction from pressing domestic concerns. Arguably the biggest immediate danger lies not in a direct confrontation between Russia and the US, but in belligerence between Israel and Iran, which could well spark a conflict that envelops the entire region. But whether in that particular context or beyond it, Syrias capacity as a potential crucible for the next world war has been far from exhausted. By arrangement with Dawn In ordering a university-level probe into a sex-for-grades scandal exposed in an audio clip leak on the social media, Tamil Nadu governor Banwarlilal Purohit hasnt exactly distinguished himself. Hes on shaky ground in trying to get to the bottom of the scandal with a one-man commission of inquiry he ordered as pro-chancellor of universities under the state government. The government is probing the same incident, where an assistant maths professor tried to lure girls into a human trafficking ring, providing sexual favours to unidentified high officials in return for advancement in academics and cash. A high-level judicial inquiry should have been ordered as the governors name has been dragged into it. The governor may well be innocent, but a proper inquiry is necessary so that all the facts come out. The proactive occupant of the Chennai and Ooty Raj Bhavans may have rubbed Opposition politicians on the wrong side by his interventions in administrative matters, which a quiescent government had turned a Nelsons eye to. He further exceeded his brief by holding an hour-long press conference at Raj Bhavan. To make matters worse, in a situation where the lives of students were sought to be compromised by a teacher, the governor landed an avuncular pat on the cheek of a woman reporter. The holder of a high constitutional office should have read the situation better, and not allowed his grandfatherly age to be the sole mark of sexual innocence. At this point, the Centre must suggest the right course of action as a governor represents the Union of India in the state capitals. BJP govt doesnt care for Dalits: Ashish Dua The BJP has always been an anti-dalit party. The top leadership of the BJP has been extending lip service but we all know what their real stand is. Let us now bring out some facts and put them in the public domain. Even as the Narendra Modi government tried to wriggle out of the spot that it had put itself in by suggesting that it would get an ordinance to correct the Supreme Court judgment on the SC/ST Act, the Chhattisgarh government has begun implementation of the diluted version of the law, and the state government has said disciplinary action will be taken against those who do not implement the new version a clear case of the BJPs unabashed doublespeak. A circular issued by the additional DG (CID) of Chhattisgarh directing the police to implement the diluted version of the SC/ST Act busts the claims of Prime Minister Narendra Modi and law minister Ravi Shankar Prasad that there wont be any weakening of the SC/ST Act. Data shows that a dalit suffers an atrocity every 12 minutes. As per the National Crime Records Bureau, six dalit women are raped every day. The Indian National Congress was the first political party to legislate the Scheduled Castes and Tribes (Prevention of Atrocities) Act 1989, and is also the first party to raise objections against the governments bid to dilute it. It was the Congress that, in consultation with other Opposition parties, submitted a memorandum to the President on March 27, 2018 against this; the President had assured us that he would look into it. The Prime Minister wants to know what the Congress has done for the dalits and Babasaheb Ambedkar. I would like to tell him to first look at news reports coming in from Uttar Pradesh which state that grills are being installed around the statues of Babasaheb so that they are not vandalised. Is this the new India that the PM promised to the citizens of this country? A place where statues have to be guarded by men in uniform or else they will be vandalised. Neither the PM nor any of his ministers has spoken on this issue. Significantly, dalit BJP MPs Udit Raj (Delhi), Savitri Bai Phule (Bahraich), Chhote Lal Kharwar (Robertsganj), Ashok Kumar Dohre (Etawah), Yashwant Singh (Nagina) have written letters to the BJP leadership expressing dismay and anguish at the ill-treatment meted out to the SC/ST community. Their letters state that in the past four years the Modi government had done nothing for these sections. It is clear from these statements that even BJP leaders have realised that the government is not doing anything for dalits. Its time the BJP starts doing something for the assimilation and oneness of society. Mere jumlas will not work anymore, the party needs to rectify its attitude towards dalits. The writer is media coordinator, AICC We believe in all-inclusive development: Devang Dave If you cannot do anything good yourself, do not create hurdles for those who are trying to do so. This is one thing which the Congress Party chooses to ignore time and again. Recently, Congress leaders made a scathing remark stating that the BJPs attitude towards the SC/ST community needs to change, as sops were not enough to uplift the much-neglected community. It is ironical that the party which governed India for 60 years and neglected the dalit community all along is audaciously questioning the continued and untiring efforts of a party that came to power just four years back. BSP leader Mayawati has termed the BJPs efforts of uplifting the weaker sections of society as natakbaazi in the name of Dr Babasaheb Ambedkar. Here I reiterate that the BJP is a pro-India nationalist party that has always worked for the inclusive development of the weaker segment. Today, the Congress, along with the BSP and SP, is using its old strategy of coaxing the minority against the BJP using the caste card. They want to divide the nation in the name of caste and religion, whereas we believe in development of all. Yes, I totally agree that mere sops arent enough for cohesive development and thats precisely why the BJP government has implemented and executed schemes especially for the deprived sections. Stressing on the need for all-inclusive development, the Narendra Modi governments Jan Dhan Yojana made banking accessible to lakhs of poor citizens who never had the luxury of having their own bank account. The Ujwala Yojana brought in electricity to thousands of poor households, while Skill India, a programme to develop skills and provide better livelihood to the underprivileged in rural areas, has proved to be an effective result-oriented programme. The Ekal Vidyalaya programme started in 51,000 schools has enrolled a whopping one million dalit kids in India. Also, more than 82 per cent villages in far-flung and inaccessible areas have been connected by roads under the PM Gram Sadak Yojana. In addition, the recently launched Ayushman Bharat healthcare scheme aims at covering 10 crore poor and vulnerable families and provide a cover of Rs 5 lakhs per family per year for secondary and tertiary care hospitalisation. All these schemes have been implemented with the sole purpose of uplifting the masses, a herculean task, which was neglected by the Congress all along. Lastly, I must mention the BJP governments commendable step of filing a motion urging the Supreme Court to reconsider its decision regarding the SC/ST Act, and thus has repeated its commitment to protect the rights of the Scheduled Castes and Scheduled Tribes. The initiatives taken by the BJP government for the empowerment of dalits are endless. The writer is national convenor, BJYM, IT Committee A team of researchers from the University of Manchester and Shandong University has worked together to create a nanoscale transistor which can aid in the development of NextGen gadgets. Turns out, experts have taken another step closer towards the futuristic technology. A team of researchers from the University of Manchester and Shandong University has worked together to create a nanoscale transistor which can aid in the development of NextGen gadgets. The international team has developed an ultrafast, nanoscale transistor - known as a thin film transistor, or TFT, - made out of an oxide semiconductor. The TFT is the first oxide-semiconductor based transistor that is capable of operating at a benchmark speed of 1 GHz. This could make the next generation electronic gadgets even faster, brighter and more flexible than ever before. A TFT is a type of transistor usually used in a liquid crystal display (LCD). These can be found in most modern gadgets with LCD screens such as smartphones, tablets, and high-definition televisions. LCD features a TFT behind each individual pixel and they act as individual switches that allow the pixels to change state rapidly, making them turn on and off much more quickly. But most current TFTs are silicon-based which are opaque, rigid and expensive in comparison to the oxide semiconductor family of transistors which the team from the UK and China are developing. Whilst oxide TFTs will improve the picture on LCD displays, it is their flexibility that is even more impressive. Researcher Aimin Song explained, "TVs can already be made extremely thin and bright. Our work may help make TV more mechanically flexible and even cheaper to produce. "But, perhaps even more importantly, our GHz transistors may enable medium or even high performance flexible electronic circuits, such as truly wearable electronics. Wearable electronics requires flexibility and in many cases transparency, too. This would be the perfect application for our research", continued Song. Song added, "Plus, there is a trend in developing smart homes, smart hospitals and smart cities - in all of which oxide semiconductor TFTs will play a key role." Oxide-based technology has seen rapid development when compared to its silicon counterpart which is increasingly close to some fundamental limitations. Song said there has been fast progress in oxide-semiconductors in recent years and extensive efforts have been made in order to improve the speed of oxide-semiconductor-based TFTs. So much so some oxide-based technology has already started replacing amorphous silicon in some gadgets. The study appears in the journal IEEE Explore. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Joe Raedle/Getty Images(WEST PALM BEACH, Fla.) -- President Donald Trump didn't directly answer on Wednesday when asked whether he's determined it's not worth the political fallout to fire special counsel Robert Mueller and Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein but he noted that both men are still in their jobs. "Theyve been saying Im going to get rid of them for the last four, five months, but theyre still here," Trump said in response to a reporter's question on the topic during a joint press conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday. Trump has publicly voiced his frustrations with Mueller and Rosenstein, who oversees Mueller's investigation, which Trump has repeatedly described as a "witch hunt." Trump has previously said that many people have advised him that he should fire Mueller. "I think it's a disgrace what's going on. We'll see what happens," Trump said last week when asked about whether he would consider firing Mueller. "But I think it's really a sad situation when you look at what happened. And many people have said, 'You should fire him.'" The president Wednesday again denied broadly that there was any collusion between his campaign and the Russians, which is one of the questions that Mueller's team is investigating. "There's no collusion," Trump said, going on to dismiss the notion as a Democrat-created hoax. "This was a really a hoax created largely by the Democrats as a way of softening the blow of a loss which is a loss that frankly, they shouldn't have had from the standpoint that it's very easy for them," Trump said. "They have a tremendous advantage in the electoral college in is what it is and this is where it came from." Even as he sought to discredit the basis for an investigation, the president made a point to insist that his cooperation has been complete and comprehensive. "As far as the investigation, nobody has ever been as transparent as I have. I have instructed our lawyers: Be totally transparent," Trump said. "We have given them 1.4 million pages of documents, and havent used as I know of for the most part presidential powers or privilege. The president also expressed his hope that "were coming to the end" of the investigation. "We want to get the investigation over with, done with. Put it behind us," Trump said. Copyright 2018, ABC Radio. All rights reserved. A 2014 law requiring foreign messaging services, search engines and social networking sites to store the personal data of Russian users inside the country has caused widespread concern. Russia's telecoms watchdog plans to probe Facebook before the end of the year after blocking access in the country to the popular messaging app Telegram, its head said on Wednesday. "We will conduct a probe of the company before the end of 2018," the head of state regulator Roskomnadzor, Alexander Zharov, told pro-Kremlin newspaper Izvestia. Russia's telecoms regulator has repeatedly warned Facebook it could be banned this year unless it complies with a law on the personal data of Russian nationals. A 2014 law requiring foreign messaging services, search engines and social networking sites to store the personal data of Russian users inside the country has caused widespread concern as it is seen as putting the information at risk of being accessed by Russian intelligence services. Zharov told Izvestia that Facebook still did not comply with the Russian legislation. "They are already significantly late in their deadlines and in complying with other laws," Zharov said, referring to Facebook. "The question of a ban will be raised" if Facebook does not fully comply with the law, he said, adding that he meets with representatives of the social media giant "around once every half a year." Roskomnadzor began blocking the popular messaging app Telegram on Monday after a court banned the service for refusing to give the security services access to private conversations. The ruling came after a long-running battle between the Russian authorities and Telegram, which has a reputation for securely encrypted communications, as Moscow pushes to increase surveillance of internet activities. Telegram, a free application that lets people exchange messages, stickers, photos and videos, has attracted more than 200 million users since its launch by Russia's Pavel Durov and his brother Nikolai in 2013. On Tuesday, Roskomnadzor blocked millions of IP addresses that were used to get around the Telegram ban. Facebook and Telegram are widely used by the opposition to President Vladimir Putin to coordinate protests and make political statements. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Click on Deccan Chronicle Technology and Science for the latest news and reviews. Follow us on Facebook, Twitter. Washington: President Donald Trump has said he does not want the US to rejoin the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) -- a trade pact he withdrew the US from days after assuming presidency -- but would reconsider his stance if offered a deal that is good for America. Trump's was responding to recent media reports that he has asked the US Trade Representative to review the possibilities of rejoining TPP. "The media has not covered the TPP correctly," Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse, on behalf of the United States, I would do it," he said. TPP is an ambitious trade agreement involving 12 countries. Trump said he still preferred bilateral ties over multilateral trade agreement like TPP. "I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers. I much would prefer a bilateral deal, a deal directly with Japan. We already have a deal with six of the 11 nations in the TPP. So we already have trade deals, and the others we can make very easily. They're all calling wanting to make a deal. But we think that's much better for us," he said. "So, unless they offer us a deal that we cannot refuse, I would not go back into TPP. We'll see what happens. In the meantime, were negotiating," Trump said. The US president said his administration was looking to have "a very good deal" with Japan. "What I really prefer is negotiating a one-on-one deal with Japan. That's where we are right now. We will hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, have a very good deal for Japan and good for the United States," Trump said. The US has a massive trade deficit with Japan -- anywhere from USD 69 billion to USD 100 billion a year. "That's massive by any standpoint if we can come to an arrangement on a new deal between the United States and Japan, which would certainly be something we would discuss -- aluminium tariffs and steel tariffs. I would look forward to being able to, at some point in the future, take them off," Trump said. The cash crunch faced at State Bank of India ATMs will normalise by Friday in Bihar and Telangana where the problem persists, chairman Rajnish Kumar said but rued hoarding of currency notes was posing a big problem. "It is not a uniform cash crunch problem. It is there in geographies like Telangana and Bihar. We are hoping that the problem will be resolved by tomorrow because cash is in transition and it is reaching these states by today (Wednesday) evening," Kumar told reporters on the sidelines of an event. He said though the cash situation had improved in certain pockets, the money deposited back in the banks was lesser and especially in the states like Telangana cash was not returning to the system. "If we hold everything (currency notes), then whatever supply the banks do, will be insufficient for the country. So it is important that the currency is also recycled," the SBI chief said. The government, too, has admitted that currency notes of Rs 2,000 denomination are not coming back in the system fast enough. Economic Affairs Secretary Subhash Chandra Garg said he suspected that Rs 2,000 notes were being hoarded. On Tuesday, even the Opposition had charged the government with facilitating the hoarders by introducing a high denomination currency after junking Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 notes in November 2016. The All India Bank Employees' Association, too, attacked the government for introducing Rs 2,000 notes, saying: The problem has started with the governments decision to print Rs 2,000 notes. If withdrawing of Rs 1,000 notes was to prevent hoarding of black money, it is only obvious that hoarding will become easier with Rs 2,000 notes. Hence it is only helping the hoarders." India's image today has taken a beating with a growing perception abroad that it's a country of crimes and rapes and that liberal and secular people are not safe here, the Bombay High Court observed on Thursday. The observation was made amid a nation-wide outrage over the Kathua rape cum murder and the Unnao rape cases. A bench of Justices S C Dharamadhikari and Bharati Dangre went on to say that the rest of the world is now hesitant to engage with India over educational or cultural issues due to the current state of affairs here. The bench made these observations while hearing pleas by the kin of slain rationalist Narendra Dabholkar and communist leader Govind Pansare. They had sought a court-monitored probe into the killings. "It is unfortunate that today, the image of the country is such that those living abroad feel only crimes and rapes happen in India. "Anywhere we go (outside India), we have to answer a barrage of questions. People are under the impression that liberal, open-minded and secular people cannot be safe in India and that they are bound to be attacked. The image of India is suffering due to the acts of a few people," the bench said. Senior counsel Ashok Mundargi, the lawyer for Maharashtra CID (Crime Investigation Department) probing the killing of Pansare, told the high court that there was little hope now of achieving anything substantial from any further field probe. "Field probe including raids at possible hiding places will not lead to anything anymore. Our only hope is scientific probe and evidence from call detail records, forensics etc," Mundargi said. Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh, representing the CBI probing Dabholkar's killing, echoed the same view. "How do we then take the case to its logical conclusion?" the bench asked. "Can we allow for the case to reach a dead-end when similar crimes are on the rise?" it asked. The bench said while it was not critical so far of the ongoing probes by the two agencies, it could not allow them to leave everything to the mere hope that the absconding accused people in the two cases, tired of hiding or fearing threat to their lives, would turn themselves in one day. "Why don't you take steps to completely strangulate the organisational backing that the accused persons must be receiving?" the bench asked. It also directed the agencies to seek the help of expert interrogators in the case. Pansare was shot at on February 16, 2015, in Kolhapur and had succumbed to his injuries on February 20. A high court bench had last year observed that the killings of Dabholkar and Pansare were "well planned" and the perpetrators had an organisational backup. OREM Although Lisa Zimmerman earned a masters of music in vocal performance, she uses her vocal cords as the voice of reason when she plays Elinor Dashwood in Sense and Sensibility, Hale Center Theater Orems upcoming production. I attended a performing arts high school in Atlanta and had choir and theater classes, and ended up taking more of the musical route, said Zimmerman, whos recently starred in a handful of operas. Its a different experience when youre going from an acting and singing performance to focusing on just one medium. Its been really beneficial and a wonderful challenge to focus solely on acting through spoken text. Kicking off April 27, Sense and Sensibility is based on the beloved Jane Austen novel, and is adapted for stage by Kate Hamil. Cleveland McKay Nicoll plays Edward (single cast), Elinors love interest, and said acting comes naturally for Zimmerman. I thought her degree was in acting at first, Nicoll said. Her musical background probably assists in the style of Sense and Sensibility; the language is a tad bit heightened as is opera. Operas are usually period pieces so she understands the style and culture of those times. Her dialect is great; her acting is grounded and connected. Shes present with you on stage. The story focuses on Elinor and her sister Marianne as they traverse the cultural and financial quirks of Georgian England following the death of their father. I have always been drawn to Elinor, Zimmerman (M/W/F cast) said. Shes the rock of her family. She has this ability to bring calm, logic and a plan to whatever situation theyre put in, and everyone relies on her because of those attributes. On the other hand, Marianne is more impulsive and in tune to emotions, Zimmerman explained. Marianne feels things to their fullest, whether or not thats to her benefit. Elinor is not without feeling, but she gives more importance to the thinking than the feeling, Zimmerman said. Like the title, Elinor is the sense and Marianne is the sensibility. There is such a disparity between their natures; they both draw each other toward a more-mellow version of themselves a good yin and yang. Nicoll said hes looking forward to playing Edward, who he describes as an introverted peacekeeper. His previous roles, he explained, have been more quirky and over the top. Even though the show is set more than 200 years ago, this adaptation includes modern touches, which Nicoll thinks will pleasantly surprise the audience. Were not just doing a Jane Austen show where two characters sit on stage and talk for hours, he said. I would categorize this as a movement piece, because the actors are moving around and everything is on wheels. It has a nice, modern layering on top of it; the music is in the style of the period but its contemporary. I dont think were changing it, he added, just presenting it in a new way and figuring out how to do that while keeping the story intact. Zimmerman added that the modern views that influence the show, like reflections on women in society, make it comedic. Through this modern lens, Sense and Sensibility becomes an even stronger commentary on that time period's social mores. It really takes elements of the characters personalities to the extreme, Zimmerman said, creating scenarios I didnt initially think about when I watched the movie or read the book. If you go What: Sense and Sensibility Where: Hale Center Theater Orem, 225 W. 400 North, Orem When: April 27-June 2, 7:30 p.m.; see website for Saturday matinee times. How much: $18-$24 for general admission, $14-$18 for children Phone: 801-226-8600 Website: haletheater.org MURRAY Health authorities issued a hepatitis A exposure warning Wednesday to anyone who may have eaten any of approximately 600 products sold by Edible Arrangements in Murray between March 21 and April 13. Only those who ate products from that store are at risk for exposure, said Salt Lake County Health Department spokesman Nicholas Rupp. "This possible hepatitis A exposure occurred when an employee infected with hepatitis A worked while ill," Rupp wrote in a release. Rupp estimates the business, located at 5211 S. State, "sold about 600 arrangements during this time." Dr. Dagmar Vitek, medical director of the Salt Lake County Health Department, warned that because people "buy these edible arrangements usually as a gift or bring it to the party, probably the number of people who were exposed is much higher than the 600" paying customers. Rupp said the worker's illness is linked to the hepatitis A outbreak in Utah, which has infected more than 200 people since last May and resulted in two deaths earlier this year. Edible Arrangements which sells decorative chocolate-dipped fruit, often made to resemble flower arrangements is the fourth eatery along the Wasatch Front for which hepatitis A exposure warnings have been issued. Store closure The store was closed to customers Tuesday afternoon, and the Utah Department of Agriculture, the permitting agency for the business, "will supervise its sanitation before reopening," Rupp said. Richard Beckstrand, manufactured food program manager for the Department of Agriculture, said the store will remain closed for "probably several days at least." Acting on a complaint received and passed along by the Salt Lake County Health Department that one of the employees at Edible Arrangements had jaundice, Department of Agriculture inspectors visited the business Monday, according to Beckstrand. "It looked like we were going to be able to get that place cleaned and sanitized while it was still open," he said. "(But) the next morning we got a little more information about the seriousness of the illness." Upon learning the ill employee had hepatitis A, "we erred on the side of caution, so that anything we felt could have been contaminated, could have been touched by the case patient, was destroyed," according to Beckstrand. The Edible Arrangements store released a statement Wednesday in response to the warning that was issued to customers. "We have been advised by the Salt Lake County Health Department that an employee at our store has been diagnosed with hepatitis A. The employee reported being ill and was immediately sent to seek medical attention," the statement says. "The employee has not returned to work and we are cooperating fully with the Salt Lake County Health Department, as the health and well-being of all associates and customers is our top priority." Beckstrand wouldn't rule out the possibility of citations against the business, saying "when someone's got jaundice, (the company's) responsibility based on Utah law and federal law is to exclude that person and make a report to us that they've excluded an employee who is sick and (has) jaundice." "They failed in that respect," Beckstrand said, but their case "might be mitigated" by the fact that the worker previously had a doctor's note stating their condition was not contagious. "The management was kind of depending on that (doctor's note)," he said. "We'll take that all into consideration." Beckstrand also said Edible Arrangements was being "very cooperative," adding "that goes in their favor." Speaking in general terms, Rupp told the Deseret News that a person can have several illnesses that give them jaundice that are not communicable, but that regulators want to receive reports about such employees so that the cause of the jaundice can be determined out of proper precaution. Vitek said Wednesday that "the patient is actually doing OK at this time." Resources for those affected In February, the Salt Lake County Health Department began requiring hepatitis A vaccinations for all employees who handle food at any business where a co-worker has been exposed. Rupp confirmed that the county will "require all store employees to be vaccinated against hepatitis A before they return to work" at Edible Arrangements. "We do not currently have any hepatitis A cases linked to this possible exposure at Edible Arrangements," Rupp said. "Because the incubation period for hepatitis A is two to seven weeks, we will not know for several weeks if anyone was infected from this possible exposure." Rupp asked Edible Arrangements customers who may have been exposed to call 385-468-INFO (4636). Through at least Friday, that phone line will run from 8 a.m. to 5 p.m., he said. "Health department staff will screen callers for their exposure risk and, if they are eligible, provide them with options for receiving an injection to prevent hepatitis A," Rupp said. He said 443 people had called to seek help by the end of Wednesday. Where possible, the county has also proactively sent messages to affected customers who bought items at Edible Arrangements, Vitek said. "We either call them or send them emails if we have that (contact) information," she said. The hepatitis A vaccine is effective up to 14 days after exposure, Rupp said, but "it is too late for people who ate items from this location (purchased) between March 21 and April 3" to receive it. "Those individuals should watch for symptoms of hepatitis A and see their health care provider if they feel ill," he said. "Symptoms of hepatitis A include low fever, fatigue, loss of appetite, nausea, vomiting, and yellow skin and eyes." Utah outbreak Hepatitis A, an inflammation of the liver, has infected about 221 people in Utah since May 2017, according to the Utah Department of Health, including 154 people in Salt Lake County. The outbreak has led to 115 hospitalizations, and two Salt Lake County residents died of the disease this year. The Utah outbreak had exhibited a particularly high incident rate among those who are homeless, use illicit drugs or who are or have recently been incarcerated. Of those infected, 87 individuals were homeless and actively using drugs at the time, the Utah Department of Health says. Vitek said Wednesday that because of the delay associated with hepatitis A symptoms, it is difficult to know for certain whether the worst of the outbreak was over, but added there are encouraging signs that "it looks like maybe it is slowing down." Salt Lake County's efforts to fight the outbreak have included administering more than 9,000 vaccinations, focusing on at-risk populations, Vitek has said. The hepatitis A virus can spread through very small traces of an infected person's feces, making it easy to transmit via contaminated food. Second only to vaccination, the best way for a person to prevent infection is to wash their hands before eating or preparing food and after using the restroom, health authorities say. The two-shot hepatitis A vaccine is more than 99 percent effective in preventing infection for 20 to 25 years and is the best way to ward off the illness, according to Rupp. Rupp said any resident who is interested in receiving a vaccine can call 385-468-SHOT to make an appointment with the county for an immunization. SALT LAKE CITY A man died Wednesday after being shot by Salt Lake City police who were originally responding to a report of domestic violence and a possible hostage situation. Delorean Pikyavit, 32, died from his injuries, police confirmed Wednesday evening. It is the fourth officer-involved shooting in Utah this month. About 12:15 p.m. police were called to 1132 E. Princeton Ave. (1155 South). The original call was for a domestic violence incident, said Salt Lake Police Sgt. Brandon Shearer. He did not know who made the call. When police arrived they approached the suspect in the domestic violence call, later identified as Pikyavit, prompting him to run back into the house, Shearer said. Not knowing whether there was a hostage inside, a SWAT team and hostage negotiators were called to the scene, Shearer said. "After over an hour of trying to talk to the man, he came out of the home and approached the officers. His actions caused the officers to respond, at which time the suspect was shot," he said. Police did not release information Wednesday about what Pikyavit did to prompt police to shoot or whether he was armed. Shearer said less lethal force was also attempted, but he did not have further details. He did not know how many officers fired their weapons or how many shots were fired. All of that information, Shearer said, will be part of the officer-involved critical incident investigation, which is being headed up by West Valley police. Police originally described Pikyavit as "suicidal," saying he was barricaded inside the home. A woman was also found injured at the house. Police later confirmed she was not inside the home when Pikyavit re-entered. No details about how she was injured or the extent of her injuries were released Wednesday. It was unclear Wednesday whether Pikyavit lived at that house. During the standoff, police ordered other residents in the neighborhood to shelter in place, meaning they were to lock their doors and not go outside. Kaytee Lucherini, who lives nearby, said she saw seven men with guns enter the home and was trying to wrap her head around what had happened in her neighborhood. "It's sad that it escalated to that," she said. A search of state court records shows Pikyavit has three prior DUI convictions, one in Iron County in 2009 and two in Washington County in 2012 and in 2011. He also pleaded guilty to driving on a denied license in the 2011 case. He had also been convicted of misdemeanors for interference with an arresting officer, drug possession and underage drinking. Pikyavit's death marks the fourth officer-involved shooting in Utah in April. Lonnie Marcel Bowen, 41, was shot and killed Tuesday by a Unified police officer following a car chase and a possible hostage incident inside his truck. Wade Leon Willis, 38, of Springville, was in critical condition from being shot on April 9 after allegedly hitting a Utah County Sheriff's deputy with his car. Elijah James Smith, 20, was shot and killed April 8 by West Valley police after barging into a house with three children inside, and then failing to obey officers' command to take his hands of his pocket. When he eventually did, he took out his hand in a "rapid draw-stroke motion," police said. Contributing: Annie Knox, Andrew Adams WASHINGTON President Donald Trump's pick for secretary of state, CIA Director Mike Pompeo, is facing so much opposition from Democrats on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favorable recommendation. On Wednesday, the committee's ranking Democrat, Sen. Bob Menendez of New Jersey, became the latest to announce his opposition, raising concern that Pompeo failed, in their private conversation, to disclose his recent trip to North Korea to meet with President Kim Jong Un. News of Pompeo's visit ricocheted on Capitol Hill after it was made public late Tuesday, but if it was intended to shore up support among wavering senators, it appeared to have the opposite effect among Democrats. Another key member of the panel, Sen. Ben Cardin, D-Md., also announced Wednesday he would vote no. "I don't expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit," Menendez said in a talk at a Washington policy think tank. Menendez echoed concerns lodged by other Democratic senators that Pompeo did little during his public hearing to roll back his comments against Muslims and gay marriage, and failed to outline a clear foreign policy strategy. "His own personal record is deeply troubling," Menendez said. "Past statements indicate he has a preference for military action before exhausting diplomacy. Furthermore, he was unable to satisfactorily explain or express contrition for some of the more egregious statements he made as a member of Congress about Muslims, or defend his positions denying women and LGBTQ individuals' fundamental human rights." Pompeo is still expected to have enough votes in the full Senate to replace Rex Tillerson, who was fired by Trump. But as support peels away, his confirmation may come down to a handful of senators. The backlash ahead of the committee's vote is a rare rebuke for such a high-profile Cabinet pick. Democratic Sen. Jeanne Shaheen of New Hampshire on Tuesday announced her opposition, and Sen. Tim Kaine, D-Va., recently said he would vote no. Both supported Pompeo as CIA director last year. Shaheen said Pompeo's previous roles "are fundamentally different from that of secretary of state, who represents American values around the world." Rarely has the Senate panel failed to back a nominee, and some said not since President George W. Bush nominated John Bolton as U.S. ambassador to the United Nations has the committee declined to recommend a White House pick. Republicans have a narrow Senate majority, which gives them a single-vote advantage on the panel. But with stiff opposition from Democrats and at least one Republican, Sen. Rand Paul of Kentucky, opposed the committee may have few other options when it convenes as soon as next week. "We'll see," said the committee's chairman, Sen. Bob Corker, R-Tenn. Under Senate rules, if the nominee does not have support in the committee, the panel could report to the full Senate unfavorably, which would send a strong rebuke to the White House, or simply report without a recommendation. It also could take no action. Senators submitted more than 100 questions for the nominee after his initial hearing, and many are waiting for those responses. Trump initially tapped Pompeo as CIA director, one of his first Cabinet nominees in 2017, and they became close allies. But some Democrats have faced resistance for their earlier votes in support of Pompeo, and Pompeo is having a tougher path as the nominee for secretary of state over his hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities, having suggested that Muslims should denounce extremism and gay people should not be able to marry. During his confirmation hearing last week, Pompeo told senators it's unlikely he'd resign if Trump fired special counsel Robert Mueller, who is leading the investigation into Russian interference in the 2016 election. Of the more than a dozen Democrats who supported Pompeo's nomination as CIA director in 2017, at least four, including Sen. Dianne Feinstein of California and Sen. Brian Schatz of Hawaii, now oppose his nomination for State. "The Secretary of State is a very different role than CIA director, and it's not the kind of position you learn on the job," Feinstein said in a statement Tuesday. "I sense a certain disdain for diplomacy in Mike Pompeo that I believe disqualifies him from being our next senior diplomat." Senate Minority Leader Chuck Schumer, D-N.Y., who also backed Pompeo earlier, declined to say Tuesday how he would vote. ___ Follow Mascaro on Twitter at https://twitter.com/LisaMascaro SALT LAKE CITY Nearly half of Utah's tourism dollars land in Salt Lake County, new data from the Kem C. Gardner Policy Institute at the University of Utah shows. Its report, Economic Impacts of Travel & Tourism in Salt Lake County, noted 44 percent of the $8.4 billion spent by visitors to Utah in 2016 was directed toward goods and services purchased in the state's most populous county. That amounts to approximately $3.7 billion in visitor money for Salt Lake County, confirming its status as the main area of Utahs robust tourist economy. To say that we are excited about the information in this report is an understatement. This report clearly shows the foundational role of the Wasatch Front in our states visitor economy," said Scott Beck, president and CEO of Visit Salt Lake. Though the Greater Salt Lake metro population comprises over one-third of the Beehive States total with 1.1 million people, its visitor economy is responsible for more than 40 percent of the states total tourist-generated tax revenue, bringing in nearly $500 million in state and local taxes, the report stated. The result indicates the visitor economy in Salt Lake County saved each local household an estimated $1,285 in taxes in 2016, Beck explained. "Considering that the Wasatch Front and Back counties of Salt Lake, Davis, Weber, Utah and Summit collectively contributed nearly 60 percent of all counties transient room tax revenue collected in 2016, the new economic calculations likewise indicate their value in Utahs statewide visitor economy, Beck said. The release of the study findings come on the heels of Visit Salt Lakes annual meeting, where members and key stakeholders marked a record tourism year in 2017. A new benchmark was achieved with 736,203 hotel room nights booked last year a 7.5 percent jump over the previous record. That figure was made even more significant considering it was the first year in 22 years without future room nights for the two Outdoor Retailer shows, Beck noted. Because of the prolonged economic growth in Salt Lake County, the area is experiencing greater recognition from visitors from across the country, he said. "We are continuing to garner incredible attention for our business community here in Utah and specifically along the Wasatch Front," he said. "Meetings and conventions are really about business. An environment like Salt Lake that continues to grow and receive enormous accolades for our business community (and) puts us in the 'catbird seat' for this idea that 'meetings mean business.'" Beck noted that last year also saw the Ski City Super Pass reach record status for skier days sold, with more than 49,000 purchased up 43 percent over 2016 resulting in record revenue of $3.6 million, a 52 percent increase over the prior year. The report also showed total revenues in Salt Lake County eclipsing $500 million for a new record, and rental car and restaurant revenues were also at historic levels. "The food and beverage culture that is growing up here very quickly is receiving really good acclaim across the country," Beck said. "That's a really important part of a meeting and convention experience." Salt Lake Countys success in attracting tourists, conventiongoers and skiers has helped boost employment across the board from retail stores and restaurants to transportation and performing arts facilities," said Salt Lake County Mayor Ben McAdams. "That adds up to a stronger and more diverse local economy and a revenue stream that we can reinvest in our community." The report also showed that visitor spending supported more than 54,000 travel and tourism jobs, an 8 percent share of all Salt Lake County jobs and a 37 percent share of total travel and tourism jobs in Utah, Beck noted. Salt Lake County captured a large percent of Utah visitor airline and car rental spending along with related tax revenues thanks to the Salt Lake City International Airport, the report stated. As home to the largest convention, meeting and trade show facilities in the state, Salt Lake County attracts a healthy percentage of the states meeting and convention visitor spending as well, according to the report. SALT LAKE CITY Utah lawmakers one-upped Gov. Gary Herbert on Wednesday in the ongoing power struggle between the state's legislative and executive branches. The Republican-dominated House and Senate voted overwhelmingly to override the GOP governor's veto of two bills that give the Legislature authority to go to court and clarity for obtaining legal opinions from the attorney general. It was the Legislature's first override session since 2011 and only the second in Herbert's nearly nine years as governor. "This really goes to our constitutional separation of powers as well as legislative prerogative," House Speaker Greg Hughes, R-Draper, said afterward. Though the Legislature serves part time it is not a part-time branch of government, he said, adding it did not to seek more power, but to better define the power it has. Herbert spokesman Paul Edwards said in a statement that clearly the governor and the Legislature disagree about the appropriate roles and functions of their respective branches of state government. "We would encourage the Legislature to intervene in a court case as soon as possible so that the Utah courts can quickly resolve these important constitutional issues," he said. SB171 allows the Legislature to intervene in lawsuits filed against the state and allocates $700,000 a year for three new attorneys, a paralegal and a legal secretary. Lawmakers said the bill is not about usurping constitutional authority but about giving the Legislature a say in cases where state laws are challenged in court. "If the attorney general were to refuse to defend a law we pass, our hands are tied. We have no remedy. We have no voice. The law goes undefended in the court," said Rep. Merrill Nelson, R-Grantsville. In vetoing SB171 last month, Herbert argued that it is inherently and exclusively the executive branch's job to enforce and defend laws. Allowing the Legislature to wade into lawsuits, he said, would unnecessarily complicate cases and muddy the separation of powers. Attorney General Sean Reyes agrees, saying the Legislature enacts laws, the executive branch enforces them, and courts interpret them. "When one branch upsets that equilibrium, it threatens the harmony and integrity of the whole and erodes public confidence in the institutions," he said in a statement. Reyes said his office would continue "to do our duty and defend state laws, unless and until there is a decision from the courts requiring us to do otherwise." Rep. Tim Hawkes, R-Centerville, said the bill is simply about giving the "author of legislation" a say when a law faces a court challenge. "This is not about undermining checks and balances, separation of powers but reiteration of those fundamental principles," he said. But Rep. Justin Fawson, R-North Ogden, opposed the bill, saying it appears to subject the Utah code to "here-is-what-we-really-meant revisionism." HB198 clarifies how the Utah Attorney General's Office provides legal opinions to lawmakers upon request and provides the Legislature a recourse through the Utah Supreme Court if the attorney general fails to comply. Nelson said the governor mistakenly considers the attorney general his lawyer exclusively, and that if the attorney general provides an opinion to the governor, he can't give an opinion on the same issue to the Legislature. "That is a misreading of the law," he said. Nelson said the attorney general's office can provide "zealous" representation for both the executive and legislative branches. In vetoing HB198, Herbert said the Utah Constitution directs the attorney general to advise the executive branch. He noted the Legislature has its own office of roughly two dozen attorneys who prepare legal opinions. The legislation grew out of the fight lawmakers had with Herbert last year over how to conduct the special election to replace former Utah GOP Rep. Jason Chaffetz, who resigned last June. Legislators were frustrated that the governor wouldn't call them into session to set up the process, which they contend is their prerogative. They also tangled over a legal opinion on the special election that legislative leaders sought from the attorney general, who then refused to turn it over citing the governor as his client. A resolution the Legislature passed earlier this year will allow voters to decide in November whether to give lawmakers the power to call themselves into special session. Only the governor may call the Legislature into session under current state law. Both the Senate and House had spirited debates on SB171 before passing it. Some GOP critics worried the measure, sponsored Senate Majority Whip Stuart Adams, R-Layton, goes too far or is overly vague. "It goes further than what would be good public policy," said Sen. Curt Bramble, R-Provo. Bramble noted the measure, as written, would give the Legislature the ability to intervene in any court case where a state law is under challenge. Others said they believe the bill rightfully restores power to the Legislature, power that is necessary. Rep. Jake Anderegg, R-Lehi, wondered aloud what recourse lawmakers had when they disagreed with the process established by Herbert to hold a special election to replace Chaffetz. "What recourse did we as a Legislature have to intervene in court?" Anderegg said. "I see this as completely in line with the constitution." Contributing: Amy Joi O'Donoghue SALT LAKE CITY Roughly 1 in 3 Salt Lake County homes could crumble in the event of a major earthquake that experts say could rock Utah's urban corridor at any time. That's according to a Deseret News analysis of the number of Salt Lake County homes built of brick or other brittle blocks prior to 1975 types of houses that experts say are likely to collapse in a magnitude 7.0 quake or higher. The homes aren't supported by steel that would allow them to bend enough to avoid deadly collapse in a large earthquake. "They're like a house of cards. There's actually nothing tying them together," said Bob Carey, earthquake program manager for the Utah Division of Emergency Management. More homeowners have fortified the "unreinforced masonry" houses against such a disaster in recent years, and some have even received help from Salt Lake City and the federal government in the process. Still, 33.5 percent of stand-alone homes in Utah's most populous county fit the definition of unreinforced masonry, the riskiest manmade shelter during an earthquake, according to Carey. They make up an estimated 76,000 single-family houses, out of a total of 226,500 in the county. The estimates provided by state emergency managers consider county assessor data from 2010, the most recent available. Carey and his colleagues use federal disaster modeling software to map potential destruction, but they caution that the numbers are a best guess, not an exact representation. Some of the homes may have been upgraded to withstand collapse, but there's no comprehensive record of such improvements. The risky homes are characterized by their makeup of brick, cinder blocks or adobe and pose such a big risk because their roofs, chimneys and parapets often sit neatly on top, unattached by much more than gravity, said Audrey Pierce, program manager of a Salt Lake City initiative that connects homeowners seeking retrofits to federal dollars. "The roof can slip off and collapse," Pierce said. "That is what we're trying to avoid." In January, a crew of five upgraded the 100-year-old Sugar House home of Maddie and Trevor McEntire, peeling back the roof and drilling it down into the walls with "humongous screws," they said. The parents of three children ages 5, 2, and 10 months now feel "so relieved, like we can actually see ourselves owning a home for the long term," Maddie McEntire said. "We bought in the area because we loved the charm. But we really were kind of naive in thinking that these homes would last forever." The couple became nervous the more they read about a possible quake, but found it was difficult to get earthquake insurance for their unreinforced home, she said. Shortly after moving there in March 2016, Trevor McEntire went to City Hall to secure a permit to build a garage and spotted a flyer advertising Fix the Bricks, the city's retrofit program. The family was among the first to sign up, and paid about $4,000 of the total $17,000 bill, with the bulk covered by federal grants through the program. "You just can't beat the peace of mind," Maddie McEntire said. Not included in the count of at-risk homes are roughly 100 apartment and condominium buildings within county borders those that are three stories or higher. They also are vulnerable because they were built from the same materials prior to 1975, when states strengthened building codes following California's deadly San Fernando earthquake. The multi-unit buildings pose a big problem because so many people live there. Not surprisingly, the historical districts of Utah's most populous cities and towns, snaking from Ogden to Provo, have the highest concentrations. And Salt Lake City will feel the most impact, with several census blocks where more than 4 in 5 buildings are made of unreinforced masonry. One such area is Rose Park. Another is the southwest portion of the Avenues, brimming with mid-19th century homes, as well as an area east of Liberty Park and northwestern Sugar House. But the Yalecrest neighborhood near the University of Utah is the worst offender, with 9 in 10 brick-and-mortar buildings. Outside of the capital city, over half of homes in tracts within Weber County's Ogden and Riverdale areas are predicted to be at-risk. The same goes for parts of Sandy. Utah's urban corridor, home of roughly 4 in 5 Utahns, straddles the most active portion of the Wasatch Fault. The boundary of the plates deep below the ground traces Utah's main artery, I-15, along a 140-mile stretch from Brigham City to Nephi. Predictions from geologists of the effects of a magnitude 7.0 quake paint a hellscape along the route. The rupture will yank the ground 8 feet higher in places, effectively turning lowlands into quicksand and sending hundreds of rock slides into neighborhoods, according to a 2015 report from the state's seismic commission. The cost of bracing a chimney and securing a roof together considered the most basic and important seismic upgrades varies greatly depending on the home, but can run $15,000 or more. For multi-unit buildings, the cost ratchets up much higher, said Pierce. One major historic community bucks the trend. Logan has fewer reinforced masonry buildings and more new ones. Carey speculates that redevelopment following a destructive magnitude 5.9 earthquake in the Cache Valley during August 1962 could have caused a shakeup in how people built homes and businesses there. Grid View A family looks at the destruction caused by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Logan on Aug. 30, 1962. The destruction caused by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Logan on Aug. 30, 1962. The destruction caused by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Logan on Aug. 30, 1962. The destruction caused by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Logan on Aug. 30, 1962. The destruction caused by a 5.9 magnitude earthquake in Logan on Aug. 30, 1962. The Aug. 30, 1962, edition of the Deseret News describes caved-in ceilings, collapsed walls and cracking facades following the quake, though no serious injuries were reported. Still, it reduced portions of the Logan Printing Company's walls to rubble and collapsed the roof of a pool hall. One man, James Cook, told the Deseret News at the time it was "just like an airplane hitting the north end of the house." But earthquakes aren't generally on the minds of today's Utahns, notes Ralph Becker, the former Salt Lake City mayor who tried to prod the Utah Legislature to pass a bill requiring seismic evaluations for apartment buildings as they are converted to condos. "This is a perfect time," Becker recalls thinking, because building owners would be set to turn a profit from the sale and theoretically could pony up for any needed upgrades. The measure brought by West Valley Democrat Larry Wiley, a building inspector, also would have required building owners to disclose the results of the evaluation at closings of sales. It foundered without enough support for several years before he lost re-election in 2014. "We've got sort of a blind view of seismic risk here, because of the way the Wasatch Fault works. We don't see earthquakes every few months," or even every couple years, Becker said. The last major quake to shock Salt Lake City hit 1,400 years ago, according to the Utah Seismic Safety Commission, which calculates that the tremors take place roughly every 1,300 to 1,500 years. And enough stress has built up to unleash another, Carey notes. But a smaller quake took place in and around what currently is Nephi 300 years ago. In 2016, Salt Lake City stepped in to help secure federal dollars for city homeowners to pay for retrofits, but residents like the McEntires still are on the hook for 25 to 30 percent of the cost. But historic apartment buildings haven't made as much progress, said Audrey Pierce, program manager for Fix the Bricks. "It is a goal of ours and a priority for us," Pierce said. "But it's just been a lot harder to tackle, so we haven't really gotten there yet." But for property managers, up to a 30 percent share of the cost still is exorbitant, Pierce said. The price tag, which she did not disclose, recently turned one building owner away after initial discussions with the program. Fix the Bricks has upgraded 15 homes, with five more under construction. Two-dozen who signed up in 2016 are currently awaiting various rounds of federal, state and city approval. The paperwork-heavy process can take more than a year in its entirety, so Pierce encourages those who can afford the upgrades to pursue them on their own. A second wave of 100 homes from 2017 are next in line. "We can't actually secure and protect the entire home, but what we can try to do is make it so that people can still get out of the home and maybe even possibly still live in it after the earthquake," Pierce said. "We're trying to mitigate the death and the injury that we have to deal with after the earthquake. That's the ultimate goal." The Great Utah Shakeout The annual, statewide drill is planned for Thursday at 10:15 a.m. PROVO When school administrators ask Greg Hudnall if his teen suicide prevention program is evidence-based, he doesnt hesitate. Yes, he tells them. It is. Hudnall's Hope Squads have become increasingly common in Utah schools, backed by state dollars as the teen suicide rate has risen to crisis levels. Hudnall says Hope Squads, which train students to spot warning signs of suicide and refer their classmates to care, are informed by regular surveys of participants, as well as industry best practices and a cadre of local suicide prevention experts. There are Hope Squads in 31 of Utahs 41 school districts, he said, with nearly 7,000 student members. And thats just in Utah. Hudnall said there soon will be Hope Squads at nearly 100 schools in a dozen other U.S. states and seven in Canada. There are high school Hope Squads, junior high Hope Squads and elementary Hope Squads; Hudnall believes there should be college and corporate Hope Squads, too. For those seeking a solution as suicide claims the lives of more Utah youths than car accidents do, Hope Squads may seem to be an answer. There's just one catch: Theres no solid proof that Hope Squads actually reduce suicides. Researchers from the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention announced in November that Hope Squad programs were expanding without rigorous study to show that they're effective or that they do not produce unintended harmful or negative effects. The Utah programs which include another educational effort called Hope for Tomorrow have a relatively narrow focus, the CDC researchers wrote, and they fail to address suicide contributors like social environments, bullying and mental health treatment. No evidence was found for their effectiveness in preventing suicidal behaviors or addressing key risk and protective factors for suicide, the CDC said. To Hudnall, who had never been asked to speak to CDC researchers, it was a slap in the face. Privately, administrators demanded that he explain his data or emailed his lead national researcher to ask if they should dump their Hope Squads. The phone calls I got were like, Holy mackerel! he said. Doug Gray, a professor of psychiatry and a suicide expert at the University of Utah who has advised Hudnall for the better part of two decades, said the CDCs language felt pretty critical, with no appreciation for using sound principles of what we know about suicide prevention, creating a program and working like hell to get it researched. The CDCs critique came at the January 2017 invitation of state officials, though, as they grappled with a dramatic spike in youth suicides that has alarmed lawmakers and baffled researchers. Utahs rate increased nearly fourfold between 2007 and 2015 and has since plateaued, yet the rate at which youths in Utah kill themselves is still more than 2 1/2 times the 2015 national average. Forty-two Utahns between 10 and 17 died by suicide in 2017, according to preliminary state data, and five students enrolled at a single Wasatch Front High School have taken their own lives within the last year. Gov. Gary Herbert recently created a dedicated suicide task force, and the state Legislature allocated more than $7 million in new funding to address suicide. Yet Utah continues to place its faith in Hope Squads, even without a controlled, randomized trial to definitively prove their worth to data scientists. With federal funding for such research in short supply, can Utah policymakers and educators be certain that the leading school suicide responses are based on more than anecdotal successes and good intentions? Why Hope Squads? Its been 20 years since Hudnall first dedicated himself to preventing suicide, having been called to identify the body of a 14-year-old boy in a public park and made sick by the experience. Then a principal at a Provo high school, Hudnall, 59, now works out of offices near the mouth of Provo Canyon, with a whiteboard full of to-dos and the random assortments of pens and markers you only find on an educator's desk. He is a breathless free associator who will sometimes stop midthought to queue up a video testimonial, and he recently finished writing a book: The Hope Squad: The Successful Suicide Prevention Program for Students, for release in August by a local publisher. One day, he wants to see Hope Squads in at least 10,000 U.S. schools. Studies show teens in distress will often talk to their peers before they approach an adult, and those peer confidants often keep their secret. Hudnall's foundational idea was to empower groups of students to get help for their peers. Beginning in 2004, he launched teams of particularly empathetic and approachable students who were nominated by peers to become a schools eyes and ears, scanning classrooms and hallways for comments or behaviors that might hint at thoughts of suicide. But Hope Squad members weren't expected to act as amateur counselors or therapists when they found a peer in crisis. They were trained to talk about their concerns with an adult adviser or persuade their peers to go to an adult. Hudnall says he never intended to take Hope Squads beyond the Provo School District. It wasnt until 2014, 10 years after the first Hope Squad, that the program began to spread rapidly. Growth was spurred by three factors: first, the rapidly increasing rate of youth suicide; second, reports that after seven suicides at Provo schools between 1999 and 2004, there had been none in nine years after the launch of Hudnalls peer support teams, and third, legislation that gave each Utah school $500 annually for suicide prevention, which Hudnall agreed to accept as payment for a Hope Squad. For $500 per year, Hope Squad schools in Utah receive trainings for advisers, students, parents and teachers, as well as three years' worth of curriculum on mental health and suicide prevention. The most similar program that is considered evidence-based by the CDC and national registries is a North Dakota-based program called Sources of Strength. And, on paper, its pretty similar. Sources of Strength students are trained as peer leaders who, with the help of advisers, have conversations with friends and produce posters, videos, social network posts and other presentations to share a message of hope, help and strength. There are some differences in curriculum and emphases, but the major difference from the perspective of data scientists is that Sources of Strength boasts a randomized trial conducted by university researchers that showed, among other findings, trained peer leaders in larger schools were four times as likely as were untrained peer leaders to refer a suicidal friend to an adult. Its a good program, said Gray, who is widely acknowledged as a top Utah authority on youth suicide and who has participated in "psychological autopsies" of suicide deaths speaking to parents, friends and other associates after a youth suicide that showed the possible value of such "gatekeeper" trainings. So the question is why don't we just take a program that works and just use that?" he asked. Hudnall and Hope Squad researchers think their program may be more effective because of its robust curriculum and focus on peer interventions. But it's also cheaper for Utah schools. Whereas Hope Squads only cost each Utah school $500 annually that the state will reimburse, the startup cost for the trainings and materials involved in the Sources of Strength program runs $5,000, per the organizations website. "There just isn't the money in Utah, Gray said. So the thought I've always had is, 'We've got (Hudnall's program), which is based on very sound principles. The people who run that want it to be studied. They strongly desire to have a spotlight on it and study it." Supported, but not evidence-based Both Hope Squad and Hope for Tomorrow have been deemed supported by the Division of Substance Abuse and Mental Health's Evidence-Based Workgroup, which keeps a list of prevention programs that meet Utah's statutory requirements. By law, the group must always include at least one social scientist with experience researching prevention methods, as well as urban and rural prevention specialists and public health officials. Together, they give approved programs one of four grades. "Supported" is the state's third-highest grade, a tier above promising and below well-supported. To be "supported," like Hope Squads, a program must have consistently demonstrated a positive result, which can include effects on participants' knowledge, beliefs, attitudes or behavioral intentions. To be "well-supported," a program would need to show at least one behavioral outcome, or behavior. It's difficult to measure a suicide program's most important outcome total suicides because so few die by suicide even at crisis levels (11 out of 100,000 Utah teens in 2015). One school might have zero suicides for five years and three another year, without any one cause it can point to definitively. So even the leading national prevention program registries offer some leeway when it comes to outcomes. In the aforementioned Sources of Strength trial, it was enough that university researchers showed increases in students' connectedness to adults, school engagement and peer referrals. Hope Squads haven't had that level of scientific study, but they have tracked their effectiveness in two key ways. Hudnall keeps a tally of students who have been referred to adults by their peers, which he says is now over 3,000 since the program began, resulting in more than 300 hospitalizations. Hope Squad members and advisers are also asked to complete surveys before and after each year, and students are asked a range of questions that cover their comfort with suicide-related topics, their willingness to take actions such as going to an adult and the number of times they helped a peer. The surveys have been analyzed by Rodney Hopkins, a research assistant professor in social work at the University of Utah. More than 9 out of 10 Hope Squad members reported helping other students in 2014-15, and all advisers said their school's Hope Squad had contributed to a safe, healthy and positive school climate." Those numbers are very positive, Hopkins said. In fact, the CDC report said Hope Squads and Hope for Tomorrow showed some preliminary positive results. But, Hopkins added, you cant raise a new flag and say this is the best thing in the world, because you dont have that big study that has everything controlled for. In prevention circles, the term evidence-based means a program has undergone a randomized trial and been compared to another group that didnt have the program. And such studies arent cheap. Hope Squad researchers have applied for funding from the federal Substance Abuse and Mental Health Services Administration and the nonprofit American Foundation for Suicide Prevention, or AFSP. But neither selected them. A Department of Education innovation grant created last year sponsored in the Senate by Utah's Orrin Hatch would have provided millions of dollars for a five-year study that had the potential to be expanded for up to 10 years. A team of Hope Squad researchers from the University of Utah, Brigham Young University, the University of Cincinnati and Old Dominion spent countless hours on conference calls and in Google documents, writing and rewriting a proposal. But not only did the DOE decide to pass, it didnt fund a single suicide prevention program anywhere in the nation. Said Gray: We shut down our life for a month and we didnt even have a chance. Dont fund us? Dont fund us. Fund somebody. Jennifer Wright-Berryman, an assistant professor of social work at the University of Cincinnati, thinks the team may have another opportunity for a trial as Hudnall rolls out new Hope Squads at schools in multiple states. By asking some schools to wait for their Hope Squads while collecting data that researchers can compare with schools that already have Hope Squads, researchers might get the control data they need to put the CDC's concerns to rest. Such a study might cost between $150,000 and $250,000 over three to five years, Wright-Berryman said. But thats a lean budget. Funding remains scarce. The AFSP reported that in 2013, suicide prevention received $37 million in federal research funding, while HIV/AIDS got nearly $3 billion even as AIDS deaths decreased and suicide deaths increased. We just havent seen the required level of investment that we need to really get a handle on this issue, said Kim Myers, suicide prevention coordinator for the state Department of Human Services. At the very highest level, we are not investing meaningfully in understanding strategies that are effective for suicide prevention. Rep. Steve Eliason, R-Sandy, said he considered running a bill to allocate state funding during this year's session, but there were too many other priorities on the suicide prevention front, including mobile crisis outreach teams, elementary school counselors and improved suicide hotline resources. Ideally, Gray said, a "do-gooder" donor would invest in the research, sparing researchers the time and money involved in applying for more highly competitive grants. We can't keep shutting down for a month and working on stuff that's almost futile in terms of the percentage chance of getting it'd be better to go up to Idaho and just get a lottery ticket every week. Eyes and ears Among nonscientists, the most common question about Hope Squads is whether they place too much responsibility on overstressed, inexperienced teenagers. Gray, an unpaid adviser to the program, said he wondered the same thing when he first heard Hudnall describe his peer teams. But then Gray took the notion to the aspiring psychiatrists he trains at the U. His students told him they had always been confidants for their peers, long before they went to medical school for professional training on how to appropriately respond. Come to think of it, Gray realized, he had been like that when he was younger, too. And I'm like, Oh, wow. Emmeline Grimmer, an 18-year-old senior in her third year as a Hope Squad member, said it was daunting when she was first invited to join the program as a 10th-grader entering Lone Peak High School in northern Utah County. Several recent suicides had earned Lone Peak the nickname Suicide High. But Grimmer said she learned that her job was simply to be extra-sensitive about how everyone is doing" not to be the counselors and give them therapy. A Hope Squad's monthly training program begins with a curriculum called Question, Persuade and Refer, which is listed in leading evidence-based registries and teaches students to recognize signs of suicide, intervene appropriately and refer their peers to care. (Hudnall stresses to schools that it is vital to partner with local mental health providers who can provide fast access to care in times of crisis.) If something ever happens like, we did have a suicide this year then its not our fault, and weve done everything we can, said Grimmer, who plans to study health psychology at BYU in the fall. Lizzy Brailsford, a 16-year-old sophomore at Lone Peak, said she has been mature for her age ever since her father died when she was 9, and friends have always confided in her. My friends sometimes call me the mom of the group, she said. Now she feels more confident speaking to her peers even strangers about difficult topics. That comes with pressure, she said, but she knows she can rely on support from her Hope Squad adviser and other adults. Hudnalls 2014-15 year-end survey found that 96 percent of students either reported no stress, very little stress or manageable stress as a result of their role in Hope Squads. At Lone Peak, the Hope Squad has been supported this year by a regular class taught by Emily Cox a trained school counselor who had spent two years leading the Hope Squad as a club. Its not the end of the worlds problems by any means, Cox said. All I can say is that this is whats working for our school. Its working because the students are into it, the administration is fully supportive and the community almost rioted to have something like this. Pleasant Grove City Councilwoman Cyd LeMone said that after local schools saw three suicides in 2012, she doesnt know of any since Hudnall implored community leaders to set up Hope Squads. Christy Hutchinson, prevention coordinator for Davis School District for the past four years, said two high schools that had several suicides before implementing Hope Squads have had similar results. Davis has even installed Hope Squads in eight elementary schools, where they focus on character development, empathy and inclusion. What its really boiling down to is connectedness," Hutchinson said. "They do random acts of kindness. They do No one eats alone days. They host a lot of things that just overall boost morale in a school and help kids feel OK and welcome. But while Hudnall advocates for a community-involved model that layers in involvement from advisers, administrators, parents and mental health providers, he admits that not all Hope Squads are created equally. And, generally, they require two to three years to change a schools culture, he said. Nor does Hudnall claim that Hope Squads can prevent suicides altogether. The Provo City School District confirmed that there were no suicides in the nine-year stretch after Hope Squads began in 2004, but there have been four suicides in five years since 2013. Students at Herriman High, where five enrolled students have died by suicide since last summer, started a Hope Squad in the fall. Erin Preston, the mother of a Herriman sophomore, said she doesnt want to discourage Hope Squad participation, but she wonders if were putting too much responsibility and pressure on kids to solve issues that need to be solved at least in conjunction with adults. If theyre part of the puzzle, thats great, but if they for instance identify a kid thats suicidal what do they do with that? Who do they take it to, and what happens at that point? What then occurs? Preston said the selection process, in which students are nominated to become Hope Squad members by their peers, may also exclude students who are better able to reach some pockets of the student population. Her son told her that sometimes you need some kids who are the rule-breakers, or who see the world differently. Whats next? Kimball Gardner said that, like Hope Squad officials, he too would have loved to have had the opportunity to tell the CDC team more about Hope for Tomorrow. Gardner is a director at the Utah office of the National Alliance on Mental Illness which advocates for people affected by mental illness and said the Hope for Tomorrow program was started to raise students' awareness of mental health issues and eliminate the stigma surrounding mental illness. NAMI Utah added suicide prevention to its Hope for Tomorrow curriculum about six years ago, he said. It's often taught in health classes. And, like Hope Squad officials, Gardner said he's very confident that our outcomes would be very, very strong in a rigorous evaluation. But Gardner said even if other states might benefit from a Hope for Tomorrow-like program, he has never pretended that were going to get a national designation. They can't afford the study, he said. Weve got two unique programs in Utah that were initially designed for Utah, he said. Lets support those programs. The CDC said in statements to the Deseret News that a majority of risk factors and precipitating circumstances in recent Utah suicide deaths "were not being directly addressed" by Utah's leading programs and that "in general, few state programs are comprehensive in the way we suggest." But it also said that the choice of suicide prevention strategy by a state or a local jurisdiction depends on several factors such as the target population, known risk factors, funding, etc., and its totally at the discretion of (the) jurisdiction. State leaders, at least, have backed the local programs. The state task force wrote in its February recommendations that it was encouraged by the promise of peer-to-peer programs like Hope Squads and would encourage schools throughout the state to consider implementing such programs with strong oversight and fidelity. And Eliason, the task force co-chairman, passed a bill that increased school suicide prevention reimbursements from $500 to $1,000, which Hudnall said he hopes to collect in full so he can hire additional trainers and create more resources for parents. Said Eliason: That comes at a cost because, generally, these programs were funded at a cost of 50 cents a student. To raise that up to a buck is a small price to pay for preventing suicide. Hudnall currently charges out-of-state schools $5,000 for the first four years of a Hope Squad program and $500 annually thereafter, but he said he plans to hold Utah costs to the amount the state will reimburse. Myers said it certainly is not a Utah phenomenon to have suicide prevention programs that lack rigorous evaluation, but the state will keep trying to find resources for research. We have culpability here, she said. We have to make sure that it gets evaluated. Some school districts won't implement Hope Squads until they're in a national registry, Hudnall said. But that in itself is a murky subject at the moment, given that the NREPP which was run by a contractor saw its funding eliminated earlier this year by the Trump administration, slammed by a top Health and Human Services Department official for a skewed presentation of evidence-based interventions. In the meantime, Hope Squad researchers have written two scholarly papers about the program's promise. One was published in February by the Children & Schools journal, stating that pilot data suggest training is effective in equipping Hope Squad members to help peers in distress," but that "more research and evaluation needs to be done to understand the impact on suicide-related outcomes. Cox said she is very confident in the effectiveness of Lone Peak's Hope Squad, at least, because I have seen the number of referrals that go to the counselors and the therapists." Asked if Hudnall's Hope Squad program would withstand more rigorous scrutiny, Grimmer said, Absolutely. Added Brailsford: 100 percent. If not evidence, there's an abundance of enthusiasm, at least. Help available If you or somebody you know is experiencing suicidal thoughts, you can call the 24-hour National Suicide Prevention Lifeline at 1-800-273-TALK or text HOME to the Crisis Text Line at 741-741. Utahns with smartphones can also download the SafeUT app for around-the-clock counseling and crisis intervention. SALT LAKE CITY Provo is disputing allegations that it was negligent in hiring former Police Chief John King, or that it failed to respond properly to two reports of sexual misconduct by King before a third came to light. The allegations the plaintiffs make against the city are inconsistent with what actually occurred, said Heather White, an attorney who is representing Provo, in a Thursday news conference at the Snow Christensen & Martineau law firm. The city does not have a culture of harassment or discrimination, White said. On the contrary, the city has zero tolerance for discrimination of any kind. Documents released Thursday shed more light on the citys efforts to uncover details about Kings past before hiring him in late 2013, while other documents reveal Provos response to complaints made about King in 2014 and 2015. In a lawsuit filed last month, five women associated with Provos police department accuse King of a broad range of sexual misconduct, including staring at their breasts, making inappropriate comments, uninvited touching, groping and, in one case, rape. King resigned in March 2017 after the rape allegation, making his exit at the request of then-Mayor and current 3rd District Congressman John Curtis, even though Salt Lake County District Attorney Sim Gill had declined to bring charges. Plaintiffs allege that Provo was wrong to hire King in the first place, given that he had resigned suddenly from two out-of-state posts once after a subordinate brought an allegation of sexual assault that led to a settlement. And they allege that Provo leaders didn't respond adequately to two complaints made on their watch, and that Curtis gave the impression to police department supervisors that Chief Kings power was unlimited, his actions unchecked, and any complaints against him would be ignored. The plaintiffs seek an undefined amount of damages and measures to prevent sexual misconduct in Provo government, while Provo has asked for the case to be dismissed. Reached for a response to Thursdays news conference, plaintiffs attorney Katherine Venti said Provo should be taking responsibility and accountability for the actions of their chief of police, who they should not have hired and retained as long as they did. The plaintiffs also strongly disagree with the citys version of events expressed today, she said. Not reckless King was the top choice to become Provos police chief after a national search that cost the city more than $10,000. His vetting is said to have included interviews with references he provided. Employment and criminal background checks. A polygraph. A psychological evaluation. And a search of available media. But that media search apparently missed a 2012 Baltimore Sun story in which King was reported to have been escorted from his office after a complaint from a Baltimore city employee. A member of Provos seven-member hiring committee previously told the Deseret News that King explained his abrupt resignation as being the result of conflicts with people. In fact, a female subordinate had accused King of sexual assault. The Maryland States Attorneys Office declined to bring charges against King, but the woman later won a monetary settlement with the city just over a month before King was selected to become Provo's police chief. White said Thursday that Provo was not reckless in hiring John King, and that there was no information that should have alerted the city that there was any type of problem. Citygate Associates, a California firm hired by Provo to screen candidates for costs up to $13,000, has not responded to requests for comment. Venti responded Thursday that she did not see how screeners could have missed those reports when they appear to be easy to obtain. Documents provided Thursday in response to records requests show that city and Citygate officials might have missed the Baltimore Sun report, but they were given some pause by Kings earlier 2010 resignation as police chief in Gaithersburg, Maryland, after a closed-door session of the Gaithersburg City Council to discuss a personnel matter. A summary of Citygates interview with King says he told interviewers he was asked to leave upon the hiring of a new city manager (even though the relevant city manager had been hired in September 2008, more than a year earlier). This will need to be carefully explored in a detailed background check, Citygate reported. A September 2013 email from Provos human resources office shows that city officials had red-flagged comments on a short Washington Post article that King had pushed back against pay cuts at Gaithersburg. Was King a union front man, they asked Citygate? A Citygate employee responded: I do not believe for a second that Mr. King is a front for union interests. Two of Kings references told Citygate that King was dismissed after serving a warrant on the city managers boyfriend. Documents provided Thursday to media dont include any further interviews with Gaithersburg officials. Gaithersburg officials contacted by the Deseret News have either declined requests for comment or not responded, and the Deseret News has been unable to reach the city manager for clarification on King's dismissal. Provo and Citygate officials were apparently satisfied by the information they obtained, though. A November 2013 email sent by human resources to Curtis said that the background investigation had showed No significant items, and Provo extended its offer that month. Complaints Both the plaintiffs and Provo agree that as long ago as July 2014, a dispatcher complained about alleged misconduct by King. The dispatcher (the Deseret News does not typically name alleged victims of sexual harassment or assault) says she reported it to a supervisor, then again in an exit interview, and then again to a human resources employee, who only ever told her that Curtis had given King a heads up about his alleged behavior. White said Thursday that, yes, the dispatcher told her supervisor King made her uncomfortable when he looked at her chest, but added that the dispatcher first instructed her supervisor not to report those claims. Her supervisors notes, provided Thursday in response to a records request, say the dispatchers boyfriend was a police officer, and was putting in for another job with the department. White said that a month later, after the dispatcher filled out an exit questionnaire in which she said King had made her feel extremely uncomfortable and ultimately seeking to leave the room, Provo officials launched an investigation to find out what she meant by that. Human resources notes indicate she told them King had looked at her chest and made inappropriate comments. Curtis met with King in late September, and H.R. notes say that King expressed shock and concern that the situation arose. He intends to be more mindful and careful in the future, Curtis reported to human resources. White said the woman stayed on as a part-time dispatcher and had no further complaints. (Pay logs show she worked about 75 additional hours for Provo.) Another human resources file says the dispatcher later reported that King had approached her after she made the complaint, and that hes still showing her that he got away with it and is going out of his way to make her feel uncomfortable. The second formal complaint received by Provo was made through an anonymous survey of department employees in September 2015. An employee wrote that King has boundary issues with touching female employees who do not want to be touched. A few months later, the city was sent an anonymous email stating that King had been unprofessional with a dispatcher. City officials say the author refused to provide evidence for the claim, though. Documents released Thursday include a December 2015 email exchange between that emailer and a Baltimore Sun reporter, which was printed out and sent by mail that month to Provos human resources office. The emailer known to be the father of a Provo police officer who he believes was wrongfully fired for unrelated reasons asked the Sun reporter if he had heard what led to Kings dismissal in Baltimore. The reporter replied that he had heard about the allegations off the record, but not to a level that could be reported. When the emailer replied that a Provo dispatcher had been sexually harassed by King, the Sun reporter replied, simply, I would say that sounds familiar. The city responded to the new allegations against King by hosting a closed-door session of the City Council in January 2016, and by anonymously surveying dispatch employees. Of 17 dispatchers who responded, one complained that King touched employees, specifically patting my shoulders or rubbing my arms. I have heard the way he has acted with other employees being disciplined, the dispatcher wrote, and though sexual harassment is not my fault, I dont want to deal with possible repercussions. Curtis reviewed the complaint with King and told him to discontinue the reported behaviors or any other action that could be perceived as inappropriate, White said. King was also ordered to retake sexual harassment training. Curtis wrote in a February 2016 email to human resources that King is extremely regretful that his actions have caused an employee to feel uncomfortable and is determined to make sure there is nothing in his conduct that can be (interpreted) as sexual harassment. He and I discussed and agreed that on any visit to dispatch he would stand in one place and not move among the employees. White said Thursday that Provo officials didnt feel they had grounds to fire King for someone perceiving that he looked at their chest or for a woman who didnt like him rubbing her shoulders. King had denied the conduct, she said. You have to balance the disciplinary action with the type of conduct that is involved, and to that point, the city felt that the disciplinary actions that were taken were appropriate, she said. Whites statement didnt address a fall 2014 meeting in which Curtis was alleged to tell police department supervisors he did not want to receive any more complaints about Chief King. Curtis has said he never discouraged reporting of sexual harassment, and that the subject of the fall 2014 meeting was Kings unpopular new beat policing program, as well as rumors that because Kings wife hadnt accompanied him to Utah, his tenure would be short-lived. Curtis said in a written statement Thursday that as mayor, he worked hard to support a system that gave those who felt vulnerable a safe place to come forward and be heard. Whats next? Three other plaintiffs have made allegations against King that were not reported until after King's resignation. A dispatch supervisor says she was physically and verbally harassed for much of 2014. Another longtime employee says she was groped at a copy machine and pressured to return early to work after surgeries because he missed the scenery. And a police officer says King repeatedly groped her beneath her flak vest. Kings 2017 departure followed the allegation that he raped a college student who he met at a 2016 citizen advisory board meeting. King, 59, acknowledged having sex with the student but said it was consensual. The plaintiffs allegations against Mr. King are very serious, White said. The city has confidence that the judicial process will reveal whether those allegations are true or not. Provo has referred the plaintiffs complaints to the Utah County Sheriffs Office for criminal investigation, but Utah County Sheriffs Sgt. Spencer Cannon said in a text message Thursday that We were asked but we have had no response from witnesses involved. Attempts to contact King, who is also named in the complaint, have been unsuccessful. Loren Weiss, an attorney for Ray Quinney & Nebeker, said in an email Thursday to the Deseret News that King instructed him to comment that he unequivocally denies all allegations of wrongdoing or misconduct in the complaint filed against him and Provo City. He is confident in the court process and in the rule of law, and he is certain he will successfully defend himself, wrote Weiss, who said he has yet to be formally retained by King. White said Thursday that Kings response to the plaintiffs' complaint will have an impact on how the case proceeds. For its part, Provo filed a motion Thursday for dismissal, saying plaintiffs have no standing to demand changes to Provos policies because they face no threat of future misconduct, that Provo is immune from plaintiffs claims of "negligent employment, supervision and retention, and that Utah law prohibits punitive damages against city agencies. SALT LAKE CITY Customers of a Utah-based energy technology company testified Thursday in federal court about their purchases of solar lenses purchases the federal government contends are a part of an "abusive tax scheme" costing the U.S. Treasury at least $50 million. The U.S. Department of Justice in 2015 sought to stop RaPower3, International Automated Systems, LTB1, Gregory Shepard, Neldon Johnson and Roger Freeborn from selling the lenses. The government says the lenses have never been associated with any production of energy and never will. In documents filed in federal court before Judge David Nuffer, federal prosecutors assert customers sign a contract to purchase a solar lens for $3,500 for a rectangular piece of plastic that costs between $52 and $70. As the Deseret News firstreported in 2013, Johnson and IAUS were involved in promoting low-cost revolutionary energy technology for more than a decade that had not been associated with any signficant production of energy. One of those projects involve a Millard County "plant" in which solar tree arrays have been erected and where a warehouse sits. Shepard, associated with RaPower3, organizes tours for the Delta facility. Lynette Williams told the court Thursday she'd been to the site multiple times since her purchases of lenses. Each time, she testified she saw "progress being made ... Every time I went, progressively more things were being done." Williams said she was looking to make residual income when she purchased $54,000 worth of lenses, beginning 10 years ago. The South Jordan resident said she never took the complete tax credit which is a third of the purchase price and remains happy with the company despite the lack of energy production. "I am a techy girl," she testified. "It always takes longer than you think it will take." The government contends that Shepard and Freeborn (who has since died) sold the lenses by telling people of three ways to make money: through tax benefits, rental of the lenses, and from a bonus contact. "But they both knew that the only way a customer has ever 'made money' from buying a lens is through tax benefits; no customer has earned money from rental income or from income from a bonus contract," according to a court document. Preston Fredrick Olsen, a Salt Lake City attorney, testified that he invested between $74,000 and $84,000 out-of-pocket on the lenses, beginning in 2009. He has 59 lenses but told Department of Justice attorney Christopher R. Moran he can't identify in particular which of the lenses may belong to him at the Delta site. "One of them is mine," he said. Olsen told the court he has not received any income from the lenses or from bonus contracts. He formed a distribution company to sell the lenses from RaPower3 and projects he will see future revenue from rentals and bonuses, according to his testimony. Olsen said he's been claiming the federal tax credits on the purchases of lenses, and bases his purchases depending on how it would affect his tax liability. "Sometimes I bought too many, sometimes I bought too few." According to the Department of Justice, the IRS began investigating the defendants in 2012. By 2013, the IRS was auditing their customers. RaPower3 and Johnson, according to the government, continue to promote their technology. Olsen said he listens to a weekly radio program that still broadcasts and touts the benefits of the energy technology. The trial continues Friday. Correction: Customers of an energy technology company bought the product for $3,500, not $3,050, as reported earlier. Preston Fredrick Olsen's name was incorrectly reported as Preston Fredrick Olson. Like all other OnePlus devices in the past, the OnePlus 5 and the 5T have disrupted the budget flagship segment. By offering flagship-grade features at half the price of an average flagship, OnePlus devices have maintained a strict loyalty and eaten market share from established brands like LG, Samsung, HTC and the likes. While there was some competition to the flagship killer this year in terms of the Honor View10 and the Moto Z2 Force, the OnePlus 5 and later, the OnePlus 5T remained our favourite devices in that segment. But as is the case for every offering by OnePlus, the OnePlus 5T will be retired soon in place of the OnePlus 6. The upcoming phone will supposedly be even better than the current crop of budget flagships and OnePlus has already started giving a peek into the possible set of features the phone will have. There have also been a series of leaks that have confirmed the rumours about the phone which helped us get a pretty good idea of what the phone will bring to the table. What will the OnePlus 6 look like? If you thought the OnePlus 5T looked a lot like the iPhone 7 Plus with a similar dual camera arrangement, the OnePlus 6 will take things even further. Yes, the upcoming phone will embrace the notch. The display cutout seen first on the iPhone X has put the rest of the smartphone makers into a frenzy with most of them now blatantly copying the feature. So will OnePlus, but the company offered a pretty good explanation for it. In an interview with The Verge, Carl Pei said the notch was inevitable as people wanted a bigger screen without increasing the size of the phone. Pei even shared a partial image of the phone showing the notch, as well as the dimensions of the notch. Going by the size, the notch will be smaller than that of the iPhone X, close to the one on the Huawei P20 Pro. Knowing the impending backlash the phone is likely to receive, OnePlus will also offer users the choice to hide the notch. The OnePlus 6 might also come in an Avengers: Infinity War special edition after the company announced a formal partnership with Marvel studios. Last year, a similar partnership with Disney studios saw the launch of the Star Wars edition of the OnePlus 5T. Furthermore, the OnePlus 6 will have a glass back as seen in the leaked live image shared by ITHome. The image shows the phone will have a rear-mounted fingerprint sensor and a vertically aligned dual camera setup placed in the center. The OnePlus logo is also seen etched into the glass back. Does that mean the phone will have wireless charging? There seems to be no rumour about that yet, but having a glass back may be an indication. Additionally, images leaked on Chinese social networking site Weibo indicates the phone will be available in a new blue colour variant along with the usual black and white variants. The leaked image also indicated the alert slider will be in red. Yet another teaser posted by OnePlus themselves says the alert slider will have more functions apart from silencing the phone. A new feature called slide to focus may be offered that will allow users to use the alert slider to adjust the camera focus with the alert slider. Yet another teaser by OnePlus confirms the phone will have iPhone X-like gesture controls. Not much is known about this as of this moment, but the gestures will likely take precedence from the swipe gestures already available in the OnePlus 5 and the 5T. Combining all the above facts, we get a good idea of how the OnePlus 6 will look like. It will have an iPhone X-like display notch with around 90 percent screen-to-body ratio, along with a glass back and gesture-based navigation controls. How much power will the OnePlus 6 have? Being a flagship killer, the OnePlus 6 will unsurprisingly sport flagship-grade hardware. But leaked images as well as official confirmation from the CEO tells us that the OnePlus 6 will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 chipset along with up to 8GB of RAM and a whopping 256GB of storage. While the chipset and RAM isnt surprising, the internal storage sure is. So far, OnePlus devices have gone all the way up to 128GB. But the hardware spec is only part of the story. In a post on OnePlus forums, CEO Pete Lau wrote, Choosing the best hardware is the easy part, the real challenge is in making the best hardware perform in ways that adds value to the experience of the user. Pete Lau also mentioned the focus of the OnePlus 6 will be on speed. Fast is not just about shorter loading times, or top download speed, any OEM can achieve high numbers in one or two metrics. Fast is about creating a lasting impression of speed and smoothness, throughout all-day use, whether youre recording 4K video or browsing Facebook. Fast is about ensuring there is less than a 1/1000 percent likelihood of your phone freezing, even under constant heavy use. To us, its about setting a higher standard, Lau wrote in a blog post. OnePlus has even created a special team in its R&D division called Team FSE (Fast, stable and efficient) with the sole purpose of ensuring the OnePlus 6 will be fast, stable and efficient. What will the OnePlus 6 do for the cameras? While OnePlus has not shied away from disclosing the hardware specs and the design elements of the OnePlus 6, the company has kept information about the cameras a secret. All we know so far is that the phone will have a vertically-aligned dual camera, as per the leaked photo of the phone posted by ITHome. OnePlus went from using a wideangle-telephoto lens combo to leverage optical zoom on the OnePlus 5 to using the second lens primarily for low-light shots in the OnePlus 5T. It remains to be seen what the OnePlus 6 will bring to the table, but considering that there are only so many ways to use the dual cameras right now, we might not be seeing that big of a change. What the company might do is improve the low-light capability of the phone even further. There are also rumours of an infrared sensor on the front for more secure facial recognition and to offer augmented reality-based features like animated emojis. Will there be any feature added to the OnePlus 6? Apart from the all the features that OnePlus 6 will be improving upon, a new teaser video adds that the phone will have water resistance. So far, OnePlus has not provided waterproofing to its phones, despite a huge demand for it. It might give in to the demand with the OnePlus 6, but it remains to be seen whether it will be just splash proof or go all out water resistant. When will the OnePlus 6 launch? Now the big question. OnePlus has been hyping up the launch with teasers every other day, but has not formally disclosed the launch date. Usually, OnePlus announces the phone sometime in June. But considering the barrage of teasers the company has been posting along with lengthy articles explaining the features, we might see the OnePlus 6 come out sooner this year. How much will the OnePlus 6 cost? There is no official information about the price of the OnePlus 6. But if history is an indication, the prices are expected to rise. The original OnePlus One was just above Rs 20,000 while the OnePlus 2 took it a little higher. The OnePlus 3 and the 3T just remained shy of the Rs 30,000 mark while the OnePlus 5 and the 5T breach the 30k mark and was just shy of going above Rs 40,000. While the 6GB RAM variant (leaked in a photo) might remain in the Rs 30,000 bracket, the 256GB storage variant is expected to breach the Rs 40k mark and become the most expensive budget flagship ever. OnePlus is gearing up to launch its 2018 flagship smartphone, the OnePlus 6 and the company has announced that it is teaming up with Marvel Studios for Avengers: Infinity War. Its speculated that the company might launch an Avengers: Infinity War themed OnePlus 6 smartphone in India. Oneplus previously partnered with Disney India for announcing the OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition exclusively for their customers in the country. The companys press release reads, The collaboration marks a step towards strengthening our association with Disney India. In December 2017, OnePlus and Disney partnered to launch OnePlus 5T Star Wars Limited Edition, which was well received by fans across both communities. OnePlus had previously posted a video, teasing the companys partnership with Marvel Studios but had taken it down later. An earlier report tipped that the Avengers edition of the OnePlus 6 will be the top-most variant with 8GB RAM and 256GB internal storage. Its already confirmed that the smartphone will be powered by the Qualcomm Snapdragon 845 SoC, retain the 3.5mm audio jack and come with a notch on top of its display. Many OnePlus users were unhappy with the design change decision and the company also soon announced that there will be a compatibility mode on the device, which will hide the notch whenever the phone is in landscape orientation. The option can be set for individual apps and is said to work flawlessly with over 1000 top apps on the Play Store. The OnePlus 6 is also teased to offer gesture support and could allow users to swipe up from the left to go back a menu, swipe up and hold from the right or left for multitasking, and there could also be a feature for drawing symbols and booting directly to set apps. The company has also hinted that the OnePlus 6 could also be waterproof or water-resistant. OnePlus CEO, Pete Lau also recently posted the first official camera samples captured from the smartphone. He showcased the daylight and bokeh performance of the camera on the smartphone and unsurprisingly, the meta-data from the images was removed so that no details of the devices camera can be identified. Alongside the OnePlus 6, the company could also launch a Bluetooth enabled version of its Bullets in-ear headphones. The headphone was recently spotted on the Bluetooth certification website sporting the model number BT31B and its registered to OnePlus. Some previous reports also tip at another variant of the smartphone, with a wooden finish on the rear panel. The phone is expected to launch running on OxygenOS based upon Android Oreo and official forum for the OnePlus 6 is also up. Cover Image: OnePlus 5T Star Wars Edition India rising: Solar industry and opportunities for Taiwan India is the world's third biggest solar power market and its solar industry has been growing at a tremendous pace. It has already achieved the target of 20GW it had set for 2022, and it has now set to achieve 100GW in the next four years. India is also home to the world's largest solar park: the 2000MW Pavagada Solar Park in Karnataka covers a total area of 13,000 acres. Cumulative capacity of installed solar power generation in India, 2011-2016 (MW) Source: TechSci Research International Solar Alliance (ISA) To further accelerate the solar growth story, India's brainchild, the International Solar Alliance (ISA) was launched on November 30, 2015 under the UN Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC). ISA became a legal entity in December 2017, and Feb 9, 2018 it became a registered entity under UN Charter. ISA is a treaty-based alliance, currently having 121 member countries with the sole aim to promote rapid and massive deployment of solar energy. At the ISA's Founding Conference held in New Delhi in March 2018, prime minister Modi announced one of the world's largest investment plans in solar energy: a US$1.4 billion line of credit to cover 27 projects in 15 countries and boost the much-required financial power to the solar sector. The prime minister also announced the launch of Solar Technology Mission to lead R&D efforts in the solar sector. The summit was co-chaired by French president Emmanuel Macron along with 61 representatives from the 121 member countries. According to ISA director general, Upendra Tripathy, the ISA will generate a global solar market of a trillion dollars and generate political support for the solar roadmaps of member countries in areas of demand aggregation, innovation, standards, quality control, R& D and capacity building. The objectives of ISA are: To undertake joint efforts required to reduce the cost of finance, cost of technology; spur investments across the supply chain, including manufacturing, project development and storage; mobilize more than US$1,000 billion of investments needed by 2030 for massive deployment of solar energy; and pave the way for future technologies adaptation. ISA enjoys a unique positioning as it partners with sun-rich developing countries and acts as an enabler and facilitator with the sole aim to make green energy available to all. Capacity Addition: The Indian Narrative India's solar power initiatives at the global stage reflect recent trends within the country. Some of the local initiatives by the Modi administration include: - Installation of 100GW of solar capacity by 2022 - Prioritizing the expansion of solar over other renewables technologies - Launch of a reverse auction system for solar capacity to attract investors into the market - strengthening the project pipeline - Increasing the availability of funding to the renewables sector - Allocation of concentrated zones of development for ultra-mega solar power projects (UMSPP) to de-risk project development by - driving down the implementation time and cost of projects - Increasing power demand and prices for fossil fuels - The National Solar Mission (NSM) projected to gradually lower installation cost of system Improvements in manufacturing technology have led to the reduction in cost of solar panels which has resulted in reduction in cost of solar power generation. The reduction in the cost of solar power coupled with strategic policy of the government has resulted in increase in solar power into the energy mix of the country. Trends of Indian solar power tariff, 2011-2017 Source: India government To boost the solar power generation in the country, the government of India has announced various policies and regulations including: accelerated depreciation; capital subsidy; Renewable Energy Certificate (RECs); Net Metering Incentives; and Assured Power Purchase agreement. The schemes formulated by the government intends to reduce the capital expenditure in building a solar power plant, and subsidize the power generation to make it economically viable for the stakeholders involved in the solar power business. The cumulative effect of solar power initiatives projects an addition of India's solar capacity to the tune of 56GW over the next five years. Opportunities for Taiwan's Solar Industry India's current and future prospects in solar power initiatives intersect propitiously with India's lead role in the ISA: they open up tremendous opportunities for Indian solar players at a global stage while also boosting the overall business sentiment. India imports 90% of its solar modules out of which 85% comes from China, which leverages against domestic manufacturers. The government of India has indicated intent to impose duties in the interest of domestic manufacturers. Geopolitically, the ISA is a concerted attempt by India to checkmate China's leadership role in the developing world where China, by virtue of its economic prowess, has made huge inroads over the past two decades. A global leader in the solar industry, Taiwan has a well-established ecosystem in place. Its capacity to innovate and produce wafers to cells, and modules to complete PV systems presents a strategic opportunity for Taiwan's industries to collaborate. Given that Taiwan's local market is already saturated, any way forward must focus on the export market. To facilitate this orientation, the India-driven ISA member countries expand the market exponentially. In sum, India's large greenfield market and India-led ISA provides an excellent platform for Taiwan's solar industry to capture not only India but also the global solar market. Showcasing its commitment as a global leader in solar power, India will be hosting the Solar India 2018 Expo at Pragati Maidan, New Delhi from 23-25 May, 2018. (The author of this article, Jonathan Lalremruata, will coordinate Taiwan-based industries at the Expo in New Delhi. He may be contacted at: jonathan.lalremruata@gmail.com) Loya death: SC throws out pleas, calls them 'bereft of any truth' The Supreme Court today dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge B H Loya, saying allegations of a conspiracy were bereft of any truth. The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said the petitions were an attempt to malign the judiciary, as Judge Loya died a natural death and there was no doubt about that. It said that the submissions of the petitioners prima facie amounted to criminal contempt of court but that it was not initiating contempt proceedings. The bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra and Justices A M Khanwilkar and D Y Chandrachud said the petitions were an attempt to malign the judiciary, as Judge Loya died a natural death and there was no doubt about that. It said that the submissions of the petitioners prima facie amounted to criminal contempt of court but that it was not initiating contempt proceedings. The SC said Public Interest Litigations (PILs), which were meant to provide succour to the downtrodden and voiceless, have now become an industry to settle scores political and personal. It said the judiciary is unnecessarily being made to spend precious time looking into such PILs which leads to delay in giving justice in other cases. judge Brijgopal Harkishan Loya was hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in which Bharatiya Janata Party president Amit Shah was accused but later acquitted. On 1 December 2014, the judge died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur, where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Attempts were made to scandalise the judiciary by levelling serious allegations against judges and judicial officers of the Bombay High Court, said the SC bench. Dismissing the pleas for an independent probe, the Bench said there was no reason to doubt the statements of four judges on the circumstances leading to the death of judge Loya. The court said that the documents placed on record and their scrutiny established that the CBI judge's death was due to natural causes. The court had earlier asked the Maharashtra government to submit the post-mortem report of the CBI judge, saying that the "matter was very serious". Maharashtra-based journalist B S Lone and activist Tehseen Poonavala had filed independent pleas seeking a fair probe into the death of Justice Loya. The issue of Justice Loya's death had come in the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding his demise and its possible links with the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. However, Justice Loya's son had on 14 January said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP President Amit Shah, Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief P C Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and N K Amin have already been discharged. India to invest over 1 billion in UK, safeguard over 5,500 jobs India and Britain today announced a new partnership under, which India will invest more than 1 billion in the UK that will create or safeguard 5,750 British jobs, post-Brexit. The two sides also announced a wide range of agreements and initiatives across technology, trade and investment after visiting Prime Minister Narendra Modi held talks with his British counterpart Theresa May. The UK, on its part, will provide additional support to Indian businesses by establishing a reciprocal fast-track mechanism for Indian investments into the UK. A programme of technical cooperation will help in improving the regulatory environment. The two sides will support initiatives of the business stakeholders, including those proposed by the UK-India CEO Forum which met today, to achieve shared prosperity for India and the UK. The UK has been the largest G20 investor in India over the last ten years and India has the fourth-largest number of investment projects in the UK. "We will begin a new dialogue on investment to improve our mutual understanding of priorities and review future opportunities for cooperation, the two countries said in a joint statement. The UKs Department for International Trade (DIT) said a range of new Indian investments worth more than 1 billion pounds will create or safeguard 5,750 British jobs for the economy as part of the new partnership, which builds on the recommendations of the Joint Trade Review (JTR) between the two countries which concluded earlier this year. Removing barriers to trade is a key way in which the UK can capitalise on the predicted growth in world markets and so Im delighted we have come to this new trade partnership with India, said Liam Fox, UK international trade secretary. It is clear that the opportunities for growth in trade with India are plenty, and as an international economic department we will continue to use tools such as trade missions not only to boost UK exports, but also to help businesses of all sizes forge ties and build cultivate relationships with potential buyers and investors, he said. According to DIT figures, total trade in goods and services between the UK and India was 18 billion in 2017, a 15 per cent increase from 2016. UK exports to India, led by innovative machinery and mechanical appliances, form a large part of this trade basket, increasing significantly by 14.9 per cent. The new partnership will seek to improve the accessibility of trade for businesses in both countries, as the UK gets ready to leave the European Union (EU). Focusing on the three key sectors of life sciences, information technology (IT) and food and drink, the partnership will seek to reduce barriers to trade with an eye on Brexit. Prime Minister Modi will also participate in the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London from 19-20 April 2018. The UK and India will work closely together and with other Commonwealth member-states, the Commonwealth Secretariat and other partner organisations to address shared and global challenges. We are committed to reinvigorating the Commonwealth, especially ensuring its relevance to small and vulnerable states and to our youth, who make up 60% of the Commonwealth's population. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting is an important opportunity to address these challenges as we come together and unite under the summit's official theme "Towards a Common Future. Specifically, the United Kingdom and India will make commitments to help create a more sustainable, prosperous, secure and fairer future for all Commonwealth citizens by taking action, the statement added. The two countries also announced a technology partnership. A UK-India Technology Partnership is central to our joint vision and to our prosperity, today and for our next generations. Our nations are at the forefront of a technology revolution. We will share knowledge, collaborate on research, innovate and create partnerships between our world-class innovation clusters. We will deploy our complementary technological strengths to create high value jobs, enhance productivity, promote trade and investment and tackle shared challenges. The UK will also establish a UK-India Tech Hub in India as part of the growing bilateral technology partnership. Building on the recommendations of the recently-completed UK-India Joint Trade Review, we will work together on a sector-based roadmap, to reduce barriers to trade, make it easier to do business in both countries and enable a stronger bilateral trade relationship after the UK exits the EU. We will also ensure continued application to the UK of EU-India Agreements during the Implementation Period following the UKs departure from the EU, and put in place arrangements to replicate relevant EU-India agreements beyond this period. Both sides welcomed the prominent role played by the City of London in global finance and investment. About 75 per cent of the global value in rupee-denominated "masala bonds issued on the London Stock Exchange with a third of these being green bonds. The Green Growth Equity Fund (GGEF), a joint initiative by the governments of India and the UK under Indias flagship National Investment and Infrastructure Fund, will provide financing to the fast-growing Indian renewable energy sector. With a commitment of 120 million from each side, the GGEF is expected to raise up to 500 million from institutional investors. GGEF will help accelerate achieving Indias target of 175GW of renewable energy capacity by 2022 and also invest in other related sectors such as clean transportation, water and waste management. We look forward to future cooperation on energy and infrastructure policy and have agreed to work together on smart urbanisation. The leaders also reaffirmed their commitment to lead the fight against climate change. Both sides noted that addressing climate change and promoting secure, affordable and sustainable supplies of energy are key shared priorities, and agreed to cooperate on reducing the cost of development and deployment of clean energy projects through technology innovation, knowledge sharing, capacity building, trade and investment, and project establishment. Cash crunch unabated, supply cut in Rs2,000 notes blamed The cash shortage across the country remained unabated for the third day today, with many ATMs across the country running dry, except perhaps in the metro cities. The problem is being blamed mainly on a cut in the supply of Rs2,000 notes along with higher withdrawals on account of elections due in Karnataka and social media reports of cash shortage. Long queues and no cash signboards became common in many parts as depositors queued up to withdraw as much cash as possible in what appeared to be a panic. Currency is becoming scarce after the Reserve Bank of India is reported to have stopped supplying Rs2,000 notes, leaving most ATMs to operate at less than 50 per cent capacity. The cash crunch has returned to India for the second time in 18 months. The Narendra Modi government had in November 2016 demonetised Rs500 and Rs1,000 notes, and later introduced Rs2,000 notes to ensure new currency reaches people quickly. That may be ending as the RBI seems to have curtailed or stopped the printing of the large-denomination notes. It was reported on Tuesday that ATMs are running on empty in many states, including Karnataka, Maharashtra, Andhra Pradesh, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh, Madhya Pradesh, Bihar, Gujarat and Telangana. (See: ATMs run dry in many states; Jaitley vows quick response). https://www.domain-b.com/finance/banks/20180417_arun_jaitley.html According to banks, Telangana, Andhra Pradesh, Karnataka and Bihar are the worst hit as bank branches as well as ATMs have run dry, while Jammu and Kashmir and Chhatisgarh have also reported serious problems. Maharashtra, Goa, Kerala and Rajasthan were better off with not many complaints, though it has become a topic of conversation. The Rs2,000 note is not coming back to circulation, Neeraj Vyas, deputy managing director at the countrys largest bank, State Bank of India, told The Economic Times. Whatever Rs2,000 notes we put in the ATM, it goes out. But it doesnt come back over the counter. So because of the less stock of Rs2,000 notes, the cassettes in ATMs are running dry and that capacity is roughly Rs50 lakh which is now blocked, he said. The four cassettes in an ATM can contain roughly Rs65 lakh when full. One cassette filled with Rs2,000, two cassettes with Rs500 and one with Rs100. Bankers say that because of the Rs2,000 shortage, 45 per cent of the ATM capacity is unutilised, The Economic Times reported. Bankers put the blame on RBI, saying it is not supplying adequate cash despite banks demanding more currency. There is a lack of currency supply from RBI, a banker who did not want to be identified told the paper. We are requesting every fortnight. The regulator knows our currency position. Cash is coming back but not in the proportion that we want. Economic affairs secretary Subhash Garg said the demand for cash is being met. Additional cash is being supplied to meet the demand and notes equivalent to Rs2,500 crore are being printed daily. Amid the currency shortages in various parts of the country, the government has decided to increase printing of Rs500 notes five-fold, Garg said. "We have taken steps to increase the supply of currency in case the demand were to go up further," he said, adding, "To give you an example, Rs500 notes - we print about 5 billion of notes per day. We have taken steps to raise this production five times." An analysis of the data from RBI shows that it has consistently been reducing the supply of currency after pumping in record amounts following demonetisation. The average amount of currency coming out in circulation right after demonetisation was Rs10,000 crore a day. That subsequently fell to Rs5,000-6,000 crore and in the past few months has fallen to Rs1,500 crore. According to a Business Standard report, Confederation of ATM Industry (CATMi) spokesperson V Balasubramanian explained that ATM service providers do a daily calculation of the cash required, called indent, which is sent to banks in the night for the following day. He said that until March end, 90 per cent of the daily demand was being met by the banks. However, this has reduced since the first week of April. "Our indent has remained the same since March, but banks have not been able to meet it for the past four-five days," said Balasubramanian. Former finance minister P Chidambaram tweeted, As a rule, cash supply must grow at the same rate as the economy is growing. The cash shortage may be because cash supply has been arbitrarily reduced. He further said, A government is obliged to provide as much cash as the people need at any given time. Government or RBI cannot arbitrarily control the supply of cash. If RBI has injected sufficient cash, it is obliged to tell the people why there is a cash shortage. Southwest Airlines explosion results in inspection of B737 engines by other carriers Several airlines around the globe have started inspecting the engines of their Boeing 737 aircraft following an explosion on a Southwest Airlines flight in the US that resulted in the death of a passenger. The aircraft had to make an emergency landing in Philadelphia on Tuesday after the mid-air explosion, which shattered a window and almost sucked out a passenger. A team of accident investigators from France left for the US to help the National Transportation Safety Board in conducting investigations into the explosion. The engine was developed by CFM International, a joint venture between Frances Safran and Americas General Electric. About 8,000 CFM56-7B engines are in operation on Boeing 737 jets, and airlines with these aircraft have logged in more than 350 million hours of safe travel, said the company. However, in 2016 there was a similar accident again involving a Southwest aircraft that had to make an emergency landing in Pensacola, Florida. A fan blade separated from the engine apparently because of metal fatigue. Regulators in Europe had a few days ago ordered checks as a follow-up to the 2016 incident. Robert Sumwalt, chairman, US National Transportation Safety Board, told the media that preliminary evidence revealed that Tuesdays accident happened because of metal fatigue as a fan blade had broken. India moves WTO against US import tariffs on steel, aluminium India has moved the World Trade Organisation (WTO) challenging the 10-per cent higher import duty slapped by the United States on aluminium and 25 per cent duty on steel imported by the US. India's stand is that it in no way deserves to be saddled with the 10-per cent higher import duty on aluminium and 25 per cent on steel as it neither poses a security threat to the US nor has it remained unresponsive to the bilateral trade imbalance. A WTO website note said India has requested the establishment of a dispute resolution panel under Article 21.5 of the Dispute Settlement Understanding (DSU) mechanism against United States imposing countervailing duties on certain hot-rolled carbon steel flat products. India has been forced to move the WTO as the US refused to roll back the higher duties on steel and aluminium imports from India. India has also sought discussions on adequate compensation for the losses arising from the tariff impost. Commerce ministry officials said the decision to approach the WTO was taken after Indias attempts to sort out the matter bilaterally with the US did not yield results. New Delhi is keeping its options open, although it hopes to sort out the issue with Washington at the consultation stage the first stage in filing a dispute at the WTO without having to request for a dispute settlement panel to fight out the matter. If the higher duties on the two items are not rolled back, India has the right to seek compensation as per WTO rules. In its submission to the WTO Committee on Safeguards, India said it considered the US measure (of raising import duties on steel and aluminium from select countries) to be an emergency action / safeguard measure within the Agreement on Safeguards. In accordance with Article 12.3 read with Article 8.1 of the Agreement on Safeguards, India seeks to exercise its right to consult on the specifics of the measures and its right to determine appropriate trade compensation with the US, the submission added. The Agreement on Safeguards entitles a member to seek an extension of a safeguard measure or seek a substantially equivalent level of concessions and other obligations, including trade compensation, with a right of retaliation if no compensation can be agreed upon. India reserves the right to raise additional issues and make further arguments during consultations, the submission added. China, which too featured in the list of countries penalised with higher duties on import of steel and aluminium on 23 March, announced higher tariffs on a number of items imported from the US in retaliation. US has rolled back countervailing duties imposed on products from countries like Canada, Mexico, the EU, Australia, Argentina and South Korea, which were on the original list of targeted partners. The financial sector needs better data from companies about the financial impact of climate change for their business operations. That was one of the outcomes of a working group by leading Dutch banks on the consequences of climate change-related risk for the Dutch financial sector. The outcomes were recently published by the Dutch DNB National Bank, following the first ever International Climate Risk Conference for Supervisors held in Amsterdam on 6 April. Scheme of the financial risks as seen by the Bank of Engeland in their Quarterly bulltine in 2017. Trillions at risk The final report of the Climate Risk Working Group quotes the Economist Intelligence Unit that estimates the total value at risk, as a result of climate change, to the total global stock of manageable assets as ranging from 4.2 trillion to 4.3 trillion US dollar between now and the end of the century. Despite the fact that empirical evidence for climate change is overwhelming, markets do not seem to price in the risk, the DNB report warns. A survey among 28 financial institutions, conducted by DNB, revealed a near universal consensus that climate-related transition risks are currently not adequately priced into the market. Reasons are the complexity, lack of data, regulatory uncertainty and manifestation beyond a five-year horizon. The potential impact of climate change became very visual in Thailand when over 10,000 companies were flooded in 2011 (on top photo), impacting the computer and car industries in Japan and USA due to reduced supply of parts. Chair Michael Bloomberg presented the recommendations of the Task Force on Climate-related Financial Disclosures (TCFD) at the G20 in Hamburg in July last year. Data framework Investors, lenders and insurance underwriters need better information on the assessment and pricing of climate-related risks and opportunities. The working group advised to set up a framework under the umbrella of the G20s Task Force on Climate-Related Financial Disclosures (TCFD), an industry-led initiative created to develop a set of recommendations for voluntary climate-related financial disclosures More transparency In its reaction on the report, the Dutch-based Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation (GCECA) emphasized the call for more financial transparency from companies on their climate-related risks. Mapping and managing climate-related physical risks are an especially large challenge, the GCECA reacts. The climate adaptation centre wants to play a key role in bringing this forward and to accelerate implementation of adaptation action. Together with the European Bank for Reconstruction and Development (EBRD), the centre organizes a invitation only - conference for the international financial sector on 'Advancing TCFD guidance on physical climate risk & opportunities' on 31 May in London. About GCECA The Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation focuses its activities on those areas where acceleration is most needed, and where this is complementary to the work of others. It is an independent organisation, working across the Global North and South, with offices in the Netherlands. GCECA was initiated by UN Environment and the governments of the Netherlands, Japan and the Philippines and has established partnerships with with global organisations, NGOs, governments, financial institutions knowledge institutions and businesses to accelerate climate adaptation. Download tghe full eport (as a pdf-file): DNB Sustainable Finance Platform working group on climate risk. Read also on this website COP23: Launch of GCECA centre to speed up worldwide climate adaptation. 15 November 2017 Global climate adaptation centre gets a floating office in Rotterdam, the Netherlands, 22 September 2017 Expertise: Resilient cities and Enabling delta life More information DNB National Bank Amsterdam, the Netherlands +31 20 524 9111 www.dnb.nl/en Global Centre of Excellence on Climate Adaptation www.gceca.org Instantly delete email threats with 365 Threat Monitor With 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts, real-time security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click - for free! Learn More. Nearly a week after it became the target of one of the largest ransomware attacks to date, the City of Atlanta has made progress toward recovery, but it is still far from business as usual. Hackers encrypted many of the city government's vital data and computer systems. The ransomware attack, which Mayor Keisha Lance Bottoms characterized as "a hostage situation," forced the city to shut down municipal courts and even prevented residents from paying bills online. The city has been unable to issue warrants, and in many cases city employees have had to fill out forms and reports by hand. The hackers demanded that officials pay a ransom of US$51,000 to be sent to a bitcoin wallet. Threat researchers from Dell-owned Secureworks, which is based in Atlanta, have been working to help the city recover from the attack. The security firm identified the assailants as the SamSam hacking group, The New York Times reported on Thursday. That organization has been known for similar ransomware attacks; it typically makes ransom demands of $50,000 or more, usually payable only with bitcoin. Secureworks has been working with the city's incident response team as well as the FBI, the Department of Homeland Security and the U.S. Secret Service. In addition, a number of independent experts, including researchers from Georgia Tech, have been called in to determine how the attack occurred and help strategize to prevent another such attack. As of Thursday, the city's Department of Information Management, which first discovered the attack on March 21, said that it had found no evidence that customer or employee data was compromised. It nevertheless encouraged everyone to take precautionary measures, including the monitoring of personal accounts and protecting personal information. Serious Attack The attack on Atlanta remains one of the largest ransomware attacks to date. It actually is much bigger than a cyberthreat, Mayor Bottoms said earlier this week. It's an attack on the government and its citizens. "Ransomware attacks are a reality for many businesses, and unfortunately, this instance is likely not the last," said Sam Elliott, director of security product management at Bomgar. "Ransomware is one of the easiest ways to monetize a successful breach of security, and as such it continues to be favored by many hackers," noted Eytan Segal, principal product manager at Check Point. "This recent breach of the Atlanta local government is a good example of how devastating and frustrating these attacks can be when they succeed," he told TechNewsWorld. However, the city's quick response may have limited the potential for greater damage. "From a response standpoint, the city is doing the best that it can," said Raj Rajamani, vice president of product management at SentinelOne. "By immediately cutting employees off from their devices, they may have helped minimize the spread of the ransomware," he told TechNewsWorld. Recovery Options Atlanta's data reportedly has been held for ransom using AES 256-bit encryption, which is one of the most secure encryption methods. It is used in many modern algorithms. There is no guarantee that the SamSam threat actors actually would release the files and decrypt the data if the ransom were paid. However, these particular hackers have released systems targeted in past attacks. Generally, those holding files for ransom do release them, as failure to do so would make future threats meaningless and no one would pay. Still, the city has given no indication that it will bow to the ransomware demands. Atlanta could be in the fortunate position of having the option to refuse them. The city's IT department has done its due diligence in backing up critical data, and many of Atlanta's critical services have been moved to the cloud. In addition, the city's networks have been segmented from other systems. As a result, public safety systems and the Atlanta Hartsfield Airport have not been affected by this attack. Recovery will be slow if the ransom is not paid but not impossible. "Subtle details in your backup strategy can make all the difference in the world when you would try to recover after a ransomware attack," cautioned Jim Purtilo, associate professor in the computer science department at the University of Maryland. "The balancing act is between integrity and availability of your data," he told TechNewsWorld. On one hand, you would want very strong protections between your live system and the repository for its backup, Purtilo pointed out. You wouldn't want a similar exploit to lock up the recovery data, but off-site storage is a common way to ensure that systems are isolated. "Yet on the other hand, the more isolated are our data, the more is the challenge for keeping backups updated," he added. "After cleaning a production system of malware, you might recover most data from off site, but it would still be pretty disruptive to lose data that changed following some checkpoint." Preventing Future Attacks Atlanta's attack should be a warning to other cities and organizations that efforts need to be made to harden systems. "Cover all your IT assets. IT environments are complex, very complex, and they span desktop and laptops, mobile devices, servers and the cloud," said Check Point's Segal. "Companies should seek to adopt a unified solution that is architected to cover all these elements, includes all layers of advanced protections, and focuses on preventing attacks rather than detecting them," he recommended. "Maintaining a regular patching routine closes potential holes in an organizations' infrastructure, keeping attackers at bay," Bomgar's Elliott told TechNewsWorld. "Infrastructure teams should also better segment their IT systems to prevent future malware from spreading laterally through connected networks, to prevent potential for extensive damage," he added. The Human Element Proactive protection also should include employee training, as these attacks often involve social engineering or human error. "Typically, SamSam ransomware victims are infected by clicking on a malicious link, opening an email attachment, or through malvertising," noted SentinelOne's Rajamani. The SentinelOne Global Ransomware Report found than 58 percent of ransomware infections in the public sector were caused by employee carelessness, he pointed out. "Every city and government organization should assume they're a target," warned Rajamani. "Attacks like the one in Atlanta are about more than just criminal payouts -- they're paralyzing attacks that can bring a city to its knees, as we're seeing." Peter Suciu has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2012. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, mobile phones, displays, streaming media, pay TV and autonomous vehicles. He has written and edited for numerous publications and websites, including Newsweek, Wired and FoxNews.com. Email Peter. Instantly delete email threats for Office 365 With the free app, 365 Threat Monitor, scan all emails as they reach your users' mailboxes to detect ransomware, phishing and spam. Get real-time phone alerts + security breach updates and delete threats instantly with just one click. Download now! Facebook on Sunday confirmed that its Messenger and Lite apps for Android smartphones routinely collect call and text histories. The call and text history logging are opt-in features for people using Messenger or Facebook Lite on Android devices, the company said in a post. The feature is designed to help users stay connected, and it improves the Facebook experience, according to the company. The Messenger feature can be turned off at any time through the app's settings. In Facebook Lite, the feature can be deactivated by turning off the Continuous Contacts Upload setting. When those adjustments are made to the programs, all previously shared call and text history is deleted, Facebook said. The feature does not collect the content of calls or text messages, Facebook addes, assuring users that their information is stored securely and that it is not sold to third parties. Surprised Users While the collecting of call and text information has been going on for years -- it was introduced into Messenger in 2015 -- discovery of the feature surprised some users and raised many hackles. Downloaded my facebook data as a ZIP file Somehow it has my entire call history with my partner's mum pic.twitter.com/CIRUguf4vD Dylan McKay (@dylanmckaynz) March 21, 2018 A Twitter user with the handle "Learn Somali" noticed tracking only in connection with a visit to Somalia. Thanks for sharing the info, I have looked at mine, and my calls/messages were "tracked" only when I visited Somalia for a month, it started and ended that specific period. Did you travel to a place were FB knows no one will catch them snooping. :). Shocking is the new Normal. Learn Somali (@learnsomali_com) March 25, 2018 McKay responded that he'd never left New Zealand. Facebook recorded all of her phone's contacts, calls and texts from 2015 to 2016, tweeted Natalie Schluter, an associate professor at the University of Copenhagen. I downloaded my data and FB has a record of ALL contacts/calls/texts ON ANY MEDIUM from my phone 2015-2016. NB. I've never imported any contacts to FB. No FB app on my phone. I do have Messenger (but the upload contacts option is and always has been DESELECTED). https://t.co/hUKDG7pr7F Natalie Schluter (@natschluter) March 25, 2018 Author Emma Kennedy also was surprised by what she found when she downloaded the trove of data Facebook had on her. I've just looked at the data files I requested from Facebook and they had every single phone number in my contacts. They had every single social event I went to, a list of all my friends (and their birthdays) and a list of every text I've sent. Emma Kennedy (@EmmaKennedy) March 25, 2018 Opaque Transparency While it appears that Facebook believes it has been up front with what its Messenger and Lite apps do, not everyone agrees. Facebook wasn't sufficiently transparent about what it was doing with its apps if even developers and tech-oriented users were surprised, observed Joseph W. Jerome, policy counsel for the Center for Democracy & Technology. "Part of the challenge is that well-designed transparency is really hard," he told TechNewsWorld. "As the law understands it, Facebook did get users to opt in to this feature," he said, "but 'Turn On' is bolded and the default choice for users." The "Not Now" choice for turning off the feature is grayed out, so it looks like it's not an available option. Thin Excuse "Technically, Facebook is accurate that users opted in to this, but in the age of Russian meddling and Cambridge Analytica, it's no excuse in users' minds," said Karen North, director of the digital social media program at the USC Annenberg School for Communication and Journalism. "Even the opt-in excuse is a thin one, given how the opt-in was phrased," she told TechNewsWorld. "It was misleading." However, it's likely that Facebook's intentions were not sinister, North added. "They do it to curate an experience that will engage us," she said, "and to target us, sell ads and make money." Facebook offers controls for users concerned about their privacy, but using them can be an adventure. "You might as well quit your job and spend all your time trying to stay on top of the privacy changes that Mark Zuckerberg makes," quipped John Carroll, a mass communications professor at Boston University. "Facebook is notorious for turning their privacy settings into a moving target," he told TechNewsWorld. "It's a monumental task to constantly monitor your privacy settings, not only on Facebook, but all over the Web." FTC Opens Probe The phone-scraping revelations broke as full-page Facebook ads ran in several Sunday papers in the United Kingdom and United States, apologizing for having allowed Cambridge Analytica to use the personal data of some 50 million users for political purposes. "This was a breach of trust, and I'm sorry we didn't do more at the time," CEO Zuckerberg says in the ad. "We're now taking steps to ensure this doesn't happen again." Meanwhile, the Federal Trade Commission added more pressure on Monday. "The FTC takes very seriously recent press reports raising substantial concerns about the privacy practices of Facebook," said Tom Pahl, acting director of the FTC's Bureau of Consumer Protection. "Today, the FTC is confirming that it has an open non-public investigation into these practices." Facebook ran afoul of the FTC in 2011 over sharing and publicizing members' information after assuring them they could keep it private. It settled that case with the commission. "This is more evidence that the FTC should have enforced its consent orders," Marc Rotenberg, executive director of the Electronic Privacy Information Center, told TechNewsWorld. "Users can't be expected to monitor every change in a company's business practices." John P. Mello Jr. has been an ECT News Network reporter since 2003. His areas of focus include cybersecurity, IT issues, privacy, e-commerce, social media, artificial intelligence, big data and consumer electronics. He has written and edited for numerous publications, including the Boston Business Journal, the Boston Phoenix, Megapixel.Net and Government Security News. Email John. By Dan Nosowitz Since 2012, when it was first found in California and Texas, scientists have been searching for a solution to a "citrus greening," a devastating disease affecting citrus trees. Citrus greening, known as huanglongbing in China (shortened to HLB in America), where it's been present for decades, is an intensely destructive disease, sneakily killing branches, causing bitter, unsellable fruit and stunting growth. Unfortunately, a new report from the National Academies of Sciences, Engineering and Medicine says that a solution is not coming anytime soon. Florida, which is responsible for most of the juice oranges produced in the U.S., is being wrecked by citrus greening. It's estimated that the disease has caused $2.9 billion in damages between 2007 and 2014 (it was first discovered in Florida in 2005), and it's thought to be a key contributor to the decline of citrus acres in the state. As a result, the Citrus Research and Development Foundation (CRDF), an industry group, has poured about $100 million into attempting to solve this problem. Citrus greening is caused by a bacteria that's spread by the Asian citrus psyllid, a tiny, brown, moth-like insect that's actually a pretty annoying pest in its own right. But it's most destructive as a vector for the bacteria that causes citrus greening. The CRDF asked the Academies to take a look at their research and attempt to figure out any possible solution. In response, this week, the Academies released a study calling a silver bullet "unlikely." From the study's release: "Significant barriers to progress toward an HLB solution still exist, among them the inability to culture the bacteria in the laboratory, the lack of advanced diagnostics for early disease detection, and the absence of standardized research methodology that would improve the comparability of results across studies." The report doesn't rule out the possibility of long-term solutions, including some involving genes taken from spinach, but notes that short-term solutions, especially preventative measures, might be the most effective for now. On that note, short-term solutions for citrus greening have actually been known for awhile. The Florida Department of Citrus recommends better nutrition for the trees themselves; apparently well-fed citrus trees are more able to produce good fruit when hit by citrus greening. The University of Florida suggests more careful sourcing of trees in the first place, and the outright removal of any infected trees. There's also this guide to antibacterial product use; possible products include streptomycin (well-understood, though highly toxic to algae) and oxytetracycline (which the EPA says is basically fine). But none of these are great solutions; they're kind of all just best practices for growing citrus, and the decline in productivity and the spread of citrus greening suggests that these preventative practices are not especially effective solutions. Reposted with permission from our media associate Modern Farmer. A group of 39 senators and 131 representatives signed a resolution calling for the "immediate resignation" of Scott Pruitt, the scandal-plagued U.S. Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) administrator. The document represents a record number of senators to formally demand a cabinet official to step down. The resolution comes in the wake of Pruitt's growing list of controversies: his request for a $43,000 sound-proof phone booth violated federal law; his $50-a-night stay at a Capitol Hill condo owned by the wife of an energy lobbyist; his questionable use of taxpayer money for first-class and charter flights, as well as a 'round-the-clock security detail; and reports that he gave large pay raises to his closest aides. That's not to mention Pruitt's continued efforts to dismantle the legacy of the very agency he heads. Per the resolution, "The Agency is hemorrhaging staff and experts needed to protect the health, safety, and livelihood of millions of people of the United States, with more than 700 employees of the Agency having left or been forced out of the Agency during his tenure as Administrator." "By delaying the effective date of regulations, easing enforcement of existing regulations, and delaying implementation of new regulations, Administrator Pruitt is helping polluters at the expense of the health, safety, and livelihood of millions of people of the United States," it adds. No Republicans added their name to the document, even though Republican Reps. Elise Stefanik (NY), Carlos Curbelo (FL) and Illeana Ros-Lehtinen (FL.) have previously called for Pruitt's resignation or firing. The effort was led by Senator Tom Udall (D-NM) and Representative Kathy Castor (D-FL). "During his time in office, Pruitt has waged all-out war on the bedrock protections that keep our air and water clean, prevent toxic chemicals from contaminating our communities, and safeguard the health of our kids and families," Udall said. "He has done lasting damage to public health and safetygutting the EPA's core missionall to benefit his campaign donors and grease the wheels for his big polluter friends." It's not just politicians who are calling for Pruitt's ouster. More than 30 environmental and civil rights organizations, including the NAACP, the Sierra Club and Friends of the Earth, took out full-page newspaper ads on Wednesday in The New York Times, the New York Post and Pruitt's home-state paper, The Oklahoman, The Hill reported. Meanwhile, President Donald Trump has praised Pruittwho has carried out the administration's deregulatory agendafor "doing a great job." Trump is reportedly fond of his EPA chief, even though John F. Kelly, the White House chief of staff, has urged the president to let Pruitt go. "No one other than the president has the authority to hire and fire," White House press secretary Sarah Huckabee Sanders said earlier this month. "The president feels that the administrator has done a good job at EPA." She said the White House is conducting an internal investigation into Pruitt's conduct. The UK government announced plans Wednesday to end to the sale of plastic straws, drink stirrers and plastic-stemmed cotton swabs in England. "Single-use plastics are a scourge on our seas and lethal to our precious environment and wildlife so it is vital we act now," Environment Secretary Michael Gove said. "We have already banned harmful microbeads and cut plastic bag use, and now we want to take action on straws, stirrers and cotton buds to help protect our marine life." "We've already seen a number of retailers, bars and restaurants stepping up to the plate and cutting plastic use, however it's only through government, businesses and the public working together that we will protect our environment for the next generationwe all have a role to play in turning the tide on plastic," Gove added. The British government said it will work with manufacturers to develop alternatives to for the items and ensure there is sufficient time to adapt. It will also propose excluding plastic straws for medical reasons. The move follows the Scottish government, which announced plans in January to outlaw plastic cotton buds. The next month, Scotland announced intentions to ban plastic straws by the end of 2019. On Sunday night, Prime Minister Theresa May announced her government would earmark 61.4 million towards cleaning the world's oceans of plastics. May is calling on all Commonwealth countries to sign up to the newly formed Commonwealth Clean Oceans Alliance, through which the funds will be directed, to stop plastic waste. "Plastic waste is one of the greatest environmental challenges facing the world, which is why protecting the marine environment is central to our agenda at the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting," May said about this week's summit. The action is fitting with the theme of this year's Earth Day, on Sunday, April 22, which will focus on ending plastic pollution. It's not just the UK government stepping up to fight plastic. Costa Coffee, the largest coffee chain in Britain with more than 2,000 stores, pledged on Wednesday to become the first to recycle the same volume of takeaway cups they put onto the market. Even though these cups are mostly made of paper, these single-use items are almost never recycled or composted because they are lined with plastic. In January, Iceland Foods, a major UK supermarket chain specializing in frozen food, committed to eliminating plastic packaging from its own brand of products by the end of 2023. Efforts to curb plastic use really picked up after British naturalist Sir David Attenborough presented his 2017 BBC series Blue Planet II. The series, which called particular attention to the issue of ocean plastics, even prompted Queen Elizabeth II to ban plastic straws and bottles on all royal properties, including public cafes. Across the country, teachers are walking out of their classrooms to fight for higher pay. But in Kentucky, where teachers pension benefits take the place of Social Security, educators are more anxious about the future of the states underfunded pension systemand furious at elected officials for letting it get to this point. What concerns me is not being able to eat when Im 80, said Lisa Proulx, a 4th grade teacher in Jefferson County, Ky. Im not eligible for my husbands Social Security. ... If I retire and theres a problem with the pension systemthats scary. The political meltdown this year over efforts to address Kentuckys pension crisiswhich has sparked teacher walkouts, lawsuits, and raucous protestscould serve as a warning light for other states facing the politically volatile issue of what to do about teacher retirement costs. Across the nation, states pension obligations for public employees are accelerating, spurred on by investment losses during the Great Recession, a wave of Baby Boomers retirements, and years of fiscal mismanagement. That has huge implications for K-12 spending. Teachers pension debt today tops out nationally at more than $516 billion, and states such as Connecticut, Illinois, and Michigan project they wont have enough money within the next decade to pay teachers what theyre owed at retirement. At the same time, hefty increases to school spending in some states end up being used to pay down grossly underfunded pension obligations, putting pressure on the money available for instructional spending, staff salaries, and other needs. The way these pensions are set up allows mischievous politicians and different groups to play games and kick the can down the road, said Michael Podgursky, a school finance expert at the University of Missouri, in Columbia. But guess whos paying for this? The kids currently in school because theres less money for books and school supplies, and the current teachers who will get less in their paycheck and less generous pensions. Close to 10 cents of every dollar spent on education today goes toward retirement costs, according to an analysis by Robert Costrell, a finance expert at University of Arkansas. Thats double the amount spent on retirement costs in 2004. But for governors and state lawmakers, addressing that can be financially complex and politically fraught. Just this week, for example, more than 200 teachers protested at the state capitol in Denver after a state senator proposed a bill to, in part, cut public employee retirement benefits. The state is more than $32 billion short of the necessary money to pay its retirement costs. In New Jersey, the tenure of former Gov. Chris Christie was bedeviled by his failed efforts starting in 2010 to overhaul that states pension system by, among other things, kicking out part-timers and switching new teachers over to 401(k)-type plans. Kentucky Battleground Kentucky is perhaps the highest-profile battleground for pensions in a year when teacher activism is on the rise nationally. Kentuckys public employee retirement system, which includes its teachers, was cited by Standard & Poors last year as the nations worst-funded in the nation. The state is $14.5 billion short of what it will need to cover the retirement costs for its 71,000 current teachers and 51,000 retirees over the next 30 years. The state last year paid $1.5 billion toward pension costs, up from $624 million in 2008, according to the states budget director. And Kentucky teachers are among the 40 percent of teachers nationally who are not eligible for Social Securityheightening the sense of urgency among educators. Kentuckys pension spending in the last decade has grown nearly five times as fast as revenues, according to an analysis conducted by a state-appointed firm. Kentucky has been operating with a structurally imbalanced budget for years now, said Brigitte Blom Ramsey, the executive director of the Prichard Committee for Academic Excellence, an advocacy group that has long pushed for more school funding. When in 2016 Republicans took control of the statehouse, Gov. Matt Bevin, a Republican, promised to make dramatic changes to the states pension systemand did so in a way that took aim at teachers. The battle came to a head earlier this year over a bill that would have reduced yearly cost-of-living increases for retired teachers to 0.75 percent for the next 12 years, down from 1.5 percent. After protests, legislators revised the proposal to cut the cost-of-living increases to 1 percent until the pension system is 90 percent funded. Both versions were widely panned by educators. The final bill made no significant changes to current teachers or retirees benefit plansbut it made some other changes that have drawn fire from both teachers and district leaders. For one thing, teachers who are hired after the start of 2019 will now be put into whats known as a cash-balance plan, which is a hybrid of a traditional defined-benefit pension and the kind of 401(K) retirement savings plan common in the private sector. In addition, school districts are now expected to contribute 2 percent of teachers salaries to their pension plans, on top of the contribution from the commonwealth. Previously, local districts did not pay into the pension fund for teachersaccording to the Teachers Retirement System of Kentucky, their contributions under the new cash-balance plan will help pay down unfunded liabilities. District Leaders Worried That last shift concerns district leaders, who will now have an extra expense to their budget that will continue to grow over time. Its a slow bleed, really, said Robb Smith, the superintendent of Bellevue schools, a 770-student district in the northern tip of the state. For a small district like ours, that will be especially troublesome. ... It will definitely cause us to be more conservative with distributions [of funding] for students. District leaders are also worried about how the changes will affect new-teacher recruitment. New teachers have been removed from the states inviolable contract, which means policymakers could make changes to their retirement benefits down the road. That just guarantees them a big, fat nothing, said Stephanie Winkler, the president of the Kentucky Education Association. I wouldnt want to go into a job that has a guarantee of a big, fat nothing when I dedicated my life to public service. ... Its kind of a slap in the face. Chad Aldeman, a principal at Bellwether Education Partners, said his analysis shows the cash-balance plan for new teachers could be better for educators during the first two decades of their careers, allowing them to build wealth more quickly than the existing plan. By contrast, the existing plan is estimated to be more beneficial for a teacher who stays in the profession for more than 21 years, because it is backloaded so veteran teachers earn more in retirement wealth in the latter part of their careers. Still, Aldeman said Kentucky teacher-turnover data suggest less than half of new teachers will reach 21 years in the profession. And he said the cash-balance plan will ensure that Kentucky does not accrue additional unfunded liabilities. Hopefully over time, this plan will get established, and people will enroll in it, and the fervor will die down, he said. And hopefully, over time people will see the benefits of [this plan]. Weve Had Enough The specifics aside, the way Kentucky policymakers handled the pension changes only inflamed tensions around the issue. The final bill was tacked onto a measure about sewer system regulations and passed in a matter of hours, spurring outrage from educators. KEAs Winkler said there was no time in the 11th hour to talk about the final proposal or even see it. The day after the pension bill passed the legislature, droves of teachers called in sick to protest at the capitol, forcing more than 20 school districts to close. The following Monday, schools in all of Kentuckys 120 counties were closed (though many for spring break) as teachers again gathered at the capitol, holding a giant sign proclaiming, Weve had enough. Theyre not hearing us, theyre not making us a part of the conversation, said Caroline Wilkerson, a 2nd grade teacher in Nicholasville. We didnt have time to process it. The union later joined the states attorney general in a lawsuit against the governor that seeks to overturn the pension reform law. Dozens of educators have now filed to run for state legislative seats, and Winkler said the teachers union will leverage the momentum among educators to elect pro-education candidates in November. Meanwhile, the governors rhetoric has added fuel to the fire. Bevin called teachers selfish and short-sighted for protesting the pension changes. After he signed the pension bill into law, he called KEA leaders absolute frauds on a local radio show. He also said teachers were [punishing] students by walking out of the classrooms and later guarantee[d] that children were sexually abused because they were left home alone during school closures, remarks he later apologized for. Its really disheartening and disappointing that we are seen as the enemy, Wilkerson said. We are not seen as an important part of the community, which I feel like we are. Added Aldeman: Hopefully, a political lesson states can learn [from watching Kentucky] is that this is probably not the best way to make pension changes. Experts warn, however, that the underlying problem for states isnt going away. I think that in some places that have these really huge problems from pensions, the policymakers will need to get creative on how to deal with this, said Martin F. Lueken, a finance scholar who helped author a paper on teacher pensions for the National Council on Teacher Quality. To solve these problems, you need wholesale reform. You have to stop the bleeding. 2018-04-19 Maeci Minister of Foreign Affairs and International Cooperation, Angelino Alfano, said: The Austrian bill on the consular protection of German and Ladin-speaking people in South Tyrol does not comply with EU laws on European citizenship and consular matters. Moreover, it is clearly contrary to international law, as well as not complying with the cooperation that should exist among EU countries. For this reason, we instructed the Italian ambassador in Vienna yesterday to lodge a formal protest to the Austrian government against the bill, based on exact points of law. DALLAS, April 19, 2018 -- Men under 50 who smoked were more likely to have a stroke, and their risk increased with the number of cigarettes they smoked, according to new research in the American Heart Association's journal Stroke. An increasing number of young adults are suffering ischemic stroke, which is the most common stroke type. Tobacco use is on the rise among young adults. It is already established that the more young women smoke the greater their stroke risk; however, little is known about young men's stroke risk from smoking. "The key takeaway from our study on men younger than 50 is 'the more you smoke, the more you stroke,'" said lead study author Janina Markidan, B.A., a medical student at the University of Maryland School of Medicine in Baltimore. Researchers studied 615 young men (age 15-49) who had a stroke in the prior three years. Researchers compared the men with stroke to 530 healthy men in the same age range. They also categorized participants as never smokers, former smokers and current smokers. Current smokers were divided into groups based on the number of cigarettes smoked daily, 1 to 10, 11 to 20, 21 to 39 or 40 or more. Researchers found: Men who smoked were 88 percent more likely to have a stroke than men who never smoked. Among current smokers, men who smoked fewer than 11 cigarettes daily were 46 percent more likely to have a stroke than those who never smoked. But the heavier smokers, smoking at least two packs a day, were nearly 5 times, more likely to have a stroke than those who never smoked. "The goal is to get these young men to stop smoking, however if they can smoke fewer cigarettes it could help reduce their stroke risk," Markidan said. Researchers did not record the concurrent use of other tobacco products which could have affected results. They also did not control for factors such as alcohol consumption, physical activity or recall bias. However, similar findings in a Swedish study, suggested that there was not a major effect from recall bias. ### Co-authors are John W. Cole, M.D., M.S.; Carolyn A. Cronin, M.D., Ph.D.; Jose G. Merino, M.D., M. Phil.; Michael S. Phipps, M.D.; Marcella A. Wozniak, M.D., Ph.D.; and Steven J. Kittner, M.D., M.P.H. Author disclosures are on the manuscript. The Department of Veterans Affairs, the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention and the National Institutes of Health funded the study. Additional Resources: Available multimedia is on the right column of the release link: https://newsroom.heart.org/news/men-younger-than-50-the-more-you-smoke-the-more-you-stroke?preview=0edacbd74a6528d4a5ff866a883dbb09 After April 19, view the manuscript online. Quitters Win Starting this week, tobacco companies must run court-ordered ads telling the truth about their lethal products Follow AHA/ASA news on Twitter @HeartNews For stroke science, follow the Stroke journal at @StrokeAHA_ASA Statements and conclusions of study authors published in American Heart Association scientific journals are solely those of the study authors and do not necessarily reflect the association's policy or position. The association makes no representation or guarantee as to their accuracy or reliability. The association receives funding primarily from individuals; foundations and corporations (including pharmaceutical, device manufacturers and other companies) also make donations and fund specific association programs and events. The association has strict policies to prevent these relationships from influencing the science content. Revenues from pharmaceutical and device corporations and health insurance providers are available at heart.org/corporatefunding. About the American Stroke Association The American Stroke Association is devoted to saving people from stroke -- the No. 2 cause of death in the world and a leading cause of serious disability. We team with millions of volunteers to fund innovative research, fight for stronger public health policies and provide lifesaving tools and information to prevent and treat stroke. The Dallas-based association officially launched in 1998 as a division of the American Heart Association. To learn more or to get involved, call 1-888-4STROKE or visit StrokeAssociation.org. Follow us on Facebook and Twitter. Increasing numbers of people worldwide are suffering life-long disability and dying prematurely due to the ineffective treatment of people with multiple health conditions, a new report suggests. The report from the Academy of Medical Sciences, published today (00.01hrs BST 19 April 2018), points to an alarming lack of information about multimorbidity, a scenario where a patient suffers several diseases simultaneously. While it is well known that multimorbidity is common and on the rise, the exact extent of the problem and the rate at which it is growing is not understood. It is reported to affect anywhere between 13-95% of patients globally, a range so wide that it indicates just how little is known about this global burden. The causes of multimorbidity are poorly understood and strategies for its prevention are lacking. The report, produced by a working group of 17 international health experts, is the first to address the problem of multimorbidity on a global scale and highlights the inadequacy of the evidence required to guide health policy and medical practice. The project was supported in part by the UK Department for Business, Energy and Industrial Strategy. Most health services, including the NHS, are not designed to care for patients with multiple illnesses. This is likely to contribute to the increasing pressures on health systems and budgets worldwide, the report suggests. It concludes that without a better understanding of multimorbidity, it will not be possible for any country to plan future healthcare resources and redesign services effectively. Health conditions that frequently group together include heart disease, high blood pressure, diabetes, cancer, depression, anxiety, chronic obstructive pulmonary disease (COPD) and chronic kidney disease. However, it is unclear why some of these conditions cluster together, making it difficult to predict which patients may be most in need of preventive steps or increased care. Evidence suggests multimorbidity is most common in women and people with low income, and is increasingly common in young people as well as in older people. Professor Stephen MacMahon FMedSci, Chair of the Academy of Medical Sciences multimorbidity working group, said: "While we know multimorbidity is very common, we don't know precisely how many people live with multiple serious illnesses. From what we do know, I estimate tens of millions of Britons suffer from multimorbidity, and globally the number could be a billion. Similarly, while we know multimorbidity is increasing, we don't know how quickly or which groups are experiencing the biggest increases. "This report should be the tipping point of recognising that multimorbidity is an enormous threat to global health. It is a priority to get the evidence we need to develop effective strategies for prevention and treatment." The scientific community does not have an agreed definition of multimorbidity, which has hindered essential research needed to improve prevention and treatment. The report provides a new definition of multimorbidity and recommends that this be adopted by researchers globally. Physical and mental health conditions often cluster together. Poor mental health can negatively affect quality of life and life expectancy more so than having multiple physical illnesses. The report highlights evidence that mental health conditions can lead to reduced physical health and vice versa. For example, type 2 diabetes has been reported to increase the risk of depression, and adults with depression are 37% more likely to develop type 2 diabetes. However, the division between health services treating mental and physical health often means that patients suffering from both physical and mental conditions are at particular risk of poor care. Clinical trials of new medicines often exclude patients with multiple conditions, leaving significant gaps in knowledge about effective treatments of those with multimorbidities. This could raise questions about the applicability of the evidence on which drugs are used, given that many long-term diseases do not exist in isolation. The scale of multimorbidity also raises questions about the suitability of healthcare systems which are organised around treating single diseases or individual organs, the norm in most major hospitals. It also raises questions about the way in which general practice is organised - specifically whether individual GP consultations are generally too short to enable comprehensive management of multiple conditions. Professor Stephen MacMahon added: "How to prevent and manage multiple diseases is a challenge that GPs face every day, yet we have almost no evidence on which to provide guidance as to how to do this most effectively. "We are facing a tidal wave of patients living with multiple long-term health conditions, and our report demonstrates how little we know about how to manage this. Outcomes appear to be worse in these patients and yet there is growing evidence that people with multimorbidity are less likely to receive appropriate care for the individual diseases they have. We face a situation where those in greatest need are least likely to receive appropriate care. "For too long we've focussed almost exclusively on the management of single diseases, such as cancer and HIV. This means we have neglected the reality that most people with any one long-term disease typically have others." Professor Melanie Davies, member of the report working group, said: "We are all familiar with multimorbidity in the older population, but as a diabetes doctor I am seeing many type 2 diabetes patients under the age of 40 years with multiple serious illnesses which is a real concern. "Our healthcare system is traditionally arranged around caring for single illnesses. With increasing recognition that treatment for patients with multimorbidity is often less effective, we are in desperate need of information to help us reorganise health services to deal with this challenge." Professor Sir Robert Lechler PMedSci, President of the Academy of Medical Sciences said: "People living with more than one illness often have more medical appointments and medications to manage, and doctors can struggle to balance their care. The toll of this can have a big impact on the quality of life of patients and their families. "Multimorbidity is not an intangible problem. Research can give us the evidence needed to tackle this major health challenge and improve patients' lives across the globe. "So far medicine has excelled in treating single illnesses, but if we are to improve the quality of life for the millions living with multiple health conditions we must get better at treating the whole person and all of their illnesses." The report suggests tackling multimorbidity will be essential to reach the Sustainable Development Goals set out by the United Nations, and to progress towards the WHO framework on 'integrated people-centred' health services. ### For more information, copies of the report, international facts and quotes, case studies and requests for interview please contact: Naomi Clarke, Communications Officer, Academy of Medical Sciences 020 3141 3208, 07903 158979, naomi.clarke@acmedsci.ac.uk Notes for Editors 1. The Academy of Medical Sciences is the independent body in the UK representing the diversity of medical science. Our elected Fellows are the UK's leading medical scientists from hospitals, academia, industry and the public service. Our mission is to advance biomedical and health research and its translation into benefits for society. We are working to secure a future in which: UK and global health is improved by the best research. The UK leads the world in biomedical and health research, and is renowned for the quality of its research outputs, talent and collaborations. Independent, high quality medical science advice informs the decisions that affect society. More people have a say in the future of health and research. Our work focusses on four key objectives, promoting excellence, developing talented researchers, influencing research and policy and engaging patients, the public and professionals. http://www.acmedsci.ac.uk Wilmington, DE, April 19, 2018 - Scientists at Christiana Care Health System's Gene Editing Institute have developed a potentially breakthrough CRISPR gene-editing tool. It could allow researchers to take fragments of DNA extracted from human cells, put them into a test tube, and quickly and precisely engineer multiple changes to the genetic code, according to a new study published today in the CRISPR Journal. Investigators at the Gene Editing Institute, which is part of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at Christiana Care, said their new "cell-free" CRISPR technology is the first CRISPR tool capable of making multiple edits to DNA samples "in vitro," which means in a test tube or petri dish. The advance could have immediate value as a diagnostic tool, replicating the exact genetic mutations found in the tumors of individual cancer patients. Mutations that cause cancer to spread can differ from patient to patient, and being able to quickly identify the correct mutation affecting an individual patient can allow clinicians to implement a more targeted treatment strategy. "With this new advance, we should be able to work with laboratory cultures and accomplish gene edits in less than a day, significantly reducing the time required for diagnostics compared to other CRISPR tools, and with much greater precision," said Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., director of the Gene Editing Institute and principal author of the study. "This is particularly important for diagnostics linked to cancer care where time is critical." Kmiec also said that while other CRISPR tools are restricted to editing or repairing short segments of DNA code within a single gene, his team's new CRISPR tool could lead to applications that are capable of removing and replacing entire genes. This could be important, he said, for using CRISPR to treat disease. Kmiec noted that while some ailments, like sickle cell anemia and Huntington's disease, involve faulty DNA within a single gene, others, like Alzheimer's and heart disease, appear to involve malfunctions in multiple genes where the best option "is not really gene editing, but gene replacement." CRISPR stands for "clustered regularly interspaced short palindromic repeats." It is a defense mechanism found in bacteria that allows the bacteria to recognize and slice up the DNA of invading viruses. Scientists have learned how to manipulate this mechanism so that it essentially can be programmed to find and remove a specific sequence of DNA code--which acts like software for controlling genes--and replace it with a different sequence. This capability has generated unprecedented excitement about developing different CRISPR tools that could produce breakthrough treatments for a wide range of diseases by repairing a damaged gene, modifying it or deleting it entirely. In the study published today, Kmiec and his colleagues--lead author Brett Sansbury and co-author Amanda Wagner--describe developing a "cell-free" CRISPR tool that can modify genes contained in something called a DNA plasmid. A plasmid is a type of DNA molecule that can be removed from a cell and maintained and manipulated in a petri dish or test tube. The study notes that a key feature of the new CRISPR tool is that it uses a protein called Cpf1, more recently referred to as Cas12a, to essentially function like scissors for cutting out and inserting a targeted line of genetic code. Most of the CRISPR work underway today employs a different "set of scissors" in the form of an enzyme called Cas9. However, Sansbury said while the CRISPR-Cas9 gene editing system has proven to be effective at modifying genes that are inside a cell, it performed poorly when her team tried to use it in a "cell-free" environment to quickly engineer complex changes to DNA plasmids. "It could be that there is something within the very complex machinery of a cell that allows the Cas9 enzyme to more easily accomplish deletions and insertions," Sansbury said. "But it performed very poorly in our cell-free extracts." Sansbury noted that when Cas9 cuts DNA, the result can be "blunt ends," while Cpf1 produces "sticky ends." She said that the blunt-ended outcome could impede the ability to process the cut ends, which allows for the removal or "resection" of a section of genetic code and then seamlessly insert and attach new code. Bringing the CRISPR Revolution to Everyday Cancer Care The Gene Editing Institute is now working to use the new CRISPR-Cpf1 breakthrough to provide something akin to CRISPR on a computer chip to a commercial partner involved in cancer diagnostics that is intended to drive personalized cancer care. "The speed at which you see our discovery moving from the bench to the bedside is unprecedented but not unanticipated," said Nicholas Petrelli, M.D., FACS, Bank of America endowed medical director of the Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute at Christiana Care. "The Gene Editing Institute exists within a community hospital system where we are committed to a patient-first approach to biomedical research. This major advance in CRISPR-assisted gene editing was accomplished with the support from the BIRD Foundation, which wants to see a commercial partner on board from the beginning to ensure that any discoveries will quickly benefit patients." Sansbury and Kmiec said that while their work with their CRISPR-Cpf1tool has confirmed its usefulness for reliably editing DNA samples that are part of a diagnostic test, it is not yet fully developed as a therapeutic tool for directly treating disorders that would involve repairing or removing malfunctioning genes in humans, animals or plants. However, by allowing gene editing to be quickly and precisely accomplished in a test tube or petri dish, they believe their tool is ideal for revealing more about how CRISPR actually modifies the genome, a process that remains largely shrouded in mystery. "When you're working with CRISPR inside a cell, you're kind of working in a black box where you can't really observe the gears of the machinery that are doing these amazing things," Kmiec said. "You can see the results, the edits to the genes, but not necessarily how you got there, which is important for ensuring that CRISPR can be safely used to treat patients." "The Gene Editing Institute's cell-free CRISPR-Cpf1 system is yet another landmark CRISPR-related discovery to emerge from Christiana Care Health System," Janice E. Nevin, M.D., MPH, Christiana Care president and chief executive officer, said. In 2016, scientists at the Gene Editing Institute described in the journal, Scientific Reports, how they combined CRISPR with short strands of synthetic DNA to greatly enhance the precision and reliability of the CRISPR gene editing technique. Called excision and corrective therapy, or EXACT, this new tool acts as both a template and a bandage for repairing a malfunctioning gene. ### About the Gene Editing Institute The Gene Editing Institute is the only research institute of its kind in the nation based within a community health care system. Led by gene editing pioneer, Eric Kmiec, Ph.D., and based in Christiana Care Health System's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute, the Gene Editing Institute is a worldwide leader in gene editing biomedical research in cancer and other inherited diseases, and the only one working in the same space with oncologists, genetic counselors and patients, bringing translational research from basic science to patient treatment to a new level. You can find the Gene Editing Institute on Twitter and Facebook. About Christiana Care Health System's Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute The Helen F. Graham Cancer Center & Research Institute is one of the most advanced cancer centers in the country, part of one of a few hybrid academic-community health systems conducting translational cancer research, and the only center of its kind committed to high-level advancements in research through its Gene Editing Institute. The Graham Cancer Center is part of Christiana Care Health System, one of the country's largest health care providers and a regional center of excellence in cardiology, cancer and women's health services. You can find Christiana Care Health System on Twitter and Facebook. Pediatrician Hans Asperger, after whom the condition of Asperger Syndrome was named, actively cooperated with the Nazi regime, according to a study published in the open access journal Molecular Autism. Herwig Czech, a historian of medicine at the Medical University of Vienna and author of the study, analyzed Asperger's Nazi-era publications along with previously unexplored documents from Austrian archives, including the doctor's personnel files and case records from his patients. He concludes that the narrative of Asperger as an active opponent of the Nazi regime and its policies cannot be upheld in the light of the examined evidence; his role was much more problematic than that. The study points to instances where Asperger referred profoundly disabled children to the Am Spiegelgrund clinic, which participated in the Third Reich's child euthanasia program. The program served the Nazi goal of eugenically engineering a genetically 'pure' society through 'racial hygiene' and the elimination of lives deemed a 'burden' and 'not worthy of life'. In the Am Spiegelgrund clinic, hundreds of children, many of them with severe mental disabilities, were killed, mostly through lethal drugs. Their deaths were mostly recorded as due to pneumonia. Herwig Czech said: "These findings about Hans Asperger are the result of many years of careful research in the archives. What emerges is that Asperger successfully sought to accommodate himself to the Nazi regime and was rewarded with career opportunities in return. This is part of a broader effort by historians to expose what doctors were doing during the Third Reich." The article is accompanied by an editorial by the two Editors-in-Chief of the journal, Simon Baron-Cohen (Cambridge University) and Joseph Buxbaum (Mount Sinai Medical School), and two of the reviewers, Steve Silberman (author of the book Neurotribes, and winner of the Samuel Johnson Prize) and Ami Klin (Emory University). In the editorial, the editors and reviewers explain their reasons for publishing the article. Simon Baron-Cohen said: "We are aware that the article and its publication will be controversial. We believe that it deserves to be published in order to expose the truth about how a medical doctor who, for a long time, was seen as only having made valuable contributions to the field of pediatrics and child psychiatry, was guilty of actively assisting the Nazis in their abhorrent eugenics and euthanasia policies. This historical evidence must now be made available." Joseph Buxbaum said: "We are persuaded by Herwig Czech's article that Asperger was not just doing his best to survive in intolerable conditions, but was complicit with his Nazi superiors in targeting society's most vulnerable people". Ami Klin commented: "The degree of Asperger's involvement in the targeting of Vienna's most vulnerable children has remained a vexing question in autism research for a long time. Some will say that many of Asperger's colleagues were more vociferous supporters of Nazi racial ideology than he was. Some may also say he sacrificed some children to save others. We believe that the value of Czech's scholarship is that it establishes the necessary evidentiary framework for future discussion." Steve Silberman said: "Herwig Czech has performed a valuable service to history by diving deep into the archives and making his findings available to fellow scholars. The case of Hans Asperger provides a troubling example of the horror that can be unleashed when medical professionals allow themselves to become complicit with a brutal ideology." The editorial also discusses a new book by Edith Sheffer entitled "Asperger's Children: The origins of autism in Nazi Vienna" which covers similar evidence. ### Contact information: For more information, please contact the BMC press office on press@biomedcentral.com. Notes to editors: 1. Article: Hans Asperger, National Socialism, and "race hygiene" in Nazi-era Vienna. Czech, Molecular Autism (2018). DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0208-6 The article is available here: https://molecularautism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13229-018-0208-6 2. Editorial: Did Hans Asperger actively assist the Nazi euthanasia program? Baron-Cohen et al, Molecular Autism (2018). DOI: 10.1186/s13229-018-0209-5 The editorial is available here: https://molecularautism.biomedcentral.com/articles/10.1186/s13229-018-0209-5 3. Molecular Autism is a peer-reviewed, open access journal that publishes high-quality basic, translational and clinical research that has relevance to understanding the etiology, biology, and psychology of autism and related neurodevelopmental conditions, and to interventions that target symptoms that cause suffering. Research that includes integration across levels is encouraged. Molecular Autism publishes empirical studies, reviews, and brief communications. 4. A pioneer of open access publishing, BMC has an evolving portfolio of high quality peer-reviewed journals including broad interest titles such as BMC Biology and BMC Medicine, specialist journals such as Malaria Journal and Microbiome, and the BMC series. At BMC, research is always in progress. We are committed to continual innovation to better support the needs of our communities, ensuring the integrity of the research we publish, and championing the benefits of open research. BMC is part of Springer Nature, giving us greater opportunities to help authors connect and advance discoveries across the world. Advances in genome sequencing have resulted in vast amounts of genetic information being produced for ever-increasing numbers of species, but we are still just scratching the surface. The cutting-edge practices used to generate new types of data for exploring the plant family tree are highlighted in "Methods for Exploring the Plant Tree of Life," a special issue of Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS). "New sequencing technologies and other advances in fields such as natural language processing and image analysis have rapidly changed what we can learn about the tree of life," says Dr. Matt Gitzendanner, Scientist at the University of Florida and co-editor of the special issue. The featured articles showcase an array of these techniques, which provide novel solutions to some of the biggest challenges in the study of the evolution of species, known as phylogenetics. Newly developed phylogenetic approaches often allow these challenges to be tackled in unique ways. Co-editor Michael McKain, Assistant Professor at The University of Alabama and curator of the University of Alabama Herbarium, enthused about a paper by Tovar et al. outlining a method for collecting data from images of plants using the affordable Raspberry Pi computers, which he plans to try with his undergraduate students. In another article, Endara et al. describe an unusual approach for automatically extracting data from written descriptions of plants, allowing researchers to use information in the scientific literature without painstakingly trawling through decades of articles and books to find it. Although a variety of techniques are covered in the APPS special issue, in their review article, authors Fay-Wei Li and Alex Harkess ask whether whole-genome sequencing will eventually remove the need for other types of phylogenetic information. In their introduction to the issue, the co-editors argue that other approaches are still vital; the major bottleneck when using whole-genome sequencing is the availability of too much data, which can be difficult or impossible to analyze when working with large numbers of species or complicated genomes. McKain explains, "Sequencing complex and large genomes has very real methodological challenges, and there will absolutely be a place for building phylogenies out of other types of data." Gitzendanner adds, "For most fossils, DNA sequencing will never be possible, so we will continue to see developments beyond sequencing when incorporating fossil species into phylogenetic studies." The special issue was produced to benefit both researchers entering the field as well as long-standing experts, says Gitzendanner: "We hope that these articles will not only provide a good overview of these techniques, but also spark the reader's imagination about how these methods could be applied to solve new problems." These innovative technologies provide new insights into how communities of species interact, how genomes evolve, and how plants hybridize with other species, subjects featured in the forthcoming companion special issue on the use of plant phylogenies published in APPS's sister journal, the American Journal of Botany. These special issues are particularly timely because phylogenetics has itself evolved to adapt to the massive changes in genome sequencing technologies. In the future, McKain concludes, we can expect more data for lower costs, leading to new insights: "These cutting-edge techniques continue to push the boundaries of the questions we can ask and answer, many of which have never been considered before. This is a really exciting time to be a plant biologist!" ### The Applications in Plant Sciences special issue "Methods for Exploring the Plant Tree of Life" is available online at: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/toc/21680450/6/3 Gitzendanner, M. A., Y. Yang, N. J. Wickett, M. McKain, and J. M. Beaulieu. 2018. Methods for exploring the plant tree of life. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1039. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1039 Articles in the issue: Chau, J. H., W. A. Rahfeldt, and R. G. Olmstead. 2018. Comparison of taxon-specific versus general locus sets for targeted sequence capture in plant phylogenomics. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1032. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1032 Endara, L., H. Cui, and J. G. Burleigh. 2018. Extraction of phenotypic traits from taxonomic descriptions for the tree of life using natural language processing. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1035. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1035 Harbert, R. S. 2018. Algorithms and strategies in short-read shotgun metagenomic reconstruction of plant communities. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1034. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1034 Li, F.-W., and A. Harkess. 2018. A guide to sequence your favorite plant genomes. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1030. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1030 McKain, M. R., M. G. Johnson, S. Uribe-Convers, D. Eaton, and Y. Yang. 2018. Practical considerations for plant phylogenomics. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1038. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1038 Sedio, B. E., C. A. Boya P., and J. C. Rojas Echeverri. 2018. A protocol for high-throughput, untargeted forest community metabolomics using mass spectrometry molecular networks. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1033. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1033 Tovar, J. C., J. S. Hoyer, A. Lin, A. Tielking, S. T. Callen, S. E. Castillo, M. Miller, et al. 2018. Raspberry Pi-powered imaging for plant phenotyping. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1031. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1031 Vatanparast, M., A. Powell, J. J. Doyle, and A. N. Egan. 2018. Targeting legume loci: A comparison of three methods for target enrichment bait design in Leguminosae phylogenomics. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1036. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1036 Zenil-Ferguson, R., J. G. Burleigh, and J. M. Ponciano. 2018. chromploid: An R package for chromosome number evolution across the plant tree of life. Applications in Plant Sciences 6(3): e1037. https://doi.org/10.1002/aps3.1037 Applications in Plant Sciences (APPS) is a monthly, peer-reviewed, open access journal focusing on new tools, technologies, and protocols in all areas of the plant sciences. It is published by the >Botanical Society of America, a nonprofit membership society with a mission to promote botany, the field of basic science dealing with the study and inquiry into the form, function, development, diversity, reproduction, evolution, and uses of plants and their interactions within the biosphere. APPS is available as part of the Wiley Online Library. For further information, please contact the APPS staff at apps@botany.org. Gifts, peace banquets and reconciliation rituals: according to historians, peace agreements have historically been reached if, above all, specific trust could be established between opponents. "Confidence-building measures are not a patent remedy, but increase the probability of peace, according to studies covering different epochs," says medieval historian Prof. Dr Gerd Althoff of the Cluster of Excellence "Religion and Politics" of the University of Munster. Throughout time, people have longed for peace and developed strategies. "As great as the longing was, mankind has hardly made any lasting progress - such as peace over centuries. Across epochs, however, there are surprisingly similar principles and practices that have been more successful than others in curbing the potential for human aggression." The historian announces the Cluster of Excellence's international conference "PEACE. Theories, Images and Strategies from Antiquity to the Present Day", beginning on 22 May and including researchers from history, archaeology, art history, German philology and philosophy. It is part of the programme of the exhibition "Frieden. Von der Antike bis heute" (Peace. From Antiquity to the Present Day), taking place from 28 April at five locations in Munster. The idea and basic concept of the exhibition project are the result of the many years of research at the Cluster of Excellence on the topic of peace. Over the next few weeks, the Cluster of Excellence will present key topics of the conference on the Internet and in the media in multimedia formats. Prof. Althoff organises the conference together with art historian Prof. Dr Eva-Bettina Krems, philologist Prof. Dr Christel Meier-Staubach and historian Prof. Dr Hans-Ulrich Thamer, all from the Cluster of Excellence. "Of the two types of peace that can be distinguished in history, a negotiated peace or peace of reconciliation was far more durable than a dictated or victorious peace," says Althoff. "The latter humiliated the losers and glorified the winners. This type of peace was rarely of long duration, as was the case after the Franco-Prussian War of 1871 or after the First World War 100 years ago, for example." With regards to the first type of peace, on the other hand, one emphasised forgiveness, contented oneself with satisfaction and sought compromises. In the Middle Ages, confidence measures were strongly ritualised: as in the Peace of Venice of 1177, rituals of subjugation and reconciliation developed, gifts were exchanged, and mutual visits were made. Jokes at the peace banquet "The peace banquet was particularly important in order to create genuine trust: the former enemy was served the best foods and drinks in abundance, and the peaceful attitude was expressed in friendly conversation and exuberant joking," Prof. Althoff explains. It was a serious accusation against King Henry IV, for example, that he had not talked and eaten with Pope Gregory VII at the peace banquet in Canossa in 1077, but had instead scratched the tabletop with his fingernails. "In any case, the abrupt shift from conflict to friendly contact has always been a risk." Conversations and jokes at the peace banquets sometimes turned into arguments and violence, as they were seen as insults. Treachery was sometimes also involved: in 493, Theodoric the Great slew his opponent Odoakar during a peace banquet. "Despite such risks, direct communication between conflicting parties remains an important strategy for building trust," says the historian. Those who created a basis of trust through personal contact on a human level could deal with controversial issues in a more compromise-oriented manner. "Working for peace cannot be feigned, it needs to be done with passion and remains arduous." According to Althoff, famous examples of this can also be found in contemporary history. "In the early 1970s, German Chancellor Willy Brandt and Soviet head of state Leonid Brezhnev met privately at meetings in Bonn or Crimea, getting to know each other better, and so contributed to the thawing period of the Cold War." Confidence-building contacts were intensified in the Gorbachev era, which resulted in reunification and the end to the Cold War. "Fishing on the Volga, stuffed pig's stomach in Oggersheim and other confidence-building acts are still firmly anchored at least in German cultural memory," says the historian. At the same time, peace must also be cultivated in the long term, as has been the case in the close relationship between Germany and France since the Second World War. "However, recent conflicts between East and West show that confidence-building has been neglected after the end of the Cold War." Conference "PEACE. Theories, Images and Strategies from Antiquity to the Present Day" At the conference of the Cluster of Excellence, to which all interested parties are invited and which will be held from 22 to 25 May 2018 in Munster, internationally renowned researchers will address the question in 21 lectures of why people throughout the ages wanted peace, but never succeeded in securing it in the long term. On the basis of many historical examples of European history, they address strategies, behavioural patterns and processes with which people from antiquity to the present day have tried to establish and maintain peace. The researchers focus on how many of the images, rituals and strategies have remained valid over time. At the same time, they show changes typical of their time and their causes. The conference is part of the exhibition "Peace. From Antiquity to the Present Day", which will present the topics in a variety of exhibits at five locations in the city of the Peace of Westphalia from 28 April to 2 September 2018. Historian Prof. Dr Gerd Althoff will talk about the building of trust and the history of an elementary strategy of peace-building (Vertrauensbildung. Zur Geschichte einer elementaren Strategie der Friedensherstellung) in the opening lecture on 22 May at 7 pm. In the public evening lecture on 24 May at 8.15 pm, Prof. Dr Christoph Kampmann, historian of the early modern period from Marburg, will deal with peace norms and security policies, using the example of the Peace of Westphalia to illustrate basic problems of the establishment of peace in the early modern period (Friedensnorm und Sicherheitspolitik: Grundprobleme fruhneuzeitlicher Friedensstiftung am Beispiel des Westfalischen Friedens). All lectures will be held in the auditorium of LWL-Museum fur Kunst und Kultur at Domplatz 10 in Munster. ### US scientists have successfully generated hypothalamic-like neurons from human induced pluripotent stem cells (hiPSCs) taken from the blood and skin cells of super-obese individuals and people with a normal body weight. The researchers found that the brain cells derived from the super obese were more likely to dysregulate hormones related to feeding behavior and hunger, as well as obesity-related genes and metabolic pathways. The work appears April 19th in the journal Cell Stem Cell. "This is the first step in applying an iPSC-based platform to model complex polygenic diseases such as obesity," says senior author Dhruv Sareen, a stem cell biologist at Cedars-Sinai Medical Center. "We developed a great platform that could potentially be used to evaluate the effects of experimental therapeutics on patient-specific hypothalamic neurons from obese patients with different, genetic backgrounds, body mass index, and environmental exposures." In the majority of obese individuals, the genes they inherited each have small effects that contribute to obesity susceptibility. Many of these genes regulate hypothalamic functions such as food intake and energy metabolism. But human hypothalamic tissues are not readily accessible, underscoring the urgent need for relevant neuronal models for obesity research. To overcome this problem, Sareen and his collaborators developed an hiPSC-based approach for generating functional hypothalamic-like neurons that model forms of obesity with complex genetic origins. They generated hiPSCs from blood and skin cells taken from super-obese individuals, who had a body mass index of 50 or more and multiple genetic variants, as well as normal subjects with a body mass index of 25 or less. These hiPSCs were then converted into hypothalamic-like neurons that shared gene expression profiles similar to those of adult post-mortem hypothalamus cells. These neurons secreted neuropeptides that regulate feeding behavior in response to the hunger hormone ghrelin and the satiety hormone leptin, which are released by cells in the gut and fat tissue, respectively. Hypothalamic-like neurons generated from super-obese individuals showed an abnormally strong response to ghrelin, in contrast to those derived from normal subjects. Moreover, hypothalamic-like neurons generated from super-obese individuals retained signs of dysregulation in obesity-related genes and metabolic pathways, despite undergoing the reprogramming process. hiPSCs have mainly been used to study rare forms of diseases caused by mutations in a single gene. Although a couple of labs recently generated hiPSC-derived hypothalamic-like neurons, they did not demonstrate that these cells secrete neuropeptides in response to hormonal signals or can accurately model complex polygenic forms of severe human obesity. "Ultimately, we are paving the way for personalized or precision medicine, in which drugs could be customized for obese patients with different genetic backgrounds and metabolic disease status, depending on their tolerance and reaction to drug combinations," says Sareen. One potential limitation of the study is that feeding behavior is regulated by the hypothalamus in close concert with many other organs and cell types, such as the pituitary gland, pancreas, liver, gut and fat. In future studies, Sareen and his team will test whether hiPSC-derived hypothalamic-like neurons communicate with other relevant cell types and form functional circuitry both in a dish and in living organisms. Sareen says, "There are several intermediate steps before we can realize the potential of this iPSC technology to become a reliable platform to screen potential therapeutics for obesity and other metabolic diseases." ### This work was supported by Cedars-Sinai institutional programmatic funds in part by the NIH National Center for Advancing Translational Science UCLA CTSI grant. Cell Stem Cell, Rajamani et al.: "Super-Obese Patient-Derived iPSC Hypothalamic Neurons Exhibit Obesogenic Signatures and Hormone Responses" http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell/fulltext/S1934-5909(18)30115-2 Cell Stem Cell (@CellStemCell), published by Cell Press, is a monthly journal that publishes research reports describing novel results of unusual significance in all areas of stem cell research. Each issue also contains a wide variety of review and analysis articles covering topics relevant to stem cell research ranging from basic biological advances to ethical, policy, and funding issues. Visit: http://www.cell.com/cell-stem-cell. To receive Cell Press media alerts, contact press@cell.com. HANOVER, N.H. - APRIL 19, 2018 - Researchers from Dartmouth College will unveil developmental smartwatch technology at the ACM CHI Conference on Human Factors in Computing Systems (CHI2018). The watch innovations will be demonstrated during the event in Montreal, Canada running from April 21 through April 26. The research is the latest on a long list of technical designs from Dartmouth's XDiscovery Lab that seek to increase the functionality of wearables while also adding to the overall user experience. "Smartwatches help people access info 'on the fly,' but they are far from perfect," said Xing-Dong Yang, assistant professor of computer science at Dartmouth. "Our aim is to eliminate the technical and practical barriers that keep people from using wearable devices. We look forward to presenting the future of this technology at CHI2018." WrisText: One-handed wrist gestures for easy text entry WrisText allows a user to compose text messages on a smartwatch without physically typing on the touchscreen interface. This enables easy text entry with the watch-wearing hand in instances when the other hand is occupied. By simply moving the wrist in different directions, a user can answer a question with a quick "yes or "no" or even type out a more complex sentence. "Watches are becoming more commonly used for text entry, but the process can still be awkward. WrisText provides an alternative for text entry that is quick, convenient and effective," said Yang. The watch features a round face with an alphabetical keyboard that was found to be the most comfortable and accurate layout for wrist movement. An augmented wristband uses proximity and vibration sensors to transfer natural wrist motions into text entry. While entering text was difficult for users to learn at first, participants in a study became proficient with the system after only a few days. The WrisText research paper earned honorable mention from CHI2018 and builds on an earlier innovation from the XD Lab that allows users to input non-textual gestures with the watch-wearing hand. WrisText video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=hrC56YUxjAw WrisText paper: http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~hci/project.html?title=WrisText Jetto: Lateral feedback becomes a force for smartwatch interactions Dartmouth's Jetto provides more immersive interaction for gamers, movie watchers and other smartwatch users by allowing wearers to feel when virtual objects collide within the smartwatch. While in an early stage of development, this technical achievement provides lateral force feedback that allows wearers to experience forces that impact the sides of a watch. "Jetto mixes the physical and virtual worlds in a smartwatch, said Yang. This mixed-reality experience leverages the unique quality of wearables to connect what users see to what they can feel." Jetto is built on 3D-printed gears within a pneumatic system that is embedded in a custom watch case. The system's rotating air nozzle can control the location, direction, duration and magnitude of a virtual force experienced in a watch function to make the user feel something hitting the watch edge. To demonstrate the technology during a research study, the Dartmouth team ran a variety of video games and video clips on Jetto to test the watch's performance when objects pushed or collided into the edge of the watch screen. Jetto video: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=-YqTUBQTCyo Jetto paper: http://www.cs.dartmouth.edu/~hci/project.html?title=Jetto ### Insect moves droplet of saliva in and out of mouth to promote evaporation and lower body temperature, according to study by researchers in Brazil On warm days the Oriental latrine blowfly (Chrysomya megacephala) keeps cool by moving a droplet of saliva repeatedly in and out of its buccal apparatus, or mouth, and then swallowing it. Researchers at the University of Sao Paulo's Sao Carlos Physics Institute (IFSC-USP) in Brazil, in collaboration with colleagues at Sao Paulo State University's Bioscience Institute in Rio Claro (IBRC-UNESP), have found that the saliva droplet cools through evaporation during this "tidal" movement. Ingestion of the droplet then cools important parts of the insect's body such as its flight muscles and brain. The discovery was made during Guilherme Gomes's postdoctoral research at IFSC-USP, with a scholarship from the Sao Paulo Research Foundation - FAPESP, and as part of a project conducted by researchers at IBRC-UNESP, also with FAPESP's support and has just been described in a paper published in Scientific Reports. "We observed that this behavior, known as 'bubbling', enables blowflies to lower their body temperature considerably," Gomes said. The researchers used a thermographic camera to record the activities of adult blowflies during a period of several days. The insects were kept in a thermally insulated climate chamber equipped to detect temperature-related infrared radiation. "The thermographic camera enabled us to monitor surface temperature changes occurring in a matter of seconds," said Denis Otavio Vieira de Andrade, a professor at IBRC-UNESP and one of the authors of the study. The recordings showed that these blowflies engineered evaporative cooling by tidally moving a droplet of fluid out of their buccopharyngeal cavity and back inside it again, in sequential cycles of between one and 15 times in a few seconds. Analysis of the infrared images revealed that repetition of the cycle cooled the droplet as much as 8 C below ambient temperature within 15 seconds. The droplet was then swallowed, lowering the temperature of the head, thorax and abdomen by 1?C, 0.5?C, and 0.2?C respectively. As the cycle was repeated, the temperature of the same body parts decreased 3?C, 1.6?C, and 0.8?C respectively. "When the fly moves this cooled droplet into its buccal apparatus, it lowers the temperature first of its head, then of its thorax, and finally of its abdomen," Gomes said. Frequency variation The researchers also observed variations in the frequency of bubbling behavior to bring about evaporative cooling in accordance with ambient temperature and humidity, and with the insects' activity and heat production. At temperatures below 25 C, when they are highly active and need to warm up their flight muscles in order to be able to fly efficiently, bubbling would cause an unwanted drop in temperature and in fact this behavior was not observed. Bubbling began in the range of 25-30?C to deploy heat dissipation via evaporative cooling and hence regulate body temperature. However, when relative humidity exceeded 70% the droplet cooling mechanism was not observed as it would not work without evaporation transition. The blowflies also used bubbling to keep cool at night, especially when it was very warm. "They lowered body temperature between 2 C and 3 C for eight hours during the night by repeating this behavior every 30 or 60 minutes," Gomes said. The heightened frequency of bubbling at night probably benefits the insects because lower body temperature reduces metabolic expenditure and saves energy during a period of inactivity. Some humming-birds use a similar strategy, falling into a sleep-like state known as torpor to conserve energy at night when they cannot forage. This involves a drastically lowered metabolic rate and body temperature. "If the flies' body temperature remained high at night they would have a high metabolic rate and use up most of their energy reserves," Gomes said. "By cooling mainly the head, they can reduce the cost of processing vision and high-energy tissue in the brain." Efficient flight The droplet exuded by the blowfly to lower its body temperature comprises a complex mixture of enzymes from salivary glands, antimicrobials associated with the digestive system, and substances from ingested meals. A foraging blowfly dilutes food with salivary secretions and then sucks up the mixture formed by the food substrate, its own saliva, and enzymes from its salivary glands. In landing elsewhere and repeating this behavior, it disperses droplets of the mixture and may transmit disease. "The evolution of these blowflies developed the bubbling mechanism to associate two key functions: cutting energy expenditure during flight by reducing inert matter weight, and thermoregulation, which keeps body temperature in the ideal range. This mechanism partly uses the same physical principles as sweating in humans and panting in dogs," Gomes said. Using the data obtained from the experiments, the researchers built a mathematical model to understand and describe the saliva droplet evaporation process and calculate the optimal droplet diameter to obtain rapid evaporation. "We applied basic energy conservation principles to this case in order to model the dynamics of heat transfer during the insect's behavior," said physicist Roland Koberle, a professor at IFSC-USP and a co-author of the study. ### Watch a thermographic video shot during the blowfly's bubbling behavior at: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=ABzVja9PeG8 (Credit: Guilherme Gomes / IFSC-USP) About Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) The Sao Paulo Research Foundation (FAPESP) is a public institution with the mission of supporting scientific research in all fields of knowledge by awarding scholarships, fellowships and grants to investigators linked with higher education and research institutions in the State of Sao Paulo, Brazil. FAPESP is aware that the very best research can only be done by working with the best researchers internationally. Therefore, it has established partnerships with funding agencies, higher education, private companies, and research organizations in other countries known for the quality of their research and has been encouraging scientists funded by its grants to further develop their international collaboration. For more information: http://www.fapesp.br/en. TALLAHASSEE, Fla. -- An alarming spike in suicides among U.S. military service members and veterans over the past 15 years is prompting the Department of Defense to turn to Florida State University's renowned suicide research program to find solutions. A new federal grant will support innovative research led by Jessica Ribeiro and Joseph Franklin, both assistant professors in FSU's Department of Psychology, with $1.5 million over the next three years. The researchers are building a machine-learning tool designed to help primary care doctors better detect suicide risk and respond more effectively. "It's desperately needed," said Ribeiro, one of FSU's newest faculty members leading suicide prevention research. "As a suicide researcher, you feel urgency to answer big questions because the field is stagnant, and people are dying at increasing rates. Now, this is a promising direction." Ribeiro's research project is a novel path bolstered by early success. The team has already developed powerful machine learning algorithms for electronic health records that can predict with 80-90 percent accuracy whether someone will attempt suicide as much as two years into the future. In contrast, Ribeiro describes current risk detection methods as ineffective -- they're about as accurate as a coin flip, according to research -- and that's resulting in too many missed opportunities, especially in the military. Records show about half of active duty service members who killed themselves had met with a primary care doctor in the previous month. The figure climbs to 95 percent when the timeframe extends to a full year. "It's disheartening to see examples where people were at a point in their care when something potentially could have been done, but they were missed," Ribeiro said. She is determined to shake up the field of suicide risk detection with a fresh approach that improves accuracy and covers more people. The new tool will be integrated into the Navy's electronic health records. The "clinical decision support tool" will run in the background of those computerized records and automatically generate risk scores or alerts about individual patients. In critical cases, the tool would issue specific steps telling doctors how to intervene most effectively. "A big aspect of this project is to make the tool user-friendly so primary care physicians actually use it," Ribeiro said. "Doctors won't have to enter any raw data, and we'll study their workflow to maximize its ease of use. The tool would provide easily digestible information, such as yellow or red alerts, with the idea that doctors could spot someone with an elevated risk and then set up a risk assessment." The machine learning tool is fast, more accurate and not as time-consuming as conventional risk detection methods, which typically require extensive, in-person assessments. Ribeiro said studies have found private sector primary care doctors spend an average of about 15 minutes with each patient, and that's simply not enough time to conduct a full suicide risk assessment. In addition, the sheer power of machine learning enables doctors to track enormous amounts of medical records, containing millions of data points, and organize those health facts into meaningful information. Ribeiro's study will test the tool at the U.S. Navy Medical Center in Portsmouth, Virginia. But it holds potential for much wider use because all branches of the military maintain large repositories of electronic health data. Ribeiro hopes her efforts to answer some big questions about this persistent problem in the military will help save lives. "It's definitely a priority across all military branches to make sure resources are available to prevent suicidal behaviors or intervene when necessary," Ribeiro said. "Suicide rates in the military historically were low compared to civilian populations, but that changed about 15 years ago. The shift has been perplexing, and a lot of people in the military consider the problem an urgent priority." ### Ribeiro and Franklin are collaborating on the military research project with Dr. Colin Walsh, assistant professor of medicine, biomedical informatics, and psychiatry, at Vanderbilt University Medical Center. BOULDER, CO, USA: As Curiosity rover marches across Mars, the red planet's watery past comes into clearer focus. In early 2017 scientists announced the discovery of possible desiccation cracks in Gale Crater, which was filled by lakes 3.5 billion years ago. Now, a new study has confirmed that these features are indeed desiccation cracks, and reveals fresh details about Mars' ancient climate. "We are now confident that these are mudcracks," explains lead author Nathaniel Stein, a geologist at the California Institute of Technology in Pasadena. Since desiccation mudcracks form only where wet sediment is exposed to air, their position closer to the center of the ancient lake bed rather than the edge also suggests that lake levels rose and fell dramatically over time. "The mudcracks show that the lakes in Gale Crater had gone through the same type of cycles that we see on Earth," says Stein. The study was published in Geology online ahead of print on 16 April 2018. The researchers focused on a coffee table-sized slab of rock nicknamed "Old Soaker." Old Soaker is crisscrossed with polygons identical in appearance to desiccation features on Earth. The team took a close physical and chemical look at those polygons using Curiosity's Mastcam, Mars Hand Lens Imager, ChemCam Laser Induced Breakdown Spectrometer (LIBS), and Alpha-Particle X-Ray Spectrometer (APXS). That close look proved that the polygons -- confined to a single layer of rock and with sediment filling the cracks between them -- formed from exposure to air, rather than other mechanisms such as thermal or hydraulic fracturing. And although scientists have known almost since the moment Curiosity landed in 2012 that Gale Crater once contained lakes, explains Stein, "the mudcracks are exciting because they add context to our understanding of this ancient lacustrine system." "We are capturing a moment in time," he adds. "This research is just a chapter in a story that Curiosity has been building since the beginning of its mission." ### FEATURED ARTICLE Desiccation cracks provide evidence of drying on Mars, Sutton Island member, Murray Formation, Gale Crater Contact: Lead author: Nathaniel Stein, nstein@caltech.edu. Geology, https://pubs.geoscienceworld.org/gsa/geology/article/530329/desiccation-cracks-provide-evidence-of-lake-drying. GEOLOGY articles are online http://geology.geoscienceworld.org/content/early/recent. Representatives of the media may obtain complimentary articles by contacting Kea Giles at the e-mail address above. Please discuss articles of interest with the authors before publishing stories on their work, and please make reference to GEOLOGY in articles published. Non-media requests for articles may be directed to GSA Sales and Service, gsaservice@geosociety.org. http://www.geosociety.org All electronic devices in our daily lives - computers, smartphones etc. - consist of billions of transistors, the key building block invented in Bell Labs in the late 1940s. The transistor started out being as big as 1cm, but thanks to advancement of technology, it has reached an amazing size of 14 nanometers, that is, 1000 times smaller than the diameter of a hair. At the same time, there has also been a race to further shrink devices that control and guide light. Light can function as an ultra-fast communication channel, for example between different sections of a computer chip, but it can also be used for ultra-sensitive sensors or novel on-chip nanoscale lasers. New techniques have been on the rise searching for ways to confine light into extremely tiny spaces, millions of times smaller than current ones. Researchers had earlier on found that metals can compress light below the wavelength-scale (diffraction limit), but more confinement would always come at the cost of more energy losses. This paradigm has now been shifted, by using graphene instead! In a recent study published in Science, ICFO researchers have been able to reach the ultimate level of confinement of light. That is, they have been able to confine light down to a space one atom thick in dimension, the smallest confinement ever possible. The work was led by ICREA Prof at ICFO Frank Koppens and carried out by David Alcaraz, Sebastien Nanot, Itai Epstein, Dmitri Efetov, Mark Lundeberg, Romain Parret, and Johann Osmond from ICFO, and performed in collaboration with University of Minho (Portugal) and MIT (USA). The team of researchers used stacks (heterostructures) of 2D materials, and built up a completely new nano-optical device, as if it were atom-scale Lego. They took a graphene monolayer (semi-metal), and stacked onto it a hexagonal boron nitride (hBN) monolayer (insulator), and on top of this deposited an array of metallic rods. They used graphene because this material is capable of guiding light in the form of "plasmons", which are oscillations of the electrons, interacting strongly with light. They sent infrared light through their devices and observed how the plasmons propagated in between the metal and the graphene. To reach the smallest space conceivable, they decided to reduce as much as possible the gap between the metal and the graphene to see if the confinement of light remained efficient, e.g. without additional energy losses. Strikingly enough, they saw that even when a monolayer of hBN was used as a spacer, the plasmons were still excited by the light, and could propagate freely while being confined to a channel of just on atom thick. They managed to switch this plasmon propagation on and off, simply by applying an electrical voltage, demonstrating the control of light guided in channels smaller than one nanometer of height. The results of this discovery enable a completely new world of opto-electronic devices that are just one nanometer thick, such as ultra-small optical switches, detectors and sensors. Due to the paradigm shift in optical field confinement, extreme light-matter interactions can now be explored that were not accessible before. What is really exciting is that the atom-scale lego-toolbox of 2d materials has now also proven to be applicable for many types of completely new materials devices where both light and electrons can be controlled even down to the scale of a nanometer. ### This research has been partially supported by the European Research Council, the European Graphene Flagship, the Government of Catalonia, Fundacio Cellex and the Severo Ochoa Excellence program of the Government of Spain. REFERENCE Probing the Ultimate Plasmon Confinement Limits with a van der Waals heterostructure David Alcaraz Iranzo, Sebastien Nanot, Eduardo J. C. Dias, Itai Epstein, Cheng Peng, Dmitri K. Efetov, Mark B. Lundeberg, Romain Parret, Johann Osmond, Jin-Yong Hong, Jing Kong, Dirk R. Englund, Nuno M. R. Peres, Frank H.L. Koppens Science, DOI 10.1126/science.aar8438 (2018) LINKS Link to the research group led by ICREA Prof. at ICFO Frank Koppens: https://www.icfo.es/research/groups-details?group_id=31 Link to the Graphene @ ICFO: http://graphene.icfo.eu/ ABOUT ICFO ICFO - The Institute of Photonic Sciences, member of The Barcelona Institute of Science and Technology, is a research center located in a specially designed, 14.000 m2-building situated in the Mediterranean Technology Park in the metropolitan area of Barcelona. It currently hosts 400 people, including research group leaders, post-doctoral researchers, PhD students, research engineers, and staff. ICFOnians are organized in 26 research groups working in 60 state-of-the-art research laboratories, equipped with the latest experimental facilities and supported by a range of cutting-edge facilities for nanofabrication, characterization, imaging and engineering. The Severo Ochoa distinction awarded by the Ministry of Science and Innovation, as well as 15 ICREA Professorships, 30 European Research Council grants and 6 Fundacio Cellex Barcelona Nest Fellowships, demonstrate the centre's dedication to research excellence, as does the institute's consistent appearance in top worldwide positions in international rankings. From an industrial standpoint, ICFO participates actively in the European Technological Platform Photonics21 and is also very proactive in fostering entrepreneurial activities and spin-off creation. The center participates in incubator activities and seeks to attract venture capital investment. ICFO hosts an active Corporate Liaison Program that aims at creating collaborations and links between industry and ICFO researchers. To date, ICFO has created 6 successful start-up companies. The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) and the International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) have awarded the Herbert A. Fleisch ESCEO-IOF Medal to Dr Charlotte Beaudart, Adjunct Professor and researcher at the Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics at the University of Liege, Belgium. The Herbert A. Fleisch ESCEO-IOF Medal recognizes a researcher who has made outstanding and ground-breaking achievements in basic bone science. It is named after the late Professor Herbert Fleisch, a renowned researcher whose pioneering work contributed to the development of the field of scientific knowledge about metabolic bone diseases and their treatment. The Award was presented by IOF President John Kanis at the opening of the World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases, which is taking place in Krakow, Poland from April 19-22, 2018. ESCEO President Professor Jean-Yves Reginster stated: "It is a pleasure to extend this prestigious award to a young scientist with a proven track record for research and publication excellence. As an expert in advanced meta-analysis and through her outstanding contributions to ESCEO and EUGMS working groups on sarcopenia, Dr Beaudart has published influential papers which have significantly advanced our knowledge of epidemiology and health-related quality of life assessment in sarcopenia." Dr Beaudart earned her PhD in public health sciences, epidemiology and health economics at the University of Liege, Belgium. She is Adjunct Professor, FNRS Fellow Assistant, and post-doctoral researcher at the Department of Public Health, Epidemiology and Health Economics at the University of Liege and is affiliated with the WHO Collaborating Centre for Public Health Aspects of Musculoskeletal Health and Ageing. She has also participated in a 6-month research study at the MRC Lifecourse Epidemiology Unit, University of Southampton, UK (2015-16). Dr Beaudart is a member of the Working Group 'Sarcopenia Guideline Development', the EUGMS Sarcopenia Special Interest Working Group, and the ESCEO Working Group on the Assessment of Quality of Life in Frailty and Sarcopenia, among other research interests and responsibilities. She is the recipient of several awards and grants, including distinctions awarded by the Belgian Bone Club as well as the 2014 IOF-Servier Young Investigator Research Grant. Dr Beaudart has published numerous papers as first author, is a reviewer for more than 25 scientific journals in the field, and is on the editorial board of Osteoporosis International, ACER Journal and BMC Musculoskeletal Disorders. ### World Congress on Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis & Musculoskeletal Diseases (WCO-IOF-ESCEO Krakow 2018) Held jointly by IOF and ESCEO, the Congress takes place in Krakow, Poland, from April 19-22, 2018. WCO-IOF-ESCEO is the world's largest annual forum for the presentation of clinical research and new advances in the prevention and management of musculoskeletal disorders, including sarcopenia and frailty. For complete information visit http://www.wco-iof-esceo.org #OsteoCongress About IOF The International Osteoporosis Foundation (IOF) is the world's largest nongovernmental organization dedicated to the prevention, diagnosis and treatment of osteoporosis and related musculoskeletal diseases. IOF members, including committees of scientific researchers as well as 240 patient, medical and research societies in 99 locations, work together to make fracture prevention and healthy mobility a worldwide heath care priority. http://www.iofbonehealth.org http://www.facebook.com/ @iofbonehealth About ESCEO The European Society for Clinical and Economic Aspects of Osteoporosis, Osteoarthritis and Musculoskeletal Diseases (ESCEO) is a non-profit organization, dedicated to a close interaction between clinical scientists dealing with rheumatic disorders, pharmaceutical industry developing new compounds in this field, regulators responsible for the registration of such drugs and health policy makers, to integrate the management of osteoporosis and osteoarthritis within the comprehensive perspective of health resources utilization. The objective of ESCEO is to provide practitioners with the latest clinical and economic information, allowing them to organize their daily practice, in an evidence-based medicine perspective, with a cost-conscious perception. http://www.esceo.org Bottom Line: People who attended an outdoor music festival who did not use earplugs, used alcohol and/or drugs and were male were more likely to experience temporary hearing loss. Why The Research Is Interesting: During the past two decades, the frequency of hearing loss among young people has increased and going to music concerts, clubs and festivals may part of the reason. Noise-induced hearing loss because of recreational noise exposure may be reduced by using earplugs. Who and When: 51 adults who attended an outdoor music festival in Amsterdam, the Netherlands, in September 2015 What (Study Measures): Music festival visit for 4.5 hours (intervention); temporary hearing loss (outcome) How (Study Design): A secondary analysis of data from a randomized clinical trial Authors: Veronique J. C. Kraaijenga, M.D., University Medical Center Utrecht, the Netherlands, and coauthors Study Limitations: The inability to detect hidden hearing loss in study participants. ### For more details and to read the full study, please visit the For The Media website. (doi:10.1001/jamaoto.2018.0272) Editor's Note: Please see the article for additional information, including other authors, author contributions and affiliations, financial disclosures, funding and support, etc. Want to embed a link to this study in your story? Link will be live at the embargo time http://jamanetwork.com/journals/jamaotolaryngology/fullarticle/10.1001/jamaoto.2018.0272 Using a patient's skin cells to restore his vision? Thanks to a promising technique known as cell reprogramming, this science fiction scenario may soon become reality. The technique allows scientists to make stem cells from, for instance, a patient's skin cells. These stem cells - known as induced pluripotent stem cells or iPS cells - can be turned into almost any specialised cell type of the human body, including the cells we need to see. Working with iPS cells has numerous advantages compared with other methods. For one thing, you use adult cells to make iPS cells, so you no longer need embryos. Furthermore, the reprogrammed cells have the patient's DNA, so the body will be less likely to reject them. "Cell reprogramming is revolutionising medicine, yet surprisingly little is known about how it actually works," says stem cell expert Vincent Pasque, assistant professor at KU Leuven, Belgium. Together with Kathrin Plath from UCLA, Vincent Pasque from KU Leuven led an international study into how adult cells reprogram to iPS cells. To investigate the different stages of the reprogramming process, the researchers separated male and female cells to examine them side by side. The researchers discovered that female and male cells behave differently after the reprogramming process and that this is due to their different number of X chromosomes - two in female cells and one in male cells. Vincent Pasque explains: "In a normal situation, one of the two X chromosomes in female cells is inactive. But when these cells are reprogrammed into iPS cells, the inactive X becomes active. So the female iPS cells now have two active X chromosomes, while males have only one. We now know that this explains the different behaviour of male and female cells after reprogramming because, over time, female cells lose one of the two X chromosomes and start behaving more or less like male iPS cells." The differences between male and female iPS cells are most pronounced for one of the key processes in the field of epigenetics: DNA methylation, a modification that changes the activity of a DNA segment without changing its sequence. The researchers found that DNA methylations are erased in female iPS cells but not in male cells. "Our study also indicates that the path towards iPS cells involves the use of specific control switches on DNA called enhancers," adds Dr Constantinos Chronis from UCLA. Vincent Pasque concludes: "Our results show that studying male and female cells separately is key to a better understanding of how iPS cells are made. And we really need to understand the process if we want to create better disease models and to help the millions of patients waiting for more effective treatments." ### More information The study was supported by the California Institute for Regenerative Medicine, the Research Foundation - Flanders (FWO) Odysseus Programme, KU Leuven, the Eli and Edythe Broad Center of Regenerative Medicine and Stem Cell Research at UCLA, the Stem Cell Institute at KU Leuven, and the New York Stem Cell Foundation. About KU Leuven KU Leuven is Europe's most innovative university in the latest Reuters ranking. Located in Belgium, it is dedicated to research, education, and service to society. KU Leuven is a founding member of the League of European Research Universities (LERU) and has a strong European and international orientation. Its scientists conduct basic and applied research in a comprehensive range of disciplines. The university welcomes more than 50,000 students from over 140 countries. The KU Leuven Doctoral Schools train approximately 4,500 PhD students. http://www.kuleuven.be/english This press release is issued on behalf of The CRISPR Journal, a peer-reviewed journal from Mary Ann Liebert Inc. delivering outstanding research and commentary on all aspects of CRISPR and gene editing research. The Journal is dedicated to validating and publishing research in CRISPR biology, technology and genome editing, and providing a forum for commentary and debate of key policy, regulatory, and ethical issues affecting the field. The Journal is published bimonthly online and in print and is led by Editor-in-Chief Rodolphe Barrangou, PhD (North Carolina State University); Executive Editor is Dr. Kevin Davies. See http://www.crisprjournal.com for more information. This press release is copyright Mary Ann Liebert, Inc. Its use is granted only for journalists and news media receiving it directly from The CRISPR Journal. For full-text copies of articles or to arrange interviews with Dr. Barrangou, Dr. Davies, authors, or members of the editorial board, contact Kathryn Ryan at the Publisher. 1. CELL-FREE CRISPR SYSTEM In a new study in The CRISPR Journal, Eric Kmiec and colleagues report the development of a novel cell-free system to study the mechanism and regulation of CRISPR gene editing. The authors describe a mammalian cell-free extract, including a Cpf1 ribonucleoprotein complex with a guide RNA and enzyme components, that recapitulates site-specific DNA cleavage, DNA deletions and insertions, and homology-directed DNA repair. "The development of this system provides an opportunity to study the molecular interactions and the regulatory circuitry controlling CRISPR-directed gene editing in a more defined manner," the authors report. 2. TUSCAN: COMPUTING CRISPR SITE PREDICTION Researchers have made considerable progress in the computational prediction of the activity of individual CRISPR target sites. However, these methods typically do not represent a generalized model of CRISPR-Cas9 activity, as there can be discrepancy between computational predictions and lab outcomes. Writing in The CRISPR Journal, Australian researchers Denis Bauer, Laurence Wilson, and colleagues describe the construction of a universal CRISPR activity model called TUSCAN, which outperforms previously published methods by up to 10%. The authors also suggest that TUSCAN is more scalable, completing tasks thousands of times faster than other methods. TUSCAN is an important new tool for genome-wide CRISPR-Cas9 screening. 3. DEBATING THE ETHICS OF GERMLINE EDITING There is intense scrutiny regarding potential uses of CRISPR gene editing in human embryos, which would render a permanent man-made change to the human germline. Over the past few years, dozens of organizations and societies have debated and published reports on this controversial topic. In a timely Perspective in The CRISPR Journal, Carolyn Brokowski examines no fewer than 60 ethics reports produced by groups around the world over the past three years. Not surprisingly, views on the desirability of germline editing for therapeutic and/or enhancement purposes vary considerably. Despite this vast trove of scholarship and earnest debate, Brokowski is not alone in wondering: what happens next? 4. FABULOUS PHAGES: ALL IN THE CAS FAMILY Most of the attention in CRISPR circles has focused on the applications of the Cas9 nuclease. However, in a major review article, Sanne Klompe and Sam Sternberg, co-author of the book A Crack in Creation with Jennifer Doudna, eloquently describe the expanding family of CRISPR nucleases, beyond Cas9, and the diversity of their genome editing applications, particularly "the use of these RNA-guided machines for biotechnology applications." 5. CRISPR IN AND OUT OF THE CLASSROOM One of the reasons underlying the intense growth and interest in CRISPR technology is its relative ease of use. As Carolina Dahlberg and colleagues discuss in The CRISPR Journal, student interest in CRISPR-Cas applications offers an exciting and timely opportunity to encourage and motivate student engagement in high school and university biology course settings. This Perspective highlights some ongoing efforts to bring CRISPR-Cas technology "out of the classroom and into the teaching laboratory." 6. ARRIGE ARRIVES Last month, a group of 160 European scientists and ethicists from 35 countries gathered in Paris to discuss the responsible use of genome editing. The result is the formation of a new group called ARRIGE (Association for Responsible Research and Innovation in Genome Editing). In a short report in The CRISPR Journal, the co-founders of ARRIGE present the background and rational for the group's formation and activities. 7. "CODE OF THE WILD": My CRISPR Story In the second installment of "My CRISPR Story," University of Arizona filmmaker Cody Sheehy discusses the genesis of his crowd-sourced documentary film project, "Code of the Wild: the nature of us, edited" developed with Arizona State physician-scientist Samira Kiani. Sheehy, who calls his project a "social innovation impact campaign, says Code of the Wild "aims to become a central forum for conversation among researchers and other stakeholders in the CRISPR field. We want to create better awareness among scientists and public, so that they can shape a better future together." ### From one stem cell to many differentiated body cells: Scientists from the MDC in Berlin, along with collaborating researchers in Munich, have published a comprehensive lineage tree of a whole adult animal in the journal Science. This was made possible by a combination of RNA and computational technologies. How do uniform stem cells become complex body cells that serve a wide variety of functions? The differentiation of stem cells into the multiplicity of cell types in the human body is an enigma of modern medical science. An interdisciplinary group of scientists from the Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine (MDC) in Berlin and the Helmholtz Center in Munich has made important progress with a comprehensive study published in the journal Science. By combining sophisticated single-cell RNA technology with nucleic acid sequencing and computational methods, the scientists were able to establish a detailed cell atlas of an entire complex adult animal, the Schmidtea mediterranea flatworm, and reconstruct the lineage tree of all identified cells. Their work also provides new insights into cellular regeneration processes. "It opens the door to powerful new approaches to study the cell composition of organs, tissues, and developmental stages and to understand the molecular mechanisms of regeneration," says Professor Nikolaus Rajewsky, head of Berlin Institute for Medical Systems Biology (BIMSB), at the MDC, and senior author of the study. Researchers reconstructed a comprehensive lineage tree, including 23 cellular differentiation pathways Planarians such as Schmidtea mediterranea are popular study objects because they are immortal and can completely regrow if cut into pieces. They possess a large number of adult pluripotent stem cells that constantly renew all tissues and cell types. "For understanding how cells differentiate, we need to compare gene expression profiles from cells at various differentiation stages, like the ones we find in planarians," says Dr. Mireya Plass from the MDC. "We dissociated whole animals and characterized thousands of individual cells by sequencing their messenger RNA transcripts." The scientists identified 37 different cell types, 23 of them terminally differentiated, as well as numerous stem cells and so-called progenitor cells at several levels of differentiation. "We then applied a new computational algorithm, PAGA, developed by Dr. Alexander Wolf, and Professor Fabian Theis in Munich, to predict a lineage tree that includes all identified cell types rooted to a single stem cell group," says Dr. Christine Kocks from the MDC. This prediction was then combined with additional computational and experimental methods to build a robust tree supported by several independent lines of evidence: sequencing of purified stem cells and cells from stem cell-depleted animals; gene expression changes; unsupervised lineage tree prediction from PAGA; and the results from a recently published method, velocyto, that predicts future cell states from mRNA metabolism estimated from precursor and mature transcripts. In addition, the researchers were able to identify gene programs involved in cell differentiation processes along this tree. The scientists also discovered several new cell types located in the parenchyma of the animals that had been previously overlooked in molecular studies and that play an important role in the regeneration of flatworms. The proportion of these cells is significantly diminished in regenerating animals, suggesting that these cells "fuel" the body remodeling process in planarians. Additional online and interactive resources are available to the scientific community Scientists worldwide have immediate access to the new data on flatworm biology as well as the methods used by the team of researchers. "Our work makes it possible to study stems cells and their lineages in multiple animals. It is not only an important resource for the planarian community, but also provides a cookbook for other scientists that want to perform similar studies in other organisms", says Dr. Jordi Solana, formerly MDC, now Oxford Brookes University. Via an interactive app scientists can interrogate the data and look at the changes in gene expression of specific genes during cell differentiation and regeneration. The detailed online tutorial for lineage reconstruction using PAGA and velocyto will provide a guide for future studies. "Single-cell approaches will become an indispensable method for studying developmental and regeneration biology," concludes Nikolaus Rajewsky. ### Reference Mireya Plass et al. (2018): "Cell type atlas and lineage tree of a whole complex animal by single-cell transcriptomics,", Science. Advance Online Publication 19.04.2018, doi:10.1126/scienc.aaq1723 About the Max Delbruck Center The Max Delbruck Center for Molecular Medicine in the Helmholtz Association was founded in January 1992 on the recommendation of the German Council of Science and Humanities ("Wissenschaftsrat") with the goal of linking basic science to clinical research. The MDC integrated parts of three former Central Institutes of the GDR Academy of Sciences and was named for Max Delbruck, a physicist, biologist, and Nobel Prize winner. Currently the institute employs more than 1600 people from nearly 60 countries; over 1300 of those are directly involved in research. The MDC's annual budget is over 80 million Euros, along with substantial third-party funding obtained by individual scientific groups. As is the case with all Helmholtz institutes, the MDC receives 90 percent of its funding from the federal government and 10 percent from Berlin, the state where it resides. http://www.mdc-berlin.de CAMBRIDGE, MA -- In 2010, the environmental group Greenpeace launched an online campaign against Nestle, the food-production giant. Nestle's KitKat bars, the campaign charged, contained palm oil supplied by a company that was improperly clearing rainforests. But Nestle, as MIT Professor Yossi Sheffi discusses in a new book on sustainability in business, thought it had already addressed the issue. The company had adopted a "no deforestation" policy, stating it would no longer use palm oil from companies clearing forests after 2005. In 2009, Nestle had joined a group developing industry standards on the issue, the Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil. Nonetheless, within eight weeks of the start of the Greenpeace campaign, Nestle dropped the supplier providing the palm oil in question. Perhaps the campaign had affected KitKat sales. Maybe Nestle executives grew weary of seeing activists dressed up as orangutans outside company headquarters in Frankfurt, Germany. (Orangutans are losing their habitat due to deforestation for palm oil plantations.) In any case, the public relations problem had become significant. But in the view of Sheffi, an MIT professor and leading expert on logistics in business, such episodes can create an overly simplistic narrative about business and the environment. Sustainability in commerce, Sheffi says, should not be regarded as a matter of "good or evil," but is typically a clash of "people versus people" around the world, who have their own different interests at stake. "It's the importance of the environment against being able to have a job and afford things," Sheffi says. Indeed, as Sheffi sees it, these are precisely the central trade-offs of sustainability: We need a clean environment, but consumers also want affordable products, and tens of millions of people make a living as part of the global supply chain that brings consumer products to people. Improving sustainability in these circumstances, Sheffi contends, is not a straightforward matter. So when exactly should companies pursue sustainability measures -- and when is it in their interest to hold off? That is the question Sheffi explores in the new book, "Balancing Green: When to Embrace Sustainability in a Business (and When Not To)," just published by the MIT Press. To grasp the importance of the issue, consider that industry, as Sheffi points out in the book, consumes about half of all energy produced. Still, as Sheffi also notes, most consumers do not make purchasing decisions with the planet in mind. "People say they're willing to pay for sustainability, but when they go to the checkout counter, almost nobody does," says Sheffi, who is the Elisha Gray II Professor of Engineering Systems at MIT and director of MIT's Center for Transportation and Logistics. "Or 10 to 15 percent of people do, modestly, but it's not enough to move the market." Sustainability certainly does become an important consumer issue when activist campaigns arise, however. Sheffi believes this is one factor that makes "risk mitigation" the first broad reason why companies should pursue sustainability measures. In some cases, those hazards are reputational, as Nestle experienced, but in other cases, it may be that environmental changes are affecting a company's resources. In either case, Sheffi notes, environmental inaction carries risks. "Companies should respond to pressure or be just ahead of pressure," Sheffi says. But for the most part, he adds, "I think companies should lead on good products, good marketing, good quality, and selling them to as many people and getting a good profit. That's legally the role of a company." A second reason firms may pursue sustainability measures, as Sheffi details, is cost-cutting. As the book notes, manufacturers such as Siemens and BASF have made their own facilities more energy-efficient, while beverage giants such as Coca-Cola and brewer AB InBev have lowered water consumption and thus reduced costs. The office-supply firm Staples reduced the fuel consumption of its delivery trucks by 20 percent by limiting their top speed to 60 miles per hour, and realized $3 million in annual savings from that change alone. "The main activity many companies are doing is saving energy, and saving energy is totally tied both to a reduced carbon footprint and to reducing costs," Sheffi says. At the same time, says Sheffi, "Sustainability is a supply-chain issue." And, as he writes in the book, "for many companies the bulk of their carbon footprint is generated by their suppliers and their customers." Thus it is not enough to limit a company's carbon footprint when most of its environmental impact is elsewhere. In fact, as Sheffi also writes, "without accounting for the supply chain, companies can just outsource their pollution and appear greener." A third impetus for pursuing corporate sustainability, Sheffi notes, is "hedging," as he puts it; being green might pay off in the long run if that's where the market moves. "Customers may change," Sheffi says. "Millennials are more attuned to sustainability concerns. It could be that as these people get more purchasing power, the market may change." In this vein, some companies launching green product lines -- such as Clorox, with its "Green Works" cleaning products -- have not necessarily cashed in, but have gained knowledge about manufacturing and marketing such products, which may be more valuable in the future. And as Sheffi notes in the book, there is a small class of firms already practicing what he calls "deep sustainability," meaning they "have always explicitly prioritized" their environmental agenda, and "sell specifically to customers who value that." For instance, among other practices, the clothing manufacturer Patagonia publicly discloses its supply chain to an unprecedented degree -- you can go online and quickly learn that a favorite jacket uses fabric from suppliers in Belgium, China, and Taiwan, and is sewn by a supplier in Vietnam. Still, as Sheffi says, prestige clothing brands have more limited audiences and "are not likely to be a big multinational competing with Zara and H&M or any of the biggest sellers of clothing." In short, sustainability is difficult precisely because of the complex convergence of consumer demand and global supply systems, in a diverse world. Or, as Sheffi writes in "Balancing Green," different "people in many countries, coming from diverse socioeconomic classes and varied value systems, will not make the same choices in what they buy, what they supply, and how they feel about the confluence of environmental and economic issues. The challenge for companies is that they must bridge these wildly diverse outlooks on the world and the environment." ### Determining the presence of cancer, as well as its type and malignancy, is a stressful process for patients that can take up to two weeks to get a diagnosis. With a new bit of technology--a sugar-transporting biosensor--researchers at Michigan Technological University hope to reduce that timeframe down to minutes. A collaborative team of chemists and engineers from Michigan Tech lays the groundwork for this vision in two new papers. In the Royal Society of Chemistry's journal Chemical Communications, the team explains the basic science behind multicolor probes that enable targeting of cancer-relevant fructose transporter, delving into the image-based detection of cancer cells. In the journal Biosensors, the team addresses applications for breast cancer detection and differentiating nonmalignant, pre-malignant and malignant cancer cells. Two Michigan Tech researchers collaborated on the studies. Marina Tanasova, assistant professor of chemistry, and Smitha Rao, assistant professor of biomedical engineering, turned a 10-minute office meeting into a two-year collaboration built on a tiny fluorescent probe that seeks out the fructose transporter named GLUT5. Cells need carbohydrates; facilitative glucose transporters (GLUTs) bring nutrients in and out of cells. When metabolic swings kick in--say, from cancer development--the overall make-up of GLUTs change so that more or less GLUTs are active. Fructose transporters like GLUT5 are of particular interest because of the direct connection between fructose uptake and cancer development, which also changes as cancer progresses and becomes malignant. In their Chemical Communications paper, Tanasova and Rao's team report on the design and validation of the fluorescent probes, called ManCous, to observe GLUT5 activity in a cell; they also document the multicolored fluorescence that distinguishes GLUT5-rich cells from those deficient in GLUT5. The follow up Biosensors paper, provides a proof-of-principle use of these probes as tools to assess and compare GLUT5 and metabolic activity of different cell types, including normal cells and different cancer subtypes. "We came closer to a basic screening of cells' GLUT composition--one that both detects cancer and distinguishes type," Tanasova says; adding that while the concept is elegant, developing the technology is not easy. "From basic science to application, there is a lot of transformation that has to happen." By better understanding the science behind sugar transporters, the team is more equipped to build technology that captures an accurate and precise GLUT fingerprint of cancerous cells. "This probe is like a Swiss army knife," Rao says, explaining that cancer detection is not the only use for the probe. "The more we learn about cancer through these probes, the more opportunities we have to apply them--which means more chances to treat different cancers, hopefully cure them, and at least prevent their spread and maximize drug delivery." What makes the probe so versatile is its ability to not only seek out and highlight cancer cells, but also to reveal the metabolic nuances of different stages of cancer development. While cancer generally gobbles up fructose, the GLUT5 and metabolic activity of nonmalignant, pre-malignant and malignant breast cancer cells do vary, which is what Rao, Tanasova and their team explored in the Biosensors paper. They found that ManCou probes allow for parallel analysis and quantification of GLUT5 and metabolic activity of cells just after a 10-minute incubation period. The notable differences in fluorescence intensity observed between normal cells and cancer cells, as well as different cancer types, provide important points of differentiation between different cell types and make these probes promising tools for cancer detection and diagnostics. The research is still early on, but Tanasova and Rao have a clear vision for the project's next steps. The work is highly collaborative and built alongside the efforts of their co-authors, including doctoral students Srinivas Kannan and Vagarshak Begoyan, research scientist ?ukasz J. Weseli?ski, along with graduate students Joseph Fedie, Shuai Xia and undergraduate Alexis Ferrier. The collaboration is ongoing. The team of chemists--Tanasova, Begoyan and Weseli?ski--plans to delve deeper into the world of fructose transporters to expand on what they've determined about GLUT5 and provide access to probes targeting other GLUTs. There is plenty of material to cover to visualize and quantify every GLUT transporter in the cellular membrane. The team of biomedical engineers--Rao and Kannan--focus on assessing numerous applications of these probes, including standard biopsy analysis and pushing the technology into clinical practice through the development of a point-of-care cancer detection device. As Rao puts it, the team is shaping their Lego blocks so they can build down the road. Refining disease detection and treatment remains the driving force behind this interdisciplinary collaboration. The overarching idea continues to focus on taking sugar transporters and use them as a gateway to better understand the nature of cancer. ### Categorization, or the recognition that individual objects share similarities and can be grouped together, is fundamental to how we make sense of the world. Previous research has revealed how the brain categorizes images. Now, researchers funded by the National Science Foundation (NSF) have discovered that the brain categorizes sounds in much the same way. The results are published today in the journal Neuron. "Categorization involves applying a single label to a wide variety of sensory inputs," said Max Riesenhuber, professor of neuroscience at Georgetown University and lead co-author of the article. "For example, apples come in many colors, shapes and sizes, yet we label each as an apple. Children do this all the time as they learn language, but we actually know very little about how the brain categorizes the world." The importance of this work was underlined by Uri Hasson, program director for NSF's Cognitive Neuroscience Program, which supported the work. "These findings reveal what may not only be a general mechanism about how the brain learns, but also about how learning changes the brain and allows the brain to build on that learning," Hasson said. "The work has potential implications for understanding individual differences in language learning and can provide a foundation for understanding and treating people with learning disorders and other disabilities." Riesenhuber's group at Georgetown had previously studied how the brain categorizes visual objects and found that at least two distinct regions of the brain were involved. One region, in the visual cortex, encoded images, while a region in the prefrontal cortex signaled their category membership. For their more recent research, Riesenhuber and lead author Xiong Jiang were interested in whether the same processes underlie categorization of auditory cues. They joined forces with co-author Josef Rauschecker, also a professor of neuroscience at Georgetown and an expert on the auditory cortex and neural plasticity. To find out how the brain categorizes auditory input, the researchers invented new sounds using an acoustic blending tool to produce sounds from two types of monkey calls. The blending produced hundreds of new sounds that differed from the original calls. Subjects listened to several hundred calls and categorized them under two arbitrary labels that were created by the researchers. The researchers used functional MRI prior to and following the training to image subjects' brains while they listened to the sounds, but did not yet label them. The results showed that learning to categorize the sounds had increased the brain's sensitivity to the acoustic features that distinguished one sound from another. This occurred in the lower-level auditory cortex, which is responsible for representing sound but does not appear to give it any meaning or significance. The subjects' brains were then scanned while they judged which category the sounds belonged to. These scans showed that neural activity patterns in another brain region, the prefrontal cortex, distinguished between categories and that subjects used that information to make their judgments. The researchers also found that the category selectivity of neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex was task-dependent. When subjects were listening to the sounds but not judging which category they belonged to, the neural activity patterns in the prefrontal cortex region did not distinguish one category from another. The discovery of similar processes for visual and auditory categorization promises important advances for how we understand learning. "Knowing how senses learn the world may help us devise workarounds in our very plastic brains," Riesenhuber said. "If a person can't process one sensory modality, say vision, because of blindness, there could be substitution devices that allow visual input to be transformed into sounds." Added Rauschecker, "One disabled sense would be processed by other sensory brain centers." ### CHICAGO --- More students report carrying guns in Chicago than in New York or Los Angeles, a new Northwestern Medicine study shows. The findings provide historical background for Chicago's 2016 spike in gun violence, which occurred mostly among youth and young adults. While self-reported gun carrying increased in Chicago over the 2007 to 2013 time period, it declined rapidly in Los Angeles and remained less than half the Chicago rate in New York, according to the study from Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine. The prevalence of high school freshman and sophomore students who reported carrying a gun was 9 percent in Chicago, 4 percent in New York and 6 percent in Los Angeles between 2007 and 2013, the study found. When students were exposed to more violence risk factors, such as feeling unsafe in school, being exposed to fights or doing illegal drugs, they were more likely to carry a gun, the study found. Chicago's students were exposed to more guns and these risk factors between 2007 and 2013 than their peers in New York and LA. The authors hypothesize Chicago students between the ages of 14 and 16 who were carrying guns in 2013 were likely involved in Chicago's gun violence in 2016 and 2017. "Our findings suggest that there is a clear link between the increase in Chicago students carrying guns in 2013 and the city's spike in gun violence in 2016," said senior author Joseph Feinglass, professor of general internal medicine, geriatrics and preventive medicine at Feinberg. "The city was fertile ground for this increase in shootings." The study is the first of its kind to compare major cities on self-reported gun carrying among younger high school students. It was published April 10 in the journal Injury Epidemiology. "It's not hard to imagine why more students in Chicago carry guns than the other two cities with significant violence and homicide burden," said co-author Dr. Karen Sheehan, professor of pediatrics and preventive medicine at Northwestern University Feinberg School of Medicine and a physician at Ann & Robert H. Lurie Children's Hospital of Chicago. "Kids in Chicago are experiencing multiple layers of violence and fear of violence in school on a daily basis." The study authors created a violence index to better categorize the most high-risk students and describe the magnitude of their increased likelihood to carry a gun. This violence index accounted for mental health risk factors, such as feeling sad or hopeless, and behavioral health factors, such as bullying and physical fights at school. Students in Chicago had a significantly higher prevalence of almost all mental health and behavioral health risk factors compared to their peers in New York or LA. "Our findings highlight the ongoing need to address Chicago's concentrated poverty and unemployment problems, its extreme levels of racial and ethnic segregation and the hopelessness and isolation so many young people feel," Feinglass said. Across all three cities, self-reported gun carrying was more frequent among boys (8.4 percent) than girls (2.5 percent). Six percent of African-Americans reported carrying a gun in the previous 30 days, which was higher than Hispanics (5.5 percent) and non-Hispanic whites (3.5 percent). The study was based on self-reported data from the national Youth Risk Behavior Surveillance System (YRBS), an anonymous, voluntary survey of public high-school students, for the three cities between 2007 and 2013. More than 50,000 respondents represented more than 1.13 million students. The study used four biennial waves of the YRBS. It focused on freshmen and sophomores because of the significant high school dropout rates among older students. ### Publication of this article was funded by the Injury Free Coalition for Kids. Amongst the countless fascinating plants and animals inhabiting the tropical rainforests of Southeast Asia, there are the spectacular "exploding ants", a group of arboreal, canopy dwelling ants nicknamed for their unique defensive behaviour. When threatened by other insects, minor workers can actively rupture their body wall. Apart from leading to the ants' imminent death, the "explosion" releases a sticky, toxic liquid from their enlarged glands, in order to either kill or hold off the enemy. Curiously enough, while these ants' peculiar behaviour was first mentioned in distant 1916, no new species have been formally described since 1935, due to insufficient evidence. Instead, scientists used to simply refer to them as the members of a remarkable species group - Colobopsis cylindrica, better known as "the exploding ants". That was until an interdisciplinary research team from Austria, Thailand and Brunei came together led by their shared fascination with these insects and their extraordinary mechanism of self-sacrifice (also called autothysis) in 2014. Thus, entomologists, botanists, microbiologists, and chemists from the Natural History Museum Vienna, Technical University Vienna, IFA Tulln and Universiti Brunei Darussalam together identified roughly 15 separate species of exploding ants, with one of them now described as new to science in the open access journal ZooKeys. Aptly named Colobopsis explodens, previously nicknamed "Yellow Goo" for its bright yellow gland secretion, the new species has been picked as the model species of the group, after the scientists deemed it to be "particularly prone to self-sacrifice when threatened by enemy arthropods, as well as intruding researchers". Being a "model species" means that the ant will serve as an important navigation point in future studies on exploding ants. Publications regarding their behaviour, chemical profile, microbiology, anatomy and evolution are currently in preparation, say the authors. In addition, there are several more new species expected to be described in the near future. While minor workers exhibit the ability to "explode", the other castes have specialities of their own. For example, major workers (also called "doorkeepers") have big, plug-shaped heads used to physically barricade the nest entrances against intruders. During a sampling trip to Brunei in 2015, project members Alexey Kopchinskiy and Alice Laciny even managed to observe queens and males on a mating flight. They sampled the first males of these ants ever to be seen. The same expedition was used to record the ants' activity schedule and conduct the first experiments on food preferences and exploding behaviour. While the exploding ants play a dominant role in rainforests, their biology still holds a number of secrets. The observations and experiments conducted on the newly described species have laid important groundwork for future research that will uncover even more details about these enigmatic explosive insects. Watch this video to observe the behaviour of the exploding ants in various settings. ### Original source: Laciny A, Zettel H, Kopchinskiy A, Pretzer C, Pal A, Salim KA, Rahimi MJ, Hoenigsberger M, Lim L, Jaitrong W, Druzhinina IS (2018) Colobopsis explodens sp. n., model species for studies on "exploding ants" (Hymenoptera, Formicidae), with biological notes and first illustrations of males of the Colobopsis cylindrica group. ZooKeys 751: 1-40. https://doi.org/10.3897/zookeys.751.22661 Additional Information: Learn more about the 'Exploding ants' project at: http://explodingants.com/ The research was funded by the Vienna Science and Technology Fund (WWTF). WEST LAFAYETTE, Ind. -- An algorithm tool developed by Purdue Polytechnic Institute faculty will help law enforcement filter out and focus on sex offenders most likely to set up face-to-face meetings with child victims. The Chat Analysis Triage Tool (CATT) was presented last week by principal investigator Kathryn Seigfried-Spellar, assistant professor of computer and information technology, at the International Association of Law Enforcement Intelligence Analysts Conference in Anaheim, California. Seigfried-Spellar said law enforcement officers are inundated with cases involving the sexual solicitation of minors - some interested in sexual fantasy chats, with others intent on persuading an underage victim into a face-to-face meeting. CATT allows the officers to work through the volume of solicitations and use algorithms to examine the word usage and conversation patterns by a suspect. Seigfried-Spellar said data was taken from online conversations provided voluntarily by law enforcement around the country. "We went through and tried to identify language-based differences and factors like self-disclosure," she said. Self-disclosure is a tactic in which the suspect tries to develop trust by sharing a personal story, which is usually negative, such as parental abuse. "If we can identify language differences, then the tool can identify these differences in the chats in order to give a risk assessment and a probability that this person is going to attempt face-to-face contact with the victim," Seigfried-Spellar said. "That way, officers can begin to prioritize which cases they want to put resources toward to investigate more quickly." Other standout characteristics of sexual predators grooming victims for a face-to-face meeting is that the chats will often go on for weeks or even months until a meeting is achieved. Those involved in sexual fantasy chatting move on from one youth to another quickly. The project started as a result of a partnership with Ventura County Sheriff's Department in California. Seigfried-Spellar said the research discovered tactics like self-disclosure is used early in a predator's talks with a potential victim. "Meaning that we could potentially stop a sex offense from occurring because if law enforcement is notified of a suspicious chat quickly enough, CATT can analyze and offer the probability of a face-to-face," she said. "We could potentially prevent a child from being sexually assaulted." Seigfried-Spellar worked in developing CATT with two co-principal investigators, associate professor Julia Taylor Rayz, who specializes in machine learning and natural language processing, and computer and information technology department head Marcus Rogers, who has an extensive background in digital forensics tool development. CATT algorithms examine only the conversation factors and do not take the sex of either suspect or victim into consideration, at this time. The project began with initial research done by Seigfried-Spellar and former Purdue professor Ming Ming Chiu. The exploratory study examined more than 4,300 messages in 107 online chat sessions involving arrested sex offenders, identifying different trends in word usage and self-disclosure by fantasy and contact sex offenders using statistical discourse analysis. The trends determined through this research formed the basis for CATT. The research, "Detecting Contact vs. Fantasy Online Sexual Offenders in Chats with Minors: Statistical Discourse Analysis of Self-Disclosure and Emotion Words," has been accepted and will be published in the journal "Child Abuse and Neglect." Initial plans are to turn the tool over to several law enforcement departments for a test run. Seigfried-Spellar said CATT could be handling data from active cases as early as the end of the year. The conversation analysis provides the basis for future law enforcement tools as well, she said. "What if there is a chat online and you don't know if you're chatting with an offender or someone who is 15 years old pretending to be 30," she said. "Maybe then, this tool can analyze the differences in an actual 13-year-old versus someone who is pretending to be 13 or an actual adult versus someone who is pretending to be an adult. "So, you can then start trying to figure out, language wise, who this person is I'm chatting with." At some point, she believes CATT could even teach officers to better portray a 10-year-old victim by perfecting constantly changing factors like language, emojis and acronyms. "In these types of operations, our goal isn't to entrap people," she said. "In these, the offender is initiating, and as they do that, law enforcement is simply responding. "If officers can respond in a way that speeds up the process, that gets the person off the street sooner compared to waiting eight months to allow a trust relationship to develop." ### The CATT project was funded through a grant issued in 2017 from the Purdue Polytechnic Institute. According to the National Center for Missing and Exploited Children (NCMEC, 2014), online solicitation of minors falls into three categories: 1) sexual, request to engage in unwanted sexual activates or sexual talk; 2) aggressive, involved actual and/or attempted offline contact; and 3) distressing, youths stated they were afraid after the incident. Although there is a general decline in all forms of online solicitation of minors, with only 3% of youth in 2010 reporting an aggressive solicitation (NCMEC, 2014), the FBI estimates that 750,000 adults seek sex with youths daily (Rodas, 2014). In 2015 alone, Internet Crimes Against Children (ICAC) task forces arrested more than 60,000 internet sex offenders (see http://www.ojjdp.gov). Investigating crimes against children, specifically sexual solicitations, are complicated because not all offenders are contact-driven, meaning they want to meet the minor for sex in the physical world; instead, some offenders are fantasy-driven, in that they are more interested in cybersex and less interested in meeting the minor in the physical world. Thus, the sheer volume of sexual solicitations online makes it difficult for law enforcement to determine whether an offender is contact-driven vs. fantasy-driven. In order to assist law enforcement with their ability to prioritize cases in which the offender is more likely to be contact-driven, Seigfried-Spellar and colleagues (2017) identified language-based differences in the online chats between minors and arrested contact-driven and fantasy-driven offenders. Based on these results, they developed a digital forensic tool for the automatic analysis of chats between offenders and minors. This digital forensic tool conducts a language-based analysis to determine the likelihood that the offender is contact-driven vs. fantasy-driven. It is their hope that this tool will assist law enforcement authorities by enabling them to allocate their limited resources to cases at high risk for contact-driven offenses. This tool is available to law enforcement officers investigating cases involving internet crimes against children and will be presented at this LEIU/IALEIA workshop. New research published today by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine finds that general practices in England with the worst prescribing quality scores are 2.1 times more likely to prescribe homeopathy than practices with the best prescribing quality scores. Researchers from the University of Oxford and Exeter University looked at practices that prescribe homeopathy to see if they differ in their prescribing of other drugs. They found that even infrequent homeopathy prescribing is strongly associated with poor performance on a range of prescribing quality measures, but not with overall patient recommendation or quality outcomes framework score. Lead researcher Dr Ben Goldacre, Senior Clinical Research Fellow at the Nuffield Department of Primary Care Health Sciences, University of Oxford, said: "Despite the lack of evidence for homeopathy, and its lack of a plausible mechanism, some NHS doctors still prescribe it. We set out to explore whether general practices prescribing homeopathic remedies also behave differently on other measures of general practitioner behaviour." The researchers identified 644 practices that had issued at least one homeopathy prescription in a six-month period (December 2016 to May 2017). There were 2,720 homeopathy prescriptions in total costing 36,532 (mean 13,43 per item). They found that prescribing any homeopathy is associated with poorer performance at practice level on a range of standard prescribing measures. The association is unlikely to be a direct causal relationship, say the researchers, but may reflect deeper underlying practice features, such as the extent of respect for evidence-based practice, or poorer stewardship of the prescribing budget. Dr Goldacre said: "Although NHS expenditure on homeopathy is low, we believe the strong association between homeopathy use and poorer prescribing in general is more important than cost. It should raise concerns and may be of interest to those seeking to understand variation in clinical styles and the use of alternative medicine by clinicians." ### Notes to editors Is use of homeopathy associated with poor prescribing in English primary care? A cross-sectional study (DOI: 10.1177/0141076818765779) by Alex J Walker, Richard Croker, Seb Bacon, Edzard Ernst, Helen J Curtis and Ben Goldacre, will be published by the Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine at 00:05 hrs (UK time) on Thursday 19 April 2018. The link for the full text version of the paper when published will be: http://journals.sagepub.com/doi/full/10.1177/0141076818765779 For further information or a copy of the paper please contact: Rosalind Dewar Media Office, Royal Society of Medicine DL: +44 (0) 1580 764713 M: +44 (0) 7785 182732 E: media@rsm.ac.uk The Journal of the Royal Society of Medicine (JRSM) is a leading voice in the UK and internationally for medicine and healthcare. Published continuously since 1809, JRSM features scholarly comment and clinical research. JRSM is editorially independent from the Royal Society of Medicine, and its editor is Dr Kamran Abbasi. JRSM is a journal of the Royal Society of Medicine and it is published by Sage Publishing. Sara Miller McCune founded SAGE Publishing in 1965 to support the dissemination of usable knowledge and educate a global community. SAGE is a leading international provider of innovative, high-quality content publishing more than 1000 journals and over 800 new books each year, spanning a wide range of subject areas. A growing selection of library products includes archives, data, case studies and video. SAGE remains majority owned by our founder and after her lifetime will become owned by a charitable trust that secures the company's continued independence. Principal offices are located in Los Angeles, London, New Delhi, Singapore, Washington DC and Melbourne. http://www.sagepublishing.com SAN DIEGO, CA--Researchers from the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) and the non-profit organization Terra Peninsular A.C. have rediscovered the San Quintin kangaroo rat (Dipodomys gravipes) in Baja California; the Museum is partnering with the organization and local authorities on a conservation plan for the species. The San Quintin kangaroo rat was last seen in 1986, and was listed as endangered by the Mexican government in 1994. It was held as an example of modern extinction due to agricultural conversion. In the past few decades, San Quintin, which lies 118 miles south of Ensenada, has become a major agricultural hub, converting huge areas of native habitat into fields and hot houses for tomatoes and strawberries. Despite active searches and monitoring over the years, there had been no sign of the animal until this past summer, when Museum Mammalogist Scott Tremor and Research Associate Sula Vanderplank were in the field conducting routine monitoring of small mammal communities. Having read the field notes of the person who had seen it decades ago, they were aware of its former occurrence in the area, but were amazed to find four individuals by using traditional field techniques and live traps. This animal is about 5 inches in length with a tufted tail. It is an herbivore that lives in arid lowlands and gets its name from its large, powerful hind feet that propel the animal in large bounds (like a kangaroo). It is larger than other kangaroo rats in the region, and is feistier than its relatives. "Not only is this discovery a perfect example of the importance of good old-fashioned natural history field work, but we have the opportunity to develop a conservation plan based on our findings," said Tremor. "The ability to take our research and turn it into tangible conservation efforts is thrilling. It is a commitment to preserving the uniqueness of the Baja California Peninsula." The discovery will be highlighted in an article by Tremor, Vanderplank, and Dr. Eric Mellink of the Center for Scientific Research and Higher Education of Ensenada, Baja California (CICESE) in the scientific journal Bulletin of the Southern California Academy of Sciences. Since the initial discovery, the San Quinton kangaroo rat has been found to also persist inside the Valle Tranquilo Nature Reserve just south of San Quintin, which is owned and managed by the local non-profit organization Terra Peninsular A.C. This reserve is recognized as an area voluntarily destined for conservation by the National Commission of Natural Protected Areas (CONANP) and will protect the future of the species into perpetuity. The Nat will work with Terra Peninsular and Dr. Exequiel Ezcurra, director of the University of California Institute for Mexico and the United States (UC MEXUS), on a conservation plan for the small mammal communities of the area, with an emphasis on the San Quintin kangaroo rat. "Terra Peninsular has been monitoring the nature reserves looking for this species. You can't imagine how happy we are to find out that after all these efforts and with the help of The Nat we can be part of this rediscovery and continue working on its protection," said Jorge Andrade, adaptive manager coordinator at Terra Peninsular, who has also been involved in the project. "It's very gratifying for us to think that the San Quintin kangaroo rat persists in the area to some extent, thanks to the efforts of the staff, board members, and associated researchers of our organization." This plan, which is made possible with critical support from The JiJi Foundation Fund at the International Community Foundation, will be developed cooperatively with a working group created by Terra Peninsular and composed of local authorities, academic institutions and staff members. It will be written in both English and Spanish, will include restoration strategies, habitat improvements, molecular analysis of population health, land protection strategies and outreach and educational materials, and will identify key concerns for the future of the species. The Museum's research department, the Biodiversity Research Center of the Californias, conducts field explorations and engages in collections-based research to document and conserve our region's natural history and biodiversity. This is the third mammal that was thought to be extinct that museum staff have rediscovered in the Baja California Peninsula in the recent past: others include the high elevation California vole (Microtus californicus huperuthrus) and the round-tail ground squirrel (Xerospermophilus tereticaudus apricus). "These rediscoveries speak to hope and resilience in a changing world," said Vanderplank, who is also a science advisor at Terra Peninsular. "We are learning so much about this animal and its ecology, and we're delighted to know that it is permanently protected in the Valle Tranquilo Nature Reserve." ### About the San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) The San Diego Natural History Museum (The Nat) is the second oldest scientific institution in California and the third oldest west of the Mississippi. Founded in 1874 by a small group of citizen scientists, the Museum's mission is to interpret the natural world through research, education, and exhibits; to promote understanding of the evolution and diversity of Southern California and the peninsula of Baja California, Mexico; and to inspire in all a respect for nature and the environment. The Museum is located at 1788 El Prado, San Diego, CA 92101 in Balboa Park and is open daily from 10 AM to 5 PM. For more information, call 877.946.7797 or visit sdnat.org. To stay up to date on Museum news, follow The Nat on Instagram and Twitter and join the discussion on Facebook. About Terra Peninsular Terra Peninsular is a Mexican non-profit organization with the mission of conserving and protecting the natural ecosystems and wildlife of the Baja California peninsula. Since 2001, the organization has protected over 54,000 acres of natural areas and currently manages 4 nature reserves in Baja California. In September 2017, the organization created a working group in San Quintin with the objective of developing conservation strategies in the area; this group consists of environmental authorities, academic institutions and staff members. For more information, visit http://www.terrapeninsular.org/en/ and follow Terra Peninsular on Facebook, Instagram and Twitter. Media Contacts April Green San Diego Natural History Museum 619.255.0189 agreen@sdnhm.org Barbara Ramirez Terra Peninsular 646.177.6800 / 174-0286 barbara@terrapeninsular.org St. Jude Children's Research Hospital scientists have discovered a fourth gene that can predispose carriers to the most common childhood cancer, expanding the list of genes to include in cancer screening St. Jude Children's Research Hospital researchers have made a discovery that expands the list of genes to include when screening individuals for possible increased susceptibility to childhood leukemia. The finding is reported online today in the journal Cancer Cell. The gene is IKZF1, which encodes the transcription factor IKAROS that regulates gene expression. IKZF1 is the fourth gene identified that--like the genes TP53, ETV6 and PAX5--can predispose carriers to develop B-cell acute lymphoblastic leukemia (ALL). Variants in IKZF1 can also influence how some patients respond to treatment. Researchers found a rare IKZF1 germline variant in three generations of a German family affected by pediatric ALL. St. Jude researchers then analyzed data from almost 5,000 young ALL patients and found that 0.9 percent of patients with B-cell ALL, the most common pediatric ALL, also carried germline variations in IKZF1. Germline variants are usually inherited, carried in DNA found in most cells. "This finding adds to the growing body of evidence that, while germline variations still account for a small percentage of pediatric ALL cases overall, more children than previously recognized inherit a predisposition to develop ALL," said Charles Mullighan, MBBS, M.D., a member of the St. Jude Department of Pathology. Jun J. Yang, Ph.D., an associate member of the St. Jude Department of Pharmaceutical Sciences and Department of Oncology, added: "The results also show that germline variants influence the response of leukemia cells to specific chemotherapeutic agents." Mullighan and Yang are the study's corresponding authors. "This will expand the number of genes to consider when screening for predisposition to leukemia, particularly B-ALL. And while not everyone carrying a germline IKZF1 variant will develop leukemia, these results will help us educate families about the potential risk of leukemia," said co-author Kim Nichols, M.D., director of the St. Jude Cancer Predisposition Division. As a group, Mullighan, Yang and Nichols have led research that identified the four known pediatric ALL predisposition genes. IKZF1 frequently mutated in leukemic cells The discovery comes a decade after Mullighan and his colleagues reported that IKZF1 was frequently mutated in leukemic cells and a harbinger of poor treatment outcomes. The search for germline IKZF1 variants associated with ALL susceptibility began in Singapore. Nichols and Yang were there to talk about germline genetics of ALL and inherited (familial) cancer. During that visit, co-author Rupert Handgretinger, M.D., of Children's University Hospital, Tuebingen, Germany, mentioned three generations of a German family with a germline variation in IKZF1 and a family history of B-ALL. Two of the five family members with the variant had developed pediatric ALL and died. The remaining three are apparently healthy despite having reduced numbers of B cells. Targeted sequencing of IKZF1 in 4,963 children with ALL identified 43 patients with 27 IKZF1 variants, almost exclusively patients with B-ALL. "The pattern of IKZF1 variants was surprising because many of the variants were in regions of the gene that are rarely mutated in leukemic cells; these regions of the gene have not been well characterized," Yang said. IKZF1 variants affect IKAROS function Extensive laboratory testing found at least 22 of the 28 variants affected protein functions. For example, IKZF1 variants resulted in IKAROS migrating outside the nucleus, which is where the protein normally functions. In other cases, variants were associated with increased cell adhesion. "Based on existing models, we would have predicted only 60 percent of the newly identified IKZF1 variants would be deleterious," said Michelle Churchman, Ph.D., of St. Jude Pathology. Churchman, Maoxiang Qian, Ph.D., of St. Jude Pharmaceutical Sciences, and Geertruy te Kronnie, of the University of Padova, Italy, are the first authors. IKZF1 variants require a second "hit" to cause cancer "In IKZF1 and the other ALL predisposition genes, cells may require an additional cooperating mutation to develop into leukemia," Mullighan said. "While familial ALL is rare, these cases can point to genes and novel biology to examine in a larger patient population. "This study demonstrates the power of sequencing large groups of seemingly sporadic cases that reveal the genetic underpinnings of the disease," he said. ### The study's other authors include Wenjian Yang, Paige Tedrick, Rebekah Baskin, Katherine Verbist, Jennifer Peters, Ian Moore, Zhaohui Gu, Chunxu Qu, Hiroki Yoshihara, Shaina Porter, Shondra Pruett-Miller, Gang Wu, William Evans, Mary Relling and Ching-Hon Pui, all of St. Jude; Hui Zhang of St. Jude and Guangzhou Women and Children's Medical Center, China; and researchers at 12 institutions in the U.S., China and Germany. The patients in this analysis were enrolled in clinical research conducted by St. Jude and the Children's Oncology Group, a cooperative clinical research network. The study was funded in part by the St. Baldrick's Foundation, grants (GM115279, CA021765, CA176063, CA19769501A1, CA98543, CA114766, CA98413, CA180886, CA180899) from the National Institutes of Health; and ALSAC, the fundraising and awareness organization of St. Jude. Evidence that humans can genetically adapt to diving has been identified for the first time in a new study. The evidence suggests that the Bajau, a people group indigenous to parts of Indonesia, have genetically enlarged spleens which enable them to free dive to depths of up to 70m. It has previously been hypothesised that the spleen plays an important role in enabling humans to free dive for prolonged periods but the relationship between spleen size and dive capacity has never before been examined in humans at the genetic level. The findings, which are being published in the research journal Cell, could also have medical implications in relation to the condition known as Acute Hypoxia, which can cause complications in emergency medical care. For over 1000 years the Bajau people, known as 'Sea Nomads', have travelled the Southeast Asian seas in houseboats and collected food by free diving with spears. Now settled around the islands of Indonesia, they are renowned throughout the region for their extraordinary breath-holding abilities. Members of the Bajau can dive up to 70m with nothing more than a set of weights and a pair of wooden goggles. As they never dive competitively it is uncertain exactly how long the Bajau can remain underwater, but one of them told researcher Melissa Ilardo that he had once dived for 13 minutes consecutively. Ilardo, first author on the paper, suspected that the Bajau could have genetically adapted spleens as a result of their marine hunter-gatherer lifestyle, based on findings in other mammals. "There's not a lot of information out there about human spleens in terms of physiology and genetics," she said, "but we know that deep diving seals, like the Weddell seal, have disproportionately large spleens. I thought that if selection acted on the seals to give them larger spleens, it could potentially do the same in humans." The spleen plays a central role in prolonging free diving time as it forms part of what is known as the human dive response. When the human body is submerged under cold water, even for brief amounts of time, this response is triggered as a method of assisting the body to survive in an oxygen-deprived environment. The heart rate slows down, blood vessels in the extremities shrink to preserve blood for vital organs, and the spleen contracts. This contraction of the spleen creates an oxygen boost by ejecting oxygenated red blood cells into circulation and has been found to provide up to a 9% increase in oxygen, thereby prolonging dive time. In order to gain evidence for this study, Melissa Ilardo spent several months in Jaya Bakti, Indonesia taking genetic samples and performing ultrasound scans of the spleens from both the Bajau and their land-dwelling neighbours, the Saluan. The results were sequenced at the University of Copenhagen and clearly showed the Bajau have a median spleen size 50% larger than the Saluan. Enlarged spleens were also visible in non-diving Bajau individuals as well as those who regularly free dive. The international research team, led by academics from the Universities of Copenhagen, Cambridge and Berkeley, therefore eliminated the possibility that larger spleens were simply a plastic response to diving and began to investigate the Bajau's genetic data. They discovered that members of the Bajau have a gene called PDE10A which the Saluan do not. It is thought that the PDE10A gene controls the levels of thyroid hormone T4. "We believe that in the Bajau they have an adaptation that increases Thyroid hormone levels and therefore increases their spleen size," said Melissa Ilardo. "It's been shown in mice that thyroid hormones and spleen size are connected. If you genetically alter mice to have an absence of the thyroid hormone T4, their spleen size is drastically reduced, but this effect is actually reversible with an injection of T4." This is the first time a genetic adaptation to diving has been tracked in humans. Ilardo added, "until now it has been entirely unknown whether Sea Nomad populations genetically adapt to their extreme lifestyle. The only trait previously studied is the superior underwater vision of Thai Sea Nomad children, however this was shown to be a plastic response to training, and was replicable in a European cohort." Ilardo was originally warned against undertaking this study for her PhD at the University of Copenhagen by her supervisors - Professor Eske Willerslev who holds dual positions at St John's College, Cambridge and the University of Copenhagen, and Professor Rasmus Nielsen who also holds dual positions, at the University of Copenhagen and the University of California, Berkeley. "We told Melissa that this was a very risky PhD and she needed to be aware that it was likely she would find nothing," said Professor Willerslev. "She said she wanted to do it anyway and that paid off. Melissa was right and our concerns were wrong." The study also has implications for the world of medical research. The human dive response simulates the conditions of acute hypoxia in which body tissue experiences a rapid depletion of oxygen. It is a leading cause for complications in emergency care and as a result is already the subject of several genetics studies, specifically in relation to people groups who live at high altitudes. Studying marine dwellers such as the Bajau has great potential for researching acute hypoxia in a new way. "This is the first time that we really have a system like that in humans to study," said Dr Rasmus Nielsen. "It will help us make the link between the genetics and the physiological response to acute hypoxia. It's a hypoxia experiment that nature has made for us and allows us to study humans in a way that we can't in a laboratory." These findings open up the possibility of further research on other Sea Nomad populations such as the Thai Moken population and the Haenyeo diving women of Jeju in South Korea. Studying similar people groups could shed more light on the nature of the connection between human physiology and genetic adaptations to extreme lifestyles, and clarify whether these genetic adaptations have developed separately. Taking the next steps in this area of research is a somewhat urgent task, as the traditional ways of life are under threat in a lot of communities. "This study is a wonderful example of the value of studying these small populations living under extreme conditions," said Professor Eske Willerslev. "A lot of them are threatened and this is not just a loss culturally and linguistically, but for genetics, medicine, and sciences in general. There's still a lot of information to be gathered from these understudied populations." ### Competitive breath-hold divers have only two options to increase their time underwater - through training, they can try to boost their lung capacity or increase their red blood cell count. Over hundreds if not thousands of years, however, a group of Southeast Asian "sea nomads" known for their deep-diving prowess has evolved a better solution: larger spleens. The spleen holds oxygenated red blood cells, so presumably an enlarged spleen - those of the sea nomads, or Bajau people, are about 50 percent larger than the spleens of unrelated, non-diving neighboring groups - injects more blood cells into the circulation and makes more oxygen available for basic body functions during prolonged dives. The physical and genetic changes that have enabled the Bajau to dive longer and deeper is yet another example of the immense variety of human adaption to extreme environments, in this case, environments with low levels of oxygen, said Rasmus Nielsen, a professor of integrative biology at the University of California, Berkeley. These examples can be key to understanding human physiology and human genetics. "We can't really make experiments in humans, where we expose people to new conditions and have controlled genetic experiments in the same way we can do in fruit flies and mice," Nielsen said. "But nature has made experiments for us that tell us how humans react and adapt genetically to a whole new set of physiological conditions, so that we can explore and learn much more about the interaction between genetics and physiology." The surprise finding led researchers from the University of Copenhagen and UC Berkeley to a genetic mutation that appears to have spread throughout the population to increase spleen size. This genetic variant upregulates thyroid hormone, which in mice has been linked to larger spleen size. A second genetic adaptation associated with the Indonesian population of Bajau involves the constriction of blood vessels in the extremities to preserve oxygen for vital organs, a key part of the human "diving reflex." Nielsen and Eske Willerslev, who is on the faculty of both the University of Copenhagen in Denmark and the University of Cambridge in the U.K., are the senior authors of a paper about the finding that will be published online April 19 in the journal Cell. The first author is Melissa Ilardo, a doctoral candidate at the University of Copenhagen. Sea nomads The Bajau people, groups of whom are spread among the islands of Indonesia, Malaysia and the Philippines, are often called sea nomads, and traditionally lived on boats and harvested nearly everything they ate from the sea. Some have been shown to spend as much as 60 percent of their work day diving for food - spearing fish and octopus and gathering crustaceans and sea cucumbers - at depths greater than 70 meters, or 230 feet, using only a wooden mask. Linguistic analysis suggests that they have lived this way for more than a thousand years. A chronicler of one of Ferdinand Magellan's voyages recorded their unusual lifestyle in 1521. Ilardo was intrigued by the Bajau (be joe') and proposed a Ph.D. thesis project to find out whether and how they adapted to sustained deep dives. She suspected this involved the spleen, since contraction of the spleen is a key part of the mammalian diving reflex, and some deep-diving seals, such as the Weddell, have enlarged spleens. "The closest thing to the Bajau in terms of underwater working time is sea otters; they are also spending about 60 percent of their time in the water," Ilardo said. "That is really remarkable, even compared to other professional or traditional divers. They are just spending an extraordinarily long time underwater compared to their recovery time." Studies suggest that the Bajau experience the most extreme low-oxygen situations humans encounter. Willerslev, Ilardo's adviser, connected her with Nielsen, who has investigated how humans living in low-oxygen environments adapt and how that's reflected in their genetic heritage. In 2014, for example, Nielsen showed that Tibetans adapted to living at oxygen-poor high altitudes by selecting for a specific genetic mutation that prevented chronic high red blood cell levels, which can cause medical problems. Though both Willerslev and Nielsen were dubious about the success of Ilardo's project, they supported the idea of testing it out. In 2015, Ilardo visited one Bajau community living on an island connected via a bridge to the bigger island of Sulawesi. The village, Jaya Bakti, provides easy access to the ocean for often weeks-long excursions during which the Bajau live off the fruits of the sea. The community seemed eager to learn about their genetic heritage, so she returned twice that year with a portable ultrasound machine to measure spleen size in 59 Bajau in addition to 34 people from a neighboring village, Koyoan, inhabited by the unrelated Saluan people, who do not dive. After eliminating individuals who were related, she analyzed the data and found that, on average, the Bajau had spleens about 50 percent larger than those of Saluans. According to Nielsen, this means they could mobilize perhaps 10 percent more red blood cells during a dive than those not adapted to the low-oxygen conditions of breath-hold diving. There was no difference in spleen size between Bajau who dived and Bajau who did not dive. "The Bajau have a different solution to low-oxygen conditions than the Tibetans," Nielsen said. "While it is unhealthy to have high concentrations of red blood cells all the time, it is really good for you if you have high RBCs when you really need them. They have increased the storage capacity in the spleen for when they need it, but they don't have any negative effects of constantly having too high red blood cells." Diving reflex Contraction of the spleen to release oxygenated red blood cells into the circulation is a key part of humans' and all mammals' innate diving reflex, which is initiated when you hold your breath and at the same time immerse your face in cold water. "We all know that if you dive down into cold water, you feel refreshed," Nielsen said. "That is not just in your brain, it's in your body. In addition to contraction of the spleen, you also have bradycardia, a lowering of the heart rate, and the blood is shunted into the central vital organs and away from the skin." Ilardo also collected spit samples from the Bajau villagers and identified several gene variants that were at much higher frequency in the genomes of the Bajau versus the Saluans. One, PDE10A, codes for an enzyme called phosphodiesterase, which mediates contraction of smooth muscle but is also associated with thyroid hormone release. The researchers collaborated with a group in the Netherlands, which confirmed that higher PDE10A levels are associated with an increased release of thyroid hormone. "We think the way it works is that the expression of this variant gene changes thyroid hormone release, which then has an effect on spleen size," Nielsen said. "Nothing is really known about the genetic basis of spleen size in humans, so it is hard to validate without further research." Ilardo, who has now taken up a postdoctoral position at the University of Utah, plans to pursue the connection between these genetic variants, spleen size and diving ability, while the Dutch group is looking at the connection between thyroid hormone levels and spleen size in humans and possible medical implications. "This really tells us how valuable and important indigenous populations are around the world that are living extreme lifestyles, in terms of understanding the function of various genetic traits and finding the underlying genetic background for various physiological traits," said Willerslev, who is a pioneer in analyzing the genomes of early humans and indigenous populations. "Most of these populations are completely understudied, and I think there is a huge benefit, not only potentially to them, but also to the rest of mankind by actually paying some attention to them." ### The work was supported by the Lundbeck Foundation, Danish National Research Foundation, Danish National Science Foundation and KU2016. International research consortium led by researchers from the University of Helsinki, Finland, discovered new information related to a rare form of leukemia called aggressive NK-cell leukemia. Potential new treatment options were found which are highly warranted as currently this disease usually leads to rapid death of patients. The study was published in Nature Communications. Aggressive NK-cell leukemia (ANKL) is a cancer in which leukemia cells consist of natural killer cells, a part of our immune system in normal conditions. The disease is very rare and aggressive: with the current treatment options (cytostatic drugs and hematopoietic stem cell transplantation) patients usually survive only a couple of months. This leukemia type is more common in the Asian population. However, related diseases such as NK/T-cell lymphomas occur also in western countries. Together with Japanese, South-Korean, Taiwanese and US research teams, the researchers from the University of Helsinki aimed to discover which genetic defects are typical in this type of leukemia. "ANKL patients often had mutations in the STAT3 and DDX3X genes which points towards partly shared genetic background with other NK- and T-cell malignancies," says Professor Satu Mustjoki whose group initially discovered somatic STAT3 mutations in LGL leukemia. By comparing the exome sequencing data from ANKL patients to previously published datasets from NK/T-cell lymphoma patients, researchers also uncovered novel gene amplifications in the JAK-STAT signaling pathway. In some cases, the amplified regions in the genome also included the PD-L1 gene which has therapeutic potential. In other lymphoma types, tumors with amplifications in the PD-L1 gene have responded well to novel immune checkpoint inhibitor therapies. Researchers also aimed to discover novel potential drugs for the treatment of ANKL by testing the ability of over 400 different drugs to kill malignant and normal NK cells in cell culture conditions. Some potential drug candidates were discovered: NK cells were especially sensitive for drugs which inhibit JAK tyrosine kinases and anti-apoptotic BCL family members. JAK inhibitors inhibit the same signaling pathway in which genetic alterations were discovered in ANKL patients. "JAK inhibitors, currently used in the treatment of rheumatoid arthritis and some other hematological diseases, could potentially improve the treatment of various NK-cell malignancies," says MD/PhD student Olli Dufva who is the first author in the publication. ### CHAMPAIGN, Ill. -- A new study of trial court judges suggests these arbiters of the law sometimes let their personal ideas about gender roles influence their decision-making. The findings, which are part of a broader study of judicial behavior, revealed that the judges were just as likely as laypeople to discriminate - in ways that harmed both men and women - in decisions involving child custody or workplace discrimination cases related to family caregiving duties. Judges with more expertise in family law tended to engage in more biased decision-making than those with less experience in family court, said University of Illinois psychology professor Andrea Miller, who conducted the research. "Judges tend to believe that their vast amount of legal training and logical thinking skills make them immune to these mistakes," she said. "This research is showing that judges are not as immune as maybe they think they are." The study was conducted at the request of a group representing trial court judges. The judges wanted to know whether their own decision-making was affected by biases that could contribute to social disparities in the legal system. "They were being very forward-thinking and brave, I think," said Miller, who took on the challenge while working as a postdoctoral researcher at the American Bar Foundation and is continuing the work at Illinois. The overall sample involved 619 sitting trial court judges and 504 laypeople. All of the judges were asked about their legal expertise. Only those with recent experience on specific types of cases - for example, child custody cases in family court - were asked to analyze cases in those fields. The study evaluated 372 judges' decision-making in a child custody case and 514 judges addressing a workplace discrimination case. The judges read about the cases and then made decisions about how to resolve them. For this analysis, the only thing that varied in each case was the race and gender of those involved in the disputes. "We're giving them identical case facts and we're only changing a couple of variables that should be legally irrelevant - race and gender," Miller said. After the judges made their rulings, they filled out surveys that tested their gender and racial attitudes. (The racial analysis will be published at a later date.) "The gender ideologies test measured how much the judges consciously support traditional gender roles, where women are more or less confined to domestic caregiving roles and men are confined to more public, career-based roles," Miller said. Judges in the shared-custody case were more likely than laypeople to give a mother more time with a child than a father. The judges gave mothers, on average, about half a day more time with their children than they gave fathers. Laypeople awarded 0.15 of a day more time to mothers. The judges' tendency to discriminate in this manner coincided with their traditional gender ideologies: The more they supported traditional gender roles for men and women, the more parenting time they gave to the mother in the case. "In the shared-custody case, the judges were influenced more by gender than the lay sample," Miller said. "An extra half day with a child each week amounts to nearly an extra month of time over the course of a year." In a workplace discrimination case involving family caregiving, the gender of the plaintiff also affected judges more than laypeople. "Overall, the judges and the laypeople both saw the woman's case as having more merit than the man's," Miller said. "But the more the judges supported traditional gender roles, the more likely they were to rule against a woman plaintiff on the merits. In other words, decisions in the woman's discrimination case were influenced by the judges' personal ideologies about the proper roles for men and women." Miller said she wasn't surprised that judges can be influenced by the gender of plaintiffs. "My first takeaway is that judges are human, just like the rest of us," she said. But she was surprised that judges' expertise in family law did not reduce their tendency to be influenced by their personal ideas about gender. "The legal system is set up to believe that judges are superhuman logical thinkers and fair decision-makers," Miller said. "And this research shows that even people who are extremely motivated to be fair and make correct decisions are not immune to the same mistakes that everyone else experiences." Miller is sharing her findings with the judges in the study and working with them to find ways to reduce the role of their personal biases in their courtroom decision-making. ### The state supreme court in the state where the study was conducted funded the research. Editor's notes: To reach Andrea Miller, email amiller0@illinois.edu. The paper "Expertise fails to attenuate gendered biases in judicial decision-making" is available online and from the U. of I. News Bureau. Adherence to masculine honour among young Italian men is a strong indication they are likely to engage in contact with the mafia-type groups, new research led by a University of Kent psychologist has shown. The research, conducted by Dr Giovanni Travaglino, of the University's School of Psychology and Dr Libby Drury of Birkbeck, University of London, reveals that masculine honour-related values among young men in Southern Italy are likely to play a key role in steering them towards contact with criminal organisation members. The findings may also prove useful in understanding why some individuals engage with other criminal actors, such as terrorist groups and gangs, and inform education programmes aimed at preventing young people's involvement with such groups. Criminal organisations such as the mafia or Camorra emphasise their adherence to honour and masculinity to gain consensus among those sections of the population who endorse related values. Previous research by Dr Travaglino showed that young adults and adolescents who endorse values of masculinity and honour also report lower intentions to oppose criminal organisations, a phenomenon known as omerta in Italy. Now, in this latest research, Dr Travaglino studied a sample of adolescents over a period of five months and found that participants who reported higher levels of adherence to values of masculinity and honour were more likely to gravitate to actual contact with members of criminal organisations. The research also demonstrated that contact with criminal organisations is associated with a more romanticised view of these criminal groups. Young adults and adolescents who experience more frequent contact with criminal organisation members are more likely to perceive those members as 'embodying norms of honour and masculinity and as being more embedded within the social fabric of the region', the study found. The research, entitled Connected guys: Endorsement of masculine honour predicts more frequent contact with members of criminal organisations (Giovanni A. Travaglino, School of Psychology, University of Kent and Libby Drury, Department of Organizational Psychology, Birkbeck, University of London) is published in the journal European Journal of Social Psychology. See: https://onlinelibrary.wiley.com/doi/pdf/10.1002/ejsp.2389 ### For more information or interview requests contact Martin Herrema at the University of Kent Press Office. Tel: 01227 816768 Email: M.J.Herrema@kent.ac.uk News releases can also be found at http://www.kent.ac.uk/news University of Kent on Twitter: http://twitter.com/UniKent Notes to editors Established in 1965, the University of Kent - the UK's European university - now has almost 20,000 students across campuses or study centres at Canterbury, Medway, Tonbridge, Brussels, Paris, Athens and Rome. It has been ranked 22nd in the Guardian University Guide 2018 and 25th in the Complete University Guide 2018, and in June 2017 was awarded a gold rating, the highest, in the UK Government's Teaching Excellence Framework (TEF).In the Times Higher Education (THE) World University Rankings 2015-16, it is in the top 10% of the world's leading universities for international outlook and 66th in its table of the most international universities in the world. The THE also ranked the University as 20th in its 'Table of Tables' 2016. Kent is ranked 17th in the UK for research intensity (REF 2014). It has world-leading research in all subjects and 97% of its research is deemed by the REF to be of international quality. In the National Student Survey 2016, Kent achieved the fourth highest score for overall student satisfaction, out of all publicly funded, multi-faculty universities. Along with the universities of East Anglia and Essex, Kent is a member of the Eastern Arc Research Consortium. The University is worth 0.7 billion to the economy of the south east and supports more than 7,800 jobs in the region. Student off-campus spend contributes 293.3m and 2,532 full-time-equivalent jobs to those totals. Kent has received two Queen's Anniversary prizes for Higher and Further Education. Homo sapiens, Neanderthals and other recent human relatives may have begun hunting large mammal species down to size - by way of extinction - at least 90,000 years earlier than previously thought, says a new study published in the journal Science. Elephant-dwarfing wooly mammoths, elephant-sized ground sloths and various saber-toothed cats highlighted the array of massive mammals roaming Earth between 2.6 million and 12,000 years ago. Prior research suggested that such large mammals began disappearing faster than their smaller counterparts - a phenomenon known as size-biased extinction - in Australia around 35,000 years ago. With the help of emerging data from older fossil and rock records, the new study estimated that this size-biased extinction started at least 125,000 years ago in Africa. By that point, the average African mammal was already 50 percent smaller than those on other continents, the study reported, despite the fact that larger landmasses can typically support larger mammals. But as humans migrated out of Africa, other size-biased extinctions began occurring in regions and on timelines that coincide with known human migration patterns, the researchers found. Over time, the average body size of mammals on those other continents approached and then fell well below Africa's. Mammals that survived during the span were generally far smaller than those that went extinct. The magnitude and scale of the recent size-biased extinction surpassed any other recorded during the last 66 million years, according to the study, which was led by the University of New Mexico's Felisa Smith. "It wasn't until human impacts started becoming a factor that large body sizes made mammals more vulnerable to extinction," said the University of Nebraska-Lincoln's Kate Lyons, who authored the study with Smith and colleagues from Stanford University and the University of California, San Diego. "The anthropological record indicates that Homo sapiens are identified as a species around 200,000 years ago, so this occurred not very long after the birth of us as a species. It just seems to be something that we do. "From a life-history standpoint, it makes some sense. If you kill a rabbit, you're going to feed your family for a night. If you can kill a large mammal, you're going to feed your village." By contrast, the research team found little support for the idea that climate change drove size-biased extinctions during the last 66 million years. Large and small mammals seemed equally vulnerable to temperature shifts throughout that span, the authors reported. "If climate were causing this, we would expect to see these extinction events either sometimes (diverging from) human migration across the globe or always lining up with clear climate events in the record," said Lyons, assistant professor of biology at Nebraska. "And they don't do either of those things." OFF THE FACE OF THE EARTH The team also looked ahead to examine how potential mammal extinctions could affect the world's biodiversity. To do so, it posed a question: What would happen if the mammals currently listed as vulnerable or endangered were to go extinct within the next 200 years? In that scenario, Lyons said, the largest remaining mammal would be the domestic cow. The average body mass would plummet to less than six pounds - roughly the size of a Yorkshire terrier. "If this trend continues, and all the currently threatened (mammals) are lost, then energy flow and taxonomic composition will be entirely restructured," said Smith, professor of biology at New Mexico. "In fact, mammalian body size around the globe will revert to what the world looked like 40 million years ago." Lyons said that restructuring could have "profound implications" for the world's ecosystems. Large mammals tend to be herbivores, devouring large quantities of vegetation and effectively transporting the associated nutrients around an ecosystem. If they continue to disappear, she said, the remaining mammals would prove poor stand-ins for important ecological roles. "The kinds of ecosystem services that are provided by large mammals are very different than what you get from small mammals," Lyons said. "Ecosystems are going to be very, very different in the future. The last time mammal communities looked like that and had a mean body size that small was after the extinction of the dinosaurs. "What we're doing is potentially erasing 40 to 45 million years of mammal body-size evolution in a very short period of time." Smith and Lyons authored the study with Jon Payne of Stanford University and Rosemary Elliott Smith from the University of California, San Diego. The team received support from the National Science Foundation. ### UNLV study shows frog embryos can fully regrow their eyes after injury, debunking a belief that they can't. A UNLV scientist and her team have found that frog embryos can fully regrow their eyes after injuries, a breakthrough that may lead one day to the ability to orchestrate tissue regeneration in humans. The study by UNLV scientist Prof. Kelly Tseng, Ph.D., "A Model for Investigating Developmental Eye Repair in Xenopus laevis," was recently published in the journal Experimental Eye Research. Xenopus laevis, or the South African clawed frog, are studied due to their highly regenerative traits that allow them to regrow tails, limbs, and even their brain. There was disagreement in the science community, however, that these frogs could regenerate their eyes as embryos. "In this study, we found that removing the majority of eye tissues in an embryo resulted in rapid regrowth to a normal sized eye within 3 to 5 days," Tseng said. "Some studies suggested these embryos didn't have this ability, but we've shown conclusively that these frog embryos can regenerate their eyes." Tseng and her students were able to confirm successful regeneration via two methods. First, the researchers saw that injured eyes were able to generate many new cells within 3 days, a key to cell regrowth in these frogs. The second clue was that Xenopus tadpoles show a strong preference to swimming in a white background as opposed to a black background. And after eye regrowth, Tseng's tadpoles showed the same functional preference. The team also found that apoptosis (programmed cell death), a process used in regeneration of other organs and tissues, is needed for successful eye regrowth. "These results suggest the embryonic Xenopus eye is a powerful model for studying developmental eye repair," according to the study. Now scientists can study the regeneration abilities of frogs and figure out what developmental mechanisms are used to repair a damaged eye. Tseng said that because frog eye development is similar to human eye growth, it could eventually lead to a blueprint on how to induce such regrowth in humans. By figuring out how frogs regenerate tissue, Tseng hopes she and other scientists can learn how to get stem cells to better repair or regrow tissue in humans. Of course, more research is needed, she said. For her work, Tseng employs graduate and undergraduate student researchers and dozens of the jumpy clawed frogs. ### A video related to the release can be found here: https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=d8pFPE0yW6o PHILADELPHIA - A host of special molecules called nuclear RNA-binding proteins (RBPs), when misplaced outside the nucleus, form the harmful clumps seen in several brain disorders, including frontotemporal dementia (FTD) and amyotrophic lateral sclerosis (ALS). "Clumps that form from these disease proteins are composed of sticky fibrils that damage nerve cells," said James Shorter, PhD, an associate professor of Biochemistry and Biophysics in the Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania. "We want to reverse the formation of these clumps and put the RNA-binding proteins back in their proper place, inside the nucleus." Normally, nuclear-import receptors (NIRs) bind to specific sequences of amino acids on the RBPs, to shepherd them into the nucleus. A team led by Shorter, describes in Cell this week what happened when they added NIRs to aggregates made from TDP-43 and FUS proteins, which are connected to these neurodegenerative diseases. "When we increased the concentration of NIRs, there were three important and surprising outcomes," said co-first author Lin Guo, PhD, a Target ALS Springboard Fellow. First, clumps of RBPs dissolved in test-tube experiments. Next, NIRs also dissolved cytoplasmic clumps in cells and functional RBPs were returned to the nucleus. And finally, when the expression of NIRs was increased in fruitfly models of disease, lifespan was extended and degeneration was reduced. "All of this biochemistry was highly unanticipated," said co-first author Henry Wang, an MD/PhD student at Penn. "We didn't suspect that the NIRs would break up the clumps, return the RBPs to the nucleus, and mitigate neurodegeneration." The team was surprised by how rapidly the NIRs could reverse the formation of the FUS and TDP-43 clumps. The transition from the RBP being dissolved in solution to forming droplet-like structures normally happens in the nucleus as a regular part of RBP function. However, when RBPs, like FUS and TDP-43, are misplaced in the cytoplasm, these phase changes can become aberrant, setting the RBPs on a destructive path, which can be corrected with NIRs. But, NIR expression or activity likely becomes reduced in disease. 'Given this complexity, we are now working to find a way to increase expression or activity of NIRs in neurons with clumps using protein engineering or small-molecule drugs, said coauthor Charlotte Fare, a doctoral student in Shorter's lab. ### Collaborators include co-senior author J. Paul Taylor, MD, PhD, an investigator with the Howard Hughes Medical Institute and chair of Cell and Molecular Biology at St. Jude Children's Research Hospital; Clotilde Lagier-Tourenne, Mass General Hospital; Yuh Min Chook, University of Texas; and Udai Pandey, University of Pittsburgh. This research was funded by the National Institute of Health (R21NS090205), Target ALS, the ALS Association, and the The Robert Packard Center for ALS Research at Johns Hopkins. Penn Medicine is one of the world's leading academic medical centers, dedicated to the related missions of medical education, biomedical research, and excellence in patient care. Penn Medicine consists of the Raymond and Ruth Perelman School of Medicine at the University of Pennsylvania (founded in 1765 as the nation's first medical school) and the University of Pennsylvania Health System, which together form a $7.8 billion enterprise. The Perelman School of Medicine has been ranked among the top medical schools in the United States for more than 20 years, according to U.S. News & World Report's survey of research-oriented medical schools. The School is consistently among the nation's top recipients of funding from the National Institutes of Health, with $405 million awarded in the 2017 fiscal year. The University of Pennsylvania Health System's patient care facilities include: The Hospital of the University of Pennsylvania and Penn Presbyterian Medical Center -- which are recognized as one of the nation's top "Honor Roll" hospitals by U.S. News & World Report -- Chester County Hospital; Lancaster General Health; Penn Medicine Princeton Health; Penn Wissahickon Hospice; and Pennsylvania Hospital - the nation's first hospital, founded in 1751. Additional affiliated inpatient care facilities and services throughout the Philadelphia region include Good Shepherd Penn Partners, a partnership between Good Shepherd Rehabilitation Network and Penn Medicine, and Princeton House Behavioral Health, a leading provider of highly skilled and compassionate behavioral healthcare. Penn Medicine is committed to improving lives and health through a variety of community-based programs and activities. In fiscal year 2017, Penn Medicine provided $500 million to benefit our community. Triple-negative breast cancer (TNBC) is an aggressive form of the disease accounting for 12 to 18 percent of breast cancers. It is a scary diagnosis, and even though chemotherapy can be effective as standard-of-care, many patients become resistant to treatment. A team at The University of Texas MD Anderson led a study which may explain how resistance evolves over time, and potentially which patients could benefit from chemotherapy. Results from a study led by Nicholas Navin, Ph.D., associate professor of Genetics, were published today in the April 19, 2018 online issue of Cell. Their findings indicate breast cancer cell resistance to chemotherapy may be pre-existing and the cells may even adapt to become resistant when confronted by the chemotherapy itself. To answer how a cell becomes resistant to chemotherapy, one must understand that cancer often begins with a clone - a single mutated cell that either can be destroyed by the immune system, or mutated further as subclones, genetic aberrations resulting in an ever-evolving cellular pathway to cancer. "An unresolved question is whether resistance is caused by the selection of rare pre-existing clones or, alternatively, through the acquisition of new genomic aberrations," said Navin. "Our data showed that resistant genotypes, or genes prone to being cancer-resistant, were pre-existing and adaptively selected by the initial treatment known as neo-adjuvant chemotherapy, but also requires further changes in gene expression programs to become fully resistant." Neo-adjuvant chemotherapy (NAC) is the standard of care for many TNBC patients, who lack estrogen and progesterone receptors as well as human epidermal growth factor 2 (HER2) receptor, making them ineligible for hormone or anti-HER2 therapy. While NAC is effective in some TNBC patients, approximately half will develop chemotherapy resistance, leading to poor overall survival. "A major gap in knowledge is whether chemoresistance arises due to the selection and expansion of pre-existing subclones called adaptive resistance or through new mutations resulting from the chemotherapy, a phenomenon known as acquired resistance," said Navin. "Previous genomic studies in other cancers have shown either adaptive or acquired resistance in different cancer types." Navin's group studied 20 TNBC patients treated with NAC. They looked at genetic changes by deeply sequencing the coding regions of genes across the genome. They sought to understand whether new genetic mutations occurring after chemotherapy erupted spontaneously due to acquired resistance, or whether the mutations already existed at very low levels prior to treatment. "What we found were two distinct classes of clonal dynamics - extinction and persistence," said Navin. "In the clonal extinction patients, NAC eliminated the tumor cells, leaving only normal cell types post-treatment. Clonal persistent patients harbored a larger number of residual tumor cells with genotypes and phenotypes that were altered in response to NAC." Using single-cell DNA and RNA sequencing, his team performed a detailed analysis of eight clonal persistent patients, measuring miniscule portions of DNA and RNA and found responses to NAC were pre-existing, thus adaptively selected. However, the expression of resistant genes was acquired by subsequent reprogramming as a result of chemotherapy. "Our data support a model of chemoresistance in which two modes of evolution, adaptive and acquired, were operating to establish chemo-resistant tumor mass," said Navin. "This data has important clinical implications." Navin's group believes pre-existence of chemoresistant genotypes in tumors indicates there may be diagnostic opportunities for detecting chemoresistant clones in TNBC patients prior to receiving NAC. Their findings that TNBC patients fall into clonal extinction or clonal persistent groups may be applicable to patient outcomes or survival. "Lastly, our data raise the possibility of therapeutic strategies to overcome chemoresistance by targeting pathways identified in this study," said Navin. "Future work will need to be performed in a larger group of TNBC patients to fully understand this evolutionary model and gene-related chemoresistance." ### MD Andersons study team members included: Charissa Kim, Ruli Gao, Ph.D., and Emi Sei, Ph.D., all of the Department of Genetics. Also participating were team members from the Karolinska Institutet, Stockholm. The study was funded by the National Institutes of Health (1R01CA169244-01 and CA016672); the Lefkofsky Family Foundation; the American Cancer Society (129098-RSG-16-092-01-TBG); the Breast Cancer Research Foundation; the Swedish Cancer Society (CAN 2015/713); the Cancer Society in Stockholm (154132); the Sister Network Institution Fund (KI-MDACC); the Global Academic Program at MD Anderson.; and the StratCan at the Karolinska Institute. DALLAS - April 19, 2018 - After testing more than 200,000 chemical compounds, UT Southwestern's Simmons Cancer Center researchers have identified 170 chemicals that are potential candidates for development into drug therapies for lung cancer. The 5-year project set out to identify new therapeutic targets for non-small cell lung cancer as well as potential drugs for these targets - a significant step forward toward personalizing cancer care. "For the large majority of compounds, we identified a predictive biomarker - a feature that allows the development of 'precision medicine,' or individualized treatment for each patient, which is a major goal of the Simmons Cancer Center," said Dr. John Minna, Director of the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research at UT Southwestern Medical Center. Lung cancer is the most common cause of cancer deaths in the U.S. for both men and women, according to the National Cancer Institute. Non-small cell lung cancer, the type of cancer studied in this research, comprises approximately 85 percent of all lung cancers. In 2017, lung cancer caused 26 percent of all cancer deaths. For more information Tips: Should I be screened for lung cancer? Cancer Care: Lung cancer services News: Double-drug lung cancer strategy Labs: Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research Research Article: Cell Using UT Southwestern's unique lung cancer cell library that is now the world's largest, the researchers searched for compounds that would kill cancer cells but not harm normal lung cells. "We began an ambitious project with the goal of identifying 'therapeutic triads': chemicals that kill cancer cells, biomarkers that predict who would respond, and the therapeutic targets on which those active chemicals work," said Dr. Minna, Professor of Internal Medicine and Pharmacology who holds the Sarah M. and Charles E. Seay Distinguished Chair in Cancer Research and the Max L. Thomas Distinguished Chair in Molecular Pulmonary Oncology. Continuing to uncover the mechanism of action for the majority of the 170 chemicals will be a key focus of future research. Follow-up work will also include testing the chemicals on other types of cancer. Preliminary work shows some of the compounds are likely effective against certain breast and ovarian cancers as well. Results of this complex project, led by Dr. Michael White, former Professor of Cell Biology and now Vice President for Oncology Drug Development at Pfizer Inc., involved members of the Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center and the Departments of Cell Biology, Biochemistry, Pharmacology, and Internal Medicine, and appear in the journal Cell. Dr. Minna, along with his research partner Dr. Adi Gazdar, Professor of Pathology and with the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology, have carefully developed and curated a collection of lung cancer cell lines since the 1970s that is now recognized as the world's largest - and upon which this research was based. Dr. Minna was named a "Giant of Cancer Care" in 2015 in recognition of this work developing lung cancer cell lines. What made this work unusual was that they began with the chemical compounds. "Almost all cancer research is gene-first, or target-first. We began with the potential drugs," said Dr. Michael Roth, Professor of Biochemistry and a member of the Simmons Cancer Center. Using UT Southwestern's High-Throughput Screening Core Facility, the team of scientists began by testing 200,000 chemicals against 12 lung cancer cell lines. "The initial screen gave us 15,000 chemical 'hits,' way too many to work with in detail, but with repeat testing we eventually narrowed the number down to 170. We called this the UT Southwestern 'Precision Oncology Probe Set,' or POPS," said Dr. Bruce Posner, Professor of Biochemistry and Director of the High-Throughput center. The set of 170 chemical compounds was then tested across 100 lung cancer lines. At the same time, researchers conducted in-depth molecular analyses of the lung cancer lines, including identification of genome mutations and protein expression. This information, paired with whether or not an individual cancer cell line was sensitive to a particular chemical, allowed the researchers to develop a set of biomarkers - indicators that could be used to determine if a particular cancer will respond to one of the 170 chemical compounds. The final step of the study was determining how the drugs acts on the cancer. "We scoured existing knowledge and were able to come up with the target for several examples to complete the third leg of the triad," said Dr. Roth, who holds the Diane and Hal Brierley Distinguished Chair in Biomedical Research at UT Southwestern, which is recognizing its 75th anniversary this year. ### The first author on the Cell paper describing the group's findings is Dr. Elizabeth McMillan, a former UT Southwestern Graduate School of Biomedical Sciences student, who developed sophisticated computational biology approaches to analyze the massive amount of data. Other UT Southwestern faculty members who contributed to this research are Dr. Luc Girard, Assistant Professor of Pharmacology and with the Hamon Center for Therapeutic Oncology Research; Dr. Noelle Williams, Professor of Biochemistry; Dr. Ralph DeBerardinis, with Children's Medical Center Research Institute at UT Southwestern and the Eugene McDermott Center for Human Growth and Development, and Chief of Pediatric Genetics and Metabolism. Dr. Gazdar holds the W. Ray Wallace Distinguished Chair in Molecular Oncology Research. Dr. DeBerardinis holds the Joel B. Steinberg, M.D. Chair in Pediatrics. This work was supported by grants from the National Institutes of Health; the Cancer Prevention and Research Institute of Texas; the Robert Welch Foundation; and the Ministry of Health and Welfare, Republic of Korea. Dr. Minna, holds a National Cancer Institute Specialized Program of Research Excellence (SPORE) grant, in conjunction with M.D. Anderson Cancer Center. The UT Southwestern SPORE is one of just three lung cancer SPORE grants nationally. SPORE grants support programs that have strong basic and applied research programs, and projects that will result in new and diverse approaches to the prevention and treatment of cancer. The Harold C. Simmons Comprehensive Cancer Center, one of 49 NCI-designated Comprehensive Cancer Centers in the U.S. and the only one in North Texas, is among just 30 U.S. cancer research centers to be designated by the NCI as a National Clinical Trials Network Lead Academic Participating Site. About UT Southwestern Medical Center UT Southwestern, one of the premier academic medical centers in the nation, integrates pioneering biomedical research with exceptional clinical care and education. The institution's faculty has received six Nobel Prizes, and includes 22 members of the National Academy of Sciences, 17 members of the National Academy of Medicine, and 14 Howard Hughes Medical Institute Investigators. The faculty of more than 2,700 is responsible for groundbreaking medical advances and is committed to translating science-driven research quickly to new clinical treatments. UT Southwestern physicians provide care in about 80 specialties to more than 100,000 hospitalized patients, 600,000 emergency room cases, and oversee approximately 2.2 million outpatient visits a year. Aalto University and VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd will set up a competence center for materials bioeconomy called CERES to develop new materials for securing a sustainable future. The Academy of Finland's new research funding programme has allocated CERES competence center several million euros for the next few years. The funding decision is based on international panel evaluations. CERES will develop new materials for packaging, advanced textiles and separation systems, as well as for semiconductors, composites and solutions for energy harvesting and storage. For this, plant-based biomass such as lignosellulose will be used to go beyond the materials produced from fossil carbon. Lignocellulose is thus the future plastics and much beyond. The interactions of materials will be tailored through different processes, which will be predicted by modelling. New types of materials produced from renewable resources will address some of the global challenges such as resource sufficiency, climate change and quality of life. The Finnish forest industry regards the bioeconomy as an important part of its reform. CERES brings together Aalto University and VTT's research communities, industry and national and international research networks. The development of the activities will be supported by Aalto University and VTT's advanced infrastructure and instrumentation, which goes from laboratory to demonstration scale. Long-term research results in new products, employment and a sustainable future The objective of Finland's national bioeconomy strategy is to create 100 000 new jobs in the country and increase the bioeconomy output by 40 billion euros by 2025. This requires fast new openings in the international market, which CERES strives to support. "Aalto University and VTT's profiles perfectly complement each other, and our long-term strategic cooperation creates exceptionally strong and diverse competence cluster", says Aalto University President Ilkka Niemela. "We highly appreciate the Academy of Finland's flagship funding, as it enables long-term cooperation in cutting-edge research of international importance. CERES competence cluster benefits the Finnish society by increasing competitiveness, new innovations and jobs and produces at the same time new innovative solutions to the global challenges of sustainability", he continues. "Finland has very ambitious goals in the bioeconomy and climate control. VTT estimates that the production value of our forest industry can be doubled from the current level by 2050 while also achieving climate targets if we focus on high added value products. The development of these products requires long-term research. We highly appreciate that the Academy of Finland has paid attention to the project's immediate societal influence in addition to its high scientific standards when granting the funding. The cooperation between Aalto University and VTT in the CERES competence center will create a unique base for new innovations in the bioeconomy", says VTT President and CEO Antti Vasara. ### Academy of Finland selects first two competence clusters to the new Flagship Programme: https://www.aka.fi/en/about-us/media/press-releases/2018/academy-of-finland-selects-first-two-competence-clusters-to-the-new-flagship-programme/ Flagship programme of the Academy of Finland: https://www.aka.fi/en/research-and-science-policy/flagship-programme/ Competence Center for the Materials Bioeconomy: A Flagship for our Sustainable Future: http://materials.aalto.fi/en/ceres/ Bioeconomy infrastructure: http://www.bioeconomyinfra.fi/ MEDIA MATERIAL: PHOTO: Cooperation between Aalto University and VTT creates a unique foundation for new bioeconomy innovations. From left: Vice President, Research Tiina Nakari-Setala, VTT, Professor Orlando Rojas, Aalto University, Vice President, Research and innovation Tuija Pulkkinen, Aalto University and Research Professor Kristiina Kruus, VTT. (Photo: Valeria Azovskaya) Further information: Aalto University Professor Orlando Rojas tel. +358 50 512 4227, orlando.rojas@aalto.fi VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd Research Professor Kristiina Kruus tel. +358 50 520 2471, kristiina.kruus@vtt.fi Further information on VTT: Paula Bergqvist Specialist, External Communications +358 20 722 5161 paula.bergqvist@vtt.fi http://www.vtt.fi VTT Technical Research Centre of Finland Ltd is one of the leading research, development and innovation organizations in Europe. We help our customers and society to grow and renew through applied research. The business sector and the entire society get the best benefit from VTT when we solve challenges that require world-class know-how together and translate them into business opportunities. VTT in social media: Twitter @VTTFinland, Facebook, LinkedIn, YouTube and Instagram. For photos and videos, please visit our Image Bank. Scientists have developed a new class of crystalline porous organic salts with high proton conductivity for applications such as proton-exchange membranes for fuel cells. As reported in the journal Angewandte Chemie, polar channels that contain water play a critical role in proton conduction. At about 60 C and high humidity, their proton conductivity is one of the best yet found in a porous material. Porous organic materials are potentially useful for many applications, including catalytic systems, separation processes, and gas storage. Although these framework-like structures vary greatly, they have one thing in common: their components are connected through covalent bonds. Porous organic salts, on the other hand, are a new class of materials with components held together by ionic bonds, the attractive forces between positive and negatively charged ions. They are challenging to produce because their pores usually collapse; the ionic bonds of previously known organic salts are not strong enough to stabilize a porous structure. Researchers working with Teng Ben at Jilin University (Changchun, China) have now successfully combined organic bases and acids to produce salts with very strong bonds and defined crystalline structures that form stable pore systems. These highly porous solids have the highest inner surface area ever found in an organic salt. The scientists demonstrated a significant correlation between the strength of the ionic bonds and the stability of the pore structure. The pores in the salts form one-dimensional channels and can hold water. The water molecules are bound to each other and to the charged groups through hydrogen bonding. These aspects give the salts their unusually high proton conductivity. Materials with high proton conductivity have become the focus of attention because they are good electrolytes for fuel cells. In a fuel cell, two half reactions of a chemical reaction occur while physically separated. The most popular version uses the reaction oxygen and hydrogen to form water. In this case, the two cells must exchange protons (positively charged hydrogen atoms) through an electrolyte--usually through a proton-conducting polymer membrane. Scientists have been searching for more efficient, robust electrolytes. These new salts may be candidates. They are very stable at higher temperatures and their proton conductivity increases as the temperature rises. In conventional polymer membranes, proton transport occurs through water-containing channels through which the protons within the network are transferred from one molecule to the next through hydrogen bonded water molecules. In the salts, the transport mechanism is different. Calculations indicate that the protons are sent through the channels by "courier": A water molecule binds a proton and diffuses through the channel, releasing the proton on the other side. ### About the Author Teng Ben was made Professor of Chemistry at Jilin University, China in 2010. His research interests include the fundamental understanding of host-guest interactions in nanoporous materials; gas storage, and separation using porous organic materials. mailto:tben@jlu.edu.cn Frenchman Mehdi Nemmouche was ordered Thursday to stand trial in Brussels for allegedly killing four people at a Jewish museum four years ago in a jihadist attack, his lawyer said. Judges decided there was enough evidence to try Nemmouche, 33, and alleged accomplice Nacer Bendrer, who is also French, in the Belgian capital for the attack in 2014, lawyer Henri Laquay told AFP. He did not name a date but the trial is expected to begin later this year or early next year. The judges decided there was not enough evidence to put Mounir Attalah, a third Frenchman linked to the attack, on trial. On May 24, 2014 a gunman armed with an assault rifle opened fire in the entrance hall of the museum in the centre of the Belgian capital, killing two Israeli tourists, a French volunteer and a Belgian museum receptionist. Six days later Nemmouche was arrested in the southern French port city of Marseille when getting off a bus from Brussels. Nemmouche had returned from Syria where he had been fighting with Islamist extremists. Nacer Bendrer was formally charged as an accomplice in the attack in February 2015 in Brussels, two months after his arrest near Marseille in possession of various weapons. These included a Kalachnikov assault rifle like the one used at the Jewish museum. Nemmouche has been linked to Abdelhamid Abaaoud, the ringleader of the November 13, 2015 Paris gun and bombing attacks that killed 130 people and wounded hundreds of others. Abaaoud died in a police shootout near the French capital days after the massacre. The Paris attacks were allegedly plotted in Brussels by the same cell that carried out the suicide bombings in the Belgian capitals airport and a metro train station on March 22, 2016, killing 32 people. The Islamic State group claimed responsibility for the Paris attacks and the Brussels 2016 attacks. Prominent Islamic scholar Tariq Ramadan, in detention in France over rape allegations, is suffering from multiple sclerosis, but could be treated behind bars, according to judicial medical opinion. The prominent TV pundit and Oxford University professor, whose grandfather founded Egypts Muslim Brotherhood movement, was detained by a French court in February over charges that he raped two Muslim women in France. A third alleged victim has come forward since then. In February, a French court dismissed a bid by the 55-year-old Ramadan to be released from detention on health grounds, after his lawyers argued his multiple sclerosis (MS) and nerve damage could not be adequately treated behind bars. Now, sources told AFP, medics agree that Ramadan has been suffering since 2006 from MS, a disabling disease of the central nervous system, but insist that if he remains in detention he will continue to receive access to health care, including four physiotherapy sessions per week. Ramadan denies the rape charges against him and has been held in a prison near Paris since February 2. When he made his original bid to avoid detention for health reasons, the first medical evidence given to the court failed to confirm his condition. According to the expert report handed over to the presiding judges on Wednesday, the diagnosis of multiple sclerosis was delivered the following month by two neurosurgeons. His two original accusers went to police in late October, both alleging that he had raped them in French hotel rooms In early March, a third woman came forward claiming Ramadan had raped her in Brussels in 2013 and 2014 She accused him of subjecting her to violent and sexually degrading acts during a dozen meetings, often in hotels on the sidelines of conferences. One of European Islams best known figures, he has dismissed the accusations against him as a smear campaign by his enemies and his lawyers argue there are inconsistencies in the womens accounts. His supporters including two million Facebook followers have lashed out angrily at his arrest, with many complaining that he has been unfairly targeted because he is Muslim. German police said Thursday they had arrested a suspect in an anti-Semitic attack against two men wearing traditional Jewish skullcaps in central Berlin. A video of the assault, filmed by one of the Israeli victims, went viral on social media and sparked widespread revulsion amid fears of a resurgence of anti-Semitic violence, including from Muslim migrants. Police said that a 19-year-old suspect they had already identified from the footage and witness statements had presented himself with a lawyer and would face a judge to be held on assault charges. Bild daily identified him a Palestinian from Syria named Knaan S. who was registered at a refugee home in Brandenburg state outside Berlin but was most recently living out of a suitcase in the capital. The video shows the attacker, one of a group of three men, shouting yahudi, Jew in Arabic, and lashing out at his victim with a belt. In a twist to the story, the author of the video tape, a 21-year-old student called Adam, said Wednesday that he is an Israeli Arab. He told broadcaster Deutsche Welle that he wore the Jewish kippa gifted to him by a friend to see whether it was safe to do so on the streets of his upmarket Berlin neighbourhood. He said he uploaded the video for the police and for the German people and even the world to see how terrible it is these days as a Jew to go through Berlin streets. A number of high-profile incidents in recent months have raised alarm bells about a possible resurgence of anti-Semitism in Germany from both the far-right and a large influx of predominantly Muslim asylum-seekers since 2015. The latest incident was described as a disgrace for German democracy by a spokeswoman for Chancellor Angela Merkel. Foreign Minister Heiko Maas said Germany bears a responsibility to protect Jewish life more than 70 years after the end of the Holocaust in which the Nazis murdered six million European Jews. The head of the Central Council of Jews in Germany, Joseph Schuster, told AFP he was shocked by the incident, noting that it had occurred in a bourgeois area and not in a majority Muslim quarter. This case must be met with the full force of the law, he said. A German appeals court on Thursday upheld a ruling against a teenage girl who badly wounded a police officer with a kitchen knife, affirming that she did act on behalf of the Islamic State group. German-Moroccan Safia S., who in February 2016 stabbed a police officer in the neck at Hanovers main railway station, had agreed on the concrete act with the jihadists, said the court, throwing out her appeal. The now 17-year-old had sought to overturn her conviction for attempted murder and the support of a terrorist group by a court in Celle in January 2017. She was sentenced to six years of juvenile detention for the attack which the Celle court said was committed to support the Islamic State group. In her appeal, her defence argued that she did not act on behalf of IS, which never claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities believe Safia S. was radicalised as a young girl. They found a message on her phone after the deadly Paris jihadist attacks in November 2015, exulting about the carnage. Yesterday was my favourite day, she wrote. Allah bless our lions who carried out an operation in Paris. Germany has been hit by a number of jihadist attacks in recent years, the deadliest committed by a Tunisian man who killed 12 people when he drove a stolen truck through a Berlin Christmas market crowd in December 2016. The Basque militant group ETA will make the highly anticipated announcement of its dissolution on the first weekend in May, an international mediator told Basque radio Thursday. Alberto Spektorowski, one of a group of international mediators brokering talks on a definitive end to the conflict in Spains northern Basque region, said that failing a last-minute surprise ETA would make the announcement on May 5 or 6. The declaration that ETA no longer exists will be very clear, the Israeli academic, a member of the International Contact Group (ICG), told Basque radio EITB. I cannot say what words they will use but no one will be left in any doubt, he said, adding that the announcement would be made across the border, in the French Basque region. ETA waged a nearly four-decade fight for an independent Basque state that killed at least 829 people before it announced a permanent ceasefire in 2011. Last year it went a step further and laid down its arms. Spains 2.2-million-strong Basque region is now gearing up for the dissolution of the group created in 1959 at the height of Francisco Francos dictatorship. Spektorowski said the Basque region was entering a new post-ETA phase. It will be clear that a chapter of the history of the Basque Country and of Spain is closed, he said. The language used by ETA in its statement will be scrutinised closely, however, for proof that it is sincere about disbanding. In a statement announcing a press conference Monday in the French city of Bayonne, one of the groups involved in the peace process, Bake Bidea, avoided talk of dissolution, referring instead to ETAs demobilisation. Bayonne Mayor Jean-Rene Etchegarray insisted on the need for clear language. Things must be perfectly clear, words are important. The demobilisation began in 2011 when ETA announced its ceasefire, he said. Beyond ETAs dissolution, questions remain over how to move forward. Spektorowski said ETAs main demand is that jailed Basque nationalists be moved closer to their families. France has already done that but the Spanish state still has some problems with that, he said. Spanish Interior Minister Juan Ignacio Zoido sounded an uncompromising note. Reacting to news of the imminent dissolution, he said: ETA obtained nothing for stopping the killing and will also get nothing for declaring its dissolution. The European Parliament called Thursday on Slovakia to ensure a full and independent investigation into the murder of an investigative reporter while demanding better protections for all journalists in the EU. The appeal was adopted by 573 MEPs with 27 against and 47 abstentions after journalist Jan Kuciak and his fiancee Martina Kusnirova were shot dead in Slovakia in February. MEPs called on Slovak authorities to deploy all necessary resources to ensure a full, thorough and independent investigation of the double murder, the parliament said in a statement. They said it was preferable that European police agency Europol join the investigation. They also urge them to protect investigative journalists from any form of intimidation and defamation charges and from attacks aimed at silencing them, it added. With mass street protests since the murders, Slovakia has been plunged into a political crisis that has forced the cabinet and police chief to resign. Critics had argued that Police Chief Tibor Gaspars alleged political connections prevented a fair investigation into the murder of Kuciak who had been probing alleged ties between top politicians and the Italian mafia. Kuciaks murder occurred months after anti-corruption journalist Daphne Caruana Galizia, 53, was assassinated by a car bomb on October 16 in Malta. Eighteen international media outlets are pursuing their own investigation into Galizias murder as her sons accuse the Maltese government of handling the case like a public relations campaign. The blogger had made repeated and detailed corruption allegations against Maltese Prime Minister Joseph Muscat and members of his inner circle, as well as the opposition. The murders of Daphne Caruana Galizia and Jan Kuciak are an attempt to undermine our fundamental values and a blow to the rule of law in the European Union, European Parliament president Antonio Tajani said. The MEPs also condemned insulting comments some EU politicians made towards journalists and urged all EU countries to protect the personal safety and livelihoods of investigative journalists and whistle-blowers. Slovak Prime Minister Robert Fico once told journalists they were dirty, anti-Slovak whores and used terms like plain, silly hyenas and slimy snakes to describe the media. The MEPs called for better protection of journalists subjected to frequent lawsuits intended to censor their work and for a permanent EU scheme to support independent investigative journalism. It also called for better monitoring of media ownership concentration. France's highest administrative court has upheld a decision to deny a French passport to an Algerian Muslim who refused to shake hands with officials during her citizenship ceremony, according to a ruling seen by AFP Thursday. The woman argued that her religious beliefs prevented her from shaking hands with a senior official presiding over the citizenship ceremony in the southeastern Isere region in June 2016, as well as with a local politician. The government said her behaviour showed she was not assimiliated into the French community one of the reasons it can invoke under the civil code to oppose citizenship for the spouse of a French national. The woman, who has been married to a Frenchman since 2010, appealed the April 2017 decision, calling it an abuse of power. But the Council of State, the court of last appeal in such matters, ruled the government had not improperly applied the law. About 500 lawmakers from Germany, France and Britain on Thursday urged the US Congress to support the Iran nuclear deal which President Donald Trump has threatened to abandon. It is the USs and Europes interest to prevent nuclear proliferation in a volatile region and to maintain the transatlantic partnership as a reliable and credible driving force of world politics, the MPs wrote. The MPs from the parliaments of the three European signatory countries said the landmark 2015 deal was a major diplomatic breakthrough that had halted the imminent threat of a nuclear-armed Iran. We were able to impose unprecedented scrutiny on the Iranian nuclear programme, dismantle most of their nuclear enrichment facilities and drastically diminish the danger of a nuclear arms race, they wrote. Not a drop of blood was spilt. Scrapping the agreement would result in another source of devastating conflict in the Middle East and beyond, they warned in an open letter published in several newspapers. Trump has derided the deal as a capitulation to Tehran and has declared it no longer is in the US interest to maintain the sanctions relief his predecessor Barack Obama granted Iran in return for controls on its nuclear programme. He has demanded that US lawmakers and European allies fix disastrous flaws in the deal or face a US exit, possibly as early as next month. The MPs warned that ending the deal would spell lasting damage to our credibility as international partners in negotiation, and more generally, to diplomacy as a tool to achieve peace and ensure security. French President Emmanuel Macron and German Chancellor Angela Merkel will both travel to Washington next week on separate official visits, in part to lobby Trump on the Iran issue. Privacy Settings This site uses functional cookies and external scripts to improve your experience. Which cookies and scripts are used and how they impact your visit is specified on the left. You may change your settings at any time. Your choices will not impact your visit. NOTE: These settings will only apply to the browser and device you are currently using. Telecommunications giant Altice - in hot water already over the way it has restructured Portugal Telecom - is now facing a massive fine for jumping the gun over its 2015 purchase deal. Reuters news agency broke the news on Wednesday, suggesting the company that frequently leaves Portuguese customers infuriated over the time it takes to respond to callouts could have to fork out as much as 2.3 billion euros. The reason is that EU investigators are satisfied that Altice effectively agreed its purchase of PT before the Commission had given its authorisation and even before notification that authorisation was in the pipeline. Dinheiro Vivo elaborates that the deal celebrated between the two companies put Altice in a position to exercise decisive influence over PT Portugal . and in certain cases Altice did exercise a determining influence over PT Portugal. Today, sources close to the company are attempting to shrug off the news, saying Brussels fine will be nothing like the 2.3 billion (cited by Reuters on the basis that the Commission can impose fines of up to 10% of a companys global turnover for breaching EU rules. The company posted 23.43 billion euros in revenues last year). Here, Dinheiro Vivo suggests Brussels may want to come down on Altice hard, in order to dissuade other companies from similar practices. Competitions commissioner Margrethe Vestager has said that companies found to pre-empt decisions are putting the good function of the EUs system of control at risk. As DV concludes, this is not the first time Altice has had its knuckles rapped for haste in advancing an acquisition ahead of authorisations. Two years ago, the French Competitions authority fined the company 80 million for having gone forwards with the purchase of SFR and Virgin Mobile without the regulators necessary authorisations. Other companies in Brussels bad books right include Merck, Sigma-Aldrich, General Electric and Canon. Rulings could come in the coming months, says Reuters, while the fine for Altice could be announced as early as next week. Meantime, Altice has another significant headache here in Portugal. Market regulator Anacom is looking into the profits of companies that constructed rural fibre optic networks with public money to see if there was over-financing. The profits of Fibroglobal, a company owned by Altice, are much higher than averages in the sector, writes Publico. Areas where the company has been particularly active include the Algarve, as well as the centre of the country which last summer was devastated by fires. Competitors NOS and Vodafone are particularly keen to see Altice come a cropper, as they claim the company has benefitted massively from constructing a kind of monopoly, but it remains to be seen what Anacom decides. Frequently blamed for failing to identify the rot eating away at Banco Espirito Santo before it was too late, the Bank of Portugal is now attempting to pass the buck and blame auditors KPMG. If the so-called administrative procedure is successful, KPMG could be fined up to 2.5 million, say reports. KPMG however is contesting the accusation, saying the institute led by Carlos Costa always had access to the information that KPMG auditors were using. Indeed the decision to accuse KPMGs Portuguese operation has not been consensual within the bank, adds Publico. There are those who think it lacks foundation precisely because the bank will have had total knowledge of what was going on, and was inclusively in possession of documents sent by KPMG on, for example, the parlous state of accounts at BES Angola. The nitty gritty of BdPs administrative procedure centres on alleged failings during the years 2011 to 2014 (when BES finally imploded, causing economic ricochets which are still reverberating through the countrys financial system). Article by kind permission of Russian theatre and film director Kirill Serebrennikov will not be able to attend the Cannes Film Festival next month, where one of his films is competing for the prestigious Palme d'Or prize, after a Moscow court on Wednesday extended his house arrest. The house arrest will be extended until July 19, 2018, judge Artur Karpov was quoted as saying by the Russian news agency Ria Novosti. Serebrennikov, creative director of the Gogol Centre theatre in Moscow who has also staged productions at the Bolshoi theatre, has been under house arrest since last August after being charged with defrauding the state of 68 million rubles ($1.15 million, 977,000 euros) in funding for a theatrical project. He denies any guilt and has dismissed the charges as absurd, but could face a decade in jail. Serebrennikov has been invited to the Cannes Film Festival in May, where his film Leto is in the running for Palme dOr. His film The Student won a prize in Cannes in 2016. A string of top artists from both inside and outside Russia have openly come out in support of Serebrennikov and called for him to be freed. The director was unable to attend the premiere of his ballet, Nureyev, which traces the life and Aids-related death of Soviet dancer and choreographer Rudolf Nureyev, at the Bolshoi in December. Never overtly opposed to President Vladimir Putin, Serebrennikovs work, and its exploration of themes of politics, religion and sexuality, has regularly put him at loggerheads with religious and conservative circles in Russia. The Russian army Chief of Staff Valery Gerasimov and NATO's Commander in Europe Curtis Scaparrotti held a rare meeting in Azerbaijan's capital Baku on Thursday. The two men discussed the military activity of NATO and Russia in Europe, reinforcing confidence and preventing incidents, the Russian defence ministry said in a statement. They also exchanged views on the situation in Syria, emphasising the importance of cooperation in the fight against international terrorism, it added. NATO said the conversation focused on issues related to military posture and exercises. This face-to-face meeting demonstrates a clear mutual interest to maintain the military lines of communication, to align with NATOs policy of dialogue and transparency, it added in a statement. General Valery Gerasimov had already met Jon Dunford, Chairman of the US Joint Chiefs of Staff, in Baku in February 2016. The military men then pledged to reinforce communication between their armies. The United States and Russia already use a line of military communication on their aerial operations in Syria to prevent incidents between the two countries. Washington ended all military cooperation with Russia after Moscow annexed the Crimea peninsula from Ukraine in 2014, including ending joint exercises and visits of US ships to Russian ports. Tensions between Russia and the US rose to new levels last week after a Washington-led strike against the Syrian regime which Moscow denounced as aggression against its ally. After a week of bitter acrimony over Syria, UN Security Council ambassadors are heading to a farmhouse in southern Sweden for a retreat to try to break the deadlock over how to end the war. US Ambassador Nikki Haley and her Russian counterpart Vassily Nebenzia will be among the 15 ambassadors joining Secretary-General Antonio Guterres for the secluded getaway in a country setting. The three-day retreat beginning Friday comes after one of the councils most divisive periods, with the United States and Russia split over the alleged chemical weapons attack in Douma that lead to military action by Washington and its allies against Syria. The council met five times on Syria last week including on Tuesday when Russia vetoed a US-drafted resolution setting up a chemical weapons probe while two other proposed measures failed to pass. The Russia-US rivalry prompted Guterres to declare that the Cold War was back with a vengeance. Asked whether he expected awkward moments during the Swedish retreat, Nebenzia told reporters: I will see how they feel about dealing with me after all that happened. Its not news to anyone that the council is divided on Syria, said Swedens Deputy UN Ambassador Carl Skau. There is some need for humility and patience at this moment. Roll up your sleeves The council will be staying at Backakra, the summer residence of Dag Hammarskjold, who was the United Nations second secretary-general. The residence located on the southern tip of Sweden, far from Stockholm, is a fitting and inspiring venue to reconnect with the power of diplomacy, said Skau. Its a place to roll up our sleeves, take off our jackets and ties and come up with some real and meaningful ways forward, he said. The annual brainstorming session usually takes place in upstate New York, but Sweden, which is a non-permanent council member, offered to host this years gathering. Guterres had told council members that the focus of the meeting would be his plan for a surge of diplomacy to address conflicts worldwide, but the councils deadlock over Syria is emerging as the top priority. Despite tensions with Russia over the poisoning of ex-Russian spy Sergei Skripal, British Ambassador Karen Pierce said she wants to work with Ambassador Nebenzia to ty to make progress on getting back to the political process in Syria. Thats the most important thing, Pierce said. Sweden has presented a draft resolution on sending a UN mission to rid Syria of its chemical weapons stockpile once and for all. In February, it led negotiations with Kuwait on a ceasefire resolution that never materialized. France, the United States and Britain have put forward their own measure on ending the use of chemical weapons in Syria and re-energizing peace talks. The retreat will not primarily be a negotiating session on the various draft resolutions on Syria, said Skau, but he did not rule out such talks. Sweden is worried that divisions on Syria could spill over and affect diplomacy on other conflicts, plunging the council into all-out paralysis. The Dutch state Thursday appealed a decision by an Amsterdam court to refer a landmark case over Brexit to Europe's top court, as British expats demand clarification of their rights as EU citizens. In what is believed to be the first such case as Britain prepares to leave the European Union next year, five Britons living in the Netherlands and two expat organisations took the government to court in January. They argue they have independent rights as EU citizens, over and above being citizens of any specific EU member country including Britain. But lawyer Erik Pijnacker Hordijk, representing the Dutch government, told the appeals court Thursday their case is groundless and should be ruled as inadmissible. Even in the event of a hard Brexit, where Britain would leave without a deal with the EU it doesnt mean that British citizens who legally live in the Netherlands will lose their residency rights, he said. There is no chance that any of the plaintiffs will run the risk of being ejected from the country, he maintained. Estimates vary, but between 46,000 to 85,000 Brits are said to live in the Netherlands. There is no reason to believe that they will run a serious risk of being told to leave the country, Hordijk said. But the group insist their legal rights as EU citizens including freedom of movement should remain and be protected by The Netherlands even after Britain withdraws from the 28-member body at midnight on March 29, 2019. Irrespective of how an eventual Brexit will look, the plaintiffs rights as EU citizens are already in jeopardy, the groups lawyer Christiaan Alberdingk Thijm told the judges. These plaintiffs are not second-rate citizens in the Netherlands. But if Brexit goes through, this is exactly what they are going to become. In what could have far-reaching implications for about one million Brits on the continent, judge Floris Bakels in February asked the European Court of Justice to answer two preliminary questions. The questions are: Does Brexit mean that Britons automatically lose their European citizenship or do they maintain their rights, and if so, under what conditions? Nowhere to go The rights of three million Europeans living in Britain has been a key issue in the Brexit negotiations, but the situation facing around one million British expats in the other 27 countries is more uncertain, the Migration Policy Institute Europe think-tank said in a report Thursday. Observers say should the ECJ indeed rule that Britons have separate implicit rights as EU citizens it could have massive implications including impacting current Brexit negotiations. Thijm told AFP after the hearing that should British lose those rights, their livelihood is in danger imminently and that is what were trying to prevent. Dutch MPs later Thursday took up the Brexit issue with a special round-table organised in parliament. All of us are worried about our future rights, said Sarah Parkes from the British in Europe group, urging the Dutch government to grant citizenship to Brits who have lived long-term in the country. Post-Brexit, if the Dutch state asks us to leave the Netherlands, we will have no-one to turn to and nowhere to go, she said, explaining that many no longer had family or friends left in Britain. Appeals court judges are expected to hand down their verdict in two months. With one month to go until Prince Harry's wedding to US actress Meghan Markle, here are 10 key dates in his life so far: 1984 Birth His Royal Highness Prince Henry Charles Albert David of Wales was born, at 4:20am on September 15, at St. Marys Hospital in London, like his brother Prince William two years before. He was born third in line to the throne. His mother Diana carried him out wrapped in a white blanket. 1997 Death of Diana Dianas death in a car crash in Paris shook Harrys life and took him decades to come to terms with. Aged 12, he walked behind her coffin at her funeral and cried at her burial. He blocked out the grief for years before seeking help from a therapist when he was 28, after two years of total chaos as he struggled to keep the lid on his distress. 2004 Lesotho Harrys trip to the impoverished southern African nation had a lasting effect on the young prince. During his gap year, he worked at a home for children orphaned by the countrys AIDS pandemic. Taking up one of his mothers causes, those affected by HIV and AIDS, he and Lesothos Prince Seeiso launched the Sentebale charity. He often returns to visit the youngsters he bonded with as infants. 2005 Nazi uniform scandal In his wild youth, Harry was a regular at plush London nightclubs, with booze, cannabis, cigarettes, posh beauties and a paparazzi scuffle par for the course. His mischievous antics were widely viewed with amused affection until pictures were published on January 13, 2005 of him attending a colonials and natives fancy dress party wearing a mock Nazi Afrika Korps uniform. Harry apologised. 2007 First tour in Afghanistan After his planned deployment to Iraq was cancelled in May, much to his fury, second lieutenant Wales was deployed to Afghanistan in December, calling in air cover in support of ground forces. He went on foot patrols in Garmsir and attacked front-line positions with a machine gun. The army officer had to return after 10 weeks when foreign media broke a news blackout. 2012 Las Vegas party Before returning to Afghanistan, Harry went partying in Las Vegas. After larking around in a pool, Harry played strip billiards and was pictured naked with a mystery woman. The snaps, leaked on August 21, went global. It was another low point for Harry. In a privacy row, cowed British newspapers initially did not publish them before The Sun broke ranks. 2012 Back to Afghanistan Harry learned to fly Apache attack helicopters as a way of getting back to Afghanistan. Captain Wales arrived at Britains Camp Bastion base on September 7. He slept in a tent and a shipping container and returned home after 20 weeks of front-line action. Asked if he had personally killed Taliban fighters, he said: You get asked to do things that you would expect to do. 2014 Invictus Games The soldier prince has taken up the cause of injured troops. He created the Paralympics-style international event for wounded services personnel, staging the first competition from September 10-14 in the Olympic Park in London. 416 troops from 13 countries took part. Follow-up Games were organised for Orlando 2016, Toronto 2017 and Sydney 2018. 2017 Engagement Harry met Meghan Markle, a US actress starring in legal drama Suits, through a mutual friend. They then had two dates in London in July 2016 before camping together in Botswana. Harry confirmed their relationship in November 2016 and the couple got engaged 12 months later, publicly announcing it on November 27, around a year and a half after they first met. 2018 Wedding Harry and his fiancee are due to marry at St. Georges Chapel in Windsor Castle on May 19. The ceremony is set to be broadcast live all over the world. The couple will live together at his Nottingham Cottage home in the grounds of Londons Kensington Palace. Meghan Markle's half-brother has accused the royal bride-to-be of forgetting "her roots and her family" and "acting phoney" in a stinging interview with a British newspaper. Thomas Markle, who lives in the US state Oregon, hit out at Prince Harrys 36-year-old American fiancee for losing touch with relatives in recent years after finding fame acting. She is giving the greatest performance of her life, he told the Daily Mirror in an interview published on Thursday. She is acting phoney. Once she got into Hollywood she turned into a different person. Shes clearly forgotten her roots and her family. He added: Meg likes to portray herself as a humanitarian, a peoples person and a charitable person but she is none of those things to her family. Markle will marry Prince Harry in exactly one month in a chapel inside Windsor Castle in front of 600 invited guests. A further 2,640 people will be welcomed into the castle grounds. Thomas Markle revealed he had not received an invite, despite claiming to have spent many weekends together caring for their dementia-stricken grandmother from 2009 to 2011. He is the latest relative on her fathers side to go public on the apparent family rift. Half-sister Samantha Grant has given interviews and posted messages on social media concerning the fractured relations. The half-brother said he hoped senior royals might step in to ensure he and other relatives get invited to the wedding. The siblings share the same father, who reportedly lives in Mexico. There has been no confirmation on whether he will attend the May 19 nuptials. Thomas Markle noted their father was present for Meghan Markles first wedding, to film producer ex-husband Trevor Engelson, in Jamaica in 2011. Sky, the pan-European TV giant, said Thursday that it had added 38,000 customers in its third quarter as a takeover battle for the group intensified. Rupert Murdochs 21st Century Fox is hoping to buy the 61 percent of Sky it does not own but the long-running battle has been held up by competition concerns over media plurality and broadcasting standards in Britain. Amid the delay, US cable giant Comcast has offered more than 22 billion ($31 billion, 25 billion euros) for all of Sky, trumping Foxs bid on a price-per-share basis. In a further twist, Disney is hoping to buy Fox for $52.4 billion (42.3 billion euros) a deal that would see British government concerns over Murdochs far-reaching media control in Britain fall away. Awaiting developments in the takeover saga, Sky on Thursday added that its revenue climbed 5.0 percent to 10.14 billion in the first nine months of its 2017-18 financial year that runs to the end of June. In media terms, Sky is currently the belle of the ball, attracting overseas suitors aplenty. This update is another vindication of the interest being shown, noted Richard Hunter, head of markets at Interactive Investor. Following the trading update, shares in Sky rose 0.4 percent to 1,314 pence in early deals on Londons FTSE 100 index, which was up 0.2 percent overall. Earlier this month, 21st Century Fox proposed selling rolling TV channel Sky News to Disney in order to finally seal control of Sky. Nearly 18 months ago, 21st Century Fox bid 11.4 billion for the part of Sky it is yet to own. The Fox bid, pitched at 10.75 per Sky share, is significantly lower than the Comcast offer of 12.50. But earlier this year, Britains Competitions and Markets Authority provisionally ruled that Murdochs planned takeover was not in the public interest and that a deal would hand him too much power in swaying public opinion. Murdoch owns also major British newspaper titles The Times and The Sun. To counter the regulatory obstacle, 21st Century Fox has proposed to sell Sky News to Disney even if the latter does not buy Fox. Another option put up by Fox is to ring-fence Sky News. bcp/jh Ireland's Shire Pharmaceuticals on Thursday faced the prospect of a bidding war after rejecting a $60-billion takeover from Japan's Takeda, as Botox-maker Allergan revealed it was mulling an offer. Shire, which is based in Dublin but listed in London, said in a statement that it had rejected three takeover approaches from Takeda because they all significantly undervalued the company, its growth prospects and pipeline. Takedas latest cash-and-shares offer valued Shire at 42 billion ($60 billion, 48 billion euros) and was pitched at the equivalent of 46.50 per share. The deal would represent Takedas biggest-ever takeover, according to Japanese media. Takeda confirms that on April 12 it made a revised proposal to the board of Shire to acquire the entire issued and to be issued share capital of Shire, the Osaka-based Japanese group said in a statement. Takeda was subsequently notified that the board of Shire had rejected its proposal. Discussions between the parties regarding a potential offer are ongoing. Shire added that its advisers have entered a dialogue with Takeda to discuss whether a further, more attractive, proposal may be forthcoming. Allergan considers tilt Shortly afterwards, fellow Dublin-based pharma giant Allergan announced that it was also mulling a takeover tilt at Shire. Allergan confirms that it is in the early stages of considering a possible offer for Shire, it said in its statement. No offer has been made. There can be no certainty an offer will be made nor as to the terms on which any such offer would be made. The news sent Shires share price racing as high as 42 on Londons rising FTSE 100 index. However, it pared gains in late afternoon deals to finish at 39.75, up 5.89 percent from Wednesdays closing level. That was significantly below Takedas latest offer. We might see a bidding war on our hands as Allergan are allegedly interested in bidding for Shire, noted CMC Markets analyst David Madden. This comes at a time when Shire rejected a bid from Takeda. The pharmaceutical sector is prone to these sort of play where takeovers are an effective expansion method, epically when patents are running out. He added: Allergan is relatively light in cash and heavily indebted, so there are no guarantees (that its offer) will transpire. Shire shares had also soared in early morning trade on the London Stock Exchange as rumours of the deal began to emerge. Allergan shares were down more than 5 percent in midday trading in New York. The news comes after Shire announced on Monday the sale of its cancer division to French peer Servier for $2.4 billion as it unloads non-core assets. M&A flurry Thursdays news comes amid a flurry of merger and acquisition (M&A) activity in the pharmaceutical industry, at a time when traditional players are seeing profits eroded by competition from generic medicine. Japanese drugmakers in particular are facing pressure in the home market as the government tries to cut prices of many branded medicines and put greater focus on cheaper generics to rein in health spending as the population ages rapidly. Takeda, led by Frenchman Christophe Weber, has been actively looking overseas for acquisitions. In 2011 it took over Swiss rival Nycomed for 9.6 billion euros (then $13.6 billion). However, some analysts are concerned that a takeover bid of this magnitude could put too much pressure on Takedas own finances. Shire added Thursday that Takeda had first approached it on March 29 with an initial offer, which was subsequently revised twice earlier this month. anb-ric-rfj/rl Almost any consumer can tell you that federal regulations restricting telemarketers from calling cell phones dont have much effect. But now consumers are taking matters into their own hands, suing telemarketers in federal court and winning multimillion dollar verdicts. Federal telecommunication law allows consumers to sue telemarketers that violate the law, which prohibits sales or collection calls to cell phones without consumers written permission. Over a recent 17-month period, Texas consumers have filed 107 such lawsuits, the seventh most in the nation, seeking penalties of as much as $1,500 for each annoying call that theyve received. More than 3,100 similar cases have been brought across the country during that time period, an increase of nearly 50 percent from the previous 17 months, according to the U.S. Chamber of Commerce. Consumers are winning, too. Pivotal Payments, a Texas payment processor, last year agreed to pay $9 million to settle a lawsuit that accused the company of failing to ensure the company it hired to make marketing calls to 1.9 million consumers complied with federal law. Dish Network, the satellite television company, was ordered by a federal judge in North Carolina last year to pay $61.5 million to thousands of consumers on the national "Do Not Call" registry who received subscription pitches. And Wells Fargo reached a $14.8 million deal last year to settle a class action lawsuit over automated calls to cell phones to sell car loans. Jarrett Ellzey, a Houston lawyer, last year won a $9.8 million settlement in a class-action lawsuit against the Philadelphia insurer ACE American Insurance, which allegedly called thousands of consumers on the Do Not Call list to sell hazard coverage. They want the calls to stop, said Ellzey. Its driving them crazy. RELATED: Did Cambridge Analytica get your Facebook data? What to do The Federal Trade Commission created the "Do Not Call" list 15 years ago to stop unwanted phone calls from telemarketers, updating the 1991 Telephone Consumer Protection Act that restricted unwanted commercial calls to both land lines and cell phones. The agency also put tighter restrictions on calls placed to cell phones, devised at a time when cell phone plans had limited calling times and added hefty charges if limits were exceeded. Telemarketers were prohibited from using automatic dialing systems phones and computer-generated voices to call cell phones or leave pre-recorded messages without express written consent. And consumers could revoke their consent to receive calls on their cell phones, including calls from debt collectors. But the pace of the robocalls has only accelerated, as technology made it cheap for banks, insurance companies, retailers and others to use automatic dialers and pre-recorded messages and hope that consumers press "1" for more information. YouMail, an app that blocks robocalls, estimates that each American adult received an average of 100 robocalls to their cell phones and land lines last year. The Federal Communications Commission receives more complaints about unwanted robocalls calls than any other category, logging 1.9 million during the first five months of 2017 alone. But it doesnt have the money or manpower to go after all the violators, so Congress gave consumers the right to bring their own lawsuits against companies that call without permission and ignore pleas to stop calling. Tonya Stevens, 48, decided to exercise that right after she received nearly 1,850 calls from The Woodlands-based Conns to her cell phone over a 13-month period. She bought a washer, dryer and other merchandise for about $5,000 in 2014 , but within a few weeks, collections calls began coming to her cell phone, as many as 11 times a day, even though Stevens said she was paying her bill regularly. Stevens, who lives in Bonham near the Oklahoma border, agreed to be contacted by Conns through her cell phone when she made her purchase. But she withdrew that consent a key factor in cases like this by telling company representatives to stop calling and writing the same message on the memo line of her checks. Nothing worked, she said, until she hired a lawyer and filed a complaint with the Texas attorney generals office. I was just fed up, she said. Michael A. Harvey, a lawyer for Conns, disputed allegations that the retailer violated the federal telecommunications law, but because of the litigation, would not provide details of Stevens account. He added that Conns strives to create a positive experience for its customers, from the sales floor to when they pay off their accounts. Daniel Ciment, the Houston lawyer who is representing Stevens, is planning to ask an arbitrator for $2.8 million in damages, $1,500 the maximum damage award for each of the calls to Stevens cell phone. Its not unrealistic, he said, pointing to an arbitrators decision earlier this year that Conns must pay a Tennessee consumer $311,000 for 424 calls the retailer made in a four-month period after the consumer told Conns to quit calling his cell phone. It adds up quick, said Ciment. Ciment is a small player in a cottage industry of lawyers that file these consumer protection claims, which can generate significant fees, particularly in class-action suits involving hundreds or thousands of consumers. Unlike many other types of civil cases, the lawyers dont have to prove damages for their clients to collect; the only need to show that telemarketers made unlawful calls. RELATED: AG alleges lawyer used deceptive practices in debt collection But its not as easy as it sounds. While technology has made it easy for telemarketers to make the robocalls, technology has also made harder to trace the calls. Software, for example, can make calls appear to be coming from across town when theyre being place across the country or on the other side of the world. In addition, telemarketers have moved operations offshore, which puts them out of reach of U.S. law. The U.S. Chamber of Commerce says these and other factors have led lawyers to target legitimate U.S. businesses rather than the "unscrupulous scam telemarketers" that the consumer protection law was meant to police. The lawsuits, which a few years ago were concentrated in just a handful of jurisdictions, have been filed in at least 42 states, according to the chamber, and given rise to a class of "professional plaintiffs" who are recruited by law firms and make a living by receiving phone calls and filing claims. About four dozen law firms around the county file more than half of the total cases, the chamber said in a 2017 report, amounting to a group of serial filers that business groups describe as entrepreurial law firms. "Its a profitable litigation model," said Austin lawyer Manny Newburger, who represents financial institutions, debt buyers, law firms, and collection agencies. lynn.sixel@chron.com News China was slapping U.S. grain sorghum with tariffs of 179 percent immediately drove down prices and has Texas farmers scrambling for new markets. This is a show stopper, I mean this hurts growers, said Wayne Cleveland of the Texas Sorghum Producers said Wednesday. It stops trade. A 179 percent tariff stops grain sorghum from moving. The Chinese Commerce Ministry on Tuesday announced it would require importers to post bonds of 178.6 percent on the grain following its preliminary ruling that U.S. sorghum was being sold at artificially low prices. The grain terminal at the port of Corpus Christi on Tuesday stopped accepting sorghum, as virtually all of the exports were for China. Farmers already were paid for the three to five 40,000-ton boatloads currently at sea, but Cleveland said the loss of the commoditys biggest buyer means they are scrambling to sell off existing crop and thinking of switching future plantings to cotton or corn. Texas is the second largest U.S. sorghum producing state after Kansas, in 2017 growing 1.65 million acres. Its among the worlds top cereal crops and is well suited to Texas because of its drought tolerance. Chinese imports of U.S. sorghum have soared in recent years as livestock producers found it to be a good feed alternative to genetically modified U.S. corn. It is also used to make baijui, a Chinese liquor. U.S. Sorghum prices dropped 30 cents a bushel after the tariffs, Cleveland said, while Australian sorghum rose about $10 per metric ton. While China denies it, farmers viewed it as a thinly veiled counter-attack to the just-announced U.S. tariffs on Chinese solar panels and washing machines. I think this is quid pro quo at its best, Cleveland said. Were a billion dollar industry, and if you look at the tariffs that we placed on China with aluminum and steel, they were a billion dollar industry. They didnt want to pick any smaller or any bigger. The trade dispute between the U.S. and China has escalated, with the U.S. imposing tariffs on aluminum and steel and the Chinese returning the jab with proposed 25 percent tariffs on a list of agricultural products including cotton, corn, beef and soybeans, a huge U.S. crop of which more than 30 percent currently goes to China. Related: Ag groups weigh USDA payoffs for tariffs There has been good news for the U.S. automobile sector, though, as China on Tuesday announced loosened restrictions on foreign ownership of automobile and other manufacturers, but the nations farmers and ranchers feel stuck in the middle. Of the 8.6 million tons of U.S. sorghum exported in 2015-16, 7 million tons went to China. The U.S. Trade Representatives office on Tuesday said it would carefully review Chinas measures on sorghum and take action as warranted, including through a World Trade Organization case if appropriate. U.S. Secretary of Agriculture Sonny Perdue in a statement Wednesday called the claim that the U.S. is dumping sorghum ludicrous. China can buy product from anywhere they choose. This is clearly a political decision by the Chinese and we reject their premise, Perdue said. The fact remains that China has engaged in unfair trade practices over decades and President Trump is correct in holding them accountable. We remain committed to protecting American agricultural producers in the face of retaliatory measures by the Chinese. Sorghum growers say they would win any WTO case. Theres no dumping here we, Cleveland said. We dont have anything to dump. This was an arbitrary market that you know, they ran the price up, they bought it at rapid pace. ... We certainly want them back in the market but were not going to sit around and wait for them to come back. Were going to go find other markets. Texas Department of Agriculture Commissioner Sid Miller on Wednesday noted in a news release that last week, China accepted 116,000 tons of Texas sorghum and paid a premium price for it, Miller said. This is just another example of what I call smack talk between trading partners. They need Texas-grown grain, and were happy to sell it to them. Miller in an interview said a TDA trade mission to Spain several weeks ago paid off with contacts that had already agreed to buy up some of the grain that had been intended for China. In my opinion whos the biggest loser? And its the Chinese on this because youve got grain en route and they grow a lot of poultry and a lot of pork and thats the main ingredient, he said. So thats diverted now, and those chickens and hogs ... for them to make new arrangements, get all the paperwork through to buy grain from Canada or Mexico or South America its going to take logistical hurdles at a minimum. Lynn Brezosky is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | lbrezosky@express-news.net | @lbrezosky A Night in Old San Antonio turns 70 this year, and many local revelers, some of whom have been manning booths and donning costumes for decades, are happily sharing Fiesta-colored memories. For most, the sprawling party that blankets the grounds of La Villita from Tuesday to April 27 this year means four nights of laughter, food, drink and music from the cultures that helped shape San Antonio. For Angela McClendon Johnson, who works in marketing at USAA and currently helps run Mamas Sweets in the Froggy Bottom section, her memories are all about those plastic souvenir beer cups, stacked tall and accompanied by a macho attitude. When I was in high school (at Holmes), wed flock to NIOSA on Thursdays for college night. Wed go round and round in circles, hanging out, Johnson said in a phone chat. Wed come with a group of friends, and leave with more. She and her pals would get a special kick out of one particular sight, she said: proud guys holding their towers of cups. They seemed to think a lot of beer cups meant they were virile, like they were saying, Look at me. I drank all this beer in one night, and Im still standing. NIOSA, the San Antonio Conservation Societys biggest fundraiser, started in 1948 as a one-night festival in La Villita that grew by leaps and bounds over the decades. More Information NIOSA nuts and bolts What: Sponsored by and benefiting the San Antonio Conservation Society, NIOSA brings the heritage of San Antonio alive in 15 cultural areas through 200-plus food, drink and atmosphere booths and 14 musical acts. When: Today through Friday. Gates open at 5:30 p.m. and close at 10 p.m. Food sales and entertainment continue until 10:30 p.m. Where: Grounds of La Villita National Historic District Cost: $15 at the gate, kids Children 12 and under with an adult Parking: Various downtown lots; cabs and ride share options recommended. For VIA Park and Ride info, go viainfo.net/park-and-ride. See More Collapse It expanded to two nights in 1954 and to three in 1956 and its profits grew along the way. According to the Conservation Society, NIOSA raised $6,500 from 1949 to 1951, upwards of $9,000 in 1954 and $16,700 in 1956. In 1958, it grew to the four-night extravaganza we know now. Profits exceeded $500,000 in 1985, and today, NIOSA nets roughly $1.5 million. Proceeds support the preservation of historic properties, parks and waterways throughout the city and neighboring counties, as well as education and advocacy initiatives. NIOSA nostalgia often revolves around a single activity or event a little bit of childhood or adult fun that makes patrons giggle to this day. Allison Schmidts favorite memory revolves around a family tradition, passed on to her many years ago by her parents who started running the Cowboy Klopse booth in Frontier Town in 1976. Back in the day, when I was young, it was all cash, no coupons, recalled Schmidt, who took over Cowboy Klopse from her parents 22 years ago, selling homemade meatballs fried in jalapeno cheese batter. At the start of the night, my mom would give me $5 or $10 to spend at Clown Alley or to get something to eat, she said. (But) at the end of the night, wed walk around the edge of the booths in our area, and pick up all the money dropped by drunks, she said, laughing. The amassed coinage often would be enough to keep them busy and satisfied through the next few days. Now, I do the same thing with my girls, but with coupons (the currency now used at NIOSA). Her daughters, twins Julie and Jessica, are 20 and in college at Sul Ross State University in Alpine. That doesnt stop them from coming down for NIOSA every year, however, as theyve been a part of NIOSA all their lives. Theyve been with me there since I was pregnant. Later, she set up a playpen in the booth for her babies. Mark Carrillo, a longtime media personality who currently serves beer in Irish Flats and hasnt missed a NIOSA in 45 years, chalks up most of his grins to gunslingers whod roam the grounds in full cowboy garb. He said his favorite memory happened in the 80s, while selling soft drinks in the old Gilded Cage Saloon. What would always crack us up was when the gunslingers came in. Wed wait, and sure enough, one of those guys would fire a blank from a double-barreled shotgun. It never failed to make us laugh, watching people particularly the older folks jump. San Antonio psychiatrist Christopher Wallaces love for NIOSA comes from more than 50 years of enjoying the festival, as both patron and participant. His biggest joy is carrying on what his father, Clif, so memorably started back in the 1960s. The late Wallace, a longtime volunteer in NIOSAs Mexican Market, would don various costumes and grind an organillo, or barrel organ, that had come from an elaborate promotion staged by Joskes department store during its heyday. Soon, the imposing regular became one of NIOSAs most colorful staples. He became atmosphere, said his son, who would accompany his father both during the event as well as on buying trips to Mexico to buy folk art for the Tienda (now the NIOSA Crafters Store). But it was In 1976 that his father made his biggest statement. Donning a beautifully embroidered suit and striking hat that was indigenous to the Huichol Indians from the Mexican state of Nayarit, Clif began leading the parade of S.A. dignitaries that kicks off NIOSA on opening night, and the figure known as The Huichol Shaman of NIOSA was born. After he died in 1994, son Christopher took over, wearing the same beloved costume. Wallace will be there in full regalia at 5:15 p.m. Tuesday. Joining him for the parade and opening ceremonies will be city and county leaders, the Bexar County Buffalo Soldiers, Brackenridge High School Drum Line, Conservation Society President Susan Beavin and the woman in charge of planning this years four-day party, Conservation Society Vice-President and NIOSA chair Margie Arnold. Jeanne Jakles column appears Thursdays and Sundays in mySA. Read more of her columns here. | jjakle@express-news.net | @JakleJ San Antonios annual Fiesta, with its vibrant ethnic costumes and glorious parades, is a cultural and social celebration that sprouted from the fertile soil of the citys melded Mexican and Anglo past. Right? Well, maybe not. According to one historical account, a visiting northern snowbird named W.J. Ballard came up with the idea for the original event in 1891. Ballard, a Presbyterian elder and Sunday school teacher, likely was here to escape the grim Chicago winter. He apparently brought a deep knowledge and respect for Texas history and felt strongly that the Battle of San Jacinto, which took place on April 21, 1836, deserved special recognition. The battle, which followed the fall of the Alamo by six weeks, ended with the decisive rout of Gen. Antonio Lopez de Santa Anna and his army, winning Texas its independence. And Ballards vision didnt stop there. His concept, that the event memorialize the Alamo and San Jacinto heroes, while celebrating the citys bicentennial, and honoring Texas Independence, would give the occasion enduring significance, according to Jack Maguire, author of A Century of Fiesta in San Antonio which includes the Ballard account. More Information Fiesta kickoff The 11 days of Fiesta parades, cultural events and other fun begin today with Fiesta Fiesta at Hemisfair. The event, from 4 p.m. to 9 p.m., includes the "Peoples Parade" starting shortly after 6 p.m. The kickoff includes music performances and an Irish dance group. The night ends with a fireworks show. See More Collapse Other slightly different versions have Ballard promoting the idea of a patriotic public event to celebrate the bicentennial of the city being named San Antonio de Padua in 1691, or an expected presidential visit. Whichever it was, San Antonio, with a long tradition of parades and public festivals, many tied to secular or religious holidays, was agreeable to adding another. Newspapers lent editorial support to Ballards proposal, and residents endorsed it in mass meetings. The plan to hold a spring fiesta quickly became the personal project of Ellen Maury Slayden, a prominent citizen. But what exactly to do? As one version of the story goes, when a friend of Slayden mentioned having seen a flower parade in Nice, France, held to celebrate its flower market, a plan was hatched. The highlight of the Nice parade was a battle among beautiful woman using flower blossoms as ammunition. Another version has Slayden herself witnessing a battle of flowers in Spain. Either way, nothing wrong with imitation. Read more: As NIOSA turns 70, nostalgic revelers share treasured and goofy moments Thus was born the Battle of Flowers in 1891, the first event of what eventually became modern Fiesta in San Antonio. An all-woman group was formed to make it happen, and Elizabeth Kampman, whose husband owned the Menger Hotel, was chosen as chairman. But wait, theres more. According to Maguires account, Fiesta plans already were under way when a news bulletin shocked and delighted the city leaders: President Benjamin Harrison was coming to town April 20 in the first official presidential visit to the Lone Star State. Hearing that, San Antonio doubled down. And talk about a scramble. The first official fiesta planning session wasnt held until April 13, just a week before President Harrison was to arrive. Because of heavy rains, the local supply of flowers was short, so appeals were made to other outlying communities, including Victoria and Beeville. Rules were drafted for the battle, including a prohibition on throwing of large bouquets. Owners of bicycles and carriages were encouraged to decorate their conveyances with flowers. Floats for children, dressed as flowers, and another for young ladies were planned, as was one celebrating The Little Old Lady Who Lived in the Shoe. But whats a parade without a little rain? Unfortunately, it was not a little. San Antonio was deluged on April 20, 1891, when the presidents five-car special train arrived at Sunset Depot. The parade was postponed, and a committee of prominent citizens welcomed the president. The highpoint of his three-hour stay was an appearance at the Grand Opera House on San Antonio Plaza. As the San Antonio Daily Express reported the next day, according to Maguires book, Every seat, every box, every passage and inch of standing room was filled. Related: First Fiesta event was flower pelting parade delayed by rain In his remarks, the president, suffering from laryngitis, praised Texas as being among the greatest states of the Union. Wealth and commerce are timid and still only come where God reigns and intelligence is great, he stated enigmatically, according to newspaper accounts. And then, making a joke about the heavy rains being worth $5 million to the farmers and ranchers in Texas, he said, I doubtless am the cause of this downpour, and if it is really worth that much of Texas, I will not ask for more than half. Four days later, under a clear sky and with the president long gone, the first Battle of Flowers was held. Its success prompted city officials to pass a resolution making it an annual event. And the rest, they say, is history. But somewhere along the line, awareness of Ballards critical contribution to San Antonios signature public event apparently fell by the wayside. The brief history of Fiesta, published by the Fiesta San Antonio Commission, does not mention his name. It notes only that Fiesta started as a one-parade event, as a way to honor the memory of the heroes of the Alamo and the Battle of San Jacinto. Former Battle of Flowers Association President Lynn Ziegler, whose two-year reign ended in 2016, was likewise unfamiliar with Ballard, at least without a little research. We have a history section. Id have to look at that and see. Im sure hes in the thick of it, but right off hand I dont know, she said. I know Mrs. Slayden and her group was part of it. Shed seen the parade in Spain, thought it was wonderful and wanted to duplicate it in San Antonio, she added. Fiesta now is a yearround, multimillion-dollar enterprise that claims to draw more than 3.5 million attendees during its 11-day run. It includes more than 180 public events, ranging from a mariachi Mass to a Fiesta Lacrosse invitational to a chili queens cookoff to a pooch parade. And yes, a Battle of Flowers. jmaccormack@express-news.net Five candidates are running for three board seats in the fast-growing Southwest Independent School District, which has almost 14,000 students in Southwest San Antonio and Bexar County and opened a new high school this year. Candidates run at large for three-year terms, meaning the top three vote-getters will win the May 5 election. Early voting begins Monday. The school board has long-serving trustees who have each held their seats for at least a decade. As a group, they are among five finalists this year for the H-E-B Excellence in Education award for best public school board in the state. The winner will be announced the day after the election. The trustees have also twice won the Texas Association of School Boards award for best board in the region. That prestige makes challenging them difficult, said Pete A. Bernal, 42, an Army retiree who is doing so nevertheless. Maybe some people want to hear change, Bernal said. Bernal graduated from Kennedy High School in Edgewood ISD and is studying global logistics at Palo Alto College. He said his wife and two sons graduated from Southwest High School, and another son is at McNair Middle School. Bernal said the three incumbents on the ballot are not visible enough in the community. As a trustee, he said, hed encourage residents to come to him with their concerns. Gloria Rankin, 35, a bank fraud investigator for Citi, said she is also running to open communication between the board and the community. She comes from a political family her great-uncle was Kika de la Garza, a longtime congressman from the Rio Grande Valley who died last year. Rankin has three children in the district, including two who receive special education services. Rankin said she has been working as a parent advocate for at least four years and lobbied for additional funding last year at the state Capitol. She is pushing for surprise campus security audits, having noticed entrances are sometimes unsecured and safety procedures vary. On paper, everything sounds great, but its not actually being implemented, Rankin said. I see a lot of things that maybe our board doesnt get to see. Rankin also wants to improve transportation safety, including refresher trainings for bus drivers and aides on how to accommodate special-needs children and ensure younger children are dropped off with the appropriate adults. Having served 34 years on the board, Keith Byrom, 69, is touting his experience and focus on keeping up with the districts growth. Byrom retired after 42 years in human resources for Zachry, a large construction company. He holds a doctorate in education administration and is an adjunct professor who teaches leadership in the superintendent studies department of Texas A&M University-San Antonio. Even as larger San Antonio districts grapple with sudden declines in enrollment, real estate developers and demographic studies point to substantial growth in Southwest ISD over the next decade, Byrom said. That will mean new schools and staff and increased financial demands, all problems Byrom said hes helped with in the past. He said he wants to continue updating the districts long-range plan. The worst thing that could happen is, they come in with a new subdivision and were not prepared, and we have to try to build a school when its almost too late, Byrom said. Florinda Flo Bernal, 55, a homemaker who is not related to Pete Bernal, is completing her 12th year on the board. She said she wants to see renovations completed at Southwest High School, bringing it to par with the newer Legacy High School. Flo Bernal said she has advocated for equity in services and academic programs since her own special-needs children went through Southwest ISD. I represent the students, she said. I am a voice for them and I feel that the job I have begun has not been completed. James Sullivan Jr., 54, a salesman for Royce Groff Oil Co., has served 13 years on the board. He said he wants to give students the best resources for better outcomes, but did not have a more specific platform. Our district is in great shape, Sullivan said. Alia Malik is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | amalik@express-news.net | @AliaAtSAEN After a four-month search, the University of Texas at San Antonio has hired Kimberly Andrews Espy, a translational clinical neuroscientist, to serve as second in command at the 30,000-student institution. Espy, the senior vice president for research at the University of Arizona, will replace Mauli Agrawal, the interim provost, in June. Espy is expected to play a leading role in the reimagining of the UTSA Downtown Campus, reaccreditation processes and implementation of a new budget model. Being a young university, you have the opportunity to in some ways learn from older institutions, learn the lessons of what can go well and what you want to keep, but also do things somewhat differently in a less constrained environment, Espy said Wednesday. She said UTSA should serve as an economic, social anchor for the city. Espy listed UTSAs graduation rate as a point of concern (its currently 22 percent for four years) and growing the Downtown Campus an urgent focus. With a bachelors degree in psychology from Rice University and a masters and doctorate in psychology and clinical neuropsychology from the University of Houston, Espy has studied early childhood development and authored dozens of journal articles. It does shape my thinking, she said of her academic specialty. I certainly look at the process of a student as progressively developing skills over time, and that one of the roles that institutions play is helping to support that development. Espy was lauded for leading efforts that earned the University of Arizona, which has more than 44,000 students, a designation as a Hispanic Serving Institution from the U.S. Education Department. There, she implemented a hiring program, created faculty support programs and restructured funding for new student internship opportunities. She also has worked at Southern Illinois University, the University of Nebraska-Lincoln and the University of Oregon. The Cincinnati native said shes excited about returning to Texas and exploring San Antonio beyond its tourist attractions. Like many before her, Espy said she got hooked on Texas. Silvia Foster-Frau is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | sfosterfrau@express-news.net | @SilviaElenaFF A Bexar County jury took about two hours Wednesday to find a man guilty in a horrific child abuse case involving two children who were bound by their ankles and wrists and tied like animals in the backyard of a Northeast Bexar County home in 2016. Deandre Dorch was 36 when he was arrested and charged with two counts of injury to a child-serious bodily injury by omission and two counts of child abandonment. The charges stem from an incident in which a boy, 4, and a girl, 3, were found crying in the backyard of the home Dorch shared with his girlfriend, Porucha Phillips, in the 8100 block of Chipping in the Camelot II subdivision. The couple told deputies that they were watching the tied-up children for their friend, Cheryl Reed, 32, whom they knew from California, where they all lived before coming to San Antonio. Reed told deputies that she had left her children in Phillips care. As he was led away in handcuffs, Dorch made an obscene hand gesture to the media and said, Yall know I didnt do this. Prosecutors Karl Alexander and Emily Argulo argued that Dorch was guilty because he did nothing to protect the children from beatings at the hands of Phillips and Reed. Defense attorney Edward Bravenec argued that Dorch was the sole provider for his girlfriend and their children, worked all the time and did not know what was going on with the children. Dorch pleaded not guilty. The trial began Monday. Neighbor Michelle Williams testified that she had heard children crying for about two weeks until the night she called 911 on April 28, 2016. Bexar County sheriffs deputies conducting a welfare check found the children bound by their ankles and wrists with dog chains and leashes. Related: Genene Jones blamed 'voices in her head' for baby deaths, lawyer says Sheriffs deputies cried on the stand while testifying about the conditions in which they found the children. Dorch chose to be sentenced by Judge Laura Parker, who presided over the case in Felony Impact Court. Because Dorch has a previous record, the range of punishment is 25 to 99 years or life in prison. Alexander said he intends to seek a life term. A pre-sentencing investigation hearing is set for May 18. Elizabeth Zavala is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | ezavala@express-news.net | @elizabeth2863 The seat belt sign was still on as 144 passengers and five crew members were settling in aboard a flight from New York to Dallas when registered nurse Peggy Phillips heard a noise and guessed, correctly, that an engine had exploded. At the controls Tuesday morning was Tammie Jo Shults, a longtime Boerne-area resident and former Navy fighter pilot who suddenly had to guide Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to an emergency landing on its one remaining engine. The Boeing 737 was shaking and shuddering. Pieces of the engine had shattered a window and injured a passenger, and the rapid decompression sucked her partially through the window before others pulled her back. It was not like any noise Ive ever heard in my life. pretty close to a jackhammer that had a different tone to it, said Phillips, 68, of Dallas. It was incredibly loud. Jennifer Riordan of Albuquerque died despite efforts by Phillips and two others who performed CPR during a terrifying descent and landing in Philadelphia, where paramedics boarded the plane. But Shults, 56, who greeted and hugged passengers after the ordeal, had kept a bad situation from becoming much worse. A recording of her steady, matter-of-fact conversation with air traffic controllers went viral, making her an instant national hero. She had years of experience as one of the Navys first female aviators who later served as an F/A18 Hornet instructor in which she played an aggressor pilot in mock dogfights. In Boerne, Shults and her husband Dean, 53, also a Southwest Airlines pilot, have earned a reputation as strongly religious, community-minded people and welcoming neighbors. They live in a Kendall County subdivision between Boerne and Fair Oaks Ranch with two children, both young adults. The unruffled Tammie Jo Shults they heard in the cockpit recordings, they said, is the person theyve always known polite, approachable, practical, never one to raise her voice. OK, could you have the medical meet us there on the runway as well? Weve got injured passengers, Shults told a flight controller. Injured passengers, OK, and is your airplane physically on fire? he replied. No, its not on fire, Shults said. But part of its missing. Longtime friend Staci Thompson, 38, heard that and was not surprised at Shults calmness. It sounds just like a normal conversation with her on the phone, Thompson said. She has strength of character and faith in God, said Kim Young, who has known the Shults since they moved to the area around 15 years ago. I was curious when I first listened to it (to see) if I would recognize her voice. She was calm, she was collected and she was getting the job done. She was doing what was needed to be done. Shes a talented woman. Phillips, who calls herself semi-retired because she still works as a substitute school nurse, compared Shults to Chesley Sullenberger, the pilot who landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after a bird strike killed both of the engines aboard his Airbus A320. All aboard the plane survived. She was so incredibly calm, Phillips said of the audio clips. She was a rock star. She really was. Flight 1380 was flying from New Yorks La Guardia Airport to Dallas Love Field. The cause of the explosion was under investigation. Southwest said it had accelerated an engine inspection program out of an abundance of caution and expected to complete it over the next month. The airline, in a statement, said it would conduct ultrasonic inspections of fan blades in the CFM56 engine used in the 737-700. Reached by phone late Tuesday, Shults declined to be interviewed. Her husband on Tuesday also declined an interview request, saying it would have to be cleared by Southwest. The airline did not respond to calls. Thompson, an administrator with First Baptist Church in Boerne who has known the family 21 years, said Dean Shults told her that his wife feels for the family of Riordan, the woman who died .It weighs heavy on her heart, she said. Calling her friend a woman with a big heart and giving spirit, Thompson said the Shults are involved with the church, and that Tammie Jo is a regular volunteer at Meadowland Charter School. The school takes in at-risk youths who have either dropped out of regular schools or have had problems in the foster care system. Thompson said the Shults family has even taken in hurricane victims, giving them a place to stay in a guest house. Tammie Jo Shults also helps her parents take care of her disabled sister, and is a mom before anything, Thompson said. Tammi Escajeda, a teacher at Meadowland, said Shults visits the school on Fridays, describing to students the things shes done, places she has flown, her responsibilities in the cockpit, as well as teaching handwriting techniques and basic manners. Shults is also good finding developmentally appropriate material for the mix of second-, third- and fourth-graders she is teaching, Escajeda continued, and sometimes brings her son to help because kids need more one-on-one instruction. Even when children are testing her limits she remains calm and quick and easy to redirect them, Escajeda said. Her calmness is what makes her great with working with at-risk youth. People have said Shults has had a longtime love affair with flying. The lessons started early on, when she entered the Navy in 1985. In those days women were forbidden from serving in combat aviation jobs, but Navy Cmdr. Ron Flanders said she was among the first to transition to tactical aircraft. Shults went to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Florida, and later trained in Corpus Christi and Beeville before reporting to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 in Point Mugu, California in 1989. The Navy said she was there until 1991, and then transferred to Naval Air Station Lemoore, California, where she learned to fly the F/A-18. She left active duty in 1993 and joined a strike fighter wing in the Navy Reserve. The number of women serving in Navy aviation remains small fewer than one in 10 pilots. Women make up just 2.5 percent of all aviators flying fighters in the Navy, said Lt. j.g. Emily Judstra, a spokeswoman for the Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet. The training, then and now, is intense, involving simulated emergencies that test a pilots recollection and ability to quickly respond without mistakes. That was pretty impressive, Cmdr. Cris Perham, an instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Kingsville, said after listening to Shults interact with flight controllers Tuesday. In the Navy we spend a lot of time in the trainers going over emergencies, what they can expect, to the point where - Im not going to say that when someone gets into an emergency theyre always calm and collected but we definitely try to focus on the problem and how to resolve it. On the ground, neighbor and former fellow Sunday School teacher Stephanie Chandler described her friend as a private person. When she talks, its often about her faith and doing things with family. Every Thanksgiving, the Shults open their doors to those in their neighborhood before people settle down for the traditional holiday feast, sharing cups of hot cider. She just grew up with a strong faith, has always led a very faith-filled and faith-led life, and I think thats equipped her for all of the things shes done in her life, said Chandler, a San Antonio attorney. From our conversations, she would tell you that God is the pilot and she was the co-pilot, said Thompson, the First Baptist Church administrator. She would say God is helping her. sigc@express-news.net |News Researchers Misty Harris and Mike Knoop and Staff Writer Zeke MacCormack contributed to this report. AUSTIN - As a new poll showed Gov. Greg Abbott with just a single-digit lead over either Democrat vying to face him, Andrew White sought to improve his chances of winning the party nod with a plan to pump billions more into public education. Whites plan would be funded in part by revenue from casinos that he wants to allow at destinations including the Retama Park horse track in Selma, an idea that has died in the Legislature before. The gambling expansion would require a constitutional amendment, according to an expert, which would need approval by two-thirds of the Legislature and by voters statewide. White a Houston businessman battling former Dallas County sheriff Lupe Valdez for the Democratic nomination for governor also wants to shift $800 million from spending on border security to education. In addition, he wants to end a property tax benefit for commercial property, which he said comes at the expense of homeowners. White previously has proposed a number of elements of the plan, whose funding elements arent likely to be welcomed by a GOP-majority Legislature. But he brought them together with a challenge for the Republican governor to call a special session on education, and with a belief that the November election will bring new lawmakers with whom White could work if elected governor. Im declaring an education emergency in Texas, said White. Texas is too big for Greg Abbotts small thinking. The $9 billion in revenue under Whites plan to go to a local school property tax decrease and education improvements such as college scholarships, universal full-day prekindergarten and a teacher pay raise. His proposal comes as there is a spotlight on problems in the public education finance system, with schools in San Antonio and around the state facing budget challenges. As White and Valdez head toward a May 22 runoff, a fresh Quinnipiac University poll found that Abbott leads White by 48 to 41 percent and is ahead of Valdez by 49 to 40 percent. That margin would be an improvement for Democrats, who havent won a statewide election in nearly a quarter of a century. Abbott beat the 2014 Democratic nominee, Wendy Davis, by more than 20 percentage points. But the poll comes with a caveat. It showed that voters approve 54 to 33 percent of the job that Abbott is doing. And when asked specifically about their views of the Democrats, 65 percent dont know enough about Valdez to form an opinion of her, and 72 percent dont know enough about White. Gov. Greg Abbott has a modest lead over each of the two people vying for the Democratic nomination. But what is significant is that governors with 54 percent job approval ratings rarely lose, said Peter A. Brown, assistant director of the Quinnipiac Poll. Chris Wilson, pollster for Abbott, took to Twitter to call the Quinnipiac survey fanciful and not in line with his own polling. Quinnipiac University surveyed 1,029 Texas voters on April 12-17, using telephone interviews. The margin of error is plus or minus 3.6 percentage points. This is now a competitive race between Andrew and Gov. Abbott. We have the momentum and its no longer fantasy land: Democrats can take the Governors mansion in November, White campaign manager Jenn Char said in a statement. Valdez said in a statement that the poll proves what we already know the momentum and grassroots energy are on our side. Voters across Texas are speaking out against Gov. Abbott's dangerous agenda that is hurting the Texas brand. Regarding Whites education plan, Valdez said she has long called for truly investing in our schools, for fixing our school finance system to ensure the state pays their fair share, for increasing teacher pay to pay them like the professionals they are, for providing high quality pre-K to every child in Texas, and more. It's time for a Governor who will put our students, teachers, and families first. That is what I intend to do. Abbotts campaign didnt immediately respond to a request for comment on the poll or the criticism. Rep. Diego Bernal, who is vice-chairman of the House Public Education Committee and serves on a special commission studying school finance, said investment in education is crucial. The San Antonio Democrat hadnt seen Whites plan, but he is a big supporter of universal pre-kindergarten and previously filed legislation to close a commercial property tax break. Bernal is not, however, enamored of the idea of casino gambling, saying, I always have this nightmare of casinos along the River Walk. It hurts my stomach. He also voiced concern over the social costs of expanded gambling. Im not sure that the good outweighs the bad. I can be convinced, though, Bernal said, explaining that he is open to listening. The lawmaker has endorsed Valdez, but he said he likes White and would support him if he is the nominee. Leaders and lawmakers in last years regular and special legislative sessions failed to make major school funding changes but created the special commission to make recommendations. Overhauling school finance is a Herculean challenge, and past reform efforts have been driven by court orders for change. White said Abbott instead of addressing education has focused on fake emergencies, such as trying to allay conspiracy fears about a Jade Helm military exercise by directing the Texas State Guard to monitor it; calling last years special session that included a bathroom bill to restrict transgender peoples use of public restrooms; and, at President Trumps request, authorizing the Texas National Guard to protect us from the threat of a caravan of women and children. In San Antonio, several school districts are working to address shortfalls due to declining enrollment, which some attribute to students leaving for charter schools. North East Independent School District, the citys second-largest, is planning to eliminate teaching positions through attrition as it deals with a projected two-year budget shortfall of $29 million. At the same time, it is looking toward a demand that it start making payments into the state fund that helps school districts with less property wealth. Public schools are financed with a combination of state funds, federal aid and local school property tax revenue. The state share of funding was under 41 percent in 2015-16. In order to meet a court requirement for equity, schools that reach a certain level of property wealth must share some of their property tax dollars with the rest of the state. North East is expected to have to pay $7.7 million in the 2019-20 school year and more than $33 million the following year into that fund. San Antonio ISD is facing a two-year shortfall of $31 million, and Judson ISD is looking toward an estimated $13 million shortfall next school year. South San Antonio and Schertz-Cibolo-Universal City ISDs are considering tax ratification elections to address similar issues. Peggy Fikac is a San Antonio Express-News staff writer. Read more of her stories here. | pfikac@express-news.net | @pfikac GREENWICH Barbara Bush was remembered as a role model and a humanitarian by her admirers and friends in Connecticut after her death in Houston on Tuesday at the age of 92. The first lady was a frequent visitor to Greenwich, spending time with her mother-in-law, Dorothy Bush, at her homes on Grove Lane and Pheasant Lane. She also visited Prescott Jr. and Beth Bush, her brother in-law and his wife, at their home in Greenwich. Bush attended services at Christ Church Greenwich on a number of occasions, the last time for Prescott Bush Jr.s memorial service in 2010. Locally, Christ Church has been known as the Bush Familys home church. Russell Reynolds Jr., a longtime friend of Barbara Bush, recalled her as someone who was down-to-earth, funny and warm. He recalled a visit to the U.S. Naval Observatory in Washington, the residence of then-Vice President George Bush. Barbara Bush took us up to the attic, and with great enthusiasm, showed us the repair work being done, Reynolds recalled. She had an enthusiasm, an interest in things, she was an honest open person. And very faith-filled. Reynolds, who was an inaugural-ball chairman for President George H.W. Bush and worked on his campaign, said the president was fortunate in his marriage. Terrific marriage. Like most great marriages, she had a strong point of view on many subjects, Reynolds said. Great lives, straight out of a storybook. Its a great family. As for Barbara Bush, Reynolds recalled, She had a terrific sense of humor, very self confident, and she took life seriously, not herself. I dont think being first lady changed her a bit, she was the same. Very gracious, on top of things, quick, and delightful. More for you Experts: Barbara Bush may change discussion about end-of-life State Rep. Livvy Floren said Bush exemplified the virtues that everyone on the public stage should emulate. To me, Barbara Bush is an American heroine. She leaves a legacy of humanity and humility. In concert with her common sense, no-nonsense straight talk, she was the epitome of generosity and kindness, and her initiatives to foster childhood literacy are legendary in their lasting impact, Floren said. Stamford-based Americares recalled the work that Bush devoted to the global humanitarian nonprofit group. She went abroad on aid missions to Ethiopia, Croatia and Guatemala for the organization when it was just starting, and accommodations were modest at best. No one was a better ambassador for Americares than Barbara Bush, co-founder Leila Macauley said. It wasnt glamorous work, but she was a trouper and believed in our mission. She helped us build one of the countrys largest humanitarian organizations in only a few short years. We owe her a debt of gratitude. First Selectman Peter Tesei offered his condolences, noting that the George and Barbara Bush met in Greenwich at the Round Hill Club as teenagers. Mrs. Bush was a true champion with a passionate commitment to her family, her faith and for literacy. Those will be among her legacies, Tesei wrote in a statement. I think that something Mrs. Bush told graduates at a college commencement years ago still resonates today and illustrates how she lived her life: Your success as a family, our success as a society, depends not on what happens in the White House, but on what happens inside your house. ... Mrs. Bush was a member of the Greatest Generation and because of those ideals, she will not be forgotten as they will live on with her family. Gov. Dannel Malloy reminded residents to lower all flags to half-staff in her honor. Barbara Bush had a respect and love for our country that perhaps was only surpassed by her love for her family, Malloy said in a statement. Nobody can deny the honesty, dignity, and class with which she carried herself.. The private funeral service for Barbara Bush will be held at St. Martins Church in Houston on Saturday. The burial at the George H.W. Presidential Library and Museum will also be private. STAMFORD Residents and their elected representatives have a blunt message for Mayor David Martin regarding his proposal to eliminate one of the citys three park police officer positions and hire ambassadors instead. Dont do it. During a public hearing and meeting of the Board of Representatives Parks & Recreation Committee Tuesday night, one resident after another took the podium to say law enforcement is lacking at city parks and must be increased. Representatives called for Martin to forget his $300,000 ambassador program and spend the money to beef up park police. It was unclear Wednesday how the issue would shake out. We are working on resolving hiring and management issues regarding enforcement in our parks, Martins spokeswoman, Libby Carlson, said in an email Wednesday. If those can get resolved, the mayor may move some of the $300,000 to increase funding for parks police while using the rest of the money to augment the work of the parks police and regular police. The administration doesnt know yet if, or when, the issues - which have to do with integrating park police into the Stamford Police Department - can be resolved, Carlson said. But the administration does not want to wait another budget cycle to address the problem because it is a priority for the mayor and many others, she wrote. After testimony Tuesday night from multiple residents who reported drinking, drug use, sexual activity, vandalism, illegal dumping, speeding, homeless encampments, loud music and other problems in the parks, representatives grilled Martins chief of staff, Michael Pollard. David Winston, chairman of the citys Parks & Recreation Commission - a five-member panel appointed by the mayor that sets rules for park use and regulates conduct - said open spaces are more important than ever. More Information See More Collapse In a city as developed as Stamford, parks are all thats left of the environment, Winston said. They need all the protection we can give them. We do not have enough park police and this administration has cut them again. If Martin included $300,000 in his budget for park ambassadors, it means the city can afford more park police, Winston said. An ambassador program is not a bad idea, but we need park police for it to make sense, he said. The right solution is to cut the ambassador request and increase the number of park police. Pollard said Martin, now in his second term, has focused on bolstering the Stamford Police Department, but is committed to park safety. City Rep. Rodney Pratt, D-9, the boards majority leader, questioned that. If the city is so pro-park police, how come in the last four years we have not added a single one? Pratt asked. The administration tried to add park police officers last year, according to Carlsons email, but more stringent state laws enacted in 2015 have increased the requirements. Open to moving money Pollard told the reps on Tuesday night that Martin is working with Stamford Police and their union to figure out a better way to manage park police, who are sworn officers with guns and badges, and members of the department. But they often are self-assigned or get direction from Kevin Murray, who is in charge of park facilities, Pollard said. Representatives asked what happened to Murrays budget request for $260,000 for five permanent part-time park police officers and five seasonal employees. Pollard said that request, which had to go through the director of the Office of Operations and the Office of Policy and Management, never made it to the mayors office. Carlson said Wednesday that Martin in fact embellished Murrays request by seeking the $300,000, knowing that details would still need to be worked out. Pollard pointed out during the meeting that, before Martin submitted his budget, he met with representatives to ask what their priorities are for 2018-19 - an unusual, if not unprecedented, move for a mayor. Representatives cited park patrols. But it happened only one week before the budget had to go to printing, Pollard said, so there was little time to vet proposals, and Martin thought the ambassador program had merit. City Rep. Jeffrey Stella, D-9, said he was confused. If the people are calling for park police and the representatives are calling for park police, who is the mayor listening to? Stella said. The needs of the people should have been heard and the request for park police put in from the beginning. City Rep. Dennis Mahoney, R-20, also reacted. The mayor knows there is a public outcry for more park police but he is hiding behind the budgetary process, Mahoney said. I fear we will have, after this process, the exact same problems. But the public will continue to exert pressure on the mayors office to address this issue. Its frustrating, because the Board of Representatives has little authority over this. It rests with the mayor. Martin is not hiding behind the budgetary process, Pollard said. The mayor said he is open to moving some of the money to park police, Pollard said. City Rep. David Watkins, R-1, tried to exact a promise. His board and the Board of Finance are set to vote on Martins budget in the next two weeks. Do you think the mayor is in a position to give comfort to our citizens that there will be a good-faith effort to rebalance the budget toward park police? Watkins asked. Pollard said a request can be made to the Board of Finance to re-appropriate the $300,000. Its not locked and frozen, he said. City Rep. Nina Sherwood, D-8, said the ideal solution is a combination of park police and ambassadors. But it sounds like we dont have the money for both, or that the mayor chose one over the other, Sherwood said. If it has to be one, we would like to see more park police. You say the mayor is open to it but its not in his budget. Can we get a commitment from you that if we approve the $300,000, we can get more park police? It depends on the outcome of Martins talks with the Stamford Police Department, park police and their union, Pollard said. And everything depends on how much the boards cut the mayors budget as it heads toward finalization. acarella@stamfordadvocate.com. The Fairfield Lions Club, in its 82nd year of service, meets the first and third Wednesdays monthly at 7 p.m. at the Circle Diner Restaurant, 441 Post Road. Next month, the club hosts two open house/membership drive events, featuring dinner and speakers. On May 2, Paul Tepfer will discuss the Lions Low Vision Centers, and on May 16, Helen and Jerry Dellert will discuss the Juvenile Diabetes Research Foundation. Dinners are $25, and include appetizer, entree, dessert and coffee. Space is limited. Call Dave Howe at 203-767-6519 for reservations. RTM constituent meeting May 3 The representatives of District 7 of the Fairfield Representative Town Meeting host a constituent town hall on May 3 at 7 p.m. at the Fairfield Public Library Memorial Room. Tribute cards The Friends of the Bigelow Senior Center offers tribute/memorial cards to commemorate achievements, milestones or birthdays. The cards can be sent for holidays, as thank-you notes, and to honor the passing of a family member, friend, neighbor or colleague. Purchases are tax-deductible. Minimum donation is $25; make checks payable to Friends of the Bigelow Senior Center, at 100 Mona Terrace, Fairfield CT 06824. For information, contact FriendsoftheBSC HARTFORD For the third year in a row, the state Senate passed a bill that allows undocumented immigrants to obtain financial aid at state colleges and universities. "This is a great day in this chamber, and what we stand for in terms of basic fairness," said State Sen. Beth Bye, D-West Hartford. The legislation passed by a bipartisan vote of 30-6 and now heads to the House, where previous versions have died without a vote. House Speaker Joe Aresimowicz, D-Berlin, earlier in the day promised the bill will receive a House vote, possibly on Thursday . The bill follows provisions contained in the Deferred Action for Childhood Arrivals, or DACA, policy, which allows illegal immigrants who came to U.S. as children and have lived in the U.S. for most of their lives to remain in the country if they meet certain requirements. President Donald Trump canceled the DACA program but a federal court stayed that order as the matter is deliberated. A few state senators cited Trumps policy and hoped Connecticuts adoption of the law would prod Washington to reinstate the protections. "Why has it taken Washington so long to fix this?" asked state Sen. Craig Miner, R-Litchfield. "Many of my constituents have been here long enough where their children or grand-children would qualify for this." Under the bill passed Wednesday, applicants for state financial aid the bill does not apply to federal financial aid cannot have a felony on their record, must have been 16 years old or younger when they first arrived and must seek citizenship as soon as possible. The financial aid ranges from a few hundred dollars a semester to several thousand dollars. Camila Bortolleto, a Danbury resident and campaign manager for CT Students for a Dream, said the vote represents a land mark moment for the state. Our senators have rejected the partisan divisions in Washington, D.C. and embraced a bipartisan approach to supporting Connecticut immigrant youth, Bortolleto said. Senate Republican Minority Leader Len Fasano, R-North Haven, also praised passage of the bill. We want to encourage all young people in our state to pursue career paths that allow them to succeed, contribute to our states economy and achieve the American dream, he said. The effective date of the law was pushed back to Jan. 2020, except for military veterans who could receive the benefit upon passage by both chambers. State Sen. Len Suzio, R-Meriden, attempted to amend the bill so the law applied only to veterans who are illegal immigrants, but the offer was defeated by a vote of 29-6. He said the addition of the undocumented students will make it harder for legal students to receive a limited amount of state aid. State Senate President Martin Looney, D-New Haven, praised adoption of the bill and said he hopes the House will also pass it. "This is a proud day for the state Senate and passing this on a bipartisan basis is a signal of good will," Looney said. "I hope (Senate passage) will give the bill additional momentum in the House." bcummings@ctpost.com KENT The home at 112 Segar Mountain Road was built at the end of the 18th century, but the land it stands on was farmed as far back as the towns founding in 1737. The land where Kent now stands was auctioned off at a courthouse in Windham on the first Tuesday of March 1737, according to the Kent Historical Society, and was divided into parcels of about 1,000 acres each. The lot where 112 Segar Mountain Road stands, then known as Lot 33, was bought by Humphrey Avery at that meeting, according to a history of the home. Over the years, the lot was divided further as it was sold to another original proprietor, one of the towns 45 original male settlers, and finally to Ebenezer Hoyt, a Revolutionary War soldier who built his home there. The small colonial is still known as the Hoyt House today. Its funny; he only lived there less than 10 years and here we are, 200 years later, and its still named after him, said the homes listing agent, Dave Fairty. The Hoyt family was one of Fairfield Countys earliest settlers. Ebenezer and John possibly a brother or cousin moved to Kent from Danbury in the late 1750s, records show. Fairty said the home hasnt changed much since it was built, except for the addition of a garage and family room. It still has its original floors, fireplace and beehive oven, and hooks where meat was once hung for smoking can be found in an upstairs closet. This one is really maintained, Fairty said. Any additions that were done were done tastefully, so nothing was done to wreck the look of the house. But other pieces of Kents history have made their way onto the property over the years. A small structure behind the house, likely built in the early 1800s, is thought to have been a one-room schoolhouse, though that has never been confirmed. In the 1980s, a two-story tobacco barn was added to the property, which Fairty said has been converted for use as a studio or office space. The barn was built in the late 1800s and is the only remaining structure from the time the property was used as a farm, both for dairy cattle and raising tobacco, according to a history of the home. A 15-foot-by-15-foot window added to the tobacco barn was taken from an old hardware store when it was torn down in the 1980s. Theres a lot of moving parts, Fairty said. The home is on the market for $425,000. Fairty, originally from New Canaan, said he discovered his own connection to the house when researching the property. It turns out Ebenezer Hoyt is one of his ancestors. He knew he was related to the Hoyts, Fairty said, but never knew they made it all the way to Litchfield County. He was kind of a lone wolf, Fairty said. The best I can tell, most of the rest of the Hoyts all stayed down in New Canaan and Stamford. Its funny, in Kent theres a really core group that are actually from Kent and everyone else, about 85 percent, are transplants, Fairty said. So, here I am, 250 years later. Am I a local now? aquinn@newstimes.com Hello from Hazard! Well, we received no shortages of o-pin-ions on Item No. 1101, our mystery pin/needle that weve featured for several weeks. To recap, last week we reported that readers thought it might be: a lacing pin used to close and hold skin on breast and tail of a stuffed turkey or other bird; an eye needle used in making jewelry; a pin used on a chain, and used by a surveyor to measure distance; an upholstery pin, used extensively in the furniture business, and also in the taxidermy trade. And the diversity of responses continues this week. A pin used to unlock interior doors like bedroom or bathroom doors. You simply insert this pin and the lock will unlock. This one got three votes, from Carl McConnell, of Bessemer, Pa.; John Fair, of Dalton, Ohio; and an emailer who forgot to include his/her name. A tatting needle for making, or tatting lace. Terri Horning submitted this response, along with a photo of various other tatting needles, and indeed one has a circle on the top like our mystery pin. An old toothpick. Lehr Dircks, of Loudonville, Ohio, says the photo isnt very clear, but our pin is the same size as the old gold toothpicks. Baked potato skewer. John Wright says his mother uses a similar pin to make baked potatoes. She puts the pin lengthwise through the potato and the heat is distributed throughout it to better cook the center. The poultry lacing pin or skewer mentioned last week was a popular response for readers this week, too, including Roy Schiebel; Sandy Truckner, Avonmore, Pa.; Bill Jamieson, Sheffield Village, Ohio; Randi Wortham; Adolf Nagler; and Patty Habbyshaw. Our thanks to everyone who took the time to email, write or call. I dont know if we say majority rules, or leave it an unsolved pin-stery. And you know we hate to follow one mysterious hazard item with another, but were confident this one wont remain a mystery. Item No. 1102 comes from Bob Brown, of Ellwood City, Pennsylvania, who found it in a shed. Its right around 3 feet long, with alternative teeth that are attached to a quarter-inch rod. There is a wooden handle, much like you would find on a brace and bit drill. Can anyone explain its use? Email us at editorial@farmanddairy.com; or respond by mail to: Hazard a Guess, c/o Farm and Dairy, P.O. Box 38, Salem, OH 44460. You can also find Hazard a Guess on our website, www.farmanddairy.com, by keyword searching for Hazard. ROCK SPRINGS, Pa. Beef producers earned $286,300 for top-quality bulls at the 45th Pennsylvania Performance-Tested Bull Sale, March 30, at the Pennsylvania Livestock Evaluation Center in Pennsylvania Furnace, Centre County. Bulls averaged $3,329 per head. Producers from across Pennsylvania and neighboring states sold 86 Angus, Hereford, Red Angus, Simmental, Shorthorn, Fleckvieh Simmental, and SimAngus bulls. Three bulls tied for the high sale price of $6,000. An Angus consignment from Ebony Angus of West Sunbury, Butler County, went to William Moore of Millmont, Union County. The top-indexing Hereford, consigned by Slaytons Beardance Farm of Bedford, Bedford County, sold to Randy Shaw, of Everett, Bedford County. A Red Angus bull from Finger Lakes Cattle Co. of Penn Yan, N.Y., sold to Jeffrey Gerlach of Lancaster, Lancaster County. Fifty-seven Angus bulls averaged $3,433, six Herefords averaged $3,533, six Red Angus averaged $3,717, 11 Simmentals averaged $2,855, four SimAngus averaged $2,675, one Fleckvieh Simmental brought $2,000, and one Shorthorn brought $3,000. Female sale The Pennsylvania Spring Simmental Female and Pennsylvania Angus Finest Female consignment sales followed the bull sale. The bulls completed a 112-day test at the center that evaluated average daily gain, carcass traits and feed efficiency. After the testing period, the bulls were ultrasonically scanned to determine ribeye area, marbling and fat thickness, and examined for breeding soundness. The Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures Livestock Evaluation Center measures genetic traits for beef, swine, sheep and meat goats for two purposes: to benefit producers through evaluating economically important traits, and to benefit consumers by providing wholesome, high-quality products at an affordable price. Since 1973, the Pennsylvania Department of Agricultures Performance Bull-Testing Program has provided the states beef industry with a way to measure inherited traits through sire evaluation. The center has adapted with advancing technology, offering expanded information on bulls and enhancing their marketability to potential buyers. Careful guidance and foresight have developed the center into a regional hub for improving the beef industry. For more information, contact Greg Hubbard at 814-238-2527 or ghubbard@pa.gov or visit livestockevaluationcenter.com. LANSING, Mich. Farmers around the world are turning to nature to help them reduce pesticide use, environmental impact and, subsequently, and in some cases, increasing yields. Specifically, theyre attracting birds and other vertebrates, which keep pests and other invasive species away from their crops. The study, led by Michigan State University and appearing in the current issue of the journal Agriculture, Ecosystems and Environment, showcases some of the best global examples. Our review of research shows that vertebrates consume numerous crop pests and reduce crop damage, which is a key ecosystem service, said Catherine Lindell, MSU integrative biologist who led the study. These pest-consuming vertebrates can be attracted to agricultural areas through several landscape enhancements. For example, Lindell and graduate student Megan Shave led earlier research to bring more American kestrels to Michigan orchards. Installing nest boxes attracted the small falcons, the most-common predatory bird in the U.S., to cherry orchards and blueberry fields. The feathered hunters consume many species that cause damage to crops, including grasshoppers, rodents and European starlings. In cherry orchards, kestrels significantly reduced the abundance of birds that eat fruit. (Results from blueberry fields are pending.) Pest prevention In Indonesia, birds and bats provide multi-million pest-prevention services. This isnt anecdotal, either. Indonesian cacao plantations have documented 290 pounds per acre increased yields equaling nearly $300 per acre from having birds and bats in their fields. In Jamaica, birds eating a nuisance coffee pest saved an estimated $18 to $126 per acre annually. In Spain, constructing roosts near rice paddies increased bat population and reduced local pests. New Zealand In New Zealand, grape growers were able to, ahem, kill many birds with a single stone. The New Zealand falcon, the countrys sole falcon species, is at risk. Grape growers helped re-establish the birds in lowland grape-growing regions. By working with the Marlborough Falcon Trust, theyre helping conserve the declining population through education, advocacy and fundraising, while protecting their vineyards. These scientists have demonstrated a win-win situation for farmers and birds, said Betsy Von Holle, a program director for the National Science Foundation Dynamics of Coupled Natural and Human Systems program, which funded the research. Increasing native predatory birds in agricultural areas can help control insect pests that damage crops, potentially reducing costly pesticide use. For declining bird species, these efforts can increase the birds reproductive success while producing fruit crops attractive to consumers. The next steps for Lindell and other scientists are to hone in on the best practices and better measure the overall impact of specific improvements. Nest boxes, perches and making landscape enhancements that attract vertebrates work better than attracting birds through providing food resources. Questions However, can these initiatives be scaled up for commercial farming? Whats the human cost? Addressing these questions will increase understanding of the interactions of vertebrate predators and their prey, the ways in which these interactions provide ecosystem services and the roles of humans in protecting and encouraging these interactions, Lindell said. Now that weve bundled these studies, we really need to set a research agenda to quantify best practices and make the results accessible to key stakeholders, such as farmers and environmentalists. My hope is that theres broad interest in this, she added. Theres a strong economic aspect to this as well. In our next paper, we will share the results on how these investments can improve Michigans gross domestic product as well as affect job creation. Place Your Advert Thousands of Active jobseekers are looking for new agricultural positions in 2020. Call us now to discuss the options for advertising your vacancy in our job section. The agriculture bill, first mentioned in last year's Queen's Speech, will be published in the second half of 2018, the government has announced. Defra Secretary Michael Gove announced the plans during Wednesday's (18 April) Enviromental Audit Committee meeting. The Committee heard from Mr Gove on questions regarding the oversight, governance, milestones and implementation within Defra. A key moment for the agricultural industry this year is the anticipated agriculture bill, which is part of eight separate bills which will oversee different branches or departments announced in last year's Queen's Speech. The other bills include a repeals bill, a customs bill and an immigration bill. Th agriculture bill will set up a system to support farmers after Brexit takes them out of the Common Agriculture Policy (CAP). It is still unclear how the bill will operate. The government is seeking to move away from the current subsidy system for farmers, which is based on the amount of land owned or farmed. Defra Secretary Michael Gove has said that the "lion's share" of farm subsidies after Brexit should go to support environmental work. The National Farmers' Union (NFU) has said the new bill is proposed to provide stability for farmers and ensure an effective system of support to replace the Common Agricultural Policy. The NFU says it presents a once in a generation opportunity to enhance and promote British farming. Bridging payments worth more than 117 million have now reached the bank accounts of over 3,200 farms, the Rural Payments Agency has announced. More than 96% of farmers in England signed up to the 2017 Basic Payment Scheme (BPS) have now received their full payments. The RPA is working to make the remaining 4% of payments. The agency says the remaining payments requires "more complex processing", and therefore take longer to complete. It follows news of thousands of farmers still in the dark over their 2017 BPS payments, which in turn is causing ongoing cash flow pressures. It has led the NFU to call for improved communications and efficiency from the RPA. The NFU has said the lack of payment and communication to these farmers is causing ongoing cash flow pressures and leaves them unable to plan properly. RPA Chief Executive Paul Caldwell admitted there is still more work to do. We have made solid progress in delivering payments to farmers this year, with more than 96% now paid, and I am pleased so many of this final 4% have now received their bridging payments, Mr Caldwell said. As always, there is more to do, and the RPA will continue working to make the final remaining payments. But now is also the time to get online to make sure your application for 2018 is in before the deadline closes in May. Farming Minister George Eustice announced in January the commitment to provide a bridging payment to any farmer not paid by the end of March and highlighted how the burden of EU rules continues to be a barrier to processing some of the remaining claims. These bridging payments are worth 75% of their full allocated amounts. Britain will remain a magnet for cutting edge research in agricultural techniques, a leading MEP told farming technologists this week. Anthea McIntyre MEP also predicted that the UK government would put science at the forefront of future environment and agriculture policies. Miss McIntyre, Conservative agriculture spokesman in Brussels, was addressing the Association of Agricultural Engineers in London this week. She said that the recent government publication 'A Green Future' had highlighted how scientific knowledge would be at the heart of any future regulation alongside a focus on Integrated Pest Management for a more holistic approach. Miss McIntyre outlined her series of reports on harnessing emerging technology to improve productivity and environmental protection. She said the UK is a global leader in science and innovation, and developments in precision farming are "right on our doorstep". "My region the West Midlands recently grew the worlds first entire crop using nothing but robot tractors and drones," Miss McIntyre said. "This Hands Free Hectare, led by Harper Adams University and Precision Decisions, successfully grew a crop which was seeded, sprayed, monitored and harvested using off-the-shelf technology and open source software. This is the future for farming. "We are in the early days of the big data and agri-tech revolution. Im hoping that with the right regulation and political will, the big winners of this revolution will be the producers, the environment, small farmers and consumers." 'Remarkable success' Miss McIntyre said a promising sign for the UK in maintaining its status as a world leader in technology came last week when it was awarded more research grants than any other country, by the European Research Council in its 2018 Advanced Grants. These prestigious EU grants, she said, were worth a total of 653m. She added: The results are a remarkable success for Britain, which comes out well ahead of other countries, both in the nationality of the successful scientists and in the location of the university or research centre where they will work. The UK took 66 of the 269 awards, followed by Germany with 42 and France with 34. She said: It is very reassuring, that despite Brexit, we clearly remain a favourite destination for top European research funds. The figures demonstrate the strength of UK science. When funds are allocated purely on excellence, as European Research Council Advanced Grants are, Britain emerges as Europes top scientific venue. "Both the UK and EU have a huge stake in maintaining a very close relationship in research and innovation after Brexit. I hope we will continue with the same level of participation in European research programmes, as we currently have with Horizon 2020. 1. Yes. The district should offer a virtual learning option, even in a modified format. 2. Yes. The bill limits the number of students who use it, but it does provide state funds. 3. No. Its too late in the year for the district to try to rework its teaching platforms. 4. No. The bill only allows 10% of students to access it, and also has other restrictions. 5. Unsure. It seems like a half-measure, but it may be worth pursuing. Vote View Results The Ulster Farmers Union says it will oppose government plans to charge farmers for testing for Transmissible Spongiform Encephalopathies (TSEs). The comments follow a Department of Agriculture, Environment and Rural Affairs (DAERA) consultation on changes to the TSE regulations. Ulster Farmers Union (UFU) president Barclay Bell said that transferring the cost of TSE sampling to the industry would cost 6.50 for each fallen animal over 48 months of age. He said there are about 22,000 a year, which would mean transferring 143,000 of charges to industry. Mr Bell explained that the UFU believes TSE sampling requirements are above the level required. Both at a local and EU level they exceed international requirements, yet Northern Ireland has BSE negligible risk status, said Mr Bell. They are excessive in relation to the risk, and in place to be seen, rather than on the basis of science. Farmers should not be expected to pay for sampling at a level they believe is unnecessary. The UFU says passing fees on to the industry is the wrong decision from the consultation and that DAERA should instead have supported a reduction in the level of sampling. We would like to see the age for TSE sampling increased from 48 to 70 months, so reducing the level and cost of sampling, said the UFU president. Scottish farmers have welcomed a 250,000 Government package of support to help address the impact of recent extreme weather. It follows several weeks of discussions on the difficulties and challenges that the prolonged spell of poor weather has had on farmers and crofters. This package includes a new 250,000 fund to help farmers offset the cost of disposing of fallen cattle and sheep. Fallen stock collections have been significantly higher than in 2016 and 2017 and a scheme, based on that previously operated through the National Fallen Stock Company (NFSCo) in 2013, is to be introduced to help compensate affected producers. The package also includes additional funds for farming charity RSABI, a trusted provider of emotional, practical and financial support to farmers, their families and their staff whose wellbeing might be suffering as the long days and nights in harsh conditions take their toll. Longer term solutions to the feed and fodder shortages are to be tackled through a summit involving commercial feed companies and co-operatives to explore what more can be done to increase resilience and collaboration. 'Huge impact' In welcoming the package, NFU Scotland President Andrew McCornick said no sector has been immune and no one has escaped the impact of the weather. I have seen and heard about the huge impact and cost that this unprecedented spell of bad weather has had on our farmers and crofters, Mr McCornick said. That said, the nations farmers and crofters are, once again, proving themselves to be incredibly resilient and have been doing all they can to ensure the wellbeing of their stock and to get crops into the ground, but it is taking a toll on businesses and on the people. Mr McCornick said a good summer won't undo all the damage done by the weather weather seen since summer 2017. That the accumulated effect will still be felt next winter. Therefore, we welcome the plan to identify longer term solutions to increase the industrys resilience, he added. We have also taken the opportunity to remind Scottish Government that cash flow is difficult for businesses. A lot will have extra feed and fodder costs but for those farms who have had extra stock disposal costs, we are pleased that this has been recognised and that some of these extra costs will be offset. 'Pragmatic derogation' The NFU Scotland President said the Scottish government should now quickly deliver the outstanding CAP scheme funding, including the headage scheme payments for beef calves and ewe hoggs, to ease farmer pressure. Mr McCornick added: For our arable growers, there is a clear and justifiable case for the exceptionally poor weather since summer 2017 to be recognised through a sensible and pragmatic derogation from meeting the challenging three-crop rule element of Greening requirements. We wrote to European Commissioner Hogan last week on the matter and we continue to pursue that with Brussels. With autumn plantings substantially down on the year and the cold, wet conditions this spring working against ground preparation and planting, the window of opportunity to plant and establish spring crops in 2018 is closing and meeting the three-crop rule for many farmers would be almost impossible. Summary Company Announcement Date: April 06, 2020 FDA Publish Date: April 06, 2020 Product Type: Food & Beverages Foodborne Illness Reason for Announcement: Recall Reason Description Salmonella Company Name: Viable Solutions Brand Name: Brand Name(s) Herbal-Salvation Product Description: Product Description Kratom containing powder products Company Announcement Viable Solutions ofNampa, ID has initiated a recall of certain Kratom-containing powder products, because it has the potential to be contaminated with Salmonella, an organism which can cause serious and sometimes fatal infections in young children, frail or elderly people, and others with weakened immune systems. Healthy persons infected with Salmonella often experience fever, diarrhea (which may be bloody), nausea, vomiting and abdominal pain. In rare circumstances, infection with Salmonella can result in the organism getting into the bloodstream and producing more severe illnesses such as arterial infections (i.e., infected aneurysms), endocarditis and arthritis. The potentially affected powder products are packaged in kaft paper, foil-lined heat sealed pouches and sold in 25 grams, 100 grams, 250 grams, and 1000 grams sizes. The units were sold directly to consumers nationwide in January and February of 2018 via company websites. The products description are as follows: Recall Product Identification: Brand Product Name Net Wt. Herbal-Salvation.com Mitragyna Speciosa Leaf Powder-Red Vein Sumatra 25 grams, 100 grams, 250 grams, 1000 grams Herbal-Salvation.com Mitragyna Speciosa Leaf Powder-Red Vein Bali 25 grams, 100 grams, 250 grams, 1000 grams Herbal-Salvation.com Mitragyna Speciosa Leaf Powder-Green Horn 25 grams, 100 grams, 250 grams, 1000 grams Herbal-Salvation.com Mitragyna Speciosa Leaf Powder-Thai Maeng Da 25 grams, 100 grams, 250 grams, 1000 grams The lot numbers being recalled can be found on the packaging and are as follows: RVS1380182301 RVB1380182201 GVH1380171512 MD13120181601 The company has been notified by the Michigan Department of Health and Human Services (MDHHS) that certain lots of the product were tested positive for Salmonella. While the Salmonella has not been traced to Viable Solutions, out of an abundance of caution and concern for the public health, Viable Solutions has initiated this recall. Viable Solutions has identified the supplier and source of the potentially contaminated product and has ceased production and distribution of the potentially contaminated product. Working in cooperation with the FDA, the company will destroy all recalled product upon return. Consumers who may be in possession of potentially contaminated products are advised not to consume products from those LOT numbers. All products associated with this recall should be returned to Viable Solutions for a full refund. Customers can return product to company for a full refund within fourteen (14) days by contacting Viable Solutions at recall@herbal-salvation.com. Amitabh Bachchan gets EMOTIONAL on Kathua case; calls it 'disgusting' | FilmiBeat Megastar Amitabh Bachchan is the latest celebrity from Bollywood to condemn the Kathua rape incident, saying he feels "disgusted" by it. When asked about his reaction, the 75-year-old star, who has been the face of 'Beti Bachao, Beti Padhao' campaign, said it was painful to even talk about it. "Mujhe uss vishay par charcha karne mein ghin aati hai. So uss vishay ko uchhalo mat. It's terrible to even talk about it. (I feel disgusted even talking about it. So, don't rake up this issue. It is terrible to even talk about it," Bachchan told reporters. The actor was speaking at the song launch of his upcoming film "102 Not Out", in which he stars along with Rishi Kapoor. Joining the growing chorus against the alleged rape and killing of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, actor Alia Bhatt also said she is heartbroken and angry over the incident. Alia said it isn't only people from Bollywood who are upset but there is anger at a humanatarian level over the incident. "I don't think only people in Bollywood are upset, I think all over the country people are upset, on a humanitarian level there is anger. It is a disgraceful, shameful and terrible thing that's happened," Alia told reporters. "As a girl, as a woman, as a human being and as a part of the country, I feel very bad and hurt that something like this has happened." The actor, who was speaking at the song launch of her upcoming film "Raazi", said she has stopped reading about the incident as it makes her more angry. "There was a time when I was reading a lot about it but in the last two days, I have stopped because I thought if I keep reading about it, it's going to make me more and more upset and angry and really hurt. "I just hope, from my heart, that justice is served. As a country, we should go out there and condemn it because this cannot be happening to us constantly," she added. Several Bollywood celebrities have reacted angrily over the incidents and have demanded justice for the victims of the Kathua, Unnao and Surat rape cases that have generated a massive outrage against the perpetrators. Inputs From PTI Sateliite Rights If reports are to be believed, the satellite rights of Love Action Drama has already been sold to propular channel Asianet. The amount hasn't been revealed yet. Recently, Aju Varghese took to Facebook to send out a photo taken with Asianet MD Madhavan and it is assumed that the post was in connection with the same. The Shoot Of The Film Well, it has to be noted that the shoot of the film is yet to commence and the film has struck a big deal even before that. This speaks volumes about the expectations that the film carries. Going by the latest reports, the shooting of the film is expected to begin by the end of May or beginning of June. More About Love Action Drama... According to the initial reports that came in, Love Action Drama will feature Nivin Pauly and Nayanthara in the characters namely Dineshan and Shobha, respectively. Reportedly, actor Aju Varghese will also be seen essaying a crucial role in the film, which will be shot pre-dominantly in Chennai. Popular actress Urvashi is also expected to play an important role in the movie. Nivin Pauly & Nayanthara Well, it is for the first time that Nivin Pauly and Nayanthara are teaming up for a movie and the fans of the both the stars are eagerly waiting for the movie. At present, Nivin Pauly is busy with the final works of Kayamkulam Kochunni and on the other hand, Nayanthara is busy with her projects in Tamil and Telugu. Presently, all banks charge a fee of Rs 15 for each cash and Rs 5 for all non-cash transactions from each other for use of their ATMs by other banks' customers -- which is recovered from the (user) customers -- beyond the five minimum free transactions. Mumbai: Bank customers may be hit as ATM operators have demanded higher "interchange rates" for ATM transactions to enable them to comply with recent stringent Reserve Bank of India (RBI) guidelines, an industry body said here on Wednesday. Presently, all banks charge a fee of Rs 15 for each cash and Rs 5 for all non-cash transactions from each other for use of their ATMs by other banks' customers -- which is recovered from the (user) customers -- beyond the five minimum free transactions. Now, the Confederation of ATM Industry (CATMi) has demanded that this should go up by at least Rs 3-5 per transaction to enable the (ATM) operators to recover their costs which have skyrocketed in recent times. CATMi Director K Srinivas said that recently the RBI has issued guidelines that will result in overall cost hike for the ATM service providers. Among these, the RBI said banks must implement certain minimum standards in their arrangements with the service providers for cash management-related activities by July. These include a minimum fleet size of 300 specifically fabricated cash vans (vehicles), a driver, two custodians and at least two gunmen for security, each vehicle must be GPS-enabled and monitored live with geo-fencing mapping with additional indication of the nearest police station during any emergency. Besides, the RBI stipulates that ATM operations should be performed only by certified personnel who have completed minimum hours of classroom learning and training among others. "These can substantially increase the costs of operations for all the 19 CATMi members, and banks will have to pay for the costs of the increased compliance. Where there is a pay-per-use model, the issuer bank pays the increased per transaction fee for its cardholders transacting on other banks ATMs," CATMi spokesperson V. Balasubramanian told IANS. Another RBI circular that has created concerns pertains to banks considering using lockable cassettes in the ATMs which would be swapped at the time of cash replenishment in order to reduce risks involved in existing method of open cash replenishment or top-up. "There are more than 230,000 ATMs operational all over India, each with four cassettes to store the cash in denominations of Rs 2,000, Rs 500, Rs 100 and Rs 50. The swap of cassettes would entail a massive investment by the ATM service providers, as additional cassettes must be available for all ATMs instead of using the same cassette," Balasubramanian said. However, for this, the RBI has given time up to 31 March, 2021, covering one-third of the ATMs each year till then, he added. Though Srinivas welcomed the RBI guidelines, he urged the apex bank and the National Payments Council of India to immediately increase the interchange rates in order to make this viable for the ATM services industry. "We are already burdened with higher costs of Euro Master Visa protocol and Biometrics implementation. Now, the added costs of cash management will make the operations unviable for Bank ATM operators and White Label ATM operators, and will force closure of several ATMs." Another CATMi Director Himanshu Pujara said that an interchange rate below the cost of servicing each transaction would mean that expansion of ATMs to the semi-urban or rural areas could suffer. "CATMi is in discussions with the RBI and the NPCI and hopes that a decision to increase the interchange rate is taken up on priority," he said. Presently, through the 230,000 ATMs, an average minimum of one million transactions of varying cash amounts take place daily, worth several thousands of crores of rupees. Amid the ongoing cash crunch in the country, tax authorities conducted 30-35 raids in Karnataka and parts of Andhra Pradesh in order to corner cash hoarders Amid the ongoing cash crunch in the country, tax authorities have reportedly conducted close to 35 raids in Karnataka and in parts of Andhra Pradesh in a bid to corner currency hoarders. Andhra Pradesh and Telangana are reporting acute cash shortages and authorities are examining the role of large contractors, and subcontracts, in the two states. The focus of the raids were individuals, and entities that have withdrawn large sums in recent weeks, a senior I-T official told The Times of India. "In some cases, the withdrawals are not justified and they do not tally with the income or spending patterns. We believe that cash is only being held with no actual spending planned in several cases, a source was quoted as saying by the newspaper. Paytm, rivals gain Meanwhile, mobile wallet companies like Paytm, Mobikwik and Flipkart-owned PhonePe logged a significant jump in digital transactions amid the cash crunch. One97 Communications, which owns the Paytm brand, reported a 30 percent surge in transactions so far this month, over the preceding month. The firm said that Andhra Pradesh and Telangana apart, Bihar, Gujarat, Assam, Karnataka, Maharashtra, Rajasthan, Uttar Pradesh and Madhya Pradesh too reported higher transactions. "In the wake of the ongoing cash crunch, customers are using more of our services, which has led to phenomenal growth in money transfers and QR-based payments in the cities where the ATMs have gone dry," Paytm COO Kiran Vasireddy told the PTI. Government officials claim that the cash position across the country is fast improving, with over 80 per cent of India's roughly 2.2 lakh ATMs operating normally on Wednesday. An unusual spurt in demand for cash in early April resulted in some dry ATMs in some pockets, and shortages of cash at a few bank branches. With inputs from PTI Fortis, which runs about 30 hospitals across India, has become the target of a takeover battle, with Malaysias IHH Healthcare Bhd, local rival Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd and Chinas Fosun International Ltd vying for the cash-strapped company New Delhi: Fortis Healthcare today said it has received an improved binding offer from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company, ahead of its scheduled board meet today. "The company has received an improved binding offer from Hero/Munjals and Burmans to invest directly into the company," Fortis Healthcare said in a regulatory filing. Spelling out the details of their offer, the Munjals and Burmans in a joint letter said, the offer is "faster to implement and without any due diligence. We are proposing to invest Rs 1,500 crore directly in the company". The Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 500 crore through preference issue of equity shares and Rs 1,000 crore through preferential issue of warrants, based on the current business and financial position of the company. Meanwhile, in a late night filing yesterday, Fortis said it has also received a supplemental proposal from Malaysia's IHH Healthcare Bhd. "As part of the IHH proposal and subject to satisfactory completion of due diligence.. We are ready to infuse Rs 4,000 crore through a preferential allotment of equity shares at a price not exceeding Rs 160 per share which will fund the buyout of RHT Health Trust assets as well as provide immediate liquidity towards working capital and infrastructure upgrades," IHH said. "Notwithstanding the foregoing, IHH remains flexible to jointly working with the existing shareholders of the company towards solving the company's funding requirements," it added. Munjals and Burmans have offered to invest Rs 750 crore upfront. Group entities of Hero Enterprise Investment Office led by Sunil Kant Munjal and the Burman family of the Dabur Group currently hold around 3 percent stake in the healthcare chain. Last week, Fortis had an "unsolicited binding offer" from Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office to invest Rs 1,250 crore in the company through preferential allotment route. As per the improved offer letter, allotment and pricing for the preferential issue of equity shares for Rs 500 crore shall be as per Sebi ICDR guidelines or Rs 156 per share, which is higher. Allotment and pricing for the preferential issue of warrants for Rs 1,000 crore shall be as per Sebi ICDR guidelines or Rs 161.60 per share, which is higher, it added. The board of directors of the company is scheduled to meet today to consider all the options. The offer letter stated that utilisation of proceeds from the preferential issue of equity shares for Rs 500 crore shall only be for the purpose of payment of employee dues, repayment of loans which have matured and payment to the most pressing creditors and lenders. "We seek two board seats, given the sizeable investment, and to generally act in the interest of stakeholders," it added. IHH Healthcare Bhd, Manipal Health Enterprises Pvt Ltd, Burmans and Munjals (jointly) and Chinese firm Fosun Health Holdings are in the race for buying Fortis. IHH offered a price of 160 per share which valued the company at Rs 6,061 crore. The Malaysian firm's offer had come a day after Sunil Kant Munjal-led Hero Enterprise Investment Office and Burman Family Office offered to invest Rs 1,250 crore in the healthcare chain at up to Rs 156 per share. Fortis has also received an unsolicited non-binding expression of interest from Fosun Health Holdings Ltd, an arm of Fosun International Ltd, with a proposal of primary infusion at a price up to Rs 156 per share up to a total investment of USD 350 million (over Rs 2,295 crore). Manipal had raised its offer for Fortis last week to Rs 155 per share by valuing the hospital business higher at Rs 6,061 crore, from Rs 5,003 crore initially. Pleading and issuing warnings smack of ineptness, an ineptness in making a proper assessment of refund claims filed through income tax returns (ITRs). The Income-Tax Departments (IT-D) warning to the salaried, to desist from making bogus refund claims is baffling to say the least. Someone in authority must crack the whip at the first hint of wrongdoing. Pleading and issuing warnings smack of ineptness, bordering on helplessness. In this case, an ineptness in making a proper assessment of refund claims filed through income tax returns (ITRs). The department's warning follows a racket in Bengaluru, where a tax advisor was seen helping information-technology (IT) sector employees file bogus refund claims. One wonders how. The income-tax (IT) law has put the fear of God into employers. The law makes them, for all practically purposes, the assessing officer insofar as salary assessment is concerned. Then there is the possibility of employers being arrested for any laxity in this regard, including failing to fully deduct tax at source and depositing the same with the treasury. So much so employers behaviour has been exemplary on this score though some of them especially those employing lakhs of employees do so grudgingly. Indeed they cannot collude with their employees to help the latter reduce their tax liability. But, there are a couple of indulgences offered to the salaried with respect to TDS: a) An employer can pay tax on perquisites on behalf of his employees either selectively or en bloc and to this extent the employee(s) would be absolved of their tax liability; and b) An employer can consider loss from house properties, both self-occupied and rented out, while deducting tax at source from the salary. To wit, if the salary income is Rs 10 lakh and loss from a self-occupied house is Rs 2 lakh, the employer would deduct tax only on Rs 8 lakh. Is the income tax department suspecting any fraud on these two accounts? If it does, it can go for the jugular of such black sheep employers. The only freedom given to employees is to manipulate figures and information not given to their employers. Areas that lend themselves to such manipulation are: a) Claim losses from house property not disclosed to the employer themselves and also claim losses from income from other sources, once again not disclosed to the employer. An employee cannot set off his business loss against his salary income thanks to an intelligent amendment made by Manmohan Singh in his avatar as Finance Minister a long time ago. He plugged the escape route by rightly saying that employment precludes business. And losses from short-term or long-term capital gains cannot be set off, once again a prudent amendment made by Singh as the salaried used it to evade taxes. So there is limited scope for cooking up losses set off against ones salary while filing returns. b) Claim Section 80G donations not disclosed to employers and claim relief at the source itself. Employers have been permitted to consider only donations to The Jawaharlal Nehru Memorial Fund; The Prime Ministers Drought Relief Fund; The National Childrens Fund; The Indira Gandhi Memorial Trust; The Rajiv Gandhi Foundation and to the following bodies to the extent of 100 percent of the contribution: The National Defence Fund or the Prime Ministers National Relief Fund; The Prime Ministers Armenia Earthquake Relief Fund; The Africa (Public Contribution-India) Fund; The National Foundation for Communal Harmony; The Chief Ministers Earthquake Relief Fund, Maharashtra; The National Blood Transfusion Council; The State Blood Transfusion Council; The Army Central Welfare Fund; The Indian Naval Benevolent Fund; The Air Force Central Welfare Fund; The Andhra Pradesh Chief Ministers Cyclone Relief Fund, 1996; The National Illness Assistance Fund; The Chief Ministers Relief Fund or Lieutenant Governors Relief Fund, in respect of any State or Union Territory, as the case may be, subject to certain conditions; The University or educational institution of national eminence approved by the prescribed authority; The National Sports Fund to be set up by the Central Government; The National Cultural Fund set up by the Central Government; The Fund for Technology Development and Application set up by the Central Government; The national trust for welfare of persons with autism, cerebral palsy mental retardation and multiple disabilities. The above list shows that the employer has been allowed to consider only sarkari donations as opposed to private trust donations howsoever laudable the latters causes may be. This is because he is not in a position to ascertain the genuineness of private charities; only the department can. Is it the departments allegation that the Bengaluru consultant is aiding the wholesale misuse of Section 80G by manipulating fake donations to charities? If indeed it suspects so, it must deal with him. The short point is that the ball is in the departments court to proceed against delinquent employees, employers and the said consultant. Therefore let it not issue a mere warning. And let it not threaten to mention the names of the delinquent employees to their employers. What is the point if they are colluding with each other? The department must crack the whip, period. (The author is a senior columnist and tweets @smurlidharan) Plans to revive ABG Shipyard, Alok Industries and Lanco could fail, despite that fact that Alok received a bid from Reliance Industries (RIL). Plans to revive distressed ABG Shipyard, Alok Industries and Lanco Infratech could fail, leading inevitably to the liquidation of the three companies that together owe lenders over Rs 1 lakh crore. According to a report in The Economic Times, lenders are unwilling to accept offers for these three companies that involve substantial haircuts. The three accounts were among the 12 first large non-performing assets (NPAs) identified by the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) for resolution under the Insolvency and Bankruptcy Code (IBC), 2016. On Wednesday, fresh bids were invited for ABG Shipyard under the insolvency law after lenders rejected an earlier resolution plan. ABG Shipyard is undergoing insolvency proceedings as per the orders of the National Company Law Tribunal (NCLT). Lenders, looking to recover Rs 17,000 crore from ABG, expect to receive resolution plans by 23 April, as per the notice. ABG Shipyard, incorporated in 1985, is the flagship company of the ABG group that has interests in shipping and cement sectors. Earlier in the week, Reliance Industries said the its resolution plan for textiles maker Alok Industries was rejected by the Committee of Creditors (CoC). RIL had bid jointly with JM Financial. Rajasthan state plans to create a strong start-up ecosystem, taking a leap to match the top tech cities in the country Jaipur: Move over Bengaluru and Pune. Udaipur in Rajasthan is aiming to set up the biggest start-up hub in the country with a capacity to accommodate 700 newcomers. The state plans to create a strong start-up ecosystem, taking a leap to match the top tech cities in the country. The incubation centre, coming up in Udaipur, will give start-ups and entrepreneurs space, internet connections and other infrastructure facilities -- all free. It will also throw in government funding. "The incubation centre will not charge any kind of fee from start-ups as well as entrepreneurs and shall provide free facilities unlike T-Hub in Hyderabad which charges a fee for different facilities. It will be bigger than the biggest T-Hubs operational in India," Akhil Arora, Principal Secretary, IT and Communication Department of Rajasthan, told IANS. Arora said some of the best incubators were being invited for the hub and the management would be handled by professionals. Mentoring for start-ups would be provided by top corporates. "We will evaluate the performance of start-ups every three months to ensure that they do not turn complacent," he said, adding that entrepreneurs can use the facilities for a maximum of two years. An incubation centre in Jaipur is already running with 45 operating start-ups. The Udaipur one was recently inaugurated -- to be operational from next month -- and had already drawn "exciting response" from the start-up community, he said. "We want to spread wings across the state to provide equal opportunity to all. Incubation Centres would be set up in Kota and Jodhpur for which work had already started," he said. According to Arora, the start-up ecosystem has the potential to germinate new ideas as this is being extended to even students coming out of college, who will be mentored. "We will help them to take their ideas forward, at a time when they lack sufficient capital structure," he added. To take care of funding needs, Bhamashah Technofund was introduced which provides seed capital without any collateral or without detailed evaluation. This was an investment decision taken by the government without expecting big returns, Arora said. Under Technofund, seven start-ups, based on their Q-Ranking -- which blends quality rating and curation -- were funded. While six were given Rs 20 lakh each, the seventh one got Rs 15 lakh. The seven were chosen from over 700 applications. Mudit Jain, founder of Qriyo, and one of the beneficiaries of the funding in Jaipur, said: "Rajasthan's start-up ecosystem is growing and we are receiving constant support from the government. For the first time, we have seen a government expediting the processes at a fast pace." Arora said that for the funding process they had roped in creditable agencies empanelled with the government. "When they grant funding, we match the funds up to Rs 25 lakh, sanctioning them in five days," he said, adding that the government had earmarked Rs 500 crore to meet the funding requirement of start-ups. Also, the government gives a grant of Rs 2 lakh to help them try out their ideas. For those looking for expansion, equity capital and interest-free loans are provided after proposals are evaluated by an external jury. "We are confident that entrepreneurs and start-ups will get their best in Rajasthan as we provide quality lifestyle too, which is missing in Bengaluru, Pune and other similar cities due to modern-day challenges such as traffic and pollution," Arora said. Reliance Industries and its partner BP plc on Thursday announced sanctioning of a second project to develop satellite gas fields in the KG-D6 block New Delhi: Reliance Industries and its partner BP plc on Thursday announced sanctioning of a second project to develop satellite gas fields in the KG-D6 block to help reverse the flagging output at the Bay of Bengal block. The RIL-BP combine would develop a cluster of four gas discoveries in the Krishna Godavari basin block by 2020-22, the two firms said in a joint statement. Previously, the two had made a final investment decision (FID) to develop the R-Series gas field by 2019-20. "The 'Satellite cluster' is the second of three projects in the Block KG D6 integrated development. The first of the projects, development of the 'R-Series' deep-water gas fields, was sanctioned in June 2017," the statement said. "Together the three projects will develop a total of about 3 trillion cubic feet of discovered gas resources with a total investment of Rs 40,000 crore. They are expected to bring a total 30-35 million cubic metres a day (mmscmd) new domestic gas production onstream, phased over 2020-2022," it added. RIL is the operator of block KG-DWN-98/3 or KG-D6 with 60 percent stake while UK's BP Plc has 30 percent interest, and Niko Resources of Canada the remaining 10 percent. The partners have been focusing on developing R-Series, satellite cluster and MJ (D55) deep discovery to revive the flagging output at the block. While the companies did not give investment breakup, they had in August 2013 secured regulatory nod for investing $3.18 billion in developing D-34 or R-Series gas field in the block. In February this year, they got nod for investing around USD 4 billion in the other two sets of discoveries. RIL has so far made 19 gas discoveries in the KG-D6 block. Of these, D-1 and D-3 -- the largest among the lot -- were brought into production from April 2009, but output has fallen sharply from 54 mmscmd in March 2010. They together with MA oil and gas field, the only field in production, currently produce 4.9 mmscmd. Discoveries other than these three and the ones being developed now have either been surrendered or taken away by the government for not meeting timelines for beginning production. RIL-BP announced "the sanctioning of the 'Satellite cluster' project in Block KG-D6" but did not say anything of the MJ development. "The companies are moving forward to develop the Block's discovered deep-water gas fields in an integrated series of projects, bringing new gas production for India," the statement said. Mukesh Ambani, Chairman and Managing Director of RIL, said: "In consonance with our announcements last year to raise domestic gas production, we are delighted to announce the on-schedule progress of the Satellite cluster in the east coast of India. This development supports the country's imminent need of increasing domestic gas supply and is a firm step towards making India a gas-based economy." Speaking in London, Bob Dudley, BP Group Chief Executive, said the move further demonstrated BP's commitment to India. "Through our partnership, Reliance and BP are able to develop these discovered gas resources efficiently and economically, working closely with the Government of India. These new developments will produce much-needed energy for India's thriving economy." The Satellites cluster is a dry gas development and comprises four discoveries with five well subsea development in 1,700 meters water depth, up to 15 kilometers east and southeast of the producing D1D3 fields in KG-D6. "The first of the KG D6 projects to be sanctioned, the R-series project, is already in execution phase with all major contracts awarded. The Satellites cluster project will draw on execution synergies with the R-series project being developed concurrently," the statement said. India today consumes over 5 billion cubic feet a day of natural gas and aspires to double gas consumption by 2022. "Gas production from the integrated development is expected to help reduce India's import dependence and amount to over 10 percent of the country's projected gas demand in 2022; benefiting India and domestic consumers at large," it added. (Disclosure - Reliance Industries Ltd. is the sole beneficiary of Independent Media Trust which controls Network18 Media & Investments Ltd) The report, however clarified, the survey was carried out during November-January and did not take into account the recent reports of irregularities involving the ICICI Bank. New Delhi: At a time when the banking sector in the going through a topsy-turvy phase, the TRA Brand Trust Report 2018 on Wednesday said the State Bank of India was the most trusted bank (both public and private sector) in the country and ICICI Bank topped the chart among the private ones. "This year, State Bank of India tops the chart of BFSI (Banking and Financial Services Institutions) super-category despite seeing a dip in its overall brand trust index rankings from 13th in 2017 to 21st this year," the report said. It further said: "The leader among the private banks is ICICI Bank, rising nine ranks in overall ranking." In the overall ranking comparing brands from across sectors, ICICI Bank ranked 38th in 2018. The report, however clarified, the survey was carried out during November-January and did not take into account the recent reports of irregularities involving the ICICI Bank. It further observed that 51 brands from the BFSI sector got listed among the 1,000 most trusted brands in the country this year, compared to 23 brands listed in 2017. "The 19 new brands entering the list show that the general trust in the BFSI sector is rising," the report said. The public sector major Punjab National Bank, which in February witnessed a multi-crore fraud, ranks sixth among the public sector banks (PSB) and is 297th in the overall ranking, according to the survey. Given the fact that the survey was done during November-January 2017-18, it did not take into account people's opinion after the scam. The fraud might be a factor in the next year's report for PNB. However, people do not really blame the bank for that, rather the accused individuals are the ones largely blamed, said N Chandramouli, CEO of TRA. In a shocking case, a man has been booked for raping his 35-year-old daughter along with two of his friends in Sitapur city in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday. Sitapur: In a shocking case, a man has been booked for raping his 35-year-old daughter along with two of his friends in Sitapur city in Uttar Pradesh, police said on Thursday. Additional SP (South) Martand Prakash Singh said the woman was raped by the men in Kamlapur area on 15 April. She filed the police complaint the next day. While one of the accused has been arrested, the victim's father and another accused are absconding, he said. "The woman has a son. She married almost 20 years ago. However, she separated from her husband and was living with her father," the additional SP said. On 15 April, the man took his daughter to a fair, an annual feature in Kamlapur, around 70 km from state capital Lucknow. There, he called up his friend Maan Singh and asked him to join them, police said. According to police, Maan Singh has partnered with the woman's father in a number of crimes. The two men then convinced the woman to ride with them on a motorcycle to the residence of their friend Meraj. There, the men locked her up in a room for nearly 18 hours and took turns to rape her, police said. The victim somehow managed to escape and reached home. She narrated her ordeal to her mother and the complaint was registered, police said. In November last year, the victim's father was accused by the village panchayat of having an illicit relationship with his daughter. He was arrested but released on bail in February. Against the backdrop of the nationwide furore over the recent rape incidents, the Bombay High Court on Thursday observed sharply that India's image has 'taken a beating' with an increased perception abroad that it is a 'country of crimes and rapes'. Mumbai: Against the backdrop of the nationwide furore over the recent rape incidents, the Bombay High Court on Thursday observed sharply that India's image has "taken a beating" with an increased perception abroad that it is a "country of crimes and rapes". A division bench of Justice SC Dharmadhikari and Justice Bharati Dangre said besides an impression that "liberal and secular people are not safe", due to the prevailing scenario, the rest of world is hesitant to engage with India on educational or cultural matters. "Anywhere we go, we have to answer a barrage of questions... Unfortunate that today, the image is such that those living abroad feel only rapes and crimes take place in India. "They are under the impression that liberal, open-minded and secular people can't be safe here and are bound to be attacked. The country's image is suffering due to acts of a few," the bench observed. It said that no international body is keen to be part of "our educational-cultural projects, and even investors show initial enthusiasm but pull out later". "No institution, including the judiciary in the country, is spared from this... We are very sorry to see this... Do we want to live in a cocoon?" the bench asked. The court's candid observations came while hearing the petitions filed by the kin of slain rationalists Narendra Dabholkar on 20 August, 2013 in Pune and Communist stalwart Govind Pansare on 20 February, 2015 in Kolhapur seeking a court-monitored investigation. Representing the CBI, Additional Solicitor General Anil Singh and Maharashtra CID's senior counsel Ashok Mundargi informed the court that there appears little hope now of achieving any substantial breakthrough from further field investigations. "Now the only hope is scientific probe and evidence from the forensic evidences call detail records," Mundargi said. To this, the court asked how could the case be taken to its logical conclusion and whether it should be permitted to reach a dead-end when such crimes are on the rise. The judges asked why the investigating agencies could not initiate measures to "completely strangulate" the organisational backing enjoyed by the accused instead of merely waiting for them to surrender some day. Though not critical of the investigations, the court warned that if the two agencies failed to report any progress at the next date of hearing, it would be compelled to summon senior officials. Rajasthan Anti-Terror Squad's Operation Kuber reveals that cash hoarders and hawala operators are once again active and could be the reason why a large chunk of cash is disappearing from circulation in India New Delhi: A few blocks from Fatehpuri market, a favourite among wholesale cloth merchants in Old Delhi, a man in his early 40s hurriedly walked through the shops selling prayer ritual items. He was carrying an empty blue bag and had a smartphone tucked in his pocket. He was intercepted by another man with a yellow bag on his shoulder. What transpired during the brief conversation is not known, but a spotter shadowing the man watched them pulling out their phones and showing something to each other. Subsequently, the bags were exchanged and they disappeared in the crowded lanes. No one else noticed the pair that foggy morning of mid-January 2018. The watcher, a trained operative from Rajasthan Anti-Terrorism Squad (ATS), immediately called his controller and reported the event that unfolded before his eyes. The officer sitting hundreds of miles away in a command centre pored over existing intelligence files, examining similar interactions that were reported by the Human Intelligence (HUMINT) few days back, and decided to launch a sustained surveillance. This was the beginning of 'Operation Kuber' that months later culminated into a massive haul exposing a deep-rooted hawala network in the country that was spreading its tentacles after demonetisation in November 2016. The name for this shadowy operation was aptly chosen as Kuber, which means 'God of Wealth' and the ATS sleuths were tracking those moving illegal and unaccounted cash from one state to another. Amid the cash crunch, the government and the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) have argued that there is no currency crisis in the country and a temporary shortage is being reported because of a sudden surge in withdrawal and logistical issues in replenishing ATMs. But, 'Operation Kuber' reveals that cash hoarders and hawala operators are once again active and a large chunk of cash is disappearing from circulation using cash mules. The sudden surge in withdrawal by the aam aadmi is one aspect of the problem, however, hawala syndicates crawling back to business is a serious concern when the government itself had revealed that cash including new currency notes of about Rs 110 crore were seized immediately after demonetisation. Within weeks, the ATS team gathered evidence from chatter that the hawala network was active in at least four states Delhi, Rajasthan, Gujarat and Madhya Pradesh. A huge amount of cash was being moved from one place to another at regular intervals. When we say regular interval that means one transaction in six-seven days. The (delivery of) consignment by the hawala operators was conducted as a normal routine. In the hawala network, the operators typically handle the transporters from a vantage point and the identity of the transporter and the receiver is kept secret," a top source revealed. What the intelligence gathering mission of 'Operation Kuber' revealed was startling and overwhelming. The cash was being moved by unsuspecting mules through public transport and 'chinh' (identity) of the transporter was being verified through mobile phones. At least two nodal points in Rajasthan were identified, ATS DIG Vikas Kumar told Firstpost. "The origin of the cash was Delhi. Bhilwara and Udaipur were two nodal points for further transportation of the cash. Their modus operandi was unique. The person who picked up the bag full of cash used to show a particular signature on his mobile phones. The person handing over the cash and the receiver too had a similar signature that was sent by the syndicate through WhatsApp messenger. In layman language, it is called 'chinh dena' (establishing identity). There was no need for them to reveal each other's identity, just the message containing signature was enough. We started tracking them from the place of origin," Kumar said. The intelligence harvested through HUMINT and technical surveillance disclosed that one active cell from Delhi was operational, however, there were other modules as well that were transporting unaccounted cash. The cash mule, who was eventually arrested in March from a private bus and handed over to the Income Tax Department, was part of the network that was operating in four states. Since they were dealing in high denomination notes, mostly in Rs 2,000, it is suspected that key figures of the syndicate are still at large. DIG, ATS Vikas Kumar said that the Income Tax Department is trying to figure out the beneficiaries of these illegal transactions and as far 'Operation Kuber' is concerned, they have gleaned a lot of clues regarding hawala modules and are working on the fine details. "What appears from our operation is that a large amount of unaccounted cash is being moved, and for that reason, the Income Tax Department has been roped in. We believe that the Enforcement Directorate is also going to look into the syndicate which has been busted in the operation. We have some leads and are intensely focusing on them to disrupt and dismantle the hawala networks," Kumar added. Both the government and the RBI have assured that adequate currency would be supplied to meet the increasing cash demands in the coming days, but away from the public glare, the chilling facts of the hawala network indicate that the agencies need a coordinated strike to neutralise the modules. With the ongoing 'Operation Kuber', a war against cash hoarders has just begun. Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday accused the ruling BJP of 'wounding' India's soul by 'unleashing forces of intolerance, hatred and bigotry'. Mumbai: Congress MP and former Union minister Shashi Tharoor on Wednesday accused the ruling BJP of "wounding" India's soul by "unleashing forces of intolerance, hatred and bigotry". Such a climate did not prevail in the past, he said during an interaction organised in Mumbai by the All India Professionals Congress (APIC), of which he is the chairman. Referring to the barbaric rape-and-murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua, Jammu and Kashmir, Tharoor said it was inexcusable to defend the perpetrators of the ghastly crime which has caused a national outrage. "This is done in the name of religion. No one is saying the BJP or the government run by the party is directly responsible for this. But, it has unleashed forces of intolerance, hatred and bigotry." "If they had mismanaged the economy, at least they should have protected the social fabric. But, they have wounded India's soul," the parliamentarian-author said. Tharoor lashed out at the BJP-led NDA government at the Centre, accusing it of indulging more in marketing and PR exercise rather than doing actual work on the ground. "Even in case of foreign policy, the government wanted to take political credit without doing anything. Such things may work in domestic politics but not in the foreign policy arena," said the former UN diplomat, referring to the 2016 surgical strikes across the LoC and last year's Doka La standoff with China. Tharoor rejected suggestions that the Congress was engaging in "soft Hindutva" as reflected in party chief Rahul Gandhi's temple visits during election campaigns. "It is not soft Hindutva, but an attempt to neutralise the BJP's argument that they alone represent Hindus," said the Lok Sabha MP from Thiruvananthapuram. Hindutva is a political ideology of the BJP which has nothing to do with religion, he said. "Sadly, this ideology is growing in the last four years and people are getting attracted to the language and rhetoric of its proponents," Tharoor said. Tharoor said the need of the hour is to strengthen democracy as there had been a "sustained attack" on the media, judiciary and bureaucracy. Speaking of the Congress, which bagged its lowest ever seat tally in the 2014 Lok Sabha polls and also faced election defeat in some states, he said the party would rebuild itself. "We are a party with conscience. We want to see businesses grow." Asked about the party's internal elections and primaries to select candidates, Tharoor said Congress workers feel such polls encourage factionalism. "They say they would abide by selections of the party central leadership." Congress leader Milind Deora, who was also present at the interaction, admitted the party had failed to communicate with people. "We are correcting mistakes of the past. Our narrative will be clear and lucid. But, the BJP is more of PR and less of action," Deora said. "The 2G scam was a case study in our failure to communicate that the (Congress-led UPA) government had not auctioned spectrum because it wanted to increase tele-density in rural areas," said the former Union minister of state for Information Technology and Communications. He said the demonetisation exercise was carried out by the Modi government without any consultations. "This shows the centralised approach of this government which was not the case with the UPA," said the former Lok Sabha MP. A 40-year-old man was stabbed to death by three youths as one of them suspected that the victim was in an illicit relationship with his mother. New Delhi: A 40-year-old man was stabbed to death by three youths as one of them suspected that the victim was in an illicit relationship with his mother, police said on Wednesday. The man, Raju alias Mamraj, was stabbed 22 times with a dagger by Aman (20), Ashish (21) and Sahil (19), who have been arrested, they said. The incident was reported from southwest Delhi's Dwarka. On 17 April, the police were informed that a man was lying with fatal stab injuries near the Peer Baba Majar. He was rushed to the Deen Dayal Upadhyay Hospital in Hari Nagar where he was declared brought dead. Raju's family members suspected the role of Aman as he was suspicious about the victim having an illicit relationship with his mother, police said. On 16 April, Raju had gone to Aman's house where they had quarrel. The accused had warned Raju against coming to his house, they said. During investigation, the mobile phone of Aman was put on surveillance and it was found that he was changing his location constantly. On the basis of technical surveillance, houses of Aman's relatives in Azadpur and Deenpur and other possible hideouts were searched, but he could not be arrested. Police said a trap was also laid at Aman's house and subsequently, he was nabbed while he was coming to his house, the police said. During interrogation, Aman revealed that he had killed Raju along with with his associates Ashish and Sahil, who were later arrested. Aman revealed that he suspected that Raju was "over friendly" with his mother, said Shibesh Singh, Deputy Comissioner of Police (Dwarka). He also said that he had told Raju several times not to come to his house, but the deceased still visited his house regularly, the officer said. He made a plan with his friends to kill Raju and on 17 April stabbed him 22 times with a dagger, the DCP said. India launched fast-track courts and a tougher rape law that included the death penalty after a gruesome assault on a young woman shocked the country in 2012, but crime statistics indicate the situation has got worse, not better, since then. By Aditya Kalra New Delhi: India launched fast-track courts and a tougher rape law that included the death penalty after a gruesome assault on a young woman shocked the country in 2012, but crime statistics indicate the situation has got worse, not better, since then. The data was collated by Reuters amid mounting public anger over crimes against women after two horrific cases in recent months that has, once again, cast a harsh light on systemic problems plaguing the countrys police and courts. The gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and the arrest of a BJP legislator for the rape of a teenager in Uttar Pradesh's Unnao district have sparked nationwide outrage, drawing nightmarish parallels with the gang rape and murder of a student in New Delhi six years ago. Amid the wave of anger at that time, the government promised to speed up rape trials, provide harsher penalties, including the death sentence in extreme cases, and a law against stalking. But statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60 percent to around 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40 percent. The conviction rate of people arrested for rape remains stuck around 25 percent. The backlog of rape cases pending trial stood at more than 133,000 by the end of 2016, up from about 100,000 in 2012, National Crime Records Bureau data showed. In each year during that period, about 85 percent of the total rape cases being heard remained pending. In general, conviction rates for crime against women deaths following demands for dowry, assault, kidnapping as well as rape are lower than for most other crimes. The government can make a hundred laws and yet it will fail because there is no enforcement, said Dushyant Dave, a senior lawyer at Indias Supreme Court. It needs to take this as an epidemic and treat it accordingly, by completely overhauling the police machinery, prosecutors and the judicial system. CASES BURIED Crime statistics showed that police files remain open for about a third of all rapes that were investigated for each year between 2012 and 2016. Understaffing is an issue. The government told Parliament last month that police had a sanctioned strength of nearly 2 million officers, but almost a quarter of those positions were vacant. Some of the worst accusations against the police stem from cases, like the ones in Uttar Pradesh and Jammu & Kashmir, where they are alleged to have bowed to pressure from people of influence to bury cases. Vappala Balachandran, a former top police officer in the western state of Maharashtra who has criticised the governments response to the recent cases, described how powerful local politicians stall police investigations. The one weapon the politician has is the threat of transfer (of police officers) and which they routinely exercise. So the investigation is slow, improper and weak, Balachandran said. CAPITAL PUNISHMENT So far the only policy response to the latest cases has come from Maneka Gandhi, the minister for women and child development, who has advocated applying the death penalty for rape cases where the victim is under 12 years old. Currently, the Supreme Court reserves the death penalty for extreme cases, as in the 2012 Delhi case. Five people were convicted of rape and murder in that case within nine months, a remarkably swift decision for India. Four were sentenced to death while a juvenile was freed after serving three years. A sixth accused hung himself in his cell before the trial concluded. Last year, the top court rejected an appeal by the four sentenced to death but they remain on death row. A study by the National Law University in Delhi found that 43 death sentences were handed down for murder involving sexual violence in 2017, almost double the previous years number. A study by Kailash Satyarthi Childrens Foundation, whose founder shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, reckoned that as of the end of 2016, the backlog of child sex abuses cases in the courts would take two decades to clear. Under Indias Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act passed in 2012, which covers victims under 18 years, police should collect evidence within a month of the complaint being filed and the court should complete a trial within a year. The government of India is doing its work sincerely in each and every case, P.S. Narasimha, a senior prosecutor for the federal government, told Reuters in response to a question why rape cases took so long and the conviction rates were so low. But Kohal Dev Sharma, a lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said the Indian criminal justice system failed when it came to rape. "The procedure itself is quite lengthy that deters most of victims from fighting the battle and thus the accused are set free ultimately in most of the cases, he said. The procedure is traumatic for the victim who has to face a society that considers rape as a social stigma only for the victim and not the accused, due to which most victims choose to keep mum about what they go through rather than to report it." The central government has decided to create a new strategic panel called the defence planning committee, chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval. The Central government has decided to create a new strategic panel called the defence planning committee, chaired by National Security Advisor Ajit Doval, to oversee higher defence planning. According to The Times of India, the committee will work on the country's military and security strategy. It will also oversee foreign acquisitions and sales and will have the NSA, principal secretary to the prime minister, the three chiefs of the armed forces, defence secretary, foreign secretary and chief of the integrated defence staff (IDS) as some of its higher members. The committee will prepare draft reports on "national security strategy, international defence engagement strategy, roadmap to build (a) defence manufacturing ecosystem, strategy to boost defence exports, and priority capability development plans," as reported by Hindustan Times. It will then submit its reports to the defence minister. The DPC is expected to meet after Doval returns from Germany on 21 April. Analysts have said that the DPC could make decision-making on military purchases much faster. Four sub-committees that could be created under the DPC across four areas include policy and strategy, plans and capability development, defence diplomacy, and defence manufacturing eco-system. The Indian Express quoted sources as saying that this idea had been in the works for some time now but had not been gaining traction till now. But after the last budget, the three service chiefs and defence ministry officials worked together to get the idea implemented. This is not the first time a reform like the DPC has been tried for defence planning. In 1974, the apex group was established under the planning minister to bring defence planning under the purview of national planning. In 1977, the then government had set up a Committee for Defence Planning (CDP) to allocae resources among the defence services and undertake regular assessments relevant to defence planning". Media reports have indicated that the Government of India has undertaken a much-needed move towards ramping up the languorous process of defence acquisition. Media reports have indicated that the Government of India has undertaken a much-needed move towards ramping up the languorous process of defence acquisition. A defence planning committee, which will include service chiefs and heads of important ministries chaired by National Security Advisor (NSA) Ajit Doval is set to be created. Several sub-committees will take up specific issues including defence manufacturing, policy, strategy, defence diplomacy, as well as one intriguingly named planning and capability development. Just months earlier, an internal report of the defence ministry, commissioned by Minister of State Subhash Bhamre, pointed out serious procedural lapses in defence procurement including lack of synergy among stakeholders, poor understanding leading to delays averaging 52 months. In the past several decades, various committees have issued reports suggesting reforms. One of the largest such exercises followed the Kargil conflict, when the shock of a near war situation set in motion a process of soul-searching. The group of ministers on defence preparedness was one such committee, and its recommendations led to the creation of the present procurement organisation comprising five main bodies: The Defence Acquisition Council, Defence Procurement Board, Defence Production Board, the Defence Research, and Development Board. Despite this, and another bout of report writing by the Naresh Chandra Committee, the defence policy, planning and acquisition process continued to languish. Skeptics will undeniably ask how the creation of yet another committee will sort out the noodle soup that is procurement and planning. The answer to that is simple. First, the chair of the committee, Doval, is a person of formidable capability, who as NSA is one of the few with an overarching knowledge of the direction of the countrys national security needs. The fact that he is a highly trusted aide to the prime minister helps considerably. Heads of ministries or their representatives are less likely to oppose and delay decision making when there oversight at such levels. Second, the inclusion of all the relevant ministries in the committee will permit across the table decision making up to a point. However, the necessary aligning and browbeating has to be cleared well in advance. That is why the planning and capability development is the most important sub-committee. Its job profile is to do precisely that in terms of ensuring that heads of ministries are on the same page with regard to national security. Those who have sat through meetings on issues pertaining to national security can testify that most ministries are almost entirely in the dark on what actions are required of them to ensure the nations security objectives. That is not their failure: It is a failure of strategic communication. In simple words, ministries cannot work out a schedule unless there is direction from the top. This leads directly to the third issue: The formulation of a National Security Strategy (NSS). Over the past two decades, several attempts have been made to chalk this out. An earlier BJP government undertook such an exercise at a time when Brajesh Mishra was NSA. Yet other such exercises followed under the Congress government. None of these amounted to anything; for a few simple reasons. In all cases, there was usually strong disagreement in discussions on what constituted national security. Some preferred to keep to a tight definition, including only the core ministries: Defence, finance, home and foreign affairs. Others argued that the concept of national security had expanded, and should include issues such as water and environmental security. The NSS wound up being a 100 page document, and couched in some cases in extremely vague language. Line ministries need clear direction, not flowery English or polished phraseology. Fourth, it appears that the HQ Integrated Defence Staff is to be the secretariat of the whole committee. The HQ IDS was originally envisioned to be the node for inter-services perspective planning, ensuring intra and inter-services prioritisation. The ugly truth, however, is that the HQ IDS has never been allowed to fulfill its mandate since it remains subordinate (and highly sensitive) to the Chiefs of Staff Committee and the service chiefs themselves. Hopefully, making the institution the secretariat of this very important committee will provide the forces the motivation to flesh out the inter-services character that is fundamental to the IDS. Lastly, while the setting up of the committee is a welcome development, this cannot be a substitute for a virtual top down restructuring of the institutions and ministries involved in defence and security planning. Earlier announcements regarding the setting up of theatre commands will hopefully see fruition, given that this as well as the linked issue of an appointment of a chief of defence staff have been under discussion for decades. In addition, the services need to do what would seem an entirely obvious exercise. That is, sit together to decide what kind of a war is likely to be fought in the next two decades, without referencing past glories of air battles and the like. War fighting has changed fundamentally, particularly after the acquisition of a robust nuclear capability. The committee is reportedly planning to outline a military doctrine as well. To prevent this exercise from becoming another inter-services battle for priority, it would be useful if the whole was curated by non-service people with strong expertise in the area. An entirely independent panel could be asked to weigh in on this subject, which, after all, lies at the core of this countrys sovereignty and territorial integrity. War has a nasty habit of springing surprises. Its as well to spread the net of analysis. Ultimately, the Commonwealth is undoubtedly a colonial hangover, but then so are neckties. And there's no reason to throw either out just yet. The Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM) of 2018 got underway in London on Monday. But it's on Thursday that the heads of 53 governments will get into the business end of things, with the official opening of the CHOGM Summit to take place at Buckingham Palace and the formal meetings between leaders to follow shortly after. Narendra Modi's appearance at the CHOGM is the first by an Indian prime minister in nearly a decade with the last one being Manmohan Singh at Port of Spain in 2009. The 2011 edition in Perth was boycotted by Manmohan on account of Australia's reversal of the decision to export uranium to India. New Delhi also gave the 2013 event in Colombo a miss after taking note of the charges of massive human rights violations against Tamils by Sri Lanka. In 2015, Modi sent External Affairs Minister Sushma Swaraj to Malta in his stead. In 2018, the story is a bit different. India is being wooed aggressively by the UK evident in the fact that Modi was the only head of government to be offered two bilateral meetings with British counterpart Theresa May and an audience with Queen Elizabeth II ostensibly to revive and rejuvenate a grouping that has arguably lost all relevance it may have once had. Before delving deeper into India's role in this ragtag group of nations, it's worth examining the concept of the Commonwealth. What is the Commonwealth? Let's take a quick look at how the grouping's official website chooses to describe itself: The Commonwealth is one of the worlds oldest political association of states. Its roots go back to the British Empire when some countries were ruled directly or indirectly by Britain. Some of these countries became self-governing while retaining Britains monarch as Head of State. They formed the British Commonwealth of Nations. In 1949 the association we know today The Commonwealth came into being. Since then, independent countries from Africa, the Americas, Asia, Europe and the Pacific have joined The Commonwealth. Membership today is based on free and equal voluntary cooperation. The last two countries to join The Commonwealth Rwanda and Mozambique have no historical ties to the British Empire. The lofty Charter of the Commonwealth speaks of "shared inheritance in language, culture and the rule of law", "respect for all states and peoples", "consensus through consultation", "promotion of international understanding and world peace" and so on. Unfortunately, while noble in sentiment, none of this provides a concrete understanding of what the grouping stands for today. The Independent sums up the Commonwealth succinctly by saying, "Considering that it confers no trade privileges, has no influence on defence or economic policy, no executive authority and no sensible budget to play a global role it remains a talking shop at best and at worst a costly junket." Groupings like the G20, G7, BRICS, NATO, SCO, BIMSTEC, EU, ASEAN, SAARC and so on are in place for a reason. Whether or not a grouping that brings together countries with the exception of Rwanda and Mozambique with a shared colonial history as its raison d'etre should exist in this day and age is a question that requires greater exploration. For now though, this bloated debating society is here to stay. So where does India fit in? In his 1946 book The Discovery of India, Jawaharlal Nehru was critical of the notion of the Commonwealth, writing: "The aim of British policy to have a closer integration of the commonwealth and empire is understandable in the peculiar circumstances in which Britain is placed today. But against it is the logic of facts and world tendencies, as well as the growth of dominion nationalism and the disruptive tendencies of the colonial empire. To try to build on old foundations, to continue to think in terms of a vanished age, to dream and talk still of an empire and of monopolies spread out all over the globe, is for Britain an even more unwise and shortsighted policy than it might be for some other nations; for most of the reasons which made her a politically, industrially, and financially dominant nation have disappeared." However, soon after the book's release, India climbed on board and by signing the London Declaration of 1949, became a member of the Commonwealth. Since then, India has emerged as the largest member, accounting for 60 percent of the grouping's total population. As per the Ministry of External Affairs, "(India) is the fourth largest contributor to the Commonwealth budgets and programmes. It provides the largest number of technical experts engaged by the Commonwealth Fund for Technical Cooperation extending assistance to developing Commonwealth countries after the UK." Over the years, India has been a part of several important committees within the Commonwealth, including the Steering Committee on Commonwealth Connects, the Standing Committee on Terrorism, Commonwealth Advisory Board on Sports, Grants Committee of the Commonwealth Foundation and the Executive and Accreditation Committees of the Commonwealth Secretariats Board of Governors. Further, the 1983 edition of the CHOGM was held in New Delhi and chaired by Indira Gandhi. It was in 2009, long before the landmark 2015 Climate Change Conference in Paris, that India demonstrated some of its clout acquired over 60 years of membership to issue a critical intervention on climate change. "It is unfortunate that the global discourse on climate change has become enmeshed with arguments about maintaining economic competitiveness or level playing fields. Climate change is becoming the pretext for pursuing protectionist policies under a green label... India and other developing countries will strongly resist this," Manmohan had said at the time. A win-win for India and the UK India's growing stature on the global stage has not gone unnoticed within the country and outside notable in the Queen's personal invitation to Modi to attend the CHOGM. At face value, the Commonwealth is just another in the long list of groupings that number India among its members. However, there are two fundamental differences. The first is that this is an association of countries that is neither undergirded by trade, economics, security or regional considerations. What that means is that members will not be able to hold the grouping hostage to their own respective agendas. This also means that in the absence of any expectation of concrete outcomes or resolutions, India can focus on using the platform to build consensus among over a quarter of the world's UN-recognised countries. This consensus could well carry forward to global fora like the United Nations, where New Delhi seeks support on a number of issues. The second is the absence of the US, Russia and China. With a handful of exceptions (SAARC and BIMSTEC, for instance), all multilateral groupings of which India is a part include either Russia, China, the US or all of the above. The Commonwealth represents a rare opportunity for India to throw its not inconsiderable weight around as one of the biggest if not the biggest world power in the room. That Modi used his public meeting on Wednesday as a stage from which to take potshots at Pakistan a mere day before the CHOGM, shows that he is acutely aware of this. For the UK, the Commonwealth represents its biggest shot at regaining relevance. Nehru's observations that "most of the reasons which made (the UK) a politically, industrially, and financially dominant nation have disappeared" hold truer in 2018 than they did in 1964. Brexit represents a further shrinking of the country's already fairly minute influence on the world stage, as well as a need to seek reliable partnerships outside the European Union. That May felt the need to join in the US air strikes on Syria a move widely condemned in Britain demonstrates the desperation of the UK to matter once more. A vibrant Commonwealth gives London, as the progenitor of this grouping, some semblance of relevance. And with India-UK relations on an uptick, the former colonised can help the former coloniser along on the global stage. Ultimately, the Commonwealth is undoubtedly a colonial hangover, but then so are neckties. And there's no reason to throw either out just yet. The term Strategic Partnership seems to be writ large over the last decade of the India-UK relationship as the countries seemingly draw closer. On Wednesday, Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who is in the UK for a four-day visit, met British prime minister Theresa May. The two leaders discussed a whole host of issues over breakfast: Immigration, investment, terrorism, cooperation in the field of technology and finance. According to the joint statement issued in the aftermath of that discussion, the two leaders held wide-ranging and constructive discussions and underlined "our strategic partnership and growing convergence on regional and international issues". The term Strategic Partnership seems to be writ large over the last decade of the India-UK relationship as the countries seemingly draw closer. But what does the term even mean? According to the joint statement, the Strategic Partnership is defined as "based on values, common law and institutions, as the world's oldest and largest democracies". Bilateral relationship gets an upgrade But it took a while for the India-UK Strategic Partnership to get going. In fact, the bilateral relationship was upgraded to a Strategic Partnership only in 2004, according to a document put out by the High Commission of India in January, ahead of Modi's visit. "That Strategic Partnership was further strengthened during the tenure of British prime minister David Cameron to India, who visited India thrice in his first term (July 2010, February 2013 and November 2013)," the high commission document stated. "The successful visit of Prime Minister Modi to the UK in November 2015 gave further impetus to the bilateral relationship. UK Prime Minister Theresa Mays visit to India in November 2016, which was her first overseas bilateral visit after assuming office in July 2016, reflects the continuity of interactions at the highest political level", the document added. Indeed, an examination of the 2008 joint statement, issued after the India-UK annual Summit held in Delhi, led by then prime ministers Gordon Brown and Manmohan Singh, only serves to underline the point: The term Strategic Partnership found only a passing cursory mention in the opening paragraph of the statement: "India and the UK share a Strategic Partnership. The two sides underscored their commitment to the Strategic Partnership launched in 2004 and reaffirmed their shared conviction in the values of democracy, fundamental freedoms, pluralism, rule of law, respect for human rights and multilateralism in the international political and financial architecture as the means to tackle global challenges effectively. The close bilateral relationship has already led to growing cooperation in global affairs and substantial expansion in the bilateral engagement in multiple fields. Building on the achievements of the New Delhi Declaration' (2002) and India-UK Joint Declaration' (2004), the two sides commit themselves to strengthening and deepening the comprehensive Strategic Partnership that exists between the two countries, which is underpinned by growing economic ties and the presence of a large Indian diaspora in the UK". From non-existent to nucleus Worse, the term Strategic Partnership failed to even find a mention in the 2013 joint statement, which was issued after talks between Manmohan Singh and David Cameron in New Delhi. Instead, the document stated: "The two prime ministers and their colleagues reviewed the progress made since the previous summit in 2010 on building a stronger, wider and deeper relationship across the range of India-UK interests, based on shared culture, values and strategic interests". However, things seemed to turn after Prime Minister Narendra Modi took office. After Modi met his counterpart David Cameron in London 0n 12-13 November 2015, the countries released a joint statement which said: "The two prime ministers agreed that the City of London should play an important role in channelling investment into infrastructure projects in India including in the railways sector, laying the foundation for a long-term strategic partnership that leverages the capital and expertise of the City of London to finance Indias continued rapid growth." The statement further added, "The two prime ministers welcomed a long-term strategic partnership between India and the UK on the formers flagship infrastructure investment initiative, the National Infrastructure Investment Fund (NIIF), and announced the setting up of a India-UK partnership fund under the umbrella of the NIIF. The collaboration will help bring global investors through the City of London to help finance Indian infrastructure in a sustainable way, further supporting Indias rapid growth". The document emphasised cooperation in the field of investment and infrastructure. For those hoping for closer ties between India and UK, there was certainly nothing to get excited about. In 2016, the term seemed to make a comeback, when Prime Minister Theresa May visited India at the invitation of Modi. In fact, the title of the joint statement: India-UK Strategic Partnership looking forward to a renewed engagement: Vision for the decade ahead seemed to draw attention to the fact that ties were on an upswing. The joint statement noted that this was May's first bilateral visit outside Europe after taking over as the UK prime minister and was designed to further strengthen the IndiaUK Strategic Partnership, which was "guided by a shared vision for the future and supported by a concrete and comprehensive road map of bilateral and global engagement". The document added: "During Prime Minister Modis visit to the UK last year, the two countries set out a bold vision for the UK-India Strategic Partnership. Both countries today commit to turn this vision into reality through closer, practical cooperation that delivers real benefits to both the countries". The document further added: "Building on the Defence and International Security Partnership (DISP) agreed in November 2015, the UK and India are committed to further strengthening their strategic partnership in defence". According to the 2018 joint statement, the India and the UK seemed determined to put the relationship into high-gear: "We are committed to making this a Strategic Partnership that spans the globe and the century, seeing our special relationship evolve and improve in the coming years. We encourage our business, cultural and intellectual leaders to exploit the millions of interactions that already link India and the UK, from family to finance, business to Bollywood, sport to science so that millions more British and Indians exchange and learn, travel, trade and thrive together". The Gujarat High Court admitted a review petition against its ruling a restoring gag order against news portal The Wire. Ahmedabad: The Gujarat High Court on Wednesday admitted a review petition against its ruling a restoring gag order against news portal The Wire, debarring it from publishing any article related to the businesses of BJP president Amit Shah's son Jay Shah. Justice Paresh Upadhyay allowed a review petition filed by one Rajesh Bhabhor, who is not a party in The Wire case. The plea will be heard on Thursday. The same court had on 20 February allowed an appeal filed by Jay Shah against a lower court order, preventing the news portal from publishing any article related to his businesses till the hearing in a civil defamation suit filed by him concludes. Bhabhor, through his lawyer Paresh Vaghela, said in his petition that he is concerned about the high court's gag order. If a news portal can be prohibited from writing about Jay Shah, then will he get in trouble if he is critical of the BJP government in Gujarat, he asked in the plea. Bhabhor said he belonged to a Scheduled Tribe and wanted to share his views on the BJP government with the people of his community outside Gujarat, especially in poll-bound Karnataka, on the phone and through social media. "On reading judgement (on The Wire gag order), the applicant formed an opinion that it would be unsafe for the persons belonging to STs in the state of Karnataka to vote for the BJP," he said. "The applicant has concern about freedom of expression. The applicant, as an individual, holds an opinion that, the ST youth should be permitted to at least discuss publicly what is prohibited by the honourable court vide its order dated February 20," said the petition. The news portal, through its article, "The Golden Touch of Jay Amit Shah," had claimed a company owned by Jay Shah saw an exponential rise in its turnover after the BJP came to power at the Centre in 2014. Jay Shah had rejected the charge made in the article, insisting the story was "false, derogatory and defamatory". He had also filed criminal and civil defamation suits against the website and its journalists in a court in Ahmedabad. The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on a batch of pleas seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of special CBI judge BH Loya The Supreme Court is likely to pronounce its verdict on Thursday on whether to have an independent investigation into the death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who died in December 2014 while hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on 1 December, 2014, when he was attending the wedding of a colleague's daughter. However, a clutch of petitions were filed before the apex court, calling for an inquiry into Loya's death. The court had said it would order an investigation if there was ground for suspicion. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had on 16 March reserved the judgement on the pleas. As reported by NDTV, the court in February this year said it was looking into "every aspect of the documents and material in minute detail" after it was asked to order an investigation in "public interest" by the lawyer representing the petitioners. The Maharashtra government had argued in the court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on 14 January said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief PC Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and NK Amin have already been discharged. Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based BS Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph at their 12 January press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them. Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, on Thursday came in the line of fire of the Supreme Court in the BH Loya case. New Delhi: Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and lawyer Prashant Bhushan, on Thursday came in the line of fire of the Supreme Court which questioned their conduct for casting aspersions on judicial officers and judges including of the apex court who were seized of matters relating to the death of Special CBI judge BH Loya. The apex court also lashed out at a junior of senior lawyer V Giri and petitioners including NGO Centre for Public Interest Litigation (CPIL) for casting "unfounded aspersions" on the judges of the Bombay High Court and said it was a "serious attempt to scandalise the court and obstruct the course of justice". A bench headed by Chief Justice Dipak Misra said the attempt of the petitioners was to create prejudice and to malign the dignity of the judges, particularly Justice BR Gavai of the Bombay High Court. The bench, which also comprised Justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud, rapped Dave, Jaising and Bhushan for making serious attacks against the judiciary during the hearing. Regarding CPIL, the court said "Facts have emerged from the record which indicate that a carefully orchestrated attempt has been made during the course of these hearings on behalf of the CPIL to create evidence to cast a doubt on the circumstances leading to the death of judge Loya". Immediately after the verdict, an attempt was made by PTI to elicit the reaction of Jaising in the apex court corridor but she refused to make any comment. PTI also tried to reach Dave but he did not respond to the calls. It was only Bhushan who reacted. An anguished apex court said the counsel are expected to assist the court with a sense of objectivity in aid of justice but Bhushan "adopted a dual mantle", assuming the character of a counsel for the intervenor and an individual who was personally interested on behalf of the intervening organisation of which he was a member. "He has gone to the length of personally collecting evidence to somehow bolster the case," the bench observed. The court also noted that Jaising too has "joined the fray" by requesting the court to issue contempt notices to the Administrative Committee of the Bombay High Court. The top court also took strong note of Dave's plea to bring on record the order of the Nagpur bench of Bombay High Court to allege that one of the two judges, who had given statement in the Judge Loya's death case, had ordered settlement of a criminal case against Maharashtra Chief Minister Devendra Fadnavis in 2014. "Dave has gone to the extent of insinuating that one individual is controlling the entire judiciary in Maharashtra and elsewhere," the bench said. It also said the petitioners cannot assert as of right that they should be allowed to cross-examine a host of persons including the doctors and judicial officers. "By casting unfounded aspersions on the judicial officers who had accompanied Judge Loya, the petitioners have revealed the real motive of these proceedings which is to bring the judiciary into disrepute on the basis of scurrilous allegations. "We find no basis or justification to allow the request for cross-examination. The application shall accordingly stand rejected," the bench said, adding that the discretion was vested in the court to order cross-examination. "A party to a proceeding before this court -particularly a proceeding under Article 32 - cannot demand as of right the production of a person, who has filed an affidavit, for cross-examination. Whether cross-examination should be allowed has to be determined by the court having regard to the interests of justice," the bench said. It said "what is worse is the manner in which wholly unfounded aspersions have been cast on the judges of the Bombay High Court following a decision which has been taken in the judicial capacity. This constitutes a serious attempt to scandalise the court and obstruct the course of justice". The Supreme Court will most likely pronounce its verdict on whether to have an independent investigation into the death of special CBI judge BH Loya, who died in December 2014 while hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. Auto refresh feeds No reason to doubt the statement of the four judges, says Supreme Court Among other observations made by Supreme Court, the attempt of the petitioners was to malign judiciary. "Frivolous and motivated petitions should be discouraged. Business rivalries and political rivalries should be settled outside," Live Law quoted the bench as saying. There is no reason to disbelieve the Judicial Officers, the Supreme Court bench noted while reading the judgment. Live Law reported that the Supreme Court said that Dushyant Dave has gone to the extent of insinuating the judicial officers based on unrelated cases. The Supreme Court, while ruling on Judge Loya's death, used the word scandalous to describe the petitions. Reportedly the bench also said that the petitions amount to criminal contempt. According to Live Law, Supreme Court also expressed anguish over misuse of PIL jurisdiction by the petitioners and interveners. The top court also said that that PIL jurisdiction has been misused for personal agenda. Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and V. Giri had appeared on behalf of the Bombay Lawyers Association, Former chief of the navy Admiral L. Ramdas, an intervenor, and Activist Tehseen Poonawalla respectively. "There is no reason to disbelieve the sequence of events leading to the death as narrated by the four judicial officers namely Shrikant Kulkarni, Shriram Modak, R. Rathi and Vijay Kumar Barde and the assertions of Bombay High Court Justices Bhushan Gawai and Sunil Shukre, said the Bench." "Serious attacks were made again at the judges of Bombay HC. Even the judges of this court (SC) were not spared, which is a serious concern," observed the Supreme Court. No merit in the petition. No independent inquiry was required: Supreme Court says and dismisses the petitions for STI probe into judge Loyas death. Taking names of Senior advocates Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaisingh, Prashant Bhushan and juniors of Senior advocate VGiri, Supreme Court expressed anguish and made strong observations for their conduct during the hearing of the Loya case. "Will have to wait till one reads the whole judgment on the specifics. But Caravan magazine stands by each of its 22 stories. The stories speak for itself. And we will follow journalistically the qns that continue to puzzle the circumstances of Judge Loyas death." He adds that it is unfortunate that the court is believing four judicial officers who had not signed affidavits. Bhushan had alleged foul play in the death of the judge. Addressing the media, lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that despite evidences being presented to the Supreme Court, the court chose to reject all writ petitions and ruled that the petitions don't hold merit. Bhushan also reacted to Supreme Court's observation where it termed the petition as politically-motivated and asked how is "seeking independent probe into the 'suspicious' death of a district judge, politically motivated?" Bharatiya Janata Party used the verdict of the Supreme Court on the judge BH Loya's death case to slam the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition parties for maligning the name of the BJP chief Amit Shah. Addressing the media, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the Congress has stooped so low that it has not even spared the judiciary. "They have dragged the judiciary in political slugfest. This is the lowest point in Rahul Gandhi's political career," Patra said. "The verdict has exposed the Congress once again. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of the country. They have tried to create such an environment that develops negative emotions," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told ANI. Bharatiya Janata Party used the verdict of the Supreme Court on the judge BH Loya's death case to slam the Congress, Rahul Gandhi and other Opposition parties for maligning the name of the BJP chief Amit Shah. Addressing the media, BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra said that the Congress has stooped so low that it has not even spared the judiciary. "They have dragged the judiciary in political slugfest. This is the lowest point in Rahul Gandhi's political career," Patra said. "The verdict has exposed the Congress once again. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of the country. They have tried to create such an environment that develops negative emotions," Uttar Pradesh Chief Minister Yogi Adityanath told ANI. "Rahul Gandhi should apologise, but I doubt. They are habitual liars. They accused RSS of Gandhi's assassination whereas its name isn't even there in the FIR. They have definitely maligned the judiciary. If they bring in an impeachment motion, they will lose it," he said. "Many-many people would be deeply disappointed but this is the Supreme Court and if Supreme Court takes a view we have to accept it and respect it," he told ANI . "It is unfortunate that the judiciary has been used to settle a political score. This should not happen, but our political opponents used this to defame government, our leaders and judiciary, Singh said. "The verdict marks a sad day in India's history. The Supreme Court verdict has left many questions unanswered. There were discrepancies in the post-mortem report, even in recording the name of the victim properly", Surjewala said in a press conference. "This case was not activated to serve public interest but to serve the interests of Congress and damage the interests of BJP, our party president Amit Shah in particular", Prasad said in a press conference. "Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as political battle against our party president Amit Shah. I urge Rahul Gandhi not to fight political battles through corridors of court", Prasad said in a press conference. Ravi Shankar Prasad too hits out at Congress, says the latter shouldn't fight political battles in court "If you're doubting credentials of the Judiciary, then you are also doubting the credentials of all the investigations and evidences. I think Rahul Gandhi should apologise to Amit Shah", Singh told ANI . Gadkari said that Supreme Court's judgment has exposed Congress and some media houses' ugly politics which was done to unnecessarily malign BJP's image by targeting party president Amit Shah. Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him. Rahul Gandhi hits back at BJP, says Indians are 'intelligent' will know the 'truth' about Amit Shah Justice Loya death hearing Latest Updates: Reactions came in from all political quarters as the Supreme Court dismissed all PILs seeking a SIT probe in Judge Loya's death on Thursday. While BJP was quick to circle-in Congress over their "political motives" to raise suspicion over Loya's death, the Opposition showed disappointment over the verdict and termed it as a "black day" for the judiciary. Earlier, reacting to the Supreme Court ruling, the executive editor of The Caravan tweeted and said that the magazine stands by "all 22 stories" that they did on Judge BH Loya and death. Vinod K Jose wrote: "Will have to wait till one reads the whole judgment on the specifics. But Caravan magazine stands by each of its 22 stories. The stories speak for itself. And we will follow journalistically the qns that continue to puzzle the circumstances of Judge Loyas death." Addressing the media, lawyer Prashant Bhushan said that the Supreme Court has rejected all the petitions seeking independent probe into Justice BH Loya's death. "Despite all the evidences presented in front of the court, the bench still rejected all the peitions. It's a black day," says Prashant Bhushan. If a district judge dies under suspicious conditions and the petitioners demand an independent probe, how is that political in nature, asks Bhushan. "It's a wrong decision according to me and I think it's a black day in the history of Supreme Court of India," Bhushan further adds. Supreme Court of India has dismissed all writ petitions which sought independent probe in Judge Loya's death. Live Law reported that the three-judge bench comrising Chief Justice of India Dipak Misra, Justice DY Chandrachud and Justice AM Khanwilkar pronounced the verdict and also made several observations. Senior Counsel Dushyant Dave, Indira Jaising and V Giri had appeared on behalf of the Bombay Lawyers Association, Former chief of the navy Admiral L Ramdas, an intervenor, and Activist Tehseen Poonawalla respectively. Slamming the petitions and calling them scandalous in nature, the Supreme Court said that the attempt of the petitioners was to malign the judiciary. Special CBI judge BH Loya died in December 2014 while hearing the high-profile Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case. However, a clutch of petitions were filed before the apex court, calling for an inquiry into Loya's death. The court had said it would order an investigation if there was ground for suspicion. A bench comprising Chief Justice Dipak Misra and justices AM Khanwilkar and DY Chandrachud had on 16 March reserved the judgement on the pleas. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on 1 December, 2014, when he was attending the wedding of a colleague's daughter. As reported by NDTV, the court in February this year said it was looking into "every aspect of the documents and material in minute detail" after it was asked to order an investigation in "public interest" by the lawyer representing the petitioners. The Maharashtra government had argued in the court that all pleas seeking an independent probe into Loya's death were motivated and aimed at targeting "one individual" in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It had come down heavily on alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers in the Loya case and said that the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Meanwhile, those seeking an independent probe into the matter had referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in the death. The issue of Loya's death had come under spotlight in November last year after media reports quoting his sister had fuelled suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and its link to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loya's son had on 14 January said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. In the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, BJP president Amit Shah along with Rajasthan Home Minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief PC Pande, Additional Director General of Police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and NK Amin have already been discharged. Several accused, including police personnel, are currently facing trial for their involvement in the alleged fake encounter of Sohrabuddin Shaikh, his wife Kausar Bi and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati in Gujarat in November 2005. The case was later transferred to CBI and the trial shifted to Mumbai. A batch of pleas, including those filed by Congress leader Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based BS Lone, was filed in the top court seeking an independent probe into Loya's death in 2014. Four senior-most apex court judges Justices J Chelameswar, Ranjan Gogoi, M B Lokur and Kurian Joseph at their 12 January press conference had questioned the manner in which sensitive cases were being allocated and Loya's case was one of them. As Karnataka Assembly polls draw closer, the Election Commission faces a monumental task is not just making arrangements for the polls, but also keeping a close eye on the miscreants bribing voters The recent seizure of fake notes worth Rs 7 crore in Karnataka's Belgavi has highlighted, once again, just how big a role cash plays in elections in India. The fact that the Rs 7 crore fake notes were seized just days after the Directorate of Revenue Intelligence (DRI) seized fake notes valued over Rs 10 lakh in Vishakhapatnam from a train en route Karnataka, should be sufficient to send Election Commission's flying squads on a high alert. Trading cash-for-votes, however, is not new. And whether it's fake or real currency notes, the history of elections in India would suggest that the Election Commission faces a monumental task is not just making arrangements for polls, but also keeping a close eye on the miscreants bribing voters to ensure free and fair elections. A classic recent case was the RK Nagar Assembly bypoll, which was cancelled by the Election Commission after the Income Tax Department searched properties and offices belonging to Tamil Nadu health minister C Vijayabaskar. According to reports, searches on premises of an associate of Vijayabaskar by sleuths of the Income Tax Investigation wing revealed routing of Rs 89 crore for "distribution to voters" in RK Nagar Assembly constituency. But the seizure failed to stop cash-for-votes during the re-election in December 2017. As Firstpost earlier reported, an estimated sum of Rs 120 crore is said to have been distributed among 2.2 lakh voters. Even during last year's Gujarat Assembly elections the home state of Prime Minister Narendra Modi over one million litres of alcohol worth Rs 23.68 crore was seized by 10 December, and Rs 1.71 crore in cash and gold and jewellery worth over Rs 8 crore were seized by the Election Commission-appointed surveillance and expenditure monitoring teams by the first week of December. Gujarat went to polls in a phased manner between 9-14 December 2017, and the actual amounts were even higher. According to IANS, the DRI recovered demonetised notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 to the tune of Rs 49 crore. The Narendra Modi-led government at the Centre had demonetised old notes of Rs 500 and Rs 1,000 in November 2016 with an aim to stop corrupt practices. But despite the note ban being announced just four months ago, during the run-up to polls in five state Assemblies of Punjab, Uttar Pradesh, Uttarakhand, Goa, Manipur and Himachal Pradesh in early 2017, seizures of cash, liquor and drugs went through the roofs. According to PTI reports, till 27 February, Uttar Pradesh has seen a record seizure of Rs 115.70 crore cash, 20.29 lakh barrels of liquor worth Rs 57.69 crore, and narcotics weighing 2,725 kg worth Rs 7.91 crore by the Election Commission-appointed surveillance teams. The state went to polls in a phased manner between 11 February to 9 March 2017. The comparative figures for the detection and seizure of these illegal inducements in Uttar Pradesh during the 2012 Assembly polls stood at Rs 36.29 crore cash and over 3,073 litres of liquor worth Rs 6.61 lakh. In Uttarakhand, Rs 3.40 crore suspected cash, 1.01 lakh litres liquor worth Rs 3.10 crore and over 81 kilos of drugs worth Rs 37.88 lakh were seized. These were more than double of what was witnessed in the previous Assembly election. In Punjab, where the Congress won under Captain Amarinder Singh, the cash seizure stood at Rs 58.02 crore, five times what was witnessed in the previous polls. Whereas, 12.43 lakh litres of liquor worth Rs 13.36 crore were seized as compared to over 3,2978 litres worth Rs 2.59 crore during the 2012 Assembly polls. Goa, where BJP formed the government under former defence minister Manohar Parrikar, too, witnessed Rs 2.24 crore cash being seized at the end of one-phase polls on 4 February. At a time when cash was (and still is) in short supply, that political parties could manage such huge amounts of cash, shows that when it comes to cash-for-votes, the Indian election system has no clear solution. The Karnataka polls are still three weeks away and, if recent elections are an example, only more seizures are to be expected. With inputs from agencies There is no better example of ugly Indian male chauvinism than the recent remark of Ankur Sharma, the lawyer for the accused in the Kathua rape case. British Prime Minister Theresa May cannot change the legal position and accept Prime Minister Narendra Modis request to extradite Vijay Mallya. In much the same way, Modi can do little to change the law on rape in India. Both are helpless and can only make appropriate noises, because it is not in their hands. Blaming Modi is pointless. On the other hand, blaming ourselves as individuals with cemented mindsets is more likely to produce some badly-needed change and make the country safer for women and children. There is no better example of ugly Indian male chauvinism than the recent remark of Ankur Sharma, the lawyer for the accused. Commenting on one of the officers investigating the case Shwetambari Sharma, he was quoted as saying, "She is a girl, how intelligent can she be?" Ankur Sharma was not being insulting. He was simply regurgitating gender bias which has been in existence for a thousand years or more. In his psyche, the sentiment is hugely acceptable even if it is politically correct to deny it. Such thinking is prevalent in a majority of Indian men. Every single action of such men is coloured by a perspective which holds that women are not equals. Ankur Sharma can be absolved for his statement, because in the seventy years since independence, we have all failed to go beyond lip service and a bit of window dressing in addressing this deep prejudice. His words dramatically indict this culture which is prevalent in India, one which maintains, nurtures and encourages disdain for females. Regrettably, women are co-opted into becoming a part of this conspiracy. Mothers and aunts contribute in spades to the uneven divide. The training and indoctrination begins from infancy when a male child evokes macho celebration while a female child evokes dismay. Even in homes which have a liberal culture, sisters are taught to pamper brothers because they are supposed to be special. In marital relations, the wife waits for her husband to return from work and serves him with the finest selection of food before she takes the first bite. At larger family gatherings, male members of the family eat first. The favouritism is total, and extends to food, education, gifts and freedom of movement. Aunts and female neighbours still disparage any girl who has an opinion. Even the media celebrates the rare breakaways from this insidious equation. After all, these constitute the exception and not the rule. Young women are locked at home or supervised while their brothers do not face the same treatment. Even in the year 2018, it is acceptable to chastise a woman by telling her, "Keep quiet; what do you know?" One wonders if these attitudes of men will ever change. However, it is the women who have to stop being their own worst enemies and letting themselves down. Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti praised the people of Jammu for upholding harmony and amity despite provocations and for standing up to demand justice for the eight-year-old girl brutally raped and killed in Kathua district. Jammu: Chief Minister Mehbooba Mufti praised the people of Jammu for upholding harmony and amity despite provocations and for standing up to demand justice for the eight-year-old girl raped and killed in Kathua district. Speaking at a civic reception hosted for President Ram Nath Kovind on Wednesday night, Mufti said the people of Jammu have always stood up for tolerant values and brotherhood for the past 30 years, and defeated the "nefarious" designs of miscreants. President Kovind is on his maiden two-day visit to Jammu. On Wednesday, he addressed the 6th convocation of the Shri Mata Vaishno Devi University, when he condemned the rape and killing of the girl in Kathua as "heinous" and "shameful". The case has triggered nationwide outrage because of its brutality. People have protested on streets across India, including in Jammu, demanding justice for the girl from a nomadic community. The girl had disappeared from a place near her house in Kathua on 10 January. A week later, her body was found in the woods in the same area. She was allegedly held captive in a village temple for a week, during which she was sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death. Referring to the disturbing case, Mufti said she was humbled to see every section of society, including students, women and children, standing up to demand justice for the girl. "They stood up for justice, irrespective of religious affiliations, for the girl whom they said was their own daughter. I salute them for this and for defeating the nefarious designs of vested elements," the chief minister said. "Even Prime Minister Narendra Modi termed the incident shameful and sought punishment to the guilty," she said. She said her government is duty-bound to provide justice. Mufti also praised the people of Jammu for accepting and sharing their resources and other facilities with the people leaving Kashmir, referring to the exodus of Kashmiri Pandits from the Valley during the peak of militancy. "It's a rare example of amity which hardly finds any parallels in contemporary world," she added. Mufti thanked President Kovind for visiting the state. Deputy Chief Minister Nirmal Singh expressed gratitude to the president for accepting the state's invitation. He said people will benefit and learn from interacting with him. Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi, on Wednesday, said that he would meet Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governor ESL Narasimhan and appeal that the governor direct the government to conduct a fresh investigation into the Mecca Masjid blast case, according to reports. Majlis Ittehadul Muslimeen (MIM) chief Asaduddin Owaisi on Wednesday said that he will meet Andhra Pradesh and Telangana governor ESL Narasimhan and appeal that the governor direct the government to conduct a fresh investigation into the Mecca Masjid blast case, according to reports. CNN-News18 reported that the meeting will take place at 4 pm on Thursday. Speaking at a public meeting in Saidabad on Wednesday, Owaisi questioned Prime Minister Narendra Modi's silence on the verdict in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case and asked Modi whether he would "stand with victims of the Mecca Masjid blast, or with the accused who were acquitted in the case". According to The New Indian Express, Owaisi compared investigations into the Mecca Masjid blast and 2013 Dilsukhnagar bomb blast. The MIM chief said, "In Dilsukhnagar case, the National Investigation Agency (NIA) worked overtime to ensure that the three accused, including Indian Mujahideen (IM) founder Yaseen Bhatkal, were convicted and awarded death sentence. But, in Mecca Masjid blast case, the NIA, which has now turned blind and deaf, went slow at the behest of their political masters in New Delhi.'' Owaisi also accused the NIA of "deliberately" enaging a weak advocate to represent the agency in the Mecca Masjid blast case. He promised legal help to the family of any victim seeking to appeal against the judgment. The MIM chief also criticised the Modi government for alleging that 'Hindu terror' was a creation of the previous governments. Recalling the conviction of Devendra Gupta and Bhavesh Patel in the 2007 Ajmer dargah blast case, Owaisi was quoted as saying, "What is Islamic terrorism?... Isn't Hindu terror too for real?" Terrorism has become a new religion in itself. All those who carried out bomb blasts in Mecca Masjid, Ajmer Shareef and Samjhauta express are illegitimate children of Nathuram Godse, The Times of India quoted Owaisi as saying. Godse, a former RSS man, had assassinated Mahatma Gandhi on 30 January, 1948. A special NIA court in Hyderabad on Monday acquitted five accused, including Swami Aseemanand, in the 2007 Mecca Masjid blast case. Following Narendra Modi's visit, most English language newspapers in Karnataka plastered photographs of the PM garlanding or standing next to Basaveshwara's statue on their front pages. Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday sent out a strong message ahead of the upcoming Karnataka Assembly election by paying tribute to a statue of 12th century Lingayat philosopher and social reformer Basaveshwara on the banks of the river Thames during his visit to the United Kingdom this week. Incidentally, it was Modi who had inaugurated the statue on his last visit to the country in 2015. Following his visit, most English language newspapers in Karnataka displayed photographs of Modi garlanding or standing next to Basaveshwara's statue on their front pages. The newspapers reported on what the prime minister did, contrasting it with what Congress chief minister Siddaramaiah said on Basava Jayanti. The New Indian Express had a photograph of the prime minister standing next to the statue above its lead story on the front page about what Modi said at the 'Bharat ki Baat' programme on Wednesday. However, the story does not mention anything about Modi paying tribute to the 12th century Lingayat social reformer or its implication in the 12 May polls across the state. Similarly, Deccan Chronicle's front page lead story was on Narendra Modi's visit with a photograph of him garlanding Basaveshwara's statue. In a separate story on page 4 of the newspaper, in the bottom half of the "Pollnataka 2018" section, a story titled "Modi, Siddu vie to win over Lingayats" mentioned how Modi explained the importance of Basava Jayanti to British prime minister Theresa May. The report states that he told her "that even before the Magna Carta was drafted, Lord Basaveshwara propagated equality for women, espoused democratic values and resolved conflicts through meaningful dialogue." The story appears below one on BJP president Amit Shah's rally in Bengaluru's Palace Grounds headlined "Shah's war cry: Will get justice for slain workers." While the Bangalore Mirror did not mention the event on its front page, it ran a story on Modi's visit to London as the second lead on page 12, next to a story on the Kathua rape case. The report stated that the prime minister's visit to the Basaveshwara's statue "sent all the right signals" in view of the upcoming state polls. The report also quoted the head of BJP's foreign cell head, Vijay Chautiyawale, as saying that the event was planned on Wednesday, considering it marked the saint's birthday, "who propounded the idea of democracy and women empowerment". The story was accompanied with a photograph of May and Modi. The Hindu's Bengaluru edition carried the story as its lead on page 4 (Karnataka page) about how leaders sang praises of the philosopher while skirting the "minority tag" issue. The report is accompanied with two photographs, one of Modi at the statue and the other showing Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah paying homage in Mysuru. The report noted that Modi paid homage to Basaveshwara, while focusing more on how all political leaders were careful to avoid the issue of the "religious minority" tag for the Lingayats. The Times of India carried a small story the same event on page 10 of the newspaper, merely mentioning what Modi said, "We are so divided in India because of caste, but Lord Basaweshwara brought everyone together... we do not know enough about our history, yet people know about the Magna Carta." Among all the English language dailies in Karnataka, Deccan Herald was the only one to make no mention of the event. The newspaper carried no story about Modi's visit on the front page but ran a short PTI report on the meeting between Modi and May on page 12. Even Udayavani, a Kannada daily, carried only PTI reports on Modi's UK visit on its English language website. The Basaveshwara statue installed at the Albert Embankment is not only the first statue to be unveiled by an Indian prime minister in the UK but also the first conceptual statue approved by the British Cabinet in the vicinity of the UK Parliament. Ahead of the 2018 Karnataka Assembly election, the Lingayat issue debuted on the political stage with the Congress coming out in full support of a contentious demand from a section of the Lingayats for a separate religion tag outside of Hinduism. The move was to undercut Bharatiya Janata Party's (BJP) push for Hindu consolidation in the state. Lingayats/Veerashaivas are said to form about 17 percent of the population, and wield decisive clout in around 100 constituencies, particularly in north Karnataka. With inputs from agencies Pakistan on Thursday rejected as 'false' and 'baseless' Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims of having launched a surgical strike Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday rejected as "false" and "baseless" Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi's claims of having launched a surgical strike on terrorist camps in Pakistani territory. At an interactive session at the Central Hall Westminster in London, Modi said on Wednesday that Islamabad was informed about the 2016 surgical strike before this was made known to the media. Pakistan's Foreign Office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal told the media that the claims about the surgical strike by the Indian military was a "lie" and "repeating it doesn't turn it into the truth". India said its special forces conducted the surgical strike across the Line of Control (LoC), which divides Jammu and Kashmir between the two countries, on 29 September and inflicted heavy casualties on terrorists preparing to infiltrate into Indian Kashmir. In a veiled message to Pakistan, Modi said in London that "antics of those exporting terror and trying to backstab us will not be tolerated" and "they will be answered in a language they understand". Spokesperson Faisal said: "Repeating a lie doesn't turn it into the truth... It is the other way around and India is backing terrorists in Pakistan. "The whole world knows who the terrorists are and who their head is. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is a proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism," he said. A photographer was killed after he was allegedly shot during celebratory firing at a wedding, the city police said on Thursday Bhopal: A photographer was killed after he was allegedly shot during celebratory firing at a wedding, the Bhopal police said on Thursday. Sourabh Meena (34) was clicking pictures of the wedding party when he was hit by a bullet outside Natraj Community Hall in Govindpura area in Bhopal late Wednesday night, inspector Satendra Singh of the local police station said. He was rushed to a nearby hospital where doctors pronounced him dead on arrival, Singh said. "We have arrested one Purshottam Tiwari under section 304 of IPC (culpable homicide not amounting to murder) for accidentally firing at Meena," he said, adding that further investigation was on. Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia ended his 'indefinite fast' on Thursday, three days after he began the strike in Ahmedabad to press his demands Ahmedabad: Former VHP leader Pravin Togadia ended his "indefinite fast" on Thursday, three days after he began the strike in Ahmedabad to press his demands, including the construction of a Ram temple in Ayodhya, and said he would now embark on a nationwide tour to revive "Hindutva politics". Togadia, 62, said he was ending his fast on the advice of doctors. The surgeon-turned-firebrand leader accepted fruit juice from religious leaders to end the fast. Led by Akhileshwar Das Maharaj, the religious leaders had urged him to end his fast. Togadia quit the Vishwa Hindu Parishad last week after his nominee lost a key organisational election. He had sat on fast on Tuesday to press his demands such as construction of Ram temple, deportation of illegal Bangladeshis, resettlement of Hindus in Kashmir, and abolition of Article 370 of the Constitution. Speaking to reporters, Togadia took a swipe at the BJP and Prime Minister Narendra Modi, saying they have proved to be "as bad as their predecessors" and failed to fulfil their promises. He said he would undertake a nationwide tour to take up the issues of "100 crore Hindus" and seek to revive "Hindutva politics" as the BJP government has failed to solve the problems facing the country. "People are now asking whom they should vote for, as those who gained power in 2014 proved to be as bad as those who were ousted. So I will try to establish Hindutva politics in 2019 to realise people's aspirations," Togadia said. "I will continue raising the voice of 100 crore Hindus by embarking on a pan-India tour from Friday. I will also take up the issues of farmers, labourers and the youth. I am sure that the Hindus, along with workers of the RSS, BJP and VHP, are still with me in my endeavour," he said. "Narendra bhai, you need to answer why promises were not fulfilled. If you don't answer, then 100 crore Hindus along with farmers and youths will seek answer from you in 2019. Instead of roaming around the world, try to solve the problems of the people of this county," he said. Togadia quit the VHP after his nominee Raghav Reddy was defeated by former Himachal Pradesh governor VS Kokje in an election for the post of VHP's international president. As SC dismissed PILs seeking investigation in Judge Loya's death, reactions have poured in from political and legal quarters. The Supreme Court (SC) on Thursday dismissed petitions seeking Special Investigation Team (SIT) probe into Special Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) Judge BH Loya's death. SC called the PILs "scandalous" and "amounting to criminal contempt". The apex court said, "it cannot doubt the statements of the judicial officers who were with Loya". Senior advocate Prashant Bhushan, who had earlier alleged foul play in the death of Judge Loya, called the SC order very unfortunate. He tweeted to express his anguish over the verdict which he claims has come despite the ECG & Histopath report falsifying the heart attack story as the reason for Judge Loya's death. Meanwhile, Caravan magazine's executive editor, Vinod K Jose, tweeted that he stands by the 22 stories published in Caravan about the suspicions surrounding Judge Loya's death. The magazine had carried multiple stories on Judge Loya's family's allegations against the former chief justice of Bombay, Mohit Shah, for taking a bribe to deliver a judgement in favour of Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah in the Sohrabuddin fake encounter case. Judge Loya was heading a CBI probe in the case. Former attorney-general Mukul Rohatgi, who had represented the State of Maharashtra, said that the apex court was clear that there is no doubt over the cause of Judge Loya's death. "These petitioners did not uphold the rule of law. Main aim was to attack some senior functionaries of the current government. There was no question of foul play. Petition had personal interest, not public interest", Rohatgi told ANI. BJP national spokesperson Sambit Patra held a joint press conference in Delhi to slam the Congress party for hegemonising the judiciary and questioning the judge's death for their political vendetta. Patra said that PILs are being used to settle political scores and this was an attempt by the Opposition to vitiate the atmosphere. "The people who have been politicising the judiciary for their own motives, now stand exposed", he said. Union Law and Justice Minister Ravi Shankar Prasad too hit out at Congress. "This case was not activated to serve public interest but to serve the interests of Congress and damage the interests of BJP, our party President Amit Shah in particular", Prasad said in a press conference. "Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as political battle against our party President Amit Shah. I urge Rahul Gandhi not to fight political battles through corridors of Court", he added. Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath told ANI that "The verdict in Judge Loya case has exposed the Congress once again. Rahul Gandhi should apologise to the people of the country. They have tried to create such an environment that develops negative emotions. in people for the govt. I welcome the decision of SC." Union Home Minister Rajnath Singh said, "An attempt to malign senior leaders of the party has failed, its clear that the judiciary cannot be made a field for political battles. Minister of State, PMO Jitendra Singh said "If you're doubting credentials of the Judiciary, then you are also doubting the credentials of all the investigations & evidences. I think Rahul Gandhi should apologise to Amit Shah." While, Congress national spokesperson Abhishek Manu Singhvi tweeted, "Dispassionate analysis of Loya judgement must await its full reasoning. But unless logical reasons found in it, it will raise more questions and leave many unanswered." Congress spokesperson Rajdeep Surjewal also hosted a press conference on the SC verdict and termed it as a "sad day in India's history". "The verdict marks a sad day in India's history. The Supreme Court verdict has left many questions unanswered. There were discrepancies in the post-mortem report, even in recording the name of the victim properly", he remarked. But Congress's Salman Khurshid said that the judgement of the apex court should be respected. "Many-many people would be deeply disappointed but this is the Supreme Court & if Supreme Court takes a view we have to accept it and respect it. However, Soli Sorabjee, former attorney general of India hailed the SC judgement."It is a good judgement It's a good precedent against PILs filed for the sake of 'publicity", Sorabjee told Times Now. Prashant Rathi, the doctor who had received Judge Loya's body also welcomed the SC verdict. "Now that the truth has come out I am a relieved man. There was a time when my role was doubted. There should be no doubts & confusions after the SC's verdict, that has come today", he said. Loya had allegedly died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on 1 December 2014, when he was attending the wedding of a colleague's daughter. Loya's son had on 14 January said in Mumbai that his father had died of natural causes. Meanwhile, the website of the Supreme Court was hacked and at the time of writing, has yet to come back online. The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the chief secretaries of Haryana and Delhi to appear before it on Monday. New Delhi: The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the chief secretaries of Haryana and Delhi to appear before it on Monday after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to the national capital. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur took strong note of the apathy shown by authorities in dealing with the water woes of the residents of the national capital. "People are dying. But no urgency is being shown by you people," the court said, directing senior officials of the two state governments to appear before it in person on 23 April. The Delhi government had informed the apex court it was in talks with Haryana for the release of 450 cusec of water of the Yamuna river daily for the national capital. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the DJB alleging that Haryana had reduced by one-third the supply of Yamuna water to the national capital, leading to a grave water crisis. The DJB has contended in its plea that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusec of water daily as against 450 cusec per day, which was agreed upon between the state and the Union Territory. It has claimed that while the population of Delhi has increased phenomenally over the years, there has not been a commensurate rise in the water supply. The DJB has said that due to the present curtailment in water supply to the Wazirabad reservoir, the plant is running at reduced capacity leading to "grave water crisis" in the city. It had said the situation would "escalate" with the onset of summer and as the demand for drinking water shoots up. It has sought directions from the apex court to the Haryana government to supply the full 450 cusec of water per day continuously and daily to the Wazirabad reservoir. The Delhi High Court had recently told the Haryana government it has to stick to its 2014 direction specifying the amount of water to be released to Delhi every day. SR Sreejith is not the only victim of police excess in Kerala as a response to an RTI query revealed that over 1,000 police officers in the state are being probed for various criminal activities including custodial torture. The recent death of 26-year-old SR Sreejith, a resident of Varappuzha in Kerala's Ernakulam district, is one of the many examples of police excesses where the state police force has been criticised for breaching the rules guaranteeing basic human rights. An RTI query revealed that over 1,000 police officers in the state are being probed for various criminal activities including custodial torture. P Mohan Das, acting chairperson of the Kerala State Human Rights Commission feels that not much is being done to limit police atrocities. "Policemen facing criminal charges should be removed from the service; penalising them with small salary cuts or stopping promotions are not going to make the force people-friendly," Das told Firstpost. "We should act morally. We should treat the uniform wearing officials who exhibit criminal behaviour as criminals only. They should be removed from service or else custodial deaths and the high handedness of the police will continue in the state, he added. Sreejith was taken into custody on 6 April by the special police force, Tiger Force, acting under the instruction of Superintendent of Police (Aluva Rural) AV George, in connection with the suicide of one Vasudevan. He was allegedly beaten up at the police station and succumbed to his injuries a few days later. "The police record from Sreejiths first hospital visit states that his health was okay. But the postmortem report revealed that he had suffered intestinal injuries, which might have led to his death," said Das. After a detailed probe into the incident, the Kerala State Human Rights Commission asked for a CBI probe into Sreejiths death as the special investigation team (SIT) deployed by the state police failed to yield any results. Das said that in an order to the home secretary, the rights body has asked the government to pay Rs 10 lakh as compensation to Sreejiths family. "The officials responsible for the torture of Sreejith should be removed from their service," reiterated Das. Bowing down to mounting pressure, the Kerala Police suspended seven officials suspected of being involved in Sreejiths death. But despite Sreejiths case gaining prominence and increasing pressure on the state police force to resolve criminal cases involving policemen, incidents of custodial death and police torture continue to grow in Kerala. Over 1,000 police officers face criminal charges According to the Kerala State Human Rights Commission, 20 percent of all cases registered in the last two years in the state have been against police officials. DB Binu, an advocate, said that there are 1,129 police officials facing criminal charges in the state. Quoting figures from an RTI response he received after months of toil, Binu said that of the 1,129 officials, 195 are of a sub-inspector or assistant sub-inspector rank. Besides them, eight officers facing criminal charges were circle inspectors. "There are 10 officials from higher ranks, including deputy superintendents of police (DSP) and assistant commissioners, who face criminal charges in the state, Binu said. He added that 215 officers accused of criminal activity are based in the capital, Thiruvananthapuram, and 146 are from the neighbouring Kollam district. Interestingly, in at least 50 percent of the registered cases, police officials are culprits, said Das, adding that police deliberately choose to act slowly in such cases. They themselves are responsible for investigating their own mistakes. How can such an investigation be without bias? Thats why I have recommended a CBI probe (on the Sreejith case), the human rights body chief said. Mini Mohan, a Kerala-based sociologist, said that while police are supposed to be people friendly, the fact remains that people are afraid of them. Mohan also pointed out the slow progress in cases involving police officers. "Let's consider the custodial death of Udayakumar in 2005 at Fort Police Station. Six policemen are being probed. But the trial has not yet been completed. In 2010, Sampath, the primary accused in the sensational Puthur Sheela murder case, died in police custody. The trial for that case too is not completed. In 2017, a Dalit boy named Vinayakan was taken into custody for his hairstyle. Due to embarrassment, he hanged himself. Even in that case, the trial is yet to be completed, said Mini. Recently, the Kerala government was forced to order a Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) probe into the death of one Sreejeev, after his brother, Sreejith of Thiruvananthapuram district went on strike for over 800 days outside the Kerala Secretariat. Sreejeev died at a hospital a few days after he was released from police custody after being arrested on charges of theft. The police claims that Sreejeev consumed poison leading to his death, but his family members continue to allege that he was killed by the policemen. The CBI probe was ordered after Sreejiths protest gained prominence through social media. Last month, Chief Minister Pinarayi Vijayan told the Assembly that 36 custodial torture cases had been registered against police officers during the tenure of the incumbent government, with 13 suspected cases of custodial death were reported in the last two years. But despite this, activists say that a police-politician nexus in Kerala is giving rouge policemen more power to execute criminal activities. The political inclination of Kerala Police was recently seen at a state conference of the Police Officers Association in Alappuzha. A few policemen were seen attending the event in red shirts, a colour usually associated with the states ruling Communist Party of India (Marxist). Das feels that this nexus needs to be removed before resolving the issue of custodial torture and deaths. "Without breaking the police-politician nexus, we cant solve these issues," he said, adding that the reformed 2011 Kerala Police Act still remains far from being implemented due to a lack of specific rules. The author is a member of The NewsCart, a Bengaluru-based media startup. Sleuths of the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) on Thursday unearthed Rs 25 lakh cash from a bank locker held by the in-laws of suspended senior superintendent of police, Vivek Kumar, from Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. Muzaffarpur: Sleuths of the Special Vigilance Unit (SVU) on Thursday unearthed Rs 25 lakh cash from a bank locker held by the in-laws of suspended senior superintendent of police, Vivek Kumar, from Muzzafarnagar in Uttar Pradesh. The locker was located in Vijaya Bank and the vigilance sleuths had found its keys during a raid on Kumar's in-laws' residence in Muzaffarnagar. The vigilance team, which froze six lockers held by Kumar and his family members, had earlier recovered huge cash, jewellery and property documents worth Rs 2.15 crore from two lockers. "The team (vigilance) has found Rs 25 lakh cash from the third locker of Vijaya Bank branch in Muzaffarnagar. The locker is jointly held by Vivek Kumar's father-in-law Ved Prakash Karnwal and mother-in-law Uma Rani," Inspector General (IG), SVU, Ratan Sanjay told PTI. The team is still investigating the other three lockers, he added. "A total of six locker keys has been recovered during a raid at Vivek Kumar's in-laws residence in Muzaffarnagar. A total of Rs 18 lakh cash and jewellery worth Rs 1.75 lakh were found from one locker, while the team recovered jewellery worth Rs 30 lakh apart from papers of fixed deposits of Rs 1.65 crore from another locker," Sanjay had said on Wednesday. A raid has been going on since Monday at Kumar's residences in his native district Saharanpur and his in-laws house at Muzaffarnagar. The state government on 17 April suspended Vivek Kumar after the SVU raided his residence in connection with a disproportionate asset case. During the first raid on Monday, the SVU had seized over Rs 5.50 lakh cash, jewellery worth Rs 5 lakh and Rs 45,000 in demonetised currency notes from the residence of the former Muzaffarpur SSP. Kumar, a 2007 batch IPS officer, has been named in an FIR for amassing assets three times disproportionate to his known sources of income along with his wife and in-laws. An FIR was lodged against him on 15 April with the SVU police station. Congress and BJP are all set to release the second list of candidates on Sunday for the upcoming Karnataka polls. While the Congress is expected to release its first list of candidates by 3 pm, according to sources, BJP will release its second list later tonight Auto refresh feeds Prominent nominees are the party's chief ministerial face BS Yeddyurappa from Shikaripura, KS Eshwarappa from Shivamogga, Jagadish Shettar from Hubli-Dharwad Central, Basavaraj Bommai from Shiggaon, CM Udasi from Hangal, KV Hegde from Sirsi and B. Sriramulu from Molakalmuru (reserved). Among the candidates are many of the party's 48 sitting or outgoing legislators from the state's northern, central and southern region, including Bengaluru, which has 28 assembly constituencies. The BJP on Sunday released its first list of 72 candidates to contest in the 12 May Karnataka Assembly elections for the 224 seats across the southern state. Sashikala is re-contesting from the same seat, while Roopali is a former civic corporator in Bengaluru and Poornima is the party's women wing's secretary. Only three women figure among the 72 contestants - Sashikala Jolle from Nippani assembly segment in the state's northwest region, Roopali Naik from Karwar in the coastal area and Poornima Srinivas from Hiriyur in central part. Only three women among 72 candidates in BJP's first list He will be up against GT Deve Gowda of the JD(S). Gowda is the sitting MLA and also a one-time close associate of the chief minister. Siddaramaiah wants to pitch his decision to contest from his erstwhile constituency as the return of the prodigal son in what is being spoken of as his 10th and final electoral battle. But Gowda labels Siddaramaiah as someone who "abandoned" Chamundeshwari for Varuna after his skip-a-heartbeat 2006 victory. With his desire to see his son, Yathindra take a plunge into electoral politics, Siddaramaiah has given up on his safe Varuna seat to risk it in Chamundeshwari. The odds are stacked against Siddaramaiah in this constituency that is named after the hilltop Goddess Chamundeshwari, the presiding deity of Mysuru. Has Siddaramaiah walked into a trap by contesting at Chamundeshwari, in place of Varuna? G T Devegowda, the JD(S) MLA from Chamundeshwari constituency, said that Congress workers were not happy with Siddaramaiahs leadership and were defecting only because they intend to see HD Kumaraswamy as chief minister. JD(S)s claim may not prove to be a setback for the Congress, but it is bound to impact partys campaign strategy. The Janata Dal (Secular) which holds the Chamundeshwari seat, is trying to dent his chances of victory by roping in Congress party workers. On Wednesday, the JD(S) announced that 20 Congress workers in the constituency, including block-level leaders like Kaling Naik, Angadi Manju, and MH Rajashekar were joining the party. The RSS is also of the opinion that Modi is their best bet and he should lead the campaign against Congress. PM Modi is our biggest weapon. We want him to create a Modi wave closer to the election. In Gujarat, he single handedly rescued the party from a certain defeat. The situation is not so favourable even here. We are hopeful that Prime Minister will do the magic, he said. The state BJP has requested Modi to address at least 15 public meetings. According to a spokesman of the party, depending on the situation Modi may spare more time for Karnataka addressing over a dozen meetings. Our campaign so far has been lacklustre. We have failed to put the Congress on back foot. Actually, they are setting the agenda and we are being forced to react to them. The party high command has taken a serious note of it and they seem to have decided to take direct charge of the campaign, said a senior state BJP leader. The former chief minister also announced that he would file his nomination from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district on 19 April. The BJP's Karnataka unit chief B S Yeddyurappa today said the second list of party candidates for the May 12 assembly election in the state was likely to be announced on 11 April. Most of them are sitting legislators and a few of them also served as ministers in the past. Guttedar, a six-time MLA and OBC leader, had yesterday joined the party, hours before the first list was announced. Those who have made it to the list include P Rajeev (Kudachi), A S Patil Nadahalli (Muddebihal), Basavanagouda Patil Yatnal (Bijapur City), Malikayya Guttedar (Afzalpur), Mallikarjun Khuba (Basavakalyana) and Dr Shivaraj Patil (Raichur). Most of the party-hoppers, who joined the BJP ahead of the May 12 assembly polls in Karnataka, have made it to the party's first list of candidates. In the list of 72 candidates for the high-stakes contest to the 224-member Assembly that was released last night, at least 11 recently joined the BJP, including some who had deserted it earlier. An FIR has been lodged against the unknown miscreants, police said. According to S Yogeshwar, returning officer of Yashwanthapura constituency, the incident occurred when a special drive in booth number 74 of the constituency was going on at a school. Miscreants today snatched away about 450 applications pertaining to the addition, changes and deletion of names from the voter list at Yashwanthapura in Bengaluru. JD(S) is not the BJPs B team as alleged by the Congress. On the contrary, leaders who were with Janata Pariwar migrated to the Congress and formed a B team, sidelining seniors like Mallikjarjuna Kharge and Parameshwara," he said. Janata Dal (Secular) state president HD Kumaraswamy on Sunday sought to reply to Rahul Gandhi's charge that his party was in cahoots with the BJP. Terming both two sides of the same coin he said they share a one should beat and another would weep agreement, The Times of India reported. "This is the work of one or two Swamijis and I am not at all bothered. Almost everyone in the community is with us and we are going to win about 150 seats and form the government," The Times of India quoted him as saying. Yeddyurappa said that it is just a few of them who have made these statements, while the entire Lingayat-Veerashaiva community is with the BJP. Gehlot, a former chief minister of Rajasthan, was recently appointed the AICC general secretary in charge of organisation and training of party cadres. Congress general secretary Ashok Gehlot has been appointed a member of the party's central election committee, the apex body for selection of candidates during elections. BJP has also refused to field his daughter Shambhavi from Rajarajeshwarinagara Assembly seat in Bengaluru. Neither the state BJP, nor its national leadership is giving him any importance. He is actually a nobody in BJP. It has hurt him deeply. He has been sending the feelers to Congress for the past two months, a senior Congress leader told News18 . State Congress sources claim that the former external affairs minister is now interested in rejoining the party as he is disillusioned with the BJP. He feels that the saffron party has humiliated him by giving no importance to him. Senior politician and former Congress stalwart SM Krishna is considering returning to his mother party merely a year after he joined the BJP in a surprise move, calling the Congress a party in rapid decline. "This has been mentioned in the divisional commissioner's report.. The report is under scrutiny," he added. "The mother of the deceased person had earlier given some statement before some television channel, but she has changed her version now. She is now saying, neither has she received any cheque nor has she been given an assurance in this regard," he told reporters here. Karnataka Chief Electoral Officer (CEO) Sanjiv Kumar today said the report on alleged violation of model code of conduct by BJP President Amit Shah for giving Rs five lakh to the family of a deceased party worker is under scrutiny. The AICC secretary in charge of Karnataka and former MP Madhu Yashki Goud directly blamed the BJP IT Cell responsible for it. Threatening a criminal action against the BJP, he said that the saffron party had mastered the art of fake news to misguide the people". The fake list not only showed Leader of Congress party in Lok Sabha Mallikarjun Kharge as a candidate, but had senior Congress leader Oscar Fernandis' signature. However, the makers of the list were perhaps unaware of the fact that Fernandes is unwell and is undergoing treatment in Delhi. He no longer is the authorised signatory for such lists. Karnataka Chief Minister Siddaramaiah today said the Congress party had not yet finalised the list of candidates for the upcoming state assembly polls and that a "fake" list was in circulation to create confusion. Each EVM consists of a control unit and a balloting unit. As of date, there are 89,206 balloting units and 76,192 control units in the state. "These units are enough for the 58,546 polling stations across 224 assembly segments in the state," Kumar added. Bengaluru-based Bharat Electronics Ltd (BEL) will be supplying these advanced election machinery to used in the city for the ensuing elections on a pilot basis. "The new machines, which will be used for the first time in the state, will be deployed in the constituencies of Bengaluru," Kumar said. A total of 5,000 advanced EVMs and VVPATs which can automatically detect errors and any tampering with the vote will be used in Bengaluru for the May 12 Karnataka Legislative Assembly election, the state's Chief Electoral Official said on Tuesday. Karnataka state EC to use 5,000 new EVMs in Bengaluru for Karnataka polls Meanwhile BJP and Congress have been accusing each other of poll code violations. While Congress filed a complaint against Amit Shah for offering Rs 5 lakh to the family of a deceased BJP worker, the saffron party claimed that Siddaramaiah had given a "bribe" of Rs 2,000 each to two women who welcomed him during his visit to Chamundeshwari. Freebies for voters worth over Rs 9.96 crore were also seized by the poll officials. About 10,500 litres of liquor valued at Rs 46 lakh was also seized by the state's Excise Department. Since 27 March, when the Model Code of Conduct came into effect in Karnataka, Rs 4.69 crore cash has been seized in the state by the surveillance teams for violation of the poll code. According to a report by The Times of India , reeling off statistics of Muslim population, leaders from the community say that the Muslim candidates can win as many as 28 seats with the support of a sizeable 12 percent population. A group of Muslim leaders from Karnataka on Tuesday demanded that the Congress party reserve at least one constituency in each district of the state for Muslim candidates. Muslims want Cong to give community one seat in each district BJP president Amit Shah will tour northern parts of the state from Thursday on his sixth round of campaigning in poll-bound Karnataka, where the saffron party is going all out to unseat the Congress. During his two-day trip, the BJP chief will take part in campaigns, protests and meet Lingayat and Veerashaiva seers. Shah will hold a sit-in at Hubballi joining Prime Minister Narendra Modi and his party MPs to protest the recent washout of the Budget Session of Parliament. Read more here. Amit Shah to kick off sixth leg of campaign in Karnataka on Thursday Former BJP MLA Seema Masuti to contest as an Independent from Dharwad constituency Congress and BJP are all set to release the list of candidates on Sunday. While the Congress is expected to release its first list of candidates by 3 pm, according to sources, BJP will release its second list later on Sunday night. "I made the comments in emotion. Let them (BJP) protest against me, but shouldn't Uttar Pradesh do something about the Unnao victim? Don't compare Yogi ADityanath to swamijis in Karnataka. They are respectable people." KPCC working president Dinesh Gundu Rao told India Today in response to BJP's demand for an apology for his remarks on the Uttar Pradesh chief minister. "The EC squads and police authorities have so far seized cash over Rs 22.34 crore, besides 7.5kg gold valued at Rs 1.76 crore, unspecified amount of silver worth over Rs 12 lakh, 10 sarees and 160 laptops, among other items, for violation of the model code of conduct in force for the May 12 state legislative Assembly election," said CEO Sanjiv Kumar in a statement in Bengaluru. - IANS The Election Commission's surveillance squads and police officials have seized over Rs 22 crore illegal cash since the model code of conduct was put in force on 27 March in poll-bound Karnataka, the state's Chief Electoral Officer said on Saturday. BJP leader Prakash Khandre of Bhalki constituency in Bidar and his supporters called for a Bhalki bandh on 17 April after they suspected that Khandre would not be given a ticket. Input from Lakshmi Bhavge/101reporters Congress MLA NA Haris from Shanti Nagar has not been given a ticket. A month before, his son Mohammad Nalapad, was arrested in connection with an assault case. - Input by Prabhu Mallikarjunan/ 101 Reporters The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday has announced its second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled for 12 May 2018.While the BJPs first list of candidates included seasoned politicians like five-time MLA S Angara, an MLA from Sullia, it has fielded new faces from other constituencies in the state. The party's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa is slated to contest from Shikaripura. ( Read more here ) BJP announces second list of candidates for Karnataka polls, no Muslims or Christians given ticket The BJP's second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections on 12 May contains at least five names with a tainted past. The list, comprising 82 names, has candidates, who were acquitted in corruption, forgery, cheating and rape cases. At least two of them had spent quite some time in jail on charges of cheating and forgery.PTI ( Read more here) At least five candidates in BJP's second list have tainted past Disgruntled with the party high command's first list of candidates in the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka, Congress party workers took to streets on Monday to express their anger. Media visuals showed party workers chanting anti-Siddaramaiah slogans, burning tyres, effigies etc on the streets. ( Read more ) INC COMMUNIQUE Announcement of candidates for the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka. 1/2 pic.twitter.com/q5M2ss7Z48 Congress MLA NA Haris from Shanti Nagar has not been given a ticket. A month before, his son Mohammad Nalapad, was arrested in connection with an assault case. - Input by Prabhu Mallikarjunan/ 101 Reporters The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday has announced its second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled for 12 May 2018.While the BJPs first list of candidates included seasoned politicians like five-time MLA S Angara, an MLA from Sullia, it has fielded new faces from other constituencies in the state. The party's chief ministerial candidate BS Yeddyurappa is slated to contest from Shikaripura. ( Read more here ) BJP announces second list of candidates for Karnataka polls, no Muslims or Christians given ticket The BJP's second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections on 12 May contains at least five names with a tainted past. The list, comprising 82 names, has candidates, who were acquitted in corruption, forgery, cheating and rape cases. At least two of them had spent quite some time in jail on charges of cheating and forgery.PTI ( Read more here) At least five candidates in BJP's second list have tainted past Disgruntled with the party high command's first list of candidates in the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka, Congress party workers took to streets on Monday to express their anger. Media visuals showed party workers chanting anti-Siddaramaiah slogans, burning tyres, effigies etc on the streets. ( Read more ) I have come to file my nomination & I am going to get a minimum lead of 30,000-40,000: BJP's CM candidate BS Yeddyurappa before filing nomination from Shimoga's Shikaripura #KarnatakaElections2018 pic.twitter.com/ehwD9V8CUH I am going to get a minimum lead of 30,000-40,000: Yeddyurappa I urge you to provide an opportunity to @BSYBJP ji and he'll work towards making Karnataka no. 1 state: Shri @AmitShah https://t.co/Um6D19tMGF While addressing a public gathering in Bagalkot, Amit Shah said that BJP will form a government in Karnataka and urged people to give an opportunity to Yeddyurappa. We are going to form govt in Karnataka: Amit Shah in Bagalkot Karnataka Assembly Election 2018 latest updates: Karnataka BJP chief BS Yeddyurappa will file his nomination for the state Assembly elections today. He is holding a roadshow before filing his nomination. Disgruntled with the party high command's first list of candidates in the upcoming Assembly Elections in Karnataka, Congress party workers took to streets on Monday to express their anger. Meanwhile, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) on Monday has announced its second list of candidates for the Karnataka Assembly elections scheduled for 12 May 2018. Congress and BJP are all set to release the second list of candidates on Sunday. While the Congress is expected to release its first list of candidates by 3 pm, according to sources, BJP will release its second list later on Sunday night. The BJP's Karnataka unit chief BS Yeddyurappa had recently said that the second list for the 12 May Assembly election in the state was likely to be announced on 15 April after a meeting with BJP president Amit Shah in New Delhi. The BJP had announced a list of 72 candidates on 8 April, and another list of 65-70 candidates is expected to be released on Sunday. "In the days to come, remaining candidates list will be announced," Yeddyurappa and had said while announcing his decision last week to contest from Shikaripura in Shivamogga district. He will file his nomination on 19 April. The first list of 72 candidates also included party veterans Jagadish Shettar and KS Eswarappa who will be contesting from Hubli Dharwad Central and Shivamogga Assembly seats, respectively. BJP has announced Yeddyurappa as its chief ministerial candidate, with a target of winning 150 out of 224 assembly seats and coming back to power after a gap of five years. Congress, who is seeking to retain power in the southern state, was expected to release its first list on 13 April. However, the party delayed its first list after differences cropped up among members of the party's Central Election Committee (CEC) that met on Friday. Sources said the differences were apparent as each of the senior party leaders from the state were carrying their own separate lists of candidates for approval. Some leaders raised objections over the grant of party tickets to recently joined BJP and JD(S) rebel legislators, besides some Independents, the sources said. A section of Karnataka party leaders feel that the tickets should be given to the winning candidates and expressed apprehensions over the loyalty of those joining the Congress ahead of elections, they said. The deliberations were also centered around the grant of party tickets to family members of Chief Minister Siddharamaiah and state unit chief G Parameswara and some senior ministers. The sources also said that the KPCC chief has sought two tickets one from the Koratagere constituency in Tumkur district, the seat that he had lost in 2013, and the other is the Pulakeshinagar constituency in Bengaluru, from where JD(S) MLA joined the Congress recently. Even Chief Minister Siddaramaiah wants to contest from two seats and is demanding tickets, one from his old Chamundeshwari constituency in Mysore district and the other Badami in Bagalkote district, where sitting Congress MLA BB Chimmanakatti was persuaded to vacate the seat, they said. With inputs from PTI BJP candidate for the Karnataka Assembly elections has said the electoral contest in the state was 'not about roads and drinking water but Hindu and Muslim religions' Bengaluru: In a potentially controversial remark, a BJP candidate for the Karnataka Assembly elections has said the electoral contest in the state was "not about roads and drinking water but Hindu and Muslim religions". Sanjay Patil, Belagavi (Rural) MLA and BJP candidate, is seen making the purported remarks in a video shot in his constituency amid loud cheers by a crowd of his supporters. It was not immediately known when the video, which went viral on Thursday, was shot. "This election is not about road, drainage or drinking water. This election is about Hindu and Muslim religions," he told the crowd. "Keeping a hand on my chest I say loudly, this is Bharat, this is the country of Hindus, and this is the country where (Lord) Ram was born. We are prepared to do anything to construct Ram mandir in Ayodhya," Patil purportedly said in the footage. Patil also told the crowd, which lapped up every word he said, that the Congress favoured constructing a mosque in Ayodhya instead of a Ram temple. "Let Laxmi Hebbalkar speak about constructing Ram mandir, you all vote for her, but she can't say it, as she is among those who will construct a masjid, Babri masjid," he said, insisting the 12 May polls were "very important." Hebbalkar, the Karnataka Mahila Congress chief, is pitted against Patil from Belagavi (Rural) constituency. "(Those) Who want to construct Babri Masjid, who want to celebrate Tipu Sultan's jayanti, let them vote for Congress." "If you want Shivaji Maharaj, if you want Sambhaji Maharaj, if you want those who offer pooja at Lakshmi temple, you will have to vote for BJP," he added. Belagavi (Belgaum) on Karnataka-Maharashtra border is a communally sensitive area with significant presence of Muslims and Marathi speaking Hindus. Narendra Modi has opted the path of participatory democracy so that the people at large and the government work hand in hand to realise the new India dream. As school kids, everyone was told that patience is a virtue and impatience was symptomatic of anxiety, which would lead to frustration and trouble. Prime Minister Narendra Modi has other ideas. He thinks that the age-old sayings like "Sabra Ka phal meetha hota hai..daal roti khao prabhu ke goon gao" will not make new India achieve what and where it wants to be, in the league of superpowers and most advanced nations. For him, impatience, "ye dil mange more" should be the mantra for India's future growth story. Rising aspirations make people more demanding and drive individuals, institutions and the government to perform. Modi takes that as a positive thing to have happened to India, for it leads to an optimism and embracing a work hard philosophy in all spheres of life including faster and greater delivery of infrastructure projects. Responding to a question at Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath at Westminster in London on bebas versus besabra (helpless versus impatient) India, Modi said, "Kal tak (Bharat) bebas tha, aaj tej badlav ke liye besabra hai." The change and growth story has to be accompanied by self-belief and self-confidence on standing on its own and the ability to take action against an enemy nation which commits cowardly act of terrorism. The surgical strike against Pakistan in response to terror attacks in Uri fits into that context in terms of a changed regime at the Centre, changed belief and changed aspiration. The message for Pakistan was louder and clearer than ever: Toh ye Modi hai, who ussi bhasa me jawab dena janta hai.terror export karne wale ko pata hona chahiye ki aab Hindustan badal chukka hai. The prime minister went at length to explain how and why he decided to have a surgical strike and how he waited to inform Pakistan first through official channels before letting the people within and outside India know about the surgical strike. By asserting aggressively about future consequences with an actual military operation across the Line of Control, Modi distinguished himself from his own party predecessor Atal Bihari Vajpayee who in the aftermath of 13 December 2001 terror attack on Parliament had thundered aar-paar ki ladai against Pakistan, even ordering Operation Parakram, a full-scale military mobilisation on the borders. Vajpayee then changed his stance adding the word "agar" (if) in his statement claiming that he had actually said agar ladai hogi toh aar-paar ki ladai hogi. In the aftermath of 26 November 2008 Mumbai terror attack, the Manmohan Singh government vacillated between saying "all options open" to decrying war. By referring to his standalone visit to Israel and de-hyphenate Israel and Palestine, Modi sought to convey that he was strong in his intent and purposes and that he had the guts to follow an independent path which his predecessors at the prime minister's office didn't tread. "In the last 70 years, no Indian prime minister went to Israel, who was stopping you? If an Indian prime minister has to go to Israel, he will go to Isreal, if he has to go to Palestine he makes a separate visit to Palestine." It was interesting that he referred to all the Islamic countries like Saudi Arabia, Iran, UAE while talking about foreign policy and his visit to Israel. Four years in the government and only a year to go before he goes to the people seeking a fresh mandate, more so with elections in five important states to be held this year, Modi didnt seem to be afraid of the burden of expectations that weighed on him and his government. He didnt mind admitting that there are massive expectations from him and in the same vein he talked about his constant endeavours to improve and deliver. That again was linked to his Besabra Bharat theme. "Even if three sons are there in a family, people would ask for delivery from the son who they think can deliver. Jo karega ussi se toh kahegaand therefore people expect so much from me. They think I can deliver. There was a time when people would be happy with a small incremental change but now their expectations and aspirations have changed," Modi said. Though he listed several of his achievements in the last four years through an audio-visual presentation, the prime minister reminded his audience including those who watched him live on television that he is a normal human being and vulnerable to mistakes like anyone else. Modi sought to clarify that the mistakes if any won't emanate out of any malintent. From the one-and-half hour Bharat Ki Baat Sabke Saath session that Modi had in London it can be safely assumed that the prime minister knew his limitations and that he might not have delivered up to the level expectations that people had from him. This knowledge prepares him to decide as to how he is going to pitch himself and his party for the 2019 elections. He knows that delivery from the government could be limited and in four years he couldnt possibly have transformed the country as some people thought he would. The prime minister thus has opted the path of participatory democracy so that the people at large and the government work hand in hand to realise the new India dream. Modi also gave an impression that in the next election the poorer section of society will be by his side. Patience would be needed here for impatient India to know if that would turn out to be be the biggest political story in 2019. Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah after the Supreme Court verdict on judge BH Loya's death. New Delhi: Congress president Rahul Gandhi on Thursday hit out at BJP chief Amit Shah after the Supreme Court verdict on judge BH Loya's death, saying truth has a way of catching up with people like him The ruling party had accused Gandhi of being the "invisible hand" behind the petitions in the apex court seeking an independent probe into the judge's death. "Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him," he said on Twitter. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed a bunch of petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of judge Loya, who was handling the Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, in which Shah was once an accused and was later discharged. Loya died of cardiac arrest in Nagpur on 1 December, 2014, when he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleague's daughter. As political war continues over Judge Loya's death, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised the Opposition for politicisation of Judge BH Loya's death, media reports said. As political war continues over the Supreme Court verdict on Justice BH Loya's death, Union minister Ravi Shankar Prasad criticised the Opposition for politicisation of judge BH Loya's death, media reports said. Prasad said he has the copy of the Supreme Court judgment and the BJP condemns with all the authorities at its command the reckless allegations made against the party president it the course of the court proceedings. Shri @rsprasad is addressing a press conference at BJP HQ. https://t.co/aPFUKheC9S BJP (@BJP4India) April 19, 2018 Mentioning that Rahul visited the president and made several allegations, Prasad said, "Court said political battles must be fought on political grounds. It clearly means that the case was fought as a political battle against our party president Amit Shah. I urge Rahul Gandhi not to fight political battles through corridors of court." "This case was not activated to serve the public interest but to serve the interests of Congress and damage the interests of BJP, our party president Amit Shah, in particular," Prasad said on the Supreme Court's dismissal of pleas seeking SIT probe in the judge Loya death case. The BJP national president also said that since the apex court stated there are no grounds to suspect foul play in judge Loya's death, it should not have been questioned. "Questions were raised on Supreme Court and High Court judges during the probe even though four judicial officers' report were examined and the court has stated the procedure was followed. Senior leaders of BJP did not speak because the matter was in courts," Prasad said. During the entire court proceedings, taunts were made against the judges of Bombay High Court, he added. Later Congress spokesperson Randeep Surjewala questioned how the law minister has a copy of the judgment. Intriguing indeed! How does the Law Min, Ravi Shankar Prasad have a copy of Supreme Court judgement in #JudgeLoya case, when neither the public nor the press or advocates have got a copy yet? And the Supreme Court web site is hacked. So much for transparency & fairness! Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 19, 2018 Earlier on Thursday, Union home minister Rajnath Singh said the Supreme Court order rejecting the plea for a probe into the death of judge Loya has sent out a clear message that the judiciary cannot be "misled" by allegations based on the political vendetta. The minister, who posted a series of tweets, also came down heavily on "several attempts" to target the BJP and its top leaders through "fake" cases. "It is extremely unfortunate that there have been several attempts of targeting the BJP and assassinating the character of its top leaders on the basis of fake facts'. These attempts have failed miserably once again," he said on Twitter. The home minister said the Supreme Court order has also raised serious questions about the intention of filing such PILs. With inputs from PTI Asheeta Regidi On Day 29 of the Aadhaar Hearings on 17 April, senior counsel Rakesh Dwiwedi continued his arguments on behalf of the UIDAI. He argued that Aadhaar was strictly for the purpose of authentication, and any provisions of the Act which the Court was concerned out should be read down to this end. He further argued that no data protection law could give as much protection as the Aadhaar Act. The Bench, while discussing apprehensions of misuse of data such as the Cambridge Analytica incident, observed that a blinkered view of reality could not be taken while dealing with Aadhaar. Correct defects instead of striking down the law The arguments were commenced with discussing the presumption of constitutionality, that the defects in a law must first be sought to be resolved, instead of striking the law down. From this, the issues with the Aadhaar Act were discussed. Aadhaar is strictly for authentication First, it was argued that under the Aadhaar Act, the sharing and use of information was strictly for the purpose of authentication. Section 29 of the Aadhaar Act, which allows the sharing of identity information, with the exception of core biometric information, for the purposes of the Aadhaar Act, must also similarly be restricted by the Court to authentication. A narrow interpretation of this Section, it was argued, could address any surveillance concerns. The risk of data sharing by REs The Bench, here pointed that even if the UIDAI was unaware of the purpose of authentication, the requesting entity would. To this, it was argued that, in the example of authentication at Apollo hospitals, the hospital would remain unaware of whether the person had visited the hospital for a check-up or to buy medicines. The Bench, here, pointed out that such information could still be shared by the requesting entity itself if not by the UIDAI. For instance, the information that a person visited hospitals 122 times in the last 6 months is information that is of interest to pharmaceutical companies and also insurance companies. No data protection law can give as much protection as Aadhaar To this, it was argued that such information could also be acquired directly through a visit to the hospitals, and there was no need for Aadhaar for this. When the Bench pointed out the dangers with such data collection in view of the absence of a data protection law, it was argued that 100 percent data protection was impossible. What was possible is reasonable, just and fair data protection. Further, no data protection law could give as much protection as Aadhaar. The Bench disagreed, terming this as an exaggeration. To this, it was argued that Aadhar was not designed to allow aggregation and data analysis, and if the Bench was still concerned with this, it could give an interpretation of the law that prevents this. Cambridge Analytica is irrelevant to Aadhaar On the argument that the apprehensions of misuse with Aadhaar are not real, the Bench observed that there were very real apprehensions of misuse, and even elections could be manipulated using data. To this, it was argued that the Cambridge Analytica issue was irrelevant, since Aadhaar did not involve any learning algorithms like Facebook and Google, but merely involved matching algorithms. The Bench, to this, observed that the concern wasnt so much with controlling the UIDAI, but with its interface with the world outside. The Bench also observed that a blinkered view to reality could not be taken. Mandatory Aadhaar under Section 57 Next turning to Section 57 of the Aadhaar Act, which allows even private parties to make Aadhaar mandatory, it was argued that anyone could not become a requesting entity. For example, a company like Dominos would be questioned by the UIDAI if it asked to become a requesting entity. The Bench here, first questioned the purpose behind opening Aadhaar platforms to private players. To this, it was argued that the private/public divide was reducing, with private parties entering many fields constituting public functions. Further, such activities w.r.t Aadhaar were in any case funded by the UIDAI. In addition, private parties performing public functions would open them up to writ jurisdiction. Further, a body corporate using Aadhaar must have privacy policies in place. The UIDAIs actions against misuse by Airtel and Axis Bank were cited. UIDAI not bound to offer authentication services Further, it was argued that the requirement of a law or contract under Section 57 was an important limitation. The State Resident Data Hubs, it was argued, were destroyed due to this. On the Bench asking if once there was a contract, the UIDAI was bound to offer authentication services, it was argued that there must be a contract, and the UIDAI was required to permit it. The Bench, however, observed that there was nothing in Section 57 which grants such discretion to the UIDAI. The Bench, further disagreed with the argument that such discretion flows from the Act itself. Examine Aadhaar linking on a case by case basis The Bench also questioned how Aadhaar went from being an entitlement or voluntary, to becoming a mandate. To this, it was argued that Aadhaar linking must be examined on a case by case basis. It was also argued that as far as the UIDAI was concerned, Aadhaar was an entitlement. It is mandatory only under Section 7, and for all other purposes its use is consensual. Security requirement under IT Act Next, it was argued that the provisions of the Information Technology Act govern Aadhaar as well, and this imposed the requirement for the technology to be reasonably secure. He argued that there were strict provisions for enforcement under the IT Act, and further, the CIDR had been declared to be critical information infrastructure under the IT Act. It was also argued that 5 levels of biometric checks had to be crossed before the servers could be reached, and since there was no connection to the internet, the software could not be tinkered with. New biometric information must meet certain criteria Next, the issue of excessive delegation under the Aadhaar Act was raised. On the issue of biometric information, it was argued that new forms of biometric information could be included only if it meets the requirements of being non-intrusive, a mode of identification, as well as capable of instant authentication. DNA, for instance, cannot be simply added to the biometric information with the UIDAI. Revolutionary nature of Aadhaar The advantage of Aadhaar, it was argued, was that now the person claiming entitlements (say foodgrains) was now required to directly appear in person before the distributor. This prevented others from collecting a persons entitlements on their behalf. This further prevented the distributor himself from denying a person his entitlements. This was described as a revolutionary step. For this, it was argued, fingerprints were a huge safeguard, thus preventing other IDs from being used. Further, the fingerprinting enabled deduplication. Nothing in the world is deterministic Next turning to the issue of the probabilistic nature of Aadhaar authentication, it was argued that nothing it the world is deterministic, and probability governs people everywhere. The Bench, here, questioned how a probabilistic system could be allowed to affect fundamental rights. The Bench further, noted that exclusion was a fact. To this, it was argued that these were implementation problems which needed to be resolved. Sources of arguments include Livetweeting of the case by Gautam Bhatia, Prasanna S and SFLC.in. You can read our complete coverage of the Aadhaar Supreme Court case below. Why SC needs to look into technical evidence of Aadhaars surveillance capabilities Will State give citizens rights only if they agree to be tracked forever, asks lawyer Shyam Divan Coalition for Aadhaar: A collective of private companies wants to ensure that Aadhaar ID and related services continue to be offered Petitioners argue on centralisation of data and challenge Aadhaars claims on savings Petitioners argue for a voluntary ID card system that does not collect user data Petitioners argue that receipt of govt benefits cannot be at the cost of compromising fundamental rights Aadhaar is architecturally unconstitutional, argue the petitioners Petitioners argue that Aadhaar violates dignity by objectifying and depersonalizing an individual Petitioners seek compensation for starvation deaths and extension of March 31st deadline Section 7 exception in Supreme Courts interim order greatly affects peoples constitutional rights Entire Aadhaar project is beyond the stated objectives of Aadhaar Act, argue petitioners Petitioners conclude their arguments on 'the number of the beast' Aadhaar, highlighting various issues Aadhaar hearing: Political liberties cannot be foregone for economic and social justice, states the Bench Aadhaar hearing: UIDAIs presentation discusses Aadhaar enrolment, updation and authentication processes in detail Aadhaar hearing: Supreme Court expresses concerns with data breaches, Aadhaar security and profiling Aadhaar hearing: Petitioners question UIDAI on verification of residency requirement, de-duplication rejections and authentication failures Aadhaar hearing: Attorney General argues that pervasive collection of fingerprints meets proportionality requirements Aadhaar hearing: Bench criticises the argument that Aadhaar can prevent bank frauds and terrorists from acquiring mobile numbers Aadhaar hearing: Additional Solicitor General argues Aadhaar-PAN linkage enables deduplication, prevents fraud and widens the tax base Aadhaar hearing: Not necessary to prove least possible invasion of privacy, argues Additional Solicitor General The author is a lawyer and author specializing in technology laws. She is also a certified information privacy professional. IANS To help beginners learn coding on their smartphones, Google has launched a new learn-to-code app called Grasshopper. Grasshopper has been created by a team of coders from Google's workshop for experimental products "Area 120". "Coding is becoming such an essential skill, and we want to make it possible for everyone to learn even when life gets busy. "We made Grasshopper to help folks like you get into coding in a fun and easy way," the company said in a blog post on 18 April. "We put Grasshopper on a phone so you can turn your commute or waiting in line into a learning moment," it added. The Grasshopper app is now available globally on both iOS and Android. According to TechCrunch, the goal is to get coders proficient in the basics and core concepts, so they can take the next steps in their coding education. Till date, "Area 120" has released innovations like "Advr" an advertising format for virtual reality; personal stylist "Tailor"; emoji messenger "Supersonic"; a job-matching service in Bangladesh, a booking tool called "Appointments"; and the YouTube co-watching app "UpTime". The app offers several courses, beginning with "The Fundamentals," where users learn how code works. Grasshopper have two more courses where coders learn to draw shapes using the D3 library, and later create more complex functions using D3. tech2 News Staff Hyperloop Transportation Technologies (HyperloopTT) plans to construct a hyperloop system for a distance of ten kilometers in Abu Dhabi and it hopes to be operational by 2020. Hyperloop TT and Aldar Properties PJSC have signed an agreement to construct it near the site where the Expo 2020 will take place. It will also be closer to the Al Maktoum International Airport. This agreement creates the basis for the first commercial Hyperloop system in the world here in the Emirates, with the goal of eventually connecting Abu Dhabi to Al Ain, Dubai, and Riyadh, Saudi Arabia, said Bibop Gresta, Chairman of HyperloopTT. With regulatory support, we hope the first section will be operational in time for Expo 2020. The hyperloop transit system idea was announced by Elon Musk in 2012 as a time-efficient mode of transportation at an unimaginable speed. It is not only supposed to be cost efficient during construction but is also supposed to be a cheaper mode of transportation. We are delighted to be working with HyperloopTT as they look to bring one of the worlds most revolutionary transportation technologies to Abu Dhabi, said Talal Al Dhiyebi, Chief Executive Officer, Aldar Properties.Alghadeer sits at such a strategic point within the UAE close to major growth areas of both Abu Dhabi and Dubai, that it makes sense to pair it with rapid transport opportunities. We believe that Hyperloop technology can have a major positive impact on the lives of all of those living within our communities, and we look forward to this possibility becoming a reality. In India, the Hyperloop One had signed a memorandum of understanding with the Maharashtra government to build the world's first hyperloop between Mumbai and Pune. Reuters Tesla Inc is being probed by a California agency for occupational safety after a report that the electric carmaker failed to disclose serious injuries at a Fremont factory. The states Occupational Safety and Health Administration (Cal-OSHA) disclosed the inspection on Wednesday, two days after news website Reveal said that Teslas omissions in legally mandated reports made its safety record appear better than it was. The probe began on Tuesday, Erika Monterroza, spokesperson for Cal/OSHA, said. The agency typically reviews an employers log of work-related injuries and illnesses to make sure that serious injuries are reported directly to the administration within eight hours, she added. A Tesla spokesman said Cal-OSHA is required to investigate any claims, whether they have merit or are baseless. We have never in the entire history of our company received a violation for inaccurate or incomplete injury record-keeping, he said in an emailed statement. The injury rate at the Fremont factory, which it had taken over from General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp, is half what it was in its final years under the previous owners, the spokesman added. Pakistan on Thursday said Afghan authorities have returned the bodies of five of its paramilitary soldiers who were killed in a border clash this week. Islamabad: Pakistan on Thursday said Afghan authorities have returned the bodies of five of its paramilitary soldiers who were killed in a border clash this week. Pakistan's Foreign Office (FO) spokesman Mohammad Faisal said Frontier Corps (FC) troops deployed along Pak-Afghan border at Kurram area came under fire from the Afghan side last Sunday while they were on routine patrolling and fencing activity on the border. "The Afghan border security forces, assisted by Afghan tribesmen, fired on our troops resulting in 'shahadat' (martyrdom) of five soldiers," he said. Faisal said that the Afghan border forces and tribesmen also got hold of the bodies of the killed troops and detained one soldier. "As there were a large number of tribesmen on the Afghan side, our troops exercised utmost restraint to avoid civilian casualties. Our side, via diplomatic and military channels, immediately engaged the Afghan authorities to hold border flag meeting to help resolve the situation," he said. According to Faisal, a border flag meeting was held between commanders of the two forces and the situation was amicably defused. "The Afghan side handed over bodies of five Pakistani FC personnel and the detained sepoy to Pakistan," he said. The two sides also emphasised on the need for further enhancing border coordination to avoid recurrence of such incidents in the future, he said. As Emmanuel Macron arrives in Washington on Monday for a three-day state visit, the good rapport will be tested as Macron tries to sway Donald Trump on key issues from Syria to Iran and trade. Paris: When Frances ambassador to Washington told American officials last July that he was heading to Paris and would shortly see President Emmanuel Macron, one of them handed him a copy of the New York Times. In it, he read the words Yes, Emmanuel. Its true, I love You written in highlighter next to an article about the French leaders good relationship with US president Donald Trump. Whether Trump scribbled the words himself is unclear, but coming just two weeks after he had been hosted in great pomp at the Bastille Day military parade in Paris, it showed just how strong France-US ties were. As he arrives in Washington on Monday for a three-day state visit, that good rapport will be tested as Macron tries to sway Trump on key issues from Syria to Iran and trade after a year spent investing a lot of political capital with few returns. While he has delivered on promises of change at home and is pushing his views in Europe, the world stage is proving tougher terrain. Like others before him, Macron has found predicting Trump a challenge. With the exception of one unusually prolonged and firm handshake, Macron has opted for a non-confrontational approach toward the unconventional US president, hoping that by engaging with him he could win concessions. He played to Trumps admiration for the military and grandeur by inviting him to Paris for the annual 14 July celebrations and dining him at the Eiffel Tower. The soft diplomacy aimed to gain Trumps confidence and influence US foreign policy at a time European diplomats say Washington lacks direction. Macron has spoken to Trump by phone in the last year more than with any other leader, including German Chancellor Angela Merkel, arguably becoming Trumps bridge to Europe. He is not a classic politician, Macron said in a January interview just days after Trump tweeted about nuclear war with North Korea and gave an ultimatum to fix the Iran nuclear deal. Weve built a strong relationship. We disagree on several topics. Im always extremely direct and frank and he is too. Sometimes I manage to convince him, sometimes I fail. The relationship has suited Trump. He needed a friend overseas. His preference for a more unilateral, transactional diplomacy had unsettled traditional allies in Europe and left him appearing isolated among world leaders. Besides, diplomats say that Frances military role fighting Islamist militants in West Africa and Syria has opened doors in Washington. Tests on trade, Iran The next two weeks will provide a critical test of what influence, if any, the French president can have on his American counterpart. Trump has given the European Union until 1 May to negotiate permanent exemptions from steel and aluminium tariffs and France, Britain and Germany until 12 May to fix the Iran nuclear deal with world powers. Macron has been trying to build alliances and wants to be the bridge between the US and Russia, said a senior former UN official. There comes a point where that kind of political messaging has to be backed up with results. Macrons desire to keep the 2015 Iran nuclear deal, while offering to be tough on Tehrans ballistic missile programme and regional activities has yet to assuage Trump. Were hoping that Macron will find the arguments to convince Trump to not commit this mistake, but were not very optimistic, said a French diplomatic source. Merkel coordination Macrons visit will be followed on 27 April by Merkel, whose relationship with Trump has been markedly more tense. Before a phone conversation on 1 March to discuss the war in Syria and Russian nuclear arms, the two leaders had not spoken to each other for more than five months. Rather than being subjected to a public dressing down, like Merkel over Germanys trade policy for example, Macron has been spared criticism. The French and German leaders meet in Berlin on Thursday to ensure they are on same page on Iran and trade ahead of their trips, a presidential source said. Macrons good relationship with Trump has had benefits. US companies overtook German ones as the top corporate investors in the French economy last year, with US investments up 26 percent. But he appears to have limited the damage rather than be able to claim resounding successes. Although he failed to convince Trump to stay in the Paris climate deal, the US president did not oppose Macron pushing for American firms and states to act on climate independently. Macron has been worried about Trump feeling backed into a corner and has sensed an opportunity to sway US thinking and elevate France in global affairs, especially over Syria and the Middle East. However, Trumps unpredictability means that nobody knows whether a Macron factor really does exist. After French, British and US strikes on Syrian government targets last week, Macron boasted publicly that he had persuaded Trump to maintain US engagement in Syria for the long-term. Within hours, he was met with a rebuke by the White House. Weve seen the decisions Trump made, but we dont know what decisions he could have taken if we hadnt had this dialogue, said a senior French official. The silver-haired Diaz-Canel, 57 a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 will become the island's first leader born after the 1959 revolution, and the first in 60 years who is not named Castro. Havana (Cuba): Cuba is poised for the end of an era on Thursday as President Raul Castro steps down, formally handing power to his long-time deputy Miguel Diaz-Canel - and thereby ending his family's six-decade grip on the island. The silver-haired Diaz-Canel, 57 a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 will become the island's first leader born after the 1959 revolution, and the first in 60 years who is not named Castro. Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. Raul, now 86, has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution. Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency on Wednesday. He will formally be confirmed as the country's leader at roughly 9 am (1300 GMT) on Thursday - the anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Fidel Castro's forces defeated 1,400 US-backed rebels seeking to overthrow him. Havana has long hailed the showdown as American imperialism's first great defeat in Latin America. It is also the day before the new president's 58th birthday. In Raul's footsteps Diaz-Canel, who some say bears a passing resemblance to American actor Richard Gere, is a fan of The Beatles whose penchant for wearing jeans has set him apart in Havana's corridors of power. Although he has advocated fewer restrictions on the press and a greater openness to the internet, he also has a ruthless streak, with harsh words for Cuba's dissidents and the United States. Crucially, he will remain under the watchful eye of Castro, who will continue to serve as the head of Cuba's all-powerful Communist Party. Once sworn in, Diaz-Canel will be tasked with pursuing reforms begun by Castro to open up Cuba's economy to small private entrepreneurs and reach a rapprochement with its Cold War arch-enemy, the United States. In 2015, Havana and Washington renewed diplomatic ties, with then-president Barack Obama making a historic visit to the island a year later. But, steps towards a normalisation of ties have been severely curtailed since Donald Trump arrived in the White House last year. Continuity over change Diaz-Canel will also inherit a youthful population hungry for change on the Caribbean island - one of the world's last outposts of Communism since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba watchers and domestic analysts say he will favor continuity over change in the early days of his presidency, however. As they began their momentous two-day meeting on Wednesday, the 605 delegates of the National Assembly cast their votes for the new Council of State, which counts 31 members and whose head automatically becomes president. "I have the honorable mission of putting forward comrade Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez as president of the Council of State," commission president Gisela Duarte told assembly delegates, effectively ending any suspense over the identity of Cuba's new leader. Delegates immediately broke into applause and the two men rose to share an embrace as Cuba's two other vice presidents, both veterans of the revolution, looked on from the row behind. Thursday's session will simply formalise the vote. President Donald Trump has said he does not want the US to rejoin the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a trade pact he withdrew the US from days after assuming presidency but would reconsider his stance if offered a deal that is good for America Washington: President Donald Trump has said he does not want the US to rejoin the 11-nation Trans-Pacific Partnership (TPP) a trade pact he withdrew the US from days after assuming the role of president but would reconsider his stance if offered a deal that is good for America. Trump was responding to recent media reports that he has asked the US Trade Representative to review the possibility of rejoining TPP. "The media has not covered the TPP correctly," Trump told reporters during a joint news conference with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at Mar-a-Lago in Florida. "I don't want to go back into TPP, but if they offered us a deal that I can't refuse, on behalf of the United States, I would do it," he said. TPP is an ambitious trade agreement involving 12 countries. Trump said he still preferred bilateral ties over a multilateral trade agreement like TPP. "I think it's better for our country. I think it's better for our workers. I much would prefer a bilateral deal, a deal directly with Japan. We already have a deal with six of the 11 nations in the TPP. So we already have trade deals, and the others we can make very easily. They're all calling wanting to make a deal. But, we think that's much better for us," he said. "So, unless they offer us a deal that we cannot refuse, I would not go back into TPP. We'll see what happens. In the meantime, we're negotiating," Trump said. The US president said his administration was looking to have "a very good deal" with Japan. "What I really prefer is negotiating a one-on-one deal with Japan. That's where we are right now. We will hopefully, in the not-too-distant future, have a very good deal for Japan and good for the United States," Trump said. The US has a massive trade deficit with Japan anywhere from $69 billion to $100 billion a year. "That's massive by any standpoint... if we can come to an arrangement on a new deal between the United States and Japan, that would certainly be something we would discuss aluminium tariffs and steel tariffs. I would look forward to being able to, at some point in the future, take them off," Trump said. President Donald Trump said that although he's looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un he could still pull out if he feels it's 'not going to be fruitful.' Washington: President Donald Trump said that although he's looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un he could still pull out if he feels it's "not going to be fruitful." Trump said that CIA director Mike Pompeo and Kim "got along really well" in their recent secret meeting, and he declared, "We've never been in a position like this" to address worldwide concerns over North Korea's nuclear weapons. But speaking alongside Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe on Wednesday, after the allies met at Trump's Florida resort, he made clear that he'd still be ready to pull the plug on what is being billed as an extraordinary meeting between the leaders of longtime adversaries. "If I think that if it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful we're not going to go. If the meeting when I'm there is not fruitful I will respectfully leave the meeting," Trump told a news conference. He also said that a US-led "maximum pressure" campaign of tough economic sanctions on North Korea would continue until the isolated nation "denuclearizes." Abe echoed the sentiment. "Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained," he said. Trump has said his summit with Kim, with whom he traded bitter insults and threats in 2017 as North Korea conducted nuclear and missile tests, could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. Other than the threat posed to by North Korea's weapons of mass destruction, another issue overhanging the summit plans is the fate of three Americans detained there. Trump said that was under negotiation and there was a "good chance" of winning their release, but he wouldn't say whether that was a precondition for sitting down with Kim. Pompeo raised the question of the three Americans in his meeting with Kim, a US official said. Trump also said he had promised Abe he would work hard for the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says at least a dozen Japanese said to have been taken in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. News of Pompeo's trip to North Korea, which took place more than two weeks ago, emerged on Tuesday, as lawmakers weighed whether he should be confirmed to become secretary of state. Trump and Republican senators held up his highly unusual, secret mission as sign of Pompeo's diplomatic ability. But the prospect of his confirmation hung in the balance as Democrats lined up against him. Senator Robert Menendez, top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that will have the first vote on confirmation, expressed frustration that the CIA chief had not briefed him on the visit that took place more than a week before Pompeo's public hearing last Thursday. He is the most senior US official to meet with a North Korean leader since Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met with Kim's father in Pyongyang in 2000. "Now I don't expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit," Menendez said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The committee is expected to vote on the nomination next week. Pompeo, whose hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities have raised Democratic hackles, would replace Rex Tillerson who was pushed out by Trump in March. In the US Senate, Republicans have a single-vote advantage on the 21-member panel that will have the first say on Pompeo's nomination. With nine of the 10 Democrats already declaring they will oppose Pompeo, and at least one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, also opposed, the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favorable recommendation. Trump said Wednesday he expects Paul to come through on Pompeo. The president called Paul and the senator agreed to meet with Pompeo, but Paul's spokesman said, "Nothing else has changed." As for opposition by Democrats, Republican Cory Gardner, who chairs an Asia subcommittee, said in an interview that they "want to play partisan politics." Despite meeting Pompeo on Tuesday, Gardner said he hadn't been briefed on the trip and was awaiting more information about it. Still, he said the fact that the meeting happened gave weight to Pompeo's testimony last week that the administration was committed to the "complete and verifiable denuclearization" of North Korea and sustaining sanctions pressure. It is not unprecedented for US intelligence officials to serve as conduits for communication with Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-director of US national intelligence, James Clapper, secretly visited North Korea to bring back two American detainees. Clapper did not, however, meet with Kim, who has only in recent weeks emerged from international seclusion after taking power six years ago and super-charging North Korea's push to become a nuclear power. Kim met with China's president in March and is to meet South Korea's leader on 27 April. US president Donald Trump said that nobody had been tougher on Russia than him and that he'd slap new sanctions on Moscow 'as soon as they very much deserve it'. Washington: US president Donald Trump on Wednesday said that nobody had been tougher on Russia than him and that he'd slap new sanctions on Moscow "as soon as they very much deserve it". The mainstream media had failed to take notice of his actions against Russia, he said. "Yes. We'll do sanctions as soon as they very much deserve it. There's been nobody tougher on Russia than Trump," Trump told reporters at a joint Mar-a-Lago news conference with the visiting Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe. "There has been nobody tougher than me. With the media, no matter what I did, its never tough enough because that's their narrative. But Russia will tell you there has been nobody tougher than Donald Trump," he said. Trump was responding to a question on the remarks by the US ambassador to the UN Nikki Haley, that US will impose sanctions on Russia on Monday. The White House later denied the claim. However, said Trump, building a good relationship with Russia is a "good, not bad" thing. "I leave it with this, with all of that said, if we can get along with China and if we can get along with Russia and if we can get along with Japan and other nations that's a good thing, not a bad thing," the US president said. Trump said he will be meeting with Kim in the coming weeks to discuss the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. Washington: US President Donald Trump has warned that if his planned talks with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un are "not fruitful" he will "walk out". Trump said he will be meeting with Kim in the coming weeks to discuss the de-nuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. At a joint news conference, Trump and Japanese PM Shinzo Abe on Wednesday said maximum pressure must be maintained on North Korea over nuclear disarmament. "If we don't think it's going to be successful.. we won't have it. We won't have it. If I think it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we are not going to go," Trump said. "If the meeting, when I'm there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting and will continue what we are doing or whatever it is that we'll continue, but something will happen," Trump said a day after he told reporters that he is likely to meet Kim in June or before that. Officials from the two countries are looking at five different venues for the meeting. None of them are in the US. "Hopefully, that meeting will be a great success and we're looking forward to it," Trump said, adding that it would be tremendous for the world if the meeting went well. Trump expressed hope that the Korean Peninsula could live together "in safety, prosperity, and peace" following a series of meetings between North Korea and South Korea. "This is the destiny of the Korean people, who deserve and have gone through so much over the years. We hope it all works it and we'll be trying very hard," he added. North Korea has been isolated for decades because of its alleged human rights abuses and its pursuit of nuclear weapons, in defiance of international laws and UN sanctions. It has carried out six nuclear tests, and has missiles that it says could reach the US mainland. Trump said the release of three American prisoners in North Korea would be among the topics of his discussion with Kim. Trump on Wednesday had confirmed that CIA Director Mike Pompeo had made a secret trip to North Korea to meet Kim. He said Pompeo had forged a "good relationship" with Kim - whom the US president was last year calling "little rocket man" - and that the meeting had gone "very smoothly". The visit marked the highest-level contact between the US and North Korea since 2000. Trump pat himself on the back over North Korea and said his administration had achieved what his predecessors could not. "For many years they have been talking to North Korea and nothing has happened. This should have been taken care of by past administrations when they were not nearly so far along. But we put unbelievably powerful sanctions on, and many other things," said Trump. The Japanese prime minister backed Trump for his efforts regarding North Korea and demanded complete denuclearisation of North Korea. "Based on such (past) lessons learned, both the US and Japan, together with the international community will demand for all weapons of mass destruction of ballistic missiles complete verifiable and irreversible dismantlement of weapons of mass destruction and ballistic missiles to North Korea," Abe said. "By envisioning multiple scenarios, we carefully thought out our policies and directions at a concrete and detailed level. Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue there should be no reward," Abe said. The Japanese prime minister demanded that maximum pressure be maintained and actual implementation of concrete actions toward de-nuclearisation be demanded from North Korea. Abe said in his talks with Trump, the two countries have reached agreement regarding the upcoming US-North Korea summit. "We hope that it will lead to the resolution of weapons of mass destruction, nuclear missile..., he said. A German appeals court upheld a ruling against a teenage girl who badly wounded a police officer with a kitchen knife, affirming that she did act on behalf of the Islamic State group. Berlin: A German appeals court upheld a ruling against a teenage girl who badly wounded a police officer with a kitchen knife, affirming that she did act on behalf of the Islamic State group. German-Moroccan Safia S, who in February 2016 stabbed a police officer in the neck at Hanover's main railway station, had "agreed on the concrete act" with the jihadists, said the court, throwing out her appeal. The now 17-year-old had sought to overturn her conviction for attempted murder and the support of a terrorist group by a court in Celle in January 2017. She was sentenced to six years of juvenile detention for the attack which the Celle court said was committed "to support the Islamic State group". In her appeal, her defence argued that she did not act on behalf of Islamic State, which never claimed responsibility for the attack. Authorities believe Safia S was radicalised as a young girl. They found a message on her phone after the deadly Paris jihadist attacks in November 2015, exulting about the carnage. "Yesterday was my favourite day", she wrote. "Allah bless our lions who carried out an operation in Paris". Germany has been hit by a number of jihadist attacks in recent years, the deadliest committed by a Tunisian man who killed 12 people when he drove a stolen truck through a Berlin Christmas market crowd in December 2016. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's government has proposed a law to parliament to limit cash transactions to curb bribery and money laundering in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, the head of the country's anti-money laundering watchdog said on Wednesday. The draft bill, which limits any cash payments to a maximum 100 million rupiah ($7,260), will be assigned as a legislative priority for 2018, said Ki Agus Badaruddin, head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), adding that he hoped the bill can be approved later this year. 'Basically, the assumption is this restriction will reduce the space in which one can commit acts of money laundering and terrorism financing,' said Badaruddin. JAKARTA (Reuters) - Indonesia's government has proposed a law to parliament to limit cash transactions to curb bribery and money laundering in Southeast Asia's biggest economy, the head of the country's anti-money laundering watchdog said on Wednesday. The draft bill, which limits any cash payments to a maximum 100 million rupiah ($7,260), will be assigned as a legislative priority for 2018, said Ki Agus Badaruddin, head of the Financial Transaction Reports and Analysis Centre (PPATK), adding that he hoped the bill can be approved later this year. "Basically, the assumption is this restriction will reduce the space in which one can commit acts of money laundering and terrorism financing," said Badaruddin. No details were given on how such a law could be enforced. Some 85 percent of transactions in Indonesia are in cash and are harder to track that those done through banks or other electronic channels, making it a challenge for the government to fight money laundering, corruption and terrorism financing. Badaruddin was quoted by media as saying the PPATK had detected an increase in bribery with most transactions in cash. PPATK had found more than a thousand suspicious cash transactions that could be related to the upcoming regional elections across Indonesia, versus 53 suspicious transactions done electronically, Tempo.co reported. Indonesia is set to hold elections for mayors and governors in June. Next year, the world's fourth most populous country is going to have parliamentary and presidential elections. Indonesians have to contend with high levels of graft in many areas of their life and money politics during elections is often rife despite efforts by the country's independent anti-corruption eradication agency. Indonesia placed 96th out of 180 countries in Transparency annual corruption perceptions index last year, on par with Colombia and Thailand. Indonesia's central bank, which was involved in drafting the bill, thinks the proposed limit could improve law enforcement, Bank Indonesia governor Agus Martowardojo said. "For us who is in charge of payment system, cash transaction is fine, but non cash is more efficient," Martowardojo said, adding that the plan also supports BI's campaign of getting more people to transact electronically. ($1 = 13,773.0000 rupiah) (Reporting by Maikel JefriandoWriting by Gayatri Suroyo; Editing by Ed Davies and Kim Coghill) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Heaping praise on Mike Pompeo the man he has already tapped to be the next secretary of state Donald Trump said the 54-year-old's covert mission to the North Korean capital had gone well. Palm Beach (United States): US president Donald Trump on Wednesday hailed a "great" clandestine meeting between his CIA chief and North Korea's leader, as he signalled that his improbable summit with Kim Jong-un will go ahead. News of the Easter weekend talks between Mike Pompeo and the reclusive Kim was the latest in a series of revelations from the US leader that have fuelled hopes of a major diplomatic breakthrough with Pyongyang. Heaping praise on Pompeo the man he has already tapped to be the next secretary of state Trump said the 54-year-old's covert mission to the North Korean capital had gone well. "He just left North Korea. Had a great meeting with Kim Jong Un, and got along with him really well, really great," Trump said. "He's very smart but he gets along with people." Trump earlier tweeted that the "meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed." "Details of Summit are being worked out now," added the president, who is hosting Japan's prime minister Shinzo Abe for two days of talks at his Florida retreat, which he calls the "Winter White House." Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea! Donald J. Trump (@realDonaldTrump) April 18, 2018 Neither Trump nor the White House offered details of what was discussed and it remains unclear if there is enough potential for an agreement to have the Trump-Kim summit, slated for early June, go ahead. Officials and outside experts say it is still not clear that Kim, who depends on the military to remain in power, is willing to completely give up his nuclear weapons. North Korean talk of "denuclearization" which Trump has seemingly embraced has in the past been code for removing America's military presence on the Korean peninsula, something long unthinkable in Washington. "Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!" Trump added in the tweet. Nonetheless, the flurry of diplomatic activity has raised hopes for a pair of upcoming and potentially historic summits. Still enemies Kim is expected to meet South Korea's president Moon Jae-in next week for landmark talks at which discussion of a formal peace declaration is now on the cards. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in an armistice rather than a peace treaty, leaving the two sides technically at war. The Demilitarised Zone between them bristles with minefields and fortifications. Seoul's push to formally declare an end to inter-Korean hostilities would have been unthinkable just months ago. "We are looking at the possibility of replacing the armistice regime on the Korean peninsula with a peace regime," a senior official at South Korea's presidential Blue House said on Wednesday. "But this is not something we can do by ourselves. It needs close discussions with relevant parties including North Korea." Trump earlier said that the summit could, with his "blessing," explore a peace treaty to formally end the conflict. But reaching any final treaty would be fraught with complications. While the US-led United Nations command, China and North Korea are signatories to the decades-old armistice, South Korea is not. Both Pyongyang and Seoul claim sovereignty over the whole Korean peninsula, but a treaty could imply mutual recognition of each other. Next week's meeting will be just the third summit between the North and South since the armistice was signed 65 years ago. Key moments including Kim and Moon's first handshake will be televised live, both sides agreed at working-level talks on Wednesday, Seoul said. US summit by June Trump himself plans to hold a summit meeting with Kim within the next two months. The pair have not spoken directly, the White House said, but the president revealed on Tuesday there had been contact at "very high levels" to prepare for the historic meeting - an apparent reference to Pompeo's visit. Trump also said that "five locations" were being considered for the summit. "That will be taking place probably in early June or before that, assuming things go well. It's possible things won't go well and we won't have the meetings and we'll just continue to go on this very strong path we have taken." US officials say that no decision has yet been made on a meeting venue, but China, North Korea, South Korea, and Panmunjom in the Demilitarised Zone are seen as possible locations. Michael Avenatti, Stormy Daniels' lawyer, who is suing Donald Trump, exchanged fire with Trump directly on Twitter after the latter tweeted about her. Washington: Michael Avenatti, adult movie star Stormy Daniels' lawyer, who is suing the United States (US) president Donald Trump, on Wednesday exchanged fire with Trump directly on Twitter after the latter posted his first tweet about Daniels. Trump on early Wednesday morning posted a tweet, disputing Daniels' allegation that she was accosted and threatened in 2011 by a man who urged her not to disclose the alleged affair, Xinhua reported. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, released a sketch of the man on Tuesday on ABC's daytime talk show programme The View, described details of her sexual relationship with Trump, especially the first encounter that occurred in July 2006, and how she was threatened by a man in 2011, a few weeks after she tried to sell her story with Trump to a magazine for $15,000. "I was in a parking lot, going to a fitness class with my infant daughter... and a guy walked up on me and said to me, 'Leave Trump alone. Forget the story.' And then he leaned around and looked at my daughter and said, 'That's a beautiful little girl. It'd be a shame if something happened to her mom.' And then he was gone," Daniels said. Trump, through representatives, denied his relationship with Daniels and insisted that he was unaware of the payoff by his attorney Michael Cohen, who, Daniels said, had paid her $1,30,000 before the 2016 presidential election. But he posted his first tweet about the issue, saying "A sketch years later about a nonexistent man, A total con job, playing the Fake News Media for Fools (but they know it)!" In reply, Avenatti mocked the president on his official Twitter page, saying "In my experience, there is nothing better in litigation than having a completely unhinged, undisciplined opponent who is prone to shooting himself in the foot. Always leads to BIGLY problems...like new claims (i.e. defamation)". In another tweet, Avenatti referred to "FBI search warrants uncovering EXISTING documents and recordings showing con job after con job pulled on REAL people and very REAL American citizens". Avenatti on Tuesday announced on the programme The View to offer a $1,00,000 reward for the identification of the man, he raises the rewards to $1.31,000 hours later. Daniels is now suing Trump and Cohen in Los Angeles court to be released from a non-disclosure agreement between the third parts because Trump never signed it. FBI agents raided Cohen's office and home in New York last week as part of a criminal probe and seized files related to the case. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels on Tuesday released a sketch of a man she said warned her in 2011 to stop discussing her claims she had a sexual encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump, while her lawyer offered a $100,000 reward for information about the man WASHINGTON (Reuters) - Adult-film actress Stormy Daniels on Tuesday released a sketch of a man she said warned her in 2011 to stop discussing her claims she had a sexual encounter with U.S. President Donald Trump, while her lawyer offered a $100,000 reward for information about the man. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, is fighting a 2016 non-disclosure agreement arranged by Trump's personal lawyer, Michael Cohen, in which she got $130,000 to keep quiet about her claim that she had sex with Trump a decade earlier, something the U.S. president has denied. During an appearance on the daytime ABC television talk show "The View" she was asked why she was speaking out. "I'm tired of being threatened," Daniels responded. "I'm done. I'm sorry, I'm done being bullied." Daniels repeated her story, first related on CBS' "60 Minutes" last month, that she was on her way to a fitness class with her child when an unknown man approached her in a Las Vegas parking lot in 2011. He warned her to "leave Trump alone. Forget the story", she said in that interview. On Tuesday, her lawyer, Michael Avenatti, asked the public for help identifying the man and offered a $100,000 reward for information leading to his identification. The picture they released shows a lightly bearded man in his 20s or 30s with backswept hair and wearing a hoodie. Daniels said she thought he looked like somebody's husband and described him as "sort of handsome." She said she did not tell police about the threat at the time because she was afraid and did not want to reveal the alleged encounter with Trump. "I didn't tell my husband at the time, I was embarrassed," she said. "I didn't want him to think I was a bad mom or that I put my daughter in danger." Trump's lawyers are seeking at least $20 million in damages from Daniels for multiple violations of a nondisclosure agreement. Daniels appearance on the ABC show came a day after she attended a hearing in Manhattan federal court where Cohen sought to limit the ability of federal prosecutors to review the documents seized in April 9 raids on his home, office and hotel room. The raids stem in part from a separate probe into possible collusion between Trump's presidential campaign and Russia. A source familiar with the raids said the FBI agents were also looking for information on payments to Daniels among materials related to Cohen's other business dealings. Daniels acknowledged the publicity the whole episode has brought her and said that, while she was making more money, her expenses were climbing as well. She has had to retain a team of bodyguards, as well as a tutor for her daughter. (Reporting by Doina Chiacu and Karen Freifeld; Editing by Susan Thomas) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. By Philip Wen BEIJING (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people have been detained in China's troubled far-western region of Xinjiang, a senior U.S. State Department diplomat said on Wednesday, amid a deepening crackdown on Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in China. Laura Stone, the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told reporters in Beijing that the mass detentions in so-called political re-education centres 'paints a disturbing picture' and called on Chinese authorities to have a 'more transparent and accountable system'. By Philip Wen BEIJING (Reuters) - Tens of thousands of people have been detained in China's troubled far-western region of Xinjiang, a senior U.S. State Department diplomat said on Wednesday, amid a deepening crackdown on Uighurs and other Muslim minorities in China. Laura Stone, the Acting Deputy Assistant Secretary for East Asian and Pacific Affairs, told reporters in Beijing that the mass detentions in so-called political re-education centres "paints a disturbing picture" and called on Chinese authorities to have a "more transparent and accountable system". "We are troubled by the Chinese efforts to clamp down on the legitimate rights of Uighurs and other Muslims in Xinjiang," she said. "We will continue to raise our concerns with the Chinese government and call for legitimate due process in the detention of its citizens". She said the scarcity of information coming out of Xinjiang made it hard to derive authoritative numbers of those detained but that it was "at the very least in the tens of thousands". Local authorities have over the past two years overseen a dramatic escalation in security and surveillance across Xinjiang in an apparent effort to impose greater central authority and curb a spate of violent attacks China says has been perpetrated by Islamist separatists. Rights groups and exiles say Chinese controls on religion, culture and freedom of movement in Xinjiang are heavier than ever, amid reports of widespread detentions, including for having travelled abroad or being adjudged to be too religiously devout. U.S. government-funded Radio Free Asia said in January more than 120,000 people were being held in re-education facilities in the southern Xinjiang city of Kashgar alone. China routinely denies repression in Xinjiang and officials do not publicly acknowledge the existence of mass detentions at the region's network of political re-education centres. Asked about Stone's comments, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Hua Chunying said "everyone can see that people of all ethnicities in Xinjiang live and work in peace and contentment and enjoy peaceful and progressing lives". "We hope that the U.S. or any others can objectively assess and view China's situation and stop any form of interference in China's internal affairs or any unjustified criticisms," she said at a regular news briefing. The Xinjiang government did not immediately respond to a faxed request for comment. The U.S. Congressional-Executive Commission on China led by Senator Marco Rubio published a letter this month urging U.S. Ambassador to China Terry Branstad to visit Xinjiang and prioritize the issue of "mass surveillance and detention" of Uighurs. The letter said that Uighurs have been "subjected to arbitrary arrest, egregious restrictions on religious practice and culture, and a digitised surveillance system so pervasive that every aspect of daily life is monitored". "There are credible media reports that as many as 500,000 to a million people are or have been detained in what are being called 'political education centres', the largest mass incarceration of a minority population in the world today," the April 3 letter said. (Reporting by Philip Wen; Additional reporting by Christian Shepherd; Editing by Nick Macfie) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Mike Pompeo, the current CIA director and his nominee to be the top U.S. diplomat, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week. WASHINGTON (Reuters) - U.S. President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that Mike Pompeo, the current CIA director and his nominee to be the top U.S. diplomat, met with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un last week. "Mike Pompeo met with Kim Jong Un in North Korea last week. Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of Summit are being worked out now. Denuclearization will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea!" Trump said on Twitter. (Reporting by Makini Brice; Editing by Jeffrey Benkoe) This story has not been edited by Firstpost staff and is generated by auto-feed. Norwegians Right to Fly in the U.S. May Be Jeopardized Though its a popular airline, Norwegian Air may run into some issues flying to its United States destinations if a bill introduced earlier this month is passed limiting so-called flag of convenience carriers from entering the country. With rapid expansion, Norwegian Air has been aggressively targeting the United States as a new long-haul business destination. The carrier currently flies to 15 destinations throughout the country, including Seattle, New York City, Boston, and Chicago. But things may soon be changing for the low-cost airline due to a bill recently introduced by the House Transportation and Infrastructure Committee, called the FAA Reauthorization Act of 2018. The bipartisan effort is designed to run for five years, increase aviation infrastructure investment, introduce industry reforms, and fund the Federal Aviation Authority. One of those reforms could spell trouble for Norwegian. Section 530 (C) of the bill prevents entry into United States markets by flag of convenience carriers. The bill further defines those carriers as a foreign air carrier that is established in a country other than the home country of its majority owner or owners in order to avoid regulations of the home country. That could be an issue for Norwegian, which has multiple companies registered in multiple countries: Norwegian Air Shuttle ASA (NAS) based in Fornebu, Norway; Norwegian Air International Ltd. (NAI) based in Dublin; and Norwegian UK (NUK) based in London. Critics of the airline say by having multiple companies in different locations, the airline is attempting to avoid Scandinavian regulations. The [Reauthorization Act] makes clear under the European Union-U.S. Open Skies agreement that labor standards shouldnt be upended by foreign airlines, and bars the Department of Transportation from issuing an air carrier permit or an exemption from the rules to any EU provider, Teamsters Airline Division Director Capt. David Bourne told Paddle Your Own Kanoo. The Teamsters implore Congress to pass this provision so the rights of U.S. airline workers are protected. [Photo: Shutterstock] Cousins Subs Funds Three Wisconsin Nonprofits $5,600 Donation Supports Hunger, Youth Education and Health & Wellness Programs Statewide April 19, 2018 // Franchising.com // MILWAUKEE - Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation has awarded $5,600 in grants to three Wisconsin-based nonprofits - Next Door Foundation, Wisconsin DECA and Greater Green Bay YMCA. A $1,500 grant was awarded to Wisconsin DECA to provide financial aid to Wisconsin DECA members planning to attend the International Career Development Conference. Since many Wisconsin DECA members are unable to afford the cost to attend the conference, this grant helps offset associated travel costs students incur. Thanks to the Make It Better Foundation, Wisconsin DECA is able to provide travel scholarships to our top members to attend the International Career Development Conference and gives them another opportunity to become academically prepared, community-oriented, professionally responsible and experienced leaders, said Terri Mackey, executive director of Wisconsin DECA. A $3,000 grant was awarded to Greater Green Bay YMCA for its Healthy Youth Initiative. This grant will allow the YMCA to expand the impact and amount of its current physical activities to include community partners that can provide non-traditional activities for children, such as hip hop and breakdancing, yoga, boot camp and martial arts. The YMCA will also collaborate with community agencies to provide nutrition, healthy cooking and family education programs for its afterschool programs. In our community there is an increasing disparity for health and wellness opportunities among children and families living in poverty. Many underserved populations live with limited access to healthy living resources and physical activity programs, said Kathleen McKee, youth development executive at Greater Green Bay YMCA. Our Green Bay YMCA Healthy Youth Initiative will provide hundreds of school-aged children with access to physical activity, nutritional education and healthy cooking opportunities during out-of-school programs. We are incredibly grateful that Cousins Make It Better Foundation recognized this need and chose to support children in our community through this generous grant. Next Door Foundation was awarded $1,100 worth of tote bags to support their Backpack Program, which will ensure that children have access to healthy foods, which are critical for brain growth and development. Each week, children and their families will receive a bag filled with fresh fruits, vegetables and other healthy foods provided by Feeding America. We look forward to filling up these tote bags every week with nutritious food for our families to take home and help ensure their children are well-fed, said Dr. Tracey Sparrow, president of Next Door. The children are developing so fast during their early years - both physically and emotionally - that its critical they have the proper food at home to keep their minds engaged and their bodies strong!" Each grant is funded through the Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation, a nonprofit charitable organization established in 2013. The Make It Better Foundation aims to improve the general welfare and quality of life in the communities Cousins Subs serves and addresses three areas of interest that are vital to any community: health and wellness, hunger and youth education. Since its inception, the Make It Better Foundation has awarded more than $314,000 to nonprofit organizations throughout the state of Wisconsin. Cousins Subs views every day as an opportunity to make it better for those it serves, said Justin McCoy, director on Cousins Subs Make It Better Foundation board. By funding statewide nonprofit organizations that align with our Foundations three pillars - hunger, youth education and health & wellness - were able to focus on this mission and Cousins long-standing tradition of giving back to our local communities. Interested nonprofit and community organizations can visit cousinssubs.com/foundation to find out more information on eligibility and how to apply. About Cousins Subs Wisconsin-based Cousins Subs, a family-owned, fast casual sub shop established in 1972 by Bill Specht and his cousin, is driven by the mission to Believe in Better - both in the quality of food it serves and in the communities it supports. Cousins Subs and its franchisees operate more than 100 sub sandwich shops throughout Wisconsin and Arizona, providing guests with quality deli fresh and made to order grilled subs using only the freshest ingredients on its signature bread baked daily. For more information, visit www.cousinssubs.com. You can also find Cousins Subs on Facebook, Twitter and Instagram. Media Contact: Carolyn Guenther carolyn.guenther@cousinssubs.com D: 262.250.2802 M: 262.253.7700 SOURCE Cousins Subs ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Florida Business Owner Named 2018 Rockstar for FirstLight Home Care Franchise Award-winning national home care franchise congratulates Brian Anderson April 19, 2018 // Franchising.com // NAPLES, Fla. - FirstLight Home Care, an award-winning provider of non-medical home care, is congratulating Brian Anderson, who was recognized by the Franchise Business Review as a 2018 Rockstar Franchisee. Brian is a tremendous asset to the FirstLight team, said Bill McPherson, FirstLights executive director of franchise development. He is passionate about serving the Naples and Ft. Myers communities and is great steward of the FirstLight brand. Hes exactly what we look for in a franchisee. Anderson is one of just 50 franchise owners recognized. The Franchise Business Review researched more than 27,000 franchisees across 300 brands and selected the best of the best, based on things like financial success and professional satisfaction. Anderson started in the major oil industry before going into gas station franchising. He also owned a surf shop and was successful in real estate before he decided to partner with FirstLight. I looked at a number of franchise opportunities, but I was turned off when they just handed me a manual, Anderson said. With FirstLight, the technology platforms are the industrys best, and most importantly, they hold me accountable. FirstLight Home Care franchises serve seniors, veterans, adults with disabilities, new mothers, those recovering from surgery, and other adults in need of assistance. FirstLight franchisees and their caregiving staff provide many non-medical services - from personal hygiene and household duties such as cooking, cleaning and running errands, to mobility assistance, grocery shopping, travel companionship, dementia care, and more. Since opening its first franchise location in 2010, FirstLight Home Care has experienced continual growth and is now operating more than 250 locations in 34 states throughout the U.S. The company was recently ranked No. 65 on the Entrepreneur Franchise 500 list for 2018 and also ranked No. 12 on the 2018 Franchise Times Fast & Serious list. Other awards include Top Franchise for Veterans by Franchise Business Review, a fifth consecutive Franchise Times Top 200+ listing and a third consecutive Inc. 5000 ranking. ?? About FirstLight Home Care FirstLight Home Care is a top rated non-medical home care provider with a network of offices that provides 98,000 hours per week in care for more than 4,600 clients in over 33 states. The company has created a new standard in home care by combining best practices with innovative approaches to make them an emerging market leader in a rapidly-growing industry. Companion and personal care services can be provided at private residences, assisted living and retirement communities, nursing homes, adult-family homes or group homes. Clients include seniors, new mothers, individuals recovering from surgery, adults with disabilities and anyone who might just need a little extra care or assistance. Visit www.firstlighthomecare.com to learn more. Media Contact: Heather Ripley Ripley PR 865-977-1973 hripley@ripleypr.com SOURCE FirstLight Home Care ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus IHG Signs Agreement With Al Hokair Hospitality For Holiday Inn Express In Saudi Arabia The Milestone Signing Marks The Brand Debut In The Country April 19, 2018 // Franchising.com // InterContinental Hotels Group (IHG), one of the worlds leading hotel companies, has signed a Master Development Agreement (MDA) with Saudi Arabian business conglomerate, Al Hokair Group, which will see the debut of Holiday Inn Express brand in Saudi Arabia, with a rollout of at least 10 Holiday Inn Express hotels over next 15 years. This significant development, which was announced at Arabian Hotel Investment Conference (AHIC), complements IHGs robust pipeline in the Kingdom and cements its position as one of the leading operators in the country, as well as consolidating its partnership with the Al Hokair Group. Al Hokair Group currently operates six Holiday Inn hotels in Saudi Arabia. As per the exclusive new agreement, the first Holiday Inn Express will be a 200-room hotel based in Jeddah, closely followed by openings in various key cities across the country. All 10 hotels will be operated under long-term franchise agreements. Speaking on the announcement, Pascal Gauvin, Managing Director, India, Middle East and Africa, IHG said: IHG has a strong legacy in Saudi Arabia, which is a key market for us in the Middle East. We are proud to once again collaborate with our esteemed long-term partner, Al Hokair Group, to bring the Holiday Inn Express brand to the country, and further expand our offering to domestic and international travellers, alike. The tourism landscape in Saudi Arabia is rapidly changing and we are excited to leverage the huge growth opportunities that Saudi Vision 2030 presents, particularly given that one of the biggest pillars of the plan is to bring more tourism into the country. He added: " We are the largest operator in Saudi Arabia with a strong portfolio of 31 hotels across 4 brands, offering specialized stay experiences to varied guests profiles, and with this signing, we are further extending our consumer appeal by offering quality, yet affordable accommodation for savvy travellers.Sami Alhokair, Managing Director, Al Hokair Group added: We are delighted to further strengthen our partnership with a global leader such as IHG, who continue to be a trusted brand in Saudi Arabia. IHGs portfolio aligns with our objective to strengthen our presence in the Kingdom as well as our commitment to Vision 2030. Holiday Inn Express is world renowned brand, offering great value to the guests and, in the absence of an adequate supply of mid-market hotels to cater to the increasing demand, this signing presents us with unprecedented opportunities to capture the volume segment. IHG currently operates 31 hotels across four brands including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, and Staybridge Suites, in Saudi Arabia. **Figures as of December 31st 2017 About IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) [LON:IHG, NYSE:IHG (ADRs)] is a global organisation with a broad portfolio of hotel brands, including InterContinental Hotels & Resorts, Kimpton Hotels & Restaurants, Hotel Indigo, EVEN Hotels, HUALUXE Hotels and Resorts, Crowne Plaza Hotels & Resorts, Holiday Inn, Holiday Inn Express, Holiday Inn Club Vacations, Holiday Inn Resort, avid hotels, Staybridge Suites and Candlewood Suites. IHG franchises, leases, manages or owns more than 5,300 hotels and nearly 800,000 guest rooms in almost 100 countries, with nearly 1,700 hotels in its development pipeline. IHG also manages IHG Rewards Club, our global loyalty programme, which has more than 100 million enrolled members. InterContinental Hotels Group PLC is the Groups holding company and is incorporated in Great Britain and registered in England and Wales. More than 375,000 people work across IHGs hotels and corporate offices globally. Visit www.ihg.com for hotel information and reservations and www.ihgrewardsclub.com for more on IHG Rewards Club. For our latest news, visit: www.ihgplc.com/media and follow us on social media at: www.twitter.com/ihg, www.facebook.com/ihg and www.youtube.com/ihgplc. Contacts: Ankita Chopra ankita.chopra@ihg.com +971 4 213 6043 Parisa Chum parisa.chum@ihg.com +971 4213 6067 SOURCE IHG (InterContinental Hotels Group) ### Comments: Please enable JavaScript to view the comments powered by Disqus. Disqus Farmers are being warned about the danger of sleepwalking into Brexit without a proper vision and plan for their businesses. Speaking at an NFU South East meeting in Basingstoke, Hampshire, on Tuesday (17 April), Tom Hind, chief strategy officer at the AHDB, urged farmers to start planning now. Mr Hind said Defra secretary Michael Gove had already indicated the direction of travel for UK agriculture and there were three givens that farmers should expect. See also: UK farmers eclipsed by Dutch and US on productivity First, farmers will continue to operate in a competitive marketplace. Therefore, we need to focus very much on how we can continue to compete, stressed Mr Hind. Second, the UK has a great range in farm business performance and understanding how your business measures up, especially with Europe, will be highly relevant. Third, farmers should be braced for significant structural change, especially over the next 10-15 years, with the likelihood of an end to direct payments in the medium to long term. Become self-reliant Mr Hind said government will have a role to help and maintain the industry, but he expects a much greater onus on the need for businesses to become more self-reliant to meet challenges. More than ever, businesses would need support from organisations including the AHDB, NFU and others, he added. Mr Hind also identified a number of key areas farmers should focus on now to ensure a smooth Brexit transition. They included: A five-year business plan that demonstrates a return on investment A solid succession and retirement plan in place Know your costs and use benchmark tools to see how you compare Know your technical performance, including strong and weak areas Identify your marketplace and consider alternatives Later this year, AHDB will be providing a toolkit for businesses to make conscious, strategic choices. The last thing we want to see from any farmer in this country is for them to sleepwalk into Brexit, said Mr Hind. William White, NFU South East regional director, said a transition period will be necessary to design, develop and prepare for a new policy, though views on the timescale were mixed. He added: All farmers and growers agree that farming delivers a high-quality landscape with environmental benefits. Farmers can continue to deliver this, provided the policy incentives are practical. Welcome to my genealogy blog. Genea-Musings features genealogy research tips and techniques, genealogy news items and commentary, genealogy humor, San Diego genealogy society news, family history research and some family history stories from the keyboard of Randy Seaver (of Chula Vista CA), who thinks that Genealogy Research Is really FUN! Copyright (c) Randall J. Seaver, 2006-2021. Microsoft Translator app will now work offline as well with the help of AI News oi-Sandeep Sarkar Microsoft Translator app will now allow users to download the AI-powered translation packs that will be used in translating a user's query even when the user is offline. Most of us must have used the language translation apps to make it easy to understand the foreign languages. Most of the Language translator apps work perfectly fine without the requirement of internet connectivity. However when it comes to translating complex sentences that require some kind of natural language processing and cloud-based machine learning algorithms and makes using the internet a compulsion. Well, there is some good news in store for the Microsoft users. As per some reports from the web Microsoft now has removed the internet connectivity limitation and has made an announcement that the app will be powered by AI and no longer will require the internet connection. As per some reports from the web, the updated version for the Microsoft Translator app will now allow users of Android, iOS and Amazon Fire devices to download the AI-powered translation packs that will be used in translating a user's query even when the user is offline. Microsoft further claims that the offline translation app is capable of providing high-quality translation output, with as all the translation is said to be following the Neural Machine translation (NMT) standard which is created by Microsoft. The report further suggests that the updated language packs are available for Arabic, Chinese-Simplified, French, Thai, Russian, Spanish, Japanese, Korean, Portuguese along with additional languages which are currently in the development phase. InFocus Vision 3 Pro first impression Microsoft further has made a claim that the new NMT (Neural Machine translation) packs can produce error-free translations which are said to be up to 23% more accurate and 50% smaller in size. It is also being said that the difference between the online and offline translations are 'barely noticeable'. Apart from the users, the developers will also be able to use the Translator's newly found capabilities by integrating the app's online/offline translation capabilities into their apps. When the app is offline, the local NMT language packs will be used to deliver the translated text to their app. If the users are online, the translation Query will be directed to the Microsoft Translator service on Azure in order to retrieve the present translated text. The app is currently in the preview stage and is said to be released in the next 90 days via a stable channel. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Amazon working on Alexa-powered speakers for cars News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Amazon looking for a huge jump in the smart speaker segment. Amazon is said to be working on a new breed of Echo speakers that will offer virtual assistance for cars. The retail giant is said to launch the new speakers worldwide later this year after releasing a beta test for the devices in India in February. The report also suggests that the speakers might be launched sometime in June or July in 2018. It's important to note that the company has previously joined forces with car manufacturers to introduce a range of features on their car's infotainment systems powered by Alexa. Back in February 2017, Ford introduced support for Alexa with its SYNC3 infotainment system. Amazon was most recently joined by the Automotive Grade Linux (AGL) development team, which was established in 2012 for automotive-based applications by major players such as Jaguar, Land Rover, Nissan, and more. Amazon's role here is to provide the code needed for compatibility across various platforms to better streamline the production of in-vehicle applications. This also indicates that the developers will be able to create a single version of their app which will work across a range of vehicles regardless of which voice recognition system installed. Amazon Echo Plus: How to Setup, Add Skills and Give Commands The team is planning to finish the software development by June, enabling the vendors to integrate the voice assistant into vehicles that have AGL. While this doesn't mean that Alexa would be the only voice assistant to appear on vehicles, this will give the company a huge jump ahead of its competition in the AI battle. Amazon keeps updating its voice assistant Alexa by rolling out new skills at regular intervals. The company rolled out a new feature called Alexa Announcements which will turn a user's multiple Echo speakers into an intercom system. Amazon believes that "millions of customers" use multiple Echo speakers in their homes. With the new feature, users will be able to use all those speakers together using only one voice command without having to set up an extra accessory. For instance, if a user wants to call all family members to the table, users can say, "Alexa, announce that dinner is ready," and all the Echo speakers in the house will together announce that the supper's ready. (source) Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Apple isn't done with the iPhone SE; regulatory filings hints new models News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Apple has filed for eleven new iPhone models. Apple might not be done with the iPhone SE, at least that's what the new Eurasian Economic Commission (EEC) listing suggests. According to a report by MacRumors, Apple has filed for eleven new model numbers, each referring to an iPhone with iOS 11. But hold on, before you get too excited, it's imperative to know that we aren't looking at eleven different iPhone models. The company usually gives different model numbers to the same handset to outline the country of sale and carrier. The ECC listing names five countries: Armenia, Belarus, Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, and Russia. If the rumors are to be believed, the iPhone SE 2 has been in works for quite some time. The smartphone will be cheaper compared to other Apple devices. Several reports claim that the device will feature a glass back and will support wireless charging. Unfortunately, it won't have iPhone X's 3D-sensing tech. Apple has never followed an annual cycle for the iPhone SE as it does for its elder sibling. So, unlike the next flagship, the iPhone SE can drop any time. Besides, Apple is expected to launch three new models this year, out of which two will be upgraded and cheaper variants of the iPhone X. There's isn't much information about the third phone available, but it is said to be the largest iPhone ever." Apple wants to trim down the cost of the new iPhone X variants, considering the low demand for the current generation device. After the iPhone X saw a decline in sales and demand, it has reportedly forced the company to lower the sales cost and cut down component orders from its suppliers, which also includes Samsung. To make things worse, Chinese manufacturers didn't move to OLED panels after the launch of iPhone X, as Samsung expected. This resulted in excess production capacity for Samsung. All You Need to Know About iPhone 7 & iPhone 7 Plus Samsung is said to manufacture around 200 million OLED panels this year, out of which 100 million panels will be bought by Apple for the iPhone X and its successor due for launch this year. The production of the OLED panels will kick off next month with the company producing around 2-3 million panels before doubling the number in June. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Exclusive: Coolpad plans to launch 3 more devices by June this year News oi-Priyanka Coolpad is also discussing internally to set up a manufacturing plant in India, and there are chances that company will make an announcement, in the second half of the next year. Chinese smartphone maker Coolpad launched two smartphones in India last week but it just seems to be a 'warm-up' affair for a major launch spree in the coming months. While speaking to Gizbot company's CEO Syed Tajuddin, exclusively told that they are going to launch 3 more phones in the month of May and June. Syed said that "We were in the transformation phase from last six months but now we are all set to launch three smartphones." He further went on to say with conviction that all three devices will be available on Amazon. Yet another interesting peg that seemed to be buried in the conversation that we were having was the price-point of the three devices. Although we might have likely guessed it at some point in time before the launch, the company's top-man revealed that these devices would cost less than Rs. 12,000. Looking at the recent trend and new launches it seems that demand for an affordable segment is continuously growing. It was also interesting to hear from Mr. Syed about some background story related to the upcoming launches from Coolpad. While Coolpad's initial plan to launch their devices in India was slated for December last year, it couldn't. When asked why, the India head for Coolpad told us that LeEco was the is shareholder they had and the fact that they disappeared from India and even in China, particularly affected them. Syed further said that "We have recently received the fresh investment of $600 million from Chinese investors and it is for the Indian and the US markets." Although, he didn't delve into the details related to the allocation of the fund segment or business-wise, we can guess, that the company might scale up quite heavily in the smartphone segment. While the Indian market will be explored in length by the company, we were also vaguely informed about its American venture. The company has recently launched two devices in India i.e Coolpad A1 and Coolpad Mega 4A at affordable prices. Coolpad A1 is equipped with an 8-megapixel rear camera and the 5-megapixel front camera. It comes with 5.0-inch Full HD display, 1280 x 720 pixels to ensure a great viewing experience and have Android Nougat 7.1 priced at Rs 5,499 and will be available in the gold color variant. The smartphone is already available at 3000 multi-brand stores across states: Delhi NCR, Haryana, Telangana, Karnataka, Tamil Nadu, Andhra Pradesh, Uttar Pradesh and Maharashtra. Coolpad Mega 4A is equipped with a 5-megapixel back camera and 2-megapixel front camera. It has a sleek design with a 5.0-inch Full HD display, a battery capacity of 2000mAh and Android Nougat 7.1 priced at Rs. 4,299 and it is available in the Gold color variant. Download Videos from Facebook Mobile in One Click - GIZBOT Meanwhile, Coolpad is also discussing internally to set up a manufacturing plant in India, and there are chances that company will make an announcement, in the second half of the next year. Best Mobiles in India Samsung Galaxy A6, Galaxy A6+ revealed in leak render News oi-Karan A new 360-degree video renders surfaced on the web revealing the design of Samsung Galaxy A6 line. Here are the details. Samsung is planning to expand the portfolio of Galaxy A series, the company is looking forward to including two new models called Galaxy A6 and Galaxy S6+. Both the smartphones will join the 2018 Galaxy A8 and A8+ lineup and might be the successors of the Galaxy A5 (2017) and Galaxy A7 (2017) models. A new 360-degree video renders surfaced on the web revealing the design of Samsung Galaxy A6 line. While looking at the video, we can say that both the smartphone will sport the similar design to the previously announced Galaxy A8 and A8+. It seems that the front panel of the phones is dominated by a tall 18:5:9 aspect ratio display, and feature minimum bezels on top and bottom of the screen. The edge-to-edge display is once again the reason for shifting the biometric sensor on the rear panel. The fingerprint scanner seems to be placed exactly like the one seen on the Galaxy S9 line. The Galaxy A6 is expected to sport a 5.6-inch display, on the other side, Galaxy A6+ will come with a 6-inch display. Both the smartphones are expected to come with Samsung's Infinity Display design. The Galaxy A6 is expected to be powered by Samsung's Exynos 7870 SoC, an octa-core CPU based on 14nm architecture. On the other hand, the plus model is rumored to come with Qualcomm's Snapdragon 626. However, both the smartphones will differ in terms of memory, the Galaxy A6 comes with 3GB of RAM and the A6+ will offer 4GB of RAM. The render suggests that both the models will target the low-end market. The video renders suggest that both the phones will sport a micro USB port on the bottom. But this will be a disappointment for the A-line users as the previous models from the series have used the USB Type-C interface. Samsung Galaxy S9 and S9+ First Impressions However, there is no further information available on the camera specs. Moreover, the manufacturer didn't reveal any launch date of the device. But the FCC certification hints that the Samsung Galaxy A6 and A6+ should come in a few months. Usually, it takes 2-3 months after visiting FCC. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Samsung to launch its first foldable smartphone next year News oi-Vishal Kawadkar Samsung is all set to launch its first foldable smartphone. Samsung seems to serious about launching a smartphone with a foldable display. According to a report by The Bell, the South Korean company has shared its plans to launch a foldable smartphone with some of the parts manufacturers. If the report is to be believed, the production will start in November this year. These parts will only lay the foundation of the phone, instead of shaping up its design. The report cites an industry source as saying that this is because the company is yet to finalize the form factor of the smartphone. The source also said that Samsung is working on both outfolding and infolding versions of the phone and the final design will be ready by June. It is also said that the number of parts ordered is smaller than what Samsung usually uses for its flagships. The Bell claims that the orders for this device are somewhere between 500,000 and 2,000,000 which suggests it would be a pilot project. In March, Samsung also filed a patent for a smartphone display that expands when pulled from the sides. The smartphone might double as a tablet. The new patent suggests that the system will comprise of three panels. Only the main display will be visible in the 'phone mode.' To expand the screen, users will have to grab the sides and pull the device outward. This will unroll two more display sitting on either side increasing the real estate. When not in use, the other two display panels are hidden within the body of the device. Currently, this is just a patent and it's hard to determine how the device would work. Tucking three display panels in a phone will make the device thicker. Talking of patents, the company also filed for a patent with the US Patent and Trademark Office that comes under patent number US D813,864 S 'Wearable Electronic Device' that appears to be a wearable with that will have an ability to extend its display. More precisely, it will feature a rectangular display that will extend to double the size of the frame. How to use Google Maps without Internet Well, this goes without saying that not all patents make it to the production stage. But it will be interesting to see if Samsung manages to bring these patents to life, changing the current candy bar form factor of the smartphones. Best Mobiles in India Facebook, To stay updated with latest technology news & gadget reviews, follow GizBot on Twitter YouTube and also subscribe to our notification. Allow Notifications Qualcomm starts sacking employees as a cost cutting measure News oi-Karan Qualcomm Inc has begun cutting about 1,500 jobs in California as part of a broader workforce reduction. Here are the full details. United States chipset maker Qualcomm has begun laying off its employees as a part of its promise to reduce the cost by $1 billion according to Bloomberg report. "Qualcomm is conducting a reduction of our full-time and temporary workforce," a company spokesperson who declined to be identifies told Bloomberg, without disclosing the exact numbers of job cuts. Qualcomm the company behind the making of the Snapdragon chips for the mobiles announced that it will be laying off some unknown number of employees. The company didn't disclose the numbers, but the number is large enough to file a Worker Adjustment and Retraining Notification (WARN) with the state of California. Which means more than 50 employees will be compromised in this layoff. At the beginning of this year, Qualcomm has announced that it will start doing cost cutting. And it did so in an attempt to win over Qualcomm's stockholders. The offer which was offered by Broadcom was a package of $60 cash and $10 in Broadcom stock for each Qualcomm share. Later the bid was raised in February to $82 a share ($60 cash, $22 in Broadcom shares) before Broadcom dropped it by 4% to $79 a share. After Qualcomm raised its bid for auto-chip maker NXP Technologies from $110 a share to $127.50. However, the bid was cancelled by the Trump administration on national security grounds. The chipmaker company has been ramping up its operations since then to improve earnings growth of the company. The $44 billion NXP acquisition is incomplete at the very moment. All countries except one (Chine), have given regulatory approval to the transaction. Chinese regulators will not give their blessing to the deal so quickly, because of the US-China trade war. WhatsApp live location sharing feature to Android and iOS Qualcomm is trying to expand its product line with the acquisition, lessening its dependence on the sales of the chip to the smartphone makers. However, the company have the deadline of April 25 to get the Chinese authorities to approve the purchase of NXP. Let's see how Qualcomm will deal with this tough situation and made the acquisition successful so that it will expand in other products also. Source Best Mobiles in India News - Toyota - Tundra Toyota re-evaluates Tundra pick-up for Australia Tundra full-size pick-up remains on Toyota Australia radar but not right now TOYOTA Motor Corporation Australia (TMCA) has reaffirmed that the Tundra full-size pick-up will not be sold locally during its current generation but revealed it is likely to be considered again in the future, after an engineering mule was recently seen testing in Victoria. Spotted by GoAuto near TMCAs Port Melbourne headquarters, the left-hand-drive Tundra evaluation vehicle appeared to signal the companys ongoing interest in the LCV, which would complement the best-selling HiLux mid-sizer in its model line-up. Speaking to GoAuto at the HiLux national media launch in South Australia this week, TMCA vice-president of sales and marketing Sean Hanley explained that vehicle evaluation was routine for the local operation. Were always looking at available products around the globe under the Toyota brand, he said. We have no firm plans at all no plans, actually for Tundra to come to this market, but were always studying opportunities. This is part of a normal product review cycle that we go through. Tundra is a car that has a lot of interest in Australia, and, of course, our dealers are always asking us to have a look. So, these kind of examinations of cars, and looking at different markets and whats available, thats not uncommon for us. Tundras been around for quite a long time in the US. Its been something that weve examined for a long, long time, so its kind of not new to us. We always examine the market trends, opportunities, business cases. Now in its second generation, the US-built Tundra competes with the Chevrolet Silverado 1500 and Ram 1500, among others, in the North American market where it is available in three body styles Regular Cab, Double Cab and CrewMax with either a 4.6-litre or 5.7-litre V8 petrol engine. Queensland-based right-hand-drive conversion specialist Performax International currently sells the Tundra in its Platinum, 1794 Edition and TRD Pro grades, with pricing for current stock in excess of $129,000. The Tundras main appeal is its braked towing capacity, which ranges from 3991kg to 4173kg in Performax International examples, while their payload is between 694kg and 707kg. According to TMCA product planning and development general manager Rod Ferguson, these two points strongly appeal to local buyers, which is why the Tundra remains on the radar. We recognise what it offers and the features, being left-hand drive makes it difficult to drive a business case for it. But, the towing capacity is the big thing that customers ask for in Australia, so we always look at that sort of product, he said. The Tundras business case is also hurt by its lack of a diesel option, which is a priority for TMCA after it dropped petrol HiLux variants in September last year due to slowing sales. However, if a diesel powertrain and right-hand drive were offered in the third-generation model, TMCA is expected to put its hand up high for supply. As previously reported, the Tundra has been considered by TMCA since 2003, with its dealer network understood to be particularly passionate about it with some dealers own examples themselves. The Road to Recovery podcast series Read more 22nd of May 2015 Toyota Tundra is a no-go for Oz Big American-focused Tundra ute is officially off Toyota Australia's radar The Girl Who Smiled Beads: A Story of War and What Comes After By Clemantine Wamariya Crown. 274 pp. $26 --- It was a quintessential "Oprah" moment. In May 2006, Clemantine Wamariya, an 18-year-old refugee from Rwanda, sat in the studio audience, one of 50 winners of a national high school essay contest. As her host listened, an emotional Clemantine explained that she had been searching for her parents since she was 6, when war separated Clemantine and her older sister, Claire, from the rest of their family. The sisters had spent the next six years on the run, wandering through seven countries, dodging bullets, suffering illness and living in refugee camps before landing in the United States, empty-handed, in 2000. "So, Clemantine," Oprah asked. "Before you left Africa, did you ever find your parents?" Clemantine knew they were alive but had not found them. But guess who had? Moments later, a curtain lifted and out came Clemantine and Claire's parents - healthy and impeccably dressed - along with several of their siblings. Oprah has said the reunion was "one of the deepest, most joyful moments" she has ever experienced. For Clemantine, the emotions were more complicated. There was certainly relief, joy and gratitude, she said over a recent lunch in Washington. But there was also something else: "I felt guilty." In her new memoir, "The Girl Who Smiled Beads" (Crown), Clemantine writes candidly about the moment that turned her into "the Oprah Girl," and how that role has been both a blessing and a burden. Clemantine had not only survived war, she had come to America and succeeded: She was taken in by a well-to-do family and became a high school cheerleader and activist. After her "Oprah" appearance, Clemantine became a sought-after voice - and face - in the humanitarian community. There have been luncheons, fundraisers, a TED talk, work with Harpo productions and Oprah's leadership academies; David Brooks cited her courage in a column. In 2016, President Obama appointed Clemantine to the board of the U.S. Holocaust Memorial Museum. "I was the clever child who induced the fairy godmother to bring her parents back to life," Clemantine writes. "I was often cast as a martyr or saint. I was special, very special. So strong, so brave, a genocide princess. ... It felt strange and rewarding to become such a useful character." While she is grateful for the recognition and proud of her role, Clemantine feels a void, too. "Even the kindest individuals with the best intentions rarely made room for the particular person I was," she writes. She hopes her book will help change that. "My name is (BEGIN ITAL)Clemantine(END ITAL)," she says emphatically in conversation. "I don't want to be called the genocide survivor anymore. No. It's a label. I am human." Even Clemantine admits that this is a difficult point to make when your work consists of telling your personal story in the service of a larger cause. But she says she wants her book, co-authored by Elizabeth Weil, to serve as a megaphone: "I want to be so loud about the experience of killing each other. I want to tap into everyone's senses, to touch on our human sensibility." Her book achieves that. Like Ishmael Beah's "A Long Way Gone," on being a boy soldier in Sierra Leone, or Joseph Kim's "Under the Same Sky," on escaping North Korea, "The Girl Who Smiled Beads" is at once terrifying and life-affirming. And like those memoirs, it painstakingly describes the human cost of war. The tale begins in Kigali, where Clemantine enjoyed a comfortable life: There were fresh flowers on the table and nannies to care for her; Claire dreamed of attending college in Canada. Then slowly Clemantine's world began to fall apart: "The electricity flickered on and off. The water stopped working. There was shushing, so much shushing, so much pressure to be quiet and still." As the ethnic conflict intensified, Clemantine and Claire were sent to their grandmother's house, where they hid in a pit in the ground used for making banana wine. "Colors and sounds bloomed, then exploded," Clemantine recalls. "I didn't sleep." The situation quickly worsened. Soon there was knock at the front door of their grandmother's house, and the girls were told to run. Clemantine carried with her only a towel. She reached a banana grove and witnessed for the first time others also fleeing, "most of them young, some of them bloody with wounds. ... We heard laughing and screaming and pleading and crying." The noises "were human and not human." Over the next 200 pages, Clemantine recalls her and Claire's harrowing, dramatic journey: joining a mass exodus from Rwanda to a refugee camp in Burundi and then on to Zaire, Tanzania, Malawi, Mozambique and South Africa. Over six years Clemantine and Claire covered thousands of miles, by foot, truck and once via a boat in which they nearly drowned. Sometimes strangers took them in, only to kick them out soon after. Clemantine learned to eat grasshoppers, fend off lice and forage on farms. While Claire found ways to make them money, Clemantine took care of Mariette, the baby her sister had with her husband, a CARE worker she met at a refugee camp. Clemantine, who was called "Cassette" as a child, lives up to her nickname as she vividly records the sights and sounds of her experience. Of that first migration out of Rwanda, she writes: "We walked, this mass of desperation, no longer distinct people. We walked until we stopped and fell asleep. ... The clearing became a colony and people started dying. I had never seen that many flies and bugs of all kinds, day in and day out. Cholera, dysentery, infected wounds. People bonded together into groups for safety. ... Nobody spoke of the past or the future. Time balled up into a knot." The book, which publishes April 24, moves back and forth through time, interspersing scenes like this with Clemantine's later life as a student at New Trier high school in Winnetka, Ill., and at Hotchkiss, Yale and beyond. Although sometimes awkward, the structure allows Clemantine to emphasize the vast differences between her two lives and the challenges she continues to face bridging them. The most difficult obstacle has been reconnecting with her biological parents beyond the spotlight. A few days after the "Oprah" show, they had to go back to Rwanda, and though they have since immigrated to the United States, "time had created such an intense gap," Clemantine says. "The relationship that we had was gone, and I couldn't really rewind time." Clemantine refers to her host mother as her mother and speaks glowingly of the opportunities she provided, including typing up that Oprah essay. When Clemantine arrived in the United States, at age 12 - brought here through the help of the World Relief - she spoke no English. (For her facility with the language she thanks hours of "Sesame Street," as well as ESL courses.) "Everyone came together and took care of us," she says. "At first, I was like, what do they want from us? Do they want us to wash their dishes?" Clemantine, now 30 and living in San Francisco, continues to speak out about human rights issues. She is still hopeful for immigrants and refugees, even in today's political climate. "There are a lot of great people everywhere," she says. "And there are also a lot of not so great people. It's all over the world. But when we stepped out of the airplane, we had people waiting for us - smiling, saying, 'Welcome to America.' People were happy. Many countries were not happy to have us. Right now there are people at the airport still holding those banners." Clemantine remains committed to helping people like herself. She is working with Claire to aid women refugees from Africa and with the Holocaust Museum on interactive projects. But she is just as committed to carving out her own identity. "I'm telling this story to save myself," she says through tears. Her book may make your eyes well up, too. But as Clemantine puts it: "My mom says tears are good for your skin." And maybe your soul, too. GREENWICH As about 100 people went to Greenwich Hospital for a free screening of neck and head cancer this week, Dr. Richard Brauer did more than just peer into peoples mouths to look for early-warning signs of cancerous growths. He also took the opportunity to spread a message that has been been gaining force in the medical community: get young people vaccinated against the human papilloma virus. Brauer is a parent of two, and both of his kids were vaccinated for HPV, which can be spread through sexual contact. The virus is believed to be a factor in certain kinds of cancer that develop in the head and neck oropharyngeal cancer which has been on the rise. According to the national Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, the HPV vaccine is recommended for boys and girls at age 11 or 12 so they are protected before ever being exposed to the virus. Brauer hopes other parents follow that advice. The patients coming in for treatment of cancer of the upper body are different from those in the past, Brauer said. When I started out as a resident, we used to see head and neck cancer, and in those days, it was smoking and alcohol related, he said. Now its a different kind of head and neck cancer. What were seeing now is a different kind of head and neck cancer, its HPV-positive cancer. Brauer is seeing a rise in head and neck cancer in the Connecticut suburbs, where it was once fairly rare. We saw very little in Greenwich, but now were starting to see it, and its all related to HPV, said Brauer, a throat and neck specialist. The study of HPV is ongoing, and there are still some question marks about its link to cancer. The virus causes warts and it can lead to malignant transformation, the doctor said. People who are exposed to HPV, very few end up with the cancer. We dont know why, Brauer said. Why is the cancer becoming more common in places like Greenwich? Sexual habitats have probably changed, what people like to do has changed, oral sex. Absolutely, its related to sexual activity, he said. Sexually transmitted disease may seem like an alien concept to parents, but the doctor noted that the vaccination lasts into adulthood. Its lifelong protection, he said. Men are more likely to develop the HPV-related cancers, Brauer said. On the positive side, those kinds of cancer respond fairly well to treatment. The vaccine against the HPV virus, often known by one of its brand names, the Gardasil vaccine, requires two or three injections. It is recommended for youngster ages 9 to14. When it first came out, it prevented sexually transmitted diseases, HPV, cervical lesions. Now its promoted as preventing cancer. Originally, it was for teenage girls, now its for teenage boys, as well, Brauer said. Theres no downside. Its inert. Were not aware of anything that causes a problem. Head and neck cancers account for about 3 to 4 percent of all cancers in the U.S. The American Cancer Society estimates that 51,540 people will get oral cavity and oropharyngeal cancers in 2018, and one in five will die. The cancer is more than twice as common in men as in women. Older adults who are dating or engaging in sexual activity should talk to a medical professional about the vaccine, Brauer said. Greenwich Hospital hosts a number of free screenings, and this is second year it has done check-ups for head and neck cancer. With early detection and treatment, usually we can cure it, said Kathy Carley-Spanier, director of community health at the hospital. The earlier we detect something, the better the outcome. HARTFORD A movement to provide police officers and firefighters with mental health treatment for trauma suffered while doing their job is hitting a wall of opposition from towns and cities worried about costs. Waterbury Mayor Neil OLeary, president of the Connecticut Conference of Municipalities, said a bill before the Senate that provides lengthy leaves of absence to treat Post Traumatic Stress Syndrome could cost towns and cities millions of dollars a year. "No state funding is included in the bill," OLeary said. "It would be a costly unfunded mandate." But supporters say police and first responders often encounter horrific scenes such as the Bridgeport incident last year when an officer shot and killed a 15-year-old boy and need the protection and treatment mandated by the bill. "We have to remember that mental health should be a priority along with physical health," said state Sen. Cathy Osten, D-Sprague, and a co-sponsor of the legislation. The bill before the General Assembly would allow police officers suffering from PTSD or other disorders related to critical incidents while doing their job to take paid leave for up to a year. The bill requires the state to develop and maintain a list of at least 30 mental health providers with training in PTSD and prohibits municipalities from disciplining or firing a police officer, firefighter or emergency medical service worker because they sought or received mental health treatment. The legislation easily passed the General Assemblys Public Safety and Security Committee and is now before the Senate. Tragic shooting The states larger cities Bridgeport, New Haven, Hartford and Waterbury experience shootings and horrific incidents on a regular basis. Last year, Bridgeport police officer James Boulay felt he had no choice but to shoot at teenager Jayson Negron after the teenager struck him with his car while trying to escape capture. Boulay opened fire, killing Negron and wounding a passenger. Boulay was later cleared of wrongdoing but such incidents can leave officers and first responders with lingering mental trauma that requires long term treatment. Av Harris, a spokesman for Bridgeport Mayor Joseph Ganim, a Democrat running for governor, said the mayor supports mental health treatment for police and first responders but does not support placing those costs on towns and cities. "What we should not do is to shoulder that burden alone, Harris said. This could easily be millions of dollars per year for Bridgeport alone." Harris said a more realistic scenario would be to create a fund of money contributed by municipalities and the state to cover mental health expenses and help municipalities defray the cost of staffing up to fill in for firefighters and police officers impacted by work related trauma and on temporary leave." CCM said the bill incorrectly assumes that little or no emotional support systems are in place for first responders. "Most municipalities have Employee Assistance Programs for employees suffering from mental or emotional impairments," CCM officials said in a statement. "These benefits provide employees access to counseling, therapy and other essential services to assist them and their families during difficult periods," according to CCM. Seek out help Rebecca St. George, a Naugatuck police officer, said in November 2017 she lost her brother, police officer Robert "Tommy" Byrne, to suicide. Byrne was an 11-year veteran with the Naugatuck police department, a U.S. Army veteran and father, she said. "The reason Tommy took his own life wasnt solely because he was a police officer, but it certainly was a factor," St. George told the legislatures public safety committee during a recent public hearing on the bill. Hartford Police Union President John Szewczyk said that nationally police suicides are at an all-time high, reaching 140 last year. "We urge [passage of the bill] so police officers will receive the proper treatment and mental health services when needed," he said. Introduction Motorola made its big media day mostly about its best-seller Moto G-series, focusing on the ever more flagship-looking Moto G6 Plus, Moto G6 Play and plain Moto G6. But the Moto E5 and the Moto E5 Plus which were also announced today are too well-rounded to be ignored. The Moto E5 Plus and Moto E5 build on the Moto E4 formula with 2018 features like an 18:9 screen and a nicer design, even in the lower tier. It all starts with the Moto E5 Plus, which looks so good on paper, it might make more sense to buy than the new Moto G6 Play. Compared to the G6 sibling, the Moto E5 Plus has a slightly bigger screen (5.99-inch vs 5.7-inch) and a huge 5,000mAh battery (that makes 2 days of endurance look easy) and it is cheaper to buy. The Moto E5 Plus also brings a nice-sounding snapper to the table - a 12MP f/2.0 unit with reasonably sized 1.25 m pixels. The selfie cam will either be 8MP or 5MP depending on where you live in the world. Motorola Moto E5 Plus Specs Body: Gorilla Glass front, plastic back with reflective wave pattern; 160.9x75.3x9.4mm; 196.6 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating Gorilla Glass front, plastic back with reflective wave pattern; 160.9x75.3x9.4mm; 196.6 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating Screen: 5.99-inch, 18:9, HD+ 720x1440, IPS LCD; Gorilla Glass 5.99-inch, 18:9, HD+ 720x1440, IPS LCD; Gorilla Glass Rear Camera: 12MP, f/2.0 lens; 1080p@30fps video recording 12MP, f/2.0 lens; 1080p@30fps video recording Front Camera: 5MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash 5MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, quad-core Cortex-A53 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, quad-core Cortex-A53 1.4GHz Memory: 2GB RAM, 16GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 256GB expansion 2GB RAM, 16GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 256GB expansion OS: Android 8.0 Oreo Android 8.0 Oreo Battery: 5,000mAh, Turbo Charge 15W 5,000mAh, Turbo Charge 15W Connectivity: Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU, Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, microUSB Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU, Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, microUSB Misc: Fingerprint reader on the back, under the Moto logo To finalize things, the Moto E5 Plus has a distinctive design, which is an impressive feat for an all-plastic phone. Lenovo have tried to spruce it up a bit by adding what they call a reflective wave pattern to the back panel. Its glossy and a fingerprint magnet, but at least it will look nicer than your run-of-the-mill entry-level smartphone. The Moto E5 Plus will go on sale in May and June in Europe, the Americas, and the Asia Pacific for a starting price of 170. Moving on to the Moto E5. Think of it as the more conventional entry-level proposition by Motorola. It lacks the flashy reflective plastic and sheds 0.7-inch of screen estate and 1,000mAh of battery power but still makes enough to be considered a good bargain. Some might prefer the more constrained look of the matte plastic and will likely find an 18:9 5.7-inch screen a perfectly adequate size. And even with 1,000mAh less, the 4,000mAh battery of the Moto E5 is enough to give any user confidence outside of power cable reach. Motorola Moto E5 Specs Body: Gorilla Glass front, plastic back; 154.4x72.2x9mm ; 174 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating Gorilla Glass front, plastic back; 154.4x72.2x9mm ; 174 grams; p2i water repellent nano coating Screen: 5.7-inch, 18:9, HD+ 720x1440, IPS LCD; Gorilla Glass 5.7-inch, 18:9, HD+ 720x1440, IPS LCD; Gorilla Glass Rear Camera: 13MP, f/2.0 lens; 1080p@30fps video recording 13MP, f/2.0 lens; 1080p@30fps video recording Front Camera: 5MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash 5MP, 1080p@30fps video recording; LED selfie flash Chipset: Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, quad-core Cortex-A53 1.4GHz Qualcomm Snapdragon 425, quad-core Cortex-A53 1.4GHz Memory: 2GB RAM, 16GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 256GB expansion 2GB RAM, 16GB, dedicated microSD slot for up to 256GB expansion OS: Android 8.0 Oreo Android 8.0 Oreo Battery: 4,000mAh, Turbo Charge 10W 4,000mAh, Turbo Charge 10W Connectivity: Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU, Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, microUSB Optional Dual SIM (4G), Bluetooth 4.2, GPS/GLONASS/BEIDOU, Dual-band Wi-Fi a/b/g/n, microUSB Misc: Fingerprint reader on the back, under the Moto logo However all of those savings amount to a measly 20 discount from the Moto E5 Plus at 150. Its well worth it to spend that little bit of extra just for the bigger battery. Before we continue we have to get one thing out of the way. The third member of the Moto E5 family, the Moto E5 Play wasnt at the venue in Brazil. It's a US-only model so well save that hands-on for another day. Join us on the next page for a better look at the Moto E5 Plus. These are the best offers from our affiliate partners. We may get a commission from qualifying sales. Published on 2018/04/19 | Source Added episodes 23 and 24 captures for the Korean drama "The Great Seducer" (2018) Advertisement Directed by Kang In-I, Lee Dong-hyun-IV Written by Kim Bo-yeon-I Network : MBC With Woo Do-hwan, Joy, Moon Ga-young, Kim Min-jae-I, Kim Seo-hyung, Shin Sung-woo,... 32 episodes - Mon, Tue 22:00 (2x35min) Formerly know as "Love Game" and "Love Game: The Great Seduction" ( - , leo-beu-ge-im - wi-dae-han yu-ok") Synopsis Based on the 2003 "Untold Scandal", this drama centers on an aristocratic man and woman engage in a bet. If the man can convince a virtuous widow to sleep with him, then he can finally have the aristocratic woman. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2018/03/12 More Published on 2018/04/19 | Source Added episodes 35 and 36 captures for the Korean drama "Shall We Kiss First" (2018) Advertisement Directed by Son Jeong-hyeon Written by Bae Yoo-mi Network : SBS With Kam Woo-sung, Kim Sun-ah, Oh Ji-ho, Park Si-yeon, Han Go-eun, Kim Sung-soo,... Mon, Tue 22:00 (2x35min) Synopsis A melodrama about a middle-aged man and a middle-aged woman who think that they're done with romance despite the fact that the man is afraid to die alone and the woman is afraid to live alone. Broadcast starting date in Korea : 2018/02/20 More By Vasia Orion | Published on 2018/04/18 The script reading still collage from "Wok of Love" is a sight that soothes the soul as much as the delicacies teased in its teasers. Aside from a main cast made up of kittens, rainbows and unicorns in terms of soul satisfaction, the supporting ensemble is just lovely. Advertisement The script reading, held in March, included writer Seo Sook-hyang and PD Park Seon-ho-I, who were joined by Lee Junho, Jang Hyuk, Jung Ryeo-won, Lee Mi-sook, Park Ji-young, Im Won-hee, Jo Jae-yun, Kim Sa-kwon, Lee Ki-young, Cha Joo-young, Lee Ki-hyuk, Oh Eui-sik, Tae Hang-ho, Hong Yoon-hwa, Kang Rae-yeon, and Kim Hyun-joon. Lee Junho raises expectations as Seo Poong, a chef who fell from the grace of as a top star to a rundown Chinese restaurant. Jang Hyuk brings his own flavor to Doo Chil-sung, a loan shark, while Jung Ryeo-won is Dan Sae-woo, a rich heiress who gains strength from a bowl of jajangmyeon at the darkest of times. Lee Junho has commented "Since everyone is a cool, skilled veteran, I think that the drama is going to be a lot of fun". Jang Hyuk's own thoughts were "Since this is a romantic comedy, I will greet you all with laughter and a charming character", while Jung Ryeo-won asked for the viewers' support, adding "I think this will turn out to be a drama that will please viewers, so I have high expectations". I haven't experienced Seo Sook-hyang's work since "Pasta" and aside from introducing me to olive oil and garlic pasta, it didn't stick with me. I read great things about "Incarnation of Jealousy", however, which is also an Ori-mama favorite. We get a little Lee Mi-sook and Park Ji-young reunion here too, which I think its fans will like. So on with the show and I might drop in for a whiff. "Wok of Love" will premiere on May 7th on SBS. Written by: Orion from 'Orion's Ramblings' Sources (1) As the school year comes closer to an end in the region, community organizations dedicated to supporting children have sprung into action, some having completed their screenings, and some still preparing to screen the infants, toddlers and young children in the area. Child Find is a national mandate that all schools must have a process for identifying children that may have delays and need special services; it is a part of the Individuals with Disabilities Education Act. This year the Child Find childhood screening was held for Chester-Joplin-Inverness Public Schools and outlying communities April 8, for Havre Public Schools April 14-16, and screenings for the Chinook, Hartland Colony, Zurich, Davey and Cleveland school districts will be held next Tuesday, April 24. These screenings use the Developmental Indicators for the Assessment of Learning to assess motor skills, concepts and language for children 3-5 years old. For birth to 3 years old, the Developmental Profile is used and provided by Benchmark. Karla Geda, director of Special Education and Federal Projects for the Havre Public Schools, said that if a delay is detected during the screening they can progress with specialized evaluations. For example, Geda said, if a speech delay is found, (the assessors) will ask permission from the parent for further evaluation and recommend special services. Geda said that they want to help and guide parents. All of the early childhood screenings are free, sponsored events. The Havre screening is sponsored by the district and the Early Childhood Investment Team, while other area screenings are sponsored by Bear Paw Cooperative. The ECIT is made up of local service providers who have a vested interest in helping support children 0-8, ECIT Coordinator Tina Thomas said. The group tries to help the providers collaborate with interested people to see what services they are providing and to make sure they arent duplicating services, she said. Louise Nissen of Bear Paw Cooperative, said that all the smaller schools belong to the cooperative and the group sponsors the screenings because it would be financially devastating for each school to fund screenings themselves. Nissen added that the co-op has an Early Childhood Coordinator and a team of people who put the screenings together. Every district is included in the screening, Nissen said. The screenings organized by Bear Paw Cooperative are staffed completely by volunteers, while the Havre event is staffed by volunteers and district teachers. Along with the developmental screenings, the Havre screening included vision, hearing and dental screenings, while the Bear Paw Cooperative-sponsored events have vision and hearing screenings. These screenings also provide kindergarten registration for all districts. Both Geda and Thomas said the event is a one-stop shop. This is especially beneficial for parents who work, Thomas added, because it saves parents from having to take off work for four different appointments. Geda said that the developmental screening is done by teachers and the health screenings, as well as the informational booths and entrance and exit desks, are manned by volunteers at the Havre screening. The health screenings this year in Havre were conducted by Optometrist Erica Farmer and the Lyons Club, Audiologist Wyatt Rasmussen and the Bullhook Dental Clinic team. Farmer, who said she is in her seventh year volunteering at the screening, said it is important to her to volunteer at this event because she and Northern Montana Hospital are dedicated to helping the children in the community and want to help make sure that area children are ready to go to kindergarten. Geda said she is very appreciative of the community for supporting the screenings, from the volunteers to the Van Orsdel United Methodist Church for letting them use its building, and the Havre Fire Department that did car seat checks across the street at the department while the screenings were going on. If a family missed the screening or they have a concern about their child, they can contact the school district in their area or their health department. The health department can do health checks and immunizations, but the early childhood screenings, like the ones being held this month that include the developmental screenings plus health screenings, only happen once a year. Thomas also said anyone who has an interest in helping organize future childhood screenings or who can help in providing services for the children in the Havre community is welcome to attend a meeting, which are held on the second Wednesday of each month. For more information people can contact Thomas at the Quality Life Concepts Havre office at 265-2620 or 390-6619. Any parents with children 0-5 in the Chinook, Hartland Colony, Zurich, Davey, and Cleveland school districts can bring their kids to United Methodist Church-Wallner Hall Tuesday, April 24, from 9 a.m. to 2 p.m. for the free screening. Havre Police Department Officers investigated a report of a child being hit by a vehicle Wednesday morning at 8:13 at 11th Street West and Boulevard Avenue. No injuries were reported Patrick Ryan Schroeder of Havre, 27, was arrested on charges of possession of drug paraphernalia Wednesday at 9:08 a.m. on Smithville Road after probation officers requested an officer respond. Jordan James Normandy of Havre, 24, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant Wednesday at 10:08 a.m. on First Street. Officers investigated a reported vehicle crash Wednesday at 12:31 p.m. at the high school on 18th Street. Two arrests were made or summonses issued, but no details were provided. Officers made an arrest for an assault at a First Street business Wednesday at 1:08 p.m. No other details were provided. A 14-year-old was arrested on a pick up and hold order and a charge of resisting arrest Wednesday at 5:49 p.m. on 10th Street. Kaylin Maye Doney of Havre, 20, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant Wednesday at 9:39 p.m. at the police station. A caller at the hospital requested this morning at 4:39 help with getting a man who had wandered out, but needed assistance, back into the ER. Hill County Sheriff's Office Gordon George Denny Jr. of Box Elder, 23, was arrested on a state District Court warrant served to him at Hill County Detention Center Wednesday at 10:23 a.m. Michelle Nichole Healy of Havre, 36, was arrested on a Justice or City court warrant served at the detention center Wednesday at 10:55 a.m. Deputies investigated a Wednesday 7:06 p.m. call from Third Street East in Gildford for assistance finding a missing child. Havre Fire Department No calls were made to the fire department Wednesday. Havre Animal Shelter This morning the shelter held four medium-hair cats whose sex is listed as unknown, five medium-hair male cats, one medium-hair female cat, and one female short-hair cat. The shelter held this morning an 11-month-old male Australian shepherd, a 1-year-old female dachshund-Labrador retriever cross, a 4-year-old female German shepherd-Labrador retriever cross, a 1-year-old male pit bull terrier, a 5-week-old female husky-shepherd mix, a 1-year-2-month-old male Labrador retriever-Boston terrier cross, a 5-year-1-month-old female Australian shepherd and 5-year-old male Husky. Even with a windmill aeration system, the combination of low water levels, lots of aquatic vegetation and heavy snow cover can lead to low winter dissolved oxygen levels and ultimately to dead fish. Fish, Wildlife and Parks It has been a winter for the books in Montana Fish, Wildlife and Parks Region 6. After the summer of 2017 that was plagued by record drought conditions, the 2017-2018 winter will go down as the second-snowiest - so far - winter on record in Havre with 92.5 inches and the third-snowiest on record in Glasgow - with 63.2 inches - as of April 9. In addition, the month of February was the coldest on record since 1979, according to the National Weather Service. As we are finally moving into spring, many folks are wondering how a winter like this may affect small pond fish populations. Winterkills of fish periodically occur on smaller, shallower ponds, usually 12 feet deep or less, due to marginal depths to support fish populations. The key component on whether a winterkill occurs is largely tied to the levels of dissolved oxygen in the water. Over the last couple of weeks, FWP fisheries personnel have been trying to access some of the smaller ponds and reservoirs in the region to monitor oxygen levels in these waterbodies. Some ponds have been observed to be holding strong and maintaining adequate oxygen levels for over-winter fish survival. On others, very low oxygen levels have been measured indicating that a winterkill has likely occurred. In one instance, crews drilled holes in the ice and observed dead fathead minnows floating up through the holes. Not a good sign. Why are we likely to see more winterkill this year? There are many factors that contribute to this. During the dry summer of 2017, many of the ponds in the region were observed to be several feet below full pool. These lower water levels allowed for greater light penetration through the water column and created conditions for increased aquatic vegetation growth. While this vegetation growth is not necessarily a bad thing during the summer, snow-covered ice during the winter prevents sunlight from penetrating the water, causing the aquatic vegetation to die. This dead vegetation then begins to decompose, a process which consumes oxygen from the water. As more oxygen is consumed from the water, there is less available for fish. If oxygen levels become too low, fish may begin to die. As these dead fish decompose, more oxygen is removed from the water and the entire process begins to escalate. In some cases, windmill aeration systems have been installed in ponds to help minimize the effects of a long winter, as they are key to helping keep oxygen levels adequate for fish survival. However, if a pond enters the winter with already low water levels, especially if its max depth is less than 12 feet, even this supplemental aeration may not be enough to guarantee fish survival through a winter like this year. While it is always disappointing to hear of a pond experiencing a winterkill, there is a positive side to it all. In the spring when all this snow melts, most of these smaller ponds will get a much-needed shot of water and hopefully fill up. These higher water levels often lead to increased overall productivity of the pond and they will once again provide suitable fish habitat. Courtesy Fish, Wildlife and Parks FWP will work to stock fish into those ponds which have winterkilled through several different means. For rainbow trout fisheries, this usually means stocking hatchery trout as soon as conditions are favorable. For those species that are not raised in the hatchery system such as bluegill, crappie, and perch, crews will work to trap and transfer from certified disease-free sources to those ponds that need to have their fish populations re-established. Unfortunately, due to recent reductions to both the hatchery system and regional fisheries budgets, all ponds may not be re-stocked in 2018. Ponds will be prioritized to maximize available resources with the goal of providing anglers ample opportunity to enjoy the quality multi-species fisheries they have come to expect in Region 6. Water released from Fresno Reservoir gushes into the Milk River as more water runs over the spillway at the dam Wednesday. Melting snow has filled the dam and flooded the region, damaging roads and inundating fields. Officials hope inflow will drop to Fresno soon, reducing how much water is going out into Milk River Gov. Steve Bullock declared a state of emergency due to flooding including for Chester, Blaine, Hill and Liberty counties and the Fort Belknap Indian Reservation, within days of Hill and Blaine counties declaring their emergencies and the city of Harlem temporarily ordering an evacuation of residences north of the railroad tracks. The evacuation order has since been lifted, and Blaine and Hill counties both reported this morning that tributaries to the Milk River seem to have dropped some, although Blaine County reports the river, closing in on record flood levels near Harlem, continues to rise. Hill County reported this morning that Big Sandy Creek had risen some over the night, but appeared to have dropped in level as of this morning. Hill County declared an emergency Tuesday and Blaine County did the same Wednesday. Snowmelt on near-record snow accumulations has inundated the area, overrunning roads and highways and flooding fields. Bullock issued the emergency declaration Wednesday, which also includes Pondera, Valley, Toole and Petroleum counties, The declaration authorizes the availability and utilization of necessary state government services, equipment and supplies. It also allows the U.S. Army Corps of Engineers to utilize sandbags and other resources available for critical infrastructure protection. "As Montanans are faced with flooding, we are doing everything necessary at the state level to protect health and safety, and to preserve lives, property, and resources," Bullock said in a press release. "We continue to keep in close communication with local and tribal officials as we monitor conditions around the state." Hill County Commission Chair Mark Peterson said early Wednesday morning that the county also is seeking a presidential disaster declaration, which provides access to federal aid, as occurred in this area in 2010, 2011 and 2013. National Weather Service officials met with local officials in a meeting in Hill County and another in Blaine County Wednesday. Fresno Reservoir has filled over the conservation pool with water going over the spillway in addition to releases from the reservoir, Weather Service hydrologist Arin Peters said during the Havre meeting. "We are hoping that the inflows to the reservoir will taper off in the next day or so and the uncontrolled releases won't be too extreme," he said. But he added that if inflows are higher than expected the amount of water flowing into the Milk River will increase. Daily data listed online by the U.S. Bureau of Reclamation that operates Fresno says the inflow hit 6,599.21 cubic-feet-per-second Tuesday but had dropped to 5,646.84 today. The Milk River had gone from about 12 feet Wednesday morning to 14.14 feet today, but is expected to start dropping. "It will probably go back up and down again by the middle of next week. That is assuming we don't get any rain on top of that," Peters said. Big Sandy Creek, Peters said, has crested at 14.63 feet, falling just short of the record of 15.1 feet. He said that there is little information about Big Sandy Creek upstream. Peters said that Peterson had flown over the affected area in western Hill County and that Peterson told him he thinks there might be more water in Sage Creek than originally thought. Peters said that it can be difficult to tell because there is only one gauge at that creek and so quantitative information is lacking, "I guess all I can say is they are doing the best they can forecasting with that gauge, he said. "It's really difficult because there is one gauge and all these small tributaries flowing into Sage Creek, stock ponds and coolies and we have no idea what they are draining." The Milk River Basin remains at 150 plus percent of average for snow, and has not started to melt out in the upper reaches of the Milk River and St. Mary River Basin. "I think this is kind of the lowland melt we are seeing right now and the runoff from that and the plains. We might still see that for a few days, but I think this is kind of going to taper off in the next weak or so." More flooding could take place once the snow starts to melt off the mountains when temperatures rise into the 50s and 60s down in the lower elevations, he said. If the snow melts gradually, the Milk River can likely hold the water and additional significant flooding might not occur, Peters said, but the unknown is how fast the snow melts off. "If we get 75 degrees that is going to increase the rate at which the snow melts and then the river will rise higher quicker," he said. Rainfall will be another factor as to whether or not there is additional major flooding. "We are getting into the wet season for this part of the state. May and June is when we typically see the highest rainfall totals in Montana, at least eastern Montana," Peters said. Any type of heavy rain on top of already swollen streams from the snow melt will exacerbate any kind of flooding. Peters said that in 2011, when flood waters struck the area and led to a presidential disaster declaration, it was rain on top of snow that caused rivers and streams already overflow. He added that in terms of quantity, the mountains now have 10 to 20 percent more snow than in 2011. Peterson said the southwest corner of Hill County is 90 percent white. "It hasn't even started to melt yet," he said. When it does melt, most of that snow will spill into the Marias drainage, he said. Areas to the north and west of Rudyard are still white. He said the situation changes rapidly. Havre Daily News/Ryan Welch "Water does weird things and we just need to honor its power," he said. "We've got conditions that are going to be with us for awhile." After the flooding has subsided the county might be able to fix some of the roads by running a blade over them, but others so washed out that they will not be open for a month or two because conditions are too wet and they don't have the material to fill some of the holes, Peterson said. He added that the public needs to be patient with the city and county as they try to get work done. Budgets have also been impacted by this spring and winter, Peterson said. "Funding is not going to be an easy thing," he said. Company looking for workers to help with closure The Herberger's sign sits over a rack of clothing on sale at the store's entrance in the Holiday Village Mall Wednesday. Editors note: This corrects a typo in the telephone number for Jeff Bason of Sign Sale Inc. The Bon-Ton department store chain has announced that the Havre Herberger's in the Holiday Village Mall is among the more than 200 stores it is closing in bankruptcy liquidation proceedings. The company listed the Havre store as one scheduled for closure after a bankruptcy judge approved a winning bid in an auction for the company's assets Wednesday. An employee of the Havre store referred all questions to a media spokesperson. The listed spokesperson, Christine Hojnacki, had not responded to multiple telephone messages and emails by printing deadline this morning. Jeff Bason of Sign Sale Inc. of California said this morning that his company is looking for workers in Havre to help with the liquidation. Bason said he is trying to hire five people in Havre to start work Saturday, one a supervisor position at about $25 an hour and four sign carriers to work at $10 an hour with five-hour shifts, noon to 5 p.m., Saturdays and Sundays. He said the jobs are scheduled to last 11 weeks. The sign carriers would be carrying signs listing the current liquidation information, such as "Up to 30 percent off," Bason said, while the supervisor would oversee their work and give them breaks as needed. He said people can call him at 831-345-3778 if they are interested. Other Herberger's stores in Billings, Butte, Great Falls, Kalispell and Missoula are also on the list. Bon Tons Stores Inc. operates 250 stores throughout 23 states under the Bon-Ton, Bergner's, Boston Store, Carson's, Elder-Beerman, Herberger's and Younkers nameplates. A press release Tuesday, before approval of the bid, said a joint venture will acquire the inventory and certain other assets of the company. "While we are disappointed by this outcome and tried very hard to identify bidders interested in operating the business as a going concern, we are committed to working constructively with the winning bidder to ensure an orderly wind-down of operations that minimizes the impact of this development on our associates, customers, vendors and the communities we serve," Bon-Ton Stores Inc. President and CEO Bill Tracy said in Tuesday's release. "We are incredibly grateful to all of our associates for their dedicated service to Bon-Ton and to our millions of loyal customers who we have had the pleasure to serve as their hometown store for more than 160 years." Chanel Lett Tuesday poses with some of the equipment she uses in her office at Serenity Salon and Boutique. People looking for a local for someone that will do permanent cosmetics, permanent hair removal and waxing can now go to a business in downtown Havre. Chanel Lett opened Permanent Reflections in March in a back room of the Serenity Salon & Boutique at 315 Third Ave. in downtown Havre. Lett said she first became interested in hair removal and permanent cosmetics because of her mother "I just thought it was the most interesting thing ever, like it was fun to watch; it looked fun," she said. Lett, who recently moved to Havre from Malta, said she has a certificate in electrolysis, thermolysis and blend from Cameo College of Essential Beauty in Murray, Utah. She said that she provides electrolysis for the removal of hair, blemishes and other birth marks and thermolysis which does the same thing but by heat. Lett said she is open 9 a.m. to 5 p.m. Tuesdays, Wednesdays and Saturdays. 3 to 8 p.m. Mondays, Thursdays and Fridays. People can make an appointment by calling Lett at 399-0513. The Unique Identification Authority of India, to provide extra protection to Aadhaar, has presented a new aadhar QR code that holds points of interest like name, address, photograph, date of birth. A QR code is a machine-readable barcode tag normally used for stockpiling URLs or other details for reading by the camera on a mobile. Now, aadhar QR code has also been utilized for offline aadhar user verification without the help of 12-digit ID number. This would be convenient for building up the identity with non-statutory elements like online shopping porticos while sending goods. This new element is accessible through Aadhaar downloads and holds the photo of the Aadhar user despite the current accessibility of statistic data, which thusly will permit different user organizations like banks to check the credibility of Aadhaar card information via offline. Ajay Bhushan Pandey, CEO of Aadhaar UIDAI, stated: The new aadhar QR code is a point of milestone advancement which will permit everybody to set up their identity through offline confirmation without giving out Aadhaar number. Adding to the continuous fight between the Supreme Court and the UIDAI over the authenticity of Aadhaar, the Supreme Court has watched that the biometric verification of Aadhaar is exceptionally inclined to abuse. The Supreme Court likewise included that if the biometric verification is joined to each transaction went into by a man, it would form a wealth of data emphasizing the requirement for information security. In another side, the UIDAI has denied the media reports that its guidance Rakesh Dwivedi has blamed Google for attempting to come up short Aadhaar while exhibiting arguments in the Supreme Court. Our supervision had fought in the court that to the extent Google, Facebook, and Twitter are concerned, they cant be compared with Aadhaar as the nature of the information is unique and furthermore, because of dissimilarity in the idea of algorithms being utilized, an official release from the UIDAI justified Aadhaar card holders can download and print their biometric ID with the QR code from the UIDAI site or its mobile application. Thus, recently rebuilt QR code would be helpful for building up the identity with non-statutory substances. Kayaking will be available at Custom House Quay Plans are in place to build a 15 million whitewater kayak course and a public swimming pool in Dublin's docklands. Dublin City Council has revealed plans for the ambitious project, which is scheduled for completion by 2020. The proposals for George's Dock at Custom House Quay (CHQ) include a 250-metre white-water kayak course, which would be located around the edge of the dock. There are also plans for a swift-water training course and a public lido containing a pool in the middle of the dock. Revamped A statement on the DCC website explained that the pool will be "used for canoe polo, flat water kayak training and other related activities." DCC's CHQ office will also be revamped to provide facilities such as toilets, changing rooms and showers. They have invited tenders for the design of the course and the contract is worth a maximum 750,000. DCC said they hope plans to regenerate the area will benefit the local economy. They said: "The Water Animation Strategy seeks to build on the successes of previous plans further promoting the area as a world class destination for living, doing business, tourism, leisure, wellness and cultural activities." The deadline for interested parties is next month with a design team expected to be in place by this summer. George's Dock, situated next to the busy IFSC, is often used for events, including the popular Oktoberfest as well as a Christmas market. A mother-of-two has had her wish granted to be able to attend her son's first Holy Communion later this month. At Ennis District Court yesterday, Amanda Hayes (27) walked free from court on bail that will now allow her to attend the family event at the end of the month. Ms Hayes has spent the last six weeks in jail on remand waiting to be sentenced for a number of recent drug-fuelled thefts, including stealing the contents of a Trocaire and an Irish Heart Foundation charity collection box from an Insomnia coffee outlet in Shannon in February. Letter Last week, Ms Hayes penned a letter to Judge Patrick Durcan asking that he allow her to leave prison temporarily to attend the first Holy Communion of her son, scheduled for the end of this month. A long-time drug addict, Ms Hayes lost her own mother at the age of 11 in a car accident. In court yesterday, her solicitor Shiofra Hassett said that being released from jail for the first Holy Communion was the first thing that Ms Hayes brings up in any consultation. "Ms Hayes has said that she is extremely anxious to be able to attend this event," said Ms Hassett. "She had quite a difficult childhood and is very conscious that she should be there for those important moments in her own children's lives." Ms Hassett said that Ms Hayes knows that she has let her two children down in the past "and the possibility that she won't be there for an important moment in her child's life has led her to bring some awakening over the last number of weeks". Ms Hassett admitted that the thefts at the Insomnia outlet were "despicable in nature". She said: "They occurred at a time when her addiction got the better of her and at a time when her addiction was at an all-time low." Ms Hayes has 23 previous theft convictions and is now on a methadone programme. Judge Durcan said that he would release Ms Hayes from jail forthwith and remand her on bail to appear before the court again in October. Judge Durcan said that a condition of bail was that Ms Hayes comply with all directions of the Probation Service. Judge Durcan granted Ms Hayes bail after the Probation Service put in place a plan for Ms Hayes. He warned Ms Hayes that if she stepped out of line, she will serve an eight-month jail term for the thefts. Sentence Last year, Ms Hayes was released from prison after she served a three-year sentence with the final 18 months suspended for making a false allegation of rape in 2014. In that case, Ms Hayes, of Inis Eagla, Shannon, sparked a needless six-week-long pursuit by gardai for a rapist. The investigation - that included gardai making 30 separate house calls in Shannon - followed Ms Hayes falsely reporting to gardai that she was raped by a man wearing a hoodie in the early hours of St Stephen's Day in 2014 at Drumgeely in Shannon. After the report, Ms Hayes was then taken to the Sexual Assault Unit at Galway University Hospital for a forensic examination where she elaborated on her initial complaint to the doctor examining her. A father-of-one who denies the attempted murder of his partner told gardai who arrested him that he didn't care if his toddler daughter was alive or dead, his trial has heard. Tomas Gajowniczek (37), of the Ice Rink Apartments, Dolphin's Barn, Dublin 8, has pleaded not guilty to the attempted murder of Alicja Kalinowska (30) at their home on June 16, 2016. He also denies intentionally or recklessly causing serious harm to Ms Kalinowska on the same date at the same location. Hammer Garda Peter Mullins yesterday told the Central Criminal Court in Dublin that he arrested the accused in the car park of Kevin Street Garda Station in the early hours of June 16, 2016, following reports of an assault on a woman by a man matching Mr Gajowniczek's description. Gardai took him by car to Pearse Street Garda Station and on the way Gda Mullins noted that Mr Gajowniczek asked: "How is Alicja? Will she live? Is she going to be all right?" He then referenced his daughter, who was two at the time and was in the next room during the alleged assault, saying: "I don't know if she is alive or dead and I don't care." Following the alleged assault, Ms Kalinowska was treated for a fractured nose and injuries to her eyes, limbs and torso. Garda John Paul Holland told the court that he went to Mr Gajowniczek's home on June 12, four days before the alleged assault on Ms Kalinowska. She had called gardai complaining that her partner had locked her out and was inside with their daughter. When officers arrived, Mr Gajowniczek opened the door, let them in and spoke openly. Gda Holland said Mr Gajowniczek told him that he had locked the door because he thought people were trying to get into the apartment and kill him and showed the officer a hammer that he had hidden under a duvet on the bed. He said he believed someone had spiked his milk with amphetamines and that his partner was having an affair. He also told the garda that he had been smoking cannabis. Gda Holland was concerned for Mr Gajowniczek's mental health so he arrested him under the Mental Health Act and took him to a garda station. A doctor assessed Mr Gajowniczek but did not recommend placing him in a psychiatric hospital so he was released that night and returned home to Ms Kalinowska and their daughter. Following his arrest after the alleged assault four days later, Mr Gajowniczek was interviewed at Pearse Street Garda Station. Detective Garda Nathan McKenna told the court that during those interviews Mr Gajowniczek accused Ms Kalinowska of being violent and being connected with criminals. Crazy These statements were described as "nonsense" and "crazy talk" by defence counsel Robert Munro when he cross-examined Ms Kalinowska on day two of the trial. Ms Kalinowska agreed. The accused also told gardai that sometimes he would hear the baby talking at night but when he checked on her she was asleep. He believed that Ms Kalinowska had recorded the baby talking and was playing the recording to make him think he was going crazy. He further told officers that he caused his partner's injuries but he couldn't remember how. The trial continues today. A "raving alcoholic" who blacked out after he arrived home drunk from a family funeral abroad assaulted a doctor and obstructed a nurse and security guard when he woke up in a hospital. Martin Lesley (50) was described by a judge as an "absolute brat" as he imposed a five-month suspended sentence. Judge John Coughlan warned Lesley that if he even spat on the footpath within the next five months he would serve the suspended sentence. He was also ordered to hand over 500 for charity. Lesley, of Loughboy, Mell, Drogheda, pleaded guilty before Drogheda District Court to one count of assault and two counts of obstruction. The incident happened in the emergency department at Our Lady of Lourdes Hospital, Drogheda, on May 25, last year. The court heard that Lesley had 21 previous convictions, including two for assault. Spit Defence solicitor Dermot Monahan said his client was drunk as he had just returned from a funeral in Germany. "He had a blackout and woke up in the emergency department at the hospital," he said. "He had an issue with the doctor, a nurse and security guard." Mr Monahan said Lesley was a "raving alcoholic" who was attending meetings and making efforts to deal with his problem. "I have given him a mantra to say to friends who invite him for drinks to tell them 'I am a raving alcoholic'," Mr Monahan told Judge Coughlan. Imposing a five-month suspended sentence, the judge warned Lesley: "If you spit on the footpath in the next five months, you will serve the five months. "You are an absolute brat. I am hoping you spit on the footpath as it will give me great pleasure to give you five months in prison," he added. Denis Naughten insists he said "nothing wrong" to a PR executive about the proposed merger of Independent News & Media (INM) and Celtic Media. The communications minister is under fire after it emerged he discussed the referral of the potential deal to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) during a phone call with an INM lobbyist. Details of the call emerged in the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement's (ODCE) application to appoint inspectors to investigate corporate governance issues at INM. It was reported yesterday that details of a conversation between the minister and Eoghan O Neachtain, director of public affairs at Heneghan PR, were relayed to INM's largest shareholder, Denis O'Brien. Breach It is alleged Mr O Neachtain briefed PR executive Nigel Heneghan on the conversation he had with Mr Naughten. In turn, Mr Heneghan alerted INM's then chairman, Leslie Buckley, to the minister's thinking. The State's corporate watchdog has claimed Mr Buckley then emailed Mr O'Brien in a move that may amount to "inside information" and a breach of stock market rules. In the Dail yesterday, Mr Naughten confirmed that he took a call from Mr O Neachtain in November 2016. He said the former government press secretary told him the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had approved the INM acquisition. The minister acknowledged that he told Mr O Neachtain that his "personal view" was that a referral to the BAI was likely, but said he stressed the decision would be based on future advice of officials. The minister said it would have been "preferable if the conversation had not taken place", but repeatedly argued that he did not express a "definitive view". "Nor did I state that the view expressed was a confidential one," said Mr Naughten. There is no note of the phone call and the minister did not inform his officials about it. Fianna Fail's Timmy Dooley claimed it was "not credible" that a PR executive hired by INM would "attempt to mislead their client" by suggesting the phone call was more than the minister was stating. In response, Mr Naughten said he is "crystal clear" that he gave his "personal view" based on information already in the public domain. Sinn Fein TD Mary Lou McDonald accused the minister of acting "outside of the law" and in a manner that was "inappropriate". A 22-year-old woman was struck by a car on her way to work at this roundabout in Swords, causing serious head injuries A 19-year-old cyclist has died after he was involved in a collision with a truck in south Dublin. The teenager was rushed to hospital with serious injuries following the incident, which occurred between Donnybrook and UCD yesterday. The incident happened at the junction of the Stillorgan Road and Greenfield Park at 3pm, near RTE studios. The young man was taken to St Vincent's Hospital, but was later pronounced dead. The driver of the truck was uninjured. Witnesses Gardai are now appealing for any witnesses to contact Donnybrook Garda Station on 01 6669200, the Garda Confidential line or any garda station. Meanwhile, a 22-year-old Dublin woman is still fighting for her life in hospital after she was struck by a car on her way to work. The young woman, named locally as Jodie Regazzoli, was about to start her morning shift at River Island in the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords on Monday when the accident occurred. Ms Regazzoli sustained serious head injuries attempting to cross a two-lane road on the R132, just a few minutes away from her workplace. Emergency crews, including Dublin Fire Brigade, immediately rushed to the scene. The 22-year-old was then taken to Beaumont Hospital where she remains in a serious condition. The driver of the car was not injured. Balbriggan councillor Tony Murphy told the Herald that he's praying Jodie makes a speedy and full recovery. "I'm sure it's a very difficult time for her family and friends so of course my heart goes out to them," he said. Gardai are appealing for witnesses to the serious road traffic collision. In particular, they are seeking film footage and are asking drivers and cyclists with dash cams or GoPros to contact Swords Garda Station on 01 666 4700 or the Garda Confidential line on 1800 666111. LDS members told to 'Find Christ in all aspects of your life' during Saturday afternoon General Conference session Members of The Church of Jesus Christ of Latter-day Saints listening to the Saturday afternoon session of the 191st Semiannual General Conference were treated to a number of global experiences. A multicultural choir from LDS Stakes in northern Utah was selected to provide the music for the Saturday afternoon session, while several members of the Seventy spoke from their various locations around the world because of restricted travel due to COVID. Among the business of the church, six members of the Seventy were released and given emeritus status. They include: Elder J. Devn ... Legacy of a lynching: State panel, victim's relatives revisit slaying "Everyone has to be open and vulnerable to be honest about how their history affects how they respond to situations today," says NAACP leader. Providers: $25.5 billion in Provider Relief Fund & American Rescue Plan rural funding is now available. Check your eligibility and submit your application by October 26, 2021. Even as India witnesses persistent agricultural distress and farmer protests, there is a food revolution underway across the world. It is a true David (or more accurately, Davids) versus Goliath story, of what is called the peasant food web, taking on the industrial food chain. This revolution isnt happening in any one place, but all across the world. Like most revolutions, it is a fight that is being fuelled by grassroots energy and activism. And this is why it is bound to succeed. In the coming years, India completely by accident could be one of the key theatres for this victory. The terms industrial food chain and peasant food web were coined to contrast two competing food systems, in a report titled Who will feed us? published in 2017 by the ETC Group, a research institution working on ecology, technology and economics. The report says the peasant food web is not a pseudonym for agro-ecology, organic farming, permaculture, or any other production system. Were organic farming employed throughout food production, we would be closer to food security but not necessarily closer to food sovereignty. The industrial food chain (IFC) refers to the various components of the links running from production inputs to consumption outcomes, and includes crop and livestock genomics, pesticides and fertilisers, as well as transportation and processing systems. The chain controls the policy environment of the worlds most important resource our food. The peasant food web (PFW) is made of small-scale producers, usually family or women-led, that include farmers, livestock-keepers and urban/peri-urban producers. While some peasants do use chemicals for commercial produce, most of what PWF produces is de facto organic. The statistics about the relative share of these two food systems in feeding the world are quite stunning: The PFW caters to more than 70% of the worlds food needs, compared to 30% by the IFC, and yet only consumes 25% of the energy for this, compared to 75% of energy consumed by the IFC. And yet, advocates of the IFC have so far won most of the policy battles, defining government regulations in virtually every country. Our solutions for food systems are tilted towards IFC-based solutions: larger and more commercial farms, more mechanisation, more chemical fertiliser and pesticides, etc. This isnt because those who are advocating for industrial-scale solutions are evil, or morally compromised rather, many are intensely public-spirited and have been seized by the gigantic challenge of feeding our populations. But change is coming from two independent streams: first, from the growing awareness of the long-term negative consequences of adopting IFC such as monoculture (growing only one crop), or the impact of chemical fertilisers and pesticides on the inherent quality of the soil and final produce. Second, from a new force not evident a decade earlier the steadily increasing sustainable food movement at the grassroots, aimed at providing a viable alternative to feed the world. The emerging change is being propelled not by unsubstantiated sentimentality, but by scientific evidence. The scientific community which earlier was an ally of the industrial chain system, is now more frequent in its support of the food web as a sustainable practice, with favourable research findings on how the food web approach results in better soil quality, less water usage, and superior food quality. What are the components of a successful food web approach, and what is needed for the adoption of such an approach? Four key elements may be considered as critical components of this model: no use of chemical fertilisers and pesticides; diversity in seed banks; small landholdings by farmers and growers; and proximity to end consumer markets. A shift from using unhealthy chemicals as well as genetically modified seeds, requires determined champions to continue their policy advocacy to find the right solutions and political leadership. Establishing enabling food policies is critical to ensure that important experiments dont become innovation fireflies. The second two components are interlinked to regional land zoning plans, and demand side urban economics. For the model to work, there is a minimum catchment of demand, and a local geographic footprint to the supply. Urban centres are the logical theatres for such models to work. The success of the model depends upon a critical mass of urban consumers who are demanding better quality food, and who will not only sustain the economics of this approach, but also act as a tipping point for more consumer conversion. Combined with adequate demand, minimising the farm to table distance is critical to ensure the economics of the approach. With adequate incentives, farmers will switch their growing practices, and be able to quickly see the economic gain from doing so. Such a localised food system allows all four components to work together. When there is adequate policy support, this local, small is beautiful food web approach may be able to build a quiet foundation, which grows organically over time to take an increasing share of the food wallet of the urban consumer. (The second part of this article will appear next week) Swati Ramanathan is chairperson, Jana Urban Space Foundation, and co-founder, Jana Group. The views expressed are personal The Danes can teach us a thing or two about living happily. They consistently rank (along with Nordic countries like Norway and Finland) among the happiest countries in the world, according to the World Happiness Report produced by the United Nations Sustainable Development Solutions Network. And the concept of hygge plays a major role in it. To define briefly, hygge is a Norwegian and Danish word to describe a mood of coziness and feelings of well-being and contentment. Hygge became a lifestyle trend globally after it inspired a number of books, most of which have achieved best-seller status the notable ones include The Little Book of Hygge: The Danish Way To Live Well by Meik Wiking and Hygge: The Danish Art of Happiness by Marie Tourell Sderberg. Creating an atmosphere that fosters warmth and comfort is considered to be hygge. So, lighting candles, sipping on hot chocolate, going on a picnic, and cozying up with a book all constitute hygge. Now, Denmark is planning to ask the United Nations cultural agency UNESCO to officially recognise the concept of hygge, which, they argue, makes their country among the happiest in the world. The Visit Denmark tourist campaign said on Wednesday that the country would make an application to UNESCO. If it is successful, UNESCO will recognise hygge as the intangible cultural heritage of Denmark. With increasing societal pressures and the growing importance of well-being, hygges emphasis on togetherness and equality can have real and tangible benefits, said Meik Wiking, author and founder/CEO of The Happiness Research Institute, who is also a backer of the bid. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more It was all about Abhishek Bachchans sarcastic, yet on point, retort to a Twitter user who tagged the actor while talking about a subject close to many of us Indians hearts living with our parents. While we all said a yaay, probably quietly, as Abhishek spoke of the reasons why he stays with Jaya and Amitabh Bachchan, only a few would remember that his wife Aishwarya Rai had fielded the same question with equal amount of sass over a decade ago on American television. The year was 2005 and Aishwarya was making her foray in Hollywood with films such as Bride and Prejudice and The Mistress of Spices. She would go on to do Provoked, The Last Legion and Pink Panther 2. In 2005, while promoting Gurinder Chadhas take on Pride and Prejudice, she also appeared on The David Letterman Show where the host asked her the old chestnut: Do you still stay with your parents and is it normal in India? Her answer was just perfect: Its fine to live with your parents, because Its also common in India, we dont have to take appointments from the parents to meet for dinner. While Lettermans question was met with a laugh in the studio, Aishwaryas answer got her applause. In todays world when Indian film industry and its exports are easily recognizable, it is strange to see Aishwarya explaining India, its ethos, Bollywood and musicals in the video. Of course, this video happened long before Aishwarya married Abhishek. The couple has a daughter, Aaradhya, together. Yes! And its the proudest moment for me to be able to be there for them, as they have for me. Try it sometime, you might feel better about yourself. Abhishek Bachchan (@juniorbachchan) April 17, 2018 On Wednesday, a Twitter user, @stillyoungest had written, Dont feel bad about your life. Just remember @juniorbachchan still lives with his parents. Keep hustling everyone!. Abhishek had a proud, prompt reply: Yes! And its the proudest moment for me to be able to be there for them, as they have for me. Try it sometime, you might feel better about yourself. Bollywood actor Akshay Kumar was injured on the sets of Kesari during a heavy-duty action sequence, a Zoom TV report claimed late Wednesday. The film based on the Battle of Saragarhi, also features Parineeti Chopra and will hit theatres on Holi 2019. It is directed by Anurag Singh. Kesari first look: Akshay Kumar is ready for war, in the third film on Battle of Saragarhi The report claimed the 50-year-old actor suffered an injury in his ribs during the shooting off the climax and had to take a break from the shooting on Wednesday. He has reportedly been advised rest and also has a chopper on standby. Despite several suggestions of going back to Mumbai, Akshay decided to stay on location in Wai. The actor was supposed to wrap the action sequences on Thursday. Akshay Kumars Kesari has these beautiful kids too Kesari is based on the 1897 Sargarhi battle. The battle was fought between British Indian Army that comprised 21 Sikh soldiers and Afghan Orakzai tribesmen in North-West Frontier Province . Check out some previous pics from the sets of Kesari: Akshay is playing Havildar Ishwar Singh in the film. Singh led the Sikhs in the fight. The film will show Akshay is several action scenes and these are being choreographed by stunt coordinator Lawrence Woodward of the Oscar-winning Mad Max: Fury Road (2015) fame. I have been shooting for Kesari since the last one and a half months, and every time that I wear the taaj (turban) on my head, I am filled with pride, Akshay had said earlier. Follow @htshowbiz for more Few days after many Bollywood celebrities took to the streets to protest the Kathua and Unnao rape case, a hurt Amitabh Bachchan asked media not to rake up the issue and he feels disgusted even talking about it. The 75-year-old actor -- who is the face of the governments Beti Bachao-Beti Padao campaign -- was asked about the two rapes that have outraged the country. Mujhe uss vishay par charcha karne mein ghinn aati hai. So uss vishay ko uchhalo mat (I feel disgusted even talking about it. So, dont rake up this issue). Its terrible to even talk about it, he told reporters. Bachchan was speaking at the song launch of his upcoming film 102 Not Out. Several Bollywood celebrities have reacted angrily over the incidents and have demanded justice for the victims of the Kathua, Unnao and Surat rape cases that have sparked nationwide outrage and criticism. Student protests continue in Kashmir over Kathua case In Kathua district of Jammu and Kashmir, an eight-year-old child from a minority Muslim nomadic community was allegedly held in captivity in a small village temple for a week in January this year. She was kept sedated and sexually assaulted before being bludgeoned to death.The incident has sparked massive protests across the country. Kathua rape victim given bhang pills, strong doses of sedatives, say police A few days ago, reacting to the Kathua rape case, Swara Bhaskar, Sonam Kapoor and Kareena Kapoor Khan posted pictures of themselves holding placards that said, I am Hindustan. I am ashamed, #JusticeForYourChild. 8 year old. Gangraped. Murdered in Devi Sthaan. TEMPLE. #Kathua. Several others from Bollywood, including Manoj Bajpayee, Shruti Seth and Richa Chadha, joined the trio in demanding justice for the victim. Bollywood celebs including Twinkle Khanna, Rajkummar Rao and Helen participated in a peace march protesting the rapes over the weekend in Mumbai. Follow @htshowbiz for more Lets put it in straight, clear words: Shah Rukh Khan has ruined lives. Sure he gave so many of us a purpose to live and a renewed faith in love through his beautiful movies, we still cant deny the blatant destruction he left in his path. The actors romantic movies, the love songs, the dreamy locations, the fairytale proposals have been raising womens hopes from men (and love in general) for quite a few decades now. We too want a Raj for our Simran and a Rahul to our Anjali. But because we are no Simrans or Anjalis or Poojas ourselves, we rarely find ourselves in a love story so pure. However, a woman decided to break out of the dream and create her own fairytale. In a recent post made by Indias answer to Humans of New York, Humans of Bombay shared the story of a fed-up Bengali woman who decided to propose to her boyfriend when he would not give her the Shah Rukh Khan treatment. Because their parents took a lot of time to be convinced for the wedding, the couple didnt really have much scope for a full-blown, surprise filmy proposal. But the Bollywood crazy bride decided she wanted to turn Shah Rukh Khan for her husband and proposed to him on his birthday instead. Read her story here: Shahrukh Khan ruined my life! Since I was a little girl, I always dreamed of having the perfect proposal from the perfect man. Violins would start playing in the background, he would walk up to me slowly, while the wind blew in my hair, fall to his knees and hand me the ring. But that never happened. In fact, we found ourselves in the middle of this mess where I was trying to convince my Bengali parents to let me marry a Punjabi Baniya! Wed been dating for 3 years, but the majority of that time was spent on bringing our families together. At one point in our relationship, we were sure that we were going to get married --so he never even tried to surprise me with a proposal. Amidst all this drama of a big, fat Indian wedding, I realised-- I never had my filmy moment! So, on his birthday, I decided to take the matter into my own hands. I planned a surprise party at the restaurant where we had our first date, and as soon as he walked in-- I asked the DJ to play Marry Me by Bruno Mars and fell to my knees when he walked in. I said Ashish Aggrawal-- I want to spend the rest of my life laughing, crying and fighting with you-- will you marry me? He looked at me, smirked, pulled me in for a hug and whispered - lets hope our kids arent as filmy! And just like that, I created the moment Id been waiting for..why do women have to wait for the guy to propose? Its a new day, new age-- if you like him, then maybe you should put a ring on it! While most comments are praising the woman and her story, many missed the sarcasm of her tone by a mile. They are asking her what is Shah Rukhs fault in this situation. SRK didnt ruin your life.....he showed you how beautiful it can be...he never told anyone this will happen with everyone off the reel.....besides did you just compare ur man with king of romance?, a comment read. We guess people will always find something to hate on even on a wholesome post as this one. Heres hoping they catch the sarcasm in the headline above. Follow @htshowbiz for more India and Mauritius on Thursday concluded the second round of negotiations for the proposed free trade agreement (FTA), aimed at boosting bilateral trade and investments. The three-day talks for Comprehensive Economic Cooperation and Partnership Agreement (CECPA) started in New Delhi on Tuesday, a government official said. During the deliberations, trade in goods, services besides economic cooperation were discussed. In an FTA, two trading partners cut or eliminate duties on majority of goods besides liberalising norms to promote services trade and boost investments. According to experts, India may not get huge benefit in goods sector as Mauritius is a small market, but services sectors such as IT and tourism hold huge potential to enhance economic ties. Island nation Mauritius is the top source of foreign direct investment (FDI) into India. In 2016-17, India received $15.72 billion. The bilateral trade between the countries stood at about $900 million in 2016-17. Sima Kamil is a reluctant role model in Pakistan. The 61-year-old chief executive officer walks into a 21st-floor meeting room at United Bank Ltd.s headquarters in Karachi and right away says she doesnt want to be viewed as a token woman and would prefer to discuss the banks strategy. Yet she recognizes that as the only woman heading a private sector lender in Pakistan -- and one of the very few women leading companies in the country -- she has a responsibility that goes beyond her job. Its a privilege and a burden at the same time, she says in an interview in a building overlooking the sandstone school her father attended, amid the urban sprawl of the nations largest city. They roll you out. Ive tried to avoid that and its not always easy; some people feel I should do it because its part of my duty, so theres a balance to be struck. Kamils rise through the ranks of Pakistans intensely male-dominated banking industry in the conservative Islamic republic is nothing short of extraordinary. Her appointment last year was a further milestone in a country that became the first Muslim-majority nation to elect a female premier, yet where about one-fifth of all women marry before they turn 18 and many still face routine domestic violence and repression. Sima Kamil, chief executive officer of United Bank Ltd., poses for a photograph in Karachi, Pakistan, on Wednesday, April 4, 2018. Pakistans second-largest bank by assets aims to double its current-account deposits in five years as it extends its reach into the nations rising middle class through new technology and a branch revamp. (Asim Hafeez/Bloomberg) Women from Pakistans elite have long held high political office. The most prominent was former Prime Minister Benazir Bhutto, who hailed from a dynastic feudal family and was assassinated in 2007. From a less privileged background, Kamils path to the top came with considerable family support. Karachi, the sleepy port city where Kamil grew up Kamils father grew up in Karachi when it was a sleepy port city before Pakistans violent partition with India in 1947. Her mothers side of the family was uprooted during the tumultuous separation. They travelled from Eastern Punjab to Lahore by train -- a mode of transport that routinely led to some of the worst ethnic violence during the period. Surviving the move, her maternal family intently focused on education. Kamils mother studied philosophy at college and her father met his future wife at a poetry reading in Lahore. Her mother continued to enjoy and compose Urdu poetry and demanded the best schooling for her son and daughter. She was the driving force, Kamil says. Kamil enrolled at Karachi Grammar School, one of the citys most prestigious establishments. Listing Margaret Atwood and Graham Greene as authors she enjoys, she became a keen student of literature and history. If I had my wish those are what I would have studied and that is still what I read; I never read books on economics, she says. Her family wasnt wealthy and didnt have the luxury to send me off to study arts or humanities. Kamil moved to London and acquired an MBA from City University. Though she won a place to study development economics at Oxford her family couldnt afford it. Instead, she returned to Pakistan to work for American Express Co. in Karachi. About three years later Kamil landed a job at ANZ Grindlays Bank first in Karachi and then Lahore. The move to the other city upset her parents as its rare even today for women in Pakistan to live alone. Most reside with their family until they are married and even then many continue to live at home or move in with their in-laws. Kamils ascent is all the more remarkable given the slow pace of progress for women in Pakistan. Just 22 percent of the nations female population is employed. Thats up only slightly from 20 percent in 2008, according to World Bank data; it compares with 24 percent in India and a 43 percent average rate in East Asia and the Pacific. Violence against women is common and human rights organizations estimate about 1,000 so-called honor killings occur annually in Pakistan, though legislation was passed in recent years to protect women. To pass a bill is nothing, says Khush Bakht Shujat, a 69-year-old senator from Karachi and one of Pakistans first female TV anchors. In many households men arent educated and sometimes they are hiding behind religion, sometimes they are hiding behind rituals. Nonetheless, Kamil was ambitious and rose through the ranks at ANZ Grindlays, spending two years in the mid-1990s in Melbourne. She moved again to Pakistan to become head of credit and then corporate regional executive before the lenders takeover by Standard Chartered Plc in 2000. In 2001 it was at Habib Bank Ltd., the nations largest lender, that she found her mentor, Rafiuddin Zakir Mahmood, who was CEO until 2012. She was hired to run a regional corporate banking unit and was promoted to head the division in 2004. Managing a bank unheard of for a woman Kamils education gave her a reputation as an upper-class, English-speaking Pakistani. So in bank branches Mahmood sought to see if Kamil could connect with the work force and had her converse with staff who spoke only Urdu and Punjabi. After Kamil passed those tests, Mahmood promoted her to head the lenders branch network in 2011. In that role she managed thousands of employees, which was unheard of for a woman, Kamil says. It shocked everybody in the bank because they thought I couldnt do it. She brought about the highest annual average current account deposit growth in the industry, placing it first among Pakistans banks. With her eye on the top job, Kamil was appointed CEO last year at the lenders main rival UBL -- whose headquarters is a stones throw away. Its always an ambition for anyone who is in senior management at a bank, she says. She acknowledges obstacles yet says she wasnt treated in a sexist way. Sexism is you cant do this because youre a woman, I have not encountered that, she says. But, yes, as a woman when you go in a new role you get tested and people take a bit of time if they are not used to working with women to relate to you. Success came from Kamils abilities to galvanize her troops, according to three former colleagues, who asked not to be identified so they could speak freely about Kamil. She wasnt authoritarian and gained respect through her focus and drive, they said. In Kamils own words she rewards outperformers, while being clear about expectations and holding conferences with those who fall behind. An early riser in a country with a late-night culture where dinners and gatherings finish after midnight, Kamil starts sending emails at 6.30 am, sometimes to the annoyance of her colleagues. On the weekends Kamil likes to cook with her husband, a lawyer she married 12 years ago. Kamil has a 30-year-old stepdaughter who now lives in the US and has had the luxury to study history and English at university in the UK Were very proud of her; she would never work in a bank, Kamil laughs. Some cultural norms in Pakistan are slowly changing. The #MeToo movement has resonated within the country, across social media and in marches in cities, though Kamil says that has been only for the high level, the elite or whatever you want to call them. For women in lower classes or in rural areas its harder to speak out, she says. Lax enforcement of gender employment laws Gender employment laws in Pakistan are laxly enforced, from the 10 percent female staff quota in the public sector to the requirement that corporate boards must have at least one woman. There are only six women in Pakistan who have reached the highest pay grade in the public sector and prejudice over domestic roles means many women arent promoted, says Farzana Bari, a former director of the Gender Studies department at Islamabads Quaid-i-Azam University. They will not actually open gates for them, Bari says. The state has responsibilities through affirmative action. Kamil acknowledges thats also the case at her bank. While higher than the public sector requirement, only 16 percent of UBLs employees are women and most are found in branches. She wants to raise that number to about 25 percent. She also says there is no gender pay gap at the bank if women meet the mark. Kamil says her task at the 59-year-old lender has barely begun. And while she may have changed some perceptions of what women can do in Pakistan, Kamil thinks merit will make her a better role model. (Asim Hafeez/Bloomberg) We need to make sure that we can encourage them to come into middle and senior management roles, Kamil said in a Bloomberg Television interview Thursday. Thats our challenge. She also aims to double current account deposits to Rs 920 billion ($7.9 billion) within five years in a country where only 13 percent of the more than 200 million population has a bank account. Many are bullish and the bank has 16 analyst buy ratings, the most among the Pakistans largest banks, according to data compiled by Bloomberg. Yet Kamil says her task at the 59-year-old lender has barely begun. And while she may have changed some perceptions of what women can do in Pakistan, Kamil thinks merit will make her a better role model. That will take a bit of time, respect is not earned in a year -- if I give results then that will be far more powerful for women than just saying she got there, Kamil says before she walks out to her next meeting -- where she will be the only woman. The Border Roads Organisation (BRO) has constructed two wooden bridges over River Kali, which demarcates Indias border with Nepal, to facilitate migration of thousands of stranded villagers to Uttarakhands Vyans valley from their winter shelters through the neighbouring country. The bridges were constructed to provide an alternative route via Nepal after traditional tracks that linked Dharchula valley with Vyans valley were damaged in a landslide in February. More than 2400 villagers from seven villages who had migrated to Dharchula valley during winter got stranded after the road links between the two valleys in Pithoragarh district were snapped, prompting the Indian authorities to approach their Nepalese counterpart to construct the bridges. According to Dharchula sub-divisional magistrate (SDM) RKpandey the two bridges-- one 40 meters long at Lakhanpur and another 60 meters long at Nazangwere constructed within ten days after getting clearance from the Nepal government. The villagers will cross the bridge at Lakhanpur to enter Nepal from Dharchula valley, the SDM said adding Through the second bridge at Nazang they will re-enter the Indian territory to reach Vyans valley. He said the villagers would now have to travel for over 45 minutes within Nepalese territory to reach Nazang. According to the SDM, some of the villagers had already started returning to their villages. The villagers of Kuti and Nabhi, most distant part of the Vyans valley, would return from first week of the next month, he added. Asked about the security of the villagers during their return journey, the SDM said that Indian administration would send home guards to escort villagers in batches as the armed guards could not be sent inside a foreign country. Moreover, we are depending on the security arrangement made by a friendly neighbour, who has promised the security of our people during the travel within its territory said the SDM. Apart from the stranded villagers, the new bridges would also be used by the traders involved in Indo-China border trades to take their goods by mules to Gunji mart, where they stock their merchandise before the commencement of trade in June, the SDM said. According to the SDM, the bridges, which are likely to remain intact until the onset of monsoon, will also facilitate the movement of villagers from two Nepalese villages of Tinkar and Changru, who also traditionally return to their high altitude villages from Indian territory during summer. Meanwhile, villagers of Darma valley, who are also returning from winter migration, demanded reconstruction of three bridges at Dung Dung, Chaunti Sey and Bongathal that were washed away. The villagers of Bon village will get trapped at an altitude of 11000 feet if steps are not taken to construct the bridges, said Asha Bonal, gram Pradhan of Bon village in Darma valley. A non-government organisation (NGO) urged the National Green Tribunal (NGT) on Thursday for the suspension of the all-weather Char Dham road project in the absence environmental clearances. The Rs 12,000-crore project, inaugurated by Prime Minister Narendra Modi, aims to provide better road connectivity to the four shrines in Uttarakhand -- Gangotri, Yamunotri, Badrinath and Kedarnath. Advocates of the Dehradun-based NGO, Citizens for Green Doon (CFGD), submitted an affidavit before NGT, saying the project has been mischievously divided into segments to avoid taking green clearance under the environment impact assessment (EIA) notification, 2006. The NGT bench consisted of acting chairperson justice Jawad Rahim, justice Raghuvendra Singh Rathore and an expert. The final argument in the case is scheduled on May 3. The ministry of environment, forest and climate change (MoEFCC) submitted an affidavit before the tribunal on March 20, claiming that no environment clearance (EC) or EIA is needed for the project. The affidavit mentioned that a high-level committee, constituted by MoEFCC in 2012, has recommended that national highway-widening projects up to 100km do not need EIA. The project is, however, divided into parts with less than 100km to obviate the need for EC and EIA. The project has been cleverly drafted to avoid taking any clearances. We have demanded that the project be suspended unless EC and EIA are taken, said Aagney Sail, a lawyer of the NGO. In its affidavit, the MoEFCC has stated, The committee so constituted had recommended that expansion of national highway projects up to 100 km, involving additional right of way or land acquisition up to 40 metres on existing alignment and 60 metres on re-alignments or by-passes, may be exempted from the preview of the notification. It further stated, In view of the said recommendation, the government of India exempted expansion projects of national highways greater than 100 kms, involving additional right of way or land acquisition greater than 40 metres on existing alignments and 60 metres on re-alignments or by-passes, from the requirement of environmental impact assessment vide notification dated 22.8.2013. The tribunal had stayed tree cutting for the project last month. But the ruling didnt stop construction work along nearly 900-km route. The advocates also said the muck, generated from road construction and dumped along the route, flows into rivers, which could lead to a disaster similar to the 2013 Kedarnath tragedy. The muck is flowing into the rivers and will collect. Once the region receives heavy rainfall, we might have to face similar catastrophe like that in 2013 due to floods, said Sanjay Parikh, a senior advocate of the NGO. Nainital Bank, which is a scheduled commercial bank in Uttarakhand and a subsidiary of the Bank of Baroda, may be privatised, fears its employees. The management has, however, said that though Bank of Baroda may reduce its stake in the bank, it will remain in the same form and will not be privatised. The 96-year-old bank was set up by dignitaries such as Pandit Govind Ballabh Pant and others. The bank has 135 branches operating in five states Uttarakhand, Uttar Pradesh, Delhi, Haryana and Rajasthan. It became a subsidiary of the Bank of Baroda in 1973, which now has a 98.5% stake in the bank. Chandra Shekhar Kanyal, who is the president of the Nainital Bank Officers Union, alleged that efforts were on to hand over the bank to a corporate sector bank. Some corporate sector companies failed in obtaining banking licence as their lending was not 40%. The government is now making a backdoor arrangement for these corporate sector banks to gain control of scheduled banks, said Kanyal. He said that there were around 870 employees of the bank and they favoured remaining as a scheduled bank and a subsidiary of the Bank of Baroda. We will protest all moves of the Bank of Baroda in diluting its stake, he said. Bank of Baroda has joined its government-run rivals, including State Bank of India and Punjab National Bank, in efforts to raise funds by selling non-core assets as the worlds highest bad-loan ratio erodes profitability. Mukesh Kumar, chairman of the bank, said that Bank of Baroda will be lessening its stake in the bank to promote digitisation. The name of the bank will remain the same and it will become a digitally enabled bank, he said. Kumar, however, refuted the charge that the bank will be sold to a private sector corporation or corporate sector bank. I assure you that no such talks are on at present and we are in fact moving towards an era of growth. We will be opening eight more branches and the Non Performing Assets are already down from 165 crores last year to 162 crores this year. The profit has also gone up, due to which the bank will not be sold to any private entity, he said. Nainital Bank reported 484 million rupees of net income in the year ended March 31. (With inputs from agencies) The Supreme Court on Thursday directed the chief secretaries of Haryana and Delhi to appear before it on Monday after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to the national Capital. A bench headed by Justice Madan B Lokur took a strong note of the apathy shown by authorities in dealing with water woes of the residents of the national Capital. People are dying. But no urgency is being shown by you people, the court said, directing senior officials of the two state governments to appear before it in person on April 23. The Delhi government had informed the apex court it was in talks with Haryana for the release of 450 cusec of water of the Yamuna river daily for the national Capital. The apex court was hearing a plea filed by the DJB alleging that Haryana had reduced by one-third the supply of Yamuna water to the national Capital, leading to a grave water crisis. The DJB has contended in its plea that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusec of water daily as against 450 cusec per day, which was agreed upon between the state and the Union Territory. It has claimed that while the population of Delhi has increased phenomenally over the years, there has not been a commensurate rise in water supply. The DJB has said that due to the present curtailment in water supply to the Wazirabad reservoir, the plant is running at reduced capacity leading to grave water crisis in the city. It had said the situation would escalate with the onset of summer and as the demand for drinking water shoots up. It has sought directions from the apex court to the Haryana government to supply the full 450 cusec of water per day continuously and daily to the Wazirabad reservoir. The Delhi High Court had recently told the Haryana government it has to stick to its 2014 direction specifying the amount of water to be released to Delhi every day. Prime Minister Narendra Modi spoke at a community event in London. But even as he was addressing a global audience and the Indian diaspora, his message for citizens back home in an election year was clear. Both the government and the BJP have faced a set of political difficulties in recent weeks bypoll losses, judicial verdicts which have agitated key social groups like the Dalits, public agitations around issues of sexual violence where the political leadership has come across as unresponsive, and a growing narrative that the government is struggling to meet the high expectations it had generated in 2014. But Mr Modi, in his characteristic manner, introduced a new variable to the public debate around these issues. Responding to a question on whether there was impatience in India, he said besabri, or restlessness, was a good thing. He used the analogy of a person owning a cycle wanting a scooter, a person owning a scooter wanting a car to suggest that India was getting aspirational. And this India, he claimed, had higher expectations from him. And these higher expectations were because people felt his government could deliver and would listen. By framing his answer in this manner, Mr Modi was attempting to do two things. He was acknowledging the ground feedback, but he was also arguing that the faith in the government and his intentions was intact. People were not disappointed, he was suggesting, because the government was not working but only because they wanted it to do more. It is this message that PM will continue to convey in the run up to an election year. The second takeaway from Mr Modis interaction was his comment on Pakistan. He emphasised Delhi wanted peace but would not tolerate terror and would give back strong answers, in the language adversaries understand. But, as evidence that India played it straight, Mr Modi said that India had always informed Pakistan when it retaliated, including after the surgical strikes. In this case, he was once again playing to his image of a strong leader back home but combined with a projection of statesmanship. And finally, the interaction focused on Mr Modis personal qualities particularly his humble roots and his hard work. The London event revealed the ingredients of the Modis 2019 campaign the message the government is doing its bit but needs more time to meet expectations; that it is tough and will defend national interests; and he is the best man to lead India. As political parties tripped over themselves to pay tributes to Basaveshwara, the 12t century poet-philosopher and social reformer on his birth anniversary, most seem to have forgotten what he fought for. His dream was the establishment of a casteless society which renounced the rituals of Hindu society. He stood for openness and democracy and for the right of people from all castes, classes, gender and creeds to express themselves. Today, his followers, the Veerashaivas or Lingayats, have become sought after as a votebank to the extent that the Congress government in the state has proposed minority religious status for them. But while many leaders, including Prime Minister Narendra Modi and Karnataka chief minister Siddaramaiah, garlanded Basavas statue, the message of inclusiveness is not reflected in ticket distribution. Muslims constitute 13% of the states population, but the BJP has not given them a single ticket in the list of 154 candidates announced so far. The Janata Dal (Secular) has given Muslims four tickets out of the 126 candidates it has announced and the Congress has offered 15 seats in the 218 candidates it has announced. Basvannas philosophy enabled women mystics like Akka Mahadevi, Neelagangambike and Kethaladevi to emerge and fight for a just and equal society, but political parties which pay lip service to his ideals hardly give any representation to them. Though women constitute half of the states population, so far there are only 22 women among the 500 candidates who have been given tickets by the three major parties. Here again, the Congress leads with 15. The scenario was no different in the outgoing assembly. Of the 224 seats, there were just six women and 11 Muslims legislators. Political parties often use the excuse of winnability as the key factor in deciding to deny representation to certain weaker and marginalised sections of society. These were the same philosophies that Basvanna and his followers fought so bitterly against. Political parties should follow his most famous saying kaayakave kailasa or work itself is worship. The choice before all parties is clear. They can go to the polls promising a just, inclusive society based on Basavas philosophy or propagate a divisive one. So far, unfortunately, the latter has happened. If you are a fan of the British royal family, like us, then you will be super-excited about the upcoming nuptials of Prince Harry and American actor Meghan Markle (on May 19, at Windsor Castle). As new details emerge about the wedding preparations the official wedding cake will be a lemon elderflower cake baked by chef Claire Ptak of Violet Cakes in London, there will be lots of peonies (Markles favourite) supplied by London-based florist Philippa Craddock, but there is no consensus on which tiara Markle will wear at the wedding you may be forgiven for thinking that you are a part of the royal entourage, or even an esteemed guest. After all, the fairytale love story of a prince and his Hollywood bride has drawn the attention of millions. But counsellors warn that there is a dark side to this fantasy: it may become an extreme and potentially dangerous obsession, and eventually damage your mental health. Such concerns were raised by mental health professionals since Harry and Meghan announced their engagement in December 2017, when royal fans avid fascination with the UK royal family reached an all-time high. Mental health experts warn such an obsession could lead fans to lose touch with reality. Sue Varma, a psychiatrist and clinical assistant professor at New York University Langone Medical Center, says that fandom can intensify into a mild obsession, but when it deepens, it can raise red flags. I absolutely dont have a problem with somebody having an obsession with the royal family. I dont think thats the problem in and of itself, Varma told Reuters. Its the lack of other activities, the lack of flexibility, the fact that youre taking away time from something else. Is this time that you could have been spending with your kids? Is this time you could be talking with your partner? Varma said, adding, When you start socialising with people that you dont know, when you dont have a reciprocal relationship, this is called parasocial. Its one-sided. This is a problem when youre living in a fantasy world at the expense of creating real relationships, she said. Varma also warned that celebrity obsessions can lead to body image issues, such as body dysmorphic disorder. People become obsessed with celebrities and, a lot of times, they start having body image issues, they start feeling like they need to get plastic surgery, she said. Follow @htlifeandstyle for more In the dead of night, when most houses in the city go dark and the streets are deserted, there are some corners that remain abuzz with the gaggle of residents gathered for a late night meal. Among the things that makes this city stand out is a wide range of eateries, offering lip-smacking food at affordable rates round the clock. These brightly-lit food shacks attract not just residents but also people from across the National Capital Region (NCR), who make the journey from across the border to satisfy their gastronomic urges. Especially popular among the youth, these eateries are visited mostly by teenagers and people in their twenties. Part of the reason for this is the clutch of BPOs and MNCs that have set up shop in the city. Hence, such eateries, which mostly mushroom around these commercial establishments, follow their work hours and stay open through the night. Among the items that are mostly sold at these food shacks are paranthas, Maggi and steaming cups of tea and coffee. The steaming cuppas are especially popular at the time when the city is in grip of the winter chill. Om Dhabha One such eatery, offering food round the clock, is the Om Dhabha. It is located in block W of DLF Phase 3, which is a stones throw away from the Moulsari Avenue Rapid Metro station. It offers a stunning view of the skyscrapers in Cyber City, as it welcomes foodies for a hearty late night platter. Established in 2011, the dhabha, with its makeshift tin roofs on concrete walls, draws customers who arrive in numbers and truck into paranthas, rolls, a range of delectable North Indian dishes and Chinese food cooked and served Indian style. There are several variations of Maggi on offer as well. The rush at the cash counter, where customers queue up to pay their bills, and the dearth of empty seats in the dining area stand to attest to the popularity of this joint when it comes to a late night meal. The customers here are a mixed crowd young couples with little children, groups of friends looking for a quick meal after a night out, as well as office goers dressed in formal wear. Although all food items are priced below Rs 550, customers insist that price is not an indication of the popularity of the dishes. This is proven true by the fact that the most expensive items on the menu - full portions of Chicken Do Pyaza and Chicken Joshila at Rs 530 each are still no match for the dhabas butter chicken, which costs only Rs 430 and is ordered by the maximum number of people each evening. Whether one is a foodie or not, a flaw in butter chicken is hard to miss. However, at Om Dhaba, the butter chicken is flawless. The chicken is tender and succulent, the gravy has a nice blend of sweet, sour and spices which makes the hour-long drive completely worth the effort and money, Manoj Sharma, a resident of Saket, New Delhi said. Two other popular dishes are the tandoori keema parantha, priced at 100, and the aloo pyaaz parantha, at 35. Laden with a generous lump of butter and served in large quantities, they make for a highly satisfying late night meal. Fresh from the tandoor, the paranthas at the dhabha are a perfect late night snack and fills us with enough energy to work till the morning hours, Shaurya Sinha, an employee of a software firm in Cyber City, said. Unnamed stalls near Huda City Centre metro station The Huda City Centre Metro station is known in New Delhi and in Gurugram as the terminus of the Delhi Metro Railway Corporations yellow line. However, slowly but surely, the area is building another identity of its own, courtesy of a bunch of unnamed food stalls operating out of an empty plot adjacent to the station and opposite the Hanuman Mandir. It isnt uncommon to find high-end cars, with number plates of Haryana, Delhi and Uttar Pradesh, queued up outside the stalls after midnight, as their owners place orders at the outlets. The orders are delivered to their vehicles. If not inside the car, foodies often tuck into the eatables leaning on their vehicles, with the hood doubling up as a makeshift table for them. Read I MCGs hawkers zone opens in Gurgaon Shyam, the operator of one of the food stalls, said that joints are open all night and are literally crammed with customers. He said the best hours of business are between 1am and 4am. Around 70 per cent of our business takes place in these three hours. In most other places, people have limited options for food items at these odds hours. But the stalls here offer a range of items and reasonable rates, Shyam said. The eateries here serve momos, rolls, Maggi, and toast and eggs between 6pm and 6am, while parathas and tea are available at all hours of the day and night. The cheapest item at the four stalls is a standard cup of tea, priced at 10 and upwards, and the costliest item is the mutton seekh roll at 80. A conversation with the regular customers reveals that these two, although on opposite ends of the price spectrum, are also the most popular items at these joints. While Om dhabha attained its popularity through employees at the BPOs and MNCs, regulars here claim that it was more by chance that they got hooked on to these food stalls. Gurugram has a reputation among Delhities for its late night food and as I was exploring the citys streets during a drive, I came across a long queue of vehicles outside these stalls at 4 in the morning. More out of curiosity than hunger, I parked my vehicle and tried the food. Since then, the city has become my preferred destination when I am looking for a meal after 12am, Anuj Saxena, a resident of Noida said. Stalls near Vipul Square in Sushant Lok Phase 1 A few blocks down from the unnamed eateries of Huda City Centre Metro station, in the lap of residential areas and office complexes in Sushant Lok Phase 1, are three stalls offering paranthas, toast and eggs, tea and Maggi round the clock, all priced below 50. Although these eateries do not have an official name, locals refer to them, collectively, as Vipul dhabha, since they are located outside the commercial complex of Vipul square. These establishments started surfacing in 2007 and, over the years, have had their fair share of highs and lows. In its early years, the Vipul dhabha was a popular hub which offered non-vegetarian food, Chinese cuisine and different types of rolls. However, according to Laxman Kumar, one of the stall owners, things changed in 2014. After residents of the area complained about the noise generated by customers, some stall owners were forced to take their businesses elsewhere, and those who remained were only allowed to operate during the day. This greatly affected out footfall and business, Kumar said. The tide, however, turned once again last year, when residents permitted them to resume operations round the clock. Although the place is still only a shadow of its former self, stall owners say business has been steadily picking up. I have been visiting this establishment for a quick meal since I was a teenager. I became a regular here since it decided to revert to its original timing, 24x7, said Sidhant Chawla, a resident of Heritage City. One aloo parantha costs 20, aloo pyaaz paratha 30, egg paratha 40 and paneer paratha 50. Maggi, toast and eggs are priced at 20 each. Food stalls outside Unitech Cyber Park, Sector 39 Although there are several options for those looking for late night street food in Gurugram, arguably the most popular destination is the area outside the Unitech Cyber Park in Sector 39, which houses around 50 food stalls. Testifying to its popularity, a long line of cars are parked outside these stalls as their owners and occupants satisfy their gastronomic juices. The vehicles often take up an entire lane spanning 500 metres, converting a three-lane road into only a two-lane one for moving traffic. Located near Bakhtawar Chowk, this spot offers an unusually wide variety of food items, going beyond the usual paranthas, rolls and Maggi and also serve dishes from different states. Litti chokha, Rajasthani thalis, Amritsari naans and Bhel Puri are only a few of the items on offer here. Barring the fish tikka stall and a few dishes on the menu of Chinese hawker vans, all items are priced below 100, making the options here light on the pocket as well. Jagbir Singh, a food vendor selling rajma chawal, was one of the first to open a food stall in the area. We all started setting up businesses here in 2009 when a BPO opened its office in the area, allowing us to make its workforce our customer base, he said. Although all the stalls have different, often unique dishes on their menu, one item that appears to be commonly available and sought after, is coffee, with seven stalls selling regular coffee and five others offering cold coffee. As a caffeine addict, this place is an ideal spot if you wish for a break from American, French or Italian versions of coffee, which are often priced steeply. I love to indulge in a cup of beat coffee, cocoa coffee or cold coffee here. They cost only 30, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a resident of Nirvana Country, said. Unlike Om dhaba, the outlets in Sushant Lok Phase 1 and those near HUDA City Centre that operate round the clock, approximately 50 stalls outside Unitech Cyber Park down shutters between 11.30pm and 2.30am, following a request from police personnel in the area. The owners decided to stay closed for two hours after some untoward incidents were reported from the spot. BOX: Om Dhabha Clientele: Young couples with little children, groups of friends looking for a quick meal after a night out, as well as office goers dressed in formal wear. Price range: Rs 30-530. Signature Dish: Butter Chicken Timing: Operational 24x7 Location: 50 m ahead of the Moulsari Avenue Metro station. Quote: Whether you are a foodie or not, any flaw in butter chicken is easy to point out. But the one at Om dhabha is faultless; the chicken is tender and succulent, the gravy has a nice balance of sweet, sour and spice which makes the hour-long drive completely worth the effort and the money, Manoj Sharma, a resident of Saket, New Delhi said. Unnamed food stalls near HUDA City Centre Metro station Clientele: Young families, couples and group of friends looking for a late night meal. Price range: Rs 10-80. Signature Dish: Mutton Seekh Rolls Timing: Parathas and tea are available 24x7, remaining items from 6 pm-6am Location: Near HCC metro station, opposite the hanuman mandir. Quote: Gurugram has a reputation among Delhities for late night food and as I was exploring the streets of the city during one of my drives, I came across a long queue of vehicles outside these stalls at 4 oclock in the morning. More out of curiosity than hunger, I too parked my vehicle and tried the food and since then the place has become my preferred destination when I am looking for a meal after twelve am, Anuj Saxena, a resident of Noida said. Eateries outside Vipul Square (Vipul Dhabha) Clientele: Group of friends looking for a late night meal staff from nearby offices. Price range: Rs 10-50. Signature Dish: Aloo Pyaaz paratha. Timing: Operational 24x7. Location: Outside Vipul Square, Sushant Lok Phase 1. Quote: I have been visiting this establishment since I was a teenager for a quick meal. I have started coming here more regularly since it has returned to its original timing, 24x7, said Sidhant Chawla, a resident of Heritage City. Eateries outside Unitech Cyber Park Clientele: Office goers dressed in formals and families, including older generations. Price range: Most dishes under rs 100. Chinese hawkers and Fish tikkas under rs 300. Signature Dish: Cold as well as hot Coffee. Timing: Closed between 11.30 pm-2.30 am. Operational in remaining hours. Location: Outside Unitech Cyber Park, sector 39 Quote: As a caffeine addict, this place is an ideal spot for getting away from the Americanized, French or Italian versions of coffee, which cost an exorbitant amount. Instead, I love to indulge in a cup of beat coffee, cocoa coffee or cold coffee that simply cost rs 30, Balwinder Singh Sandhu, a resident of Nirvana Country said. It was the courageous escape of three girls from Apna Ghar in Rohtak on May 7, 2012 that exposed the naked dance of brutality inside it. What followed was the swift rescue operation by National Commission for Protection of Child Rights (NCPCR) that took the lid off from this scandal. A day after escape, girls reached Delhi via Bhiwani where they were rescued following their call to child helpline number. HT accessed Vinod Kumar Tikoos testimony before the CBI court, who was the then NCPCR member and involved in initial counselling of the victims and search operation at Apna Ghar. As per Tikoo, the coordinator of childline visited NCPCR office on May 9 and narrated the whole story about escape of three girls. Since it was a matter of inter-state violation of child rights, the NCPCR deputed two woman consultants along with Delhis Child Welfare Committee (CWC) to seek information on the reason of their escape. At 6 pm on the same day, I got a call from CWC member who informed that the girls had narrated horrific stories of gross physical, mental and sexual abuse of children in Rohtaks shelter home and that there were a large number of minors in the home, stated Tikoo. Must read | Rohtak Apna Ghar case: Court testimony of victims reveals house of horror Teams rushed to Rohtak to probe allegations He added that following his conversation with NCPCR chairperson, teams were immediately rushed to Rohtak, about two hours from Delhi, to inquire into the allegations. Since the the then deputy commissioner was out of country, the ADC was informed of the visit without revealing its actual purpose. Upon reaching there at night, the ADC was asked to send a police team, officers from the department of social welfare to Shri Nagar colony where Apna Ghar was located. During interaction with the team, various accounts of mistreating children, mentally and sexually abusing them were given away by a number of victims. Later, around 120 inmates were rescued. A month later, Apna Ghar was sealed and the case was handed over to CBI for probe. Main accused Jaswanti being taken out of the Panchkula CBI court after she was convicted in the Apna Ghar sexual exploitation case on Wednesday. (Sant Arora/HT) Top officials failed to unearth victims plight Later in his report, Tikoo stated that the visitors book revealed visits by dignitaries like deputy commissioner, judicial magistrates, sub-divisional magistrates and other officers. However, none seemed to have interacted with children to get a feel of the ground reality and the treatment meted out to the children. Living conditions were worst as the children were not allowed to venture out of the home and were treated as captive all the time. Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) president Amit Shah said on Thursday that the central government under the leadership of Prime Minister Narendra Modi changed the scale of development work after coming to power in 2014. Addressing a convention of traders and industry leaders in the state capital, Shah said while previous governments had spoken only of building a few 1,000 toilets and erecting a few electricity poles. We changed the scale of work, because we said there shouldnt be a household without a toilet, a person without a bank account or a village without electricity. Shah said the country was in a terrible state in 2014. A series of corruption charges kept coming out thanks to the Central Bureau of Investigation, the Comptroller and Auditor General and other agencies. And the total figure for corruption was Rs12 lakh crore. Shah said in the past four years 290 million people had got bank accounts, 75 million toilets had been built and 90 million families had got gas cylinders thanks to the government. The BJP president said no government would be able to provide employment to all the youth in the country. But Modi found a new avenue of self employment, and without any guarantee or guarantor we decided to give youth loans ranging between Rs10,000 and Rs10 lakh and so far 90 million have benefited. When I spoke about this in Parliament, P Chidamabaram made fun of me, asking me if making pakodas was employment, beggars should also be classified as being employed. I feel any person who labours to make pakodas makes the same contribution as a person like Chidambaram, Shah said. Referring to the attack in Uri, Shah said, Within 10 days, Modi asked the army to go to Pakistan Occupied Kashmir and conduct a surgical strike. But Congress mocks this, asking if attacks have reduced. Reducing attacks is not in our hands, but responding to them is within our powers. Repeated attempts to reach Congress spokespersons through phone calls and messages went unanswered. India has launched the Study in India programme to draw more foreign students in about 160 premier universities and institutions across the country, including IITs and IIMs, with 15,000 seats in the 2018-19 academic year. External affairs minister Sushma Swaraj on Wednesday launched a portal to help prospective students get information about the institutions and also register and apply to the programmes of their choice through it. The quest for knowledge has always been fundamental to Indias culture and civilisation. We can rightly say that India is one of the very few places in the world where ancient traditions and modernity coexist in harmony, Swaraj said stressing on the need to make India a knowledge hub once again. India has been home to knowledge seekers from ancient times when scholars used to visit universities such as Nalanda and Takshila, she added. Minister of state for human resource development Satyapal Singh and diplomats from 30 countries were also present during the launch. Study in India has a sanctioned budget of Rs 150 crore for two years and will promote India as a top destination for higher education and funnel demand in the direction of the supernumerary seats. The government aims at attracting 2,00,000 international students through the programme from the current 45,000 or 1% of the global student mobility. We observed that the number of students coming to India for higher studies had become stagnant and more students were going to countries like Singapore and Australia. That is when we decided to make a single spot information gateway to attract more students, make our visa process hassle free and also offer fee waiver to students, human resource development (HRD) minister Prakash Javadekar said in a video message. R Subrahmanyam, HRD ministrys secretary (higher education), said the endeavour is a major step forward in freeing the Indian education market for foreign students. The government will initially target 30 friendly countries, including Nepal, Vietnam, Kazakhstan, Saudi Arabia, Nigeria, Thailand, Malaysia, Egypt, Kuwait, Iran, Sri Lanka, Bangladesh, Bhutan and Rwanda, among others. A senior HRD ministry official said 55% of the 15,000 seats are eligible for fee waivers. The number of fee waiver schemes that have been announced include a complete fee waiver to the top 25% meritorious aspirants, 50% fee waiver to the next 25% and 25% to the rest of foreign students. The BJP and Congress on Thursday accused each other of unfair politics after the Supreme Court dismissed pleas for an independent probe into the death of judge BH Loya as frivolous and ruled that he died of natural causes. The BJP alleged that the invisible hand behind the petitions seeking an independent probe into the death of judge Loya, who was hearing the alleged Sohrabuddin Sheikh fake encounter case, was that of Congress president Rahul Gandhi who tried to use the judiciary for character assassination of its chief Amit Shah. The BJP said Gandhi should apologise for his conspiracy to target Shah and the Indian judiciary. Shah, among others, was named in the Sohrabuddin case and later discharged. The Supreme Court said the pleas were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. The top court said the private litigations were motivated to settle political scores. Union home minister Rajnath Singh, who posted a series of tweets, criticised several attempts to target the BJP and its top leaders through fake cases, which failed miserably once again. The Supreme Court has also cautioned against the misuse of courts in a political tug of war. The SC verdict gives a clear message that the judiciary cannot be misled by allegations based on political vendetta, Singh said. BJP spokesperson Sambit Patra described the public interest litigations as political interest litigation, and charged that Gandhi and his party were behind it. The Congress, on its part, said the Supreme Court judgement was a sad letter day in Indias judicial history and that the verdict left many questions unanswered for all those seeking fair investigation and justice. Congress chief spokesperson Randeep Singh Surjewala said the BJPs attempts to make false political capital out of the Supreme Court judgment must be condemned. The vile BJPs attempt to misinterpret the Supreme Court judgement to attack the Congress party reflects their jitteriness and frustration. We reject and condemn the malicious attempts of the BJP to misinterpret the judgement for finger pointing, he said. Surjewala said judge Loyas suspicious death had anguished and caused concern in large sections of the people for he was trying the Tulsiram Prajapati/Sohrabuddin encounter case, where one of the accused was none less than BJP president Amit Shah. Judge Loya died of a cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, in Nagpur, where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. The issue of Judge Loyas death came under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoted his sister as raising suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and linking it to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loyas son in January this year said his father died of natural causes. Read more | Cong says SC verdict on Loya death probe marks a sad day in Indias history The Congress on Thursday appointed Niranjan Patnaik as its new state unit chief in Odisha, where elections are due next year. Patnaik, 74, made a comeback to the Odisha Pradesh Congress Committee presidents post from which he was removed a year before the 2014 elections. According to political analyst Rabi Das, Patnaiks return is important for the faction-ridden Congress state unit which is seeing an exodus of leaders to the ruling Biju Janata Dal (BJD) and the opposition Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Patnaik has the resources to lead the party. But it will be worth watching how he stops the partys decline, said Das. The All India Congress Committee (AICC) also announced three working presidents Naba Das, Pradip Majhi and Chiranjib Biswal for Odisha. Dalit leader Bhakta Das was appointed the chief of the partys campaign committee, while former Union minister Srikant Jena was chosen as chief of the manifesto committee. Former chief minister and tribal leader Hemananda Biswal was picked to head the disciplinary committee. Patnaik, who headed the state Congress unit between 2011 and 2013, said his priority in the new stint would be to strengthen the party at the grassroots. A roadmap will be made for revival of the Congress. The BJD and the BJP should not assume that the Congress is fighting a losing battle, he told mediapersons in Delhi. Patnaik replaces Prasad Harichandan, who had taken over from Dalit leader Jayadev Jena on December 15, 2014. After the Bijepur assembly bypoll loss in February in which the Congress candidate forfeited his security deposit, Harichandan had offered to resign. The clamour for Harichandan to step down, however, had started in February last year after the partys dismal show in the panchayat elections, where it ceded the second spot to the BJP. In the last one year, the Congress has lost several key leaders. It has seen big desertions in the politically important Ganjam district, where chief minister Naveen Patnaik contests from Hinjili constituency. Strong Congress leaders from the district, former Union minister Chandrasekhar Sahoo, Bikram Panda and the partys district unit chief recently joined the BJD. The state Congress chiefs post has seen four occupants in the last nine years. A 34-year-old Dalit man was allegedly abducted, held in captivity for 24 hours and brutally murdered by his employer on suspicion of stealing a gold chain in Uttar Pradeshs Fatehpur district, police have said. Additional superintendent of police Vinod Kumar said Shakti Singh, a brick kiln owner, has been arrested and charged with killing Sohanlal Raidass in Bindaur village of Jaffargunj police area. Station house officer of Jaffargunj police station Arvind Kumar said Singh lost his gold chain on Tuesday and suspected Raidass of stealing it. Raidass family members said Singh and a few other men forcibly took him away from his house on Tuesday afternoon. His son Ashish told the police that when he inquired about his father Singhs musclemen turned him away. Tension erupted in Bindaur after Raidass family discovered him bound and gagged near Singhs tubewell on Wednesday afternoon. We learnt about him lying near Singhs tubewell. We rushed there and found him, Ashish said. He called the emergency Dial 100 number and three policemen came to the village to investigate the matter. Singh, who went to jail in 2011 for killing his wife, attacked the three policemen trying to arrest him. The autopsy report has revealed Raidass hands were broken and his body had burn marks suggesting torture. Dalits are among the most marginalised groups in the country, where discrimination on the basis of caste is outlawed but remains widespread. A Dalit man was beaten to death at Sathi village of Banda district for allegedly stealing a watch in March this year. And last year, at least two Dalit men were killed in clashes between members of upper caste Thakurs and their community in the sensitive Saharanpur district of the state. Eromba, a popular Manipuri dish of boiled vegetables mashed with chilli and fermented fish is what Khomdram Gambhirs heart desired moments after he landed in Imphal 40 years after he vanished from his home state on Thursday. A warm welcome greeted Gambhir on his remarkable return home, made possible by social media users and the police. Once a rifleman of Manipur Rifles, he left home without informing anyone in 1978. His family in Khumbong Mamang Leikai village in Imphal West district did not know his whereabouts till a video of him popped up on YouTube. His story went viral recently after Twitter user and political activist Angellica Aribam shared his picture with Mumbai Police. Another user, Atom Samarendra, helped identify Gambhir, who was his neighbour in Khumbong. Samarendra also tweeted his phone number for the police to get in touch. Khumbong residents, accompanied by Lok Sabha MP Dr Th Meinya and local MLA Dr Sapam Ranjan welcomed Gambhir with garlands at Imphal airport. They held up placards that read: Thank you Mumbai police, Thank you Manipur police, Thank you YouTube, Thank you WhatsApp. When journalists sought his comment, Gambhir said in Hindi, Im very happy to see such a warm welcome. Now, I will try to live here and earn a living. He said he would regain touch with Manipuri language within a week. Ranjan said, I feel happy for the family. I will try to extend necessary help. Gambhir is the third among six siblings: three sisters and three brothers. How social media brought Gambhir back home Separated from his wife three months after his marriage, Gambhir left home two months later without informing anyone. The family tried tracing him, but failed. His younger brother Kulachandras wife Memcha and son Romen said they heard about Gambhir from a fellow villager, Leichonbam Romen, who shared a video of the missing man in local WhatsApp group Khumbong E-pao (Khumbong news) on Cheiraoba the Manipuri New Year day on April 14. Romens engineer friend, A Dinamani, an assistant professor at the North Eastern Regional Institute of Science and Technology in Arunachal Pradesh, shared the video, originally uploaded on YouTube by Mumbai-based photographer Firoze Shakir in October 2017. Shakir, who describes himself as a storyteller, videotaped Gambhir as a case study after spotting him. Children teased him on the streets calling him Nepali and he would abuse them and shout out that he was a Manipuri an Indian, not a Nepali, reads the description of the video. Soon after discovering Gambhir was in Mumbai, Kulachandra alerted Patsoi police station in Imphal West district and urged them to coordinate with their counterparts in Mumbai to get his brother back home. Manipur police officers Arambam Amitabh and Yumnam Priyobarta left for Mumbai on April 17 and completed formalities with their counterparts at Bandra Police station in Mumbai for Gambhirs return. Memcha, 55, expressed joy at her brother-in-laws return. We are so happy... I feel like crying. Former chief minister of Jammu & Kashmir and National Conference (NC) president Farooq Abdullah on Wednesday said his party would bring a law to award capital punishment in Kathua like cases, if it came back to power in the state. Abdullah was in Amritsar to pay obeisance at the Golden Temple. Commenting on the Kathua rape case, Abdullah said, It is painful that an eight-year-old girl was brutally gang-raped and killed. On one side, we respect women, treat girl child as a goddess and kiss their feet, but on the other side such incidents bring shame to us. Kathua like rapes are happening all over India just because our government fails to make any stringent law against rapists. We attained independence from foreign powers, but the country is still victimised by such crimes. Abdullahs comments came in the wake of the Kathua rape case, in which an eight-year-old nomadic girl was allegedly abducted, drugged, gangraped, tortured and killed. India-Pak should eradicate terrorism through dialogues The former chief minister said, Prime Minister Narendra Modi had promised an aide of Rs 80,000 crore for the overall development of J&K, which should be released immediately as the state has been reeling under many problems like unemployment and poverty. He said the only source of income for Jammu & Kashmir is tourism, which is affected badly due to terrorism in the state. For flourishing tourism, terrorist activities should be eradicated completely. I request the government of India and Pakistan to sort out the issue through dialogues, he added. Dialogue between both the nations will improve bilateral relations, the former NC president said. 2019 polls should not be about religion As 2019 elections are coming, I hope that the election does not separate religions in India, the NC president said. Appealing all political parties to not fight elections in the name of religion, Abdullah said,Making India more progressive should be the agenda during the elections. If political parties go ahead for religious polities, it will weaken the country. Abdullah has been accusing the BJP of indulging in divisive politics and attempts of sowing seeds of hatred and mistrust among various communities for petty political gains. I get peace in Golden Temple (in Amritsar) Abdullah, also a member of Parliament, said he gets peace and tranquillity after paying obeisance at the Golden Temple. People come here to seek pardon for their sins from the almighty. I prayed to Waheguru for peace and integrity in India, he said. Transferring vehicles from one state to another could become hassle free soon, if a recommendation by a group of state transport ministers is accepted by the government. The group of ministers (GoM) constituted by the Union road transport and highways ministry, which met on Friday in Guwahati, has recommended a uniform structure of road tax for vehicles across states, a senior government official said. The GoM is headed by Rajasthan transport minister Yoonus Khan. The recommendation, if accepted will allow the transfer of vehicles from one state to another without levying road tax. The GoM has also recommended national passenger vehicles permit for passenger cars. A uniform tax structure will put a check on people registering their vehicles in low tax states and running them in other states. This would also bring necessary relief to genuine cases requiring transfer of vehicles, a road ministry spokesperson said. Noting that the Centre has the powers to decide the principles on which the motor vehicles tax can be levied, the GoM recommended that the tax be based on invoice price of the vehicles. It has recommended three slabs, 8 percent tax on vehicles below 10 lakhs, 10 percent for vehicles costing between 10 -20 lakh, and 12 percent for vehicles above 20 lakh. Diesel vehicles may have to pay 2 percent extra taxes, while electric vehicles will be given a two percent discount. However, implementing the uniform road tax structure wont be easy as all states will have to come on board. AK Saseendran, the transport minister of Kerala, the only non-BJP ruled state part of the meeting, however, expressed reservations. There needs to be more clarity, he said. One nation, One Tax is a good slogan, but taxation is not something which the transport ministers must be deliberating on, he said on the sidelines of the meeting adding how Kerala has not had a great experience with the GST. The two day meeting which concluded on Friday was attended by transport ministers from Uttar Pradesh, Assam, Himachal Pradesh, Bihar, Goa, Kerala, Haryana, Chhattisgarh, Meghalaya and Jharkhand. The GoM has also recommended a national bus and taxi permit on lines of such permit for goods transport. Public transport in the country is growing annually at a rate of just about 2 percent, as against a 20 percent annual growth in private transport. A national permit will give the much needed fillip to public transport and help reduce road congestion and its attendant problems, a ministry statement said. The next meeting of the Goods and Service Council, too, where transport ministers are invited along with the finance minister would help in building consensus on the issue, Khan said in a press conference after the meeting. Meanwhile, a committee of five secretaries from the states of Assam, Uttar Pradesh, Tamil Nadu, Puducherry and Rajasthan has been asked to submit a report within 15 days to build further consensus on other charges and fee which vary from state to state. A 60-year-old man was arrested on Wednesday for allegedly raping his 7-year-old granddaughter in a remote village of Meghalayas North Garo Hills, police said on Thursday, sparking fresh outrage over the latest incident of sexual assault on a minor. Officials said Deny Marak allegedly raped his granddaughter on April 10, one of the three times, in Kama Gandim when the girl went to his house to collect her books before going for a tuition class nearby. He threatened her to keep quiet about the assault. The girl told her mother about the sexual abuse on Wednesday. The mother immediately informed her family and handed Marak over to the police at Kharkutta police station. North Garo Hills superintendent of police Dalton P Marak said an investigation is already on and a team is gathering evidence even as the medical report of the child is awaited. It seems he had molested her on two other occasions making it three times in all, Marak said while speaking with the Hindustan Times over the phone. He said police are booking him under relevant sections of the stringent Protection of Children from Sexual Offences Act, 2012. O Pasi, deputy inspector general of police in charge of Western Range said, his department will ensure the little girl gets justice. There will be no mercy. We will send a strong message that such crimes will be dealt with stringently and swiftly so that it does not plaque our state, Pasi said. Sources said that Marak had thrown out the child and her family from his house after an altercation with him a couple of months ago. The incident has sparked outrage in the matrilineal northeastern state. A non-government organisation - Bakdil took out a silent protest rally in Tura, the principal town of Garo Hills, to sensitise people against such crimes and also to condemn the increasing cases of attacks on children, especially minors. Other civil society groups in the region are also planning to take out a series of rallies in the entire Garo Hills region. Child sexual abuse has been in focus after the gang-rape and murder of the 8-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua district hit the headlines. The incident in Meghalaya also comes after a 7-year-old girl was allegedly raped and murdered by a 19-year-old man earlier this week during a wedding in Uttar Pradeshs Etah. And a body of an identified minor girl with 86 injury marks was found in Gujarats Surat almost a fortnight ago and police said she may have been tortured and raped before being killed. The girl believed to be between nine and 11 years old was strangled, they said. Government figures show that a child is sexually abused every 15 minutes in India. According to the National Crime Records Bureau report for 2016, there was a sharp spike in cases of rape against children with an increase of such incidents by over 82% as compared to 2015. An infant born to an 11-year-old rape survivor died in a Rajkot hospital on Wednesday. The mother, who was allegedly raped by six men over a period of eight months, gave birth to the baby girl on March 17. The infants chances of survival were slim because she was born with congenital defects. The rape survivor is back with her parents, and has even returned to school. A city-based NGO took custody of the infant after the minors family refused to accept her. A team from the NGO rushed the infant to a government-run childrens hospital on Wednesday. She died soon after being admitted, said an official with the Rajkot womens police station. Two days after the infants birth, she was shifted to the Ahmedabad Civil Hospital for treatment. However, a team of doctors decided against conducting the surgical procedure on account of her age and delicate condition. The mother was discharged from the Rajkot hospital on March 24, a week after the delivery. A police team took the infant to Ahmedabad before bringing her back to Rajkot, where she was handed over to the NGO. The mother, a Class 7 student, was raped by six people ranging from a minor to a 67-year-old man on several occasions since August last year. The matter came to light only after she was admitted to a government hospital in a late stage of pregnancy on March 16. Police said the minor used to work as a domestic help at the residence of Manji Javiya, a 67-year-old resident of Rajkot. She was allegedly raped by Javiya and five accomplices Arvind Kubavat (52), Vijananad Maiyad (47), Vipul Chavda (40), Govind Sakariya (60) and a 17-year-old boy whose identity cannot be disclosed. While the juvenile offender has been remanded in an observation home, his accomplices have been placed under arrest. The Narendra Modi government has decided to create an overarching Defence Planning Committee (DPC) under National Security Advisor Ajit Doval that will drive the countrys military and security strategy, draft capability development plans and guide (and accelerate) defence equipment acquisitions, according to a defence ministry notification seen by Hindustan Times. The move, which is a significant change in Indias defence strategy architecture, comes as the country faces several potential threats in a highly militarised neighbourhood; is trying to balance budgetary constraints with its need for arms; and is working on increasing its own expertise in manufacturing and exporting defence equipment. Until now, defence planning has been synonymous with hardware acquisition. The DPC will be a permanent body chaired by the National Security Advisor and comprise the chairman of the Chiefs of Staff Committee, three service chiefs, the defence, expenditure and foreign secretaries, and prepare draft reports on national security strategy, international defence engagement strategy, roadmap to build (a) defence manufacturing ecosystem, strategy to boost defence exports, and priority capability development plans, according to the notification. It will submit its reports to defence minister Nirmala Sitharaman. The DPC is expected to meet soon after Doval returns from Germany on April 21. Analysts point out that because the Prime Ministers Office, the defence ministry, the finance ministry and the three services are part of the same committee, decisions on military purchases could now happen much faster. The Chief of Integrated Defence Staff to the Chairman of the Chief of the Staff Committee (CISC) will be the member secretary of the committee, according to the notification, and the HQ of the Integrated Defence Staff will be the secretariat of the DPC. The notification lists four sub-committees that could be created under the DPC across four broad areas: policy and strategy; plans and capability development; defence diplomacy; and defence manufacturing eco-system. While India does have a defence planning architecture in place, this is the first time it is creating a body that will factor in everything from foreign policy imperatives to operational directives and long-term defence equipment acquisition and infrastructure development plans to technological developments in other parts of the world while coming up with a plan. The DPC will prepare military doctrines and, in turn, define Indian military objectives for the future. The doctrines will reflect Indias no-first-use nuclear policy as well as take into account the possibility of a two-front war (on the countrys western and northern fronts). They will justify the Indian Navys demand of two aircraft carriers and the role of Indian Air Force in the era of long range stand-off weapons and missile theatre defence. Senior defence ministry officials said that defence ministers operational directives will flow out of new military doctrines to ensure that Indias strategic interests are not threatened by any of its neighbours, or a proxy. The operational directives are classified instructions issued to any military arm to protect national interest. DEFENCE PLANNING COMMITTEE: THE CONTOURS Mandate for sub-committees 1 Policy and Strategy a. Assess external security risks, define defence and security priorities b. Formulate and review military and national security strategy 2 Planning & capabilitydevelopment a. Identify how different ministries can come together for national security issues b. Create a capability development plan (CDP) and monitor its timely implementation c. Obtain Cabinet approval and help secure budgetary support Assess external security risks, define defence and security prioritiesFormulate and review military and national security strategyIdentify how different ministries can come together for national security issuesCreate a capability development plan (CDP) and monitor its timely implementationObtain Cabinet approval and help secure budgetary support 3 Defence diplomacy a. Evaluate foreign policy needs and create a defence engagement strategy b. Identify foreign acquisitions and sales to achieve strategic leverage 4 Defencemanufacturing a. Draft comprehensive policy for research and development b.Draw out road map for indigenisation c.Formulate policy, institute structural framework to boost defence exports Evaluate foreign policy needs and create a defence engagement strategyIdentify foreign acquisitions and sales to achieve strategic leverageDraft comprehensive policy for research and developmentDraw out road map for indigenisationFormulate policy, institute structural framework to boost defence exports Some groups protesting against atrocities in India during Prime Minister Narendra Modis visit here have turned violent after a tricolour was torn down from one of the official flagpoles set up for all 53 Commonwealth countries. Modi, who is in the UK for bilateral talks and the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting (CHOGM), was greeted by protesters as he met his British counterpart Theresa May. Some of the protesters at Parliament Square on Wednesday turned aggressive after the Indian tricolour was torn down from the flagpole. A senior broadcast journalist from one of the leading Indian media channels covering the protests was caught in a violent scrum with some of the more aggressive pro-Khalistani protesters and Scotland Yard officers on duty had to step in to the rescue. The group is planning to file a complaint with the Metropolitan Police on the incident. We have expressed our concerns with the British authorities and they have apologised for the incident. We have been warning against some of these elements out to make trouble and they have assured us of action. The Indian flag has now been replaced, a senior Indian official associated with the PMs visit said. Protesters rip up India's flag after tearing it off a flagpole in Parliament Square, London, Britain, April 18, 2018. (REUTERS) The pro-Khalistani demonstrators from Sikh Federation UK and demonstrators from the so-called Minorities Against Modi group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Lord Ahmed, were among nearly 500 protesters who descended upon Parliament Square. These included groups led by some Kashmiri separatist groups and at one point, some of them had surrounded the Mahatma Gandhi statue at the square with their banners and flags. Officials involved with the prime ministerial visit to the UK had said that protests and demonstrations are part and parcel of any democratic society as long as they remain peaceful. There are now concerns that some of the more aggressive elements hijacked the tone of the protests. Earlier on Wednesday, flash mob of sari-clad women with dhols set the tone for the pro-Modi crowds opposite 10 Downing Street as the Indian PM arrived for his breakfast meeting with British Prime Minister Theresa May. They were joined by the Friends of India Society International (FISI) group, which spearheaded a crowd of Indian diaspora from across the UK waving banners such as Chak De India and Jai Hind outside Downing Street and nearby Parliament Square. We want to welcome the Indian PM to the UK and show him the diaspora support he enjoys, said one of the members of the gathering. Indian community women welcome Prime Minister Narendra Modi in London on Wednesday. (PTI) On the other side, the anti-Modi protesters from Caste Watch UK and South Asia Solidarity group waved banners such as Modi, you have blood on your hands and Modi Not Welcome. Hindu nationalism must be curtailed to avert India sliding towards wholesale dictatorship threatening democratic fabric, rule of law and the unity of India, a Caste Watch UK spokesperson said. Demonstrators stage a protest against the visit by Prime Minister Narendra Modi opposite Downing Street in London, Britain, April 18, 2018. (REUTERS) They were joined by other protestors carrying images the eight-year-old rape victim from Kathua in Jammu and Kashmir, and Gauri Lankesh, the Indian journalist who was shot at her doorstep last year. The group also included representatives of several Indian womens groups in the UK, wearing white as part of their silent protest against atrocities that are taking place in India. I am Hindustan, I am ashamed, read their placards alongside banners such as Beti Bachao and Politics minus rape. The Hyderabad high court on Wednesday suspended a senior judge in Telanganas Mahbubnagar district on corruption charges, making him the fourth judge to be suspended in a month in the state. Kolla Ranga Rao, who was working as additional judge in the Vikarabad district court, had been transferred as judge of a special court dealing with SC/ST Atrocities (Prevention) Act in Mahbubnagar a couple of days ago. He assumed charge in the special court on Wednesday morning, but within half an hour, he received orders from the state high court, stating that he was suspended on charges of corruption. A faxed copy of his suspension order was handed over to him by the local court in Mahbubnagar. As a result, Rao stepped down from his new post without hearing even a single case. The suspension of Rao comes following an inquiry conducted by the high court acting on a petition submitted by a 36-member delegation of advocates belonging to Vikarabad Bar Association on April 13. There have been several allegations of corruption and favouritism against the judge. He used to sit on judgment orders for months, though he was supposed to deliver the same within a specified period. He also had political leanings and used to stay in the house of a local politician, which is against rules, a bar association member said on condition of anonymity. Rao is the fourth judge to be suspended in Telangana on charges of corruption in the last one month. Last Tuesday, the high court suspended metropolitan sessions court judge in Hyderabad, S Radhakrishna Murthy, following raids by the Anti-Corruption Bureau on his house. He was charged with taking a bribe of Rs 7.5 lakh to grant bail to an accused in a narcotics case, and was subsequently arrested. On March 18, the high court suspended M Gandhi, a judge in a local labour court, following ACB raids on his house and detected a huge amount of assets disproportionate to his known sources of income. He was later arrested. On April 6, the high court suspended junior civil judge S Madhu in Jagitial district following a complaint from the local bar association that he was taking bribes to deliver biased verdicts. Madhu was also arrested later. There were complaints of corruption even against justice K Ravinder Reddy, the judge of the NIA special court in Hyderabad, who resigned within hours of delivering a verdict in the sensational Mecca Masjid blast case on Tuesday. A complaint against him is still pending with the high court. Nobody can impede the course of justice, the Supreme Court said on Thursday, coming down heavily on the lawyers who allegedly tried to prevent police from filing the charge sheet in the Kathua rape-cum-murder case last week. What does the bar association have to do with the presentation of the charge sheet? You are supposed to argue your case, not protest. You have the right to practice with dignity and independence, but that does not mean you can go on a strike or stop people from appearing in court, a bench led by Chief Justice Dipak Misra told advocates who had come from Jammu to attend the hearing. Discipline of the bar has to be kept on a high pedestal. And thats not restricted to just this case, he added. On April 13, the Supreme Court took serious note of lawyers obstructing the judicial process in the sensational case and initiated proceedings on its own accord. Some apex court lawyers had drawn the judges attention to the manner in which advocates in Jammu heckled police officers while they were filing the charge sheet in court. Questioning the lawyers conduct, the Chief Justice asked: Why was the police not allowed to present the charge sheet before the court? Why did they go to the magistrate? The lawyers of the Kathua Bar Association, however, denied obstructing the police. Insisting that the incident was misreported by the media, they said the association withdrew its call for a strike on April 12. The Jammu High Court Bar Association (JHCBA) told the bench that they did not explicitly support the protest taken out by Kathua lawyers, but had expressed solidarity for a different reason. Speaking on its behalf, senior advocate Vikas Singh also denied that the victims lawyer, Deepika Singh Rajawat, was prevented from appearing before the high court in this regard. She was prevented in another case, not this one, he submitted. The Bar Council of India (BCI) told the Supreme Court bench that it has constituted a team headed by a former high court judge to visit Kathua and assess the situation pertaining to the lawyers protest. The bench asked the JHCBA and BCI, among others, to file their affidavits by April 24. The matter was listed for hearing in the following week. The gang-rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Kathua in January evoked shock and outrage across the country. Even as the trial in the case got underway on April 16, the victims father asked the Supreme Court to shift it to Chandigarh because the atmosphere in Kathua was not conducive for a fair hearing. On Monday, the Supreme Court ordered police protection for the girls family and asked the Jammu and Kashmir government to file a response to their plea for case transfer. An off-white checked shirt and a torn pair of jeans collected from the Mecca Masjid blast site are two missing pieces of clothing that could have helped the investigators nail those who planted the explosive. All five men, including former RSS functionary Aseemanand, accused of plotting the bombing that left nine people dead were let off by a court on Monday and no one knows who planted the bomb that ripped through Hyderabads historic mosque on May 18, 2007. The shirt and the jeans were recovered from the blast scene but were never handed over to the Central Bureau of Investigation or the National Investigation Agency (NIA) that took over the probe from CBI, documents seen by Hindustan Times show. Police forwarded three forensic lab reports to CBI but the shirt and the jeans were not among the exhibits handed over to the central agency. (HT Photo) The Andhra Police, which probed the case before the CBI took over, recovered both the pieces of evidence with a blue rexine bag that carried the logo of JansSport, a popular backpack maker. It was in this bag that an improvised explosive device (IED), which didnt go off, was kept along with the clothes. The blast was caused by the other bomb. Case documents show that pictures of the shirt, which bore the label Potatoes, and the jeans, with Made in Sri Lanka marking, were among the copies of photographs that the police handed over to the CBI when it took over the probe. The pictures were taken by the photographers of the Andhra Police forensic science laboratory (APFSL). An APFSL report of July 2007 says the exhibits were submitted by an inspector of the Hussaini Alam police station, where a complaint about the unexploded IED was registered. Police forwarded three APFSL reports to CBI but the shirt and the jeans were not among the exhibits handed over to the central agency. When NIA took over the case, it asked for exhibits from the CBI, whose investigators, first verbally and then in writing, told the anti-terror investigating agency that the shirt or other case material should be with APFSL or with the Andhra Police. When CBI investigators showed the pictures of the two pieces of clothing to a witness, Shivam Dhakad, he said he had seen Ramchandra Kalsangra one of the two accused who are currently on the run wearing the shirt several occasions. I was also shown the photographs of the materials/clothes which were found at the blast spot of Mecca Masjid. I identified a shirt of Ramji which was found with the unexploded IED at Mecca Masjid Hyderabad, says Dhakads statement which was seen by HT. But when Dhakad took the stand, he turned hostile and denied the statement. The NIA court on Monday cited lack of proof while letting off the five men. The case was weakened by several witnesses turning hostile. Even if the clothes were found, they would have had little bearing on the trial as Kalsangra was still absconding, an official associated with the case said on condition of anonymity. But if he is arrested and goes to trial, the shirt or its photograph would be crucial evidence, the official said. The NIA spokesperson was not available for comments. A man who registered a case against the deceased father of the Unnao rape victim has been missing for the last 10 days, his family has said. Tinku Singh, a businessman in his early twenties, had lodged the case on April 3. He happens to be a cousin of the rape victims father, who died in police custody six days later. Tinkus brother, Bhupendra, stated in a complaint to the Makhi police on Thursday that he left his house at 10 am on April 9, and did not return. Makhi station house officer Rajesh Singh said they are trying to locate him. The Unnao case pertains to the alleged rape of a 17-year-old girl by BJP MLA Kuldeep Singh Sengar on June 4 last year. An uncle of the girl alleged that Tinku may have been kidnapped by the legislators aides. Tinku was forced to lodge an FIR claiming that he (the girls father) stormed into his house with a firearm with the intention to kill, he said. We have all been trying to get in touch with Tinku, but his mobile phone is switched off. Nobody has heard from him in the last 10 days. He said there was no misunderstanding between the two families. Tinkus father told me that none of the events described in his complaint occurred on April 3, the girls uncle added. The rape survivors father was allegedly assaulted by the MLAs brother, Atul Singh Sengar, and his accomplices on the very day the complaint was filed. He was then taken to the Makhi police station, where a medical examination was conducted. However, instead of admitting the injured man to a hospital, police took him into custody on the basis of Tinkus complaint. The victim remained in jail for the next five days, even as his condition deteriorated. He complained of stomachache and vomiting on April 8, following which he was shifted to the district hospital. He died the following day. Citing medical reasons, former Haryana chief minister Bhupinder Singh Hooda failed to turn up in the local CBI court in connection with the Rs 1,500 crore Manesar land scam, hearing of which commenced on Thursday. Hoodas counsel SPS Parmar moved plea for personal exemption on medical grounds, claiming Hooda was admitted in All India Institute of Medical Science (AIIMS), New Delhi, due to diabetes and other medical issues. Parmar told media that court had accepted his plea. The date of next hearing is May 1. Meanwhile, Hoodas former principal secretaries Murari Lal Tayal and Chattar Singh and former director of town and country planning department SS Dhillon all co-accused in the scam were granted bail following their appearance. Gaurav Chaudhry, son of sitting Punjab and Haryana high court judge whose anticipatory bail was dismissed four days ago, did not appear as he sought medical exemption. CBI, in its voluminous challan on February 2, had charged Hooda, his aides and realty firms with criminal conspiracy and fraud. Few builders, who were made accused as beneficiary of this scam, were also given bail. Their names are not immediately known. The Rs 1,500-crore alleged scam pertains to misuse of the Land Acquisition Act. . The Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) government under Om Prakash Chautala has announced that 912 acre land will be acquired for facilities in the Industrial Model Township (IMT), Manesar, in August 2004, just before the Congress came to power in Haryana under Hooda. However during Hoodas government , a large number of farmers, in haste, sold 350 acres at throwaway prices of Rs 20-25 lakh per acre, fearing poor compensation. Another 50 acres were purchased by land sharks even as the government issued a notification for Rs 1.5 crore per acre of compensation. Gurgaon-based realty firm, ABW Group, and other builders bought 459 acres in total through distress sale. The Hooda government scrapped the acquisition process in 2007, only to later grant licences for housing and commercial development to the builders over 260 acres of that land. Soon after coming to power in the state, the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) regime had ordered a CBI probe in 2015. ABW Groups owner Atul Bansal, the CBI claimed, was the major beneficiary and was among the accused asked by the court to appear in person. Bansal too sought medical exemption. Prime Minister Narendra Modi is scheduled to hold bilateral meetings, including with his counterparts from Bangladesh, Australia and the President of Seychelles, on the sidelines of the multilateral Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London on Thursday. Modi will be interacting with Sheikh Hasina, their first meeting since the Bangladeshi Prime Ministers visit to New Delhi last year. However, officials have indicated that no meeting or interaction has been requested or scheduled with the Pakistani Prime Minister, Shahid Khaqan Abbasi, so far. Some of the other world leaders expected to have one-on-one deliberations with the Indian prime minister during the CHOGM include Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, South African President Cyril Ramaphosa, Cyprus President Nicos Anastasiades and Jamaican Prime Minister Andrew Michael Holness. Gambian President Adama Barrow, Ugandan President Yoweri Museveni and the President of Seychelles Danny Faure are also on the list. The bilateral talks between Faure and Modi assumes significance after Seychelles ordered an inquiry into the leak of a highly classified agreement signed with India to develop infrastructure on Assumption Island, which lies southwest of the mainland of Mahe. The opposition in Seychelles has decided not to ratify the pact because of Assumptions relative proximity to Aldabra atoll, a UNESCO World Heritage Site that is home to the worlds largest population of giant tortoises. Modi is likely to interact with Gaston Browne, Prime Minister of Antigua & Barbua, Mauritian Prime Minister Pravind Kumar Jugnauth and Keith C Rowley, Prime Minister of Trinidad & Tobago. The summit offers ample opportunity for leaders to interact in meeting rooms for bilateral discussions on matters of mutual interest as well as cooperation over Commonwealth issues, a senior official said. The bilateral talks are scheduled as the formal heads of government meeting gets underway in London today following the formal launch by Queen Elizabeth II at Buckingham Palace. Over many years you have been the Commonwealths most steadfast and fervent champion. You have been true to the deepest values of the Commonwealth? we commit to sustaining this Commonwealth, which you have so carefully nurtured, British Prime Minister Theresa May said in reference to the Queen at her opening address. The 91-year-old monarch, as the Head of the Commonwealth, will host a dinner for all 53 heads of government at the palace later in the evening today. I had not been able to visit the last summit and this time, it was an honour that Prince Charles came personally to India last year to invite me for it. The Queen herself wrote a personal letter to me, a matter of great pride for India, Modi said during his Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath diaspora event in London yesterday. An Indian Prime Minister is attending CHOGM, held every two years, after a hiatus of nearly a decade, having skipped CHOGMs in Perth, Colombo and Malta since 2009. The Indian government has said that this symbolises the countrys wider efforts to step up its role across global forums. In the multilateral space for us, the Commonwealth is a very unique multilateral grouping. It comprises of a very diverse set of 53 countries ranging from small island developing states to some of the most advanced industrialised countries of the world It has a very strong international voice particularly on developing country issues, an MEA spokesperson said. The executive session of the summit on Thursday will be followed by a retreat at Windsor Castle on Friday, when the leaders get together in an informal setting without any pre-set agenda or being accompanied by their top advisers. As Britain takes over the two-year Chair-in-Office of the Commonwealth at the heads of government deliberations, it marks the last such summit to be hosted by the Queen. With the monarch having ruled out long-haul travel, she is unlikely to travel to any future CHOGMs to be hosted by other member-states. This has triggered widespread speculation over whether her son and heir, Prince Charles, would be anointed as the next Head of the organisation. As the position is not hereditary, a decision on succession is expected during the informal chats at the retreat. At the end of the retreat, Modi will head back to India after a brief stop for his meeting with German Chancellor Angela Merkel in Berlin. Pakistan on Thursday rejected as false and baseless Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks on surgical strikes across the Line of Control in 2016 , saying repeating a lie doesnt turn it into the truth. Speaking at the Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath event in London on Wednesday, Modi had said India waited to inform Pakistan about the operation before disclosing it to the media and the people. I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media, Modi had said. Reacting to Modis remarks, Pakistan foreign office spokesperson Mohammad Faisal said on Thursday that Indias claims about the surgical strike were false and baseless. Repeating a lie doesnt turn it into the truth, the spokesperson was quoted as saying by Pakistans Dawn newspaper. In response to Modis comments on Pakistan exporting terrorism, Faisal claimed it was the other way around and accused India of backing terrorists in Pakistan. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism, he alleged. Jadhav, 47, was sentenced to death by a Pakistani military court on charges of espionage and terrorism. India moved the International Court of Justice (ICJ) in May last year against the verdict. The ICJ halted his execution on Indias appeal pending the final verdict by it. Pakistan is set to file a fresh rejoinder on or before July 17 in Kulbhushan Jadhavs case at the International Court of Justice (ICJ) following the submission of a rejoinder by New Delhi to Islamabads counter-memorial, according to a media report on Thursday. The office of Pakistans attorney general, which is overseeing the case, is expected to receive a copy of Indias rejoinder in a day or two, after it is received by the Pakistan embassy in The Hague, the Dawn newspaper reported. On December 13 last year, Pakistan filed its counter-memorial at the ICJ in response to Indias memorial or formal submission. On May 18, 2017, the ICJ had stayed Jadhavs execution through an interim order. Following this, the Foreign Office communicated to the ICJ that the Pakistan government had instructed relevant departments to give effect to the world courts order. Khawar Qureshi, who pleaded Pakistans case in the initial stages, is expected to plead the case again when it comes up for hearing. In its written submission, India accused Pakistan of violating the Vienna Convention by not granting consular access to Jadhav. India argued that the convention does not state that such access would not be available to an individual arrested on charges of espionage, the report said. In response, Pakistan said in its counter-memorial at the ICJ that the Vienna Convention on Consular Relations of 1963 applied only to legitimate visitors and did not cover clandestine operations. Pakistan alleged Jadhav was on active duty and the only deduction that one could make was that he was a spy sent to Pakistan to carry out subversive activities. Pakistan also argued India had no explanation why Jadhav, whom it claims is a serving naval official on secondment to the RAW, was travelling to and from Pakistan with a Muslim name. Pakistan argued that sending Jadhav for espionage and other activities by allegedly giving him a false identity did not allow India to invoke the jurisdiction of the ICJ, the report said. Islamabad says Jadhav was arrested in Balochistan in 2016. He has been sentenced to death by a military court. India has denied the charges levelled against Jadhav and said he was kidnapped by Pakistani security agencies from the Iranian port of Chabahar. The Bahujan Samaj Party (BSP) is much in demand this poll season, with several leaders making a beeline for an electoral understanding with Mayawatis party. The rush is triggered by the stunning victory of the Samajwadi Party (SP)-BSP coalition in last months by-elections in Gorakhpur and Phulpur, the constituencies represented by Uttar Pradesh chief minister Yogi Adityanath and his deputy Keshav Prasad Maurya respectively. On Wednesday, the Indian National Lok Dal (INLD) announced its alliance with the BSP for next years assembly elections in Haryana. The two parties will also have a tie-up in Rajasthan, where elections are due in November this year. In the 2014 assembly elections in Haryana, the BSP had secured a vote share of 4.37%, winning one of the 87 seats it contested. On the other hand, the INLD had won 19 of the total 90 seats and bagged a vote share of 24.11%. According to the 2011 census, Dalits constitute roughly 20% of Haryanas total 25 million population. Prior to this, the BSP and the Janata Dal (Secular) of former Prime Minister HD Deve Gowda joined hands for the May 12 assembly elections in Karnataka. The BSP had unsuccessfully contested on 175 seats in Karnataka in the 2013 assembly elections and got a vote share of just 0.91%. For its part, the JD(S) had won 40 seats and secured a vote share of 20.19%. In Karnataka, Dalits make up 19.5% of the total population of 65 million. Though the Congress did not join the SP-BSP alliance in Uttar Pradesh bypolls, the grand old party is keen on a tie-up with Mayawati in Madhya Pradesh and Chhattisgarh that are going to polls along with Rajasthan later this year. BSP leaders too have expressed their willingness to strike an understanding with the Congress to oust the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) from power in Chhattisgarh. The BJP is ruling the state uninterrupted since 2003. Senior BSP leader and Chhattisgarh incharge ML Bharti had announced in state capital Raipur last month that his party was ready for an alliance with the Congress. However, he said much would depend on the Congress partys readiness to give a respectable deal to the BSP in seat-sharing. State Congress chief Bhupesh Baghel had also publicly expressed his willingness to join hands with the BSP on some seats for the upcoming assembly elections. But the support of lone BSP legislator Keshav Chandra to BJPs Saroj Pandey in last months Rajya Sabha elections might have come as a setback for the Congress. In the 2013 assembly elections, the BSP had fought on all the 90 seats, winning one and accounting for a vote share of 4.27%. Dalits constitute 11.6% of the tribal-dominated states 26 million population. In Madhya Pradesh too, Congress leaders, including state chief Arun Yadav, have not ruled out a tie-up with the BSP for the upcoming elections. Leader of the Opposition in the Madhya Pradesh assembly, Ajay Singh, and senior Congress leader Chandrika Prasad Dwivedi had recently stated that the grand old party should talk to the BSP and try to dethrone the saffron party after ruling the state for 15 years. The BSP had contested on 227 out of the total 230 seats in the 2013 assembly elections. Having considerable presence in northern Madhya Pradesh, especially in Morena, it won four seats and bagged a vote share of 6.29%. The BSP had supported Congress candidate Vivek Tankha in the 2016 Rajya Sabha elections from the state. Dalits account for more than 15% of Madhya Pradeshs 75 million-population. Political analysts attribute the trend to the attempt by various political parties to woo and motivate the Dalit votes. It is just symbolic. Mayawati has no direct contact and control with Dalits across the country but she is a symbolic attraction for them, said professor Badri Narayan of the Allahabad-based Govind Ballabh Pant Social Science Institute. A day after Prime Minister Narendra Modi lauded 40 lakh people for voluntarily giving up age-related train fare concessions, the Railways today said it had saved Rs 77 crore in 19 months from the governments Give it up initiative, which encouraged senior citizens not to buy tickets at the reduced rates they were entitled to. In an interactive session in London on Wednesday, Modi had said it was a reflection of the common mans sense of patriotism that 40 lakh people had voluntarily given up the fare concession given to senior citizens. From August 15, 2016, to March 31, 2018, about 40 lakh senior citizens had voluntarily given up concessions resulting in a saving of Rs 77 crore for the Railways from this initiative, the ministry said in a statement. While the option for giving up the full concession in rail tickets for senior citizens had been available since 2016, the Railways extended the system to allow passengers to give up 50 per cent of the concession in 2017. At present, men aged 60 or more get 40 per cent while women of 58 years and above get a 50 per cent concession on a ticket. Though there are many categories of passengers, including sportspersons and differently-abled people, who are given concessions, the major beneficiaries are in the senior citizens segment, the statement said. The scheme was launched to reduce the nearly Rs 1,300-crore subsidy burden of the Railways in the senior citizen category. The Railways bears 43 per cent of the cost of the fare of a train ticket and incurs a loss of about Rs 30,000 crore a year in subsidising passenger fares, out of which a sum of Rs 1,600 crore is for concessional fares. (The story has not been modified from its original version) The Hyderabad high court on Thursday rejected the resignation of K Ravinder Reddy, the judge who had quit his duties after acquitting the five accused in the Mecca Masjid blast case on Monday. Reddy, a senior judge handling National Investigation Agency cases in Hyderabad, resumed work at the fourth metropolitan sessions court after the high court cancelled his leave too. He had gone on leave for 15 days on Monday. The high courts reason for rejecting Reddys resignation are not immediately known. On Wednesday, Hindustan Times reported that people close to Reddy said he had cited personal reasons and injustice to Telangana as factors for his resignation. The judges decision to step down gave rise to speculation that he had come under intense pressure to acquit all the accused in the sensational case. Reddy faces charges of corruption in granting out-of-turn anticipatory bail to a Kadapa realtor in a forgery case last year. The allegations were made in an affidavit submitted by Hyderabad businessman M Krishna Reddy to the high court on December 11, 2017. Reddy, who is also the president of Telangana Judicial Officers Association, retires in June. There is also talk that he might have resigned, as he little chance being promoted as a high court judge due to delay in bifurcation of the common high court for Andhra Pradesh and Telangana. The Supreme Court on Thursday pulled up Jammu lawyers for obstructing the filing of chargesheet in the Kathua rape and murder case even as they claimed they were protesting on a different issue. We are not concerned with anything, we are concerned with fair trial. You created a situation, police had to file the charge sheet at the residence of the magistrate, said a bench of Chief Justice Dipak Misra, Justice AM Khanwilkar and Justice DY Chandrachud. The lawyers insisted that they were protesting on a different issue that got mixed up with the filing of the chargesheet Whatever may be the background (of the protest), the resultant action was wrong, Justice Misra said as the court was told that the protesting lawyers have retreated and assured that there would be no obstruction in the trial of the rape and murder of the eight-year-old victim from the Bakerwal community in Jammus Hiranagar area. Asking all the parties to file their response about their incidence and the conduct of protesting lawyers, the court directed the matter for further on April 26. The Jammu High Court Bar Association told the Supreme Court that it did not support lawyers protest in connection with the Kathua gangrape and murder case. The Bar Council of India told the bench that they have constituted a team, headed by a former high court judge, which will visit Kathua to assess the situation relating to lawyers protest. Meanwhile, the Kathua District Bar Association said they had already withdrawn the strike on April 12. The minor girl had disappeared from near her home in the forests next to Rasana village in Kathua, on January 10. Her body was found in the same area a week later. The Crime Branch of police which probed the case filed a main charge sheet against seven persons and a separate charge sheet against a juvenile in a court in Kathua district earlier this week. The charge sheet revealed chilling details about how the girl was allegedly kidnapped, drugged, raped inside a place of worship before being killed. India launched fast-track courts and a tougher rape law that included the death penalty after a gruesome assault on a student in a Delhi bus shocked the country in 2012, but crime statistics indicate the situation has got worse, not better, since then. The data was collated by Reuters amid mounting public anger over crimes against women after two horrific cases in recent months that has, once again, cast a harsh light on systemic problems plaguing the countrys police and courts. The gang rape and murder of an eight-year-old girl in Jammu and Kashmirs Kathua town and the arrest of a BJP legislator for the rape of a teenager in Uttar Pradeshs Unnao district have sparked nationwide outrage, drawing parallels with the gang rape and murder in Delhi of the 23-year-old physiotherapy student six years ago. Read | Abducted, drugged, raped and killed: Kathua girls four days of horror Amid the wave of anger at that time, the government promised to speed up rape trials, provide harsher penalties, including the death sentence in extreme cases, and a law against stalking. But statistics show that since 2012, reported rape cases climbed 60% to around 40,000 in 2016, with child rape accounting for about 40%. The conviction rate of people arrested for rape remains stuck at around 25%. The backlog of rape cases pending trial stood at more than 133,000 by the end of 2016, up from about 100,000 in 2012, National Crime Records Bureau data showed. In each year during that period, about 85% of the total rape cases being heard remained pending. In general, conviction rates for crime against women deaths following demands for dowry, assault, kidnapping as well as rape are lower than for most other crimes. The government can make a hundred laws and yet it will fail because there is no enforcement, said Dushyant Dave, a senior Supreme Court lawyer. It needs to take this as an epidemic and treat it accordingly, by completely overhauling the police machinery, prosecutors and the judicial system, he said. CASES BURIED Crime statistics showed that police files remain open for about a third of all rapes that were investigated for each year between 2012 and 2016. Understaffing is an issue. The government told parliament last month that police had a sanctioned strength of nearly 2 million officers, but almost a quarter of those positions were vacant. Some of the worst accusations against the police stem from cases, like the ones in Unnao and Kathua, where they are alleged to have bowed to pressure from people of influence to bury cases. Vappala Balachandran, a former top police officer in Maharashtra who has criticised the governments response to the recent cases, described how powerful local politicians stall police investigations. The one weapon the politician has is the threat of transfer (of police officers) and which they routinely exercise. So the investigation is slow, improper and weak, Balachandran said. Read | Local influence, hold over upper caste votes: Reasons behind Sengars clout in Unnao CAPITAL PUNISHMENT So far the only policy response to the latest cases has come from Maneka Gandhi, the minister for women and child development, who has advocated applying the death penalty for rape cases where the victim is under 12 years old. Currently, the Supreme Court reserves the death penalty for extreme cases, as in the 2012 Delhi case. Five people were convicted of rape and murder in that case within nine months. Four were sentenced to death while a juvenile was freed after serving three years. A sixth accused hung himself in his cell before the trial concluded. Last year, the top court rejected an appeal by the four sentenced to death but they remain on death row. A study by the National Law University in Delhi found that 43 death sentences were handed down for murder involving sexual violence in 2017, almost double the previous years number. A study by Kailash Satyarthi Childrens Foundation, whose founder shared the 2014 Nobel Peace Prize, reckoned that as of the end of 2016, the backlog of child sex abuses cases in the courts would take two decades to clear. Under the Protection of Children from Sexual Offences (POCSO) Act passed in 2012, which covers victims under 18 years, police should collect evidence within a month of the complaint being filed and the court should complete a trial within a year. Read | Father of woman who accused BJP MLA of rape dies in Unnao, probe ordered The government of India is doing its work sincerely in each and every case, PS Narasimha, a senior prosecutor for the government, told Reuters in response to a question why rape cases took so long and the conviction rates were so low. But Kohal Dev Sharma, a lawyer at the Punjab and Haryana High Court, said the criminal justice system failed when it came to rape. The procedure itself is quite lengthy that deters most of victims from fighting the battle and thus the accused are set free ultimately in most of the cases, he said. The procedure is traumatic for the victim who has to face a society that considers rape as a social stigma only for the victim and not the accused, due to which most victims choose to keep mum about what they go through rather than to report it. The Supreme Court on Thursday dismissed pleas seeking an independent probe into the death of special CBI judge BH Loya, ruling that he died of natural causes and the petitions were a serious attempt to scandalise and obstruct the course of justice. The three-judge bench that included chief justice Dipak Misra held that all litigations concerning circumstances of death of judge Loya is concluded with this judgement. PIL jurisdiction is being brazenly used by those who have an agenda to settle scores. The true face of the petition is seldom unravelled. Its a serious concern as frivolous PILs detract courts time from hearing genuine petitions of personal liberty, the judges said. There is no reason to doubt the consistent statements by judges who accompanied Judge Loya to Nagpur. The Supreme Court also condemned the petitioners for referring to cases not related to the Judge Loya case, and said unfounded aspersions were cast on high court judges and insinuations were made that one individual was controlling the judiciary. The court pulled up the petitioners lawyers for making scurrilous remarks against the judiciary and doubting the statement of the high court judges. It said the action amounts to contempt against the petitioner for scandalising the judiciary but doesnt issue notice. Judge Loya, who was hearing the alleged Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case, died of a cardiac arrest on December 1, 2014, in Nagpur, where he had gone to attend the wedding of a colleagues daughter. BJP chief Amit Shah, among others, was named in the Sohrabuddin case and later discharged. The issue of Judge Loyas death came under the spotlight in November last year after media reports quoted his sister as raising suspicion about the circumstances surrounding it and linking it to the Sohrabuddin case. But Loyas son in January this year said his father died of natural causes. A clutch of petitions, including those filed by activist Tehseen Poonawala and Maharashtra-based journalist BS Lone, was moved in the Supreme Court seeking an independent probe into the alleged mysterious death of Judge Loya, which the court had termed as a serious matter. In March, the Supreme Court bench had reserved judgment on the pleas. The Maharashtra government, opposing the petitions in the top court, argued that all the pleas seeking an independent probe into the judges death were motivated and aimed at targeting one individual in the guise of upholding the rule of law. It came down heavily on the alleged accusations, bullying and browbeating of judges in the top court by some activist lawyers and said the judiciary and judicial officers need to be saved from such averments. Those seeking a probe, however, referred to the sequence of events to highlight that a fair investigation was needed to rule out any foul play in Judge Loyas death. Sohrabuddin Sheikh, a small-time criminal, was allegedly gunned down by a team of policemen from Gujarat and Rajasthan in November 2005 when he was on his way from Hyderabad to Sangli. The case includes the alleged killing of his wife Kausar BI and their associate Tulsiram Prajapati. Besides Shah, Rajasthan home minister Gulabchand Kataria, Rajasthan-based businessman Vimal Patni, former Gujarat police chief PC Pande, additional director general of police Geeta Johri and Gujarat police officers Abhay Chudasama and NK Amin have already been discharged in the Sohrabuddin case. Like any other 12-year-old rich kid, Bhavya Shah was fond of fancy cars and stylish sunglasses. Except that this son of a Surat-based diamond merchant gave it all up to join an order of Jain monks on Thursday in an elaborate ceremony. Bhavyas father Dipesh Shah said that on March 24 his son took one last ride in his favourite Ferrari car that belonged to a family friend. And on Wednesday the boy sported a pair of blue shades with his sherwani when the family organised a public procession for him in a chariot designed on the lines of the ones depicted in the blockbuster movie Bahubali. Life is full of sins. My parents have taught me that one should lead a life of truth. For the same, I am happy to renounce the world. I also know that my parents are happy with my decision, said the 12-year-old to the media before he took the vows of monkhood from Acharya Rashminratnasuri in Surat on Thursday. Four years ago, Bhavyas elder sister too had renounced the material world. Bhavya believes that soon his parents will also follow suit. On Thursday, some 300 monks and thousands of community members from all over arrived in Surat to take part in the Bhavyas diskha mahotsav. At the core I am very happy that two of my three children have adopted the path of truth. My third son is not ready for monkhood. But in future if he wants to, I would be immensely happy, said Shah. The father added, I and my wife feel like we have given away part of our heart. But their choices are right, deep down we feel happy. Last year, Varshil Shah, a Gujarat board class XII topper from Ahmedabad took the path of monkhood. The 17-year-old Varshil had scored 99.9 percentile in the examination in March and renounced the world a few days after the board results were announced In 2014, the Jain community was granted a national of minority status by the central government. In Gujarat, Jains have four sub-sects and diksha is a common practice among all sections. As Assam celebrated Rongali Bihu last Sunday, a clash erupted between the two ruling partners of the state Asom Gana Parishad (AGP) and Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP). Scores of workers of the two outfits fought over allotment of sheds of a market in Chaygaon, nearly 50 km from Guwahati, marking a tense phase in the alliance although leaders dismissed it as a local issue. Nine people were injured from both the parties which came together in 2016 ahead of the assembly elections. We came together before the assembly election with the sole intention of ending 15 years of Congress misrule. But we wont compromise on our ideals and goals, which are for the greater interest of Assam and Assamese people, said AGP president Atul Bora. There has been a disagreement between the two parties over the proposed amendment to the Citizenship Act to grant citizenship to religious minorities from neighbouring countries. AGP is against the change as it fears it will lead to surge in influx of Bangladeshi Hindus in the state. Granting citizenship to Bangladeshi Hindus would dilute the Assam Accord of 1985, which was signed with the specific aim of detecting and deporting illegal immigrants. We will oppose the move to amend the Citizenship Act tooth and nail, said Bora. However, BJP leaders say the partys vision document before the 2016 assembly polls had clearly stated its stand on providing citizenship to religious minorities, not just from Bangladesh, but from other neighbouring states too. This has been our partys stand since the beginning, asserted BJP chief spokesperson Rupam Goswami. The AGP might claim ignorance about it but we were clear on it even before we came together for the assembly polls. Looking ahead, panchayat elections are proposed to be held, but theres confusion over whether the two will contest together or separately. Last month, BJP president Amit Shah had publicly said that both the parties would contest the elections together. But AGP said they are yet to get official intimation in this regard and are gearing for the polls alone. The aim of our government is to bring together all communities of Assam together for the development of the state, said Goswami. He, however, conceded that they (AGP) might have some political compulsions of their own. Despite talks of panchayat polls happening soon, sources say it is unlikely to happen as thousands of state government employees are busy updating the National Register of Citizens (NRC), which is aimed at weeding out illegal immigrants residing in the state. A group of UK-based Indian students and alumni said it was denied permission to attend an event addressed by Indian prime minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday despite an earlier confirmation. The National Indian Students and Alumni Union UK (NISAU) said on its Facebook page that its delegates were not sent their tickets for the Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath event where the PM was expected to respond to its letter on women safety issue in India. At a press conference of foreign secretary Vijay Gokhale in London on Wednesday, a student belonging to the group asked why the tickets of eight out of nine people were cancelled, according to a report in NDTV. Gokhale was quoted as saying that he cannot answer the question as it was a press conference about India-British relations and the PMs visit to Great Britain. Last week, NISAU, a group that has Indian and Asian students from 20 British universities, had written to PM Modi asking that swift justice and extraordinary measures be taken in light of the rape cases in Kathua, Unnao and Surat and more generally to improve safety for women in India. The group claimed on Wednesday its signatories were being pressurised to retract. PM Modi had addressed the Indian diaspora at a townhall called Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath at Londons iconic is Central Hall Westminster. Referring to recent incidents of rape, Modi said the matter should not be politicised. A little girl is raped, its such a painful incident. But will we say these many (rapes) happened during your governments rule and these many in mine? There cant be an approach more wrong. A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate such cruelty to a daughter? he added. The UK government tendered an apology on Thursday after Indian authorities complained that the Indian flag in Parliament Square was pulled down, torn and stamped on by individuals protesting against India and the visit of Prime Minister Narendra Modi. Soon after the complaint to the Foreign Office and Scotland Yard, a replacement flag was put up. Some Indian journalists were assaulted and complained of intimidation during Wednesdays protests. The Foreign Office said in a statement: While people have the right to hold peaceful protests, we are disappointed with the action taken by a small minority in Parliament Square and contacted High Commissioner Yashvardhan Kumar Sinha as soon as we were made aware. The visit to the UK by Prime Minister Modi has strengthened our relationship with India and we look forward to working even more closely together on a number of important areas. Pro-Khalistan protestors from the Sikh Federation UK and members of the so-called Minorities Against Modi group, led by Pakistani-origin peer Nazir Ahmed, were among nearly 500 protesters who gathered in Parliament Square. While the protests were on in Parliament Square and Downing Street, Prime Minister Theresa May did not respond inside Parliament to a ruling party MP who asked her to condemn messages by anti-India groups against Modi on customised vans moving around central London. Conservative Party MP Bob Blackman asked May: Will my right hon. friend take the opportunity to condemn absolutely the mobile billboards that are going around London attacking our good friend Prime Minister Modi, and will she congratulate and thank the 1.7 million members of the Indian diaspora on their contribution to the work of this country? May did not mention the anti-Modi billboards, but said: India is indeed a good friend of the UK, and the Indian diaspora here in the UK plays an enormous role and makes an enormous contribution to our society and our economy. She added, When I spoke to Prime Minister Modi, we discussed how we can encourage and increase the links and development between our two countries. Wednesday saw a spate of pro- and anti-Modi demonstrations in central London as the prime minister held bilateral meetings and addressed the Indian diaspora in a special event. Inside Parliament, May was asked more questions on India. Afzal Khan, Labour MP from Manchester, mentioned the protests and asked her: This week, the UK becomes the chair of the Commonwealth. Many of us will have walked past demonstrations outside Parliament on the issue of Kashmir, and I understand that the prime minister will be presented with a petition. The stalemate in the bilateral talks between India and Pakistan has failed to deliver any solution to this major nuclear flashpoint. How will she use the UKs new position to boldly pursue peace and human rights violations in Jammu and Kashmir? May reiterated Londons stance on the issue: I am sure that it is a matter of concern not only to him but to a number of his constituents. We continue to take the view that the best resolution of this issue is for India and Pakistan themselves to come together and resolve the matter. That will be the way to resolve it that will actually ensure the sustainability of a resolution. The Labour MP from Ealing Southall, Virendra Sharma, put it to May: Following the commitment by Prime Minister Modi and finance minister Arun Jaitley to end tuberculosis in India by 2025, will the prime minister commit to encouraging other Commonwealth leaders at this weeks CHOGM to make similar commitments in advance of the UN high-level meeting on TB? May responded: The hon. gentleman raises an important issue, and we are happy to ensure through various channels that we encourage others to follow the example that India has shown in relation to TB. At one stage, it was eradicated here in the UK but we need to ensure that action is taken in other countries around the world. Ashis Ray, president of the Indian Journalists Association (IJA) raised the issue of attacks on journalists with Scotland Yard and the Foreign Office and called on the police to book the assailants. He said in a statement: Reports of intimidation against and manhandling of a few of our members by political protesters in central London on April 18 have been brought to our notice. IJAs constitution obliges the organisation to defend the right of our members to freely discharge their professional duties. Therefore, IJA strongly condemns the threats and violence faced by concerned members from anti-India demonstrators. We also call upon the British police to bring to book wrongdoers upon receiving any complaint on the matter from our members. Prime Minister Narendra Modi fielded a series of questions at the Bharat ki Baat, Sabke Saath townhall event in Central Hall Westminister on Wednesday, addressing a host of issues including the protests surrounding crimes against women in India as well as terrorism. Here are the top 10 things he said: On his government -- I want this government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong. Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism. -- Our focus is on three things: education for students, employment for youth and medicines for the elderly. -- I will further cooperation with Saudi Arabia and for the energy needs of India I will also engage with Iran. Read | Criticism is a goldmine for me, but it is turning into allegations: PM Modi On terrorism -- We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted. Read | Informed Pakistan about surgical strikes before we told Indian media, says Modi On India -- He (Mahatma Gandhi) told every person that whatever you are doing will contribute to Indias freedom. Today, the need of the hour is to make development a mass movement. -- If a person has a cycle, a person aspires a scooter. If a person has a scooter, a person aspires a car. It is natural to aspire. India is getting increasingly aspirational. On violence against women -- We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too. The person who is committing these crimes is also someones son. He has a mother too in his house. Read | Rape is rape, dont politicise: Modi amid outrage over Kathua, Unnao case About Modi -- I know the day I stop being impatient, I will be of no use to the country. -- I am like any common citizen. I do not need to read books to understand poverty. I have lived in poverty, I know what it is to be poor and belong to the backward sections of society. -- The person in the Railway Station was Narendra Modi. The person in the Royal Palace in London is the Sevak of 125 crore Indians. My life at the Railway Station taught me so much. It was about my personal struggles. When you said Royal Palace, it is not about me but about the 125 crore people of India. Sparks flew at the second day of the 22nd party congress of the CPI(M) in Hyderabad on Thursday as two factions associated with Sitaram Yechury and Prakash Karat traded charges against each other. A delegate from Punjab asked the Kerala lobby to allow the elected general secretary Sitaram Yechury to work. A few members from Kerala, a state backing Karat, questioned why Yechury went ahead and presented the minority views at the party congress the day before. A few leaders from Assam and Maharashtra even demanded voting by secret ballot on the political line of the party. In the CPI(M), voting usually takes place with a show of hands. A secret ballot would mean no one would know who votes for whom from which state, said a politburo member. Yechury added that as long as he had been in the partys central committee, the party congress had not seen a secret ballot. Many members, however, also pitched strongly for unity in the party and pointed out that the focus should be on fighting the BJP. Efforts are also on for a patch-up between the two sides and to find a middle path in the partys political-tactical line vis-a-vis the Congress. With many amendments given by both sides on the much-debated political-tactical resolution, a steering committee of the CPI(M) will meet on Friday to consider them, and make a proposal for an amicable resolution to the dispute, party leaders said. Yechury insisted that his camp is not seeking permission for an electoral alliance with the Congress. There is no dispute over an electoral alliance with the Congress. There is no dispute in the priority that the BJP should be defeated. Each one of us knows that our priority is to get rid of the BJP-RSS government. The only difference is on how to achieve this target, he said at a press conference. Leaders close to Yechury maintained that he wants the phrase political understanding to be made a part of the resolution. This, said a politburo member who did not wish to be named, would allow the CPI(M) more space for manoeuvring in the elections. On Wednesday, Karat also tried to show flexibility and said that the political-tactical line and the 2019 Lok Sabha elections should not be mixed up. For the time being, Yechury also played down the possibility of a rare vote on the political-tactical line. The amendments will be known tomorrow morning. If anyone presses for his or her amendments, there can be voting. Otherwise, the steering committee will consider all amendments and makes a proposal, he said. Bhangar, on the outskirts of Kolkata, where villagers are opposing a power grid project since the end of 2016, was thrown into the vortex of violence on Wednesday night with dozens of bombs being hurled and bullets fired well past midnight. According to residents, local toughs supported by the ruling Trinamool Congress, launched an attack on the villages opposing the project Michhibhanga, Khamar Ait, Middhyapara, Notun Hat and Oriya Para. Residents of about a dozen villages are offering resistance to a power grid project in the area, posing a combined challenge to the might of the state government and the ruling Trinamool Congress. The stake of the ruling party has increased after two of the agitators filed nomination for the local gram panchayat, since their victory would be a slap on the Mamata Banerjee regime. From Wednesday afternoon roads leading to the agitating villages were blocked with logs and bricks to cut off the area. This fresh violence came in the wake of the villagers petition in Calcutta high court seeking assistance in filing nomination papers for the rural polls. The agitators under the banner of Jami, Jiban, Jibika, Poribesh O Bastutantra Raksha Committee (Committee for protecting land, livelihood, environment and ecosystem) decided to contest the rural elections to prove their popularity in the area. The high court verdict is due on Friday. The renewed violence was to ensure that even if the high court ruled in favour of us, no one dares to submit nominations. They are afraid of facing contests because they know they will lose, said Pradip Singh Thakur, state secretary of Naxalite outfit CPI(ML)(Red Star) that is spearheading the land agitation in Bhangar. It was the biggest attack the Trinamool has launched on the villages. Many villagers came out of their homes to resist the goons and finally, after nearly four hours, they went back. We are sure they will be coming back tonight, Abdul Aziz Mallick, president of the agitating body, said on Thursday. They are spreading lies. We did not attack them. On the contrary the so called agitators have forced several of our workers out of the area, said Trinamool Congress leader Arabul Islam, a former MLA. Islams son heads the Polerhat II gram panchayat, which covers nearly 80% of the areas dominated by agitators. The agitating committee, however, could file nominations for only two gram panchayat seats against their wish to contest in 16 gram panchayat, three panchayat samiti and one zilla parishad seats. Trinamool Congress-backed toughs allegedly thrashed members of the committee when they went to the block development officers office to submit nominations on April 6. That night the police arrested several prominent human rights activists who were standing by the Bhangar agitation. One of them, a young doctor, Ratul Banerjee, has been booked under sections of the anti-terror law Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA). Banerjee is the fifth person associated with the movement to be booked under UA(P)A. Incidentally, chief minister Mamata Banerjee has repeatedly said that the Bhangar project must come up since it would help power distribution in south Bengal. The lawyer strike at Calcutta high court has been extended till April 25, the leader of the agitating lawyers said on Thursday shortly after the decision was taken in a review meeting while the unprecedented cease work entered its 60th day. We have decided to extend our agitation till April 25. Our next move will be decided on April 26, said Uttam Majumdar, president of the Bar Association, the biggest body of lawyers in the court. Read: RTI activist files PIL seeking court intervention to end lawyer strike in Cal HC The strike has also been supported by the Bar Library and Incorporated Law Society. Around 10,000 lawyers are participating in the strike, bringing the countrys oldest high court to a standstill since February 18. Though there is a sanctioned strength of 72 judges in Calcutta high court, there are only 33 right now. Two of these 33 judges are deputed at Port Blair circuit bench in the Andamans, thus effectively reducing the number to 31. The Bar Associations argument is that except Karnataka high court, every high court in the country has more than 50-60% of the sanctioned strength of judges. Only Calcutta high court is functioning with a 45% strength, the association has argued. Read: Calcutta high court says single bench will hear Bengal panchayat poll case Meanwhile, some petitioners have decided to appear in person for hearing in their cases. One such case pertains to the PIL filed by a psychologist, Pompi Banerjee, a social worker and three human trafficking survivors demanding state-level rehabilitation policy, right to repatriation and compensation for trafficked women. Read: Calcutta HC rejects Trinamools petition on West Bengal rural polls stay The PIL against the Bengal government was filed in May 2017 and finally it was listed for hearing on April 20, 2018. But in the absence of advocates, who are on strike, the five litigants have decided to argue the case themselves. On April 17, Biswanath Goswami, an RTI activist, filed a public interest litigation seeking court intervention to bring an end to the cease work. The application was addressed to the Chief Justice of India. The city of palaces as Kolkata was once known is losing its architecturally unique palatial buildings rapidly, thanks to the Kolkata Municipal Corporations (KMC) regular delisting of heritage buildings, a group of celebrities, intellectuals and people concerned with conservation of heritage alleged on World Heritage Day. The likes of actor-filmmaker Aparna Sen, former Union culture secretary and Prasar Bharati CEO Jawhar Sircar, writer Amit Chaudhuri, and professor emeritus of Jadavpur University Supriya Chaudhuri were among those who gathered at Subodh Mallick Square in central Kolkata and walked to the KMCs head office to protest the civic bodys move. Is Kolkata just about malls? Have we forgotten its heritage?, KMC can yoou demolish history? read the placards they were carrying. A few dozen students and teachers of Kolkatas South City International School also joined the protest. Protesters alleged that KMC is frequently degrading heritage buildings to allow demolition. A few dozen students and teachers of Kolkatas South City International School also joined the protest to save the citys historic buildings. (HT Photo/Samir Jana) Buildings listed under grades 1, 2A and 2B for heritage buildings can be modified but not pulled down. However, a Grade 3 listing allows the structure to be demolished on condition that a plaque stating the history of the building is installed inside the compound of the new structure. One has to keep in mind the economics related to old houses. The KMC cannot assist owners of heritage houses financially but houses having heritage tag require to maintain several guidelines for repair/modification, which adds to their expenses. Naturally, the KMC comes under pressure from house owners to delist, said artist Suvaprasanna, chairman, state heritage commission. He added that Nobel laureate Guntar Grass, during his trip to kolkata in 2005, had expressed his wish to gather funds for restoring some old houses in north Kolkata and spoke to then chief minister Buddhadeb Bhattacharjee about turning Bagbazaar into a heritage spot. It could not materialise due to litigations over property ownership and increase in the number of heirs with time. In 1998, a government-appointed committee identified 1,363 buildings in the city as heritage structures. In 2009, 605 were listed under Grade 1, 110 under Grade 2A and 196 under Grade 2B. The rest were listed as Grade 3. Since then, about two dozen buildings have been degraded to Grade 3, activists allege. Over the past couple of years, the KMCs decision to delist such buildings as poet Madhusudan Dutts residence at Kidderpore, the iconic Roxy Cinema, the historic Metropolitan School and the old Kenilworth Hotel in south Kolkata, allowed their demolition. (HT Photo/Samir Jana) Kolkata will lose its identity if we lose our heritage buildings at this rate, said Aparna Sen. Listed buildings should never be torn down as they are done in Calcutta. The government is looking the other way, said Supriya Chaudhuri. We have to stand together to save Kolkatas priceless heritage from destruction, Jawhar Sircar, who has deep interest in Kolkatas history, wrote on social media, calling upon people to join him at the protest. Experts said, apart from architecture of various European influences, the city is also rich in its own, unique architecture that developed from a mix of European and ancient Indian architecture. The CPI(M)-led Left Front ran KMC between 2005 and 2010 and since then Trinamools Sovan Chatterjee has been the mayor of Kolkata. In 2016, Chatterjee had publicly said he believed the famous Roxy Theatre had bogus architectural value, a comment the citys heritage and architectural experts sharply criticised. Roxy represents Art Deco style that developed in France just before the outbreak of the first world war. Prominent historic buildings grounded Minerva Cinema (renamed Chaplin) Acharya Jagadish Chandra Bose College, AJC Bose Road Pramathesh Baruas house on Ballygunge Circular Road Ghulam Rasul mosque Old Kenilworth Hotel Over the past couple of years, the KMCs decision to delist such buildings as poet Madhusudan Dutts residence at Kidderpore (from Grade 1), the iconic Roxy Cinema (central Kolkata), the historic Metropolitan School and the old Kenilworth Hotel in south Kolkata, allowed their demolition. Suvaprasanna said Dutts house could not be saved because documents related to the poets stay there could not be traced despite newspaper advertisements. Every year, the KMC is delisting one or two buildings to allow them to be destroyed. In some cases, we have moved court and have temporarily spoiled their plan. However, to prevent the tendency, it is essential to build public opinion, said GM Kapur, convener of the Indian National Trust for Art and Cultural Heritage (INTACH). Kapur added that a Grade 1 building, the Ghulam Rasool Mosque on Shamshul Huda Road, Park Circus, was razed to the ground in broad daylight without any intervention by the KMC or police. Authorities landed up at the site after the last brick had been demolished and served owners with a stop-work notice, he said. United Progressive Alliance (UPA) chairperson Sonia Gandhi, along with her son and Congress president Rahul Gandhi, held a Janata Darbar here on the second and last day of her visit to her Lok Sabha constituency amid reports that Congress MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh and his two brothers would join the BJP in the presence of the ruling party chief Amit Shah here on April 21. Sonia Gandhi reached Rae Bareli, her parliamentary constituency, on Tuesday evening after a gap of 20 months. Soon after arrival here, she inaugurated the Indian Medical Association (IMA) building. She inaugurated the passport office and chaired the district vigilance monitoring committees meeting as an MP on Wednesday. Janata Darbar was held at the Bhuemau guesthouse. When he encountered the media outside the Indira Gandhi National Flying Academy before leaving for Delhi along with his mother, Rahul Gandhi avoided a direct reply to a question on the BJP national presidents proposed Rae Bareli visit on April 21 and the possibility of Congress MLC Dinesh Pratap Singh, zila panchayat chairman Awadhesh Pratap Singh and Harchandpur MLA Rakesh Singh joining the BJP the same day. Launching a counter attack, Rahul Gandhi asked why Prime Minister Narendra Modi was mum on corruption charges against Amit Shahs son. There is flood of corruption in the country these days even as the prime minister has turned a blind eye to all this with the result that people like Nirav Modi are beyond arrest, he said. He said he would render the PM speechless if was allowed to speak just for 15 minutes in Parliament. Rahul also held a chaupal outside a dalits house at Nigohi village and met students at a government junior high school. He asked students about their experience of sitting on the ground in the school. He was also impressed with a student introducing himself in English. SONIA VISITS SP LEADERS HOUSE RAE BARELI: UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi visited Samajwadi Party (SP) MLA and former minister Manoj Kumar Pandes new house, Neelam Mansion, to join the housewarming ceremony there. Pande had personally invited her on Tuesday. Pande and her family welcomed the UPA chairperson with bouquets on her arrival at their new house where she briefly participated in the puja and went upstairs for snacks. She stayed there for around 15 minutes. Pandes wife Neelam Pande, who welcomed the UPA chairperson, is former vice chancellor of Maharishi University. Sonia ji took only a piece of chips and a piece of almond, Manoj Kumar Pande said. He said he had invited her to his new house as she represented Rae Bareli as an MP. No political meaning should be attached and I am not going to join the Congress, he said firmly. He said former chief minister Akhilesh Yadav and SP patriarch Mulayam Singh Yadav would join a feast at his house on April 21. Pande represents Unchahar assembly constituency of Rae Bareli in the Vidhan Sabha. (WITH INPUTS FROM MS MISRA IN RAE BARELI) Barring three exceptions -- 1977, 1996 and 1998 -- Rae Bareli has stood with the Congress since 1952. This time the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is out to test Rae Barelis love for the Nehru-Gandhi family currently represented by UPA chairperson Sonia Gandhi, a four-term MP. The party is set to mount its biggest ever political offensive yet in this Congress pocket borough by tasking its booth level cadres in Rae Bareli to mobilise a crowd of one lakh plus rally by its chief Amit Shah, UP chief minister Yogi Adityanath, ministers of Modi and Yogi governments at the GIC grounds on Saturday. Even half of the promised crowd would help in conveying Shahs intent to rattle the Gandhis on their turf, BJP leaders said. Nand Gopal Nandi, UP minister and in-charge of Rae Bareli, and party in-charge of the district Hero Bajpaihave undertaken two trips to supervise rally preparations in a region where even commoners admit defeating the Gandhis would be a tough task. The BJP is trying to make an impression here but I dont think there is any doubt on who will win from here, said a tea shop owner in Munshiganj confirming the popular notion that despite political setbacks elsewhere, this constituency would continue to vote for the Gandhis. But BJP leaders point out how successful the party has been in making an impression in Amethi the Lok Sabha constituency of Congress chief Rahul Gandhi. Within 20 days, union minister Smriti Irani managed to cut Rahuls victory margin substantially in the last Lok Sabha elections. Despite losing, she has been active there and this time the Congress might well be in for a surprise. Both Amethi and Rae Bareli are part of BJPs Mission 80 in UP, said Bajpai. It was during his marathon meetings with chief minister Yogi Adityanath, Shah had given the party and the government a stiff target to meet in the 2019 LS polls 50 per cent votes and all 80 LS seats from UP. Nothing is impossible in the dictionary of our party chief. Anyone who has worked with him would know that. The Congress has real reasons to worry now, said party vice-president JPS Rathore. The party is busy getting two stages prepared one for Shah, Adityanath and ministers and the other smaller one for local leaders. Congress MLC from local body quota - Dinesh Pratap Singh who along with his brother Awadhesh, the zila panchayat chairman in Rae Bareli would join the BJP at the event, is assisting in rally preparations. Dineshs brother Rakesh Singh, the Congress MLA from Harchandpur assembly segment of Rae Bareli, might not join the BJP here, ostensibly to escape disqualification under the Anti-Defection Act. Amethi and Rae Bareli were the only two Lok Sabha seats that Congress could win from UP in 2014 Lok Sabha elections. Shahs Mission 80 is aimed at rattling the Congress in its bastions, BJP leaders said. The Saturdays rally signalling partys intent for Rae Bareli well ahead of Lok Sabha elections is unique for even in 2014 Lok Sabha elections when Modi had broken the unwritten code - of top leaders not visiting each others constituencies by holding a rally in Amethi, he had stayed clear of Rae Bareli. In fact, Modi had visited Amethi only after Rae Bareli had voted, BJP leaders pointed out. Rahul had then held a roadshow in Varanasi from where Modi contested. At the moment the Congress is sounding brave. Congress has been winning Rae Bareli since 1952 when this seat was a mix of Pratapgarh (west) and Rae Bareli (east). BJP is welcome in Rae Bareli because they would now know their real worth here. And its from here that their downfall will begin, said Congress leader Devendra Pratap Singh. Beyond The Clouds Cast: Ishaan Khatter, Malvika Mohanan Director: Majid Majidi Rating: 2.5/5 A gang of boys has cut a good deal in drugs and are back at their adda. One of them starts to breakdance on AR Rahmans tune blaring in the background. He climbs on to a car roof and puts his moves on display. Suddenly, the police arrives and they are back to running and their crude, cruel street life. In a way, this sums up the tone of Beyond The Clouds. Youre always on the run and there is hardly any solace in it. Iranian auteur Majid Majidi (Children Of Heaven, Baran) finds Mumbai a contrast between slums and high-rises. He places his metaphors around the idea of the maximum city and how everyone is living a dual life. How peoples inner craving for love, companionship and an honourable life is setting their lives in motion. Not exactly like Danny Boyle though, whose Slumdog Millionaire was unidirectional in its pursuit of a little power and some money. Here, a spirited Amir (an earnest debut by Shahid Kapoors brother Ishaan Khatter) demands and donates more than just life. His humanity and actions are more naive, short-spanned and uncertain than Jamal Maliks in Slumdog Millionaire. Majidi smoothens the citys hard edges and takes us to areas like Yaari Road, lonely beaches, dockyards and dhobi ghat. Unlike Anthony Dod Mantle (who was the director of photography for Slumdog Millionaire), he asks cinematographer Anil Mehta to not present the Mumbai slums in the most raw form. Taking a cue, Mehta trains his camera at relatively softer, less cynical view of life. There begins the real work of both the leads, Amir and his sister Tara (Malavika Mohanan), two orphans sharing similar traits and compassion. There are awkward moments where you get confused about the strength of their emotional connection as Majidi doesnt pay much attention to establishing their bond. In fact, the first half of the film lacks the emotional quotient Majidi brings to his films. Thankfully, he gets into the groove in the second half with the entry of a few new characters. A mental tussle between greed, love, betrayal and innocence takes the centre stage. His expertise with kids comes handy while he floods the screen with images and smiles. Beyond The Clouds doesnt refrain from spoon-feeding, or maybe its the language constraint. You hear a child, who has never seen it, asking for moon on a cloudy night, and then somebody deciding to fulfil that wish. Then two friendly people will slowly slide into the same shawl while appreciating and exploring the blessings of life. Its mostly cliched and sometimes effective. Read: Nanu Ki Jaanu movie review: Abhay Deols bizarre ghost story is dull The inner demons would also rear their heads, but theyll be crushed in time. Shots from behind the curtains and against the light source, which are a highlight of Majidis films, are amply used. Actually, he never leaves it entirely to the actors to lighten up the scene or transform the mood. He prepares us for the transition If Amir is having a change of heart, he would show ample signs of it. Similarly, Tara would go hysterical inside the jail, but she would also trigger an immediate change of behaviour in hardened people around her. The tone is definitely humane. You feel for the characters, their lack of resources and the indomitable will to rise and shine. All this gets amplified manifold by veteran actor GV Sharadas exceptionally refined performance. She plays a woman totally at the mercy of the city that doesnt even speak her language, but she is one solid presence in the film. Her gaze, her empathy and benevolent eyes need no language. Thematically, Beyond The Clouds might be one film, but its disjointed tonally. Sometimes, it seems youre watching two stories struggling hard to culminate at the same juncture. Fortunately, there are some signature Majidi scenes that may prompt you to sob. From the silent suffering of a morally degraded person to tracing the origins of a crime, Beyond The Clouds is emotion heavy, but it doesnt become a case-study, and that dilutes the narratives importance. Its for Ishaan Khatters charming and heroic presence that keeps the momentum sustained. He is feisty, lively and full of potential. Inspired from Bollywood and its tales of one-upmanship, Ishaan Khatter twitches, smirks and shows cynicism without going overboard. Of course, he appears confident. Despite excellent symbols and good performances in patches, Beyond The Clouds remains something we have seen and had expected. The uniqueness of the film hardly crosses the crowded bylanes. Majid Majidis foreign eyes see what all of them see. Interact with Rohit Vats at twitter/@nawabjha Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Competition for seats in undergraduate medical and dental courses across India is set to get tougher with the total registrations for the National Eligibility-cum-Entrance Test (NEET) increasing by almost two lakh. According to figures revealed by the Central Board of Secondary Education (CBSE), over 13.36 lakh hopefuls have registered for NEET 2018, up from 11.5 lakh who had registered in 2017. The total number of seats in MBBS and BDS institutes across the country stands at 60,000. Experts have attributed this increase in registrations to a number of reasons, including more states opting for NEET scores instead of their Common Entrance Tests (CETs) to fill seats for all health science courses. They also attribute the rise to an overall increase in number of students clearing Class 12 exams every year. Various policies and scholarships made available by the Central government as well as state governments have encouraged a higher number of students clearing secondary and higher secondary education across the country. We anticipate an increase on the basis of this reason every year, said Dr Pravin Shingare, director, Directorate of Medical Education and Research (DMER). The registrations stood at 7.5 lakh in 2016 when NEET was conducted in two phases. NEET was first introduced in May 2013 and was quickly scrapped in 2014, making way for separate CETs for admissions to medical and dental institutes in each state. In 2016, the Supreme Court made NEET mandatory. Keeping this in mind, the Maharashtra medical education department decided to scrap CET, making NEET compulsory for all students aiming for seats in all health science courses. In the past year, more states have been encouraging institutes to consider NEET scores to help get rid of numerous entrance examinations and reduce the burden on students. Students have realized that NEET is more important than state-conducted CETs. More and more of them have been opting for NEET. Sadly, the number of seats is still very limited and the competition gets tougher, said Aruna Roy, parent of an MBBS aspirant.CBSE has already started distributing admit cards. NEET (UG) 2018 will be conducted in 11 languages on May 6. A casual trip to Masjid Bunder proved fatal for 20-year-old Mohammed Saif Abdul Ali Shaikh whose dead body was found on the railway tracks, just 100 metres from his home. On Tuesday afternoon, Shaikh had gone with two friends to the garment market in Masjid Bunder. At 3.50pm, he boarded a Panvel-bound train from Chhatrapati Shivaji Maharaj Terminus. The patrolling staff reported a body lying between Wadala and Sewree at 4.40pm. Shaikhs mobile phone was found nearby. We have registered a case of accidental death report. However, we are investigating to find out whether the boy fell off the train during non-peak hours or he was trying to cross the tracks. The station master in his statement told us that Shaikh was seen crossing the tracks when the accident took place, said Ajit Baratake, senior police inspector of Wadala Government Railway Police (GRP). According to Wadala GRP, Shaikh was an undergraduate student of commerce and had recently started working in a shop as a sales executive. His father, Abdul, is a tailor who works out of his home in Kamla Nagar, adjacent to the railway tracks in Wadala. The tragic accident that cost Shaikh his life tore his body to pieces. The boy was a local due to which the residents of Kamla Nagar who gathered there identified the boy as Shaikh even though his face was beyond recognition, said an officer from Wadala GRP. Shaikhs parents were informed and his body parts were sent to Lokmanya Tilak Municipal General Hospital in Sion. The family had to wait to perform Shaikhs last rites because not all of his body parts were found initially. His left leg and a hand were missing. Finally, at 7.30pm, a call came in from the railway yard in Belapur. The leg was found wedged into a train that had come in for cleaning, while part of his hand was found stuck in his stomach. Shaikhs body was then handed over to his grieving parents. A month after several fires were reported from Adharwadi dumping yard, another fire broke out at the landfill on Thursday. Unlike previous fires, which took four days to douse, Thursdays fire was brought under control within hours. No causality was reported in the incident.The smoke emanated from the dumping yard remained in surrounding for an hour. After the last months fires, authorities had assured of shutting the landfill. The incident also led to the ouster of former Kalyan-Dombivli Municipal Corporation chief. More than 10 fire tenders were rushed to the spot to control the fire. It took fire officials more four hours to bring the fire under control. At the time of copy going to print, firefighters were still at the site. A case has been registered at Khadakpada police station. Officials speak Sudhakar Kulkarni , fire officer from Kalyan division, said, The fire started around 3pm. We rushed to the spot and found that the fire was smaller in comparison to last month. The fire is under control. Well resume work tomorrow morning, as it is too late and dark. He added, The nearby areas have been sprinkled with enough water to prevent the fire from spreading. A personnel will keep vigil through the night to give us updates. KDMC deputy commissioner Dhanaji Thoraskar said after the recent incidents of fire, the landfill was being continuously sprinkled with water. But the operations were stoped after the fire was brought under control. We have mechanism in place to control the fire, he added. Municipal commissioner Govind Bodke said KDMC has stationed two fire tenders at both sides of the dumping ground to carry out firefighting operations immediately. We managed to control the fire immediately. We could not water the dump yard continuously, as it releases dirty water into the creek. We had to stop watering the dump, he added. Resident speak Mahesh Bankar,28, a hotelier, who lives 100 metres from the dumping ground, said, The corporation doesnt seem to be in the mood to shut the landfill or clear the garbage. every few weeks, our area gets engulfed in thick smoke emanated from the landfill. We want a permanent solution, but neither officials nor politicians are promising us anything. Promises made by the civic chief were hollow. the smoke has become a health hazard. The Nationalist Congress Party (NCP) on Thursday alleged their corporator Kailash Girawle from Ahmednagar died of torture in police custody. The party has blamed Deepak Kesarkar, Shiv Sena leader and minister of state for home, for the incident and demanded a judicial probe. Girawle was arrested on April 8. Under pressure from Kesarkar, police beat him up. Girawles condition worsened and he was admitted to civil hospital. The same day, the police told the court they dont want his custody, after which he was sent to judicial custody. This was done without producing him before the court, NCP spokesperson Nawab Malik told the media. He later succumbed to his injuries, he added. Refuting the allegations, Kesarkar said the government has already ordered CID probe in to death of the corporator. I have not ordered arrest of a particular person. My general instructions to police were to book all the perpetrators of the crime. Girawle was arrested in connection with deaths of two Shiv Sena leaders in the district. Girwale had undergone gastric bypass for weight loss. Police beating damaged the surgical staples, Malik claimed Experts said banning microbeads could make Maharashtra a model state for environment protection, even as the cosmetics body supported the proposal. Microbeads are small plastic particles, mainly found in cosmetics. The state environment department intends to ban the use of such microplastics. Microbeads are another unnecessary and criminal use of plastic, which can be easily done away with. Currently, people are not even aware that the material is present in products they use. It is heartening to note that the Maharashtra government is considering the ban, said Almitra Patel, Indian environmental policy advocate and member of the committee that drafted the Municipal Solid Waste Management Rules, 2000. Similar to warnings related to tobacco use, cosmetic products need to follow suit, informing us they are dangerous. As a citizen, it is my constitutional duty to protect the environment, said Patel. Marine conservationists said the decision will boost protection of the aquatic ecosystem. The ban will definitely help the restoration of marine habitat as microplastics are a serious threat, said N Vasudevan, additional principal chief conservator of the state mangrove cell (forests). The All-India Cosmetic Manufacturers Association (AICMA) voiced their support for proposed ban on microbeads. It has 700 medium and small-scale industries as part of its forum, of which 80% are based out of Maharashtra. All cosmetic industries will have to abide by the ban, as it may extended to the whole country. This movement is happening on a global scale and manufacturers need to realise that there are so many natural beads that can be used instead. We will support the state government in implementing this, said Kajal Anand, executive member and former president of AICMA and committee member of Bureau of Indian Standards (BIS). The Centre is also mulling over such a ban, which is expected to be executed soon. She added that it is possible to do without plastic beads. Beads from almonds, walnuts and jojoba are a ready substitute for microbeads, said Anand. Meanwhile, HT spoke to four multinational cosmetics makers. Of them, three refused to comment. However, an official from the other firm, said, We will assist the state government in their endeavour to ban all types of plastic and follow directions. Dawood Ibrahim aide Yaseen Mansoor Mohammad Farooq, alias Farooq Takla, who was deported from Dubai last month and booked by the CBI in connection with the 1993 serial blasts case, was arrested by the Mumbai police crime branch on Thursday for his alleged involvement in the 1992 JJ shootout case. Crime branch sources said the criminal intelligence unit (CIU) operations wing of the crime branch took Takla into custody from the Arthur Road jail, where he was lodged in connection with the serial blasts case, on Thursday afternoon. He was produced in a special court constituted under the (now defunct) Terrorist and Disruptive Activities (Prevention), Act, which remanded him in crime branch custody till April 27. As the JJ shootout case was filed under TADA, Takla would be tried under the Act. A squad of 24 sharpshooters from the Dawood Ibrahim gang, led by Subhashsingh Thakur, had ambushed ward no. 18 of JJ Hospital on September 22, 1992, to avenge the death of Dawoods brother-in-law Ibrahim Parkar by rival Arun Gawli gang. The squad ended up killing Gawli shooter Sailesh Haldankar and two police constables, who exchanged fire. Crime branch sources said Takla, who lived in the vicinity of the hospital, had played a key role in sheltering the shooters, including Thakur, before and after the shootout. He has been booked for aiding and abetting in the crime, a senior crime branch officer said. A fire broke out in the basement of Universal High School at Brahmand, in Thane, on Thursday morning. No casualties were reported and students were safely evacuated. The Regional Disaster Management Cell and the fire brigade reached the spot with three fire engines and a quick rescue van after the fire broke out around 9am while the school was in session. Senior fire officials were at the spot. The fire was huge and occurred because of an electrical spark in the store room in the school basement. Around 2,000 students including the staff were evacuated. The fire was doused within 25 to 30 minutes and was followed by the cooling operation, said Shashikant Kale, chief fire officer, Thane Municipal Corporation (TMC). The school has neither accepted, nor denied the short circuit. HT visited the school but was not allowed to enter. Despite repeated attempts, principal Syamali Chowdhury was not available for comments. According to Kale, fire extinguishers placed in the school were dysfunctional and were at the top floor of the school, which is illegal. The investigation is being carried out to find the exact reason of the fire. The school has been asked to submit the fire safety documents, as the most of the fire extinguishers in the school were dysfunctional, he said. The incident could have been major. Fire officials should investigate all safety norms which the school has to follow to ensure the security of our children, said the parent of a student from Universal High School. Parents of the school students learnt about the incident after the news was circulated on a WhatsApp group. I was on my way towards office, when I got to know about the same on a school WhatsApp group. By the time I inquired about it, the fire had been doused and the classes had resumed. I was informed that the children had been safely evacuated, said another parent of a student from the school, requesting anonymity. The Maharashtra Congress is all set to up the ante against the state government in the run up to the general elections expected to be held later this year or early next year. The party has planned divisional conventions, followed by rallies in the presence of its national leadership over the next three months. Congress held district-level workshops in 15 districts over the last three months, and workshops for the remaining 20 will be held over the next two months. The leadership, comprising senior leaders such as state chief Ashok Chavan, and former chief ministers Prithviraj Chavan, Sushilkumar Shinde, address the party leaders in the day-long workshops on issues to be addressed before the voters to expose the shortcomings of the present government. The panel also taps potential candidates for the forthcoming Lok Sabha and Assembly elections from constituencies in the districts, and possibilities of alliances with local parties. In order to reach a large number of potential voters, the party has been organising divisional-level conventions in all six divisions of the state over the next one month. The first such convention will take place in Nanded on Thursday, in the presence of former union minister Sachin Pilot, and other prominent state leaders. We have completed district-level workshops in all Marathwada districts, while Vidarbha and western Maharashtra are on the verge of completion. After Marathwada, divisional conventions will be held in these divisions, said a party functionary, who did not want to be named. Another leader said that the conventions will be followed by Jan Akrosh rallies in all divisions. The next phase of the rallies will be in the presence of party president Rahul Gandhi. He has agreed to participate in the rallies in all six divisions once he is free from the Karnataka elections. We are preparing for Lok Sabha elections assuming that they will be held in December, he said. Before going to the voters, we are preparing our workers and local leaders and training them about the issues that need to be raised against the government. The district and divisional workshops and conventions are meant for this. The workers have been made aware about the empty promised by the state government, its failure to address the agrarian crises, and rising unemployment. The issues will be taken to the voters by the workers in the coming days, said former state chief of the party Manikrao Thakre. In a bid to free space on footpaths and street sides in Lower Parel, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) demolished 57 encroachments on Pandurang Budhkar Marg, Ganpatrao Kadam Marg, and Shankarrao Naram Marg. These included makeshift eateries constructed about six to seven years ago. Devendra Jain, assistant commissioner of the G-South ward, who carried out the demolitions, said, These shops had blocked the footpaths on both sides of the road. After we demolished the shops, we installed over 800 potted plants on either side of the street to prevent the area from getting encroached again. In yet another demolition near Mahakali caves at Andheri, BMC demolished 30 structures on Mahakali caves road on Thursday. Of these, 13 were commercial structures and 17 were makeshift residential structures. They were demolished to establish connectivity between Andheri Kurla road, and MIDC area. BMC also widened the Mahakali caves road by 100 meters following the demolition drive. Prashant Sapkale, assistant commissioner of the K-East ward, said, There was a missing link between MIDC and Mahakali caves, which is a 13.40-metre wide road mentioned in the Development plan, 1991. We cleared up the road by demolishing these structures. There has been a rise in the number of cases where pregnant women who have crossed the 20-week legal abortion deadline have sought judicial help, said doctors. The growing awareness of finding recourse in courts could be one reason behind more women seeking help, said Dr Nikhil Datar, city-based gynaecologist who has provided legal aid to 30 women seeking an abortion after the legal deadline. In the last six days, the Bombay High Court allowed abortion in two cases a 14-year-old rape survivor from Kalayan and a 26-week pregnant woman in their late twenties from the citys western suburbs. The procedure for medical termination of pregnancy in both the cases was carried out at Sir JJ Hospital, Byculla, this week. In case of the rape survivor, the child was born prematurely after doctors induced the process of medical termination of pregnancy. The infant died two days later in the intensive care unit. The girl had gone to Uttar Pradesh with a man, after which the parents filed a missing complaint. A non-governmental organisation traced her and got her back and found out she was pregnant, said a doctor from the hospital who examined the minor. The doctor added that the newborn weighed 600 grams after delivery but died due to respiratory distress syndrome. In the womans case, the foetus was diagnosed with a rare genetic condition called Achondroplasia that results in dwarfism.The woman was discharged and is doing well, a doctor said. Dr Ashok Anand, head of gynaecology, JJ Hospital, said the numbers of cases where they have been directed by the court to abort a foetus have gone up in the last three months. We now get one such case, every 15 to 20 days. Doctors are guiding patients to the courts in cases where the foetus is diagnosed with anomalies after 20 weeks, Dr Anand said. Meanwhile, the average time for these cases, from the time of filing the petition to getting a verdict, has reduced to seven days after the high court has started hearing the cases, making the wait time less traumatic for the petitioners, said lawyers. Sneha Mukherjee, advocate, who represented 15 pregnant women who had crossed the abortion deadline, said, The Supreme Court in October 2017 had said that petitioners can approach their respective high courts and do not necessarily have to approach the Supreme Court for these matters. She added that when the cases were heard in the SC, it took almost a month to get a verdict. Dr Datar, however, questioned about cases where women dont have access to legal help. We are helping women with any fees, but when women from rural parts, they want to go back as early as possible as they fear loss of pay. Also, not all of them can afford a lawyers fee. What about them? Starting next week, the Brihanmumbai Municipal Corporation (BMC) will be at your doorstep to collect plastic from your house. Apart from setting-up plastic collection bins and PET bottle-crushing machines at public places in the city, the BMC is now about to start a toll-free helpline for plastic pick-up service. After the Maharashtra government issued a notification in March to ban select plastic items, BMC prepared a procedure for the collection and disposal of the banned items. The civic bodys solid waste management department is responsible for the collection centers. Officials of the waste management department said that a temporary 10-digit toll-free number will be sanctioned for operation in a day or two. Citizens who have large stock of plastic items, can call on the helpline and ask for a pick-up garbage truck any day during the next 2-3 months, said an official. The state has given citizens and manufacturers a buffer period of three months to dispose of all the banned items. After this period, BMC can penalise people for use, manufacture and sale of banned plastic items. According to assistant municipal commissioner Kiran Dighavkar, 24 dedicated garbage trucks will pick up non-woven polypropylene bags, plastic sheets, plastic pouches, all kinds of plastic films, plastic and thermocol cutlery from societies and commercial establishments across the city. To raise awareness about alternatives to plastic, BMC will also conduct open exhibitions from next month. It also plans to put up creative advertisements at public places, produce short films, use social media for campaigning and train its staff for spreading awareness. Three Indian science academies have jointly spoken out in strong support of the proposed underground India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) at Bodi West Hills of Theni district, Tamil Nadu. The joint statement by the Indian National Science Academy, New Delhi, the National Academy of Sciences, Allahabad, and the Indian Academy of Sciences (IAS), Bengaluru is following continued protests led by Marumalarchi Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam (MDMK) general secretary Vaiko who had carried out a ten-day march against the INO earlier this month. There are good reasons to oppose many projects. But if we oppose a project like this (INO), it makes us a real obscurantist country. We are a scientific nation and we should support good science, said Ramakrishna Ramaswamy, president, IAS. The country should be supporting the INO because it is a pure science project, and will not hurt or harm anybody. INO, the countrys biggest basic science facility to be built at a cost of Rs1500 crores will study atmospheric neutrinos produced by cosmic rays in the earths atmosphere. Neutrinos are key to understanding the evolution of the universe, energy production mechanisms in the Sun and other stars. The site selected for INO has been chosen after an extensive nationwide site survey. All environmental regulations will be adhered to and no residents will have to be relocated, the statement read. Last month, the union environment ministry granted environment clearance for the project. Approvals are now being sought from the Tamil Nadu pollution control board and from the National Board of Wildlife since the Mathikettan Shola National Park in Keralas Idukki district is about 4.9kms from the proposed site. Explaining that INO can consolidate Indias position as a leading scientific nation, the statement read, The Science Academies hereby appeal to people of the district, state, and country to support this educational and research project wholeheartedly. A successful INO experiment will be a major technological and scientific national achievement. Welcoming the joint statement, Naba Mondal, former project director, INO, and retired physicist at the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research, said, Science academies dont come out with a statement often. They speak up only when there is a crucial point, and I am happy they are doing their responsibility. We want to create a science infrastructure in the country, and its time to say enough is enough. The proposed India-based Neutrino Observatory (INO) will be located 1200 metres under Bodhi West Hills in Theni district of Tamil Nadu (110kms from the temple town of Madhurai) . Coordinated by the Tata Institute of Fundamental Research (TIFR), the INO is a collaborative project involving nearly 100 scientists from more than 25 central and state universities and research institutes. An Inter-Institutional Educational and Research Centre for High Energy Physics (IICHEP) will be established at Madurai, about 110kms from the proposed INO site for operationalizing the underground laboratory From the joint statement: The Science Academies of India are strongly supportive of the establishment of such an experimental facility for its intrinsic scientific value. In addition to enabling Indian researchers to make a unique contribution to our understanding of several fundamental problems of physics, a major effort on this scale will also contribute significantly to the development of education and research infrastructure in Tamil Nadu. The INO will help us learn more about neutrinos which are elementary particles that have no charge and almost no mass and therefore do not affect anything they pass through. They are naturally produced in the atmosphere of the Earth and are present around us at all times, causing no damage. The Gautam Budh Nagar district magistrate BN Singh is set to issue guidelines for operations of hookah bars, following an order by the Allahabad high court on April 10 in response to a petition. As per an estimate, there were around 60 hookah bars in Noida and Greater Noida but 35 of them shut operations after the administration had sent notices to them in September 2017, following complaints that it is detrimental to the health of students. However, hookah bars are still operational in Greater Noida, which is an education hub, officials said. Owners of hookah bars had sought relief from the Allahabad high court, after the Expressway police served a notice on January 13, asking hookah bar owners to stop operations in the area. In the event of a failure to stop the activities, the police shall be left with no option but to seize and seal the hookah bar, the police notice read. Hookah bar owners, who had moved the high court against the notice, had contended that running a hookah bar is a valid activity as The Cigarette and other Tobacco Products (Prohibition of Advertisement and Regulation of Trade and Commerce, Production, Supply and Distribution) Act, 2003 nowhere restricts such activity or treats this as an offence, officials said. The court had refused to interfere in the matter. We do not find any just reason to interfere in the matter while invoking powers under Article 226 of the Constitution of India. However, looking into the allegation that the notice amounts to restriction of free business, we deem it appropriate to direct the district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar to look into the entire matter and decide the issue agitated by the petitioners, if they submit a detailed representation to him within a period of 10 days from today with all necessary documents, the court order stated. The Allahabad high court did not provide any relief to the hookah bars. After the HC order, we have decided to prepare guidelines to end any confusion for running hookah bars in the district. We will finalise the guidelines soon, BN Singh, district magistrate, Gautam Budh Nagar, said. The Ghaziabad Development Authority (GDA) said on Thursday that an FIR has been lodged against officials of the firm that constructed the Mahagun Puram residential project in Ghaziabads Mehrauli over the apparent delay in the delivery of 100 flats. Officials said that the matter pertains to one of the towers of the Mahagun Puram project at Mehrauli near NH-24. The tower comprises 100 housing units where work is allegedly pending causing delay in issuance of completion certificate, said officials. Officials said that out of the 1,724 units in the project, delivery is pending for 100 units. One of the towers of the project has 100 units, for which the developer seems to be not interested in getting completion certificates. There is some pending work, which we told them to complete after a site inspection. But that work is yet to be completed. This way, the delivery to homebuyers has been getting delayed, said VK Singh, officer on special duty, GDA. We sent a series of communication to the developer and two meetings were also held by the vice chairperson. The representative of the developer was also present during a meeting held by panel of three UP ministers. In our last communication, we had set a deadline of April 15, but the pending work is yet to be completed. Hence we lodged an FIR, Singh added. Meanwhile, the developer denied any delay from his side for taking up the completion certificate. The apartments are 100% ready and all formalities required by the GDA are done. The authority is holding back the completion certificate for no reason and reasons best known to them. They can visit the apartments. All the required NOCs are in place and have been submitted with the authority. As far I know, the GDA has only forwarded a complaint but no FIR has been lodged, said Amit Jain, director of Mahagun Real Estate. Read I Ghaziabad: Allahabad high court gives relief to builder from sealing drive Kavi Nagar station house officer Samarjeet Singh said the police has filed an FIR under IPC section 420 (cheating) on complaint filed by GDA. Authority officials said they have started lodging FIRs against the developers who are skipping the deadlines set after a meeting held with developers and homebuyers by a three minister-panel last year. Officials said they have also lodged an FIR against officials of another project in Mohan Nagar where the developer allegedly failed complete nearly 72 flats out of a total of 144 pending flats in the project. According to GDA officials, there are nearly 23,500 flats which are pending delivery in Ghaziabad. The officials said they will soon be holding a review meeting to assess the actual units delivered to homebuyers till March 31. A landowner alleged that an unauthorised colony is being developed on his land that falls under the floodplain zone in village Haibatpur of Greater Noida, which borders Ghaziabad. He said he had filed a complaint on the anti-land mafia portal of the UP government but no action has been taken. On Tuesday, he met the district magistrate (DM) at tehsil divas in Dadri and raised the issue. The DM directed the subdivisional magistrate (SDM) of Dadri to investigate and take action against land mafias. The DM said unauthorised colonies cannot be allowed to be developed in the district. The complainant, Sanjay Sharma, who claims to be a class IV employee of the Noida authority, filed a complaint with Amit Kumar Singh, the SDM of Dadri. Land mafias are threatening me and assaulting my 75-year-old mother and other family members. I had lodged a complaint on the anti-land mafia portal too but nothing has been done. So, I decided to give a complaint to the DM BN Singh at samadhan divas, Sharma said. He also showed photos of land mafia men beating his family members.He also showed the complaint lodged on the anti-land mafia portal. Sharma said the land belonged to his father Mahavir Sharma and two uncles. One of his uncles sold his share to land mafia while the other two owners have retained their shares. Land mafia was demarcating plots on our land too and developing an unauthorised colony. Innocent buyers are buying plots from the land mafia. Later, the administration will demolish their houses and these buyers will suffer. The administration should take action at the initial stage itself when the plotting is being done, Sharma said. District Magistrate BN Singh directed the SDM to conduct an inquiry and take action against the land mafia and ensure that no unauthorised colony is developed. SDM (Dadri) said, The Noida authority is demolishing unauthorised constructions on floodplains regularly and issuing notices to the public too, appealing them not to buy properties in unauthorised colonies. I have directed the tehsildar to visit the site, submit a report and take action against land mafias. Some others also complained they were not getting possession of 50 square metre and 100 sqm plots from developers due to lack of measurement. The SDM ordered measurement and allotment of such plots. Officials have prepared a traffic plan to reduce congestion on the Delhi Noida Direct Flyway that experiences heavy jams on a stretch leading to exits for Sector 15A and the Greater Noida Expressway, according to the areas development authority. Two main exit points on the flyway after the toll plaza on the stretch toward Noida face heavy traffic during peak hours. The first exit leads to sectors 15A and 14A and Udyog Marg. The second exit leads to Sector 16A Film City. Traffic build-up at the entry of the second exit blocks vehicles travelling straight to the Amaltash Marg Underpass in Noida. We are planning to use Jersey barriers to segregate lanes, so that traffic moving towards different parts of the city uses respective lanes instead of crowding one area, where the central verge begins, said Sandeep Chandra, Chief Engineer of the Noida authority. An initial survey has been conducted to count the vehicles that cross the stretch every day, he said. The Noida authority has proposed to segregate the vehicles 200 metres before both exits, according to a plan that is likely to be implemented by July. As per the survey, which was conducted by a private agency for the Noida authority, the daily average traffic travelling from Delhi to Noida on the flyway is 1,01,601 cars. During peak timings, 7,699 cars cross the stretch every hour. Officials said the exit for Sector 16A could still face congestion because of a steady increase in traffic volume over the years. We have to still work out how to reduce traffic or get an alternate route for when vehicles exit the DND towards the Noida-Greater Noida Expressway. We get over 10,000 vehicles on this stretch during peak hours and enforcement can only help in ensuring that the traffic keeps moving, said Anil Kumar Jha, Superintendent of Police (traffic). When the DND Flyway began operating in 2001, it carried about 13,000 vehicles every day for the first year. The traffic volume increased when the Mayur Vihar Link Road was added in 2006. When the toll collection on DND ended in October 2016, the traffic volume on both sides was 1,40,000 vehicles. Nearly 75,000 additional vehicles started using this stretch since the toll collection ended and currently, about 2,25,000 vehicles use the flyway every day, according the operator of the DND Flyway. Traffic experts say that while Jersey barriers are usually successful, the distances between the toll plaza and the exits toward Noida are short and may hurt the decongestion plan. They fear that if not implemented properly, the plan would end up causing more traffic jams. The distance from the toll plaza to the first exit towards Sector 15A is 400 metres. The distance between the first and the second exit is 200 metres. The distance is small and if people miss the lane, they will start moving in the opposite direction or will slow down, creating a bigger traffic mess. Besides, there will be need for frequent signage to inform commuters at different intervals, starting at least 100 metres before the exit. Authorities often skip providing this information, said Sewa Ram, professor of transportation planning at the School of Planning and Architecture. He said the Noida authority must begin a pilot project with plastic barricading, as using concrete barriers initially could increase the risk of accidents. The Noida authority has been granted permission by villagers to dump municipal solid waste at the Sector 68 trench, near Transport Nagar, along the Faridabad-Noida-Ghaziabad (FNG) Expressway, for 10 days. At a meeting held at the district magistrates (DM) camp office in Sector 27 on Tuesday evening, villagers said they will resume protests against the authority if it will continue to dump waste after 10 days. Since April 9, the authoritys health department has stopped lifting solid waste because it has no landfill site in the city to dump or treat the waste. The authority had to stop dumping solid waste at a temporary site in Sector 54 following residents protests. Gautam Budh Nagar Member of Parliament and minister for state for environment, forest and climate change, Dr Mahesh Sharma, had also directed the authority not to dump in Sector 54, following residents protests. However, the authority then stopped collecting waste from residential areas as there was no place to dump or treat the waste. This also raised health concerns across the city. The authority had earlier tried to dump waste at the Sector 68 trench but residents of Garhi Choukhandi, Sarfabad, Sector 123 and other nearby areas did not allow the authority to do so. In view of the garbage crisis the city is facing, Gautam Budh Nagar DM BN Singh called a meeting of villagers in his camp office on Tuesday evening. City magistrate Mahendra Singh, the Noida authoritys officer on special duty RK Singh and other officials met the villagers. We have asked the villagers to allow solid waste dumping for 10 days, within which the authority will look for a suitable space to dump the waste, Singh said. Noida authoritys chief executive officer (CEO), Alok Tandon, has written to East Delhi municipal corporation (EDMC), requesting it to allow dumping of Noidas refuse-derived fuel at the Ghazipur landfill site. The authority also has plans to develop a waste-to-energy plant at the Sector 123 landfill site, which is spread over 25 acres. However, residents are resistant to the idea. Officials put pressure on us and requested to dump waste for 10 days. We have told them that if they do not stop dumping of waste after 10 days, we will resume our agitation against illegal dumping of waste. Why did the Noida authority fail to identify a suitable place for the landfill site? Why is it troubling residents by dumping waste anywhere they find a place, even next to residential areas? said Sukhbir Pehalwan of Sarfabad, who attended the meeting. The Pune police search teams have confiscated pamphlets, books and written literature bearing the words Kranti (revolution) and Vidroh (uprising) alleged Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) members and Dalit activists while reacting to the early morning searches which took place at the residence of KKM members Deepak Dengale, Sagar Gorkhe, Sachin Gaichor and Jyoti Jagtap on Tuesday morning. When asked about the latest update on the searches, joint commissioner (law and order) Ravindra Kadam, said It will take more time and no new information is available. The city police had carried out searches in multiple cities on Tuesday against prominent Dalit activists,lawyers and KKM members in connection with the January 1 violence in Bhima Koregaon. The predawn raids were carried out by several teams of the Pune police at the homes and offices of various Dalit activists in Mumbai, Pune and Nagpur where the police seized literature, books and documents from their residences. The action came after a first information report (FIR) filed against Kabir Kala Manch (KKM) artistes was lodged in Pune for delivering provocative speeches during the Elgar Parishad held at the historic Shaniwarwada in Pune on December 31, 2017, ahead of the 200th anniversary of the Bhima Koregaon war. The FIR was registered by a 37-year-old local builder Tushar Ramesh Damgud, a resident of Katraj, who submitted a recording of the proceedings of the Parishad before the police and sought action against the Elgar Parishad organisers. The complaint stated that the KKM members had performed songs and staged a play during the Parishad, which had spread hatred and disharmony among the citizens of the country. KKM members including other Dalit intellectuals and activists have refuted the police action terming the police action as repression of cultural activism. The latest report filed by Central Bureau of Investigation (CBI) closing the case against Virendra Mhaiskar, chairman and managing director, Ideal Road Builder (IRB) and others have taken RTI activist Satish Shetty murder case back to dead end, raising questions about probe agencys investigation. This is the second time CBI has filed a closure report though previously the agency had to reopen the case as Shettys brother Sandeep had approached Bombay High Court. Disappointed over CBIs report, Satish Shettys brother Sandeep said, CBI had anyway decided to close the case back in 2014 though my petition before Bombay High Court forced them to reopen the case. The latest move makes it clear that CBI wants to protect someone. Unidentified persons stabbed Shetty, 38, to death on January 13, 2010, when he was on a morning walk near his house in Talegaon in Pune. It was Pune police who initially probed the case and arrested a lawyer, who the police later discharged from the case in absence of evidence. As the case looked collapsing, it was transferred to CBI, which started the investigation afresh and filed yet another FIR naming IRB officials- Ajit Kulkarni, IRB lawyer and Jayant Dangre, IRB liaison officer.As the CBI struggled to get breakthrough in the case, CBI filed a closure report in Pune court. More than 16 months later, CBI reopened the case saying it found incriminating evidence against IRB officials during the raids conducted on company officials premises. According to Sandeep, it was surprising on part of CBI to then say that agency could not find fresh evidence.Its clear that CBI is not honest about the investigation, said Sandeep. Earlier in March, CBI court in Pune discharged Mhaiskar and all other IRB officials in an alleged land scam exposed by slain RTI activist Satish Shetty. Special judge AK Patil discharged IRB officials while observing that no case is made out against suspects even to frame the charges as levelled by CBI in its charge sheet filed in December.Shetty in his complaint had alleged that land acquisition conducted by state government for Pune-Mumbai expressway was marred by discrepancies. According to Shetty, the land acquired by the government was resold to Aryan Infrastructure, an IRB sister concern. The IRB in its letter issued to shareholders on Wednesday, however, said the allegations made against them by Shetty were to harm the progress of the company. From day one our conscience was clear that we had nothing to do with such a heinous crime, and the allegations hurled against us and the attempts to drag us in this matter, were clearly aimed to harm the progress of the company. However, I am happy to say that team IRB, undeterred with such attempts, has grown by leaps and bounds in the last 9 years and the numbers for themselves, said Mhaiskar in his letter. Mohali In yet another blow to Lt Col BS Sandhu (retd), chairman of Worldwide Immigration Consultancy Services (WWICS) and owner of Forest Hill Resort in Nayagaon, a Mohali court on Wednesday dismissed his plea for anticipatory bail in the case of murder of a Chandigarh Transport Undertaking (CTU) staffer. Timeline March 25: Haryana Police recover body of missing CTU staffer in Pinjore. March 26: Mohali police arrest three employees of Forest Hill Resort for murder. They claim body was disposed of at Lt Col Sandhus behest March 27: Police summon Sandhu to join investigations March 29: Three-member special investigating team constituted March 31: Non-bailable arrest warrants issued against Sandhu April 5: Sandhu moved plea in Mohali court seeking anticipatory bail April 12: HC refuses to entertain similar plea, calling it premature April 18: Lower court dismisses plea too Sandhu, who has been untraceable, was told to join investigations after police arrested three employees of his resort on March 26 for allegedly killing the 28-year-old Burail man and disposing of his body in Pinjore. Victim Abhishek Guleria had been missing since leaving a relatives house in Nayagaon late on March 13. The employees had claimed they found Gulerias body in a septic tank at the resort on March 22 and were told to dispose it of by Sandhu. On April 12, the Punjab and Haryana high court had rejected Sandhus anticipatory bail plea, calling it premature as the plea moved in the lower court on April 5 was still pending. Now, with the local court dismissing the plea, Sandhu will have to join investigations, unless he moves another plea in the HC and gets relief. Sandhus contention Sandhu had moved the plea, claiming false implication. He had stated that the arrested employees liasoning officer Gurvinder Bains, his assistant Tarsem Singh and security in-charge Balwinder Singh were working at a junior level and he had no interaction with them. Moreover, Sandhu claimed in the plea that he did not know the victim. Opposing the plea, the public prosecutor stated that Sandhus statement is crucial for the investigations. The police reportedly found an audio recording on the phone of Gurvinder Bains, in which Sandhu can be heard allegedly instructing employees to dispose of the body. Bains has already declined to give his voice samples to police on April 9. Police have to move a fresh application to seek directions to the accused to give the samples for matching them with the voice recording. The three accused who were booked under Sections 302 (murder), 201 (destruction of evidence) and 120B (criminal conspiracy) of the Indian Penal Code are in judicial custody. A pet project of the previous Shiromani Akali Dal (SAD) government in Punjab, the meritorious schools launched to cater to students who excel in academics has seen a drastic drop in eligibility criteria this year. To get admission in Class 11, the state government has changed the eligibility criteria for registration in meritorious schools from 80% to 55% for general category and 50% for SC/ST category in Class 10 Punjab School Education Board (PSEB) examinations. The purpose of the schools to impart quality education to meritorious students who score 80% and above in Class 10 boards is diluted with this move. Sources confirmed the move and said that to fill up all the seats in the meritorious schools, the state authorities have changed the eligibility criteria. Prashant Kumar Goyal, director general, school education (Punjab), said, We have standardised the eligibility criteria and this step will increase the competition among students. This will also fill all the seats in the meritorious schools as in the past few years, many seats were vacant. We want to give every student a chance to sit for the entrance exam for meritorious schools, said Goyal. Lambasting the Congress government for not paying attention to these meritorious schools, former education minister, Daljit Singh Cheema, said, Meritorious schools were started for brilliant students who score 80% in Class 10 boards. But when the eligibility criteria is changed to 55%, the purpose is defeated. First the state government reduced the salaries of the meritorious school principals after which nine principals resigned. Around 40% posts of teachers in these schools were vacant and no efforts have been made by the government to fill these posts. It seems that the state government is planning to close these schools. To register online, the students have to pay Rs 200 fee and in case the candidate fails to score requisite marks in matric examination, then the fee will be refunded. Another change has been made by the authorities in the Common Entrance Test (CET), scheduled to be held on May 13. In the written test, English part will consist of 30 marks, which is 20 marks less than the earlier 50 marks. For the remaining two subjects science and mathematics the test will be worth 35 marks each, unlike 50 earlier. The test will be held across the 22 districts in Punjab. Online registration postponed The online registration of the schools was set to begin on Wednesday at 9am, according to the letter updated on the Sarva Shiksha Abhiyaan (SSA) website, but when the link for registration was opened, it stated that the registration will start after 3pm. After the registration process did not start till 3.10pm, the authorities again updated on the SSA website that the registration process will start by 11.30pm. After accusing Abhiram Daggubati, Suresh Babus son, of sexually exploiting her, Telugu actor Sri Reddy had reportedly leaked private messages with four directors including Kona Venkat and Bharat Ane Nenu director Koratala Siva. The screenshots of the conversation are not verified, but had gone viral on social media in no time. Now, the veteran director has responded to her allegations. It may be recalled that the chat has Siva talking about how all he did was chat some romance and if thats the problem, we can stop that also. Initially, the director did not comment on Sri Reddys allegations as he was promoting his film Bharat Ane Nenu starring Mahesh Babu in the lead role. The director has released a video statement on April 17 in which he says, Last week certain screenshots have surfaced on social media in my name. I have been quite busy with my film Bharat Ane Nenus promotion. I only kept in touch with news sporadically. When I did want to come forward and clarify, my well wishers told me that this was just gossip that would be die down soon, however, after seeing the discussion on media and social media, I wanted to make a clarification. Read: Jeevitha Rajsekhar releases Sri Reddy video that shows her in poor light He said, Personally, I am a man, who is dead against the casting couch. I dont allow it to happen with the people who are with me. I am very serious about it and I just want to make it clear. I have done four movies and I have worked with many actors and technicians. Every film of mine will have huge cast and crew and they know how I treat them. We are all human beings and I treat everyone with lot of respect. Sri Reddys protest, which began with her stripping in front of the Telugu film Chamber of Commerce has now become a blame game where the Telugu actor has made some serious allegations against people in the industry. However, with no proof and absence of support from other lead actors, the allegations sound unconvincing. Sri Reddys decision to not file a formal complaint at the police station has only raised suspicion about her intentions. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The Telugu remake of Kangana Ranauts Queen, which stars Tamannaah Bhatia in the lead, has been put on hold, not shelved. There are currently four versions of the film being shot. Not long ago, filmmaker Neelakanta, who was directing the Telugu and Malayalam versions, had opted out of the Telugu version following creative differences with Tamannaah. He eventually went on to leave the project entirely. Following his exit, actor-filmmaker Ramesh Aravind was handed over the responsibility to direct the Telugu and Malayalam versions. Ever since Neelakantas exit, the shoot of the Telugu version of the project has been put on hold, but contrary to rumours, it has not been shelved. Ramesh Aravind was originally signed to direct the Tamil and Kannada versions of the film. Since he began shooting the two versions simultaneously, he couldnt take up the other two versions of the film when he was passed on the reins. Apparently, he will complete the Tamil and Kannada versions of the film and will only then commence work on Telugu version, which is currently put on hold, a source told Hindustan Times. The southern remakes of Queen have faced several setbacks since they were announced. After months of dilly-dallying, the four southern versions of the film went on the floors around the same time last year. While Tamannaah Bhatia and Kajal Aggarwal reprise Kanganas role in the Telugu and Tamil versions respectively, Parul Yadav and Manjima Mohan play the lead in Kannada and Malayalam versions. Directed by Vikas Bahl, Queen featured Kangana Ranaut in an award-winning performance of Rani. She plays a young girl, who goes to Paris for a honeymoon by herself after being dumped by her fiancee, played by Rajkummar Rao. Talking to Hindustan Times last year, Kajal had said that she was very particular about how the original would be adapted to Tamil sensibilities. The makers of the film and I are very clear that we want to adapt Queen to southern sensibilities, and do it our own way. While the script will essentially remain the same, the treatment will be personalized. I will also add my own touch to the role, she said. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Ram Gopal Varma has admitted in a video that he instigated Sri Reddy to abuse Pawan Kalyan. This video comes after Sri Reddy was heard saying on a leaked phone call that it was Ram Gopal Varma who influenced her to use abusive language. The actor had recently abused Kalyan after the superstar asked her to approach the police rather than taking her complaints to the media. Sri Reddy apologised to Kalyan after she faced a backlash from his fans. In his video, RGV went on to discuss Reddy and her protest, I felt that she had a few demands that were reasonable and a few were unreasonable. I initially also felt that she was superficial. However, once she stripped in public in protest and started a conversation about the issue, I changed my mind and tried to contact her. Ram Gopal Varma also spoke about his conversation with Suresh Babu, Rana and Abhiram Daggubatis father; Abhiram has been accused by Reddy of sexually exploiting her. He said, I spoke to Suresh and he said that if my son has really committed this crime then he can be punished by the law. Let the law take its course. Read | Pawan Kalyans brother Nagendra Babu lashes out at Sri Reddy He added, I feel like Suresh Babu is speaking like a principal, but he is from a big family, a prestigious family of Ramanaidu. If tomorrow something unpleasant happens and the family name is dragged down, it might not be good. So I asked Sri Reddy what would she get by filing a criminal complaint against Abhiram? It is not going to help her cause and neither is she going to gain any publicity out of it? The filmmaker said as Suresh Babu is not ready to settle the matter, he decided to become an intermediary between the two parties. He told Reddy that he could get a big settlement for her from one of the members of the family, which would save them from embarrassment and leave her with a lot of money. Read | Jeevitha Rajsekhar releases Sri Reddy video that shows her in poor light However, Reddy said no to this. No one today is ready to let go of so much money, not even rich people. I was impressed by her conviction and determination. So I told her that to gain attention she should have the guts to stand up to even the biggest of the stars and I gave her a few examples. For instance, Kathi Mahesh became popular because of his controversial statements about Pawan Kalyan. He might be right or wrong, but his statements got the attention of people, he pointed out. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop Varun Tejs upcoming film is a sci-fi, also starring Aditi Rao Hydari was launched on Thursday This is his first collaboration with director Sankalp Reddy, who helmed the critically-acclaimed submarine-based war film Ghazi. The space drama will feature Varun in the role of an astronaut. The project was officially launched on Thursday in Hyderabad in the presence of the films lead cast and crew. Also present at the launch were the films leading ladies Aditi Rao Hydari and Lavanya Tripathi. Varuns father Nagendra Babu, a popular actor, was also present on the occasion. It has also been confirmed that the film will go on the floors from last week of April and the makers are planning for year-end release. According to producer Y Rajeev Reddy, the team along with Varun and Sankalp will head to Kazakhstan for month-long training in zero gravity conditions very soon. Originally planned to be shot in the US, the film will now be shot in Georgia where special sets and rigs will be built. The team will rope in stunt men from Hollywood to shoot the action sequences. Before the team leaves to Kazakhstan for training, the rest of the cast and crew will be finalised. Apparently, its said to be a story of four astronauts on a mission and Sankalp is busy scouting actors for other key roles in the film. National award-winning director Krish Jagarlamudi, who is currently helming Kangana Ranauts Manikarnika, will be co-producing the film with Rajeev and his partner. Gnana Sekhar, who worked on Balakrishnas Gauthamiputra Satakarni, has been roped in to crank the camera. Follow @htshowbiz for more ott:10:ht-entertainment_listing-desktop The Alienist Cast - Daniel Bruhl, Luke Evans, Dakota Fanning Rating - 4/5 Martin Scorseses Gangs of New York ends with one of the most striking final shots in the history of cinema. As the camera pans above the carnage of a bloody battle, it settles on a static panorama - of Scorseses home, his New York City. We observe - silently, as we process the human corruption weve been forced to contend with in the last the three hours - as the New York skyline transforms before us. From the crusty grime of the 1863 - the year in which the movie takes place - to the arrival of the 1920s, when the buildings aimed for the sky, and touched it. We see a more hopeful image emerge from the violence and darkness - we see the iconic World Trade Centre buildings, the final frame of the film, a decision that couldnt have been taken lightly in a movie that was released barely 12 months after they came crashing down. As the screen fades to black, with a typically anthemic U2 song playing us out, it feels like youve just returned from a journey into the past. There is no other city in the world that has been portrayed as widely (and as lovingly) as New York. Through movies, and TV, it receives more visitors every year than perhaps any other place in the world - even if those visitors arent there physically. The Alienist, the new show acquired by Netflix, is a worthy addition to these NYC stories. And it takes place only a few years after the moral decrepitude depicted in Gangs of New York. It paints a unique tapestry of this city - a city that is just as comfortable hosting the violence of Scorsese as it is the whimsy of Woody Allen, the neuroses of Jerry Seinfeld and the rage of Spike Lee. Recently, weve seen three HBO shows - Girls, The Deuce and High Maintenance - continue this cinematic relationship with renewed passion. The underlying darkness in The Alienist should have been better explored. (Netflix) The city - its tenements and avenues - plays an important role in The Alienist, a psychological thriller about a serial killer and the ad hoc group of investigators hot on his trail. After the gory murder of a boy prostitute, newly appointed police commissioner Teddy Roosevelt - the very same - calls upon the services of Dr Laszlo Kreizler, a criminal psychologist, to investigate the crime. Dr Kreizler, played by Daniel Bruhl, puts together an unlikely team - a New York Times cartoonist (played by Luke Evans), two young Jewish detectives who also happen to be twins and an upstart secretary (Dakota Fanning). None of these characters belong in the same room together for a quiet dinner, let alone for the purposes of catching a serial killer before he takes another life - and the dynamic between these outsiders, these young men (and woman) driven by wildly different motivations, is uncommonly well written. Dakota Fanning is outstanding in her role. (Netflix) But how couldnt it be? The Alienist boasts a rather unbelievable roster of writers - between them, they have four Academy Award nominations, a spot on the Pulitzer Prize shortlist and an Emmy. The least acclaimed member of the writers room, for perspective, is Cary Joji Fukunaga, who directed the first season of True Detective - one of the seminal shows we have in the last 10 years. While Fukunaga hasnt helmed any of the 10 episodes of The Alienist, it is beyond doubt one of the most lavish TV productions in recent memory - filmed on a sprawling backlot in Budapest, where they built entire streets, dressed immaculate to recreate the New York City of 1896. It really does transport you to another time, like Gangs of New York did, as we follow our team of heroes as they chase clues down dark alleys, investigate disease-ridden brothels, and watch opera as they try to stop a killer, who, like the murderer in Batman: The Long Halloween, strikes on religious holidays. Dr Kreizler is a fascinating central character, a high functioning sociopath not unlike Benedict Cumberbatchs Sherlock. His troubled past and his clinical precision add a layer of mystery that, somewhat irritatingly, remains murky till the very end. What begins as a purely scientific experiment on his part - he wants to empathise with the behaviour of the most depraved members of our society - turns into a personal quest, and transforms him into an almost Oskar Schindler-esque figure. Daniel Bruhl is a difficult nut to crack. (Netflix) However, of the central trio, Dakota Fanning is the true standout - she is the de facto outsider in a group of outsiders, because of the simple inconvenience that she was born a girl - and chasing criminals, barging into seedy brothels and questioning male authority is unbecoming of a lady, especially one who belongs to a respectable family. It all makes for engaging drama, and works as a temporary distraction (and respite) from the horror of the crimes they are investigating. Luke Evans plays a New York Times cartoonist. (Netflix) But The Alienists insistence of favouring pulpy genre thrills over exploring this underlying darkness, this brutality against children, is something that I had great difficulty in reconciling with - especially now, especially with what is happening in our country. But, to its credit, it does try. There are no easy explanations for these atrocities, a sad truth that Dr Kreizler must accept, but in this acceptance lies a solution. There will be more murderers, and those murderers will need more good men to stop them. And although The Alienist is billed as a limited series, if I didnt know better, Id almost believe that. Caleb Carr wrote several books about these characters after all. Watch the Alienist trailer here Follow @htshowbiz for more The author tweets @RohanNaahar Austrian paediatrician Hans Asperger, after whom Aspergers syndrome is named, actively cooperated with the Nazi euthanasia programme, according to a new study published on Thursday. Asperger managed to accommodate himself to the Nazi regime and was rewarded for his affirmations of loyalty with career opportunities, Herwig Czech, a historian of medicine at the Medical University of Vienna, wrote in the study. Asperger publicly legitimised race hygiene policies including forced sterilisations and, on several occasions, actively cooperated with the Nazis child euthanasia programme, according to Czech. Asperger joined several organisations affiliated with the Nazis, although not the Nazi Party itself, Czech added in the report, published in the open access journal Molecular Autism. Czech said he consulted a vast array of contemporary publications and previously unexplored archival documents including the doctors personnel files and case records from his patients. He quotes a Nazi document from 1940 as saying Asperger was in conformity with National Socialist [Nazi] ideas in questions of race and sterilisation laws. In public lectures Asperger declared his allegiance to the tenets of Nazi medicine. From 1938, when the Nazis annexed Austria into the Third Reich, he took to signing his diagnostic reports with Heil Hitler. According to Czech, Asperger recommended the transfer of two girls, one aged two and the other five, to the notorious Am Spiegelgrund facility inside Viennas Steinhof psychiatric hospital. This was where nearly 800 children lacking hereditary worthiness and racial purity died, many of them killed by poisoning and other methods. The two girls were among those who perished, officially from pneumonia. Asperger was also a member of a committee tasked with deciding the fate of around 200 patients in a childrens ward at another hospital, 35 of whom were deemed uneducable and later died, according to Czech. Aspergers syndrome, a form of autism, typically involves deficiencies in social and communication skills and is often seen in people of average or above average intelligence. Asperger first identified it as autistic psychopathy but his work was only recognised and the syndrome named after him following his death in 1980, although its designation has long been contentious. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) US President Donald Trump said on Wednesday that although he is looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un he could still pull out if he feels its not going to be fruitful. Trump said that CIA director Mike Pompeo and Kim got along really well in their recent secret meeting, and he declared, We have never been in a position like this to address worldwide concerns over North Koreas nuclear weapons. But speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after the allies met at Trumps Florida resort, he made clear that he would still be ready to pull the plug on what is being billed as an extraordinary meeting between the leaders of long-time adversaries. If I think that if its a meeting that is not going to be fruitful we are not going to go. If the meeting when I am there is not fruitful I will respectfully leave the meeting, Trump told a news conference. He also said that a US-led maximum pressure campaign of tough economic sanctions on North Korea would continue until the isolated nation denuclearises. Abe echoed the sentiment. Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained, he said. Trump has said his summit with Kim, with whom he traded bitter insults and threats last year as North Korea conducted nuclear and missile tests, could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. Other than the threat posed to by North Koreas weapons of mass destruction, another issue overhanging the summit plans is the fate of three Americans detained there. Trump said that was under negotiation and there was a good chance of winning their release, but he wouldnt say whether that was a precondition for sitting down with Kim. Pompeo raised the question of the three Americans in his meeting with Kim, a US official said. Trump also said he had promised Abe he would work hard for the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says at least a dozen Japanese said to have been taken in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. News of Pompeos trip to North Korea, which took place more than two weeks ago, emerged on Tuesday, as lawmakers weighed whether he should be confirmed to become secretary of state. Trump and Republican senators held up his highly unusual, secret mission as sign of Pompeos diplomatic ability. But the prospect of his confirmation hung in the balance as Democrats lined up against him. Sen. Robert Menendez, top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee that will have the first vote on confirmation, expressed frustration that the CIA chief had not briefed him on the visit that took place more than a week before Pompeos public hearing last Thursday. He is the most senior US official to meet with a North Korean leader since secretary of state Madeleine Albright met with Kims father in Pyongyang in 2000. Now I dont expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit, Menendez said at the Center for Strategic and International Studies. The committee is expected to vote on the nomination next week. Pompeo, whose hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities have raised Democratic hackles, would replace Rex Tillerson who was pushed out by Trump last month. In the US Senate, Republicans have a single-vote advantage on the 21-member panel that will have the first say on Pompeos nomination. With nine of the 10 Democrats already declaring they will oppose Pompeo, and at least one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, also opposed, the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favorable recommendation. Trump said Wednesday he expects Paul to come through on Pompeo. The president called Paul and the senator agreed to meet with Pompeo, but Pauls spokesman said, Nothing else has changed. As for opposition by Democrats, Republican Cory Gardner, who chairs an Asia subcommittee, said in an interview that they want to play partisan politics. Despite meeting Pompeo Tuesday, Gardner said he hadnt been briefed on the trip and was awaiting more information about it. Still, he said the fact that the meeting happened gave weight to Pompeos testimony last week that the administration was committed to the complete and verifiable denuclearization of North Korea and sustaining sanctions pressure. It is not unprecedented for US intelligence officials to serve as conduits for communication with Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-director of US national intelligence, James Clapper, secretly visited North Korea to bring back two American detainees. Clapper did not, however, meet with Kim, who has only in recent weeks emerged from international seclusion after taking power six years ago and super-charging North Koreas push to become a nuclear power. Kim met last month with Chinas president and is to meet South Koreas leader April 27. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text. Only the headline has been changed.) China has refuted reports that its ambitious Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), a connectivity project launched by President Xi Jinping, is aimed at expanding and strengthening Beijings political influence and military presence. A US think tank called C4ADS has said its research has shown that BRI is not driven by the aim of economic cooperation and win-win development for all the countries involved, but is solely propelled by Chinas interests. A separate European Union report carried by German business daily Handelsblatt said diplomats have warned that BRI projects planned across Europe are counter to the EU agenda for liberalising trade and push the balance of power in favour of subsidised Chinese companies. According to the daily, the report was signed by the Beijing envoys of 27 of the 28 EU member states, with the lone holdout being Hungary. The BRI is Xis multi-billion dollar legacy project and aims to connect China with Eurasian countries through a network of infrastructure projects such as ports and highways. India has kept away from BRI despite Beijings efforts to convince New Delhi about its benefits. India has cited sovereignty issues and the lack of transparency in multiple projects that make up the initiative. The US think tank analysed 15 China-funded projects under BRI and came to the conclusion that it is aimed at expanding Chinas influence. Beijing has dismissed those claims. The BRI is about economic cooperation, and the core concept of the initiative is to promote common development by advancing connectivity in infrastructure and other fields, foreign ministry spokesperson Hua Chunying was quoted as saying by official Xinhua news agency. The initiative has gained support from more than 100 countries and international organisations, with more than 80 of them signing cooperation agreements with China, she said. Hua noted this worldwide support would never have been impossible were the initiative not adapted to the trend of the times and beneficial to people of various countries, Xinhua reported. She contended the initiative has been open and transparent, with all participants involved in consultations on planning and project implementation. China has no geopolitical calculations, seeks no exclusionary blocs and imposes no business deals on others, she said. Earlier this month, Xi had said the BRI is not an intrigue of China, as alleged by someone overseas, but aimed at benefiting more countries and people. (The initiative) is neither the Marshall Plan after World War 2 nor an intrigue of China. It is, if anything, a plan in the sunshine, Xi said at the Boao Forum for Asia (BFA), an economic forum. What we uphold is seeking shared growth through discussion and collaboration, Xi said. Cuba marked the end of an era Thursday as Miguel Diaz-Canel was formally elected as the countrys new president, succeeding Raul Castro and becoming the first non-Castro to lead the island in six decades. The silver-haired Diaz-Canel -- a top Communist Party figure who has served as first vice president since 2013 -- is the islands first leader born after the 1959 revolution. Diaz-Canel was elected in a landmark vote of the National Assembly a day before his 58th birthday. The chamber erupted into applause as the results were read out, with many of the delegates smiling, and shaking hands warmly with Castro and Diaz-Canel. As Diaz-Canel walked to the front of the chamber, he high-fived the front line of delegates, embracing Castro as he took to the stage, images broadcast on state television showed. Then the 86-year-old Castro raised his successors arm in the air in victory, prompting another wave of applause from the delegates -- some were in their shirt sleeves, while others wore military fatigues. Between them, father of the nation Fidel and his younger brother Raul made the Caribbean island a key player in the Cold War and helped keep communism afloat despite the collapse of the Soviet Union. Raul has been in power since 2006, when he took over after illness sidelined Fidel, who seized power in the revolution. Diaz-Canel, who has spent years climbing the party ranks, was named the sole candidate for the presidency on Wednesday. Thursdays symbolic vote took place on the anniversary of the 1961 Bay of Pigs invasion, when Fidels forces defeated 1,400 US-backed rebels seeking to overthrow him. Havana has long hailed the showdown as American imperialisms first great defeat in Latin America. In Rauls footsteps Diaz-Canel, who some say bears a passing resemblance to American actor Richard Gere, is a fan of The Beatles whose penchant for wearing jeans has set him apart in Havanas corridors of power. Although he has advocated fewer restrictions on the press and a greater openness to the internet, he also has a ruthless streak, with harsh words for Cubas dissidents and the United States. Crucially, he will remain under the watchful eye of Castro, who will continue to serve as the head of Cubas all-powerful Communist Party. Once sworn in, Diaz-Canel will be tasked with pursuing reforms begun by Castro to open up Cubas economy to small private entrepreneurs and reach a rapprochement with its Cold War arch-enemy, the United States. In 2015, Havana and Washington renewed diplomatic ties, with then president Barack Obama making a historic visit to the island a year later. But, steps towards a normalization of ties have been severely curtailed since Donald Trump arrived in the White House last year. Diaz-Canel will also inherit a youthful population hungry for change on the Caribbean island -- one of the worlds last outposts of Communism since the collapse of the Soviet Union. Cuba watchers and domestic analysts say he will favor continuity over change in the early days of his presidency, however. (The story has not been modified from its original version) The Iraqi air force on Thursday carried out a deadly raid against positions of the Islamic State group in neighbouring Syria, Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis office said. Abadi ordered the strike against the jihadists because of the danger they pose to Iraqi territory, a statement said. A video released by the air force showed two F-16 fighter jets in action. These raids demonstrate the growing capacity of our armed forces to hunt down and liquidate terrorists, it added. Iraq declared victory in December against IS, which launched a sweeping offensive in 2014 and at one point controlled a third of the country. The jihadists still control pockets of desert along the border with Syria, where Iraq had already carried out limited raids against IS before Thursdays strike. Chinas growing naval presence in the Indo-Pacific has prompted a new dimension to the defence relationship between India and the UK that was formalised in a statement during Prime Minister Narendra Modis bilateral meetings on Wednesday. Experts say this is the first time the term Indo-Pacific has been used in an India-UK defence statement and reflects the China factor. India and Britain have a wide-ranging defence relationship that includes the Ajeya Warrior exercise between the two armies every two years. The statement said: Discussions have also been held on how the Royal Navy can work more closely with their Indian counterparts to ensure the safety and prosperity of the Indian Ocean region tackling piracy and drug trafficking, as well as protecting freedom of navigation rights. It added, The UK already plays an active role in maritime security in this region through counter-terrorism, counter-piracy and maritime security operations because a free and open Indo-Pacific area is in the interests of the UK, India and the international community. Harsh V Pant, professor in the department of defence studies at Kings College London, said: New Delhi is now more open than ever before in working with like-minded countries to manage the negative externalities of China's rise in the region. Given the complementarities, it is natural for the Indian and Royal navies to enhance cooperation, particularly to safeguard the freedom of navigation. Rahul Roy-Chaudhury, senior fellow for South Asia at the International Institute for Strategic Studies, believes it is significant that the term Indo-Pacific was used for the first time in an India-UK joint statement. This indicates growing bilateral consensus on the importance of this region as well as the freedom of navigation and overflight and adherence to the rules of law. While this clearly has Chinese assertiveness in mind, it also provides a template for real active India-UK bilateral cooperation on maritime security, much neglected so far, he said. India and Western countries, Pant said, have a broadly similar outlook on the changing balance of power in the Indian Ocean region. India already has pacts with France and the US that allow for the use of each other's naval facilities in the region on a reciprocal basis. Britains defence ministry said the agreement reached on Wednesday will enable collaboration on internet governance, promoting international cyber stability, tackling online crime and developing cyber security sectors between the two countries. Pakistan on Thursday rejected Prime Minister Narendra Modis remarks about surgical strikes by Indias special forces along the Line of Control in September 2016, describing them as false and baseless. Modi had referred to the strikes, carried out in the wake of a string of attacks by Pakistan-based terrorists that targeted military facilities in Kashmir, during an interaction with the Indian diaspora in London on Wednesday. During a weekly news briefing, Foreign Office spokesman Mohammad Faisal said Pakistan had already condemned the claims of surgical strikes. He added, Repeating a lie doesnt turn it into the truth. Responding to Modis comments on Pakistan exporting terrorism, Faisal alleged it is India that is supporting terror in Pakistan. He also raised the issue of Kulbhushan Jadhav, a former Indian Navy officer arrested by Pakistani security agencies on charges of involvement in spying and subversive activities, and said, The whole world knows who the terrorists are and who their head is. He said the capture of Jadhav is proof of who has been carrying out terrorist activities. He added Jadhav is proof of state-sponsored terrorism being carried out by India and that Pakistan knows how to defend itself. India has dismissed the charges leveled against Jadhav and said he was kidnapped by Pakistani security agencies from Iran, where he was running a business. During his interaction in London, Modi had said that India would not tolerate those who export terror and would respond to them in the language they understand. He also said that before news of the surgical strikes was shared with the media, India contacted the Pakistan government to inform it about the operation. In September 2016, India had said the surgical strikes targeted terror launch pads across the LoC and inflicted significant casualties. The Pakistani military had dismissed this as a quest by the Indian establishment to create media hype and said it would strongly respond to any strike on Pakistani soil. In response to Modis comments on Pakistan exporting terrorism, Dr Faisal said that it was the other way around and that India was backing terrorists in Pakistan. Indian spy Kulbhushan Jadhav is proof of Indian state-sponsored terrorism. The Islamic State group launched a surprise attack near a town in eastern Syria they had lost six months ago, killing at least 25 regime forces, a monitor said Thursday. At least 13 jihadists were also killed in the attack which IS carried out near Mayadeen on Wednesday afternoon, the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights monitor said. Mayadeen lies in the eastern province of Deir Ezzor on the western bank of the Euphrates River and is flanked by the vast Badia desert to its west and south. A military source on Thursday however denied any attack against positions of the Syrian army along the western bank of the Euphrates. But intermittent bombardment on army positions from its eastern bank had prompted retaliation with suitable weapons, the source said. The US-backed Syrian Democratic Forces (SDF), an alliance of Kurdish and Arab fighters, control most of the territory to the east of the Euphrates, where a few villages are still under IS control. Observatory director Rami Abdel Rahman said Thursday morning IS attempts to advance in the direction of the town of Mayadeen are ongoing from the Badia desert. He said it was the largest IS attack since they were expelled from the town by regime forces and their allies in October 2017. IS swept across large parts of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014, declaring a cross-border caliphate in areas they controlled. At its height their pseudo state covered an area the size of Italy, but IS has since lost most of it to a Russia-backed regime assault and a US-backed SDF offensive. IS now control around five percent of Syria, according to Syria expert Fabrice Balanche. But the jihadists have retained their ability to carry out deadly attacks. They hold pockets in Deir Ezzor and are present in the southern districts of the capital. Since regaining full control of Eastern Ghouta to the northeast of Damascus from rebels last week, the regime has turned its attention to jihadist-held districts in the capitals south. More than 350,000 people have been killed since Syrias war started in 2011 with the brutal repression of anti-government protests. (This story has been published from a wire agency feed without modifications to the text.) Hundreds of Syrian rebels in a town northeast of Damascus handed in their weapons and boarded buses to leave under an evacuation deal, state media reported on Thursday. Fighters were to relocate with their families to opposition-held areas in northern Syria, effectively surrendering their town of Dumayr to the Syrian government. The departure was set to involve 1,500 fighters from the Army of Islam rebel faction with 3,500 of their family members, said the state-run SANA news agency. Their destination was Jarablus, a town shared under Turkish and Syrian opposition control near the Syria-Turkey border. Dumayr, in the Qalamoun mountains, is a minutes drive away from the eastern Ghouta region, a former rebel enclave that came under full government control last week after a driving offensive that culminated in a suspected chemical weapons attack. Inspectors from the Organization for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons were still not able to reach the scene, 12 days after the suspected attack. The April 7 attack prompted the United States, France, and Britain to strike at suspected Syrian chemical weapons facilities. The three countries said they held the Syrian government and its ally Russia responsible for the attack. Damascus and Moscow denied responsibility. A U.N. security team touring the sites of the alleged attack on Tuesday, was shot at and subjected to a blast, said OPCW Director-General Ahmet Uzumcu. The security team was supposed to give the all-clear for OPCW inspectors to follow, but their visit was put on hold pending the security situation, Uzumcu added. Journalists visited Douma, where the suspected attack took place, a day before the U.N. security team. They were not exposed to any weapons fire. Associated Press journalists spoke to witnesses who said they were overwhelmed by the smell of chlorine and experienced fainting during the April 7 assault. First responders released videos purporting to show fatalities from the attack lifeless bodies collapsed in an apartment, with foam around their mouths, a sign of asphyxiation. The Army of Islam, which controlled Douma at the time of the attack, surrendered the town to the government days later. Also Thursday, neighboring Iraq launched airstrikes inside Syria targeting militants from the Islamic State group. Iraqi Prime Minister Haider al-Abadis office said Iraqi fighter jets launched lethal airstrikes against the extremists in an area along the Syria-Iraq border. The statement said the militants posed a threat to Iraq, without providing further details. Syrian and Iraqi forces have driven IS from nearly all the territory the group once held, but the extremists have maintained a presence in the remote desert areas along the border. Iraq has carried out airstrikes in Syria against the group in the past. (The story has not been modified from its original version) B righton has been crowned the number one hipster hotspot in the world not just in the UK, the world beating Berlin, Brooklyn and even its near neighbour, London. A tongue-in-cheek study carried out by relocation specialist Movehub compared 446 global cities according to the concentration of five perceived 'hipster hangouts' in each city coffee shops (of course), vegan cafes, tattoo parlours, record stores and vintage boutiques. But other than frequenting at least three of the five types of hipster hangouts named above, and given that this is a group whose reluctance to self-define as such can almost be used as a distinguishing feature, what defines a hipster? Today this group is generally understood to include young(ish) urban adults with tastes and fashion choices outside the cultural mainstream. If you call yourself a hipster, you probably ain't it. But to be a hipster you need to have money to burn on flat whites, tattoos, vinyl and housing in some of the world's most over-subscribed neighbourhoods, none of which come cheap. WHERE ARE BRITAIN'S SO-CALLED HIPSTER CAPITALS? Brighton and Hove on the East Sussex coast pipped Portland, Oregon the long-term bastion of off-beat lifestyles to the post by one thousandth of a point, with nine record stores and 125 coffee shops per 100,000 people. Other UK cities within the top 40 were Manchester, which ranked in 27th place, followed by Edinburgh at 32. All cities in the top 40 had populations below one million (using Manchester city centres 530,000-strong population, rather than Greater Manchesters 2.8 million). As Movehub, points out places like London, New York, and Berlin are rightly renowned for their hipster neighbourhoods, but you can only compensate for so many 'squares'. But what does this really mean for people living in the city? Have hipsters pushed up the local cost of living, or are they merely a harbinger of house price rises to come? BRIGHTON Global hipster ranking: 1 Number of record stores per 100,000 people: 9.142 Number of coffee shops per 100,000 people: 125.381 Average house price: 416,973 Vintage boutiques, record stores and coffee shops galore... no wonder Brighton's the hipster capital of the world / Alamy Stock Photo Brighton hasnt always been a hipster magnet, according to Harvey Gee, sales negotiator at Brighton estate agent Bonetts, but the seaside citys reputation for alternative lifestyles as well as its universities and art school have long been attracting young arrivals who tend to settle. But the recent house price surge in the capital has pushed new crowds to buy in Brighton, thanks to the relaxed seaside lifestyle on offer within commutable distance of London, says Gee. And the citys popularity means it commands a house price premium, with homes selling for an average 62,000 higher than in the wider East Sussex region. A lot of people moving to Brighton are coming down from London. The most hipster area is North Laine where all the independent shops are. Its an expensive part of town with two- or three-bedroom houses for between 500,000 and 700,000 predominantly bought by London people because youve got the station on your doorstep so its an easy commute. MANCHESTER Global hipster ranking: 27 Number of record stores per 100,000 people: 4.699 Number of coffee shops per 100,000 people: 48.361 Average house price: 194,216 Manchester's music scene has always been strong / Alamy Stock Photo The UKs disputed second city (is it Birmingham?) has been the hipster hub of the North for decades thanks to a stonking musical legacy stretching from The Smiths to the Hacienda and beyond. But a combination of the BBCs migration to Salford in 2004 and rising London house prices have cemented Manchesters appeal in the minds of southerners too. House prices in the city rose 38.3 per cent in the five years to 2018, according to Savills, almost 10 per cent more than in the broader area of Greater Manchester. House prices here are also tipped to keep rising, with property website Hometrack expecting the price gap between Manchester and London to narrow by 2022. EDINBURGH Global hipster ranking: 32 Number of record stores per 100,000 people: 2.83 Number of coffee shops per 100,000 people: 78.369 Average house price: 287,000 With 78 coffee shops per 100,000 people, Edinburgh ranked high on the global hipster index / Alamy Stock Photo Its universities may be a huge year-round pull factor, but Edinburgh gets a huge culture boost each August when the arts festival takes over the city, bringing comedy and theatre talent from around the globe. And a growing tech sector is creating the job opportunities that are encouraging hip young graduates to stay on in the city to enjoy the quality of life after their studies rather than relocating to London says Ben Fox, head of residential sales at Savills in Edinburgh. Edinburghs still relatively affordable, especially when you compare it to a city like London, he says. In just five years weve seen regeneration of the small city villages, which have been integrated into the city and become desirable places to live. Stockbridge, Brunsfield and Leith have all changed beyond recognition with restaurants, cafes and bars on the doorstep. Appointment 19 April 2018 Grace Hotels, the award-winning luxury hotel group, announces the appointment of culinary and Relais & Chateaux veteran Matthew Padilla as Executive Chef at Grace White Barn Inn & Spa and the acclaimed White Barn Restaurant. Overseeing all of the culinary operations and programming at Grace White Barn Inn & Spa, Padilla is bringing his passion for seasonal cooking and embracing local purveyors to the property, where he aims to create exquisite food that entices guests to return for more. In his new role, Padilla is taking extra care to preserve the beloved, traditional dishes that The White Barn Restaurant is known for, while seamlessly weaving in contemporary, innovative menu items. With an affinity for indigenous ingredients, Padilla is excited to be sourcing the freshest seafood, vegetables, and meats straight from the docks, farms, and beyond, and incorporating them into his weekly menu. A true culinary connoisseur, Padilla joins the Grace family from fellow Relais & Chateaux property, The Inn at Dos Brisas in Washington, TX, where he served as Executive Chef. Previously, he oversaw the fine dining restaurant at The Little Nell, also in the Relais & Chateaux family, in Aspen, CO. Padilla has cooked his way through the western United States, having worked and apprenticed at some of the country's top restaurants in Tucson, AZ and San Francisco, CA, including Michael Mina's eponymous flagship Michelin-starred restaurant. In between his Arizona and California jaunts, Padilla spent several months training in Copenhagen, Denmark at the renowned restaurant, Noma. After several years of working inland, Padilla is thrilled to be returning to the coast to enjoy the New England cuisine and lifestyle. Padilla received his education at Johnson & Wales Culinary School in Denver, CO, where he was trained in fine dining techniques with French and Italian influences. One of his greatest accomplishments is working alongside Chef Ron Siegel, to whom he accredits his style of simplicity, showcasing ingredients, and embracing the chef and farmer relationship. Press Release 19 April 2018 Deutsche Hospitality has joined forces with the Reiner Meutsch Fly & Help Foundation to assist with the building of schools in developing countries. The aim of the project is to provide young people with access to education. The group recently contributed 60,000 from the monies raised within the scope of its "Deutsche Hospitality 1x1" donation programme, and these funds are currently being used to help construct two schools in Sri Lanka and Uganda. Both schools have now celebrated the formal laying of their foundation stone. Advertisements The Sri Lankan project is taking place in the village of Rambewa and comprises a pre-school which will be able to accommodate 50 children aged between three and five. Local custom dictates that it is particularly important for the foundation stone ceremony to take place at a propitious time in order to bestow good luck on the site, the project and the inhabitants of the surrounding area. This moment is determined down to the precise minute by consulting horoscopes, and the village temple is subsequently informed of the decision. All participants are then invited to attend the formal laying of the foundation stone whilst Buddhist monks sing a religious "Gatha". The second project is located in Kaitisya in Uganda, where an existing pre-school and primary school is being expanded to meet growing demand. Plans include the construction of new classrooms, while the previous classrooms will be rearranged as sleeping facilities. This form of hostel enables children who live long distances away to attend lessons. Over the coming years, Deutsche Hospitality will continue to make funds from "1x1" available for the work carried out by Fly & Help. The idea behind the "1x1" scheme is to create a charitable pot, to which 1 is added for every online booking made via Deutsche Hospitality's own websites. Fly & Help donation boxes have also been placed in the foyers of all IntercityHotels. The money collected has already helped to finance new classrooms and a rainwater cistern for a school in Rwanda attended by 759 pupils. Press Release 19 April 2018 100+ Emiratis attend AHIC's first hospitality mini job fair in Ras Al Khaimah Ahmed Ramdan, Founder of Roya International, Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group and Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority discuss Emiratisation as an opportunity for the industry. Advertisements Dubai, UAE. 19 April 2018. Following a three year public-private sector initiative aimed at engaging the Hospitality industry in Emiratisation led by Ahmed Ramdan, founder of Roya International at AHIC 2017, and in line with this year's theme of Focus on the Future, AHIC hosted a seminar and mini job fair for 100+ young Emiratis interested in a hospitality industry career. UAE Nationals attending saw a compelling film with Emiratis now working in various segments of the industry. Following the film produced by DTCM/Medyaf and the Emaar Emiratization team, the students met with international hotel brands and regional hospitality leaders with the aim to explore career opportunities and further bridge the information awareness gap between Emiratis and the hospitality industry. On day three of the conference, Jonathan Worsley, Chairman of Bench Events and Co-Founder of AHIC, led a panel discussion on Emiratisation with Ahmed Ramdan, Founder of Roya International, Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group and Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority. Commenting on where the industry is at, following the establishment of the board at AHIC last year, Olivier Harnisch, Chief Executive Officer of Emaar Hospitality Group said: "Emiratisation for us at Emaar is not a business issue, it's a matter of the heart." "We are working effortlessly to inspire and attract as many Emiratis as possible to the hospitality industry and to showcase the diversity this fabulous industry has to offer locally, regionally and internationally. "Our target is to double the percentage of Emirati employees at Emaar Hospitality Group by the end of the year and we're looking to diversify the roles they have within the hotels." The panel agreed that the industry does face challenges in attracting Emiratis to work in hospitality, mainly because of the perception of the hotel industry, which they are collectively looking to change by visiting schools and colleges to talk about the opportunities the industry offers across all facets of hotel management and operations. Ahmed Ramdan, Founder of Roya International, a pioneer in Emirati led Hospitality said: "Thanks to the industry initiatives over the past few years and last year's formation of the industry group, we see things moving into the right direction. The industry needs to take a lead to find and develop talent, positioning UAE Nationals to lead the industry in the future." He continued: "Perceptions of the industry are changing and as younger generations are coming onto the job market, they have less fear about working in the hotel sector, which is a great sign. They now see the industry as a more sophisticated and serious business than before." Haitham Mattar, CEO of Ras Al Khaimah Tourism Development Authority, addressed Emiratisation from a government entity perspective. "Three years ago, we only had three percent Emiratis at the Authority, but we only had 19 employees. Now we have 80 employees and we have 35 percent Emiratis working at RAKTDA." "Some of the work we have done to encourage Emiratis to join the Authority is to show the opportunities they can explore in the sector and we have seen a great uptake, for example in disciplines such as marketing. We also work toward educating the Emirati population about the value of tourism to the overall value of the economy. "This initiative will help us to encourage the hotels in Ras Al Khaimah to embrace Emiratisation further through a culture shift." The panel agreed that there is definitely more momentum when it comes to Emiratisation than in the past, but urged that the private sector need to be proactive and move the initiative forward. For more information, visit: www.arabianconference.com This years conference will take place on 24-26 July at the JW Marriott Hotel in Macau. Estimating 200 attendees, HTNG conferences continue each year to bring together local, regional and global decision makers in the hospitality technology industry. The 2018 event agenda will provide many opportunities to network and learn with industry peers. The 2018 HTNG Asia-Pacific Conference will feature sessions given by expert presenters on HTNGs Strategic Pillars, GDPR, Blockchain, Payments, Artificial Intelligence (AI), IoT and more. This years conference will take place on 24-26 July at the JW Marriott Hotel in Macau. Estimating 200 attendees, HTNG conferences continue each year to bring together local, regional and global decision makers in the hospitality technology industry. The 2018 event agenda will provide many opportunities to network and learn with industry peers. Conference Sessions: HTNGs Strategic Pillars Should I be Working for YOU?: Engaging Employees in a Non-Engaging World Are you Ready for GDPR? Blockchain in Hospitality: Why its not About Bitcoin! Regional Trends and Challenges in Payments Reinventing Check-in: Will Anything Ever Work? The AI Age: How Will Machine Learning and Intelligence Impact Travel and Hospitality? Where Big Data Meets IoT Industry Leadership Panel Industry Speakers: Kanishka Agiwal , IBM Corporation , IBM Corporation Pedro Anderson , Winding Tree , Winding Tree Andrew Chan , ACI HR Solutions Ltd. , ACI HR Solutions Ltd. Jai Govindani , Red Planet Hotels , Red Planet Hotels Ted Horner , E. Horner and Associates Pty Ltd , E. Horner and Associates Pty Ltd Chin Lee, Melco Resorts & Entertainment Melco Resorts & Entertainment Sanjay Nadkarni , The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management , The Emirates Academy of Hospitality Management Armand Rabinowitz , HTNG , HTNG Douglas Rice , Hospitality Technology Network, LLC , Hospitality Technology Network, LLC Terence Ronson , Pertlink Limited , Pertlink Limited Richard Sheinis , Hall Booth Smith, P.C. , Hall Booth Smith, P.C. Roger Tabbal, Movenpick Hotels & Resorts This years event is supported by conference sponsors: NEC (Title Sponsor), Amadeus, ANTLabs, Belden, CNN, Cotell Intelligent Technology (Shenzhen) Co. Ltd., Exterity, Samsotech, TableSolution and Xn Protel Systems. Conference registration is open to any full-time employee of a company who owns, manages or franchises a hotel. For all other industry participants, HTNG membership is required. For more information on the event, please visit the 2018 HTGN Asia-Pacific Conference Webpage. Daily News Delivery Join your colleagues and stay up to date on the latest Hotel industry news and trends. Subscribe 2021 Hotel News Resource Despite the litany of big rap albums that are set to drop this summer, nothing gets the people riled up like the announcement of a new Kanye West album. While Kanye exiled himself in Wyoming to work on the new album, several rappers and producers were either seen in the area or teased collaborations on their own. On Wednesday night, Charlamagne Tha God, co-host of Power 105.1's The Breakfast Club radio show, was spotted with Kanye leaving his Calabasas, California, office by paparazzi. While he was there, Kanye confirmed that Charlamagne had, in fact, "heard some shit" off the new album. Now Charlamagne has posted a mysterious photo to his Instagram, with no caption other than a simple period. The photo shows two men in silhouette against a sunset, and the photo was location tagged in Calabasas, California. One man is seen wearing a hoodie similar to the one Kanye was wearing in their first appearance, so it doesn't take a genius to figure out that the photo is showing Charlamagne and Kanye. Posting the photo in silhouette isn't simply an aesthetic choice, it also raises certain questions. Namely, what exactly is Charlamagne doing there in the first place? California is a long way to go for someone who hosts a daily radio show in New York, so he was presumably there to talk business. An obvious answer would be an interview, but Kanye's album roll outs tend to be a bit more extravagant than that. Maybe Charlamagne was willing to fly across the country just to hear the album. Check out the picture below. Solange has officially opened up more than she ever has before about the recording process of her second album that she's creating in the beautiful island that is Jamaica. The 31-year-old's last project was the beloved tape A Seat at the Table and in her Dazed Magazine feature, she explains how she's having difficulty recording a new track Where Do We Go From Here. "I have re-recorded [the lyrics] over like, four times," she tells the publication. "I am feeling insecure about not enunciating my words clearly enough for people to understand the lyrics." Her feature for the publication is more of a full-on diary entry more than a structured interview, but nonetheless, we get a more tuned in understanding of where she's at with her upcoming album, that has yet to have a name. "My demo names are always a trip and have little to do with the songs," she writes. "This album, I might keep a few of them as real titles. We listen to a jam none of us even remember we made in the wee hours and wonder if it's too esoteric. Then I wonder if Stevie Wonder would like it. If he happens to like it, I wont worry so much about its life." Read her full feature here. Rashon Nelson and Donte Robinson were interviewed on Good Morning America on Thursday in relation to their arrest at a Starbucks that has gained national attention. Footage of their encounter with local law enforcement spread like wildfire over the Internet, which has effectively mobilized a boycott of the coffee chain throughout America. Nelson and Robinson, who were meeting with someone to discuss a potential real estate deal, were trying to use the bathroom when police were called to the scene two minutes after they had entered the store. The pair's attorney admitted to interviewer Robin Roberts that his clients shouldn't have to voice any opinion on the manager's intent because "the facts speak for themselves," especially since no witnesses observed any wrongdoing on their behalf. Nelson ultimately revealed that "this is something that has been going on for years and everyones blind to it but they know whats going on," with Robinson adding "rules are rules, but whats right is right and whats wrong is wrong." Nelson then offered a more intuitive analysis of the scenario, revealing how "its not just a black people thing, its a people thing." The two men hope to use their platform to inspire the younger generation to be resilient when experiencing similar situations. Tyra Banks is no longer just a supermodel. The 44-year-old is now an author, business mogul, TV host and even teaches proper branding skills at Standford business school. All this and more is brought up during her recent visit to Complex's Hot Ones, but the most standout moment of her interview (with her mother joining her) is where she tells 2 Chainz to give her a call because she's single. Host Sean Evans brings up some popular rap verses that Tyra's been mentioned in and revels to her for the first time that Lauryn Hill mentioned her in her track "Keep It Tight." "Oh my god, wait, Lauryn Hill put me in a rhyme and I don't know this? This is sacrilegious that I don't know this," she says. 2 Chainz's "Bentley Truck" lyrics come up where he raps, "Shawdy thick, small waist/ Fat ass, gon shake/ Money tall, Tyra Banks/ We everything yall aint" "Oh so he's saying that I got height, " she says in the video below, after asking if he really does "wear two chains. "And isn't he tall...and he has money...and I'm single. I got on one chain and I need another one if you know what I'm saying," she adds. Miss Banks then looks at the camera and urges Tity Boi to hit her up. Watch below. The Internal Revenue Service's online tax filing systems failed widely on Tax Day because of a hardware "glitch" in the part of the agency's operating system that houses taxpayers' personal tax records, according to the tax collection agency. The malfunctioning of IRS's "master file" was discovered around 4 a.m. Tuesday, the biggest tax-filing day of the year. The impact of the problem spread because several other IRS systems rely on data from the agency's "master file" to function, the IRS said in a statement to The Washington Post. The IRS emphasized there was no reason to believe taxpayers' private data had been breached. "There's no data loss," the agency said. "Taxpayers have nothing to be concerned about." The technology failures delayed millions of taxpayers as they tried to submit their returns online and forcing the agency to push back its original Tuesday deadline to the end of Wednesday. For much of the day, access was blocked for filers who use online tax preparation software, such as TurboTax or tools from H&R Block, or pay their taxes directly to the IRS online. An erroneous page linked to in the IRS's online payment section described a "Planned Outage: April 17, 2018 - December 31, 9999." The IRS said Wednesday that its systems were "fully back up and running" and that it had accepted more than 14 million submissions, including tax returns, extension requests and other filings, since systems had come back online. Former IRS commissioner John Koskinen said he was not aware of the agency having to extend the tax filing deadline nationally at any point in the past three decades because of software glitches on Tax Day. Mark Everson, another former IRS commissioner, also said he was unaware of any comparable past IRS failures on Tax Day. Congress on Wednesday moved forward with a plan to bolster the IRS. The House overwhelmingly passed a bipartisan bill aimed at improving the IRS's online systems, in part by allowing it to accept debit and credit card payments and requiring the IRS to create an online portal for filing 1099 tax returns. The measure passed by a 414-to-3 margin, but it now heads to the Senate, where its future is uncertain. The vote was scheduled before the IRS experienced its technical difficulties Tuesday, but lawmakers are demanding answers from the IRS about its struggles. Rep. Jim Jordan, R-Ohio, a member of the House Oversight Committee, said a probe into what went wrong could be necessary. "It may warrant some kind of investigation. How do you have this computer problem on the most important tax day of the year?" Jordan said. "The onus on them is to find out what caused it and makes sure it doesn't happen again." Rep. Suzan DelBene, D-Wash., a member of the House Ways and Means Committee, plans to send a letter to the IRS asking for an explanation of what caused the glitches and what the agency will do to prevent them from occurring again. "Hardworking taxpayers deserve transparency and lawmakers need to know exactly what happened so we can try and find solutions to avoid a similar or even worse failure in the future," DelBene said in a statement. DelBene, a former tech CEO who also served as Washington state's director of revenue, said the IRS needs to provide more information about what happened. "I know the importance of making sure the IRS has the proper funding, staff and technology in place so they can carry out their duties for the American people, and I look forward to working with the IRS to get the right answers," the statement said. The IRS has more than 60 information-technology systems for managing the cases of individual taxpayers, according to a report submitted to Congress by an internal IRS watchdog. Many of them have not been updated in decades, and two of them are nearly six decades old - the oldest anywhere in the federal government, the report said. "The IRS is highly vulnerable to IT breakdowns and cyberattacks," said Pete Sepp of the National Taxpayers Union, a nonpartisan group that has pushed for changes at the IRS. The IRS has faced steady budget cuts for nearly a decade, with its staff size falling by about 18,000 employees from 2010 to 2017 and a recent report showing that it can answer only about 60 percent of calls from tax filers. The bipartisan House package, which DelBene is co-sponsoring, would also strengthen the IRS's free tax advisory programs for the poor and give taxpayers several new rights and protections. Congressional Republicans repeatedly attacked the IRS under President Barack Obama, accusing it of unfairly targeting tea party groups and cutting its budget. Congress approved $320 million in short-term funding to help the IRS implement the new tax law as part of the massive budget deal passed in March, but many lawmakers say more money is needed. The additional funding came to help the agency implement changes required by a sprawling overhaul of the tax code that Republicans passed in December. It has been working with businesses to make sure they are withholding the correct amounts from employees' paychecks, as well as rolling out online tools that workers can use to ensure their employers' calculations are correct. House Speaker Paul Ryan, R-Wis., a frequent IRS critic, touted Wednesday's House bill as a major step toward fixing the agency. "The House just passed an overwhelmingly bipartisan, comprehensive overhaul of the IRS," Ryan wrote in a post on Twitter. "This restoration of oversight, fairness, and accountability puts customer service at the forefront of the agency." The sight of two young black men arrested inside a Philadelphia Starbucks left Andrea Guillory with a familiar pain in her chest. It hurt to see them on video, led away in handcuffs. She was upset, though not surprised, and felt moved to do something. A regular at the Starbucks near her home in Pearland, Guillory, 46, decided she needed time away from the coffee giant. But she still wanted a caffeine fix. So this week, she joined many other first-timers at Kaffeine Coffee, a black-owned coffee shop in Houstons Third Ward that has received an unexpected boost in sales of nearly 40 percent thanks to the attention surrounding the April 12 incident in Philadelphia. Rashon Nelson, 23, and his business partner, Donte Robinson, 23, were told they could not use the Philadelphia Starbucks restroom without paying first. As they waited for a business meeting, a white manager called the police. A customer captured the arrest on video, which was widely shared online. A day before, Kaffeines Instagram account was tagged in photos eight times. The day of the incident, that number grew to more than 1,400. And it keeps growing. The website shoppeblack.us, which promotes black-owned businesses, curated a widely shared list of black-owned coffee shops across the U.S. as alternatives to Starbucks. Guillory and fellow Houstonians noticed that Kaffeine was on the list. It reminds everybody that were here, too, said Orgena Keener, owner of the shop. When Keener, 49, saw the video herself and read related news articles, she felt the Starbucks employees actions were not only unjustified, but also unprofessional. Visitors to Kaffeine, at 5225 Almeda Road, often come in to sit on the couches for long periods at a time, using the stores Wi-Fi and printer services without ordering, Keener said. In such cases, she and her employees ask them if they are waiting on a friend, or if they could at least get them some water. Nine times out of 10, its a case where someone is waiting on a friend or business client, Keener said. Even in cases where the individual leaves without having purchased any food or drink, Keener said she makes sure they were attended to with a warm greeting so that they feel comfortable enough to return. They might be customers one day, just not that day, she said. By interacting with customers, shes learned she often gets local college students who may not have a budget that allows them to buy much. But when they can, they spend. Local veterans often frequent the shop as well, especially since Keener offers them free coffee. She even has a get to know your neighbor bonus a free pastry for regulars who bring a new friend to the shop. Sometimes I wonder if I give too much, Keener said. But for her, she said, its all about fostering community and coffee culture, where food and drink are key parts of social interactions something she feels a corporate entity like Starbucks is missing. Kaffeine will open a second location in Museum Park, across the street from the Holocaust Museum Houston, in August. It will offer drive through service for customers short on time. Guillory entered the shop on Wednesday to the sound of keyboard clicks and mellow background music. All around, pieces of Keeners antique collection were on display, from plush armchairs with wool throws, to an Eiffel Tower figurine, even a bicycle hanging from the ceiling. She met Keener at the cash register. Yolanda R. Williams, 35, overheard her say it was her first time there, and that she was protesting Starbucks. Williams, known at Kaffeine by the nickname Day 1, has been a loyal patron since the shop opened five years ago. Back then, Williams couldnt afford her own office space for her tax and real estate business. The Wi-Fi and printing services were a godsend and she quickly became a regular presence in the shop, even bringing clients in for meetings. Williams continues to patronize Kaffeine because, like others, considers it important to support black-owned businesses. If you dont spend your money in your neighborhood, your neighborhood wont flourish, Keener said. Williams supports Kaffeine with her cash and her Instagram account. She often posts messages encouraging friends, family and clients to stop by. As Guillory perused the menu, Williams called her over to welcome her. At Starbucks, she said, she typically gets her order to go. Behind her, Germaine Washington, 38, snapped photos of the shops decor and commented on how great it felt to meet the owner of the shop on her first visit with her boyfriend. Washington, an adjunct professor at Houston Community College, considers herself a Starbucks fan. As a vegan, she knows she can count on Starbucks almond milk. So when she and Anthony Muhammad, 48, heard about the Philadelphia Starbucks, they felt betrayed. While Muhammad, owner of a home health-care business, has been able to use Starbucks restrooms in the past without having ordered something, he now feels a sense of unease. That could have been me, Muhammad said of the arrest. Washington feels the companys announced plan to close all U.S. stores on May 29 for employee racial-bias training is a step in the right direction. Muhammad believes its not enough. Youre having this training day to basically learn how to treat humans who look different than you, Williams said. And in one day. As Washington sipped the last of her caramel macchiato with almond milk, she decided that she too couldnt bring herself to return to her longtime favorite brand. At least not anytime soon. Not only does she like the food and service at Kaffeine and is confident no one will call the cops on her or Muhammad. I want to be respected where I spend my money, Washington said. ileana.najarro@chron.com Whats your favorite Broadway musical? My wife asks that question of every stranger she meets. She only judges those who have no answer at all, and also those who respond with insincerity. For years, I claimed my favorite musical was Elephant! a fictional London theater piece about the life of John Merrick included in the movie The Tall Guy. The films songs were amusing yet memorable and catchy. Elephant! also featured tap-dancing men in elephant masks. The musical within the film roundly ridiculed the hammy and bombastic qualities comically exaggerated in musical theater, which by the 1980s needed some new energy. That statement isnt meant to ruffle feathers, as its not my designation: Theater historians frequently suggest the forms golden age started in 1943 with Oklahoma! Sources vary about when the age ended: Some say 1959, others say 1968. Either way, by 1989 when The Tall Guy was released in movie theaters, the musical was two decades past the most generous estimate of its peak era. It had grown long in the tusk. Still, territory folks stuck together Broadway remained big business with an audience comprising students on school trips, the elderly visiting New York, and my wife. And the post-golden era wasnt a complete drought: The 70s yielded Chicago, and the 80s provided Les Miserables and Into the Woods. More Information "Hamilton" When: 7:30 p.m. Tuesday-Thursday, through May 20 Where: Hobby Center, 800 Bagby Details: all dates are sold out, but there will be daily ticket lotteries; thehobbycenter.org See More Collapse But outside the demographic of tourists and true believers, broader interest in the musical waned. The proliferation of the jukebox musical did the forms tradition no favors, becoming Broadways answer to Hollywoods tent pole sequel factory: a low-risk, high-yield moneymaking operation. High tides have begun to float other boats on Broadway over the past few years. Book of Mormon and Hamilton are large-scale productions that succeeded on Broadway and beyond, prompting trend stories that reference the musicals new golden age. With Hamilton making its Houston debut next week, chances are a lot of people are going to updating their favorite musical answer with this production thats been hailed as a daring new vision in a medium that celebrates sameness. And it has been, Hamilton brought diversity in casting and storytelling perspectives onto Broadway in a way that few big musicals attempt. But much of the good press for it and Book of Mormon has suggested the success springs from some sort of reinvention of Broadways wheel. And while the success of Hamilton is due in part to its daring the use of hip-hop, the diversity in its casting, the narratives sleight of hand compression of either 32 or 78 years, depending on what you identify as its starting and finishing points. But like Book of Mormon, the heart of Hamilton pumps blood from that golden era: the lyrical tips to classic musicals like South Pacific, and the aspirational placement of My Shot, its Corner of the Sky song. The timing of these new musical successes isnt coincidental. The passing of time has helped. A generation of young listeners has come along who were not soured on the musical. And theyve reveled in the energy and enthusiasm of someone like Hamilton creator Lin-Manuel Miranda, who is clearly in love with words and music and finding ways to combine them that says something new while sounding informed by something old. I think thats why the ballads of Hamilton stand out to me more than the tongue-twisting speed-rap moments in Guns and Ships. At its best, the Broadway musical made some connection to viewers beneath the obligatory ostentatious presentations full of songs and dances. The ballads of Hamilton Satisfied, Wait for It, Its Quiet Uptown spill with longing for love, recognition and life. In Book of Mormon the longing is stated even more nakedly in I Believe, albeit with punchlines. The comedy of Mormon serves almost as a defense mechanism. Its creators, Trey Parker and Matt Stone of South Park, made a sail in the shape of a heart a Valentine to Broadway as well as all-consuming faith and blew so much profanity and sacrilegious commentary into it that some called it a storm. It was not, it was a love letter. andrew.dansby@chron.com Blue-and-white Asian ginger jars spruce up a hall table in need of a pop of color. Heirloom Royal Delft plates become art when placed over a guest rooms headboard. Kitchen cabinets look welcoming in a soft shade of Wedgwood blue, and a dining room grabs a big wow lacquered in peacock blue. Much-loved blue, paired with white, is a classic combination in home design. As a color trend it may wane, but it never completely leaves us. Right now, its having a bit of a moment as homeowners use it on painted surfaces, upholstered furniture and in art and accessories. Designer Nicolette Mayer who has a new collection of wallpaper and fabric inspired by Royal Delfts blue-and-white earthenware will visit Houston on Thursday for the Decorative Center of Houstons annual Spring Market, a day of speakers, panel discussions, book signings and showrooms opening their doors to the public. Shell be in the Scalamandre showroom with her new collection of 24 wallpaper and 16 fabric patterns. As much as its timeless and forever, its like anything else, it goes through waves, Mayer said of the color theme. I really wanted to do a blue-and-white collection, but theres so much on the market. I wanted to do something really iconic and signature and beloved and recognizable. More Information Decorative Center of Houston Spring Market When: 9 a.m.-5 p.m. Thursday Where: Decorative Center of Houston, 5120 Woodway Highlights: 10 a.m. keynote by Vern Yip; 1 p.m. Texas Design Week panel discussion; 2:15 p.m. Paloma Contreras and Ben Johnston discuss digital branding. RSVP: Events are free but RSVP at decorativecenter.com/events/ See More Collapse Mayers collection isnt the only new blue-white entry in the design world. Martyn Lawrence Bullards collection for Perennials is loaded with blue. Mark D. Sikes, known for his blue-heavy interior design, continues to turn out products in blue and white, and in the past year, Christopher Spitzmiller started making his exquisite lamps, as well as a dinnerware collection, in marbleized blue. Now a Florida resident, Mayer reached back to the early years of her childhood in South Africa and its heavy Dutch influence. She was surrounded by Royal Delfts blue-and-white earthenware, made for some 365 years in the Netherlands. Back in the 1600s, the Dutch East India Company carried Asian porcelain from China to eager and affluent consumers in Europe. As wars in Asia diminished the availability and piracy on the high seas made transporting it increasingly dangerous, factories in the Netherlands geared up to make their own. Royal Delft and its Delft Blue are the most enduring. The first Delft copies were very Chinese in nature and mimicked the Chinese themes, Mayer explained. Eventually they developed their own signature and hand. Thats when it became Delft and Dutch, and when it became special rather than being a poor imitation of someone elses art. It became unique to them. The French, Portuguese and British did the same, and soon they were all producing patterns such as Spodes Blue Willow, which is still popular today. Those highly collectible dishes, or larger urns, cachepots and ginger jars find their way into many homes, even when blue and white isnt an overriding decor theme. Mayers idea for her collection began a few years ago when she she saw a Royal Delft booth at a trade show. She shared her love of the work and suggested a collaboration. Though the company had never allowed its patterns on anything other than porcelain, staff members were curious. She designed an entire collection, flew to Holland and blew them away. Her designs are finally on fabric and wallpaper and run the gamut of full tribute to mild inspiration. Devoted Delft collectors will see their plates, jars and tulipieres in some patterns, others borrow themes in more muted designs that simply pay tribute to their origin. Collectors want to see the traditional signature pieces, Mayer said. Then we also went crazy with Elements and Flora Fauna acid wallpaper that have a sheen to them. Theres a lot thats just simple and elegant for people who love blue and white. Houston interior designers Sandy Lucas and Sarah Eilers, of Lucas-Eilers Design Associates, both love to use blue in design projects. Blue and white is just classic. It dates way back as a very popular color, said Eilers, who grew up in a home filled with Williamsburg blue. I personally collect blue-and-white porcelain, and I rarely have a client who doesnt. Its calming, soothing and classic; it always works. Lucas agreed and mentioned a few different ways shes used it. On one of her first design jobs, a client had a collection of Asian porcelain and kept it out of sight in a cabinet. Lucas pulled it out to be seen and used. Though Delft may be centuries old, it can be employed in fresh, new treatments such as a bridesmaids luncheon Lucas recently hosted, using porcelain vases and cachepots holding bundles of flowers as centerpieces and blue-and-white paper placemats on a white tablecloth. In a recent design project, she showcased a clients antique porcelain collection on shelves backed with a beautiful shade of emerald green. Even in homes that dont have blue-and-white upholstered furniture, wallpaper or rugs, the colors fit well as accents with any neutrals and with plenty of bright colors from turquoise to coral to a variety of greens. Another part of the trend is that blue and white have left the kitchen and dining room and can be found in any room in the home. Plates and platters once relegated to a china cabinet now can serve as art on a wall in any room. Blue-and-white pots with flowers or plants are an easy go-to decor item, and you can find them in resale stores, antiques stores, big-box discount stores and high-end department stores. Lucas and Eilers also noted that blue and white have inspired many contemporary artists. They noted artists with work at Gremillion & Co. Fine Art in Rice Village, including Leslie Parke, whose recent work shows oversized blue-and-white plates in a stream under water, inspired by her grandparents china collection. Legendary New York designer Charlotte Moss, who visited Houston recently, said she has noticed a lot of blue and white. Blue and white is one of those evergreen color schemes that just feels fresh, easy and breezy to most people. Its like your color scheme is an instant success story just because its blue and white, she said. Moss cited the internet, with so many ideas on Pinterest and easy access to shopping simply by Googling a few words, as a springboard for the trend. Youll see a beautiful room in a magazine and want to have it. You go to your device, and there it is. There are more products for sure, she said. diane.cowen@chron.com pinterest.com/ChronDesign When former First Lady Barbara Bush died Tuesday, people spoke of the 92-year-olds legacy and her impact on the culture, both positive and negative. For the most part, it was the sort of talk that circulates any time a well-known person is lost. But there was something different about this conversation. Much of the talk about Bush wasnt about the way she lived it was about the way she died. On Sunday, the Bush family announced its matriarch was in failing health and no longer pursuing medical treatments intended to cure her illness. Her familys decision to make that information public was hailed by many in the medical community as a potential game changer when it comes to how Americans talk about death and dying. The fact that it was Barbara Bush doing it was particularly relevant, said Dr. Terri Fried, a professor of medicine at the Yale University School of Medicine. She was well-known for being outspoken about things that were important to her. I think the intention (of announcing her decision on medical care) was to put this into the public conversation. The Bush family released Barbaras decision the day before National Healthcare Decisions Day, which was Monday. The day is intended as an occasion to educate people about the importance of discussions on advanced care planning. I think that is extraordinary, to set (the announcement) at this time and in this way, said Dr. Donna Coletti, medical director of palliative care services at Greenwich Hospital. It says This is a conversation that needs to be elevated. Now Playing: Former First Lady Barbara Bush Dead At 92 Video: Fortune Comfort vs. cure Many in the health community have pleaded for people to have early discussions with their families about the kind of medical care they want, should they become seriously ill. These conversations can include how long the loved one wants to receive medical care intended to cure an illness, as opposed to care that keeps the person comfortable. Fried stressed that choosing comfort doesnt mean care stops altogether, but that the focus shifts. The decision to pursue comfort care (usually) comes at a point where the benefits of intervention typically no longer outweigh the problems or burdens, she said. For instance, sources said Bush suffered from chronic obstructive pulmonary disease and congestive heart failure. COPD affects lungs and breathing, and Fried said late-stage care for the illness could have included putting Bush on a respirator. However, that would mean she couldnt speak with her family. Thus, Fried said, its reasonable that there would be a certain point in Bushs care when she wouldnt want to use such a device. The Catholic church has also come out in support of palliative care, while being careful to distinguish it from assisted suicide. Catholic Health Association of the United States has published the guide Caring for People at the End of Life, which talks about these decisions. The guide states that the church has no hard-and-fast rule regarding specific medical procedures but rather urges prudent decisions regarding the benefits and burdens of medical treatments for the patient. Talking too late Experts recommend that conversations about end-of-life care happen when a person is healthy enough to make his or her wishes known, but thats often not the case, Fried said. We know these discussions tend to happen so late that the person is sick enough that they arent able to participate, she said. This is problematic for the patients and their families, said Dr. Kristin Edwards, medical director of palliative care at Bridgeport Hospital. Often the conflicts we see are with people who never had that discussion in advance, Edwards said. Its very stressful to make that decision on someone elses behalf. Patients wishes cant be respected if they arent expressed to family members or others authorized to make heath care decisions. For instance, roughly 70 percent of people say they want to die at home and 70 percent end up dying in health facilities, according to The Conversation Project, a Boston-based program dedicated to helping people talk about their wishes for end-of-life care. Conversation Project Director Kate DeBartolo joined the chorus in hoping the public airing of Bushs end-of-life choices leads to more conversations on this topic. We do hope that this will be an example to other families to let their loved ones decide what they want as they approach the end of their lives, she said by email. Elizabeth Beaudin, senior director of population health for the Connecticut Hospital Association, echoed DeBartolos thoughts. About a year ago, the CHA launched the Care Decisions Connecticut initiative, a statewide collaboration to empower patients to make their own end-of-life care decisions. Although we are saddened by the death of Mrs. Bush, we are grateful that she and her family chose to make public her decision to seek comfort care in the last days of her life, Beaudin said in an email. When famous people elect to share their healthcare decisions with the public, it can help fuel public discussion and awareness about these important issues. Thousands are expected to pay tribute to former first lady Barbara Bush, who died Tuesday. There's Thursday's celebration of life sponsored by the city of Houston; a public viewing Friday; and funeral services Saturday, followed by burial at the George Bush Presidential Library in College Station. In size, those events are likely to rival some of the largest memorial services of Houston's past. Hermann Park's namesake In 1914, after George H. Hermann died at Johns Hopkins Hospital, about 100 Houston residents joined the mayor and city leaders to meet the train carrying his body. It was one way the city showed its gratitude to the philanthropist, well known for his frugality. Months earlier, the lifelong bachelor had donated 285 acres of parkland to the city. But as Houston would find out days later, Hermann still wasn't done giving. City government shut down on the day of Hermann's public funeral. Schools closed that afternoon. Bells tolled at City Hall in Market Square. Before a crowd of mourners at the City Auditorium, it was revealed that Hermann was leaving the bulk of his estate -- estimated at up to $5 million -- to create a charity hospital. He also bequeathed to the city more land for Hermann Park; as well as land that we know today as Hermann Square next to City Hall. "George H. Hermann's last thought was for the poor of the city of Houston," the Chronicle wrote. UPCOMING: Several events scheduled to honor Barbara Bush The Challenger astronauts Days after a horrified nation watched as the space shuttle Challenger exploded after launch, killing seven astronauts, a somber President Ronald Reagan eulogized them at the Johnson Space Center. On the morning of the service -- Jan. 31, 1986 -- Reagan addressed thousands of NASA employees still numb from the tragedy they had seen live, as well as millions around the world who were watching on TV. The president struck a balance between expressing grief and admiring the astronauts' courage. Said Reagan: "We can find consolation only in faith, for we know in our hearts that you who flew so high and so proud now make your home beyond the stars, safe in God's promise of eternal life." Fallen firefighters In 2013, about 20,000 mourners packed Reliant Stadium to honor four firefighters killed while fighting a blaze in southwest Houston. Scores of emergency vehicles and fire trucks converged at Reliant Park that June morning. During the ceremony, family and friends of the fallen -- Robert Bebee, Matthew Renaud, Anne Sullivan and Robert Garner -- joined public officials in paying tribute to those who died in the line of service. "Wherever such dedication comes from," Gov. Rick Perry said, "it is a gift. That dedication drives them to greater heights in service, helping make a better, safe world. It certainly drove those four individuals we honor here today ... We will never forget their sacrifice." The congressman killed in a plane crash In August 1989, Houston Congressman Mickey Leland was killed when his plane crashed during a famine-relief mission to Ethiopia. Days after his body and 14 others were recovered, about 4,000 Houstonians turned out at Texas Southern University to pay tribute. The crowd was full of local leaders and notable black politicians. "Mickey was always flying in the face of the storm to save the child, to feed the hungry, to liberate the captives," said the Rev. Jesse Jackson. "Now and then God gets one of the flowers, one of the roses." The Chronicle reported that the two-hour ceremony "struck uplifting notes, with gospel songs from an interchurch choir and remembrances of Leland's love for life and compassion for the unfortunate." Big names, small ceremonies Though they left a large footprint here in civic life, some famous Houstonians opted for simple ceremonies when it came to their deaths. * Mourners from all walks of life turned out to pay respects for Chronicle publisher Jesse H. Jones following his death in 1956. "Old friends, business associates, companions of many a happy hour -- people of high and low estate -- some who never knew him personally but honored him for the great service he gave his country," turned out, the Chronicle reported. The simple funeral service was held at St. Paul's Methodist Church, which he helped build. From the archive: Via needlepoint, Barbara Bush enters the political arena * At Bayou Bend, showers put a damper on services for philanthropist Ima Hogg, "the first lady of Texas." Though, according to Chronicle reporter Ed Fowler, she probably wouldn't have minded. In accordance with her wishes, no music was played. * In April 1976, 16 people attended the Glenwood Cemetery funeral for billionaire Howard Hughes. All were family members except for two doctors who'd been with Hughes days earlier, when he arrived in Houston. Hughes died of renal failure while en route to the city to seek medical treatment. By contrast, about 40 members of the media covered the funeral. The superintendent of Glenwood told the Houston Post that the funeral was one of the quietest and simplest ceremonies he had ever seen in his 15 years at the cemetery. * Dr. Denton Cooley's 2016 memorial service at Trinity Episcopal Church was also a low-key event. Relatives remembered the fame he achieved through his work, but also highlighted that through it all, he remained dedicated to his craft of helping the sick. By comparison, in 2008, rival heart surgeon Michael DeBakey had lain in repose at Houston City Hall, a first for the building. Nearly 1,800 people turned out for DeBakey's service at Co-Cathedral of the Sacred Heart, which turned into a New Orleans-style jazz funeral when it ended. As the warm, fuzzy tributes to Barbara Bush poured forth yesterday and today, I had to smile ruefully to myself. I sat down with the former First Lady for an interview in the White House about midway through her husband's 1989-1993 presidential term. Afterward, when friends wanted to know how it had gone, what she was like, I had two words: "Blue steel." By that point in my career as a magazine writer, I had interviewed governors and CEOs, Olympians and mayors, film stars and famous chefs. None of them had intimidated me you can't frighten easily in that job but I had to admit that going up against Barbara Bush was scary. IN HER OWN RIGHT: Barbara Bush, wife and mother of presidents, dies at 92 From the moment we met and rode up to the family quarters in an elevator, her famously gracious good manners were on display. Mrs. Bush's dog, Millie, rode with us, and because I had played with a friend's rabbit that morning, Millie was all over me. Mrs. Bush managed to pull her off, but not before she had snagged my stocking, and we both arrived upstairs laughing at the absurdity of the situation. We had coffee on a beautiful china service. Plump, upholstered chairs; cups clinking against saucers; Millie at our feet. I basked in the coziness of it all. Things seemed to be going swimmingly. But as the interview progressed, and I tried to draw Mrs. Bush out on the issues of the day, or on the political prospects of her son George W. (who was then readying a challenge to Texas governor Ann Richards) I could feel an increasingly chilly breeze in the air. It wasn't that the interview was adversarial. My story assignment from the Ladies' Home Journal one of the few magazines with the pull to persuade the first lady, the daughter of a McCall's executive, to sit for a one-on-one conversation was hardly controversial. I was there to draw a portrait of a woman much admired by the magazine's readership. But each time I strayed, however gently, from anodyne topics, I was met by a stony gaze or a quick, witty deflection. I got nowhere fast, and as the hour wore on, I realized I had been vanquished by the best. WHAT YOU SEE, WHAT YOU GET: Barbara Bush brought plainspoken, grandmotherly style to DC I remember sort of staggering onto Pennsylvania Avenue afterwards, heading toward lunch with a political consultant of my acquaintance. "Well?" he inquired. "Don't ask," I groaned. I was exhausted. At the same time I was fascinated by the contrast of Mrs. Bush's grandmotherly, benign, pearl-clad public image with the fierce lioness I had just encountered. "Boy, she's strong," none other than Roger Ailes once said of her, in what I have come to realize was a perfect diamond-cut-diamond moment. I read that Ailes quote two years later in the late Marjorie Williams' riveting Vanity Fair profile of Barbara Bush a profile for which the First Lady declined to be interviewed. The first line really struck a chord with me. Wrote Williams: "Even Barbara Bush's stepmother is afraid of her." I tried to work Mrs. Bush's fierceness into my story, but in the end my editor applied a blurring ladies'-magazine brush to the portrait. I was horrified to find that my lead paragraph had been reworked to claim that "Barbara Bush keeps reinventing herself," or some such. The notion of "reinvention" was a rampant journalistic cliche of the 1980s, and I couldn't help thinking that observers through the years eagerly turned Mrs. Bush herself into a cliche: the traditional mother and helpmeet, the pearl-clad patrician with a common touch. Of course, Barbara Bush was always a more complex character than people knew or than she wanted people to know. She was as much an architect of her public image as anyone. Far from reinventing herself, she had remained remarkably true to her chosen role as her family's ever-vigilant guardian. Over the nearly three decades since, I've followed the public life of this formidable Houstonian with interest as she made herself a champion of literacy and the political matriarch of all political matriarchs. She was always the Bush family's secret weapon, and I feel oddly fortunate to have experienced that weapon's deft and deadly force. Alison Cook (@alisoncook) reviews restaurants and surveys the dining scene for the Chronicle. You can read all her work here. Sign up for the Gray Matters newsletter. Boy, it's strong. A Pearland coffee shop wants to provide local students with more than just coffee after what its general manager says have been tough times for kids in middle school and high school in the community. Pearland Coffee Roasters is hosting a "roundtable" for students in grades 7-12 from 7-9 p.m. April 19 at the shop, 4106 W. Broadway. General manager John Sanson said it is "a night dedicated to come by and talk about fears and life with local counselors and pastors." It's an opportunity for kids to talk about their emotions and fears in a safe place with professionals who can help kids understand their feelings, after local teen suicides and suicide attempts and widely publicized mass shootings in schools around the country. The business posted to Facebook: "With so many tragic events that have happened over this last year in Pearland ISD, we felt the need to have a night just for students to meet with counselors & pastors to openly talk out things that seem overwhelming & life in general." Sanson is a former youth outreach worker. He said that teens have a lot on their minds after incidents such as the March 9 arrest of a Pearland High student after a gun was found on campus, two suicides on Pearland high school campuses in March 2017 and the mass shooting at a Parkland, Florida high school in February that killed 17 people. Additionally, in an Nov. 30 incident, a Dawson High School student's attempt to hang himself from a stairwell was thwarted by teachers, Pearland police reported."There's depression and anxiety with things," Sanson said. "And with changes at the end of school year, and the shooting. At least here's opportunity to express their emotions instead of keeping things bottled up." Sanson said he has been talking with local licensed counselors and pastors of nearby churches. Although religious leaders will be present, Sanson said the event is not a religious gathering. He said some kids might wonder where God was in the midst of the tragic events, and that pastors can address those questions. The talk will center on teens' emotions and thoughts about current events.The Pearland Independent School District staged a a free suicide prevention awareness event, #iwillASK, last year at Turner College and Career High School, sparked by student Ted Frick's alarm after suicides of three district students in 2015. "Out of that, we really started looking at how we could do more for our students and for our kids dealing with these issues," district spokesperson Kim Hocott said in a previous interview. More Information WANT TO GO? What: "Roundtable": a night for teens to talk about fears, victories and life with local counselors and pastors. Where: Pearland Coffee Roasters, 4106 W. Broadway St. When: 7-9 p.m. April 19 Details: 281-485-6670 See More Collapse PISD is hosting this year's #iwillASK event from 6-8 p.m. Thursday, April 26, at Pearland High SchoolSearcy Campus, 3775 S Main St. Students, parents and community members are encouraged to attend the free event. Dr. Ryan Hill, assistant professor at Baylor College of Medicine, will discuss the importance of destigmatizing mental health issues. For more on that event, visit www.pearlandisd.org/iwillASK. Sanson said such efforts by the school district to help kids with these issues are beneficial but that some students may not be comfortable opening up about their feelings in that setting. Kids experiencing bullying or peer pressure may have problems expressing vulnerability to teachers and classmates they see on a daily basis, Sanson said. He is asking parents to bring their kids and drop them off. He thinks the coffee shop setting will provide a neutral environment where teens will feel safe talking about their feelings without parents or teachers present. "Let's talk things out," Sanson said. "If it's racial things, depression, suicide. People need to talk about these things." For more information about the Pearland Coffee Roasters event, call 281-485-6670. Gunmen shoot Houstonians hundreds of times every year during robberies, assaults and murders. When they flee, suspects leave a trail of carnage and often, the shell casings from the bullets they fired. It is crucial evidence investigators can use to link the carnage back to the firearm used in the crime. Forensic technicians take high-resolution photographs of bullet casings found at crime scenes and upload them to a national database called the National Integrated Ballistic Information Network (NIBIN), which then matches the images with those of casings of bullets collected at other crime scenes. In years past, investigators waited weeks, or even months, for lab results. In Houston, however, investigators will now be able to image and link bullets in just a few hours, following the deployment Thursday by the Bureau of Alcohol, Tobacco, Firearms and Explosives of the agencys mobile ballistics testing van. The NIBIN van allows us to get leads back a little bit closer to real time, said Fred Milanowski, special agent in charge of the ATFs Houston Field Division. We can get emergency correlations back in as little as three hours. The van is the latest move by the ATF to investigate gun crime in Houston more quickly, and part of a broader national effort by the agency to persuade local law enforcement agencies to use the NIBIN database as a tool to solve shootings faster. Previously, the agency deployed the van in Baltimore and Chicago. Over the last several years, the ATF has pumped millions of dollars into the program, creating joint investigative task forces with police in cities most prone to gun violence. In Texas, which led the nation in gun deaths in 2016, there were more than 3,300 deaths attributed to firearms, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. That same year, more than 400 people died in Houston from gunfire, including 259 homicides and 160 suicides. Firearms also were used to commit 5,457 aggravated assaults. Houston Police Chief Art Acevedo, at a press event to announce the deployment, said ballistics testing frequently took up to two weeks when he first took over here in late 2016. He decided to prioritize testing after seeing work done by gun-crime task forces in Denver and Milwaukee. Since then, testing at the Houston Forensic Science Center has dropped to between 24 and 48 hours. But in emergency situation, the deployment of the NIBIN van means that detectives will be able to get investigative leads in just hours. The sooner we can hit the ground running, the better chances well be able to catch the suspect, Acevedo said. The joint task force of ATF and Houston police obtained their first conviction last year, and in the year since, local investigators have arrested and charged 37 people based off NIBIN leads. Milanowski said the Harris County Sheriffs Office will soon be joining the task force. The ballistics comparison technology only works with guns that previously have been used in crimes, and where investigators recovered bullet casings and entered them into the federal database. st.john.smith@chron.com twitter.com/stjbs Here is a round-up of Saturday's funeral events for former first lady Barbara Bush. Funeral service Who: Invited guests only. Where: St. Martins Church, 717 Sage Road, Houston, TX When: Saturday, April 21; parking lot opens at 8 a.m. What: The funeral is not open to the public. Those invited must must first park at Second Baptist Church at 6400 Woodway Drive, with shuttles to St. Martins starting at 8:30 a.m. No one will be able to drive or walk up to St. Martins Church. Motorcade procession Who: Open to the public Where: Roads leading to the George H.W. Bush Presidential Library Center and Museum in College Station When: The motorcade is scheduled to arrive in College Station around 2:30 p.m., and make its way to the library. What: The motorcade will come into College Station on Highway 6, then onto Highway 6 Business to George Bush Drive. The motorcade will turn left on George Bush Drive, then right on Barbara Bush Drive, which leads to the library. Public access to the motorcade will end at Penberthy and George Bush Drive. Burial Who: Invited guests only Where: George Bush Presidential Library and Museum, College Station, TX When: 3 p.m. Saturday. The interment is not open to the public. Some Hurricane Harvey victims and housing advocates say a program designed to make flooded residents homes livable while they await more comprehensive repairs has fallen short of even its modest goals, leaving some homeowners no better off than when contractors arrived. The Texas General Land Office has issued work orders for 6,884 homes in Houston as part of the Partial Repair and Essential Power for Sheltering, or PREPS, program, and has completed work in 83 percent of them. Some homeowners view those repairs as far from complete, however, complaining of new doors that do not latch, new drywall that covers up electrical outlets, wobbly toilets or worse. They did tear out the sheetrock and demolish most of my kitchen and bathroom, then they said they couldnt continue, that the repairs had exceeded their budget, and they walked out, said southeast Houston resident Mark Anthony Rubio. Id like PREPS to come back and fix what they broke, thats all. Its not right that theyre wasting taxpayers money to make things worse. In the two weeks Rubio said it took him to restore his home to order, he showered at his brothers home in Pearland and visited a nearby Jack in the Box to use the restroom so frequently that he memorized the menu. More Information Homeowners who have concerns about the work performed on their homes through the PREPS program should call the General Land Office hotline at 888-610-1622 or email info@prepstexasrebuilds.com. See More Collapse General Land Office spokeswoman Brittany Eck encouraged concerned homeowners to contact her agency, saying staff are responsive to complaints and are monitoring contractors performance. She added, however, that many homeowner complaints about incomplete or inadequate work are the result of a misunderstanding of the PREPS program and its limited scope. Gaps between sheets of drywall, for instance, exist because the program does not pay for the finishing work needed to complete a wall. Rubios file shows that contractors discovered additional problems that drove the scope of work needed at his home over the maximum PREPS budget, Eck said, adding that his case remains pending. The Federal Emergency Management Agency, through the GLO, gives eligible Harvey victims up to $20,000 in repairs through PREPS, which is designed to turn residents homes into an extension of emergency shelters, providing them, essentially, one livable bedroom and one private bathroom. Under PREPS, about 13,500 Texans have had their homes gutted of soggy sheetrock and received new water heaters, drywall, sinks and eight feet of countertop in their kitchens; work is underway on the last 3,500 homes now. Though the program is intended as a quick fix, state officials negotiated the details of other short-term housing programs with federal officials first, delaying the launch of PREPS into December, four months after the floodwaters receded. By the time PREPS contractors got to Howard Higdons house in northeast Houston, he had been dealing with a wildfire of mold, as he put it, for months. PREPS covers mold treatments such as the disinfecting spray Higdon saw contractors use on his walls but not full mold remediation. Higdon said he was not surprised when the insulation and drywall installed by PREPS contractors molded within days, and had to be torn out by volunteers later. Sitting on an outdoor recliner with his pet dachshund, Higdon said he was glad PREPS got him a new front door and a new ramp leading to it. But Higdon, who moves with a walker, said the workers ability to help him was so limited they might as well not have come. They need to do it right or not do it at all, in my book. Youre just wasting the governments money, Higdon said. Im just going to live with the mold. Its enough to make you want to just walk away from your house. Eck said GLO officials have discussed the mold issue with FEMA, but said residents chief complaints about the program have been about the limited scope of work and questions about whether work was completed properly. If its not going to be sufficient to get them back into the house or if there continue to be issues, thats something well look to address, Eck said. But under the limitations of these programs, we work with the individuals on the agreed-to scope of work and attempt to try to get them back into their house so they can continue repairs for the full recovery. West Street Recovery, the nonprofit that helped Higdon, and other housing advocates say the GLO must more clearly communicate the programs limitations to participants, and cannot declare repaired homes truly livable without more effectively addressing mold problems. No one knows how PREPS works. The homeowners dont know how it works, the contractors dont know how it works, and the GLO doesnt know how it works their answers are inconsistent, said Ben Hirsch, director of partnerships for West Street Recovery. We have a very small sample size. We know 25 people whove been through PREPS and this is their experience. Theres no way that we just happened to find the 25 worst homes. Eck stressed that PREPS brochures clearly state the efforts limitations and that residents sign a form agreeing to the scope of work before repairs begin. Still, she said, We want to hear if theres an issue. Were eager to make sure, to the extent were able, to help that those who are recovering from this disaster have the information they need and receive the assistance were able to provide. mike.morris@chron.com twitter.com/mmorris011 SAN ANTONIO The seat belt sign was still on as 144 passengers and five crew members were settling in aboard a flight from New York to Dallas when registered nurse Peggy Phillips heard a noise and guessed, correctly, that an engine had exploded. At the controls Tuesday morning was Tammie Jo Shults, a former Navy fighter pilot who suddenly had to guide Southwest Airlines Flight 1380 to an emergency landing on its one remaining engine. The Boeing 737 was shaking and shuddering. Pieces of the engine shattered a window and injured a passenger. The rapid decompression sucked her partially through the window before others pulled her back. It was not like any noise Ive ever heard in my life pretty close to a jackhammer that had a different tone to it, said Phillips, 68, of Dallas. It was incredibly loud. Jennifer Riordan of Albuquerque died despite efforts by Phillips and two others who performed CPR during a terrifying descent and landing in Philadelphia, where paramedics boarded the plane. But Shults, 56, who greeted and hugged passengers after the ordeal, kept a bad situation from becoming much worse. A recording of her steady, matter-of-fact conversation with air traffic controllers went viral, making her an instant national hero. She had years of experience as one of the Navys first female aviators who later served as an F/A-18 Hornet instructor in which she played an aggressor pilot in mock dogfights. Calm in crisis In Boerne, a town northwest of San Antonio, Shults and her husband Dean, 53, also a Southwest Airlines pilot, have earned a reputation as a strongly religious, community-minded couple. They live in a Kendall County subdivision with two children, both young adults. Friends and neighbors said the unruffled Tammie Jo Shults they heard in the cockpit recordings is the person theyve always known polite, approachable, practical, never one to raise her voice. OK, could you have the medical meet us there on the runway as well? Weve got injured passengers, Shults told a flight controller. Injured passengers, OK, and is your airplane physically on fire? he replied. No, its not on fire, Shults said. But part of its missing. Longtime friend Staci Thompson, 38, heard that and was not surprised at Shults calmness during crisis. It sounds just like a normal conversation with her on the phone, Thompson said. She has strength of character and faith in God, said Kim Young, who has known the family since they moved to the area about 15 years ago. I was curious when I first listened to it (to see) if I would recognize her voice. She was calm, she was collected and she was getting the job done. She was doing what was needed to be done. Shes a talented woman. Phillips, who calls herself semi-retired because she still works as a substitute school nurse, compared Shults to Chesley Sully Sullenberger, the pilot who landed U.S. Airways Flight 1549 in the Hudson River after a bird strike killed both of the engines aboard his Airbus A320. All aboard the plane survived. She was so incredibly calm, Phillips said of the audio clips. She was a rock star. She really was. Big heart, giving spirit Southwest Flight 1380 was flying from New Yorks LaGuardia Airport to Dallas Love Field. The cause of the explosion is under investigation. Southwest said it had accelerated an engine inspection program out of an abundance of caution and expected to complete it over the next month. The airline, in a statement, said it would conduct ultrasonic inspections of fan blades in the CFM56 engine used in the 737-700. Shults and first officer Darren Ellisor issued a statement through Southwest late Wednesday: "As captain and first officer of the crew of five who worked to serve our customers aboard Flight 1380 yesterday, we all feel we were simply doing our jobs," their joint statement said. "Our hearts are heavy. On behalf of the entire crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one family's profound loss." They said they are currently working with investigators. KTRK ABC 13 reported during its 10 p.m. broadcast that Ellisor is an Air Force veteran from League City. Thompson, an administrator with First Baptist Church in Boerne who has known the family 21 years, said Dean Shults told her that his wife feels for the family of Riordan, the woman who died. It weighs heavy on her heart, Thompson said. Calling her friend a woman with a big heart and giving spirit, Thompson said the Shultses are involved with the church, and that Tammie Jo is a regular volunteer at Meadowland Charter School. The school takes in at-risk youths who have either dropped out of regular schools or have had problems in the foster care system. Tammi Escajeda, a teacher at Meadowland, said Shults visits the school on Fridays, describing to students the things shes done, places she has flown, her responsibilities in the cockpit, as well as teaching handwriting techniques and basic manners. Shults is also good at finding developmentally appropriate material for the mix of second-, third- and fourth-graders she is teaching, Escajeda added. And sometimes, she said, Shults brings her son to help because kids need more one-on-one instruction. Even when children are testing her limits she remains calm and quick and easy to redirect them, Escajeda said. Her calmness is what makes her great with working with at-risk youth. In love with flying People have said Shults has had a longtime love affair with flying. The lessons started early on, when she entered the Navy in 1985. In those days women were forbidden from serving in combat aviation jobs, but Navy Cmdr. Ron Flanders said Shults was among the first to transition to tactical aircraft. Shults went to Aviation Officer Candidate School in Pensacola, Fla., and later trained in Corpus Christi and Beeville before reporting to Tactical Electronic Warfare Squadron 34 in Point Mugu, Calif., in 1989. The Navy said she was there until 1991, and then transferred to Naval Air Station Lemoore, Calif., where she learned to fly the F/A-18. She left active duty in 1993 and joined a strike fighter wing in the Navy Reserve. The number of women serving in Navy aviation remains small fewer than one in 10 pilots. Women make up just 2.5 percent of all aviators flying fighters in the Navy, said Lt. j.g. Emily Judstra, a spokeswoman for the Naval Air Forces Pacific Fleet. The training, then and now, is intense, involving simulated emergencies that test a pilots recollection and ability to quickly respond without mistakes. That was pretty impressive, Cmdr. Cris Perham, an instructor pilot at Naval Air Station Kingsville, said after listening to Shults interact with flight controllers Tuesday. In the Navy, Perham said, we spend a lot of time in the trainers going over emergencies, what they can expect, to the point where Im not going to say that when someone gets into an emergency theyre always calm and collected but we definitely try to focus on the problem and how to resolve it. God is the pilot On the ground, neighbor and former fellow Sunday school teacher Stephanie Chandler described her friend as a private person. When Shults talks, Chandler said, its often about her faith and doing things with family. Every Thanksgiving, the Shults family opens their doors to those in their neighborhood before people settle down for the traditional holiday feast, sharing cups of hot cider. Thompson, the First Baptist Church administrator, said the Shults family has even taken in hurricane victims, giving them a place to stay in a guest house. Tammie Jo also helps her parents take care of her disabled sister, and is a mom before anything, Thompson said. She just grew up with a strong faith, has always led a very faith-filled and faith-led life, and I think thats equipped her for all of the things shes done in her life, said Chandler, a San Antonio attorney. From our conversations, she would tell you that God is the pilot and she was the co-pilot, said Thompson. She would say God is helping her. San Antonio Express-News researchers Misty Harris and Mike Knoop and staff writer Zeke MacCormack contributed to this report. Sig Christenson, a staff writer for the San Antonio Express-News, can be reached at sigc@express-news.net. AUSTIN -- A high-stakes internal fight in the Republican Party of Texas exploded into the open on Thursday as a Frisco candidate for party chair accused the current chairman of being unfit for reelection because he was charged with federal securities fraud 14 years ago. Party insiders suggested the fight is really over who will control the party: Moderates or conservatives who have increasingly been at odds with each other in recent years over issues such as abortion, immigration, border security, school vouchers and the bathroom bill, among others. In a speech to Lubbock Republicans, Cindy Crocker Asche said James Dickey, who became state GOP chairman a year ago, should get the boot at the party's state convention in June because of the charges filed against him in 2004 by the U.S. Securities and Exchange Commission. The case alleged that Dickey and a partner fraudulently sold about $71.6 million worth of securities in a Texas-based hedge fund in 2000 and 2001, when both men were living in the Dallas area. Thirty investors were involved in the alleged scam, according to SEC filings. Dickey was 37 at the time. His partner, then 36, was found guilty of fraud charges and fined after a jury trial, government records show. "(Dickey) was charged by the federal Securities Exchange Commission with classic hedge fund fraud in violation of multiple federal statutes" and should not be trusted with the party's finance because of that history, Asche told the group. An audio tape of her presentation was reviewed online by the Houston Chronicle. Dickey, insisting he could not discuss the SEC case because of his settlement agreement, branded the accusations "a desperate effort by a losing candidate." "It has nothing to do with the party," he told the Houston Chronicle. Asche will face Dickey in an election to head the state party at the state Republican Party convention in June. In June 2017, he replaced Tom Mechler of Amarillo. In her presentation, Asche estimated that investor losses in the case were $63 million -- including the prestigious Art Institute of Chicago, which lost a reported $39 million. "Dickey refused to admit even undisputed facts. Instead, he invoked the Fifth Amendment so many times that the SEC requested the court grant an inference of guilt," Asche said. Asche also said that Dickey agreed not do dispute the allegations in the original complaint and "consented to the final judgment, and a pay a penalty of $35,000." SEC reports confirm that. Asche said the state party faces tight finances, and insisted that "integrity is sadly lacking in our current leadership," she said, according to an online transcript of the presentation. "I personally feel (this record) disqualifies him from representing the (state party) with donors and investors." She contended that Dickey's appointment occurred "because we didn't vet our candidates." His election as state party chair by a 32-31 vote of the State Republican Executive Committee in June 2017 came after conservatives and tea-party activists lined up behind him. Dickey had previously served as a precinct chair and then as Travis County GOP chair. He was defeated for re-election in the March 1, 2016 Republican primary by Robert Morrow, an eccentric gadfly known for wearing a jester hat before Dickey reclaimed the chairmanship. Mike Ward, the Chronicle's Austin Bureau chief, covers Texas politics and the governor's office, along with criminal justice and ethics issues. Follow him on Twitter @ChronicleMike and send him story tips at Mike.Ward@Chron.com. In Puerto Rico, the Army Corps of Engineers is helping to restore electricity after an island-wide blackout. Yet, because of the Stafford Act one of the federal governments foremost pieces of disaster relief legislation the Corps faces strict limits. While it would be better to upgrade many of the destroyed aluminum power transmission towers to galvanized steel, the Stafford Act bars upgrading and only allows for repairs and replacement of the original structures. The result? Regulatory limitations are stopping Puerto Rico from recovering smartly and leaving it susceptible to future hurricanes. These barriers to rebuilding arent limited to Puerto Rico infrastructure development across the United States is continually obstructed by regulatory hurdles and deficiencies in the law. Just look at Texas with the help of the Texas delegation we successfully secured $141 billion total in emergency supplemental funding to help all the Texans, Floridians and Puerto Ricans impacted by Hurricanes Harvey, Irma and Maria. We carefully crafted the bill to ensure it has enough money to finish every federally authorized flood control project in Southeast Texas. Of these funds, $17.4 billion is dedicated to the Army Corps of Engineers, and, while the money is there, one of the greatest limitations the Corps faces is a massive backlog of construction projects caused by regulations. EDITORIAL: Culberson needs to hold town halls whether he likes it or not Neighbors and local businesses remain extremely vulnerable to a future flooding as we move into the 2018 hurricane season. The truth is, the disaster supplemental funding will go a long way toward reducing the project backlog in Harris County and other impacted areas to make Houston more resilient; yet even after we have the funding we need to clear the backlog of projects in Harris County and Texas, regulatory reviews and requirements cause project approvals to move at a glacial pace. Instead of allowing our top thinkers and builders to determine what updates, repairs or projects best prepare America for the future, our current infrastructure programs force everyone to fit their plans into a pre-fabricated Washington box. We cant accept that, and we will work every day to ensure funds arent only allocated, but actually get to those who need it most. President Donald Trump made infrastructure a fundamental plank of his campaign because as a builder, he understands how important American infrastructure is to our economy and how it is crumbling before our eyes. Were the most innovative country in the world, yet it takes years to build a highway off-ramp, water projects are bogged down for decades in endless environmental reviews and permitting delays, and our rail system is becoming dangerously run-down. After the passage of historic tax cuts for Americans at every income level, Trump got right back on the trail, making the case most recently in Ohio for renewed infrastructure investment so we can start building again on time and under budget. EDITORIAL: Trump's reliance on private toll roads creates a blueprint for failure Congress passed and Trump has already signed into law a $20 billion down payment on the presidents infrastructure plan. This money will be immediately available to rebuild roads, bridges and dams, as well as begin deployment of new digital infrastructure. That was just the start. Next week, the House will vote on a Federal Aviation Administration authorization, which will include major provisions to rebuild Americas infrastructure with a focus on disaster-stricken areas. This legislation will include the Disaster Recovery Reform Act (DRRA), which will fundamentally reform the Stafford Act by shifting funding toward preparing for and mitigating disasters rather than merely responding. And while we rebuild, well do it with an eye to the future. DRRA will allow communities to build back stronger and more prepared for a potential disaster, which is an update from current law that says structures can only be built back to their previous standards. This legislation would set aside a percentage of federal relief dollars to rebuild more resiliently, potentially saving lives and taxpayer dollars in future recovery. In order to be eligible for these mitigation funds, the project must be proven to reduce future risk and remain cost effective. OPINION: Lack of infrastructure, regulation made Houston vulnerable As the saying goes, an ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure, and for every dollar spent on smarter mitigation we can save anywhere from $4 to $8 in the cost of future recovery. Even more important, those numbers dont include the intangible relief when people come home after a natural disaster to find their families safe, their homes intact and their communities quickly on the mend. By modernizing the regulations governing disaster relief and reforming the Stafford Act, recovery builders can focus on how to use every dollar most effectively to prepare our communities for the future, not on the outdated mandates to rebuild infrastructure just the way it was before. With future-facing reforms, America will once again have infrastructure we can be proud of. McCarthy, a Republican, is the House majority leader. Culberson, a Republican, represents Texas 7th congressional district. Somehow it feels like the whole city of Houston just lost its grandmother. We all know her face just as surely as if she were someone in our own family. The classic inauguration day photo taken in 1989 shows Barbara Bush standing next to her husband, proudly and dutifully holding a Bible as he took the oath of office to become the only president of the United States from Houston. Another photo taken exactly 12 years later shows her sitting in the background as her oldest son, who grew up mostly in our city, swore the same oath to become the 43rd president. RELATED: Barbara Bush, wife and mother of presidents, dies at 92 ALSO: How is 41? Update on George H.W. since wifes passing Maybe thats the way the rest of the world saw her, but here in her hometown we look at her differently. We remember a familiar face sitting behind home plate at Minute Maid Park, sporting an Astros cap over a head of hair as white as the string of faux pearls around her neck - keeping score. She always wore pearls. And she always kept score. As America mourns the passing of a first lady, Houston mourns the loss of a neighbor, a civic advocate, a philanthropic leader and a beloved figure in our city. Barbara Bush was the matriarch of a political dynasty, yet she stayed stubbornly unassuming and approachable, a striking woman who graciously greeted strangers in supermarkets and movie theaters around her hometown. TACKLING ILLITERACY: The Barbara Bush Houston Literacy Foundation cultivates new readers That straightforward personality is what Americans came to love about a first lady who wore $29 shoes to her husbands inaugural ball. Perhaps thats what attracted a 17-year-old boy to ask a 16-year-old girl to dance with him in December 1941, just a couple of weeks after Pearl Harbor. The story of love in wartime unfolded like an old movie. A few weeks later, George H. W. Bush was in the Pacific Theater, serving in World War II as the youngest aviator in the Navy up until that time. All the while, he would later recall, he was thinking about a girl named Barbara. Lt. Bush flew combat missions from the USS San Jacinto and won the Distinguished Flying Cross. And when he came home, he got the girl. They had six children, and they moved their family dozens of times during the coming decades. As her husband spent more and more of his time managing a political career launched in the suburbs of west Houston, she famously became the familys enforcer, the tough disciplinarian in charge of a boisterous clan. In time, some of the most powerful men in Washington came to fear her withering stare. She quickly grew into a fierce protector of her family, a calling that became especially difficult in presidential politics. She readily joined her husband and sons on the campaign trail, developing into a not-so-secret weapon for what no one in the family wanted to call a political dynasty. But sometimes, as her husband watched campaign coverage on television, she recalled ignoring the din of political chatter and just sitting aside and reading. Barbara Bush didnt care much for hearing people criticize her husband and her kids, and she wasnt shy about letting people know it. BUSH: A sons reflections on his fathers legacy And yet, she was a funny lady. With acerbic wit and unrelenting candor she confronted and deflected the inevitable negatives of a life in the public arena. She understood that her position as first lady wasnt exactly a job; as her husbands chief of staff, Jean Becker, succinctly observed, the occupation was an expectation. Americans look to the presidents wife to represent the nation with poise and kindness. Barbara Bush fulfilled that role not only in the White House, but long after she returned home to Houston. Now we have lost yet another great Texas woman forged in equal parts of grace and steel, of decency and determination. Today a statue of President George H.W. Bush overlooks Buffalo Bayou in downtown Houston, standing in the midst of a plaza dedicated in his honor. One of the plaques arrayed around the memorial shows him taking the oath of office, his hand placed on a Bible held by the woman standing at his side. As we remember the affable and inspirational woman who graced our city, this is how the world will remember her, the wife of one president and the mother of another, a formidable first lady. In New Jersey, we are moving in a new direction and were making exciting progress. Were working hard to be the state of good value for money and good values for all our people. Thats why it was quite a shock recently for me to see Gov. Greg Abbott openly attack my home state in an opinion piece published in our states largest newspaper. For too long, New Jersey put the wealthy and big corporations ahead of ordinary people and it failed miserably. Now, were moving New Jersey in a stronger and fairer direction, and its one that Abbott would greatly benefit from taking a closer look at. I understand Texas pride and the Dont Mess with Texas notion. Heck, I respect that. But as the governor of New Jersey, lets be clear: No one gets away with taking a cheap shot at New Jersey. Abbott may want to continue putting the powerful first in his state, and he wants New Jersey businesses to join him. But they and we know better. The facts speak for themselves: Even a cursory review of Texas economy during Abbotts administration should give anyone especially businesses pause. Texas ranking among state economies has plummeted. According to Governing magazines last ranking, the Lone Star State fell from No. 3 to No. 21 (New Jersey was No. 24). Perhaps this is why hes desperately trying to poach jobs from other states. So, heres my counteroffer to Texans and Texas businesses looking for real economic opportunity. For businesses, New Jersey provides distinct advantages, including our location, with direct access to 31 million consumers within 100 miles of Newark alone. Thanks to our ports, we offer unparalleled global reach as well. DEAR CHICAGO: Houston's bean is better. And so is Houston. Through years of investment in public education and our world-class colleges and universities, we also boast one of the worlds most highly educated and skilled workforces, ranking fifth in the percentage of our residents with a bachelors degree. (Texas is 12th.) All this is knitted together by infrastructure that gives unfettered access to the country. For new residents, New Jersey brings to the table one of the nations top three K-12 public school systems (Texas? No. 33), led by investments in our classrooms and our teachers a priority that Abbott has consistently ignored and underfunded. This underfunding by the governor has led Texas to have the largest gender gap in educational attainment and the seventh-largest racial educational attainment gap in the nation. New Jersey, on the other hand, ranks No. 6 in the nation for college readiness (Texas is No. 21) and second for pre-K enrollment (Texas is No. 38). New Jersey is also home to many of the nations best health care systems. In contrast, under Abbott and his Republican-controlled Legislature, Texas ranks 46th in health care access, 45th in quality and is home to the nations highest rate of uninsured residents. We also boast a violent crime rate nearly half that of Texas, which may be a product of our belief in strong, common sense gun safety laws, in contrast to Abbotts reckless belief in allowing more concealed firearms. By the way, 45 guns used to commit crimes in New Jersey in 2016 originated in Texas due to its lax gun laws. Id like to invite Abbott to join our growing list of States for Gun Safety so we can make our communities safer. And, for middle-class and working families, New Jersey has a median household income more than $15,000 above Texas. Its simple. If youd like to be part of an economic revival, in a state that recognizes the value of investments in public education, creates welcoming communities that protect LGBTQ residents and immigrants, and defends a womans right to reproductive health care, then New Jersey is the place for you or your business. We are also not fixated on cutting taxes for the wealthy at the expense of the middle class. According to the Institute on Taxation and Economic Policy, Texas is home to the third-most unfair state and local tax system in the country, with middle-class and working families paying disproportionately higher rates than the wealthiest Texans. In New Jersey, we have a ways to go, but were fighting to make our taxes more fair, not less. We have a lot of work to do in New Jersey. Were climbing out of a hole with honest fiscal policies and smart investments in education and transportation infrastructure. But were tackling our challenges openly and honestly. To those businesses betting on the future of New Jersey, whether that means staying here or relocating from a state like Texas, it will be the best bet youve ever made. Murphy is the governor of New Jersey. USAID supports Ghanas dwindling fisheries resources April 18,2018 | Source: GNA The United State Agency for International Development (USAID) has partnered some local Non-Governmental Organisations to empower local fishing communities on the proper management of fisheries resources as part of a co-management scheme being considered in Ghana. The co-management scheme has been recognised as a global best practice to sustain fisheries resources to ensure food security.The USAID is implementing the programme through its Sustainable Fisheries Management Programmes (SFMP), with partners including Hen Mpoano, Friends of the Nation (FoN), the Central and Western Fishmongers Improvement Association and the Village Savings and Loans Association. The USAID and its partners have developed draft local management plans together with communities in the Densu, Pra and Ankobra estuaries, which include community-led written plans aligned with the draft national co-management policy and further development of the national co-management framework. Sustaining fisheries resources is particularly important for the most vulnerable population, as the fisheries sector is estimated to contribute over 60 per cent to total protein uptake nationally. Through the partnerships, USAID-SFMP is working with the NGOs to operate within the Densu, Pra and Ankobra estuaries, to restore the mangroves and fisheries resources. Mangroves are best known places where most fishes lay and hatch their fingerlings, which later swim back to the rivers and mature.During a recent media outreach, organised by the USAID-SFMP, to fishing communities in the Western and Central Regions, it was revealed that most of the fishmongers depended on the mangroves as firewood fuel to smoke their fishes, leading to the depletion of the mangroves. Therefore, at the Pra Estuary, FoN was being supported under the SFMP to catalyse an active community conservation effort that included restoration of both mangroves and fisheries resources, through replanting of depleted mangroves. The Community members have also been empowered to institute their own closed season and fisheries and mangrove resources protected area along the estuary and on parts of the Pra River to promote fish conservation. On the Ankobra Estuary, the Community had been assisted by Hen Mpoano to identify and preserve key mangrove areas that provided important breeding areas for some species and supported to replant the degraded mangroves. Hen Mpoano also provided technical support to map the degraded mangrove sites and provided logistics to set up and maintain a mangrove nursery in Ankobra. The Central and Western Fishmongers Improvement Association and SFMP are assisting the fishmongers to adopt best practices towards reducing post-harvest losses and ensuring improvement in the value chain. The women at Elmina and Anlo Beach were also being empowered to adopt hygienic fish handling practices through the use of Ahotor Oven, an improved fish smoking technology developed by the Fisheries Commission and SFMP, thereby reducing the high polycyclic aromatic hydrocarbons (PAH) levels in the smoked fish that, hitherto, made it to be rejected on the EU markets. Mr Maurice Knight, the Chief of Party of USAID-SFMP, told the Ghana News Agency that the media event was to highlight the work of the USAIDs partnership, being rolled out in collaboration with the Ministry of Fisheries and Aquaculture Development and the Fisheries Commission. It was also to increase collaboration with the media in addressing the challenges facing the sector.He said through the five-year partnerships much had been achieved in sustaining and restoring the sector through the adoption of best practices.Mr Knight said the SFMP, in its three and a half-year journey, had been able to design an anti-child labour and trafficking strategy for the fisheries sector. He mentioned the national co-management policy drafted for MoFAD, supporting the revision of the National Fisheries Act, considering additional weekly non-fishing holiday in collaboration with the Ghana Canoe Council, and working on closed season during a fishing reproductive period for August, every year, as some of the strategies. Meanwhile, Mr Philip Prah, an officer of the Friends of the Nation, said their work with community members within the Pra area including Anlo Beach and Shama Apo in the Western Region had revealed the readiness of the fisher folk to support efforts at sustaining the sector. Both the fishermen and fishmongers expressed happiness about the SFMP intervention and indicated their readiness to support efforts at sustaining the fisheries activities in the country. BusinessGhana Theme(s): Fisheries Development and Aquaculture. Fishermen in Philippines' Rapu-Rapu face bleak future due to mining woes by Rhaydz B. Barcia April 15,2018 | Source: Rappler ose Balingit sat on the breakwater after towing his boat. He could not head out to sea that day, as there were huge wages caused by Amihan. Balingit, 54, has been a fisherman in Rapu-Rapu island for 3 decades. There was a time when fishermen in Barangay Poblacion did not have to go beyond municipal waters to haul a rich harvest of fish. Before Lafayette Philippines Incorporated (LPI) operated the Rapu-Rapu polymetallic project, the sea sustained Rapu-Rapu residents. LPI is the first mining company allowed by the Philippine government to operate in the country following the enactment of the Philippine Mining Act of 1995. The mine spans a contract area of 4,610.8 hectares, and has copper, zinc, gold and silver deposits. Lafayette Holdings Limited acquired the Rapu-Rapu mining site in 1998 and began operations in 2005. On two occasions in October 2005, torrential rains caused separate toxic spills in the LPI mill site and mine tailings dam. The spills were laden with cyanide, causing massive fish kills that extended to coastal communities in Albay and Sorsogon. The mine was suspended for 6 months. After a government investigation, the suspension was temporarily lifted in 2006, and then permanently lifted in 2007. LPI decided to sell its shares to the LG Group of Korea and Kores in 2008. The mine was decommissioned in 2013. Environment advocates have cited the Rapu-Rapu experience as the best example of their case against mining. In the case of the Albay town, which was promised wealth and development for hosting the mining operation, the mining project turned Rapu-Rapu into a wasteland. Today, Rapu-Rapu fishermen have to sail past municipal waters just to catch fish, specifically tuna and salmon. Mining caused our bleak future as it affected badly our seas. More often than not, were going home empty handed, totally zero....Before, we can easily catch bountiful fish with high grade quality, Balingit said. Balingit is among the original batch of oppositors to LPI. He said that they even mobilized massive protests in the hope that the government would listen to their plea against environmental destruction. Many of our fellowmen and officials sold their souls and pride for allowing the LPI to destroy our environment. Were strongly opposing the mining operation in Rapu-Rapu since the beginning of the exploration because it will bring us harm than good, he said. No one listened then, the fisherman recalled, leaving Rapu-Rapu with the threat of toxic run-off water from the mine everytime there's heavy rainfall. Jessie Espinocilla, 33, was a high school student when LPI hired him as a process operator. He received almost P20,000 a month, including overtime pay. He worked in the mine for 7 years. Espinocilla said the mining project used to be considered a blessing because mine workers earned more than the fishermen. They also did not have to risk their lives to fish even when gigantic waves tossed their boats. Barangay Pagcolbon, where Jessie lives, is a coastal village in Rapu-Rapu with 60 households. The residents major sources of living is fishing and farming. It's not uncommon to hear village residents talk about the good old days, or the time the mine was still operating. They were provided with free power supply. Locals were employed and moved to a relocation site. There was a school. Children got scholarships. Espinocilla said in his case, he had enough savings to build a house, but the benefits for many were short-lived. I was able to build a home. Those were glorious days for all of us here but when the toxic spill took place it destroyed the corals, caused fish kills, including seashells, he said. Espinocilla said he was luckier than others because he was able to save enough to buy a motorized boat, giving him an alternative livelihood as a fisherman. Others spent all their money, thinking the mining operations would last forever. Domingo Nivero, 62, also lives in Pagcolbon. Like Espinocilla, the father of 5 used to work in mining. He started with Canadian firm Toronto Ventures, Incorporated (TVI). TVI later stopped its mining exploration due to funding problems and was sold to LPI, where Nivero worked as production lead operator and received a P9,000-monthly salary. When the LPI management took over, Nivero recalled that the Australian executives wanted to fast-track operations to mine gold and other mineral resources despite the opposition of the Filipino mining engineers. The engineers had warned that the tailings dam for the toxic chemicals embankment was not yet ready for full-scale operations, he said. A few months after the operation, two toxic spills occurred following torrential rains. These led to fish kills, and destroyed healthy coral reefs. If the Australian bosses listened to the Filipino mining engineers, the toxic spillage would be prevented or would not have occurred then, as the Filipino mining engineers didnt want to operate the mine until a superior structure of tailings dam was done to ensure environmental safety, Nivero said. Nivero is considered one of the luckiest residents of Barangay Pagcolbon, and perhaps the town. His daughter, Dailyn, was a scholar of his former employer. She took up a mining engineering course at the Bicol University of Legazpi and placed 8th in the 2013 mining engineering board exam, Nivero said. Engineer Dailyn Nivero, 26, is working in one of the biggest cement plant factories in the country. Two of her 5 siblings became professionals before of their father's mining work. Village chief Wilson Echalas said that during the course of the mining operation, the host community produced 3 mining engineers and several teachers. He said that for infrastructure projects, the village got at least 3 typhoon-proof relocation buildings, guest house building, barangay multi-purpose hall, basketball court, school building, and a paved road heading to a neighboring barangay. Echalas said he favored mining as it provided employment and development to his community. The village has been reforested with agoho trees but look farther and one would see the barren mountain on top of Barangay Pagcolbon, ready to bury the village with a landslide during bad weather. It's inevitable to recall good times when the mining operations did not yet show its dark side, but many other villagers can only express apprehension over what the future holds for them. Balingit shared the frustration of Rapu-Rapu fishermen over the difficulties they now face because of the mine spills that happened 13 years ago. Today, were staying 15 hours and longer at sea just to catch fish, compared before, when after 3 to 5 hours fishing, we can go home with big catch," he said. Balingit said many mine workers had to leave the town to find employment elsewhere, separating families. Martin Bola, another fisherman, said that it will take decades for the destroyed corals to show signs of life. For more than 10 years occurrence of toxic spillage, the corals hit by chemicals from Lafayette mining operation are still lifeless. It will take 10 to 20 years per one coral alone to regenerate it again, said the 28-year-old. Bola is an education graduate but he failed the teachers' licensure examinations so he's working on a fishing boat. He said that the government seems clueless on the long-term impact of the mining operations in their town, which was supposed to bring prosperity to the third-class municipality. The short stint of development in Albay contributed by Lafayette, particularly in Rapu-Rapu, will not suffice for the unprecedented impact on the environment as it will take several decades to restore the devastated coral reefs due to the toxic spillage in 2005, Bola said. Balingit, for his part, hopes that the rehabilitation of the Rapu-Rapu mining site will restore the natural topography and the forest cover of the mined-out area. But Balingits dream seems to be a distant reality, as the rehabilitation process has been put on hold for two years now due to continued revisions of the plan. Darwin Buen, president of a fishermen's organization in Pagcolbon, urged the mine's management to expedite the rehabilitation to prevent another catastrophic incident. We are urging the management of LG Kores to expedite the rehabilitation of the mined out area because there were cracks [there] that might collapse and hit our village anytime if there's bad weather, Buen said. Rappler.com Theme(s): Others. "This book reads like poetry, entertains like satire, and convicts as only the truth can convict. It is a marvel of charity and a prodigy of style." Scott Hahn, Ph.D., Author, Rome Sweet Home "This astonishing spiritual biography deserves to become a classic of contemporary conversion literature and Catholic apologetics. It has everything: searing honesty, theological depth, a prose style that at times reaches the heights of poetry, and an all-pervasive sense of humor." Fr. John Saward, Author, Mysteries of March and Redeemer in the Womb "How many times have you heard someone say, 'I'm spiritual without being religious.' Now you have a response: hand them this book." Dale Ahlquist, President, American Chesterton Society "The rarest of conversion stories: beautifully written, rich in content, filled with energy, shrewd irony, and humor, and in the end, a great source of hope for the reader. With converts as articulate as Tyler Blanski, the Church is in excellent shape." Most Rev. Charles Chaput, Archbishop of Philadelphia "An Immovable Feast is indeed a feast to both mind and heart. It is a deeply detailed conversion story, worthy to be compared with those of Scott Hahn and Sheldon Vanauken. Expect great things from this man!" Peter Kreeft, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy, Boston College "Blanski speaks for many people in today's culture as he shares his unlikely journey of finding true spiritual freedom in religion. Through intimate stories and beautifully crafted prose, he inspires the reader to see an 'old- fashioned' religious institution through fresh eyes." Jennifer Fulwiler, Author, Something other than God "A gripping tale of love, longing, coming of age, and conversion will awaken your heart with a burning for God. An Immovable Feast is sure to grab hold of your heart and not let it go." Christopher West, Author, Fill These Hearts: God, Sex, and the Universal Longing "Tyler Blanski's account of his conversion is an eloquent testimony of how, amid the relativism and subjectivism of contemporary culture, he finally discovered in the Catholic faith the answer to the deepest longings of the human heart." Cardinal Raymond Leo Burke, Author, Hope for the World "Blanski traces his journey to the heart of the faith in an insightful and beautifully written memoir, by turns moving, challenging, and gently humorous. In the best Chestertonian spirit, it is quietly subversive, suggesting that sometimes turning one's world upside-down is the only way to put things right-side-up." Holly Ordway, Author, Not God's Type "Of the many testimonials from Evangelical Christian believers who have found their way into the ancient Catholic Church, I would place Mr. Blanski's work at the very top. I highly recommend it!" Thomas Howard, Author, Chance or the Dance? "It is rare to find a conversion story that is not only great theology, but great literature. Enjoy Blanski's poetic prose as he leads you to the beauty ever ancient, ever new." John Bergsma, Ph.D., Professor of Theology, Franciscan University of Steubenville "A stirring memoir. With echoes of Augustine, Dante, and Merton, An Immovable Feast is a captivating read from one of today's best young Catholic writers." Brandon Vogt, Author, Why I Am Catholic (And You Should Be Too) "A real story, filled with grace, intelligence, and integrity, that shows us that Saint Augustine's prayer is as true today as it was when he first uttered it: 'You have made us for Yourself, O Lord, and our hearts are restless until they rest in Thee.'" Francis Beckwith, Ph.D., Professor of Philosophy and Church-State Studies, Baylor University "Blanski recounts his journey to the Catholic faith with engaging transparency, sparkling prose, and crisp enthusiasm. His passionate search for beauty, truth, and goodness shines brightly among contemporary conversion stories." Fr. Dwight Longenecker, Author and Pastor of Our Lady of the Rosary, Greenville, South Carolina "Replete with humor, wisdom, and verve, Tyler Blanski intertwines the fascinating personal journey of a modern young hipster with hard-won insights on the timeless truths sought out by every generation." Kevin Vost, Psy.D., Author, The One-Minute Aquinas "Every page in this book shines with moral clarity, literary pyrotechnics, and the illumination of history. The Fragility of Order proves once more that George Weigel is our Virgil through the dark woods of modernity." Mary Eberstadt, Senior Research Fellow, Faith and Reason Institute; Author, Adam and Eve after the Pill "The essays in this volume, written independently over two decades, have a wonderful unity rooted in Weigel's penetrating intellect and global vision. His thoughts on Benedict XVI's 2006 Regensburg lecture a lecture savagely misrepresented by critics at the time, but brilliant in retrospect are worth the price of the entire book; but they're just one part of a lucid, compelling, and highly recommended read." Most Rev. Charles Chaput, O.F.M. Cap., Archbishop of Philadelphia "For over thirty turbulent years, George Weigel has been a steady voice of reason, providing his readers with theologically informed perspectives on politics and events. The Fragility of Order is a sober yet cautiously hopeful collection of essays on international relations, the travails of the Republic, and the state of the Church in a world where freedom, reason, and truth are under assault." Mary Ann Glendon, Learned Hand Professor of Law, Harvard University "George Weigel, one of the world's foremost authorities on the Catholic Church, possesses a unique combination of deep theological understanding, political sophistication, and perceptive historical analysis that makes his insights about our turbulent times so illuminating. This book ultimately reminds us that good ideas, rooted in tradition, lead to good ends--and bad ones to ruinous outcomes." Raymond Arroyo, EWTN Lead Anchor; New York Times Best-Selling Author, the Will Wilder series "The Fragility of Order can be read as a kind of history, moving on two levels. Weigel begins with the First World War and then brings us through the false dawn of the "end of history" on up to our perilous present day. At the same time, we watch the unfolding of Weigel himself not just as a historian but also as a social critic and, most importantly, a theologian. Only a writer and thinker as gifted as Weigel could pull this off. He is the great clarifier for our muddled times." Andrew Ferguson, National Correspondent, Weekly Standard; Author, Crazy U and Land of Lincoln "Weigel's superb essays on the difficulty of keeping order are a very welcome occasion for us to review where we have been, where we are now, and where we are likely to be if the order is not corrected." James V. Schall, S.J., Emeritus Professor of Political Philosophy, Georgetown University; Author, The Order of Things "George Weigel is a leading American Catholic intellectual, and his thoughtfulness and erudition are on colorful display in The Fragility of Order. This insightful collection of essays touches on key issues related to culture, history, foreign policy and religion. Anyone interested in history, current events, and the role of the Church in the modern world will be enriched by reading this book." Timothy Michael Cardinal Dolan, Archbishop of New York Ikea's Stefan pine chair costs just $25. You are not deceived by its cheapness. You know the real price you pay is the time and frustration required to assemble the dang thing. That's why it's optimal to pay someone else to put your Ikea furniture together. Somewhat unsurprisingly, paying other people to do unfulfilling tasks you dread is scientifically proven to boost your happiness. Ikea knows this. That's precisely why they purchased TaskRabbit last fall. Ikea recently began offering furniture assembly and mounting services through the TaskRabbit app. You can pay Taskers an hourly rate to put together your Ikea desk, bed, cabinet, or bookcase. Now, robots might be coming for those jobs. Researchers from Nanyang Technological University in Singapore programmed a robot to assemble a Stefan chair, the New York Times reports. Task completed in 20 minutes and 19 seconds After "reading" the manual, the two-armed robot built the whole chair in just over 20 minutes. Dr. Quang-Cuong Pham, an engineering professor and one of the paper's authors, told the New York Times this was good challenge for their robot because of the numerous skills required, including perception, planning, and transporting objects. "Because this task requires so many interesting skills for robots, we felt that it could be a good project to push our capabilities to the limit," Pham said. When presented with the pieces of the chair, the robot took a three-phased approach: mapping, motion planning, and execution. First--much like a human would--it surveyed the parts. With everything laid out, it began to try to "understand" the task at hand. Humans would use previous furniture assembly experience here. The robot took 3-D photos of everything, then scanned its library to match the pieces to the parts in the manual. Then, the robot put together its plan of attack. It used open-source software to develop its assembly process. This was the most time-consuming phase, taking 11 minutes. The final phase was assembly, which took about nine minutes. The arms used grippers--imagine the claw that you guide to grab stuffed toys out of an arcade machine--to pick up the wooden pins that cinch Ikea furniture together. With both arms working at once, it had to avoid getting its arms tangled with each other or in parts. Its sensors determined when the pins were fully inserted. Both arms worked together to pick up chair pieces and snap them together. Sometimes one arm would hold the pieces steady while the other arm wiggled the pieces into place. I can't help but assign human qualities to this robot as it calmly assembles the chair. Such great teamwork! And no bickering. This robot is unflappable. Here's the best part: The robot didn't get it right the first time. Just like humans, it hit a few roadblocks. But unlike humans, it didn't get frustrated. The researchers continued to modify its system until the robot was able to put the chair together without help. Even though the final assembly took less than 21 minutes, this effort took three years of work--much longer than any human would spend assembling a chair. The robotics and artificial intelligence community is celebrating this achievement not because the world desperately needs more Stefan chairs assembled. It displays how advanced robot technology is becoming. They're capable of more than singular tasks. This autonomous robot can do simple and complex tasks at the same time. Manipulating objects with precision--planning, coordinating, and using the just-right amount of force--opens endless opportunities for our robot overlords. Company culture is a strange thing: If you don't proactively work to shape it, it will shape itself. Two years ago, I had an employee who was consistently late to work. Alexandria was an account manager, liaising daily with key clients and overseeing the production and delivery of marketing assets. At that time, we had 10 employees and had just moved into a beautiful new co-working space with ocean views--Village Workspaces--near Santa Monica, California. It was a big milestone for our company, and I remember how excited the team was to see the stunning views for the first time. In addition to hip feng shui design, our new office had beer on tap, and the team indulged in celebration. Unfortunately, the "hangover" lasted longer than expected. Mimicking bad behavior Alexandria would usually roll into the office around 9:30 a.m., and sometimes show up past 10:00 a.m. At first, I let it slide. I wanted to be a likable CEO and didn't want work to feel like a boot camp. But as the weeks went by, I noticed other employees began to follow Alexandria's lead. And it wasn't just that our team was showing up late: They started leaving early, too. I had everyone sign a form agreeing to a strict arrival time of 8:30 a.m., but it ended being a temporary fix. When I traveled to New York, as I do often, I noticed that Alexandria would take advantage of my absence, signing in to Slack in the late morning. The moment of truth came to me when I was staying in a hotel near Times Square. I woke up one morning at 6:30 a.m., opened the curtains to my hotel room, and right across the street, saw a large board room filled with people. They were wearing suits, ties, or dresses, and watching attentively and alert while someone was presenting. There were at least 20 people in the conference room--twice the size of my entire company. It occurred to me that whoever these people were and whatever company they worked for, they were motivated to show up for work--a full three hours before my team usually straggled in. I was jealous, inspired, and at that moment, fully determined to change my company culture. Consistent to the end When I came back to Los Angeles, I asked Alexandria to meet me at 9:30 a.m. Sure enough, she was 30 minutes late. I fired Alexandria shortly after she came in, and even though she seemed disappointed, I think she had been waiting for the ax to drop. She shuffled into the office to pack her belongings, and the team watched silently as she walked out for the last time. I'll never forget what happened the next morning, because by the time I arrived at 8:30 a.m., the entire team was heads down, plugging away. It was as if a light switch had been flipped on overnight. It's incredible how much work can be accomplished--and how quickly--when everyone is rowing in the same direction. Suddenly, marketing assets for campaigns were being produced in half as much time, and our pipeline of new accounts nearly doubled. I also noticed that the team was more proactive, running internal strategy meetings on their own and taking initiative to mitigate campaign risks. There was a new energy that had been infused into the company, and a sense of purpose. My decision to fire Alexandria sent a clear message: The company has certain expectations of all employees, and team members should not take their jobs for granted. Here are two strategies to set a strong company culture for your business: When you see a problem, address it early--before it spreads As Simon Sinek once said, "People don't care what you do--they care why you do it." It's critical to communicate a clear values system to your team; I recommend doing it at least once a year. Your team is looking for you to lead them, so give them something they can latch onto. Inspire them emotionally and they will follow you. I made the mistake of letting Alexandria stick around too long, and it signaled to others that showing up late to work was acceptable. I should have addressed Alexandria's tardiness immediately by giving her a written warning and fired her faster if she continued to flaunt our work schedule. Root out problems before they spread like a virus and shape your culture by owning it. Nearly twenty years ago, one of the first companies I worked for out of college decided to hold its annual office meeting outdoors. And not just in any outdoor location. To turn up the dial to "11" on the inspirational mood level?--to borrow the now classic "metaphor" from the 1980s cult rockumentary, "This Is Spinal Tap"?--our company gathering was to happen at a scenic spot situated on the edge of a precipice in the stunningly beautiful Taroko Gorge Park on the eastern coast of Taiwan. I had volunteered to help our managing partner prepare his presentation, which he ambitiously intended to project on a screen placed outside, with the lush green mountains and roaring waterfalls as an inspiring natural backdrop. I'll never forget the sense of misgiving I had around his plan. Yes, it was inspiring! But, even though I had only recently joined the firm, I was already well familiar with the technical hiccups we often encountered. Malfunctions that would cripple our presentations, even in the supposedly safe confines of a conference room in our office, or at our client's office--predictable places where we could readily locate someone from the IT department who could fix our problem and get things working again. So, as a "Plan B," I decided to print hardcopies of the presentation the night before our two-hour train ride the next morning. While everyone else had left the office at a much saner hour, I was stuck in the printing room at 3 am, churning out copies of the presentation. (Just in case, of course.) The next day, after our cross-country train sojourn and another hour by bus up a ridiculously narrow and winding mountain road, we arrived at the scenic rest spot on the edge of Taroko Gorge. Sure enough, the projector. Did not. Work. (Distressed look on managing partner's face.) (Cue Glenn and his box of printouts!) (Look of relief and gratitude on managing partner's face.) I've experienced a lot more surprises, mistakes, mishaps, and, sometimes, utter failures, over the course of my career. Today, unexpected and very unpleasant surprises still happen. Well laid plans get tossed out the window. Things sometimes just go really wrong. Here are a few lessons I've learned along the way that have helped me navigate many tough situations: 1. Beware of making assumptions. Our managing partner's plan was creative and inspiring, but it was also based on several assumptions that turned out to be, well, wrong. Like the projector working. I continue to see people make assumptions that are based on excessive doses of optimism, on misinformation, or on just plain ignorance. You may not be able to eliminate all possible risks, but you can certainly mitigate them, and prepare yourself to deal with them better if you do what I suggest in the next point. 2. Map out potential scenarios and key decisions. Try to visualize the event you're trying to organize, or the product you're trying to create (this "product" could be a heavily quantitative report, a creative design, a piece of communication, or anything else that you are working on). Then plot out a few possible scenarios and sequences of events that could happen between now and the actual event, or the moment when you're delivering your finished product. In "Scenario A," what could possibly happen? What course of action would you and others need to take? Do the same for "Scenario B" and "Scenario C." Don't do all this, however, unless you also do what I suggest in the next point. 3. Communicate your scenarios--and gain support for them. The last thing you want to do is craft a clever set of "What if's?" and key decisions, only to find that nobody else is on board with your plan. Make sure you communicate your "Plan A" and "Plan B" with key stakeholders and decision-makers, so they understand what to expect when things don't go as originally planned. 4. Don't trust technology (not entirely at least). Our entire professional and even personal lives are so tightly tethered to technology, we have no choice but to trust in its ability to deliver what it promises to do. James McKean wants to revolutionize the manual toothbrush. It's January 2018. The 31-year-old MBA candidate at the University of Pennsylvania's Wharton School whirls his laptop around to show me the prototype designs. Bristle, as the product might be called, has a detachable head and a colorful pattern on the handle--like faux wood grain, flowers, or plaid. Customers would pay somewhere around $15 for their first purchase, and then get replacement heads, at $3 or $4 a pop, through a subscription service. There are a few reasons McKean likes this plan. A Bristle subscription would be more convenient than going to CVS when you need a new toothbrush--you'd order online, set your replacement-head frequency, and forget about it. Also, Bristle brushes are friendlier looking than, say, Oral-B's spaceship-like aesthetic. "To me, brushing your teeth is such an intimate act. You engage with these products by putting them in your mouth," he says. A toothbrush, he adds, is "almost an extension of your individuality." A former McKinsey consultant and private equity investor from Utah, McKean caught the entrepreneurial bug from watching his clients. We're sitting in a small study room at Wharton's Huntsman Hall, named after a fellow Utahn, the late industrialist Jon M. Huntsman. When it was established in 1881, Wharton became the world's first business college. Its alumni, in addition to Huntsman, include Elon Musk, Google CEO Sundar Pichai, hedge fund billionaire Steven Cohen, and Donald Trump. For most of its history, Wharton's reputation has been built on turning out the world's finest spreadsheet jockeys. But, a few years ago, four students met at Wharton and started a company that would help ignite a startup revolution: Warby Parker. The concept: selling eyeglasses directly to consumers (DTC) online. Few thought the idea would work, but today Warby is valued at $1.75 billion, and its founding story has become a fairy tale at Wharton. Co-founders and co-CEOs Neil Blumenthal and Dave Gilboa give guest lectures at the business school--as does Jeff Raider, the third Warby co-founder, who went on to help hatch Harry's, a DTC razor brand. Wharton, in turn, has become a sort of incubator of DTC companies in product categories as diverse as lingerie, sofas, and, if McKean gets his way, manual toothbrushes. Wharton is by no means the only place such companies originate, but it is the most fertile ground--a fact that's not lost on venture capitalists. "I've basically pitched a tent outside of Wharton," says Andrew Mitchell, who founded the venture capital firm Brand Foundry to invest in digital-first consumer businesses. The appeal of the DTC movement goes like this: By selling directly to consumers online, you can avoid exorbitant retail markups and therefore afford to offer some combination of better design, quality, service, and lower prices because you've cut out the middleman. By connecting directly with consumers online, you can also better control your messages to them and, in turn, gather data about their purchase behavior, thereby enabling you to build a smarter product engine. If you do this while developing an "authentic" brand--one that stands for something more than selling stuff--you can effectively steal the future out from under giant legacy corporations. There are now an estimated 400-plus DTC startups that have collectively raised some $3 billion in venture capital since 2012. If Wharton has become the spiritual center of the DTC startup movement, David Bell is its guru. A tall and tousle-haired Kiwi who comes off more like an edgy creative director than a professor, Bell has advised the founders of and invested in most of the DTC startups with Wharton roots. An expert in digital marketing and e-commerce, Bell first got a taste for investing when Jet.com founder Marc Lore (another Wharton alum, now at Walmart) invited him to put early money into his first startup, Diapers.com. When the Warby Parker founders were still in school and conceiving their company, the professor helped them refine its home-try-on program, arguably the key to getting people to purchase glasses online. Bell sees an almost limitless potential for more companies to challenge the old guard by following the Warby playbook. "If you went to your kitchen, your bedroom, your bathroom, your living room, and you went through all the stuff that was in there, from your toothbrush to your sheets and towels and curtains--you name it--it could all be Warby-ed." Not all Wharton professors have the same optimism. Kartik Hosanagar, a Wharton professor of technology and digital business, has also put his own money into several student startups, but he worries that the opportunities to build large-scale DTC brands online are limited, because what worked a few years ago may no longer be possible. "I keep complaining that I don't want to hear another pitch from a student that's like 'the Warby Parker of so-and-so,' " he says. "I think there's a reckoning coming for these people. These venture-funded companies trying to scale are going to find out there's just no way to make the numbers work." "If you went to your kitchen, your bedroom, your bathroom, your living room, and you went through all the stuff that was in there--it could all be Warby-ed." --David Bell, Wharton professor Over the course of several months, I met with dozens of young entrepreneurs at Wharton and beyond hawking napkins, suitcases, mattresses, and tampons. They all offered to connect me with other companies, which sell razors, bras, strollers, and much more. Two themes emerged. One, nearly every product category will see at least one DTC challenger. And two, largely because of that proliferation, it's harder than ever to build a big, profitable business with the Warby model. Not All Product Categories Are Created Equal Perhaps you've heard a story like this one. A guy goes to a department store looking for underwear and finds himself befuddled by the selection. What's the difference between the $30 pair and the $3 pair? Between the Dri-Stretch and the Climalite pairs? Why does he have to be standing in this store, anyway? Light bulb: The underwear business is broken. The underwear epiphany happened to Jonathan Shokrian, founder of MeUndies, a Los Angeles-based DTC underwear company whose CEO, Bryan Lalezarian, is another Wharton alum (2012). For Jen Rubio, co-founder of the luggage maker Away, it happened when her suitcase broke on a trip and, on trying to replace it, she realized there was a gap in the market between expensive designer suitcases and low-quality cheap ones. A former Warby Parker employee, she saw an opportunity to offer a better suitcase at a better price, and sell it online. She teamed up with another Warby alum, Steph Korey, and has since raised $31 million in venture capital from the likes of Forerunner Ventures, an aggressive DTC investor. It might be easy to discount these founding legends as trumped-up mythology, but Jesse Derris believes they represent the first step in building a great new consumer brand. Derris is founder of the public relations agency Derris, which earned its DTC cachet by making Warby famous. Derris has since worked with dozens of other DTC companies to establish their identities, which all share a core narrative. "I believe I'm getting ripped off by X, so I launched a brand to solve the pain point," says Derris. "I sometimes call it a Seinfeld-ism. It's there, everybody's thinking the same thing, but nobody has verbalized it." Bell, the Wharton marketing professor, has a different characterization of what DTC companies exploit: "Millennialization." Twenty- and 30-something consumers are digital natives with lots of buying power who have no attachment to mall brands and big-box stores. Since these founders are usually Millennials themselves, DTC companies speak the mother tongue--Instagram, experiential marketing, brands as lifestyles. Away's suitcase, says Bell, "is a decent-enough product"--he describes it as a 7 or 8 out of 10--"but the marketing is 10 out of 10. The way it's priced, the way it's distributed, the way it's promoted, the way it's targeted, the way it's positioned--that's really the secret sauce that makes the thing go." Whether a DTC startup can actually deliver better value than its predecessors, says Warby's Blumenthal, depends on how broken the existing market is. In his case, he learned that the eyewear market was dominated by one giant conglomerate, Luxottica, which makes everything from Ray-Bans to Oakleys. "The market charges too much for glasses, and that was due to a consolidation of power within the industry that had been built up over decades," Blumenthal says, explaining that Warby was able to come in and charge $95 for a $500 product. Harry's and Dollar Shave Club saw a similar opening in the razor industry, where Gillette commanded more than 70 percent of the market worldwide, according to Euromonitor. But, Blumenthal adds, "there aren't many industries with those dynamics." Take homewares, for example--tablecloths, bedding, flatware. Rachel Cohen and Andres Modak, life partners and co-founders of three-year-old DTC home-goods company Snowe, landed on the idea for their company when they moved to New York City after both graduated from Wharton in 2012. They wanted simple but chic home decor at reasonable prices, but didn't want to buy the same West Elm stuff that all of their friends had. inlineimage "Our product is a product you would get at a super high-end home store, but we sell it for a 75 percent lower price," Cohen says. That sounds compelling, but when I pull up Snowe's website, the first product I look at--neutral-colored linen napkins made from a coveted natural fiber called Belgian flax--costs $36 for a set of four. On West Elm's website on the same day, a similar-looking set of four Belgian flax linen napkins costs $18 to $24. When I point out the discrepancy, Modak explains that Snowe's napkins are higher quality. But since Snowe sells only online, it's impossible for me to experience the difference without ordering the product. So how do you get the message across? "It's hard," concedes Modak. Perhaps, as one industry observer put it to me, Snowe is "a brand in search of a problem that doesn't exist." That is, the home-goods market isn't fundamentally unfair in the way that eyeglasses and razors are, making it all the more difficult for Snowe to get consumers excited about an unclear advantage. Snowe's products might indeed be world class, but they don't fit neatly into the DTC playbook. Beware the New Middleman Every few months, a group of startup founders and friends from the DTC and Wharton circles get together for dinner in New York City. They call themselves the Directors Council and, says Bell, who is part of the group, one of the frequent subjects is how to deal with perhaps the most vexing piece of the DTC playbook: finding customers. Back when the DTC movement was in its infancy, Amy Jain co-founded her fashion jewelry and accessories company, BaubleBar. It was 2011, around the same time that Warby Parker launched, and it was cheap and easy to get attention and win fans. "Social media was just starting. There wasn't a lot of noise," she says. Plus, the basic argument that clever startups were cutting out the middleman was a novelty back then. Warby was able to use PR to great effect in its early days and position itself as the friendlier, hipper, and cheaper alternative to Luxottica's many fashion brands. Dollar Shave Club, which launched before Harry's, was able to go viral with a hilarious YouTube video that made razor subscriptions seem revolutionary. Today, those same tactics are harder. For Jane Fisher and Jenna Kerner, 2017 graduates of Wharton and the founders of DTC bra company Harper Wilde, launching with a Dollar Shave Club-style humorous video seemed to make a lot of sense. The result--"What if Boxer Shopping Were as Frustrating as Bra Shopping?"--was good enough that a New York Times writer called it "one of the funniest videos I've ever seen." But, like most attempts to go viral, it didn't. Seven months since it launched, the video has been viewed on YouTube fewer than 6,000 times. When they work, guerrilla tactics can jump-start a company's growth, but at some point, digital-first brands have no choice but to turn to paid search and social-media advertising. The advantages of the dominant online ad platforms are clear: They're inexpensive to set up, companies can target their desired audiences, and they can get smarter as they learn about which messages and tactics work. The challenge, though, is that "those channels are increasingly getting more saturated and more expensive," says Bell. "The temptation is to give the very best price, but then it becomes, 'Well, shit, we can't stay in business doing this. We have to make some money.' " --Stephen Kuhl, Burrow co-founder The options for large-scale digital marketing are slim. "It's basically Facebook, Instagram, and Google at this point," says Daniel Gulati, a partner at Comcast Ventures, which has invested in several DTC brands. "They are able to extract more and more from advertisers, because they command so much more of consumers' attention than they did only a few years ago." According to a study by marketing-analytics company AdStage, during the first six months of 2017 alone, the average cost per 1,000 ad impressions on Facebook increased 171 percent, and the average cost per click increased 136 percent. inlineimage For DTC companies, the problem can be especially acute, because many product categories now have multiple upstarts armed with tens of millions of dollars of venture capital, all targeting roughly the same users and, in the process, driving one another's marketing costs up. It gets worse when the incumbents take notice and start pouring their fortunes into the same ad buckets. What's more, says Wharton's Hosanagar, advertising on Facebook can simply become less efficient the more you use it. He saw this firsthand when he and his wife started a company called SmartyPal, which sold interactive children's books directly to consumers. As they tried targeting a wider set of people, they saw the cost of acquiring a single paying customer climb from $60 into the hundreds of dollars. It became unsustainable, and ultimately they had no choice but to change business models. "It's now more of a B2B company," he says. "I think there's a reckoning coming for these people. These venture-funded companies trying to scale are going to find out there's just no way to make the numbers work." --Kartik Hosanagar, Wharton professor Comcast's Gulati has a phrase for this phenomenon: "CAC is the new rent." In other words, for companies reliant on paid marketing, their digital customer acquisition cost (CAC) is a lot like paying for brick-and-mortar stores in the old model, or selling wholesale. Essentially, this undermines one of the most basic precepts of the DTC movement, that these companies are cutting out the middleman and therefore can afford to charge much less for higher-quality goods. In fact, Facebook and Google are simply the new middlemen. Instead of paying rent to a landlord or letting a third-party retailer mark up the price of your product, many DTC companies have to pay the internet giants to be their storefront. Add to this the cost of things like shipping, returns, and great customer service, and the cost structure is not necessarily more efficient than it ever was. "The majority of these brands don't grow fast enough to warrant venture capital and many don't work out economically," Gulati says. Spending Money Is Easy, Making It Is Hard The key to making the economics of DTC companies work is balancing acquisition costs with a customer's lifetime value--how much the average customer spends on the company's products over the long term. There are generally two ways DTC companies try to do this. Those that offer expensive products that customers aren't likely to purchase frequently (a $295 suitcase, a $1,000 mattress) must be profitable on the first sale, and try to keep customers coming back by rolling out accessories or new product lines. Those that sell inexpensive items (razors, toothbrushes, socks) must try to lock in customers for repeat purchases, which many try to do through subscriptions. The underlying challenge, says Gulati, is that both acquisition costs and a customer's lifetime value are hard to predict. "Retention at the beginning of a company's life is anyone's guess, and startups tend to be overly optimistic about repeat rates at the outset," he says. In many cases, these companies have raised large amounts of venture capital and use it to subsidize their marketing efforts. Davis Smith (Wharton 2011), co-founder of Cotopaxi, a Salt Lake City-based DTC outdoor gear manufacturer, says heavy VC investment demands aggressive marketing to pursue fast growth. "It's like a hamster wheel, and just about everybody is on it," he admits. "There are very few who are not." Desperation leads to throwing more money at the problem. Many DTC startups have taken to subway advertisements, billboards, direct mail, podcasts, TV and radio spots--essentially all the expensive, traditional ad formats that the digital giants were supposed to replace--despite the old-school ads' inability to target consumers and track campaigns' effectiveness. "In the beginning, I think you really underestimate how much it costs to get people to buy," says Stephen Kuhl (Wharton 2017), who founded DTC sofa startup Burrow with Kabeer Chopra (Wharton 2017). Burrow ended up having to raise its sofa price from $795 to $850, then to $950, and then to $1,095--all in a year. (The last part of the price tag increase was to improve quality and move manufacturing to the U.S.) "The temptation is to give the very best price possible," says Kuhl, "but then it becomes, 'Well, shit, we can't stay in business doing this. We have to make some money.' " The Future Looks Awfully Familiar One after another, many DTC startups have come to a realization: If CAC is the new rent, then why not pay actual rent? SoHo in Manhattan has become a physical manifestation of this. Within a one-mile radius, you can walk into stores belonging to a dozen DTC brands--Away luggage, Allbirds sneakers, M.Gemi shoes, Untuckit shirts, Everlane fashion, Indochino menswear, Outdoor Voices activewear, Bonobos men's clothing, and, of course, Warby Parker. Every one of these stores is another alternative to the Facebook and Google hamster wheel. There's a good reason that hanging out a shingle was the original customer-acquisition strategy, after all: It works. Take, for example, Away's New York store, on a chic block near the company's office. It's one of four Away stores in expensive locations around the country--NYC, Los Angeles, San Francisco, and Austin. Accented with coffee table books about exotic, Millennial-friendly destinations, an espresso bar, and a few suitcases displayed like sculptures on white pedestals, the store could easily be mistaken for the lobby of a minimalist boutique hotel. When Away first launched, the founders assumed that traditional retail would never play a part in their future. But, says Korey, the CEO, after they tested a pop-up shop, "our hypothesis turned out to be totally wrong. We had person after person coming in and being like, 'Oh, I've been on your website, but who knows what seven pounds really feels like? Oh, that is light. OK, I'll take the green set.' " Away opened a real store, tried pop-ups in other cities, and discovered that every time it opened a store in a new market, it lifted Web sales in that market. "It's almost like we're opening a profitable billboard," Korey says. "Ninety percent of these brands are going to fail. But 90 percent of all brands fail. It's cynical to focus on it." --Jesse Derris, founder of Derris public relations To one frequent DTC investor I spoke with, though, any young DTC company's moving into retail early in its lifecycle is a red flag that it might be overspending on online marketing. "Because if it's working online, why all the retail stores? Why not stay online and scale over time? I could see one or two stores as PR plays, but why take on all the overhead, the cost of the build-out?" Warby Parker has famously opened locations all over the country--66 of them so far--but there's a key difference. Whereas someone might buy a new suitcase once every five years, Warby has managed to turn eyeglasses into fashion accessories that people buy over and over, to refresh their look. Not only are the stores a billboard for the brand--to echo Korey--they also help change shopping behavior and frequency. Indeed, Warby brought in more sales from its stores last year than it did from its website. PR maven Derris says DTC companies are realizing they "are not digital only--they're digital first." That's a major clarification: They can use the internet to get around the traditional barriers of entry, but once they've arrived, it's more like business as usual. DTC razor brand Harry's is now selling its product through Target, the very middleman these brands claimed to be cutting out. Wholesaling means not only that Harry's gives up a large chunk of its gross margin to a big-box retailer, but also that it can't track those customers and learn from their data. "It's just pure scale," says Wharton's Bell. "There are only so many people you can reach online, but there's a massive segment of people who are still shopping offline, and you want to be able to address that market. Target is the way to do it." In February, Harry's raised an additional $112 million in venture capital to pursue a sort of new-age Procter & Gamble strategy. It recently invested in DTC hair-loss-prevention company Hims, and Harry's co-founder Raider personally invested in DTC tampon startup Lola--both of whose products you can imagine appearing on Target shelves. (Other DTC brands selling in Target include African American personal-care brand Bevel and mattress company Casper, which reportedly received $75 million in funding from the big-box retailer.) BaubleBar is going even further. Early on, CEO Jain knew she and her co-founder, Daniella Yacobovsky, had identified a promising category for DTC. Fashion jewelry--like $35 tassel earrings and $45 resin necklaces--is a high-turnover, trend-based product with massive 90 percent margins that retailers are always hungry to sell more of. (Costume jewelry is the fashion equivalent of the gum you purchase impulsively while waiting in line at a 7-Eleven.) Why limit BaubleBar's potential customer base to those who sought out its new brand, when there was a much bigger play--supply fashion jewelry to anyone who wanted to sell it? So the company has spent the past seven years doing just that--selling DTC through its website and then making private-label and white-label products for other designers and retailers like Target. After taking little VC funding, says Jain, the now-profitable New York City company earns 50 percent of its revenue from those other retail channels. "We don't look at our industry and say, 'We're disrupting a Luxottica.' We are building one because it doesn't exist," says Yacobovsky. Of course, only a few companies will ever have a chance at the kind of land grab that Harry's and BaubleBar are making. "Ninety percent of these brands are going to fail," says Derris. "But 90 percent of all brands fail. That's what's meant to happen, and it's cynical to focus on it." The Shakeout Even as Kirsten Green of Forerunner Ventures continues to fund more DTC startups, she admits that "there are a lot of companies, so many companies, that are venture backed that shouldn't be." In many instances, she says, founders might be better off by taking less venture money, building their companies more conservatively, and ending up owning larger stakes of $50 million or $75 million businesses, than by risking everything to build an unlikely $1 billion company. inlineimage MeUndies, for example, has raised about $10 million since it launched in 2011. It became profitable early on and it still is, on sales north of $50 million. "I have friends who start DTC companies," says CEO Lalezarian, "and I often try to talk them out of raising VC for the sake of growth at all costs. You need it to get the business off the ground, but in that phase between launch and profitability, it can put you on an unsustainable track." Many startups are already on this unsustainable track, and if Derris is right, what will become of the 90 percent that don't become the next Warby? Some will fold, as the Burrow sofa competitor Greycork did in 2017. Some will merge, especially in crowded categories like mattresses. While Dollar Shave Club sold itself for $1 billion to Unilever, many more will likely follow the path of DTC menswear company Bonobos, which last year sold to Walmart for $310 million--not exactly the dream when you consider it raised more than $127 million in venture capital. Rather than prompting a retail revolution, perhaps this new generation of DTC companies will become something like an innovation pipeline for the old guard they are angling to disrupt. "For legacy companies, it's a cheap way to get a new customer base, marketing insights, e-commerce expertise," posits one DTC founder. "When I think about it from a VC's view, it's a smart strategy. It's almost like a risk-free bet: Here's $1 million, and I know at minimum I'll make $5 million." Says another founder: "We all have to screw up a lot to not have at least a positive outcome." After nearly a decade helping these startups craft their brand messages, Derris now wants in on that math. The newest arm of his PR business? A venture capital fund that, in part, invests in DTC startups. Similarly, Wharton's Bell has moved to New York to launch Idea Farm, a company that builds and invests in DTC brands, advised by major players in the DTC scene, which include the Warby co-founders. A large number of technology companies have signed a new agreement promising greater cyber protections for everyone. But it's worth noting who didn't sign the pledge. And it's not clear what the agreement's actual effect will be. Microsoft CEO Satya Nadella, Facebook CEO Mark Zuckerberg, and LinkedIn CEO Jeff Weiner probably don't agree about many things. But they seem to agree about this: The world and its citizens need better protection from cyber-attacks, whether they come from rogue hackers, organized groups of criminals--or national governments, including our own. They're not the only ones. A total of 34 high-tech firms, some of them deeply involved in the workings of the internet, have all signed the Cybersecurity Tech Accord. The Accord is modeled after the Geneva Conventions in which 196 nations agreed to protect the basic rights of civilians and prisoners of war during wartime. The Accord was first proposed by Brad Smith, Microsoft president, who has argued over the past year that ordinary citizens and small businesses need and deserve better protection against such attacks than they currently have. Signers of the accord agree to four basic principles: protecting users and customers from cyber-attacks and building more secure products; opposing attacks on "innocent citizens and enterprises from anywhere" which includes refusing help to any government planning such attacks; empowering users and developers with the tools they need to strengthen cyber-security on their own; and working with each other and with other organizations dedicated to improving cyber-security in the developed and developing world. The pact seems like a great idea, but it also appears to leave some loopholes and it's not clear what its actual effect will be. Here are some questions the agreement doesn't answer: 1. How do you define 'innocent'? The agreement reads "We will not help governments launch cyber-attacks against innocent citizens and enterprises from anywhere." That's very different from saying, "We will not help governments launch cyber-attacks against anyone." And the agreement doesn't specify what constitutes a guilty vs. an innocent party. Take Stuxnet. Stuxnet was a computer worm--a self-replicating bit of standalone malware that spreads through a network. It attacked Windows systems and spread itself via infected USB flash drives. But, according to security experts, it was originally created as a joint U.S.-Israeli project to mess with Iran's nuclear capabilities, which it did. Would the creation of something like Stuxnet be forbidden by this agreement? Since the initial victim--Iran's nuclear program--wasn't necessarily innocent, it seems unclear. 2. Does this agreement have any teeth? Signers pledge to "report publicly on our progress in achieving these goals." However, the agreement is completely voluntary--there is no enforcement proposed and no consequences if a signer fails to live up to it. By contrast, the Geneva Conventions have a specific system in place for a neutral party to supervise how the Conventions are observed during global conflicts. 3. Will more non-U.S. companies sign? For now, U.S. companies make up the biggest number of signers although there are several signers from other nations. Japanese company Trend Micro, Nokia from Sweden, Avast from the Czech Republic, Telefonica from Spain, and SAP from Germany are all signers. But notably missing are Russian tech firms, particularly Russian security firm Kaspersky Lab which has been banned from use within the U.S. government after Russian hackers allegedly exploited the company's product to gain access to secret National Security Agency information. Why didn't Kaspersky Lab sign the accord? It wasn't invited, according to a statement from the company. "As an independent global cybersecurity company facing geopolitical challenges, we fully support the aims of the Cybersecurity Tech Accord and regret that we were not invited to join," the company said. "We have contacted Brad Smith through Twitter and look forward to discussing it further." Adding Russian firms to the Accord certainly seems like it would make it more powerful. 4. Why haven't some of the biggest U.S. tech companies signed on? Amazon, Apple, and Google are all absent from the signatories list. It's particularly surprising that Apple is not a signer since it has made it clear in the past that customers' privacy and protection trumps government policy, as when it refused to unlock a sniper's iPhone, for instance. Why hasn't it signed this agreement? 5. What about governments? If we want to reduce or eliminate cyber warfare, the logical approach might be to ask national governments--who are often accused of launching cyber-attacks--to sign this agreement or something like it. That was Smith's original vision when he proposed a "Digital Geneva Convention" and back in November he was calling for national governments from around the world to join the effort. "While technology companies like Microsoft have the first responsibility to address these issues, it would be a mistake to think the private sector by itself can prevent or stop the risk of cyber-attacks any more than it can prevent any other types of military attacks," he wrote at the time. If you asked me why I gravitated to startups rather than work in a large company I would have answered at various times: "I want to be my own boss," "I love risk," "I want flexible work hours," "I want to work on tough problems that matter," "I have a vision and want to see it through," "I saw a better opportunity and grabbed it. ..." It never crossed my mind that I gravitated to startups because I thought more of my abilities than the value a large company would put on them. At least not consciously. But that's the conclusion of a provocative research paper by Deepak Hegde and Justin Tumlinson, "Asymmetric Information and Entrepreneurship," that explains a new theory of why some people choose to be entrepreneurs. The authors' conclusion: Entrepreneurs think they are better than their resumes show and realize they can make more money by going it alone. And in most cases, they are right. I'll summarize the paper's conclusions, then share a few thoughts about what they might mean -- for companies, entrepreneurs and entrepreneurial education. (By the way, as you read the conclusions keep in mind the authors are not talking just about high-tech entrepreneurs. They are talking about everyone who chooses to be self-employed -- from a corner food vendor without a high school diploma to a high-tech founder with a PhD in computer science from Stanford.) The authors' research came from following 12,686 people over 30+ years. Here are some of their key findings: 1. Signaling. When you look for a job you "signal" your ability to employers via a resume with a list of your educational qualifications and work history. Signaling is a fancy academic term to describe how one party (in this case someone who wants a job) credibly conveys information to another party (a potential employer). 2. Capable. People choose to be entrepreneurs when they feel that they are more capable than what employers can tell from their resume or an interview. So, entrepreneurs start ventures because they can't signal their worth to potential employers. 3. Better Pay. Overall, when people choose entrepreneurship they earn 7 percent more than they would have in a corporate job. That's because in companies pay is usually set by observable signals (your education and experience/work history). 4. Less Predictable Pay. But the downside of being an entrepreneur is that as a group their pay is more variable -- some make less than if they worked at a company, some much more. 5. Smarter. Entrepreneurs score higher on cognitive ability tests than their educational credentials would predict. And their cognitive ability is higher than those with the same educational and work credentials who choose to work in a company. 6. Immigrants and Funding. Signaling (or the lack of it) may explain why some groups such as immigrants, with less credible signals to existing companies (unknown schools, no license to practice, unverifiable job history, etc.) tend to gravitate toward entrepreneurship. And why funding from families and friends is a dominant source of financing for early-stage ventures (because friends and family know an entrepreneur's ability better than any resume can convey). 7. Education. Entrepreneurs defer getting more formal education because they correctly expect their productivity will be higher than the market can infer from just their educational qualifications. (There are no signals for entrepreneurial skills.) Lemons Versus Cherries The most provocative conclusion in the paper is that asymmetric information about ability leads existing companies to employ only "lemons," or relatively unproductive workers. The talented and more productive -- "cherries" -- choose entrepreneurship. (Asymmetric Information is when one party has more or better information than the other.) In this case the entrepreneurs know something potential employers don't -- that nowhere on their resume does it show resiliency, curiosity, agility, resourcefulness, pattern recognition, tenacity and having a passion for products. This implication, that entrepreneurs are, in fact, "cherries" contrasts with a large body of literature in social science, which says that the entrepreneurs are the "lemons" -- those who cannot find, cannot hold, or cannot stand "real jobs." So, what to make of all this? If the authors are right, the way we signal ability (resumes listing education and work history) is not only a poor predictor of success, but has implications for existing companies, startups, education, and public policy that require further thought and research. Companies: In the 20th century, when companies competed with peers with the same business model, they wanted employees to help them execute current business models (whether it was working on an assembly line or writing code supporting or extending current products). There was little loss when they missed hiring employees who had entrepreneurial skills. However, in the 21st century companies face continuous disruption; now they're looking for employees to help them act entrepreneurial. Yet their recruiting and interviewing processes -- which define signals they look for -- are still focused on execution, not entrepreneurial skills. Surprisingly, the company that best epitomized this was not some old-line manufacturing company but Google. When Marissa Mayer ran products at Google, the New York Times described her hiring process: "More often than not, she relies on charts, graphs and quantitative analysis as a foundation for a decision, particularly when it comes to evaluating people...At a recent personnel meeting, she homes in on grade-point averages and SAT scores to narrow a list of candidates, many having graduated from Ivy League schools, ...One candidate got a C in macroeconomics. "That's troubling to me," Ms. Mayer says. "Good students are good at all things." Really. What a perfect example of adverse signaling. No wonder the most successful Google products, other than search, have been acquisitions of startups, not internal products: YouTube, Android, DoubleClick, Keyhole (Google Maps), and Waze were started and run by entrepreneurs. The type of people Google and Marissa Mayer wouldn't and didn't hire started the companies they bought. Entrepreneurship: When I shared the paper with Tina Seelig at Stanford she asked, "If schools provided better ways to signal someone's potential to employers, will this lead to less entrepreneurship?" Interesting question. Imagine if in a perfect world corporate recruiters found a way to identify the next Steve Jobs, Elon Musk, or Larry Ellison. Would the existing corporate processes, procedures and business models crush their innovative talents, or would they steer the large companies into a new renaissance? The Economic Environment: So, how much of signaling (hiring only by resume qualifications) is influenced by the economic environment? One could assume that in a period of low unemployment, it will be easier to get a traditional job, which would lead to fewer startups and explain why great companies are often founded during a downturn. Those who can't get a traditional job start their own venture. Yet other public policies come into play. Between the late 1930s and the 1970s the U.S. tax rate for individuals making over $100,000 was between 70 percent and 90 percent (taxes on capital gains fluctuated between 20 percent and 25 percent.) Venture capital flourished when the tax rates plummeted in the late 1970s. Was entrepreneurship stifled by high personal income taxes? And did it flourish only when entrepreneurs saw the opportunity to make a lot more money on their own? Leaving a Company: Some new ventures are started by people who leave big companies to strike out on their own -- meaning they weren't trying to find employment in a corporation, they were trying to get away from it. While starting your own company may look attractive from inside a company, the stark reality of risking one's livelihood, financial stability, family, etc., is a tough bar to cross. What motivates these people to leave the relative comfort of a steady corporate income and strike out on their own? Is it the same reason -- their company doesn't value their skills for innovation and is just measuring them on execution? Or something else? Entrepreneurial Education: Is entrepreneurship for everyone? Should we expect that we can teach entrepreneurship as a mandatory class? Or is it a calling? Increasing the number of new ventures will only generate aggregate wealth if those who start firms are truly more productive as entrepreneurs. Lessons Learned The final trailer for Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom has finally landed, teasing what looks to be the most terrifying Jurassic adventure yet. Four years on from the events of Jurassic World, the movie sees Eli Mills (Rafe Spall) employ Owen (Chris Pratt) and Claire (Bryce Dallas Howard) to bring back the raptor, Blue, before the formerly dormant volcano on Isla Nublar erupts and kills all the dinosaurs. "Arriving on the unstable island as lava begins raining down, their expedition uncovers a conspiracy that could return our entire planet to a perilous order not seen since prehistoric times," reads the synopsis. Basically, we can surmise that Owen gets betrayed by Eli, who only wants to 'rescue' Blue so his company can genetically create a new breed of killer dinosaur. Things obviously go wrong again as the hybrid escapes and somehow ends up on a city's rooftops causing havoc. 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Show all 27 1 /27 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Black Panther Released: 12 February 12 February Director: Ryan Coogler Cast: Chadwick Boseman, Michael B. Jordan, Lupita Nyong'o, Forest Whitaker, Danai Gurira, Martin Freeman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Greatest Showman Released: 1 January 1 January Director: Michael Gracey Cast: Hugh Jackman, Zac Efron, Michelle Williams, Rebecca Ferguson, Zendaya, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Darkest Hour Released: 12 January 12 January Director: Joe Wright Cast: Gary Oldman, Kristin Scott Thomas, Ben Mendelsohn 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Three Billboards Outside Ebbing Missouri Released: 12 January Director: Martin McDonagh 12 JanuaryMartin McDonagh Cast: Frances McDormand, Woody Harrelson, Sam Rockwell, Caleb Landry Jones > Twentieth Century Fox 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Coco Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Lee Unkrich ,p>Cast: Anthony Gonzalez, Gael Garcia Bernal, Benjamin Bratt, Renee Victor 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Downsizing Released: 19 January 19 January Director: Alexander Payne Cast: Matt Damon, Christopher Waltz, Jong Chau, Kristen Wiig, Jason Sudeikis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Early Man Released: 26 January 26 January Director: Nick Park Cast: Eddie Redmayne, Tom Hiddleston, Maisie Williams, Timothy Spall 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Fifty Shades Freed Released: 9 February 9 February Director: James Foley Cast: Dakota Johnson, Jamie Dornan, Kim Basinger 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Maze Runner: The Death Cure Released: 9 February 9 February Director: Wes Ball Cast: Dylan O'Brien, Thomas Brodie Sangster, Kaya Scodelario, Giancarlo Esposito, Aidan Gillen 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Shape of Water Released: 16 February 16 February Director: Guillermo del Toro Cast: Sally Hawkins, Octavia Spencer, Michael Shannon, Michael Stuhlbarg, Doug Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Annihilation Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Alex Garland Cast: Natalie Portman, Jennifer Jason Lee, Gina Rodriguez, Tessa Thompson, Oscar Isaac 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Dark River Released: 23 February 23 February Director: Clio Barnard Cast: Ruth Wilson, Mark Stanley, Sean Bean 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Red Sparrow Released: 2 March 2 March Director: Francis Lawrence Cast: Jennifer Lawrence, Joel Edgerton, Jeremy Irons 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Tomb Raider Released: 16 March 16 March Director: Roar Uthaug Cast: Alicia Vikander, Walton Goggins, Daniel Wu, Dominic West, 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 A Wrinkle in Time Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Ava DuVernay Cast: Oprah Winfrey, Reese Witherspoon, Mindy Kaling, Zach Galifianakis 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Pacific Rim: Uprising Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Steven S. DeKnight Cast: John Boyega, Scott Eastwood, Charlie Day, Burn Gorman 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Roman J Israel, Esq Released: 23 March 23 March Director: Dan Gilroy Cast: Denzel Washington, Colin Farrell, Carmen Ejogo Columbia Pictures 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Isle of Dogs Released: 30 March 30 March Director: Wes Anderson Cast: Bill Murray, Bryan Cranston, Edward Norton, Tilda Swinton, Scarlett Johansson 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ready Player One Released: 30 March 30 March Director: Steven Spielberg Cast: Tye Sheridan, Olivia Cooke, Ben Mendelsohn, Mark Rylance, Simon Pegg 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Avengers: Infinity War Released: 27 April 27 April Director: The Russo Brothers Cast: Robert Downey, Jr, Chris Hemsworth, Scarlett Johansson, Josh Brolin 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Untitled Han Solo Film Released: 25 May 25 May Director: Ron Howard Cast: Alden Ehrenreich, Emilia Clarke, Woody Harrelson, Donald Glover 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom Released: 8 June 8 June Director: J.A. Bayona Cast: Bryce Dallas Howard, Chris Pine, B.D. Wong, Toby Jones 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Deadpool 2 Released: 1 June Director: David Leitch 1 JuneDavid Leitch Cast: Ryan Reynolds, Morena Baccarin, T.J. Miller, Zazie Beetz, Josh Brolin 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ocean's 8 Released: 22 June 22 June Director: Gary Ross Cast: Sandra Bullock, Cate Blanchett, Mindy Kaling, Sarah Paulson, Anne Hathaway, Olivia Munn, Helena Bonham Carter, Rihanna, Matt Damon 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Ant-Man and the Wasp Released: 29 June 29 June Director: Peyton Reed Cast: Paul Rudd, Evangeline Lilly, Michael Douglas, Michelle Pfeiffer 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 Soldado Released: 29 June 29 June Director: Stefano Sollima Cast: Benicio del Toro, Josh Brolin, Jeffrey Donovan, Catherine Keener, Matthew Modine 27 films to look out for in the first half of 2018 The Incredibles 2 Released: 13 July 13 July Director: Brad Bird Cast: Craig T. Nelson, Holly Hunter, Sarah Vowell, Samuel L. Jackson Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom stars James Cromwell, Justice Smith, Geraldine Chaplin, Daniella Pineda, Toby Jones, Rafe Spall, and Isabella Simon. BD Wong and Jeff Goldblum will also return to reprise their roles from previous films. Jurassic World: Fallen Kingdom hits UK cinemas 6 June. UPDATE: The Sundance Film Festival London has announced three additions to its programme: a special presentation of Paul Schrader's First Reformed; "Films that Made Me", a selection of films that inspired the work of filmmakers Jennifer Fox, Debra Granik, and Desiree Akhavan; and a comedy masterclass led by Eighth Grade director and comedian Bo Burnham. Tickets are now available to purchase from here. Sundance Film Festival: London has placed itself on the front line of helping to promote female filmmakers - and offer the equal opportunities they desperately need. Since not many a cinephile will have had the chance to fly to Utah for this year's Sundance Film Festival in Park City, the Sundance Institute and Picturehouse are teaming up once more to bring 12 highlights from this year's festival straight to London's silver screens. Seven of the 12 films are directed by women: the festival will open with the UK premiere of Jennifer Fox's The Tale, starring Laura Dern and Elizabeth Debicki; it will then close with the UK premiere of Leave No Trace, Debra Granik's follow-up to Winter's Bone - the film that first introduced Jennifer Lawrence to the world. Also set to be featured are Desiree Akhavan's The Miseducation of Cameron Post, the winner of the US Grand Jury Prize: Dramatic at this year's Sundance; alongside Skate Kitchen, a film focused on female skateboarders and the narrative debut of The Wolfpack's Crystal Moselle. The festival will also feature the UK's first chance to watch Hereditary; the horror film that's been branded the "scariest movie in years". You can check out the full line-up of features films below. An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn (dir. Jim Hosking) - Lulu Danger's unsatisfying marriage takes a fortunate turn for the worse when a mysterious man from her past comes to town to perform an event called 'An Evening With Beverly Luff Linn For One Magical Night Only. Principal cast: Aubrey Plaza, Emile Hirsch, Jemaine Clement, Matt Berry, Craig Robinson Eighth Grade (dir. Bo Burnham) - Thirteen-year-old Kayla endures the tidal wave of contemporary suburban adolescence as she makes her way through the last week of middle school the end of her thus far disastrous eighth grade year before she begins high school. Principal cast: Elsie Fisher, Josh Hamilton Generation Wealth (dir. Lauren Greenfield) - Lauren Greenfields postcard from the edge of the American Empire captures a portrait of a materialistic, image-obsessed culture. Simultaneously personal journey and historical essay, the film bears witness to the global boombust economy, the corrupted American Dream and the human costs of late stage capitalism, narcissism and greed. Principal cast: Florian Homm, Tiffany Masters, Jaqueline Siegel Access unlimited streaming of movies and TV shows with Amazon Prime Video Sign up now for a 30-day free trial Sign up Half the Picture (dir. Amy Adrion) - At a pivotal moment for gender equality in Hollywood, successful women directors tell the stories of their art, lives and careers. Having endured a long history of systemic discrimination, women filmmakers may be getting the first glimpse of a future that values their voices equally. Principal cast: Rosanna Arquette, Jamie Babbit, Emily Best Hereditary (dir. Ari Aster) - After their reclusive grandmother passes away, the Graham family tries to escape the dark fate they've inherited. Principal cast: Toni Collette, Gabriel Byrne, Alex Wolff, Ann Dowd, Milly Shapiro Leave No Trace (dir. Debra Granik) - A father and daughter live a perfect but mysterious existence in Forest Park, a beautiful nature reserve near Portland, Oregon, rarely making contact with the world. A small mistake tips them off to authorities sending them on an increasingly erratic journey in search of a place to call their own. Principal cast: Ben Foster, Thomasin Harcourt McKenzie, Jeff Kober, Dale Dickey The Miseducation of Cameron Post (dir. Desiree Akhavan) - 1993: after being caught having sex with the prom queen, a girl is forced into a gay conversion therapy center. Based on Emily Danforth's acclaimed and controversial coming-of-age novel. Principal cast: Chloe Grace Moretz, Sasha Lane, Forrest Goodluck, John Gallagher Jr., Jennifer Ehle. Never Goin Back (dir. Augustine Frizzell) - Jessie and Angela, high school dropout BFFs, are taking a week off to chill at the beach. Too bad their house got robbed, rents due, theyre about to get fired and theyre broke. Now they've gotta avoid eviction, stay out of jail and get to the beach, no matter what!!! Principal cast: Maia Mitchell, Cami Morrone, Kyle Mooney, Joel Allen, Kendal Smith, Matthew Holcomb Skate Kitchen (dir. Crystal Moselle) - Camille's life as a lonely suburban teenager changes dramatically when she befriends a group of girl skateboarders. As she journeys deeper into this raw New York City subculture, she begins to understand the true meaning of friendship as well as her inner self. Principal cast: Rachelle Vinberg, Dede Lovelace, Jaden Smith, Nina Moran, Ajani Russell, Kabrina Adams The Tale (dir. Jennifer Fox) - An investigation into one woman's memory as shes forced to re-examine her first sexual relationship and the stories we tell ourselves in order to survive; based on the filmmaker's own story. Principal cast: Laura Dern, Isabelle Nelisse, Jason Ritter, Elizabeth Debicki, Ellen Burstyn, Common Yardie (dir. Idris Elba) - Jamaica, 1973. When a young boy witnesses his brothers assassination, a powerful Don gives him a home. Ten years later he is sent on a mission to London. He reunites with his girlfriend and their daughter, but then the past catches up with them. Based on Victor Headley's novel. Principal cast: Aml Ameen, Shantol Jackson, Stephen Graham, Fraser James, Sheldon Shepherd, Everaldo Cleary SURPRISE FILM! Following on from last years first ever surprise film, Patti Cake$, Sundance Film Festival: London will again feature a surprise showing. The title will be revealed only when the opening credits roll. The Sundance Film Festival London runs from 31 May to 3 June. Follow Independent Culture on Facebook for all the latest on Film, TV, Music, and more. The first review of the brand new Arctic Monkeys album has arrived teasing the band's new sound and revealing the lyrics fans are going to be singing back to frontman Alex Turner at live shows throughout the year. Taken from the June 2018 issue of Uncut, the lengthy review - written by John Robinson - lauds Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino as a brave reinvention and claims that it's the Sheffield quartet's first record you can imagine anyone sampling. Robinson adds that the endlessly quotable album has some of the classicism that The Last Shadow Puppets - Turner's side-project alongside Miles Kane - were aiming for, highlighting closing record The Ultracheese as a grand ballad that reprises the Lost Weekend vibe of AM standout No 1 Party Anthem. Beyond this, Robinson describes the band's sixth album as an investigation of the fame condition as well as about Turner finding identity in his new home of Los Angeles, a city he resides in alongside drummer Matt Helders. No longer an outsider looking in, Turner has now completely tuned in to big American themes, Robinson writes. Robinson also revealed the opening line of Star Treatment, Tranquility Base's opening track: I just wanted to be one of the Strokes." He adds that the album is similar to their previous in the way it's one ...you read as much as listen to, adding: Subdued, but warm and classic in the way that musicians who seek out storied mixing consoles aspire to. Arctic Monkeys announced that Tranquility Base Hotel + Casino - their first since 2013's AM - will be released 11 May ahead of a tour and string of festival dates including Primavera Sound in Barcelona. You can read the full review in the latest issue of Uncut which is on sale now. Follow Independent Culture on Facebook The Great Barrier Reef is unlikely to recover from the marine heatwaves that wiped out much of its coral in 2016, according to a new study. An assessment by a team of Australian researchers looked at the lasting impact of these devastating events, which killed close to a third of the coral living on the reef. They found that while many corals had died immediately due to the heat stress, others perished over longer periods of time following the depletion of the algae that live inside them. Corals are the basis of diverse ecosystems, supporting a myriad of other creatures, and the researchers found the die-off left these ecosystems in an unstable state from which they were unlikely to recover. The coral die-off has caused radical changes in the mix of coral species on hundreds of individual reefs, where mature and diverse reef communities are being transformed into more degraded systems, with just a few tough species remaining, said Professor Andrew Baird, a coral expert at James Cook University and one of the co-authors of the study. The prospects for a full recovery to the pre-bleaching coral assemblages are poor, the authors wrote in their paper, which was published in the journal Nature. Professor Baird and his colleagues mapped 2,300km of the Great Barrier Reef, examining heat exposure and the resultant coral death. Their study confirmed that coral death was highly correlated with the amount of bleaching and heat exposure, and that the northern part of the reef was the worst affected. Significantly, many areas of the reef still appear to be slowly dying, and the replacement of dead corals is likely to take at least a decade. Blue Planet II: 'Coral reefs could be gone by the end of this century' The coral bleaching that struck the Great Barrier Reef has been described as the longest, most widespread, and possibly the most damaging on record. When corals bleach from a heatwave, they can either survive and regain their colour slowly as the temperature drops, or they can die, said Professor Terry Hughes, director of the ARC Centre of Excellence for Coral Reef Studies, who led the study. Averaged across the whole Great Barrier Reef, we lost 30 per cent of the corals in the nine month period between March and November 2016. Bleaching is linked with global warming, as rising sea temperatures cause stressed corals to expel the algae that provide them with the energy they require to survive. As these events are likely to continue, given current climate projections, scientists have called for radical interventions to help save the reefs. Recommended Fish populations in Great Barrier Reef collapse after coral bleaching Proposals under consideration include genetically engineered corals, geoengineering the atmosphere and even applying sun shields to the surface of the water to protect reefs from sunlight. Some estimates have predicted that 90 per cent of the worlds corals could be dead by 2050. The authors of the new study concluded that corals will continue to degrade until climate change stabilises. This will not only radically change reef ecosystems, but will harm the hundreds of millions of people mainly in developing countries who rely on coral reefs for their livelihoods. The Great Barrier Reef is certainly threatened by climate change, but it is not doomed if we deal very quickly with greenhouse gas emissions, said Professor Hughes. Our study shows that coral reefs are already shifting radically in response to unprecedented heatwaves. Campaigners have welcomed the announcement that the UK is set to ban the sale of plastic straws, drinks stirrers and cotton buds, while calling for more action to deal with all forms of problem plastic. Environment secretary Michael Gove has highlighted the urgency of tackling single-use items with the potential to pollute waterways and oceans. But after implementing these measures, environmental groups have urged government and businesses to go beyond tackling these low hanging fruit. Recommended UK to ban sale of plastic straws and drinks stirrers Specifically, they have emphasised the need for a radical re-think on plastic packaging. If you look at what the UK has done as a package of measures, we are very much at the forefront and showing global leadership, WWF spokesperson Nicole Itano told The Independent. But I think the next stage and this is slightly unchartered territory is how do we then start to tackle the harder things like packaging. We would like to see the UK go even further, and we think ultimately we should be moving towards a ban on all single-use plastic by 2025. Music made from sounds of Cornish sea created to raise money to tackle plastic pollution Such a ban would not mean no plastic would be used whatsoever, but all plastics would be part of a circular economy in which everything is recycled. A similar call is coming from Greenpeace, which is pushing for a ban on non-recyclable problem plastic in all its forms at the earliest opportunity. What we are calling for is basically a dramatic reduction in the overall use of single-use plastic, and within that there are some relatively low hanging fruit items like stirrers and straws, Louise Edge, senior oceans campaigner at Greenpeace UK, told The Independent. We would be looking at extending that list of unnecessary items. Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Show all 6 1 /6 Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Plastic water bottle for a reusable beverage container Instead of continually buying drinks in plastic bottles you can switch to a reusable beverage container and reduce your single-use of plastics. Selfridges' Bobble 550ml filtered water bottle costs 12.95 and includes a replaceable carbon filter that filters water as you drink, removing chlorine and organic contaminants in the process. You can buy it from selfridges.com Getty/Selfridges Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Coffee cup for a Travel coffee mug It is estimated that the UK throws away around 2.5bn disposable coffee cups a year and almost all are incinerated, exported or sent to landfill because their plastic lining makes them expensive to recycle. The new Latte Levy in the UK means there will now be a 25p charge on every disposable coffee cup bought by consumers. Pret A Manger announced that it will double its discount to 50p in an effort to reduce waste. By swapping to a reusable cup you will be able to help cut the cost of disposable coffee cups. This Keep Cup Brew, cork edition, travel cup in Fika is just one of the many available to purchase. It fits under most commercial coffee machines, is splash-proof and ideal for transporting your coffee whilst on the go. You can buy this particular cup for 19.99 from trouva.com. Getty/Trouva Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Plastic bags for reusable cloth bags An eco-friendly alternative to an ordinary plastic bag is this lightweight shopping bag. It comes with a practical pillowcase pocket and features a black and white ink splatter design. Convenient and durable it also has a matte black spring clip to attach it where you need it. You can buy this from paperchase.co.uk for just 5.00. Getty/Paperchase Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Coffee pods for a pot of coffee Cut your plastic coffee pod usage with a cafetiere. This Barista and Co, 3 Cup Gold Cafetiere, from Habitat offers a simple way to brew and serve in style. Made from borosilicate glass and plated stainless steel with an ergonomically designed handle, the cafetiere is built to last and a pleasure to use; a fine metal filter produces a smooth coffee that retains its natural oils. You can buy it for 30 from habitat.co.uk. Getty/Habitat Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Balloons for eco-friendly decorations Instead of using plastic balloons at your party try swapping them for some eco-friendly bunting. Handmade in Scotland, the bunting comprises thirteen brightly coloured pennants which spell out the words 'Happy Birthday', and uses lettering that has been printed onto 100 per cent recycled card. Included is 11ft of natural jute twine to hang the pennants on, and everything comes packaged in a cello bag. You can buy this bunting from Little Silverleaf on notonthehighstreet.com for 12.50. Getty/notonthehighstreet Ways to reduce your single-use plastic Plastic straw for a reusable bamboo one Swap plastic straws for reusable ones made of bamboo. These straws are handmade in Bali and crafted by local balinese artisans. Made of organic and natural materials they are the best eco-friendly alternative to plastic, steel or glass straws. You can purchase them from Bali Boo on Amazon.co.uk for 13.99. PA/Bali Boo/Amazon Besides targeting specific plastic items like straws for outright bans, Greenpeace is calling for the elimination of all non-recyclable plastic within the next year. As it stands, many items of plastic packaging are either non-recyclable, or marked as recyclable despite the lack of infrastructure in place to deal with them properly. Items made of PVC or polystyrene are particularly problematic. Examples of unrecyclable products that frequently appear in supermarket trollies, according to Ms Edge, include yoghurt pots, ready-meal trays and salad bags. Environmental groups have emphasised the need for legislation to be accompanied by a search for materials that can be used to replace non-recyclable plastics. The government has recently committed to funding research and innovation in this area, with over 60m set aside to deal with plastic waste. Social experiment documents how kids react to plastic pollution Of this, 16m will be spent specifically on improving waste management. The announcement of the intended ban, which will be subject to a consultation starting later this year, came at the start of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting, emphasising the global nature of the fight against plastic. The reality is that if we want to solve this problem we have top solve it on a global scale, said Ms Itano. If we completely tackled our plastic problem here in the UK, which we hope we will get to in the near future, that doesnt save our oceans if India and China and America continue to pour plastic waste into the environment and our oceans. A mother who wanted to thank a kind stranger that helped calm her two children during a flight has managed to track him down thanks to an online appeal. Travelling alone with children is one of those make or break moments many parents dread. From bored, whiny little ones to glaring fellow passengers, it can be an overwhelming experience. Luckily, when one mother was struggling to cope during one of her first ever flights alone with her children, a kind stranger was there to lend a helping hand. Posting on Facebook, Jessica Rudeen, 34, from Arkansas, US, explained that she was boarding the plane when her four-month-old, Alexander, began screaming his head off and her three-year-old, Caroline, began screaming and kicking. I honestly thought wed get kicked off the plane. So with two kids losing their minds, I was desperately trying to calm the situation, she wrote. To her amazement, the man sitting next to them, now known to be Todd Walker, offered to hold Alexander while Rudeen calmed Caroline. This man reached for the baby and held him while I forced a seatbelt on Caroline, got her tablet and started her movie, she explained. Once she was settled and relatively calmed, he distracted her so that I could feed Alexander. During the flight, he coloured and watched a movie with Caroline, he engaged in conversation and showed her all the things outside. But, Walkers random act of kindness didnt stop there. As fate would have it, he also had the same connecting flight and so helped them to their next plane. He even changed his seat to be on their row so that he could continue to entertain the children. This guy, Todd, showed me kindness and compassion that Ive never known from another person, Rudeen added. Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Show all 12 1 /12 Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Dubai Travel blogger Ross Jennings, aka the First Piper, is aiming to play the bagpipes in every country in the world. Here he is playing in the Dubai desert. Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Malaysia Ross lugged bagpipes and a kilt for seven hours up Mount Kinabalu in Malaysia. Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world India Ross says: "Two years ago I never even contemplated the idea of piping in India let alone in front of one of the worlds' most iconic sites. The Taj Mahal is jaw-droppingly beautiful, and to have her as my subject for the day was one for the bagpipe bucket list." Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Bahrain In Bahrain, women wearing the niqab asked Ross to pose with them. Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Singapore Ross says: "Some of the most impressive types of buildings in this country have to be the HDBs (the buildings behind me!), which are apparently the Singaporean equivalent to council housing. Sad to think these colourful ones are soon to be knocked down." Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Kuwait Ross says: "Apparently there's a strict noise law in Kuwait, but I'm yet to be subject to it, so I'm having a blast." Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Kuala Lumpur Ross says: "Serenading the twins... Couldn't have been more excited to pipe at the top of the Petronas Twin Towers!" Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world India Ross visited the Hawa Mahal, an elaborately designed palace in Jaipur that was built for royal women to spy on people in the street. Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Laos Ross says: "Based on a few recs from travellers and locals, I headed North from Luang Prabang to a riverside gem called Muang Ngoi, where the sunsets were incredible and the stars at night were totally out of this world." Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Liberia Ross says: "Apart from the alarmingly jet-black rock, my beach walk and bagpipe session felt thoroughly Scottish as the rain kicked in and we ran for cover. Much of the Liberian coastline is like this but there are some beautiful beaches which one day (I hope) brings more tourists!" Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Lisbon "Forget Paris and Rome they say?! Head to Lisbon eh?? Couldn't agree more!" says Ross Jennings. Ross Jennings Travel blogger bagpipes his way around the world Nairobi Ross's trip to a Nairobi nature reserve brought an audience of giraffes. Ross Jennings We could have been placed next to anyone, but we were seated next to one of the nicest men I have ever met in my life. After reaching their destination and saying goodbye, Rudeen realised that she wanted to find Walker and thank him again for being so helpful so she launched an online appeal on Facebook. Rudeen later updated the post, which has been shared more than 5,000 times, to reveal that the she had finally made contact with Walkers wife and that they were arranging to meet up soon. Speaking of his random act of kindness Walker told Motherly: Flying is stressful. I had little kids once. I think most people on that plane have had little kids themselves, and we have all had that fear of our kids not doing well on the flight. So I just wanted her to know that hey, it's okay, we're gonna do this together and be fine." Amazed by Walkers compassion, hundreds of people quickly flooded Rudeens post to praise him. It does not hurt to show compassion and understanding. Travelling with kids is hard at times. Nice going Todd, you are a great man, one person wrote. Another added: Amazing people still exist! Way to go, Todd! A Malaysian fashion critic has come under fire for alleged comments that people weighing more than 60kg should not attend catwalk shows. Zaihani Mohd Zain appears to have made the suggestion in a Facebook post, which has since been deleted, writing: your thighs are spilling over onto the chairs on your left and right, reports the Malay Mail. Its so awkward and uncomfortable for the persons seated next to you! she continues in the post, a screenshot of which has been widely circulated online. Naturally, Zains alleged remarks have made her the subject of a slew of vitriol, with many accusing the leading critic of fat-shaming. #ZaihaniMohdZain you should really train your half an ounce of brain to think before you speak, wrote one person on Twitter. We need to promote a healthier beauty standard, where girls of healthy BMI are given the coverage that they deserve, added another, and of course, our fashion critics too should be aware that 60kg, by any standard, is not obese. Even those within the Malaysian fashion industry have gotten involved in the debate, with designer Calvin Thoo writing on his Facebook page: What right does one have to criticise plus size people and telling them not to attend fashion shows? Its not the first time Zain has made controversial comments regarding weight. In an interview with Malaysia Tatler in 2016, the high profile critic urged fashion-lovers to keep a close eye on their waistlines: If you love fashion and enjoy dressing up, then there are sacrifices to be made, she said. Watch your weight. People may say size doesnt matter but who are we kidding? It does! Why do you think the big fashion houses do not cater to plus sized women? The Independent has contacted Zain for comment. Renowned meat lover Gordon Ramsay shocked the world this week when he announced he would be giving this vegan thing a try - and now animal charity PETA has responded. Coinciding with the opening of his new London pizza restaurant, the three-Michelin-star chef, who is notorious for his vegan and vegetarian-hating ways, backtracked on his former views and tweeted: Going to give this #vegan thing a try Yes guys you heard that right. Gx. Alongside the surprising news, Ramsay posted a photo of what appeared to be a vegan pizza offered at his new restaurant, Gordon Ramsay Street Pizza. However, one group that was not surprised by the 51-year-old chefs announcement was animal welfare organisation Peta. Of Ramsays lifestyle change, Peta president Ingrid Newkirk told The Independent: PETA knew that Hell would not have to freeze over before Gordon Ramsay gave the best food in the world a try: vegan food. Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Show all 10 1 /10 Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Blueberry Muffin Energy Bites Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Bright Morning Citrus Salad Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Carrot + Coriander Bisque Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Easy Does It Sunday Evening Chili Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Hellooo, World! Green Smoothie Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures The ClassicSpicy Cauliflower Rice, Roasted Sweet Potato and Avocado Mash. Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Shaved Jicama Ceviche Salad with Avocado Inspiring vegan food from Blissful Basil - In pictures Seasonal Fruit Crisps Apple, Almond & Blackberry Sunflower We're hoping it seduces him as it has so many other chefs and mortals of all types, who become much healthier in heart, body, and mind as a result. Ramsay has previously faced backlash for his anti-vegan comments on social media from vegans and animal advocacy groups alike. His most recent controversy involved a vegan lasagne, which the chef had responded to with: Im a member of PETA ! People eating tasty animals. While most commenters were supportive of the top chefs decision to switch to a vegan lifestyle, which has been liked over 30,000 likes, others questioned whether Ramsays Twitter account had been hacked. If youre being held hostage by a vegan give us a signal, wrote one concerned fan. But, according to Petas tweet, they knew this day would come. Keep on adding #vegan options to your restaurant menus, they advised the chef on Twitter. Cambridge Analytica, the company behind the Facebook data scandal, planned to develop its own cryptocurrency for the purpose of storing and selling personal data. The UK data firm hoped to raise $30 million through the venture, according to various reports, while also offering new ways of exploiting peoples data. The money would have been raised through a fundraising method known as an initial coin offering (ICO), which has become a popular alternative to early stage venture capital funding over the last year. Cambridge Analytica planned to issue its own digital currency before it became the focus of Facebook's recent troubles. (Getty Images) A Cambridge Analytica spokesperson said the company had considered the use of blockchain the underlying technology behind bitcoin in order to store online data. Prior to the Facebook controversy, we were developing a suite of technologies to help individuals reclaim their personal data from corporate entities and to have full transparency and control over how their personal data are used, the spokesperson said. We were exploring multiple options for people to manage and monetise their personal data, including blockchain technology. The spokesperson did not comment on whether Cambridge Analytica planned its own specific cryptocurrency, or whether it is still working on one. The latest revelations come as former Cambridge Analytica employee Brittany Kaiser revealed that the previously stated figure of 87 million people affected by the Facebook data scandal may be even higher. Facebook has previously confirmed that the personal information of up to 87 million of its users was compromised after 270,000 users of the social network took an online personality quiz designed to harvest data. Ms Kaiser told a UK Parliament committee on Tuesday that other online quizzes and questionnaires were also used to gather peoples personal information. I believe it is almost certain that the number of Facebook users whose data was compromised through routes similar to that used by Kogan is much greater than 87 million, and that both Cambridge Analytica and other unconnected companies and campaigns were involved in these activities, Ms Kaiser said. Games have long been used as testbeds and benchmarks for artificial intelligence, and there has been no shortage of achievements in recent months. Google DeepMinds AlphaGo and poker bot Libratus from Carnegie Mellon University have both beaten human experts at games that have traditionally been hard for AI some 20 years after IBMs DeepBlue achieved the same feat in chess. Games like these have the attraction of clearly defined rules; they are relatively simple and cheap for AI researchers to work with, and they provide a variety of cognitive challenges at any desired level of difficulty. By inventing algorithms that play them well, researchers hope to gain insights into the mechanisms needed to function autonomously. With the arrival of the latest techniques in AI and machine learning, attention is now shifting to visually detailed computer games including the 3D shooter Doom, various 2D Atari games such as Pong and Space Invaders, and the real-time strategy game StarCraft. This is all certainly progress, but a key part of the bigger AI picture is being overlooked. Research has prioritised games in which all the actions that can be performed are known in advance, be it moving a knight or firing a weapon. The computer is given all the options from the outset and the focus is on how well it chooses between them. The problem is that this disconnects AI research from the task of making computers genuinely autonomous. Banana skins Getting computers to determine which actions even exist in a given context presents conceptual and practical challenges which games researchers have barely attempted to resolve so far. The monkey and bananas problem is one example of a longstanding AI conundrum in which no recent progress has been made. The problem was originally posed by John McCarthy, one of the founding fathers of AI, in 1963: there is a room containing a chair, a stick, a monkey and a bunch of bananas hanging on a ceiling hook. The task is for a computer to come up with a sequence of actions to enable the monkey to acquire the bananas. McCarthy made a key distinction between two aspects of this task in terms of artificial intelligence. Physical feasibility determining whether a particular sequence of actions is physically realisable; and epistemic or knowledge-related feasibility determining which possible actions for the monkey actually exist. Determining what is physically feasible for the monkey is very easy for a computer if it is told all the possible actions in advance climb on chair, wave stick and so forth. A simple program that instructs the computer to go through all the possible sequences of actions one by one will quickly arrive at the best solution. If the computer has to first determine which actions are even possible, however, it is a much tougher challenge. It raises questions about how we represent knowledge, the necessary and sufficient conditions of knowing something, and how we know when enough knowledge has been acquired. In highlighting these problems, McCarthy said: Our ultimate objective is to make programs that learn from their experience as effectively as humans do. Until computers can tackle problems without any predetermined description of possible actions, this objective cant be achieved. It is unfortunate that AI researchers are neglecting this: not only are these problems harder and more interesting, they look like a prerequisite for making further meaningful progress in the field. Text appeal To operate autonomously in a complex environment, it is impossible to describe in advance how best to manipulate or even characterise the objects there. Teaching computers to get around these difficulties immediately leads to deep questions about learning from previous experience. Rather than focusing on games like Doom or StarCraft, where it is possible to avoid this problem, a more promising test for modern AI could be the humble text adventure from the 1970s and 1980s. In the days before computers had sophisticated graphics, games like Colossal Cave and Zork were popular. Players were told about their environment by messages on the screen: They had to respond with simple instructions, usually in the form of a verb or a verb plus a noun look, take box and so on. Part of the challenge was to work out which actions were possible and useful, and to respond accordingly. A good challenge for modern AI would be to take on the role of a player in such an adventure. The computer would have to make sense of the text descriptions on the screen and respond to them with actions, using some predictive mechanism to determine their likely effect. More sophisticated behaviours on part of the computer would involve exploring the environment, defining goals, making goal-oriented action choices and solving the various intellectual challenges typically required to progress. How well modern AI methods of the kind promoted by tech giants like IBM, Google, Facebook or Microsoft would fare in these text adventures is an open question as is how much specialist human knowledge they would require for each new scenario. To measure progress in this area, for the past two years we have been running a competition at the IEEE Conference on Computational Intelligence and Games, which this year takes place in Maastricht in the Netherlands in August. Competitors submit entries in advance, and can use the AI technology of their choice to build programs that can play these games by making sense of a text description and outputting appropriate text commands in return. In short, researchers need to reconsider their priorities if AI is to keep progressing. If unearthing the disciplines neglected roots turns out to be fruitful, the monkey may finally gets his bananas after all. Jerry Swan is a senior research fellow, Hendrik Baier is a research associate for artificial intelligence and data analytics, and Timothy Atkinson is a doctoral researcher at the University of York. This article was first published in The Conversation (theconversation.com) The price of crude oil surged to the highest its been since the end of 2014 on Thursday, with Brent pushing past $74 (52) a barrel. Analysts pointed to a fall in US oil supplies, revealed in data from the Energy Information Administration (EIA), as a major factor in the increase. The EIA confirmed on Wednesday that crude oil stocks fell by 1.1 million barrels last week. The price was also propped up by political tensions in the Middle East, with commodities in general rallying after US sanctions were imposed on Russian companies. Meanwhile, the surge comes hours ahead of an Opec meeting on Friday, where the Organisation of the Petroleum Exporting Countries is expected to agree to extend their supply cut agreement. Commentators believe Saudi Arabia is aiming to push oil higher, with plans to take it to $80 or even $100 a barrel, strengthening the case for expecting the supply deal to stay in place on similar terms. The Saudis and their colleagues in Opec need higher oil for their fiscal positions and the kingdom is on a bold and costly reform program. So they might continue to squeeze the lemon while they have the chance, said Greg McKenna, chief market strategist at futures brokerage AxiTrader. Health systems around the world must fundamentally restructure or collapse under the tidal wave of demand from people living with multiple serious health conditions, experts have warned. In the NHS alone as many as 20 million people are living with two or more conditions and ineffective treatment is leading to escalating costs and early deaths. The first report produced on the global burden of multimorbidity (multiple diseases) says it is an enormous threat affecting a quarter of the adult population and a billion people worldwide. High income countries like the UK are seeing an almost exponential increase in health care costs where multimorbidity has risen, the report notes. We are facing a tidal wave of patients living with multiple long-term health conditions, and our report demonstrates how little we know about how to manage this, said Professor Stephen MacMahon, chair of the Academy of Medical Sciences multimorbidity working group. Rates of multimorbidity in the UK have rocketed in the past decade. One study included in the report shows that between 2002 and 2013 number of people over 50 with two or more diseases rose by half from 31.7 per cent to 43.1 per cent. Rises in obesity and cancers from preventable lifestyle factors are a major driver, as is the increase in life expectancy around the world. But this is not the full picture as multimorbidity is increasingly common in younger people and developing nations, where survival improvements from diseases such as HIV may result in more respiratory diseases. Caring holistically for these complex patients, instead of treating each part of their condition separately, relies on a move away from the ultra-specialised medical model and a change in how we structure drug trials. Health news in pictures Show all 40 1 /40 Health news in pictures Health news in pictures Coronavirus outbreak The coronavirus Covid-19 has hit the UK leading to the deaths of two people so far and prompting warnings from the Department of Health AFP via Getty Health news in pictures Thousands of emergency patients told to take taxi to hospital Thousands of 999 patients in England are being told to get a taxi to hospital, figures have showed. The number of patients outside London who were refused an ambulance rose by 83 per cent in the past year as demand for services grows Getty Health news in pictures Vape related deaths spike A vaping-related lung disease has claimed the lives of 11 people in the US in recent weeks. The US Centre for Disease Control and Prevention has more than 100 officials investigating the cause of the mystery illness, and has warned citizens against smoking e-cigarette products until more is known, particularly if modified or bought off the street Getty Health news in pictures Baldness cure looks to be a step closer Researchers in the US claim to have overcome one of the major hurdles to cultivating human follicles from stem cells. The new system allows cells to grow in a structured tuft and emerge from the skin Sanford Burnham Preybs Health news in pictures Two hours a week spent in nature can improve health A study in the journal Scientific Reports suggests that a dose of nature of just two hours a week is associated with better health and psychological wellbeing Shutterstock Health news in pictures Air pollution linked to fertility issues in women Exposure to air from traffic-clogged streets could leave women with fewer years to have children, a study has found. Italian researchers found women living in the most polluted areas were three times more likely to show signs they were running low on eggs than those who lived in cleaner surroundings, potentially triggering an earlier menopause Getty/iStock Health news in pictures Junk food ads could be banned before watershed Junk food adverts on TV and online could be banned before 9pm as part of Government plans to fight the "epidemic" of childhood obesity. Plans for the new watershed have been put out for public consultation in a bid to combat the growing crisis, the Department of Health and Social Care (DHSC) said PA Health news in pictures Breeding with neanderthals helped humans fight diseases On migrating from Africa around 70,000 years ago, humans bumped into the neanderthals of Eurasia. While humans were weak to the diseases of the new lands, breeding with the resident neanderthals made for a better equipped immune system PA Health news in pictures Cancer breath test to be trialled in Britain The breath biopsy device is designed to detect cancer hallmarks in molecules exhaled by patients Getty Health news in pictures Average 10 year old has consumed the recommended amount of sugar for an adult By their 10th birthdy, children have on average already eaten more sugar than the recommended amount for an 18 year old. The average 10 year old consumes the equivalent to 13 sugar cubes a day, 8 more than is recommended PA Health news in pictures Child health experts advise switching off screens an hour before bed While there is not enough evidence of harm to recommend UK-wide limits on screen use, the Royal College of Paediatrics and Child Health have advised that children should avoid screens for an hour before bed time to avoid disrupting their sleep Getty Health news in pictures Daily aspirin is unnecessary for older people in good health, study finds A study published in the New England Journal of Medicine has found that many elderly people are taking daily aspirin to little or no avail Getty Health news in pictures Vaping could lead to cancer, US study finds A study by the University of Minnesota's Masonic Cancer Centre has found that the carcinogenic chemicals formaldehyde, acrolein, and methylglyoxal are present in the saliva of E-cigarette users Reuters Health news in pictures More children are obese and diabetic There has been a 41% increase in children with type 2 diabetes since 2014, the National Paediatric Diabetes Audit has found. Obesity is a leading cause Reuters Health news in pictures Most child antidepressants are ineffective and can lead to suicidal thoughts The majority of antidepressants are ineffective and may be unsafe, for children and teenager with major depression, experts have warned. In what is the most comprehensive comparison of 14 commonly prescribed antidepressant drugs to date, researchers found that only one brand was more effective at relieving symptoms of depression than a placebo. Another popular drug, venlafaxine, was shown increase the risk users engaging in suicidal thoughts and attempts at suicide Getty Health news in pictures Gay, lesbian and bisexual adults at higher risk of heart disease, study claims Researchers at the Baptist Health South Florida Clinic in Miami focused on seven areas of controllable heart health and found these minority groups were particularly likely to be smokers and to have poorly controlled blood sugar iStock Health news in pictures Breakfast cereals targeted at children contain 'steadily high' sugar levels since 1992 despite producer claims A major pressure group has issued a fresh warning about perilously high amounts of sugar in breakfast cereals, specifically those designed for children, and has said that levels have barely been cut at all in the last two and a half decades Getty Health news in pictures Potholes are making us fat, NHS watchdog warns New guidance by the National Institute for Health and Care Excellence (NICE), the body which determines what treatment the NHS should fund, said lax road repairs and car-dominated streets were contributing to the obesity epidemic by preventing members of the public from keeping active PA Health news in pictures New menopause drugs offer women relief from 'debilitating' hot flushes A new class of treatments for women going through the menopause is able to reduce numbers of debilitating hot flushes by as much as three quarters in a matter of days, a trial has found. The drug used in the trial belongs to a group known as NKB antagonists (blockers), which were developed as a treatment for schizophrenia but have been sitting on a shelf unused, according to Professor Waljit Dhillo, a professor of endocrinology and metabolism REX Health news in pictures Doctors should prescribe more antidepressants for people with mental health problems, study finds Research from Oxford University found that more than one million extra people suffering from mental health problems would benefit from being prescribed drugs and criticised ideological reasons doctors use to avoid doing so. Getty Health news in pictures Student dies of flu after NHS advice to stay at home and avoid A&E The family of a teenager who died from flu has urged people not to delay going to A&E if they are worried about their symptoms. Melissa Whiteley, an 18-year-old engineering student from Hanford in Stoke-on-Trent, fell ill at Christmas and died in hospital a month later. Just Giving Health news in pictures Government to review thousands of harmful vaginal mesh implants The Government has pledged to review tens of thousands of cases where women have been given harmful vaginal mesh implants. Getty Health news in pictures Jeremy Hunt announces 'zero suicides ambition' for the NHS The NHS will be asked to go further to prevent the deaths of patients in its care as part of a zero suicide ambition being launched today Getty Health news in pictures Human trials start with cancer treatment that primes immune system to kill off tumours Human trials have begun with a new cancer therapy that can prime the immune system to eradicate tumours. The treatment, that works similarly to a vaccine, is a combination of two existing drugs, of which tiny amounts are injected into the solid bulk of a tumour. Nephron Health news in pictures Babies' health suffers from being born near fracking sites, finds major study Mothers living within a kilometre of a fracking site were 25 per cent more likely to have a child born at low birth weight, which increase their chances of asthma, ADHD and other issues Getty Health news in pictures NHS reviewing thousands of cervical cancer smear tests after women wrongly given all-clear Thousands of cervical cancer screening results are under review after failings at a laboratory meant some women were incorrectly given the all-clear. A number of women have already been told to contact their doctors following the identification of procedural issues in the service provided by Pathology First Laboratory. Rex Health news in pictures Potential key to halting breast cancer's spread discovered by scientists Most breast cancer patients do not die from their initial tumour, but from secondary malignant growths (metastases), where cancer cells are able to enter the blood and survive to invade new sites. Asparagine, a molecule named after asparagus where it was first identified in high quantities, has now been shown to be an essential ingredient for tumour cells to gain these migratory properties. Getty Health news in pictures NHS nursing vacancies at record high with more than 34,000 roles advertised A record number of nursing and midwifery positions are currently being advertised by the NHS, with more than 34,000 positions currently vacant, according to the latest data. Demand for nurses was 19 per cent higher between July and September 2017 than the same period two years ago. REX Health news in pictures Cannabis extract could provide new class of treatment for psychosis CBD has a broadly opposite effect to delta-9-tetrahydrocannabinol (THC), the main active component in cannabis and the substance that causes paranoia and anxiety. Getty Health news in pictures Over 75,000 sign petition calling for Richard Branson's Virgin Care to hand settlement money back to NHS Mr Bransons company sued the NHS last year after it lost out on an 82m contract to provide childrens health services across Surrey, citing concerns over serious flaws in the way the contract was awarded PA Health news in pictures More than 700 fewer nurses training in England in first year after NHS bursary scrapped The numbers of people accepted to study nursing in England fell 3 per cent in 2017, while the numbers accepted in Wales and Scotland, where the bursaries were kept, increased 8.4 per cent and 8 per cent respectively Getty Health news in pictures Landmark study links Tory austerity to 120,000 deaths The paper found that there were 45,000 more deaths in the first four years of Tory-led efficiencies than would have been expected if funding had stayed at pre-election levels. On this trajectory that could rise to nearly 200,000 excess deaths by the end of 2020, even with the extra funding that has been earmarked for public sector services this year. Reuters Health news in pictures Long commutes carry health risks Hours of commuting may be mind-numbingly dull, but new research shows that it might also be having an adverse effect on both your health and performance at work. Longer commutes also appear to have a significant impact on mental wellbeing, with those commuting longer 33 per cent more likely to suffer from depression Shutterstock Health news in pictures You cannot be fit and fat It is not possible to be overweight and healthy, a major new study has concluded. The study of 3.5 million Britons found that even metabolically healthy obese people are still at a higher risk of heart disease or a stroke than those with a normal weight range Getty Health news in pictures Sleep deprivation When you feel particularly exhausted, it can definitely feel like you are also lacking in brain capacity. Now, a new study has suggested this could be because chronic sleep deprivation can actually cause the brain to eat itself Shutterstock Health news in pictures Exercise classes offering 45 minute naps launch David Lloyd Gyms have launched a new health and fitness class which is essentially a bunch of people taking a nap for 45 minutes. The fitness group was spurred to launch the napercise class after research revealed 86 per cent of parents said they were fatigued. The class is therefore predominantly aimed at parents but you actually do not have to have children to take part Getty Health news in pictures 'Fundamental right to health' to be axed after Brexit, lawyers warn Tobacco and alcohol companies could win more easily in court cases such as the recent battle over plain cigarette packaging if the EU Charter of Fundamental Rights is abandoned, a barrister and public health professor have said Getty Health news in pictures 'Thousands dying' due to fear over non-existent statin side-effects A major new study into the side effects of the cholesterol-lowering medicine suggests common symptoms such as muscle pain and weakness are not caused by the drugs themselves Getty Health news in pictures Babies born to fathers aged under 25 have higher risk of autism New research has found that babies born to fathers under the age of 25 or over 51 are at higher risk of developing autism and other social disorders. The study, conducted by the Seaver Autism Center for Research and Treatment at Mount Sinai, found that these children are actually more advanced than their peers as infants, but then fall behind by the time they hit their teenage years Getty Health news in pictures Cycling to work could halve risk of cancer and heart disease Commuters who swap their car or bus pass for a bike could cut their risk of developing heart disease and cancer by almost half, new research suggests but campaigners have warned there is still an urgent need to improve road conditions for cyclists. Cycling to work is linked to a lower risk of developing cancer by 45 per cent and cardiovascular disease by 46 per cent, according to a study of a quarter of a million people. Walking to work also brought health benefits, the University of Glasgow researchers found, but not to the same degree as cycling. Getty But the ACMs report, released today, says there is a lack of information on the causes and extent of multimorbidity, and the best ways to address it. I estimate tens of millions of Britons suffer from multimorbidity, and globally the number could be a billion, Professor MacMahon added. While we know multimorbidity is increasing, we dont know how quickly or which groups are experiencing the biggest increases. This report should be the tipping point of recognising that multimorbidity is an enormous threat to global health. In some cases having one condition, such as heart disease, logically increases your risk of others, like circulatory diseases which can lead to a stroke. Recommended Public opinion on GP services at lowest level since records began In other cases the clustering of multiple conditions is less immediately obvious: people with type 2 diabetes are also more at risk of respiratory diseases like COPD, for example. The report says there are particularly complex relationships between mental health and physical diseases, and most profoundly in the growing population of people with dementia. But the NHS reliance on 10-minute GP appointments, at which most patients are managed, means patient care is only focused on the most pressing problem, the authors warn. Medical specialisation has also meant patients see multiple single-disease specialists but receive worse care for each one of them, and this means their health and quality of life suffers. It can be a full time job, being a patient, said Dr Lynne Corner, director of engagement at the Newcastle University Institute for Ageing and Faculty of Medical Sciences. It's not unusual for someone to have five different appointments in five days with five different teams in five different clinics. In parts of the UK, such as the Clinics for Research and Service in Themed Assessments in Newcastle, patients can visit multiple specialists in one trip, and Dr Corner added it was important this was rolled out more widely. Professor Melanie Davies, a member of the working group and a professor of diabetes medicine at Leicester University, said the growth in people under 40 coming to her with Type 2 diabetes was a real concern. While adolescent Type 2 was almost unheard of 20 years ago there are now more than 500 children with the condition in the UK, she added. As these patients are on lifelong medication, more trials are needed to look at medications which work across several conditions. As smarter medicines come along we are looking for them to have other benefits beyond a single disease, Professor Davies told The Independent. They are developing diabetes drugs which are associated with weight loss, a much lower risk of hypoglycaemia (low blood sugar), and that lower blood pressure as well and were looking at their impact on cardiovascular disease." Management is particularly hard where a patient has a condition like dementia, which can be made worse by medications for other diseases and makes keeping on top of complex care regimes much harder. Dr Alison Evans, Alzheimers Research UKs head of policy and impact, said the report was a good foundation, but more work was needed in this growing group. Many of the health conditions that accompany dementia, like diabetes, urinary infections and depression, go untreated costing the UK 995m a year, according to a recent study, she added. Just one non-serious knock on the head can increase the risk of developing Parkinson's disease, new research shows. People are 56 per cent more likely to be diagnosed with the illness after a diagnosis of "mild traumatic brain injury", say researchers. The study, published in the journal Neurology, involved nearly 326,000 veteran US servicemen and women. Half the participants, who ranged in age from 31 to 65, had suffered a mild, moderate or severe traumatic brain injury, and half had not. Over a period of up to 12 years, a total of 1,462 of the veterans developed Parkinson's. The researchers found that compared with participants who had no diagnosis of brain injury, those experiencing a mild injury were 56 per cent more at risk. The chances of developing Parkinson's rose with head injury severity. Moderate to severe brain injury was associated with an 83% risk increase. Symptoms of mild traumatic brain injury were defined as loss of consciousness for zero to 30 minutes, consciousness alteration for up to 24 hours, or up to 24 hours of memory loss. US lead researcher Dr Raquel Gardner, from the University of California, San Francisco, said: "This study highlights the importance of concussion prevention, long-term follow-up of those with concussion, and the need for future studies to investigate if there are other risk factors for Parkinson's disease that can be modified after someone has a concussion. "While our study looked at veterans, we believe the results may have important implications for athletes and the general public as well." Professor David Dexter, deputy research director at the charity Parkinson's UK, said: "Several studies over the years have highlighted head trauma as being a risk factor for neurodegenerative disorders, including Parkinson's, and this larger study reinforces that evidence. "Studies looking at brains cells under the microscope have revealed that trauma to the head can trigger proteins to clump together. Such protein clumps are a feature in Parkinson's and can cause cell membranes to burst, leading to the characteristic loss of brain cells. "Further research is required to investigate whether the form of Parkinson's associated head trauma is the same as that in individuals who have no history of head trauma but still develop Parkinson's. " PA Hans Asperger, the Austrian paediatrician who gave his name to a kind of high-functioning autism, helped the Nazis in their murder of disabled children, according to a new report. The new study claims that the respected professor actively recommended children should be sent to their deaths at Spiegelgrund, where the Nazis enacted a policy they referred to as euthanasia that saw hundreds of children killed. It darkens the reputation of the doctor, whose name is used by the huge number of people around the world who identify with the syndrome. But experts cautioned how important it is to ensure that people do not feel tainted by the newly discovered history. We expect these findings to spark a big conversation among the 700,000 autistic people in the UK and their family members, particularly those who identify with the term Asperger," said Carol Povey, director at the Centre of Autism for the National Autistic Society. Autism affects everyone differently and people often have their own way of talking about autism. We will be listening closely to the response to this news so we can continue to make sure the language we use to describe autism reflects the preferences of autistic people and their families. Obviously no-one with a diagnosis of Asperger syndrome should feel in any way tainted by this very troubling history. Asperger's Syndrome is marked by an impaired ability to interact socially with others, tends to affect people of average or above average intelligence. It was first identified by Professor Asperger in 1944 who used the term "autistic psychopathy" to describe the condition of four children under his care. In 1981, the British psychiatrist Lorna Wing, who helped establish the National Autistic Society in the UK, introduced the diagnosis of "Asperger's Syndrome" in honour of her predecessor. But according to new evidence, the pioneer of autism research whose reputation is that of a strong opponent of Nazi ideology, had a hidden dark past. Documents uncovered by an Austrian medical historian suggest that Prof Asperger ingratiated himself with the Nazi regime to the extent of participating in its murderous euthanasia programme. It claims that Asperger sent profoundly disabled children who were under his care to the Spiegelgrund clinic, where they were killed An estimated 789 children, many with severe mental problems, were systematically killed at the Vienna clinic, mostly by lethal injection and gassing. Others died from disease and starvation, or were subjected to harsh medical experiments. "Aktion T4", the horrific euthanasia programme personally authorised by Adolf Hitler, set out to cull the incurable and severely disabled. Up to 300,000 victims, including children, were exterminated at clinics in Germany, Austria, Poland and the Czech Republic between 1939 and 1945. Herwig Czech, from the Medical University of Vienna, set out the claims against Prof Asperger after trawling through previously unexamined documents from the Nazi era including personnel files and patient records. He said: "These findings about Hans Asperger are the result of many years of careful research in the archives. "What emerges is that Asperger successfully sought to accommodate himself to the Nazi regime and was rewarded with career opportunities in return. "This is part of a broader effort by historians to expose what doctors were doing during the Third Reich." World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The allegations are reported in the journal Molecular Autism. Its two editors explained why they had made the decision to publish the study, which will inevitably prove controversial in a community made up of millions of people. One of them, leading British autism expert Professor Simon Baron-Cohen, from Cambridge University, said: "We are aware that the article and its publication will be controversial. "We believe that it deserves to be published in order to expose the truth about how a medical doctor who, for a long time, was seen as only having made valuable contributions to the field of paediatrics and child psychiatry, was guilty of actively assisting the Nazis in their abhorrent eugenics and euthanasia policies. "This historical evidence must now be made available." Sex specifically ejaculation is an enjoyable experience for male fruit flies, scientists have found, while demonstrating that the sex starved among them are more likely to consume alcohol in order to gain an alternative reward. The unusual research not only demonstrated that enjoyment of ejaculation appears to be a fairly universal phenomenon, it could also be used to understand the biology of addiction. "We wanted to know which part of the mating process entails the rewarding value for flies," said Dr Galit Shohat-Ophir of Bar-Ilan University in Israel, who co-authored the study. Recommended Male voles who drink alcohol more likely to cheat on teetotal partners "The actions that males perform during courtship? A female's pheromones? The last step of mating which is sperm and seminal fluid release?" To determine what a fly does and does not find pleasurable, the scientists made use of so-called optogenetic tools. This allows researchers to genetically engineer creatures with brain cells that can be essentially switched on and off using light. Dr Shohat-Ophir and her colleagues created fruit flies in which brain cells producing a chemical called corazonin (CRZ) could be switched on when the flies encountered a red light. Previous work had already suggested that CRZ is the substance that triggers fly ejaculation. The researchers then placed their modified flies into an arena, one half of which was bathed in red light. Tracking of the flies movements revealed males preferred spending time in the red light, suggesting a drive to seek out ejaculation. In doing this, the scientists removed the act of ejaculation from the act of mating and found that it was the ejaculation itself that the males flies enjoyed. To confirm this, the flies were then trained to associate red light-induced ejaculation with a particular odour. They were then re-tested to see if they preferred the odour they associated with ejaculation. Once again they did. Tight swarm of insects moving on a tree The next part of the experiment involved testing how ejaculation affected the flies desire for alcohol. Successful mating is naturally rewarding to male flies and increases the levels of a small peptide in the brain called neuropeptide F," said Dr Shohat-Ophir. Those flies that had experienced a few days of ejaculation and therefore had brains full of neuropeptide, were less likely to opt for alcohol when presented with a choice between alcoholic and non-alcoholic meals. Conversely, flies that had not been ejaculating for days opted for the alcohol. "Male flies that are sexually deprived have increased motivation to consume alcohol as an alternative reward, noted Dr Shohat-Ophir. The research was published in the journal Current Biology. Dr Shohat-Ophir explained that this kind of work can be used to understand the basic biology underpinning very human behaviours such as substance addiction. Recommended Scientists invent microchip that tracks levels of alcohol in body "The principles by which the brain processes reward are extremely conserved in all animals; this is a really basic every day machinery that helps animals survive," she said. "Drugs of abuse use the same systems in the brain that are used to process natural rewards. This allows us to use simple model organisms to study aspects of drug addiction, including the interplay between natural and drug rewards and the connection between experience and the mechanisms that underlie the risk to develop drug addiction." In this case, the results indicate that the sexual state of an animal affects how much they feel the need to consume rewarding substances like alcohol. The researchers speculated that an individuals vulnerability to addiction is therefore influenced by the amount of rewards they have received from other sources. For over 1,000 years, the Bajau people known as sea nomads have traversed the seas in houseboats, hunting for food by free diving with spears. As a result, the Southeast Asian population has evolved a remarkably ability to dive to great depths. Known for their remarkable breath-holding abilities, Bajau are capable of diving up to 70m with nothing more than a set of weights and traditional wooden goggles. Seeking to understand how the "sea nomads" achieve such incredible feats, scientists have found evidence for larger spleens in the Bajau an adaptation that allows them to dive for longer. It is the first time evolution for diving has been demonstrated in humans. "There's not a lot of information out there about human spleens in terms of physiology and genetics," said Dr Melissa Ilardo, who undertook the study while she was a doctoral candidate at the University of Copenhagen. But we know that deep diving seals, like the Weddell seal, have disproportionately large spleens. I thought that if selection acted on the seals to give them larger spleens, it could potentially do the same in humans." Dr Ilardo visited a Bajau community living in the village of Jaya Bakti near the Indonesian island of Sulawesi. Inhabitants of the village set off for lengthy, regular excursions in their houseboats on which they hunt for food. One of the people Dr Ilardo met told her he once stayed underwater for 13 minutes while hunting. Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia Show all 8 1 /8 Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia A Bajau diver hunts fish underwater using a traditional spear A Bajau diver hunts fish underwater using a traditional spear Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia A Bajau diver A Bajau diver hunts fish underwater using a traditional spear Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia The Bajau village of Jaya Bakti The Bajau village of Jaya Bakti Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia Jaya Bakti homes from the water Jaya Bakti homes from the water Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia A Bajau diver displays a traditional wooden diving mask A Bajau diver displays a traditional wooden diving mask Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia A Bajau villager demonstrates the use of traditional wooden goggles A Bajau villager demonstrates the use of traditional wooden goggles Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia A young Bajau girl looks on in excitement as her father, a traditional Bajau diver, returns to Jaya Bakti from a two-week fishing trip A young Bajau girl looks on in excitement as her father, a traditional Bajau diver, returns to Jaya Bakti from a two-week fishing trip Melissa Ilardo Bajau 'sea nomads' of Indonesia A small, unnamed island serves as a haven for visiting Bajau houseboats A small, unnamed island serves as a haven for visiting Bajau houseboats. Melissa Ilardo The population was interested in learning about their genetic heritage, and Dr Ilardo used a portable ultrasound machine to measure spleen size in 59 Bajau. She then measured spleen size in 34 people from a neighbouring village inhabited by non- Bajau people so she could make a comparison. When she took her data back to Denmark to analyse, Dr Ilardo found Bajau people had spleens around 50 per cent larger than their neighbours. Spleens are involved in the so-called human dive response. When a body is submerged in cold water the heart rate slows, blood vessels in the extremities shrink and the spleen contracts. This contraction injects a spurt of additional oxygen-rich blood cells into circulation, allowing the body to survive for longer underwater. Dr Ilardo and her collaborators estimated the enlarged spleens of the Bajau could provide them with around 10 per cent more blood cells than someone with a normal-sized spleen. As well as measuring spleen size, Dr Ilardo took spit samples from the study participants so she could investigate the genetic basis for the differences she was seeing. She identified several genes that were observed far more frequently in the genomes of Bajau participants, including one PDE10A that is involved with the production of thyroid hormone, which in turn is associated with spleen size. "We believe that in the Bajau they have an adaptation that increases thyroid hormone levels and therefore increases their spleen size," said Dr Ilardo. "It's been shown in mice that thyroid hormones and spleen size are connected. If you genetically alter mice to have an absence of the thyroid hormone T4, their spleen size is drastically reduced, but this effect is actually reversible with an injection of T4." 'Unprecedented' 7,000-year-old Native American burial site discovered by amateur diver off coast off Florida This is the first adaptation for diving ever observed in humans. Previous work appeared to show that sea nomad children had superior underwater eyesight, but those results have since been disproved. The findings were published in the journal Cell. Despite initially warning Dr Ilardo against undertaking the work due to the likelihood she would find no significant results, her supervisors Professor Eske Willerslev and Professor Rasmus Nielsen think her findings are significant for a number of reasons. "This is the first time that we really have a system like that in humans to study," said Dr Nielsen. Nature has made experiments for us that tell us how humans react and adapt genetically to a whole new set of physiological conditions, so that we can explore and learn much more about the interaction between genetics and physiology." Recommended Mutant gene in Amish makes them live 10 years longer Understanding the genetics underpinning the Bajaus abilities could even have applications in medical research specifically for those trying to treat the condition of acute hypoxia, when body tissue experiences a rapid depletion of oxygen. There is also a fundamental need to understand the diversity of genes found in the worlds indigenous populations, said Professor Willerslev. "This really tells us how valuable and important indigenous populations are around the world that are living extreme lifestyles, in terms of understanding the function of various genetic traits and finding the underlying genetic background for various physiological traits," he said. "Most of these populations are completely understudied, and I think there is a huge benefit, not only potentially to them, but also to the rest of mankind by actually paying some attention to them." An engineer ended his life at a euthanasia clinic after he was left in unbearable agony by an acid attack carried out by his jealous ex-girlfriend, a court heard. Berlinah Wallace, 49, allegedly threw sulphuric acid over Mark van Dongen, 29, after telling him: If I cant have you, no one else will. The attack in Bristol left him paralysed from the neck down, partially blind, and unrecognisable, Bristol Crown Court heard. The Dutch-born engineer suffered 15 months of pain before being allowed to die at a euthanasia in Belgium, where doctors said he was enduring unbearable physical and psychological suffering in January 2017. The pair were together for five years but split up in August 2015 and Mr Van Dongen, although still supporting Ms Wallace financially, began seeing another woman. In the hours before the attack, they appeared to attempt to rekindle their romance. They later argued and Ms Wallace, a part-time fashion student, told Mr Van Dongen she would spend the night at a hotel, the court heard. But at 3am on 25 September 2015, Ms Wallace returned to their flat, woke up her former partner and threw sulphuric acid in his face, prosecutors said. Mr Van Dongen ran into the street in his underwear screaming for help and was taken into a neighbour's flat and put under the shower until paramedics arrived. Neighbours described him as looking as though was doused in grey paint. The acid left Mr Van Dongen with horrific injuries. He was unable to move his tongue, lost one eye, and was partially blinded in another. Doctors were forced to amputate his left leg, the court was told. An A&E doctor at Southmead Hospital recalled how Mark caught sight of himself in the mirror and screamed: Kill me now, if my face is going to be left looking like this, I dont want to live. He was kept at the Bristol Hospital until moving to care home in Gloucester for a month, before asking his father to take him back to Belgium, where his family lived. Berlinah Wallace denies murder (SWNS) Prosecutor Adam Vaitlingam told the court: Over the next few days and weeks Mark was seen by doctors in Belgium. They confirmed that he was paralysed for life. He was taking the maximum dose of pain relief. He would have known he was extremely disfigured, that he needed constant care, that he would be in significant pain for the rest of his life." He added: "His physical condition improved a little - he regained the power of speech, though never the ability to move. But 15 months later, deciding that he could bear it no longer, he asked a euthanasia clinic in Belgium to assist him in taking his own life. "He was examined by three consultants, who confirmed that this was, in their terms, a case of unbearable physical and psychological suffering despite maximum medical support." He died at the clinic on 2 January, 2017. "It is the prosecution case that the defendant deliberately threw acid at Mr Van Dongen, intending to cause him serious harm," Mr Vaitilingam added. "She admits throwing it but denies any intent to cause him harm. She says that she believed that what she was throwing over him was a glass of water. "It is the prosecution case that the physical and mental suffering that he sustained from that deliberate acid attack were what drove him to euthanasia. Put simply, he could not bear to live in that condition. If that is right, we say, then she is guilty of murder." Ms Wallace denies murder and throwing a corrosive fluid with intent to cause grievous bodily harm. She said she believed she was throwing a glass of water at her former partner. She also claimed Mr Van Dongen filled the glass and tried to dupe her into drinking it along with medication she took in a bid to kill or injure her. The court heard the couple had fallen out the month before the attack when Mr Van Dongen began seeing another woman, Violet Farquharson. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. 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PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA Prior to the alleged attack, Ms Farquharson began receiving silent phone calls and Ms Wallace was given a police warning about harassment. Shortly before his death, Mr Van Dongen told his colleagues that Ms Wallace had been violent towards him and had threatened to stab him. They said he "was genuinely frightened" of her. On 2 September, Ms Wallace ordered a bottle of sulphuric acid from Amazon, the court heard. A fortnight before the attack she began searching on Google for images of acid attack victims. Mr Vaitlingam said: The defendant denies that her purchase of the sulphuric acid had anything to do with the end of the relationship. She was to say to police interview she bought it because of a smell from the drains in the flat. She says that Mark knew she was buying it and why. He, on the other hand, was to tell police that he did not know that she had bought the acid and did not know that it was in the flat. When police approached Wallace at her flat following the attack they found her sitting on the sofa with a glass beer mug on the floor beside a piece of cloth and a paintbrush. Asked by police what had injured her former partner, Ms Wallace replied: Acid. I was using it to distress some fabric. She pointed to the floor before taking the officers into the kitchen and showing them the bottle under the sink, the trial heard. Mr Vaitlingam said: Another police officer spoke to Mark Van Dongen while he was in the ambulance. He describes how Mark was screaming in pain for the entire journey, but remembers that Mark asked him to please [ensure] that my girlfriend is OK and saying that he thought the defendant might be on the way to Violets address. Defence barrister Richard Smith, representing Ms Wallance, told the jury Mr Van Dongen bluntly told untruths to the police before his death. Ms Wallace had previously reported Mr Van Dongen to police due to their volatile relationship, he said. Mr Smith added: It is understandable when you see someone covered in acid running from a building, you can understand that looks like a victim. It might not be all that it seems. From the very moment that Mark van Dongen, if he poured the acid in that glass himself, he has become the author of his own misfortune. The trial continues. A former Metropolitan Police detective has been criticised claiming Duwayne Brooks ran away and left his mate Stephen Lawrence in a new documentary about the 25-year-old murder. Bill Mellish, took over the investigation in July 1994, over a year after the 18-year-old aspiring architect was stabbed to death in a racially-motivated attack at a bus stop in Eltham, south-east London in April 1993. The five main suspects were Gary Dobson, brothers Neil and Jamie Acourt, Luke Knight and David Norris. Dobson and Norris were eventually found guilty of Lawrence's murder on 3 January 2012 and given a minimum jail term of 12 years. Interviewed for the documentary, which re-examined the case, looking at both the police failings and the far-reaching impact Lawrence's death, Mr Melling said Mr Brooks "knows he forever will be the man that ran away and left his mate. He knows that. He added that Stephen's mother, Doreen Lawrence, now Baroness Lawrence of Clarendon, OBE, "hasn't forgiven him." He said: "They have never spoken ever since. Smirking at the camera, he added: I know they haven't. Social media users were quick to criticise the comments. The Black History Studies Twitter account wrote: 'Hes known as 'the guy who ran away and left his friend'. Disgusting that this was even suggested Duwayne Brooks was not to blame. Another Twitter user added: Even now, that mans comment on how he ran away and left his mate was insensitive and ridiculous about a boy, not a man, who was forced to run for his life and watch his friend die." A third added: "BBC One the ex-met officer making comments about Duwayne Brooks is unacceptable, insensitive and unprofessional! He should be ashamed of himself." Mr Mellish also came under fire for suggesting that Baroness Lawrence used the "gimmick" of refusing to smile. It was unrelenting criticism, not a smile," he said. "That was her gimmick, not a smile. I think aided and abetted by her legal team she was a formidable force. I dont think in her own right she was ever a formidable force. One Twitter user said they were "absolutely disgusted" by the remarks. "What does he expect her to do, smile and laugh when she talks about her Murdered son, he said. Another added: "Bill Mellish appears to have learned nothing. The gimmick remark breathtakingly insensitive." Mr Mellish also that claimed it was "utter rubbish" to accuse the police force of institutional racism in the wake of Lawrences murder. I think one officer on the night [of the murder] formed, wrongly, the opinion that it was a drug-related murder, he said. And I think on that basis and perhaps one or two other examples [they] branded the whole of the Metropolitan police as racist. Utter rubbish. Imran Khan, the solicitor who represented the Lawrence family during the public inquiry into the murder also condemned Mr Mellishs remarks in The Guardian. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA He said he had watched the documentary with Baroness Lawrence, who was appointed OBE for "services to community relations" in 2003, and she was similarly angered by some of the former detectives comments. He went on to attack Lady Lawrence as ungrateful, saying she used as a gimmick a tendency to never smile; and that I and Michael Mansfield, the familys barrister, were extreme leftwingers working to our own agenda, Mr Khan wrote. Hearing those words felt like an almighty kick in the gut. I felt betrayed. I looked at Doreen; she gave a sharp intake of breath, then fell silent. It is hard to describe the shock. By the end of the episode we were both shaking with fury. We had assumed that Mellish, like us, had been enlightened by the Macpherson revelations. But, having left the Met, here he was, free to say what he really thought. Sir Alan Parker has resigned as Save the Childrens international chairman amid intense pressure over the charitys response to sexual misconduct. He also stepped down from the boards of Save the Children International and the Save the Children Association. Sir Alans 10-year term had been due to end in December, but the charity said he felt it right at this moment to bring forward his succession. Recommended Charity boss resigns from Unicef over claims of inappropriate texts In a letter to colleagues he said: Given the complex mix of challenges the organisation and the sector is facing, it is my view that a change is needed. I have therefore taken the decision to step down as chair and will do everything I can to support a smooth succession. Save the Children UK is being investigated by the charities commissioner over its handling of sexual harassment allegations against senior members of staff. Sir Alan, who also founded public relations firm Brunswick, was chairman of the charitys UK branch during alleged incidents by other members of staff in 2012 and 2015. The Charity Commission, which regulates charities in England and Wales, said last week it had become aware of new information relating to sexual misconduct in the aid agency. Justin Forsyth, Save the Children UKs chief executive between 2010 and 2015, resigned as deputy director of Unicef in February after it emerged he was accused of sending inappropriate text messages to other members of staff while at Save the Children. Mr Forsyth was seen as a close ally of Sir Alan, and in February admitted he made mistakes during his time at Save the Children UK, but said the aid agency had dealt with the issue properly, and strongly denied a number of claims. Brendan Cox, a Save the Children executive until 2015, also apologised for mistakes. The husband of murdered Labour MP Jo Cox resigned from two charities set up in her memory, but denied the claim of sexual assault made against him. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA Helle Thorning-Schmidt, CEO of Save the Children International, said: I would like to thank Alan for the decade of service he has given to Save the Children. We are deeply grateful for the time and dedication he has invested in our important cause. The Equality Party said in a Twitter post the resignation was a tribute to the bravery of those women who called out institutional sexism. Staff at Save the Children were among the signatories of a February petition calling for Sir Alan to stand down. The appeal claimed he was ultimately accountable for both [Mr Cox and Mr Forsyths] cases and called for proactive, full public disclosure, to retain and regain public trust. Theresa May ignored repeated warnings from the Home Office over potential discrimination and hardship caused by hostile environment policies affecting migrants, it has emerged. The current home secretary, Amber Rudd, has come under pressure to resign over policies enacted under her predecessor amid the growing scandal affecting the Windrush generation. But four years ago, when Ms May was home secretary, an internal impact assessment found that plans to demand immigration documents from tenants could make it harder for foreign nationals to find homes, and provoke discrimination. In a second warning in 2015, while Ms May was still the home secretary, her department assessed how the new Immigration Bill could deny migrants housing and driving licences or see their bank accounts frozen. The document also foreshadowed the current scandal over threats to deport people who were welcomed to Britain during the Windrush arrivals. Some non-UK born older people may have additional difficulties in providing original documentation, it said. Some may have had their immigration records destroyed. Some will have originally come into the country under old legislation but may have difficulty in evidencing this. A third report, issued last month by immigration officials, accused the Home Office of explaining away evidence its policies were causing discrimination and suggested some hostile environment measures were not even having the desired effect. Diane Abbott, the shadow home secretary, said the latest development was "yet further evidence of the discriminatory nature of the government's immigration policy". She told The Independent: The Home Office under the Tories has brushed aside repeated warnings that this would impact migrant and other communities. They chose to ignore it. This government must start treating people decently. The hostile environment must end. Dexter Bristol: Member of the Windrush generation died following depression as he tried to prove his British citizenship, claims mother Reports of deportation notices being handed to people who arrived in Britain as children more than 50 years ago started to emerge in November, and outrage has mounted over British residents being refused vital medical treatment, benefits and work. Amber Rudd has apologised for the appalling treatment and vowed to stop the deportation of Commonwealth citizens and to help them confirm their immigration status a move made harder by the governments decision to destroy thousands of landing cards. Her suggestion that Home Office officials were to blame for the fiasco prompted Dave Penman, the general secretary of the FDA union, which represents senior civil servants, to urge Ms Rudd to consider the political strategy and rhetoric adopted by her government over many years rather than suggesting it is individual civil servants who have lost their focus. But the impact of the hostile environment for illegal immigration as Theresa May herself dubbed the onslaught of policies as home secretary in 2012 has gone far beyond Windrush citizens. Immigration checks have spread across public services, with the NHS demanding identification before treatment or charging patients, while sharing their information with the Home Office, and banks carrying out status checks on current accounts. Police have reported victims of crime, including a woman who was raped, to immigration enforcement and teachers say migrant families are too terrified to attend meetings or sign up for free school meals. Monitors cite the decision to drive Home Office vans telling illegal immigrants to go home or face arrest around Britain in 2013 as a turning point for the hostile environment policy, which the government recently rebranded as the compliant environment. Right to rent checks requiring landlords in England to check prospective tenants immigration status, or face fines and criminal prosecution, have sparked particular concern and are the subject of a legal challenge. A 2013 impact assessment by the Home Office said the policy may provoke discrimination against those perceived to be a higher risk based on an unfounded belief that the person may be a foreign national, while an evaluation of a pilot scheme two years later found black and minority ethnic people were being disproportionately asked for documentation, and reports of discrimination and exploitation by rogue landlords. The government did not wait for the evaluation before deciding to roll the scheme out across England, saying afterwards that no evidence of significant discrimination was found. No time has been set for its planned extension to Scotland and Wales. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 1 October 2021 A driver talks to members of the media after passing his HGV (Heavy Goods Vehicle) driving test at National Driving Centre in Croydon, south London AFP via Getty Images UK news in pictures 30 September 2021 The centrepiece One Thousand Springs by Japanese artist Chiharu Shiota is seen ahead of the beginning of the Japan Festival, a celebration of the countrys plants, art and culture running from 2-31 October, at Kew Gardens in London PA UK news in pictures 29 September 2021 The family of Betty Campbell unveil the bronze sculpture of her during the unveiling of the statue in Central Square, Cardiff, of Betty Campbell, Wales' first black headteacher PA UK news in pictures 28 September 2021 A sign referring to the lack of fuel is placed at the entrance to a petrol station in London AP UK news in pictures 27 September 2021 Police officers detain a protester from Insulate Britain occupying a roundabout leading from the M25 motorway to Heathrow Airport in London PA UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA A report by the independent chief inspector of borders and immigration accused officials of explaining away the evidence when it was published last month. The chief inspector, David Bolt, found no indication that right to rent checks were having the intended effect as part of the hostile environment. More than 10,000 homes have been raided by Home Office enforcement but only 265 fines and no prosecutions have been handed out so far, he said, calling intelligence sluggish and communication ineffective. Concerns about right to rents impact on racial and other forms of discrimination by landlords, exploitation of migrants and associated criminality, and homelessness, have been raised repeatedly, Mr Bolt said, adding that the Home Office has not attempted the schemes impact or discrimination allegations. It is yet to demonstrate its worth as a tool to encourage immigration compliance, and the number of voluntary returns has fallen. Campaigners said the failure was disgraceful and accused the Home Office of refusing to allow representatives of affected migrants to sit on a consultative panel. The Joint Council for the Welfare of Immigrants (JCWI), has launched a challenge against the measures, while the Migrants Rights Network (MRN) is working to stop the NHS handing patient information to immigration enforcement. Rita Chadha, acting director of the MRN, said there is evidence that people are failing to report crime to the police or seek medical help because they fear being deported. Everyone understands what institutional racism is but now we have institutional hostility, she told The Independent. Everyday organisations are closing their doors on migrants. Its housing, its banks, its health, its the police, driving people into exploitative relationships where they become more vulnerable. There should be a cost-benefit analysis, not only for peoples lives and wellbeing but also the public purse. A Home Office spokesperson said it was taking the chief inspectors recommendations on the right to rent scheme into account to make sure it was evaluated and communicated as effectively as possible. As the policy equality statement on right to rent specifies, we have undertaken significant work to ensure that the right to rent checks do not have an adverse impact on any age group, she added. This included working with charities, local authorities, landlords and letting agents on the range of documents required. We also set up an enquiry service to provide support to landlords delivering the checks and have worked with organisations such as the Citizens Advice Bureau to ensure that anyone who may be affected has access to advice and practical assistance to satisfy the check. The son of a Windrush immigrant has been forced to declare himself as stateless after he was threatened with deportation despite being born in the UK. Jay, now in his twenties, has been repeatedly denied a British passport because of a lack of clarity over his mothers status after she came from Jamaica as a child. He was forced to become a stateless citizen after the Home Office threatened to remove him from the country in 2016. Speaking to The Independent, Jay said he had been fighting a constant battle to be recognised as British, spending hundreds of pounds and sending dozens of letters in failed attempts to secure his status. The young man, who was born in Birmingham and now lives in east London, said he was left feeling excluded from society and unable to pursue career goals due to being unable to travel abroad. His case reveals the devastating effect the governments hostile environment policies have had on people who arrived as part of the Windrush, as well as the negative impact on their British-born offspring. Jays situation comes after a string of shocking cases emerged of individuals who had been targeted by Home Office officials despite being welcomed to Britain as children before 1973, with some denied medical care, losing their jobs or being threatened with deportation. Amber Rudd and the prime minister have both already issued apologies over the scandal and set up an official hotline for those with concerns about their migration status, with the Home Office having already dealt with more than 200 cases. Jay, who was placed in foster care as a baby, first became aware of the issues surrounding his status in the UK when his foster parents wanted to take him abroad on holiday and were unable to get him a passport. There were certain trips that the school and the college would organise, which I obviously couldnt go on. And I wouldnt be able to explain why, Id just say I cant go, he says. It made me feel very excluded from society. Its almost like you dont feel a part of what theyre a part of. This is a country where everyone is meant to feel welcome, and Im not illegal here, Im perfectly legal being here. As I got older it started to affect things that I wanted to do in my life. I had opportunities to go compete in competitions as part of my career and I couldnt. Jay applied for a passport as a teenager and was told he was not eligible because of a lack of information about his mother, from whom he was estranged, even though he was able to provide her birth certificate. Determined to resolve the situation, he wrote to numerous MPs pleading for their help, but while many tried to make contact with the Home Office, they were unable to change the decision. In 2016 Jay received a deportation notice from the Home Office after applying for a passport for the third time. He was told he was not eligible and that in order to remain he must declare himself as stateless. They said they were going to send me back to Jamaica. Ive never been to Jamaica, Jay said. In order to stay here I had to declare myself as a stateless person. It feels embarrassing to be classed as a stateless person. The word alone its very degrading. Now a university student but unsure on his prospects for the future, Jay said the Home Offices refusal to recognise him as British has left him feeling stuck, and at times driven him into a state of depression. Its hindered me a lot. I havent been able to meet certain business goals and compete in certain competitions to develop in my career. Its made me feel very stuck and very isolated at times very alone, depressed, he said. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty People didnt realise I was going through it. I didnt tell my friends. But Ive realised its best to sort it out now because its been brought to the public attention. Before the revelations of the Windrush scandal, I think everyone in the Jamaican community had given up hope. People were losing money, putting in applications that were being denied, being sent home. People had had enough. Im hoping the Home Office and the British government understand whats gone wrong here and how to correct the issue swiftly for those people who have been affected. The Home Office has been approached for comment. The UK should reopen its embassy in Damascus and swallow its pride in order to build relations with Bashar al-Assad, a former UK ambassador to Syria has said. Lord Green of Deddington said the Assad regime is here to say and called the Syrian leader more a figurehead than a dictator. Britain should "move in the direction" of "friendship" with Assad, although it should not fully embrace the dictator until his government lightens its touch, he added. Recommended May defends Syria air strikes amid criticism over lack of vote Lord Green was the UKs ambassador to Syria between 1991 and 1994. He then became Director of the Middle East at the Foreign Office, before being appointed as ambassador to Saudi Arabia. After leaving the Diplomatic Service, he co-founded the Migration Watch think tank, which seeks to reduce immigration, and sits as a crossbench peer in the House of Lords. His controversial comments come days after the UK joined the US and France in launching air strikes against the Syrian government. The Assad regime is accused of using chemical weapons against its own civilians on several occasions, most recently in the town of Douma. Troops loyal to Assad have been locked in a brutal war with rebel groups in Syria for the last seven years. With the backing of Russia and Iran, the Syrian government has regained much of the land it lost in the early years of the conflict. Speaking to The House magazine, Lord Green said: The reality is that the present Assad regime is now here to stay. His forces have made decisive progress on the ground, strongly supported by Russia and Iran, both now key players in the region. Even the Israelis have long learnt to live with the Syrian regime. As for ourselves, we will not get a sensible strategy for Syria unless we come to terms with our instinctive rejection of the Assad regime. Certainly, it is a very tough police state and has been so for decades." Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child is treated in a hospital in Douma White Helmets Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a man with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures People cover their faces after an alleged chemical attack in Douma EPA Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A medical worker giving a toddler oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the opposition-held town of Douma. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a girl with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child is treated in a hospital in Douma White Helmets/Handout via Reuters Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Injured victims of an alleged chemical attack in Douma EPA Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a man with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A Syrian man mourns after an alleged chemical attack Alamy Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures People stand in front of damaged buildings, in the town of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus, Syria AP Photo/Hassan Ammar Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Rubble lines a street in Douma, at the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Rubble fills a street in Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus AP The peer said repression in Syria was not due to Bashar al-Assad alone he is more a figurehead than a dictator and claimed Syrians know that, if they stay out of politics, they can live a reasonable life. The turmoil in Iraq, Libya and Egypt suggests a stable country is preferable, even if it is a police state, he added. Calling on the UK government to change its approach to Syria, the former diplomat said: It is high time, therefore, to take an objective view of the Syrian regime and of our interests in the region. Our major interest is the denial of Syrian territory to ISIS and its allies. We need to be clear that Islamic extremists are the greatest threat to our own society since the Second World War. There is an Arab proverb that 'the enemy of my enemy is my friend'. Friendship is hardly possible unless and until the Syrian regime lightens its touch but, meanwhile, we should swallow our pride and move in that direction." He added: As Lord Kerr, a former Head of our Diplomatic Service put it in the House of Lords on 16 April, 'We should stop saying that the man who is actually winning the civil war must go before there can be any future settlement'. Indeed so, and a reopened embassy in Damascus would be a useful start. Mere vituperation is not a strategy. The divorce bill Theresa May has agreed to pay as part of the Brexit deal could cost billions more than her 39bn estimate, auditors warn today. Even relatively small changes to government assumptions on economic performance, ongoing payments into EU schemes or the exchange rate would throw out the calculation, their report says. The government has also deliberately excluded a 2.9bn commitment to continue paying foreign aid through the EUs European Development Fund (EDF), the National Audit Office (NAO) points out. Relatively small changes to some assumptions about future events could push the cost outside of HM Treasurys 35bn to 39bn range, the report states. The chairwoman of the Commons Public Accounts Committee seized on the conclusions to demand ministers be clear with the British public what we are paying for and why. I fear the cost of the UK leaving the EU could increase further, the Labour MP Meg Hillier said. Our children and grandchildren risk being saddled with paying off this bill for decades to come. As negotiations continue and the real costs of the divorce bill come to light, the government must be clear with the British public what we are paying for and why. If not taxpayers will feel we are being sold a raw deal. The watchdog also called on the government to consider how it will update Parliament with revised estimates as new information becomes available. Head of the NAO, Sir Amyas Morse, said: The estimate reflects a number of moving parts, so the range of costs in it could have been wider than 35bn to 39bn. But overall we think it is a reasonable estimate. As the vote on the draft withdrawal agreement approaches we expect that government will provide a substantial amount of material for parliament to consider. UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA UK news in pictures 7 August 2021 People from the Glasgow Southside community take part in the Govanhill Carnival, an anti-racist celebration of pride, unity and the contributions immigrants have made to the community in Govanhill, at Queen's Park, Glasgow PA UK news in pictures 6 August 2021 Chijindu Ujah of Britain, Zharnel Hughes of Britain, Richard Kilty of Britain and Nethaneel Mitchell-Blake of Britain celebrate winning silver as they pose with Asha Philip of Britain, Imani Lansiquot of Britain, Dina Asher-Smith of Britain and Daryll Neita of Britain after they won bronze in the women's 4 x 100m relay during Olympic Games Day 14 Getty UK news in pictures 5 August 2021 A protester places flowers on a photograph of an executed man during a demonstration organised by supporters of the National Council of Resistance of Iran (NCRI) to protest against the inauguration of Iran's new president Ebrahim Raisi in central London AFP via Getty UK news in pictures 4 August 2021 England's Joe Root looks on as India's KL Rahul doesn't make it to a catch during day one of Cinch First Test match at Trent Bridge, Nottingham PA UK news in pictures 3 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny and Jason Kenny with their silver medals for the Women's Team Pursuit and Mens Team Sprint during the Track Cycling at the Izu Velodrome on the eleventh day of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games in Japan PA Nicky Morgan, chair of the influential Treasury Committee in the Commons and senior Conservative MP, said that while the NAO had judged the governments withdrawal estimate as reasonable, it appears to be shrouded in uncertainty. As the report states, the Treasury didnt incorporate some of the main uncertainties of which it was aware in its figure. For example, the settlement estimate doesnt include the UKs commitments to the European Development Fund, which the Treasury expects will cost 2.9bn after the UK leaves the EU, she added. In the report, the auditors add that Britain could be paying for the exit settlement until at least 2064 when EU pension liabilities are taken into consideration. The Treasury has previously estimated that the UK will settle around 60 per cent of settlement payments by the end of 2021 but may be making some payments for several decades. Among several uncertainties found in the Treasurys estimate, the auditors also point out that the terms of the settlement, which mark the end of transition period in December 2020 as a key date for determining the UKs share of liabilities, mean the EU Commission could skew decisions and impact the total value Britain will have to pay back. A government spokesman said: We have always been clear that we will honour commitments made while being part of the EU, and we have negotiated a settlement that is fair to UK taxpayers and means we will not pay for any additional EU spending beyond what we signed up to as a member. The NAO has confirmed that our estimated figure is a reasonable calculation and we are now discussing our future relationship. A Home Office statement has appeared to contradict claims by Theresa May's former chief of staff suggesting the prime minister was opposed to controversial "Go Home" immigration enforcement vans. Nick Timothy, who served as one of Ms May's special advisers at the Home Office and became her joint chief of staff when she entered Downing Street, said the decision had been made when the then Home Secretary was on holiday. However, a statement from a Home Office minister in 2016 said: "Theresa May MP was informed of the intention to pilot this campaign." Recommended Nick Timothy speaks out for first time since election disaster Mr Timothy used his regular column in The Telegraph to this week defend Ms May over her role in creating a "hostile environment" for immigrants. He wrote: "As Home Secretary, Theresa May was criticised for the notorious 'go home or face arrest' vans that were deployed in 2013. "In fact, she blocked the proposal, but it was revived and approved in a communications plan while she was on holiday. She killed off the scheme later that year, but by then the damage had been done." But a Home Office response from 2016 appears to contradict claims the vans were introduced without Ms May's knowledge. Answering a question from Labour MP Tulip Siddiq in July 2016, then immigration minister Robert Goodwill said: "The pilot to use the AdVans referred to was authorised by former immigration minister Rt. Hon. Mark Harper MP. The former Home Secretary, Rt. Hon. Theresa May MP was informed of the intention to pilot this campaign." UK news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 UK news in pictures UK news in pictures 26 September 2021 Labour Party leader Sir Keir Starmer watches the Arsenal v Tottenham Hotspur match at The Font pub in Brighton PA UK news in pictures 25 September 2021 Scottish pro-independence supporters hold a march and rally outside the Scottish Parliament in Edinburgh, Scotland Getty Images UK news in pictures 24 September 2021 Police officers remove two protesters from the top of a tanker, as Insulate Britain block the A20 in Kent, which provides access to the Port of Dover in Kent. The environmental activists have moved location after been banned from campaigning on the M25 motorway in London PA UK news in pictures 23 September 2021 Gabriella, the seven year old daughter of imprisoned British-Iranian Nazanin Zaghari-Ratcliffe, joins in a game on a giant snakes and ladders board in Parliament Square, to show the ups and downs of her mothers case to mark the 2,000 days she has been detained in Iran AP UK news in pictures 22 September 2021 A new sign hangs on the Millicent Fawcett statue after it was altered by CrackTheCrises coalition activists to highlight the climate crisis as a feminist struggle in Parliament Square in London EPA UK news in pictures 21 September 2021 Gabriella Diment prepares a monumental bronze patinated fibreglass wall sculpture depicting household cavalry soldiers on horseback which is expected to be sold for 12,000-18,000 when it goes up for auction at Summers Place Auctions in Billinghurst, Kent PA UK news in pictures 20 September 2021 Florist Judith Blacklock puts the finishing touches to a floral carousel installation in Halkin Arcade, which she has designed with Neill Strain for the Belgravia in Bloom festival, running from September 20-26, in London PA UK news in pictures 19 September 2021 Bubbles surround Manchester Uniteds Cristiano Ronaldo before the match against West Ham at London Stadium Action Images/Reuters UK news in pictures 18 September 2021 Children take part in the Settrington Cup Pedal Car Race as motoring enthusiasts attend the Goodwood Revival, a three-day historic car racing festival in Goodwood, Chichester, Reuters UK news in pictures 17 September 2021 Hugo, 7, from London rides past a 4x7 metre rainbow arch, made entirely of recycled aluminium cans, which has been installed by recycling initiative 'Every Can Counts', in partnership with The City of London Corporation in front of St Paul's Cathedral in London, to encourage members of the public to recycle their drinks cans ahead of recycling week, which starts on 20 September PA UK news in pictures 16 September 2021 Sheikeh MOhammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan, leader of Abu Dhabi, leaves Downing Street after meeting with Boris Johnson PA UK news in pictures 15 September 2021 Children pose by ice sculptures depicting people collecting water by charity Water Aid to show the fragility of water and the threat posed by climate change in London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 14 September 2021 Heavy rain covers the A149 near Kings Lynn in Norfolk PA UK news in pictures 13 September 2021 Luke Jerram's 'Museum of the Moon' at Durham Cathedral PA UK news in pictures 12 September 2021 Inspirational young fundraiser Tobias Weller crosses the finish line, near his home in Sheffield, as he completes his latest epic feat where he swam and triked his way to the end of his awesome year-long Ironman Challenge. This is the third challenge Tobias, who has cerebral palsy and autism, has completed, raising more than 150,000 for his school and Sheffield Children Hospitals charity PA UK news in pictures 11 September 2021 British player Emma Raducanu, holds up the US Open championship trophy winning the women's singles final of the US Open in New York AP UK news in pictures 10 September 2021 People paddle board during a misty morning in Ullswater, the second largest lake in the Lake District, Cumbria PA UK news in pictures 9 September 2021 Troops from Wiltshire based 4 Armoured Close Support Battalion Royal Electrical and Mechanical Engineers during final inspection at Wellington Barracks in London, ahead of providing troops for the Queens Guard PA UK news in pictures 8 September 2021 Workers cross London Bridge during the morning rush hour in London Reuters UK news in pictures Mixing it up: Painting it up press view in London A gallery employee poses for photographers next to a painting entitled Prairie by British artist, Louise Giovanelli during the exhibition 'Mixing it up: Painting it up' at the Hayward Gallery in London EPA UK news in pictures 6 September 2021 Traders in the Ring at the London Metal Exchange, in the City of London, after open-outcry trading returned for the first time since March 2020, when the Ring was temporarily closed due to the pandemic PA UK news in pictures 5 September 2021 People enjoy the warm weather on Sandbanks beach, Poole PA UK news in pictures 4 September 2021 Demonstrators from Animal Rebellion and Nature Rebellion protest in Trafalgar Square in London. PA UK news in pictures 3 September 2021 South Africa's Ntando Mahlangu (centre) wins the Men's 200 metres T61 Final ahead of second placed Great Britain's Richard Whitehead at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games PA UK news in pictures 2 September 2021 A young common seal on the beach at Horsey Gap in Norfolk, as hundreds of pregnant grey seals come ashore ready for the start of the pupping season. PA UK news in pictures 1 September 2021 Goldfinches fighting over food in a garden in Strensham, Worcestershire PA UK news in pictures 31 August 2021 Gold Medallist Sarah Storey of Britain celebrates on the podium Reuters UK news in pictures 30 August 2021 Extinction Rebellion protesters hold a a tea party on Tower Bridge in London EPA UK news in pictures 29 August 2021 A police office tussles with a demonstrator on Cromwell Road outside the Natural History Museum during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion in London PA UK news in pictures 28 August 2021 Members of the British armed forces 16 Air Assault Brigade walk to the air terminal after disembarking a Royal Airforce Voyager aircraft at Brize Norton, Oxfordshire POOL/AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 27 August 2021 Fabio Quartararo crashes during a MotoGP practice session at the British Grand Prix, Silverstone Circuit Action Images via Reuters UK news in pictures 26 August 2021 An Extinction Rebellion activist holds a placard in a fountain surrounded by police officers, during a protest next to Buckingham Palace in London Reuters UK news in pictures 25 August 2021 Gold Medallist Great Britains cyclist, Sarah Storey, celebrates after winning the Womens C5 3000m Individual Pursuit Final at the Tokyo 2020 Paralympic Games. It was her 15th Paralympic gold Reuters UK news in pictures 24 August 2021 A demonstrator dressed as bee during a protest by members of Extinction Rebellion on Whitehall, in central London PA UK news in pictures 23 August 2021 Former interpreters for the British forces in Afghanistan demonstrate outside the Home Office in central London AFP/Getty UK news in pictures 22 August 2021 Police officers form a line in front of the entrance to the Guildhall, London, where protesters have climbed onto a ledge above the entrance during an Extinction Rebellion stage a protest PA UK news in pictures 21 August 2021 People take part in a demonstration in solidarity with people of Afghanistan, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 20 August 2021 People zip wire across the sea from Bournemouth pier towards the beach. PA UK news in pictures 19 August 2021 Supporters of Geronimo the alpaca gather outside Shepherds Close Farm in Wooton Under Edge, Gloucestershire PA UK news in pictures 18 August 2021 Former Afghan interpreters and veterans hold a demonstration outside Downing Street, calling for support and protection for Afghan interpreters and their families PA UK news in pictures 17 August 2021 Military personnel board the RAF Airbus A400M at RAF Brize Norton in Oxfordshire, where evacuation flights from Afghanistan have been landing Reuters UK news in pictures 16 August 2021 Labour leader Sir Keir Starmer takes part in a minute's silence at Wolverhampton police station for the victims of the Plymouth mass shooting last week PA UK news in pictures 15 August 2021 2Storm, a ten-metre tall puppet of a mythical goddess of the sea created by Edinburgh-based visual theatre company Vision Mechanics, makes its way alongside the seafront at North Berwick, East Lothian, during a performance at the Fringe By The Sea festival PA UK news in pictures 14 August 2021 A woman and two young girls look at floral tributes in Plymouth where six people, including the offender, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident PA UK news in pictures 13 August 2021 Forensic officers in the Keyham area of Plymouth where six people, including the shooter, died of gunshot wounds in a firearms incident on Thursday evening PA UK news in pictures 12 August 2021 Children ride horses in the River Eden in Appleby, Cumbria, during the annual gathering of travellers for the Appleby Horse Fair PA UK news in pictures 11 August 2021 Stella Moris (left) reacts after talking to the media outside the High Court in London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal, n London, following the first hearing in the Julian Assange extradition appeal. The US government has won the latest round in its High Court bid to appeal against the decision not to extradite Julian Assange on espionage charges PA UK news in pictures 10 August 2021 Students react after they receive their A-Level results at the Ark Academy, in London Reuters UK news in pictures 9 August 2021 The final athletes from Great Britain arrive home including Jason Kenny, Laura Kenny and Katie Archibald (front left-right) at Heathrow Airport, London following the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games PA UK news in pictures 8 August 2021 Great Britain's Laura Kenny during the closing ceremony of the Tokyo 2020 Olympic Games at the Olympic stadium in Japan PA The controversial vans, which carried signs reading "In the UK illegally? Go home or face arrest", were driven around areas with large immigrant communities in the summer of 2013. They were widely criticised at the time, including by Liberal Democrat ministers who were then part of the Coalition Government. Labour accused the government of using the "language of the National Front". The "hostile environment" that Ms May vowed to create for illegal immigrants has been heavily scrutinised this week in the wake of the Windrush fiasco, which has seen Caribbean immigrants who have lived in Britain for decades facing deportation for being unable to prove their legal right to stay in the country. The issue came to light following new regulations introduced in an attempt to clamp down on illegal immigrants that forced Windrush and other immigrants living in the UK legally to prove their right to remain. However, a lack of official documentation has led to many struggling to do so, and losing jobs, pensions and healthcare as a result. Theresa Mays hostile environment policy brought against illegal immigrants when she was in charge of the Home Office was seen as almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany by some in government, a former civil service chief has claimed. The remarks from Lord Kerslake, who was in charge of the civil service between 2012 and 2014, come amid mounting pressure on Downing Street over the Windrush scandal. On Wednesday evening it emerged that one of the citizens who arrived from the Caribbean in the 1960s died suddenly while embroiled in turmoil over his immigration status. Speaking on BBCs Newsnight, the crossbench peer said deep concerns about the hostile environment policy towards immigrants were expressed across government. I think it was not just a question of the home secretary being told it was a challenging policy, the prime minister was as well, he said. This was a very contested piece of legislation across government departments. Now, I can't say, and shouldn't say, as the former head of the civil service, precisely who gave what advice to whom. But, what I can tell you, it was highly contested and there were some who saw it, I shan't name them, as almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany in the way it's working. Asked if he was referring to people in the civil service, Lord Kerslake said: No, some in the ministers were deeply unhappy. Recommended Amber Rudd under pressure to resign over Windrush scandal Pressed on whether the government could say that experts did not warn them a Windrush generation problem could be a consequence of the move, Lord Kerslake said: Look, I don't think they can say that really. You created an environment in which action was going to be taken and there was a risk, it was obvious to everyone, that you would take the rough with the smooth. I think it would be just quite wrong to land this on the civil service, basically. This was a conscious policy in order to hold on to a strong policy position that was proving very difficult to imply. Lord Kerslake said it was completely ridiculous for Amber Rudd, the current home secretary, to attempt to blame civil servants for the Windrush situation. You cannot create a climate and then not expect it to have consequences, he said. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty Responding to Lord Kerslakes comments, Michael Gove, the environment secretary, said: Well, Ive never heard anyone make that comparison before Lord Kerslake made it. It is not for me to criticise a distinguished former public servant like Lord Kerslake, but I respectfully disagree." Windrush campaigner and prominent Labour MP David Lammy said: In light of this crisis and the devastating impact it has had on huge numbers of innocent people, I am calling on the prime minister to establish an independent review of immigration policy and the hostile environment. Lessons must be learnt from the Windrush crisis and a review is now a vital step in understanding how and why our immigration system treats people in this way and what reforms are needed to prevent any further cruelty and injustices. The government wants the EUs geographical indications system to keep protecting British foods such as Stilton and Cornish pasties from imitation after Brexit but has been unable to secure an agreement with Brussels on the issue because it is not committing to protecting EU products in return. A government spokesperson said the UK would like to have its existing products protected by the EU GI schemes after we leave but officials say whether Britain would protect EU products in Britain in return is still subject to negotiation. About 1,400 foods, wines, and spirits are protected by three related EU schemes that legally reserve the names of certain regional specialities. The system means that products like Champagne can only be produced in the eponymous French region, or Feta cheese only made in particular areas of Greece. Some 65 British products, including traditional Cumberland sausages, Jersey royal potatoes and Plymouth gin, benefit from the protected EU status. The European Commission has previously said the UK should stay in the system in its entirety by introducing domestic laws comparable to that provided by Union law that would protect EU products and also see British products protected. But the UK has been reluctant to commit to enforcing the full scheme possibly because staying in it in full would anger the United States, which considers the rules a form of protectionism by Europe. Britain is desperate for a free trade agreement with the US after Brexit, and a dossier of objections to EU trade policies released this year by the US Trade Department says that the United States remains troubled with the EU system that provides overbroad protection of Geographical Indications. European Commission sources pointed out that the UK and EU were yet to agree on how geographical protections would work in the transition period, never mind whether they would be included in a future trade deal. The relevant section in the draft withdrawal agreement is marked in white as not agreed. We expect that all current UK geographical indications will continue to be protected by the EUs GI schemes after we leave UK government spokesperson Geographical indicators have long been a sticking point in trade talks between Europe and countries such as the US and Canada, with member states insisting that their farmers should not be undercut by competition from imitation products. A UK government spokesperson told The Independent: As we leave the EU we will forge new and ambitious trade links around the world, reaching new customers for UK farmers and food and drink producers, while also maintaining our high standards on animal welfare and food safety. We are very clear that the UK will continue to protect UK geographical indications, and we expect that all current UK GIs will continue to be protected by the EUs GI schemes after we leave. We are discussing this with the EU and are also agreeing an implementation period which provides continuity of our current trade terms. Ministers and officials meet regularly with farming groups and food and drink producers from across the UK to address their concerns and discuss how a future independent UK trade policy can support them to grow. Stilton is a protected cheese under EU law and has to be produced in its traditional heartland Officials at the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs said the UK wanted currently protected British products to stay part of the EUs geographical indications system, but that the UK was not seeking to stay in the scheme entirely. Protection for EU products within Britain is understood to be subject to ongoing negotiations. The statement from the government on the policy came in response to a letter from a cross-party group of MEPs who asked for an update on the progress made on providing certainty for farmers after Brexit. Molly Scott Cato, a Green MEP who represents the south west of England, told The Independent that the EU was unlikely to agree to special protections for British farmers. Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters When Boris Johnson arrived in Cornwall brandishing a pasty he did not warn local producers that their livelihoods might be at stake, she said. He failed to mention there is no system for protecting the special status of Cornish pasties actually produced in Cornwall after Brexit. US pasty producers along with Canadian producers of cheddar cheese, Argentinian beef producers and many others will be licking their lips at the thought of gobbling up a greater market share as protections based on geographical designations evaporate after Brexit. In spite of the optimism of [Liam] Foxs trade department, UK negotiators are in a much weaker position than those representing the 500 million-strong EU market. The UK is unlikely to find competitors willing to swallow the idea of special protections for our farmers and food producers. Close Former civil service chief Lord Kerslake says 'hostile environment' policy on illegal immigration 'almost reminiscent of Nazi Germany' Theresa May has faced fresh questions over the destruction of thousands of landing cards amid the escalating row over the treatment of the Windrush generation. Documents recording the arrival of children of Caribbean migrants were destroyed by the Home Office in 2010 - when Ms May was home secretary - but she tried to blame the previous Labour administration by saying the decision was taken in 2009. Downing Street later said it was an "operational" decision taken by officials rather than ministers, but Lord Kerslake, a former head of the civil service, said it was "pretty unlikely" that the Home Office would destroy records. The row began when it emerged many of the Windrush generation had been denied medical care, lost their jobs or threatened with deportation to Caribbean countries they left as children. See here for live updates Sadiq Khan has said that the Windrush scandal must act as a wake up call over what he argues is the increasingly hostile way that the UK government has been treating immigrants. Writing exclusively for The Independent, the Mayor of London accused Theresa Mays administration of trying to frame the fiasco as a one off, when he claims it is a result of a deliberate push to treat all immigrants with suspicion. Mr Khan spoke out after the Windrush scandal, which has seen UK citizens targeted for deportation and refused medical treatment, escalated as a mother blamed her sons death on his struggle to convince the authorities he is British. The death of Dexter Bristol heaped pressure on the home secretary, Amber Rudd, to resign, but she is said to be furious at having to deal with the fallout of policies implemented when Theresa May was at the Home Office. In his article Mr Khan wrote: Its right that the Prime Minister has apologised, but the impression has been created that this disgraceful episode is an anomaly which simply isnt true. Instead it is the product of deliberate and consistent behaviour from a party that is increasingly willing to treat all immigrants and refugees with suspicion and hostility, and to fuel division within our communities for their own political gain. The mayor cited the governments overall immigration policy, widely criticised 2016 mayoral campaign, a recent campaign leaflet in Havering and a decision to withdraw the post-study work visa for students as examples of the Conservative partys divisive and negative approach towards immigrants. Dexter Bristol: Member of the Windrush generation died following depression as he tried to prove his British citizenship, claims mother He went on: The truth is the Tories have essentially swallowed whole the UKIP position and approach on immigration. And the latest Windrush scandal, with people being wrongly targeted for deportation, is just symptomatic of the hostile environment driven both through policy and rhetoric which has been deliberately created by this Tory government since 2010. Mr Khan added: Enough is enough. The outcry over the Windrush scandal should be a wake-up call not only to the Tories that they have gone too far in creating such a hostile environment for immigrants, but that we all have a responsibility to help re-shape, improve and humanise the debate around immigration. Mr Bristol emigrated to the UK from Grenada in 1968 when he was eight-years-old, but he was sacked from his cleaning job last year and later denied benefits because he was unable to provide documents proving his right to live in the UK. His mother last night said the stress caused by his immigration problems was responsible for his death. On Wednesday, the Home Office revealed 113 people have called an official hotline with concerns about their migration status. Swazilands king has officially renamed the country the Kingdom of eSwatini to mark 50 years since independence from British rule. The name Swaziland has angered some in the country, since it is a mix of Swazi and English. The new name means land of the Swazis in the local Swati language. King Mswati III, Africas last absolute monarch, announced the change at golden jubilee celebrations of the 50th anniversary of Swazi independence and of his 50th birthday. Recommended King Mswati III of Swaziland wants to ban divorce The king has referred to the Kingdom of eSwatini several times in recent years in an address to the UN General Assembly in 2017 and at African Union and other international conferences. Addressing a large crowd gathered in a stadium in the city of Manzini, 25 miles east of the capital Mbabane, the king said Swaziland was reverting to the original name it had before being colonised by the British. The impoverished southern African nation a member of the Commonwealth gained independence from Britain in 1968. I would like to announce that from today onwards, our country will be known as the Kingdom of eSwatini, the king said. Whenever we go abroad, people refer to us as Switzerland," he said, claiming the name caused confusion. The king, who wore a red and black military uniform and rode in an open car into the stadium, said he wanted his country to have a name people could identify with. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Most Swazi people struggle to earn a living in agriculture, often cultivating sugar. There is widespread poverty in a country with the worlds highest HIV/Aids rate. Taiwan President Tsai Ing-wen attended the event while on a visit to a country, which is one of the few to maintain diplomatic ties with Taiwan rather than Beijing. Reuters contributed to this report A British man is suing American magician David Copperfield claiming he was badly injured while participating in a 2013 Las Vegas show. Gavin Cox, who was at the performance for his birthday, was selected to take part in an illusion that appears to make 13 audience members vanish. The 58-year-old from Kent claims he suffered lasting brain damage and a shoulder injury after falling on debris in a construction site during the trick. Mr Copperfields lawyers lost pretrial bids to close proceedings to the public to avoid giving away performance secrets. The magicians friend and executive producer, Chris Kenner, revealed to jurors how the illusion was performed. Recommended David Copperfield is the highest paid magician in the world Stagehands ushered participants through dark curtains, down secret passageways and through backstage areas before leading them back into the theatre, where they would reappear during the performance finale, Mr Kenner said. Is that route an obstacle course? asked Benedict Morelli, representing Gavin Cox, who claims injuries sustained in the fall have have cost him more than $400,000 (280,000) in medical care. Mr Kenner, whose company Backstage Employment and Referral Inc is also a defendant in the case, denied the suggestion. At no time are they told what theyre going to do before they start this illusion, Mr Morelli asked Mr Kenner. Theyre told as theyre running the route, correct? Mr Kenner answered yes, but declined to say it was dangerous to lead people along a dark route over changing floor surfaces including linoleum, cement and carpet. The lawyer said before Mr Cox fell, the group were led through an alley coated with what Mr Morelli called construction dust. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty MGM Grand hotel attorney Jerry Popovich told the jury of eight women and four men last week that 10 minutes before Mr Cox fell, Mr Copperfield safely walked through that same area as part of another illusion that did not involve audience participation. He said Mr Copperfield would have alerted stagehands if he noticed any problems along the way. The court case continues. Associated Press contributed to this report The US Air Force has ordered the development of a hypersonic cruise missile, which it hopes will travel at Mach 5 - five times the speed of sound - through air defences and keep fighter jet pilots out of harms way. Defence giant Lockheed Martin has been tasked with producing the weapon as part of a prototype programme led by the US Department of Defence. The Air Force is using prototyping to explore the art-of-the-possible and to advance these technologies to a capability as quickly as possible, a spokeswoman said. If the "hypersonic conventional strike weapon is successful Lockhead Martin could earn up to $928m (653m). The announcement comes shortly after the head of US Strategic Command, General John Hytens, warned American senators that the country currently lacked any defence against hypersonic missiles. Both Russia and China are aggressively pursuing hypersonic capabilities. Weve watched them test those capabilities, he said last month. The hearing was held days after Vladimir Putin gave details about Russias tests of its own hypersonic prototype, the Kinzhal missile. Calling it an ideal weapon, the Russian president said their speed makes it invulnerable to current missile and air defence systems since interceptor missiles are, simply put, not fast enough. No end date has been set for the new contract, which will see Lockheed Martin undertake the design, development, engineering, systems integration, test, logistics planning, and aircraft integration support of all the elements of a hypersonic, conventional, air-launched, stand-off weapon at its base in Alabama. Stand-off weapons, like those used by American pilots in last week's air strikes on suspected chemical weapons sites in Syria, are launched from outside the range of defensive missile batteries. Hypersonic missiles are designed to evade those defences by flying at five times the speed of sound, or faster. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Earlier this week, the Pentagons research and development chief, Michael Griffin, told members of Congress this week that current defences mean the US will not see these things coming, leaving little time for response. Today the most significant advance by our adversaries has been the Chinese development of what is now today a pretty mature system for conventional prompt strike at multi-thousand-kilometre ranges, he said. He has previously called hypersonic technology, the Defence Departments first priority". The US has previously tested the X-51 Waverider, a hypersonic aircraft developed by Boeing that is capable of flying at Mach 5. It is launched from a B-52 Stratofortress bomber while airborne, and powered by a rocket booster and ramjet engine. Lockheeds new hypersonic project is one of two currently being pursued by the Air Force, a spokeswoman said. The second is the Tactical Boost Glide system, according to US media reports. A boost glide craft is accelerated to high speed by a rocket before gliding unpowered to its destination, the US military said. A former Playboy model has reached an agreement with a tabloid publisher that will allow her to speak freely about her alleged 10 month affair with Donald Trump. Karen McDougal filed a suit in California last month seeking to be released from a so-called catch and kill deal made in 2016 with American Media Inc which publishes the National Enquirer and a number of other titles. It bestowed the company with exclusive rights to her story in exchange for $150,000 (106,000). Ms McDougal claims she had an affair with the US president starting shortly after the birth of his son Barron in March 2006. The ex-playmate said she was in love with Mr Trump at the time and has claimed the US president reciprocated her feelings. She also apologised to first lady Melania Trump about the relationship. Mr Trump has denied that the pair had an affair. AMI is pleased that we reached an amicable resolution with Ms McDougal today that provides both sides what they wanted as a result, the company said in a statement. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Under the terms of the settlement, Ms McDougal can keep the $150,000 she originally received and now possesses full rights to her own story. However, the tabloid company is entitled to 10 per cent of any profit Ms McDougal makes from reselling the rights to her story about the alleged affair within the next year - up to a maximum of $75,000 (53,000). AMI has said Ms McDougal was allowed to discuss her relationship with Mr Trump in response to "legitimate press inquiries." Ms McDougal had argued in her lawsuit the agreement was an illegal corporate donation from AMI to the Trump campaign that infringed federal election law. David Pecker, the Chairman and CEO of American Media, has previously referred to Mr Trump as a "personal friend." Ms McDougal had a largely private social life but the revelation of an alleged affair with Mr Trump thrust her into the headlines ahead of and after the 2016 presidential election. Mr Trump still faces another lawsuit from adult actor Stormy Daniels who claims she had a one-night stand with the world leader in 2006. Daniels, whose real name is Stephanie Clifford, has sued Mr Trump and his lawyer Michael Cohen to be released from a 2016 agreement not to publicly discuss the alleged sexual encounter in exchange for $130,000 (92,000). The White House has denied that affair took place. Cuba has confirmed that Miguel Diaz-Canel, a Communist Party loyalist, is to replace Raul Castro as president bringing an end to the 59-year era of rule under the Castro brothers, though almost certainly not their influence or power. Politicians in the countrys National Assembly announced the vice president had been selected to replace the brother of Fidel Castro, who had taken charge of the country after his brother fell ill in 2011. Fidel Castro, the driving force behind the countrys revolution and who ruled it it with a fist that was frequently cast of iron, died in 2016. Reports said there was little surprise about the ascension of Mr Diaz-Canel, of which little is said to be known by the international community; he was the sole candidate in the assembly secret ballot and therefore all but guaranteed of victory in Cubas single-party system. In his first televised address to the nation, Mr Diaz-Canel vowed to continue the socialist revolution that was established by the Castros. He said that Cuban foreign policy would not change and he would not negotiate the nations principles. At the same time, he said Cuba was always ready to to engage in dialogue with those who treat us as equals. The replacing of the 86-year-old Mr Castro by the 57-year-old vice president, marks an obvious generational shift and underscores that many in the country 70 per cent of people are aged below 54 have no first hand experience of the early, dramatic days of the revolution, that made the Castros heroes to many around the world, yet which would set them against the US for decades. Rather, many have grown up knowing years of both plenty and shortage. For years, the island was supported financially and strategically by the Soviet Union. But after the Soviet Union collapsed in 1991, the subsidies that had helped maintain life in Cuba dried up; daily calorie intake fell from 2,908 calories per day in the 1980s to a reported 1,863 calories per day in 1993. This moment was when many in the US believed Castros regime would collapse. As it was, the country re-engineered its agriculture system, being forced to adopt an almost organic approach across the island in the absence of imported fertilisers. Cuban students vow to continue Fidel Castro's legacy In more recent years, Cuba developed an important relationship with the late Venezuelan leader Hugo Chavez, a man who idolised Fidel Castro and sought to spread their ideology across the region. In exchange for Cuban doctors who were dispatched to work in Venezuelan clinics, Chavez dispatched oil. As the Venezuelan economy has imploded following Chavezs death and the era of incompetence and apparent corruption that has played out under his successor Nicolas Maduro, Cuba has looked to develop tourism, allow some private business and loosen some of the state-imposed economic regulations that marked many of the Castro years. Fidel Castro funeral procession Show all 20 1 /20 Fidel Castro funeral procession Fidel Castro funeral procession The funeral procession carrying the ashes of Fidel Castro departs after a ceremony in Santa Clara, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession People line a road to watch as the caravan carrying Cuba's late President Fidel Castro's ashes passes by in Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession People line a road to watch as the caravan carrying Cuba's late President Fidel Castro's ashes enters Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession People line a road to watch as the caravan carrying Cuba's late President Fidel Castro's ashes goes past Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession Daniel Hernandez, 4, salutes while awaiting the caravan carrying the late Cuban President Fidel Castro's ashes in Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A boy and a girl in their special position waiting for the arrival of the convoy carrying the remains of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in Cienfuegos, 240 km southeast from Havana Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession People wait along the Carretera Central to see the convoy carrying the urn with the ashes of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro AFP/Getty Images Fidel Castro funeral procession People watch the funeral procession carrying Fidel Castro's ashes through Santa Spiritus province in Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession Cubans wait for the passage of the convoy carrying the remains of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A woman holds an image of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro while awaiting the caravan carrying Castro's ashes Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession Yenia Coutinio poses for a picture while waiting for the funeral procession carrying Fidel Castro's ashes AP Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A man waits for the caravan carrying the ashes of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro at a sugar cane plantation in Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession A student holds an image of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro while awaiting the caravan carrying Castro's ashes in Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession A child reacts to the camera as he stands next to a truck used to carry people to a spot where they could watch the convoy carrying Fidel Castro's ashes in Gaspar, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession Wearing signs that read in Spanish 'I am Fidel', men sit on their horses as they wait to see the convoy carrying the ashes of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro on its way to the east of the country in Florida, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession People paint stones laid out as a tribute to Cuba's late President Fidel Castro in Las Tunas, Cuba Reuters The changes presaged a remarkable announcement at the end of 2014 when Raul Castro and Barack Obama revealed they had been secretly negotiating to end the diplomatic standoff that has existed for 54 years, during which time Washington had tried to assassinate Fidel Castro on countless occasions. The rapprochement saw a lifting of US sanctions that had been aggressively enforced for decades, and the opening of embassies in the countries respective capitals. That re-engagement has somewhat faltered since the election of Donald Trump, who rolled back some of the Obama administrations changes. Mr Castro will remain head of the Communist Party, which is designated by the constitution as the superior guiding force of society and the state. As a result, he may still be the most powerful person in Cuba for the time being. I like sticking with the ideas of President Fidel Castro because he did a lot for the people of Cuba, but we need rejuvenation, above all in the economy, Melissa Mederos, a 21-year-old schoolteacher, told AP. Diaz-Canel needs to work hard on the economy, because people need to live a little better. A once-trusted nanny who butchered two children in her care while their parents were away was convicted of murder by a jury that didnt believe her claims she was too insane at the time of the crime to be held responsible. Jurors on Wednesday found Yoselyn Ortega knew what she was doing when she killed Lucia Krim, six, and Leo Krim, two, in October 2012. Ortega expressed no reaction to the verdict, staring straight ahead as it was read, but later wiped tears from her eyes as she was led from the courtroom. The childrens father, Kevin Krim, sat in the front row, clasping hands with two alternate jurors who had been dismissed but stayed for the verdict. He hugged them and they wept together. The childrens mother, Marina Krim, who had returned home to discover them dead in a blood-soaked bathroom, was not in the audience but posted photos of them online after the verdict and expressed her undying adoration for them, writing, I love you. Ortegas lawyer Valerie Van Leer-Greenberg didnt dispute that Ortega killed the children, but contended she had an undiagnosed mental illness that worsened in the moments leading up to the attack. She said Ortega snapped and didnt know what she was doing when she stabbed the children to death. Mental illness does not announce itself like a bad cough or a limp, Ms Van Leer-Greenberg said during closing arguments. Sometimes it sneaks up and nestles in before anyone takes notice. But prosecutors maintained that Ortega, who is from the Dominican Republic, acted out of jealous hatred of the childrens mother. She did it intentionally with a full understanding of exactly what it was she was doing every stab, every slash, assistant district attorney Stuart Silberg said during closing arguments. The verdict capped an emotional seven-week trial that frequently reduced jurors and members of the audience to tears. Jurors heard heart-wrenching testimony from Ms Krim, who spoke of the sickening, desperate moments when she saw her childrens vacant eyes, their small bodies perforated by stab wounds. Ms Krim had been at a swimming class with her three-year-old daughter, Nessie. Ortega was to have dropped off Lucia at her dance class and Ms Krim was to pick her up. But when Ms Krim arrived, Lucia wasnt there. Ms Krim frantically tried to reach Ortega, who had worked for the family for more than two years. Ms Krim spoke of coming home to an eerily quiet apartment, darkened but for the light in the back bathroom, where she found the children and Ortega, who had stabbed herself in a failed suicide attempt. Ms Krim ran to the landing outside the apartment clutching Nessie and screaming. It was a scream you cant imagine is even inside of you, she testified. I dont even know where it came from. I just thought: Im never going to be able to talk to them ever again. They are dead. I just saw my kids dead. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Lucia was stabbed more than 30 times and Leo five times. At Ortegas trial, the childrens father, who had been on a business trip and received news of their deaths when his plane landed, spoke of walking down a long hallway at the hospital where he saw their bodies. They still had this perfect skin and these long eyelashes, Mr Krim said. They had like sandy brown hair. ... You could see they tried really hard to wash all the blood out, but there was still kind of an auburn tint to it that I remember to this day. Jurors, who deliberated for more than a day, said the trial affected them deeply. One, David Curtis, an actor, said it was difficult for him to set aside thoughts of his own children, now in their 20s. It is horrifying to think of being in a position of having to experience or go through the process that the Krims had to go through, said Mr Curtis, who had tears in his eyes. Mr Krim said after the verdict he and his wife wanted to thank the judge and the jurors for their commitment to justice. He stood at a press conference with Manhattan district attorney Cyrus R Vance, who said, Marina and Kevin have lived through the worst nightmare any parent could endure. Ortega, 55, faces life in prison when she is sentenced next month. Had she been found not responsible, she would have been committed to a mental institution. Recommended Government fails to mention police cuts in major violent crime report Ms Krim is a stay-at-home mother and Mr Krim is a former CNBC executive now at a startup. They use a Facebook page to post updates on how theyre doing, writing about the arrival of two new children, Felix, born in 2013 and Linus, born in 2016. The couple started the Lulu and Leo Fund, which aims to support innovative art programmes for children. After the verdict, they posted a collage of images of Lulu and Leo. On Instagram, Ms Krim posted a photo from atop the Empire State Building. You two never made it to the top but Im up here now for the first time, in peace, on top of the world, remembering another lifetime and thinking of you, she wrote. NYC, Lulu and Leo loved you and I love you too! AP So much change, so much remains the same. Raul Castro has stood down as Cubas president, bringing to an end the 59-year era of rule under he or his brother, but immediately indicating the philosophy and anti-US defiance that marked their decades of rule, are likely to guide the nation for some years to come. The 86-year-old was replaced by Miguel Mario Diaz-Canel Bermudez, a vice president with little international profile. In an sign the world should not expect dramatic change overnight, Mr Diaz-Canel, 57, said he intended to pursue a policy of continuity. Meanwhile, in his first speech as former president, Mr Castro, attacked Donald Trump for a foreign policy he claimed had restored Americas neo-colonial attitudes. He said that, after an historic restoration of diplomatic relations between the US and Cuba engineered by him and Barack Obama, the US was once again seeking to isolate Cuba and its allies. Even before the comments of the two men at the ceremony at the National Assembly in Havana, it was apparent that what appeared on paper to mark an shift in the nations course, may turn out to be less transformational than it might. Firstly, though he represents a generational change, Mr Diaz-Canel has a reputation as a party loyalist with little public reputation or charisma. Last year, a video of a Communist Party meeting was leaked in which Mr Diaz-Canel voiced several orthodox positions that included a promise to close some independent media. Secondly, though said to be growing increasingly tired and desirous of moving to a home he has built in colonial city of Santiago de Cuba, Mr Castro will remain first secretary of the Communist Party, the most powerful organisation in the country. Elizabeth Newhouse, a regional expert and director of the Cuba Centre for International Policy in Washington, said there would be pressure on Mr Mr Diaz-Canel to act quickly in some areas in order to help the economy, which she said was in a dire state. Miguel Diaz-Canel: Who is Cubas new president? She said she believed this was less the result of US sanctions, which were frequently blamed over the years, but continued mismanagement in Havana. She said Mr Diaz-Canel success as president would depend on how quickly he was able to show people he was capable and able to make life better for them. She said the party had intentionally chosen someone with a modest domestic and international profile. They were not looking for someone to replace Fidel, she told The Independent. Reports said that Mr Castro sat and nodded as Mr Diaz-Canel gave his first address. The people have given this assembly the mandate to provide continuity to the Cuban Revolution during a crucial, historic moment that will be defined by all that we achieve in the advance of the modernization of our social and economic model, Mr Diaz-Canel said, according to the Associated Press. He said Cuba was prepared to negotiate with the United States but unwilling to cede to any of Washingtons demands for internal change. He also said reforms would follow a 12-year-plan laid out by the National Assembly and Communist Party that would allow moderate growth of private enterprise while maintaining important sectors of the economy in the hands of the state. I confirm to this assembly that Raul Castro, as first secretary of the Communist Party, will lead the decisions about the future of the country, he said, during his 30-minute address. Cuba needs him, providing ideas and proposals for the revolutionary cause, orienting and alerting us about any error or deficiency, teaching us, and always ready to confront imperialism. Speaking after Mr Diaz-Canel, Mr Castro not only attacked Mr Trump but said he expected the younger man to become first secretary of the party after he stood down from the position in 2021. (Getty (Getty) From that point on, I will be just another soldier defending this revolution, Mr Castro said, apparently unwilling to reflect on own mortality. He said he expected Mr Diaz-Canel to serve two five-year terms as head of the party, saying he envisioned him guiding his own successor for three years after leaving the presidency in 2028. Mr Castro took control of the country in 2006, after his brother, Fidel, fell ill. He officially became president in 2008 and enacted a series of reform that that expanded Cubas private sector, allowed citizens greater freedom to travel and access to information Those changes presaged a remarkable announcement at the end of 2014 when Mr Castro and Mr Obama revealed they had been secretly negotiating to end the diplomatic stand-off that has existed for 54 years, during which time Washington had tried to assassinate Fidel Castro on countless occasions. He eventually died, peacefully, in 2016. Fidel Castro funeral procession Show all 20 1 /20 Fidel Castro funeral procession Fidel Castro funeral procession The funeral procession carrying the ashes of Fidel Castro departs after a ceremony in Santa Clara, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession People line a road to watch as the caravan carrying Cuba's late President Fidel Castro's ashes passes by in Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession People line a road to watch as the caravan carrying Cuba's late President Fidel Castro's ashes enters Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession People line a road to watch as the caravan carrying Cuba's late President Fidel Castro's ashes goes past Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession Daniel Hernandez, 4, salutes while awaiting the caravan carrying the late Cuban President Fidel Castro's ashes in Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A boy and a girl in their special position waiting for the arrival of the convoy carrying the remains of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro in Cienfuegos, 240 km southeast from Havana Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession People wait along the Carretera Central to see the convoy carrying the urn with the ashes of late Cuban leader Fidel Castro AFP/Getty Images Fidel Castro funeral procession People watch the funeral procession carrying Fidel Castro's ashes through Santa Spiritus province in Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession Cubans wait for the passage of the convoy carrying the remains of Cuban revolutionary leader Fidel Castro Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A woman holds an image of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro while awaiting the caravan carrying Castro's ashes Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession Yenia Coutinio poses for a picture while waiting for the funeral procession carrying Fidel Castro's ashes AP Fidel Castro funeral procession A military jeep is taking the ashes of Fidel Castro on a four-day journey across Cuba, with islanders lining the roads to bid farewell to the late communist icon Getty Fidel Castro funeral procession A man waits for the caravan carrying the ashes of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro at a sugar cane plantation in Carlos Manuel de Cespedes, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession A student holds an image of Cuba's late President Fidel Castro while awaiting the caravan carrying Castro's ashes in Camaguey, Cuba Reuters Fidel Castro funeral procession A child reacts to the camera as he stands next to a truck used to carry people to a spot where they could watch the convoy carrying Fidel Castro's ashes in Gaspar, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession Wearing signs that read in Spanish 'I am Fidel', men sit on their horses as they wait to see the convoy carrying the ashes of Cuba's leader Fidel Castro on its way to the east of the country in Florida, Cuba AP Fidel Castro funeral procession People paint stones laid out as a tribute to Cuba's late President Fidel Castro in Las Tunas, Cuba Reuters The rapprochement saw a lifting of US sanctions had been aggressively enforced for decades, and the opening of embassies in the two countries respective capitals. That re-engagement has somewhat faltered since the election of Donald Trump, who rolled back some of the Obama administrations changes, including the ability of US citizens to visit Cuba. Mavis Anderson of the Latin American Working Group, a Washington-based group that promotes closer ties, said US foreign policy was now in the hands-of hardline conservatives, including Mike Pompeo, who has yet to be confirmed as secretary of state, At the same time, Cuba-specific policy is led by a pair of ultra-conservative legislators of Cuban origin - Senator Marco Rubio and Congressman Mario Diaz-Balart, both of Florida. [The ball is in the USs court right now and that is] sad, because the court is broken, Ms Anderson told the AFP. Relations between the two countries have not been helped by the controversy surrounding the mysterious, alleged attacks on the health of US diplomats in Cuba, which led the State Department to say it was dramatically scaling back its diplomatic presence. At least 24 US envoys and their family members have fallen ill with symptoms that resembled concussion but with no exterior signs of trauma, leaving investigators confused. The illnesses were not only confined to the US embassy. In January, a senior Canadian official said 27 Canadian diplomats and family members were tested after complaining between April and December of dizziness, headaches and nausea. A three-year-old girl shot her pregnant mother after finding her father's loaded gun, police said. Shanique Thomas was sitting in the front seat of the car outside shops in Merrillville, Indiana, a small town around 40 miles south of Chicago, when she was shot between the chest and shoulder, according to the Lake County Sheriff's Department. "There was blood flowing all from her stomach just coming out like water, like a faucet," said Hadassah Zirkle, who was working in a shop nearby when someone walked in and told her a woman was bleeding outside. She told NBC Chicago that she took the children inside the store so they could not see their injured mother. The toddler "had no idea what she had done and she was very scared", Detective Sergeant James Bogner said. Ms Thomas was rushed to a local hospital before being transferred to a hospital in Chicago, where she remains in a critical but stable condition. Local media reported that the 21-year-old was believed to be around six-weeks pregnant. Her one-year-old son was also in the car at the time. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Ms Thomas's partner Menzo Brazien, was inside a shop at the time of the shooting. He told police he left the weapon by the side of his seat. Police arrested him on suspicion of child endangerment. Its frustrating. It was an unfortunate, careless incident that shouldve been prevented and it shouldve never happened," Merrillville police chief Joseph Petruch told The Chicago Tribune. Now this three-year-old, shes going to have to live with this. Police said the family live in Michigan City and the children had been placed in protective custody. New Zealands prime minister said she is infuriated that her immigration policies are being compared to those of US President Donald Trump. Jacinda Ardern, who at 37 is the worlds youngest leader and the only pregnant head of state, said she is upset about the implication she has something in common with Mr Trump and the planned Mexico border wall while on NBCs Today show. We are a nation built on immigration Im only a third-generation New Zealander, she said on the programme. The suggestion in any way that New Zealand wasnt an open, outward-facing country the suggestion that I was leading something counter to that value makes me extremely angry. The assertion appeared to start with a September 2017 article in the Wall Street Journal. The piece itself did not directly compare Mr Trump and Ms Ardern, as the Washington Post reported. But, a tweet promoting the story did. It read: Meet New Zealand's Justin Trudeauexcept she's more like Trump on immigration. Recommended New Zealand bans all new permits for offshore oil and gas exploration The report said that her rapid ascent owes much to tapping into growing unease about affordability, particularly among young voters, and feeding off a global backlash over immigration. An opinion piece in the newspaper suggested that those outside of Wellington mischaracterising her Deputy Prime Minister as far-right in the same sense as many in the US speak about Mr Trumps supporters. It may have been this that has led the comparison of the two drastically different leaders. Ms Ardern and her party have actually pledged to double the number of refugees the country will accept as opposed to Mr Trumps travel ban, border wall, and restrictions on legal immigration policies. Ms Ardern, who belongs to the centre-left Labour Party, won her seat through forming a coalition with NZ First, a nationalist right-wing party. Though leaning towards the right, the party also fought to raise minimum wages and touts "interventionist" economic policies. Jacinda Ardern becomes the youngest female Prime Minister of New Zealand NZ Firsts leader Winston Peters, who is now Deputy Prime Minister, has also been compared to the US leader for his less-than-friendly relationship. He has also been accused of being racist and making what the Washington Post called crass jokes about Asian immigrants to the small island nation. He will take over duties when Ms Ardern goes on maternity leave later in the year for six weeks. Ms Ardern is expecting her first child this June with her partner, Clarke Gayford. New York state is granting voting rights to convicted felons who are currently out on parole. The move would allow approximately 35,000 people to go to the ballots this coming November as well as those who enter the parole system before voter registration closes. Governor Andrew Cuomo has sidestepped the State Senate, where the Republican majority has opposed the measure of granting pardons for voting purposes. Some have said the move is purely political given Mr Cuomo is running for re-election. His most competitive opposition for the Democratic nomination is former Sex and the City star and lifelong New York City resident Cynthia Nixon. Ms Nixon is seen as more liberal than Mr Cuomo, forcing him to adopt less-centrist policies according to experts. The governor made the announcement at the National Action Network, a group led by political pundit and activist Reverend Al Sharpton. However, Mr Cuomos announcement does not change state law - convicted felons still cannot vote unless they are on probation or have completed parole. During the event Mr Cuomo said: Im unwilling to take no for an answer...Im going to make it law by executive order. With active intervention, we can bend the arc toward justice. The governors counsel Alphonso David told the New York Times that Mr Cuomo would require the commissioner of the states Department of Corrections and Community Supervision to submit a list of every felon currently on parole, as well as a list of those newly eligible for parole, beginning" 1 May, the newspaper reported. A draft of Mr Cuomo's executive order said the list would be updated monthly as new parolees entered the programme and each one would be given the consideration of a pardon that will restore voting rights without undue delay". Cynthia Nixon wants to legalise marijuana in New York Mr David said any parolee is eligible for the pardon, barring certain police concerns. The voting pardon would not expunge the ex-convict's criminal record or allow the person to serve on a jury, however. Currently, 18 other US states plus Washington DC allow parolees to cast ballots - Iowa and Virginia follow the model of having executive orders in place while the others have an automatic restoration of voting rights or do not require people to give them up in the first place. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Mr Cuomo has attempted to introduce criminal justice-related legislation while in office, the latest was a bid to end the cash bail system for lower level offences in order to balance the disproportionate impact on minority populations. Ms Nixon has also made such measures central to her campaign platform. Her most visible issue at the moment is the legalisation of marijuana, following states like Colorado and Washington, since black and Latino New Yorkers have been jailed for those drug offences in much higher rates than white offenders. Mr Cuomo still leads in polling, but just one day before the felon voting announcement a poll showed the actress closing in on the political legacy whose father was also governor of New York. The New York attorney general has said a criminal pardoned by Donald Trump should not be immune to being prosecuted by the state. In a letter, Eric Schneiderman urged Governor Andrew Cuomo and legislative leaders to close a loophole in New York's double jeopardy law shielding recipients of presidential pardons from state prosecution. A change could make it more difficult for Trump aides and others who might be pardoned to escape criminal prosecution, even if special counsel Robert Mueller's probe into possible Russian interference in the 2016 presidential election were curbed or shut down. Recommended Trump pardons Dick Cheney chief of staff Scooter Libby The president is only allowed to pardon a persons federal crime. State crimes are out of the offices jurisdiction. Mr Schneiderman tweeted: No one accused of breaking [New Yorks] laws should escape accountability merely because of a strategically timed presidential pardon. He said in a statement accompanying a three-page letter to Mr Cuomo: We are disturbed by reports that the president is considering pardons of individuals who may have committed serious federal financial, tax, and other crimes acts that may also violate New York law. "We must ensure that if the president, or any president, issues such pardons, we can use the full force of New Yorks laws to bring such individuals to justice. If the policy is approved by Mr Cuomo and the state legislature, Mr Trump's legal troubles will extend beyond the 20 women accusing him of sexual misconduct and the ongoing congressional and FBI investigations into alleged collusion between his 2016 campaign team and Russian officials. Recommended New York announces it will allow convicted felons on parole to vote As Mr Schneiderman said in the letter, Mr Trump's pardon power is "sweeping" and generally not reviewed or kept in check by other branches of government, let alone individual US states. Current state law prohibits prosecution of presidentially pardoned individuals because double jeopardy - or being tried for "crime related to the same act" more than once even if one of the times is in federal court - is prohibited, as the New York Times reported. The US Supreme Court ruled on the 5th Amendment of the US Constitution that a "federal prosecution poses no constitutional bar under the double jeopardy clause to a subsequent state prosecution, and vice versa", Mr Schneiderman wrote in the letter. He suggested New York end its policy of going beyond the minimum that protects those pardoned from the federal crime immunity from being tried for breaking state laws. Trump has power to pardon himself, claims his lawyer He wrote that recent reports indicated Mr Trump "may be considering issuing pardons that may impede criminal investigations". He continued: "This is disturbing news, not only because it would undermine public confidence in the rule of law, but also because due to a little-known feature of New York law that appears to be unique in its reach a strategically-timed pardon could prevent individuals who may have violated our states laws from standing trial in our courts as well. "My staff has researched the relevant state statute and its legislative history, and can find no evidence that the legislature intended this result." Mr Trump, a New York native, once called Mr Schneiderman "the worst AG in the nation", "dopey", and "a total loser" - some of the president's favoured insults to hurl at people on Twitter. Mr Schneiderman, for his part, had conducted a three-year case regarding the private, for-profit Trump University and it resulted in a ruling which required Mr Trump to pay out $25m. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The lower house state assembly speaker Carl Heastie, a Democrat, said "we will take a close look" at the "serious" issue. Democratic state senator Todd Kaminsky tweeted a plan to introduce a bill to close the loophole. However, the State Senate's divide between Republicans and Democrats is closer than the Assembly, which means the bill may not get the required votes to pass. Last week, Mr Trump pardoned Lewis "Scooter" Libby, a former chief of staff to Vice President Dick Cheney, over his role in the unmasking of CIA agent Valerie Plame. He also pardoned Arizona sheriff Joe Arpaio, who had been accused of police misconduct, and Kristian Mark Saucier, a former US Navy sailor who was convicted of taking unauthorised photographs of a Navy vessel. Pundits have said Mr Trump could pardon those who have been convicted as part of the Russia investigation, which he has called a "witch hunt" on numerous occasions. Former National Security Advisor Mike Flynn, deputy campaign manager Rick Gates, and campaign aide George Papadopoulos have all pleaded guilty. Former campaign manager Paul Manafort has been indicted and Mr Trump's personal attorney Michael Cohen is under investigation. CIA director Mike Pompeo has visited North Korea in a top secret mission, forming a good relationship with Pyongyangs leader Kim Jong-un, President Donald Trump has said, calling Mr Pompeo extraordinary. In an early morning tweet, Mr Trump said that the meeting between his pick to become secretary of state and Mr Kim went very smoothly and that the details of a possible a summit between the president and the North Korean leader expected in early June or possibly sooner are being worked out now. Mr Trump did not give further details of the talks, but they are believed to have taken place over Easter weekend, so it is unclear why Mr Trump tweeted a reference to last week in relation to the meeting. During a working lunch meeting with Japans Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Mar-a-Lago resort in Florida on Wednesday, Mr Trump said of Mr Pompeo: He just left Noth Korea, had a great meeting with Kim Jong Un and got along with him really well, really great... He is that kind of guy, he is really smart but he gets along with people. While the president has been keen to push his diplomatic savvy over his push for North Korea to give up its nuclear weapons programme, the news that Mr Pompeo acted as Mr Trumps envoy will not please some in Congress, with Mr Pompeo not yet confirmed to become the USs top diplomat. At the working lunch, Mr Trump said that he believes Mr Pompeo is going to come through the nomination process and become one of the great Secretary of States. The chairman of the US Senate Foreign Relations Committee said on Wednesday that he did not expect Mr Pompeos meeting to affect votes in the Senate on his nomination to be secretary of state. Republican Senator Bob Corker, who avidly supports Mr Pompeos nomination, said the US have kept back channels to North Korea through intelligence that have existed for years. I like the fact that Pompeo met with him, Mr Corker told reporters at a breakfast event, adding, I hope that a lot of other people will be doing the same thing. I thought it was a good thing. North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Show all 21 1 /21 North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Pukguksong-2 missile - 2 May 2017 A solid-fuel "Pukguksong-2" missile lifts off during its launch test in North Korea on May 22, 2017. They said that it was examining operational plans for attacking Guam, an angry reaction to UN punishment for previous North Korean intercontinental ballistic missile tests and a US suggestion about preparations for possible preventive attacks to stop the North's nuclear weapons program. Korean Central News Agency/Korea News Service via AP North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Hwasong-12 -16 September 2017 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un inspecting a launching drill of the medium-and-long range strategic ballistic rocket Hwasong-12 at an undisclosed location. Kim vowed to complete North Korea's nuclear force despite sanctions, saying the final goal of his country's weapons development is "equilibrium of real force" with the United States, state media reported on September 16, 2017. AFP/Getty Images North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Donald Trump address South Korean assembly - 7 November 2017 President Donald Trump talks with South Korean President Moon Jae-In during their joint press conference at the presidential Blue House on November 7, 2017 in Seoul.Trump was the first US President to address the South Korean National Assembly since President Clinton in 1993. He addressed Kim Jong Un warning him to not underestimate the US and that for talks to materialize then Pyongyang would need to take steps into denuclearization. Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Demilitarized Zone Haean-Myeon, is a small military town near the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) and border between North and South Korea, in Gangwon province. The zone is a strip of land running across the Korean Peninsula and was created after the 'Korean Armistice Agreement'. Any negotiations between the two countries tend to take place in this zone. AFP/Getty Images North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Declared state sponsor of terrorism by Trump - 20 November 2017 President Donald Trump speaks to the media during a cabinet meeting at the White House on November 20, 2017, where he officially designated North Korea as a state sponsor of terrorism. North Korea had previously been on the list, however was removed in 2008. Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile - 29 November 2017 The North Korean government launches it's Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile at an undisclosed location in North Korea on November 29, 2017. It is supposedly capable of reaching all parts of the US. Korean Central News Agency via AP North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Hwasong-15 intercontinental ballistic missile - 29 November 2017 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un celebrating the launch of the Hwasong-15 missile on November 29, 2017. AFP/Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Kim Jong-Un New Year's speech - 1 January 2018 North Korean leader Kim Jong-Un delivering his New Year's speech. He vowed North Korea would mass-produce nuclear warheads and missiles in a defiant New Year message on January 1 suggesting he would continue to accelerate a rogue weapons programme that has stoked international tensions. Korean Central News Agency via AFP/Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Intercontinental ballistic missile ice sculpture - 1 January 2018 Fireworks are seen above the Taedong River during New Year celebrations as visitors pose for a photo in front of an ice sculpture of an intercontinental ballistic missile at the Pyongyang Ice Sculpture Festival in Kim Il Sung Square in North Korea on 1 January, 2018. REUTERS North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures US-South Korean military drills postponed - 4 January 2018 South Korean President Moon Jae-in talks with US President Donald Trump on January 4, 2018 in Seoul. South Korea and US agreed to delay the annual "Foal Eagle" military drills until after the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games in an effort to "de-conflict" the Games and "focus on ensuring the security" of the event. South Korean Presidential Blue House via Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures North and South Korea have first official talks in over two years - 9 January 2018 Vehicles transporting the South Korean delegation, led by South Korean Unification Ministrer Cho Myoung-Gyon, drive past a checkpoint on the road connecting South and North Korea at the Unification Bridge, near the Demilitarized zone (DMZ) separating them both on January 9, 2018 in Paju. They began their first official face-to-face talks in two years. Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures North and South Korea have first official talks in over two years - 9 January 2018 Members of the South Korea delegation (R) shake hands with members of the North Korean delegation (L) during their meeting at the border truce village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) dividing the two Koreas on January 9, 2018. They focused on the forthcoming Winter Olympics after months of tensions over Pyongyang's nuclear weapons programme. AFP/Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Foreign Ministers Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula - 16 January 2018 Foreign Ministers from twenty countries from North and South America, Asia, and Europe pose for a photo at the Vancouver Foreign Ministers Meeting on Security and Stability on the Korean Peninsula, in Vancouver on January 16, 2018. The US urged an escalation in pressure on North Korea over its nuclear missile program, despite a more cautious tone from key US ally South Korea. Secretary of State Rex Tillerson, co-hosted the event with Canada's foreign minister Chrystia Freeland, and called for North Korean ships to be intercepted and for new punitive measures to be implemented every time Pyongyang tests new weapons. AFP/Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures North Korea and South Korea to march together at Winter Olympics - 20 January 2018 PyeongChang 2018 Olympics President Lee Hee-beom, North Korea's Sports Minister and Olympic Committee president Kim Il Guk, International Olympic Committee President Thomas Bach, South Korean Minister of Culture, Sports and Tourism Do Jong-hwan and South Korea's National Olympic Committee President Lee Kee-heung join their hands as they pose during a signing ceremony at the Olympic Museum on January 20, 2018 in Lausanne. North Korea will send 22 athletes to the Winter Games in the South. The two nations will also march together at the opening ceremony. AFP/Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Anti-North Korea activists protest delegation arrival - 22 January 2018 Anti-North Korea activists burn a portrait of leader Kim Jong-Un during a rally Seoul Station as a North Korean delegation arrived to check out performance venues for the Winter Olympics on January 22, 2018. Protesters led by the Korean Patriots Party gathered and complained that the talks to encourage North Korea's participation is stealing the spotlight from their country to the benefit of the regime. Donga Daily via Getty North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Panmunjom - 7 February 2018 South Korean soldiers stand guard at the border village of Panmunjom in the Demilitarized Zone (DMZ) between South and North Korea on February 7, 2018. In a sign of thawing bilateral ties, North Korea today announced that Kim Yo-jong, the sister of North Korean leader, Kim Jong-un, will attend the opening ceremony of the PyeongChang Winter Olympic Games. Getty Images North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures North Korean ferry arrives in South Korea - 6 February 2018 North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 carrying a 140-strong orchestra approaches a port in Donghae, South Korea, February 6, 2018. REUTERS North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Anti-North Korea protest - 6 February 2018 A member of a conservative civic group tears a portrait of North Korean leader Kim Jong Un during an anti-North Korea protest as the North Korean ferry Mangyongbong-92 carrying a 140-strong orchestra approached. REUTERS North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures North Korea at the athletes village - 8 February 2018 A North Korean flag is seen hanging on a building at the Winter Olympics athletes village in Gangneung, South Korea. REUTERS North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Olympic Welcome ceremony - 8 February 2018 Democratic People's Republic of Korea Vice Sports Minister Won Gil-woo receives a gift from mayor of the Olympic Village Kim Ki-hoon during the welcome ceremony ahead of the PyeongChang 2018 Games at the Olympic Village on 8 February, 2018 in South Korea. Getty Images North Korea South Korea relations: in pictures Mike Pence meets Moon Jae-in - 8 February 2018 US Vice President Mike Pence shakes hands with South Korean President Moon Jae-in before their meeting at the presidential office in Seoul, South Korea on 8 February, 2018. REUTERS However, Mr Pompeo faces some difficulties in getting the 51 votes he needs in the Senate to be confirmed, which could bring some embarrassment for Mr Trump given the key role he is playing over the North Korea meeting. At least one Republican, Senator Rand Paul, has said he will not vote for Mr Pompeo, meaning that the CIA director may be relying on votes from Democrats. No Democrats in the Senate have yet to come out in support of Mr Pompeo, with the top Democrat on the Foreign Relations Committee saying on Wednesday he opposed Mr Pompeos nomination as the Trump administration, and the CIA director in particular lacked a strategic vision on US foreign policy. Putting his confirmation aside, Mr Pompeo is clearly key to Mr Trumps plans over North Korea, having become the most senior US official known to have met Mr Kim. The meeting is also a sign of how seriously Mr Trump is taking the offer of a meeting. The president said on Tuesday that five sites are under consideration for the meeting, none in the US. Mr Trump had also hinted at Mr Pompeos meeting on Tuesday. We have had direct talks at very high levels, extremely high levels with North Korea, Mr Trump. Donald Trump says he 'believes' North Korea leader Kim Jong Un about peace talks After months of threatening rhetoric between Mr Trump and North Koreas leadership during 2017 as Pyongyang pushed forward with numerous nuclear and missile tests 2018 has instead seen rapid diplomatic movements. While Mr Trump has not taken the oft-used threat of military action off the table if North Korea does not pull back on its nuclear programme, he tweeted on Wednesday that Denuclearisation will be a great thing for World, but also for North Korea! Mr Trump said the summit with Kim is likely to happen by early June if all goes well. But he added: Its possible things wont go well and we wont have the meetings, and well just continue to go on this very strong path we have taken. At a Senate hearing last week on his nomination, Mr Pompeo played down expectations for a breakthrough deal on ending North Koreas nuclear weapons programme at the planned summit, but said it could lay the groundwork for a comprehensive agreement on denuclearisation. Im optimistic that the United States government can set the conditions for that appropriately so that the president and the North Korean leader can have that conversation and will set us down the course of achieving a diplomatic outcome that America and the world so desperately need, Mr Pompeo said. Mr Trump has also said he has given his blessing to planned discussions between South Korea and North Korea about bringing a formal end to the Korean War, ahead of a summit between the two nations on 27 April. The 1950-53 Korean War ended in a truce, not a full peace . As one of the plans, we are looking at a possibility of shifting the Korean peninsulas armistice to a peace regime, a top South Korean presidential official told reporters in Seoul when asked about the North-South summit. But thats not a matter than can be resolved between the two Koreas alone. It requires close consultations with other concerned nations, as well as North Korea, the official said. The developments over North Korea come as Mr Abe and Mr Trump continued talks in Florida that began on Tuesday. The two major topics are Pyongyang and trade between the two nations, with Mr Abe under pressure given that both the US and South Korea are pushing ahead with separate summits, leaving Mr Abe behind slightly. Given the close relationship Mr Abe has pushed with Mr Trump meeting with him more than almost any other world leader and given a number of issues at home, the Japanese prime minister will want to look deeply involved with any North Korea developments. On Tuesday, Mr Abe received a verbal pledge from Mr Trump to raise with Mr Kim the issue of the unresolved cases of at least 13 Japanese citizens abducted by North Korean agents in the 1970s and 1980s an issue which holds much emotional weight in Japan and something to can back as a win. On Wednesday, Mr Trump said the relationship with Japan is a very good one but he was looking to create a more reciprocal trade relationship with the country. Mr Trump is faces walking a difficult tightrope as the possible meeting with Mr Kim draws nearer, not just over relations with Pyongyang, but his regional allies too. A prominent Republican senator says that any of his colleagues who are not conflicted over the presidency of Donald Trump are comatose or "blind". Bob Corker who has been a sharp critic of Mr Trump at times, and has described his relationship with the president as very warm at others made the comment during a breakfast Wednesday hosted by the Christian Science Monitor. Any Republican senator that hasnt been conflicted over this presidency is either comatose or is pretty useless in their blindness, ok, and weve got some of both, of course not many, Mr Corker said. Mr Corker, who is resigning after finishing his current term, emphasized that he has a good relationship with the president even if they disagree at times. I have a very warm relationship with the president. Hes very accessible, more accessible than any president probably in the history of the world, Mr Corker continued. Mr Corker is currently in his second term as senator for Tennessee, and is the chairman of the Senate Foreign Relations Committee. Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Show all 29 1 /29 Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump acknowledges the audience after taking the oath of office as his wife Melania (L) and daughter Tiffany watch during inauguration ceremonies swearing in Trump as the 45th president of the United States on the West Front of the US capital in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jim Bourg: "This photo was shot with one of two remote cameras. The cameras were monitored and triggered remotely and the pictures were transmitted to clients worldwide within minutes of being taken." Reuters/Jim Bourg Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Obama farewell address - 10 January 2017 US President Barack Obama wipes away tears as he delivers his farewell address in Chicago on 10 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "In his final days in office, Obama made a visit home to Chicago. As he spoke from the stage to his wife and daughter in the audience, he became emotional when he talked about what they had sacrificed during his time in office. I turned from photographing the Obama women embracing to find him onstage wiping away tears." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inauguration - 20 January 2017 A combination of photos shows the crowds attending the inauguration ceremonies to swear in U.S. President Donald Trump at 12:01pm (left) on January 20, 2017 and President Barack Obama sometime between 12:07pm and 12:26pm on January 20, 2009. Reuters/ Lucas Jackson/Stelios Varias Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Liberty Ball - 20 January 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump attend the Liberty Ball in honour of his inauguration in Washington on 20 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "What I see when I look at this picture is the end of a very long day, not to mention weeks and months of preparation by many photographers, editors and network experts and the beginning of everything since." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception - 22 January 2017 US President Donald Trump greets Director of the FBI James Comey as Director of the Secret Service Joseph Clancy (L), watches during the Inaugural Law Enforcement Officers and First Responders Reception in the Blue Room of the White House on 22 January, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "I have covered the White House for 16 years and normally either the President or the pool is in position when an event starts. In this case the President was not where anyone expected him to be. In fact, he was almost blocking the door when the pool came in. We had to scramble to find a position without bumping him or the furniture as he greeted and thanked members of law enforcement for their security efforts during the inauguration. Luckily, he greeted FBI Director James Comey a few seconds after the pool had made its way into the room." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Private phone calls to world leaders - 28 January 2017 US President Donald Trump, is joined by his staff, as he speaks by phone with Russia's President Vladimir Putin in the Oval Office on 28 January, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Very early in the Trump administration, weekends were as busy as weekdays. On Trump's second Saturday the official schedule said he would be making private phone calls to a number of world leaders including Russia's Vladimir Putin. I arrived early and, before sitting down at my desk walked up to Press Secretary Sean Spicer's office. He, too, was just taking his coat off. I gingerly made the suggestion that previous administrations had sometimes allowed photos of such phone calls through the Oval Office windows on the colonnade. To my mild shock, he didn't even think about it twice. "We'll do it!" he said. In truth, I really only expected the Putin call, but we were outside the windows multiple times throughout the day as the calls went on." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway - 27 February 2017 Senior advisor Kellyanne Conway (L) attends as US President Donald Trump welcomes the leaders of dozens of historically black colleges and universities (HBCU) in the Oval Office on 27 February, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "We're often asked how much access we have to the Trump administration, and the answer is we have an awful lot. President Trump himself is very comfortable in the spotlight, and his aides are similarly unfazed by cameras. In this instance, senior advisor Kellyanne Conway was so comfortable in our presence she seemed not to consider the optics of kneeling on a Oval Office sofa to take pictures with her phone." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Angela Merkel heads to Washington - 17 March 2017 Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel and US President Donald Trump hold a joint news conference in the East Room of the White House on 17 March, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Chancellor Merkel made one of the earliest important visits of any US allies to meet Trump in his first months in office. When world leaders give joint news conferences they don't always tend to give each other their full attention - but Merkel watched Trump intently at several key moments, and here seemed particularly rapt." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump welcomes truckers to the White House - 23 March 2017 President Trump reacts as he sits on a truck while he welcomes truckers and CEOs to attend a meeting regarding healthcare at the White House on 23 March, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "The White House organised a listening session with truckers and CEO's of major American companies, regarding healthcare reform. An 18-wheeler tow truck was parked on the South Lawn of the White House and as Trump welcomed the truckers someone invited the him to come and sit in the driver's seat. Trump jumped into the cab and started yelling and pretending to drive - creating one of the most memorable pictures of the year. A lesson learned, always be prepared for the unexpected." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 6 April 2017 US President Donald Trump talks to journalists members of the travel pool on board the Air Force One during his trip to Palm Beach, Florida on 6 April, 2017. Carlos Barria: "During the many trips to President Trump's residence in Florida it is usual to see the president coming to the back of the plane to chat with journalists. During one of the trips to the so called 'Winter White House', Trump had a long talk with reporters while the Air Force One entertainment system was playing one of the latest Star Wars movies. As I was listening to Trump talk I was also looking at the movie waiting for a part of the movie to frame the mood of the day. Of the many scenes, I choose the one with Darth Vader." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump speaks during an interview with Reuters in the Oval Office of the White House on 27 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "A day before President Trump's hundred days in office I was part of the team that interviewed the commander-in-chief in the Oval Office. I was only allowed to photograph Trump during the last five minutes of the interview. The time was very tight so I had to move fast as I had pictures in mind that I wanted to shoot. I walked into the Oval Office and saw that the President had printed maps of the country showing areas in red where he won. I raised my hands holding my camera as high as possible to get the best view of the scene using a 16mm wide angle lens." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures 100 Days - 27 April 2017 US President Donald Trump reacts as he arrives at Harrisburg international airport, before attending a rally marking his first 100 days in office in Pennsylvania on 29 April, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Harrisburg, Pennsylvania to celebrate his hundred days in office with a victory rally. He was in friendly territory as he won with a big difference over his opponent Hillary Clinton in Pennsylvania, during the November elections. As usual when the commander-in-chief arrives local residents gather to greet him. This time a small group of military personnel attended the arrival. Surrounded by secret service agents Trump walked from the Air Force One and raised his hand in a sign of victory as the crowd cheered him on." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 2 May 2017 White House Press Secretary Sean Spicer (L) and White House Chief of Staff Reince Priebus watch as US President Donald Trump presents the U.S. Air Force Academy football team with the Commander-in-Chief trophy in the Rose Garden of the White House in Washington on 2 May, 2017. Photographer Joshua Roberts: "Covering the White House does not just mean covering the President. White House staffers are an important part of the story and their relationship with the President and each other is an indicator of how things are going in the West Wing. The tendency is to focus exclusively on the President once an event starts but I always try to look around to see how people are reacting as things unfold." Reuters/Joshua Roberts Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Secret Service - 4 May 2017 Secret Service agents use a presidential limousine as cover from spraying water as US President Donald Trump lands via Marine One helicopter in New York on 4 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "The best part of any trip to New York City with the sitting US President is the helicopter ride into Manhattan. The ride out at night can be stunning. Here, Secret Service agents protect themselves from the spray from the East River as Trump lands on the helipad." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures NATO Summit - 25 May 2017 US President Donald Trump and first lady Melania Trump wait the arrival of French President Emmanuel Macron (unseen) before a lunch ahead of a NATO Summit in Brussels on 25 May, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "One of the best parts of travelling overseas for White House coverage is the chance to see the U.S. president in different environments and (literally) a different light. Here, Trump and his wife came out of the shadows to greet France's President Macron." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump meets Putin at G20 summit - 7 July 2017 US President Donald Trump meets with Russian President Vladimir Putin during their bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Hamburg, Germany on 7 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "On July 7, I witnessed one of the most important meetings of President Trump's first year in office. Trump met Russian President Vladimir Putin during a bilateral meeting at the G20 summit in Germany. The world's eyes were on these two leaders after speculation about Russian interference during the 2016 US elections. We entered the room for less than two minutes, where I took dozens of pictures. But there was this very interesting moment when Trump extended his hand to Putin for a handshake. Putin paused for a second and looked at Trump's hand. That was the picture that I was looking for, a little moment that seemed to say a lot." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures First lady - 8 July 2017 First lady Melania Trump chats with US President Donald Trump during their return from Germany at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland on 8 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "After President Trump's trip to Germany he arrived back at Joint Base Andrews, Maryland. First Lady Melania Trump said goodbye to Trump as she was heading off in a different direction that day. While chatting a breeze blew Melania's hair up in the air." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Made in America product showcase - 17 July 2017 Vice President Mike Pence laughs as President Donald Trump holds a baseball bat as they attend a Made in America product showcase event at the White House on 17 July, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "This summer the White House organized an event to showcase 'Made in America' products. All kinds of exhibitors brought their products as the President and Vice President toured the event. One of the companies was Marucci Sport, a manufacturer of baseball bats based in Baton Rouge, Louisiana. As Trump approached a table full of baseball bats, photographers at the event, including me, rushed to get a good angle hoping that he would pick up a bat. As we predicted, he did. He took one and joked around as though he was hitting something hard. The only thing closer to him right there, was the media." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House staffers - 25 July 2017 Former campaign manager Corey Lewandowski says hello to reporters as he and White House advisors including Communications Director Anthony Scaramucci accompany President Trump for an event celebrating veterans at AMVETS Post 44 in Ohio, July 25, 2017. Jonathan Ernst: "The most visible person in any White House is naturally the President, followed by the press secretary. But there are also the staff who support them. For those of us covering the Trump administration, there seem to be more compelling figures in the West Wing than ever before. It's crucial to know who's who and why they're important. When I raised my camera and back-pedalled ahead of the group to take this image Lewandowski gave me a hello. I liked the photo, but had no idea it would go a little bit viral, especially since Scaramucci, who was the biggest mover and shaker that week, was hidden back in the pack. But I guess the image catches a glimpse of what it's like to be a West Wing staffer on the road." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Campaign rally - 3 August 2017 US President Donald Trump arrives at a rally in West Virginia on 3 August, 2017. Photographer Carlos Barria: "President Trump travelled to Huntington for one of his usual campaign rallies. While members of his family spoke to the crowd he was waiting under a black curtain to be introduced. Suddenly he walked onto the stage, one of the first frames that I took was of his hand. I set my exposure for the light on the stage hoping to create this dark background and it worked." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Staring into the solar eclipse - 21 August 2017 Without his protective glasses on, US President Donald Trump looks up towards the solar eclipse while viewing with his wife Melania and son Barron at the White House on 21 August, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "On a day when everyone, and I mean everyone, was told not to look at the eclipse without protective glasses, Trump, President of the United States, couldn't help himself." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Harvey - 2 September 2017 US President Donald Trump poses for a photo as he and first lady Melania Trump help volunteers hand out meals during a visit with flood survivors of Hurricane Harvey at a relief centre in Houston, Texas on 2 September, 2017. Photohrapher Kevin Lamarque: "Trump, eager to deliver the image of a hands-on response to Hurricane Harvey, made this visit to a relief centre and obliged this woman with a selfie as Melania continued to work." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures White House - 15 September 2017 Donald Trump welcomes 11-year-old Frank Giaccio as he cuts the Rose Garden grass at the White House on 15 September. Frank, who wrote a letter to Trump offering to mow the lawn, was invited to work for a day at the White House along the National Park Service staff. Frank was so focused on his task that he did not notice the President arrive to surprise him. He took his father jumping in to grab his attention and point Trump out. Photographer Carlos Barria said: The image of Trump shouting at a kid who is mowing his lawn might have many interpretations in today's politically polarized United States. But for me it was just a kid who loved what he was doing, to the point he almost appeared to ignore the President." Reuters/Carlos Barria Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Take a knee - 27 September 2017 A man kneels with a folded U.S. flag as the motorcade of U.S. President Donald Trump passes him after an event at the state fairgrounds in Indianapolis, Indiana, U.S., September 27, 2017. In September, soon after Trump had made comments condemning NFL players who kneel during the national anthem, he made a day trip to a rally in Indianapolis. Jonathan Ernst managed to capture a man on one knee with a tri-folded flag and was able to use a portion of the sign on the building he was kneeling in front of to track the man down and tell his story in full. US Army veteran Marvin Boatright wanted to send a message against social injustice. Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Hurricane Maria - 3 October 2017 President Donald Trump throws rolls of paper towels into a crowd of local residents affected by Hurricane Maria as he visits Calgary Chapel in San Juan, Puerto Rico on 3 October, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "During an afternoon visit to Puerto Rico for President Trump to survey damage from Hurricane Maria and greet some of its victims, Trump made a stop at a church where food and supplies were being distributed. Among the items were paper towels and Trump, apparently caught up in the moment, decided to distribute some of the rolls." Reuters Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Jared Kushner - 1 November 2017 White House Senior adviser Jared Kushner sits behind President Trump during a cabinet meeting in Washington on 1 November, 2017. Photographer Kevin Lamarque: "The role of Jared Kushner has gone through a series of changes. He began front and centre as a high profile adviser, but as time has passed and issues surrounding him have surfaced, he has become more of a background figure." Reuters/Kevin Lamarque Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Trump in China - 9 November 2017 Donald Trump and China's President Xi Jinping shake hands after making joint statements at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing on 9 November, 2017. Photographer Damir Sagolj: "It's one of those "how to make a better or at least different shot when two presidents shake hands several times a day, several days in row". If I'm not mistaken in calculation, presidents Xi Jinping and Donald Trump shook their hands at least six times in events I covered during Trump's recent visit to China. I would imagine there were some more handshakes I haven't seen but other photographers did. And they all look similar - two big men, smiling and heartily greeting each other until everyone gets their shot. But then there is always something that can make it special - in this case the background made of US and Chinese flags. The first time it didn't work for me. The second time I positioned myself lower and centrally, and used the longest lens I have to capture only hands reaching for a handshake." Reuters/Damir Sagolj Donald Trump's first year: in pictures Air Force One - 10 November 2017 US President Donald Trump boards Air Force One to depart for Vietnam from Beijing Airport in Beijing, China, November 10, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "There is a Reuters photographer in the tight pool covering the US president for every appearance he makes 365 days a year. This was just one of 32 images of mine that were transmitted on the Reuters wire of President Trump visiting China and Vietnam that day. You never know when a sudden interaction, a gust of wind or a unique facial expression will lead to a striking image that grabs peoples' attention." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst Donald Trump's first year: in pictures ASEAN handshake - 13 November 2017 Donald Trump registers his surprise as he realises other leaders, including Russia's Prime Minister Dmitry Medvedev, Vietnam's Prime Minister Nguyen Xuan Phuc, President of the Philippines Rodrigo Duterte and Australia's Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull, are crossing their arms for the traditional "ASEAN handshake" as he participates in the opening ceremony of the summit in Manila on 13 November, 2017. Photographer Jonathan Ernst: "Having covered a few ASEAN summits, I knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. Not everyone in the room knew to expect the ASEAN handshake. A lot was written about this unscripted moment, and what deeper meaning it might have. The simple truth is that sometimes in life there are unscripted moments." Reuters/Jonathan Ernst During the breakfast, he continued to say that his main disagreement with the president at the moment is with his administrations tendency to run a bit wild at times. He said that he feels conflicted about Mr Trump because sometimes the president will sign a piece of legislation, but then we have chaotic things that occur on a daily basis. At 10 oclock you might feel one way, at noon you might feel another way, at 2 oclock you might feel another way, Mr Corker said, describing how his perspective on the president evolves every day. Mr Corker refused to say whether he would consider taking a jo in the Trump administration after he retires. Conjecture is bad for your health, he said. President Donald Trump informed Russian officials he had reversed a decision to impose new sanctions of Russia in the wake of US Ambassador to the United Nations Nikki Haley announcing the exact opposite - but Ms Haley had only announced the sanctions based on information she received from the White House. The Russian Foreign Ministry confirmed that a Trump administration official called the Russian Embassy in Washington, DC, about the change in policy on Sunday after Ms Haley had made the announcement about new sanctions earlier that day. Two administration officials familiar with the matter told CNN, Mr Trump changed his mind but that when Ms Haley made her television appearance it was based on accurate information that she had been briefed on by the White House. However, it is unclear exactly when he changed his mind before or after she said on television the sanctions would send a strong message to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Ms Haley has been vocal in the Security Council about her opposition to Moscow in the past, but particularly since Russia blocked a vote to investigate the latest suspected chemical weapons attack in Syria. She has been one of the few high profile administration officials that has not drawn the presidents ire publicly. He has even praised her work in pushing his America First foreign policy, which makes the presidents latest row all the more telling. Sources told CNN that Mr Trump was not happy Ms Haley had taken to the popular Sunday morning news talk show circuit to discuss the additional sanctions. The outlet reported that the president was also annoyed that, to his mind, Europeans werent taking as much punitive action against Russia. Ms Haley, who is Indian-American, has long been seen as a token appointment, one of the few women and minorities with a voice in the administration. Experts have said she proved herself professionally at the UN by delivering a strong stance against Russia and repeating the company line on other issues without wavering. The latest sanctions were brought on by a combination of issues. Primarily, they were meant to be an add-on response with the latest US missile strike on Syria, done in response to what the US believes is Syrian President Bashar al-Assads regime using chemical weapons against Syrian civilians. Russia has consistently countered the assertion that the weapons came from the regime and said it is in the country at the invitation of the legal government of Syria, according to Russian Ambassador to the UN Vasily Nebenzya. US to impose new sanctions on Russia in wake of Syria chemical attack, says UN ambassador Nikki Haley Mr Nebenzya and Ms Haley, partnering with the UK and France, have routinely exchanged diplomatic barbs at the UN. Russia turned the tables to claim the US and allies have been supporting terrorists in Syria themselves in the form of aiding rebel groups fighting against the government of Mr Assad while just using UN resolutions as justification for further military strikes instead of defeating Isis. The other matter is the 4 March poisoning of former Russian spy Sergei Skripal and his daughter Yulia in Salisbury, UK using the nerve agent novichok. UK Prime Minister Theresa May had been quick and unwavering in her assessment of Russias role in the incident which had left the town of Salisbury a ghost town as The Independent previously reported. She called it a brazen act, expelled 23 Russian diplomats, and cut high-level contact with Moscow. The US expelled 60 diplomats and closed the consulate in Seattle, Washington. France and Germany joined as well. The US had already placed sanctions on 19 Russian nationals, including Mr Putins personal chef, and continue to weigh the options for more, according to State Department Spokesperson Heather Nauert. The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Show all 17 1 /17 The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Paul Manafort Mr Manafort is a Republican strategist and former Trump campaign manager. He resigned from that post over questions about his extensive lobbying overseas, including in Ukraine where he represented pro-Russian interests. Mr Manafort turned himself in at FBI headquarters to special counsel Robert Muellers team on Oct 30, 2017, after he was indicted under seal on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. Getty The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rick Gates Mr Gates joined the Trump team in spring 2016, and served as a top aide until he left to work at the Republican National Committee after the departure of former Trump campaign manager Paul Manafort. Mr Gates' had previously worked on several presidential campaigns, on international political campaigns in Europe and Africa, and had 15 years of political or financial experience with multinational firms, according to his bio. Mr Gates was indicted alongside Mr Manafort by special counsel Robert Mueller's team on charges that include conspiracy against the United States, conspiracy to launder money, unregistered agent of a foreign principal, false and misleading US Foreign Agents Registration Act statements, false statements, and seven counts of failure to file reports of foreign bank and financial accounts. AP The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation George Papadopoulos George Papadopoulos was a former foreign policy adviser for the Trump campaign, having joined around March 2016. Mr Papadopoulos plead guilty to federal charges for lying to the FBI as a part of a cooperation agreement with Special Counsel Robert Mueller's investigation. Mr Papadopoulos claimed in an interview with the FBI that he had made contacts with Russian sources before joining the Trump campaign, but he actually began working with them after joining the team. Mr Papadopoulos allegedly took a meeting with a professor in London who reportedly told him that Russians had "dirt" on Hillary Clinton. The professor also allegedly introduced Mr Papadopoulos to a Russian who was said to have close ties to officials at the Russian Ministry of Foreign Affairs. Mr Papadopoulos also allegedly was in contact with a woman whom he incorrectly described in one email to others in the campaign as the "niece" to Russian President Vladimir Putin. Twitter The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Donald Trump Jr The President's eldest son met with a Russian lawyer - Natalia Veselnitskaya - on 9 June 2016 at Trump Tower in New York. He said in an initial statement that the meeting was about Russia halting adoptions of its children by US citizens. Then, he said it was regarding the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. In a final statement, Mr Trump Jr released a chain of emails that revealed he took the meeting in hopes of getting information Ms Veselnitskaya had about Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. He and the President called it standard "opposition research" in the course of campaigning and that no information came from the meeting. The meeting was set up by an intermediary, Rob Goldstone. Jared Kushner and Paul Manafort were also at the same meeting. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jared Kushner Mr Kushner is President Donald Trump's son-in-law and a key adviser to the White House. He met with a Russian banker appointed by Russian President Vladimir Putin in December. Mr Kushner has said he did so in his role as an adviser to Mr Trump while the bank says he did so as a private developer. Mr Kushner has also volunteered to testify in the Senate about his role helping to arrange meetings between Trump advisers and Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Rob Goldstone Former tabloid journalist and now music publicist Rob Goldstone is a contact of the Trump family through the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant, which took place in Moscow. In June 2016, he wrote to Donald Trump Jr offering a meeting with a Russian lawyer, Natalya Veselnitskaya, who had information about Hillary Clinton. Mr Goldstone was the intermediary for Russian pop star Emin Agalaraov and his father, real estate magnate Aras, who played a role in putting on the 2013 pageant. In an email chain released by Mr Trump Jr, Mr Goldstone seemed to indicate Russian government's support of Donald Trump's campaign. AP images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Aras and Emin Agalarov Aras Agalarov (R) is a wealthy Moscow-based real estate magnate and son Emin (L) is a pop star. Both played a role in putting on the previously Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant in Moscow. They allegedly had information about Hillary Clinton and offered that information to the Trump campaign through a lawyer with whom they had worked with, Natalia Veselnitskaya, and music publicist Rob Goldstone. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Natalia Veselnitskaya Natalia Veselnitskaya is a Russian lawyer with ties to the Kremlin. She has worked on real estate issues and reportedly counted the FSB as a client in the past. She has ties to a Trump family connection, real estate magnate Aras Agalarov, who had helped set up the Trump-owned 2013 Miss Universe pageant which took place in Moscow. Ms Veselnitskaya met with Donald Trump Jr, Jared Kushner, and Paul Manafort in Trump Tower on 9 June 2016 but denies the allegation that she went there promising information on Hillary Clinton's alleged financial ties to Russia. She contends that the meeting was about the US adoptions of Russian children being stopped by Moscow as a reaction to the Magnitsky Act, a US law blacklisting Russian human rights abusers. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Mike Flynn Mr Flynn was named as Trump's national security adviser but was forced to resign from his post for inappropriate communication with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. He had misrepresented a conversation he had with Mr Kislyak to Vice President Mike Pence, telling him wrongly that he had not discussed sanctions with the Russian. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sergey Kislyak Mr Kislyak, the former longtime Russian ambassador to the US, is at the centre of the web said to connect President Donald Trump's campaign with Russia. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Roger Stone Mr Stone is a former Trump adviser who worked on the political campaigns of Richard Nixon, George HW Bush, and Ronald Reagan. Mr Stone claimed repeatedly in the final months of the campaign that he had backchannel communications with WikiLeaks founder Julian Assange and that he knew the group was going to dump damaging documents to the campaign of Democratic candidate Hillary Clinton - which did happen. Mr Stone also had contacts with the hacker Guccier 2.0 on Twitter, who claimed to have hacked the DNC and is linked to Russian intelligence services. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeff Sessions The US attorney general was forced to recuse himself from the Trump-Russia investigation after it was learned that he had lied about meeting with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Carter Page Mr Page is a former advisor to the Trump campaign and has a background working as an investment banker at Merrill Lynch. Mr Page met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republican National Convention in Cleveland. Mr Page had invested in oil companies connected to Russia and had admitted that US Russia sanctions had hurt his bottom line. Reuters The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Jeffrey "JD" Gorden Mr Gordon met with Russian Ambassador to the US Sergey Kislyak during the 2016 Republian National Convention to discuss how the US and Russia could work together to combat Islamist extremism should then-Republican presidential candidate Donald Trump win the election. The meeting came days before a massive leak of DNC emails that has been connected to Russia. Creative Commons The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation James Comey Mr Comey was fired from his post as head of the FBI by President Donald Trump. The timing of Mr Comey's firing raised questions around whether or not the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign may have played a role in the decision. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Preet Bharara Mr Bahara refused, alongside 46 other US district attorney's across the country, to resign once President Donald Trump took office after previous assurances from Mr Trump that he would keep his job. Mr Bahara had been heading up several investigations including one into one of President Donald Trump's favorite cable television channels Fox News. Several investigations would lead back to that district, too, including those into Mr Trump's campaign ties to Russia, and Mr Trump's assertion that Trump Tower was wiretapped on orders from his predecessor. Getty Images The biggest names involved in the Trump-Russia investigation Sally Yates Ms Yates, a former Deputy Attorney General, was running the Justice Department while President Donald Trump's pick for attorney general awaited confirmation. Ms Yates was later fired by Mr Trump from her temporary post over her refusal to implement Mr Trump's first travel ban. She had also warned the White House about potential ties former National Security Adviser Michael Flynn to Russia after discovering those ties during the FBI's investigation into the Trump campaign's connections to Russia. Getty Images That is something that the administration at the interagency level has under consideration. And that is still under consideration at this time, but we have nothing that we are ready -- nothing that we are set to announce at this time, she said. Mr Trump has expressed interest in meeting with Mr Putin in person again as well, which may have been the reason for holding back on sanctions. The Congressional and FBI investigations into alleged collusion between Mr Trumps 2016 campaign team and Russian officials are also ongoing. To compound matters, Ms Haleys administration colleague National Economic Council chairman Larry Kudlow decided to get involved in the miscommunication to the public as well. Mr Kudlow, the presidents latest hire after enjoying his commentary as a political analyst on Fox News, said Ms Haley got ahead of the curve regarding announcing sanctions and that there might have been some momentary confusion about that. That does not quite explain why the White House took nearly 24 hours to reverse the new sanctions Ms Haley had announced, however. Ms Haleys response has garnered praise the right as well as left, particularly on social media: With all due respect, I dont get confused. A drug mule said she tried to smuggle 11m worth of cocaine into Australia because it was a chance to post selfies on Instagram during a free holiday. Escort Melina Roberge, 24, broke down in court when she was jailed for eight years for taking part in an attempt to smuggle the drugs into Sydney aboard a luxury cruise ship. She told the New South Wales state district court she risked a life sentence in an Australian prison for the opportunity to take selfies in exotic locations and post them on Instagram to receive likes and attention during a 12,000 holiday she could not afford. Three Canadians have admitted smuggling 95kg of cocaine in suitcases aboard the MS Sea Princess during a seven-week cruise in 2016. The trip began in Britain and continued to Ireland, the United States, Bermuda, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, then Australia. Roberge, dubbed cocaine babe in headlines and on social media, was sentenced on Wednesday to a non-parole period of 4 years and 9 months in prison before she is likely to be deported to Canada. Judge Kate Traill condemned Roberges motivation for crime as a very sad indictment on her age group who seek to attain such a vacuous existence where how many likes they receive are their currency. She was seduced by lifestyle and the opportunity to post glamorous Instagram photos from around the world, the judge said. She wanted to be the envy of others. I doubt she is now. Roberges accomplice with whom she shared a cabin, Isabelle Lagace, 29, was sentenced in November to seven years in prison backdated to their arrest. Lagace will also likely to be deported after serving a non-parole period of four years. Police with sniffer dogs found 35kg of cocaine in their cabin on 28 August, 2016, when the liner, operated by California-based Princess Cruises, berthed in Sydney. Lagace told the court she took part to settle a debt in Canada. Roberge did not admit her guilt until days before her trial was due to begin in February. Judge Traill said Roberge was recruited by a wealthy Canadian benefactor, whom Roberge described in court as her sugar daddy but never identified for fear of repercussions for her family in Canada, with the lure of a free holiday. The third accomplice, Andre Tamin, 65, will be sentenced in October. He was caught with 60kg of the drug in his cabin. In an affidavit admitted to the court, Roberge said at the time she was a stupid young woman governed by superficial goals. I have devastated so many people in the process, she wrote. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The court heard Roberge met her sugar daddy in 2015, and they began an intimate relationship while she worked as an escort for him. He invited her to work as an escort in May 2016 during a trip to Morocco, where he first enjoined her to take part in a drug-smuggling voyage. Judge Traill said the then-22-year-old was there to look pretty, acting as a decoy to the drug dealing below deck. Roberge told the court she suspected drugs were brought aboard at Peru, because of increased activity during a stopover there. The judge said Roberge was also motivated by profit. She was promised the ticket, 4,000 (3,500) in spending money plus more cash once she returned home. The US Department of Homeland Security and the Canada Border Services Agency identified the trio as high-risk passengers among the 1,800 on board. The haul was a record for cocaine smuggled in luggage through an Australian air or sea port. AP Thousands of south Pacific islanders are to be permanently resettled after an active volcano began spewing torrents of ash and gas from its crater. The government of Vanuatu is to evacuate all 13,000 people from Ambae after declaring a state of emergency this week. It is the second time in six months the volcanic islands entire population has been evacuated as the rumbling Mount Monaro spews out constant ashfall and sulphuric fumes. Recommended Vanuatu island orders total evacuation over volcano eruption fears Some parts of the island have been blanketed in ash 30cm deep, burying crops and causing health problems for locals. Residents have begun suffering breathing difficulties and skin reactions, and face food and water shortages due to contaminated supplies. Heavy, rain-sodden ash has caused the roofs of some buildings to collapse, while schools have been closed as many people remain indoors. They are really desperate for help, said Nadia Kanegai, a community leader on Ambae told Radio New Zealand. Part of west Ambae was covered and it was dark because of the smoke and the population there was remaining inside and could not come outside. And there was a gas emission as well. So the people are scared. A local priest warned the situation was becoming desperate as food supplies dwindled and illnesses spread. I think if we live from now up until next week without any assistance from the government, I think a lot of people will starve and a lot of people will die because of no food, William Bice said. The countrys central government last ordered the islands compulsory evacuation in September, as huge columns of smoke, ash and volcanic rocks billowed from Manaros crater. People moved back after the volcano settled a month later. In March, however, the volcano roused again. This time, it looks likely there will be no return for islanders, after ministers approved plans for their permanent relocation. Authorities are in talks with chiefs in neighbouring islands Maewo and Pentecost to discuss obtaining land for the resettlement. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The government does not wish to get into an endless evacuation and repatriation circuit and hence is looking at the reality that Ambaes volcanoes are not likely to become totally dormant in the short term, said Andrew Parker, head of Unicef in Vanuatu. Aid agencies including the Red Cross have been distributing protective masks, safety glasses, food and fresh water to islanders. Vanuatus Disaster Management Office said it was working through a phased evacuation, first moving islanders to safer parts of the Ambae before they are relocated further afield. Ambae, one of 83 islanders that make up Vanuatus archipelago, is formed from the parts of Manaro that rise from the Pacifc Ocean. The shield volcano is one of the worlds most active. Vanuatu is home to about 280,000 people and is prone to natural disasters, with six active volcanoes as well as regular cyclones and earthquakes. It sits on the Pacifics Ring of Fire, the arc of seismic faults around the Pacific Ocean where earthquakes and volcanoes are common. Angela Merkel and Emmanuel Macron have met for talks about the future of the eurozone as the leaders of the blocs two biggest economies try to hash out a common position on reform. The French president called for convergence between countries in the monetary union, having said earlier this week that he would be happy for France to pay more in the EU budget. The German chancellor has meanwhile called for compromise under pressure at home not to commit Germany to anything too expensive, particularly from her own partys right wing. We need an open debate and at the end the ability to compromise, Ms Merkel said, adding that the 19-member bloc was not yet sufficiently crisis-proof. We each bring some different facets but I think the sum of our proposals will make for a good result in the end, she added. But speaking alongside his political partner at a press conference in Berlin, Mr Macron said there was a unique opportunity to reform now. No monetary union can exist without elements of convergence. The most important thing is not to react on such and such instrument at this stage, but to be sure that we share the same goals and to have a joint political objective, he said. You will notice we dont lack work to do, and we dont lack the will either. The two leaders both agree that the eurozone needs reform but disagree on the specifics. They are hoping to form a united front by June, when a summit of eurozone countries will be held alongside the European Council summit. Emmanuel Macron says Europe is in a 'civil war' and is 'fascinated with the illiberal' in landmark EU speech Mr Macron wants a European Monetary Fund that would help invest in the eurozones less rich economies, but German conservatives are worried that they might foot the bill of any economic risks taken by other states. The French president has also previously proposed the eurozone having its own finance minister and a separate budget for the shared currency area. Ms Merkel is understood to be more positive on the prospect of a eurozone banking union, but cooler on other proposals. In a speech in the European Parliament on Tuesday Mr Macron warned that Europe is in a state of civil war and was afflicted with a fascination with the illiberal. Brexit so far: in pictures Show all 53 1 /53 Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson led the VoteLeave campaign PA Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit campaign Boris Johnson MP, Labour MP Gisela Stuart and UKIP MP Douglas Carswell address the people of Stafford in Market Square during the Vote Leave Brexit Battle Bus tour on 17 May 2016. Their lead line on the tour was: We send the EU 350 million a week, let's fund our NHS instead. Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Voting day A man shelters from the rain as he arrives at a polling station in London on 23 June 2016. Millions of Britons voted in the referendum on whether to stay in or leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Referendum results Leader of Ukip, Nigel Farage, reacts at the Leave EU referendum party at Millbank Tower in central London as results indicated that it was likely the UK would leave the European Union AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Protesting the result A young couple painted as EU flags and a man with a sign reading Im not leaving protest outside Downing Street against the voters decision to leave the EU on 24 June 2016 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures David Cameron resigns British Prime Minister David Cameron resigns on the steps of 10 Downing Street on 24 June 2016 after the results of the EU referendum were declared and the United Kingdom voted to leave the European Union Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Theresa May Becomes the new Conservative Party leader Theresa May receives a kiss from her husband Philip, after becoming the new Conservative Party leader on 11 July 2016. May became Prime Minister two days later and although she voted to remain in the referendum was keen to lead Britains Brexit talks after her only rival in the race to succeed David Cameron pulled out unexpectedly. May was left as the only contender standing after the withdrawal from the leadership race of Andrea Leadsom, who faced criticism for suggesting she was more qualified to be prime minister because she had children AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Lancaster House keynote speech on Brexit British Prime Minister Theresa May delivers her keynote speech on Brexit at Lancaster House in London on 17 January 2017. Where she spoke about her offer to introduce a transition period after the UK formally leaves the European Union in March 2019. Despite repeating the pro-Brexit mantra of no deal is better than a bad deal, the Prime Minister claimed she wanted a tone of trust between the negotiators and said Britain was leaving the EU but not Europe. She said there should be a clear double lock needed for the transitional period to make sure businesses had time to prepare for changes to their trading relationships with the EU Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Triggering of Article 50 British Prime Minister Theresa May in the cabinet, sitting below a painting of Britain's first Prime Minister Robert Walpole, signs the official letter to European Council President Donald Tusk invoking Article 50 and the United Kingdom's intention to leave the EU on 29 March 2017 Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Gibraltar nonsense Tensions have risen over Brexit negotiations for the Rock of Gibraltar. The European Council has said Gibraltar would be included in a trade deal between London and Brussels only with the agreement of Spain. While former Conservative leader Michael Howard claimed that Theresa May would be prepared to go to war to protect the territory. Spain's foreign minister stepped in only to assert that there was no need for the dispute Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Shock snap election Soon after triggering Article 50, Theresa May called on 18 April 2017 for a snap general election. The election would be on 8 June and it came as a shock move to many, with her reasoning to try to bolster her position before tough talks on leaving the EU AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Dissolution of Parliament for General Election Campaign Prime Minister Theresa May makes a statement in Downing Street after returning from Buckingham Palace on 3 May 2017. The Prime Minister visited the Queen to ask for the dissolution of Parliament signalling the official start to the general election campaign Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Conservatives lose parliamentary majority An arrangement of British daily newspapers showing front page stories about the exit poll results of the snap general election. British Prime Minister Theresa May faced pressure to resign on 9 June 2017 after losing her parliamentary majority, plunging the country into uncertainty as Brexit talks loomed. The pound fell sharply amid fears the Conservative leader would be unable to form a government AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Labour gains Britains opposition Labour Party leader Jeremy Corbyn gives a tumbs up as he arrives at Labour headquarters in central London on 9 June 2017 after the snap general election results showed a hung parliament with Labour gains and the Conservatives losing their majority AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit negotiations begin Brexit Minister David Davis and European Commission member in charge of Brexit negotiations Michel Barnier address a press conference at the end of the first day of Brexit negotiations in Brussels on 19 June 2017 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May speaks in Florence British Prime Minister Theresa May speaks on 22 September 2017, in Florence. May sought to unlock Brexit talks after Brussels demanded more clarity on the crunch issues of budget payments and EU citizens' rights AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit insufficient progress German Chancellor Angela Merkel joins other EU leaders for a breakfast meeting during an EU summit in Brussels on 20 October 2017. The EU spoke about Brexit and announced that insufficient progress had been made AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures DUP derails settlement on the withdrawal part of Brexit DUP Deputy Leader Nigel Dodds walks off after speaking to members of the media as a protester holding flags shouts after him outside the Houses of Parliament on 5 December 2017. British Prime Minister Theresa May was forced to pull out of a deal with Brussels after the DUP said it would not accept terms which see Northern Ireland treated differently from the rest of the UK Getty Brexit so far: in pictures May suffers defeat over EU (Withdrawal) Bill Theresa May suffers defeat in parliament over EU (Withdrawal) Bill on 13 December 2017. The Government was defeated by Conservative rebels and Labour MPs in a vote on its key piece of Brexit legislation. MPs amended the EU (Withdrawal) Bill against Theresa May's will, guaranteeing Parliament a meaningful vote on any Brexit deal she agrees with Brussels. Ms May's whips applied pressure on Conservative rebels who remained defiant in the Commons throughout the day and in the end the Government was defeated by 309 votes to 305 Brexit so far: in pictures EU council summit sufficient progress Britain's Prime minister Theresa May arrives to attend the first day of a European union summit in Brussels on 14 December 2017. European leaders discussed Brexit and announced there was finally sufficient progress at the end of the two days AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures The game moves to transition Brexit Secretary David Davis gives evidence on developments in European Union divorce talks to the Commons Exiting the EU Committee in Portcullis House, London, on 24 January 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures Trade deal is what May wants French President Emmanuel Macron gestures to Britain's Prime Minister Theresa May after they hold a press conference at the Royal Military Academy, Sandhurst, on 18 January 2018. May and Macron agreed a new border security deal, through which the UK will pay more to France to stop migrants trying to reach British shores on 18 January 2018 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Transition period agreed The UK and EU agree terms for Brexit transition period on 19 March, 2018 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures No agreement on Irish border The EU and UK however failed to reach an agreement on the Irish border during the successful talks on other Brexit issues AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU attacks Mays fantasy strategy For months after the March deal is struck there is little significant progress in talks. One senior EU official tears into Britains fantasy negotiating strategy and accuses Theresa May of not even having a position on a variety of important issue Getty Brexit so far: in pictures UK releases Ireland plan Britain releases a new customs plan to solve the Northern Ireland border but Michel Barnier says it leaves unanswered questions and would not prevent a hard border EbS Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan agreed The cabinet agrees on a plan known as the "Chequers deal" on July 6 2018. The plan seeks regulatory alignment on goods and food, divergence on services, freedom from the European Courts of Justice and an end to free movement. Many were surprised that the hard Brexiteers of the cabinet would agree to this plan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Chequers plan sparks resignations Brexit Secretary David Davis and Foreign Secretary Boris Johnson and numerous ministers resign in the days following the Chequers agreement Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Davis out, Raab in On 9 July, Dominic Raab replaces David Davis as Brexit Secretary. Raab is a keen Brexiteer and was a housing minister before taking over from Davis Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Barnier's "deal like no other" EU chief negotiator Michel Barnier claims on August 29 2018 that they are prepared to offer Britain a trade deal like no other, though he stressed that they will not divide or change the single market to accommodate Britain AP Brexit so far: in pictures "My deal or no deal" In an interview on Panorama on September 17, the Prime Minister insists that any Brexit deal will be offered to the EU on her terms. She asserts this amongst continued attacks on her approach to Brexit by Boris Johnson and the European Research Group, headed by Jacob Rees Mogg BBC/Jeff Overs Brexit so far: in pictures EU leaders reject Chequers Quite the blow was dealt to the Prime Minister at a EU leaders summit in Salzburg on September 20. European Council President Donald Tusk stated that the Chequers deal "will not work" Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures May demands respect Following the rejection of her Chequers plan the day before, the Prime Minister voiced her anger that the EU had dismissed it without offering an alternative. She stated that throughout this process, I have treated the EU with nothing but respect. The UK expects the same. A good relationship at the end of this process depends on it." Getty Brexit so far: in pictures People's Vote march As the People's Vote campaign and The Independent's Final Say campaign gain traction, 700,000 people turn out in London to demand a final say on the UK's Brexit deal on October 20 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures More resignations As the Prime Minister settles on a Brexit deal, Brexit secretary Dominic Raab resigns along with Work and Pensions secretary Esther McVey and many other ministers Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Final Say petitions delivered to Downing Street People's Vote supporting MPs Chukka Umunna, Justine Greening and Caroline Lucas and The Independent editor Christian Broughton deliver over a million signatures in favour of a People's Vote to the Prime Minister at 10 Downing Street on December 3 2018 PA Brexit so far: in pictures May delays vote On December 10, the Prime Minister delayed the vote on her Brexit deal as it was near certain not to pass through the Commons due to Tory rebels and lack of DUP support AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures No confidence motion Tory MPs triggered a confidence vote in the Prime Minister on December 12. She won by 200 votes to 117 Reuters Brexit so far: in pictures Commons rejects the deal Following the delay, the Prime Minister's deal was rejected in the Commons by a historic 230 votes AFP Brexit so far: in pictures Corbyn tables a no confidence motion Following the rejection of the Prime Minister's deal, opposition leader Jeremy Corbyn tabled a motion of no confidence in the government, which the government won by a margin of 19 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Plan B The Prime Minister won the support of the commons to return to Brussels to renegotiate the backstop on January 29. In the same sitting, MPs also voted against a no-deal Brexit in a non-legally binding motion PA Brexit so far: in pictures EU council president savages Brexit campaigners who failed to plan for departure: Special place in hell There is a special place in hell for pro-Brexit campaigners who demanded Britain leave the EU without explaining how it should happen, Donald Tusk has said. The European Council president launched the scathing attack as he accused anti-EU campaigners of pushing for Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. Mr Tusk also dismissed suggestions that the EU could reopen negotiations over the controversial Northern Ireland backstop, dealing a blow to Theresa Mays hopes of securing fresh concessions as she tries to get her exit deal through parliament. Speaking in Brussels alongside Irish taoiseach Leo Varadkar, Mr Tusk said: Ive been wondering what a special place in hell looks like for people who promoted Brexit without even a sketch of a plan how to carry it out safely. He also tweeted the accusation moments later Getty Brexit so far: in pictures EU and UK announce talks to restart after Theresa May visits Brussels Both have agreed to restart Brexit talks to find a way through the deadlock in Westminster, following a visit by Theresa May to Brussels. In a joint statement the British government and European Commission said Ms May had had a robust but constructive meeting with president Jean-Claude Juncker, and that the pair would meet again before the end of the month. But the EU again refused to reopen the withdrawal agreement and its controversial backstop with any negotiations expected to focus on the future relationship between the UK and EU instead Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brexit strategy lost MPs voted down May's Brext plans, with a majority of 45. The prime minister did not appear in parliament to see another defeat PA Brexit so far: in pictures Labour and Conservative MPs resign and create the Independent Group Back row of Chris Leslie, Gavin Shuker, Chuka Umunna and Mike Gapes, middle row of Angela Smith, Luciana Berger and Ann Coffey and front row of Sarah Wollaston, Heidi Allen, Anna Soubry and Joan Ryan PA Brexit so far: in pictures Non-biding votes on amendments to Brexit motion On February 27 he house held a series of votes, unanimously calling for the UK and EU to guarantee citizens rights in a no-deal scenario AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Attorney General publishes legal advice A hammer blow for May as Geoffrey Cox said her renegotiated deal can still leave UK in backstop against its will. Mr Cox did say the prime ministers efforts had reduced the risk of the UK being trapped in the backstop indefinitely. MPs went on to vote against her deal by 391 to 242 UK Parliament/PA Brexit so far: in pictures No-deal off the table MPs rejected a no-deal Brexit by 43 votes on March 13, with cabinet ministers rebelling in another humiliating defeat for Theresa May. A day later they voted in favour of the prime minister seeking an extension to Article 50 AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures House speaker bans May from third Commons vote on same Brexit deal John Bercow sensationally told Theresa May he would stop her making another attempt to pass her Brexit deal unless she has secured changes. The Speaker said a further meaningful vote would be ruled out of order if the motion was the same or substantially the same under an ancient convention to stop the government bullying parliament on issues MPs have rejected Parliament Live Brexit so far: in pictures May writes to Tusk The prime minister wrote to Donald Tusk, president of the European Council, to ask for a three-month extension to give her more time to try to get her deal through parliament. However the European Commission advises the EU27 should offer a short extension to May 23 or a longer one meaning the UK would participate in European elections 10 Downing Street/AFP/Getty Brexit so far: in pictures European Council summit Theresa Mays request to extend triggering Article 50 until the end of June was rejected by the EU, and instead offered a shorter time frame. She accepted the offer of a delay until May 22 if her withdrawal deal is approved by Parliament. If MPs rejected it for a third time, the EU said Britain must propose a new plan by April 12. Ms May said she will not support a long delay because it would mean Britain participating in elections for the European Parliament Getty Brexit so far: in pictures Brussels confirms preparations for a no-deal Brexit are completed They warned that it is increasingly likely the UK will crash out. In a statement the European Commission (EC) said preparedness and contingency work, which the EC has been conducting since December 2017, was now finished. The announcement came days after EU leaders agreed to a request by Theresa May to extend the UKs Brexit date AFP Brexit so far: in pictures May resigns Reuters There is doubt in a number of European countries. Month after month were seeing views and sensibilities emerge which call into certain fundamental There seems to be a sort of European civil war. National selfishness and egotism seems to take precedence over what brings us together, he said. There is a fascination with the illiberal, and thats growing all the time. So Europe has an ever greater responsibility. The French president said it would be the worst possible mistake to give up on the European social model and integration of the continent, describing nationalism as a deadly tendency which might lead our continent into the abyss. A submarine linked to rumours that Adolf Hitler survived and escaped to Argentina in a U-boat has been discovered lying wrecked at the bottom of the North Sea between Denmark and Norway. Submarine U-3523 had been one of a new generation of type XXI U-boats that were able to run more silently and stay submerged for longer than any of their predecessors, with a range that would have allowed them to sail non-stop from Europe to South America. As such it would have been perfect escape vessel for Nazi gold, high-ranking officials or even Hitler himself as the Reich collapsed at the end of the Second World War. Recommended How the Nazis escaped justice And although the British crew of a B24 Liberator bomber reported sinking the sub on May 6 1945, its wreck was never found, helping support suspicions that the U-boat, and whoever it was carrying, might have got away to Argentina. Now, however, researchers from the Sea War Museum Jutland, Denmark, say they have discovered the wreck of U-3523 in the Skagerrak strait, ten nautical miles north of the north Danish town of Skagen. The discovery seems to prove that U-3523 never took Hitler, any Nazis or any treasure to Argentina. The real reason it lay undiscovered for 73 years, the researchers say, is because the Liberator bomber crew made a mistake in reporting its position, placing the wreck nine nautical miles east of where it had actually sunk. But, intriguingly, the researchers also say that U-3523 probably had been on the run when the Liberator cut short its escape, and they still dont know for certain who was on board when the submarine sank. There have been persistent rumours that Adolf Hitler escaped to live among die-hard Nazis in south America, despite the overwhelming consensus that he killed himself in his Berlin bunker (AFP/Getty Images) A statement issued by the Sea War Museum said: The day before [U-3523 was sunk] German forces in Denmark, Northwest Germany and the Netherlands had surrendered, and the U-boat was not on a war patrol, but probably on the run. After the war, there were many rumours about top Nazis who fled in U-boats and brought Nazi gold to safety, and the U-3523 fed the rumours. The Type XXI was the first genuine submarine that could sail submerged for a prolonged time, and the U-3523 had a range that would have allowed it to sail non-stop all the way to South America. But nobody knows if this was the U-boats destination, and nobody knows if the U-boat had valuables or passengers aboard in addition to the 58 crew, all of whom perished at 123 meters depth. The final telegram sent by the submarine, on 5 May 1945, made no mention of Nazi treasure or officials, so there probably needs to be considerable scepticism about whether skipper Willi Muller and his crew were carrying Nazi passengers instead of just trying to escape themselves. And as for Adolf Hitler, the U-boat appears to have left port five days after 1 May 1945, when German radio announced the Fuhrers death. Josef Mengele escaped capture and lived in freedom in South America until his death in 1979 (Rex Features) But the fact is that some Nazis including Adolf Eichmann and Dr Josef Mengele, the angel of Death of Auschwitz, did make it to Argentina, Eichmann to be captured by the Israelis in 1960, Mengele to live out his days in freedom until drowning while swimming off Brazil in 1979. And although men like Eichmann and Mengele got away on conventional passenger ships, two German submarines are known to have turned up in Argentina some months after the war in Europe ended on May 8 1945. U-530 surrendered to the Argentine navy at Mar del Plata on July 10 1945. Its captain Otto Wermuth insisted he hadnt carried any passengers, but his Argentine navy interrogators noted that he admitted destroying the submarines log book and secret documents, while consistently refusing to give details about the specific routes taken. Later news articles suggested that an Argentine reporter claimed to have seen a provincial police report which supposedly documented a strange submarine landing a high-ranking officer and civilian. It was even suggested that the pair might have been Hitler and his lover Eva Braun in disguise. And about a month later, on August 17 1945, another submarine, U-977, turned up in Mar del Plata. The submarine crew told interrogators that after realising the war was over in May, they had headed for Argentina, hoping to avoid falling into the hands of the Russians and maybe even to settle in South America without being sent to a POW camp. They had also been influenced by Nazi propaganda claims that after the war all German men would be enslaved and forcibly sterilised by the victorious Allies. What the submarine had been doing between early May and arriving in Argentina in August was explained by factors like taking evasive action after spotting or being spotted by planes and ships, and by a stop off at the Cape Verde Islands, where the men swam and sang songs. Skipper Heinz Schaffer, like Wermuth, insisted he was carrying only crewmen and no passengers. But the mere presence in Argentina of U-977 and U-530 has helped fuel curiosity about missing submarines like U-3523, and the linked rumours that Hitler lived to a ripe old age in South America. The overwhelming historical consensus is that the Nazi leader killed himself in his Berlin bunker on April 30 1945. But the rumours of his continuing survival started almost as soon as German radio announced that our Fuhrer Adolf Hitler, fighting to the last breath against Bolshevism, fell for Germany this afternoon in his operational headquarters in the Reich Chancellery. In the intervening 73 years, Hitler has been reported living in the foothills of the Andes after escaping via submarine to Argentina, being photographed aged 95 with a younger Brazilian girlfriend in 1984, and being idolised by die-hard Nazis in Colombia in the 1950s. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty Declassified FBI files show that the post-war American authorities even went to the trouble of investigating some of these rumours. No FBI file records anything close to confirmation of the rumours, but the fact that they were investigated at all seems to have been taken by some conspiracy theorists as proof that there was truth in them. As recently as last year, there were reports about a 1955 memo from the head of the CIA base in Maracaibo, Venezuela, who said that in 1954 steamship company worker Phillip Citroen told agents that while working for a railroad firm in Colombia he had met a man who insisted he was Adolf Hitler. The man, who was said to bear a striking resemblance to the Fuhrer, was alleged to be living in Tunja, in the Colombian Andes. The city, Mr Citroen assured the CIA, was overly populated with former German Nazis. According to Citroen, the 1955 CIA memo continued, the Germans in Tunja follow this alleged Adolf Hitler with an idolatory of the Nazi past, addressing him as der Fuhrer and affording him the Nazi salute and storm-trooper adulation.' The memo added that in 1954 Mr Citroen, who co-owned a local English language Maracaibo newspaper, had also shown the CIA a photo of him sitting beside the Tunja Adolf Hitler. Perhaps tellingly, though, the 1955 memo also noted the apparent fantasy of Mr Citroens claims. The CIA view was echoed by credible historians when the memo resurfaced in 2017. Asked to comment on the memo, Uki Goni, the respected author of The Real Odessa about Nazis who really did escape to Argentina, told the Miami Herald: Hitler committed suicide in his bunker. All the rest is fake news. The Swedish Academy is in trouble. The body, which bestows the annual Nobel Prize in Literature, has been hit by the withdrawal of a number of its members after a row over allegations of sexual abuse and harassment. The crisis came to a head after the decision of the permanent secretary, Sara Danius, to step down on 12 April, prompting King Carl XVI Gustaf to intervene, promising reforms to enable to academy to continue. The academys rules dont allow for members to resign, so disenchanted members withdraw from active participation. Daniuss withdrawal is the first by a permanent secretary in more than 230 years. It means there are only 11 active members of the academy and the rules require that new members must be elected by 12 members. The Swedish Academy was established in 1786 to promote the Swedish language by setting standards and developing poetry and other forms of linguistic expression. For a century and more, this was where writers rubbed shoulders with high-ranking officials and aristocrats. But for the past century, the 18 members of the academy have tended to be well-known writers and academics a fine family name is no longer enough for entrance. But apart from this small modernisation in the interests of promoting equality, the Swedish Academy has remained surprisingly stable. There have been scandals and expulsions, most notably that of founding member, Gustaf Mauritz Armfelt, a director of both the Royal Opera and the Royal Theatre in Stockholm, who was excluded twice both times for political reasons when Armfelt was forced to flee the country in fear of his life. Another prominent exclusion was that of politician and aristocrat Count Henning Hamilton who resigned after financial wrongdoing. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty But overall the academy has been remarkably stable and, when Alfred Nobels will stipulated in 1895 that the Nobel Prize in Literature should be decided upon by the academy in Stockholm, the organisation received an enormous boost in prestige as well as a financial boost that has allowed it to fund the Nobel Library. Scandal erupts The current crisis actually has its roots in a row as far back as 1989 when members Kerstin Ekman and Lars Gyllensten left their chairs after a majority of the academy voted against a proposition to submit an appeal to the Swedish government to engage against the fatwa issued by Iran against Salman Rushdie for his controversial novel The Satanic Verses. In 2015, another member, Lotta Lotass, left her chair for personal reasons. After Gyllenstens death and replacement by Kristina Lugn, this meant that only 16 of the 18 members of the academy were now actively involved in its work. These included five women including Danius the permanent secretary and the poet Katarina Frostenson, whose husband Jean-Claude Arnault is reported to have been the subject of numerous complaints of sexual harassment and abuse. These go back as far as 1996 when there is evidence that a young artist called Anna-Karin Bylund contacted the then permanent secretary Sture Allen (confusingly, the permanent secretary actually holds the office for a limited term that varies) with allegations of sexual harassment against Arnault. No action was taken at the time. Katarina Frostensons husband is reported to have been the subject of numerous sexual harassment complaints (EPA) Towards the end of 2017, in the wake of the Weinstein scandal and the #MeToo movement, 18 women came forward in the Swedish press with further allegations against Arnault, who is not only married to an academy member but runs the Forum, a club for artists in Stockholm that is subsidised by the academy. There were also allegations going around that the names of several winners had been leaked in the past, although there is said to be no record of odd betting patterns in Sweden. In the UK, Ladbrokes is reported to have suspended betting on one occasion after large amounts of money were placed on the eventual winner. Arnaults lawyer Bjorn Hurtig told Reuters that his client denied all the allegations, including that of being the source of leaks. Turmoil According to reports of the affair, moves to expel Frostenson were frustrated by the academys dominant conservative male faction, led by Allen and literary scholar Horace Engdahl (also a former permanent secretary), which voted against the measure on the grounds that it would be unfair to punish Frostenson for the perceived crimes of her husband. Three members: novelist Klas Ostergren, literary scholar Kjell Espmark and historian Peter Englund duly resigned and Danius stood down as permanent secretary and withdrew from active participation, as did Frostenson. The affair would not have attracted so much international interest but for the Swedish Academys role in selecting the recipients of the Nobel Prize. And now, thanks to all the resignations, the existence of the academy itself has been put in jeopardy. All eyes are now on the king and his possible reforms to reach some kind of solution that can secure the future of the Nobel Prize in Literature. Thomas Kaiserfeld is a professor at the division of history of ideas and sciences at Lund University. This article was first published in The Conversation (theconversation.com) The week in Moscow has unfolded as a tale of two government watchdogs. On Monday, the communications regulator Roskomnadzor moved to block messaging app Telegram, after its owner, Pavel Durov, refused to hand encryption keys to intelligence services. The agency then took a proverbial sledgehammer to crack a nut, blocking millions of unrelated IP addresses. Despite their efforts, over 70 per cent of users could still access the service 48 hours later. In Britain, after months of speculation, another communications regulator, Ofcom, signalled its intent to call time on RT, the channel formerly known as Russia Today. The Kremlin-funded network had been in trouble for breaking impartiality rules before. But this time, things seemed to be serious, with the watchdog opening seven new investigations at once. Coverage of the Salisbury attack was a tipping point, the agency said in a statement. For many British MPs, RT is synonymous with the Kremlins undeclared information war on the West. In March, the former minister Chris Bryant called on Theresa May to close the station down for broadcasting its propaganda in this country. Fellow MP Stephen Doughty made a similar request. Russia has warned of a mirror response against British journalists working in Russia. Storm clouds have formed over the BBC, the countrys foreign spokesperson Maria Zakharova said earlier this week. Placing the wisdom of a ban on RT to one side, the British parliamentarians calls did underline two things: major insecurities over the effectiveness of the Russian information strategy and the lack of tools to deal with it. There has been a clear shift in Russias information policy in the last decade. At home, hostile publications have been taken over, difficult editors replaced and talking points reintroduced to the major channels. Abroad, manipulation and disinformation campaigns have been stepped up. The 2008 Georgian war seems to have acted as a major turning point back to Soviet-style propaganda and control. But there is something that sets the new approach apart from the past. Whereas Soviet propaganda was mostly centralised and ideological, the new output is nimbler, franchised, opportunistic; it feeds on Western weaknesses. The soldiers of modern Russian information warfare are its official spokespeople, Twitter accounts, trolls and hackers, all fighting different and independent wars. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty If there is an ideology that these actors share, it is the sense of there being no one truth, said sociologist Alexei Levinson. As elsewhere in Russian society, cynicism is what holds things together, he told The Independent. Only the pragmatic and the present has any value. Someone decides well believe in this, and we wont believe in that. Nothing is attached, everything is flexible. The only absolute is loyalty to Putin and the system. With this, multiple realities are oddly coherent. One week, a channel can claim the Douma chemical attack was staged. And the next week, the same channel can report on a chemical weapons factory in rebel territory, allegedly funded by the UK. Russia believes its in an information war and it has to win every battle, the cultural critic Mark Lipovetsky told The Independent. It doesnt care what it said a minute ago, and what happens tomorrow doesnt matter too. The intensity and volume of the bullshit are what makes it work. At night time, all the cats are grey, he said. RTs critics have argued that it is here in its questioning more, projecting moral equivalence mode that the channel has its most damaging effect. Undeniably, the channel does engage with fringe groups, promote weird conspiracy theories and strike at areas of institutional Western weakness. Sometimes it is truthful, other times not. But RTs viewer stats do not yet suggest any major impact. According to the latest figures, RT reached just over half a million viewers in the UK over the week. This is a relatively small percentage of the audiences of major news networks and publications. It is there, in the mainstream media, said Lipovetsky, that the Kremlin actually gets its major propaganda hit. The Kremlin have become the masters of our short attention spans, he said. Most publications are lazy and reproduce Russian statements without context the same statements youll find on propaganda channels. Independent media should be deconstructing, pointing out lies and inconsistencies. But they arent paying attention. By tilting at windmills with the probability of major collateral damage, Ofcoms RT investigation may have more than just a week in common with Roskomnadzors Telegram disaster. Recep Tayyip Erdogan caught Turkey off guard on Wednesday by calling early elections for June, in a move that could cement his grip on power a year ahead of schedule. The Turkish president announced that parliamentary and presidential elections, originally scheduled for November 2019, will now be held on 24 June, meaning a new political system that will increase the powers of the president will take effect a year early. Turkey is switching from a parliamentary system to a presidential one, abolishing the office of the prime minister and decreasing the powers of the parliament, following a narrowly approved referendum last year. The changes take effect with the next election. Mr Erdogan would be able to run for two five-year terms on top of his current term. The strongman, who has ruled Turkey since 2003, spoke of the need for the new system to be implemented quickly in order to deal with numerous challenges ahead, including Turkeys fight against Kurdish insurgents in Syria and Iraq. The move, however, allows the leader criticised for his authoritarian tendencies to capitalise on nationalist sentiment that is running high following a successful military campaign to drive out Syrian Kurdish militants from the border enclave of Afrin in north-east Syria and ahead of warnings the economy could be foundering. It also puts opposition parties, many of which have not yet decided who to put forward to challenge Mr Erdogan, at a distinct disadvantage. Erdogan wants to take stock of a number of developments that are in his favour, said Soner Cagaptay, Turkey researcher at The Washington Institute for Near East Policy. Russia might soon force Turkey to pull out of Afrin, Mr Cagaptay said. "He wants to move forward before the negative news [on Afrin and the economy] start coming in, Mr Cagaptay said. Mr Erodgan said: Be it the cross-border operations in Syria or incidents of historic importance centred in Syria and Iraq, they have made it imperative for Turkey to overcome uncertainties quickly," in apparent reference to the aspirations for independence by Kurds in both countries. Switching to a new system of government has increasingly gained urgency so that decisions regarding our countrys future can be made and implemented with greater strength. He announced the elections after a meeting with Devlet Bahceli, the leader of Turkeys main nationalist party, MHP, who made a surprise call for early elections, citing efforts by unnamed circles to foment chaos in Turkey. The MHP has agreed to an election alliance with Mr Erdogans ruling Justice and Development Party, also known as AKP. The Turkish president, who has moved to further tighten his grip on power since a failed coup attempt in 2016, needs a 51 per cent majority to be re-elected in the first round of the presidential election. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty The decision to hold early polls comes a month after the AKP, with the help of the nationalist party, changed electoral laws that, among other things, paves the way for government employees to monitor ballot boxes, reducing independent monitoring of the polls. It also follows the sale of Turkeys largest media group, Dogan Holding, to a group that is close to Mr Erdogan a move observers say places 90 per cent of the nations media under Mr Erdogans control. Mr Cagaptay said Mr Erdogan had been preparing the groundwork to stack the elections in his favour. Turkeys weak opposition parties announced they were ready for the polls. They, however, have just two months to prepare for the elections and come up with candidates strong enough to challenge Mr Erdogan. It was unclear whether Meral Aksener, the leader of the fledgling centre-right Good Party which broke away from the MHP, would be eligible to run in the polls. Ms Aksener had announced her intention to run against Mr Erdogan and was seen as a strong candidate. Selahattin Demirtas, the charismatic former leader of Turkeys pro-Kurdish party, is in prison on terrorism charges. The elections would be held under a state of emergency that was declared following the failed coup. Parliament extended it for a seventh time despite calls for its end. The main opposition party accuses the government of misusing its emergency powers to erode democracy and arrest government critics. It allows the government to close down media outlets and non-governmental organisations. The government argued that security threats from a movement led by US-based cleric Fethullah Gulen, whom Turkey accuses of masterminding the coup, have not abated. It also cites Turkeys continued struggle against Kurdish rebels and other groups. Mr Gulen has denied any ties to the failed coup. AP US, British and French missile strikes on Syria had a limited impact on Syrian president Bashar al-Assads ability to carry out chemical weapons attacks, US assessments have reportedly shown. Donald Trump tweeted Mission Accomplished after the attacks, which members of his administration claimed had struck the heart of the countrys chemical weapons programme. His comments echoed those made by his predecessor George W Bush in 2001 after the US ousted Iraqi dictator Saddam Hussein. The US, Britain and France destroyed three targets tied to Syrias weapons programme, the most important of which was the Barzah Research and Development Centre. US intelligence concluded it was involved in the production and testing of chemical and biological warfare technology. But four US officials told Reuters that currently available intelligence indicated Syrias stockpiles of chemicals and precursors were believed to be scattered far beyond those three targets. It suggested that some of it was stored in schools and civilian apartment buildings, which one of the officials referred to as human shields. Speaking to Congress a day before the strikes, the US defence secretary James Mattis acknowledged one of his top priorities in crafting the operation would be to minimise the loss of life to civilians. Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Show all 21 1 /21 Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A picture released by the French Defence audiovisual communication and production unit (ECPAD) shows the launching of a cruise missile from a French military vessel in the Mediterranean sea towards targets in Syria overnight. The United States, France and Britain carried out a wave of punitive strikes against Bashar al-Assad's Syrian regime in the early hours of April 14 in response to alleged chemical weapons attacks. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Rafale warplanes being prepared for take off at the Saint-Dizier aerial military base, eastern France. Media reports state that the United States, France and Britain launched military strikes in Syria to punish President Bashar Assad for an apparent chemical attack against civilians and to deter him from doing it again. EPA Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Damascus skies erupt with missile fire as the US launches an attack on Syria targeting different parts of the capital. President Donald Trump announced airstrikes in retaliation for the country's alleged use of chemical weapons. AP Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A map show the location of the air strikes carried out by the US-led coalition in Syria overnight. US Department of Defense Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Royal Air Force tornado jets take off in the early hours from RAF Akrotiri airbase in Cyprus to conduct air strikes in Syria. Four Tornado jets fired Storm Shadow missiles "at a military facility -- a former missile base -- some 15 miles (24 kilometres) west of Homs, where the regime is assessed to keep chemical weapon precursors," the defence ministry said in a statement. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action Map of where the air strikes hit in Syria released by the Pentagon. A Syrian military statement says the US, Britain and France fired 110 missiles during a joint attack on targets in Damascus and outside. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A photo released on the Twitter page of Hezbollah's "Central War Media" account shows night footage of flares above Damascus seen through a night-vision device as Western strikes reportedly hit Syrian military bases and chemical research centres in and around Syria's capital. US, France, and Britain announced the joint operation. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Barzah research and development centre before and after the air strikes, released by the Pentagon. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker before the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker after the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The wreckage of a building described as part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus. AFP/Getty Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage site before and after the air strikes, released by the Pentagon. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage site before the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons storage site after the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action A British military Typhoon aircraft lands at the Sovereign Base Area (SBA) of Akrotiri, a British overseas territory located ten kilometres west of the southern Cypriot port city of Limassol, following US, British and French strikes on Syria. Syrian state media slammed Western strikes on Saturday as illegal and "doomed to fail," after the US, Britain and France launched a joint operation against the Damascus.government. Huge blasts were reported around the Syrian capital, moments after the three Western governments announced they were striking Syria's chemical weapons capabilities. AFP/Getty Images Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker before and after the air strikes, released by the Pentagon. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker before the air strikes. Pentagon Syria air strikes: US, UK and France joint military action The preliminary damage assessment of Him Shinshar chemical weapons bunker after the air strikes. Pentagon Both the Syrian regime and Russia deny unleashing poison gas on 7 April during their offensive on Douma, which ended with the recapture of the town, that was the last rebel stronghold near the capital, Damascus. Attempts to investigate were thwarted and when a UN security team visited the site of the suspected attack earlier this week, they were fired on by assailants, forcing them to retreat and further delaying the fact-finding mission by experts from the international chemical weapons watchdog. US officials said the assessment showed the strikes, particularly on Barzah, did degrade Syrias chemical weapons capability. But it also indicated a large quantity of chemical weapons was stored elsewhere. While crude, it is about as good as it needs to be for Assads purposes, another official said. Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Show all 13 1 /13 Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child receiving oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the rebel-held town of Douma AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child is treated in a hospital in Douma White Helmets Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a man with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures People cover their faces after an alleged chemical attack in Douma EPA Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A medical worker giving a toddler oxygen through respirators following an alleged poison gas attack in the opposition-held town of Douma. Syrian Civil Defense White Helmets via AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a girl with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A child is treated in a hospital in Douma White Helmets/Handout via Reuters Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Injured victims of an alleged chemical attack in Douma EPA Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures An image grab taken from a video released by the Douma City Coordination Committee shows unidentified volunteers spraying a man with water at a make-shift hospital following an alleged chemical attack AFP/Douma City Coordination Committee Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures A Syrian man mourns after an alleged chemical attack Alamy Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures People stand in front of damaged buildings, in the town of Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus, Syria AP Photo/Hassan Ammar Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Rubble lines a street in Douma, at the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack AP Douma chemical attack: Syria war in pictures Rubble fills a street in Douma, the site of a suspected chemical weapons attack, near Damascus AP Chlorine, which the US assessed was used in the Douma attack, is a common industrial chemical that is not difficult to find or weaponise, experts say. As a result, crippling a chlorine capability through military strikes is far more difficult than eliminating more sophisticated chemical or biological warfare agents. Moved by the images of the civilian victims of the suspected chemical attack, Mr Trump made no secret he was convinced of the need for a powerful US response. He even put Moscow and Tehran, which back the Assad regime, on edge with fiery rhetoric in the days before the strike, leaving open the possibility he might target them too. But US officials familiar with US military planning told Reuters that Russia and Iran were never seriously considered as targets. Recommended The airstrikes after Douma will make no difference Beyond working to avoid civilian casualties, Mr Mattis and other US officials tailored the strikes in a way to avoid triggering retaliation from Moscow and Tehran. The end result was an operation that did not target the Syrian regimes conventional military infrastructure, including aircraft that could deliver chemical agents in the future. The revelations came ahead of a meeting between the head of Russias military general staff and Natos supreme allied commander. Valery Gerasimov and Curtis Scaparrotti are set to meet in Azerbaijan to discuss the situation in Syria, according to the Tass news agency, which cited the Russian defence ministry. Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Show all 13 1 /13 Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage The wreckage of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre in the Barzeh district, north of Damascus, which was targeted by the US, UK and France air strikes. AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage A Syrian soldier films the damage of the Syrian Scientific Research Center surrounded by papers and rubble. AP Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Firefighrers extinguish smoke that rises from the damage. The Pentagon says none of the missiles filed by the U.S. and its allies was deflected by Syrian air defenses, rebutting claims by the Russian and Syrian governments. AP Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage The wreckage of part of the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound . AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Part of a building collapsing, surrounded by the wreckage. AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Further damaged to the Scientific Studies and Research Centre compound. AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Lt. Gen. Kenneth McKenzie, the director of the Joint Staff at the Pentagon, also says there also is no indication that Russian air defense systems were employed early Saturday in Syria. AP Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage A Syrian soldier sprays water on the wreckage. AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Syrian state news agency SANA reported several missiles hit a research centre in Barzeh, north of Damascus, "destroying a building that included scientific labs and a training centre". AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage A Syrian soldier films the damage. AP Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Damage to the Scientific Research Center building that was hit by the strikes. EPA Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage The Scientific Studies and Research Centre was one of the targeted buildings by the US, UK and France. AFP/Getty Syria bombings: US, UK and French military air strikes wreckage Further damage to the centre. EPA The talks are also expected to touch on Nato and Russian military activity in Europe, Tass added. Meanwhile, Isis militants have been give 48 hours to agree to withdraw from their last bastion in the capital, Damascus. Syrian troops and allied Palestinian fighters are massing around the Yarmouk refugee camp, which Isis seized in 2015 after months of heavy fighting. The extremists have been driven from nearly all the territory they once controlled in Syria and Iraq. Additional reporting by agencies As a planned summit between Donald Trump and North Korean leader Kim Jong-un approaches, Pyongyang has indicated it would abandon its nuclear programme without requiring American troops to leave the Korean Peninsula. The North is expressing a will for a complete denuclearisation, South Korean president Moon Jae-in said to reporters. They have not attached any conditions that the U.S. cannot accept, such as the withdrawal of American troops from South Korea. All they are talking about is the end of hostile policies against North Korea, followed by a guarantee of security. Achieving a deal on those terms would represent a resounding success for Mr Trump, who months earlier had threatened to totally destroy North Korea during a United Nations speech to world leaders. North Korea has long decried the presence of US troops, and their regular joint drills with South Korean forces, as provocations that could presage an invasion and necessitate Pyongyangs military buildup. But any demands for an exit of US troops would likely be a nonstarter for America. Despite nascent diplomatic efforts, the Trump administration has stuck by a campaign of maximum pressure and harsh sanctions on the North Korean regime. The commitment to denuclearise while allowing US forces to remain, conveyed via a South Korean leader who has prioritised better relations with the North, continued diplomatic manoeuvring ahead of high-stakes talks. Earlier this month CIA director Mike Pompeo met with Mr Kim in Pyongyang, and Mr Trump said efforts are on pace to convene talks by June. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty After spending the first stretch of Mr Trumps term threatening to devastate other countries, and testing increasingly sophisticated ballistics missiles believed to be capable of hitting the US mainland, North Korea pivoted to talking with the South and extending Mr Trump an invitation to meet with Mr Kim. Paralleling the American-led efforts to end the North Korean nuclear threat, South Korea is hoping to use the diplomatic opening to achieve a lasting change to the status quo on the Korean Peninsula. Kim Jong-un watches South Korean K-pop stars in Pyongyang Earlier in the week, South Korean officials said they hoped to also strike a peace accord to formally bring an end to the Korean War, which halted with a 1953 armistice but never again technically ended in the decades the north and the south spent warily watching each other across a heavily fortified border. Taken together, the efforts to conclude the war and dismantle Pyongyangs weapons programme offer the contours of a sweeping response to one of the worlds most intractable issues. Mr Trump expressed both hopefulness and a willingness to abandon the talks if they prove futile, saying earlier this week that the US would do everything possible to make it a worldwide success but adding that America might still walk away. If I think that it's a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, we're not going to go, Mr Trump told reporters. If the meeting, when I'm there, is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting. My partner Vickie and I have been in a same-sex relationship since 2012 and have been engaged since last September. Normally, newly engaged couples are elated and jump into wedding planning mode. However, when we considered the next steps in our own relationship, we had to put our excitement on hold because a huge obstacle stood before us. I am from the Cayman Islands which is a British Overseas Territory and Im the daughter of a Caymanian mother and a British father. Vickie is also British. Although I am a British citizen, my relationship simply doesn't exist in the eyes of the Cayman Islands government as my home country bans any form of legal union between same-sex couples. Even more outrageous is that the Cayman Islands also refuses to recognise overseas marriages or civil unions between same-sex couples where one of the individuals, like me, is Caymanian, whereas foreign same-sex couples who marry abroad and live in Cayman enjoy legal recognition of their union. What does this mean for us? It means that we stumbled right out of the blocks on our wedding planning as our ultimate wish was to return to the Cayman Islands to settle, surrounded by our friends and family who fully support us. This left us with two possible scenarios: either get married in the UK and return to Cayman to challenge the Cayman Islands government on recognising our marriage; or fight for the right to marry in Cayman at the outset, and fully enjoy our wedding day when it arrives. The discriminatory policies openly set by the Cayman Islands government means that I, like other LGBT+ citizens of the Cayman Islands, am a second-class citizen in my own country, forced to remain in self-exile overseas in order to enjoy equal rights and to be a part of a protected family unit. In Europe, same-sex couples are, as a matter of existing law, required to be provided with a legal framework to register our relationships and to acquire most or all of the rights of married different-sex couples because of a court case known as Oliari and Others v. Italy (ECHR, 21 July 2015). The lack of such a framework in the Cayman Islands is a clear and unequivocal breach of the European Convention on Human Rights, which is binding on the Cayman Islands government. The Cayman Islands government has acknowledged this breach. Leadsom on gay marriage We have pleaded with the Cayman government to act and to say I do to equal marriage. But it continues to ignore its own constitution. The British government wont help either even though it could mandate equal rights, like it did in 2001 when it decriminalised homosexuality in all of its overseas territories. One has to question why the UK feels that British citizens of overseas territories shouldnt have the same access and rights as British citizens in England, Wales and Scotland. Its silence and disregard for international human rights law is deafening. The truly frustrating point in all of this is the fact that this breach is not in dispute. Yet neither the Cayman Islands government nor the UK's Foreign Commonwealth Office will address it, and both will require Vickie and me to shoulder the burden of their responsibilities by forcing us to litigate. This left us no choice but to file for a special marriage license, which we did last week in the Cayman Islands and which was rejected on Monday. We have now instructed our legal team to commence legal proceedings in the Cayman Islands courts to challenge the Cayman Islands government on equal marriage. This will be a costly endeavour and we have set up a GoFundMe petition in order to at least partially fund it. With neither governments willing to step up, we have taken on the task and are confident that we can win our case and set an example for all of the UKs overseas territories, so that no more British citizens need to go to court to marry the person they love. Fifty years ago this week, a speech that was to change British politics forever was delivered: the rivers of blood speech, by Enoch Powell. We are still living with its consequences. Though he never said rivers of blood, he did use a great deal of offensive, albeit memorable, language. Powell did talk about excreta being put through letter box of a frail old lady, allegedly the last white woman in her street in Wolverhampton (which Powell represented in the Commons). He did mention charming, wide-grinning piccaninnies who knew only one word of English racialist. (Disappointing, by the way, but telling, that Boris Johnson alluded to piccaninnies with watermelon smiles years later). Powell did quote from Virgil: Like the Roman, I seem to see the River Tiber foaming with much blood. He did declare: Those whom the gods wish to destroy, they first make mad. We must be mad, literally mad, as a nation to be permitting the annual inflow of some 50,000 dependants, who are for the most part the material of the future growth of the immigrant-descended population. It is like watching a nation busily engaged in heaping up its own funeral pyre. And he certainly did relay the view of a constituent who told him that the black man will have the whip hand over the white man. He did, as he intended, stir things up. World news in pictures Show all 50 1 /50 World news in pictures World news in pictures 30 September 2020 Pope Francis prays with priests at the end of a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 29 September 2020 A girl's silhouette is seen from behind a fabric in a tent along a beach by Beit Lahia in the northern Gaza Strip AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 September 2020 A Chinese woman takes a photo of herself in front of a flower display dedicated to frontline health care workers during the COVID-19 pandemic in Beijing, China. China will celebrate national day marking the founding of the People's Republic of China on October 1st Getty World news in pictures 27 September 2020 The Glass Mountain Inn burns as the Glass Fire moves through the area in St. Helena, California. The fast moving Glass fire has burned over 1,000 acres and has destroyed homes Getty World news in pictures 26 September 2020 A villager along with a child offers prayers next to a carcass of a wild elephant that officials say was electrocuted in Rani Reserve Forest on the outskirts of Guwahati, India AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 September 2020 The casket of late Supreme Court Justice Ruth Bader Ginsburg is seen in Statuary Hall in the US Capitol to lie in state in Washington, DC AFP via Getty World news in pictures 24 September 2020 An anti-government protester holds up an image of a pro-democracy commemorative plaque at a rally outside Thailand's parliament in Bangkok, as activists gathered to demand a new constitution AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 September 2020 A whale stranded on a beach in Macquarie Harbour on the rugged west coast of Tasmania, as hundreds of pilot whales have died in a mass stranding in southern Australia despite efforts to save them, with rescuers racing to free a few dozen survivors The Mercury/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 22 September 2020 State civil employee candidates wearing face masks and shields take a test in Surabaya AFP via Getty World news in pictures 21 September 2020 A man sweeps at the Taj Mahal monument on the day of its reopening after being closed for more than six months due to the coronavirus pandemic AP World news in pictures 20 September 2020 A deer looks for food in a burnt area, caused by the Bobcat fire, in Pearblossom, California EPA World news in pictures 19 September 2020 Anti-government protesters hold their mobile phones aloft as they take part in a pro-democracy rally in Bangkok. Tens of thousands of pro-democracy protesters massed close to Thailand's royal palace, in a huge rally calling for PM Prayut Chan-O-Cha to step down and demanding reforms to the monarchy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 September 2020 Supporters of Iraqi Shi'ite cleric Moqtada al-Sadr maintain social distancing as they attend Friday prayers after the coronavirus disease restrictions were eased, in Kufa mosque, near Najaf, Iraq Reuters World news in pictures 17 September 2020 A protester climbs on The Triumph of the Republic at 'the Place de la Nation' as thousands of protesters take part in a demonstration during a national day strike called by labor unions asking for better salary and against jobs cut in Paris, France EPA World news in pictures 16 September 2020 A fire raging near the Lazzaretto of Ancona in Italy. The huge blaze broke out overnight at the port of Ancona. Firefighters have brought the fire under control but they expected to keep working through the day EPA World news in pictures 15 September 2020 Russian opposition leader Alexei Navalny posing for a selfie with his family at Berlin's Charite hospital. In an Instagram post he said he could now breathe independently following his suspected poisoning last month Alexei Navalny/Instagram/AFP World news in pictures 14 September 2020 Japan's Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, Chief Cabinet Secretary Yoshihide Suga, former Defense Minister Shigeru Ishiba and former Foreign Minister Fumio Kishida celebrate after Suga was elected as new head of the ruling party at the Liberal Democratic Party's leadership election in Tokyo Reuters World news in pictures 13 September 2020 A man stands behind a burning barricade during the fifth straight day of protests against police brutality in Bogota AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 September 2020 Police officers block and detain protesters during an opposition rally to protest the official presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus. Daily protests calling for the authoritarian president's resignation are now in their second month AP World news in pictures 11 September 2020 Members of 'Omnium Cultural' celebrate the 20th 'Festa per la llibertat' ('Fiesta for the freedom') to mark the Day of Catalonia in Barcelona. Omnion Cultural fights for the independence of Catalonia EPA World news in pictures 10 September 2020 The Moria refugee camp, two days after Greece's biggest migrant camp, was destroyed by fire. Thousands of asylum seekers on the island of Lesbos are now homeless AFP via Getty World news in pictures 9 September 2020 Pope Francis takes off his face mask as he arrives by car to hold a limited public audience at the San Damaso courtyard in The Vatican AFP via Getty World news in pictures 8 September 2020 A home is engulfed in flames during the "Creek Fire" in the Tollhouse area of California AFP via Getty World news in pictures 7 September 2020 A couple take photos along a sea wall of the waves brought by Typhoon Haishen in the eastern port city of Sokcho AFP via Getty World news in pictures 6 September 2020 Novak Djokovic and a tournament official tends to a linesperson who was struck with a ball by Djokovic during his match against Pablo Carreno Busta at the US Open USA Today Sports/Reuters World news in pictures 5 September 2020 Protesters confront police at the Shrine of Remembrance in Melbourne, Australia, during an anti-lockdown rally AFP via Getty World news in pictures 4 September 2020 A woman looks on from a rooftop as rescue workers dig through the rubble of a damaged building in Beirut. A search began for possible survivors after a scanner detected a pulse one month after the mega-blast at the adjacent port AFP via Getty World news in pictures 3 September 2020 A full moon next to the Virgen del Panecillo statue in Quito, Ecuador EPA World news in pictures 2 September 2020 A Palestinian woman reacts as Israeli forces demolish her animal shed near Hebron in the Israeli-occupied West Bank Reuters World news in pictures 1 September 2020 Students protest against presidential elections results in Minsk TUT.BY/AFP via Getty World news in pictures 31 August 2020 The pack rides during the 3rd stage of the Tour de France between Nice and Sisteron AFP via Getty World news in pictures 30 August 2020 Law enforcement officers block a street during a rally of opposition supporters protesting against presidential election results in Minsk, Belarus Reuters World news in pictures 29 August 2020 A woman holding a placard reading "Stop Censorship - Yes to the Freedom of Expression" shouts in a megaphone during a protest against the mandatory wearing of face masks in Paris. Masks, which were already compulsory on public transport, in enclosed public spaces, and outdoors in Paris in certain high-congestion areas around tourist sites, were made mandatory outdoors citywide on August 28 to fight the rising coronavirus infections AFP via Getty World news in pictures 28 August 2020 Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe bows to the national flag at the start of a press conference at the prime minister official residence in Tokyo. Abe announced he will resign over health problems, in a bombshell development that kicks off a leadership contest in the world's third-largest economy AFP via Getty World news in pictures 27 August 2020 Residents take cover behind a tree trunk from rubber bullets fired by South African Police Service (SAPS) in Eldorado Park, near Johannesburg, during a protest by community members after a 16-year old boy was reported dead AFP via Getty World news in pictures 26 August 2020 People scatter rose petals on a statue of Mother Teresa marking her 110th birth anniversary in Ahmedabad AFP via Getty World news in pictures 25 August 2020 An aerial view shows beach-goers standing on salt formations in the Dead Sea near Ein Bokeq, Israel Reuters World news in pictures 24 August 2020 Health workers use a fingertip pulse oximeter and check the body temperature of a fisherwoman inside the Dharavi slum during a door-to-door Covid-19 coronavirus screening in Mumbai AFP via Getty World news in pictures 23 August 2020 People carry an idol of the Hindu god Ganesh, the deity of prosperity, to immerse it off the coast of the Arabian sea during the Ganesh Chaturthi festival in Mumbai, India Reuters World news in pictures 22 August 2020 Firefighters watch as flames from the LNU Lightning Complex fires approach a home in Napa County, California AP World news in pictures 21 August 2020 Members of the Israeli security forces arrest a Palestinian demonstrator during a rally to protest against Israel's plan to annex parts of the occupied West Bank AFP via Getty World news in pictures 20 August 2020 A man pushes his bicycle through a deserted road after prohibitory orders were imposed by district officials for a week to contain the spread of the Covid-19 in Kathmandu AFP via Getty World news in pictures 19 August 2020 A car burns while parked at a residence in Vacaville, California. Dozens of fires are burning out of control throughout Northern California as fire resources are spread thin AFP via Getty World news in pictures 18 August 2020 Students use their mobile phones as flashlights at an anti-government rally at Mahidol University in Nakhon Pathom. Thailand has seen near-daily protests in recent weeks by students demanding the resignation of Prime Minister Prayut Chan-O-Cha AFP via Getty World news in pictures 17 August 2020 Members of the Kayapo tribe block the BR163 highway during a protest outside Novo Progresso in Para state, Brazil. Indigenous protesters blocked a major transamazonian highway to protest against the lack of governmental support during the COVID-19 novel coronavirus pandemic and illegal deforestation in and around their territories AFP via Getty World news in pictures 16 August 2020 Lightning forks over the San Francisco-Oakland Bay Bridge as a storm passes over Oakland AP World news in pictures 15 August 2020 Belarus opposition supporters gather near the Pushkinskaya metro station where Alexander Taraikovsky, a 34-year-old protester died on August 10, during their protest rally in central Minsk AFP via Getty World news in pictures 14 August 2020 AlphaTauri's driver Daniil Kvyat takes part in the second practice session at the Circuit de Catalunya in Montmelo near Barcelona ahead of the Spanish F1 Grand Prix AFP via Getty World news in pictures 13 August 2020 Soldiers of the Brazilian Armed Forces during a disinfection of the Christ The Redeemer statue at the Corcovado mountain prior to the opening of the touristic attraction in Rio AFP via Getty World news in pictures 12 August 2020 Young elephant bulls tussle playfully on World Elephant Day at the Amboseli National Park in Kenya AFP via Getty But, to pose the question that has been asked on and off ever since: were any of Enochs predictions correct? In one narrow sense, he was right. The increase in the immigrant population which became interchangeable in his thinking with what we would now call Black, Asian and Minority Ethnic (BAME) was much as Powell predicted it would be, allowing for his fuzzy/misleading definitions. According to the ONS, in 2011 the usual resident population of England and Wales that could be classified as non-white was 14 per cent rather higher than Powells extrapolations. It seems pointless to quibble about that. Its crucial, though, to nail the insidious idea that Powell propagated, sometimes explicitly, more often by sneaky logical ellipses: that you cannot be black and British (which is how he underpinned his demographic forecasts). Towards the end of his life, he was asked again about this for the BBC by Michael Cockerell. Asked if a black person could be British, Powell replied: It is not impossible. It is difficult. The very concept of black British, of black and Asian people making the kind of patriotic contribution to British society at every level that we take for granted, was anathema to Powell. Race is the basis of identity, he thought. In that, Enoch was demonstrably wrong. The whip hand? Racial discrimination working against white people? Hardly. By the 1980s, the degree of social and economic discrimination against Britains black community had become so grave that it provoked riots. Even Margaret Thatcher, as premier, and long an admirer of Powell, had to admit that race relations had gone badly, badly wrong. Sadiq Khan, Diane Abbott, Mo Farah, Jessica Ennis-Hill, Benjamin Zephaniah, George Alighai, Cyrille Regis, Stormzy, Zadie Smith, Meghan Markle The whip hand? It is, really, preposterous. Stand Up To Racism protests against Donald Trump's Britain First retweets It wasnt Powell who said it, originally. It was said to him by a constituent, a middle-aged, quite ordinary working man employed in one of our nationalised industries. So depressed was this chap that he wanted his children to emigrate. Powells case was that he had no choice but to voice such concerns. Yet it wasnt true: he could have argued back, set the mans mind at rest, argued in favour of a multicultural society. Except that Powell didnt believe in any such thing. He was perfectly entitled not to, but, it would have been better if he had checked the stories and eased the paranoia. He turned at that moment from statesman to mere cornershop gossip. And what of the river foaming with blood? In Powells view, the UK was headed for the sort of communal bloodshed that characterised India after partition and the evacuation of the British in 1947-48, or the continuing racial agonies of the US, which he alluded to in his speech. (Martin Luther King had been assassinated 16 days before Powells address). He believed that legislation to outlaw race discrimination a Bill was then being debated in Parliament, which gave Powell the peg for his speech would create further tensions among the indigenous population. The evidence, though, is that a succession of laws led the way in changing cultural attitudes to the extent that racism today is socially unacceptable. Powell, by contrast, thought thered be a civil war by now: a race war, in effect. In a 1977 TV interview he doubled down on his lurid predictions: The prospect is that politicians of all parties will say, well, Enoch was right, we dont say that in public, but we know it in private So let it go on until one-third of central London, one-third of Birmingham, Wolverhampton are coloured, until the civil war comes. Let it go on. We wont be blamed. Well either have gone or slip out from under somehow. Well, there is no civil war. Enoch, once again, was wrong. Powell in a very 21st century populist, Trump-esque, way created the impression that there is some conspiracy by the establishment politicians to perpetrate an act of betrayal. He, on the other hand, so he claimed, merely gave voice to millions wed now call left behind, often traditional Labour voters. He spoke for them literally, with his authentic Brummie accent, in contrast to the usual Tory plummy vowels or elocuted speech. Powell was quite dishonest. No one, despite an army of reporters descending on the Black Country, ever found the legendary little old lady, and no one ever met the working-class Wulfrunian who despaired of Britain. The letter Powell received from Northumberland, which (second-hand) recounted the story about the pensioner, was oddly never produced. Half a century on, it all sounds like fake news. Enoch was right, on other hand, about the impact his speech would make. When he was planning it he had apparently told Clem Jones, the editor of the Wolverhampton Express & Star, that he expected his speech to fire into the sky like a rocket, and that, unlike a rocket, it would not fall to earth but stay up in the firmament. Powell made sure the TV cameras were there, and that the press knew what was about to happen. The Conservative Party press office was kept out of it, for Powell knew it would infuriate his colleagues in the shadow cabinet. It did, and he got the sack. Powell gambled that the race issue would propel him into the Tory leadership and thence No 10. Yet all he succeeded in doing was to generate a huge swing away from Labour and towards the Conservatives in the key West Midlands marginals, at the 1970 election. He made Ted Heath, the leader who he so disliked, prime minister, and that, as Powell put it, sealed my exile. So Enoch was wrong to think that race was his shortcut to power. Still, you could say Powell has had a curious vindication since his death in 1998. For if Powell dedicated his life to the immigration issue, his other great passion was getting Britain out of the European Union: thus, Brexit might be judged the triumph of Powellism. There is a reason why Nigel Farage has been called a poundshop Powell. Perhaps we are piling up our own funeral pyre though not the one Enoch Powell had in mind. The public spat this week, between the White House and Nikki Haley, US permanent representative to the UN, has thrown Americas sanctions policy into confusion. But this should not cloud a more significant moment. Earlier this month America imposed its most far-reaching sanctions yet on Russia. These mark a turning point in US-Russia relations the moment when America took the offensive in a long struggle for influence waged with economic means. Since the end of the Cold War, the West has sought to draw Russia into the global economy. Beyond the pursuit of new trade and investment opportunities lay a strategic calculation: globalising Russia would normalise it. Enmeshed in the institutions and practices of a global market economy, Russia would become prosperous and peaceful. The West had contained the Soviet Union successfully: now it would integrate Russia. Vladimir Putin accepted only part of this bargain. He understood that Russia could benefit from the global economy, but had no intention of indulging a Western vision of his countrys future. On the contrary: Putin balanced the gains from economic engagement above all, energy exports and foreign investment with his own vision of centralised authoritarian power and an assertive foreign policy. At home he pursued sovereign democracy democratic forms subordinated to state control. Abroad, he pursued sovereign globalisation: interdependence subordinated to Russian power. For a time this worked. From 2000 to 2008 Russias economy doubled. Russia joined a host of international clubs, and in 2006 chaired the G8. At the same time, Russias political system became steadily less pluralistic and more illiberal, and its relations with the West cooled. Russia became both more integrated and less Western. Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Show all 24 1 /24 Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning United States Donald Trump has expelled 60 Russian diplomats from the US and closed the consulate in response to the Sergei Skripal spy poisoning. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Great Britain Prime Minister Theresa May confirmed Britain would be expelling 23 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Ukraine Ukrainian president Petro Poroshenko has expelled 13 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Germany Germany's Chancellor Angela Merkel has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning France France's President Emmanuel Macron has also expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Poland Poland's President Andrzej Duda has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Lithuania President of Lithuania Dalia Grybauskaite has expelled 3 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Czech Republic Czech Republic President Milos Zeman has also expelled 3 Russian diplomats. AFP Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Netherlands Netherlands Prime minister Mark Rutte has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Latvia Prime Minister of Latvia Maris Kucinskis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Estonia Estonia's Prime Minister Juri Ratas has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Croatia Croatia President Kolinda Grabar-Kitarovic has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Italy Italian President Sergio Mattarella has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Canada Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau has expelled 4 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Finland Finland's President Sauli Niinisto has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. Reuters Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Denmark Danish Prime Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Romania Romania's President Klaus Werner Iohannis has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Norway Norwegian Prime Minister Erna Solberg has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. REUTERS Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Spain Spanish Prime Minister Mariano Rajoy has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Sweden Sweden's Prime Minister Stefan Lofven has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Albania Albanian President Ilir Meta has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Australia Australian Prime Minister Malcolm Turnbull has expelled 2 Russian diplomats. Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Macedonia Macedonia President Gjorge Ivanov has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty Countries join UK expelling Russian diplomats over spy poisoning Hungary President of Hungary Janos Ader has expelled 1 Russian diplomat. AFP/Getty But sovereign globalisation went further: it harnessed economic ties with the West for political ends. Energy was one key instrument: not only oil and gas exports, but efforts to gain control over downstream assets. A second was finance: Western elites were carefully cultivated through lucrative business relations, lords on boards and other inducements, some less transparent than others. For the first time in its history, Russia used economic relations an enduring source of weakness as a source of influence. These rival visions the Wests rules-based integration and Russias sovereign globalisation were incompatible. They could not survive direct contact in Ukraine in 2014. This crisis has nothing to do with Nato enlargement: the key issue was whether Ukraines foreign economic relations should serve prosperity or power. It was Russias pressure on President Yanukovych to abandon Ukraines commitment to join an EU free trade agreement, and sign up instead to Russias own Eurasian Economic Union, that brought Ukrainians out onto the Maidan in Kiev and forced Yanukovych to flee. When Russia then annexed Crimea, and intervened in eastern Ukraine, the West imposed its first sanctions on Russia. Their effects have been real but limited, and chronic rather than acute. Russia found ways to adapt though Exxon Mobils withdrawal last month from joint projects with Rosneft, a sanctioned entity, is a setback. But Americas latest financial sanctions, announced on 6 April, are a game-changer in four ways. First, they are extremely stringent, threatening anyone who knowingly facilitating significant transactions with sanctioned individuals or entities. This deters not only counterparties from doing business, but agencies such as Clearstream and Euroclear from handling payments. The intent is to cut off sanctioned entities from any real involvement in the global economy. Russia claim trace of Western-made nerve agent seen in UK samples Second, the sanctions target publicly traded companies. Many oligarchs saw a listing in London, New York or Hong Kong as a way to protect corporate assets from Western sanctions as well as the Russian state. They are no longer safe. Third, the sanctions create wider uncertainty. No one knows who might be targeted next. Russia faces a new systemic risk: expectations about US sanctions are now as important as the oil price for assessing its prospects. Fourth, America is prepared to accept costs in order to inflict them. The new sanctions have already produced global fallout, including the disruption of aluminium markets. US institutions are obliged to divest themselves of holdings in sanctioned companies. A credible response to Russias malign activity around the globe requires measures that make ones own life more complicated. America has demonstrated its unique power in the global economy. No country can match its ability to hurt a major adversary in this way. Other countries will take note. But will others join it? While Russia scrambles to limit the impact of sanctions, the ball is really in Europes court now. In recent years the European Union has reduced its vulnerability to Russias energy weapon. But it has done little to tackle Russian finances and the influence they bring. American sanctions set a new standard. In particular, Washingtons aggressive moves against Oleg Deripaskas business empire stand in contrast to Londons relaxed approach that allowed his EN+ to list in London last November. If Europe follows Americas example, then life for Russias global elite the key networks that sustain the Kremlins power will become very uncomfortable indeed. Dr Nigel Gould-Davies is the former British ambassador to Belarus and former head of the economic department at the British Embassy in Moscow. He is now the associate fellow of the Russia and Eurasia programme at Chatham House as well as a lecturer and programme coordinator in international relations at Mahidol University, Thailand Theresa May said shes sorry her government upset the children that came on the Windrush, so we should accept that. It was an accident and we all make them. Some of us knock over a glass of lemonade, and some of us accidentally spend 10 years yelling that we must drastically reduce the number of immigrants as theyre taking our jobs and benefits while boasting our policies will create a hostile environment for them and whoops-a-daisy; you accidentally make an environment thats hostile to them. When she was home secretary, the prime minister accidentally sent vans round the streets with the words Go home or face arrest written on them, directed at immigrants, and no one could have guessed this would lead to an unwelcoming atmosphere towards immigrants in which some people might feel that immigrants ought to go home or face arrest. It wasnt the governments fault that people whod lived here for 50 years were suddenly threatened with deportation. It was an unlucky coincidence that at exactly the same time as the hostile environment policy, all round the country lots of immigration officials accidentally all became heartless, insisting they should produce papers they never had in the first place. You can hardly blame immigration officials for threatening deportation to people who have lived here since they were seven if these people havent even bothered to keep their documents neatly in a folder marked Papers that never existed. Some people just ask for trouble. One account from this story is that of Albert Thompson, who as a result of being unable to provide documentary evidence that had never existed to prove hed lived here for 44 years was made unable to work, was evicted and was denied treatment for cancer. You can understand why, because government policy was that immigrants were coming here to claim benefits, so the government would be tough and stop them getting those benefits and receiving free healthcare. But that policy becomes difficult when immigrants are working, so the best way out of this difficulty is to take away Albert Thompsons right to work, so that he has to claim benefits, then he can be denied them and told he cant be treated for cancer. After all, why should immigrants be allowed to come here and stop our government from carrying out their policies, just because the governments policies are based on made-up b*****ks? In any case, the Home Office can be excused for believing they were illegal immigrants, as theres no way of checking whether someones lying about having lived here for 50 years. You can ask the neighbours but they might have been hypnotised. You can check their driving license and work record and medical records and bank statements and gym membership and library tickets and credit payments for a washing machine, but theyve probably all been forged by Vladimir Putin, so its far more reliable to assume theyre lying and make them move to Barbados. Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Show all 15 1 /15 Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' arriving at Tilbury Docks from Jamaica, with 482 Jamaicans on board, emigrating to Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaican immigrants being welcomed by RAF officials from the Colonial Office after the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' landed them at Tilbury. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner who arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex, speaking at his home in Leeds PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner in Leeds shortly after he arrived in Britain in 1948 on the first Windrush ship to dock in Tilbury, Essex PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Gardner was 22 years old when he boarded the ship in Kingston, Jamaica, with his brother Gladstone before they and hundreds of Caribbean migrants called on to rebuild post-war Britain disembarked the ship in Tilbury Docks PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Alford Gardner (right), during his RAF service in 1947 PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The son of Ruth Williams, a Windrush-generation immigrant, wants to the leave the country after threats of deportation. According to his mother, Mr Haynes applied for British citizenship in 2016 but was rejected, despite Ms Williams having lived in the UK almost permanently since arriving from St Vincent and the Grenadines in 1959. Ruth Williams, 75, said she felt "betrayed" by Britain after the Home Office twice turned down applications for her 35-year-old son, Mozi Haynes, to remain in the country. Ms Williams is understood to have cancer and said she relies heavily on her son for support. PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK The British liner 'Empire Windrush' at port in 1954. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Ruth Williams, 75, with her British passport. "I feel betrayed and a second class citizen in my own country," she said. "This makes me so sad and the Home Office must show some compassion. "I am unwell and almost 75, I live on my own and I need my son to stay here. I need my family around me and I cant face being alone. He has applied to the Home Office and been refused twice." PA Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK From the top, hopeful Jamaican boxers Charles Smith, Ten Ansel, Essi Reid, John Hazel, Boy Solas and manager Mortimer Martin arrive at Tilbury on the Empire Windrush in the hope of finding work in Britain. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaicans reading a newspaper whilst on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush' bound for Tilbury docks in Essex. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK After half a century in Britain, Anthony Bryan decided it was time to go abroad. But the decision set off a nightmare that saw him lose his job, detained twice and almost deported to Jamaica. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Jamaica-born Anthony Bryan poses outside his home in Edmonton, north London. Now 60 and a grandfather, Bryan thought the issue could be resolved swiftly, as he legally moved to Britain with his family as part of the Windrush generation of Caribbean migrants after World War II. In 1948, the ship Windrush brought the first group of migrants from the West Indies to help rebuild post-war Britain, and many others followed from around the Commonwealth. A 1971 law gave them indefinite leave to remain, but many never formalised their status, often because they were children who came over on their parents' passports and then never applied for their own. AFP/Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Three Jamaican immigrants (left to right) John Hazel, a 21-year-old boxer, Harold Wilmot, 32, and John Richards, a 22-year-old carpenter, arriving at Tilbury on board the ex-troopship 'Empire Windrush', smartly dressed in zoot suits and trilby hats. Getty Windrush generation: threat of deportation from UK Newly arrived Jamaican immigrants on board the 'Empire Windrush' at Tilbury in 1948. Getty Several victims of this policy were told they couldnt leave the country to attend the funeral of a relative. The government would surely have defended this on the grounds that they might try to smuggle their dead relative back so their spirit could take the jobs of British ghosts. After all, this was a government that every day tried desperately to respond to what they saw as growing anti-immigration feeling in the country by promising to drastically reduce immigration, and begging immigration departments to be as ruthless as possible in removing any immigrants without every document they were asked for. I wonder if this, deep down, made some people in the immigration departments feel under a tiny bit of pressure to be a little bit more forceful towards immigrants in any way. Theres no way of knowing without consulting a psychotherapist, I suppose. At one point, the government produced handbooks for people they were deporting. The one for people sent to Jamaica advised that when they arrived in Jamaica they should try to be Jamaican, use local accents and dialects. This shows how skilful the government was at telling whether someone was an illegal immigrant. Less adept people might assume that if you have to tell someone to speak Jamaican as they didnt sound in the slightest bit Jamaican, this might indicate the person isnt all that Jamaican. But luckily Theresa Mays Home Office could see right through that trick. This is a highly efficient method for reducing immigration, and the Home Office should do this to everyone. They could knock on random doors in Barking, informing everyone that theyre Zambian, then send them to Zambia with advice to start speaking Zambian and support a Zambian team instead of West Ham. And within a couple of years they could reduce the population to nought. Maybe whats happened is the government thought the mood was all one-way that austerity and cutting benefits and moaning about immigrants was and always would be popular enough to keep them in power for decades and now they realise that might not be true. So in several areas, theyre now having to explain away the cruelty of their first seven years in power as a clerical error. But we should probably be gracious, and accept the prime ministers apology. To start with, this was all a long time ago. She defended the decision to deny Albert Thompsons cancer treatment as far back as March, almost a month ago, when times and attitudes were different. Then, having forgiven her, we should accept the word of any arsonist who says: I apologise enormously for the fires that seem to have taken place under my policy of burning things down. I have no idea how this can have happened, but I assure you Im doing all I can to get to the bottom of all those smouldering public buildings. What a shame. Im shocked, I tell you: shocked. Communications Minister Denis Naughten making a statement on claims around Independent News and Media in the Dail. (Oireachtas TV/PA) Under-fire communications minister Denis Naughten is a straight politician, the Dail has been told. Tanaiste Simon Coveney has been forced to defend his party colleague amid a controversy surrounding a telephone conversation with a lobbyist. Batting away persistent allegations of old style politics and cronyism, Mr Coveney told TDs during Leaders Questions: Yes, I do have confidence in Denis Naughten as minister. I have known him for 20 years and I know him as a straight minister just as he is a straight politician. He regrets the fact that this conversation took place but in my view he didn't do anything that constitutes giving inappropriate information to anybodySimon Coveney Earlier on Thursday, Mr Naughen said he sincerely regretted expressing his personal opinion to PR executive Eoghan O Neachtain, acting for Independent News and Media (INM) in relation to the companys proposed takeover of Celtic Media. He said he did not disclose confidential information in relation to his decision to refer the INMs proposed move to regulator Broadcast Authority of Ireland (BAI) and had only spoken about information already in the public domain at the time. He also claimed he was not responsible for the way in which the conversation was interpreted or relayed. Mr Coveney added: He (Mr Naughten) regrets the fact that this conversation took place but in my view he didnt do anything that constitutes giving inappropriate information to anybody. Among the fiercest critics in the Dail was Sinn Feins Pearse Doherty who claimed the ministers explanation stretches the bounds of credibility. Mr O Neachtain was hardly phoning the minister for a personal view. Is that what you believe that this was? he asked the Tanaiste. We all know that he rang him because he was the minister. He was the minister with the regulatory and statutory responsibility in respect of referring the takeover bid to the BAI. Expand Close Sinn Fein special conference / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sinn Fein special conference The Donegal TD later added: What we have here is an example of old style politics of the golden circle variety; the nod and the wink culture; the insider, who you know mentality; the old boys club. And we all thought that those days were over. This is not acceptable. I ask you, can you stand over that? Have you full confidence in Minister Naughten and how he handled himself? Fianna Fail TD Dara Calleary accused the government of trying to play down the significance of the telephone call. This stinks, he said. This smacks of old style politics and cronyism. The type of politics Fine Gael always tried to say they are actually above. The PR lobbyist was after one thing and one thing only and that was a heads-up about what would happen with the merger application between INM and Celtic newspapers. This is not as simple as a phonecall between two mates. It is not as insignificant as Minister Naughten and the Taoiseach is trying to imply. Expand Close End Year 2015 Exchequer Statement / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp End Year 2015 Exchequer Statement Labour leader Brendan Howlin branded worrying the attempt to separate a personal conversation from the ministers statutory duty. He said: A minister performing a statutory duty is always a minister. The Cabinet conduct rules are clear. Ministers cant be private citizens when they choose to be in the middle of a statutory function. What is clear now, the minister should not have taken that call. He should not have provided his views on his likely course of action and he undoubtedly, if albeit unwittingly, compromised his statutory function. Meanwhile, Mr Coveney conceded that the telephone call should not have taken place but insisted he did not believe the minister had acted inappropriately. He said: It is true to say that it would have been a lot better if this conversation hadnt taken place, I think the minister regrets that and obviously we all do. But that is a different thing than to say that the minister gave a steer here as to his intended course of action. What he said was that there was a likelihood that this might be referred to the BAI but he said definitively that he would be following the advice of his officials. Subsequently his actions showed that to be the case to the letter. The European Union yesterday issued a fresh warning to the UK that a transitional deal after Brexit will not be secured unless the problem of the Irish Border is resolved. European Council President Donald Tusk told MEPs the UK had created the issue as a result of the Brexit vote and had a duty to find a solution. His comments came as UK Prime Minister Theresa May faced a humiliation in the House of Lords, with peers voting for the UK to remain in a customs union after leaving the EU, which they claim could help address the issues around the Border between Northern Ireland and the Republic. Mrs May hopes to secure a transitional deal which would see the UK continue to follow EU rules and trade with the bloc on similar terms until the end of 2020, when a comprehensive deal on a new partnership could take over. Speaking at the European Parliament in Strasbourg, Mr Tusk said he welcomed the progress that had been made in the Brexit talks. "We want to use the positive momentum in these negotiations to finally settle outstanding issues, such as the solution to avoid a hard border between Ireland and Northern Ireland," he said. In a message that indicated Britain could not simply leave it to Ireland and the EU to decide what the customs arrangements at the Border should be - as some Brexiteers have suggested - Mr Tusk said: "The UK's decision on Brexit has caused the problem and the UK will have to help solve it. "Without a solution, there will be no withdrawal agreement and no transition. "Leaders will assess the negotiations in June. In parallel we will start our first talks about the future EU-UK relationship." Senior officials were meeting in Brussels yesterday to hold preliminary discussions about the future relationship for the first time. In the House of Lords, peers inflicted a crushing defeat on Mrs May in a bid to keep the UK in a customs union with the European Union. Remain-backing lords succeeded in their bid to amend the European Union (Withdrawal) Bill to force ministers to set out the steps taken during negotiations with Brussels to enable the UK to stay in a customs union with the bloc. Peers backed the amendment by 348 votes to 225 with 24 Conservatives, including former deputy prime minister Michael Heseltine, rebelling against the Government. But ministers dismissed the defeat as "meaningless" and said the amendment would not change their plans. Downing Street maintained its opposition to a customs union, which would restrict the UK's ability to strike trade deals after Brexit. Mrs May's spokesman said she had "been very clear that the British people voted to leave the EU and expect us to be able to sign trade deals around the world, operating our own independent trade policy". "As the PM has set out, that means we are leaving the customs union," the spokesman said. The government can try to overturn the defeats inflicted in the Lords when the bill returns to the Commons later this year. The latest Brexit skirmishes come as a report by think tank Global Future - which wants a Britain that "reaches out to the world" - claimed the Prime Minister's hoped-for bespoke deal would cost the UK the equivalent of 615m (705m) a week in 2018 prices. The think tank said each of the four possible Brexit options - European Economic Area membership, a Canadian-style free-trade deal, falling back to World Trade Organisation terms, or the comprehensive partnership sought by the prime minister - would leave the UK poorer than it otherwise would have been. Nama has moved to dismiss claims that it is 'sitting' on sites in Dublin and the Greater Dublin Area (GDA), which could be sold or otherwise freed up for the immediate development of new homes to address the housing crisis. The Irish Independent has received claims from several developers that the State agency currently has control through debtors and receivers of a number of prime residential sites both in the capital and its surrounding counties which are serviced and ready-to-go, that it has yet to release for development. One developer who spoke to this newspaper referred to lands in Baldoyle, Clongriffin, Kinsealy, Tyrellstown, Whitehall, Pelletstown, Stillorgan, Brennanstown Road and Blessington Road as falling into this category. Outside of the capital, the developer offered the example of a site currently under Nama's control in Naas town centre, which he insisted is ready for the construction of new homes. Asked for comment on the claim that Nama was contributing to a delay in the delivery of new homes in the capital and elsewhere, a spokesman for the agency said: "The suggestion that Nama is 'sitting' on sites that are ready for development is untrue. The only criterion considered by Nama is whether sites are commercially viable to develop. If they are, we fund residential projects under the control of our debtors and receivers without any delay. If projects are not commercially viable, we are prohibited under our legislation from funding them." According to Knight Frank's 2018 New Homes Construction Survey, a lack of suitable sites for residential development is now being cited by developers as the largest obstacle to construction. In the absence of such sites, the report says that an increasing number of developers have begun acquiring lands without planning permission in place. While a not-insignificant 30pc of sales fell into this category in 2016, Knight Frank's latest survey suggests that this proportion has ballooned to 50pc as developers and their funders pin their hopes on securing planning after purchasing lands. The current shortage of development land is also raised as an issue in the latest quarterly review of Dublin's residential investment market from Hooke & MacDonald. Commenting on the obstacles being faced by developers looking to deliver apartment schemes in the capital, the report states: "The cost and availability of sites for apartment developments, coupled with planning delays, are significantly constraining factors in the supply of residential accommodation." Referring to the potential level of demand for apartments in Dublin, Hooke & MacDonald says: "There is a significant under-supply of apartments for both the sale and rental markets. There is currently a shortfall of 150,000 apartments in Dublin based on the current population and housing count. Apartments are the preferred choice of accommodation by over 90pc of renters." New York-based WeWork, which is valued at around $20bn (16bn), is to lease almost 10,000 sq m of commercial office space in the Dublin Landings development located in the city's docklands. The shared office provider is letting the space from developer Sean Mulryan's Ballymore Properties and its development partner, Oxley Holdings. The move comes just days after WeWork, along with two other companies, paid about 580m (672m) for an office complex in the City of London district, according to two people with knowledge of the deal. In Dublin, WeWork will occupy No 2 Dublin Landings on North Wall Quay, beside the new Central Bank of Ireland headquarters and the new head office of the National Treasury Management Agency (NTMA). It is anticipated that WeWork will move into the building by October. "Our Dublin locations have proved fantastically popular and we're thrilled to be expanding our portfolio by adding a further WeWork location, this time in the architecturally impressive Dublin Landings," said Patrick Nelson, WeWork's executive VP of Real Estate. The company already has shared office spaces in the Iveagh Court in Dublin 2, where a hot desk can be rented from 390 per month. In addition, the company has shared office spaces in 1 Georges Quay, prices for which are currently not available. John Mulryan, managing director of Ballymore UK and Ireland, which was this week named Developer of the Year, said that Ballymore's vision for Dublin Landings has been to create "a culturally rich, inspiring community in the Dublin Docklands area". "The calibre of our Dublin Landings tenants, the NTMA, the Central Bank and now WeWork, is evidence of Ballymore and Oxley's commitment to the creation of a vibrant new destination for Dubliners to live, work, and visit," he added. On completion the Dublin Landings site will house 270 residential apartments and 2,000 sq m of commercial office space. There will also be restaurants, bars and retail outlets. (Additional reporting Bloomberg) MEPs representing the UKs agricultural communities are deeply concerned that Liam Fox has underestimated how difficult it will be to get British farmers a good trade deal after Brexit, according to private correspondence obtained by The Independent. A joint letter from MEPs across all the UKs main parties to the international trade secretary demands answers on how much progress Theresa Mays trade chief has made on keeping access to markets around the globe with farmers still facing uncertainty with just a year to go until Brexit. Dr Fox previously said a Brexit trade deal would be the easiest in human history, but the MEPs warn that it is now becoming clear that securing a good deal not just for access to EU markets but around the world would be complex and time-consuming matter. The 18 MEPs, who all either represent agricultural areas or sit on the European parliaments agriculture committee, are members of the Greens, Labour, Liberal Democrats, Plaid Cymru, and SNP as well as Mr Foxs own Conservative Party. The Department for International Trade, which The Independent contacted for a response to the letter, said the Brexit transition period would provide continuity on current trade terms. MEPs say they are still in the dark about what progress has been made on getting existing EU trade deals with other countries applied to Britain during the transition period, and ask the international trade secretary for an update. They also ask for information about how much progress has been made on getting non-EU countries to recognise that Britain still follows EU standards during the transition period, and whether any progress has been made on a scheme to replace EU rules that protect products such a Cornish pasties, West Country Cheddar cheese, and Gloucestershire cider. Though Britian will continue to follow EU rules during the transition period, which starts in less than a years time, it will not be an EU member state and there are concerns that other countries will not have to recognise it as such for the purposes of existing EU trade deals that give Britain farmers access to markets. The situation is made more urgent by the fact that the UK cannot even begin to negotiate replacement deals with other countries until it has left the EU. It has become clear that negotiating our trade framework after Brexit will be a complex and time-consuming matter, the MEPs wrote in the letter. As political representatives of farmers and food exporters we are deeply concerned that the underestimation of the difficulty of this process should not impact negatively on them and hence on British trade. Molly Scott Cato, a Green MEP representing the strongly rural and agricultural South West, and one of the letters signatories, said: Liam Foxs infamous claim that securing a trade deal with the EU post Brexit would be the easiest in human history has been exposed as total bluster and bravado. It has become clear that negotiating a trading framework especially one which protects our farmers and food producers will be complex and time-consuming. The full list of signatories of the letter is Molly Scott Cato, Jude Kirton-Darling, Paul Brannen, Theresa Griffin, Richard Corbett, Seb Dance, Wajid Khan, Jean Lambert, Mary Honeyball, Alex Mayer, Julie Ward, Catherine Stihler, Jill Evans, Keith Taylor, Alyn Smith, Clare Moody, Julie Girling, and Catherine Bearder. A government spokesperson said: As we leave the EU we will forge new and ambitious trade links around the world, reaching new customers for UK farmers and food and drink producers, while also maintaining our high standards on animal welfare and food safety. We are very clear that the UK will continue to protect UK geographical indications, and we expect that all current UK GIs will continue to be protected by the EUs GI schemes after we leave. We are discussing this with the EU and are also agreeing an implementation period which provides continuity of our current trade terms. Ministers and officials meet regularly with farming groups and food and drink producers from across the UK to address their concerns and discuss how a future independent UK trade policy can support them to grow. In under-payment situations, Revenue will always seek to collect interest and penalties in addition to the outstanding tax. Stock Image The Minister for Finance, Paschal Donohoe has said farm contractors who are aware of rivals evading tax to make that information available to Revenue. He said compliant agricultural contractors can play a vital part in assuring a level playing field in the sector by providing Revenue (including anonymously) with any information they may have in regard to persons engaged in non-compliant practices. The Minister said this can be done either by using Revenues online tax evasion reporting form or by way of a letter to the local Revenue office. Tax compliance rates in Ireland are consistently high with the vast majority of taxpayers and businesses meeting their payment and returns filing obligations on a timely basis. However any non-compliance, by even a minority of individuals or sectors, deprives the Exchequer of much needed funds and puts compliant businesses at a competitive disadvantage. Revenue has assured me that the farm contracting sector is subjected to the same risk-based scrutiny as every other sector of the economy and is liable to the same level of sanction where non-compliance is discovered, he said. Revenue are using range of taxpayer and third party information, data analytics and intelligence to identify tax risk and non-compliance across all sectors, including the farming and agricultural contracting sectors. Once identified, Revenues response to non-compliance is driven by the level of risk involved and can include various intervention types such as routine assurance checks, audit or investigation with a view to prosecution in the most serious cases. Revenue may also opt to carry out sectoral based intervention projects depending on the type and prevalence of the identified risk. In under-payment situations, Revenue will always seek to collect interest and penalties in addition to the outstanding tax. The fodder crisis has shown the extent of over dependence of farmers on contractor credit, it has been claimed. A contractor lobby group has called on Agriculture Minister Michael Creed to create a properly functioning farming banking structure that provides expanding commercial farmers with the necessary working capital requirements. The Association of Farm and Forestry Contractors (FCI) said there is a stranglehold on funding to meet realistic working capital requirements on modern Irish farms. "We know that farmers are struggling to meet daily cash flow needs and this has been made acutely obvious with the recent fodder crisis," said FCI national chairman Richard White. "FCI members have been anticipating this fodder crisis as our members have seen first-hand evidence of the shortages of fodder, as we contractors are the ones who harvest the silage crops. "Working across thousands of Irish farms, our members have seen dairy cow and cattle numbers rise, while silage pit sizes remain static, in an unrealistic attempt to emulate New Zealand systems that have been developed for a milder climate and different soil types. "We know that farmers cannot expect to meet the targets of increased animal numbers, without adequate silage crops, and all this demands proper working capital funding on farms." It comes as Mr Creed came under pressure to provide a low-interest loan scheme for farmers. IFA president Joe Healy said it was now also a "financial crisis". ICSA president Patrick Kent said small and medium-sized farming enterprises have an immediate need for working capital. "Cashflow difficulties are crucifying cattle and sheep farmers who have used up all their credit facilities at this point," he said. Mr Creed said there was work underway on another low-interest loan scheme and acknowledged there was a need for "working capital support". "It would be misleading to say it will happen in response to this issue," he said. However, he said co-ops have stressed there is no issue with farmers purchasing fodder regardless of credit issues. The minister said he was also meeting with the banks to discuss the current credit issues arising for farmers. In addition, contractors report large volumes of unfinished slurry spreading work as they struggle to prevent build-up in sheds. "In these circumstances our members cannot invoice their customers, further adding to cash flow problems for farm contractors," said Mr White. "Irish contractors can no longer act as unpaid bankers to an agricultural industry that is struggling to meet its ambitions to expand, due to a lack of working capital. "The current challenge facing our FCI members is to manage their debt levels as their farmer customers now struggle to cope with the additional costs of a national feed crisis," he added. Ivan Moffitt of Manorhamilton mart rates sheep as "the only job at the moment". The statement is backed up by the fact that, despite poor weather, for the second week in a row sheep farmers are walking on sunshine as factory quotes for hogget jumped another 20-25c/kg over the weekend. The biggest mover is Kepak Athleague as they push their quotes for hogget up by 25c/kg to 6.30/kg. It has to be noted, however, that Kepak drop any reference to additional payments for quality, which up until this week had been set at 5c/kg for hogget. Kildare Chilling, who despite only moving their price up by 20c/kg hold on to the top spot on our price table with their quote of 6.30+10c/kg bonus. Also moving up, like a thoroughbred at Cheltenham, are Dawn Ballyhaunis as they improve their official position for hogget by 20c/kg to 6.25+5c/kg bonus. Scrambling around at the bottom of the table are the two ICM plants and Moyvalley Meats with all three improving by 10c/kg to 6.10/kg for hogget, with the two ICMs throwing in an additional 10c/kg by way of a quality payment. The factory quotes for spring lamb, however, show only limited improvement from last week. The top payer continues to be Kildare Chilling on an unchanged quote of 7.00+10c/kg bonus while both Dawn and Kepak added 10c/kg to their price yesterday morning, thus bringing them in line with both Kildare and Moyvalley's bid of 7.00/kg for new season lamb. The story with the cull ewes is not bad unlike that of this year's new lamb with a general air of steady as she goes. Kepak Athleague continue their dominance of the top position when it comes to cull ewe prices, however their straight 3.30/kg remains unchanged from last week. Dawn added 20c/kg to their quote for culls yesterday bringing them up to 3.20/kg while Kildare stuck 10c/kg on to their quotes thus keeping themselves in line with Dawn although Kildare's 10c/kg bonus does edge the northwest men out of second place on the price table. ICM, a very major player in the Irish sheep processing business, leaves its quote unchanged at 3.00/kg, which also leaves them bottom of that same price table. On the ground both IFA and ICSA are reporting that hogget is making 6.50/kg at the sheep factory door, while IFA's Sean Dennehy was prepared to push spring lamb prices out to between 7.35 and 7.40/kg on quality. There is strong demand for hoggets The red-hot trade for hoggets and lamb could last until mid-summer. Buoyant demand for hoggets on both the domestic and export fronts has pushed factory quotes to 6.30/kg, while 7.10/kg is being offered for spring lamb. On the ground both IFA and ICSA are reporting that hogget is making 6.50/kg at the sheep factory door. The IFA sheep chair Sean Dennehy was prepared to push spring lamb prices out to between 7.35 and 7.40/kg. John Brooks of ICSA notes that the rising tide of prices has now lifted cull ewes on anything from 3.30-3.50/kg depending on quality. With the main crop of new season lamb unlikely to hit the market until June, Mr Dennehy predicted that strong sheep prices were set to last into the summer. Mr Dennehy said finishing lambs had been extremely difficult this spring due to the cold and wet weather, and unusually low grass growth. Poor thrive among lambs as a consequence of the bad spring meant that the main crop of lambs were unlikely to come on stream in substantial numbers until mid-June, the IFA sheep chairman explained. Hogget numbers have collapsed over the last three weeks, with the weekly kill dropping under 45,000 head. Prices have continued to harden as a result. The hogget trade in Britain is also on fire, with both factory and auction prices running well ahead of last year. Up to 7/kg (8.05/kg) has been paid for spring lamb in the factories, which is close to record levels. The trade has been equally strong in the marts, with hoggets averaging 2.72/kg (3.13/kg). This equates to 122/hd (140/hd) for a 45kg hogget, which is in line with Irish prices. The British Agriculture and Horticulture Development Board in a review of imports from New Zealand noted that the New Zealand lamb crop was at a 63 year low in 2016/2017 and predicted numbers to remain low going into 2018. Meanwhile, mart trade was described as "lively", with spring lambs selling from 143/hd for 40kg to 166/hd for a batch of ten at 59kg. The chief executive at the European arm of embattled food company Aryzta is to step down. Dermot Murphy, who has worked with the company for 20 years, will finish up at Aryzta at the end of August. In a statement to the stock market the Swiss-Irish baked goods firm confirmed that Mr Murphy would be replaced by Gregory Sklikas, who is due to join the company at the end of May. Commenting on his time at Aryzta, Mr Murphy said he had had "wonderful experiences." "I wish Kevin [Toland], his new management team, and everybody in Aryzta much success for the future." Meanwhile Aryzta has described Mr Sklikas as a "seasoned international business leader." In his most recent role, Mr Sklikas served as chief operations officer (Europe, the Middle East and Africa), at Dutch dairy co-operative FrieslandCampina, where he had profit and loss responsibilities for sales of 4bn and 10,000 employees. He also spent 14 years with consumer goods giant Unilever. Kevin Toland, chief executive of Aryzta, thanked Mr Murphy for his "great leadership and support during a period of significant change and transition for the group." "I would like to express my sincere thanks and appreciation to Dermot for his invaluable contribution to Aryzta throughout his 20 years service, and to wish him well in his future endeavours," Mr Toland said. Reporting interim results last month, Aryzta said its earnings before interest, tax, depreciation and amortisation (ebitda), slumped almost 30pc to 161.3m in the first half of its financial year. Its revenue fell 6.3pc to 1.79bn. Mr Toland, who started as CEO last September, and the group's board, have been trying to hammer Aryzta back into shape after an especially tortuous time in the US. The group is set to go to trial next year in the US in a case taken by the US-based McKee Food. Donegal Investment Group, formerly Donegal Creameries, has seen its revenue decrease by 2.2m to 44.2m in the six months to February 28. The decrease was largely due to the reduction in the availability of seed potato following lower than expected yields across Europe during the 2017 seed crop harvest, according to results from the company released today. "Our seed potato business whilst performing well in all key markets was impacted by the availability of seed as well as continued difficult trading conditions in its South American markets," the company said. However the net asset value per share increased by 2.22 per to share to 8.24 at 28 February, from 6.02 at 28 February 2017. The significant increase was primarily due to a 19.4m profit on disposal of the group's 30pc share in the Monaghan Middlebrook Mushrooms business. Trading profits at the Dublin-listed company decreased by 0.2m to 3.2m, with adjusted operating profit decreasing by 0.7m for the period to 2.8m. Following on from the disposal of a number of non-core assets including the Grianan Estate during the year ended 31 August 2017, and it interest in the Monaghan Middlebrook Mushrooms, the company said that its financial position "has changed significantly" in the past year, which it said reflects its successful monetisation of assets that generated low returns on capital or were not within majority ownership or control of the group. The group, which has operations across Ireland, the UK, Holland, France and Brazil, saw its net cash increase to 46.1m at 28 February, following a negative cash position of 16.4m at the end of February 2016. Meanwhile the board is to return up to 47.5m of capital to shareholders. Beneficiaries of the move will include about 1,900 farmers who have stakes in the firm. Looking forwards and the group said that it noted that the market has responded positively to the significant changes in the group's portfolio of assets in the last six months. The board said that it is optimistic that all businesses will remain on plan for the remainder of the year. "The board will continue to progress its non-core asset disposal programme during the second half of the year, particularly in respect of its remaining property assets," Geoffrey Vance, chairman of Donegal Investment Group, said. Hammerson, the co-owner of the Dundrum Town Centre, has pulled plans for a 3.4bn (3.9bn) takeover of rival Intu, citing a "disconnect" between Hammerson's own share price and the "fundamental value of its business and prospects" by the market. Hammerson had announced last December that it had made an all-share offer to buy Intu. But Hammerson's shares started a steady decline afterwards, receiving a boost in March when French firm Klepierre tabled an indicative offer for the company. The takeover of Intu had been put on hold pending clarification from Klepierre about its intentions in relation to Hammerson. Last week, Klepierre abandoned its takeover efforts. Apart from its stake in Dundrum, Hammerson also owns 50pc of the Ilac Centre in Dublin, and half the Pavilions Shopping Centre in Swords, north of the capital. Its assets also include a 41pc of the Kildare Village outlet mall and the group is planning a major development, called the Dublin Central scheme, on a tract of land around the capital's O'Connell Street. Hammerson said its board had reappraised the planned acquisition of Intu in light of current market dynamics in the UK. It noted that a number of retailers had entered administration in the past five months, while consumer confidence has remained subdued. "Whilst Hammerson has proven its portfolio is well positioned to weather the current environment, the equity market now perceives a heightened level of risk associated with the UK retail property sector as a whole," it noted. "The board of Hammerson has concluded that the heightened risks associated with the Intu Acquisition outweigh the long-term rewards that can be expected in comparison to other strategic options open to the company," it added. Intu said explanations given by Hammerson, which is led by chairman David Tyler and chief executive David Atkins, for withdrawing its recommendation were "unsatisfactory". Concern over the deal has grown since Hammerson spurned Klepierre's approach and on the same day that the French company walked away, Dutch pension fund APG, one of Hammerson's biggest shareholders, said it would oppose the Intu takeover. Another top 10 Hammerson investor said last week that Klepierre's offer of 635p per share had drawn a line in the sand for the company's bosses to match or better. "Shareholders will be looking at management to come up with a credible plan to realise value," the investor said. (Additional reporting: Reuters) John Cotter is stepping down as CEO of IFG Shares in Dublin-based financial services firm IFG swung wildly yesterday - gaining 2.7pc at one stage before yo-yoing to a 2.4pc fall. Volatility followed the announcement of sweeping management changes at the under-pressure firm. IFG is headquartered and listed in Ireland, but its main business operations are in the UK. It is valued at around 190m. Group CEO John Cotter stepped down yesterday, and will replaced by Kathryn Purves, who was previously a non-executive director. Ms Purves joined the IFG board in May 2016. She previously worked at Partnership Assurance, Phoenix Equity Partners, Deutsche Bank and UBS. IFG chairman John Gallagher, who is also the biggest single shareholder, will stand down following an AGM next month, and will be replaced by Mark Dearsley, the current interim chief financial officer (CFO). A new CFO, Gavin Howard, was also named. Market sources say the overhaul is aimed at breaking a malaise after IFG failed to sell its Saunderson House UK wealth management business. Also hanging over the business is a potential UK tax fine of 20m its UK pensions unit, James Hay, faces over investments made in an unregulated biofuel scheme. IFG said HMRC, the UK tax service, is investigating investments in a scheme known as 'Elysian Fuels', between 2011 and 2013. New York-based Standard and Poors is to create an unspecified number of managerial, analytical and support jobs in Dublining Photo: AFP/Getty A 1.8bn valuation has been placed by global ratings agency Standard & Poor's on its European credit market services unit, after the entire shareholding in the entity was acquired by its new Irish office in preparation for Brexit. S&P Global Ratings confirmed late last year that it was setting up an office in Dublin that would ensure it continued to meet EU requirements for ratings agencies once the UK leaves the European Union next year. The new Irish unit, S&P Global Ratings Europe, has recently acquired the entire shareholding in UK-based Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe. The non-cash transaction saw the Irish firm allocate 1.8bn in shares in itself to a Luxembourg unit of S&P to satisfy the deal. S&P Global Ratings confirmed last year that it would create an unspecified number of roles across managerial, analytical and support functions at its new Dublin office, which is due to open by the end of the year. S&P staff in London were told last December that the new Dublin arm would be the main entity of the rating agency's offices in Europe, the Middle East and Africa. Filings for the new Dublin arm show that it has just received a 1m cash injection from S&P Global European Holdings Luxembourg. Accounts for London-based Standard & Poor's Credit Market Services Europe show that it generated revenue of 359.8m (412.8m) in 2016, and a pre-tax profit of 128.6m (147.5m). Of its revenue in 2016, 268.2m (307.8m) was generated in Europe. The unit's turnover included 294m from credit rating activities, 26.7m in endorsement fees, 37.4m in service fees, and 1.6m from non-credit rating activity, according to the accounts. Slightly more than 440 of the firm's employees were based in London that year. Another 79 were based in Germany, 50 in Spain and 43 in Russia. It also has staff in Poland, Turkey, UAE, Sweden and South Africa. Standard & Poor's is one of a number of financial institutions that have opted to set up or expand operations in Dublin as Brexit approaches. US-based bond rating agency Kroll announced last year that it will make Dublin its European headquarters, with plans to create as many as 100 jobs within three years. It's Kroll's first international office. 'The Government's Cost of Insurance Working Group has recommended that a dedicated garda unit be set up to focus exclusively on insurance fraud.' (file photo) Businesses are demanding that a specialist garda unit to investigate false insurance claims be set up without delay. The Alliance for Insurance Reform, made up of companies and charities hit by massive premium hikes, also wants claimants to have just one year to make a claim instead of two. Speaking at an Oireachtas Committee, Peter Boland of the alliance said there was also a need for false cases to be immediately referred to the gardai. The group also wants what it says should be a "meaningful" measure put in place to force insurers to inform policyholders if there are large increases in premiums. The Government's Cost of Insurance Working Group has recommended that a dedicated garda unit be set up to focus exclusively on insurance fraud. It would be funded by the insurance industry. Mr Boland told the Oireachtas Business, Enterprise and Innovation Committee that the new insurance fraud unit should be set up immediately. But he said he was told by Junior Finance Minister Michael D'Darcy, who chairs the working group, that there is not enough support in the Dail for the setting up of a fraud unit. "If this is the case, we urge any opposing parties to clarify their concerns and resolve whatever blockages exist," Mr Boland said. Last November, Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan told an insurance conference that plans to set up a specialist unit within the gardai to fight insurance fraud were at an advanced stage. "While this proposal is not without its challenges, I understand that talks between Insurance Ireland and the Garda National Economic Crime Bureau about the initial proposal are at an advanced stage," he told the Insurance Ireland annual fraud conference. The idea is to set up a counter-fraud unit modelled on the UK's industry-funded Insurance Fraud Enforcement Department at the City of London Police. Meanwhile, business body Isme said it wants personal injuries awards here to be benchmarked against those paid in other countries. Q What is your opinion on the likes of 'cat cafes' and pet hotels that are springing up as new businesses? A In the early stages of my food retailing career, customers were allowed to smoke in supermarkets and bring their pets into the shop if they so wished. Attitudes and perceptions change and sometimes that change can be resisted, as we view something else to be the norm. I noticed recently that Ardgillen Castle has a dog cafe. I guess they recognised that there are lots of dog lovers who frequent their grounds who would love to sit down and have a coffee. Nothing wrong with that - and well done to the enterprising person who spotted the opportunity. There is no doubt that consumer interest in their business and what they're willing to spend on them has changed dramatically in the last decade. Smart business entrepreneurs are spotting the gap and some retailers, like Tony Cross in Maxi Zoo, spotted that opportunity years ago. I believe the overall trend in pet pampering will grow. However, there will be some weaker concepts within this that will just be fads. If there are any would-be entrepreneurs out there, I would certainly be encouraging them to look at this area for business opportunities. Q I am keen to develop a technology idea. While I am getting lots of signals that there is a gap in the market, I need technical help, but only have limited funding. A There are lots of potential areas of help in the market. Start and make an appointment to see your Local Enterprise Office. They will have business advisors and mentors who will potentially have expertise in the area you are working on and will be able to give you contacts and guidance on how best to progress. If you are trading as a limited company, you may also be eligible for an Enterprise Ireland Innovation Voucher. These vouchers are worth 5,000 each and you can take them to any state technical facility, eg technical colleges, etc. With your voucher, the facility will then help you move the project on to the next level. That would potentially give you a number of experts with the skill necessary to help develop the product. You could be eligible for up to two vouchers, which would probably move your project on significantly. It goes without saying in order to start a business, you have to spend some money and it will be important that you understand that you will need to bring some of your own funds to the market. Whether this is a loan or some personal money you are investing, this funding will be necessary. It will also be a sign of your commitment and belief in the project to others deciding whether to support you or not. It would also be worth your while to look at the HBAN group (Halo Business Angel Business). These are angel investors who are facilitated by Enterprise Ireland and have signalled their willingness to invest in specific sectors. Like any other investor they will look for a share in your business, but certainly seem to be a more receptive and willing group. I wish you well with your business idea and do keep me up to date on your next steps. Shiseido, the Japanese firm that sells Laura Mercier cosmetics and Dolce & Gabbana fragrances, sold a trillion yen (7.5bn) worth of beauty products last year, mostly in traditional stores where customers can sample brands in person. That's a problem for Masahiko Uotani, Shiseido's CEO. Consumers in their teens and 20s often prefer to shop online, beyond the reach of in-store salespeople. Uotani's solution? To partner with or buy up small startups in Silicon Valley and other tech hubs to gain expertise in AI, augmented reality and other technologies. His ambition is to help shoppers replicate online the experience of trying on cosmetics in a store, and use data from smart devices to create personalised makeup for customers. "Particularly with the younger generation, often they don't go into the stores," Uotani said. "The way they buy, the way they share their excitement with their friends, is completely different from older generations." Technology is upending the $440bn global beauty industry. While only about 6.9pc of sales were online in 2016, according to Euromonitor International, ecommerce is becoming more important as online sales soar in China and other markets. China will likely cross $1trn in online retail sales in 2018, according to Forrester Research. Such sharp changes in shopping habits in Asia's biggest economy and across the globe have big brands scrambling to keep up. France's L'Oreal said on March 16 it would acquire Canadian tech company ModiFace, which develops software that allows consumers to use augmented reality to see how they would look with different types of blushes and eyeshadows. L'Oreal has also partnered with French telecommunications entrepreneur Xavier Niel, who recently took control of Eir, to create an accelerator for beauty-tech firms. French luxury giant LVMH is working with Niel, too. The company announced on April 10 a programme, La Maison des Startups, to support entrepreneurs at Niel's Paris-based campus for new companies developing technologies and services for perfumes and cosmetics as well as wine, fashion and other LVMH businesses. In China, ecommerce already accounts for 25pc of Shiseido's business, said Uotani, and in three years will rise to almost 40pc. For Shiseido worldwide, 15pc of sales will happen online by 2020, up from 8pc last year. Shiseido has also snapped up Olivo Laboratories, a startup specialising in artificial skin technology in Watertown, near Boston, and close to Harvard and MIT. Other Shiseido acquisitions include MatchCo, a California startup which develops software customers can use with smartphones to create customised foundation products that match their skin tones. "The first generation of ecommerce was really about replicating the store experience, but with cosmetics there's an extra layer of uncertainty for the customer," said Dave Gross, MatchCo co-founder and general manager. "So in that sense there's a big problem to solve related to helping the customer find the right products." To help address that problem, Shiseido bought Giaran, a startup which develops AI technology and wants to enable consumers to remove and apply makeup virtually so they can see how they look before making purchases. Analysts predict that more beauty companies will be on the prowl for technology. "We will definitely see more," said Deborah Aitken, an analyst with Bloomberg Intelligence in London, who said companies need to respond to the shift of customers, especially in Asia, to shopping for cosmetics and other beauty products online. Shiseido intends to boost its R&D staff to 1,500 by 2020, up from 1,000 in 2014. It expects to see a payoff on its investments from its existing technology investments soon, said Marc Rey, CEO of Shiseido Americas. "It's not 10 years from now," Rey said. "It's really happening." ZTE said it was aware of the sanctions and evaluating their impact ZTE may have just gone from being a serious contender in the high-stakes world of next-generation networking to, quite possibly, a mobile industry washout. China's No 2 telecommunications gear-maker was preparing to lead the country's charge into 5G along with local rival Huawei. Instead, ZTE fell foul of Washington for the second time in a year, inciting a moratorium on purchases from US suppliers and dealing a devastating blow to its global ambitions. The US government slapped a seven-year ban on its purchase of components from US companies for ignoring promises made in 2017 to resolve a sanctions dispute - then lying about it. The moratorium couldn't have happened at a worse time as 5G arrives. It threatens a swathe of components needed to hawk gear to clients like China Mobile and Europe's Telefonica. The Chinese firm relies on suppliers from chipmakers Qualcomm and Micron Technology to optical developers Lumentum Holdings and Acacia Communications. The ban may also stop the company from using Google's Android operating system, the heart of its smartphones. "Even if this doesn't kill them, ZTE will be half-dead," said Qian Kai, an analyst with brokerage CICC. ZTE's best hope may be for intervention from Beijing - but that is a long shot given rising tensions between the US and China. President Donald Trump has threatened tariffs on $150bn of Chinese imports, while Beijing has vowed to retaliate. Following the ZTE ban, China's Ministry of Commerce said it would take necessary measures to protect the interests of its companies. ZTE said it was aware of the sanctions and evaluating their impact. Its shares were suspended from trading in Hong Kong and Shenzhen. US-made components account for only 10 to 15pc of ZTE's production costs, estimates Nomura analyst Joel Ying. "But these are essential parts that aren't easily replaced," he said. ZTE's smartphones, for instance, rely on Qualcomm's chips. "At least for the next five to 10 years, ZTE can't exist without American companies." Tackling 'vested interests' and undertaking a complete societal transformation is needed to combat the ravages of climate change and put the world on track for a low-carbon future. The head of Climate-KIC (Knowledge and Innovation Community), Kirsten Dunlop, says the scale of the challenge requires a global effort never seen before in human history, which will require deep transformation, regulation and convincing capital markets to invest in new technologies. "In terms of self-transformation, we've rarely done that as a species and we've never had to do it at a planetary level. To get on track, we're going to have to do the really difficult stuff which is going to run foul of every vested interest we have out there," she says. Climate-KIC is the EU's largest public-private partnership, tasked with addressing climate change through innovation by achieving deep decarbonisation across cities, while tackling land use, agriculture and industrial manufacturing, and securing finance. It works with 280 partners across academia, business, the public sector and NGOs, and has supported more than 2,000 startups to date, leveraging more than 2.5bn in funding. Some 1.8m has been invested in Ireland in firms including Longford-based Mimergy, which is working to convert waste tyres to various valuable products including renewable chemicals and steel, and Hexafly in Meath which is farming insects to produce fish food additives and plant fertiliser, among other uses. Appointed in February last year, Dunlop took the job because the opportunity to address a "big and structural" issue like climate change on a global scale was "too interesting to turn down", she says. But in an interview with the Irish Independent, she notes that progress is slow as she and colleagues attempt to convince capital markets and industry of the need to invest in a low-carbon future. "The principle of Climate-KIC was to direct public money to a group of real economy actors and get innovation to happen, to do for Europe what the US seems to be able to do - leverage blue chip research and turn it into money, to commercialise that high-value research. "Seven years of doing that had produced pretty noble efforts; a lot of startups with a dominant bias to single-point solutions, and a lot of education programmes, but very little in the category of what I would call profound, transformative systems change. "It's good stuff, but it's not reconstructing energy, waste, agriculture, water, forestry and food, the stuff we really need to change fast. It's still piecemeal and slow. We've done almost all the easy stuff and we are not on track for any of the targets we have signed up for. "This requires us to stop operating within national boundaries, but within global supply chains. It requires us to bring regulation into play in a concerted and serious way. It's reductions in carbon and changes in consumer practices. The scale of that challenge requires deep transformation." She cites the example of a digital app which allows users to regulate their home heating. While useful, it doesn't fundamentally change assumptions around what type of energy is used, why it is used, who owns the energy and who makes money from it. "For me, profound systems change means you genuinely rewire our underpinning set of assumptions of what is good and acceptable, almost a moral switch, but you also drill hard into what would incentivise a completely different notion of where energy comes from, who owns it and who gets to benefit from it," she says, In one project in the Netherlands, homes are equipped with boxes which process data and the heat generated is used in the property. But rolling that out across a broader market requires fundamental changes. "You need planning changes, risk changes, you'll need some redesign around distribution of systems and what that means in terms of data-processing, some stuff who will be willing to run the gauntlet of energy providers, something around community buy-in. That's systems change," she notes. Part of the problem is apathy at the corporate level. Dunlop, an Australian who previously worked in academia, with KPMG and Suncorp Australia, says innovation is generally more about "spray and pray" than seeking to fundamentally alter how business is done. "Boards and executives are on the hook for long-term thinking but incentivised for short-term priorities. Innovation is not a random trial of spray or pray, but a very deliberate exercise in learning about a very different set of conditions - technological, social and economic - and working out what an alternative core business model or models look like. It's very easy to be in a large organisation for your entire career and never be forced to think systemically." A key driver of change will be our cities. If, for example, the biggest 20 or 30 in the world committed to only using zero-carbon cement, all cement companies would begin producing the type of product being demanded. Likewise, if energy costs were at least halved by utilising more renewables and other power sources including hydrogen, heavily-polluting and climate-emitting industries would have no excuse not to transform their business practices because they would have the money to do so. "You need a couple of big signals," she says. But capital markets also need to change their attitudes towards investment in the climate space. "A person from the real-world economy lives with the idea that the financial system should be designed to serve real-world economy needs. The vast majority of the financial system is designed to do business with itself. It's money making money which is why the financial system at scale has been so slow to do anything. It can't see the money-making money opportunities here. "They cannot compute investment below a certain order. If it's below 1m, it's too difficult to deal with. But if I can put forward a portfolio of things, it gets to a critical mass the capital markets can row in on." Next November, Climate-KIC will hold its Climate Innovation Summit in Dublin, where the focus will be on climate financing. Part of the reason why Ireland was chosen was because of its partner here, Sustainable Nation Ireland, which has worked with the Government to attract green finance. There is 28bn in sustainable finance activities under way here across bonds, funds and equities. "Ireland has been one of the most advanced, energetic, enthusiastic markets we've dealt with," Dunlop said. "Sustainable Nation Ireland have been brilliant not only in terms of a vision and a capacity to act, but also in terms of beginning to pull together the system within an Irish context in terms of the Government, start-ups, the entrepreneurs and corporates. "Last year we focused the Climate Innovation Summit on cities. It's very obvious, the deeper we delve into cities, that the missing piece is finance. They don't know how to access financial institutions. Financial institutions don't really want to deal with cities." While progress is slow, she is hopeful of a sea change over the coming years, adding that jobs will be created. "If you shine a spotlight on this space and create a platform for people to connect with excellent thinking, and put some energy and lift under it, then sometimes you unleash a force," she says. "In five years we could be part of a system doing good business while changing every single paradigm we've constructed in the last 150 years. "We've a world with an ageing population, and we're worried that nobody's going to have a job apart from looking after the elderly because of robots. "But we have this other huge force of opportunity where we have to reinvent every major industry and every assumption about how we live on the planet. That's a huge space for creativity and opportunity. We've got jobs for the next 200 years to pull off living sustainably on this planet." Dale Winton doing a Supermarket Sweep in Brent Cross, London, to promote the midweek National Lottery. The presenter has died at the age of 62, his agent has said (Tony Harris/PA) Dale Winton, who has died at the age of 62, became a household name through hosting a variety of gameshows. He started his career as a DJ but soon made the jump to TV and went on to enjoy a successful career on primetime television. From Supermarket Sweep to the National Lotterys In It To Win It, here is a round-up of Wintons gameshows. Supermarket Sweep Supermarket Sweep was perhaps Wintons most famous show and catapulted him to fame. It saw contestants split into three teams of two, each starting with a clock with 60 seconds on it. The teams then attempted to add as much time as possible to the clock by answering questions posed by Winton. This was followed by the Big Sweep round, which saw contestants racing around a supermarket collecting shopping items. Whoever filled their trolley with items of the most value won the chance to enter the Super Sweep round. Video of the Day Supermarket Sweep originally ran from 1993 to 2001 before a 2007 reboot. Touch The Truck Expand Close Dale Winton Truck / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Dale Winton Truck In 2001, Winton fronted Channel 5s Touch The Truck, which tasked a group of 20 contestants with staying in contact with a stationary vehicle. Whoever kept hold of the truck the longest, won it. The endurance show was filmed at the Lakeside Shopping Centre in Thurrock, Essex. National Lottery: In It To Win It Winton hosted the National Lotterys In It To Win It for 18 series between 2002 and 2016. The programme saw five contestants battle it out for the chance to win up to 100,000. The show included the Saturday night Thunderball and Lotto draws. Show Me What Youve Got Dutch production company Endemol chose Winton to host their programme Show Me What Youve Got in 2006. The programme did not receive a full series. Hole In The Wall Winton returned to the BBC in 2008 to present Hole In The Wall. The show saw players trying to manoeuvre themselves through cutout holes of varying shapes in a large wall moving towards them as they stood in front of a swimming pool. Hole in the Wall had two teams made up of celebrities and they competed for 10,000 prize money which they donated to their chosen charity. Winton hosted the first series but was replaced by Strictly Come Dancings Anton du Beke for the second series. Dales Great Getaway In 2012 Winton hosted the one-off Dales Great Getaway on ITV. It featured three families competing in a series challenges to try to win up to 15,000 and a holiday. Civil servants will today demand a shorter working week having largely won a battle to get their pay cuts reversed. They are set to focus on returning to a six-hour and 57-minute working day after the Government agreed to almost fully unwind the emergency legislation that cut their pay. Motions to be tabled at a union conference also include demands for the reversal of other cuts, including reductions in overtime and sick leave suffered during the economic crisis. Public servants are required to work an extra two hours 15 minutes a week, or 27 minutes a day, under a previous pay deal. They can opt out of the arrangement but must take a pay cut to reflect their reduction in hours. The extra hours meant most civil servants' working weeks increased from 34 hours and 45 minutes to 37 hours. This means they work seven-and-a-half hours most days, and seven hours on Fridays. They work from 9am to 5.45pm Monday to Thursday and from 9am to 5.15pm on Friday, with a lunch break of one hour and 15 minutes. A survey by recruitment agency Morgan McKinley of private sector workers in professions including accounting, IT and office support, found that almost 60pc of workers have contracted working hours between 38 and 42 hours a week. Almost 8pc worked 43 hours or more. A Department of the Taoiseach and Department of Culture, Heritage and the Gaeltacht motion notes that the Government refused to restore the working hours for civil servants during the last pay talks. It instructs the union's civil service executive to make clear in future talks "that the priority for civil servants in the next restoration talks is the restoration of hours". Minister Paschal Donohoe has taken a hardline on reversing the hours. Ahead of talks on the current pay deal, he said they would not be restored and it would cost in the region of 600m to do so. He said 12,000 workers would have to be hired to maintain frontline services if the hours were axed. Previously, members of the Civil Public and Services Union, now part of Forsa, threatened to ballot on strike action if the Government refused to roll back the hours, but later supported the current pay deal. Other motions to be tabled at the Forsa civil service division conference in Killarney include staff at Revenue looking for backing for an increase in their allowances in line with pay rises of around 7pc due under the current pay deal. There will also be numerous demands for a reversal of cuts to new entrants' pay, which Mr Donohoe has said would cost over 200m. A father of one who first began sexually abusing his four year old cousin when he was nine years old has been sentenced to five years with the final three suspended. Nicole Moran (22) has waived her right to anonymity, in order that Karl Walsh (27) can be named. Walsh of Buttercup Way, Darndale, Dublin pleaded guilty at Dublin Circuit Criminal Court to five sample charges of sexually abusing Ms Moran on dates between January and December 2006 when he was between 14 and 15 years old. He has no previous convictions. Elva Duffy BL, prosecuting told Judge Martin Nolan that it was the State's case that Walsh molested Ms Moran every weekend she visited his home, which the victim estimates was most weekends. The abuse continued from the time she was four to 11 years old. Expand Close Karl Walsh (27), of Buttercup Way, Darndale, Dublin, pictured at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Pic Collins Courts / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Karl Walsh (27), of Buttercup Way, Darndale, Dublin, pictured at the Dublin Circuit Criminal Court Pic Collins Courts Judge Nolan said the prolonged nature of the abuse was an aggravating factor, stating that the sample charges were probably representative of 50 or 60 incidents in one year. Based on the State's evidence that is a conservative estimate, he added. He took into account two reports before the court which concluded that Walsh had low cognitive ability but said he was satisfied that as a 15-year-old boy he knew what he was doing was wrong. Judge Nolan said that on the basis, Walsh deserved a custodial sentence, he should have stopped, before he added that Ms Moran had suffered grievously. In her victim impact statement, Ms Moran said Walsh robbed her of her childhood. She said she now should be focusing on her beautiful daughter but instead I've a monster ruining my life. She described the abuse as acts of pure evil which she said had torn the family apart. She said she suffered years of sexual abuse but never told anyone until Walsh's sister had a baby girl and she feared for her safety. Ms Moran spoke of how she suffered hair and weight loss and was vomiting frequently. She had difficulties sleeping and needed her mother with her to comfort her. She said she continues to have nightmares and has twice attempted suicide. She is on anti-depressants but they have altered her life. She dropped out of courses she had started because she had to pass by Walsh's home. She feels she cannot continue to live in the area. I have done nothing wrong, Ms Moran continued before she added that it had been a never ending nightmare. She concluded her statement by thanking her parents and her brother for their continued support. British freelance journalist Ian Bailey faces legal costs of up to 5m for his failed action for damages over the investigation into the 1996 murder of Sophie Toscan du Plantier. Manchester-born Bailey (60) lost his appeal over orders requiring him to pay the substantial legal costs arising from his failed High Court action over the conduct of gardai during the investigation into the killing of the French mother-of-one. Legal costs arising from the action are estimated at between 2m and 5m - and the Court of Appeal yesterday ruled against Mr Bailey in his argument that given the exceptional circumstances of the case, he should not be liable for costs. Mr Bailey was unavailable for comment on the matter. However, sources close to him said he was "disappointed but not surprised" by the ruling. Mr Bailey, a law graduate from University College Cork, was twice arrested and questioned by gardai, in 1997 and 1998, over the death of Ms Toscan du Plantier. She was found battered to death on December 23, 1996, near her isolated holiday home at Toormore outside Schull in west Cork. He was released without charge by gardai on both occasions. The journalist, who has repeatedly protested his innocence, has maintained that attempts were made to frame him for the crime. In 2003, he sued eight Irish and British newspapers for defamation arising from their coverage of the case. Mr Bailey successfully fought a bid in 2012 by the French authorities to have him extradited under a European Arrest Warrant (EAW) for questioning over the death of Ms Toscan du Plantier following a lengthy Paris-led investigation into the killing. The French probe was launched after the Irish authorities admitted there was little likelihood of a prosecution in this jurisdiction. Mr Bailey has predicted that the French will attempt to try him in absentia for the killing. A fresh EAW is now in place - and last February, Mr Bailey lost a bid in the French courts to have the Paris prosecution halted. He is set to appeal that decision to a higher French court. Yesterday, the Court of Appeal (COA) delivered its costs ruling following its judgment last month overturning its earlier decision to permit a retrial of one part of Mr Bailey's action. The COA overturned the retrial decision after accepting arguments by the State its decision was based on a misinterpretation by it of certain comments made by the High Court judge who presided over the damages action. A High Court jury had in November 2015, after a 64-day hearing, rejected Mr Bailey's claim that three gardai had conspired to frame him for the murder and the effect of last month's COA judgment was he lost his entire appeal over the dismissal of his case. The matter returned to the appeal court yesterday to address liability for costs in the High Court and in the COA. The State said that it was entitled to its costs up to the date of the COA original judgment of July 26, 2017, which had dismissed Mr Bailey's appeal on all grounds except the one which itself was dismissed last month. The State did not seek its costs concerning the hearing of its successful application to amend the COA July 2017 judgment. Martin Giblin SC, for Mr Bailey, argued the "highly unusual" circumstances of the case were grounds for the COA to depart from the normal rule that costs go to the winning party. Those included the State's decision to apply on day 62 of the 64-day High Court case to have most of Mr Bailey's claims dismissed as out of time, with the effect that only a conspiracy claim was addressed by the jury. Renato Gehlen (right) is charged with murdering his wife Anne Colomines (left). A MAN charged with the murder of his wife, who died following a stabbing in her apartment in Dublin, has been sent forward for trial to the Central Criminal Court. Renato Gehlen, the 36-year-old Brazilian husband of Anne Colomines, was charged with murdering her on October 24 last and had been first remanded in custody in November. Mr Gehlen had also sustained serious injuries and was hospitalised for several days following the discovery of her body. He faced his eighth hearing, at Cloverhill District Court, today and was served with a book of evidence. After the book of evidence was served, Judge Victor Blake ordered that he was being returned for trial to the present term of the Central Criminal Court. At a previous hearing the court was told the investigation was a complex matter and involved the gathering of 195 statements and a large amount of technical evidence. The body of Ms Colomines (37) a senior team leader at PayPal, was found at her home at Dorset Square Apartments, Dublin 1 on the night of October 24, 2017. She had sustained stab wounds. Expand Close Anne Colomines (37) was murdered during a domestic dispute at the flat in Dorset Square, Dublin 1 on Tuesday night. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Anne Colomines (37) was murdered during a domestic dispute at the flat in Dorset Square, Dublin 1 on Tuesday night. Gardai from Mountjoy station responded to a call at approximately 11.30pm over a report of an incident at the the couple's home. Ms Colomines, a cat rescue volunteer, was from France but had been living in Ireland for several years. At Mr Gehlen's first court appearance in November, Garda Sergeant Kenneth Hoare said in response to the charge after caution, he had no reply to make. A bail application will have to be made in the High Court because he is facing a murder charge. Vicky Phelan with husband, Jim of Annacotty, Co Limerick leaving the High Court in Dublin yesterday after the first day of the hearing. Photo: Courtpix A 43-year old mother of two who has terminal cervical cancer has launched a High Court action after it emerged the result of a smear test seven years ago - which showed no abnormalities - was later in a review found to be incorrect. Vicky Phelan's counsel told the court if her cervical cancer had been detected in 2011 when she had that smear test the young mother could have had a simple procedure and there was a 90 per cent chance she could have been cured. Jeremy Maher SC said experts on the Phelan side will say she would not have developed invasive cancer and would have survived into her 80s. "On January 29 this year Ms Phelan was given between six months and 12 months to live," counsel said. He added: "She should have another 40 years to look forward to but she has a couple of months." But he said the mother who has recently started on new drug has not given up and is hoping to be accepted on to a US programme offer radical innovative treatment. In the action by Ms Phlean and her husband Jim, there is also a claim for aggravated and exemplary damages over the alleged failure to tell Ms Phelan for three years that a review of her 2011 smear test showed the original result of no abnormalities was incorrect. Ms Phelan, a university educational manager, of Carrigeen, Annacotty, Co Limerick along with her husband Jim Phelan has sued the HSE and Clinical Pathology Laboratories Inc, Austin, Texas in the US over a smear test taken under the National Cervical Screening Programme CervicalCheck and analysed in the US laboratory. The test of May 24 2011 showed no abnormality was detected and Ms Phelan was advised by letter in June 2011 the smear test detected no abnormalities. She had another test in June 2014 and when it was sent off for analysis it showed a high grade lesion and Ms Phelan was referred to a consultant. In July of that year Ms Phelan was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent radical chemoradiotherapy. It is claimed that subsequent to her cancer diagnosis and unknown to her a review was carried out of previous smear tests from women who had a cancer diagnosis. A review of the May 2011 sample from Ms Phelan showed the original report in relation to the smear was incorrect and the smear test showed suspected cancerous cells. In September 2017, Ms Phelan was advised of the review and in November she was diagnosed with an incurable Stage 4 cancer. It is claimed the alleged failure to diagnose the 2011 smear test sample caused a situation whereby Ms Phelan's cancer was allowed to develop and spread unidentified, unmonitored and untreated until she was diagnosed with cancer in July 2014. The claims are denied. Opening the case Mr Maher said an expert on their side will say there were plentiful abnormal cells in the 2011 smear sample and and the failure to identify them allegedly amounted to a clear breach of duty. He said Ms Phelan was reassured when she was told there were no abnormalities and she would not need a check for another three years. In 2014 Ms Phelan was called for a smear test but it was very bad news and she was referred to a consultant for what counsel described as a series of invasive treatments, he said. She generally felt well in 2015 and 2016 but re-attended in September 2017 for a CT scan and counsel said at this stage she was told of an audit of cervical smears from 2011 which was carried out in 2014. In evidence Ms Phelan told of her anger that it was three years before she was told a review of her smear test which came back with the result of no abnormalities was incorrect. She said her first reaction when she heard that information was available for three years was a cover up. If I was told sooner, I would not be in the position of a terminal cancer diagnosis. I am very angry about it, she said. She said if she knew of the result of the review when it was carried out she would have asked for more scans. The case continues. Bankrupt businessman Sean Dunne says he has never been the owner of, and has "zero interest" in, a Dublin 4 property known as Walford which was purchased in 2005 for 58m. Mr Dunne told the High Court that Walford, on leafy Shrewsbury Road, was bought in trust for his wife Gayle, was her asset, and has nothing to do with his bankruptcy. He was under his second day of cross examination in his opposition to an application by official assignee (OA) in bankruptcy, Chris Lehane, to extend his bankruptcy for non-cooperation which is disputed. The only person who was disputing ownership of Walford was Mr Lehane, Mr Dunne said. He said he came to an agreement with his wife Gayle, following his "messy divorce" from his first marriage, that all their assets were to be kept separately. He said Gayle was "never a shareholder, director or bondholder" in regards to any of his assets and "vice-versa". The couple never "owned a motor car together", he added. He accepted he had dealt with assets belonging to his wife based in the UK, the US and South Africa, but not in Ireland. He accepted he was the "driving force" behind several unsuccessful planning applications concerning Walford, bar one application in 2013 when he was in the US. He also accepted he had acted as a broker for a Cypriot company called Yesreb Holdings, whose ultimate beneficiaries are his children, in an unsuccessful attempt to sell Walford, which Yesreb acquired in the months before he was adjudicated bankrupt. Mr Dunne said he hopes that other proceedings concerning the ownership of Walford, which Mr Lehane claims was beneficially owned by Mr Dunne, could be heard by the court "next week". In 2013 Ulster Bank sought to have him adjudicated bankrupt here after he had defaulted on some 164m loans. The following month, Mr Dunne filed for bankruptcy in Connecticut in the United States, when he claimed to have debts of $1bn and assets of $55m. A US bankruptcy trustee was appointed in respect of Mr Dunne by a US court. The case resumes next week. Dr Adedayo Adedeji, 63, arrives at the Old Bailey, London, where he and two nurses face prosecution over the death of 32-year-old Malawian-born Aisha Chithira. Yui Mok/PA Wire A woman who died following a late-stage abortion procedure was discharged from the clinic despite vomiting and swaying so much she looked "drunk", an inquest has heard. Aisha Chithira, 31, travelled to England from Ireland to have a termination at a Marie Stopes clinic in Ealing, west London, on January 21 2012. She suffered a tear to her uterus during the "blind" procedure performed under anaesthetic, West London Coroner's Court heard. Afterwards she vomited in a stairwell and complained of feeling unwell to her husband, but was helped into a taxi to a cousin's home in Slough by staff at the clinic. They had told her she could not stay overnight. One of the nurses denied they had pressured her to leave because they had wanted to go home. Corinne Slingo, representing Marie Stopes, said: "The taxi driver says he saw his passenger walking out of the building. He was quite shocked, she didn't seem with it at all. Expand Close Aisha Chithira died after having a termination at a Marie Stopes clinic in London / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aisha Chithira died after having a termination at a Marie Stopes clinic in London "She looked like she was drunk." Reading from a statement, she added: "The nurse got her in a hug and she said 'don't do that, you will break my bones'." Mrs Chithira's husband Ryan said he received a call from her at around 7.30pm as he cared for their daughter in Ireland. "Aisha told me she had finished having the procedure and was going to get a taxi back to Slough," a statement read to the court said. "She just said 'I cannot speak, I'm feeling too weak to speak' and then she ended the call. "I kept ringing her but there was no reply, Aisha didn't ring back or reply to my texts - I thought at first she had arrived in Slough and just wanted to rest. "Her sister called me, this was at 12.42am. She asked me where Aisha was and I said she was in Slough, she said she wasn't in Slough. "Ten minutes later she called me back and said someone had called her and Aisha was dead." The mother had suffered catastrophic internal bleeding and died the same night. Dr Adedayo Adedeji, who performed the procedure, and nurses Gemma Pullen and Margaret Miller were charged with manslaughter by gross negligence and a health and safety breach but the case was dropped in 2016. Dr Adedeji said they had noticed the tear during surgery but it had not been bleeding at the time. Mrs Chithira, who was from Malawi but settled in the Republic of Ireland, had a history of non-cancerous growths around the womb called fibroids which made the procedure more complex. The surgeon, who said he had performed around 2,000 terminations, said the procedure was performed "blind". Expand Close Nurse Margaret Miller, 54, arrives at the Old Bailey, London, where she and two others face prosecution over the death of 32-year-old Malawian-born Aisha Chithira. Yui Mok/PA Wire / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Nurse Margaret Miller, 54, arrives at the Old Bailey, London, where she and two others face prosecution over the death of 32-year-old Malawian-born Aisha Chithira. Yui Mok/PA Wire He denied the tear could have been caused by damage from his surgery or from him cutting a fibroid, adding: "There was no bleeding, it wasn't at the time that it was bleeding." The delay in the bleeding starting could have been due to the drip Mrs Chithira was attached to for two hours following surgery, he added. Acting senior coroner for west London Dr Sean Cummings is expected to continue hearing the case on Friday at 10am. A 51-year-old woman, who tripped on a lumpy carpet and lacerated her forehead against a radiator, has been awarded 30,000 damages in the Circuit Civil Court. Judge Terence OSullivan told Michelle Walsh, of Grand Canal Wharf, South Dock Road, Ringsend, Dublin, that he was holding her a third responsible for her own downfall and reduced the award by 10,000. Litigation always surprises when it gets up and running and no less in this case, Judge OSullivan said when he criticised the evidence of a witness specifically called to attack the credibility of what Walsh had told the court. Barrister Esther Earley, counsel for Ms Walsh, said her client had rented an apartment at 12 Clyde Court, Lansdowne Road, Dublin 4, which was in the now demolished apartment block attached to the Clyde Court Hotel. Ms Earley, who appeared with Keira OReilly of Keans Solicitors, said Ms Walsh had tripped on an area of lumpy humpy carpet in her apartment living room in May 2014 and struck her head against a rusty valve on a radiator. Walsh told the court the accident happened shortly after midnight as she was closing a window. She had spent nine hours in a hospital emergency department waiting to have her head wound stitched. She had been left with a scar. She produced a selfie photograph of the radiator she had fallen against and claimed that, although she had never complained about the carpet, numerous complaints about the apartment had been ignored. Walsh sued estate agents Ed Dempsey and Associates, Clonskeagh, Co Dublin; Tullane Business Management Limited, Sandyford Industrial Estate, and Dalata Hotel Group Limited, Burton Hall Drive, Sandyford. Judge OSullivan told barrister Andrew Whelan, counsel for the estate agents, that his client had no case to meet and was dismissed from the proceedings with an order for their costs. Holding the second and third defendants liable for Ms Walshs 60,000 damages claim, the judge said the defendants had called former maintenance man Damien McCabe to challenge Ms Walshs evidence. He said Mr McCabe had produced his own photograph of the radiator and floor carpet which turned out to be a picture of a completely different radiator in a room with a different carpet design. He is a completely unreliable witness, Judge OSullivan said. The judge paid tribute to the perspicacity of Ms Earley, the plaintiffs barrister, in so quickly catching on to the difference in the two photographs produced to the court. He said they were apparently different pictures of different radiators in different rooms with different carpets. Judge OSullivan refused a stay on his order to facilitate consideration by the defendants of an appeal to the High Court. THE widow of a young farmer who died from complications after "a silent heart attack" while being transferred between Waterford and Cork hospitals has pleaded with Health Minister Simon Harris to urgently review cardiac services in the south east. Bernadette Power issued the plea as a Cork Coroner's Court jury heard that the death of her husband, Thomas (40), was due to a side effect from a heart attack "most feared" by doctors and so severe that even had a Waterford cath lab been open it would have made little difference to saving him. Mr Power died from a large 3cm rupture in his cardiac wall brought on by "a silent heart attack" sustained between three and seven days earlier. The inquest jury returned a verdict of death by natural causes - but issued a recommendation that Mr Harris review resuscitation drug packs provided in ambulances for patient transfers between hospitals. The recommendation came after it emerged the ambulance transferring Mr Power ran out of special adrenalin doses during the trip from Waterford to Cork. Speaking after the inquest, Bernadette Power revealed she had only been married to Thomas for nine months - and had been pregnant with their first child when he died on June 18 2017. Mrs Power gave birth to her baby boy, Thomas Junior, on November 22, five months after her husband's death. "Today is a very sad day because on September 17 2016 when I married Tom I never thought that on April 19 2018 I would be attending the inquest into his death. "I would now urge the Government to improve cardiac services in the south east region and to reconsider the provision of a second permanent cath lab at University Hospital Waterford (UHW) to serve the people of the south east on a 24/7 basis. "This is a service sadly lacking at the moment," she said. Despite the south east region having a catchment of 500,000 people, the UHW cath lab only operates from 9am to 5pm between Monday to Friday. Major cardiac surgeries also cannot be undertaken in Waterford - with patients having to be transferred to Dublin, Cork or Galway. "Silent heart attacks are worse than heart attacks with severe pain," cardiac consultant Dr Ross Murphy explained, pointing out that people often don't have symptoms sufficient to seek urgent medical assessment. Mr Power had told her husband as he left UHW for transfer to Cork that she loved him and she would see him shortly. Mr Power went into cardiac arrest as the ambulance undertaking his transfer passed Dungarvan en route to Cork University Hospital (CUH) from UHW. The young farmer had to be transferred to CUH because the cardiac cath lab at UHW was closed that Sunday. Coroner Philip Comyn also heard that the ambulance rushing Mr Power to CUH under a Protocol 37 transfer ran out of adrenalin en route to Cork and had to be resupplied en route by another ambulance. Because of emergency treatment stops along the road in Dungarvan and Midleton, the trip by road to CUH took one hour and 41 minutes. The inquest heard that no air ambulance transfer was sought. Despite desperate attempts by nurses and doctors in the ambulance to resuscitate him, Mr Power was pronounced dead shortly after arriving at CUH at 1.50pm. Assistant State Pathologist Dr Margaret Bolster conducted a post mortem examination on June 19 and found that Mr Power had a large 3cm rupture in the free wall of his heart. The young man also had 400ml of blood in the pericardial sac around his heart instead of the normal 10ml. This had the effect of compressing his heart and stopping it from filling with blood to pump around the body. Dr Murphy said the outcome from such major ruptures in the heart wall are normally "dismal." "It is a very, very big tear - you can die from a 0.25cm tear. It is a most feared complication (from a heart attack)." Dr Murphy said he did not believe having a cath lab operational in UHW would have made any difference in this particular case. "I have no evidence that it (a cath lab) would have made a difference. A cardiac theatre, perhaps." The inquest heard that Mr Power would have required immediate draining of the fluid around his heart - and immediate emergency open heart surgery to repair the 3cm tear. Such procedures would have had to be undertaken in minutes to save him. However, UHW does not handle such major cardiac surgery which is only available in Dublin, Cork and Galway. Mr Power's death sparked a major campaign last year for a major expansion of cardiac cath lab services at UHW. The campaign has been led by Mr Power's family including his parents, Michael and Eileen, and his siblings, Joan and Catherine. Mrs Power wept as she recalled to the inquest the day of her husband's death. "The last words I spoke to Tom were: 'Love you and see you in Cork.' We were going out for six years. We were married nine months," she wept. Mrs Power said her husband had not complained of any health issues before June 18 2017. "He displayed no sign of ill health and did not complain of being unwell," she said. Her husband was in such good health he did not have a GP. The only time she recalled him going to the doctor was to have a thorn taken from his hand. On June 18, Mrs Power was off work and the couple planned to go for lunch once they had jobs on the farm done. "At 11am, Tom rang me. I thought he was ringing to say he had done his work and was coming home. But he said he had a pain in his chest." Mrs Power told her husband to stay at the farm and she would collect him to bring him to UHW. "Tom was standing by his van. He got in (to the car) himself. On the way in he was alert and talking to me. He had his hand on the rail by the window." "During the trip to hospital he said he was in pain." "(But) at no point during the trip to hospital did I think he was going to die," she sobbed. "He said he had a pain in his chest but nothing that I thought he was going to die from." On arrival at UHW at 11.25am, she told him to wait in the car while she alerted medical staff. He was then assisted into the emergency department by two nurses and, a short time later, around 11.42am, was diagnosed following tests as having suffered a heart attack, mostly likely some time earlier than June 18. Mrs Power was told her husband was being transferred to CUH with the ambulance leaving at 12.10pm under a Protocol 37 emergency. Waterford medical staff had contacted CUH doctors about the transfer. Mrs Power was advised to travel to Cork with a family member before the ambulance left so she would not get upset at its departure. "They said he may possibly have to get a stint." "It was horrible...," she wept. "When I was leaving the hospital I thought I was going to see Tom alive in Cork." At 12.45pm, just as the ambulance was passing Dungarvan, Mr Power's condition dramatically deteriorated and all vital signs were lost. He was treated multiple times with adrenalin but the ambulance ran out of the specific adrenalin dose involved. More adrenalin was rushed to the nurse and paramedics by a Cork-based ambulance. Another cardiac expert, Dr John O'Dea, said the adrenalin would have made no difference to addressing Mr Power's critical underlying problem which was the "gaping hole in his heart wall." Dr Bolster estimated that Mr Power had suffered his "silent heart attack" between three and seven days before his death. This weakened the free wall of the heart which subsequently ruptured with catastrophic consequences. Dr Murphy said: "I have never seen a (heart wall) tear like this." Christy Griffin is driven from the Midlands Prison on Wednesday morning - he is the passenger. PAEDOPHILE gangster Christy Griffin was last night celebrating with loyal family members at a safe house in Dublin city centre after walking free from jail. The 48-year-old gang boss was released from Midlands Prison after serving 11 years for the rape of his partners daughter. Griffin was collected on a motorbike and driven away from the jail by an associate from the north inner city who runs a motorcycle shop. A source told the Herald Griffin had defied threats to his life by returning to the capital to celebrate his release with a group of close family and friends. He hasnt returned to his own properties but instead is currently at a private residence in the city centre where he is celebrating being a free man, the source said. Despite Griffin owning properties in his native Sheriff Street and Swords, the undisclosed safe house is understood to be a separate property in inner city Dublin. Expand Close Christy Griffin (pictured) was released from prison on Wednesday / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Christy Griffin (pictured) was released from prison on Wednesday At 7.55am yesterday morning, a distinctive blue and white high-powered Suzuki motorbike pulled up at the prison and went to the entrance area. Six minutes later it came back out and Griffin was on the back. Wearing a black jacket, light grey tracksuit bottoms and runners, he nervously looked left and right as the bike turned and set off toward Dublin. His black and red helmet had a dark visor on it, but Griffins distinctive face could clearly be seen. In the space of a moment he was out of sight, the back of his helmet and a dark bag carried on his shoulders disappearing into the distance. The man who collected Griffin from the jail is well known to him. Gardai fear that depraved mobster Griffin will return to a life of organised crime by the weekend and that he may align himself to a faction involved in the Hutch/Kinahan feud. Griffin is a lifelong criminal. He doesnt know any other way to live. He will be up to his neck in criminality by the weekend, a source said. The gangster historically has strong ties to the Hutch mob, but it is not known which side of the Hutch/Kinahan feud he will pick, if any. He is a sneaky operator, he wont pick a side if he doesnt have to, the source added. If it means he can run his mob without any trouble he will stay out of the feud. However, there were no special policing operations put in place for the mobsters release. The Herald previously revealed how gardai expected Griffin to stay in the capital because of the large amount of funds he has access to following his release. Sources said that, despite making a major settlement with the Criminal Assets Bureau (CAB) in 2009, Griffin will still have access to hundreds of thousands of euro thanks to a major property portfolio, including houses abroad. They also said he owns a lucrative front shop in the north inner city. From 1993 to 2001, Griffin bought several properties and amassed hundreds of thousands of euro, which he kept in various bank accounts and not all of the money was seized. The feud which broke out after allegations against Griffin emerged led to five people being murdered and several gun attacks. Since being sent to the Midlands Prison after his rape conviction in April 2007, Griffin has been mainly under a special protection regime. When he was originally sentenced to life in jail, there had already been two tit-for-tat gun murders linked to the bitter feud, which began when Griffin was charged with a litany of sexual offences. It was in this dangerously toxic atmosphere that he was convicted. Handing him a life sentence that was later overturned, the late Mr Justice Paul Carney who was placed under armed garda protection for the duration of the trial delivered a scathing judgment on the pervert to a hushed courtroom. He described Griffins record as horrendous and said the sentence had to take into account the age of the victim and the gravity of the offences. While violence raged on the streets of the north inner city, much of it perpetrated by Griffins mob, the gangster lived a relatively stable life Last September, Griffin had his prison privileges withdrawn after he was caught with a contraband mobile phone in his cell and was moved to a different wing. THE head of Scouting Ireland is to step aside pending the completion of an independent investigation into the organisation's handling of an allegation of rape. Chief Scout Christy McCann is to step aside from this evening, Children's Minister Katherine Zappone told the Dail today. Concerns have been raised about Scouting Ireland's handling of a complaint of rape in 2016 against one of its officials. A female scout leader had claimed she was raped seven years previously. The alleged male offender was suspended during the investigation and was reinstated last year after the Director of Public Prosecutions decided not to proceed with the case. In a report into the handling of the allegation, child safeguarding expert Ian Elliot said Mr McCann held a meeting in January 2017 with the leader accused of rape while that person was under suspension. Mr Elliot said this showed a blatant disregard for safeguarding policies. State funding of nearly 1m a year is to be withheld until concerns surrounding governance issues are resolved. Ms Zappone is to meet with Scouting Ireland this evening. "As of now, I am not satisfied. And I have a responsibility to children and I have a responsibility for the use of public monies," she told the Dail. "I have been informed that the chief scout will be stepping aside from this evening, pending the completion of the independent investigation and the treasurer will serve as acting chair of the board in his absence," the minister said. More than 250 students and teachers are undergoing health screening after two pupils at a secondary school tested positive for TB. Health chiefs and school officials said that a wider screening programme may be implemented if further TB cases are confirmed at Glanmire Community College (GCC) in Co Cork. The college said it is following strict health screening protocols after it was confirmed by the HSE that two of its students were diagnosed with TB. The latest TB detections came after cases of the illness were uncovered over recent years in a primary school, a creche and even an Irish prison. Ireland is now dealing with an average of one new TB case almost every day despite a 34pc decline in detections over the past eight years. "We can confirm that Glanmire Community College was recently contacted by the HSE to inform us that two members of our school community were diagnosed with tuberculosis," GCC principal Ronan McCarthy said. "The HSE is managing the situation and the school is acting on its advice. "The HSE met with school management to discuss further actions and procedures to ensure the safety and well-being of all students, staff and families of the school. "We are reassured by the work and diligence of the HSE in dealing with the matter and we would like to extend our appreciation to their staff for their professional and sensitive approach. "The two individuals affected are currently under the care of the HSE and are undergoing treatment. "So far, approximately 200 students and 34 teachers have been screened by HSE staff and screening of the remaining students and teachers is currently under way. "The results will be monitored on an ongoing basis and acted upon by the HSE when and where necessary," Mr McCarthy said. The HSE have contacted the families of all students attending the college to outline the detailed screening steps to be put in place if any further detections are confirmed. Tuberculosis (TB) is caused by bacteria that most often affect the lungs. It is curable and preventable. When people with lung TB cough, sneeze or spit, they propel the TB germs into the air. A person needs to inhale only a few of these germs to become infected. The latest Health Protection Surveillance Centre (HSPC) statistics revealed Ireland dealt with 318 cases of TB in 2016 - an increase of 22, or 8pc, on the previous year. Figures for 2017 are not yet available. However, health officials have welcomed the fact that there has been a significant overall decline in the number of TB detections in Ireland since 2009. This has been attributed to better screening systems, earlier treatment and reduced migration from areas where TB is virtually endemic. Kitty Kiernans vanity case and a photo of her at Beal na Blath, where her fiance Michael Collins was assassinated, are to be sold at auction next month. Photos: Whytes Auctions A vanity case belonging to the fiancee of revolutionary, soldier and politician Michael Collins is to go under the auction hammer next month. Mr Collins proposed to Catherine 'Kitty' Brigid Kiernan, on October 8, 1921, in the Grand Hotel in Greystones, Co Wicklow. She had also been the love interest of Mr Collins's friend Harry Boland. Kitty first met Collins in 1918 when he stayed at the hotel in Granard, Co Longford, where she hailed from. As the Civil War progressed in Ireland Kitty became anxious to fix a date for her wedding and was hoping to have a double wedding with her sister Maud, who was due to marry barrister Gearoid O'Sullivan. But before a day could be chosen Mr Collins was assassinated by anti-treaty irregular forces at Beal na Blath, Co Cork, on August 22, 1922. Now her black leather vanity case, with fitted interior lined, dark green watered silk is on sale at Whyte's auction house in their Eclectic Collector sale on May 5 in Dublin. Estimated to be worth up to 6,000, Lot 117 contains silver-mounted glass jars and accessories hallmarked in 1897. A headscarf, a pair of gloves and eight various photographs of Kitty including a photograph of her at Beal na Blath in 1923 are also going under the hammer. Stuart Purcell, head of collectables at Whyte's, said: "We expect there to be good interest in Kitty Kiernan's vanity case, given her connection to such a giant of Irish history Michael Collins. The lot certainly is a unique piece and as such is valued to reflect this." According to the Glasnevin Trust, after Mr Collins's death Kitty spent more than a year wandering from relative to relative carrying the souvenirs of her dead lover. She died in 1945. A violent criminal who was once jailed for a brutal hammer attack on a sleeping grandfather is being linked to the incident in which a bus lane camera car was wrecked in Belfast. Local people have identified Gerard Donegan (36), who has spent more than half his adult life in prison, in a video of Tuesday's rampage in west Belfast. A man was filmed clambering on top of a Department for Infrastructure vehicle, kicking an already broken window and trying to rip off a roof-mounted camera. The car had been parked in a bus lane on the Falls Road near Dunville Park to catch motorists driving in illegally. After getting off the marked white Toyota Aygo the man, who appeared agitated, grabbed a woman who had been inside the car by the throat. A male colleague at the scene intervened and traded blows with the assailant before wrestling him to the floor. Locals told the Belfast Telegraph that police have since been scouring the area looking for Donegan, and that attempts to locate him at his home in the Divis area have so far been unsuccessful. A PSNI spokesman confirmed officers were investigating a report of criminal damage and assault following an incident on the Falls Road on Tuesday. He added: "It was reported that damage was caused to the bonnet, roof and windscreen of a car, and a man and woman assaulted, by an unknown male at around 4pm. "Efforts are ongoing to identify the male involved." This is the second attack on a bus lane camera on the Falls Road within a month. On March 20, a man wielding a hammer smashed the windows of another monitoring car. Condemning the latest incident, Sinn Fein West Belfast MLA Fra McCann said: "The fact that it was carried out in broad daylight again highlights the difficulties faced by this community in the battle against criminal behaviour. "The people who carry out these attacks do not speak for the west Belfast community and they need to stop immediately." The suspect Gerard Donegan is considered one of Northern Ireland's most dangerous criminals. He was first brought before the courts as a teen and has been in and out of jail for the past two decades. In 2003 Donegan, along with his younger brother Kevin Barry Moyna, broke into the Belfast home of Maurice McCracken. After forcing Mr McCracken's wife to hand over the keys to their jeep, Donegan hit her sleeping husband six times on the back of the head with a hammer causing severe brain damage. He was convicted of attempted murder, but served just over half of his 15-year sentence and was freed in March 2011. Five months after being released, Donegan, armed with a knife, tried to hijack a car in the centre of Belfast. He was jailed again, which brought his criminal record over the 60 convictions mark. Before getting out of jail in 2014 he was involved in a brutal assault on a fellow inmate that left his victim needing medical attention. He also tried to escape from prison officers while on a hospital visit in Belfast. He punched one of the wardens before running off towards the Lisburn Road where he was apprehended. After Donegan was released from jail, he moved back to the Divis area of west Belfast. A Department for Infrastructure spokesman added: "The department is aware of an incident involving an attack on a bus lane camera vehicle. The incident is being investigated by the PSNI." The PSNI has appealed for any witnesses to the attack to contact them at Woodbourne on 101, quoting reference number 838 17/04/18, or to call the independent charity Crimestoppers on 0800 555 111. Violent attacks on prison officers by inmates are a problem that need to be met with practical solutions and cannot be hugged away, according to the president of the Prison Officers Association. Speaking on the eve of it's annual delegate conference in Kilkenny, Stephen Delaney said attacks had now become the norm whereas they were rare when he took his role in the prison service over 30 years ago. No other employer would tolerate this. The current amount and seriousness of assaults on our members is simply not acceptable or sustainable, he said. Many of our officers now believe that the rule of law in prisons has disappeared and that the era of appeasement for the offender is now fully embedded, Mr Delaney added. Outlining attacks in the last year alone he said that in Mountjoy a female officer was grabbed from behind by the hair and smacked off a wall, and in the Midlands prison a female officer was sexually assaulted. Urine was thrown over staff in another attack, and an officer was attacked with an iron bar; while in a separate incident in Mountjoy a prisoner spat into an officers face. He said three officers were attacked while on escort, and in Cloverhill two staff were injured, which involved one recruit ingesting blood in a vicious attack. An officer in Cork was attacked and hospitalised with a head injury, while another prison officers car was petrol bombed in front of their home. In Mountjoy two officers were attacked and one bitten in a serious assault; and in the Midlands an officer was attacked and sustained a head injury. Year on year since I took up this role - and indeed well before my time - the President of our Union has quoted from statistical analysis of one type or another. When these statistics, especially on assaults, dip from the outrageous to the simply unbelievable the Minister of the day will normally tell us what great progress is being made and that it represents a significant reduction of instances of violence upon the dedicated working prison officers of the service, said Mr Delaney. And so it goes on for another year and sometimes another Minister, while individual prison officers and their families are trying to cope with all that has occurred, he added. Mr Delaney called on the Justice Minister to announce an independent analysis of assaults on prison officers while at work. This analysis should lead to recommendations on how our members can experience a safe place of work. Surely this is not too much to ask in 2018, he explained. In recent years practical solutions that form part and parcel of prison work in other jurisdictions, such as conflict resolution, dogs and batons being part of the uniform - were unilaterally rejected by our employer ( the Irish Prison Service), Mr Delaney said. One of the practical methods of punishment, which forms part of the prison rules, was the withdrawal of remission. This was unilaterally removed by the employer in the latest round of prisoner concessions to satisfy the whim of whoever the latest forward thinking group that never had to walk a prison landing but thought long and impressive thoughts about how to hug away the problems of this world, he added. We must all get real on this issue of assaults on our members; the hugging philosophy is as outdated as it is ridiculous, he concluded. One aspect puzzling some observers of the storm surrounding Communications Minister Denis Naughtens conversation with a PR executive acting for Independent News & Media (INM) is that it was not disclosed on the lobbying register. Indeed, the controversy highlights the confusion that can exist as to what amounts to lobbying. Since September 2015, entities lobbying government ministers, departments, public bodies or designated public officials have had to disclose this activity on a register which is published online. And since last year there have been penalties for lobbyists who fail to make a return to the lobbying register, including fines and jail terms in serious cases. So when PR executive Eoghan O Neachtain rang Mr Naughten in November 2016 to find out his views on the proposed deal for INM to buy the Celtic Media newspaper group, was he technically engaged in the act of lobbying or simply asking questions for a client? The minister says he expressed a personal view that the likely course of action would be a referral to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland for a phase two assessment in accordance with guidelines due to diversity and media plurality considerations. An account of the conversation made its way to INM chairman Leslie Buckley, who in turn forwarded it to INMs largest shareholder Denis OBrien. The Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement has expressed concern in court proceedings that this email from Mr Buckley to Mr OBrien may amount to inside information within the meaning of EU market abuse regulations. Heneghan PR, the firm where Mr O Neachtain is director of public affairs, is no stranger to the lobbying register. In the past few years, it has listed various engagements on behalf of clients with TDs, ministers and government departments on issues as varied as broadband rollout and housing policy. Indeed, the register reflects that Mr Naughten was lobbied by the firm regarding solar energy two years ago. The register also reflects that the firm was involved when INM lobbied then Justice Minister Frances Fitzgerald in 2016 on libel laws and VAT on newspapers. The filing for that meetings says it was attended by Mr Buckley and former INM chief executive Robert Pitt. But there is no filing in relation to the O Neachtain/Naughten conversation. Heneghan PR certainly does not think the contact amounted to lobbying. In a statement, it said: The firm fully adheres to the lobbying legislation. For contact to amount to lobbying there must be three ingredients a lobbyist, a designated person (politician or public official) being communicated with, and the subject matter. The subject matter must involve the initiation, development or modification of any public policy or of any public programme, the preparation or amendment of any law, or the award of any grant, loan or other financial support, contract or other agreement involving public funds. In this instance, the PR firm would appear to be right as the call did not relate to the preparation or amendment of any law, but how legislation already in place would be implemented by the minister. While the PR firm would seem to be in the clear, it is far from certain how the minister will now emerge. COMMUNICATIONS Minister Denis Naughten is unlikely to be forced from office in a row over whether he inappropriately informed a PR executive about his thinking on the proposed merger between Independent News & Media (INM) and Celtic Media. Fianna Fail last night stopped short of calling for him to resign, although the main Opposition party made it clear it intends to inflict maximum damage on the Government. Spokesman Timmy Dooley said the Minister was dancing on the head of a pin with his explanations. He questioned whether Taoiseach Leo Varadkar can live with the knowledge that a minister supplied information to a lobbyist that he wasnt willing to state on the Dail record. Sinn Fein has decided not to place a motion of no confidence in the minister as it would risk collapsing the Government and derailing the referendum on the Eighth Amendment. Fine Gael ministers have rallied around their Independent colleague in a bid to fend off the threat of a general election. The Taoiseach said Mr Naughtens explanation of events was clear, while Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy and Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan also offered support. On Thursday morning, Childrens Minister Katherine Zappone offered her full support to her embattled colleague. She described the answers given by the Communications Minister regarding his phonecall with a public relations executive as comprehensive and honest. Minister Naughten continues to have my full support as an Independent colleague. His portfolio covers important issues which impact on every community, not least climate change, the challenges in the area of communications and media, energy as well as the post office network. These are the issues which the public want Government to work on and deliver. Ms Zappone added: It is important that given Minister Naughtens full account that he now continues to give leadership on these and other issues. The controversy centres on a call Mr Naughten took from the director of public affairs at Heneghan PR, Eoghan O Neachtain in November 2016. Mr O Neachtain, who was acting for INM, told the Minister that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission had approved the companys acquisition of Celtic Media. Mr Naughten expressed what he told the Dail was a purely personal view that the likely course of action would be a referral to a Phase Two assessment in accordance with the guidelines in light of the diversity and media plurality assessments required. He planned to refer the case to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI) in light of the scale of the proposed acquisition, its geographical concentration and the extent of ownership of regional media by INM at that point. As part of its application to have inspectors appointed to investigate corporate governance issues at INM, the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcements (ODCE) alleges Mr O Neachtain briefed PR executive Nigel Heneghan about the call. In turn, Mr Heneghan emailed INMs then chairman Leslie Buckley, alerting him to the Ministers thinking. The States corporate watchdog claims Mr Buckley forwarded this message to INMs largest shareholder, Denis OBrien, in a move that may amount to inside information and potentially a breach of stock market rules. During an hour-long Dail session, Mr Naughten defended his position, saying it would have been preferable if the conversation had not taken place. But he repeatedly argued he didnt express a definitive view. The Minister said he had no inside information to offer the PR executive. I did not give any definitive view to Mr O Neachtain. I made it quite clear to him that it was likely to go to Phase Two. That was my own opinion but I also made it crystal clear to him that I would be going on the advice that was provided by my official, he said. In a further twist, it emerged Mr Heneghan is on the BAIs compliance committee but the minister said he had no functionin judging potential mergers. Housing minister Eoghan Murphy said last night that Mr Naughten answered every question put to him and answered them very well. He said it is not even a question that Mr Naughten should resign. Justice Minister Charlie Flanagan said Mr Naughten had addressed the issue head-on. A renowned mandarin no longer active in the national political parish often summed up certain political rows as awkward but not fatal. The former officials words seem a fit for this strange row involving Communications Minister Denis Naughten. He is in a tricky spot right now, but his two decades at Leinster House will tell him these troubles will pass. Certain opposition TDs will continue to challenge Naughtens insistence he said nothing wrong or inappropriate during a phone call with a public relations executive about the proposed merger between Independent News & Media (INM), which publishes this newspaper and other leading titles, and Celtic Media ,which runs a large group of regional newspapers. Yes, Mr Naughten told the Dail he had discussed referring the potential deal to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI), which also has a newspaper remit, to public relations person, Eoghan O Neachtain, who is a former government press secretary, but was representing INM. The phone call details have emerged as a by-product of a High Court application by the Office of the Director of Corporate Enforcement (ODCE) to have inspectors appointed to investigate company law issues at INM. The details tell us the conversation between the Naughten and O Neachtain, were relayed to INMs largest shareholder, Denis OBrien, in November 2016. The information was sent via O Neachtains boss, Nigel Heneghan, who communicated first with INMs then-chairman, Leslie Buckley, who on-passed to Mr OBrien. The OCDEs contention is the move may amount to inside information and potentially a breach of stock market rules. Those legal issues will continue their own way through the legal process. The more immediate question is what will the Opposition parties actually do. Fianna Fail, Sinn Fein, Labour, Solidarity-PBP and the Social Democrats, were all active in putting the Taoiseach and Naughten on the spot about the issue. Denis Naughten, a man who never stood on ceremony and was not affected by the trappings of ministerial office, came into the Dail, spoke and fielded questions for about 50 minutes. In essence, he said he might not be so casual about such phone conversations again. But he had expressed a personal view on an issue to Eoghan O Neachtain. There was no attempt to influence the process as it went on, and in the event the big merger never happened anyway. Clearly, this is an issue the opposition will continue to pursue. But the key question is this: Will they demand Naughtens resignation? Answer: most unlikely. To do so would be to precipitate an early election that nobody particularly wants right now. The political scars are still visible after the forced resignation of Tanaiste Frances Fitzgerald last November. We are set to have a general election within 12 months, one way or another. But in the corridors of Leinster House, the view is that there should be no immediate rush. Kevin BoxerMoran, pictured, and Sean Canney had agreed to alternate the post of Floods Minister a deal that is in dispute Kevin Boxer Moran has landed a knockout blow on his Independent Alliance colleague Sean Canney. After months of internal wrangling between the Independent TDs, Mr Moran has won out and will retain his position as Minister of State over the Office of Public Works (OPW). The two colleagues agreed to rotate the position after the current government was formed. Mr Canney held the portfolio for the first year before handing over the reins of the department to Mr Moran. In recent months, Mr Canney, a Galway East TD, argued that Mr Moran, who represents the Longford/Westmeath constituency, should hand back the ministry after 12 months. However, Mr Moran insisted the deal, which was agreed by a coin toss, was that Mr Canney would serve the first year and he remaining minister until the Dail was dissolved. Expand Close Sean Canney. Photo: Tom Burke / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Sean Canney. Photo: Tom Burke At a meeting today, the other members of the Independent Alliance are understood to have sided with Mr Moran. This included Transport Minister Shane Ross, Disability Minister Finian McGrath and Junior Minister John Halligan. "When the deal was first agreed in 2016 nobody in the room thought the Government would last this long," a source said. "But it was never the position that the ministry would be rotated back to Sean, it wasn't agreed that way," the source added. A statement released after the meeting said: The Independent Alliance has today confirmed that Minister of State with responsibility for the OPW and Flood Relief, Kevin Boxer Moran, will be continuing in that role for the remainder of the term of this Government. This follows recent media commentary as to who would fill the role going forward after two years in Government. The Independent Alliance met this afternoon and expressed its support for Minister of State Moran and the work he has been progressing while in office. The ending of a "ridiculous" situation where TDs and senators were able to run up unpaid tabs in the Dail bar and restaurant has been hailed as "the sensible thing to do". Oireachtas authorities have written to all members telling them that bills that remain unpaid after two months are to be automatically deducted from their wages or bank accounts. Social Democrats TD Roisin Shortall has previously criticised how almost 5,500 in unpaid bills were written off by the Houses of the Oireachtas Commission. The sum was disclosed in its most recent annual report. Last night, she welcomed the new credit policy saying that the old system "where people were allowed run up bills indefinitely" was "ridiculous". She said it was "completely unacceptable" that some members left office without paying their bills. Ms Shortall said the new system "is the sensible thing to do". Oireachtas authorities wrote to all TDs and senators this week saying that with effect from April 23, they will have to complete a deduction mandate form if they want to make purchases on credit. These forms authorise the Oireachtas Service to arrange for outstanding aged debt to be deducted from either their salary or credit or debit card. Credit periods will be limited to two months, meaning the first automatic deductions could occur as early as mid-June. Members have until the end of May to clear any existing aged debt before the new mandated deduction option is used for the first time. TDs and senators who don't set up a credit facility under the new policy have been told they should not seek credit in the bar or restaurant "out of courtesy" to the staff. The Taoiseach has defended Health Minister Simon Harris for endorsing a Yes vote campaign organised by a group refusing to obey an order by a State watchdog to repay a prohibited donation. Leo Varadkar said the minister's support for the Amnesty International campaign is appropriate because it is the Government which is seeking to legislate for abortion. Mr Harris had come under fire for endorsing the campaign because Amnesty is seeking to quash a Standards in Public Office Commission (Sipo) ruling that it received an illegal foreign donation. Sipo ordered Amnesty to repay a 137,000 donation from a Swiss philanthropic organisation last year - political donations by foreign individuals and groups are banned under the Electoral Act. Mr Varadkar said he had no issue with Mr Harris endorsing the campaign, despite outstanding questions about the prohibited donation by Open Society Foundations (OSF), an organisation founded by the Hungarian-American philanthropist George Soros. "It is absolutely appropriate for the minister to be involved in such a campaign," Mr Varadkar told the Dail yesterday. "It is the Government and the Oireachtas that is proposing to change the Constitution. The normal course of events is for ministers to campaign in favour of the changes they are proposing." Amnesty has challenged the order to repay the donation. It has brought a judicial review against Sipo, Ireland and the Attorney General as it seeks to have the order quashed. It says the donation is linked to a campaign launched in 2015 focused on securing human rights compliant abortion laws here. It says this campaign is separate to its campaign for a Yes vote in the referendum to repeal the Eighth Amendment. Tipperary TD Mattie McGrath criticised Mr Harris for attending the launch of Amnesty's Yes campaign, saying he "flouted" Cabinet duties. "It is totally inappropriate that he attended that launch because his duty is to defend the Constitution that is in place until it is changed by the people or otherwise," said Mr McGrath. "If a member of this house does wrong, he or she must be held accountable, and rightly so." Mr Varadkar's support for Mr Harris came as he recognised the personal nature of the ongoing abortion debate by paying tribute to the late TD Peter Mathews yesterday. The former Dublin South TD died last year after a battle with cancer. He had been expelled from Fine Gael in 2013 after voting against the Protection of Life During Pregnancy Bill, something the Taoiseach regrets. "I regretted that he had to leave Fine Gael on what was very much an issue of personal conscience for him and that experience convinced me we should not impose the whip on such issues again," he said. TAOISEACH Leo Varadkar is listed alongside Donald Trump, Kim Jung Un, Meghan Markle and Oprah Winfrey in TIME magazines most influential people for 2018. The Taoiseach made the top 100 which includes major world figures from politics, sports, film and social society. The magazine says its list is not merely a measure of power but is a designation of individuals whose time, in our estimation, is now. As our staff considers candidates, we often find ourselves wowed by those with stunning lifetime achievements. But editorial director Dan Macsai, maestro of the TIME 100, brings us back to the key question: Was this their year? the magazine says. Sunday Independent political correspondent Philip Ryan wrote the short extract which will explain to TIMEs readers why Mr Varadkar has made the cut. It notes that Ireland only decriminalised homosexuality in 1993 but 25 years later the country is a very different place symbolised by the rise of its new leader. The openly gay son of an Indian immigrant, Varadkar decided to come out publicly in the run-up to the worlds first marriage-equality referendum. Today the once anti-abortion politician is campaigning to significantly liberalize the countrys abortion laws, the citation says. Varadkar is now at the centre of EU negotiations on Brexit, which could have a devastating impact on Irelands peace and prosperity. He also faces a major housing and homelessness crisis. The countrys youngest-ever Taoiseach will be judged on how he guides his nation through these challenges. Others on the list include Nicole Kidman, Hugh Jackman, Rihanna and Prince Harry. Saudi Arabias Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman makes the cut as does Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau. One of the biggest dairy co-ops in the Border region is in talks with as many as three potential merger partners. The Irish Independent understands that the board of LacPatrick Dairies has been approached by one overseas investor and two domestic co-operatives about possible tie-ups. It is understood a domestic deal, to merge with a rival with a more diversified income base, is the most likely outcome if there is a deal. Lakeland Dairies is understood to be the most likely merger partner. Co-op members will have the ultimate say, and any merger would need backing from 75pc of members. LacPatrick was formed from the merger of the old Town of Monaghan Dairy in the Republic and Ballyrashane Diary in Co Tyrone. It processes more than 600 million litres of milk from more than 1,000 farmers, roughly half on each side of the Border. The business is profitable and has made significant investment to Brexit-proof its operations, but has been under pressure to lift its milk prices to match rivals. In a statement yesterday, LacPatrick confirmed that it is looking at possible deals. "The board of LacPatrick Dairies met on Tuesday, April 17, and have agreed on pursing a number of strategic options with a view to identifying the best way forward that is in the interest of its suppliers, shareholders, staff and customers. "This may or may not include partnerships, joint ventures, mergers and other opportunities to consolidate the dairy industry. "The decision by the board of LacPatrick comes following a number of approaches from international and national companies from the sector in recent months." It has three operations - in Tyrone, Coleraine, and in Monaghan, where it is headquartered. Last month LacPatrick unveiled a "Brexit-proofing" technology centre in Co Derry in a 30m investment creating 20 jobs. The site at Artigarvan near Strabane has now doubled its capacity, with a total workforce of 90, and will be able to make two new milk powder products for export. Its investment has been supported by Danske Bank. Chief executive Gabriel D'Arcy said: "The new dairy technology centre at Artigarvan will provide security of capacity for local dairy farmers producing milk to the highest standards. The plant provides long-term security to our supplier base and positions the business at the forefront of global dairy technologies. "We are now able to produce two new lines of milk powder for international markets, with the dairy technology centre able to process milk all year round." Mr D'Arcy said the "core logistical risk of" Brexit has been mitigated by the Artigarvan expansion. As an exporter out of the UK, LacPatrick will be closely monitoring the trading agreements being negotiated by London. Mr D'Arcy added: "We will be focused on driving product development, building relationships with processors seeking access to our technology and expanding our customer base in Asia and the Middle East. "We have made a significant capital investment with the clear purpose of delivering a sustainable return to our suppliers over the coming months and years ahead." Cullentra House Stables star Samcro jumps for joy in the warm weather in his paddock at Gordon Elliotts Stables before the Punchestown Festival next week. Photo: Healy Racing The decision about whether to pack an umbrella or sunscreen has just been made a little easier, thanks to the launch of seven-day forecasts online for every part of the country by Met Eireann. Housing Minister Eoghan Murphy said that the new app will allow people to view seven-day forecasts, including predicted rainfall and temperatures for their local areas, along with the latest weather observations and live rainfall radar images. Speaking at the launch, he said: "As a nation, we are obsessed with the weather. We are constantly talking about it. We are interested in what is going to be happening. Vitally you will also be able to see the latest weather warnings for your county." Met Eireann's website is one of the most visited public sector sites in the country. It received 412,000 and 328,000 daily visitors during the peak of Storms Ophelia and Emma respectively. Head of forecasting Evelyn Cusack said for the first time "parish by parish, town by town, village by village, you can get a detailed seven day forecast ahead". "I've worked at Met Eireann over 30 years, and the change has been incredible, which is due to our improved meteorological models," she commented. "This weekend, we are predicting temperatures into the mid to high teens, so that is even slightly above average. "It's going to be lovely." However, Met Eireann has also warned online that the warm temperatures could see the possibility of some thundery downpours on Saturday afternoon and into the evening. Met Eireann utilises the European Centre for Medium-Range Weather Forecast (ECMWF) based in the UK, which gives forecasts for the week ahead. Met Eireann director Eoin Moran said it had the "very best forecasting capability worldwide and has been objectively proven in various scientific papers". He described the provision of localised forecasts as a "major development", with the weather information being updated regularly online. The family of a terminally ill teenager have been "overwhelmed" by the support of the public after they succeeded in raising funds for life-saving treatment in the US, saying "it is like Italia '90". Aaron McMahon (17) from Shanagarry, Co Cork was diagnosed with a rare chordoma brain tumour in February 2017. After undergoing treatment, both in Ireland and Germany, the teenager has been told his condition is terminal. Aaron's only hope of survival is to travel to Pittsburgh in the US to undergo a specialist chordoma treatment. Expand Close Aaron McMahon / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aaron McMahon However, in order have the surgery a deposit of 100,000 has to be paid to the hospital by April 30. Speaking to Independent.ie, Aaron's dad Paul said that the family's world was turned upside down when Aaron was diagnosed with a brain tumour. "It was devastating. At that time, it wasn't terminal. There was hope that an operation could be done and could fix it. He had further treatment in Germany and everything appeared to be stable. "Aaron's tumour has unfortunately started growing again and it is terminal." Paul recalled the traumatic moment he had to tell his son that his cancer had returned, and that there was nothing more that could be done. "When his doctor called me, I knew it wasn't good. He said there was nothing more that could be done for Aaron. My whole world fell apart. The doctor said that he couldn't handle telling Aaron because he didn't want to give him any more bad news but I had to tell him. Aaron has been aware of his diagnosis every step of the way. There are no words to describe how I felt telling Aaron. It was devastating." Expand Close Aaron McMahon (17) pictured with his parents Paul and Gail Photo: Kyran O'Brien / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Aaron McMahon (17) pictured with his parents Paul and Gail Photo: Kyran O'Brien The family refused to give up hope and made contact with the Chordoma Foundation in the US. "We needed to raise 100,000 for a deposit to get into the treatment in the US. It's the only treatment out there for Aaron but it gives us hope. There are currently 42 other patients undergoing the treatment and they are responding well. The offer we got from the US expires on May 5 and without the money, Aaron would die. We tried to sell our family home and our car, but we didn't have the time to wait for the money to come through because that takes too long. "Last night, we received the news that we raised the 100,000 deposit for the treatment. It was like Italia '90 all over again. Aaron was at the cinema and we rang him to tell him. The whole theatre erupted. I can't even describe the feeling of joy and relief. It gives us hope again. We cannot thank the public enough for their incredible kindness." Speaking to Independent.ie, 17-year-old Aaron said he was feeling "tired and weak". "I'm looking forward to going over to the US, but it's going into the unknown. I have to go, it's the only option. It's the only place where I can get the operation. I just want to put it behind me and get on with it." The 17-year-old said he wants to return to playing sport and going back to school. "My friends have been great ... but some of them don't know what to do. It's hard on everyone. Sometimes I want to go out but I don't have any energy. Other times, I do go out and I get tired within five minutes. It's hard. It's stopped a lot of stuff for me and has bound me to home. It's headwrecking." Aaron said the hardest part is seeing his family in pain. "It's really hard seeing my family go through it. I can take all the pain, but I can't take the pain of seeing my family upset," he said. The 17-year-old said he dreams of doing woodwork. "I keep getting numbness in my hands, so that kind of stops me. But hopefully after the operation, I will be able to build up my strength again." He urged other young people to not take their lives for granted. "I always give out to the lads when they have an excuse to miss training because they don't want to do it. I miss it. I haven't been able to do sport in nearly two years. I'm lost without sport and school. Sitting at home 24-hours is terrible." Aaron said he was blown away by the support he received by the public. "It's really nice to see all the people who got behind me. It's overwhelming. I don't have the words to thanks people for it." His mother Gail said that seeing her youngest son battle cancer was "horrendous". "It has been unbelievable to be able to take care of him and be with him through this. You have to mind him as a mother. Even before I had him, he was so precious to me. I miscarried with twins before Aaron so when I found out I was pregnant with this guy, I protected him before he was even born. He's been my baby that I really took care of since his first day. He was the best baby I had. I have been looking back of photos of him as a baby over the last few months and he had beautiful curls. "It's been horrendous what he has been going through, but also he has been so courageous and strong. "I like when he tells me that I can cuddle in next to him ... and we listen to our songs together. He's my baby and I know there is a big battle still ahead of us in the US, but I want to keep him for a long time ahead of me. There is no woman who is going to come in and take my baby away from me. He's not for marriage. He's staying with me for life. "When I was told he was terminal, no. I'm not going to let him go. I'm going to keep him with me because we have been through too much together. We fought together. We're on a journey and we're not giving up on it yet. No, never." She said that while they reached their target for the deposit, there is still a lot fundraising to be done. "It's amazing what we have reached and that will allow Aaron to get the surgery in the US, but it won't cover living costs or his flights or any of his treatments down the road. He'll have to have reviews and check-ups in the US, so we have a long road still ahead of us. "We can't thank the public enough for all their amazing help. They have given us hope and given Aaron a chance at life." You can donate to Aaron's GoFundMe here or at https://www.gofundme.com/aaronmcmahon A leading Irish archbishop has said that young people are being increasingly pressured not to commit to marriage or children by society and are "surrounded by a contraceptive, anti-birth mentality". In a wide-ranging speech in Rome, Archbishop of Armagh Eamon Martin said that there is considerable pressure on younger generations to "resist becoming tied down by commitments, relationships or attachments". The primate of All Ireland said that employers are adding to this pressure, expecting young people to be "flexible, movable, able to travel and work long, unsocial hours". "On the one hand they are surrounded by a contraceptive, anti-birth mentality with its increasing indifference to abortion, whilst on the other they are offered a technocratic, commodification of child-bearing which, if necessary, can be accessed independently of any sexual relationship," Archbishop Martin said. His comments were made yesterday in an address at a conference at the Pontifical University of the Holy Cross, Rome, ahead of the Pope's visit to Dublin later this year. He said that the theme for the ninth World Meeting of the Families in Dublin is The Gospel of the Family. But that communicating the Church's message about the family has not always been easy. Archbishop Martin also said that almost 40 years on from the last papal visit to Ireland in 1979, the role of religion and faith in Irish society has changed. "There are ongoing calls from some quarters for the removal of the Church's perceived remaining influence in schools, healthcare and public policy making," he said. "We have to be aware, in communicating the family, that there are those who feel they can no longer trust our message, because they have been hurt and betrayed in their families by their experience of Church. The sins and crimes of sexual abuse in the Church have not only had tragic consequences in the lives of victims and their families, but have also, as Pope Benedict XVI put it in his Pastoral Letter to the Faithful of Ireland, 'obscured the light of the gospel'. "In this complex and often negative environment we are challenged to learn new ways of communicating our sincerely held perspectives about family and other matters." Sinead OTooles son Daniel (10) has a mild form of autism. He has language delay, and his behaviour can be unpredictable when he becomes overwhelmed. But he loves video games; and his television, iPad, and Wii U are his security blankets - they make him feel safe. He also enjoys activities like swimming. The autism spectrum is so big; every single child on the spectrum is different. My son would be classed as mild, he has delayed language so its difficult for him to socialise, she tells Independent.ie. I worry about him all the time. I worry what the future holds for him. People ask can you see him living on his own and living an independent life. My answer is 'I dont know', I take every day as it comes. People with autism often stim as a way of relieving their brains of over-stimulation. Stimming usually manifests as hand-flapping, rocking, spinning, or repetition of words and phrases. During family trips outside, bystanders react differently to Daniels stimming and unpredictable behaviours. Some stare, some react, while others smile and move on. Awareness, Sinead hopes, will help people to understand why a person with autism stims or starts behaving unpredictably. Its really difficult at times. Daniel can be quite unpredictable; if something triggers him when were out, he could get very upset which could lead to bad behaviours. I find that often people will look and they will judge and they will say things. Sometimes Ill say my son is on the autism spectrum and Ill try and explain what it is, and some people are nice about it. We bring our kids into Dublin on the train as a treat. He always gets a seat, and one day, because there were no seats on this particular train, he became upset and he would try and sit on someone. My husband was trying to bring him down to the other end of the train, trying to distract him, but what we had to do in the end was to get off at Maynooth train station. There was one particular person who wasnt very kind. It was a young girl. I just wanted to get home at that stage. But we saw that there was another train empty and we showed him that it was empty and that wed get a seat, so he was fine after that. He has to be prepared for every social outing so that he knows where were going, what were doing, but if something doesnt happen that was planned, its difficult. Sinead and her friend Michelle Bowe, who also has a child on the spectrum, are doing their skydive to educate people about autism. At the same time, theyll raise funds for activities and sensory equipment at St Josephs school in Kilcock. [As a parent of a child with autism] youre very much alone. When he started school, Id just given up work. When people see your child acting out, it was hard because I knew it was so difficult for him, and people are looking and they are judging. She added: People shouldnt be afraid to talk to [children with autism], and if they dont talk back it mightnt be that they dont hear you, they mightnt know how to talk back. Please dont stare, have good body language, be open about it. If you see a child that theres something going on there, and theyre not just being bold, dont judge. Give the child and the parent a chance to sort through it. Id nearly prefer if a person smiled and walked away. When a child is the same height as you and theyre having a meltdown its difficult, when a tall 10 year-old is frustrated and cant tell you why, the last thing you want is to be stared at and judged and have eyes rolled up at you. Daniel has taught the family a lot about how to communicate with each other, Sinead says. Hes taught me a lot about myself aswell. Hes made us, the family... were very tight knit. We do a lot together and we never let it stop us doing anything either. Hes entitled to the same life as any other child. Its taken time, it hasnt been an easy journey. He was my first child and it was quite a shock to be given the diagnosis. Once you accept it, and educate yourself, its easier. She explained: Daniel would run a lot, hed be quite active and run up and down; hed make noises, and youd get funny looks. But thats just how he processes things. We dont holiday outside Ireland anymore now as hes getting older. We find that when we holiday in Ireland we can bring a TV, his Wii U, our own internet and his ipad and some of his toys, and it gives us all quiet times in the evenings. He doesnt feel safe if he doesnt have those things with him. Sinead's two children Dylan (6) and Keela (5) are very understanding of their brother too, she says. Theyre quite amazing in their empathy of him. They want to be friends with everyone and include everyone. Thats because I know they see how hard it is for Daniel. But she added: Its not hard all the time. We would go to the zoo a lot, and I try and go on a quiet time. If he hears a noise or a scream from a baby or a child, that could upset him, and hell go over and ask the child why theyre crying. Last Saturday we went to the National Aquatic Centre and we showed him photos of it before we went, and when we were there we explained when exactly wed be leaving, and it was three hours of bliss that we spent as a family. Sinead and Michelle will perform their skydive on April 21 with the Irish Parachute Club. [The skydive is] to raise awareness that there are children that have autism in the community. We want to teach the other children what it is and that the children who have autism are not just being bold when they have a meltdown. Daniel O'Donnell with Mary Mckenna from Gallows View B&B, Bunratty, Co Clare - Overall Winner of the B&B Ireland B&B Award at the Ashling hotel, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins Daniel and Majella O'Donnell with Mary Mckenna (centre) from Gallows View B&B, Bunratty, Co Clare - Overall Winner of the B&B Ireland B&B Award 2018. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins Daniel and Majella O'Donnell took a B&B road trip to Dublin today to unveil Ireland's B&B of the Year 2018. Gallows View B&B took the gong - a Bunratty, Co. Clare-based B&B where guests can stay overnight from 80 per room. The 40pp price tag includes a slap-up Irish breakfast, of course. "We have met many wonderful B&B owners while filming our B&B road trip series around Ireland, and are very aware and proud of the great work they do for Irish tourism," said Daniel, presenting the award to owner, Mary McKenna. Ireland's B&Bs account for just 5pc of its bed spaces, according to Failte Ireland figures, and the sector has sometimes struggled to compete with new hotels, online and mobile technologies and pass the baton to younger generations. Visitor numbers appear to be rising again, however - with B&B bookings up by 12pc last year, according to national representative body, B&B Ireland. Expand Close Daniel O'Donnell with Mary Mckenna from Gallows View B&B, Bunratty, Co Clare - Overall Winner of the B&B Ireland B&B Award at the Ashling hotel, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Daniel O'Donnell with Mary Mckenna from Gallows View B&B, Bunratty, Co Clare - Overall Winner of the B&B Ireland B&B Award at the Ashling hotel, Dublin. Photo: Gareth Chaney Collins B&Bs are usually run by just one or two people, yet they make a huge contribution to their local economies, particularly by attracting overseas visitors into rural areas," said Helena Healy, the body's chief executive. Overseas visitors make up 90pc of B&B guests in Ireland, and the sector is worth around 11 million a year to Irish tourism and communities. "It's not just about good rooms and great home-cooked breakfasts," Healy added. "It's also about the welcome, the atmosphere and the local knowledge." Gallow's View was selected from 10 finalists in a list based on user reviews by guests who booked stays with B&B Ireland members. B&B of the Year Finalists 2018: Gallow's View, Bunratty, Co. Clare Ardmor Country House, Spiddal, Co. Galway Emorhuo B&B: Doolin, Co. Clare Imeall na Mara, Dingle, Co. Kerry Taobh Coille, Cahirciveen, Co. Kerry Ardfield Farmhouse, Ballinhassig, Co. Cork Oldtown Farmhouse, Thomastown, Co. Kilkenny Aaronbeg, Maynooth, Co. Kildare Rosdarrig House, Boyle, Co. Roscommon Lough Owel lodge, Mullingar, Co. Westmeath "We just loved our hostess," said one Gallow's View customer. "Mary treated us with such kindness and ensured all our needs were met and therefore made our stay feel like home. She prepared us a breakfast of champions. The B&B was beautiful and the rooms very clean and tasteful." Read more: A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Depending on who you talk to, anywhere between 60 and 100 people arrive in Austin every day - ready to call the city home, making it one of fastest growing places in America. Why the influx? Well, it's partly because young professionals are being priced out of places like San Francisco and Seattle, but the Texan metropolis certainly has plenty of 'pull factors' as well. And it's now easier (and cheaper) than ever to get a slice of the action, with budget airline Norwegian flying direct from Gatwick and more transatlantic services (and connections within the US) than ever from Ireland. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Katie Wright at Lambert's Downtown Barbecue. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Sunset over Austin. Picture credit: PA Photo/Geoff Duncan/Visit Austin. Downtown Austin from Doug Sahm Hill Summit. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Juicy burgers at Odd Duck, a restaurant which started life as a food truck called Humble Pig. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Katie Wright at Lambert's Downtown Barbecue. PA Photo/Katie Wright. My own arrival in ATX - as everyone calls it - is something of a baptism of fire. First stop, after dropping my bags at the shiny new Fairmont Hotel, is Ranch 616 (theranch616.com), an old-style Ice House decked out with buffalo skulls and neon signs, where I'm tasked with downing a Fire in the Hole - a shot glass filled with tequila and a hollowed-out jalapeno. The trick, says the restaurant's owner Kevin Williamson, is to drink the liquor from the jalapeno first, then from the glass, and then chase it with a bite of chilli - a combination that leaves my throat burning but my spirits soaring. Tequila, I soon discover, is the unofficial beverage of the Lone Star State, which is why it's vitally important that you line your stomach before a night out. But you'll have no trouble doing that, because Austinites are nothing short of evangelistic about eating. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Juicy burgers at Odd Duck, a restaurant which started life as a food truck called Humble Pig. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Sunset over Austin. Picture credit: PA Photo/Geoff Duncan/Visit Austin. Katie Wright at Lambert's Downtown Barbecue. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Downtown Austin from Doug Sahm Hill Summit. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Juicy burgers at Odd Duck, a restaurant which started life as a food truck called Humble Pig. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Barbecue is the king of cuisine around here, and the mere mention of the B-word sparks fierce debate amongst locals. Some say La Barbecue (labarbecue.com) is the only place to go for hunks of succulent beef or pork, rubbed with seasoning, then slow-cooked over a hardwood fire, while others swear by Salt Lick's (saltlickbbq.com) unparalleled rub (it's actually too salty, argues someone else). Low-key lunch spot Franklin Barbecue (franklinbbq.com) may not look fancy, but it serves the best brisket in the whole of Texas, let alone Austin, says Kris Weaver, who I get chatting to in a bar one night - and I'm inclined to believe him, because he also claims to be a former World Barbecue Champion. Arguments aside, one thing's for certain: If you want to sample any of the most in-demand barbecue joints, don't think that you can just rock up when you're feeling peckish. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Sunset over Austin. Picture credit: PA Photo/Geoff Duncan/Visit Austin. Katie Wright at Lambert's Downtown Barbecue. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Downtown Austin from Doug Sahm Hill Summit. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Juicy burgers at Odd Duck, a restaurant which started life as a food truck called Humble Pig. PA Photo/Katie Wright. A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Most open at 11am and will be sold out by 2pm, all that brisket and ribs hoovered up by ravenous carnivores who swear by the 'it's not good unless you have to queue for it' mantra. Come evening, dining is more of a munch and move affair, with all three courses rarely eaten at the same establishment. "We might start at Guero's (gueros.com) for tacos and margaritas," says Casey Barks, a communications manager who relocated to Austin 18 months ago, describing a night of grazing that starts on trendy South Congress Avenue (aka SoCo). "Then we'll go to Tatsu-Ya (ramen-tatsuya.com) for ramen with brisket, then Chi'Lantro (chilantrobbq.com) for the amazing kimchi fries." Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close Downtown Austin from Doug Sahm Hill Summit. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Sunset over Austin. Picture credit: PA Photo/Geoff Duncan/Visit Austin. Katie Wright at Lambert's Downtown Barbecue. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Juicy burgers at Odd Duck, a restaurant which started life as a food truck called Humble Pig. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Downtown Austin from Doug Sahm Hill Summit. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Then there are the food trucks that are dotted all over town - people's eyes light up when you ask about their favourites - either lone trucks adjacent to a drinking spot, or clustered in 'parks' with seating areas. "Food trucks win every time," insists Jason Weems, a musician who also leads fun and informative tours with Austin Detours (austindetours.com), citing Gourdough's doughnuts (gourdoughs.com) and Bananarchy's chocolate-dipped frozen bananas (bananarchy.net) as must-scoffs for dessert. Hunger sated? Then it's time to party. It's apt that the bat has become the mascot of this urban jungle, because this really is a city of nighthawks. Every night, about half an hour before sunset, 1.5 million winged creatures take flight from their home under the Congress Avenue Bridge in search of a mosquito dinner. To get a decent view of the incredible mass exodus, sit on the grass slope on the south side of the bridge, and be sure you look up to see clouds of bats disappearing into the darkening sky. Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Expand Previous Next Close A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Sunset over Austin. Picture credit: PA Photo/Geoff Duncan/Visit Austin. Katie Wright at Lambert's Downtown Barbecue. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Downtown Austin from Doug Sahm Hill Summit. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Austin's HOPE Outdoor Gallery. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Juicy burgers at Odd Duck, a restaurant which started life as a food truck called Humble Pig. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Rainey Street, where former residential bungalows have been converted into bars. PA Photo/Katie Wright. / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A neon sign which sums up the spirit of Texan hospitality. PA Photo/Katie Wright. Back at street level, Austin's youngsters are also on the move, flocking in droves to Sixth Street, affectionately called 'Dirty Sixth' because, well, it kind of is. Everyone agrees that a stroll down the infamous strip is all you need to understand why it attracts a hard-partying college crowd. But don't hang around; instead head to what Austin-born musician Relph Vega calls "legit places", like The Side Bar (thesidebaraustin.com) or The Blackheart (blackheartbar.com) on bustling Rainey Street, a row of bungalows that have been converted into bars. And, of course, you're never far from a gig in the Live Music Capital of the World - they've actually trademarked that tagline - with C-Boy's Heart & Soul (cboys.com) and The Continental Club (continentalclub.com) frequently cited as the best blues venues. Head to the latter at 6.30pm on a Monday to see the excellent Peterson Brothers who, I'm told, are given the early slot because they aren't yet 21. "Almost all the big bars have a second bar as well," Jason Weems tells me, like the Gallery upstairs at The Continental, "but they're not going to shout about it." That's the thing about Austin; it's full of amazing hidden haunts that you can only locate (or get into) through word of mouth. So it pays to socialise, but that's not hard when everyone is so exceedingly friendly. Chat to the right resident, for instance, and they might be able to tell you the security code that unlocks the door of Floppy Disk Repair, which is not actually a tech support store, but the front for a speakeasy bar. I had no such luck, sadly, but hey, it's good to have a challenge for next time, right? How to get there Norwegian (norwegian.com/ie) has launched a new direct route to Austin International Airport - the only non-stop service from London Gatwick, operating three flights a week. Fares start from 159/183 one-way and 309/355 return in LowFare economy and 585/673 one-way and 1,075/1,237 return in Premium, including all taxes and charges. Rooms at the Fairmont Austin (fairmont.com/austin) start from $249 (around 202). Read more: Motorists keen to switch to an electric model can compare almost 40 models and arrange a test drive at their local dealer at www.drivingelectric.ie. Pictured is Julie ONeill of the Sustainable Energy Authority of Ireland at the website launch yesterday. Picture: RollingNews.ie A deposit scheme for plastic bottles and help for farmers to support low-carbon food production are among the measures proposed by the Citizens' Assembly to reduce plastic packaging and slash carbon emissions. Environmental lobby group Stop Climate Chaos has called on the Government to establish a dedicated Dail committee to implement the recommendations on how Ireland can become a leader in tackling climate change, amid growing concern about rising emissions. The Citizens' Assembly has made 17 recommendations; 13 last November when it completed its deliberations and another four yesterday in its report laid before the Houses of the Oireachtas. The new recommendations include a call to implement an information campaign around the benefits of tackling climate change, steps to reduce plastic packaging, support for the agriculture sector to move to low-carbon production and a requirement that all new buildings should have a zero carbon footprint, which would dramatically slash household power consumption. A ban on single-use plastics is proposed, particularly in supermarkets for food packaging, and the introduction of penalties for businesses which fail to comply. A deposit scheme for plastic bottles is also mooted, along with a incentives for homeowners to retrofit their properties, making them warmer and cheaper to heat. Stop Climate Chaos spokesman Oisin Coghlan said the Government needed to take the report as "seriously" as it did the Assembly's recommendations on the Eighth Amendment, which was subject to Dail scrutiny by the Committee on the Eighth Amendment of the Constitution. This committee reported last December. "A dedicated Oireachtas Committee should be established immediately to take the report forward," Mr Coghlan said. "If implemented, the recommendations for climate action in the Assembly's report would move Ireland from its current position as a laggard not a leader, as the Taoiseach told the European Parliament in January." The group said creation of a new committee would ensure the Oireachtas could "thoroughly examine" the recommendations, and produce specific proposals to "significantly improve" current policies. The most recent figures show that some 61.2 million tonnes of greenhouse gas emissions were generated across the economy, primarily from power generation, agriculture, transport, waste and the residential sectors. Emissions are at the same level as 2009, but continue to rise. The Environmental Protection Agency has said they are moving in the 'wrong direction'. A spokesman for Environment and Climate Change Minister Denis Naughten said the Oireachtas would decide how the report would be assessed. "The Assembly chair has submitted the report directly to the Oireachtas. The Oireachtas rather than the minister must decide how consideration of the report will be taken forward. The minister will then engage with the Oireachtas and/or relevant committee as appropriate," they said. Last November the managing director of British supermarket chain Iceland made a visit to the Kalimantan rainforests in Borneo. Richard Walker, whose parents founded the frozen food firm in 1970, says he wanted to see the impact of the palm oil industry first hand. The 37-year-old recalls encountering a "horizon to horizon monoculture" of palm trees where pristine rainforest once stood. Illegal deforestation and draining of peat bogs were further expanding the plantations, which manufacture an oil now used in a staggering 50pc of all supermarket products, from the cereal to the soap aisle. Walker's conclusion was stark: "I do not believe such a thing as sustainable palm oil exists." Following that trip, Iceland has announced it will be removing palm oil from all of its own-brand products by the end of 2018 (replacing it with other vegetable oils). It is a move which will cost the company around 5m but Walker insists it is the right one. Much like plastics - on which Iceland also took the lead among supermarkets earlier this year, pledging that its own-branded products would be plastic-free by 2023 - a utilitarian substance has now turned into a global scourge. And Walker, backed by high profile campaigners such as BBC presenter Chris Packham, says there is a moral imperative to act: "We have this great oil which is being used and abused and put into everything, and it is just not right." Expand Close A palm oil plantation / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp A palm oil plantation Iceland may seem an unlikely retailer to lead the way on palm oils. Its reliance on processed foods (of which they are an all-pervasive constituent) resulted in it being named and shamed in a survey by the environmental charity Rainforest Foundation for its use of palm oils. According to Walker, however, once informed about palm oil and its effects on the environment, 85pc of its customers supported a decision to remove palm oils altogether. "Five years ago, only Waitrose customers could afford to care about the environment," he says. Now everyone is interested. But how can we all reduce our reliance on palm oil, 62 million tons of which were consumed globally in 2015; a figure set to double by 2050? Everyday items from biscuits and bread to shampoo and washing detergents rely on vast amounts of palm oil, of which the EU is the world's third biggest consumer. Palm trees are native to the forests of West and Central Africa where indigenous communities have relied upon the oil for food, medicine and manufacturing products for centuries, but use has exploded in recent decades as the lubricant of the global production chain. Swathes of rainforest amassing some 15-25 million acres (6-10 million hectares) have been cleared across south-east Asia to accommodate vast plantations. Such sustained habitat loss has had disastrous impacts on animal populations. Orangutans and Sumatran rhinos, elephants and tigers, which rely on the habitats being destroyed by palm oil plantations, are now listed as critically endangered. Indonesia and Malaysia, which produce more than 85pc of the world's palm oil, are the only remaining home to wild orangutans, of which fewer than 80,000 survive today. This impact on biodiversity has been exacerbated by the draining and burning of peat bogs upon which the rainforest stands, releasing vast amounts of carbon into the atmosphere. "It is a double whammy effect," says Simon Counsell, Director of Rainforest Foundation. "Essentially pretty much any wildlife living in the forest will have lost their habitat under these carpets of palm oil plantations." An association of industry and NGO members has been working together since 2004 under the auspices of a "Roundtable on Sustainable Palm Oil" (RSPO) to improve the sustainability of palm oil production. However, critics claim this has done little to halt the environmental destruction. And while there is now a legal requirement to display palm oil in products, the abundance and myriad uses for the ingredient means it can often be obscured under as many as 200 different names - palm kernel oil, palm fruit oil, hydrogenated palm glycerides, sodium kernelate and Elaeis guineensis are some of many examples. "The problem is there are many derivatives of palm oil," says Counsell. "It's become a highly pervasive ingredient. Very often it's impossible to recognise which products it is in." How palm oil has permeated your weekly shop Cosmetics Palm oil and its derivatives lurk in an astounding 70pc of global cosmetics, where they serve as emulsifiers and surfactants. Lipsticks rely on palm oil as it holds colour well, doesn't melt at high temperature and has virtually no taste. Soap and shampoo Palm oil is used as a conditioning agent in shampoo. Unilever, which buys more palm oil than most other consumer-goods conglomerates for use in products such as Dove soap and Pond's cold cream, recently committed to tracing its entire supply to sustainable sources by 2019. Other companies, such as L'Oreal, also pledged to follow suit. Bread Palm oil is widely used to make bread due to its solidity at room temperature, making it cheap and easy to bake with on a large scale. A survey by the Rainforest Foundation (updated in 2017) found Tesco and British-based stores Asda and Morrisons are all using palm oil in their in-store bakeries. Ready meals Among Iceland's palm oil offenders - from which it has already removed it or is in the process of doing so - were ready meals such as luxury chicken makhani masala, chicken stew and dumplings, and its luxury beef wellington. Palm oil forms 20pc of the weight of a packet of instant noodles. It is also added to frozen pizza dough. Chocolate Palm oil is used to create its smooth and shiny exterior. Last October, Nestle, Mars and Hershey were accused of breaking pledges to stop using "conflict palm oil" from deforested Indonesian jungles. The firms say they have committed to improving its traceability. Washing detergent Palm oil is refined to create soap, washing powder and other cleaning products. Studies have recorded palm oil in 30-40pc of cleaning products. Puddings A vast array of puddings and desserts rely on palm oil. Among the list of products Iceland says it has removed palm oil from, or will do so by the end of 2018, are mince pies and Bramley apple pie. Palm oil is used in ice cream to make it smooth and creamy, and appears in mass-produced biscuits. A new baby is one of the most significant, exciting changes in family life. Whether it is baby number one or a new sister or brother for the little ones, the family home will never be the same. For kids, a new sibling is one of the most anticipated moments of their young lives. There is excitement, nerves, happiness, sometimes a touch of jealousy but most importantly, lots of love. There is no other relationship quite that between siblings and its often in these first few years we see how the dynamic between siblings will unfold- basically, who the bossy one will be. For parents, it is an exhilarating time. Having a child for the first time is an experience like no other. For those who already have a brood, often fielding questions from your children about their new brother or sister is equal parts amusing and touching. Kids, it would seem, make the most astute observations about their new sibling before theyve even arrived: Mum went for a scan and we saw he wasnt kicking, he was punching her. So he was bold from the very beginning. The arrival of a new baby is an exciting time; we spoke to Irish families about their experiences and how family life changed for them. Vodafone Ireland is celebrating Family Firsts, looking at the constant changes (big and small) that make up family life. Whatever these experiences mean to you, embrace them all. Go to Vodafone.ie for the latest offers for all the family. Sponsored by: Houston Zoo has announced a special arrival, as a newborn red river hog made its debut to visitors. The little hoglet was born on April 9 to first-time mother Vidilia, and shares his habitat with his mother, two adult hogs named Neptune and Luna, and young female hogs Artemis and Ophelia. A Happy, Hairy Hoglet A newborn red river hog has made his debut at the Houston Zoo. The tiny hoglet was born on April 9 to first-time mother Vidalia. The red river hogs at the Houston Zoo share a habitat with two troops of western lowland gorillas in the Gorillas of the African Forest which opened in 2015. Though gorillas and red river hogs share the same forest lands in Africa, this is truly a unique experience as you wont see them together in a shared habitat in any other zoo. The yet-to-be-named hoglet can be seen frolicking in the dry riverbed of the habitat along with his mother and the other two adult hogs, Neptune and Luna, and nearly one-year-old females Artemis and Ophelia. The Houston Zoo is protecting red river hogs in the wild by providing funding for wildlife saving education programs in the area the hogs live in Africa. The education programs guide local people to protecting red river hogs and other local animals in the wild. Posted by Houston Zoo on Wednesday, April 18, 2018 The Texas zoo announced the arrival with an adorable video that now has more than 13,000 views. Houston Zoo said: The yet-to-be-named hoglet can be seen frolicking in the dry riverbed of the habitat. The newborn hog also lives alongside two troops of western lowland gorillas, who the animals share a forest land with in their native Africa. Artificial intelligence firm BenevolentAI has raised 115 million US dollars, marking one of the largest funding rounds in the sector (Anthony Devlin/PA) British artificial intelligence firm BenevolentAI has raised 115 million US dollars (80.8 million) in a move valuing the group at two billion US dollars (1.4 billion) and marking one of the largest funding rounds in the sector. BenevolentAI, which uses artificial intelligence to make new drug discoveries, secured the funding from investors largely based in the US, as well as from existing backers including star fund manager Neil Woodfords Woodford Investment Management. The latest funding round means BenevolentAI has now raised more than 200 million US dollars (141 million) since its launch in 2013. It said it would put the latest cash towards ramping up its drug development, broadening the disease areas on which it focuses and advance these programmes to the clinic. The group Europes largest private AI company will also use some of the funds to further develop its self-learning system, while also helping the firm to expand outside the pharmaceutical sector to other science-based industries, such as energy storage and agriculture. Ken Mulvany, founder and chairman of BenevolentAI, said the fundraising reflects the rapidly growing global interest in the emerging AI pharmaceutical sector and a recognition of our place as the dominant player within it. He added the firm had come a very long way since launching in 2013. We have now pioneered into a fully integrated, AI enabled drug development company with the ability to deliver better medicines at radically decreased drug development times the efficiency ultimately means patients will receive the right medicines, at a lower cost, in less time, he said. BenevolentAI develops medicines for hard to treat diseases and cuts down the cost and failure rates in traditional drug development. It uses software to understand the cause of disease and generate drug candidates at scale, and has created a bioscience machine brain to help discover new medicines and cures for diseases. Its work so far has suggested it can cut early stage drug discovery by four years and potentially improve the entire drug development programme by 60% against industry averages. The technology is being used to develop treatments across a wide range of diseases, including Motor Neuron Disease and Parkinsons Disease. The company employs 165 staff and is headquartered in London with further offices in New York and Belgium, as well as a research facility in Cambridge. A drug mule said she tried to smuggle 12.6m worth of cocaine into Australia because it was a chance to post selfies on Instagram during a free holiday. Escort Melina Roberge, 24, broke down in court when she was jailed for eight years for taking part in an attempt to smuggle the drugs into Sydney aboard a luxury cruise ship. She told the New South Wales state district court she risked a life sentence in an Australian prison for the opportunity to take selfies in exotic locations and post them on Instagram to receive likes and attention during a 13,000 holiday she could not afford. Three Canadians have admitted smuggling 95kg of cocaine in suitcases aboard the MS Sea Princess during a seven-week cruise in 2016. The trip began in Britain and continued to Ireland, the United States, Bermuda, Colombia, Panama, Ecuador, Peru, Chile, then Australia. Roberge, dubbed cocaine babe in headlines and on social media, was sentenced on Wednesday to a non-parole period of 4 years and 9 months in prison before she is likely to be deported to Canada. Judge Kate Traill condemned Roberges motivation for crime as a very sad indictment on her age group who seek to attain such a vacuous existence where how many likes they receive are their currency. She was seduced by lifestyle and the opportunity to post glamorous Instagram photos from around the world, the judge said. She wanted to be the envy of others. I doubt she is now. Roberges accomplice with whom she shared a cabin, Isabelle Lagace, 29, was sentenced in November to seven years in prison backdated to their arrest. Lagace will also likely to be deported after serving a non-parole period of four years. Police with sniffer dogs found 35kg of cocaine in their cabin on 28 August, 2016, when the liner, operated by California-based Princess Cruises, berthed in Sydney. Lagace told the court she took part to settle a debt in Canada. Roberge did not admit her guilt until days before her trial was due to begin in February. Expand Close Melina Roberge and Isabelle Lagace / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Melina Roberge and Isabelle Lagace Judge Traill said Roberge was recruited by a wealthy Canadian benefactor, whom Roberge described in court as her sugar daddy but never identified for fear of repercussions for her family in Canada, with the lure of a free holiday. The third accomplice, Andre Tamin, 65, will be sentenced in October. He was caught with 60kg of the drug in his cabin. In an affidavit admitted to the court, Roberge said at the time she was a stupid young woman governed by superficial goals. I have devastated so many people in the process, she wrote. The court heard Roberge met her sugar daddy in 2015, and they began an intimate relationship while she worked as an escort for him. He invited her to work as an escort in May 2016 during a trip to Morocco, where he first enjoined her to take part in a drug-smuggling voyage. Judge Traill said the then-22-year-old was there to look pretty, acting as a decoy to the drug dealing below deck. Roberge told the court she suspected drugs were brought aboard at Peru, because of increased activity during a stopover there. The judge said Roberge was also motivated by profit. She was promised the ticket, 4,000 in spending money plus more cash once she returned home. The US Department of Homeland Security and the Canada Border Services Agency identified the trio as high-risk passengers among the 1,800 on board. The haul was a record for cocaine smuggled in luggage through an Australian air or sea port. The Schwandt family poses for a portrait before the most recent arrival (Casey Sykes/AP) A US couple have welcomed a 14th male child into the world as a daughter continues to prove elusive. The Grand Rapids Press reported Jay and Kateri Schwandts latest addition was born on Wednesday evening. The birth came five days before the babys expected due date. Wood-TV reports the boy weighs 8lb 4oz and is 21 inches long. Mr Schwandt was happy that his wife and baby, who is yet to be named, had a safe delivery. Kateri Schwandt has said she is used to large families, as one of 14 children herself. As with their last few children, the couple decided against learning the babys sex before the birth. The Schwandts live in Rockford, north of Grand Rapids, Michigan, and their eldest son is in his 20s. The City watchdog has warned companies about how they treat preference shares following its spat with Aviva. The Financial Conduct Authority (FCA) criticised the insurance giant after the company said it would cancel 450 million worth of preference shares, which entitle investors to high fixed dividends. Aviva rowed back on its decision following an outcry from investors and the FCA, which threatened to launch an investigation. On Thursday, the FCA told chief executives that it was reviewing the market for preference shares, saying Avivas claim that it could cancel shares had affected their price, as well as the price of similar shares issued by other companies. FCA chief Andrew Bailey said listed companies should be aware that an intention to cancel preference shares could amount to market abuse. He said investors should be informed of the terms and conditions attached to their ownership of preference shares, and that any changes to those terms should be communicated effectively. The FCA has recommended that companies communicate terms and conditions to investors in a Q&A document which should clarify how the rights attached to shares could be altered by the company. In a letter to company bosses, Mr Bailey said: The FCA wants to ensure investors have access to the information that they require in order to properly assess the risks and rewards attaching to such shares. In the event that you have publicly stated or propose to publicise your companys intentions regarding such securities, I would urge you to also set out the governance process and the approach to disseminating any future changes you might make. Mr Bailey said companies should seek to work out whether investors understand the terms and conditions regarding preference shares by looking at the market price of those shares, and by consulting with advisers. Frances President Emmanuel Macron has arrived in Berlin for talks with Angela Merkel aimed at winning support from the German chancellor for his ambitious reform plans for the European Union. The meeting also gives Mrs Merkel and Mr Macron a last chance to discuss Europes stance on the crisis in Syria and the fate of the nuclear deal with Iran. Both leaders fly to Washington next week for separate talks with US President Donald Trump. France and Germany were part of the six-nation group that negotiated the 2015 deal to stop Iran from developing nuclear weapons, and both countries are keen to prevent it from falling apart when Mr Trumps May 12 deadline for major changes to the pact expires. Expand Close France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, is calling for reform to the EU (Markus Schreiber/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp France's President Emmanuel Macron, left, is calling for reform to the EU (Markus Schreiber/AP) On Syria, Berlins decision not to join the US, Britain and France in attacking suspected chemical weapons sites last week highlighted Germanys hesitancy when it comes to military action abroad. Berlin has stressed the need for a diplomatic solution to the conflict that has seen more than 700,000 Syrians seek refuge in Germany at considerable political cost to Mrs Merkel, who insists giving them shelter has been the right thing to do. Mr Macrons visit to Berlin starts at the unfinished Humboldt Forum, a museum that is being built on the site where the German Kaisers palace stood until it was largely destroyed in the Second World War. German media have noted the symbolism of the two leaders touring a building site at a time when they are grappling with a much-needed reform of the European Union. While the two leaders agree on the need to step up protection of the EUs external borders and agree a common asylum policy, it was unclear how much backing Mr Macron can expect from Germany for his plans to reform the blocs financial structure. Bill Cosbys lawyers have lost another bid to cut his sex assault retrial short. Judge Steven ONeill rejected a defence motion that he acquit Cosby and send jurors home. The defence asked the judge to clear the 80-year-old comedian after prosecutors rested their case on Thursday afternoon. Cosbys lawyers say prosecutors have not proved charges he drugged and molested a woman at his Philadelphia mansion more than a dozen years ago. Cosby has said his sexual encounter with the woman was consensual. The defence also says there is no evidence to prove the alleged assault happened within the 12-year statute of limitations. Prosecutors say the accuser and Cosby have both said the encounter was in 2004. Prosecutors point out Cosby was arrested in 2015, just before the deadline to charge him. Nasas Tess spacecraft has embarked on a quest to find new worlds around neighbouring stars that could support life. Tess rode a SpaceX Falcon rocket through the evening sky, aiming for an orbit stretching all the way to the moon. The satellite the Transiting Exoplanet Survey Satellite, or Tess will scan almost the entire sky for at least two years, staring at the closest, brightest stars in an effort to find and identify any planets around them. Hundreds of thousands of stars will be scrutinised, with the expectation that thousands of exoplanets planets outside our own solar system will be revealed right in our cosmic backyard. The sky will become more beautiful, will become more awesome knowing there are planets orbiting the stars we see twinkling at night, said Nasas top science administrator, Thomas Zurbuchen. Discoveries by Tess and other missions, he noted, will bring us closer to answering questions that have lingered for thousands of years: Does life exist beyond Earth? If so, is it microbial or more advanced? But Tess will not look for life. It is not designed for that. Rather, it will scout for planets of all sorts, but especially those in the so-called Goldilocks or habitable zone of a star: an orbit where temperatures are neither too cold nor too hot, but just right for life-nourishing water. How many worlds exist outside our solar system? @NASA_TESS launched from planet Earth today at 6:51pm ET to hunt for planets around some of the closest & brightest stars. TESS will use 4 cameras to search nearly the entire sky for unknown worlds. More: https://t.co/5hUW3XhaTo pic.twitter.com/xuH5q0wqN9 NASA (@NASA) April 19, 2018 The most promising candidates will be studied by bigger, more powerful observatories of the future, including Nasas James Webb Space Telescope, due to launch in another few years as the heir to Hubble. These telescopes will scour the planets atmospheres for any of the ingredients of life: water vapour, oxygen, methane, carbon dioxide. Tess will tell us where to look at and when to look, said the missions chief scientist, George Ricker of Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT). Tess is the successor to Nasas Kepler Space Telescope, on its last legs after discovering a few thousand exoplanets over the past nine years. Astronomers anticipate more than doubling Keplers confirmed planetary count of more than 2,600, once Tess four wide-view cameras begin scientific observations in early summer. Unlike Tess, Kepler could only scour a sliver of the sky. The total exoplanet census currently stands at more than 3,700 confirmed, with another 4,500 on the not-yet-verified list. Until about 25 years ago, the only known planets were in our own solar system, noted Nasas director of astrophysics, Paul Hertz. On its mission to explore other planets in the universe, @NASA_TESS will take a unique orbit . Check out this video from @NASAGoddard explaining #TESS's orbit. Learn more: https://t.co/VOvyTeufln pic.twitter.com/LQLLDvtoPS NASA's Kennedy Space Center (@NASAKennedy) April 18, 2018 While Kepler has focused on stars thousands of light-years away, Tess will concentrate on our stellar neighbours, dozens or hundreds of light-years away. Most of Tess targets will be cool, common red dwarf stars, thought to be rich breeding grounds for planets. To find the planets, Tess will use the same transit method employed by Kepler, watching for regular, fleeting dips in stellar brightness that would indicate a planet passing in front of its star. Thats the best astronomers can do for now. By sticking to stars closer to home, it will be easier for Mr Webb and other massive telescopes planned for space and Earth to sniff out possible signs of life in the atmosphere. It also will be more feasible for robotic explorers to set sail for these new worlds in the decades and centuries ahead. For such a large undertaking, Tess is surprisingly compact and its mission relatively inexpensive at 337 million dollars (237 million). Smaller than a stacked washer-dryer, the 5ft-tall, 4ft-wide, 800lb spacecraft is bound for an elongated orbit of Earth, with the far end skirting the orbit of the moon. Tess should come within a few thousand miles of the lunar surface on May 17. The moons gravity will help get the satellite in the right orbit and keep it there. The cameras equipped with wide-angle lenses a mere four inches across will be off during the lunar flyby. No moon selfie, said Robert Lockwood of Orbital ATK, which built Tess. Tess team members revelled in Wednesdays photogenic flight through clear skies. SpaceX employees had another reason to celebrate: The first-stage booster rocket landed on an ocean platform following lift-off, to be recycled for a future Nasa mission. It was incredible, it was so emotional, said MIT researcher Natalia Guerrero. I cant wait to get started on collecting data. US Airlines are inspecting Boeing 737 planes after an engine on a passenger flight ripped apart mid-air and killed a woman who came close to being sucked through a broken window. Jennifer Riordan (43) was on a Southwest Airline flight from New York to Dallas when a part of the engine shattered into the window and nearly pulled her out. Ms Riordan, a banking executive, was hauled back by other passengers, who attempted to resuscitate her but she later died of her injuries. Robert Sumwalt, the chairman of the US National Transportation Safety Board (NTSB), said an initial inspection of the failed engine found evidence of metal fatigue where a fan blade had broken off. Mr Sumwalt said investigators were "very concerned" about the issue of detecting slow-developing metal fatigue. "There needs to be proper inspection mechanisms in place to check for this." All recent Boeing 737s are powered by engines from CFM, one of the world's largest engine suppliers. In 2016, another Southwest flight was forced to make an emergency landing after a fan blade separated from the same type of engine, and debris ripped a foot-long hole above the left wing. Metal fatigue was cited in that incident too. CFM said yesterday that there are more than 8,000 of its CFM56-7B engines - the model involved in Tuesday's incident - in operation on Boeing 737 passenger jets. Expand Close Jennifer Riordan, who died following the accident. Photo: AP / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Jennifer Riordan, who died following the accident. Photo: AP Southwest, which operates one of the largest 737 fleets and has a strong safety record, said it was speeding up inspections of all related engines, which it expected to complete within 30 days. This month European regulators ordered engine checks following a lengthy analysis of the 2016 Southwest incident, but investigators said it is too early to say whether the two problems are linked. The incident on Tuesday, the first fatal US airline accident in almost a decade, left seven others injured on the 144-passenger plane. James Healy-Pratt, a pilot and aviation lawyer, said: "Uncontained engine failures are rare but can be devastating. It is where a turbine blade breaks off at high speed within the engine and projects shrapnel through the protective Kevlar engine cowling, designed to stop that." Meanwhile the "hero" pilot of the Southwest plane has been praised for her "nerves of steel" in carrying out an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Tammie Jo Shults, a former fighter pilot with the US Navy, told emergency services: "We have part of the aircraft missing, so we're going to need to slow down a bit. We've got injured passengers," Ms Shults added, pausing for a moment, "they said there's a hole, and uh, someone went out." After touching down, the pilot walked through the aisle to meet her passengers. "She has nerves of steel that lady, I applaud her," said one of them, Alfred Tumlinson. Retired registered nurse Peggy Phillips told WFAA-TV that she performed CPR on Ms Riordan for about 20 minutes, until the plane landed. She said that shortly after takeoff "we heard a loud noise and the plane started shaking like nothing I've ever experienced before. It sounded like the plane was coming apart, and I think we pretty quickly figured out that something happened with the engine." She said they started losing altitude and the masks came down and "basically I think all of us thought this might be it." She then heard a lot of commotion a few rows behind her. "It was a lot of chaos back there - a lot of really upset people and a lot of noise, and a big rush of air, a big whoosh of air," Phillips said. After a flight attendant asked if anyone knew CPR, Phillips and an medical emergency worker lay the woman down and performed CPR. "If you can possibly imagine going through the window of an airplane at about 600 mph and hitting either the fuselage or the wing with your body, with your face, then I think I can probably tell you there was significant trauma," Phillips said. Mr Tumlinson said a man in a cowboy hat rushed forward a few rows to grab the woman and pull her back in. "She was out of the plane. He couldn't do it by himself, so another gentleman came over and helped to get her back in the plane," he said. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said there were no problems with the plane or its engine when it was inspected on Sunday. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] CIA director Mike Pompeo, left, held a secret meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong-un over Easter ahead of a possible summit with US President Donald Trump, right, in either May or June. Photo: Reuters CIA director Mike Pompeo made a secret trip to North Korea over the Easter weekend to lay the groundwork for an unprecedented upcoming summit between Kim Jong-un and US President Donald Trump. The unexpected and clandestine meeting is believed to have taken place on April 1, the same day Mr Kim was also welcoming a delegation of K-pop stars to the North Korean capital, Pyongyang. Mr Trump confirmed the secret visit to Pyongyang in a tweet yesterday, saying: "Meeting went very smoothly and a good relationship was formed. Details of summit are being worked out now." The revelation, broken by the 'Washington Post', that the secretary of state nominee met with the reclusive North Korean leader is the strongest confirmation to date that the historic face-to-face meeting of the two leaders will go ahead, possibly in late May or early June. Very little is known about Mr Pompeo's discussions, although a major practical sticking point remains the question of where the summit will be held. Multiple locations have been touted, including the borderzone between South and North Korea, Singapore, Geneva, Stockholm and Mongolian capital Ulaanbaatar. The North Koreans are said to prefer a location closer to home, while the Americans would rather avoid creating the perception of Mr Trump going cap in hand to Mr Kim on his home turf in Pyongyang. Mr Pompeo's visit is the highest level US meeting with a North Korean leader since then-secretary of state Madeleine Albright met with Kim Jong-il in 2000. The CIA director did not take any White House officials with him on the trip, only intelligence officials, reported CNN. An official source told the news channel that the North Korean leader was "personable and well prepared". The conversation fuelled Mr Trump's belief that productive negotiations were possible with the North Koreans, but far from guaranteed, according to an official briefed on the trip, who spoke on condition of anonymity. Mr Trump had alluded to the meeting on Tuesday, revealing the US was engaged in direct talks with North Korea at "extremely high levels", during a meeting with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe at his Florida resort of Mar-a-Lago. "I truly believe there is a lot of good will. A lot of things are happening. Good things," he said. "We'll see what happens because it's the end result that counts, not the fact we're thinking about having a meeting." Mr Trump added that five possible venues were being discussed, but also threw in the caveat that the extraordinary plan may not happen at all. "It's possible things won't go well and we won't have the meetings, and we'll just continue to go along this very strong path that we've taken," the US president said. "But we'll see what happens." The planned US-North Korea summit will be preceded by another historic meeting between Kim Jong-un and South Korean President Moon Jae-in on the highly militarised border between the nations next Friday. Their talks will set the tone for possible concessions on all sides over the denuclearisation of the Korean Peninsula. The neighbouring countries are also said to be discussing plans to announce an official end to their 68-year-old conflict. The two nations are still technically at war as a peace treaty was never signed to replace the armistice that ended the 1950-1953 Korean War. Frantic planning is still under way for next week's summit. South Korea's presidential office said yesterday that North and South Korea had agreed to broadcast parts of it live. Kim Jong-un may have a busy schedule over the coming months as he experiences a rapid transition from being an international pariah last year during a barrage of missile tests, to becoming one of the most sought-after world leaders. CNN reported that Chinese President Xi Jinping also plans to visit Pyongyang soon. Russia has reportedly also requested a personal summit with Mr Kim. ( Daily Telegraph, London) Telegraph Media Group Limited [2021] Former New York City mayor Rudy Giuliani is joining the legal team defending President Donald Trump in the special counsels Russia investigation. That is according to a statement from Trump personal lawyer Jay Sekulow. The addition of Mr Giuliani adds an experienced litigator and former US attorney in Manhattan. President Trump has struggled to add lawyers to his legal team since the resignation of John Dowd last month. The statement from Mr Sekulow quotes President Trump as saying, Rudy is great and saying that Mr Giuliani wants to get this matter quickly resolved for the good of the country. Mr Giuliani will be joining a legal team that has been negotiating the terms of a possible Trump interview with special counsel Robert Mueller. Two other former federal prosecutors will also be joining President Trumps legal team. Southwest Airlines sought more time last year to inspect fan blades like the one that snapped off during one of its flights in an engine failure that left a passenger dead. The airline opposed a recommendation by the engine manufacturer to require ultrasonic inspections of certain fan blades within 12 months, saying it needed more time to conduct the work. Southwest made the comments last year after US regulators proposed making the inspections mandatory. Expand Close Southwest Airlines Victim / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Southwest Airlines Victim The Federal Aviation Administration has not yet required airlines to conduct the inspections, but said late on Wednesday that it would do so in the next two weeks. The manufacturers recommendation for more inspections followed an engine explosion on a 2016 Southwest flight. On Tuesday, an engine on another Southwest jet exploded over Pennsylvania, and debris hit the plane. A woman was sucked part-way out of the jet when a window shattered. She died later from her injuries. Expand Close Woman dies in plane accident / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Woman dies in plane accident The plane, a Boeing 737 was heading from New York to Dallas with 149 people aboard, made an emergency landing in Philadelphia. Federal investigators are still trying to determine how the window came out of the plane. Jennifer Riordan, who was in a window seat in Row 14, was wearing a seat belt. Philadelphias medical examiner said the banking executive and mother of two from Albuquerque, New Mexico, died from blunt impact injuries to her head, neck and torso. Southwest Airlines confirms accident; our Hearts are with those affected: https://t.co/COJ6wR1GFe pic.twitter.com/Gr1xEN8nhc Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) April 17, 2018 Investigators said the blade that broke off mid-flight and triggered the fatal accident was showing signs of metal fatigue microscopic cracks from repeated use. The National Transportation Safety Board also blamed metal fatigue for the engine failure on a Southwest plane in Florida in 2016. Tammie Jo Shults, the pilot of the Southwest plane that made an emergency landing after an engine explosion.(Thomas P Milne/US Navy via AP) The Southwest Airlines pilot being lauded as a hero in a harrowing emergency landing after a passenger was partially blown out of the jets damaged fuselage is also being hailed for her pioneering role in a career where she has been one of the few women at the controls. Tammie Jo Shults, one of the first female fighter pilots in the US Navy, was the captain and piloting the Dallas-bound Flight 1380 when it made an emergency landing on Tuesday in Philadelphia, according to her husband, Dean Shults. One of the engines on the Boeing 737 exploded while the plane was travelling 500 mph at 30,000ft with 149 people on board. Shrapnel hit the plane and passengers said they had to rescue a woman who was being blown out of a damaged window. The woman later died of blunt force trauma to her head, neck and torso. Captain Shults calmly relayed details about the crisis to air traffic controllers, and passengers commended her handling of the situation. Please see below a statement from the Captain and First Officer of Flight 1380. pic.twitter.com/RjoCpucGGS Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) April 19, 2018 In a statement late Wednesday, Mrs Shults and First Officer Darren Ellisor said they felt like they were simply doing their jobs. On behalf of the entire Crew, we appreciate the outpouring of support from the public and our coworkers as we all reflect on one familys profound loss, the two pilots said in the statement, adding that their hearts are heavy. Friends at Mrs Shults church in Boerne, Texas, about 30 miles northwest of San Antonio, said they were not surprised after listening to the recording and reading media reports about her actions. Everybody is talking about Tammie Jo and how cool and calm she was in a crisis, and thats just Tammie Jo, Rachel Russo said. Thats how shes wired. Mrs Shults was commissioned into the Navy in 1985 and reached the rank of lieutenant commander, said Commander Ron Flanders, the spokesman for Naval Air Forces in San Diego. Women aviators were excluded from combat missions until the month after Mrs Shults got off active duty in March 1993, but Mr Flanders said Mrs Shults flew during Operation Desert Storm trainings as an aggressor enemy pilot. While we at that time had an exclusion, she was in fact helping male pilots hone their skills, Flanders said. Southwest Airlines confirms accident; our Hearts are with those affected: https://t.co/COJ6wR1GFe pic.twitter.com/Gr1xEN8nhc Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) April 17, 2018 Veteran Navy combat aviator Linda Maloney said that she and Mrs Shults were among a small group of women who worked to see the combat exclusion rule repealed. Obviously it was frustrating, said Ms Maloney, who became among the first women to join a combat military flying squadron and was deployed to the Arabian Gulf. We go through the same training that the guys do, and our hope was the Navy would allow us to fly in combat at some point. Mrs Shults was featured in Maloneys book Military Fly Moms along with the stories and photos of 69 other women US military veterans. Ms Russo and Staci Thompson, who has known Mrs Shults for about 20 years and was nanny to her two children when they were small, said she loved her military career but has alluded to frustrations and challenges that came with it. They also said she embraced those experiences to make her stronger and guide her into a role as a mentor to young female pilots or girls thinking about a military career. She learned a lot about overcoming things as a woman in a male-dominated field, Ms Russo said. Mrs Shults is from New Mexico, according to a personnel file from the Navy, and was a 1983 graduate of MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, where she earned degrees in biology and agribusiness. Mrs Shults brother-in-law, Gary Shults, said her husband also is a Southwest pilot and told him she made the emergency landing. Shes a formidable woman, as sharp as a tack, said Gary Shults, a dentist in San Antonio. My brother says shes the best pilot he knows. President Donald Trump said he received a great education during an anti-drug trafficking briefing that underscored the need for the wall he has promised to build along the US-Mexico border. Drugs are flowing into our country, President Trump said in the Florida Keys. We need border protection. We need the wall. We have to have the wall. The president travelled from Palm Beach, where he is spending the week, to the tourist haven of Key West for the update from the Joint Interagency Task Force South. The agency is responsible for monitoring drug trafficking by sea, by air and online. Last year, it helped disrupt a record 283 metric tons of cocaine and detained nearly 900 suspected members of drug trafficking organisation. President Trump said drugs are coming into the US through the Pacific and the Caribbean. He said human trafficking is another big problem. The president has made it a priority to crack down on the flow of illegal drugs but has spoken less often about illicit substances that arrive via US ports and the mail system. He has instead focused on the big, beautiful wall he made one of his signature campaign promises. In Key West, President Trump marvelled at the size of the crowds that lined the streets as his motorcade snaked through the island city. .@POTUS in Key West, Florida visiting Joint Interagency Task Force South pic.twitter.com/5KhycCanda Fox News (@FoxNews) April 19, 2018 Many people waved colourful signs that commended or insulted him, including Youre fired, Thanks for saving our country, and Slimeball go home. The president, a former reality TV star, relished the attention. I hope you saw the crowds in Key West. Theyve never seen anything like that. It was really very inspirational, he told reporters between stops. And what we just witnessed was incredible. But those crowds coming in, I think even the media will have to say that was quite something. US President Donald Trump has said that although he is looking ahead optimistically to a historic summit meeting with North Korean leader Kim Jong Un, he could still pull out if he feels it is not going to be fruitful. Mr Trump said CIA director Mike Pompeo and Mr Kim got along really well in their recent secret meeting, and declared weve never been in a position like this to address worldwide concerns over North Koreas nuclear weapons. But speaking alongside Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe, after the allies met at Mr Trumps Florida resort, he made clear that he would still be ready to pull the plug on what is being billed as an extraordinary meeting between the leaders of longtime adversaries. If I think that if its a meeting that is not going to be fruitful, were not going to go. If the meeting when Im there is not fruitful, I will respectfully leave the meeting, Mr Trump told a news conference. He also said that a US-led maximum pressure campaign of tough economic sanctions on North Korea would continue until the isolated nation denuclearises. Mr Abe echoed the sentiment. Just because North Korea is responding to dialogue, there should be no reward. Maximum pressure should be maintained, he said. Mr Trump has said his summit with Mr Kim, with whom he traded bitter insults and threats last year as North Korea conducted nuclear and missile tests, could take place by early June, although the venue has yet to be decided. It would be the first such leadership summit between the two nations after six decades of hostility following the Korean War. Expand Close President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe before dinner at Trumps private Mar-a-Lago club (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp President Donald Trump shakes hands with Japanese PM Shinzo Abe before dinner at Trumps private Mar-a-Lago club (Pablo Martinez Monsivais/AP) Other than the threat posed to by North Koreas weapons of mass destruction, another issue overhanging the summit plans is the fate of three Americans detained there. Mr Trump said that was under negotiation and there was a good chance of winning their release, but he would not say whether that was a precondition for sitting down with Mr Kim. Mr Pompeo raised the question of the three Americans in his meeting with Mr Kim, a US official said. Mr Trump also said he had promised Mr Abe he would work hard for the return of Japanese nationals abducted by North Korea. Tokyo says at least a dozen Japanese said to have been taken in the 1970s and 1980s remain unaccounted for. News of Mr Pompeos trip to North Korea, which took place more than two weeks ago, emerged on Tuesday, as politicians weighed whether he should be confirmed to become secretary of state. Mr Trump and Republican senators held up his highly unusual, secret mission as sign of Mr Pompeos diplomatic ability. But the prospect of his confirmation hung in the balance as Democrats lined up against him. Senator Robert Menendez, top-ranking Democrat on the Senate Foreign Relations Committee which will have the first vote on confirmation, expressed frustration that the CIA chief had not briefed him on the visit that took place more than a week before Mr Pompeos public hearing last Thursday. He is the most senior US official to meet a North Korean leader since Secretary of State Madeleine Albright met Mr Kims father in Pyongyang in 2000. Now I dont expect diplomacy to be negotiated out in the open, but I do expect for someone who is the nominee to be secretary of state, when he speaks with committee leadership and is asked specific questions about North Korea, to share some insights about such a visit, Mr Menendez said at the Centre for Strategic and International Studies. The committee is expected to vote on the nomination next week. Mr Pompeo, whose hawkish foreign policy views and comments about minorities have raised Democratic hackles, would replace Rex Tillerson, who was pushed out by Mr Trump last month. In the US Senate, Republicans have a single-vote advantage on the 21-member panel that will have the first say on Mr Pompeos nomination. With nine of the 10 Democrats already declaring they will oppose Mr Pompeo, and at least one Republican, Rand Paul of Kentucky, also opposed, the panel could be forced to take the unusual step of sending the nomination to the full Senate without a favourable recommendation. Mr Trump said on Wednesday that he expects Mr Paul to come through on Mr Pompeo. The president called Mr Paul and the senator agreed to meet Mr Pompeo, but Mr Pauls spokesman said, Nothing else has changed. As for opposition by Democrats, Republican Cory Gardner, who chairs an Asia subcommittee, said in an interview that they want to play partisan politics. Despite meeting Mr Pompeo on Tuesday, Mr Gardner said he had not been briefed on the trip and was awaiting more information about it. Nevertheless, he said the fact that the meeting happened gave weight to Mr Pompeos testimony last week that the administration was committed to the complete and verifiable denuclearisation of North Korea and sustaining sanctions pressure. It is not unprecedented for US intelligence officials to serve as conduits for communication with Pyongyang. In 2014, the then-director of US national intelligence, James Clapper, secretly visited North Korea to bring back two American detainees. MR Clapper did not, however, meet Mr Kim, who has only in recent weeks emerged from international seclusion after taking power six years ago and super-charging North Koreas push to become a nuclear power. Mr Kim met Chinas president last month and is to meet South Koreas leader April 27. Two Florida deputies have been killed after shots were fired through the window of a restaurant, authorities said. Gilchrist County Sheriff Bobby Schultz said during a news conference that Sergeant Noel Ramirez and Deputy Taylor Lindsey were killed on Thursday afternoon in Trenton. Mr Schultz said the deputies were getting food at the Ace China restaurant when the shooter walked up to the building and fired at them through a window. Fellow deputies responding to the scene found the shooter dead outside the business. Sergeant Noel Ramirez. Deputy Sheriff Taylor Lindsey. Our heroes. Killed in the line of duty today, April 19th, at the Ace China in Trenton. We'll continue to serve you. For them. Gilchrist Co Sheriff (@GCSOFlorida) April 20, 2018 Mr Schultz would not say how the suspect died, adding that state law enforcement officials were investigating. Authorities said there was no apparent motive for the shooting. Mr Schultz called the officers the best of the best. The shooters name was not immediately released. Trenton is in northern Florida, about 35 miles west of Gainesville. Ultra reported itself to the Serious Fraud Office (PA) The Serious Fraud Office has launched an investigation into Ultra Electronics over suspected corruption in Algeria. Ultra, which makes electronics for the defence sector, referred itself to the authorities, and said it was co-operating with the inquiry. In a statement, the company said: Given the stage of these matters, it is not possible to estimate reliably what effect the outcome of this matter may have on the group. The company will provide a further update as and when appropriate. Ultras subsidiaries, employees, and people associated with the business will also be involved in the probe. The defence group does not have an office in Algeria, but does contract work in the country. The SFO confirmed it is investigating Ultra, but said it could not provide any more information because the investigation is live. Shares in Ultra were down by more than 8% on the news. The news comes after Ultras shares were hit in March when the defence firms tie-up with Americas Sparton was torpedoed by competition concerns. The two firms killed the deal following fears raised by the US Department of Justice (DoJ). The disappointment was compounded by lacklustre annual results from Ultra, with underlying pre-tax profits sinking 8% to 110 million. Revenues were also down 1% to 775.4 million at the Middlesex-based firm, despite its order intake climbing 16% to 901.4 million for the year ending in December 2017. Sen Tammy Duckworth arrives at the Capitol with her new daughter, Maile (J Scott Applewhite/AP) Tiny Maile Pearl made Senate history on Thursday without making a sound. The tightly wrapped 10-day-old baby, brought to the well of the chamber by her mother, Sen Tammy Duckworth, became the first newborn to appear there just one day after the Senate approved a new rule permitting it. Its about time, the Illinois Democrat and Iraq War veteran told reporters on the way in to vote. I may have to vote today, so Mailes outfit is prepped. I made sure she has a jacket so she doesnt violate the Senate floor dress code (which requires blazers). Im not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies, but I think were ready pic.twitter.com/SsNHEuSVnY Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) April 19, 2018 The rule had passed without objection but there had been plenty of grumbling about babies threatening the Senates cherished decorum. But when it actually happened, even stern Senate Majority Leader Mitch McConnell appeared to beam. In fact, he left a Senate vote open to allow Ms Duckworth time to get there. Thank you very much, Ms Duckworth said to the Kentucky Republican. The double amputee, in a wheelchair with Maile in her lap, was on the floor for less than three minutes before they took off. Like newborns, the Senate can be unpredictable. The first sign that the two would meet on Thursday was a tweet by Ms Duckworth that she might vote on the nomination of Rep James Bridenstine to run Nasa. May have to vote today. Mailes outfit is prepped, she tweeted, with a photo of baby clothes. Made sure she has a jacket so she doesnt violate the Senate floor dress code requiring blazers. Not sure what the policy is on duckling onesies but I think were ready. Family-friendly workplace policies arent just a womens issue, they are a common-sense economic issue Tammy Duckworth (@SenDuckworth) April 18, 2018 The idea was for Ms Duckworth to vote only if she was needed to break a tie. Vice President Mike Pence arrived for the same reason. In the end, it was unnecessary and Mr Bridenstine was confirmed. Ms Duckworth cast a thumbs-down anyway, before her colleagues descended to coo over the wee baby. Senate Democratic leader Chuck Schumer inquired about the well-being of Mailes sister and wished them a safe trip home. A New Mexico bank executive who died on a Southwest Airlines flight has been remembered as a dedicated mother of two whose vibrancy, passion, and love infused her community in Albuquerque. Jennifer Riordans family said in a statement that the 43-year-old community leader died on Tuesday on a flight heading from New Yorks LaGuardia Airport to Dallas that made an emergency landing in Philadelphia after its engine blew in midair and shrapnel hit the plane. A retired registered school nurse said she performed CPR on Mrs Riordan, who passengers say was partially blown out of a damaged window on the jet. Mrs Riordan was killed by blunt impact trauma to her head, neck and torso and her death was ruled accidental, according to James Garrow, spokesman for the Philadelphia Department of Health. Mrs Riordans death generated an outpouring of grief and public sympathy from Albuquerque business leaders, state elected officials, educators, writers and activists all who portrayed Ms Riordan as gracious and selfless. Jennifers vibrancy, passion, and love infused our community and reached across our country, her family said. Her impact on everything and everyone she touched can never be fully measured. But foremost, she is the bedrock of our family. Expand Close Southwest Airlines Victim / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Southwest Airlines Victim The Greater Albuquerque Chamber of Commerce held a moment of silence on Tuesday night during a special reception for new University of New Mexico President Garnett Stokes. Albuquerques former poet laureate and slam poetry champion Hakim Bellamy posted on social media that Mrs Riordan was a friend to him. It doesnt seem fair, he said in a tweet. Erin Muffoletto said Mrs Riordan was a fellow Chi Omega sorority sister whom she contacted during the economic crisis in 2008 as Ms Muffoletto struggled to find steady employment. She encouraged me to get out of my comfort zone, looked over my resume and really pushed me, said Ms Muffoletto, who eventually became a sought-out lobbyist in the New Mexico Statehouse. Muffoletto said she spoke with Mrs Riordan just days ago. The last thing she told me was, Im proud of you, Ms Muffoletto said. Expand Close Woman dies in plane accident / Facebook Twitter Email Whatsapp Woman dies in plane accident Rebecca Avitia, the executive director of the National Hispanic Cultural Center in Albuquerque, said that losing Mrs Riordan casts a dark, heavy emptiness on the city. Ive heard of references in Mesoamerican lore to a female spirit who appeared to people in need like a blazing sun with wings. In Albuquerque, that was Jennifer Riordan, Avitia wrote in online post. Jennifer, I already miss you. Mrs Riordan was well known in New Mexico, where she built a career over more than two decades in community relations and communications after graduating from the University of New Mexico. At the time of her death, Mrs Riordan was a vice president for community relations with Wells Fargo. She oversaw the companys corporate giving program in New Mexico and volunteered her time with a number of area non-profit groups and boards. Mrs Riordan was appointed by the governor to a board focused on boosting volunteerism statewide and in 2015 was presented the Bill Daniels Award for Ethical Young Leadership by the Samaritan Counselling Ethics in Business Awards. As a parent, Ive said to my kids, Be kind, loving, caring and sharing, and all good things will come to you, she told the Albuquerque Journal when she accepted the award. Mrs Riordan also served on the boards of Junior Achievement of New Mexico, New Mexico First and The Catholic Foundation. Erin Hagenow, Junior Achievements president, said Mrs Riordan was unmatched in her passion for the organisations mission and the students it serves. Our work going forward will forever be a testament to Jennifers belief in the potential of every young person, Ms Hagenow said. Southwest Airlines confirms accident; our Hearts are with those affected: https://t.co/COJ6wR1GFe pic.twitter.com/Gr1xEN8nhc Southwest Airlines (@SouthwestAir) April 17, 2018 Mrs Riordan and her husband, Michael Riordan, a former chief operating officer for Albuquerque under former Mayor Richard Berry, had been married for more than 20 years. Later on Wednesday, US airline regulators said they will order inspections on engine fan blades like the one that snapped off and triggered the fatal accident. The move by the Federal Aviation Administration (FAA) comes nearly a year after the engine manufacturer recommended the additional inspections, and a month after European regulators ordered their airlines to do the work. In a brief statement, an FAA official said the agency will issue an order in the next two weeks to require ultrasonic inspection of fan blades on some CFM56-7B engines after they reach a certain number of take-offs and landings. Blades that fail will have to be replaced, the agency said. It is not clear how many planes will be affected. Last year, the FAA estimated that an order would cover 220 engines on US airlines. That number could be higher now because more engines have hit the number of flights triggering an inspection. Southwest announced its own programme for similar inspections of its 700-plane fleet over the next month. United Airlines executives said on Wednesday that it had begun to inspect some of their planes. American Airlines has about 300 planes with that type of engine, and Delta Air Lines has about 185. It will not be clear until the FAA issues its rule how many will need inspections. Tuesdays accident broke a string of eight straight years without a fatal accident involving a US passenger airliner. Engine failures like this should not occur, said National Transportation Safety Board chairman Robert Sumwalt. Mr Sumwalt expressed concern about such a destructive engine failure but said he would not yet draw broad conclusions about the safety of CFM56 engines or the entire fleet of Boeing 737s, the most popular airliner ever built. Federal investigators were still trying to determine how a window came out of the plane. New Delhi, Apr 19 (IBNS): The Supreme Court on Thursday will decide whether the death of Justice BH Loya should be probed independently, media reports said. A bench headed by Chief Justice of India, Dipak Misra, will decide whether an independent investigation is to be held or not. Loya died due to heart attack when he was hearing Sohrabuddin Sheikh murder case in which Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) national president Amit Shah was accused. The judge who replaced Loya acquitted Shah of all charges citing lack of evidences. The death of the judge came into the light after The Caravan magazine published an interview in which Loyas sister Anuradha Biyani, and father Harikrishan alleged a foul play. The publication cites various alleged manipulations in records on the night of Loyas death. However, Justice Loyas son Anuj rubbished the report, saying that he was convinced that his father died of a heart attack. He also said that his family does not have any doubt about the integrity of investigative agencies. London, Apr 19 (IBNS) : Breaking his silence on the series of crimes against women, Prime Minister Narendra Modi on Wednesday condemned such acts and advised the people not to politicise rape, reports said. The Prime Minister, who is on a three-nation tour, was addressing the Indian diaspora at an event Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath in London. He also tore into Pakistan and referred to it as a terror export factory. He claimed that after the 2016 surgical strikes, the Indian government tried calling Pakistan to let them know about the strikes. A rape is a rape. How can we tolerate this exploitation of our daughters? it is an evil of not just the individual but also of the society; nobody can tolerate such incidents and it should not be politicised ," Modi said. "Can we compare the number of rapes in different governments? We cant say there were this many rapes in our government and that many in yours. There cannot be a worse way to deal with this issue, the PM said while referring to the recent incidents of sexual assault on minor girls, which have triggered a huge uproar across India. He recalled stating at his first Independence Day address that questions should be asked of sons about their actions and whereabouts, not only of daughters. Rape, he said, was a matter of shame for a country: This is a matter of great concern for the country and these sinners are somebodys sons...The rape is a matter of worry, a shame for the country. Insisting that India has changed after his government came to power, Modi warned Pakistan against exporting terror, saying in such events India will give a fitting reply. Those who like exporting terror, I want to tell them that India has changed and their antics will not be tolerated anymore. This is Modi. When someone has put a terror export factory in place and makes attempts to attack us from the back, Modi knows how to answer in the same language, Modi said. "We believe in peace. But we will not tolerate those who like to export terror. We will give back strong answers and in the language they understand. Terrorism will never be accepted," he said. Referring to the surgical strike the Indian Army conducted across the border in 2016, the PM recalled that India first informed Pakistan about the strikes before announcing them to the media. I said before India gets to know, we should call Pakistan and tell them. We were calling them since 11 am but they were scared to come on phone, at 12 we spoke to them and then told the Indian media, he said. Speaking on poverty and backwardness in India, Modi said he know what it is to be poor and needs no bookish knowledge about it. "I do not need to read books to understand poverty. I have lived in poverty, I know what it is to be poor and belong to the backward sections of society. I want to work for the poor, the marginalised and the downtrodden." "18,000 villages did not have electricity. So many women do not have access to toilets. These realities of our nation did not let me sleep. I was determined to bring about a positive change in the lives of India's poor." ""We have a million problems, but we have a billion people who can solve them." "My problem is not against criticism. To criticise, one has to research and find proper facts. Sadly, it does not happen now. What happens instead is allegations." "Democracy cannot succeed without constructive criticism... I want this government to be criticised. Criticism makes democracy strong," Modi said. Earlier in the day on Wednesday, PM Modi met UK Prime Minister Theresa May at her official residence on 10, Downing Street. During the meeting, the Prime Minister raised the issue of economic offenders like Lalit Modi and Vijay Mallya who have sought refuge in Britain. On the other hand, welcoming Modi, May said she was hopeful they could work together in a way that was beneficial for the people of India and UK both. New Delhi, Apr 19 (IBNS): The Supreme Court of India, on Thursday, directed the Chief Secretaries of Haryana and Delhi to appear before it on April 23 after the Delhi Jal Board (DJB) said it was not receiving enough water to supply to national capital, according to media reports. DJB had approached the apex court alleging that Haryana had reduced the water supply from the Yamuna to the national capital, which was resulting in severe water crisis. In its pleas, the DJB alleged that Haryana was supplying Delhi only 330 cusec of water daily as against 450 cusec per day, the quantum decided upon between Delhi and Haryana, reports said. Meanwhile, the Times of India quoted a DJB official as saying, " We are targeting a peak production of 916MGD of potable water by optimising all resources during summer. Normally, our combined capacity is around 900MGD. New Delhi, Apr 19 (IBNS): The Congress party on Thursday demanded a fair investigation into the death of judge B H Loya. This comes after the party expressed dissatisfaction with the Supreme Court verdict that rejected pleas seeking a probe into the death of judge Loya. Congress party is committed to peoples demand for a fair investigation in the matter surrounding #JudgeLoya's death. Our Statement-: pic.twitter.com/OpEKv3zTCE Randeep Singh Surjewala (@rssurjewala) April 19, 2018 Congress President Rahul Gandhi also targeted Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) chief Amit Shah over the verdict and said the truth will eventually come out. Indians are deeply intelligent. Most Indians, including those in the BJP, instinctively understand the truth about Mr Amit Shah. The truth has its own way of catching up with people like him. Rahul Gandhi (@RahulGandhi) April 19, 2018 Slamming BJP further, the Congress party said, "BJP's attempts to make false political capital out of Supreme Court Judgement must be condemned." The party further said that if he died of heart attack, then why is the government "shying away from probe." Judge Loya, who was hearing the Sohrabuddin Sheikh encounter case in which BJP President Amit Shah was an accused, died of a heart attack in 2014. His death raised questions from certain quarters about the possibility of a foul play. Amit Shah was an accused. Amit Shah was discharged by a new judge, who said there wasn't enough evidence to merit a trial. Image: MP Tourism/website New Delhi, Apr 19 (IBNS): The Union Ministry of Information & Broadcasting announced on Thursday that Madhya Pradesh was conferred the 'Most Film Friendly State Award 2017' while Uttarakhand earned a Special Mention Certificate for 'Film Friendly Environment'. The announcement was made by Chairman of the Jury, Ramesh Sippy. He said, This year, Madhya Pradesh, where a lot of filmmakers have shot over the years, has won the award due to the ease of filming that the state offers along with excellent on ground support and film infrastructure, an informative website and incentives for film making." "The jury would like to acknowledge the sincere efforts made by Uttarakhand in this direction, despite it being a relatively new state with a difficult terrain and hence has been given the Special Mention, said Sippy. Jury for selecting the Most Film Friendly State Award 2017 also included Nagraj Manjule, Raja Krishna Menon, Vivek Agnihotri, and Uday Singh, MD, Motion Picture Distributors Association. Sippy also said, "The Jury members laud the continuing efforts of Uttar Pradesh and Gujarat towards creating a film friendly eco system in their states and hope that they keep up the good work." Sixteen states competed for the Best Film Friendly State Award -- Andaman and Nicobar, Delhi Gujarat, Karnataka, Kerala, Madhya Pradesh, Maharashtra, Mizoram, Odisha, Punjab, Rajasthan, Sikkim, Telangana, Tripura, Uttarakhand and Uttar Pradesh. UP had won the award last year. Adelaide, Apr 19 (IBNS): Australian Tourism Exchange (ATE) is the annual travel and tourism business-to-business event, which was held at the Convention Centre in Adelaide between Apr 15-19 to showcase the tourism experiences, that will drive future travel to Australia. Tourisms Australias foremost event was branded this year as ATE18. The event, organised by Tourism Australia in partnership with host-state partner, the South Australian Tourism Commission (SATC), and airline partner Virgin Australia, had attracted over 2,200 travel industry delegates to Adelaide. The event includes several Australia-focused outbound tour operators and media from India. Overall this year, there are around 650 buyer delegates representing travel wholesalers and retailers from 30 countries, spanning the Americas, Continental Europe, the United Kingdom and Asia-Pacific, to meet and do business with 1,600 tourism delegates from 540 Australian businesses. Tourism Australia Managing Director John Sullivan said it is a great time to host ATE in Adelaide as Australia's visitor economy continues to climb to record levels of spend and visitation. Australia welcomed a record 8.8 million international visitors last year, which was around half a million more than the previous year. Significantly, international visitor expenditure rose six per cent to a record $41.3 billion highlighting that our plans to grow Australia's visitor economy are well on track, Sullivan said. Importantly, ATE provides a platform for supporting our international consumer travel campaigns by connecting key international travel wholesalers and retailers with Australian industry during the 50,000 business appointments held during the event. Ultimately, it is about ensuring Australian holidays are top of mind with the agents who sell our destination to consumers - ensuring we can continue to inspire travellers with our world-class tourism offering and convert the desire for Australia to holiday visits, he added. Sullivan said the connections made at ATE help deliver around three million visitors each year, spending up to $8.5 billion whilst they are here, thereby helping to further grow our visitor economy. The economic impact of ATE is significant and will directly help to boost Australia's inbound tourism sector, and we are delighted to be hosting the event in Adelaide this year with host state partner the South Australian Tourism Commission, Sullivan said. Whilst the economic benefits of hosting ATE in Adelaide include an immediate $10 million injection in to the local economy, longer term. South Australian Tourism Commission, Chief Executive, Rodney Harrex said South Australia is an incredible Australian destination to visit and ATE is great opportunity to remind influencers in the travel and tourism space about the best our state has to offer. By hosting ATE we aim to attract more visitors to the state, which will ultimately boost jobs and strengthen our visitor economy, Harrex said. India received big attention from state and regional tourism agencies and various tourism product suppliers as India is deemed as the market with enormous growth potential. Recently Indian visitors have recorded an increase in spending by 16%. Organised by TravMedia in partnership with Tourism Australia, this appointment style workshop acted as a platform for sharing product knowledge and media ideas. (Reporting by Sandip Hor) New York, Apr 19 (IBNS): With multiple crises forcing millions of people away from their homes, United Nations agencies, Governments and partners have launched a set of measures to strengthen protection of internally displaced persons as well as find solutions to address their problems. Addressing the protection needs of the forcibly displaced and seeking solutions to their plight contribute to greater stability for countries and whole regions, said Filippo Grandi, the UN High Commissioner for Refugees, in a news release announcing the three-year Plan of Action. The consequences of our failure to resolve internal displacement can be devastating, he stressed. The framework, formally called the Plan of Action for Advancing Prevention, Protection and Solutions for Internally Displaced People (2018-2020), calls on all relevant actors to step up efforts to prevent, respond to and resolve internal displacement. By the end of 2016, more than 40 million people were displaced within their own countries due to insecurity or rights violations. An additional 24 million were driven from their homes due to disasters. Every year, an estimated 15 million people are also displaced by development projects.It also proposes concrete activities to strengthen the participation of internally displaced persons in decisions concerning them, and expand national laws and policies on internal displacement as well as actions to improve data collection and analysis on displacements globally. Bold and ambitious steps needed Given this complex conundrum, bold and ambitious steps are needed, underscored Cecilia Jimenez-Damary, the UN Special Rapporteur on the human rights of internally displaced persons. The Plan of Action seeks to galvanize a strategic dialogue, concerted action and adequate resources to address the plight of the internally displaced, while engaging them in the decisions that affect them, added the independent expert. In the same vein, Mark Lowcock, the UN Under-Secretary-General for Humanitarian Affairs committed that the Organization will continue to work with affected Governments and displaced persons to ensure that their needs are addressed. Leave no one behind The international community has pledged to leave no one behind, stressed Mr. Lowcock, who is also the UN Emergency Relief Coordinator, noting that this promise must extend to all those displaced. The Plan of Action was drafted under the leadership of the Special Rapporteur, the Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs (OCHA) and the Office of the UN High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR). Its launch coincides with the 20th anniversary of the Guiding Principles on Internal Displacement, widely accepted as being the global standard for protecting and assisting internally displaced people. UNAMID/Hamid Abdulsalam UN Photo/Eskinder Debebe New York, Apr A technical team sent by the Organisation for the Prohibition of Chemical Weapons (OPCW) to the site of an alleged chemical weapons attack in the United Kingdom has identified toxic agents consistent with the UKs initial investigation, the top United Nations disarmament official told the Security Council on Wednesday. [The OPCW] Technical Assistance Visit team has noted that the toxic chemical in question was of high purity, said Izumi Nakamitsu, the UN High Representative for Disarmament Affairs. The statement from the OPCW does not specifically name the substance, but it says technical experts confirmed the findings of the UK relating to the identity of the toxic chemical that was used in Salisbury and severely injured three people. The UK has said the chemical in question is the nerve agent Novichok, and that it is highly likely that Russia was behind its use in the 4 March incident that seriously injured Sergei Skripal and his daughter, Yulia, and one other person a police official in the British town of Salisbury. Russia has firmly denied the charge. An OPCW expert team was deployed to the UK at the countrys request seeking technical assistance in identifying the nature of the toxic chemical reportedly used. The team collected blood samples from the three individuals, as well as environmental samples from the site. OPCWs report on its finding was submitted to the UK, and at the countrys request, to the States Party to the Convention on Chemical Weapons on 12 April. A public summary of the report can be found on the OPCW website. At todays debate, the third the third time the Council has met on the issue, Karen Pierce, the Permanent Representative of the UK to the UN, acknowledged that Mr. Skripal was a former intelligence officer convicted of espionage in 2006, likely making him a target of Russia. She also said there is no plausible alternative explanation than Russian State responsibility for what happened in Salisbury. Vassily Alekseevich Nebenzia, the Permanent Representative of Russia to the UN, dismissed the charges as "baseless" and said the announced findings were "a red herring." He citied a lack of transparency by UK, stating the British barred [OPCW] experts from even mentioning the type of technical assistance requested and from naming the toxic chemical [...] identified. He added that the UK instead had that information placed in the classified part of the OPCW report, which cannot be discussed in an open meeting of the Security Council. The OPCW is the implementing body of the Chemical Weapons Convention (CWC), which came into force in 1997 and outlaws the production, stockpiling, and use of chemical weapons and their precursors. London, Apr 19 (IBNS): Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau on Thursday attended the opening of the Commonwealth Summit in Buckingham Palace in London, the capital city of the United Kingdom. Apart from Trudeau, UK Prime Minister Theresa May, Queen Elizabeth and other leaders of the Commonwealth nations were present at the opening of the summit. Trudeau is expected to raise his voice against the use of plastics and pitch in LGBTQ rights on Thursday, media report said. Image: twitter.com/JustinTrudeau The Canada PM is likely to extend his support to the UK government's ban on the use of plastics. During his stay in the UK, Trudeau met both May and Queen Elizabeth. Image: twitter.com/JustinTrudeau After meeting May, Trudeau said a closer cooperation along with growing trade relations between Canada and the UK will help create jobs for people of both the nations. Trudeau said he had discussed about the state of the world with Queen Elizabeth. Unless you are living under a rock, you won't be completely oblivious to Prime Minister Narendra Modi's current visit to Stockholm, Sweden on his three-country Europe tour. So while he was being received by the Swedish PM Stefan Lofven at the airport, an excited group of Indians gathered to greet Modi. narendra modi/facebook Also read: Manmohan Singh Advised PM Modi To Speak More Often & People Have Clearly Picked Sides Modi being Modi, obliged and immediately started shaking hands with the lot. He even shared pictures on Facebook and one man, in particular, caught our eye. The man wearing a pair of glasses can be seen shaking Modi's hands in two different photos. But here's when it got weird. In one image, the man was seen wearing a cap, and in another, he was seen without it. Also read: PM Modi Is In Sweden, A Country That Has Proved Crime Against Women Can Be Tackled, Here's How Soon VJ-comedian Jose Covaco noticed the man and jokingly called it the man's ploy to disguise himself to meet Modi twice. Did this guy run ahead and put a cap on to disguise himself so he could shake Modiji's hand twice ? pic.twitter.com/LQEeXF4uSb Jose Covaco (@HoeZaay) April 17, 2018 The Twitter thread that followed made a lot of people wonder if this was indeed a conspiracy. Check them out. Many theories exist, but it's quite possible Abhishek Singhvi has access to some form of Time Travel. pic.twitter.com/PkUbjG2OKr Jose Covaco (@HoeZaay) April 17, 2018 Conclusive proof. That Gagan ek hai. pic.twitter.com/2FWcKX3IWO Sourav Das (@Souravdas1711) April 18, 2018 No. One is Ramesh and the other is Suresh. Lol !! Chaitanya Sharma Kandala (@ChaitsStates) April 18, 2018 Time travel Saurabh Mishra (@SaurabhM16) April 17, 2018 Jose then claimed that he contacted Gagan and would get to the bottom of this. UPDATE : OMFG @Rgohel09 has found Gagan and sent me his contacts.. will try to get in touch with him .. pic.twitter.com/Mb4vsEknUo Jose Covaco (@HoeZaay) April 17, 2018 #GAGANUPDATE Fam, Gagan doesn't use social media but he is aware of the madness & is planning to sign up just to reply to this. [This is the person who recognized him first on insta,so I messaged them.Only Gagan can confirm the parts I've blurred out ] pic.twitter.com/C3I2TRjmU1 Jose Covaco (@HoeZaay) April 17, 2018 [News Sfx] THIS IS THE LATEST #GAGANUPDATE The Nation needs to KNOW. Everything you think you know about the time traveler who shook PM Modi's hand twice, ..is RUBBISH. Stay with us we hope to take this News about a joke to it's logical conclusion. #GagansAndRoses pic.twitter.com/LjOirl16Dw Jose Covaco (@HoeZaay) April 18, 2018 Is it just us or is it weird that in a photo with the Prime Minister, this guy is hogging all the limelight? When Kathua and Unnao rape cases grabbed national headlines, people waited for Prime Minister Narendra Modi to address the nation on the horrific crimes. Even though he broke his silence, his speech came a little too late, prompting people to criticise him. bccl Expressing concern about Modi's failure to speak earlier on the two incidents, former Prime Minister Manmohan Singh told the Indian Express, But I think the Prime Minister should follow his own advice to me and he should speak more often. Through press (reports) I know that he used to criticize me for not speaking up. I feel that the advice that he used to give me, he should follow it himself. Also read: PM Modi Is In Sweden, A Country That Has Proved Crime Against Women Can Be Tackled, Here's How It's no secret that Singh was, time and again, ridiculed for being a 'Silent PM' during his tenure. The two 'silences' have now divided people on Twitter. All those who support Singh said, Whole nation need to apologise to Dr Manmohan Singh for mocking him as a silent prime minister. pic.twitter.com/PbTTtQha4P Raghuram Rajan (@ArunSFan) April 13, 2018 This man Mr. Manmohan Singh doesn't speak much but when he does, he just thrashes away the opponent pic.twitter.com/IjymL41A2F RaGa 4 PM (@RaGaMyPM) April 18, 2018 Dr Manmohan Singh, speaks less. But when he does, the world listens. Veryangrybird #JusticeForAsifaAndUnnao (@VVAngryBird) April 18, 2018 All in favour of Modi said, It s biggest joke of the day "Manmohan Singh" a dumbo Ex PM advising Our PM to speak up. Remember his dilogue "Hazaaron jawabon se acchi hai meri khamoshi". Totlani Krishan (@kktotlani) April 18, 2018 Our PM always speaks and he speaks at the right time to the right audience. It's a different matter that some people choose not to hear him. Proud of him. Shivang (@omshivang) April 18, 2018 This accusation doesn't stick to Modi.On the other hand he communicates more than any other PM has ever has . In his case, there is a risk of overexposure. A Modest Indian (@AModestIndian) April 18, 2018 Also read: Manmohan Singh Responds To PM Modi's Pakistan Conspiracy Comment, Wants Him To Apologise Just like people, no government or leader is perfect. What they can do to achieve perfection is to lead with caution, empathy, and a general feeling of camaraderie with their citizens. Irrespective of who pointed it out, the PM was in fact, a little too late in speaking up. It looks like nothing in the world is private anymore. Everyone knows and sees everything and for some reason people in power think it's okay to want to control what people do or don't do in their personal lives. Reuters Case in point: Ugandan president Yoweri Museveni doesn't want people to use their mouths in ways he thinks is not right. So he has taken the decision to ban oral sex. Let me take this opportunity to warn our people publicly about the wrong practices indulged in and promoted by some of the outsiders. The mouth is for eating, not for sex. We know the address of sex; we know where sex is," okayafrica quoted him as saying. Reuters According to reports, sexual activity against the order of nature has been banned under Ugandas penal code since the colonial era. The current President only seems to be making it stronger by targeting the LGBT community in every way possible. For now, the president has only issued a public warning, and there is no law, banning the 'wrong practice'. Netizens had a good laugh and most of them were just wondering whether the ban could be imposed in real life. #1 President of Uganda Yoweri Museveni is warning against #Oralsex. When you're 73 and no one wants to blow you. #deadwillyhater pic.twitter.com/aNBafFSrjD Wale Gates (@walegates) 16 April 2018 #2 Ignorant anti-#GAY president of #Uganda says he wants to ban the nation's citizens from practicing oral sex because 'the mouth is for eating'. What a BLOW. Titsalina Futtbuck (@TitsalinaFutbuk) 18 April 2018 #3 so the president of Uganda has no other issues to worry about other than oral sex? like everything is fine there that he has free time to educate the people he leads how to use their mouths? Grand pa needs to retire! https://t.co/IlEaxNgwAt Judicaelle Irakoze (@Judicaelle_) 18 April 2018 #4 #YoweriMuseveni has received a signal to RESIGN. How does he plan to monitor people's sexual activities? Uganda has 43,96 million people. https://t.co/cZWq5GJUjB Uncle Sammy (@MashSammy) 18 April 2018 #5 Yes... Oral sex... Uganda's biggest problem https://t.co/a4QBbgyIb1 umayma (@coloured_braids) 16 April 2018 Reports state that Museveni is known to make such controversial statements. In 2014, while referring to oral sex, he said, "You push the mouth there, you can come back with worms and they enter your stomach because that is a wrong address". Okay then, Mr President. Apart from the exhausting hugging trip and kicking off a speech with 'Mitrooon', Prime Minister Narendra Modi is also known to be savage AF when it comes to humour. You can love him, you can hate him but you cannot really ignore him. The Indian Diaspora during the Town Hall in London had a good dose of PM Modi's wit. It happened when someone from the audience asked Modi the secret to his fitness. Screenshot ANI "We know you practice yoga, but there seems to be some secret behind your energy, what is it?," asked the young man. A good dose of 'Gaaliyan' or abuses is what PM Modi said. "In the last two decades, almost 20 years, Ive been eating 1-2 kg abuses daily. #WATCH: On being asked about the secret of his stamina, PM Modi says,'Pichle 20 saal se main daily 1kg-2kg gaali (abuses) khaata hu.' #BharatKiBaatSabkeSaath #London pic.twitter.com/eKbEGoSC1c ANI (@ANI) 18 April 2018 This was followed by a roaring applause and cheers of 'Modi, Modi' at the town hall. Well, the man certainly does have a way with people. Watch the full video of the London Town Hall below: Amid a nationwide outrage over the Kathua and Unnao rape cases, Prime Minister Narendra Modi today said "rape is rape" and should not be politicised. The prime minister, during the 'Bharat Ki Baat, Sabke Saath' programme at the iconic Central Hall Westminster here, said, "We always ask our daughters about what they are doing, where they are going. We must ask our sons too." The person who is committing these crimes is also someone's son, he said. Reuters "I have never indulged in counting the number of rape incidents in this government and that government. Rape is rape, be it now or earlier. It is extremely sad. Don't politicise rape incidents," the prime minister said. The rape of a daughter is a matter of shame for the country, he said. Modi's remarks come in the backdrop of a nationwide outrage over the rape cases in Jammu and Kashmir's Kathua and Uttar Pradesh's Unnao. It may look like Facebook is the only platform in the midst of a privacy scandal, but that doesnt mean its other properties have escaped scrutiny. A lot of people are now also hesitant to use WhatsApp and Instagram, both Facebook products, for fear they have the same lax privacy regulations. ALSO READ: Class 9 UP Boy Invites WhatsApp Group Members To Join 'Lashkar-e-Toiba', Probe Ordered In fact, France is so worried about WhatsApp being compromised its building its own version of the messaging app for government officials. The aim is to keep the new messaging client in a closed circuit so foreign agents cant spy on internal discussions. The app is reportedly being built using open source code available online and will be heavily encrypted. The servers will be set up within France, where the government can monitor their security themselves and act faster when they need to be protected. According to a government spokesperson, about 20 French officials are testing the app right now. Eventually, by the summer, all government employees will be required to use this app for official internal communication. French President Emmanuel Macron is never far from his smartphone - Image courtesy: Reuters DON'T MISS: Beware! Chinese Numbers Starting With +86 Are Hackers Targetting Indian WhatsApp Groups Sure, WhatsApp already has end-to-end encryption, but thats not the only idea at play here. After all, even if a government believes in WhatsApps security, having a mandated app for government employees makes internal investigations a lot easier. After all, it would be much easier for French authorities to gain access to private chats from their own app with a warrant than from WhatsApp. We need to find a way to have an encrypted messaging service that is not encrypted by the United States or Russia, the government spokeswoman told the press. You start thinking about the potential breaches that could happen, as we saw with Facebook, so we should take the lead. ALSO READ: Why The Co-Founder Of Whatsapp Is Asking Everyone To Delete Their Facebook Account Right Now Hunger Strike at Two Santa Clara County Jails by Prison Reform Advocate Thursday Apr 19th, 2018 2:48 AM On April 15, Prisoners United of Silicon Valley started a peaceful protest to demand humane treatment in the jails. Their hunger strike is the third in two years to protest substandard jail conditions and a lack of opportunity to move out of isolation. Inmates at two Santa Clara County jails are holding a hunger strike to protest inmate isolation and basic sanitation. The hunger strike officially began Sunday April 15th at the Main Jail in San Jose and at the Elmwood Correctional Complex in Milpitas. Silicon Valley De-Bug organizer Jose Valle said inmate concerns are the backbone of any jail reforms that get implemented in the county. Inmates have long spoken out about how they are classified and placed into restrictive housing including virtual solitary confinement that consists of 22 hours a day of cell time. There is no consistency, Valle told the Mercury News. You dont know how long youre going to be in restrictive housing. Theres no clear understanding. Inmate coalition Prisoners United of Silicon Valley, backed by local civil-rights groups, sent a letter to the Sheriffs Office late last month stating demands. They said that prisoners were not given sufficient cleaning supplies nor were they given enough allotted time to clean up their housing areas. Cleaning, believe it or not, is a privilege there, Valle said. Prisoners United is a self organized group of incarcerated individuals inside Santa Clara County Jails. 51 Republican senators and 220 Republican House members voted to authorize the murder of Alaskan bear cubs in their dens, as well as luring of them to bait stations at which they can be blown away. In addition, the bill Trump signed authorizes the importation of ivory from elephant massacres into the US 51 GOP senators as well as independent King of Mainevoted to slaughter bear cubs in their dens while 46 Democrats and independent Bernie Sanders voted no.D. Trump signed into law a bill pushed by the National Rifle Aassociation, Ryan Zinke, serial killer of many species who heads the Dept of Interior, and the Safari Club international which promotes trophy hunting and canned hunts (mammals trapped inside fences shot as easily as innocent fish in a barrel). The law allows the murder of bear cubs in their dens. It allows them to be lured by food to bait stations at which they can be blown away. It allows the import of the ivory of massacred elephants.The only Republican senator who did not vote was the ailing Izakson of Georgia who himself was 1 of 4 initial sponsors of AETA, the bill criminalizing free speech for those protesting slaughterhouses, laboratory research on animals etc.In the Senate, 51 Republican senators and King of Maine voted to slaughter the cubs. 46 Democrats and independent Bernie Sanders voted against the murder. It was initially introduced by Don Young, GOP, Alaska, often named the worst enemy of innocent animals in the House.You have the power to vote down 35 Republican senators or candidates in the primariesand November, as well as every Republican in the House.In the House, 220 Republicans voted for murder and 10 againstwhile Democrats, 183, voted no and 5 voted yes.Theodore Roosevelt killed hundreds of bears, but when a bear cub he had orphaned by murdering his mother wandered into camp, Roosevelt spared his life. He is more remembered for that1 baby cub, nicknamed Teddy's bear, now teddy bear, than for the hundreds he murdered.But Donald Trump has signed a bill allowing the murder of baby bears in their dens or lured to bait stations to be blown away.In addition, the Republican governor of Wyoming hasscheduled a grizzly bear hunt.Please contact the governor, 2 senators and representative from Wyoming, all 4 Republican, to ask them to cancel the plannedslaughter called a 'hunt'. senate.gov house.govttps:// http://www.biologicaldiversity.org/news/press_releases/2017/alaska-wildlife-04-04-2017.php See also:Note: The Safari Club gives special awards to those who murder not 300 animals but 300 different SPECIES of animals. $1 Billion Eco-Fraud At SF Hunters Point/Treasure Island-Residents/Whistleblowers Speakout by Labor Video Project Thursday Apr 19th, 2018 12:05 PM Criminal RICO charges were filed with the US Attorney in San Francisco against Senator Diane Feinstein and Congresswoman Nancy Pelosi for colluding with the Hunters Point Shipyard and Lennar and other politicians to cover-up the retaliation against OSHA whistleblowers and cover-up the $1 billion fraud by Tetra Tech and Test America of testing at the Super-fund site. A press conference was held before the submittal of the charges where residents, OSHA whistleblowers and public health advocates spoke out. USDA reports spark wheat rally Sidwell Strategies - Sat Oct 2, 8:32AM CDT 19-year low in wheat output and 14-year low in stocks Media company Ozy is shutting down as problems mount AP - Fri Oct 1, 5:37PM CDT Ozy is shutting down less than a week after a New York Times raised questions about the media organization's claims of millions of viewers and readers, while also pointing out a potential case of securities... $SPX : 4,357.04 (+1.15%) $DOWI : 34,326.46 (+1.43%) $IUXX : 14,791.87 (+0.70%) GS : 380.00 (+0.52%) Corn Higher into Weekend Barchart - Fri Oct 1, 4:43PM CDT Friday s finish saw the board 4 3/4 to 6 cents in the black on the day. For the week, December corn futures traded with a 24 1/2 cent range and a net 16 3/4 cent gain. December was a net 2 1/2 cents... ZCZ21 : 541-4s (+0.88%) ZCPAUS.CM : 5.1834 (+0.48%) ZCH22 : 549-6s (+0.96%) ZCZ21 : 541-4s (+0.88%) Soybeans Red into Weekend Barchart - Fri Oct 1, 4:43PM CDT Soybean futures closed the last trade day of the week with 5 1/4 to 9 1/2 cent losses. For the week, November soybean futures gave back 37 1/2 during a 55 cent range week. During the month of September,... XRG22 : 635.00s (+0.79%) RSX21 : 903.10s (+1.07%) ZSX21 : 1246-4s (-0.76%) ZSPAUS.CM : 11.9884 (-0.92%) ZSF22 : 1256-4s (-0.71%) ZSX21 : 1246-4s (-0.76%) Livestock Report Walsh Trading - Fri Oct 1, 3:33PM CDT Hogs consolidate gains while cattle markets weak Grain Spreads: KC/Chicago Wheat Walsh Trading - Fri Oct 1, 2:55PM CDT Wheat Leads The three petitions are detailed here. Greenpeace Czech Republics Jan Rovensky had some pretty strong words for Generali ahead of its AGM. Generali is financing the destruction of human lives and the natural environment in Central Europe, said Rovensky. Coal companies and utilities in the Czech Republic and Poland like PGE and CEZ are responsible for horrible things. Approximately two thousand people die prematurely each year because of air pollution caused by Czech lignite power plants alone. Thousands of local people risk losing their water supply as a result of expansion plans for Turow mine and thousands more suffer the impacts of particulate and noise pollution from mining all over the region. What is more, these coal companies produce tens of million tons of greenhouse gases emissions. Nothing of this could happen if Generali and other insurers didnt support the dirty coal business. For Alessandro Runci, of Italian NGO Re:Common, its a matter of making a choice. Each time Generali insures a coal plant or mine, it is supporting those who are burning our chances to avoid catastrophic climate change, said Runci. It is time for the Lion of Trieste to take a stand and decide what is more important: short-term profits or the future of our planet. An initiative from international civil society organisations to hold insurers to account for both their action and inaction on climate change, the Unfriend Coal campaign wants an end to all cover for coal plants, mines, and associated infrastructure projects. Meanwhile Generali, for its part, believes the vision outlined in its new climate change strategy is in line with the principles of the Paris Pledge for Action defined under COP 21. However, at the same time the insurer said it recognises that access to energy is a priority for states and citizens. In Poland, the economy and employment depend to a high extent on the coal sector, Generali told Insurance Business in March. Therefore Generali wants to support the implementation of the strategy of a transition to activities with low negative impact on the environment. As a corporation, our role is to facilitate the transformation while respecting the political choices of local governments and citizens, creating opportunities for constructive dialogue. Related stories: I commend the work of investigators in our criminal investigation and legal divisions that led to the surrender of this man on multiple felony charges, said Insurance Commissioner Allen Kerr. Insurance fraud affects all consumers through higher insurance rates, and the department is committed to investigating and prosecuting violations of the law. Casada, owner of the Little Rock-based Casada Insurance Group, has been accused of submitting eleven fraudulent premium finance agreements, totaling $211,292.70, to the Imperial Premium Finance Corporation. The agreements requested premium financing on some policies taken out in the name of another insurance company on behalf of some Jefferson County farmers without their knowledge. Other agreements were for entirely fictitious entities, the Insurance Department said. The money was then allegedly deposited in the Casada Insurance Group bank account. Casada allegedly orchestrated the fraud while operating without a license. The Insurance Department had already revoked the licenses for both Casada and his business in December. Related stories: AXIS Re, a subsidiary of AXIS Capital Holdings, has announced the appointment of Megan Thomas (pictured) as its chief underwriting officer. In this capacity, Thomas will be responsible for product and portfolio management within AXIS Re. She will be based in New York and will be part of the reinsurance leadership team, reporting to AXIS Re CEO Steve Arora. Megan is a unique leader grounded in industry fundamentals while also forward-looking on the evolving industry and risk landscape, Arora said. She is a proven CUO who brings deep underwriting experience across multiple global markets. We are excited to welcome her to the leadership team and confident that she will play an important role as we grow a leadership position in the reinsurance market. LP Insurance Services has announced the appointment of Andrea Cantlon (pictured) as surety sales executive. In her new role, Cantlon leads LPs surety efforts throughout the company. Im excited to announce this update to our department, said Nick Rossi, president of LP Insurance Services. Andrea will be working closely with our team throughout the LP footprint in an effort to better serve the needs of our clients and prospects companywide. Both Bishops and his agencys licenses have since been suspended, Arkansas Business reported. The commissioners order also noted that about $1.7 million in premiums cannot be accounted for. The suspension comes as Alliance Insurance Group faces insolvency. In an effort to rescue the business, Bishop was looking to sell the agencys operations particularly the agencys offices in Arkadelphia, Prescott, and Hot Springs. Bart Newman, an insurance agent who sold his Hot Springs insurance agency to Bishop four years ago, was one of the buyers affected by Alliance Insurance Groups suspension. He, along with two other agents, was looking to repurchase the Hot Springs office when he caught wind of Alliance Insurances suspicious activity. About seven weeks ago, Newman discovered strange things in Alliances accounts receivable. After some investigation, and directly confronting Bishop about the dubious transactions, Newman reported his findings to the state insurance department during the latter half of March. The letter of intent to purchase the Hot Springs office offered roughly $15 million an amount equal to Alliances 2017 commission revenue on premium. Newman explained that the proceeds of the sale would have been used to pay back carriers who were due premium received by Alliance but were not remitted. No-ones insurance coverage has lapsed or been canceled, Newman told Arkansas Business. Everyones insured. Related stories: The policy offers $10 million in capacity for primary or excess placements with no minimum revenue threshold. The product provides coverage for a broad range of insurance agents and brokers, including life and health agents, property and casualty, wholesalers, consultants and MGA/program administrators. Notable enhancements to the form include: Built-in cyber extension coverage with a $150,000 limit. Deductible reduction coverage, up to 50% on each claim. Broad definition of professional services, including claims handling, risk management, third party administrator, COBRA administrator and coverage for web-based content. Broadened insolvency coverage. Increased coverage for administrative proceedings, subpoena inquiry and court attendance costs. Our partnership with the Aspen team is a logical next step. We know how talented they are from a history of first working with veteran members of the team nearly a decade ago, said BRP president and CEO Lisa Doherty. We saw this opportunity with BRP as a way to extend our expertise in professional liability, claims resolution and service to insurance agents, a previously untapped market for us, added Aspen executive vice-president, global head of professional & management liability Bruce Eisler. After listening to what Lisa and her team required, we were able to deliver a creative and custom solution that both enhances BRPs product offerings and our long-term partnership. Related stories: Workers compensation insurers play a key role in curtailing the opioid crisis, according to Mark Walls, vice president, communications & strategic analysis, Safety National. Speaking to Insurance Business at RIMS 2018, he described the industry as being ahead of the curve but said theres still more work to be done, especially in the alternative treatment space. I believe the workers compensation industry is ahead of the curve when it comes to the opioid problem. Weve been battling the issue for at least 10 years, said Walls. In the last two years, weve started to see more nationwide emphasis on cutting down opioid abuse, which is helping to drive down costs in the workers compensation industry. Another thing driving down costs is that several states have implemented treatment guidelines and drug formulas to ensure people are getting the proper treatment, appropriate medication and cutting out abuse issues. Safety Nationals medical management team has partnered with a company called Best Doctors to offer policyholders and their employers additional medical expertise and resources. Through this partnership, Safety National policyholders have access to a database of physicians with expertise in catastrophic injury claims. The program has seen much success, according to Walls, especially with regards to exploring alternative pain management treatment and taking people away from opioids in order to get their lives back on track. One of the key issues our industry faces right now is: how do we transition away from opioids and drugs being the go-to option? How do you deal with pain and what are the alternatives? Walls commented. Thats what were focusing on at Safety National finding pain relief and treatment alternatives rather than just prescribing a pill. The first thing to emphasize is that pain is very individual. Everyone has a different pain threshold, and everyone responds to treatment in different ways. Some examples of alternatives out there include: yoga, meditation, bio-feedback, and multi-disciplinary pain management programs. If someones chronically addicted to a pain relief drug, you have to start with a detox program and then guide them through some of these pain management programs. A key element to alternative pain management is psychological treatment, Walls explained. Pain management experts often stress that fixing physical ailments starts with mental health and the psychology of pain. The mind plays a huge role in pain. Therefore, battling the opioid crisis really has to start with a focus on mental health. It has to be a whole-body treatment approach, he told Insurance Business. The problems we face in workers compensation are not unique to the industry. Unfortunately, theres not enough focus on mental health in the workers compensation industry or in the US healthcare system in general. If we dont address the psychology of pain, then were never going to get the opioid epidemic under control. Related stories: A small town mayor from southern Spain is offering Gibraltar-based insurers a way to retain access to the European Union single market after Britain leaves the bloc next year. Juan Franco of La Linea on the southern tip of the Iberian peninsula is inviting insurers based across the border in the British enclave to set up units in his municipality of about 63,000 people so they can continue to service EU clients. Hes even offered to provide them office space. If necessary we could adapt the convention center to host the companies temporarily, said Franco in a telephone interview. Other measures can be explored in the longer term. There are more than 60 insurance companies operating out of Gibraltar who could benefit from setting up units on the Spanish mainland, according to Nigel Feetham, a partner of Hassans International Law Firm, which is also based in the enclave. Feethams firm has already held two meetings with Spanish regulators about the plan, which would allow the firms access to the EU market while keeping most of their operations in Gibraltar. This could be a good example of cooperation between two communities which have been embroiled in disputes for a long time, Feetham said in telephone interview from Gibraltar. It is also a potential solution for insurers based in the City of London. Indeed, the Bank of England has been warning for months about the potential Brexit threat to financial contracts, including insurance policies, since British firms may not have the necessary permissions to pay claims or to receive premiums from customers in the EU after the U.K. withdraws. The rupture could affect about 55 billion pounds ($78 billion) of insurance liabilities and 38 million policy holders in the European Economic Area, the BOE said last month. Gibraltars Ties to Spain Lloyds of London Chief Executive Officer Inga Beale said last month that insurance contracts across Europe will remain at risk unless theres an agreement on how they should be treated in post-Brexit Europe. Lloyds is setting up a European headquarters in Brussels. With a population of 33,000, Gibraltar has remained British since 1713 despite Spanish claims to the territory. Even so, Spain enjoys close economic ties with the community and more than 13,000 Spanish residents, many from La Linea, cross into Gibraltar each day to work. My next step will be to discuss this concept with the insurers based in the City of London, said Feetham, adding that he knows of at least one Gibraltar-based insurer that plans to request a license from the Spanish regulator. Gibraltar has 1,175 people employed in the insurance sector of which 873 are British citizens and 172 are Spaniards, according to Gibraltar government data. We want a pragmatic solution, which prioritizes the future of the frontier workers, Spanish Foreign Affairs Minister Alfonso Dastis told lawmakers in Madrid last month. Related: Copyright 2021 Bloomberg. Topics Carriers Europe London Uk Brexit Envelop Risk, a UK-based cyber insurance analytics and underwriting firm, announced it has appointed Aritra (Ari) Chatterjee as chief underwriting officer. Chatterjee was formerly the lead cyber underwriter with Hannover Re (Bermuda), a line of business he helped to establish. Envelop Risk this week announced that it was expanding its business beyond its cyber insurance analytics specialty by launching a cyber managing general agent (MGA). In his underwriting, Chatterjee applied a unique underwriting methodology called PTBA Resilience Matrix, which quantifies the risk landscape by mapping data assets to threat trends, said Envelop Risk, adding that this and other approaches enabled Chatterjee to consistently outperform the market. At his previous position as an actuarial underwriter with Hannover Re, Chatterjee underwrote cyber re/Insurance, a line of business he helped develop and grow profitably. He has led several cyber reinsurance placements in the U.S. and international markets, the company said. Beyond cyber re/insurance, he has underwritten marine & energy, property catastrophe, credit and surety, intellectual property, and motor deals. Prior to Hannover Re, Chatterjee worked with Flagstone Re and GE Insurance Solutions. He is a qualified actuary from Casualty Actuarial Society and has participated in several academic research projects with CAS. Chatterjee holds a Masters of Statistics from Indian Statistical Institute, where he was one of the top 20 statisticians in India. After a long pursuit to find the right insurtech firm that will create the future of cyber insurance, I found Envelop Risk, said Chatterjee. With offices in London, Boston, Washington DC, and Bermuda, Envelop Risk provides delegated re/insurance underwriting, while partnering with cyber security firms for custom insurance products that address the specific risk profiles of their customers. The company is headquartered in Bristol, England. Source: Envelop Risk Related: Topics Cyber Underwriting Reinsurance The U.S. Department of Labors Occupational Safety and Health Administration (OSHA) has cited North Dakota excavation contractor Kamphuis Pipeline Company for exposing employees to trench cave-ins and other serious hazards while installing water metering pits and lines. The company, which faces proposed penalties of $454,750, has contested the citations. OSHA said it inspected the Logan and Kidder Counties water project site in September and October 2017, and found the company failed to protect employees from struck-by hazards; did not place excavated soil piles far enough away from trench edges; and failed to utilize appropriate protective systems during trenching operations. The company did not identify hazards and take corrective action when warranted, OSHA said. The company has contested the citations. The case will be reviewed by an independent Occupational Safety and Health Review Commission. Source: OSHA Topics Workers' Compensation Contractors North Dakota The U.S. Supreme Court on Monday appeared divided over whether to make it easier for companies to recoup profits lost due to the unauthorized use of their patented technology overseas in a dispute involving Schlumberger NV, the worlds largest oilfield services provider. The nine justices heard about an hour of arguments that will resolve the amount of money that rival ION Geophysical Corp. must pay for infringing Schlumberger technology that helps search for oil and gas beneath the ocean floor. Both companies are based in Houston. Some justices, including conservative Justice Neil Gorsuch and liberal Justice Stephen Breyer, expressed concerns about applying U.S. patent laws abroad, while others indicated that Schlumberger should be fully compensated. Schlumberger is appealing a lower court ruling that barred it from recovering $93.4 million in lost profits stemming from foreign contracts the company said it missed out on as a result of the infringement. Schlumberger said federal patent law protects against infringement that occurs when components of a patented invention are supplied from the United States for assembly abroad, and so it should be fully compensated for its lost foreign sales. Gorsuch and Breyer expressed skepticism about imposing damages based on the use of the technology by IONs overseas customers. Breyer said if other countries did the same it could pose problems for U.S. companies as well. I see chaos or confusion, Breyer said. Conservative Justices Samuel Alito and Anthony Kennedy, as well as liberal Justice Sonia Sotomayor, signaled sympathy for Schlumberger. Kennedy told IONs attorney Kannon Shanmugam that the companys position would confine patent owners in how they use their own patents and mean they would not be fully compensated for infringement. Shanmugam said that U.S. patent laws have a presumption against extraterritoriality. A decision in Schlumbergers favor would expand the ability of patent owners to recover foreign-based damages, increasing the threat posed by certain infringement suits in the United States. Schlumberger said that the lower court ruling harms innovation by allowing companies to infringe competitors patents while risking minimal punishment. Other observers, including a group representing internet-based companies, said the opposite is true because extending patent damages beyond national borders would expose U.S. high-technology firms to greater patent-related risks overseas. The case involves four patents owned by Schlumberger subsidiary WesternGeco related to an invention that more efficiently completes marine seismic surveys to help identify oil and gas drilling locations. ION developed a competing system and sold it to surveying companies abroad. WesternGeco sued in 2009, and a federal jury in Houston found that Ion infringed the patents and caused the company to lose contracts. The jury awarded $12.5 million in royalties as well as the $93.4 million in lost profits. In 2015, the Washington-based U.S. Court of Appeals for the Federal Circuit, which specializes in patent disputes, ruled that Schlumberger could not recoup the lost profits portion, saying U.S. patent law does not apply outside the country. President Donald Trumps administration backed Schlumberger, and urged the justices to overturn the lower court ruling, which it said systematically undercompensates U.S. patent owners who participate in cross-border commerce. The justices are due to issue their ruling by the end of June. (Reporting by Andrew Chung; Editing by Will Dunham) Topics USA Legislation The U.S. government on Tuesday proposed tightening rules governing the amount of prescription opioid painkillers that drugmakers can manufacture in a given year, in hopes of reining in the deadly opioid epidemic. The Drug Enforcement Administrations proposed changes to its regulations over addictive drug manufacturing quotas were announced by Attorney General Jeff Sessions. The plan could sharply reduce the annual production of painkillers. Under this proposed new rule, if DEA believes that a companys opioids are being diverted for misuse, then they will reduce the amount of opioids that company can make, Sessions said in prepared remarks. The plan could affect opioid makers such as Purdue Pharma LP, Johnson & Johnson, Teva Pharmaceutical Industries Ltd. and Mallinckrodt, as well as companies that distribute the drugs. Hours before the announcement, federal, state and local law enforcement officials in West Virginia announced a crackdown on an opioid trafficking ring in Huntington, known as ground zero for the epidemic. West Virginia sued the DEA in December over drug quota rules, arguing the agencys policy wrongfully sets manufacturing quotas based on amounts of pills drugmakers expect to sell, not legitimate medical needs. That approach, the state argued, has contributed to the growing addiction problem and the illegal diversion of pain medication. We must end senseless death in West Virginia, said the states Attorney General Patrick Morrisey. West Virginia is among the states that have suffered most from the crisis. The Trump administration has made combating the opioid epidemic a top priority. Last year, Trump declared it a national emergency, in a move to shore up more resources to expand access to treatment and give the government more flexibility in waiving rules and restrictions to expedite action. Sessions has created an opioid task force and deployed prosecutors to hard-hit areas of the country with a mandate to bring more cases against traffickers. While some enforcement efforts have focused on illicit traders and doctors who over-prescribe, the government has also increasingly been taking aim at the drug companies themselves. Recently, it sought permission from a federal court to participate in settlement negotiations aimed at resolving lawsuits by state and local governments against opioid manufacturers and distributors. The DEA proposal calls for quotas to be set after considering the potential for diversion of the drugs into illicit channels, and weighing input from states and other federal agencies such as the Food and Drug Administration, the Centers for Disease Control and the Centers for Medicare and Medicaid Services. Sessions said the DEA has also entered into a prescription drug information-sharing arrangement with 48 state attorneys general to help them sniff out criminals peddling dangerous painkillers. According to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention, 42,000 people died nationwide from opioid overdoses in 2016, the last year with publicly available data. (Reporting by Sarah N. Lynch; Editing by G Crosse, Bill Trott and David Gregorio) Related: Topics Virginia Politics Manufacturing Drugs Louisiana has spent more than $5 million on lawsuits involving sexual harassment claims since 2009, the states legislative auditor said in a new report released Tuesday on the eve of debate on bills targeting sexual misconduct in government. Legislative Auditor Daryl Purperas office conducted a review of sexual harassment policies in executive branch agencies and procedures for handling accusations. The audit says the states self-insurance agency, the Office of Risk Management, paid the money for closed claims involving 84 sexual harassment lawsuits. That includes payments to people who filed claims as well as lawyers costs. Of the $5.2 million paid, the review says $1.1 million was tied to sexual harassment lawsuits involving the Department of Corrections. The audit did not provide details about the conduct alleged or who was accused of harassment at any of the departments. Beyond the lawsuits, Purperas office said executive branch agencies reported 311 internal complaints involving sexual harassment from 2013 through 2017. The attorney generals office told auditors that it doesnt track such complaints, and LSU only provided limited information. Auditors also warned harassment could be under-reported, however, since employees who responded to an auditors office survey and said they had experienced harassment overwhelmingly said they didnt report it. The audit noted that Louisiana doesnt have a uniform sexual harassment policy governing its agencies, and only four of the 18 agency policies reviewed by auditors meet the Equal Employment Opportunity Commissions minimum criteria for what should be included. Two agencies policies specifically allow the department head to create exceptions to the sexual harassment policy on a case by case basis, auditors wrote. In addition, offices dont have consistent processes for examining the background of prospective employees, the review says. Sen. Sharon Hewitt, a Slidell Republican, requested the review from Purperas office. Lawmakers are considering proposals to enact anti-harassment training and policies across government agencies. A Senate committee is scheduled to debate the bills Wednesday. Since accusations across the nation spurred by the (hash)MeToo movement unseated people in positions of power, several high-profile Louisiana officials have been accused of sexual harassment. Most recently, Louisiana agreed to pay $85,000 to settle claims that former Gov. John Bel Edwards aide Johnny Anderson sexually harassed a woman when they worked together in the governors office. Anderson left his position but denies wrongdoing. Meanwhile, a lawsuit is pending against Secretary of State Tom Schedler, accusing him of harassing a woman who worked in his office and punishing her when she rebuffed advances. Schedlers spokeswoman said Schedler had a consensual sexual relationship with the woman, a claim the womans lawyer denied. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics Lawsuits Agencies Louisiana An insurance agency owner in Florida has been arrested after he admitted to stealing more than $60,000 in insurance premiums, according to a statement from the Florida Department of Financial Services (DFS). Michael Christopher Hensley, owner BOSC Insurance Company and Hensley Insurance Company, admitted to stealing $61,954 in insurance premiums between 2011 and 2018 in Orange County, Fla. The theft was discovered after an investigation by the DFS Disaster Fraud Action Strike Team (DFAST) revealed that Hensley had solicited various commercial businesses to procure property and casualty insurance under both of his companies BOSC and Hensley Insurance. Hensley has had no active appointments on his license since 2010, making his licensed expired as of 2014 and unlicensed as of March 9, 2015. After the impacts of Hurricane Irma, a commercial business property sustained extensive damage caused from the storm. The business owner attempted to contact his insurance agent, Hensley, for guidance on the claim process. After multiple calls and no response from Hensley, the owner contacted the listed insurance carrier on the Certificates of Insurance that Hensley had been providing the business with annually since 2012. An insurance representative with the listed company informed that the business was not insured with them nor had he ever been insured with the insurance company. Upon this revelation, the owner of the business contacted the CFOs Orlando Field Office for assistance. As a result of the DFS investigation, Hensley admitted to collecting monthly insurance premiums payments from nine different commercial business and providing them with false Certificates of Insurance coverage. Hensley went to various insurance companys websites and made copies of their general liability policies. He would then take the companies information and transfer it to Certificates of Insurance and provide the fraudulent documents to the unsuspecting businesses as proof of insurance. Hensley further admitted to using the money that he obtained from the victim businesses for his own personal benefits. Hensley was arrested April 6, 2018 by the Lake Mary Police Department and was booked into the Seminole County Jail on the counts of organized scheme to defraud and communications fraud, grand theft, misappropriation of insurance premium funds, unlicensed activity-MSB. This case will be prosecuted by the Office of the State Attorney, 9th Judicial Circuit. Hensley could face up to 30 years in prison. DFS said its investigators believe Hensley may have defrauded additional victims and encourage members of the community who have purchased property and casualty insurance from Michael Christopher Hensley, BOSC Insurance Company or Hensley Insurance Company to contact the Department of Financial Services Insurance Fraud Hotline by calling 1-800-378-0445. The Departments anti-fraud strike team consists of three teams that are working in areas heavily impacted by Hurricane Irma including South Florida, Miami-Dade and Monroe counties; Southwest Florida, including Lee and Collier counties; and Central Florida, including Polk and Orange counties. They are trained insurance fraud investigators with specialized knowledge of property & casualty fraud and workers compensation fraud. Source: Florida Department of Financial Services Topics Carriers Florida Fraud Property Casualty Tesla Inc. is being probed by a California agency for occupational safety after a report that the electric carmaker failed to disclose serious injuries at a Fremont factory. The states Occupational Safety and Health Administration disclosed the inspection on Wednesday, two days after news website Reveal said that Teslas omissions in legally mandated reports made its safety record appear better than it was. The probe began on Tuesday, Erika Monterroza, spokesperson for Cal/OSHA, said. The agency typically reviews an employers log of work-related injuries and illnesses to make sure that serious injuries are reported directly to the administration within eight hours, she added. A Tesla spokesman said Cal-OSHA is required to investigate any claims, whether they have merit or are baseless. We have never in the entire history of our company received a violation for inaccurate or incomplete injury record-keeping, he said in an emailed statement. The injury rate at the Fremont factory, which it had taken over from General Motors Co and Toyota Motor Corp , is half what it was in its final years under the previous owners, the spokesman added. (Reporting by Munsif Vengattil in Bengaluru and Alexandria Sage in San Francisco; Editing by Arun Koyyur and Richard Chang) Topics California Tesla A jury has decided Geico Insurance must pay a Southern California man nearly $23 million in compensation and damages after the company unreasonably delayed paying out on a $400,000 damage claim. The injured driver, Omar Dauod, maintains the delayed payment cost him his business and forced him to sell two homes at a loss. The Orange County Register reports Tuesday that the case stems from a 2009 accident. The other driver was at fault but his insurance was limited to $100,000, prompting Dauod to file a claim with his own insurance, Geico. Geico finally paid in December 2013 after an arbitration judge ruled in Dauods favor. He then sued the company alleging they mishandled his claim. Geicos attorneys didnt return calls from the newspaper seeking comment on the verdict. Copyright 2021 Associated Press. All rights reserved. This material may not be published, broadcast, rewritten or redistributed. Topics California What Is an Initial Public Offering (IPO)? An initial public offering (IPO) refers to the process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance. An IPO allows a company to raise capital from public investors. The transition from a private to a public company can be an important time for private investors to fully realize gains from their investment as it typically includes a share premium for current private investors. Meanwhile, it also allows public investors to participate in the offering. Key Takeaways An initial public offering (IPO) refers to the process of offering shares of a private corporation to the public in a new stock issuance. Companies must meet requirements by exchanges and the Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) to hold an IPO. IPOs provide companies with an opportunity to obtain capital by offering shares through the primary market. Companies hire investment banks to market, gauge demand, set the IPO price and date, and more. An IPO can be seen as an exit strategy for the companys founders and early investors, realizing the full profit from their private investment. 4:46 Initial Public Offering (IPO) Explained How an Initial Public Offering (IPO) Works Before an IPO, a company is considered private. As a pre-IPO private company, the business has grown with a relatively small number of shareholders including early investors like the founders, family, and friends along with professional investors such as venture capitalists or angel investors. An IPO is a big step for a company as it provides the company with access to raising a lot of money. This gives the company a greater ability to grow and expand. The increased transparency and share listing credibility can also be a factor in helping it obtain better terms when seeking borrowed funds as well. When a company reaches a stage in its growth process where it believes it is mature enough for the rigors of SEC regulations along with the benefits and responsibilities to public shareholders, it will begin to advertise its interest in going public. Typically, this stage of growth will occur when a company has reached a private valuation of approximately $1 billion, also known as unicorn status. However, private companies at various valuations with strong fundamentals and proven profitability potential can also qualify for an IPO, depending on the market competition and their ability to meet listing requirements. IPO shares of a company are priced through underwriting due diligence. When a company goes public, the previously owned private share ownership converts to public ownership, and the existing private shareholders shares become worth the public trading price. Share underwriting can also include special provisions for private to public share ownership. Generally, the transition from private to public is a key time for private investors to cash in and earn the returns they were expecting. Private shareholders may hold onto their shares in the public market or sell a portion or all of them for gains. Meanwhile, the public market opens up a huge opportunity for millions of investors to buy shares in the company and contribute capital to a companys shareholders' equity. The public consists of any individual or institutional investor who is interested in investing in the company. Overall, the number of shares the company sells and the price for which shares sell are the generating factors for the companys new shareholders' equity value. Shareholders' equity still represents shares owned by investors when it is both private and public, but with an IPO the shareholders' equity increases significantly with cash from the primary issuance. History of Initial Public Offerings (IPOs) The term initial public offering (IPO) has been a buzzword on Wall Street and among investors for decades. The Dutch are credited with conducting the first modern IPO by offering shares of the Dutch East India Company to the general public. Since then, IPOs have been used as a way for companies to raise capital from public investors through the issuance of public share ownership. Through the years, IPOs have been known for uptrends and downtrends in issuance. Individual sectors also experience uptrends and downtrends in issuance due to innovation and various other economic factors. Tech IPOs multiplied at the height of the dot-com boom as startups without revenues rushed to list themselves on the stock market. The 2008 financial crisis resulted in a year with the least number of IPOs. After the recession following the 2008 financial crisis, IPOs ground to a halt, and for some years after, new listings were rare. More recently, much of the IPO buzz has moved to a focus on so-called unicornsstartup companies that have reached private valuations of more than $1 billion. Investors and the media heavily speculate on these companies and their decision to go public via an IPO or stay private. The Initial Public Offering (IPO) Process An IPO comprehensively consists of two parts. The first is the pre-marketing phase of the offering, while the second is the initial public offering itself. When a company is interested in an IPO, it will advertise to underwriters by soliciting private bids or it can also make a public statement to generate interest. The underwriters lead the IPO process and are chosen by the company. A company may choose one or several underwriters to manage different parts of the IPO process collaboratively. The underwriters are involved in every aspect of the IPO due diligence, document preparation, filing, marketing, and issuance. Steps to an IPO 1. Proposals Underwriters present proposals and valuations discussing their services, the best type of security to issue, offering price, amount of shares, and estimated time frame for the market offering. 2. Underwriter The company chooses its underwriters and formally agrees to underwrite terms through an underwriting agreement. 3. Team IPO teams are formed comprising underwriters, lawyers, certified public accountants (CPAs), and Securities and Exchange Commission (SEC) experts. 4. Documentation Information regarding the company is compiled for required IPO documentation. The S-1 Registration Statement is the primary IPO filing document. It has two partsthe prospectus and the privately held filing information. The S-1 includes preliminary information about the expected date of the filing. It will be revised often throughout the pre-IPO process. The included prospectus is also revised continuously. 5. Marketing & Updates Marketing materials are created for pre-marketing of the new stock issuance. Underwriters and executives market the share issuance to estimate demand and establish a final offering price. Underwriters can make revisions to their financial analysis throughout the marketing process. This can include changing the IPO price or issuance date as they see fit. Companies take the necessary steps to meet specific public share offering requirements. Companies must adhere to both exchange listing requirements and SEC requirements for public companies. 6. Board & Processes Form a board of directors and ensure processes for reporting auditable financial and accounting information every quarter. 7. Shares Issued The company issues its shares on an IPO date. Capital from the primary issuance to shareholders is received as cash and recorded as stockholders' equity on the balance sheet. Subsequently, the balance sheet share value becomes dependent on the companys stockholders' equity per share valuation comprehensively. 8. Post IPO Some post-IPO provisions may be instituted. Underwriters may have a specified time frame to buy an additional amount of shares after the initial public offering (IPO) date. Meanwhile, certain investors may be subject to quiet periods. Advantages and Disadvantages of an IPO The primary objective of an IPO is to raise capital for a business. It can also come with other advantages, but also disadvantages. Advantages One of the key advantages is that the company gets access to investment from the entire investing public to raise capital. This facilitates easier acquisition deals (share conversions) and increases the companys exposure, prestige, and public image, which can help the companys sales and profits. Increased transparency that comes with required quarterly reporting can usually help a company receive more favorable credit borrowing terms than a private company. Disadvantages Companies may confront several disadvantages to going public and potentially choose alternative strategies. Some of the major disadvantages include the fact that IPOs are expensive, and the costs of maintaining a public company are ongoing and usually unrelated to the other costs of doing business. Fluctuations in a company's share price can be a distraction for management which may be compensated and evaluated based on stock performance rather than real financial results. As well, the company becomes required to disclose financial, accounting, tax, and other business information. During these disclosures, it may have to publicly reveal secrets and business methods that could help competitors. Rigid leadership and governance by the board of directors can make it more difficult to retain good managers willing to take risks. Remaining private is always an option. Instead of going public, companies may also solicit bids for a buyout. Additionally, there can be some alternatives that companies may explore. Pros Can raise additional funds in the future through secondary offerings Attracts and retains better management and skilled employees through liquid stock equity participation (e.g. ESOPs) IPOs can give a company a lower cost of capital for both equity and debt Cons Significant legal, accounting, and marketing costs arise, many of which are ongoing Increased time, effort, and attention required of management for reporting There is a loss of control and stronger agency problems IPO Alternatives Direct Listing A direct listing is when an IPO is conducted without any underwriters. Direct listings skip the underwriting process, which means the issuer has more risk if the offering does not do well, but issuers also may benefit from a higher share price. A direct offering is usually only feasible for a company with a well-known brand and an attractive business. Dutch Auction In a Dutch auction, an IPO price is not set. Potential buyers can bid for the shares they want and the price they are willing to pay. The bidders who were willing to pay the highest price are then allocated the shares available. Investing in an Initial Public Offering (IPO) When a company decides to raise money via an IPO it is only after careful consideration and analysis that this particular exit strategy will maximize the returns of early investors and raise the most capital for the business. Therefore, when the IPO decision is reached, the prospects for future growth are likely to be high, and many public investors will line up to get their hands on some shares for the first time. IPOs are usually discounted to ensure sales, which makes them even more attractive, especially when they generate a lot of buyers from the primary issuance. Initially, the price of the IPO is usually set by the underwriters through their pre-marketing process. At its core, the IPO price is based on the valuation of the company using fundamental techniques. The most common technique used is discounted cash flow, which is the net present value of the companys expected future cash flows. Underwriters and interested investors look at this value on a per-share basis. Other methods that may be used for setting the price include equity value, enterprise value, comparable firm adjustments, and more. The underwriters do factor in demand but they also typically discount the price to ensure success on the IPO day. It can be quite hard to analyze the fundamentals and technicals of an IPO issuance. Investors will watch news headlines but the main source for information should be the prospectus, which is available as soon as the company files its S-1 Registration. The prospectus provides a lot of useful information. Investors should pay special attention to the management team and their commentary as well as the quality of the underwriters and the specifics of the deal. Successful IPOs will typically be supported by big investment banks that can promote a new issue well. Overall, the road to an IPO is a very long one. As such, public investors building interest can follow developing headlines and other information along the way to help supplement their assessment of the best and potential offering price. The pre-marketing process typically includes demand from large private accredited investors and institutional investors, which heavily influence the IPOs trading on its opening day. Investors in the public dont become involved until the final offering day. All investors can participate but individual investors specifically must have trading access in place. The most common way for an individual investor to get shares is to have an account with a brokerage platform that itself has received an allocation and wishes to share it with its clients. Performance of an Initial Public Offering (IPO) Several factors may affect the return from an IPO which is often closely watched by investors. Some IPOs may be overly-hyped by investment banks which can lead to initial losses. However, the majority of IPOs are known for gaining in short-term trading as they become introduced to the public. There are a few key considerations for IPO performance. Lock-Up If you look at the charts following many IPOs, you'll notice that after a few months the stock takes a steep downturn. This is often because of the expiration of the lock-up period. When a company goes public, the underwriters make company insiders such as officials and employees sign a lock-up agreement. Lock-up agreements are legally binding contracts between the underwriters and insiders of the company, prohibiting them from selling any shares of stock for a specified period. The period can range anywhere from three to 24 months. Ninety days is the minimum period stated under Rule 144 (SEC law) but the lock-up specified by the underwriters can last much longer. The problem is, when lockups expire, all the insiders are permitted to sell their stock. The result is a rush of people trying to sell their stock to realize their profit. This excess supply can put severe downward pressure on the stock price. Waiting Periods Some investment banks include waiting periods in their offering terms. This sets aside some shares for purchase after a specific period. The price may increase if this allocation is bought by the underwriters and decrease if not. Flipping Flipping is the practice of reselling an IPO stock in the first few days to earn a quick profit. It is common when the stock is discounted and soars on its first day of trading. Tracking Stocks Closely related to a traditional IPO is when an existing company spins off a part of the business as its standalone entity, creating tracking stocks. The rationale behind spin-offs and the creation of tracking stocks is that in some cases individual divisions of a company can be worth more separately than as a whole. For example, if a division has high growth potential but large current losses within an otherwise slowly growing company, it may be worthwhile to carve it out and keep the parent company as a large shareholder then let it raise additional capital from an IPO. From an investors perspective, these can be interesting IPO opportunities. In general, a spin-off of an existing company provides investors with a lot of information about the parent company and its stake in the divesting company. More information available for potential investors is usually better than less and so savvy investors may find good opportunities from this type of scenario. Spin-offs can usually experience less initial volatility because investors have more awareness. IPOs Over the Long-Term IPOs are known for having volatile opening day returns that can attract investors looking to benefit from the discounts involved. Over the long term, an IPO's price will settle into a steady value, which can be followed by traditional stock price metrics like moving averages. Investors who like the IPO opportunity but may not want to take the individual stock risk may look into managed funds focused on IPO universes. What is the purpose of an initial public offering (IPO)? An IPO is essentially a fundraising method used by large companies, in which the company sells its shares to the public for the first time. Following an IPO, the companys shares are traded on a stock exchange. Some of the main motivations for undertaking an IPO include: raising capital from the sale of the shares, providing liquidity to company founders and early investors, and taking advantage of a higher valuation. Can anybody invest in an IPO? Oftentimes, there will be more demand than supply for a new IPO. For this reason, there is no guarantee that all investors interested in an IPO will be able to purchase shares. Those interested in participating in an IPO may be able to do so through their brokerage firm, although access to an IPO can sometimes be limited to a firms larger clients. Another option is to invest through a mutual fund or another investment vehicle that focuses on IPOs. Ben Dunne says business is booming at his gyms, but he is putting on hold further expansion plans, as he believes expensive retail rents will slump in the next 18 months. In an interview, he said he sold 600,000 in supplements last year through vending machines at his gyms. Business is booming. We are trading extremely well at the moment, with overall sales reaching almost 11m last year, he said. The gyms posted an operating profit of 3.7m last year, he said. He confirmed, however, he had sold three gyms in the UK after deciding it would be difficult to make a breakthrough into the big time in Britain. We were never going to play in the First Division over there. We were always going to be a small player. If you were not going to play at the top-class level in the UK, you are as well off out of it, he said, claiming he had broken even on the exit deal. The vending machines selling supplements and energy drinks at his gyms in Ireland made 600,000 in sales last year. Mr Dunne has established a company that sells the supplements, Ben Dunne Supplements Ltd. The vending business is growing like mad. On last years turnover of 600,000, we made 60,000 to 70,000 in operating profits. It is in its infancy. It is going to expand and be a big, big thing and we hope to grow it into a 1.5m-a-year business and account for 8% of turnover. Mr Dunne confirmed he will open two new gyms, at Limerick and Portlaoise, this year, but is holding off on further expansion plans, because he thinks rents are too high. A lot of people dont realise what is happening in retail and there is going to be so much vacant space in retail parks within 18 months that you will be able to pick up space for practically nothing. We could expand very quickly at the moment, but I would be paying a premium on rents that are going to drop very quickly, because of what is happening in retail, he said. It is a waiting game and there are plenty of offers around, but the prices are not the right price for us, said Mr Dunne. He said his gyms have 49,000 members. He said: We are getting over 3m visits a year or around 60,000 visits a week. Danones yogurt business is finally showing signs of a turnaround, while its baby foods business is tapping huge growth in China. The Paris-based companys revenue climbed 5% on a like-for-like basis in the first three months, the fastest first-quarter growth in five years and above analyst expectations. Danone makes baby food in Cork and Wexford. The industry supplying infant formula to China is hugely important for Irish dairy industry and between Danone and Nestle supports hundreds of jobs here this country supplies 20% of the worlds infant formula and is the second-biggest exporter to China. Based on 2016 figures, exports of Irish baby food amounted to at least 1.2bn. The gains were bolstered by an improvement in Danones dairy arm, which has been a drag on growth, as infant-formula sales raced ahead. The shares were up 2.5%, valuing Danone at 45.9bn. Analysts at Davy said the first-quarter update showed it had achieved progress. Led by sales in China, its baby foods division is expected to continue to grow strongly, Davy said, before growth slows in the second-half of the year. In summary, the risk-reward profile is becoming more favourable at Danone, but will likely leave its forecasts unchanged, the broker said. The companys essential dairy- and plant-based unit, outside North America, returned to growth as a revamp of its Activia line showed its first results. In Europe, the business is still in decline, though it is getting better, according to chief financial officer, Cecile Cabanis. Were seeing consistent sequential progress in Europe, she told reporters. In China, infant-formula sales surged more than 50%. Demand has been ramping up amid higher birth rates and a growing middle class looking for foreign-made products. Danone is still benefiting from the peak of births in 2016, though that will slow down throughout the year, as market demand normalises, especially in the second-half, Ms Cabanis said. The dairy- and plant-based business is gradually improving, just as baby-food growth is expected to slow, said Alain Oberhuber, an analyst at MainFirst Bank. If dairy continues to go well in Europe and North America, it could help offset that slowdown. In addition to the revenue growth, volume gained 1.1% in the quarter, beating estimates that called for a decline. The performance gives Danone a boost, after the company was said to have been targeted last year by activist fund, Corvex Management. Danone turned in a very positive set of figures, driven by its peerless position in China infant nutrition, said Jon Cox, an analyst at Kepler Cheuvreux. The company acquired soy-milk maker, WhiteWave, for $10bn (8bn) last year, after years of weakness in Danones largest business line, yogurt and fresh dairy. Ms Cabanis said the company may look at strategic options for the struggling fresh-food business it acquired in the WhiteWave deal. Danone sold about two-thirds of its stake in Japans Yakult for about $1.6bn last month, and will use the proceeds to reduce its debt ratio and invest to accelerate organic growth. Bloomberg and Irish Examiner Cocaine thought to be worth almost 100,000 has been seized at Dublin Airport. Revenue officers stopped and searched a man who had arrived on a flight from Addis Ababa last Sunday. By Gordon Deegan The Limerick mother who risked her own life in giving evidence against members of the Dundon crime gang walked free from court today over a Penneys theft. At Ennis District Court, April Collins left court after Judge Patrick Durcan struck out the theft charge against the mother of five. In court, Ms Collins pleaded guilty to stealing a boys jacket valued at 23 contrary to Section 4 of the Criminal Justice (Theft and Fraud Offences) Act from Penneys in Ennis on July 28 last. Insp Tom Kennedy told the court that Ms Collins has no previous convictions for theft but has 61 previous convictions relating to road traffic. Insp Kennedy said that Ms Collins has the money for the jacket now in court and has paid over the 23. Solicitor for Ms Collins, Tara Godfrey said that her client is a mother of five and is aged 30. Judge Durcan said that in light of Ms Collins paying over the cost of the jacket and having no previous theft convictions, he would strike the matter out. However, Judge Durcan warned Ms Collins: If you come back to court and something is proved against you, it will be a different kettle of fish. In 2013 Ms Collins helped bring down the Dundon crime gang. Her evidence in the Shane Geoghegan murder trial saw John Dundon jailed for life. She also gave evidence against his brother Wayne Dundon who was subsequently jailed for life for the murder of innocent businessman Roy Collins. By Ann O'Loughlin A 43-year old mother of two who has terminal cervical cancer has launched a High Court action after it emerged her smear test seven years ago which showed no abnormalities was later in a review found to be incorrect. Vicky Phelan's counsel told the High Court yesterday if her cervical cancer had been detected in 2011 when she had that smear test the young mother could have had a simple procedure and there was a 90% chance she could have been cured. Jeremy Maher SC said experts on the Phelan side will say she would not have developed invasive cancer and would have survived into her 80s, but she will die by the end of the year "Tragically her prognosis is twelve months. On January 29 this year Ms Phelan was given between six months and twelve months to live," Counsel told Mr Justice Kevin Cross. He added:" She should have another forty years to look forward to but she has a couple of months." But he said the mother who has recently started on new drug has not given up and is hoping to be accepted on to a US programme offer radical innovative treatment. In the action by Ms Phelan and her husband Jim there is also a claim for aggravated and exemplary damages over the alleged failure to tell Ms Phelan for three years that a review of her 2011 smear test showed the original result of no abnormalities was incorrect. University educational manager Vicky Phelan, of Carrigeen, Annacotty, Co Limerick along with her husband Jim Phelan has sued the HSE and Clinical Pathology Laboratories Inc of Austin, Texas in the US over a smear test taken under the National Cervical Screening Programme CervicalCheck and analysed in the US laboratory. The smear test of May 24, 2011, showed no abnormality was detected and Ms Phelan was advised by letter in June 2011 the smear test detected no abnormalities. She had another smear test in June 2014 and when it was sent off for analysis it showed a high-grade lesion and Ms Phelan was referred to a consultant. In July of that year, Ms Phelan was diagnosed with cervical cancer and underwent radical chemoradiotherapy. It is claimed that subsequent to her cancer diagnosis and unknown to her a review was carried out of previous smear tests from women who had a cancer diagnosis. A review of the May 2011 sample from Ms Phelan showed the original report in relation to the smear was incorrect and the smear test showed suspected cancerous cells. In September 2017, Ms Phelan was advised of the review and in November she was diagnosed with an incurable Stage 4 cancer and was given a life expectancy of between six and twelve months. It is claimed the alleged failure to diagnose the 2011 smear test sample caused a situation whereby Ms Phelan's cancer was allowed to develop and spread unidentified, unmonitored and untreated until she was diagnosed with cancer in July 2014. It is further claimed she was deprived of the opportunity of timely and effective investigation and management of her condition and deprived of the opportunity of treatment at a time when her disease was amenable to curative treatment. The claims are denied. Opening the case Jeremy Maher SC for the Phelans said an expert on their side will say there were plentiful abnormal cells in the 2011 smear sample and the failure to identify them allegedly amounted to a clear breach of duty.Counsel said Vicky Phelan was reassured when she was told there were no abnormalities and she would not need a check for another three years. In 2014 Ms Phielan was called for a smear test but Counsel said it was very bad news. and she was referred to a consultant for what counsel described as a series of invasive treatments. She generally felt well in 2015 and 2016 but reattended in September 2017 for a CT scan and Counsel said at this stage she was told of an audit of cervical smears from 2011 which was carried out in 2014. "For the first time she was made aware the smear test report of 2011 was incorrect and in fact, it was an incorrect result," Mr Maher said. The case before Mr Justice Kevin Cross continues. Limerick mum tells of cancer battle Mother of two Vicky Phelan who is dying of cancer yesterday told the High Court she hopes she will be accepted into a US programme offering ground breaking treatment. The 43-year-old mum who has already raised 200,000 through a GoFund Me page is hoping that she will get a place on the treatment programme. Vicky was given the tragic news last January that without palliative chemotherapy she has just six months to live and with the chemotherapy about twelve months. She told the High court she had already previously been through 28 sessions of radiotherapy for her cervical cancer and it was very hard for her and her family particularly her children Amelia (12 ) and Darragh(7). I had 28 sessions of radiation to the pelvis, I was in a lot of pain. They told me the chance of it recurring were very high.I always knew it would come back I was very worried. It is very hard to live with that", she told Mr Justice Kevin Cross cross. She said at a meeting with a consultant last January the consultant was very blunt and told her to put her affairs in order. I got no hope I was told to go home and get my affairs in order and that all they could offer was palliative care. She said she was by herself at the time." She has opted not to have palliative chemotherapy. The side effects are awful. I was lucky first time around I didnt lose my hair Hair is very important to my son in particular, she said as she broke down in tears. She told how she sought a second opinion and asked about a new type of drug which she started just last week. With this drug, I am getting more time, but not cured," she said. She is also hoping to travel the US for innovative groundbreaking treatment which is successful could potentially cure her cancer. The treatment travel and time spent in the US will cost in the region of $400,000. She said it was her intention if she won damages in the High Court to repay the donations already made in the Go Fund Me page. She said she was not aware for three years of the 2014 review of her smear test from 2011 which showed the result of no abnormalities was incorrect and said her first reaction was "cover-up". "I found out about it in September 2017.I was in shock when I was told. I am angry, extremely angry. If I was diagnosed I probably would have had to have a procedure and at worsen a hysterectomy." she said. She added: " If I was told sooner I would not be in a position of a terminal cancer diagnosis." With global temperatures rising at an alarming rate, the race is on to lower the worlds consumption of fossil fuels and accelerate the adoption of greener forms of energy. Among the most discussed remedies are those that would use market forces to make traditional fuels more expensive; ideas include putting a price on carbon and protecting natural resources that remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere. At first glance, market-based strategies might seem appealing. After all, as economist Adam Smith noted in The Wealth of Nations: It is not from the benevolence of the butcher, the brewer, or the baker that we expect our dinner, but from their regard to their own interest. In other words, the best way to convince emitters, such as Chevron or General Motors to help save the planet must be to appeal to their profit motive, right? Not necessarily. While free markets may have steered much of the world toward a wealthier, healthier future, placing our faith in Smiths invisible hand to win the fight against climate change would be a tragic mistake. In a capitalist economy, our relationship with the future is guided by economic forces that are notoriously fickle. Commodities such as sugar, soybeans, oil, and gas are relatively standardised, meaning they can be traded instantly and globally through the use of derivative contracts, but because these contracts price in assumptions about the future, commodity prices can fluctuate wildly and that variability complicates environmental planning in three important ways. For starters, price unpredictability makes it virtually impossible to detect the depletion of natural resources merely by looking at short-term changes in value. On the contrary, the more uncertainty there is about the scarcity of a resource, the greater the price swing, which only compounds the planning difficulty. As the French mathematician Nicolas Bouleau observed in a 2013 paper, markets cannot spell out trends; it is absolutely impossible on an ontological level. If resource-related trends were discernible from outcomes in financial markets, those who could see them would trade accordingly and the trends would disappear. Secondly, uncertainty about the future price of any commodity makes it exceedingly risky for producers to invest in whatever new technologies might help reduce greenhouse-gas emissions. For most producers and consumers, it usually makes more economic sense to maintain the status quo than to change their habits, even if they know that the status quo will be disastrous for the environment. Finally, though its possible to put a price tag on precious but non-marketable natural resources such as the capacity of a boreal forest to absorb atmospheric CO2 the price fluctuations for resources that can be traded make most conservation strategies untenable in the long run. Thats because, at some point, the volatile price of the tradable resource will exceed the fixed cost of destroying it. The pressure to plunder can be especially strong when a combustible resource is found. As Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau conceded at a March 2017 energy conference in Houston, Texas, no country would find 173 billion barrels of oil in the ground and just leave them there. Financial volatility is like a super-storm on an already-warming planet. Not only does it make it impossible to see what lies ahead; it is itself also a force of environmental devastation, leaving irreparable damage in its wake. Market volatility is ill-suited to environmental cycles, as MITs Janelle Knox-Hayes puts it. Economic systems recover from market turmoil in time. Environmental systems do not have the same luxury; their cycles of reproduction are inflexible. Ecological devastation should be expensive, and the world no doubt needs workable strategies to move people away from dirty sources of energy toward greener, more sustainable alternatives, but to defer to markets to overcome the environmental woes of capitalism is a blueprint for disappointment and a recipe for planetary suicide. Ivan Ascher is an associate professor of political science at the University of Wisconsin-Milwaukee. He is the author of Portfolio Society: On the Capitalist Mode of Prediction. Copyright: Project Syndicate, 2018. A plane was forced to make an emergency landing in the US yesterday after smoke billowed from one of its engines. The Delta flight from Atlanta to London returned to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport where the flight's 274 passengers and 14 crew members were evacuated. The smoke was reported coming out of the right engine of the Airbus A330 N822NW at around 6pm, less than 30 minutes after it took off. Passengers took video of the thick white smoke streaming from the aircraft as emergency crews attempted to put the blaze out. The passengers and crew were eventually allowed to get back on to the plane after it was towed to the gate. Atlanta Fire Department spokesman Sgt. Cortez Stafford confirmed crews had responded to a fire on a Delta Airlines jet yesterday afternoon. Sgt. Stafford said: Delta flight 30 from Atlanta to London returned to Hartsfield-Jackson Atlanta International Airport on Wednesday after an issue with its number 2 engine. The flight landed without incident and airport response vehicles met the aircraft upon arrival. The airplane was towed to the gate, where customers deplaned through the jetway and will be accommodated on a different aircraft. The safety of our customers and crew is always our top priority and we apologize to our customers on this flight. It comes one day after an engine on a Southwest airplane exploded in mid-air killing one woman who was almost sucked out of the plane at 32,000ft. - Digital Desk The woman told the Neil Prendeville show, on Corks Red FM, that she was at an anniversary Mass in a church in the Diocese of Cork and Ross last Saturday night when the priest decided to read the bishops letter about the forthcoming referendum in its entirety. She said she has great respect for Bishop John Buckley and was quite willing to sit through the letter. However, her personal difficulties with the Mass arose when the priest mentioned that a speaker would be coming up to the altar after communion to talk about the abortion referendum. Under the rules, internet firms will face greater restrictions on what they can do with an individuals online information. The move is detailed in the EUs general data protection regulation law, which will come into force on May 25. It was expected that the law would offer greater protection to people in Europe as well as Africa, Asia, Australia, and South America because of linked laws due to be introduced in response to the EU decision. However, in a statement yesterday, Facebook confirmed that non-EU areas will not fall under the EU laws protection due to measures taken by the company. The move is unlikely to affect Irish users of the site. However, it is expected the change will affect more than two thirds of Facebooks worldwide users, causing fresh problems for the company whose European base is in Dublin. In a statement yesterday, Facebook played down the importance of the terms of service change, saying it plans to make the privacy controls and settings EU citizens will get under the new law available to the rest of the world. We apply the same privacy protections everywhere, regardless of whether your agreement is with Facebook Inc or Facebook Ireland, the company said. However, the lack of certainty on what protections will be in place has led to fresh questions from politicians and interest groups over the level of data protection and privacy on Facebook. News of the development comes after Facebook chief executive Mark Zuckerberg and senior officials were grilled in the US, Britain, and Ireland over the use of individuals private information. In public meetings with politicians in all three countries, Facebook representatives said they were taking all appropriate steps to protect individuals data and to ensure it is not misused or accessed without the permission of that person. The questioning was based on revelations the November 2016 election of US president Donald Trump and the June 2016 Brexit vote in Britain may have been influenced by data firm Cambridge Analytica, which allegedly accessed Facebook users data in order to encourage them to vote certain ways. Because Facebooks European base is in Dublin, Ireland is seen as being a key player in addressing the ongoing data protection issues at the social media giant. Speaking to the Dail communications committee earlier this week, Facebook vice-president of global public policy, John Kaplan, said the company believes up to 87m peoples information was wrongly accessed by Cambridge Analytica. Mr Kaplan said that while most of the people impacted by the data breach were predominantly in the US, up to 44,687 people in Ireland may have been impacted. Its clear now that we didnt do enough to prevent these tools from being used for harm as well, he said. We didnt take a broad enough view of our responsibility, and that was a mistake. Its not enough to give people control of their information, we have to make sure that developers who get users consent to access data are protecting it too. Judge Marie Keane said: These are very serious offences all the more serious because it is clear they were premeditated. These ladies travelled from Dublin for the purpose of engaging in a crime spree in Cork. A particularly aggravating factor is that a number of the victims were elderly ladies simply going about their Christmas shopping. Denise Hudson, of 32 Upper Wellington St, Phibsboro, Dublin, was sentenced to a total of six months imprisonment, suspended on condition that she would not commit any further offences for the next 12 months. Judge Keane said: These are appalling offences to commit against elderly people going about their business and to travel down to Cork for that purpose. Hudson, aged 38, pleaded guilty to multiple shoplifting charges arising out of the crime spree last December. The defendants mother, Margaret Ward, aged 57, of 21 Upper South Earl St, Dublin, was jailed for nine months earlier this year for her part in the crimes. Frank Buttimer, solicitor, said on behalf of Hudson yesterday at Cork District Court: The whole scheme was devised by her mother who has a significant track record. I am not here to blacken anyone else but that does seem to be the reality of the situation. There is no gain saying it was a dreadfully bad incident. Inspector Ronan Kennelly said that while Hudson was pleading guilty to thefts of goods from shops, there was evidence that she was acting in consort with her mother and rummaging through purses taken from elderly shoppers. Details from the victim impact statements were disclosed in January when the defendants mother was being sentenced: Whilst I was doing some Christmas shopping in Penneys in Cork on Saturday, December 16, a woman tried to steal my purse from my bag. Luckily, I felt her at my bag and challenged her along with my daughter. The purse was dropped on the ground and the woman left. My daughter and I went for something to eat but neither of us could eat as we were in such a state. I was thinking what could have happened and that the money I had saved all year to buy presents for my grandchildren could have been taken by somebody who targeted me, simply because I am 87, have Parkinsons, and was in her eyes, an easy touch. The settlement offer from the Motor Insurance Bureau of Ireland was approved by Mr Justice Michael Hanna at the High Court sitting in Cork. Tom Creed, counsel for Anna Hurley, mother of the late Richard Cambridge, said: This is a fatal claim arising out of a road traffic accident. The plaintiffs son, Richard Anthony Cambridge, lost his life when travelling in a car driven by Roy OHerlihy. The deceased was just 21. Mr Justice Hanna said he was happy to approve the settlement. It is a tragic case. It is a case with huge difficulties. My sympathies to the plaintiff. OHerlihy, of Thomas Kent Park, The Glen, Cork, was sentenced yesterday to three years in jail with the second half of the sentence suspended at Cork Circuit Criminal Court back in 2011 for dangerous driving causing the death of Mr Cambridge at Ballyhooley Road, Ballyvolane, Cork, on March 21 2010. Detective Sergeant Kieran OSullivan said the defendant stole the car after drinking all night and picked up the deceased as a passenger. Through speed and intoxication he crashed head-on into an oncoming taxi. The defendant spent months in hospital getting treatment for injuries to both legs. The taxi driver was uninjured. In the sentencing hearing at the time, Judge Sean O Donnabhain said: As a judge who hears all sorts of cases the most heart-breaking are dangerous driving causing death where young people of previous good character and future good character one is dead and the other has his life blighted by a conviction and sentence. The family [of the deceased] have spoken nobly, they are not in any way vindictive. Forget about the psychobabble you read in newspapers about closure, there is never closure if your son or brother is killed in a car at four oclock in the morning, the hurt will never go away. Separately, RTE confirmed it would hold two live TV abortion debates and Fine Gael referendum co-ordinator, Josepha Madigan, was verbally attacked by pro-life supporters as she left the Dail yesterday. Speaking to reporters at the official launch of their referendum campaign, Loveboth spokeswoman Cora Sherlock said the debate has become so sanitised it is regarded by some as extreme to describe what is being proposed, even in the mildest way. Ms Sherlock told an audience of 60 people in Dublin that voters are entitled to know what a vote to repeal would mean, and its certainly not restrictive abortion that they would be voting for. A vote for repeal is a vote for one of the deadliest abortion laws ever proposed. Its a proposal that obliterates the right to life of unborn babies and makes little attempt to hide that fact. The Governments proposal opens the door to these barbaric procedures. Asked about accusations that the pro-life movement uses language intended to shock, Ms Sherlock said: Abortion is shocking. It ends the life of a baby. The LoveBoth launch which included a video of the former NHS nurse, Theresa Moylan, talking about her experiences of abortion in the UK took place as RTE confirmed it would hold two live TV debates in the run-up to the referendum. Members and supporters of Love Both at the campaign launch which took place in Dublin today. Pic John Mc Elroy. The debates will be of a similar format to those held in the weeks before the 2015 marriage-equality referendum. While no dates have been agreed, RTE officials are planning to broadcast the programmes in the final two weeks of the campaign, on Prime Time and Claire Byrne Live. Meanwhile, the Irish Examiner understands that Culture Minister Josepha Madigan was harangued by pro-life supporters outside the Dail yesterday, before a garda intervened. Ms Madigan was approached by a number of people as she left the Kildare St entrance to Leinster House at midday, and was accused of being a baby killer. A number of campaigners followed her up Kildare St, shouting abuse and videoing her on their phones, before a garda intervened. While Ms Madigan continued with her work, officials aware of the situation said she was shook by what happened. The Independent minister admitted he told the PR official for INM he was likely to refer the companys takeover of Celtic Media to the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland (BAI). But this was two months before the decision went public. The minister said this had been his personal opinion. Opposition-party TDs quizzed Mr Naughten about the issue yesterday in the Dail. Mr Naughten insisted he had acted to the letter of the law and given no insider information away. He said he took a call on November 10 or 11, 2016, on his mobile phone from Eoghan O Neachtain, a former government press secretary, who was acting on behalf of PR agency Heneghan for INM. The minister then was assessing a proposed INM takeover of newspapers owned by Celtic Media. He told the Dail that it was always likely the deal would go to what is known as a phase II assessment, involving the BAI. During his call with Mr O Neachtain, the minister said it was his purely personal view that the likely course of action would be to refer the media deal to the BAI. He also said he had told Mr O Neachtain he would await advice from his officials. This was not passing on inside information, Mr Naughten told the Dail, insisting he had acted to the letter of the law. This is contrary to reports yesterday that the then-chairman of INM, Leslie Buckley, passed on the information to its major shareholder, businessman Denis OBrien, saying that the deal would in fact be referred to the BAI. It has also been reported that the corporate enforcement watchdog is concerned the minister may have breached stock-market rules by divulging inside information. Social Democrats TD Catherine Murphy asked why Mr Naughten did not reveal his opinion when answering a query on the media deal on December 6 that year. Sinn Fein leader Mary Lou McDonald claimed the phonecall was absolutely not appropriate. She suggested Mr Naughten had misled the Dail by not answering queries despite going on to tell the PR official his personal opinion on the deal. The minister rejected this, stating: I didnt willfully mislead the Dail. Fianna Fails Timmy Dooley last night also questioned was it acceptable for a Cabinet minister to act the way he did. I dont know how you divorce a personal and ministerial opinion, he told RTE. Mr Naughten also admitted he had taken no note of the phonecall or told his officials about it. Editorial: 12 Last November, the Ombudsman, Peter Tyndall, published a scathing a report into the scheme, which found that the Department of Justice had wrongly refused some Magdalene laundry survivors access to redress payments. He made four recommendations, principle among these that the department fully reconsider, with a view to accepting, the applications of women who worked in one of the listed Magdalene Laundries but who were registered on the books of a training centre or industrial school in the same building attached to, or located on, the grounds of the laundry. Speaking in the Dail yesterday, Taoiseach Leo Varadkar confirmed that this review would take place but made a commitment that all of these women would be included in the scheme and receive redress. This will happen within three months. We accept the Ombudsmans recommendation in that regard. There is a difference of opinion between the Ombudsman and the Department of Justice and Equality as to whether this would involve altering or changing the scheme, but I do not think that really matters. What is important is that the women affected receive redress and they will, he said. Central to the Ombudsmans investigation and findings was evidence uncovered by the Irish Examiner in June 2015 namely that evidence that An Grianan training centre and High Park Magdalene laundry in Drumcondra in Dublin were one and the same thing was uncovered by the HSE in 2012. Women in An Grianan and other institutions like it had been refused redress, even though they worked in the laundries, because they had been admitted to that institution directly rather than through the laundry. The view of the department and which was publicly stated on numerous occasions by previous justice minister Frances Fitzgerald was that An Grianan was a separate entity to the High Park laundry which served a different purpose. The Government also repeatedly defended the exclusion of the training centre from the scheme by stating it was included in the Residential Institutions Redress Board scheme (RIRB). The Ombudsman also called for a review of cases where there was a dispute over the length of time the a woman spent in a laundry. Mr Varadkar said this review, to be carried out by barrister Mary OToole, would start immediately and be done without unnecessary delay. Ms OToole will also advise the Government on women who lack capacity due to dementia or other reasons, including being wards of court and unable to accept an award because of a lack of capacity. The Ombudsmans report, published last November, following a year-long investigation and found the Department of Justice had wrongly refused some women access to redress by using an overly narrow interpretation of the scheme. The investigation found the Department was overly reliant on evidence and, often the word, of the religious congregations to the exclusion of other evidence. The personal testimony of survivors had been only considered as a last resort. The report said it was inexcusable a number of women lacking capacity who had been accepted to the scheme in 2013 had yet to receive redress payments. These women had been effectively forgotten due to a delay in fully enacting the Decision-Making (Capacity) Act. Seven have since died. News Aid Agencies Fear for Rohingya Refugees in Bangladeshs Island Relocation Plan View of the island of Bhasan Char in the Bay of Bengal, Bangladesh, Feb. 14, 2018. / Reuters PHNOM PENH Bangladesh has failed to persuade aid agencies to sign up to its plan to move 100,000 Rohingya refugees to a remote island in June, internal documents show, amid fears they could be trapped there at the mercy of cyclones, floods and human traffickers. Hundreds of thousands of refugees from neighboring Myanmar are living in crowded camps in Coxs Bazar district where they are threatened by flooding, disease and landslides with the monsoon season expected to start in the coming weeks. The government of Bangladesh has for months been developing Bhasan Char Island as an alternative location. However it has not allowed aid agencies to view conditions, and officials failed during an April 4 briefing to convince them it was safe. The Inter Sector Coordination Group (ISCG), which oversees the camps in Coxs Bazar under the leadership of the humanitarian agencies Strategic Executive Group (SEG), expressed deep caution about the plan. Basic questions of the islands habitability remain unanswered, the ISCG said in an April 10 paper, which has not previously been made public. Given the incompleteness of information shared by the government, the SEG should avoid the appearance of premature endorsement of the island as a viable alternative, it said. About 700,000 refugees have crossed into Bangladesh since Rohingya insurgents attacked state security forces on Aug. 25, sparking a military crackdown. Myanmar has repeatedly rejected evidence that its soldiers targeted civilians. Aid agencies are struggling to accommodate the refugees, and a March assessment by the United Nations refugee agency (UNHCR) said 203,000 people at risk of floods and landslides in the largest camp should be relocated. However, in their April 4 briefing, Bangladesh officials said that land is very scarce and no suitable land is available nearby the existing camps. Bhasan Char, which means Floating Island, emerged over the past two decades from sediment built up at the mouth of the Meghna River. The government has budgeted $280 million to turn it into a permanent landmass and a temporary home for refugees. Slides from the government presentation, seen by the Thomson Reuters Foundation, noted that 120 cyclone shelters would be built, along with 13 km (8 miles) of embankments to protect the island from flooding and being washed away. A summary of the April 4 briefing by Canadas mission to Bangladesh said work was expected to be sufficiently completed by the end of May, and 100,000 refugees brought there in June. In an internal report after the presentation, UNHCR said it remained concerned about whether proper cyclone and flood preparedness measures had been put in place, among other risks. The concentration of a vulnerable population in a restricted environment may lure trafficking networks and extremists to prey on refugees, said UNHCR. Its report also expressed concern that refugees would not be given a free and informed choice to relocate to the island, which might then constitute arbitrary detention. In emailed comments, UNHCR spokesman Firas Al-Khateeb said that there have also been no official consultations with refugees regarding their views. UNHCR is prepared to engage further with the government regarding the island, he added. The slides which were presented to humanitarian agencies and diplomats showed the government is also building office facilities for aid organizations, along with accommodation for refugees and security personnel. Bangladesh has asked the United Nations to support the relocation to Bhasan Char, said Fiona MacGregor, a spokeswoman in Coxs Bazar for the UN migration agency IOM. We are now in discussion over technical details, trying to better understand the conditions, she said in emailed comments. Speaking in London on Tuesday, Bangladesh Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina confirmed the plan to move 100,000 Rohingya refugees to Bhasan Char and dismissed fears that it would put them at the mercy of floods. We have prepared a better place for them to live, with houses and shelters where they can earn a living, she said. Burma Four Myanmar Workers Found Guilty In 2015 Killing Of Thai Woman Three of the convicted Myanmar men during the crime re-enactment that was staged after the murder in 2015 / Htoo Chit / Facebook CHIANG MAI, Thailand A provincial court in Ranong, Thailand, has found four Myanmar migrant workers guilty of charges related to the killing of a Thai woman in 2015 and on Thursday sentenced two of them to eight and six years imprisonment. The suspects Wai Lin, Sein Kadone, Moe Zin Aung and Kyaw Soe Win were arrested on Oct. 28, 2015 for the gruesome murder of a 17-year-old Thai woman, Orawee Sampaotong, a month earlier. They were charged with a total of five counts including murder. Sein Kadone was sentenced to eight years in prison while Wai Lin received six years, after the judge of the Ranong provincial court handed down the guilty verdicts. In addition, they were both ordered to pay fines of 570,000 baht. Moe Zin Aung and Kyaw Soe Win, who were both minors at the time of the crime, were sentenced to four and two years jail, respectively, by the Juvenile Court of Ranong. The court also ordered Moe Zin Aung to pay an 810,000 baht fine and Kyaw Soe Win to pay 270,000 baht. The final verdicts came two and half years after the foursomes initial arrest, and followed 76 court hearings. Kyaw Soe Win, 17, will be released from prison on Thursday as he has already served 2 years and five months in prison. He will be returned to Myanmar authorities and then to his home in Myeik Township, Tanintharyi Region. Moe Zin Aung will be released in eight months when he turns 18, according to his mother, Daw Ei Ei Moe, who said his birthday was on Dec. 3 After the verdict was issued, Daw Ei Ei Moe told The Irrawaddy that the ruling was unfair, as my son did not commit the crime. She blamed her sons naivete and his belief that he would be out of trouble if he did what the police told him to do during a crime re-enactment after they were arrested. It took about four, five, six days to do that crime re-enactment and they were beaten for not being able to perform it the way they had been taught, she said, insisting that her son and the other three were forced to plead guilty to a crime they did not commit. The mother said she could not believe the bad luck that had led to her son and the other migrant workers being arrested because the young men were usually on land for only 5-6 days a month as most of the time they were on fishing boats at sea. Moe Zin Aung had been working as part of a fishing crew for about a year when he was arrested, she said. The suspects defense lawyer will appeal the ruling, said U Min Oo, a migrant rights advocate at the Foundation for Education Development (FED), who has been helping with the case. I dont think the ruling was just, U Min Oo told The Irrawaddy, because most of the evidence presented by the prosecution was rejected as implausible. He said the defense lawyers presented key pieces of evidence in support of the mens innocence but to no avail, because blurred CCTV footage was accepted over clearer footage along with DNA evidence from the womans dead body that was incomplete. In addition, the four migrants were forced to confess under police torture during interrogation, he said. Daw Ei Ei Moe said that continuing the legal struggle would be worthwhile if it helped other Myanmar workers better understand the possible risks they faced in Thailand. If this case brings some awareness to other migrants [from Myanmar] about the dangers that they could face in Thailand, it will be worth it to appeal, she said. Myanmar migrants in Thailand have been seen as easy scapegoats for a string of crimes including the rape and murder of two tourists on Koh Tao Island in southern Thailand in 2014. Two Myanmar migrant workers were sentenced to death in December 2015 for the murder of the two British backpackers in September 2014. The verdict on their latest appeal has yet to be handed down. Burma UN Rights Envoy Retweets False Report of Amnesty for Soldiers Who Killed Rohingya UN human rights envoy to Myanmar Yanghee Lee takes questions from journalists at the end of her 12-day visit to the country in July 2017. / The Irrawaddy YANGON The UN Special Rapporteur on Human Rights in Myanmar Yanghee Lee on Wednesday retweeted a false news report that seven Myanmar military personnel jailed for taking part in a massacre of Rohingya had been released as part of the presidents New Years amnesty. Lee retweeted video footage from Myanmar National Television on her Twitter account on Wednesday, accompanied by the message, Where is justice? 7 Tadmadaw guilty of Inn Dinn massacre released but the 2 #Reuters journalists remain in prison? The name Tatmadaw refers to Myanmars military. The report later turned out to be false. The false report was first broadcast on Myanmar National Television on Wednesday, but was pulled off the air after an hour. MNTV is a government-affiliated broadcaster run by Sky Net. It is owned by Shwe Thanlwin Company, which is chaired by tycoon U Kyaw Win. Myanmar Presidents Office spokesman Zaw Htay told The Irrawaddy by telephone on Wednesday that the MNTV report was totally false. He confirmed that the military prisoners are still in jail. The news is not true, he said. They must apologize for it. MNTV on Thursday apologized for the false report in a post on its Facebook page. According to official documents, the New Years amnesty included 55 army deserters, 29 drug smugglers (including some Rakhine and Muslim convicts), and three people convicted of violating the Unlawful Associations Act. The MNTV report misstated that 97 prisoners from Sittwe prison has been pardoned, when in fact the total was 87. Pyone Kathy Naing, a Lower House National League for Democracy lawmaker, said it was wrong of Lee, as a high-profile UN official involved in solving the Rakhine crisis, to retweet misinformation, as it could have a negative impact on the situation. She shared the information without knowing whether or not it is true. So, it is very questionable whether she wants to tackle the complexity of the Rakhine issue, or is making it more difficult. Myanmar should make [an official] response, Pyone Kathy Naing said. Lee was not alone in spreading the fake news. Human rights group Fortify Rights also tweeted: #Myanmar state-run media announced that seven soldiers convicted for the massacre of #Rohingya in Inn Dinn were free yesterday in a presidential amnesty. Impunity reigns in Myanmar. The time for International Justice is Now. As of Thursday afternoon, Lee had not deleted the postwhich had been retweeted 60 timesfrom her twitter account. The human rights groups post had been taken down. The Myanmar Army sentenced the seven men to 10 years imprisonment for the extrajudicial killings in September of 10 Rohingya in the village of Inn Din in southern Maungdaw Township in the north of Rakhine State. Two local reporters working for Reuters who had investigated the killings have been detained since late last year and are now on trial for allegedly violating Myanmars Official Secrets Act. Lee has been barred from entering Myanmar since December. The government and military had complained that Lees reporting on the situation in Myanmar had been biased for about six months leading up to the ban. The special rapporteurs mandate requires two visits to Myanmar a year, in order to report to the Human Rights Council and the UN General Assembly. Since taking up the mandate in June 2014, Lee has visited Myanmar six times. Guest Column Rohingya Arrests in India Raise Fears Among Diaspora Activists of the National Panther Party burn tires and shout slogans during a protest in support of various demands, including deportation of Rohingya and Bangladeshi nationals from Jammu, in the state of Jammu and Kashmir, India, on April 11. / Reuters Sitting in his dilapidated house in Assam States Dhubri District, Asif wonders what fate has in store for him and the hundreds of other Rohingya who live on the fringes of survival across India. His worries are not unfounded, as there is the sense of increasing police surveillance of the countrys Rohingya population, especially after the arrests of eight Rohingya in the past month near the town of Moreh on the border with Myanmar. It remains unclear whether the men are human traffickers, as accused, or were merely trying to enter India illegally to settle. Perhaps they are among the roughly 700,000 Rohingya who have fled their homes in Myanmars Rakhine State mostly for Bangladesh after a military crackdown there triggered by militant Rohingya attacks on security posts in late August 2017. But the media in India are awash with stories virtually pronouncing at least two of the eight Rohingya, arrested on April 7 near Moreh, human traffickers. Many reports even claim that the two men identified as Md Saifullah, 34, and Md Salam, 25, from Rakhines Maungdaw Township were trying to sell a 20-year-old woman. Manipur State police on Monday told The Irrawaddy that so far nothing is clear, and that the arrested men were only suspected of trafficking. Tengnoupal District Police Superintendent S. Ibomcha said the 20-year-old woman, also from Maungdaw, may even be the wife of one of the suspects. She was brought before a local court earlier this week because she did not have any travel documents with her when arrested along with the two men. Soon after the April 7 arrest, two more men were apprehended on suspicion of being part of the same group. But as with the other arrests, there is no solid evidence of trafficking. Manipur police have launched an investigation to get to the truth. But that has not stopped the rumor mill from turning, which makes Rohingya living in India that much more vulnerable to abuse and exploitation, even for political ends. Members of Manipurs civil society, including Womens Action for Development and the United NGOs Mission Manipur (UNMM), are concerned that the Rohingya are being painted by some as a terrorist threat to justify keeping the controversial Armed Forces (Special Powers) Act on the books. The law took effect in Manipur in 1980 because of the states history with militant groups, though critics say it has often been used to shield human rights abuses by the security forces. The Indian Army, the Assam Rifles and the Manipur Police all enjoy special protection under the law. Still, in July, the Supreme Court ordered the Central Bureau of Investigation to probe allegations that they had carried out extrajudicial killings. Between 2000 and 2012, 1,528 people were killed in encounters with the states security forces. Nabakishore, who heads the UNMM, says the military is always looking for a reason to justify the continued need for the Special Powers Act, especially when New Delhi is under pressure to scrap it. He recalled a claim from a retired general a few months ago that the Islamic State was attempting to establish itself in northeast India and that a stateless community like the Rohingya could become easy prey for recruiters. Such claims that the countrys estimated 40,000 Rohingya pose a security threat, even if they have no connections to any terrorist organization, are being promoted by government officials and right-wing groups pushing for their deportation to Myanmar. So it is not without reason that Asif and others like him fear for their lives or falling victim to traffickers and terrorists. I asked Asif if he feared getting deported or detained for questioning. He replied that his greatest fear was of being trapped between traffickers, smugglers, unknown people and cops. Its easy, because the human traffickers are our very own people and are part of a brutal human trafficking syndicate that has its tentacles spread out all over the region. Far away, his fears were echoed by another young Rohingya man. Aziz, who works as a roti seller in Bangkok, said he feared being trapped between the traffickers and the cops. Their fears are not misplaced. Reports of the mass graves that were unearthed in a squalid jungle camp in southern Thailand in 2015, where hundreds of Rohingya migrants had been brutally exploited, are still fresh in their minds. The related arrest of a senior Thai army general was widely reported, as was the involvement of police, Rohingya traffickers and a former provincial official turned prominent businessman. After a historic two-year trial, the 500-page verdict issued on July 19 by the Bangkok Criminal Court included convictions against the three-star general, the former official and 60 others for trafficking Rohingya from Myanmar and Bangladesh to Thailand. Yet Rohingya men and women remain vulnerable. Asif and Aziz say they feel as though nothing has changed There is the danger of getting caught by traffickers and falling prey like so many of our people everywhere, Aziz said. He soon warned that I should not be seen talking to him lest it attract the attention of boidmaish manush, or bad people. Those closely tracking the spread of human trafficking networks in the Rohingya community say that a Myanmar Muslim suspected of having played a key role the previous trafficking of Rohingya and Bangladeshis into Thailands notorious fishing industry was still active and exploiting the latest flood of refugees. Recent months have seen news reports of young boys going missing from the sprawling Rohingya refugee camps in Bangladeshs Coxs Bazar District, and of international humanitarian agencies warning of expanding trafficking networks in the camps. In November, the International Organization for Migration told AFP that human trafficking in the camps was rife. Rohingya are surely the most exploited stateless community today and their situation is only getting worse. Myanmar refuses to recognize them as an ethnic group, denying the vast majority of them a path to citizenship, or to provide them much protection from abuse by the military and Buddhist nationalists. Until it does, Rohingya both in Myanmar and neighboring countries will continue to struggle for recognition as a community, and those like Asif and Aziz will perhaps continue to live in fear of ending up as slave labor, terrorist tools or useful bogeymen for scaremongers with ulterior motives. The author is a former senior journalist who has worked for national and international news media in India and elsewhere. Currently he is a contributing editor for The Irrawaddy. Thursday, April 19th, 2018 (7:58 am) - Score 1,217 The first phase of a new Small Cell based 4G and wide-scale public WiFi network deployment in the UK City of London (Square Mile), which is claimed to be capable of gigabit speeds, has been completed. The roll-out forms part of a contract that is being led by the City of London Corporation. The multi million pound project, which is described by the CoLC as being one of the largest investments in wireless infrastructure ever seen in London, was first announced at the start of 2017 (here) and in April 2017 the 15-year contract for its construction and management was jointly awarded to O2 and Cornerstone Telecommunications Infrastructure (here). The new network will replace a much slower WiFi service from The Cloud (Sky Broadband) and intends to install many of its small cell distribution points, which use the Nokia Flexi Zone 4G platform, on top of local street furniture (e.g. lampposts, street signs, buildings and CCTV columns). In the future these could also be updated to support 5G Mobile coverage. This week one of the companies involved in helping to support this work, Cambridge Communication Systems (CCS), has announced that the first phase of deployment is complete. The backhaul (capacity supply) for the new network is built on CCS Metnet, which claims to be using the worlds only self-organising 5G microwave backhaul that operates in the licensed area-based 28GHz band. Steve Greaves, CEO of CSS, said: This is an exemplary success story for London, and for the ability of Metnet to deliver reliable and high-performance neutral host Wi-Fi and small cell connectivity in dense urban environments. We are proud to have delivered this project in conjunction with O2, CTIL, the City of London and the entire project team which is optimising the quality and performance of wireless across the countrys key business hub, and to be supporting the City of London in its ambitions to boost the capitals reputation as a world-leading smart city. Apparently over 50 small cells have been deployed in the first phase and hundreds more are planned to follow through the remainder of this year. Each CSS Metnet node has a wide 270-degree field of view, so only one unit is required per site, rather than multiple radios. We should point out that some London boroughs will complete their respective deployments faster than others. For example, if the progress in Southwark is anything to go by then we expect the build phase in that borough to be finished by the end of this spring. Change comes slowly to the health care industry. Its still not uncommon to see reams of paper files stacked in the office of a local health care provider. But progress is starting to be achieved as mobile applications begin to proliferate across the health care industry. Most of these applications are accessing electronic medical records (EMR) systems. Its been a struggle for most health care organizations to make this transition. But after some false starts, mainly focused on the usability and performance of those applications, investments in EMR system are starting to pay off. A new survey of IT health care professionals published by Healthcare Information and Management Systems Society (HIMSS) naturally finds the top two priorities are patient safety and cybersecurity. But the next top two priorities cited are workflow and data analytics/business intelligence (BI). This suggests that health care providers are now moving to reengineer processes based on the massive amount of data being collected in EMR systems. The same survey, however, makes it clear that both budgets and staffing remain primary hurdles for many organizations. The survey finds most hospitals (63 percent) project their IT operating budget to stay the same (21 percent) or be reduced (43 percent). Over half of hospital respondents (51 percent) said their organization elected to place on hold or scale back an IT project or initiative in the past year due to a workforce challenge. Like most industries, health care organizations are also finding it hard to attract and retain IT professionals that have the advanced skills required to build and maintain advanced applications. Despite those concerns, health care providers appear especially keen to embrace mobile computing as an enabler of digital business transformation. A global survey of 600 health care IT decision makers conducted by the market research firm Vanson Bourne on behalf of Jamf, a provider of mobile device management (MDM) software delivered via the cloud, finds 90 percent of organizations reporting that they are implementing or planning to implement a mobile device initiative. Mobile devices are or will be commonly used at nurses stations (72 percent), administrative offices (63 percent) and patient rooms (56 percent). Over half of all respondents also expect mobile applications to be extended to clinical care teams (59 percent) and administrative staff (54 percent). Nearly half (47 percent) said they also plan to increase the mobile device use over the next two years. In general, health care providers typically focus first on connectivity to provide a better custom experience, says Adam Mahmud, healthcare alliance manager for Jamf. But before too long, the internal staff starts to make a case of replacing paper-based business processes with mobile applications, says Mahmud. Thats absolutely the drive behind mobility in health care, says Mahmud. Mobile applications are also critical to driving a wide variety of home health care applications that are intended to reduce the number of visits patients need to make to their health care provider. A new report from IDTechEx Research estimates that $4.7 billion was invested in various digital health technologies in 2017 alone. Much of that investment, however, is not being driven by traditional health care providers. The report notes that IT vendor such as Amazon, Apple and Alphabet are all investing in preventative mobile health care applications at a time when much of the general population is getting older. Usage of many of those applications might eventually be encouraged by insurance providers providing incentives to keep as many individuals out of hospitals as possible. After all, theres a direct correlation between keeping people out the hospital and the profitability of the insurance provider. One of the major challenges health care providers face when embracing digital business processes is all the regulatory approvals required, says Kevin Rothstein, network engineer for Sharp Healthcare, a regional health care provider based on San Diego. The development cycle is longer than in other industries, says Rothstein. The primary drivers of those applications are the doctors, which Rothstein says health care organizations are keen to attract because they drive business to the hospital. The more advanced the application environment is, the easier it becomes to convince doctors to recommend a specific health care facility to their patient, explains Rothstein. On the plus side, Rothstein says, health care organizations can take advantage of standard Health Level Seven (HL7) application programming interfaces (APIs) to integrate mobile applications with various backend systems. But even then, Rothstein says there is no magic bullet. Each mobile application still needs to be built, tested and validated, says Rothstein. Once that occurs, there also tends to be rigorous cybersecurity testing that needs to be applied, given the sensitivity of the data being regularly accessed. While all those requirements may put a strain on the IT resources, funding for digital business transformation projects in health care is not limited to the internal IT department, says Alan Ni, director of vertical marketing at Aruba Networks, an arm of Hewlett-Packard Enterprise (HPE). It could be driven by the bio medicine department or the head of nursing, says Ni. Regardless of the source of funding, however, once that application is built or purchased, it invariably becomes the responsibility of the internal IT organization to make sure the network is first robust enough to first run it, and then secondly that the data needed to drive that application is accessible. But a lot of the upfront costs for the application might be offlaid to a line of business. Regardless of the pace, change is most certainly coming to health care. In fact, patients are starting to appreciate the potential of new health care applications. A recent survey of consumers conducted by NTT Data Services, a provider of IT services, finds that tech-savvy patients are now starting to take note of how rich the digital experience being made available is. Among those patients, 78 percent say that the digital customer experience needs to improve, while 50 percent said they would leave their current doctor for a better digital experience. Obviously, not every patient is tech-savvy. But when it comes to the ability to pay a medical bill, chances are high that a tech-savvy patient has access to an insurance plan that ensures the health care provider will eventually get paid. For that reason alone, most health care providers will soon discover that mobile devices and applications are now standard-issue equipment. Slow wage growth has hit the Australian employment market, but despite the slowdown, top IT workers can expect a pay rise in 2018, according to a newly published salary report. The reportm from recruitment firm Robert Half, said the majority (97%) of Australian chief information officers were planning to award an average of 21% of their IT staff with a pay rise, with the average increase expected to be 8% which is well above the national wage price growth percentage of 2%. The survey also reveals that: Eighty-two percent of Australian CIOs find it more challenging to source qualified IT professionals compared to five years ago; Thirty-seven percent of Australian workers do not think they are currently being paid a fair salary; and Ninety-eight percent of Australian workers would be willing to accept a job offer with a higher salary if they felt they were not being paid fairly. The survey found that as IT employers battle an ongoing skills shortage, offering a competitive salary in order to secure top talent is often the most persuasive incentive, particularly in an employment market where 82% of CIOs find it more challenging to source qualified IT professionals compared to five years ago. Andrew Morris, director of Robert Half Australia, says, In a market characterised by slow wage growth, companies that fail to regularly review their employees compensation risk losing their top performers to the competition which is particularly true for IT workers, as jobs in the IT sector are growing." In this booming market, IT professionals with niche skillsets are finding themselves in high demand and are more likely to gravitate towards higher paying roles. Employers who do not regularly benchmark their employees salaries against industry standards will risk having their top performers gravitate towards more competitive pay packages elsewhere. According to Morris, organisations dealing with high staff turnover not only have to contend with the hassle of hiring new employees, but also with lost productivity and revenue. To prevent employees form leaving the organisation, employers should regularly review salaries and consider benchmarking salaries as an investment with a solid return, rather than as an unwarranted expense, as it can result in the retention of top performers and uninterrupted productivity. Awarding a competitive salary can also serve to distinguish the organisation as an employer of choice, particularly in a skills-short market with growing scrutiny over wage growth. For employers who are not in a position to award higher pay, these reasons need to be properly communicated to any employees who feel they are underpaid. Managers need to address employee concerns about salaries and discuss alternatives for reviewing salaries in future. Providing a timeframe on when they will receive a salary increase, as well as the necessary steps required by the employee to achieve this, is essential to keeping team members motivated. The US export ban on Chinese telecommunications equipment maker ZTE may mean that the company, which uses Google's Android mobile operating system for its smartphones, may lose its licence to use the operating system. The news agency Reuters cited a source as saying the seven-year ban on American companies selling components to ZTE means that it would probably not be able to use Android software in any of its devices. Different parts of Android are released under various open-source licences and are thus able to be freely used, but the Google Apps, like Maps and Gmail, are proprietary and the Reuters source may have been referring to these, rather than the entire operating system. And, according to Ars Technica, the ban may also affect Google's Android Go, a tweaked version of its mobile operating system that runs on low-end phones that have one GB of RAM or less, in the US as plans were afoot to launch it on the ZTE Tempo Go. The Tempo Go began selling in the US on 30 March and the entire stock was gobbled up in a day. The ban on ZTE was announced by the US Commerce Department on Monday because of what it said were false statements made by the company during talks in 2016 over a charge of shipping telco equipment to Iran and North Korea. As a penalty, US firms cannot sell parts to ZTE for seven years. iTWire contacted Google on Thursday, asking what effect the ZTE ban would have on the Chinese company's continued use of Android and what would happen to mobile models that were using Android Go. The company is yet to respond. Reddit Email 278 Shares N.B. Yes, I have been smeared by this odious hate group, but theres not much they can do to me. But they are trying to ruin the careers of our young Americans who care about human rights. Please alert your university administrators to their scam. J. C. Committee for Academic Freedom, Middle East Studies Association | Canary Mission is a secretive but clearly non-academic political organization that uses its website to engage in defamatory attacks against college students who advocate for Palestinian rights, against student and other organizations engaged with this issue, and against faculty who teach, or speak publicly, about the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. Canary Missions tactics threaten students right to pursue an education without harassment as well as the employment prospects of those whom the website targets by name, including undergraduate and graduate students but also untenured and contract faculty. Its campaign of vilification should alarm educators who value academic freedom and free speech rights in their classrooms and on their campuses, along with deans and other university leaders whose job it is to ensure the safety and well-being of their students and to help them secure decent jobs after graduation. The Middle East Studies Associations Committee on Academic Freedom, which strives to combat threats to and violations of academic freedom in North America as well as in the Middle East and North Africa, believes that educating U.S. college and university leaders, faculty and students about Canary Missions goals, methods and impact is an urgent priority. What is Canary Mission? Canary Mission first appeared in the spring of 2015 with a series of online attacks on undergraduate student activists who had spoken out about the denial of Palestinians human rights. Though the organizations leadership and membership are anonymous, it is clearly ideologically aligned with the far-right end of the Israeli political spectrum. Its website declares that Canary Mission documents people and groups that promote hatred of the USA, Israel and Jews on North American college campuses. To date, Canary Mission has posted profiles of nearly 2000 individuals (mainly undergraduate and graduate students but also professors) and organizations. It claims that every individual and organization [in its database] has been carefully researched and sourced. In fact, Canary Missions profiles are filled with falsehoods, misrepresentations and errors. Its inflammatory accusations that those it targets are guilty of anti-Semitism, support for terrorism and/or hatred of the United States are particularly dangerous in the present political climate. Despite repeated denunciations by faculty, including Jewish faculty, Canary Mission continues to broadcast its false, misleading and incendiary allegations about the students, faculty and organizations it targets. What are the Goals of Canary Mission? Canary Missions avowed goal of combatting anti-Semitism and support for terrorism may seem reasonable. But in fact, those behind the website rely on very broad, vague and misleading definitions of anti-Semitism and support for terrorism in order to further their narrow political agenda. In effect, Canary Mission contends that any criticism of Israeli policy in the occupied Palestinian territories or of Zionism as a political ideology, any form of support for Palestinian human rights or for the Boycott, Divestment, Sanctions movement (BDS) as a way to secure those rights, and any criticism of U.S. policy in the Middle East are all tantamount to anti-Semitism and support for terrorism. Canary Mission does not engage in substantive or reasoned debate about issues or ideas; it targets and seeks to defame individuals and organizations whose opinions it does not like. For Canary Mission, then, unsubstantiated accusations of anti-Semitism and support for terrorism are a way to discredit and marginalize anyone who disagrees with the extremist views of the people behind the website. By producing what is in effect a blacklist, reminiscent of the Red Scare and McCarthyism, Canary Mission seeks to silence free and open campus discussion of, and teaching about, the Israeli-Palestinian conflict. It hopes to achieve this by threatening or damaging the careers of outspoken students and faculty, and by striking fear into the hearts of vulnerable students especially Muslims, people of Middle Eastern origin and people of color so as to dissuade them, and others, from advocating publicly on matters of social and racial justice. Canary Mission poses a particular threat to the future job prospects of todays college students; indeed, it openly proclaims that it seeks to prevent the employment of former students it defines as radicals. When an employer Googles a prospective employee targeted by Canary Mission, the first thing they are likely to find are false and defamatory accusations about that person on Canary Missions website. Few employers will be willing to hire someone publicly accused of anti-Semitism or support for terrorism or anti-Americanism, or to take the time and trouble to investigate further. Moreover, the civil rights group Palestine Legal has reported that numerous students have been questioned by employers and graduate schools about their Canary Mission profiles. Is the information on Canary Mission accurate? Canary Missions profiles are replete with misinformation, omissions, quotations taken out of context and allegations based on guilt by association. While Canary Mission claims that it is willing to correct factual errors, there is little evidence that it has responded to complaints by those it targets, or actually removed or corrected the many false allegations and misstatements that appear on its website. Its victims have few avenues for remedy, given the difficulty, time, and financial and emotional expense of pursuing defamation suits in the American legal system, the anonymity of the website, and the fact that Canary Missions servers seem to be located in Israel. How does Canary Mission attack its targets? Canary Missions mode of attack generally involves three distinct dimensions. The website displays profiles on individual students and faculty, and on organizations, that feature personal information, quotes, photos, videos, institutional affiliations, and links to friends and colleagues. The material in each profile is framed so as to make the individual or organization appear monstrous, guilty of raving anti-Semitism and/or support for terrorism. Many individuals and organizations may, in addition, be subjected to Twitter trolling campaigns, linked back to Canary Mission; this typically unleashes a wave of denunciations from (mostly anonymous) Twitter and email accounts. Finally, Canary Mission continues to retweet its attacks, often dozens of times during the course of a single day. This set of tactics is inexpensive and effective: victims are never able to confront their accusers, who hide behind many layers of electronic cloaking. On February 26, 2018, Twitter suspended Canary Missions account but it was restored just two days later. No reasons were given for either action, but Canary Mission has clearly violated Twitters rules of conduct on many occasions. How does Canary Mission harm people? As noted above, many of the primary targets of Canary Mission belong to some of the most vulnerable groups on our campuses: people of color, people of Arab and/or Muslim origin or background, and immigrants. But regardless of race, religion or immigration status, being subjected to hateful slander and public defamation do immediate harm to ones sense of safety and well-being. It can make strong, connected people feel weak and isolated, and it can compel vulnerable individuals to censor or silence themselves rather than speak their conscience. And of course, Canary Missions attacks may inflict long-term damage on undergraduate students when they enter the job market. Each attack no matter how false or outrageous leaves a trace on the Internet for potential employers to find. Even if the damage is difficult to calculate, it is not hard to imagine. Is Canary Mission new? In some ways, no. Since the 1980s, pro-Israel advocacy groups have sought to influence how the Israeli-Palestinian conflict is taught and discussed on campuses, and to stifle student activism in support of Palestinian rights. Over the years they have launched a series of high-profile, defamatory attacks on educators and researchers in the field on such sites as: Masada 2000 (The Self-Hating, Israel-Threatening List); CAMERA; Honest Reporting; Free Middle East; Middle East Forum; Campus Watch; Jihad Watch; David Horowitz Freedom Center; The David Project; StandWithUs; and The AMCHA Initiative. In 2011, the Center for American Progress published a comprehensive report on the links between such organizations and the rise of Islamophobia in the United States. More recently, the David Horowitz Freedom Center (which in choosing its targets seems to rely on Canary Mission) has put up posters at a number of university campuses depicting faculty and students as terrorists or supporters of terrorism; in some (but not all) instances, university leadership has responded quickly and effectively to such threats to the safety and well-being of their communities. What is new and different about Canary Mission is that the primary targets of its campaign are mainly students rather than professors, and that those perpetrating its work of defamation and character assassination remain completely anonymous. What can be done? If you or someone you know has been attacked, there are organizations like AAUP and Palestine Legal that have developed valuable resources to help you understand your rights and what recourse you may have. But it is imperative that college and university administrators step up and take the lead in responding to this threat to their students and their educational communities. They do not need to take a position on the Israeli-Palestinian conflict; rather, deans and other college administrators need to understand what Canary Mission is and act with due diligence to support students and faculty under attack from outside the college or university community. We urge college and university leaders and administrators to educate themselves about Canary Mission and its record of subjecting students and faculty to vicious and underhanded attacks, because such attacks threaten the well-being of students and faculty, the integrity of the college community and the principles of academic freedom. We call on them to join the AAUP and other organizations in condemning such attacks, defend the campus targets of Canary Missions intimidation, and publicly support the free speech rights of students and student organizations, including those who advocate for Palestinian rights. Finally, colleges and universities must develop effective ways to support affected students and faculty through online reputation management, identifying online trolls, and alerting social media platforms when their services are used to defame people or attack academic freedom and free speech. MESAs Committee on Academic Freedom (CAF) monitors and combats threats to and violations of academic freedom in the Middle East and North Africa and in North America. Such threats and violations include governmental interference with the right of scholars to conduct research, publish their findings, teach as they see fit and travel to international scholarly meetings, as well as instances in which professors and academic researchers are harassed or persecuted for their peaceful professional or personal activities. CAF also combats efforts by organizations based outside of academia which seek to further their political agendas by harassing and defaming faculty and students and by trying to silence discussion and advocacy about current political issues. The Middle East Studies Association (MESA) is a non-profit learned society that brings together scholars, educators and those interested in the study of the region from all over the world. From its inception in 1966 with 51 founding members, MESA has increased its membership to 2,700 individuals and serves as an umbrella organization for nearly sixty institutional members and thirty-nine affiliated organizations. Reddit Email 176 Shares By Juan Cole | (Informed Comment) | Thomas Friedmans column this week made several allegations about the danger of an explosive situation in Syria, about which he is certainly correct. He pointed out that the US-UK-France missile strikes on Syria in reprisal for the alleged use of chlorine gas at Douma by the Damascus government held the potential for severe tensions between the West and the Russian Federation. Had a missile gone astray and hit Russian military personnel, there would have been hell to pay. He goes on to say that the tensions between Washington and Moscow were only the second-biggest crisis, and that Syria is about to explode because of a building Israel-Iran conflict there. He puts the blame for the growing conflict between Tel Aviv and Tehran in Syria squarely on the shoulders of Qasem Solaimani, the commander of the Quds Force special operations unit of the Iranian Revolutionary Guards, saying that now that the [US, Saudi and Turkey-backed fundamentalist Salafi] rebels in Syria have largely been defeated Solaimanis ego-trip had lead him to build munitions factories in Syria. Solaimani, he alleged, now controlsthrough proxies four Arab capitals: Sanaa, Baghdad, Damascus, and Beirut, and has escalated its simmering conflict with Israel through use of armed drones. OMG.. I finally get an opportunity to re-up this picture of Qassem Soleimani on the moon. pic.twitter.com/JMEOcWKXTd Walter White (@heisenbergrpt) July 27, 2017 Iranian spoof of the ubiquity of Qasem Solaimani This argument is open to challenge on several grounds. Many observers have pointed out that in the Cold War, American journalists always spoke of American allies but of Soviet satellites, as though the Soviet Union were so intrinsically odious that no political elite would dream of actually voluntarily allying with it, and any international support Moscow garnered came as a result of strong-arm tactics. Mr. Friedman seems to be updating this language for the twenty-first century, giving Iran control of Lebanon (!) through its proxy (a.k.a. satellite), the Hizbullah party-militia. Many of us who love Lebanon wish that *someone* were in control of it. But nobody apparently is. If it had a government rather than rolling anarchy, it would have proper electricity, internet, and garbage collection. Hizbullah has a slight preponderance on the cabinet at the moment, but has a hostile prime minister, the Sunni, Saudi dual-national, Saad Hariri. Despite Hariris having been kidnapped and having had his family implicitly threatened and having been forced to resign, by Mr. Friedmans new hero Mohammed bin Salman of Saudi Arabia, Hariri is still prime minister and somehow managed to blame Iran for the entire imbroglio. Irans proxy, Hizbullah, cannot be said to be in control of Lebanon if it doesnt even have a friendly prime minister. You could argue that Saudi Arabia, having the executive and having disciplined its proxy, actually has control. Further, Hizbullahs strength in the current parliament and cabinet comes from its alliance with the Maronite Christians led by former general Michel Aoun. The Maronites also control the officer corps of the Lebanese army. So Lebanon looks less and less under the control of Qasem Solaimani the closer you look. The fact is that southern Lebanese Shiites had tilted toward Israel back in the 1970s when Mr. Friedman was hanging out at the Concorde Hotel in Beirut and I was living in an apartment in Ain Mreisse. What changed was that the Israelis invaded the country, indiscriminately (Friedmans word) shelled Beirut, and then occupied southern Lebanon, turning the Shiites against it and causing them to ally with Iran. Israeli policy created Hizbullah, a small organization. (Lebanons citizen population is only 4 million or so, and Shiites are probably a third, or 1.3 million. Two-thirds of most populations are children, leaving 410,000 adults, half of whom are women who dont typically serve as guerrillas. And then some of the 205,000 adult men are old, disabled, running shops, etc.; they cant possibly mount a very big military force. Someone should ask why Israel, which has the best military in the region and the most sophisticated weaponry and several hundred nuclear weapons is so afraid of 25,000 Shiite boys from the hill country or the rougher neighborhoods of East Beirut. If that is what it takes to put the country in mortal danger, then they may as well pack up and emigrate to Europe and the US today. The answer is that they are not afraid of them as a threat to Israel, but as an annoyance with regard to any plans for Israeli expansionism or hegemony. The idea that Iran controls the Zaydi Yemeni Helpers of God (Houthis) is even less plausible than that it controls Lebanon. That Tehran has slipped them a little money and a bit of military equipment is not out of the question, but Yemen is blockaded so that will not have been easy. Most Houthi weapons are American, given them from Army stockpiles by their erstwhile ally Ali Abdullah Saleh before the two fell out and they killed him. Moreover, the Houthis only have about a third of Yemen, with the other two-thirds occupied by Saudi Arabian and Emirati invaders whom Mr. Friedman does not mention. Why, could the Houthi outreach to Iran, likely as limited as it is, have anything to do with thirty years of Wahhabi pressure on them? Iran has more influence in Baghdad than in the other two countries but Qasem Solaimani doesnt control the ruling Da`wa Party, which has anyway just split. The Iraqi Shiite militias are increasingly powerful, and are running as parties in the upcoming elections, and Solaimani has a lot of influence with them. But they are his allies, not his proxies, and they hardly control the country. As for Solaimani and the ayatollahs controlling the Syrian Arab Baath Party in Damascus, surely you jest. Hizbullah and the Shiite militias of Iraq have been useful to the Syrian government but theirs has been a non-ideological alliance of convenience against the Muslim Brotherhood and Saudi-backed Salafis, some of the latter affiliated with al-Qaeda. That the Israelis de facto allied with the al-Qaeda affiliate in Syria somehow escapes Mr. Friedmans notice when he is putting all the onus for conflict on Solaimanis ego. It got to the point where the Israeli Druze protested and lobbied Prime Minister Netanyahu to abandon these commitments in the Golan. Israels de facto alliance with Saudi Arabia accounts for a lot of Irans influence in the region, since the Shiites of Iraq, the Zaydis of Yemen, the minorities and secular Sunnis of Syria, and the Shiites and Christians of Lebanon have every reason to fear and hate the hard line Salafis and the fate of being oppressed dhimmis that the Saudis wish for them. Israel tried to occupy a substantial part of Lebanon for nearly twenty years, occupies Syrian territory on the Golan Heights, and raises the hackles of the Arab publics by shooting down peaceful Palestinian protesters in Gaza in cold blood. Sure, Iran is taking advantage of these fears and fissures. That isnt control. And Mr. Friedmans analysis is flawed inasmuch as he puts the Israelis off stage as innocent victims being surrounded by an aggressive Iran rather than seeing them as serial aggressors and occupiers who created some of the opportunities Iran now has in the region by their arrogance and expansionism. As for an explosion, I doubt it. As long as Russia is in Syria, it is a Russian sphere of influence, and while Moscow doesnt mind Israel occasionally intervening to attempt to stop the transfer of military equipment to southern Lebanon, Vladimir Putin will not put up with any Israeli actions that endanger Russian military personnel or endanger the stability of the Syrian government. Hence, were much more likely to see simmering low-grade conflict than a big explosion. In all probability, Russia would intervene to stop anything bigger. Bonus video: Wochit News: Israel To Hit Irans Air Force In Syria? VANCOUVER, British Columbia, April 19, 2018 (GLOBE NEWSWIRE) -- First Mining Gold Corp. (TSX:FF) (OTCQX:FFMGF) (FRANKFURT:FMG) (First Mining or the Company) is pleased to announce the successful completion of the geotechnical drilling program to investigate the lake bed sediments and bedrock along the proposed alignment of the dykes (coffer dam) at its Springpole Gold Project. The preliminary results are encouraging and indicate: Thicknesses of soft lake bed sediments are much thinner than anticipated and are absent in some areas. This means that dredging and removal of the lake bed sediments beneath the footprint of the dykes may not be necessary. Overburden mainly comprise granular materials with one small area encountering an overconsolidated clay deposit. Packer tests undertaken within the underlying bedrock gave inflow rates of less than 1.5 x 10-5 m/s. Jeff Swinoga, First Mining Golds President and CEO, stated: We are very pleased that the preliminary findings show the bedrock beneath the proposed dykes will provide a competent foundation. We see this as a significant step forward in advancing our Springpole Project since this confirms that the dykes can be constructed in the area that was proposed in Springpoles preliminary economic assessment published last year. We have also engaged Tetra Tech to complete the next step which is to finalize the design work on the dyke structures. The pre-feasibility level geotechnical drilling program has been completed over the 800 metre (approximately) long footprint of the dykes which are required to dewater the north bay of Springpole Lake (Figure 1). Supervised by staff of Tetra Tech Canada Inc. (Tetra Tech), eleven holes were drilled totaling 171.6 metres of rock, 17.5 metres of overburden, and 55.7 metres of water. Water depth over the planned dykes ranged from 1.6 to 11.7 metres, averaging 5 metres deep. Packer testing was undertaken in all boreholes to measure the bedrock hydraulic conductivity, which showed low to very low values generally ranging between 1.5 10-5 m/s and 1.6 10-7 m/s. Tetra Tech will use this data to design and develop a construction cost estimate for the dykes as part of the prefeasibility level study. Figure 1. North bay of Springpole Lake showing proposed area to be dewatered and location of the proposed dewatering dykes (coffer dam): ABOUT FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. First Mining Gold Corp. is an emerging development company with a diversified portfolio of gold projects in North America. Having assembled a large resource base of seven million ounces of gold in the Measured and Indicated categories and five million ounces of gold in the Inferred category in mining friendly jurisdictions of eastern Canada, First Mining is now focused on advancing its assets towards production. The Company currently holds a portfolio of 25 mineral assets in Canada, Mexico and the United States with a focus on gold. For further information, please contact: Derek Iwanaka Vice President Investor Relations Toll-Free: 1-844-306-8827 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Website: www.firstmininggold.com ON BEHALF OF FIRST MINING GOLD CORP. Keith Neumeyer Keith Neumeyer Chairman Cautionary Note Regarding Forward-Looking Statements This news release includes certain "forward-looking information and "forward-looking statements (collectively "forward-looking statements) within the meaning of applicable Canadian and United States securities legislation including the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995. These forward-looking statements are made as of the date of this news release. Forward-looking statements are frequently, but not always, identified by words such as "expects, "anticipates, "believes, plans, projects, "intends, "estimates, envisages, "potential, "possible, strategy, goals, objectives, or variations thereof or stating that certain actions, events or results "may", "could", "would", "might" or "will" be taken, occur or be achieved, or the negative of any of these terms and similar expressions. Forward-looking statements in this news release relate to future events or future performance and reflect current estimates, predictions, expectations or beliefs regarding future events and include, but are not limited to, statements with respect to: (i) there being no need to dredge and remove lake bed sediments in the North bay of Springpole Lake beneath the footprint of the dykes; (ii) the bedrock beneath the proposed dykes providing a competent foundation; (iii) the finalization of the design work on the dyke structures; and (iv) the use of data by Tetra Tech to design and develop a construction cost estimate for the dykes as part of a prefeasibility level study for the Springpole Gold Project. All forward-looking statements are based on First Mining's or its consultants' current beliefs as well as various assumptions made by them and information currently available to them. The most significant assumptions are set forth above, but generally these assumptions include: (i) that dredging and removing lake bed sediments in the North bay of Springpole Lake beneath the footprint of the dykes will not be required; (ii) no material issues will arise when the design work on the dyke structures is finalized; and (iii) no material issues will arise when Tetra Tech designs and develops a construction cost estimate for the dykes. Although the Companys management considers these assumptions to be reasonable based on information currently available to it, they may prove to be incorrect. By their very nature, forward-looking statements involve inherent risks and uncertainties, both general and specific, and risks exist that estimates, forecasts, projections and other forward-looking statements will not be achieved or that assumptions do not reflect future experience. We caution readers not to place undue reliance on these forward-looking statements as a number of important factors could cause the actual outcomes to differ materially from the beliefs, plans, objectives, expectations, anticipations, estimates assumptions and intentions expressed in such forward-looking statements. These risk factors may be generally stated as the risk that the assumptions and estimates expressed above do not occur as forecast, but specifically include, without limitation: (i) risks relating to any material issues that may be identified when the design work on the dyke structures is finalized, or when Tetra Tech designs and develops a construction cost estimate for the dykes; (ii) general risks relating to completing a prefeasibility study for a mineral project in northwestern Ontario, Canada; (iii) general risks related to dewatering activities; (iv) general risks relating to permitting activities; (v) developments in world metals markets; (vi) risks relating to fluctuations in the Canadian dollar relative to the US dollar; (vii) managements discretion to refocus the Companys exploration efforts and/or alter the Companys short and long term business plans; and (viii) the additional risks described in First Mining's Annual Information Form for the year ended December 31, 2017 filed with the Canadian securities regulatory authorities under the Companys SEDAR profile at www.sedar.com, and in First Minings Annual Report on Form 40-F filed with the SEC on EDGAR. First Mining cautions that the foregoing list of factors that may affect future results is not exhaustive. When relying on our forward-looking statements to make decisions with respect to First Mining, investors and others should carefully consider the foregoing factors and other uncertainties and potential events. First Mining does not undertake to update any forward-looking statement, whether written or oral, that may be made from time to time by the Company or on our behalf, except as required by law. Cautionary Note to United States Investors This news release has been prepared in accordance with the requirements of the securities laws in effect in Canada, which differ from the requirements of U.S. securities laws. Unless otherwise indicated, all resource and reserve estimates included in this news release have been prepared in accordance with National Instrument 43-101 Standards of Disclosure for Mineral Projects ("NI 43-101) and the Canadian Institute of Mining, Metallurgy, and Petroleum 2014 Definition Standards on Mineral Resources and Mineral Reserves. NI 43-101 is a rule developed by the Canadian Securities Administrators which establishes standards for all public disclosure an issuer makes of scientific and technical information concerning mineral projects. Canadian standards, including NI 43-101, differ significantly from the requirements of the United States Securities and Exchange Commission ("SEC), and mineral resource and reserve information contained herein may not be comparable to similar information disclosed by U.S. companies. In particular, and without limiting the generality of the foregoing, the term "resource does not equate to the term "reserves. Under U.S. standards, mineralization may not be classified as a "reserve unless the determination has been made that the mineralization could be economically and legally produced or extracted at the time the reserve determination is made. The SEC's disclosure standards normally do not permit the inclusion of information concerning "measured mineral resources, "indicated mineral resources or "inferred mineral resources or other descriptions of the amount of mineralization in mineral deposits that do not constitute "reserves by U.S. standards in documents filed with the SEC. Investors are cautioned not to assume that any part or all of mineral deposits in these categories will ever be converted into reserves. U.S. investors should also understand that "inferred mineral resources have a great amount of uncertainty as to their existence and great uncertainty as to their economic and legal feasibility. It cannot be assumed that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource will ever be upgraded to a higher category. Under Canadian rules, estimated "inferred mineral resources may not form the basis of feasibility or pre-feasibility studies except in rare cases. Investors are cautioned not to assume that all or any part of an "inferred mineral resource exists or is economically or legally mineable. Disclosure of "contained ounces in a resource is permitted disclosure under Canadian regulations; however, the SEC normally only permits issuers to report mineralization that does not constitute "reserves by SEC standards as in-place tonnage and grade without reference to unit measures. The requirements of NI 43-101 for identification of "reserves are also not the same as those of the SEC, and reserves reported by the Company in compliance with NI 43-101 may not qualify as "reserves under SEC standards. Accordingly, information concerning mineral deposits set forth herein may not be comparable with information made public by companies that report in accordance with U.S. standards. Vancouver, British Columbia (FSCwire) - FIORE GOLD LTD. (TSXV: F) (OTCQB: FIOGF) (Fiore or the Company) announces preliminary production results from its 100% owned Pan Mine in Nevada for the Companys second fiscal quarter (Q2) ended March 31, 2018. Highlights: Mined ore production in fiscal Q2 slightly ahead of budget at 14,600 tpd, with the stripping ratio slightly under budget at 1:1 Gold production of 8,695 ounces, a 130% increase over the preceding quarter Gold sales of 8,673 ounces Gold in inventory on the leach pad has remained constant over the quarter, with a positive impact on working capital Interim results from the 10,000-ton run-of-mine vs crushed ore test cells showing significantly higher indicated gold recovery over a shorter period for the crushed ore. A decision on the potential crusher addition will be made in mid-2018 Total gold production for fiscal 2018 (October 2017 through September 2018) is anticipated to be near the lower end of our guidance range of 35-40,000 oz, with gold production weighted towards the second half of FY2018 as higher-grade ore is mined. Tim Warman, Chief Executive Officer of Fiore, commented: The second quarter of FY2018 was a record quarter for us in terms of gold production, and were looking forward to continuing strong performance over the remainder of the fiscal year. With the mine operating at its planned capacity for the past two quarters were seeing the leach pads working at a steady state, with no change in gold inventory over the past quarter and a positive impact on working capital. Finally, the initial results from the two test cells on the leach pad suggest that adding a crushing circuit should have a very positive impact on recoveries that significantly outweighs the added operating costs and the cost of capital. Exploration work aimed at increasing the resource and reserve base at Pan is underway (refer to PR of February 27, 2018), with drilling planned to continue throughout the remainder of 2018 at both Pan and the adjacent Gold Rock project. Initial results have been encouraging, identifying ore-grade intercepts outside the current pit shell, both at depth and laterally. At Gold Rock, the Final Environmental Impact Statement (FEIS) is working its way through the Washington DC office of the Bureau of Land Management toward publication in the US Federal Register. The process to publish the FEIS is anticipated to be completed shortly, with the Record of Decision (ROD) to follow within 45 days of publication. Leach Pad Test Cells In early 2018, Fiore constructed and placed under leach two approximately 10,000-ton leach cells consisting of material pulled from the same pair of North Pit and South Pit run-of-mine (ROM) stockpiles. One leach cell was placed as ROM material and the second was crushed to nominal 80% minus 1 inch before placement. While both pads are still under leach, the crushed ore pad is clearly showing a significantly higher indicated gold recovery over a shorter period than is the ROM pad. We anticipate resting the test pads soon and then re-activating the solution application to assess the secondary leach curves. The gold-bearing pregnant solution coming off each pad is monitored daily, and analyzed in the mines grade-control lab, with check samples sent to an outside laboratory. Results from the test cells will be completed and analyzed in time for a decision to proceed with the crushing system by mid-2018. If approved, the crushing system could be in operation by early 2019. As the testing proceeds, we are also undertaking detailed engineering of the potential crushing circuit to confirm capital and operating cost and finalize equipment selection. Corporate Strategy Our corporate strategy is to grow Fiore Gold into a 150,000 ounce per year gold producer. To achieve this, we intend to: grow gold production at the Pan Mine from a planned 35-40,000 ounces in fiscal 2018 to between 40-50,000 ounces per year by fiscal 2019 advance exploration and development of the nearby Gold Rock project acquire additional production or near-production assets in Nevada and surrounding states Qualified Person The scientific and technical information relating to Fiore Golds properties contained in this press release was approved by Ross MacLean, Fiore Golds Chief Operating Officer and a "Qualified Person" under National Instrument 43-101. On behalf of FIORE GOLD LTD. "Tim Warman" Chief Executive Officer Contact Us: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. 1 (416) 639-1426 Ext. 1 www.fioregold.com Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. Cautionary Note Regarding Forward Looking Statements This news release contains forward-looking statements and forward looking information (as defined under applicable securities laws), based on managements best estimates, assumptions and current expectations. Such statements include but are not limited to, statements with respect to the expected results of the Leach Pad Test Cells, future recoveries and timing recoveries for crushed ore, benefits and costs of adding a crushing circuit, timing of a decision on potential crusher addition, anticipated gold production for fiscal 2018, expectations that the Company will continue strong performance over the remainder of the fiscal year, continuing the drilling program, that drilling program will increase the resource and reserve base at Pan, planned drilling and development at Gold Rock, expected drill program results, publication of the FEIS and receipt of the ROD at Gold Rock, expectation to grow gold production at Pan for fiscal 2018 and 2019,goal to become a 150,000 ounce producer, goal to acquire additional production or near production assets, and other statements, estimates or expectations. Often, but not always, these forward-looking statements can be identified by the use of forward-looking terminology such as expects, expected, budgeted, targets, forecasts, intends, anticipates, scheduled, estimates, aims, will, believes, projects and similar expressions (including negative variations) which by their nature refer to future events. By their very nature, forward-looking statements are subject to numerous risks and uncertainties, some of which are beyond Fiore Golds control. These statements should not be read as guarantees of future performance or results. Forward looking statements are based on the opinions and estimates of management at the date the statements are made, as well as a number of assumptions made by, and information currently available to, the Company concerning, among other things, anticipated geological formations, potential mineralization, future plans for exploration and/or development, potential future production, ability to obtain permits for future operations, drilling exposure, and exploration budgets and timing of expenditures, all of which involve known and unknown risks, uncertainties and other factors which may cause the actual results, performance or achievement of Fiore Gold to be materially different from any future results, performance or achievements expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to vary materially from results anticipated by such forward looking statements include, but not limited to, risks related to the Pan Mine performance, risks related to the companys limited operating history; risks related to international operations; risks related to general economic conditions, actual results of current or future exploration activities, unanticipated reclamation expenses; changes in project parameters as plans continue to be refined; fluctuations in prices of metals including gold; fluctuations in foreign currency exchange rates; increases in market prices of mining consumables; possible variations in ore reserves, grade or recovery rates; uncertainties involved in the interpretation of drilling results, test results and the estimation of gold resources and reserves; failure of plant, equipment or processes to operate as anticipated; the possibility that capital and operating costs may be higher than currently estimated; the possibility of cost overruns or unanticipated expenses in the work programs; availability of financing; accidents, labour disputes, title disputes, claims and limitations on insurance coverage and other risks of the mining industry; delays in the completion of exploration, development or construction activities; the possibility that required permits may not be obtained on a timely manner or at all; changes in national and local government regulation of mining operations, tax rules and regulations, and political and economic developments in countries in which Fiore Gold operates, and other factors identified in Fiore Golds filing with Canadian securities authorities under its profile at www.sedar.com respecting the risks affecting Fiore and its business. Although Fiore has attempted to identify important factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those contained in forward-looking statements, there may be other factors that cause results not to be as anticipated, estimated or intended. There can be no assurance that such statements will prove to be accurate, as actual results and future events could differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. The forward-looking statements and forward-looking information are made as of the date hereof and are qualified in their entirety by this cautionary statement. Fiore disclaims any obligation to revise or update any such factors or to publicly announce the result of any revisions to any of the forward-looking statements or forward-looking information contained herein to reflect future results, events or developments, except as require by law. Accordingly, readers should not place undue reliance on forward-looking statements and information. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - Silver One Resources Inc. (TSXV: SVE) (OTC Pink: SLVRF) (FSE: BRK1) ("Silver One" or the "Company") has received encouraging assay results from the previously announced sonic drilling conducted on the leach pads, stockpiles and dumps on its 100% controlled Candelaria project in Nevada (see news release from November 28, 2017). Additionally, Silver One has submitted samples for metallurgical testing to evaluate the economics for recovery of silver and gold, based on the positive analytical results received. Greg Crowe, President and CEO of Silver One Resources commented, "The results to date are encouraging as the head grade of the leach pads, estimated at 43 g/t, is over 3 times greater than the head grades currently being mined at the Rochester Mine held by Coeur Mining approximately 220 kilometres north of Candelaria. Further, an average cyanide silver content of 56% for leach pad material and 64% for fresh material in stockpiles, combined with their respective silver grades reported, provide a very promising outlook for the project. Historic silver recoveries at Candelaria ranged from 42% to 51% of the total silver through the heap leaching ores crushed at sizes below 1 inch. We believe that such recoveries may be improved by milling prior to leaching. The next step is to conduct metallurgical testing and the composite samples are now in the lab. We look forward to receiving metallurgical results to evaluate the economics for recovering silver and gold at Candelaria." Candelaria Drill Program Highlights: A total of 27 holes were drilled on two historic leach-pads (LP1 and LP2), 16 holes on stockpiles and two holes on dumps. Assays were done on 730 samples, including 590 core samples and 140 standards, duplicates and blanks. All holes were sampled in their entirety. Samples average 1.88 metres in length representing a total of 1,110 metres drilled. Total silver assays in leach pads range from 16 g/t to 111 g/t (41 g/t average). Cyanide soluble silver in leach pads range from 35% to 77% (56% average). Total gold assays in leach pads range from 0.017 g/t to 0.75 g/t (0.09 g/t average). Cyanide soluble gold in leach pads range from 3% to 100% (37% average). Total silver and gold in stockpiles averages 22.2 g/t and 0.08 g/t respectively. Cyanide soluble silver and gold in stockpiles average 64% and 89% respectively. Total silver in dumps varies from 1 g/t to 27 g/t (5 g/t average). The results above are consistent with previous averages reported for the leach pads, which range between 39 g/t and 48 g/t Ag. The first average, is the average of samples collected on shallow pits dug on the surface of the leach pads by Silver One in December 2017 and the second, obtained from SSR Mining Inc. ("SSR" formerly Silver Standard Resources Inc.) by re-assaying pulps of 10 drill holes drilled by Kinross Gold Corp. in 1992. Similarly, the average silver grade of 25 g/t in stockpiles reported by the National Instrument 43-101 ("NI 43-101") technical report filed by SSR in 2001 titled "Candelaria Project Technical Report", is in line and statistically similar to the average of 22.2 g/t Ag obtained by the results of the Silver One sonic drill program. Additional Assay Results and Drilling Details A summary of relevant average results of the assays of sonic drill holes are shown below in Table 1. All samples of each drill hole are included in the average. Additional assay results showing individual samples are included in Appendix A. Table 1: Candelaria - Summary of Results Au (ppm) Au sol (ppm) Ag (ppm) Ag sol (ppm) Pct of Ag s ol Average drill holes 1 - 17 (LP1) 0.08 0.03 39.3 21.6 55% Average drill holes 18 - 27 (LP2) 0.10 0.03 43.4 24.5 56% Average drill holes 1 - 27 (LP1 & LP2) 0.09 0.03 41.0 22.8 56% Average drill holes 30 - 34 (Stockpile 1) 0.08 0.07 20.5 14.04 68.3% Average drill holes 35 - 45 (Other Stockpiles) 0.10 0.09 23.4 14.1 60.5% Average drill holes 30 - 45 (All Stockpiles) 0.09 0.08 22.2 14.1 63.7% Drilling was conducted on a 200-metre spacing rectangular grid with a hole in the center (providing a nominal spacing of 141 metres to 200 metres between drill holes) on LP1, on a 100 metre grid in LP2, and on a 50 to 75 metre spacing grid on the stockpiles as shown in the figure set forth in Appendix B. All drill holes are 6-inch core holes drilled with a sonic rig and are vertical with variable depth between 1.5 metres to 96.6 metres. Sample intervals average 1.88 metres. Individual samples range from 0.6 metres to 3.96 metres all being true widths. Quality Control and Quality Assurance ("QA/QC") Silver One follows a systematic and rigorous QA/QC program overseen by Greg Crowe, President & CEO and a Director of Silver One. The Company inserts certified standards, duplicates and blanks for 20% of the total samples submitted to the laboratory for analysis. All samples collected were dried, split and assayed by Skyline Labs in Tucson, Arizona, USA (ISO 17025 Laboratory Competence Certification: 2005) for cyanide soluble silver, total silver, multi-element assay and fire assay gold as follows: FA-01-50 - Silver by atomic absorption "AA" with aqua regia digestion, 50 gram sample. CN-2H-60 - Gold-silver cyanide soluble with 2-hour cyanide shake and AA assay, 60 gram sample. FA-1-50 - Gold fire assay with AA finish, 50 gram sample. TE-5 - Multi-element assay, 4-acid digestion. Over limits of silver and gold were further analyzed by fire assay - gravimetric, 50 gram sample. As part of its standard operating procedures, the laboratory also inserts certified blanks, standards and includes duplicate analyses. Metallurgical Testing Seven composite samples have been prepared and sent to McClelland Laboratories, Inc. in Reno, Nevada for metallurgical testing. The metallurgical results will assist in determining the best methods to potentially recover silver from the heap leach pads, stockpiles and dumps. Extensive metallurgical work was conducted by SSR between 1998 and 2001 which tested recovering silver in leach pads by cyanidation or flotation alone, and flotation combined with cyanidation among others. The conclusion was that the best cost/benefit alternative was the optimization of cyanidation conditions of the cyanide leach process. Results of preliminary cyanide bottle-roll tests conducted by the Company in December 2017 on samples collected near-surface on the leach pads, show recoveries between 15% to 20% of the total silver for material crushed to 1.7 millimetres (10 mesh). Reagents consumption was very low indicating that the cost of leaching the crushed material would be relatively inexpensive. Recoveries however, may be improved by milling prior to leaching. Therefore, current metallurgical testing is focused on evaluating milling-leaching scenarios. Further analyses of the samples will consist of additional bottle-roll tests at various finer fractions (-10, -65 and -200 mesh) using cyanide and ammonium thiosulfate. Results are expected by Q3 2018. Resource Update Silver One has engaged Jim McCrea, an independent consultant to prepare a current NI 43-101 resource estimate on the leach-pads and stockpiles. The Company anticipates that the resource estimate will be completed by the end of Q3 2018. Candelaria was historically the highest-grade silver producer in the state of Nevada, averaging over 1,200 g/T AgEq (40 oz/t AgEq) from high-grade vein mining between the mid-1800s and the mid-1900s. Open pit mining operations were undertaken in the 1970s through 1998 by several companies, including Nerco, Inc. and Kinross. Kinross closed the open pit and leach operation in 1998 due to low silver prices. Leaching of the historic pads was not completed leaving a substantial amount of silver unprocessed. It is estimated that the property has produced over 68 million ounces of silver. Historical information was obtained from "Geology of the Candelaria Mining District, Mineral County, Nevada, 1959, Nevada Bureau of Mines, Bulletin 56", and the SSR Mining Inc. technical report titled "Candelaria Project Technical Report" dated May 24, 2001 (filed on SEDAR June 20, 2002), prepared by Pincock Allen & Holt. Historical Resource Estimate - Candelaria Project, Nevada SSR Mining Inc. acquired the Candelaria Project in 2001 and reported in a technical report titled "Candelaria Project Technical Report" dated May 24, 2001 (filed on SEDAR on June 20, 2002), prepared by Pincock Allen & Holt, the historical mineral resource estimate shown in the table below. Candelaria Project Historical Resource Estimate Area/Type Classification Tons Factored Ag Grade (opt Ag total ) Sol. Au Grade (opt Au soluble ) AqEq Grade (opt AgEq total ) Ag Ounces (Ag total ) Aq Equiv. Ounces (AqEq total ) Mount Diablo Measured 3,391,000 4.44 0.004 4.67 15,054,000 15,838,000 Indicated 10,231,185 2.84 0.003 3.01 29,005,000 30,796,000 Subtotal, Measured + Indicated 13,623,000 3.23 0.003 3.42 44,060,000 46,633,000 Mount Diablo Inferred 5,191,000 2.12 0.003 2.30 11,015,000 11,939,000 Northern Belle 9,162,000 2.26 0.002 2.37 20,661,000 21,714,000 Leach Pads 37,328,000 1.29 --- 1.29 48,153,000 48,153,000 L.G. Stockpiles 4,000,000 0.75 --- 0.75 3,000,000 3,000,000 Subtotal. Inferred 55,681,000 1.49 0.002 1.52 82,829,000 84,806,000 Notes: 1) Lode resources tabulated at a 0.5 opt Ag soluble cut-off grades, with only Ag total shown in this table 2) Leach pads and low-grade stockpile resources tabulated for entire accumulation of material. 3) Total silver grades factored from soluble silver grades using regression formulas developed by Snowden. 4) Silver equivalent grade includes the contribution from the gold grade (soluble) using an Ag:Au equivalency ratio of 57.8:1. The historical mineral resource estimate used "measured mineral resource", "indicated mineral resource" and "inferred mineral resource", which are categories set out in NI 43-101. Accordingly, Silver One considers these historical estimates reliable as well as relevant as it represents key targets for exploration work by Silver One. The data base for the historical resource estimate: (1) Mount Diablo Deposit - Consisted of 538 drill holes by previous owners and 10 drill holes by SSR. For drill holes that were twinned, the author used the lower of the two values assigned to the original holes. The mineral resource estimate used a kriging estimation method to establish ore zones with a cut-off grade of 0.5 opt Ag. Ordinary kriging was used to interpolate grades in the block model. The block models were set up with block dimensions of 25 feet by 25 feet in plan and 10 feet in height. The maximum search range used in the higher-grade zone was 235 feet, in the lower grade zone it was 1,000 feet and in the background zone it was 350 feet. Block models more than 300 feet from the nearest composite only constituted 3 percent of the total number of estimated blocks and were assigned to an inferred category; (2) Northern Belle Deposit - Consisted of 226 drill holes by previous owners, of which a portion of these holes were duplicated for the Mount Diablo Deposit database. The mineral resource estimate used a kriging estimation method to establish ore zones with a cut-off grade of 0.5 opt Ag. The mineral resource estimate used multiple indicator kriging to interpolate grades in the block model. Block models were set up with block dimensions of 50 feet by 50 feet in plan and 20 feet in height. The maximum search range used in the higher-grade zone was 85 feet, in the intermediate-grade zone was 120 feet and the lower-grade zone was 140 feet and in the lower undifferentiated material below the current pit topography was 260 feet. Block models more than 300 feet from the nearest composite only constituted 3 percent of the total number of estimated blocks and were assigned to an inferred category; (3) Leach Pads - Consisted of 24,633,000 tons located on Leach Pad 1 and 12,695,000 tons on Leach Pad 2. The estimate for Leach Pad 1 is based on silver production indicates 51.5% of total silver was recovered by heap leaching operation, while 81.2% of the soluble silver contact was recovered. Further, the estimate for Leach Pad 2 is based on silver production indicates 42.4% of total silver was recovered by heap leaching operation, while 71.3% of the soluble silver content was recovered; (4) Low-Grade Stockpile - Based on limited and incomplete data and documentation. Material placed on the stock piles ranged from 0.5 to 0.65 opt Ag. The qualified person has not done sufficient work to classify the historical estimate as a current mineral resource. Silver One is not treating this historical estimate as current mineral resources. Qualified Person The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Greg Crowe, P.Geo, President and CEO of Silver One, and a Qualified Person as defined by NI 43-101 About Silver One Silver One is a silver-focused exploration company that holds an option to acquire a 100% interest in the past producing Candelaria Silver Mine Project, located in Nevada, from SSR Mining Inc. and a 100% interest in three significant silver assets located in Mexico: Penasco Quemado in the State of Sonora, La Frazada in the State of Nayarit, and Pluton in the State of Durango. The mining assets in Mexico were acquired from First Mining Gold, which is a key shareholder of Silver One resulting from the transaction. For more information, please contact: Silver One Resources Inc. Monica Hamm VP, Investor Relations Phone: (604) 974-5274 Email: This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward-Looking Statements Information set forth in this news release contains forward-looking statements that are based on assumptions as of the date of this news release. These statements reflect management's current estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations. They are not guarantees of future performance. Silver One cautions that all forward looking statements are inherently uncertain and that actual performance may be affected by a number of material factors, many of which are beyond Silver One's control. Such factors include, among other things: risks and uncertainties relating to Silver One's limited operating history, ability to obtain sufficient financing to carry out its exploration and development objectives on the Candelaria Project, obtaining the necessary permits to carry out its activities and the need to comply with environmental and governmental regulations. Accordingly, actual and future events, conditions and results may differ materially from the estimates, beliefs, intentions and expectations expressed or implied in the forward-looking information. Except as required under applicable securities legislation, Silver One undertakes no obligation to publicly update or revise forward-looking information. NEITHER TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE NOR ITS REGULATION SERVICES PROVIDER (AS THAT TERM IS DEFINED IN THE POLICIES OF THE TSX VENTURE EXCHANGE) ACCEPTS RESPONSIBILITY FOR THE ADEQUACY OR ACCURACY OF THIS RELEASE. Appendix A - Assay results of selected sonic drill holes drilled on leach pads at the Candelaria project Drill Hole From (m) To (m) Width (m) Sample Au total FA01 (50g) ppb Au soluble CN2-H2-60g (ppm) Ag total FA08 (50g) g/t Ag soluble CN2-H2-60g (ppm) Pct Au Sol Pct Ag Sol SO-C-17-001 0.00 1.83 1.83 202029 197 0.015 46.6 26.5 7.6% 56.9% SO-C-17-001 1.83 3.66 1.83 202030 316 0.04 57.3 34.4 12.7% 60.0% SO-C-17-001 3.66 6.25 2.59 202031 242 0.015 84.7 53.5 6.2% 63.2% SO-C-17-001 6.25 8.53 2.29 202032 64 0.015 43.9 28.7 23.4% 65.4% SO-C-17-001 8.53 10.36 1.83 202033 127 0.015 70 46.9 11.8% 67.0% SO-C-17-001 10.36 12.19 1.83 202034 77 0.015 39.5 22.9 19.5% 58.0% SO-C-17-001 12.19 14.02 1.83 202036 70 0.015 42.6 25.1 21.4% 58.9% SO-C-17-001 14.02 15.85 1.83 202037 48 0.015 29.8 17.7 31.3% 59.4% SO-C-17-001 15.85 17.68 1.83 202038 37 0.015 31.8 15.5 40.5% 48.7% SO-C-17-001 17.68 19.51 1.83 202040 27 0.015 31.9 16.2 55.6% 50.8% SO-C-17-001 19.51 21.34 1.83 202041 35 0.015 31.9 16.5 42.9% 51.7% SO-C-17-001 21.34 23.17 1.83 202042 35 0.015 33.7 17.7 42.9% 52.5% SO-C-17-001 23.17 24.99 1.83 202043 69 0.04 44 23.6 58.0% 53.6% SO-C-17-001 24.99 26.82 1.83 202044 84 0.05 64.1 32.4 59.5% 50.5% SO-C-17-001 26.82 28.65 1.83 202045 70 0.04 29 17.6 57.1% 60.7% SO-C-17-001 28.65 30.48 1.83 202047 42 0.015 17.5 10.5 35.7% 60.0% SO-C-17-001 30.48 32.31 1.83 202048 93 0.07 29.4 14 75.3% 47.6% SO-C-17-001 32.31 33.83 1.52 202049 78 0.04 59.1 21.7 51.3% 36.7% SO-C-17-003 0.00 1.68 1.68 202072 234 0.06 54.4 30.6 25.6% 56.3% SO-C-17-003 1.68 2.68 1.01 202073 301 0.05 46.1 26.9 16.6% 58.4% SO-C-17-003 2.68 3.35 0.67 202074 84 0.015 60 26.7 17.9% 44.5% SO-C-17-003 3.35 5.49 2.13 202076 68 0.03 34.8 19 44.1% 54.6% SO-C-17-003 5.49 7.01 1.52 202077 42 0.04 19.8 13.1 95.2% 66.2% SO-C-17-003 7.01 9.30 2.29 202078 89 0.015 29.9 21.1 16.9% 70.6% SO-C-17-003 9.30 11.58 2.29 202079 77 0.04 39.7 26 51.9% 65.5% SO-C-17-003 11.58 13.11 1.52 202080 80 0.015 37.1 21.8 18.8% 58.8% SO-C-17-003 13.11 15.39 2.29 202081 77 0.015 50.1 28.7 19.5% 57.3% SO-C-17-003 15.39 17.68 2.29 202082 65 0.015 76.2 41.1 23.1% 53.9% SO-C-17-003 17.68 19.81 2.13 202084 134 0.015 90.6 52.6 11.2% 58.1% SO-C-17-003 19.81 21.95 2.13 202085 106 0.015 87.9 41.6 14.2% 47.3% SO-C-17-003 21.95 23.77 1.83 202086 61 0.04 53.3 26.3 65.6% 49.3% SO-C-17-003 23.77 25.60 1.83 202088 59 0.03 53.8 30.2 50.8% 56.1% SO-C-17-003 25.60 27.43 1.83 202089 55 0.015 45.2 25 27.3% 55.3% SO-C-17-003 27.43 29.26 1.83 202090 49 0.015 21.3 11.7 30.6% 54.9% SO-C-17-003 29.26 31.09 1.83 202091 47 0.05 16 7.5 106.4% 46.9% SO-C-17-003 31.09 32.00 0.91 202092 13 0.015 53.5 24.1 115.4% 45.0% SO-C-17-013 0.00 1.68 1.68 202230 84 0.04 31.9 11.8 47.6% 37.0% SO-C-17-013 1.68 3.51 1.83 202231 119 0.06 51 26.5 50.4% 52.0% SO-C-17-013 3.51 6.10 2.59 202233 125 0.07 74.6 51 56.0% 68.4% SO-C-17-013 6.10 7.92 1.83 202234 123 0.06 79.1 41.1 48.8% 52.0% SO-C-17-013 7.92 9.75 1.83 202235 114 0.07 86.1 45.6 61.4% 53.0% SO-C-17-013 9.75 11.58 1.83 202237 78 0.03 38.9 20.8 38.5% 53.5% SO-C-17-013 11.58 13.41 1.83 202238 114 0.08 78.9 42.6 70.2% 54.0% SO-C-17-013 13.41 15.24 1.83 202239 66 0.015 41.1 21.5 22.7% 52.3% SO-C-17-013 15.24 17.07 1.83 202241 65 0.04 48.2 27.9 61.5% 57.9% SO-C-17-013 17.07 18.90 1.83 202242 46 0.04 37.9 20.1 87.0% 53.0% SO-C-17-013 18.90 20.73 1.83 202243 61 0.03 38.4 22.5 49.2% 58.6% SO-C-17-013 20.73 22.25 1.52 202244 45 0.015 33.9 20.2 33.3% 59.6% SO-C-17-019 0.00 1.83 1.83 202309 122 0.04 56.6 25.9 32.8% 45.8% SO-C-17-019 1.83 3.96 2.13 202310 123 0.05 79.1 36.4 40.7% 46.0% SO-C-17-019 3.96 6.10 2.13 202312 116 0.015 87.4 36.6 12.9% 41.9% SO-C-17-019 6.10 7.92 1.83 202313 281 0.1 63.6 35.6 35.6% 56.0% SO-C-17-019 7.92 9.75 1.83 202314 414 0.05 81.1 40.9 12.1% 50.4% SO-C-17-019 9.75 11.58 1.83 202315 191 0.05 73.8 38.2 26.2% 51.8% SO-C-17-019 11.58 13.41 1.83 202316 258 0.05 67.7 40.1 19.4% 59.2% SO-C-17-019 13.41 15.24 1.83 202318 248 0.11 52 28.5 44.4% 54.8% SO-C-17-019 15.24 17.07 1.83 202319 343 0.07 76.3 49.8 20.4% 65.3% SO-C-17-019 17.07 18.59 1.52 202320 144 0.015 40.7 23.2 10.4% 57.0% SO-C-17-019 18.59 20.73 2.13 202321 141 0.05 48.7 30 35.5% 61.6% SO-C-17-019 20.73 22.56 1.83 202322 93 0.015 33.2 16.9 16.1% 50.9% SO-C-17-019 22.56 24.38 1.83 202324 112 0.04 32.5 19.8 35.7% 60.9% SO-C-17-019 24.38 26.21 1.83 202325 65 0.015 29.8 16.5 23.1% 55.4% SO-C-17-019 26.21 28.04 1.83 202326 72 0.015 26.2 15.7 20.8% 59.9% SO-C-17-022 0.00 1.83 1.83 202385 76 0.05 59.8 34.4 65.8% 57.5% SO-C-17-022 1.83 3.35 1.52 202386 80 0.015 51.8 28.9 18.8% 55.8% SO-C-17-022 3.35 4.88 1.52 202388 74 0.03 60 34.4 40.5% 57.3% SO-C-17-022 4.88 6.40 1.52 202389 95 0.04 55.1 34.5 42.1% 62.6% SO-C-17-022 6.40 8.23 1.83 202390 63 0.015 39.2 25.2 23.8% 64.3% SO-C-17-022 8.23 9.75 1.52 202392 67 0.03 56.4 35 44.8% 62.1% SO-C-17-022 9.75 11.58 1.83 202393 75 0.015 54.8 32.1 20.0% 58.6% SO-C-17-022 11.58 13.41 1.83 202394 87 0.015 56.5 35.1 17.2% 62.1% SO-C-17-022 13.41 15.24 1.83 202395 74 0.015 41.9 25.8 20.3% 61.6% SO-C-17-022 15.24 17.07 1.83 202396 103 0.04 38 20.5 38.8% 53.9% SO-C-17-022 17.07 18.90 1.83 202397 74 0.015 34.6 20.9 20.3% 60.4% SO-C-17-022 18.90 20.73 1.83 202398 65 0.015 26 14.3 23.1% 55.0% SO-C-17-022 20.73 22.56 1.83 202399 67 0.04 34.7 19.5 59.7% 56.2% SO-C-17-022 22.56 24.38 1.83 202400 59 0.015 33.8 18.3 25.4% 54.1% SO-C-17-022 24.38 26.21 1.83 202402 55 0.05 36.5 21.3 90.9% 58.4% SO-C-17-022 26.21 27.74 1.52 202403 84 0.12 30.6 16.2 142.9% 52.9% SO-C-17-022 27.74 29.26 1.52 202404 96 0.12 33 17.2 125.0% 52.1% SO-C-17-023 0.00 1.83 1.83 202406 84 0.05 65.5 33.7 59.5% 51.5% SO-C-17-023 1.83 3.66 1.83 202407 85 0.05 67.9 30.7 58.8% 45.2% SO-C-17-023 3.66 5.49 1.83 202408 90 0.05 61.9 34.2 55.6% 55.3% SO-C-17-023 5.49 7.77 2.29 202410 72 0.04 53.7 25 55.6% 46.6% SO-C-17-023 7.77 10.06 2.29 202411 52 0.04 45.9 25.1 76.9% 54.7% SO-C-17-023 10.06 11.58 1.52 202412 56 0.03 35.1 21 53.6% 59.8% SO-C-17-023 11.58 13.41 1.83 202413 57 0.015 39.7 21.8 26.3% 54.9% SO-C-17-023 13.41 15.24 1.83 202415 95 0.05 36.5 20.2 52.6% 55.3% SO-C-17-023 15.24 17.07 1.83 202416 338 0.015 73.2 39.1 4.4% 53.4% SO-C-17-023 17.07 18.90 1.83 202417 125 0.015 59.9 35.6 12.0% 59.4% SO-C-17-023 18.90 20.73 1.83 202418 153 0.06 52.8 30.5 39.2% 57.8% SO-C-17-023 20.73 22.56 1.83 202419 185 0.015 59.8 35.6 8.1% 59.5% SO-C-17-023 22.56 24.38 1.83 202421 141 0.015 50 27.8 10.6% 55.6% SO-C-17-023 24.38 26.21 1.83 202422 139 0.015 76.7 47.1 10.8% 61.4% SO-C-17-023 26.21 27.74 1.52 202423 49 0.015 60 21.2 30.6% 35.3% SO-C-17-024 0.00 1.83 1.83 202425 79 0.06 55.5 24.7 75.9% 44.5% SO-C-17-024 1.83 3.66 1.83 202426 167 0.12 37.7 16.9 71.9% 44.8% SO-C-17-024 3.66 5.64 1.98 202428 70 0.06 31.3 14.8 85.7% 47.3% SO-C-17-024 5.64 7.16 1.52 202429 66 0.06 18.1 10.2 90.9% 56.4% SO-C-17-024 7.16 9.14 1.98 202430 76 0.04 20.9 12.2 52.6% 58.4% SO-C-17-024 9.14 10.97 1.83 202431 86 0.04 20.4 10.9 46.5% 53.4% SO-C-17-024 10.97 12.80 1.83 202433 87 0.03 23.5 16.4 34.5% 69.8% SO-C-17-024 12.80 14.63 1.83 202434 146 0.05 26.8 16.4 34.2% 61.2% SO-C-17-024 14.63 16.46 1.83 202435 144 0.05 35.1 20.2 34.7% 57.5% SO-C-17-024 16.46 18.29 1.83 202436 280 0.06 50.2 26.6 21.4% 53.0% SO-C-17-024 18.29 20.12 1.83 202437 69 0.015 50.5 24.5 21.7% 48.5% SO-C-17-024 20.12 21.95 1.83 202439 84 0.015 41.9 20.8 17.9% 49.6% SO-C-17-024 21.95 23.77 1.83 202440 67 0.04 35.8 19.3 59.7% 53.9% SO-C-17-024 23.77 25.60 1.83 202441 60 0.03 35.1 19.6 50.0% 55.8% SO-C-17-024 25.60 27.13 1.52 202442 40 0.015 21.3 11.3 37.5% 53.1% SO-C-17-025 0.00 1.83 1.83 202328 56 0.015 46.5 30.8 26.8% 66.2% SO-C-17-025 1.83 3.66 1.83 202329 61 0.03 39.4 22.4 49.2% 56.9% SO-C-17-025 3.66 5.49 1.83 202331 41 0.015 48.8 33 36.6% 67.6% SO-C-17-025 5.49 7.77 2.29 202332 63 0.015 39.1 25.2 23.8% 64.5% SO-C-17-025 7.77 9.75 1.98 202333 40 0.015 39.2 27.5 37.5% 70.2% SO-C-17-025 9.75 11.58 1.83 202334 73 0.015 26.7 16.7 20.5% 62.5% SO-C-17-025 11.58 13.41 1.83 202336 40 0.015 39.5 28.3 37.5% 71.6% SO-C-17-025 13.41 15.24 1.83 202337 49 0.015 29.5 18.1 30.6% 61.4% SO-C-17-025 15.24 17.07 1.83 202338 44 0.015 25.9 17.4 34.1% 67.2% SO-C-17-025 17.07 18.90 1.83 202339 45 0.015 24.5 16 33.3% 65.3% SO-C-17-025 18.90 20.73 1.83 202340 46 0.015 31.2 22.5 32.6% 72.1% SO-C-17-025 20.73 22.56 1.83 202342 98 0.015 36.5 20.7 15.3% 56.7% SO-C-17-025 22.56 24.38 1.83 202343 114 0.05 46.8 26.1 43.9% 55.8% SO-C-17-025 24.38 26.21 1.83 202344 121 0.04 58.3 32.5 33.1% 55.7% SO-C-17-025 26.21 28.35 2.13 202345 323 0.25 51.4 28.7 77.4% 55.8% Appendix B - Location of sonic drill holes on Candelaria project Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - M2 Cobalt Corp. (TSXV: MC) (the "Company") is pleased to announce that results from rock and soil samples taken as part of the initial phase of the work program recently launched on its exploration licenses ("Els") at Bujagali have resulted in the discovery of a new Cobalt ("Co") and Copper ("Cu") anomaly delineated by both soil and rock samples (named the 'Waragi Target'). The results of soil and rock samples collected from the Waragi Target have delineated a well-defined cobalt and copper anomaly which is at present approximately 750 metres by 550 metres and open to the North East. Both infill sampling and a grid extension have been completed to better define the anomaly, and to delineate its full extent, with results anticipated shortly. Following which, the Company will move into large-scale trenching and targeted drilling to test mineralization at depth. Soil samples which form the anomaly comprise: 56 samples with more than 100 parts per million cobalt ("ppm Co") including six samples with between 212 and 626 ppm Co; and, 37 samples with more than 100 ppm copper including seven samples with between 160 and 547 ppm Cu. In addition to the soil samples, 23 rock grab samples contain anomalous cobalt (0.11 percent ("%") Co to 1.24% Co) and, 19 rock samples contain anomalous copper (0.1% to 0.4% Cu). Anomalous rock samples are hydrothermal breccias and altered meta-sediments. Maps providing more details on the results can be found on the Company's web site: www.m2cobalt.com/index.php/projects/bujagali. Table 1 below shows the rock grab sample highlights. Table 1 Rock Grab Sample Highlights Waragi Target Rock Grab Sample ID Cobalt (%)* Copper (%)* P869122 1.24% 0.4% P870617 0.66% 0.28% P869142 0.54% 0.38% P869817 0.54% 0.31% P869132 0.52% 0.34% P869134 0.52% 0.24% P871126 0.48% 0.33% P869131 0.48% 0.27% P869818 0.40% 0.25% P869143 0.39% 0.27% P869138 0.38% 0.19% P869822 0.30% 0.13% *Rock grab samples are selective by nature and are unlikely to represent average grades on the property. All samples were sent to ALS Chemex South Africa (Pty) Ltd., an independent and fully accredited laboratory in South Africa ("ALS") for analysis for gold multi-element Induction Coupled Plasma Spectroscopy ("ICP"). The Company also has a regimented Quality Assurance, Quality Control ("QA/QC") program where at least 10% duplicates and blanks are inserted into each sample shipment. Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Company's Technical Advisor and exploration program manager stated, "With this discovery, we now have multiple targets to advance with trenching and drilling, in addition to our ongoing property-scale exploration within our other Licenses at Bujagali and our Kilembe area properties. These are very positive results at this stage of our program and we look forward to taking the next steps towards fully understanding the extent of these opportunities." Simon Clarke, CEO stated, "We are very pleased with the size of our early discoveries and the grades of cobalt and associated metals that we are defining at our Bujagali properties. We look to advance these discoveries to the next stage as expeditiously as possible." About M2Cobalt M2 Cobalt Corp. is focused on discovering and developing world class cobalt assets (and related minerals) to help address the growing deficit in the supply of cobalt. The Company has a large, highly prospective land package in the Republic of Uganda, East Africa bordering historic production on the same mineral trends as some of the major mines in the neighbouring DRC where over 60% of world cobalt supply originates. Uganda is a stable country with a growing economy looking to re-energize its historic mining industry. The Company has a highly experienced management team and board of directors which has been involved in funding and advancing resource projects globally. The Company also owns licenses over 2,800 hectares of land in the Cobalt Camp in Ontario, Canada. Further information on the Company and its projects can be found at www.m2cobalt.com. The technical content of this news release has been reviewed and approved by Dean Besserer, P.Geol., the Technical Advisor of the Company and a Qualified Person as defined by National Instrument 43-101. For further information, contact Simon Clarke at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. or Andy Edelmeier at This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. . On behalf of the Board, M2 COBALT CORP. Simon Clarke, Chief Executive Officer Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release may contain certain "Forward-Looking Statements" within the meaning of the United States Private Securities Litigation Reform Act of 1995 and applicable Canadian securities laws. When used in this news release, the words "anticipate", "believe", "estimate", "expect", "target, "plan", "forecast", "may", "schedule" and other similar words or expressions identify forward-looking statements or information. These forward-looking statements or information may relate to exploration work to be undertaken in Uganda, the reliability of third party information, and certain other factors or information. Such statements represent the Company's current views with respect to future events and are necessarily based upon a number of assumptions and estimates that, while considered reasonable by the Company, are inherently subject to significant business, economic, competitive, political and social risks, contingencies and uncertainties. Many factors, both known and unknown, could cause results, performance or achievements to be materially different from the results, performance or achievements that are or may be expressed or implied by such forward-looking statements. The Company does not intend, and does not assume any obligation, to update these forward-looking statements or information to reflect changes in assumptions or changes in circumstances or any other events affections such statements and information other than as required by applicable laws, rules and regulations. Vancouver, British Columbia--(Newsfile Corp. - April 19, 2018) - MAX RESOURCE CORP. (TSXV: MXR) (OTC Pink: MXROF) (FSE: M1D) ("MXR" or the "Company") is pleased to announce the results of a second channel sample 45 meters in length at the Cerro de Cobre mineral licenses. The Company is continuing with due diligence in relation to the acquisition of Copperbelt Minerals Corp's Gachala Copper Project, 50 kilometres east of Bogota, Colombia (the "Property"), as detailed in the February 26, 2018 news release. Highlights include: 10 metres averaging 3.365% copper; within 30 metres averaging 2.140 % copper The orientation of the mineralization remains unknown at this time. This outcropping lies approximately 40 metres to the south of the first zone of channel sampling reported in the April 4, 2018 news release; 19 metres of 3.210% copper within 59 metres averaging 1.722% copper. "Our on-going due diligence continues to confirm the Copperbelt acquisition as a significant advancement in building a technically superior property portfolio, " Brett Matich, MXR Chief Executive Officer, stated. "The second set of channel samples 40 metres to the south of the previous set of 97 metres of channel samples potentially indicate an expansion of the bedrock mineralization at Cerro de Cobre. The LWIR confirmation assays testing previously unknown bedrock copper mineralization remain outstanding. We continue to be persistently focussed on our objective of Pioneering the World's Next Copper Frontier." A continuous 8 centimetre channel sample was cut in bedrock to a depth of 3 to 4 centimetres and sampled in continuous 1 metre intervals. As shown in the attached figure, the channel locations had to be moved to accommodate topography. The metre by metre assays are shown in the accompanying table. Sample ID % Cu Sample ID % Cu Sample ID % Cu AKCCCH112 0.760 AKCCCH122 5.402 AKCCCH133 0.640 AKCCCH113 0.644 AKCCCH123 4.508 AKCCCH134 4.337 AKCCCH114 0.466 AKCCCH124 2.091 AKCCCH135 3.361 AKCCCH115 0.508 AKCCCH125 2.121 AKCCCH136 0.614 AKCCCH116 0.416 AKCCCH126 1.668 AKCCCH137 2.805 AKCCCH117 5.413 AKCCCH127 0.269 AKCCCH138 2.348 AKCCCH118 2.283 AKCCCH129 1.475 AKCCCH139 1.136 AKCCCH119 3.275 AKCCCH130 1.778 AKCCCH140 2.771 AKCCCH120 3.468 AKCCCH131 1.483 AKCCCH141 0.436 AKCCCH121 3.426 AKCCCH132 2.139 AKCCCH142 2.148 The orientation of the channel sampled mineralization is unknown at this time. Plate 1. Second Zone of Channel Sampling All samples from the Phase I surface program were sent to the ACTLABS COLOMBIA S.A.S. laboratory, an ISO 9001: 2008 certified facility. All samples were collected by Max Resource Corp. contractor personnel and securely stored until delivery to ACTLABS. Third party manufactured standards and blanks were inserted into the sample stream and have not shown any QA/QC anomalies. About Gachala The Gachala Copper Project consists of 4 mineral claims and 21 exploration applications, located within the 250km by 120km belt of Devonian through Cretaceous age rocks in a geological setting conducive to hosting sedimentary copper deposits. Mineralization appears to be localized at the contact between the Devonian-Permain red beds and the overlying Cretaceous reducing black shales, one of the settings typical of these copper deposits. The Gachala Copper Project includes the historic Cerro de Cobre copper mine, where 2008 channel sampling returned 22.8 metres grading 3.16% copper and 15.3 g/t silver. Subsequent Mobile Metal Ion (MMI) soil sampling defined a 1500 metre by 800 metre copper-in-soil anomaly encompassing the two zones, open in all directions. Colombian Mines Corporation felt there was a high potential for repetition on the opposite side of the hosting anticline and further felt the geology suggested mineralization may extend beyond the limits of known anomalous zones. (Source: Colombian Mines Corporation News Releases dated 15-May-2008 and 14-Nov-2012 respectively). The orientation of the channel sampled mineralization is unknown at this time. MXR cautions investors it has not yet fully verified the historical data. About the Transaction MXR has signed a binding Letter of Intent ("LOI") to acquire 100% of the outstanding share capital of Copperbelt Minerals Corp., a private Canadian company holding the Property. MXR will issue 12,000,000 common shares to the Copperbelt Minerals' shareholders and take over the obligations of the Cerro de Cobre agreement, requiring the aggregate payment of US$1,060,000 over the next three years to the Cerro de Cobre vendors. Certain shareholders of Copperbelt Minerals will collectively retain a 3-per-cent net smelter returns royalty ("NSR") on the Property. MXR has the sole exclusive right to purchase half of the 3-per-cent NSR for the consideration of US$3-million at any time prior to production. On April 2, 2018, the due diligence period was extended to April 30, 2018. About Max Resource Corp. Max Resource Corp., a Canadian-based exploration company, its focussed on acquiring advanced exploration projects which are located within the under-explored northern section of the richly endowed Andean Copper Belt of Colombia. ON BEHALF OF THE BOARD OF MAX RESOURCE CORP. "Brett Matich" Brett Matich, CEO and President Tim Henneberry, P. Geo (British Columbia), a member of the Max Resource Corp. Advisory Board, is the qualified person who has reviewed and approved the technical content of this news release on behalf of the Company. Further information regarding the Company can be found on SEDAR at www.SEDAR.com, or by contacting the Company directly at (604) 365 1522. Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its regulation services provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. This news release includes certain statements that may be deemed as "forward-looking statements" within the meaning of applicable Canadian securities laws. All statements in this release, other than statements of historical facts, are forward-looking statements, including, without limitation, statements pertaining to completion of the Acquisition and any approvals required in connection with the Acquisition. Although the Company believes the expectations expressed in such forward-looking statements are based on reasonable assumptions, such statements are not guarantees of future performance and actual results or developments may differ materially from those in forward-looking statements. Factors that could cause actual results to differ materially from those in the forward-looking statements include: changes in market conditions, unsuccessful exploration results, changes in the price of commodities (particularly copper), unanticipated changes in key management personnel and general social, economic or geo-political conditions. Mining exploration and development is an inherently risky business. Accordingly the actual events may differ materially from those projected in the forward-looking statements. This list is not exhaustive of the factors that may affect any of the Company's forward-looking statements. These and other factors should be considered carefully and readers should not place undue reliance on the Company's forward-looking statements. The Company does not undertake to update any forwardlooking statement that may be from time to time by the Company or on its behalf, except in accordance with applicable securities laws. We seek safe harbor. HALIFAX, April 19, 2018 /CNW/ - Namibia Rare Earths Inc. ("Namibia Rare Earths" or the "Company") (TSXV: NRE) today announced that, as a result of investor interest, the Company is increasing the non-brokered private placement previously announced on March 28, 2018 from a maximum of Cdn$3,000,000 to a maximum of Cdn$4,000,000. The private placement consists of common shares offered at a price of Cdn$0.185 per common share ("Private Placement"). A maximum of 21,621,621 common shares of Namibia Rare Earths will be issued pursuant to the Private Placement. The Private Placement is subject to the approval of the TSX Venture Exchange ("TSXV"). The proceeds of the Private Placement will be used primarily to fund continued exploration on the Kunene Cobalt-Copper Project and for preliminary evaluations and metallurgical studies of other projects, as well as to fund working capital and general corporate purposes. The common shares of the Company issued pursuant to the Private Placement will be subject to a four-month hold period. The Private Placement is expected to close on or about May 9, 2018. No finder's fees are payable in connection with the Private Placement. About Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Namibia Rare Earths Inc. is focused on the accelerated development of the Lofdal Rare Earths Project and on building a critical metals portfolio in Namibia. The common shares of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. trade on the TSXV under the symbol "NRE". Neither the TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The foregoing information may contain forward-looking information relating to the future performance of Namibia Rare Earths Inc. Forward-looking information, specifically, that concerning future performance, is subject to certain risks and uncertainties, and actual results may differ materially. These risks and uncertainties are detailed from time to time in the Company's filings with the appropriate securities commissions. Toronto, Ontario (FSCwire) - AurCrest Gold Inc. (the Company or AurCrest) (TSX-V: AGO) (FRANKFURT: TM8A, WKN: A0YG1K) is pleased to provide an update on significant strategic partnership developments for its subsidiary corporation, Wiigwaasaatig Energy Inc. (WEI). WEI was established to develop partnerships with First Nations for the deployment of renewable energy infrastructure in remote First Nations communities and mining sites, and to operate the infrastructure in a sound manner for the benefit of the Companys shareholders and development partners. WEI focuses on remote Ontario and Nunavut communities and sites, and principally in areas to which the parent Company bears a corporate social responsibility. The AurCrest Executive have developed a business model for renewable energy deployment through WEI that incorporates the active participation of First Nations, respects the current landscape of electrical utility being developed by First Nations and government in Northwestern Ontario, and is capable of providing benefit to remote mine development sites. This model is the foundation for development and operation of WEI, which is itself an Aboriginally-driven corporation. WEI and MobiSmart Mobile Off-Grid Power & Storage Inc. (MobiSmart) have embarked upon a strategic partnership to participate in a multiyear demonstration project of a combined-technology renewable energy generation system intended to provide stable electrical production in remote areas, for either diesel generation dependence reduction or reinforcement of existing radial transmission grid connections. The demonstration project relies on MobiSmarts already-proven vertical axis wind turbine systems and solar panel systems, coupled with integral battery storage and system controls, to produce a ready-to-connect renewable energy generation package. WEI has engaged local First Nations on a potential partnership to mobilize, commission, operate and maintain the demonstration units, to demonstrate their use in restricted-grid infrastructure environments as well as fully diesel-dependent remote environments. Through this strategic partnership, WEI and MobiSmart will endeavour to deploy four (4) demonstration units at two different First Nation sites and two mineral exploration sites in Northwestern Ontario to demonstrate the utility of the combined technologies that MobiSmart is moving toward commercialization. About AurCrest Gold Inc. AurCrest is a mineral exploration company focused on the acquisition, exploration and development of gold properties. AurCrest has a portfolio of properties in Ontario, which includes the Richardson Lake and Bridget Lake gold properties. FOR FURTHER INFORMATION PLEASE CONTACT: AurCrest Gold Inc. Christopher Angeconeb Ian Brodie-Brown President and C.E.O Director of Business Development (807) 737-5353 (416) 844-9969 This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. This email address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it. Forward Looking Statement: Some of the statements contained herein may be forward-looking statements which involve known and unknown risks and uncertainties. Without limitation, statements regarding potential mineralization and resources, exploration results, and future plans and objectives of the Company are forward looking statements that involve various risks. The following are important factors that could cause the Companys actual results to differ materially from those expressed or implied by such forward looking statements: changes in the world wide price of mineral commodities, general market conditions, risks inherent in mineral exploration, risks associated with development, construction and mining operations, the uncertainty of future profitability and the uncertainty of access to additional capital. There can be no assurance that forward-looking statements will prove to be accurate as actual results and future events may differ materially from those anticipated in such statements. AurCrest undertakes no obligation to update such forward-looking statements if circumstances or managements estimates or opinions should change. The reader is cautioned not to place undue reliance on such forward-looking statements. Neither TSX Venture Exchange nor its Regulation Services Provider (as that term is defined in the policies of the TSX Venture Exchange) accepts responsibility for the adequacy or accuracy of this release. The latest joint operation by UN peacekeepers and Central African forces in Banguis PK5 district is viewed by factions of the ex-Seleka rebels as an attack on Muslims. In response, some militia have organized protest shut-downs in the areas under their control. And over the weekend these former rivals, now magically reconciled, started gathering heavily armed forces at Kaga Bandoro, in the north. What are they planning? The UN force has issued a warning. Frequently accused of doing nothing, the UN force decided to act in the capital by launching on April 8 operation Soukoula Km5 to disarm the gangs infesting this strategic district. The shopkeepers of PK5 a kind of Muslim enclave and economic lungs of Bangui were fed up with extortion. But the groups targeted immediately claimed it was religious persecution, a complaint taken up by certain opinion leaders. In an address to the nation on April 11, President Faustin Archange Touadera, who is Christian, did not hide his anger. We are working to bring peace back to our country, but each time some people try to instrumentalize the situation for political reasons by talking about Christians and Muslims. Three days later, ex-Seleka faction members started regrouping in Kaga Bandoro, main town of the Nana Gribizi prefecture. According to the Network of Central African Journalists for Human Rights (RJDH in French), they are arriving heavily armed from Birao, Ndele, Moyenne-Sido and Kabo in 44 vehicles and on motorbikes. Similarly reported on Radio Ndeke Luka, on the basis of reliable eyewitness testimonies, that there are elements from the Patriotic Movement for the Central African Republic (MPC) of general Mahamat Al-Khatim, fighters from the Union for Peace in the Central African Republic (UPC) of general Ali Darassa, and from the Popular Front for Central African Republic Renaissance (FPRC) of Noureddine Adam. These three warlords were all pillars of the Seleka coalition which forced president Francois Bozize from power in March 2013 and put Michel Djotodia in charge of the country. Since the Seleka was dissolved they have been rivals, but nevertheless share the feeling that the Central African Republics Muslim community is marginalized and ignored. According to the RJDH, Noureddine, the most fearsome of the three, is already in Kaga Bandoro. MINUSCA tries to reassure What does this sabre-rattling mean? We have indeed established the arrival of some FPRC elements, UN mission (MINUSCA) spokesman Vladimir Monteiro told Radio Ndeke Luka. MINUSCA is following this situation closely, but for the moment there is no threat to the population. We are continuing to tell the armed groups that they must stay within the logic of dialogue, in line with the African Union peace initiative, he continued. Operation Soukoula Km5 launched on April 8 targets criminal groups, not the Muslim community. Sirens will sound and paper daffodils will fill the streets of the Polish capital on Thursday to mark 75 years since hundreds of young Jews took up arms against Nazi German forces in the Warsaw ghetto uprising. The Jewish fighters launched their attack on April 19, 1943 after the Nazis began deporting the surviving residents of the Jewish district they had set up after invading Poland. The insurgents preferred to die fighting instead of in a gas chamber at the Treblinka death camp where the Nazis had already sent more than 300,000 Warsaw Jews. Polish President Andrzej Duda is due to visit a Jewish cemetery in the morning, before taking part in the official ceremony at the Ghetto Heroes Monument. Scheduled for the same time on the site of the former ghetto is a march organised by anti-fascist organisations, which will end at the Umschlagplatz monument where Jews were rounded up and taken to Treblinka. In the afternoon, at a square in the district, the Shalom foundation plans to inaugurate the Tree of Tears, a weeping willow whose leaves are meant to symbolise the tears of Jewish mothers who handed over their children to Catholic mothers in order to save their lives. But the most visible symbol for Warsaw residents will be the daffodil pins on their clothes, a recent tradition that gains momentum with every year. Two thousand or so volunteers will distribute the paper daffodils in Warsaw this year, or almost two times more than last year, said Maria Mossakowska, who coordinates the initiative at the POLIN Museum of the History of Polish Jews, which launched the project five years ago. More than 120,000 daffodils are expected to be distributed across the capital alone this year, but the flowers will also be handed out in other Polish cities. Around 1,000 cultural institutions, libraries and schools across the country have joined the project, with some institutions due to hold local educational events on the history of Jews in Poland. Tension with Israel The selection of the daffodil as symbol is a reference to Marek Edelman, a cardiologist and uprising commander who died in 2009. For many years, on the anniversary of the Warsaw ghetto uprising, Marek Edelman would receive a bouquet of these flowers from an anonymous sender, Mossakowska told AFP. Then he would lay them at the ghetto hero monument. Because of their colour and form, daffodils also resemble the yellow star Jews were forced to wear by Nazis during the war. The remembrance ceremony takes place this year amid tension between Poland and Israel over Warsaws new controversial Holocaust law, which came into effect last month. The legislation, which penalises statements attributing Nazi German crimes to the Polish state with fines or a jail term of up to three years, was meant to protect the country from false accusations of complicity. The main aim is to prevent people from erroneously describing Nazi German death camps like Treblinka and Auschwitz-Birkenau as Polish, simply because they were set up on Polish soil. The law has drawn strong criticism from Israel and Jewish organisations, which accused Warsaw of denying the participation of individual Poles in the genocide of Jews. Israel also expressed concern that the law could open the door to prosecuting Holocaust survivors for their testimony. During World War II, Poland was invaded by Nazi Germany and ceased to exist as a state. Six million Poles, half of them Jews, were killed. via-bo-amj/har/qan Barrier-Free Theatre presents original one-act play in Purple Masque Theatre Monday, April 9, 2018 MANHATTAN Kansas State University's Barrier-Free Theatre, in collaboration with the Manhattan Parks and Recreation Department, will present an original one-act play at 7:30 p.m. April 20 and 21 and 2:30 p.m. April 22 in the Purple Masque Theatre in West Stadium. Founded in Washington, D.C., almost 30 years ago by Sally Bailey, Barrier-Free Theatre includes actors with and without disabilities. When Bailey came to Kansas State University to teach drama therapy, she established the program here. It has now been presenting original one-act plays for 20 years in Manhattan. Bailey is director of drama therapy for K-State Theatre and the Barrier-Free Theatre program director. The number of actors who want to participate grows each year, as have their skills. Up to 25 actors with disabilities are cast, along with students from Kansas State University and community members who love the challenge of devising a totally new play each season. This year's cast and production staff includes 11 Kansas State University students and 22 people from Manhattan and the surrounding area, most of whom have intellectual and developmental disabilities. Riley Gray, drama therapy master's student, West Lafayette, Indiana, is the script writer/director. "Barrier-Free Theatre is a win-win experience for everyone," Bailey said. "In addition to all the skills the actors learn, they are able to share their creation with the entire Manhattan community. Students at K-State learn how to devise theatre and how to work creatively with people with disabilities. The community is able to witness how creative and talented our actors, who tend to be dismissed as having little to offer, truly are." Tickets for the production are $5 for everyone. They can be purchased online at k-state.edu/mtd/tickets or by calling 785-236-8638. Tickets may also be purchased one hour prior to the performance at the Purple Masque Theatre. Cast and production staff members from Kansas State University: Lori Cruz, senior in psychology, Junction City; Ryan Dillon, December 2017 bachelor's graduate in music education, Emily Fraser, master's student in theatre, and Emily Trube, master's student in drama therapy, stage manager, all from Manhattan; Christina DeGraffenreid, December 2017 bachelor's graduate in family studies and human services, Overland Park; and Hannah Erdman, master's student in theatre, Park City. From out of state: Katherine Boulanger, master's student in theatre and modern languages, Bartlesville, Oklahoma; and Garrett Fuentes, master's student in theatre, Oklahoma City, Oklahoma. From out of country: Lars Quincke, sophomore in applied music, Germany, accompanist; and Benedicta Akley-Quarshie, master's student in theatre, Ghana. Cast members from Manhattan include Donovan Barber, Jodie Barta, Steve Braden, Michael Carpenter, Jamie Chambers, Karl Drown, Myrna Filion, Pamela Fisher, Dorie Foster, Monica Fredericks, Carley Garrett, Susie Hensel, Amy Kells, Mary Kufahl, Tasha Leininger, Laura Lynch, Emily Lutz, Charles Manz, Michael Masterson, Paul Rice, James Willms and Derek Wilson. 741 Shares Share On a weekend night, I received a strange phone call from an emergency room resident. This is an emergency, he said, adding fragments of details, vaginal bleeding her heart rate is in the 150s. It was hard to figure out what was happening and his tone was oddly calm. Is she in an exam room? I asked. No, he replied, were in the trauma bay. I ran downstairs with my colleague, and there she was sitting up calmly on a stretcher. A swan in a crowd of chaos. She was connected to a cardiac monitor chirping 130150 beats per minute. The floor was littered with bloody gauze and torn-apart medical supply packaging. One nurse started a blood transfusion while another placed a second IV in the patients opposite arm. As we spoke to the patient, the attending ER physician directed orders and retrieved the instruments we needed. I gave birth two weeks ago, she said, lamenting, I had a bad experience. I lifted up the sheets to find her sitting in a puddle of blood. I placed a speculum and couldnt see her cervix; too much blood pooling too quickly. I did a manual exam, and her cervix was dilated. My colleague did a sonogram, and there it was, either a piece of placenta or a large clot holding open her bleeding uterus. We thought about phoning the facility where she delivered. Thought it would be useful to know what happened. Moot point. We took her to the operating room. I thanked my lucky stars that, for once, it was like the TV dramas. The doors flung open, and the bright, fluorescent room was immaculate. All the equipment was in its place. Two anesthesiologists and two nurses were in the room, waiting for our patient like flight attendants. The anesthesiology resident began to explain general anesthesia to her. He was young and well-kempt, stress-free in a sterile environment. I imagined him drinking cocktails with his friends. Hed be the type to pin a flower on his blazer. He looked shocked when the patient, in a moment of fight, snapped out of her fatigue and grabbed his arm, Just save my life. She had already lost a liter of blood. Once we got past the clots, out came my horror. A chunk of what I thought I might see, but, on some level, was hoping I wouldnt: placenta. A giant piece of placenta was left in her uterus, almost two weeks after she gave birth. I felt nauseated. We used an ultrasound in the operating room to guide our instruments around her large fibroids, accomplices to her uterus retaining so much tissue. Finally, after several medications, liters of IV fluid, a short procedure, and a blood transfusion, she was back. She did not go into shock, and she stopped bleeding. It did not take long for my relief to give way to anger. I imagined her delivery. I imagined her pushing through pain and her bravery as she embraced a newborn. I imagined her terror when she, at home by herself, began to hemorrhage and begged a family member to watch her children so she could call an ambulance. I thought about how she trusted her delivery provider. I thought about how, in a developed country where there are prenatal clinics, sonograms, hospitals, blood banks, operating rooms and skilled healthcare personnel no woman should ever die of a postpartum hemorrhage. This one, who did everything right, almost did. My outrage extended beyond her. I thought about all the bad information women are fed, the stories of perfect pregnancies followed by perfect deliveries. Even before childbearing years, how teenage girls watch tampon commercials and are made to believe the uterus shouldnt bleed. Vaginas should remain clean, pink and soft. Periods should be compact and floral scented. Sex should be discrete. Pregnancy should be celebrated and not prevented or terminated. It is normal for a woman to be in pain, but she shouldnt ever show it. The uterus shouldnt bleed. And so, girls grow up to become women making bad decisions: Using their flesh to negotiate intimacy or love. Letting others make decisions over their bodies. Unprotected sex. Presenting too late to prenatal care. Not presenting at all. Children to solve relationship problems. Birth plans focused on comfort, but not safety. All the while not understanding their own organs, the ones powerful enough to foster new life, the ones that stretch and contract and grow and bleed. I wish I could blame it on the media, but the entire culture within health care is also at fault. Many of our patients dont see a gynecologist or start prenatal care because they arent aware they could be seen without health insurance. A pregnant woman cant have a clinic visit and sonogram in the same day because insurance wont cover it. A mother is dropped from her plan because between caring for her children at home and working two jobs; she couldnt make her thrice-weekly appointments on time. Birth control doesnt need to be covered by employee health insurance. Abortion centers must change their infrastructure impossibly. And so on, and so forth. I rudely joke to myself that its the fact that our genitals are all internal which makes access to care so difficult. If the providers who are trained to care for women cannot do so in the most basic of services, how can we expect women to care for themselves? I deliberated these things, huffed and puffed and by 4 a.m. was still dazed by my own cloudy preoccupations. In the recovery room, the patient held my hand and cried. She said, I kept thinking to myself, I may not ever see them again. All she could think about was her children. Jenna T. Nakagawa is a resident physician who blogs at her self-titled site, Jenna T. Nakagawa. Image credit: Shutterstock.com Kilkenny County Council has had very constructive discussions with Transport Infrastructure Ireland over advancing the pedestrian bridge scheme in Castlecomer. Last November, the project hit a stumbling block due to it costing an estimated 369,000 and a shortfall in funding. An application was put in under the Town and Village Renewal Scheme for 200,000 to provide a pedestrian and cyclist bridge over the River Deen linking Castlecomer Discovery Park with the town. The application received a grant of 100,000 but the local authority continued to try and get the project over the line. At this months Castlecomer Municipal District meeting, Senior Executive Officer in the Community Section of Kilkenny County Council, Michael Delahunty, said the local authority has had a favourable response to bringing the TII on board and advancing the scheme. Another meeting is due to be held this week. He added: The bridge is hugely essential to the success of the town. Director of Services, Mary Mulholland, praised the road design section of the Council which has been extremely proactive in bringing this hopefully to a successful conclusion. Cllr Pat Fitzpatrick said it was important to keep the foot to the pedal on the project now. The establishment of Kilkenny Citys Municipal Borough District will not see the old system reinstated as the county is not going to have two different local authorities. Carlow/Kilkenny TD John Paul Phelan, Minister of State for Local Government, told members of the City Municipal District last Friday that one (local authority) is enough. Minister Phelan was responding to comments made by Green Party Cllr Malcolm Noonan who said: Nothing short of a fully reinstated Borough Council would do in my view. The Minister established two committees to review and make recommendations on local electoral areas and to report to him not later than June 13 of this year. The Terms of Reference included that each town which was formerly a Borough shall be designated as a distinct Municipal Borough District. The review is being undertaken in prospect of the local elections to be held in 2019. The committees' reports will be considered by Minister Phelan as the basis for the revision of the local electoral areas under his statutory powers. Fianna Fails Cllr Andrew McGuinness called on the Minister to reinstate the City Council with its own budget and Mayor. Cllr Pat McKee said the eradication of the City Council in the 2014 Local Government Act have seen significant difficulties and challenges arising from the misguided decision. He added: Issues have fallen through the cracks. Cllr McKee said the City Council had a budget of 17m which was spent in the City with 80% of the money raised in the City prior to the abolition of the Borough Council. He said it would be all talk unless there is a commitment in statutory legislation that the budget and finances of the district were returned to what it was before. If all we get back is the electoral area without the finances, were in a worse situation, he added. Fianna Fails Peter Chap Cleere said he did not like the rhetoric of them and us and city and rural. He said: We are Kilkenny. The City is thriving. Cllr Cleere pleaded that communities and parishes arent split in the redrawing of the local electoral boundaries. The Minister said he could not agree more that the Municipal Borough District for the City would need a separate budget and it would be Borough Council light if it didnt have its own finances. He said the old block grant would be devolved directly to Borough MDs as opposed to the central authorities. Minister Phelan added that at Borough level members will be able to initiate schemes to vary commercial rates. Cllr McGuinness said a lot of local businesses are closing down and a lot of people tell them its because of the costs associated with rates which is unfair and is hindering employment. He added: To be able to inject flexibility in how we deal with that is welcome; a welcome tool. Cllr McKee said the block grant was worth between 1.8m and 2m which is a very small portion of the budget we want to enjoy. He asked whether the entirety of the commercial rates generated in the City will be kept and spent in the City as was the case prior to the abolition of the Borough Council. The Minister said this was not the case and only extra revenue raised through any increase would be kept in the City and the rest would still go to the County Council budget. He assured the members that the committees were instructed that communities not be split where possible. Currently, Kilkenny City is split into east and west with six seats in both and each contains large areas of rural hinterland. The review could propose a seven seat Kilkenny City electoral area and a six seater for the area of Thomastown stretching from Graignamanagh to Callan and everything in between. Minister Phelan told members last Friday that this is the most likely outcome but advised where the reports conclusions draw the lines for the areas are anyones guess. He added: I have no intention of getting involved in it, but also admitted that Kilkenny City should have its own district. Based on the Terms of Reference published last December, Minister Phelan announced that they would ultimately lead to the restoration of the borough and county council status which will see the mayor once again having precedence in the City at civic functions. Solar energy could replace traditional farm enterprises over the next decade. As a cash crop it seems way more profitable, manageable and hassle-free than milk, tillage or cattle with very little maintenance or work over a 20/30 year period. That might seem like a big statement but with farmers increasingly looking at lifestyle choices and at diversification, they might be prefer to get a rent of between 800 and 1,600 per acre, every year for a solar farm rather than go milking seven days a week or put up with the trauma of cattle prices or keeping a flock of sheep. Technically, a lot of the country could be run on solar farms based around Cork, Waterford Wexford and Kilkenny but there is no way the ESB will allow rural dwellers to take business away from them while Eirgrid, another arm of the State which controls what solar farm get connected to the national grid to sell their electricity are unlikely to upset the ESB. In the next few weeks, the Renewable Electricity Support Scheme (RESS) will be rolled out to decrease our dependence on foreign fossil fuels through the continued development of indigenous renewable energy. This will be a blueprint for future wind farms, solar farms, anaerobic digesters or other renewable energy sources. It has to be remembered that a balance has to be struck and that thousands of solar farms cannot be allowed straight away because it will have a huge impact on other sources of electricity and no one knows what the impact will be. To support the delivery of this ambition, the new RESS is being designed to contribute to Irelands 2020 renewable electricity targets and to deliver Ireland's renewable energy ambitions out to 2030. A few weeks ago, a planning application for a 100 acre solar farm outside Ballyragget was granted planning permission by Kilkenny County Council. It is one of a growing number of large scale operations for ground mounted panels as farmers wake up to the revenue potential of solar energy. Another solar farm also in Ballyragget consisting of 50,000 sq metres of mounted solar panels was granted planning last June. With little or no environmental concerns yet compared to wind turbines and with a return of well over 1,000 per acre for the 20/30 year life of the solar farm, it looks, on paper, like a sound investment for farmers. However, it is not that simple and with difficulties with getting these solar farms connected to the national grid and a lack of government incentives, it is unsure if the potential will be realised. What looks like happening is that large scale companies will go for the larger solar farms from 20 to 200 acres in size, rather than what is needed; smaller, community-based solar powered schemes to help generate electricity for small villages and groups of houses in country areas. Solar Panels Again there are no incentives and the Irish Farmers Association (IFA) has realised this and is now backing solar panels on the roofs of farm houses as the possible way forward . A reasoned voice in all this is Michael McCarthy of the Irish Solar Energy Association (ISEA). He compares where solar power is now to where mobile phones were in the early 1990s. He is convinced that with the right conditions, solar power could be huge to power the country and meet our climate targets under Irish legislation and EU directives. At the moment there are no grants for solar farms but in the last budget there are tax incentives and in June, it is expected that a new grant scheme for the entire country will be rolled out for roof top solar photovoltaic (PV) panels which are dependent on daylight and not sunlight. Stuff reports: A story and subsequent tweet from the Wall Street Journal in September compared Ardern to Trump on immigration (Meet New Zealands Donald Trump), before the headline and tweet were altered after backlash to read: Meet New Zealands Justin Trudeau except shes more like Trump on immigration. That infuriated me, it infuriated me. We are a party who at the same time were campaigning to double our refugee quota. We are a nation built on immigration. Im only a third generation New Zealander, the 37-year-old PM said. The suggestion in any way that New Zealand wasnt an open outward facing country, the suggestion that I was leading something that was counter to that value, made me extremely angry. By Kang Seung-woo, Kim Jae-heun Korea's budget carriers -- once a non-factor in the airline industry -- are now expanding their presence against much larger and older airlines. Some budget airlines are seeking to go public -- a barometer of financial soundness -- to create a new growth engine; while the low-cost carrier (LCC) sector is seeking to make inroads into the long-haul segment that has been mainly dominated by the major carriers. In addition, they reported record-high earnings from last year -- some of them posting better operating margins than their larger competitors. Plus, scandals involving Korean Air scions' abuse of power are becoming an extra help in the LCCs gaining positive recognition from the public. "As more people are going overseas, budget carriers' cost structures are stabilizing," said Korea Investment and Securities analyst Choi Go-woon. "Amid lingering challenges such as rising oil prices and China's anti-Korean sentiment, they are showing they can continue to grow." There are six budget carriers in operation in Korea. They are Jeju Air, Jin Air, Air Busan, Air Seoul, Eastar Jet and T'way Airlines. More than anything, the biggest headline among the budget carriers is whether to list their shares on the country's main bourse KOSPI. Currently, Air Busan and T'way are expected to carry out IPOs following those of Jeju Air in 2015 and Jin Air in 2017. Eastar, gaining recognition under the Moon Jae-in administration thanks to its involvement in inter-Korean exchanges, is also preparing for an IPO next year. Market observers say the growing IPO rush by the LCCs is aimed at raising massive funds that will contribute to improving their financial status and the purchase of mid- to large-sized aircraft as part of efforts to secure future growth. "We will seek to boost our financial soundness via an IPO," said CEO Jeong Hong-geun. Air Busan CEO Han Tae-geun has said an IPO is the principle means for a company's investment and growth. "Although the LCC market is rapidly growing, competition is getting fiercer and they are faced with the difficult task of securing additional growth," said a brokerage house analyst. "In that respect, low-cost airlines are trying to raise money for investment." Also, the local budget carriers have set their sights on servicing long haul routes to vie with major airlines such as Asiana Airlines and Korean Air. According to industry sources, a few LCCs are considering introducing the Boeing 737 Max for longer routes. Jeju Air CEO Lee Seok-joo said late last month his company was considering adding the Boeing aircraft to its fleet as early as the second half of 2018 in a bid to expand international services. "We will be able to fly it on medium routes by the second half of the year at the earliest," said Lee Seok-ju, Jeju Air director, during a recent press conference. T'way is considering introducing the aircraft to advance its flight services and better meet customer demand. The Boeing 737 Max, produced to meet the demands of LCCs, can carry up to 210 passengers with a maximum range of 6,510 kilometers. The introduction of the Boeing jet is expected to service passengers who want to travel to Singapore, Indonesia, Malaysia and other Central Asian countries. The 737 Max is the same size as the 737-800 model. It can carry up to 210 passengers and fly a maximum 8 hours, covering up to 6,510 kilometers. For the LCCs, 2017 is likely to go down as an "unforgettable year," thanks to their record earnings. The six budget carriers reported a combined operating income of 269.4 billion won ($251 million) in 2017, nearly double the previous year's 144 billion won. Their combined revenue also increased from 2.67 trillion won to 3.63 trillion won during the same period. The combined operating margin -- a measure of profitability -- stood at 7.41 percent, up from 5.38 percent in 2016. Jeju Air ushered in the era with the LCC chalking up more than 100 billion won for a full-year operating profit, at 101.3 billion won. In addition, Jin Air and Jeju Air saw their respective operating margins surpassing the 10 percent mark -- 10.9 percent and 10.2 percent -- compared with Korean Air's 8.1 percent and Asiana Airlines' 4.3 percent. "The number of passengers using budget carriers for overseas trips increased by 41 percent from the previous year, while those from major airlines declined by 1.9 percent," said an official at the Ministry of Land, Infrastructure and Transport. The latest Korean target of Chinese politics / Yonhap By Jung Min-ho Jeju Air, a Korean budget airline, has removed "Taiwanese or Hong Kong people" from its recent job advertisement after a Chinese student complained. A Jeju Air official told The Korea Times Wednesday that the airline has revised the wording in its promotional flyer from "Taiwanese, Chinese or Hong Kong people" to people "who came from Shandong, Hong Kong and Taiwan" after a Chinese college student in Seoul claimed Taiwan and Hong Kong are not countries. "In response to her complaint, we revised the wording to show regions instead of countries," the official said. "The student was persistent and our advertising agency was unable to handle it skillfully at the beginning, so the issue spread quickly." The promotion was targeting foreign students living in Korea for a paid internship at Jeju Air, with incentives of free travel. The flyers were distributed to colleges across Seoul, including her school (University of Seoul), about a week ago. The student saw the flyer and complained to K-Pal, an advertising agency for Jeju Air, via Instagram. She insisted that it should have said: "Chinese people (including those from Hong Kong, Macau, Taiwan)." The student then threatened to tell the Chinese embassy and media if the agency refused to comply with her request. The Jeju Air official said the company apologized to the student on behalf of K-Pal. The incident shows how sensitive the issue of sovereignty has become in China, a country that is increasingly emboldened on the international stage. Earlier this year, Chinese aviation authorities demanded an apology from Delta Air Lines for listing Taiwan and Tibet as countries on its website, while another government agency took aim at fashion brand Zara and medical device maker Medtronic Plc for similar issues. London, April 18: Clearing the air on speculations that India and Pakistan will hold a bilateral meeting on the sidelines of the Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London, the Indian high commissioner to the United Kingdom (UK) has reiterated and reaffirmed that no bilateral meeting has been planned between India and Pakistan. He said that "Ministry of External Affairs (MEA) spokesperson Raveesh Kumar has already said that no such meeting [India-Pakistan bilateral meeting on sidelines of Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting in London] is planned and as far as I know there is no change in this position," Indian High Commissioner to UK. Sinha also informed that issues related to terrorism and economic offenders will be the focus of the visit. "Economic offender issues will be discussed in the visit along with some of the cases being monitored by the court. Terrorism will also be discussed." The Diplomat's remarks came in the backdrop of PM Modi's five-day, three-nation tour to Sweden, the UK and Germany. The Prime Minister wrapped up his one-day visit to Sweden and arrived in London on Tuesday to take part in the 2018 Commonwealth Heads of Government Meeting. Earlier in the day, after reaching London, PM Modi was met with the customary handshake by British Prime Minister Theresa May. "Very welcome to London, Prime Minister," PM May said as she greeted PM Modi.The two leaders reportedly held talks over a breakfast meeting on a wide range of issues of mutual interest. (The above story first appeared on LatestLY on Apr 18, 2018 05:36 PM IST. For more news and updates on politics, world, sports, entertainment and lifestyle, log on to our website latestly.com). Assaults by prisoners on prison officers during gang rows in Portlaoise jails and other prisons are not being recorded by the Prison Service, according to the Prison Officers Association (POA). The association, which holds its annual conference this week, claims that the Irish Prison Service has altered its method of recording attacks. It claims that injuries sustained by officers when they intervene to break up fights are are no longer recorded. Speaking on RTE's Morning Ireland, Jim Mitchell, the Deputy General Secretary of the POA claimed that there were 22 assaults on staff in Portlaoise and Mountjoy prisons over the Christmas period alone. Just 107 assaults were officially recorded in 2017. Mr Mitchell said staff were injured and damaged as a result of gang rows but though these are not recorded as direct assaults. The association wants the Director of Prisons bring back the withdrawal of remission as punishment for prisoners who commit serious disciplinary offences. A motion calling for the reinstatement of the measure is to be debated at the POA's annual conference this week. The 71st Annual Delegate Conference takes place on April 19 and 20 in the Lyrath Estate Hotel, Paulstown Road, Kilkenny. read more JAIL WITHIN A JAIL FOR VIOLENT PRISONERS A drawing of Pope Francis and a letter to him by an eight year old girl from Mountrath in Laois, have been published in a book called Failte Pope Francis. Niamh Coughlan from 2nd class in Scoil Bhride NS, is the only pupil from Laois featured in the book, which has 37 letters and drawings by prmary school children from all over Ireland. Her teacher Ms Thompson sent off entries from all 17 of her 2nd and 3rd class pupils, and is delighted that Niamh was chosen. It is a great achievement for her. She is an excellent student, she works really hard and really enjoys art. This year is really special for her with her First Holy Communion, she said. 20k Drop fundraiser in aid of Portlaoise CBS Zambia trip Niamh's mother Anita is very proud of her. She is a quiet girl who loves her homework and learning. She is always willing to help and is so good natured. She is delighted to be in the book, she said. Niamh is making her communion in May, and has a strong religious faith. She has her dress, and is looking forward to it. She went to Knock last summer and said it was the best summer holidays she had. She hopes to go and see the Pope in August. She was delighted to give the news about the book to her Nana Margaret Hetherington who is very religious, said Anita. The book features a collection of messages and pictures by primary school children from across Ireland ahead of the visit from Pope Francis this summer. Niamh drew a bright image of Pope Francis surrounded by a big rosary beads, holding a microphone. Her letter reads as follows: Your Holiness, We are so excited to welcome you to Ireland in 2018. I am in second class. I will be making my First Holy Communion next year. I can't wait! I am eight years old. I hope I can see you. We are learning about Jesus. Is it hard being a Pope? What is the hardest thing about being a Pope? I am going to be a teacher. The Pope will come to Ireland in August as part of the World Meeting of Families. The competition by the Irish Catholic newspaper asked primary school children to draw a picture and write a letter of welcome to the Pope. All royalties from the Failte Pope Francis book go to Our Ladys Childrens Hospital, Crumlin. Tourists visiting one of the most popular amenities in Laois are left in an uncomfortable position when nature calls according to councillors. The Rock of Dunamase, located off the N80 between Portlaoise and Stradbally, will not benefit from the addition of toilets any time soon however initial plans may lead to developing the car park at the historic site. Councillor Tom Mulhall said that it is an uncomfortable position for tourists to be in. We need both the car park and toilets, we should arrange to liaise with the OPW on it. It is an uncomfortable position for anyone to be in when travelling and nature calls. We have to improve what is already done, if you dont apply for funding you wont get it, he said. Councillor Aidan Mullins was concerned with the lack of facilities for overseas tourists arriving in Laois after travelling long distances. I imagine you should cater for basic human needs. Imagine overseas tourists coming to Laois arriving on a bus and Laois is their first stop after Dublin but there are no toilet facilities. Toilets are the first thing put on a building site, he said. Laois County Council and Failte Ireland's initial plans for the Rock of Dunamase involve a new car park development and new information signage. Director of Services at Laois County Council, Mr Kieran Kehoe has said that toilet facilities are not in the plans for the site. "It is not envisaged that toilet facilities would be provided in the initial stages of any development at this location. It is envisaged that the initial stages would involve a new car park development followed by interpretive materials," he said. Mr Kehoe was responding to a notice of motion tabled by Councilor Paschal McEvoy at the recent Graiguecullen/Portarlington Municipal District meeting. Cllr McEvoy asked Laois County Council to consider making toilet facilities available at the Rock of Dunamase. I cant for the life of me understand how you can put work into a car park but not toilets. It is one of our most prized tourist attractions. We got a raw deal last week with Irelands Hidden Heartlands. Boxer decided we didnt exist again. If we cant make it people friendly we are at nothing, Cllr McEvoy said. Cllr Padraig Fleming welcomed the car park development and suggested that the toilets would be put in at the same time. You can go up and walk around safely and on a clear day you can see seven counties from the top of the Rock of Dunamase. Go and get the toilets done as part of the car park, he said. Cllr Ben Brennan said that the group looking after Oisin Park in Killeshin, Co. Laois had to fundraise for toilets themselves. I support this 100 percent. We have toilet facilities in Oisin Park but we had to go and do them ourselves. Toilets are the first thing that should go in, he said. Councillors agreed that they needed to collectively put pressure on various bodies such as the OPW, Laois County Council and Failte Ireland to get toilets installed at the historic tourist site. Laois town that hosts Electric Picnic waiting 18 years for new fire station. Portlaoise guide dog owner to reach new heights on Croagh Patrick. The small rural area of Spink in south Laois is punching well above its weight this year with a host of Laois community leaders. With just a pub, a shop, a hall and Spink Creamery making up the village, the parish is home to the current Chairman of Laois County Council Cllr Padraig Fleming, the chairman and vice chairman of Laois IFA Francie Gorman and John Fitzpatrick, and the chairperson of Laois Farm Families Noreen Cahill. It is also the parish of Anne Cass, who will hand over her chain as President of Laois ICA in a fortnight after a successful three year term. The retired nurse manager, whose husband Joe is a farmer, believes that a strong community and a farming spirit of co-operation is behind Spink's success rate. it is a unique time for Spink. There is quite a strong community spirit. No matter what organisation people are from, they put their shoulder to the wheel, she said. We have a terrific St Patrick's Day parade too, and that is quite unique for a small area, she said. The extreme weather this winter again brought out the best in the community. The weather brought everything to a standstill but farmers were out with their tractors to help everyone out, she said. The Laois ICA president had a busy three year term, with events including their 1916 commemmoration, and a civic reception to honour their work by Laois County Council. There was also county meetings and guild meetings to attend, craft days and Laois Week in the ICA headquarters of An Grianan. Last week was another proud day for Spink ICA when their table quiz team, representing Laois, competed in the national final in An Grianan. It has been a very busy enjoyable term, she said. There are 19 ICA guilds in Laois and Spink despite being so small has 19 members, among them jam manufacturer Helen Gee. We are very proud Helen is a member, Ms Cass said. ICA guilds are losing members however she said. Unfortunately fewer younger women are joining, when I started over 30 years ago there were about 30 guilds in Laois,. But there are a few new guilds opening across the country she said. Please allow ads as they help fund our trusted local news content. Kindly add us to your ad blocker whitelist. If you want further access to Ireland's best local journalism, consider subscribing to our ePaper and/or free daily Newsletter . Support our mission and join our community now. The jury in the trial of a man charged with 29 counts of sexual assault against his daughter has been sent home for the night and will continue its deliberations in the morning. The trial against the man, who cannot be identified to protect the identity of the alleged victim, has been running at Naas Circuit Court since Tuesday morning last and concluded this afternoon with closing statements from barristers for both sides, and by Judge Sean O Donobhain. The defendant has denied all of the charges against him. The charges allegedly relate to a period of almost two years which was more than a decade ago although one of the charges alleges that a sexual assault occurred more recently, in 2013. All but one of the 29 allegations relate to a period when the alleged victim was a young teenager at the time and occurred in a house in county Kildare that the family had just bought and moved into. The 2013 allegation relates to a location in Dublin. The alleged victim was a young teenager at the commencement of the alleged assaults. She alleged that on numerous occasions she would wake to find her father with his hand on her genitals and inserting his fingers or his tongue into her vagina. Over the course of three days, evidence was heard from both the alleged victim, her mother, her brother, a friend, a school teacher and her father, the defendant. As well as hearing evidence of the alleged sexual assaults, they jury also heard significant evidence from the complainant and both of her parents as to the turbulent nature of the relationships in the family. All sides agreed that the defendant, a very successful professional, was a driven man, eager to succeed in order to provide for his family, but that he travelled a lot with work and was regularly not at home. By his own admission, he was an imperfect partner and father, which he regretted a lot, he told the jury in cross examination this morning. He and the complainants mother had had ups and downs in their relationship, and evidence was heard of constant rows. They have now separated. In summing up, counsel for the prosecution Paul Murray told the jury of nine women and three men that the alleged victims complaints had been both detailed and consistent for the past ten years and that she had maintained her stance notwithstanding suffering considerably by feeling, for a time, ostracised and isolated by other members of her family. Counsel for the defendant, Conor Devally (SC) On the other hand, counsel for the defence Conor Devally closely examined the allegations, both in their nature, their timing and even their narrative, and by placing them in the context of the complicated and often turbulent family dynamics at that time, he sought to undermine the credibility of the complainant. Before sending them out to begin their deliberations, Judge O Donobhain told them that they would need to consider all 29 of the allegations separately. He said that if they felt there was two different understandings of any element of evidence, then the understanding most advantageous to the defendant must be adopted. He emphasised that in a criminal case, the jury could only convict the defendant if they were certain that the prosecution had proven its case beyond all reasonable doubt, and added that it was not the responsibility of the defence to prove anything.He added that they must approach the matter dispassionately and look past moments of emotion which occurred during evidence by all sides. The jury began its deliberations at 2.55pm this afternoon and just after 4pm the judge called them out again and when the forewoman of jury confirmed that they had not reached a unanimous verdict, he suspended their deliberations until tomorrow morning at 10.30. A man, who went down on his knees during a court hearing, was said to have left Ireland for Lithuania for treatment for depression and a bench warrant has been issued for his arrest. On April 11, the Naas District Court case was briefly adjourned. Zydrunas Dismonas (36), of 25 St Patricks Street, Edenderry, is alleged to have trespassed and breached public order laws at Carbury Mushroom on the same day. Judge Desmond Zaidan adjourned the case briefly after Mr Dismonas went down on his knees in front of him. The judge told solicitor, Seamus Boyle that if he wanted his client assessed in the Central Mental Hospital, he could do that. The judge said that the defendants demeanor towards the bench was very, very aggressive...if looks could kill...it was either an act or something was seriously wrong. Afterwards Mr Boyle said he had no concern about Mr Dismonass mental health and defendant apologised for his behaviour, explaining that he takes anti-depressants and had not taken his medication that day, as he had been custody. Bail was granted but with conditions, including staying out of Derrinturn. The defendants alleged behaviour had been very intimidating because of an alleged issue over pay, the Court heard. When the case came back before the Court last Tuesday, April 17, Mr Boyle said he was instructed that Mr Dismonas had returned to Lithuania for further treatment. You told me he was alright, Judge Desmond Zaidan said, adding this was not satisfactory. Garda Sgt Jim Kelly, prosecuting, sought a bench warrant for Mr Dismonass arrest. The judge told Mr Boyle: I dont accept your clients instruction. He is still in Ireland. Sgt Kelly said the defendant was in Portlaoise Garda Station as late as Sunday (April 15) Barry Sheridan, Carrigallen Macra, will represent Leitrim at the 13th Annual Mr Personality Festival which is being organised by Kilkenny Macra na Feirme. This will take place from April 20 to 22 in the Springhill Court Hotel. Barry (25), is a farmer and agri co-op worker from the Carrigallen club. His hobbies and interests include having a few quiet pints with the boys when he is meant to be in other places. Barry believes he will make a good representative for Leitrim because he has good people skills and is a good community person. He loves a new challenge. Contestants will arrive at the Springhill Court Hotel with on-stage interviews starting at 9pm. Barry will have an early start on Saturday morning as contestant challenges will take place at 9.30am. Following the activity each contestant will be interviewed by the judges. Then on Saturday evening the Informal Banquet will take place starting at 7:45pm. The 2018 Mr Personality will be announced at about midnight. Tickets for the banquet are sold out but tickets are still available for the Restaurant and can be booked by contacting Kerry in the Springhill Court Hotel on (056) 7721122. This year Macra members can again avail of an exclusive offer whereby a weekend afters ticket can be purchased for 20. On Sunday, April 22 the National Volleyball Finals sponsored by the National Dairy Council will be held in The Watershed Kilkenny, making Kilkenny the place to be this weekend. Further information is available by contacting Festival Chair, Liam Comerford, on 086 4040682 or checking out the website: www.mrpersonality.ie Read Also: Carrigallen student shortlisted for Press Pass student journalism award MEMBERS of Limericks metropolitan district have unanimously passed a motion opposing An Bord Pleanalas move to grant permission to Irish Cements controversial plans. There was a rare moment of cross-party unity at this weeks meeting as councillors once again stated their opposition to the Irish Cements 10m blueprint to switch away from fossil fuels and instead turn to the material from used tyres and solid recovered waste in Mungret. An Bord Pleanala has given the firm the green light to start the building of the facilities to store these items, and the Environmental Protection Agency (EPA) will decide in mid-May whether or not to allow the relevant change to Irish Cements operating licence. Cllr James Collins prepared the motion, which also called on the EPA to refuse the change to Irish Cements operating licence. It was seconded by Cllr Jerry ODea. Without such a licence, the firm will not be able to go ahead with its reforms, something it has previously said will put the plants future in jeopardy. Cllr Daniel Butler, who lives the closest to the plant, said his reaction is one of shock and extreme disappointment. Arms of the state like these are meant to protect people. Instead, it has cast a dark shadow over Raheen, Dooradoyle and Mungret, he said. Limerick Against Pollution (LAP), the main body set up in opposition to the plans is crowdfunding in a bid to seek a judicial review against the plans. But Cllr Butler said with the bill potentially 100,000, we need to take stock and take our time. Its an incredible financial commitment. We need to get good legal advice and act responsibly moving forward. Cllr Malachy McCreesh added: As an elected representative, I realised early on in the planning process that our voices counted for nothing when it came to making decisions that had serious impacts on the health of our communities. The EPA is the next decision maker in this process. It will only be people power that will allow the EPA understand the strong opposition. Cllr Joe Leddin said: We are all distraught with this. There was such a level of opposition to this. We are building a new suburb in City West, and its disappointing there will be a black cloud over this community. Both Cllrs Seighin O Ceallaigh and Michael Hourigan expressed concern that the new fumes emanating from the plant could get into the food chain, with cattle within a 30km radius potentially they claim affected. Meanwhile, LAP will hold a public meeting on Friday, April 29, to decide on its next steps. Taking place at the South Court Hotel, it begins at 7.30pm. DONALD Trumps trade sanctions on Russia have wreaked havoc on a County Limerick company which has been left in a state of chaos, panic and confusion and with reportedly less than two months worth of raw materials on site. There are fears for up to 900 jobs at the Aughinish Alumina plant in Askeaton which has found itself at the centre of a global trade crisis, due to the emerging effects of US sanctions by the United States against the owner of Rusal, its parent company. The Limerick Leader is aware of at least one small firm subcontracted to Aughinish which has put a number of staff members on notice, as panic about the effects of the sanctions kicks in. Taoiseach Leo Varadkar met with members of Aughinish management in Limerick last Friday, pledging to do everything we can to assist the company, and to ensure that it can continue to operate as normal. Spokespeople for Aughinish Alumina have remained silent in the fortnight since the sanctions were announced, and hundreds of workers are on orders to be tight-lipped. The company has limited available cash, as few banks will risk carrying out transactions. A lot of work went into this news feature on the crisis that's currently engulfing UC Rusal and its Limerick plant, Aughinish Alumina. @Limerick_Leader pic.twitter.com/tvw88tjryd Maria Flannery (@mariaflan) April 19, 2018 Around 450 people are employed at Aughinish Alumina, while a further 400 or more are engaging in contracted work for the plant. The business pays approximately 2.6m in rates every year to Limerick City and County Council. Small local businesses that survive in the orbit of the alumina giant are now left in the lurch, fearing the worst outcome from the Rusal downturn. Issues around supply to the Limerick plant are also being raised. Rumours swirled that a Pallas Foods delivery destined for the plants cafeteria was turned away from the site, but a spokesperson in London for catering contractor Sodexo denied that. Pallas Foods declined to comment. Contracted mechanics on the west Limerick site, who were working for an American firm themselves, were asked to leave the premises immediately after the news broke of the sanctions, according to sources. There is reportedly less than two months worth of raw materials left at Aughinish. Their caustic soda used to come from America, while their bauxite was supplied by Rio Tinto, which plans to pull its contract. Speaking to the Limerick Leader, an industry analyst said that no sales are occurring and no transactions are taking place due to banks fears of being sanctioned. There wont be a shortage of materials in the very short term, but without sales and without the ability to take payment, the business cant continue for very long, he warned. US firm Microsoft, which supplies software to Aughinish Alumina, was also rumoured to be pulling out. When contacted by the Limerick Leader, Microsoft declined to comment. County Limericks Niall Collins TD, who is the Fianna Fail spokesperson for Foreign Affairs and Trade, also called on the Government to act in order to save jobs. Its of vital importance to the company and to the workforce that the unintended consequences of US sanctions against named Russian persons doesnt impact the Aughinish plant. The Government needs to use every means possible to ensure this." The so-called poop train from New York that's idling in Parrish, Alabama. Residents say the train smells like rotting corpses. A train filled with smelly human excrement from New York City has been stranded in a small Alabama town for two months, according to news sources. This situation is definitely strange, and it begs at least two questions: What exactly is on this train, and why the heck is it in Alabama? First off, officials are using the term "biosolid" to describe the train's contents. Biosolids are "nutrient-rich organic materials resulting from the treatment of domestic sewage in a treatment facility," according to the Environmental Protection Agency(EPA). In other words, the train carries processed New York poop. [5 Things Your Poop Says About Your Health] Biosolids may smell foul (although this can be fixed by adding lime), but they aren't completely useless. According to the EPA, when biosolids are treated and processed, the results can be used as fertilizer. In fact, processed poop is better than the way things used to be. "Thirty years ago, thousands of American cities dumped their raw sewage directly into the nation's rivers, lakes and bays," the EPA said. "Through regulation of this dumping, local governments [are] now required to treat wastewater and to make the decision whether to recycle biosolids as fertilizer, incinerate it or bury it in a landfill." However, some areas have stricter dumping laws than others, which explains why the New York biosolids were sent southward. A federal ban prohibits New York from plunking its human waste in the Atlantic Ocean, whereas Alabama has inexpensive land and lenient zoning laws, according to the Associated Press (AP). Alabama isn't an outlier, either. Many Southern states have laxer laws regarding garbage than the rest of the country, which explains why Georgia, Alabama and their neighbors have accumulated all kinds of waste in the past several years, the AP reported. That includes toxic coal ash from the nation's power plants, the AP said. The train was originally bound for Big Sky landfill, located about 20 miles (30 kilometers) east of Parrish, Alabama, according to the AP. But even though the landfill has taken sewage from New York since early 2017, the nearby town of West Jefferson obtained an injunction to stop the contents of this particular train from reaching its destination, the AP reported. The biosolids have caused the town to become "infested with flies" and it "smells of dead rotting animals as well as human waste," West Jeffersons attorney wrote in a lawsuit against Big Sky Environmental LLC, according to the AP. So, with nowhere to go, the train sat idling in Parrish, Alabama, a town of 982 people, ever since, the AP said. This isn't the first unwanted trash heap from New York. In 1987, a barge carrying 3,186 tons (2,890 metric tons) of paper and commercial garbage from Long Island and New York City was seabound for two months after plans fell through to give it to a private developer in North Carolina, the AP said. After being turned away from Louisiana, Texas and Florida, along with the countries of Belize, Mexico and Cuba, the garbage eventually returned to New York. There, it was burned in Brooklyn and buried in a local landfill, according to Newsday. Meanwhile, it's still unclear where the waste on the poop train will end up. Original article on Live Science. Two days before the Allied forces declared victory over Nazi Germany at the end of World War II, a high-tech German submarine set out from Denmark on a mysterious mission. The sub was a brand-new Type XXI U-boat, hailed as the most advanced Nazi submarine of its time. It was deadly quiet, superfast and allegedly capable of traveling from Europe to South America without having to surface. Still, for all its cutting-edge technology, the sub could not save itself from being blasted to the seafloor by a British aerial assault on May 6, 1945. [Images: Missing Nazi Diary Surfaces] The boat, named U-3523, lay undetected at the bottom of the North Sea for 73 years. This week, researchers at the Sea War Museum Jutland in Denmark finally found the U-boat's wreckage, half-buried and jabbing diagonally from the seabed like a cannon from a turret. Researchers at the museum are in the midst of doing an extensive scan of the seabed around the North Sea and the Skagerrak Strait (which flows between Denmark and Norway) and have documented more than 450 wrecks so far, according to a statement from the museum. Twelve of these wrecks so far have been submarines (nine of which were German-made, and three of which were British), but the newfound U-3523 represents an especially rare discovery, museum officials said. The remnants of U-3523, one of Nazi Germany's rarest high-tech submarines, were discovered near Denmark this week. (Image credit: Sea War Museum Jutland) "This was the most modern submarine the Germans built during the [Second World War]," Gert Normann Andersen, director of the Sea War Museum Jutland, told the Danish newspaper Kristeligt Dagblad in an interview (translated from Danish). "Only two of the 118 that were ordered actually entered service." Researchers with the museum found the half-buried wreckage of U-3523 about 10 nautical miles north of Skagen, the northernmost city in Denmark. The bow of the 250-foot-long (76 meters) submarine stabbed into the seafloor some 400 feet (120 m) below the water's surface, slanting upward with the boat's stern floating 65 feet (20 m) above the bottom of the sea. According to the museum, the boat embarked from Denmark with 58 crewmembers, all of whom perished in the bombing. Their mission remains unknown, but museum researchers suspect that the boat was likely fleeing for safety days after German forces surrendered in Denmark, the Netherlands and northern Germany. Among the vessel's new technology was a battery system that could allow it to remain submerged for several days at a time, making it a perfect getaway vessel, Andersen said. Following the end of World War II, rumors abounded that high-ranking Nazi officers (including Hitler himself) had escaped to South America on similar long-range submarines. Many of the original 118 Type XXI submarines were captured and dismantled after the end of the war, but countless others still remain missing. Originally published on Live Science. Two ants met a sticky end when one of them ruptured her body to spew a sticky yellow goo. Treetop-dwelling ants from Southeast Asia have an explosive defensive move: The insects take down their foes by blowing themselves up. If that sounds gut-wrenching to you, just imagine what it feels like to the ant. Commonly known as "exploding ants," workers in this group respond to threats by deliberately (and fatally) rupturing their body walls, spattering rivals with toxic fluid. Exploding ants are typically lumped together into a species group called Colobopsis cylindrical, but researchers recently determined that there are at least 15 species of these self-sacrificing insects including one previously unknown species in Borneo, which they described in a new study. [Ants Scurry on 'Treadmills' for Science] Many animals engage in chemical warfare, stewing toxic brews in their own bodies to subdue prey or scare off enemies. Venomous creatures which include snakes, spiders, insects, fish, cephalopods, amphibians, reptiles and even some types of mammals deliver their toxins with stings, stabs or bites. But others, such as skunks, venom-squirting scorpions and bombardier beetles, opt to spray their chemicals. In fact, bombardier beetles can emit their heated, poisonous blasts even after they've been swallowed, with unfortunate results for their predator's digestion (and a sticky escape for the beetle). A minor worker of Colobopsis explodens raises its posterior in a defensive pose. (Image credit: Alexey Kopchinskiy) However, defensively rupturing one's own body a process called autothysis, from the Greek words for "self" and "sacrifice" is somewhat more unusual, and is known only in ants and termites, the scientists reported. Tick, tick, boom! The new ant species Colobopsis explodens was formerly called "yellow goo," after the brightly colored gunk produced by its exploding worker ants. Their colonies can contain thousands of individuals, inhabiting the leafy canopies of trees that stand as tall as 197 feet (60 meters), and covering an area of at least 26,900 square feet (2,500 square meters), the study authors reported. The researchers decided to make C. explodens a model species one that scientists look at to draw conclusions about a larger group; in this case, exploding ants. They noted that C. explodens ants were "particularly prone to self-sacrifice" in the presence of threats which included intruding researchers. Major workers of C. explodens employ a different defensive strategy than their exploding colony mates they use their unusually enlarged heads. (Image credit: Heinz Wiesbauer) To blow themselves up, the reddish-brown minor workers all sterile females contracted a part of their abdomens called the gaster. They clenched it so tightly that it ruptured, spewing a yellow secretion that was manufactured in the ants' jaw glands and had "a distinctive spice-like odor," according to the study. And suicidal explosions aren't the only weird adaptation in C. explodens. Major workers the bigger "soldier" ants that are also sterile females have enlarged heads with raised shield-like sections that are circular and flattened at the top. The oddly shaped heads create a perfect plug that the ants use to temporarily block openings into their nests, the scientists wrote. The findings were published online today (April 19) in the journal ZooKeys. Original article on Live Science. "Hey, don't blame us, we were just thirsty," is what the ravens would probably say, if they could talk with physicists. Bizarre data glitches have set gravitational-wave scientists and a conspiracy of ravens all aflutter. A series of weird blips in the data, known as short-duration bursts, raised the suspicions of physicists at the Laser Interferometer Gravitational-Wave Observatory (LIGO) Hanford Observatory, in eastern Washington. Were they communications from alien beings? The work of nefarious data scramblers? Or previously unknown physics? It turns out it was none of the above. [The 5 Smartest Non-Primates on the Planet] Rather, the blips came from a conspiracy of thirsty ravens that were pecking at ice on pipes leading into the facility, the researchers announced on April 16 at an American Physical Society meeting in Columbus, Ohio, according to their abstract. The discovery came about after the physicists decided to increase the sensitivity of the advanced LIGO at the Hanford Observatory, one of two facilities in the United States (the other is in Livingston, Louisiana) that detects gravitational waves. Gravitational waves have been in the news in recent years. Albert Einstein predicted that these ripples in space-time would form when massive objects in the universe collided. Thanks to data collected by the observatories in Washington and Louisiana, physicists directly detected gravitational waves for the first time in September 2015, and three of them won the Nobel Prize in physics for this discovery in 2017. A team of physicists came across the recent glitches while trying to fine-tune the LIGO Hanford Observatory. These odd glitches didn't look anything like gravitational waves, they said. Luckily, the observatory has microphone sensors placed around it to pick up environmental disturbances. After listening to one recording from July 2017, the team identified what sounded like the pecking of birds, Science News reported. Curious, the group trooped outside to inspect one of the observatory's 2.4-mile-long (4 kilometers) arms. The evidence was plain as day: bird peck marks covered a frosty pipe that was connected to the cooling system, the researchers said. They even caught one raven in the act that was pecking at the ice likely to slurp up the bird equivalent of a slushy, Beverly Berger, a physicist and ombudsperson of the LIGO Scientific Collaboration, said at the conference, according to Science News. Other LIGO glitches were caused by airplanes flying overhead and an incorrect equipment setting, the researchers said. But the physicists won't be seeing raven-related anomalies anytime soon, as they altered the pipe so that it no longer accumulates ice on it, Science News reported. The raven flock will have to look for a drink elsewhere. And they should thank their lucky stars they didn't end up like the hapless weasel (Martes foina) that electrocuted itself at the Large Hadron Collider and shut off part of the facility's power in 2016. Original article on Live Science. Kentucky Derby fans may need to take some extra precautions before heading off to the races. The Indiana State Department of Health is recommending that its residents get vaccinated against hepatitis A and take other steps to protect themselves from the illness before traveling to Kentucky or Michigan, both of which are experiencing large outbreaks of the viral infection. Kentucky has reported more than 300 cases of hepatitis A since November 2017, with 39 new cases reported in the first week of April, according to the Kentucky Department for Public Health. Most cases in the state have occurred around Louisville the city where the Kentucky Derby is held. The famous horse race, which draws more than 150,000 people each year, takes place on the first Saturday in May. "With popular tourist events coming up in other states, we know many Hoosiers will be traveling to areas impacted by hepatitis A, and we want them to be safe," Pam Pontones, the Indiana deputy state health commissioner, said in a statement. "Getting vaccinated and thoroughly washing your hands before and after preparing food and eating and after using the restroom are simple, safe and effective ways to prevent the spread of hepatitis A." But do you really need to get a hepatitis A vaccine if you're going to the Kentucky Derby? Dr. Amesh Adalja, a senior scholar at the Johns Hopkins Center for Health Security, said the Indiana recommendation is an interesting step to take, and it's not a bad idea. "I can see why they would advise it," Adalja said. "It's something that's an easy measure that can minimize risk." [27 Devastating Infectious Diseases] At the same time, Adalja told Live Science that the risk of hepatitis A probably isn't very high for the average visitor to the Derby. A number of recent U.S. hepatitis A outbreaks, including the one in Kentucky, have occurred primarily among the homeless population and illicit-drug users a group that may have limited access to clean toilets and handwashing facilities, which are important in preventing the spread of hepatitis A. But hepatitis A outbreaks can also occur through contaminated food, Adalja noted for instance, if food workers contract the illness and handle food without properly washing their hands. (The Kentucky hepatitis A outbreak has not been linked with contaminated food, although it was recently reported that a McDonald's employee in Berea, Kentucky, south of Lexington, had the infection and could have potentially spread it to customers.) If Kentucky Derby-goers want to minimize their risk of getting the illness, "the vaccine is one way to do that," Adalja said. Hepatitis A is a contagious liver infection caused by the hepatitis A virus, according to the Centers for Disease Control and Prevention. The virus is spread through the "fecal-oral" route that is, when small amounts of stool from an ill person contaminate objects, food or drinks that are then touched and ingested by another person, the CDC says. For this reason, thorough handwashing particularly after using the bathroom or changing a child's diaper, or before eating can help reduce a person's risk of getting hepatitis A, according to the Mayo Clinic. It's important to note that the Indiana announcement is not a nationwide recommendation. In general, the CDC recommends the hepatitis vaccine for children at age 1, as well as adults who may be at higher risk for hepatitis A or for complications from the illness. These include travelers to countries where hepatitis A is common, people who use recreational drugs, people with chronic liver disease, men who have sexual contact with other men, and people who have direct contact with others who have hepatitis A. The CDC says that ideally, a person should get the hepatitis vaccine two weeks or more before departing for their trip, but getting the vaccine any time before travel will provide some protection. Adalja noted that a number of Americans are already vaccinated against hepatitis A. The vaccine was first licensed in 1995 and was recommended for all U.S. children starting in 2006. But that would still leave many adults today unvaccinated, unless they already got the vaccine for travel or because they fall into a group that's at higher risk for contracting the illness. Symptoms of hepatitis A infection usually don't appear until two to six weeks after a person has been infected, and include fever, fatigue, nausea, vomiting, dark-yellow urine, joint pain and jaundice (a yellowing of the skin and eyes), according to the CDC. People with the infection usually get better on their own without a specific treatment, but in some cases, the infection can lead to liver failure, particularly in older adults or people who have other liver diseases, according to the National Institutes of Health. Original article on Live Science. Dodos went extinct more than 300 years ago, but scientists are only now opening up a cold case after learning that one of the birds the prized dodo specimen that likely inspired author Lewis Carroll to create a dodo character in the 1865 book "Alice in Wonderland" was brutally murdered. After recently loading the famous dodo into a micro-computed tomography (micro-CT) scanner, researchers noticed that the scans showed weird fleck marks in the flightless bird's neck and the back of its head. A closer inspection revealed that those flecks were tiny lead pellets, meaning that someone shot the dodo from behind, killing the wildfowl, the researchers announced Friday (April 20). [In Photos: The Famous Flightless Dodo] The murderous finding came as a complete surprise, said Paul Smith, the director of the Oxford University Museum of Natural History in England, where the dodo specimen called the Oxford dodo is on display. For years, curators thought that the specimen was the same bird that was brought to London in 1638, when the animal was still alive, Smith said. This famous dodo was a curiosity show, and people could pay to see and feed it. A digital image created by the micro-CT scan of the famous Oxford dodo. (Image credit: WMG, University of Warwick) It was thought that the curiosity-show dodo died and the remains of its body was later acquired by John Tradescant the Elder, whose family provided the founding collection for the University of Oxford museums. But the great performing dodo was never shot (at least that we know of), which raises the question: Where did the Oxford dodo come from if it's not the same one that performed in the London curiosity show so many years ago? "There is now a mystery regarding how the specimen came to be in Tradescant's collection," Smith told Live Science. The even greater mystery is, "Who killed the dodo?" Smith said. Dodos (Raphus cucullatus) were native to Mauritius, an island east of Madagascar in the Indian Ocean. Europeans first took notice of the bird when Dutch explorers found the animals in 1598. But after decades of hungry sailors eating the birds, habitat loss and invasive rats, cats, dogs and pigs eating their eggs, dodos went extinct on their native island in 1662. The Oxford dodo is the only specimen in the world that still contains skin and other soft tissues with extractable DNA. In a 2002 study published in the journal Science, researchers examined this dodo's DNA and found that the bird is, indeed, a giant flightless pigeon whose closest living relative is the Nicobar pigeon. Researchers decided to study the Oxford dodo specimen again so they could get a better idea of how dodos fed and what they ate, Smith said. So, Oxford researchers coordinated with scientists at the University of Warwick's Warwick Manufacturing Group (WMG) in England, where the bird was micro-CT scanned. The white dots on this digital image of the dodo's skull shows the location of the deadly lead pellets. (Image credit: WMG, University of Warwick) Curiously, the lead shot didn't penetrate the dodo's thick skull, the scans revealed. But these shots still killed the bird, the researchers said. "This is a flightless bird, so obviously, somebody snuck up behind the poor thing and just shot it in the head," said Mark Williams, leader of the Product Evaluation Technologies and Metrology research groups at WMG, University of Warwick, who is studying the Oxford dodo. Now that the cold case is open, the researchers plan to analyze the lead shot to see where it was mined. "At the moment, we don't know where the bird was actually shot," Williams told Live Science. "Was it shot in the U.K.? More likely, was it shot in the Mauritius and then transferred to the U.K.? Was it shot for food on a ship? We really don't know." Original article on Live Science. Ernest Beyl, an old-style North Beach man-about-town and author, died of an apparent heart attack last Thursday, one day after his 90th birthday and the publication of his new book. Beyl was the guest of honor at a big party at Original Joes, his favorite San Francisco restaurant, the day before his death and seemed in excellent spirits and health as nearly a hundred of his friends praised his work, his personality and his ability to represent the life and times of his North Beach neighborhood. He died in the glow of a glorious book launch and birthday celebration, said John Briscoe, an attorney and old friend. He surely felt the towns love for him that night. Beyl was a former Marine turned newspaper reporter, turned public relations executive, freelance writer and world traveler. He had just published Stops Along the Royal Road, a memoir of 70 years worth of travel adventures. It was his third book, and Beyl had planned a fourth. Im an optimistic guy, he told Geri Koeppel on the local news website Hoodline in an interview posted a few days before he died. Beyls career was varied, to say the least. He had been a press agent for movie stars, drank with Ernest Hemingway, climbed mountains, watched bullfights and hung out with jazz greats, but his favorite pastime was telling stories. One of his favorites was how, after an afternoon at a Puerto Vallarta bistro, he walked Richard Burton and Elizabeth Taylor home to their villa just up the hill. When it came time to say good night, Taylor the most beautiful woman in the world, Beyl called her gave him two kisses. Beyl loved this story and told it often. In a saloon in San Franciscos North Beach or in Timbuktu, Ernie Beyl is the person you want to find on the barstool next to you, wrote Fred Lyon, the noted San Francisco photographer. Lyon was at Beyls party last week and must have sensed something. This is great, Lyon said at the party, but we are all passing away. Ernest Beyl was born in Fresno on April 11, 1928. His father, an immigrant from the Alsatian region of France, was a chef, and he moved the family from Fresno to San Francisco when his son was less than a year old. The Beyls later settled in Oakland, where Ernest went to high school. In 1947, when he was 19, he joined the Marine Corps, hoping to see the world. He served in China and Japan, and developed a lifelong interest in Asia. After his discharge, he attended San Jose State College, as it was called at the time, and Stanford University. The day after his graduation from Stanford, he went to work for The Chronicle as a copyboy. Promoted to reporter after six months, he wrote about dogs, fires, civic meetings and crimes the usual fare for a junior reporter. Golden years for me, he said later. He then went to work for Colliers magazine and, when that closed, signed on as a Hollywood press agent. He represented movie stars. He later worked for Cathay Pacific Airways in Hong Kong, for the P&O cruise line, and for various posh Asian hotels. He opened his own business in San Francisco and represented clients as diverse as the Monterey Jazz Festival and Trader Vics restaurant. As Beyl got older, he never really retired. Instead, he became a regular at North Beach restaurants and walked everywhere. The champion flaneur of North Beach, the writer Herb Gold called him. Beyl began a column in the Marina Times newspaper and wrote books. He dined out nearly every day, and awarded Ernestos to restaurants he liked. He retained a sense that the best was yet to come. I hope you agree Im getting younger all the time, he wrote in his last Marina Times column. Beyl is survived by his wife, Joan Lawson Beyl, of San Francisco; a son, Jeff Beyl of Seattle; and a daughter, Laurel Beyl of San Francisco; six grandchildren; and four great-grandchildren. A memorial is being planned. Carl Nolte is a San Francisco Chronicle staff writer. Email: cnolte@sfchronicle.com Twitter: @carlnoltesf Atlantic Coffee Solutions is going out of business and shuttering the former Maxwell House factory, one of the largest coffee manufacturing plants in the world. The Houston-based company will cease roasting and packaging regular, decaf and instant coffee at its massive factory east of downtown this summer, according to company officials. FULL STORY: East End coffee plant to roast its last bean this summer About 279 employees will be affected by the closure. Layoffs will start on June 12, according to a letter the company sent to the Texas Workforce Commission. A company spokeswoman confirmed the impending closure. "The coffee industry has changed dramatically in recent years and low cost products from other countries have created substantial economic challenges for the company," the company said in a statement. "This decision was made after considering multiple options." RELATED: Historic coffee building gets an 'old school' renovation The 1-million-square-foot facility, which sits on 18 acres at 3900 Harrisburg Blvd., has long been a landmark in the Second Ward. Ford built the original brick and concrete building in 1913 for its Model T assembly plant. In 1946, Maxwell House, owned by General Foods and later Kraft Foods, moved into the facility. In 1988, the coffee maker added a 16-story tower bearing the company's eponymous neon sign. In 2006, Maximus Coffee acquired the plant and shortly thereafter, removed the iconic Maxwell House sign. In 2014, the company was rebranded to Atlantic Coffee Solutions after a labor strike the year before. Atlantic Coffee Solutions is currently wholly-owned by Texas-based Ecom Altantic, an affiliate of Switzerland-based Ecom Agroindustrial, one of the largest coffee merchants and millers in the world. Thrillers almost always have bad guys, and guys usually are men. But best-selling author John Sandford in 2013 introduced a memorable female villain in Silken Prey, one of his Prey thriller series featuring law enforcement investigator Lucas Davenport. The female villain in Silken Prey was Taryn Grant, whose lust for political power and psychopathic mind combined to create an evil character that would make many bad guys look like princes. Now, in Sandfords new Twisted Prey, Grant is even more diabolical in her murderous plans to reside in the White House. This is revealed early on, so the dramatic tension in the sequel comes not from who is behind the evil plot but whether Davenport can bring her to justice. In Silken Prey, Grant stormed her way to the U.S. Senate by having child pornography planted on the incumbents computer. Some murders happened along the way, too. Davenport, then a Minnesota state law enforcement investigator, suspected Grant, but he couldnt gather the evidence to expose and convict her. As Twisted Prey opens, the incumbent, Porter Smalls, is back in the U.S. Senate, occupying the other seat from Minnesota. Grant sees Smalls as the only person standing between her and the presidency, and she wants Smalls gone. Not very many pages go by before Smalls and a car driven by intimate staffer are pushed off a road by a black pickup. The staffer dies, but Smalls survives. Davenport now is a U.S. marshal, which allows him to investigate crimes outside of Minnesota. When Smalls asks Davenport to investigate, Davenport is eager to have another crack at Grant. More Information Twisted Prey By John Sandford Putnam, $29 See More Collapse Its not easy. The evidence from the attack points to a military contracting firm based near Washington, D.C. The plot evolves from there, with readers quickly knowing more about what is happening than do Davenport and other investigators. As with all 28 Prey novels and the series featuring another Minnesota investigator, Virgil Flowers, Sandfords clever, entertaining dialogue is the main attraction of Twisted Prey. The dialogue-heavy narrative in Twisted Prey is almost like a movie script with supporting stage directions to fill in the narrative. Like most thrillers, the characters, both good and bad, are stick figures. The point is action and mystery, not character growth. But Sandford develops his characters, even the villains, through their dialogue in a way that makes readers want to keep up with them, book after book, even if they never change as people. dhendricks53@yahoo.com A man has been arrested for allegedly lying to police about his vehicle being stolen from a local strip club. Javier Solis Jr., 36, of Asherton, was arrested Monday and charged with making a false report to police. On May 3, Solis and a 33-year-old woman went to the Laredo Police Department to file a vehicle theft report. She stated she had lent her blue 2008 Cadillac CTS to Solis. READ ALSO: Children's hospital window washer who dressed as Spiderman to be jailed 105 years for child porn Solis stated he had went to Xoticas, 8307 San Lorenzo Drive. When he exited the business, he forgot his cellphone inside the establishment and went back to retrieve it, he told police. Solis said he did not find the vehicle when he returned. Police said they later confirmed the Cadillac was involved in a crash on April 30 and that the driver fled the scene. Police seized the vehicle. When investigators questioned Solis, he claimed again that the vehicle was stolen. But there were inconsistencies in his story, according to LPD. RELATED: Laredo woman allegedly injected man with dark liquid, stole car "Solis then confessed that the vehicle was never stolen ... he wrecked the vehicle that night due to him having too much to drink," the arrest affidavit states. He told police he crashed the vehicle into a barrier, got scared and fled the scene, according to LPD. He then called a taxi to take him to the hotel he was staying at, according to court documents. KANE Charges have been filed against a Kane woman accused of leaving dogs tied up outside in sub-freezing temperatures without adequate shelter or protection. Greene County States Attorney Caleb Briscoe filed charges against Joyce M. May, 39, of Kane covering four counts of violation of owners duties in which she is accused of leaving five dogs tied up outside in subfreezing temperatures without adequate shelter or protection from the weather. The charges assert that two of the dogs, a pit-bull terrier and a mixed breed golden retriever, were tied to a tree using a log chain, which the Illinois Humane Care for Animals Act prohibits. Additionally, one of the pit-bulls chains measured less than 10 feet in length, also prohibited. Mays neighbor, Aimee Dilks, rescued the dogs March 19 after she had noticed them tied up for days outside of Mays home. Dilks said that she had seen May leave her home and noted that there was no electricity going to the home. Upon rescue, the dogs were noted by the shelters to have been in poor conditions. One of the pit bulls was entangled in a metal fence and Dilks said she believed it to be dead until she saw it move. She reported that the animals did not have food, water, or shelter, and were forced to stay outside of their home in 28-degree weather. Three of the larger dogs, the two pit-bull terriers and the mixed breed golden retriever, were taken by the Riverbend Human Shelter and May has since relinquished ownership to the shelter. Since then, the two pit bulls, Belle and Chance, have been adopted. Hot Rod, the mixed breed gold retriever, remains up for adoption. The two remaining dogs, both Shih Tzus, were relinquished to the Protecting Animal Welfare Society animal shelter in Jacksonville. One of the Shih Tzus has been adopted out, according to PAWS, and the other was getting ready for adoption as of early April. A charge of violation of owners duties is a misdemeanor and carries with it the standard penalties which could be up to 180 days in jail and a maximum fine of $1,500. These charges also come with the addition that the court may order a psychological or psychiatric evaluation and undergo any recommended treatment. Nick Draper can be reached at 217-245-6121, ext. 1223, or on Twitter @nick_draper. WASHINGTON - Prosecutors with special counsel Robert Mueller III's office on Thursday defended their investigation into former Trump campaign chairman Paul Manafort by saying his long-standing ties to Russian-backed politicians, financiers and others warranted a probe into whether any served as "back channels to Russia." Deputy Solicitor General Michael Dreeben said the focus on Manafort fell well within Mueller's authorization to investigate Russian interference in the 2016 U.S. election, including "any links" or coordination between Trump campaign associates and the Russian government. Dreeben's reference to back channels came during a hearing in federal court in Washington in which Manafort's attorneys sought to have criminal charges against him dismissed. Dreeben cited Manafort's alleged long-standing connections in Russia during a decade of work as an international political consultant in Ukraine and said it was "only natural" to investigate whether those ties were a means of "surreptitious communications. Did they provide back channels to Russia?" Prosecutors' sharpened rhetoric came as Manafort's attorneys argued Mueller exceeded his authority by charging Manafort with numerous felonies, including conspiracy, bank and tax fraud, and money laundering, related to work before 2014 on behalf of Ukraine's pro-Russian president at the time, Viktor Yanukovych. Manafort joined the Trump campaign in March 2016 and resigned that August amid news reports about his activities in Ukraine. Manafort's attorneys contend Deputy Attorney General Rod Rosenstein acted improperly when he appointed Mueller in May 2017 to investigate not only any campaign collusion with Russia but any other issues that "may arise" from that investigation. His attorneys asserted that Manafort is charged for conduct that predated the campaign, and that the authorization for Mueller's probe is so broad it violated department regulations that they said require a "specific factual statement" of matters under investigation. Manafort, 69, has pleaded not guilty to all counts in the indictment in the District and also to federal charges in an indictment in Virginia for alleged bank fraud and false tax filings. U.S. District Judge Amy Berman Jackson appeared skeptical of the motion to dismiss the charges in the District, noting that Manafort was a senior Trump campaign official and someone with Russia ties. "Mr. Manafort falls on both sides of that line," Jackson said. "And don't you have a conspiracy count in the indictment that includes that conduct that goes into 2016?" Jackson asked. "We do," defense attorney Kevin Downing acknowledged. Still, Downing said that Rosenstein gave Mueller a "blank check" in what to pursue in the probe. In effect, "Mr. Rosenstein said to Mr. Mueller, 'Go do it. You've got it, do what you want,' " Downing argued. Congress let a court-appointed independent counsel statute expire in 1999 largely because of concerns about runaway prosecutions, Manafort's attorneys suggested, but said that if it has been replaced by a system in which "an attorney general can do whatever he wants" by appointing a special counsel with open-ended jurisdiction without any court review, "We are in a worse place than when we were" before. Thursday's hearing marked a sharper clash on the same set of issues raised in a lawsuit by Manafort that was argued April 4 before Jackson. The judge then appeared dismissive of Manafort's bid to block Mueller from filing future criminal charges against him. The same questions will be tested again on May 7 in Virginia, where Manafort has moved to toss out a second criminal case brought by the special counsel. On Thursday, Manafort's attorneys urged the judge to order the Justice Department to turn over more documents about the timing and scope of Mueller's investigation. Downing focused his fire on a recent disclosure by prosecutors that Rosenstein issued a second "scope" memo on Aug. 2, 2017, that specifically authorized Mueller to investigate Manafort's Ukraine work and whether he "committed a crime or crimes by colluding with Russian government officials." "It seems to me very much an after-the-fact justification for something that on August 2, Mr. Rosenstein maybe recognized he got wrong on May 17," Downing said, asking for more transparency and a paper trail from Rosenstein. "I don't know what happened, but if you could have the record, we would all know the reasons, and we could resolve this right now." In her questions, Jackson suggested Downing was "cherry-picking" two unrelated sentences of a Justice Department regulation meant to spell out how the department decides internally which prosecutors will handle which cases - not, as Downing argued, to let defendants challenge who is to be investigated Dreeben said it would be extraordinary overreach "to pull back the curtain" of internal "personnel" and prosecutorial decision-making by an "alive and awake" deputy attorney general actively supervising a special counsel who is "not on a frolic and on a detour" from investigating what he was charged to do. Jackson picked up that line, asking Downing at one point, "You want me to assume that in one of the most high-profile and complicated investigations . . . a career department official [Rosenstein] appointed the former director of the FBI and a former U.S. attorney [Mueller], you're telling me he didn't tell him what he was to investigate?" WASHINGTON - The Federal Aviation Administration on Wednesday ordered inspections of the type of engine that exploded Tuesday on Southwest Airlines flight 1380. The FAA said it will issue an Airworthiness Directive (AD) within the next two weeks that will require inspections of certain CFM56-7B engines. The directive requires an ultrasonic inspection of fan blades when they reach a certain number of takeoffs and landings. Any blades that fail the inspection will have to be replaced, the FAA said in a statement. The agency had already issued an advisory for such inspections; the AD makes them mandatory. The FAA said it is supporting the National Transportation Safety Board in its investigation into Tuesday's explosion and "is in communication with the manufacturers and airlines on whether any further safety steps or amendments are needed." The NTSB said Wednesday it will examine whether metal fatigue caused an engine fan to snap mid-flight aboard the plane, spraying shrapnel and causing a cabin window to be blown out. One passenger died. The FAA has been aware of the problem since a similar incident with a Southwest Airlines plane almost two years ago, and the agency had already begun implementing measures to require more frequent inspections. On Aug. 27, 2016, a Southwest flight from New Orleans, Louisiana, to Orlando, Florida, was flying at cruising altitude when one of its two engines disintegrated, causing a gash in the fuselage. Passengers on that flight said their experience mirrored that of those on board Tuesday's flight from New York's LaGuardia Airport to Dallas. They heard "a loud boom and smoke trailing from the left engine, and saw metal flapping after the smoke cleared." Flight 1380 made an emergency landing at Philadelphia International Airport. No one was injured on the 2016 flight, but the plane made an emergency landing in Pensacola. The FAA responded 10 months later with a recommendation that airlines use ultrasound to inspect their engine fan blades. Though most airlines have complied with that counsel, the agency thought the matter significantly urgent that it has begun the laborious federal process to mandate that every airline carry out the inspections. Southwest CEO Gary Kelly said that the plane involved in Tuesday's incident had undergone an inspection two days before the explosion, but he said he was not aware of the nature of that inspection or whether it included a specific inspection of that engine. Kelly said the plane had flown 10,000 of the 40,000 trips the airline allows between engine overhauls. Southwest flies a fleet made up entirely of Boeing 737s, and all of them are equipped with the General Electric built CFM56 engine. "There's no information that there were any issues with the airplane or the engine," Kelly said Tuesday night. More for you 'She has nerves of steel': The story of the pilot who calmly landed the Southwest Airlines flight One expert said that if the plane had made 10,000 trips, under the FAA advisory it was due for a an ultrasound engine inspection after 5,000 more trips. He said that after a second incident with a GE CFM56 engine, the FAA might want to reconsider whether engines should be tested for metal fatigue more frequently than after eerie 15,000 trips. "Based on the latest events, it's apparent that we should look at these engines much sooner than we thought," said the individual, who is familiar with the investigation and asked not to be named to speak candidly. "If this problem manifested itself at 10,000 [trips], then that's going to be the new floor [for testing]. That's the logical conclusion to draw, but of course it will depend on the evidence." Southwest said that it would speed up its existing engine inspection program after Tuesday's explosion. In a statement released Wednesday, Southwest said: "The accelerated inspections are being performed out of an abundance of caution and are expected to be completed over the next 30 days. The accelerated checks are ultrasonic inspections of fan blades of the CFM56 engines." GE said the inspections would be expedited with the help of 40 GE technicians. The inspections are expected to take about a month, a GE spokesman said Wednesday. While the NTSB investigation precluded it from commenting on the explosion, GE, in its statement, defended the safety record of its engine. The company lauded the CFM56-7 engine fleet, which powers nearly 7,000 planes across the globe, for what it called "an outstanding safety and reliability record" since launching in 1997. "The engine family has accumulated more than 350 million flight hours as one of the most reliable and popular jet engine models in airline history," GE said. Every book festival needs a free outdoor fair where festivalgoers can gather to shop, explore, enjoy live music and of course, eat great food! Our two-day extravaganza encompasses Berkeleys Martin Luther King, Jr. Civic Center Park and four surrounding city blocks. There you can get up close and personal with 200 exhibitors, including scores of popular and emerging authors, artisans, publishers, independent bookstores, literature groups and much more. Youll also hear presentations from acclaimed authors at a big outdoor stage sponsored by the San Francisco Chronicle. Imagine, immerse, create and craft to your hearts content in our dynamic Family Fun Zone, jam-packed with enriching activities for the young and young at heart! Design your own books, create handmade art with found objects, play on a giant scrabble board, add your personal touches to the LEGOJeep, make Monsterbots and find treasures at the annual free book giveaway. Youll enjoy browsing myriad exhibiting authors who cater to younger readers, ranging from picture books to chapter books. You can also let the kids romp in a festive carnival with inflatables, bouncy houses, arcade games and rides. Need a comfy spot to take a break from the action? Explore the magical world of Astro Botanicals a series of whimsical inflatable flower sculptures that create a fun, interactive space for socializing and reading. Visit the ShowTime Stage for live music, dance, readings and performances for the entire family. New this year on Saturday, take part in a community hip hop party hosted by Oaklands Grammy-nominated Alphabet Rockers. On Sunday, catch author readings, book illustrators and performances by renowned family-friendly comedians, jugglers and Bay Area Childrens Theatre. (See complete ShowTime Stage schedule on page 16.) Highlighted below are some of the popular local childrens museums and organizations that will host an array of hands-on activities for all ages: 826 Valencia: Booklets for kids to write and draw stories through writing games, spinning wheel and make your own bookmarks. Alphabet Rockers: Hip hop crafts, create your own bookmark, button making and who do you stand for? community board. Saturday, 4/28 only. Bay Area Childrens Theatre: Enjoy readalouds and giveaways with the award-winning childrens theatre program. Sunday, 4/29 only. Bay Area Libraries: Live story times, craft projects. Booklandia: Curl up with Spanish-language and bilingual books for kids (also available for purchase). Chabot Space & Science Center: Hands-on science and space exploration activities. East Bay Depot for Creative Reuse: Bookmaking and art fun with discarded and recycled materials. Habitot Children's Museum: 20th anniversary celebration with hands-on water play, arts & crafts, chalk stenciling, Monsterbot Maker and giant block building activities. Half Price Books: Find a treasure among thousands of titles at the annual free book giveaway sponsored by the nations largest family-owned retailer for new and used books. Hands-On Berkeley: Invent, create and discover through STEAM-centered arts & crafts. Hip Hop For Change: Graffiti art wall, DJ workshop, reading area with Hip Hop books. Lawrence Hall of Science: Build large geo-structures with dowels and planks. LEGOJeep: Kids love adding pieces to this ever-changing and fun artwork shaped by all who contribute. Sunday, 4/29 only. Peace Chain Joe: Make your own peace-word charm (keep it for free) and/or buy peace word charms in many languages of the world. Sticky Art Lab: Up-cycle art book making. Writopia Lab: Giant scrabble board and writing activities, student-written books and themed wares for sale. The Zimbabwean government's dismissal of thousands of striking nurses drew condemnation from labor unions and dimmed hopes that the removal of Robert Mugabe as president last year would usher in a new era of stability in the southern African nation. The firings may hinder the drive by Emmerson Mnangagwa, who replaced Mugabe in November, to bolster confidence among the public and investors that he can re-establish the rule of law following four decades of Mugabe's administration that showed scant regard for labor rights. The decision to dismiss the nurses, who were demanding better pay and working conditions, was announced on Tuesday by Vice President Constantino Chiwenga, the former military commander who was instrumental in forcing Mugabe to resign. "Such ill-advised actions that offer a repeat of past repression should be avoided," said Gary van Staden, an analyst at NKC African Economics in Paarl, near Cape Town. "It highlights the danger of military men assuming political power and failing to note the differences in problem-solving tactics appropriate when wearing a suit." While Zimbabwe's 2013 constitution enables all employees other than those who serve in the security forces to strike, it says laws can limit the exercise of that right to maintain essential services. Health Minister David Parirenyatwa told reporters Thursday that the dismissed nurses can reapply for their jobs and the government will hire others who are unemployed. Chiwenga defended the decision to fire the nurses, saying they provide an essential service and refused to go back to work despite the government delivering on an agreement to allocate them a total of $17.1 million in additional pay. Their actions were "deplorable and reprehensible" and may be politically motivated, he said in an emailed statement from Harare, the capital. Lovemore Madhuku, a law lecturer at the University of Zimbabwe, said the law doesn't allow summary dismissal, and the presidency has no power to fire nurses who are employed by the Health Service Board. As many as 10,000 of Zimbabwe's 13,000 state nurses could be affected by Chiwenga's announcement, according to the Zimbabwe Nurses Association, which is challenging their dismissal in court. "It's a legal nullity -- you can't have the vice president announcing the purported dismissal of workers on national television," said Peter Mutasa, president of the Zimbabwe Congress of Trade Unions. "We forgive him because he is still learning the new roles of government. Government did not follow due process and in terms of the law, you can't just fire people willy-nilly like that." The presidency didn't answer calls or messages seeking comment. Tendai Biti, a constitutional lawyer who leads the opposition People's Democratic Party, which plans to challenge the ruling party in elections this year, accused the government of having a military mindset and being incapable of instituting democratic reforms. "'They are not capable of making any change," he said in an interview in Bloomberg's Johannesburg office on Wednesday. "They've been in power for 130 days now, but there's nothing significant that they you can point out that they have done." WASHINGTON - The Justice Department inspector general referred its finding that former FBI Deputy Director Andrew McCabe repeatedly misled investigators to the top federal prosecutor in the District of Columbia to determine whether McCabe should be charged with a crime, according to people familiar with the matter. The referral to the District U.S. Attorney's Office occurred some time ago, after the inspector general concluded McCabe had lied to investigators or his own boss, then-FBI Director James Comey, on four occasions, three of them under oath. The U.S. Attorney's Office met with McCabe's legal team in recent weeks, though it was not immediately clear whether prosecutors there were conducting their own investigation or believed criminal charges are appropriate. A referral to federal prosecutors does not necessarily mean McCabe will be charged with a crime. Michael Bromwich, McCabe's lawyer, said in a statement: "We were advised of the referral within the past few weeks. Although we believe the referral is unjustified, the standard for an IG referral is very low. We have already met with staff members from the U.S. Attorney's Office. We are confident that, unless there is inappropriate pressure from high levels of the Administration, the U.S. Attorney's Office will conclude that it should decline to prosecute." IG refers to the inspector general. The Justice Department, the District U.S. Attorney's Office and a spokeswoman for McCabe declined to comment Thursday. Last week, Inspector General Michael Horowitz sent to Congress a report blasting McCabe. It says he inappropriately authorized the disclosure of sensitive information to the media, then lied repeatedly to investigators examining the matter. The report - which quickly became public, though it was not released by the inspector general - laid out in stunning detail allegations McCabe had deceived investigators about his role in approving the disclosure, even as he lashed out at others in the FBI for leaks. McCabe, though, disputes many of the report's findings and has said he never meant to mislead anyone. Lying to federal investigators is a crime punishable by up to five years in prison, and some legal analysts speculated in the wake of the report that the inspector general seemed to be laying out a case for accusing McCabe of such conduct. The report alleged that one of McCabe's lies "was done knowingly and intentionally" - which is a key aspect of the federal crime. Attorney General Jeff Sessions fired McCabe from the FBI last month, just 26 hours before McCabe could retire, denying McCabe some of his retirement benefits and reigniting the political firestorm that has long surrounded the former FBI official. President Donald Trump had repeatedly and publicly attacked McCabe, and McCabe alleged his termination was politically motivated. "This attack on my credibility is one part of a larger effort not just to slander me personally, but to taint the FBI, law enforcement, and intelligence professionals more generally," McCabe said in a statement on the night he was removed from the FBI. "It is part of this Administration's ongoing war on the FBI and the efforts of the Special Counsel investigation, which continue to this day. Their persistence in this campaign only highlights the importance of the Special Counsel's work." McCabe would later raise more than a half-million dollars for a legal-defense fund through a GoFundMe page. His firing was recommended by the FBI's Office of Professional Responsibility, based on the inspector general's findings. Separately this week, a group of 11 House Republicans asked Attorney General Jeff Sessions, FBI Director Christopher Wray and Utah U.S. Attorney John Huber to explore whether McCabe - along with a host of other Justice Department officials - committed any crimes in their handling of the investigation of Hillary Clinton's private email server, the probe into Russia interference in the 2016 election and other matters. Sessions has tasked Huber with looking into a range of GOP concerns. The referral from the Inspector General to the District U.S. Attorney's Office is thought to be far more serious, as inspector general investigators are nonpartisan lawyers and agents who probe wrongdoing for a living. Ironically, Comey - who appointed McCabe to his post as the No. 2 official in the FBI - stressed in his book released this week the importance of telling the truth to federal investigators and holding accountable those who do not. Comey wrote that as he weighed whether to charge Martha Stewart with such an offense in the early 2000s, he asked his deputy how many people in the U.S. had been indicted on charges of lying to federal investigators in the previous year. The deputy told him the answer was 2,000. Comey wrote that he told his staff to indict Stewart. "People must fear the consequences of lying in the justice system or the system can't work," he wrote. The disclosure of which McCabe was accused of authorizing came in October 2016, around the time Comey would announce the FBI was resuming its probe of Hillary Clinton's use of a private email server. At the time, Devlin Barrett - then a reporter at the Wall Street Journal - was preparing a story on the bureau's handling of that case and another investigation into the Clinton family foundation. McCabe felt the story would portray him and the FBI unfairly, so he authorized two other FBI officials to give Barrett his account. Barrett now works for The Washington Post. Background conversations with reporters in Washington are commonplace, and McCabe had the authority, as the FBI's deputy director, to authorize them. But the inspector general came to conclude he was acting out of self interest, and that violated FBI policy. Of particular concern was that McCabe effectively authorized the FBI to confirm an ongoing investigation into the Clinton Foundation, by revealing a phone call in which he pushed back against a Justice Department official who warned that the bureau should not be taking overt steps in the case close to an election. McCabe asked the official: "Are you telling me that I need to shut down a validly predicated investigation?" The inspector general wrote Comey inquired with his deputy about the disclosure, and McCabe led him to believe he did not know who was responsible. McCabe's team, though, disputes that, and says emails between the two "clearly show that Mr. McCabe specifically advised Director Comey that he was working with colleagues at the FBI to correct inaccuracies in the story before it was published, and that they remained in contact through the weekend while the work was taking place." Inspector general investigators came to believe Comey, and they alleged McCabe lied on three other occasions to them and the FBI's inspection division. Comey said in an appearance on "The View" this week: "I still believe Andrew McCabe is a good person, but the inspector general found that he lied, and there's severe consequences in the Justice Department for lying - as there should be throughout the government." The Senate on Thursday narrowly confirmed Rep. Jim Bridenstine, R-Okla., as NASA administrator, despite deep concerns from Democrats that he lacks the scientific and management expertise to lead the space agency. The vote to install the three-term lawmaker was 50-49. President Donald Trump had initially tapped Bridenstine for the post last year, but his nomination stalled amid Democratic criticisms, as well as some reticence from Sen. Marco Rubio, R-Fla., who said Thursday that NASA should be led by a professional with a background in space. But Rubio ultimately sided with all other Republicans to confirm Bridenstine as the NASA chief in spite of his hesitations, arguing that Trump deserves to have his team in place across the administration. "I was not enthused about the nomination. Nothing personal about Mr. Bridenstine. NASA is an organization that needs to be led by a space professional," Rubio said before the confirmation vote Thursday afternoon. But "my view of it is, and it has been the tradition of the Senate for the entire distance of the republic, that we give great deference to the president on choosing qualifications." Bridenstine's confirmation comes at a critical time for the agency, which is preparing to return to the moon, and to restore human spaceflight from United States soil, a capability that was lost when the space shuttle program was retired in 2011. The space agency has gone without a permanent leader for 15 months, since Charles Bolden resigned as Trump took office. During that time, Robert Lightfoot, a NASA veteran, has been running the agency. But he recently announced he was retiring from the agency at the end of this month. Bridenstine is a former naval aviator who ran the Tulsa Air and Space Museum before coming to Congress in 2013. An avid supporter of space exploration, he sponsored the American Space Renaissance Act, a wide-ranging bill that touched on national security, how best to deal with debris in space, and how to regulate the commercial space industry. Earlier this week, Vice President Mike Pence praised Bridenstine as a "a great champion of the men and women at NASA and a great champion of the president's vision for NASA, and for American leadership in space." But Democrats seized on Bridenstine's lack of scientific expertise, as well as his comments on climate change, to make their case that Bridenstine was unfit to lead the agency. Sen. Bill Nelson, D-Fla., who led the Democrats' opposition to the congressman, also argued that the NASA administrator should be a professional, rather than a politician. "James Bridenstine is a climate denier with no scientific background who has made a career out of ignoring science," Sen. Brian Schatz, D-Hawaii, said Thursday. "Now, I also don't have a scientific background. But I defer to scientists. I rely on the scientific consensus. And the scientific consensus is not what Mr. Bridenstine says." A procedural vote on Wednesday to advance Bridenstine's confirmation almost failed as Sen. Jeff Flake, R-Ariz., sided with Democrats to block him, only to switch his vote after some time had passed. Senate Republican leaders said Flake wanted to speak with Mike Pompeo, the secretary of state nominee, about travel restrictions to Cuba before he could commit to advancing Bridenstine's nomination. Had Flake remained a "no" on that vote, it would have caused significant complications as Pence, who as the president of the Senate is the official tiebreaker, was in Florida to attend Trump's summit with Japanese Prime Minister Shinzo Abe. As Flake remained a holdout, Pence called the Arizona senator, who said he wanted to discuss lifting travel restrictions to Cuba with the secretary of state candidate, according to a person familiar with the discussions. Flake had assured the White House last week that he was a yes vote for Bridenstine's confirmation, so when he voted no on cloture - ending debate ahead of the vote - it took the White House by surprise, according to the person, who requested anonymity to discuss private conversations. Flake said Thursday that he has since spoken with Pompeo, who faces his own confirmation vote in the Senate Foreign Relations Committee on Monday, but declined to elaborate on their conversation. Those who fit in the middle of the Venn diagram of "Breaking Bad" and booze lovers might miss Sony's 2015 short-lived promotional spirit for the show - Heisenberg, "The One Who Knocks" Blue Ice vodka. But as craft beer fans and certain Californians know, there's another option out there. Knee Deep Brewing Co., in Auburn, California, has made a "Breaking Bad"-themed Indian pale ale since the same year that kooky vodka hit shelves. Breaking Bud has become the brewery's best seller, and it nabbed the bronze for American IPAs at the 2016 Great American Beer Festival. Sony Pictures Television, one of the show's production companies, isn't as pleased with the beer. Sony filed a lawsuit Tuesday against Knee Deep in California district court, citing trademark infringement and brand dilution, among other grievances. Such a beer was probably inevitable. Pop culture references are frequently used by breweries, and "Breaking Bad" - a show about a chemistry teacher who uses his knowledge to make illicit substances - is a particularly good fit for the edgy craft beer world. There's already been a Heisenberg's Dark and a Walt's White Lie out of Marble Brewery in Albuquerque, the same city where the show was set. What set this particular beer apart was that it used specific imagery from the show, namely its logo. The title sequence of "Breaking Bad" presented the periodic table of elements in forest green with white lettering. The camera zooms out, and with it pops out the squares for elements Bromine and Barium, abbreviated "Br" and "Ba" respectively. Those abbreviations soon form the beginning of the words "Breaking" and "Bad." Knee Deep's beer uses the same idea, with the first two letters in Breaking Bud being the abbreviations for Bromine (Br) and a fictional 95th element that begins with "Bu." (The actual 95th element is Americium, which is abbreviated "Am.") These letters are also white on a green background. The label also features the brewery's mascot - a green, alien-looking creature with bushy, black, Colin Farrell-esque eyebrows - donning a hazmat suit, much like the one that the show's main characters Walter White (Bryan Cranston) and Jesse Pinkman (Aaron Paul) often wore while making crystal meth. The beer's logo also includes three barrels labeled "hops" in a desert, with a storage truck and mountains towering in the background: all references to the show. This greatly displeased Sony, who claims the direct appropriation is gratuitous. The harshly worded lawsuit states: "Simply put, rather than investing the time, effort and resources necessary to establish their own reputation and identity," Knee Deep "instead opted to hijack the famous brand identity" of the show for its "own intended benefit." It goes on to claim that the beer's label design "threatens to erode the value" of the show "by undermining (Sony's) continuing ability to attract licensees for such marks and secure compensation for the right to associate one's products with" the show. Knee Deep CEO Jerry Moore said in a statement to The Washington Post that he was "surprised by the unexpected lawsuit." Moore said Sony contacted the brewery in early 2015, when Breaking Bud was originally introduced, "touting their appreciation of our Breaking Bud beer that made gentle fun of their show." He claims to have received an email from Sony reading, "It seems the Knee Deep team are big fans of 'Breaking Bad' and we really appreciate the call out to our very popular show." "Soon thereafter I spoke with the Sony representative and we discussed the potential benefits of a formal partnership between Knee Deep and Sony but we ultimately decided not to pursue such a partnership because, among other things, our label has always been meant as a joke and not something seriously connected to the show," Moore said. "At no point, during those discussions, did Sony ever threaten to sue Knee Deep over the name of the beer "We are a small brewery and I don't appreciate the distraction, not to mention the expense of having to deal with something that should have been addressed three years ago if Sony really had an issue with it," he continued. "At the end of the day, the quality of the beer is what has made Breaking Bud popular and we should all be able to take a joke." Sony's lawyers have not responded to The Post's request for comment on Moore's claims. The pilot's voice was calm yet focused as her plane descended, telling air traffic control she had "149 souls" on board and was carrying 21,000 pounds - or about five hours' worth - of fuel. "Southwest 1380, we're single engine," said Capt. Tammie Jo Shults, a former fighter pilot with the Navy. "We have part of the aircraft missing, so we're going to need to slow down a bit." She asked for medical personnel to meet her aircraft on the runway. "We've got injured passengers." "Injured passengers, OK, and is your airplane physically on fire?" asked the air traffic controller, according to audio of the interaction. "No, it's not on fire, but part of it's missing," Shults said, pausing for a moment. "They said there's a hole, and, uh, someone went out." The engine on Shults's plane had, in fact, exploded Tuesday, spraying shrapnel into the aircraft, causing a window to be blown out and leaving one woman dead and seven other people injured. The National Transportation Safety Board said Wednesday that investigators will examine whether metal fatigue caused an engine fan of the Boeing 737-700 to snap midflight. The protective engine housing broke off, and pieces were later recovered in fields in Berks County, Pennsylvania, 70 miles northwest of Philadelphia International Airport. The wing on the side of the plane where the explosion occurred suffered damage that left it "banged up pretty good," NTSB Chairman Robert Sumwalt said. The cabin window blew out with such force that none of the materials were recovered inside the plane, baffling investigators, he said. "We didn't see any shards of glass [that blew in] - I say glass, but it's acrylic," Sumwalt said. "We found no evidence at all of any broken acrylic inside." In the midst of the chaos, Shults deftly guided the plane onto the runway, touching down at 190 mph, saving the lives of 148 people aboard and averting a far worse catastrophe. "She has nerves of steel," passenger Alfred Tumlinson said Wednesday. When the engine exploded, Tumlinson, 55, was sitting with his wife on the plane's left side, in the second aisle from the back. The couple from George West, Texas, sent texts to their children, telling them the plane was going down and that they loved them. "Did we think we were going to make it?" Tumlinson asked, turning to his wife. "No." "I got another day of my life because of that lady and the co-pilot," he said. "What do you want to know about [Shults] other than she's an angel?" Tumlinson described how soon after the explosion, a soothing voice came over the intercom. "She was talking to us very calmly," Tumlinson said. " 'We're descending, we're not going down, we're descending, just stay calm, brace yourselves,' " he recalled Shults saying. " 'Everybody keep your masks on.' " Finally, passengers were told to brace themselves, he said. " 'Everybody, you got to lean forward - hands up on the seat in the front, you got to know that you're coming down, and you're coming down hard,' " Tumlinson said, becoming emotional while recounting the experience. "But she didn't slam it down. She brought the bird down very carefully." The plane stabilized on the runway. Then, a moment of relief. "She was so cool when she brought that down into the Philadelphia airport," Tumlinson said. "Everybody just was applauding. I'm just telling you they were just applauding. It was amazing that we made it to the ground." The passengers were told to remain calm while medics came on board. Soon after, Shults came into the cabin to check on passengers. "She came back and talked to every individual in there personally and shook every hand," Tumlinson recalled, taking note of one other detail. "She had a bomber jacket on." Tumlinson's wife, Diana McBride Self, called Shults "a true American hero." Others on social media agreed and compared Shults with Capt. Chesley "Sully" Sullenberger, who guided his US Airways plane to safety in New York's Hudson River in 2009. Shults declined to comment. Her mother-in-law, Virginia Shults, said that as soon as she heard the pilot's voice on the radio transmission online, she said, "That is Tammie Jo." "It was just as if she and I were sitting here talking," Virginia Shults said. "She's a very calming person." Jennifer Riordan, an Albuquerque mother of two children and a vice president at Wells Fargo, was the passenger who died. Witnesses said two men and several flight attendants came to Riordan's aid after she was pulled toward the blown-out window. Riordan was seated in Row 14, the same row as the missing window, Sumwalt said. Sumwalt said that investigators are aware of reports from passengers that Riordan was nearly sucked out of the plane, but that "we have not corroborated that ourselves." "We need to corroborate that," Sumwalt said. "There's 144 passengers on the airplane, many of whom were seated behind her. I think that we will have some good information based on that, based on the airplane and also based on the medical examiner's report. I think we'll be able to have a good idea of what actually happened." Riordan died of blunt impact trauma to her head, neck and torso, Philadelphia Department of Public Health spokesman James Garrow said Wednesday night. "The listed cause of death seems consistent with what we've heard in media reports," he said, though he could not confirm the nature of her death. "The cause that we're listing and have written on the death certificate sounds consistent with what has been reported," he said, but he could not say whether the injuries were caused by "the fuselage or the air or the window or debris." Virginia Shults said that, "knowing Tammie Jo, I know her heart is broken for the death of that passenger." She was not surprised that her daughter-in-law was the pilot credited with the skillful landing. Friends and family members described Tammie Jo Shults as a pioneer in the aviation field, a woman who broke barriers to pursue her goals. She was among the first female fighter pilots for the Navy, according to her alma mater, MidAmerica Nazarene University in Olathe, Kansas, from which she graduated in 1983. A Navy spokeswoman said Shults was "among the first cohort of women pilots to transition to tactical aircraft." After commissioning in the Navy in 1985 and finishing flight training in Pensacola, Florida, her duties took her to Point Mugu, California, where she was an instructor pilot on planes including the F/A-18 Hornet. She was a decorated pilot who rose to the rank of lieutenant commander and twice received the Navy and Marine Corps Achievement Medal, along with a National Defense Service Medal and an expert pistol Marksmanship Medal, according to a biography provided by the Navy Office of Information. Shults' persistence in becoming a pilot goes back to her upbringing on a New Mexico ranch, near Holloman Air Force Base, Shults says in the book "Military Fly Moms," by Linda Maloney. "Some people grow up around aviation. I grew up under it," she said. Watching the daily air show, she knew she "just had to fly." She recalled attending a lecture on aviation during her senior year of high school, in 1979. A retired colonel started the class by asking Shults, the only girl in attendance, "if I was lost." "I mustered up the courage to assure him I was not and that I was interested in flying," she wrote. "He allowed me to stay, but assured me there were no professional women pilots." When she met a woman in college who had received her Air Force wings, Shults wrote, "I set to work trying to break into the club." But Shults wrote that the Air Force "wasn't interested" in talking to her. The Navy let her apply for aviation officer candidate school, "but there did not seem to be a demand for women pilots." "Finally," she wrote, a year after taking the Navy aviation exam, she found a recruiter who would process her application. After aviation officer candidate school in Pensacola, she was assigned to a training squadron at Naval Air Station Chase Field in Beeville, Texas, as an instructor pilot teaching student aviators to fly the Navy T-2 trainer. She later left to fly the A-7 Corsair in Lemoore, California. By then, she had met her "knight in shining airplane," a fellow pilot who would become her husband, Dean Shults. (He also flies for Southwest Airlines.) Because of the combat exclusion law, Tammie Jo Shults was prohibited from flying in a combat squadron. While her husband was able to join a squadron, her choices were limited, involving providing electronic warfare training to Navy ships and aircraft. She later became one of the first women to fly what was then the Navy's newest fighter, the F/A-18 Hornet but, again, in a support role. "Women were new to the Hornet community, and already there were signs of growing pains." She served 10 years in the Navy, reaching the rank of lieutenant commander. She left the Navy in 1993 and lives in the San Antonio area with her husband. She has two children: a teenage son and a daughter in her early 20s. Gary Shults, her brother-in-law, described her as a "formidable woman, as sharp as a tack." "My brother says she's the best pilot he knows," Gary Shults told the Associated Press. "She's a very caring, giving person who takes care of lots of people." Her mother-in-law described her as a devout Christian, with a faith she thinks may have contributed to her calmness amid the midair emergency and landing. "I know God was with her, and I know she was talking to God," Virginia Shults said. Whatever was going through her mind as she completed her landing, Tammie Jo Shults even made time to tell the control tower: "Thank you. . . . Thanks, guys, for the help." As part of its events to celebrate the 250th anniversary of the birth of Maria Edgeworth 1768 - 1849, the Edgeworth Society has, with the support of Creative Ireland Longford, commissioned an hour-long one woman show entitled 'Maria in Mind'. The piece has been conceived and directed by Johnny Hanrahan, artistic director of Captain Moonlight who is best known as artistic and principal playwright for Meridian Theatre Company from 1989 2011. The show will be premiered at the Edgeworth Literary Festival from May 11-13 with actress Carmel OLeary playing the part of Maria. Carmel is a highly experienced Irish actress and has an extensive track record on stage and screen. She has appeared at The Abbey Theatre, The Gaiety and the Cork Opera House and her TV credits include Emmerdale, Fair City and Finbarrs Class. This much anticipated performance takes place on Friday, May 11 at 8pm in The Manor, Edgeworthstown. During her lifetime Maria Edgeworth wrote many short dramas that were mostly performed in the home setting for the enjoyment of family and friends, says local historian Matt Farrell. It is very appropriate that on this her 250th anniversary a new piece will be performed in the very house where she lived and loved. Meanwhile, Maria Edgeworth is regarded as one of Irelands greatest early modern novelist and in her lifetime she was more revered and successful than Jane Austen and Sir Walter Scott. Maria in Mind draws on her works, views, her letters and her legend, her family and friends are all represented in this hour-long show. It is envisaged the show will subsequently tour universities in Ireland and overseas where the local author is central to the study of 18th and 19th century literature. ALSO READ: Longford Lives: Dani Gill exploring life 'After Love' with poetry and art After 62 years trading in Longford town, Durkins Jewellers on main street called time on its endeavours a number of weeks ago. Therese Durkin has been running the business for the last 32 years and she told the Leader that it was no longer financially viable for her to keep going. She says the business took a tumble two years ago when she lost a major brand at the store. This, she says, was the beginning of the end, although she did not realise it at the time. The rot set in when I lost that brand; it really was a massive blow to me, she added. Because of that particular brand, people were coming from other counties to buy it, so for me when that went, a huge chunk of my business went overnight. Meanwhile, Therese put her best foot forward, as they say, but it was becoming an uphill battle to stay afloat. Then Brexit happened and sales at Durkins went down too in September and October, and for the first time ever, the business sold no diamond rings at Christmas - a time when loved up couples often accept proposals of marriage along with the diamond ring! In the second year after the major brand went, losses continued and the situation did not improve, Therese continued, before pointing out that August, traditionally a busy month with tourists and visitors from the UK, failed to produce results. We had no UK visitors last August and that was because of Brexit and the situation with sterling; then it was back to school, Halloween, etc and we had no money coming in. Therese says that online shopping also impacted negatively on the business and she also pointed out that young people want cheap and cheerful these days and go to Penneys for their jewellery. People dont want quality jewellery anymore - they want cheap and cheerful and they want to be able to change the jewellery to match the outfit, she continued. We are living in a throwaway society with little value on anything. I feel I am hitting my head off a brick wall now. The Governments decision to allocate 165,000 to Longford County Council in its attempts to accommodate 60 Syrian refugees has been branded totally inadequate. The Leader can this week reveal for the first time the extent of State funding which has been apportioned to the local authority under the Government's Irish Refugee Protection Programme (IRPP). In documents released to the Leader under the Freedom of Information Act, the Department of Justice confirmed it has ring fenced 165,000 as part of the exercise. Approximately half of this allocation-82,500 was transferred to the Council on foot of a signed grant agreement on January 31. On average, the total contribution set aside as part of that arrangement works out at 2,750 per refugee over the course of the next 18 months. In a statement, the Department said it expected its agreement with Longford County Council to last until September 2018. The Longford Resettlement Programme commenced on March 1 2018 and will run for an 18 month period, during which period the county will receive 60 refugees. The remainder of the grant will be released in tranches subject to returns of financial and operational returns from the Council. It was also revealed that despite the first batch of refugees expected to arrive into Longford last month, this will now not commence until June at the earliest. Longford County Council said it had no update to provide when contacted by the Leader last week, stating talks with Department officials were ongoing regarding the resettlement programme. Despite those efforts, the scope of State aid provided as part of the relocation scheme has come in for stinging criticism from local politicians. Cllr Peggy Nolan said she believed the six figure sum fell way below the required standards that were needed to meet the needs of the estimated ten families scheduled to arrive here in three months time. 180,000 wouldnt look after one family, she said. It doesnt even come a poor second to looking after these people. Cllr Nolan said greater clarity in terms of the types of resources being made available to allow counties like Longford to facilitate such refugee placement programmes, was required. She was one of a number of locally elected representatives to learn of the news at a Longford/Westmeath Education and Training Board (ETB) meeting in Mullingar last year. In Mullingar, I do know they were told these people would need houses, that they would need educational and medical facilities. Have they been put in place in Longford? ALSO READ: Government and Council 'misguided' over Longford-Syrian refugee decision Under fire Minister for Communications Denis Naughten TD is insisting that he 'acted to the letter of the law' throughout the proposed INM (Independent News & Media) bid to takeover Celtic Media. Minister Naughten also said it may have been preferable if his conversation with the PR executive Eoghan O Neachtain, acting for INM, had not taken place, adding emphatically that he 'had no inside information to give'. Here is the full text of statement released by Minister Naughten; "In early September 2016 INM announced that it had agreed a deal to purchase the portfolio of regional newspapers currently owned by the Celtic Media Group, or CNML. The titles that would be included in this deal were the Anglo Celt, the Meath Chronicle, the Forum, the Westmeath Examiner, the Westmeath Independent, the Connaught Telegraph, and the Offaly Independent. September 3, 2016 NUJ issued a Statement after the public announcement by Independent News and Media (INM) calling on the Communications Minister to investigate the implication of the proposed acquisition. Seamus Dooley of the NUJ said: In approving the acquisition the Minister is required to consider the issues of media diversity and plurality. This is the first time these powers can be used by the Minister, in addition to the powers of the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission. September 5, 2016 Seamus Dooley, NUJ Irish Secretary, called on me as Minister to set up a panel of experts to investigate the acquisition and to ask the Broadcasting Authority of Ireland to carry out a fully statutory inquiry, as provided for in guidelines. Given INMs dominant position in the national newspaper sector and the dominant role of the chief shareholder in the independent broadcasting sector there are compelling reasons for an investigation into the full implications of this proposed acquisition. On 26 October Brian Stanley said: The media landscape is on the verge of losing more diversity owing to the possible purchase of Celtic Media Group by Independent News and Media which is controlled or owned by Mr. Denis O'Brien. He also raised the media concentration concerns on foot of an EU Parliament report which says: Ireland has one of the most concentrated media markets in any democracy. November 10, 2016 NUJ - In its statement it said that Minister Naughten, has the power to examine every aspect of the proposed acquisition and urged him to display political leadership and courage Failure to do so would represent an act of political cowardice, something we have experienced many times when it comes to challenging media interests. The 2014 Act which refers to the powers of the Minister in terms of media mergers states the undesirability of allowing any one undertaking to hold significant interests which is defined by the guidelines as in excess of 20% share within a sector or across different sectors of media business in the State. INM publishes the Irish Independent, the Sunday Independent, the Evening Herald, The Sunday World and the Belfast Telegraph and has a 50% stake in the Daily Star. The Communicorp Group, which is owned by the same shareholder, controls Newstalk, Today FM, 98FM, Spin 1038 and Spin South West. This was approximately 20% of the entire market. The Minister in making his initial assessment, must have regard to the relevant criteria provided for in the Act, the guidelines on media mergersprepared by his Department and the notification material provided by the parties, among other matters. The decision for INM to purchase a further 7 regional titles with a significant online presence was always likely to lead to a phase 2 assessment. In fact I would have failed in my responsibilities under the law if I did not do so. I have not seen the contents of the affidavit referred to in the Irish Times nor am I aware of its specific contents other than the manner in which it is dealt with in the article. As this is a matter that is before the courts I cannot comment on the affidavit itself. However, I wish to confirm that I received a phone call from Eoghan ONeachtain, former Press Secretary to a number of Governments, on the 10th or the 11th of November 2016 informing me that the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission was after approving the INM acquisition of CNML. This was in advance of the CCPC communicating the decision to me. It was common knowledge that this was a significant acquisition with a significant geographical impact. I expressed a purely personal view that the likely course of action would be a referral to a phase 2 assessment in accordance with the guidelines in light of the diversity & media plurality assessments required and in light of the scale of the proposed acquisition, its geographical concentration and the extent of ownership of regional media by INM at that point. According to advice from the Office of the Attorney General, in the context of there being a decision by the Competition and Consumer Protection Commission, the legislation about such referrals to BAI is clear that referral is an option to me as Minister when there is a planned media merger. If so, there is nothing wrong or inappropriate with me as Minister saying to anyone or to the public that if the plan for the merger continued I would take advice on sending it to the BAI. This is not inside information but simply a reflection of the legislation. I had no inside information to give. It may have been preferable if the conversation had not taken place but I was by no means expressing a definitive view, nor could I do so at that time. Nor did I state that the view expressed was a confidential one as the article seems to assert. In fact, I clearly stated that I had made all previous decisions solely based on the advice provided to me by my officials and I reiterated that I would adhere to that approach in this case as well. There seems to be a misunderstanding about the nature of the media merger process. It is not a secret process. Guidelines on the process are publically available on my Departments websites. The same guidelines were subject to a detailed public consultation prior to their finalisation. In fact prior to the Phase 1 decision I answered 6 PQs in the Dail on the acquisition and was, for example, exhorted by the NUJ and certain political parties to use all powers available to me to examine all aspects of the acquisition. The mergers process went through the full rigour required of the Act and the guidelines after it was received by me on 21st November 2016 and a recommendation was made by my officials on 4th January 2017 that the acquisition be referred to a phase 2 examination and this was approved by me on 10th January 2017. While the vast majority of the documentation is on my Departments website since last July, I want to state that Im very happy for any member of Dail Eireann to come to my department and view the full file on this merger as I have acted to the letter of the law throughout this process." Local News, Business & Finance, Politics By Long Island News & PR Published: April 19 2018 Bill Before Congress Would Shield Debt Collection Law Firms from Being Held Accountable for Harassment and Intimidation Tactics. New York, NY - April 19, 2018 - Attorney General Eric T. Schneiderman, part of a bipartisan coalition of 20 state attorneys general, submitted a letter today urging Congress to oppose the Practice of Law Technical Clarification Act of 2018, which would strip away protections against debt collection attorneys who take unfair advantage of state courts to intimidate, harass and deceive consumers. As the Trump administration continues to dismantle basic protections for consumers, Congress is now considering doubling down attempting to shield abusive debt collection law firms from being held accountable for their intimidation and harassment tactics, said Attorney General Schneiderman. My office has not hesitated to take on crooked debt collectors that target New Yorkers, and we will continue to do so, no matter what happens in Washington. If enacted, the Practice of Law Technical Clarification Act would amend the federal Fair Debt Collection Practices Act (FDCPA) to exclude law firms and licensed attorneys engaged in litigation activities, shielding them from liability for abusive practices and preventing state attorneys general from using the FDCPA to bring enforcement actions against them. The amendment would also bar individuals from suing debt collection lawyers for damages and reasonable attorneys fees. Such lawsuits supplement the work of attorney general offices across the country. The attorneys general argue that certain debt collection attorneys and law firms routinely misuse their access to the judicial system to take improper advantage of unsophisticated consumers. These debt collectors use of litigation to collect debts disproportionally affects the most vulnerable consumers, who often lack the resources to hire lawyers, including the elderly, disabled and poor. State attorneys general and the Consumer Financial Protection Bureau have brought numerous actions against the practices of abusive debt collection law firms, which include falsely threatening to garnish the income and social security benefits of elderly and disabled consumers, threatening consumers with arrest and imprisonment for failure to pay debts, improperly suing consumers in courthouses miles from their homes, and filing lawsuits without meaningfully reviewing pleadings and without proof that consumers owe the debt at issue. Todays letter comes in response to the House Financial Services Committees decision to vote the Practice of Law Technical Clarification Act out of committee. The letter , which was led by Massachusetts Attorney General Maura Healey, was signed by the Attorneys General of California, Delaware, Hawaii, Iowa, Maine, Massachusetts, Maryland, Michigan, Minnesota, Nebraska, New Jersey, New Mexico, New York, North Carolina, Pennsylvania, Rhode Island, Vermont, Virginia, Washington and Washington D.C. Local News, Crime By Long Island News & PR Published: April 19 2018 Arriving at the scene the crew found a 2004 Toyota sedan was lodged in the corner of the Three Stars Restaurant. Huntington, NY - April 19, 2018 - The The Huntington Community First Aid Squad (HCFAS) was sent to the scene of a motor vehicle accident at West Hills Road and W. 19th St at 1:59 PM Wednesday, April 18. Arriving at the scene the crew found a 2004 Toyota sedan was lodged in the corner of the Three Stars Restaurant. The 43 year old female driver, who had been southbound on Lockwood Rd attempting a left turn, did not appear to have injuries but was transported to Huntington Hospital as a precaution. The other vehicle was a 2007 Toyota was westbound on West Hills Road when the accident occurred. A second ambulance HCFAS ambulance was called to the scene but the 48 year old male driver refused medical care. Huntington Manor FD was also on the scene. About Huntington Community First Aid Squad More bad news for Apple as Counterpoint research has released its estimates of quarterly smartphone market profit share numbers. Turns out Apple took only lets see [squints at report] 86 percent of the profit in the smartphone market. Huh. Well, the horny one isnt sure how this is bad news for Apple but just give pundits a few hours and theyll think of something. Probably having to do with how theres only 14 percent more profit share to take and then what will Apple do?! Its worth taking a closer look at this report because its an intriguing look into How are pundits not tired of being wrong all the time? iPhone X Alone Generated 35% of the Total Handset Industry Profits in Q4 2017. Of course, these are estimates provided by one analysis firm, so please enjoy an entire salt lick worth of caveats with these numbers. Mmmm. Salt lick. Mmmm. Caveats. Sorry. The Macalope hasnt had lunch yet. While people will grouse about the iPhone X failing to spark a super-cycle and dramatically increase unit sales, Apple has used it to consolidate its death grip on the profit in the industry. The Galaxy Note 8 and S8 Plus are the only non-iPhones to break into the top 10 by profit share. Even the $349 SE is in there. Not only did the iPhone X allow Apple to play a one-player game of Hungry Hungry Hippos with industry profit, it generated 5X more profit than the combined profit of 600+ Android OEMs during Q4 2017. Remember all the complaints about no one wanting to buy a $1,000 smartphone? Lets face it, Apple is pretty good at this. But sashay over to the Forbes contributor network and other side of the Sarlacc pit today, and youll find Apple being lectured on its supposed plans for pricing 2018 iPhones (tip o the antlers to Dan). ITLL NEVER WORK. Again. Thats what happens when people want Apple to do the things it has very little interest in doing. The Macalope doesnt necessarily completely believe all of this profit share report and he certainly isnt about to worry about rumors of how Apple will price iPhones this year, but the basic fact is the same. Apple refused to chase netbooks to the bottom and its refusing to chase smartphones to the bottom as well. Yes, wed all like cheaper iPhones, but the companys strategy is still pretty sound.